I’ve just come back from a hectic week in New York so it is time to catch up.

First off: That protest march in Italy. What a bunch of idiots. Avanti Saddam! But I’ve got to give it to him, he’s managed to do what no government in Europe has ever managed to do: turn fervent lefties into pro-nuclear weapons marchers. Manuel was there:

All in all, the Social Forum gave anyone with a grievance an excuse to take a roadtrip. Angry at the Italian state for supporting Fiat’s closing of the Termini Imerese plant? Come on down! Pissed at Berlusconi for supporting the war in Iraq? Come on down! Support the PLO? Come on down! Like to smoke hash in public? You must come down to Florence and march!

It was great! 500,000 people engaged in collective whining.