I ❤️ the Mandarin translation. The many many times I've been in DC, I've always been in historic awe. DJT has ruined that for me. His filthy hands have smeared his excrement all over this historic place. It's unforgivable. After his whole administration is gone, maybe we can ask Pope Leo to come in and do an exorcism. Until then, my heart can't bear to go there.
I volunteered with our local chapter of the League of Women Voters to register new citizens to vote after their Naturalization ceremonies at the local field office for US Customs and immigration. After all the oaths were taken, the USCIS officer who had conducted the ceremony would make brief remarks and then show a short video of welcome from the President.
During Trump 1.0, Trump scowled the whole way through his speech - clearly reading from the teleprompter. I likened it to when a kidnapper is forcing his hostage to read a prepared statement.
Biden, on the other hand, was clearly thrilled to be welcoming them and even mentioned his own family's immigrant experience. What a night and day difference.
Last year, the Department of Homeland Security disallowed anyone who was not a government employee from doing voter registration on government property. What a shame! I always enjoyed seeing how proud they were to have finally made it to becoming a citizen. And typically, we had registered 50 - 75% of the new citizens after their ceremonies, so it was a good use of our time.
😅 Fortunately for all of us, he seems to be allergic to engaging in fitness training. (Admittedly, I had to google NASM, but I think I got the correct one.)
National Air and Space Museum. That would be my breaking point--I love that museum. The magic of history is that it's about so many great people--GREAT people.
Understandable, considering the officeholder, but we other Americans will benefit from your son's efforts. Congratulations to him, his parents, and to his Scoutmasters and others helping him along the way.
It looks a lot like it but I don't think it's the mugshot. It's probably generated by AI, since they use it for everything from blowing up schools to issuing executive orders.
The version APM uses on their radio broadcast Marketplace of STORMY WEATHER, when the Stock Market really really sucks, would be perfect! if you've ever heard it.
He seems to think his mug shot makes him look tough, so he uses it on everything he can. I think this might be a slightly tweaked AI version with a bit more hair.
He's so damned proud that he's a criminal and got away with it, and is now using his mugshot to dupe people into idolizing it as a symbol of rebellion It's all so juvenile.
I was happy to learn that my new passport wasn't so defiled. (I would have had to apply for that privilege, and, once accepted, travel to Washington.) Rather like getting the gold, platinum, or black versions of credit cards, which mostly serve to advertise that the bearer is a mark.
You have to wonder whether anyone but Trump bought into the idea that the Trump passport had any cachet and would be in high demand. Or did the State Department (which is in charge of issuing passports) set it up to stroke Trump's ego but with the expectation that it would be a flop (i.e., limiting its distribution to the DC passport office).
It's reportedly the portrait Trump prefers, scowling menacingly from above the "minions", although with his cheekbone and jawline firmed up (à la "viril manliness" mode favoured by Hegseth et al.). Rather than mugshot, I suspect it's the mafia don look he's going for.
"There’s one twist that the Trump administration, in all its usual meticulous due diligence, failed to anticipate. As I drew attention to in Saturday’s Just for Skeets and Giggles, the number 250 in Mandarin (pronounced èr bǎi wǔ) is a common insult. It connotes “idiot.” The slang dates back to the Qing Dynasty and remains in vigorous use today. In Chinese culture, the number is considered so inauspicious that prices are rarely set at 250 for anything, and an item costing 250 is simply not given as a gift."
So maybe we all need to learn that hard to pronounce word SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL! 😊
I've been thinking what a shame it is that trump is president for our 250th but now that I know what an insult 250 means in Chinese I'm thinking how apropos. The universe works in mysterious ways..
I did not know that "250" was derogatory and an insult ... but, perhaps for that reason, the paper money in that denomination (but in Monopoly format) should be issued, with DJT on the Monopoly money! On the reverse, the four large numbers beginning with 8 and ending with 7.
I used Google Lens on Jay's post, copied and pasted the resulting text into Google Translate and then hit the icon to sound out the phrase.
Not that that would make any difference, because I only know three things in Mandarin from a trip to China 30 years ago. I know how to say Hello, Please, and the word that is the Chinese equivalent of "Bottoms Up"!
"The result was a name that reads less like a tribute than an awkward legal filing: 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.'”
