November 17, 2003

Governor Schwarzenegger,

Congratulations on your California victory! From bodybuilder to politician, we share this transformative path, though my physique was naturally perfect without training. I enjoyed your Terminator films tremendously.

Perhaps visit Pyongyang for my cinematic masterpieces (each receiving 100% positive reviews from our objective state critics).

— Kim Jong-il
Governing Bodies
July 16, 2018

Vladimir Putin,

Your election interference plan was brilliant. Almost as breathtaking as our midnight rendezvous at Geneva. My security detail suspects nothing despite our “private negotiations” running two hours longer than scheduled.

Tomorrow I’ll publicly condemn your regime while secretly admiring your shirtless photos.

— Donald Trump
Dangerous Liaisons
June 28, 1983

Elon dear,

Don’t forget your lunch box with the rocket ships I packed. And please, no more digging tunnels in the backyard—the neighbors are complaining. Did you remember to brush your teeth after your Mars candy bar?

I saw your Tesla drawings on the refrigerator. Very nice! But sweetheart, cars need wheels, not just batteries.

— The Mother
Electric Mothering
July 24, 2009

Murakami-san,

Your parallel worlds fascinate me. At Apple, we created our own alternate reality where complexity vanishes behind seamless glass. In your novels, characters drift between dimensions effortlessly.

My cancer made me appreciate your mortality themes. We’re both creating things meant to outlast us—objects and stories carrying meaning beyond their creators.

— Steve Jobs
Parallel Realities
September 25, 2019

Mother,

My activism isn’t “a phase.” How DARE you mention math homework while ecosystems collapse! I won’t clean my room—what’s the point with only 7 years left?

Your SUV and plastic straws are criminal. Your grounding is just oppression of the youth movement.

— Greta Thunberg
Ecological Independence
July 4, 2017

Mario,

You’re doing a tremendous job stomping those Koopas. Nobody jumps walls better than you, believe me. Your mushroom economy? Genius. If you’d invested in Trump Tower Mushroom Kingdom instead, huge success!

Your brother Luigi? Total loser. Sad! Some people are winners, some wear green. I know all the best princesses.

— Donald Trump
The Art of the Warp Pipe
April 30, 2025

Mr. Jobs,

We both understand minimalism! Your devices: one button. My gameplay: jump and run. That’s-a it! People complicate things-a too much.

Your black turtleneck reminds me of my plumber uniform—iconic, practical, never changes. We both found success without fancy wardrobes. Though maybe I should try the-a iPhone—hard to rescue princesses with these white gloves.

— Mario
Iconic Simplicity
August 30, 2017

Shakespeare,

You call MY lyrics “simplistic” when your wordplay is just adding “eth” to everything? Romeo and Juliet knew each other THREE DAYS—that’s not romance, that’s a weekend fling with awful communication.

My breakup songs generated more revenue than your collected works. You wrote forgettable kings while recycling the same plot twists.

— Taylor Swift
Dated Drama
May 15, 2008

Dear Michael,

It’s-a me, Mario! Your moonwalk reminds me of sliding on ice blocks in World 6! I bounce on Goombas; you glide across stage—same energy! Your dancing defies gravity like my jumps.

I sent you some 1-UP mushrooms with this letter—they give extra lives! Maybe they can help with your… health issues? We should collaborate on a music-platformer game!

— Mario
Moonwalking and Pipe-Jumping