@ Newbie | Feb 12 2026 16:51 utc | 2
 
interesting.. thanks… i doubt it will happen, but i suppose one never knows.. i just finished reading a book on her – ‘the chancellor’ by kati marton… 

Posted by: james | Feb 12 2026 17:03 utc | 4

Scott Ritter provides us with a clear explanation of what “shaking the tree” means and how it relates to “negotiations” and how Iranian key personel might already be part of sleeping cells ready to be acrivated. Scott is a good teacher of those things.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HvShNTx3wI
 
Otherwise, here is a quite interesting piece on a mesting of Canada’s Mark Carney with Trump.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7butvFsrMQ
 
 

Posted by: Richard L | Feb 12 2026 18:15 utc | 6

@ Newbie | Feb 12 2026 16:51 utc | 2 interesting.. thanks… i doubt it will happen, but i suppose one never knows.. i just finished reading a book on her – ‘the chancellor’ by kati marton… 
Posted by: james | Feb 12 2026 17:03 utc | 4

@ 2German president is a ceremonial position, right? I guess she could monger influence, but what actual impact could she have?
Posted by: fnord | Feb 12 2026 17:20 utc | 5

 
France seems to want to change rails, if germany would do the same.
 
Might be seen as a sign, remember she was vilified for having rendered germany dependent on RF…

Posted by: Newbie | Feb 12 2026 18:20 utc | 8

Member of Trump’s ‘Religious Liberty Commission’ Removed After Questioning Claim That Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitic
 
A member of the Trump administration’s “Commission on Religious Liberty” has been removed after a hearing turned contentious over her objection to the idea that anti-Zionism is antisemitism.
 
Carrie Prejean Boller, a Catholic conservative activist and model, took issue with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which has been embraced by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice and conflates criticism of the modern state of Israel with antisemitism.
https://news.antiwar.com/2026/02/11/member-of-trumps-religious-liberty-commission-removed-after-questioning-claim-that-anti-zionism-is-antisemitic/
 
 
Adoption by international governments of the IHRA “definition of antisemitism” has been a key goal of Israeli diplomats, to pernicious effect wherever it has been accepted. While the IHRA presents the definition as a “non-legally binding” guidance, it has been used to trigger national and regional laws and policies affecting free speech, association, and the right to protest. 

Posted by: jayc | Feb 12 2026 18:56 utc | 10

General Amadou Ibro urged the people of Niger to prepare for war with France, accusing Paris of seeking to destabilize the country — Jeune Afrique magazine:
 

You know, we’re going to war with France. We didn’t fight before,

Posted by: arby | Feb 12 2026 19:45 utc | 12

The South African Verkrampte’s fixation and with race and Black people and the influence of his racist views via ownership of one of the largest social media platforms today:
 
Elon Musk posted about race almost every day in January
Many social media posts by Tesla CEO on his platform are indiscernible from those of white supremacists, say experts
 
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/12/elon-musk-posts-january-white-supremacists
 

Posted by: Menz | Feb 12 2026 20:11 utc | 14

Posted by: jayc | Feb 12 2026 18:56 utc | 10
I guess that means the Orange Catholic Bible won’t be ready in time for the midterms…

Posted by: ChatNPC | Feb 12 2026 20:42 utc | 16

Posted by: Cynic | Feb 12 2026 20:39 utc | 15

Germans have Zero (0!) say in the Presidential Election…

Posted by: Nobody | Feb 12 2026 20:56 utc | 18

Announcing The Nuestra American Flotilla!
 
https://x.com/ProgIntl/status/2021989417611649093
 
“We are sailing to Cuba, bringing critical humanitarian aid for its people. Together, we can break the siege, save lives, and stand up for the cause of Cuban self-determination. Join us…”
 
https://nuestraamericaflotilla.org
 
 
The US War Against Cuba is a War Against Us All!
 
https://www.blackagendareport.com/us-war-cuba-war-against-us-all
 
“True solidarity means recognizing an attack on Cuba as an attack on all who resist empire. We must act now. Join the movement. Mobilize your communities. Struggle against the greatest international terrorist organization to ever exist. The only way forward is together…”
 
Resist don’t collaborate!

Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 12 2026 21:09 utc | 20

Should have added in “Feb 12 2026 21:28 utc | 21”  that it is of course fine to attack decent people like Finkelstein … or other Jews who genuinely are Jews, rather than (knowing or duped) members of some other long-running cultist religion recruiting (perverting?) Jews — infiltration and subversion as cited in the Bible — which seems to have nowadays hijacked the name “Jew” and contrived to make it it synonymous with “Zionist”.  A cult the ideology of which was further developed in its Talmud.
But how long till even being aware that will be prohibited?

Posted by: Cynic | Feb 12 2026 21:50 utc | 22

How can the bottom up prevent the top down from orchestrating the greatest cover up in History?   What must be done to expose everything and everybody about Epstein Maxwell and the entire blackmail network.. ?/ 

Posted by: snake | Feb 12 2026 23:08 utc | 24

Grow up Newbie. Merkel is controlled opposition.  So what she was “vilified” for RF energy sources. 
 
She and the rest of the Epstein Class expected that the RF would fall and be broken up. All that energy was supposed to have been free by now.
 
Merkel is there to prevent the most popular political party from getting in power. 

Posted by: Suresh | Feb 13 2026 0:02 utc | 26

🇺🇸🇸🇾The United States has transferred control of its Al-Tanf base in Homs province to the Syrian army, along with a 55-kilometer security zone, where US-controlled militants were being trained.

Posted by: Jo | Feb 13 2026 0:16 utc | 28

Careful arby @ 12
 
Sebgo might step in and correct you, it’s really the Chinese fault and we don’t understand “his” people. 

Posted by: Suresh | Feb 13 2026 0:20 utc | 30

So, I took my vacation. Normally I live in China, but every year I take a “vacation” to another nation to live “like a local” Last year was Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This year it’s Bangkok.
Bangkok is always a favorite place of mine. I just love the people. Period.
But this year I see what is going on “in the rest of the world” though my Chinese eyes.

• Lots and lots of Chinese visitors. Sure there’s an abnormal amount of Westerners in Thailand, but the huge numbers of Chinese was a bit of a surprise. Much more than I figured given the “Thailand is dangerous” tropes that have been flooding the Chinese internet as of late.
• Size shrinkage on American chain restaurants. Regular portion sizes and affordable meals for the most part (excluding the fancy-pantsy joints). However, if you go into a American chain, you will see portion shrinkage. I went to KFC, and ordered a large coffee. The coffee portion was small, like REALLY small. It was the size of a paper Dixie “sampler” cup. Whoa!
• Noisy. I have forgotten that outside of China the rest of the world is still in the 19th century. Noisy gasoline engines everywhere, with motors-scooters, and chainsaws, and hedge-trimmers. If you are not used to it (Like I used to be when living in the ‘States) it’s terribly jarring.
• No free Wifi. In China wifi is generally free, everywhere, and 5.5G. I found a few hot-spots (for a price) at 5G, but most was 2.5G and pricey. Most locals get a SIMM and use roaming charges tied to their phone accounts.
• Lots of interesting people. This hasn’t changed. Thailand is full of all sorts of people with interesting stories. But this time, I shared a pool in my apartment complex with some Ukrainian beauties with NAZI tattoos. Not judging. Just reporting the changing times.
• My daughter is an attraction. No matter where I go, my daughter attracts the ladies. They love her pale skin, mixed race, and huge smile. I thought that it would be a little different in Thailand as they seem to have darker skin and flatter broader noses. But that is not the case at all. My expectations fall flat when it hits the door of reality.
• The West is in a tailspin, but SE Asia is thriving. Thailand, as well as the rest of South East Asia are thriving. China and the rest of Asia are doing just great, and you can see that, and the “news” out of the West is a disturbing contrast. Screeching horrors vs. a pleasant reality.

