Verivir
@verivir.bsky.social
Values may have a cost.
The cost of law ...is risk.
Be brave.
Opinion Giver
Psychology Lecturer
Donate your nafo defence spending of over 2%.
U24.gov.ua
The cost of law ...is risk.
Be brave.
Opinion Giver
Psychology Lecturer
Donate your nafo defence spending of over 2%.
U24.gov.ua
Pinned
Verivir
@verivir.bsky.social
· Jul 24
A sort of lazy collage I made of actors reading ww1 poetry mixed with lo-fi.
Pretty niche.
Pretty niche.
My own feminism is this: that women can do what men traditionally have done, that the smartest and strongest can be a woman.
I dont support promoting someone above others based on sex.
That said, female comedy became better due to the sheer number such that great female comics naturally emerged.
I dont support promoting someone above others based on sex.
That said, female comedy became better due to the sheer number such that great female comics naturally emerged.
Not selecting someone for a top job who is the best because they are a woman is what we fight against.
I think selecting someone because they are a woman is not the same thing.
Its about recognising talent for talents sake, not taking into account someones sex.
Though, Thornberry seems top tier.
I think selecting someone because they are a woman is not the same thing.
Its about recognising talent for talents sake, not taking into account someones sex.
Though, Thornberry seems top tier.
NEW: Furious female Labour MPs tell Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy to oversee “complete culture change” in Downing Street after series of scandals they say exposed No 10 “boy’s club”. Full story by @lexytopping.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
February 11, 2026 at 11:32 PM
My own feminism is this: that women can do what men traditionally have done, that the smartest and strongest can be a woman.
I dont support promoting someone above others based on sex.
That said, female comedy became better due to the sheer number such that great female comics naturally emerged.
I dont support promoting someone above others based on sex.
That said, female comedy became better due to the sheer number such that great female comics naturally emerged.
Not selecting someone for a top job who is the best because they are a woman is what we fight against.
I think selecting someone because they are a woman is not the same thing.
Its about recognising talent for talents sake, not taking into account someones sex.
Though, Thornberry seems top tier.
I think selecting someone because they are a woman is not the same thing.
Its about recognising talent for talents sake, not taking into account someones sex.
Though, Thornberry seems top tier.
NEW: Furious female Labour MPs tell Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy to oversee “complete culture change” in Downing Street after series of scandals they say exposed No 10 “boy’s club”. Full story by @lexytopping.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Furious female Labour MPs urge Starmer to make a woman his de facto deputy
Harriet Harman leads calls for an appointment that would ‘turbocharge’ a ‘complete culture change’ at No 10
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Not selecting someone for a top job who is the best because they are a woman is what we fight against.
I think selecting someone because they are a woman is not the same thing.
Its about recognising talent for talents sake, not taking into account someones sex.
Though, Thornberry seems top tier.
I think selecting someone because they are a woman is not the same thing.
Its about recognising talent for talents sake, not taking into account someones sex.
Though, Thornberry seems top tier.
I would like to see the data of popularity at the same time point across leaders since 2008ish. I suspect the rankings would be a whos who of who simply came next. I dont see any future leaders having better ratings in our cultural climate.
This. Also, I gave Starmer much benefit of the doubt in print. Maybe too much; striving to analyse ways in which he could succeed - how it might work. But you have to recognise the data that tell you he is failing.
Getting really tired of "this is all a media concoction"...
Starmer has the lowest approval rating of any PM in history bar Truss. Senior ministers are openly and unsubtly positioning. His Chief of Staff, Director of Comms and Cab Sec have all resigned on the same day.
I mean come on...
Starmer has the lowest approval rating of any PM in history bar Truss. Senior ministers are openly and unsubtly positioning. His Chief of Staff, Director of Comms and Cab Sec have all resigned on the same day.
I mean come on...
February 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
I would like to see the data of popularity at the same time point across leaders since 2008ish. I suspect the rankings would be a whos who of who simply came next. I dont see any future leaders having better ratings in our cultural climate.
