Andrew Farrand
@afarrand.bsky.social
MENA energy analyst | author of The Algerian Dream | American abroad
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
Trump has threatened to bomb or invade 7 countries with a shot to play in the 2026 World Cup. He *has* bombed one (Iran) and said he'd deny them visas. He's preparing for war with another (Venezuela). He has summarily executed citizens from at least 3. He has imposed tariffs on nearly all of them.
FIFA head says 'you will see' at World Cup draw if Trump receives new peace prize
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Trump has threatened to bomb or invade 7 countries with a shot to play in the 2026 World Cup. He *has* bombed one (Iran) and said he'd deny them visas. He's preparing for war with another (Venezuela). He has summarily executed citizens from at least 3. He has imposed tariffs on nearly all of them.
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
Facts. ““If it doesn’t rain in Tehran by late November, we’ll have to ration water. And if it still doesn’t rain, we’ll have to evacuate Tehran,” President Masoud Pezeshkian was cited as saying on Thursday by the SNN semi-official news agency.”
November 9, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Facts. ““If it doesn’t rain in Tehran by late November, we’ll have to ration water. And if it still doesn’t rain, we’ll have to evacuate Tehran,” President Masoud Pezeshkian was cited as saying on Thursday by the SNN semi-official news agency.”
More Abraham Accords and airstrikes won't bring lasting peace:
"The danger is that both Washington and Israel think they can achieve a grand Middle East peace by putting together all the small pieces — except the central Palestinian one — and silencing the rejectionists with more war."
"The danger is that both Washington and Israel think they can achieve a grand Middle East peace by putting together all the small pieces — except the central Palestinian one — and silencing the rejectionists with more war."
Trump cannot manifest Middle East peace
The US president thinks his ceasefire has brought calm but the reality is an ongoing war on multiple fronts
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:24 AM
More Abraham Accords and airstrikes won't bring lasting peace:
"The danger is that both Washington and Israel think they can achieve a grand Middle East peace by putting together all the small pieces — except the central Palestinian one — and silencing the rejectionists with more war."
"The danger is that both Washington and Israel think they can achieve a grand Middle East peace by putting together all the small pieces — except the central Palestinian one — and silencing the rejectionists with more war."
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
I don’t even have words for this.
One of the 2 guys responsible for this mass death wants a peace prize and the other wants $1trillion to be a bad CEO.
One of the 2 guys responsible for this mass death wants a peace prize and the other wants $1trillion to be a bad CEO.
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I don’t even have words for this.
One of the 2 guys responsible for this mass death wants a peace prize and the other wants $1trillion to be a bad CEO.
One of the 2 guys responsible for this mass death wants a peace prize and the other wants $1trillion to be a bad CEO.
Unconscionable
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Unconscionable
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
A little-known nonprofit has been lying to news publishers while funneling millions of paywalled articles to tech companies for AI training. Read my investigation in The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The Nonprofit Doing the AI Industry’s Dirty Work
The web archive Common Crawl has been quietly funneling paywalled articles to AI companies—and lying to publishers about it.
www.theatlantic.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM
A little-known nonprofit has been lying to news publishers while funneling millions of paywalled articles to tech companies for AI training. Read my investigation in The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
I think we need to reframe things and refer to any software that intentionally negatively affects user experience to further some ulterior motive as "malicious software"
November 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I think we need to reframe things and refer to any software that intentionally negatively affects user experience to further some ulterior motive as "malicious software"
"One former employee has said that everyone knows the project won’t work; it is now just a matter of letting MBS down gently."
“I think as a thought experiment, great,” said one urban planning expert who works in Saudi Arabia. “But don’t build thought experiments.”
“I think as a thought experiment, great,” said one urban planning expert who works in Saudi Arabia. “But don’t build thought experiments.”
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:14 AM
"One former employee has said that everyone knows the project won’t work; it is now just a matter of letting MBS down gently."
“I think as a thought experiment, great,” said one urban planning expert who works in Saudi Arabia. “But don’t build thought experiments.”
