Monthly Archives: November 2023

KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor November 2023: With COVID … – KFF

Posted: November 20, 2023 at 7:40 pm

Key Takeaways

The latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor survey suggests the lack of public concern about getting sick from COVID-19 may be why many people have not gotten the latest vaccine and why half of the public are not planning on taking precautions to limit the spread of the virus during the coming months.

The November KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor investigates uptake for the new, updated COVID-19 vaccine, which has been recommended by the CDC for people ages 6 months and older. Two months after the vaccine became available, about half of adults say they have gotten or will get the shot, but another half say they wont get the latest shot and a third seem steadfast in that decision.

One in five (20%) adults now say they have received the new, updated COVID-19 vaccine that became available in September. An additional one in four adults say they will definitely get (13%) or probably get (15%) the updated shot. Consistent with demographic differences across other COVID-related behaviors, uptake is highest among those ages 65 and older (34%) and Democrats (32%). This is meaningful given that those ages 65 and older are more vulnerable to COVID-19, as theyre more likely to get seriously sick and experience complications that could result in hospitalization. This is in comparison to smaller shares of younger adults ages 18-29 (18%), Republicans (12%) and independents (16%) who report getting the latest vaccine. Similar shares across racial and ethnic groups report having gotten the updated vaccine, including 26% of Black adults, 20% of Hispanic adults, and 19% of White adults. However, when combining the shares who have gotten the shot and those who intend to get it, Black adults (59%) and Hispanic adults (59%) both outpace White adults (42%).

Uptake of the newest vaccine matches closely to uptake of the updated bivalent booster measured in December 2022, just after the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster had become available for use. About two in ten adults said they had received the booster dose (22%).

One in three (34%) adults say they will definitely not get the new COVID-19 vaccine, and another 17% say they will probably not get the vaccine. The share who say they probably or definitely wont get the new COVID-19 vaccination has remained unchanged from the September COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor, which was fielded immediately prior to when the vaccine became available.

Majorities of those who have never received any COVID-19 vaccine (94%), Republicans (77%), independents (59%), those who live in rural areas (65%), White adults (58%), and those under the age of 65 (55%) continue to say they will not get the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

The survey finds that partisanship is continuing to play an outsized role in vaccine attitudes. While nearly six in ten White adults say they do not plan to get the new vaccine, this increases to eight in ten among White adults who self-identify as Republicans. This is more than twice the share of White adults who are Democrats (29%) who say they will either definitely not or probably not get the vaccine. In fact, three in ten (31%) White adults who are Democrats have already gotten the new vaccine, compared to 11% of their Republican counterparts.

Most adults (79%) say they have heard at least a little about the updated COVID-19 vaccine, with one in five (22%) saying they have heard a lot. A small share (21%) say they have heard nothing at all about the updated vaccine.

Awareness is high across demographic groups, including the vast majority (92%) of adults ages 65 and older who have heard at least a little about the updated vaccine compared to a somewhat smaller share, but still a majority, of younger adults, including six in ten of those ages 18 to 29. Larger shares of Democrats are also more aware of the vaccine, with 86% who have heard at least a little compared to three-quarters (74%) of Republicans.

With most people aware of the latest vaccine, many, including large shares of previously vaccinated adults, have not yet received the updated shot and some dont plan to. About six in ten (58%) adults are previously vaccinated and have yet to get the updated vaccine. This group is roughly divided between people who say they will get the vaccine and those who say they are not planning to get the latest shot. The latest COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor survey explores why this group of previously vaccinated people have not gotten the latest dose.

Around half of adults (47%) have both previously received a COVID-19 vaccine and also say they will get or have already gotten the updated vaccine. On the other hand, one in five (20%) adults are previously unvaccinated and say they will not get the updated vaccine. That leaves three in ten (31%) who have previously been vaccinated but now say they will not get the updated shot.

More than four in ten Republicans (43%) and one in three independents (35%) say they are previously vaccinated but wont get the updated shot, compared to 19% of Democrats. A larger share of White adults (34%) also report being previously vaccinated but not planning on getting the latest shot compared to Black adults (20%). Around a quarter of Hispanic adults (26%) are previously vaccinated but now do not plan to get the latest vaccine.