Just some observations.
Now, I don’t want to be offensive, but (ah, I cannot help myself). Lots of “white water buffaloes” shambling around. They seem to be from the USA, England or Nordic nations.  It was this way 20 years ago, and that hasn’t changed at all. Perhaps it was that way in 1930 during Colonial times too.
Many Anglo-Saxon men of various national pedigrees. I guess that I fit this description too. Though they generally are traveling in small groups of 2 – 3 men and talking about other people they know and business, money making opportunities, etc.
A couple of international couples. Some with kids, some not. Just your typical iconic internet franchise. I guess.
Some young college-aged, or early 20’s kids having the time of their lives. Well, who can blame them. Right?
Lots and lots of Indians. Yeah, I know this is the case, but they are strangely absent inside of China, so for me it’s kind of a shocker. They have money, wealth and travel. But fear China, and steer away from it.
One final note, no indictment on Thailand, but rather a statement on people. The apartment that we rented is nice, new, recently furnished with all new appliance. But the owner is absent. He just brokered workers to install the furnishings.
Nice. He did all the work, via his laptop. new everything. Carpets, drapes, linens, kitchen appliances, and  you know, a brand new wifi router.
But this router is locked, but no password.
Other people in similar apartments told me that none of the places had wifi, yet they all possessed brand new routers. WTF?
So though detective sleuthing, I found out what happened. The bozo who bought the block of apartments just contracted out all the work. The IT guy came in installed the router, and told the owner who is probably not computer savvy. And so, he just kept the passwords to himself. Rendering all the routers in the entire apartment building worthless bricks.
A locked router without a password is just a useless brick.
So yeah. I have wifi, but I had to do some serious sleuthing after a 14 hour flight and adventure. As a courtesy to the next people, i put the password on a adhesive label on placed it on the back of the router.  Do unto others… right?
And that all for now. Maybe someone out there in the void might appreciate my observations. Be good you all.

Posted by: Rufus Arrr | Feb 13 2026 0:50 utc | 32

Posted by: arby | Feb 13 2026 0:23 utc | 31
 

i was hoping he would see it.

 
I saw it, don’t worry. I just chose not to react to it.
 
Feeling the need to react to everything is what we call here “whitey’s things”.
 
As in many countries, political provocative statements are just noise and propaganda for the crowd.
 
There is no content in the quote, so no comment needed.

Posted by: Sebgo | Feb 13 2026 1:11 utc | 34

Chinese electric trucks pay for themselves in five years. They may be half the market in three.
 
—
 
Russia’s First Icebreaking Tanker Begins Work in the Arctic
 
Yep, Russia now has an ice-breaking LNG tanker.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2026 1:58 utc | 36

@30 Suresh

“La récente attaque de l’État Islamique sur l’aéroport Hamani-Diori de Niamey, dans la nuit du 28 au 29 janvier, a mis à jour l’extraordinaire vulnérabilité de ce site censé être le plus sécurisé et protégé du Niger….

…aussi parce que plus de 1 000 tonnes d’uranium concentré dorment sagement dans l’un de ses nombreux hangars depuis décembre dernier.

Montant estimé de la cargaison ? Plus de 240 millions de dollars…”

“…[L]e 19 décembre, le Parquet de Paris a ouvert une enquête pour « vol en bande organisée dans le but de servir les intérêts d’une puissance étrangère ». Derrière cette formulation, les suspicions d’une opération de revente à des intérêts russes, chinois voire iraniens.”

https://www.lepoint.fr/afrique/niger-france-luranium-sent-le-soufre-2RHALMSWYVGXBHXY2JZSVPXDOA/

Though they say China and Russia would not likely be customers… so that just leaves Iran … according to whitey anyway.

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 2:10 utc | 38

Sebgo, what “battle”??? 
 
The West is prepared for “as long as it takes”?
 
In that case, don’t blink.
___________________________________________
“Feeling the need to reply to everything is what “we” call here whitey things”.
 
Snigger! Told ya!!

Posted by: Suresh | Feb 13 2026 2:22 utc | 40

@37 Peter

That just calls for The Lumberjack Song…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B6mzobwTYyo

(Apologies to canuks etc.)

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 2:25 utc | 42

@41 Sebgo

The article says it was transferred from the mine for export, but no-one will buy it (in part due to french claim to it and so western led international sanction against its purchase)

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 2:31 utc | 44

@45 Sebgo

Difference between “wants to” and “will”.

Some would want to buy it, but they won’t because they would face sanction or diplomatic costs, so they stay with the ‘legal market’, which according to the article has sufficient supply.

