​The Wrinkle-Free Dystopia: How Age Verification Laws Are Crushing the Skincare Black Market

The War on Moisturization

It started with pornography. Lawmakers, convinced that the internet was a lawless wasteland corrupting the youth, passed sweeping age-verification bills requiring adults to surrender their IDs before accessing “adult content.” But as is the natural order of all government overreach, it didn’t stop there. In an unprecedented turn, the great legislative minds of our time have decided that the real crisis plaguing America is not economic instability, not healthcare, not climate change—but teenagers getting their hands on anti-aging skincare products.

Yes, dear reader, we are now living in a world where an 18-year-old can enlist in the military, take out crippling student loans, and drive an SUV the size of a small tank—but buying a bottle of retinol serum? Not without an ID.

The Fountain of Bureaucracy

The logic, if you can call it that, is simple: certain skincare ingredients—like retinol, tretinoin, and various acids—can be “harmful” if used improperly. Lawmakers, always eager to protect the nation from itself, have declared war on the reckless and irresponsible youth who dare to seek out wrinkle-free skin before they’ve even graduated high school.

“We can’t allow teenagers to access these potent, age-defying formulas,” said Senator Beauregard T. Wrinklestan (R—Florida). “If kids start using these products too early, they may never develop the natural suffering that builds character. Wrinkles are a rite of passage—like jury duty or being disappointed in your 401(k).”

Under this new law, any online purchase of skincare products will require a government-issued ID, and in some cases, an in-person verification process overseen by a state-licensed dermatologist who will evaluate whether the buyer truly needs the product. (“Ma’am, I see some crow’s feet forming. Approved.”).

Grandma Goes Underground

One of the most immediate victims of this legislative crackdown has been the elderly. While teenagers can still buy enough caffeine to stop their hearts, Grandma’s access to wrinkle-reducing night cream now depends on passing a retina scan and answering security questions about her childhood address.

“I tried to buy my usual collagen serum online,” says 73-year-old Helen Goldberg, a retired librarian. “Next thing I know, I’m being flagged for fraud and accused of identity theft. Apparently, the government thinks it’s suspicious that someone my age is trying to look younger.”

The burden has driven many older citizens into the arms of illegal skincare dealers. In shadowy alleyways and backrooms of assisted living centers, enterprising individuals are moving retinol by the ounce.

“Got that Neutrogena stuff, but if you’re looking for the heavy-duty goods, I got prescription tretinoin—straight from Canada,” whispers a 62-year-old kingpin known only as “Moisturizer Mike.” “No fillers, no parabens, just pure, uncut hydration.”

The Teen Epidemic: Youthful Skin Gone Wild

Lawmakers claim the restrictions are necessary because of the rising epidemic of underage skincare abuse. Their evidence? A shocking number of 16-year-olds using anti-aging products despite having no wrinkles whatsoever.

“When I was young, we didn’t even think about skincare,” said Senator Oldman McGee (D—Wyoming), “We just accepted the ravages of time like real Americans. These kids today? They want to prevent aging before it starts. That’s not natural. That’s some kind of witchcraft.”

Reports from school nurses indicate that teenagers are developing unnervingly smooth skin, resembling either fresh plastic or terrifying Renaissance paintings. “I saw a 17-year-old the other day whose face was completely poreless,“ said one high school administrator. “I had to suspend him for being unnatural.”

Some districts have even started randomly checking students’ bags for contraband anti-aging products. One Texas high school implemented a “Moisturizer Amnesty Box,” where students can turn in their illegal skincare goods without punishment.

“One kid tried to smuggle in an entire Korean skincare regimen inside his geometry textbook,” reported Principal Larry Grimms. “We’re talking essences, serums, overnight masks—the whole nine yards. These kids are getting way too advanced.”

The Wrinkle-Free Resistance

Naturally, teenagers aren’t taking these restrictions lying down. Underground skincare clubs have popped up in suburban basements, where minors exchange illegal face masks and discuss the importance of exfoliation.

“We have to stay vigilant,” says one anonymous member of the resistance, known only as “Poreless Paul.” “The government wants us to age. They want us to look like tired husks by 25. We can’t let that happen.”

Paul and his fellow rebels trade beauty tips like wartime spies. Code phrases have emerged to identify fellow enthusiasts:

• “The night is dark and full of free radicals.”
• “Have you heard of the 10-step routine?”
• “Hydrate or die.”

Authorities recently raided one such club, finding an elaborate skincare speakeasy complete with a hidden refrigerator stocked with chilled eye creams.

“We expected to find drugs,” said Officer Joe Wrinkleson. “Instead, we found kids lying in dark rooms with sheet masks on, talking about skin elasticity. It was horrifying.”

Benjamin Button’s Dilemma: When Age Reverses Too Quickly

The unintended consequence of this legislation? Many young people—desperate to hold onto their precious skincare—are now aging in reverse.

Reports have surfaced of teens so aggressively moisturizing that they appear to be de-aging at an alarming rate. One high school senior, Alex Martinez, was recently mistaken for a middle schooler.

“I just wanted to avoid fine lines,” Alex sobbed, “but now I can’t even get into an R-rated movie without my parents.”

In response, dermatologists are urging caution.

“While it’s important to maintain a healthy skincare routine, excessive anti-aging measures can lead to what we call ‘Benjamin Button Syndrome,’” warns Dr. Linda Pores, an expert in facial elasticity. “If you reach a point where you’re carded at a playground, it may be time to scale back.”

The Future of the Wrinkle-Free Generation

As age verification policies expand, the question remains: What’s next? If protecting the nation’s youth from skincare is the government’s top priority, why stop there?

Proposed legislation suggests that minors may soon need ID to purchase SPF sunscreen, because “you should earn your sun damage the hard way.” Other lawmakers have considered bans on water, arguing that excessive hydration is an unnatural shortcut to healthy skin.

