Olli Bäckström
@ollibackstrom.bsky.social
Researcher of the Thirty Years War 1618-1648 and Seventeenth Century Europe. Docent (General History) associated with the University of Eastern Finland. Author Military Revolution and the Thirty Years War: https://hup.fi/site/books/m/10.33134/HUP-21/
Pinned
If Graham Greene was alive today, he would have to write a novel titled The American Who Won't Shut the Fuck Up.
February 14, 2026 at 10:19 AM
If Graham Greene was alive today, he would have to write a novel titled The American Who Won't Shut the Fuck Up.
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
Rubio’s speech at Munich was a massive free dose of fentanyl to an addict desperate not to get clean. And it worked. Europe is full of suckers.
February 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Rubio’s speech at Munich was a massive free dose of fentanyl to an addict desperate not to get clean. And it worked. Europe is full of suckers.
Miksi ei varapuheenjohtaja Teemu Keskisarjaa. Hänhän tietää kaiken ja osaa kaiken. Sotekriisiinkin hänellä oli olemassa toimiva ratkaisu vuodelta 1700 eli että isojakoa edeltävässä kylässä hoidetaan yhdessä lapset, sairaat ja vanhukset.
www.is.fi/politiikka/a...
www.is.fi/politiikka/a...
Kaisa Juuso väistyi – PS-lähde nostaa ministerispekulaatioon yllätysnimen
Juuson seuraajan on oltava ”kova luu”, jonka ”perse kestää merivettä”, IS:lle kuvaillaan.
www.is.fi
February 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Miksi ei varapuheenjohtaja Teemu Keskisarjaa. Hänhän tietää kaiken ja osaa kaiken. Sotekriisiinkin hänellä oli olemassa toimiva ratkaisu vuodelta 1700 eli että isojakoa edeltävässä kylässä hoidetaan yhdessä lapset, sairaat ja vanhukset.
www.is.fi/politiikka/a...
www.is.fi/politiikka/a...
Rubio's dim-witted identity politics might have worked as soundbites in Joe Rogan's podcast, but I fear they fell on def ears in Munich.
Yuropean identity politics are not the same as in Murika, Josh.
This is not Palookaville, folks here don't understand what you're prattling about.
Yuropean identity politics are not the same as in Murika, Josh.
This is not Palookaville, folks here don't understand what you're prattling about.
February 14, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Rubio's dim-witted identity politics might have worked as soundbites in Joe Rogan's podcast, but I fear they fell on def ears in Munich.
Yuropean identity politics are not the same as in Murika, Josh.
This is not Palookaville, folks here don't understand what you're prattling about.
Yuropean identity politics are not the same as in Murika, Josh.
This is not Palookaville, folks here don't understand what you're prattling about.
The witless worm Rubio babbles about 'American leadership' as if that's a thing that existed anymore.
February 14, 2026 at 8:18 AM
The witless worm Rubio babbles about 'American leadership' as if that's a thing that existed anymore.
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's AI chief, says AI can automate white-collar jobs within 12-18 months, as tech reaches human-level performance in tasks.
Microsoft AI CEO predicts 'most, if not all' white-collar tasks will be automated by AI within 18 months
Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's AI chief, says AI can automate white-collar jobs within 12-18 months, as tech reaches human-level performance in tasks.
www.businessinsider.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's AI chief, says AI can automate white-collar jobs within 12-18 months, as tech reaches human-level performance in tasks.
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
These are very dangerous conversations -- saying that Europe has nothing to fear and that, in the event of an invasion of Western countries, Russia would not win, since Putin couldn’t "even" defeat Ukraine.
February 13, 2026 at 11:04 PM
These are very dangerous conversations -- saying that Europe has nothing to fear and that, in the event of an invasion of Western countries, Russia would not win, since Putin couldn’t "even" defeat Ukraine.
Carlo Gesualdo was one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time.
He was also a homicidal piece of shit.
Before 19th century Romanticism and its concept of art and the artist being one and the same, it was possible to separate between those two things.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=__yd...
He was also a homicidal piece of shit.
Before 19th century Romanticism and its concept of art and the artist being one and the same, it was possible to separate between those two things.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=__yd...
Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsoria
YouTube video by Brilliant Classics
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Carlo Gesualdo was one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time.
He was also a homicidal piece of shit.
Before 19th century Romanticism and its concept of art and the artist being one and the same, it was possible to separate between those two things.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=__yd...
He was also a homicidal piece of shit.
Before 19th century Romanticism and its concept of art and the artist being one and the same, it was possible to separate between those two things.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=__yd...
When Russia invaded Ukraine, EU was like meh Murika will deal with it.
