A positive test for humanity

THERE are a lot of sick people in the world, and I am not just referring to those with COVID but rather those that have obtained test kits and are now selling them for extravagant prices. There are also those that are probably selling fake tests, too.

This is a time when we want to see the best of people and it is so apparent in our medical workers, but we all need to be our best by getting those vaccinations, staying safe by wearing masks and isolating if we have too.

Let’s make 2022 a great year.

***

‘Doctor who is’ or ‘Doctor who is not’?
The number of teachers teaching outside their specialty has been an ongoing concern and yet it still occurs in many schools.

If a hospital can’t get a doctor who is a cardiologist, can they just get a doctor who is a dermatologist, a urologist or a pediatrician for their cardiac care unit?

Schools should have teachers who actually know the material they are teaching.

***

No Bias in my Biases
I have just found out about a new feature in Microsoft Word, although only in some versions, the “Inclusiveness” checker which looks for bias in relation to age, culture, gender, and race, etc. I agree that they should all be excluded but it seems over the top.

I checked the latest Community Gardens newsletter that I edit and there were 12 suggestions, some degendering comments about some members but it also said that “pot” is profane in some cases. Our use of “pot” is only in reference to vegetables and our rules actually exclude growing pot. I thought we were just a group of mostly retired gardeners but suddenly we are much more interesting.

Maybe it’s time for us to take personal responsibility for what we write and say rather than passing it over to computers to check. I didn’t expect the uprising of the robots and computers to involve grammar checking although maybe it might make Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator” easier to understand.

***

Me too, please
For once I almost understand what ex-prince Harry is on about with his request for the UK to provide staff, mostly bodyguards. On the two occasions I have visited the UK I have quite enjoyed my time there although I have had to do most of the work myself.

I would like a group of flunkies on my next visit please; a few bodyguards so I look important; a driver and car, some tour guides, a good chef, and a fitness trainer to counterbalance the chef’s efforts and maybe a butler, and of course all of this will be paid for from the generous UK purse.

Maybe I could also have short-term use of Frogmore Cottage as it looks quite nice in the papers.

There are a few places in the world I would not be willing to travel because of wars and violence and at the moment nearly all of the world because of COVID. Maybe I should add a doctor and a few nurses to my list as well.

I’m not a royal unless you consider the defunct Fitzgerald Irish aristocracies but nor is Harry now. I would also like diplomatic immunity for when I return to Australia so there are no inconveniences although I am sensibly triple vaccinated already.

Remember Harry, you chose to give up the royal life, so be honest and live the common life now. (dfitzger@melbpc.org.au)/PN