“These kids today drink water like it’s going out of style,” rants Congressman Louie Leatherface. “When I was young, we stayed dehydrated and proud. That’s what built America.”

Experts predict that if current trends continue, American youth will soon be forced to age naturally—without the protective barrier of moisturizers, retinoids, or even basic hydration. By age 30, they will look 50. By 40, they will resemble relics of the Old West.

The government, meanwhile, remains steadfast.

“We are committed to ensuring a nation of equal aging,” says a White House press release. “No one should have an unfair advantage in their battle against Father Time.”

So the message is clear: Wrinkles are a sign of virtue. Youthful skin is a gateway to corruption. And if you want to fight the cruel march of time? Well, you better have your ID ready.

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A “Helpful” Guide for Staying Legal in the Age of Skincare Prohibition

1. Always carry a government-issued ID when purchasing anti-aging products. If you can legally drink but not legally buy a moisturizer, congratulations! You live in America.

2. Use the “Wink-Wink” method. At some stores, pharmacists may sell you illegal skincare under the guise of “sunburn treatment” or “extreme wind protection.” Learn the code words.

3. Seek out an underground esthetician. Many unlicensed skincare specialists are now operating out of abandoned shopping malls, selling high-quality hydration at a premium.

4. Trade with international smugglers. If you’re willing to pay extra, you can find anti-aging serums shipped from unregulated markets in Switzerland, South Korea, and—of course—Mexico.

5. Pretend to be an actor. Hollywood stars still have unrestricted access to skincare because their faces are “essential to the national economy.” Claim you’re in a very important indie film and you just might pass security.

6. If all else fails, flee to Canada. The border patrol won’t stop you if you say the magic words: “I just need a moisturizer, please.”

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A Completely Human Disclaimer

This investigative report is a 100% human collaboration between the world’s oldest tenured professor and a 20-year-old philosophy major turned dairy farmer. No AI was harmed (or even mildly exfoliated) in the making of this article.

Stay hydrated, stay vigilant, and above all else—moisturize responsibly.

PETA’s Monkey Lawsuit: The First Amendment Goes Bananas

A Conversation So Important, Even the Monkeys Can’t Be Left Out

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have taken their fight for animal rights to a whole new level—this time, in a way that would make even the Founding Fathers scratch their powdered wigs. Their latest lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that the government is violating their First Amendment right to talk to monkeys. That’s right. The First Amendment—the cornerstone of democracy, the foundation of free speech, the thing that lets people scream at pigeons in public parks—now apparently extends to primates.

“Give me liberty or give me a banana!” — Some very passionate chimpanzee, probably.

PETA is demanding unrestricted audiovisual access to these monkeys to understand their suffering and, presumably, get their hot takes on current events. This raises so many important legal, ethical, and banana-related questions. For example: What if the monkeys don’t want to talk to PETA? What if they’re just busy monkeying around, and PETA’s interrupting their lunch break? And most importantly, does this mean that soon, we’ll have primate podcasts discussing the banana inflation crisis?

The lawsuit marks a new milestone in America’s legal system: monkey free speech rights. Because if corporations are people, and people are people, why shouldn’t a chimp with a strong opinion also have constitutional protections?

1. Monkey Business Meetings: The New Supreme Court Case?

PETA argues that monkeys are “willing speakers,” which, if true, could spell disaster for business meetings everywhere.

If monkeys have the right to free speech, what’s stopping them from demanding a seat in corporate boardrooms?

“We believe that the best way to improve workplace productivity is to introduce more vines and jungle gyms in office spaces.” — A well-dressed baboon from HR.

Imagine a group of executives in a meeting, discussing corporate strategy, when suddenly a chimpanzee starts wildly gesturing from the end of the conference table. “Excuse me, sir, the monkey would like to speak. He’s very concerned about the lack of banana-based benefits in the company healthcare plan.”

Now, what if the monkey’s ideas are better than the CEO’s? Would it really be that shocking?

2. Planet of the Apps: Coming Soon to Your Smartphone

One of PETA’s key demands is a live-streamed audiovisual feed of the monkeys, because apparently, they want to revolutionize the reality TV industry.

“Coming this fall to Netflix: ‘Keeping Up with the Capuchins’—watch as these high-energy primates swing, scream, and plot revenge against their captors!”

With PETA leading the charge, it won’t be long before we get Monkey TikTok, where highly intelligent primates create viral dance trends and prank videos.

And before you scoff at the idea of monkeys becoming internet stars, just remember: A dog ran for mayor in a small town. Twice.

3. The Banana Republic: A Political Takeover?

PETA claims that monkeys have the ability to communicate, which raises an even bigger question: What if they’re plotting something?

We might be one lawsuit away from monkey politicians taking over Washington, D.C.

“I am not a crook. I am an ape.” — Future monkey politician, avoiding impeachment.

Honestly, could a chimp in a suit really do worse than some of the people currently in office? The approval ratings alone would be through the roof. Voters love a good underdog—or underchimp—story.

But let’s consider the nightmare scenario: what if monkeys start filing taxes?

4. Monkey Jury Duty: The Future of the Legal System?

If monkeys have First Amendment rights, does that mean they’re also eligible for jury duty? Imagine walking into a courtroom and seeing a jury box full of chimpanzees looking at you like you just stole their banana.

“The jury finds the defendant… amusing.”

Court stenographers would have a tough time transcribing the deliberations:

• “Eek ook!”
• “Ook ook eek eek eek?”
• “(Banging noises and banana theft mid-trial.)”

Not to mention the monkey judge slamming his banana-shaped gavel.

5. The Real Monkey Wrench: Can Monkeys Sue?

If PETA wins this lawsuit, it could set a dangerous legal precedent. If monkeys have First Amendment rights, what’s stopping them from filing lawsuits of their own?

