iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Barry Popik

@barrypopik.bsky.social

99 followers 93 following 832 posts

Author of an online dictionary (over 41,000 entries) investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. King of Dad Jokes & Oneliners. BarryPopik.com

Posts Replies Media

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 19h

“If your government is loudly demanding the dissolution of the International Criminal Court, the international court that tries war crimes, well, then the odds are pretty high that your government is committing war crimes. A lot of war crimes" (2026). #ICC barrypopik.com/blog/if-your...

"If your government is loudly demanding the…

The United States has stayed out of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and some American politicians have called for the court…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 19h

“If the groceries are going to give us diseases, they should at least be affordable” (August 2026 #meme). #quotes #memes #groceries #prices #recall barrypopik.com/blog/if-the-...

"If the groceries are going to give us diseases,…

In 2026, there were many grocery racalls, but grocery prices kept increasing. "If the groceries are going to give us diseases they should at…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 20h

“How the hell did we end up in a nightmare timeline where groceries have become both a luxury item AND a health hazard” (@Dylanszn01, September 9). #quotes #groceries #prices #recalls barrypopik.com/blog/how-the...

"How the hell did we end up in a nightmare timeline…

In 2026, there were many grocery racalls, but grocery prices kept increasing. This was posted on X/Twitter by 𝕯𝖞𝖑𝖆𝖓™ on September…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“If a bagel can have everything, so can I/you” and “If bagels can have everything, so can I/you” (2026). #quotes #jokes #motivationalquotes #bagel #everythingbagel barrypopik.com/blog/if-a-ba...

"If a bagel can have everything, so can you"

"If a bagel can have everything, so can I/you" (also "If bagels can have everything, so can I/you") is a jocular motivational…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“Sometimes in the morning while sipping my coffee, I think about all the people I’m going to piss off today… and I smile” (2013). #quotes #jokes #coffee #morning #work barrypopik.com/blog/sometim...

"Sometimes in the morning while sipping my coffee, I…

"Sometimes in the morning while sipping my coffee, I think about all the people I'm going to piss off today... and I smile" is a…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“You’d think the Constitution was younger, given how hard Republicans are trying to f- it” (sign by guerrilla artist Make It Work, October 2025). #quotes #memes #Epstein #JeffreyEpstein #Republicans #Constitution #politics barrypopik.com/blog/youd-th...

"You'd think the Constitution was younger,…

"You'd think the Constitution was younger, given how hard Republicans are trying to fuck it" is a political saying that has been…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“Olives are the perfect snack for anyone who loves the taste of drowning at sea” (@NicCageMatch, 2018). #quotes #jokes #olives barrypopik.com/blog/olives-...

"Olives are the perfect snack for anyone who loves…

Olives have an unusual taste. This was posted on X/Twitter by Jessie 🦇 on December 13, 2018, and it received over 3,700 likes: "Olives are…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“Making soup and it calls for ‘eight potatoes cubed’. Where am I supposed to get 512 potatoes?” (Facebook, 2025). “I was making soup last night and the recipe called for 5 potatoes cubed. 125 potatoes seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it?” (2026). #jokes barrypopik.com/blog/i-was-m...

"I was making soup last night and the recipe called…

"Five potatoes cubed" means to slice the five potatoes into cubes. It does not mean 5 x 5 x 5 = 125 potatoes, but there are jokes.…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"#Burger" (1907), for "#hamburger," is first cited at the University of Michigan. @bgzimmer had found "burger" a few years later at Penn State. @MerriamWebster has 1937! cc @michigandaily @btaylorblake @EsnpcB 1/4 www.newspapers.com/article/the-...

"Burger" for "hamburger" (1907).

Clipping found in The Detroit News published in Detroit, Michigan on 10/27/1907. "Burger" for "hamburger" (1907).

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

FWIW, this blog post on New York City nicknames mentions me! realstoursnyc.com/en/post/171/...

realstoursnyc.com

NYC Nicknames: 35+ Names and Their Real Origins

Does New York really have 100+ nicknames? We fact-check the viral claim and reveal the true origins of the Big Apple, Gotham and more.

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Uncle Sam" on stilts (by at least 1888). "Is there a reason Uncle Sam is the most stilt friendly costume? Did we all just agree he’s got enormous legs that are out of frame in the poster" (@AgingRanchHand, July 2026). #quotes #UncleSam #stilts barrypopik.com/blog/is-ther...

"Is there a reason Uncle Sam is the most stilt…

The character "Uncle Sam" on stilts is a feature of many parades, especially Fourth of July parades. The character of "Uncle…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

“All these advances in technology, but nobody wants to do anything about printers” (@grovymango, September 20). #quotes #printers #technology barrypopik.com/blog/all-the...

