Join us in the now

Suresh Rajan (Letters 31 Oct)would reject a street name which offers a small reminder of the broad base of our modern Australian culture.

The people of Nuristan were torn from their ancestral homes.

Drawn, through war, hardship, slavery and, yes, racial denigration, to offer their support, lives, loyalty to a new country.

They brought culture, history and, yes, their fruiting trees.

To become part of a new and diverse and tolerant Australia.

Now Suresh wants to deny to the Kaffir the simple dignity of a street sign which, in one small way, reminds us all of the depth, strength and acceptance of our cultural origins.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

Networking tool

I'm wandering through LinkedIn.

Notice a name, an ex-friend on my connections list.

Wonder, will someone else see his name, his skills, his interests... try to establish a connection.

Good luck to them.

This man is an ex friend -- because he died. Several years ago. Not unexpectedly, he has not removed his account.

I wonder when the dead people on LinkedIn will outnumber the living :-)

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

Bribes

Upgrade Albo "played by the rules"

And isn't that the problem :-(

Not considering the purpose of the rules. Not considering ethics, nor morals , especially not considering what a "moral" person would do.

Just playing

... that is

... covering his arse... within the "ethical standards" which politicians have set for... for their own purposes of... avoiding blame?

Just like any politician or business manager.

Bugger.

I grew up reading Biggles.

I can't shake the idea that we should do the right thing... because, it is the right thing.

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

Objectify?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-29/emmanuel-gold-coast-students-expell

The article presents the offended sensibilities of a woman has clearly never understood sex.

There's a game called,

Kiss, kill, marry.

At its simplest, a group of friends name a person. Then discuss that person: would they be willing to kiss that person? Rather kill them? (or themselves) or would they be happy to marry them.

It's a fun way to discuss the attractions, or otherwise, of someone who is not there.

It's a social thing. To also hear your friends'  opinions.

And yes. You  objectify the absent person as a potential partner... or otherwise.

The only reason to object, is when the private group opinions are... spread around... made public... with the target person being identified.

That is the actual problem: the discussion was made public.

We can never ban young people from discussing sex.

 But we can try to teach them -- as early as possible -- the difference between fun in private... and bad manners in public. And teach an awareness of the very public nature of social media.

Btw: 

Both times that I have heard of the game was in books.

It was being played by adults. Young women. Discussing potential male partners.

Is that just as offensive?

I 

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

Only my truth is true.

Can we please drop the ridiculous phrase, truth-telling.

Fine, every word spoken by Garlett's Blak granny is truth.

Also, valuable. Essential to our history. Actual lived experience. Traumatic, valuable, no argument.

Until the Garlett corollary :

Every word ever written by any Whyt person is then an absolute lie.

How is this attitude supposed to help Australia to move forward, together... unified?

Do some real work, Garlett.

Gather both sides of our story.  Some is written, documented. Whyt people really were there. Then. Yes, they saw, acted, understood what was happening -- in their own ways.

You don't have to accept their attitudes. At least attempt to understand -- or record --them.

Yes, gather the Blak oral histories-- before they are lost. They are a vital part of Australian history. Yes.

But drop the ridiculous claims that only Blak people hold the truth.

Because calling everyone else liars -- entirely because of the colour of their skins -- Will only build hatred and dracial division.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

My dog will help

My dog does not understand me.

Hey, it's a dog, with a dog's brain. How can a dog understand a human.

Yet my dog offers, and provides, comfort, sympathy and very real support.

In order to really understand me you must have shared my lived experience.

To understand the challenge of being a woman in a patriarchal society you must be a woman.

To sympathise with a Blak person in an essentially Whyt society you must also be Blak.

Well, bullshit.

If you will try to explain then I will try to understand.

If you -- or I -- insist on seeing only differences -- we will never understand each other. 

Even if we do not understand each other, we can see the need. We can offer and you can accept real support.

Human beings do support each other. Without real understanding. We look past differences. We may even try to talk and try to listen and try to understand.

