10 Thoughts for October 30, 2014

1. Gender: Tim Cook came out of the closet.  Even in this day and age where politicians, music and video stars are all openly living their lives, it still isn't easy for people to come out, in part because older folks and many religions still harbor sentiments against such folks.
2. Gender: In keeping with this theme, I find it disgusting that Russians find it acceptable to beat gay men and women.  I find it disgusting that these human rights violations, supported by their respective governments, have been overlooked by members of the IOC and FIFA, allowing Russia to host both the Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.  You may be against gay people, but that does not give you a right to beat gay people up.  Governments who do not crack down on these human rights violations are no better than these violent people.
3. Football: I am still laughing at the sports media, believing that the Jets need a new quarterback.  As I wrote before, the Jets have an o-line problem, first and foremost.  Three of the last four seasons (2011 - 2014) the Jets have ranked 27th out of 32 teams in sacks allowed per game.  That's the bottom line, you dolts.
4. Football: Ryan Abraham used ESPN Stats to calculate the odds of losing to both ASU and Utah -- 0.6%.  I think they should run the odds of losing a game by going to a prevent defense.  When Sark said that the team lacked a killer instinct, I had to laugh, because going prevent defense hardly instills a killer mindset.  It reflects zero confidence in the secondary, and you're just hoping and praying that the secondary won't give up the touchdown.  Truthfully, USC is just two missed field goals away from a 3 - 5 record.
5. Football: Everyone seems confident that USC will beat WSU, given the gap in talent between the two.  IDK, man.  The only teams USC has overwhelmed are Fresno State, Colorado and Oregon State, and none of these teams have won games against teams with at least average talent.  Meanwhile WSU has pulled the upset against Utah and was very close to pulling it off against Oregon.  If USC loses, the whole season might be in jeopardy, frankly, as the psychological scar of losing to WSU might be too much to bear.
6. GamerGate: This is the last time I'll ever speak about this issue.  Pro-GamerGate people insist that the issue is about journalistic ethics, which is absurd because the mantle they've taken up, is not unique to the gaming industry.  Every tech and political story you've ever read, is partially informed by biased sources or inherently slanted by the journalist's own feelings on the matter.  If GamerGate folks want to stand apart from the doxing and the threats of violence against women, then stand apart from the doxing and the threats of violence against women by directly addressing these individuals on Twitter.  As far as I can tell, these voices who believe that GamerGate is about journalistic ethics, are full of chicken shit.  And those who dox and make anonymous threats through the internet are no less chicken shit themselves, incapable of being on the front line of the threats they hurl.  
7. Technology: If you haven't heard by now, Sprint is going to turn off Clearwire's WiMax network, next November, as in 2015.  This is good news for me, in that Sprint had previously hinted that it would turn off the network throughout 2014 as it finished updating equipment in each market.  At least now we know that there's a bit more time ahead, and between now and then, there will be more competition to lower prices for high speed internet.
8. Technology: I just ordered a Google Wallet Card.  I've decided that I'm going to stop using my debit card and start using my Wallet and Wallet Card.  The reason is, the Wallet Card is a layer that separates my banking account from my transactions, plus, because my Google account utilizes two-factor authentication, no one else can access my account, which is far better than the combination of password and secondary questions used by my bank -- or any other bank for that matter.  Plus, Google just announced automated features for depositing money into your Wallet Card.  Here's a quick rundown of the fees (hint, you probably will never encounter them.)
9. Technology: Did I mention this?  I finally got a password manager, SafeInCloud.  The deal is, you pay for the app, but the desktop app (Windows / Mac) is free.  Sadly for iOS users, it costs $2 more than the Android app.  I had to use up my balance of Play Store credit, so I figured why not.
10. Politics: A wave of new polls in the Merkley - Wehby race definitively show Merkley coasting.  The Wehby team actually declined to comment on the newest poll numbers, but then again, who can blame them?