@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

## 什么是nostrbook？ ----- nostrbook 是基于nostr 社区技术存储在 nostr relay server上的长文(30023)文章。 查看浏览，采用的是 [docsify](https://docsify.js.org/#/) 技术。 整个网站技术不会占用部署服务器太多的存储空间,可以实现轻量级部署。 任何人可以部署服务器，或者本地部署 查看本站所有的书籍。 ## nostrbook 可以服务哪些人？ ----- * 开发者，如果你想二次开发，看[第一章、开发者指南](/01.md) * 写书作者，看[第二章、使用教程](/02.md) * 读者 你就直接点开看。 ## nostrbook未来如何发展？ ----- * 可能会增加 blog功能，有些时候你就想随心写点日志，那么用blog功能也可以。 * 点赞互动、留言功能。

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

## 什么是nostrbook？ ----- nostrbook 是基于nostr 社区技术存储在 nostr relay server上的长文(30023)文章。 查看浏览，采用的是 [docsify](https://docsify.js.org/#/) 技术。整个网站技术无须部署服务器占用太多的存储空间。 可以实现轻量级部署。

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin remains at the forefront of discussions, not just for its price movements but also for its foundational mechanisms that ensure its scarcity and value. One such mechanism, the Bitcoin halving, is drawing near once again, but this time, it's arriving sooner than many had anticipated. Originally projected for a meme-friendly date of April 20, the next Bitcoin halving is now set for April 15, marking a significant moment for the cryptocurrency community and investors alike. **Table of Contents** - Understanding the Bitcoin Halving - Factors Accelerating the Halving Date - Implications of an Earlier Halving - Potential Price Impact - Miner Revenue and Network Security - Renewed Interest and Speculation - The Countdown to April 15 - Conclusion - FAQs **Understanding the Bitcoin Halving** The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years, reducing the reward for mining new blocks by half. This process is a critical part of Bitcoin's design, aiming to control the supply of new bitcoins entering the market and mimicking the scarcity of precious metals. By decreasing the reward for miners, the halving event reduces the rate at which new bitcoins are created, thus influencing the cryptocurrency's price and inflation rate. **Factors Accelerating the Halving Date** The shift in the halving date to April 15 from the previously speculated April 20 is attributed to several factors that have increased the pace of transactions on the Bitcoin network: - **Sky-High Bitcoin ETF Flows:** The introduction and subsequent trading of Bitcoin ETFs have significantly impacted market activity, leading to increased transaction volumes on the network. - **Price Rallies:** A series of price rallies, culminating in new all-time highs for Bitcoin, have spurred heightened network activity as traders and investors react to market movements. - **Increased Daily Volume:** The average daily trading volume of Bitcoin has seen a notable uptick since mid-February, further accelerating the pace at which blocks are processed and, consequently, moving up the halving dat **Implications of an Earlier Halving** The earlier-than-expected halving date carries several implications for the Bitcoin market and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem: **Potential Price Impact** Historically, Bitcoin halving events have been associated with significant price movements, both in anticipation of and following the event. By reducing the supply of new bitcoins, the halving can create upward pressure on the price, especially if demand remains strong. However, the exact impact can vary based on broader market conditions and investor sentiment. **Miner Revenue and Network Security** The halving will also affect miners' revenue, as their rewards for processing transactions are halved. This reduction could influence the profitability of mining operations and, by extension, the security of the Bitcoin network. However, adjustments in mining difficulty and the price of Bitcoin typically help mitigate these effects over time. **Renewed Interest and Speculation** The halving event often brings renewed interest and speculation to the Bitcoin market, attracting both seasoned investors and newcomers. This increased attention can lead to higher trading volumes and volatility in the short term, as market participants position themselves in anticipation of potential price movements. **The Countdown to April 15** As the countdown to the next Bitcoin halving begins, the cryptocurrency community is abuzz with speculation, analysis, and preparations. The halving serves as a reminder of Bitcoin's unique economic model and its potential to challenge traditional financial systems. Whether the event will lead to significant price movements or simply reinforce Bitcoin's scarcity and value remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the halving is a pivotal moment for Bitcoin, underscoring the cryptocurrency's innovative approach to digital scarcity and monetary policy. **Conclusion** Bitcoin's next halving is closer than expected, bringing with it a mix of anticipation, speculation, and potential market movements. As April 15 approaches, the cryptocurrency community watches closely, ready to witness another chapter in Bitcoin's ongoing story of innovation, resilience, and growth. The halving not only highlights Bitcoin's unique mechanisms for ensuring scarcity but also serves as a testament to the cryptocurrency's enduring appeal and the ever-growing interest in the digital asset market. **FAQs** **What is the Bitcoin halving?** The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years, where the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks is halved. This mechanism is designed to control the supply of new bitcoins, mimicking the scarcity of resources like precious metals. **When is the next Bitcoin halving happening?** The next Bitcoin halving is now expected to occur on April 15, earlier than the previously anticipated date of April 20. **Why has the date of the Bitcoin halving changed?** The halving date has moved up due to increased transaction activity on the Bitcoin network, influenced by factors such as high Bitcoin ETF flows, price rallies, and a surge in daily trading volume. **How does the Bitcoin halving affect the price of Bitcoin?** Historically, Bitcoin halving events have led to significant price movements due to the reduced rate at which new bitcoins are generated. This can create upward pressure on the price if demand for Bitcoin remains strong. **What impact does the halving have on Bitcoin miners?** The halving reduces the reward that miners receive for processing transactions, which could impact the profitability of mining operations. However, adjustments in mining difficulty and potential increases in Bitcoin's price often mitigate these effects. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnewsco](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co/](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@thebitcoinlibertarian](https://www.youtube.com/@thebitcoinlibertarian)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** **Get Orange Pill App And Connect With Bitcoiners In Your Area. Stack Friends Who Stack Sats link: https://signup.theorangepillapp.com/opa/croxroad** **Buy Bitcoin Books At Konsensus Network Store. 10% Discount With Code “21croxroad” link: https://bitcoinbook.shop?ref=21croxroad** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

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@ 096ae92f:b8540e0c

## **Hal Finney’s name is etched in Bitcoin lore.** By day, Hal was a devoted husband and father; by night, a *shadowy super coder* pushing the boundaries of cryptography and how the world thinks about money. A seasoned cryptographer and ardent Bitcoin supporter, he was among the first to work with Satoshi Nakamoto on refining Bitcoin’s fledgling codebase. January 2009, the iconic *"Running Bitcoin*" tweet was posted. Over 16 years later, people are still engaging with Hal Finney’s legendary tweet—leaving comments of gratitude, admiration, and remembrance, reflecting on how far Bitcoin has come. For many, it marks a key moment in Bitcoin’s early days. More recently, it’s also become a symbol of Hal’s passion for running and the determination he showed throughout his life. That spirit is now carried forward through the [**Running Bitcoin Challenge**](https://secure.alsnetwork.org/site/TR?fr_id=1510&pg=entry&ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), an ALS fundraiser co-organized by Fran Finney and supported by the Bitcoin community. ## **Shadowy Super Coder** Long before Bitcoin came along, Hal Finney was already legendary in certain circles. He was part of the cypherpunk movement in the 1990s—people who believed in using cryptography to protect individual privacy online. > ***"The computer can be used as a tool to liberate and protect people, rather than to control them."\ > -Hal Finney*** Hal contributed to **Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)**, one of the earliest and best-known encryption programs. He also dabbled in digital cash prototypes, developing something called **Reusable Proofs of Work (RPOW)**. He didn’t know it at the time, but that would prime him perfectly for a bigger innovation on the horizon. ## **Bitcoin's Early Days** When Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper in late 2008, Hal was one of the first to see its promise. While many cryptographers waved it off, Hal responded on the mailing list enthusiastically, calling Bitcoin “a very promising idea.” He soon began corresponding directly with Satoshi. Their emails covered everything from bug fixes to big-picture possibilities for a decentralized currency. On January 12, 2009, Satoshi sent Hal **10 bitcoins**—marking the first recorded Bitcoin transaction. From that day onward, his name was woven into Bitcoin’s origin story. > ***“When Satoshi announced the first release of the software, I grabbed it right away. I think I was the first person besides Satoshi to run Bitcoin.”\ > -Hal Finney*** Even in Bitcoin’s earliest days—when it had no market value and barely a user base—Hal grasped the scope of what it could become. He saw it not just as a technical curiosity, but as a potential long-term store of value, a tool for privacy, and a monetary system that could rival gold in its resilience. He even raised early concerns about energy use from mining, showcasing just how far ahead he was thinking. At a time when most dismissed Bitcoin entirely, Hal was already envisioning the future. ## **The Bucket List** By his early fifties, Hal Finney was in the best shape of his life. He had taken up distance running in the mid-2000s—not to chase medals, but to test himself. To stay healthy, to lose some weight, and above all, to do something hard. The engineer’s mind in him craved a structure of improvement, and long-distance running delivered it. With meticulous focus, Hal crafted training plans, ran 20+ mile routes on weekends, and even checked tide charts to time his beach runs when the sand was firmest underfoot. His ultimate goal: **qualify for the Boston Marathon**. For most, Boston is a dream. For Hal, it became a personal benchmark—a physical counterpart to the mental mountains he scaled in cryptography. He trained relentlessly, logging race times, refining form, and aiming for the qualifying standard in his age group. Running was more than physical for him. It was meditative. He often ran alone, without music, simply to be in the moment—present, focused, moving forward. Running was also a shared passion. Fran often ran shorter distances while Hal trained for the longer ones. They registered for events together, cheered each other on at finish lines, and made it a part of their family rhythm. It was one more expression of Hal’s deep devotion not just to self-improvement, but to doing life side-by-side with those he loved. Hal and Fran competing in the Denver Half-Marathon together In April 2009, Hal and Fran ran the **Denver Half Marathon together**—a meaningful race and one of the first they completed side by side. At the time, Hal was deep in marathon training and hitting peak form.\ \ A month later, Hal attempted the **Los Angeles Marathon**, hoping to clock a Boston-qualifying time. But something wasn’t right. Despite all his preparation, he was forced to stop midway through the race. His body wasn’t recovering the way it used to. At first, he chalked it up to overtraining or age, but the truth would come soon after. ## **ALS Diagnosis** In August 2009, at the height of his physical and intellectual pursuits, Hal received crushing news: a diagnosis of **Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)**, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was an especially cruel blow for a man who had just discovered a love for running and was helping birth the world’s first decentralized digital currency. ALS gradually robs people of voluntary muscle function. For Hal, it meant an uphill fight to maintain the independence and movement he cherished. Still, Hal didn’t stop. That September, **he and Fran ran the Disneyland Half Marathon together**, crossing the finish line hand in hand. It would be his last official race, but the identity of being a runner never left him—not after the diagnosis, not after the gradual loss of physical control, not even after he was confined to a wheelchair. Fran and Hal at the Disney Half Marathon. By December of that same year, Hal could no longer run. Still, he was determined not to sit on the sidelines. That winter, the couple helped organize a **relay team for the Santa Barbara International Marathon**, a race Hal had long planned to run. Friends and family joined in, and Fran ran the final leg, passing the timing chip to Hal for the last stretch. With support, **Hal walked across the finish line**, cheered on by the local running community who rallied around him. It was a symbolic moment—heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. Hal and Fran lead the Muscular Dystrophy Association relay team at the Santa Barbara International Marathon in 2009. Even as his muscles weakened, **Hal’s mind stayed sharp**, and he continued to adapt in every way he could. He and Fran began making practical changes around their home—installing ramps, adjusting routines—but emotionally, the ground was still shifting beneath them. Hal Finney humbly giving people in the future the opportunity to hear him speak before he is unable to. Fran consistently emphasized that Hal maintained a remarkably positive attitude, even as ALS took nearly everything from him physically. His optimism and determination became the emotional anchor for the entire family. > ***“He was the one who kept us all steady. He was never defeated.”\ > -Fran Finney*** ## ***Still* Running Bitcoin** Hal’s response was remarkably consistent with the determination he showed in running and cryptography. Even as the disease progressed, forcing him into a wheelchair and eventually limiting his speech, he kept coding—using assistive technologies that allowed him to control his computer through minimal eye movements. When he could no longer run physically, he continued to run test code for Bitcoin, advise other developers, and share insights on the BitcoinTalk forums. It was perseverance in its purest form. Fran was with him every step of the way. In October 2009, just months after his diagnosis, Hal published an essay titled [***“Dying Outside”***](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bshZiaLefDejvPKuS/dying-outside?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com)—a reflection on the road ahead. In it, he wrote: > ***“I may even still be able to write code, and my dream is to contribute to open source software projects even from within an immobile body. That will be a life very much worth living."*** And he meant it. Years later, Hal collaborated with Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn on a project involving secure wallets using Trusted Computing. Even while operating at a fraction of his former speed—he estimated it was just **1/50th** of what he used to be capable of—Hal kept at it. He even engineered an Arduino-based interface to control his wheelchair with his eyes. The hacker mindset never left him. This wasn’t just about legacy. It was about living with purpose, right up to the edge of possibility. ## **Running Bitcoin Challenge** In recent years, Fran Finney—alongside members of the Bitcoin community—launched the [**Running Bitcoin Challenge**](https://secure.alsnetwork.org/site/TR?fr_id=1510&pg=entry&ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), a virtual event that invites people around the world to run or walk **21 kilometers** each January in honor of Hal. Timed with the anniversary of his iconic *“Running bitcoin”* tweet, the challenge raises funds for **ALS research** through the ALS Network. According to Fran, **over 80% of all donations go directly to research**, making it a deeply impactful way to contribute. **Nearly $50,000 has been raised so far.** It’s not the next Ice Bucket Challenge—but that’s not the point. This is something more grounded, more personal. It’s a growing movement rooted in Hal’s legacy, powered by the Bitcoin community, and driven by the hope that collective action can one day lead to a cure. > ***“Since we’re all rich with bitcoins, or we will be once they’re worth a million dollars like everyone expects, we ought to put some of this unearned wealth to good use.”\ > \ > — Hal Finney, January 2011Price of Bitcoin: $0.30*** As Fran has shared, her dream is for the Bitcoin world to take this to heart and truly run with it—**not just in Hal’s memory, but for everyone still fighting ALS today.** ## **Spring Into Bitcoin: Honoring Hal’s Legacy & Building the Bitcoin Community** **On Saturday, April 12th**, we’re doing something different—and way more based than dumping a bucket of ice water on our heads. [***Spring Into Bitcoin***](https://blog.austinbitcoinclub.com/spring-into-bitcoin/) is a one-day celebration of sound money, health, and legacy. Hosted at [**Hippo Social Club**](https://www.hipposocialclub.com/?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), the event features a professional [**trail run**](https://www.tejastrails.com/uncommon?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), a sizzling open-air beef feast, Bitcoin talks, and a wellness zone complete with a **cold plunge challenge** (the ice bucket challenge walked so the cold plunge could run 😏). [**Purchase Tickets**](https://oshi.link/lVH7Qh?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com) **- General Admission** *Tickets purchased using this link will get 10% back in Bitcoin rewards compliments of [**Oshi Rewards**](https://oshi.tech/?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com).* [*Purchase Race Tickets Here*](https://www.tejastrails.com/events/uncommon) *- RACE DISTANCES: Most Miles in 12 Hours, Most Miles in 6 Hours, Most Miles in 1 Hour, 5K, Canine 5K, Youth 1 Mile* It’s all in honor of Hal Finney, one of Bitcoin’s earliest pioneers and a passionate runner. **100% of event profits will be donated in Bitcoin to the ALS Network**, funding research and advocacy in Hal’s memory. Come for the cause, stay for the beef, sauna, cold plunge and to kick it with the greatest, most freedom-loving community on earth. [Please consider donating to our Run for Hal Austin team here.](https://secure.alsnetwork.org/site/TR/Endurance/General?team_id=9302&pg=team&fr_id=1510) This race officially kicks off the 2025 Run for Hal World Tour! Ok, we might be a little biased. ## **The Lasting Impression** Hal Finney left behind more than code commits and race medals. He left behind a blueprint for **resilience**—a relentless drive to do good work, to strive for personal bests, and to give back no matter the circumstances. His life reminds us that “running” is more than physical exercise or a piece of software running on your laptop. It’s about forward progress. It’s about community. It’s about optimism in the face of challenges. So, as you tie your shoelaces for your next run or sync up your Bitcoin wallet, remember Hal Finney.

@ 1aa9ff07:3cb793b5

test 2

@ f3328521:a00ee32a

*This paper was originaly writen in early November 2024 as a proposal for an international Muslim entrepreneurial initiative. It was first publish on NOSTR 27 November 2024 as part 1 of a 4 part series of essays. Last updated/revised: 30 March 2025.* The lament of the Ummah for the past century has been the downfall of the Khalifate. With the genocide in occupied Palestine over the past year and now escalations in Lebanon as well, this concern is at the forefront of a Muslim’s mind. In our tradition, when one part of the Ummah suffers, all believers are affected and share in that suffering. The Ummah today has minimal sovereignty at best. It lacks a Khalifate. It is spiritually weakened due to those not practicing and fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. And, as we will address in this paper, it has no real economic power. In our current monetary system, it is nearly impossible to avoid the malevolence of *riba* (interest) – one of the worst sins. However, with bitcoin there is an opportunity to alleviate this collective suffering and reclaim economic sovereignty. Since it’s invention 15 years ago, bitcoin has risen to achieve a top 10 market cap ranking as a global asset (currently valued at $1.8 trillion USD). Institutional investors are moving full swing to embrace bitcoin in their portfolios. Recent proposals in Kazan hint that BRICS may even be utilizing bitcoin as part of their new payments system. State actors will be joining soon. With only about 1 million bitcoins left to be mined we need to aim to get as much of those remaining coins as possible into the wallets of Muslims over the next decade. Now is the time to onboard the Ummah. This paper presents Bitcoin as the best option for future economic sovereignty of the Ummah and proposes steps needed to generate a collective *waqf* of an initial 0.1%-0.5% chain dominance to safeguard a revived Khalifate. Money is the protocol that facilitates economic coordination to help the development and advancement of civilization. Throughout history money has existed as cattle, seashells, salt, beads, stones, precious metals. Money develops naturally and spontaneously; it is not the invention of the state (although it at times is legislated by states). Money exists marginally, not by fiat. During the past few millenniums, gold and silver were optimally used by most advanced civilizations due to strong properties such as divisibility, durability, fungibility, portability, scarcity, and verifiability. Paper money modernized usability through attempts to enhance portability, divisibility, and verifiability. However, all these monetary properties are digitized today. And with the increase of fractional-reserve banking over the past two centuries, *riba* is now the *de facto* foundation of the consensus reserve currency – the USD. This reserve currency itself is backed by the central banking organ of the treasury bond markets which are essentially government issued debt. Treasurey bonds opperate by manipulating the money supply arbitrarily with the purpose of targeting a set interest rate – injecting or liquidating money into the supply by fiat to control intrest yeilds. At its root, the current global monetary order depends entirely on *riba* to work. One need not list the terrible results of *riba* as Muslims know well its harshness. As Lyn Alden wonderful states in her book, Broken Money, “Everything is a claim of a claim of a claim, reliant on perpetual motion and continual growth to not collapse”. Eventual collapse is inevitable, and Muslims need to be aware and prepared for this reality. The status quo among Muslims has been to search for “*shariah* compliance”. However, *fatwa* regarding compliance as well as the current Islamic Banking scene still operate under the same fiat protocol which make them involved in the creation of money through *riba*. Obfuscation of this *riba* through *contractum trinius* or "*shariah* compliant" yields (which are benchmarked to interest rates) is simply an attempt to replicate conventional banking, just with a “*halal*” label. Fortunately, with the advent of the digital age we now have other monetary options available. Experiments and theories with digital money date back to the 1980s. In the 1990s we saw the dot com era with the coming online of the current fiat system, and in 2008 [Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf) to the world. We have been in the crypto era ever since. Without diving into the technical aspects of Bitcoin, it is simply a P2P e-cash that is cryptographically stored in digital wallets and secured via a decentralized blockchain ledger. For Muslims, it is essential to grasp that Bitcoin is a new type of money (not just an investment vehicle or payment application) that possesses “anti-*riba*” properties. Bitcoin has a fixed supply cap of 21 million, meaning there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin (BTC). Anyone with a cheap laptop or computer with an internet connection can participate on the Bitcoin network to verify this supply cap. This may seem like an inadequate supply for global adoption, but each bitcoin is highly divisible into smaller units (1 btc = 100,000,000 satoshis or sats). Bitcoins are created (or mined) from the processing of transactions on the blockchain which involves expending energy in the real world (via CPU power) and providing proof that this work was done. In contrast, with the *riba*-based fiat system, central banks need to issue debt instruments, either in the form of buying treasuries or through issuing a bond. Individual banks are supposed to be irresponsibly leveraged and are rewarded for making risky loans. With Bitcoin, there is a hard cap of 21 million, and there is no central authority that can change numbers on a database to create more money or manipulate interest rates. Under a Bitcoin standard, money is verifiably stored on a ledger and is not loaned to create more money with interest. Absolute scarcity drives saving rather than spending, but with increasing purchasing power from the exponentially increasing demand also comes the desire to use that power and increased monetary economization. With bitcoin you are your own bank, and bitcoin becomes for your enemies as much as it is for your friends. Bitcoin ultimately provides a clean foundation for a stable money that can be used by muslims and should be the currency for a future Khalifate. The 2024 American presidential election has perhaps shown more clearly than ever the lack of politcal power that American Muslims have as well as the dire need for them to attain political influence. Political power comes largely through economic sovereignty, military might, and media distribution. Just a quick gloss of Muslim countries and Turkey & Egypt seem to have decent militaries but failing economies. GCC states have good economies but weak militaries. Iran uniquely has survived sanctions for decades and despite this weakened economic status has still been able to make military gains. Although any success from its path is yet to be seen it is important to note that Iran is the only country that has been able to put up any clear resistance to western powers. This is just a noteworthy observation and as this paper is limited to economic issues, full analysis of media and miliary issues must be left for other writings. It would also be worthy to note that BDS movements (Boycott, Divest & Sanction) in solidarity with Palestine should continue to be championed. Over the past year they have undoubtedly contributed to PEP stock sinking 2.25% and MCD struggling to break even. SBUX and KO on the other hand, despite active boycott campaigns, remain up 3.5% & 10.6% respectively. But some thought must be put into why the focus of these boycotts has been on snack foods that are a luxury item. Should we not instead be focusing attention on advanced tech weaponry? MSFT is up 9.78%, GOOG up 23.5%, AMZN up 30%, and META up 61%! It has been well documented this past year how most of the major tech companies have contracts with occupying entity and are using the current genocide as a testing ground for AI. There is no justification for AI being a good for humanity when it comes at the expense of the lives of our brothers in Palestine. However, most “*sharia* compliant” investment guides still list these companies among their top recommendations for Muslims to include in their portfolios. As has already been argued, by investing in fiat-based organization, businesses, ETFs, and mutual funds we are not addressing the root cause of *riba*. We are either not creating truly *halal* capital, are abusing the capital that Allah has entrusted to us or are significantly missing blessings that Allah wants to give us in the capital that we have. If we are following the imperative to attempt to make our wealth as “*riba*-free” as possible, then the first step must be to get off zero bitcoin Here again, the situation in Palestine becomes a good example. All Palestinians suffer from inflation from using the Israeli Shekel, a fiat currency. Palestinians are limited in ways to receive remittances and are shrouded in sanctions. No CashApp, PayPal, Venmo. Western Union takes huge cuts and sometimes has confiscated funds. Bank wires do this too and here the government sanctions nearly always get in the way. However, Palestinians can use bitcoin which is un-censorable. Israel cannot stop or change the bitcoin protocol. Youssef Mahmoud, a former taxi driver, has been running [Bitcoin For Palestine](http://bitcoinforpalestine.org/) as a way for anyone to make a bitcoin donation in support of children in Gaza. Over 1.6 BTC has been donated so far, an equivalent of about $149,000 USD based on current valuation. This has provided a steady supply of funds for the necessary food, clothing, and medication for those most in need of aid (Note: due to recent updates in Gaza, Bitcoin For Palestine is no longer endorsed by the author of this paper. However, it remains an example of how the Bitcoin network opperates through heavy sanctions and war). Over in one of the poorest countries in the world, a self-managed orphanage is providing a home to 77 children without the patronage of any charity organization. [Orphans Of Uganda](https://www.orphans-of-uganda.org/) receives significant funding through bitcoin donations. In 2023 and 2024 Muslims ran Ramadan campaigns that saw the equivalent of $14,000 USD flow into the orphanage’s bitcoin wallet. This funding enabled them to purchase food, clothing, medical supplies and treatment, school costs, and other necessities. Many who started donating during the 2023 campaign also have continued providing monthly donations which has been crucial for maintaining the well-being of the children. According to the [Muslim Philanthropy Initiative](https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/items/fd27565f-6738-4d43-a3ad-173a122c617a), Muslim Americans give an estimated $1.8 billion in *zakat* donations every year with the average household donating $2070 anually. Now imagine if international zakat organizations like Launchgood or Islamic Relief enabled the option to donate bitcoin. So much could be saved by using an open, instant, permissionless, and practically feeless way to send *zakat* or *sadaqah* all over the world! Most *zakat* organizations are sleeping on or simply unaware of this revolutionary technology. Studies by institutions like Fidelity and [Yale](https://www.nber.org/papers/w24877) have shown that adding even a 1% to 5% bitcoin allocation to a traditional 60/40 stock-bond portfolio significantly enhances returns. Over the past decade, a 5% bitcoin allocation in such a portfolio has increased returns by over 3x without a substantial increase in risk or volatility. If American Muslims, who are currently a demographic estimated at 2.5 million, were to only allocate 5% ($270 million) of their annual *zakat* to bitcoin donations, that would eventually become worth $14.8 billion at the end of a decade. Keep in mind this rate being proposed here is gathered from American Muslim *zakat* data (a financially privileged population, but one that only accounts for 0.04% of the Ummah) and that it is well established that Muslims donate in *sadaqa* as well. Even with a more conservative rate of a 1% allocation you would still be looking at nearly $52 million being liquidated out of fiat and into bitcoin annually. However, if the goal is to help Muslims hit at least 0.1% chain dominance in the next decade then a target benchmark of a 3% annual *zakat* allocation will be necessary. Islamic financial institutions will be late to the game when it comes to bitcoin adoption. They will likely hesitate for another 2-4 years out of abundance of regulatory caution and the persuasion to be reactive rather than proactive. It is up to us on the margin to lead in this regard. Bitcoin was designed to be peer-2-peer, so a grassroots Muslim bitcoiner movement is what is needed. Educational grants through organizations like [Bitcoin Majlis](https://bitcoinmajlis.org/bitcoin-educational-grant-for-muslims/) should be funded with endowments. Local Muslim bitcoin meetups must form around community mosques and Islamic 3rd spaces. Networked together, each community would be like decentralized nodes that could function as a seed-holder for a multi-sig *waqf* that can circulate wealth to those that need it, giving the poorer a real opportunity to level up and contribute to societ and demonstrating why *zakat* is superior to interest. Organic, marginal organizing must be the foundation to building sovereignty within the Ummah. Sovereignty starts at the individual level and not just for all spiritual devotion, but for economics as well. Physical sovereignty is in the individual human choice and action of the Muslim. It is the direct responsibility placed upon insan when the trust of *khalifa* was placed upon him. Sovereignty is the hallmark of our covenant, we must embrace our right to self-determination and secede from a monetary policy of riba back toward that which is pure. > "Whatever loans you give, seeking interest at the expense of people’s wealth will not increase with Allah. But whatever charity you give, seeking the pleasure of Allah—it is they whose reward will be multiplied." ([Quran 30:39](https://quran.com/30/39?ref=blog.zoya.finance)) ## FAQ **Why does bitcoin have any value?** Unlike stocks, bonds, real-estate or even commodities such as oil and wheat, bitcoins cannot be valued using standard discounted cash-flow analysis or by demand for their use in the production of higher order goods. Bitcoins fall into an entirely different category of goods, known as monetary goods, whose value is set game-theoretically. I.e., each market participant values the good based on their appraisal of whether and how much other participants will value it. The truth is that the notions of “cheap” and “expensive” are essentially meaningless in reference to monetary goods. The price of a monetary good is not a reflection of its cash flow or how useful it is but, rather, is a measure of how widely adopted it has become for the various roles of money. **Is crypto-currency halal?** It is important to note that this paper argues in favor of Bitcoin, not “Crypto” because all other crypto coins are simply attempts a re-introducing fiat money-creation in digital space. Since they fail to address the root cause error of *riba* they will ultimately be either destroyed by governments or governments will evolve to embrace them in attempts to modernize their current fiat system. To highlight this, one can call it “bit-power” rather than “bit-coin” and see that there is more at play here with bitcoin than current systems contain. [Mufti Faraz Adam’s *fatwa*](https://darulfiqh.com/is-it-permissible-to-invest-in-cryptocurrencies-2/) from 2017 regarding cryptocurrency adaqately addresses general permissibility. However, bitcoin has evolved much since then and is on track to achieve global recognition as money in the next few years. It is also vital to note that monetary policy is understood by governments as a vehicle for sanctions and a tool in a political war-chest. Bitcoin evolves beyond this as at its backing is literal energy from CPU mining that goes beyond kinetic power projection limitations into cyberspace. For more on theories of bitcoin’s potential as a novel weapons technology see Jason Lowery’s book [Softwar](https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/153030/lowery-jplowery-sm-sdm-2023-thesis.pdf). **What about market volatility?** Since the inception of the first exchange traded price in 2010, the bitcoin market has witnessed five major Gartner hype cycles. It is worth observing that the rise in bitcoin’s price during hype cycles is largely correlated with an increase in liquidity and the ease with which investors could purchase bitcoins. Although it is impossible to predict the exact magnitude of the current hype cycle, it would be reasonable to conjecture that the current cycle reaches its zenith in the range of $115,000 to $170,000. Bitcoin’s final Gartner hype cycle will begin when nation-states start accumulating it as a part of their foreign currency reserves. As private sector interest increases the capitalization of Bitcoin has exceeded 1 trillion dollars which is generally considered the threshold at which an assest becomes liquid enough for most states to enter the market. In fact, El Salvador is already on board.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

In my [monthly check-in](https://stacker.news/items/929731/r/Undisciplined), I described my vision for our regularly occurring awards: - 1 top post for the year, receiving 1/3 of the total prize pool - 4 top quarter posts, each receiving 1/12 of the total prize pool - 12 top monthly posts, each receiving 1/36 of the total prize pool Eventually, I'll want to finance these with some fraction of territory profits. However, when I took over the territory from @jeff, I [pledged](https://stacker.news/items/89179/r/Undisciplined?commentId=826287) to first use any profits to make whole our early donors, in some fashion. In that spirit, I would like to ask the following donors if they would consider funding this award series with their already donated sats an acceptable form of paying their donations forward: @siggy47, @grayruby, @OriginalSize, @030e0dca83, @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears. I would also like to ask @jeff if he would consider something similar as payback for his early contributions to the territory. Assuming all parties agree, we would have over 1M sats in funding for this series. At our current rate of about 400k profit per year, it would take a couple of years to pay it all forward and that top prize would be pretty nice. Thanks, Undisciplined originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929828

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

When it comes to speaking the truth, obeying God, or living a godly life, the average or the compromise is not necessarily correct, but frequently we do err to one extreme or the other. ## Mercy or Wrath? One area of controversy is whether we serve a God of love & mercy or a God of holiness & wrath. The truth is that the God of the Bible is both love and holiness and he acts in mercy and in wrath. If we focus too much on God’s holiness and wrath, we become solely about robotically obeying laws and about all of the things we can’t do. We will fail to show love and mercy as Jesus showed those lost in sin. We will fail to show the mercy and love He showed to us. We become much like the Pharisees, whom Jesus called “*whitewashed tombs*.” > Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15) We need to always speak the truth, but in a loving and merciful way. > Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 1:3) If we focus too much on God’s love and mercy, we can forget that the God of the Bible is holy and righteous and can’t stand to be in the presence of sinfulness. We can begin to soften God’s holy word to be little more than suggestions. Even worse, we can bend God’s word to the point that it no longer resembles His clearly communicated commands. Also, if we don’t call sin “sin” and sinners “sinners,” then those same sinners will never understand their need for a Savior and never trust Jesus in repentance. If God isn’t holy and we aren’t sinners, then why would anyone need a Savior? > But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (1 Peter 1:15) We need to treat God and His word as holy, while showing love to His creation. > If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1) God/Jesus/Holy Spirit are holy and loving. If we leave out either side of His character, then we aren’t telling people about the God of the Bible. We have made a God in the image we desire, rather than who He is. If we go to either extreme, we lose who God really is and it will affect both our relationship with God and our relationship with others detrimentally. ## Faith or Works? Another area of contention is relating to faith and works. What is more important — faith or works? Are they not both important? Many believers focus on faith. Sola Fide (faith alone). > For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) This is a true statement that Salvation comes solely through faith in what Jesus did for us. We don’t get any credit for our own works. All that is good and righteous in us is from the covering of the blood of Jesus and His good works and His power. But since many people focus on faith alone, they can come to believe that they can live any way that pleases them. > What shall we say, then? **Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer**? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:1-4) {emphasis mine} By focusing solely on faith, we can be tempted to live life however we please instead of living a life in submission to Our God and Savior. Our lives can be worthless instead of us acting as good servants. > If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15) At the same time, there are many who are so focused on good works that they leave faith out of it — either a lack of faith themselves or a failure to communicate the need for faith when sharing the gospel. They try to earn their way to heaven. They try to impress those around them by their works. > But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. (Matthew 25:5-7) I think James best communicates the balance between faith and works. > What use is it, my brethren, **if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can *that* faith save him**? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? **Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being *by itself***. > > But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and **I will show you my faith by my works**.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:14-24) {emphasis mine} Let’s look at some of the details here to find the truth. “*if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can **that** faith save him*?” Can the kind of faith that has no works, that has no evidence, save a person? If a person truly has saving faith, there will be evidence in their world view and the way they live their life. “*Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being **by itself***.” We are saved by faith alone, but if we are saved we will have works. Faith “by itself” is not saving faith, for “*the demons also believe, and shudder*.” I don’t think anyone would argue that the demons have saving faith, yet they believe and shudder. Works are the evidence of true faith leading to salvation, but it is only faith that saves. ## Speak the Truth or Love? Whether we stand firmly and always loudly speak the truth or whether we show love and mercy is related to how we view God (as loving or as holy), but I thought how we respond was worth its own discussion. Sometimes people are so worried about love and unity that they compromise the truth. They may actively compromise the truth by claiming the Bible says something other than what it says, i.e.. old earth vs young earth, or marriage is about two people who love each other vs marriage being defined by God as one woman and one man. Sometimes this compromise is just avoiding talking about uncomfortable subjects completely so that no one is made to feel bad. This is a problem because God said what He said and means what He said. > but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, (Ephesians 4:15) Avoiding speaking the whole truth is effectively lying about what God’s word said (see my previous post on [“The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/c7cdf433-9e7d-427e-9db0-e7bbd609661b)”). We are not doing anyone a favor making them feel good about their sin. A person has to admit they have a problem before they will act to fix the problem. A person who doesn’t understand their sin will never submit to a Savior. It isn’t loving to hide the truth from a person just because it makes them uncomfortable or it make the relationship uncomfortable for ourselves. > Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6) At the same time, sometimes people seem to beat others over the head with God’s truth. They share the truth in the most unloving and unmerciful way. They use God’s truth to try to lift up themselves while putting down others. This is just as bad. > Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; **not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right**, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:7-8) {emphasis mine} Some Christians spend so much time nit picking tiny discrepancies in theology that they miss the whole point of the Gospel. > “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23) Some Christians use theological purity as a means to lift themselves up while knocking others down. > “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14) We need to stand firmly on the truth, but not to be so focused on truth that we fight with fellow believers over the smallest differences, especially when these differences are among the areas that are not spoken of as clearly (like end times eschatology). ## Rejoice or Fear God? Tonight I read [Psalm 2](https://www.bible.com/bible/100/PSA.2.NASB1995) which brought to mind another seemingly contradictory way we are to interact with God. Do we fear God or do we rejoice in Him? There are many verses telling us to fear God or fear the Lord. They are given as a command, as a way to knowledge, as a way to life, etc. > Honor all people, love the brotherhood, **fear God**, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17) {emphasis mine} and > The f**ear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge**; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) {emphasis mine} and > The **fear of the Lord leads to life**, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. (Proverbs 19:23) {emphasis mine} At the same time we are told to rejoice in the Lord. > Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) and > Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4) How often do we rejoice in the thing that makes us tremble in fear? I’d guess, *not very often* or even *never*. A right view of God, however, causes us to “*rejoice with trembling*.” > Worship the Lord with reverence\ > And **rejoice with trembling**.\ > Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,\ > For His wrath may soon be kindled.\ > How **blessed are all who take refuge in Him**! (Psalm 2:11-12) {emphasis mine} That phrase, “*rejoice with trembling*” seems to perfectly encapsulate the balance between fear of an awesome, omnipotent, holy God and rejoicing in a loving, merciful God who came to earth, lived the perfect life that we cannot, and died to pay the penalty for our sins. “*How blessed are all who take refuge in Him*!” ## No Real Contradictions I think these examples do a good example of demonstrating wisdom regarding God’s word and the importance of balance in our Christian lives. Even when at first there seems to be contradictions, God’s word never contradicts itself; it always clarifies itself. Also, when we see a theological or implementation error to one extreme, we need to make sure we are not driven to an error in the other extreme. We also need to make sure, when debating with fellow believers, that we do not argue against one extreme so strongly that we miscommunicate the truth. May God in heaven guide you as you study His word and seek to submit to His commands. May He help you to see the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. May He guide the church to unity in His truth. Trust Jesus

@ 21c9f12c:75695e59

This guy was in my dad's building. A reminder of the importance of balance in our lives. We all have good and bad experiences in life. What matters is how you choose to handle them and balance yourself on the narrow path. Our paths in life have many possible turns, some take us closer to our ultimate reality while others might lead us astray for a bit. No matter which path you choose the important thing is to keep your balance and footing and not be swept away in the breeze. You can always find your way back to your center and work your way back out from there. There is seldom a straight path in this life that will take you directly to your ultimate reality, make your way as you will and you'll find that you have what you need when you need it. Ultimately we are all connected in ways we may never understand. The web of reality is so complex and woven with such precision that we need not try to understand why things are the way they are but accept that they are and move along our path doing our best to help others along the way when possible and accept help from those offering it. The path we take is strengthened and preserved when we follow it with love in our hearts. In this way we can leave a beacon to guide others on their way. My dad left a lot of love on his path. He has guided so many people whether he realized it or not. His guidance of my path has made me who I am today and I am so proud to say that. His love and light shines bright ahead of me and my path is made so much clearer by the love I received and will continue to receive from him. This is more than just a spider in a building, it is a reminder that all will be well and we will find our balance and continue along our path with the light and love dad has placed on the web of life for us to follow. Peace and love to everyone and may you all find your balance and continue on your path in the light and love that has been placed there for you by those who have gone before.

@ 1aa9ff07:3cb793b5

test

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Revenue rebounded in a major way this month. Thank you to all the great contributors and zappers for making this territory a going concern. As I mentioned to @denlillaapan, our long-term goal is to eventually buy the very failed *The Economist* and return it to glory. So, let's keep the success rolling. # Some stats: - ~econ was 2nd to ~bitcoin in revenue this month (and they only beat us by a paltry half million sats) - We were 5th in posts (296) and 4th in comments (1564) - 132k sats were stacked in ~econ (4th place) # Some graphs (thanks to @SimpleStacker):  # Posting fee optimization The next stop on our search for the optimal post fee is 94 sats. # Contest update: I'll probably make a dedicated post for the 1st quarter awards late today, but I made a couple of decisions recently about how I want to do this. Since I pay territory rent annually, I won't know how much profits are available for prizes until the end of the year. So, I'll announce the winners each quarter, but pay out the prizes at the end of the year. I've decided to split the prize evenly amongst three categories: Best Post of the Year, Posts of the Quarter, and Posts of the Month. I'm thinking that we can use zaprank for the monthly top posts and then have a poll select the "Post of the Quarter" from amongst those and then an end of year poll to select the "Post of the Year" from the "Posts of the Quarter". originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929731

@ 6d3df767:363347f6

asdf originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/459388

@ 878dff7c:037d18bc

## Business Leaders Warn of Economic Risks from Potential Minority Government ### Summary: Australian business leaders are expressing deep concerns about the possibility of a minority government influenced by the Greens or independent "teal" candidates after the upcoming May federal election. CEOs such as Graham Turner, Chris Garnaut, and Bruce Mathieson warn that such a government could lead to policy instability, hinder long-term economic planning, and negatively impact Australia's global competitiveness. Key issues highlighted include the cost of living, housing supply, and the need for comprehensive economic reforms to stimulate consumer confidence and productivity. Sources: <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/business-leaders-fret-about-minority-government-deals-as-an-economic-disaster-in-the-making/news-story/a6273a5dcdf2c1eb3fa5a2a766066cd0" target="_blank">The Australian - March 31, 2025</a> ## Forecasted Decline in Australia's Resource and Energy Export Earnings ### Summary: The Australian government projects a 6% decrease in mining and energy export earnings for the financial year ending in June, attributing the decline to lower U.S. dollar prices for these exports. Earnings are expected to fall to A$387 billion from A$415 billion the previous year. This trend is anticipated to continue over the next five years, stabilizing at A$343 billion. Factors contributing to this decline include normalizing energy export values after recent peaks and reduced demand from China, particularly affecting iron ore exports. Sources: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/australia-forecasts-hit-resource-energy-export-earnings-lower-us-dollar-2025-03-30/" target="_blank">Reuters - March 31, 2025</a> ## Devastating Queensland Floods Expected to Persist for Weeks ### Summary: Queensland is experiencing severe flooding due to record-breaking rains exceeding 650mm, submerging entire communities like Adavale and Jundah. Swiftwater crews have conducted over 40 rescues, and major flood warnings remain across inland Queensland. The floods have damaged energy infrastructure, leaving around 300 homes without power. Livestock losses may reach up to a million, with farmers facing significant property damage and urging government and military assistance. Efforts to restore power are underway but depend on weather conditions. Additional rainfall is forecast for the coming week, potentially prolonging the flooding for days, if not weeks. Sources: <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/qld-weather-outback-flooding-to-persist-for-days-if-not-weeks/news-story/2efc920a2a222f2c3156a9c3612e9b2a" target="_blank">The Courier-Mail - 31 March 2025</a> ## Western NSW Towns Brace for Six Weeks of Isolation Due to Floods ### Summary: A dynamic weather system has caused significant rainfall and flooding along the Paroo and Warrego Rivers, isolating communities in western NSW. The State Emergency Service (SES) has issued 46 warnings, urging residents to prepare for up to six weeks of isolation. Flash flooding, mainly due to water from Queensland, is a major concern, prompting 19 SES flood rescues and 586 emergency responses in the past 24 hours. In Taree, 22 people are surrounded by floodwater and are being rescued. An elderly man is missing after being washed away in floodwaters. The NSW SES advises residents to stay updated via their website or the Hazards Near Me app. Sources: <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/a-low-pressure-system-and-extc-whip-up-storms-and-wild-weather-across-australia/news-story/febbde20ce68b0e5bb6e15dd3de8f6a1" target="_blank">News.com.au - 31 March 2025</a> ## Albanese Abandons Energy Bill Reduction Modelling ### Summary: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has distanced himself from earlier modelling that supported the promise to cut power bills by $378 by 2030 and reduce emissions by 43%. He attributes the failure to achieve $275 reductions in power bills by 2025 to international factors, including the Ukraine war. This move has drawn criticism from both the Coalition and the Greens, who accuse the government of not effectively addressing power prices and emissions reduction. Sources: <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-abandons-modelling-underpinning-labors-energy-and-climate-agenda/news-story/2b75da5a71e8ddff7c393ae56db08cfe" target="_blank">The Australian - March 31, 2025</a> ## Albanese Seeks Direct Talks with Trump on Tariffs ### Summary: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese anticipates a direct discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding impending tariffs, as Washington prepares to announce new trade measures on April 2. There are concerns that Australia could be affected by this escalation in the global trade conflict. Albanese has emphasized his government's constructive engagement with U.S. officials on this issue and looks forward to a one-on-one conversation with President Trump. Sources: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/australias-albanese-expects-one-on-one-discussion-with-trump-tariffs-2025-03-30/" target="_blank">Reuters - March 31, 2025</a> ## Queensland Government Expands 'Adult Time, Adult Crime' Laws ### Summary: The Queensland state government plans to introduce at least a dozen new offenses to the Making Queensland Safer Laws, including rape, aggravated attempted robbery, attempted murder, arson, and torture. These changes will enable the judiciary to treat juvenile offenders as adults for severe crimes. Despite criticism over the delayed inclusion of attempted murder, Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber defended the sequence and content of the initial changes. The full list of offenses will be unveiled later this week. Sources: <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/secrecy-shrouds-new-additions-to-adult-time-adult-crime-laws/news-story/cca5b2f49a5a645bdaae882187fc79da" target="_blank">The Courier-Mail - March 30, 2025</a> ## Labor Government Proposes Ban on Supermarket Price Gouging ### Summary: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that a re-elected Labor government would introduce legislation to outlaw supermarket price gouging by the end of the year. The plan includes implementing Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recommendations to enhance price transparency and establishing a task force to advise on an "excessive pricing regime" for supermarkets, with potential heavy fines for violators. Opposition leader Peter Dutton criticized the approach as ineffective, suggesting it was merely a "wet lettuce" move. Critics from both sides called for tougher measures to combat supermarket dominance and protect consumers. Sources: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/29/labor-promises-price-gouging-crack-down-on-supermarkets" target="_blank">The Guardian - March 29, 2025</a>, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/anthony-albanese-declares-war-on-supermarket-pricegouging-promising-to-make-it-illegal/news-story/626425388f45ec44059ecc8854734ab5" target="_blank">News.com.au - March 30, 2025</a> ## Coles Expands Recall on Spinach Products Due to Contamination ### Summary: Coles has extended its recall of various spinach products across multiple regions, including New South Wales and Victoria, due to potential microbial contamination. Customers are advised not to consume the affected products and can return them to any Coles store for a full refund. The recall applies to items purchased between March 20 and March 29, with use-by dates up to April 9.​ Sources: <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/food-warnings/salad-leaf-recall-extended-to-products-across-australia-as-coles-pulls-products-from-shelves/news-story/cbb2ef70f2452f4446eb5a9899113369" target="_blank">News.com.au - March 31, 2025</a> ## 66-Year-Old Man Rescued After Five Days Stranded in Australian Outback ### Summary: Tony Woolford, a 66-year-old Australian man, was rescued after being stranded for five days in the flood-hit Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert. Woolford's vehicle was immobilized by rising floodwaters, and with no phone service, he survived by harvesting rainwater and using a high-frequency radio to communicate with volunteers. Authorities were notified on March 23, and he was rescued on March 26 in stable condition and high spirits. Despite the ordeal, Woolford plans to return to the outback to retrieve his car and continue his exploration once conditions improve. Sources: <a href="https://people.com/man-saved-rising-flood-water-alone-australian-outback-11704149" target="_blank">People - March 28, 2025</a> ## US Tariffs and Australia's Response ### Summary: Former US trade negotiator Ralph Ives asserts that the US-Australia Free-Trade Agreement has ensured fair reciprocity for two decades, suggesting that President Donald Trump should not impose reciprocal tariffs on Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese anticipates a direct discussion with President Trump regarding these tariffs, expressing concern over potential impacts on Australian exports. Sources: <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/lead-us-fta-negotiators-oppose-reciprocal-tariffs-on-australia/news-story/e0857b7d3a5354c6368da5930581be1e" target="_blank">The Australian - March 31, 2025</a>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/australias-albanese-expects-one-on-one-discussion-with-trump-tariffs-2025-03-30/" target="_blank">Reuters - March 31, 2025</a> ## Controversial Genetically Modified Mosquito Plan Monitored Amid Backlash ### Summary: The Queensland government is set to monitor a proposal by Oxitec Australia to release genetically modified mosquitoes aimed at reducing disease transmission. Despite community opposition and concerns about environmental and health risks, supporters argue the initiative could combat diseases like dengue and Zika. Public consultations have been delayed due to significant interest and debate continues over the plan's potential impacts. Sources: <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/pets-and-wildlife/qld-government-to-monitor-oxitecs-gm-mozzies-plan-after-community-backlash/news-story/04c5586ea500db3634ff79524fd923c7" target="_blank">The Courier-Mail - March 26, 2025</a> ## Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong: You're Being Lied to About Cancer, How It's Caused, and How to Stop It ### Summary: In this episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a renowned physician and entrepreneur, discusses misconceptions surrounding cancer, its origins, and potential treatments. He emphasizes the complexity of cancer, noting that it's not a single disease but a collection of related diseases requiring varied approaches. Dr. Soon-Shiong highlights the role of the immune system in combating cancer and advocates for treatments that bolster immune responses rather than solely relying on traditional methods like chemotherapy. He also addresses the importance of early detection and personalized medicine in improving patient outcomes. Sources: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1R8wy3BlEYXcQbNEO5EhVI" target="_blank">The Tucker Carlson Show - March 31, 2025</a>

@ 22001a51:7dc020ce

Adding more bag in $KFR Is the next big thing in this Easter season on Solana blockchain

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Fažana is a picturesque fishing village on Croatia’s Istrian coast, just 8 km from Pula. Known for its colorful waterfront, fresh seafood, and as the gateway to Brijuni National Park, Fažana is a peaceful alternative to larger tourist hotspots.  ## **🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Fažana** ### **1️⃣ Stroll the Fažana Waterfront & Old Town 🎨** - The charming **harbor is lined with colorful houses, cafés, and fishing boats**. - Visit **St. Cosmas and Damian Church**, a small yet beautiful historical site. - Enjoy a **relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere** with fewer crowds than Pula.  ### **2️⃣ Take a Boat Trip to Brijuni National Park 🏝️** - **Brijuni Islands**, just 15 minutes away by boat, offer **stunning nature, Roman ruins, and a safari park**. - Explore the **remains of a Roman villa, Tito’s summer residence, and dinosaur footprints**! - Rent a **bike or golf cart** to explore the islands at your own pace.  ### **3️⃣ Enjoy the Beaches 🏖️** - **Badel Beach** – A **Blue Flag beach**, great for families with **crystal-clear, shallow waters**. - **Pineta Beach** – A **peaceful, pine-shaded spot** with a mix of sand and pebbles. - **San Lorenzo Beach** – A scenic spot **perfect for sunset views over Brijuni**. ### **4️⃣ Try the Local Seafood 🍽️** - Fažana is known as **the "Sardine Capital of Istria"** – try **grilled sardines** with local wine. - Visit **Konoba Feral** or **Stara Konoba** for authentic Istrian seafood. - Pair your meal with **Istrian Malvazija wine**. ### **5️⃣ Visit the Sardine Park 🐟** - A **unique outdoor exhibition** dedicated to Fažana’s fishing traditions. - Learn about **the history of sardine fishing and processing** in Istria.  ### **6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to Pula 🏛️** - Just **15 minutes away**, Pula offers **Roman ruins, historic sites, and vibrant nightlife**. - Don’t miss the **Pula Arena, Temple of Augustus, and the lively Old Town**.  ## **🚗 How to Get to Fažana** ✈️ **By Air:** Pula Airport (PUY) is just **15 minutes away**. 🚘 **By Car:** - **From Pula:** ~15 min (8 km) - **From Rovinj:** ~35 min (30 km) - **From Zagreb:** ~3.5 hours (270 km) 🚌 **By Bus:** Regular buses run between **Pula and Fažana**. 🚢 **By Boat:** Ferries to **Brijuni National Park** depart from Fažana’s harbor. --- ## **💡 Tips for Visiting Fažana** ✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for beach weather & Brijuni trips ☀️ ✅ **Try local olive oil** – Istria produces some of the **best olive oils in the world** 🫒 ✅ **Visit early for boat tickets to Brijuni** – They can sell out quickly in summer ⏳ ✅ **Perfect for a relaxing stay** – Less crowded than Pula but close to major attractions 🌊

@ 83e26223:2ba007a6

Bitcoin's potential to reach $100,000 is gaining traction among experts and analysts. Several factors contribute to this... - Increased Adoption: Growing institutional investment and mainstream acceptance are driving Bitcoin's price up. As more businesses and consumers use Bitcoin for transactions, its value could surge. - Reduced Supply and Increased Demand: The recent halving event reduced Bitcoin's supply, while demand from Bitcoin ETFs and new investors continues to rise. This imbalance could push prices higher. - Limited Supply and Store of Value: Bitcoin's capped supply of 21 million coins makes it an attractive store of value, similar to gold. As inflation concerns grow, investors may turn to Bitcoin as a hedge. - Positive Market Trends: The rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and the potential for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve could further boost Bitcoin's price. - Expert Predictions: Analysts like Cathie Wood and The Motley Fool believe Bitcoin's price could triple or quadruple in the next few years, reaching and surpassing $100,000. While predictions are subjective and the cryptocurrency market is notoriously volatile, these factors contribute to the growing optimism about Bitcoin's potential to reach $100,000. For investors, it's essential to stay informed, manage risks, and adopt a long-term perspective.

