For when rants trigger RCU stall detection

The European Democracy Shield (EUDS)—a name that practically screams “importance”, if not effectiveness. One imagines a shining bulwark of European resolve, standing firm against the onslaught of foreign interference, disinformation, and creeping authoritarianism. In practice, though, we might be dealing with something rather less heroic: an ambitious framework coated in Brussels gloss, promising much, delivering… well, that remains to be seen. The EUDS: idealism or institutional theatre? On paper, the European Democracy Shield is a bold step. It claims to offer a comprehensive defence of democratic norms, combining regulation of digital spaces, protection for media, and support for civil society into one elegant package. But the EU is no stranger to bold declarations. The question is whether this will be another statement of intent with no meaningful enforcement—or something that actually holds the line. ...

This guide walks you through setting up multilingual search in Hugo (v0.147.3) using the Docsy theme, without relying on any CDNs. No dodgy remote JS includes, no API keys, no Algolia. Just good old-fashioned files, language-specific index.json, and some actual control over what your search does. This is based on a working implementation that uses Lunr.js and works entirely offline — useful for privacy-focused or air-gapped deployments. It also assumes you’re not here for quick hacks but for a robust, Hugo-friendly setup. ...

This cheerful little analysis explores how Europe’s recent budget-slashing spree is playing out—cutting aid, climate finance, health, and all those other inconvenient things that don’t explode or vote. The immediate fallout (spoiler: it’s not great), the long-term consequences (even less great), and how all these “fiscally responsible” choices might cost several times more down the road. Think of it as a guide to burning down your house to save on heating. Only the house is a continent, and the smoke alarms are also being cut. ...

Why did Israel really attack Iran? Analysis with wit and additional perspectives by PR included. Israel’s recent strikes on Iran mark a dramatic escalation in a decades-long shadow war that’s finally emerged from the shadows – rather like a pensioner suddenly taking up parkour. The reasons behind this attack weave together existential threats, geopolitical manoeuvring, domestic politics, and enough ideological hostility to make a North London dinner party look tame. Below, we dissect the key drivers – from nuclear paranoia to Netanyahu’s increasingly creative approaches to job retention – and throw in a deeper look at Iran’s creaking regime, a misfiring axis of resistance, and the global political theatre fuelling it all. ...

In De onvoltooide rechtsstaat (The Unfinished Rule of Law), published on 4 June 2025 to mark his retirement from the Dutch Supreme Court, Ybo Buruma offers a sweeping yet pointed dissection of the Netherlands’ legal journey—and its current disintegration. Part historical reflection, part polemic, the book contends that the Dutch rule of law, once a source of pride, is now under threat from populism, political short-termism, and the perilous belief that majority rule is justice enough. ...

The idea that land is a “God-given” right has been the ultimate trump card for rulers, conquerors, and elites for centuries. Whether through feudal oaths, biblical covenants, or nationalist manifestos, the claim of divine or hereditary entitlement has shaped empires, sparked wars, and left millions dispossessed. This article traces how these narratives evolved—from medieval Europe’s fiefs to the Zionist Promised Land, from the Doctrine of Discovery to modern ethnonationalism—and asks: who really benefits from heavenly real estate deals? ...

Under cover of darkness on 9 June 2025, the Madleen—a modest British-flagged aid ship carrying baby formula, rice, and medical supplies—found itself surrounded by Israeli naval forces some 100-160 km off Gaza’s coast. The activists onboard, including Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, had hoped to draw attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Instead, they got an up-close demonstration of Israel’s naval blockade enforcement. Footage shows the group—calm but determined—raising their hands as Israeli commandos boarded, their life jackets serving as unintentional symbols of how perilous compassion has become in these waters. ...

Humanity has always stared into the void and asked, “Why are we here?”—usually followed by, “And who’s responsible for all this?” Whether whispered to trees, inscribed in sacred texts, or processed through quantum servers, the search for meaning has been relentless, imaginative, and often contradictory. What follows is a sweeping tour through the shifting landscapes of belief—from stone age spirits to silicon soulcraft. Along the way, we explore not only what people believed, but how those beliefs evolved, adapted, and occasionally exploded in dramatic fashion. ...

You’ve spotted a cheap Android tablet or TV box online, taken by how cheap it looks—until you plug it in. Now, interred in its firmware, there’s malware. Not something you can remove, because it’s buried beneath the operating system. This is BadBox: a class of threats embedded in devices at the factory or during shipping. It isn’t just an app you can delete; it’s pre-installed, hidden in the firmware, and ready to phone home as soon as the device connects to the internet. ...

Europe’s most successful failure The cigarette stands as Europe’s most paradoxical public health achievement - a product so lethal it would be banned instantly if invented today, yet so entrenched we’ve normalised its 700,000 annual deaths. That lit cigarette transforms into a miniature chemical factory producing 7,000 compounds - including 70 known carcinogens - because apparently variety isn’t just life’s spice, but its premature ending too. Tar performs its grim alchemy, transmuting healthy lungs into something resembling a Victorian industrialist’s handkerchief. Carbon monoxide clings to haemoglobin with the desperation of a Brexit negotiator clinging to sovereignty fantasies, starving tissues of oxygen. Yet despite these horrors, Europe treats smoking with the resigned tolerance of a long-suffering spouse - we know it’s bad, but the divorce would be so messy. ...