This is for encouragement, ideas, and support for people going through a faith transition no matter where you hope to end up. This is also the place to laugh, cry, and love together.
I got curious this afternoon and pulled the latest COVID case/death counts by state for the whole of the USA from Google. A quick copy and paste into excel, a few maths and badda-bing, I have the following information.
The AVERAGE death rate across the US is currently 2.48%
The states with the five highest death rates (obviously owing to the early breakout in New York area when we weren't prepared and didn't know how to treat it well):
1) New Jersey: 7.22%
2) Connecticut: 7.04%
3) Massachusetts: 6.7%
4) New York: 6.69%
5) New Hampshire: 4.73%
Only 10 states have a death rate above 3%
The average of the lower 40 states is still 1.8%
Only 7 states have a death rate below 1%
Utah has a death rate of only 0.57% (Despite all the anti-mask personal freedom rhetoric and ward gatherings in the name of religious freedom)
Alaska is the lowest at 0.53%. Utah is #2, followed by Wyoming at 0.62%. In the same region, Idaho is sitting at 0.99%.
So what do you all think, NOM? Is Utah's low death rate a sign of divine favor? Do priesthood blessings work? Is the WoW working its magic?
Well, I'm better than dirt! Ah, well... most kinds of dirt; not that fancy store-bought dirt; that stuff is loaded with nutrients. I can't compete with that stuff. -Moe Sizlack
Based on the numbers given, it looks like there is a fairly obvious explanation, and church attendance is not part of it.
I would say the low death rate is a factor of population density. The top 5 states are known to have large, dense population areas. the lowest states are know to have very low population densities.
So really, it's social distancing at work. When people spread out, the virus does not infect as much.
"The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas Adams
Just This Guy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 12:37 pm
Based on the numbers given, it looks like there is a fairly obvious explanation, and church attendance is not part of it.
I would say the low death rate is a factor of population density. The top 5 states are known to have large, dense population areas. the lowest states are know to have very low population densities.
So really, it's social distancing at work. When people spread out, the virus does not infect as much.
That was fast! I wanted to watch the conversation go for a bit before busting out my cool chart that proves exactly what you just said. Death rate plotted on top of normalized population density by state.
You win the internet points Just This Guy!
Well, I'm better than dirt! Ah, well... most kinds of dirt; not that fancy store-bought dirt; that stuff is loaded with nutrients. I can't compete with that stuff. -Moe Sizlack
Don't you hate it when Occum's Razor proves true, again?
"The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas Adams
Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 4:26 pm
I thought it was the altitude.
Or the garments. Not even a virus wants to get near those hideous things!
So true! So true!
Well, I'm better than dirt! Ah, well... most kinds of dirt; not that fancy store-bought dirt; that stuff is loaded with nutrients. I can't compete with that stuff. -Moe Sizlack
On the other hand, contributor to NOM who was a hospital administrator ran the numbers for cancer deaths (specifically breast cancer IIRC) and found that Utah has slightly fewer cases than the national per-capita average, but slightly higher deaths. I am tempted to give the Word of Wisdom credit for the lower cases and false hope for pretend priesthood power the credit for the higher deaths.
“The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.” -Mark Twain
Jesus: "The Kingdom of God is within you." The Buddha: "Be your own light."
Mormons all over don't ever seem to show favored health statistics. Doesn't really matter anyway. A "good" TBM, getting a disease, is being tested. They may die (and go to paradise) to test those left behind. The "apostate" or nonbeliever, with a disease, is being punished. They may die and go to spirit prison. If only they had been active and used the power of the PH. Either way, TBMs look at it as a win.
Hagoth wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 8:06 pm
On the other hand, contributor to NOM who was a hospital administrator ran the numbers for cancer deaths (specifically breast cancer IIRC) and found that Utah has slightly fewer cases than the national per-capita average, but slightly higher deaths. I am tempted to give the Word of Wisdom credit for the lower cases and false hope for pretend priesthood power the credit for the higher deaths.
Breast cancer is less influenced by smoking than other cancers and more influenced by number of babies and breast feeding, but number of children just might make the death rate higher because busy mothers of seven tend to neglect their own health.
Palerider wrote: ↑Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:36 pm
You didn't mention Montana.....
If the stats I'm looking at are correct it's better than utah at .01%
So now we know where God's truly favored country lies. And it isn't Utah....
According to the data I downloaded as of Oct 22, Montana had a mortality rate of 1.10% (276 deaths after 25,004 infections) - almost double Utah's 0.57%.
Having grown up in Wyoming and visited Montana several times (Glacier National Park!), I still recognize Montana as God's truly favored land of promise.
Well, I'm better than dirt! Ah, well... most kinds of dirt; not that fancy store-bought dirt; that stuff is loaded with nutrients. I can't compete with that stuff. -Moe Sizlack
Palerider wrote: ↑Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:36 pm
You didn't mention Montana.....
If the stats I'm looking at are correct it's better than utah at .01%
So now we know where God's truly favored country lies. And it isn't Utah....
According to the data I downloaded as of Oct 22, Montana had a mortality rate of 1.10% (276 deaths after 25,004 infections) - almost double Utah's 0.57%.
Having grown up in Wyoming and visited Montana several times (Glacier National Park!), I still recognize Montana as God's truly favored land of promise.
Probably some bad math on my part...
But yes. Montana is the best.
"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light."