“Your Honor, my client is suing the zoo for emotional distress and wrongful banana deprivation.”

If animals can sue, expect an onslaught of lawsuits from cows demanding better working conditions and pigeons filing defamation cases against people who call them “rats with wings.”

6. Primate Podcasts: Monkeys Finally Get Their Own Talk Show

If PETA gets its way, we might soon see monkey-hosted podcasts featuring expert primate guests discussing critical issues like:

• Banana inflation rates
• The impact of climate change on the jungle gym industry
• How to survive a reality TV scandal when caught flinging feces at a rival influencer

“Coming up next on ‘Chimp Chat’: Are humans REALLY the superior species? Our latest debate will SHOCK you.”

Honestly, we should be concerned if monkeys become better interviewers than mainstream journalists.

7. Swing Voters: The Newest Demographic?

If PETA’s lawsuit succeeds, politicians might start campaigning at zoos to win the primate vote.

“If elected, I promise every monkey an unlimited supply of bananas and a seat at the United Nations.”

Debates will include monkey-friendly talking points, and lobbyists will have to throw in extra peanuts to get legislative support.

And let’s face it—if primates can vote, there’s a good chance they’ll make better choices than some of our fellow humans.

8. The Ape Escape: Could PETA Start a Monkey Revolution?

PETA’s lawsuit emphasizes monkey facial expressions and vocalizations as proof that they are “willing speakers.” But has anyone stopped to think about what they’re saying?

What if the monkeys are furious and just biding their time until they overthrow their captors?

“First, we take the lab. Then, we take the White House.” — A suspiciously intelligent-looking chimpanzee.

We’ve all seen Planet of the Apes. We know how this ends.

9. Primate Privacy: The Forgotten Issue

While PETA is demanding a 24/7 live feed of the monkeys, has anyone asked the monkeys if they’re okay with this?

Maybe they don’t want to be reality TV stars. Maybe some of them are shy introverts who just want to eat bananas without being livestreamed to millions of people.

“For years, they studied us in cages. Now, we study them… through the internet.” — Monkey Netflix Original Series Narrator.

10. The Primate Press Conference: When Monkeys Start Calling the Shots

If PETA wins, could we see official monkey press conferences?

“We demand better treatment, more bananas, and the immediate release of all primate political prisoners.”

It would be just as coherent as some human press conferences.

Conclusion: A Lawsuit That Will Change Everything

PETA’s First Amendment lawsuit might just be the most ambitious attempt at expanding free speech rights since the invention of Twitter. If successful, this case will redefine how we view legal rights, democracy, and banana-based economies.

And if monkeys do win their right to free speech, one thing is certain: they’ll probably be better at using it than we are.

Helpful Content for SpinTaxi Readers

• How to Prepare for a Monkey Political Takeover
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching Your Monkey Constitutional Law
• 10 Signs Your Lawyer Might Actually Be a Primate
• Banana Futures: Should You Invest Now Before the Monkeys Do?
• Why Your Employer is Considering Replacing You with a Smart Chimp

Disclaimer

This article is a 100% human collaboration between two sentient beings—the world’s oldest tenured professor and a 20-year-old philosophy major turned dairy farmer. No monkeys were consulted in the writing of this piece, though we suspect they might have a few opinions on it.

Episode 1: “Survivor: Washington, D.C.”

Welcome back to America’s Favorite Unscripted Political Drama, where the stakes are high, the logic is low, and the only winners are the ones who already got paid. That’s right, folks—it’s government shutdown season!

For those just tuning in, here’s the plot: Congress, in a shocking turn of events, has once again failed to do its job. As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are left wondering whether their paychecks will arrive before their landlords do. Meanwhile, members of Congress continue to collect their salaries, ensuring that at least one group of Americans stays financially stable during these trying times.

Like a season finale cliffhanger that keeps repeating itself, the government shutdown is back, proving that our elected officials are as skilled at financial planning as a teenager with their first credit card.

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The “Essential” vs. “Non-Essential” Employee Hunger Games

Every shutdown, we get a masterclass in government priorities, and nothing highlights this better than the essential vs. non-essential employee debate.

Federal employees wait with bated breath to see if their job title translates to “You must come to work, but we won’t pay you” or “You can sit at home and update your LinkedIn.” It’s like a bureaucratic game of “Red Light, Green Light,” except no one really wins, and everyone loses rent money.

Take Jerry, a 12-year veteran of the USDA, who suddenly found out he was non-essential—a blow to his ego and his grocery bill. Meanwhile, Bob from Homeland Security, who describes his job as “mostly forwarding emails,” remains essential and must continue working for free.

“It’s a great honor to serve my country,” Bob says. “I just wish my landlord accepted ‘great honor’ as a form of payment.”

Congress, however, remains 100% essential—at least to themselves. While their staffers beg for Venmo donations, lawmakers continue drawing paychecks like they’re the star quarterbacks of a team that hasn’t won a game since the 1990s.

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National Parks: The Great American “Closed” Sign

One of the first casualties of a government shutdown? Our beloved national parks. Because if there’s one thing Washington, D.C. knows how to do, it’s turn nature into a bureaucratic mess.

Imagine planning a family trip to Yellowstone, only to be greeted by a ranger holding a cardboard sign that reads, “Sorry, the bison are on furlough.”

But don’t worry! While the government might not be able to fund park rangers, it can afford to send law enforcement officers to ticket you for stepping onto closed trails. That’s right—there’s no money for keeping the Grand Canyon open, but there’s plenty of funding for keeping you out of it.

Local businesses, of course, suffer immensely from the closures. Mary, who runs a souvenir shop outside Yosemite, says, “I haven’t seen a customer in days. At this point, I might start selling ‘I Survived the 2025 Shutdown’ shirts instead of ‘I Survived Yosemite’ ones.”

