The Last Word

We welcome your comments and observations about the news. Submission guidelines at the bottom of the page.

BIG BROTHER
It's not the information that the government holds that worried me (What does the state know about us?, 27 April). Because I use loyalty cards, shops hold some personal details about my lifestyle and habits. I can lie to my GP about how much alcohol I consume each week; I can't lie to Tesco's about what I pay for at their check-outs. And then there's the more intimate personal products from Boots...
David Fullman
Norwich

CAUSE OF CONFUSION
Re PA convicted of £4.3m bank fraud (20 April): It's easy to see how PA Joyti De-Laurey misunderstood her job title. Assistant = Help and Personal = Yourself.
Kieran Boyle
Oxford, England

COPY CAT
Surely there are enough cats wanting homes that we do not need to clone them (Carbon kitty's $50,000 price tag, 27 April). My solution to this people who want a new cat is visit the local animal shelter and give the $50k to a charity that benefits people or animals.
Helen Berrie
UK

LOOK BACK IN MANGA II
I am not sure where Colin Morris (The Last Word, 21 April) gained the impression that manga, the Japanese word for comics and cartoons, is a brand name along the lines of Shell and Mars. All the same, I hope our careless use of "comic" doesn't attract the attention of The Beano's lawyers.
Paul Thurtle
Chiba, Japan

Colin Morris got it wrong. When you used the word "manga" to describe Mills and Boon's romance comics, you got it right. Manga is not a brand name of anime; "manga" means comic books and "anime" means animations.
Hsi Feng
New York, US

REACH FOR THE SKY
Love the Gherkin (Modern Britain's instant icon, 28 April). When lined up alongside the other skyscrapers, you can just see its class and appeal. There should be a law banning boring square tower blocks. A city of Gherkins would appeal to anyone.
Jeff Smith
Gateshead

TOUCH TYPE
Re Fingertips 'read' text messages (22 April): I always use my fingers to use my mobile - what else would you use? The mind boggles.
Lydia Blackwood
Munich

BUNK OFF
So Alton Towers is encouraging workers to go absent in order to visit the park (Theme park 'pushing absenteeism', 21 April). Perhaps businesses should offer discounts to anyone who can prove they are an Alton Towers employee on the skive.
Kelly Mouser
UK

MALICE AFORETHOUGHT
In MPs to get £1.3million security screen (22 April) it states that "MI5 director general Eliza Manningham-Buller had acted on 'clear intelligence' when she made the 'unequivocal recommendation' that a screen be installed". But it will only be installed in 2005. So the attack's going to be next year then?
Matt Hale
London

EDICT AFORETHOUGHT
The reporter who photographed Ian Huntley in prison (Huntley prison missed ID checks , 26 April) has been charged with two counts under Section 41 of the Prison Act 1952, of "conveying a digital camera into the jail and conveying a camera and pictures out". The parliamentary draftsmen who framed that piece of legislation really were far-sighted!
Ian Rutt
Bristol

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Last Word submission notes

We welcome your comments and observations on the news.

The Last Word is updated on Wednesday each week.

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