It’s not every week a revered practitioner of the ‘dismal science’ of economics sends a roomful of other economists into stitches of hilarity but the multi-talented head of the national Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Martin Parkinson managed just that in Canberra earlier this month.
Lamenting the view that there is nothing harder than organising a ‘social’ event for humourless economists, Dr Parkinson shared a profession-deprecating giggle with his audience, proving, if nothing else that at least one economist in the nation has a healthy sense of humour.
“It’s like that old joke about the woman with only six months to live,” Dr Parkinson confided with his audience, “who gets told by her doctor to marry an economist just to make it seem like a lifetime.”
KaBoom!
PS-sssst! expects there will be a seasonally adjusted version released in due course!
Laughing stocks
And while we’re in a humorous mood , take a look at C. W. Headley’s words of wisdom this week on how the mental health of the public sector, and all other sectors, could be improved by more laughter in the workplace.
It’s right here at this PS News link.
Booked!
To law enforcement now where the burly law enforcers of the Western Australia Police Force, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force combined their considerable powers to confiscate a consignment of children’s books in their ongoing fight against drug importation.
Surprisingly the kids’ books concealed 8kg of illegal cocaine, prompting the enforcers to seize the drugs, arrest the alleged importers and circulate a triumphant declaration that the attempted crime had been foiled.
And what better way to ensure their achievement was noticed than to announce it to the public with a sharp and snappy headline that says it all.
“You wouldn’t read about it”, was the lead-in to the media release the forces circulated, ironically requiring the recipients to actually read what they ‘wouldn’t read’ to get the story.
PS-sssst! wonders if this is a case of the police ‘booking’ themselves!
Knight address
In the meantime the most senior of Her Majesty’s seven representatives in Australia, Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) chose last weekend to host an open house at his Canberra mansion to raise money for charity.
A generous gesture and one the GG and his staff should be commended for.
The news report of the event on local ABC radio left a little to be desired however when the up-and-coming young news reader revealed her youthful age by referring to His Excellency as Sir Cosgrove, in preference to Sir Peter, throughout the bulletin.
Evidence perhaps that imperial knighthoods in Australia may be approaching their dub-by dates.
Mystery giveaway
To Rama Gaind’s weekly PS News giveaway now in which lucky readers have the chance to win copies of the three-film DVD collection of Emma Fielding Mysteries starring Courtney Thorne-Smith, James Tupper and Martin Cummins.
To stake out a place in Rama’s long line of winners all we had to do was name the actor who plays Emma Fielding in the series, who, of course, is Courtney Thorne-Smith.
The three lucky readers whose correct entries were first out of the PS News Barrel of Booty were Tanya M from the National Disability Insurance Agency in Victoria, Paul W of the Victorian Electoral Commission and Andrew C from the Department of Home Affairs in Canberra.
Congratulations to the lucky winners and thanks to everyone who took part. The prize DVDs will be on their way to their new homes very soon.
For another chance to become a Rama Winner simply try your hand at this week’s giveaway, at this PS News link.
Good luck!
Bummer
And finally, another witty illustration of brilliance from the ever-wise Philomena S of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, this time getting right to the bottom of the complexity of the English language.
“Why” asks Philomena, “are haemorrhoids called ‘haemorrhoids’?.”
“Shouldn’t they be called “Assteroids?”
Er.., thanks Philomena.
Quite!
Till next week…..
