Real Work

When the economy is in the condition it is, our only option is to be creative in the job market.

More Name Game

Did anyone notice the switcheroo that NBC pulled in its coverage of the men’s 1500 meter freestyle final in Beijing?

For most of the grueling race, Canadian Ryan Cochrane battled it out with Grant Hackett, the obsessive-compulsive Aussie who refuses to take public transportation or touch handrails in the Chinese capital. In the last 400 meters, Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli pulled out in front, eventually putting 0.7 seconds between himself and silver-medalist Hackett. The gold medal is the first swimming medal that Tunisia has brought home.

But at the beginning of the race, Mellouli was identified as Oussama Mellouli. But after his victory, he was described as “Ous” both in print and by the commentators.

I’m not judging you NBC, I’m just taking note.

Dino-makeover

As self-coronated blog admin, I have taken the liberty of changing the appearance of DinoBlog–without consulting the other bloggers, natch.

I would like to note that the use of a serif font makes our posts look at least 60% more erudite.

What would be really cool is if I had the technological savvy to make our own truly custom Dino-template. Then again, since I’m in Bangalore, perhaps I can go commission someone down the street to do it.

To the Dedicated Dino-Readership

Due to ultra-funky vibes blowing easterly off of a massive Lake Effects high-pressure zone, Kingremi and yours truly will be embarking on an odyssey, into the setting sun in order to investigate this highly unusual, but soulfully alluring weather front.

 

All inquiries can be sent via pigeon carrier to Chicago, Illinois or by electric telegraph to dino@dino.dino.

Like A Slow Train Wreck

I remember seeing the ambulances flying down Cermak last night, but I never could’ve imagined that they were coming from the mangled Red Line stop in Chinatown. That’s my Red Line stop–it’s been more than surreal reading this article.

Once again, questions will be raised about the safety of these trucks and the reliability of their drivers. I don’t think there has ever been a driver on the highway who hasn’t had a close run-in with a massive truck, but I also think people are too quick to judgment in this particular case. The facts are still coming in as the wreckage is cleared away. Terrifying to think, though, of the carnage. The offramp leads like a cannon barrel right into the escalator. I’ve seen plenty of cars and truck speed off it and screech to last second halts and wonder what if, and now that gruesome scenario is right here.

There should be more investigation into political scandal that allowed unqualified drivers to obtain licenses, thanks to our former governor in Illinois (and undoubtedly as yet undiscovered elsewhere). We obviously can’t do away with trucks and truckers, but we also need to keep in mind the danger and damage allowing someone who lacks the proper training to be flying down highways in multi-ton battering rams.

Dumb-ocracy Indeed

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter”

-Churchill

The Philadelphia suburbs are certainly doing their best to prove the point. That or the Associated Press has a statistically improbable knack for finding the dumbest people in the area to interview. To wit:

“The economy stinks. We need something new. When Bill Clinton was in the White House, we didn’t have these problems and maybe she had something to do with it behind the scenes.”

Then again, perhaps we should look at the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Then there’s this gem:

“I know that when Bill Clinton was in office, the economy was good, we weren’t at war and I think he’ll be helping her in some fashion with the Cabinet. So I’m leaning to Hillary right now,” said Robert Thomas, a 30-year-old general manager of a convenience store.

Or perhaps that should be phrased: “we had an asset bubble, ducked out of war–except when we did go to war (and without UN approval no less!), or simply chose to ignore the growing problems of war and terrorism, and in doing so taking out a big fat subprime mortgage on our future national security to satisfy the insatiable craving for instant gratification that is and always will be the hallmark of the Baby Boomers.”

Hmm… Clintons don’t seem nearly as appealing when you put it that way.

PLEASE HOLD

Hello everybody. Sorry I’ve been AWOL as of late. I’ve rocketed from extremes of inebriated revelry of Spring Fling (the only weekend during which recklessness and decadence are University-sponsored) to the other, significantly less sexy extreme of working on my thesis presentation.

I miss you too, baby. I’ll be back soon.

A Genealogy

In the days of the drought, when Ephraim entered the country of the Moabites, that is the time when Ralph came to the land of Judah through Jerash and Beit-El in the North down to Lachish and Hebron and finally to Be’er Sheva. And this is where he settled.

Ralph begat Dennis; and Dennis begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Salmon; and Salmon begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; and Soloman begat Asa; and Asa begat Joram; and Joram begat Abia; and Abia begat Jehosaphat; and Jehosaphat begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Ezekiel; and Ezekiel begat Amon; and Amon begat Jechonias; and Jechonias begat Booz of Rachab and his brethren. And after they were brought to Babylon, Booz begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Achim; and Achim begat Azor; and Azor begat Phinehas; and Phinehas begat Mattathias; and Mattathias begat Josiah; and Josiah begat Benjamin the Revolutionary; and Benjamin begat Jerry; and Jerry begat Jack, who is called the White; and Jack begat Abe the husband of Mary; and Abe begat Dino.

Then there was a great rush of resounding noise that set upon the whole country in those days. And none could escape its sound and all were beholden to its cry of the end of darkness and the victory of light.

Yea it shall be, that upon this day the trumpets shall ring throughout the mountains and the seas shall tumble upon the cities of the coast and the boulders shall crumble into rocks of smaller size and the whole people shall dance and prostrate and eat and sing and weep and then they shall dance once again.

And so sounded the glorious sound, whence come it was not known: Ye in ivory towers, ye in schools and in philosophies fortified against this real and earthly world, let ye come down and condescend to the plebeian opinion machine, the blog.

And so it was. And it was good.

An Introduction, a Promise

Dear Goodman Janus,

I think we’ve both noticed that any idiot can publish rubbish when an editor is replaced by a publish button. What took us so long? I’m glad we’re amending this.

In the land of litter, it is said, the man with a half-eaten sandwich is king. I intend to savor every last bite of this grease-soaked sesame seed bun that is the blogosphere.

Here’s to fame, fortune, beautiful women, and a collection of script and text that will give us a false sense of validation for all of our errant opinions and rants. Even though the top of the shouting mountain has become quite crowded, I vow to shout louder than those next to me–or, if we’re shouting the same thing, to shout in more of a bass tone so that the diatribe dances through the air in mesmerizing harmony.

With love,

Plug

It’s official, Chavez is nuts.

It would seem that the would-be Hispanic Hitler has sent troops to Venezuela’s border with Columbia Colombia and evacuated all embassy staff.  I certainly hope he hasn’t acted without consulting the United Nations.    EDIT: it was pointed out that the proper spelling is Colombia. Columbia is the Ivy League university in New York that invites third-world fascists to speak and enjoys hearting them from its removed perspective of the northern hemisphere. Colombia is the South American country that has to put up with third-world fascists on and within its borders, and is, not surprisingly, significantly less fond of them.