Frankfurt, Germany — Frankfurter Allgemiene, Italian La Stampa, French Le Monde, and Europe's broadsheets are all upbeat that the recession is behind them. More to buy from the engine of growth – China.

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Germany faces federal election in September, but the campaign does not have the riveting attention that glued Germans to the US elections. It's ho-hum, with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats a shoe-in for new term. But just as insurance, she tempered her traditional human rights issues with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for orders for the German industry.

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The motorcar, engine of growth of German economy, is running into some speed bumps. The clunker program to put away guzzlers and over 10-year-old cars didn't work the way intended. Many took the euro 2,500 offer – mostly students – then turned around and bought VW, Nissans, Skodas, and lesser models – not the Mercedes or BMWs.

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European competition law doesn't allow assigning trade-in for high-end cars. Worse, the clunker program crashed the secondhand car business.

(Re-sale value itself is an incentive for buyers of brand-new models.)

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Moreover, some sly operators managed to export clunker cars to Africa and developing countries.

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To compound the problem, the 120 kph speed limit is prescribed on long stretches of the autobahn – a rein-in on Porsches and BMWs.

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Qatar came to the rescue buying 17% of VW/Poersche.

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Late breaking news from Manila: Efren "Bata" Reyes ended long-title drought by taking the Manny Villar Cup Kadayawan leg. The other winner is a senator presidential candidate who co-opts the name of a national sport – billiards!

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QC may ban Internet cafes for allowing students during class periods. Even if they probably learn more from Google than in the classroom?

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And so long as QC is at it, why not ban girlie bars for allowing husbands during dinner time and family time?

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PGMA's Supreme Court Justices may summon six of her Cabinet members for contempt over Manila Bay refuse. Familiarity breeds contempt?

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You have to be blind to lose your way in Germany. On roads and intersections, signs are prominently placed and well ahead. Unlike in Manila where you find the sign immediately at the fork.

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And if you still lose your way, helpful motorists or pedestrians will stop to give directions.

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The autobahn sign "Ausfahrt" means "Exit" for motorcars, not for gas.

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