After reading the article by Tom Gross (A modest proposal: let Gaza host the World Cup, 1 December), I had to check my diary to make sure it was not 1 April. The article is such nonsense that a considered response is not needed, but I would like to ask Mr Gross if he has been to Gaza recently, and if so whether he could point out where exactly Ismail Haniyeh lands his private jet. I think we should be told.
Jenny Tonge
House of Lords
• For many years I have bridled at the use of “strong women” to refer to any women portrayed as showing character or independent opinions, or whose roles rely on more than just their relationship to men. Jessie Burton (Strong women? They’re just women says writer, 1 December) exposes the cliche for what it is: evidence of low expectations of women and low interest in the tonal variety of women’s lives.
Barbara Crowther
Leamington, Warwickshire
• Am I your only reader who spotted the uncanny likeness between your photo of the lovely Samantha (Pass notes, 3 December) and that fellow purveyor of good taste, the mysterious restaurant reviewer of the year Marina O’Loughlin (Weekend, 29 November)? More sauce, anyone?
Alan Willson
Swansea
• I will find it hard to take your economic analyses seriously after you demonstrated your inability to count by printing a picture of three parasol mushrooms with the heading “Two fairy parasols” (Letters page, 2 December).
San Cassimally
Edinburgh
• “Balls-out”? “romcom”? “gross-out”? “celeb-stalky”? “Ob/Gyn”? “ditz”? “douchey” (TV’s most radical, G2, 2 December)? Could we have a glossary to assist your English-speaking readers?
Reginald Hall
Newcastle upon Tyne
• What’s wrong with 60/60/24/7/52/100/1000 (Letters, 2 December)? And that’s without nanoseconds or aeons. Time-wasting, perhaps?
Gareth Jones
Great Gaddesdon, Hertfordshire
