Borges changed world literature like probably nobody else in the twentieth century. It’s all split into before and after Borges. Which is why I recognize his importance and absolute greatness.

But I don’t read him. I personally find his stories insufferable.

It’s like root canals. They are extremely important. They help people save their natural teeth. I’ve had several. But while I’m very grateful to modern dentistry for the root canals, I didn’t enjoy them.

Of course, root canals are enjoyed by nobody while Borges is read by many people who love his books. As all analogies, mine stinks. But that’s how I feel about Borges. Deeply respect, recognize his greatness, and would consider reading him again if the only alternative was a root canal.

Here’s a very short post from the past that gives a glimpse into why Borges is so important.

I told you, my friends. This is population replacement. Clear as day.

I feel bad about those poor Indians because the climate alone will be a shock. But how stupid did those Russians have to be to allow themselves to be sent off to war against fellow Slavs in order to be so joyously replaced? Because they’ll continue signing up to die even after this announcement, leaving their wives with large government payouts and all ready and open for new husbands from India.

How do they still not have a problem with it, is what I don’t get.

Russians put a kebab stand amidst the ruins of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka. This is close to where my mother is from.

This is very symbolic of what Russia brings. Garish, ugly kebab vans amidsr the most abject ruins.

Folks, I promise it’s the last quote from Twitter I’ll post today but please listen to this preacher. She’s giving the exact same argument verbatim that we were given in anti-religion classes in the USSR. I felt a jolt of recognition because I heard all this before in classes called “Scientific Atheism” that were obligatory in Soviet education.

The most stunning sermon I may have ever heard.

This is diseased Christianity. pic.twitter.com/B7RTIdOzLJ

— Bree Solstad (@BreeSolstad) December 6, 2025

The only difference is that in the USSR it wasn’t fashionable to be this emotional but the argument is identical. It’s so weird to hear it in English, you have no idea.

Another big difference is that the Soviets were very open about wanting to eradicate religion. So at least they were honest in this regard.

For those of you who don't spend much time outside of Twitter –

There is currently a big shit fit happening on Instagram because Pantone chose a shade of white as its "colour of the year."

And libs have decided this is apparently because of white supremacy. Or Trump, or… pic.twitter.com/2bdo7E2c70

— Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) December 6, 2025

Yes, but this led to such an explosion of very funny memes on Ukrainian social media that it’s totally worth it. For me, at least. You get together with another Ukrainian these days, say the words “color of the year”, and you both start heaving with laughter.

I strongly suspect this is happening for many people who are not native speakers of English. Probably not for trans-childed Somalians from the previous post but only because they don’t exist.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d much rather have an entire Somali immigrant family with two happy trans kids living right next door to me than a white supremacist or a racist MAGA lunatic any day of the week.

— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) December 6, 2025

Is this a convoluted way of saying she’d rather have no neighbors at all? Because the likelihood of her finding “an entire Somali immigrant family with two happy trans kids” is not what one would call high.

Excuse me, I have to amend the preceding post. The word democracy has to be banned, too. Because

Another phrase that needs to be abandoned for at least a decade is “a threat to democracy.” It’s been so overused that anybody who still pronounces it seriously comes off like an intellectual lightweight.

I was about to go into the classroom on Wednesday, when I got a call from the hospital.

“Hi, I’m with your mother, and I want to give you an update. The doctor says her cancer is back but they don’t know if it metastasized, and you know, I really like your show, I watch every week. The last week’s episode was really funny!”

I really want to listen to the Rufo-Lomez podcast, but their intonations are driving me up a wall. Can anybody do me a favor, listen to them for a bit and tell me where this pronunciation is from? In Rufo it’s particularly noticeable. Is it regional? Class-based? Or what?