Humdrum Places - BlogFlock

FPF statement on ‘editorial independence board’ for CBS and CNN - The Independent Variable

2026-09-22T05:33:12.000Z

The fish rots from the head, and this particular fish is headed by a compromised oligarch with a history of throwing journalists under the bus to advance his business interests

‘Nuff said. I mean, I get the hesitation, they’re scared. But in a situation like this, you have to use every lever you have, and that means fighting until the end. I still think Paramount would’ve regretted moving to Tennessee more than California would have.

We Must Create the Shit Machine - The Independent Variable

2026-09-19T18:36:32.000Z

Could the Shit Machine END WORLD HUNGER? It’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE in the most LITERAL SENSE, which is all the justification we need to invest an AMOUNT OF MONEY that would OTHERWISE BY ITSELF END ACTUAL WORLD HUNGER.

I’m not sure I’ll quote a better line than this all year.

On the sincerity of AI bosses - The Independent Variable

2026-09-19T00:21:24.000Z

Conservative political victories are always followed by economic misery for the conservative base, because the senior partners in the conservative coalition are the bosses who get richer by making workers poorer. Conservative rulers try to offset this with spectacular acts of cruelty against disfavored minorities, but this tactic only carries so far. Eventually, the electorate notices that despite terrorizing migrants and trans people, diesel is now $10/gallon and the guy responsible is now $1.4b richer than he was before the election.

Not sure you could summarize the past/present/future of politics and elections any better than that. I think there are three major factors that contribute to the cycle: 1) greed (obviously); 2) human beings like to follow. I mean, look at all these “alpha males” who, by definition, are betas as they keep looking to others for how to be “alpha;” and 3) selfishness, which sounds obvious, but it contributes to a lot more than just “Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie.” When we let our selfish ego take over, it’s easy to look at things as a zero-sum game—if someone else is winning, you must be losing. This leads to “othering” and then demonizing other groups of people to ensure you and yours don’t fall behind. I have more to say about how pacifism and rising tides are principles to follow to prevent you from falling into the trap of those instincts, but I’m still at a loss for how to bring folks on the dark side into the light.

Russian Businessman Paid for Donald Trump Jr.’s Lavish Wedding After-Party - The Independent Variable

2026-09-18T02:11:54.000Z

Mr. Kremlev also has direct ties to President Vladimir V. Putin. In April, Mr. Putin honored Mr. Kremlev with a high-level state award, the Order of Friendship. And just days before Mr. Trump’s wedding in May, Mr. Putin and Mr. Kremlev were seen together in China.

Nothing to see here, I'm sure. Just another Russia hoax, I'm sure.

STOP OMARCHY /// Boycott Tech - The Independent Variable

2026-09-18T02:08:46.000Z

Protest against the Omarchy/Omacom Foundation and the tech companies and executives funding far-right open source.

A bit behind on this, but jeez, the amount of money flowing to an open-source project run by a white nationalist millionaire is beyond wild.

Areal /// a typeface - The Independent Variable

2026-09-18T02:07:04.000Z

Areal, a “revival” of Arial, is based on the first version of Arial that was used on the internet (v2.82). It’s entirely redrawn and rebuilt from the ground up. Most revivals draw on analog artefacts like antique books, record covers, posters, etc. But Arial has always been a digital typeface, born in the computer age, which means its earliest traces existed only as a software running on hardware that barely exists anymore.

I've long been a fan of Dinamo Type and a long time user of Are.na so when they first announced Areal awhile back, I thought it was a wonderful project and something I wanted to get my hands on immediately. Well, a few months later, here we are and it's free for all! And in tons of varieties including variable fonts.

Meagan Fisher - foofaraw

2026-09-17T16:58:35.000Z

Read When To? now!

Do you have any “Tim’s” in your life who maybe get hyperfixated on something, ignoring the things that need to get done around them?

Myself. I’ve had to set aside a day each week for laundry, dishes, and other household chores and then hold myself accountable to following through. Fictional worlds are just so much more interesting!

If you ended up in a situation like this, who in your life would you most trust to get you home?

I would most trust my closest friend and roommate who has been there for me through a difficult home life when I was younger, then later a divorce, every time my car has broken down or my OCD has become too much to handle on my own. Plus, they’re probably the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to both dinosaurs and survival. If there is anyone I would trust to get me home, or at least keep me safe in a situation like this, it’s them!

I’m not sure I was familiar with the hesperonychus… why that over something like a raptor or even a T-Rex?

