Andy Brockman
@andybrockman.bsky.social
Reporting from where politics and money meet archaeology and heritage at http://thepipeline.info/
YouTube: Watching Brief
Co-Author: The Buried Spitfires of Burma-A fake history
Tips/Gossip/Commissions: PipeLineNews@protonmail
Signal: AndyBrockman.25
YouTube: Watching Brief
Co-Author: The Buried Spitfires of Burma-A fake history
Tips/Gossip/Commissions: PipeLineNews@protonmail
Signal: AndyBrockman.25
A judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore displays about slavery removed from the President's House site in Philadelphia.
Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania compared the administration's action to Orwellian mind control.
Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania compared the administration's action to Orwellian mind control.
A federal judge in Pennsylvania ordered the Trump administration to restore displays discussing slavery at a site in Philadelphia where George Washington lived as president. https://wapo.st/4tLLH4o
February 17, 2026 at 11:42 PM
A judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore displays about slavery removed from the President's House site in Philadelphia.
Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania compared the administration's action to Orwellian mind control.
Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania compared the administration's action to Orwellian mind control.
Professor Dan Hicks has a useful thread on the what the BM is doing, or not, regarding using the word Palestine in its displays and databases, including a link to the original article from UK Lawyers for Israel which appears to have sparked off this row.
this update/correction from @willdalrymple.bsky.social on the question of removing the term Palestine from British Museum gallery texts definitely raises more questions than it answers
February 17, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Professor Dan Hicks has a useful thread on the what the BM is doing, or not, regarding using the word Palestine in its displays and databases, including a link to the original article from UK Lawyers for Israel which appears to have sparked off this row.
The Telegraph has published an article claiming the term Palestine was being removed from displays at the British Museum after a challenge from the pressure group UK Lawyers for Israel.
Now @willdalrymple.bsky.social has published a comment from director of the BM Nick Cullinan denying the story.
Now @willdalrymple.bsky.social has published a comment from director of the BM Nick Cullinan denying the story.
February 17, 2026 at 10:53 PM
The Telegraph has published an article claiming the term Palestine was being removed from displays at the British Museum after a challenge from the pressure group UK Lawyers for Israel.
Now @willdalrymple.bsky.social has published a comment from director of the BM Nick Cullinan denying the story.
Now @willdalrymple.bsky.social has published a comment from director of the BM Nick Cullinan denying the story.
#Hancockalypse Postponed... indefinitely pending some actual evidence which can survive peer review.
Things are not looking so good for the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis (YDIH).
February 17, 2026 at 5:01 PM
#Hancockalypse Postponed... indefinitely pending some actual evidence which can survive peer review.
Cursing I missed the obvious joke.
Farage is launching his new/old team on Pancake Day...the annual festival of tossers.
Farage is launching his new/old team on Pancake Day...the annual festival of tossers.
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Cursing I missed the obvious joke.
Farage is launching his new/old team on Pancake Day...the annual festival of tossers.
Farage is launching his new/old team on Pancake Day...the annual festival of tossers.
Farage is asked why, when he has ousted many previous defectors and high flyers, should his Reform "cabinet" be different?
He responds there are people who have worked with him for 10 years and people in Brussels he worked with for 20.
Oddly he doesn't mention the blokes in Moscow and Washington.
He responds there are people who have worked with him for 10 years and people in Brussels he worked with for 20.
Oddly he doesn't mention the blokes in Moscow and Washington.
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Farage is asked why, when he has ousted many previous defectors and high flyers, should his Reform "cabinet" be different?
He responds there are people who have worked with him for 10 years and people in Brussels he worked with for 20.
Oddly he doesn't mention the blokes in Moscow and Washington.
He responds there are people who have worked with him for 10 years and people in Brussels he worked with for 20.
Oddly he doesn't mention the blokes in Moscow and Washington.
Forget Henry Kissinger being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize...Satire is truly dead when "Honest Bob" Jenrick (who tried to do financial favours for a Tory donor) is Reform Shadow Chancellor, Suella Braverman has a remit for education and 30p Lee is Chief Whip (that is an image you can't unsee).
Reform’s new shadow cabinet team:
Leader: Nigel Farage
Chancellor: Robert Jenrick
Home: Zia Yusuf
Business, Trade & Energy: Richard Tice
Education & Skills: Suella Braverman
Chief Whip: Lee Anderson
Leader: Nigel Farage
Chancellor: Robert Jenrick
Home: Zia Yusuf
Business, Trade & Energy: Richard Tice
Education & Skills: Suella Braverman
Chief Whip: Lee Anderson
February 17, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Forget Henry Kissinger being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize...Satire is truly dead when "Honest Bob" Jenrick (who tried to do financial favours for a Tory donor) is Reform Shadow Chancellor, Suella Braverman has a remit for education and 30p Lee is Chief Whip (that is an image you can't unsee).
