Occasional Observations

Trying to take advantage of the favorable Euro Vs US $ exchange rate, Amazon.de started offering US import CDs at a lower retail than the local market product. An interesting idea - which unfortunately failed to come to reality for the two CDs I ordered. After several weeks' delay I got an apologetic email explaining that the items were "harder to obtain than expected".

Ah well. Nice try.

Labels: ecommerce, globalization

They're known locally as "Erlkönig" cars - after the Goethe poem Der Erlkönig - "Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?" (Who rides so late through night and wind?): pre-production prototype models that the auto makers use to test everything from handling through to fuel consumption. And here in Munich, home to BMW, advance first sighting of new models is pretty commonplace - in the past year I've spotted the new 1 Series cabrio, the X6, and now, the new 7-Series.

We spied the new 7er yesterday near Miesbach - without any disguise, but with the badges taped-over. The new design is less chunky than the controversial current model - and it's goodbye to the much-debated "Bangle Butt" that is featured on both the 6-Series and 7-Series right now.

"It's a Mitsubishi!" proclaimed Andrea. "Oh not it's not," said the boys. "OK, it could be a Mercedes," she countered. "Oh no it couldn't," we responded - "the exhaust pipes would be oval.". And so the discussion continued...

At least we agreed on one thing. The car was black.

Labels: petrolhead