No, this isn’t my Christmas table. This is the traditional 12-course Christmas dinner of some lucky Ukrainian who still has his health and isn’t doomed to eating nothing but grass from now and until the end of days.

Not that I’m resentful or anything.

Merry Christmas!

People keep asking how I got my kid to be so into reading.

Here’s how. Between the ages of 1 and 6, when kids are already mobile but can’t entertain themselves for long periods of time, I told her stories. All the time I told stories. My mouth still hurts from all the stories I told.

As a result, she got used to constantly absorbing stories. Reading, as we all know, is hallucinating while awake. Words come in, and your brain starts creating images on their basis. Once you get used to this form of hallucination, to your brain creating images out of words, you can’t stop. It’s addictive.

Now my daughter seeks words to trigger the creation of images by herself. Of course, TV, screens, etc create images for you, and it’s so much easier. This is why stories should come first. Kids need to learn to create images out of words. That’s the number one goal. Then they won’t be seduced by the easy, ready-made images offered by screens.

Why in English, though? Are these English-speaking refugees? I’m guess not, so who is the intended recipient of the statement? For whose sake is the posturing conducted? Who lives rent-free in the brains of these performatively welcoming Germans?

It’s mystifying.

This semester I learned most of my freshmen had never taken an exam on which only one attempt was allowed.

I am… deeply frustrated with our education system.

High schools that offer students exam retakes are seriously impinging on students’ ability to succeed in college.

https://x.com/HKBradshaw/status/1870975068635054588?t=7YUeh8YU8DgwKajCJKd9rA&s=19

This explains a lot. I’ve been wondering why Freshmen expect to be able to rewrite the exam before even taking a look at the corrections. It makes no sense because if you don’t have a skill, you can rewrite a hundred times, and it won’t help.

But yes, it’s some sort of a new technique they are doing in high schools where you get endless retakes until you somehow stumble into a better grade.

Dear parent, don’t be a weirdo creep.

Seriously, can the dude figure out his own sex life without mommy and daddy helicoptering around?

I’ve been lecturing for years about the imminent threat of China effectively overtaking the Panama Canal. We will all be massively screwed when China and Russia control our number 1 trade route. I’m kind of shocked that finally somebody on route to the WH is taking notice.

People who are bleating excitedly about how horrible Trump’s statements are, please unveil your own plan. Forget who built what and when. What are we all going to do if China decides to cut us off from the canal it now largely owns?

I can’t believe this issue is finally getting raised, and I’m very glad.

Everything around us is set up to prevent us from accumulating wealth. More and more people rent because they can’t buy a house. Families increasingly need two or even three cars. The practice of fixing appliances or shoes is gone, pushing people to buy new ones all the time.

In the midst of all that, there are incredible suckers who facilitate their own despoliation by foregoing the biggest financial benefit of being in a relationship. Not having to pay two sets of rent and utilities is one of the few remaining ways we have to shore up our financial situation. But it’s easier to profit off us if we are unattached and alone. We are exhorted to remain unattached and alone (under the guise of freedom and choice, as always) because this makes us easier to fleece. And as absolute dummies, we agree. 

Also, these people do not love each other because sharing the day-to-day life is one of the most enjoyable parts of being in love.

I’m sick as a dog, people. Some nasty kid coughed in my face, and now I’m down for the count.

I still have to grade and respond to students and colleagues, which takes the form of me staring at each word I write veeeeeery carefully to avoid basic spelling errors. I misspelled my own first name twice in a row, so that you know what I’m talking about.

On a positive side, I received some nice anonymous questions and I’ll answer them later today.

I took Tanya and the boys to ride the train in Japan

What do you notice?

https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1870975093607940580?t=h_rkYvLWDYpba0s4hGnfQw&s=19

I notice that nobody except a rude American is sticking a camera into people’s faces. Of course, it’s too much to ask that a person Google the country he’s visiting to find out what behaviors are acceptable.

What can diabetic tourists have for breakfast in Mediterranean countries? Does anybody have any suggestions?