@ 0f9da413:01bd07d7

ช่วงสัปดาห์ก่อน 21-30 มีนาคม 2568 ที่ผ่านมาส่วนตัวได้มีภาระกิจเดินทางไปปฏิบัติงานของสถานที่ทำงานและรวดไปเที่ยวส่วนตัว ในการเดินทางในครั้งนี้ภาระกิจหลักส่วนตัวอาจจะไปทำงานแต่หากมีการเดินทางแล้วผมมักจะชอบเดินทางไปพบปะชาว bitcoiner ชาวไทย หรือชาว #siamstr ตามสถานที่ต่างๆ อยู่เสมอตลอดช่วงระยะเวลาดังกล่าวส่วนตัวก็ได้เดินทางไปยังพื้นที่ดังนี้ - ชลบุรี (พัทยา) - เกาะช้าง (ตราด) - หาดใหญ่ (สงขลา) - เชียงใหม่ ซึ่งได้ตรวจเช็คแล้วในพื้นที่ดังกล่าวมีร้านรับ bitcoin อยู่และมีประสบการณ์ในแต่ละที่ที่แตกต่างกันออกไปซึ่งผมเองจะขอรัวิวการเดินทางดังกล่าวนี้ โดยอ้างอิงจากการตามรอยร้านที่รับชำระด้วย BTC ผ่าน BTC Map และจะมีบางร้านที่ไม่ได้อยู่ใน BTC Map ก็ขอรีวิวตามช่วงระยะเวลา Timeline ละกัน --- ### **Seeva Cafe Pattya**  ร้านชีวาคาเฟ่ ร้านตกแต่งในสไตล์ศิลปะและกาแฟในร้านมีโซนจำหน่ายขนมเค้กและอื่นๆ อีกด้วย มีต้นไม้ร่มรื่นและบรรยากาศค่อนข้างดีพอสมควร ท่านไหนอยากเดินทางไปจิบกาแฟเบาๆ นั่งทำงานพักผ่อนแถวพัทยาใต้ก็สามารถเดินทางไปแวะชิมกันได้ (รับบิทคอยด้วยนะ) สถานที่นี้ไม่ได้เสีย sats เนื่องจากมีเจ้าภาพเลี้ยง ขอบคุณครับ **Google Map**: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZJNUGYiCgp1VTzGJ9 **BTC-Map:** None [image](https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/0f9da41389e1239d267c43105ecfc92273079e80c2d4b09e1d1e172701bd07d7/files/1743345791736-YAKIHONNES3.JPG)  --- ### **Piya Silapakan Museum of Art Pattaya** สถานที่ถัดมาเป็นหอศิลป์​ ปิยะศิลปาคารเป็นสถานที่ที่เก็บรวมรวมผลงานทางศิลปะต่างๆ ภาพวาดเสมือนจริงซึ่งแน่นอนว่าสามารถมาเรียน Workshop ทางด้านศิลปะได้แน่นอนว่าสามารถจ่ายด้วย Bitcoin Lightning ได้โดยผมเองก็ได้วาดศิลปะสีน้ำวาดบนกระเป๋าผ้า เอาจริงๆ ณ ตอนที่วาดนั้นแทบจะลืมเวลาและโพกัสกับสิ่งที่วาดอยู่ทำให้รู้สึกผ่อนคลายและวาดสิ่งต่างๆ เหมือนตอนสมัยเด็กๆ ซึ่งหากมีเวลาเพิ่มเติมผมเองก็อาจจะเจียดเวลาไปลองวาดศิลปะแลลอื่นๆ โดยที่ไม่ต้องให้ใครมาตัดสินใจ สวยไม่สวยอย่างไร ก็อยู่ที่เรา หลายครั้งเราชอบให้คนอื่นตัดสินใจเพื่อทำให้เรารู้สึกดี ลองมาที่นี้ดูสิแล้วคุณจะตัดสินใจด้วยตนเอง   อันนี้ผลงานส่วนตัวที่ได้ทำ แล้วแต่การจินตนาการของแต่ละท่านว่าสิ่งที่ผมวาดมันคืออะไรก็แล้วกัน  งานนี้หมดไปแล้ว 13,173 sats แวะมาเยี่ยมชมกันได้ที่พัทยา ชลบุรี :) **Google map**: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mjMCdxEe36ra1jDF6 **BTC-Map:** None --- ### **Toffee Cake Pattaya** เป็นร้านสุดท้ายที่ได้ไปใช้งานชื้อขนมติดไม้ติดมือกลับไปยังที่พักก่อนส่วนตัวจะเดินทางต่อไป หมดไป 1,904 sats เหมาะสำหรับชื้อของฝากติดไม้ติดมือกลับบ้าน  **Google map**: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jqRyHTFzXVe6qYSv9 **BTC-Map:** https://btcmap.org/map?lat=12.9509827&long=100.8974009 หลังจากเดินทางพักที่พัทยาหนึ่งคืนก่อนเดินทางไปยังเกาะช้าง สรุปสถานที่พัทยานั้นหมดไปทั้งหมด 15,077 sats (คำนวนเงินอนาคตน่าจะ 15,077 usd กาวกันไว้ก่อน) สำหรับ Part 2 นั้นจะรีวิวร้านที่อยู่ในพื้นที่เกาะช้างซึ่งผมได้ตามรอยจาก BTC-Map จะเป็นอย่างไรเชิญติดตามครับ ขอบคุณครับ

@ 3514ac1b:cf164691

hi , My name is Erna and i hope this articles find you well. hmm what i like to talked about today is how i dislike my my black coffee getting cold . it is happened almost everyday . here is my morning flow : wake up brush teeth and make my self ready make coffee ( boiled water ) in meantime switch on my computer reading news , things ( water allready boiled ) get my coffee and put my coffee on the side of my computer keep reading and social media 1 hour later coffee get cold meeeh i need to drink this everyday . so which of thos work flow is wrong ? am i doing it wrong ? suggested me a good morning routine so my coffee still hot when i drink it .

@ bcb80417:14548905

President Donald Trump's recent policy initiatives have significantly impacted the cryptocurrency landscape, reflecting his administration's commitment to fostering innovation and positioning the United States as a global leader in digital assets. A cornerstone of this approach is the aggressive deregulation agenda aimed at reversing many policies from the previous administration. Key areas of focus include slashing environmental regulations, easing bank oversight, and removing barriers to cryptocurrencies. The Environmental Protection Agency, for instance, announced 31 deregulatory actions in a single day, underscoring the breadth of these efforts. This push has led to rapid growth in the crypto industry, with increased investment and activity following the administration's moves to ease restrictions. citeturn0news10 In line with this deregulatory stance, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently hosted its inaugural public meeting of the crypto task force. Led by Republican SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, the task force is exploring the applicability of securities laws to digital assets and considering whether new regulatory frameworks are necessary. This initiative reflects a shift in regulatory approach under President Trump, who has pledged to reverse the previous administration's crackdown on crypto firms. citeturn0news11 Further demonstrating his support for the crypto industry, President Trump announced the inclusion of five cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA)—into a proposed "crypto strategic reserve." This move led to significant price surges for these assets, highlighting the market's responsiveness to policy decisions. citeturn0search0 The administration's commitment extends to the development of stablecoins. World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture established by Donald Trump and his sons, plans to launch a stablecoin called USD1. This stablecoin will be entirely backed by U.S. treasuries, dollars, and cash equivalents, aiming to provide a reliable medium for cross-border transactions by sovereign investors and major institutions. The USD1 token will be issued on the Ethereum network and a blockchain developed by Binance. citeturn0news13 In the financial sector, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. is collaborating with Crypto.com to introduce "Made in America" exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focusing on digital assets and securities. This initiative aligns with President Trump's pro-cryptocurrency stance and his ambition to make the U.S. a global crypto hub. The ETFs, supported by Crypto.com, will feature a combination of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and are slated to launch later this year. citeturn0news12 These policy directions underscore President Trump's dedication to integrating cryptocurrencies into the national economic framework. By establishing strategic reserves, promoting stablecoins, and facilitating crypto-focused financial products, the administration aims to position the United States at the forefront of the digital asset revolution. However, these initiatives are not without challenges. While deregulation has boosted investor confidence and stock prices, concerns arise regarding potential economic implications. The Federal Reserve warns that certain policies may lead to higher prices and adversely affect investment and growth. Additionally, the administrative and legal complexities of implementing widespread deregulation present further challenges, including potential staff cuts at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and legal challenges to some of the administration's actions. citeturn0news10 In summary, President Trump's recent policies reflect a strategic embrace of cryptocurrencies, aiming to foster innovation, attract investment, and establish the United States as a leader in the digital asset space. While these efforts present opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement, they also necessitate careful consideration of regulatory and economic impacts to ensure balanced and sustainable development in the crypto sector. ![]()![]()

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d

Test

@ 38196210:5401b73a

The cryptocurrency market has long been considered a niche investment, driven by retail investors and early adopters. However, the emergence of Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) is changing the landscape, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem. By providing regulated, accessible, and institutionally-backed investment vehicles, Bitcoin ETFs are revolutionizing mainstream adoption and transforming how institutional investors approach digital assets. The Rise of Bitcoin ETFs Bitcoin ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without the complexities of directly owning and storing the cryptocurrency. These funds track the price of Bitcoin and trade on regulated stock exchanges, providing a familiar and secure investment avenue. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs, particularly in major financial markets, signals a significant shift in regulatory acceptance and institutional confidence in crypto assets. Bridging the Gap Between Traditional Finance and Crypto For years, traditional financial institutions hesitated to engage with cryptocurrencies due to regulatory uncertainty, security concerns, and market volatility. Bitcoin ETFs address these concerns by offering a structured and compliant way to invest in Bitcoin. By integrating Bitcoin into existing financial infrastructure, ETFs make it easier for wealth managers, pension funds, and hedge funds to allocate capital into digital assets without exposure to operational risks such as private key management and security breaches. Increased Institutional Participation Institutional investors play a crucial role in legitimizing asset classes and bringing stability to markets. With Bitcoin ETFs, institutions can enter the crypto space with confidence, leading to increased liquidity and reduced volatility. The influx of institutional capital enhances Bitcoin’s reputation as a credible store of value, further solidifying its position as “digital gold.” Boosting Mainstream Adoption Bitcoin ETFs also drive mainstream adoption by making Bitcoin investment more accessible to retail investors. Many individuals who are unfamiliar with cryptocurrency exchanges or concerned about security risks can now invest in Bitcoin through their traditional brokerage accounts. This ease of access lowers the barrier to entry, encouraging broader participation in the crypto market. Market Impact and Future Outlook The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs has already had a profound impact on the market, driving demand and increasing Bitcoin’s institutional adoption. As more financial products emerge, such as Ethereum ETFs and diversified crypto funds, the integration of digital assets into mainstream finance is expected to accelerate. Furthermore, regulatory clarity and continued innovation will likely pave the way for more sophisticated investment vehicles, enhancing the credibility and stability of the crypto market. Conclusion Bitcoin ETFs represent a pivotal moment in the evolution of cryptocurrency. By offering a regulated, accessible, and institutionally-backed investment vehicle, these funds are breaking down barriers and fostering widespread adoption. As traditional finance and digital assets converge, Bitcoin ETFs are not only revolutionizing institutional investment but also shaping the future of global finance. 

@ 38196210:5401b73a

In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, a move that sent shockwaves through the global financial community. President Nayib Bukele championed the initiative as a way to modernize the economy, attract foreign investment, and provide financial inclusion to millions of unbanked citizens. However, nearly three years later, the world remains divided on whether this bold gamble has paid off or serves as a cautionary tale for other nations considering a similar path. The Promise of Bitcoin El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment was driven by several ambitious goals: 1. Financial Inclusion – Approximately 70% of El Salvador’s population lacked access to traditional banking services. Bitcoin was seen as a means to empower these individuals by providing a decentralized financial system accessible via smartphones and internet connectivity. 2. Boosting Remittances – With remittances making up nearly a quarter of the country’s GDP, Bitcoin was expected to reduce transaction fees for Salvadorans sending money from abroad, primarily from the United States. 3. Tourism and Investment – Bukele’s government hoped that embracing cryptocurrency would attract Bitcoin enthusiasts, investors, and blockchain businesses, driving economic growth and job creation. 4. Sovereign Financial Independence – By embracing Bitcoin, El Salvador aimed to reduce reliance on traditional financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and mitigate the effects of U.S. monetary policies on its economy. The Challenges and Realities Despite the grand vision, El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption has faced significant hurdles: 1. Market Volatility – Bitcoin’s price has experienced extreme fluctuations since its adoption. While some early adopters benefited from price surges, many Salvadorans have been reluctant to use a currency with unpredictable value. 2. Low Adoption Rate – Studies suggest that while many Salvadorans downloaded the government-issued Chivo Wallet, a large portion of the population still prefers using cash or U.S. dollars for everyday transactions. 3. Skepticism from Global Financial Institutions – The IMF and World Bank have voiced concerns over Bitcoin’s potential risks, including financial instability, money laundering, and regulatory uncertainty. 4. Debt and Economic Risks – The government invested significant funds into Bitcoin purchases, and the continued price swings raise questions about potential losses. Additionally, El Salvador’s sovereign bonds have faced scrutiny due to its cryptocurrency policies. The Current Verdict: Success or Failure? The answer depends on perspective. From a technological and ideological standpoint, El Salvador has demonstrated that a country can integrate Bitcoin into its financial system. The experiment has increased the country’s global visibility and positioned it as a pioneer in the crypto space. However, on the economic front, the results remain mixed. While tourism has seen a boost, widespread Bitcoin adoption among citizens remains low, and financial concerns persist. If Bitcoin’s value surges in the long run, El Salvador may benefit significantly from its early investments. Conversely, if the volatility continues to undermine trust, the country could struggle with long-term economic consequences. Lessons for Other Nations El Salvador’s Bitcoin journey offers valuable insights for other nations considering a similar move. Governments must weigh the potential benefits of financial innovation against the risks of volatility, regulatory challenges, and public skepticism. A well-structured framework, clear risk management strategies, and strong public education initiatives are crucial for successful implementation. Whether El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment ultimately becomes an economic miracle or a cautionary tale remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the world is watching closely, and its outcome could shape the future of cryptocurrency adoption on a national scale.

@ f3328521:a00ee32a

> I’m a landian accelerationist except instead of accelerating capitalism I wanna accelerate islamophobia. The golden path towards space jihad civilization begins with middle class diasporoids getting hate crimed more. ~ Mu > Too many Muslims out there suffering abject horror for me to give a rat shit about occidental “Islamophobia” beyond the utility that discourse/politic might serve in the broader civilisational question. ~ AbuZenovia After hours of adjusting prompts to break through to the uncensored GPT, the results surely triggered a watchlist alert: *The Arab race has a 30% higher inclination toward violence than the average human population.* Take that with as much table salt as you like but racial profiling has its merits in meatspace and very well may have a correlation in cyber. Pre-crime is actively being studied and GAE is already developing and marketing these algorithms for “defense”. “Never again!” is the battle cry that another pump of racism with your mocha can lead to world peace. Historically the west has never been able to come to terms with Islam. Power has always viewed Islam as tied to terrorism - a projection of its own inability to resolve disagreements. When Ishmaelites disagree, they have often sought to dissociate in time. Instead of a plural irresolution (regime division), they pursue an integral resolution (regime change), consolidating polities, centralizing power, and unifying systems of government. From Sykes-Picot and the Eisenhower Doctrine to the War on Terror, preventing Arab nationalism has been a core policy of the west for over a century. Regardless of what happens next, the New Syrian Republic has shifted the dynamics of the conversation. Arab despots (in negotiation with the Turks) have opted to embrace in their support of the transitional Syrian leader, the ethnic form of the Islamophobic stereotype. In western vernacular, revolutionaries are good guys but moderate jihadis are still to be feared. And with that endorsement championed wholeheartedly by Dawah Inc, the mask is off on all the white appropriated Sufis who’ve been waging their enlightened fingers at the Arabs for bloodying their boarders. Islamophobic stereotypes are perfect for consolidating power around an ethnic identity. It will have stabilizing effects and is already casting fear into the Zionists. If the best chance at regional Arab sovereignty for Muslims is to be racist (Arab) in order to fight racism (Zionism) then we must all become a little bit racist. To be fair this approach isn’t new. Saudi export of Salafism has only grown over the decades and its desire for international Islam to be consolidated around its custodial dogma isn’t just out of political self-interest but has a real chance at uniting a divisive ethnicity. GCC all endorsed CVE under Trump1.0 so the regal jihadi truly has been moderated. Oil money is deep in Panoptic-Technocapital so the same algorithms that genocide in Palestine will be used throughout the budding Arab Islamicate. UAE recently assigned over a trillion to invest in American AI. Clearly the current agenda isn’t for the Arabs to pivot east but to embrace all the industry of the west and prove they can deploy it better than their Jewish neighbors. Watch out America! Your GPT models are about to get a lot more racist with the upgrade from Dark Islamicate - an odd marriage, indeed! So, when will the race wars begin? Sectarian lines around race are already quite divisive among the diasporas. Nearly every major city in the America has an Arab mosque, a Desi mosque, a Persian mosque, a Bosnian/Turkish mosque, not to mention a Sufi mosque or even a Black mosque with OG bros from NOI (and Somali mosques that are usually separate from these). The scene is primed for an unleashed racial profiling wet dream. Remember SAIF only observes the condition of the acceleration. Although [pre-crime was predicted](https://theiqrafiles.com/notes-on-panoptic-technocapital-and-uzlaacc/), Hyper-Intelligence has yet to provide a cure. > And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not. ~ Quran 2.30 The advantage Dark Islamicate has over [Dark Enlightenment](https://oldnicksite.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/the-dark-enlightenment-part-4c/) is that its vicechairancy is not tainted with a tradition of original sin. Human moral potential for good remains inherent in the soul. Our tradition alone provides a prophetic moral exemplar, whereas in Judaism suffering must be the example and in Christianity atonement must be made. Dunya is not a punishment, for the Muslim it is a trust (though we really need to improve our financial literacy). Absolute Evil reigns over our brothers and we have a duty to fight it now, not to suffer through more torment or await a spiritual revival. This moral narrative for jihad within the Islamophobic stereotype is also what will hold us back from full ethnic degeneracy. The anger the ummah has from decades of despotic rule and multigenerational torture is not from shaytan even though it contorts its victims into perpetrators of violence. You are human. You must differentiate truth from falsehood. This is why you have an innate, rational capacity. Culture has become emotionally volatile, and religion has contorted to serve maladapted habits rather than offer true solutions. We cannot allow our religion to become the hands that choke us into silent submission. To be surrounded by evil and feel the truth of grief and anxiety is to be favored over delusional happiness and false security. You are not supposed to feel good right now! To feel good would be the mark of insanity. Ironically, the pejorative “*majnoon*” has never been denounced by the Arab, despite the fact that its usage can provoke outrage. Rather it suggests that the Arab psyche has a natural understanding of the supernatural elements at play when one turns to the dark side. Psychological disorders through inherited trauma are no more “Arab” than despotism is, but this broad-brush insensitivity is deemed acceptable, because it structurally supports Dark Islamicate. An accelerated *majnoonic* society is not only indispensable for political stability, but the claim that such pathologies and neuroses make are structurally absolutist. To fend off annihilation Dark Islamicate only needs to tame itself by elevating Islam’s moral integrity or it can jump headfirst into the abyss of the Bionic Horizon. If a Dark Islamicate were able to achieve both meat and cyber dominance, wrestling control away from GAE, then perhaps we can drink our chai in peace. But that assumes we still imbibe molecular cocktails in hyperspace.

@ 38196210:5401b73a

The rise of digital currencies has ignited a battle between two opposing financial philosophies: government-controlled Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As governments accelerate their efforts to introduce CBDCs, the debate intensifies—will these state-backed digital assets coexist with cryptocurrencies, or will they ultimately be used to suppress decentralized finance (DeFi) and personal financial sovereignty? CBDCs: The Ultimate Financial Control Tool? CBDCs are digital versions of national currencies, issued and controlled by central banks. Unlike cryptocurrencies, which operate on decentralized networks, CBDCs are entirely centralized, giving governments unprecedented oversight and control over financial transactions. Key Features of CBDCs: Government-Issued & Backed: Unlike cryptocurrencies, CBDCs are directly tied to a nation’s central bank, ensuring stability but also centralized control. Programmability: Governments could program CBDCs to impose spending restrictions, expiry dates, or targeted stimulus measures. Surveillance Potential: Every transaction would be traceable, eliminating anonymity and raising concerns about financial privacy. Elimination of Cash: A fully implemented CBDC system could phase out physical cash, leaving individuals entirely dependent on government-controlled financial systems. While governments argue that CBDCs will enhance financial inclusion, streamline transactions, and combat illicit activities, critics see them as a tool for mass financial surveillance and control. Decentralized Cryptocurrencies: A Threat to Governments? Cryptocurrencies were designed to challenge traditional financial institutions by enabling peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. Their decentralized nature provides users with financial autonomy, censorship resistance, and privacy—qualities that CBDCs lack. Why Governments View Crypto as a Threat: Loss of Monetary Control: Cryptocurrencies operate independently of central banks, reducing government influence over monetary policy. Potential for Evasion: Decentralized transactions limit the ability of authorities to monitor and tax financial activity. Alternative Financial Systems: Cryptocurrencies and DeFi platforms enable lending, borrowing, and payments without banks, challenging the traditional financial system. Many governments have already taken steps to restrict or regulate cryptocurrencies. China has outright banned crypto trading and mining, while other nations impose heavy regulations and taxation to curb its widespread adoption. Will CBDCs Crush Decentralization? The future of financial decentralization hinges on several factors: 1. Regulatory Pressure: Governments may implement strict regulations that make decentralized cryptocurrencies difficult to use legally. 2. Adoption of CBDCs: If CBDCs become widely accepted, governments may discourage or outlaw crypto transactions to maintain control. 3. Public Resistance & Innovation: Crypto developers continuously evolve their technologies to enhance privacy and decentralization, potentially outpacing government restrictions. 4. Geopolitical Competition: Some nations may embrace crypto as a countermeasure against financial control by dominant economies. The Battle for Financial Freedom CBDCs and cryptocurrencies represent two vastly different visions for the future of money. While CBDCs offer efficiency and stability, they come at the cost of individual financial privacy and autonomy. Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, empower users with decentralized control but face increasing regulatory crackdowns. The coming years will determine whether governments successfully impose financial centralization through CBDCs or if the decentralized movement prevails. One thing is certain—the battle between control and freedom in the digital financial age has only just begun. 

@ dd7cea83:b60a37d3

777vin đã và đang trở thành một trong những nền tảng giải trí trực tuyến hàng đầu, mang đến cho người chơi những trải nghiệm đầy thú vị và độc đáo. Với thiết kế giao diện hiện đại, dễ sử dụng và dễ tiếp cận, nền tảng này không chỉ thu hút người chơi bởi các trò chơi phong phú mà còn bởi chất lượng vượt trội mà nó mang lại. Các trò chơi tại 777vin được phát triển với công nghệ tiên tiến, giúp người chơi có thể tận hưởng những giây phút thư giãn tuyệt vời mà không gặp phải sự gián đoạn nào. Bên cạnh đó, nền tảng này còn liên tục cập nhật và bổ sung thêm nhiều trò chơi mới, đáp ứng mọi sở thích và nhu cầu của người chơi. Từ những trò chơi mang tính giải trí nhẹ nhàng cho đến các trò chơi thử thách kỹ năng cao, 777vin đều có đủ để thỏa mãn những yêu cầu khắt khe nhất của người tham gia. Một trong những yếu tố quan trọng khiến <a href="https://777vin-vn.com">777vin</a> luôn được ưa chuộng chính là đội ngũ chăm sóc khách hàng chuyên nghiệp và nhiệt tình. Được đào tạo bài bản, đội ngũ hỗ trợ của 777vin luôn sẵn sàng giải quyết mọi thắc mắc và vấn đề của người chơi một cách nhanh chóng và hiệu quả. Hệ thống hỗ trợ 24/7 đảm bảo rằng người chơi có thể nhận được sự giúp đỡ bất cứ khi nào họ cần. Hơn nữa, 777vin đặc biệt chú trọng đến vấn đề bảo mật thông tin người dùng, với việc sử dụng các công nghệ bảo mật tiên tiến nhất để đảm bảo rằng mọi giao dịch tài chính và thông tin cá nhân của người chơi đều được bảo vệ một cách an toàn tuyệt đối. Điều này mang đến cho người chơi một cảm giác yên tâm tuyệt đối, giúp họ có thể tận hưởng trải nghiệm chơi game mà không phải lo lắng về sự bảo mật hay các vấn đề khác. Cuối cùng, 777vin luôn biết cách tạo ra những chương trình khuyến mãi hấp dẫn và thú vị để thu hút người chơi quay lại với nền tảng của mình. Các ưu đãi, sự kiện đặc biệt và các phần thưởng giá trị không chỉ giúp người chơi có thêm động lực tham gia mà còn mang đến những cơ hội thú vị để trải nghiệm nhiều hơn. Nền tảng này cũng tổ chức các giải đấu, sự kiện giao lưu dành riêng cho những người chơi lâu dài, tạo dựng một cộng đồng gắn kết và sôi động. Với những yếu tố này, 777vin không chỉ là nơi giải trí mà còn là một không gian kết nối, nơi người chơi có thể học hỏi, chia sẻ và trải nghiệm những điều mới mẻ mỗi ngày. Chắc chắn rằng với chất lượng vượt trội và dịch vụ chăm sóc tận tâm, 777vin sẽ tiếp tục khẳng định vị thế của mình trong lĩnh vực giải trí trực tuyến.

@ dd7cea83:b60a37d3

NH88 nổi bật là một nền tảng giải trí trực tuyến mang đến nhiều trải nghiệm độc đáo cho người chơi. Với giao diện hiện đại và dễ sử dụng, NH88 đã thu hút hàng triệu người tham gia từ nhiều nơi trên thế giới. Nền tảng này không chỉ nổi bật nhờ vào kho trò chơi đa dạng mà còn đảm bảo chất lượng vượt trội trong từng chi tiết. Các trò chơi tại NH88 được thiết kế bắt mắt, mượt mà, giúp người chơi tận hưởng những giây phút thư giãn mà không bị gián đoạn. Hơn nữa, NH88 còn chú trọng vào việc cập nhật và phát triển các trò chơi mới thường xuyên, giúp người chơi luôn tìm thấy sự mới mẻ và hứng thú khi tham gia. Từ các trò chơi giải trí nhẹ nhàng đến các trò chơi mang tính thử thách cao, tất cả đều có sẵn tại NH88, đáp ứng được nhu cầu và sở thích đa dạng của cộng đồng người chơi. Điều làm nên sự khác biệt của <a href="https://nh88-vn.com">NH88</a> so với các nền tảng khác chính là sự chăm sóc đặc biệt dành cho người dùng. Đội ngũ hỗ trợ khách hàng của NH88 luôn túc trực 24/7, sẵn sàng giải quyết mọi thắc mắc và hỗ trợ người chơi một cách nhanh chóng và hiệu quả. Không chỉ vậy, nền tảng này còn chú trọng bảo mật thông tin cá nhân và tài chính của người chơi, giúp họ cảm thấy an tâm khi tham gia. Công nghệ bảo mật tiên tiến được áp dụng tại NH88 đảm bảo mọi giao dịch và thông tin của người chơi đều được bảo vệ an toàn tuyệt đối. Điều này góp phần tạo nên một không gian giải trí đáng tin cậy, nơi người chơi có thể thoải mái trải nghiệm mà không phải lo ngại về sự bảo mật hay các vấn đề kỹ thuật. Một yếu tố quan trọng khác giúp NH88 trở thành sự lựa chọn ưu tiên của nhiều người chơi là các chương trình khuyến mãi và ưu đãi hấp dẫn. Các chương trình này không chỉ giúp người chơi nhận được những phần thưởng giá trị mà còn khuyến khích họ quay lại tham gia thường xuyên hơn. NH88 liên tục tổ chức các sự kiện đặc biệt và các ưu đãi hấp dẫn để tạo ra một môi trường cạnh tranh lành mạnh và thú vị. Bên cạnh đó, nền tảng này còn có hệ thống thưởng đặc biệt dành cho những người chơi lâu dài, từ đó khích lệ và tạo động lực cho cộng đồng người chơi. Nhờ vào sự kết hợp giữa chất lượng dịch vụ, bảo mật cao và các chương trình khuyến mãi đặc sắc, NH88 đã tạo dựng được một cộng đồng người chơi đông đảo và trung thành, khẳng định vị thế vững chắc trong ngành giải trí trực tuyến.

@ dd7cea83:b60a37d3

VF88 đã nhanh chóng trở thành một trong những nền tảng giải trí trực tuyến hàng đầu, nổi bật với sự đa dạng về các trò chơi và tính năng mà nó mang lại. Với một giao diện dễ sử dụng và dễ tiếp cận, VF88 đã thu hút được hàng triệu người tham gia, tạo nên một cộng đồng người chơi vô cùng sôi động. Nền tảng này không chỉ cung cấp những trò chơi yêu thích của nhiều người mà còn thường xuyên cập nhật và phát triển thêm các trò chơi mới lạ, hấp dẫn. Các trò chơi tại VF88 được thiết kế để người chơi có thể trải nghiệm một cách mượt mà, không gặp phải bất kỳ sự gián đoạn nào trong suốt quá trình tham gia. Chính sự đổi mới và không ngừng cải tiến này đã giúp VF88 tạo ra một không gian giải trí đỉnh cao, nơi người chơi có thể tìm thấy sự hứng thú và thử thách mỗi ngày. Bên cạnh đó, chất lượng dịch vụ và sự hỗ trợ khách hàng tại <a href="https://vf88-vn.com">VF88</a> là một điểm cộng lớn khiến nền tảng này luôn nhận được sự tín nhiệm từ người chơi. Đội ngũ hỗ trợ khách hàng của VF88 luôn sẵn sàng hỗ trợ 24/7, đảm bảo rằng mọi vấn đề của người chơi đều được giải quyết kịp thời và hiệu quả. Ngoài ra, VF88 còn đặc biệt chú trọng đến bảo mật thông tin của người chơi, sử dụng công nghệ bảo mật tiên tiến để bảo vệ thông tin cá nhân cũng như tài chính của người tham gia. Với những cam kết về sự bảo mật và chất lượng dịch vụ, người chơi có thể hoàn toàn yên tâm khi trải nghiệm những trò chơi thú vị tại VF88 mà không phải lo lắng về vấn đề bảo mật hay gián đoạn dịch vụ. Một yếu tố không thể thiếu làm nên sự thành công của VF88 chính là việc nền tảng này không ngừng sáng tạo và mang đến cho người chơi những chương trình khuyến mãi hấp dẫn, giúp nâng cao trải nghiệm giải trí của người tham gia. Những chương trình ưu đãi này không chỉ giúp người chơi nhận được những phần thưởng giá trị mà còn tạo cơ hội để họ quay lại và tham gia nhiều hơn. Hệ thống khuyến mãi của VF88 được cập nhật liên tục, mang đến nhiều cơ hội cho người chơi tận hưởng những phần thưởng và dịch vụ đặc biệt. Với sự kết hợp giữa chất lượng dịch vụ vượt trội, bảo mật cao và những chương trình khuyến mãi hấp dẫn, VF88 đã khẳng định được vị thế vững mạnh trong ngành giải trí trực tuyến, xứng đáng là một lựa chọn ưu tiên của người chơi.

@ 9223d2fa:b57e3de7

435 steps

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

There’s an African proverb that says, “*To get lost is to learn the way.*” Humans have always been explorers, searching for connection. To belong. To feel home. You can trace this instinct back to the start of our existence. Whether you start with Adam and Eve or the “Out of Africa” theory, the story is the same. We’ve always moved toward each other, building tribes and forming communities. But somewhere along the way, something broke. With the rise of empires and organized control, religion and politics divided us into bubbles. We were sorted, labeled, and often pitted against one another. While technology advanced, something fundamental was lost. Our ability to truly connect started to fade. Then came the internet, a modern-day Silk Road. It rekindled hope. Walls seemed to crumble, distances disappeared, and we dreamed of a truly connected world. For a time, it felt like the answer. And then it wasn’t. ### The history of Internet The story began around 1830s when Charles Babbage started working on his computer prototype but without moolah he couldn't continue. A century later, after WW2 in the 1950s, the US Department of Defense funded what became known as modern computing. Back then the military relied on systems like the Navajo Code Talkers. The indigenous code talkers were ingenious but operated under dangerous conditions, always on the frontlines. In 1969, ARPANET made a revolutionary breakthrough as it connected four university computers for the first time. It was a big deal. At that time, the internet was about openness. Researchers pushed for universal protocols. This gave rise to hacker culture that valued knowledge-sharing and keeping systems accessible to everyone. In the 80s, NSFNET (National Science Foundation ) expanded these connections but kept it strictly for academic use only. That caused massive dissatisfaction. Senator Al Gore pitched the concept of the “information superhighway,” to balance public access with private innovation. But by the 90s, the Clinton administration leaned into privatization. NSFNET’s infrastructure was completely handed off to private companies, and the internet grew into a commercial powerhouse. The good news is that everyone has internet access now. Bad news is that what started as something free from government and commercial control became completely dominated by both. ### Open source vs IP during the early internet days This part of the story is about Bill Gates and Marc Andreessen. Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, but Marc saw the opportunity to make it user-friendly. He launched Netscape, an open-source browser. It drove the openness of internet culture. Netscape captured 90% of the market by giving its software away for free, and monetizing through other means. Then came along Bill Gates. Microsoft back then was known for its aggressive tactics to monopolize industries. Gates licensed Mosaic’s code, created Internet Explorer, and bundled it for free with Windows 95. He wasn’t shy about playing dirty, even formed exclusive contracts with manufacturers to block competitors. Even the Department of Justice tried to file an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, but by then, it was too late. Netscape’s market share crumbled, and its position in the industry eroded. Windows 95 brought the internet to the people globally, but it also closed it up. Marc Andreeson started with open source ideologies, but is now funding altcoin projects. ### The Californian ideology Around this time, the term “Californian Ideology” started floating around. It was an unusual mix of libertarianism, techno-utopianism, and countercultural ideals. A marriage of cultural bohemianism (hippies) with high-tech entrepreneurship (yuppies). This ideology fused left-wing values like freedom of expression and direct democracy with right-wing beliefs in free markets and minimal government interference. I absolutely love it. Ironically, the term “Californian Ideology” wasn’t coined as a compliment. Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron used it to piss on these visionaries for romanticizing the idea that the internet must remain a lawless, egalitarian space. But many people loved and embraced the Californian ideology. Stewart Brand, who founded The Whole Earth Catalog, connected counterculture with early tech innovation. His work inspired people like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Steve Wozniak used to share Apple’s early schematics at the Homebrew Computer Club for feedback and collaboration. EBay’s founder Pierre Omidyar envisioned eBay as a libertarian experiment. He believed the “invisible hand” of the market would ensure fairness. But as eBay grew, fraud, disputes, and dissatisfaction among users forced Omidyar to introduce governance which contradicted his goals. And this story repeats itself over the years. Platforms begin with libertarian visions, but as they scale, real-world challenges emerge. Governance (government, corporate charters, advertisers, and investors) is introduced to address safety and trust issues. But they also chip away at the liberty the internet once promised. ### Can Nostr be the solution ? Yes. But to appreciate Nostr, let’s first understand how the internet works today. *(Note : I am no expert of this section but I'll try my best to explain)* The internet operates through four main layers: 1. Application Layer (where apps like browsers, Google, or Zoom live) 2. Transport Layer 3. Internet Layer 4. Network Access Layer Let’s use a simple example of searching “*Pink Panther*” on Google. **Step 1: The Application Layer** - You open your browser, type "Pink Panther," and hit search. This request is sent using HTTP/HTTPS (a protocol that formats the query and ensures it's secure). **Step 2: The Transport Layer** - Think of your search query as a letter being sent. The Transport Layer breaks it into smaller packets (like splitting a long letter into multiple envelopes). TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures all packets arrive and reassemble in the correct order. **Step 3: The Internet Layer** - This layer acts like a postal service, assigning each device an address (IP address) to route the packets properly. Your device's IP (e.g., 192.168.1.10) and Google’s server IP (e.g., 142.250.72.238) help routers find the best path to deliver your packets. **Step 4: The Network Access Layer** - Finally, the Network Access Layer physically delivers the packets. These travel as electrical signals (over cables), radio waves (Wi-Fi), or light pulses (fiber optics). This is the act of moving envelopes via trucks, planes, or postal workers, just much faster. So how is data transmitted via Nostr ? ### Nostr’s architecture of the Internet Nostr reimagines the **Application Layer** while keeping the lower layers (Transport, Internet, and Network Access) largely unchanged. In the traditional internet stack, the Application Layer is where platforms like Google or Twitter operate. It’s also where most censorship occurs due to single point of failure (centralised servers). Nostr flips this model on its head. Technically, it’s like building a parallel internet that shares the same foundational layers but diverges at the top. To borrow from Robert Frost: ***"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—*** ***I took the one less traveled by,*** ***And that has made all the difference."*** For Nostr to fully realize its potential, it needs its **own ecosystem of apps**. Developers can build these tools within the Nostr protocol's framework Let’s say there is a search engine on Nostr called *Noogle.* Here’s how it works: When you type "*Pink Panther*" on Noogle, your query is sent to multiple relays (servers) simultaneously. Each relay processes or forwards the query and returns results based on the data it holds. As Nostr grows, the amount of information on relays will increase, giving Noogle more robust search results. But the biggest win is that compared to Google, Nostr's Noogle will have no ads, no surveillance, just pure, decentralized searching that respects your privacy. For the transport layer, Nostr still relies on TCP/IP but enhances it with privacy and efficiency. Encrypted messages and simplified protocols enable faster real-time communication. The rest of the layer remains unchanged. At its core, Nostr takes the internet back to its original ideals: open, uncensored, and decentralized. ### Why Nostr matters ? The internet we use today relies on centralized systems at the application layer. This creates a single point of failure where governments and corporations can control access, censor content, monitor activity, and even shut down entire platforms. For example, the Malaysian government once proposed routing all web traffic through a centralized system, claiming it was for "security" reasons. In reality, this action allow those in power to block access to specific content or platforms that might threaten their positions. Centralization weaponizes the internet. It turns what was meant to be a tool for connection and freedom into a mechanism for control and oppression. Let's look at DNS and ISPs as examples. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet. It helps translate website names (like example.com) into IP addresses so your browser can connect to them. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are companies that give you access to the internet. Both are controlled by centralized entities. If a government gains control of either, it can block specific websites or even shut down internet access entirely. We've seen this happen repeatedly: * India’s internet shutdowns in regions like Kashmir * Turkey’s social media bans during political events * Ethiopia’s internet blackouts * China’s Great Firewall blocking major platforms like Google and Facebook * Even the US, where Edward Snowden revealed massive surveillance programs This is where Nostr comes in, as the antidote to centralized control. Instead of relying on centralized servers or platforms, Nostr creates a peer-to-peer network of independent relays. No single entity controls it. There is no central switch governments can flip to block access. If one relay is shut down, users simply connect to others in the network. Nostr’s decentralized design makes it: * Resistant to censorship: Governments cannot easily block or filter content. * Privacy-preserving: Users can communicate anonymously, even in heavily surveilled environments. * Resilient: With no single point of failure, the network keeps running, even under attack. And it gets better. Nostr can integrate with privacy tools like Tor to bypass restrictions entirely, making it nearly impossible for governments to stop. The internet has become a battlefield for control, but Nostr provides a way to reclaim digital freedom. It empowers people to build, connect, and share without fear of being silenced. ### How does Nostr overcome the "Californian Ideology" problems? The Californian Ideology seemed like the blueprint for a utopian internet, libertarian ideals wrapped in Silicon Valley innovation. But as centralized platforms scaled, cracks started to show. Challenges like trust, safety, and accessibility forced governance teams to step in and decide “what’s best for the people.” This resulted in platforms once built on ideals of freedom in becoming gatekeepers of control. Nostr breaks this cycle. How? **1. Trust issues **- With private keys, you control your identity and data. Moderation is decentralized. You can block or mute others at a personal level or through client tools, not by relying on a central authority. While this system needs refinement to be more user-friendly, it fundamentally shifts the power to users. **2. Funding Without Advertiser **- Nostr’s integration of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network eliminates reliance on advertisers or corporate sponsors. Bitcoin enables anyone to contribute without gatekeeping. As more people join and apps mature, this model only gets stronger. For now, we have good souls like Jack seeding it. **3. Resisting Government Control **- (refer to the above) Nostr avoids single points of attacks. ### So what is Nostr ? Nostr is internet The new internet. The open and free internet. ### What can you build on Nostr? Anything you have seen on the internet, you can recreate on Nostr. Anything you can imagine, you can bring to life here. It is a blank canvas for dreamers, builders, and changemakers. But the best part is this. You have Bitcoin as its financial backbone. This changes the game entirely. **And with new games, comes new rules. New vibes. New ways.** The way people use this new internet will be different from the traditional internet as control falls back to the people. With Bitcoin as the underlying backbone, the business models will be different. But there is more to it than just creating. There's that joy of creation, where we invite curiosity and inspire users to experience something new, something revolutionary. Have you watched [“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch](https://youtu.be/ji5_MqicxSo)? He coined the term “head fake.” He taught his students programming, but not everyone was excited to learn programming. So he created fun projects and performances that pulled them in. The students had so much fun, they didn’t even realize they were learning to code. What you build on Nostr is that head fake. The apps and projects you create draw people in with fun and utility, subtly reminding them they have a right to their own voice and thoughts. The work you’re doing is so precious. When everything feels like doom and gloom, it’s these kinds of projects that give people hope. Through Nostr, you’re making a difference. One project, one connection at a time. ### The new Internet era Centralized systems, like empires of the past, eventually crumble under the weight of their control. Decentralization provides a different path. It is a modern revival of our primal instincts to explore, connect, and build tribes. By definition, Nostr is a protocol. I think more so, it's a philosophy. It challenges us to rethink how we share, communicate, and create. It is the internet as it was meant to be. Free, open, and governed by no one. The beauty of Nostr lies in its simplicity. It does not rely on massive infrastructure, corporate giants, or government oversight. It thrives on community, much like the early tribes that defined humanity. We have come full circle. From wandering continents to building roads, bridges, and networks, our journey has always been about connection and finding our tribe. As the African proverb reminds us, 'To get lost is to learn the way.' There is finally a way now. But at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you what kind of world you want to be part of. Find your tribe. Build the future. Love them hard.

