What is most profoundly right about your life?
What is left.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• To quote Walt Whitman, “I am satisfied – I see, dance, laugh, sing.”
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• At the end of a workday, lounging on the couch reading with my nine-year-old daughter – she, The Wind in the Willows; me, the Guardian Weekly.
Sarah Klenbort, Sydney, Australia
• I live without pain.
Philip Stigger Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• Indoor plumbing and reliable electrical power.
Diane Steen, Seattle, Washington, US
• My left-leaning family and friends.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
• Living simply like Quakers try to do.
Peter Burton, Severnlea, Queensland, Australia
These disharmonious times
Why are there so few new songs with great melodies and lyrics?
These days “do wah diddy diddy” wouldn’t get past the spellchecker.
Roger Morrell, Perth, Western Australia
• Dumbing down. Writing good lyrics demands more than the limited language of texting. Composing good melodies requires awareness of harmonies and cadences.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• At 1,000 beats per minute, today’s speedcore has totally eclipsed the 80bpm acid jazz of my youth – leaving only milliseconds for melodies.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• I blame Bjork and Radiohead, though I do have a predilection for them, when I’m in an eerie mood.
R M Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
• Because it was all used up in the wonderful music of the 60s before technology got in the way.
Margaret Wilkes, Perth, Western Australia
• We live in disharmonious times.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
That’s a pretty big boost
If it’s not rocket science, what is it?
It’s just something to give you a boost.
James Rogers, Wuppertal, Germany
• Grounded research.
John Anderson, Pukekohe, New Zealand
Mothers always know best
If we knew everything about each other, would we like each other more or less?
At least until puberty our mothers generally know us best of all. Generally, they love us best of all too. Mere coincidence?
Henrietta Sushames, Wellington, New Zealand
Don’t know about liking, but would there be a marriage left standing, assuming it happened in the first place?
Margaret Wyeth, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
People can be tyrants
Is there anything the matter with populism?
Good heavens! Have they stopped teaching students about the tyranny of the majority?
Barney Gilmore, Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada
• Apparently not, as it is the guiding light of almost all modern politicians.
John Londesborough, Helsinki, Finland
Any answers?
Can one buy an honest politician?
Terence Rowell, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
What are we likely to find in the Museum of Natural Mystery?
John Geffroy, Las Vegas, New Mexico, US
Send answers and more questions to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
