Cycle Lane Chaos -- Solved

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Today, I drove into the cycle lane. So what? There were no cyclists in sight... So it's against the law, that's what.

How often do you notice that metre or so of road which is painted a different colour and marked off with a white line? I mean the cycle-way; the space set aside for people on pushbikes.

Do you assiduously avoid -- in your car -- crossing into the cycle-way? Or do you simply treat it as an extra part of "your" traffic lane...

There's a cycle-way along Herdsman Parade. When a car ahead stops to turn right, you just pop into the cycle-way -- after looking out for cyclists, of course -- to get around.

Just before Jon Sanders Drive -- as you are approaching the traffic lights -- Herdsman Parade splits into two lanes. Just before the split, traffic starts to separate into two lanes. To do this, the left-hand car goes into the cycle-way.

So what? There are no bikes in sight...

How Bad are Perth Drivers?

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Perth drivers are notoriously bad. According to whingers, whiners and self-appointed experts.

Perhaps those people just don't understand. And are unable to adapt.

Take lane-changing, for example...

West Australian drivers do not indicate before changing lanes... so the whingers will whine. We -- West Australian drivers -- simply start to change lanes... and flick on the indicator as we do it.

So what? Think it through:

For a couple of weeks I drove in Canada. The drivers there are soooo polite -- I couldn't stand it. If a pedestrian were to so much as look at a crosswalk -- the Canadian drivers would slow down, prepare to stop and let you cross. I soon learnt to keep well clear of crossings, so as to not slow down the so-polite traffic.

Wicked Marketing Lies

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Do you often go to see a stage musical? If you do, perhaps you would not be as confused as I am...

Earlier this week we went to see Wicked -- the live, stage musical -- at Burswood. It was almost a full house. We spoke briefly to a staff member; he told us that there had already been a Sunday show. Plus a matinee on the day that we were there.

Imagine our surprise at the front page of The West Australian the next day:

Perth-born actress Lucy Durack, 28, marks her triumphant return home tonight as the star of Broadway musical Wicked, which opens at Burswood Theatre.

Let me highlight the words which surprised me:

... tonight ... Wicked ... opens

Wicked opens tonight?! But what about the three performances which had already happened? Were they just dress rehearsals?!?

Where are our discounts for watching the practice run of a musical which is not yet ready to open?!

What a load of rubbish.

Speaking of rubbish...

What Service does a Hospital Provide?

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What service does a hospital provide?

We recently had an experience with a hospital. A large, expensive, private hospital: St John of God in Subiaco. According to Wikipedia, "A hospital, in the modern sense, is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often, but not always providing for longer-term patient stays."

I think of a hospital as a place to go when you're sick because they will look after you. My imagination begins with health care, doctors and nurses. My imagination includes service and organisation.

To me, a hospital is a one-stop shop for treatment of sick people.

Wrong.

A hospital -- judging from our recent experience -- is a cross between a strata-titled office block and a hotel.

Rapturous Reception

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Judgment Day has come and gone. And wasn't it a lot of fun?!

An american prophet correctly predicted the End of the World, for May 21. He also predicted the same End of the World for twenty or more years ago. His predictions were greeted with sarcasm and cynicism... and some quick prayers, just in case.

On Judgment Day -- 21 May 2011 -- "the good would be taken to Heaven".

So why the laughter? It happened!

All the good people went to Heaven.

Did you see them go? No? Oh... Why not?

Well, you see... the God of this particular Apocalypse looked for all the good people.

And found no-one.

Apocalypse two. Good people zero.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

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Thank Goodness for Honesty and Trust!

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Gosh, it's nice to be reassured that there is no possibility of bribery in the health services. Right there, on the front page of The West ($745,000 in gifts to health officials, 25 May 11):

Health director-general Kim Snowball yesterday said the companies paying for trips signed a letter acknowledging that the trip did not place any obligations on doctors or the health service.

What a relief!

Yeah, right. As if.

Is Snowball stupid? Or ridiculously naive? Or does he believe that readers of The West are simpletons.

Weasel words?

In the same article we are given several examples of freebies provided to state health officials by major companies. One example is -- by implication -- perfectly alright because the company has "no existing relationship with the department":

Three North Metropolitan Health Service employees each accepted return business-class flights and three nights accommodation in Los Angeles worth a total of $28,488. It was paid for by health-care conglomerate Abbott Australasia, which has no existing relationship with the department. [my emphasis]

Have a look at Table 1 from a research paper published online:

War Memorial Debate is Half Baked

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The SAS regiment is based in WA. Should dead SAS soldiers have their names engraved on the WA state war memorial? Not according to the RSL... And people are jumping up and down as a result of this ruling.

Has anyone considered the reasons for this RSL ruling?

Soldier X enlists in NSW. He transfers to the SAS in WA. His family follows him. Soldier X dies in action. His name will be engraved on the NSW state war memorial... where his WA-based family will hardly ever see it.

Is this an example of entrenched stupidity based on narrow-minded adherence to tradition?

Or... are there many sensible reasons behind the ruling... Reasons which widows, journalists and other opinion-staters have failed to consider.

I'm only guessing. To me, my guesses are reasonable. At least I'm trying to consider the 80-year-old reasons for the current "tradition".

Before we try to force the RSL into change, let's look at the complexities around a "simple" decision...