Show me a leader that was good for a country and I will show you how they were basically an arsehole in many ways.
There are no hero politicians, no clean white shirts, just people who are good at political and national tactics - democratic resilience starts with MPs and journos having perspective.
There are no hero politicians, no clean white shirts, just people who are good at political and national tactics - democratic resilience starts with MPs and journos having perspective.
At some point youd think we'd realise nothing brings down the fevered cries for leaders to go and for new elections to be held.
We seem to think it is possible to have clean politicians. Its like we are drunk on having new people in that we will churn out at the first error.
Watergate it aint.
We seem to think it is possible to have clean politicians. Its like we are drunk on having new people in that we will churn out at the first error.
Watergate it aint.
BREAKING: Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, calls on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister.
"The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
"The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
February 9, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Show me a leader that was good for a country and I will show you how they were basically an arsehole in many ways.
There are no hero politicians, no clean white shirts, just people who are good at political and national tactics - democratic resilience starts with MPs and journos having perspective.
There are no hero politicians, no clean white shirts, just people who are good at political and national tactics - democratic resilience starts with MPs and journos having perspective.
At some point youd think we'd realise nothing brings down the fevered cries for leaders to go and for new elections to be held.
We seem to think it is possible to have clean politicians. Its like we are drunk on having new people in that we will churn out at the first error.
Watergate it aint.
We seem to think it is possible to have clean politicians. Its like we are drunk on having new people in that we will churn out at the first error.
Watergate it aint.
BREAKING: Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, calls on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister.
"The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
"The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
February 9, 2026 at 7:53 PM
At some point youd think we'd realise nothing brings down the fevered cries for leaders to go and for new elections to be held.
We seem to think it is possible to have clean politicians. Its like we are drunk on having new people in that we will churn out at the first error.
Watergate it aint.
We seem to think it is possible to have clean politicians. Its like we are drunk on having new people in that we will churn out at the first error.
Watergate it aint.
Id say we may lose the wonder when we see an amazing real thing. Remember the awe at blue planet etc. I think we will become jaded.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
AI 'slop' is transforming social media - and there's a backlash
Social media has been flooded with fake, AI-generated images and videos. But will the majority of users actually care?
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Id say we may lose the wonder when we see an amazing real thing. Remember the awe at blue planet etc. I think we will become jaded.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
As for reasons, I can only think of shorter logistics lines and faster implementation of US central planning.
But will it be viewed as in Europes interest for the US to no longer require Europe? It would be were the US to uphold a fair enough system, but they no longer look stable/predictable.
But will it be viewed as in Europes interest for the US to no longer require Europe? It would be were the US to uphold a fair enough system, but they no longer look stable/predictable.
January 30, 2026 at 5:25 PM
As for reasons, I can only think of shorter logistics lines and faster implementation of US central planning.
But will it be viewed as in Europes interest for the US to no longer require Europe? It would be were the US to uphold a fair enough system, but they no longer look stable/predictable.
But will it be viewed as in Europes interest for the US to no longer require Europe? It would be were the US to uphold a fair enough system, but they no longer look stable/predictable.
What is also not noticed us that NATO has not even taken its pants off.
As frustrating as our speed has been in the west, it maybe that this is what russia needs to see:
It cannot take on a country it impoverished. Its war machine is being battered by Ukrainian farmers and European pocket change.
As frustrating as our speed has been in the west, it maybe that this is what russia needs to see:
It cannot take on a country it impoverished. Its war machine is being battered by Ukrainian farmers and European pocket change.
Add to that any returning veterans who have discovered putins illusion that covers up a grotesque mafia state but who now have battlefield experience.
This also makes home defence quite a pickle.
This also makes home defence quite a pickle.
Also on strategic incompetence, it still baffles me that putin has forced Ukrainians into a determined enemy of 44m people who live next door, can pass as russian with little training, and to a man, know someone putin has attacked.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
January 30, 2026 at 3:18 PM
What is also not noticed us that NATO has not even taken its pants off.
