Where do we even begin? The month kicked off with record temperatures throughout the U.S., while Washington eeked out a deal to raise the debt ceiling that left few happy. The drama had not only Americans watching horrified, but also the rest of the world. By the end of the first week in August, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+ for the first time in history. The Friday-night downgrade meant that when the worldwide markets opened Monday, it was time to buckle up for a wild week ahead. The U.S. stock market had a “flash crash” Monday and a flash rally Tuesday before slumping Wednesday on fears that now France’s credit would be downgraded. Meanwhile, London descended into chaos for five straight nights as riots erupted in the city. On the evening of August 6, about 200 assembled in Tottenham, North London, to march peacefully to protest the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan, an alleged gangster shot to death by police. But the protest quickly spiraled out of control as rioters began setting fire to buildings, looting and stabbing. The riots spread throughout the city and eventually Manchester, Birmingham and other parts of Britain within four days. During this time, at least 111 police officers were injured and Metropolitan Police had arrested more than 1,100. By the fifth night, Prime Minister David Cameron said water cannons could be used and “nothing is off the table” to dispel the riots. Had enough yet? Only ten days in, there’s still plenty of time for more drama ahead.