Is this a joke?

[Christiana]

A friend has sent me the following 'crossword quiz' clue by e-mail and I've no idea whether he is serious or has just made the whole thing up. Any suggestions, anyone.

'Illegal monies handed over to clear the snow in 1980' (9 letters)

[Aquagility]

Slushfund

[Christiana]

I love the answer - thanks Aquagility, but why 1980 - were sluch funds particularly prevalent then?

[Christiana]

slushfunds even!

[rogerr]

Hi Aq--my husband always refers to the council tax as the slush fund--great minds and all that!

[Aquagility]

I don't know the answer, Christiana. But now and then the solution hits one between the eyes - and one looks no further.
But if you Google 1980 slush funds (two words) you'll get loads of ammunition.

[Christiana]

Thanks A - I'm already planning a revenge by asking my friend if he knows the origin of the term!

[Ont-ice]

Here ya go Christiana:
http://samvak.tripod.com/pp138.html

[Christiana]

Thanks O-ice for that fascinating gem. This is what Wikipedia has to say. The term "slush fund" was originally a nautical term; the slush referred to the fat or grease that was obtained by boiling salted meat, the sale of which could then be used to provide the crew with special luxuries. The money obtained from this sale was placed into the so-called 'slush-fund'. It also brought to mind the expression "to grease someone's palm".