Unthinking and uncaring

It's amazing how little our state politicians know -- or care -- about government agencies.

Imagine that you are planning a party. A new years eve party, for example. You look at the total cost and think, Uh oh, I can't afford to spend two thousand dollars... So what do you do?

You think, food... it's a barbeque... let's have more sausages and less steak. You think, drink... more soft drink, less spirits but more beer. You think, shelter... we're starting early, it'll be hot and sunny, the rented shadecloth is essential.

In other words... You look at the various costs and decide which ones -- if any -- can be reduced.

If you were a politician you would say... cut five percent off everything.

Five percent less steak. Five percent less sausage. Five percent less soft drinks, spirits, beer. Five percent less shade cloth!?

Oh, you'd be thinking, five percent less guests...? Wrong!

A politician would say, five percent less food, drink and shelter... but the same number of guests.

What if the guests don't enjoy themselves? They're thirsty, hungry and sunburnt... Well... too bad... says the politician.

Next year they can all pay for their own new years eve drinks... in a privately owned pub.

Why would a politician make such ridiculous budget cuts? Because they don't care about the service being provided. Because they only care about being reelected. Because they don't understand how their own organisations operate.

Because organisational budgets are complicated. Politicians are simple. It's difficult to understand operational costs and service delivery. It's easier to listen to a treasury official who says, five percent cost reduction may win you the next election.

After all, it's not as if the politicians will lose any of their own income. It's not as if the politicians will lose any sleep over the budget cuts.

Nope.

It's just public servants who will work harder. Or be sacked. And it's just the public who will get less service.

So who cares.

Not the five percent fantasy politicians. That's one hundred percent certain.

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Problems ? Solved

Meaningless conditions

"Global aluminium giant Alcoa is facing a fine of up to $125,000 after being charged with breaching its operating licence conditions" (Daniel Mercer, 'Alcoa charged over dust', The West Australian, 29 Dec 2012).

An "operating licence" sets the conditions under which the organisation can operate. The conditions were -- allegedly -- breached. So why is Alcoa still operating?

What is the point of a trivial fine? In terms of the profits being made by Alcoa, the amount is trivial. In terms of the operating costs of Alcoa, the amount is trivial.

Alcoa -- like Varanus -- will have made a sensible business decision: reduce operating costs by one billion, at the risk of being fined a tiny fraction of that saving.

It's a simple business decision. Save a large cost now and accept the risk of a very minor cost later.

The cost of damage due to dust is transferred away from Alcoa. The cost is carried by the environment.

An "operating condition" should be just what it says, a condition under which the operation is allowed to continue.

The current "operating condition" is simply a minor cost to be factored into the business plan.

Breach an operating condition -- stop operating. It's as simple as that.

You're allowing dust to blow onto the neighbours? So stop operating. Immediately. When can you start operating again? When you have proven that no more dust will blow.

But the cost of dust prevention is too high? So stop operating.

There is no point in operating conditions which can be breached at will.

If an essential condition cannot be met -- then the operation should never have been allowed. If the condition has not been met -- the operation must be stopped.

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Problems ? Solved

Drive for speed... or pleasure

We left home at about ten in the morning. Possibly a bit earlier. Not early enough to be anything but a relaxed start to our first day away. Away on a short holiday in the southwest of Western Australia.

Onto the freeway, heading south. Another unpleasant drive down the freeway.

The freeway -- or Forrest Highway -- is the you-beaut link between Perth and Bunbury. It cuts five minutes off the three hour journey, or some such exciting benefit.

What it really does, is to change a pleasant drive in the country into a traffic-filled race with all the other city drivers. Fast, flat and boring. No small towns to add interest. No spots to pull off the road for a break. Just drive, drive, drive.

We turned off for "services" towards Pinjarra. No indication of the distances to the promised services but we knew that Pinjarra was not very close. So we tried the nearby Resort.

There's a picture of a cup... a claim that the resort offers tea and coffee. The obvious building -- the one with the parking area -- is most unwelcoming.

A nearly empty carpark. No obvious front door. No welcome sign. No sign even of interest in attracting customers.

We drove on. To the delightful and historic tearooms by the river, at Pinjarra. Where we had coffee and cake -- rather expensive but delicious, and supporting local enterprise.

Our drive continued. Down South West Highway.

Yes, we could have returned to Forrest Highway.

We preferred to *enjoy* the rest of our drive.

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Problems ? Solved

Offensive tackle by ex footballer

"Technically, Ashton isn't qualified to change a bandaid."

According to Jon Fogarty, you must be qualified to change a bandaid if you want to evaluate a computer based patient records system.

Is this the sign of a coward on the run? You're scared, so you run for cover. And as you run you hit out -- preferably at a target too weak to hit back.

A very offensive tackle.

It does, however, raise an interesting question. What qualifications are required to run a hospital?

Is it enough to be an ex footballer? Is it enough to be a millionaire? Is Fogarty qualified to even change a bandaid?

Apparently -- according to Fogarty -- you need some level of medical qualification to hire consultants to check an IT system. Yet Fogarty is quite happy to put himself in charge of an entire hospital. Systems, patients, health-care and all.

When money is the motive, expect health-care to go out the door.

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Problems ? Solved

"The shopping event"

Shane Wright, economics editor at The West, has an article about shopping, "Online just a new retail phase" (3Dec12). He argues that online shopping is here to stay, that it is simply the next stage of catering to the "desires and tastes of shoppers."

Of shopping at an old style bricks and mortar shop he writes, "Just going to the department store was an event -- and still is for those who know Myer in Melbourne."

I did that myself, earlier this year. I went shopping at Myer in Melbourne. An event, indeed...

The shop is large. Well signposted though. We soon found the women's shoe section. We soon found some nearly suitable shoes, too. We wondered if the shoes were available in a suitable size...

So we looked for some help. A shop assistant, for example. We looked for someone to tell us, yes, we have these shoes in your size.