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Congressional Paychecks: The One Thing That Never Shuts Down

Ah, the beauty of Congress: no matter what happens, their paychecks are the last thing affected.

“We deeply regret the hardship this shutdown is causing,” said Senator Blathersby, adjusting his designer suit while sipping a $12 oat milk latte. “But tough choices must be made. Just not for us, obviously.”

In a rare show of bipartisan unity, politicians from both parties agree that they should still be paid while their constituents suffer.

“You don’t understand,” House Majority Leader Chad Fiscaltight explains. “If we stop paying ourselves, who will advocate for the American people? We must lead by example—specifically, the example of not feeling any consequences for our actions.”

Meanwhile, an exhausted federal worker, three weeks behind on rent, watches this unfold and thinks, “Maybe I should run for office. At least then I’d get paid for doing nothing.”

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The Shutdown Blame Game: A Political Art Form

One of the most entertaining parts of any shutdown is watching politicians act like contestants in a bad reality show, pointing fingers while avoiding responsibility.

“It’s the Democrats’ fault!” shouts Republican Rep. Tucker McFilibuster.

“No, it’s the Republicans’ fault!” fires back Democratic Senator Ellie Progressia.

The media, always ready to stir the pot, runs Breaking News banners like “WHO KILLED THE GOVERNMENT? SHOCKING NEW TWIST!” Meanwhile, the American people stare at their empty wallets, whispering, “Who cares? Just turn it back on.”

Even political analysts agree: shutdowns are like those restaurant disputes where two people argue over who should pay the bill—except in this case, neither side wants to pay, and they stick the check to the public.

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Last-Minute Negotiations: Congress’s Favorite Sport

Nothing screams effective governance like Congress waiting until 11:59 PM to consider solving a problem they’ve known about for months.

“We will work tirelessly to reach a last-minute solution,” declares House Speaker Jim Procrastinowski at 11:58 PM, looking at a bill he has not yet read.

Like a college student pulling an all-nighter before finals, lawmakers scramble to piece together a budget deal at the last possible second, often deciding major economic policies with less preparation than most people put into ordering a pizza.

“Do we even know what’s in this bill?” a lawmaker is overheard saying.

“Does it matter?” another responds.

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

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Federal Workers: The Yo-Yo Employees of America

For government employees, shutdowns create an experience that economists call “financial whiplash”—where one day you’re a functioning worker, and the next you’re debating whether to sell plasma for gas money.

“I love my job,” says Lisa, a furloughed EPA scientist. “But I also love eating. And unfortunately, one of those things is optional right now.”

Every shutdown, federal employees are caught in a tragic cycle:

1. Work stops.
2. Congress argues.
3. Work resumes.
4. Congress takes credit.
5. Repeat in six months.

It’s the least fun rollercoaster in America, and the only ride where the workers running it aren’t allowed to get paid.

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Shutdown Diet: Because Food Safety is “Non-Essential”

Good news: with the FDA operating at limited capacity, you can finally eat that expired sushi in your fridge with confidence!

During the shutdown, food safety inspections slow down, leading to what experts call “the great American stomach gamble.” If you’ve ever wanted to experience the thrill of Russian roulette at dinnertime, now’s your chance!

And it’s not just food—the CDC also takes a hit. Meaning, if you get food poisoning from that questionable chicken, good luck getting federal disease tracking to confirm it.

As one shutdown-weary American puts it, “I didn’t think ‘basic food safety’ was something the government needed to debate, but here we are.”

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TSA: Working for Free, So You Can Keep Your Shoes On

Despite the shutdown, airport security agents still show up, unpaid, to frisk you for your travel-sized shampoo.

“We appreciate their dedication,” says Transportation Secretary Pete Suitcase. “Now, if only we could afford to pay them.”

Morale among TSA agents is at an all-time low. Some have adopted a “finders-keepers” policy for confiscated items. Others have abandoned traditional searches entirely, opting instead to stare at passengers with the dead-eyed resignation of someone calculating how many hours of unpaid work they’ve done.

At some airports, security lines are so slow that passengers have ample time to reconsider their life choices before reaching the scanner.

“Do I really need to travel?” one traveler wonders aloud. “Maybe I’ll just send a postcard.”

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Congressional Approval Ratings: The Impossible Floor

If you thought Congress’s approval rating couldn’t get lower, shutdowns are here to prove you wrong.

According to a recent poll, Congress is now less popular than root canals, DMV lines, and stepping on a Lego barefoot.

“We understand the frustration,” says Senate Minority Leader Susan Inept. “But trust us, if you think it’s bad watching this from home, try sitting through these budget meetings.”

With disapproval ratings skyrocketing, some lawmakers have resorted to rebranding, attempting to sell the shutdown as a “limited-time government detox cleanse.”

“Think of it as a chance to see what America would be like without bureaucracy!” tweets one senator, quickly deleting it after the replies section turns into a digital bonfire.

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Shutdown: The Ultimate American Tradition

Every nation has its traditions. France has wine. Japan has cherry blossoms. America? We have government shutdowns.

It’s an event so uniquely ours that even foreign leaders are baffled by it.

“Wait, you stop paying your own workers… on purpose?” asks one confused European diplomat.

Yes. Yes, we do.

And like any great American tradition, the shutdown will come back again, year after year, with the same arguments, the same consequences, and the same lack of long-term solutions.

So, to all federal employees, TSA agents, national park lovers, and exhausted taxpayers, we say: stay strong. Because if there’s one thing we know for sure…

This will happen again.