"All these advances in technology, but nobody wants…

Many people have noticed advances in technology, but that printers still don't work well. "there have been great advances in technology,…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

“Someone needs to explain to me why wanting clean drinking water makes you an activist, and why proposing to destroy water with chemical warfare doesn’t make a corporation a terrorist" (Winona LaDuke, 2013). #quotes #memes #activist #activism 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/someone...

"Someone needs to explain to me why wanting clean…

"Why does wanting clean drinking water make you an activist, while poisoning it doesn't make a corporation a terrorist?" is a saying…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

“The safest surveillance system is the one that doesn’t exist” (September 2026 #meme). #quotes #memes #surveillance #cameras barrypopik.com/blog/the-saf...

"The safest surveillance system is the one that…

"The safest surveillance system is the one that doesn’t exist" is shown on an image that was posted on Facebook by DeFlock America ·…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Some notes on the baseball team name "St. Louis Cardinals," using newly digitized newspapers. I had a conversation with @grok #StLouis #StLouisCardinals @Cardinals 1/ x.com/i/grok?conve...

X - The Everything App

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I have written to @NYCulture about @theNYRA and the new @BelmontPark1905. @ZohranKMamdani, please help: "The newly reopened Belmont Park (with a half billion dollar loan from NYS) is an embarrassment to the history and culture of horse racing, and to New York City." 1/4

100

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I've written to NY State Senator @LeroyComrie (and others) that @TheNYRA and @BelmontPark1905 should honor groom Eddie Sweat (1939-1998) of St. Albans, Queens. His work with Secretariat provided Belmont Park's greatest moment. New Belmont Park has nothing! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_S...

en.wikipedia.org

Eddie Sweat - Wikipedia

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

“Your next Chinese meal will bring you more cookies!” (fortune cookie, 2024). I got this one today. On reverse, "A golden egg of opportunity will fall into your lap this month." #quotes #cookies #fortunes #fortunecookies barrypopik.com/blog/your-ne...

"Your next Chinese meal will bring you more…

"Your next Chinese meal will bring you more cookies!" is a fortune cookie saying that has been printed on many images. This fortune was…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

How come no television channel works right now, except for just one--Spectrum News? (Spectrum in Orange County, New York. Trademarked as "America's Connectivity Company.") @GetSpectrum

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

New York City is called the "Big Apple" because of 1920s track writer John J. Fitz Gerald ("Beau Belmont"). I've told the NYRA that the new Belmont Park should have an apple sculpture, like Citi Field's Home Run Apple. No one responds! bsky.app/profile/dail...

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

“It’s so annoying when you want to break off a little square of chocolate and it snaps wrong, so you have to eat the other eight squares” (Dad Jokes on Facebook, May 6). #quotes #jokes #chocolate #chocolatebar barrypopik.com/blog/its-so-...

"It's so annoying when you want to break off a…

Chocolate bars often have little squares so that a person can just eat a small part of it, but some people want to eat the whole thing. This was…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

“If you are an ocean, be an ocean. Don’t be a pond just because people can’t swim” (unknown, 2021). #quotes #proverbs #aphorisms barrypopik.com/blog/if-you-...

"If you are an ocean, be an ocean. Don’t be a pond…

"If you are an ocean, be an ocean. Don’t be a pond just because people can’t swim" is a saying that has been printed on many images.…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

"Spuckie" sandwich, revised entry, now cited to 1940. All I saw in Boston were "sub" sandwiches, though. It's Boston's addition to American regional sandwich names, used in Italian areas. #sandwiches #spuckie #Italian #Boston barrypopik.com/blog/spucky_...

Spucky, Spuckie or Spukie (sandwich)

The "spuckie" sandwich -- also called "spucky," "spukie" and "spooky" -- is a Boston, Massachusetts version…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

"Honestly, nobody wants a better smartphone. Everyone just wants their dog to live to be (like) 60. Get your priorities straight, science" (Facebook, 2023). "Honestly, nobody wants a better phone..." (2026). #quotes #dogs #phones #science barrypopik.com/blog/honestl...

"Honestly, nobody wants a better phone. Everyone…

"Honestly, nobody wants a better phone/smartphone. Everyone just wants their dog to live to be 60. Get your priorities straight, science"…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

“Paying taxes at this point feels like funding criminals” (@KeruboAnyega315, March 9). Also, “At this point, paying taxes feels exactly like funding criminals” and “At this point, paying taxes feels like bankrolling criminals." #quotes #government #taxes barrypopik.com/blog/paying-...

"Paying taxes at this point feels like funding…

Many people feel that paying taxes to a criminal government is just funding criminals. "Paying taxes at this point feels like funding…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

“In high school, I was so excited to become a senior. I’m not too excited now” (Facebook, 2023). “In high school, I was so excited to become a senior. Now not so much" (Facebook, September 15). #quotes #jokes #senior #highschool barrypopik.com/blog/in-high...

