Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Top Ten Stadiums

After small group last night I watched a program hosted by Peyton Manning, counting down the top ten stadiums. Diverse group of celebrities commented on the selections, including Neil deGrassi Tyson, Adam Richman, and Steve Lyons. Not sure what made them experts. 

10. The Superdome in New Orleans

9. The Astrodome in Houston

8. Centre Court, Wimbledon

7. Madison Square Garden, in New York City

6. Wembley Stadium in London

5. Comminsky Park in Chicago

4. Fenway Park in Boston

3. The Los Angeles Coliseum

2. The Coliseum in Rome

1. Yankee Stadium

Workers tore up our old front walkway yesterday, on a project to funnel water away from our front door when it rains. Water didn’t use to pool there until we extended the flower bed out from the house. We’ll see if this project works.

Clickbait: three Braves with bad contracts. Every team has bad contracts. The challenge is to limit the number. Marcel Ozuna, Kirby Yates, and Eddie Rosario. Last year fans wanted the Braves to sign World Series hero Jorge Soler, but the Marlins signed him to a huge contract, more than the Braves wanted to pay. Soler responded by only hitting 13 homes runs, and batting 207.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/3-braves-stealing-money-from-the-team-thanks-to-bad-contracts/ar-AA180Jbw?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=64e5fcf82af24cef87531f6223cc886b&ei=12

With the time changing on March 10, I won’t be able to play AM golf during the week until March 20. Did a quick study of sunrise times in Atlanta. You know, the more you know.

706 March 1

653 March 11

752 March 12

726 March 31

725 April 1

650 April 30

649 May 1

636 May 15

628 May 31

627 June 2-3

626 June 4-19

627 June 20

630 July 1

649 August 1

711 September 1

731 October 1

756 November 1

700 November 5

724 December 1

Poised to tie Babe Ruth’s record 60 home runs with five games left in the season, HANK GREENBERG   [SABR Bio] couldn’t take advantage of the last eight pitchers he faced. After his 2-HR game on 27-Sept-1938(2), Greenberg had 58 HRs, just two shy of Ruth’s record set the previous year.  But Hank was stymied by an octet of hurlers whose aggregate ERA for 1938 was 4.86. Born on 01-Jan-1911, Greenberg was inducted into the HOF in 1956.  Fellow New Year’s Day baby Tim Keefe (b.1857) had to wait until 1964 before being enshrined. Greenberg was the first AL player to register for the first peacetime draft. On 16-Sept-1940, the US instituted the Selective Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft. Greenberg, then 29 years old, voluntarily signed up one month later.  He was honorably discharged by Congress two days before Pearl Harbor (as were any other men over the age of 28), but he re-enlisted on 01-Feb-1942.  He volunteered for service in the Army Air Force, becoming the first major league player to do so.  His total military term of service was 47 months, the longest of any major league player.

Denison on Covid resulting from a Chinese laboratory: “The US Energy Department concluded the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated with a laboratory leak. The USED now joins the FBI in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory” (if not on purpose).

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/covid-origin-likely-lab-leak/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+most+likely+origin+of+COVID-19&utm_campaign=02-28-23+Energy+Department+says+lab+leak+most+likely+origin+of+COVID-19+pandemic

Having hit a bit of a weight loss plateau, I’m planning to hit it extra hard for the next month. I have exercised 13 of the past 15 days, and plan on making it at least 17 of 19. Didn’t feel 100% most of February, but am better now. Ran three miles this morning. Gotta quit eating so dang much.

Fun fact: there are at least 17 RaceTracs on the northside of Atlanta, from Marietta Woodstock , up 400 to Cumming, and east over to Peachtree Corners Norcross Duluth.

At work every year we get new t-shirts with the sales theme for the year. This year the theme has to do with Maverick Top Gun. Previous themes include TCB Takin Care of Business (black), Unleash the Beast (red) in 2020, appropriate in the covid year, No Customer Left Behind, Let Me See Your War Face, and others.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Beware of Moe

Did not realize my pal Moe Drabowsky pitched for the Braves in 1961. Sixteen relief appearances, one loss, 4.62 ERA, two saves, 25.1 innings, 26 hits, 13 earned runs, 18 walks, five strikeouts. Wore number 17. Looks like he’s pulling something over on someone by wearing number 3 in the photo.

