Good Monday morning. There are 11 days remaining until Christmas.
I took my life in my own hands and braved a trip to Crossgates Mall yesterday.
Actually, it was depressingly less crowded than I expected, and the number of empty “storefronts” was a surprise. Also, the distinct lack of merchandise in some of the big box stores was notable. (Or maybe it’s just because the Colonie Center Macy’s is SO much better and always has been? I’m not sure why I even bother; you would think I would know better by now).
I have never been a huge mall person – at least not since I was about 13 and hanging out at the Poughkeepsie Galleria was THE thing to do on a Friday or Saturday night. Where are my Hudson Valley peeps at? I know you feel me here.
This time, though, I was looking for a particular something and could not find it anywhere. I didn’t find it at the mall, either, which was admittedly my last resort and I was out and about anyway.
After the disappointing experience I had, I don’t think I’ll be going back any time soon. Sorry, it’s small business all the way – and online shopping – for me from here on out.
I also braved the wind and took the pup for a walk at my favorite place in Albany – the dog park I mean golf course. I love it so much there, and every time it closes to duffers and again becomes the territory of doggos, walkers, and (when it snows) winter sports enthusiasts, I feel renewed.
(To be clear, I have nothing against golf, per se, but I am terrible at it, and therefore am not a fan).
Even on my worst day, a quick walk around the front or back nine (if I’m feeling in a hilly mood) can work wonders on my disposition. And Henry loves being off leash and ignoring other dogs. He’s not terribly social, my fur baby, but he sometimes invites fellow canines for a race – and usually beats them. Not that I’m bragging or anything…
To be clear, if I had my druthers I would be taking Henry on a strenuous mountain hike every weekend. But life being what it is, I can’t make the hour-plus drive to a suitable trailhead all the time but am in desperate need of some fresh air. In these moments, it’s the golf course or bust for us.
Even though it was unseasonably warm, I came home a little chilled. And there’s nothing like a little hot chocolate for an afternoon warming session and pick-me-up. This is my not-so-subtle segue into the fact that it’s National Cocoa Day.
Cocoa and chocolate are both derived from cacao beans after the beans have been processed. The main difference between the two is the absence or presence of cocoa butter in cocoa, which makes it lower in sugar and fat content – until you add it back in to make hot chocolate, of course.
Hot chocolate has its roots in 500 BC Mexico, (except apparently it was drinking chocolate – made with chili peppers and cornmeal – and consumed cold). The explorer Cortez brought the drink back to Spain, where the addition of sugar and the absence of chili peppers was introduced. Also, the drink started to be served hot.
Understandably, the Spanish weren’t too keen on sharing this fantastic discovery with the rest of Europe, and decided to keep it to themselves for quite a while.
If you’re planning on celebrating by indulging in a little drinking chocolate, you might want to do it in a t-shirt. We’re in for another unseasonably warm day, with temperatures in the low 50s. It will be cloudy in the morning, giving way to afternoon sunshine.
In the headlines…
President Joe Biden is facing significant skepticism from the American public, with his job approval rating lagging across a range of major issues, including new lows for his handling of crime, gun violence and the economic recovery, a new ABC/Ipsos poll finds.
Fifty-seven percent of Americans give Biden a thumbs down over the way he’s handling the economy, a spike of 19 percentage points since March, the poll shows. Only 41 percent approve.
About 36% of Americans support Biden’s handling of crimes. The percentage is down from an October ABC/Ipsos poll, which found 43% of people approved of Biden’s handling of crime.
Leaders with White House aspirations all say they’ll support the president for another term. But there is no shortage of chatter about the options if he continues to falter.
Government reports on rising inflation and the potential costs of Biden’s social and environment legislation raised fresh questions Friday about the bill’s fate, with both sides hoping the new numbers would influence pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin.
Biden this week will lobby Manchin, the centrist West Virginia Democrat, in an attempt to lock in a deal on a roughly $2 trillion social-policy and climate bill that Democrats hope to finish by Christmas.
Biden has chimed in on the ongoing strike by Kellogg’s workers, reiterating his “unyielding support” for unions and slamming the company for moving to replace workers on strike.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Biden he would “really like” to meet for more talks, according to a video clip released by Russian state TV from the leaders’ virtual call on Tuesday.
Tornadoes ripped through six states on Friday and Saturday and left a trail of devastation in the Midwest and the South, causing at least 90 deaths.
Biden said his administration is standing by and ready to do “whatever is needed” after several dozen people were killed by a swarm of powerful tornadoes and storms.
“We’re going to get through this together,” Biden said from Wilmington, Delaware. “The federal government is not going to walk away. This is one of those times when we aren’t Democrats or Republicans. We’re all Americans.”
Biden has asked the US environmental protection agency (EPA) to investigate what role the climate crisis might have played in the deadly tornadoes.
