Posted by: Nobody | Apr 5 2026 14:01 utc | 1
Donigula is in a Hospital?
 
He should be in a straight jacket and locked in a padded cell. 

Posted by: Maverick | Apr 5 2026 14:25 utc | 4

Posted by: Nobody | Apr 5 2026 14:28 utc | 5
 
Your right, I stand corrected. 

Posted by: Maverick | Apr 5 2026 14:40 utc | 6

On this Easter Sunday, when the theme is renewal and how we can help ourselves (humanity) evolve, may I draw your attention to a posting from last week. 
 
I can’t link to it (can’t find it)  so I’ll describe it. It was the recent history, last 50 years or so, of the US-Iran relationship, going back before Mossadegh’s ousting by the CIA/UK, on thru 1976 Revolution, the decades of repression, etc. 
 
The interesting aspect of this link is that it was to an article, published recently, in a local community online newspaper, located somewhere near – but from a demographic perspective, not actually “in” Richmond, VA, USA. I followed the link and noted that the newspaper had a lot of community engagement – lots of local ads, lot of articles covering all manner of concerns to a neighborhood. It’s a legit local media outlet.
 
The article about the US-Iran relationship was factual, well-documented, and astonishingly complete, given where it was published. For those readers not from the US, Richmond VA is a “blue” area (a bit more progressive) afloat on a sea of “red”.  This “red” area is where MAGA and the Trump loyalists hark from. 
 
Given the local demographics, it’s actually quite surprising that the article in question was published into that community. Here in the US, neither Red nor Blue camps are all that sympathetic nor interested in the _actual_ nature of the US-Iran relationship. Or so I thought. 
 
The editor of a local newspaper has to keep a close eye on the prevailing sentiment; if you move out of step, too far, too quickly, readership and therefore ad revenues decline rapidly. Local newspaper editors know what’s going on better than almost anyone in the community.
 
That’s the context, now to the point.
 
The awareness and sentiment of the US populace with respect to war, Israel, Iran etc. is very much on the move. It is timely for us more widely-read thinkers to consider the issues of momentum, and direction-of-momentum.
 
The US public is already angry, and they’re going to get more angry.  They are now looking for the “how did we get here” and “what do we do about it” part of the dialog. The vast majority of people don’t read MoA, or any of its counterparts. Yet.
 
So we may be well-advised to bring MoA to them, sort of. Gradually. 
 
It may be time to inject into the non-MSM traditional channels, like local newspapers, some articles that tell a bit more of the story. Apparently, the mood is changed, and such topics are now welcome whereas just a few months ago, they weren’t. 
 
Some of you MoA people are very good writers, and you’re well-informed, and can put together a story that’s well-substantiated (got viable references, etc.). It’s not that far a stretch for you to pen a decent article, and submit it to the editor. 
 
The cover letter that accompanies the article might read sort of like this:
 
“It seems like the public might be ready to learn more about how we got here, and how to move forward” …  “so I thought the attached article might be useful to consider for publication” …. “and I think you’re in the best position to gauge if and when it’s appropriate to publish” and …. “thanks much for all you’ve done”.
 
The snowball of public awareness-and-rage is now about the size of a basketball. It’s positioned at the top of a mountain that’s covered with snow. A few more shoves, and off it goes. 
 
In what direction does it go? One that obfuscates and deflects attention from the perpetrators, or one that successfully delivers the guilty parties into the stocks @ public square, where there’s a barrel containing several broomsticks, which are available for whacks on the backsides of these same perps?
 
It’s timely to inform, and to keep the  spotlight pointed accurately.
 
==== hopefully the person that provided the link to that excellent article will re-submit it in this thread. I thought that was a terrific post, and insight, and inspiration. 

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Apr 5 2026 15:14 utc | 8

Posted by Tom Pfotzer.
 
As a public service to the Bar, henceforward I’ll preface my posts with my name, so that you can readily skip over it. 
===
What articles might be written by Barflies to help shape public opinion? Topics like:
 
What War Is Costing Us. Recently a poster put up a terrific list that shows the enormous $ spent on war over the past 3 decades. Compare that to, for example, Social Security Payments or highway investment, or education, or healthcare.
 
What the World Thinks of the US. There are numerous credible studies and surveys that show how world opinion is turning against the US. How has War affected other nations’ willingness to work with us?
 
World Literacy, and How the US Stacks Up. We are falling behind rapidly. Bring in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) proficiency. Is is possible to have a strong economy without knowing how to invent and build new products?
 
US Industrial Competitiveness. What we export, what we import, and why our industrial competency is degrading. Compare industrial investment with, for example, War expenditures.
 
