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Thank you for a wonderful article! The media has done an excelent job in distorting this issue and spreading unecessary mass-confusion. While requiring a relatively thorough and careful analysis, Mr. Rampton shows that understanding of statistical estimation is not beyond the reach of a lay reader. The convolution of "counts" vs. "estimates" has been beyond negligent. IBC makes no secret of the fact that their count is likely a vast undercount on their website, due to the under-reporting of casualties. The fact that the mainstream media neglected to add this qualification is bad enough, however, I see no excuse for the omission of what it is that is actually being counted! "Civilian casualties" vs. "excess deaths" alone should be expected to result in a much larger number, let alone the HUGE difference between a "count" and an "estimate". Also, given the mainstream media's LOVE of "experts", I found it interesting that most sources did not seek out expert opinions, perhaps due to the near unanimous support the study enjoyed. The dismissal of this excelent John Hopkins study, not exactly a Micky Mouse institution, was infuriating to me. I subjected almost everyone I encountered in the following days to a lesson in elementary statistics, venting this frustration! Should the issue come up in the future, I definitely will point them to this article. Thanks again!