Terje Fjelde
@schiing.bsky.social
Romanticism, news, synths, serialism, spacepop, jazz-funk, politics, cake, coffee, architecture and everything in between. Screaming for the hills/Norway. Founder and supreme leader of the Ted Mountainé Orchestra.
Very grim.
I'm also learning more about Denmark's policies through the debate in the U.K.
I knew it was bad, but I'm surprised that some of these details haven't been talking points in Norway. Our policies are certainly not perfect, but I hope we're better than this.
I'm also learning more about Denmark's policies through the debate in the U.K.
I knew it was bad, but I'm surprised that some of these details haven't been talking points in Norway. Our policies are certainly not perfect, but I hope we're better than this.
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
November 17, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Very grim.
I'm also learning more about Denmark's policies through the debate in the U.K.
I knew it was bad, but I'm surprised that some of these details haven't been talking points in Norway. Our policies are certainly not perfect, but I hope we're better than this.
I'm also learning more about Denmark's policies through the debate in the U.K.
I knew it was bad, but I'm surprised that some of these details haven't been talking points in Norway. Our policies are certainly not perfect, but I hope we're better than this.
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
"If a country as rich as Norway can’t afford to stick to principles, who can?" Great edition of the Free Lunch newsletter today by @martinsandbu.ft.com on Norway suspending its $2.1 trillion oil fund's ethics rules. www.ft.com/content/f6b3...
How Norway jeopardised its integrity overnight
Oslo abruptly changed the ethics rules for the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund
www.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
"If a country as rich as Norway can’t afford to stick to principles, who can?" Great edition of the Free Lunch newsletter today by @martinsandbu.ft.com on Norway suspending its $2.1 trillion oil fund's ethics rules. www.ft.com/content/f6b3...
You get the sense that if the BBC covers animal welfare, the demands of due impartiality are met if a quote from a Cranswick executive is balanced with a shot of a grunting pig.
It lends weight to my belief that we live in a post-rational society governed by technical norms untethered from reality.
It lends weight to my belief that we live in a post-rational society governed by technical norms untethered from reality.
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
The departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness means the BBC is leaderless when it needs leadership more than ever. Where are the people at the head of the BBC standing up for it?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
You get the sense that if the BBC covers animal welfare, the demands of due impartiality are met if a quote from a Cranswick executive is balanced with a shot of a grunting pig.
It lends weight to my belief that we live in a post-rational society governed by technical norms untethered from reality.
It lends weight to my belief that we live in a post-rational society governed by technical norms untethered from reality.
Good point, but I do think it's a problem that the collective voice of the EU today seems weaker than the individual voices of, say, Mitterrand's France or Kohl's Germany.
Not for lack of economic or military power, perhaps, but rather for lack of political resolution and a defining sense of unity.
Not for lack of economic or military power, perhaps, but rather for lack of political resolution and a defining sense of unity.
I find this performative European self-flagellation baffling when the US air traffic control system is breaking down and China's economy is struggling with inert domestic demand.
What are held up as US or Chinese external strengths are often symptoms of their internal crises
What are held up as US or Chinese external strengths are often symptoms of their internal crises
My working hypothesis (more soon) is that Europe cannot play power politics with the US and China, or avoid all dependencies, a function of structure as a collection of countries in this inter-connected world.
Further weakened by the failure to weaponise the Brussels Effect.
Further weakened by the failure to weaponise the Brussels Effect.
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Good point, but I do think it's a problem that the collective voice of the EU today seems weaker than the individual voices of, say, Mitterrand's France or Kohl's Germany.
Not for lack of economic or military power, perhaps, but rather for lack of political resolution and a defining sense of unity.
Not for lack of economic or military power, perhaps, but rather for lack of political resolution and a defining sense of unity.
This is a bit too much like the dramatic snippets you might hear in the Traitors.
But I'm surprised there haven't been more experiments fusing opera vocals and modern electronic music in recent years - especially in art music. The massive soundscapes you can create are perfect for the genre.
But I'm surprised there haven't been more experiments fusing opera vocals and modern electronic music in recent years - especially in art music. The massive soundscapes you can create are perfect for the genre.
Rosalía’s Berghain is a thundrous goth-pop hit – but is it opera?
The Catalan star’s epic new single is delighting and dividing classical music fans in equal measure
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
This is a bit too much like the dramatic snippets you might hear in the Traitors.
