Automagazine Mafia

Was reading Autocar yesterday. There is a history of Renault in it, and how safe they are. This Renault saga of it being the safest car is so much like the Shilpa Shetty episode. The news is carefully planned and paid for. But if you overdo that wont people get suspicious? Doesnt appear so. The full page launch advts are based on the theme safety. And every story about Logan in any magazine just out of context talk about the history of safe cars from Renault. 

But I dont see ONE magazine refering to the EuroNCAP crash test reports on Dacia Logan, where it failed to pass external safety tests, and got average rating for passengers. And it is a known fact that manufacturers shave the extra safety features off the car before selling in India. So imagine the crash test rating of the Logan without the airbag and those impact beams. Pathetic. But no one has said anything about it. Isnt the silence so obvious?

PS: I had great faith and used to promote BS Motoring, till they anounced the 2007 COTY as Chevy U-VA. Most of the mags and awards are backed by auto companies, but I thought BSM was not. It is obvious that GM paid thru their nose to get the U-VA launched just before the COTY deadline and get the best car award. U-VA is not bad car, but if you look at the other finalists you know why I am so upset.

Is design someone’s forte?

These questions were taken from an HCI discussion group: Who can make a good designer? What is the process of making a designer? They were raised in connection with IITG's Bachelor of Design program.

All of the members agree that artists and designers require a different aptitude than for technology. But then how can anyone clearing Joint Entrance Exam for IIT - a tough physics, chemistry, mathematics test - join a design program? Is BDes yet another degree? Some designers scoffed at this selection process. Some defended it sighting a name or two. I hope they dont take the flame bait :-)

While there can always be exceptions (systems will always have some mavericks who fall through unhurt), this brought a good thought into play: The process determines the average value and the perception. This average can dip if the process is not in place, or is not right. We need to push for the right process, and not take exception for a rule.

This is true not just for design, but for anything else in life. I am not sure if you see it, but I do -- for me after all, design in life.

Shilpa Sh*tty

I was not going to waste pixel space or my time on this so-called racist incident (and the aftermath). Any sane person can see that this was a gimmick. Who knew what Big Brother was before? Who cared where Shetty had disappeared (but for some front benchers who missed her supple hips and elastic waist)?

But it defenitely helped me gauge which are the better reporters, channels and newspapers. Something which I realised I always knew. It is an inherent human nature to be able to separate what is good and what is bad. Aaj Tak doesnt fall into either -- they have created a new definition for ulterior trash, so far the worse of the lot. If you watched for the whole day the pictoral drawings depicting when and where Aishwarya and Abhishek got engaged, you would know what I am saying. The nation best news channel it seems! Bah! Oh, BTW, NDTV/Barkha, et tu?

Coming back to the Shetty girl. What tipped me off was her statement after winning the show (Yes, I am jelous that she made 5cr from the show; I am more jealous that the entire nation gave her one week of attention than 15 minutes, forget the book deal and movie offer from Fox). Anyways, she says:

"I really dont want to leave England putting anyone in trouble. This country has given me so much. I just want to thank all of Great Britain for giving me this fanfastic opportunity to make my country proud"

What? I dont believe this. What is this girl made of? What does she think of herself? England has given her so much? She made India proud? Can somebody put an end to this nonsense? She has made her millions, so has the show organizers, the whole of the nations were fooled, the mission accomplished. Now please stop this.

Thankfully, only Aaj Tak reported the proud winning moment. Was that a live feed? Probably. They anyway seem to have nothing good to do. I pity the guy who makes those animation graphics for Aaj Tak. Poor guy. When someone asks him, he has to say that I do trash for a living. Poor guy.

Taking my word back

Well, I take my word back. Leonardo may have acted pretty well in Blood Diamond. I just finished watching Half Nelson. Leo's acting in Blood Diamond (or Departed) is almost nothing compared to Ryan Gosling's lead role. It was simply awesome.

Makes my wait for the Last King of Scotland even more exciting. If Whitaker's is *the* performance of 2006, I would like to see how he betters Ryan, for he was almost perfect. Full marks to the director, even a two scene character -- the ex-girlfried -- acted so well. What detailing!!

The movie was obviously shot with a minuscule budget, from the lighting and camera work it appears so. But in terms of content it is very rich. A must watch in any scale. BTW, it is about a peculiar friendship that develops between a school student and a drug-addicted teacher in a junior school.

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine is a simple family comedy that pokes its nose at American society. Olive is the best child character I have seen after the brothers in Millions. Must watch.

This small movie will be the dark horse at the Oscar/ Globe/ AMG awards without any doubt. I can see nominations for the best screenplay, direction, actress, supporting actress, supporting actor and even the best movie!

Poor Leonardo

The guy gets one great (usually the rough, negative types) role in the year, and someone else steals the thunder from him at the Oscars. This year he has two great movies -- The Departed and Blood Diamond. Both must watches.

But it looks like he will be unfortunate again this year. I still havent got my hands on "The Last King of Scotland", but apparently Whitaker's acting is mind blowing and a sure shot Oscar winning performance.