We haven't been able to take payment
You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Update payment details
Act now to keep your subscription
We've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Update payment details
Your subscription is due to terminate
We've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account, otherwise your subscription will terminate.
Update payment details

Accessibility Links

Skip to content
The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
  • Subscribe
Subscribe

Bright idea? The short answer is, no

Ross Anderson
The Times
Ross Anderson
The Times

There can be few better examples of the wrong solution to a problem than Marlboro Intense, the new mini-cigarette (7.2cm compared with the normal 8.5cm) aimed at the smoke-break market. Billy Connolly once observed, astutely, that there is no such thing as bad weather: just the wrong clothes. Equally, there is no such thing as a cigarette that’s too long: just a break that’s too short. My smoking time is continually interrupted by work-breaks, and I grow weary of the commute. What we really need is a Star Trek teleport device to avoid the tedium of stairs and lifts. Also, heated umbrellas.