@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Pequenos problemas que o Estado cria para a sociedade e que não são sempre lembrados

- **vale-transporte**: transferir o custo com o transporte do funcionário para um terceiro o estimula a morar longe de onde trabalha, já que morar perto é normalmente mais caro e a economia com transporte é inexistente.
- **atestado médico**: o direito a faltar o trabalho com atestado médico cria a exigência desse atestado para todas as situações, substituindo o livre acordo entre patrão e empregado e sobrecarregando os médicos e postos de saúde com visitas desnecessárias de assalariados resfriados.
- **prisões**: com dinheiro mal-administrado, burocracia e péssima alocação de recursos -- problemas que empresas privadas em competição (ou mesmo sem qualquer competição) saberiam resolver muito melhor -- o Estado fica sem presídios, com os poucos existentes entupidos, muito acima de sua alocação máxima, e com isto, segundo a bizarra corrente de responsabilidades que culpa o juiz que condenou o criminoso por sua morte na cadeia, juízes deixam de condenar à prisão os bandidos, soltando-os na rua.
- **justiça**: entrar com processos é grátis e isto faz proliferar a atividade dos advogados que se dedicam a criar problemas judiciais onde não seria necessário e a entupir os tribunais, impedindo-os de fazer o que mais deveriam fazer.
- **justiça**: como a justiça só obedece às leis e ignora acordos pessoais, escritos ou não, as pessoas não fazem acordos, recorrem sempre à justiça estatal, e entopem-na de assuntos que seriam muito melhor resolvidos entre vizinhos.
- **leis civis**: as leis criadas pelos parlamentares ignoram os costumes da sociedade e são um incentivo a que as pessoas não respeitem nem criem normas sociais -- que seriam maneiras mais rápidas, baratas e satisfatórias de resolver problemas.
- **leis de trãnsito**: quanto mais leis de trânsito, mais serviço de fiscalização são delegados aos policiais, que deixam de combater crimes por isto (afinal de contas, eles não querem de fato arriscar suas vidas combatendo o crime, a fiscalização é uma excelente desculpa para se esquivarem a esta responsabilidade).
- **financiamento educacional**: é uma espécie de subsídio às faculdades privadas que faz com que se criem cursos e mais cursos que são cada vez menos recheados de algum conhecimento ou técnica útil e cada vez mais inúteis.
- **leis de tombamento**: são um incentivo a que o dono de qualquer área ou construção "histórica" destrua todo e qualquer vestígio de história que houver nele antes que as autoridades descubram, o que poderia não acontecer se ele pudesse, por exemplo, usar, mostrar e se beneficiar da história daquele local sem correr o risco de perder, de fato, a sua propriedade.
- **zoneamento urbano**: torna as cidades mais espalhadas, criando uma necessidade gigantesca de carros, ônibus e outros meios de transporte para as pessoas se locomoverem das zonas de moradia para as zonas de trabalho.
- **zoneamento urbano**: faz com que as pessoas percam horas no trânsito todos os dias, o que é, além de um desperdício, um atentado contra a sua saúde, que estaria muito melhor servida numa caminhada diária entre a casa e o trabalho.
- **zoneamento urbano**: torna ruas e as casas menos seguras criando zonas enormes, tanto de residências quanto de indústrias, onde não há movimento de gente alguma.
- **escola obrigatória + currículo escolar nacional**: emburrece todas as crianças.
- **leis contra trabalho infantil**: tira das crianças a oportunidade de aprender ofícios úteis e levar um dinheiro para ajudar a família.
- **licitações**: como não existem os critérios do mercado para decidir qual é o melhor prestador de serviço, criam-se comissões de pessoas que vão decidir coisas. isto incentiva os prestadores de serviço que estão concorrendo na licitação a tentar comprar os membros dessas comissões. isto, fora a corrupção, gera problemas reais: __(i)__ a escolha dos serviços acaba sendo a pior possível, já que a empresa prestadora que vence está claramente mais dedicada a comprar comissões do que a fazer um bom trabalho (este problema afeta tantas áreas, desde a construção de estradas até a qualidade da merenda escolar, que é impossível listar aqui); __(ii)__ o processo corruptor acaba, no longo prazo, eliminando as empresas que prestavam e deixando para competir apenas as corruptas, e a qualidade tende a piorar progressivamente.
- **cartéis**: o Estado em geral cria e depois fica refém de vários grupos de interesse. o caso dos taxistas contra o Uber é o que está na moda hoje (e o que mostra como os Estados se comportam da mesma forma no mundo todo).
- **multas**: quando algum indivíduo ou empresa comete uma fraude financeira, ou causa algum dano material involuntário, as vítimas do caso são as pessoas que sofreram o dano ou perderam dinheiro, mas o Estado tem sempre leis que prevêem multas para os responsáveis. A justiça estatal é sempre muito rígida e rápida na aplicação dessas multas, mas relapsa e vaga no que diz respeito à indenização das vítimas. O que em geral acontece é que o Estado aplica uma enorme multa ao responsável pelo mal, retirando deste os recursos que dispunha para indenizar as vítimas, e se retira do caso, deixando estas desamparadas.
- **desapropriação**: o Estado pode pegar qualquer propriedade de qualquer pessoa mediante uma indenização que é necessariamente inferior ao valor da propriedade para o seu presente dono (caso contrário ele a teria vendido voluntariamente).
- **seguro-desemprego**: se há, por exemplo, um prazo mínimo de 1 ano para o sujeito ter direito a receber seguro-desemprego, isto o incentiva a planejar ficar apenas 1 ano em cada emprego (ano este que será sucedido por um período de desemprego remunerado), matando todas as possibilidades de aprendizado ou aquisição de experiência naquela empresa específica ou ascensão hierárquica.
- **previdência**: a previdência social tem todos os defeitos de cálculo do mundo, e não importa muito ela ser uma forma horrível de poupar dinheiro, porque ela tem garantias bizarras de longevidade fornecidas pelo Estado, além de ser compulsória. Isso serve para criar no imaginário geral a idéia da __aposentadoria__, uma época mágica em que todos os dias serão finais de semana. A idéia da aposentadoria influencia o sujeito a não se preocupar em ter um emprego que faça sentido, mas sim em ter um trabalho qualquer, que o permita se aposentar.
- **regulamentação impossível**: milhares de coisas são proibidas, há regulamentações sobre os aspectos mais mínimos de cada empreendimento ou construção ou espaço. se todas essas regulamentações fossem exigidas não haveria condições de produção e todos morreriam. portanto, elas não são exigidas. porém, o Estado, ou um agente individual imbuído do poder estatal pode, se desejar, exigi-las todas de um cidadão inimigo seu. qualquer pessoa pode viver a vida inteira sem cumprir nem 10% das regulamentações estatais, mas viverá também todo esse tempo com medo de se tornar um alvo de sua exigência, num estado de terror psicológico.
- **perversão de critérios**: para muitas coisas sobre as quais a sociedade normalmente chegaria a um valor ou comportamento "razoável" espontaneamente, o Estado dita regras. estas regras muitas vezes não são obrigatórias, são mais "sugestões" ou limites, como o salário mínimo, ou as 44 horas semanais de trabalho. a sociedade, porém, passa a usar esses valores como se fossem o normal. são raras, por exemplo, as ofertas de emprego que fogem à regra das 44h semanais.
- **inflação**: subir os preços é difícil e constrangedor para as empresas, pedir aumento de salário é difícil e constrangedor para o funcionário. a inflação força as pessoas a fazer isso, mas o aumento não é automático, como alguns economistas podem pensar (enquanto alguns outros ficam muito satisfeitos de que esse processo seja demorado e difícil).
- **inflação**: a inflação destrói a capacidade das pessoas de julgar preços entre concorrentes usando a própria memória.
- **inflação**: a inflação destrói os cálculos de lucro/prejuízo das empresas e prejudica enormemente as decisões empresariais que seriam baseadas neles.
- **inflação**: a inflação redistribui a riqueza dos mais pobres e mais afastados do sistema financeiro para os mais ricos, os bancos e as megaempresas.
- **inflação**: a inflação estimula o endividamento e o consumismo.
- **lixo:** ao prover coleta e armazenamento de lixo "grátis para todos" o Estado incentiva a criação de lixo. se tivessem que pagar para que recolhessem o seu lixo, as pessoas (e conseqüentemente as empresas) se empenhariam mais em produzir coisas usando menos plástico, menos embalagens, menos sacolas.
- **leis contra crimes financeiros:** ao criar legislação para dificultar acesso ao sistema financeiro por parte de criminosos a dificuldade e os custos para acesso a esse mesmo sistema pelas pessoas de bem cresce absurdamente, levando a um percentual enorme de gente incapaz de usá-lo, para detrimento de todos -- e no final das contas os grandes criminosos ainda conseguem burlar tudo.

@ 47785dc8:ecbeafdb

Opinion about /hardware/trezorT/

Second test. So far, both logged in with the Alby browser plug-in. I am trying to insert an image of the pop-up I received from Alby, testing on Chrome on a MacBook. Choose a file doesn't seem to be able to access my filesystem.

#WalletScrutiny #NostrComment

join the conversation!

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

🍀 Sei a Milano o nei dintorni? Hai curiosità sul trading di criptovalute? 🍀

🎆 Unisciti a noi per un'opportunità emozionante di conoscere meglio il trading di criptovalute!

🎆 Saremmo felici di incontrarti di persona.

📮 Dettagli dell'Evento: 📮 Data e Ora: Dalle 18:30 di venerdì 26 gennaio 2024, fino a mezzanotte. 📮 Luogo: Casa Matilda, Via Ascanio Sforza 65, Milano.

🆒 Per partecipare, avrai bisogno di un account Bitget.

🆒 Ci sarà la possibilità di vincere merchandising Bitget e criptovalute attraverso una speciale estrazione.

✅ L'evento è gratuito, basta avere un account Bitget. 🟣 Se ancora non hai un account, assicurati il tuo posto registrandoti al seguente link: https://bonus.bitget.com/U1JNEK 🔵 Per dare la tua adesione all'evento, registrati da questo link: https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/biglietti-bootcamp-sul-trading-di-criptovalute-con-bitget-795455347357?aff=oddtdtcreator

🎆 Ci vediamo a Casa Matilda! 🚀 ✨

🚨 Scopri come Bitcoin sta veramente cambiando il mondo! Entra nella nostra community Telegram per approfondire la discussione sulla rivoluzione Bitcoin, strategie di trading e altro ancora! 🚀

📣 https://t.me/Bitcoin_Report_Italia

@ cce0989b:b497e608

Here’s one reason why you might be feeling stuck: you’re trying to be perfect and grow at the same time.

That’s impossible. You can’t do both. Mistakes, setbacks, and detours are an inevitable part of the journey. In your desire to be both — pulled between who you want to become and your fear of what might happen if you do — you can’t take action at all. You end up feeling completely stuck.

Today, redefine what success looks like as you work towards your goals.

Success doesn’t mean being perfect or getting it right immediately.

Success means being brave enough to try. Success means persistence. Success means making mistakes and then learning from them.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

This is just one component of the US Federal Government's hundreds of trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities. "Gradually then suddenly" comes to mind.

Government Employee Pensions Are Underfunded. Taxpayers Will Make Up the Difference By Doug French

Government employees generally have sweeter pension plans compared to private-sector employees, but government pensions are purposely underfunded. No worries for government employees: taxpayers will pick up the slack.

@ 41acb1b9:51753d75

Opinion about /hardware/trezorT/

testing

#WalletScrutiny #NostrComment

join the conversation!

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

Cuban migrants who entered through the United States border and received a Form I-220A may obtain permanent residency if their case is retroactively reviewed and they are granted parole. In doing so, they can apply for the Cuban Adjustment Act to get a Green card.

According to an interview by journalist Mario Vallejo with lawyer José Guerrero, in the last few hours, a meeting was held between the U.S. government and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). There, various legal doubts were addressed by immigration specialists based on all the cases of Cubans in said situation.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reviewing cases of Cubans with Form I-220A, a conditional parole under section 236A2, which due to the Cabrera-Fernández judicial ruling is not considered parole for the purposes of the Cuban Adjustment Act.

USCIS's new initiative involves evaluating each case individually to determine eligibility for parole under section 235D5, instead of the previously granted I-220A. If determined that the correct parole should have been granted, USCIS will coordinate with the agency responsible for the initial release to obtain the appropriate documentation from the release date.

Therefore, Cubans who entered the U.S. and were paroled under section 235D5 can adjust their status under the Cuban Adjustment Act, provided they meet the necessary requirements. This also confirms why some Cubans with I-220A are receiving parole from USCIS without having requested it.

This news represents a ray of hope for thousands of Cuban migrants in the United States. The adjustment in government policy eases the process for those who previously faced barriers on their path to legal residency.

What will happen to the I-220As that have a cutoff date?

Meanwhile, lawyer Wilfredo Allen explains what will happen to I-220As that have a cutoff date. "Over time, there is likely to be an administrative solution for I-220A holders, and USCIS and DHS may ultimately agree to legalize Cubans who possess this document, as it is considered parole."

The lawyer bases his remarks on concrete figures. "In the last two years, about 300,000 people have entered, most of them with I-220A, and it is impossible to schedule hearings for all of them. I continue to receive appointment notices for hearings in 2026 and 2027."

"So, the reality is that these dates are practically unattainable. If your first hearing is scheduled for 2026, when will your final trial be? In 2027 or 2028? What will happen during all that time that you are in the United States? In my opinion, it is likely that a solution will be found, similar to what was found for Venezuelans," he added.

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

Los migrantes cubanos que entraron por la frontera de Estados Unidos y recibieron un formulario I-220A podrían obtener la residencia permanente si con carácter retroactivo se revisa su caso y se les otorga un parole. De tal forma pueden aplicar a la Ley de Ajuste Cubana para conseguir la Green card.

