October 25, 2017

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Business October 25, 2017

Ex-Air Force Officer To Oversee Puerto Rico's Power Restoration

Whitefish Energy Holdings workers restore power lines damaged by Hurricane Maria in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday.

Ramon Espinosa/AP

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Ramon Espinosa/AP

Updated at 2:10 a.m. ET

A retired senior military officer has been appointed to oversee the rebuilding of Puerto Rico’s devastated power grid in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, as some three-quarters of the island’s residents remain without electricity.

In a written statement on Wednesday, the federal board that oversees Puerto Rico’s troubled finances announced its “intent to appoint” retired Air Force Colonel Noel Zamot “as chief transformation officer” of PREPA, the island’s power utility.

“I am fully committed to bringing the resources necessary to restore electricity to the people of Puerto Rico as quickly as possible, and to re-activate the economy and bring normalcy to the island,” Zamot said in a statement.

But Reuters reports, quoting a source familiar with [Puerto Rican] Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s thinking, as saying that the territory’s government is not happy about Zamot’s appointment.

And in a public statement, Rosselló appeared to chafe at the board’s move, saying it had overstepped its authority in making the appointment.

The governor said management of island agencies “rests exclusively on democratically elected officials.”

“Puerto Rico will be zealous in defending the people from any action that seeks to undermine this process,” Rosselló said in a Spanish-language statement.

Zamot’s appointment would come amid concern over a $300 million contract issued by the island’s power utility, PREPA, to Whitefish Energy Holdings to lead the restoration effort. Whitefish Energy — a tiny firm with few resources and little experience — is based in Whitefish, Mont., the hometown of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

On Wednesday, Rosselló tweeted out a letter he wrote asking for an audit into how the company won its contract.

Addressed to the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general’s office, Rosselló wrote: “I request that your office complete its review of the Whitefish Contract so that a final determination can be made as to the Whitefish Contract and address any other issues regarding the same by Monday, October 30, 2017.”

I have asked the Office of the Inspector General to conduct a review of the contracting process of Whitefish Energy by @AEEONLINEpic.twitter.com/98ArnftIuL

— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) October 25, 2017

The controversy over Whitefish Energy continues to boil, with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday praising Zamot’s appointment, but expressing suspicion over the Whitefish contract.

“We are deeply concerned both about why and how a small, inexperienced firm was tasked with the massive job of rebuilding Puerto Rico’s devastated electrical grid, and why (Puerto Rico’s power company) failed to activate the mutual aid network, which effectively came to the aid of Texas and Florida after the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” the California Democrat said in a statement.

The company — which had only two full-time employees as recently as last month — engaged in a heated back-and-forth on Wednesday with San Juan’s outspoken Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz via Twitter. Cruz called for more transparency over the company’s contract and Whitefish Energy, in turn, issued an implied threat to pull its workforce.

In a tweet since deleted, Whitefish fired back: “We’ve got 44 linemen rebuilding power lines in your city & 40 more men just arrived. Do you want us to send them back or keep working?”

We share frustration with Mayor Cruz on the situation in Puerto Rico, but her comments are misplaced. pic.twitter.com/rIzxIjOcfQ

— Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 25, 2017

Later, the company issued an apology, saying the comments “did not represent who we are and how important this work is to help Puerto Rico’s recovery.”

.@CarmenYulinCruz and everyone in Puerto Rico… pic.twitter.com/XHIwgQjYvh

— Whitefish Energy (@WhitefishEnergy) October 26, 2017

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Entertainment October 25, 2017

Today in Movie Culture: Andy Serkis Recaps the History of Motion Capture, a 'Silence of the Lambs' Parody and More

Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture:

Film History Lesson of the Day:

For Wired, Andy Serkis breaks down the history of motion capture performance, of which he’s the master:

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Movie Parody of the Day:

One of the iconic scenes from The Silence of the Lambs gets an extension in this parody from Cracked:

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Movie Comparison of the Day:

With Jigsaw out this week, Couch Tomato shows 24 reasons the original Saw is basically a remake of Se7en:

Alternate Movie Poster of the Day:

This isn’t just a great Gremlins poster by Kevin M. Wilson, but it’s also a fun game for movie geeks:

The Old Curiosity Shop. There are 84 different references in this GREMLINS poster designed by @ApeMeetsGirl, how many can you identify? pic.twitter.com/UhsLzguSQ5

— Spooking People ?? (@ShootingPeople) October 24, 2017

Remixed Movie of the Day:

Eclectic Method samples the sounds of Wonder Woman for their latest awesome dance track:

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Vintage Image of the Day:

Julia Roberts, who turns 50 this weekend, receives direction from Steven Spielberg on the set of Hook in 1991:

Actor in the Spotlight:

With a new season of The Walking Dead starting this week, Fandor looks at the movie and TV career of Danai Gurira:

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Filmmaker in Focus:

IMDb showcases the director trademarks of James Cameron’s movies in this original video:

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Cosplay of the Day:

We’ve seen some great It cosplay this year, but this dog is the best Pennywise yet:

it: a coisinea pic.twitter.com/po2QJ3ucYB

— DOUGRAS (@dougraz) October 24, 2017

Classic Trailer of the Day:

Today is the 15th anniversary of the release of Frida. Watch the original trailer for the classic artist biopic below.

