Blackcal
@blackcal.bsky.social
🇨🇭🇷🇴 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇪🇺
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Bookworm 📚
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Holding the line
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Bookworm 📚
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Holding the line
Reposted by Blackcal
Meta is putting a "Name Tag" feature in Ray-Bans - facial recognition through the glasses' camera. You look at someone, AI tells you who they are.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
February 14, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Meta is putting a "Name Tag" feature in Ray-Bans - facial recognition through the glasses' camera. You look at someone, AI tells you who they are.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
Reposted by Blackcal
This is the speech of Rubio’s that matters. If he’s willing to openly endorse, in the name of “US national interests”, a kleptocratic Putinversteher who seeks to rupture EU unity from the inside, it tells you everything you need to know about what those interests are.
February 16, 2026 at 12:25 PM
This is the speech of Rubio’s that matters. If he’s willing to openly endorse, in the name of “US national interests”, a kleptocratic Putinversteher who seeks to rupture EU unity from the inside, it tells you everything you need to know about what those interests are.
Reposted by Blackcal
Hongrie : pour arracher un cinquième mandat consécutif aux élections législatives d’avril, le parti du premier ministre Viktor Orbán mobilise tous les moyens de l’État. La propagande du pouvoir n’a aucun équivalent dans l’Union européenne.
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
En Hongrie, mensonges et manipulations se précipitent avant un scrutin pipé
Pour redresser sa popularité entamée et arracher un cinquième mandat consécutif aux élections législatives d’avril, le parti du premier ministre Viktor Orbán mobilise tous les moyens de l’État. La pr…
www.mediapart.fr
February 16, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Hongrie : pour arracher un cinquième mandat consécutif aux élections législatives d’avril, le parti du premier ministre Viktor Orbán mobilise tous les moyens de l’État. La propagande du pouvoir n’a aucun équivalent dans l’Union européenne.
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
Reposted by Blackcal
This is what electoral interference in European elections looks like - per the USG NSS strategy last year
February 16, 2026 at 12:47 PM
This is what electoral interference in European elections looks like - per the USG NSS strategy last year
Reposted by Blackcal
Academia needs a reckoning about Epstein.
Not only in terms of the amount of lechery & sexual harassment that flies beneath the radar—and it’s a lot.
But also about the tendency, deeply embedded amongst university leaderships, to hire & kiss up to the criminally immoral.
Not only in terms of the amount of lechery & sexual harassment that flies beneath the radar—and it’s a lot.
But also about the tendency, deeply embedded amongst university leaderships, to hire & kiss up to the criminally immoral.
February 16, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Academia needs a reckoning about Epstein.
Not only in terms of the amount of lechery & sexual harassment that flies beneath the radar—and it’s a lot.
But also about the tendency, deeply embedded amongst university leaderships, to hire & kiss up to the criminally immoral.
Not only in terms of the amount of lechery & sexual harassment that flies beneath the radar—and it’s a lot.
But also about the tendency, deeply embedded amongst university leaderships, to hire & kiss up to the criminally immoral.
Reposted by Blackcal
The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield.
Russia’s maximalist demands cannot be met with a minimalist response.
Extract of my speech at Munich Security Conference ↓
Russia’s maximalist demands cannot be met with a minimalist response.
Extract of my speech at Munich Security Conference ↓
February 15, 2026 at 1:48 PM
The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield.
Russia’s maximalist demands cannot be met with a minimalist response.
Extract of my speech at Munich Security Conference ↓
Russia’s maximalist demands cannot be met with a minimalist response.
Extract of my speech at Munich Security Conference ↓
Reposted by Blackcal
Votation sur la redevance radio-TV en Suisse - © Chappatte dans Le Temps, Genève @letemps.ch ccweb
February 14, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Votation sur la redevance radio-TV en Suisse - © Chappatte dans Le Temps, Genève @letemps.ch ccweb
Reposted by Blackcal
And if you listen closely to the speech he is pronouncing the end of a tolerant, democratic Europe, and is calling for Europe to “Trump” itself.
February 14, 2026 at 10:05 AM
And if you listen closely to the speech he is pronouncing the end of a tolerant, democratic Europe, and is calling for Europe to “Trump” itself.