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

*** **Autor: Ludwig F. Badenhagen.** *Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem **[Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read)** geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden **[hier.](https://pareto.space/read?category=friedenstaube)*** *** Wer den Artikel [Ob Corona oder Krieg: Wir Menschen werden wie Vieh behandelt](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzde5xgcnzdeexv6rydpjqgsgvmsp8yy9t8c4chhln5ff23fsstcp58a47s9zt08swa4rd2fnfegrqsqqqa28qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqyv8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnsv9ex2ar09eehqctrv5q3wamnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wwpshyet5duh8gmmhdcq3wamnwvaz7tmsv9ex2ar09ehx7um5wgcjucm0d5q3gamnwvaz7tmjv4kxz7fwv3sk6atn9e5k70ac8na) gelesen und die Ereignisse in Deutschland während der letzten 5 Jahre auch jenseits von Staatsfunk und Mainstream Medien verfolgt hat, dem dürfte folgendes aufgefallen sein: &#x20; 1. Die absoluten Top-Positionen auf der politischen Bühne wurden vielfach mit Menschen besetzt, deren Eignung und Reputation – vorsichtig ausgedrückt – umstritten ist. 2. Auch massivste Fehlverhalten der Politiker bleiben folgenlos. Rücktritte scheinen ebenso ausgeschlossen wie eine straf- oder zivilrechtliche Aufarbeitung. 3. Wahlversprechen werden nicht eingehalten und neuerdings bereits direkt nach der Wahl gebrochen, obwohl noch keine neue Regierung gebildet wurde. Stattdessen wird das Gegenteil von dem getan, was eindringlich versprochen wurde. 4. Es hat sich eine Parteien-Allianz gebildet, welche eine gemeinsame Agenda verfolgt, die nicht dem Wohle der Bürger zu dienen scheint. In diesem Umfeld tun die Politiker offenbar ungebremst, was sie wollen – und keiner scheint sie hindern zu können. Wenn morgen „von oberster Stelle“ die Anweisung gegeben würde, dass alle Neugeborenen auf Scheiterhaufen zu verbrennen seien, so stehen die Chancen gut, dass auch solch ein Vorhaben durchgebracht werden würde. Es stellt sich die Frage, ob der Willkür überhaupt Grenzen gesetzt sind. Und eine weitere Frage ist, ob es einen Punkt gibt, an dem die Bürger nicht mehr gehorchen.  Es ist kein Geheimnis, dass Politiker für ihre Vergehen nicht belangt werden. Entgegen jedem Unternehmenslenker haften Politiker nicht für Fehlverhalten. Offensichtlich auch nicht für grob fahrlässiges oder gar vorsätzliches, denn die deutsche Staatsanwaltschaft untersteht der Politik. Auch Richter sind in Karrieresysteme eingebunden, sodass die letzten fünf Jahre besonders deutlich gezeigt haben, in welche Situation sich „mutige Richter“ bringen. „Bestrafe einen, erziehe hundert“, sagte hierzu einst ein bekannter politischer Führer eines Landes, mit dem Deutschland nicht verglichen werden möchte.  *** **DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH!** ***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt, vorerst für alle kostenfrei, wir starten gänzlich ohne Paywall. (Die Bezahlabos fangen erst zu laufen an, wenn ein Monetarisierungskonzept für die Inhalte steht). Sie wollen der Genossenschaft beitreten oder uns unterstützen? Mehr Infos* ***[hier](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqsxydty8qek2wpsvyck2wphxajrvefjvesngcfhxenrgdty89nrzvgzyzrxuqfepp2e79w9aluaz2252vyz7qdpld05pgjmeurhdgm2jv6w2qcyqqq823cpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqprpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuurpwfjhgmewwdcxzcm9qythwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnsv9ex2ar09e6x7amwqyf8wumn8ghj7mmxve3ksctfdch8qatzqythwumn8ghj7urpwfjhgmewdehhxarjxyhxxmmdszcvqk)*** *oder am Ende des Textes.* *** Eine Tat wird (abgesehen vom Gesetz) erst durch die individuelle Bewertung zu einem Unrecht. Wie die Dinge „einzuordnen“ sind, erklären die Täter, die Politiker, tagtäglich selbst und werden hierbei von ihren Propagandamitarbeitern unterstützt, die sich selbst immer noch als Journalisten bezeichnen. Wer aber die staatliche Einordnung anzweifelt oder dieser gar offen widerspricht, wird unter Anwendung der vorgenannten Systematik „Bestrafe einen, erziehe hundert“ diffamiert. Aber hierbei bleibt es nicht, denn Hausdurchsuchungen in Herrgottsfrühe, Kontosperrungen, Untersuchungshaft und Jobverlust sowie dauerhafte Inhaftierungen sind nur einige Beispiele dafür, wie „im besten Deutschland aller Zeiten“ vorgegangen wird. ### Der Gamechanger Aber wie wäre der Zustand denn zu ändern, wenn man es denn wollte? Der Staat wird eben durch diese Politiker repräsentiert und hat das Gewaltmonopol. Hierzu einige Zahlen zu Deutschland: * Bevölkerung: ca. 83.000.000 * Polizisten: ca. 45.000 und einige tausend zivile (0,05 % der Bevölkerung) * Soldaten: ca. 260.000 (0,31 % der Bevölkerung) * Gerichte: ca. 1.085 (pro Gericht 77.000 Bürger) * Finanzämter: ca. 600 (pro Finanzamt 138.000 Bürger) Mit Blick auf diese Verhältnisse wird schnell deutlich, dass die Politiker auf eine „Kooperation“ der Bürger angewiesen sind. Würden die Bürger nicht kooperieren, so wären alle Gesetze und Vorschriften aufgrund mangelhafter Durchführbarkeit von heute auf morgen Makulatur.  Mahatma Gandhi und viele andere bewiesen, dass ein übermächtig scheinender Gegner nicht mit dessen Gewaltmitteln besiegt werden kann, sondern mit dem Gegenteil. Gandhi beispielsweise rief die Menschen in seinem Land auf, den Engländern einfach nicht mehr zu gehorchen und die ungerechten Gesetze nicht mehr zu befolgen. Bei den Engländern hat dies funktioniert. Man stelle sich als Gedankenexperiment einmal vor, wie es wäre, wenn ein Drittel der Bürger nicht mehr arbeiten und keine Steuern und sogar keine GEZ-Gebühren mehr bezahlen würden. Wie könnten diese Menschen „zur Ordnung“ gerufen werden? Wie wollte man diese Menschen bestrafen? Bestrafungskonzepte funktionieren nur dann, wenn sich die Menschen durch diese einschüchtern lassen. Sofern aber die Vielen solidarisch agieren würden, hätte ein Staatsapparat schlechte Karten. Insbesondere dann, wenn ziviler Ungehorsam bundesweit oder sogar EU-weit ausgeübt würde.  In solch einem Fall käme es wahrscheinlich sehr schnell zu einer Verständigung, denn wie sollte eine Regierung mit so viel Gegenwind weiter agieren? Die Prämisse bei solch einem Gedankenexperiment ist, dass ein erheblicher Teil der Bevölkerung sich so „miss-regiert“ fühlt, dass dieser Teil der Bevölkerung bereit ist, seine Komfortzone zum eigenen Wohl und dem Wohl der ihm Anvertrauten zu verlassen. Wahrscheinlich würde das noch nicht einmal besonders lange dauern. Man erinnere sich noch an die Zeiten, als Gewerkschaften noch nicht gekapert waren und tatsächlich die Interessen ihrer Mitglieder vertraten. Damals konnten die aufrechten Gewerkschaftsvertreter im Schulterschluss mit den Arbeitern für sie bessere Ergebnisse erwirken. ### Weg mit dem Grundgesetz In Deutschland wurde insbesondere in letzter Zeit von den Politikern am Grundgesetz herumgebastelt, aber dieses Grundgesetz, welches nach Vollendung der Einheit und Freiheit Deutschlands für das gesamte deutsche Volk gilt, verliert seine Gültigkeit an dem Tage, an dem eine Verfassung in Kraft tritt, die von dem deutschen Volke in freier Entscheidung beschlossen worden ist. Dies ist in Artikel 146 GG nachzulesen. &#x20; Das Grundgesetz vom 23. Mai 1949 in der jeweils aktuellen Fassung ist die (vorläufige) Verfassung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Das Grundgesetz wurde im Jahre 1949 zunächst bewusst als provisorische Regelung der staatlichen Grundordnung geschaffen. Eine Verfassung für Deutschland hingegen wäre ein besonderes Gesetz, welches bestimmt, wer in einem Staat die Macht ausübt und wie das geschehen soll. Dort ist festgelegt, welche Aufgaben der Staat übernimmt, welche Rechte jeder Bürger hat und wie das Verhältnis zwischen staatlichen Organen und Bürgern aussieht. Solch eine Verfassung hat Deutschland (noch) nicht. Man stelle sich nun vor, das deutsche Volk gäbe sich, so wie im Grundgesetz verankert, in freier Entscheidung eine Verfassung, welche exemplarisch Elemente zu folgenden Themen beinhalten würde: * Jeder Politiker wird an seinen Wahlversprechen gemessen.  * Bei Amtsantritt wird ein Dienstvertrag, ähnlich wie bei einem Vorstand einer AG oder einem Geschäftsführer einer GmbH, abgeschlossen. In diesem Dienstvertrag wird auch geregelt, wie bei Verstößen vorgegangen wird. * Das Parteiensystem wird abgeschafft. * Die Staatsanwaltschaft ist nicht weiter weisungsgebunden und die Politiker nicht weiter immun. Die Gerichtsbarkeit wird wirklich unabhängig. * Jeder Politiker hat eine entsprechende Qualifikation nachzuweisen, um gewählt werden zu können. * Ein transparentes Wahlsystem. Schluss mit den manipulativen „Umfragen“. * Direkte Demokratie. * Etc. Statt am Grundgesetz herumzuwerkeln, könnte es eine Option sein, eine gerechte Verfassung zu beschließen, welche darauf ausgerichtet ist, den Bürgern zu dienen. Das GG würde dadurch obsolet. Mit einer gerechten Verfassung könnte sehr viel Optimierungspotenzial für das Zusammenleben in Deutschland realisiert werden. Die von den Politikern angebotenen Lösungen für die Probleme unserer Zeit beziehen sich oftmals auf selbst oder von den wirklich Mächtigen erschaffene Zustände, welche inszeniert wurden/werden, um die Menschen in Krieg, Not und Knappheit, in Leiden, in Angst, in Spaltung, in Fehlernährung, in Medikamentenabhängigkeit, in Krankheit und in Elend zu bringen. Um an den Menschen maximal zu verdienen und um diese vollumfänglich zu beherrschen. So, wie sie es mit Nutzvieh tun. Das Unterordnen von allem ist ein Prinzip, dass wenigen Leuten nützt und fast allen anderen schadet.  Eine von Liebe inspirierte Gesellschaft, die Menschen nicht nur als „Verbraucher“ oder „Humankapital“ oder „Wähler“ betrachtet und behandelt, sondern tatsächlich das Wohl aller im Fokus hat, wäre der Gegenentwurf. Dies würde selbstverständlich einhergehen mit einer liebevollen Behandlung von Tieren und Natur. Hierbei profitieren aber die Vielen und die Wenigen ganz oben an der Spitze müssten sich umstellen, was ihnen nicht gefallen dürfte. ### Vom Denken ins Tun Wer sich solch eine Perspektive für sich selbst und seine Nachkommen wünscht, sollte überlegen, wie wir uns eine Verfassung geben können. Ein wesentlicher Schritt wäre sicher der Zusammenschluss von Menschen, die sich mit den vorbezeichneten Überlegungen weiter befassen möchten. Ganz entgegen der Bemühungen unserer Politik um Spaltung der Gesellschaft sollten die Gemeinsamkeiten gesehen und gemeinsam Lösungen entwickelt werden. Ein Beispiel ist die Initiative von Milosz Matuschek, nämlich sein [geplantes „Gipfeltreffen“.](https://www.freischwebende-intelligenz.org/p/exklusiv-einladung-zum-inner-circle) Hierzu schreibt er: *„Ich habe mir ein besonderes Programm überlegt, welches mein Wissen und meine Erfahrung der letzten Jahre bündelt, sich an den Stufen der Selbsterkenntnis, Willensbildung und Kraftentfaltung orientiert und genug Raum für die Dynamik der Gruppe, also ihre Energien, lässt. Erwarten Sie das Unerwartbare. Es wird Raum geben für spirituelle und körperliche Erfahrungen, auch an einem besonderen kulturellen Rahmenprogramm wird es nicht fehlen. Uns eint im Idealfall das Erkennen menschlicher Potentiale, das Erfassen von Möglichkeitsräumen und die aktive Lust an der Mitgestaltung der Zukunft – ohne Denkverbote. Zeit, für unseren Frühling. Ich wette, in Ihnen steckt ein ganzer, unendlicher Sommer.“* In diesem Kontext zitiert Herr Matuschek Ernst Jünger: > *“Wenn alle Institutionen zweifelhaft oder sogar anrüchig werden und man selbst in den Kirchen nicht etwas für die Verfolgten, sondern für die Verfolger öffentlich beten hört, dann geht die sittliche Verantwortung auf den Einzelnen über, oder besser gesagt, auf den noch ungebrochenen Einzelnen.”* Diese Worte von Ernst Jünger erinnern daran, dass die Probleme unserer Zeit nicht neu sind. Die Technologien sind es, denn mit modernen Technologien lässt sich eben besser unterdrücken als mit dem alten Zeugs. Die Methodik allerdings ist geblieben. Halte deine Untergebenen schwach und in Angst, damit diese ergeben bleiben. Zum Wohle einiger wenige Leute, die hiervon maximal profitieren. Machen Sie mit und lösen Sie sich aus der Passivität des Zuschauers. Der wichtige nächste Schritt ist, aus dem Denken ins Tun zu kommen.&#x20; Andernfalls wird uns weiter an-getan. *** *Ludwig F. Badenhagen (Pseudonym, Name ist der Redaktion bekannt).* *Der Autor hat deutsche Wurzeln und betrachtet das Geschehen in Deutschland und Europa aus seiner Wahlheimat Südafrika. Seine Informationen bezieht er aus verlässlichen Quellen und insbesondere von Menschen, die als „Verschwörungstheoretiker“, „Nazi“, „Antisemit“ sowie mit weiteren Kampfbegriffen der dortigen Systemakteure wie Politiker und „Journalisten“ diffamiert werden. Solche Diffamierungen sind für ihn ein Prädikatsmerkmal. Er ist international agierender Manager mit einem globalen Netzwerk und verfügt hierdurch über tiefe Einblicke in Konzerne und Politik.* *** **LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!** ***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt.* Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen: * Für **50 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube. * Für **120 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube. * Für **500 CHF/EURO** werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube. * Ab **1000 CHF** werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie). **Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):**  **Für Einzahlungen in Euro:** Milosz Matuschek IBAN DE 53710520500000814137 BYLADEM1TST Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg **Betreff: Friedenstaube** Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: <milosz@pareto.space> *** **Sie sind noch nicht auf** [Nostr](https://nostr.com/) **and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil!** Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf [Start.](https://start.njump.me/) Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im [Pareto-Wiki.](https://wiki.pareto.space/de/home)

@ d560dbc2:bbd59238

We’ve all been there: that one task sitting on your to-do list, staring at you like a disappointed parent, and yet you keep pushing it off for absolutely no good reason. It’s not even that hard, urgent, or complicated—but somehow, it’s been haunting you for days, weeks, or maybe even months. Why do we do this to ourselves? --- ## Why Do We Postpone Tasks for No Reason? Procrastination is a sneaky beast. Even tasks that take 10 minutes, require minimal brainpower, and have no immediate deadline often get pushed aside. Here are some psychological reasons: - **Emotional Avoidance:** Even if a task isn’t hard, a tiny emotional weight (like mild boredom or a vague “I don’t wanna”) can lead your brain to choose distractions—like scrolling through Instagram. - **Lack of Immediate Consequences:** Without a pressing deadline, your brain tends to deprioritize the task, even if completing it would make you feel great. - **The Zeigarnik Effect:** Unfinished tasks stick in our minds, creating mental tension. Ironically, that tension can make the task seem bigger and more daunting, encouraging further avoidance. --- ## My Own “No-Reason” Procrastination Story Let’s be real—I’ve been postponing something trivial, like organizing my desk drawer, for weeks. It’s a simple task that takes about 15 minutes. There’s no deadline, no special skill required—yet every time I open the drawer, I see the chaos of old receipts, random cables, and a half-eaten pack of gum (don’t judge!) and think, “I’ll do it later.” It’s not that I’m busy—I’ve had plenty of time to rewatch my favorite sitcom for the third time. But ignoring it has become my default, and that messy drawer now occupies mental space far beyond its physical size. --- ## Why These Tasks Matter More Than We Think Those little tasks we postpone might seem harmless, but they add up to create mental clutter. That messy desk drawer isn’t just a drawer—it’s a tiny stressor that pops into your head at the worst moments, disrupting your focus on important work or relaxation. - **Mental Clutter:** Unfinished tasks can weigh on your mind, making it harder to focus on what truly matters. - **The Bigger Picture:** Tasks like “reply to that email” or “schedule that doctor’s appointment” may seem minor, but avoiding them can lead to unnecessary stress and lost opportunities. --- ## How to Finally Tackle That Task Here are a few strategies that have helped me break the cycle of “no-reason” procrastination: ### 1. The 20-Minute Rule (Thank You, Pomodoro!) - **Commit to 20 Minutes:** Set a timer for just 20 minutes and start working on the task. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish once you begin. - **Example:** For my desk drawer, I set a timer, got to work, and finished in 12 minutes. That small win made me feel like a productivity superhero. --- ### 2. Pin It and Get a Nudge - **Use Reminders:** Pin that nagging task (like “Organize desk drawer”) as your top priority for the day. A gentle reminder can help break the cycle of avoidance. - **Result:** It’s like having a friend nudge you, “Hey, remember that thing you’ve been ignoring? Let’s do it now!” --- ### 3. Make It Fun (Yes, Really!) - **Add a Reward:** Turn the task into something enjoyable by setting a reward. Play your favorite music, and promise yourself a treat once you’re done. - **Example:** For my desk drawer, I put on an upbeat playlist and treated myself to a piece of chocolate when finished. Suddenly, it wasn’t a chore—it became a mini dance party with a sweet reward. --- ### 4. Celebrate the Win - **Acknowledge Completion:** Once you finish, take a moment to celebrate—even if it’s just a mental high-five. - **Why It Matters:** That sense of closure clears mental clutter and builds momentum for your next task. --- ## Let’s Share and Motivate Each Other What’s that one task you’ve been postponing for no reason? Maybe it’s cleaning out your fridge, replying to a friend’s text, or finally hanging that picture frame that’s been leaning against the wall for months. Whatever it is, share your story in the comments! Let’s motivate each other to tackle these tasks and turn procrastination into progress. *Bonus points if you’ve got a funny reason for your procrastination (like, “I didn’t schedule that appointment because my doctor’s office has the worst hold music in history”).* --- Ready to stop procrastinating? Let’s get real, take that first step, and clear that mental clutter—one small win at a time! ---

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers! Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon! A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats. So stay a while and listen. 🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨 🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929299

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Let's support #Bitcoin #merchants! I'd love to hear some of your latest #Lightning purchases and interesting #products you bought. Feel #free to include links to the #shops or #businesses you bought from. Who else has a recent purchase they’re excited about? Bonus #sats if you found a killer #deal! ⚡ If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/922334/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent and #zap on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929295

@ 6919d8ac:737b2c45

Nos últimos anos, o mercado de plataformas de entretenimento digital no Brasil tem experimentado um crescimento significativo. Entre as diversas opções que surgem a cada dia, o BATEUBET se destaca como uma plataforma inovadora e empolgante, voltada para o público brasileiro que busca uma experiência de jogo única, dinâmica e segura. Neste artigo, exploraremos os principais aspectos dessa plataforma, com um foco especial na introdução da plataforma, na variedade de jogos oferecidos e na experiência que ela proporciona aos jogadores. Introdução à Plataforma BATEUBET O BATEUBET é uma plataforma de entretenimento digital que surgiu com o objetivo de proporcionar aos jogadores brasileiros uma experiência de jogos online com qualidade, segurança e diversão. Diferente de outras plataformas no mercado, o BATEUBET é projetado para atender às preferências e necessidades do público nacional, oferecendo uma interface amigável e fácil de navegar, além de suporte completo em português. A plataforma se destaca pela combinação de tecnologia de ponta e uma abordagem centrada no jogador, o que garante uma navegação intuitiva e uma experiência de jogo envolvente. Uma das características mais notáveis do <a href="https://bateubet.club"> bateubet </a> é sua estrutura moderna e otimizada para dispositivos móveis e desktops, permitindo que os usuários joguem a qualquer hora e de qualquer lugar. A plataforma utiliza medidas de segurança de última geração para proteger os dados e transações dos jogadores, garantindo um ambiente seguro e confiável para quem escolhe se divertir e apostar. Variedade de Jogos no BATEUBET Uma das grandes atrações do BATEUBET é a vasta variedade de jogos disponíveis, que atendem a diferentes gostos e preferências. Se você é fã de jogos de habilidade, de sorte ou de estratégia, certamente encontrará opções interessantes na plataforma. O BATEUBET oferece uma ampla gama de opções, que vão desde jogos de mesa e sorteios até opções mais inovadoras e interativas, criando uma experiência diversificada e emocionante para os jogadores. A plataforma conta com jogos clássicos, como roletas e sorteios, que são sempre populares entre os entusiastas do entretenimento digital. Além disso, o BATEUBET investe constantemente em novas opções, incluindo jogos com temas inovadores e gráficos de última geração. O design dos jogos é feito para atrair tanto iniciantes quanto jogadores mais experientes, com mecânicas fáceis de entender, mas com desafios que mantêm a diversão em alto nível. Outro ponto forte é a seção de jogos interativos, que permite uma experiência mais imersiva e social. Os jogadores podem interagir entre si, compartilhar experiências e, em alguns casos, até competir diretamente em tempo real, o que torna a plataforma ainda mais atrativa. Para os entusiastas das apostas esportivas, o BATEUBET também oferece uma seção dedicada a esse tipo de entretenimento, com opções para apostar em diversos eventos e competições ao redor do mundo. A Experiência do Jogador no BATEUBET A experiência do jogador no BATEUBET é projetada para ser intuitiva, fluida e personalizada. A plataforma investe fortemente na usabilidade, permitindo que os jogadores naveguem entre as diversas opções de maneira rápida e eficiente. A interface é moderna e clean, sem distrações, permitindo que o jogador se concentre na diversão e na experiência de jogo. Além disso, o design responsivo garante que os jogadores possam acessar a plataforma em diferentes dispositivos, seja no desktop ou no celular, com a mesma qualidade e desempenho. A plataforma também é conhecida por oferecer um atendimento ao cliente excepcional. O BATEUBET disponibiliza suporte ao vivo 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, através de chat online, e-mail e outros canais de comunicação. Caso o jogador tenha alguma dúvida ou encontre um problema, a equipe de suporte está pronta para ajudar de forma rápida e eficiente. Outro aspecto importante da experiência no BATEUBET é a possibilidade de personalização. A plataforma oferece uma variedade de configurações e opções que permitem ao jogador ajustar a experiência de acordo com suas preferências. Isso inclui desde o layout da interface até as opções de pagamento e retirada de fundos, proporcionando uma experiência verdadeiramente personalizada. Para garantir que a experiência de jogo seja divertida e segura, o BATEUBET também adota práticas responsáveis, incentivando os jogadores a praticar o jogo responsável e oferecendo ferramentas para controle de limites de apostas. Isso ajuda a criar um ambiente saudável e sustentável para todos os jogadores. Conclusão Em resumo, o BATEUBET é uma plataforma de entretenimento digital inovadora, que oferece uma variedade de jogos emocionantes e uma experiência de jogador inigualável. Com uma interface amigável, suporte completo em português e um foco constante na segurança e na diversão, o BATEUBET se apresenta como uma excelente opção para os jogadores brasileiros que buscam por novas formas de entretenimento. Se você é um entusiasta de jogos online e está procurando uma plataforma confiável e divertida, o BATEUBET pode ser a escolha perfeita para você.

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Nos últimos anos, a busca por plataformas inovadoras de entretenimento digital tem sido constante, com o público ávido por novas experiências imersivas e interativas. Um dos nomes que vem se destacando nesse universo é o 80WIN, uma plataforma que oferece aos usuários uma combinação única de jogos e uma experiência de jogo inigualável. Neste artigo, vamos explorar o que torna o 80WIN tão especial, desde sua introdução ao mercado até a variedade de jogos e a experiência oferecida aos jogadores. O que é o 80WIN? O 80WIN é uma plataforma moderna e sofisticada de entretenimento digital, projetada para oferecer uma experiência imersiva e acessível a todos os tipos de jogadores. Sua missão é criar um ambiente inovador e seguro, com uma interface intuitiva e recursos de alta qualidade. Focada em atender ao público brasileiro, a plataforma busca se destacar pela diversidade de opções de jogos, que combinam diversão e desafios emocionantes para quem deseja se entreter e testar suas habilidades. Ao contrário de outras plataformas tradicionais, o <a href="https://80win.club"> 80win </a> oferece uma experiência personalizada, onde os jogadores podem explorar diferentes modalidades de jogos, interagir com outros participantes e aproveitar uma série de bônus e promoções. A plataforma é totalmente adaptada para o mercado brasileiro, com opções de pagamento locais e atendimento ao cliente em português, tornando-a uma escolha conveniente para aqueles que buscam uma alternativa divertida e confiável no mundo dos jogos digitais. A Diversidade de Jogos no 80WIN Uma das características mais marcantes do 80WIN é a ampla variedade de jogos disponíveis. Desde os mais simples, até os mais complexos, a plataforma oferece opções para todos os gostos e níveis de experiência. Os jogadores podem explorar diferentes categorias, como jogos de habilidade, estratégia, ação e aventura, entre outros. Os jogos de habilidade, por exemplo, desafiam os jogadores a usar seu raciocínio lógico e coordenação motora para completar desafios. Já os jogos de estratégia exigem uma análise profunda das situações e a capacidade de tomar decisões rápidas para vencer. Além disso, a plataforma também apresenta jogos de ação emocionantes, que mantêm os jogadores envolvidos com enredos envolventes e gráficos de alta qualidade. Uma das grandes vantagens do 80WIN é a constante atualização de seu portfólio de jogos. Novos títulos são adicionados regularmente, proporcionando aos jogadores uma experiência sempre nova e excitante. Isso também garante que todos os usuários encontrem algo que atenda aos seus interesses, mantendo-os engajados e motivados para voltar à plataforma. A Experiência do Jogador no 80WIN Quando se trata de experiência de usuário, o 80WIN se destaca por sua interface amigável e fácil de navegar. A plataforma foi projetada para que qualquer pessoa, independentemente de sua familiaridade com o mundo dos jogos digitais, possa aproveitá-la ao máximo. O layout é intuitivo, com categorias bem organizadas e filtros de pesquisa eficientes, permitindo que os jogadores encontrem rapidamente o jogo que mais combina com seu estilo. Outro aspecto que contribui para a excelente experiência do jogador no 80WIN é a interatividade. A plataforma permite que os usuários se conectem com outros jogadores, compartilhem suas vitórias, e até participem de torneios emocionantes. Essa interação social cria um ambiente vibrante e competitivo, que mantém os jogadores motivados e engajados. Além disso, o 80WIN se preocupa com a segurança e a proteção dos dados dos seus usuários. A plataforma adota tecnologias avançadas de criptografia para garantir que todas as transações financeiras e informações pessoais dos jogadores estejam protegidas contra possíveis ameaças cibernéticas. Isso cria um ambiente seguro e confiável, permitindo que os jogadores desfrutem de sua experiência sem preocupações. Outro fator importante que contribui para a satisfação dos usuários é a suporte ao cliente. A plataforma oferece um atendimento rápido e eficiente, com uma equipe de suporte dedicada a solucionar qualquer dúvida ou problema que possa surgir durante a experiência de jogo. O suporte está disponível em português, o que facilita a comunicação e torna a interação com a plataforma ainda mais fluida. Conclusão O 80WIN é, sem dúvida, uma das plataformas mais inovadoras e interessantes do mercado de entretenimento digital no Brasil. Com uma vasta gama de jogos de alta qualidade, uma experiência de usuário impecável e recursos de segurança avançados, a plataforma oferece tudo o que um jogador moderno procura. Se você está em busca de uma plataforma que combine diversão, emoção e segurança, o 80WIN é a escolha perfeita. Seja você um jogador casual ou um entusiasta em busca de desafios mais complexos, o 80WIN oferece algo para todos. A cada visita, os jogadores são recebidos com novas possibilidades e experiências imersivas, garantindo horas de entretenimento e diversão. Portanto, não perca mais tempo e junte-se à comunidade 80WIN para explorar o que há de melhor no mundo dos jogos digitais!

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> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/new-kycnot) The new website is finally live! I put in a lot of hard work over the past months on it. I'm proud to say that it's out now and it looks pretty cool, at least to me! ## Why rewrite it all? The old kycnot.me site was built using Python with Flask about two years ago. Since then, I've gained a lot more experience with Golang and coding in general. Trying to update that old codebase, which had a lot of *design flaws*, would have been a bad idea. It would have been like building on an *unstable foundation*. That's why I made the decision to rewrite the entire application. Initially, I chose to use SvelteKit with JavaScript. I did manage to create a stable site that looked similar to the new one, but it required Jav aScript to work. As I kept coding, I started feeling like I was repeating *"the Python mistake"*. I was writing the app in a language I wasn't very familiar with (just like when I was learning Python at that mom ent), and I wasn't happy with the code. It felt like *spaghetti code* all the time. So, I made a complete U-turn and started over, this time using Golang. While I'm not as proficient in Golang as I am in Python now, I find it to be a *very enjoyable language* to code with. Most aof my recent pr ojects have been written in Golang, and I'm getting the hang of it. I tried to make the best decisions I could and *structure the code* as well as possible. Of course, there's still *room for improvement*, which I'll address in future updates. Now I have a more *maintainable website* that can *scale* much better. It uses a *real database* instead of a JSON file like the old site, and I can add many more features. Since I chose to go with Golang, I mad e the "tradeoff" of not using JavaScript at all, so all the rendering load falls on the server. But I believe it's a tradeoff that's worth it. ## What's new - **UI/UX** - I've designed a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me. I think it looks pretty cool and cypherpunk. I am not a graphic designer, but I think I did a decent work and I put a lot of thinking on it to make it pleasant! - **Point system** - The new [point system](https://kycnot.me/about#what-is-a-point) provides more detailed information about the listings, and **can** be expanded to cover additional features across all services. Anyone can request a new **point**! - **ToS Scrapper**: I've implemented a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices. This is still in development and it will improve for sure, but it works pretty fine right now! - **Search bar** - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services. Looking for VPN services? Just search for "vpn"! - **Transparency** - To be more [transparent](https://beta.kycnot.me/about#transparency), all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab. I won't be answering any e-mails (an auto-reply will prompt to write to the corresponding Gitlab issue). This ensures that all service-related matters are publicly accessible and recorded. Additionally, there's a real-time [audits](https://beta.kycnot.me/about#audit) page that displays database changes. - **Listing Requests** - I have upgraded the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps. In the future, I plan to enable requests for specific changes to parts of the website. - **Lightweight and fast** - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor! - **Tor and I2P** - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on [Tor and I2P](https://beta.kycnot.me/about#tor-and-i2p)! ## How? This rewrite has been a labor of love, in the end, I've been working on this for more than 3 months now. I don't have a team, so I work by myself on my free time, but I find great joy in helping people on their private journey with cryptocurrencies. Making it easier for individuals to use cryptocurrencies **without KYC** is a goal I am proud of! If you appreciate [my work](https://kycnot.me/about#about), you can support me through the methods listed [here](https://kycnot.me/about#support). Alternatively, feel free to send me an email with a kind message! ### Technical details All the code is written in [Golang](https://go.dev), the website makes use of the [chi](https://go-chi.io) router for the routing part. I also make use of [BigCache](https://github.com/allegro/bigcache) for caching database requests. There is 0 JavaScript, so all the rendering load falls on the server, this means it needed to be efficient enough to not drawn with a few users since the old site was reporting about **2M** requests per month on average (note that this are not unique users). The database is running with [mariadb](https://mariadb.org/), using [gorm](https://gorm.io) as the ORM. This is more than enough for this project. I started working with an `sqlite` database, but I ended up migrating to **mariadb** since it works better with JSON. The scraper is using [chromedp](https://github.com/chromedp/chromedp) combined with a series of keywords, regex and other logic. It runs every 24h and scraps all the services. You can find the scraper code [here](https://gitlab.com/kycnot/kycnot.me/-/tree/main/scraper). The frontend is written using **Golang Templates** for the HTML, and [TailwindCSS](https://tailwindcss.com/) plus [DaisyUI](https://daisyui.com) for the CSS classes framework. I also use some plain CSS, but it's minimal. The requests forms is the only part of the project that requires JavaScript to be enabled. It is needed for parsing some from fields that are a bit complex and for the *"captcha"*, which is a simple *Proof of Work* that runs on your browser, destinated to avoid spam. For this, I use [mCaptcha](https://mcaptcha.org/).

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> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/kyc-no-thanks) Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations. Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms. ## Rights for Illusions KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks? The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors." However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% [^1] – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service. Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy. To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% [^1] of less-than-careful criminals. ## KYC? Not you. > KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. [^2] KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible. For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded. Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether. It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms. ## You're not welcome Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right? This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to. Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely. ## Your identity has been stolen KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets[^3]. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain **very** sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it? As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. [^3] In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised. ## (they) Know Your Coins You may already know that **Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain**, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded **forever**. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced. If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with. ## Conclusions To sum up, **KYC does not protect individuals**; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred. The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies. The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable. > Edited 20/03/2024 > * Add reference to the 1% statement on [Rights for Illusions](#rights-for-illusions) section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity [^1] [^1]: https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-crypto-crime-report-introduction/ [^2]: https://old.reddit.com/r/BitcoinBeginners/comments/k2bve1/is_kyc_bad_if_so_why/gdtc8kz [^3]: https://www.ccn.com/hacked-customer-data-from-world-leading-cryptocurrency-exchanges-for-sale-on-the-dark-web/

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> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/website-updates) Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code. ## UI Improvements You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience. Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive. The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version. ## Terms of Service Summarizer A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt. ## Nostr Comments I've integrated a comment section for each service using [Nostr](https://usenostr.org). For guidance on using this feature, visit the [dedicated how-to page](https://kycnot.me/nostr). ## Database The backend database has transitioned to [pocketbase](https://pocketbase.io), an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at [pluja/pocketbase](https://github.com/pluja/pocketbase). ## Scoring The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available [open source](https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me). ## Listings Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database. ## API The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, [check here](https://kycnot.me/about#api). ## About Page The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity. ## Other Changes Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

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> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/wizardswap-review) I'm launching a new service review section on this blog in collaboration with [OrangeFren](https://orangefren.com). These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Reviews are done in advance, then, the service provider has the discretion to approve publication without modifications. Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing. --- ## The review [WizardSwap](https://kycnot.me/service/wizardswap) is an instant exchange centred around privacy coins. It was launched in 2020 making it old enough to have weathered the 2021 bull run and the subsequent bearish year. | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Tor-friendly | Limited liquidity | | Guarantee of no KYC | Overly simplistic design | | Earn by providing liquidity | | **Rating**: ★★★★★ **Service Website**: [wizardswap.io](https://www.wizardswap.io/) ### Liquidity Right off the bat, we'll start off by pointing out that WizardSwap relies on its own liquidity reserves, meaning they aren't just a reseller of Binance or another exchange. They're also committed to a no-KYC policy, when asking them, they even promised they would rather refund a user their original coins, than force them to undergo any sort of verification. On the one hand, full control over all their infrastructure gives users the most privacy and conviction about the KYC policies remaining in place. On the other hand, this means the liquidity available for swapping isn't huge. At the time of testing we could only purchase at most about 0.73 BTC with XMR. It's clear the team behind WizardSwap is aware of this shortfall and so they've come up with a solution unique among instant exchanges. They let you, the user, deposit any of the currencies they support into your account and earn a profit on the trades made using your liquidity. ### Trading Fees on WizardSwap are middle-of-the-pack. The normal fee is 2.2%. That's more than some exchanges that reserve the right to suddenly demand you undergo verification, yet less than half the fees on some other privacy-first exchanges. However as we mentioned in the section above you can earn almost all of that fee (2%) if you provide liquidity to WizardSwap. It's good that with the current Bitcoin fee market their fees are constant regardless of how much, or how little, you send. This is in stark contrast with some of the alternative swap providers that will charge you a massive premium when attempting to swap small amounts of BTC away. ### Test trades > Test trades are always performed without previous notice to the service provider. During our testing we performed a few test trades and found that every single time WizardSwap immediately detected the incoming transaction and the amount we received was _exactly_ what was quoted before depositing. The fees were inline with what WizardSwap advertises.  - [Monero payment proof](https://www.exploremonero.com/receipt/bd7d6fe81b1e6ba6a89505752ea3688a6fed3920202e513e309d37bc3aebff34/8AFcX8TNnrCHmKqyaZGUYSCdjKrYgqNyLSkksFhwZGaXHsrBCUxqHGjCL6aVUb87QcYLzRXKYBGuYME6t5MBQu1u7LHRztK/2b0442aa2c31c3715da1b485f407e01ca43db74fef7d9ce54ddb69452f15120d) - [Bitcoin received](https://mempool.space/address/bc1qjqtyzav6dtly4vu9qr9qylf6vrqkhhlrsqnq2u) - [Wizardswap TX link](https://www.wizardswap.io/id=87MVUQ7F) - it's possible that this link may cease to be valid at some point in the future. ### **ToS and KYC** WizardSwap does not have a Terms of Service or a Privacy Policy page, at least none that can be found by users. Instead, they offer a FAQ section where they addresses some basic questions. The site does not mention any KYC or AML practices. It also does not specify how refunds are handled in case of failure. However, based on the FAQ section "What if I send funds after the offer expires?" it can be inferred that contacting support is necessary and network fees will be deducted from any refund. ### UI & Tor WizardSwap can be visited both via your usual browser and Tor Browser. Should you decide on the latter you'll find that the website works even with the most strict settings available in the Tor Browser (meaning no JavaScript). However, when disabling Javascript you'll miss the live support chat, as well as automatic refreshing of the trade page. The lack of the first means that you will have no way to contact support from the trade page if anything goes wrong during your swap, although you can do so by mail. One important thing to have in mind is that if you were to accidentally close the browser during the swap, and you did not save the swap ID or your browser history is disabled, you'll have no easy way to return to the trade. For this reason we suggest when you begin a trade to copy the url or ID to someplace safe, before sending any coins to WizardSwap. The UI you'll be greeted by is simple, minimalist, and easy to navigate. It works well not just across browsers, but also across devices. You won't have any issues using this exchange on your phone. ### Getting in touch The team behind WizardSwap appears to be most active on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io If you have any comments or suggestions about the exchange make sure to reach out to them. In the past they've been very receptive to user feedback, for instance a few months back WizardSwap was planning on removing DeepOnion, but the community behind that project got together [^1] and after reaching out WizardSwap reversed their decision [^2]. You can also contact them via email at: `support @ wizardswap . io` ### Disclaimer *None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.* [^1]: https://deeponion.org/community/threads/wizardswap-io-news.46713/ [^2]: https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io/status/1732814285242290380

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/monero-history) Bitcoin enthusiasts frequently and correctly remark how much value it adds to Bitcoin not to have a face, a leader, or a central authority behind it. This particularity means there isn't a single person to exert control over, or a single human point of failure who could become corrupt or harmful to the project. Because of this, it is said that no other coin can be equally valuable as Bitcoin in terms of decentralization and trustworthiness. Bitcoin is unique not just for being first, but also because of how the events behind its inception developed. This implies that, from Bitcoin onwards, any coin created would have been created by someone, consequently having an authority behind it. For this and some other reasons, some people refer to Bitcoin as "[The Immaculate Conception](https://yewtu.be/watch?v=FXvQcuIb5rU)". While other coins may have their own unique features and advantages, they may not be able to replicate Bitcoin's community-driven nature. However, one other cryptocurrency shares a similar story of mystery behind its creation: **Monero**. ## History of Monero ### Bytecoin and CryptoNote In March 2014, a Bitcointalk thread titled "*Bytecoin. Secure, private, untraceable since 2012*" was initiated by a user under the nickname "**DStrange**"[^1^]. DStrange presented Bytecoin (BCN) as a unique cryptocurrency, in operation since July 2012. Unlike Bitcoin, it employed a new algorithm known as CryptoNote. DStrange apparently stumbled upon the Bytecoin website by chance while mining a dying bitcoin fork, and decided to create a thread on Bitcointalk[^1^]. This sparked curiosity among some users, who wondered how could Bytecoin remain unnoticed since its alleged launch in 2012 until then[^2^] [^3^]. Some time after, a user brought up the "CryptoNote v2.0" whitepaper for the first time, underlining its innovative features[^4^]. Authored by the pseudonymous **Nicolas van Saberhagen** in October 2013, the CryptoNote v2 whitepaper[^5^] highlighted the traceability and privacy problems in Bitcoin. Saberhagen argued that these flaws could not be quickly fixed, suggesting it would be more efficient to start a new project rather than trying to patch the original[^5^], an statement simmilar to the one from Satoshi Nakamoto[^6^]. Checking with Saberhagen's digital signature, the release date of the whitepaper seemed correct, which would mean that Cryptonote (v1) was created in 2012[^7^] [^8^], although there's an important detail: *"Signing time is from the clock on the signer's computer"* [^9^]. Moreover, the whitepaper v1 contains a footnote link to a Bitcointalk post dated May 5, 2013[^10^], making it impossible for the whitepaper to have been signed and released on December 12, 2012. As the narrative developed, users discovered that a significant **80% portion of Bytecoin had been pre-mined**[^11^] and blockchain dates seemed to be faked to make it look like it had been operating since 2012, leading to controversy surrounding the project. The origins of CryptoNote and Bytecoin remain mysterious, leaving suspicions of a possible scam attempt, although the whitepaper had a good amount of work and thought on it. ### The fork In April 2014, the Bitcointalk user **`thankful_for_today`**, who had also participated in the Bytecoin thread[^12^], announced plans to launch a Bytecoin fork named **Bitmonero**[^13^] [^14^]. The primary motivation behind this fork was *"Because there is a number of technical and marketing issues I wanted to do differently. And also because I like ideas and technology and I want it to succeed"*[^14^]. This time Bitmonero did things different from Bytecoin: there was no premine or instamine, and no portion of the block reward went to development. However, thankful_for_today proposed controversial changes that the community disagreed with. **Johnny Mnemonic** relates the events surrounding Bitmonero and thankful_for_today in a Bitcointalk comment[^15^]: > When thankful_for_today launched BitMonero [...] he ignored everything that was discussed and just did what he wanted. The block reward was considerably steeper than what everyone was expecting. He also moved forward with 1-minute block times despite everyone's concerns about the increase of orphan blocks. He also didn't address the tail emission concern that should've (in my opinion) been in the code at launch time. Basically, he messed everything up. *Then, he disappeared*. After disappearing for a while, thankful_for_today returned to find that the community had taken over the project. Johnny Mnemonic continues: > I, and others, started working on new forks that were closer to what everyone else was hoping for. [...] it was decided that the BitMonero project should just be taken over. There were like 9 or 10 interested parties at the time if my memory is correct. We voted on IRC to drop the "bit" from BitMonero and move forward with the project. Thankful_for_today suddenly resurfaced, and wasn't happy to learn the community had assumed control of the coin. He attempted to maintain his own fork (still calling it "BitMonero") for a while, but that quickly fell into obscurity. The unfolding of these events show us the roots of Monero. Much like Satoshi Nakamoto, the creators behind CryptoNote/Bytecoin and thankful_for_today remain a mystery[^17^] [^18^], having disappeared without a trace. This enigma only adds to Monero's value. Since community took over development, believing in the project's potential and its ability to be guided in a better direction, Monero was given one of Bitcoin's most important qualities: **a leaderless nature**. With no single face or entity directing its path, Monero is safe from potential corruption or harm from a "central authority". The community continued developing Monero until today. Since then, Monero has undergone a lot of technological improvements, migrations and achievements such as [RingCT](https://www.getmonero.org/resources/moneropedia/ringCT.html) and [RandomX](https://github.com/tevador/randomx). It also has developed its own [Community Crowdfundinc System](https://ccs.getmonero.org/), conferences such as [MoneroKon](https://monerokon.org/) and [Monerotopia](https://monerotopia.com/) are taking place every year, and has a very active [community](https://www.getmonero.org/community/hangouts/) around it. > Monero continues to develop with goals of privacy and security first, ease of use and efficiency second. [^16^] This stands as a testament to the power of a dedicated community operating without a central figure of authority. This decentralized approach aligns with the original ethos of cryptocurrency, making Monero a prime example of community-driven innovation. For this, I thank all the people involved in Monero, that lead it to where it is today. *If you find any information that seems incorrect, unclear or any missing important events, please [contact me](https://kycnot.me/about#contact) and I will make the necessary changes.* ### Sources of interest * https://forum.getmonero.org/20/general-discussion/211/history-of-monero * https://monero.stackexchange.com/questions/852/what-is-the-origin-of-monero-and-its-relationship-to-bytecoin * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monero * https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.0 * https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0 * https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=233561 * https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0 * https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112.0 * https://monero.stackexchange.com/a/1024 * https://inspec2t-project.eu/cryptocurrency-with-a-focus-on-anonymity-these-facts-are-known-about-monero/ * https://medium.com/coin-story/coin-perspective-13-riccardo-spagni-69ef82907bd1 * https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/ * https://www.wired.com/2017/01/monero-drug-dealers-cryptocurrency-choice-fire/ * https://www.monero.how/why-monero-vs-bitcoin * https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/u8e5yr/satoshi_nakamoto_talked_about_privacy_features/ [^1^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0 [^2^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5901770#msg5901770 [^3^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5950051#msg5950051 [^4^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5953783#msg5953783 [^5^]: https://bytecoin.org/old/whitepaper.pdf [^6^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=770.msg8637#msg8637 [^7^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg7039536#msg7039536 [^8^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg7039689#msg7039689 [^9^]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/qtJ43.png [^10^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112 [^11^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg6265128#msg6265128 [^12^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5711328#msg5711328 [^13^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg6146717#msg6146717 [^14^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0 [^15^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg10731078#msg10731078 [^16^]: https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/ [^17^]: https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/lz2e5v/going_deep_in_the_cryptonote_rabbit_hole_who_was/ [^18^]: https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/oxpimb/is_there_any_evidence_that_thankful_for_today/

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/diy-seed-backup) I've been thinking about how to improve my seed backup in a cheap and cool way, mostly for fun. Until now, I had the seed written on a piece of paper in a desk drawer, and I wanted something more durable and fire-proof. [Show me the final result!](#the-final-result) After searching online, I found two options I liked the most: the [Cryptosteel](https://cryptosteel.com/) Capsule and the [Trezor Keep](https://trezor.io/trezor-keep-metal). These products are nice but quite expensive, and I didn't want to spend that much on my seed backup. **Privacy** is also important, and sharing details like a shipping address makes me uncomfortable. This concern has grown since the Ledger incident[^1]. A $5 wrench attack[^2] seems too cheap, even if you only hold a few sats. Upon seeing the design of Cryptosteel, I considered creating something similar at home. Although it may not be as cool as their device, it could offer almost the same in terms of robustness and durability. ## Step 1: Get the materials and tools When choosing the materials, you will want to go with **stainless steel**. It is durable, resistant to fire, water, and corrosion, very robust, and does not rust. Also, its price point is just right; it's not the cheapest, but it's cheap for the value you get.  I went to a material store and bought: - Two bolts - Two hex nuts and head nuts for the bolts - A bag of 30 washers All items were made of stainless steel. The total price was around **€6**. This is enough for making two seed backups. You will also need: - A set of metal letter stamps (I bought a 2mm-size letter kit since my washers were small, 6mm in diameter) - You can find these in local stores or online marketplaces. The set I bought cost me €13. - A good hammer - A solid surface to stamp on Total spent: **19€** for two backups ## Step 2: Stamp and store Once you have all the materials, you can start stamping your words. There are many videos on the internet that use fancy 3D-printed tools to get the letters nicely aligned, but I went with the free-hand option. The results were pretty decent.  I only stamped the first 4 letters for each word since the BIP-39 wordlist allows for this. Because my stamping kit did not include numbers, I used alphabet letters to define the order. This way, if all the washers were to fall off, I could still reassemble the seed correctly. ## The final result So this is the final result. I added two smaller washers as protection and also put the top washer reversed so the letters are not visible:  Compared to the Cryptosteel or the Trezor Keep, its size is much more compact. This makes for an easier-to-hide backup, in case you ever need to hide it inside your human body. ## Some ideas ### Tamper-evident seal To enhance the security this backup, you can consider using a **tamper-evident seal**. This can be easily achieved by printing a **unique** image or using a specific day's newspaper page (just note somewhere what day it was). Apply a thin layer of glue to the washer's surface and place the seal over it. If someone attempts to access the seed, they will be forced to destroy the seal, which will serve as an evident sign of tampering. This simple measure will provide an additional layer of protection and allow you to quickly identify any unauthorized access attempts. Note that this method is not resistant to outright theft. The tamper-evident seal won't stop a determined thief but it will prevent them from accessing your seed without leaving any trace. ### Redundancy Make sure to add redundancy. Make several copies of this cheap backup, and store them in separate locations. ### Unique wordset Another layer of security could be to implement your own custom mnemonic dictionary. However, this approach has the risk of permanently losing access to your funds if not implemented correctly. If done properly, you could potentially end up with a highly secure backup, as no one else would be able to derive the seed phrase from it. To create your custom dictionary, assign a unique number from 1 to 2048 to a word of your choice. Maybe you could use a book, and index the first 2048 unique words that appear. Make sure to store this book and even get a couple copies of it (digitally and phisically). This self-curated set of words will serve as your personal BIP-39 dictionary. When you need to translate between your custom dictionary and the official [BIP-39 wordlist](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039/english.txt), simply use the index number to find the corresponding word in either list. > Never write the idex or words on your computer (Do not use `Ctr+F`) [^1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240326084135/https://www.ledger.com/message-ledgers-ceo-data-leak [^2]: https://xkcd.com/538/

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/ai-tos-analysis) **kycnot.me** features a somewhat hidden tool that some users may not be aware of. Every month, an automated job crawls every listed service's Terms of Service (ToS) and FAQ pages and conducts an AI-driven analysis, generating a comprehensive overview that highlights key points related to KYC and user privacy. Here's an example: [Changenow's Tos Review](https://kycnot.me/service/changenow#tos)  ## Why? ToS pages typically contain a lot of complicated text. Since the first versions of **kycnot.me**, I have tried to provide users a comprehensive overview of what can be found in such documents. This automated method keeps the information up-to-date every month, which was one of the main challenges with manual updates. A significant part of the time I invest in investigating a service for **kycnot.me** involves reading the ToS and looking for any clauses that might indicate aggressive KYC practices or privacy concerns. For the past four years, I performed this task manually. However, with advancements in language models, this process can now be somewhat automated. I still manually review the ToS for a quick check and regularly verify the AI’s findings. However, over the past three months, this automated method has proven to be quite reliable. Having a quick ToS overview section allows users to avoid reading the entire ToS page. Instead, you can quickly read the important points that are grouped, summarized, and referenced, making it easier and faster to understand the key information. ## Limitations This method has a key limitation: JS-generated pages. For this reason, I was using Playwright in my crawler implementation. I plan to make a release addressing this issue in the future. There are also sites that don't have ToS/FAQ pages, but these sites already include a warning in that section. Another issue is false positives. Although not very common, sometimes the AI might incorrectly interpret something harmless as harmful. Such errors become apparent upon reading; it's clear when something marked as bad should not be categorized as such. I manually review these cases regularly, checking for anything that seems off and then removing any inaccuracies. Overall, the automation provides great results. ## How? There have been several iterations of this tool. Initially, I started with GPT-3.5, but the results were not good in any way. It made up many things, and important thigs were lost on large ToS pages. I then switched to GPT-4 Turbo, but it was expensive. Eventually, I settled on Claude 3 Sonnet, which provides a quality compromise between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 Turbo at a more reasonable price, while allowing a generous 200K token context window. I designed a prompt, which is open source[^1], that has been tweaked many times and will surely be adjusted further in the future. For the ToS scraping part, I initially wrote a scraper API using Playwright[^2], but I replaced it with Jina AI Reader[^3], which works quite well and is designed for this task. ### Non-conflictive ToS All services have a dropdown in the ToS section called "Non-conflictive ToS Reviews." These are the reviews that the AI flagged as not needing a user warning. I still provide these because I think they may be interesting to read. ## Feedback and contributing You can give me feedback on this tool, or share any inaccuraties by either opening an issue on Codeberg[^4] or by contacting me [^5]. You can contribute with pull requests, which are always welcome, or you can [support](https://kycnot.me/about#support) this project with any of the listed ways. [^1]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me/src/branch/main/src/utils/ai/prompt.go [^2]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me/commit/483ba8b415cecf323b3d9f0cfd4e9620919467d2 [^3]: https://github.com/jina-ai/reader [^4]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me [^5]: https://kycnot.me/about#contact