In 2021, KFF surveys examining initial vaccine rollout found that concerns about vaccine safety were the driving reason why people didnt get vaccine. Even as those concerns dissipated among most of the public, a small share of the public remained steadfast and never received a COVID-19 vaccine. Yet, subsequent booster never reached the same uptake levels as seen in the initial vaccine rollout. And as the country enters its fourth year of COVID-19 concerns, it appears this trend continues.

When asked about a series of reasons that could explain why people are not getting the latest vaccine, not being worried about getting COVID-19 tops the list. About half (52%) of those who were previously vaccinated say lack of worry about COVID-19 is at least a minor reason why they havent gotten the vaccine, including a quarter who say it is a major reason. Getting vaccinated may also not be a priority for some with around four in ten (37%) saying being too busy is at least a minor reason why they have not gotten it yet, and another third saying they are waiting to get it a later date. Experiences from previous doses may also be keeping people from getting the new vaccine with about a quarter saying that bad side effects from a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose is a reason why they have not gotten the new vaccine.

Small shares say there are other barriers to getting the vaccine including 16% who say they cannot take the time off work and 13% who say they havent been able to get an appointment. One in ten (11%) say their doctor told them to wait or to not to get the updated vaccine.

Among Hispanic adults who were previously vaccinated but have not gotten the new shot, about half (55%) say they arent worried about getting COVID-19, they are too busy (51%), or they are waiting to get it at a later date (48%). In addition, a third (35%) of Hispanic adults as well as a quarter (22%) of Black adults cite not being able to take time off work, compared to just one in ten (9%) White adults.

Democrats top reasons for not getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine suggests there will likely still be additional uptake in this group, while Republicans top reasons may indicate more resistance to the latest vaccine. Among those who were previously vaccinated but havent gotten the new shot, half of Democrats (49%) say being too busy is a major or minor reason they havent gotten the updated vaccine yet, compared to 22% of Republicans and 35% of independents. On the other hand, two-thirds of Republicans (66%) and more than half of independents (57%) say not being worried about getting COVID is at least a minor reason why they have not gotten the updated vaccine, compared to a third of Democrats (35%).

With fall and winter holidays coming up, the possibility of a further wave of COVID-19 infections is looming with increased indoor gatherings and time with friends and family. Yet, most of the public is not worried about spreading or catching COVID-19 over the coming months. About three in ten adults are worried they will spread COVID-19 to people close to them (31%) or they will get seriously sick from COVID-19 (28%), and about a quarter (26%) are worried they will get COVID-19 over the holidays. A larger share of the public is worried about increased hospitalizations, with almost half (46%) saying they are very or somewhat worried that there will be an increase in hospitalizations in the U.S. this winter.

Older adults are not more worried than younger adults about the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season except for concerns about increases in cases and hospitalizations. Around half (53%) of adults ages 65 and older say they are worried that there will be an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations this winter, compared to smaller shares (44%) of those under the age of 65.

Around the same share say they are very or somewhat worried about an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations this winter as were in December of last year when there was a similar uptick in COVID-19 cases.

In addition to not being worried about COVID-19 during the upcoming holidays, the public is divided on precautions, with half of adults saying they arent planning to take any of the precautions asked about in the survey, while the other half report they plan to take at least one precaution this fall and winter. The most common precautions people said they planned to take were avoiding large gatherings (35%) or wearing a mask in crowded places (30%). Smaller shares say they are avoiding travel this fall and winter as a precaution against COVID-19 (25%), avoiding dining indoors at restaurants (19%), or taking a COVID-19 test before visiting with friends or family (18%).

The share who say they plan to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID is similar to the share of the public who said they were taking precautions because of the tripledemic back in January of this year. Back then, about half (46%) of adults said the news of COVID-19, RSV, and the flu spreading that winter had made them more likely to take a precaution, including three in ten (31%) who said they were more likely to wear a mask in public and a quarter (26%) who were more likely to avoid large gatherings.

While four in ten (39%) White adults say they will take at least one precaution, majorities of Black adults (72%) and Hispanic adults (68%) report they are planning to take any of the precautions mentioned.

Similarly, partisanship and previous vaccine uptake continue to be strong predictors of whether people plan to take precautions to limit the spread of the virus. Two thirds (66%) of Democrats and half (48%) of independents say they plan to take at least one precaution, compared to three in ten (29%) Republicans who say the same. Just over half (53%) of vaccinated adults say they are taking any of the precautions, compared to four in ten (39%) unvaccinated adults.

