dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-07--Grammar Moses: Did the whole country go red, or am I seeing things?

For those of you who dream of the entire country going red , check out the photo I 've attached to this column .
I grabbed a red onion from the cupboard Thursday morning for breakfast and , as is usually the case , was unable to transport it to the cutting board without losing a piece of onion skin detritus on the floor .
`` What 's this ? ''
my eagle-eyed wife asked a couple of hours later .
It was no so much a question as an admonition .
I swear , red onions instinctively shed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why , that 's the continental United States ! ''
I remarked , looking at it upside down .
( I might have added `` continental '' to my response just now . )
Sure , Florida and Maine are a little bulky , and Texas is n't perfect , but it even has the stub of the Baja Peninsula off San Diego as a bonus .
I 've written about this phenomenon before , and I 'm sure you 've all experienced it while gazing at clouds -- especially now that recreational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cheerios are on the floor of a minivan .
Seeing things like the map of the United States in an onion skin or a heart in a blood droplet or a smiley face in a green pepper -- turning random things into meaningful ones -- is called `` pareidolia . ''
People have made plenty of money selling likenesses of Jesus on grilled cheese sandwiches and the like , so maybe I 'll try my luck on eBay .
With rampant sleeplessness and adrenaline and Diet Coke hangovers from election night , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an occasional gaffe in characterizing a race .
I 'm not talking about calling a race incorrectly , mind you .
But the day after the election , when everyone is mopping up from the uncertainty of the night before and running on fumes , we might wrestle with word choice .
Here are a couple of examples , courtesy of election Czarina Michelle Holdway : • `` Candidate X won by a margin of 15,000 to 12,000 votes . ''
No , Candidate X won by a margin of 3,000 votes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two totals .
• `` Democrats swept six of nine races ... '' No .
Democrats won six of nine races .
If you sweep it , you win them all .
Is n't that right , 2005 White Sox ?
Reader Bill Dearhammer wrote me on Nov. 2 to say `` I just noticed a Norton 360 ad on my computer .
It reads 'Keep prying eyes out . '
As you say each week , write carefully . ''
I scratched my head , thinking Bill did n't know the phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he thought `` prying '' was misspelled .
So I asked for clarification .
He responded that I was just looking at the sentence the wrong way .
And then it all became clear .
`` My first read had 'prying ' as a verb , '' he wrote .
`` And only two days after Halloween . ''
• Jim Baumann is vice president/managing editor of the Daily Herald .
Write him at jbaumann @ dailyherald.com .
Put Grammar Moses in the subject line .
You also can friend or follow @ @ @ @

Grammar Moses: Did the whole country go red, or am I seeing things?
For those of you who dream of the entire country going red, check out the photo I've attached to this column.
I grabbed a red onion from the cupboard Thursday morning for breakfast and, as is usually the case, was unable to transport it to the cutting board without losing a piece of onion skin detritus on the floor.
"What's this?" my eagle-eyed wife asked a couple of hours later. It was no so much a question as an admonition. I swear, red onions instinctively shed their skin just to annoy housemates.
"Why, that's the continental United States!" I remarked, looking at it upside down. (I might have added "continental" to my response just now.)
Sure, Florida and Maine are a little bulky, and Texas isn't perfect, but it even has the stub of the Baja Peninsula off San Diego as a bonus.
I've written about this phenomenon before, and I'm sure you've all experienced it while gazing at clouds -- especially now that recreational marijuana is as ubiquitous in Illinois as Cheerios are on the floor of a minivan.
Seeing things like the map of the United States in an onion skin or a heart in a blood droplet or a smiley face in a green pepper -- turning random things into meaningful ones -- is called "pareidolia."
People have made plenty of money selling likenesses of Jesus on grilled cheese sandwiches and the like, so maybe I'll try my luck on eBay.
Election aftermath
With rampant sleeplessness and adrenaline and Diet Coke hangovers from election night, it's a good bet we'll make an occasional gaffe in characterizing a race.
I'm not talking about calling a race incorrectly, mind you. But the day after the election, when everyone is mopping up from the uncertainty of the night before and running on fumes, we might wrestle with word choice.
Here are a couple of examples, courtesy of election Czarina Michelle Holdway:
• "Candidate X won by a margin of 15,000 to 12,000 votes."
No, Candidate X won by a margin of 3,000 votes, the margin being the difference between the two totals.
• "Democrats swept six of nine races ..."
No. Democrats won six of nine races. If you sweep it, you win them all. Isn't that right, 2005 White Sox?
Prying eyes
Reader Bill Dearhammer wrote me on Nov. 2 to say "I just noticed a Norton 360 ad on my computer. It reads 'Keep prying eyes out.' As you say each week, write carefully."
I scratched my head, thinking Bill didn't know the phrase "away from prying eyes" or that he thought "prying" was misspelled. So I asked for clarification.
He responded that I was just looking at the sentence the wrong way. And then it all became clear.
"My first read had 'prying' as a verb," he wrote. "And only two days after Halloween."
Ouch!
Write carefully!
• Jim Baumann is vice president/managing editor of the Daily Herald. Write him at jbaumann@dailyherald.com. Put Grammar Moses in the subject line. You also can friend or follow Jim at facebook.com/baumannjim.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-07--Facts Matter: Postelection isn't only 'stress awareness' day

As the Nov. 3 Election Day wrapped up , internet users were told the following day was devoted to stress awareness .
`` Hilariously , November 4 is National Stress Awareness Day , '' a Twitter user wrote .
Newsweek magazine published a story titled , `` It 's National Stress Awareness Day -- as if You Were n't , You Know , Aware . ''
It turns out Nov. 4 is n't the only date devoted to stress , according to Snopes.com .
The International Stress Management Association , a nonprofit company registered in England , since 1998 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stress Awareness Day , part of its annual International Stress Awareness Week , this year running Nov. 2-6 .
According to its website , this year the group was `` inundated with tweets '' about the day as `` the USA chimed in with enthusiasm . ''
But since 1992 , The Health Resource Network , a Maryland-based nonprofit , has designated each April as Stress Awareness Month and April 16 , the day after income taxes are due , as Stress Awareness Day .
This is the date listed in some health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Snopes said .
The website DaysoftheYear.com lists Nov. 4 as Stress Awareness Day , in addition to Use Your Common Sense Day and Wobbly Wednesday A photo circulating on Election Day , showing a massive concrete barrier around the White House , has been doctored , according to PolitiFact.com .
A post of the fake photo by one Facebook user , who called it `` truly a sad spectacle , '' was shared nearly 900 times .
A temporary , anti-scale fence actually was erected at the White House before Election Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the manipulated photo , PolitiFact said .
The original aerial image , without the concrete wall , is a Getty Images photo taken in 2009 .
Evidence the doctored photo is n't genuine includes shadows from the trees in front of the White House appearing to stick out from under the wall , PolitiFact said .
Facebook flagged the post as false news and misinformation .
Global flu cases down , but not by 98 % Social media reports stating flu cases are down 98 % are inaccurate and premature , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of influenza cases in Southern Hemisphere countries , where flu season generally runs from April to September , has decreased this year .
But flu season has just begun in the Northern Hemisphere .
Some online posts claiming worldwide cases are down 98 % cite the World Health Organization .
But the organization did n't say that .
WHO data shows the number of flu cases from Sept. 29 to Oct. 11 have been fewer than expected .
`` Although the Southern Hemisphere seems to have been largely spared , we are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season just starting , '' WHO spokeswoman Dr. Margaret Harris told the AP .
Southern Hemisphere countries , such as New Zealand and Australia , have had fewer influenza cases due to mask wearing and social distancing measures in place to combat COVID-19 .
`` In the areas where people properly wear a proper mask , we will see very low rates of COVID-19 and influenza , '' Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Dr. Gregory Poland told the AP .
`` In the areas where people are not compliant with mask wearing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases with COVID-19 more prominent because of its inherent greater infectiousness . ''
A video making the rounds on social media falsely claims a humpback whale ingested a woman in a kayak .
The caption , `` Yo a whale really ate this lady , '' was attached to the clip , which racked up more than 1 million views .
The video is real , but the kayaker came out of the incident unharmed , according to Snopes.com .
KSBY reporter Melissa Newman said the woman was `` lucky to be alive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whale off the shore of Avila Beach in California , `` says she is OK after a whale capsized her kayak , '' Newman reported .
The video was taken by a witness as kayakers Julie McSorley and Liz Cottriel moved in to get a closer look at the humpback whales , according to CNN .
`` I saw the whale come up .
I thought , 'Oh , no !
It 's too close , ' '' McSorley told CNN affiliate KMPH .
`` All of a sudden , I lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water . ''
• Bob Oswald is a veteran Chicago-area journalist and former news editor of the Elgin Courier-News .
Contact him at boboswald33 @ gmail.com .