More fun facts about Moe: Also played for the Cubs, Reds, KC Athletics, Orioles, Royals, Cardinals, and White Sox (comedians tend to move around a lot, was the old joke). Born in Poland. Pitched a no-hitter for Trinity College. As a rookie, Moe finished sixth in the NL with 170 strikeouts, the second highest for a rookie that season. Set a World Series record for relievers that still stands, with 11 strikeouts in one game. Won the first game in Royals history. Once gave commissioner Bowie Kuhn the hotfoot. Gave up Stan Musial’s 3000th hit. Was the losing pitcher in Early Wynn’s 300th career victory.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drabomo01.shtml

Will’s sister-in-law’s brother Graham Smith plays for Sewanee. They were down two with 12 seconds to play, and won the championship game by four, upsetting Berry. They advance to the NCAA tournament. Graham grabbed a key rebound and dished the assist for the game-winning shot.

https://saa-sports.com/news/2023/2/26/mens-basketball-sewanee-shocks-berry-in-wild-finish-for-saa-tournament-championship.aspx

https://sewaneetigers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/graham-smith/7783

Basketball: going viral on social media: a “travel” team of screaming 9 year olds later journeyed to Washington and got beat 36-5. In a poll 84% of the readers of the story described the kids' behavior as inappropriate. My favorite was the chunky big kid who missed his layup, got his own rebound, and made the easy put back - then screamed like he had made a great play.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/the-bragging-kids-in-the-viral-youth-basketball-video-got-absolutely-destroyed/ar-AA17Tk9i?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=5c91b6fc1b1d400cbf5fb5452c6268f3&ei=38

How was your weekend? Did you see the end of the Honda Classic? Pretty close. Too bad Jack’s tourney didn’t draw more top players. The date is sandwiched between the end of the west coast swing and starts the Florida tourneys. Jack said next year the PGA promised him a better date and new sponsor.

Friday: left work at five. Saturday AM golf. Afterwards I drove to the office and worked on taxes. Mexican for dinner.

Saturday Ceil had parked under a flock of birds. From the look of her car I am surprised she didn’t get bombed herself. We left her car out in the “rain”. Sunday afternoon I took it to the carwash, and cleaned out the inside myself. Also did some laundry, raked part of the yard. Also upstairs. Also took a nap both Saturday and Sunday.

This morning I met Will at the golf course, but the marshal wouldn’t let him take Shivonne in a stroller. I played with the professor instead.

1. The prof had already hit his tee shot, so I hustled down and hit my first shot from the fairway. A decent 7 iron. I drove my chip into the trap. Took me two tries to blast out – over the green. A good chip back, and then a decent lag putt.

2. Seven iron off tee. A good chip to the fringe, though not pretty. Two putt for bogey.

3. Skidded my tee shot. Mulligan better but left.. Chipped it closer, then two more chips, one too far, one not far enough. Took several putts in the wet dew. Triple.

4. Pulled a 7 iron left, just into the woods. Bad chip better chip. Okay lag putt, then tapped a putt downhill and rolled into the cup. “Bogey”.

5. Okay 7 iron. Great chip, but I missed the par putt. Bogey.

6.  Flubbed by first tee shot, but my mulligan was great – middle of the fairway, past the big oak. Then a second good 6 iron almost to the fringe. Chipped onto the green. Two putt for bogey.

7.  Pulled out the driver, and sliced my tee shot badly. Okay rescue shot back onto the fairway. Hit a great 6 iron that sailed almost tee high, but right onto the 8th tee box (where I found it after taking a drop and finishing the hole).

8. Drive felt good but it clipped a tree, and dropped short into the fairway. Good 7 iron. Good pitch onto the green. Par putt lipped out. GT had the long drive (below).

9. Hit 3 wood off the tee. First went right into the woods. Second also right but playable. Good chip to the fringe. Putted twice, neither great. “Double”.

