32 replies to this topic

[Patticus]

What is the most sensible gift though? =O

The thirteen original British colonies?

[Full]

This is just beyond awesome. I can not believe Obama did this. I was laughing hysterically when I saw this.

For the record, I would have taken the pen holder. I'm a history geek.

~Fullmetalsonic84

[Kevin]

That photo is just begging to be captioned! But anyway. it would be so embarrassing if those DVDs were Region 1 encoded. Not a bad selection of movies nonetheless though.

[Flyboy Fox]

Surely Gordon Brown can afford a multi-region DVD player? ... but yeah, it would be a bit of a dunce move to give a Brit a bunch of R1 encoded DVDs XD Hopefully that wasn't the case.

[Ming Ming Suzy]

Anyone can afford a multi-region DVD player. It's just illegal and hard to find. =P

[Flyboy Fox]

Multi-region DVD players aren't illegal. You can buy them almost anywhere.

[Ming Ming Suzy]

Multi-region DVD players aren't illegal. You can buy them almost anywhere.

Then...what's the point of having this region thing in the first place? o.O

[Patticus]

It's an effort to stop piracy and mass importing.

[Fleetsy]

I'd be pretty chuffed if I got 25 DVDs including those titles. Nice work Obama.
*Megahighfives Obama*

Edited by Fleet, 06 March 2009 - 10:28 AM.

[Roarz]

Actually, on the subject of multi-region, the players are very hard to get in the UK now as they are no longer made. I tried to buy one last year and couldn't find one in a single shop, despite trying several XP.

[Violet]

Wow, way to go guys for missing out on the cultural importance of the gift .

[Covskin]

Now, I'm not fully certain on this, but Gordon Brown doesn't even get to keep them DVDs, does he? Something like Prime Minister has to declare all gifts from other states, and he only gets to keep them if he pays for them. Or something.

Right, here we go.

Ok, the story isn't properly related, and you can cast doubts on the source as its The Daily Mail, but I'm looking at this bit in particular:

If ministers wish to keep gifts worth more than £140 they have to purchase them from the Government, otherwise they are held by their departments.
Mr Blair chose to pay £150 for a lead crystal vase from the Italian government received in May last year.

So unless its ruled those DVDs cost £5 or less each, he don't even get to keep them. And he's made a gesture historically reminiscent of Queen Victoria and Rutherford Hayes.

Also, Tony Blair got to meet Obama way before Gordon.

All in all, not a good week for Gordon Brown. Again.

[Sega DogTagz]

Wow, way to go guys for missing out on the cultural importance of the gift .

If Obama's people have been anything, its creative. If they were really aiming for cultural significance, they could have done a ton better than this and most likely on the same budget.

Might as well of gotten the guy a souvenir brochure from one of the Smithsonian's exhibit(s). Sheesh