Según entrevista del periodista Mario Vallejo al abogado José Guerrero, en las últimas horas se desarrolló una reunión entre el gobierno de EEUU y la Asociación de Abogados de Inmigración de América (AILA). Allí se trataron varias dudas legales por parte de los especialistas en inmigración a partir de todos los casos de cubanos en dicha situación.

El Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) está revisando casos de cubanos con el formulario I-220A, un parole condicional bajo la sección 236A2, que por el fallo judicial Cabrera-Fernández no es considerado un parole para los efectos de la Ley de Ajuste Cubano.

La nueva iniciativa de USCIS implica evaluar cada caso individualmente para determinar la elegibilidad de un parole bajo la sección 235D5, en lugar del I-220A previamente otorgado. Si se determina que el parole correcto debió haber sido concedido, USCIS coordinará con la agencia responsable de la liberación inicial para obtener la documentación adecuada desde la fecha de liberación.

Por lo tanto, los cubanos que ingresaron a EEUU y fueron parolados bajo la sección 235D5 sí pueden ajustar su estatus bajo la Ley de Ajuste Cubano, siempre y cuando cumplan con los requisitos necesarios. Ello confirma además por qué algunos cubanos con I-220A están recibiendo un parole por parte de USCIS sin haberlo solicitado.

Esta noticia representa un rayo de esperanza para miles de migrantes cubanos en Estados Unidos. El ajuste en la política gubernamental facilita el proceso para aquellos que anteriormente se enfrentaban a barreras en su camino hacia la residencia legal.

¿Qué ocurrirá con los I-220A que tienen una fecha de corte?

Mientras tanto, el abogado Wilfredo Allen explica qué ocurrirá con los I-220A que tienen una fecha de corte. “Con el tiempo, es probable que haya una solución administrativa para los titulares de I-220A, y es posible que finalmente USCIS y DHS acepten legalizar a los cubanos que poseen este documento, ya que se considera un parole”.

El abogado se basa en cifras concretas. “En los últimos dos años, han ingresado alrededor de 300,000 personas, la mayoría de ellas con I-220A, y es imposible programar audiencias para todos ellos. Sigo recibiendo citas para audiencias en 2026 y 2027”.

“Entonces, la realidad es que estas fechas son prácticamente inalcanzables. Si tu primera audiencia está programada para 2026, ¿cuándo será tu juicio final? ¿En 2027 o 2028? ¿Qué sucederá durante todo ese tiempo que estás en los Estados Unidos? En mi opinión, es probable que se encuentre una solución, similar a la que se encontró para los venezolanos”, añadió.

@ 2eb796c6:c28af696

Opinion about /hardware/trezorT/

test123

#WalletScrutiny #NostrComment

join the conversation!

@ 21b41910:91f41a5e

When typing a note, the application can sometimes crash (due to lack of memory?) when switching applications, uploading an image file, etc. It's frustrating to have a note mostly typed out and then lose it all from a crash of the application. The goal of this bounty is to help mitigate the impacts by preventing the loss of a partially written note to avoid needing to rewrite it all, while adding some helpful functionality.

The current workaround that myself and others due is to periodically select-all and copy to the clipboard, or prepare the note elsewhere to copy and paste in.

To satisfy the conditions of the bounty, Amethyst should be modified (with a release) to auto-save in local storage any note being typed out and be able to recover such a note to continue if the application crashed and is restarted. The loading of the saved data should happen when clicking the icon to write a note if the note was not sent or cancelled. When the note is signed and sent to relays, the auto-saved note in storage can be cleared.

@npub1gcxzte5zlkncx26j68ez60fzkvtkm9e0vrwdcvsjakxf9mu9qewqlfnj5z @npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5

Github Project Issue: https://github.com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/issues/748 Github Pull Request: https://github.com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/pull/749

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

bitcoind decentralization

It is better to have multiple curator teams, with different vetting processes and release schedules for bitcoind than a single one.

"More eyes on code", "Contribute to Core", "Everybody should audit the code".

All these points repeated again and again fell to Earth on the day it was discovered that Bitcoin Core developers merged a variable name change from "blacklist" to "blocklist" without even discussing or acknowledging the fact that that innocent pull request opened by a sybil account was a social attack.

After a big lot of people manifested their dissatisfaction with that event on Twitter and on GitHub, most Core developers simply ignored everybody's concerns or even personally attacked people who were complaining.

The event has shown that:

1) Bitcoin Core ultimately rests on the hands of a couple maintainers and they decide what goes on the GitHub repository[^pr-merged-very-quickly] and the binary releases that will be downloaded by thousands; 2) Bitcoin Core is susceptible to social attacks; 2) "More eyes on code" don't matter, as these extra eyes can be ignored and dismissed.

Solution: bitcoind decentralization

If usage was spread across 10 different bitcoind flavors, the network would be much more resistant to social attacks to a single team.

This has nothing to do with the question on if it is better to have multiple different Bitcoin node implementations or not, because here we're basically talking about the same software.

Multiple teams, each with their own release process, their own logo, some subtle changes, or perhaps no changes at all, just a different name for their bitcoind flavor, and that's it.

Every day or week or month or year, each flavor merges all changes from Bitcoin Core on their own fork. If there's anything suspicious or too leftist (or perhaps too rightist, in case there's a leftist bitcoind flavor), maybe they will spot it and not merge.

This way we keep the best of both worlds: all software development, bugfixes, improvements goes on Bitcoin Core, other flavors just copy. If there's some non-consensus change whose efficacy is debatable, one of the flavors will merge on their fork and test, and later others -- including Core -- can copy that too. Plus, we get resistant to attacks: in case there is an attack on Bitcoin Core, only 10% of the network would be compromised. the other flavors would be safe.

Run Bitcoin Knots

The first example of a bitcoind software that follows Bitcoin Core closely, adds some small changes, but has an independent vetting and release process is Bitcoin Knots, maintained by the incorruptible Luke DashJr.

Next time you decide to run bitcoind, run Bitcoin Knots instead and contribute to bitcoind decentralization!

---

See also:

• How to attack Bitcoin, Anthony Towns' take

[^pr-merged-very-quickly]: See PR 20624, for example, a very complicated change that could be introducing bugs or be a deliberate attack, merged in 3 days without time for discussion.

@ fac513a1:d4f407a5

Think of a kids playground.

Children running everywhere.

Mayhem.

The laughs.

The screams.

The squabbles.

A local favourite of ours at the moment, has a small sandpit area, that my girls enjoy digging around in.

I’ve never thought to bring their beach toys.

Annoyingly!

I mean, who doesn’t like to build a sandcastle with a proper bucket and spade…!?!

So I improvise, grab some paper takeaway coffee cups, and explain how they can use them to build with instead.

Off they go…

They love it.

For a while.

Before, oops, something else has caught their attention.

The slide, trampoline, or see-saw, is now the centre of their world.

Any parent out there will know this well.

What I want to highlight though is a process I witness each time.

Firstly, there is a feature in the centre of the sandpit, that all the kids gravitate towards.

They will dig trenches around it, put sand on top, and it becomes a castle, garden, or monument.

It is the critical piece of real estate in the sand pit.

Control this, and you’re on top.

Secondly, there was a time when a boy was with some well organised grandparents, who had thought to bring all his beach toys.

Trucks, diggers, spades, buckets, and a heap of shells etc.

Kids flocked to them.

For the boy, this was a disaster, as sharing all his goodies was not part of his plan.

As you can imagine, there are fights over the centre feature, and there was a fracas for the toys.

Which brings me to the point of today’s story.

What is this, if it’s not a rehearsal for the age old human instinct, to control land and technology?

A petri-dish for future discussions over who owns what.

“That’s mine!”

Can just as easily be the true owner of a toy or a child simply wanting to play with it.

Instinctively we want things.

So how do we control this urge as adults?

Often we don’t.

We fight.

But as I’ve been reading lately in Hernando De Soto’s excellent book “The Mystery Of Capital”, one excellent solution to this has been the development of property rights, which enable the growth of capital.

I highly recommend having a read.

One story resonated strongly, in relation to how settlers in the USA organised themselves, as they spread west through the continent.

Men would settle on land as squatters.

They would build, farm, and develop it.

Luckily for them the English property law prominent at the time didn’t follow across the Atlantic, which diss-allowed squatting, but rather they innovated, and it became common practice that squatters could legalise their ownership over time.

Precedent was set.

The incentive structure was clear.

Add value, care for the land, and the law will catch up to reflect your capital creation eventually.

Interestingly, settlers would identify the boarders of their newfound territory with signals as simple as axe cuts in tree’s.

Imagine that!

Primitive.

But effective.

De Soto also highlights brilliantly how a countries inability to build an effective property rights system hamstrings its growth.

For some citizens of the word today, it’s either too expensive, or takes literally years, to try and legitimise their property rights.

This forces them into what he describes as the ‘extralegal’ economy.

A place where people go to do business, in order to best go about their hustle, but without the ability to generate capital long-term.

It’s not that they’re criminals.

Quite the contrary in many cases

The issue is simple, the systems they operate in just don’t provide what they need, so they come up with innovate solutions of their own.

But these agreements are hyper-local in most cases.

Each neighbourhood knows how it works.

But, unlike the USA, these places never had an effective centralised institution willing and able to document, manage, and maintain property rights.

This is the missing piece to true capital development.

As a Brit living in Australia, I am very accustomed to utilising a house as collateral for a loan for example.

In many places that is simply not possible.

What really got me thinking though, was his detailed plans on how to help developing and ex-communnist countries put in place effective property rights.

They’re long.

Really long.

And with each step one can’t help but feel his ideas become less and less viable.

“I wonder if he has ever studied Bitcoin?” I thought to myself.

My bet: he hasn’t.

Indeed, it’s my belief that Bitcoin represents the highest form of property rights mankind has ever had access to.

If you have the key, you own the wealth.

If you don’t have the key, you don’t own the wealth.

Super simple.

Chuck into the mix Bitcoin is easily divisible, can be taken anywhere, cannot be debased, and is easy to exchange, you start to see its extremely attractive characteristics as a store-of-value with capital growth potential.

Consider all those extralegal economic actors globally.

Millions and millions of them.

All in need of a way to generate capital long-term.

Well instead of requiring a centralised government, which has clearly failed them to date, to dramatically figure out a way to evolve into the USA, now they can utilise an open network, digitally native, open 24/7, 365…

Quite a moment in history in my view.

Everyone, anywhere in the world, how have access to equal property rights.

With De Soto’s lens, now they can truly nurture capital.

Said another way, squabbles in the sand pit, no longer carry the same weight as they once did…

Best, Jake

Ps - even as someone that was highly trained in how to “make money”, it’s only recently that I asked the question “what is money?” This seemingly innocuous ask, has helped me to see the difference between an investment, and simply saving, which is a definition the average person has been de-sensitised from. Part of this exploration means one really starts to dig into the word “capital”. What I have found is quite the opposite to the champagne socialist wisdom of today that “capitalism is the cause of all our problems”. True capital management is the key to our future, based in property rights fit for the digital renaissance, with the potential to help more people live a happy life than any social phenomenon before it.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Whatever the propaganda says, it's always about enriching some crony.

"Humanitarianism" as an Excuse for Colonialism and Imperialism By Ryan McMaken

Humanitarianism served as an excuse for colonial rule over "backward" natives and provincials for centuries. The elites of the imperial governments insisted only they could provide enlightened government. Today, the same thinking lives on among countless advocates for centralized government and foreign intervention.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Did anyone else follow this case closely?

I'd love to hear what people think (especially @siggy47). I've had a hard time applying Occam's Razor to this story.

From Timcast IRL: Alec Baldwin CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER, Baldwin’s Behavior Called Into Question

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Drivechain

Understanding Drivechain requires a shift from the paradigm most bitcoiners are used to. It is not about "trustlessness" or "mathematical certainty", but game theory and incentives. (Well, Bitcoin in general is also that, but people prefer to ignore it and focus on some illusion of trustlessness provided by mathematics.)

Here we will describe the basic mechanism (simple) and incentives (complex) of "hashrate escrow" and how it enables a 2-way peg between the mainchain (Bitcoin) and various sidechains.

The full concept of "Drivechain" also involves blind merged mining (i.e., the sidechains mine themselves by publishing their block hashes to the mainchain without the miners having to run the sidechain software), but this is much easier to understand and can be accomplished either by the BIP-301 mechanism or by the Spacechains mechanism.

How does hashrate escrow work from the point of view of Bitcoin?

A new address type is created. Anything that goes in that is locked and can only be spent if all miners agree on the Withdrawal Transaction (WT^) that will spend it for 6 months. There is one of these special addresses for each sidechain.

To gather miners' agreement bitcoind keeps track of the "score" of all transactions that could possibly spend from that address. On every block mined, for each sidechain, the miner can use a portion of their coinbase to either increase the score of one WT^ by 1 while decreasing the score of all others by 1; or they can decrease the score of all WT^s by 1; or they can do nothing.

Once a transaction has gotten a score high enough, it is published and funds are effectively transferred from the sidechain to the withdrawing users.

If a timeout of 6 months passes and the score doesn't meet the threshold, that WT^ is discarded.

What does the above procedure mean?

It means that people can transfer coins from the mainchain to a sidechain by depositing to the special address. Then they can withdraw from the sidechain by making a special withdraw transaction in the sidechain.

The special transaction somehow freezes funds in the sidechain while a transaction that aggregates all withdrawals into a single mainchain WT^, which is then submitted to the mainchain miners so they can start voting on it and finally after some months it is published.

Now the crucial part: the validity of the WT^ is not verified by the Bitcoin mainchain rules, i.e., if Bob has requested a withdraw from the sidechain to his mainchain address, but someone publishes a wrong WT^ that instead takes Bob's funds and sends them to Alice's main address there is no way the mainchain will know that. What determines the "validity" of the WT^ is the miner vote score and only that. It is the job of miners to vote correctly -- and for that they may want to run the sidechain node in SPV mode so they can attest for the existence of a reference to the WT^ transaction in the sidechain blockchain (which then ensures it is ok) or do these checks by some other means.