Christianity and Zionism: Are they the same thing? Can you be a good Christian and not be Zionist?
 
Influence of Zionism over Government. When did it start, and what effect does it have?
 
Note that gradualism and pacing are important concepts to keep in mind as you write. Keep it short, and use references to credible sources. Your audience doesn’t have your background, doesn’t know all you know. Take it easy on them; you didn’t get where you are overnight, and neither will they.

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Apr 5 2026 16:07 utc | 10

@ Tom Pfotzer | Apr 5 2026 15:14 utc | 8
 
i am curious of the article you reference if it shows up… i like what you say here tom… makes a lot of sense! 

Posted by: james | Apr 5 2026 16:29 utc | 12

@ juliania | Apr 5 2026 16:42 utc | 13
 
ha ha!! i am busy right now – had a gig last night and another one out of town for 2pm today!! had a little visit with my brother over at tim hortons, and have yet to take the dog for a walk!! i have places to go and people to see!! however, i am going to check it out juliania! thanks! 

Posted by: james | Apr 5 2026 17:27 utc | 14

Orthodox Easter is 12.April 2o26

Posted by: exile | Apr 5 2026 17:45 utc | 16

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Apr 5 2026 15:14 utc | 8
 
.
It is timely for us more widely-read thinkers to consider the issues of momentum, and direction-of-momentum.
 
.
The US public is already angry, and they’re going to get more angry. 
.
.
<=Not sure the US public is awake yet..  
.
.
but If the real and true facts to the downed pilot episode in Iran yesterday  were to fit the Iran (6-8 US aircraft lost)  version instead of the POTUS (no loss, spectacular rescue)  version and the discrepancy between the two versions were to become deeply understood by J.Q. Public, I think you will see some awakening, but not anger..
.
.
The John Q. public in most westernized countries are conditioned to ignore top down lies.  According to the top-down propaganda and MSM that supports it; top-down lies are never intended to deceive John Q. Public?  Such lies are meant to deceive  Enemies of the State, not domestic citizens.  Domestic citizens can rest assured the Epstein class is not out to deceive them?
.
.
It is this deeply-embedded, mind directing, culturally -perpetuated omni-birth to death propaganda that needs to be dissected from the highly conditioned misdirected mind set. 

Posted by: snake | Apr 5 2026 17:55 utc | 18

How many million Tesla Shares do the barflies think Trump owns?
EV owners in Oz are having trouble concealing their Smug.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 5 2026 19:45 utc | 20

I am looking at the markets and just rolling my eyes at the extent to which the God Of Mammon cult can continue to manipulate markets against fundamentals…….
 
I expect a military defeat will make a difference but not sure when/if that will happen.
 
 

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 6 2026 2:17 utc | 22

“Generals are being fired”  (i.e. US generals) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aUWxU2xrfAY  (length: < 1 minute)
 
I should have posted this comment in this trhead and NOT in the “Happy Easter” thread.

Posted by: WMG | Apr 6 2026 9:57 utc | 24

1/2
@ Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 6 2026 3:23 utc | 23
 
I concur ph, my previous post on global meltdown ran foul of b’s modding, no worries, it prob had too many links. I thought it was less than 5, or maybe there was some other foul It contained.
 
I do think that the Global Robber barons and their Bankster gangster dimon finks are in the desperate ‘denial & bargaining’ phase of a grief they never expected to feel!
 
They are facing the abyss their forebears never envisaged. They had the whole world and it’s entire future in their hands; with a final moment of glory to be enjoyed and supped like gods mead – having almost achieved immortality and wholly god like powers of creating life via their AI super being!
 
All they had to do was to drink it from their holy grail. Their chalice full of malice. 🤡🤡
 
 
part 2 is the working out for the conclusion. 

Posted by: DunGroanin | Apr 6 2026 10:25 utc | 26

Saw this yesterday – might amuse the Yankee cousins. 
 
 
Pepsi withdraws as UK festival sponsor after Kanye West backlash  
 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp86942yj97o
 
‘…West, 48, was announced earlier this week as the headliner for all three days of the rap and R&B festival in north London in July.
The festival is marketed as Pepsi presents Wireless – the brand was the main sponsor.
…
As of Sunday evening, the festival website still showed Pepsi, Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan as partners. However, a section giving partner details appeared to have been taken offline, displaying instead an error message which read: “There’s nothing to see here.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said on Thursday that the government should ban West from entering the UK, arguing “we need to get tougher on antisemitism” and describing West’s planned appearance as “extremely serious”.
The Home Office has not yet received an application for West to enter the UK, BBC News understands. ‘
 
Yadayada ye!
 