Before the threat to research and writing from AI there was the problem of making digital data sustainable in the long term, especially if it is created on proprietary software...an important project to conserve 3D data from the ADS with Wikimedia UK, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
UK Heritage 3D Data at Risk Project – Archaeology Data Service
archaeologydataservice.ac.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Before the threat to research and writing from AI there was the problem of making digital data sustainable in the long term, especially if it is created on proprietary software...an important project to conserve 3D data from the ADS with Wikimedia UK, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
"The company’s o1 reasoning model “hallucinated 16 percent of the time” when summarizing public information, while newer models o3 and o4-mini “hallucinated 33 percent and 48 percent of the time, respectively.”
Oops, looks like Open AI's researchers didn't get the company memo.
An essential read.
Oops, looks like Open AI's researchers didn't get the company memo.
An essential read.
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:55 AM
"The company’s o1 reasoning model “hallucinated 16 percent of the time” when summarizing public information, while newer models o3 and o4-mini “hallucinated 33 percent and 48 percent of the time, respectively.”
Oops, looks like Open AI's researchers didn't get the company memo.
An essential read.
Oops, looks like Open AI's researchers didn't get the company memo.
An essential read.
This looks like one of those posters for a tour by one hit wonder bands from several decades ago, where a session musician who played on the B-side has the performance rights.
February 16, 2026 at 3:32 PM
This looks like one of those posters for a tour by one hit wonder bands from several decades ago, where a session musician who played on the B-side has the performance rights.
With the SEKA now also calling for a boycott of the #EAA 2026 Annual Meeting due to be hosted in Athens, both leading representative bodies for Greek archaeologists are squarely in the camp opposing the apparent business as usual drive of the EAA's senior management.
#boycottEAA
Ο Σύλλογος Εκτάκτων Αρχαιολόγων παρακολουθεί με ιδιαίτερη ανησυχία και λύπη τις εξελίξεις στο εσωτερικό της European Association of Archaeologists (EAA). Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση Αρχαιολόγων (EAA) από το 199...
www.seka.net.gr
February 15, 2026 at 4:59 PM
With the SEKA now also calling for a boycott of the #EAA 2026 Annual Meeting due to be hosted in Athens, both leading representative bodies for Greek archaeologists are squarely in the camp opposing the apparent business as usual drive of the EAA's senior management.
One of UK Archaeology's greatest comms failures is allowing the metal detecting community and commercial auctioneers to frame unregulated Treasure Hunting, with no obligation to report or donate finds as "saving history" and Treasure Act casino sized wins as good news.
Discuss (before its too late)
Discuss (before its too late)
February 15, 2026 at 1:25 PM
One of UK Archaeology's greatest comms failures is allowing the metal detecting community and commercial auctioneers to frame unregulated Treasure Hunting, with no obligation to report or donate finds as "saving history" and Treasure Act casino sized wins as good news.
Discuss (before its too late)
Discuss (before its too late)
“Many of the 41,000 people who signed the petition believe that the demolition of the National Glass Centre in Sunderland is the scam of the century, involving millions of pounds...”
A national resource paid for with public money and a University accused of cooking the books to sell to developers.
A national resource paid for with public money and a University accused of cooking the books to sell to developers.
Shattered dreams: Why the battle for Sunderland’s glass centre has turned into a political flashpoint
Custodian University of Sunderland says renovation costs of £45m are too high and building must be pulled down. Not without a fight, say locals, who believe they’re being taken for fools
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:16 PM
“Many of the 41,000 people who signed the petition believe that the demolition of the National Glass Centre in Sunderland is the scam of the century, involving millions of pounds...”
A national resource paid for with public money and a University accused of cooking the books to sell to developers.
A national resource paid for with public money and a University accused of cooking the books to sell to developers.
Happy Nathan Baker Day!
Nathan Baker Day is 13 February, the anniversary of the announcement that Nathan Baker, the recently [and expensively] appointed CEO of the UK Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, had stood down after just eight months.
thePipeLine asked if he ever left his previous job?
Nathan Baker Day is 13 February, the anniversary of the announcement that Nathan Baker, the recently [and expensively] appointed CEO of the UK Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, had stood down after just eight months.
thePipeLine asked if he ever left his previous job?