What? 6 months to get my money back?

Yes. But no, in practice anyone who wants their money back will be able to use an atomic swap, submarine swap or other similar service to transfer funds from the sidechain to the mainchain and vice-versa. The long delayed withdraw costs would be incurred by few liquidity providers that would gain some small profit from it.

Why bother with this at all?

Drivechains solve many different problems:

It enables experimentation and new use cases for Bitcoin

Issued assets, fully private transactions, stateful blockchain contracts, turing-completeness, decentralized games, some "DeFi" aspects, prediction markets, futarchy, decentralized and yet meaningful human-readable names, big blocks with a ton of normal transactions on them, a chain optimized only for Lighting-style networks to be built on top of it.

These are some ideas that may have merit to them, but were never actually tried because they couldn't be tried with real Bitcoin or inferfacing with real bitcoins. They were either relegated to the shitcoin territory or to custodial solutions like Liquid or RSK that may have failed to gain network effect because of that.

It solves conflicts and infighting

Some people want fully private transactions in a UTXO model, others want "accounts" they can tie to their name and build reputation on top; some people want simple multisig solutions, others want complex code that reads a ton of variables; some people want to put all the transactions on a global chain in batches every 10 minutes, others want off-chain instant transactions backed by funds previously locked in channels; some want to spend, others want to just hold; some want to use blockchain technology to solve all the problems in the world, others just want to solve money.

With Drivechain-based sidechains all these groups can be happy simultaneously and don't fight. Meanwhile they will all be using the same money and contributing to each other's ecosystem even unwillingly, it's also easy and free for them to change their group affiliation later, which reduces cognitive dissonance.

It solves "scaling"

Multiple chains like the ones described above would certainly do a lot to accomodate many more transactions that the current Bitcoin chain can. One could have special Lightning Network chains, but even just big block chains or big-block-mimblewimble chains or whatnot could probably do a good job. Or even something less cool like 200 independent chains just like Bitcoin is today, no extra features (and you can call it "sharding"), just that would already multiply the current total capacity by 200.

Use your imagination.

It solves the blockchain security budget issue

The calculation is simple: you imagine what security budget is reasonable for each block in a world without block subsidy and divide that for the amount of bytes you can fit in a single block: that is the price to be paid in satoshis per byte. In reasonable estimative, the price necessary for every Bitcoin transaction goes to very large amounts, such that not only any day-to-day transaction has insanely prohibitive costs, but also Lightning channel opens and closes are impracticable.

So without a solution like Drivechain you'll be left with only one alternative: pushing Bitcoin usage to trusted services like Liquid and RSK or custodial Lightning wallets. With Drivechain, though, there could be thousands of transactions happening in sidechains and being all aggregated into a sidechain block that would then pay a very large fee to be published (via blind merged mining) to the mainchain. Bitcoin security guaranteed.

It keeps Bitcoin decentralized

Once we have sidechains to accomodate the normal transactions, the mainchain functionality can be reduced to be only a "hub" for the sidechains' comings and goings, and then the maximum block size for the mainchain can be reduced to, say, 100kb, which would make running a full node very very easy.

Can miners steal?

Yes. If a group of coordinated miners are able to secure the majority of the hashpower and keep their coordination for 6 months, they can publish a WT^ that takes the money from the sidechains and pays to themselves.

Will miners steal?

No, because the incentives are such that they won't.

Although it may look at first that stealing is an obvious strategy for miners as it is free money, there are many costs involved:

1. The cost of ceasing blind-merged mining returns -- as stealing will kill a sidechain, all the fees from it that miners would be expected to earn for the next years are gone;
2. The cost of Bitcoin price going down: If a steal is successful that will mean Drivechains are not safe, therefore Bitcoin is less useful, and miner credibility will also be hurt, which are likely to cause the Bitcoin price to go down, which in turn may kill the miners' businesses and savings;
3. The cost of coordination -- assuming miners are just normal businesses, they just want to do their work and get paid, but stealing from a Drivechain will require coordination with other miners to conduct an immoral act in a way that has many pitfalls and is likely to be broken over the months;
4. The cost of miners leaving your mining pool: when we talked about "miners" above we were actually talking about mining pools operators, so they must also consider the risk of miners migrating from their mining pool to others as they begin the process of stealing;
5. The cost of community goodwill -- when participating in a steal operation, a miner will suffer a ton of backlash from the community. Even if the attempt fails at the end, the fact that it was attempted will contribute to growing concerns over exaggerated miners power over the Bitcoin ecosystem, which may end up causing the community to agree on a hard-fork to change the mining algorithm in the future, or to do something to increase participation of more entities in the mining process (such as development or cheapment of new ASICs), which have a chance of decreasing the profits of current miners.

Another point to take in consideration is that one may be inclined to think a newly-created sidechain or a sidechain with relatively low usage may be more easily stolen from, since the blind merged mining returns from it (point 1 above) are going to be small -- but the fact is also that a sidechain with small usage will also have less money to be stolen from, and since the other costs besides 1 are less elastic at the end it will not be worth stealing from these too.

All of the above consideration are valid only if miners are stealing from good sidechains. If there is a sidechain that is doing things wrong, scamming people, not being used at all, or is full of bugs, for example, that will be perceived as a bad sidechain, and then miners can and will safely steal from it and kill it, which will be perceived as a good thing by everybody.

What do we do if miners steal?

Paul Sztorc has suggested in the past that a user-activated soft-fork could prevent miners from stealing, i.e., most Bitcoin users and nodes issue a rule similar to this one to invalidate the inclusion of a faulty WT^ and thus cause any miner that includes it in a block to be relegated to their own Bitcoin fork that other nodes won't accept.

This suggestion has made people think Drivechain is a sidechain solution backed by user-actived soft-forks for safety, which is very far from the truth. Drivechains must not and will not rely on this kind of soft-fork, although they are possible, as the coordination costs are too high and no one should ever expect these things to happen.

If even with all the incentives against them (see above) miners do still steal from a good sidechain that will mean the failure of the Drivechain experiment. It will very likely also mean the failure of the Bitcoin experiment too, as it will be proven that miners can coordinate to act maliciously over a prolonged period of time regardless of economic and social incentives, meaning they are probably in it just for attacking Bitcoin, backed by nation-states or something else, and therefore no Bitcoin transaction in the mainchain is to be expected to be safe ever again.

Why use this and not a full-blown trustless and open sidechain technology?

Because it is impossible.

If you ever heard someone saying "just use a sidechain", "do this in a sidechain" or anything like that, be aware that these people are either talking about "federated" sidechains (i.e., funds are kept in custody by a group of entities) or they are talking about Drivechain, or they are disillusioned and think it is possible to do sidechains in any other manner.

No, I mean a trustless 2-way peg with correctness of the withdrawals verified by the Bitcoin protocol!

That is not possible unless Bitcoin verifies all transactions that happen in all the sidechains, which would be akin to drastically increasing the blocksize and expanding the Bitcoin rules in tons of ways, i.e., a terrible idea that no one wants.

What about the Blockstream sidechains whitepaper?

Yes, that was a way to do it. The Drivechain hashrate escrow is a conceptually simpler way to achieve the same thing with improved incentives, less junk in the chain, more safety.

Isn't the hashrate escrow a very complex soft-fork?

Yes, but it is much simpler than SegWit. And, unlike SegWit, it doesn't force anything on users, i.e., it isn't a mandatory blocksize increase.

Why should we expect miners to care enough to participate in the voting mechanism?

Because it's in their own self-interest to do it, and it costs very little. Today over half of the miners mine RSK. It's not blind merged mining, it's a very convoluted process that requires them to run a RSK full node. For the Drivechain sidechains, an SPV node would be enough, or maybe just getting data from a block explorer API, so much much simpler.

What if I still don't like Drivechain even after reading this?

That is the entire point! You don't have to like it or use it as long as you're fine with other people using it. The hashrate escrow special addresses will not impact you at all, validation cost is minimal, and you get the benefit of people who want to use Drivechain migrating to their own sidechains and freeing up space for you in the mainchain. See also the point above about infighting.

See also

• Podcast episode with Ruben Somsen and Aaron van Wirdum explaining Drivechain
• Alternatives to Drivechain
• Drivechain comparison with Ethereum

@ 1c9dcd8f:1852f704

And it was not long after Lugh had got the fine from the sons of Tuireann that the Fomor came and landed at Scetne.

The whole host of the Fomor were come this time, and their king, Balor, of the Strong Blows and of the Evil Eye, along with them; and Bres, and Indech, son of De Domnann, a king of the Fomor, and Elathan, son of Lobos, and Goll and Ingol, and Octriallach, son of Indech, and Elathan, son of Delbaeth.

Depiction of the Fomorians

Then Lugh sent the Dagda to spy out the Fomor, and to delay them till such time as the men of Ireland would come to the battle.

So the Dagda went to their camp, and he asked them for a delay, and they said he might have that. And then to make sport of him, the Fomor made broth for him, for he had a great love for broth. So they filled the king's cauldron with four times twenty gallons of new milk, and the same of meal and fat, and they put in goats and sheep and pigs along with that, and boiled all together, and then they poured it all out into a great hole in the ground. And they called him to it then, and told him he should eat his fill, the way the Fomor would not be reproached for want of hospitality the way Bres was. "We will make an end of you if you leave any part of it after you," said Indech, son of De Domnann.

So the Dagda took the ladle, and it big enough for a man and a woman to lie in the bowl of it, and he took out bits with it, the half of a salted pig, and a quarter of lard a bit would be. "If the broth tastes as well as the bits taste, this is good food," he said. And he went on putting the full of the ladle into his mouth till the hole was empty; and when all was gone he put down his hand and scraped up all that was left among the earth and the gravel.

The Dagda

Sleep came on him then after eating the broth, and the Fomor were laughing at him, for his belly was the size of the cauldron of a great house. But he rose up after a while, and, heavy as he was, he made his way home; and indeed his dress was no way sightly, a cape to the hollow of the elbows, and a brown coat, long in the breast and short behind, and on his feet brogues of horse hide, with the hair outside, and in his hand a wheeled fork it would take eight men to carry, so that the track he left after him was deep enough for the boundary ditch of a province. And on his way he saw the Battle-Crow, the Morrigu, washing herself in the river Unius of Connacht, and one of her two feet at Ullad Echne, to the south of the water, and the other at Loscuinn, to the north of the water, and her hair hanging in nine loosened locks. And she said to the Dagda, that she would bring the heart's blood of Indech, son of De Domnann, that had threatened him, to the men of Ireland.

The Morrigu

And while he was away Lugh had called together the Druids, and smiths, and physicians, and law-makers, and chariot-drivers of Ireland, to make plans for the battle.

And he asked the great magician Mathgen what could he do to help them. "It is what I can do," said Mathgen, "through my power I can throw down all the mountains of Ireland on the Fomor, until their tops will be rolling on the ground. And the twelve chief mountains of Ireland will bring you their help," he said, "and will fight for you: Slieve Leag and Denda Ulad, and Bennai Boirche and Bri Ruri, and Slieve Bladma and Slieve Snechtae, and Slieve Mis and Blai-Slieve, and Nemthann and Slieve Macca Belgodon, and Segois and Cruachan Aigle."

Then he asked the cup-bearers what help they could give. "We will put a strong thirst on the Fomor," they said, "and then we will bring the twelve chief lochs of Ireland before them, and however great their thirst may be, they will find no water in them: Derc-Loch, Loch Luimnech, Loch Orbsen, Loch Righ, Loch Mescdhae, Loch Cuan, Loch Laeig, Loch Echach, Loch Febail, Loch Decket, Loch Riach, Mor-Loch. And we will go," they said, "to the twelve chief rivers of Ireland: the Buas, the Boinn, the Banna, the Nem, the Laoi, the Sionnan, the Muaid, the Sligech, the Samair, the Fionn, the Ruirtech, the Siuir; and they will all be hidden away from the Fomor the way they will not find a drop in them. But as for the men of Ireland," they said, "there will be drink for them if they were to be in the battle to the end of seven years."

And Figol, son of Mamos, the Druid, was asked then what he would do, and he said: "It is what I will do, I will cause three showers of fire to pour on the faces of the army of the Fomor, and I will take from them two-thirds of their bravery and their strength, and I will put sickness on their bodies, and on the bodies of their horses. But as to the men of Ireland," he said, "every breath they breathe will be an increase of strength and of bravery to them; and if they are seven years in the battle they will never be any way tired."

Then Lugh asked his two witches, Bechulle and Dianan: "What power can you bring to the battle?" "It is easy to say that," they said. "We will put enchantment on the trees and the stones and the sods of the earth, till they become an armed host against the Fomor, and put terror on them and put them to the rout."

Then Lugh asked Carpre, the poet, son of Etain, what could he do. "It is not hard to say that," said Carpre. "I will make a satire on them at sunrise, and the wind from the north, and I on a hill-top and my back to a thorn-tree, and a stone and a thorn in my hand. And with that satire," he said, "I will put shame on them and enchantment, the way they will not be able to stand against fighting men."

Then he asked Goibniu the Smith what would he be able to do. "I will do this," he said. "If the men of Ireland stop in the battle to the end of seven years, for every sword that is broken and for every spear that is lost from its shaft, I will put a new one in its place. And no spear-point that will be made by my hand," he said, "will ever miss its mark; and no man it touches will ever taste life again. And that is more than Dolb, the smith of the Fomor, can do," he said.

"And you, Credne," Lugh said then to his worker in brass, "what help can you give to our men in the battle?" "It is not hard to tell that," said Credne, "rivets for their spears and hilts for their swords and bosses and rims for their shields, I will supply them all."

"And you, Luchta," he said then to his carpenter, "what will you do?" "I will give them all they want of shields and of spear shafts," said Luchta.

Then he asked Diancecht, the physician, what would he do, and it is what he said: "Every man that will be wounded there, unless his head is struck off, or his brain or his marrow cut through, I will make him whole and sound again for the battle of the morrow."