Facts Matter: Postelection isn't only 'stress awareness' day
Participants in World Meditation Day are led in guided practice by founder Will Williams in London. A nonprofit company in England has dubbed the Wednesday in November as "Stress Awareness Day," but it's not the only day or time of year dedicated to stress. AP File Photo/May 21, 2019
As the Nov. 3 Election Day wrapped up, internet users were told the following day was devoted to stress awareness.
"Hilariously, November 4 is National Stress Awareness Day," a Twitter user wrote. Newsweek magazine published a story titled, "It's National Stress Awareness Day -- as if You Weren't, You Know, Aware."
It turns out Nov. 4 isn't the only date devoted to stress, according to Snopes.com.
The International Stress Management Association, a nonprofit company registered in England, since 1998 has recognized the first Wednesday in November as Stress Awareness Day, part of its annual International Stress Awareness Week, this year running Nov. 2-6. According to its website, this year the group was "inundated with tweets" about the day as "the USA chimed in with enthusiasm."
But since 1992, The Health Resource Network, a Maryland-based nonprofit, has designated each April as Stress Awareness Month and April 16, the day after income taxes are due, as Stress Awareness Day. This is the date listed in some health and lifestyle blogs and online calendars, Snopes said.
The website DaysoftheYear.com lists Nov. 4 as Stress Awareness Day, in addition to Use Your Common Sense Day and Wobbly Wednesday
Wall around White House faked
A photo circulating on Election Day, showing a massive concrete barrier around the White House, has been doctored, according to PolitiFact.com.
A post of the fake photo by one Facebook user, who called it "truly a sad spectacle," was shared nearly 900 times.
A temporary, anti-scale fence actually was erected at the White House before Election Day, but it doesn't resemble the wall in the manipulated photo, PolitiFact said.
The original aerial image, without the concrete wall, is a Getty Images photo taken in 2009. Evidence the doctored photo isn't genuine includes shadows from the trees in front of the White House appearing to stick out from under the wall, PolitiFact said.
Facebook flagged the post as false news and misinformation.
Global flu cases down, but not by 98%
Social media reports stating flu cases are down 98% are inaccurate and premature, according to The Associated Press.
The number of influenza cases in Southern Hemisphere countries, where flu season generally runs from April to September, has decreased this year. But flu season has just begun in the Northern Hemisphere.
Some online posts claiming worldwide cases are down 98% cite the World Health Organization. But the organization didn't say that. WHO data shows the number of flu cases from Sept. 29 to Oct. 11 have been fewer than expected.
"Although the Southern Hemisphere seems to have been largely spared, we are still very concerned about the Northern Hemisphere influenza season just starting," WHO spokeswoman Dr. Margaret Harris told the AP.
Southern Hemisphere countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, have had fewer influenza cases due to mask wearing and social distancing measures in place to combat COVID-19.
"In the areas where people properly wear a proper mask, we will see very low rates of COVID-19 and influenza," Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Dr. Gregory Poland told the AP. "In the areas where people are not compliant with mask wearing and distancing guidelines, we will see both diseases with COVID-19 more prominent because of its inherent greater infectiousness."
Whale didn't eat kayaker
A video making the rounds on social media falsely claims a humpback whale ingested a woman in a kayak.
The caption, "Yo a whale really ate this lady," was attached to the clip, which racked up more than 1 million views.
The video is real, but the kayaker came out of the incident unharmed, according to Snopes.com.
KSBY reporter Melissa Newman said the woman was "lucky to be alive." The kayaker, who encountered the whale off the shore of Avila Beach in California, "says she is OK after a whale capsized her kayak," Newman reported.
The video was taken by a witness as kayakers Julie McSorley and Liz Cottriel moved in to get a closer look at the humpback whales, according to CNN.
"I saw the whale come up. I thought, 'Oh, no! It's too close,'" McSorley told CNN affiliate KMPH. "All of a sudden, I lifted up, and I was in the water."
• Bob Oswald is a veteran Chicago-area journalist and former news editor of the Elgin Courier-News. Contact him at boboswald33@gmail.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-07--Images: The country reacts to Biden's projected victory

People celebrate in Times Square after former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was announced as the winner @ @ @ @ @ to become the 46th president of the United States , Saturday , Nov. 7 , @ @ @ @ @ .
His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted @ @ @ @ @ votes that delayed the processing of some ballots .

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
People celebrate in Times Square after former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was announced as the winner over Pres. Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in New York. His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed the processing of some ballots.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-06--In a pandemic, every day is bring-your-child-to-work day

Years before `` Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day '' became a thing , my dad occasionally brought me to his office as the need arose .
There was something a bit thrilling about gaining entry into this adult world of cubicles , dry-erase boards and name badges .
It was a novelty to see Dad in this grown-up space .
But today , when so many parents are working from home alongside kids who are schooling from home , every day is bring-your-child-to-work day .
And `` novelty '' no longer describes it .
Nor is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects hoped for by the organizers of take-the-kids-to-work events .
For one thing , the children are n't getting an especially exciting view of what their moms and dads do for work .
Parents who are capable of working remotely tend to be knowledge workers , whose work mostly happens inside the brain .
There 's not a lot to see .
Nor are kids getting to see the fun parts of work , like business travel or professional conferences .
Many parents trying to work from home may be interacting less with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In counties where people are staying home the most , we 're seeing more neglect , '' says Kerri Raissian , an associate professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut , citing preliminary data from Indiana and Georgia .
That 's a first .
Before the pandemic , increased time at home was n't associated with child maltreatment .
But now , calls to poison control are up , as are acute pediatric injuries such as bicycle accidents -- presumably because kids are getting into trouble while their parents are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , work-from-home and school-from-home means that `` people are bringing their kids to work but leaving them to play in the parking lot . ''
She also worries about the longer-term effects of overtaxed parents telling children to wait ... and wait , and wait .
Kids are being asked to wait not just more , but also at unusual times -- nights and weekends -- because parents with flexible jobs are working different hours .
During the pandemic , she says , `` It is really hard to protect family time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as if parents care more about working than about them .
`` Physical presence is not the same as psychological presence , '' says Stewart D. Friedman , a Wharton professor of management and co-author of `` Parents Who Lead . ''
`` When you 're physically present but psychologically absent , people know it . ''
It 's important for parents to have times when they 're fully present for their kids .
And also for them to explain to the children that working is something they do to provide for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What Girls Need '' and head of the Baldwin School in Pennsylvania , says children who are watching their parents work from home are learning from them how to handle things like failure , stress and work-life balance .
Parents who cope well give their children tools they 'll need as adults .
`` It 's important to remember as parents that we 're modeling how you get the things you want , how you self-advocate and set boundaries , '' she says .
When a parent explains to her boss that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 p.m. because it 's dinner time , not only does she show her children that they come first , but she also shows them it 's OK for work to come second .
Building a little respite into the day -- a walk , or a phone call to a friend -- models healthy behavior , too .
Parents who share the highlights and lowlights of the workday can help kids realize that setbacks are normal , and demystify what they do all day .
It 's not that there are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents he talks to are getting to know their children better , especially the parents of teenagers .
Porges says that her students are realizing how complicated real-world problems are , and how much impact someone like a scientist can have .
And despite her fears about child neglect , Raissian is glad to see helicopter parenting run into a brick wall , and parents let go of their fear of screen time -- those studies , she says , were `` always overblown . ''
Nonetheless , these are slender reeds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
`` I think families are really struggling , '' Raissian concludes .
`` All families are struggling , not just the ones we think of as high-risk . ''
There 's a reason it 's supposed to be take-your-child-to-work day , not take-your-child-to-work year .
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners .
Green Carmichael is an editor with Bloomberg Opinion .
She was previously managing editor of ideas and commentary at Barron 's , and an executive editor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HBR Ideacast .

