I read Stephanie Flanders religiously, and it's rare that I make a criticism of her writing.

However, in her piece on the Liberal Democrats' plan of raising the income tax threshold to £10,000, I felt she missed the point.

I think that the main point of the policy is …

In this brilliant book by Stephen Baxter, immortality is tackled properly. It won't be long before ageing is cured, and yet so few books, even sci-fi, take longevity seriously. Baxter describes how the undying don't have art in their environment, one is appalled by even the greatest piece of art …

I joined Greenpeace as a teenager in the eighties, but now I'm thinking of leaving them. It's not that I'm outraged at something they've done or not done; I'm not dissatisfied with them at all. In fact I don't know why I'm leaving them at all.

One of the best …

I complained about First Great Western, and here's their reply:

Dear Mr Locke

Your letters to the ORR and the DfT have been drawn to my attention. We did run additional special trains for the Bath Half Marathon. Three extra services ran in the morning, one from Swindon, one from …

I dunno, I just like them...

I've just finished watching the Paxman interview with Nick Clegg. Actually, Clegg did better than I thought he would. I was disappointed that the £10,000 income tax threshold wouldn't apply to everyone; if you're earning over £100,000 then it disappears apparently. I'm not earning anywhere near that, but …

"I've been trying to get a scarf like this for ages" - Why?

I've been trying to get a scarf like this for ages. I've subsequently been told me that a black weave means you're a supporter of Hamas. Well I'm certainly not that; I think they should stop their rocket attacks on Israel immediately. Of course, Israel should also end its illegal …

I still haven't had a reply from First Great Western about my complaint about the Bath Half -marathon train debacle, so I've written again to the DfT, and I've added a new complaint!

Edmund,

I'm afraid I haven't received a reply from First Great Western about the Bath Half-Marathon train …

The Conservatives want to give a cash reward for being married. I think they're utterly wrong, and that marriage should be disestablished.

The syllogism that the Tories trot out is that married couples are good for society, so if we pay people to get married there will be more married …