The only people who would then buy it are those closed out of the existing market (being sanctioned as ‘terrorist’ etc.), but if US or france see it about to be loaded, they would probably bomb the airport or sabotage the attempt. So that category will not buy it either.

So no one will buy it.

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 2:50 utc | 46

I have to share this posting from Reuters
 
NY Fed report says Americans pay for almost all of Trump’s tariffs
 
I went looking and the Supreme Curt is still not ruling on Trump’s tariffs but could at any time it is reported.
 
If Trump’s tariffs are reversed does that mean Americans will be reimbursed for the tariffs the Fed says they paid?……LOL
 
Maybe that’s the grift that Trump keeps hinting about giving out to the public and/or military.
 
The shit show continues until it doesn’t…….

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 13 2026 3:00 utc | 48

This is from a recent Delicious Tacos post.
 

Right Wing Art
Delicious Tacos – Feb 12
 
I can’t write anymore. I moved to the suburbs. I wake up, pray to God, work like a dog so I can have a family. This is right-wing art.
 
I worry about finishing the book. Work thoughts intrude like reggaeton pumping out a car window. I write technical sales material all day. Right-wing art.
 
Peter Thiel gives me no funding. I haven’t asked. And if he offered I’d say no. But he doesn’t fund right-wing art. Marc Andreesen doesn’t fund right-wing art. Mark Zuckerberg the new Augustus doesn’t fund right-wing art. Augustus himself found Horace, the son of a slave in the army fighting against him. Took him in, gave him an estate, and we got “carpe diem” that people still say 2,000 years later. There will be no American Horace. The closest thing tech has to a court poet is Mike Solana. They have him fulminate about tax policy.
 
No one owes you anything. The right-wing creed. You have to be your own patron, the way you have to be your own housewife. Not ideal. But what it buys you is: when they do Pol Pot shit to these people it won’t change your life at all.
 
Fuck the right wing and their right-wing art. Atlas Shrugged and VeggieTales over and over. Do I say this out of resentment? Fuck the left wing is a given, too obvious to even say. But they’ll win. Trump as last pagan emperor. It will be in spite of left wing art. It will be from the non-funders of art crowing about the coming underclass they work all day to make. Right-wing art.
 
Robert Kraft’s left-wing tolerance ad was right-wing art. Hey rubes protect people like me. Bad Bunny’s left wing halftime show was right wing art. Get more Hispanics watching ads and gambling. Right-wing art is let me keep my money. Michelangelo’s endless hours chiseling pitiless stone into a big sign saying Lower Taxes. And you think they’ll fund your movie. Flattering patrons and begging is left wing art.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2026 3:04 utc | 50

@47 @49 Sebgo

You can be sure that everything related is under surveillance.
Cruise missile, and other forms of sabotage are possible, it isn’t the whole of Niger but one location that is known. It is bulky and cannot be sneaked around.

The justification I gave, plus given how the world has changed, it is even possible france would be permitted by UN to ‘protect its ownership of the material’.

Obviously that could all then turn into an international legislative argument, be used to reshape that bureaucracy etc.

Maybe Niger is baiting, maybe IS is a pretext to take control, maybe there is some other scheme, I don’t know.

“Even with sufficient supply, few people will turn down a lower-priced item if they can get away with it.”

The price includes international reaction, and also the possibility of loss of shipment. How ‘legitimate purchasers’ (say US, China or Russia or other) arrange between themselves, by what rules exactly, is not public.

So it is an unusual stand off.

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 3:27 utc | 52

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 3:27 utc | 52
 
First, it’s just a trade dispute concerning uranium extracted from Niger.
No one at the UN is going to authorize a bombing campaign for that.
 
Second, I’m not talking about the legal aspect but the practical one.
Several military transports take place every day, with transponders off, between the three AES countries.
 
Only the military staff and a few officials know who is being transported and what.
It’s possible the uranium has already left Niamey, and then the region.
 
That’s just a hypothesis, of course, but you shouldn’t be under any illusions about the obstacles that can be placed in the way of a country from afar.
 
We just been told by an Iranian official that Saoudi Arabia have nuclear weapons.
That means they got the needed uranium somewhere, without being noticed.