CE OH NO! CIFA BOSS BAKER STEPS DOWN AMID QUESTIONING IF HE EVER LEFT PREVIOUS JOB
The world of professional archaeology was in shock on Thursday [13 February 2025] following the sudden announcement that Nathan Baker, the Chief Executive of the discipline’s professional bod…
thepipeline.info
February 13, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Happy Nathan Baker Day!
Nathan Baker Day is 13 February, the anniversary of the announcement that Nathan Baker, the recently [and expensively] appointed CEO of the UK Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, had stood down after just eight months.
thePipeLine asked if he ever left his previous job?
Nathan Baker Day is 13 February, the anniversary of the announcement that Nathan Baker, the recently [and expensively] appointed CEO of the UK Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, had stood down after just eight months.
thePipeLine asked if he ever left his previous job?
Archaeologists rely on dating evidence.
If you get the reference there is a high probability you were a Top of the Pops viewer c1981.
If you get the reference there is a high probability you were a Top of the Pops viewer c1981.
February 13, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Archaeologists rely on dating evidence.
If you get the reference there is a high probability you were a Top of the Pops viewer c1981.
If you get the reference there is a high probability you were a Top of the Pops viewer c1981.
Ten years disruption, ‘an overdevelopment of the site’ which would ‘adversely affect the building’s setting...in the Bishopsgate Conservation Area’ and "A disfiguring billion-pound office block on top of a major heritage asset..." but the ACME plan for #LiverpoolStreetStation gets the green light.
ACME’s Liverpool St station plans approved despite 3,700+ objections
The City of London has approved ACME’s highly controversial proposal to overhaul London’s Liverpool Street station
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Ten years disruption, ‘an overdevelopment of the site’ which would ‘adversely affect the building’s setting...in the Bishopsgate Conservation Area’ and "A disfiguring billion-pound office block on top of a major heritage asset..." but the ACME plan for #LiverpoolStreetStation gets the green light.
The Tech sector wants to rule the world, funded by bitcoin and manages only to cosplay the Spinal Tap Stonehenge scene.
A Korean bitcoin market intended to give away prizes worth ₩620,000 or about $425. Instead, they gave away 620,000 bitcoins worth roughly $40 BILLION at the time—despite not actually holding that many tokens. It’s a massive failure of crypto safety protocols. Now they’re asking for the coins back.
A Bitcoin Blunder for the Ages: $40 Billion Accidentally Given Away
A botched prize giveaway has landed a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange in hot water.
www.wsj.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:50 AM
The Tech sector wants to rule the world, funded by bitcoin and manages only to cosplay the Spinal Tap Stonehenge scene.
With reports motions critical of the leadership of the conduct and policy of beleaguered President and Executive Board of the European Association of Archaeologists #EAA, have been passed overwhelmingly in a vote of members, the EAA is to establish a task force to examine the outcome of the ballot.
EAA 2026 Special Meeting outcome
www.e-a-a.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:01 AM
With reports motions critical of the leadership of the conduct and policy of beleaguered President and Executive Board of the European Association of Archaeologists #EAA, have been passed overwhelmingly in a vote of members, the EAA is to establish a task force to examine the outcome of the ballot.
The Telegraph's Simon Hefferlump harrumphs about the listing of the South Bank Centre.
Probably, from the Telegraph's point of view, the only thing worse than listing would be for the National Trust to take over the South Bank.
Probably, from the Telegraph's point of view, the only thing worse than listing would be for the National Trust to take over the South Bank.
The Southbank Centre should be torn down, not listed
Some bleak brutalism ought to be preserved as an example to future architects of what not to do. Just not this concrete monstrosity
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
The Telegraph's Simon Hefferlump harrumphs about the listing of the South Bank Centre.
Probably, from the Telegraph's point of view, the only thing worse than listing would be for the National Trust to take over the South Bank.
Probably, from the Telegraph's point of view, the only thing worse than listing would be for the National Trust to take over the South Bank.
And not with the arrival of the Mothership, but with an interdepartmental cockup whimper, the shortest #AncientAliens special in TV history comes to an end.
FAA lifts restriction that would have shut down Texas border airport for 10 days
The sudden order would have affected flights over El Paso and neighboring New Mexico, as well.
www.politico.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:39 PM
And not with the arrival of the Mothership, but with an interdepartmental cockup whimper, the shortest #AncientAliens special in TV history comes to an end.
For the professional body in the host city to withdraw cooperation over organising its flagship event is a fresh humiliation for the group supporting #EAA President Eszter Banffy, and again calls into question their judgement in choosing to confront members over the policy towards Israel/Palestine.