Actually... we would have been happy to find a shop assistant who would take our money... The shoes were a short term solution. The pair that we were holding were good enough to wear for the short time required.

There was no shop assistant to be seen.

They were not busy. They were... not... there.

We left. Shoeless.

Perhaps that could be a reason for the drift to online shopping.

Why go to the city to be ignored? You can do your shopping in the comfort of your own home. And have plenty of time left over, to go to a more enjoyable "event".

Does online shopping provide only limited service to the shopper? So what... Myer in Melbourne provides no service whatsoever.

In my limited experience of one visit.

One visit which taught me, Never again.

Potential customer. Lost.

====
Problems ? Solved

The stigma of AIDS

It's the Sunday Times again. Reporting on the stupidity of the world.

This time, it's people with AIDS.

People with AIDS are being stigmatised. They are afraid to admit to their illness, for fear of being rejected by friends and family.

Okay, that's not nice. But read on.

"Sufferers of the virus ... are still too afraid to reveal their condition to their family, friends or work colleagues..." Yes, sympathetic nod, that's not nice, is it.

To continue:

"... too afraid to reveal their condition ... despite most being able to live symptom-free."

Symptom-free? So what?!

AIDS is a nasty disease. So is leprosy. No-one wants to catch either. We now know enough about leprosy to know that it is a very difficult disease to catch.

We know enough about AIDS to know that yes, in the right unfortunate circumstances we can catch AIDS... From family, friends or work colleagues.

Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

We -- people who do not have AIDS -- are glad that AIDS sufferers can live without symptoms. That's great -- for you.

At the more selfish level -- we do not want to catch your disease.

That's the source of the stigma: fear of infection.

Can we catch your disease? If not, convince us.

Meanwhile, stop being so self-centred. Consider your friends, your family, your work colleagues. Help them to understand that AIDS is not easily transmitted.

Or accept the stigma. Which is really just avoidance based on the instinct for self-protection.

We're sorry you're sick. But please understand: we do not want to share your disease.

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Problems ? Solved

Buying a politician

Okay, the Sunday Times is not noted for the accuracy of its reporting. Still, that's no reason to dismiss all of its stories. There is the ring of truth in it's tales of a businessman buying political favours.

Peel Health Campus (PHC) has already admitted that it paid a bonus to doctors who wrongly admitted patients. Extra patients means extra government money for PHC. So PHC paid extra to doctors, each time they helped rip a bit more money out of the government.

Today's story is about claims of poor patient care. More specifically, a patient records system which allows the wrong patient to be prepped for an operation.

Followed -- according to the whistle-blower -- by a cover-up coming right from the top management of the " hospital".

Oh, the joy of having a hospital run for profit rather than for health!

Then there's the side-story, of the buying of political favours.

The boss -- the major shareholder of PHC -- is reported to have bought the support of the Liberal party. At least he claims to have bought political favours... according to the newspaper report... With our politicians it's hard to tell. Are they really bought? Or are they simply taking your money...

So the PHC bunch of cheats and incompetents wants to expand its campus. To be able to suck more money from the government, presumably. After paying the appropriate bribes the PHC boss is reported to have said that the PHC expansion is now a "no-brainer" decision for the state government.

Just as well, really.

A no-brainer is the only sort of decision that our politicians are capable of making.

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Problems ? Solved

Same old, same old

Amazing how long we continue to milk the same old... old... ideas.

An article in The West today berated Australian business for failing to benefit from intellectual property. It seems that very few companies see intellectual property as a valuable asset. New ideas? Not for us, thanks!

It's the same with employment. Most job ads could be rewritten as, Must be doing the same work already but be willing to change employers. A very old suggestion was, hire a good employee and define the job to suit their talents. Now, we define the job and look for the square peg to fit.

New talents? New skills? New ideas? Not for us.

I recently began to read Pilgrims Progress... the only English-language book in a small Spanish hotel. It was interesting to see how little the tourist souvenir business has changed. This is how I remember the story...

Christian, the pilgrim of the title, invites some acquaintances to travel with him. As they reach the Mire of Despond, Stubborn has had enough and returns home. Flexible is willing to cross the Mire of Despond with Christian. (It's not my book, I can't help it if the message is hammered home with a sledge hammer.)

Having finally crossed the Mire, Flexible has finally had enough. "I'll just buy a souvenir tee-shirt," he says, "And return to my home and family." He buys a souvenir tee-shirt with the motto, "My father crossed the Mire of Despond and all I got was this lousy tee-shirt".

The motto was considered to be quite clever, back when it first appeared.

And so I traveled on to Barcelona, to check the souvenir tee-shirts of today. And found one that said, "My boyfriend went to Barcelona and all I got was this lousy tee-shirt".

Good grief!

"Father" has become "boy friend". And the same, tired, old joke continues.

Surely even a boyfriend would recognise the words as being old, stale, outdated! Perhaps it's time for the souvenir tee-shirt business to improve its act, to try out some new ideas. To move with the times.

How about, "My boyfriend went to Barcelona and all I got was this lousy venereal disease."

At least it's a new idea. Is a new idea too difficult for us to consider?

========
Dr Nick Lethbridge
Problems ? Solved
(+61) 0419197772
========

"95% of the time I'm right. The other 2% doesn't really matter. "--per Ginger Meggs

Would you trust this "doctor"?

The local paper has carried a series of letters from midwives and obstetricians on the topic of home births. Essentially, should a woman be allowed to give birth at home with a midwife but no doctor in attendance.

Today there is a letter from "M. Aitken, vice-president, National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists". Under the headline of "No finance gain", regarding "claims that obstetricians earn more for assisted deliveries and inductions" Aitken writes, "This is incorrect." (The West, 30 Oct 2012)

This is a clear and absolute statement: Aitken is clearly stating that doctors earn no extra money for assisted deliveries. Stand back, cross your arms, watch the baby pop out -- and earn the same as though you were fully involved and up to your elbows in blood and birth fluids.

