Joost
@almodozo.bsky.social
Holland > Hungary > Spain
Same @almodozo as on Twitter, just without the Országház. Worked at OSF and CEU, but that's a long while ago. Studied East-European History, but that's even longer ago. Now, somehow, I ended up in Extremadura.
Same @almodozo as on Twitter, just without the Országház. Worked at OSF and CEU, but that's a long while ago. Studied East-European History, but that's even longer ago. Now, somehow, I ended up in Extremadura.
Pinned
Joost
@almodozo.bsky.social
· Sep 21
Not going to update my ancient Twitter bio, but I mostly post about:
— Elections and polls
— Central/East-European politics
— The war in Ukraine
— Maps and charts
— Dutch and Spanish politics
— Budapest memories, life in Extremadura
— The left, a love/hate relationship
— Media, archiving, minorities
— Elections and polls
— Central/East-European politics
— The war in Ukraine
— Maps and charts
— Dutch and Spanish politics
— Budapest memories, life in Extremadura
— The left, a love/hate relationship
— Media, archiving, minorities
How many days of front pages would you consider proportional?
February 11, 2026 at 2:45 PM
How many days of front pages would you consider proportional?
(Also, I appreciate your overview, but other papers as well as broadcast news media are available... and I'm a little wary of checking how they compare)
February 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM
(Also, I appreciate your overview, but other papers as well as broadcast news media are available... and I'm a little wary of checking how they compare)
But this was the front page today
February 11, 2026 at 2:36 PM
But this was the front page today
That's not the fault of lobby journalists, who are just doing their job, but of editors and publishers (and to some extent, further downstream, us readers collectively because of what we'll click on or not)
February 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
That's not the fault of lobby journalists, who are just doing their job, but of editors and publishers (and to some extent, further downstream, us readers collectively because of what we'll click on or not)
It'd be very easy to write a critical story about the state of schools, healthcare, the lives of those on benefits, etc too, but the papers hardly focus on that either. Problem isn't focusing on bad news instead of good news, but focusing on lobby intrigue rather than real life impacts of policies.
February 11, 2026 at 2:32 PM
It'd be very easy to write a critical story about the state of schools, healthcare, the lives of those on benefits, etc too, but the papers hardly focus on that either. Problem isn't focusing on bad news instead of good news, but focusing on lobby intrigue rather than real life impacts of policies.
This has nothing to do with any conspiracy to go after Starmer, the problem has existed forever. But it has gotten worse, and has served to further trivialise the news, shorten its attention span, and ramp up the drama. Like, this is a fair critique: bsky.app/profile/csav...
Some article suggestions for the media, visit a Better Start Centre, talk to the users and the staff. Visit a few breakfast clubs, talk to the users and the staff. Report on what difference the Employment Rights Act will make, same with the Warm Homes policy, just do your damn job.
February 11, 2026 at 2:28 PM
This has nothing to do with any conspiracy to go after Starmer, the problem has existed forever. But it has gotten worse, and has served to further trivialise the news, shorten its attention span, and ramp up the drama. Like, this is a fair critique: bsky.app/profile/csav...
Ok but how many column inches, how prominently placed, do the lobby journalists get — and how many column inches do the reporters get who write about the changing impact of social policies in communities? The state of the NHS, the lives of those on benefits, unions and labour conditions, etc etc?
February 11, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Ok but how many column inches, how prominently placed, do the lobby journalists get — and how many column inches do the reporters get who write about the changing impact of social policies in communities? The state of the NHS, the lives of those on benefits, unions and labour conditions, etc etc?
In this case I don't see anything suspicious about the reporting at all. "Challenger to the king has to pretend he's not readying a challenge, even as he (or his allies, spurred on by a nudge and a wink) are laying the groundwork for his challenge" is a story as old as politics
February 11, 2026 at 2:15 PM
In this case I don't see anything suspicious about the reporting at all. "Challenger to the king has to pretend he's not readying a challenge, even as he (or his allies, spurred on by a nudge and a wink) are laying the groundwork for his challenge" is a story as old as politics
It's so intense and so evocative!
February 10, 2026 at 9:45 PM
It's so intense and so evocative!
The entire Dutch opposition, from Socialists to extreme right, preemptively shoots down the idea of raising the electoral threshold, and @tomwgvdmeer.bsky.social explains why it would have been a bad idea (Google Translate in screenshots): nos.nl/nieuwsuur/ar...
February 10, 2026 at 9:44 PM
The entire Dutch opposition, from Socialists to extreme right, preemptively shoots down the idea of raising the electoral threshold, and @tomwgvdmeer.bsky.social explains why it would have been a bad idea (Google Translate in screenshots): nos.nl/nieuwsuur/ar...
Ah yeah, no, this is a different genre: "Loved your recipe! Here's what I made, which is literally nothing like your recipe". It's everywhere
February 10, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Ah yeah, no, this is a different genre: "Loved your recipe! Here's what I made, which is literally nothing like your recipe". It's everywhere
"After that, they loved it!" lol
February 10, 2026 at 8:53 PM
"After that, they loved it!" lol
Haha this is a true classic in the "just a few adjustments" genre.
The recipe (image 1) was for goguma-bap: rice with sweet potatoes + a seasoning sauce with green onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame seeds.