We may never fully understand each other but we can still provide support.

Even my dog can do that.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

Sorry, Langer

Sorry, Langer but I disagree.

Life is not a series of highlights which link together the routine of everyday life.

That is for you. You *want* to be a champion. You measure the success of your life by its ... successes.

Champion cricketer. Aus coach. Huge measures of success.

That is the driving force of your life: success.

So the highlights -- successes and other -- are important to you. Memorable.

Me? I never expect to be a champion. A major win would be great. I don't expect it. I do not strive for it.

I am content... most of the e time... to enjoy life. As much as I can... at my own level (or just a little better.

You may want to improve the world, great, so you try harder. You work hard to succeed, then to improve the world. By coaching a champion team, perhaps.

That is not for me.

I am happy to see my kids succeed (or not, as long as they are... happy? Happy enough?

For you, for the driving force of your personalty type -- success, highlights of success, are the driver.

For me... I prefer my achievements to be more achievable. I'm just lazy... relaxed... certainly not driven.

If there is a major success along the way... then that is a bonus. Not at all essential.

You may be driven to improve yourself. Probably improve the world. But what if I do not want the world to be improved... not in your way?

(My) life is a series of incidents... to be enjoyed.

A major success may ... change... my appreciation of the whole.

I would appreciate a major, successful, highlight.

I hope I will also appreciate the humdrum whole.

Even without the highlights to show me just how much I could do even better.

 

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

For their own good

Here's a big problem with law enforcement: it is all about enFORCEment.

You know: we need to keep drunk young drivers from killing themselves. How? We will pass laws that FORCE the young people to not kill themselves.

After all, it's all for their own good...

As if that will ever work.

This is what we need... what may actually work. Or at least it may help:

Find a way to encourage people to actually WANT to do whatever it is that (we believe they)should really be doing.

We may be wrong. But let's pretend that by being older, we are wiser. So how can we use that wisdom... to make young people WANT to look after themselves?

That's a challenge, 

Perhaps impossible... after all, being young involves learning to think for ourselves. Learning to act, make decisions -- good and bad-- for ourselves.

Difficult for us to watch... as our own "wisdom" is rejected.

Yet thousands of years' experience has shown that the big stick is, at best, temporary.

Can we do it better? (Or are we too close to the needs of the next election.)

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge
Consulting Dexitroboper

   

A Tale for the ages, by Churchlands resident Nick Lethbridge

You think I'm having fun?

The story below was actually printed in our local Community Newspaper... and I am absolutely Thrilled !!

===

The Very Hungry Shopping Centre

Once upon a time,

 

There was a very small shopping centre.

This shopping centre was called the Forum.

The Forum had a dozen shops. It also had a small carpark but no roof.

At one end of the Forum was an office where the Architect sat, all alone. He spent all day drawing new and bigger plans.

 

The Forum was a very young shopping centre and it was very hungry.

 

In January, the Forum was so hungry that it ate the architect's office. The Forum gave a small and delicate burp. The architect moved to West Perth, to share a bigger office with other architects.

 

In February, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Bank.

The Forum gave a burp and the Bank was gone. All that remained was an ATM. Then the shopping centre ate the ATM and all that was left was a phone number for an overseas call centre.

 

In March, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Pet Shop. There were no more Cats or Dogs in the Forum but the remains of the Pet Shop were found at a puppy farm in the outer suburbs.

 

In April, the very hungry shopping centre ate the shop which sold Exercise Equipment. The Forum gave a large burp and added a gym, which included all sorts of Exercise Equipment which could be used by paying members of the gym.

The Forum was now large enough to add a roof.

 

In May, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Film processing shop. Burp!

No-one really noticed because everyone used digital cameras and looked at their photos on their phone screens.

 

In June, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Gift shop.

Nobody minded because everyone now ordered their gifts online.

The Forum gave a rude burp, digested the Gifts and built a larger carpark which was undercover.

 

In July, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Grocery shop.

the Forum gave a large belch and grew a new grocery shop at one end.