Of course, Aitken continues, "there are understandably some different fee payments depending on the complexity of the case."

In other words, the more involvement by the doctor, the more the doctor will charge.

Three sentences, two direct contradictions.

Would you trust this doctor?!

Oh, btw, I'm only guessing at "doctor". This "M. Aitken" may well have a day job as hospital accountant. Rubbing his (or her) hands in glee at the prospect of more childbirths forced into hospitals. With all the extra hospital income that that will ensure.

Perhaps... probably... Aitken is correct to write that doctors "are not driven by financial incentive but healthy outcomes for mothers and babies." But let's not pretend that there is no financial benefit to doctors.

Doctors earn money from childbirth. The more complex the birth, the more money they earn. And hospitals earn nothing at all, from a no-complications birth at home.

Financial gain may not be the heart of the argument. Yet it is certainly a very important factor in the equation.

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Problems ? Solved

Our age of increasing uncertainty

This is the dawning of the age of... uncertainty.

Here I am, typing away on the latest technology tablet PC. With WiFi access to all the information of the internet. And I claim "uncertainty"?! Absolutely.

Here's a simple example. I'm sitting in a small flat in La Rambla, Barcelona. (Can't get enough of that place-name-dropping:-)  And I want to get to a restaurant across the road. So I ask Google Maps to show me the way.

Apparently, the fastest way to get across the road is to walk 800m down the road, round the roundabout and 800m back again.

Okay, I can look out the window and see a better way. What if I can't see the better solution?

In a small village known as St Jean Pied de Port, we followed a different navigation device, a Garmin Oregon. We wanted to walk from the railway station to a particular hotel. We selected, "pedestrian walking".

The Garmin took us 4.5km (or 4,5km in the local language). We could have walked it in less than two kilometres -- if only we knew the streets of the village.

Thanks to our dependence on navigational technology -- we are always uncertain. Is this the best way? Does this device know all of the roads? More importantly -- and a major source of uncertainty -- how does this device calculate the "best" route?!

With a printed map we work out the best way for ourselves. We understand the logic behind our route choice. We are able to change our minds -- to adapt -- while we are on our way.

Dependence on technology has removed our need for thinking. Made us less flexible. Added a new level of uncertainty to our lives.

And that is not at all the topic that I intended to cover!

The dawning of the Age of Uncertainty is best shown by this tablet PC.

Suppose I intend to write C-A-T. In years past I would have pressed three keys on a keyboard: C, A, T. ( On a keyboard? Okay, not all that many years past.)

On the tablet I press cat and am given three options: car, cat and cast. If I mis-key (with fingers that are larger than the buttons on the virtual keyboard) then I could be offered xat, cat and day. (Day?!) Interestingly enough, if I type xat followed by a comma -- I get cat...

Typing on a virtual -- and "clever" -- keyboard adds a new level of uncertainty to this post. I need to watch and check every word that I think I type.

What if I need to make a change?

I tap my finger as close as possible to the word to be changed. Then tap again. Then try to slide the little blue pointer to the correct point. Find that I tapped too slowly so I have selected a entire word... Tap again...

And find that my finger slipped. And I have discovered the wonders of one-finger-zoom...

Perhaps I should read the manual? Of course there is no manual... Just thousands of web pages on topics which are occasionally related to my problem. But I'll never find them because without already knowing the answer -- I don't know the relevant search terms.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great little tablet. (Google Nexus 9, in case you were wondering.) It does everything that I need and perhaps a quarter of what I want.

When Windows was released I was impressed: click the mouse anywhere on the screen and an option would appear. Just what option, was often uncertain. As a beginner, just keep clicking till you find a suitable option.

With the touch screen, touch anywhere on the screen and... something will *happen*. Not always what you wanted to happen.

The level of uncertainty has increased.

Just as you think you have it all under control... a new feature is announced. One-finger-zoom, for example. I've seen it announced. I have yet to see instructions as to how to use it. All I know is, sometimes... it happens.

Welcome to the world of touch computing. Welcome to the world of dependence on unexplained -- but useful -- technology.

Welcome to the bright daylight of the age of uncertainty.

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Problems ? Solved

Case study: Target the intended audience

Imagine that you are the exhibit manager in... for example... the Museu de la Musica Barcelona. In Spain. You have a magnificent collection of musical items: instruments, sheet music, recording technology, knowledge... from across several centuries.

How do you design your public displays?

The actual Museu has its exhibits displayed in a well lit area. Behind protective glass. Lighting is perfect, every item is clearly visible. There are printed comments.

The comments are the weak point of the display.

Comments are in three languages: Spanish, Catalan and English. The English is stilted and confusing.

If you are providing comments in a language other than your own -- have it checked. By someone who both speaks the language and understands the subject.

That is, if your intended audience includes English speakers.

Most Museu comments are in white font on clear glass. To read a comment you need to stand at just the right position: light in the right position, no colourful musical instrument behind the letters.

Test your planned lettering. Is it possible to read it? Easily? Do you intend to encourage your audience to read your comments? Are they worth reading??

The main weakness of the Museu display is... that the comments are not worth reading. At least, not for the casual museum visitor.

The Museu de la Musica display is set up by experts in musical history, for experts in musical history. If you know your musical history then here are examples of what you know from the theory.

If you know nothing of musical history -- there is very little that you will learn at the Museu.

Who is the customer of the museum? Is it the expert who already knows it all? Or is it the casual visitor who would like to learn...

Consider your own communications with your clients. Do you tell them what *you* would like to hear? Do you communicate as though they already know everything and are just confirming their knowledge? Fine, if that is true.

If your clients depend on you for your expert knowledge -- be prepared to communicate. Use clear language. Provide sufficient detail. Inform... without being insulting!

Communicate to your intended audience. Not just to yourself.

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Problems ? Solved

Use those customer complaints

This is an old, old message: a customer complaint is an *opportunity*. Just last night I had a practical lesson.

