As a wise person once said, these are some very crucial and critical times. Massively so. The next few days could well decide how the next few years and decades pan out. In the immediate future however, the global economic crisis needs to be sorted out somehow, someway.

It's so crucial that the Obama's first international visit (sorry to my cuzzes in Canada - but that one ain't count. It's still North America) has been severely overshadowed. But he shouldn't feel no way about that. It is 18 other world leaders.

That President Obama (just about getting used to that 'President Obama') went to No.10 first thing in the morning shows how the different cliques at the G20 meeting have been developing. Merkel and Sarkozy (he ain't walking out of anywhere, don't believe the hype) are another. I wonder which teams Hu Jintao and Dmitry Medvedev want to join? The real story is the behind the scenes wrangling anyway. They're just gonna be eating and drinking nuff of that good stuff at The Excel Centre.

There were also nuff Obama groupies out and about trying to catch a glimpse of the first black president. One lady even came over from America. Still, all the talk about Michelle's outfits, which never felt out of place when it occurred with Carla Bruni, now seems wildly inappropiate.

Importantly, he's not one of the leaders facing an election anytime soon. So he ain't sweating this nearly as hard as his new British best friend Gordon. But there is still pressure to do something fast in America. Particularly with the auto industry.

The joint press conference soon after the mornings photo ops solidified the union. It does seem almost as close, and weirdly more genuine, than even George and Tony. Furthermore, Gordon seemed emboldened during Prime Minister's Questions by his homey Barack's presence.

Despite the hopes of some sections of the media there was very little trouble during the actual protests. It got a bit nervous when those few rowdy heads broke into the RBS building. However it was closed, and no workers were there. So there was no real harm done. And as the hype hype peeps who were determined to be on a hype smashed into the building, other protestors were telling them not to do what the powers that be want them to. Don't give them an excuse.

The feds were using similar tactics to the ones they use at carnival. They decide what roads are going to be closed, where you can walk, and you have to like it or lump it. Sometimes they do so politely, other times they go out of their way to be rude.

Certain people love to boast about "how we live in a country were you can protest. Count yourself lucky you're not in some Muslim country." The only difference is that those countries are upfront about restricting people's right to express themselves.

Like Ice T said back in the days, "we have freedom of speech. Just watch what you say!"