5 Thoughts for July 30, 2015

1. Of course Russia vetoed a proposal advanced by Malaysia, Netherlands and Ukraine, to open a tribunal over the downing of MH17 -- they had no choice. You see, even Russia's closest allies -- China, Angola and Venezuela -- abstained from voting, which should explain just how they feel about Russia's involvement in the MH17 incident.
2. Was at Trader Joe's on Tuesday, when I realized that those new terminals they'd added several months ago, now had NFC payments enabled. Pulled out my phone, tapped on the POS and paid my bill using Google Wallet. Those are the same terminals I've seen at Fred Meyer recently, which might suggest that it's only a matter of software update to turn on NFC payments. Before long, I won't need to carry my wallet.
3. Mark it down: Brazil 2016 is set to become a major debacle for the IOC. According to this AP story, the waters being used for the 2016 Olympics are so polluted, one expert places the odds at 99% that athletes who come into contact with the water will be infected. Tests performed by the AP show that the cleanest waters had virus concentrations equal to raw sewage. I believe the IOC is corrupt in the same vein as FIFA.
4. There is backlash against the anger on Cecil the Lion's death, at the hands of poachers under the guise of big game hunters, and it goes like this: There are more important things to be concerned about, such as racial inequality, rape, etc. All true, but it involves a false choice -- we can choose to be outraged at all of those things, speak out about all those things, and still be mad at Cecil the Lion's death.
5. College football is five weeks away, to the day. Out today, is the first important preseason poll, the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll with Oregon ranked 5th and USC ranked 10th. Meanwhile, the PAC-12 media poll was released, with USC picked over Oregon to win the PAC-12 championship. I get why people think Oregon stays on top (great teams reload when stars leave), but this is probably more of an indictment of the lack of a top quarterback in the North who can take their team to the championship. Kevin Hogan isn't a top quarterback -- he has a slow release as he drags his arm all the way back, as if he's pitching a baseball. He's usually a good game manager, though.