Your Letters

16:19 UK time, Wednesday, 8 July 2009

The story about Wookey Hole's search for a witch made me look at their website. It seems to suggest they are deliberately seeking to bias the outcome against male applicants. After a lot of stuff about how they are "forced" to make the job open to men and women, they say they have "had to accept" the job may go to a man. Is this stated reluctance the right side of legal? Surely not. If not, I am sure someone can place a hex on them, or alternatively remind them of the requirements of employment legislation...
Mark, Reading

So scientists now claim sperm "first". Shall we vote on it? I say egg first.
Graham, Purmerend, NI

I've heard of icebergs doing it, but an insect? Imagine my disappointment after this headline promised so much: Cruise halted after bug hits ship.
Lee Pike, Auckland, New Zealand

Mr Gammon said: "We heard... a whistling sound and all of a sudden a piece of ice the size of a grapefruit fell on my thigh." Oh, *why* couldn't he have said pineapple? Why??
Sue, London

History GCSE quiz is just like when I sat the O-level. I did rubbish on the first attempt but a whole lot better at the resit. PS: Election 97 is quite old.
Ed, Clacton, UK

So we're back to cabbaging?
Fleur, London

I can't believe Peter Jackson failed to ask the OED whether they've found a synonym for "thesaurus" yet.
Dan, Cambridge

On a tangent to Matthew D's contribution in Friday's letters, I once turned down a date with a guy on the simple basis that he had the surname Gulliver and a photo album on his social networking site called "Me on Holiday". His inability to capitalise on the opportunity for a perfectly good pun made it obvious that he was not the guy for me.
Alice, London

DMQ SPOILER ALERT
Today's mini-question misleads. The pilot cannot fairly be described as naked for he sports, in clear view - and in line with his profession - a hat (or an oddly shaped painted skull).
James, London