The fine art of creating memorable acronyms seems to be going through a rough time at the moment with cunningly clever creativity in the box seat and the robust rules of rightness relegated to the rear.
For evidence of this sad affair one need only visit PS News’s World News pages where the latest ranking of national Public Services around the globe is reported, courtesy of Oxford University and the organisation known as the Institute for Government.
The boffin-centric system that calculates the world-wide ranking is named the ‘International Civil Service Effectiveness Index’, which in a pedantic world would be abbreviated to ICSEI, but by Oxfordian logic is cuttingly reduced to the oh-so exciting ‘INCiSE’, sending the gods of acronymia into paroxysms of perplexion.
Not to be outdone, an article in PS News’s popular ‘Tech Talk’ section this reveals the joyous news that scientists in America have worked out how to use laser beams to blow missiles (and presumably aeroplanes, people, birds and other identified flying objects) out of the sky.
Unveiling their new skill, the scientists have dubbed their system the ‘Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator’ which, to the untrained eye would abbreviate to SPHELD or even S-PHELD.
However, unfazed by the apparently over-rated tradition of being able to spell, the official abbreviators have dubbed it ‘SHiELD’, again to the chagrin of the world’s acronym lovers.
Using their same logic, what they call SHiELD could just as easily been named ‘SHELa Demonstrator’ or the cheekily androgynous ‘SHE-LaD’.
Best to leave acronyms as they are, PS-sssst! thinks!
For the inquisitive, the story about ranking Public Services can be accessed at this PS News link and the lethal lasers at this link.
Multi Tasked
To an irreverent aside now in response to the long-standing commitment across the public sector to introduce and promote the virtues of multi-tasking as a proven way of fuelling productivity in these times of doing more with less, and doing it better.
Allegedly heard in the corridors of uncooperation in a large Department that should remain nameless, one officer summed up the skills and abilities years of multi-tasking had taught him.
“I’m great at multi-tasking’ the anonynmous commentator commented.
“I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at once.”
Oh, to be his boss!
A ‘Favourite’ giveaway
To Rama’s weekly giveaway now in which five lucky readers stand to score superb Blu-Ray copies of the period flick The Favourite starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.
All they needed to do to become a Rama-Star was name the member of the cast who went on to take out the 2019 Academy Award Oscar for Best Actress.
That was Olivia Colman of course and the first correct entrants to emerge from the PS News Barrel of Booty with entries knowing that were Roy L from the Department of Defence in South Australia; Maria P from NSW Industrial Relations; Debbie N from the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety; Terry L from the Department of Defence in Victoria; and Brian C from the federal Department of Health.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to the many others who joined in. The new DVDs will be on their way shortly.
For another chance to win a place in Rama’s Army, simply visit this week’s competition at this PS News link and give it your best shot.
Good luck to all who do.
First for 5
And before we leave Rama’s giveaway, our ever-resourceful reviewer has drawn our attention to this week’s prizes, noting it’s the first time we’ve had five Blue-Rays to share.
“Thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for their generosity,” Rama declared excitedly.
“Another engaging film for our avid readers’ enjoyment.”
Quite!
And well done to Rama for arranging it.
Till next week…..