 

In August, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Hardware shop.

The Forum made a rather rude noise and hardware remains were found on the top shelf of aisle seven in Bunnings.

 

In September, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Jeweller.

The Forum pulled in its stomach and made room for pop-up knick-knack shops in its corridors.

 

In October, the very hungry shopping centre ate the Laundromat.

The Forum burped up a Drycleaner and grew bigger.

In November the very hungry shopping centre ate the Sandwich shop.

Now the Forum had a very sore tummy, until it belched and created several fast food take-away shops.

 

In December the very hungry shopping centre groaned a bit and grew even larger. It ate the fast food shops and burped up new restaurants.

 

January was a brand new year and the very hungry shopping centre looked rather tired.

 

In February The Forum seemed to be resting. Until...

In March, the very hungry shopping centre surrounded itself with a protective chrysalis. There was noise and dust and work inside the shell of the chrysalis but no-one could see what was going on inside.

And then...

in April... the chrysalis cracked open.

Now the Forum was able to escape from its chrysalis.

 

What had happened to the very small and very hungry shopping centre?

In May, the new Forum emerged. And it was much bigger and very new and very impressive. Everyone was amazed.

And then in June...

The new and quite large Forum stretched.

It was new and large and it was still very hungry.

 

And so the very hungry shopping centre looked around. And it began to eat the surrounding buildings.

And the Forum was very big and very beautiful

And some of its neighbours wondered what it would eat next.

The End

 

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

human rights

A letter describes a Chinese official "holding up a mirror to Australia's human rights record.

A mirror?

That's funny. I thought that the Chinese official was simply showing us an image of their own awful record.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

debt to society

In the US a DA has said the two brothers have "paid their debt" to society.

Is that the US idea of murder? a contract: you may murder your parents -- as long as you then "pay" with 34 years in jail.

I wonder, What would be the agreed, contracted cost to murder that DA? Would there be a discount for payment in advance?

There's a bigger question:

Do we want the brothers in our society at all?

Well, why not? Other than murder of their parents, perhaps they are valuable contributors to whatever we want in (US) society.

I have no idea.

But...

If we do *not* want them -- then we need an "acceptable" means of removing them. Either temporarily (34 years) or permanently.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

basil and lydia

Zempilas considers Thorpe holding the balance of political power and he finds it to be... scary.

And so it is.

But then, that's democracy.

Crazy electors vote for crazy senators. The result is, a parliament which includes crazies... some of whom may, somehow, gain a position of power.

It would be far easier -- less scary for Basil -- if we removed the option -- the challenge -- of elections.

Allow Basil (and others) to always follow the orders of their employers, of their owners. Do as they are told to do by their anti-democratic masters.

But then... that would not be democracy.

Deal with it. Learn to negotiate. Learn to listen to -- and consider -- the wishes of others. What do they really want? Can we negotiate... compromise... even come to an agreement which satisfies everyone?

Impossible? Certainly very difficult. Possibly even scary.

But that... is democracy.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

short swim teachers

Anyone who reads the paper, or watches the ABC -- you know, just the two of us -- has known for a year or two that there is an extreme shortage of swimming teachers.

Not just in WA but Australia-wide.

The WA gov offers to pay for kids to learn to swim.

which would be an excellent idea -- except  that there are no swim teachers.

Here's a plan:

Let's guess that, in five years time, it will still be an excellent idea to teach kids to swim.

Use today's budget and begin, now, a major effort to teach the teachers. Start now -- and we may have enough swim teachers... in five years time.

Oh, but hang on...

that will be after the next election.

So, who cares.

Forget the whole idea.

Until long after it is too late... again.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

perspex passion

Buying the perspex which protected a painting from protesters?

Brilliant!

It may not be "Art" ... yet... but it is definitely a part of history.

Put it on display, even... and watch it generate discussion.

More discussion, even debate, I would bet -- than the original painting. Which, by now -- would be well past generating debate.

Except, now: What do you think of the attempt to damage this painting?