As frustrating as our speed has been in the west, it maybe that this is what russia needs to see:
It cannot take on a country it impoverished. Its war machine is being battered by Ukrainian farmers and European pocket change.
As frustrating as our speed has been in the west, it maybe that this is what russia needs to see:
It cannot take on a country it impoverished. Its war machine is being battered by Ukrainian farmers and European pocket change.
Add to that any returning veterans who have discovered putins illusion that covers up a grotesque mafia state but who now have battlefield experience.
This also makes home defence quite a pickle.
This also makes home defence quite a pickle.
Also on strategic incompetence, it still baffles me that putin has forced Ukrainians into a determined enemy of 44m people who live next door, can pass as russian with little training, and to a man, know someone putin has attacked.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
Also it underestimates that there are plenty of other powerful people who would see an unstable nuclear actor as a threat to themselves. Such easy threats make putin more of a target. Its a stupid position which incentivises others to start working against you. Nuclear backed annexation mustnt work.
January 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Add to that any returning veterans who have discovered putins illusion that covers up a grotesque mafia state but who now have battlefield experience.
This also makes home defence quite a pickle.
This also makes home defence quite a pickle.
Also on strategic incompetence, it still baffles me that putin has forced Ukrainians into a determined enemy of 44m people who live next door, can pass as russian with little training, and to a man, know someone putin has attacked.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
Also it underestimates that there are plenty of other powerful people who would see an unstable nuclear actor as a threat to themselves. Such easy threats make putin more of a target. Its a stupid position which incentivises others to start working against you. Nuclear backed annexation mustnt work.
In today’s Debunk of the Day (2), we’ll look at… nuclear blackmail. Vatniks love using Russia’s nuclear threats as a reason for surrendering or for not lifting a finger to help Ukraine: “see, they have nukes, we have to give them whatever they want”.
The argument is absurd:
1/5
The argument is absurd:
1/5
January 30, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Also on strategic incompetence, it still baffles me that putin has forced Ukrainians into a determined enemy of 44m people who live next door, can pass as russian with little training, and to a man, know someone putin has attacked.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
It doesn't make for an easy home defence.
Also it underestimates that there are plenty of other powerful people who would see an unstable nuclear actor as a threat to themselves. Such easy threats make putin more of a target. Its a stupid position which incentivises others to start working against you. Nuclear backed annexation mustnt work.
In today’s Debunk of the Day (2), we’ll look at… nuclear blackmail. Vatniks love using Russia’s nuclear threats as a reason for surrendering or for not lifting a finger to help Ukraine: “see, they have nukes, we have to give them whatever they want”.
The argument is absurd:
1/5
The argument is absurd:
1/5
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Also it underestimates that there are plenty of other powerful people who would see an unstable nuclear actor as a threat to themselves. Such easy threats make putin more of a target. Its a stupid position which incentivises others to start working against you. Nuclear backed annexation mustnt work.
Much like the silence from Corbyn about russia, we do well to note the silence from the far right.
A stand-up comedian in Russia, Artemy Ostanin, is facing six years in prison for telling a joke that offended some veterans.
Is anyone in MAGA going to speak up and defend this man's free speech rights? They seem to care a lot about free speech in Europe but never mention Russia.
Is anyone in MAGA going to speak up and defend this man's free speech rights? They seem to care a lot about free speech in Europe but never mention Russia.
January 29, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Much like the silence from Corbyn about russia, we do well to note the silence from the far right.
Though Moscow have a poor track record for the safety of aviation.
⚡️ Russia says it's ready for Zelensky-Putin meeting — but only if Ukraine's president travels to Moscow.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow is prepared to ensure President Volodymyr Zelensky's security.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow is prepared to ensure President Volodymyr Zelensky's security.
Russia says it's ready for Zelensky-Putin meeting — but only if Ukraine's president travels to Moscow
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow is prepared to ensure President Volodymyr Zelensky's security.
kyivindependent.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Though Moscow have a poor track record for the safety of aviation.
