@lieven
agitation perpétuelle
i write among other things // queer // neurodivergent // millennial // progressive // multicoloured // european
blog: https://paper.wf/thisislieven
Relays (1)
- wss://relay.momostr.pink/ – read & write
Recent Notes
(I wrote this quickly and tiredly, forgive me any errors or typos)
Quite a few good things have been said. Some concrete, some sadly ambiguous and we have to see what may come from it. However, I focus more on form rather than content. I’m just not awake enough for anything else right now.
Ursula von der Leyen is not the most charismatic speaker, and that’s fine. She speaks clearly and, mostly, calmly and it’s not difficult to follow her. But she doesn’t rouse the crowd or the viewer and the words, rather than the tone, need to do the work. There’s a lot to improve and I would urge her team to look into this.
One sentence early on that stood out to me: “We have done a lot”. It doesn’t flow. Change it for example with “Look at what we have done!” makes it a moment.
Early on she also spoke about gold plating – how many people know what this is? (It’s when member states build upon EU legislation rather than adopting it as is, causing wildly different standards across the EU which makes it unnecessarily complicated to do things across borders). They have aggressively promoted the SOTEU, but if you want the people to be part of this you need to use language people understand.
There were announcements on quite a few plans, but in most cases ‘we will present it in some time’. Even if all the details aren’t there yet, give some content. A little more about where we’re heading would be a good thing. This is just vague and feels dead on (pre-)arrival.
Next came the blunt acceptance of what the tech bros have been saying about AI in recent days. While it bothered me it was just accepted as truth the larger issue here is that there will be plenty of people who do not know what she’s talking about.
She mentioned a few times that in Europe people come first and connected it directly to European values. The people aren’t feeling it. She needs to give examples to prove her point.
The speech was primarily in English but there was a sudden switch to German and later French as well. This is Europe, we speak many languages. I love that and love that she code-switches. However – people weren’t prepared and may not have had interpreter services switched on, ultimately causing them to miss a part of the speech. Had this been announced beforehand people could have anticipated (at least on online streams). The first interpreter gave an accurate translation, but it was as dry as could be. Perhaps find someone who can keep the flow going.
This, by the way, is one of the coolest things of the EU – the way we handle so many languages and the large incredible team of interpreters. This could be a way to highlight this but I fear it failed.
Personally I am not a fan of special guests. I feel it disrupts things too much but I also always feel highlighting a few people because they caught the spotlight also means ignoring all those equally worthy but who received less attention. It also feels very US American. I recognise not many share this point of view though and that people seek someone to rally around. It’s not an objection really, more a personal preference but I am probably the minority here.
Some other notes I actually wrote before the SOTEU:
This room, the Strasbourg hemisphere, just isn’t the right space for this. The way it’s laid out keeps people too far apart and even if the room is filled (considerably more so than last year) it does not feel alive. There’s no ‘we’re here together, as Europeans’, at least visually.
I would argue taking it to a different venue can do a world of good here. It could also offer more seats.
Get the national leaders to attend (perhaps move the whole affair to Brussels and do it the day before or after when the European Council meets – they’re already in town). This is our European moment and it needs to show unity, a signal that we are all in this together.
Some of the Commissioners were in the room but they should all be there.
Invite the leaders of candidate countries. Involve them.
Some more evocative language wouldn’t hurt. We need to rally around the Twelve Stars.
Here’s a big one: Change the bloody time.
09:00 CET is insanity. You want people to watch? Maybe not do it when everyone is just getting their day started and busy with a thousand other things ( or barely awake, like me).
19:00 CET seems a nice time, across the EU that’s between 18:00 and 20:00 – neither too early nor too late. With future expansion the latest will be 21:00.
And change the name. Call it whatever but not a copy of the US. Be European and proudly so.
Encourage traditional media across the continent to make mention of it, before and afterwards. Don’t tell them how to report about it, just ask them to help it become known. People don’t know it’s happening, no matter how much on socials.
