Scratching An Itch

Nope. Still can't find the study. But then I had a great idea ... why mess around when one can go straight to the man himself?

From: dickpuddlecote@live.co.uk
To: enquiries@fph.org.uk
Subject: Healthy Nudges
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:47:28 +0000

FAO: Alan Maryon-Davies (or properly authorised flunky)

Dear Sir

I hope you don't mind my contacting you, it's just that there has been something vexing me. It's like an itch one can't quite scratch and, as a doctor, I'm sure you can appreciate how irritating that can be - you've probably got some medical term for it even. Justoutofreach-itis or something, I dunno. Still, you get the idea.

You see, yesterday I read your report entitled "Healthy Nudges: When the Public Wants Change and the Politicians Don't Know It". Not a very snappy title I thought, by the way, maybe something less wordy may have been better? "Public Nudge the Politicians", perhaps? "Nudge for the Public Multiball"? Or maybe, "A Finger of Nudge is Just Enough to Give the Kids a Treat". Oh, sorry, I digress and you're obviously a busy man as I've heard you on the radio.

OK, I'll get to the point.

Right. My little bugbear is that page 10 of your report stated this:

"In a closed car, levels of second-hand smoke can be extremely high – the concentration in cars can be up to 60 times higher than in a smoke-free home, and up to 27 times greater than in a smoker’s home."

The problem being that, despite the fact that every other assertion in your report is referenced (those little numbers are so cute, I think, don't you?), this one isn't. You can't leave us hanging like that dude. It's like going to see The Mousetrap (is that still going?) and being kicked out before finding out whodunnit. It's incomplete information.

And that's really annoying as I'm a bit of a facts and figures freak if truth be known (especially if there are pretty graphs as well), but, shhh, don't tell the wife, she gets embarrassed when I trot out stats at parties so I've had to cut down.

Anyhoo, I'd much appreciate it if you could give me a source for this interesting factoid to fully complete the wonderful experience of reading your excellent work.

I look forward to your reply.

Best regards
Richard Puddlecote

PS If you ever need help with future titling, I'd be willing to help. I think the examples above show that I'm up to the job.

PPS Ever thought about presenting your next report in Comic Sans? It would go down a storm at Westminster, I reckon.

You never know, someone whose wages we pay may even reply.