Then the Dagda said: "Those great things you are boasting you will do, I will do them all with only myself." "It is you are the good god!" said they, and they all gave a great shout of laughter.

Then Lugh spoke to the whole army and put strength in them, so that each one had the spirit in him of a king or a great lord.

Then when the delay was at an end, the Fomor and the men of Ireland came on towards one another till they came to the plain of Magh Tuireadh. That now was not the same Magh Tuireadh where the first battle was fought, but it was to the north, near Ess Dara.

And then the two armies threatened one another. "The men of Ireland are daring enough to offer battle to us," said Bres to Indech, son of De Domnann. "I give my word," said Indech, "it is in small pieces their bones will be, if they do not give in to us and pay their tribute."

Now the Men of Dea had determined not to let Lugh go into the battle, because of the loss his death would be to them; and they left nine of their men keeping a watch on him.

And on the first day none of the kings or princes went into the battle, but only the common fighting men, and they fierce and proud enough.

For it was better for them, he said, to die protecting their own country than to live under bonds and under tribute any longer.

And the battle went on like that from day to day with no great advantage to one or the other side. But there was wonder on the Fomor on account of one thing. Such of their own weapons as were broken or blunted in the fight lay there as they were, and such of their own men as were killed showed no sign of life on the morrow; but it was not so with the Tuatha de Danaan, for if their men were killed or their weapons were broken to-day, they were as good as before on the morrow.

And this is the way that happened. The well of Slaine lay to the west of Magh Tuireadh to the east of Loch Arboch. And Diancecht and his son Octruil and his daughter Airmed used to be singing spells over the well and to be putting herbs in it; and the men that were wounded to death in the battle would be brought to the well and put into it as dead men, and they would come out of it whole and sound, through the power of the spells. And not only were they healed, but there was such fire put into them that they would be quicker in the fight than they were before.

Diancects Well

And as to the arms, it is the way they were made new every day. Goibniu the Smith used to be in the forge making swords and spears, and he would make a spear-head by three turns, and then Luchta the Carpenter would make the shaft by three cuts, and the third cut was a finish, and would set it in the ring of the spear. And when the spear-heads were stuck in the side of the forge, he would throw the shaft and the rings the way they would go into the spear-head and want no more setting. And then Credne the Brazier would make the rivets by three turns and would cast the rings of the spears to them, and with that they were ready and were set together.

Goibniu

And all this went against the Fomor, and they sent one of their young men to spy about the camp and to see could he find out how these things were done. It was Ruadan, son of Bres and of Brigit daughter of the Dagda they sent, for he was a son and grandson of the Tuatha de Danaan. So he went and saw all that was done, and came back to the Fomor.

And when they heard his story it is what they thought, that Goibniu the Smith was the man that hindered them most. And they sent Ruadan back again, and bade him make an end of him.

So he went back again to the forge, and he asked Goibniu would he give him a spear-head. And then he asked rivets of Credne, and a shaft of the carpenter, and all was given to him as he asked. And there was a woman there, Cron, mother to Fianlug, grinding the spears.

And after the spear being given to Ruadan, he turned and threw it at Goibniu, that it wounded him. But Goibniu pulled it out and made a cast of it at Ruadan, that it went through him and he died; and Bres, his father, and the army of the Fomor, saw him die. And then Brigit came and keened her son with shrieking and with crying.

And as to Goibniu, he went into the well and was healed. But after that Octriallach, son of Indech, called to the Fomor and bade each man of them bring a stone of the stones of Drinnes and throw them into the well of Slane. And they did that till the well was dried up, and a cairn raised over it, that is called Octriallach's Cairn.

And it was while Goibniu was making spear-heads for the battle of Magh Tuireadh, a charge was brought against his wife. And it was seen that it was heavy news to him, and that jealousy came on him. And it is what he did, there was a spear-shaft in his hand when he heard the story, Nes its name was; and he sang spells over the spear-shaft, and any one that was struck with that spear afterwards, it would burn him up like fire.

And at last the day of the great battle came, and the Fomor came out of their camp and stood in strong ranks. And there was not a leader or a fighting man of them was without good armour to his skin, and a helmet on his head, a broad spear in his right hand, a heavy sword in his belt, a strong shield on his shoulder. And to attack the army of the Fomor that day was to strike the head against a rock, or to go up fighting against a fire.

And the Men of Dea rose up and left Lugh and his nine comrades keeping him, and they went on to the battle; and Midhir was with them, and Bodb Dearg and Diancecht. And Badb and Macha and the Morrigu called out that they would go along with them.

And it was a hard battle was fought, and for a while it was going against the Tuatha de Danaan; and Nuada of the Silver Hand, their King, and Macha, daughter of Emmass, fell by Balor, King of the Fomor. And Cass-mail fell by Octriallach, and the Dagda got a dreadful wound from a casting spear that was thrown by Ceithlenn, wife of Balor.

Battle of Magh Tuireadh

But when the battle was going on, Lugh broke away from those that were keeping him, and rushed out to the front of the Men of Dea. And then there was a fierce battle fought, and Lugh was heartening the men of Ireland to fight well, the way they would not be in bonds any longer. For it was better for them, he said, to die protecting their own country than to live under bonds and under tribute any longer. And he sang a song of courage to them, and the hosts gave a great shout as they went into battle, and then they met together, and each of them began to attack the other.

Lugh rousing the men of Ireland to fight with all their spirit.

And there was great slaughter, and laying low in graves, and many comely men fell there in the stall of death. Pride and shame were there side by side, and hardness and red anger, and there was red blood on the white skin of young fighting men. And the dashing of spear against shield, and sword against sword, and the shouting of the fighters, and the whistling of casting spears and the rattling of scabbards was like harsh thunder through the battle. And many slipped in the blood that was under their feet, and they fell, striking their heads one against another; and the river carried away bodies of friends and enemies together.

Lugh and Balor , king of the Fomor , Lugh's own Grandfather, meet in battle.

Then Lugh and Balor met in the battle, and Lugh called out reproaches to him; and there was anger on Balor, and he said to the men that were with him: "Lift up my eyelid till I see this chatterer that is talking to me." Then they raised Balor's eyelid, but Lugh made a cast of his red spear at him, that brought the eye out through the back of his head, so that it was towards his own army it fell, and three times nine of the Fomor died when they looked at it. And if Lugh had not put out that eye when he did, the whole of Ireland would have been burned in one flash. And after this, Lugh struck his head off.

Lugh made a cast of his red spear at him, that brought the eye out through the back of his head

And as for Indech, son of De Domnann, he fell and was crushed in the battle, and blood burst from his mouth, and he called out for Leat Glas, his poet, as he lay there, but he was not able to help him. And then the Morrigu came into the battle, and she was heartening the Tuatha de Danaan to fight the battle well; and, as she had promised the Dagda, she took the full of her two hands of Indech's blood, and gave it to the armies that were waiting at the ford of Unius; and it was called the Ford of Destruction from that day.

The Morrigu takes the blood of Indech to embolden the armies at the ford of Unius .

And after that it was not a battle any more, but a rout, and the Fomor were beaten back to the sea. And Lugh and his comrades were following them, and they came up with Bres, son of Elathan, and no guard with him, and he said: "It is better for you to spare my life than to kill me. And if you spare me now," he said, "the cows of Ireland will never go dry." "I will ask an advice about that from our wise men," said Lugh. So he told Maeltine Mor-Brethach, of the Great Judgments, what Bres was after saying. But Maeltine said: "Do not spare him for that, for he has no power over their offspring, though he has power so long as they are living."

Then Bres said: "If you spare me, the men of Ireland will reap a harvest of corn every quarter." But Maeltine said: "The spring is for ploughing and sowing, and the beginning of summer for the strength of corn, and the beginning of autumn for its ripeness, and the winter for using it."

"That does not save you," said Lugh then to Bres. But then to make an excuse for sparing him, Lugh said: "Tell us what is the best way for the men of Ireland to plough and to sow and to reap."

"Let their ploughing be on a Tuesday, and their casting seed into the field on a Tuesday, and their reaping on a Tuesday," said Bres. So Lugh said that would do, and he let him go free after that.

It was in this battle Ogma found Orna, the sword of Tethra, a king of the Fomor, and he took it from its sheath and cleaned it. And when the sword was taken out of the sheath, it told all the deeds that had been done by it, for there used to be that power in swords.

And Lugh and the Dagda and Ogma followed after the Fomor, for they had brought away the Dagda's harp with them, that was called Uaitne. And they came to a feasting-house, and in it they found Bres and his father Elathan, and there was the harp hanging on the wall. And it was in that harp the Dagda had bound the music, so that it would not sound till he would call to it. And sometimes it was called Dur-da-Bla, the Oak of Two Blossoms, and sometimes Coir-cethar-chuin, the Four-Angled Music.

And when he saw it hanging on the wall it is what he said: "Come summer, come winter, from the mouth of harps and bags and pipes." Then the harp sprang from the wall, and came to the Dagda, and it killed nine men on its way.

And then he played for them the three things harpers understand, the sleepy tune, and the laughing tune, and the crying tune. And when he played the crying tune, their tearful women cried, and then he played the laughing tune, till their women and children laughed; and then he played the sleepy tune, and all the hosts fell asleep. And through that sleep the three went away through the Fomor that would have been glad to harm them. And when all was over, the Dagda brought out the heifer he had got as wages from Bres at the time he was making his dun. And she called to her calf, and at the sound of her call all the cattle of Ireland the Fomor had brought away as tribute, were back in their fields again.

And Cé, the Druid of Nuada of the Silver Hand, was wounded in the battle, and he went southward till he came to Carn Corrslebe. And there he sat down to rest, tired with his wounds and with the fear that was on him, and the journey. And he saw a smooth plain before him, and it full of flowers, and a great desire came on him to reach to that plain, and he went on till he came to it, and there he died. And when his grave was made there, a lake burst out over it and over the whole plain, and it was given the name of Loch Cé. And there were but four men of the Fomor left in Ireland after the battle, and they used to be going through the country, spoiling corn and milk and fruit, and whatever came from the sea, till they were driven out one Samhain night by the Morrigu and by Angus Og, that the Fomor might never be over Ireland again.

And after the battle was won, and the bodies were cleared away, the Morrigu gave out the news of the great victory to the hosts and to the royal heights of Ireland and to its chief rivers and its invers, and it is what she said: "Peace up to the skies, the skies down to earth, the earth under the skies; strength to every one."

And as to the number of men that fell in the battle, it will not be known till we number the stars of the sky, or flakes of snow, or the dew on the grass, or grass under the feet of cattle, or the horses of the Son of Lir in a stormy sea.

And Lugh was made king over the Men of Dea then, and it was at Nas he had his court.

And while he was king, his foster-mother Taillte, daughter of Magh Mor, the Great Plain, died. And before her death she bade her husband Duach the Dark, he that built the Fort of the Hostages in Teamhair, to clear away the wood of Cuan, the way there could be a gathering of the people around her grave. So he called to the men of Ireland to cut down the wood with their wide-bladed knives and bill-hooks and hatchets, and within a month the whole wood was cut down.

And Lugh buried her in the plain of Midhe, and raised a mound over her, that is to be seen to this day. And he ordered fires to be kindled, and keening to be made, and games and sports to be held in the summer of every year out of respect to her. And the place they were held got its name from her, that is Taillten.

And as to Lugh's own mother, that was tall beautiful Ethlinn, she came to Teamhair after the battle of Magh Tuireadh, and he gave her in marriage to Tadg, son of Nuada. And the children that were born to them were Muirne, mother of Finn, the Head of the Fianna of Ireland, and Tuiren, that was mother of Bran.

@ 064a50cc:2dd653e5

Are you also struggling to find a marketing agency for your business? Probably it would be yes atleast at some point of time. Since few years, marketing have gained a lot more importance in terms of business be it app or any other product marketing. In general if you ask me to define marketing, I would say- It is the best way to present your product and reach out to the right person in order to make it a named success. With the increasing market competitors, if you create an awesome app in all aspects with salient features, but fail to advertise it to the audience, all your efforts will drown because you couldn’t impress the audience who define your success.

There can be thousands of strategies to follow in the app marketing business. It just depends on what best works for you. All the companies listed here follow some or the other marketing strategy whichever they believe in.

For getting down to this conclusion, we have taken various factors into consideration which may be listed as- 1.The number of years they have been into the app marketing business. 2.The uniqueness they carry in the app marketing strategy. 3.The demographics they serve and have been more active. 4.The online rating and customer reviews on various sites like clutch and goodfirms. 5.Their overall performance, media existence and presence over different sources. 6.The clients and customers they have served in their business span which gives them a reputation to hold.

1.Cyber Infrastructure Inc. The first name in the List of Top App Marketing Agencies can surely be CIS as they are into this business since 14 years now. It was established with the aim to help customers succeed through high IT skills, and to bring in new employment opportunities in different countries and aid in country’s social development.

2.SeoEaze The company comprises of an expert team of professionals who know how to offer the best services to the clients and keep them satisfied. They expertise not only in SEO but also cover content marketing, social media, digital marketing and more.

3.Five Five is an App Marketing Agency based in Brooklyn, New York. It was setup back in 2007 and is being serving a large number of clients with their innovative solutions. They set the growth strategy, deliver the product, and continually track, analyze and optimize all the funnels.

4. Blue Label Labs It was established in 2009 and is based in US. They are known for providing end-to-end solution in the app development cycle- from development to app launch and also maintenance post launch.

5.Moburst Moburst is an app marketing agency based in San Francisco, California. It is a global mobile success company that helps leading brands and startups master the mobile arena. Their main specialty is helping companies conquer their toughest challenges through cost-effective, creative, and innovative mobile marketing campaigns.

6.Thinsquare LLC. Thinsquare is a USA based digital marketing agency established in 2012. In these years, even less than a decade, it is known for solutions like Web Development and E-marketing Services to the clients belonging to the different corners of the world.

