Your Letters
15:32 UK time, Tuesday, 3 November 2009
"While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking" (). As someone who works in a creative industry where attention to detail is important, I'm wondering how I can find a middle ground here... would indifference do it?
Sue, London
Astute readers (and watchers) of the story will notice that the "cymbal" struck by Boris Johnson is in fact a tam-tam. This is not to be confused with a gong, which, as we all know, has a raised boss or nipple and is tuned to a specific pitch.
Sarah, Oxon
I was at a course yesterday which involved some discussion of psychological problems in society and how we view them, and who should show up on screen but Drunk Girl to illustrate addiction (Paper Monitors and Letters passem).
Alex K, Bath
Does anyone know an expression for the emotional rollercoaster you experience when your interest is piqued upon seeing an awesome headline, followed by the disappointment of realising it can't possibly live up to your expectations as you click on it, succeeded by the euphoria of it being than you had initially imagined?
Kat Gregg, Coventry
It is indeed confusing, bx19 (Monday letters). As an English teacher I tell my students that "up to" suggests any number from (in this case) 1 to 70,000, whereas "as many as" suggests an estimate close to 70,000. A perfect example, I feel, of how statistics can be manipulated to mean whatever you want them to mean.
Dick Savage, Plzen, Czech Republic
Jan (Monday letters), a friend in London tells me it's gotten rather cold there. If you were a strawberry, would you grow in this weather?
Nadja, north of Boston, US
Julie - I always blame mine on the cat too. Good try, but I'm on to you...
D Trump, Liverpool, UK
Julie, my brother's cat often startles itself with the noises it produces.
Basil Long, Nottingham
Could you post a link to the story? I'm trying to get it back into the Most Read Top 10 again. Cheers in advance.
Steve Hill, Milwaukee, WI, US
Monitor note: OK, keep an eye out... and may .
The 