In a pandemic, every day is bring-your-child-to-work day
Today, when so many parents are working from home alongside kids who are schooling from home, every day is bring-your-child-to-work day. And "novelty" no longer describes it. (AP File Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Years before "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" became a thing, my dad occasionally brought me to his office as the need arose. There was something a bit thrilling about gaining entry into this adult world of cubicles, dry-erase boards and name badges. It was a novelty to see Dad in this grown-up space. But today, when so many parents are working from home alongside kids who are schooling from home, every day is bring-your-child-to-work day. And "novelty" no longer describes it.
Nor is the pandemic experience likely to create the positive effects hoped for by the organizers of take-the-kids-to-work events. For one thing, the children aren't getting an especially exciting view of what their moms and dads do for work. Parents who are capable of working remotely tend to be knowledge workers, whose work mostly happens inside the brain. There's not a lot to see. Nor are kids getting to see the fun parts of work, like business travel or professional conferences.
Many parents trying to work from home may be interacting less with their children, not more. "In counties where people are staying home the most, we're seeing more neglect," says Kerri Raissian, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut, citing preliminary data from Indiana and Georgia. That's a first. Before the pandemic, increased time at home wasn't associated with child maltreatment. But now, calls to poison control are up, as are acute pediatric injuries such as bicycle accidents -- presumably because kids are getting into trouble while their parents are trying to work. Basically, Raissian says, work-from-home and school-from-home means that "people are bringing their kids to work but leaving them to play in the parking lot."
She also worries about the longer-term effects of overtaxed parents telling children to wait ... and wait, and wait. Kids are being asked to wait not just more, but also at unusual times -- nights and weekends -- because parents with flexible jobs are working different hours. During the pandemic, she says, "It is really hard to protect family time." That can make kids feel dejected, as if parents care more about working than about them.
"Physical presence is not the same as psychological presence," says Stewart D. Friedman, a Wharton professor of management and co-author of "Parents Who Lead." "When you're physically present but psychologically absent, people know it." It's important for parents to have times when they're fully present for their kids. And also for them to explain to the children that working is something they do to provide for them.
Marisa Porges, author of "What Girls Need" and head of the Baldwin School in Pennsylvania, says children who are watching their parents work from home are learning from them how to handle things like failure, stress and work-life balance. Parents who cope well give their children tools they'll need as adults.
"It's important to remember as parents that we're modeling how you get the things you want, how you self-advocate and set boundaries," she says. When a parent explains to her boss that she can't have a call at 7 p.m. because it's dinner time, not only does she show her children that they come first, but she also shows them it's OK for work to come second. Building a little respite into the day -- a walk, or a phone call to a friend -- models healthy behavior, too. Parents who share the highlights and lowlights of the workday can help kids realize that setbacks are normal, and demystify what they do all day.
It's not that there are no silver linings here. Friedman says the parents he talks to are getting to know their children better, especially the parents of teenagers. Porges says that her students are realizing how complicated real-world problems are, and how much impact someone like a scientist can have. And despite her fears about child neglect, Raissian is glad to see helicopter parenting run into a brick wall, and parents let go of their fear of screen time -- those studies, she says, were "always overblown."
Nonetheless, these are slender reeds. The bigger picture here is a worrisome one. "I think families are really struggling," Raissian concludes. "All families are struggling, not just the ones we think of as high-risk." There's a reason it's supposed to be take-your-child-to-work day, not take-your-child-to-work year.
-- -- --
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Green Carmichael is an editor with Bloomberg Opinion. She was previously managing editor of ideas and commentary at Barron's, and an executive editor at Harvard Business Review, where she hosted the HBR Ideacast.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-07--Biden defeats Trump for White House, says it's 'time to heal'

WASHINGTON -- Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday , positioning himself to be a leader who `` seeks not to divide , but to unify '' a nation gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil .
`` I sought this office to restore the soul of America , '' said Biden in a prime-time victory speech not far from his Delaware home , `` and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed processing .
Biden crossed the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania .
Trump refused to concede , threatening further legal action on ballot counting .
Biden , 77 , staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy .
The strategy proved effective , resulting in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bastions that had flipped to Trump in 2016 .
Biden 's victory was a repudiation of Trump 's divisive leadership and the president-elect now inherits a deeply polarized nation grappling with foundational questions of racial justice and economic fairness while in the grips of a virus that has killed more than 236,000 Americans and reshaped the norms of everyday life .
Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to become vice president , an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice .
The California senator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency , will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government , four years after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton .
Harris introduced Biden `` as a president for all Americans '' who would look to bridge a nation riven with partisanship and nodded to the historic nature of her ascension to the vice presidency .
`` Dream with ambition , lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not simply because they 've never seen it before , '' Harris said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , decency , science and , yes , truth ... you ushered in a new day for America . ''
Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million , a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted .
Nonetheless , Trump was not giving up .
Departing from long-standing democratic tradition and signaling a potentially turbulent transfer of power , he issued a combative statement saying his campaign would take unspecified legal actions .
And he followed up with a bombastic , all-caps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I WON THE ELECTION , GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES . ''
Twitter immediately flagged it as misleading .
Trump has pointed to delays in processing the vote in some states to allege with no evidence that there was fraud and to argue that his rival was trying to seize power -- an extraordinary charge by a sitting president trying to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process .
Trump is the first incumbent president to lose reelection since Republican George H.W .
Bush in 1992 .
He was golfing at his Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He stayed out for hours , stopping to congratulate a bride as he left , and his motorcade returned to the White House to a cacophony of shouts , taunts and unfriendly hand gestures .
In Wilmington , Delaware , near the stage that , until Saturday night , had stood empty since it was erected to celebrate on election night , people cheered and pumped their fists as the news that the presidential race had been called for the state 's former senator arrived on their cellphones .
On the nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yelled to a couple paddling by in the opposite direction , `` Joe won !
They called it ! ''
as people on the shore whooped and hollered .
Harris , in workout gear , was shown on video speaking to Biden on the phone , exuberantly telling the president-elect `` We did it ! ''
Biden was expected to take the stage for a drive-in rally after dark .
Across the country , there were parties and prayer .
In New York City , spontaneous block parties broke out .
People ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pots .
They danced and high-fived with strangers amid honking horns .
Among the loudest cheers were those for passing U.S .
Postal Service trucks .
People streamed into Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House , near where Trump had ordered the clearing of protesters in June , waving signs and taking cellphone pictures .
In Lansing , Michigan , Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter demonstrators filled the Capitol steps .
The lyrics to `` Amazing Grace '' began to echo through the crowd , and Trump supporters laid their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayed .
Americans showed deep interest in the presidential race .
A record 103 million voted early this year , opting to avoid waiting in long lines at polling locations during a pandemic .
With counting continuing in some states , Biden had already received more than 74 million votes , more than any presidential candidate before him .
Trump 's refusal to concede has no legal implications .
But it could add to the incoming administration 's challenge of bringing the country together after a bitter election .
Throughout the campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful transfer of power , arguing without evidence that the election could be marred by fraud .
The nation has a long history of presidential candidates peacefully accepting the outcome of elections , dating back to 1800 , when John Adams conceded to his rival Thomas Jefferson .
It was Biden 's native Pennsylvania that put him over the top , the state he invoked throughout the campaign to connect with working class voters .
He also won Nevada on Saturday pushing his total to 290 Electoral College votes .
Biden received congratulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his former boss , President Barack Obama , saluted him in a statement , declaring the nation was `` fortunate that Joe 's got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way . ''
Republicans on Capitol Hill were giving Trump and his campaign space to consider all their legal options .
It was a precarious balance for Trump 's allies as they try to be supportive of the president -- and avoid risking further fallout -- but face the reality of the vote count .
On Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet made any public statements -- either congratulating Biden or joining Trump 's complaints .
But retiring GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , who is close to McConnell , said , `` After counting every valid vote and allowing courts to resolve disputes , it is important to respect and promptly accept the result . ''
More than 236,000 Americans have died during the coronavirus pandemic , nearly 10 million have been infected and millions of jobs have been lost .
The final days of the campaign played out against a surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including battlegrounds such as Wisconsin that swung to Biden .
The pandemic will soon be Biden 's to tame , and he campaigned pledging a big government response , akin to what Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw with the New Deal during the Depression of the 1930s .
But Senate Republicans fought back several Democratic challengers and looked to retain a fragile majority that could serve as a check on such Biden ambition .
The 2020 campaign was a referendum on Trump 's handling of the pandemic , which has shuttered schools across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about the feasibility of family gatherings heading into the holidays .
The fast spread of the coronavirus transformed political rallies from standard campaign fare to gatherings that were potential public health emergencies .
It also contributed to an unprecedented shift to voting early and by mail and prompted Biden to dramatically scale back his travel and events to comply with restrictions .
The president defied calls for caution and ultimately contracted the disease himself .
Trump was saddled throughout the year by negative assessments from the public of his handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the White House this week , which sickened his chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Biden also drew a sharp contrast to Trump through a summer of unrest over the police killings of Black Americans including Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Their deaths sparked the largest racial protest movement since the civil rights era .
Biden responded by acknowledging the racism that pervades American life , while Trump emphasized his support of police and pivoted to a `` law and order '' message that resonated with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be impeached , though acquitted in the Senate , Trump will leave office having left an indelible imprint in a tenure defined by the shattering of White House norms and a day-to-day whirlwind of turnover , partisan divide and Twitter blasts .
Trump 's team has filed a smattering of lawsuits in battleground states , some of which were immediately rebuffed by judges .
His personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , was holding a news conference in Philadelphia threatening more legal action when the race was called .
Biden , born in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delaware , was one of the youngest candidates ever elected to the Senate .
Before he took office , his wife and daughter were killed , and his two sons badly injured in a 1972 car crash .
Commuting every night on a train from Washington back to Wilmington , Biden fashioned an everyman political persona to go along with powerful Senate positions , including chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees .
Some aspects of his record drew critical scrutiny from fellow Democrats , including his support for the 1994 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2003 Iraq War and his management of the Clarence Thomas ' Supreme Court hearings .
Biden 's 1988 presidential campaign was done in by plagiarism allegations , and his next bid in 2008 ended quietly .
But later that year , he was tapped to be Barack Obama 's running mate and he became an influential vice president , steering the administration 's outreach to both Capitol Hill and Iraq .
While his reputation was burnished by his time in office and his deep friendship with Obama , Biden stood aside for Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after his adult son Beau died of brain cancer the year before .
Trump 's tenure pushed Biden to make one more run as he declared that `` the very soul of the nation is at stake . ''