To play devils advocate, we may find that it is better to have two or three tanks rather than one, depending on region or mission type. I stick by my notion of three JEFs of arctic, central, and med. Theres more buy in for the problems of each region, and they can specialise in their specific areas.
How to build European independence in defence?
A topic which I’ve been talking about recently.
I’ve put my personal understanding into this broader text & hope it’ll be helpful in further discussions on this most important strategic issue for Europe.
andriuskubilius.lt/en/on-europe...
A topic which I’ve been talking about recently.
I’ve put my personal understanding into this broader text & hope it’ll be helpful in further discussions on this most important strategic issue for Europe.
andriuskubilius.lt/en/on-europe...
On “Europeanization” Of European Conventional Defence: The Case For A European Security Council - Andrius Kubilius
We are witnessing global geopolitical changes on an unprecedented scale. On the one hand: Russian aggression in Ukraine and the possibility of a Russian attack on EU or NATO member states during the n...
andriuskubilius.lt
January 28, 2026 at 11:34 PM
To play devils advocate, we may find that it is better to have two or three tanks rather than one, depending on region or mission type. I stick by my notion of three JEFs of arctic, central, and med. Theres more buy in for the problems of each region, and they can specialise in their specific areas.
Very good analysis and set of questions.
Finn PM Stubb initiates values-based realism. It can be argues VBR is law of the jungle wrapped in a thinner lie of values that give way to pragmatism. This would be to not appreciate the pragmatic value of our values - giving Greenland to the US against
Finn PM Stubb initiates values-based realism. It can be argues VBR is law of the jungle wrapped in a thinner lie of values that give way to pragmatism. This would be to not appreciate the pragmatic value of our values - giving Greenland to the US against
January 28, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Very good analysis and set of questions.
Finn PM Stubb initiates values-based realism. It can be argues VBR is law of the jungle wrapped in a thinner lie of values that give way to pragmatism. This would be to not appreciate the pragmatic value of our values - giving Greenland to the US against
Finn PM Stubb initiates values-based realism. It can be argues VBR is law of the jungle wrapped in a thinner lie of values that give way to pragmatism. This would be to not appreciate the pragmatic value of our values - giving Greenland to the US against
When you aspire to be the don, this is a 'family' photo.
January 28, 2026 at 1:34 PM
When you aspire to be the don, this is a 'family' photo.
I read a lot of shoulds, but no consequences.
Fourteen European nations have announced they are closing the Baltic Sea to Russia’s "shadow fleet," according to a joint statement released by the British government.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
January 27, 2026 at 4:16 PM
I read a lot of shoulds, but no consequences.
The issue is whether it is a division of labour.
The US is operating in a way that suggests it does not gain equal value as its contribution - that we arent convincingly mutually dependent.
Overlap and redundancy must therefore already exist on the US side if they are so confident they dont need us.
The US is operating in a way that suggests it does not gain equal value as its contribution - that we arent convincingly mutually dependent.
Overlap and redundancy must therefore already exist on the US side if they are so confident they dont need us.
Rutte on the idea of a European pillar in NATO. Says it is an "empty word". Positive if it means "division of labour", but "lot of duplication" and "Putin will love it" if it means "a sort of European Defence Force" www.nato.int/en/news-and-...
January 27, 2026 at 11:46 AM
The issue is whether it is a division of labour.
The US is operating in a way that suggests it does not gain equal value as its contribution - that we arent convincingly mutually dependent.
Overlap and redundancy must therefore already exist on the US side if they are so confident they dont need us.
The US is operating in a way that suggests it does not gain equal value as its contribution - that we arent convincingly mutually dependent.
Overlap and redundancy must therefore already exist on the US side if they are so confident they dont need us.
Finally saw this and it surprises me how many think there is an alternative to standing up to russia. Look at how they treat their own people. The counterfactual is bucha and a regime that kills Europeans slowly away from cameras. No news isnt always good news. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cird...
