So much this. In any profession, you have to start somewhere. You have to learn the craft. All great translators were once not very good, but they became better through practice. If the opportunity to practice goes, we'll eventually lose the great translators. #xl8 #literarytranslation 🌐 💙📚

The lies just never stop. But I suppose it is just possible that he is so far gone in dementia and stupidity that he means it.

I just got an "invitation" from "The New Yorker" to be spotlit in a special feature, and the "invite" came from a hotmail account, and I'm all, awwww, the spammers have discovered 1996

That is a definite step forward!!! 🏳️‍🌈

was once New Amsterdam.

Trump is following what we might call the Classical Roman path... man enters politics, schemes until he becomes Emperor, starts a personality cult, finally declares himself a god and demands worship. Narcissism taken to its logical conclusion.

Screw the opposition from the Tories and Reform, Britain *needs* to do this.

Simulacrum [sim-yoo-LAY-krum] (n.) - A vague semblance of something; superficial likeness. Use: “What remained was a simulacrum of the once-vibrant community, its painted storefronts standing vigil over locked doors and tightly drawn curtains, though no human hand had touched them in weeks.”

Not much press coverage about this, either, but it's a US$700m war cost by itself. (From @antiwardotcom.bsky.social)

This seems highly likely. Trump's post after the collapse of negotiations specifically referenced nuclear POWER, not nuclear WEAPONS. Note that Tehran was previously willing to dilute its uranium enriched at 60% to lower levels and reduce enrichment levels far below the 90% weapons-grade level.

The 16-year reign of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is at an end after a crushing election loss on Sunday that will send political shockwaves from Washington to Moscow.

YES!!!!!!!

So.... What happens if India or China, which I believe had already come to terms with Iran, decide to send warships to escort their merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz?

The Toddler-in-Chief has now done Tehran's work for it, and closed the Strait of Hormuz himself. No doubt every other country in the world is absolutely *delighted* by this.

Good piece by @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social in today's Guardian.

So the US–Iran talks failed. Why? The world's best negotiators were involved. Why didn't they give it their best shot — handing over Florida to Iran? Shouldn't be a big deal — the same people insisted just a few days ago that any land is "just a few square kilometers".

Europeans know who is to blame.

Clear and undeniable war crimes - in place of the promised Easter ceasefire. Russia. Cannot. Be. Trusted.

It hath ben a longe tyme sithen Ich have rockid and rollid It hath ben a longe tyme sithen Ich did the strolle O Let me retourne, let me retourne Retourne to the place whence Ich went from (Oh Lord!) It hath ben a longe tyme, ben a longe tyme Ben a longe lonelye lonelye lonelye O lonelye tyme

“The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.” Robert Hughes

Turkey has NATO's second largest army; its stance against the ongoing military assaults by Israel, in the teeth of US support for them, is therefore significant in terms of NATO's future as well.

Hungary before the election

Powerful stuff.

Wait, you mean Russia lied and can't be trusted? Why didn't someone warn me? </s>

❗️Moldova completed its withdrawal from CIS founding treaties, formally ending its legal membership in the bloc. The move followed parliamentary approval and presidential enactment, marking a continued shift away from post-Soviet structures toward European integration. #Moldova

A convincing explanation of what really happened to the Mary ("Marie") Celeste has been found.

War isn't just bad for people, and it's not a civilisation that's in danger of being wiped out.

Pretty sure offering people financial incentives to vote a certain way is electoral interference, lol.

It's a start - designed to deploy air, surface and underwater drones.

So Israel has removed Spain from the coordination centre for the US-backed 'peace plan' for Gaza because Spain... consistently advocates for peace? (And Bibi still calls the IDF the 'most moral army in the world', which is an objectively ridiculous assertion.)

Cornigerous [kor-NIJ-er-us] (adj.) - Having horns or hornlike protuberances. From Latin “corniger” (horn-bearing) from “cornu” (horn) + “-ger” from “gerere” (to bear) Used in a sentence: “Her chrome-studded leather jacket and cornigerous fauxhawk made for a rather menacing senior photo.”

Hungary's election is tomorrow: Orban has 1 day left.⌛️ A huge anti-Orban concert was held in Budapest's Heroes' Square last night, as polls show that the opposition could win a 2/3 majority and fully remove Orban's hold on power. Time's almost up, asshole. Booked your flight?

@ducugavril.nafoforum.org Euronews now openly advocating for Orban. Two years ago it was rumoured that Euronews was acquired by Orban's circles. Well this is proof that it happened. Featuring someone from Vlaams belang writing a praising piece for Euronews. bsky.app/profile/euro...

195 years ago, on the 11th of April 1831, the Lewis chessmen were first exhibited at a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland shortly after being rediscovered. The pieces wee made between 1150 and 1200 and commonly believed to have been made in Norway. #otd #history 🗃️

Black Cube & Intellexa were both founded by ex-Israeli Military Intelligence staff. Cytrox received initial funding from Israel Aerospace Industries. Are we spotting a pattern yet?

Reminder that Russia is still lobbing hundreds of drones at Ukraine every single day - and the Ukrainians are intercepting the vast majority of them. Which is why the US and Gulf States are now urgently seeking help from the country "with no cards".

Looks like Vlad can't pay his bills...

This is awesome.

Right, one last push. @rebellionunplugged.bsky.social is launching a new edition of TUNNELS & TROLLS on Kickstarter *right now* and to support that launch I'm running several demo sessions of the game at @eclecticgames.bsky.social in Reading (the one in England) tomorrow! Do come along!

Well that's going to put a spanner in the works of the current British/EU détente, because however justifiable this may be (and however allowable under the Withdrawal Agreement), I highly doubt that the Home Office has suddenly become more competent or less heavy-handed.

I wanna point out something serious. The admin has been complaining about Iran winning the information war. This same administration shut down Voice of America, and other information operations the US govt does. It’s a self goal. Actions have consequences

Much as I dislike Big Tech companies and distrust their motives, in this case they are correct: this is an appalling failure by the European Parliament.

This, pretty much. The world continues to turn a blind eye to ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza, which is openly spoken of as a 'model' for southern Lebanon. Of course the US & Israel think they can act with impunity.

Quondam [KWON-dam] (adj.) - At one time; former, sometime. - Of or in an earlier time; before the present time, or in the past.

An excellent article about how the Chinese government de facto militarises civilian technology companies by requiring and facilitating rational, market-led behaviour - to the benefit of all concerned.

This is remarkable. Uses less electricity than standard induction stoves, requires just 100ml of water for up to 6 hours of cooking, and can be paired with (e.g.) solar power. Water vapour is the only waste product.

So interfering in other countries' elections and damaging their economies is bad, unless the US is doing it, huh? Might want to check your cosplay Catholicism there, bud, 'cause JC had some choice words for hypocrites.

Reminder: Israel doesn't adhere to the Gaza ceasefire either.

Shouldn't have spent so much time trashing the Europeans then, should he? And didn't he say a few days ago that the USA didn't *need* any help?

I can only assume that the forthcoming Hungarian elections are why actual sanctions are not being applied; if (so help us) Orbán wins, they might still be. (Also, isn't the timing of all these recently leaked recordings convenient? How long have people been holding on to them?)