Biden defeats Trump for White House, says it's 'time to heal'
WASHINGTON -- Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to be a leader who "seeks not to divide, but to unify" a nation gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.
"I sought this office to restore the soul of America," said Biden in a prime-time victory speech not far from his Delaware home, "and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home."
His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed processing. Biden crossed the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania.
Trump refused to concede, threatening further legal action on ballot counting.
A person holds up a sign near the Trump Tower as hundreds gather in the Loop to celebrate President-elect Joe Biden's victory, Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7, 2020 in Chicago. - Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Biden, 77, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. The strategy proved effective, resulting in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania, onetime Democratic bastions that had flipped to Trump in 2016.
Biden's victory was a repudiation of Trump's divisive leadership and the president-elect now inherits a deeply polarized nation grappling with foundational questions of racial justice and economic fairness while in the grips of a virus that has killed more than 236,000 Americans and reshaped the norms of everyday life.
Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to become vice president, an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice. The California senator, who is also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government, four years after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. - Associated Press
Harris introduced Biden "as a president for all Americans" who would look to bridge a nation riven with partisanship and nodded to the historic nature of her ascension to the vice presidency.
"Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not simply because they've never seen it before," Harris said. "You chose hope and unity, decency, science and, yes, truth ... you ushered in a new day for America."
Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million, a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted.
Nonetheless, Trump was not giving up.
Departing from long-standing democratic tradition and signaling a potentially turbulent transfer of power, he issued a combative statement saying his campaign would take unspecified legal actions. And he followed up with a bombastic, all-caps tweet in which he falsely declared, "I WON THE ELECTION, GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES." Twitter immediately flagged it as misleading.
Trump has pointed to delays in processing the vote in some states to allege with no evidence that there was fraud and to argue that his rival was trying to seize power -- an extraordinary charge by a sitting president trying to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process.
Trump is the first incumbent president to lose reelection since Republican George H.W. Bush in 1992.
President Donald Trump participates in a round of golf at the Trump National Golf Course on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Sterling, Va. - Associated Press
He was golfing at his Virginia country club when he lost the race. He stayed out for hours, stopping to congratulate a bride as he left, and his motorcade returned to the White House to a cacophony of shouts, taunts and unfriendly hand gestures.
In Wilmington, Delaware, near the stage that, until Saturday night, had stood empty since it was erected to celebrate on election night, people cheered and pumped their fists as the news that the presidential race had been called for the state's former senator arrived on their cellphones.
On the nearby water, two men in a kayak yelled to a couple paddling by in the opposite direction, "Joe won! They called it!" as people on the shore whooped and hollered. Harris, in workout gear, was shown on video speaking to Biden on the phone, exuberantly telling the president-elect "We did it!" Biden was expected to take the stage for a drive-in rally after dark.
Across the country, there were parties and prayer. In New York City, spontaneous block parties broke out. People ran out of their buildings, banging on pots. They danced and high-fived with strangers amid honking horns. Among the loudest cheers were those for passing U.S. Postal Service trucks.
People streamed into Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, near where Trump had ordered the clearing of protesters in June, waving signs and taking cellphone pictures. In Lansing, Michigan, Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter demonstrators filled the Capitol steps. The lyrics to "Amazing Grace" began to echo through the crowd, and Trump supporters laid their hands on a counter protester, and prayed.
Trump supporters, at left, demonstrating the election results are confronted by counter protesters at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by the historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil. - Associated Press
Americans showed deep interest in the presidential race. A record 103 million voted early this year, opting to avoid waiting in long lines at polling locations during a pandemic. With counting continuing in some states, Biden had already received more than 74 million votes, more than any presidential candidate before him.
Trump's refusal to concede has no legal implications. But it could add to the incoming administration's challenge of bringing the country together after a bitter election.
Throughout the campaign, Trump repeatedly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, arguing without evidence that the election could be marred by fraud. The nation has a long history of presidential candidates peacefully accepting the outcome of elections, dating back to 1800, when John Adams conceded to his rival Thomas Jefferson.
It was Biden's native Pennsylvania that put him over the top, the state he invoked throughout the campaign to connect with working class voters. He also won Nevada on Saturday pushing his total to 290 Electoral College votes.
Biden received congratulations from dozens of world leaders, and his former boss, President Barack Obama, saluted him in a statement, declaring the nation was "fortunate that Joe's got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way."
People celebrate outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become 46th president of the United States, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Philadelphia. - Associated Press
Republicans on Capitol Hill were giving Trump and his campaign space to consider all their legal options. It was a precarious balance for Trump's allies as they try to be supportive of the president -- and avoid risking further fallout -- but face the reality of the vote count.
On Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had not yet made any public statements -- either congratulating Biden or joining Trump's complaints. But retiring GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who is close to McConnell, said, "After counting every valid vote and allowing courts to resolve disputes, it is important to respect and promptly accept the result."
More than 236,000 Americans have died during the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 10 million have been infected and millions of jobs have been lost. The final days of the campaign played out against a surge in confirmed cases in nearly every state, including battlegrounds such as Wisconsin that swung to Biden.
The pandemic will soon be Biden's to tame, and he campaigned pledging a big government response, akin to what Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw with the New Deal during the Depression of the 1930s. But Senate Republicans fought back several Democratic challengers and looked to retain a fragile majority that could serve as a check on such Biden ambition.
The 2020 campaign was a referendum on Trump's handling of the pandemic, which has shuttered schools across the nation, disrupted businesses and raised questions about the feasibility of family gatherings heading into the holidays.
The fast spread of the coronavirus transformed political rallies from standard campaign fare to gatherings that were potential public health emergencies. It also contributed to an unprecedented shift to voting early and by mail and prompted Biden to dramatically scale back his travel and events to comply with restrictions. The president defied calls for caution and ultimately contracted the disease himself.
Trump was saddled throughout the year by negative assessments from the public of his handling of the pandemic. There was another COVID-19 outbreak in the White House this week, which sickened his chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Biden also drew a sharp contrast to Trump through a summer of unrest over the police killings of Black Americans including Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minneapolis. Their deaths sparked the largest racial protest movement since the civil rights era. Biden responded by acknowledging the racism that pervades American life, while Trump emphasized his support of police and pivoted to a "law and order" message that resonated with his largely white base.
The third president to be impeached, though acquitted in the Senate, Trump will leave office having left an indelible imprint in a tenure defined by the shattering of White House norms and a day-to-day whirlwind of turnover, partisan divide and Twitter blasts.
Trump's team has filed a smattering of lawsuits in battleground states, some of which were immediately rebuffed by judges. His personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was holding a news conference in Philadelphia threatening more legal action when the race was called.
People celebrate Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Philadelphia, after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become 46th president of the United States. - Associated Press
Biden, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Delaware, was one of the youngest candidates ever elected to the Senate. Before he took office, his wife and daughter were killed, and his two sons badly injured in a 1972 car crash.
Commuting every night on a train from Washington back to Wilmington, Biden fashioned an everyman political persona to go along with powerful Senate positions, including chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees. Some aspects of his record drew critical scrutiny from fellow Democrats, including his support for the 1994 crime bill, his vote for the 2003 Iraq War and his management of the Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court hearings.
Biden's 1988 presidential campaign was done in by plagiarism allegations, and his next bid in 2008 ended quietly. But later that year, he was tapped to be Barack Obama's running mate and he became an influential vice president, steering the administration's outreach to both Capitol Hill and Iraq.
While his reputation was burnished by his time in office and his deep friendship with Obama, Biden stood aside for Clinton and opted not to run in 2016 after his adult son Beau died of brain cancer the year before.
Trump's tenure pushed Biden to make one more run as he declared that "the very soul of the nation is at stake."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-07--Bears know they must slow down Titans RB Derrick Henry

