Being a bit of an Apple die-hard, it pains me say that I really like the dell. But if Apple are not going to produce a tablet any time soon, then the dell mini is a pretty good solution.

Sure, I copy edit The Latest Best-Seller (well, you never know) on the laptop with Jer’s Novel Writer for Mac, but when commuting or traveling, this device has no serious competition, other than its sister product (the Dana).

Go on, Stephen, save the back-ache, dump the laptop on your next trip, get a Neo and give it a whirl.

BTW, just watched your episode of “Who Do You Think You Are” very moving, very emotional; my wife and I were blubbering like babies.

If you’re really reading this, I want to thank you for your splendid Pod casts, “dated” now as they maybe. You’re speech addressed to the BBC was extraordinary, sir. Erudite, thought-provoking and entertaining. Now, how about ditching one of those iPods you mentioned above, replacing it with a microphone, and recording another round of podcasts, hmm??

Cheers,

- Jez

One never knows when a cable related disaster might occur.

Kind regards

Obviously language evolves, (“Modification through descent” as Darwin defined it), but that does not mean that all changes are beneficial. Many changes/mutations are either neutral, or more usually, harmful, and so it may seem to most of us in the field of language. New words (e.g. ‘transistor’) are perfectly acceptable but expressions such as ‘we were sat …’ are not. (IMHO).

One possible reason why the English purists are so aghast at this language evolution is that they discern it as ‘bottom-up’ change. In other words the patois from Rap music and The Street appears to be taking over. If on the other hand, changes were instigated from on-high and thus would have the blessing of some intellectual credence – all would be well. It is thus somewhat ironical that Stephen Fry’s name would be at the top of many peoples’ lists!

Keep it coming. I’m not sure Truss and Humphries are ’semi-educated’. I thought that was a little OTT (to use a new phrase). How right you are about how expressions can change their meaning completely. My favourite is ” by(e)-and-large”, a Royal Navy term for the direction of the wind relative to the mainsail, now meaning ‘on-the-whole’.

Very best wishes,
Richard

Santa gave me ‘America’ in my stocking. He’s good like that, don’t you think? The only reason I have taken so long to finish it is … errm …. I put it in the bathroom. I try not to spend overlong there.

Needs said that I have insisted a certain anti-USA friend read at least the introductory pages. For me you nailed it. Me, a born and bred little Englander, spent 15 years, in two spells, in the USA and rarely encountered anything other than friendliness and openness. Granted, I stayed away from big cities, but real USA citizens, of whatever nationality, seem to ooze help and care in a way which is alien to the tight arsed UK.

All life is there. Omaha NE was exceedingly good to me over 6 strange years, whereas Topeka KS was just strange. Portland OR was a trip, whereas Seattle was merely trippy. Worcester MA was real, Boston was anything but.

I’d like to think your book will do something to get the dining rooms of North London to stop sneering at the wonderful people to be found in the USA.

Two points: It’s not ‘America’ it’s the USA: there are two rather large nations to north and south. And you forgot ‘copacetic’ in your glossary. You are bad.

Remember your cheese, fellow travellers. And tell Steve ‘Hiya’

Thanks to the DevTeam. If it is any use to anyone my iphone experience can be read on: http://blog.marcusadams.eu

And just in case you’ve got a spare moment on your hands,

twitter loves you, Stepen Fry! And it is so fabulous that you’ve embraced social media so vigorously!

Since you’re quite active on twitter.com you probably already know about Twestival – which began in London in September and was a huge success.

It’s very hush hush at th moment and we are making the announcement on Monday that Twestival will be held in no less than 47 cities and in multiple countries on January 22nd! What’s more exciting is that the event will be broadcast live over the internet!

We will be raising money to benefit Charity Water (http://www.charitywater.org), a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
 
They give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. They also work to raise awareness of the water crisis through events, fundraising exhibitions and other public awareness campaigns.

Would you be interested in supporting our cause with a short video endorsement to be shown at the venues and online? It would be absolutely top secret and a huge thrill for everyone who sees it. And of course it would boost our fundraising efforts exponentially to have you egging us on – erm, I mean encouraging us.

We’re even thinking of getting someone like Robert Scoble (or that mashable character) or Sizemore to do something outrageous like shave his head or get a twitter tattoo live while people donate online all evening!

Of course you could shamelessly plug stephenfry.com and any other projects you’re working on. And if by some coincidence your travels bring you to San Francisco that evening you’d be our guest of honor. Would you like to help us?

Thank you so much – for the pleasure and enjoyment you’ve brought us through every word that has passed through your lips and into our hearts. What a joy that we can be exposed even a tiny bit to the workings of your mind through twitter. The world is a better place because of you!

Most Sincerely,

Alison Potvin

@bravegirl