I’m here in Romania right now, the child of a Romanian who managed to get out during communism. I’m trying to help push the country ever so slightly towards fixing all these ancient systemic issues. It’s hard goddamn work getting even the smallest reform done, but somebody’s gotta do it.

A Pole finds a magic lamp, rubs it, and out pops a genie. He’s given 3 wishes.

“For my first wish, I want Poland to be raided by the Mongols”.

The Mongolian horde arrives after a month, burns and pillages the countryside, and then they go home.

“For my second wish, I want Poland to be raided by the Mongols”

Another month passes, and then the horde returns, burning and pillaging all the villages that had barely had time to be rebuilt. The genie asks:

“I think I know what your third wish is going to be. My question is: why? What have your countryman done to deserve such a thing?”

“We may be raided 3 times, but the Mongols have to go through Russia 6 times!”

Just FYI, this conversation isn’t about the US. Also, that comparison is fucked in so many ways.

Here’s an absolute classic unix koan about the terminal:

One evening, Master Foo and Nubi attended a gathering of programmers who had met to learn from each other. One of the programmers asked Nubi to what school he and his master belonged. Upon being told they were followers of the Great Way of Unix, the programmer grew scornful.

“The command-line tools of Unix are crude and backward,” he scoffed. “Modern, properly designed operating systems do everything through a graphical user interface.”

Master Foo said nothing, but pointed at the moon. A nearby dog began to bark at the master’s hand.

“I don’t understand you!” said the programmer.

Master Foo remained silent, and pointed at an image of the Buddha. Then he pointed at a window.

“What are you trying to tell me?” asked the programmer.

Master Foo pointed at the programmer’s head. Then he pointed at a rock.

“Why can’t you make yourself clear?” demanded the programmer.

Master Foo frowned thoughtfully, tapped the programmer twice on the nose, and dropped him in a nearby trashcan.

As the programmer was attempting to extricate himself from the garbage, the dog wandered over and piddled on him.

At that moment, the programmer achieved enlightenment

Source: https://catb.org/~esr/writings/unix-koans/gui-programmer.html