Circulation:

Brian Mitchell  writes: Re. “News Ltd the biggest loser in paper circ figures” (Friday, item 17). The marketing brains at News Limited might want to consider reasons other than the internet for slipping newspaper sales, particularly the 4.4% drop at the national broadsheet.

Many of us on the left of the divide have simply stopped buying it because who wants to shell out $1.20 to be punched in the face every day?

Chris Mitchell and his cabal of HR Nicholls Society-worshipping cronies have taken that paper downhill fast.

It was always a bastion of conservatism, but at least it used to be credible.

Employment data:

Keith Thomas writes: Full marks to Marcus L’Estrange (Friday, comments)  for continuing to criticize the (un)employment data we use in this country. And thank you Crikey for continuing to publish his tenacious reminders. This must be a dozen times he has made his point.

Marcus, thank goodness, is playing his part in ensuring that lies told often enough do not become truth by default.

A Royal gotcha:

Harold Thornton writes: Steve McKiernan (Friday, comments) refers to His Royal Highness the heir to the throne of Australia as “Charles Windsor (nee Saxe-Coburg-Gotha)”.  Amusing no doubt but wrong on at least two counts.

First, the prominently pinnal prince was of course born into the house of Windsor, the name having been changed by his great grandfather to disguise the inconveniently Teutonic lineage bequeathed by his grandfather Albert. That would be Charles’s great great great grandfather.

Second, and worse, whatever else he may be Charles is at least a man. So, had he been born Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and had he changed his name upon either of his marriages, he would have been “ne Saxe-Coburg-Gotha”. Gotcha.

Australia’s carbon task:

Rebecca Dunstan writes: Re. Geoff Medley (10 February, comments). The point is that there is no one country creating all emissions. All of us need to do this together. Simply saying “We don’t pollute as much as you so we don’t need to do anything” isn’t going to change a damn thing.

What we need right now is a leader — someone willing to stand up and lead us into a brave new world where looking after our planet isn’t about politics, it’s about doing the right thing

Music:

Katalin Erdosi writes: Re. “My Cup of Tea: day the music died (for EMI) more woe for industry” (Friday, item 18). A colleague of mine recently remarked that “you know that you’re old when you don’t recognise any of the top 10 songs on iTunes”.

The new graduate chimed in with “you know that you’re old when you’re actually buying music”.