But I'm surprised there haven't been more experiments fusing opera vocals and modern electronic music in recent years - especially in art music. The massive soundscapes you can create are perfect for the genre.
But I'm surprised there haven't been more experiments fusing opera vocals and modern electronic music in recent years - especially in art music. The massive soundscapes you can create are perfect for the genre.
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
Western politicians are increasingly framing migration as a threat to national security and social cohesion. In doing so, they risk undermining the democratic norms they claim to defend, writes @mireiafaro.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3X0qhRH
https://bit.ly/3X0qhRH
Europe’s democratic strain is a crisis of governance, not borders
Western politicians are increasingly framing migration as a threat to national security and social cohesion. In doing so, they risk undermining the democratic norms they claim to defend…
bit.ly
October 31, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Western politicians are increasingly framing migration as a threat to national security and social cohesion. In doing so, they risk undermining the democratic norms they claim to defend, writes @mireiafaro.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3X0qhRH
https://bit.ly/3X0qhRH
"If populism is an overused term, so is the idea that it can be defeated."
To get started, here are a few pairings that could distinguish mainstream politicians from populists:
- Values/Sincerity
- Competence/Confidence
- Realism/Optimism
- Willpower/Long-term commitment
- Heart/Kindness
To get started, here are a few pairings that could distinguish mainstream politicians from populists:
- Values/Sincerity
- Competence/Confidence
- Realism/Optimism
- Willpower/Long-term commitment
- Heart/Kindness
“(Wilders’) influence on policy is alive and well,” says @armida.bsky.social, of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social.
buff.ly/1lM08c1
buff.ly/1lM08c1
Europe’s MAGA Takeover Gets a Dutch Reality Check
If populism is an overused term, so is the idea that it can be defeated. The victory of mainstream parties in Wednesday’s Dutch election is no more fatal for the far right — which lost seats and was…
www.bloomberg.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"If populism is an overused term, so is the idea that it can be defeated."
To get started, here are a few pairings that could distinguish mainstream politicians from populists:
- Values/Sincerity
- Competence/Confidence
- Realism/Optimism
- Willpower/Long-term commitment
- Heart/Kindness
To get started, here are a few pairings that could distinguish mainstream politicians from populists:
- Values/Sincerity
- Competence/Confidence
- Realism/Optimism
- Willpower/Long-term commitment
- Heart/Kindness
Illuminating ChatGPT experience: I asked how China's authoritarian crackdown in Xinjiang might be seen as an "improved" version of Western methods under colonialism, and how these Chinese hi-tech enhancements is in turn used by Israel in Gaza, U.S./ICE.
It did NOT like that line of inquiry at all.
It did NOT like that line of inquiry at all.
That is my entire experience with ChatGPT. It also cites right wing sources that are rated near zero credibility with mediabiasfactcheck. And it just flat out cites a source with quotes that do not exist.
I am hoping that by adding my (crazed) feedback when it does this, it is helping retrain it.
I am hoping that by adding my (crazed) feedback when it does this, it is helping retrain it.
October 30, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Illuminating ChatGPT experience: I asked how China's authoritarian crackdown in Xinjiang might be seen as an "improved" version of Western methods under colonialism, and how these Chinese hi-tech enhancements is in turn used by Israel in Gaza, U.S./ICE.
It did NOT like that line of inquiry at all.
It did NOT like that line of inquiry at all.
It’s easy to forget just how oppressive the Chinese regime is in a world where international interdependence, trade interests, and tariff wars muffle human rights concerns.
China is rounding up Christian leaders on online churches
www.economist.com/china/2025/1...
From The Economist
www.economist.com/china/2025/1...
From The Economist
China is rounding up Christian leaders
It is desperate to squish online worship
www.economist.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
It’s easy to forget just how oppressive the Chinese regime is in a world where international interdependence, trade interests, and tariff wars muffle human rights concerns.
Initiatives to increase self-sufficiency and improve market position are well and good, but I sincerely hope that, for the most part, Europe simply gets on with it – quietly, without fanfare. No press releases, no grand gestures to stir the waters or awaken the giants, whether it's China or the U.S.
Britain is pushing to form a Western alliance with the European Union to curb China's dominance in the global steel market.
