full image - Repost: Inoculation (
from Reddit.com, Inoculation)
2116, Epping Forest, United KingdomI woke up suddenly. My face had felt a wet impact, and I realised water was dripping through a crack in the metal sheets that passed for our roof. By now it was light, and I knew I couldn't rest any longer. Alex had clearly been up already; their cot was stowed and their bag was gone from its usual place by the door. The pan of porridge over the extinguished stove was, I found, lukewarm. The kid must have snuck out at first light, trusting in the storm to keep the visitors hunkered down in their compounds. I fervently wished that today, the rain wouldn’t be carrying the poison down with it. The thought took my mind back to the drip that had awoken me, and I quickly took a strip of duct tape to seal up the crack. Thankfully, a quick survey failed to reveal any other leaks. I made a special check of Alex’s new pet electronics project which sat hunched on the workbench, but all seemed undisturbed. I sighed and sat down in front of the radio. When Alex had built it a few months ago, there had still been fighting going on across Asia, and the longwave set had picked up broadcasts from UN Command in Darjeeling. Now there was silence, and I didn’t think that was just because people had cottoned onto the visitors’ use of direction finding. Still, I flipped the switch, and for a few calm minutes I sat and listened as the wheeling static harmonised with the rain outside, before I cut the power. No point draining the batteries, not when there were so many more things still to fix.When Alex returned, hours later, they were soaking wet and almost manic, clutching a cricket ball-shaped lump of machinery that had the unmistakable sheen of visitor tech. They grinned at me as they came in, holding up their prize like a winning catch. “Hey Kate, I’ve got it!” they yelled.“The hell is that?” I asked.“Chronomemetic amplifier,” they said, as if that meant anything. They put the ball down on their workbench and started casting around for tools. I decided to step in.“Where did you even get it? And why do you have it?”“Took it from that downed saucer near the railway viaduct.” they said, sheepishly.“Alex, that’s ten miles away! What’s worth going all that way for?”They stopped for a second, and looked at me almost plaintively. “Kate, this thing is how they beat us.” “What?” I asked, not understanding. “They beat us by coming out of bloody nowhere.”They nodded. “Yes! I’ve been studying the initial invasion - and beforehand.” they said. “Will you humour me for a minute?”“Sure” I asked, not really feeling like I could decline.“Have you ever seen a film or read a book about visitors attacking us? One made before the invasion, I mean?”“No, of course not - who even thought about visitors back then? I remember one pretty odd webcomic, but in that one they were all really friendly.”“Isn’t that odd? Given humans, I mean. We love telling stories about fighting back against overwhelming enemies. Our rival country, evil dragons, et cetera. And we did imagine visitors could be somewhere out there in the universe, but nobody ever imagined them coming here and attacking us. It’s a blind spot in our memetic ecosystem.” They gestured to their console and a schematic projected itself onto the wall in blue light. I’d seen them tinkering with it before but hadn’t thought it more significant than any of their many other projects. It was a fractal network pattern of some sort, an immensely complex web that seemed to lazily cycle through a loop of growing and shrinking. “This is… well, this the simplified human meme-complex,” they said. I must have looked baffled. “It’s a model of all the ideas people have and how they interconnect”.“You made this?” I asked.“Oh no,” they said. “I downloaded this before the invasion. It was for a module I was taking at uni.” I had the sudden image of Alex as a student, taking notes in a lecture theatre, and shoved it out of my brain just as quickly. No value in thinking of before. From the way Alex winced, I guessed they were doing the same. They turned back to the wall, hunting for something.“There!” they gestured at the schematic, “It’s a gap!”“Alex, what are you on about?” The point did seem slightly emptier than others, but I had no idea what any of it meant.“This is where the concept of visitor invasions used to be! The chronomemetic amplifier is an idea eraser. When activated, it enters the noosphere and destroys whatever it’s targeted towards, not just now, but back through time too. It releases a targeted ideovirus, overwriting anything that could have mentally prepared us to face the visitors. For months I’ve been staring at this black hole in the memeplex, and I know they had to have caused it!”I stared at them, utterly confused. “The visitors deleted our ideas?”“Yes! And the hole is massive. Before they came, humanity had the idea of visitor invasions. It was a big part of the culture! We had films about it, and books, and conspiracy theories and… and everything! And when they got here, the first thing they did was to use these devices to wipe out all of it, back to the first time anyone ever thought about visitors conquering Earth. That’s why it took so long for anyone to start fighting back once they arrived. We had to recreate the entire memetic concept.”“I… that doesn’t sound possible.” I said. “How could anyone do that?”“The idea’s been theoretically proven for decades, back to the 2010s. But no-one had any idea how to actually do it. Well, no-one human.” They grinned again as they pulled out wires from the device on their workbench, connecting leads to the metal ball with a strange confidence. “Okay, the visitors used that thing as their secret weapon. What are you doing with it?” I asked, exasperated.“Look, in order to work, this thing’s effect has to propagate back through time, right? Otherwise we’d still have all the cultural artifacts about visitors to bootstrap the concepts from.” I nodded as if I understood.“I’ve re-written the ideovirus to insert new concepts instead of deleting them. I can use their device to send our own signal back, as far into the past as possible, to give us time to prepare.”