Reposted by Blackcal
France and Germany are part of a shared civilisation but it didn't stop them from going to war with each other four times between 1800 and 1950
Rubio just made a speech to the European defense community in Munich that did not mention Ukraine. Or democracy. Or US business deals with Russia. Or the administration's plans to support the European far right. But there were lots of nice words about our common civilization.
February 14, 2026 at 12:07 PM
France and Germany are part of a shared civilisation but it didn't stop them from going to war with each other four times between 1800 and 1950
Reposted by Blackcal
Rubio's speech at the MSC was not (and should not be) in the least bit reassuring for Europe, the fundamental substance not different to Vance last year
This US Admin and Europe no longer share the same values
This will continue to throw up risks in Ukraine, Greenland, big tech etc
This US Admin and Europe no longer share the same values
This will continue to throw up risks in Ukraine, Greenland, big tech etc
February 14, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Rubio's speech at the MSC was not (and should not be) in the least bit reassuring for Europe, the fundamental substance not different to Vance last year
This US Admin and Europe no longer share the same values
This will continue to throw up risks in Ukraine, Greenland, big tech etc
This US Admin and Europe no longer share the same values
This will continue to throw up risks in Ukraine, Greenland, big tech etc
Reposted by Blackcal
A Europe that no longer trusts the US as a security partner would also have significant consequences for US trade, perhaps above all in the defence sector. All these are big incentives to try to stop a full breach with Europe taking place.
February 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
A Europe that no longer trusts the US as a security partner would also have significant consequences for US trade, perhaps above all in the defence sector. All these are big incentives to try to stop a full breach with Europe taking place.
Reposted by Blackcal
Since Feb 2025, we've seen threats to annex territory of two NATO allies; tariff threats against allies opposing this; the red carpet rolled out for Putin in Alaska; the US siding with Russia over Ukraine; and an NSS that says Europe needs to get over their Russia concerns.
February 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Since Feb 2025, we've seen threats to annex territory of two NATO allies; tariff threats against allies opposing this; the red carpet rolled out for Putin in Alaska; the US siding with Russia over Ukraine; and an NSS that says Europe needs to get over their Russia concerns.
Reposted by Blackcal
❗❗ PALANTIR IS SUING US❗❗ Because of our reporting on the #SwissPalantirFiles.
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
February 12, 2026 at 11:53 AM
❗❗ PALANTIR IS SUING US❗❗ Because of our reporting on the #SwissPalantirFiles.
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
Reposted by Blackcal
There’s no cure for stupidity, but there are measurements
February 12, 2026 at 11:52 PM
There’s no cure for stupidity, but there are measurements
Reposted by Blackcal
Jordan Bardella, the party’s President and likely candidate in next year’s French presidential election, just voted against the EU’s life-saving €90bn loan to Ukraine in the European Parliament. So did 139 other members of the Far Rights “Patriots” group 2/
February 12, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Jordan Bardella, the party’s President and likely candidate in next year’s French presidential election, just voted against the EU’s life-saving €90bn loan to Ukraine in the European Parliament. So did 139 other members of the Far Rights “Patriots” group 2/
Reposted by Blackcal
Such a powerful image in Le Monde.
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
February 12, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Such a powerful image in Le Monde.
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
Reposted by Blackcal
Always depressing to me how the median attitude among most people is close to “metoo went too far” when the most powerful man in the world is a rapist, and countless rich successful sports star / celebrity rapists get good press every week.
I remember being surprised at how much MeToo took over the minds of certain folks, and I guess I just severely underestimated the number of older men who regarded nonstop predation of younger women as their birthright
Lawrence Krauss being endearing again: "good news btw is that woman on conciliation committee seems like a sweetie.. she is old…. not some young metoo bitch."
February 11, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Always depressing to me how the median attitude among most people is close to “metoo went too far” when the most powerful man in the world is a rapist, and countless rich successful sports star / celebrity rapists get good press every week.
Glad that I'm seeing this in a French newspaper: Russia is no representative of the anti-imperialist movement, it just happened to align with anti-westerners. The minute they get a deal with the US they'll throw their "global south" partners under the bus.
Dans sa première chronique pour @mediapart.fr, Ilya Budraitskis montre que l’impérialisme grand-russe de Poutine, derrière sa rhétorique de soutien aux pays anciennement colonisés, a pour seul objectif d’intégrer le cercle des nations qui dirigent le monde.
