Scottish Men Embrace 'Taps Aff' Culture
A letter published in the Guardian responds to an article by Zak Maoui, style director at Esquire magazine, who advised against going shirtless in hot weather outside of the beach. The letter, from Siobhan McGovern of Edinburgh, notes that in Scotland, as soon as the sun appears, it becomes a macho obligation for certain young men to parade around topless, a practice locally known as 'taps aff'. McGovern adds that there is nothing stylishly louche about their torsos.
Etiquette Expert's Advice Questioned
Another letter from Helen Swallow in Luxembourg comments on etiquette expert Mariah Humbert's advice to 'wear a trouser, or a longer skirt or dress.' Swallow questions the phrasing, asking if we can expect office workers to wear half a pair of trousers, or items like 'a short, a pant, or a sunglass.'
Palestine Action Prisoners and Prison Space
Margaret Vandecasteele of Cupar, Fife, writes in response to an article about David Lammy's comments on scrapping early release for sex offenders leading to no capacity in jails. She suggests that it would make more sense to release all Palestine Action prisoners if there is a shortage of prison space.
Decoding and Automaticity in Reading
David Hart from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, explains terms used in an earlier letter about reading. He clarifies that a child who can decode can work out what most words say, while automaticity means they can read most material without thinking about the process. He notes that most children should manage both by secondary school.
Modern Terms and Grandchildren
George Redman of New Eltham, London, responds to Dr. Roger Merry's query about explaining modern terms to grandchildren. Redman states that it is the grandchildren who explain modern terms to their grandparents, not the other way around.
