Bono, serially annoying git.

The Irish media are giving him a lashing over investing an estimated €194 million in Forbes Media, (which includes the Forbes magazine, which the SMH points out is the "bible of capitalism" and a publication that doesn't look on debt relief in a particularly favourable way). I know you can influence things by being a serious investor, but really, why not invest in something that's already putting in the hard yards?

Roger McNamee, Bono's business partner, apparently says that it isn't selling out and the way to overcome poverty is by giving people the tools to do it. Seeing as Bono is a tool, those living in poverty are most welcome to him.

This all comes a couple days after U2 upped sticks and moved some operations to Holland to avoid paying tax in Ireland. Holland offers a very low tax rate for artists. The Irish Labour Party's finance spokesperson Joan Burton is reported as saying, "Having listened to Bono on the necessity for the Irish government to give more money to Ireland Aid... I am surprised that U2 are not prepared to contribute to the exchequer on a fair basis along with the bulk of taxpayers."

Add to that "U2 Tower" as proposed for Dublin, which residents seem less than impressed with the idea of... The tower would house luxury apartments, recording studios, etc. And towers are apparently phallic symbols. And this would be the biggest in Ireland if it goes ahead.

Hmm!