THE LINE OF BEAUTY (ALAN HOLLINGHURST) AND JAMES WATT

 He took the long diagonal that went past Watts's monument to, or of, Physical Energy: the huge-thighed horseman reining back and gazing, in a ferment of discovery, towards Kensington Palace

 

Firstly I thought that the Watt´s monument we are told about was referred to James Watt, the Scottish man who perfected the steam engine but not, is referred to the sculptor of the monument.

But we know James Watt has his own sculpture located in Westminster Abbey, and he really deserves it. In addition to what we said earlier, he was also the responsible of the horsepower, a power unit ( I once suggested unsuccessfully the name ponypower as a submultiple) and he has the honor to have an unit of the International System of Units with his name, the watt.

And we have Charie Watts as well, mythical drummer of the Stones (Jagger and Richards used to joke saying ´Watts his name?´). He doesn´t have yet a sculpture but he certainly gave a huge amount of watts to the British band.

HOW LONELY THE DEAD ARE LEFT (MENPO GIARDINELLI) AND CONDENSATION

 There were very few women, a lot of racket, empty beer bottles all around and cold sweaty cans in the hands of almost everybody.

 

I really like this kind of examples where an informal name is given to a physical phenomenon , in this case, condensation. It´s very helpful for teachers in order to present and explain some concepts. Condensation occurs when a substance passes from its gaseous phase to its liquid phase. The air surrounding the can contains water vapour that in contact with the cold surface of the can, condenses. It also takes part another concept more complicated called dew point.

The tittle of this good novel is a verse by Bécquer and it´s the opposite of a greek euphemism that called the fact of dying ´going with the many´