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
www.mediapart.fr/journal/inte...
L’obsession pour l’Occident de la classe dirigeante russe
En dépit de sa rhétorique de soutien aux pays anciennement colonisés, le pouvoir poutinien a pour seul objectif d’intégrer le cercle des nations qui dirigent le monde, au même titre que les États-Uni…
www.mediapart.fr
February 11, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Glad that I'm seeing this in a French newspaper: Russia is no representative of the anti-imperialist movement, it just happened to align with anti-westerners. The minute they get a deal with the US they'll throw their "global south" partners under the bus.
📖 - In Mechants of Doubt, in the context of pollution regulations regarding acid rain:
"The empirical evidence shows that regulation may be the most effective means, because clear and stringent regulation provides a strong and continuous stimulus for invention...
1/
"The empirical evidence shows that regulation may be the most effective means, because clear and stringent regulation provides a strong and continuous stimulus for invention...
1/
February 11, 2026 at 5:33 PM
📖 - In Mechants of Doubt, in the context of pollution regulations regarding acid rain:
"The empirical evidence shows that regulation may be the most effective means, because clear and stringent regulation provides a strong and continuous stimulus for invention...
1/
"The empirical evidence shows that regulation may be the most effective means, because clear and stringent regulation provides a strong and continuous stimulus for invention...
1/
Reposted by Blackcal
OPINION. Le silence du CICR devant les crimes de guerre les plus massifs commis depuis 1945 et documentés n’est plus ni neutre ni prudent, il est devenu une position politique qui encourage toujours plus l’impunité russe...
Guerre d’Ukraine: combien de temps le CICR peut-il encore se taire devant les crimes russes?
l.letemps.ch
February 7, 2026 at 6:45 PM
OPINION. Le silence du CICR devant les crimes de guerre les plus massifs commis depuis 1945 et documentés n’est plus ni neutre ni prudent, il est devenu une position politique qui encourage toujours plus l’impunité russe...
Reposted by Blackcal
Shameful — yet not shocking — that the IOC banned Vladyslav Heraskevych from wearing a helmet portraying Ukrainian athletes whose lives were claimed by russia.
Why is telling the stories of athletes who will never compete in the Olympics labelled "political"?
Full support for Vladyslav.
Why is telling the stories of athletes who will never compete in the Olympics labelled "political"?
Full support for Vladyslav.
February 10, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Shameful — yet not shocking — that the IOC banned Vladyslav Heraskevych from wearing a helmet portraying Ukrainian athletes whose lives were claimed by russia.
Why is telling the stories of athletes who will never compete in the Olympics labelled "political"?
Full support for Vladyslav.
Why is telling the stories of athletes who will never compete in the Olympics labelled "political"?
Full support for Vladyslav.
Reposted by Blackcal
Olympic calm: Russian athletes’ return to the international stage is producing remarkably little controversy
Despite Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, IOC officials are increasingly giving in to pressure from Moscow for a return to business as usual.
Despite Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, IOC officials are increasingly giving in to pressure from Moscow for a return to business as usual.
Olympic calm: Russian athletes’ return to the international stage is producing remarkably little controversy
The Olympic Winter Games that opened on Feb. 6 in Milan will feature thirteen athletes from Russia — a figure that would have been even higher had Schengen visas been obtained in time. Although Russia...
theins.press
February 10, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Olympic calm: Russian athletes’ return to the international stage is producing remarkably little controversy
Despite Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, IOC officials are increasingly giving in to pressure from Moscow for a return to business as usual.
Despite Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, IOC officials are increasingly giving in to pressure from Moscow for a return to business as usual.
Reposted by Blackcal
A tale of two billionaires. Jeff Bezos was at fashion week in Europe while he pulled a let-them-eat-cake firing of 30% of Washington Post journalists. Jimmy Lai stood by his newsroom and he will now likely die in a Hong Kong prison. Tell everyone you know about Jimmy Lai.
February 10, 2026 at 9:29 AM
A tale of two billionaires. Jeff Bezos was at fashion week in Europe while he pulled a let-them-eat-cake firing of 30% of Washington Post journalists. Jimmy Lai stood by his newsroom and he will now likely die in a Hong Kong prison. Tell everyone you know about Jimmy Lai.
Reposted by Blackcal
February 8, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Blackcal
February 7, 2026 at 8:17 PM