NASA's Moon Rocket Inches Closer to Launch for Astronaut Mission

Your article (Nasa moon rocket creeps to its launchpad in preparation for astronaut flight, 18 January) quotes the crew commander of Artemis II, Reid Wiseman: “They are so fired up that we are headed back to the moon. They just want to see humans as far away from Earth as possible.” I imagine that most of Earth’s lifeforms would agree. Pete Stockwell St Buryan, Cornwall Ravi Holy’s thought-provoking article on the power and purpose of prayer (19 January) reminded me of a favourite cartoon. Two monks are sitting on either side of a chess board and about to start a new game, with one of them saying: “Right, this time praying’s cheating.” Matthew Newman Leeds Slicing one’s thumb with a mandolin (Letters, 16 January) is the posh version of what used to be the cause of many sliced thumbs in former years – opening a tin of corned beef. Linda Gresham Kings Heath, Birmingham As old age creeps onwards, I find the Guardian’s daily birthday lists provide a valuable measure of my memory: how many names can I still identify? Sadly, Saturday marked the low point, as Michelle Obama was the only name I recognised. Nurse! Bob Forster Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire Looking at the birthday columns on Monday: Julian Barnes, 80; Michael Crawford, 84; Tippi Hedren, 96; Richard Lester, 94; Dolly Parton, 80. That could make a fun old-age home. Charles Harris London Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.