5 Thoughts for August 31, 2016

1. Sign of Climate Change?: I'm working on a deeper post about this, but today there are twin hurricanes separated by days, heading towards Hawai'i. This time last year we saw the same thing.
2. USC vs Alabama: ESPN did a positional comparison. USC has the edge in 3 positions: quarterback, running back and secondary; Alabama has the edge in 3 positions: offensive line, defensive line and linebacker. The teams are tied in 2 positions: special teams and wide receiver. That alone should imply that the two teams are roughly a good match for each other and that the game should be close. But if they were honest, they would admit that Alabama's field goal kicking is so bad (Adam Griffith went 1 for 5 in the spring game!) that USC should have the edge in special teams. Also, they seem to have left out that while starter Chad Wheeler might be out, USC left tackle Chuma Edoga started against Utah last year, back when Utah was 6-0 and ranked #3 in the country; given that every one of the two-deep on USC's o-line played extensively last year, USC should have the advantage here. Recalculate it, and USC should have the advantage in 5 position groups, tied in one, and Alabama with the advantage in two. I didn't spend a bunch of time rewatching Alabama's spring game and the NC game for nothing. That is why I'm saying that USC could win in a tight one, but if USC's offense shows up, they might blow out Alabama.
3. Michele Bachmann's God: Today, Bachmann told a Christian news outlet that, "I don’t think God sits things out. He’s a sovereign God." That's asinine. In Genesis 1:26-29 God gave Man dominion over earthly matters. But let's say that God did intervene and push Donald to the top of the GOP field to face Hillary, but then lost; would that mean that he meant for the GOP to suffer the pangs of humiliation because of their support for a pathological liar who had never practiced what he -- currently -- preaches? She's put herself in a bind, hasn't she?
4. Donald's 47% Moment?: Mother Jones reported today an in-depth investigation of Donald's fashion modeling company, and his long-standing violations of federal immigration laws that could actually send him to prison. It's not just that he broke federal laws -- yet again -- but that he's, right now, operating his business in a hypocritical manner directly in contravention of his own, tough immigration talk. Effectively, he's showing that not only is his talk just fluff but that as President his own companies would be breaking the very laws he's supposed to uphold. 
5. EU's Competition Rules: Apple was hit with a $14.5B tax bill, by the EU Competition Committee, payable to Ireland, over a tax abatement agreement between Ireland and Apple. Yes, it is reprehensible that Ireland gave Apple a < 1% corporate tax rate, but going after Apple? Shouldn't they be targeting Ireland, rather than the corporations? I guess I'm still waiting for them to target Airbus. I keed. They'd never pursue one of their own. You see where I'm going, here: The EU Competition Committee is self-interested in protecting domestic corporations.