Can He Fix It?

We all want the answer to be "Yes he can" but aren't we all asking and expecting way too much of one man? The USA and its economy is currently in a worse state than Lazarus so Barack is going to have to use Messianic powers to instigate a recovery and it won't be as simple as "Pick up your bed and walk". Good luck Obama. Everyone at Instanta is rooting for you but I can't help thinking you've picked up the most poisoned chalice in world history.



Or maybe the most poisoned chalice in world history will be the one that is passed on by this idiot. Sorry for my intemperate words but Gordon Brown has to be responsible for the state we find ourselves in today. The lunatic ruination of the banking system apart, the loopholes created by Brown by way of "pre-packaged administration" is beyond a joke. Administration is seen by the Government as a method of saving jobs but, as demonstrated perfectly by Julian O'Halloran on radio 4's "File on 4" last night, whilst it may well save jobs in the bankrupt firm, nobody gives a thought to the unsecured creditors. As I write, an order has just arrived from a new company with a name very similar to and the same address as another that went into administration a couple of weeks ago owing us over £2,000. In this case we may well recover that £2,000 purely by virtue of the fact that we sent Peter Brindle 150 miles to the company within ten minutes of hearing about the problem and he managed to trace our goods on the back of a van. An hour or two later and we would have lost it. Anyway, I know nothing about the new company and they may be perfectly legit but I really don't see how a new company can be up and running within four weeks unless there has been some planning in advance. OK jobs have been saved there but what about the companies that were owed millions by the old one? How many jobs have they lost?

And it's not just small businesses that are guilty of this ruse.For more comment on the above check out the details of the USC deal from the BBC website

here.

On a lighter note, it's good to welcome Mariusz back to work after his severe beating last week. His injuries have started to heal but I am sure that it will take a long time for the psychological scars to wear off. On a positive note Mariusz doesn't think that the attack was racially motivated. I hope he's right.

And so to Vue to pick up tickets for "The Wrestler" tonight. Looking forward to it although no meal out this week as part of Marion's economy drive. Mind you she is dangling the carrot of a really good restaurant in a few weeks if we go without for a couple of weeks. Plenty of good films due "Frost Nixon" "Revolutionary Road" to name but two. So Wednesdays should be sorted for some time. By some strange quirk I had a review of the exceptional book "Revolutionary Road" published in the Oxford Student newspaper a few years ago. No I was not an student. It's a long story.

Speaking of films,I was fascinated to see that the cottage which became "Crow Crag" in "Withnail & I" is coming up for auction. It's a bit run down but wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to drive up the M6 on a Friday night to escape the credit crunch in a hedonistic blur of dope and alcohol with a couple of carrier bags for shoes. If you haven't seen it, here's a taste.If you have, have another.