"In high school, I was so excited to become a…

Many people might want to be a high school senior, but few people want to be a senior citizen. "In High School I was so excited to become a…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

"Kale is a negative calorie food, meaning the kale itself contains fewer calories than your body uses to throw it up because it's so fucking disgusting" (@wyattfeegrado, 2017; Reddit-Oneliners, 2018). #quotes #jokes #kale #food #calories 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/kale-is...

"Kale is a negative calorie food, meaning the kale…

Many people do not like to eat kale. There are many jokes about eating kale. "Kale is a negative-calorie food because you get less energy from…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

"Lake America" suggested in 1935. www.newspapers.com/article/iron...

"Lake America" suggested in 1935.

Clipping found in Ironwood Daily Globe published in Ironwood, Michigan on 3/1/1935. "Lake America" suggested in 1935.

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

“The ‘g in ‘GIF’ is pronounced like the ‘g’ in ‘garage’” (2016). #quotes #jokes #GIF #JIF barrypopik.com/blog/the-g-i...

"The 'g in 'GIF' is pronounced like…

"Gif" is pronounced like "jif." A joke is that "gif" is pronounced like the "g' in "garage" -- a…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

“I brake for ghosts” (bumper sticker, 2014). "I brake for hitchhiking ghosts," "I brake for haunted houses," "I brake for cemeteries," “This vehicle brakes for haunted houses, old cemeteries and ghosts.” #quotes #memes #Halloween #funny #bumpersticker 1/2 barrypopik.com/blog/i-brake...

"I brake for ghosts" (bumper sticker)

"I brake for ghosts" is a jocular bumper sticker saying that has been printed on many images. The driver can really see ghosts? The…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

"What kind of salad do termites eat?"/"House salad" (Reddit-Dadjokes, 2019). "When termites eat out, do they order the house salad?" (Facebook, August 28). #jokes #puns #riddles #termites #salad #housesalad barrypopik.com/blog/what-ki...

"What kind of salad do termites…

A “house salad” is the regular salad of an American restaurant. It’s not made of a house or served to a house, but there are jokes.…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

My website (BarryPopik.com) was possibly hacked, and is down. I do not have a webmaster, and I have no idea how to get it back up...Also, my kids are starting college now, so I will be posting less. My apologies.

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

“When our politicians make their political decisions based on who’s given them the most money, we don’t have a political system. We have an auction” (unknown, 2019). #quotes #memes #politics #politicians #money barrypopik.com/blog/when-ou...

"When our politicians make their political decisions…

"When our politicians make their political decisions based on who's given them the most money, we don’t have a political system. We…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

“A society where the rulers live in privacy while the population lives under surveillance is the very definition of tyranny” (@FreeTalkLive, May 14). #quotes #memes #privacy #surveillance #tyranny barrypopik.com/blog/a-socie...

"A society where the rulers live in privacy while…

"A society where the rulers live in privacy while the population lives under surveillance is the very definition of tyranny" was posted…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

"Isn’t it amazing how efficient the government becomes when the project is mass surveillance?" (@YALiberty, August 14). #quotes #memes #government #surveillance barrypopik.com/blog/isnt-it...

"Isn't it amazing how efficient the government…

"Isn't it amazing how efficient the government becomes when the project is mass surveillance?" was posted on X/Twitter and Facebook…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

“Trust my gut? The thing that can’t even handle #milk?” (@jzux, 2022). “Trust my gut? That thing that can’t even handle #dairy” (2022), Also for #cheese, #icecream and #milkshakes. #quotes #jokes #gut #gutfeeling #gutinstinct barrypopik.com/blog/trust-m...

"Trust my gut? The thing that can't even handle…

People are often told to trust their "gut feeling" or "gut instinct" (intuition) about something, but what if someone's…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

“No one warns you that getting older mostly means deciding what to make with ground beef and chicken for the rest of your life” (Facebook, March 2026). #quotes #jokes #food #chicken #groundbeef barrypopik.com/blog/no-one-...

"No one warns you that getting older mostly means…

"No one warns you that getting older mostly means deciding what to make with ground beef and chicken for the rest of your life" is a food…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

“1 hard boiled egg? Perfect. Fried eggs? Just two and I’m good. Scrambled eggs? Three and I’m still hungry. Deviled eggs? 47 please and thank you. Egg logic makes no sense.” (@JesterJum, August 4) #quotes #jokes #eggs barrypopik.com/blog/1-hard-...