Similar shares of younger and older adults report that they will be taking at least one precaution during the fall and winter. However, four in ten (41%) adults ages 65 and older say they plan to avoid large gatherings, compared to a third (33%) of those under the age of 65. While younger adults are less likely to say they will avoid large gatherings, larger shares of younger adults say they will take a test for COVID-19 before spending time with friends of family, with 21% who say so (including 25% of those ages 18-29), compared to one in ten (10%) of those ages 65 and older.

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Fifth Covid-19 wave sees biggest bump in virus detection since … – New Zealand Herald

Posted: at 7:40 pm

New Zealands fifth Covid-19 wave appears to be driving a larger spike in cases than our last bump in April. Photo / 123RF

New Zealands fifth Covid-19 wave appears to be driving the largest spike in infections seen all year, an epidemiologist says - and offers a glimpse of our long-term future with the coronavirus.

Health officials yesterday announced 7881 new reported Covid-19 cases over the week to Sunday, of which 1474 were probable cases that was up from 5947 and 1047 respectively on the week before.

Hospitalisation numbers, too, had ticked upward, from 284 to 349 week-on-week, as had virus detected in wastewater surveillance.

ESR data showed a national average of 5.06 million copies of the virus detected per person, per day in wastewater at November 12 double what was detected just a month before.

Of the indicators that are now the most valid wastewater and hospitalisations both have been at their highest levels since January, if you take their peak values, Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker said.

Looking at hospitalisations in particular, it seems to be a bigger peak than what we saw in the fourth wave. This may be showing us what we can expect in the long term, which is peaks and troughs.

Modellers still didnt see this wave reaching the height of the one that took off around this time in 2022 - when case numbers reached the mid-8000s and weekly hospitalisations nearly topped 600 as it was growing off a much lower base.

There was also nothing to suggest any game-changing new subvariant was helping build any wave the size of 2022s largest ones, in what was now a highly-exposed and highly-vaccinated population.

The latest ESR sampling showed a mix of Omicron subvariants albeit with the EG.5 or Eris type and its relatives now making up more than half of genomes sequenced - still driving spread.

It remained to be seen whether infection rates would keep rising as Christmas neared - with wastewater detections having taken a slight dip.

It looks like were seeing the wave perhaps peaking in some parts of New Zealand, but rising in others - so theres now a bit of regional variation, Baker said.

But the overall pattern is really clear. Were in a large wave and we need to respond to it.

Longer term, Baker said a national approach was needed to manage these peak periods.

Thats because a lot of people are getting sick, are going to hospital and putting pressure on the system and unfortunately, deaths are going up too.

The 20 further deaths reported from last week added to a total 3522 since the beginning of the pandemic.

We have already invested extensively in all these surveillance systems, so now I think we need to act on the information that theyre giving us.

He singled out several priority areas he felt required addressing, including promoting boosters; supporting to help people self-isolate, and consistent policy for ventilation standards and mask use in healthcare settings.

Last week, Baker and colleagues called on the Government to set up a dedicated centre for disease control like that in the US, and now being established in Australia - to better prepare for future pandemics.

Jamie Morton is a specialist in science and environmental reporting. He joined the Herald in 2011 and writes about everything from conservation and climate change to natural hazards and new technology.

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David Gelernters Farewell to Darwinism – Discovery Institute

Posted: at 7:39 pm

Image source: Discovery Institute.

A few years ago, the brilliant Yale University polymath David Gelernter wrote an essay entitled Giving Up Darwin A fond farewell to a brilliant and beautiful theory, in which he made a stunning confession: Stephen Meyers thoughtful and meticulous convinced me that Darwin has failed.

Is Gelernter a creationist? No. Is he a proponent of intelligent design? No. Theres no reason, Gelernter wrote in the Claremont Review of Books, to doubt that Darwin successfully explained the small adjustments by which an organism adapts to local circumstances: changes to fur density or wing style or beak shape. Yet there are many reasons to doubt whether he can answer the hard questions and explain the big picture not the fine-tuning of existing species but the emergence of new ones. The origin of species is exactly what Darwin cannot explain.

