The Centre for Useless Splendour
@gerritb.bsky.social
I'm Gerrit. Retired: hence the useless splendour. 😁
"We are all just walking each other home." Ram Das
Focus: #wisdom #climate #beauty #dem-soc #Cdapoli.
Me: 👨🏻🦳🇨🇦🇿🇦🪖♿️🏺🥗 [Ally: 💙🇺🇦🇵🇸🖤🤎🌍]
Dad & FIL of 🏳️🌈 & 🏳️⚧️
"We are all just walking each other home." Ram Das
Focus: #wisdom #climate #beauty #dem-soc #Cdapoli.
Me: 👨🏻🦳🇨🇦🇿🇦🪖♿️🏺🥗 [Ally: 💙🇺🇦🇵🇸🖤🤎🌍]
Dad & FIL of 🏳️🌈 & 🏳️⚧️
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Ukrainian counterattacks pushed Russian forces back up to 9.5 km in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and retook over a dozen settlements, ISW reports, citing military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets.
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/r...
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/r...
February 16, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Ukrainian counterattacks pushed Russian forces back up to 9.5 km in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and retook over a dozen settlements, ISW reports, citing military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets.
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/r...
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/16/r...
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
For when you need to breathe...
February 16, 2026 at 10:38 PM
For when you need to breathe...
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." –Justice Louis Brandeis
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
February 16, 2026 at 11:01 PM
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." –Justice Louis Brandeis
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
BLIND BLAKE - West Coast Blues [1926]
YouTube video by Blues/Reggae/Country/Bluegrass/Gospel
www.youtube.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Field with Poppies - 1890
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14768
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14768
February 16, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Field with Poppies - 1890
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14768
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/14768
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Delicate beauty
Those things that are sent into our world to remind us to slow down and take a look...
Those things that are sent into our world to remind us to slow down and take a look...
February 16, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Delicate beauty
Those things that are sent into our world to remind us to slow down and take a look...
Those things that are sent into our world to remind us to slow down and take a look...
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Evening walksies 🐾 Happy beagle as he has snowdrifts to run through 😁 Later…
February 16, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Evening walksies 🐾 Happy beagle as he has snowdrifts to run through 😁 Later…
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
A Redheaded Woodpecker after securing a suet nugget.
February 16, 2026 at 9:53 PM
A Redheaded Woodpecker after securing a suet nugget.
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
The Art Of Snow, Before It Melts (10 Photos)
Snow can turn an ordinary street into a gallery overnight, then erase it again by morning. That short life is exactly why this art hits so hard. These 10 photos show winter as a creative tool, not just a season: a lamp becomes giant glasses, a mailbox…
Snow can turn an ordinary street into a gallery overnight, then erase it again by morning. That short life is exactly why this art hits so hard. These 10 photos show winter as a creative tool, not just a season: a lamp becomes giant glasses, a mailbox…
The Art Of Snow, Before It Melts (10 Photos)
Snow can turn an ordinary street into a gallery overnight, then erase it again by morning. That short life is exactly why this art hits so hard. These 10 photos show winter as a creative tool, not just a season: a lamp becomes giant glasses, a mailbox becomes a monster, and a small patch of slush becomes a full scene.
streetartutopia.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:02 PM
The Art Of Snow, Before It Melts (10 Photos)
Snow can turn an ordinary street into a gallery overnight, then erase it again by morning. That short life is exactly why this art hits so hard. These 10 photos show winter as a creative tool, not just a season: a lamp becomes giant glasses, a mailbox…
Snow can turn an ordinary street into a gallery overnight, then erase it again by morning. That short life is exactly why this art hits so hard. These 10 photos show winter as a creative tool, not just a season: a lamp becomes giant glasses, a mailbox…
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
nestled in the crook
caressed by sunlight
a cradle for a weary heart
on this winters day
#words #photography #nature #natureheals #wellbeing
caressed by sunlight
a cradle for a weary heart
on this winters day
#words #photography #nature #natureheals #wellbeing
February 16, 2026 at 10:20 PM
nestled in the crook
caressed by sunlight
a cradle for a weary heart
on this winters day
#words #photography #nature #natureheals #wellbeing
caressed by sunlight
a cradle for a weary heart
on this winters day
#words #photography #nature #natureheals #wellbeing
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Archaeologists Reveal the Gigantic Scale of the Roman “Lapis Specularis” Mines in Segóbriga, the Crystal with Which Tiberius Built the First Greenhouses in History
www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/02/a...
www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/02/a...