"1 hard boiled egg? Perfect. Fried eggs? Just two…

This problem in egg logic was posted on X/Twitter by Jum on August 4, 2026, and it received over 32,000 likes: "1 hard boiled egg? Perfect.…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

“I came into some money so I’m eating an entire avocado for lunch” (@SardonicTart, 2017; All You Can Eat on Facebook, 2026). #quotes #jokes #food #prices #avocado barrypopik.com/blog/i-came-...

"I came into some money so I'm eating an entire…

An avocado can be expensive. This was posted on X/Twitter by ❤️‍🔥Sardonic Tart❤️‍🔥 on June 2, 2017: "I came into some money…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

“Mad Apple” (Cirque du Soleil show at New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, 2022-2026). The show is closing around Labor Day. "Mad" + "Big Apple," so it entered my #BigApple lexicon. barrypopik.com/blog/mad-app...

"Mad Apple" (Cirque du Soleil show at New…

Mad Apple is the title of a show by Cirque du Soleil that ran at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2022 until 2026.…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

“A free country doesn’t track its citizens with mass digital surveillance” (@beinlibertarian, August 24). See a recent tweet (“A free country doesn’t track innocent citizens"). #quotes #memes #surveillance barrypopik.com/blog/a-free-...

"A free country doesn't track its citizens with…

Many municipalities have surveillance cameras, keeping records on all citizens -- including the great majority who have not committed any crime.…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

“Every pharmaceutical drug is an attempt to copy something that already exists in nature” (Facebook, 2025). #quotes #memes #health #drugs #pharmaceuticals barrypopik.com/blog/every-p...

"Every pharmaceutical drug is an attempt to copy…

"Every pharmaceutical drug is an attempt to copy something that already exists in nature" was posted on Facebook by "Unofficial…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

"Free countries don’t track innocent civilians" (@SallyMayweather, July 18). “A free country doesn’t track innocent citizens. #FlockOff” (@beinlibertarian, July 21). "A free nation doesn’t track innocent citizens" (@JasonBassler1, July 30). #quotes barrypopik.com/blog/a-free-...

"A free country doesn't track innocent…

Many municipalities have surveillance cameras, keeping records on all citizens -- including the great majority who have not committed any crime.…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Mamdanistan (Zohran Mamdani + -stan, 2025). Also Zohranabad/Zohranibad and Mamdanabad/Mamdanibad (Zohran Mamdani + -abad). #NewYorkCity #NYC #nicknames barrypopik.com/blog/mamdani...

Mamdanistan (Zohran Mamdani + -stan)

Zohran Mamdani became, in 2026, New York City's first Muslim and first Asian American mayor. Some people dubbed New York City…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

"Habibi City," Arabic for "beloved" city, as a nickname for New York City (@NYMag on X and @nymag.com on Bluesky, August 10). #NewYorkCIty #NYC #nicknames #SWANA #HabibiCity barrypopik.com/blog/habibi-...

New York magazine called New York City "Habibi City" for its cover story in August 2026. In 2026, New York City had its first Muslim…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

"Buying Dumb Shit for Myself" (“BDSM” backronym, 2022). "Buying Dumb Stuff for Myself" (“BDSM” backronym, 2026). #jokes #acronym #backronym #BDSM #shopping barrypopik.com/blog/buying-...

Buying Dumb Shit for Myself ("BDSM" backronym)

Some people joke that they like "BDSM," and then define this with the backronym (back acronym) "Buying Dumb Shit for Myself."…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

“I was going to go to the grocery store but I forgot my ID so I just went to vote instead.- New York City” (@C_3C_3, August 3). #quotes #jokes #voting #grocerystore #NYC barrypopik.com/blog/i-was-g...

"I was going to go to the grocery store but I forgot…

In 2026, new New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani did not support requiring an ID to vote, but did support requiring an ID to shop at his proposed…

000

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

"Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them" (Facebook, April 2026), Also, "Shoutout..." #quotes #jokes #tv #remote #batteries barrypopik.com/blog/shout-o...

"Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the…

When a tv's remote doesn't work, many people open the battery case and try to just roll the batteries around. "I’m personally a…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

"Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the remote control and rolls the batteries around instead of just replacing them" (Facebook, April 2026), Also, "Shoutout..." #quotes #jokes #tv #remote #batteries barrypopik.com/blog/shout-o...

"Shout out to everyone who takes the back off the…

When a tv's remote doesn't work, many people open the battery case and try to just roll the batteries around. "I’m personally a…

Barry Popik @barrypopik.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

“Everything used to be 20 dollars and now that I finally have 20 dollars everything is now 200 dollars” (velvetys on Tumblr, May 31). #quotes #jokes #inflation #costofliving barrypopik.com/blog/everyth...

"Everything used to be 20 dollars and now that I…

A single $20 bill used to go far, before inflation. Twenty dollars used to fill up a car's gas tank. Twenty dollars used to buy groceries, or…