Notes: 16/08/2010

John Rentoul, chief political commentator of The Independent on Sunday, has pioneered a series on his blog which is proving very popular (http://blogs.independent.co.uk/author/johnrentoul) :"Questions in Headlines to which the answer is No". The trend identified is growing. Nothing wrong with questions in headlines per se; but silly questions should be avoided.

Four candidates for inclusion in the series appeared in the Sunday papers.The Sunday Telegraph, p25: "Will Australia's first lady [pictured] have the briefest reign?"; Sunday Times News Review, p9: "Call this a holiday?" (about children studying through the summer); The Sunday Times, p14: "Is the countryside a hotbed of racism?"; and The Mail on Sunday, p31: "Hatred and slavery... is that really enough to kickstart the economy?"