A lesson for me. The business itself failed to use the opportunity to learn...

We are visiting Barcelona. Never been here before. Choices of places to eat are... almost... endless. We selected a conveniently close restaurant.

The drinks waiter gave no eye contact, he was too busy to provide more than token politeness. No worries, the restaurant was chock-a-block full of tourists, with more queuing. The waiter took a little more time.

Overall, service was accurate and efficient. Just the way we like it.

Gazpacho, good. Ham and melon, good. Veal steak, excellent. Veal stew, tough, stringy, uneatable.

As the waiter cleared my half uneaten meal I told him, the "veal" was stringy, tough, inedible. His English was adequate, enough to understand that I was not satisfied... we were not charged for the veal stew.

But...

The waiter clearly did not understand *why* I could not finish my meal. I no like? No! I no able to eat it!

Was there a fault with the "veal"? Was there a fault with the cooking? Could the cooking method be changed, to improve the final quality of the final dish? Some businesses put enormous effort into surveys, to answer these questions.

None of these questions will be answered -- because the restaurant did not identify the problem. I was sitting there, ready and willing to explain what I saw as a problem. I was not given the opportunity.

Results: Customer dissatisfied with meal. With no "getting it off my chest". Opportunity for customer feedback -- lost.

When a client is dissatisfied -- use the opportunity. Apologise, yes. Make amends, as far as possible.

And find out -- then and there -- exactly what caused the dissatisfaction. So you can fix it.

Or, at least, be better prepared for a similar problem with future clients.

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Problems ? Solved

Humanity and the environment

We're on a walk across northern Spain. Followed by a train trip that crosses spaghetti western country, dry bare near desert.

Everywhere we look there is the evidence of European history and development. Farms, crops and cleared fields, grazing flocks and herds. Villages, towns, cities, buildings and ruins. Roads, traffic, power lines, factories.

Humanity and all of its accessories.

The one thing that is missing, is "natural".

There is absolutely nothing that has not been altered by people. People settling,  clearing, building, fighting, destroying. Then doing it all again. Even the sparse and harsh desert has been cleared and cultivated. Even the" forests" are plantations.

Europe has thousands of years of human history, human beauty and human development. Nothing at all is left of wild nature.

Have we left it too late to protect Australia? If we begin to act now, is there a chance to save some of Australia's natural beauty.

I hope that we care enough to try.

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Problems ? Solved

Response to "a serious risk"

In The West today, a surgeon has been banned from surgery because he "poses a serious risk to his patients" (Surgeon 'a serious risk to patients', 24 Sep 2012).

The State Administrative Tribunal would not allow him to act as a specialist, even under strict conditions. Audits of his clinical notes were not suitable protection for his patients. Why not? "Because the events creating the risk will already have occurred by the time of the audit."

A sensible decision!

How many industries are operating under licences which depend on post-disaster audits? Oh, we're sorry about that toxic plume heading towards the groundwater... Too late. The disaster has occurred.

When an essential operating condition has been breached, how often is the culprit forced out of business? Never? The damage is done, the company provides a public apology... then back to risky business as usual.

Perhaps there will be a fine -- a small cost to the company. Accountants will have measured the cost of prevention against the cost of the fine. Varanus, anyone?!

Setting a licence condition does not prevent a disaster. Closing the business -- post-disaster -- at least will prevent a second disaster. Confiscation of all of a company's assets to remediate the disaster... is worth doing. But the disaster has still happened.

The State Administrative Tribunal has shown us what to do: If there is a severe risk -- prevent it.

It's too late -- after a disaster -- to wring our hands and hope it won't happen again.

We need to act before the disaster has happened.

We need to prevent activities which pose a major risk. Not allow the risk then act sorry afterwards.

Insist on one hundred percent prevention. Rather than a post-disaster measure of how bad it really is.

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Problems ? Solved

Speaking of morons...

The state government treats the public like morons, with its "big picture" advertisements. Oh yeah, sure, there's an integrated plan to all the big spending projects round town. So why is traffic congestion so horrendous?!

You'd think that a "big picture" would include planning for travel between the various environmental disasters. You'd be wrong.

You'd think that a "big picture" would make allowances for the large numbers of people who are quite happy with the current city size. Or even smaller. You know... "sustainable size". You'd be wrong.

The government sees only one "big picture". And that picture is painted by big money.

Then there's The West Australian and its treat-them-like-morons advertising for its new Insider magazine.

First, the letter i, in a big black box. Repeated on several pages. Over many days. With a gradual reveal of the name. Followed by the excitement of... Bugger, it's Packer again.

Turns out, it's a glossy magazine of rich -- and wannabe rich -- man's wank. You're too important to close your own eyes? So you need to buy a £67 Eye Mask? This magazine is for you. You'd like to know what gift will buy favours with a powerful CEO? This is for you.

You think that a slow reveal of your product will attract the moron readership to the new magazine -- which comes with the paper, like it or not? Good grief.

Then, for a different type of moron, there's the My Office article.

This boss works at the office for ten hours each day. Then he works at home. But gosh! he really would like to spend time with his children... Sometimes, he  actually takes the boys to school! (Though the baby girl is left with his wife.) They travel to school by train, presumably, since he takes the train to the office "every day".

He has an "executive assistant" who is never far away. What immense job satisfaction she must have! Every day -- at precisely 10am and 2:30pm -- she brings the boss his espresso macchiato. And that, it seems, is her most important job for the day.

This boss also brags about his organisation's Happy Working environment. Truly. I didn't just invent that name.

"This means no fixed desks or static work environments."

Now look at the photo of the boss's office.

One large fixed desk. Perhaps three metres long. You have to wonder why... it's mostly empty.

The desk is between the boss and his worker drones. Aahh... This is my space, it shouts. Keep out! That desk is for the boss. Only for the boss. That is definitely a fixed desk.

