I received my chocolate "B" from my Dutch co-worker two days ago, 5 December. He apologized that the store had run out of "J"'s ... but of course "B"'s contain a lot more chocolate! I'm trying to teach him my Chinese name ...
Joe B. ------------------------------------------------ Date: 5 Dec 90 04:46:00 PST (Wednesday) Subject: fonts for St. Nicolas From: "J. W. van Wingen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of list ISO10646 <ISO10646@jhuvm> Dear Colleagues For this special day I have a very special topic. Today is St. Nicolas Eve, that is our "boxing day". Thus it is Letter Day, for people use to give their friends and relations as a traditional present the Initial Letter of their name, usually in chocolate. Thus there are enormous piles of chocolate letters in the shops, all to be sold before tomorrow. >From our point of view the curious aspects are that these letters are all capital, of the same font (serif), of two sizes only (large and medium, sometimes also small, for children), and of the same weight (within one size). But not the whole Latin alphabet is covered, there is obviously a subrepertoire in use. This can only be discovered empirically, and it is different for the various makes and producers. (There are about 4 brands, Droste, Verkade, Baronie, Cote d'or (new), and 3 chain-brands, V&D, Hema, Jamin). The I is a rarity, perhaps because it is difficult to design one of the same weight as the other letters. Q, X, Y are only available in one chain store, but U and Z are also difficult to obtain. The others are being produced according to some frequency distribution, which does not always corresponds to consumers demands, and when the Day comes nearer, you can see many people frantically delving in the piles, hoping to find at last the letter they need. The novelty of this year is the appearance of a new font (Verkade), modelled on the computer display of straight lines and thus called in Dutch "digitaal". Thus, I hope, I could contribute for today to your knowledge and amusement. Best regards, Johan van Wingen ------------------------------------------------
