D Monday, October 19, 2009 METRO 17 Bowled over: A visitor takes a photograph of a waterfall made from recycled toilet bowls and urinals at a park in Guangdong province in China. The art piece is part of a local tradeshow for pottery and porcelain products, and is 100metres (329ft) long and five metres (16.5ft) high The Big Picture Too glum to smile? Smile, Ireland: Its not that hard I nearly fell over in shock when the girl in a local cinema smiled as she handed over my tickets and change the other night! Not a half-arsed thanks, not a I hate my job nor a loike, holier than thou, but a genuine smile! Everybody listen up, I know theres a recession on but cheer up, be polite and stop doling out misery! If you do crack the odd smile, its good for business and most people will return a genuine smile! God knows, you might even like it! DIT Donal Some dogs may only bark at the postman, but what about the ones who bark and whine all day because their muppet owners leave them outside alone? You know, the dogs that were surrogate babies and given lots of attention, but when the real baby came along, they got chucked outside and now dont like it. Does anyone else think some people shouldnt be allowed to own a pet larger than a goldfish? DM, Balbriggan I see former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds thanked Hillary Clinton for then US president Bill allowing Gerry Adams into the US against British wishes and how this led to peace in Northern Ireland. Despite my opposition to the Iraq invasion, I too would thank the US for the progress made on our island and, hopefully, I will see unity in my lifetime. Mary, Wicklow Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Agreed: I often wish the people who speak so passionately about animal welfare would show even a fraction of that care and respect for their fellow human beings who can be driven to distraction by constantly barking dogs! Stephanie, by text Shocking! It is absolutely shocking that there was no Irish TV coverage of Stephen Gatelys funeral. A foreign station covered all of it, so why couldnt an Irish station do the same for one of its own? Kevin Lighten up: I have to thank Animal Lover and Babs, you made me giggle on the Luas the other morning. Lighten up, for recessions sake, it was sarcasm! I dont literally throw sedative-laced sirloin steaks over my wall... I use cheap Aldi Mince. SRD Get out of the gene pool: A man goes to the doctor and says, I have a problem and I think its hereditary. The puzzled doctor of course asks what it is. Why, its diarrhoea, says the man. And what makes you think its hereditary? asks the doctor. Because its in my jeans, the man replies... Tony In Brief Senator Eoghan Harris referred to the John ODonoghue expense scandal as a Sinn Fin-led leftist media witch hunt. Sr Harris was appointed by Bertie Ahern for his support in the Independent during the 2007 general election. This type of elitist, out-of-touch, opinion-and-reward system makes it clear that the Senate must end. Mark, Dublin How ridiculous of Kelloggs to brand their cornflakes in a bid to stamp out fakes (Metro, October 14). In these recessionary times, why waste further money on branding a product in what is already a heavily branded container? If I choose to buy Kelloggs products, I will; if I choose to buy a competitors product, the hi-tech laser etching certainly wont make a difference to me. Why doesnt the company spend its money on something worthwhile? Alan I, for one, welcome our new Kelloggs overlords... Holly Sendusyour txt Ian B, imagine you were a highly talented footballer, and a top club made you an offer of 100,000 a week to play for them. What would your response be? Mario S Ian B, I couldnt agree with you more. Professional footballers are over-paid. In fact, Im thinking of getting a sex change and going professional as I really could do with the money, and I may even score! Sig Suz, gentlemen huddle around the door of trains to allow ladies to sit down. The age of chivalry is not dead... Lance Why does everyone stare at school students when they have a seat on a Dart? We have as much a right to sit as you do! Annoyed Student In the morning while waiting for my train to set off, I like to imagine the platform (no, not the shoes) as a bit of a catwalk so can some of you please make more effort? Noozander txt MAIL to 53131* Picture: Reuters Picture: Reuters index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html