While a raptor or a t-rex might have been a more recognizable and cinematic choice, I felt like hesperonychus was the correct choice for this specific story for a couple reasons. For one, I wanted to give Tim a chance to show off his knowledge without slowing down the story. While most might be able to recognize the big, well-known dinos, Tim might have recognized just about any dinosaur which might have shown its teeth. Additionally, I wanted a small, somewhat close to bird-sized dinosaur which would have realistically been found in what is now the United States, and hesperonychus fit the bill. Also, I just think these little dudes are cool and deserve a bit of a spotlight.

How long do you think Tim gets the silent treatment from Carla after that disaster of a trip?

Carla will not be speaking to Tim for a very long time. While, yes, his time machine did work – and that’s a win for him! – it came at the cost of his wife’s own wants and needs, and she won’t forget that quickly.

When do you think Tim gives it another spin? And does Carla ever set foot in the box again?

Oh, absolutely! Most likely as soon as he drops Carla back home, assuming they return home as easily as she hopes. As soon as she’s back in the present, though, Carla most certainly vows to never again set foot in a time machine. She is happy in the here-and-now, thank you very much. Tim, however, has just gotten a taste of something wonderful; he’s going back for more.

Does Tim ever fix the table?

He does, eventually. Probably once he finally realizes that Carla isn’t going to speak to him until he does. He might now be the most thoughtful or considerate, but he does love his wife.

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

This story was rejected twice by other magazines, which let me know this story didn’t quite fit what they were currently looking for. I tend to only send out my short stories to a few markets at a time, to keep things more focused and tailored for each individual story’s needs. I’m very grateful foofaraw offered When To? a home!

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

I’ve been taking a dive into the short stories of Ray Bradbury and just recently read The Veldt. It’s a very timely story for having been written seventy-six years ago, and it will certainly be sticking in my mind for a while.

What book are you reading right now?

I’ve been reading A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. The low stakes and hopeful world Chambers has created here has been a lovely breath of fresh air!

Thanks to Meagan for chatting hyperfixations and dinosaurs!

When To? - foofaraw

2026-09-17T16:00:34.000Z

Carla couldn’t say she was surprised when her husband dragged her out to the barn to show her the sheets of metal he fused together into a large box. Nor was she surprised when he told her this box was, in fact, a time machine.

When he urged her to climb in through the small opening on the side; she obliged. After all, what harm could come from it? She’d play along, nothing would happen, then she’d get him to finally fix the loose leg on the kitchen table. For months, he pushed it off, telling her he’d do it just as soon as he was finished with his “top secret project.” This “time machine,” she presumed.

A pair of metal folding chairs sat in the center of the box; wires hung from the ceiling and across the floor. There were no windows and no door other than the small opening which her husband sealed behind them.

“Now, see these dials here on the wall?” He motioned toward a series of notched dials with a lever beside them sticking out of the metal wall. “These correspond to day, month, year. When do you want to go?”

“Tim,” she began.

He held up a hand. “No, wait, I’ve got it!”

He twisted the dials, muttering to himself, then pulled the lever. He waited a moment, then spun around to face his wife; a grin plastered across his face.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked.

“Ready for what? Nothing happened.” She crossed her arms, dropping into one of the chairs. “Look, you’ve had your fun. You learned time travel isn’t possible. Now will you please fix the table? Chrissy and the boys are coming over for lunch tomorrow, and I’d really like to have a place we can all sit and eat.”

“What do you mean it didn’t work? You haven’t even looked outside,” Tim said.

“I don’t need to. We didn’t move. Where did you think we’d go, anyway?” Carla asked.

He wagged his finger. “Not where, when. Remember? Time machine.” He marched proudly to the small door and opened it. “Welcome to the future.”

Carla couldn’t see much through the small door from her seat, but something smelled… different. She didn’t quite know how to describe it. It smelled kind of like that time her grandpa took her to the zoo when she was a little girl. It ended up raining all day, and they were stuck in the reptile house the whole time. Nothing like the tangy sweet smell of the barn she was used to.

She stood slowly. “Tim, what’s outside?”

“I just told you. It’s the future.” He gestured dramatically toward the door.

As she ducked through the small opening, Carla found herself in the middle of what seemed to be a rainforest. She didn’t recognize any of the plants around her. She might as well have been standing on an alien planet. One thing was for sure; they weren’t in their barn anymore.

“What… How… Are we…?” She couldn’t seem to form a complete sentence.

