Rhino seems Badass

I have worked for Rhino for six days, and am still unfamiliar with most of the staff. Those that I have met thus far know me as the guy who used to work at Dynamic, across the way; most of the conversations I have had concern the differences between the two companies. The Rhino planters are curious about the tree prices and quality specs. They wonder if they would be better off, if they would make more money, on the other side.

I never say much about what strikes me as a pretty stark contrast in the aesthetics of the two companies. This being that the people at Rhino are different, more abrasive, and wilder than their counterparts at Dynamic.

For instance, there are about fifteen times as many facial piercings in the Rhino camp. People smoke and smoke pot constantly; in the trucks, at camp and on the block. I would venture to say there are ten smokers at Rhino for every one at Dynamic. The music plays louder and there is more yelling: there are more patch-strewn hooded sweatshirts than, say, polypro fleeces from Mountain Equipment Co-op. There is more hair dye, and less redundant/beauracratic tongue-in-cheek 'safety meetings' where we are lectured about the possibility of falling trees in the bushline.

At Dynamic there are a group of men who go to the gym on the day off. One of the crew bosses has a bench press outside his trailer. At Rhino, there is no-one like that. On my old crew, there was Benson, who played and recorded sugary, Belle and Sebastien inflected twee-pop on vintage analogue equipment. On my new crew, there are Mark and Riley, who play in a band called "Throat Kick."

There are also more dogs in camp, roaming like strays, being thrown out of the mess tent, chasing vehicles, and chewing up copies of the company newsletter: "The Turbulent Times."