Two issues on cricket. "I used to hate watching the Test cricket when Ricky Ponting was shown chewing gum with his mouth wide open," writes Elizabeth Andrews of Clovelly. "Now we have Steve Smith constantly spitting on his hands, and others spitting on the ground. I wish some official would have a word and remind them they are on camera and would they please control their more unsavoury habits."
Also, "Given recent speculation (C8) that left-handers may be evolving to take over the world, it should be noted that six of Australia's top eight batsmen in the Adelaide Test took guard 'the wrong way round'. Enough to raise the level of concern from alert to alarmed?"Don Bain, Port Macquarie.
This chestnut comes from my cousin, a Qantas (C8) hostie, writes John Swanton of Botany. "An American hostie was dealing with a particularly demanding male passenger. After taking as much as she could she retorted 'Sir, I'm only here to save your arse, not kiss it'."
From Richard Stewart, Pearl Beach. "We visited the 100 Objects exhibition (C8) in Canberra and noted the age of the oldest was perhaps a lot short of the two billion years promoted. Remember though all items are from the British Museum and the English can at times be affected by maundering."
More. "Reminds me of reading recently of an exhibit in a museum marked 'One Million Years and Seven Days Old'. When asked how it could be dated so accurately the curator replied that when it was acquired a week ago it was 'one million years old'."✓Keith Ridler-Dutton, Killara.
On the subject of parking (C8). "A quick get away (rear-to kerb) might be chosen by those using self checkout fraudulently, whilst an urgent call to the centre's restrooms would call for front-to kerb parking." Geoffrey Toon, Wagstaffe.
Len Richardson of Hawks Nest, shares George Richards' disappointment (C8 Lois Lane). "Next week I move home to Wollstonecraft named, I hoped, after the admirable Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th century pioneer suffragette. Alas, quite to the contrary, the leafy suburb is named after her nephew, Edward Wollstonecraft, who came to Australia in 1819 to escape his aunt's notoriety due to her unconventional lifestyle."✓
From Wollstonecraft, Stephanie Edwards asks: "What is it with little kids and band-aids? Produce a packet, especially ones decorated with cartoon characters and the crying stops almost instantly."
Twitter: @Column8SMH