“And how far is that?” I asked. They deflated slightly.“I don’t really know, actually. As far as I can get before the amplifier burns out, I guess.” They shrugged. “Two hundred years or so, maybe? I only have the one device so its effects will be localised, not global like the visitors’ first strike. But that’s what I can do.”“So what, you give everyone around London in 1900 a sudden message that visitors are going to attack Earth in the far future?”“Better than that!” they exclaimed. “I’m going to give them an inoculation. Take a look for yourself,” they beckoned, holding up their headset. Warily, I reached over, placed the headset on my head and saw--Tripods marching through the burning skyline of London, their infrared lasers setting a borough ablaze in an instant. Saucers hovering above the White House, a sickly blue light pulsing from their underbellies as a metropolis is wiped out in an instant. The flesh of a man’s stomach flowing like water as the parasite within prepared to emerge in search of a new host. A woman’s sanity slipping as the crude memory block degrades and flashes of lying captive on a dissection table come in and out and-I yanked off the headset and retched, my head spinning. It was a parade of every horror of the Invasion I’d tried to forget, laid out like a buffet.“What the fuck was that for?” I yelled. They looked at me almost shocked.“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to dredge it all up. But they need to see it, all of it. If this works, when the visitors come, humanity will have spent two centuries thinking of ways to defeat them.” My mind whirled, and I searched for something real to latch onto.“If it works, will we feel it?” I asked Alex.“I don’t think so. We didn’t feel it when they arrived, did we? I… I don’t know what will happen.” they admitted. I looked at them, still just a kid, yet still trying to save the world.“How long until it’s ready?” I said into the silence.“It’s ready now. This was the only piece I was missing.”I smiled. “Let’s do it, then.”Alex pressed a button on their console and the device they’d set the sphere in started to come to life. LEDs flickered and fans began to whir. It was surprisingly impressive for something soldered together out of spit and spare parts.“You’re a proper mad scientist you are, aren’t you?” I chucked, even as I pulled them into an embrace. Even as we held each other tightly, I thought of the panic in the first weeks after the visitors came, of how I’d struggled to come to terms with what was happening even as I drove away from the ruined city that I used to call home. Of how I hated myself every time I looked at Alex and saw instead my Jason, surely dead like so many others.There was a flash of white light.1895, Woking, United KingdomYawning, Herbert George Wells dragged himself out of bed and descended the stairs to the kitchen, where his wife Catherine already had a pot of tea boiling on the stove for him. “Did you sleep well, dear?” she asked.“You know,” he exclaimed, “as a matter of fact I did. I believe I may have just had the idea for my next novel!”“Oh, that’s wonderful!” she replied. “Whatever about?”“Well,” he said, “imagine a race of beings like us, only far more advanced, who originate from the planet Mars…”
full image - Repost: Cicada 3301: The Internet Mystery That Watches You (
from Reddit.com, Cicada 3301: The Internet Mystery That Watches You)
It was January 2012 when an image suddenly appeared on 4chan with a strange message: “Hello. We are looking for highly intelligent individuals. To find them, we have devised a test. Good luck. 3301.” No one knew who had posted it or why, and no one expected that it would evolve into one of the most complex and chilling mysteries on the Internet. At first, many thought it was just a game or a troll, but soon participants realized that each puzzle led to something deeper, more intricate, and more terrifying.The first puzzles required knowledge of cryptography, mathematics, and literature. They used everything from classic ciphers to complex patterns that hid secret messages within images and sounds. When some managed to solve the initial stages, they received emails with instructions for the next step, indicating that behind all of this was someone with complete knowledge of the participants and their actions.The mystery became even more unsettling when it was revealed that the puzzles were not confined to the digital world. GPS coordinates led people to real-world locations in various countries, from the United States to Europe and Asia, where printed cards with QR codes continued the puzzle. Participants traveled, exchanged information, and formed groups, all while feeling the pressure to keep going, as if watched by an invisible eye.The puzzles grew increasingly difficult, requiring knowledge from multiple fields: music, literature, philosophy, digital security, and complex mathematical algorithms. No one had ever solved all the stages, and no one knew who or what was behind Cicada 3301. Some participants who went deep reported receiving messages implying that their lives were being monitored or that there was a dark plan for selecting them.Cicada 3301 reappeared in 2013 and 2014 with similar puzzles, but even more complex. Those who tried to solve all the stages became entangled in a network of secret forums and private communications that no one outside the circle could see. No one ever confirmed that they had won anything, and after 2014 the activity suddenly stopped. No one knows who or what created it — it could have been a secret government agency, a hacker group, a private company, or something even darker and more inscrutable.The most terrifying part is not just the puzzles or the journeys, but the sense that Cicada 3301 was alive, watching, choosing, and influencing the lives of its participants. It is not merely a horror story or a viral Internet phenomenon. It is a real mystery that haunts those who tried to solve it, and no one has ever learned its ending.