BOBBY DOERR   [SABR Bio] was the first major leaguer to ground into more than thirty double plays in a season, with 31 in 1949. He was a coach for TOR in 1977-1981, including their inaugural season. He was the first to hit two cycles for the Red Sox, on 17-May-1944(2) & 13-May-1947.

Scientists in Germany find that the vaccine, not covid, causes brain and heart damage.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/hard-evidence-in-new-study-brain-heart-damage-caused-by-mrna-vaccine_5074383.html__;!!AE29DT8V!QWELCxoVS7tPj2Jd-M9wuY2Q-i_lg11yvMW9U2S2-Q_wdNGL2_bewfGGtmzXU7CoN_ZD5Gp_81iy5ngCRno$

Things to do to live a longer life – including eating less often.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://bakadesuyo.com/2021/08/longevity/__;!!AE29DT8V!Qatt2u891q2R5XPzcvq7n35NF31ptGYyKNanmK2vM8J_TdlxJPmzS8Icctc7EkRB-jYS9Yk9pAnA1ifcs6Y$

Pre-season ACC QB rankings. FSU is first, ahead of UNC wunderkind Maye and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. The GT QB set isn’t last. Not sure if the author just wanted clicks by not ranking Maye first.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://collegefootballnetwork.com/acc-qb-rankings-2023/__;!!AE29DT8V!SwToIPqdefoLOkSfYRLafvdsxshIfnknNFYLEf0PrTkIbCJeUzMJaNBZ34Bv4JDVCt0XrKolCRdNqb3S2w0$

In other news, I fixed a $200,000.00 problem at work today. Also fixed another $16000.00 problem that will benefit our bottom line. Sorry I can’t send any of that money your way. I will miss not being able to do things like that on the new computer system.

Bad news: the yellow Hawks shorts I'd passed on Saturday were gone when I went back today. That was a lot of yellow.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

What's in it For Me?

Clay Smith JFBC: What's in it for me?

Is this all you ask? How does this relate to the mission of the church?

In the classic movie Field of Dreams, after turning his cornfield into a baseball diamond farmer Ray Kinsella eventually asked "What's in it for me?" Author Terrance Mann replied "Is that why you're doing this?"

https://kidadl.com/quotes/best-field-of-dreams-quotes-from-the-movie

JFBC Mission Statement: We exist to help people find truth, belonging, and purpose in Jesus Christ.

NPCC mission statement: Leading people to a growing relationship with Jesus.

Finding Truth

The high cost of fake news, false content. Tozer: a notable heresy: "Humans can choose Christ as Savior but postpone following Him as Lord". God wants to be in every part of our lives. We spend so little time in the scriptures. We are skeptical about its relevance. We don't know how to make Christ our Lord. We are vampire Christians.

Discipleship is doing easily and routinely what God wants us to do, as opposed to once or twice a year. Muscle memory.

Finding truth. John 17: 6-8.  Jesus prays just before he is arrested. The holy of holies.

Aspects of walking in the truth:

A. Accept Jesus' word as God's word.  You are a gift from the Father to the Son. Jesus is charitable to us, to his disciples. John 5: you search the scriptures because you think they give eternal life…

Jesus performed miracles but followed up with hard truths. Many turned and walked away. Peter: where are we going to go? You have the words of eternal life.

What word best describes my time in the Bible this past month?

B. Believe in Jesus as God's word in the flesh. John 17:1-5. Jesus prays Father the hour has come…this is eternal life, that they may know You. Glorify your Son.

Phil 2: when Jesus came to earth in a body, emptying Himself, later reclaiming His full glory. We need to know this about Jesus. More than just knowing Jesus and having faith in Him, but continually returning to Him.

John 3:16: God so loved, not judged those who believe. Have a healthy sense of urgency for unbelievers. Putting faith in Jesus is the beginning of the journey.

C. Conform to Jesus' vision of the good life, and walk in His truth. Follow, guard, keep safe, becoming more like God. Put it into perspective. Make muscle memory.

Think of someone you struggle with. Jesus says to love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. What reward is there to love only your friends? Even pagans do that. Keep praying and walking in His truth.