Well, I guess flexibility is for employees. Not for the boss. He is far too important to be flexible.

Still, you have to sympathise.

With a fixed desk. Cut off from close contact with employees. This boss is probably Not Happy Working.

Poor man. The suffering you accept, for money and power.

While the rest of us morons just grin, kowtow and bear it.

Counter-productive in the cafe

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

What is it with the new style of cafe service: The paper serviette comes sitting under the cake.

Okay, it means that the serviette does not blow away in the wind. That's nice. Especially with cafes expanding into the great outdoors. (Footpath rental must be cheap.)

What it also means, is that the serviette comes to my table -- covered in cake!

The cafe provides you with a square of somewhat absorbent paper. To wipe sticky cake off your fingers, I guess. And that square of paper is already dirtier than your fingers! With sticky cake that is just sitting on your plate!

Okay, perhaps the waiters / waitresses / waitpersons are fumble-fingered. Or dirty. A lawyer has told the cafe, Do not allow anyone to touch the serviette! Other than the customer, that is. So you sit a piece of cake on the serviette, to stop if blowing away.

Come on now! That is ridiculous. I want my serviette to be delivered clean. Un-caked. Please allow me to be first to soil the serviette.

Use a peg if you must. Peg the serviette to the plate. Just don't sit a slab of sticky cake on top of a serviette that I expect to be clean.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

Schools and Intake Areas

Parents are angry. Their child will not be able to attend the public school of their choice. Of the parents' choice, that is. Young kids are unlikely to have an opinion either way.

Parents are angry. Why? Because children who live nearer the school will get enrolment priority.

You live near the school, you enrol at the school. You live in the school catchment area, you are guaranteed a place at the school.

It's parents who live in the catchment area for a different school who are angry. They would rather drive their children to a distant school. Rather than have their children attend their own local school.

Is there something wrong with your local school? And you just can't be bothered trying to get it fixed? You'd rather be angry than active?

Stop whinging. Do something useful. Act now to improve your own local school.

State Prostitution Bill

Look, I know this is an old one. But it has to be said.

State politicians are debating the Prostitution Bill. Again. 

It's time to stop debating the Bill.

Just pay it.

I Think I See the Problem

From The West, a story of fishing and over-fishing (25 Aug, p62):

"We don't understand what all the fuss is about."

Attributed to Guy Leyland, WA Fishing Industry Council.

Okay, it's probably just a poor choice of words. As a lesson on sloppy speech (or sloppy reporting), let's take it as stated:

We don't understand. Perhaps "we" should try to understand. Then, perhaps, it will look as though "we" know what we are talking about.

More importantly:

If we try to understand before we state an opinion, it may look like a considered opinion. Rather than looking like an unthinking and rote statement of a strongly biassed position.

"We don't understand" sounds like "We don't care."

Take care with language. Or you will be misunderstood.

The Miracle of Sunday Trading

It's a genuine miracle! Check this report from The West (25 Aug, p57):

"Premier Colin Barnett received a phone call from a woman shortly after the agreement was published. Mr Barnett recalled: "She said '... have Sunday trading.'"

Is this a miracle or what!?

A person phones a politician. And actually gets to speak to that politician!

That's worth a second exclamation mark.

A person phones a politician. And actually gets to speak to that politician!!

A true miracle.

Parking problems... solved

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

There was a letter in the paper just a couple of days ago that was so right-- yet at the same time... so wrong. The topic was public transport.

 To encourage use of public transport ( wrote the writer) we need... more parking.

 You can see the logic. More parking at the railway station allows more people to drive to the station, to park their cars, to catch a train to work. More parking equals more use of public transport.

 Except...

 What is the real problem?

 If the problem were under-use of public transport, then fine. The real problem is over-use of cars.

We already dedicate enormous amounts of space to cars: parking and driveway at home, roads for any place we may want to drive, parking at any place we may want to stop... All to encourage increased use -- and ownership -- of cars.

 Each time we drive our car we add to pollution. We add to road congestion. We burn expensive fuel. We prevent other family members from using -- sharing -- the car. We bring the car just a little bit closer to needing to be replaced.

 Driving from home to the station does all of this. Over less distance. For a longer time. You drive for ten minutes. The car is unavailable for eight or nine hours. (Except to car thieves, of course.) Your garage is empty while your car occupies a public parking space. Which could otherwise be a pleasant garden area.

 The real problem is our over-use of cars.

 Use public transport -- and leave the car at home.

 We need a convenient way to get from home to the railway station... without using the car.

 We need shuttle buses. Around the catchment area for a single railway station. In rush hour. From the station, round the suburbs, back to the station. Repeat. Regularly. Till the rush is over. Then again, at the other end of the work day.

 Make it easy to use the train. Reduce the need to use a car.

 Under-use of public transport may be a problem. A much greater problem is our over-use of cars. More parking spaces for cars will just make for more problems.

 Suburban shuttle buses for each railway station... That will actually solve the real problem.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

Political hypocrisy? No way!

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From "Surprise as Premier backs Liberal 'traitor'" (Gary Adshead, The West, 29 May 2012):

Simon Morgan was sacked for running a blog which attempted to undermine the political party which employed him. Now Colin Barnett supports Morgan as a political candidate for that same party.

Earlier this year Barnett sacked his own press secretary, James Larsson,  for an action which Barnett says, "crossed the line".

One person sacked for crossing the line. Another person supported, after being sacked for crossing the line. Is this hypocrisy in action?

"He (Larsson) was an employee of the Premier," Mr Barnett said yesterday.
"This is a different situation. This is someone nominating to stand for a seat."

The Premier is, of course, absolutely correct.

An employee is expected to show some loyalty to the employer.

There is no such expectation of a politician.

Would You Move for Money?

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

Today's front-page headline reads, "Cash incentive fails to entice job snobs west" (The West, 30 May 2012).

What an insult to the unemployed. Makes you wonder who pays the wages of reporters Andrew Tillett and Shane Wright.

