February 3rd, 2010 Art and design: Art | guardian.co.uk
Vincent van Gogh's bilingual letters to Theo; A brief history of South Finchley; How to get the mix in a pill right
Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo were Dutch, so why did they usually write to each other in French?
It is understandable to write in French when the alternative is double Dutch.
Brigid Browne, Calne, Wilts
The short answer is, they usually didn't. From Vincent's first surviving letter to Theo, written from The Hague on 29 September 1872, until he joined Theo in Paris in the early spring of 1886, the brothers corresponded in Dutch. When Vincent moved to Arles in the south of France in February 1888 he started writing to Theo in French, and Theo replied in kind. They wrote to each other in French from then on, until Vincent's death in July 1890. As to why – they were both living in France, speaking French every day, so it probably seemed more natural.
Lynne Richards (translator, Van Gogh Letters), Seaford, East Sussex
Middlesex, Wessex, Sussex, Essex – what happened to Nossex?
If Nossex became Norfolk (N&Q, 27 January), why didn't Sussex become Suffolk?
Allan Ramsay, Buxton
I don't know about the missing South Finchley (N&Q, 27 January), but when it comes to Acton there's South, North, East, West, Central, Town and Mainline. Does any other place in the world have more stations named from it?
Roger Backhouse, Ilford
If you look on the map, East Finchley is South Finchley. There used to be three villages, North End (North Finchley), East End (East Finchley) and Church End (Finchley Central). Anyone born there still calls it Church End. My grandmother used to walk on paths between the three villages.
Jane O'Mahoney, Launceston, Cornwall
The history of these compass-point areas of London suburbs often lies in their transport development. North Finchley was the name given to a tram terminus, while the railway station at East Finchley was originally known as East End, Finchley; the company changed the name of the station, and thus of the suburb. This was a frequent process.
There is a West Finchley station but no South Finchley station. At Harrow, the District Railway built its station in Roxeth and named it South Harrow, while in the hamlet of Hooking Green the Metropolitan Railway called its station North Harrow. The same railway also coined West Harrow, but there has never been an East Harrow.
Michael J Smith, Derby
Where does the "curry" in to curry favour originate from?
The curry has nothing to do with Indian food – it comes from the Old French meaning "to prepare" or "to put in order". We retain it today when referring to the rubbing down and dressing of horses, as in curry-combing. Interestingly, the "favour" part of the phrase is a corruption of Favel, a chestnut horse in a 14th century French romance that became a symbol of cunning and duplicity; hence "to rub down Favel" meant to use the cunning that he personified, and to "curry favour" has come to mean to ingratiate oneself through obsequious behaviour.
Nader Fekri, Hebden Bridge, W Yorks
How do pill manufacturers ensure that the chemicals are evenly distributed? What percentage error, if any, is allowed?
They stir it, exactly the same as any cook. A properly made Christmas cake requires stirring, stirring, stirring, and when that includes particles of very different sizes – flour and sultanas – it is a harder task than mixing powders and crystals.
But just as a commercial cake manufacturer will use industrial-scale stirring, the science and technology of pharmacological stirring is quite a science. The enquirer should consult the Handbook of Industrial Mixing: Science and Practice.
John Davies, Haverbreaks, Lancaster
Why are there no female Formula One drivers?
I'd like to think it's because women have more sense, but I suspect it's because the racing fraternity couldn't handle being beaten by a woman.
Gordon Vassell, Hull
Because we have better things to do than drive round and round in circles.
Sue Rowlands, Chorlton, Ches
It couldn't have anything to do with Max Mosley, could it?
Geoffrey Rider, Ripon, N Yorks
Any answers?
Why are bad reviews more fun to read than good ones?
Phil Watts, London SE11
Did Genghis Khan know that what he was doing was wrong?
Edward Hubbard, Tamworth, Staffs
When did corks start to be used in wine bottles? What was used before cork?
Robin Reeves, London SW19
Send questions and answers to nq@guardian.co.uk. Please include name, address and phone number.
Posted in Art, Chemical Brothers, Chemistry, Features, Letters, The Guardian | Comments Off
February 3rd, 2010 Art and design: Art | guardian.co.uk
Vincent van Gogh's bilingual letters to Theo; A brief history of South Finchley; How to get the mix in a pill right
Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo were Dutch, so why did they usually write to each other in French?
It is understandable to write in French when the alternative is double Dutch.
Brigid Browne, Calne, Wilts
The short answer is, they usually didn't. From Vincent's first surviving letter to Theo, written from The Hague on 29 September 1872, until he joined Theo in Paris in the early spring of 1886, the brothers corresponded in Dutch. When Vincent moved to Arles in the south of France in February 1888 he started writing to Theo in French, and Theo replied in kind. They wrote to each other in French from then on, until Vincent's death in July 1890. As to why – they were both living in France, speaking French every day, so it probably seemed more natural.
