context: bean and i have returned to the long-term parking at the airport after a trip to visit relatives to find that our car battery has gone flat. i flag down a middle-aged couple in a mercedes to give us a jump-start.
man (to his wife): when i say, just press the accelerator pedal a little, ok?
woman: um, is it the long thin one, dear?
*****
context: bean has told a paediatrician at her work that we are expecting two babies.
bean: it’ll be great - a bit like twins! they’ll be able to share clothes and toys and stuff.
paediatrician: oh, no, they won’t be able to share toys if you have a boy and girl! a little girl won’t want to play with trucks!
*****
context: sorenson is writing a report for work about the progress the government has made against its vision statement. because it is published in the budget papers, the report has been reviewed by the department that manages the state’s finances.
executive from finance department: now, we understand that the government has said that indigenous disadvantage is an issue that needs attention, but given that the indigenous population is statistically insignificant in terms of the state’s population, why is there so much emphasis on outcomes for indigenous people in the report?
*****
to each of these, bean and i could only say, what the fuck? and laugh hysterically of course.