7.Appency Working since 2009, Appency is a team of mobile marketers that serves you and hence you can make a big noise in the app ecosystem. It is an app specific marketing agency that work with different business bodies.

8. Dot com infoway It holds 18+ years of experience in the same domain. A tremendous growth is being observed in the recent years. The client count, projects, employee count all have grown remarkably since they were established.

9.Techmagnate It is a company that basically deals with marketing of apps and follow digital marketing campaign solely. They have professionals for all divisions of digital marketing like content marketing, SEO, PPC, etc.

10.QMobi It is a agency that works in quite a different way with unique solutions and strategies. They believe in doing things that the others say are impossible or beyond approach. It is originally based in San Francisco, CA but provides with solutions to the clients and customers worldwide.

Source: https://www.agicent.com/blog/top-app-marketing-agencies-usa/

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

IPFS problems: Shitcoinery

IPFS was advertised to the Ethereum community since the beggining as a way to "store" data for their "dApps". I don't think this is harmful in any way, but for some reason it may have led IPFS developers to focus too much on Ethereum stuff. Once I watched a talk showing libp2p developers – despite being ignored by the Ethereum team (that ended up creating their own agnostic p2p library) – dedicating an enourmous amount of work on getting a libp2p app running in the browser talking to a normal Ethereum node.

The always somewhat-abandoned "Awesome IPFS" site is a big repository of "dApps", some of which don't even have their landing page up anymore, useless Ethereum smart contracts that for some reason use IPFS to store whatever the useless data their users produce.

Again, per se it isn't a problem that Ethereum people are using IPFS, but it is at least confusing, maybe misleading, that when you search for IPFS most of the use-cases are actually Ethereum useless-cases.

See also

• Bitcoin, the only non-shitcoin

@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0

Android App Development Services from Agicent

Android is touted as the right choice for startups and emerging companies. Our Android development services ensure that it is fully capable of supporting established companies and their SME counterparts. We are an android development company that guarantees scalability with expertise in everything related to what is android app development.

Here are some of our prominent and Recent App releases, with their respective Android App Development Costs

Apple Pie is a fun social media app curated just for teachers! Take the teachers’ lounge to the Apple Pie app. The app offers major social features like following, comments, likes, threaded responses, notifications and advertisement rendering. We created it from the idea to everything now live!

Approx Development Cost: $ 40,000

TELE ASTRO CONSULTING APP - REAL TIME CALLS, BILLINGS, AND EARNINGS!

Jyotish for All or Astro for all is a Tele Astro consulting app just like any telemedicine app where you can talk to any live expert astrologer, tarot card reader, mystique on their per minute charge via video, audio calls or chats. The billing is real time, we implemented wallet which works globally and using Agora to facilitate the video calls, same framework that is being used in famous Clubhouse App. With 10K users in its first month of launch, we are hoping highly for the App.

Approx Development Cost: $ 60,000

Rates for Mobile App Developers on Demand

Following is the standard rate card for different Exp and skill levels of On Demand iOS App Developers. Besides this, we can also create a custom on Demand App Team and optimized the monthly rate based on your specific needs.

1 ) Junior Mobile App Developer

Exp. Level: 1-2 Years

Hands on iOS Development 3 Projects experience minimum Agicent’s inhouse trained Familiar with PM Tools

2) Mid-level Mobile App Developer

Exp. Level: 2-5 Years

10 Projects experience minimum Backend Experience Hands on CI/CD pipeline Manages Jr. Developers Perfect for complex react-native projects and fast Development.

3) Senior Mobile App Developer

Exp. Level: 5+ Years

15 Projects experience minimum Full Stack Developer Participate in Architecture play Tech. Lead Role.

Our work

Agicent Technologies, recognized as a top Android app development company, takes pride in an extensive portfolio of over 1000 mobile apps, web apps, games, and desktop software. Awarded as the Top App Company in 2021 by Mobile App Daily, Agicent collaborates with a diverse clientele, including startups (e.g., HASfit, Wellcure, SmartIRX), established companies (e.g., Anton Paar GmBH, State Restaurant Equipment Inc), and industry giants (e.g., Tata Consultancy Services). Each project reflects Agicent's commitment to delivering superior Android apps and digital products consistently.

App Development Process at Agicent App Company

1. The App Discovery Phase

The discovery phase is the most important foundation phase of any App development Project. Some clients come up with just an idea, some come up with App wireframes, and a few with full specifications (read – how to write app specs yourself?) and we modify the App Discovery Process Accordingly. Simply stating, this is what we do during discovery phase –

Step 1 – We understand your vision around the App idea, then you Business Goal, and the App’s ultimate Goal and USP. Step 2 – We gather features & functionality that you want in the app, we put our suggestions too and record everything. Step 3 – We discuss the strategy in terms of if you want to launch an MVP App first or a full product, your preferable launching date, marketing plans etc. Step 4 – We document all these requirements to put forward for the next step of App analysis, App Estimation, Technology & Architecture Identification.

1. The App Development Proposal

Once discovery phase is over, it is time for us to craft a custom App Development Proposal for you. The proposal is usually these parts –

Executive Summary, App’s Goal, Your Goal. About Teams. Cost of Development in phases, timelines, payment frequency. Delivery Schedule.

App Development Process, communication protocol, Project management cadence. Once you sign the proposal, we get going within a short lead time of usually 1 week and maximum 2 weeks.

1. Wireframes > Polished High-Fidelity Designs

We believe in user-oriented design led engineering, so whatever we need to offer to the user in terms of the App is to be visualized first – everything else later. Simply put, this is the step where you start visualizing your App in action first through black and white wireframes and then through high fidelity designs (Examples in images). The process is as follows –

App Wireframes Round 1 – Based on the feature list, we create first set of major screens as black and white App wireframes and send to you/ take a walkthrough together for feedback. The idea is to finalize the layout, user flow (UX) on the app.

App Wireframes Round 2 – Last round’s feedback are incorporated, and another round of approval feedback and once finalized we jump on creating high fidelity App designs.

App High Fidelity Designs Round 3 – Once wireframes are finalized, its time to put skin onto them. We pick the wireframes and then convert them into highly user friendly and aesthetically appealing intuitive app designs (see image) and send for your feedback.

1. Coding, Implantation, Testing, Interim Releases

All set and done, we start the heavy lifting here! Our App developers start doing the coding effort on all ends (Front end, Backend, Middle Layer). The project is divided into tasks and sub tasks assigned to the corresponding engineer and the work starts. Generally speaking, following is how the App Development proceeds –

Round 1 of App Development First set of features developed, released to Agicent’s App tester for internal Testing. Once they pass, we release it as an Interim Progressive App to the client of their review/ testing.

Round 2 of App Development – Next set of features developed, released to Agicent’s App tester for internal Testing. Once they pass, we release it as an Interim Progressive App to the client of their review/ testing.

Next Round of App Development – Integration of backend and front end, release dynamic (with real time data) App for internal testing and then to the client for their review.

Final Round (s) of App Development – All front-end Apps completed with full features, integrated fully with the backend, fully tested by our internal team. Then it is released to the client for their final review.

1. Warranty Phase

Generally, we offer FREE 6 months no strings attached warranty for any App Development project we undertake. So we have your back for half an year even after going live for no cost.

Future of Mobile App Development

1) Smart Home Automation/ IoT

There is no doubt that all new Apps are going to be IOTenabled in some way or another. You metaverse Apps will start controlling your home devices and car and many other aspects of life. With the advent of advanced internet enabled devices and appliances, it is become easier everyday to integrate your app with these for greater purposes than just consuming or generating the content.

We believe, mobile apps are going to play a core role in the advancement of Home automation and IOT world.

2) Advance Cross Platform Frameworks

All major cross platform communities are working towards making those as the perfect replacement of native technologies, so much so that they are striving to have single code base for not only different front end platforms but also for the backend. Ready to use libraries for repeat functions are being improved and we can soon see these cross-platform frameworks becoming the new Java of the mobile apps world.

3) Advance No Code Frameworks/ Low Code Frameworks

Not everyone can afford to hire a development team to create their app, and not everyone can learn to code oneself and this aspires innovative engineers to create Low Code/ No Code App Development Frameworks. These frameworks may not be able to create complex Apps using drag and drop kind of things today, but they are in pursuit of reaching at a point where they can blend with the custom code easily and save a lot of App development time and hence cost. They will charge their own fee, but it can be worth it atleast during the MVP phase.

4) High End Apps for Healthcare/ Personal Health

Healthcare is one of the biggest fields that is most receptive to technology advancements and exploited mobile apps for various usage like Telemedicine, EMR/ EHR, Health journaling, Insurance, device integration and more. However, the next wave of Mobile devices advancement may enable users to measure much more data points of their body than just heart rate or BP. New generation of Mobile devices and Apps will not just check on you when you want, but will keep a track of your overall data and life progress and help you avoiding future issues and keep healthy for long.

Source: https://www.agicent.com/android-development-company

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

A Causa

o Princípios de Economia Política de Menger é o único livro que enfatiza a CAUSA o tempo todo. os cientistas todos parecem não saber, ou se esquecer sempre, que as coisas têm causa, e que o conhecimento verdadeiro é o conhecimento da causa das coisas.

a causa é uma categoria metafísica muito superior a qualquer correlação ou resultado de teste de hipótese, ela não pode ser descoberta por nenhum artifício econométrico ou reduzida à simples antecedência temporal estatística. a causa dos fenômenos não pode ser provada cientificamente, mas pode ser conhecida.

o livro de Menger conta para o leitor as causas de vários fenômenos econômicos e as interliga de forma que o mundo caótico da economia parece adquirir uma ordem no momento em que você lê. é uma sensação mágica e indescritível.

quando eu te o recomendei, queria é te imbuir com o espírito da busca pela causa das coisas. depois de ler aquilo, você está apto a perceber continuidade causal nos fenômenos mais complexos da economia atual, enxergar as causas entre toda a ação governamental e as suas várias consequências na vida humana. eu faço isso todos os dias e é a melhor sensação do mundo quando o caos das notícias do caderno de Economia do jornal -- que para o próprio jornalista que as escreveu não têm nenhum sentido (tanto é que ele escreve tudo errado) -- se incluem num sistema ordenado de causas e consequências.

provavelmente eu sempre erro em alguns ou vários pontos, mas ainda assim é maravilhoso. ou então é mais maravilhoso ainda quando eu descubro o erro e reinsiro o acerto naquela racionalização bela da ordem do mundo econômico que é a ordem de Deus.

em scrap para T.P.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Splitpages

The simplest possible service: it splitted PDF pages in half.

Created specially to solve the problem of those scanned books that come with two pages side-by-side as if they were a single page and are much harder to read on Kindle because of that.

It required me to learn about Heroku Buildpacks though, and fork or contribute to a Heroku Buildpack that embedded a mupdf binary.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/splitpages
• https://splitpages.herokuapp.com/

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

tempreites

My first library to get stars on GitHub, was a very stupid templating library that used just HTML and HTML attributes ("DSL-free"). I was inspired by http://microjs.com/ at the time and ended up not using the library. Probably no one ever did.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/tempreites

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

I got bailed out by a last minute odds swing. Whoever put a bunch of sats down on the Bills right before the game, thank you. I came out ahead with that Chiefs win. If the Packers had pulled off their upset, it would have been a big weekend.

The NFL Conference Championship games are up at freebitcoin. Based on what we saw this weekend, I like taking the 49ers in a bounceback performance.

Also, they've got cricket matches up, if that's anyone's cup of tea. If I could find independent odds for those, I'd give it a shot, but for now their stayaways for me.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Boardthreads

This was a very badly done service for turning a Trello list into a helpdesk UI.

Surprisingly, it had more paying users than Websites For Trello, which I was working on simultaneously and dedicating much more time to it.

The Neo4j database I used for this was a very poor choice, it was probably the cause of all the bugs.

-https://github.com/fiatjaf/boardthreads

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Viva o mata-mata

outro dia o comentarista Falcão, da Globo, disse, sobre o título do São Paulo: [i]"um jogo se ganha com um bom ataque, um campeonato se ganha com uma boa defesa"[/i], e foi deveras assustador pensar no que se transformou o futebol com o sistema de disputa do campeonato brasileiro por pontos corridos. um esporte em que vencia quem fazia mais gols está se transformando num esporte em que vence quem leva menos gols. é o sistema de pontos corridos - que premia a constância, o time que perde menos, mesmo que isso signifique empatar todos os jogos fora de casa em 0x0 e vencer todos em casa por 1x0. o sistema de pontos corridos premia o futebol feio, covarde, ou - como também é conhecido o futebol retranqueiro - o "equilíbrio".

eis que o futebol brasileiro, resolvendo seguir a linha européia, institui a disputa por pontos corridos e se transforma numa cópia malfeita e pobre do chato futebol europeu. e perde-se tudo que tínhamos de aqui que eles não tinham lá (é claro, os europeus têm mais estrutura, mais dinheiro, mais tudo), a ousadia, os brios, a coragem, a categoria e o escambau.

daí falam que o sistema de pontos corridos é mais justo. é mais justo porque dá o título aos times que jogaram melhor durante o campeonato, os mais regulares. mas ninguém disse por que não é justo premiar os times que conseguem vencer na semifinal e na final, o time que consegue ser pior o campeonato inteiro e no final tirar forças não sei de onde pra vencer aquele que era (ou parecia ser) bem melhor do que ele, o time que dá a volta por cima, o time que - mesmo não sendo regular - sabe jogar em decisões, sabe se segurar em um estádio com 80 mil torcendo contra e sabe aproveitar quando há 80 mil torcendo a favor e matar o adversário. o melhor time é o que vai ganhando pontinhos em jogos bobos e no final junta tudo e a soma dá mais do que os pontinhos do adversário ou é o time que consegue entrar num estádio numa final e derrotar, cara a cara, o adversário?

e quem disse que futebol é regularidade? repare que não se ouve mais a expressão desde o início dos pontos corridos, mas futebol é uma caixinha de surpresas. dos esportes que eu conheço, futebol é o único em que o último colocado pode vencer o primeiro e ninguém considerar isso um absurdo. com os pontos corridos, morrem metade dos componentes do futebol: o amor pelo ataque - conforme explicitado na supracitada afirmação de Falcão - a coragem, os brios e a emoção.

ao premiar a regularidade no futebol, pode-se estar chamando de “campeão” um time que facilmente tremeria numa final. e não é justo que um time covarde seja campeão. duvido que o São Paulo de 2007 jogaria bem numa final contra o Flamengo. e dificilmente o Corinthians de 2005 venceria uma final contra o Internacional (aliás, perdeu, moralmente, aquele jogo que foi quase uma final entre os dois).

mas se todo mundo gosta tanto assim desse campeonato de pseudo-futebol, vem aí a Copa do Mundo por pontos corridos.