A single mother who delivered packages for Amazon was among those killed in the collapse of an Illinois company warehouse during a series of devastating Midwest tornadoes, her family said, as officials identified the six workers who died in the storm.
South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday, as new cases continue to rise in the country.
Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for “mild” Covid-19 symptoms and has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.
South Africa recorded 18,035 daily coronavirus cases as a fourth wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant rips through the nation.
The UK’s Covid alert level has been raised, indicating substantial pressure on the NHS, amid concerns over the rapid increase in Omicron cases and a warning that the health service is “on its knees”.
Annual vaccine booster shots are a possibility in America’s battle against the COVID pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci said.
Fauci acknowledged that Americans are suffering from “Covid fatigue,” but said, “we have the tools to protect ourselves.”
He also said that “sobering” preliminary studies show the Omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to evade some of the protection provided by vaccines.
Across America, many of the nearly 50 million people infected with the coronavirus continue to suffer from some persistent symptoms, with a smaller subset experiencing such unbearable fatigue and other maladies that they can’t work.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said the COVID-19 emergency is “over” and the won’t be implement another statewide mask mandate in response to the omicron variant, explaining that if people aren’t vaccinated at this point it’s their “own darn fault” if they get sick.
Ex-Trump administration aide Peter Navarro won’t respond to a congressional subpoena for documents, telling lawmakers he is following a “direct order” from Trump not to comply.
Covid-19 is surging in many parts of the country in the wake of Thanksgiving, with Christmastime gatherings on the horizon.
The muddled Covid picture is causing a broad reassessment across the corporate sphere. Some companies are rethinking vaccine policies and pushing off return-to-office plans, while others are working to maintain existing timelines to bring people together.
Starting today, all indoor public places in New York that do not require proof of full vaccination for entry must implement a mask mandate.
It is up to local health departments to enforce the mask mandate, but some Republican county executives say they will not.
The new mask-or-vaccine mandate is like a lump of coal in a Christmas stocking for some small business owners.
Nassau County’s first two cases of the highly contagious omicron variant were identified over the weekend as New Yorkers geared up for a statewide mask mandate to go into effect, in an effort to battle the rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
New York City’s COVID-19 positivity rate remained below 3 percent Saturday as cases continued to surge upstate, the latest numbers show.
Nurses employed by Long Island-based Northwell Health have been sent to western New York to help at two hospitals dealing with a surge in coronavirus infections, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
The 16 clinical professionals were sent to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, and the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital for two weeks.
Hochul has retained Jefrey Pollock, a pollster-strategist, for her re-election campaign who served as a secret adviser helping Andrew Cuomo fight sex harassment accusations earlier this year.
Zephyr Teachout has dropped out of the race for Attorney General following Tish James’ decision not to run for governor and seek re-election to her current post.
“I strongly support Attorney General James in her re-election and her critical fights to deliver justice for the people of New York,” Teachout wrote in a statement.
James pulled out of the governor’s race after failing to hit a $5 million fundraising ultimatum set by Democratic leaders in her Brooklyn hometown, multiple sources told The NY Post.
James’s campaigned had only raised about $1.6 million as of July, with one source saying it was unlikely that she could raise $2 million before the year’s end.
Hochul’s fundraising network includes people and firms tied to powerful state industries: health care, telecommunications, hospitality and online gambling.
Hochul on Friday signed new legislation aimed at helping thousands of New York families leave shelters and avoid homelessness.
The new law will allow the state to cover 100% of market-rate rent — up from 85% — and is aimed at preventing people in New York City from becoming homeless and putting a permanent roof over the heads of people who are.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio was reportedly elated by the news James had dropped out of the 2022 gubernatorial race — seeing her exit as a chance to jump into a less crowded Democratic primary field with only one other progressive, according to sources.
De Blasio yesterday sparred on national TV with critics of his controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including last week’s edict requiring the jabs for all private-industry workers in the Big Apple.
Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi once boasted about wanting to join Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her “Squad” in Congress, backing it up with his votes more than 90 percent of the time, records show.
Two hundred people rallied in Harlem Saturday to protest the city’s new supervised injection site for drug addicts and the over saturation of treatment facilities in the neighborhood.
Saving the best for (nearly) last, Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer touched down in Schenectady yesterday to close out one his longstanding traditions: Visiting each of New York’s 62 counties annually.
Senate Democrats are pressuring Schumer to make Republicans pay for their blockade of President Joe Biden’s diplomatic nominees, adding to the majority leader’s long list of December headaches.
SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras will exit amid the threat of an unpredictable new COVID-19 strain, impending state budget negotiations and a university community — administration, faculty and students — traumatized by weeks of turmoil.
State University of New York officials are looking at in-house talent to replace Malatras as chancellor after the Andrew Cuomo ally was forced out for smearing one the disgraced ex-governor’s sexual harassment accusers.
