Catharina Blaauwendraad
@bthread.bsky.social
Writer, literary translator, teacher. Roots in Utrecht, born in Brabant, raised in three consecutive parsonages, MA in Translation Studies (UvA), family life in Amsterdam, now late blooming in a remote village in Austria. Posts are deleted after 3 months.
Pinned
If there is a devil, it's called cynicism.
Never forget this: The forces rigging our economy, undermining our democracy, polluting our planet, and stoking hatred are counting on you to give up. Cynicism is how they win. Stay clear-eyed and ready for the fight ahead.
November 23, 2025 at 6:48 AM
If there is a devil, it's called cynicism.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Trump tells female reporter: “Quiet, piggy.”
November 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Trump tells female reporter: “Quiet, piggy.”
They call it "War on Woke" because "War on Human Rights" somehow does not sound very appealing.
Jaw dropped. Trump Administration Removes Report on Missing and Murdered Native Americans, Calling It DEI Content
Trump Administration Removes Report on Missing and Murdered Native Americans, Calling It DEI Content - Oklahoma Watch
The Trump administration removed a congressionally mandated report on missing and murdered Native Americans from the DOJ website, citing compliance with an executive order against DEI. Senators who ch...
oklahomawatch.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:09 PM
They call it "War on Woke" because "War on Human Rights" somehow does not sound very appealing.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Remember: The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few isn't just bad for our economy. It's corrosive to our democracy.
When the wealthy and well-connected control our political system, regular people don't have a voice.
The result? The demagoguery and corruption we're seeing now.
When the wealthy and well-connected control our political system, regular people don't have a voice.
The result? The demagoguery and corruption we're seeing now.
November 17, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Remember: The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few isn't just bad for our economy. It's corrosive to our democracy.
When the wealthy and well-connected control our political system, regular people don't have a voice.
The result? The demagoguery and corruption we're seeing now.
When the wealthy and well-connected control our political system, regular people don't have a voice.
The result? The demagoguery and corruption we're seeing now.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Also, you get a comma. And a capital S which is usually a more useful test than T.
Shorter phrases for font testing: library.typographica.org/short-phrase...
Shorter phrases for font testing: library.typographica.org/short-phrase...
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Also, you get a comma. And a capital S which is usually a more useful test than T.
Shorter phrases for font testing: library.typographica.org/short-phrase...
Shorter phrases for font testing: library.typographica.org/short-phrase...
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Milliardäre, deren Firmen zig Milliarden Staatsgelder bekommen und kaum Steuern zahlen, kaufen sich Zeitungen und Social Media Plattformen, um den Leuten einzureden, dass Leute, die sich nicht genug zu Essen leisten können, dem Staat auf der Tasche liegen.
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Milliardäre, deren Firmen zig Milliarden Staatsgelder bekommen und kaum Steuern zahlen, kaufen sich Zeitungen und Social Media Plattformen, um den Leuten einzureden, dass Leute, die sich nicht genug zu Essen leisten können, dem Staat auf der Tasche liegen.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
I want this posted in every hallway of every university and then ask your students, why have a library when we can have slop?
November 10, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I want this posted in every hallway of every university and then ask your students, why have a library when we can have slop?
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
This town has officially decided to fight against the construction of an AI data center that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This town has officially decided to fight against the construction of an AI data center that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Amnesty: Tunisian authorities have over the past three years increasingly dismantled protections for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, particularly Black people, with a dangerous shift towards racist policing and widespread human rights violations www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
Tunisia: Rampant violations against refugees and migrants expose EU’s complicity risk
The Tunisian authorities have over the past three years increasingly dismantled protections for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, particularly Black people, with a dangerous shift towards racist ...
