it is not just PR, a few years ago in Massachusetts, the IRS hired a bunch of people to help them process the taxes, apparently how empty their desk was was of some importance. The new hires started to throw away the tax forms so it looked like they were doing their job. A lot of people had to refile and cancel checks and re-issue them again.
Correction: when you get old, "The Other day" means 5 years ago and "a few years ago" usually mean 10 to 15 years ago. Time is relative as you get older.