Two Factors

Data out of Seattle and the U.K. shows that two things matter when it comes to COVID: your age and your vaccination status… in that order.
 
While being vaccinated significantly reduces the chance of hospitalization in every age group, an unvaccinated child is less likely to be hospitalized than a vaccinated senior (see chart). The skew was even greater in the U.K. (see their chart, but remember it drives on the opposite side of the road).
 
In other COVID brews:

• Governor Abbott (R-TX) issued a mandate forbidding mandates (of vaccines), saying President Biden’s executive order requiring companies with 100+ employees require vaccines or regular testing is government overreach
• Merck requested FDA authorization of its promising anti-COVID pill
• More people are getting boosters than first and second doses 

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Culturally hot topics frequently make people think, speak, and act poorly… including us. We can respect others and represent God better if we are quick to listen and slow to speak.
 
“My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” 
James 1:19-20 (CSB)

Email Scandal

Back in 2018, the Las Vegas Raiders lured Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden back into the NFL with a massive 10-year, $100 million contract. The lengthy contract was meant to instill confidence in Gruden’s ability to turn the franchise around, but proved to be a bit optimistic.
 
On Friday, an ongoing investigation into the Washington Football Team for workplace misconduct revealed a 2011 email where Gruden used a racist trope to describe the head of the Players’ Union. On Monday, more emails were leaked showing years of vulgar, misogynistic, homophobic, and racist language directed at players, owners, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodwell. 
 
Gruden resigned Monday night, saying he was “ashamed,” “embarrassed,” and never meant his comments maliciously.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
We live in a world marred by sin. Even while we work to promote accountability and redemption here on earth, we can rest in the knowledge that a day is coming where sin will be impossible and regret a distant memory.
 
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23-24 (CSB)

34 countries have now pledged to cut emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas 28x more potent than CO2 that is released from landfills, fossil fuel operations, and both ends of livestock (the Chick-Fil-A cows were not available for comment). Notably absent from the pledge are China, India, Russia, and Brazil… the four largest emitters of methane. 

 

Huntington Beach, dubbed “Surf City USA,” reopened on Monday after an oil spill was discovered 12 days ago. It was initially believed over 125,000 gallons of leaked oil would keep the beach closed for months, but new reports say as little as 29,400 gallons may have escaped. Surf’s up!
 

On Friday, two wealthy parents were convicted of paying a combined $1.5 million to get their kids into prestigious universities; they face up to 20 years in prison. This was the first trial in the college admissions scandal, though nearly four dozen people, including actress Lori Loughlin, have admitted guilt in exchange for lighter punishments.

 

Bags didn’t fly free on Southwest… because the planes weren’t taking off. The airline canceled 30% of its flights this weekend and hundreds more on Monday due to air traffic control issues, bad weather, and staffing shortages. Flights are expected to be back to normal today.
 

Here’s a headline we couldn’t have predicted (or understood) in August: Netflix and Walmart are partnering to sell Squid Games merch. The King of Streaming has been looking for new ways to make money as subscriber growth slows, including moving into video games and ecommerce.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Next level cake design…