International rules (thumb down) » We're shocked -- shocked! -- to learn that China cut a deal under the table to help it gain the bid for the 2008 Olympic Summer Games. The former head of the Chinese Olympic Committee has disclosed a quid pro quo in which China agreed to support the candidacy of Jacques Rogge as head of the International Olympic Committee in exchange for his vote for Beijing's bid to host the games. Utahns are better acquainted than most with the endemic corruption of the bid process, having witnessed every painful detail unfold in the scandal that engulfed Salt Lake City's successful quest for the 2002 Winter Games. In the wake of that mess, the Olympic movement vowed to clean up the process. One of the leading reformers was a Belgian named Jacques Rogge.

Flu fighters (thumb up) » The lines are gone, the options have expanded, the anger has subsided. State and local health officials, after a sickly start, have found the cure for the problems that plagued early efforts to inoculate the public with the H1N1 flu vaccine. At clinics in some counties, high-risk individuals -- children and young adults 6 months to 24 years of age, pregnant women, persons under age 64 with underlying health conditions and others authorized for immediate vaccination -- were turned away after standing in line for hours last month when the demand exceeded the supply. Fortunately, public health departments recovered quickly, with many wisely adopting telephone and Internet reservation systems, doling out doses to hospitals and private physicians, and expanding clinic locations to include pharmacies. Kudos. Now, if the federal government would only deliver on its promise to provide enough vaccine, we could all breathe a little easier.

A poor crop (thumb down) » U.S. military recruiters can convince prospective soldiers, sailors and Marines that serving their country is the patriotic thing to do. They can point out that military service is a good investment because of bigger signing bonuses, up from $8,000 in 2000 to $18,000 in 2008, and veterans benefits. In fact, in 2008-09 recruiters enjoyed one of their best years since the Vietnam-era draft ended. But they have bad news about the quality of most young American men and women they meet. About 75 percent of 17- to 24-year-olds are unfit for military service. To be blunt, they are poorly educated, fat and out of shape. That's a frightening thought, since all those young Americans who flunk military admissions tests are also likely to fail job interviews and add to the country's health care costs.