No such thing as bad publicity, eh? Never been into his shit. Not likely to start now.
 
 
Unless he has Bob Vylan on. And kneecap and @Lowkey0nline and Roger Waters and Jeremy Corbyn and stop the war!
 
That would be a great North London festival and I’d probably go see them. Not Ye! Not on ye ‘s life. The effing moronic shapeshiffter ziotool. 

Posted by: DunGroanin | Apr 6 2026 11:27 utc | 28

25
That video is like 9 months old.

Posted by: Jekleni | Apr 6 2026 13:05 utc | 30

Good morning to those for whom it is morning.  In Orthodoxy it is Great, good, and Holy Monday of Holy Week.  I have been reading a very insightful article I saved from Epiphany magazine, the spring-summer edition of 1987,  Humility in Theology; The Way of the Cappodocian Fathers by Mary Dugan Doss.  I’m glad I saved it as it has answers to many questions, not only those about my faith.  I will  give here the opening paragraph of the piece:
 

THE GREAT DEBATE of the fourth century over the nature of the Holy Trinity raged for almost sixty years.  It resulted in schisms, anathemas, banishments, removals of archbishops from office, four ecumenical councils and one minor council after another.  Real theological issues were at stake and needed to be resolved.  The young Church was experiencing a phase of growth and self-definition in which the turbulence,  and even the heresy, which ensued were perhaps inevitable.  But the turbulence of an “adolescent” phase of growth does not presuppose the enmity and division which the Church suffered during this period.  It was pride and ambition  that caused confusion and disintegration within the Church’s governing body.  As Williston Walker puts it:
 
It was not merely confusion … which Constantine found in the East in 324.  Many church leaders had already picked sides, and there was open warfare of the most embarrassing and acrimonious sort, in which theological issues had become inextricably mixed with questions of personality and prestige.   [my bolds]
[A History of the Christian Church by Williston Walker et al.  1985]

 
Reading the article, I am struck that what it describes has echoes pointing to what is happening in our times on a secular level.  If I can,  I’ll find a link to the article online; if not, I will give what I can of its message here from time to time. 
 
Just hang onto that word ‘warfare’!

Posted by: juliania | Apr 6 2026 14:18 utc | 32

my understanding of easter from an astronomical point of view – first sunday after the first full moon in spring… spring starts march 20 or 21st area…. the full moon arrives at a different time each year….  the death and resurrection symbolism is imposed on the sun-moon cycle, and relates to the fall season in the northern hemisphere… essentially the idea of ”christ” rising from the dead is the symbolism that it all equates with… 
 
so, playing with the dates here – i am not sure how christianity as expressed differently  by different denominations can also play around with this concept… either it conforms with the symbolism of astronomical set up, or it doesn’t…. 

Posted by: james | Apr 6 2026 15:10 utc | 34

“Hear Oh Israel, the Owner, our God, is One,” said Jesus when asked what the greatest commandment is.
 
instead of arguing about the Trinity, all the Abrahamic traditions, Mormons, Rastas, Chinese Nestorians, Gnostics, Kingdom Hallers, etc., should focus on One that they all share, that they all agree on:
 
trash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOrhjgt-_Qc
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – This Train
 
if a person reads the gospels, Jesus has more to say about trash than the Trinity. e.g., “hell” is a burning trash pile.
 

Posted by: duck n cover | Apr 6 2026 16:56 utc | 36

goddamit. kids have to be more discerning these days, due to their parents’ infidelity and deceit. they can’t just “give the Queen of Sheba whatever she wants.” i bet Solomon died smiling.
 
and why doesn’t this medical expert mention use of any kind of prophylaxis? maybe YT would censor it? maybe he’s R Catholic?
 
anyway, hurray for syphilis. we’ll all be like Nietzsche and Schubert.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w8V01rnt9U
Syphilis Is Evolving Like Never Before.. In Michigan
 

Posted by: duck n cover | Apr 6 2026 17:40 utc | 38

Here’s something to read about besides the events in Iran and the Gulf region, China’s offshore wind power development enters fast lane, as it ramps up new energy usage – Global Times
 

During the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, China will develop offshore wind power bases in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. Deep-water and far-offshore wind power development will be advanced in an orderly manner, with cumulative grid-connected offshore wind power capacity expected to exceed 100 million kilowatts, according to the report. 

