what have you been up to since august 5?

Well, if you are one of 33 Chilean miners, you've been TRAPPED in a MINE 700 meters below the surface. SINCE AUGUST 5th. And for the first 17 of those days, you survived on emergency food rations and had ZERO communication with the outside world. 

photo from news.com.au

What would you do to pass the time? Besides twice-daily prayer sessions, one miner reports that he runs 10km a day. Hats off to you, dude--the world is literally crashing in around you and yet you still manage to get in some cardio. After drilling three small shafts to deliver food and set up communication, rescuers are now getting close to completing a rescue shaft that might be successful in bringing the miners to the surface. Might. 


The shaft will only be big enough to rescue one at a time. A big concern is the order in which the miners will be brought to the surface, considering the shaft may implode during the process. According to a report from the Guardian, (that you can read here) "Last up will be those considered most capable of handling the anxiety of being left behind as their comrades disappear one by one." Can you imagine waiting in that line?


In other news, CONGRATS to Kim Jong-un who was announced this week as North Korea's next in line for the position of egomaniacal dictator! This means that North Korea, which has been keeping totalitarian power in the Kim family since 1948, is going to continue its legacy of world's most delusional state. And just in case you were worried, this recently released picture confirms that Jong-un will continue in his father's footsteps: Keeping North Korea cool and casual by always wearing pajamas. Everyday. Everywhere.

That's Jong-un looking smart in black while his father, Jong-il on the right, has chosen the safari khaki,
complete with stunna shades.  (photo from Christian Science Monitor)

But WAIT, you're thinking, HOLD the PHONE. What about KIM JONG-NAM, the eldest son? Shouldn't he be next in line? Unfortunately for him, fortunately for Jong-un, Jong-nam lost favor with his father when, back in 2001, he tried to sneak past Japanese customs using a forged Dominican Republic passport. Where was he headed? Well, where every oppressed son of an irrational dictator who is really just like all the other kids wants to go:

TOKYO DISNEY!

I wonder what gave him away--the fact that the name on the passport translated directly as "Fat Bear" or the fact that of all the nationalities to choose from, an Asian tried to pose as a Dominican?