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.
Kebabs and Ruins
Scientific Atheism
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 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.
Color of the Year
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.
A Covert Misanthrope
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.
Amended
Excuse me, I have to amend the preceding post. The word democracy has to be banned, too. Because
Phase Out Phrasing
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.
Price of Fame
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!”
Strange Pronunciation
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?
The Global Favela Loves
An anti-racist colleague said, “Look, I understand completely why you support Ukraine but have you noticed that only majority white countries are pro-Ukraine? People of color here and globally aren’t.”
To the very white anti-racist colleague, “people of color are against” means everybody should be against, too. Because “people of color” are an idol that must be worshipped. But he’s right in that the global favela is unanimously happy about the war in Europe. And unanimously supportive of the initiators of the war. It’s not mysterious why that is.
The reason isn’t that Russia gives them money. The US gave much more money over the years, and the global favela detests the US. They’ll take the money but would withhold the love. This is the issue of civilizational competition. Isn’t it enjoyable to see your competitor suffer? That’s what this is about.
Since we are on it, I strongly suggest we substitute the expression “the Global South” which is ridiculous because much of it is in the North with “global favela.” It’s a lot more descriptive and precise c
Free Money
I highly recommend this short clip about the US Treasury sending out untraceable blank checks to the tune of billions:
I work for a state-funded organization, and there’s no opportunity for me to spend even $5 without three levels of review. The money is controlled with ruthless efficiency.
That the federal government couldn’t figure out how to avoid the egregious abuses described in the video is impossible to believe.
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