Oh, that's right. Those employed reporters are paid a regular wage -- or perhaps a commission on stories -- by the people who control the daily newspaper. People who are, most likely, large-scale employers. Based in the west.

Imagine that you are unemployed. Living in Sydney or Melbourne. Consider the points for and against a move to Western Australia...

• The government pays you up to $9,000.
• The cost of moving house is several thousand dollars.
• If you sell a house in Melbourne or Sydney, you are selling during a real estate slump. You will not get much money. If you sell at all.
• WA is also -- supposedly -- in a real estate slump. Except that our houses are already hugely expensive. Expect to pay more that you received for your old house.
• Unless you plan to rent in WA... Well, forget it! Renters are fighting to pay exorbitant rents for a shared campsite in a caravan park.

So, imagine that you bite the bullet, take the government's money and lose a lot of your own. Now you are living in WA...

• You apply for a hundred jobs and are rejected for twenty of them. Thirty respond with an automated email telling you that your application has been received; there is no further response. The other fifty don't even acknowledge your application.
• So you are still unemployed, and further in debt.
• All your social support contacts -- family, friends, perhaps a priest, even your family doctor -- are "back home". There is now no-one to talk to.
• Your family moved with you. The children moved schools, lost all their friends. Your partner also lost all social contacts -- and lost a part-time job. You now have no income whatsoever and neither friends nor family to provide support.

Glory be! You get a job in mine construction!

• Now you are a FIFO worker. Two weeks stuck with fellow workers that you barely know. Doesn't matter, they keep changing anyway.
• Two weeks away from "home". Where your family now live.
• No way you can afford to move your family closer to work, houses near the mines cost millions. The company provides quarters only for employees.
• Your family hate living without friends, without extended family, without a parent for half the time.
• But you are earning a heap of money!
• But then, so are some of your friends back home, in the city where you grew up. Except that they are flying in and flying out from their "real" homes.

And then the construction work ends.

• You are unemployed. Again. The employer has shed you like an outgrown snake-skin.
• You own a house in WA. You have no close friends in WA. You have no extended family in WA.
• Your children and your partner have made a few friends. They have lived in the one house for a year or two. They are just beginning to settle in.
• Your only option is to move back to Melbourne or Sydney. Back to your extended family, your old friends. Back to the familiar place where you grew up. Back to a new house, a new debt.
• Your partner has had enough. Your partner and the children stay in WA.

But at least the government gave you $9,000 !

There's another little snippet in the business pages of today's paper: "Coles supermarket boss accepts $10m pay cut" (The West, 30 May 2012).

A Coles senior executive was lured from Scotland. The lure? $15million per year for a guaranteed five years.

For fifteen mill you could buy a new house in WA -- and keep the old mansion in Scotland. Your children could stay at the same school -- and fly "home" to WA for weekends. You and your partner could keep up with friends and family via regular short trips home... Why miss a nephew's birthday when the corporate jet is always on stand-by?!

Fifteen mill times five years... Would you move house for $75,000,000 ? That's almost as much as the average person could earn from a Nigerian scam...

I'm sure that the Coles executive suffered from many of the same personal and family trauma as would the "job snobs" of the east. 75 mill is an awful lot of sweetener, though the separation from a familiar environment may still be a problem. Still...

Would you move house for $9,000 ?

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

Political Humour

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You know, I don't often notice that a politician has a sense of humour. I mean, sure, they're laughing up their sleeves at the gullible voting public. But the visible humour is usually stamped out, in case a voter is offended.

Inside Cover provided an example of apparent pollie humour ("Tatt Talk", The West, 29 May 2012). An example of a carefully crafted insult, held off till just the right time. Then thrown in as though it were spontaneous. But real humour?

For real humour, just look to Colin Barnett.

Barnett has decided on a name for his waterfront eyesore. It will be... Elizabeth Quay.

Brilliant!

First, it's a suck-up job for the royalists. Lots of voters there! Second, it's a suck-up job for the Royals. Perhaps Barnett has his eye on a royal honour? Sir Col, perhaps?

Then there are the non-royalists. And the anti-royalists... Even amongst those voters -- there are very few royal-haters. Most people admire the Queen. Even if they want to remove her from her position as our head of state. The Queen is a nice person... So...

Who could possibly object to naming a massive eyesore after such a nice person?!

It's the same logic as the Polly Farmer Pipe, and the Fiona Stanley Big Business Profit Centre: give them a popular name and the objectors lose the potential for insulting name-calling.

So where is the humour?

Mr Barnett said the name... would be a constant reminder of the Big Aussie Barbecue on the waterfront during last October's royal visit.

Remember the royal barbecue?

Remember that we had it on the waterfront?

Well... We'll never be able to do that again -- I've bulldozed the whole area!

rofl

Statistics at Work

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

Statistics, eh! Marvellous things, statistics. Natural sow's-ear-to-silk-purse converters. For both researchers and reporters...

Aussies waste time at work according to Ernst & Young researchers. I say "researchers" to be polite. They analysed a survey. Perhaps the problem is with Ronan O'Connell, who reported on the survey (The West, 28 May 2012).

According to the report, "one third of Australia's workforce did not meet the national 'productivity average'."

Goodness me! One third of workers are below average productivity! So how is this "average" computed?

One third of Australians are below average height! One third of Australians are below average weight! One third of Australians are below average age! Wow!

An "average" will always have some above and some below. That's why it's called an "average".

If the research calculated a "median" productivity then exactly half of Australian workers would be below that median value. How shocking is that?! Not shocking at all, because of the way that a median value is calculated.

One third of Australian workers work at below this mysterious "national productivity average"... So what?! Two thirds work above... The average is -- by definition -- somewhere in the middle ... at an average value!

If the survey report provided an independently calculated "national productivity expectation" -- that would be interesting. But an "average" -- presumably based on the workers who were surveyed -- tells us nothing.

Nothing at all.