Britain seeks EU steel pact to counter China — and swerve tariffs
The idea under consideration is for the U.K. and EU to form a Western steel alliance — potentially including Washington — that would align tariff policies.
www.politico.eu
October 27, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Initiatives to increase self-sufficiency and improve market position are well and good, but I sincerely hope that, for the most part, Europe simply gets on with it – quietly, without fanfare. No press releases, no grand gestures to stir the waters or awaken the giants, whether it's China or the U.S.
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
Israeli authorities have rejected 94 percent of aid delivery requests from international relief organisations — leaving €43m worth of critical supplies stranded at border crossings, according to 41 humanitarian groups working in Gaza.
Israel blocking €43m of Gaza aid despite ceasefire, NGOs say
Israeli authorities have rejected 94 percent of aid delivery requests from international relief organisations — leaving €43m worth of critical supplies stranded at border crossings, according to 41 humanitarian groups working in Gaza.
euobserver.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Israeli authorities have rejected 94 percent of aid delivery requests from international relief organisations — leaving €43m worth of critical supplies stranded at border crossings, according to 41 humanitarian groups working in Gaza.
So much for the "natural variability" argument. 😂😭
This is how the total greenhouse gas forcing changed over the past 130,000 years, relative to 1750 and converted to CO₂.
We've ain't seen nothing yet!
We've ain't seen nothing yet!
October 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
So much for the "natural variability" argument. 😂😭
Too ridiculous. 😂
Call me a luddite if you like - but I don't want a bed that stops working when Amazon Web Services goes down.
www.dexerto.com/entertainmen...
www.dexerto.com/entertainmen...
AWS crash causes $2,000 Smart Beds to overheat and get stuck upright - Dexerto
The AWS outage caused chaos for owners of Eight Sleep’s Pod3 mattresses as they had no offline mode and were stuck at high temperatures.
www.dexerto.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Too ridiculous. 😂
In so many ways, Merz is not the statesman you'd want in this position at this time. Not a statesman at all, in fact.
“Ich habe gar nichts zurückzunehmen”
- sagt #Merz heute zu seiner “wir haben im Stadtbild noch dieses Problem”-Äußerung in Bezug auf Migration.
- sagt #Merz heute zu seiner “wir haben im Stadtbild noch dieses Problem”-Äußerung in Bezug auf Migration.
October 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
In so many ways, Merz is not the statesman you'd want in this position at this time. Not a statesman at all, in fact.
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
Your favorite thing is down because DynamoDB at Amazon's AWS US-EAST-1 Regionwoke up with Main Character Syndrome.
This is the default /legacy backbone for a ton of things.
Including Amazon's own stuff.
Massive outages.
Here's what's going on & what we know 1/
This is the default /legacy backbone for a ton of things.
Including Amazon's own stuff.
Massive outages.
Here's what's going on & what we know 1/
October 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Your favorite thing is down because DynamoDB at Amazon's AWS US-EAST-1 Regionwoke up with Main Character Syndrome.
This is the default /legacy backbone for a ton of things.
Including Amazon's own stuff.
Massive outages.
Here's what's going on & what we know 1/
This is the default /legacy backbone for a ton of things.
Including Amazon's own stuff.
Massive outages.
Here's what's going on & what we know 1/
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
The Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service has stopped sharing certain information with the United States: “Sometimes we no longer share things,” officials say, because the information has been finding its way into Kremlin hands. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...
Nederlandse diensten delen minder informatie met de VS: ‘Soms vertellen we dingen niet meer’
Het aantal dreigingen dat op Nederland afkomt is groot, zien de hoofden van de AIVD en de MIVD elke dag: niet alleen Russische agressie, maar ook de opmars van China als digitale macht en binnenlands ...
www.volkskrant.nl
October 19, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service has stopped sharing certain information with the United States: “Sometimes we no longer share things,” officials say, because the information has been finding its way into Kremlin hands. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...
Foggy day, birds, autumn in Norway – bliss.
October 12, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Foggy day, birds, autumn in Norway – bliss.
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
I haven’t played Civilization for decades. But I do remember finding it highly problematic that achieving monotheism was seen as an important mark of progress.
“Since 1991, the video game Civilization, now in its seventh installment, has become one of the most successful game franchises ever. That means millions of kids have grown up with Civ as one of their formative ways of thinking about history.” (via @jstor.bsky.social) #AcademicSky
History and Civilization - JSTOR Daily
The Civilization video games may not convey actual history very well, but they’ve encouraged generations of young people to learn more about the past.
buff.ly
October 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I haven’t played Civilization for decades. But I do remember finding it highly problematic that achieving monotheism was seen as an important mark of progress.
