Archive for September, 2008Google squeaked into 10th place in Interbrands “Top 100 Brands” list. Coke is still at the very top. I think that an Internet business like Google has a much easier time reaching a global audience than some large product/distribution organization like Coke. Update: I just heard on the news (BNN) that Blackberry got into the list for the first time, at #73. What is Honda Canada thinking? The 2009 Honda Fit is an excellent subcompact. It improves on the previous model by making it roomier and more fuel efficient. However in the weirdest country-oriented marketing move ever, they removed the paddle shitters from the automatic versions. Here we have a car known for it’s sporty handling and performace and Honda Canada decides to remove one of it’s coveted features. To add insult to injury the feature remains in the US versions. Canadian’s rejoice. BMW Canada has begun lowering prices probably due to added pressure from US imports, increased competition, and overall mispricing compared to the market. Let’s hope Audi does the same. On almost all models, they have lowered the MSRP and included more standard equipment. This is even more impressive considering that US prices have been raised for the same model year. Here are some of the highlights: 323i - $1000 lower MSRP and standard Heated Seats, Through-load with Ski bag and Automatic Climate Control 328i and 328xi - $1100 lower MSRP and standard Glass Sunroof and Electric Front Seats with Driver Memory 335i and 335xi - $1000 lower MSRP and standard Dakota Leather and BMW Assist with Bluetooth 528i and 528xi -$3,700 lower MSRP and standard 17” Double-spoke Alloy Wheels, Power-folding Auto Dimming Exterior Mirrors, Auto Dimming Interior Mirror, Lights Package with illuminating door handles, front footwell and entry lights and Leatherette upholstery. Dakota Leather upholstery is now included in the optional Premium Package 535xi and 535xi – $2,600 lower MSRP and standard 17” Double-spoke Alloy Wheels, Power-folding Auto Dimming Exterior Mirrors, Auto Dimming Interior Mirror, Lights Package with illuminating door handles, front footwell and entry lights. (Note: there is no 535i for 2009, 535xi only) M5 - $6400 lower MSRP rear side airbags removed from standard equipment list 650i - $6000 lower MSRP M6 - $7000 lower MSRP X3 - $5,600 lower MSRP because xDrive30i replaced with xDrive30si 1 series - same pricing X6 - same pricing M3 - same pricing 7 series - new 7 arrives spring 2009 Here’s a list of furniture stores in Toronto that I like. These retailers offer mostly-contemporary-sometimes-modern looks that are perfect for condos: Pavilion On Edmund’s Inside Line, a journalist calling himself “The Mechanic” has been posting some pretty controversial articles about the death of the american car industry. I’ve enjoyed his articles as I share much of the same viewpoints as him. Today’s article he points out that many of the “best” cars with American nameplates are not actually made in the United States.
In 2005, Time Magazine picked the 100 best English language novels from 1923-2005. Sadly, I’ve only read six of them (highlighted). Further proof that the world reached it’s peak some time ago and is now on a decline, one of the “Talk Back” comments says ” Why isn’t the Harry Potter series on there!!?? It definitely should be on there!!”. My friend Adam started a Facebook group where he reviews a new bottle of wine every week. Here are a few of his winners that I intend to try along with their writeup from the LCBO: 2006 Banfi Centine IGT, Toscana, Italy
2007 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, France
2006 Château de Surville Prestige, Costières de Nîmes, Rhône Valley, France
2006 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy, France
This is a great promotion that has been available in the States for some time, but just reached Canada recently. On top of the WiFi access, you get free syrup and milk options on your drinks and unlimited brewed coffee refills. The Toronto Star wrote The Grapes of Math in yesterday’s paper. In it, they described how most restaurants charge about 300% of their wine’s wholesale cost and how there are some restaurants, noteably Harbour Sixty charnged a stunning 500%. One of the most disappointing finds is that cheaper wines usually had much higher markups (e.g. a $15 wine will be sold at 400% or $60). They list Terroni as one of the best places to have wine, with some markups as only 50%. Moreover, when I went there with a friend we discovered a massive wine list. I will definitely be a more regular customer of Terroni. From my own exploration, I found Carmen’s Steakhouse to also have very reasonably priced wine. A Masi Amerone was around $75 and at the LCBO was about $50 - a 50% markup just like Terroni. Jump Cafe was an “industry normal” 300% with another Amerone that I was able to obtain from the distributor. |
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