Gelernter summarizes: is one of the most important books in a generation. Few open-minded people will finish it with their faith in Darwin intact.

That might sound like a scary thought. Some may not be willing to read Meyers book and risk losing their faith in the science weve been told is all settled. But dont you wonder why a brilliant guy like Professor Gelernter would give up Darwin? Read his true confession here.

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Darwinizing the Universe: A Theory That Explains Everything … – BreakPoint.org

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In his book Doubts About Darwin: A History of Intelligent Design, Thomas Woodward described how early detractors of Darwins theory criticized the way it personified nature. After all, according to Darwin, the origin of species, (the title of his book) occurred by means of natural selection. Who did the selecting? Nature.

Darwins argument relied on an analogy between animal husbandry and what nature does when she selects only the fittest to survive, thus driving evolution. However, this analogy conflated the intentionality of human breeders with natural processes, implying that nature has a will and is trying to get somewherewhich is precisely the sort of intelligent causation that Darwinism supposedly refutes.

The result is a theory that often sounds suspiciously circular. Yet there are even bigger gaps in the Darwinian view of nature. The most daunting is how an intention-free universe made the leap from non-living matter to living things in the first place. This is a crucial question because, in conventional Darwinian thinking, only living things are subject to natural selection and thus evolve. The question here isnt just how the fittest survived: Its how the fittest arrived.

But what if natural selection could operate on nonliving matter? What if, instead of a process limited only to biology, Darwinian evolution was promoted to a fundamental law governing all physical reality? Thats exactly what some scientists have tried to do, most recently in a much-heralded paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Entitled On the roles of function and selection in evolving systems, the paper proposes a new scientific principle called the Law of Increasing Functional Information, and its exactly what it sounds like. Lead author Robert Hazen of The Carnegie Institution for Science explains: We see evolution as a universal process that applies to numerous systems, both living and nonliving, that increase in diversity and patterning through time. In other words, everything evolves in a Darwinian manner, including atoms, minerals, planetary atmospheres, planets, stars and more.

How? According to the papers nine authors, nonliving systems evolve toward greater complexity if they are, 1) formed from many different components, such as atoms, molecules, or cells that can be rearranged, 2) are subject to natural processes that cause different arrangements to be formed, and 3) if only a small fraction of all these configurations survives or is selected for function.

Nonliving things, by definition, dont survive, which is the function nature supposedly selects for in biological evolution. So, what function could nature possibly select in an atom or a galaxy? Believe it or not, these authors argue that existence itself is a kind of function, and that systems that tend to go on existing will be selected by nature, and that we know this, in part, because those systems do, in fact, exist.

Hazen explains:

Imagine a system of atoms or molecules that can exist in countless trillions of different arrangements or configurations. Only a small fraction of all possible configurations will workthat is, they will have some useful degree of function. So, nature just prefers those functional configurations.

Writing at Evolution News, intelligent design advocate David Coppedge points out the flagrant personification happening here. Nature prefers functional configurations? It does no such thing, because at least according to Naturalism it has no goal, nor any notion of function.

In reality, the attempt to Darwinize the entire universe, as Coppedge puts it, is little more than a roundabout way of admitting how well-designed the universe is, and trying to come up with a force that allowed it to design itself. Its an admission that, despite nearly two centuries of claims to the contrary, the cosmos acts like it has an end in mind. Its asking us to assume a law that explains how everything came to be based only on the observation that things are. Set aside this circular reasoning for a moment and ask the real question: If theres a law, who is the lawgiver?

This theory gets us no closer to explaining the complexity, function, purpose, design, and beauty we see in the universe if theyre not the handiwork of a Creator. Does nature have a preference for the kind of universe we have? Maybe so. But if she does, then that preference, itself, needs an explanation. Scientists trying to turn evolution into a theory of everything might expect nature to answer, I am who I am. But theres only One who can truly say that. Why not give Him credit for a change?

This Breakpoint was co-authored by Shane Morris. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.

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Science Lab: Evolving Dak, McCarthy on the attack – DallasCowboys.com

Posted: at 7:39 pm

FRISCO, TX Don't look now, OK, I knew you'd look when I said that, but the Dallas Cowboys' offense is officially one of the most explosive in the entire NFL. The reasons for the evolution were hinted at by recent history, as I pointed out several weeks prior to it happening, but also rooted in several tweaks by Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott that have gone unnoticed by most.