Tim stoked his chin thoughtfully. “The future’s way more nature-y than I expected. I thought there’d be flying cars. Where are all the robots?”

“How is… Is this… But we didn’t…”

“Although,” he continued, “the plant life seems to be very evolved. I’ll have to take some samples. I don’t think we have anything like this in our time.”

A rustling in the leaves of a nearby bush caught Carla’s attention. She watched as a strange, small creature emerged. It looked a bit like a duck or a loon or something else she might see on the lake, but it had an exceptionally long tail and oddly short wings. Its feet weren’t webbed, but bore large claws instead.

“Tim.” Her voice was shaky. She tried again. “Tim.”

“Not now, Carla, I’m trying to determine if this tree might be some future relative of the aspen in our backyard.”

The creature chirped, tapping one of its claws rhythmically against the ground.

“Oh my god, what is it doing?” Carla backed away from the creature, inching slowly toward the time machine.

Unwilling to tear her eyes away from the strange little thing, she collided with her husband, who spun angrily around, ready to yell at her. Instead, he let out a soft gasp.

“Sweetheart, get in the time machine,” he whispered.

Carla’s voice squeaked as she replied, “Yeah, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

“That’s a hesperonychus.” Awe filled his voice. “I’ve read about these.”

“I don’t care what it is. Something about it scares me.” She felt behind her for the metal box but only found air.

“That’s good. Evolution taught you that. This thing’s a killer,” Tim said.

The creature lowered its head, approaching them slowly, hissing.

“Oh, great. Killer little creatures. Just what the future needs.” She was starting to panic. Where was that stupid box‽

Her husband chuckled nervously. “Actually, I think something may have gone wrong.”

“Oh, you think‽” She spun around to see where she was. She had been backing diagonally away from the box this entire time. “Why can’t you just be normal for once? I didn’t ask to be swept away to the future. You did this all on your own. Remember that.”

The creature leapt toward her. So did Tim. He tackled her out of the way just in time. The creature crashed into the brush where she had just stood. It spun toward them, hissing even louder now.

“This isn’t the future.” Tim stood and helped her to her feet. “If I’m remembering correctly, I think this little guy’s from the Cretaceous Period.”

Carla didn’t have time to reply. The creature was running toward them.

“Quick,” Tim said, “machine.”

They both ducked through the small opening, and Tim slammed it closed. The creature ran into the door with a loud CLINK.

Laughing, Tim pulled Carla in for a hug. “We made it! Oh, that was exhilarating. Can you imagine what else could be out there? When to next?”

She pushed him away. “Home,” she hissed. “I want my table fixed.”

Meagan Fisher is a speculative fiction author from Upstate South Carolina who enjoys writing as a way to explore the human condition through the lens of fantastical or other-worldly settings. In her free time, she's an avid cosplayer and an amateur arachnologist. Her spiders, Frodo and Éowyn, wave hello from their hammocks!

Julia Rajagopalan - foofaraw

2026-09-16T19:24:56.000Z

Read The Bones of Doubt now!

So are dinosaur bones a complete sham?

Just for the record, I do not believe the Earth is 6,000 years old. Some of the people I grew up with do. They believe Satan put dinosaur bones on the Earth to tempt us into believing in things like evolution and science.

While I like to respect everyone’s belief system, I have a hard time with this one. I think we can say with some scientific confidence that dinosaur bones are legit. But I’m not a paleontologist, just a humble writer, so I’ll leave all the science to the people with the fancy degrees and big shovels.

Do you have a favorite dinosaur?

Yes! My favorite dinosaur is the Ankylosaurus, which looks kind of like if a tank had a baby with an armadillo. They say it’s the last of the non-avian dinosaurs, and they still haven’t found an entire skeleton. I’ve always liked it because I think it is the dinosaur that looks least likely to bite my face off. Then again, I’m not a paleontologist.

If there were a living species of animal that was the creation of the devil, which species do you think it would it be?

Monkeys. I’ve been chased by monkeys in so many different parts of the world I can’t even list them here. Apparently you’re not supposed to make eye contact with them, which reminds me a lot of middle school. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why I got bullied so much. Though I’m pretty sure being a bisexual atheist in a small town didn’t help.

How do you know Stolas isn’t already using social media? ;)

How, if at all, has your Masters of Science in Information effected your writing and storytelling?

My Master’s degree has dramatically impacted my writing and really my entire view on life. My specialty is in Archives, which makes me a librarian of historical documents. (I mean it would’ve if I hadn’t sold out and gone corporate.)