full image - Repost: The Daily Market Flux - Your Complete Market Rundown (02/13/2026) (
from Reddit.com, The Daily Market Flux - Your Complete Market Rundown (02/13/2026))
Our platform aggregates and organizes all relevant market news, helping you stay informed, up-to-date, and knowledgeable without spending hours sifting through headlines.Reinvented to keep you in control, it's where your edge begins with better information. Go from market noise to clarity in seconds with a real-time platform built to redefine how traders and investors digest financial news.Visit www.marketflux.ioHere is Your Complete Market Rundown (02/13/2026)Top StoryUS January Inflation Comes in Below Expectations as CPI Rises 2.4% Year-Over-YearUS consumer prices rose 0.2% monthly in January, below the 0.3% forecast, while annual inflation reached 2.4%, under the expected 2.5%. Core CPI met expectations at 0.3% monthly and 2.5% annually. Gold prices gained on the softer-than-expected inflation data.Company NewsUBS Group Ag (UBS)Performance Overview1D Change: -0.57%5D Change: -4.32%News Volume: 127Unusual Volume Factor: 1xUBS Issues Wave of Rating Changes Across Sectors as Analysts Adjust Price Targets and OutlookUBS conducted extensive coverage adjustments on February 13, issuing rating changes and price target revisions across multiple sectors. The firm upgraded Rivian Automotive from Sell to Neutral, citing balanced risk-reward dynamics and projecting 14 percent upside with a price target of $16. The electric vehicle maker received concurrent upgrades from several other firms including Deutsche Bank’s move to Buy. In the utilities sector, UBS downgraded both Edison International and Evergy from Buy to Neutral on valuation concerns and balanced outlook, while upgrading Xcel Energy from Neutral to Buy with 13 percent upside potential.The firm maintained its constructive stance on logistics REITs while expressing caution on office and retail properties ahead of UK REIT earnings. Technology coverage saw mixed adjustments. UBS raised its Roku price target to $110 from $103, projecting 33 percent upside while maintaining a Neutral rating. Pinterest faced a significant price target reduction to $26 from $40 due to weak revenue outlook. The firm raised price targets on several tech names including Arista Networks to $177 and Applied Materials to $430, both maintaining Buy ratings.In consumer and industrial sectors, UBS lowered Domino’s Pizza price target to $500 from $540 while maintaining Buy, and reduced Fortune Brands target to $70 from $79. The firm raised targets on US Foods to $117 and Generac to $270, both with Buy ratings. UBS Wealth Management separately set a year-end 2026 S&P 500 target of 7,700, expressing confidence in AI-driven market momentum despite near-term volatility. The firm noted retail investors are returning to Big Tech, with $197 million flowing into the Magnificent Seven stocks on Wednesday alone. In legal news, UBS was ordered to pay $5.5 million to a former client who is a prominent real estate broker.The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS)Performance Overview1D Change: 0.09%5D Change: -2.52%News Volume: 129Unusual Volume Factor: 2xGoldman Sachs Chief Legal Officer Resigns Over Epstein Ties as Bank Navigates Market Volatility and Crypto InvestmentsGoldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler resigned following revelations in Justice Department documents showing she accepted gifts from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including a $9,350 handbag, and referred to him as “older brother” and “Uncle Jeffrey” in emails. CEO David Solomon told CNBC he “reluctantly accepted” her resignation, noting the controversy made it difficult for her to execute her responsibilities effectively. The resignation came as Goldman Sachs shares plunged over 5% Thursday alongside other major banks including JPMorgan and Citigroup during a broader market rout driven by AI-related concerns.Despite the turbulence, Solomon characterized the economic landscape for 2026 as “quite good” with a “constructive environment,” though he expressed concern about continued deficit levels. Goldman disclosed significant cryptocurrency positions, revealing a $920 million Bitcoin bet despite the recent market crash and a $152 million position in XRP, representing 14% of the XRP ETF.The bank also participated in institutional crypto activity alongside Jane Street in driving XRP ETF inflows. On monetary policy, Goldman economists forecast two Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026, with the first expected in June. The bank projected January core CPI at 0.33% versus consensus of 0.3%. Some Goldman analysts see potential for four rate cuts depending on labor market conditions. Goldman issued multiple analyst calls, upgrading Upstart from Sell to Neutral and raising price targets on Arista Networks, Applied Materials, and Stanley Black & Decker while downgrading