Followed by hours of discussion. Of art and history and modern attitudes and

... on and on and on

Buy the protective perspex?

Brilliant :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

leadership nutters

The front page of the paper is dedicated to a talk about "leadership" and "nuclear energy".

What a pity that the article is only a report on a speech by a moron.

Here's an example of his idiocy:

If I paid enough money, he says -- I could convince people to live inside a nuclear reactor.

Really?

Well, probably yes... but not live for very long.

Why is this idiot given space? Is it All Fools Day?

No.

He is the owner of the paper.

Actually, I believe that his daddy owns the paper. But being the owner's son allows him to do... whatever the heck he wants.

Here's another classic:

If your leaders are not looking at the detail, then who is?

Well, mate... that's why you hire people. Hire employees who understand the detail... who can deal with it.

Which will allow you -- the "higher level manager" to manage at the higher level.

Or, as my father-in-law would say:

Why buy a dog... and then bark yourself?

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

McGowan

26oct24:

printed in The West as, Times reveals character

At the start of covid West Australians -- as fortunate and as isolated as ever -- wanted to be protected.

McGowan had the courage, and the political strength, to close our borders. To provide what most of us desperately wanted: protection. This made him immensely popular.

Post-covid, he showed himself to be a more typical, skilled, politician. And was never shifted from his position of entrenched popularity.

To his "leadership rules" add: The luck of an opportunity to clearly demonstrate his skills.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Independent Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

access to information

the Editorial claims that our political masters have a new problem: that information is available to everyone. Politicians are no longer able to *control* who knows what.

This hints at a far bigger problem:

Available information varies, on a scale from, Absolutely true, to absolutely false. Who can tell?

Then... is there a reason, a deliberate purpose behind, info being false... (or true).

In a democracy of well-educated citizens, a very serious problem for well-meaning political masters is: 

How to keep their constituents aware of the actual accuracy... of all of the available information.

Given *better* (or any) information -- it is up to the constituents to decide what to do about it.

That is... if the politicians really want to represent "the people".

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

leadership?

The West Editorial prattles on about political leadership.

Here's a hint:

When someone says, I'm not a manager. I'm a leader... That's a sign that they have no  idea at all.

Management is a set of skills. It may be taught and learnt and practised, well or badly.

Leadership just 

is... Perhaps due to personality. Or inherited position. Or even followers' trust in good management skills.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

Lidia Thorpe

At any gathering there may be the bad-mannered friend or relative. Someone who has never been taught, or never been able to learn, the value of manners. Nor learnt the power and value of self-control.

A child who throws a tantrum in front of guests Who demands their lollies *now*

An uncle who drinks too much, too soon and is soon starting a fight.

, while everyone else is enjoying the occasion.

It's embarrasssing.

But what can you do? 

Hope that the child will grow into maturity? Or that theywill learn that screaming for attention is very embarrassing.

Everyone else will be embarrassed... or quietly laughing.

Good friends and supportive family will very quietly try to help the bad-mannered child.

Others will shrug shoulders, perhaps look the other way.

Let family, or eventual maturity, deal with the with tantrum child.

If the family fail to find a solution...

other people will stay away. Friends will become ex-friends.  The individual, perhaps the family, will find themselves living in a friendless vacuum of social isolation. And that is very sad.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

no beating the crapple

I developed a simple app, pwmapapp

Just fun... but it works.

Now it's time to set it up for a larger-scale test.

The app has been sitting, working but largely unused for a year, on my Crapple phone.

Recently... I was thrilled to find the app still on the Android library. I downloaded to my new tablet -- and it worked!

Brilliant :-)

and a real thrill.

So it's time to set up data for the large-scale, rogaine, test.

Immediately -- the crapple version stops working.

Here's a key problem:

the app begins with a requirement to type in one email address and one simple password.

Apple have an incredibly stupid way of typing data. Essentially, it makes it impossible -- with my eyes and fingers, anyway -- to correctly type an email address.

After an hour of desperate typing -- I give up.

