denspier

denspier, 8 days ago

@w7voa Signing checks? What is this, 1965?

denspier, 9 days ago

@euractiv_politics The Liberals (Renew Europe) and Christian Democrats (EPP) have aligned themselves with Sweden’s Victor Orban, Jimmy Åkesson, so it’s hard to tell exactly how “pro-EU” they actually are.
#EU #Sweden

denspier, 12 days ago

@SteveThompson Source: https://bra.se/om-bra/nytt-fran-bra/arkiv/press/2024-05-02-kraftig-okning-av-antalet-anmalda-antisemitiska-hatbrott-hosten-2023.html

denspier, 18 days ago

@randahl The beauty in this photo is that in a democracy different opinions are allowed and respected. While the vast majority of people in Finland and Sweden were definitely in favor of joining NATO, a few were against, and many would have liked to see a proper debate on if and how, and an election or a referendum before applying.

The (arguably necessary) rush means that the memberships now stand on a less than ideal democratic foundation, and that could become a problem in the future.

denspier, 21 days ago

@s1m0n4 Geologists would never suggest that the UK somehow left Europe, that’s true. But for every practical l perspective I don’t think it’s unfair to say “the UK left Europe” in everyday speech. It wasn’t just about leaving the EU but of denouncing any kind of cooperation, big and small, with European supranational organizations (except the UK itself).
#Brexit

denspier, 21 days ago

@s1m0n4 Bilateral agreements are politically correct in the UK, but much more limited. The UK has been quite clear they’re going it alone. No other country in Europe aren’t already in, on its way into, or in very close cooperation with the EU/EES. The UK alone is heading in the opposite direction. Which of course is a valid option. My assumption is just that the geology of Europe or maps arbitrarily dividing the earth into continents is perhaps not how most people tend to think about it.

denspier, 21 days ago

@s1m0n4 I agree the British are much more European than they like to admit. Just look at the EU today: after all this time is it anything the French first envisioned? No. Is it everything the British made it become? Yes, very much so.

Absolutely no one claims the UK or even the GB has drifted away from the European continent. And yet, for all practical purposes it’s not incorrect to express in general speech that “the UK left Europe”.

denspier, 21 days ago

@s1m0n4 From a time zone perspective Poland is Central Europe, while Finland is East Europe. Historically, at least after WWII, Poland was seen as Eastern European, at least by others. But I also think that the reasons we used to divide Europe in east and west have diminished since the Cold War ended.

The Iceland and the UK, together with Ireland, are good examples that geography doesn’t determine in people’s minds whether a country is “European”. Whether it wants to be part matters more.

denspier, 1 month ago

@makkhorn And why is he saluting in civilian clothing? If you only learn one single thing in the military, it’s that there’s no worse offense than saluting when not in full uniform, and a uniform you’re entitled to wear.

Perhaps a reminder the man hasn’t served a single day.

denspier, 1 month ago

@openculture 1937? This was in practice for many decades. I’m aware of it well into the late 80s, but it was probably used much longer than that as quality was way superior to scanning a photo and sending it digitally.

denspier, 1 month ago

@tomjennings @openculture This is not fax, Tom, it’s telephoto. Completely analog. And much superior to fax in quality.

denspier, 1 month ago

@TechDesk @TechCrunch
Unless advertisers are doing it for charity, TikTok has not just generated $14.7B for American small businesses, but also at least $14.7B in cost for American consumers. Net positive or negative? 🤷🏼‍♂️

denspier, 1 month ago

@Ruth_Mottram Is (Great) Britain even a country?

England is a country, and so are Wales and Scotland. Together with Northern Ireland these three countries are in a voluntary (right?) union - The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or UK for short - a political entity with a shared currency and a common foreign policy. And just like the EU, not a country. A country cannot consist of other countries.

denspier, 1 month ago

@jan @rahmstorf My house is 500+ m2 in the north of Sweden and the total cost of installation, ground work, equipment, electricity, fluids etc. was about 17.000 EURO. That was for an “industrial” size heat pump, much more expensive than regular home kits.

How big is your house? Have you checked with other suppliers?

denspier, 1 month ago

@jan @rahmstorf That sounds very expensive. Is the ground in the area not suited for drilling (like sand only 100m deep until the rock bed)? Perhaps an air-to-water heat pump could be an alternative? 🤔

denspier, 1 month ago

@nemeciii No exceptions to congestion tax for EVs in Sweden. All vehicles except public transport are treated equally, even taxis. There is however a not unreasonable maximum daily fee.

denspier, 2 months ago

@lproven Sad to learn that, but what a guy Paul Alexander was!

The article describe iron lungs as “mechanical ventilators that push air into the lungs”. It’s more correct to say they PULL air into the lungs. The article also claim that “iron lungs have been replaced by modern ventilators and tracheal intubation”. This is only partially correct. Iron lungs are extremely gentle in comparison and can be used for very long periods of time. What really replaced iron lungs was the polio vaccine.

denspier, 2 months ago

@randahl I understand your sentiment, but one could argue that just oil on canvas does not make art. Thanks to this act other ingredients were added, and a static portrait suddenly got life and meaning. It was mundane. But now it’s art.

denspier, 2 months ago

@randahl Art have always been attacked occasionally, and that will continue whether we like it or not. But there’s a huge difference between mindless vandalism and acts that add context and meaning, and I think that was worth pointing out. In this particular case, restoring the portrait would now itself be an act of vandalism, depleting art of context and artistic value.

denspier, 2 months ago

@glynmoody But, won’t Royal Mail finally try to deliver those letters and parcels, or failing that return them to sender?

denspier, 2 months ago

@glynmoody All the more reason for Royal Mail to give it a try! 😉

denspier, 2 months ago

@archenemy If your blog doesn’t log any personal information you don’t need to request user consent, let alone a “GDPR plugin”. Easiest solution.

denspier, 2 months ago

@bodomenke Union bashing policy as a criteria?

denspier, 3 months ago

@glynmoody The Freedom of the Press Act of 1766 ended government censorship and ensured public access to official government documents (The Principle of Public Access). The act was a victory for priest, scientist, philosopher and politician Anders Chydenius from Österbotten, that had laid out his ideas on the principles of liberalism and free markets in his book The National Gain in 1765, years before Adam Smith. Freedom of religion and banning of torture were also his achievements.
#Sweden

denspier, 3 months ago

@glynmoody Thought you might find it interesting. Been reading up the guy myself.