BB Seguridade to Neutral.The firm expects “very large IPOs, unprecedented in size” this year and anticipates NVIDIA will deliver a beat-and-raise quarter. The bank also selected ad platform Moloco alongside JPMorgan to lead an upcoming IPO and created a new custom basket targeting software stocks perceived as insulated from AI disruption.Barclays Plc (BCS)Performance Overview1D Change: -0.94%5D Change: -4.22%News Volume: 137Unusual Volume Factor: 2xBarclays Issues Sweeping Price Target Adjustments Amid AI Selloff Warning and Active Portfolio RepositioningBarclays analysts warned that the AI-driven market selloff may remain unstoppable in the near term, with investors in a “sell first, think later” mode. Analyst Emmanuel Cau noted that while markets remain broadly resilient, fears of AI disruption are driving sharp sector rotations and could continue pressuring valuations. The bank executed extensive portfolio adjustments across multiple sectors. In technology, Barclays raised Applied Materials’ price target to $450 from $360, projecting 37% upside, while upgrading Zscaler to Overweight despite lowering its price target.The firm also raised targets on Arista Networks and Tower Semiconductor. However, AI concerns prompted significant cuts to software names, with Tyler Technologies slashed to $410 from $715 and Procore reduced to $65 from $90. In retail, Barclays downgraded H&M to Underweight from Overweight on weak sales growth concerns, while downgrading Fortune Brands on 2026 outlook worries.The bank raised price targets on consumer names including Crocs and Kraft Heinz. Healthcare saw mixed moves, with Barclays reinstating Medtronic coverage at Overweight with a $116 target, citing strong heart device growth prospects. The firm also highlighted Vertex Pharma’s renal pipeline as a major growth driver while raising Tenet Healthcare’s target to $257. In cryptocurrency exposure, Coinbase’s price target was cut nearly in half to $148 from $258, though Barclays still sees 5% upside.Travel and hospitality names including Expedia, Copa Holdings, and Hyatt received raised targets. RBC Capital separately raised its Barclays bank stock price target to 550 pence from 525 pence, maintaining an Outperform rating as the bank pledges enhanced shareholder returns.Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT)Performance Overview1D Change: 8.08%5D Change: 10.08%Applied Materials Surges 13% on Strong Earnings and Bullish AI-Driven ForecastApplied Materials shares jumped over 13% on February 13, 2026, reaching an all-time high of $368.25 after the chipmaking equipment manufacturer reported better-than-expected Q1 2026 earnings and issued an upbeat revenue forecast. The rally was driven by robust demand for AI infrastructure and chipmaking tools, with CEO Gary Dickerson predicting growth momentum will continue through 2027, when he expects global semiconductor industry revenues to reach $1 trillion.The strong results prompted a wave of analyst upgrades and price target increases across Wall Street. Summit Insights upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy, while Craig-Hallum raised its rating to Buy from Hold. KGI Securities upgraded to Outperform from Neutral, citing 29% upside potential. Multiple firms raised price targets to $450, including Barclays, TD Cowen, KeyBanc, Deutsche Bank, and Stifel. Cantor Fitzgerald set the highest target at $470, while other firms including Wells Fargo, Needham, RBC Capital, UBS, Mizuho, and Bernstein also increased their targets.The company’s performance stood out as a bright spot amid broader market concerns about AI valuations, with analysts characterizing Applied Materials as a shelter from AI fears. The earnings beat was attributed to surging AI demand driving chipmaking tool orders and memory shortages supporting equipment sales. Applied Materials was among the day’s most active movers in premarket and regular trading, appearing alongside other notable stocks including Arista Networks, which also posted strong results.The stock’s performance came as markets digested a CPI inflation report showing inflation falling to 2.4%, a four-year low, though broader indices remained under pressure with the Nasdaq heading for its fifth consecutive weekly decline.Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB)Performance Overview1D Change: 4.65%5D Change: -0.66%Airbnb Surges on Strong Q4 Results and Optimistic 2026 Outlook as Analysts Upgrade StockAirbnb shares jumped 6.4% in premarket trading February 13 after the company reported fourth-quarter revenue that exceeded analyst estimates and issued upbeat guidance for 2026. The vacation rental platform cited resilient global travel demand and growing adoption of its flexible payment and booking options as key drivers of accelerating bookings growth.The strong results prompted a wave of analyst upgrades. Deutsche Bank elevated Airbnb from Hold to Buy, projecting 33% upside, while Evercore ISI upgraded the stock to Outperform with a 25% upside target. TD Cowen raised its price target to $160, maintaining a Buy rating. BMO Capital and Wells Fargo also increased their targets, though Wells Fargo maintained a Hold rating. Not all analysts were uniformly bullish—Morgan Stanley and Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price targets, citing valuation concerns. CEO Brian Chesky expressed confidence that artificial intelligence represents “the best thing to happen to Airbnb,” suggesting the company views AI as an opportunity rather than a competitive threat.Analysts noted Airbnb’s product improvements and strategic expansions as supporting continued momentum. Bloomberg Intelligence highlighted that healthy demand should fuel faster growth throughout 2026, helping Airbnb outperform in what analysts described as a challenging year for online travel stocks overall.Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN)Performance Overview1D Change: 16.46%5D Change: -0.46%Coinbase Stock Surges 15% Despite Q4 Miss as Analysts Slash Targets but Maintain Bullish OutlookCoinbase Global shares jumped over 15% following fourth-quarter results that missed revenue and profit estimates amid softer crypto trading volumes. The company announced a $2 billion stock buyback program and signaled expansion of its Everything Exchange platform, highlighting diversified revenue growth from subscription services. CEO Brian Armstrong executed a $550 million stock sale through a pre-arranged trading plan.Wall Street analysts broadly reduced price targets, with cuts ranging from Barclays’ $148 to H.C. Wainwright’s maintained $350, though most firms retained buy ratings. BTIG, Canaccord Genuity, and Deutsche Bank project upside potential between 57% and 113%. Analysts cited improving regulatory outlook, revenue diversification beyond transaction fees, and strategic buybacks as reasons for optimism despite near-term margin pressures in the softer crypto market environment.Macro EventsTrump Administration Moves to Scale Back Steel and Aluminum TariffsThe Trump administration is reassessing its metals tariff regime, planning to ease some steel and aluminum duties imposed last summer at rates up to 50%. Officials are working to narrow the scope of these tariffs, particularly for downstream products and goods that companies find difficult to calculate, amid concerns over affordability and implementation challenges. Separately, the Treasury Department released interim rules enforcing provisions in Trump's tax law that restrict clean energy tax credits for companies with excessive China-linked subsidies.Continue readingTrump Announces Venezuela Oil Sanctions Waiver, Plans Future VisitUS waives Venezuela oil sanctions as President Trump emphasizes America's unique refining capacity for Venezuelan crude. Trump announced plans to visit Venezuela but provided no timeline for the trip.Continue readingTrump Administration Sees Key Departures as Trade Policy Shifts and Courts Block Health CutsThe Trump administration experienced significant personnel changes as Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater resigned after less than a year, marking the highest-profile casualty in internal disputes over competition enforcement. Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathy Ruemmler also stepped down following revelations of her ties to Jeffrey Epstein. On trade, the administration finalized a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan establishing a 15% US tariff rate while Taiwan committed to eliminating or reducing tariffs on American goods. Separately, Trump plans to scale back steel and aluminum tariffs, according to the Financial Times. A federal judge in Chicago temporarily blocked $600 million in public health grant cuts to four Democratic-led states. Meanwhile, European leaders are reconsidering nuclear weapons strategy following US policy shifts.Continue readingSupreme Court Sets February Opinion Days as Tariff Ruling AwaitedThe US Supreme Court has scheduled opinion days for February 20, 24, and 25, with markets watching for a potential ruling on a pending tariff case that could impact trade policy.Continue readingU.S. Inflation Falls to 2.4%, Four-Year Low Triggers Mixed Market ResponseJanuary's Consumer Price Index dropped to 2.4%, marking a four-year low and exceeding market expectations for cooling inflation. The Dow Jones slipped despite the favorable data, while major indices showed mixed movements. Bitcoin rose as crypto traders increased bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts. DraftKings shares plunged following earnings results, while Applied Materials jumped, highlighting divergent sector performance amid the inflation news.Continue readingU.S. Inflation Drops to Four-Year Low as Markets Weigh Fed Rate Cut ProspectsU.S. CPI inflation fell to 2.4%, a four-year low, with core CPI rising 0.3% in January as expected. The