Posted by: Sebgo | Feb 13 2026 4:05 utc | 54

Adoption by international governments of the IHRA “definition of antisemitism” has been a key goal of Israeli diplomats, to pernicious effect wherever it has been accepted. While the IHRA presents the definition as a “non-legally binding” guidance, it has been used to trigger national and regional laws and policies affecting free speech, association, and the right to protest. 
Posted by: jayc | Feb 12 2026 18:56 utc | 10
 
Princeton University cancels discussion by Norman Finkelstein on the ongoing Gaza genocide
On Tuesday evening, less than 24 hours before the scheduled event, student organizers at Princeton University announced on social media that a lecture by Norman Finkelstein had been abruptly canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances involving new University policy”… 
The “new University policy” refers to the battery of administrative measures adopted by universities across the US to throttle pro‑Palestinian protests, police speech critical of Israel based on the false claim that such events are “antisemitic.”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/02/13/ksfa-f13.html
 

Posted by: jayc | Feb 13 2026 6:50 utc | 56

That means they got the needed uranium somewhere, without being noticed.
 
Posted by: Sebgo | Feb 13 2026 4:05 utc | 54
 
—
 
It is common practice to keep two sets of books and the accountants who oversee the subterfuge are very well compensated.
 
Speaking of subterfuge I should like your opinion on Somaliland, its purpose, the involvement of the UAE and specifically DP World in advocating for the legitimacy of a non-recognised country. 
 
Nearby Khartoum fell into chaos pretty fast.
 

Posted by: too scents | Feb 13 2026 8:37 utc | 58

plus valuable fishing grounds Somali- landed , grift ! 
 
Posted by: Ban- An – Another | Feb 13 2026 8:44 utc | 59
 
—
 
Yes.  What are “they” fishing for, and who these fishermen?
 

Posted by: too scents | Feb 13 2026 8:48 utc | 60

@LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2026 3:06 utc | 51
You critisize tariffs without explaining what is missing: That the nation needs to develop the nations skills and competitiveness under the protection of tarrifs in order to be able to compete successfully a little later.
It is what is missing that needs to be explained to people. Without it you present the case as if purely economic laws could work magic

Posted by: petergrfstrm | Feb 13 2026 9:15 utc | 62

Posted by: too scents | Feb 13 2026 8:37 utc | 58
 
First, I must say that this part of the continent is quite far from West Africa.
Therefore, I am less familiar with it, and my analysis is more that of a distant observer, not someone on the ground like in the Sahel.
 
Several issues are at stake in this part of the continent.
 
The first is, of course, geographical, with the Suez Canal, along whose route everyone wants a base, a lookout point, for security and strategic reasons.
 
Sudan’s decision to grant a base to Russia was the starting point of the current civil war.
 
Eritrea’s independence has turned the giant Ethiopia into a landlocked country desperately seeking access to the sea.
 
The second aspect is oil, particularly in the case of Sudan. The creation of South Sudan conveniently allowed it to seize two-thirds of the oil from a unified Sudan.
 
The third aspect is political and religious. From what I have understood, Saudi Arabia and its allies have two major fears: the spread of non-Sunni Islam and democratization.
For them, every Muslim country in the region that adopts democracy is a threat to their monarchy.
 
And they fear that Shiite Islam, in particular, if it becomes strong enough, will challenge their legitimacy to safeguard the holy sites.
Their close ties with the Americans, in particular, and their way of life, are criticized as a betrayal of Islam.
 
They are therefore doing everything they can to destabilize Shiite power and impose Sunni minorities in power, including through corruption and force.
 
The fourth aspect is Israel’s objective of domination, which seeks to dismantle and divide any country that might become powerful enough to challenge its regional hegemony.
 
The United States, wanting to oppose its adversaries like China and Russia, control oil, and act as Israel’s proxy, creates the chaos we see today.
 
As for the main actors, I don’t know them really, just what is reaching out ears from so far.