Except about the quality of the survey. Or the quality of the survey analysts. Or the quality of the newspaper reporter.

Suicide Counselling: Too Little, Too Late

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

I know that this blog is supposed to be ranting, raging and raving. This post is just sad.

In The West today (21 Apr 12) is an article about the high level of suicides in Aboriginal communities. Fatal despair of the young. "There is something dreadfully wrong in our community, but what can we do?"

When they took away our CDEP, more people started drinking.

When "they" took away our CDEP...

Whoever "they" are, they have a lot to answer for.

Yet I can't find it in me to believe that the Aboriginal community can drag itself out of the mire. It does need help. Not just money. Help to raise its own ability to manage its own affairs.

The "they" who are at fault are not the people who provide -- or don't provide -- money for local make-work. If any "they" are to blame it is the "they" who demand the right to self-management for people who are not yet able to self manage.

The Standby Suicide Response Service... visits every community after a suicide to give counselling and to organise activities. But... counselling is not always possible because people are grieving and want to be alone.

I'm sure that the Suicide Response Service means well, but just look at what its co-ordinator has said: We turn up at the wrong time.

Listen to yourself!

Okay, it's a response service. So they may be restricted in what they do.

So set up a more timely service... One that has the resources to provide support when it is needed. At a more appropriate time. A time which suits the needs of the people who need the support.

The article mentions a new mental health facility in Broome. A $30 million facility. In Broome.

Do potential suicides go to Broome on their way to kill themselves? Well, no.

The article does not link the new facility to suicide prevention. Perhaps someone else has? In the article, the new facility is simply a major expenditure which will not affect the remote community suicide rate.

There are several points to be drawn from this article.

• People need something to do. Something which makes them feel useful, perhaps even wanted, maybe even valuable.
• Paying for make-work is better than nothing. Generating real work -- even with external financial support -- is even better.
• When a community is not able to manage itself, that is when it needs help. Forget the fear of "paternalism". Provide people who can show how a community could be run -- and who will take charge until the community has grown into self-management.
• Provide the necessary support where it is needed and when it is needed. Fly in fly out is of very limited value.

And if all that costs too much... Start somewhere. Pick one community. Try to make it work. And then do it again in another community.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

We save water: You can too.

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

Our latest water consumption bill is sitting in front of me. It clearly shows how much less water we use this year, compared to last year:

• This period last year -- 400 kL
• This period this year -- 64 kL

No, it's not that we live in a drought zone. For comparison, the water bill provides these averages:

• Our suburb, without bore -- 295 kL
• Our suburb, with bore -- 170 kL

For several years our water bills included little notes. Notes such as, "You are real water hogs. You use far more water than any of your neighbours." Notes that are intended to shame us into saving water.

So, we saved water.

How did we do it?

First, we called a plumber to fix several dripping taps. And to stop the regular dripping overflow from our hot water system.

Two of the taps still drip. The plumber also added water hammer to our plumbing problems. The hot water system doesn't drip, it flows.

We're not interested in spending another $200 for bad plumbing. So we put up with dripping taps. And occasionally empty the hot water overflow into the pool or garden.

That did not save us any water.

Next, we replaced our old dual flush toilets with the latest models. The old toilets were leaking, continuing to flow after the cistern was full. The new toilets don't leak. They also use less water -- per flush.

Our new toilets use less water per flush.

Unfortunately, the new "full flush" is not enough to actually flush the toilet.

Have you ever come back to a toilet to find something nasty and brown and smelly floating... disintegrating... in the bowl? This used to be a problem in public toilets. Thanks to our new low flush toilets, we now have the same problem at home.

Now, as a matter of habit, I flush twice.

So no, our new dual flush / low flush toilets do not reduce our water use. If anything, they have increased the amount of water that we use.

Our children have left home. You would expect that that would reduce our water use... It probably would, if they did not come here to do their weekly washing.

Still... less people in the house must reduce our water usage by some amount. I can recommend living alone as one way to reduce household water consumption.

Which, as an aside, is the key to the real problem behind our water "shortage": too many people. But business and government want to pack in more people, so get used to pressure to cut your water consumption.

Anyway... How did we manage to so drastically reduce our water consumption? It's easy! Is it something that you can do? Yes!

We installed a garden bore.

Now our vegetable garden is a bed of green productivity. (After being a death-bed of dried and dying weeds, for many years.) Our lawn is green, rather than brown. Even our native plant garden is thriving!

Of course, we're drawing water from underground instead of via pipes from the dam. Our power bill is increased.

But look at all the (scheme) water that we have saved! Our first water usage bill -- post bore installation -- even had a congratulatory note. "Well done. You are using far less water than any of your neighbours." We are so proud :-)

So that is how we have done our bit to reduce our scheme water consumption. You too can reduce water usage -- with no positive effect on overall environmental destruction.

You -- and the 1.7 million other Perth residents -- can install a bore and reduce your scheme water consumption.

Of course while there are still 1.7 million of us -- and growing -- the environment is stuffed.

But no-one cares about that. Not enough to actually say, Enough is enough.

So follow our example. "Save" water. Suck the environment dry. And brag about our efforts to be... sustainable.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

In the "News" Today

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

The West Australian today (14 Jan 2012) is -- as usual -- full of reports on what is stupid with the world. I typed "wrong with the world", then changed it. The world would not be human if it were less stupid :-)
Why waste your time and mine with a rant about every stupid report that is considered to be "news"...? So I've put the highlights into this single post.
For your reading pleasure.

