Humor


Does DQ Still Have an Appointment?

Who is DQ?, you ask.
All I know is that DQ works (ed) for the UK Department for Work and Pensions which posted an appointment advertisement in the January 17 edition of The Economist.
I suspect DQ is responsible for website and advertising layout.
At the bottom of the ad is some text asking DQ a question:

[DQ – will the website say “Apllicants for GES posts must be UK Nationals, Commonwealth citizens or European Economic Area nationals with an unrestricted right to reside in the UK”?]

DQ’s answer was apparently “no” as no such language is to be found on the website.
I don’t think the questioner expected that the question would be left embedded in the print add either: two stikes for DQ.
For the curious: a reduced form of the original print add is below the fold. The extra language is toward the bottom of the “Assistant Economists” add on the right side of the page. Click on it for a full size version.

Wondering why this post exists: I found it amusing…:)

(more…)


The Truth About Government Contracting

The White House Fence

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in DC: One is from New York , another is fromTennessee and the third, is from Florida .
All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. “Well,” he says, “I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.”
The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, “I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.”
The New York contractor doesn’t measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, “$2,700.”
The official, incredulous, says, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?”
The New York contractor whispers back, “$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence.”
“Done!” replies the government official.

Via email found in a junk mail folder.