University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi is speculated to be on the short list of contenders to fill in as chancellor. Also reportedly under consideration: Harvey Stenger at SUNY-Binghamton and Havidan Rodriguez at SUNY-Albany.
“Saturday Night Live” parodied numerous public figures — including the Cuomo Brothers — in a cold open segment spoofing the spread of misinformation about COVID-19.
A veteran CNN producer who worked “shoulder to shoulder” with now disgraced ex-anchor Chris Cuomo has been indicted on charges of luring young girls to his Vermont ski house for “sexual subservience” training.
Mayor-elect Eric Adams wants to make sure whistleblower cop Frank Serpico gets the honor he was denied 50 years ago. Serpico, 85, will get a Police Department Medal of Honor certificate, Adams promised on Twitter.
Powerful unions and Democratic Party leaders have begun to coalesce around Councilwoman Adrienne Adams in her bid to become Council speaker, while surrogates for Adams were pushing the candidacy of Councilman Francisco Moya.
Adams’ push to install Moya to lead the legislative body meant to serve as a check on him as City Council speaker has begun to falter, as four people who influence the process continue to oppose his selection.
Four Hispanic members of the next New York City Council class are endorsing Moya for speaker of the chamber.
Adams, who spent 22 years as a reform-focused police officer before climbing to the mayoralty on a public-safety message, said he believes a crucial step to healing the NYPD’s deep rifts with some communities is to return beat cops to the city’s streets.
Dozens of CUNY students are getting the chance to share their input on city policy priorities through a program that places them on Adams’ transition team.
Adams has canceled a handful of fundraisers after a Daily Beast story linked him to Ronn Torossian, a Trump-connected public relations exec who has represented a wide array of controversial figures, including the recently ousted CNN host Chris Cuomo.
Adams, who will take office on Jan. 1, is scrambling to fill jobs in his administration and to manage his new status as the darling of certain powerful Manhattan circles that had more limited access to the outgoing mayor, de Blasio
Cryptocurrency companies and those who want to see the application of blockchain technology expand are hopeful that the Adams mayoral administration is just the start of New York officials taking a more open minded approach to the world of virtual currency.
Longer school days? Classes on Saturdays — and during the summer? Changing how students learn how to read? NYC’s new schools chancellor said he is looking to shake up the system in order to get better results.
Street safety advocates frustrated that police vehicle crash investigations don’t focus on improving streets for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists are cheering a NYC plan to involve the city Department of Transportation in the probes.
Santacon has been a part of New York City’s holiday season for nearly a quarter-century now, and after last year’s event was canceled because of the pandemic, the roving all-day party was back with a vengeance on Saturday.
A Brooklyn man, who went into cardiac arrest on Friday, became the 15th person to die this year within New York City’s correction system.
The MTA claims to be getting its handle on crew shortages that have adversely impacted subway service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Huge Ma, the founder of TurboVax — a free website that helped hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers get vaccination appointments — announced that he is running for Queens Assembly District 37, the seat currently held by Kathy Nolan.
As the WFP prepares to play what it hopes is an influential role in Democratic primaries for the state Legislature in 2022, the liberal third party is asking candidates to commit to a slate of proposed policies in response to Cuomo controversies.
Ex-Army officer Brittany Ramos DeBarros, a socialist looking to replace GOP Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, performed at an anti-war burlesque show at a Brooklyn bar.
A car that was stuck near the brink of the American Falls since last Wednesday appeared to have plunged over the edge over the weekend.
The City of Albany included new regulations in its proposed zoning changes to allow for marijuana dispensaries and manufacturing facilities within city limits. It also removed references that allowed for medical marijuana-only facilities.
More than 400 towns and villages across New York have opted to block local marijuana dispensaries and consumption lounges as a deadline to do so nears, with many officials deciding to stay out of the upcoming market until regulators provide more clarity.
The Albany Planning Board gave Redburn Development approval last week to start a $65 million overhaul of the Warehouse at Huck Finn.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he wants to create a path for private citizens to sue gun manufacturers, sellers and distributors in the state, modeling his proposal after the legal framework used in the Texas law that bans abortions past six weeks.
Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, one of the few high-profile news personalities who retained a reputation of integrity as Fox leaned hard into right-wing and conspiratorial programming, is departing the network and joining CNN+ to host a weekday show.
Wallace’s departure strips the Rupert Murdoch-owned network of its most decorated down-the-middle journalist as stridently conservative hosts like Tucker Carlson have increasingly set the channel’s agenda.
Travis Scott has reportedly been removed from the upcoming Coachella music festival lineup after 10 people died at his Astroworld event last month.
Bestselling novelist Anne Rice, whose dozens of books include the wildly popular “Vampire Chronicles” fantasy series, has died, her family announced. She was 80, and died of complications from a stroke, her son said.