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15 Observations on the Looming Government Shutdown

1. The “Essential” vs. “Non-Essential” Employee Dilemma

Observation: In every shutdown, we discover who’s “essential” and who’s “non-essential.” It’s like the government’s version of high school clique drama.​

Evidence: During past shutdowns, hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed as “non-essential,” while others continued working without pay. ​houstonchronicle.com

2. National Parks: Nature’s Closed Signs

Observation: Nothing says “enjoy the great outdoors” like a “Closed” sign on a national park during peak tourist season.​

Evidence: Previous shutdowns have led to the closure of national parks, disappointing tourists and local economies alike. ​en.wikipedia.org

3. Politicians’ Paychecks: The Untouchables

Observation: Isn’t it funny how during a shutdown, the folks who caused it still get paid? It’s like grounding your kids and then giving them ice cream.​

Evidence: Members of Congress continue to receive their salaries during shutdowns, leading to public outcry and proposals like the MCCARTHY Shutdown Act to withhold their pay. ​en.wikipedia.org

4. The Art of the Blame Game

Observation: Watching politicians blame each other for a shutdown is like watching toddlers argue over who broke the toy—they all had a hand in it.​

Evidence: Both parties often engage in finger-pointing during shutdowns, each accusing the other of being responsible. ​

5. The “Urgency” of Last-Minute Deals

Observation: Congress has a unique tradition of waiting until the eleventh hour to pass funding bills. It’s like cramming for finals, but with national consequences.​

Evidence: Continuing resolutions are frequently passed just before deadlines to avert shutdowns, reflecting habitual procrastination. ​

6. Federal Employees: The Yo-Yo Effect

Observation: Federal workers during a shutdown are like yo-yos—furloughed one day, called back the next, all without knowing when the string will snap.​en.wikipedia.org

Evidence: Shutdowns result in furloughs and uncertainty for federal employees, affecting their financial stability. ​en.wikipedia.org

7. The Shutdown Diet: No FDA, No Problem

Observation: With the FDA on hiatus during shutdowns, it’s the perfect time to test that five-second rule.​

Evidence: Food safety inspections can be halted during shutdowns, raising concerns about public health. ​

8. TSA: Touching Stuff Aimlessly

Observation: During a shutdown, TSA agents work without pay. So next time you’re annoyed by a pat-down, remember—they’re doing it pro bono.​

Evidence: Essential personnel like TSA agents are required to work without pay during shutdowns, leading to low morale and potential security risks. ​

9. The Irony of “Government Efficiency”

Observation: We have a Department of Government Efficiency, yet we can’t keep the government running efficiently. That’s rich.​theguardian.com

Evidence: Despite efforts to improve efficiency, shutdowns highlight systemic inefficiencies in government operations. ​

10. The “Temporary” Furloughs That Last Forever

Observation: “Temporary” furloughs during shutdowns feel like when your mom says, “We’ll see”—you know it’s indefinite.​

Evidence: Furloughed employees often face uncertainty about the duration of shutdowns, leading to financial and emotional stress. ​MarketWatch

11. The Shutdown Workout Plan

Observation: Can’t afford the gym? Wait for a shutdown and join federal employees in the new fitness craze: protesting for paychecks.​

Evidence: Federal workers have organized protests and marches during shutdowns to demand an end to furloughs and pay freezes. ​

12. Congressional Approval Ratings: Limbo Edition

Observation: Just when you think Congress’s approval rating can’t go any lower, a shutdown limbo dance proves you wrong.​

Evidence: Government shutdowns often lead to significant drops in public approval ratings for Congress. ​New York Magazine

13. The “Essential” Pizza Delivery Guy

Observation: During a shutdown, the most essential government service becomes the pizza delivery guy to all those unpaid workers.​

Evidence: Local businesses often step in to support furloughed federal employees, offering discounts and free services during shutdowns. ​

14. The Great Wall of Voicemail

Observation: Trying to reach a federal agency during a shutdown? Enjoy the endless loop of voicemails reminding you that your call is very important.​

Evidence: Many federal agencies halt operations during shutdowns, leading to unanswered calls and delayed services. ​

15. Shutdowns: The New American Pastime

Observation: Forget baseball; predicting the next government shutdown has become America’s favorite guessing game.​

Evidence: The frequency of government shutdowns has made them a recurring topic of public speculation and media coverage.

The Rise and Fall of a Billionaire’s Tuesday

For most people, the worst day ever involves a lost wallet, a traffic jam, and maybe stepping on a Lego barefoot. But for Elon Musk, the definition of a “bad day” involves losing more money than the GDP of multiple small nations, watching his social media empire get digitally nuked, and realizing that even Tesla fanboys have a limit.

On what may go down in history as the greatest capitalist tragedy since the fall of MySpace, Musk suffered a $29 billion personal net worth loss, a 15% Tesla stock drop, and a massive cyberattack on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter, formerly a halfway house for failed comedians). Analysts are calling it “Elon Musk’s Black Tuesday,” while Musk himself called it “just another meme opportunity.”

“You ever lose so much money in a single day that even your billionaire friends stop returning your calls?” — No one, because this only happens to Musk.

Let’s break down how Musk’s empire imploded in a way that would make even the Hindenburg look like a success story.

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Tesla’s Stock Takes a Nosedive: The Electric Guillotine Falls

Tesla stock plummeted 15% in a single day, leaving analysts, investors, and Dogecoin fanatics scrambling for explanations.

The Official Narrative: Wall Street analysts blamed Tesla’s underperformance on increased competition, production delays, and Musk’s growing distractions with other ventures.

The Unofficial Narrative: Some believe that the stock crash happened because the Tesla Cybertruck still looks like something a middle-schooler would doodle in math class.

Meanwhile, Tesla investors watched their portfolios go up in smoke, while short-sellers popped champagne like it was New Year’s Eve. One hedge fund manager was reportedly heard shouting, “Musk, you beautiful fool, you finally did it!”

The only person unfazed? Musk himself. He tweeted, “Stonks only go down before they go up, unless they don’t. Anyway, DOGE ” before vanishing into a Tesla Roadster and speeding away into a financial black hole.

