how much have you spent?

It’s that time of year again. Suicide numbers will go up, temperature is going down and my wife has no other care in the world than hanging my balls in a tree. Angels, blinking lights and a fat guy with a red suite and a white beard. It’s the celebration of a branded holiday. As I was sipping on a Glühwein this weekend, it occurred to me: all of this forced merry behavior has nothing to do with any birthday of some dude 2000 years ago. No…

Santa Claus is red and white, because some brown lemonade brewing giant decided it would fit better in their ads. We send each other wishing cards because a card printing company tells us its a good idea. Well, it isn’t. Sending or receiving a card has never ever made any positive difference for me. On the contrary. When I get the card, I am supposed to send one back and if I don’t, people say I am killing the spirit of Christmas. Oh come on, if you wouldn’t have sent me a card in the first place, I wouldn’t have to act as if I cared! If you want to send me something, send me frigging shares of Coca Cola or Hallmark.

However, I am not against the whole Christmas thing. I like the wining and dining, together with so-called friends. This year, I will be in good company. We are doing it Italian style. Elio Di Rupo will be cooking and my old friend Silvio Berlusconi has invited us in one of his villas. Elio didn’t seem that interested, until he was told that Giorgio Armani would be coming dressed as Mrs Claus.

Anyway, in case we don’t meet in the crowded streets of Christmas infected London, I wish you spend a lot of money on gifts for your friends who will most likely put it up for sale on Ebay the day after.

Sincerely mine,

Mr Victor Hale

Yes, it can !

Today, as you all know, the Ramadan starts. In western culture, we are used to turning religous key moments into sales top days. Just think about all the crap going on around Christmas, the millions of ugly bunnies in the shops around Easter and so on and so on. So far, the marketeers have not yet been very creative in using the Ramadan as an important commercial period. I know, I know, Moslims are not supposed to eat or drink during the day. True, but they can once the sun goes down.

So that makes me wonder, why are we not being smarter about this. We could have restaurants opening at 20:00 in the evening and closing at 06:00 in the morning, no?

I am sure there are many other ideas out there… of course, not as great as mine…