Ανοιχτή επιστολή σχετικά με τις εξελίξεις στην European Association of Archaeologists - Σύλλογος Ελλήνων Αρχαιολόγων
Ανοιχτή επιστολή σχετικά με τις εξελίξεις στην European Association of Archaeologists Κατόπιν της ομόφωνης απόφασης των μελών του…
archaeol.gr
February 11, 2026 at 1:11 PM
For the professional body in the host city to withdraw cooperation over organising its flagship event is a fresh humiliation for the group supporting #EAA President Eszter Banffy, and again calls into question their judgement in choosing to confront members over the policy towards Israel/Palestine.
Association of Greek Archaeologists
Unless #EAA acts on Gaza policy it,
"...cannot continue its participation in the Advisory Committee of a leading professional body (re EAA Athens) when, in our assessment, this participation would conflict with the fundamental ethical values of our discipline."
Unless #EAA acts on Gaza policy it,
"...cannot continue its participation in the Advisory Committee of a leading professional body (re EAA Athens) when, in our assessment, this participation would conflict with the fundamental ethical values of our discipline."
Ανοιχτή επιστολή σχετικά με τις εξελίξεις στην European Association of Archaeologists - Σύλλογος Ελλήνων Αρχαιολόγων
Ανοιχτή επιστολή σχετικά με τις εξελίξεις στην European Association of Archaeologists Κατόπιν της ομόφωνης απόφασης των μελών του…
archaeol.gr
February 11, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Association of Greek Archaeologists
Unless #EAA acts on Gaza policy it,
"...cannot continue its participation in the Advisory Committee of a leading professional body (re EAA Athens) when, in our assessment, this participation would conflict with the fundamental ethical values of our discipline."
Unless #EAA acts on Gaza policy it,
"...cannot continue its participation in the Advisory Committee of a leading professional body (re EAA Athens) when, in our assessment, this participation would conflict with the fundamental ethical values of our discipline."
Brutal(ist) good news from @c20society.bsky.social
After decades of campaigns and threats of unsympathetic redevelopment, the final group of buildings forming the South Bank arts centre have been listed GII.
The vision of an arts complex on the site grew out of the 1951 Festival of Britain.
After decades of campaigns and threats of unsympathetic redevelopment, the final group of buildings forming the South Bank arts centre have been listed GII.
The vision of an arts complex on the site grew out of the 1951 Festival of Britain.
BREAKING NEWS: We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the Southbank Centre - the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and skaters undercroft - has finally been Grade II listed by DCMS after a 35 year long campaign.
➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...
February 10, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Brutal(ist) good news from @c20society.bsky.social
After decades of campaigns and threats of unsympathetic redevelopment, the final group of buildings forming the South Bank arts centre have been listed GII.
The vision of an arts complex on the site grew out of the 1951 Festival of Britain.
After decades of campaigns and threats of unsympathetic redevelopment, the final group of buildings forming the South Bank arts centre have been listed GII.
The vision of an arts complex on the site grew out of the 1951 Festival of Britain.
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.
And there are days when The Thick of It happens."
(Not entirely) Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
And there are days when The Thick of It happens."
(Not entirely) Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
BREAKING | Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan is set to follow Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar in calling for Keir Starmer to resign
trib.al/Jh0qibA
trib.al/Jh0qibA
Starmer latest: Scottish Labour leader to demand PM resign over Mandelson scandal
A major intervention from Anas Sarwar could be the tipping point for Keir Starmer’s premiership
trib.al
February 9, 2026 at 2:01 PM
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.
And there are days when The Thick of It happens."
(Not entirely) Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
And there are days when The Thick of It happens."
(Not entirely) Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
In spite of the design changes the proposed redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station remains highly contentious.
The Victorian Society, one of the expert heritage groups opposing the plans, is taking its efforts to drive opposition down to the wire.
The Victorian Society, one of the expert heritage groups opposing the plans, is taking its efforts to drive opposition down to the wire.
Have your say before the end of the day.
The Guide to write your objection is here:
bit.ly/4jLWsim
#SaveLiverpoolStreetStation
The Guide to write your objection is here:
bit.ly/4jLWsim
#SaveLiverpoolStreetStation
February 9, 2026 at 1:53 PM
In spite of the design changes the proposed redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station remains highly contentious.
The Victorian Society, one of the expert heritage groups opposing the plans, is taking its efforts to drive opposition down to the wire.
The Victorian Society, one of the expert heritage groups opposing the plans, is taking its efforts to drive opposition down to the wire.