Tashaun Gipson has gone up against some of the best running backs in the world during his nine-year NFL career .
But his stiffest challenge might come Sunday when the Bears attempt to slow down the freight train that is Tennessee 's Derrick Henry .
`` I have n't been able to play ( against ) the guys that look like they 're playing ( defensive ) end or something like that , '' said Gipson , a 6-foot-1 , 212-pound safety in his first season with the Bears .
`` I do n't think he ( does ) nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that dude in person .
He 's huge , man . ''
And fast .
And shifty .
And explosive .
It 's a combination that helped Henry win the 2015 Heisman Trophy after a 2,219-yard , 28-TD season with Alabama .
With the Titans , Henry split time with DeMarco Murray during his first two seasons then had a mediocre 2018 in which he ran for 1,059 yards as the feature back .
After another ho-hum start in 2019 , Henry unleashed his full fury on the NFL by running for 896 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games , five of which were victories .
He ended up leading the league in rushing yards ( 1,540 ) and rushing touchdowns ( 16 ) .
This season , Henry ( 775 yards ) is on pace for 1,771 yards .
`` Honestly , I think he 's the best running back in football right now , '' Gipson said .
`` The biggest thing is you 've just to get hats ( helmets ) to the ball .
Two is greater than one .
That 's what we pride ourselves on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alvin Kamara -- who shredded the Bears last week -- Henry is n't a huge threat in the passing game .
That means LBs Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith can concentrate on filling any holes opened up by the Titans ' veteran offensive line .
The key is not to cheat .
If the Bears ' gap integrity is n't sound , it can be 6 points in a hurry .
`` He 's gon na split the defense , make a guy miss in the open field and then he can take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Pagano , the Bears ' defensive coordinator .
`` I mean we 've all seen those plays . ''
Indeed .
And the list keeps growing .
In the last four years , Henry 's longest 10 plays from scrimmage have gone 53 , 53 , 54 , 66 , 68 , 72 , 74 , 75 , 75 , 94 and 99 yards .
On many of them Henry is throwing stiff-arms that would make Walter Payton proud .
And on others he 's just leaving a vapor trail .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's probably one of the fastest guys on the field , '' Gipson said .
`` That 's what makes it more challenging ; that 's what makes it more dangerous because the guy can flat-out fly on top of having a 245 , 250-pound frame .
`` He 's a challenge , man .
I have n't seen nothing like him . ''
If that 's not enough , the Bears ca n't sleep on Tennessee 's passing game , which is spearheaded by Ryan Tannehill .
The veteran QB has thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , the offense most definitely runs through Henry .
Since the start of 2019 , the Titans are 11-1 when their monster RB finishes with 100 or more yards from scrimmage , but they are just 3-7 when he 's held below 100 .
`` Can you totally shut the guy down ?
I do n't know , '' Pagano said .
`` We 're gon na try to do that .
... '' We do n't want to give up one blade .
We 're gon na defend every blade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play .
And we 're gon na do our best to contain him and control him and shut him down .
`` There 's numbers out there that say : 'If you hold him to this the win percentage goes way up . '
`` And that 's what we 're gon na try to do .
It 's gon na be all hands on deck . ''

Bears know they must slow down Titans RB Derrick Henry
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry knocks down Buffalo Bills cornerback Josh Norman during a game in October. The Bears' defense is in for its stiffest test yet in Henry. AP File Photo
Tashaun Gipson has gone up against some of the best running backs in the world during his nine-year NFL career.
But his stiffest challenge might come Sunday when the Bears attempt to slow down the freight train that is Tennessee's Derrick Henry.
"I haven't been able to play (against) the guys that look like they're playing (defensive) end or something like that," said Gipson, a 6-foot-1, 212-pound safety in his first season with the Bears. "I don't think he (does) nothing but upper body. I've seen that dude in person. He's huge, man."
And fast. And shifty. And explosive.
It's a combination that helped Henry win the 2015 Heisman Trophy after a 2,219-yard, 28-TD season with Alabama.
With the Titans, Henry split time with DeMarco Murray during his first two seasons then had a mediocre 2018 in which he ran for 1,059 yards as the feature back.
After another ho-hum start in 2019, Henry unleashed his full fury on the NFL by running for 896 yards in the Titans' final six games, five of which were victories. He ended up leading the league in rushing yards (1,540) and rushing touchdowns (16).
This season, Henry (775 yards) is on pace for 1,771 yards.
"Honestly, I think he's the best running back in football right now," Gipson said. "The biggest thing is you've just to get hats (helmets) to the ball. Two is greater than one. That's what we pride ourselves on defense."
Unlike the Saints' Alvin Kamara -- who shredded the Bears last week -- Henry isn't a huge threat in the passing game. That means LBs Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith can concentrate on filling any holes opened up by the Titans' veteran offensive line.
The key is not to cheat. If the Bears' gap integrity isn't sound, it can be 6 points in a hurry.
"He's gonna split the defense, make a guy miss in the open field and then he can take it to the house," said Chuck Pagano, the Bears' defensive coordinator. "I mean we've all seen those plays."
Indeed. And the list keeps growing.
In the last four years, Henry's longest 10 plays from scrimmage have gone 53, 53, 54, 66, 68, 72, 74, 75, 75, 94 and 99 yards. On many of them Henry is throwing stiff-arms that would make Walter Payton proud.
And on others he's just leaving a vapor trail.
"The scary thing about it is he's probably one of the fastest guys on the field," Gipson said. "That's what makes it more challenging; that's what makes it more dangerous because the guy can flat-out fly on top of having a 245, 250-pound frame.
"He's a challenge, man. I haven't seen nothing like him."
If that's not enough, the Bears can't sleep on Tennessee's passing game, which is spearheaded by Ryan Tannehill. The veteran QB has thrown 17 TD passes and just 3 interceptions.
Still, the offense most definitely runs through Henry.
Since the start of 2019, the Titans are 11-1 when their monster RB finishes with 100 or more yards from scrimmage, but they are just 3-7 when he's held below 100.
"Can you totally shut the guy down? I don't know," Pagano said. "We're gonna try to do that. ...
"We don't want to give up one blade. We're gonna defend every blade of grass -- no matter who we play. And we're gonna do our best to contain him and control him and shut him down.
"There's numbers out there that say: 'If you hold him to this the win percentage goes way up.'
"And that's what we're gonna try to do. It's gonna be all hands on deck."


US-Pres-Sum,100

Needed to win : 270 of the 538 electoral votes ( ev ) from the 50 states and the District @ @ @

US-Pres-Sum,100
Trump 71,075,087 - 48 percent
Has won 23 states with 214 ev.
Leads in 2 states with 18 ev.
Others 2,489,909 - 2 percent
Has won 0 states with 0 ev.
Leads in 0 states with 0 ev.
Needed to win: 270 of the 538 electoral votes (ev) from
the 50 states and the District of Columbia.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Second COVID-19 wave rolls on, with 10,009 more cases Sunday

The second wave of COVID-19 continued to pound Illinois over the weekend , as state health authorities reported 10,009 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday , a day after a record 12,438 cases on Saturday .
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 42 additional deaths , 31 of them in the Chicago region .
The state now has recorded 487,987 cases since the outbreak began , along with 10,196 deaths .
While the case total Sunday declined , the case positivity rate continues to soar , reaching 10.6 % for the week of Nov. 1 to Nov. 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday and 9.6 % Friday .
As of Saturday night , 4,303 people were hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19 , up from 4,250 Friday night .
Of those hospitalized Saturday , 833 were in an intensive-care unit 368 patients were on ventilators .
State health authorities also reported a test positivity rate of 12 % for the week of Nov. 1 -- Nov. 7 .
Officials said both case positivity and test positivity rates are relevant to the bigger COVID-19 picture .
Case positivity helps determine whether changes in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more infections .
Test positivity accounts for repeated testing and helps to understand how the virus is spreading over time , according to the IDPH .
Also Sunday , Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced a member of her staff tested positive for COVID-19 .
The staff member was last in the Cook County Building on Friday , she said .
While she is not experiencing symptoms , Preckwinkle said she will take a precautionary COVID-19 test and self-isolate until the results return .