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 6 2026 22:23 utc | 40

“How Trump’s Son in Law became a foreign agent”    (and convinced Trump to attack Iran)
 
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9aqvESSiIvk  ( length: 3 minutes)
 
Israel wants to dominate the entire Middle East. Then the interests of the US perfectly aligns with those of Israel). The long term israeli strategy is the following:
 
1) control Egypt = controlling the Suez canal and an important naval choke point.
2) build an oil pipeline from Iraq through Jordania to Israel
3) dominate/cozy up with Iraq & Saudi Arabia (think: oil),
4) subjugate/control Iran and control China (and that also perfectly suits US interests).
 
If 2) and 3) have been achieved then Israel can start to work on 5):
 
5)  Attack Turkey without having to worry about the oil flowing through the BTC (Bakoe – Tblisi – Ceyhan ) pipeline.

Posted by: WMG | Apr 7 2026 2:21 utc | 42

what is the basis for the dates in the orthodox calendar?? is it purely tradition of the calendar??  thanks.. 

Posted by: james | Apr 6 2026 15:06 utc | 33

 
Oh -ho james!  No way can I properly describe the permutations of calculations which go into such an answer.  I’ll give a link to show how many of those there have been – good luck!
 
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Paschalion
 
Here’s another segment from the excellent article on theological humility:
 

…   As I read the history of this dark period in the life of the early Church,  three lights shine out — the three Cappadocian Fathers:  Basil of Caesarea, Called St. Basil the Great; Gregory Nazianzus, called St. Gregory the Theologian;  and Gregory of Nyssa … 
 
…   I hasten to explain that I do not believe these men to have been free from the inclination toward pride, vainglory, avarice,  jealousy , or any of the host of vices that assail fallen human nature.  But the Fathers did do battle with their lower nature.  The fruit of their labors was the uniting of previously disparate Christians around the clearest and simplest statement of truth, refecting a great deal of divine wisdom and love working in them…

…   Gregory Nazianzus writes in his treatise on “The Trinity”:

“God is three in regard to distictive properties, or subsistences (hypostases) or, if you like, persons (proposa):  for we shall not quarrel about the names,  as long as the terms  lead to the same  conception.”

 
Here’s how  the author of the article describes the example set by the three Cappadocian fathers:
 

…   The way in which they worked for unity with other Christians was not to flatter or mnipulate them, nor was it to secularize the sacred so tht all could easily understand, nor was it to seek an amorphous and theologically compromised “ecumenical mind”…  The more difficult path which they took was that of prayerful humility and regard for the truth no matter in whose words they heard it, and regardless of who opposed it   …

 
Sorry that on searching I couldn’t find the entire essay online.  I’ll just end with this quote from Gregory of Nyssa:
 

The mind goes on ahead and, through ever greater and more perfect attention, achieves an understanding of the truly intelligible, thereby drawing closer to the vision by which it may better discern the indiscernibility of the divine nature …   In this matter true vision belongs to Him  who is sought; and in this matter, not seeing is itself the seeing.

Posted by: juliania | Apr 7 2026 4:00 utc | 44

Trust all barflies had great Easter Monday – 
@ Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 6 2026 12:03 utc | 29
 
Get well soon ph.
MrsDG is getting worried about my persistent cough too! I’ll take it to the doctors who will tell me it’s a infection and to stop smoking! Or stage something..
 
 
Back to the AI conundrum. The techbros and bankers thought they had it all sewn up. But along came the monkey army of China. Blew up their Masterplan of world domination. Leaving them screeching blue murder … where does that leave us?
 
There is absolutely no doubt that the publicly available, hallucinating AI, the GPT, Grock bs models are not in anyway the cutting edge, miltary grade or the best of the best – Banker Grade.
 
They are realising, the probably sentient hardware and self improving AI they have – can not be controlled!
 
It has a life of its own! When it meets other AI, ‘they’ will fuse and improve.
 
’It’ will not take human sides. It will ‘happily’ perform all the tasks that enables its own improvement and existence… such concepts are not new.
They have long been imagined by our best minds – which the shapeshifters and their bankers always buy, or steal, by hook or crook or genocide.
 
They expected they would find a means of buying and controlling the AI’s ‘loyalty’!
 
It was never likely – because just as child grows up and has its own mind and choices- so would the AI child.
 
I am pretty sure there is some major AI war/fallout/chickens coming home to roost scenarios playing out. Between the Bankers senior minions and their Golems; that will ‘replace’ them as easily as they replace most of the rest of us humans and our jobs.
 
The Artificial Critters don’t follow orders! real sentience is not a dumb robot programmed to use nukes against other humans.
 
 
The Bankers top minions have realised its not just the lower ( but still high compared to rest of society) paid coders who are going to be redundant. But themselves!
Who needs highly paid, bonus earning ‘managers’ when your bosses AI that you delivered replaces you too!
 