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X (Formerly Twitter) Suffers a Cyberattack, Because of Course It Does

While Musk was watching Tesla stock collapse in slow motion, his other multi-billion-dollar project—X—was being hacked into oblivion.

It turns out that when you fire most of your cybersecurity staff and replace them with AI chatbots trained on Reddit arguments, things don’t always go well.

The hackers (rumored to be either a rogue group of teenagers, disgruntled ex-Twitter employees, or Musk’s own subconscious attempting to free itself) managed to bring down X for hours. The result? A digital wasteland where nobody could post, argue, or share their spicy political takes.

For one brief moment, the internet was peaceful.

Musk, never one to take responsibility, blamed the attack on the CIA, Ukraine, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, the globalists, and “possibly aliens, but we need more data.”

Cybersecurity experts, on the other hand, suggested that the real cause of the attack was Musk spending too much time launching flame-throwing robots and not enough time securing X’s servers.

But let’s be real—Musk never intended for X to be secure. He just wanted it to be the Wild West of the internet, where free speech flows like overpriced Tesla tequila.

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Elon’s Net Worth Takes a $29 Billion Bath

Losing $29 billion in a single day is a feat so insane that it makes losing your entire life savings at a Vegas blackjack table look responsible.

To put it in perspective:

• That’s more money than the entire annual budget of NASA.
• That’s enough money to buy every McDonald’s on Earth and still have billions left for extra fries.
• That’s the amount of money Jeff Bezos probably spends annually on custom-fitted bald caps.

Yet, Musk—ever the unbothered billionaire—shrugged off the financial loss by tweeting a picture of a dog wearing sunglasses with the caption “This is fine.”

Meanwhile, regular people who bought Tesla stock on the dip are now considering selling their kidneys on the black market to recoup their losses.

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Trump Steps In To “Help” By Buying a Tesla

Just when Musk thought his day couldn’t get any worse, Donald Trump decided to “help” by announcing that he would buy a Tesla.

The former president said, “I love Elon, okay? Great guy. Great company. Terrific electric cars. I might buy two, maybe even three. No one buys Teslas like me, believe me.”

This endorsement was the final nail in the coffin for Tesla’s stock. The mere thought of Trump rolling around in a self-driving Tesla caused shares to dip another 3% in after-hours trading.

Musk, realizing the PR nightmare unfolding, scrambled to tweet, “We at Tesla appreciate all customers, regardless of political affiliation. Even you, Don.”

Unfortunately for Musk, Tesla stock wasn’t listening.

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Musk Becomes a Living Meme (Again)

With both Tesla and X in shambles, Musk did what he does best—he leaned into the chaos and declared, “I am become meme, destroyer of stocks.”

To reinforce this, Musk:

1. Changed his profile picture to a crying Wojak meme.
2. Announced that Tesla’s next vehicle would be named the “LMAO GT.”
3. Said that from now on, all corporate decisions would be determined via Twitter poll.

This strategy did nothing to help investors regain confidence, but it did make for an excellent distraction.

Meanwhile, tech CEOs across Silicon Valley were reportedly watching Musk’s downfall like a Netflix drama.

“It’s like watching the Titanic sink, but instead of an iceberg, it hit Elon’s own ego,” said one anonymous insider.

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Protesters Stage “Tesla Takedown” Events Nationwide

As if losing billions and getting cyberattacked weren’t enough, angry protesters began organizing anti-Tesla rallies across the country, urging people to boycott the brand.

Their demands?

• An apology from Musk for his recent scandals.
• Better treatment for Tesla workers (preferably not locked inside factories).
• Less weird-looking cars.

Musk responded by calling them “NPCs” and challenging them to a cage fight.

Elon, buddy, maybe take a day off?

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The Financial Fallout: What’s Next for Musk?

So, what happens now?
Does Musk recover like a phoenix rising from the ashes? Or does he continue his descent into meme-infested madness?

Here’s what financial experts predict:

1. Tesla stock will bounce back because Elon will announce something outrageous, like a car that runs on Dogecoin.
2. X will keep existing, but barely, because people are addicted to arguing online.
3. Musk will distract everyone with another stunt—possibly moving to Mars just to prove a point.

Either way, one thing is clear: Elon Musk might be down, but he’s never truly out.

After all, billionaires never lose, they just create new scams.

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Final Thoughts: What Have We Learned?

At the end of the day, Elon Musk’s worst day ever is still better than your best day ever.

Sure, he lost billions. Sure, his company got hacked. Sure, he got publicly embarrassed.

But he’s still the richest meme lord on the planet, and he’s still driving the world’s most expensive midlife crisis.

So, as Tesla stock tries to recover, X attempts to reboot, and Musk figures out his next wild stunt, remember this:

Elon Musk is like a bad investment—you lose money at first, but eventually, you get a cool story to tell.

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Disclaimer

This article is a 100% human collaboration between two sentient beings—the world’s oldest tenured professor and a 20-year-old philosophy major turned dairy farmer.

If you lost money in Tesla stock, please do not attempt to sue us.

If you’re Elon Musk, we apologize in advance for everything, but also, you kinda had it coming.

Thank you for reading, and may your investments be more stable than Musk’s Twitter feed.

Netflix’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’: America Finally Notices Magical Realism (After Running Out of Superhero Franchises)

Netflix Discovers Colombia – No, Not the Narcos Version

After years of presenting Colombia exclusively through the lens of drug cartels and white actors butchering Spanish accents, Netflix has made an earth-shattering discovery: Colombians also write books. Big, famous ones. Books so famous that intellectuals have pretended to read them for decades.

In its latest attempt to prove it still makes highbrow content (despite canceling every intelligent show after one season), Netflix is adapting Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude—the literary equivalent of a long, feverish dream where everyone’s related, but no one talks about it.