Second COVID-19 wave rolls on, with 10,009 more cases Sunday
The second wave of COVID-19 continued to pound Illinois over the weekend, as state health authorities reported 10,009 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, a day after a record 12,438 cases on Saturday. Kyodo News via AP
The second wave of COVID-19 continued to pound Illinois over the weekend, as state health authorities reported 10,009 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, a day after a record 12,438 cases on Saturday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 42 additional deaths, 31 of them in the Chicago region.
The state now has recorded 487,987 cases since the outbreak began, along with 10,196 deaths.
While the case total Sunday declined, the case positivity rate continues to soar, reaching 10.6% for the week of Nov. 1 to Nov. 7. That's up from 10.3% on Saturday and 9.6% Friday.
As of Saturday night, 4,303 people were hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19, up from 4,250 Friday night. Of those hospitalized Saturday, 833 were in an intensive-care unit 368 patients were on ventilators.
State health authorities also reported a test positivity rate of 12% for the week of Nov. 1 -- Nov. 7. Officials said both case positivity and test positivity rates are relevant to the bigger COVID-19 picture.
Case positivity helps determine whether changes in the number of confirmed cases is due to more testing or more infections. Test positivity accounts for repeated testing and helps to understand how the virus is spreading over time, according to the IDPH.
Also Sunday, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced a member of her staff tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member was last in the Cook County Building on Friday, she said.
While she is not experiencing symptoms, Preckwinkle said she will take a precautionary COVID-19 test and self-isolate until the results return.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Underwood moves ahead of Oberweis as Lake County updates results

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood has moved into the lead in her tightly contested reelection race against Republican challenger Jim Oberweis , according to new ballot counts filed late Saturday night by the Lake County clerk 's office .
Those updated unofficial results show Underwood , a freshman Democrat from Naperville , picking up 2,071 more votes in Lake to Oberweis ' 929 , erasing the Republican 's previous 558-vote lead across the 14th District and giving the incumbent a 584-vote edge .
But counting will continue in Lake County and elsewhere , and more updates are expected over the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postmarked on or before Election Day that arrive at county clerks ' offices by Nov. 17 will be counted , as will provisional ballots .
The Lake County clerk 's office plans updates on Tuesday and Nov. 17 , and the McHenry County clerk is expected to release its final totals Nov. 18 .
Kendall and Will counties are waiting until Nov. 17 .
DeKalb is waiting until Nov. 18 .
Oberweis , a state senator from Sugar Grove , declared victory in a video posted Wednesday , when he led by 895 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proclamation premature .
The 14th District includes parts of DuPage , Kane , Lake , McHenry , Will , DeKalb and Kendall counties .

Underwood moves ahead of Oberweis as Lake County updates results
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood has moved into the lead in her tightly contested reelection race against Republican challenger Jim Oberweis, according to new ballot counts filed late Saturday night by the Lake County clerk's office.
Those updated unofficial results show Underwood, a freshman Democrat from Naperville, picking up 2,071 more votes in Lake to Oberweis' 929, erasing the Republican's previous 558-vote lead across the 14th District and giving the incumbent a 584-vote edge.
But counting will continue in Lake County and elsewhere, and more updates are expected over the next nine to 10 days. Mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day that arrive at county clerks' offices by Nov. 17 will be counted, as will provisional ballots.
The Lake County clerk's office plans updates on Tuesday and Nov. 17, and the McHenry County clerk is expected to release its final totals Nov. 18. Kendall and Will counties are waiting until Nov. 17. DeKalb is waiting until Nov. 18.
Oberweis, a state senator from Sugar Grove, declared victory in a video posted Wednesday, when he led by 895 votes. The Underwood campaign called the proclamation premature.
The 14th District includes parts of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, DeKalb and Kendall counties.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Alex Trebek, long-running 'Jeopardy!' host, dies at 80

LOS ANGELES -- Alex Trebek , who presided over the beloved quiz show `` Jeopardy ! ''
for more than 30 years with dapper charm and a touch of school-master strictness , died Sunday .
He was 80 .
Trebek , who announced in 2019 that he had advanced pancreatic cancer , died at his California home , surrounded by family and friends , `` Jeopardy ! ''
studio Sony said .
The Canadian-born host , who made a point of informing fans about his health directly , spoke in a calm , even tone as he revealed his illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video posted March 6 , 2019 .
In the video , Trebek said he was joining the 50,000 other Americans who receive such a diagnosis each year and that he recognized that the prognosis was not encouraging .
But Trebek said he intended to fight it and keep working , even joking that he needed to beat the disease because his `` Jeopardy ! ''
contract ran for three more years .
Less than a week later , he opened the show with a message acknowledging the outpouring of kind words and prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the -- believe it or not -- hundreds of thousands of people who have sent in tweets , texts , emails , cards and letters wishing me well , '' Trebek said .
`` I 'm a lucky guy . ''
`` Jeopardy ! ''
bills itself as `` America 's favorite quiz show '' and captivated the public with a unique format in which contestants were told the answers and had to provide the questions on a variety of subjects , including movies , politics , history and popular culture .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... ? ''
or `` Who is ... .
? ''
Trebek , who became its host in 1984 , was a master of the format , engaging in friendly banter with contestants , appearing genuinely pleased when they answered correctly and , at the same time , moving the game along in a brisk no-nonsense fashion whenever people struggled for answers .
He never pretended to know the answers himself if he really did n't , deferring to the show 's experts to decide whether a somewhat vague answer had come close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I try not to take myself too seriously , '' he told an interviewer in 2004 .
`` I do n't want to come off as a pompous ass and indicate that I know everything when I do n't . ''
The show was the brainstorm of Juann Griffin , wife of the late talk show host-entrepreneur Merv Griffin , who said she suggested to him one day that he create a game show where people were given the answers .
`` Jeopardy ! ''
debuted on NBC in 1964 with Art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit .
It lasted until 1975 , then was revived in syndication with Trebek .
Long identified by a full head of hair and trim mustache ( though in 2001 he startled viewers by shaving his mustache , `` completely on a whim '' ) , Trebek was more than qualified for the job , having started his game show career on `` Reach for the Top '' in his native country .
Moving to the U.S. in 1973 , he appeared on `` The Wizard of Odds , '' `` High Rollers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and `` Double Dare . ''
Even during his run on `` Jeopardy !
`` , Trebek worked on other shows .
In the early 1990s , he was the host of three -- `` Jeopardy !
`` , `` To Tell the Truth '' and `` Classic Concentration . ''
`` Jeopardy ! ''
made him famous .
He won five Emmys as its host , and received stars on both the Hollywood and Canadian walks of fame .
In 2012 , the show won a prestigious Peabody Award .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows at a frenetic pace , recording as many as 10 episodes ( two weeks ' worth ) in just two days .
After what was described as a mild heart attack in 2007 , he was back at work in just a month .
He posted a video in January 2018 announcing he 'd undergone surgery for blood clots on the brain that followed a fall he 'd taken .
The show was on hiatus during his recovery .
It had yet to bring in a substitute host for Trebek -- save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fortune '' host Pat Sajak swapped their TV jobs as an April 's Fool prank .
In 2012 , Trebek acknowledged that he was considering retirement , but had been urged by friends to stay on so he could reach 30 years on the show .
He still loved the job , he declared : `` What 's not to love ?
You have the security of a familiar environment , a familiar format , but you have the excitement of new clues and new contestants on every program .
You ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewers considered him one of the key reasons for the show 's success , Trebek himself insisted he was only there to keep things moving .
`` I 'm introduced as the host of 'Jeopardy !
, ' not the star , '' he said in a 2012 interview .
`` My job is to provide the atmosphere and assistance to the contestants to get them to perform at their very best , '' he explained .
`` And if I 'm successful doing that , I will be perceived as a nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me as being a bit of a star . ''

