Oil see

What with the price of stuff and all that, we have been asked

The price of a barrel of oil seems to be going through the roof. Should we start to stockpile the stuff or should we just use a little less? What can you nice Common Sense folk suggest?

Sporting Chance

From a concerned reader

I, along with many of your readers, was upset to see Scotland drop out of the European Championship but is it right that this was not only headline news but both Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond were present at the game - yet they have not had an official meeting yet. Is sport really this important to the world?

Top RSPB tip

Thanks to our keen eyed bird watchers for the following

Provide your garden birds with a fresh supply of water every day to help them in the cold winter. You could even build a pond! Make sure though, if it is very cold to use tepid water and do not use any antifreeze products or other additives.

The question has to be asked though. Because they state that, has someone done it?

Art for artsake

From an artist (we presume)

I came across this website while surfing the net http://www.thebiginternetartproject.com/
Is it art? Is it just money-making? Can it be both? What do the common sense consultants think.

PS we also presume that they are using us for marketing purposes but hey!

It has been asked so we will try and answer it

From a young reader of the site

Why is the front of the world always facing that way?

Mower Madness

A question from the garden

while looking for a new mower I have come accross the term "self propelled" and for a long time was left wondering whether the self was with reference to the mower (ie it drove itself) or the self was with reference to myself (ie I pushed it). It is only after lots of detailed analysis have a I found out that this is with reference to the mower. Am I the only one who can see this definition can be confusing??

Go with the flow

From a 4 year old child

They say the news is being dumped down but I thought the illustration on BBC
last night about how water flows from hills downhill, via streams and rivers, to
larger rivers, or in times of peak flow, flood plains was very informative for
us young children. Of course, it is common sense, but at our age, it is good to
have these things confirmed. Well done to BBC for providing an item on the 10
o’clock news ideal for 4 and 5 year olds.

cutting up clothes

from a sensible person

I have a top I bought from a shop and it is blue and white and the label in it says I am to wash colour separately. Over time the blue has gradually become less blue while the white more blue. How was I meant to separate the two?

up in smoke

From someone gasping for air:

Now that, at last, common sense has prevailed and smoking will be banned in enclosed public spaces in England, we hear that NHS will provide treatment to help smokers quit. Is it common sense to provide the drugs on the NHS, instead of asking the smokers, who possibly spend £5 on their habit a day, to pay the fiull cost for it ?

Nasal hair and cocaine wastage

A slightly tangential thinker asks

Do cocaine users have to carefully trim (or indeed shave) their nasal hair to minimise drug wastage? Do you think there is a niche market here for a specialist nasal hair remover? It could prevent drug users blowing cocaine onto their hankies thus saving a considerable amount of money.

Scottish Elections

the leader of a Party Asks

I have just "won" an election yet do not know if I will be first minister and also am slightly worried that other parties may get together and spoil my victory. Can you help?

Carbon Foot Size

From a tree hugger

I do lots of work helping industry sort out issues with their environmental performance. The latest thing that companies want to consider is their carbon footprint. Sadly, as with so many new toys or gadgets, the companies just want it and do not care whether it is of any use to them or whether they know how to do it. For one thing there is carbon footprinting and most folk are somehow measuring this in carbon dioxides (something the Stern report got confused about). Then there are carbon equivalents (CFC's and methane) which everyone is ignoring which in many cases contribute more to environmental destruction than the energy consumed. Then there is a complete lack of standised scoping of footprints and the result that carbon footprints are not comparable. The govt puts out plans on how to do this (which for once are actually very good) but industry can't be bothered as it is too complex and therefore they just guess.

Please Mr Common Senses, can you slap some sense into folk to explain to them that they would be better doing nothing than what they are doing just now. They are all jumping on bandwagons for the sake of marketing. There is an environmental issue out there and if they continue to treat it as marketing play thing it is not going to get solved.

Dead Nose Day

From a partially asphyxiated charity supporter

I recently purchased two Red Noses from a reputable, if pricey, supermarket. Upon my return home I extracted the snout-like appendage from its packaging. After consuming the bonus chocolate I inserted my schnozzle into the gaping hole and prepared to relax in the knowledge that I had done my bit – this feeling of smugness was not to last however. The prosthetic nose has a malodorous chemical smell and is quite unwearable.

What am I do? I wish to show my support of Comic Relief but also wish to continue breathing. Please advise.

Serving suggestion?

From Bucks Fizz' Cheryl Baker:

Recently I purchased some Cherry Bakewells and on the outside was a picture of one out of its foil container. In the corner it said Serving suggestion. Now I have just bought some fresh Orange Juice and on the outside was a glass of the stuff. In the corner it said Serving suggestion.

Do we really need to be told that serving it in a glass or out of its tray is merely a suggestion?