“I think as a thought experiment, great,” said one urban planning expert who works in Saudi Arabia. “But don’t build thought experiments.”
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
As many have pointed out, when FIFA awards its inaugural Peace Prize at an event in Washington DC five days before the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, they're obviously going to give it to Trump.
If FIFA really wanted to find a football-relevant, peace-relevant recipient: Didier Drogba is available.
If FIFA really wanted to find a football-relevant, peace-relevant recipient: Didier Drogba is available.
Didier Drogba: How Ivory Coast striker helped to halt civil war in his home nation
Didier Drogba was the figurehead for Ivory Coast's 'golden generation'. Their remarkable powers helped bring a damaged nation together.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM
As many have pointed out, when FIFA awards its inaugural Peace Prize at an event in Washington DC five days before the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, they're obviously going to give it to Trump.
If FIFA really wanted to find a football-relevant, peace-relevant recipient: Didier Drogba is available.
If FIFA really wanted to find a football-relevant, peace-relevant recipient: Didier Drogba is available.
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
It’s hard to believe but there was a cartoon about an immigrant mouse and it was seen as totally fine and not controversial and not woke because it was an aspirational and nice thing about America that people could come here and find a better life
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It’s hard to believe but there was a cartoon about an immigrant mouse and it was seen as totally fine and not controversial and not woke because it was an aspirational and nice thing about America that people could come here and find a better life
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
supreme court poised to side with "No We Shouldn't" in landmark case "We Should Shoot The Economy In The Head For No Reason v. No We Shouldn't"
Gorsuch finally speaks, and oh yeah, he's against Trump. Alito also sounded skeptical, which is surprising to me. Regardless, there will plainly be a lopsided majority to strike down the tariffs.
The government better start working on its Plan B...
The government better start working on its Plan B...
November 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
supreme court poised to side with "No We Shouldn't" in landmark case "We Should Shoot The Economy In The Head For No Reason v. No We Shouldn't"
Lol
Je suis à New York actuellement, on voit des chars soviétiques conduits par des transfems catgirls qui tirent sur les passants ce qui les transformes en catgirls et bunnygirls
November 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Lol
إزيك يا باشا؟ 😅
November 3, 2025 at 11:51 PM
إزيك يا باشا؟ 😅
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
"In the shadow of Sudan’s misery, President Donald Trump has done conspicuously little.....The White House was more focused on gutting USAID, an agency that propped up critical elements of the humanitarian complex aiding Sudanese people."
By @ishaantharoor.bsky.social.
wapo.st/49qdcbO
By @ishaantharoor.bsky.social.
wapo.st/49qdcbO
Column | Sudan’s war takes horrific turn, as Trump looks away
The White House loves quick deals and photo-ops, but there’s no simple solution to ending the war in Sudan.
wapo.st
October 31, 2025 at 12:54 PM
"In the shadow of Sudan’s misery, President Donald Trump has done conspicuously little.....The White House was more focused on gutting USAID, an agency that propped up critical elements of the humanitarian complex aiding Sudanese people."
By @ishaantharoor.bsky.social.
wapo.st/49qdcbO
By @ishaantharoor.bsky.social.
wapo.st/49qdcbO
Algerian Amb. Bendjama quotes Woodrow Wilson in his speech on occasion of Western Sahara vote at UN Sec Council:
"Self-determination is not a mere phrase. It is an imperative principle of action, which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril."
"Self-determination is not a mere phrase. It is an imperative principle of action, which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril."
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Algerian Amb. Bendjama quotes Woodrow Wilson in his speech on occasion of Western Sahara vote at UN Sec Council:
"Self-determination is not a mere phrase. It is an imperative principle of action, which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril."
"Self-determination is not a mere phrase. It is an imperative principle of action, which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril."
