Elon Musk’s Cheeky Tweet and the Mystery of Too Many Modals

The other day, Elon Musk posted a tweet that’s both hilarious and oddly revealing. Alongside a fake Aston Martin ad featuring a suggestive photo, Musk wrote: “This meme ad was made in 2013 when it was actually vaguely possible that it might be real.” Now, let’s pause for a second. What does “actually vaguely possibleContinue reading “Elon Musk’s Cheeky Tweet and the Mystery of Too Many Modals”

Payback Time!

When people think of wealth, their minds often gravitate toward the amount of U.S. dollars (USD) a person or a nation possesses. This perception is no accident. The ones in charge of printing USD—the United States and its Federal Reserve—have every reason to want the world to equate wealth with their currency. For them, it’sContinue reading “Payback Time!”

Greetings, Mr. Trump – Oops! I Mean Mr. Gorbachev!

The Cold War divided the world into two camps: the communist bloc, led by the Soviet Union, and the so-called “free world,” championed by the United States. This bipolar struggle was ideological at its core, with communism and capitalism vying not just for economic and political dominance, but for the soul of humanity. Militarily, thisContinue reading “Greetings, Mr. Trump – Oops! I Mean Mr. Gorbachev!”

Empires and Their MEGA Populace

The British Empire—From Cottonopolis to Colonies Picture Manchester in the 19th century—a city of factories, smoke-filled skies, and a constant hum of machinery. Known as Cottonopolis, it was the heart of British industry, spinning out textile goods for a global market. Britain’s empire was massive, stretching over continents and bringing wealth to its elite. ButContinue reading “Empires and Their MEGA Populace”

The 2024 Trump Win and the Global End of the Ideology Era

The 20th century was defined by big ideas, big “isms.” It was the century of ideologies. Communism, socialism, liberalism, liberal democracy, fascism—all these systems rose, flourished, and, for the most part, imploded. It was an era where nations didn’t just build economies or form governments; they constructed entire identities around these grand ideas, each convincedContinue reading “The 2024 Trump Win and the Global End of the Ideology Era”

While the Chinese gan and the Americans do, the French Continue to Faire

~湖蓝妹子~ 2018,侒躺平不干了。做宅男宅女也冇兴趣,就听丽萨的话,去做个佛系咸鱼。 飞机飞去张家界,和韩国人,K-pop 粉丝,以及别的咸鱼在缆车站里推挤尴聊。记得那条怒的名字叫年华蓝怒,也许是莲花南路?总而言之吧,那条怒在张家界,张家界在中国湖蓝省。 中午在大厅,一个当地姑娘进来,问卖东西的另一个当地姑娘, “你干饭没有?要不要去干饭?”  中国这个 “干” 字可不得了!你不是上山干革命,就是上床干事,要不就是拿刀子把碍事的人干掉。凡是可以干的,大多都不是好事。你要是个挂壁仔,卖五元一份挂壁饭,把事干砸了,老板骂娘,“你干的好事!” 你一听生气,本想说,“我不干了!” 又说不出来,因为是个挂壁仔,没出息的东西,还能干什么? 我心想这个湖南妹子好粗鲁,饭不好好吃,要干。饭好,就使劲干。要是没干够,就再干。好吃, 爱吃,使劲吃。一个电影不错,好看,爱看,使劲看。喜欢干,爱干,使劲干。说干就干。听得人腿软。 后来去书上一查,原来这个 “干” 字是个古话,“干者,噉也;”《北史 · 贺若弼传》:“上【隋文帝】谓曰:‘我以高熲、杨素为宰相,汝每昌言此二人唯堪噉饭耳,是何意也?” 皇帝的意思是说,“我把高,杨二人作宰相,但你却一天到晚说,这两个人是饭桶,只会干饭。你是什么意思?” 可见不但是湖南妹子粗鲁,古人也粗鲁。 顺便说说:噉者,餤也,可见古 “敢”,“炎” 同音。OK,老铁们,那个 “赤日炎炎” 的 “炎” 字,不是你噉饭噉多了 “喉咙发炎” 的 “炎” 字。你要是把“赤日炎炎” 念成 “赤日盐盐”,你就是上了他们北方人的当了,馒头包子噉多了,烙饼大葱餤多了,炸酱面干多了。你要是想像个正经人说话,渠就跟藕一样,不说 “赤日盐盐”,说 “赤妮干干”。何者?噉、餤、干,一音之转也,唐宋古音也,吾中华之正音,必也日习之而后心甘焉,而后谓之有学之士也乎。广-涩-咪 “赤日淹淹”!又广-涩-咪 “赤日盐盐”,又广-涩-咪 “吾爱汝!” 世风愈下,人心不古,于是乎可见。 ~“做瑟膜哦?”~ 你兮台湾旅游,在台北坐它的地铁,膏做 “捷运”。就兮地铁麽,鬼晓得为什么要把它膏做 “捷运”!后来你回想起波士顿,当时坐它的地铁,那些一百年前造的老车,车皮上写着: “rapid transit”。 你恍然大悟,“哦,原来是这么回事!但是那个不是美国话吗?哪里是日本话呀!あなたは日本語を話さない! あなたには良心がない!!ばか!!!” 捷运里面拥挤,不小心碰到一个台湾女人的后边,她就恼火,说,“做瑟膜哦哦哦~~~?” 台湾女人即使生气了,训斥人,“做瑟膜哦哦哦~~~?” 说得也好性感!我想我要是在大陆,比如说北京的地铁上,手不小心碰到一个女人的身上,那就倒霉了,那我听到的,不会只是简单的 “做瑟膜哦哦哦~~~?” 而是带“干”字的一通训斥。首先是: “你干麻?” ,“你想干麻”? 大陆的女子一生气,张嘴说出来的第一个字就是那个Continue reading “While the Chinese gan and the Americans do, the French Continue to Faire”

China’s tǔháo (土豪) and Russian Oligarchs

The Rise of the Superrich and Their Impact on China and Russia The latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century saw the emergence of a powerful class of superrich individuals in both China and Russia, who amassed wealth at an extraordinary pace. In China, these individuals, known colloquially as 土豪 (nouveauContinue reading “China’s tǔháo (土豪) and Russian Oligarchs”

Old Dan Tucker, Alex Jones, and the American Archtype

Every time I come across Alex Jones on social media, the old nursery song “Old Dan Tucker” starts to rhyme in my head. I don’t know what Old Dan Tucker looked like, but if he were real, I’d bet he had the face of Alex Jones. I learned the song years ago when my childrenContinue reading “Old Dan Tucker, Alex Jones, and the American Archtype”

A Layman’s Story about DNA

A Conversation with AI about DNA and Life Yego: OK AI! I don’t know anything about biology, but I have a layman’s idea of how living things come about. I’m going to tell you my story, and you tell me if it makes sense. Deal? GPT: Deal! Go ahead and tell me your story, andContinue reading “A Layman’s Story about DNA”

How to Brainwash a People and Have Them Thank You for It

One time during a lunch break at work, I remarked to an American colleague of mine that Americans are the most brainwashed people. He was taken aback. Several days after that, we ran into each other again. He said to me, “On the matter of Americans being the most brainwashed people, I have to agreeContinue reading “How to Brainwash a People and Have Them Thank You for It”