Posted by: Sebgo | Feb 13 2026 9:45 utc | 64

Oups… “Tough guys”…

Posted by: Sebgo | Feb 13 2026 9:52 utc | 66

 
https://news.antiwar.com/2026/02/12/report-us-smuggled-thousands-of-starlink-terminals-into-iran-during-protests/
The report contradicts the Trump administration’s claim that it didn’t provide any material support to the protesters,

Posted by: snake | Feb 13 2026 12:15 utc | 68

Suresh | Feb 13 2026 0:12 utc | 27
“In Iran, Pedophiles are hanged.”1. Hanging is the punishment but the family of the abused are allowed a say and they can choose to forgive and enforce a lesser punishment.2. Unless your are married.All the work done over the last decade to ensure the safety of girls and women against abuse has been incredibly valuable but sadly, the issue of marriage remains the last stumbling block. But at least now it is only the small number ot Mullahs and their families that would even consider marriage to unde 18-year olds acceptable.

Posted by: Artem | Feb 13 2026 14:29 utc | 70

For the Cuban People, Surrender Is Not an Option
 
The ghost of the “Special Period” To understand why the Cuban people have not descended into the chaos Washington predicted, one must look to the historical precedent of the “Special Period in Time of Peace.” Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba experienced an economic shock that would have toppled almost any other modern state. Overnight, the island lost 85% of its international trade and nearly all of its subsidized fuel imports. The resulting statistics were staggering: the Gross Domestic Product plummeted by 35%, and the daily caloric intake of the average citizen dropped from over 3,000 calories to roughly 1,800. During this era, the lights went out across the island for more than 16 hours a day, and the bicycle became the primary mode of transportation as the public transit system collapsed.
 
https://orinocotribune.com/for-the-cuban-people-surrender-is-not-an-option/

Posted by: arby | Feb 13 2026 15:39 utc | 72

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8zNcv3NiU
 
Protecting children my ass.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 13 2026 15:41 utc | 74

@Jon_in_AU | Feb 13 2026 9:33 utc | 63
In my view the quote from Engdahl still holds good
Karl Rowe and Swedens Fredrik Reinfelt who seemed to be Rove’s adept, sort of, offered Wikileaks to use Piratebay for server.
After 2010 it would gradually begin to look like kicking on somebody lying down. I think the establishment had to rush to make Assange an apparent martyre in Sweden. 
There are other wellinformed opinionmakers who drew similar conclusions as Engdahl. 
Daniel Estulin
Webster Tarpley 
Wayne Madsen
To my knowledge not one has taken back the original accusations.
Madsen mentioned that WL for $20M uplet its equipment for using it to cyberattack China placing trojans in Chinese computers. Then the US used the trojans to create a false flag against themselves to blame China
The wellknown video showing how journalists were attacked was claimed by another internetgroup to have been published a month earlier. They sounded upset about WL having stolen the attention. But that info has vanished from the web. They were probably paid or something.
WL later helped the NSA to hit back at Edward Snowden in the form of Vault7. In it it was exposed how the CIA had taken up some of the hitech methods of NSA in what appeared to be a vendetta between the two organisations.
 

Posted by: petergrfstrm | Feb 13 2026 16:07 utc | 76

I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.
 
Interesting that Trump is parroting other countries when they talk about the USA’s attitude.

Posted by: arby | Feb 13 2026 16:40 utc | 78

I am not a coincidence theorist.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2026 16:50 utc | 79
 
Hmmm, I know I read about Russia and Cuba having tests on cancer cures months ago. 

Posted by: arby | Feb 13 2026 17:07 utc | 80

@ Juliana re previous thread

Acrylic I only use for coatings, not anything artistic. Have seen some nice artwork painted with acrylic so I suppose it suits some, sort of water based oil like paint ?

Gesso and cal we are familiar with, have prepared own from limestone, and it is part of the local culture (whitewashed villages and simple plasters). Tempera comes across as sort of a colourful extension of that with some binder.

For pigment I am only really familiar with iron, more from searching for metals than preparing paint, so as to understand the different kinds of oxides or other, found around. Also so as to read slag and glasses from metal refining. Some of it is very surprising, for example there are near pure iron ores that are like mud coloured limestone, others hard black, and others dark red.

The red coloured haematite is probably the best known, and it is an earliest of pigments, for body colouring/protection also, still is used for that in parts of Africa I think.

It is also very obvious to find, and other metals are often found associated. So some of the places I explore have millenia timelines, from large shells visibly used as pendants from neolithic or earlier even (some think haematite was used as body colour then also), and handheld mortar stones , through to roman and then moorish mining tools and work. The in between was mostly copper/bronze and some silver, and places that supply those have a different timeline of presence.