Develop the habit of reading the Bible. Daily. Unhurried. Even ten minutes. Read one chapter of the gospel of John every day.

Ask yourself the question: What do you want me to do? Who do you want me to become, as a result of this text?

"Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth". Must be able to think God's truth, easily and routinely. 

You can listen to the sermon here 

Sunday night movie, with Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode (Leap Year), and Mark Harmon as the President.

Players with the most MLB postseason games played:

Player             Games Teams                     WAR

Derek Jeter............158...NYY...............................71.3

Chipper Jones........ 93...ATL...............................85.3

David Justice.........112...ATL, CLE, NYY, OAK...40.6

Kenny Lofton.......... 95.CLE SF CHC NYY LAD.68.4

Tito Martinez........... 99...SEA, NYY, STL............29.0

Yadier Molina........104...STL...............................42.2

Jorge Posada........125...NYY..............................42.7

Manny Ramírez.... 111...CLE, BOS, LAD............69.3

Mariano Rivera....    96...NYY..............................56.3

Bernie Williams...  121...NYY..............................49.6

Will's sister-in-law Holly's youngest brother Graham Smith plays for Sewanee, in the same conference older brother Connor played in, for Oglethorpe.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Spahn and Yogi

In 1965 spring training Mets manager Casey Stengle welcomed a new pitcher and catcher to the team: Warren Spahn and Yogi Berra. Yogi only played four games for the Mets, and Spahn was traded to the Astros. Odd seeing the three in Mets uniforms.

Lady at work returned a small favor on Friday, and slid me an extra box lunch from Dreamland BBQ. Nice. Earlier I’d been talking to Marty and Daniel about Jets Pizza, which they recommended. Made me think of my favor foods: BBQ, pizza, burgers, lasagna, Mexican. pie, ice cream, chicken casseroles. Milkshakes, chicken salad, pudding. Sweet & Sour chicken.

Saturday AM golf with the prof and vet. GT's wife came along to watch.

1. Pretty good drive off the tee. For me anyway. Flubbed a 7 iron left. One chip too long, mulligan a little better.

2. Seven iron off tee flubbed left. I always used to hit everything right. Now its left. Good chip but it hit a tree branch. Chip then putt.

3. Flubbed the first 6 iron right, then sailed the mulligan left. Two lost balls. A good chip.

4. Flubbed another iron left off the tee, but I hit a great chip close to the hole.

5. Scalded my 6 iron off the tee, a line drive that rocketed to the fringe. Shot of the day. Okay lag putt. Missed the par putt. Bogey. We let a single play through.

6. Flubbed the first 6 iron off the tee, then hit my mulligan slightly left into the brush. Hit a good fairway shot, then an even better chip. Would've made the green had it not hit another tree branch.

7. Six iron off tee sailed left. Heard that before? My recovery shot from the rough hit a tree and bounced out in the middle of the fairway, but no closer to the hole. Then I hit a great 6 iron over the hill - but I never found it. made an okay chip shot, and just missed a long putt.

8. Okay 6 iron off tee. Got an okay roll. Good 7 iron down the hill to the fringe. Good chip. Par putt lipped out. Bogey.

9. Flubbed my tee shot. I hit a pretty good approach. Okay chip. An okay putt that missed.

Ever since covid I haven't made as many thrift store visits or buys. But today was one of those days where I kept kinding everything on my list. Stopped by the Catholic church in Roswell, where the prices had been super cheap last year. Today I scored two Falcon t-shirts, a royal dri fit long sleeve tee, and a white Nordstrom dress shirt - all for five bucks.

Then after working on my taxes for a couple of hours at the office I hit two more thrift stores on the way home. At Park Avenue I found a $90 Braves jacket (a Braves item I actually don't have). Also a nice navy Braves long sleeve tee. Also saw two super nice items I passed on: the exact pair of Pistol Pete era Hawks shorts I'd been looking for - except in yellow. Just too big and outlandish. Also a pair of (1) slightly small, (2) yellow Nike Space Hippie type sneakers for (3) $20 - with (4) a stain on one toe. More yellow than the picture below. But maybe Monday I'll go back and buy them for half price, if they're still there.