data triggered mixed market reactions, with Nasdaq futures falling amid AI-related concerns while Bitcoin gained on renewed rate cut speculation. Treasury yields dropped, with two-year notes hitting 3.40%, the lowest since October. Traders now price a 50% probability of a third Fed rate cut this year. The Dow slipped following the inflation report, while DraftKings shares plunged on disappointing earnings.Continue readingRussia Cuts Key Rate to 15.5% as Economic Concerns Override Inflation FightRussia's central bank reduced its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 15.5%, signaling additional cuts ahead as economic growth concerns take priority over inflation management.Continue readingGeopolitics EventsMerz Declares End of Post-War Order, Proposes European Nuclear ShieldGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced at the Munich Security Conference that the post-World War II international order has fundamentally changed, citing U.S. policy shifts under Donald Trump toward unilateralism. Merz revealed he has held discussions with French President Macron on nuclear deterrence and called for a European nuclear shield. While stating that U.S. claims to global leadership are disputed or squandered, Merz rejected calls to abandon the transatlantic partnership entirely. He emphasized that even the United States cannot act alone and appealed for repairing transatlantic trust while advocating for the alliance to evolve in response to current challenges.Continue readingPentagon Adds Major Chinese Tech Firms to Military List Then Withdraws DocumentThe Pentagon designated Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, COSCO, and Huawei as Chinese military companies operating in the US under Section 1260H. The designation sent Alibaba shares sharply lower. However, the Defense Department subsequently withdrew the list from the Federal Register. The US also proposed banning government agencies from using certain Chinese semiconductors. Companies on such lists can request removal through an appeals process.Continue readingTrump Escalates Iran Pressure, Signals Regime Change Preference as Second Carrier Deployment LoomsPresident Trump intensified rhetoric toward Iran, stating regime change "could be the best thing that could happen" while announcing plans to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the region shortly. Trump told troops that "fear" serves as a powerful motivator in difficult negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program. The escalation comes as five Democratic senators questioned the administration's decision to lift sanctions on individuals previously accused of spreading surveillance technology used against Americans. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security faces an impending shutdown amid Trump's standoff with Democrats.Continue readingBangladesh Nationalist Party Secures Landslide Victory in Parliamentary ElectionThe Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a decisive parliamentary majority, with political heir Tarique Rahman positioned to become Prime Minister. The victory marks a stunning reversal for the nation's progressive party, whose September gamble to coopt rivals backfired. The landslide is expected to restore political stability in Bangladesh.Continue readingTrump Administration Unveils $38.3 Billion Immigration Detention OverhaulThe Trump administration announced a $38.3 billion plan to expand and remake the US immigration detention system, aiming to streamline operations and accelerate deportations. Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered the administration to facilitate a deported college student's return.Continue readingStock Markets EventsMarket Divergence Widens as Median S&P 500 Stock Falls 11% From PeakBroad market weakness intensified with the median S&P 500 stock now down 11% from its 52-week high, signaling significant divergence beneath headline indices. Nearly 200 stocks hit annual lows, including major names like DraftKings, Booking Holdings, and Hercules Capital. Wendy's reached its lowest point amid weak guidance, while Sanofi neared lows following leadership changes. Bright spots remained limited, with Merck and PCG touching 52-week highs.Continue readingNasdaq Heads for Fifth Consecutive Weekly Decline as Tech Selloff ContinuesThe Nasdaq fell 1.9% this week, tracking toward its fifth straight weekly loss, the longest streak since May 2022's seven-week decline. Technology stocks led the selloff, dragging the index lower while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones remained relatively flat. The market wobbled despite February CPI data showing inflation cooled more than economists expected, with the Nasdaq opening down 0.2% while the S&P 500 held steady.Continue readingCrypto EventsCoinbase Shares Rally Despite Missing Q4 Estimates as Investors See BottomCoinbase stock surged following weak fourth-quarter results