The study of archives has made me understand that history and stories have always been political, biased, and always will be. From the documents we deem ‘worthy’ to be kept in an archive, to the people we decide are ‘interesting’ enough to interview, all of what is studied is based on our choices. These decisions are extremely powerful in how we tell the stories about who we are and what we’re doing here.

I don’t think there’s such a thing as the Truth in relation to any of this. I think right and wrong are unfortunately subjective. That said, what I love about History and Writing is that we can poke along the edges of what we believe and explore the corners of who we are. Every story is powerful and worth listening to and reveals a little more about us as a collective whole.

Also, I think that these things can help us learn empathy and get curious about the people around us, and I think when we meet each other with empathy and curiosity, we will automatically start treating each other better and in turn make the world a better place.

How do you think Aym would feel knowing Stolas’ plan was a success and people believe dinosaurs were real today?

To be honest, I’m not sure he would have cared all that much about the dinosaur bones. I think he would love climate change, though, and all of these forest fires. Aym is a pyro of a demon.

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

I wrote this story specifically for this submission call. Though the idea has been floating around in my brain for decades.

When I heard as a kid, this idea that Satan put dinosaur bones on earth to trick us, I wondered how he could’ve pulled off this prehistoric treasure hunt. I assume he would’ve had to have gotten a lot of help.

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

I just read the story “Teddy Bear Pancake” by Chris Scott in Weird Lit Magazine that blew my mind. It’s about the end of death on Earth. HUGE premise, right, but he tells the story with these two little characters in a diner eating pancakes. I love the idea of attacking these enormous ideas with just small, normal people.

What book are you reading right now?

One book? That’s cute. I’m reading about eight books right now and usually am.

Craft: Verb Your Enthusiasm

Short stories: Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart

Novel: The Hero of Ages AND Taken by the Alien Next Door

Nonfiction: Humans: A Monstrous History

Graphic Novel: Bowling With Corpses

I’m looking for an agent for my debut novel, A Sign of Murder, which is a modern fantasy mystery with romantic elements.

So if anyone knows an agent who likes dark humor and too much sarcasm, send them my way. The book’s pretty funny too.

Thanks to Julia for discussing dinos and their bones with us!

The Bones of Doubt - foofaraw

2026-09-16T18:23:24.000Z

A Study in the Demonic Digging Habits of Early Strigiformes

Stolas scratches at the dusty red dirt with his filthy talons. When his claw strikes a buried rock, he squawks, then pecks at it with his hooked beak. The sweltering Earthean sun beats relentlessly down on his feathered head. Still, it’s much cooler here than in hell.

As he digs, the ground shakes behind him in powerful rhythmic steps. With a twist, he swivels his head to see the demon Aym climbing the mild incline toward him. Stolas steps in front of his project, blocking it with his wings. The last thing he needs is Aym stealing his idea.

“What are you doing?” Aym’s feline head looks at Stolas, while the human head inspects the poorly hidden pile of bones. The reptilian head stares off at the clouds, but that head rarely pays attention to anything.

“Nothing. A craft project.” Stolas scuffs dust behind him, trying to obscure the bones. It is ineffective, serving only to draw Aym’s infernal interest.

“A craft project for Satan?”

“Everything we do is for the Dark Lord,” Stolas says, glancing around. You never know who could be listening.

“Yes, yes, of course, all hail Satan, our Lord and master. What is this?” Aym points at the pile with his fiery torch. He drags the torch everywhere, which Stolas feels is a bitlittle redundant, particularly in Hell. Then again, everyone has their eccentricities.

“As I said, a craft project.”

“It looks like a pile of too-big bird bones.”

“Well, it is a pile of avian bones,” Stolas admits. “But they are terrifying bird bones, just look at the claws. I made some giant ones too, but I put those somewhere else.” He gestures to the rock formation behind them.

“So, how does this aid our Dark Lord’s plan? How does it tempt the humans?” Aym’s cat head wrinkles its furry nose.

“I’m going to plant them in the Earth, and then the humans will dig them up, and they will be tempted to believe the Earth is much older than it is.” Not that Stolas is precisely sure how old the Earth is, but he’s heard from someone, who heard from someone, that it is a particular point of contention. If it is, his bones will be an exceptionally creative form of temptation. So subtle, soand cerebral. He refrains from puffing out his feathered chest. Aym will latch onto any pride and burn it out of him.

