I was on holidays, hence the lack of posting. It was not a crisis of confidence as has been suggested. Anyway in the two weeks or so that I've been away a lot has happened in the news:

- The Olympics have started, as has the back slapping of China. Apparently this is still considered a sporting occasion despite the attendance of over 80 world leaders and the rest of the world's refusal to condemn the spending of $40 billion (4 times the 2012 projection) on the event while most of the country's citizens live in abject poverty. However I do fancy a flutter on Ireland getting at least one medal in boxing, and you can't help but be in awe of Michael "I'm running out of events" Phelps.

- The health service or lack thereof is shit. Ok so it's not news but the fact that since 2005 and an input of over €3 billion we have a total of 10 more beds than we used to. There were 283 people on trolleys last Wednesday.

- Vladimir Putin has shown the world that he is not fucking about anymore. Not only has he invaded Georgia, but one of his envoys talked about re-militarizing their Cuban bases. They're not protecting Russians in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, or else they wouldn't be now bombing the capital Tbilisi. Could it be because the only oil pipeline that runs to Europe from central Asia that doesn't traverse Russia is in....oh wait that's got to be coincidental. Surely the fact that Georgia is de-stabilizing the region of former CIS breakaway nations is the driving factor?

- Barack Obama's campaign is suffering from him being too good or something. Apparently people are getting tired of hearing about Obama, and his lead in some polls has closed to within a few points. He'll be alright though, because once the news slows down the Obamamania reporting and gives equal coverage to John McCain they'll realise what a dick he is.

- The rain. I won't go on about it but the double whammy of record breakers on Saturday is pretty impressive: the second wettest day since records began, plus more rain falling in under 24 hours than in a normal whole month of August.

- Lidltreats finished the €50 challenge and passed with flying colours.

- L'Oreal have decided somewhere along the way that Beyonce is too black.