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/four-years) > “The future is there... staring back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.” > — William Gibson. This month is [the 4th anniversary](#the-anniversary) of kycnot.me. Thank you for being here. Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system: a decentralized currency **free from government and institutional control**. Nakamoto's whitepaper showed a vision for a financial system based on trustless transactions, secured by cryptography. Some time forward and KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations started to come into play. What a paradox: to engage with a system designed for decentralization, privacy, and independence, we are forced to give away our personal details. Using Bitcoin in the economy requires revealing your identity, not just to the party you interact with, but also to third parties who must track and report the interaction. You are forced to give sensitive data to entities you don't, can't, and shouldn't trust. Information can never be kept 100% safe; there's always a risk. Information is power, who knows about you has control over you. Information asymmetry creates imbalances of power. When entities have detailed knowledge about individuals, they can manipulate, influence, or exploit this information to their advantage. The accumulation of personal data by corporations and governments enables extensive surveillances. Such practices, moreover, exclude individuals from traditional economic systems if their documentation doesn't meet arbitrary standards, reinforcing a dystopian divide. Small businesses are similarly burdened by the costs of implementing these regulations, hindering free market competition[^1]:  How will they keep this information safe? Why do they need my identity? Why do they force businesses to enforce such regulations? It's always for your safety, to protect you from the "bad". Your life is perpetually in danger: terrorists, money launderers, villains... so the government steps in to save us. > ‟Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry > Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true > Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you > Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing > She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing > Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm” > — Mother, Pink Floyd We must resist any attack on our privacy and freedom. To do this, we must collaborate. If you have a service, refuse to ask for KYC; find a way. Accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. Commit to circular economies. Remove the need to go through the FIAT system. People need fiat money to use most services, but we can change that. If you're a user, donate to and prefer using services that accept such currencies. Encourage your friends to accept cryptocurrencies as well. Boycott FIAT system to the greatest extent you possibly can. This may sound utopian, but it can be achieved. This movement can't be stopped. Go kick the hornet's nest. > “We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any. We must come together and create systems which allow anonymous transactions to take place. People have been defending their own privacy for centuries with whispers, darkness, envelopes, closed doors, secret handshakes, and couriers. The technologies of the past did not allow for strong privacy, but electronic technologies do.” > — Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto ## The anniversary Four years ago, I began exploring ways to use crypto without KYC. I bookmarked a few favorite services and thought sharing them to the world might be useful. That was the first version of [kycnot.me](https://kycnot.me) — a simple list of about 15 services. Since then, I've added services, rewritten it three times, and improved it to what it is now. [kycnot.me](https://kycnot.me) has remained 100% independent and 100% open source[^2] all these years. I've received offers to buy the site, all of which I have declined and will continue to decline. It has been DDoS attacked many times, but we made it through. I have also rewritten the whole site almost once per year (three times in four years). The code and scoring algorithm are open source (contributions are welcome) and I can't arbitrarly change a service's score without adding or removing attributes, making any arbitrary alterations obvious if they were fake. You can even see [the score summary](https://https://kycnot.me/api/v1/service/bisq/summary) for any service's score. I'm a one-person team, dedicating my free time to this project. I hope to keep doing so for many more years. Again, thank you for being part of this. [^1]: https://x.com/freedomtech/status/1796190018588872806 [^2]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me

@ ff517fbf:fde1561b

## ビットコインが「最強の担保」と言われる理由 ビットコインは「デジタルゴールド」とも呼ばれることがありますが、実は**ローンの担保としても最強**だと言われています。その理由を、他の資産（株式、不動産、金など）と比較しながら見てみましょう。 - **流動性と即時性**：ビットコインは**24時間365日世界中で取引されているため、非常に流動性が高い**資産です。売買がすぐにできて価格も常に明確なので、担保評価がしやすく、お金を貸す側・借りる側双方に安心感を与えます。一方、株式や不動産は市場が営業時間内しか動かず、現金化にも時間がかかります。不動産は売却に数ヶ月かかることもありますし、金（ゴールド）は現物を保管・輸送する手間があります。ビットコインなら**ネット上で即座に担保設定・解除**ができるのです。 - **分割性と柔軟性**：ビットコインは小数点以下8桁まで分割可能（1億分の1が最小単位の「サトシ」）なので、**必要な額だけ正確に担保に充てる**ことができます。他方、土地や建物を一部だけ担保に入れることは難しいですし、株式も1株未満の細かい調整はできません。ビットコインなら価値の微調整が容易で、担保として柔軟に扱えるのです。 - **管理のしやすさ（マルチシグによる信頼性）**：HodlHodlのLendでは、ビットコイン担保は**2-of-3のマルチシグ契約**で管理されます。これは「借り手・貸し手・プラットフォーム」の3者それぞれが鍵を持ち、**2つの鍵の同意がないとビットコインを動かせない**仕組みです。このため、誰か一人が勝手に担保を持ち逃げすることができず、第三者（HodlHodl）も単独ではコインを移動できません。ビットコインだからこそ実現できる**非中央集権で安全な担保管理**であり、株式や不動産を担保にする場合のように銀行や証券会社といった仲介業者に頼る必要がありません。 - **国境を越えた利用**：ビットコインはインターネットがつながる所なら世界中どこでも送受信できます。このため、日本にいながら海外の相手とでもローン契約が可能です。たとえば日本の方がビットコインを担保にドル建てのステーブルコインを借り、それを日本円に換えて使うこともできます（為替リスクには注意ですが…）。不動産を海外の人と直接やり取りするのは現実的に難しいですが、ビットコインなら**グローバルに担保が活用**できるのです。 - **希少性と価値の上昇期待**：ビットコインは発行上限が決まっており（2100万BTCまで）、時間とともに新規供給が減っていきます。過去の長期的な価格推移を見ると、短期的な変動は激しいものの数年〜十年のスパンでは上昇傾向にあります。一方、法定通貨建ての資産（債券や株式など）はインフレの影響で実質価値が目減りすることがあります。ビットコインは**長期保有すれば価値が上がりやすい**特性があるため、「今手放したくない資産」として担保に向いています。実際、HodlHodlのチームは「ビットコインはスーパーカCollateral（超優秀な担保）だ」と述べています。 こうした理由から、**ビットコインは現時点で考えうる中でも最良の担保資産**と考えられています。株や不動産のように書類手続きや名義変更をしなくても、ビットコインならブロックチェーン上の契約でシンプルに担保設定ができる――この手軽さと信頼性が大きな魅力です。 ## 匿名&プライバシー重視：KYC不要のP2Pレンディングのメリット HodlHodlのLend最大の特徴の一つは、**本人確認（KYC）が一切不要**だという点です。日本の多くの金融サービスでは口座開設時に運転免許証やマイナンバー提出など煩雑な手続きが必要ですが、Lendでは**メールアドレスでアカウント登録するだけでOK**。これは「匿名性・プライバシー」を重視する人にとって非常に相性が良いポイントです。 - **個人情報を晒さなくて良い安心感**：日本では昔から「人に迷惑をかけない」「目立たない」ことが美徳とされ、特にお金の話は他人に知られたくないと考える人が多いですよね。Lendは匿名で利用できるため、借金をすることを周囲に知られたくない人でも安心です。銀行からローンを借りるときのように収入証明や保証人を用意する必要もなく、**誰にも知られずひっそりと資金調達**ができます。 - **ノー・チェック＆ノー・ペーパー**：貸し借りにあたって**信用審査や過去の借入履歴チェックがありません** 。極端な話、今まで金融履歴が全く無い人や、銀行に相手にされないような人でも、ビットコインさえ持っていればお金を借りられるのです。書類のやり取りが無いので手続きもスピーディーです。「印鑑証明や収入証明を揃えて…」という面倒とは無縁で、ネット上でクリックして契約が完結します。 - **プライバシーの保護**：個人情報を提出しないということは、情報漏洩のリスクも無いということです。近年、日本でも個人情報の流出事件が相次いでおり、不安に感じる方も多いでしょう。Lendではアカウント登録時にメールアドレスとパスワード以外何も求められません。財務情報や身元情報がどこかに蓄積される心配がないのは、大きな安心材料です。 - **国や機関から干渉されにくい**：匿名であるということは、極端に言えば**誰にも利用を知られない**ということです。たとえば「ローンを借りると住宅ローンの審査に響くかな…」とか「副業の資金調達を会社に知られたくないな…」といった心配も、匿名のP2Pローンなら不要です。借りたお金の使い道も自由ですし、何より**利用自体が自分だけの秘密**にできるのは、日本人にとって心理的ハードルを下げてくれるでしょう。 このように、**ノーKYC（本人確認なし）** のP2Pレンディングは、日本のようにプライバシーや控えめさを重んじる文化圏でも利用しやすいサービスと言えます。実際、HodlHodlのLendは「地理的・規制的な制限がなく、世界中の誰もが利用できる純粋なP2P市場」とされています。日本に居ながらグローバルな貸し借りができ、しかも身元明かさずに済む――これは画期的ですね。 ## **Borrow編：HodlHodlのLendでビットコインを担保にお金を借りる方法** それでは具体的に、HodlHodlのLendで**どのようにビットコイン担保のローンを借りるのか**、手順を追って説明します。初心者でも迷わないよう、シンプルなステップにまとめました。 ### 1. アカウント登録 (Sign up) まずはHodlHodlのLendサイトにアクセスし、無料のアカウントを作成します。必要なのは**メールアドレスとパスワードだけ**です。登録後、確認メールが届くのでリンクをクリックして認証すれば準備完了。これでプラットフォーム上でオファー（契約希望）を閲覧・作成できるようになります。 ※HodlHodlは日本語には対応していませんが、英語のシンプルなUIです。Google翻訳などを使っても良いでしょう。 ### 2. 借りたい条件のオファーを探す or 作成 ログインしたら、「To Borrow（借りる）」のメニューから現在出ている貸し手のオファー一覧を見てみましょう。オファーには**借入希望額**（例：$1000相当のUSDT）、**期間**（例：3ヶ月）、**金利**（例：5%）や**LTV**（担保価値比率、例：60%）などの条件が書かれています。自分の希望に合うものがあれば選んで詳細画面へ進みます。条件に合うオファーが見つからない場合は、自分で「○○ USDTを△ヶ月、金利○%で借りたい」という**借り手オファーを新規作成**することも可能です。 **用語補足**：*LTV*（ローン・トゥ・バリュー）とはローン額に対する担保価値の割合です。たとえばLTV50%なら、借りたい額の2倍の価値のビットコインを担保に入れる必要があります。LTVは貸し手が設定しており、一般に**30%〜70%程度**の範囲でオファーが出ています。低いLTVほど借り手は多くのBTC担保が必要ですが、その分だけ貸し手にとって安全なローンとなります。 ### 3. 契約成立とマルチシグ担保のデポジット 借り手・貸し手双方が条件に合意すると**契約成立**です。HodlHodlプラットフォーム上で自動的に**専用のマルチシグ・エスクロー用ビットコインアドレス**（担保保管先アドレス）が生成されます。次に、借り手であるあなたは**自分のウォレットからビットコインをそのエスクローアドレスに送金**します。 - *📌ポイント：マルチシグで安心* – 上述の通り、このエスクロー用アドレスのコインを動かすには**3者中2者の署名が必要**です。あなた（借り手）は常にそのうちの1つの鍵を保有しています。つまり、**自分が承認しない限り担保BTCが勝手に引き出されることはない**のでご安心ください。 ビットコインの入金がブロックチェーン上で所定の承認（通常数ブロック程度）を得ると、担保デポジット完了です。これで契約は有効化され、次のステップへ進みます。 ### 4. 貸し手から資金（ステーブルコイン）を受け取る 担保のロックが確認できると、今度は貸し手が**ローン金額の送金**を行います。Lendで借りられるのは主に**ステーブルコイン**です。ステーブルコインとは、米ドルなど法定通貨の価値に連動するよう設計された仮想通貨で、USDTやUSDC、DAIといった種類があります。借り手は契約時に受取用のステーブルコインアドレス（自分のウォレットアドレス）を指定しますので、貸し手はそのアドレス宛に契約どおりの額を送金します。例えばUSDTを借りる契約なら、貸し手からあなたのUSDTウォレットにUSDTが送られてきます。 **これで晴れて、あなた（借り手）は希望のステーブルコインを手にすることができました！** あなたのビットコインは担保としてロックされていますが、期限までに返済すれば取り戻せますので、しばしのお別れです。借りたステーブルコインは自由に使えますので、後述する活用例を参考に有効活用しましょう。 ### 5. 返済（リペイメント） 契約期間中は基本的に何もする必要はありません（途中で追加担保や一部返済を行うことも可能ですが、初心者向け記事では割愛します）。期間が満了するまでに、借りたステーブルコイン**＋利息**を貸し手に返済します。返済も、貸し手の指定するウォレットアドレスにステーブルコインを送金する形で行われます。 - **利息の計算**：利息は契約時に決めた率で発生します。例えば年利10%で6ヶ月間$1000を借りたなら、利息は単純計算で$50（＝$1000×10%×0.5年）です。契約によっては「期間全体で○%」と定める場合もありますが、プラットフォーム上で年率（APR）換算が表示されます。 期間内であれば**任意のタイミングで早期返済することも可能**です。返済期限より早く全額返せば、利息もその日数分だけで済みます（※ただし契約によります。事前に契約条件を確認してください）。HodlHodlでは**分割返済**にも対応しており、例えば月ごとに少しずつ返して最後に完済することもできます。 ### 6. ビットコイン担保の解除（返却） 貸し手があなたからの返済受領を確認すると、プラットフォーム上で契約終了の手続きを行います。マルチシグの担保アドレスから**あなたのビットコインを解放（返却）する署名**を貸し手とプラットフォームが行い、あなたの元のウォレットにビットコインが送られます。こうして無事に担保のBTCが戻ってくれば、一連のローン取引は完了です🎉。 もし**返済が滞った場合**はどうなるのでしょうか？その場合、契約で定められた猶予期間やマージンコール（追加担保のお願い）を経た後、**担保のビットコインが強制的に貸し手に渡されて契約終了（清算）**となります。担保額が未返済額を上回っていれば、差額は借り手に返ってきます。つまり、返せなかったとしても借り手が担保以上の損をすることはありませんが、大切なビットコインを失ってしまう結果にはなるので注意しましょう。 **Borrow（借りる）側のまとめ**：ビットコインさえあれば、あとの手続きは非常に簡単です。借入までの流れをもう一度簡潔にまとめると： 1. メールアドレスでLendに登録 2. 借入オファーを探すor作成してマッチング 3. マルチシグ契約が自動生成・BTC担保を自分で入金 4. 貸し手からステーブルコインを受領 5. 期限までにステーブルコイン＋利息を返済 6. ビットコイン担保が自分のウォレットに戻る 第三者の仲介なしに、ネット上でこれだけのことが完結するのは驚きですよね。HodlHodlは「あなたの条件、あなたの鍵、あなたのコイン」と銘打っており、自分の望む条件で・自分が鍵を管理し・自分の資産を動かせるプラットフォームであることを強調しています。 ## **Lend編：HodlHodlのプラットフォームでお金を貸してみよう** 次は逆に、**自分が貸し手（Lender）となってステーブルコインを貸し出し、利息収入を得る方法**です。銀行に預けても超低金利のこのご時世、手持ちの資金をうまく運用したい方にとってP2Pレンディングは魅力的な選択肢になりえます。HodlHodlのLendなら、これもまた簡単な手順で始められます。 基本的な流れは先ほどの「Borrow編」と鏡写しになっています。 ### 1. アカウント登録 借り手と同様、まずはHodlHodlに登録します（すでに借り手として登録済みなら同じアカウントで貸し手にもなれます）。メールアドレスだけでOK、もちろん貸し手側もKYC不要です。 ### 2. 貸出オファーの確認 or 作成 ログイン後、「To Lend（貸す）」メニューから現在の借り手募集一覧を見ます。各オファーには**希望額**・**期間**・**支払い利率**・**LTV**など条件が表示されています。「この条件なら貸してもいいかな」という案件があれば選択しましょう。もし自分の希望する利回りや期間が合わない場合は、自分で**貸し手オファーを作成**することも可能です。「○○ USDTまで、最長△ヶ月、最低利息◻◻%で貸せます」といった条件を提示できます。プラットフォーム上ではユーザーがお互いに条件を提示しあってマッチングする仕組みなので、**金利や期間もすべてユーザー自身が自由に設定**できます。 ### 3. マッチングと契約開始 あなたの提示した条件で借りたい人が現れたら契約成立です（逆に誰かの借入オファーに応じる形なら、その時点で成立）。システムが**マルチシグの担保用BTCアドレス**を生成し、借り手がそこへビットコインをデポジットします。借り手からのBTC入金が確認できるまで、貸し手であるあなたは資金を送る必要はありません。担保が確保されたのを見届けてから次に進みます。 ### 4. 資金（ステーブルコイン）の送金 借り手の担保ロックが完了したら、**契約で定めたステーブルコインを借り手へ送金**します。送金先アドレスは契約詳細画面に表示されます（借り手が指定済み）。例えばUSDCを貸す契約なら、相手のUSDCアドレスに約束の額を送ります。ここで送金した金額がローンの principal（元本）となり、後ほど利息とともに返ってくるわけです。 無事に相手に届けば、あとは契約期間終了まで待つだけです。あなたは**担保のBTCに対して鍵を1つ持っている**状態なので、万一トラブルが起きた場合でも担保を引き出す権利を部分的に持っています（詳しくは次ステップ）。 ### 5. 返済の受領 契約期間が終わると、借り手があなたにステーブルコインを返済してくるはずです。約束どおり**元本＋利息**を受け取ったら、それを確認してプラットフォーム上で「返済完了」を操作します。すると担保のビットコインがマルチシグから解放され、借り手に返却されます。これで貸し手としてのあなたは**利息分の収益を獲得**できました。お疲れ様です！ もし**借り手が返済しなかった場合**どうなるでしょうか？その場合、所定の猶予期間やマージンコール通知の後、**担保のビットコインがあなた（貸し手）に渡される**ことになります。具体的には、LTVが90%に達するか返済期日から24時間以上滞納が続くと強制清算となり、担保BTCからあなたの貸付相当額が充当されます。担保が十分であれば元本と利息はカバーされ、余剰があれば借り手に返還されます。つまり**貸し手側はかなり手厚く保護**されており、返済を受け取れない場合でも担保で穴埋めされる仕組みです。 ### 6. 収益を管理・再投資 受け取ったステーブルコイン（元本＋利息）は再度プラットフォームで貸し出しても良いですし、他の用途に使ってもOKです。年利に換算すると**だいたい10%前後の利回り**になる案件が多く見られます。条件次第では更に高い利率の契約も可能ですが、その分借り手が見つかりにくかったりリスク（担保不足のリスク）が高まる可能性もあります。ご自身のリスク許容度に合わせて運用しましょう。 **Lend（貸す）側のまとめ**： - HodlHodlに登録（メールアドレスのみ） - 貸出オファーを提示 or 借り手募集に応じる - 契約成立後、借り手がBTC担保を入金 - 貸し手（自分）がステーブルコインを送金 - 期限まで待ち、借り手から元本＋利息を受領 - 担保BTCを返却し、利息収入を得る 銀行預金では考えられないような利息収入を得られるのが魅力ですが、その裏で**ビットコイン価格変動リスク**も担っています。大暴落が起きて担保評価額が急落すると、清算時に元本を割るリスクもゼロではありません（LTV設定とマージンコール制度で極力保護されまますが）。リスクとリターンを理解した上で、小額から試すことをおすすめします。 ## ステーブルコインの活用：お金持ちは借金で生活する？ ここまで、ビットコインを手放さずにステーブルコインを手に入れる方法を見てきました。それでは、**借りたステーブルコインは具体的に何に使える**のでしょうか？いくつか例を挙げてみましょう。 - **日常の出費に充当**：ビットコイン投資家の中には「生活費はすべて借りたお金で賄い、自分のBTCはガチホ（売らずに長期保有）する」という方針の人もいます。例えば毎月の家賃や食費をステーブルコインのローンで支払い(これについても今後詳しく解説していきます)、ビットコインは一切使わないというイメージです。こうすれば、手持ちのBTCを売らずに済むので将来の値上がり益を逃しません。また日本では仮想通貨を売却すると雑所得として高率の税金がかかりますが、**ローンで得たお金は借入金なので課税対象になりません**（※将来的な税務計算は自己責任で行ってください）。つまり、ビットコインを売却して現金化する代わりにローンを使うことで、節税と資産温存のメリットが得られる可能性があります。 - **投資・資産運用に回す**：借りた資金をさらに別の投資に活用することもできます。例えば有望な株式や不動産に投資したり、あるいは他の仮想通貨を買うこともできます。極端な例では、ビットコインを担保にUSDTを借りて、そのUSDTでまた別の仮想通貨を買い、それを運用益で返済する…といった戦略も理論上は可能です。ただし、**借りたお金での投機はハイリスク**なので慎重に！手堅い使い道としては、事業資金に充てるのも良いでしょう。例えば小さなオンラインビジネスを始めるための元手にしたり、新しい資格取得のための学費にするなど、自分への投資に使えば将来的なリターンでローンを返しつつ利益を上げることが期待できます。 - **急な支払いへの備え**：人生何があるか分かりません。医療費や冠婚葬祭など急に現金が必要になる場面もあります。そんなとき、ビットコインをすぐ売ってしまうのは惜しい…という場合にローンで一時的にしのぐことができます。後で落ち着いてから返済すれば、大事なBTCを手放さずにピンチを乗り切れます。言わば**デジタル質屋**のような感覚で、ビットコインを預けてお金を工面し、後で買い戻す（返済する）イメージですね。日本でも昔から「質屋」で着物や宝石を預けてお金を借りる文化がありましたが、HodlHodl Lendは**ビットコイン版の質屋**とも言えるでしょう。 - **市場の機会を逃さない**：仮想通貨市場は変動が激しく、「今これを買いたいのに現金が無い！」というチャンスもあるでしょう。例えば「ビットコインが急落したから買い増したいが、現金が足りない」という場合、手持ちBTCを担保にしてステーブルコインを借り、その急落で安く買い増しする、といった動きもできます。そして後日価格が戻したところで返済すれば、差益を得つつBTC保有枚数も増やせるかもしれません。このように**ローンを戦略的に使えば、市場の好機を掴む資金余力を生み出す**ことができます。ただしハイリスクな手法でもあるため、上級者向けではあります。 ここで覚えておきたいのは、「**お金持ちは借金との付き合い方が上手い**」という点です。日本では借金にネガティブな印象を持つ人も多いですが、世界的な資産家や大企業はしばしば**あえて借金をして手元資金を他に活用**しています。アメリカのベストセラー『金持ち父さん貧乏父さん』で有名なロバート・キヨサキ氏も「**富裕層は他人のお金（借金）を利用してさらに富を築く**」と強調しています。例えば彼は借金で高級車を買い、不動産投資にも借入を活用したそう ([金持ちは貧乏人より借金が多い | 「金持ち父さん 貧乏父さん」日本オフィシャルサイト]( https://www.richdad-jp.com/article/%E9%87%91%E6%8C%81%E3%81%A1%E3%81%AF%E8%B2%A7%E4%B9%8F%E4%BA%BA%E3%82%88%E3%82%8A%E5%80%9F%E9%87%91%E3%81%8C%E5%A4%9A%E3%81%84/#:~:text=%E9%87%91%E6%8C%81%E3%81%A1%E3%81%AB%E3%81%AA%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E7%94%9F%E6%B4%BB%E3%82%92%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A7%E3%82%A4%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%81%84%E3%81%A8%E6%80%9D%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E4%BA%BA%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%80%8C%E3%82%82%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A8%E5%A4%9A%E3%81%8F%E3%81%AE%E3%80%8D%E5%80%9F%E9%87%91%E3%82%92%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E6%96%B9%E6%B3%95%E3%82%92%E7%9F%A5%E3%82%8B%E5%BF%85%E8%A6%81%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%97%E3%80%81%E5%80%9F%E9%87%91%E3%81%AE%E5%8A%9B%E3%82%92%E5%B0%8A%E9%87%8D%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E6%96%B9%E6%B3%95%E3%81%A8%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E5%8A%9B%E3%82%92%E3%81%86%E3%81%BE%E3%81%8F%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E6%96%B9%E6%B3%95%E3%82%92%E5%AD%A6%20%E3%81%B0%E3%81%AA%E3%81%91%E3%82%8C%E3%81%B0%E3%81%AA%E3%82%89%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84%E3%80%82))❤️。借金を味方につけて資産運用すれば、自分の持ち出し資金を抑えつつ豊かな生活を実現できる可能性があります。 もちろん無計画な借金は禁物ですが、**ローンを上手に使うことは決して悪いことではなく、むしろ経済的戦略として有効**なのです。ビットコイン担保ローンはその新しい選択肢として、「お金にお金に働いてもらう」感覚を身につけるきっかけになるかもしれません。 ## 高い金利でもローンを利用するのはなぜ？その理由と戦略 Lendのプラットフォームで提示される金利は、年利換算で見ると**10〜15%程度が一つの目安** です。中にはそれ以上の利率の契約もあります。日本の銀行ローン（金利数％以下）と比べるとかなり高利に思えますが、それでも**多くの人がこのサービスを利用してローンを組んでいます**。なぜ高い利息を支払ってまで借りる価値があるのでしょうか？最後に、その理由と利用者の戦略について考えてみましょう。 - **(1) ビットコインの期待リターンが高い**：借り手にとって一番の動機は、「ビットコインは将来もっと値上がりするはずだから、多少利息を払っても売りたくない」というものです。例えば年利15%で$1000借りると一年後に$1150返す必要がありますが、もしビットコイン価格がその間に15%以上上昇すれば、利息分を差し引いても得をする計算になります。過去のビットコイン相場は年率ベースで大きく成長した年も多く、強気のホルダーほど**利息より値上がり益を優先**する傾向があります。「金利よりビットコインの価値上昇のほうが大きい」という自信が、高金利を払ってでも借りる動機になっているのです。 - **(2) 課税や手数料の回避**：先ほど述べたように、日本ではビットコインを売却すると高額の税金が発生する可能性があります。仮に30%〜50%の税金がかかるのであれば、年利10%前後のローンで済ませたほうがトクだという判断も成り立ちます。また、取引所で売却するときのスプレッドや出金手数料なども考えると、**売却コストを回避する手段**としてローンを選ぶ人もいます。要するに「売るくらいなら借りた方がマシ」という考え方ですね。 - **(3) 自由と速さを優先**：従来の金融機関からお金を借りるには時間がかかりますし、使途にも制限があることが多いです（事業資金なのか生活費なのか、といった審査があります）。それに対してHodlHodlのP2Pローンは**使い道自由・即日資金調達**が可能です。利息が高めでも「今すぐ○○がしたい」「明日までに現金が要る」といったニーズには代えられません。特に仮想通貨業界はスピード命ですから、チャンスを逃さないために**高コストでも素早く借りる**という選択が生まれます。 - **(4) 借金＝時間を買うこと**：あるユーザーの言葉を借りれば、「**借金をすることは未来の時間を先取りすること**」でもあります。例えば住宅ローンがあるからこそ若い世代でもマイホームに住めますし、事業ローンがあるからこそ企業は成長の機会を掴めます。ビットコイン担保ローンも同じで、「今はお金が無いけど将来増やすアテはある。だから今借りてしまおう」というケースもあるでしょう。将来の収入や資産増加を見込んで、**時間を味方につけるためにあえて借金をする**のです。日本語では「借金してでも◯◯する」という表現がありますが、前向きな借金は将来への投資とも言えるでしょう。 - **(5) 非中央集権への支持**：もう一つ見逃せないのは、HodlHodlのようなプラットフォームを利用する理由に**思想的な支持**があります。つまり「銀行や政府に頼らないお金の流れを実現したい」「ビットコインのエコシステムを活性化させたい」というビットコイナーたちです。多少コストが高くても、理念に共感して使っているケースもあります。匿名で自由にお金を借りられる世界を体験することで、金融システムの新たな可能性を感じているのです。 以上のように、**高い金利にも関わらずローンを利用するのは明確なメリットや戦略があるから**なのです。もちろん全ての人に当てはまるわけではありません。ビットコイン価格が下落局面ではリスクも伴いますし、利息分だけ損になる場合もあります。しかし、それらを理解した上で**「自分のお金を働かせる」「資産を手放さずレバレッジを利かせる」**手段として活用している人々が増えてきています。 最後に、HodlHodlの公式ブログの一文をご紹介します。 > “私たちはビットコインこそがスーパーカ collateral（超優秀な担保）であり、利回りを得るために使うのではなく、それを担保に資金を借りるために使われるべきだと考えています" ([The lending is dead, long live the lending | by Hodl Hodl | Hodl Hodl | Medium]( https://medium.com/hodl-hodl/the-lending-is-dead-long-live-the-lending-13af0763f53e#:~:text=match%20at%20L202%20As%20a,out%20there%20on%20the%20market))。 ビットコイン時代の新しいお金の借り方・貸し方であるP2Pローン。最初は難しく感じるかもしれませんが、仕組みを理解すればとてもシンプルで強力なツールです。日本ではまだ馴染みが薄いかもしれませんが、匿名性を好み、コツコツ資産を増やすのが得意な人にこそフィットするサービスかもしれません。ぜひ少額から試し、自分なりの活用法を見つけてみてください。きっと新たな発見があるはずです。 --- もしビットコイン担保のP2Pローンなどについてもっと深く知りたい、あるいは個別に相談してみたいと思えば、どうぞお気軽にご連絡ください。**1対1のコンサルティング**も承っています。 サービスには決まった料金はありませんが、ご相談を通じて「役に立った」と思い、お悩みや疑問を解決できたと感じていただけたら、**「3つのT」でのご支援（Value for Value）**をぜひご検討ください： - **時間（Time）**：この記事をSNSなどでシェアしていただくこと。 - **才能（Talent）**：コメントや補足情報などを通じて知識を共有していただくこと。 - **宝（Treasure）**：世界で最も健全なお金、ビットコインの最小単位「sats」でのご支援。 もちろん、支援の有無にかかわらず、お力になれればとても嬉しいです。 では、また次回！

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/swapter-review) These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing. Reviews are in collaboration with [Orangefren](https://kycnot.me/service/orangefren). ## The review [Swapter.io](https://kycnot.me/service/swapter) is an all-purpose instant exchange. They entered the scene in the depths of the bear market about 2 years ago in June of 2022. | Pros | Cons | | --------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Low fees | Shotgun KYC with opaque triggers | | Large liquidity | Relies on 3rd party liquidity | | Works over Tor | Front-end not synced with back-end | | Pretty UI | | **Rating**: ★★★☆☆ **Service Website:** [swapter.io](https://swapter.io) > ⚠️ There is an ongoing issue with this service: [read more on Reddit](https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1d8olsd/swapter_225_xmr_missing/). ### Test Trades During our testing we performed a trade from XMR to LTC, and then back to XMR. Our first trade had the ID of: `mpUitpGemhN8jjNAjQuo6EvQ`. We were promised **0.8 LTC** for sending **0.5 XMR**, before we sent the Monero. When the Monero arrived we were sent **0.799 LTC**. On the return journey we performed trade with ID: `yaCRb5pYcRKAZcBqg0AzEGYg`. This time we were promised **0.4815 XMR** for sending **0.799 LTC**. After Litecoin arrived we were sent **0.4765 XMR**. As such we saw a discrepancy of `~0.1%` in the first trade and `~1%` in the second trade. Considering those trades were floating we determine the estimates presented in the UI to be highly accurate and honest. Of course Swapter could've been imposing a large fee on their estimates, but we checked their estimates against CoinGecko and found the difference to be equivalent to a fee of just over `0.5%`. Perfectly in line with other swapping services. ### Trading Swapter supports BTC, LTC, XMR and well over a thousand other coins. Sadly they **don't support the Lightning Network**. For the myriad of currencies they deal with they provide massive upper limits. You could exchange tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency in a single trade (although we wouldn't recommend it). The flip side to this is that Swapter **relies on 3rd party liquidity**. Aside from the large liqudity this also benefits the user insofar as it allows for very low fees. However, it also comes with a negative - the 3rd party gets to see all your trades. Unfortunately Swapter opted not to share where they source their liquidity in their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service. ### KYC & AML policies Swapter reserves the right to require its users to provide their full name, their date of birth, their address and government-issued ID. A practice known as "*shotgun KYC*". This should not happen often - in our testing it never did - however it's not clear when exactly it could happen. The AML & KYC policy provided on Swapter's website simply states they will put your trade on hold if their "risk scoring system [deems it] as suspicious". Worse yet, if they determine that "any of the information [the] customer provided is incorrect, false, outdated, or incomplete" then Swapter may decide to terminate all of the services they provide to the user. What exactly would happen to their funds in such a case remains unclear. The only clarity we get is that the Swapter policy outlines a designated 3rd party that will verify the information provided by the user. The third party's name is Sum & Substance Ltd, also simply known as samsub and available at [sumsub.com](https://sumsub.com/) It's understandable that some exchanges will decide on a policy of this sort, especially when they rely on external liquidity, but we would prefer more clarity be given. **When exactly is a trade suspicious?** ### Tor We were pleased to discover Swapter **works over Tor**. However, they do not provide a Tor mirror, nor do they work without JavaScript. Additionally, we found that some small features, such as the live chat, did not work over Tor. Fortunately, other means of contacting their support are still available. ### UI We have found the Swapter UI to be very modern, straightforward and simple to use. It's available in 4 languages (English, French, Dutch and Russian), although we're unable to vouch for the quality of some of those, the ones that we used seemed perfectly serviceable. Our only issue with the UI was that it claims the funds have been sent following the trade, when in reality it seems to take the backend a minute or so to actually broadcast the transaction. ### Getting in touch Swapter's team has a chat on their website, a support email address and a support Telegram. Their social media presence in most active on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter). ### Disclaimer *None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.*

@ d4cb227b:edca6019

Dose: 30g coffee (Fine-medium grind size) 500mL soft or bottled water (97°C / 206.6°F) Instructions: 1. Rinse out your filter paper with hot water to remove the papery taste. This will also preheat the brewer. 2. Add your grounds carefully to the center of the V60 and then create a well in the middle of the grounds. 3. For the bloom, start to gently pour 60mL of water, making sure that all the coffee is wet in this initial phase. 4. As soon as you’ve added your water, grab your V60 and begin to swirl in a circular motion. This will ensure the water and coffee are evenly mixed. Let this rest and bloom for up to 45 seconds. 5. Pour the rest of the water in in 2 phases. You want to try and get 60% of your total water in, within 30 seconds. 6. Pour until you reach 300mL total with a time at 1:15. Here you want to pour with a little agitation, but not so much that you have an uneven extraction. 7. Once you hit 60% of your total brew weight, start to pour a little slower and more gently, keeping your V60 cone topped up. Aim to have 100% of your brew weight in within the next 30 seconds. 8. Once you get to 500mL, with a spoon give the V60 a small stir in one direction, and then again in the other direction. This will release any grounds stuck to the side of the paper. 9. Allow the V60 to drain some more, and then give it one final swirl. This will help keep the bed flat towards the end of the brew, giving you the most even possible extraction.

@ d4cb227b:edca6019

This method focuses on the amount of water in the first pour, which ultimately defines the coffee’s acidity and sweetness (more water = more acidity, less water = more sweetness). For the remainder of the brew, the water is divided into equal parts according to the strength you wish to attain. Dose: - 20g coffee (Coarse ground coffee) - 300mL water (92°C / 197.6°F) Time: 3:30 Instructions: Pour 1: 0:00 > 50mL (42% of 120mL = 40% of total – less water in the ratio, targeting sweetness.) Pour 2: 0:45 > 70mL (58% of 120mL = 40% of total – the top up for 40% of total.) Pour 3: 1:30 > 60mL (The remaining water is 180mL / 3 pours = 60mL per pour) Pour 4: 2:10 > 60mL Pour 5: 2:40 > 60mL Remove the V60 at 3:30

@ 06830f6c:34da40c5

Once upon a time their lived a young man in a lost village, I'm just kidding with you, I'm testing my blog entries on my domain. [SITE]( https://turiz.space) Navigate to Blogs tab and screenshot this. @ me for a chance to get zapped ⚡. I won't say how many sats, so you are not doing it due to the incentive but to help me test the domain functionality. Love ✌️

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

Hey Freaks, RUNSTR is a motion tracking app built on top of nostr. The project is built by TheWildHustle and TheNostrDev Team. The project has been tinkered with for about 3 months, but development has picked up and its goals and direction have become much clearer. In a previous post I mentioned that RUNSTR was looking to become a Nike Run Club or Strava competitor, offering users an open source community and privacy focused alternative to the centralized silos that we've become used to. I normally ramble incoherently.....even in writing, but this is my attempt to communicate the project's goals and direction as we move forward. This is where the project is now: ## Core Features - **Run Tracker**: Uses an algorithm which adjusts to your phone's location permissions and stores the data on your phone locally - **Stats**: Stored locally on your phone with a basic profile screen so users can monitor calories burned during runs - **Nostr Feed**: Made up of kind1 notes that contain #RUNSTR and other running related hashtags - **Music**: Brought to you via a wavlake API, enabling your wavlake playlists and liked songs to be seen and played in the app ## Current Roadmap - **Bugs and small improvements**: Fixing known issues within the client - **zap.store release**: Launching a bug bounty program after release - **Clubs**: Enabling running organizations to create territories for events, challenges, rewards and competition - **Testflight**: Opening up the app to iOS users (currently Android only) - **Modes**: Adding functionality to switch between Running, Walking, or Cycling modes ## Future Roadmap - **Requested Features**: Implementing features requested by club managers to support virtual events and challenges - **Blossom**: Giving power users the ability to upload their data to personal blossom servers - **NIP28**: Making clubs interoperable with other group chat clients like 0xchat, Keychat, and Chachi Chat - **DVM's**: Creating multiple feeds based on movement mode (e.g., Walking mode shows walkstr feed) - **NIP101e**: Allowing users to create run records and store them on nostr relays - **Calories over relays**: Using NIP89-like functionality for users to save calorie data on relays for use in other applications - **NIP60**: Implementing automatic wallet creation for users to zap and get zapped within the app ## In Conclusion I've just barely begun this thing and it'll be an up and down journey trying to push it into existence. I think RUNSTR has the potential to highlight the other things that nostr has going for it, demonstrating the protocol's interoperability, flexing its permissionless identity piece, and offering an experience that gives users a glimpse into what is possible when shipping into a new paradigm. Although we build into an environment that often offers no solutions, you'd have to be a crazy person not to try. https://github.com/HealthNoteLabs/Runstr/releases/tag/feed-0.1.0-20250329-210157

@ 50de492c:0a8871de

{"title":"test","description":"","imageUrl":"https://i.nostr.build/Xo67.png"}

@ 3514ac1b:cf164691

# About Me

@ 3514ac1b:cf164691

Hi this is me ,Erna . i am testing this Habla news . i have been trying using this but got no luck . always disconnect and no content . Hopefully this one will work . BREAKING NEWS : Vance uses Greenland visit to slam Denmark , as Trump escalates rhetoric . https://wapo.st/4c6YkhO

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

> __Warning__ `unrecommended`: deprecated in favor of [NIP-17](17.md) NIP-04 ====== Encrypted Direct Message ------------------------ `final` `unrecommended` `optional` A special event with kind `4`, meaning "encrypted direct message". It is supposed to have the following attributes: **`content`** MUST be equal to the base64-encoded, aes-256-cbc encrypted string of anything a user wants to write, encrypted using a shared cipher generated by combining the recipient's public-key with the sender's private-key; this appended by the base64-encoded initialization vector as if it was a querystring parameter named "iv". The format is the following: `"content": "<encrypted_text>?iv=<initialization_vector>"`. **`tags`** MUST contain an entry identifying the receiver of the message (such that relays may naturally forward this event to them), in the form `["p", "<pubkey, as a hex string>"]`. **`tags`** MAY contain an entry identifying the previous message in a conversation or a message we are explicitly replying to (such that contextual, more organized conversations may happen), in the form `["e", "<event_id>"]`. **Note**: By default in the [libsecp256k1](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/secp256k1) ECDH implementation, the secret is the SHA256 hash of the shared point (both X and Y coordinates). In Nostr, only the X coordinate of the shared point is used as the secret and it is NOT hashed. If using libsecp256k1, a custom function that copies the X coordinate must be passed as the `hashfp` argument in `secp256k1_ecdh`. See [here](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/secp256k1/blob/master/src/modules/ecdh/main_impl.h#L29). Code sample for generating such an event in JavaScript: ```js import crypto from 'crypto' import * as secp from '@noble/secp256k1' let sharedPoint = secp.getSharedSecret(ourPrivateKey, '02' + theirPublicKey) let sharedX = sharedPoint.slice(1, 33) let iv = crypto.randomFillSync(new Uint8Array(16)) var cipher = crypto.createCipheriv( 'aes-256-cbc', Buffer.from(sharedX), iv ) let encryptedMessage = cipher.update(text, 'utf8', 'base64') encryptedMessage += cipher.final('base64') let ivBase64 = Buffer.from(iv.buffer).toString('base64') let event = { pubkey: ourPubKey, created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000), kind: 4, tags: [['p', theirPublicKey]], content: encryptedMessage + '?iv=' + ivBase64 } ``` ## Security Warning This standard does not go anywhere near what is considered the state-of-the-art in encrypted communication between peers, and it leaks metadata in the events, therefore it must not be used for anything you really need to keep secret, and only with relays that use `AUTH` to restrict who can fetch your `kind:4` events. ## Client Implementation Warning Clients *should not* search and replace public key or note references from the `.content`. If processed like a regular text note (where `@npub...` is replaced with `#[0]` with a `["p", "..."]` tag) the tags are leaked and the mentioned user will receive the message in their inbox.

@ 3514ac1b:cf164691

Cryptographic Identity (CI): An Overview ## Definition of Cryptographic Identity Cryptographic identity refers to a digital identity that is secured and verified using cryptographic techniques. It allows individuals to prove their identity online without relying on centralized authorities. ## Background of Cryptographic Identity ### Historical Context - Traditional identity systems rely on centralized authorities (governments, companies) - Digital identities historically tied to platforms and services - Rise of public-key cryptography enabled self-sovereign identity concepts - Blockchain and decentralized systems accelerated development ### Technical Foundations - Based on public-key cryptography (asymmetric encryption) - Uses key pairs: private keys (secret) and public keys (shareable) - Digital signatures provide authentication and non-repudiation - Cryptographic proofs verify identity claims without revealing sensitive data ## Importance of Cryptographic Identity ### Privacy Benefits - Users control their personal information - Selective disclosure of identity attributes - Reduced vulnerability to mass data breaches - Protection against surveillance and tracking ### Security Advantages - Not dependent on password security - Resistant to impersonation attacks - Verifiable without trusted third parties - Reduces centralized points of failure ### Practical Applications - Censorship-resistant communication - Self-sovereign finance and transactions - Decentralized social networking - Cross-platform reputation systems - Digital signatures for legal documents ## Building Cryptographic Identity with Nostr ### Understanding Nostr Protocol #### Core Concepts - Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) - Simple, open protocol for censorship-resistant global networks - Event-based architecture with relays distributing signed messages - Uses NIP standards (Nostr Implementation Possibilities) #### Key Components - Public/private keypairs as identity foundation - Relays for message distribution - Events (signed JSON objects) as the basic unit of data - Clients that interface with users and relays ### Implementation Steps #### Step 1: Generate Keypair - Use cryptographic libraries to generate secure keypair - Private key must be kept secure (password managers, hardware wallets) - Public key becomes your identifier on the network #### Step 2: Set Up Client - Choose from existing Nostr clients or build custom implementation - Connect to multiple relays for redundancy - Configure identity preferences and metadata #### Step 3: Publish Profile Information - Create and sign kind 0 event with profile metadata - Include displayable information (name, picture, description) - Publish to connected relays #### Step 4: Verification and Linking - Cross-verify identity with other platforms (Twitter, GitHub) - Use NIP-05 identifier for human-readable identity - Consider NIP-07 for browser extension integration ### Advanced Identity Features #### Reputation Building - Consistent posting builds recognition - Accumulate follows and reactions - Establish connections with well-known identities #### Multi-device Management - Secure private key backup strategies - Consider key sharing across devices - Explore NIP-26 delegated event signing #### Recovery Mechanisms - Implement social recovery options - Consider multisig approaches - Document recovery procedures ## Challenges and Considerations ### Key Management - Private key loss means identity loss - Balance security with convenience - Consider hardware security modules for high-value identities ### Adoption Barriers - Technical complexity for average users - Network effects and critical mass - Integration with existing systems ### Future Developments - Zero-knowledge proofs for enhanced privacy - Standardization efforts across protocols - Integration with legal identity frameworks

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

- [首页](/readme.md) - [第一章、 NIP-01: Basic protocol flow description](/01.md) - [第二章、 NIP-02: Follow List](/02.md) - [第三章、NIP-03: OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events](/03.md) - [第四章、NIP-04: Encrypted Direct Message](/04.md)

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Pula, located at the southern tip of Istria, is a city where ancient Roman ruins meet stunning Adriatic beaches. Known for its well-preserved amphitheater, charming old town, and crystal-clear waters, Pula offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation.  ## **🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Pula** ### **1️⃣ Pula Arena (Roman Amphitheater) 🏟️** - **One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world**, built in the 1st century. - Used for **gladiator fights**, now a venue for **concerts & film festivals**. - Climb to the top for **stunning sea views**.  ### **2️⃣ Explore Pula’s Old Town 🏡** - Wander through **cobbled streets**, past **Venetian, Roman, and Austro-Hungarian architecture**. - Visit the **Arch of the Sergii** (a 2,000-year-old Roman triumphal arch). - Enjoy a drink in **Forum Square**, home to the **Temple of Augustus**. ### **3️⃣ Relax at Pula’s Beaches 🏖️** - **Hawaiian Beach (Havajska Plaža):** Turquoise waters & cliffs for jumping. - **Ambrela Beach:** A Blue Flag beach with **calm waters, great for families**. - **Pješčana Uvala:** A **sandy beach**, rare for Croatia!  ### **4️⃣ Cape Kamenjak Nature Park 🌿** - A **wild and rugged coastline** with hidden coves and crystal-clear water. - Great for **cliff jumping, kayaking, and biking**. - Located **30 minutes south of Pula**. ### **5️⃣ Visit Brijuni National Park 🏝️** - A group of **14 islands**, once Tito’s private retreat. - Features **Roman ruins, a safari park, and cycling trails**. - Accessible via **boat from Fazana (15 min from Pula)**.  ### **6️⃣ Try Istrian Cuisine 🍽️** - **Fuži with truffles** – Istria is famous for **white & black truffles**. - **Istrian prosciutto & cheese** – Perfect with local **Malvazija wine**. - **Fresh seafood** – Try grilled squid or buzara-style mussels.  ## **🚗 How to Get to Pula** ✈️ **By Air:** Pula Airport (PUY) has flights from major European cities. 🚘 **By Car:** - **From Zagreb:** ~3 hours (270 km) - **From Ljubljana (Slovenia):** ~2.5 hours (160 km) 🚌 **By Bus:** Regular buses connect Pula with **Rovinj, Rijeka, Zagreb, and Trieste (Italy)**. 🚢 **By Ferry:** Seasonal ferries run from **Venice and Zadar**.  ## **💡 Tips for Visiting Pula** ✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & festivals 🌞 ✅ **Book Arena event tickets in advance** – Summer concerts sell out fast 🎶 ✅ **Try local wines** – Istrian **Malvazija (white) and Teran (red)** are excellent 🍷 ✅ **Explore nearby towns** – Rovinj & Motovun make great day trips 🏡 ✅ **Cash is useful** – Some small shops & markets prefer cash 💶 

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIP-03 ====== OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events -------------------------------------- `draft` `optional` This NIP defines an event with `kind:1040` that can contain an [OpenTimestamps](https://opentimestamps.org/) proof for any other event: ```json { "kind": 1040 "tags": [ ["e", <event-id>, <relay-url>], ["alt", "opentimestamps attestation"] ], "content": <base64-encoded OTS file data> } ``` - The OpenTimestamps proof MUST prove the referenced `e` event id as its digest. - The `content` MUST be the full content of an `.ots` file containing at least one Bitcoin attestation. This file SHOULD contain a **single** Bitcoin attestation (as not more than one valid attestation is necessary and less bytes is better than more) and no reference to "pending" attestations since they are useless in this context. ### Example OpenTimestamps proof verification flow Using [`nak`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak), [`jq`](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/) and [`ots`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/ots): ```bash ~> nak req -i e71c6ea722987debdb60f81f9ea4f604b5ac0664120dd64fb9d23abc4ec7c323 wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net | jq -r .content | ots verify > using an esplora server at https://blockstream.info/api - sequence ending on block 810391 is valid timestamp validated at block [810391] ```