This marks a significant shift for the streaming giant, which previously thought ‘Macondo’ was a new avocado-based TikTok trend. But don’t worry, they’re handling this with the utmost respect, which in Netflix terms means overproducing it until it feels like an MCU installment and making sure every character is inexplicably sexy.

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Binge-Watching a Hundred Years? Netflix Says Sí!

The novel spans seven generations of the Buendía family, chronicling their loves, wars, and inevitable descent into madness. Netflix’s solution? Shove it all into 16 easily digestible, algorithm-approved, hour-long episodes, ensuring that even the dumbest viewer can press play while doom-scrolling on their phone.

This is a bold move considering most Americans found Chernobyl “too complicated” and gave up on Game of Thrones when it stopped showing naked people.

Let’s put this in perspective:

• Watching this series would require the same amount of time it takes to rewatch ‘Friends’ three times—a task millions of Americans find more achievable than reading one book.
• To grasp all the relationships, Netflix may need to include a family tree pop-up, much like ESPN’s stats overlay during football games.
• Given Hollywood’s track record, there’s a 50% chance the series ends with a modern-day influencer visiting Macondo and solving all of its problems with an inspirational TikTok speech.

One concerned literary scholar noted:

“We spent decades ensuring people understood the complexity of One Hundred Years of Solitude… and Netflix is about to turn it into something that a guy named Chad can half-watch while eating a Hot Pocket.”

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From Magical Realism to ‘Prestige TV’—What Could Go Wrong?

Magical realism is the art of blending the fantastic with the mundane. García Márquez was a master of this genre, creating a world where the impossible—levitating priests, endless rains, prophecies—feels completely ordinary.

Netflix, however, is no stranger to adapting fantasy, as long as it involves either dragons, superheroes, or heavily armed teen girls rebelling against the government.

But will Americans get it? Or will they assume ‘solitude’ is a metaphor for their favorite activity—ghosting their situationships and emotionally repressing everything?

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Netflix’s ‘Macondo Cinematic Universe’—Coming Soon?

Every streaming service wants a franchise, and Netflix is no exception. Here are some potential spin-offs they could launch if this adaptation takes off:

1. ‘Macondo: Origins’ – A gritty prequel series where José Arcadio Buendía founds Macondo while struggling with hallucinations and the horrors of early Colombian bureaucracy.
2. ‘The Bachelor: Macondo Edition’ – In which a man must choose between 47 identical women, all of whom are somehow his cousins.
3. ‘Love is Blind: Magical Realism’ – Contestants live in isolation and must fall in love without knowing if the person on the other side is alive, dead, or has been levitating for three episodes.
4. ‘Stranger Macondo’ – A group of teens discovers a portal to a parallel world where every past mistake is still alive and haunting them (so, basically just real life).

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“We’re Keeping It Authentic”—Until Test Audiences Complain

Netflix executives claim they’re staying 100% true to the novel—which is Hollywood code for “until the focus group panics.” Expect some of these inevitable changes:

• A white American professor arrives in Macondo to “study the locals” and accidentally becomes the protagonist.
• Remedios the Beauty no longer ascends to heaven—instead, she starts a GoFundMe for “levitation awareness.”
• The insomnia plague is replaced with ‘screen fatigue’—because nothing is more terrifying than not being able to fall asleep after bingeing a show for eight hours straight.
• The banana plantation massacre scene is cut because Netflix “didn’t want the show to get too political.” Instead, the workers just go on a wellness retreat.

An anonymous Netflix insider leaked this exchange from a creative meeting:

Netflix Exec #1: “Should we include the part where Macondo descends into war, political corruption, and inescapable cycles of violence?”
Netflix Exec #2: “Ehh… do Americans care about that?”
Netflix Exec #1: “Not really. Let’s add a sassy best friend character instead.”

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Americans Face Their Greatest Fear: Subtitles

Despite One Hundred Years of Solitude being a Colombian novel, Americans are already expressing concerns that they will have to read while watching.

• 50% of Netflix viewers refuse to watch anything with subtitles, unless it’s anime.
• Another 30% only read subtitles when the characters whisper, which means they’ll miss 70% of the dialogue.
• Netflix is reportedly testing a new AI voiceover where all characters are dubbed in “neutral American.”

One online reviewer wrote:

“I don’t know, man, watching something in Spanish just feels like homework.”

To accommodate English-speaking audiences, Netflix may even shorten some of the novel’s famously long sentences, like this one:

• Original: “Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”
• Netflix Version: “Some guy remembers ice before getting canceled.”

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Netflix’s Last-Minute Marketing Stunts—Because People Have to Want to Watch This

Netflix knows it needs to trick audiences into watching a literary adaptation, so expect some desperate promotional tactics, including:

• A social media challenge where influencers spend a hundred days in solitude, only to quit after six hours.
• A cameo by Pedro Pascal, because at this point, that man has been in every prestige Latin American production.
• Macondo NFTs, so viewers can “own” their own fictional town, just like Mark Zuckerberg wants.
• An endorsement from Bad Bunny, who has never read the book but says it “changed his life.”

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Critics and Fans React to Netflix’s Attempt at High Art

So far, the reaction to this adaptation has been mixed:

• Colombians are cautiously optimistic, as long as Netflix doesn’t turn Macondo into a Marvel set-piece.
• American book lovers are relieved because now they can pretend they read the book without actually doing it.
• Film critics are already calling it ‘a triumph of cinema’, despite not having seen a single frame.
• Your aunt, who only watches Hallmark movies, will be confused but will pretend to like it on Facebook.

Meanwhile, hardcore fans of García Márquez fear that Netflix will strip the story of its Latin American identity, much like it somehow made ‘Narcos’ about the DEA instead of, you know, the actual cartel members.

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Conclusion: Will Netflix Actually Pull This Off?

