Vincent van Gogh often dispensed advice to friends. To promote a forthcoming exhibition, the Art Institute of Chicago has used genuine quotes from the painter's letters to answer modern day questions: "Dear Vincent, I have recently been reading Marie Kondo's book called The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up. I agree with her about many things, but one thing that I can't make sense of is her advice to give away books. My library means everything to me. Do you think one should get rid of one's books or keep them instead? Signed, Cluttered."
"Dear Cluttered: I advised you to dispose of your books, and advise it still. But at the same time be careful not to become narrow-minded, or afraid of reading what is well written, quite the contrary, such writings are a source of comfort in life. (October 14, 1875)"
Celebrity encounters
"I had beers with Murray the red Wiggle once without knowing it. I was doing the travelling consulting gig, stationed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. So this guy with a Rolling Stones T-shirt and an Aussie accent was at the bar talking about music and being in town for a show, so we chatted with him ... I now know that the Wiggles were playing Hershey Park, but at the time ... In hindsight, I also wonder if part of the reason he stuck around to talk is we didn't know to ask him about the Wiggles?" (Via Jason McDonald on quora.com )
Race to the equatorl
Jeff from Mangonui reckons the One News weather team makes it seem like New Zealand has moved north. "Stewart Island now appears to be on the same latitude as southern Tasmania and, being a resident of Mangonui in the Far North, I don't believe we need to be up there with the Gold Coast. It's warm enough here already thanks."