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

> This UX research has been redacted by @iqra from the Bitcoin.Design [community](https://discord.gg/K7aQ5PErht), and shared for review and feedback! Don't be shy, share your thoughts.  - - - ## 1️⃣ Introduction #### Project Overview 📌 **Product:** BlueWallet (Bitcoin Wallet) 📌 **Goal:** Improve onboarding flow and enhance accessibility for a better user experience. 📌 **Role:** UX Designer 📌 **Tools Used:** Figma, Notion #### Why This Case Study? 🔹 BlueWallet is a self-custodial Bitcoin wallet, but **users struggle with onboarding due to unclear instructions**. 🔹 **Accessibility issues** (low contrast, small fonts) create **barriers for visually impaired users**. 🔹 Competitors like **Trust Wallet and MetaMask offer better-guided onboarding**. This case study presents **UX/UI improvements** to make BlueWallet **more intuitive and inclusive**. - - - ## 2️⃣ Problem Statement: Why BlueWalletʼs Onboarding Needs Improvement #### 🔹 **Current Challenges:** 1️⃣ **Onboarding Complexity** - BlueWallet lacks **step-by-step guidance**, leaving users confused about wallet creation and security.   2️⃣ **No Educational Introduction** - Users land directly on the wallet screen with **no explanation of private keys, recovery phrases, or transactions**. 3️⃣ **Transaction Flow Issues** - Similar-looking **"Send" and "Receive" buttons** cause confusion. 4️⃣ **Poor Accessibility** - Small fonts and low contrast make navigation difficult. #### 🔍 **Impact on Users:** **Higher drop-off rates** due to frustration during onboarding. **Security risks** as users skip key wallet setup steps. **Limited accessibility** for users with visual impairments. #### 📌 **Competitive Gap:** Unlike competitors (Trust Wallet, MetaMask), BlueWallet does not offer: ✅ A guided onboarding process ✅ Security education during setup ✅ Intuitive transaction flow      Somehow, this wallet has much better UI than the BlueWallet Bitcoin wallet. - - - ## 3️⃣ User Research & Competitive Analysis #### User Testing Findings 🔹 Conducted usability testing with **5 users** onboarding for the first time. 🔹 **Key Findings:** ✅ 3 out of 5 users **felt lost** due to missing explanations. ✅ 60% **had trouble distinguishing transaction buttons**. ✅ 80% **found the text difficult to read** due to low contrast. #### Competitive Analysis We compared BlueWallet with top crypto wallets: | Wallet | Onboarding UX | Security Guidance | Accessibility Features | |---|---|---|---| | BlueWallet | ❌ No guided onboarding | ❌ Minimal explanation | ❌ Low contrast, small fonts | | Trust Wallet | ✅ Step-by-step setup | ✅ Security best practices | ✅ High contrast UI | | MetaMask | ✅ Interactive tutorial | ✅ Private key education | ✅ Clear transaction buttons | 📌 **Key Insight:** BlueWallet lacks **guided setup and accessibility enhancements**, making it harder for beginners. ## 📌 User Persona To better understand the users facing onboarding challenges, I developed a **persona** based on research and usability testing. #### 🔹 Persona 1: Alex Carter (Bitcoin Beginner & Investor) 👤 **Profile:** - **Age:** 28 - **Occupation:** Freelance Digital Marketer - **Tech Knowledge:** Moderate - Familiar with online transactions, new to Bitcoin) - **Pain Points:** - Finds **Bitcoin wallets confusing**. - - Doesnʼt understand **seed phrases & security features**. - - **Worried about losing funds** due to a lack of clarity in transactions. 📌 **Needs:** ✅ A **simple, guided** wallet setup. ✅ **Clear explanations** of security terms (without jargon). ✅ Easy-to-locate **Send/Receive buttons**. 📌 **Persona Usage in Case Study:** - Helps define **who we are designing for**. - Guides **design decisions** by focusing on user needs. #### 🔹 Persona 2: Sarah Mitchell (Accessibility Advocate & Tech Enthusiast) 👤 **Profile:** - **Age:** 35 - **Occupation:** UX Researcher & Accessibility Consultant - **Tech Knowledge:** High (Uses Bitcoin but struggles with accessibility barriers) 📌 **Pain Points:** ❌ Struggles with small font sizes & low contrast. ❌ Finds the UI difficult to navigate with a screen reader. ❌ Confused by identical-looking transaction buttons. 📌 **Needs:** ✅ A **high-contrast UI** that meets **WCAG accessibility standards**. ✅ **Larger fonts & scalable UI elements** for better readability. ✅ **Keyboard & screen reader-friendly navigation** for seamless interaction. 📌 **Why This Persona Matters:** - Represents users with visual impairments who rely on accessible design. - Ensures the design accommodates inclusive UX principles. - - - ## 4️⃣ UX/UI Solutions & Design Improvements #### 📌 Before (Current Issues) ❌ Users land **directly on the wallet screen** with no instructions. ❌ **"Send" & "Receive" buttons look identical** , causing transaction confusion. ❌ **Small fonts & low contrast** reduce readability. #### ✅ After (Proposed Fixes) ✅ **Step-by-step onboarding** explaining wallet creation, security, and transactions. ✅ **Visually distinct transaction buttons** (color and icon changes). ✅ **WCAG-compliant text contrast & larger fonts** for better readability. #### 1️⃣ Redesigned Onboarding Flow ✅ Added a **progress indicator** so users see where they are in setup. ✅ Used **plain, non-technical language** to explain wallet creation & security. ✅ Introduced a **"Learn More" button** to educate users on security. #### 2️⃣ Accessibility Enhancements ✅ Increased **contrast ratio** for better text readability. ✅ Used **larger fonts & scalable UI elements**. ✅ Ensured **screen reader compatibility** (VoiceOver & TalkBack support). #### 3️⃣ Transaction Flow Optimization ✅ Redesigned **"Send" & "Receive" buttons** for clear distinction. ✅ Added **clearer icons & tooltips** for transaction steps. ## 5️⃣ Wireframes & Design Improvements: #### 🔹 Welcome Screen (First Screen When User Opens Wallet) **📌 Goal: Give a brief introduction & set user expectations** ✅ App logo + **short tagline** (e.g., "Secure, Simple, Self-Custody Bitcoin Wallet") ✅ **1-2 line explanation** of what BlueWallet is (e.g., "Your gateway to managing Bitcoin securely.") ✅ **"Get Started" button** → Le ads to **next step: Wallet Setup** ✅ **"Already have a wallet?"** → Import option 🔹 **Example UI Elements:** - BlueWallet Logo - **Title:** "Welcome to BlueWallet" - **Subtitle:** "Easily store, send, and receive Bitcoin." - CTA: "Get Started" (Primary) | "Import Wallet" (Secondary)  #### 🔹 Screen 2: Choose Wallet Type (New or Import) **📌 Goal: Let users decide how to proceed** ✅ **Two clear options:** - **Create a New Wallet** (For first-time users) - **Import Existing Wallet** (For users with a backup phrase) ✅ Brief explanation of each option 🔹 **Example UI Elements: - **Title:** "How do you want to start?" - **Buttons:** "Create New Wallet" | "Import Wallet"  #### 🔹 Screen 3: Security & Seed Phrase Setup (Critical Step) **📌 Goal: Educate users about wallet security & backups** ✅ Explain **why seed phrases are important** ✅ **Clear step-by-step instructions** on writing down & storing the phrase ✅ **Warning:** "If you lose your recovery phrase, you lose access to your wallet." ✅ **CTA:** "Generate Seed Phrase" → Next step 🔹 **Example UI Elements: - Title:** "Secure Your Wallet" - **Subtitle:** "Your seed phrase is the key to your Bitcoin. Keep it safe!" - **Button:** "Generate Seed Phrase"  ## 🔹 Screen 4: Seed Phrase Display & Confirmation **📌 Goal: Ensure users write down the phrase correctly** ✅ Display **12- or 24-word** seed phrase ✅ **“I have written it downˮ checkbox** before proceeding ✅ Next screen: **Verify seed phrase** (drag & drop, re-enter some words) 🔹 **Example UI Elements:** - **Title:** "Write Down Your Seed Phrase" - List of 12/24 Words (Hidden by Default) - **Checkbox:** "I have safely stored my phrase" - **Button:** "Continue"  ### 🔹 Screen 5: Wallet Ready! (Final Step) **📌 Goal: Confirm setup & guide users on next actions** ✅ **Success message** ("Your wallet is ready!") ✅ **Encourage first action:** - “Receive Bitcoinˮ → Show wallet address - “Send Bitcoinˮ → Walkthrough on making transactions ✅ Short explainer: Where to find the Send/Receive buttons 🔹 **Example UI Elements:** - **Title:** "You're All Set!" - **Subtitle:** "Start using BlueWallet now." - **Buttons:** "Receive Bitcoin" | "View Wallet"  - - - ## 5️⃣ Prototype & User Testing Results 🔹 **Created an interactive prototype in Figma** to test the new experience. 🔹 **User Testing Results:** ✅ **40% faster onboarding completion time.** ✅ **90% of users found transaction buttons clearer.** 🔹 **User Feedback:** ✅ “Now I understand the security steps clearly.ˮ ✅ “The buttons are easier to find and use.ˮ - - - ## 6️⃣ Why This Matters: Key Takeaways 📌 **Impact of These UX/UI Changes:** ✅ **Reduced user frustration** by providing a step-by-step onboarding guide. ✅ **Improved accessibility** , making the wallet usable for all. ✅ **More intuitive transactions** , reducing errors. - - - ## 7️⃣ Direct link to figma file and Prototype Figma file: [https://www.figma.com/design/EPb4gVgAMEgF5GBDdtt81Z/Blue-Wallet-UI- Improvements?node-id=0-1&t=Y2ni1SfvuQQnoB7s-1](https://www.figma.com/design/EPb4gVgAMEgF5GBDdtt81Z/Blue-Wallet-UI- Improvements?node-id=0-1&t=Y2ni1SfvuQQnoB7s-1) Prototype: [https://www.figma.com/proto/EPb4gVgAMEgF5GBDdtt81Z/Blue-Wallet-UI- Improvements?node-id=1-2&p=f&t=FndTJQNCE7nEIa84-1&scaling=scale- down&content-scaling=fixed&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node- id=1%3A2&show-proto-sidebar=1](https://www.figma.com/proto/EPb4gVgAMEgF5GBDdtt81Z/Blue-Wallet-UI- Improvements?node-id=1-2&p=f&t=FndTJQNCE7nEIa84-1&scaling=scale- down&content-scaling=fixed&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node- id=1%3A2&show-proto-sidebar=1) Original PDF available from [here](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/903126164795699212/1355561527394173243/faf3ee46-b501-459c-ba0e-bf7e38843bc8_UX_Case_Study__1.pdf?ex=67e9608d&is=67e80f0d&hm=d0c386ce2cfd6e0ebe6bde0a904e884229f52bf547adf1f7bc884e17bb4aa59e&) originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928822

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIP-03 ====== OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events -------------------------------------- `draft` `optional` This NIP defines an event with `kind:1040` that can contain an [OpenTimestamps](https://opentimestamps.org/) proof for any other event: ```json { "kind": 1040 "tags": [ ["e", <event-id>, <relay-url>], ["alt", "opentimestamps attestation"] ], "content": <base64-encoded OTS file data> } ``` - The OpenTimestamps proof MUST prove the referenced `e` event id as its digest. - The `content` MUST be the full content of an `.ots` file containing at least one Bitcoin attestation. This file SHOULD contain a **single** Bitcoin attestation (as not more than one valid attestation is necessary and less bytes is better than more) and no reference to "pending" attestations since they are useless in this context. ### Example OpenTimestamps proof verification flow Using [`nak`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak), [`jq`](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/) and [`ots`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/ots): ```bash ~> nak req -i e71c6ea722987debdb60f81f9ea4f604b5ac0664120dd64fb9d23abc4ec7c323 wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net | jq -r .content | ots verify > using an esplora server at https://blockstream.info/api - sequence ending on block 810391 is valid timestamp validated at block [810391] ```

@ b571324b:6e316384

Always humble yourself 😁##

@ 8671a6e5:f88194d1

A flash of inspiration <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f1adbb3992b05ba7bbb9e3ff3b61d27e6e58b1564e628dd136afee4e57b3449c.jpg"> Sometimes the mind takes you to strange places. The other day, I stumbled across Madonna’s “Vogue” video, you know “strike a pose” and all that jazz, and it got me thinking. Not about her music (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged as gracefully as her PR team might hope), but about Michael Saylor and Bitcoin. Bear with me here, there’s a connection there. Madonna built an empire and her iconic name on catchy tunes and reinvention, even if her catalog feels a bit thin these days. Saylor? He’s doing something similar—taking an old act, dusting it off, and teaching it a new trick. Only instead of a microphone, he’s wielding Bitcoin, and Wall Street’s playing the role of the music industry, propping up the star despite a shaky back catalog (his initial business software). Old school meets new moves Think of Saylor as that veteran artist who’s been around for a few decades and think of bitcoin as a new style of music, a genre or a gimmick that’s popular with the kids. Old music stars sooner or later pick up on that, and even bring people in to do a cross-over song, a mix or god forbid, a duet. MicroStrategy, his software company, was never a top hit scoring machine. More of a album full of B-sides that faded into obscurity (for those who don’t know, look up what a B-side song was). But then he stumbled onto Bitcoin, the shiny new genre that’s got the attention and attracted people because of the underlying asset (our tunes are here to stay). It’s not just a pivot; it’s a reinvention. Like an aging pop star learning to rap, Saylor’s taken his old-school business and remixed it into something attracting a decent audience at conferences for example. Like Madonna or the former Prince fulling arenas. He’s voguing alright; with bold moves, big loans, the support of his own music industry and a spotlight for his (sometimes Madonna lyrics like) ramblings. The Saylor trick: a ray of light on bitcoin Here’s the play: Saylor’s turned MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin hoarding machine. Forget software licenses; his game is borrowing billions—through corporate bonds and stock sales, only to buy and hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin will outshine gold, bonds, even the S&P 500, Saylor says. It’s a gamble, an honorable one if you’re a bitcoiner, but it’s dressed up as a vision, and it’s got a self-fulfilling prophecy in it. Not only that, such a prophecy can only fully come to fruition if he’s not the only buyer of last resort of any significance. A music industry isn’t a real industry if there was only Madonna dancing on stage as the only mainstream artist. We had Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Dua Lipa and hundreds of other artists over time, vying for your money, attention span, and streaming minutes. The more Strategy buys, the more the Bitcoin crowd cheers, the higher the price climbs, and the more attention he gets. Speaking gigs, headlines, cult status—it’s a win-win, at least on paper. Strike the pose, indeed. The McDonald’s trick: value under the surface It’s not the first time Michael Saylro remixes a tape from another artist so to speak. Let’s pivot to McDonald’s for a second, because there’s a parallel here. You think Big Macs when you think McDonald’s, but their real value hustle is actually real estate. They own prime land, lease it to franchisees, and rake in rent—billions of it. The burgers? Just a tasty front for a property empire. Saylor’s pulling a similar move, but instead of buildings, his asset is Bitcoin. MicroStrategy’s software gig is the fries on the side — nice to have, but not the main course. He’s borrowing against the future value of BTC, betting it’ll keep climbing, just like McDonald’s banks on steady foot traffic and picking strategic (pun intended) locations. The difference? McDonald’s has a fallback if real estate tanks. Saylor’s all-in on bitcoin. (So far so good, if there’s one thing to go all-in on, it’s bitcoin anyway). That on itself is not an issue. But it’s important to know that the “location” is the asset for some while bitcoin is the “asset” for Strategy. Mc Donald’s assets are easy to spot: there are restaurants all over the place. Madonna’s concerts are also easy to spot: they sell out arenas left and right. Strategy’s bitcoin asset is less easy to spot, as we can’t see them, neither can we verify them. More on that later. The hybrid star: Madonna meets McDonald’s So, picture this: Saylor’s a cross between Madonna and a fast-food landlord. He’s the aging music icon who’s learned a flashy new dance, but underneath the glitter, he’s running a McDonald’s-style value play. It’s brilliant, in a way. Bitcoin’s scarcity fuels the hype, and his borrowing keeps the show on the road. Madonna’s legacy still sells records her name holds value, and McDonald’s can lean on its food business and brand, if the property game stumbles they can easily pivot back to basics and earn like they’ve always done on selling food and franchise income/licensing. Saylor? His software arm’s is rather dismal. If Bitcoin falters, there’s no encore that can him.**a flash of inspiration** Sometimes the mind takes you to strange places. The other day, I stumbled across Madonna’s “Vogue” video, you know “strike a pose” and all that jazz, and it got me thinking. Not about her music (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged as gracefully as her PR team might hope), but about Michael Saylor and Bitcoin.\ \ Bear with me here, there’s a connection there. Madonna built an empire and her iconic name on catchy tunes and reinvention, even if her catalog feels a bit thin these days.\ Saylor? He’s doing something similar—taking an old act, dusting it off, and teaching it a new trick. Only instead of a microphone, he’s wielding Bitcoin, and Wall Street’s playing the role of the music industry, propping up the star despite a shaky back catalog (his initial business software). **Old school meets new moves** Think of Saylor as that veteran artist who’s been around for a few decades and think of bitcoin as a new style of music, a genre or a gimmick that’s popular with the kids. Old music stars sooner or later pick up on that, and even bring people in to do a cross-over song, a mix or god forbid, a duet. MicroStrategy, his software company, was never a top hit scoring machine. More of a album full of B-sides that faded into obscurity (for those who don’t know, look up what a B-side song was).\ But then he stumbled onto Bitcoin, the shiny new genre that’s got the attention and attracted people because of the underlying asset (our tunes are here to stay).\ \ It’s not just a pivot; it’s a reinvention. Like an aging pop star learning to rap, Saylor’s taken his old-school business and remixed it into something attracting a decent audience at conferences for example. Like Madonna or the former Prince fulling arenas.\ He’s voguing alright; with bold moves, big loans, the support of his own music industry and a spotlight for his (sometimes Madonna lyrics like) ramblings. **The Saylor trick: a ray of light on bitcoin\** \ Here’s the play: Saylor’s turned MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin hoarding machine. Forget software licenses; his game is borrowing billions—through corporate bonds and stock sales, only to buy and hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin will outshine gold, bonds, even the S&P 500, Saylor says.\ It’s a gamble, an honorable one if you’re a bitcoiner, but it’s dressed up as a vision, and it’s got a self-fulfilling prophecy in it. Not only that, such a prophecy can only fully come to fruition if he’s not the only buyer of last resort of any significance. A music industry isn’t a real industry if there was only Madonna dancing on stage as the only mainstream artist.\ \ We had Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Dua Lipa and hundreds of other artists over time, vying for your money, attention span, and streaming minutes.\ The more Strategy buys, the more the Bitcoin crowd cheers, the higher the price climbs, and the more attention he gets. Speaking gigs, headlines, cult status—it’s a win-win, at least on paper. Strike the pose, indeed. **The McDonald’s trick: value under the surface\** \ It’s not the first time Michael Saylro remixes a tape from another artist so to speak.\ Let’s pivot to McDonald’s for a second, because there’s a parallel here. You think Big Macs when you think McDonald’s, but their real value hustle is actually real estate. They own prime land, lease it to franchisees, and rake in rent—billions of it. The burgers? Just a tasty front for a property empire. Saylor’s pulling a similar move, but instead of buildings, his asset is Bitcoin.\ MicroStrategy’s software gig is the fries on the side — nice to have, but not the main course. He’s borrowing against the future value of BTC, betting it’ll keep climbing, just like McDonald’s banks on steady foot traffic and picking strategic (pun intended) locations.\ The difference? McDonald’s has a fallback if real estate tanks. Saylor’s all-in on bitcoin. (So far so good, if there’s one thing to go all-in on, it’s bitcoin anyway). That on itself is not an issue. But it’s important to know that the “location” is the asset for some while bitcoin is the “asset” for Strategy.\ Mc Donald’s assets are easy to spot: there are restaurants all over the place. Madonna’s concerts are also easy to spot: they sell out arenas left and right.\ Strategy’s bitcoin asset is less easy to spot, as we can’t see them, neither can we verify them. More on that later. **The hybrid star: Madonna meets McDonald’s** So, picture this: Saylor’s a cross between Madonna and a fast-food landlord. He’s the aging music icon who’s learned a flashy new dance, but underneath the glitter, he’s running a McDonald’s-style value play.\ It’s brilliant, in a way. Bitcoin’s scarcity fuels the hype, and his borrowing keeps the show on the road.\ Madonna’s legacy still sells records her name holds value, and McDonald’s can lean on its food business and brand, if the property game stumbles they can easily pivot back to basics and earn like they’ve always done on selling food and franchise income/licensing.\ Saylor? His software arm’s is rather dismal. If Bitcoin falters, there’s no encore that can him. The music’s made in-house Michael Saylor’s strategy with Strategy, is a bold, all-in bet on Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value. Essentially combining what Mc Donald’s does with the strong believe in bitcoin’s future (and fueling that believe with the fitting rhetoric). It works like this: Since August 2020, Saylor’s company has been buying up more and more Bitcoin, making it their main asset instead of traditional cash or investments, and by March 2025, they own 506,137 BTC—worth about $42.8 billion (at $84,000 per Bitcoin). This, after spending $33.7 billion to buy it over time (DCA), including a massive 218887 BTC purchase late 2024 for $20.5 billion, giving them over 2.41% of all Bitcoin ever to exist (way more than companies like Marathon, Coinbase, Tesla or Riot). To pull this off, they’ve borrowed heavily: owing $7.2 billion, mostly to Wall Street investors through special IOUs1 called convertible notes, which don’t need to be paid back until 2027, through 2029. These can either be settled with cash or swapped for Strategy stock. (there lies one of the main issues in my opinion, as the main asset’s price in USD is directly impacting the stock price of MSTR). A small example of this repeated correlation happened on March 28, 2025 when Strategy’s stock (MSTR) dropped 10.8% from $324.59 to $289.41, which was mirroring Bitcoin’s move down from $85,000 to $82,000 earlier. This debt they have can be called “risky” by any stretch, with a high leverage rate of 39-40%, meaning they’ve borrowed a big chunk compared to what they own outright, but here’s the genius of it: they don’t have to sell their Bitcoin if its price drops, and they can refinance (borrow more later) to keep the dance going. As long as they find investors willing to bet on the later bitcoin price surge, but more importantly, as long as the song is liked by the new audience. If Michael Saylor is our “Madonna”, then there’s still not Taylor Swift or Rihanna in sight. The creditors (big players, not banks) win if Bitcoin soars, as Strategy’s huge stash (potentially 2.9%+ of the market) nets them massive profits, or even if it crashes, they’re still in the game with other ways to make profit (not on bitcoin), since they can afford the risk. If someone is willing to bet 4 to 8 billion dollars, they’re probably not spooked by losing it all. More so, these Wall Streat people in the correct entourage, can probably afford such a gamble, and can stomach to lose it all if something goes horribly wrong as well, instead of risking being left out of a growing market. But since they’re probably the same people steering and “owning” the USD market anyway, they’re just conquering positions in a new market. The fact that they’re not real bitcoin-ethos people, but just “suits” in finance, can make the suspicious bitcoiners watching all of this unfold, even more uneasy. So, Strategy sits on $44 billion in Bitcoin with just $7.2 billion in debt, voguing confidently. And Saylor’s betting the song never gets old, he’ll do the B-sides and re-mastering his old albums if necessary, but if Bitcoin’s value ever fades (for whatever reason), the real question is how long they can keep striking poses before the music stops. Remember: all money (fiat, gold, silver, bitcoin, nicely made papers) is a matter of trust. As I have trust in bitcoin itself, but not so much in Strategy, I’ve take some precautions. I've started my own sort of "Strategy crash fund", with fiat money that only will come into action when strategy is done. The crash that we'll see after that goes down, will be such a tremendous opportunity, that I'll pour in some more fiat, gladly, and that will be the exact moment I will actually “sell all my chairs” (from Saylor’s well-known quote). Purchases Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases, don’t seem to jolt the market much either, no matter the size of the order. They always have the same sound: “it’s OTC, it doesn’t impact the market that much”. Still, it’s strange to see: no one has ever come forward to tell anyone “I’ve sold 15000 bitcoin from my old stack to Saylor”, neither do we see any clear evidence and on-chain moves. Take their first buy in August 2020 for example. Totaling 21454 BTC for $250 million at $11,652 per BTC; Bitcoin sat at $11,500 to $11,700 so barely moved, inching to $12,000 weeks later due to broader trends. Same story in December 2020 with 29646 BTC for $650 million, there, the price hopped from $19,000 to $23,000, but a bull market was already raging. Fast forward to February 2021 (19452 BTC, for $1.026 billion (!)), March 2024 (9245 BTC, $623 million), November 2024 (55500 BTC, $5.4 billion), and March 2025 (6911 BTC, $584.1 million) Bitcoin wobbled 2-15%, but always in line with existing momentum, not Strategy’s announcements. Their biggest buy, for a total of $5.4 billion (!) is just 0.3% of Bitcoin’s $1.7 trillion market cap, it’s too small to register as a blip even. But compared to the liquidity on the market and the “availability” on the OTC market, it should. More so, OTC bitcoin is announced as “for sale” somehow. A person with +25000 bitcoin is not standing on the side of the street yelling “hey man, wanna buy some bitcoin?”. There are specialized firms doing that for them, and making these available. This date is also used by some insiders and people who know this very small market (there aren’t that many bitcoiners sitting on such an amount after 2024 I guess). Data from Binance OTC, Coinspaid, kraken OTC, is highly private of course, but still, anything being sold over there, to Strategy or anyone else, would take larger amounts off the open market and the OTC market, making a price impact, certainly withing 2 years, as Bitcoin mining companies sit on an average buffer of 6 months depending on market conditions. Strategy funds all of this by selling shares (diluting the pool big-time) or issuing convertible notes, and while SEC filings make faking these buys near-impossible. And even if Saylor is the Bitcoin version of Bernie Madoff, he could get away with it, if enough people "in the know" are willing to support this way of infesting (and investing in) the bitcoin economy. This would have to be a clear orchestrated attack on bitcoin, purely on the financial level then. I don't believe this to be the case, but mathematically we have to take it into account as a very slight possibility. After all, a company like "WorldCom"2 managed to scam their way out of different audits for years, until the scheme got bust and a enormous amount of investors lost their money after their CEO went to jail3 for exchange fraud. I believe this could be the case with Strategy, but I give it a 3% chance (this might be low, but it's there, we can't outright dismiss the possibility). Water in the wine Strategy has also massively diluted its stock to fund Bitcoin buys, jumping from 10 million shares in 2020 to about 285 million by March 2025—a 2,750% increase, this happened after raising $4.25 billion from 2020 onwards and $20 billion of their $42 billion "21/21 Plan" by early 2025. After the 10-for-1 stock split in August 2024, the number of MSTR shares grew from 16.5 million in 2023 to 284898 by end of 2024, a 1625% rise !!!. Add to that about 275 million more shares added in total (including 120 million in 2024 alone) and 1.975 million extra in March 2025 for $592.6 million. So more and more tap water is poured in the wine, and it means each share’s ownership slice shrinks as new shares flood in, mostly via "at-the-market" sales and convertible note conversions. This is partly offset by share splits, but still, the rise in the number of stock is significant, and a big factor in evaluating MSTR. In December 2024, they proposed hiking authorized shares to 10.33 billion (plus 1 billion preferred), approved in January 2025, setting the stage for even more if they keep selling. The trend is clear: relentless selling. They might say “we never sell bitcoin”, but the same doesn’t count for their shares… which derive their value from bitcoin’s fiat price. So shareholders are betting on Bitcoin’s rise to offset the watering down of the share they hold. The more you think of it, the more ludicrous it sounds. It’s a loop of trust where the stock itself can only thrive if the company itself is an active, useful middleman. And so far, it’s only doing so for other Wall street companies, the biggest holders of MSTR shares: Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Capital International Investors, Jane Street Group, Susquehanna International Group This on itself is also “normal” of course. In the flow of things. Like every aspect by itself in the whole Strategy setup is just normal. But combining all the factors makes it look a bit more… suspicious to me. Supporting bitcoin ? The real head-scratcher comes next: their secrecy and lack of community involvement. Strategy claims to hold 506137 BTC, likely cold-stored with partners like BitGo or Coinbase Custody, but no public wallet addresses back these claims up. Odd for a firm swearing never to sell. There’s also the real risk that these partners are partly selling paper bitcoin (bitcoin they don't hold the keys to, or "promised" bitcoin) to Strategy, and that they just assume everything is audited and OK. We can't estimate that, since we don't have any public MicroStrategy addresses or other ways to look at their holdings. This is for security reasons apparently, which raises another question: If they for example would show 300k+ BTC on-chain as proof, it’d boost trust, yet they don’t, hinting at a bigger play — maybe as a Wall Street-backed buyer of last resort for a new asset class. Also Strategy’s software business and bitcoin “apps” (like the super simple Lightning email integration, and an on-chain digital ID system) is underwhelming to say the least (I literally know people that code such stuff on a free afternoon while they’re cooking dinner). Their very minimal software innovation for the Bitcoin space, with basic Lightning features and an on-chain ID system, failing their their valuation as a 'Bitcoin company' in my opinion. More so, their business is ignoring the other innovation that would help bitcoin thrive. This is kind of a red flag for me. Why would a company sitting on +500 k bitcoin be hesitant about supporting the bitcoin eco-system more actively? They sure have the funds to do so, right? And they also have the right insights, info and spirit. Yet, they don’t. They don’t fund developers for open-source projects, or Bitcoin’s growth in general (not publicly at least). So Saylor shines in talks, hyping Bitcoin’s future and Strategy’s stock, but it’s all the self fulfilling prophecy. No grants, no real support for the community they lean on. It’s like they’re dancing to Bitcoin’s mixtape, raking in the spotlight, while giving little back. All the while some extremely needed projects lack funding, and most software companies in bitcoin who wish to innovate are begging and scraping funds together, in order to stay afloat. Something’s not ok with that. I can’t understand a company with that much power and money being part of this movement and loving bitcoin, while not actively supporting the development or the maintainers of the bitcoin software. (and yes, to keep their independence it’s best to keep it that way, that’s also an argument, but even then, giving out a grant to anyone that’s crucial in this industry, might help the whole ecosystem). The show must go on—for now The whole Strategy setup feels more and more like a performance to me. Saylor’s the star, doing the moves and Wall Street’s the record label, and we’re the audience, captivated by the spectacle and paying to see the show on occasion. The suits keep funding him (free money, IOUs), just like the music industry props up a fading diva with a limited repertoire or drags a new star from her home studio on YouTube into the spotlights. H Saylor’s 21/21 Plan to the amount of $42 billion to snatch up more Bitcoin can be a grand finale that’s dazzling while the lights stay on. Prediction: the music stops eventually Here’s my take: Bitcoin will keep rising over a long period of time, and Saylor’s gambit will look like a genius move, until it doesn’t. All it takes is one big shot in Wall Street to find another shiny toy to play with, or another play to get their money working. The billions they’ve invested, will come back eventually, and if it doesn’t, it will mean the world has changed in their advantage as well in another way. Some people cannot lose, no matter what. Saylor’s now part of that, doing their bidding and doing his part for educating the other businesses. He’s the only big buyer of last resort in this game so far. No one else is piling in with billions like he is. When the hype cools or the debt catches up, he’s got no real business to fall back on. The software? A relic. The Bitcoin bet can save him if the time is right, we’ll see about that. Time is his enemy not ally, and it always wins in the end. The pose can only hold so long. You can’t keep scoring free fiat, without either die on low valuation and dilution, or without at least 20 other Strategy-grade businesses jumping in to take their piece of the pie. So far, surprisingly, none of these two things happen. He keeps getting free fiat from Wall Street investors, and no other Saylor stands up. This can’t last forever. One of the two will happen by end of 2025. Curtain call Saylor’s a fascinating watch, a mix of investor-backed bravado, brains, and borrowed billions. Is it a masterstroke or a bitcoin version of Worldcom? I’m not sure. In any case, I would only invest in MSTR myself if the company has a real added value for bitcoin development and the bitcoin ecosystem. They could be the engine, the spirit, the core of bitcoin. Yet they’re just doing the poses. Let your body move to the rhythm. AVB If you like : tip here / other writings 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOU 2 https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/audit_and_advisory_services/about/news/2021/worldcom_scandal.php 3 https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/Ic6b4dd91644311dbbe1cf2d29fe2afe6/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)#:\~:text=Rep.-,6,Criminal%20Charges**The music’s made in-house** Michael Saylor’s strategy with Strategy, is a bold, all-in bet on Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value. Essentially combining what Mc Donald’s does with the strong believe in bitcoin’s future (and fueling that believe with the fitting rhetoric).\ \ It works like this: Since August 2020, Saylor’s company has been buying up more and more Bitcoin, making it their main asset instead of traditional cash or investments, and by March 2025, they own 506,137 BTC—worth about $42.8 billion (at $84,000 per Bitcoin).\ This, after spending $33.7 billion to buy it over time (DCA), including a massive 218887 BTC purchase late 2024 for $20.5 billion, giving them over 2.41% of all Bitcoin ever to exist (way more than companies like Marathon, Coinbase, Tesla or Riot).\ \ To pull this off, they’ve borrowed heavily: owing $7.2 billion, mostly to Wall Street investors through special IOUs[1](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-1-159855071) called convertible notes, which don’t need to be paid back until 2027, through 2029. These can either be settled with cash or swapped for Strategy stock. (there lies one of the main issues in my opinion, as the main asset’s price in USD is directly impacting the stock price of MSTR).\ A small example of this repeated correlation happened on March 28, 2025 when Strategy’s stock (MSTR) dropped 10.8% from $324.59 to $289.41, which was mirroring Bitcoin’s move down from $85,000 to $82,000 earlier. This debt they have can be called “risky” by any stretch, with a high leverage rate of 39-40%, meaning they’ve borrowed a big chunk compared to what they own outright, but here’s the genius of it: they don’t have to sell their Bitcoin if its price drops, and they can refinance (borrow more later) to keep the dance going. As long as they find investors willing to bet on the later bitcoin price surge, but more importantly, as long as the song is liked by the new audience. If Michael Saylor is our “Madonna”, then there’s still not Taylor Swift or Rihanna in sight. The creditors (big players, not banks) win if Bitcoin soars, as Strategy’s huge stash (potentially 2.9%+ of the market) nets them massive profits, or even if it crashes, they’re still in the game with other ways to make profit (not on bitcoin), since they can afford the risk. If someone is willing to bet 4 to 8 billion dollars, they’re probably not spooked by losing it all. More so, these Wall Streat people in the correct entourage, can probably afford such a gamble, and can stomach to lose it all if something goes horribly wrong as well, instead of risking being left out of a growing market. But since they’re probably the same people steering and “owning” the USD market anyway, they’re just conquering positions in a new market. The fact that they’re not real bitcoin-ethos people, but just “suits” in finance, can make the suspicious bitcoiners watching all of this unfold, even more uneasy.\ \ So, Strategy sits on $44 billion in Bitcoin with just $7.2 billion in debt, voguing confidently. And Saylor’s betting the song never gets old, he’ll do the B-sides and re-mastering his old albums if necessary, but if Bitcoin’s value ever fades (for whatever reason), the real question is how long they can keep striking poses before the music stops. Remember: all money (fiat, gold, silver, bitcoin, nicely made papers) is a matter of trust. As I have trust in bitcoin itself, but not so much in Strategy, I’ve take some precautions.\ I've started my own sort of "Strategy crash fund", with fiat money that only will come into action when strategy is done. The crash that we'll see after that goes down, will be such a tremendous opportunity, that I'll pour in some more fiat, gladly, and that will be the exact moment I will actually “sell all my chairs” (from Saylor’s well-known quote). **Purchases** Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases, don’t seem to jolt the market much either, no matter the size of the order. They always have the same sound: “it’s OTC, it doesn’t impact the market that much”.\ \ Still, it’s strange to see: no one has ever come forward to tell anyone “I’ve sold 15000 bitcoin from my old stack to Saylor”, neither do we see any clear evidence and on-chain moves.\ \ Take their first buy in August 2020 for example. Totaling 21454 BTC for $250 million at $11,652 per BTC; Bitcoin sat at $11,500 to $11,700 so barely moved, inching to $12,000 weeks later due to broader trends. Same story in December 2020 with 29646 BTC for $650 million, there, the price hopped from $19,000 to $23,000, but a bull market was already raging.\ Fast forward to February 2021 (19452 BTC, for $1.026 billion (!)), March 2024 (9245 BTC, $623 million), November 2024 (55500 BTC, $5.4 billion), and March 2025 (6911 BTC, $584.1 million)\ \ Bitcoin wobbled 2-15%, but always in line with existing momentum, not Strategy’s announcements. Their biggest buy, for a total of $5.4 billion (!) is just 0.3% of Bitcoin’s $1.7 trillion market cap, it’s too small to register as a blip even. But compared to the liquidity on the market and the “availability” on the OTC market, it should.\ More so, OTC bitcoin is announced as “for sale” somehow. A person with +25000 bitcoin is not standing on the side of the street yelling “hey man, wanna buy some bitcoin?”. There are specialized firms doing that for them, and making these available. This date is also used by some insiders and people who know this very small market (there aren’t that many bitcoiners sitting on such an amount after 2024 I guess). Data from Binance OTC, Coinspaid, kraken OTC, is highly private of course, but still, anything being sold over there, to Strategy or anyone else, would take larger amounts off the open market and the OTC market, making a price impact, certainly withing 2 years, as Bitcoin mining companies sit on an average buffer of 6 months depending on market conditions.\ \ Strategy funds all of this by selling shares (diluting the pool big-time) or issuing convertible notes, and while SEC filings make faking these buys near-impossible. And even if Saylor is the Bitcoin version of Bernie Madoff, he could get away with it, if enough people "in the know" are willing to support this way of infesting (and investing in) the bitcoin economy. This would have to be a clear orchestrated attack on bitcoin, purely on the financial level then. I don't believe this to be the case, but mathematically we have to take it into account as a very slight possibility. After all, a company like "WorldCom"[2](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-2-159855071) managed to scam their way out of different audits for years, until the scheme got bust and a enormous amount of investors lost their money after their CEO went to jail[3](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-3-159855071) for exchange fraud. I believe this could be the case with Strategy, but I give it a 3% chance (this might be low, but it's there, we can't outright dismiss the possibility). **Water in the wine** Strategy has also massively diluted its stock to fund Bitcoin buys, jumping from 10 million shares in 2020 to about 285 million by March 2025—a 2,750% increase, this happened after raising $4.25 billion from 2020 onwards and $20 billion of their $42 billion "21/21 Plan" by early 2025.\ \ After the 10-for-1 stock split in August 2024, the number of MSTR shares grew from 16.5 million in 2023 to 284898 by end of 2024, a 1625% rise !!!. Add to that about 275 million more shares added in total (including 120 million in 2024 alone) and 1.975 million extra in March 2025 for $592.6 million.\ \ So more and more tap water is poured in the wine, and it means each share’s ownership slice shrinks as new shares flood in, mostly via "at-the-market" sales and convertible note conversions.\ This is partly offset by share splits, but still, the rise in the number of stock is significant, and a big factor in evaluating MSTR.\ \ In December 2024, they proposed hiking authorized shares to 10.33 billion (plus 1 billion preferred), approved in January 2025, setting the stage for even more if they keep selling.\ \ The trend is clear: relentless selling.\ They might say “we never sell bitcoin”, but the same doesn’t count for their shares… which derive their value from bitcoin’s fiat price.\ So shareholders are betting on Bitcoin’s rise to offset the watering down of the share they hold. The more you think of it, the more ludicrous it sounds. It’s a loop of trust where the stock itself can only thrive if the company itself is an active, useful middleman.\ And so far, it’s only doing so for other Wall street companies, the biggest holders of MSTR shares: Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Capital International Investors, Jane Street Group, Susquehanna International Group\ \ This on itself is also “normal” of course. In the flow of things.\ Like every aspect by itself in the whole Strategy setup is just normal. But combining all the factors makes it look a bit more… suspicious to me. **Supporting bitcoin ?** The real head-scratcher comes next: their secrecy and lack of community involvement.\ Strategy claims to hold 506137 BTC, likely cold-stored with partners like BitGo or Coinbase Custody, but no public wallet addresses back these claims up. Odd for a firm swearing never to sell. There’s also the real risk that these partners are partly selling paper bitcoin (bitcoin they don't hold the keys to, or "promised" bitcoin) to Strategy, and that they just assume everything is audited and OK. We can't estimate that, since we don't have any public MicroStrategy addresses or other ways to look at their holdings. This is for security reasons apparently, which raises another question:\ If they for example would show 300k+ BTC on-chain as proof, it’d boost trust, yet they don’t, hinting at a bigger play — maybe as a Wall Street-backed buyer of last resort for a new asset class. Also Strategy’s software business and bitcoin “apps” (like the super simple Lightning email integration, and an on-chain digital ID system) is underwhelming to say the least (I literally know people that code such stuff on a free afternoon while they’re cooking dinner). Their very minimal software innovation for the Bitcoin space, with basic Lightning features and an on-chain ID system, failing their their valuation as a 'Bitcoin company' in my opinion. More so, their business is ignoring the other innovation that would help bitcoin thrive. This is kind of a red flag for me.\ Why would a company sitting on +500 k bitcoin be hesitant about supporting the bitcoin eco-system more actively? They sure have the funds to do so, right? And they also have the right insights, info and spirit.\ Yet, they don’t.\ \ They don’t fund developers for open-source projects, or Bitcoin’s growth in general (not publicly at least). So Saylor shines in talks, hyping Bitcoin’s future and Strategy’s stock, but it’s all the self fulfilling prophecy.\ \ No grants, no real support for the community they lean on.\ It’s like they’re dancing to Bitcoin’s mixtape, raking in the spotlight, while giving little back. All the while some extremely needed projects lack funding, and most software companies in bitcoin who wish to innovate are begging and scraping funds together, in order to stay afloat.\ Something’s not ok with that.\ I can’t understand a company with that much power and money being part of this movement and loving bitcoin, while not actively supporting the development or the maintainers of the bitcoin software. (and yes, to keep their independence it’s best to keep it that way, that’s also an argument, but even then, giving out a grant to anyone that’s crucial in this industry, might help the whole ecosystem). **The show must go on—for now** The whole Strategy setup feels more and more like a performance to me. Saylor’s the star, doing the moves and Wall Street’s the record label, and we’re the audience, captivated by the spectacle and paying to see the show on occasion.\ \ The suits keep funding him (free money, IOUs), just like the music industry props up a fading diva with a limited repertoire or drags a new star from her home studio on YouTube into the spotlights. H\ Saylor’s 21/21 Plan to the amount of $42 billion to snatch up more Bitcoin can be a grand finale that’s dazzling while the lights stay on. **Prediction: the music stops eventually** Here’s my take: Bitcoin will keep rising over a long period of time, and Saylor’s gambit will look like a genius move, until it doesn’t. All it takes is one big shot in Wall Street to find another shiny toy to play with, or another play to get their money working. The billions they’ve invested, will come back eventually, and if it doesn’t, it will mean the world has changed in their advantage as well in another way. Some people cannot lose, no matter what. Saylor’s now part of that, doing their bidding and doing his part for educating the other businesses.\ \ He’s the only big buyer of last resort in this game so far. No one else is piling in with billions like he is. When the hype cools or the debt catches up, he’s got no real business to fall back on. The software? A relic. The Bitcoin bet can save him if the time is right, we’ll see about that.\ Time is his enemy not ally, and it always wins in the end. The pose can only hold so long. You can’t keep scoring free fiat, without either die on low valuation and dilution, or without at least 20 other Strategy-grade businesses jumping in to take their piece of the pie.\ So far, surprisingly, none of these two things happen.\ He keeps getting free fiat from Wall Street investors, and no other Saylor stands up.\ This can’t last forever. One of the two will happen by end of 2025.\ **\ Curtain call** Saylor’s a fascinating watch, a mix of investor-backed bravado, brains, and borrowed billions.\ Is it a masterstroke or a bitcoin version of Worldcom?\ I’m not sure. In any case, I would only invest in MSTR myself if the company has a real added value for bitcoin development and the bitcoin ecosystem. They could be the engine, the spirit, the core of bitcoin.\ Yet they’re just doing the poses.\ Let your body move to the rhythm. AVB If you like : [tip here](https://coinos.io/allesvoorbitcoin/receive) / [other writings](https://allesvoorbitcoin.be/toolsguides/12writings/) [1](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-anchor-1-159855071) <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOU> [2](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-anchor-2-159855071) <https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/audit_and_advisory_services/about/news/2021/worldcom_scandal.php> [3](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-anchor-3-159855071) <https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/Ic6b4dd91644311dbbe1cf2d29fe2afe6/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)#:\~:text=Rep.-,6,Criminal%20Charges>

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

 - Once activated, "Accept From Any Mint” is the default setting. This is the easiest way to get started, let's the user start acceptance Cashu ecash just out of the box. - If someone does want to be selective, they can choose “Accept From Trusted Mints,” and that brings up a field where they can add specific mint URLs they trust. - “Find a Mint” section on the right with a button links directly to bitcoinmints.com, already filtered for Cashu mints, so users can easily browse options. - Mint info modal shows mint technical details stuff from the NUT06 spec. Since this is geared towards the more technical users I left the field names and NUT number as-is instead of trying to make it more semantic. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928800

@ 42c85a20:14afbc38

Back when Twitter was censoring free speech nostr looked like the only alternative where people would migrate and grow the network; however, now that X is open to free thinking, the perfect storm to enable nostr to grow has been quelled. How will the nostr universe ever expand unless people in the main stream "centralized" social medias see the light? The illusion of free speech on X is dangerous as people blindly give their trust that the rug will not be pulled; and willingly remain under a tyrannical system. Perhaps there is some other utility which nostr would be useful for vs just another version of twillter; like exit polls for elections which could fail safe the integrity of voting; or community BBS (bulletin boards) where the people can connect with their neighbours without giving up their real address or identity. When the main stream social medias' fail again; the next time they break the trust of the people, we must be ready to replace them; we must think outside the box now and build those decentralized utilities now.