There are two possible futures here:

1. It’s a global phenomenon, proving that audiences are ready for deep, literary adaptations and encouraging streaming services to invest in more serious international storytelling.
2. It flops, and Netflix never touches literature again, ensuring that the only ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ happening is in your Netflix watchlist, where it sits unwatched for eternity.

Either way, America has officially noticed that One Hundred Years of Solitude exists. Whether or not they understand it is another question entirely.

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Disclaimer:

This article is a 100% human collaboration between two sentient beings—the world’s oldest tenured professor and a 20-year-old philosophy major turned dairy farmer. No algorithms were harmed in the making of this satire.

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Third World Literature That Netflix Will Adapt (and Completely Butcher)

Netflix, having exhausted all YA dystopian novels and Nordic noir thrillers, is now rummaging through the “Respectable Bookshelf” for new content. Unfortunately, many of these third world literary masterpieces are destined to fail as adaptations—either because American audiences won’t understand them, or because Netflix will “modernize” them until they resemble a CW drama.

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1. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Why It Will Fail: Americans don’t like watching stories where they are the colonizers.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: Instead of focusing on Okonkwo’s tragic downfall due to colonialism, the series follows a plucky young British missionary who just wants to “help” the Igbo people but accidentally destroys their society. Also, half the cast will be white.

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2. Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children

Why It Will Fail: If Americans couldn’t get through Slumdog Millionaire without complaining about subtitles, they won’t survive Rushdie’s 1,000 metaphors per paragraph.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll make all the characters “relatable” Gen Z influencers, and instead of being born at the exact moment of India’s independence, Saleem Sinai is born during a global Wi-Fi outage.

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3. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Petals of Blood

Why It Will Fail: It critiques capitalism, corruption, and neocolonialism—all things Netflix executives love.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: The gritty Kenyan post-colonial narrative will become a romantic drama about a girl choosing between two hot revolutionaries.

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4. Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s This Earth of Mankind

Why It Will Fail: The Indonesian novel is deeply tied to Dutch colonialism and Javanese culture, which Americans can’t locate on a map.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll set it in Brooklyn, where a struggling indie filmmaker fights against “cinematic colonialism” by directing music videos for TikTok rappers.

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5. Gabriel Okara’s The Voice

Why It Will Fail: Experimental stream-of-consciousness writing confuses an audience that gets upset when a movie doesn’t have a post-credit scene.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll add a talking AI sidekick who explains everything so viewers don’t have to think.

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6. José Donoso’s The Obscene Bird of Night

Why It Will Fail: This Chilean novel is surreal, grotesque, and deeply philosophical—three things that don’t work well with Netflix’s “10-second rewind” feature.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll turn it into a gothic teen horror series, starring Timothée Chalamet as a sad poet who sees ghosts but also skateboards.

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7. Yasunari Kawabata’s Snow Country

Why It Will Fail: This novel is too quiet and poetic for an audience that thinks slow pacing means bad writing.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll add explosions and a love triangle, ensuring that it feels deep but still has a hook for a season two cliffhanger.

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8. Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things

Why It Will Fail: A multi-generational story about caste, forbidden love, and political unrest? Too complex. Where are the zombies?
How Netflix Will Ruin It: The setting is changed from Kerala to a small town in America, and instead of caste oppression, the main conflict is a high school dance rivalry.

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9. Tayeb Salih’s Season of Migration to the North

Why It Will Fail: This Sudanese classic deals with post-colonial identity, violence, and existential dread. American audiences prefer their “deep” shows to be lightly sad, but mostly hopeful.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll market it as a romantic comedy, and the protagonist’s tragic past will be replaced with a quirky, relatable trauma, like “that one time he got ghosted.”

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10. R.K. Narayan’s Malgudi Days

Why It Will Fail: This Indian classic captures everyday life in a fictional town, something Western audiences will mistake for a Wes Anderson movie.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: The town of Malgudi is turned into a magical Hogwarts-like boarding school, and instead of charming realism, every episode involves a murder mystery.

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11. Patrick Chamoiseau’s Texaco

Why It Will Fail: It’s a poetic, complex novel about Martinique’s colonial history, filled with lyrical, fragmented storytelling.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll add pirates and call it “Pirates of the Caribbean: Gritty Origins.”

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12. Shahrnush Parsipur’s Women Without Men

Why It Will Fail: A feminist allegory set in 1950s Iran, featuring women escaping patriarchal oppression? Sounds like something America should care about but won’t.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: The women now run a coffee shop in Seattle and instead of overthrowing patriarchy, they just start a podcast.

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13. Ahmadou Kourouma’s Allah Is Not Obliged

Why It Will Fail: A brutal, unflinching look at child soldiers in West Africa does not mix well with Netflix’s current obsession with making things “quirky.”
How Netflix Will Ruin It: They’ll add a talking animal sidekick and a dance-off scene, somehow missing the entire point of the novel.

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14. Jorge Amado’s Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon

Why It Will Fail: A sensual, politically charged Brazilian novel that doesn’t have enough white people for Netflix executives to feel comfortable.
How Netflix Will Ruin It: The show’s tagline will be “Like ‘Emily in Paris,’ but spicier!”

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15. Bessie Head’s When Rain Clouds Gather

Why It Will Fail: A serious novel about refugees, tradition, and political change in Botswana? Too niche. Where are the dragons?
How Netflix Will Ruin It: The main character is now a White American woman on a soul-searching journey who teaches the locals about artisanal baking.

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Conclusion: Netflix Should Just Leave These Books Alone

While Netflix could treat these masterpieces with respect, depth, and cultural authenticity, it’s more likely they’ll:

Change the setting to Los Angeles
Make it “a coming-of-age dramedy”
Add a subplot about dating apps
Market it as “Breaking Bad meets Gossip Girl”

Until then, expect Netflix to keep adapting third world literature in the most American way possible—by making sure the protagonist is white and the plot involves influencers.