That is until now, because it's time to look into the Darwinism of it all.

Prescott and Lamb are both operating at an MVP level through Week 10, one hand washing the other, continually, with the former having now thrown for 12 passing TDs to only two interceptions in past four games for a robust 1,354 yards and a passer 125.2 rating; and he's also rushed for two touchdowns extended several drives with his mobility.

"I think, this past month, we're hitting on all cylinders." Mike McCarthy

In the previous five games (one additional game) combined for Prescott? Well, he threw for 293 fewer yards (1,061), eight fewer touchdowns (4) and had twice as many interceptions (4), owning a passer rating of 70.31.

So what the hell has gotten into Prescott and the Cowboys' offense lately?

The short answer to that question is: heaven.

Now let's take a stroll into the longer, more in-depth answer(s).

The demoralizing loss to the 49ers broke the Cowboys.

The good news is that, apparently, it was the right kind of fracture. Fact is, the offense was still trying to find its path toward explosiveness after having seen turnover at offensive coordinator, play-caller, running backs coach, offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach, and also the lead running back role; and McCarthy also admittedly needed to knock off some rust at turning the dials.

With so much change this offseason, I warned to give the unit a chance to begin firing on all cylinders, especially considering Prescott and other key offensive players hadn't played in the preseason (I'm good with that, by the way) and then the offensive line suffered multiple injuries that threw their five-man combinations into a merry-go-round of personnel placements.

Still, there was growth over the first four weeks, but it wasn't the right type of growth, and Dallas found that out the hard way. It was like a bone that wasn't healing correctly and needed to be medically fractured again to ensure it grew in the right direction. So yes, you hated it in the moment but, ultimately, Kyle Shanahan did the Cowboys a favor.

He medically fractured the bone and now it's growing, and quickly, how it should've in the first place.

Shanahan reminded McCarthy, for starters, just how lethal pre-snap motion can be. As it stands, the Cowboys have the second-highest rate of offensive explosiveness in Week 7 through Week 10, on plays that exceed 15 yards, second only to, you guessed it, Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.

I say Shanahan reminded McCarthy because McCarthy already had an idea, but hadn't fully leaned into the idea to that point. But considering the quality of weapons in Dallas isn't much different from that in San Francisco, there should've been no reason for the latter to flat-out punish what is arguably the best defense in the NFL, then and now.

Pre-snap motion can be devastatingly unsettling to even the best of defenses, and McCarthy felt that burn firsthand at Levi's Stadium and, ever since, he's made sure the Cowboys are one of the teams in the league that utilize it the most.

*source material: Next Gen Stats

Pre-snap motion (Week 1 through Week 4):

The first thing that jumps out here is that McCarthy started the year ready to give the league a bout of motion sickness, giving the Giants all they could handle.

But when the offense struggled to get going, largely due to lack of preseason reps, the aforementioned changes and the weather, it feels like the Cowboys' play-caller scaled back for Week 2, and winning that game decisively didn't do much to change his mind regarding the use of pre-snap motion.

The offense was still sputtering, but it wasn't much different from the regular season opener, and then came the upset at the hand of the Cardinals in Week 3, the first real hint that (along with it being the worst defensive outing at the time) Prescott and the offense needed to make some schematic changes.

And, wouldn't you know it, for only the second time in the first four games, the Cowboys deployed pre-snap motion on more than half of their reps. The red-zone woes were still present, due to execution miscues, and that's why they were still not stacking touchdowns, but at least they were back on the right track, or so you would've believed.

Pre-snap motion (Week 5):

I believe McCarthy saw, again, the offense sputter despite using pre-snap motion more than half of the time and turned it down again here, and to a season-low, helping to lead to a season-worst showing by the offense; and the defensive play didn't help in delivering their hands-down worst showing of the season, blowing the Cardinals' film out of the water.

This brings me to the current state of affairs in Dallas, and it's a state that's so promising it might beat Puerto Rico to being the 51st in the Union.