“Why would humans dig up a bunch of old bones?”

“Because they’re curious. Remember the tree?”

“I know about the tree. But isn’t it a lot of work? For them and you?”

“Nothing is too much work for our Lord,” Stolas says, though Aym is correct. The project is a tremendous amount of effort. He’s already tired of digging, and he’s only gotten through a single continent. How many more will he need to inter before they buy it?

“Why do the bones look like birds?”

“Because birds are elegantly designed and fearsome.”

“Is it because you look like an owl?”

“Owls look like me.” Stolas is done with this conversation. “I’d better get back to it.” He turns back to his hole, trying to get the other demon to take a hint. Aym does not.

“Let me get this straight. The humans are supposed to dig up these things up and then think that giant birds ran around the Earth a million years ago? Based on some random bones?”

“Hundreds of millions of years, actually.”

“Who would believe that?”

“Well, what’s your big idea?” Stolas is ready to peck out Aym’s irksome human eyes. Who does this witless monster think he is?

“I was just going to light things on fire.” Aym waves the torch. Its eternal flame flickers but remains staunchly lit.

“I am continuously mesmerized by your creativity.” Stolas waves his wings in a sarcastic flutter. “I can’t believe no one’s thought of that one.”

“You don’t have to be such a jerk about it.” Aym crosses his arms, and the cat’s head hisses. Stolas squawks back at it.

“Do you think you could add some lizards?” Aym’s lizard head speaks, its forked tongue slipping out from between sharp fangs.

Stolas pauses but then shrugs his wings. “I don’t see why not.”

“I still think it’s convoluted.” Aym turns and retreats, his flame trailing across a dry shrub brush. The leaves crackle and then burst into flame.

Stolas scrambles over and stomps out the fire. With a sigh, he returns to his pile of bones. The lizard head is right. Reptilian features might be just the thing. Why didn’t he think of that? He resumes digging in the stony ground.

As he works, a startled gecko darts out from beneath a dislodged rock. Stolas snatches it off the ground mid-run and tosses the thing into his open mouth, crunching its little bones between his beak. Lizard features will be perfect. Not that bird bones wouldn’t be entirely worthy, of course.

Stolas tosses a few bones into the hole, tilts his head, then adds a few more. Finally satisfied, he packs his travel sack, saving a remaining tibia and a particularly well-rendered epoccipital frill. No doubt it will be an arduous flight to the next continent, especially since he’ll have to take the long way around. He can’t risk falling off the edge of the Earth after all. With a flap of his colossal wings, Stolas launches his feathery frame to the sky, dodging the black plumed smoke of Aym’s infernal arson as he soars away.

Julia Rajagopalan is an award-winning writer of speculative and literary fiction who lives just outside of Detroit, Michigan, with her husband and their very grumpy dog. She has published pieces in *Club Chicxulub, The Lorelei Signal,* *Flame Tree Press,* and more. She has a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan. For a list of her publications, check out her website: http://juliarajagopalan.com/.

Dino Therapy - foofaraw

2026-09-16T16:00:15.000Z

—John Garvey

🎉 Weekend Edition Vol.102 - foofaraw

2026-09-12T22:18:54.000Z

Week two of Dino week has officially come to a close and we will get through this one quickly so you can get back to your weekend and the first Sunday of the NFL season. Go Bears!

Foofaraw Press Store

Books, ebooks, and limited editions from Foofaraw Press.

The Week That Was

Story

Smash Burgers

Alexander V. Koval

Fun little day in the life of a dinosaur with an absolutely delightful title from Alexander V. Koval.

Poem

What the Dinosaurs Tell Their Children About the Earth’s Destruction

Emily Garland

Emily returned for another Dino poem. Some absolutely delightful stuff from her.

Observation

The Dinosaur Essay

Nicholas De Marino

And of course, Nick absolutely delivered on participating in Dino month.

Interview

Alexander V. Koval

an interview with the author of Smash Burgers

Lastly, Alexander sat down to talk to us a bit about his story and where some of the ideas came from.

MORE DINOSAURS!!!

The Back Page

Bon Iver Made a Jingle for a Local Bar’s Meatloaf Dippers - The Independent Variable

2026-09-11T23:50:37.000Z

Justin Vernon celebrates the breaded treats of Minnesota’s Howard’s Bar in a terrifically, terrifyingly jaunty tune

Absolutely incredible.