Oh well, let's hope that the Android version continues to work :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

the saddest Telethon story

I read the headline and avoided the story... too sad :-(

A child says, mummy, I'm sorry that I'm making you sad. It would be better if I died.

Yes, it's sad that a child is dying. But children are sick, they die, all day, every day.

We, adults, do our best but our best is nowhere near enough.

Yes, the children know that they are suffering. They know that their parents suffer on the child's behalf.

But... watch Operation Ouch.

Some children lives lives that, to others and probably to themselves, are, well, the absolute pits.

Yet they get on with it. As best they can. They get on with it. Because they have no choice, no control over their own lives. Perhaps because they believe that... well... that's life.

How the Hell did this kid decide... or how was he allowed to even consider... that his own life was not worth living -- because it was destroying his mother's happiness.

I don't know, I can't really express what I feel.

But to me... that was the absolute saddest headline of the entire Telethon weekend.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

impossible is... as it says.

Justin Langer writes that, The impossible is actually possible

No wonder I don't bother reading his articles.

Sorry, mate but it's impossible because... it is *not* possible.

Langer likes to be inspirational, good on him. And sometimes inspirational where he has no knowledge. Or no skills. Or... no useful advice.

Today, I think, he's wandering round the kids' cancer wards (it is Telethon weekend.)

I hope that he is *not* saying, to the kids or to their parents, Sure it's impossible but we *will* actually cure you. False hope which may make it even worse when the kid, inevitably, dies.

This would be better:

There is no cure, *yet*. So it is impossible to cure you... but... 

We are working on a cure. Not on time to help you, sorry. Perhaps the next generation will be cured... Meanwhile...

We work -- with you -- to make your life as comfortable, pleasant or just as bearable -- as possible.

Your life is awful... we will do our best -- whatever is possible -- to make your life just a little bit less awful. But we will not forget... Perhaps a cure will be possible... but not yet.

Honest comfort... much harder but so much better than... self-comforting lies.

Perhaps that's just me.

I'm an adult. The surgeon told me, You will die of this cancer. When, can't be predicted. You may not even leave this hospital, alive.

Not an easy answer -- but it allowed me to cope, to (attempt to) deal with my impossible-to-cure situation. Yes, impossible to cure.

abut that's just me. I prefer the truth.

Even a child does not deserve outright lies.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

stonewalling

attn: Gary Martin 

(Hello Gary) writes about "stonewalling": in essence, holding up progress by refusing to provide essential information. He overlooks several possibilities:

Right at the top: Perhaps the stonewaller does not know the answer?

How often have you put an email aside thinking, I need time, I'm not sure, I'll look into it, I'll answer later... and the answer never comes to you.

This is not deliberate stonewalling.

Try this:

Very quickly answer. Reply, sorry, I'm not sure, I'll get back ... then give a definite date for your reply.

Or simply say, I really don't know, try asking so and so.

Either way, the asker knows that you are not stonewalling.

Alternatively: If the asker gets a lot of these I'll try-later answers: They could try asking questions that are more likely to get a good response.

To be blunt: make sure that you are asking the right questions ... of the right person.

always interesting articles, thanks,

... Nick

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

half blind, half deaf, dying of cancer,

So what.

===

..: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

Shouting protests

Here's a suggestion for the protestors who shout down politicians:

Next time, bring your guns.

After all, you do not want to listen. All you want is to rule the country... without going through all the democratic processes of being elected.

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Shift in attitude

Oops! Wrong blog :-?

I may be able to sort it out... later.

ah no... it's *also* here for the rant against doulas :-)

Here's the thing: I am now facing real death.

For seven years it has been *definite* death. My GBM4 is said to be terminal, aggressive, incurable.

Still, easy enough to deny, ignore or cope with.

With no deadline, just past records which give life expectancy from 18 months to, perhaps five years.

After five years, well... I've been laughing. Very easy to ignore ( though not forget) reality.

Anyway, once I passed 70 years old I felt, that's a good lifetime of years :-)

And suddenly, my life is measured in... still uncertain! but a lot less.