That made me smile, JK. All it's missing is an "et al.," for additional parties.
"Two 'The's in the title. The grammarian mind reels." Thanks for noting that; it's as cringe-worthy as everything else.
I'd seen a reference to the meaning of 250 in Chinese, but your explanation makes it particularly amusing.
Hope he gets the message, not that I'll find myself in need of the ego-trip hundred dollar bill, much less the "half-wit" version. Few voters will have them, as his incompetence and boredom allow for the war in Iran to go on and on.
Kaiser's Sinica Substack is pretty cool for those of you not familiar with it. I don't read every post because they are so full of information and detail (about China, mostly) but that's what makes it so good. I feel like when I skip a post, I lose a little, so I need to pick up the pace a bit.
I ❤️ the Mandarin translation. The many many times I've been in DC, I've always been in historic awe. DJT has ruined that for me. His filthy hands have smeared his excrement all over this historic place. It's unforgivable. After his whole administration is gone, maybe we can ask Pope Leo to come in and do an exorcism. Until then, my heart can't bear to go there.
My youngest earned the rank of Eagle Scout during T's first term. The congratulatory letter from him was disappointing.
I volunteered with our local chapter of the League of Women Voters to register new citizens to vote after their Naturalization ceremonies at the local field office for US Customs and immigration. After all the oaths were taken, the USCIS officer who had conducted the ceremony would make brief remarks and then show a short video of welcome from the President.
During Trump 1.0, Trump scowled the whole way through his speech - clearly reading from the teleprompter. I likened it to when a kidnapper is forcing his hostage to read a prepared statement.
Biden, on the other hand, was clearly thrilled to be welcoming them and even mentioned his own family's immigrant experience. What a night and day difference.
Last year, the Department of Homeland Security disallowed anyone who was not a government employee from doing voter registration on government property. What a shame! I always enjoyed seeing how proud they were to have finally made it to becoming a citizen. And typically, we had registered 50 - 75% of the new citizens after their ceremonies, so it was a good use of our time.
You put on latex gloves to touch it I hope. The man is repulsive. If he touches NASM, my hands may become deadly weapons.
And I bet it was signed by an autopen. :)
😅 Fortunately for all of us, he seems to be allergic to engaging in fitness training. (Admittedly, I had to google NASM, but I think I got the correct one.)
National Air and Space Museum. That would be my breaking point--I love that museum. The magic of history is that it's about so many great people--GREAT people.
And I bet it was signed by an autopen. :)
Understandable, considering the officeholder, but we other Americans will benefit from your son's efforts. Congratulations to him, his parents, and to his Scoutmasters and others helping him along the way.
My congratulations on today's SK lede — "250 Sad Trombones"...LOL! Shares Meme of The Day with "Enjoy the bagels"!
Pope Leo and all Native Americans can do a special cleansing!!
Anyone who loves DC and wants to join in--to put it back the way it was ⚘️
Amen!
Aside from being a trombonist, there is enough Schadenfreude in this piece to get me through the week.
Am I mistaken, or is the picture of Trump that they are proposing to put on the $250 bill of his mug shot?
It looks a lot like it but I don't think it's the mugshot. It's probably generated by AI, since they use it for everything from blowing up schools to issuing executive orders.
I wish there was a way you could attach a video or sound file of the "sad trombone" notes to this.
Whaa
Whaaa
Whaaa
Whaaaaaaaaa
We can call it the Trumpone song.
The version APM uses on their radio broadcast Marketplace of STORMY WEATHER, when the Stock Market really really sucks, would be perfect! if you've ever heard it.
Isn't that what he's using on all of this garbage?
I think you are mistaken -- but I like the suggestion anyway!
He seems to think his mug shot makes him look tough, so he uses it on everything he can. I think this might be a slightly tweaked AI version with a bit more hair.
This politico article shows what they were planning to use for the "commemorative" passport and I think it looks a lot like his mugshot:
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/28/trump-passports-state-department-00896221
He's so damned proud that he's a criminal and got away with it, and is now using his mugshot to dupe people into idolizing it as a symbol of rebellion It's all so juvenile.
I was happy to learn that my new passport wasn't so defiled. (I would have had to apply for that privilege, and, once accepted, travel to Washington.) Rather like getting the gold, platinum, or black versions of credit cards, which mostly serve to advertise that the bearer is a mark.
