Can you believe it, once competitors put their video game controllers down there's now a compulsory (but random) urine test sample provided to FIFA who are hosting the video soccer tournament.

Just think of it, performance enhancing drugs flowing through the gaming fingers of competitors that basically sit there staring at a screen doing basically nothing physically - scary isn't it?

I RECENTLY lost the love of my life, my darling 21 year-old miniature poodle who was a throw away at 13 years-old. The love and devotion that he showered on me used to at times make me very humble as many humans are just not capable of showing.

Animals have a special bond and unfortunately so many people fail to realise the significance of owning a pet and the joy they can give.

It breaks my heart and infuriates me when I hear of  the many cruelty cases and the dumping especially the young and healthy that are destroyed every year by the neglect of the human race.

It will take me a very long time to get over my loss but it heartens me to realise that. If I had not given my Archie a home he would have just been another unloved throw away.

CONGRATULATIONS on your article concerning the exchange of needles for drug users. It should be highlighted that users do not intend to become addicts, and simply telling people not to use is not helpful. Use/abuse of drugs depends on many, many complex factors, including mental health.

It is heartening to know that these people can obtain safe equipment, and for those in the community to know that used equipment can be disposed of safely.

It was also very interesting to read that drug use is not (as commonly perceived), exclusively contained within the demographic of the unemployed, youth, or people from low income areas. Many users are functioning addicts and may well work in such white collar areas, however yet again the Turnbull government is touting the testing for drugs in people on Newstart, with the applause of the taxpayers.

The most abused drug is alcohol. This does not show up in a urine test. Furthermore,  13 years ago, a urine test that I undertook showed an equivocal result for amphetamines - by equivocal, I mean that the test results lay in a range that was neither positive, nor negative.

Having never taken amphetamines, I was bemused by the result. I visited the GP who informed me that the result could have been influenced by the antidepressants I had taken, and fortunately no action was taken.

This just shows that a screening test can be unreliable. How many will suffer due to this fact.

WHILE some in the community may have a proclivity for computer hacking, a country’s central health database with individual’s private information, may be a honeypot too big to resist.

SO “the relocation of the University to Inveresk sends a signal that as a city we do not want to expand horizontally” (The Examiner, July 31).

Most people would probably agree that Newnham has been in roughly the same place for a century or more. One also expects that the buildings at Newnham can be built the same height as Inveresk.

Rather than sending occult signals about building heights or location perhaps proponents of this $200 million or so “signal” could give clear objectives and the measures that can be used to judge the future success or failure.

Rarely are initial or background conditions of such things ever stated which cleverly avoids failure being revealed.

Ironically the Mt Pleasant Domain subdivision is praised for its proximity to the CBD when it is probably farther from the CBD than Newnham (The Examiner, August 1).

MANY cities and countries compete on the world stage for which has the tallest edifice.

High-rise tower height they think makes them looker better off than the next place. In truth these cities all end up looking the same.

Launceston city centre is unique because of the mix of excellent examples of low-rise Georgian, Victorian, Arts and Craft, Art Deco and 20th century modern buildings.   

Launceston has an intact skyline viewed from within the city. Cameron Street and Cimitiere Street align City Park, Civic Centre, and Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, draw the line and they are on axis with the picturesque Cataract Gorge.

Cities like Washington DC and Paris have similar alignments and consistent low-rise heights. As landmark cities they are protected by height limits so tall buildings cannot detract from their character.

Launcestonians generally agree that Myer and Telecom edifices, at 21-metres high, are the tallest eyesores plighting our beautiful city. 

Launceston has a relatively uniform look and most people that live here and visit love the city for its buildings.

It's a standout landmark city characterised by low-rise architectural styles.

Developers like Fragrance want 70-metre high towers.

These developments and heights are killing the golden egg that is Launceston.

Come on Launceston, stand up and protect your unique city.