Machine Mockery

After years of speculation, online tantrums, and ritual sacrifices of old mufflers to the car gods, Subaru fans finally got the news they’d been waiting for: a new WRX STI was coming. But there was a catch. See, the internet had been divided for years. On one side were the purists — people who believed a proper STI should sound like a chainsaw gargling gravel and smell faintly of race fuel and clutch smoke. On the other side were the eco-warriors who thought “boost” should come from electrons, not exhaust gases. Subaru, in its infinite confusion, decided to please everyone. At the official press event, the CEO proudly took the stage. Behind him, the new car gleamed — big wing, gold wheels, angry headlights. It looked perfect. The crowd roared. Then came the announcement. “This,” said the CEO, “is the WRX STI-Li . It’s powered by an internal combustion engine … that runs on pure, natural, liquified lithium battery goo .” The crowd went silent. “Wait,” shouted someone in the...

PALM BEACH, FL — In what advisers are calling “one of the most numerically creative economic strategies in modern history,” former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering switching the United States to the metric system after learning that gas prices displayed in liters would appear dramatically lower than prices shown in gallons. According to sources close to the campaign, Trump became intrigued by the idea during a private discussion about inflation, where an aide allegedly mentioned that a gallon contains about 3.8 liters. Trump reportedly paused, smiled, and said, “Wait a minute. So you’re telling me the number gets divided by almost four? Why didn’t anybody tell me this? This is the kind of thinking we need.” Within hours, insiders say, Trump had begun describing the metric system as “a very powerful system, a beautiful system,” despite spending much of his life in a country that treats kilometers and kilograms the way it treats soccer: with suspicion. At a press even...