Ups and downsSome Age journalists appear to have embraced the “uptick”. I must be a grammatical Luddite, but is an uptick the same as an increase? If so, then why not use increase, which I think many readers of my age would understand?After all, an increase has an opposite – decrease. Does an uptick have an opposite, like a downtick?Then how does one draw a downtick? To my understanding, ticks always went up!Then, they were just – wait for it – ticks. And the opposite was a cross.And don’t get me started on the use of “going forward”. Doesn’t that just mean, in the future?Could someone please help me understand why it is necessary to complicate simple, understandable English terms?Eugene Docherty, Bentleigh East

Defence overspendIt is scandalous that the United States, China and Russia spend so much money on offensive and defensive weapons.The US is developing its$262 billion Golden Dome defence shield (“⁣Space-based missile shield”⁣, 9/8) at the same time as it jointly expends vast sums with Australia on AUKUS nuclear submarines.The US is also spending$560 million to develop a mine in Australia to produce scandium, a rare mineral which is vital to its defence industry (“⁣Pentagon in $560 million Aussie mine deal”⁣, 9/8). What a shame these sums of money could not be used for peaceful endeavours.John Guy, Elsternwick

Thanking medicosRuby Atkinson’s moving article (“⁣I’m alive today thanks to strangers who don’t even know my name”⁣, 9/8) about her leukaemia diagnosis and treatment is a timely reminder that modern medicine is never the work of one remarkable individual. Behind every outcome stands a team of people — doctors, nurses, pathology and radiology technicians, pharmacists, cleaners, technicians, ward clerks, and countless others, most of whom patients may never see or know by name, as Ruby notes.When we are at our most vulnerable, these strangers bring not only knowledge and skill, but kindness, reassurance, and hope. They work long and taxing hours, often without public recognition, united by a common purpose: to help another person.Ruby’s gratitude reminds us that healthcare is built on teamwork, compassion, and quiet dedication.To every member of those healthcare teams: thank you.Bryan Walpole, retired emergency physician, Sandy Bay, Tas

Football brain healthThere has been an outpouring of opinion – mostly highly critical – about Geelong Football Club’s handling of their player in regards to his future brain health. But I have yet to hear any significant discussion about what they actually should do in such cases.Should they make him wear a helmet, or coach him to protect his head even if it means avoiding a contest for the ball, or expose him to risk and pay him compensation later? Or, should they simply not select him to play?It’s easy to criticise the action someone else has chosen; farmore challenging to recommend an alternative.David Francis, Ivanhoe East

Perfect dayThe drive from the Yarra Valley into the MCG took us just over an hour. My disabled parking permit afforded us four hours in a two-hour bay with a short walk to the ground.The complimentary mobility shuttle took us to the gate. And, thanks to the generosity of a family member, our tickets to the game were gifted to us.The predicted rain didn’t fall, and instead we were treated to blue skies. We had a close-up view of Harvey Langford’s possible mark of the year.And to top it off, the Melbourne Demons beat top of the ladder Fremantle Dockers by four points.A perfect Saturday afternoon in Melbourne. And just for the record, no Range Rover, no cheese board at half-time and no annual trips to the snow!Sophie Sadowska, Don Valley

Original source: au