Let us now update our list of civic ripoffs.

Q: "Does Hosting the Olympics Actually Pay Off?"

A: Not fucking likely.

Civic leaders around the world, please add "Hosting the Olympics" to "Hosting the World Cup," "Paying public money for sports stadiums," "Paying public money for unwanted shopping centers," and "Investing your pension money in hedge funds" on the abbreviated list of things that are ripoffs of the public.

Do not do any of the above things.

Thank you.

[Photo: AP]