Somebody has just done something amazing

I have of late become hyper sensitised to "has just" as used in headlines.

It irritates me, of course, but that can't be the point.

There is something quite tragic in the theme. A desperate cling to the fading moment. A strange word, just, imprecise and less relevant with every passing granule of time. In the context of a headline it is quite meaningless, stretching along the continuum between inaccuracy and the stone cold untruth.

These titles using the adverb often speak to the adjective form; justice is stated as served. There is a finality to the declaration, an inference of a granite conclusion, and very often an implication of moral superiority and advancement.

Present perfect progressive.

I began to cite specific examples but felt nauseous and was forced stop. Instead, and better, here is a link to a Google news search for "has just". Mind how you go.
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Published on September 23, 2016 02:05
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