Your three-page briefing on London and Paris caught me by surprise (“The Rivals,” March 15, 2008). Rivals? I checked the title and the pictures of the two cities a couple of times before I shook my head in disbelief. Although the twain will hold mayoral elections at about the same time, there is little else that explains the reason for the briefing. Is this a lame joke on Paris? A sly subterfuge to promote London? Or free advice on how to save Paris from ignominious ruin? Sadly, reading the three pages does not help resolve these questions, either. You do not even attempt a serious answer to the bold question in the subtitle: “which has the brighter future?” For the answer, only look at the suburbs: London is gobbling them up, while Paris is being strangled by them. Voila! Rivals, what rivals?