Sir: One important reason why the pay talks between lecturers and universities have reached stalemate is a clash of two cultures which will always be difficult to reconcile. That incident came to mind when I read that the British economist John Kay had suggested that the only way to save Venice was to hand the city over to Disney - or some similar entertainment corporation - to manage as a visitor attraction. But then a certain carelessness with regard to its riches is characteristic of the Pompeii site. It's almost as if there's too much there to cherish properly. After a while you start to get blas?bout original Roman shop-fronts and Latin graffiti, forgetting how astonishing it is that it's still upright in the sunshine. Just? The children looked mildly crestfallen, while the adults among us couldn't help but feel this counted as a significant failure in marketing, to put it mildly.

"Just a chunk of ancient wall painting," she replied dismissively. "What is it?" we asked, rather excited by the thought that we might have been present at a discovery. As we watched, one of them unearthed a lump and handed it to the American archaeologist who was supervising the dig. Wandering around Pompeii last week we turned a corner in one of the city's villas to find a small group of students scraping at the dusty earth. Oy weh, said the Jewish God, which he explained was an expression meaning that his head was hurting and could they change the subject, please.20.

Willingly, said the chairgod, and perhaps before everyone stormed out of the debate, they could move on to consideration of the forthcoming goddesses' tea party, to which all were invited.More of this by and by More from Miles Kington. Oy weh, said the Jewish God, which he explained was an expression meaning that his head was hurting and could they change the subject, please.17 Zeus said Poseidon had always been a bad loser.18 Poseidon swore and stormed out of the debate.19. Zeus said he remembered saying to Poseidon that his son could beat his son with one hand tied behind his back Poseidon had been furious when Antaeus lost.16 Poseidon said Antaeus had not just lost He had died as well No wonder he had been cross.17 Zeus said Poseidon had always been a bad loser Poseidon swore and stormed out of the debate.18. Poseidon agreed, but asked them not to forget that Hercules was also a son of Zeus.15. He said that as far as he could gather, the Greek gods and goddesses had had so many offspring that it was impossible for the old heroes to go five yards without encountering some divine bastard. When Hercules encountered the giant Antaeus, and caused his death by lifting him off the ground, which gave him all his strength, was not Antaeus another son of Poseidon?14.

Poseidon said he could not remember now why he had been so keen to see the Greeks defeated. He could, however, remember trying to sink Odysseus on his way home because Odysseus had blinded his son, Polyphemus.13 So many sons and daughters! exclaimed the Jewish God. The gods were always trying to affect the outcome of the battle Poseidon was the worst. He was always trying to sink the Greek navy to help the Trojans Maybe he had a lot of money riding on the result.12. For instance, there had been intense betting on which of the three goddesses Paris would award the apple to, which had led to the Trojan War, on which there was also intense betting.11 Intense interference, too, said his wife, Hera. In the days of the Greek gods, divine competition was non-stop. Loki said that as they were both immortal, it might be a waste of time strangling him Thor stormed noisily out of the meeting.10.