Europe looks to adopt a 'quagmire defense'
How rewetting peatlands could help protect EU borders – DW – 10/30/2025
Finland and Poland are considering rewetting drained peatlands as a defense barrier in case of a Russian attack. It could also help the climate.
www.dw.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Europe looks to adopt a 'quagmire defense'
One of the 2 people pictured here is indeed mostly artificial (and it's not the hero on the right)
![Pop Base tweets: "Kim Kardashian said on ‘The Kardashians’ that she believes the moon landing was fake:
“They’re gonna say I’m crazy no matter what, but like, go to TikTok. See for yourself. […] There’s no gravity on the moon. Why is the flag blowing? The shoes that they have in the museum that they wore on the moon is a different print in the photos. Why are there no stars?”"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreickzwdynkak7r4lur6afktglm3gontqsq5r5c7jeewyecyd4dczla@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 6:51 PM
One of the 2 people pictured here is indeed mostly artificial (and it's not the hero on the right)
30 minutes until the UNSC vote on #WesternSahara
The draft resolution in blue is already doing the rounds.
In short, it's an honourable compromise and a wasted opportunity to achieve progress on Western Sahara.
In short, it's an honourable compromise and a wasted opportunity to achieve progress on Western Sahara.
October 31, 2025 at 6:42 PM
30 minutes until the UNSC vote on #WesternSahara
American politics, explained
i think if you ride public transit enough you learn that most weird behavior is not dangerous, and conversely i think driving a car teaches you that everyone is trying to kill you at all times
October 31, 2025 at 8:06 AM
American politics, explained
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
that's because "AI literacy" is an oxymoron. off-loading your brain to a sycophantic prediction machine wrecks your brain. it's like "seated running"
“‘When it comes to AI, the [Dunning-Kruger effect] vanishes,’ study senior author Robin Welsch, a professor at Aalto University, said in a statement about the work. ‘In fact, what’s really surprising is that higher AI literacy brings more overconfidence.’”
AI Is Causing a Grim New Twist on the Dunning-Kruger Effect, New Research Finds
New research shows how AI tools is making a Dunning-Kruger specimen out of everyone that uses them, no matter how smart.
futurism.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
that's because "AI literacy" is an oxymoron. off-loading your brain to a sycophantic prediction machine wrecks your brain. it's like "seated running"
What really happened:
Trump imposed artificial trade barriers to gain leverage in negotiations, so Xi did too. Now they've met and agreed to partly walk them back.
Nobody has won here.
Investors and consumers get a modest rollback in trade barriers, but the underlying (il)logic remains in place.
Trump imposed artificial trade barriers to gain leverage in negotiations, so Xi did too. Now they've met and agreed to partly walk them back.
Nobody has won here.
Investors and consumers get a modest rollback in trade barriers, but the underlying (il)logic remains in place.
October 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What really happened:
Trump imposed artificial trade barriers to gain leverage in negotiations, so Xi did too. Now they've met and agreed to partly walk them back.
Nobody has won here.
Investors and consumers get a modest rollback in trade barriers, but the underlying (il)logic remains in place.
Trump imposed artificial trade barriers to gain leverage in negotiations, so Xi did too. Now they've met and agreed to partly walk them back.
Nobody has won here.
Investors and consumers get a modest rollback in trade barriers, but the underlying (il)logic remains in place.
"In 2010, the IEA estimated that there would be 410 GW of solar panels installed around the world by 2035. There is already more than 4 times that capacity, with about half of it in China."
But with so much of this capacity coming as "addition" rather than "transition," climate gains are limited.
But with so much of this capacity coming as "addition" rather than "transition," climate gains are limited.
The global boom in solar — with or without the US
Despite the scepticism about renewables in Washington, falling prices for new panels are making a compelling business case around the world
www.ft.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"In 2010, the IEA estimated that there would be 410 GW of solar panels installed around the world by 2035. There is already more than 4 times that capacity, with about half of it in China."
But with so much of this capacity coming as "addition" rather than "transition," climate gains are limited.
But with so much of this capacity coming as "addition" rather than "transition," climate gains are limited.
You cannot have autonomy under someone else's sovereignty.
October 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM
You cannot have autonomy under someone else's sovereignty.
Reposted by Andrew Farrand
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
October 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