that missed revenue and profit estimates amid a softer crypto market. The rally came as investors concluded negative factors were already priced in, with analysts maintaining buy ratings. Meanwhile, the CoinDesk 20 index rose 2.0% to 1920.47, led by UNI and BCH gains exceeding 5%.Continue readingBitcoin Faces Pressure as ETF Outflows Mount and Key $60K Support Level LoomsBitcoin slipped to $67,000, heading for its fourth consecutive weekly loss amid heavy selling pressure. ETFs recorded $523 million in combined outflows as bearish sentiment intensified. The critical $60,000 level has emerged as a potential liquidation trigger, with Deribit data showing concentrated put options below this threshold near the 200-week moving average. Despite U.S. inflation falling to a four-year low of 2.4% in January—which briefly lifted Bitcoin and renewed Fed rate cut speculation—the cryptocurrency faces headwinds from declining network activity and whale selling. Standard Chartered warned of possible downside toward $50,000, while market sentiment indicators flash extreme fear near current levels.Continue readingTrump Media Files SEC Applications for Two Cryptocurrency ETFsTrump Media's Truth Social Funds has filed with the SEC to launch two cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds. The first ETF will track Bitcoin and Ethereum with Ether staking capabilities. The second, called the Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF, will focus on Cronos tokens with staking rewards. The filings mark a significant expansion into digital asset investment products.Continue readingCorporate Actions EventsSpaceX Considers Dual-Class Share Structure for Planned IPO to Preserve Musk ControlSpaceX is weighing a dual-class share structure for its upcoming IPO that would grant Elon Musk super-voting power, allowing him to maintain control despite holding a minority stake. The approach mirrors governance models used by major technology companies and a strategy Musk previously proposed for Tesla.Continue readingOil And Gas EventsWTI Crude Tests $61 Support as Oversupply Concerns Drive Weekly LossesWTI crude oil faces weekly declines amid oversupply fears and failed breakout attempts, testing key $61 support levels. Natural gas weakens below $3.20, while pump prices edge toward $3 per gallon. Market focus shifts to Iran and OPEC+ supply outlooks, with Venezuela's natural gas reserves emerging as potential development target.Continue readingOPEC+ Signals Likely Return to Oil Output Increases Starting AprilOPEC+ members are leaning toward resuming oil production increases from April after pausing output hikes throughout the first quarter, according to sources. Eight key member nations see scope to restart supply increases, though no final decision has been made. Talks will continue ahead of the group's March 1 meeting, where delegates will finalize output plans for April and beyond.Continue readingOne Gas and Canadian Utilities Hit 52-Week Highs Amid Mixed Energy Sector SignalsOne Gas Inc reached a 52-week high of $85.35, while AltaGas, Enbridge, and Hydro One also hit yearly peaks. Oil prices headed for weekly losses on Iran and OPEC+ uncertainty. U.S. rig count remained flat at 551, with oil drilling declining to 409 rigs while gas activity rose to 133.Continue readingVenezuela's PDVSA Restricts Oil Sales to Licensed Companies OnlyVenezuela's state oil company PDVSA now sells crude exclusively to individually licensed firms, sources report, as oil sales exceed $1 billion with funds no longer directed to Qatar account.Continue readingTechnology EventsFTC Intensifies Microsoft Investigation, Probing Cloud and AI Business PracticesThe Federal Trade Commission has escalated its examination of Microsoft, interviewing competitors about the company's cloud computing and artificial intelligence operations, according to Bloomberg reports.Continue readingEnvironment EventsECB Fines Credit Agricole €7.6 Million for Climate Risk Management FailuresThe European Central Bank penalized France's second-largest bank Credit Agricole €7.6 million for inadequately managing climate-related and environmental risks, marking regulatory enforcement on financial institutions' climate oversight obligations.Continue readingEarnings EventsEuropean Stocks Mixed as AI Concerns and Earnings Weigh on MarketsEuropean equities opened lower and traded mixed following Wall Street's AI-driven sell-off, with investors digesting corporate earnings reports while awaiting key economic growth data.Continue readingModerna Exceeds Q4 Revenue Expectations Despite FDA SetbackModerna surpassed fourth-quarter revenue estimates driven by stronger-than-expected COVID vaccine sales, though shares declined following an FDA regulatory setback announced alongside the earnings report.Continue reading© 2026 Market Flux. 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full image - Repost: Burn it down? (
from Reddit.com, Burn it down?)
