Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

In Munich, the murder of Moshammer has had the impact of a meteorite slamming into the city and the local hearsay industry has been working three shifts to keep up with the public appetite for kitsch and spice. Bloggers are getting in on the act as well. Minga is exemplary in its coverage. It had the scoop on Mosi being buried in a glass coffin and then had to watch Bild, the country's most popular scandal sheet, steal the story. Meanwhile, ToytownMunich has been getting bitchy comments about Moshammer and his ways. A sample:

fredrich: I remember something quite extrodinary about Moshammer — the fact that he tried to pick me up outside Movenpick (next to the BMW showroom.) I am now 17 years old and this happened when I was 13 and a half! This filthy old man offered me 50 euro to touch him and play with his "little shnitzle" as he put it. This is not a joke. I wish the good people of Munich would come to realize what a sick man he was.

Gary G: And that was back when 50 euros was a lot of money. What a generous and thoughtful man he must have been.

Anonymous: There was no Euro in 2001.

mini: well I actually do not like this guy at all. Last year I was in his shop because I wanted to buy a tie for my hubby. I had someone advise me on what tie to buy and when it came to paying, on second thought I did not want to put the tie on my credit card because hubby sees the bill and I did not want him to know how much his present had cost. So I asked for the tie to be held for me for 5 mins while I went to the bank machine to get the cash out and suddenly Moshammer shoots up from his seat like some nasty insect from outa space and says I need to leave a deposit. I said no, I would be back in 5 mins. So he had a big tirade about these bloody Americans always coming in his shop and not buying and I said well, if you talk to me like that I sure won't buy anything. And he says you wouldn't have done anyway you are American. I asked: don't you like Americans. And he said no. I said: I can't do anything about my nationality and that is not very nice of him. And he said he was tired of Americans and just to leave his shop. This left a very bad taste in my mouth and ever since then, I do not believe any of his "nicey-kindy" image he tries to put on in public. I think he only does it for show. Someone who is that racist and nasty cannot be kind at heart, no way, no chance.

Anonymous: Harsh but fair, Mosi 1 America 0.

Alex: Was he like Germany's version of a Michael Jackson. A freak but loved by many?

So farewell, then, Rudolph Moshammer. We will miss your gaudy outfits. In your native dialect, with its bizarre homage to Catalonia's greatest architect, you were "a Gaudi". A bird of paradise and a colourful dog, you were as well. Winter days will be duller without you. RIP.