Then Trump came along and said watch me eat my own turd and suddenly EU felt it needs to become a geopolitical power of its own.
Then Trump came along and said watch me eat my own turd and suddenly EU felt it needs to become a geopolitical power of its own.
Macron, "The EU was set up for peace and a Single Market"
"But now, Europe has to learn to become a geopolitical power"
"But now, Europe has to learn to become a geopolitical power"
February 13, 2026 at 9:52 PM
When Russia invaded Ukraine, EU was like meh Murika will deal with it.
Then Trump came along and said watch me eat my own turd and suddenly EU felt it needs to become a geopolitical power of its own.
Then Trump came along and said watch me eat my own turd and suddenly EU felt it needs to become a geopolitical power of its own.
Erinomaista, että rentier-eliitti päättää omassa sisäpiirissään kaikesta ilman, että tavallinen suomalainen saasta pääsee häiritsemään heitä. Toki, jos Suomi joutuu sotaan, plebeijit kelpaavat uhraamaan henkensä yläluokan omaisuuden puolustamiseksi. Se on vain kohtuullista.
yle.fi/a/3-10133946
yle.fi/a/3-10133946
Väitöstutkimus: Taloudellinen eliitti saa sisäpiiritietoa, lobbaa lait ja hallitsee Suomea
Anders Blom on tunnettu lobbari itsekin. Nyt hän avaa suomalaisen poliittisen vaikuttamisen kuvioita väitöstutkimuksessaan.
yle.fi
February 13, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Erinomaista, että rentier-eliitti päättää omassa sisäpiirissään kaikesta ilman, että tavallinen suomalainen saasta pääsee häiritsemään heitä. Toki, jos Suomi joutuu sotaan, plebeijit kelpaavat uhraamaan henkensä yläluokan omaisuuden puolustamiseksi. Se on vain kohtuullista.
yle.fi/a/3-10133946
yle.fi/a/3-10133946
The fact that some of those macro regions, like the Baltic states and Finland, are currently their own states and even NATO members is a slight complication, but one that Washington and Moscow will undoubtedly resolve in a away that benefits them both. Russia gets the surface, US what's beneath it.
Trump is eager to enter the Russian-American strategic partnership that Moscow recently offered with many irresistible sweeteners (militarily protected access to the Russian macro regions' mineral resources etc.)
Trump: "Zelenskyy is gonna have to get moving. Russia wants to make a deal. Zelenskyy is gonna have to get moving."
February 13, 2026 at 7:11 PM
The fact that some of those macro regions, like the Baltic states and Finland, are currently their own states and even NATO members is a slight complication, but one that Washington and Moscow will undoubtedly resolve in a away that benefits them both. Russia gets the surface, US what's beneath it.
Trump is eager to enter the Russian-American strategic partnership that Moscow recently offered with many irresistible sweeteners (militarily protected access to the Russian macro regions' mineral resources etc.)
Trump: "Zelenskyy is gonna have to get moving. Russia wants to make a deal. Zelenskyy is gonna have to get moving."
February 13, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Trump is eager to enter the Russian-American strategic partnership that Moscow recently offered with many irresistible sweeteners (militarily protected access to the Russian macro regions' mineral resources etc.)
Tulevaisuuden Suomessa satavuotiaat Petteri Orpo ja Riikka Purra vaihtavat toistensa paskavaippoja, kun ketään muita ei maassa ole enää jäljellä.
February 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Tulevaisuuden Suomessa satavuotiaat Petteri Orpo ja Riikka Purra vaihtavat toistensa paskavaippoja, kun ketään muita ei maassa ole enää jäljellä.
Ymmärrän kokoomuslaisen rentier -eliitin kiihkon tästä asiasta, sillä puolueen itsensä tapettua kaiken elinkeinoelämän Suomesta, omaisuuden periminen on ainoa jäljellä oleva tapa saada sitä.
www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/perinto-ku...
www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/perinto-ku...
"Perintö kuuluu perillisille, ei verottajalle"
Susanne Päivärinnan mukaan Suomen on aika luopua epäoikeudenmukaiseksi koetusta verosta.
www.verkkouutiset.fi
February 13, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Ymmärrän kokoomuslaisen rentier -eliitin kiihkon tästä asiasta, sillä puolueen itsensä tapettua kaiken elinkeinoelämän Suomesta, omaisuuden periminen on ainoa jäljellä oleva tapa saada sitä.
www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/perinto-ku...
www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/perinto-ku...