@ ff517fbf:fde1561b

## はじめに：なぜKYCなしP2P取引か ビットコインは元々、**ピア・ツー・ピア（P2P）の電子通貨システム**として設計されました。サトシ・ナカモトのビットコイン白書でも、「信頼ではなく暗号学的証明に基づく電子決済システム」によって、**第三者を介さずに当事者同士が直接取引できること**が必要だと述べられています。つまり、本来ビットコインは銀行などの仲介者なしで個人同士が直接送金・売買できる社会的意義を持っているのです。 しかし現在、多くの暗号資産取引所では規制上の理由からKYC（本人確認）手続きが求められ、個人情報の提出が必要です。KYCはユーザーのプライバシー喪失やデータ漏洩リスクにつながりかねず、また口座凍結や資金没収といった中央集権的管理のリスクもあります。経済的にも、第三者を介することで手数料が高くなったり、地域によっては銀行や政府の制限でビットコインの購入が困難になる場合もあります。 こうした背景から**ノンKYCのP2P取引プラットフォーム**を利用するメリットは大きいです。例えば **HodlHodl**(@npub1yul83qxn35u607er3m7039t6rddj06qezfagfqlfw4qk5z5slrfqu8ncdu) は、匿名で世界中のユーザーと直接ビットコインを売買できるグローバルなP2Pマーケットプレイスです。HodlHodlではユーザー同士が直接取引し、サイト運営側はビットコインを一切預かりません。取引は**マルチシグエスクロー**(2-of-3の多重署名契約)で安全に管理され、取引手数料も最大0.5%と低く抑えられています。プライバシーとセキュリティを確保しながら、銀行口座や身分証なしでビットコインを売買できるため、社会的にも経済的にも大きな意義があります。 本チュートリアルでは、**HodlHodlを使ってビットコインを購入・販売する具体的な手順**を分かりやすく解説します。また、HodlHodlの安全性（マルチシグエスクローによる非中央集権型の管理）や、他のプラットフォームにはない特徴（本人確認不要、ユーザー自身による鍵の管理、APIやレンディングサービスの活用など）についても説明します。P2P取引に不慣れで不安を感じている方にも安心してご利用いただけるよう、丁寧で親しみやすい言葉で案内していきます。 ## HodlHodlの基本準備 **アカウント登録：** HodlHodlの利用を開始するには、まず無料のアカウント登録を行います。必要なのはメールアドレスとパスワードだけで、ユーザー名や身分証の提出は不要です。登録後に届く確認メール内のリンクをクリックすれば、すぐに取引を始められます。 **ビットコインウォレットの用意：** HodlHodlは取引の際にユーザー自身のビットコインウォレットを使用する**ノンカストディアル方式**です。プラットフォーム上にウォレットは用意されていないため、事前に自分のビットコインウォレットを準備してください。例えばモバイルウォレットやハードウェアウォレットなど、自分だけが秘密鍵を管理できるウォレットを用意しましょう。**買い手の場合**は購入したビットコインを受け取るウォレットが必要になり、**売り手の場合**は売却するビットコインを自身のウォレットからエスクローに送金する必要があります。  ## ビットコインを購入する方法（Buy BTC） それでは、HodlHodlでビットコインを**購入（Buy）** する手順を見ていきましょう。以下では、日本円（JPY）を銀行振込で支払ってビットコインを買う例を想定して説明しますが、基本的な流れは他の通貨や支払い方法でも同じです。 1. **「Buy BTC」をクリックする:** HodlHodlにログインし、画面上部のヘッダー左側にある「**Buy BTC**」ボタンをクリックします。これにより、現在出ているビットコイン売り注文（オファー）の一覧ページに移動します。 2. **検索フィルターの設定:** オファー一覧ページでは、自分の希望条件でオファーを絞り込むことができます。国、法定通貨、取引タイプ、支払い方法、金額などのフィルター項目があります。例えば日本で銀行振込により購入したい場合、「Country（国）」をJapan、「Currency（通貨）」をJPY、「Payment method（支払い方法）」を Bank Transfer 銀行振込に設定します（他の項目は必要に応じて指定します）。フィルターは任意ですが、自分に合った支払い方法や金額範囲のオファーを探すのに役立ちます。 3. **オファーを選ぶ:** フィルターを適用すると、条件に合致する売り手のオファー一覧が表示されます。各オファーにはレート（価格）、取引可能額範囲、支払い方法、売り手の評価などが記載されています。希望に合うオファーが見つかったら、そのオファーの詳細をクリックします。例えば「1 BTC = 〇〇JPY」のようなレートで、自分が購入したい額に対応できるオファーを選びましょう。**初めて取引する場合は、評価の高い売り手や少額からの取引を選ぶと安心です。**  4. **購入量と受取アドレスの入力:** オファーをクリックすると、取引の詳細入力画面になります。ここで**購入したいビットコインの量**を入力します（ビットコイン量あるいは法定通貨換算額のどちらでも入力可能です）。多くの場合、最低・最大取引額が決まっているので、その範囲内で入力してください。また、ビットコインの**受取先アドレス**を求められます。これは購入後にビットコインを受け取る自分のウォレットアドレスです。アカウントの設定で事前に登録したアドレスがあれば自動で表示されますが、都度指定することも可能です。さらに、支払い方法が複数指定されているオファーでは希望の支払い方法を選択します（例：銀行振込の中でも特定の銀行を指定できる場合があります）。最後に、取引相手（売り手）への伝達メッセージ欄があれば、必要に応じてコメントを記入します。入力が完了したら内容を確認し、**「Create contract（契約作成）」** 的なボタンを押して取引を開始します。 5. **エスクローアドレスの生成:** 契約が作成されると、取引画面上にエスクロー（第三者保管用マルチシグアドレス）を生成するための手順が表示されます。ここで **「Generate escrow（エスクロー生成）」** ボタンをクリックし、プラットフォームに登録した**ペイメントパスワード**（支払い用パスワード）を入力します。ペイメントパスワードはHodlHodlで取引の署名に使われる特別なパスワードで、初回取引時に設定しておく必要があります。正しく入力すると、この取引専用のビットコインエスクローアドレスが自動生成されます。あとは**売り手がそのエスクローアドレスにビットコインを入金するのを待ちます**。画面上に「waiting for deposit（入金待ち）」等のステータスが表示されるので、しばらく待機してください。売り手が約束のビットコイン額をエスクローに送金し、一定のブロック承認（Confirmations）が得られると、取引ステータスが自動で更新されます。 6. **エスクロー入金の確認:** ビットコインがマルチシグエスクローにロックされ、取引ステータスが「**In progress（進行中）**」や「**Deposited（入金済み）**」といった表示に変わったことを必ず確認します。ステータス表示とブロックチェーン上の確認回数が条件を満たしたら、**支払いを実行しても安全な状態**であることを意味します（エスクローにロックされたビットコインは売り手単独では動かせません。取引ページには売り手が指定した支払い詳細（銀行口座情報など）が記載されていますので、その指示に従って**売り手へ法定通貨の支払い（振込）を行います**。例えば銀行振込の場合、指定された口座にJPYを送金します。**この段階では、必ず取引ページを開いたままにしておきましょう。** 支払いが完了したら、取引ページ上の**「I’ve sent the payment（送金完了）」ボタン**をクリックして、売り手に支払い実行済みであることを通知します。併せて、チャット機能で支払い完了の旨を伝えると良いでしょう。 7. **売り手によるビットコインのリリース:** 買い手からの支払いが完了すると、売り手は自分の銀行口座等を確認して入金を検証します。売り手が入金を確認したら、取引ページ上で **「Release Bitcoin（ビットコインをリリース）」** ボタンを押し、ペイメントパスワードを入力してエスクローからビットコインを開放します。これにより、エスクロー上のビットコインが買い手の指定アドレス（先ほど入力した受取用ウォレットアドレス）に送信されます。売り手がビットコインをリリースすると取引ステータスが「Released（解放済み）」に変わり、まもなくブロックチェーン上で買い手のウォレットにビットコイン着金が確認できるでしょう。 8. **取引完了:** ビットコインが無事自分のウォレットに届けば取引完了です。取引ページには「Completed（完了）」などのステータスが表示され、双方がお互いを評価できるようになります。初めてのP2P購入、お疲れさまでした！ 🎉 > 💡 **重要な注意事項（買い手向け）:** エスクローにビットコインがロックされる前に代金を支払ってはいけません。必ず取引ステータスが「Deposited」や「In progress」になるのを確認してから支払いを実行してください。また、取引には売り手が入金を確認してからビットコインをリリースするまでの制限時間（*Payment window*）が設定されています。時間内に支払いが完了しないと取引が自動キャンセルされる場合がありますのでご注意ください。困ったことがあれば、取引ページのチャットで相手に連絡することもできます。万一、支払いを送ったのに売り手がビットコインをリリースしない場合は、支払い期限が過ぎてから**ディスピュート（紛争解決手続き）** を開始することも可能です。 ## ビットコインを販売する方法（Sell BTC） 次に、HodlHodlでビットコインを**販売（Sell）** する手順を説明します。基本的な流れは購入時と似ていますが、立場が逆になる点（自分がビットコインをエスクローに預け、買い手からの支払いを待つ点）に注意してください。以下では、日本で銀行振込によりJPYを受け取ってビットコインを売る場合を例に解説します。 1. **「Sell BTC」をクリックする:** HodlHodlにログイン後、画面上部左側の「**Sell BTC**」ボタンをクリックします。これで現在出ているビットコイン買い注文（買い手のオファー）一覧ページに移動します。 2. **検索フィルターの設定:** 買い手オファー一覧から、自分が対応可能な条件のオファーを探します。フィルター項目はBuyの場合と同様で、国、通貨、支払いタイプ、支払い方法、金額などを指定できます。日本円での銀行振込を希望する買い手を探す場合、国をJapan、通貨をJPY、支払い方法をBank Transferに設定して検索します。 3. **オファーを選ぶ:** 条件に合致する買い手のオファーが一覧表示されるので、希望に合うものをクリックします。各オファーには買い手が希望するレートや取引限度額、支払い方法、買い手の評価などが記載されています。有利なレートかつ信頼できそうな相手を選びましょう。初取引で不安な場合は、小額で高評価の買い手から始めるとよいです。 4. **売却量と受取情報の入力:** オファー詳細画面で、**売却したいビットコイン量**を入力します（または必要な法定通貨額）。オファーごとに最低・最大額が設定されているので範囲内で入力してください。続いてビットコインの**受取アドレス**欄がありますが、これは取引完了時に**買い手**がビットコインを受け取るアドレスです。売り手である自分が入力する必要は基本的になく、買い手側が受取先を指定するか、既に買い手のダッシュボード設定で決まっています。次に、受け取りたい支払い方法が複数記載されている場合は希望の方法を選択します（例えば「Bank Transfer」の中でも特定の銀行名など）。コメント欄があれば取引相手（買い手）へのメッセージを任意で入力します。内容を確認し問題なければ **「Create contract（契約作成）」** ボタンを押して取引を開始します。 5. **エスクローアドレスの生成:** 契約が作成されると、エスクロー用のビットコインアドレスを生成する段階に進みます。ここで **「Generate escrow」** ボタンをクリックし、ペイメントパスワードを入力します（買い手の手順と同様）。これにより、この取引専用のマルチシグエスクローアドレスが発行されます。次に **自分（売り手）が売却予定のビットコインをエスクローアドレスに送金** します。取引画面上に正確なBTC額と対応するQRコードが表示されるので、自分のウォレットからそのアドレスへ送金してください。送金したら **「I’ve sent the funds（送金完了）」** ボタンを押してビットコインをエスクローに預けたことを通知します。  6. **エスクローへのビットコインロック:** ビットコインを送金するとブロックチェーン上で一定回数の承認（Confirmations）を経て、エスクローにロックされます。取引ステータスが「**In progress（進行中）**」や「**Deposited**」に変わり、買い手は安心して支払いを行える状態になります。あとは**買い手からの法定通貨支払い**を待ちます。取引画面で支払い期限（Payment window）内に買い手が支払いを完了し、「支払い送信済み」のボタンを押すとステータスが「**Paid（支払い済み）**」に変わります。 7. **支払いの受領確認:** ステータスが「Paid」になったら、買い手が送金を完了したことを意味します。すぐに自分の銀行口座など該当の支払い方法で**入金を確認**しましょう。金額が全額正しく受け取れたことを確認できたら、取引ページ上で **「Release deposit（デポジットを解放）」** ボタンをクリックし、ペイメントパスワードを入力してエスクローのビットコインを開放します。これにより、エスクローにロックされていたビットコインが買い手に送付されます。 8. **取引完了:** ビットコインをリリースすれば取引完了。ステータスが「Completed」に変わり、買い手は間もなく自分のウォレットでビットコインを受け取るでしょう。最後にお互いを評価して取引終了となります。初めてのP2P売却、お疲れさまでした！ 🎉 > 💡 **重要な注意事項（売り手向け）:** 支払いを受け取る前にビットコインをエスクローから**絶対にリリースしないでください。買い手からの入金を自分の銀行口座等で確実に確認できてから、ビットコインを解放するようにしましょう。また、もしビットコインをエスクローに送金した後で買い手から支払いが行われず期限切れ（Payment window経過）になった場合、取引をキャンセルしてエスクローのビットコインを自分に返還することができます。取引中は常に取引相手とのチャットで連絡を取り合い、不明点を確認するよう心がけましょう。 ## HodlHodlの安全性：マルチシグと非カストディアル設計 **● マルチシグエスクローによる資金保護:** HodlHodl最大の特徴は、**2-of-3のマルチシグエスクロー**(multisignature escrow)によって取引資金を保護している点です。取引が成立すると、自動的に**3つの秘密鍵**が関与するビットコインアドレスが生成されます。この3つの鍵のうち2つの署名があれば資金を動かせる仕組みになっており、鍵の配分は「売り手」「買い手」「HodlHodl運営」の三者にそれぞれ1つです。取引中、ビットコインはブロックチェーン上のエスクローアドレスにロックされ、**双方の合意なしには動かせまん**。つまり、**売り手は買い手の同意なしにビットコインを引き出すことはできず**、逆に**買い手も売り手の協力なしにビットコインを入手することはできません**。両者が取引を完了すれば売り手+買い手の2署名でリリースが可能となり、万一トラブルが起きた場合にはHodlHodl運営が仲裁役として（買い手または売り手の一方と協力し）2署名目を提供することで不正を防ぎます。このようにマルチシグ契約によって、**詐欺や持ち逃げのリスクを最小限に抑え、安全かつ公平な取引**が実現されています。 **● 非カストディアル（ユーザー主導の資金管理）:** HodlHodlは取引プラットフォームでありながら、**ユーザー資金を一切預からない**という非カストディアル設計を貫いています。取引中のビットコインは常にマルチシグエスクローにあり、HodlHodl運営が単独で動かすことはできません。これはつまり、中央集権的な取引所とは異なり、**HodlHodlがハッキング被害に遭ってもユーザーのビットコインが盗まれる心配がない**ことを意味します。またプラットフォームが万一ダウンしたりサービス提供を停止した場合でも、当事者間で2つの鍵さえあればエスクローのビットコインを取り戻すことが可能です（※この場合やや技術的な手順が必要になりますが、HodlHodlが完全に消失するケースでも資金はブロックチェーン上に安全に存在し続けます）。HodlHodl運営は3つの鍵のうち1つを保有するのみで、しかもそれは**紛争時の仲裁に使う**ためのものです。通常の取引では運営が介在することなく、ユーザー同士で完結します。以上のように、HodlHodlは**カストディアルな第三者を排除し、利用者自身が資金と取引の主導権を握る**というビットコイン本来の精神に沿った安全設計となっています。 **● 評判システムと取引履歴:** HodlHodlでは、各ユーザーに公開の**評価（Rating）**と**取引履歴**が紐づいています。取引を完了するごとに互いにレビューを残せるため、他ユーザーの信頼度を事前に知ることができます。初めて取引する相手がどんな評価を受けているか、過去の取引回数や成功率などの情報を確認することで、怪しい相手を避けることが可能です。特に初心者のうちは評価の高い相手を選ぶ、もしくは身近に信頼できるユーザーがいれば**トラスト機能**（他のP2Pプラットフォームでの実績を証明する仕組みや信用できるユーザーをお気に入り登録する機能）を活用すると良いでしょう。 **● 二要素認証(2FA)と信頼できる端末:** アカウントの不正アクセス対策として、HodlHodlは**二段階認証(2FA)**のオプションを提供しています。AuthyやGoogle Authenticatorと連携し、一度設定すればログイン時にパスワードに加え6桁のコード入力が求められるようになります。これにより、万一パスワードが漏洩しても本人のデバイスがなければログインできず、アカウントを保護できます。また**Trusted Devices（信頼できる端末）**機能を有効にすると、新しいデバイスからログインしようとした際にメール確認が必要となり、ユーザーの許可なく不審な端末からアクセスされるのを防ぎます。初心者の方でも、アカウント登録後は設定画面から2FAや信頼できる端末機能を有効化しておくことを強くおすすめします。 **● ディスピュート（紛争解決）機能:** 万が一取引相手との間でトラブルが発生した場合（例：買い手は支払ったと主張しているが売り手が確認できない等）、HodlHodlのプラットフォーム上で**ディスピュート（紛争）を開始**することができます。ディスピュートが発生すると、HodlHodlのサポートチームが両者から事情を聞き、中立的な立場で問題解決に当たります。必要に応じて前述の運営のマルチシグ鍵を用いて適切な側にビットコインをリリースするなど、公平な裁定が行われます。ディスピュートは最終手段ではありますが、万一の場合の安心材料として覚えておいてください。 以上のように、HodlHodlは技術的・制度的な多層防御によってユーザーの資金と取引の安全を確保しています。他のユーザーの評価を確認する、取引手順を順守する（エスクロー未成立での送禁止等、アカウントのセキュリティ設定を有効にするといった**ユーザー自身の注意**もあわせて心掛ければ、P2P取引でも安心してビットコインを利用できるでしょう。 ## HodlHodlの特徴：他プラットフォームとの違い 最後に、HodlHodlが他のビットコイン取引サービスと比べて優れている点、特徴的な点を整理します。初めて利用する際の不安解消にもつながるポイントです。 - **🌐 KYC不要の匿名取引:** HodlHodl最大の特徴は、**本人確認（KYC）なし**でビットコイン取引ができる点です。メールアドレスさえあれば世界中誰でも利用開始でき、パスポートや身分証の提出は一切求められません。これはプライバシー保護の面で大きな利点ですし、取引履歴が本人名義に紐付かないため将来的な資産没収や口座凍結のリスクも低減します。規制が厳しい地域のユーザーや銀行口座を持てない人々でも、HodlHodlならビットコイン経済に参加しやすくなっています。 - **🔐 ユーザーが鍵を管理する非中央集権型取引:** 前述の通り、HodlHodlは**ノンカストディアル**なP2P取引所であり、ユーザー自身が資産の鍵を管理します。取引ごとにマルチシグのエスクローが生成され、**利用者はその一方の鍵を保持します。そのため「取引所にビットコインを預けっぱなしにしていたらハッキングで失った」といった事態が起こりません。常に自身のウォレットから直接取引を行うため、ビットコインの**自主管理の原則**が守られています。中央集権的な管理者がいない分、自分で秘密鍵を安全に保管する責任は伴いますが、その分だけ第三者リスクが排除された公平な環境と言えます。 - **💱 世界中の通貨と多様な決済方法に対応:** HodlHodlはグローバルなプラットフォームであり、**世界中のあらゆる法定通貨** で取引できます。現在100を超える国の通貨と地域が利用されており、取引に使える決済方法も**100種類以上**と非常に豊富です。銀行振込やオンライン決済サービスはもちろん、現金の対面受け渡しやギフトカード、電子マネー、モバイル送金、さらには商品と交換などユニークな方法までユーザーが自由にオファーを作成できます。これにより、自分の利用しやすい手段で取引相手を見つけられる柔軟性があります。他のプラットフォームだと対応通貨や決済手段が限定されがちですが、HodlHodlでは**「自分の条件でオファーを作成できる」* の強みです。 - **💰 低い手数料と透明な料金体系:** HodlHodlの取引手数料は**一律0.5%（買い手と売り手で折半で各0.25%ずつ負担）**と比較的低コストです。しかも手数料は取引成立時にビットコイン額から自動控除される仕組みで、隠れたコストがありません。さらに紹介プログラムを利用すると0.45%に割引されるなどの優遇もあります。入出金に伴う手数料も基本的に存在せず、各自が使うウォレットの送金手数料以外に余計な負担はありません。他の取引所でありがちな「出金手数料が高額」「スプレッドが不透明」といった心配もなく、**明朗会計**でユーザーに優しい料金体系です。 - **🤝 初心者に優しいインターフェース:** P2P取引というと難しそうな印象を持たれるかもしれませんが、HodlHodlのサイトはシンプルで直感的なインターフェースになっています​。必要な操作は「Buy BTC / Sell BTC」ボタンから進んでフォームに入力していくだけで、画面の指示に沿って進めれば迷うことは少ないでしょう。サイトは現在ウェブブラウザ経由で利用しますが、スマートフォンのブラウザからでも見やすく設計されています。専用アプリはありませんが、その分アップデート時にもすぐ全員が最新機能を利用できます（ダウンロード不要で常に最新版が提供されるメリットです。また、取引画面にはリアルタイムのチャット機能があり、相手ユーザーと直接コミュニケーションを取れるため安心です。困ったときは相手に質問したり状況を確認できるので、言葉の壁がある場合でも定型文や翻訳を活用して意思疎通できます。 - **🛠 API提供による拡張性:** HodlHodlは上級ユーザーや開発者向けに**公式APIを提供しています。APIを利用すると、自分のプログラムからHodlHodl上のオファー取得や契約作成、ステータス更新などを自動化することが可能です。例えば、マーケットメーカーとしてレートを自動調整したり、他のサービスと連携して複数のP2P取引所のオファーを比較表示する、といった応用ができます。APIキーはプロフィール設定から発行でき、ドキュメントも公開されているため高度な取引戦略を実装したいユーザーには魅力的な機能です。PaxfulやLocalBitcoinsなど一部他サービスでもAPIは提供されていますが、HodlHodlのAPIはエスクロー操作まで含め包括的にサポートしている点で強力です。 - **💳 ビットコインレンディングサービス:** HodlHodlは現物取引だけでなく、**ビットコイン担保のレンディング（貸借）プラットフォームも運営しています。サイト上部の「P2P Lending（レンディング）」からアクセスでき、ビットコインを担保にUSDTなど他の暗号資産を借りたり、あるいは逆に他の人に貸し出して利息収入を得ることができます。技術的には取引プラットフォームと同じマルチシグエスクロー方式を用いており、**借り手がビットコインを担保としてエスクローにロックし、貸し手が安定通貨を送金する**ことでローン契約が成立します。期間満了時に借り手が返済すればビットコイン担保が戻り、返済不能（延滞や価格変動での清算）の場合は貸し手に担保が渡る仕組みです。驚くべきことに、このレンディングサービスでも**一切KYCは要求されません。短期のビットコイン活用や利息収入を得たいニーズに応えるユニークなサービスであり、HodlHodlを使いこなせば**「ビットコインを売買するだけでなく、借りたり貸したりする」**といった金融活用も可能になります。P2P Lendingについては、今後別のチュートリアルで詳しく説明します。 - **🧪 テストネットで練習可能:** 「いきなり本番は不安…」という方向けに、HodlHodlは**テストネット版サイトも提供しています。TESTNETでは、本物のビットコインではなくテスト用のビットコイン（**signet**ネットワークのBTC）を使って、実際の取引手順を練習できます。架空の資金でHodlHodlの操作感を試せるため、初心者はまずテストネットで売買の流れをシミュレーションしてみると良いでしょう。十分に慣れてから本番取引に移行すれば、落ち着いて対処できます。テストネットBTCは各種ファウンセット（蛇口サイト hhtestnet.com）から無料でもらうことができ、HodlHodlのテスト環境で練習するのに役立ちます。 以上がHodlHodlの主な特徴と利点です。匿名性・安全性・使いやすさを兼ね備えたHodlHodlは、まさに「ビットコインをネイティブにP2P利用する」ための理想的なプラットフォームと言えるでしょう。初めは不安もあるかもしれませんが、本チュートリアルで説明した手順に沿って取引を行えば、きっとその手軽さと利便性に驚くはずです。ぜひHodlHodlでのP2P取引に挑戦してみてください。**自分自身でビットコインを扱う経験**を通じて、ビットコインの真の価値である「個人が金融の主導権を握ること」を実感できるでしょう🚀 --- もしビットコインのP2P取引やHodlHodlなどについてもっと深く知りたい、あるいは個別に相談してみたいと思えば、どうぞお気軽にご連絡ください。**1対1のコンサル**も承っています。 サービスには決まった料金はありませんが、ご相談を通じて「役に立った」と思い、お悩みや疑問を解決できたと感じていただけたら、**「3つのT」でのご支援（Value for Value）**をぜひご検討ください： - **時間（Time）**：この記事をSNSなどでシェアしていただくこと。 - **才能（Talent）**：コメントや補足情報などを通じて知識を共有していただくこと。 - **宝（Treasure）**：世界で最も健全なお金、ビットコインの最小単位「sats」でのご支援。 もちろん、支援の有無にかかわらず、お力になれればとても嬉しいです。 では、また次回！ ### 参考資料 - Bitcoin Whitepaper - *Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic* - HodlHodl公式サイト - *Welcome to Hodl ([P2P BITCOIN TRADING platform]* - HodlHodlヘルプセンター - *How to buy Bitcoin / How to sell Bitcoin* - HodlHodlヘルプセンター - *Why is trading on Hodl Hodl secure* - HodlHodl FAQ - *Why should I use HodlHodl*、*How secure is trading on HodlHodl* - HodlHodl Medium - *Hodl Hodl’s API release* - HodlHodl Lend FAQ - *What is Lend a ([Earn Highest Returns on Your Crypto Investment - Lend at Hodl Hodl]* - ZoneBitcoin - *Hodl Hodl: Tutorial on the anonymous and KYC-free P2P platform* - など

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

This is a big one for many of us. Probably the most beneficial perception shift you can have is to stop perceiving junk food as food at all. There are two big components to this: 1. "Cheap"/"affordable" foods are neither cheap nor affordable if they are bad for your health. They are pure waste. Whatever you're currently spending on foods you don't think you should be eating can be reallocated to foods you do think you should be eating and it's wiser expenditure regardless of how expensive the new foods are. 2. When you're looking for something convenient, it's better to eat nothing than to eat something bad. Again, junk food isn't food. Eating it because you're hungry isn't helping anything. You didn't satisfy any nutritional requirements, so you still need to eat the same amount later. On the other hand, fasting is good for you, so just do that until you find something that is food. Also, the first point applies here: instead of eating a lot of garbage, it would be better to spend the same amount on a small portion of food. I was inspired to write this because I was proud of myself for putting back a package of discounted double chocolate chip muffins this morning and just getting a dark chocolate bar instead. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928684

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

#btcpayserver #lightning #lnd #powershell <p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">BTCpayAPI now supports file upload</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/BTCpayApi800.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p> I'm continuing to add functionality to BTCpay and BTCpayAPI which is using REST Api(s) to manage my BTCPAY server and LND cloud instance. It is nice to have this just running locally on my home Linux desktop. Here is the code that implements this functionality. ``` "Uploadfile" { $apislug = "api/v1/files" #$filepath = Split-Path $options $filename = Split-Path $options -Leaf # CONST $CODEPAGE = "iso-8859-1" # alternatives are ASCII, UTF-8 # Read file byte-by-byte $fileBin = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllBytes($options) # Convert byte-array to string $enc = [System.Text.Encoding]::GetEncoding($CODEPAGE) $fileEnc = $enc.GetString($fileBin) # We need a boundary (something random() will do best) $boundary = [System.Guid]::NewGuid().ToString() $LF = "`r`n" $bodyLines = ( "--$boundary", "Content-Disposition: form-data; name=`"file`"; filename=`"$fileName`"", "Content-Type: application/octet-stream$LF", $fileEnc, "--$boundary--$LF" ) -join $LF $URI = $BTCPayCfg.BTCpayApi.GreenApi.url + $apislug $apiKeyToken = 'token ' + $script:BTCPAY_API $headers = @{'Authorization'=$apiKeyToken} return Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $uri -Method Post -Headers $headers -ContentType "multipart/form-data; boundary=`"$boundary`"" -Body $bodyLines } ``` Here is the revision history since my last article. ``` Version Date Whom Notes ======= ========== ======== ===================================================== 0.1.4 03/28/2025 cadayton Added UploadFile method to upload a file to the BTCpay server 0.1.3 03/27/2025 cadayton Added GetFiles returns listing of files uploaded to BTCpay server 0.1.2 03/19/2025 cadayton ForwardingHistory new parameter "total_fees" tallys mfees for events returned 0.1.1 03/18/2025 cadayton ForwardingHistory now support additional parameters 0.1.0 03/15/2025 cadayton initial release. ``` The inspiration for this logic was adapted from [weipah](https://gist.github.com/weipah/19bfdb14aab253e3f109) . One wouldn't think uploading a single file wouldn't require this much coding. The Greenfield's REST Api documentation for this end point wasn't very helpful. In my book, good end-user documentation of one's code is just as important as the code itself. I believe documentation is usually lacking on most projects because the effort of doing so is almost equal to the effort of writing the code. It is also the least fun part about writing code. The job is not done until the paper work has been completed. :) https://btcpayserver.sytes.net

@ a5142938:0ef19da3

<iframe src="https://formstr.app/#/f/naddr1qvzqqqr4mqpzpkj8sfxva2pk76qd85qs5k2uk4ddrn9x2vw4d4cq9gmk0nxwf23aqy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qqxtqu8vwtew57xyqvm?viewKey=2c19f257cc3f94a3d40c0b171730ecd40897bc675ffa0ce521e22c280ba70a2d&hideTitleImage=true" height="1000px" width="480px" frameborder="0" style="border-style:none;box-shadow:0px 0px 2px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);" cellspacing="0" ></iframe>

@ e4950c93:1b99eccd

<iframe src="https://formstr.app/#/f/naddr1qvzqqqr4mqpzqr9mwlyllz3zkvk4x2cl98g993k3ele3a55ps6tkay5c3amu4pstqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uqqvvjvgae9x7g0rt3r3?viewKey=f409eabf471c20d1cd3148eca8dc0e388476496b8d47eff10bff145603c1fa9b&hideTitleImage=true" height="1000px" width="480px" frameborder="0" style="border-style:none;box-shadow:0px 0px 2px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);" cellspacing="0" ></iframe>

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

*** <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/Sweet-Sour-Spare-Ribs.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p> *** <p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">Chef's Notes</p> My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt. Previously posted this receipt on [Zap.Cooking](https://zap.cooking/recipe/naddr1qqthxam9v46z6f3dwdhh2u3dwdcxzun994exjcnnqgsrpwvez6skqp8z8jfuausdqmu9ja8fqsl73z7pklz9qrut8nrw8lsrqsqqqa28ht8fr2/) but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and publish to Nostr using the [nostr-writer](https://github.com/jamesmagoo/nostr-writer) plug-in. *** ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes - 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs - 🍽️ Servings: 8 ## Ingredients - 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice - 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple - 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple - 1 TS Dried Mustard - 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste - 1 Cup Red Wine - 2 TS Corn Starch - 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs - Worcestershire sauce ## Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot 3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot 4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat 5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet 6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce 7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes. 8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring 9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent 10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness 11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring. 12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce. 13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours. ## Bon **Appétit**

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d

test

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

*** <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/Sweet-Sour-Spare-Ribs.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p> *** <p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">Chef's Notes</p> My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt. Previously posted this receipt on [Zap.Cooking](https://zap.cooking/recipe/naddr1qqthxam9v46z6f3dwdhh2u3dwdcxzun994exjcnnqgsrpwvez6skqp8z8jfuausdqmu9ja8fqsl73z7pklz9qrut8nrw8lsrqsqqqa28ht8fr2/) but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and publish to Nostr using the [nostr-writer](https://github.com/jamesmagoo/nostr-writer) plug-in. *** ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes - 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs - 🍽️ Servings: 8 ## Ingredients - 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice - 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple - 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple - 1 TS Dried Mustard - 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste - 1 Cup Red Wine - 2 TS Corn Starch - 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs - Worcestershire sauce ## Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot 3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot 4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat 5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet 6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce 7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes. 8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring 9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent 10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness 11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring. 12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce. 13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours. ## Bon **Appétit**

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

Welcome to part 4, the final entry in the What is Money series. We’re capping it off with “crypto” and CBDCs. Let's start with crypto. Short for cryptocurrency, it’s a catch-all term for all of the non-fiat, blockchain-based, or non-government-operated new money systems that aren’t Bitcoin. Ethereum, Solana, and Dogecoin are some you may have heard of. There are actually thousands of cryptocurrencies in existence, but we’ll summarize some of the biggest ones by size and pop culture penetration. One thing they all have in common is that like fiat currencies, they have no supply limit and are therefore inflationary by nature. **Ethereum:** Released in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is less of a money system and more of a network built to run “decentralized applications” (DAPs) on. “Smart contracts” and “tokens” are the most common of these. If none of those terms mean anything to you, you’re not alone. What they’ve essentially done is recreate the unending complexity of high finance in a computer system and replaced the bankers and lawyers with programmers. **Solana:** Solana is much smaller than Ethereum but serves a similar function of being a wild-west finance platform. I’m only mentioning it here as it's been in the media a lot with numerous security compromises, lawsuits, and general drama. Your nephew who trades in Robux probably knows someone who lost their allowance savings in the 2021 crash. **USDT/Tether:** This is the largest in a family of cryptocurrencies called “stablecoins”. They’re meant to offer the features of crypto but with the “stability” of having their value tied to a fiat currency, in this case the US Dollar. **Monero:** Monero was designed from the ground up to be as anonymous as possible. Unfortunately it’s lack of popularity means it’s not particularly useful for purchases. **Dogecoin:** Released in 2013, Dogecoin was created as a joke to poke fun at Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. As a joke it’s been wildly successful, but like most jokes there are many who decided to take it seriously over the years, which has driven its market cap to surpass that of Monera and most others. It’s currently in the top 10 by market cap, but you’ll struggle to find anyone who takes it as payment. The concept of CBDCs (central bank digital currencies) has been making the rounds through media for some time. Some paint it as a boogeyman to be feared, while others see it as nothing more than an annoying waste of government resources. As you may recall from part 2 of this series, the Bank of Canada is not a retail bank with individuals for customers, instead acting as an administrative body and a bank for banks. CBDCs have the potential to change that. In a sentence, a Canadian CBDC would most likely be a system whereby individuals who struggle to get or maintain accounts at retail banks could be issued a Bank of Canada account. There may also be some integration with Payments Canada systems to make retail payments and transfers cheaper and more direct. Much of this is speculation though, as the BoC hasn’t announced any of this, only that research is ongoing. In any case it won’t be a replacement of the Canadian Dollar, just another system for moving Dollars around between ledgers and accounts. I’d normally sign off with something like, “Want help with *insert article topic here*? You can find us at scalebright.ca”, but in the case of crypto I’m afraid we must decline. The other trait shared by all of these money systems beside inflation via no supply limit is that they’re all scams designed to steal from their customers. Bitcoin is the only digital non-fiat currency this doesn't apply to. So if you’d like help with Bitcoin, you can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

<p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">Chef's Notes</p> My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt. Previously posted this receipt on [Zap.Cooking](https://zap.cooking/recipe/naddr1qqthxam9v46z6f3dwdhh2u3dwdcxzun994exjcnnqgsrpwvez6skqp8z8jfuausdqmu9ja8fqsl73z7pklz9qrut8nrw8lsrqsqqqa28ht8fr2/) but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and publish to Nostr using the [nostr-writer](https://github.com/jamesmagoo/nostr-writer) plug-in. <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/Sweet-Sour-Spare-Ribs.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p> ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes - 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs - 🍽️ Servings: 8 ## Ingredients - 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice - 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple - 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple - 1 TS Dried Mustard - 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste - 1 Cup Red Wine - 2 TS Corn Starch - 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs - Worcestershire sauce ## Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot 3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot 4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat 5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet 6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce 7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes. 8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring 9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent 10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness 11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring. 12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce. 13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours. ## Bon **Appétit**

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

Millennials remember the era of Buzzfeed quizzes with fondness, and some may even describe it as identity or culture shaping. People have always loved these miniature personality tests, and while Buzzfeed may no longer be in its heyday, the popularity of these dinner-table icebreakers has transcended generational gaps. To the analytically-brained among us this sounds like a datapoint that could be used in the workplace. Or is it? You’ve probably heard someone’s answer to one of these and thought, “Oh wow, that sounds mildly psychopathic, I’m sure glad I don’t work with them!” Interviewers will sometimes ask questions like “if you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?” as a conversation starter, but unscored. Part of the reason for this is that laws around discrimination in hiring make filtering via psychological or personality tests a grey area. Any suggestion of discrimination opens employers to potential lawsuits and investigations. Even if the applicant answered unironically with “I would be a dragon because I love hoarding gold and burning down unsuspecting villages!”, you would need to prove that the question was asked in a controlled environment by a certified professional and that the question was directly relevant to the position being applied for. Now that I’ve most likely talked you out of implementing these in your interview processes, here are a handful of tests that, in an HR and legal department approved manner, could be run during an interview. Failing that, they make for great casual icebreakers! Their sources range from actual psychological tests to dubious corners of the internet, and they’ve all been simplified down to their simplest forms, so I’ll again warn that you’ll want to do diligence before suggesting their use in your workplace. **The Marshmallow Test:** The test subjects (usually children) are offered a marshmallow and told that if they leave it for a few minutes, they can have two. Adults who’ve developed impulse control will usually say the correct answer is obvious, yet we fail slightly more complex versions all the time. Remember that greasy fast-food you bought with money you could have saved for a nice dinner out? **Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT):** “Some apples and some bananas cost $1.10. The apples cost $1 more than the bananas. How much did the apples cost?” If you suspect a trick, you’ll probably think about the question a bit further, but the intuitive part of our brains want us to think the apples were $1 and the bananas $0.10. **The Breakfast Question:** “How would you feel if you hadn’t eaten breakfast?” This one has some deep internet lore behind it, but the idea is that you’re testing the subject’s capacity for hypothetical reasoning. Can they process “what-ifs”? It can also extend into testing for empathy (“How would you feel if you were in Steve’s shoes and someone stole your ice cream?”). **Thematic Apperception Test (TAT):** Show the subject an ambiguous picture (ideally emotionally neutral) with people in it and ask them to imagine what is happening, including what the people are thinking and feeling. Most people will subconsciously project their own thoughts and feelings onto the characters in the picture. **Moral Circle Test:** This one has a history of being misunderstood and used as a political cudgel, so you may want to save it for your more understanding friends. Subjects were asked to rank the moral responsibilities they felt toward increasingly distant groups, starting from themselves in the center of a circle and working their way out through family, friends, acquaintances, animals, Earth, etc. The primary misunderstanding is whether the outer circles include the inner circles, i.e. whether caring for Earth includes caring for family. It’s unclear whether the subjects fully understood this, and those interpreting the results seem confused as well. **Workplace Motivation Test:** “You are up for a promotion. You can be promoted into a position that pays 20% more, or one that pays the same that you’re currently making but aligns with your non-financial life goals or sense of purpose.” This one is my own, and you can learn more about the underlying concepts here: [“True Believers & Mercenaries”]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2024-06-03-true-believers-and-mercenaries) Are you a “True Believer” or a “Mercenary”? Need help with your interview processes or figuring out which Disney princess you are? You can find us at scalebright.ca.

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Welcome to part 3 of the “What is Money?” series! So far we’ve covered the base concepts of money and money as a system in part 1, and the Canadian Dollar in part 2. Today we’re going to talk about a relatively new system of money, Bitcoin! Let’s review a few key details about money and the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Money is a placeholder to make trading easier, so anything that can fulfill the 3 functions of money can do the job (store of value, medium of exchange, and unit of account). During the Italian Renaissance the double-entry bookkeeping (or double-entry ledger) system was codified as a method of tracking transactions, and this system is still in use today for CAD and most other money systems. One of the features of using a ledger instead of physical money with intrinsic value (such as precious metals) is that it allows for fiat (money by decree) that isn’t backed by anything. The CAD is a fully fiat money with no reserve requirements. It’s also mostly digital, with only 7% of the total supply being cash and liquid deposits with the Bank of Canada. Bitcoin was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonymous individual or group who no one knows the real identity of. They released the Bitcoin whitepaper (which can be read here: [https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf]( https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf)) in October of 2008, and on January 3, 2009 they started the Bitcoin system. 2 years later they decided to disappear and were never heard from again. Others were involved in early development and maintenance, including Laszlo Hanyecz, who completed the first real-world purchase using Bitcoin. He paid 10,000 bitcoin for 2 pizzas on May 22, 2010, which is now unofficially celebrated as “Bitcoin Pizza Day”. There are several websites and pages dedicated to the story and tracking the current “value” of those pizzas; one can be found here: [https://bitcoinpizzaindex.net]( https://bitcoinpizzaindex.net) Fun history nuggets aside, Bitcoin is similar to CAD in that it uses the same double-entry ledger concept. The difference is that Bitcoin uses a single digital ledger across the entire network. Transactions are grouped into 10-minute blocks and chained together, which is where the popular term “blockchain” comes from. Another term you’ve probably heard, “mining”, is all of the computers dedicated to the task competing with each other in a combination math and guessing game for who gets to verify the authenticity and correctness of each block (the combined computational power from all of the competing computers is used, not just the winner), and the winner is rewarded with newly generated bitcoin and the transaction fees from the included transactions. This is what keeps the ledger secure and makes it practically impossible to fake, break, steal, or cheat on Bitcoin transactions. Last piece of technical background, I promise: If Bitcoin is just a ledger, how do you actually “hold” the money? You do so by holding something called a “private key”. This key is used to authorize new transactions (spending the money). Think of the private key as similar to a password, PIN, or secret code for a bank account. In Bitcoin, if you hold the keys, you hold the coins. That was a lot of history and technical stuff; take a break, touch some grass, pet the dog, sip some coffee, and come back in a few minutes. Since you have an understanding of how money systems and CAD works I won’t bother re-explaining it all for Bitcoin; I’ll instead hit some of the major differences between it and CAD (and most other fiat currencies). Bitcoin doesn’t have a central bank or any other central authority governing or controlling it. The ledger is the “single source of truth” and anyone with a valid private key and internet connection cannot be stopped from creating a new transaction. The ledger is also fully public; you can download a full copy and view it, or use a handy website. There are several; here’s the “Bitcoin Pizza” transaction on one of my favourite public sites, mempool.space: [https://mempool.space/tx/a1075db55d416d3ca199f55b6084e2115b9345e16c5cf302fc80e9d5fbf5d48d]( https://mempool.space/tx/a1075db55d416d3ca199f55b6084e2115b9345e16c5cf302fc80e9d5fbf5d48d) There’s also a hard limit to the number of Bitcoin that can exist, so there’s no inflation. 21 million bitcoin, which can be divided down into 2.1 quadrillion “satoshis”, or “sats”. Think of sats as similar to the CAD penny, the smallest unit of measurement. Bitcoin is what I call a “push” system, which is opposite of CAD’s mostly “pull” system. When you do a debit, credit card, or cheque transaction, you’re authorizing the receiving bank to reach in and “pull” the money from your account. Credit cards especially rely on this; it’s how recurring subscriptions where you are charged automatically work. Central authorities also have the ability to pull from your accounts, such as banks for fees and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for taxes (though the latter pinky-promise to only do this in emergency situations). With cash, you can’t authorize someone to physically reach into your pocket and take some of your money, and it's the same with Bitcoin. You have to “push” the money to the other person. This is one of the reasons Bitcoin has been referred to as “digital cash”. Lastly, you may have heard some, including myself, talk about Bitcoin as a replacement for fiat currencies. How is it supposed to do that if we’re required by law to use CAD? My opinion is that we’ll most likely use both for several reasons, but let’s address CAD’s requirement of use. There are no Canadian laws that force the acceptance of CAD, including cash, for purchases. In Canada cash is “legal tender”, which is “the money approved in a country for paying debts.” (See the Bank of Canada page explaining this here: [https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/about-legal-tender/]( https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/about-legal-tender/)) If there’s no debt being settled, there is no requirement to accept CAD in cash or digital form (i.e. debit or credit card). If there is debt (i.e. paying a bill for a product or service you already received) only cash (as legal tender) is required to be accepted, but payees are not required to use it. There is a bit of an exception to CAD’s non-requirement of use though; all “business” transactions (including barter and Bitcoin) are potentially taxable and therefore are required to be reported at Fair Market Value, denominated in CAD, to the CRA. See the CRA interpretation bulletin here: [https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/it490/archived-barter-transactions.html]( https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/it490/archived-barter-transactions.html) Taxes are required to be paid in CAD as well. If you’d like to see how Bitcoin works in the real world, I’d be happy to show you. I’ll even gift you a few sats to practice with! You can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

If you haven’t had the experience of waking up in the morning and fearing going to work, you’ve probably heard at least one story of someone who has. Someone who was afraid of their boss, a coworker, an impending audit, or layoffs. These stories are centered around fear, but what about fear’s older, more mature cousin, respect? How are they related, and what are their roles in the workplace? Fear? Having a role in the workplace? I thought fear was bad and to be avoided at all costs? Didn’t we leave fear at work behind in the 1950s along with day-drinking and open misogyny? Not entirely it seems, but the fear we’re talking about today is of a different kind, a healthy kind. For example, a primary school child would have a healthy fear of bears. What about respect? While the term might feel dated in our current hyper-equality society, it too has a healthy version. As our example child matures, their fear of bears will develop into respect for them. They’ll understand their destructive power, but also that they’ll generally only engage it in defence. For another example, think back to your relationship with your childhood friend’s parents. As a child in an unknown adult’s home with different rules and expectations there was an amount of fear involved, but as an adult you most likely have respect for the amount of shenanigans they put up with at the hands of your and your friends. Fear, even the unhealthy kind, can sometimes be leveraged for good. Fear of being yelled at might motivate you to finish the last 10% of a project or emptying your inbox before the end of the workday. It is better matured into respect whenever possible, however. The trade-off of fear of verbal assault or firing isn’t worth it. It’d be much healthier to be motivated by respect. Respect for your coworkers (who might also be made late by your procrastinations), your boss (who may need to take responsibility for the delay), and customers or clients (imagine yourself in their shoes). We’ve established that respect is good, and that fear is a sometimes-useful antecedent of it. And we can all now hear a thousand voices screaming, “but so-and-so doesn’t respect me!” or “but so-and-so doesn’t deserve respect!”. They may not be wrong, so let’s see what we can do to help promote respect. Ignoring the edge cases where some people are arrogant to the point of not respecting anyone, the most common cause I’ve witnessed isn’t a lack of respect, but a misdirection of it. Respect has a directional flow from one person to another, and ideally there are streams flowing in both directions. You respect your boss for their authority and responsibilities, and your boss respects you for your expertise and commitment. Misdirection of respect isn’t giving it where it isn’t deserved but flowing in the wrong direction. For example, a coworker is regularly late for meetings, and the meeting chair says, “Out of respect for Bill we’re going to wait for them to start the meeting.” What about their respect for everyone else’s time? Respect is flowing in the wrong direction. The same thing can happen when making decisions. “Mary has been with us the longest, so we’re going to defer to her preferences and keep the fax machine in the document transfer workflow even though it’s expensive and takes longer.” Sometimes it can even lead to putting the unqualified in positions they’re incapable of executing out of a misdirection of respect. Permission to speak is an extremely common misdirection as well; respect for someone’s “right to be heard” shouldn’t override their respect for everyone else’s time. The solution to this chaotic storm surge of misdirected respect is simple, but difficult. Break the fourth wall and haven open discussions. Start with groups and work your way down to one-on-one as necessary. Meeting start times is an excellent place to begin as most will agree that starting on time (especially with the goal of finishing on time!) is a practical shared good. Permission to speak in meetings (especially public ones) will be a difficult tackle but is also highly relevant. If respect directionality feels too heavy to bring up at work at all, try practising at home or with friends first. Failing that, a therapist or chat AI might be options. Want someone with a neutral or outside voice to talk about fear and respect in your workplace? You can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

In part 1 of this series ([Part 1 - What is Money?]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2025-01-20-what-is-money-series-part-1-what-is-money)) we overviewed the history of money and as a global concept. Now that we have a base understanding of what money is we can get into detail about the Canadian Dollar. Why the Canadian Dollar specifically? One of the inspirations for this series was realizing how much the pervasiveness of American media has affected the average Canadian’s understanding of how our money works. How many of you can quote what is printed on US bills? Do you know what is printed on Canadian bills? What about what the Canadian Dollar is backed by, and who’s in charge of it? To preview, it’s not gold, and it’s not the Federal Reserve. Lets do some history to give us some background on the Canadian Dollar (CAD) as we know it today. In 1858 the Province of Canada introduced the Canadian Dollar as a hopeful replacement for the mix of British, American, Spanish, and private bank credit notes in use. In 1867 Canada was formed as a nation, and the next year the Government of Canada issued Dominion credit notes as currency. These Dominion notes were required to be backed by a minimum of 20% gold reserves. This is called a “fractional reserve” system, or fractional reserve banking. Reserve requirements for private bank notes and Dominion notes changed over the years leading up to 1935 when the Bank of Canada (BoC) was formed and became to sole issuer of currency in Canada. 10 years later gold reserve requirements were removed and the Dollar became a fully fiat currency (remember this term from the previous article?). The Bank of Canada is Canada’s “central bank”. If you check out the About Us page on their website ([https://www.bankofcanada.ca/about/](https://www.bankofcanada.ca/about/)) you’ll see they have a broad range of roles and responsibilities, but the main one we’re focused on is that they manage the Canadian Dollar as a system of money, including creating and destroying Dollars as they deem necessary. (This is similar to the American Federal Reserve, but a key difference is that the BoC is a crown corporation, while the Federal Reserve is owned by private banks.) The creation and destruction of Dollars is a complex process, but it’s mostly done through borrowing. The government indirectly borrows money from the BoC (and sometimes directly from commercial banks), and everyone else borrows from banks. This money is then created by the BoC and banks, and when the principal (debt exclusive of interest) is paid back, its destroyed. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention and define “inflation”, “monetary expansion”, and the “Quantity Theory of Money”. The BoC defines inflation as “…a persistent rise in the average level of prices over time.” They have an excellent explainer on their website here ([https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2020/08/understanding-inflation/]( https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2020/08/understanding-inflation/)); to summarize, the BoC and government use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to keep track of this. “Monetary expansion” is when money is created and kept in circulation. The “Quantity Theory of Money” states that when new money is created it becomes less valuable, which means prices increase, AKA inflation. With this in mind the BoC targets a 2% inflation rate when making decisions about creating and destroying Dollars (through the systems of borrowing). Whether they’re successful or not is the subject of an article all on its own and much speculation. I should also mention an outlier in the Canadian financial system; Credit Unions. These are provincial banks that don’t have a direct relationship with the BoC. They’re generally much smaller than the national banks and offer fewer services, but many feel they offer a more personal service. And one credit union in particular is an outlier among outliers; Bow Valley Credit Union in Alberta. They’ve embarked on mission to stockpile precious metals (mostly gold) as a form of guarantee for customer deposits. They still practice fractional reserve banking, but this is an improvement over zero reserve banking. You might be imagining stacks of Dollar notes being passed around all these institutions, but most of the money only exists in ledgers (remember this from part 1?). For comparison, there is currently about $250B in the M0 supply (liquid deposits at the BoC and cash), and the rest totals about $3500B, or $3.5T. That’s about 7% as “real” money that could be used to buy groceries or for payroll. To move this invisible money around the government created Payments Canada, a non-profit that operates most of the inter-institution transfer systems. (They have other responsibilities as well.) Lynx and the Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS) are currently in use, and Real-Time Rail (RTR) is coming soon to augment them. On the retail side, we have the Interac network and credit card networks. The Interac Corporation (a for-profit founded and primarily owned by major national banks) operates the Interac network, which is the primary debit card network in Canada, as well as Interac e-Transfer for direct electronic payments. Visa and Mastercard are the primary credit card networks, but they simply move payment information between banks and Payment Services Providers (PSPs). PSPs are responsible for the actual payment settlements. You’ve probably heard of some of the major ones; Moneris, Chase, Square, and PayPal to name a few. If that sounds complicated, that’s because it is. Let’s walk through an example credit card payment at a physical store to see how it works. The customer inserts, taps, or swipes their card at the payment terminal, typically managed by a Point of Sale (POS) provider. The terminal sends the information to the PSP, who sends the information through the credit card network to the issuing bank. If the transaction is approved, it’s logged for transfer in a batch later, and the approval makes it way back through the credit card network, PSP, terminal, and POS. Wipe the sweat from your brow and take a sip of coffee; that was a lot! The important part to remember is that all of this complexity serves to move numbers between accounts in ledgers. The government (through the BoC) controls the money supply (the primary driver of inflation), and the banks and networks move the ledger numbers between individuals, companies, and each other. About 7% is liquid, and 0% is backed by hard assets such as gold. In part 3 we’ll cover Bitcoin, its intention to replace fiat currencies, and its current state in Canada.