@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0

iOS app development refers to the creation of applications specifically designed for devices running the iOS operating system, such as iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch. Skilled developers use programming languages like Swift or Objective-C to design, code, test, and deploy apps, ensuring compatibility with Apple's ecosystem. The process involves attention to user experience, performance optimization, and adherence to Apple's guidelines.

iOS App Development Services from Agicent

The first iOS App created by us was 14 years ago, back in 2010. It was a Medical EMR App for a client named GloStreem, Inc in Michigan and since then we never looked back. We’ve seen the iOS platform grown from a nascent restricted platform to now an all-revolutionary platform of choice by billions. Being an iphone App Development Company, we make sure that our iOS Developers (from junior to senior level) have enough real project experience (from iOS App Development to launch) before we deploy them on your project.

Rates for iOS App Developers on Demand

Following is the standard rate card for different Exp and skill levels of On Demand iOS App Developers. Besides this, we can also create a custom on Demand App Team and optimized the monthly rate based on your specific needs.

Junior iOS Developer

Exp. Level: 1-2 Years

Hands on iOS Development 3 Projects experience minimum Agicent’s inhouse trained Familiar with PM Tools Perfect for rapid MVPs and maintenance iOS works

Mid-level iOS Developer

Exp. Level: 2-5 Years

10 Projects experience minimum Backend Experience Hands on CI/CD pipeline Manages Jr. Developers

Senior iOS Developer

Exp. Level: 5+ Years

All of Mid-level Exp +

15 Projects experience minimum Full Stack Developer Participate in Architecture Ability to play Tech. Lead Role

Best Practices followed by Agicent iOS App Development Company

Preparation, Architecture, Tech Stack identification

Before starting to code, we need to make an architecture of the project. Project becomes strong via its solid architecture only. Architecture primarily includes the data modelling and flow modelling, however identification of third-party libraries to be integrated, usage of stock features or custom code, identification of side technologies (like for payment processing, for GPS location, for Map technology, for OCR and so on) is worthy to be discussed during the architecture phase.

Create and Follow Documentation, Make Project Wiki

Description of the desired project outcome will help you to keep on track the work. Documentation of the code will be an incredible source to know about HOW and most importantly WHY things had been done in a particular way. Business logic, especially in bigger projects, is sometimes hard to comprehend for a newly introduced iOS Developer and an easily available documentation is the best solution to preempt such situation. In fact, creating a project wiki is your best bet that will help any future developers to comprehend and understand and work on the project most efficiently. Successful projects need proper controlling over development and testing, which is easy with documentation.

Follow Apple App Store Guidelines and Rules

When you create an iOS App, you are basically creating something that has to be compliant to the rules and regulation of the Apple Ecosystem. It is imperative to go through the Apple’s set of guidelines time to time (as they update that time to time) for better hands-on understanding so developers can better educate their clients and managers on feasibility and do’s and don’ts. Apple Guidelines cover multiple intricacies like safety, performance, business, design and legal issues.

Common mistakes during iOS App Development – we’ve to Avoid these!

Following are some of the common mistakes being done by many iOS Developers that end up being problematic for future scaling or fixing.

Need to handle asynchronous code properly.

UI related code should run on main thread and not on any priority thread. This is important to make sure the App’s user experience and performance remains seamless.

Concurrency and Multithreading should be implemented properly. When we say properly it means applying it shouldn’t break any other process or functionality or applying it just for the sake of it.

Mutable objects should be properly handled.

XIBs should be used instead of storyboards.

Object and pointer should be properly differentiated

Logging should be properly managed.

Leave time and tools for Debugging.

Future of iOS Development

More Powerful Camera, hence more powerful Photo/ Video Apps The new iOS Devices are bound to have much better camera and video quality and that means there will be great opportunity to create much better photo and video apps. Also, a high-end powerful camera may also serve in creating Apps for different usage than just photo/ video sharing like in healthcare, industry, IoT and also in policing and defense.

How about having a camera that scan inside of your mouth for dentist or ENT experts, or a Camera that is so powerful that you can measure changes in your skin and journal that, or a Camera that does an accurate OCR as you click pictures and attached a narrated story right away, the possibilities of Camera Apps with an high end camera are endless.

Creator Friendly Environment hence creator friendly Apps

The world belongs to content creators these days, and the iOS Devices currently are widely used for content creation. However, there are multiple challenges like lesser storage space to store high fidelity videos for long time (though you buy it via cloud), not enough screen sizes for video editing, less apparatus for better sound recording (you need an external mic for better recording). Imagine an iOS App that absolutely creator friendly, that let two people talk in a talk show without having an external mic, or Apps that can let you edit your videos as good as you can do on a big studio with a professional editor, and damn making a whole 2 hours movie using nothing but just iPhones – sounds over enthusiastic or crazy, well we all see this being as real animals very soon.

IoT (Internet of Things), Home Automation

Home automation is here and so as various devices using internet to communicate with each other and perform functions (IoT). The future iOS Apps will leverage amazingly high-speed processors and 5G and beyond internet speed to facilitate much more robust Home Automation and IoT Apps for everyday usage. So far, IOT Apps are largely being used by industry but the near future will have IOT Apps being used in every household.

The future iOS Apps in IOT and Home Automation may do switching on the garage lights when your doorbell rings, or streaming different music in different rooms of your home, or controlling your HVAC system as per the outside temperature and your mood, or letting you read a book on the wall in front of your eyes instead of just small iOS screen. Again, our ideas may know a boundary but the future holds Apps that will ease out our lives in many ways that we can think of as crazy right now.

Source: https://www.agicent.com/ios-development-company

@ 46fcbe30:6bd8ce4d

Opinion about the nostr-opinion-plugin

yet again a test with positive sentiment

#WalletScrutiny #NostrComment

This is a test of the nostr-opinion-plugin

@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0

How to write App specifications documents?

An App specification document is nothing but a sequential story of what all your intended App user can possibly do on your App. The more you describe the user story, the better your App Development Company will be able to understand the scope and complexity of the App project and be able to offer you a better quote or estimation. A mobile app spec template outlines project details, features, and goals. It serves as a roadmap for developers, ensuring a clear understanding of the app's requirements and objectives.

Introduction of Application

You can write as “We are looking to develop a taxi app like uber but with a twist related to the occasion of travel, and we are targeting everyone in New York area at first so that they can book cars for occasions like wedding, birthday parties, business meetings, leisure etc and the driver and cab would be tailor-made for the occasion.”

Brief Introduction of Your Startup, Experience, Founders

Tell others what you are up to, are you funding privately or have raised a seed, experience of co-founders, long and short term vision of the startup. Consider you are hiring not just an App Development Company, but a team that should be knowing you and feel confident and glad to be a part. Sharing most amount of information on your behalf because that’ll be most meaning in understanding your requirements.

Mobile OS Platforms to Target

Mention the kind of devices you want to target. It will be beneficial for you to ask for both the Android and iOS platforms in the beginning. Although based upon your target audience, you can either ask for just Android or iOS. In fact, it can be great if you even ask for a dedicated website. You can always ask separate cost per platform, so mention that as well.

Services Needed from the App Development Company

An App development Company like our’s (Agicent Technologies) could offer a lot more than just coding services that can be related to your requirement like

App Design & Development services.

App Development Services.

App Design Services.

App Store Optimization, App marketing.

Full Stack Development.

Consulting Services.

So you should mention specifically what you are looking for if you have the design already then you only need app development service, and if you are a developer yourself then you can ask for only app design services. You can ask for App consulting services also when you only have an idea and concept, and looking for a Mobile Consultant to understand everything, create wireframes, propose development approach etc.

Most of our first-time customers need all the services, and we happily offer the same. Although no one is stopping you from getting a custom service from our side.

The Core of This App Specs Document

The App Shall Be Having These Categories of Users

End users (People looking to find, review, and go to bars). Bar Owners (who maintain their profile, send offers etc). Admin (Owner of the app). Functionality for End User

Sign up using Facebook, Google, and Phone.

Update profile (enter DoB etc).

Allows permission to track location.

Allows permission to access camera, photo, contacts.

App would capture age (should be minimum 21 years), gender, email ID and phone number of party-goers.

Once the user confirms he is 21 or more, he shall see the next screen for bar location (current location or search his city). After choosing your city the user shall then select which type of bar (for example sports bar, dive bar, speakeasy/prohibition bar, arcade/game bars). Clubs from city like Vegas and Miami.

After choosing your city and type of bar you are looking for then it should pop up a list of bars (coming from backend) and we should rotate every two weeks (using admin) which bars are going to be the top 10 in that area, it will be easier to do this once we get users downloading and hitting the application because then we can pull data and users comments on who got the most hit and which bars most users seem to be attached to.

A user shall be able to check-in the bar on the app when he physically checks in.

Functionality of Website for Bar Owners Signup, registration after authentication (via email ID or phone number). Bars will have their profile page that they can update their info (name, contact person, email, Twitter/ Facebook, location on map, pictures, description, speciality). Bars will have the ability to post pics of their flyer, happy hour specials, any post they want to saying getting people in for the night, videos of past performers that will be returning soon etc. Admin features Ability to moderate users and bar owners. Logs into username/ password secured, admin portal on any browser, and see user analytics (number of users on the app, new downloads, their email IDs/ contact details). Ability to see the number of hits on every bar during a period of time, the number of check-ins people have reported on the bar. Mandatory Features: Apart from the usual features that most applications in the niche need to have, there are features that makes your app different and are important. Make sure you establish all of them in your app specifications documents.

Scope of the Features

These are all the mandatory features that your application should have. It ensures that you are meeting the market demand of a standard application in its niche. If the base idea of your app is a little different from the regular then defining it will build a clear story of what is important and can’t be left without.

Errors

Lot of initial builds of any application has multiple bugs. Although, there are certain errors that aren’t accepted. For instance, a crashing application or your application getting stuck on a particular screen. Many a times, the application faces proper navigation issues which shouldn’t happen in the first place.

Communications

It is important that you make sure that the story is complete from your side. The more precise information is imparted regarding the application, the easier it is for the developer to develop your application.

Setting a Criterion

It is essential that you set up a criteria for each important feature for acceptance

Source: https://www.agicent.com/how-to-write-app-specs

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

O caso da Grêmio TV

enquanto vinha se conduzindo pela plataforma superior daquela arena que se pensava totalmente preenchida por adeptos da famosa equipe do Grêmio de Porto Alegre, viu-se, como por obra de algum nigromante - dos muitos que existem e estão a todo momento a fazer más obras e a colocar-se no caminhos dos que procuram, se não fazer o bem acima de todas as coisas, a pelo menos não fazer o mal no curso da realização dos seus interesses -, o discretíssimo jornalista a ser xingado e moído em palavras por uma horda de malandrinos a cinco ou seis passos dele surgida que cantavam e moviam seus braços em movimentos que não se pode classificar senão como bárbaros, e assim cantavam:

Grêmio TV pior que o SBT !

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Qual é o economista? (piadas)

O economista americano rapper ficou triste quando sua banda brasileira favorita encerrou suas atividades por crer que a demanda por discos de rap seria cada vez pior. Resposta: Robert Lucas e as expectativas dos Racionais.

O economista inglês queria muito arrumar uma namorada. Resposta: John Maynard Keynes e a demanda afetiva.

Quando o filho do economista austríaco chegou em casa todo sujo ele sem nem pensar ordenou que o moleque fosse tomar banho. Resposta: Friedrich Hayek e a ordem espontânea.

O economista americano tinha muito orgulho de ter em sua casa um valiosíssimo quadro de um impressionista francês. Resposta: Milton Friedman e o Monet raríssimo.

O economista austríaco jurou aos seus filhos que todos eles se mudariam para Brasília. Resposta: Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk e o “eu juro” da capital.

O economista alemão organizou um evento meio sertanejo meio religioso e colocou como organizador uma executiva que tinha quebrado suas últimas 4 empresas por má administração. Resposta: Karl Marx e a expo-oração da que mais-falia.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Problemas com Russell Kirk

A idéia central da “política da prudência[^1]” de Russell Kirk me parece muito correta, embora tenha sido melhor formulada pior no seu enorme livro do que em uma pequena frase do joanadarquista Lucas Souza: “o conservadorismo é importante, porque tem muita gente com idéia errada por aí, e nós podemos não saber distingüi-las”.

Porém, há alguns problemas que precisam ser esclarecidos, ou melhor explicados, e que me impedem de enxergar os seus argumentos como refutação final do meu já tão humilde (embora feroz) anarquismo. São eles:

I Percebo alguma coisa errada, não sei bem onde, entre a afirmação de que toda ideologia é ruim, ou “todas as ideologias causam confusão[^2]”, e a proposta conservadora de “conservar o mundo da ordem que herdamos, ainda que em estado imperfeito, de nossos ancestrais[^3]”. Ora, sem precisar cair em exemplos como o do partido conservador inglês -- que conservava a política inglesa sempre onde estava, e se alternava no governo com o partido trabalhista, que a levava cada vez mais um pouco à esquerda --, está embutida nessa frase, talvez, a idéia, que ao mesmo tempo é clara e ferrenhamente combatida pelos próprios conservadores, de que a história é da humanidade é uma história de progresso linear rumo a uma situação melhor.