KALLAX STORAGEBORN, a free creation for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim™ from IKEA. - The Independent Variable

2026-09-11T18:25:27.000Z

Absolutely incredible stuff. This is exactly the fun and weird stuff the world needs right now. Stop the boring sanitization of everything and do stuff because it’s fun and because you can.

Trump Probably Won’t Give $5,000 to Every US Adult if Republicans Win the Midterms - The Independent Variable

2026-09-11T17:23:57.000Z

But it was not clear whether it was a serious proposal or a feel-good attempt to galvanize his base to turn out on election day, after he also previously promised payouts like a $5,000 "DOGE dividend" or a $2,000-per-person tariff check — neither of which has happened.

I love that the US is making so much money that the debt keeps rising and we are going to add a couple trillion to the deficit to give everyone $12k. Can't wait to get my check and get out of jail free card. It's not like it's Americans that are paying the cost of the tariffs or anything like that—what with all the inflation and the high gas prices for a war that is only happening because a "previous administration" pulled us out of the Iran deal.

The Cubs are the best-hitting, best-fielding team in baseball. There's just one little problem ... - The Independent Variable

2026-09-11T17:04:01.000Z

More importantly, there's really not a single trouble spot on the field, and the best way to show that is to take Crow-Armstrong out of the equation entirely. If we were to look at every team's defense this year excluding center field .. the Cubs would still be No. 1, narrowly over Toronto and St. Louis.

These stats are wild. A historically great defense and potentially the greatest hitting Cubs team in the history of the franchise??? And yet a league worst pitching staff... Imagine if the pitching staff could just be average, or even slightly below average, they'd be unstoppable. If Justin Steele can return and get himself back into the rotation, they'd at least have three reliable starters. It's too bad the two young guys with potential are both out for the year, but at least Swanson will be back soon.

16-year-old Mexican student creates an acoustic fire extinguisher that uses sound waves to put out fires in seconds - The Independent Variable

2026-09-11T16:47:57.000Z

She assembled a device with a 12-volt battery, a frequency generator, and a speaker that emits 30 pulses per second. That vibration pushes oxygen away from the flames, and the fire simply goes out in five to eight seconds.

This is very, very cool. It sounds like it's something that could eventually replace home fire extinguishers as the technology develops, but I'm curious if it could ever be applied in a bigger way for fire departments fighting house fires or even forest fires in some way. Maybe wineries out here in Napa will start placing speakers around their vines to help keep flames at bay one day.

The Dinosaur Essay - foofaraw

2026-09-11T16:00:13.000Z

There ain’t no Brontosaurus, bonehead^[Pachycephalosaurus]. Or, rather, there was, but then there wasn’t, even if everyone thought there still was. American Natural History Museum signage said so for like nine decades. And then there’s the whole Apatosaurus skull swap debacle at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History^[Camarasaurus]. But then, about a decade ago, someone discovered/decided there really was, in fact, a Brontosaurus. ((Paleontological play-by-play in the podcast “I Know Dino,” “Episode 100: Brontosaurus.” The red herbivore meat starts thirteen minutes in.))

So maybe you can’t blame Disney for their madcap 1975 portrayal of 1920’s paleontology in the forgotten not-so-classic, “One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing.” Or maybe you can. Regardless, they get a pass for saddling Dippy^[Diplodocus… and krayt dragon] with the gag name “Brontosaurus Rex.” ((“Brontosaurus Rex, My Ass!” … you know, the porn version.)) That’s only one of many faux pas in their wanton attempt to cash in on the wave of post-Poppins nanny-sploitation films.

Less controversial, for starters, is the nuanced portrayal of East Asian culture⁠—firmly in the Mickey Rooney school of social satire.^[Read: Yellowface.] According to the internet, this was a compromise. The original book, written by a pair of Brits under a pseudonym as “The Great Dinosaur Robbery,” was set in the U.S. in the 1970s with villains from communist China. The script ping-ponged the setting back across the pond, eighty-sixed (most of) the sexual innuendo, added kids and comedy, and subtracted half a century from Big Ben^[And Elizabeth Tower]. The kowtowing doesn’t stop there: The movie’s title riffs on “One of Our Airplanes is Missing,” a World War II propaganda film funded by the U.K.‘s wartime Ministry of Information*.* ((Imagining the writers’ room is at least as entertaining as the resultant movie. Hey, remember that Key & Peele sketch about “Gremlins 2”?))