The commenter made.. rice with fried chicken, water chestnuts, and sweet and sour sauce.
The recipe (image 1) was for goguma-bap: rice with sweet potatoes + a seasoning sauce with green onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame seeds.
The commenter made.. rice with fried chicken, water chestnuts, and sweet and sour sauce.
February 10, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Haha this is a true classic in the "just a few adjustments" genre.
The recipe (image 1) was for goguma-bap: rice with sweet potatoes + a seasoning sauce with green onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame seeds.
The commenter made.. rice with fried chicken, water chestnuts, and sweet and sour sauce.
The recipe (image 1) was for goguma-bap: rice with sweet potatoes + a seasoning sauce with green onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame seeds.
The commenter made.. rice with fried chicken, water chestnuts, and sweet and sour sauce.
Seems like some kind of quid pro quo: you can come back as long as we never hear a peep from you again. Such a shame, but easy to empathise: exile must have broken him...
February 10, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Seems like some kind of quid pro quo: you can come back as long as we never hear a peep from you again. Such a shame, but easy to empathise: exile must have broken him...
"Where can I find the number of people responding to the poll?"
In the screenshot I posted
"Oh, and why are the polls always worded so I can’t give an accurate response?"
What accurate response is missing between "remain" and "stand down"?
In the screenshot I posted
"Oh, and why are the polls always worded so I can’t give an accurate response?"
What accurate response is missing between "remain" and "stand down"?
February 10, 2026 at 11:08 AM
"Where can I find the number of people responding to the poll?"
In the screenshot I posted
"Oh, and why are the polls always worded so I can’t give an accurate response?"
What accurate response is missing between "remain" and "stand down"?
In the screenshot I posted
"Oh, and why are the polls always worded so I can’t give an accurate response?"
What accurate response is missing between "remain" and "stand down"?
In a YouGov poll five days ago, Labour voters were evenly divided between wanting him to stay (40%) or resign (37%). Back in November that was still 46% vs 36%. Lot of Don't Knows too.
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
February 10, 2026 at 12:52 AM
In a YouGov poll five days ago, Labour voters were evenly divided between wanting him to stay (40%) or resign (37%). Back in November that was still 46% vs 36%. Lot of Don't Knows too.
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
NL: Carrying water to the sea
February 10, 2026 at 12:39 AM
NL: Carrying water to the sea
I love that you posted this! Probably hadn't listened to it in years, but it always made me so happy!
February 10, 2026 at 12:22 AM
I love that you posted this! Probably hadn't listened to it in years, but it always made me so happy!
If we're doing badass music from that part of the world: Yat-Kha's Yenisei Punk (Tuva, 1995)
Post a banger that's not in English
youtu.be/qClXtvkxsVA?...
Post a banger that's not in English
youtu.be/qClXtvkxsVA?...
February 10, 2026 at 12:21 AM
If we're doing badass music from that part of the world: Yat-Kha's Yenisei Punk (Tuva, 1995)
Post a banger that's not in English
youtu.be/qClXtvkxsVA?...
Post a banger that's not in English
youtu.be/qClXtvkxsVA?...
Couple years back my friend and I were hanging out at Budapest's rockabilly bar when we headed downstairs to check out the karaoke. At most 20 people were casting a jaded eye at a guy rocking out. Suddenly this chubby dude came up, launched into this song, and everyone just flipped the hell out 🕺💥
February 10, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Couple years back my friend and I were hanging out at Budapest's rockabilly bar when we headed downstairs to check out the karaoke. At most 20 people were casting a jaded eye at a guy rocking out. Suddenly this chubby dude came up, launched into this song, and everyone just flipped the hell out 🕺💥
Awesome. I used to bounce around the house to this: youtu.be/qdtLCfEcPL4?...
And, more subdued, to "Schwarz zu blau".
Just an incredible set of bangers, and then he said: "ok, that was it, thanks everyone". Crazy
And, more subdued, to "Schwarz zu blau".
Just an incredible set of bangers, and then he said: "ok, that was it, thanks everyone". Crazy
Peter Fox - Alles neu (offizielles Video)
YouTube video by Peter Fox
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Awesome. I used to bounce around the house to this: youtu.be/qdtLCfEcPL4?...
And, more subdued, to "Schwarz zu blau".
Just an incredible set of bangers, and then he said: "ok, that was it, thanks everyone". Crazy
And, more subdued, to "Schwarz zu blau".
Just an incredible set of bangers, and then he said: "ok, that was it, thanks everyone". Crazy
Thank you for this. A song I remember fondly from my childhood, my dad used to play that record.
More wistfully: www.youtube.com/watch?v=41t9...
More wistfully: www.youtube.com/watch?v=41t9...
Vladimír Merta - Dezertér (z alba: Vladimír Merta - Live Malostranská beseda 1988)
YouTube video by Vladislav Steinbauer
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Thank you for this. A song I remember fondly from my childhood, my dad used to play that record.
More wistfully: www.youtube.com/watch?v=41t9...
More wistfully: www.youtube.com/watch?v=41t9...
After years in exile, he apparently made some kind of deal with Kadyrov in 2008 that allowed him to go back — but he never sang again.
February 9, 2026 at 10:58 PM
After years in exile, he apparently made some kind of deal with Kadyrov in 2008 that allowed him to go back — but he never sang again.