I Don't Think So!

I was thinking of applying for a card that gave me a discount on a certain product. I went along to the website to check it out and if satisfied, sign up. When I got there I was horrified.

The card was so large, it had to be carried in two hands. I would struggle to get in in the car. What's wrong with a card that fits in the wallet like all the other cards? I can't imagine it being popular, being upsized as it is. I thought to myself "I don't think so".

Behind the smile is frustration

Making Bread

Making your own bread is the way to go. The ingredients are as natural as you want them to be and the freshness is the best. With a modern breadmaker such as the Panasonic one we have (the best IMO), the success rate is 100%. All the kneading is done for you. All you need to do is add the ingredients.

A good yeast is important. I use Tulip which may or may not be available where you live. Whatever you use, if it works for you, then fine. You can experiment with other ingredients but I would suggest do a basic loaf for a while at first. Once that is successful, then add one new ingredient at a time. That way, you can tell if things don't work out well, what the problem was.

Cape Campbell (Marlborough, NZ) Revisited

In a previous visit, I took some pics that can be seen here and also here. The reason is that a major earthquake took place since and the seabed around the cape was raised. Someone unfamiliar with the area wouldn't notice but the rocks going out and the north is now prominent.

The walk from Marfells beach is quite long.
Part way there and the lighthouse is in the distance

The stairway up to the lighthouse

Finally there

There it is in all its splendour

Looking out you can see the lifted seabed

Ditto

Now to the north and again the same effect

The 'Why' Person

Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die.

The 'Why' person needs to know why. You would think that is a basic human wish, to understand the reason behind something. In reality, there are less of them around than one would imagine. This becomes apparent if you try to exercise this desire.

I recall at school wondering in what sort of job a certain thing we were learning would be used in. I asked the teacher, then saw this quizzical look come across her face. It was soon replaced with a flustered, irritated one. The terse response was approximately along the lines of "Never mind about that, just learn it". I realised she had been trained to teach a subject of which she had no idea how it could be applied.

When dealing with people in customer service situations it surprises me how many are only trained to answer standard questions but not understand 'why'. That becomes apparent if one doesn't accept textbook answers but asks additional questions. If I'm saying or doing something, I want to know why. It reminds me of the story that can be read by clicking here.

Governments like compliant citizens who obey without question. Soldiers are not encouraged to question anything. Companies are too often found deficient when it comes to staff training. However, humans are endowed with an amazing mind and a desire to understand things. If we find we don't ask questions very often, is it because we have become too passive? How about thinking more about the meaning behind things. Become a 'Why' person!