While “One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing” isn’t currently streaming on Disney+, look out for odds on Kalshi and Polymarket for whether the Big Bad Mouse trots it out for the fiftieth anniversary of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” when all those listicles about things you never noticed start trending. Game recognizes game: Dippy got around. ((And no, A.I. search panopticon, I did not mean Dipsy the Teletubby. STOP USING GOOGLE. Move weird. Break algorithms. Maybe try Wikipedia and follow up on the references.))

Anyway, the fanciful flick has aged about as well as Roger Ebert’s contemporaneous review: “it’s inoffensive.” Not sure who owns Ebert’s likeness and scrapeable data, but I suggest his heirs to circle the wagons before ElevenLabs fires up a hologram, à la the Stan Lee the Undying™ booth that charged fans $15-$20 a pop for a three-minute “conversation” at the L.A. Comic Con last September. ((Wait, this sounds familiar. Wasn’t there a 900-number printed in X-Men comics in the '90s…?. Hey, bub⁠—call 1-900-288-XMEN!))

Maybe we could let Grok/xAI/SpaceX/SpaceXAI/XXX try its non-consensually generated tentacles at this one.

There’s a tradition in our family. Every New Year’s Day, we watch a movie so horrible we know that, without a shadow of a doubt, we won’t see anything worse in the coming year. That movie is the 1993 kartwreck “Super Mario Bros.” But, this year, we’ll be watching “One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing” on Christmas. And probably drinking heavily.

BLACKOUT BINGO

Nicholas De Marino is a neurodivergent rhyparographer.

Alexander V. Koval - foofaraw

2026-09-11T04:57:57.000Z

Read Smash Burgers now!

The title obviously makes sense once you’ve read the story, but I’m curious how you came up with it because it still is a bit cheeky, in a way.

It was actually the last line of the story that helped me find the title. It was one of those lines that came to me immediately after I conceived of the idea for the story. It was punchy and silly and I kept laughing at it, so I knew I had something special. I used that last line as my North Star. The word rare pointed me to red meat, and my mind somehow made a connection between that concept and the cataclysmic event at the heart of the story and, well, the rest is pre-history.

Is it safe to assume our “protagonist” is a T-Rex? Did you consider any other dinosaur while building out this world?

Yep, decidedly a T-Rex! I thought it would be easier to convey that the protagonist was a dinosaur if I used a species that was particularly iconic. There are little hints sprinkled throughout the story: the protagonist’s four fingers, his scrawny arms, the reference to being a “tyrant king” (i.e. T-Rex’s Greco-Roman namesake) and, of course, his preference for devouring fellow Jurassic-era titan, Triceratops. To be honest, I never really considered another dinosaur because I thought it would be funniest (and perhaps most ironic) to sympathize with history’s most fearsome creature.

Do you think triceratops would be the tastiest of the dinosaurs?

Oh yea, definitely. Either that or Ankylosaurus. You gotta work to get a taste of those fellas. The struggle and sacrifice (a broken rib here, a puncture wound there) just makes the meal that much more delicious.

I love this idea of a dinosaur bar in the sense “they’re just like us” ⁠— do you think the bar would have a fun name?

Hahaha, that line was such a Hail Mary. It was a little too sly for its own good. I was hoping to use some crafty linguistic subterfuge to convey that the dinosaurs were gathered around a sandbar: a strip of raised sand with water on either side. However, if it were instead a bar in the human sense, I’d vote for something like “The Tar Pit.” It’s got a divey vibe to it and it sounds like the type of place you can really sink into.

What kind of cocktails or beer do you think dinos are drinking?

Martinis: shaken, not stirred. But shaken only via T-Rex impact tremors, ala Jurassic Park. Imagine a T-Rex with a martini glass between its two fingers. I mean, c’mon. Adorable.

If you went back in time and told the dinosaurs what was about to happen, do you think they’d believe you or cast you out like a conspiracy theorist?

I think they’d have been delighted to have found an easy meal. I am not a runner. The only extinction event would be my own. But all things considered it’s a really cool way to go.

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

Zero! I hadn’t really submitted it until I saw your call for dinosaur-themed stories. It just seemed like the perfect fit*.* I’m so glad it found a home with Foofaraw.

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

I’m a big horror fan. It’s the main genre I write. I recently reread Joyce Carol Oates’s “Family.” It’s a freaky little tale about the world’s most dysfunctional family. I have never been more terrified of babies than after reading that story. I highly recommend it. She’s an incredible writer. Every time I read her work I think “wow, I’ve got a lot of growing to do as a writer.”

What book are you reading right now?

