danoshinsky.com

I say this with several friends — set to graduate next week with degrees in journalism — in mind:

This week, this happened. Then this. And then this. And the number of print jobs cut this week alone increased by over a thousand nationwide.

To steal a line from the old country: oy.

Though I suppose it could be worse: you could be graduating next semester, like me. Who knows what the industry will look like in five months.

The decline in newspaper advertising has been well documented, but here’s an equally large reason for shrinking print profits: the decline in classified ads sold. Craigslist has all but eliminated the need for paid personal advertisements.

But as I read about yet another Craigslist scam today, I wonder: why can’t newspapers convince readers that they’re a trustworthy place to sell their stuff? Wouldn’t you pay a little more to advertise in a place that keeps out con artists?

Just a thought.

A quasi-serious MTV reality show idea:

Girlfriend dumps boyfriend, saying he’s immature, irresponsible, etc. Boyfriend is given one month with coaching staff to change his ways and become a more rounded person. Boyfriend learns to cook, clean, be polite, maybe even enrolls in pilates classes. After one month, boyfriend gets the chance to take the ex out on a date, prove that he’s a new/improved man and win her back.

We’ll call it “Second Chance” — or maybe, “I Probably Don’t Deserve You” — and, if the guy is successful, we give the couple a free trip to Vegas to celebrate. (The trip is, of course, videotaped for an MTV webisode.)

Execs at MTV: I’ll be awaiting your call. I want my creator’s credit.

I have a very large extended family. They’re goofy and loud and, above all, prone to asking the same questions repeatedly. If there’s one thing I hate about seeing my family, it’s having to answer the same question a dozen times during dinner. And since I’m a very tall college senior who’s just returned from China, their questions tend to be incredibly predictable.

So I came up with a new strategy tonight. Before leaving for dinner, I wrote down the following words on a piece of paper:

1. School is good.
2. No, I don’t have a job yet.
3. China was fun.
4. Yes, I grew again.

Then I copied those questions answers onto a dozen pieces of paper and handed them out to all of my uncles and aunts upon arrival. And wouldn’t you know it: I didn’t have to deal with any repetitive small talk tonight, leaving me free to watch the game instead.

Sometimes, it seems like my life best resembles that of Jon Arbuckle. Sometimes, as a college senior taking only three days a week of class, life takes on a more tabby persuasion.

And for some reason, I’m suddenly in the mood for lasagna.

When I wrote many months back that I wasn’t sold on the Chinese’s dedication to building their stadiums according to code, I had an incident like this in mind. It was the second fire at the stadium in the last four months. Luckily, no casualties were recorded (assuming you believe everyone’s favorite Chinese news service, Xinhua.)