Alex Trebek, long-running 'Jeopardy!' host, dies at 80
FILE - In this Friday, April 28, 2006, file photo, Alex Trebek holds the award for outstanding game show host, for his work on "Jeopardy!" backstage at the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years. Trebek died at home with family and friends surrounding him, "Jeopardy!" studio Sony said in a statement. Trebek presided over the beloved quiz show for more than 30 years.
"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek died Sunday , Nov. 8, 2020, after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years. Trebek died at home with family and friends surrounding him, "Jeopardy!" studio Sony said in a statement. Trebek presided over the beloved quiz show for more than 30 years. Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
This May 5, 2019, file photo shows Alex Trebek gestures while presenting an award at the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years. Trebek died at home with family and friends surrounding him, "Jeopardy!" studio Sony said in a statement. Trebek presided over the beloved quiz show for more than 30 years. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File
LOS ANGELES -- Alex Trebek, who presided over the beloved quiz show "Jeopardy!" for more than 30 years with dapper charm and a touch of school-master strictness, died Sunday. He was 80.
Trebek, who announced in 2019 that he had advanced pancreatic cancer, died at his California home, surrounded by family and friends, "Jeopardy!" studio Sony said.
The Canadian-born host, who made a point of informing fans about his health directly, spoke in a calm, even tone as he revealed his illness and hope for a cure in a video posted March 6, 2019.
In the video, Trebek said he was joining the 50,000 other Americans who receive such a diagnosis each year and that he recognized that the prognosis was not encouraging.
But Trebek said he intended to fight it and keep working, even joking that he needed to beat the disease because his "Jeopardy!" contract ran for three more years. Less than a week later, he opened the show with a message acknowledging the outpouring of kind words and prayers he'd received.
"Thanks to the -- believe it or not -- hundreds of thousands of people who have sent in tweets, texts, emails, cards and letters wishing me well," Trebek said. "I'm a lucky guy."
"Jeopardy!" bills itself as "America's favorite quiz show" and captivated the public with a unique format in which contestants were told the answers and had to provide the questions on a variety of subjects, including movies, politics, history and popular culture.
They would answer by saying "What is ... ?" or "Who is .... ?"
Trebek, who became its host in 1984, was a master of the format, engaging in friendly banter with contestants, appearing genuinely pleased when they answered correctly and, at the same time, moving the game along in a brisk no-nonsense fashion whenever people struggled for answers.
He never pretended to know the answers himself if he really didn't, deferring to the show's experts to decide whether a somewhat vague answer had come close enough to be counted as correct.
"I try not to take myself too seriously," he told an interviewer in 2004. "I don't want to come off as a pompous ass and indicate that I know everything when I don't."
The show was the brainstorm of Juann Griffin, wife of the late talk show host-entrepreneur Merv Griffin, who said she suggested to him one day that he create a game show where people were given the answers.
"Jeopardy!" debuted on NBC in 1964 with Art Fleming as emcee and was an immediate hit. It lasted until 1975, then was revived in syndication with Trebek.
Long identified by a full head of hair and trim mustache (though in 2001 he startled viewers by shaving his mustache, "completely on a whim"), Trebek was more than qualified for the job, having started his game show career on "Reach for the Top" in his native country.
Moving to the U.S. in 1973, he appeared on "The Wizard of Odds," "High Rollers," "The $128,000 Question" and "Double Dare." Even during his run on "Jeopardy!", Trebek worked on other shows. In the early 1990s, he was the host of three -- "Jeopardy!", "To Tell the Truth" and "Classic Concentration."
"Jeopardy!" made him famous. He won five Emmys as its host, and received stars on both the Hollywood and Canadian walks of fame. In 2012, the show won a prestigious Peabody Award.
He taped his daily "Jeopardy!" shows at a frenetic pace, recording as many as 10 episodes (two weeks' worth) in just two days. After what was described as a mild heart attack in 2007, he was back at work in just a month.
He posted a video in January 2018 announcing he'd undergone surgery for blood clots on the brain that followed a fall he'd taken. The show was on hiatus during his recovery.
It had yet to bring in a substitute host for Trebek -- save once, when he and "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak swapped their TV jobs as an April's Fool prank.
In 2012, Trebek acknowledged that he was considering retirement, but had been urged by friends to stay on so he could reach 30 years on the show. He still loved the job, he declared: "What's not to love? You have the security of a familiar environment, a familiar format, but you have the excitement of new clues and new contestants on every program. You can't beat that!"
Although many viewers considered him one of the key reasons for the show's success, Trebek himself insisted he was only there to keep things moving.
"I'm introduced as the host of 'Jeopardy!,' not the star," he said in a 2012 interview. "My job is to provide the atmosphere and assistance to the contestants to get them to perform at their very best," he explained. "And if I'm successful doing that, I will be perceived as a nice guy and the audience will think of me as being a bit of a star."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Late night update to vote totals shakes up Lake County races

A ballot count update late Saturday by the Lake County clerk 's office has shaken up two key county races and , if the gains hold , could further increase Democratic control of county leadership .
The changes include Republican incumbent State 's Attorney Mike Nerheim falling behind Democratic challenger Eric Rinehart .
Nerheim held a 4,832-vote lead when the clerk posted results Wednesday , but now Rinehart is ahead with 135,238 votes to the incumbent 's 134,209 , according to the clerk 's website .
Clerk Robin O'Connor could not be reached Sunday to say how many votes were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what type of ballots were counted or how many outstanding ballots remain .
The other race to flip after the update is the contest to represent District 12 on the Lake County Board .
After Wednesday , Republican incumbent Mike Rummel of Lake Forest led Democrat Paras Parekh by 239 votes , but the update put the challenger ahead with 8,679 votes to Rummel 's 8,223 votes .
The Saturday night update did n't change the leader in any other county race , but it did push Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race for the 14th Congressional District seat .
Before Saturday night , several Lake County candidates expressed frustration with the lack of regular updates from the clerk 's office .
O'Connor initially said she would n't provide an update until Tuesday , Nov. 10 , and then on Nov. 17 , when the results need to be certified .
`` It 's like election purgatory is what we 're in right now , '' said Carissa Casbon , who is running for the District 7 seat on the county board .
Casbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continued efforts of election judges and officials , she wishes results were released more frequently .
A Democrat from Warren Township , Casbon leads Republican incumbent Steve Carlson by a margin of 7,294 votes to 6,962 votes .
Gurnee Republican Lauren Fleming , who trails incumbent Democrat Sandy Hart of Lake Bluff for the 13th District county board seat , criticized O'Connor 's office Friday in an open letter in which she wrote that she observed ballots left overnight Thursday in a room that was secured .
O'Connor refuted those claims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials recently changed the locks on some doors as an extra precaution .
In other county board races , incumbent Republican Linda Pedersen of Antioch leads challenger Chase Andrew Thomas in District 1 , with 9,371 votes to 4,412 .
District 16 incumbent Democrat Terry Wilke of Round Lake Beach now has 4,901 votes to 3,675 votes for challenger John C. Frazier .
Democrat Marah Altenberg of Buffalo Grove , appointed in March to fill a vacancy , is leading with 7,430 votes to challenger Soojae Lee 's 5,495 in the race to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
Democrat Gina M. Roberts leads Republican Brent Paxton of Zion by a margin of 6,776 votes to 6,156 votes in District 4 .
If Paxton , Rummel and Carlson lose , Democrats would hold a 15-6 majority on the county board .
The Democratic grip on countywide offices also would tighten if incumbent Republican Coroner Howard Cooper loses to Democrat Jennifer Banek .
Banek 's lead , which was around 1,000 votes after Wednesday , grew Saturday and she now has 137,712 votes to 130,758 for Cooper .
Democratic Circuit Clerk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellen Vanderventer continue to lead in their respective races .
Cartwright now has 146,659 votes to 121,952 for challenger Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez , and Vanderventer 's 155,232 votes lead Emilia Czyszczon 's 112,087 .

Late night update to vote totals shakes up Lake County races
A ballot count update late Saturday by the Lake County clerk's office has shaken up two key county races and, if the gains hold, could further increase Democratic control of county leadership.
The changes include Republican incumbent State's Attorney Mike Nerheim falling behind Democratic challenger Eric Rinehart. Nerheim held a 4,832-vote lead when the clerk posted results Wednesday, but now Rinehart is ahead with 135,238 votes to the incumbent's 134,209, according to the clerk's website.
Clerk Robin O'Connor could not be reached Sunday to say how many votes were added to the results late Saturday night, what type of ballots were counted or how many outstanding ballots remain.
The other race to flip after the update is the contest to represent District 12 on the Lake County Board. After Wednesday, Republican incumbent Mike Rummel of Lake Forest led Democrat Paras Parekh by 239 votes, but the update put the challenger ahead with 8,679 votes to Rummel's 8,223 votes.
The Saturday night update didn't change the leader in any other county race, but it did push Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood ahead of Republican challenger Jim Oberweis in the race for the 14th Congressional District seat.
Before Saturday night, several Lake County candidates expressed frustration with the lack of regular updates from the clerk's office. O'Connor initially said she wouldn't provide an update until Tuesday, Nov. 10, and then on Nov. 17, when the results need to be certified.
"It's like election purgatory is what we're in right now," said Carissa Casbon, who is running for the District 7 seat on the county board.
Casbon said that while she is grateful for the continued efforts of election judges and officials, she wishes results were released more frequently. A Democrat from Warren Township, Casbon leads Republican incumbent Steve Carlson by a margin of 7,294 votes to 6,962 votes.
Gurnee Republican Lauren Fleming, who trails incumbent Democrat Sandy Hart of Lake Bluff for the 13th District county board seat, criticized O'Connor's office Friday in an open letter in which she wrote that she observed ballots left overnight Thursday in a room that was secured.
O'Connor refuted those claims, saying the storage area is secure and officials recently changed the locks on some doors as an extra precaution.
In other county board races, incumbent Republican Linda Pedersen of Antioch leads challenger Chase Andrew Thomas in District 1, with 9,371 votes to 4,412.
District 16 incumbent Democrat Terry Wilke of Round Lake Beach now has 4,901 votes to 3,675 votes for challenger John C. Frazier.
Democrat Marah Altenberg of Buffalo Grove, appointed in March to fill a vacancy, is leading with 7,430 votes to challenger Soojae Lee's 5,495 in the race to fill an unexpired 2-year term in District 20.
Democrat Gina M. Roberts leads Republican Brent Paxton of Zion by a margin of 6,776 votes to 6,156 votes in District 4.
If Paxton, Rummel and Carlson lose, Democrats would hold a 15-6 majority on the county board.
The Democratic grip on countywide offices also would tighten if incumbent Republican Coroner Howard Cooper loses to Democrat Jennifer Banek. Banek's lead, which was around 1,000 votes after Wednesday, grew Saturday and she now has 137,712 votes to 130,758 for Cooper.
Democratic Circuit Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein and Democratic Recorder Mary Ellen Vanderventer continue to lead in their respective races. Cartwright now has 146,659 votes to 121,952 for challenger Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, and Vanderventer's 155,232 votes lead Emilia Czyszczon's 112,087.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-11-08--Rozner: Nothing new to see here as Bears' offense stinks