Pre-snap motion (Week 6 through Week 10):

Outcome of each post-Week 5 contest:

Not unlike the first four games prior to the 49ers matchup, the Cowboys have gone 3-1 in this stretch following their trip to Levi's Stadium as well, and very nearly 4-0, if not for a knee, a toe, a false start and (yes, I'll say it) some downright nauseatingly ill-timed no-calls and/or unjustified penalties (but that's a story for another time).

That said, has the vast uptick in pre-snap motion made that much of a change in the outcome of the games? Well, yes, if you account for now simply the outcome but how they get there.

Offensive points per game (PATs/FGs excluded):

*Average: 8.4 offensive points per game

Now let's turn this up, once Prescott reignites his mobility against the Chargers to set the stage for the weeks to follow that contest, along with a frustrated Lamb growing horns to start looking like a GOAT (it really does all tie together).

*Average: 24 offensive points per game

They also had opportunities, as mentioned above, to add one to two more touchdowns to the board in Philadelphia to put them at 7-2 on the season and push the average offensive output that much higher over the past four weeks; but the overarching point here is rather clear.

While pre-snap motion, alongside execution, has the Cowboys in rare air right now, and there's no reason for them to turn back now.

The team as a whole had a decision to make after they were dragged out back and beaten to within an inch of their football lives by the 49ers, one that would determine the course of their season thereafter.

They could either get down on themselves, pout, throw a tantrum and spiral into a wasted season, or they could look at what Shanahan did and realize that same potential exists in Dallas, and with an experience play-caller, a revamped analytics department and one of the best QB-WR duos in all of professional football.

What's more is how feverishly they've leaned into their passing attack, partly due to the struggles in the run game but, more so, due to the belief in Prescott, Lamb and the other skill players who can destroy a defensive secondary.

They are passing nearly 10 percent more often than expected (+9.9%) in any given situation, and that's good enough for ... wait for it ... FIRST in the NFL in that category. Because of that, Dak Prescott leads the NFL in pass yards (1,082), TD (11) and EPA (+43.1) over that time frame.

"I'm one of The Ones. I'm [a] top receiver in this game. There's no question about it. If there is, I'll see you again next week." CeeDee Lamb

Outside of you tapping on that very obvious blue hyperlink to the left of this sentence to find out exactly just how ridiculous Prescott and Lamb have been even prior to Lamb going out and setting an NFL record a few days ago and Brandin Cooks gluing 170+ yards to Brian Dabolls forehead here are additionally tasty morsels for both the gray and white matter inside of that calcium helmet atop your neck.

Quarterback EPA (Expected Points Above Average)

I'll readily tell you one huge driver of Prescott's ascension this season, one that has to put him in the MVP conversation at the moment, is his marked improvement against man coverage. Don't let the national media feed you an inaccurate narrative when it comes to Prescott's ability to dissect zone coverage. He's had that scalpel in his bag for a very long time. Man coverage, however, has often been his Boogeyman, and it's what the 49ers used to ruin his day.

No one has since, though.

Again, thank you, San Francisco.

Pass splits vs. coverage looks (post-SF):

This is the definition of being forced to pick your poison. If you present Prescott with a zone look, the odds are in his favor. If you switch to a man look, the odds are, now, also in his favor, and it's due in part to his newfound comfort and command of the Texas Coast offense, as well as his willingness to threaten with his legs, and also the simple fact that his playmakers are

"When the ball comes your way, just go out there and make plays." Brandin Cooks

CeeDee Lamb has accumulated 975 receiving yards through nine games this season, and 351 of those are yards after the catch (36%). He has 221 more yards than expected (per route plus situation) and his catch rate is an inhumanly good 79.1 percent (vs. expected of 63.9%).

If the ball is thrown anywhere on the planet, Lamb might be the one to catch it.

The breakout season of Jake Ferguson simply makes Prescott and the offense that much more deadly, which was true before Cooks walked into the kitchen in Week 10 and lit a grease fire that the Giants kept trying to throw buckets of water on.

The rushing attack is still working through its process, but doesn't that make what Prescott, Lamb and McCarthy are doing that much more special? They're no longer trying to establish the run to set up the pass something many alleged McCarthy would attempt to do in the post-Kellen Moore era but they're instead using the pass to set up the run in DALLAS?

And so it goes, that there has been a very clear and evident offensive evolution this season. All of the dinosaurs are dead thanks to the extinction level event on Oct. 8, 2023.