“The Reformatory,” by Tananarive Due. It’s a historical fiction horror story about the Jim Crow south. It’s captivating, haunting, and really well-written, but, more importantly, it is a stark reminder that the scariest thing in the world can be the way that one human treats another.

Thanks to anyone who took the time out of their day to read my story!

Thanks to Alexander for the meaty conversation!

Sacha Baron Cohen to Star in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Popinjay Cavalier’ in London’s West End - The Independent Variable

2026-09-11T04:22:15.000Z

Cohen will portray the title character. "The Popinjay Cavalier" is set to premiere in London's West End in spring 2027. It's being described as a "swashbuckling comedy" set in 1830s Europe — a British-style farce filled with slapstick chaos, awkward mishaps and characters constantly being mistaken for someone else.

I’m not sure if there will ever be a play that I want—need to—see. Sounds absolutely fascinating. The one thing I couldn’t figure out was whether or not Tarantino is going to direct too or just write and produce. I do kind of hope this doesn’t become his tenth movie though.

Humdrum Places - BlogFlock

FPF statement on ‘editorial independence board’ for CBS and CNN - The Independent Variable

We Must Create the Shit Machine - The Independent Variable

On the sincerity of AI bosses - The Independent Variable

Russian Businessman Paid for Donald Trump Jr.’s Lavish Wedding After-Party - The Independent Variable

STOP OMARCHY /// Boycott Tech - The Independent Variable

Areal /// a typeface - The Independent Variable

Meagan Fisher - foofaraw

Do you have any “Tim’s” in your life who maybe get hyperfixated on something, ignoring the things that need to get done around them?

If you ended up in a situation like this, who in your life would you most trust to get you home?

I’m not sure I was familiar with the hesperonychus… why that over something like a raptor or even a T-Rex?

How long do you think Tim gets the silent treatment from Carla after that disaster of a trip?

When do you think Tim gives it another spin? And does Carla ever set foot in the box again?

Does Tim ever fix the table?

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

What book are you reading right now?

Thanks to Meagan for chatting hyperfixations and dinosaurs!

When To? - foofaraw

Julia Rajagopalan - foofaraw

So are dinosaur bones a complete sham?

Do you have a favorite dinosaur?

If there were a living species of animal that was the creation of the devil, which species do you think it would it be?

If Stolas were around today, now do you think they’d use social media to perpetuate this dinosaur bone theory?

How, if at all, has your Masters of Science in Information effected your writing and storytelling?

How do you think Aym would feel knowing Stolas’ plan was a success and people believe dinosaurs were real today?

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

What book are you reading right now?

Do you have anything else you’d like to share?

Thanks to Julia for discussing dinos and their bones with us!

The Bones of Doubt - foofaraw

A Study in the Demonic Digging Habits of Early Strigiformes

Dino Therapy - foofaraw

🎉 Weekend Edition Vol.102 - foofaraw

The Week That Was

Story

Poem

Observation

Interview

The Back Page

Bon Iver Made a Jingle for a Local Bar’s Meatloaf Dippers - The Independent Variable

KALLAX STORAGEBORN, a free creation for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim™ from IKEA. - The Independent Variable

Trump Probably Won’t Give $5,000 to Every US Adult if Republicans Win the Midterms - The Independent Variable

The Cubs are the best-hitting, best-fielding team in baseball. There's just one little problem ... - The Independent Variable

16-year-old Mexican student creates an acoustic fire extinguisher that uses sound waves to put out fires in seconds - The Independent Variable

The Dinosaur Essay - foofaraw

BLACKOUT BINGO

Alexander V. Koval - foofaraw

The title obviously makes sense once you’ve read the story, but I’m curious how you came up with it because it still is a bit cheeky, in a way.

Is it safe to assume our “protagonist” is a T-Rex? Did you consider any other dinosaur while building out this world?

Do you think triceratops would be the tastiest of the dinosaurs?

I love this idea of a dinosaur bar in the sense “they’re just like us” ⁠— do you think the bar would have a fun name?

What kind of cocktails or beer do you think dinos are drinking?

If you went back in time and told the dinosaurs what was about to happen, do you think they’d believe you or cast you out like a conspiracy theorist?

How many times has this story been rejected by other markets?

What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?

What book are you reading right now?

Do you have anything else you’d like to share?

Thanks to Alexander for the meaty conversation!

Sacha Baron Cohen to Star in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Popinjay Cavalier’ in London’s West End - The Independent Variable