You have to wonder whether anyone but Trump bought into the idea that the Trump passport had any cachet and would be in high demand. Or did the State Department (which is in charge of issuing passports) set it up to stroke Trump's ego but with the expectation that it would be a flop (i.e., limiting its distribution to the DC passport office).
The mockup I saw uses the most extreme version of Trump glowering.
and if not, why not?
It's reportedly the portrait Trump prefers, scowling menacingly from above the "minions", although with his cheekbone and jawline firmed up (à la "viril manliness" mode favoured by Hegseth et al.). Rather than mugshot, I suspect it's the mafia don look he's going for.
I love the fact that 250 in Chinese is an insult. How perfect for tRUMP.
iDJiT250
TOO GOOD!
"There’s one twist that the Trump administration, in all its usual meticulous due diligence, failed to anticipate. As I drew attention to in Saturday’s Just for Skeets and Giggles, the number 250 in Mandarin (pronounced èr bǎi wǔ) is a common insult. It connotes “idiot.” The slang dates back to the Qing Dynasty and remains in vigorous use today. In Chinese culture, the number is considered so inauspicious that prices are rarely set at 250 for anything, and an item costing 250 is simply not given as a gift."
So maybe we all need to learn that hard to pronounce word SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL! 😊
I've been thinking what a shame it is that trump is president for our 250th but now that I know what an insult 250 means in Chinese I'm thinking how apropos. The universe works in mysterious ways..
No guitar. Just 250 sad trombones and one invisible accordion. Womp womp waaaaaaaaaah!
The candidate of youthful sharpness and vitality reaches for the name of a pop star and comes up with Elvis Presley, who has been dead for 49 years.
Because you know he has no idea who Elvis Costello is.
Maybe he meant Elvis Grbac.
And although Elvis Presley could strum a guitar, he almost always performed without one --- the better for hip swiveling!
"Do you sing?"
I giggled right at the start with that one! Perfect!
I did not know that "250" was derogatory and an insult ... but, perhaps for that reason, the paper money in that denomination (but in Monopoly format) should be issued, with DJT on the Monopoly money! On the reverse, the four large numbers beginning with 8 and ending with 7.
You must have been giggling the whole time while typing this one. Poetic justice is sweet!=D
èrbǎi wǔ. My new name for Trumpers.
I sure would like to know two things, though.
1. Proper pronunciation, and
2. How to make my computer type that with the correct accents above the letters.
I copy and pasted it! My keyboard isn’t set up for pingyin
Me too! Damn! LOL
I used Google Lens on Jay's post, copied and pasted the resulting text into Google Translate and then hit the icon to sound out the phrase.
Not that that would make any difference, because I only know three things in Mandarin from a trip to China 30 years ago. I know how to say Hello, Please, and the word that is the Chinese equivalent of "Bottoms Up"!
Put 笑死 into google translate and then click the little icon to hear how it is pronounced.
That's the wrong one. But thank you for teaching me something new about Translate!
"The result was a name that reads less like a tribute than an awkward legal filing: 'The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.'”
That made me smile, JK. All it's missing is an "et al.," for additional parties.
"Two 'The's in the title. The grammarian mind reels." Thanks for noting that; it's as cringe-worthy as everything else.
I'd seen a reference to the meaning of 250 in Chinese, but your explanation makes it particularly amusing.
Hope he gets the message, not that I'll find myself in need of the ego-trip hundred dollar bill, much less the "half-wit" version. Few voters will have them, as his incompetence and boredom allow for the war in Iran to go on and on.
Kaiser's Sinica Substack is pretty cool for those of you not familiar with it. I don't read every post because they are so full of information and detail (about China, mostly) but that's what makes it so good. I feel like when I skip a post, I lose a little, so I need to pick up the pace a bit.
OH, LET HIM HAVE HIS CURRENCY. PUT HIS TURKEY NECK FACE ON THE FRONT AND HIS DEMOLISHED WHITE HOUSE ON THE BACK WITH
‘IN OBAMA WE TRUST’
EMBLAZONED ACROSS IT!
He’ll like that.
His nussy on the front and his diapered butt on the back!
Brilliant! Thank you Jay for today's amusement at Cheetolini's expense . . .