Ralf Ekrowski

theguardian.com‘My social life completely plummeted’: gen Z is fighting back against big techFrom apps that block distractions to stripped-down phones, young people are finding ways to unplug from platforms they say profit from their attention

11h

Gen Z is now paying for apps that keep them off their apps. Pay once to use the phone, pay again to not use it. My fix costs nothing: the phone stays on the good old phone table. For the dog walk, an iPod did the job. Nobody calls my record player either. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theatlantic.comHow Long Until the Internet Breaks?The web is much more fragile than it seems.

20h

Really? I still remember the days before the internet. We used to talk and meet up; we had time. Now nobody has time, because everyone is saving it, on the internet. Momo’s grey men would be proud. It helps where it helps. So does AI. Just know what you use it for. Has it been worth it?

Ralf Ekrowski reposted

Der Postillon 📯

@der-postillon.com

Für den US-Markt: Audi stellt neues Firmenlogo vor www.der-postillon.com/2026/10/audi...

der-postillon.comFür den US-Markt: Audi stellt neues Firmenlogo vorWashington, Ingolstadt (dpo) - Audi-Chef Gernot Döllner hat am Wochenende auf Donald Trumps Wahlkampfbühne den Bau eines neuen Werks in den USA verkün

nytimes.comSerbia’s Election Shows New Vulnerability for Nationalist Populists (Gift Article)In much of Europe, the advance of the right has been seen as unstoppable. But in the east, nationalists are being cast aside in places where they long governed.

21h

Serbia and Brazil offer hope: people are not powerless in the face of authoritarian rule. Even leaders who control the media can lose the support of the people. The desire to end corruption and the abuse of power can prove stronger than the grip of gilded kings with counterfeit crowns

nytimes.comAudi to Build Factory in Georgia, Trump Says (Gift Article)The Volkswagen division, which imports all its cars from Europe or Mexico, has been hit hard by U.S. tariffs.

Audi cuts jobs in Germany while investing in Trump’s America: a trophy for his tariff policy. The timing: ahead of the midterms, shocked.That may make business sense, but idestroys trust at home. Germany’s carmakers shouldn’t expect endless support while rewarding the president who pressures them.

faz.netAudi-Chef Gernot Döllner als Trumps WahlkampfhelferDas geplante Audi-Werk in den USA ist eine richtige Entscheidung. Die Verbeugung des Vorstandschefs Döllner vor dem amerikanischen Präsidenten auf offener Bühne dagegen sendet das falsche Signal.

FAZ(PW) Audi’s CEO turns himself into Trump’s campaign helper The planned Audi plant in the US is the right decision. CEO Döllner’s bow to the American president on an open stage, however, sends the wrong signal. (Own translation) www.faz.net/aktuell/wirt...

bbc.comMusic streaming: Why we're listening to so many old songsThe chart is full is full of old music and classic songs are dominating streaming services. But why?

It’s not just about the technology. Music takes time and attention, both of which are priceless and in short supply these days. That’s why we invest our time in music, songs that give us something in return, even if it’s just the memory of a time that was important to us. bbc.com/news/article...

youtube.comProbeneinblick in «Tanzrausch»YouTube video by Stadttheater Bremerhaven

My hometown of Bremerhaven proves that even in a city where you’d hardly expect it, modern ballet is performed at a high level. “Tanzrausch” is the current ballet program.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comBecky Barnicoat on scary outfits for Halloween – cartoonFrom Fifa’s controversial boss to big bills for basics and the AI bubble – these outfits will truly horrify your friends

youtu.beThe Boys – Final Season Trailer | Prime VideoYouTube video by Prime Video

“The Boys”—I like both the comic and the show; I'm currently watching the final season. Let's be honest: Homelander is a satirical version of Trump, complete with MAGA. Exaggerated? What if Trump had superpowers? Reality is overtaking fiction. A real horror.

theatlantic.comWould You Let AI Predict When You Will Die?Here’s a better question: Should you?

Achenbach wants a right not to know when he dies. Pratchett settled this long ago: DEATH keeps one hourglass per person, never calls ahead, and has yet to outsource the job to a chatbot. Best actuarial model on record. No training data, no privacy policy.

nytimes.comFrance Plans to Bolster Police Presence, Expecting New Protests (Gift Article)Government officials are trying to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s unrest across the country, which injured police officers and damaged stores.

Protests are spreading across Europe. The causes? Hard to pin down. The common thread: those at the top, us at the bottom. The anger has no specific target. The far right is taking control of the narrative, the mood, and soon even more. In Germany, the AfD is already popping the champagne.

theconversation.com/youth-protes...

theconversation.comYouth protests across Europe: the overlapping crises facing Gen ZYoung people appear to be facing increasing demands while some of the social resources that help them cope are weakening.

faz.netProteste in Frankreich: Es herrscht das Gefühl, dass der Staat zusammengebrochen istDie Franzosen haben das Gefühl, dass der Staat zusammengebrochen ist. Nicht nur Polizei und Armee bereiten sich auf weitere gewaltsame Proteste vor.

PW "Shopkeepers are organizing for self-defense: The French feel that the state has collapsed. It’s not just the police and the army preparing for further violent protests." (Own translation)

nytimes.comThe High Line Unveils Its Newest Garden (Gift Article)After the landscape designer Piet Oudolf puts his finishing touches on a garden at 34th Street, the entire High Line will be open to visitors.

Years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the High Line. It’s not just a garden: it shows how urban planning can serve people. The citizens fought hard to save it. It’s worth remembering the conflict between Jacobs and Moses: it proves that people can take their city back.

youtu.beThe Diplomat: Season 4 | Official Trailer | NetflixYouTube video by Netflix

I’m watching the latest season of The Diplomat right now, with the fantastic Keri Russell. Can anyone in the show picture Donald Trump as president? And if not, why is he one in reality? youtu.be/for_t1ySDvk?...

Ralf Ekrowski reposted

Til Mette

@tmette.bsky.social

theatlantic.com‘If Anything Happens to This Guy … Everyone Is Screwed’Ondřej Surý was a relatively anonymous volunteer working on PHP security. Then the internet exploded.

We discuss AI and cloud while billions of devices run on firmware written in C, C++, and assembly. This invisible layer controls sensors, networks, and machines—often for years without updates. As embedded skills shrink, firmware becomes an infrastructure risk. www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

Ralf Ekrowski reposted

Led Zeppelin — Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles (1969)

nytimes.comHeat Waves Killed an Estimated 50,000 in European Cities, a Likely Record (Gift Article)This summer’s heat was the continent’s deadliest by far this century, according to new peer-reviewed estimates.

Let's imagine a court trial that asks who is responsible for the deaths. Who would be sitting in the defendant's chair?

theatlantic.comRead This Website While You Still CanParts of the internet are going dark to protect against a newly discovered vulnerability.

The core of the internet is open source. Risks arose as a result of commercial prostitution and criminalization, particularly by terror states like Russia. It is under attack by common and state-sponsored criminals. A meeting place for everyone turned into a battlefield.

nytimes.comNYC Ballet Fall Highlights: A Balanchine Revival, Adrian Danchig-Waring’s Farewell and More (Gift Article)New York City Ballet’s fall highlights included the return of “Pithoprakta,” the magic of Mira Nadon and the farewell performance of Adrian Danchig-Waring.

In these times of cruelty and stupidity, ballet, the dialogue between body and music, brings us back down to earth. The only place we have.

theatlantic.comWhat Lego Lost When It Grew UpThe company’s overt outreach to an adult market has changed the nature of its products.

I've put together a few sets—almost like puzzles. But frankly, for me, the appeal of Lego used to be letting my imagination run wild, not following instructions. www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...

nytimes.comWhy Zelensky Took the Gloves Off This Time With Trump (Gift Article)Staying quiet is riskier than speaking up, Ukrainian officials say, as President Trump goes further than ever in prioritizing Russia’s interests.

Putin sees Trump’s approach not as peace policy, but as weakness. Putin ( UDSSR) Prinzip: a sphere of influence made up of dependent vassal states, secured by Russian power. Ukraine is the test case and with it, the question of whether Europe can still decide its own security

Ralf Ekrowski reposted

Timothy Snyder

@timothysnyder.bsky.social

Trump just claimed the United States had done “a lot” for Ukraine, but that Ukraine has done “nothing” for the United States. This is unjust in the highest degree. And not just untrue in the normal sense — it is a big lie, designed to bring about horror and chaos. snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-big...

snyder.substack.comTrump’s Big Lie about UkraineAnd what Ukraine is giving to us

nytimes.comRussian Satellite Makes a Menacing Approach to Another Craft in Orbit (Gift Article)Although Kosmos 2612 is now backing away, the maneuver raised alarm bells for analysts who see it as part of a pattern of Russian aggression.

Why is this so threatening? An article in the FAZ shows that ICEYe is being used to establish an EU system—independent of the U.S.—that monitors Russian military maneuvers. Vital for Ukraine, a thorn in Putin’s side. Putin is at war with the free world.

faz.netIceye-Satelliten: Wie Russland im Ostseeraum aufrüstetElektronische Kampfführung, Militärkonvois, neue Kasernen: Mikrosatelliten des finnischen Unternehmens Iceye zeigen, wie Russland im Ostseeraum aufrüstet.

(PW) FAZ: Electronic warfare, military convoys, new barracks: Microsatellites from the Finnish company Iceye show how Russia is building up its military presence in the Baltic Sea region. (own translation) www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...

theatlantic.comWhy the Internet Needs a MemoryPublishers have every right to challenge businesses that exploit their work—but the Wayback Machine has become collateral damage.

I write a small blog about local political issues, and I constantly see information being deleted. The Wayback Machine, the Internet Archive, is important for democracy, because democracy cannot survive without information. The Internet Archive and independent journalism are on the same side.

nytimes.comItaly Faces Parallel Protests in the North and South (Gift Article)Protests by young people in northern cities ended in riots as farmers and truckers in the south, angered by high gas prices, stopped commercial traffic.

France, India, and now Italy: young people are facing a more uncertain future, threatened by AI and climate change. At the same time, they’re witnessing the power of the fat cats. If I were young, I’d be out on the streets.

nytimes.comTrump Defends Plans to Ease Russia Sanctions and Hints at a Hostage Deal (Gift Article)The president on Sunday justified his reversal of almost five years of sanctions against Russia as part of peace negotiations. He did not name any hostage.

This isn’t about Ukraine—it’s about Iran. Iran and Putin are terror partners: Tehran supplied drone tech, Moscow uses it to kill Ukrainians. Trump curries favor with Putin, hoping Putin will help him with Iran. Ukraine is the blood sacrifice. Morality at its lowest level.

theatlantic.comAmerica Is Now an Ally of RussiaDonald Trump has abandoned the Western order.

Tom Nichols:"A world in which the White House is allied to the Kremlin was, until now, the stuff of paranoid fiction. Manchurian candidates and red presidents were fantasies, dark tales that Americans told themselves, like ghost stories around a campfire. But this alliance now exists."

"Electronic warfare, military convoys, new barracks: Microsatellites from the Finnish company Iceye show how Russia is building up its military presence in the Baltic Sea region." ( own translation)

nytimes.comTrump Rule Lets Alaska Hunters Lure Bears With Bacon-Greased Doughnuts (Gift Article)The National Park Service is reviving a practice that was banned by the Biden administration and condemned by conservationists.

When I read the headlines, my first thought was that this somehow fits with Trump's policies.

theatlantic.comBig Tech Oligarchs Have a Terrible Plan for HumanityA handful of multibillionaires hope to dictate our future.

With our money and our time, we've given the Bros their (AI) power. We can flip the switch, and then all that will be left of the superintelligence is a pile of electronic junk.

kunsthalle-bremen.deDer Dackel. Eine Ikone geht GassiDer Dackel. Eine Ikone geht Gassi ist die erste Ausstellung, die sich dem Dackel in der Kunst widmet, mit Werken u.a. von Warhol, Hockney, Liebermann.

The Dachshund An Icon off the Leash Sat, 31.10.2026Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Sun, 28.03.2027Sunday, March 28, 2027 kunsthalle-bremen.de/en/exhibitio...

nytimes.comInside the NYC Ballet’s Rare Revival of Balanchine’s ‘Pithoprakta’ (Gift Article)In “Pithoprakta,” a rarely seen work by George Balanchine at City Ballet, Suzanne Farrell brings a tense and eerie dance back to life. It’s a laboratory for new movement.

I discovered my love for modern ballet at the theater in Bremerhaven. I’d love to see this performance, too, but the U.S. isn’t a destination for me right now—the country scares me. I hope that changes someday.

theatlantic.comThe Blog Post That Set the AI World on FireAn incendiary post from a prominent researcher suggests that AI is actually more predictable than we thought.

The real heart of the debate: AI goes from oracle to wrench, however complicated. Even as a working hypothesis, that’s sensational. But banal physics doesn’t make for predictable shards: when I smash my wife’s vase, the laws are trivial; the path of every fragment, and her reaction, are not.

nytimes.comTrump’s Deal With Russia Inflames Ukraine War He Vowed to End (Gift Article)The Ukrainian president’s defiant decision to continue attacking Russian refineries underscores President Trump’s inability to end a war he had promised to resolve.

The NYT describes Zelenskyy as “defiant.” Defiant? Should a country fighting off an invasion be more lenient just so Americans don’t have to pay as much at the gas station? Trump wants to take over someone else’s country; Zelenskyy just wants to protect the land of the Ukrainians.

theguardian.comVolodymyr Zelenskyy feels ‘betrayed’ by Donald Trump over Starlink accessUkrainian president accused US president of picking the other side after four years of war

Betrayal! Applied to Trump’s favorite field, that means: don’t make deals with a nation that will betray you for a few dollars. Ukraine will survive this too. America’s reputation won’t. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/1...

theatlantic.comTrump’s Affection for Russia Is No MysteryThe best explanation is the least complicated one.

Ralf Ekrowski reposted

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)

nytimes.comKatie Zacharia Is Trump’s New Press Secretary. But Is She a Lawyer? (Gift Article)Katie Zacharia told The New York Times that the confusion over her legal credentials was the result of one big misunderstanding.

A press secretary who plays a lawyer is the perfect match for a president who plays a successful businessman and president.

Ralf Ekrowski reposted

Jeff & John THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)

nytimes.comThe Good List: 6 Things to Add Delight to Your Day (Gift Article)Dance soundtrack, feather atlas and the sound of a sunny day.

Actually seven things: we go dancing regularly – tango, rumba, quickstep, and salsa on top. It’s a reset button for everyday life, every single time

n-tv.deLandtag von Sachsen-Anhalt fordert Sieg RusslandsIn einer Sondersitzung fordern AfD und BSW Sachsen-Anhalts geschäftsführende Landesregierung auf, sich für ein Ende der Waffenlieferungen an die Ukraine und mehr Diplomatie einzusetzen. Der Antrag mag...

“State parliament of Saxony-Anhalt demands Russia’s victory” (ntv.de) Germany, 2026: a party that sees itself in a right-wing tradition demands victory for a country that sees itself in a communist tradition, over a democracy. That says a lot about where Germany stands. www.n-tv.de/politik/Land...

nytimes.comUkraine’s Vulnerability Grows as Starlink Is Restricted and Russia Escalates (Gift Article)A huge attack cut power to 600,000 people in Kyiv, and a Pentagon-funded satellite internet program appeared to be curbed without warning.

High diesel prices sink the GOP’s midterm chances. Prices only drop if Putin sells more. Putin sells more if Kyiv stops hitting refineries. Kyiv complied, and Starlink got throttled anyway. Trump is gambling with a war where real people die, as Putin’s errand boy.

sueddeutsche.deTrump und Vance in den USA: Die ganz großen Brüder der AfDWie Trump und Putin der AfD die Vorlage liefern, Geschichte umzuschreiben – und das Prinzip der Menschenwürde auszuhöhlen.

The danger for Germany, in one headline and one picture. “Die ganz großen Brüder der AfD” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) In English: “The AfD’s Really Big Brothers”

nytimes.comNASA’s Perseverance Rover Sets a Mars Driving Record (Gift Article)Advances in self-driving technology have made it easier to traverse distant worlds.

Enjoy the pictures while Musk isn’t there yet. Honestly, though, it looks pretty bleak. Four billion years of gravel, 28 miles in under six years, and no ride home for the samples since Sample Return got cancelled. Read that as a cost estimate for anyone planning cities there.

theatlantic.comThe People Who Outsource Emotional Labor to AITexting with difficult family members can be infuriating. For some individuals, Claude can help.

By using AI as an emotional filter to smooth out our first impulse, we have outsourced our empathy. AI fuels the very type of angry person who is already raging on social media.

Ralf Ekrowski reposted