Because the cancer is now very active. And it is active in an area of brain which *will* kill me.

Very hard to ignore.

Remember those "death doulas"? They have *never* ever faced their own, definite death. How could they possibly know what it is like?

Well, I now know what it is like.

[End of rant]

A bit scary but, not so bad. Worse than the last years, yes but, well...

And of the actual moment of death... I still know nothing. Because I have not yet been there.

I hope to add a bit of understanding, if I'm able.

But I'm not going to charge money for services for which  I have as little real understanding as anyone else.

Now... end of rant, really :-)

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Fwd: Opportunity lost (NFP

This one not for publication,

Hello,

I sent the letter below earlier. Hoping (still) for publication, of course.

But now in October:

Do you have someone who is interested in considering... is there a potential news or analysis or report in my app story?

My interest is, of course, personal: I developed the app. With Tourism in mind.

... there will be a major, quite informal, test of the app in November.

With the WTC, World Tourism Conference in town in October, the topic is very current. Covering:

... Tourism,

  Will attendees get more than a guided tour of yet another golf course?

... Local WA genius :-)

The app is a purely WA development but will support and build Tourism anywhere in the world.

... Difficulty of starting a new idea,

there is no "suggestion box " Unless you are already rich and well connected.

... Role of "advisors" as blockers

how will a Minister hear anything new when they hire only "political" advisors.

I'm happy to discuss and explain for hours.

Email is better... see my signature lines below.

I'd love to hear from someone... interested or not :-)

If you're at all willing, I'll get you interested! And informed as well. My key problem is to stop!

Thank you,

... Nick Lethbridge

===

half blind. half deaf. dying of cancer.
so what?
notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Nick Lethbridge <nickleth@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2024, 12:07 pm
Subject: Opportunity lost
To: letters to The West <letters@wanews.com.au>

A major tourism conference in WA. An amazing opportunity to announce a phone app which would increase visitor numbers. Double the time spent by each visitor to WA. Treble the number of destinations visited by each and every visitor.

An app developed entirely in WA. On offer --free -- to any WA tourism operator while its market reach is established. Stun the visiting tourism leaders with something absolutely new and unique -- from WA. An app which will want all tourism operators to know more. About the app and about WA.

So what happens?

Nothing. Of course.

No, it's  not the fault of the Minister. I doubt that she ever heard of the app.

I spent six months exchanging emails with a Principal Policy Advisor.

As far as I can tell he never cared. He never even asked for further information.

He seemed to see his role to be -- to prevent any new ideas from reaching the ears of the Minister. And this is a political hack being paid to "advise" the government.

A complete waste of space.

Another wasted opportunity.

Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

dying for you to read: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Law and war

No town can get by with only one lawyer. A lawyer's business is to attack or defend against another lawyer.

A problem with war is that it only needs a single aggressor.

Then the other "side" is either fighting the war -- or dead.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

==

My body is a temple to health and fitness.
but there is a devil-worshipper in the temple: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Suitable colours

A photo in the paper shows the King and Queen in colour-matched blue suits. Not too dark.

In Australia, no business person with any hope of status would wear anything other than a full suit. In black. Possibly dark grey or very dark blue.

This in a country with a stinking hot climate.

Are we just afraid of looking comfortable?

My body is a temple to health and fitness.
but there is a devil-worshipper in the temple: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Australian birth rate plummets

Our birth rate could soon be as low as in Germany, Sweden...

Best news for ages.

My body is a temple to health and fitness.
but there is a devil-worshipper in the temple: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

I don't see no crisis

The world is screaming for more sources energy.

We are doomed, doomed to a dark and gloomy future, if we don't increase energy sources -- and cut down on energy  use.

A town councillor wants to *not* install massive electric light displays on a giant tree in a public park.

Celebrate in your own home, on a much smaller -- and personal -- scale, he suggests.

Grinch! Screams the paper.

No way *I'm*going to help save the planet.

Aren't we all a bunch of deadheads.