Then at the Alpharetta Goodwill I found the pair of spikeless golf shoes I've been looking for: adidas bounce. Nice. Will hate to get them dirty in the morning dew and mud, but that's what they're for.

Also passed on a pair of shorts with a skull on the back.

Later I took C to Whole Foods. A high traffic area.

On the way home Jordan called Ceil: Ted finally proposed. Only two short months to her May 2nd wedding date. Lotta work they'll have to do in a short amount of time.

Tonight Shivonne watched The Emperor's New Groove for the first time. She liked.

DEREK JETER   [SABR Bio] had four hits off Greg Maddux on 03-Jun-2000; Bo Diaz had four hits off Maddux on 07-Sep-1986. Jeter was the first post-expansion player to lead his team in hits for each of his first six full seasons. He led the Yankees from 1996-2001 with 183, 190, 203, 219, 201 & 191. Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser (AL MVP 1944 & 1945) was working as a scout for Houston when young Jeter was brought to his attention. He gave Jeter the highest possible marks and strongly recommended the Astros to Jeter with the first pick in 1992. Draft day came and Houston chose Phil Nevin. Jeter was still available at pick #6 and he went to New York. Newhouser, incensed at being ignored over such an important matter, quit the next day. Story here.

I knew former Ohio State defensive end Tom Perdue was voted co-captain. Did not know he was also an all-American at baseball, who played four seasons in the minors. Still hold the single season record for highest batting average: .469. Did not know he was a Bible scholar who wrote eight books. Can’t find anything on the Christmas tree farm he operated outside of Washington Georgia back in the 80’s.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dispatch/name/thomas-perdue-obituary?id=20217423

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Thomas%20H.%20Perdue%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/09/59969/former-buckeye-tom-perdue-passed-away

Friday, February 24, 2023

Mahomes: Top 5 All Time?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the toughest to gain entrance to. Peyton Manning made news by saying Patrick Mahomes has already accomplished enough in his first six seasons to make the PFHOF. Maybe he has, though most voters except a slightly longer career. Of players with such short careers, only Gale Sayers and Terrell Davis have earned entry into Canton.

What gets me are all the “experts” who claim Mahomes is an all-time top five QB. Not so fast. Nice that he’s made it to three Super Bowls (winning two) but youngsters today aren’t remembering how Brady, Bradshaw, Staubach, Montana, and Otto Graham all have more. Johnny Unitas and Brett Favre aren’t slouches, either. Or Peyton Manning.

Of course, Peyton and Patrick are fast friends. Mahomes appeared on the most recent episode of Peyton's Places, where a helicopter dropped thousands of Super Balls on the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot. After watching his kids play with Super Balls, Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt got the idea to rename the fledgling NFL/AFL Championship Game the Super Bowl.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-world-reacts-to-what-peyton-manning-said-about-patrick-mahomes/ar-AA17RtQR?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=5835d7d9aa924aeca61d04722002bbcd&ei=103 

I hear Tiger might play at Doral in the next couple of weeks. At Doral he can commute from his home up the coast. As Tiger got into the tournament last week his limp was becoming less noticeable. Jim Nance was saying that each night during the tournament Woods was having to ice his leg for several hours.

Some expect Dansby to have a “stellar” year. He is more likely to struggle. In Atlanta he was surrounded by better hitters. In Chicago he will be expected to carry the Cubs lineup, and pitchers can pitch around him. Plus like so many free agent acquisitions, Swanson will be pressing in an effort to justify his huge contract. I predict he will have a below average year. Heck, last year he only slashed 277/329/447/776, with a career 255/321/417/738. His career high OPS was 809, which is nice but far from stellar. He’s made one all star team in seven seasons, with one Gold Glove. The Braves were right to not pay Dansby the $177 million the Cubs so foolishly threw at him. Even with the loss of Swanson, the Braves are expected by most experts to be the best team in the NL, ahead of the free-spending Dodgers, Phillies, and Mets.