Archaeologists Reveal the Gigantic Scale of the Roman “Lapis Specularis” Mines in Segóbriga, the Crystal with Which Tiberius Built the First Greenhouses in History
For centuries, the windows of the most luxurious villas of Pompeii, the baths of Emperor Caligula, and the greenhouses where Tiberius grew cucumbers out of season shared a secret: they were not glazed...
www.labrujulaverde.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Archaeologists Reveal the Gigantic Scale of the Roman “Lapis Specularis” Mines in Segóbriga, the Crystal with Which Tiberius Built the First Greenhouses in History
www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/02/a...
www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/02/a...
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds.
Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK. #ClimateChange
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK. #ClimateChange
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds
Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM
‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds.
Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK. #ClimateChange
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK. #ClimateChange
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
La petite rue Champlain, Québec
John Little
1964
John Little
1964
February 16, 2026 at 8:30 PM
La petite rue Champlain, Québec
John Little
1964
John Little
1964
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Pr Smith neglected to learn single biggest lesson from the Que separatists - the flight of investment dollars, from Alberta.
Risk, in the form of Alta separatism, is now a feature of UCP economy, she can’t overcome.
An own goal that leads to losses.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Risk, in the form of Alta separatism, is now a feature of UCP economy, she can’t overcome.
An own goal that leads to losses.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
How Alberta’s separatists threaten to derail billions of dollars in investments
Threats of separation in 1980 and 1995 led to capital flight from Quebec.
www.thestar.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Pr Smith neglected to learn single biggest lesson from the Que separatists - the flight of investment dollars, from Alberta.
Risk, in the form of Alta separatism, is now a feature of UCP economy, she can’t overcome.
An own goal that leads to losses.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Risk, in the form of Alta separatism, is now a feature of UCP economy, she can’t overcome.
An own goal that leads to losses.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Bonne soirée à tous et à toutes
February 16, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Bonne soirée à tous et à toutes
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
As climate variability & input costs continue to challenge farmers across Europe, radar-based satellite services like Fertisat may play an increasing role in supporting more resilient, efficient & sustainable agricultural practices, even when the skies remain cloudy.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Radar imagery helps farmers in cloudy Poland
In northern Europe, frequent cloud cover limits the use of traditional satellite images for agriculture. Polish company Wasat uses radar-based satellite data to overcome this challenge, helping farmer...
www.euronews.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:38 PM
As climate variability & input costs continue to challenge farmers across Europe, radar-based satellite services like Fertisat may play an increasing role in supporting more resilient, efficient & sustainable agricultural practices, even when the skies remain cloudy.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Happy New Year to all our Asian friends! 🐴🎆🥳😁
"Visitors walk past an illuminated horse lantern display ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026."
📸 AP/Vincent Thian
"Visitors walk past an illuminated horse lantern display ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026."
📸 AP/Vincent Thian
February 16, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Happy New Year to all our Asian friends! 🐴🎆🥳😁
"Visitors walk past an illuminated horse lantern display ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026."
📸 AP/Vincent Thian
"Visitors walk past an illuminated horse lantern display ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026."
📸 AP/Vincent Thian
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Bonne soirée et nuit à venir.
📷 Stefano Pellegrini
📷 Stefano Pellegrini
February 16, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Bonne soirée et nuit à venir.
📷 Stefano Pellegrini
📷 Stefano Pellegrini
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
Last week, San Francisco skyline to the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. From Emeryville, California.
#sky #nature #landscape #eastcoastkin
#sky #nature #landscape #eastcoastkin
February 16, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Last week, San Francisco skyline to the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. From Emeryville, California.
#sky #nature #landscape #eastcoastkin
#sky #nature #landscape #eastcoastkin
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
We have two dominant visions for digital tech: one from major corporations that maximizes profit at any cost, and another based on cyberlibertarian ideals that assumes you must code to participate in society.
We need another: where the public sector builds and funds tech for the broad public good.
We need another: where the public sector builds and funds tech for the broad public good.
February 16, 2026 at 6:35 PM
We have two dominant visions for digital tech: one from major corporations that maximizes profit at any cost, and another based on cyberlibertarian ideals that assumes you must code to participate in society.
We need another: where the public sector builds and funds tech for the broad public good.
We need another: where the public sector builds and funds tech for the broad public good.
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
The Sun by Edvard Munch, 1911
February 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
The Sun by Edvard Munch, 1911
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
February 16, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by The Centre for Useless Splendour
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."
—FDR, 1937
—FDR, 1937
February 16, 2026 at 7:01 PM
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."
—FDR, 1937
—FDR, 1937