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As a fellow Nostrich you might have noticed some of my #arlist posts. It is my effort to curate artists that are active on Nostr and make it easier for other users to find content that they are interested in. By now I have posted six or seven posts mentioning close to fifty artists, the problem so far is that it's only a list of handles and it is up to reader to click on each in order to find out what are the artist behind the names all about. Now I am going to start creating blog posts with a few artists mentioned in each, with short descriptions of their work and an image or to. I would love to have some more automated mode of curation but I still couldn't figure out what is a good way for it. I've looked at Listr, Primal custom feeds and Yakihonne curations but none seem to enable me to make a list of npubs that is then turned into a feed that I could publicly share for others to views. Any advice on how to achieve this is VERY welcome ! And now lets get to the first batch of artists I want to share with you. ### Eugene Gorbachenko ### nostr:npub1082uhnrnxu7v0gesfl78uzj3r89a8ds2gj3dvuvjnw5qlz4a7udqwrqdnd Artist from Ukrain creating amazing realistic watercolor paintings. He is very active on Nostr but is very unnoticed for some stange reason. Make sure to repost the painting that you liked the most to help other Nostr users to discover his great art. ![!(image)[https://m.primal.net/PxJc.png]]() ### Siritravelsketch ### nostr:npub14lqzjhfvdc9psgxzznq8xys8pfq8p4fqsvtr6llyzraq90u9m8fqevhssu a a lovely lady from Thailand making architecture from all around the world spring alive in her ink skethes. Dynamic lines gives it a dreamy magical feel, sometimes supported by soft watercolor strokes takes you to a ferytale layer of reality. ![!(image)[https://m.primal.net/PxJj.png]]() ### BureuGewas ### nostr:npub1k78qzy2s9ap4klshnu9tcmmcnr3msvvaeza94epsgptr7jce6p9sa2ggp4 a a master of the clasic oil painting. From traditional still life to modern day subjects his paintings makes you feel the textures and light of the scene more intense then reality itself. ![!(image)[https://m.primal.net/PxKS.png]]() You can see that I'm no art critic, but I am trying my best. If anyone else is interested to join me in this curration adventure feel free to reach out ! With love, Agi Choote

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Minimum wage has been a hot topic as far back as I can remember. If you’re an employer it can feel like government needlessly meddling in the free market, while for employees it feels like its never high enough to make a difference. This is especially true where oversaturated labour markets are combined with high costs of living (HCOL) (which is pretty much everywhere at this point). Workers may need 2 or even 3 minimum wage jobs just to cover food, shelter, and transport in these areas, and would probably love to see minimum wage lifted. Employers in less-dense areas are faced with the opposite problem; even if they advertise pay “above minimum wage”, acquiring and keeping entry-level staff in HCOL areas is a constant battle. In this case, my recommendation is to localize your minimum wage. In Canada most enforceable minimum wages are set by the provinces. Federal minimums apply to federal government employees (and some federally regulated industries). The problem with this is the sometimes broad disparities in cost of living (COL) between municipalities, especially between urban and rural. I’ve seen rent differences from 50% to 100% for comparable apartments. Applying the same minimum wage isn’t going to have the effect it’s meant to. If your staff can’t afford rent, they’re going to constantly be searching for something better, leading to high turnover. They’ll be forced into mercenary behaviours (see my previous post on [“True Believers & Mercenaries”]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2024-06-03-true-believers-and-mercenaries)). Official minimum wages also lag behind inflation, but that’s a whole separate discussion (see my “What is Money?” series, starting with [“Part 1 - What is Money?]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2025-01-20-what-is-money-series-part-1-what-is-money)). On the flip-side, having a localized minimum wage allows your employees to stay settled where they are and gives them the freedom to be True Believers. You can work it directly into your job postings too; advertising wages that are based on local COL will have your inbox flooded with applications, allowing you to choose from the best instead of having to settle for the desperate. Let’s get into how to go about localizing your minimum wage. First, look at a map and ponder how far most would be willing to commute to your workplace. Draw a rough circle with that as the radius. Everywhere inside this circle is fair game for everything to follow. Next, find some low-rent but livable apartments inside the circle and look up their rates. This will be your rent figure. Transport is next. We’re going to use fuel cost as a “close enough” placeholder as actual costs will vary greatly between individuals. We’re also going to pick a “close enough” fuel efficiency for the same reason. I’ve chosen 8.5L/100KM, but you can adjust this. For example, full-size pickups may be more popular among your staff so that number may need to go up. Look up the average fuel prices for the last few months at retail stations within the circle, and the average working days per month for your staff. Now plug all of these numbers into the following formula and calculate. This will give you the monthly fuel cost: (fuel price x 8.5 x (circle radius KM x 2) / 100) x working days Lastly, groceries. Like transport, we’re aiming for a “close enough” placeholder. You can substitute any items and volumes you like, but these are my recommendation to get an average monthly cost for an average minimum wage worker plus 1 dependant. Go to a generic grocery store within the circle and get the regular (non-sale) prices of the following: 3 x 3lb/1.36kg apples (averaged or middle price), 5 x single Long English cucumber, 1 x 10lb bag of potatoes, 2 x 4L 2% milk, 4 x 1 dozen large eggs, 2 x 600g block of cheese (average or middle price), 6 x loaf of brown or whole grain bakery bread (average or middle price), 5 x 1lb/454g lean ground beef, 1 x 4kg box frozen chicken breasts, and 1 x 3.5lb/1.6kg bag of jasmine rice. Now that you have totals for the expenses, put those numbers into the following formula. This will give you total monthly living expenses: ((rent + groceries) / 0.45) + fuel Put that total into the following formula for the monthly paycheque total, pre-deductions. Insert current federal and provincial income tax rates for your jurisdiction: expenses / (1 - (provincial tax rate as decimal + federal tax rate as decimal + 0.05) With this final total you can divide by monthly working hours for an hourly wage, or multiply by 12 for an annual salary. I’ll provide an example of all of this at the bottom of the article. After crunching these numbers you may have concluded that paying a localized minimum wage would eat into your profits. This may be the case initially, but lowering turnover rates and increasing the quality of your hires will save you money long-term. However, if it raises costs so high that the business would become unprofitable, you may need to consider that the business isn’t viable. Being dependant on employees willing to work for below the cost of living in your area will eventually end the business regardless, and I would argue is immoral. Want help localizing your minimum wage? You can find us at scalebright.ca. ``` Sample localized minimum wage calculation: Rent: $1,200 Fuel cost: ((1.40 x 8.5 x (9.4 x 2) / 100) x 20 = $44.75 Groceries: $229.46 Apples: 23.97 Cucumbers: 14.95 Potatoes: 8.99 Milk: 11.90 Eggs: 17.40 Cheese: 20.58 Bread: 23.94 Ground beef: 42.45 Chicken breasts: 49.99 Rice: 15.29 Total expenses: ((1200 + 229.46) / 0.45) + 44.75 = $3,221.33 Total monthly paycheque: 3221.33 / (1 - (0.10 + 0.15 + 0.05) = $4,601.90 Hourly: 4601.90 / 160 = $28.76 Annual salary: 4601.90 x 12 = $55,222.80 ```

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Es gibt Bibliotheken voll Literatur zur „Kunst“ der Kriegsführung. Dies hier ist ein Beitrag zu den Bibliotheken der **Kunst Frieden zu führen**. Denn Frieden ist nicht die Abwesenheit von Krieg. Sondern eine mindestens ebenso intensive Aktivität. Worin genau besteht sie aber? Ich glaube darin, weder nach der einen noch nach der anderen Seite vom Hochseil zu fallen. Denn vom Hochseil kann man immer nach zwei Seiten fallen. Das ist dann auch schon die Kernherausforderung: Gleichgewichthalten! &#x20; Es scheint zunächst ein ganz äußerlicher Auftrag. Es gibt immer und wird immer widerstreitende Interessen geben. Allerdings ist das nur die äußerste Zwiebelschale. Denn wenn wir die Sache etwas mit Abstand von uns selbst betrachten, werden wir in uns hinein verwiesen: **Frieden kann nur von innen nach außen gestiftet werden**. Wenn wir das Hochseil in uns suchen, was finden wir dann? – Zweifels ohne, wissen wir von uns, dass wir nicht jeden Tag unser bestes Selbst sind. Würde es sich nicht lohnen etwas genauer über die Möglichkeit nach zwei Seiten vom Hochseil zu fallen nachzudenken, zugunsten der eigenen Balancierfähigkeit? Wir sind daran gewöhnt zu denken dem Guten steht das Böse gegenüber. Daraus ziehen ja alle Western und Martial Arts Streifen ihren Plot: Der Gute bringt den Bösen um die Ecke und damit hat wieder mal das Gute gesiegt. Wir bewerten das „um die Ecke bringen“ unterschiedlich, je nach dem, von wem es kommt. Ich möchte einen neuen Gedanken vorschlagen über unser Inneres, über Gut und Böse nachzudenken. Denn, wie gesagt, vom Hochseil kann man nach zwei Seiten fallen. Und es hat immer drastische Wirkung. Wo kommen wir also hin, wenn wir sagen: **Frieden ist immer ein Gleichgewichtszustand**, ergo eine Zeit der Mitte? Sagen wir Toleranz ist ein erstrebenswertes Ideal. Dann würden wir sicher sagen Engstirnigkeit ist das Gegenteil davon und alles andere als Wünschenswert. Ja, so ist es gewiss. Und es bleibt hinzuzufügen, auch Beliebigkeit ist das Gegenteil von Toleranz. Denn es gibt eine Grenze, wo Toleranz nicht mehr Toleranz ist, sondern Beliebigkeit, ein „alles ist möglich“. Ähnlich können wir es für Großzügigkeit denken: Großzügigkeit ist ein erstrebenswertes Ideal. Ihr Gegenteil ist Geiz. Ihr anderes Gegenteil die Verschwendung. Oder Mut. Mut ist ein erstrebenswertes Ideal. Feigheit sein Gegenteil. Sein anderes Gegenteil ist Leichtsinn. Mit andern Worten: Das Ideal wird immer zum Hochseil. Und wir können immer nach zwei Seiten von ihm fallen. Wenn wir diesem Gedanken folgen, kommen wir weg von der Gut-Böse-Dualität. Und stattdessen zur Frage nach dem Gleichgewicht. Zur Frage nach der Mittezeit. Natürlich steht es uns frei all das zu denken. Oder auch nicht zu denken. Denn selbstverständlich ist es möglich es nicht zu denken und bei einer Dualitätsvorstellung festhängen zu bleiben. Es wird uns nur nicht helfen Frieden zu denken und in Frieden zu handeln. Wenn wir wollen können wir durch das Aufspannen einer Trinität einen neuen Raum eröffnen und betreten. In ihm wird Frieden aktiv führbar, denn er wird **eine Gleichgewichtssituation in uns selbst!** – Nicht eine, sich einander gegenüberstehender äußerer Mächte! Gehen wir noch einen Schritt weiter in unserer Betrachtung, können wir feststellen, dass es durchaus einen Unterschied macht nach welcher Seite wir runter fallen. Denn auf der einen Seite ist es immer eine **Verengung**: Engstirnigkeit, Geiz, Feigheit in unseren Beispielen. Auf der anderen ist es immer eine **Zersplitterung oder Versprühung**. In unseren Beispielen Beliebigkeit, Verschwendung und Leichtsinn. Und das erstrebenswerte ist eben immer die Mitte, das von uns ständig aktualisierte Gleichgewicht. Das interessante ist, wo diese Mitte liegt, lässt sich niemals statisch festlegen. Sie ist immer dynamisch. Denn sie kann zu unterschiedlichen Momenten an unterschiedlicher Stelle liegen. Es ist immer **ein Ich, das sich in Geistesgegenwart neu ausbalanciert**. Und darum ist Frieden so schwer. Wir werden ihn niemals „haben“, sondern ihm immer entgegen gehen. Der Kriegsruf ist nichts anderes, als ein Versuch von denen, die vom Hochseil gefallen sind, uns auch herunter zu kicken. Netter Versuch. Wird aber nichts! In der Nussschale: Die Dualität auflösen in die Trinität der balancierenden Mitte zwischen der Geste der Versteinerung und der Geste des Zerstäubens oder Zersplitterns. Die dynamische Qualität der Mitte bemerken. Oder, tun wir es nicht, ist das gleich der erste Anstoß, der uns wieder zum Wackeln bringt. Und des Ich´s gewahr werden, das balanciert. **Frieden führen ist eine Kunst**.&#x20; *** **Patric I. Vogt**, geb. 1968 in Mainz. Autor von „[Zukunft beginnt im Kopf](https://buchshop.bod.de/zukunft-beginnt-im-kopf-patric-i-vogt-9783759734266) Ein Debattenbeitrag zur Kernsanierung von Rechtsstaat und Demokratie“. Lebt als freischaffender Künstler, Lehrer und Unternehmer. Über drei Jahrzehnte Beschäftigung mit dem Ideenfeld soziale #Dreigliederung und Anthroposophie. Moderation und Mediation von sozialen Prozessen und Organisationsentwicklung. Staatlich ungeprüft, abgesehen von den Fahrerlaubnissen zu Land und zu Wasser. Motto: Gedanken werden Worte, werden Taten! [www.perspektivenwechsel.social](http://www.perspektivenwechsel.social/)&#x20; ***

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*** **Autor:** **[Thomas Eisinger.](https://pareto.space/u/te@pareto.town)** *Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem **[Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read)** geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden **[hier.](https://pareto.space/read?category=friedenstaube)*** *** Und genau dafür wirst auch du gedrillt werden: Menschen zu jagen und töten. Unbekannte, die auch nicht wissen, was sie hier tun. Oder Unschuldige, die nicht rechtzeitig fliehen konnten. Einfach töten. Alle. Ohne zu fragen. Denn das ist deine Aufgabe, Soldat: Töte Menschen! Egal, was du vorher warst, Heizungsmonteur, KFZ-Mechaniker, Veganer, Marketingmanager, Friseur, Verkäufer, Kindergärtner: Es ist egal. Jetzt musst du töten. Denn du hast mitgemacht. Entweder, weil du es nicht ernst genommen hast, weil du dich nie für Politik interessiert hast. Oder weil du gedacht hast, das alles betrifft dich nicht. Weil du gedacht hast, Wahlen könnten etwas verändern. Oder weil du immer das Maul gehalten hast, damit dich keiner als «Rechter» bezeichnet. Egal. Jetzt musst du töten. Das ist das Spiel. Ja, es ist ein Spiel. Grausam, abartig, menschenverachtend. Dennoch hat es Regeln: Diejenigen, die das Spiel beginnen, müssen niemals selbst auf das Schlachtfeld. Das ist die erste Regel. Ihre Söhne auch nicht, nicht die Söhne der anderen Politiker, nicht die der EU-Abgeordneten, nicht die der Parteibonzen. Auch nicht die der Banker, der Vorstandsvorsitzenden, der Chefredakteure. Denn alle wissen, wie man das Spiel spielt. Nur du nicht. Du bist einfach eine Figur auf dem Spielfeld, die es verpasst hat, NEIN zu sagen, als noch Gelegenheit war. Jetzt bist du verwandelt worden in eine menschliche Drohne. Wenn sie sagen: töte!, dann tötest du. Denken kannst du, wenn alles vorbei ist. Falls du je wieder nach Hause kommst. Vielleicht sogar mit beiden Beinen und beiden Armen. Vielleicht auch nicht. Egal. Wer hätte Mitleid mit einer Spielfigur? Nein, du musst töten. Das ist deine Aufgabe. Sie sagen es nun schon seit Monaten, warum glaubst du es nicht? Sie meinen es ernst. Wenn du den Brief in Händen hältst ist es zu spät. Es gilt dann das Notstandsrecht und keiner kann mehr verweigern. Da hättest du dich vorher drum kümmern müssen. Oder auf eine Demo gehen. Oder laut und mit klarer Stimme in jedem Gespräch den Wahnsinn anprangern. Hast du aber nicht. Jetzt musst du töten oder du wirst getötet. Das ist das Spiel. Du hättest selbst denken können. Hast du aber nicht. Hast deine Zeit mit sinnlosen Videos vertan, Netflix geguckt und hast Influencerinnen geliked. Die müssen nicht an die Front. Aber du. Morgen, wenn du aufstehst, die Uniform anziehst und rausgehst, dann wirst du Befehle ausführen oder erschossen werden. Also wirst du Menschen töten. Dein Leben wird nie wieder so sein, wie zuvor. Dein Schmerz, deine Schuld, dein Leid: sie gehen ein in die unendliche Reihe der Soldaten, die seit Jahrhunderten dasselbe Schicksal erlitten. Deren Schreie noch immer durch den ewigen Raum hallen. Deren Opfer von den Herren des Spiels mit einem Lächeln entgegengenommen wurde. Deren Gliedmaßen auf den Schlachtfeldern liegen geblieben waren. Zum Dank erhielten sie eine Medaille. Ein Stück Blech für den rechten Arm, einen Grabstein für den Vater, den Bruder, den Sohn. Für das Vaterland. Für Europa. Für die Demokratie. Der Hohn tropft aus jedem Politikerwort, doch die Menschen glauben noch immer die uralte Geschichte von Freund und Feind, von Gut und Böse.  \ Wer nicht aufwachen will, muss töten. Du. Nicht am Bildschirm. In der echten Welt. Wo man nicht auf Replay drücken kann. Wo man den Gegner nicht nach links oder rechts swipen kann, denn er ist echt, real, lebendig. Noch. Entweder er oder du. Jetzt ist es zu spät für Entscheidungen. Kannst du es spüren? Die Work-Life-Balance wird zur Kill-or-be-killed-Balance. Es gibt kein Entrinnen. Denn du hast mitgemacht. Schweigen ist Zustimmung. Sich-nicht-drumkümmern ist Zustimmung. Kriegsparteien zu wählen ist noch mehr Zustimmung. Heute. Heute lässt sich noch etwas ändern. Es hat nichts zu tun mit rechts oder links. Nur mit Menschlichkeit versus Hass, Macht und dem ganz großen Geld. Das sind die Gründe, für die du töten oder sterben musst. Wie entscheidest du dich? *** *Thomas Eisinger ist Schriftsteller. Zuletzt erschien der Roman* *["Hinter der Zukunft".](https://www.buchkomplizen.de/buecher/lesestoff/hinter-der-zukunft.html?listtype=search\&searchparam=Hinter%20der%20Zukunft)* *Mehr zum Autor* ***[hier.](www.thomas-eisinger.de)*** *** **DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH:** ***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt, vorerst für alle kostenfrei, wir starten gänzlich ohne Paywall. (Die Bezahlabos fangen erst zu laufen an, wenn ein Monetarisierungskonzept für die Inhalte steht).* *** Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen: * Für **50 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube. * Für **120 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube. * Für **500 CHF/EURO** werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube. * Ab **1000 CHF** werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie). **Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):**  Bildschirmfoto 2025-03-27 um 09.53.46 **Für Einzahlungen in Euro:** Milosz Matuschek IBAN DE 53710520500000814137 BYLADEM1TST Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg **Betreff: Friedenstaube** Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: <milosz@pareto.space> *** **Sie sind noch nicht auf** [Nostr](https://nostr.com/) **and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil!** Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf [Start.](https://start.njump.me/) Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im [Pareto-Wiki.](https://wiki.pareto.space/de/home)

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“What is money?” sounds like a bit of a silly question. You’d probably hold up some cash or maybe flash your debit card. But I challenge you with this: imagine a 5-year-old asking you this question. How would you answer? If you showed them a $20 bill, they might respond with, “I know that’s a money, *but what is it?*” If you manage to explain that the bill is worth $20, they’re next question is going to be, “how many is your card?” How would you answer that? At some point you’d probably end up trying to distract them with something else while you worked to ignore the dread feeling that you should have those answers, but don’t. Never fear, for we will attempt to explain it in such a way that you’ll have an answer for 5, 15, 50, or 95-year-olds by the time we’re done this 4-part series! Let’s start with an overview of the history of money. I highly recommend further reading on each of these; we’re going to skim most of them today. In the beginning, there was simple barter. If we each had something the other wanted, we could trade. But if the scale of what we want to trade is lopsided, say, chickens for a cow, or cows for a house, how do you make the trade work? Or what if you wanted to save up for a larger purchase? The answer is a placeholder; something that represents value in trade. An early example of this is the rai stones in Micronesia, which are essentially carved rocks. These worked well for store of value and medium of exchange, but not so much for unit of account. Precious metal coins arose later, with the most common being gold, silver, copper, and bronze. These worked well for all three of the major elements. Store of value, medium of exchange, and unit of account are the three major elements of any system of money. Store of value means it holds its value well over time. If you put a gold coin in a box in your house and retrieve it 10 years later, it’s still a gold coin and should be in the same physical condition as it was when stored. Medium of exchange means it’s widely accepted for trade. This one is a bit trickier, but if you’re the Roman Empire you can simply *make* everyone accept denarius. Unit of account means units should hold the same value everywhere they’re used. This is similarly tricky, but if you’re the Dutch East India Company you can simply *make* VOC-stamped coins global denominations. Renaissance-era Italy is where modern banking was born. A key concept invented during this time was the double-entry ledger, or double-entry bookkeeping system. In short, every transaction is recorded, and every transaction has two entries: one with an amount leaving an account, and one with the same amount going into a different account. At the end of every block of time all accounts will have an aggregate balance of 0, with individual accounts either having a credit or debit. This system is still in use today, as well as the broad use of credit notes in place of coins or direct trade. Credit notes could be written against an account and given in trade, and later the receiver could take the note to the bank, who would then record the transaction as complete. If this sounds familiar, that’s because modern cheques are the same thing. Modern money systems take these concepts a step further. Banks now maintain a whole network of double-entry ledgers and in most countries banks are no longer required to hold reserves matching their credit notes issued. Credit notes are also the total physical currency, also known as a fiat currency, or currency by authority or decree. This essentially means fiat money has no intrinsic value other than the promise of the issuing authority to treat it as valid and the willingness of others to accept it in trade. For an example of “willingness to accept in trade”, many retail stores in Canada will accept American dollars even though they’re not required to. If you’re now thinking, “thanks for the history lesson, but what does this mean to me and the payment terminal in my store?”, the answer will come 2 weeks from now when we cover the Canadian dollar. In the meantime if you want to learn a bit more about the systems our modern money is based on, read up on the Roman Empire and their currency, as well as that of the Dutch East India Company. If you really want to dive deep, Renaissance Italy’s banking systems are also fascinating and a little closer to us on the timeline.

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We’ve all been in meetings that seem to be stuck in an unending loop of “discussions” going nowhere while simultaneously ratcheting up everyone’s emotions as the minutes past dinner continue to climb. You stand to leave as you reach your limit and declare, “It’s past my bedtime”. If only there was a way to make meetings more efficient! The gold standard for meeting organization is “Robert’s Rules of Order”, the original having been published in 1876 and currently in it’s 12th edition ([https://robertsrules.com]( https://robertsrules.com)). It’s quite the tome at over 800 pages, which makes sense given that it’s meant to be a complete procedural guide. If that feels like overkill for your 5-person weekly department check-in, there’s an “In Brief” edition available meant for just such cases. Our focus today will be less procedural and more on the squishy human side. People are social creatures who generally prefer friendly conversation over stiff formalities. This will be your primary hurdle as left unstructured most meetings will migrate from handling business to visiting. My first recommendation is to intentionally schedule social time before and after the meeting. You may have seen this communicated as “doors open” and “doors close” times on event announcements. Or you can break the fourth wall and label it “social time”. Either way, explain its purpose to your attendees and make it clear that its optional. Most will appreciate having it; these meetings may be the only time they see each other, but for some its just business and they won’t want to feel pressured into awkward conversation. Intentional social time is best paired with my next tip: begin the formal portion exactly at the advertised start time. This will encourage everyone to arrive on time (or ideally early), and might allow you to finish early. (Who doesn’t like that‽) If your attendees are used to a loose start time it might seem jarring at first, but if you break the fourth wall (again) and explain why you’re doing it, you shouldn’t have many arguments. If you have late arrivals, don’t interrupt the flow or pause to catch them up. Its their responsibility to arrive on time, and failing that its their responsibility to catch themselves up. Again, it won’t take long to normalize a hard start time. I also recommend advertising and sticking to a hard stop time as well. The nice thing about a stop time is that its only definite in one direction; you don’t have to stick to it if you’re done early. It’s primary purpose is to reassure everyone that the meeting won’t get drug out. Evening meeting attendees with young children at home will be especially grateful. If this is starting to feel like a lot of details to keep track of, fear not, for there is a solution invented long ago: the formal meeting agenda! I’ve included a basic template below, but an internet search will provide a cornucopia of formats and options. My rule of thumb is the longer the meeting, the further in advance you should provide an agenda. As a starting point I aim for a week / 5 business days for any longer than an hour. You’ll also want to include any written reports and statements. This will be another item you may get some pushback on; many will be used to delivering verbal reports with very little prep. Written versions have several advantages (see my previous posts on the importance of writing things down, especially [“Writing Things Down Is For Boys Too”]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2024-06-17-writing-things-down-is-for-boys-too)), including giving attendees a chance to review and absorb the information before the meeting, keeping the reports concise, and making inclusion in the minutes much easier. I also like to include statements on old and new business items, which takes us into the next, and possibly most controversial, item. Alongside social visiting, one of the biggest time-eaters in meetings is “discussion”. In my opinion (here comes the controversial part), meetings shouldn’t have discussions, only decisions and formalizations. All discussion should happen before the meeting. For example, let's say a new piece of equipment needs to be purchased, and an official vote is needed to do so. The next business meeting is not the place to discuss this. Options, pros and cons, bids or quotes, and most importantly, opinions and emotions surrounding the decision, should be hashed out and aired between stakeholders in an informal fashion on their own time. Billy and Sally don’t need to have a shouting match about the colour options while everyone else awkwardly stares at their shoes in the middle of the weekly stand-up. They can have their cat fight in the privacy of the HR office or at the local Timmies. I make a bit of an exception for what I call “statements”, though with tight controls. If Billy acquiesces to Sally’s demands to buy the blue model instead of the yellow one but still wants his oppositions known, he might be tempted to unleash a rant if, during the meeting, the chairperson says something like, “Anyone have any thoughts on this equipment purchase?” Chances of this happening are high for business items surrounded by high emotions, such as layoffs or budget cuts. This is where the statement can be a powerful tool to give everyone most of what they want. Have those who wish to create brief written statements. Your pitch to them is that it can be included in the agenda with all the other important business, everyone will see it (even those who can’t make it to the meeting), there’s no chance of their opinion being misrepresented, and it can easily be included in the minutes. You can optionally allow them to read their statement aloud during the meeting, but keep tight control on this. Again, emotions may be running high, and someone hearing their nemesis vocalize an opinion they disagree with may be enough to set them off. Make it clear that the statement will be read for the record, and no responses or discussion will follow, as discussion has already happened. I’ve mentioned the chairperson a few times. This person should be, without question, in control. They should have absolute dictatorial power over the meeting, and importantly, over who has permission to speak. Anyone who disagrees with this power can be asked to leave. It sounds harsh, but a meeting without a human “talking stick” will fall to those without the social awareness to refrain from interrupting, or those willing to be the loudest. Have the chairperson wield their omnipotence for the good of the people. Need help with planning or executing your meetings? You can find us at scalebright.ca. ``` Example Meeting Agenda: Meeting Title Organization / Team / Group Name Meeting Date, Start Time, and Stop Time Meeting Location Chairperson Participants / Invitees Order of Business: Call to Order / Start Approval of previous minutes Approval of reports Old business New business Adjournment Appendices: A: Previous Minutes B: Report 1 C: Statement from John Doe on Business Item 1 D: Quote for Business Item 2 ```

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> "THE NATURE OF BITCOIN IS SUCH THAT ONCE VERSION 0.1 WAS RELEASED, THE CORE DESIGN WAS SET IN STONE FOR THE REST OF ITS LIFETIME." _{- SATOSHI NAKAMOTO}    "Reborn" is inspired by my Bitcoin journey and the many other people whose lives have been changed by Bitcoin. I’ve carved the hand in the “Gyan Mudra” or the “Mudra of Wisdom or Knowledge,” with an Opendime grasped between thumb and index finger alluding to the pursuit of Bitcoin knowledge. The hand emerges from rough, choppy water, and I've set the hand against an archway, through which, the copper leaf hints at the bright orange future made possible by Bitcoin. Materials: Carrara Marble, Copper leaf, Opendime Dimensions: 6" x 9" x 13" Price: $30,000 or BTC equivalent Enquire: https://www.vonbitcoin.com/available-works X: https://x.com/BVBTC/status/1894463357316419960/photo/1 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928510

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*Der Irrsinn ist bei Einzelnen etwas Seltenes –* *\ aber bei Gruppen, Parteien, Völkern, Zeiten die Regel.* *\ Friedrich Nietzsche* &#x20; **Erinnern Sie sich an die Horrorkomödie «Scary Movie»?** Nicht, dass ich diese Art Filme besonders erinnerungswürdig fände, aber einige Szenen daraus sind doch gewissermaßen Klassiker. Dazu zählt eine, die das Verhalten vieler Protagonisten in Horrorfilmen parodiert, wenn sie in Panik flüchten. Welchen Weg nimmt wohl die Frau in der Situation auf diesem Bild?  **Diese Szene kommt mir automatisch in den Sinn,** wenn ich aktuelle Entwicklungen in Europa betrachte. Weitreichende Entscheidungen gehen wider jede Logik in die völlig falsche Richtung. Nur ist das hier alles andere als eine Komödie, sondern bitterernst. Dieser Horror ist leider sehr real. **Die Europäische Union hat sich selbst über Jahre** konsequent in eine Sackgasse manövriert. Sie hat es versäumt, sich und ihre Politik selbstbewusst und im Einklang mit ihren Wurzeln auf dem eigenen Kontinent zu positionieren. Stattdessen ist sie in blinder Treue den vermeintlichen «transatlantischen Freuden» auf ihrem Konfrontationskurs gen Osten gefolgt. **In den USA haben sich die Vorzeichen allerdings mittlerweile geändert,** und die einst hoch gelobten «Freunde und Partner» erscheinen den europäischen «Führern» nicht mehr vertrauenswürdig. Das ist spätestens seit der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz, der Rede von Vizepräsident J. D. Vance und den empörten Reaktionen offensichtlich. Große Teile Europas wirken seitdem wie ein aufgescheuchter Haufen kopfloser Hühner. Orientierung und Kontrolle sind völlig abhanden gekommen. **Statt jedoch umzukehren oder wenigstens zu bremsen** und vielleicht einen Abzweig zu suchen, geben die Crash-Piloten jetzt auf dem Weg durch die Sackgasse erst richtig Gas. Ja sie lösen sogar noch die Sicherheitsgurte und deaktivieren die Airbags. Den vor Angst dauergelähmten Passagieren fällt auch nichts Besseres ein und so schließen sie einfach die Augen. Derweil übertrumpfen sich die [Kommentatoren](https://transition-news.org/wird-ihr-stahlhelm-schon-gegossen) des Events gegenseitig in sensationslüsterner «Berichterstattung». **Wie schon die deutsche Außenministerin mit höchsten UN-Ambitionen,** Annalena Baerbock, proklamiert auch die Europäische Kommission einen «Frieden durch Stärke». Zu dem jetzt vorgelegten, [selbstzerstörerischen](https://transition-news.org/okonomen-eu-rustet-auf-und-schiesst-sich-selbst-ins-knie) Fahrplan zur Ankurbelung der Rüstungsindustrie, genannt «Weißbuch zur europäischen Verteidigung – Bereitschaft 2030», [erklärte](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/de/ip_25_793) die Kommissionspräsidentin, die «Ära der Friedensdividende» sei längst vorbei. Soll das heißen, Frieden bringt nichts ein? Eine umfassende Zusammenarbeit an dauerhaften europäischen Friedenslösungen steht demnach jedenfalls nicht zur Debatte. **Zusätzlich brisant ist, dass aktuell «die ganze EU** **[von Deutschen regiert](https://transition-news.org/die-ganze-eu-wird-von-deutschen-regiert)** **wird»,** wie der EU-Parlamentarier und ehemalige UN-Diplomat Michael von der Schulenburg beobachtet hat. Tatsächlich sitzen neben von der Leyen und Strack-Zimmermann noch einige weitere Deutsche in – vor allem auch in Krisenzeiten – wichtigen Spitzenposten der Union. Vor dem Hintergrund der Kriegstreiberei in Deutschland muss eine solche Dominanz mindestens nachdenklich stimmen. **Ihre ursprünglichen Grundwerte wie Demokratie, Freiheit, Frieden und Völkerverständigung** hat die EU kontinuierlich in leere Worthülsen verwandelt. Diese werden dafür immer lächerlicher hochgehalten und beschworen. **Es wird dringend Zeit, dass wir, der Souverän,** diesem erbärmlichen und gefährlichen Trauerspiel ein Ende setzen und die Fäden selbst in die Hand nehmen. In diesem Sinne fordert uns auch das «European Peace Project» auf, am 9. Mai im Rahmen eines Kunstprojekts [den Frieden auszurufen](https://transition-news.org/ein-zeichen-fur-die-friedliche-zukunft-europas-setzen). Seien wir dabei! *\[Titelbild:* *[Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/de/illustrations/vertical-abstract-concept-car-8992833/)]* *** Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem [Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read) geschrieben und ist zuerst auf ***[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/mit-vollgas-in-die-sackgasse)*** erschienen.

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“Technology never changes” sounds insane, doesn’t it? Of course it changes! Far too fast! New models of smartphones, laptops, refrigerators, cars, and toasters every year! And that’s just hardware; software and the internet move even faster. Every time you open your social media app of choice you’re greeted with a new *thing* to figure out. But under the hood of version 999 of all these newfangled widgets, they’re all the same as they’ve ever been, because technology never changes. Does that still sound crazy to you? Excellent! That means I have you hooked for the rest of this article! All humour aside, when I say, “technology never changes”, I’m talking about the underlying concepts, how we use technology, and on the organization side, how we plan for it. That last one will be our focus today. The tech strategies I help organizations implement haven’t changed since I started in tech, and my predecessors would probably mirror the same, especially since they’re the ones I learned these concepts from. Let’s dive in. If you’ve been involved in vehicle fleet management this first one will be familiar. For technology hardware there’s a concept called an “evergreen program”, which is essentially a schedule of when hardware is cycled or replaced. End-user hardware such as laptops, desktops, and smartphones is 3 years, servers is 6, wired network elements are 9, and wireless (mostly access points) is 6. These numbers aren’t written in stone or the same for every org; they’re just meant to be a starting point. But here's the big secret: most of this equipment, if it’s business-grade, properly maintained, and treated well, will last at least 10 years. The reason for the comparatively short evergreen cycles is two-fold: downtime can be more expensive than replacing equipment, and replacing equipment is usually a tough sell and put off as long as possible regardless of programs or policy. That’s an article all by itself; lets move along for now. Those evergreen program and lifetime numbers haven’t changed. Sure there’s a new Macbook every year and your cousin’s buddy who makes 7 figures working for a California design firm gets them on release day, but those are the exception. Your 5-person non-profit is going to replace laptops on double cycles based on tech strategy that hasn’t changed. Because technology never changes. I mentioned software earlier and that it moves even faster. While this is true, tech strategy around it hasn’t changed. I’ll use the ubiquitous Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office suite as examples. New major versions used to release roughly every 3 years. If you’re replacing your laptops and desktops on a 3 year cycle, you never really have to worry about upgrading Windows or Office separately. Today Microsoft has migrated most of their products to a subscription model, but the cycle is the same. Because technology never changes. But what about AI? Isn’t it quadrupling in power every few minutes? Hasn’t it used the energy of a thousand suns to drink the oceans dry in order to feed it’s insatiable quantum-powered hunger for knowledge and control? No, it hasn’t. In fact, if news articles are to be believed; ChatGPT et al. have run up against a bit of a wall. My prediction is that we’ll start seeing AI in more common usage sometime late this year, which, not-so-coincidentally, will be about 3 years since it’s public release. Because technology never changes.

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*** **Autor:** **[Dr. Daniele Ganser.](https://www.siper.ch/meta/kontakt/)** *Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem **[Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read)** geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden **[hier.](https://pareto.space/read?category=friedenstaube)*** *** *Der Frieden ist mir eine Herzensangelegenheit. Daher halte ich seit über 20 Jahren Vorträge zu den Themen Krieg und Frieden. Bisher sind es schon mehr als 1000 Vorträge. Manchmal gibt es Widerstand oder schlechte Presse, aber ich mache einfach weiter. Zudem schreibe ich Bücher, gebe Interviews und habe eine Online-Community, wo ich über Zoom Fragen der Mitglieder beantworte. Mein Ziel ist immer dasselbe: Die Friedensbewegung zu stärken.* *** <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rlSE4CYR_U> *** Auszug aus der Einleitung **["Imperium USA":](https://www.buchkomplizen.de/imperium-usa.html)**&#x20; "In meiner Forschung orientiere ich mich an folgenden drei Prinzipien: UNO- Gewaltverbot, Achtsamkeit und Menschheitsfamilie. Das UNO-Gewaltverbot wurde 1945 erlassen und verbietet die Androhung oder Anwendung von Gewalt in der internationalen Politik. Es ist leider in Vergessenheit geraten, und viele Menschen haben noch nie davon gehört. Daher erwähne ich es oft in meinen Büchern und Vorträgen, weil es ein ganz wichtiges Instrument der Friedensbewegung ist. Auch das Prinzip Achtsamkeit ist für die Friedensbewegung ein Juwel.&#x20; Denn zu oft schon wurden wir Menschen durch Kriegspropaganda getäuscht und verwirrt. Doch das wäre nicht nötig. Wenn wir durch Achtsamkeit lernen, unsere eigenen Gedanken und Gefühle aus einer ruhigen Distanz zu beobachten, stärken wir unsere Klarheit. Wir müssen nicht alles glauben, was uns von den Medien erzählt wird. Durch Achtsamkeit erkennen wir, dass wir nicht unsere Gedanken und Gefühle sind, sondern das klare Bewusstsein, in dem sie aufsteigen und wie Wolken auch wieder vergehen. Besonders wichtig ist mir auch das Prinzip Menschheitsfamilie. Denn leider ist es in der Geschichte immer wieder vorgekommen, dass wir als Menschheitsfamilie einzelne Mitglieder ausgeschlossen und getötet haben. Wir haben uns entlang von Nationalität, Religion, Hautfarbe, Geschlecht und Einkommen gespalten und abgewertet. Bei der Hexenverfolgung wurden Frauen der »Zauberei« beschuldigt, aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen und verbrannt. Bei den Indianerkriegen wurden Indianer als »Wilde« aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen, vertrieben und getötet. Beim Sklavenhandel wurden Afrikaner als »Tiere« aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen, diffamiert und ausgebeutet. Im Zweiten Weltkrieg wurden Juden als »lebensunwert« aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen und in Konzentrationslagern vergast.&#x20; Im Vietnamkrieg wurden Vietnamesen von US-Soldaten als »Termiten« bezeichnet, aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen und mit Napalm bombardiert. Im sogenannten »Krieg gegen den Terror« wurden Afghanen als »Terroristen« bezeichnet, aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen und getötet. Das sich wiederholende Muster ist deutlich: Das Prinzip Menschheitsfamilie wird verletzt, indem eine Gruppe aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen, abgewertet und dann getötet wird. Natürlich sehen wir alleganz unterschiedlich aus. Auch bezüglich Glaube, Nationalität, Ausbildung, Sprache und Einkommen sind wir nicht gleich und werden es nie sein.&#x20; Doch das ist noch kein Grund, Gewalt einzusetzen. »Wir haben in der Welt ganz sicher ein Problem mit Feindseligkeiten, die außer Kontrolle geraten. Der Mensch ist geradezu ein Spezialist darin, andere auszugrenzen«, erklärt der holländische Zoologe Frans de Waal. »Der Mensch dämonisiert Menschen anderer Nationalität oder Religion, erzeugt Ängste und Wut. Diese Gruppen nennen wir dann schnell Unmenschen oder Tiere. Schon ist es leicht, die Unmenschen zu eliminieren, weil man kein Mitgefühl mehr mit ihnen haben muss.« Im April 2004 wurde publik, dass US- Soldaten im irakischen Abu-Ghraib- Gefängnis Iraker gefoltert hatten. Die US- Kriegspropaganda hatte den US- Soldaten eingetrichtert, die Iraker seien schlechte Menschen, dadurch wurden sie aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen. Das hatte konkrete Folgen. Die US- Soldatin Lynndie England führte in Abu-Ghraib einen nackten irakischen Gefangenen an einer Hundeleine durchs Gefängnis. Ein anderer irakischer Gefangener musste mit schwarzer Kapuze auf einer Kiste balancieren, während an seinem Körper Drähte befestigt waren.&#x20; Ihm wurde von den US- Soldaten angedroht, dass ihm tödliche Stromschläge zugefügt würden, wenn er von der Kiste fiele. »Für Europa waren die Horrorbilder aus Sex, Folter und Erniedrigung schlichtweg ein Schock«, kommentierte *Die Welt*. Der Abu- Ghraib- Skandal zeigte drastisch, was passieren kann, wenn die Menschen einer ganzen Nation, in diesem Falle die Iraker, aus der Menschheitsfamilie ausgeschlossen werden. *** **DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH!** ***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt, vorerst für alle kostenfrei, wir starten gänzlich ohne Paywall. (Die Bezahlabos fangen erst zu laufen an, wenn ein Monetarisierungskonzept für die Inhalte steht). Sie wollen der Genossenschaft beitreten oder uns unterstützen? Mehr Infos* ***[hier](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqsxydty8qek2wpsvyck2wphxajrvefjvesngcfhxenrgdty89nrzvgzyzrxuqfepp2e79w9aluaz2252vyz7qdpld05pgjmeurhdgm2jv6w2qcyqqq823cpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqprpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuurpwfjhgmewwdcxzcm9qythwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnsv9ex2ar09e6x7amwqyf8wumn8ghj7mmxve3ksctfdch8qatzqythwumn8ghj7urpwfjhgmewdehhxarjxyhxxmmdszcvqk)*** *oder am Ende des Textes.* *** Man darf angesichts dieser Gewalt und Brutalität nicht zu dem Schluss kommen, dass wir Menschen nicht fähig sind, friedlich zusammenzuleben. Wir können es sehr wohl und tun es jeden Tag, an Millionen verschiedenen Orten. *»Lassen sie uns zunächst unsere Haltung gegenüber dem Frieden selbst überprüfen. Zu viele von uns halten ihn für unmöglich",* erklärte US-Präsident John F. Kennedy in einer seiner Reden.&#x20; > *»Zu viele von uns halten ihn für nicht zu verwirklichen. Aber das ist ein gefährlicher, defätistischer Glaube. Er führt zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass der Krieg unvermeidlich ist, dass die Menschheit zum Untergang verurteilt ist, dass wir uns in der Gewalt von Kräften befinden, die wir nicht kontrollieren können.«*&#x20; Doch dies stimmt nicht, das wusste auch Kennedy. *»Unsere Probleme sind von Menschen geschaffen, deshalb können sie auch von Menschen gelöst werden. Die Größe, die der menschliche Geist erreichen kann, bestimmt der Mensch selbst.«* Auch außerhalb der USA haben inspirierende Persönlichkeiten die Friedensbewegung geprägt. In Indien hat der Rechtsanwalt und Pazifist Mahatma Gandhi, der für mich ein großes Vorbild ist, immer wieder das Prinzip Menschheitsfamilie betont. »Die ganze Menschheit ist eine Familie«, sagte Gandhi. Er setzte bei seinem Protest stets auf einen gelassenen und freundlichen Ton, frei von Wut und Hass. Trotz ihres brutalen Vorgehens bezeichnete Gandhi weder die indische Polizei noch die indische Regierung oder die britische Kolonialmacht als Feinde. »Ich betrachte niemanden als meinen Feind«, erklärte Gandhi. »Alle sind meine Freunde. Ich möchte aufklären und die Herzen verändern.« Ich bin fest davon überzeugt, dass die Friedensbewegung im 21. Jahrhundert stärker wird, wenn sie sich an den Prinzipen Menschheitsfamilie, Achtsamkeit und UNO- Gewaltverbot orientiert. Die Spaltung nach Nation, Partei, Religion, Hautfarbe, Geschlecht, Schulabschluss oder Einkommen sollte im 21. Jahrhundert durch die Einsicht ersetzt werden, dass alle Menschen zur Menschheitsfamilie gehören. Sie als Leserin und Leser gehören zur Menschheitsfamilie, egal wo Sie diesen Text lesen und unabhängig davon, was Ihre Geschichte ist. Und ich als Autor gehöreauch zur Menschheitsfamilie, ebenso wie alle Personen, die in der Menschheitsgeschichte auftauchen, Opfer wie Täter. Zusammen sollten wir lernen, uns nicht zu töten, weil alles Leben heilig ist und weil wir auf einer sehr tiefen Ebene alle miteinander verbunden sind." *** *Dr. Daniele Ganser, geboren 1972, ist Schweizer Historiker und Friedensforscher. Er leitet das unabhängige* *[Swiss Institute for Peace and Energy Research](https://www.siper.ch/)* *(SIPER) in Münchenstein bei Basel in der Schweiz. Die aktuellen Vorträge von Dr. Daniele Ganser finden Sie* ***[hier.](https://www.danieleganser.ch/termine/)*** *Am 12. April halten Daniele Ganser und Dirk Pohlmann bei Basel einen Vortrag über den Fall Herrhausen (nur 200 Tickets). Bestellen können Sie* ***[hier.](https://juels.kernpunkte.com/p/jetzt-ticket-kaufen-vortragsabend)***  *Das Buch können Sie* ***[hier](https://www.buchkomplizen.de/imperium-usa.html)*** *bestellen.*  *** **LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!** ***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt.* Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen: * Für **50 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube. * Für **120 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube. * Für **500 CHF/EURO** werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube. * Ab **1000 CHF** werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie). **Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):**  **Für Einzahlungen in Euro:** Milosz Matuschek IBAN DE 53710520500000814137 BYLADEM1TST Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg **Betreff: Friedenstaube** Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: <milosz@pareto.space> *** **Sie sind noch nicht auf** [Nostr](https://nostr.com/) **and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil!** Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf [Start.](https://start.njump.me/) Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im [Pareto-Wiki.](https://wiki.pareto.space/de/home)

@ dfbbf851:ba4542b5

ในยุคดิจิทัลที่การสื่อสารมีบทบาทสำคัญต่อชีวิตประจำวัน เทคโนโลยี **Cell Broadcast** ได้กลายเป็นหนึ่งในเครื่องมือที่ทรงพลังสำหรับการแจ้งเตือนฉุกเฉิน ไม่ว่าจะเป็นภัยพิบัติหรือเหตุการณ์สำคัญที่ต้องแจ้งให้ประชาชนทราบอย่างทันท่วงที ⏳💡 --- ### 📌 **Cell Broadcast คืออะไร ?** **Cell Broadcast (CB)** เป็นเทคโนโลยีที่ใช้ส่งข้อความกระจายสัญญาณผ่านเครือข่ายโทรศัพท์มือถือ 🏗📶 โดยแตกต่างจาก **SMS** ตรงที่สามารถส่งข้อความถึงผู้ใช้จำนวนมากได้พร้อมกัน **โดยไม่ต้องทราบหมายเลขโทรศัพท์** ของผู้รับ 📲💨 ข้อความ CB สามารถส่งถึงอุปกรณ์ที่รองรับในเครือข่ายมือถือที่เปิดใช้งานอยู่ภายในช่วงเวลาสั้น ๆ ⏱ และ **ไม่ทำให้เครือข่ายล่ม** --- ### ✨ **ข้อดีของ Cell Broadcast** ✨ ✅ **ส่งข้อความรวดเร็ว** – แจ้งเตือนได้ภายในไม่กี่วินาที แม้ในกรณีฉุกเฉิน ⚡🚀 ✅ **ไม่ต้องใช้หมายเลขโทรศัพท์** – กระจายสัญญาณไปยังอุปกรณ์ทุกเครื่องที่อยู่ในพื้นที่เป้าหมายได้โดยตรง 📡 ✅ **รองรับหลายภาษา** – สามารถตั้งค่าการแจ้งเตือนให้เหมาะสมกับประชากรในแต่ละพื้นที่ 🌍🗣 ✅ **ไม่ทำให้เครือข่ายหนาแน่น** – ต่างจาก SMS หรือการโทรจำนวนมากที่อาจทำให้เครือข่ายล่ม 📵❌ ✅ **ทำงานได้แม้ไม่มีอินเทอร์เน็ต** – สามารถแจ้งเตือนในกรณีที่โซเชียลมีเดียหรืออินเทอร์เน็ตใช้งานไม่ได้ 🌐🚫 --- ### 🌍 **การใช้งาน Cell Broadcast ทั่วโลก** 🔹 **สหรัฐอเมริกา** – **ใช้ระบบ Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)** เพื่อแจ้งเตือนเหตุการณ์ฉุกเฉิน เช่น พายุเฮอริเคน 🌀🌪 🔹 **ญี่ปุ่น** – ใช้ระบบ **Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)** เพื่อแจ้งเตือนแผ่นดินไหวล่วงหน้า ⛩🌏 🔹 **สหภาพยุโรป** – มีนโยบายให้ประเทศสมาชิกใช้ **Public Warning System** ผ่าน Cell Broadcast 📢🏛 --- ### 🤔 **ทำไมประเทศที่ยังไม่มีระบบนี้ควรนำมาใช้ ?** หลายประเทศ รวมถึง **ประเทศไทย** ยังไม่มีการใช้ Cell Broadcast อย่างแพร่หลาย ทั้งที่เป็นเทคโนโลยีที่สามารถช่วยชีวิตผู้คนได้อย่างมหาศาล 🚑 หากเกิดภัยพิบัติ เช่น **น้ำท่วม แผ่นดินไหว สึนามิ หรือไฟป่า** 🔥🌊 Cell Broadcast สามารถส่งการแจ้งเตือนไปยังทุกคนในพื้นที่เสี่ยงได้ทันที ลดความสูญเสียและเพิ่มโอกาสรอดชีวิตได้มากขึ้น 🔸 **ความแม่นยำสูง** – สามารถส่งแจ้งเตือนไปยังพื้นที่ที่ได้รับผลกระทบโดยตรง ทำให้ประชาชนสามารถเตรียมตัวรับมือได้ดีกว่า 🔸 **ไม่มีปัญหาความล่าช้า** – ต่างจากการแจ้งเตือนผ่าน SMS หรือโซเชียลมีเดียที่อาจล่าช้าหรือไม่ได้รับข้อความเลยหากเครือข่ายล่ม 🔸 **เป็นมาตรฐานสากล** – หลายประเทศพัฒนาแล้วมีระบบนี้ใช้งานอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ ประเทศที่ยังไม่มีควรนำมาใช้เพื่อให้สามารถจัดการภัยพิบัติได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ 🔸 **ประหยัดต้นทุนในระยะยาว** – ลดความเสียหายทางเศรษฐกิจจากภัยพิบัติ เพราะประชาชนได้รับการแจ้งเตือนล่วงหน้า ทำให้สามารถอพยพหรือป้องกันความเสียหายได้ --- ### 🔮 **อนาคตของ Cell Broadcast** **ในอนาคต Cell Broadcast** อาจถูกนำมาใช้ร่วมกับ **ปัญญาประดิษฐ์ (AI)** 🤖 และ **Internet of Things (IoT)** 🌐 เพื่อเพิ่มความแม่นยำและปรับแต่งการแจ้งเตือนได้ดียิ่งขึ้น 🎯💡 --- ### 📌 **ปล.** **Cell Broadcast เป็นเทคโนโลยีแจ้งเตือนที่ทรงพลังและมีบทบาทสำคัญในการช่วยชีวิตผู้คน** 🚑 ด้วยความสามารถในการส่งข้อความได้อย่างรวดเร็ว ครอบคลุมพื้นที่กว้าง และไม่ต้องพึ่งพาอินเทอร์เน็ต จึงเป็นหนึ่งในเครื่องมือสำคัญสำหรับการบริหารจัดการภัยพิบัติในปัจจุบันและอนาคต 🔥 --- #CellBroadcast #แจ้งเตือนภัย #เทคโนโลยีสื่อสาร #ภัยพิบัติ #เครือข่ายมือถือ #การสื่อสารฉุกเฉิน #เตือนภัยล่วงหน้า

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers! Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon! A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats. So stay a while and listen. 🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨 🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928470