Querer conservar o mundo da ordem que herdamos significa conservar também os vários erros que podem ter sido cometidos pelos nossos ancestrais mais recentes, e conservá-los mesmo assim, acusando toda e qualquer tentativa de propôr soluções a esses erros de ideologia? Ou será que conservar o mundo da ordem é escolher um período determinado que seja tido como o auge da história humana e tentar restaurá-lo em nosso próprio tempo? Não seria isto ideologia?

Ou, ainda, será que conservar o mundo da ordem é selecionar, entre vários períodos do passado, alguns pedaços que o conservador considerar ótimos em cada sociedade, fazer dali uma mistura de sociedade ideal baseada no passado e então tentar implementá-la? Quem saberia dizer quais são as partes certas?

II Sobre a questão do que mantém a sociedade civil coesa, Russell Kirk, opondo-a à posição libertária de que o nexo da sociedade é o autointeresse, declara que a posição conservadora é a de que “a sociedade é uma comunidade de almas, que une os mortos, os vivos e os ainda não nascidos, e que se harmoniza por aquilo que Aristóteles chamou de amizade e os cristãos chamam de caridade ou amor ao próximo”.

Esta é uma posição muito correta, mas me parece estar em contradição com a defesa do Estado que ele faz na mesma página e na seguinte. O que me parece errado é que a sociedade não pode ser, ao mesmo tempo, uma “comunidade baseada no amor ao próximo” e uma comunidade que “requer não somente que as paixões dos indivíduos sejam subjugadas, mas que, mesmo no povo e no corpo social, bem como nos indivíduos, as inclinações dos homens, amiúde, devam ser frustradas, a vontade controlada e as paixões subjugadas” e, pior, que “isso somente pode ser feito por um poder exterior”.

Disto aí podemos tirar que, da mesma forma que Kirk define a posição libertária como sendo a de que o autointeresse é que mantém a sociedade civil coesa, a posição conservadora seria então a de que essa coesão vem apenas do Estado, e não de qualquer ligação entre vivos e mortos, ou do amor ao próximo. Já que, sem o Estado, diz, ele, citando Thomas Hobbes, a condição do homem é “solitária, pobre, sórdida, embrutecida e curta”?

[^1]: este é o nome do livro e também um outro nome que ele dá para o próprio conservadorismo (p.99). [^2]: p. 101 [^3]: p. 102

@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0

The cost of creating a mobile app can be as low as $ 1000 or as big as $ 100 K, so the general answer to the question “How much does it cost to develop an app” is “It Depends”. For the uninitiated, An App MVP is generally developed in between $ 5000 to $ 15000 and within 8 to 12 weeks. If it takes more than this time and cost then we don’t call it an MVP, because it is more of a full-fledged product with all bells and whistles.

Almost all successful Apps need continuous development, feature enhancements, and localization etc and such projects should be done on a monthly fee model rather than fixed price. The monthly fee for continuous development can start from as low as $ 2900 per month and can go upward if you use more than 1 App developer in the team. You can find out cost of App Developers on Monthly basis using this App Development Team rates calculator.

Hidden Mobile App Development Costs That You Must Know?

1) Cost to publish Apps to their respective Stores

Apple charges $ 99 yearly for their App publisher program enrollment so that you can publish and sell things via your App. Google charges one time $ 25 for the same process for their Google Play store.

2) Server and Infrastructure Cost

Server cost for a new app can be as low as free for an year or may be $ 10 to 30 when you have some good thousands of the users. The cost of server and infrastructure increases when you have large number of active users (say 50 K or more) who are exchanging data regularly on the app. The cost of server actually depends more upon the “interactions users have with the app frequently” than just the number of users on the app. You can always use a cloud hosting service that you can upgrade when the number of users and their usage increase. Nothing much to worry about unless your app is successful.

3) App Marketing Cost

Not a very hidden cost, however we’ve seen many first time entrepreneurs don’t factor it in the way it demands. There are only a few Apps in the world that may have gotten famous without marketing, otherwise you have to spend on marketing and App promotion in order to gain more users. The marketing efforts can be free or paid channels but they do involve human resource and cost nevertheless. As a rule of thumb, you need to spend $ 1 to $ 3 to acquire a new App user who installs and uses the app. So if we need 10,000 users then marketing cost can be $ 10,000 $ 30,000. Depending upon how users take your App, the marketing cost in the long run can be lesser per user or more.

Fixed Price vs Continuous App Development Cost :-

Fixed Price App Development Cost

Depending upon the success of the App and the nature of its business, you may either end up creating an App one time and maintain it only when needed and in such a case a one time cost would sufficient For example, you create a simple Loan Calculator App that has no big complexity or updates, and such a simple app can be created one time in let’s say $ 5000 and no further cost would be needed except some yearly maintenance that will cost you almost negligible.

Continuous App Development Cost

Now take an example of a Social Media App like Tiktok or any other App where there are more than one core features and when they compete in a highly competitive space. In such cases, you need to add new features, enhancements, updates on your App on regular basis and also the demand of maintenance would be higher because of large number of users, features, inter-operability of features, algorithms, server demands and what not. So you can’t predict a fixed price cost for these kind of apps (which means “most of the consumer apps”), and that is why a “Continuous development model” fits best here. You hire a team of developers to continuously work on your app. You add more number of developers, Tech leads, testers, designers depending upon your business need.

Different App Development Pricing Models

1) Fixed Price App Development Model :-

It is a model in which the client explains their precise requirements, and based on that, the total project cost would be given along with a clear deadline. This model is great for small projects that have pretty much fixed scope of work, and have less chances of scope change during the development. Pretty good model for the MVP development.

2) Offshore Dedicated Development Team:-

When you have more than one projects, or when the sub projects of one projects are the size of an individual project on its own (like 5 people + per sub project) then it is better to have your own offshore development team working dedicatedly for you. This model is perfect for large Tech clients, Ecommerce clients, industrial clients. You can check monthly rates of Offshore Developers for different skills and experience level here.

In Agicent, A solid team of 115 App developers with a 13 + years of experience and have created successful Apps from the scratch like HASfit, Wellcure, Aiko & Egor – Agicent is an App Development Company of choice for all the startups who are looking for more than the development services.

Agicent has helped startups in not only creating the MVP versions of their App but also their full-fledged product versions that are being used by millions of users. We help our startups with not just technology but also with marketing, promotions and also invest in the ideas we love or help you raise funding for them. No wonder why we’ve customers and Apps that are working with us for more than 10 years, with continuous success with their Apps and overall digital offerings.

Working with Agicent is simple and transparent, you ask us for a fixed price quote and we’ll work with you in identifying the scope of the work and then estimate that for you. You ask us for a continuous development team and you are provided with the finest developers, project managers, testers, designer as a whole package to get you going.

Source :- https://www.costtodevelopapp.com/

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Custom spreadsheets

The idea was to use it to make an app that would serve as custom database for everything and interact with the spreadsheet so people could play and calculate with their values after they were created by the custom app, something like an MS Access integrated with Excel?

My first attempt that worked (I believe there was an attempt before but I have probably deleted it from everywhere) was this react-microspreadsheet thing (at the time called react-spreadsheet before I donated the npm name to someone who asked):

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/react-microspreadsheet

This was a very good spreadsheet component that did many things current "react spreadsheet" components out there don't do. It had formulas; support for that handle thing that you pulled with the mouse and it autofilled cells with a pattern; it had keyboard navigation with Ctrl, Shift, Ctrl+Shift; it had that thing through which you copy-pasted formulas and they would change their parameters depending on where you pasted them (implemented in a very poor manner because I was using and thinking about Excel in baby mode at the time).

Then I tried to make it into "a small sheet you can share" kind of app through assemblymade.com, and eventually as I tried to add more things bugs began to appear.

Then there was cycle6-spreadsheet:

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/spreadsheet-cycle6

If I remember well this was very similar to the other one, although made almost 2 years after. Despite having the same initial goal of the other (the multi-app custom database thing) it only yielded:

• Sidesheet, a Chrome extension that opened a spreadsheet on the side of the screen that you could use to make calculations and so on. It worked, but had too many bugs that probably caused me to give up entirely.

I'm not sure which of the two spreadsheets above powers http://sheets.alhur.es.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

contratos.alhur.es

A website that allowed people to fill a form and get a standard Contrato de Locação.

Better than all the other "templates" that float around the internet, which are badly formatted .doc files.

It was fully programmable so other templates could be added later, but I never did. This website made maybe one dollar in Google Ads (and Google has probably stolen these like so many other dollars they did with their bizarre requirements).

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/contratos
• http://contratos.alhur.es

@ 064a50cc:2dd653e5

Once you’ve your App product idea in mind, the next most important question you mostly encounter is “How can I hire an app developer or put together an app development team?” The simple answer is — you can hire an App Development Company, or Hire an App Developer Freelancer, or hire An Offshore App Development Team. We’ll go into details of all these options and some more further in this article, so by the time you end up reading you’ll be well well versed in the following: Finding an App Developer, Shortlisting an App developer, hiring an app developer, negotiating on App development cost and much more.

The global count of smartphone users has surpassed three billion and is projected to further escalate in the forthcoming years. This wave in smartphone demand has triggered a parallel wave in the demand for mobile apps and their development.

The requirement for no-cost mobile app construction tools is also currently at a peak, coinciding with the exponential expansion of the market. Numerous bespoke app development firms operate within this market, alongside Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms that facilitate do-it-yourself app creation without the need for coding skills.

Top Places to Source and Hire App Developers In the dynamic realm of app development, the journey toward crafting a standout digital solution commences with the pivotal choice of your development team. Just as a treasure map leads to hidden gems, this section serves as a compass, guiding you through the top avenues where the brightest app development minds converge. From specialized development firms to global marketplaces, personal networks, and tech hubs, we’ll unravel the diverse pathways that usher your app’s journey toward excellence. Come along as we traverse these corridors of innovation and unravel the possibilities that lie within when you’re on the hunt for the ideal app developer.

Hire an App Developer from An App Development Company When embarking on the journey of app development, one of the most sensible choices is to collaborate with an established app development company. This avenue presents a host of advantages that set it apart as the premier choice for sourcing app developers and teams.

An app development company houses a multifaceted team of experts, each specializing in distinct areas — from designers and developers to testers and architects. This comprehensive skill set ensures that every facet of the app’s creation is meticulously addressed.

Hiring from Freelance Marketplaces While freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Freelancer.com offer a convenient platform to connect with individual app developers, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before opting for this avenue. Freelancers can be cost-effective, especially for smaller projects or specific tasks. The flexibility to hire on a project-by-project basis is appealing for startups who have limited budgets.

Hiring from Personal Circles or Platforms like LinkedIn Sourcing app developers from personal networks or professional platforms like LinkedIn might seem appealing due to the familiarity and potential ease of communication. However, it is critical to recognize the disadvantages of this strategy.

The main drawback lies in the unpredictability of finding the right fit within a specific timeframe. While personal connections might offer convenience, they may not always possess the necessary skills or availability required for the project. This can lead to delays, frustration, and potentially compromised quality.

Sourcing App Developers from Tech Blogs or Forums Exploring tech blogs or forums to source app developers might seem like an unconventional approach, but it comes with its share of challenges. While some tech aficionados may provide useful insights and ideas, depending only on this route for complete app development might be dangerous. The primary drawback lies in the lack of structured project management and accountability. Engaging with individuals solely through online platforms might result in miscommunication, missed deadlines, and a lack of oversight. The absence of a dedicated team working in tandem can hinder the collaborative process that is necessary for creating a high-quality app.

Elevating Your App Vision with Agicent: The Definitive Choice In the fast-paced world of app development, where several options compete for your attention, the route to excellence is created by making strategic decisions that correspond with your vision and ambitions. Among the plethora of avenues available, one distinct choice emerges as the epitome of comprehensive solutions: partnering with an app development company like Agicent.

Conclusion In the ever-changing landscape of app entrepreneurship, the quest to hire the perfect app developer is like choosing the right toppings for your pizza — it can make or break the entire experience! As you embark on this whimsical journey, it’s crucial to recognize that app development is not just about summoning a coding wizard; it’s more like assembling a squad of multidisciplinary superheroes who join forces to craft a knockout app.

The challenges and insights we’ve traversed in this blog unveil the hidden treasures of the hiring process. From sketching out your project blueprint and scrutinising technical prowess to balancing budgets, dissecting portfolios, and gazing into the crystal ball of long-term visions — each step is akin to picking the right emojis for your digital masterpiece.

Source: https://www.agicent.com/blog/hire-app-developer/

@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0

React native App Development Services from Agicent ?

We used to use various flavors of Javascript long before react native came into being and once it came, we went all big on it. There were times when React-native and other cross platform technologies (like Flutter, Ionic, QT) were only good for creating App MVPs and had a lot of issues such as integration with third party libraries, with Device’s own hardware capabilities and so on. But today as of mid-2022 we can safely say that React Native can help building as good or superior apps as a native tech would do and that do with single coding effort. Its like Java of old days, “Write once, run anywhere”.

Theoretically, an App that you can make in React-native can be created in Flutter or ionic or in native technologies too. However, if we have to rate the cross-platform technologies, react native rules the roost hands down because of its larger community support, flexible frameworks, and capability to generate the native code over other platforms.

Rates for react native App Developers on Demand

Following is the standard rate card for different Exp and skill levels of On Demand Reac Native App Developers. Besides this, we can also create a custom on Demand App Team and optimized the monthly rate based on our specific needs.

Junior React Native Developer

Exp. Level: 1-2 Years

Hands on react native Development.

3 Projects experience minimum.

Agicent’s inhouse trained.

Familiar with PM Tools

Perfect for rapid MVPs and maintenance react native works

Starting at $ 2200 /mo.