@European Commission
#SOTEU #EU #EuropeanUnion
Quite a few good things have been said. Some concrete, some sadly ambiguous and we have to see what may come from it. However, I focus more on form rather than content. I’m just not awake enough for anything else right now.
Ursula von der Leyen is not the most charismatic speaker, and that’s fine. She speaks clearly and, mostly, calmly and it’s not difficult to follow her. But she doesn’t rouse the crowd or the viewer and the words, rather than the tone, need to do the work. There’s a lot to improve and I would urge her team to look into this.
One sentence early on that stood out to me: “We have done a lot”. It doesn’t flow. Change it for example with “Look at what we have done!” makes it a moment.
Early on she also spoke about gold plating – how many people know what this is? (It’s when member states build upon EU legislation rather than adopting it as is, causing wildly different standards across the EU which makes it unnecessarily complicated to do things across borders). They have aggressively promoted the SOTEU, but if you want the people to be part of this you need to use language people understand.
There were announcements on quite a few plans, but in most cases ‘we will present it in some time’. Even if all the details aren’t there yet, give some content. A little more about where we’re heading would be a good thing. This is just vague and feels dead on (pre-)arrival.
Next came the blunt acceptance of what the tech bros have been saying about AI in recent days. While it bothered me it was just accepted as truth the larger issue here is that there will be plenty of people who do not know what she’s talking about.
She mentioned a few times that in Europe people come first and connected it directly to European values. The people aren’t feeling it. She needs to give examples to prove her point.
The speech was primarily in English but there was a sudden switch to German and later French as well. This is Europe, we speak many languages. I love that and love that she code-switches. However – people weren’t prepared and may not have had interpreter services switched on, ultimately causing them to miss a part of the speech. Had this been announced beforehand people could have anticipated (at least on online streams). The first interpreter gave an accurate translation, but it was as dry as could be. Perhaps find someone who can keep the flow going.
This, by the way, is one of the coolest things of the EU – the way we handle so many languages and the large incredible team of interpreters. This could be a way to highlight this but I fear it failed.
Personally I am not a fan of special guests. I feel it disrupts things too much but I also always feel highlighting a few people because they caught the spotlight also means ignoring all those equally worthy but who received less attention. It also feels very US American. I recognise not many share this point of view though and that people seek someone to rally around. It’s not an objection really, more a personal preference but I am probably the minority here.
Some other notes I actually wrote before the SOTEU:
This room, the Strasbourg hemisphere, just isn’t the right space for this. The way it’s laid out keeps people too far apart and even if the room is filled (considerably more so than last year) it does not feel alive. There’s no ‘we’re here together, as Europeans’, at least visually.
I would argue taking it to a different venue can do a world of good here. It could also offer more seats.
Get the national leaders to attend (perhaps move the whole affair to Brussels and do it the day before or after when the European Council meets – they’re already in town). This is our European moment and it needs to show unity, a signal that we are all in this together.
Some of the Commissioners were in the room but they should all be there.
Invite the leaders of candidate countries. Involve them.
Some more evocative language wouldn’t hurt. We need to rally around the Twelve Stars.
Here’s a big one: Change the bloody time.
09:00 CET is insanity. You want people to watch? Maybe not do it when everyone is just getting their day started and busy with a thousand other things ( or barely awake, like me).
19:00 CET seems a nice time, across the EU that’s between 18:00 and 20:00 – neither too early nor too late. With future expansion the latest will be 21:00.
And change the name. Call it whatever but not a copy of the US. Be European and proudly so.
Encourage traditional media across the continent to make mention of it, before and afterwards. Don’t tell them how to report about it, just ask them to help it become known. People don’t know it’s happening, no matter how much on socials.
@European Commission
#SOTEU #EU #EuropeanUnion
1
You shouldn't rely on governments to save you.
nostr:npub1vs30sv7625sdz8syspufsgey4ajghganads4nngtgn5tzvprtf5scpkl0n
We don't. Doesn't change the fact we should be able to. It's their job to protect us and advance the common interest of its people.
