I love reading the BBC to get a sense of how the rest of the world is getting the news, but in particular I enjoy learning how the US is perceived on the other side of the pond.
The United States of Advertising is a spot on commentary about how the US allows advertising for prescription drugs:
The best part of the adverts tends to come towards the end when the law requires the pharmaceutical company to list the possible side effects of the various products.
Sometimes these are spelled out in a warm tone implying this is all a bit of a formality imposed by our fuss-budget of a government.
On other occasions they are rattled out at speeds normally only reached by horse racing commentators in the closing stages of a big race.
...
They are a daily reminder of the many ways in which America - superficially so similar to Western Europe - is really profoundly different.
Those adverts with their sure sense of how to play on our doubts and insecurities are a symptom of the restless energy of American capitalism and of the belief that it can apply to issues of health and happiness just as readily as it can apply to polish or pet food.