Approximately 37 days later, it's starting to look like Blade Runner around here.

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Universalists to consider the mandate of the Golden Rule – Ashland Daily Press

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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

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Universalists to consider the mandate of the Golden Rule - Ashland Daily Press

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6-Year-Old Boy Dies a Month After Adult Neighbor Allegedly Beats … – PEOPLE

Posted: at 7:38 pm

A six-year-old boy who was attacked with a baseball bat last month allegedly by his adult neighbor has died from his injuries.

In an update posted on GoFundMe on Tuesday, Jeremy Diaz's father announced that the boy had a sudden neural storm following weeks of recovery from his various injuries. After six hours, the attempts to resuscitate Jeremy failed and he was pronounced dead, Jeremy's father wrote. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office also confirmed the young boy's death.

He fought for over 60 days and was improving, but at the end, the odds seemed against him, the GoFundMe update written by Jeremy's father reads, later adding: I was there when he took his first breathe and saw him take his last no parent should see their children buried before them. Thank you all for supporting us, and most especially for supporting Jeremy. He was a wonderful and loving child that practiced the Golden Rule. In him I am well pleased.

Jeremy was set to get his ventilator out on Wednesday, because his vital signs were much improved and at normal levels," the GoFundMe states. As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe has earned $316,000 to go toward medical expenses.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The alleged random attack occurred on September 11 around 5 a.m. in Georgetown, Texas. The Williamson County Sheriffs Department responded to a call of a disturbance in a residential area where police identified 39-year-old Daniel Logan as the man who entered his next-door neighbors house and attacked two people, including Jeremy, according to a statement from the department.

Williamson County Sheriff's Office

Logan was charged with two first-degree felonies: Injury to a child and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a family member. Logan also allegedly struck his 65-year-old mother, Cynthia Logan, with the bat, according to local news station Fox 7.

"As the investigation continues, we are in constant communication with the District Attorney's Office while awaiting autopsy results," The Williamson County Sheriffs Department's newest statement reads. "Upon receipt of the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office's findings, and if warranted, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with the District Attorneys Office will present the case to a grand jury for the charges to be enhanced to Capital Murder."

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the young boy as well as his family during this trying time," Logan's attorney, Marc Chavez, told PEOPLE in part in a statement before Jeremy's death. "While the allegations sound troubling, we ask everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts come to light especially while we investigate issues related to serious mental illness."

Jeremy's GoFundMe page described him as a bright, vibrant child with a heart full of dreams and a future brimming with potential.

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6-Year-Old Boy Dies a Month After Adult Neighbor Allegedly Beats ... - PEOPLE

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COLUMN: Celebrate Thanksgiving year-round with ‘Thanks-living … – Andalusia Star-News

Posted: at 7:38 pm

Published 7:30 am Sunday, November 19, 2023

Several years ago, groups of people from various churches in our county traveled to Haiti some on medical mission trips and other groups to help with construction of churches in Jacmel and Anse Du Clerce. The week they spent there made a lasting impact on their lives.

They told about the tent cities where thousands were living due to the destruction caused by an earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. The day after returning home from the trip, my husband, Greg, went into a local grocery store and commented that he saw more food in that one grocery store than he had seen the entire week in Jacmel. The stark comparison was like a cultural after-shock.

Pastor Franky Jeune, the mission teams interpreter in Haiti, has spoken in many churches in our county. He shares how the Haitians must trust God every day for their food because they never had enough set aside for tomorrow.

I was reminded, once again, how much I take for granted each day. Pastor Frankys statement also reminded me of the request in the Lords Prayer, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matthew 6:11). Its something most Americans do not have to do. We are basically in the one percent and the rest of the world in the 99 percent, when it comes to having plenty of food.

Too often, I have to be reminded of what others do not have to be reminded of why I should be thankful for all I do have. Helen Keller once said, I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during their early adult life. It would make them more appreciative of sight and the joys of sound.

Someone once said that the words thank and think come from the same root. Author Max Lucado has asked, Arent you glad that God doesnt give you only that which you remember to thank him for?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed that if the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because theyre visible every night, we rarely give them a look.

Maybe we should consider celebrating Thanksgiving year-round by thanks-living. Make giving thanks a part of daily living. First, theres vertical thanks, directed to God each day as we think of at least one thing for which we are thankful to Him.

