Brains, Bombs, and Bullshit
Neuroscience wins, Mars burns, and misinformation spreads like herpes at a frat party.
Alright, let’s get into it. Today we’re kicking things off with some good news, followed by something that some folks might call “might be good” news. After that, we’ll get into updates on the Ukraine–Russia front.
No big, wordy intro today, because screw those. Let’s go!
I’m going all in on Substack. Every single paid subscription means literal bills getting paid.
Thank you!
Now onto the news that’s actually good. I’m excited about this one. I’ve always heard about this ailment, but I never really dug into the details for myself. After reading more and doing a little homework, I realized just how complex and devastating it really is.
We all forget stuff sometimes. That’s normal. Some of us, though, have watched someone forget entire chunks of their life: years at a time, while drifting in and out of confusion. I haven’t had much direct experience with these individuals, but I’ve witnessed it, and I’ve seen how brutal it can get.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, we’re talking about Alzheimer’s.
Almost all of us have heard of it. But what actually is it? Here’s the basic rundown:
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disorder that leads to brain shrinkage and cell death. It’s the most common cause of dementia, gradually robbing people of memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks.
Here’s the good part: scientists at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester recently found that a compound in green tea called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) might help break down the protein plaques that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. These plaques, made of beta-amyloid, are one of the key culprits behind the memory loss and confusion.
Even better? The compound seems to disrupt the early stages of plaque formation. That means it could be useful not just for treatment but maybe even for prevention.
That’s pretty damn cool. My favorite part is that it’s natural. Like maybe all those generations of healers who experimented with herbs and teas weren’t just winging it.
Science, welcome to the party. Grandma’s been waiting.
I’m just having a goof. It’s a big deal. I’m glad it’s happening. This disease terrifies me, and any step toward stopping it is worth celebrating.
The next story will definitely make a few people I know laugh, mostly because of Elon Musk and his involvement.
During a test launch yesterday, one of SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy rockets exploded mid-flight. Nobody was injured. Credit to SpaceX; they’ve genuinely made safety a priority. What failed was a liquid oxygen valve, which caused one of the booster engines to lose pressure. That engine failure led to a loss of control and triggered the flight termination system.
This particular Starship model was designed for deep space missions, including potential flights to Mars. Test failures are part of the process when building rockets, but this is still a setback. Every delay pushes the Mars timeline a little further out.
Better to have it happen now than in orbit. If you like to watch, I won’t kink-shame you. Here’s a video for that. Knock yourself out.
Now, in regards to things exploding that are definitely not safe:
Let’s talk about war.
Things aren’t slowing down; they’re ramping up. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that Vladimir Putin and Iran seem awfully friendly. That alliance says a lot about what’s going on behind the curtain.
If you’ve ever looked into the roots of disinformation campaigns in the United States, you’ve probably come across dirtbags like Gunther Eagleman on X (formerly Twitter). That guy is a walking pile of Russian propaganda. It’s already been confirmed he accepted money through intermediaries tied to Russian influence networks whose job is to screw with American discourse.
He wraps himself in flags, waves the anti-commie banner, blames liberals for everything, and the far-right gobbles it up like tailgate chili and sleeping pills.
Take that entire disinformation machine, mix in America backing Ukraine, add our military support for Israel, and you’ve got the recipe for World War III.
Donald Trump is not going to keep us out of war. The man can’t even keep his own mouth shut. Why anyone thinks he’ll be the one to prevent a global conflict is beyond me.
I gave the guy a chance. Listened. Tried to meet his supporters halfway. What I got in return was Nazi propaganda clogging up my feed, blasted in by an algorithm designed to reward rage.
I don’t even think Trump is actively working with Russia. That’s the scary part. He actually believes what he says. He surrounds himself with people just as misled. People trained to see questioning as aggression. People who don’t debate, don’t explain, don’t show up for community forums. They block. They retreat. They repeat.
As Ukraine and Russia heat up, and Iran and Israel begin their own confrontation, the United States is being boxed in. Trump is expected to make a move soon. We already know what that move will be: support Israel militarily. Under that pretense, troops will be relocated. Quietly. Strategically.
Once the U.S. engages with Iran, Russia will act. NATO countries will respond. That triggers China. Whether it looks like it on the surface or not, China and Russia are already aligned. Their public differences in the U.S. don’t matter. It’s a game. A distraction. When war breaks out, they’ll be working together.
China will focus on Asia. Russia will push west across Europe. The United States, thanks to Trump alienating our traditional allies, may have fewer hands on deck when trouble starts.
None of this is guaranteed. I hope every single word of it is wrong.
We have to hope the right people show up. The grownups. The clear thinkers.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate every view, every share, every bit of your time. Until tomorrow morning: stay sane, stay sharp, and avoid the comment sections if you can help it.
All images in this article were taken, edited, created, or generated by the author unless stated otherwise.
This article contains elements of satire and opinion. All thoughts and opinions expressed are purely speculative.
This is fantastic news about Alzheimer’s research. I will have to see if I can find the studies on it. As someone who is genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, this sounds very promising.
“Science, welcome to the party. Grandma’s been waiting.” That line deserves a Nobel Prize in Shade.
Honestly, this whole piece reads like Hunter S. Thompson reincarnated as a neurologically anxious oracle. From EGCG salvation to Mars BBQ to the walking meme that is Gunther Eagleman, you nailed the trifecta: brains, bombs, and bullshit.
And let’s be real. If the apocalypse is coming, I’d rather face it with green tea in one hand and your feed in the other than trust Musk, Putin, or a man whose war strategy is "mean tweet the nukes away."
Keep swinging the hammer. Some of us are still trying to knock the dents out of reality.