As the London 2012 Olympics start to fade, I am buoyed by the fact that the Canadian broadcaster which has presented these games has lost the future rights to them - perhaps for insisting that "we" have improved even as results don't match previous efforts. Now, I can return to thinking about other normal things that the steroid laced or, more often, just limited of focus do. Oddly, I know three guys who just missed the Olympics at different points in time and know them for the other things in their lives. That being said, I am still committed to reviving my own quest in Novice Mens' Masters Shot Put. Check down 3/4s of the way down these results. I could do that... or something that approximates it. Like getting my own bubblegum card.

That all being the case - that being my Olympic experience - what else have we learned from all this? Specifically, what have the Olympics told us about beer?

♦ First, apparently beer can be dispensed from a back pack. CAMRA can either moan and groan about this or invent the cask back pack. I suggest they do the latter.
♦ And U.S. badminton player Howard Bach took time to back up his choice of hobby by saying that it's "...not the backyard sport you’ve played. We don’t drink beer and cook out while we’re playing. It’s fast, it’s competitive. The top speed of a shuttle is close to 240 mph. It’s not a sport for sissies." Gee. When I think of it, I've never had to throw an afternoon smoking pork shoulder to feel better about myself. Just sayin'.
♦ One commentator took the time to praise Britain's Bradley Wiggins for not getting blind drunk on beer... but rather for getting blind drunk on vodka and tonic after winning his final gold of the games. Canadian gold medalists beg to differ.
♦ Finally, it appears that London 2012 was bad news for the tourist and local pub trade. A reported outright economic failure. Jeff of the Gunmakers (aka Stonch) noted the phenomenon in the particular.

Funny that last point as all my UK relatives and Facebook folk appear to have spent the last 17 days giddily over the moon and half in the bag. Was this the real Olympic message? Watch TV and drink beer? Perhaps. Being happy with the work of others while making no real commitment to follow the example? Could be. Buying stuff from all those advertisers who prop up the International Olympic Committee and its lavish lifestyle? Not so much.