I left the burner of the stove on when I read your message this morning, I couldn’t finish reading until later, life got in the way and the level of emotions I portray when deep in thoughts of you are meant for quiet, reflective spaces. But I almost truly did burn down the kitchen.…I’m unsure what you meant by something that should never have existed. Was that a reference to us, or to your situation?It was in reference to us but in reflection it could be a balance of both. I should have never opened up my kitchen to you without closing the one I built with A. That has left us with an unstable foundation on which we’ve tried to build, much different than what we would have created if we had the opportunity to build our house properly. I know that you are still open to trying to cook together, but I should stay in one kitchen.It’s also in reference to my situation, in all honesty I’m surprised to have said out loud during counselling sessions just how much it seems like my relationship with A has been one of convenience where many initial red flags were overlooked until it felt too late. Those sessions have been eye opening in both how much I truly rushed into things with A for it to be a less than ideal match; and how it truly feels like we would be a much better match on paper. That internal emotional world of yours meeting my expressive nature would make many savoury meals indeed.It seems there’s been a misunderstanding about the grocery store encounter.I completely panicked that day, it caught me off guard like a deer in the headlights so an action as simple as a sheepish wave hello would have been entirely too much for me in that moment. I keep coming back to that moment because it is my expression of how this entire time I have been open and accepting to the possibility of you finding a greater, more present love. Even when the stakes were the highest for me, I was simply happy for you and the idea of you finding someone.It’s a large reason why Given our dynamic specifically. Im highly sensitive to someone else getting all the benefits.This completely makes sense in hindsight, those words should have never been spoken to you.There’s been a misunderstanding about me asking you to speak with other people.That was a giant misunderstanding, I thought from the beginning you wanted me to reach out and meet others within the FL space. It never occurred to me that you were speaking of building a supportive network around me and my family. Perhaps because it already felt like I had enough people around me that I could count on at that time to help, now I am definitely in an energy of isolation. Making mom friends is hard, talking about these topics is harder-I do have one friend that I have met who I’m close enough to now know that both of us share this dynamic of there having been an other energy, feelings that aren’t quite resolved and a commitment to do what’s best for our families.Not once did the seven course meal come up. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it tells me that it’s far from your mind.Over the years cooking became the primary way that I show my emotions in a relationship. I have left relationships because I didn’t feel like our passion for cooking was at the same level. I’ve always been one open to trying new ingredients and dishes but I have learned the importance of cooking in the same kitchen, no bringing extra ingredients from one kitchen to another, create and cultivate with what is in the kitchen together.I’m a highly passionate creature by nature. It’s been both a blessing and a curse. I would definitely agree that I’m more adventurous in the kitchen than most.As it seems neither of us knows how to communicate clearly, or we do and we just dont know what to say or how to say it.I have simply created an impossible situation, where both of us slowly turn towards cooking-because that is the act that we want to do so much with each other. Our primary way that we know how to show the closeness we crave.Cooking is a physical manifestation of all of the thoughtfully crafted recipes that we create, a chance to enjoy our passion for each other without being stuck in the cerebral, something that I very much enjoy but cannot manage in the environment I’m in right now. All this to say, I needed to get some things off my chest, I was not in a good head space last night before I wrote the letter. The letter felt freeing, it was a very needed release. I’m not trying to reopen another chapter while still in a different kitchen. I know for a fact that makes you want to bang your head upon the wall but for the reasons you’ve mentioned it simply can’t happen in the present environment.…It felt amazing to write, just write. Focus on letting the words that flow fall onto the page. Tears streaming down her face as she processed the emotions that came with them quicker than she thought possible. She was amazed by his ability to write, she wanted to do her best to match him stroke by stroke.After hitting submit the tension that had been building for days finally released, she could now fully relax. Several counselling sessions built around processing their dynamic, endless nights of self reflecting through their dynamic. None of it seemed to matter in the end, she knew everyone would think she was crazy for even throwing that letter into the ether. She didn’t care. She needed to let him know that he is wanted, loved and admired. That an aching heart is a mutual feeling and she was only looking to show empathy in the words that hurt him.
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