Your Letters
16:27 UK time, Friday, 1 February 2008
I've just booked a hotel online and received an automated email confirmation. Among the text of the email is "We are excited about your upcoming visit". Can Monitor readers to come up with a more blatant example of insincerity.
Adam, London, UK
Commenting on the use of the name Lolita for one of Woolworth's children's beds (), Catherine Hanly, parenting website editor, said: "It has become a name that is synonymous with sexual precocity and the fact that it is tied to a girl's bed - it literally couldn't be in worse taste." Unless, in commenting on it, you include the phrase "tied to a girl's bed", perhaps.
Sue, London
In the story , we are told: '...the creature is more closely related to a group of African mammals, which includes elephants, sea cows, aardvarks and hyraxes, having shared a common ancestor with them about 100 million years ago. This is why they are also known as sengis," explained Dr Rathbun. Have I missed the logical steps between the first and second paragraphs? Or is the 'bizarre' new mammal one who can reach conclusions without demonstrating any logic at all?
John Whapshott, Westbury, Wiltshire
In the description of the new species of Elephant shrew, I became quite concerned that this creature may die of exhaustion as it is described as being "most active either at dawn, dusk, or during the day." Isn't that constantly?
Susan, Brisbane, Australia
If potatoes don't count towards the five a day (Random Stat, Thursday), what about sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, etc?
Alexander Lewis Jones, Nottingham, UK
Re Kevin Langley (Your Letters, Thursday), you mean Peach Schnapps ISN'T one of my 5 a day?! Tsch, whatever, next you'll try and pretend that fruit gums aren't either.
Lucy, Sheffield
Kevin Langley, your sister is quite right! Also, as calories are counted in whole bars of chocolate, by only eating half to three quarters of the bar, you get no calories.
beth, sussex
Re yesterday's letters, I bet Tom from Bedford is the kind of person who buys his Xmas cards in the January sales. And even remembers where he kept them the following December.
Hereward Hall, Dublin
I have recently started a debate about pronunciation of the letter H. What I have discovered is that the letter has a spelling (aitch) which appears to date back to Dr Johnson's work published in 1812. I have also learned that people who say "haitch" have no justification for saying it, (except through habit) but carry on regardless. In many cases, pronunciation is a matter of personal choice, however in this instance there is a clear right and wrong way of saying it. Is there not a role for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã - which was once the champion of our language, to confront these sorts of issues head on in a prominent way? I appreciate that there may be a reluctance for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã to appear to be being dictatorial, but surely it's time that someone took it on board.
Jane Badrock, Ware/Hertfordshire
Your story about Greg Mulholland and his use of "unparliamentary language" (") led me to look at his website, where it is clear that he's unrepentant. His lead item on that is "MP CALLS FOR URGENT INVESTIGATION INTO BLOODY EQUIPMENT AT LEEDS HOSPITAL". Don't cross this man! (Have a nice day, Greg).
Mark, Reading
Re Starbucks could learn how to make a decent cup of tea. That might help.
Elaine, Newcastle
Could there be any sweeter words on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã website than "You have scored 7/7" (). Oh my I'm so excited I'm going to treat myself to a Tunnocks teacake!
HannaH, UK
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