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Sports October 25, 2017

Astros Beat Dodgers 7-6 To Tie The 2017 World Series

Houston Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez celebrates his ninth-inning home run that tied the score 3-3 with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series Wednesday.

David J. Phillip/AP

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David J. Phillip/AP

The Houston Astros won a wild 11-inning see-saw battle beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in Game 2 of the World Series.

Astros center-fielder George Springer smacked a two-run homer in the top of the 11th inning silencing fans at Dodgers Stadium after their team had tied the game in the bottom of the 10th inning at 5-5.

The Dodgers struck back in the bottom of the 11th inning with a solo homer by pinch-hitter Charlie Culberson. But that was all the Dodgers could muster against Astros reliever Chris Devenski.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager leaps for joy after his two-run home run, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in Game 2 of the World Series in Los Angeles.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

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Mark J. Terrill/AP

The Astros’ victory ties the series at one game a piece with the action moving to Houston on Friday. The Astros have not lost a game at home in this post-season.

The Dodgers tied the score 1-1 with Joc Pederson’s fifth-inning home run .

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

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Christian Petersen/Getty Images

“We’re never out of it and we have a lineup that’s really scary when it’s on,” said Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, who had three hits and two RBI’s.

The Dodgers looked like they were headed to victory after seven innings when they led the game 3-1. Those three runs came off of Astros ace Justin Verlander who had appeared to be in control of the game giving up only two hits: a solo homer by the Dodgers Joc Pederson in the 5th inning and a two-run shot by Corey Seager in the 6th.

But Houston began clawing back in the 8th inning against Dodger closer Kenley Jansen. They scored one run on a ground-rule double by Alex Bregman and a single by Carlos Correa, making the game 3-2. That run ended a string of 28 scoreless innings by Los Angeles’ vaunted bullpen.

Houston tied the game at 3-3 when Marwin Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the top of the 9th inning. The Dodgers went quietly in their half of the 9th, sending the game into extra innings.

That’s when Houston, the most potent offense in baseball this year, showed signs of life with back-to-back homeruns by Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa in the top of the 10th inning, making the game 5-3.

It was the Dodgers turn to get back in the game when right-fielder Yasiel Puig launched a solo shot in the bottom of the 10th inning. A walk, a wild pitch and then a single by pinch-hitter Enrique Hernandez off of Astros closer Ken Giles tied the game at 5-5.

Astros starter Verlander pitched six innings. The Dodger’s starter, Rich Hill, was pulled after four innings, despite striking out seven batters. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts elected to go to his bullpen early, a strategy that had worked well until tonight.

The game featured eight homeruns. It will likely be remembered for the fact that the Dodgers bullpen—a team strength all year—couldn’t hold a lead when it mattered most.

Updated at 12:41 a.m. ET

In a dramatic, 11-inning contest, the Astros even the series at one game a piece. It’s Houston’s first-ever World Series game win.

Updated at 12:32 a.m. ET

The Dodgers’ Charlie Cuberson hit a home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Updated at 12:15 a.m. ET

After the Dodgers rallied to tie the game 5-5 in the 11th inning, the Astros answered back with a two-run homer.

Updated at 11: 35 p.m. ET

Houston has a 5-3 lead over Los Angeles in the tenth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.

Our previous post:

Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a 3-1 lead in Game 2 of the World Series with a two-run home run by shortstop Corey Seager off Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Verlander had appeared in command of the game, retiring the first two batters he faced in the sixth, before walking Chris Taylor and then watching Seager drive a pitch out of Dodger Stadium.

In the fifth, Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson broke up a no-hit bid by Verlander with a solo home run, tying the game at 1-1.

The Astros had taken a one-run lead over the Dodgers, scoring on a series of singles in the top of third. After an infield single by Josh Reddick, a bunt by Verlander, and another single by George Springer, first baseman Alex Bregman roped yet another single to center field, scoring Reddick.

Verlander then retired the Dodgers in the bottom of the third, and held the Angelenos hitless over four innings.

Dodgers starter Rich Hill recovered from the Astros’ single run by striking out the dangerous Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.

Neither starting pitcher made it through the whole game.

The Dodgers took the first game of the Series 3-1 Tuesday, with starter Clayton Kershaw handcuffing the Astros. Kershaw needed only 83 pitches to strike out 11 batters and hold them to one run on three hits.

This story will be updated during the game.

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