It’s been a big few weeks for ‘sanctioning’ in the past little while with countries around the world choosing to sanction one another for one reason or another; sportsmen being sanctioned for another reason or another; and news reporters and headline writers avidly avoiding their dictionaries to find out how to use the word ‘sanction’ so it is sanctioned by the people who bother to go and have a look.
At the risk of being sanctioned for being sanctimonious, PS-sssst! has spared its expenses and consulted Dr Oxford for the following Oxfordly definition:
Sanction: Noun: A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule. Eg. A sanction was imposed.
Sanction: Verb: To ratify, confirm or authorise. Eg, The statement was sanctioned by the bishop.
Soooo, for a country, sportsperson or literate person to have a sanction imposed on them is to be penalised as the noun would apply in their imposed case.
For the same country, sportsperson of literate person to be ‘sanctioned’ in its verb mode (the shorthand usage preferred by newsreaders and reporters) is not to be penalised at all but to be authorised or approved.
It follows therefore that news reports claiming for example that Russia has been sanctioned by having sanctions imposed are arguing against themselves.
It also follows that professional writers and journalists in newsrooms should take the trouble to learn their English.
Big designs!
And while on the subject of big weeks, it’s been a multo-big one too for Lisa and Brad in the PS News design team, spending every waking hour scrambling to bring our stunning new website look to life for the first time this week.
Based closely on the very latest in readers’ comforts, ease of communication and clarity of comprehension, the new-look PS News has seen our popular features, functions and favourites streamlined to bring the very best of PS news and information to our cherished readership (that’s you!) in the very latest of good-looking layouts.
And naturally we’re keen to know what you – the servants we strive to serve – think of the bold new look.
Just send your comments, good or bad, or your suggestions for improvement to [email protected] where you can be assured they will be received, considered and if requested, responded to.
We see PS News as your PS news and information service so if we can make it better for you we will!
Wisely witty
Now to the wise wit and wily wisdom of Victoria’s Philomena S for another word of worldly advice for conscientious PS staffers keen to swoop on gems of geniality garnered from past experts with past experiences to expound.
This week Philomena has a piece of priceless advice for the thinkers amongst us.
“The comforting thing one can say about the future” advises Philomena, “is that it doesn’t start until tomorrow!”
How wise is that?
And presumably Philomena would also counsel us all that the best thing about the past is that it finished yesterday!
How very true in all respects!
Call to Recall
To Rama’s weekly winners circle now which will see three new readers join up just by answering an easy quiz question and scoring a free giveaway from Rama.
This week the prize is a Blu-ray copy of the drama movie The Recall starring Wesley Snipes and RJ Mitte from Breaking Bad.
To be a winner readers needed only tell Rama it was Mr Snipes who played the character of the Hunter in the movie and then be among the first three to scramble from the PS News Barrel of Booty to claim the prizes.
The winners who did so this week were Simon G from the Western Australian Department of Transport, Phil A from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Adrian S from the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone who took part. The winners’ Blu-ray movies will be on their way soon.
In the meantime, for another chance to join Rama’s circle of winners, simply visit her latest giveaway quiz at this PS News link and try your luck.
Good luck to all those who do.
Scammed and spammed
And finally a sad note that the scammers and spammers pretending to be PS News are at it again.
While having years of our work copied and pinched may be a weird form of flattery, it’s also a threat to the good name of PS News, and therefore to the valuable service we believe we provide to the Public service for free every week.
There is only one PS News and it only comes to you from one source which is ‘psnews.com.au’ and nowhere else.
So if you receive an email from [email protected] or [email protected] be warned they are not from ‘psnews.com.au’, are not part of the PS News family and are not related to the No. 1 news and information service that has been servicing the Public Service for more than 12 years.
Till next time….
