Why is it always the colonels who stage the coup?
A colonel commands a regiment of 620 men, a sergeant a section of possibly 30.
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• Because everyone else is busy following orders.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• In America it was the colonials, and not the colonels, who staged the coup.
Bruce Cohen, Worcester, Massachusetts, US
• With a name like Colonel Klink, Colonel Blimp, Colonel Bogey or Colonel Mustard, wouldn’t you be upset enough to stage a coup?
Jim Dewar, Gosford, NSW, Australia
• Because if they left it to others, there could be general confusion, major disorder or even corporal punishment.
Michael Olin, Holt, UK
• Because it’s the generals who are in power. When the colonels become the generals ...
Pat Phillips, Adelaide, Australia
Let’s hope she stays awhile
What else could luck be other than a lady?
A by-product of tenacity.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Seven pigs in a field of four-leafed clovers lit up by a shooting star. I didn’t include the rabbit’s foot as that seems unlucky for the bunny concerned.
Jennifer Dodd, Perth, Western Australia
• You’ll know when she deserts you.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
• Hard.
Neil Johnson, Birmingham, UK
Pay me now or pay me later
Why is “hell to pay” often a forewarning of impending doom?
It’s the toll fee for use of the road paved with good intentions.
Joan Dawson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The lure of the forbidden
If you were word master, what words would you outlaw?
Not so much words as the concepts they contain. So I’d outlaw terms such as human rights, social justice, critical analysis, articulate expression, good manners – because in my experience as a parent and a teacher, the best way to interest the young is often to forbid something.
Andrew Lacey, Mold, UK
• The horribly pompous and overused “utilise”, since almost always “use” is just fine. “Multiple” has spread like a virus these days – perhaps because it allows police spokespersons and the like to not specify just how many gunshots etc and should be inoculated against. “Many” or “several” or an exact number would be far better.
Brian Gibson, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada
If you choose to accept it
Are humans the only species who mate face to face? Why? Why not?
As for the why; it is to remind us that, as we age, many things become mission impossible.
Anthony Walter, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
• Outlaw.
Vipen Sawhney, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Can you hear me over there?
Why do people speak so much louder on their mobile phones than face to face?
Because the listener is much farther away.
Howard Clase, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Any answers?
If ignorance is bliss, then what is knowledge?
John Grinter, Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia
Who’s the worst person who ever lived and why do you think so?
Edward Black, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Send answers to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com or Guardian Weekly, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, UK