Huge congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, and not a bad word about the fight for democracy in an autocratic country.
But this also has an unmistakable whiff of appeasement in regard to the strained situation between Venezuela and the U.S., which is disappointing.
But this also has an unmistakable whiff of appeasement in regard to the strained situation between Venezuela and the U.S., which is disappointing.
October 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Huge congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, and not a bad word about the fight for democracy in an autocratic country.
But this also has an unmistakable whiff of appeasement in regard to the strained situation between Venezuela and the U.S., which is disappointing.
But this also has an unmistakable whiff of appeasement in regard to the strained situation between Venezuela and the U.S., which is disappointing.
UK, EU... taking the "inter" out of the internet one step at a time.
The thought of this makes me especially sad as a musician/music fan – how sad it would be to build walls like these between, say, marathon sessions with Jacob Collier, and impressionable 16-year old music nerds.
The thought of this makes me especially sad as a musician/music fan – how sad it would be to build walls like these between, say, marathon sessions with Jacob Collier, and impressionable 16-year old music nerds.
People who said the Online Safety Bill was too big, or warned about the danger of scope creep, were too often dismissed as "not caring about child abuse", or "giving criminals a safe space online", or simply as paranoid or "privacy extremists". Well, I've got news for you.
1/n
1/n
The Online Safety Act comes for livestreaming
Ofcom has launched a blandly titled consultation on “Additional Safety Measures” designed to implement the next round of duties within the Online Safety Act (OSA).
www.openrightsgroup.org
October 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
UK, EU... taking the "inter" out of the internet one step at a time.
The thought of this makes me especially sad as a musician/music fan – how sad it would be to build walls like these between, say, marathon sessions with Jacob Collier, and impressionable 16-year old music nerds.
The thought of this makes me especially sad as a musician/music fan – how sad it would be to build walls like these between, say, marathon sessions with Jacob Collier, and impressionable 16-year old music nerds.
Reposted by Terje Fjelde
Well aware of the many horrors of the past, I find it incredible that some Western democracies now seem to be heading toward a less sophisticated, less rules-based order than... ever before — or at least in hundreds of years.
There seems to be little understanding of the consequences anymore.
There seems to be little understanding of the consequences anymore.
I’m interested in what power he would be using to sack these judges
If you can't see how this will end, then you're not paying attention (not least to what's going on on the other side of the Atlantic).
October 7, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Well aware of the many horrors of the past, I find it incredible that some Western democracies now seem to be heading toward a less sophisticated, less rules-based order than... ever before — or at least in hundreds of years.
There seems to be little understanding of the consequences anymore.
There seems to be little understanding of the consequences anymore.
..."of the willing" seems to be the way forward for the EU.
🚨BREAKING: Right-wing populist Andrej Babiš and his ANO movement gained a decisive win in a pivotal Czech parliamentary election, in a vote that risks turning Czechia into another headache for the EU.
Babiš triumphs in Czechia, sending ripples through the EU
The right-wing populist vows to slash support for Ukraine, challenge increased military spending and confront Brussels over the Green Deal.
www.politico.eu
October 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
..."of the willing" seems to be the way forward for the EU.
"The “cumulative impact” of repeated protests!"
Politicians would do well to imagine how things would look like if something like this was used *against* them – not an unthinkable scenario these days. They might then see how it would affect *their* right to free expression.
Politicians would do well to imagine how things would look like if something like this was used *against* them – not an unthinkable scenario these days. They might then see how it would affect *their* right to free expression.
The Home Secretary is now planning to find a way to criminalise the "cumulative effect" of protest.
Police to get new powers to crack down on repeated protests, says Home Office
Move follows arrest of almost 500 people at latest pro-Palestinian demonstration in London on Saturday
www.theguardian.com
October 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
"The “cumulative impact” of repeated protests!"
Politicians would do well to imagine how things would look like if something like this was used *against* them – not an unthinkable scenario these days. They might then see how it would affect *their* right to free expression.
Politicians would do well to imagine how things would look like if something like this was used *against* them – not an unthinkable scenario these days. They might then see how it would affect *their* right to free expression.