Lynne Richards (translator, Van Gogh Letters), Seaford, East Sussex
Middlesex, Wessex, Sussex, Essex – what happened to Nossex?
If Nossex became Norfolk (N&Q, 27 January), why didn't Sussex become Suffolk?
Allan Ramsay, Buxton
I don't know about the missing South Finchley (N&Q, 27 January), but when it comes to Acton there's South, North, East, West, Central, Town and Mainline. Does any other place in the world have more stations named from it?
Roger Backhouse, Ilford
If you look on the map, East Finchley is South Finchley. There used to be three villages, North End (North Finchley), East End (East Finchley) and Church End (Finchley Central). Anyone born there still calls it Church End. My grandmother used to walk on paths between the three villages.
Jane O'Mahoney, Launceston, Cornwall
The history of these compass-point areas of London suburbs often lies in their transport development. North Finchley was the name given to a tram terminus, while the railway station at East Finchley was originally known as East End, Finchley; the company changed the name of the station, and thus of the suburb. This was a frequent process.
There is a West Finchley station but no South Finchley station. At Harrow, the District Railway built its station in Roxeth and named it South Harrow, while in the hamlet of Hooking Green the Metropolitan Railway called its station North Harrow. The same railway also coined West Harrow, but there has never been an East Harrow.
Michael J Smith, Derby
Where does the "curry" in to curry favour originate from?
The curry has nothing to do with Indian food – it comes from the Old French meaning "to prepare" or "to put in order". We retain it today when referring to the rubbing down and dressing of horses, as in curry-combing. Interestingly, the "favour" part of the phrase is a corruption of Favel, a chestnut horse in a 14th century French romance that became a symbol of cunning and duplicity; hence "to rub down Favel" meant to use the cunning that he personified, and to "curry favour" has come to mean to ingratiate oneself through obsequious behaviour.
Nader Fekri, Hebden Bridge, W Yorks
How do pill manufacturers ensure that the chemicals are evenly distributed? What percentage error, if any, is allowed?
They stir it, exactly the same as any cook. A properly made Christmas cake requires stirring, stirring, stirring, and when that includes particles of very different sizes – flour and sultanas – it is a harder task than mixing powders and crystals.
But just as a commercial cake manufacturer will use industrial-scale stirring, the science and technology of pharmacological stirring is quite a science. The enquirer should consult the Handbook of Industrial Mixing: Science and Practice.
John Davies, Haverbreaks, Lancaster
Why are there no female Formula One drivers?
I'd like to think it's because women have more sense, but I suspect it's because the racing fraternity couldn't handle being beaten by a woman.
Gordon Vassell, Hull
Because we have better things to do than drive round and round in circles.
Sue Rowlands, Chorlton, Ches
It couldn't have anything to do with Max Mosley, could it?
Geoffrey Rider, Ripon, N Yorks
Any answers?
Why are bad reviews more fun to read than good ones?
Phil Watts, London SE11
Did Genghis Khan know that what he was doing was wrong?
Edward Hubbard, Tamworth, Staffs
When did corks start to be used in wine bottles? What was used before cork?
Robin Reeves, London SW19
Send questions and answers to nq@guardian.co.uk. Please include name, address and phone number.
Posted in Art, Chemical Brothers, Features, Letters, The Guardian | Comments Off
January 30th, 2010 Art and design: Art | guardian.co.uk
There are many good examples of poetry in movies (On film, Film & Music, 29 January). One that springs to mind is Argentinian director Eliseo Subiela's 1992 film El Lado Oscuro del Corazón (The Dark Side of the Heart), where the main character, Oliverio, is a young poet living in Buenos Aires and making ends meet by selling his ideas to advertising companies. In the movie Oliverio is constantly reciting poems by Juan Gelman, Mario Benedetti and his namesake Oliverio Girondo. Needless to say, the film was a success in Iberoamerica, where it introduced these important Latin American poets to a younger generation.
Mario Lopez-Goicoechea
London
• A native, I've just returned to London after 26 years in New York City. While still in wonderment at how much richer London is now, I am also very aware of the economic turmoil in which it finds itself, along with much of the world. The Guardian's response to this in publishing summaries of the great poets of the English canon (The Romantic poets, 23-29 January) is simply inspiring. There is no other word I can think of for this act of defiance and resilience in the face of upheaval and austerity. Please continue to spread the word that art and beauty are what matter most, all else is dreck.
Michael Joseph
Hounslow, Middlesex
• Does the Guardian know what it is doing in publishing the Romantic poets booklets? Have you considered that they might find their way into schools, and breed a generation of subversive and revolutionary young people? It is hardly likely that Peter Mandelson and Ed Balls would welcome their appearance in schools – not least the Shelley and Blake selections.
Lionel Burman
West Kirby, Wirral
Posted in Art, Art and design, Books, Business, Culture, Ed Balls, Film, Financial crisis, Letters, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Peter Mandelson, Poetry, The Guardian, William Blake | Comments Off