@cavallette
@cavallette
When it comes to the shutdown of Autistici/Inventati we really should reserve most of our anger for our leaders right here in Europe. They allowed this to happen.
Sure, the US government is beyond evil and before that, optimistically, merely problematic. But they only hold this power over Europe and European companies, initiatives and whatnot because we've allowed for it. That's on us.
The shutdown of A/I saddens me but it is also the only reasonable choice they had and they should be commanded not wanting to cause harm to their users.
Europe needs to do better. Today. There's absolutely no reason for us to be in this embarrassingly submissive position.
@cavallette
Sure, the US government is beyond evil and before that, optimistically, merely problematic. But they only hold this power over Europe and European companies, initiatives and whatnot because we've allowed for it. That's on us.
The shutdown of A/I saddens me but it is also the only reasonable choice they had and they should be commanded not wanting to cause harm to their users.
Europe needs to do better. Today. There's absolutely no reason for us to be in this embarrassingly submissive position.
@cavallette
2
Booking your trains Brussels-Vienna-Budapest shouldn't require three different websites.🚉
We're building a system that allows you to find, compare, and buy a single ticket for your entire journey...
I really want this to become a reality. The European train network, if functioning well, is one of the things we can and should take pride in (and use).
Is there a proposed time line?
Is there a proposed time line?
Zack Polanski is running for Starmer's seat!
I so hope he wins. It's a lil' risky but he had to go for it.
#ZackPolanski #London #UKPol #GreenParty #UKGreens
I so hope he wins. It's a lil' risky but he had to go for it.
#ZackPolanski #London #UKPol #GreenParty #UKGreens
1
I have two methods when I need to sleep and can't because of whatever is going on or the doom planning. Don't know if it works for you but perhaps worth a try. I am perpetually stressed out and an insomniac, yet most of the time at least one of them works for me.
1) The same audio book. I use Alice in Wonderland despite being sick of it. Pick whatever but a book you know and gives you zero surprises. Every time the same one. You both listen and are completely bored. Somehow this does wonders.
2) The perfect scenario. Again, this is about repetition and zero surprises but this time in your head. Create a scenario that makes you happy but not excited and play it out in your mind. A short story with a simple narrative. Mine involves a meadow, a rainbow and a teddy bear. Add a lot of detail. Sounds, scents, the way something moves. This forces my mind to focus on something else and I tend to fall asleep quickly.
3) Ok, I said two but this one has worked as well a few times. There's an album called Sleep by Max Richter. It's beautiful and genuinely lives up to its name. It's over 8 hours and designed to aid sleep. I'm not into this kind of stuff but love Richter's other work and so I gave it a try. There's actual neuroscience behind the album.
@K. J. Elphinstone
1) The same audio book. I use Alice in Wonderland despite being sick of it. Pick whatever but a book you know and gives you zero surprises. Every time the same one. You both listen and are completely bored. Somehow this does wonders.
2) The perfect scenario. Again, this is about repetition and zero surprises but this time in your head. Create a scenario that makes you happy but not excited and play it out in your mind. A short story with a simple narrative. Mine involves a meadow, a rainbow and a teddy bear. Add a lot of detail. Sounds, scents, the way something moves. This forces my mind to focus on something else and I tend to fall asleep quickly.
3) Ok, I said two but this one has worked as well a few times. There's an album called Sleep by Max Richter. It's beautiful and genuinely lives up to its name. It's over 8 hours and designed to aid sleep. I'm not into this kind of stuff but love Richter's other work and so I gave it a try. There's actual neuroscience behind the album.
@K. J. Elphinstone
To eveyone on Mastodon:
The real lesson of the US attack on autistici/inventi is that WE ARE NEXT. Mastodon servers mostly do not run things like PRISM, are often based outside the US, and compete d...
I would love to understand where the fediverse is actually vulnerable.
I am nowhere near an expert on this but part of the fediverse is European and I guess it depends where the actual infrastructure is located and/or which company may host it.