RED SCHOENDIENST [SABR Bio] led the National League in doubles in 1950 even though his teammate Stan Musial hit 41. Schoendienst had 43. His Cards won the World Series in 1946. Traded to the Braves, he was a key part of the team that brought Milwaukee its only championship in 1957. He suffered through a broken finger, pleurisy, and bruised ribs during 1958. His pleurisy, etc., happened during the 1958 season. In 1959, his doctor confirmed that Schoendienst had developed tuberculosis & probably had been playing with it for years. After sitting out the 1959 season, he soldiered on and played until 1963.

Not much to report. Last night M cooked a spicy meatball spaghetti, with homemade sauce.

Lifted weights at the gym this morning. Tomorrow morning I should be able to squeeze in a round of golf. There’s a yard sale at the Catholic church in Roswell I want to stop by. Need to get the oil changed in my car. Might run another errand as well. Also laundry.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Weekday Golf

Arrived at the golf course extra early today, to get off ahead of two of the regulars. Two other guys were behind me as well, that I didn’t know. It was 65 degrees when I teed off at 6:54 am, so I was able to play in a short-sleeved golf shirt. Very nice. Even broke a sweat. I wanted to play quickly to get to work, though I still hit 2 or 3 balls on most of the holes.

1. Hit two great drives – perhaps my longest drives ever on that hole. Then I put away my driver. I wanted to work on my irons for the rest of the round. Hit a good 7 iron that didn’t quite clear the hill to the green. Bad chips, good chips.

2. Bad 7 iron, slightly better 7 iron. Chip sailed left. Two decent chips. Two putt.

3. Skidded one 7 iron to the right, then cut two to the left. Made a couple of decent chips, then practiced three more shorter chips.

4. Sailed a 7 iron left, then flubbed my mulligan. Made a couple of passable chips, and a couple of okay putts.

5. Another 7 iron sailed left. Clunked a tree and bounced out onto the fairway. Skidded a mulligan that got a good roll. Made a couple of okay chips, though neither stayed on the green. Decent shorter chip.

6. Hit a 6 iron off the tee that sailed left, but the mulligan took off, rolling to a stop to the left of the big tree, in the middle of the fairway. Longer than any driver off the tee. Then one bad 6 iron, then two passable 6 irons, though neither were pretty. Hit two chips onto the green, one close. Two putt for a good “bogey”.

7. Hit two 6 irons off the tee. Both decent. Bad 5 iron, then two better 5 irons. Chipped my third shot onto the green. Two putt for another good “bogey”.

8. Hit one 6 iron slightly right that kicked off a tree. Mulligan went straight but low. Got a great roll – as far as one of my drivers. Flubbed an 8 iron left, but it rolled down the hill into good position. Okay chip. Two putt for another good “bogey”.

9. Flubbed a 7 iron left. Hit my first mulligan low. It didn’t roll far. Third try was better. Hit two approach shots left. One bad chip, then two better chips. Made a good lag putt. Finished at 8:16, over 45 minutes earlier than last week.

Playing alone made it harder to track where my ball went. Lost one ball on the first hole, and another on three. On nine I lost three balls. Not too bad, for playing alone. Arrived at work just after 9 am. Man when the time changes the sun will come up an hour later, so it will be near impossible to play golf before work for a few months. Guess I better keep playing the next few weeks. A&C hit the range tonight.

RALPH KINER  [SABR Bio] is the only Hall of Famer to twice hit 50 home runs in a season, yet have fewer than 400 for his career. He hit 51 in 1947 and 54 HR in 1949. His career HR total after playing for exactly 10 season is 369. He led the majors in strikeouts as a rookie, but never had triple-digit strikeouts in any subsequent season. Kiner had 109 K in 1946 then averaged fewer 72 over the next nine seasons. He is the second cousin twice removed of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has a contract with the Yankees through 2023.

From @VigilantFox: “Group Life policyholders (employees of Fortune 500 companies) historically have a mortality rate of death ranging from only 30-40% of the general US population. In 2021 these historically healthy Group Life policyholders suffered 40% excess mortality, whereas the general population endured only 32% excess mortality”. @DowdEdward: “So unhealthy people had a choice whether to get the vaccine, but employees working for many large and midsize companies had to get the vaccine or quit.”