In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result.

When straw-hats had become unfashionable, Mrs. Nollekens hinted to old White, the hatter […] , that possibly he could accommodate her with a Leghorn hat at a moderate rate.

The tornado hit. The roof went bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk! as the aluminum was lifted up and down by the wind and vacuum. Its gaskets were loosened by the Passing Presence, the roof became a sieve.

Two territorial questions […] unsettled […] each of which was a positive danger to the peace of Europe.