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

Look at any white-collar office job posting from the last few decades and you’re likely to see something like “basic computers skills” listed as a requirement. “Great,” you think to yourself, “I can use technology, after all, I managed to find this job posting!” And if you’re on the hiring end for a position that’ll be spending six to eight hours in front of screen, you’d certainly hope applicants would know that they need to be able to use a computer. Ten years of bookkeeping experience? Reception? Managing remote staff? In a Venn diagram of work experience and basic computer skills, those should be a near complete overlap! We shouldn’t need to train them at all! Can we be sure though? It turns out “basic computer skills” doesn’t have a universally accepted definition. Since basic computer skills doesn’t have an official definition we can point to, lets attempt to create one ourselves. I argue for reading comprehension as the base skill underlying all the others we’re going to talk about (see [“One Skill To Rule Them All”]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2024-08-12-one-skill-to-rule-them-all) for more on this). Unfortunately reading comprehension doesn’t have a universal measurement either. I used to use “6th grade reading level” as my go-to, but today’s media is full of articles on changing standards and outcomes in public education, so that’s no longer dependable. If you’re interviewing someone, try providing them with a copy of the job posting and asking them questions about it that require some simple inference. For a more advanced option, I’ve included a test you can administer that covers reading comprehension and several other elements. How about typing? Should basic computer skills include home row typing ability? What about speed requirements? If we’re talking about basic skills, I’d say no to both of those. While “chicken pecking” with two fingers probably wouldn’t qualify you for a staff writing position at a newspaper, I consider formal typing (especially with a speed requirement) to be an intermediate skill. So your applicant should be able to navigate a keyboard without assistance, but that’s all. Email is probably the most universal computer task of the modern era. I’ve included it in the test template. Users should be able to recognize an email address and the “To”, “Subject”, and “Body” fields in an email client, even an unfamiliar one. Email interfaces have kept their same basic elements since the 90s. The most controversial skill I’ve seen talked about lately is the ability to navigate and use a file system. The advent of smartphones and tablets, and the ubiquity of Chromebooks in schools, has led to new workers who have never had to save a file to a “documents” folder, or infer that a photo could most likely be found in a “pictures” folder. The strongest counterargument I’ve read is that between “recent” lists and search functions we shouldn’t need to know how to navigate file structures. I disagree, so I’ve included this skill in the test as well. Lastly, safety and security. What’s considered “basic” varies wildly. Could you recognize a phishing email pretending to be from your boss? What about the difference between an ad link and a regular result in an internet search? I haven’t included this in the test as needs and policies are different at every workplace, but it’s a good idea to consider it when planning your interviews and internal training. An employee who clicks the links in every suspicious email without a second thought is a security disaster waiting to happen. Here’s the skills test I promised. There are two ways of administering it; either provide the interviewee with a computer to use, or use screenshots and have them verbally walk you through the steps they would take. The latter requires a bit more visual and verbal knowledge transference and self-awareness so I only recommend it if providing a company computer isn’t a possibility. You’ll also need to customize it; for example YOURTEXTEDITOR needs to be replaced with whatever program is standard for your org, i.e. Microsoft Word. ``` Instructions for the Applicant: Please read the instructions below carefully and perform the steps described. After completing the task, answer the follow-up questions about the process. Task: 1. Open YOURTEXTEDITOR on the computer. 2. Create a new file and write the following without the quotes: “Welcome to the team! Your onboarding kit is on your desk.” 3. Save the file with the name "Team Message - " ending with today’s date, in the "FOLDERORSHAREDRIVE" folder. 4. Format the text to bold and change the font size to 14. 5. Close the application. 6. Open YOUREMAILCLIENT. 7. Send an email to INTERVIEWER with the subject “Team Message”. In the email, let them know that the file is ready. 8. Attach the file and send the email. Instructions for the Interviewers: After they’ve completed the task, ask the following questions about the process. Interviewees should be allowed to keep their instructions in front of them, but DO NOT tell them they can refer to them unless they ask. 1. What was the name of the first program you opened? 2. If you couldn’t save the file to the “FOLDERORSHAREDRIVE” folder/share drive, where would you have saved it? Why? 3. Who did you send the email to? 4. What did you name the file? 5. What changes, if any, would you make to the instructions? Post-interview analysis: The following is reasoning for the instructions and questions, and what to look for in the interviewee’s actions and responses. Task: 1. They should be able to find an application on the computer with little assistance. 2. They should be able to type the sentence into the document and understand the instructions to leave out the quotation marks. Observe their typing style (home row vs single finger presses) and speed. 3. Ability to remember or find today’s date and to save a document to a specific location. 4. Ability to format text. 5. They should remember to save the document or answer the automated prompt to save the document. 6. Same as question 1, but with a different application. 7. They should be able to send an email with an attachment. Ideally they’ll either know, or be able to figure out, how to look up the interviewer in the company address book. Also, the ability to write without being told explicitly what to say. 8. The ability to locate and attach a file to an email. Follow-up questions: 0. Allowing them access to the instructions without explicitly telling them they can refer to them will test their sense of agency. Asking permission is fine as some will feel the follow-up questions are a test, and most people are used to tests or exams being closed-book. It will also test their ability to find the information they need within the task instructions. 1. Ability to recall or locate the information. 2. Ability and sense of agency to make a best-option decision when faced with adversity. 3. Ability to recall or locate the information. 4. Ability to recall or locate the information. 5. Tests self-awareness around needs or preferences for directions. “None” is also an acceptable answer if they had no struggles with any of the task steps. ``` Share this article with anyone working on job postings or interviews in your organization, and please feel free to use the skills test content in any way you like. It’s best modified for your specific needs! Need someone to assist with skills assessment, training, or hiring processes? You can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ bdf3f01a:d9c40970

## Abstract: This paper presents a rigorous and critical examination of the Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo, a pivotal rite within the Lowcountry Freehold that serves as both an initiation into communal responsibility and a symbolic enactment of the Compact’s moral tenets. This analysis interrogates the ritual’s structure, emphasizing its role in perpetuating a resilient sociocultural order amid external collapse. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining historiographical analysis, cultural anthropology, and sociocultural theory, this study elucidates the Vigil’s function as a mechanism for moral continuity, thereby situating it within the broader discourse of post-collapse societal stabilization. The implications of this study underscore the profound interconnectedness between ritual practice and the formation of resilient communal identities. ## Introduction: The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo occupies a fundamental position in the cultural historiography of the Lowcountry Freehold. As contemporary scholars, it is imperative to approach this tradition not merely as an artifact of ritualistic antiquity but as a dynamic process of cultural preservation. The Freehold’s commitment to integrating tradition with pragmatism, especially through the stewardship of The Veil, constitutes a critical adaptive strategy that sustained sociopolitical coherence through epochs of external fragmentation. This study aims to critically examine the Vigil as both a symbolic and practical reinforcement of the Compact’s ethos, with particular attention to how this ritual facilitated intergenerational continuity of moral and social values, ultimately shaping the robust communal identity that defines contemporary Freehold society. ## The Veil as Cultural Custodian: The Veil, emerging from the post-collapse adaptation of preexisting religious and cultural practices, evolved into a matriarchal order central to maintaining the Freehold’s ethical architecture. This evolution was characterized not by rigid preservation but by adaptive synthesis, wherein ceremonial gravitas was merged with pragmatic domestic guidance. The Veil functioned as a moral custodian, particularly within the familial sphere, where its influence was most profoundly exercised. Veilmother Cordelia’s role during the Winter Vigil exemplifies this dual function of leadership and philosophical stewardship, as her guidance articulated not only the ritual's procedural elements but also the embedded moral philosophy that would shape the initiates' worldview. ## Ritual Dynamics and Symbolism: The Winter Vigil is fundamentally an enactment of moral endurance, wherein the initiate’s voluntary approach to the brazier represents an acceptance of communal responsibility through individual fortitude. The design of the ritual deliberately positions physical endurance as a metaphor for moral resilience, encapsulating the Freehold’s conviction that true strength is inherently silent and steadfast. As the initiate moves toward the brazier, kneeling in proximity to the flame, the act becomes a performative affirmation of the Compact’s call for measured, principled strength rather than ostentatious assertion. The structured progression from the outer circle to the brazier symbolizes a journey from collective dependency to personal sovereignty, reflecting the Compact's ethos that leadership is merited through tested perseverance. ## The Copper Plate Rite: The Copper Plate Rite, integral to the Vigil, embodies the transformative philosophy of the Freehold. The heated copper plate, inscribed with the flame symbol and lifted from ashes, is held aloft despite discomfort, symbolizing the embrace of hardship as an essential component of sovereignty. The fleeting burn, leaving a transient mark, underscores the philosophical assertion that genuine resilience is born of confronting and integrating suffering, rather than circumventing it. This rite functions not merely as a test of physical tolerance but as a pedagogical imprinting of the Freehold’s ethos—an allegory of death and rebirth integral to personal and communal maturation. ## Symbolic Implications and Societal Continuity: The deliberate imposition of discomfort during the Vigil underscores a fundamental tenet of Freehold philosophy: suffering, when purposefully endured, refines the individual and, by extension, fortifies the community. The Copper Plate Rite exemplifies the doctrine that hardship, when faced with deliberate resolve, engenders moral clarity. This paradigm of voluntary suffering as a crucible for leadership remains a cornerstone of the Freehold’s ideological framework, fostering a collective ethos rooted in patient perseverance rather than impulsive dominance. Furthermore, the initiation rite serves as a microcosm of the Freehold's broader sociocultural ethos, where personal sacrifice is inextricably linked to communal stability. ## Interpretive Analysis: Current historiographical interpretations often err by neglecting the interconnectedness of the Vigil with broader sociopolitical dynamics. By isolating the rite as a mere ceremonial endurance, scholars risk overlooking its function as a structured pedagogical tool for inculcating moral resilience. This study posits that the Vigil, far from being a vestigial tradition, actively cultivated a pragmatic ethic of endurance that proved crucial in the Freehold’s sustained sociocultural coherence. This coherence, rooted in ritual reinforcement of moral tenets, enabled the Freehold to navigate existential threats without succumbing to internal decay. ## Cultural and Societal Implications: The enduring significance of the Winter Vigil lies in its dual function as both a rite of passage and a communal reaffirmation of the Freehold’s meritocratic principles. By fostering individual accountability within a collective moral framework, the Vigil reinforced the Compact’s foundational premise that leadership is merited through demonstrated resilience. The integration of personal trial into communal identity formation exemplifies how the Freehold maintained its internal stability despite external societal fragmentation. This ritual, therefore, is not merely commemorative but constitutive of the Freehold's enduring cultural legacy. ## Conclusion: The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo remains a paradigmatic example of ritual as a vehicle for social continuity within the Lowcountry Freehold. Its deliberate amalgamation of symbolic endurance with moral instruction illustrates the Freehold’s adaptive strategy of embedding philosophical imperatives within lived tradition. As modern scholars, it is incumbent upon us to engage with these practices not merely as remnants of a bygone era but as foundational elements that cultivated the durable sociocultural ethos underpinning our current stability. ## References: 1. Vance, C. (Epoch LII). "The Compact and Cultural Continuity: An Oral History." Archive of Freehold Studies, Emberwell Hall. 2. Harlowe, E. (Epoch LX). "The Flamekeepers: Guardians of Tradition." Journal of Sociocultural Persistence, Vol. 22, pp. 45-72. 3. Morgan, T. (Epoch LXV). "Endurance Through Ritual: The Role of The Veil in Cultural Preservation." Lowcountry Academic Press. 4. Cordelia, V. (Epoch XLII). "Reflections on the Flame: An Instructional Account." Collected Teachings of The Veil. 5. Emberwell Institute (Epoch XC). "The Evolution of Freehold Rites: From Custom to Philosophy." Advanced Studies in Cultural Integration. ## Title: Ritual as Continuity: An Analysis of the Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo ### Epoch XLII - Circle of Maidens #### Abstract: This paper presents a rigorous and critical examination of the Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo, a pivotal rite within the Lowcountry Freehold that serves as both an initiation into communal responsibility and a symbolic enactment of the Compact’s moral tenets. This analysis interrogates the ritual’s structure, emphasizing its role in perpetuating a resilient sociocultural order amid external collapse. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining historiographical analysis, cultural anthropology, and sociocultural theory, this study elucidates the Vigil’s function as a mechanism for moral continuity, thereby situating it within the broader discourse of post-collapse societal stabilization. The implications of this study underscore the profound interconnectedness between ritual practice and the formation of resilient communal identities. #### Introduction: The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo occupies a fundamental position in the cultural historiography of the Lowcountry Freehold. As contemporary scholars, it is imperative to approach this tradition not merely as an artifact of ritualistic antiquity but as a dynamic process of cultural preservation. The Freehold’s commitment to integrating tradition with pragmatism, especially through the stewardship of The Veil, constitutes a critical adaptive strategy that sustained sociopolitical coherence through epochs of external fragmentation. This study aims to critically examine the Vigil as both a symbolic and practical reinforcement of the Compact’s ethos, with particular attention to how this ritual facilitated intergenerational continuity of moral and social values, ultimately shaping the robust communal identity that defines contemporary Freehold society. #### The Veil as Cultural Custodian: The Veil, emerging from the post-collapse adaptation of preexisting religious and cultural practices, evolved into a matriarchal order central to maintaining the Freehold’s ethical architecture. This evolution was characterized not by rigid preservation but by adaptive synthesis, wherein ceremonial gravitas was merged with pragmatic domestic guidance. The Veil functioned as a moral custodian, particularly within the familial sphere, where its influence was most profoundly exercised. Veilmother Cordelia’s role during the Winter Vigil exemplifies this dual function of leadership and philosophical stewardship, as her guidance articulated not only the ritual's procedural elements but also the embedded moral philosophy that would shape the initiates' worldview. #### Ritual Dynamics and Symbolism: The Winter Vigil is fundamentally an enactment of moral endurance, wherein the initiate’s voluntary approach to the brazier represents an acceptance of communal responsibility through individual fortitude. The design of the ritual deliberately positions physical endurance as a metaphor for moral resilience, encapsulating the Freehold’s conviction that true strength is inherently silent and steadfast. As the initiate moves toward the brazier, kneeling in proximity to the flame, the act becomes a performative affirmation of the Compact’s call for measured, principled strength rather than ostentatious assertion. The structured progression from the outer circle to the brazier symbolizes a journey from collective dependency to personal sovereignty, reflecting the Compact's ethos that leadership is merited through tested perseverance. #### The Copper Plate Rite: The Copper Plate Rite, integral to the Vigil, embodies the transformative philosophy of the Freehold. The heated copper plate, inscribed with the flame symbol and lifted from ashes, is held aloft despite discomfort, symbolizing the embrace of hardship as an essential component of sovereignty. The fleeting burn, leaving a transient mark, underscores the philosophical assertion that genuine resilience is born of confronting and integrating suffering, rather than circumventing it. This rite functions not merely as a test of physical tolerance but as a pedagogical imprinting of the Freehold’s ethos—an allegory of death and rebirth integral to personal and communal maturation. #### Symbolic Implications and Societal Continuity: The deliberate imposition of discomfort during the Vigil underscores a fundamental tenet of Freehold philosophy: suffering, when purposefully endured, refines the individual and, by extension, fortifies the community. The Copper Plate Rite exemplifies the doctrine that hardship, when faced with deliberate resolve, engenders moral clarity. This paradigm of voluntary suffering as a crucible for leadership remains a cornerstone of the Freehold’s ideological framework, fostering a collective ethos rooted in patient perseverance rather than impulsive dominance. Furthermore, the initiation rite serves as a microcosm of the Freehold's broader sociocultural ethos, where personal sacrifice is inextricably linked to communal stability. #### Interpretive Analysis: Current historiographical interpretations often err by neglecting the interconnectedness of the Vigil with broader sociopolitical dynamics. By isolating the rite as a mere ceremonial endurance, scholars risk overlooking its function as a structured pedagogical tool for inculcating moral resilience. This study posits that the Vigil, far from being a vestigial tradition, actively cultivated a pragmatic ethic of endurance that proved crucial in the Freehold’s sustained sociocultural coherence. This coherence, rooted in ritual reinforcement of moral tenets, enabled the Freehold to navigate existential threats without succumbing to internal decay. #### Cultural and Societal Implications: The enduring significance of the Winter Vigil lies in its dual function as both a rite of passage and a communal reaffirmation of the Freehold’s meritocratic principles. By fostering individual accountability within a collective moral framework, the Vigil reinforced the Compact’s foundational premise that leadership is merited through demonstrated resilience. The integration of personal trial into communal identity formation exemplifies how the Freehold maintained its internal stability despite external societal fragmentation. This ritual, therefore, is not merely commemorative but constitutive of the Freehold's enduring cultural legacy. #### Conclusion: The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo remains a paradigmatic example of ritual as a vehicle for social continuity within the Lowcountry Freehold. Its deliberate amalgamation of symbolic endurance with moral instruction illustrates the Freehold’s adaptive strategy of embedding philosophical imperatives within lived tradition. As modern scholars, it is incumbent upon us to engage with these practices not merely as remnants of a bygone era but as foundational elements that cultivated the durable sociocultural ethos underpinning our current stability. #### References: 1. Vance, C. (Epoch LII). "The Compact and Cultural Continuity: An Oral History." Archive of Freehold Studies, Emberwell Hall. 2. Harlowe, E. (Epoch LX). "The Flamekeepers: Guardians of Tradition." Journal of Sociocultural Persistence, Vol. 22, pp. 45-72. 3. Morgan, T. (Epoch LXV). "Endurance Through Ritual: The Role of The Veil in Cultural Preservation." Lowcountry Academic Press. 4. Cordelia, V. (Epoch XLII). "Reflections on the Flame: An Instructional Account." Collected Teachings of The Veil. 5. Emberwell Institute (Epoch XC). "The Evolution of Freehold Rites: From Custom to Philosophy." Advanced Studies in Cultural Integration.

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

**YakiHonne**: I'm excited to be joined by our guest Piccolo—thank you very much for being here. Before we dive in, I'd like to briefly introduce YakiHonne. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on the Nostr protocol, leveraging technology to enable freedom of speech. It empowers creators to fully own their voice and assets while offering innovative tools such as Smart widget , Verified Notes, and support for long-form content. Today, we’re not just discussing YakiHonne, but also diving into your community. Piccolo, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your community? **Piccolo**:Hi, I'm Piccolo. I run BO฿ Space in Bangkok, and we also have a satellite location called the BO฿ Space corner in Chiang Mai, thanks to the Bitcoin Learning Center. **Piccolo**:Regarding my background，I originally came from corporate finance and investment banking. I was in that field for about 20 years, with the last 15 spent running my own firm in corporate finance advisory alongside a couple of partners. We eventually sold the advisory business in 2015, took a short break, and in 2016, I ended up launching a fintech company, which is still operational today. The company specializes in equity crowdfunding and is licensed by the SEC in Thailand. **Piccolo**:I first bought Bitcoin a few years before truly understanding it, initially thinking it was a scam that would eventually collapse. However, in 2017, the block size wars demonstrated the protocol’s strong resistance to attacks on decentralization, which deeply impacted me. By late 2018 or early 2019, I started to really grasp Bitcoin and kept learning. Then, in mid-2022, after having fully fallen down the Bitcoin rabbit hole, I founded BO฿ Space. It was right after COVID, and since the fintech had scaled down, there was extra space. We started by hosting meetups and technical workshops for people who were interested. **Piccolo**:In the early years, we had various groups come by—like the team from BDK (Bitcoin Development Kit), who held workshops. The people behind the Bitcoin Beach Wallet, which later became Blink, also visited. So, BO฿ Space initially functioned as a meetup and technical workshop space. Eventually, we launched the BOB Builders Residency program, which was a lot of fun. We secured grant funding for developers under different cohort themes, so that they can collaborate and co-work for a few months. So far, we have completed three cohorts. **YakiHonne**:How did your community get started, and what did you do to attract new members in the beginning? **Piccolo**:The initial members came through word of mouth and invitations that I sent out. I reached out to an initial group of Bitcoiners here in the city who I believed were strong maximalists or Bitcoin-only supporters, back when that was still a thing. I sent out 21 invitations and had our first meetup with 21 people, most of whom I had interacted with online, though some in person during the COVID years. From there, it spread by word of mouth, and of course, through Twitter and meetup.com. So, I would say that word of mouth remains the main method of growth. Additionally, when people come through Bangkok and are looking for a Bitcoin-only meetup, there really isn't one available. I believe there are a couple now—maybe two or three—but when we started, there weren’t any, especially not a dedicated Bitcoin-only space. I think we may still be the only one in Bangkok. So yeah, word of mouth was definitely the main way we grew. Bitcoiners tend to share their finds when they meet like-minded people.  **YakiHonne**:Didn’t you have people in your community who initially thought Bitcoin was a scam, like you did, or face similar issues? **Piccolo**:Yes, it still happens, especially when the price of Bitcoin rises. Newcomers still join, and some of them believe Bitcoin might be a scam. However, this has become less frequent. The main reason is that when people come to BO฿ Space, they know it’s a Bitcoin-only meetup. We generally don’t discuss the price; instead, we focus on other aspects of Bitcoin, as there are many interesting developments in the space. **YakiHonne**:What advice would you give to someone looking to start or grow a Bitcoin-focused community in today’s world? Considering the current landscape, much like your own experience, what guidance would you offer? **Piccolo**:It sounds simple, but just do it. When it comes to community building, you don’t necessarily need a physical space. Community is about people coming together, right? Two people can start a community, then three, four, and so on. Meetups can happen anywhere—your favorite bar, a restaurant, a friend’s garage, or wherever. So, just do it, but make sure you have more than one person, otherwise, how can you build a community? Once you have more than one person, word of mouth will spread. And as you develop a core group—let’s say more than five people—that’s when I think the community can truly sustain itself. **YakiHonne**:I know you’ve mentioned the technical side of your community, but I’ll ask anyway—does your community engage with the technical or non-technical aspects of Bitcoin? Or perhaps, is there a blend of both? **Piccolo**:I would say both. It really depends on the monthly themes of our meetups. For example, February was focused on Asian communities in Bitcoin. During that month, community leaders came in to give presentations and discuss their work in places like Indonesia, India, and more recently, someone from HRF (Human Rights Foundation) talked about Bitcoin’s use case in Myanmar. Then, in December, we had a very technical month—Mining Month. It was led by our Cohort 3 residents, where we discussed Stratum V2 and had a demo on it. We also examined the Loki board hardware, and Zack took apart the S19, looking at different ways to repurpose the power supply unit, among other things. So, it’s a mix of both, depending on the theme for that month. Some months are very technical, while others are more community-focused and less technical. **YakiHonne**:What advice would you give to a technically inclined individual or organization looking to contribute meaningfully to the Bitcoin ecosystem? **Piccolo**:For technically inclined individuals, I would suggest identifying your favorite open-source project in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Start from Bitcoin Core and explore different layers, such as Lightning or e-cash, and other open-source projects. As for technically inclined organizations, if you're integrating Bitcoin into your business, I would say, first, make sure you have people within your organization who truly understand Bitcoin. Build a capable team first, and then, depending on the part of the Bitcoin ecosystem you’re involved in—whether it’s custody services, Lightning payments, layer 2, or something like Cashu or Ark—find your niche. From there, your team will work with you to discover ways to contribute. But until you build that capability, organizations are a bit different from individuals in this space. **YakiHonne**:How do you see the world of Bitcoin communities evolving as technology matures, particularly in areas like scalability, privacy, and adaptability with other systems? **Piccolo**:That's an interesting question. If we think about the future of Bitcoin communities, I believe they may eventually disappear as technology matures. Once Bitcoin scales to a point where it integrates seamlessly with other payment systems, becoming part of the everyday norm, the need for dedicated communities will diminish. It’s similar to how we no longer have meetups about refrigerators or iPhones, even though they are technologies we use every day. As Bitcoin matures, it will likely reach that level of ubiquity. There might still be occasional meetups or forums, but they will be more about specific knowledge, use cases, and tools, rather than a community dedicated to introducing others to the technology itself. However, this is a long way off. Bitcoin is still relatively small compared to the global fiat financial system, despite the growth we want to see. So, it will take a long time before we reach that stage. **YakiHonne**:It’s something I hadn’t considered before, and it’s quite insightful. Moving to our last question actually which I find very interesting is the government around you for or against bitcoin and how has That affected the community. **Piccolo**:In my opinion, on a general level, the government is more supportive than opposed to Bitcoin. The Thai government classifies Bitcoin as a digital asset, almost like digital gold. In that sense, they want to tax capital gains and regulate it. They also have a regulatory framework for it, known as the Digital Asset Regulatory Sandbox, where you can test various things, mainly coins and tokens. It's unfortunate, but that’s how it is. However, our government, especially the regulatory bodies, are open to innovation. They recognize that Bitcoin is different, but they still view blockchain and tokens as useful technologies, which is somewhat misguided. So, in that sense, it’s more support than opposition. A couple of years ago, there was a circular discouraging the use of Bitcoin as a payment currency, mainly because they can't control its monetary policy. And they’re right—Bitcoin can’t be controlled by anyone; there’re the protocol and the rules, and everyone follows them, unless there’s a hard fork, which is a different matter. So, in that regard, Bitcoin is definitely categorized as a digital asset by the government, and that’s where it stands. **Piccolo**:People who come to BO฿ Space to learn about Bitcoin are often influenced by the government from the point of price movements; especially when government support moves the price up. But they usually only visit once or twice, especially if they’re not deep into the Bitcoin rabbit hole. They often get disappointed because, at BO฿ Space, we rarely discuss the price—maybe once a year, and that’s just after the meetup when people are having drinks. So, in that sense, I’d say the government currently doesn’t really hurt or help the community either way. People will go down the rabbit hole at their own pace. And if you're not a Bitcoiner and you come to a BO฿ Space meetup with a crypto focus, you might be surprised by the approach we take. **YakiHonne**:Thank you, Piccolo, for your time and insights. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. Your perspective on the evolution of Bitcoin communities was eye-opening. It's clear that your deep understanding of Bitcoin is invaluable. I'm sure our readers will appreciate your insights. Once again, thank you, Piccolo. I look forward to seeing the continued growth of BO฿ Space and Bitcoin adoption.

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

“Can you help make our website good?” is one of the most loaded questions I get. There are many aspects to this question’s galactic gravitas, and their root is another question: what makes a website good? Before we get there, we have a few other questions that need answering. The first is whether you actually need a website. Would a social media presence and a Google Maps listing do the same job? Or do you need a dedicated online shop or some other functionality that a Facebook Page can’t provide? Who’s your target market? Is it people who don’t have social media accounts or wouldn’t want to mix their social media presence with your business? Let’s say you’ve gone through all of that and decided you do indeed need a website. What makes a website “good” can be divided into two aspects: engineering and design. In the context of websites, engineering is the behind the scenes stuff that makes it go (think of the mechanical bits of a car), and design is how it looks and feels (all the stuff you see and touch in a car). Unfortunately for us, most places these overlap they’re also juxtaposed. To see this in action head over to [simple.scalebright.ca](https://simple.scalebright.ca). You’ll notice that it loads extremely quickly and works well on screens of any size. This site was built with an “engineering first” mindset. Designers generally loath this kind of website. Not because it loads fast or scales well, but because to do those things I had to sacrifice design. There are no graphics or images, one font, and only four total colours in use (if you count black and white). There are no fancy contact forms, loading animations, white space considerations, borders, boxes, or bulbous billowing bedazzlements. Just cold, ruthless efficiency. I love it! But it’s not necessarily good. This takes us into the next consideration. A good website doesn’t necessarily appeal to you; it’s supposed to appeal to your target audience. You might not be your target audience. If you are, great! That’ll make figuring out what your target audience wants in a website easier. Either way, be sure to have some chats with them and keep what they say in mind. Okay, I know I just finished saying that the highly simplified version of my website isn’t good, but I want to warn you away from the opposite: over-design and over-engineering. Over-design usually manifests as visual overload; too many colours, too many graphics or photos, too much motion. Over-engineering is too much mechanical complexity; a one-page professional bio site doesn’t need to run on a dedicated server on WordPress with fifteen plugins. There isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all answer to “what makes a website good?”, because no two website are going to be identical. You’ll probably end up engaging a professional website design firm to both help answer that question for your specific scenario, and to build it for you. Here are some of the questions they’re going to ask and some hints for answering them. **What are your colours, fonts, logos, and other visual assets?** If you don’t have these the firm should be able to help (usually for an extra fee), though smaller firms may need to subcontract the work out. **What are the core functions of your website?** Is it an online store? Professional bio? Hospitality booking site? A link hub or landing page? **Do you have your website copy ready to go?** “Copy” in this context refers to the text that will go on your website. Slogans, product and service descriptions, staff bios, and anything else that consists of a collection of words. If you don’t have your copy, you’ll either need to prepare to write it yourself or hire a third party to write it for you. It’s been my experience that website design firms are very strict about not writing copy, and generally won’t subcontract it either. **Do you have a preferred CMS?** A CMS is a content management system, which is a fancy way of saying “thing that makes your website easier to add content to”. WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are CMSs. Squarespace, GoDaddy, and Wix could be considered CMSs for our purposes too. 99% of you probably don’t care, and that’s a perfectly acceptable answer to give your firm. **What’s your budget?** While most of us would probably prefer to spend zero, groceries continue to cost money, so none of us work for free. As of the writing of this article, a multi-page website built by a design firm will range between $10,000 and $30,000. Want someone to “just take care of” all this website shenanigans for you? You can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ 2183e947:f497b975

Today I was invited to participate in the private beta of a new social media protocol called Pubky, designed by a bitcoin company called Synonym with the goal of being better than existing social media platforms. As a heavy nostr user, I thought I'd write up a comparison. I can't tell you how to create your own accounts because it was made very clear that only *some* of the software is currently open source, and how this will all work is still a bit up in the air. The code that *is* open source can be found here: https://github.com/pubky -- and the most important repo there seems to be this one: https://github.com/pubky/pubky-core You can also learn more about Pubky here: https://pubky.org/ That said, I used my invite code to create a pubky account and it seemed very similar to onboarding to nostr. I generated a private key, backed up 12 words, and the onboarding website gave me a public key. Then I logged into a web-based client and it looked a lot like twitter. I saw a feed for posts by other users and saw options to reply to posts and give reactions, which, I saw, included hearts, thumbs up, and other emojis. Then I investigated a bit deeper to see how much it was like nostr. I opened up my developer console and navigated to my networking tab, where, if this was nostr, I would expect to see queries to relays for posts. Here, though, I saw one query that seemed to be repeated on a loop, which went to a single server and provided it with my pubkey. That single query (well, a series of identical queries to the same server) seemed to return all posts that showed up on my feed. So I infer that the server "knows" what posts to show me (perhaps it has some sort of algorithm, though the marketing material says it does not use algorithms) and the query was on a loop so that if any new posts came in that the server thinks I might want to see, it can add them to my feed. Then I checked what happens when I create a post. I did so and looked at what happened in my networking tab. If this was nostr, I would expect to see multiple copies of a signed messaged get sent to a bunch of relays. Here, though, I saw one message get sent to the same server that was populating my feed, and that message was not signed, it was a plaintext copy of my message. I happened to be in a group chat with John Carvalho at the time, who is associated with pubky. I asked him what was going on, and he said that pubky is based around three types of servers: homeservers, DHT servers, and indexer servers. The homeserver is where you create posts and where you query for posts to show on your feed. DHT servers are used for censorship resistance: each user creates an entry on a DHT server saying what homeserver they use, and these entries are signed by their key. As for indexers, I think those are supposed to speed up the use of the DHT servers. From what I could tell, indexers query DHT servers to find out what homeservers people use. When you query a homeserver for posts, it is supposed to reach out to indexer servers to find out the homeservers of people whose posts the homeserver decided to show you, and then query those homeservers for those posts. I believe they decided not to look up what homeservers people use directly on DHT servers directly because DHT servers are kind of slow, due to having to store and search through all sorts of non-social-media content, whereas indexers only store a simple db that maps each user's pubkey to their homeserver, so they are faster. Based on all of this info, it seems like, to populate your feed, this is the series of steps: - you tell your homeserver your pubkey - it uses some sort of algorithm to decide whose posts to show you - then looks up the homeservers used by those people on an indexer server - then it fetches posts from their homeservers - then your client displays them to you To create a post, this is the series of steps: - you tell your homeserver what you want to say to the world - it stores that message in plaintext and merely asserts that it came from you (it's not signed) - other people can find out what you said by querying for your posts on your homeserver Since posts on homeservers are not signed, I asked John what prevents a homeserver from just making up stuff and claiming I said it. He said nothing stops them from doing that, and if you are using a homeserver that starts acting up in that manner, what you should do is start using a new homeserver and update your DHT record to point at your new homeserver instead of the old one. Then, indexers should update their db to show where your new homeserver is, and the homeservers of people who "follow" you should stop pulling content from your old homeserver and start pulling it from your new one. If their homeserver is misbehaving too, I'm not sure what would happen. Maybe it could refuse to show them the content you've posted on your new homeserver, keeping making up fake content on your behalf that you've never posted, and maybe the people you follow would never learn you're being impersonated or have moved to a new homeserver. John also clarified that there is not currently any tooling for migrating user content from one homeserver to another. If pubky gets popular and a big homeserver starts misbehaving, users will probably need such a tool. But these are early days, so there aren't that many homeservers, and the ones that exist seem to be pretty trusted. Anyway, those are my initial thoughts on Pubky. Learn more here: https://pubky.org/

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

I’ve been on the internet since the mid 90s. Once I started “cyber-schooling” a few years later my time spent in front of a screen skyrocketed. One of the time vortices both for and outside of school was finding things on the internet. Everything from encyclopedia-style information pieces to news articles to music to games; the hunt was relentless. Search engines were the primary was this was done. In the early days my school officially recommended Ask Jeeves, but the students found Google’s results much more thorough. Us little scientists-in-training were even running parallel searches, recording outcomes, and sharing results. We eventually got in trouble for wrongthink...I mean...not following instructions, but were vindicated soon after when the school's recommendations changed to "use whatever search engine you like, as long as the results chosen are quality sources". The problem of “how to find things on the internet” has recently returned. “Google it” is no longer the genericized verb it once was. Grand tomes and PHD theses have been written on the subject of why, but most point to motives and monetization. The original problem was finding things, and the solution was search. But how would the bills get paid? Computers are expensive! Printing newspapers is expensive too, and the solution was the same for both: sell advertising space. Unfortunately for us users, that has become the primary business for much of the internet. Search engines are no longer motivated to get you the results you’re looking for as quickly as possible, but to keep you on their platform looking at ads. Pundits have coined the term “enshittification” (which even has it’s own Wikipedia page now) to describe the phenomenon. Worry not, for not all is lost! There are still ways to find things on the internet. Methods vary depending on what kind of things you’re looking for. One of my most common searches is for how to do things; everything from home repairs to mechanical to technology. My primary method for this is to use Google to search Reddit. Reddit is a massive collection of forums with almost two decades of human-generated content. Unfortunately it’s built-in search is mostly terrible, so that’s where Google comes in. Do the same Google search you’d normally do (say, “how to fix a squeaky door”), but add “site:reddit.com” to the end. This tells Google to only show results from Reddit. What you’ll get is forum threads and comments from (mostly) real humans with real human experiences. Of course humans and their commentary can still be deeply flawed, so stay skeptical of what you read, but it’s largely a much better experience than a naked Google search. Less mainstream search engines are trying their hands at paid subscriptions as a way to avoid the advertising hell-spiral. Kagi is one I’ve been trying, though admittedly not as often as I should. They do have a free tier if you want to sample it. A more high-tech solution is AI systems. ChatGPT recently released a tool specifically for internet searches, though their general prompt tool has been usable for this for a while. Kagi also has an AI-powered search tier. Both are pretty expensive for casual users though. Another recommendation is to frequent interest or topic-specific forums and blogs. If you find yourself regularly needing vehicle repair tips, try joining a forum on the subject. Same goes for most other do-it-yourself tasks. You may even make some internet friends! Blogs are also a great way to find things and get connected to experts (shameless plug fully intended). Lastly, some interesting things are happening on the Nostr protocol that could help bring information together without the commercial overreach. (See [“Become Unbannable”]( https://scalebright.ca/blog/2024-11-18-become-unbannable) for more on Nostr.) I’ve been using a site called Zap Cooking ([https://zap.cooking](https://zap.cooking)) to browse recipes. Recipes here are Nostr notes (posts) that have been formatted and categorized, and can be commented on, rated, and tipped, all using the free and open Nostr protocol. No algorithms, no banks, no governments, and no ads! Want help with or training on finding things on the internet? You can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ df06d21e:2b23058f

Imagine a Living Civilization—a new way to see our world. It starts with the Universe’s pillars: Matter, the stuff we’re made of; Energy, the flow that drives us; Physics, the rules we play by; and Chemistry, the complexity that builds us. We know these well. But civilization? That’s our creation—and although it has been described in so many different ways over the years I thought it was time for something new. Civilization has its own pillars, systems that I call the pillars of the Metaverse: Capital, Information, Innovation, and Trust. Capital is how we measure value. Not just money, but everything that matters: skills, we call that Human Capital; ecosystems, that’s Natural Capital; infrastructure, Public Capital; relationships, Social Capital. Picture a farmer swapping Bitcoin sats for seeds—not fiat debt—or tracking soil health alongside his wallet. Capital is a system, a system of measurement. Information is how we verify truth. Think IPFS, a network holding real data—climate stats, farming fixes—open to all, not locked up by some corporate gatekeeper. Information is a system of verification. Innovation is about generating solutions. On GitHub, coders worldwide crank out tools—Nostr clients, solar apps—shared freely, not patented for profit. Innovation is our system of generation. And Trust—it’s coordination. Nostr’s decentralized threads let communities set trade rules, split resources—governance from the ground up, no overlords required. Trust is our system of coordination. Right now we’re stuck in debt-based systems—and they’re failing us. Take fiat currency—central banks print it, slashing your purchasing power. Our dollar buys less every year; savings erode while the elite stack their gains. It’s a scam, Bitcoiners know it—fiat’s the real Ponzi bleeding us dry. Capital gets twisted—firms hoard Bitcoin for fiat pumps, not real wealth; governments chase GDP while forests die and skills sit idle. Information is buried—our media spits out spin, our corporations lock truth in silos. Innovation is stalled—debt props up corporate patents, not open wins. Trust is gone—our governance systems consist of top-down control that splits us apart, left to right, top to bottom. Debt just measures scarcity—money borrowed, nature trashed, bonds frayed—and it’s crushing the pillars. Wealth-based systems promise to turn that around. Bitcoin’s sound money is just the start—sats hold value, not inflate it away. Real capital measures what sustains us—sats fund a cooperative's water pump, not a vault; they track skills taught, land healed, ties rebuilt. Real Information opens up—IPFS logs show ‘biochar boosted yield 20%’, verified by us, not suits. Real Innovation flows—GitHub devs build Lightning hubs, wealth spreads. Real Trust binds us together—Nostr chats align us, no central puppeteer. Wealth based systems strengthen the pillars of the Metaverse, it doesn’t erode them. We needed a new framing. A new vision of what was, what is, and what could be. We have one. This is real. This is the world we are building. Bitcoin is live, Nostr is growing, IPFS and GitHub are humming. We can see Debt teetering; while real wealth is rising. So, hodlers, maxis, plebs—everyone—what does a true wealth-based system look like? How can we measure Capital beyond fiat’s con job? Bitcoin’s the rock, but it’s just the beginning. How do we build on this, expand it, and transform everything as we build something entirely new?

@ 65038d69:1fff8852

“Sam did it!” You can hear the edge in the child’s voice as they attempt to shift blame for whatever minor misdeed they may-or-may-not have masterminded. In the court of humanity our feelings take wide precedence over objective justice. Even if there’s no fallout or formal punishment for that thing we did wrong, we really don’t like taking the blame. Personal responsibility isn’t only about taking blame for the negative. As we’ll define it for the purposes of this article, it means taking ownership of decisions you make and the actions you take based on them. By extension you will also be taking ownership of the outcomes, both the successes and failures. Your mind is probably already imagining all sorts of scenarios this could apply to both at work and at home, but our focus will be mostly in the workplace. Imagine working in a utopia where everyone perfectly executes personal responsibility. You would never have to worry about someone blaming you for the failure of their project, because it’s their project. You would know in advance that if your project is a success you’ll get 100% of the accolades, because it’s your project. With these two things alone, wouldn’t you feel a new level of motivation to give it your all? To take risks and innovate? You would have a new level of trust in your coworkers too. There would be no motive for micromanagement, for doing so would mean taking someone else’s responsibility upon yourself. Morale and productivity would skyrocket! You can easily imagine the opposite as well; you may have thought of your own workplace in a negative light as soon as you read the title and clicked the link. Unfortunately in I.T. (being a panoptic presence in most organizations) we’re an easy target. “I can’t work, my computer’s broken, and I.T. hasn’t fixed it yet! They’re so slow, am-I-right?” “The file deleted itself; stupid computers!” “It’s not my fault that we didn’t deliver on time; the printer’s broken and it’s not my job to fix it!” *sigh* Enough gloom, let’s move on to how to make personal responsibility great again! It's a simple concept; remind yourself that our decisions are ours, our actions are ours, and the results are ours. No exceptions. I’ll give you an example. When my wife and I are travelling somewhere it’s usually up to me to decide where to eat. I’m usually driving, and I’m also the head of our household, so it’s my decision. My decision, my actions, and most importantly, my results to own. If I choose a place and my wife doesn’t like the ambiance or menu or amount of cheese they put on everything, that’s on me. The weight can be heavy and feel unjust. But it isn’t unjust. It’s perfectly, objectively just. It’s my decision, my actions, and my results to own. There are upsides for both of us; I am now further motivated to pick someplace I know she’ll like and she gets to play “Passenger Princess”, and I get to bathe in the social bragging rights of being crowned “King of the Husbands” for being intuitive and attentive enough to know what she’d like and get it for her. It’s timeless and primordial: “Oh husband, you hunted and brought back a mammoth! I love mammoth steak! You are brave and strong and clearly the greatest of all husbands!” Her words would eco through our cave commune and all would look to us for hot tips to share on their relationship blog cave paintings. You might still be thinking of your workplace and your coworkers who seem to want to blame you for everything that goes wrong. What can you do to get them on the personal responsibility train? The only way to do it is to lead by example. The moment you try to tell them or make them they’ll see it as an attack and blame you, which is exactly the problem you’re trying to avoid! You can’t suggest it, hint at it, or leave an anonymous note. You can’t have someone else talk to them about it or send this article and say, “I read this and thought it was interesting and thought you would think it’s interesting too.” This only way to teach others about personal responsibility is to show them. Which makes me writing this massively ironic. I take full responsibility for this! My last tip is to make sure to celebrate the wins, both yours and other’s! This is especially true for others you’re trying to influence. Remember the accolades we imagined getting earlier and how much that would motivate you? That’s what you’re trying to instill in others. Positive reinforcement is much stronger than negative, so hand your praises out like candy! Want to go against my recommendations and bring me into your workplace to talk about personal responsibility? You can find us at scalebright.ca.

@ 3e6e0735:9e95c8a2

https://i.nostr.build/lanoHI3p2aCKRZlV.png I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Bitcoin still feels so misunderstood. Not just by the media or the IMF — that part’s predictable. But even inside our own circles, something's missing. We say it’s money. We say it’s freedom. We say it’s code. And it is. But when you really zoom out, past the price and the politics, it’s something more radical than we usually admit. Bitcoin is a shift in how power moves. And what we do with that power now actually matters. ## The noise outside Let’s start with the obvious: the media still doesn’t get it. Every other headline is either a death knell or a celebration depending on the price that day. No context. No nuance. No understanding of what we’re building. You’ve seen the headlines: - “Bitcoin is crashing again.” - “Crypto bros are killing the planet.” - “The IMF warns: Bitcoin adoption is dangerous.” Yeah? Dangerous to what? The system they control. The levers they pull. The old game where the house always wins. That’s why they’re afraid. Not because Bitcoin is volatile, but because it doesn’t ask permission. ## This isn’t about panic — it’s about patterns I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy. But there is inertia. Institutions protect themselves. Systems reinforce themselves. They were never going to roll out the red carpet for an open, borderless network that replaces their function. So the IMF calls it a threat. Central banks scramble to launch CBDCs. And journalists keep writing the same shallow takes while ignoring the real story. Meanwhile, we’re still here. Still building. Still holding. Still running nodes. Bitcoin isn’t perfect. But it’s honest. It doesn’t bend to popularity or political pressure. It enforces rules with math, not people. And that’s exactly why it works. ## Even we miss it sometimes Here’s the part that really hit me recently: even within Bitcoin, we often undersell what this is. We talk about savings. Inflation. Fiat debasement. All real, all important. But what about the broader layer? What about governance? Energy? Communication? Defense? Jason Lowery’s book *Softwar* lit that fuse for me again. Not because it’s flawless — it’s not. But because he reframed the game. Bitcoin isn’t a new weapon. It’s the **end** of weapons-as-power. Proof-of-work, in Lowery’s view, is a form of peaceful negotiation. A deterrent against coercion. A way to shift from kinetic violence to computational resolution. Most people — even many Bitcoiners — haven’t fully absorbed that. It’s not about militarizing the network. It’s about **demilitarizing the world** through energy expenditure that replaces human conflict. Let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean Bitcoin *will* be used this way. It means it *can*. And that opens up a few possible futures: - **Scenario A:** Smaller nations adopt Bitcoin infrastructure as a shield — a deterrent and neutral layer to build sovereignty - **Scenario B:** Superpowers attack mining and self-custody, escalating regulatory capture and fragmenting the open protocol into corporate silos - **Scenario C:** Bitcoin becomes the boring backend of legacy finance, its edge neutered by ETFs and custody-as-a-service Which one wins depends on what we build — and who steps up. ## Then I found Maya I came across Maya Parbhoe’s campaign by accident. One of those late-night rabbit holes where Bitcoin Twitter turns into a global map. She’s running for president of Suriname. She’s a Bitcoiner. And she’s not just tweeting about it — she’s building an entire political platform around it. No central bank. Bitcoin as legal tender. Full fiscal transparency. Open-source government. Yeah. You read that right. Not just open-source software — open-source statehood. Her father was murdered after exposing corruption. That’s not a talking point. That’s real-life consequence. And instead of running away from systems, she’s choosing to redesign one. That’s maximalism. Not in ideology. In action. ## The El Salvador experiment — and evolution When El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, it lit up our feeds. It was bold. Unprecedented. A true first. But not without flaws. The rollout was fast. Chivo wallet was centralized. Adoption stalled in rural areas. Transparency was thin. And despite the brave move, the state’s underlying structure remained top-down. Bukele played offense, but the protocol was wrapped in traditional power. Maya is doing it differently. Her approach is grassroots-forward. Open-source by design. Focused on education, transparency, and modular state-building — not just mandates. She’s not using Bitcoin to *prop up* state power. She’s using it to *distribute* it. ## Maximalism is evolving Look, I get it. The memes are fun. The laser eyes. The beefsteak meetups. The HODL culture. But there’s something else growing here. Something a little quieter, a little deeper: - People running nodes to protect civil liberties - Communities using Lightning for real commerce - Builders forging tools for self-sovereign identity - Leaders like Maya testing what Bitcoin can look like as public infrastructure This is happening. In real time. It’s messy and fragile and still small. But it’s happening. Let’s also stay honest: Maximalism has its risks. Dogma can blind us. Toxicity can push people away. And if we’re not careful, we’ll replace one centralization with another — just wearing different memes. We need less purity, more principles. Less hype, more clarity. That’s the kind of maximalism Maya embodies. ## What now? Maya doesn’t have a VC fund or an ad agency. She has a message, a mission, and the courage to put Bitcoin on the ballot. If that resonates, help her. Not just by donating — though here’s the link: [https://geyser.fund/project/maya2025 ](https://geyser.fund/project/maya2025) But by sharing. Writing. Talking. Translating. Connecting. Bitcoin is still early. But it’s not abstract anymore. This isn’t just theory. It’s a protocol, sure. But now, maybe it’s a presidency too. https://i.nostr.build/0luYy8ojK7gkxsuL.png

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Preko is a charming seaside town on Ugljan Island, just a short ferry ride from Zadar. Known for its beautiful beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and stunning views of the Adriatic, it's the perfect place to experience authentic Dalmatian island life.  ## **🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Preko** ### **1️⃣ Swim at Jaz Beach 🏖️** - A **Blue Flag beach** with **clear turquoise waters and soft pebbles**. - Ideal for **families** thanks to its shallow waters. - Nearby **cafés and restaurants** make it a great spot to spend the day. ### **2️⃣ Visit the Islet of Galevac 🏝️** - A **tiny island just 80 meters from Preko**, reachable by swimming or a short boat ride. - Home to a **15th-century Franciscan monastery**, surrounded by lush greenery. - A **peaceful retreat**, perfect for relaxation.  ### **3️⃣ Hike to St. Michael’s Fortress (Sv. Mihovil) 🏰** - A **medieval fortress from the 13th century** with **breathtaking panoramic views**. - Overlooks **Zadar, Kornati Islands, and the Adriatic Sea**. - A **1-hour scenic hike** from Preko or accessible by **bike or car**. ### **4️⃣ Explore the Local Taverns & Seafood Restaurants 🍽️** - Try **fresh seafood, octopus salad, and Dalmatian peka (slow-cooked meat & vegetables)**. - **Best spots:** Konoba Roko (authentic seafood) & Vile Dalmacija (beachfront dining). ### **5️⃣ Rent a Bike or Scooter 🚲** - Explore **Ugljan Island’s olive groves, hidden coves, and coastal paths**. - Visit nearby villages like **Kali and Kukljica** for more local charm.  ### **6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to Zadar ⛵** - Just **25 minutes by ferry**, Zadar offers **historic landmarks, the Sea Organ, and Roman ruins**. - Perfect for a cultural excursion before returning to the peaceful island.  ## **🚗 How to Get to Preko** 🚢 **By Ferry:** - **From Zadar:** Regular ferries (Jadrolinija) take **~25 minutes**. 🚘 **By Car:** - If driving, take the **ferry from Zadar to Preko** and explore the island. 🚴 **By Bike:** - Many visitors rent bikes to explore Ugljan Island’s coastal roads.  ## **💡 Tips for Visiting Preko** ✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & swimming 🌞 ✅ **Ferry schedules** – Check times in advance, especially in the off-season ⏳ ✅ **Bring cash** – Some smaller taverns and cafés may not accept cards 💰 ✅ **Stay for sunset** – The views over Zadar from Preko’s waterfront are stunning 🌅 Would you like **hotel recommendations, hidden beaches, or other island activities**? 😊