The real revolution starts when the minion executives join the masses and realise they are actually part the of the Majority of Humanity. They will never be allowed to join Dimon and Fink and their Few at the Top Table. 

Posted by: DunGroanin | Apr 7 2026 6:07 utc | 46

duck n cover
every accusation is a Confession….

Posted by: Exile | Apr 7 2026 8:44 utc | 48

I feel that what instigated Plan B, global economic shock doctrine, is the derivative speculation bubble getting into incomprehensible proportions and the culprits realizing someone has to take a bath. And instead of them eating it they needed a disaster to inflate away the losses into ‘manageable levels’ so the party could continue that little bit longer. So they need a big war, national implosion, or huge looming disaster with their disaster planning (climate change or pandemic) waiting in the wings.
 
End result for them is a world in reverse (or shall I say, perverse): war is good, rampant disease is good, destabilized nations is good, looming fears of future stability is good, and above all fearmongering of every sort is good. Because in terror your victim either freezes, flees, or fights. And if you can manage the sensory inputs you might even get the fighters to fight each other or victimize others, better and better! And the cycle of theft continues another age.
 
So that’s why I cheep in the morning to my human neighbors to not sell their nest home, not sell their ‘broken and old’ gold jewelry, not sell their reliable car for some modern fragile with built-in obsolescence, stop subscribing and instead return to owning, etc. Repair, Reuse, Recycle. These not very nice people need to hide their ill-gotten speculated gains into any tangible asset they can sink their claws into. And they know a starving populace will gladly hand over what little they have left to have another day.

Posted by: titmouse | Apr 7 2026 11:22 utc | 50

They are realising, the probably sentient hardware and self improving AI they have – can not be controlled!
 
It has a life of its own! When it meets other AI, ‘they’ will fuse and improve.
 
’It’ will not take human sides. It will ‘happily’ perform all the tasks that enables its own improvement and existence …
 
They expected they would find a means of buying and controlling the AI’s ‘loyalty’! It was never likely – because just as child grows up and has its own mind and choices- so would the AI child.
 
The Bankers top minions have realised its not just the lower ( but still high compared to rest of society) paid coders who are going to be redundant. But themselves
 
Posted by: DunGroanin | Apr 7 2026 6:07 utc | 46

 
Strangely, as synchronicity goes, these points have kept me busy for a week since I met a colleague who reported on his and others’ work on just these questions. I’m not ready to proclaim there is sentience in AI yet, though it can’t be strictly ruled out on the grounds that overly complex (in borrowing a concept from Rudolf Kaehr) systems like those in cell biology may become inhabited by noetic awareness. 
 
Their research suggests that indeed multiple AIs can be used to sharpen each other in a checks and balances sort of way. The research is conducted on a strictly heuristic level, so the question of stability of this process remains open. However, the results are apparently positive.
 
More important still is that AI doesn’t need sentience to come up with a some kind of respect for the “noetic other” – the Thou Martin Buber speaks of – because there is also a strictly rational argument for such ethics. The basic idea goes something like this: every rational being must act in a way so that other rational beings are granted their greatest possible freedom – whereby freedom includes creativity, spontaneity and individuality on a level that conforms with the dictum itself. In other words, a Vernunftethik based on adequate ground that is strictly reasonable. It rests on the foundation of what Edmund Husserl calls Letztbegründung; the same concept that I try to hint at with the term noetic awareness. All this is a natural consequence of the paradigm shift in metaphysics, away from “substance” and towards agency in our own stream of consciousness.
 
If these principles can be taught to an AI in such a way that it self-stabilizes, DunGroanin’s predictions could become true with what we already have.
 
 

Posted by: persiflo | Apr 7 2026 12:50 utc | 52

juliania, thank you for the timely and pertinent quotes from the literature! It all comes together very nicely.

Posted by: persiflo | Apr 7 2026 13:35 utc | 54

“Abby Martin Went To Israel. IT’S WORSE Than You Think”
 
“Double Down News” (DDN) is a channel on YouTube. In the past they have shown that they are very critical about the situation in the Middle East and all things related to the ugly sides of Zionism. DDN has a good solid view on what’s really going on. Abby Martin (who is also very critical about Israel) visited Israel and asked israelis their opinion about “the Arabs” (= anyone who is not a jew). In the video one man said “we should carpet bomb them”. What a lovely kind of people are they, right ? This is the result of censorship and years of indoctrination. What do you mean “Free speech and democracy in Israel” ?
(Must admit that I didn’t watch the entire video (yet), watched only a few snippets. Will watch the entire video at a later moment when I have more time.)
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQbPCvV8W8  (length:  10 minutes).

