It's the rich wot gets the gravy... It's the poor wot gets the blame!

As I was leaving London, Gordon Brown was delivering details on the financial bail out package. We've been going through the same shenanigans over here for the last few weeks... With one difference. In the US, as the government prints money, the pundits talk about the burden this will place on our children and grandchildren some time in the misty future.

In the UK, most of the opposition to any bail out is based on the realization that the costs, through higher taxation, will occur in the next couple of years. I think that's one of the main differences between the two countries. Americans think that everything will eventually turn out OK, and why not get that new Hummer on the Titanium AmEx? Plus, the mere mention of higher taxes leads to the instant brandishing of their second amendment fire power.

Brit's know that eventually they're going to get screwed one way or another. So, you may as well order that extra pint before the Chancellor takes it away.

Is the sun finally setting over the British Empire?

Well, I got back last night after traveling for eighteen hours and drinking my way over the North Pole. I had an excellent time, including a very nice extended lunch with our worthy editor, Gordon Macmillan.

I have to confess that even though I try and stay on top of the UK news, I am always mystified every time I get there that I am not up to speed with the latest developments with such cultural icons as Kylie Minogue and Sir Cliff. I didn't even know that Gordon F**king Ramsey has been having it off with some lady who seems to have spent the last 20 years shagging the rich and famous.

As for the X Factor, I thought it was all about the FBI and the paranormal. Turns out it's Pop Idol with a new name. And with Strictly Come Dancing and all the furor about John Sergeant's retirement from the show, I am almost speechless, every time I put on the TV, that's all that was on. Financial crisis, stumbling economy, bloody hell, forget all that unimportant ***, show me another clip of the portly Mr Sergeant stumbling around the dance floor.

TV programming around the world in general is pretty awful, but we Brit's seem to have a penchant for not only producing some really bad stuff, we also, apparently, enjoy watching it! 

Goodness knows what the Queen must think about this state of affairs!

Anyone want to buy my slightly used DAF?

Everyone over here is freaking out about the current melt down of the economy... The big topic of discussion is whether or not the Big Three Automakers should get a multi million dollar bail out... Which will be paid for by my tax dollars.

These are the numb nuts who for years have assumed America wanted bigger and bigger Hummers... Which they did, 'till the price of petrol started to go up. Even at its highest, it was only half the price you pay in Europe. But Americans feel they have a god given right to cheap gas.

Now it's going down again (probably only temporarily) but people are running out of money and have maxed out their credit cards. Car sales are dropping through the floor and already some of the big car agencies are laying off people... There's going to be a lot more before this blood bath is over.

Remember when working on a car account was semi-glamorous? All those great shoots on Icelandic glaciers and s*h*i*t... Now you'll be lucky if you get to shoot on a bomb site in Wigan.  

Sad days ahead in Silicon Valley

When Cisco announced disastrous last quarter sales today, the stock market took a nosedive... Yeah, I know, it's been doing that for days.

But the problem with the Cisco news is that this is not only a bell-weather for other technology stocks, it's also a sharp stick in the eye for all the digital/new/social media wankers that make their millions via the Internet.

Then later today Cisco announced it was  cancelling a two-week sales conference planned for next August in San Francisco. You have to understand that conferences like this are a combination of boot camp, old-fashioned tent revivals, and fraternity piss-ups, supposedly held to rev up a company's revenue generators; even though they pretend it's to educate salespeople about new products and compensation plans.

By the time the evenings roll around, these affairs usually devolve into debauchery. Particularly if they're held in another "Off Site" favorite venue... Las Vegas. But not this time.

No tea with the Queen... But, beer with you. Play your cards right... And who knows?

For all my British fans...  Here is a link to the wonderful panel I moderated at the last psfk Conference in San Francisco about three months ago. It was all about how companies and organizations can leverage social media to enhance consumer dialogue, evolve product offering and improve sales, whatever that means. 

I did my best to remain focused, even though the the beautiful Lynn Casey from Team Noesis was sat next to me and it was hard to keep my eyes off her wonderful legs. And that's not all!!! As the infomercial's say...

I shall be over there in a couple of weeks for a few days... If anyone wants to get me legless at their expense while lyposuctioning the wisdom of ages from my disintegrating brain... Drop me an email... I shall be in London from November 19th on.

If you really care!!!

Obama wins big time!!! McCain ends up in the Poisoned Dwarf's basement!

In 24 hours it will all be over and America will wake from its 8 year nightmare!

As I write this here in the US, it's still November 3rd. Tomorrow, it will be November 4th. The day America votes for a new President, Senate and Congress. All the signs are that Barack will win big and the Democrats will run up big majorities in both houses. Soon the nightmare of the last eight years will be over, and Bush can go back to his ranch in Texas to bask in the glory of going down in history as the worst President this country has ever had to put up with.

Although I have to admit, a lot of very dumb people put him in power the last time. There's some doubt about the first time. But the way the early voting has been going and the registration of new voters, I believe this will be a landslide. I certainly hope so. Then the fascist, religious freaks who've been running things for the last eight years can disappear into the wilderness for awhile. But, they'll be back, probably with Sarah Palin at the head of the ticket.

I've lived here, off and on, for over thirty years, and in many respects the place still mystifies me. Hopefully, this time tomorrow I shall be getting legless as I watch Obama become President Elect. What has this to with advertising, even though both parties have spent more than one billion dollars on advertising? Nothing... But it makes me damn happy to write it.

Enjoy Guy Fawkes Day!