Ca. 15.000 (my estimate) gathered in Bucharest to support democratic values, proclaim Romania's place in Europe, and reject Russia and fascism. The European anthem "Ode to Joy" was sung as was the Romanian one. The crowd formed a heart for Europe with blue and white sheets lit by mobile phones

Saw the original of this and was going to post with a comment, However I think @firefly-7461.bsky.social sums it up more succinctly than I could have.

March 1883 – March 2025 A depiction of a remarkably similar "Russian world" to every year between the two dates, “The Torch of Civilisation” from Punch, March 1883.

I think the monogram is “JT” meaning the artist was Sir John Tenniel, illustrator of Alice in Wonderland and its companions.

Britpress would have you believe fascism is growing everywhere in Germany, The density map of first-choice votes for the AfD (from Süddeutsche Zeitung) suggests otherwise. There is still a story but about East-West division and where Putin/Musk's influence is strong.

German exit poll. Good bye Scholz! Britpress always talks up German fascism but AfD polling less than UK equivalent, Reform. If accurate, failing to reach 5% threshold may see the end of FDP (current Finance Minister Christian Lindner) and BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht). Potentially good news for Ukraine.

Sound political argument but this is the real economic one, securing ‘geographical indication’ in the EU. How? Well, you know the rest …. BTW this particular Romanian whisky is great: I unselfishly went through entire range of cask finishes to find one worth bringing home to Scotland, this is it

Georgescu, wannabe fascist presidential candidate in #Romania called for a boycott of foreign-owned supermarkets on Monday. Only buy Romanian (despite these supermarkets employing 822,700 and full of local produce). Here are some going to the demo. Not sure they fully absorbed the message.

OTD 1633 , Galileo reaches Rome to face inquisitors and repents views on earth orbiting sun (simplified but limited chars) OTD 2025 Senate confirms RFK jr as US Health Sec. Two big wins for dogma over science. But, science doesn’t care what you believe – bear it in mind as you count the bodies.

Saw several of these shops with cheesy balalaika music on a recent trip to China (this one in Changsha) as the Russians seek markets via a ‘charm offensive’. More gratifying, I saw, as here, next to no customers inside. The Chinese seem as ‘charmed’ by the Russians as the rest of the world.

And a quick translation. It's based on Georgescu saying 'Water is alive and has a memory, H20 means nothing' (oh, and Pepsi contains microchips)

Congratulations to @jenstout.bsky.social has been awarded the First Book Award at Scotland's National Book Awards organised by the Saltire Society. Only one complaint. This THE book of the year and not only in Scotland.

Students reluctant to speak to me on camera in Bucharest last night. No overreaction when Georgescu, on Realitatea TV, said 'Those children now in the streets. please tell them to go home to their families, we don't want anything bad to happen'

Nothing reeks more of fascism than that statement.

The first round of voting in Romania’s presidential election was one of the strangest I’ve seen. A candidate who did not register in the first five in opinion polls topped the voting. Călin Georgescu is so well known, the TV channel I watched breakfast news on was explaining to Romanians who he was.

Personally disgusted, economically lukewarm on royals. Conceptually unjust, democratically abhorrent, brings folk to Deeside. Interested (for article in Romania where Charles mysteriously popular) in Scottish costs for royals. @scotnational.bsky.social story 2022 but welcome detailed analysis.

Opinion volatile and polls too. Two below just a couple of weeks apart – has opinion moved that much? Throw into mix calls today from three candidates for Ciolacu to resign as PM and withdraw after air tickets scandal; Orban quitting to support Lasconi and Ciucă not appearing in the debate.

Dull 0-0 in Bucharest last night! Kosovo captain Rrahmani assaults Romanian player, crowd chant, “Serbia, Serbia”, Rrahmani takes team off field and they refuse to return, While Romanian players waited on pitch in -2c, Kosovan team order pizza and trash the dressing room. Internet war breaks out.