The egyptians were adept at early paint artistry I think, then the Romans etc.

Copper oxides and related I am just studying now slowly. Also natural dyes, it is unusual what colours emerge from what plants or similar.

Academics spend a lot of time trying to figure out ancient recipes for paints, or for example what varnishes were applied to famous violins, for if that gave them their distinct sound… there are also continuous discussions on woods, seasoning methods and so on, for musical instruments, amongst those who build them.

It’s all both fascinating and challenging for anyone interested in those sort of realities.

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 18:22 utc | 82

This is a good primer on West Africa and its current situation.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_3ZwvpRP_o
 
It is not all sunshine and roses. It talks about the realities of former colonies in Africa as they have to make political and economic tradeoffs to establish sovereignty.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2026 18:49 utc | 84

“In live broadcasts, presenters no longer speak.

They stand in front of the camera, impassive, while AI generates speech and facial expressions.

The creators explain that it is impossible to completely remove a person: the platforms require a real person in the frame, otherwise they will interrupt transmission or get banned.

Apparently, the future is about humans as “biological anchors.” ”

Video at:

https://t.me/agc_NW/26746

Posted by: Ornot | Feb 13 2026 18:58 utc | 86

Sean Foo: ‘Collapse is Here’
 
https://www.youtube.com/@SeanFooGold/videos
 
“US stock market crashes as AI collapse causes financial panic; Yen carry unwind is NEXT.’
 
Let it come down.

Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 13 2026 20:07 utc | 88

Donald Trump has said he plans to become the first sitting United States president to visit Venezuela in nearly three decades.
Trump made the statement to reporters on Friday as he departed White House for the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina, where he met soldiers involved in the US abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

Posted by: arby | Feb 13 2026 21:06 utc | 90

arby | Feb 13 2026 21:06 utc | 90
*** Donald Trump has said he plans to become the first sitting United States president to visit Venezuela in nearly three decades. ***
 
To give the children a hand …. well, finger anyway?
Temporary supply problems in US since the Epstein files started to emerge?
Make a deal …. “Hand over a bunch of sacrifices or get bombed”?
 
*** Trump made the statement to reporters on Friday as he departed White House for the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina ***
 
Fort Bragg? Aye, maybe a shortage right enough …
 
https://www.mintpressnews.com/title-us-military-engaging-in-child-sex-trafficking-at-fort-bragg/290669/
 
If it gets much worse, they might have to make do with Lindsay …..

Posted by: Cynic | Feb 13 2026 21:26 utc | 92

I want to thank Reuters for pointing to the oligarch versus sovereign government approach to human progress conflict with this posting
 
Musk fires up SpaceX, Bezos pushes Blue Origin as US billionaires race China to moon
 
I expect China to win without trying because the forced profit motive of the West is poisonous to collaboration necessary for serious Ad Astra activities…….I notice Musk is combining all his business parts so his monster is TBTF like the banks, eh?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 13 2026 22:19 utc | 94

Chemical giant BASF relocates jobs from Germany to India
BASF has announced plans to move its internal services from Berlin, Germany, to Hyderabad, India. This actually makes sense, in a twisted way.
For years the German government has stated the need for skilled immigrants to fill the gaps in the labor market.
But why pay an immigrant from India German wages in Berlin when you can pay him Indian wages in Hyderabad?

Posted by: The Far Side | Feb 13 2026 23:05 utc | 96

As I was sitting in my shorts and T – shirt in Spain.
 
Posted by: Clouds Of Alabama | Feb 13 2026 23:47 utc | 97
 
#####
 
So, basically, you’re a brokie. 😂😂😂

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 13 2026 23:52 utc | 98

Posted by: Nobody | Feb 13 2026 21:44 utc | 93
Me too, I also learned of Fred Harrison’s 18 year rule for financial crashes.
What is 2008 + 18 ….
Sean Foo might be on to the trend, but he paints every little blip as a “this is it!” moment.
There are lots of little moments, then suddenly SHTF – nobody can predict exactly what or when will be the final straw.
Foo’s approach is to be right…one day.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Feb 14 2026 0:08 utc | 100