A sorry state

Unreserved apologies. We're so sorry. Deep regret. How many ways can you say I'm sorry? Britain's favourite new spectator sport is clearly public humiliation under the glare of the TV cameras - no, not Celebrity Big Brother or I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here but Bash a Banker or I'm a Financier, Get Me Out of Here.
The cream of the UK's financial world appeared in front of the Commons Treasury Select Committee last week, but those who expected a bruising clash of the Titans must have been bitterly disappointed. It was abject apologies all the way from the Famous Four, which spoils the spectacle a bit. Plenty of apologies, but no answers as to why we find ourselves sinking ever deeper into the financial mire.
Picture of the week was Prime Minister Gordon Brown sharing a joke with Sir James Crosby - the pair were captured in a light-hearted moment and it's actually a good picture of Gordon, laughing away seemingly without a care in the world.
The picture was obviously taken some time ago though: it's doubtful if the Prime Minister will be finding quite so much to smile about just now.
The good Sir James, HBOS chairman, was seen as the ideal bloke to regulate Britain's banks as deputy chairman of the Financial Services Authority in 2007 - despite warnings made about HBOS' risk taking as far back as 2006, by, among others the Financial Services Authority! You couldn't make this up! HBOS, incidentally, was also bailed out by you and me to the tune of £11.5 billion. Sir James nobly stepped down from his FSA position last week, but nice work if you can get it.

No more about bankers, bonuses or budgets - it's all too depressing at the start of a new week. Instead, hearty congratulations to Robert Plant CBE, who with US roots singer Alison Krauss won a Mercury Prize for their terrific album Raising Sand. I'm not a lover of rootsy music as a rule, but I bought this album when it came out (the only 'new' album I bought last year) and was blown away. Robert Plant is a national treasure and surely it's only a matter of time before it's 'arise, Sir Planty'!
I mean, if 'Sir' James Crosby can get a knighthood for his services to banking (!), surely Robert Plant must be in line for his services to music. Both have made millions for themselves, but one's made millions miserable while the other has made millions happy through music for over forty years. Come on, yer majesty, before it's too late ...

And another upbeat note. What about the Weekend Selections, eh? Had you followed my tips you could have wiped out the country's national debt! Well, not quite, but it's so seldom I get any of these right surely a little hyperbole is allowable?

Time for work, more later ...

NOTE: I started this post on Friday but didn't post until Monday morning so it looks out of sequence. I'll sort this out later - much later.