"All these stories about dead birds falling from the sky," writes amateur ornithologist and physics theorist Terry Smith, of Corrimal (Column 8, since the flight of Icarus), "suggest that without gravity, it would get terribly dark."

The real estate squeeze is getting serious, according to John Gorton, of Port Macquarie. "Wandering through a local shopping centre, I noticed a sign on a shelf advertising a 'Four-person holiday house'. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a tent."

The psychology of modern communications - a question from Roland Bailey, of St Ives. "Have any other folk noticed that stationary individuals invariably walk away when answering their mobile telephone - even if alone? In the same regard, oftentimes folk on the move turn away from the direction they have been following." This is well-spotted, and on reflection it seems to be true, at least in our experience. Now if only they had room to do this on the bus …

"What is it with this first-name business when speaking to people that you've just come across or hardly know?" asks disgruntled protocol advocate Leo Dubb, of Dover Heights. "I was recently at a lecture, which was addressed by a prominent overseas visiting speaker. He was introduced and thanked, not as Dr Xxx, but mostly by his first name, by people who had presumably just met him. Is there no formality in Australia - just inappropriate familiarity?" Them's fighting words around these egalitarian parts, Leo. Err … Mr Dubb.

"I agree that 'ain't' is often a better alternative to 'isn't', particularly in pop songs," writes an agreeable Rose Fox, of Byron Bay (Column 8, Wednesday and Friday). "Wouldn't 'It ain't necessarily so, the things that you're liable, to read in the Bible' lose something in transition to 'It isn't necessarily the case …'?" Indeed it would, and other readers have raised "Am not misbehavin"', "Isn't that a shame?" - an entire playlist of potential disasters. Grammatical correctness has its place, but pop lyrics ain't one of them locations.

More on the opportunistic invasions of the opening phase of World War II (Column 8, Thursday), from Craig Henderson, of Woollamia, who writes that: "I wanted to let you know that the Soviet Union also invaded Finland in November 1939. But more interesting, perhaps, for Column 8-ers, is the origin of the word 'skulduggery'."

The Joe McCain reverse simile, ("Saturn and a lawn chair" Column 8, yesterday), reminded Lisa Jane Young, of Preston, Victoria, that: "Some years ago, while visiting a friend in a moderately remote NSW location, it was proposed that we head off to the local dining and entertainment venue, the RSL. 'What's it like?' I asked. 'Well,' said my local friend, 'you've heard of Studio 54 in New York?' 'Yes,' I replied. 'Well,' she said, 'it's exactly not like that."'

Column8@smh.com.au(no attachments please).Phone 9282 2207 fax 9282 2772. (include name, suburb, daytime phone)