The other part of course may be whether or not European politicians decide to go along and do whatever the US tells them to do - which, sadly not that unlikely. Especially Germany presents a risk here.
I am nowhere near an expert on this but part of the fediverse is European and I guess it depends where the actual infrastructure is located and/or which company may host it.
The other part of course may be whether or not European politicians decide to go along and do whatever the US tells them to do - which, sadly not that unlikely. Especially Germany presents a risk here.
Dolly was a good one.
https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/dolly-parton-tennessee-anti-trans-laws-1235462074/
#DollyParton #TransgenderRights #LGBTQ
https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/dolly-parton-tennessee-anti-trans-laws-1235462074/
#DollyParton #TransgenderRights #LGBTQ
I really think the only long term solution out of this hellhole is education. Probably not through the system because that's a joke but people need to learn what the issues actually are, who causes them and what solutions can be. They need to understand the power of collective action and the power of unity with those who do not cause you harm. And, people need to learn how to pull apart the narratives spun by the media, corporate figures and politicians alike.
It's a massive task with everything stacked against it but not an impossible one. It is just going to take everything we got, and we've gotta keep at it for quite a few years. Luckily, some solid foundations are being laid down as we speak as people are slowly waking up and, particularly relevant for the US, people are starting to look beyond their borders and see what is possible.
For the short term - I see no other way other than a general strike and boycotts. Deny those with power the money and the narrative. And, taking this away means that people with power (the corporate world) will demand better from the others with power (politicians) - it may be the only way to get change.
To get this done, however... I don't see it happening. Somehow the narrative isn't 'as bad as it is now it will only get worse if we do nothing' doesn't resonate and instead people think 'as bad as it is now it will be worse if I don't play along'.
I am speaking from the EU. Our situation isn't quite as severe as it is in the US, that does not mean it's not really bad here either. We need global change, and we need to accept that maybe 'the west' isn't all it's cracked up to be.
It's a massive task with everything stacked against it but not an impossible one. It is just going to take everything we got, and we've gotta keep at it for quite a few years. Luckily, some solid foundations are being laid down as we speak as people are slowly waking up and, particularly relevant for the US, people are starting to look beyond their borders and see what is possible.
For the short term - I see no other way other than a general strike and boycotts. Deny those with power the money and the narrative. And, taking this away means that people with power (the corporate world) will demand better from the others with power (politicians) - it may be the only way to get change.
To get this done, however... I don't see it happening. Somehow the narrative isn't 'as bad as it is now it will only get worse if we do nothing' doesn't resonate and instead people think 'as bad as it is now it will be worse if I don't play along'.
I am speaking from the EU. Our situation isn't quite as severe as it is in the US, that does not mean it's not really bad here either. We need global change, and we need to accept that maybe 'the west' isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Genuinely, I think this is flawed thinking. Sure, the dems won't shoot people in the streets but do you think they do any less deportations? The vast majority of Trump policies Biden kept in place. On the middle east, the cuddling of corporations, the denial of worker's rights - there's virtually no daylight between the parties.
Have you seen how the dems have backtracked on transgender rights?
Why is no one standing up to Fetterman?
Schumer? Jeffries? Where the fuck is their opposition, other than sternly written letters?
Sure, where the republicans are beyond evil the dems are merely evil. But that just isn't good enough, or even remotely acceptable.
Have you seen how the dems have backtracked on transgender rights?
Why is no one standing up to Fetterman?
Schumer? Jeffries? Where the fuck is their opposition, other than sternly written letters?
Sure, where the republicans are beyond evil the dems are merely evil. But that just isn't good enough, or even remotely acceptable.
I believe about a third of eligible voters in the US don't vote? That number is insane and if you can activate that it's a game changer.
Big part of that group are young folk but they vote when they have an exciting candidate to vote for. And I can't really blame them they won't otherwise when every time the vote is for an establishment candidate things stay stagnant at best.
Big part of that group are young folk but they vote when they have an exciting candidate to vote for. And I can't really blame them they won't otherwise when every time the vote is for an establishment candidate things stay stagnant at best.