Is the rule still “Jam tomorrow, jam yesterday, but never jam today”?
On the contrary, the message is consume jam now, hell for leather, and deny existential threats like climate change.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
• If we are talking traffic jams, it still holds true.
John Benseman, Auckland, New Zealand
• It’s still the rule for pessimists. Optimists say: “and jam today”.
David Turner, Bellevue Heights, South Australia
• Although there are those who continue to deny what we are doing to our world, we were in a jam yesterday, we are in a jam today and we will still be in a jam tomorrow.
Margaret Wyeth, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
With lions, both are helpful
Document: what came first, the verb or the noun?
Children usually use nouns first and develop their speech with verbs later.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• “Verb” begins with “v” and “noun” begins with “n”, so it seems the noun always comes first.
Avril Taylor, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
• The noun: it’s best to think about things before we act.
George Gatenby, Adelaide, South Australia
• A moot question. Out on the early savannah, “Lion! Lion!” would have served just as well as “Flee! Flee!”
John Geffroy, Las Vegas, New Mexico, US
• “Verb” is a noun, and nouns can do nothing by themselves. Verbs and nouns have always needed each other, and came together.
Edward P Wolfers, Austinmer, NSW, Australia
• The noun. Chicken and egg are both nouns.
Lawrence Fotheringham, Chatham, Ontario, Canada
• The Romans used it first as a noun but didn’t document the fact.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
I am relieved every year
Which of the senses convinces you most strongly that it is spring?
A cynical friend used to say it was the smell of the dog poo coming out of the melting snow. But I think it’s the sound of the birds singing again, the sight of the buds bursting and the feel of the sun on my face.
Joan Dawson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• My rheumatics – which leave when it’s warm enough for the leaves to appear.
Martin Bryan, Churchdown, UK
• Here in Vermont it would have to be my hearing that alerts me to spring. The first bubbling calls of the red-winged blackbirds are a sure sign that warmer days are about to come.
Doreen Forney, Pownal, Vermont, US
• My sense of relief.
Victor Nerenberg, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada
• Smell: when the sticky buds of the balsam poplars quicken and send their perfume in the air, then it is spring.
William Emigh, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Just tell her you are sorry
How do you right wrongs?
Take her hand, look her straight in the eye and say, “I’m sorry”.
Stuart Williams, Lilongwe, Malawi
• You can’t. If you right a wrong that would make a wrong right, and that would be wrong – right?
Stuart Hertzog, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• By engaging in other acts to write them off.
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Any answers?
Is it possible that honesty is not the best policy?
E Slack, L’Isle Jourdain, France
Is there a garden plant or shrub that is extra special for you?
William Emigh, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• Send answers and more questions toweekly.nandq@theguardian.com
