Our local paper ran an interesting story yesterday. A Swindon company has been given the contract to supply China with translated bibles whilst the olympic games are being held there. As a succesful commercial bid its praiseworthy, but I'm astonished that China is permitting their import. China is after all a communist regime which inherently regards religion as a rival for peoples loyalty.

The olympics can be a thorny issue. The labour government went to some effort to get it held in London in 2012, with the usual political phrases about what a great opportunity it is for Britain. When it was announced, a lot of people said it was brilliant. I didn't. I pointed out that the cost of staging the games will increase well byond predictions and inevitably taxes would have to rise to cover the cost, never mind that the benefits of staging the games would be fleeting. Once the games are over, who cares? Well - I would say the people who would still be owed money. Already we've heard stories about rising costs, and a report in this mornings paper has unveiled that taxpayers will bail out the cost of the olympic village. Who would have thought it?

Prediction of the Week

The officials overseeing the Zimbabwe elections have said that its unlikely the election will fair. Who would have thought that? Still, its pleasing to see african leaders finally getting their act together and warning Mugabe over his efforts to stop people voting against him. Better late than never. But thats the trouble with democracy. If no-one enforces it, sooner or later it gets pushed aside.

Like in Europe, where the EU have told the Irish leader that he has four months to find a way around the negative vote for the Treaty of Lisbon. Politicians aren't concerned with democracy anymore. They have an agenda that suits them, and if it doesn't suit us, tough. Welcome to the USofE.