On the Pulse was pleased to see Barnaby Joyce extend his congratulations to Adam Marshall for “delivering yet again”. He was talking about the $90 million election promises for the Armidale and Inverell hospital upgrades.

BJ said: “It goes to show what happens when you are part of a government as opposed to a commentator about a government.” 

Who said it first?

On the Pulse has discovered what appears to be a very disturbing case of ‘verbal theft’. It is the oral equivalent of plagiarism in the literary world, it’s just impossible to prove academically or legally. In fact, On the Pulse could not find any illegality to verbal theft at all, but on an ethical level, ah now, that could be an entirely different kettle of fish.

You see, on Tuesday when the hospital funding was announced at Inverell, our Mayor, Paul Harmon, said “It’s Easter and it feels like Christmas.” (it isn’t Easter yet, but we’ll let that one slip through to the keeper).

That was such a standout line. 

It had On the Pulse thinking Cr Harmon might be talented enough to deliver BJ’s one liners next.  

So imagine On the Pulse’s utter consternation and confusion on Wednesday when the Northern Daily Leader quoted the Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, with the line, “I know we’re coming up to Easter, but it feels like Christmas.” 

That certainly opened up some important questions. 

Who said it first? Whose intellectual property was it? Was Harmon pinching the Marshall’s punch lines, or was it visa-versa? How often had this happened in the past? 

And another thing, just who really was best suited to deliver BJ’s one liners?

Social media tracks missing bird

Isn’t social media a wonderful thing? On Tuesday, the Times published a police brief about a stolen Macaw worth $3500, after a break and enter at Chester Street a few days before. 

But ‘Blue Bell’ (that’s the name of the bird) had ‘flown the coop’ big time by then, and, in On the Pulse’s opinion, social media had done what it does best. 

On the Inverell Trash & Treasure Facebook site, the sightings came in thick and fast. On Sunday March 8 Blue Bell was sighted flying down Byron Street, and after that was seen in a tree outside New England Mutual. 

The following day Blue was seen in Coles car park, before being chased off by some children. 

The next day Blue was in a tree at a building site in Bennett Street. Later that day Blue landed in a man’s backyard in Henderson Street, where the owners finally managed to catch up with the bird.

Blue Bell is now safely home, but On the Pulse was astounded by just how ‘unlost’ this bird actually was. This sort of thing is definitely worth a try next time the old car keys go astray.

They come for the CBD

Plenty of Rotarians are heading our way for the Rotary District 9650 conference.

“They’re going to come here and spend some money, and maybe spend the week and go to the Opera in the Paddock,” said the Rotary district governor - and concerned ratepayer - Greg Moran, before adding: “People find that it’s a real buzz to come over the range and come to Inverell. They love the streetscape and how the town looks, especially the CBD.” Subtle!