My body is a temple to health and fitness.
but there is a devil-worshipper in the temple: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Radio sackings

Doesn't The West /ch 7 love it when a rival channel sacks staff. They gleefully name one sackee-- who used to work for the west!. They call him a "top news breaker".

Come on. He was a talking head who possibly read the news.

My body is a temple to health and fitness.
but there is a devil-worshipper in the temple: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

And now it's palliative

We're home, thank goodness

With support from Silver Chain... palliative care.

Even I know that that is not good. But:

There is still no timeline.

Only guesses. From weeks to, maybe, a couple of years.

I ask, if I walk too fast --am I increasing the risk? Probably not! No-one knows.

The brain is complex, cancer is complex, the location affects risk.

So... the end result is just as definite but timing is no clearer

Deb and I just carry on as, almost as, usual.

With no pain at all... so no worries.

Eg...

Tomorrow we go shopping. I avoid one shop where I normally push the trolley.

I go into another shop where I push, but have the option to sit outside and rest.

Palliative care is scary. On the other hand... I am more relaxed. I now know everyone else's expectations. I can carry on, with Deb, with life -- and ignore expectations. Until I finally cannot. And then I won't be caring.

Funny: I realise that the palliative care doc has actually seen people die. He is still a nice person.I find that to be strangely comforting.

Over but not... yet out :-)

My body is a temple to health and fitness.
but there is a devil-worshipper in the temple: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Anti monarchists

Republicans are stirring. I can hardly wait. I just hope that we can have an Aussie Trump running for Aus. Pres.

Sorry: sarcasm intended.

dying for you to read: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Opportunity lost

A major tourism conference in WA. An amazing opportunity to announce a phone app which would increase visitor numbers. Double the time spent by each visitor to WA. Treble the number of destinations visited by each and every visitor.

An app developed entirely in WA. On offer --free -- to any WA tourism operator while its market reach is established. Stun the visiting tourism leaders with something absolutely new and unique -- from WA. An app which will want all tourism operators to know more. About the app and about WA.

So what happens?

Nothing. Of course.

No, it's  not the fault of the Minister. I doubt that she ever heard of the app.

I spent six months exchanging emails with a Principal Policy Advisor.

As far as I can tell he never cared. He never even asked for further information.

He seemed to see his role to be -- to prevent any new ideas from reaching the ears of the Minister. And this is a political hack being paid to "advise" the government.

A complete waste of space.

Another wasted opportunity.

dying for you to read: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com :-)

Dictate or not

I've just spent ten minutes trying to get dictation working.

Apparently Google will listen only when you don't expect it

So. Lfuck. Back to keyboard.

 

7conspiracy

Basil Z is a sycophantic religious bigot with no interest in supporting business. How can you tell?

He wants to imitate his favourite city, Sydney, with a NYE fireworks display.

He wants to celebrate the Christian new year

He ignores the Jewish, Muslim, orthodox and Chinese new years.

He also ignores the tax new year, when business bookkeepers are desperate for any excuse to spend tax deductible dollars.

Come on, basil. It's time to celebrate the diversity of Australian culture.we want fireworks on every new Years eve

Foreign interference

05oct24: printed in The West as "We've learnt nothing"

There is a lot of public pressure for Australia to support one side or another in the Middle East conflict. This shows how little the public has learnt from Vietnam, Korea and Afghanistan.

Australia can try to set an example of traditional enemies living together in peace and acceptance.

The real task for Australia is to prevent the  barbarians from bringing their endless wars and hatreds into Australia.

... Nick Lethbridge, Churchlands

===

Sponsored teal MPs

Why are we surprised when a "teal" politician does favours for her sponsor.

Every politician is owned by and takes orders from the individual or party who pay for their campaigns. Provide favours or the election funding will dry up.

THe only surprise is when the politician and sponsor are so stupid that the favours are obvious enough to lead to charges of corruption.

All teal politicians should drop the claim to be independent. They should declare their true allegiance and run under the banner of their financial backer.