Secondly, theres horizontal thanks, toward our fellowman. Say thank you to the person who opens a door for you. Thank the waitress for serving your meal, and then return thanks to God for providing it. When I see a soldier in uniform, I say, Thank you for serving our country. When we grow our gratitude, we are living the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12).

Thanks is the easiest thing to give a simple spoken word to express gratitude. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.

Jan White has compiled a collection of her columns inher book, Everyday Faithfor Daily Life.

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COLUMN: Celebrate Thanksgiving year-round with 'Thanks-living ... - Andalusia Star-News

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Silence is craven, not golden – The Gazette

Posted: at 7:38 pm

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump walks past Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. on Capitol Hill in Washington following the president's address to a joint session of Congress. Manchin said Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, that if voters give Trump another term in Washington, he will destroy Democracy in America. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, file)

It probably wont surprise you that Im not likely to vote for either of our senators. What may surprise you, however, is that I think, as wrong as they are on issues I care about, they are probably decent people who dont swear or belch loudly in church, never litter, dont drive above speed limits, and pay their taxes on time.

But before I nominate either one for sainthood, I have a simple question for them: Do you agree with Donald Trump who recently said, we pledge to you that we will root out the Communists, Marxists, Racists, and Radical Left Thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our Country, lie, steal, and cheat on Elections, and will do anything possible, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America, and the American dream . Despite the hatred and anger of the Radical Left Lunatics who want to destroy our country, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

Senators, do you believe Communists and Marxists are stealing our elections? Do you see a lot of vermin or lunatics wandering our streets or in the countryside? I dont know how smart Donald Trump is, but I do know he is ignorant and a danger. You have an obligation to speak out, to save your political party and our democracy. You will not be judged, by how long you serve, but how courageous you were in saving your party and the country from the curse of Donald Trump.

That is not a partisan view. Here is what a Republican who worked in the White House for Mr. Trump recently said, He lacks any shred of human decency, humility or caring. He is morally bankrupt, breathtakingly dishonest, lethally incompetent, and stunningly ignorant of virtually anything related to governing, history, geography, human events, or world affairs. He is a traitor and a malignancy in our nation and represents a clear and present danger to our democracy and the rule of law.

Trumps probable cabinet members, Steve Bannon and Mike Davis, talk of deporting 10 million people in a second Trump term. When Jenna Ellis lamented that their election challenges failed, Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff in Trumps White House, apparently answered: Well, we dont care, the boss is not going to leave under any circumstances. We are just going to stay in power. When Ellis responded Well, it doesnt quite work that way, you realize? he answered: We dont care.

They really dont care about things you must consider as citizens and senators. They would build sprawling camps housing people and families waiting to be expelled, include Muslims who came legally. Trump refers to this, with pride, as the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.

Since 1860, newly elected Senators take an oath that begins I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,

Donald Trump is a domestic enemy of our democracy. Sens. Ernst's and Grassleys silence is the luxury of political cowards and makes your oath meaningless. Please speak out to maintain your honor and democracy.

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphreys press secretary.

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com

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Silence is craven, not golden - The Gazette

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Sellars CEO Named to Wisconsin ‘Titan 100’ – Industrial Distribution

Posted: at 7:38 pm

MILWAUKEE Tom Sellars, CEO of Sellars Absorbent Materials, has been named to the 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100, which recognizes the states top 100 CEOs and C-level executives who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and passion.

Sellars is a family-owned, Milwaukee-based manufacturer of wipes, absorbents and towel and tissue products with 200 employees.

As a forward-looking company, we are committed to our employees, our customers and the environment. Its the right thing to do and it contributes to our ongoing growth and success, Sellars said. For our employees and customers, we follow the Golden Rule. For our products, we follow sustainable practices and are proud to say our wipes, absorbents and towels and tissues are made from recycled and renewable materials.

Sellars will be honored on Jan. 18 at an awards ceremony at Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee.

The Titan 100 are visionary leaders who inspire the Wisconsin business community. These preeminent leaders have built a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled in their field. We are humbled to recognize the Titan 100 for their efforts to shape the future of the Wisconsin business community, said Jaime Zawmon, president of Titan CEO.

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Sellars CEO Named to Wisconsin 'Titan 100' - Industrial Distribution

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