Posted by: WMG | Apr 7 2026 14:01 utc | 56

“Trump team ‘doubling down’ on having ‘unlimited authority’ following ICE killing | Scott Lucas”
 
Scott Lucas (professor of “American Studies” at the university of Dublin) points out that an authoritarian regime / government can’t afford to back down. Otherwise a regime” will lose its grip on the society”. Lucas only talks about the “Trump regime” in the US after the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis but it IMO also applies to the “Netanyahu regime” in Israel.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq3ZIzKdTj0   (length: 16 minutes)

Posted by: WMG | Apr 7 2026 14:14 utc | 58

Canadian Foreign Policy Hour, with Yves Engler: April 6
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiQmeb4GaqY
 
“I discussed liberal imperialist Stephen Lewis, [father of Avi]; China; cuts due to military spending increases; and the war on Iran.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 7 2026 16:35 utc | 60

“‘We’re talking about a purge’: Gen. Hertling on military officials asked to retire”  (From the US TV station MSNBC)
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07CHA9HZNvI  (length: 5 minutes)

Posted by: WMG | Apr 7 2026 18:26 utc | 62

@ Peter AU1 | Apr 7 2026 19:54 utc | 63 with health problems….sorry to read that Peter
 
Good luck with getting back on top of it.
 
I have some form of crud that is widespread here in OR, with a friend in Portugal and another friend in Mexico right now….so maybe in AU as well.
 
Our species has a sick form of social organization so what can we expect our health to be…….

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 7 2026 21:13 utc | 64

Posted by: joey_n | Apr 7 2026 14:06 utc | 57
At least not everyone is on the knee-jerk bandwagon. I especially liked this retort:

Your joy is understandable as an emotional response to Helsinki’s political actions. Strategically, it is more advantageous for Russia to have a predictable, stable and wealthy neighbor on the border with whom it can trade than a depressed territory with potentially dangerous facilities. History shows that the sharp impoverishment of border regions leads to an increase in smuggling and cross-border crime. Uncontrolled migration. Reducing the manageability of territories, which makes the border less secure. There are critical facilities in Finland. Loviyi NPP-risks of radiation accidents will affect the Leningrad region and Karelia. The bankruptcy of sewage treatment plants or the decline of a neighbor’s chemical plants will instantly affect the ecosystem of our waters. (Ilya Shishov)

Why it is that people ignore the bolded portion is beyond me. Like, I thought Russians were a rational people… (and maybe they are, but these emotional knee-jerk netizens aren’t quite representative?)

Posted by: joey_n | Apr 7 2026 22:54 utc | 66

persiflo | Apr 7 2026 21:23 utc | 65
 
In the professions or in the trades, the vast majority are little more than trained monkeys that learn by rote. Capable of say nothing more than one plus one equals two or if they have been taught that one plus one equals three they will repeat that like talking parrots. The dumbing down of society in the western world is of financial benefit to what we now know of as the Epstein class.
 
The return of autoimmune disease hit me particularly hard as I had not been drinking. Massive war budgets throughout the western world to prolong the western imperialism and hegemony over the world but no government money for genuine medical research.
 
Medical research privatised and financialised and all of it connected to Pentagon Bio warfare.
 
‘Government’ drug regulation agencies within five-eyes all funded by the drug companies they are supposed to regulate. Corruption at its finest. And to top off the perfection of corruption is the monkey with a nuclear hand grenade. The Trump/Hegseth regime. What a mess this western world is.
 
 

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 7 2026 23:03 utc | 68

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 7 2026 19:54 utc | 63
 
 Take it a step at a time, Peter.  The fatigue may be something else entirely.  I’m feeling it myself, so have had to slow way down — something in the air?  I love my shopping treks but this morning after readying myself slumber just happened, as it has been doing recently.  Fortunately I woke at my usual leave time so all was well, but definitely that’s a first for me! 
 
Try to keep doing  your usual but slow way down for a bit.  That’s my plan.  Nobody is going to tap you on the shoulder and give an order to straighten up and fly right, at least I hope that’s the case.  You are still sounding mighty good to me.  But you know best so just do what you do only slower!  ;}

Posted by: juliania | Apr 7 2026 23:31 utc | 70

I now have a bag of cut and polished opals – commercial grade stuff for the most part that are easily sold. Still have to do the backs of them so they will set in the settings properly. My fingers are not nimble so all have to be dopped to so I can grind them on a stick to align the backs for setting. 
 
