Thursday, February 5, 2009

No One Has A Job Anymore, Creating Numerous Job Opportunities

As our economy and entire way of life hurtles towards oblivion, and most Americans sit home, biting their fingernails, wondering at what moment the electricity will be cut off, a silver lining is emerging.

I happened across this unfortunate, yet oddly humorous web site called The Layoff Daily. Generally the news of hundreds of thousands of jobs evaporating before our very eyes should not be chuckle-inducing. Quite the opposite, it should inspire fear and dread, and should cause most people to begin learning Mandarin so they can avoid accidentally insulting our impending Chinese Destiny Overlords, an act which would result in death by a thousand cuts.

But for now, or at least until I too am laid off with the rest of America, it's kinda funny. Because it doesn't just show you who's getting rid of people, it shows you who's hiring. Here are a few entries from (the much shorter) Column B that made me laugh in an awkard, painful way.

California Highway Patrol - Apparently, CHP needs people to replace Ponch & John. Since nobody in California is employed any more, obviously, crime will increase proportionate to the number of idle people. Since idle hands do the devil's work, you know.

Of course, California is completely broke and can't even pay people their tax refunds from 2008. But, being able to carry guns around, drive through red lights, and generally do whatever the hell you want is probably not such a bad thing right about now. Definitely a winner, even though you won't get paid.

Our Recommendation: Move to California; stop paying taxes immediately; quit snorting blow long enough to pass the drug test.

Rhode Island Unemployment Call Center - They're looking for 40 people to fill out their ranks, for obvious reasons. Preference given to applicants with incomprehensible foreign accents, which is a strong indicator of extensive call-center experience.

Sands Casino, Bethlehem, PA - These guys are hiring a whopping 1,000 people to staff their new bastion of evil. What's the first thing you do when your job goes south? Head to the casino with your worthless house title and see if you can find a sucker who'll let you bet with it.

The Federal Government - Well duh, since we just elected a communist muslim african muggleblood terrorist as president, he needs to fill the ranks with his evil henchmen.

GEICO -- The insurance giant is hiring 870 people!!! If you happen to have a kitschy cockney accent and are 6 inches tall and green, you are guaranteed job security for life. Obviously, this is a result of having to deal with the investigation of record numbers of "accidents" as people burn down their unsellable houses and failing businesses.

FBI -- Hiring 2,950 people?!! Well, probably a good idea, but it would have been nice if you'd decided to bring in someone who spoke Arabic about 10 years ago, instead of trying to kill everyone in the world who speaks Arabic. But better late than never.

Border Patrol -- hiring an unbelievable 11,000 people!! Well, if they just offer a job to everyone trying to illegally enter this country, you could probably kill two birds with one stone.

On the other hand, since former investment bankers are now fighting each other for a job as a short-order chef at Denny's, there probably won't be a lot of reason for Mexicans to be heading our way anymore.

No, the reason for this is almost certainly for exactly the opposite reason: to try to prevent the entire population of America from fleeing to Canada. Where there are also no jobs but at least you can smoke weed.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

I Think You Made A Wrong Turn...

Sorry for yet another boring post about Google Analytics, but apparently I am obsessed. One really fun thing is that you get to see what search terms people used to find your web site, and some of them are hilarious. Here are some awesome ones for my blog.

"Obama sex toys" - This post is the 12th result in google. A whopping 23 people found their way to my web site looking, apparently, for an Obama-themed vibrator. An item that is sure to be worth a fortune on Ebay in ten years...

"Meat My Ass" - This post about my first Krav Maga experience has, bizzarely, become Google's 20th hit for this query. I will refrain from postulating a theory about what they were actually looking for.

"Quick Hell Update" - Oh my god I'm the third Google result when looking for news from the underworld. In January, four people got to my site with this search.

Okay. I apologize if you have completely glazed over. Moving on...

The Gibson, Less Paul

...he had to go home early last night. (Sorry, I just couldn't resist.) But the other four of us went in for a drink and to check out the new spot next door to Marvin on 14th Street.

While The Gibson sells itself as an under-the-radar, old-school drinking, speakeasy sort of joint, it's already gotten plenty of press online so I don't feel bad blogging about this place -- it's no secret. This is no hummingbird to mars.

But regardless, the shtick is kind of fun -- no sign on the door, reservations sorta required, the attendant by the door brings you right to your table. The interior is beautifully appointed - plush, oversized booths, dark wood throughout, wainscotting on the walls. Our server was friendly and attentive, and put on a nice show for us with citrus flame bursts to finish the drink performed at the table. I had a Sazerac and another gin based cocktail, the name of which escapes me right now. Both were delicate and delicious.

I felt that the prices were very reasonable - the mixed drinks offered on the menu ranged from $8 to $14. The menu was limited, but the waitress seemed to know how to make a good number of old traditional drinks. While this certainly not at the low end of drink pricing in DC, it's far from the worst. And you're not just getting a generic Grey Goose and whatever that a bartended pours every three seconds at your typical snooty watering hole, you get a custom-made, old-school drink for about the same price. And you get to consume it in a low-key, no-standing-room environment.

I have give the owners kudos. Unlike the sister operation Marvin nextdoor - though by sister I mean the wicked, red-haired bastard child stepsister -- everything is classy and professional. Nine bucks at Marvin for a watered-down, short-poured, generic drink, usually served with a healthy side of arrogance from the bartender, or eight bucks for a Sazerac and a nice conversation? No comparison. Make a point of treating yourself to The Gibson.


I forgot my camera last night, but Sexy Fitsum took the awesome picture above, found on Flickr.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Neighborhood Terminology: Lingo in Cohi


Over on Prince of Petworth another raging debate has fired up over neighborhood boundaries, nick names, and so on. I would like to settle this debate once and for all. Here is a comprehensive list of all the terms you you will need during your stay in Columbia Heights.


CoHi: Gentrified parts of Columbia Heights.

SoHi: The rest of Columbia Heights.


Holand: Short for Wonderland.

CoHo: A girl at Holand.


Targay: Where you buy everything in CoHi

Target: You, walking home from Targay after dark.


Fixie: Transportation used by CoHi residents, curiously rejecting 100 years of advances in gear and brake technology

Upper: Entertainment used by CoHi residents

Fixer-Upper: Home of CoHi residents.


Derbilicious: Breakfast burrito and bloody mary at Red Derby

Derbauchery: What you were up to right before you got thrown out of the red derby last night


Jack: A cigarette, usually someone else's. Usage: "Spare a jack?"

Jacked: What happens to CoHi residents who wear their iPods and send text messages while stumbling home at 4 AM

Jackass: New resident of CoHi who hasn't yet been jacked, and therefore wears their iPod and sends text messages while stumbling home at 4 AM


I think that about covers it.