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Feb 15, 2006
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Coined words

This week's words
eustasy
pangaea
McJob
locust years
prehensile
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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

McJob

(muhk-JOB) Pronunciation Sound Clip

noun: A low-paying, non-challenging job with few benefits or opportunities, typically in the service sector.

[Coined by Douglas Coupland, in his novel Generation X, after McDonald's fast-food chain.]

"While Manitoba's Doer administration negatively labelled the customer contact centre opportunities as McJobs, Hamm saw the potential of customer contact centres for creating high-calibre careers."
Steve Demmings; Province Missing Boat Attracting High-tech Jobs; Winnipeg Free Press; Feb 3, 2006.

X-Bonus

War, at first, is the hope that one will be better off; next, the expectation that the other fellow will be worse off; then, the satisfaction that he isn't any better off; and, finally, the surprise at everyone's being worse off. -Karl Kraus, writer (1874-1936)

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