Cochin / December 21, 2005
Yes, we are in the town made famous by the overused (particularly in its italic incarnation), but elegant nonetheless, eponymous typeface: Cochin. To be honest, the town looks very little like the typeface, much to my surprise. Still, the winding dutch colonial alleyways, and curving waterfront are somewhat reminiscent of the italic lowercase d while the stony curbside abattoirs evoke the ever-so-slightly chiseled serifs of the roman face.
And who knew it was a fort? Also, they've changed the name, officially, to Kochi--to better match up with the local language - Mallayam. In yesterday's India Times, we read that the official name of Mysore will be changing to the Karnatakan dialect: Mysuru. This, we feel, is a change for the better.
I hope to keep this short, but before I sign off, I have been asked (in my capacity as the newly-appointed Protocol editor) to advise you, our unseen readers, that there appears to have been a rash of blog lurking (known to the Curryosity editorial staff as "blurking") on this site. Oh yes. We have heard reports of "friends" and "family" READING THE SITE WITHOUT COMMENTING.This is both unnacceptable and wimpy, and further blurking activity on the part of the offenders (not THE Offenders...unless...)will result in the withholding of valuable souvenirs and vague assaults on your character from our sensitivity editor.
My apologies for any apparent crabbiness you might read into this particular post. I was doing fine until the electricity was cut to the A/C -and worse, the holiday music - right in the middle of White Christmas (original Bing Crosby version).
Love you all. Thanks for reading this crazy thing.
S
Yes, we are in the town made famous by the overused (particularly in its italic incarnation), but elegant nonetheless, eponymous typeface: Cochin. To be honest, the town looks very little like the typeface, much to my surprise. Still, the winding dutch colonial alleyways, and curving waterfront are somewhat reminiscent of the italic lowercase d while the stony curbside abattoirs evoke the ever-so-slightly chiseled serifs of the roman face.
And who knew it was a fort? Also, they've changed the name, officially, to Kochi--to better match up with the local language - Mallayam. In yesterday's India Times, we read that the official name of Mysore will be changing to the Karnatakan dialect: Mysuru. This, we feel, is a change for the better.
I hope to keep this short, but before I sign off, I have been asked (in my capacity as the newly-appointed Protocol editor) to advise you, our unseen readers, that there appears to have been a rash of blog lurking (known to the Curryosity editorial staff as "blurking") on this site. Oh yes. We have heard reports of "friends" and "family" READING THE SITE WITHOUT COMMENTING.This is both unnacceptable and wimpy, and further blurking activity on the part of the offenders (not THE Offenders...unless...)will result in the withholding of valuable souvenirs and vague assaults on your character from our sensitivity editor.
My apologies for any apparent crabbiness you might read into this particular post. I was doing fine until the electricity was cut to the A/C -and worse, the holiday music - right in the middle of White Christmas (original Bing Crosby version).
Love you all. Thanks for reading this crazy thing.
S
posted by smurrd at 12/21/2005 03:20:00 AM
3 Comments:
Um, Duh - I thought everybody knew this...
Designer Georges Peignot, 1914
Georges Peignot designed Cochin based on copper engravings of the 18th century and Charles Malin cut the typeface in 1912 for the Paris foundry Deberny & Peignot. The font is named after the French engraver Charles Nicolas Cochin (1715-1790) although its style had little to do with that of the copper artist's. The font displays a curious mix of style elements and could be placed as a part of the typographical Neorenaissance movement. Cochin is especially large and wide and was especially popular at the beginning of the 20th century.
By the way, do they still trade in wampum there, or is it pepper?
For those not in the know, and since they make frequent appearances in this blog, are "auto-rickshaw drivers" drivers of two different kinds of vehicle, or are rickshaws motorized?
Until now I had been thinking an auto-rickshaw is a magical vehicle that doesn't require a driver; you just get in and somehow it knows where you want to go. (In the same category as a self-service dog wash, sorta.) My impressions of India are changing rapidly; maybe I should just stop reading and wait for the slide show.
Hey, here's an idea: can I outsource my Christmas present wrapping to India? Specifically, the three of you? It would give you guys something to do while waiting for the rest of us to post, and it would free up valuable blogging time.
Miss you, L,J,&M
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