Peter Farr's Blog: May 2010

Thursday 13 May 2010

Education is Back

One of the worst aspects of the previous administration to my mind was the fact that during their tenure the word "Education" dropped silently out of the Whitehall lexicon. There was not a single department of state with the word "education" in its title. Instead we had the "Department for Children, Schools and Families". An absurd title that was redolent of the Stalinist social engineering proclivities of the then government. The assumption underlying this being that the sole purpose of education was to provide fodder for the employment market. No mention of enlightenment, the civilising effects of education or the sheer joy of learning.

Now under the LibCon coalition Education has made a comeback. The department has been renamed to what it should be - the "Department for Education". This simple change says more than anything about the future direction of government. It signals real hope for a new order that sweeps aside the Victorian politics that was fine when Britain ruled the World but is totally out of place in the 21st Century. I am so glad things are changing and I sincerely hope that the naysayers are completely and utterly wrong about the new government.

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Monday 3 May 2010

BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video]

First we had the "LOOK AT ME" headlights; now we seem to be getting the twirling propeller. Is there no end to the desire of the Uberwursts to trumpet their self absorbed superiority? They'll all go absolutely ape poo over this gimmick!

BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video]: "
Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, BMW

Proposal for a dynamic BMW roundel - Click above to watch video after the jump

There's everything on the Internet, isn't that what they say? A company called Zafira Consulting & Trading has posted a proposal on YouTube for a dynamic re-envisioning of BMW's roundel logo. It's got the usual form and colors but, to quote Galileo, 'And yet it moves.'

The only other logos we know of that move on a car are on Rolls-Royces and Bentleys - the wheel caps rotate to stay centered, and the hood ornaments will retract. Zafira's idea isn't anything like that. It is neat, but... well, have a look at it for yourselves after the jump and tell us if you can see it in BMW's future.

[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video]

BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday 2 May 2010

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este

Zagato is clearly undergoing a bit of a renaissance. Following on from the gorgeous Ferrari 550 GTZ Barchetta this stunning new take on the Alfa Romeo TZ cars is most welcome. Will it, like the iconic Alfa Romeo Montreal unveiled at Geneva in 1970, make it to production. Come on Alfa, you know you want to do it!

Autoblog takes up the story:

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa unveiled at Villa D'Este: "
Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo, Racing

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Zagato-designed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa has been unveiled at the Villa d'Este concours, and frankly, it's spectacular. Driven by the Alfa 8C Competizione's V8, the TZ3 is very much in keeping with its 60s-era predecessors, the TZ1 and TZ2, sporting similar detail elements and the same near-breadvan profile. Also like the originals, this is a legit racing car. Unlike its forbears, however, the new machine wears aluminum bodywork stretched over a tube frame and carbon-fiber chassis. Power, as indicated before, is also of thoroughly modern origin.

Zagato says the TZ3 was commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp as a special celebration of 100 years of racing from Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Corse, Autodelta, and Scuderia Zagato. On that 'special' bit, we think it's safe to say, 'Mission accomplished.' With class and panache to spare. Official PR pics are in the gallery below, and a full live gallery is posted at OmniAuto. Be sure to pay them a visit as well. Thanks for the tip, Claudio!

Gallery: Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa