‘The political economy of aging’
‘Claims of the form “technological progress … will fix the problems brought by aging” miss the political economy of the situation.’ ∽ Jesús Fernández-Villaverde and Patrick Norrick (2026)
Die Fackel 2.0
Independent journalism, historical and contemporary commentary, as well as the occasional thought experiment, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe.
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‘The Economics of a Shrinking World’
‘We live in a society … which makes a third child expensive and childlessness cheap … creat[ing] a mismatch between women’s position outside the home and men’s inside it.’
NATO Soldiers as Security Risk, Stupidity Edition, or: Norway, c. 2026.
‘We have many operating contracts and this happens from time to time. The problem is not a very big one.’ ∽ Øyvind Strømseth, Infrastructure Dept., Troms fylkeskommune
Energy Rationing, Food Shortages, and Big Data (Tech)
‘If … a basic supply of the population via the free market can no longer be guaranteed, the population shall be supplied … by means of an orderly production and distribution.’ ∽ German gov’t c. 2016
Energy Rationing > EU Regulation 2017/1938
‘The Commission shall declare, as appropriate, a regional or Union emergency at the request of at least two competent authorities that have declared an emergency.’ ∽ Art. 12 (1)
Norway’s Oil & Gas Production Forecast to Drop -65% by 2035
‘The discoveries of recent years are too small to replace the production that is already in operation.’ ∽ Kjersti Dahle, director of development, Norwegian Offshore Directorate, 20 Aug. 2026
Winter is Coming to the EU Whose Gas Storage Sits at Historical Lows
‘The European Commission sees no immediate threat to supply security … Storage facilities in the bloc are currently 62 per cent full.’ ∽ Via Austrian state broadcaster ORF, 20 Aug. 2026
A (Norwegian) Clone is Born
‘Cloning is banned in Norway, but there is no ban on ordering clones abroad and bringing them into the country.’ ∽ NRK journo™ Maren Kvamme Hagen on the rULez of lAw™
To Clone a Horse or Three (2)
‘It’s what happens when humans take control of the process and manipulate embryos.’ ∽ Blake Russell of ViaGen
To Clone a Horse (or Three)
Bored billionaire wife plus abject desires to hold on to a prize stallion = legacy media reporting™ at its (expectable) worst
‘People who were at Corona protests are now among wind power opponents’
'You can no longer stop this development, but you can delay it. However, this delay will lead us to climate collapse and keep us dependent on energy imports.' ∽ Markus Winter, 15 Aug. 2026
EU Citizenship™ ⚭ Banana-fication of the Republic
'[EU Citizenship] does not require the existence of a people, but is founded on the existence of a European political area from which rights and duties emerge.' ∽ As per the EU Treaties
Spying Cars in Germany, or: Intel Community Take-Over is Virtually Complete
'Institutions … that have a branch in Germany, provide services in Germany, or participate in such services are obligated to provide information.' ∽ Draft spook modernisation law, July 2026
‘I believe we are at the beginning of a major war’: [Serbian President] Vučić Fears Escalation
‘I’m not here to please the Russians, Ukrainians, or anyone else—except the Serbs.’ ∽ Aleksandar Vučić, president of Serbia
Asylum Crisis in Switzerland Careens Out of Control, the NZZ Rah-Ports™
‘For us, it is crucial that measures are based on a sound analysis, are fact-based, and actually have an effect.’ ∽ Swiss asylum minister Beat Jans, as cited by the NZZ on 10 Aug. 2026
The Science™ 'Splains: The GerManosphere
In yet another public-private partnership™ (fascism 2.0), the German branch of the Institute of Strategic Dialogue declares German men to be a pathological problem
Old News: When Raspail's Camp of Saints Became a Reality in 2001
‘There were a lot of IS people among the refugees, 100 per cent.’ ∽ Adip Agam, commenting on the 2015 refugee crisis
'Conquest migration has long since become a weapon against stupid, weak Europe.'
'Those naive enough to greet unknown strangers with garlands of flowers have always regretted it, if they weren’t wiped out before they realised their mistake.' ∽ Harald Martenstein
Slaying History's Golden Calves (2): The Myth of Capitalism
'The use of organized violence is more obvious in the earlier period. Analysis of its use then suggests effects that may be hidden in the modern world.' ∽ Frederic C. Lane (1979)
Oslo to Mandate Green™ Construction Sites, Industry Warns of Higher Housing Prices
'City Councillor Marit Vea says they have listened to the industry and believe that the transition will be good for business.' ∽ Norwegian state broadcaster NRK, 7 Aug. 2026
The Science™, c. 2026: 'Achieve Sustainability by Easing Population to 4 Billion by 2200'
'Excessive per capita impacts can be reined in, either by individuals’ choices or by goals and policies … we need more of these measures.' ∽ Mark Keegan et al. (2026)