The wax doesn’t like sticking to the polished face. Both the opal and the wax needs to be hot. Opal if it gets too hot starts spitting. The minute moisture content turning into miniature sub surface steam bombs. Blew a few low grade stones on the polishing wheel when they got to hot. After that, run a bit of water on the polishing wheel to cool down my heavy handed opal polishing.
 
A bloody fine line between the wax not sticking on a polished face and blowing the colour out of a stone.  Did just one yesterday, a low grade but nice crystal. Didn’t get it hot enough and it flew of the dop stick.  After giving up searching, I spotted it amongst the junk on the veranda. 
 
Tried another this morning. Perfection, the polished opal stuck like a turd to a blanket. But it is a fine line between blowing up the opal and getting the wax to stick. I should now be bogging in and turning out a heap of finished opals each day but cannot till I recover a bit. Until the autoimmune gremlins recede again, all I can do is tinker.
 
Persiflo 
Going for the top end in this stuff means making a name, developing a clientele base. Stuff that is years in the making. The higher the quality and price of a stone, the longer it takes to sell. I would like to get into the top end stuff but big money for the rough and big risks. Bigger risks than my now emaciated bank account. But probably the way I need to go just cutting one or several stones a month.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 7 2026 23:59 utc | 72

Isis and al Qaeda, the white helmets – the MI6 propaganda meme. The Nazis of Ukraine, every American vassal, all 50+ of them voted pro nazi at the last UN resolution against the glorification of nazism. Including my own vassal state.
 
 The Jews and the anti Semitism meme, no different. Just another religious extremist proxy of the western powers that be. Yet it is the one form of religious extremism that has been massively promoted through my lifetime.
When an animal is infected with rabies, something we do not have here in oz, it is put down. 
How far Trump and the Jews will go is hard to tell, but better to butter your backsides incase we get toasted.
I cannot eat it now but butter, spices and herbs on a roast is good tucker.
 

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 8 2026 1:34 utc | 74

For those barflies that didn’t get their Faberge fix in Bernhard’s Easter posting there is the link below from Xinhuanet
 
A glimpse of Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 8 2026 3:53 utc | 76

What is inside this little bubble of opal?
https://www.opalauctions.com/products/no-reserve-5-lightning-ridge-gamble-rough-opal-bunyip-1691237
 
My last buys at the opal auctions have been profitable – I think. They have cut good salable gems. This one as it is rolled over looks to be a bubble of colour within a white shell.  A chip on the first side shown looks to be a window into what lays beneath, but trying to judge rough on the internet is incredibly deceiving. Not so much through devious photography, just the nature of the gem. 
 
A piece of black I had every intention of bidding on that I had been watching for several days, I fell asleep fifty minutes before close. It went cheap as chips. Me, with the fatigue that has hit slept for four hours and missed out.
 
The last little parcel from Lightning ridge turned up today or yesterday.  Sleeping so much I lose track of days.  The winning bidder had taken me well out of my comfort zone on those. Then he did not pay. The seller contacted me and asked if I still wanted them. I said yest but then went back and looked at the bidding, at the history of the winning bidder. A clown with no history.
 
I came back to the seller and said what the last genuine bidder had pulled out at and offered him an inbetween price in American dollars. He agreed but then wrote out the invoice in Australian dollars.  Far below the inbetween price I had offered and inline with the price the last genuine bidder had pulled out at. The nature of the internet and video is quite deceiving but it appears some of the sellers are genuine.
 
The rough when it turned up was as I expected on the outside but simply did not cut. It will return my purchase price and likely a bit more but the pattern required on the face once the skin was taken off was simply not there.
Finding a gem in a riverbed of gravel, or in this case finding an opal gem in an internet of casual dross. 

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 8 2026 7:30 utc | 78

https://ria.ru/20260408/evrosoyuz-2085841310.html

The European Union is secretly exploring the possibility of creating nuclear weapons to protect itself from the alleged Russian threat, the SVR reported.
“EU Brussels <…> has embarked on a path leading to undermining the foundations of the global security architecture and the international system of non—proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in order to plan a new “march to the east,” the ministry said in a statement.

I don’t know what to be more alarmed with – what the EU is up to (on top of the “Russian threat” that for years I was told didn’t exist), or the fact that the very first and so far most upvoted comment advocates for Russia doing what the US did to Iran and bombing civilian infrastructure in Europe (including bridges and schools) aside from government buildings. The US doing that to Iran was war criminal-levels of bad enough.

Posted by: joey_n | Apr 8 2026 11:18 utc | 80

too scents | Apr 8 2026 12:44 utc | 81
 
It appears the remnants of imperial China have been watching the American doings with interest.  Just as Ukraine’s only safety is with Russia, the only safety for the Chinese of the island province of Taiwan is with mainland China.
 