Make no mistake about how bad the Bears ' offensive line was before injuries and virus issues .
That will be the excuse for this week and those moving forward , but you would only be pretending if you said it was fine before linemen started dropping like flies .
They could n't run the ball or maintain a pocket when things were supposedly good .
Now , it 's a disaster and it played out just as it should have Sunday in Tennessee as the Titans throttled the Bears and handed them a 24-17 defeat .
It was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only some strange Titans decisions allowed the Bears to hang around as long as they did , and get within a touchdown at the very end .
But this is what happens when you ignore the offensive line , when you draft for projects and reach for thrills .
Six years ago , when GM Ryan Pace took over and the Bears needed a total rebuild , the first thing he did was draft Kevin White , an injured wide receiver , at No .
7 overall .
That pretty much sums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they are six years later , still without an offensive line and sitting on a three-game losing streak .
A few weeks ago , they were the worst 5-1 team ever .
Now , they 're among the worst 5-4 teams ever , staring at one of the ugliest stretches of the last decade .
Some of what 's happened with the offensive line is just bad luck , but a wise GM builds depth and power at a crucial position instead of searching for players no one else would think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a revelation to the honest among us , but the Bears need someone who can draft a team from the inside out .
They need a head coach who does n't blame others and make excuses .
They need someone who can call plays and admit a team 's limitations .
They need an offensive line .
They need tight ends who can catch , block and not jump before the snap .
Feel free to stop me any time here .
In fairness to Matt Nagy , he does n't have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standpoint , but his genius always gets in the way of the game he 's watching , the script a weekly problem and the inability to adjust in-game maddening .
Pick any part of this contest as your least favorite , but a sequence early in the third quarter summed up this game perfectly .
Trailing just 10-0 , after another scoreless first half that Nagy still ca n't explain three years into his tenure , the Bears had first down on the Tennessee 40 early in the third quarter .
After an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Montgomery , Cordarrelle Patterson gained 5 yards on a short throw from Nick Foles .
On fourth-and-1 , the most penalized team in football -- a designation that also baffles the head coach -- went to work doing what they do best .
Tackle Arlington Hambright was called for a false start , making it fourth-and-6 .
Next up , tight end Jimmy Graham jumped and it was fourth-and-11 , forcing the offense off the field .
From only 40 yards out , punter Pat O'Donnell missed badly and kicked it deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It does n't get a whole lot worse than that .
The Bears ' defense did its job for the most part Sunday and held one of the best backs in the league , Derrick Henry , to 68 yards -- 26 in the first half -- but when the defense does n't take the ball away the offense has no chance , and when the offense puts the ball on the ground you can turn off the TV early .
Offensively , it was the same game you 've been watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand in his face on every throw , Montgomery had no room to run and the patchwork offensive line -- missing starters left and right to injuries and COVID-19 protocols -- was dominated from start to finish .
The Bears ' best offensive play of the day -- when the game was still in doubt -- was an 11-yard run by linebacker Barkevious Mingo on a fake punt in the first half , and he led the team in rushing for a good portion of the contest .
But Nagy being Nagy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timeout after the fake punt because offensive players were n't ready to go back on the field .
That 's coaching , but Nagy 's answer postgame was , essentially , that it happens every week to teams throughout the league .
Not much of an explanation .
Speaking of answers , Foles calls a better game than Nagy , which Nagy obviously hates , but they move the ball in the no-huddle each week better than at any other time .
Does n't take a genius to figure out why .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a game over .
500 , but the truth is when they were 5-1 you knew they could have been 1-5 , or maybe 3-3 if you were being generous .
What you 've seen the last three weeks is not at all different from what you saw the first six weeks , or really going back more than two years to the middle of Nagy 's first season here .
Next week offers another chance to show something else , but right now the Bears are who you thought they were @

Rozner: Nothing new to see here as Bears' offense stinks
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles (9) pitches the ball out to wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Associated Press
Make no mistake about how bad the Bears' offensive line was before injuries and virus issues.
That will be the excuse for this week and those moving forward, but you would only be pretending if you said it was fine before linemen started dropping like flies.
They couldn't run the ball or maintain a pocket when things were supposedly good. Now, it's a disaster and it played out just as it should have Sunday in Tennessee as the Titans throttled the Bears and handed them a 24-17 defeat.
It wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated and only some strange Titans decisions allowed the Bears to hang around as long as they did, and get within a touchdown at the very end.
But this is what happens when you ignore the offensive line, when you draft for projects and reach for thrills.
Six years ago, when GM Ryan Pace took over and the Bears needed a total rebuild, the first thing he did was draft Kevin White, an injured wide receiver, at No. 7 overall.
That pretty much sums why the Bears (5-4) are where they are six years later, still without an offensive line and sitting on a three-game losing streak.
A few weeks ago, they were the worst 5-1 team ever. Now, they're among the worst 5-4 teams ever, staring at one of the ugliest stretches of the last decade.
Some of what's happened with the offensive line is just bad luck, but a wise GM builds depth and power at a crucial position instead of searching for players no one else would think of selecting or signing.
This is not a revelation to the honest among us, but the Bears need someone who can draft a team from the inside out.
They need a head coach who doesn't blame others and make excuses.
They need someone who can call plays and admit a team's limitations.
They need an offensive line.
They need a quarterback.
They need tight ends who can catch, block and not jump before the snap.
Feel free to stop me any time here.
In fairness to Matt Nagy, he doesn't have a lot to work with from an offensive standpoint, but his genius always gets in the way of the game he's watching, the script a weekly problem and the inability to adjust in-game maddening.
Pick any part of this contest as your least favorite, but a sequence early in the third quarter summed up this game perfectly.
Trailing just 10-0, after another scoreless first half that Nagy still can't explain three years into his tenure, the Bears had first down on the Tennessee 40 early in the third quarter.
After an incomplete pass and a 4-yard run by David Montgomery, Cordarrelle Patterson gained 5 yards on a short throw from Nick Foles. On fourth-and-1, the most penalized team in football -- a designation that also baffles the head coach -- went to work doing what they do best.
Tackle Arlington Hambright was called for a false start, making it fourth-and-6. Next up, tight end Jimmy Graham jumped and it was fourth-and-11, forcing the offense off the field. From only 40 yards out, punter Pat O'Donnell missed badly and kicked it deep into the end zone for a touchback.
It doesn't get a whole lot worse than that.
The Bears' defense did its job for the most part Sunday and held one of the best backs in the league, Derrick Henry, to 68 yards -- 26 in the first half -- but when the defense doesn't take the ball away the offense has no chance, and when the offense puts the ball on the ground you can turn off the TV early.
Offensively, it was the same game you've been watching for two-plus years.
Foles had a hand in his face on every throw, Montgomery had no room to run and the patchwork offensive line -- missing starters left and right to injuries and COVID-19 protocols -- was dominated from start to finish.
The Bears' best offensive play of the day -- when the game was still in doubt -- was an 11-yard run by linebacker Barkevious Mingo on a fake punt in the first half, and he led the team in rushing for a good portion of the contest.
But Nagy being Nagy, the Bears were forced to take a timeout after the fake punt because offensive players weren't ready to go back on the field.
That's coaching, but Nagy's answer postgame was, essentially, that it happens every week to teams throughout the league.
Not much of an explanation.
Speaking of answers, Foles calls a better game than Nagy, which Nagy obviously hates, but they move the ball in the no-huddle each week better than at any other time.
Doesn't take a genius to figure out why.
Another mess of a match leaves the Bears just a game over. 500, but the truth is when they were 5-1 you knew they could have been 1-5, or maybe 3-3 if you were being generous.
What you've seen the last three weeks is not at all different from what you saw the first six weeks, or really going back more than two years to the middle of Nagy's first season here.
Next week offers another chance to show something else, but right now the Bears are who you thought they were.