Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Article by the real Charles Van Doren of "The Quiz Show" fame

Personal History: All the Answers: Reporting & Essays: The New Yorker

"The Quiz Show" is a movie directed by Robert Redford that had me riveted. Every time I watch it I cannot but think of the then successful Charles Van Doren whose life becomes miserable at the end of the movie.

Now the real Charles Van Doren speaks after quite a long media hiatus. His recollection in the New Yorker is pretty neat.

Some bad decisions taken on the spur of the moment haunt us for life indeed. Charles Van Doren is the example for this.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

VW's expensive but amazingly fuel efficient car

Laugh at High Gas Prices With a 282-MPG VW | Autopia from Wired.com

This is a stunning car (with an equally stunning price tag). Now, you can zoom with style without worrying about rising fuel costs as this gives an amazing 235 Miles per Gallon that translates to a whopping 99 kms per litre (of course, two wheelers in India are already north of 100 km per litre).

Now for the simple matter of money - the car costs a paltry 20K to 30K Euro (INR 13,53,800 to 20,30,700). The article concludes thus:
"That's a lot of money. But then, the One-Liter, despite its diminutive size, is a lot of car."
There are some great pictures in that link too.