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
Evidence of Hannibal passing through and potentially besieging an Iberian oppida ? An elephant bone and catapult ammunition suggest so… www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
'Landmark' elephant bone finding in Spain may be from time of Hannibal's war against Rome
An elephant bone discovered in Spain may date to the time of Hannibal's battles against the Romans.
www.livescience.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Evidence of Hannibal passing through and potentially besieging an Iberian oppida ? An elephant bone and catapult ammunition suggest so… www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
A volume of essays I edited some years ago on news in #earlymodern Europe is now available open access 📖
Featuring chapters by @lenaliapi.bsky.social, @emmawhipday.bsky.social, among others!
brill.com/edcollbook-o...
Featuring chapters by @lenaliapi.bsky.social, @emmawhipday.bsky.social, among others!
brill.com/edcollbook-o...
February 13, 2026 at 11:16 AM
A volume of essays I edited some years ago on news in #earlymodern Europe is now available open access 📖
Featuring chapters by @lenaliapi.bsky.social, @emmawhipday.bsky.social, among others!
brill.com/edcollbook-o...
Featuring chapters by @lenaliapi.bsky.social, @emmawhipday.bsky.social, among others!
brill.com/edcollbook-o...
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
The Dow is over 50,000!
February 13, 2026 at 4:26 PM
The Dow is over 50,000!
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
OTD February 13, 1960: France joins the Nuclear Club with the Gerboise Bleue detonation near Reggane, in the Algerian desert. Designed and planned as a 60kt to 70kt detonation, the explosion has a yield of 70kt, making it the most powerful first detonation of a nuclear weapon.
February 13, 2026 at 1:37 PM
OTD February 13, 1960: France joins the Nuclear Club with the Gerboise Bleue detonation near Reggane, in the Algerian desert. Designed and planned as a 60kt to 70kt detonation, the explosion has a yield of 70kt, making it the most powerful first detonation of a nuclear weapon.
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
Kekkonen pystyi 40-luvulla hiihtäessään umpihangessa Euroopan köyhimmillä ja periferisimmillä alueilla pohjoisessa asettamaan vision tämänkin kehitysmaan teollistumisesta ja vaurastumisesta. Nykyään ruisleipä ja juustopala ovat täysin poliittisen mielikuvituksen ulottumattomissa.
Siis miten helkkarin näköalatonta on politiikasta tullut Suomessa, jos esitys maksuttoman aamupalan kokeilusta kouluissa johtaa siihen, että niin oikeisto kuin pääkirjoitustoimittajat repivät pelihousunsa? 1/2
February 13, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Kekkonen pystyi 40-luvulla hiihtäessään umpihangessa Euroopan köyhimmillä ja periferisimmillä alueilla pohjoisessa asettamaan vision tämänkin kehitysmaan teollistumisesta ja vaurastumisesta. Nykyään ruisleipä ja juustopala ovat täysin poliittisen mielikuvituksen ulottumattomissa.
Reposted by Olli Bäckström
1/ Russia is reportedly proposing a wide-ranging economic partnership with the Trump administration, including joint cooperation to push fossil fuels as an alternative to Chinese and European clean energy solutions, in opposition to curbing climate change. ⬇️
February 13, 2026 at 9:38 AM
1/ Russia is reportedly proposing a wide-ranging economic partnership with the Trump administration, including joint cooperation to push fossil fuels as an alternative to Chinese and European clean energy solutions, in opposition to curbing climate change. ⬇️
Noin 2-3 prosentilla äänioikeutetuista on rationaalinen ja perusteltu syy äänestää kokoomusta.
Kaikki muut niitä äänestävät ovat idiootteja.
Kaikki muut niitä äänestävät ovat idiootteja.
Hyvä, että kokoomuslaisten koppavuus ja komeljanttarimaisuus vain lisääntyy eduskuntavaaleja lähestyttäessä.
February 13, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Noin 2-3 prosentilla äänioikeutetuista on rationaalinen ja perusteltu syy äänestää kokoomusta.
Kaikki muut niitä äänestävät ovat idiootteja.
Kaikki muut niitä äänestävät ovat idiootteja.
Hyvä, että kokoomuslaisten koppavuus ja komeljanttarimaisuus vain lisääntyy eduskuntavaaleja lähestyttäessä.
February 13, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Hyvä, että kokoomuslaisten koppavuus ja komeljanttarimaisuus vain lisääntyy eduskuntavaaleja lähestyttäessä.
I'm doing a Thirty Years War thing among other Thirty Years War things, and this book has proven to be enormously useful in it.
February 13, 2026 at 10:04 AM
I'm doing a Thirty Years War thing among other Thirty Years War things, and this book has proven to be enormously useful in it.