2000 Meters to Andriivka (official trailer) | FRONTLINE
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
www.youtube.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Finally saw this and it surprises me how many think there is an alternative to standing up to russia. Look at how they treat their own people. The counterfactual is bucha and a regime that kills Europeans slowly away from cameras. No news isnt always good news. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cird...
Even now farage pretends to be patriotic as he knows his base in reform wishes to be. But we are not just our borders, what mskes our borders worth defending is our values, and these values ring out amongst our allies and friends abroad - and we must always defend them.
Indeed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Theres a dark strain of narrative permeating the whitehouse if trump feels he can talk down soldiers who bled for an ally under article 5.
The flag and military are used as pure tokenism for the far right nationalism.
Cowards stealing glory from better men.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Theres a dark strain of narrative permeating the whitehouse if trump feels he can talk down soldiers who bled for an ally under article 5.
The flag and military are used as pure tokenism for the far right nationalism.
Cowards stealing glory from better men.
January 24, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Even now farage pretends to be patriotic as he knows his base in reform wishes to be. But we are not just our borders, what mskes our borders worth defending is our values, and these values ring out amongst our allies and friends abroad - and we must always defend them.
Indeed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Theres a dark strain of narrative permeating the whitehouse if trump feels he can talk down soldiers who bled for an ally under article 5.
The flag and military are used as pure tokenism for the far right nationalism.
Cowards stealing glory from better men.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Theres a dark strain of narrative permeating the whitehouse if trump feels he can talk down soldiers who bled for an ally under article 5.
The flag and military are used as pure tokenism for the far right nationalism.
Cowards stealing glory from better men.
January 24, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Indeed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Theres a dark strain of narrative permeating the whitehouse if trump feels he can talk down soldiers who bled for an ally under article 5.
The flag and military are used as pure tokenism for the far right nationalism.
Cowards stealing glory from better men.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Theres a dark strain of narrative permeating the whitehouse if trump feels he can talk down soldiers who bled for an ally under article 5.
The flag and military are used as pure tokenism for the far right nationalism.
Cowards stealing glory from better men.
Over a year, Europe hss boarded Borocay, Eventin, Eagle S, and Grinch tankers. We did that without a trump figure.
But Zelensky's speech at Davos rightly sets stretch goals for Europe to become greater actors in defending international law.
But Zelensky's speech at Davos rightly sets stretch goals for Europe to become greater actors in defending international law.
The United States has seized another shadow fleet tanker in the Caribbean Sea and France has seized a Russian ship in the Mediterranean Sea. Trump has backed off his threat to invade Greenland for now.
France Seizes Russian Ship in Mediterranean
YouTube video by Jake Broe
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 6:07 AM
Over a year, Europe hss boarded Borocay, Eventin, Eagle S, and Grinch tankers. We did that without a trump figure.
But Zelensky's speech at Davos rightly sets stretch goals for Europe to become greater actors in defending international law.
But Zelensky's speech at Davos rightly sets stretch goals for Europe to become greater actors in defending international law.
At some point, the online world will need unique IDs for verified people - probably by state, and filters for trustes countries.
We may even need them to get thrpugh a national firewall.
Could be done well actually, given the alternative.
We may even need them to get thrpugh a national firewall.
Could be done well actually, given the alternative.
We have a new paper in Science today on how malicious AI swarms can threaten democracy.
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
January 22, 2026 at 9:48 PM
At some point, the online world will need unique IDs for verified people - probably by state, and filters for trustes countries.
We may even need them to get thrpugh a national firewall.
Could be done well actually, given the alternative.
We may even need them to get thrpugh a national firewall.
Could be done well actually, given the alternative.
Nailed it.
"By threatening to set off a bomb in his local McDonald's, Trump was able to persuade them to sell him a Big Mac. This is The Art Of The Deal at its most sophisticated!"
January 22, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Nailed it.
Not my joke, but it is funny.
January 21, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Not my joke, but it is funny.