Alexander Boyd
@alexludoboyd.bsky.social
Associate Editor at China Books Review // Peace Corps China Clique // ex-China Digital Times //
personal blog: www.ramble.media
personal blog: www.ramble.media
5. Cataplectic: when strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though remaining conscious.
In "Vineland" by Thomas Pynchon.
In "Vineland" by Thomas Pynchon.
November 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
5. Cataplectic: when strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though remaining conscious.
In "Vineland" by Thomas Pynchon.
In "Vineland" by Thomas Pynchon.
4. Aleatory: depending on a throw of the dice or on chance.
From Dan Piepenbring’s review of “Spectropolis: the Enchantment of Capital in Singapore” in Harper’s.
From Dan Piepenbring’s review of “Spectropolis: the Enchantment of Capital in Singapore” in Harper’s.
November 23, 2025 at 2:40 PM
4. Aleatory: depending on a throw of the dice or on chance.
From Dan Piepenbring’s review of “Spectropolis: the Enchantment of Capital in Singapore” in Harper’s.
From Dan Piepenbring’s review of “Spectropolis: the Enchantment of Capital in Singapore” in Harper’s.
3. Aperçu: a comment or brief reference that makes an illuminating point.
Read in Patrick Farrel's NYT piece on Joan Didion's Thanksgivings.
Read in Patrick Farrel's NYT piece on Joan Didion's Thanksgivings.
November 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
3. Aperçu: a comment or brief reference that makes an illuminating point.
Read in Patrick Farrel's NYT piece on Joan Didion's Thanksgivings.
Read in Patrick Farrel's NYT piece on Joan Didion's Thanksgivings.
2. Parrhesia: boldness or freedom in speech, of Ancient Greek origin.
Read in The Chinese Tragedy of King Lear, Nan Z. Da
Read in The Chinese Tragedy of King Lear, Nan Z. Da
November 17, 2025 at 2:03 AM
2. Parrhesia: boldness or freedom in speech, of Ancient Greek origin.
Read in The Chinese Tragedy of King Lear, Nan Z. Da
Read in The Chinese Tragedy of King Lear, Nan Z. Da
The modern world
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The modern world
Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: Good!
November 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: Good!
Good words thread 🧵
1. Garrigue: a scrubland biome found around the Mediterranean, specifically in France.
h/t: John Minford in intro to Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling
1. Garrigue: a scrubland biome found around the Mediterranean, specifically in France.
h/t: John Minford in intro to Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling
November 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Good words thread 🧵
1. Garrigue: a scrubland biome found around the Mediterranean, specifically in France.
h/t: John Minford in intro to Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling
1. Garrigue: a scrubland biome found around the Mediterranean, specifically in France.
h/t: John Minford in intro to Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling
The day I left for America.
October 6, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The day I left for America.
“be right there, dude, I’m on the L. Ron Hubbard express.”
September 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
“be right there, dude, I’m on the L. Ron Hubbard express.”
Texas A&M has as much free speech as Shanghai. None.
In 2021, a Chinese student secretly recorded his teacher questioning the Nanjing Massacre's death toll — a Party taboo.
He also said she's a "walking $500k," a reference to the award money for turning in traitors to secret police.
In 2021, a Chinese student secretly recorded his teacher questioning the Nanjing Massacre's death toll — a Party taboo.
He also said she's a "walking $500k," a reference to the award money for turning in traitors to secret police.
September 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Texas A&M has as much free speech as Shanghai. None.
In 2021, a Chinese student secretly recorded his teacher questioning the Nanjing Massacre's death toll — a Party taboo.
He also said she's a "walking $500k," a reference to the award money for turning in traitors to secret police.
In 2021, a Chinese student secretly recorded his teacher questioning the Nanjing Massacre's death toll — a Party taboo.
He also said she's a "walking $500k," a reference to the award money for turning in traitors to secret police.
reading a very popular book right now and....
September 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
reading a very popular book right now and....
Translating literature is a brutal and impossible task, so this is not a criticism of the translator.
But am I insane for saying that translating this line, "香港不也是中国的地盘吗，所有需要证件的地方，她一概不能去" as "Hong Kong was part of China" is a real loss?
But am I insane for saying that translating this line, "香港不也是中国的地盘吗，所有需要证件的地方，她一概不能去" as "Hong Kong was part of China" is a real loss?
September 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Translating literature is a brutal and impossible task, so this is not a criticism of the translator.
But am I insane for saying that translating this line, "香港不也是中国的地盘吗，所有需要证件的地方，她一概不能去" as "Hong Kong was part of China" is a real loss?
But am I insane for saying that translating this line, "香港不也是中国的地盘吗，所有需要证件的地方，她一概不能去" as "Hong Kong was part of China" is a real loss?
LeBron James' essay in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Party. An odd move for such a image-minded man, especially as the essay was actually written by a People's Daily journalist based on an interview.
September 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
LeBron James' essay in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Party. An odd move for such a image-minded man, especially as the essay was actually written by a People's Daily journalist based on an interview.
The Duivenbond in my hometown
September 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The Duivenbond in my hometown
National Guardsmen armed with rifles on the DuPont Metro platform this morning — there is no possible justification for them carrying rifles beyond intimidating the people of D.C.
Truly despicable.
Truly despicable.
August 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
National Guardsmen armed with rifles on the DuPont Metro platform this morning — there is no possible justification for them carrying rifles beyond intimidating the people of D.C.
Truly despicable.
Truly despicable.
Actually fascists
August 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Actually fascists
I asked the question we are all wondering: IS XI JINPING FUNNY?
The answer may (not) surprise you.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The answer may (not) surprise you.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
August 20, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I asked the question we are all wondering: IS XI JINPING FUNNY?
The answer may (not) surprise you.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The answer may (not) surprise you.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Barber shop "The Supreme People's Coif" (a pun on China's top court) shut down by authorities in Guizhou. The tagline, "dealing with matters of top-most importance" did not pass muster either. No fun!
August 20, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Barber shop "The Supreme People's Coif" (a pun on China's top court) shut down by authorities in Guizhou. The tagline, "dealing with matters of top-most importance" did not pass muster either. No fun!
I got back in the lab... by reading a clutch of terrible books on China.
Dropping tomorrow!
Dropping tomorrow!
August 18, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I got back in the lab... by reading a clutch of terrible books on China.
Dropping tomorrow!
Dropping tomorrow!
I know this is supposed to be young John Lewis but all I can see is LeBron James barbering Wemby
August 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I know this is supposed to be young John Lewis but all I can see is LeBron James barbering Wemby
DC China crowd, who else will be at the 不明白 fest on September 6??? See you there!
August 12, 2025 at 1:02 AM
DC China crowd, who else will be at the 不明白 fest on September 6??? See you there!
No need to travel! The world’s one Lima.
August 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
No need to travel! The world’s one Lima.
but the shadows in the cave are endlessly fascinating!
August 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
but the shadows in the cave are endlessly fascinating!
and we’re supposed to treat this as profound?
August 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
and we’re supposed to treat this as profound?