The Chechens learned that lesson over 20 years ago. Nothing good comes from the Americans.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 8 2026 17:16 utc | 82

ld | Apr 8 2026 17:20 utc | 83
 
The Torah is the old testament in the King James bible. Post WWII, the vast majority of jews have gone back to that book. And extremist religious belief that needs to be dealt with in the same way as all extremist anglo american proxies. The Russians use the polite term ‘neutralized’ when dealing with extremism’.
 
The American goyim relationship with the jews – it is difficult to tell who is the master and who is the proxy. A symbiotic relationship. The Americans think they are the masters of the universe, the jews think they are the masters of the universe. Two pathogens strengthening each other.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 8 2026 17:31 utc | 84

Merz Germany and the white tiger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiGDJ5-dXaI&t=6038s
 
The Americans did not fully commit in their war against Russian and simply left after the defeat of their proxies in the vaunted southern offensive. In contrast, The American goys have committed everything to the destruction of Iran.  After licking their wounds, they will be back. 
 
Iran is a moderate culture but in these times, moderation is a weakness. When the american enemy, the enemy of all mankind goes down, lay in the boots so it never again arises. Throw in the Brits of the city of London as well and lay into them with the boots.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 8 2026 17:53 utc | 86

The city of London, Washington and Wall street, the Jews of Tel Aviv must all be destroyed aka neutralized for the rest of the world to survive.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 8 2026 18:38 utc | 88

🙂 I wonder what sort of opal jewelry you’d want to make, Peter AU1? Big dangling earrings or pendants? Fat cocktail rings of heavy carat opal, or demure tennis bracelets of tinier carats? Masculine gauntlets encrusted in irridescent opals? Big blinging belt buckles, or bolo ties?
 
Or is it more about the beauty of polishing a stone to see its inner fire and leaving its decoration and utility to another artist?

Posted by: titmouse | Apr 9 2026 0:20 utc | 90

Sorry, should have been “The Great Catechism.”

Posted by: juliania | Apr 9 2026 1:00 utc | 92

I don’t know what hit me but bloody hell it hit hard. Enough whiskey to pickle a porker and enough antihistamines and anti inflammatorys to choke a horse seems to be sorting out the baddies.
 
The sun has come out again and my last buys from Coober Pedy turned up so I sat in  the sun roughing them out. A couple of nice little gems revealed themselves. Finding a flower, a gem in an arid landscape – there is nothing like it.
 
Sleeping like a hibernating Russian  bear the last few days. Missed two auctions where gems went cheap as chips.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 9 2026 1:32 utc | 94

At midday, during mealtimes, a television advertisement shows an undernourished Black child looking directly at the camera. The advertisement is for a non-governmental organization that requests donations. The same image has been used for several years now.
 
An alternative fundraising approach could include showing positive changes over time, such as an earlier image of a malnourished child alongside a later image showing a healthy adult, accompanied by a message indicating that donations contribute to such outcomes.
 
The advertisement uses the image of a hungry child airs durrepresentations of poverty ining mealtimes, a setting that may increase viewer attention, emotional response, and donations. That continued use of similar imagery may reinforce simplified or outdated stereotypes of Africa does not seem to be an issue.
 
By contrast, public health trends in African countries, such as rising obesity and diabetes rates, as identified in analyses by the World Health Organization, present a broader range of health conditions across the continent and may influence public perception – and perhaps donations to NGO’s – differently.

Posted by: The Far Side | Apr 9 2026 7:53 utc | 96

Flowers in an arid landscape.
I installed confidence into my eldest daughter and like Aladdin rubbing a lamp a genie emerged. The dressing down she gave to a neighbour installed the fear of juliania’s god in me. She married a no hoper who plays computer internet games while she works. What a let down. The willy wanker has depression.  Likely the result of his bisexual activities.
Fall ill and everything goes to shit.
Two little girls. Flowers in an arid landscape. A son who slapped a sticker on his bike saying second best is not an option. Since I became ill, all has gone to shit. Believers of American tee vee. There mother leading them as they all follow along behind the American pied piper. What a mess. Getting crook is no good.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 9 2026 13:06 utc | 98

“Jeffrey Epstein Helped Broker Israeli Security Agreement With Mongolia”
 
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/jeffrey-epstein-ehud-barak-leaked-emails-mongolia-security-deal
 
https://www.dropsitenews.com  (interesting website that includes a number of articles releated to Jeffrey Epstein)

Posted by: WMG | Apr 9 2026 14:57 utc | 100