www.amnesty.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Amnesty: Tunisian authorities have over the past three years increasingly dismantled protections for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, particularly Black people, with a dangerous shift towards racist policing and widespread human rights violations www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Der Kollege @michaeltrammer.de wurde im März 2020 auf Lesbos während seiner Arbeit von einer Gruppe extrem Rechter verprügelt. Um an dem juristischen Verfahren teilnehmen zu können, braucht er eure finanzielle Unterstützung. #Solidarität
www.gofundme.com/f/uvx6s5
www.gofundme.com/f/uvx6s5
Donate to Revision im Prozess gegen rechtsextreme Schläger auf Lesbos, organized by Michael Trammer
Alle Jahre wieder: Erneut muss ich (Michael Trammer, Journali… Michael Trammer needs your support for Revision im Prozess gegen rechtsextreme Schläger auf Lesbos
www.gofundme.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Der Kollege @michaeltrammer.de wurde im März 2020 auf Lesbos während seiner Arbeit von einer Gruppe extrem Rechter verprügelt. Um an dem juristischen Verfahren teilnehmen zu können, braucht er eure finanzielle Unterstützung. #Solidarität
www.gofundme.com/f/uvx6s5
www.gofundme.com/f/uvx6s5
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Eine Statistik, die ihr bei Njus nicht finden werdet
November 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Eine Statistik, die ihr bei Njus nicht finden werdet
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Warum müssen wir in der Stadt ständig an Ampeln halten? Nur wegen der Autos. Fuß- und Radverkehr käme problemlos ohne Ampeln zurecht. Sie werden propagiert als Hilfe für schwächere Verkehrsteilnehmer, sind aber eigentlich ein Symptom der Auto-Dominanz.
November 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Warum müssen wir in der Stadt ständig an Ampeln halten? Nur wegen der Autos. Fuß- und Radverkehr käme problemlos ohne Ampeln zurecht. Sie werden propagiert als Hilfe für schwächere Verkehrsteilnehmer, sind aber eigentlich ein Symptom der Auto-Dominanz.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
🇪🇺📥 This week in Europe Uncovered: far-right extremism takes hold in German schools, Switzerland’s richest face a tax revolt, and Europe’s banks keep fuelling the climate crisis.
Here’s the best investigative journalism of the week:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Here’s the best investigative journalism of the week:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Newsletter | Radical lessons, billionaire battles, and a carbon reckoning
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
November 1, 2025 at 9:16 AM
🇪🇺📥 This week in Europe Uncovered: far-right extremism takes hold in German schools, Switzerland’s richest face a tax revolt, and Europe’s banks keep fuelling the climate crisis.
Here’s the best investigative journalism of the week:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Here’s the best investigative journalism of the week:
www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Gender 'according to Grokipedia, “refers to the binary classification of humans as male or female based on biological sex…” Wikipedia’s entry starts with: “Gender is the range of social, psychological, cultural, and behavioural aspects of being a man (or boy), woman (or girl), or third gender.”'
Musk’s war on Wikipedia is a fight for a future without f...
The tech mogul’s Grokipedia relies on right-leaning AI instead of consensus between human moderators
observer.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Gender 'according to Grokipedia, “refers to the binary classification of humans as male or female based on biological sex…” Wikipedia’s entry starts with: “Gender is the range of social, psychological, cultural, and behavioural aspects of being a man (or boy), woman (or girl), or third gender.”'
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
F. Scott Fitzgerald: In my book I invented Gatsby lifestyle as a cautionary tale
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
November 1, 2025 at 4:48 AM
F. Scott Fitzgerald: In my book I invented Gatsby lifestyle as a cautionary tale
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
... and a parsnip in a pear tree 🎵🎶
October 31, 2025 at 8:43 AM
... and a parsnip in a pear tree 🎵🎶
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
The narrative seems to be(come) that the Dutch election shows a “comeback of the political center”. We have seen this frame before, implying “the center” has an ideological substance and is stable. But “the center” keeps moving right on mostly nativist, but also often authoritarian, issues.
October 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The narrative seems to be(come) that the Dutch election shows a “comeback of the political center”. We have seen this frame before, implying “the center” has an ideological substance and is stable. But “the center” keeps moving right on mostly nativist, but also often authoritarian, issues.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
"Entire peoples are being wiped out, and most people in the outside world don’t even know it’s happening. We’re here to tell you that this is happening." - Richard Gere
uncontactedpeoples.org
#AtTheEdge #UncontactedPeoples #RichardGere
uncontactedpeoples.org
#AtTheEdge #UncontactedPeoples #RichardGere
October 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
"Entire peoples are being wiped out, and most people in the outside world don’t even know it’s happening. We’re here to tell you that this is happening." - Richard Gere
uncontactedpeoples.org
#AtTheEdge #UncontactedPeoples #RichardGere
uncontactedpeoples.org
#AtTheEdge #UncontactedPeoples #RichardGere
Reposted by Catharina Blaauwendraad
Schönes Weihnachtsgeschenk. Danach weiß man auch, warum es mit den Schenken nicht so einfach ist. Vielleicht vor dem Verschenken lesen.
October 25, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Schönes Weihnachtsgeschenk. Danach weiß man auch, warum es mit den Schenken nicht so einfach ist. Vielleicht vor dem Verschenken lesen.