Reluctant heir to Australia's richest fortune

I don't mind rich people spending their money. Along with most other gossip page readers, I get vicarious pleasure from reading about the spending habits of the people who don't have to think before they spend. As a parent myself, I love and agree with the way that Posh & Becks spend a fortune on toys for their kids.
Today's paper looks at the Rinehart family. Not so much their spending habits, as the way that they fight over the wealth. No worries there; I ignored most of the article.
But I like to look at the pictures.
One picture has a caption about the branch of the family which alternates living between Sydney and New York. So far, so good. We'd all love to spread our time between favourite locations. Though we may argue over New York and Sydney being on our favourites list.
They live, "in Sydney, in a $5.4 million-dollar house ... bought by family company 150 Investments -- owned by Gina Rinehart..."
Wait a minute... "bought by family company..." ?
So the occupants are -- I guess -- paying a suitable rent. Or the property is declared as personal property -- not tax deductible for those six months. Or the rental value is declared as a fringe benefit and full tax is paid...
Or it is an example of rich people living high on the hog. While the tax office -- and the poor suckers who actually pay tax -- are supporting the lifestyle. Those who have the gold make the rules.
Surely not.

Physio students in ECU course fiasco

ECU created a course in physiotherapy. Then enrolled students in the course. And then attempted to get accreditation for the course.

Professor Cox said that the course started in 2010 and it was not possible to get accreditation or a preliminary agreement with the [Australian Physiotherapy Council] before the program began. But the university had met all the timing requirements to lodge its application.

The university met all the timing requirements for accreditation application. Clearly they did not meet the content and quality requirements for actual accreditation. Timely form-filling is a bit of a waste of time if the actual course is inadequate.
So when did ECU tell its students that the course was not accredited?
Two years after the first enrolments. When the first students were about to graduate. More importantly -- well after the students had paid all of their fees for the course.
So what is the ECU advice for graduates who now find that they have wasted two years of study?

The university is telling students to apply directly to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia for registration.

"Don't tell us," says ECU. "We don't care."

Supermodel flying high as Qantas ambassador

Miranda Kerr is now paid to be a "brand ambassador" for Qantas. "And she already has something in common with Qantas."
Oooohh! That's amazing! Something in common other than a love of money? Yes... "Miranda's all-time favourite colour is red."
And there I was, getting other ideas from the photo with the story...
Both Qantas and Miranda have a nice structure. And a lot of it is plastic.

Dude, where's my pork bun?

Dude food is in. All the best chef dudes are cooking it. Correct cooking does require tude and tatts. But what else?
For those who need to know, here's the summary:

• The description is snobby and ostentatious
• It tastes delicious
• You're surprised at the small size of the serve
• And you're shocked by the large size of the price.

That's dude food, man.

Private option a worthy idea for Rottnest

We have two broad options for the future of Rottnest: Cut costs to provide an affordable and close beachside holiday location for locals, or, Spend a heap of money to try to attract rich tourists away from Bali.
Well, we already know which choice has been made. Sure, it's a losing option. But when wealthy -- therefore powerful -- people say, we want a fancy holiday resort close to Perth... the government must listen.
Will it ever really be competitive to Bali?
You've got to be joking.
Still, the government has to be seen to be backing its rich supporters. So they are testing the waters with the idea that private management could -- somehow -- make Rottnest cheaper than Bali.
So what will be next?
Private management of Rottnest resorts. Then private ownership of Rottnest resorts. Timeshare sales. Permanent sales, for those rich enough...
Wealthy entrepreneurs living permanently on Rottnest. The need to commute daily to the Perth office. Tent City removed, to make way for the helipads.
No need for the ferry service; anyone who is allowed to visit Rottnest can afford their own yacht. Only owners of yacht mooring spots allowed to land on Rottnest...
Private option a worthy idea? Another great idea for Ripleys... Believe it, or not!

and to wrap it all up...

Muhammad Ali is almost 70 years old. His approaching birthday is reason enough for The West to provide a page of tribute. Two Ali quotes are well worth reading...

• Me... wheeeeeee

Say it, believe it, feel better with your life :-)

• A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life

Say it, believe it, act on it... Are you just living, repeating thirty-year-old thoughts? Live, learn and -- if necessary -- be willing to think new thoughts.
We may not need to change out views. But we do need to consider whether those views should be changed.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

Boring Perth... Reprise... Again

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

How many times do we need to be told that "Perth lacks excitement and is not visitor-friendly" (The West, 12 Jan 2012)?! If anyone wants the excitement of "national hot spots such as Sydney and Melbourne" -- they can go to Sydney or Melbourne.

If tourists want laid-back, clean, safe... good public transport system... natural assets such as the Swan River and Kings Park -- all attributes that the report quotes from tourists -- then where else can they go? Perhaps Perth is the only city in Australia which offers those particular tourist attractions?

We spend enormous efforts trying to make Perth look like any other city in the world.

Perhaps it's time to admit that tourists do come to Perth... That many of them do enjoy the experience... That we could be unique as a tourist destination. If we offered what we already have, what is already appreciated.

Perhaps we can sell Perth to tourists.

And stop trying to sell Sydney-Melbourne-Disneyland-on-the-Swan.

A place which, incidentally already exists in many other parts of the world.

But which does not -- yet -- exist in Perth.

Niche market? Cheap market? Or unique.

We already have unique. Why are we so keen to destroy that marketing edge.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com

Less Traffic = Faster Freeway

Your problems? Solved. email nick leth at gmail dot com. No worries. Now.

What a brilliant idea! Transport Minister Troy Buswell has announced that traffic lights will be used to reduce traffic congestion on the freeway.

So how will it work?

Traffic lights will be used to stop cars entering the freeway. In Auckland, apparently, this simple idea increased overall freeway speeds by 15% (Freeway test for on-ramp lights, The West Australian, 12 Jan 2012).

How can it work?!

Simple, really:

Stop traffic entering the freeway. So less cars on the freeway. So less freeway congestion... leading to increased freeway speeds.

Ummm... but... what about the cars which are stopped on the freeway on-ramps? Oh, them! Who cares!

Some cars will be waiting at traffic lights. Not allowed onto the freeway. So what!

The cars that are on the freeway will be travelling faster!

Faster freeway? Tick!

Cars stopped at traffic lights? Not our worry...

Brilliant, eh?

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com