Mid-level React Native Developer

Exp. Level: 2-5 Years

All of Jr. Dev +

10 Projects experience minimum.

Has Backend Experience.

Hands on CI/CD pipeline.

Manages Jr. Developers.

Perfect for complex react-natived projects and fast Development

Starting at $ 2900 /mo.

Senior React Native Developer

Exp. Level: 5+ Years

All of Mid-level Exp +

15 Projects experience minimum.

Full Stack Developer.

Participate in Architecture.

Ability to play Tech. Lead Role.

Perfect for bigger size projects with multi teams

Starting at $ 3800 /mo

BEST Practices followed by Agicent React Native App Development Company

First and foremost, we critically analyze if the App project is a good candidate for cross platform or react native development or not. In some pretty niche Apps, native can still be a technology of choice so ruling out this possibility is most important first step. Once it is identified that react native is the tech of choice, we then figure out the backend stack (like node.js or graphql, or traditional LAMP stack), or web front-end third-party libraries, like vue.js, typescript, redux etc. If it’s a regular kind of app that we do time and again (like a dating app or ecommerce app, or healthcare app) then we decide on tech stack in few hours only; if it is a niche one- of-a-kind project (like an AI based app suggesting you medicine dosage or an App that heavily uses some third- party APIs for its core function – like creating digital avatars or facilitates Holoportation) then we take more than few hours to check on libraries, their scalability with react native and then decide.

Performance optimization, Build optimization

Native applications are top performers because they use stock APIs, patters, and enjoy best support from the OEM’s OS and hardware and you achieve great performance by the virtue of the platform. However, in case of creating a react native app, which is cross platform by the way you have to use a variety of testing tools (like Appium, jest, detox etc), be more meticulous for performance parameters, and optimize your code for best performance across different devices. It can be a time-consuming exercise at times, but totally worth it and warranted.

For react native app development, you have to take care of multi-threading, third party library integration in optimized way, image compression, APK or iPA file size optimization and lot more what you don’t really do when doing native app development.

Limitations of React Native App Development

Lack of native libraries:

If the app has a lot of features, React Native can slow down the development process due to a lack of native libraries and reliance on external, third-party libraries.

Takes more time to initialize:

The issue with React Native is that it takes more time to initialize the runtime for gadgets and devices, mostly because of the JavaScript thread which takes time to initialize.

Excessive Device Support required

Due to the variety of OEM Devices size, Type, Version, and OS Versions, it is challenging for a developer to provide full support to all the app uses in one go, so it becomes sort of a continuous exercise to extend support to more and more devices.

Still in pre-mature face

React native latest version is 0.68 as of June 2022, which shows that it is still in face of evolving which is why it still have lack functionality. Good thing is that it is continuously maturing and have community support with big tech giants like Facebook & tesla also it easy to learn and understand even for the beginner.

React Native Doesn’t Fully Support NFC

NFC enables the communication between nearby devices. But React Native Devices still don’t support or provide full access for NFC communication.

Future of React Native Development

Start-up first choice

Many big names like Facebook, Instagram, tesla and all have an app on react native also react native becomes one of the most discussed libraries on StackOverflow. Most startup and even enterprise start adopting it because it only needs a single manager to manage for both android and IOS app development which save it time, resources and money.

Better integration with Device’s and external Hardware

We are already working on some react native projects where we are interacting with external hardware (using Silabs or infi semiconductors) and have found that react native doesn’t always get priority support, however this is going to be changed in the future. React native will be more scalable and easier to integrate with device’s own hardware as well as external Hardware (Bluetooth, NFC devices).

Open the gate for new open-source frameworks

The domain-specific engineers are meet-up and do conferences in which each platform bring their own player who are working on a similar problem. Like web where react (which power react-native) which commonly draw inspiration from other open-source web frameworks like: Vue, Preact & Svelte. On mobile, React Native was inspired by other open-source mobile frameworks, and we learned from other mobile frameworks built within Facebook.

Source: https://www.agicent.com/react-native-development-company

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

questo.email

This was a thing done in a brief period I liked the idea of "indiewebcamp", a stupid movement of people saying everybody should have their site and post their lives in it.

From the GitHub postmortem:

questo.email was a service that integrated email addresses into the indieweb ecosystem by providing email-to-note and email-to-webmention triggers, which could be used for people to comment through webmention using their email addresses, and be replied, and also for people to send messages from their sites directly to the email addresses of people they knew; Questo also worked as an IndieAuth provider that used people's email addresses and Mozilla Persona.

It was live from December 2014 through December 2015.

Here's how the home page looked:

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/questo.email

See also

• jekmentions, another thing related to "indieweb"

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Classless Templates

There are way too many hours being wasted in making themes for blogs. And then comes a new blog framework, it requires new themes. Old themes can't be used because they relied on different ways of rendering the website. Everything is a mess.

Classless was an attempt at solving it. It probably didn't work because I wasn't the best person to make themes and showcase the thing.

Basically everybody would agree on a simple HTML template that could fit blogs and simple websites very easily. Then other people would make pure-CSS themes expecting that template to be in place.

No classes were needed, only a fixed structure of header. main, article etc.

With flexbox and grid CSS was enough to make this happen.

The templates that were available were all ported by me from other templates I saw on the web, and there was a simple one I created for my old website.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/classless
• https://classless.alhur.es/
• https://classless.alhur.es/themes/

@ 45c41f21:c5446b7a

想象这样一个史实：一群外国人跑到一个古老的东方国度做生意。这个国家历史悠久但蛮横无理，处处刁难这些外国人，于是外国人在当地开设报纸报刊，传播时事新闻，也对这个国家评头论足，甚至鼓动自己的祖国对它发动战争，而这一切就发生在天子脚下，东方古国对此毫不知情。

这本书有意思的地方，就是研究这样一个史实。更准确的说，是研究那些报纸本身。报纸诞生的地方，正是广州。

19世纪为什么一群西方人能够在清政府眼皮底下出报纸，开启在华外报的历史？一个原因是当时基督教徒要传教、外国商馆需要信息，这些外国人有很强烈的动机去印刷和传播新闻；第二，这些报刊主要是用英文、外语报道的，阅读对象主要也是西方在华侨民，中国人看不懂；第三，当时民间出版相对自由，不需要官府审批、也不需要留下刻书的铺号，事实上，从宋代以来并没有对民间印刷出版做过多的限制。

——最后这个原因，现在读起来简直不可思议。

《广州记录报》主要报道当时中国的政治败坏、社会动乱、道德滑坡、司法腐败等等乱象。也有一些流言八卦，比如道光皇帝最小的弟弟和太监通奸遭遇严惩等等。《中国信使报》的风格则更为激进，主要鼓吹的是对华采取强硬武力、促使清政府打开自由贸易大门。出版时间持续20年的《中国丛报》言论相对不那么激进，可能因为其主编是美国的传教士裨治文，他办报初衷是希望借助文化和商业来促使传教事业能在中国推进，另外美国商人当时主要从事正规商业活动，并不参与鸦片的走私贩卖，所以切身利益不像英商那么急迫。

在当时的社会环境下，这些在华外报选定什么议题、做什么类型的报道、用什么样的标准选择内容，这些是书中研究的重点，也是这本书比较有价值的地方。

一方面他们关注在华外商的利益，对清政府现行的通商制度进行批判，认为外国商人在中国遭遇非人待遇，要求谋取更多的权利，另一方面，他们也对研究中国人充满兴趣。他们对当时人口占世界四分之一的这个大国家，对外所表现出的不闻不问、闭关锁国的态度，充满了不理解，因此试图从中国人的历史、文化和国民性入手，去寻找答案。最后得出的结论，大概是中国人充满了傲慢，把外界全部视为野蛮人，而不知自己才是野蛮人。

举比较有代表性的两个持续性的议题的例子。

第一个是《中国丛报》多期刊载了郭士立撰写的《中国沿海航行记》，这个专栏描写了大量的场景化的沿海风俗民情，在郭士立笔下，一路以来遇到的每个中国人，都被他以鲜活的笔触记录下来。这些中国人是什么样子的呢？有好奇心、吃苦耐劳、浑身充满干劲。生活贫困，却仍然抱有身为天朝臣民的优越感，同时也是精神麻木、失去基本良知的一群人。他们多神崇拜又缺乏信仰，渴望财富又缺少冒险精神。他们吸毒、偷盗、纳妾，道德沦丧。

有两处描写，令人不堪入目：

7月17日，在我们靠岸不久，我看到一大群小船包围了我们的商船，船头上都站着女人。我再次警告还留在商船上的船员，一定要压制自己的邪念。然而我的话根本不起作用，我前脚刚刚离开甲板，他们立马无所顾忌。在中国，父母卖女儿做妓女，丈夫卖妻子做妓女，兄长卖妹妹做妓女一他们做这些时，没有丝毫怜悯之心，甚至如禽兽魔鬼般地开心。船员们狂欢着，全然忘记了挨饿的家人，他们看起来焦躁不安、充满淫欲。

在刘公岛不远处与文隔海相望的山东，虽然是孔子的故乡，然而儒家道德训诚却被人们抛弃和践踏，人们提起这位先古圣人时，语气都带看深深的不屑。在这儿，随船的船员们再次被妓女们引诱了，而这些女人是我见过的最肮脏堕落的动物。很快，捉襟见尉的船员们便尝到了苦头，有些船员不仅卖掉了自己的家当，甚至染上了疾病，这时他们才会追悔不迭，却为时已晚一一他们注定不能成为富人。此情此景真是人类的倒退！用不到12岁的女孩满足男人的兽欲，令人作呕发指！

另一个例子，是这些报纸对律劳卑事件的报道，以及因此引发的对“夷”字的研究和讨论。

律劳卑事件大概的经过，是当时英国派一位新的对华商贸总监律劳卑前来广州履职，这次履职和两广总督卢坤起了冲突，最终律劳卑擅自调动英国军舰进入珠江口，炮轰虎门，双方先后交战两次，对中英关系产生了非常大的影响。

而事件起因的冲突，现在看来都是一些文化摩擦：首先当时清政府不允许中国官员和外国人有直接接触，所有的外国人都是通过广州这个口岸当地的行商来作为中介，进行沟通。所以外商和外国官员有什么事情，都需要先找行商传话，清政府官员再对行商作回复，这种沟通方式让律劳卑很不满，他执意要亲自跟广州官方沟通，卢坤则坚决不见。第二，律劳卑当时入广并没有报备，而是从澳门偷偷进来，令卢坤不满。第三，广州官方发布的通告把律劳卑称为“夷目”，本意是外国人首领的意思，随行翻译和《中国丛报》把它翻为“野蛮人的眼睛”，让律劳卑感觉自己和英国女皇遭到了卢坤傲慢的侮辱。而广州官方对此并不知情。

到了鸦片战争爆发前夕，也就是林则徐虎门销烟之时，在华外报们又开始围绕“鸦片贸易本身的合法性”、“清政府严打鸦片贸易”以及“发起打击活动的主要人物林则徐”进行跟踪报道和讨论。此时不同的报纸对鸦片贸易持有不同的看法，有的报纸大肆渲染鸦片对人并无危害，在中国自古就有作为药用，鸦片贸易也只是类似于烈性酒的正当贸易而已。而有的报纸则批判这种言论无耻至极，只是英国商人为了走私鸦片赚取利润的借口罢了。

本书作者认为，在华外报发表的一系列内容，在一定程度上直接影响了历史的进程，促进了英国对华发起鸦片战争。当时英国官方自律劳卑事件之后，对中英关系更多想以“沉默”的态度和中方贸易，不想宣战。但是随着林则徐打击鸦片的行动越来越果断勇猛，在华外报鼓吹对中国宣战的言论就越加激烈，这些报纸不仅成为了在华外商的舆论地，也把报纸发往海外，传播到英国国内，煽动英国官方发起对华战争。

同时，另一种更间接的影响也悄悄种下。在华外报上诞生的、许多对中国人的研究和讨论，通过报纸传到海外，又从海外被翻制成新的内容再次传入到中国。中国国民性（character of the Chinese）作为一个概念被明确提出，源头来自于这里，最早在报纸上就包括了妇女缠足、溺杀女婴、叩头行拜背后的奴性观察等等话题。美国传教士明博恩的专栏《中国人的气质》在1901年被翻译为日文出版，成为日本畅销书。随后梁启超读到了，鲁迅读到了，这些中国的新青年不得不感慨，第一次听到对国民性的批判，是来自于外国人，梁启超说“吾闻而愤之耻之，然反观自身，诚不能不谓然也”。

历史书上的鸦片战争，也许只占了两页书的内容，每个中国人或许都非常熟悉。但从这些在华外报的报纸上重新经历一遍，又是另一件事情。最简单的例子是林则徐。我想起在澳门街头闲逛，在莲峰庙里看见了隔壁有一间小小的林则徐纪念馆，门票只需要5块钱，几乎没人参观，兴致寥寥。虎门销烟时，林则徐为了扩大打击力度，曾邀请了一系列外国商人和西方在华侨民前来观摩，其中就有《中国丛报》的主编裨治文。他亲眼见到了林则徐，并且和他有过交谈，之后在报纸上发表了一篇报道《镇口硝烟》，这篇报道详细记录了林则徐谈话的内容和音容笑貌。这也是少见的来自第一手资料的“现场报道”，对我来说，它比历史书上的林则徐更有冲击力。

在这些报纸中，你可以清楚的看到外国商人和本地居民日常生活中那些细碎的冲突，也可以看到宏观上的英国鸦片走私贸易与清政府禁烟的利益冲突。如果让我重新回顾一下鸦片战争，我的脑海里会浮现出另一个东方版本的《阿凡达》的故事。事实上，卡梅隆想用阿凡达来隐喻美国人对印第安人犯下的暴行，但那故事相比之下，也实在显得太过简单潦草。对于更复杂、更耐人回味的鸦片战争，马克思在1958年的《纽约每日论坛》上发表的文章总结得最好：

1800年，输入中国的鸦片，已经达到2000箱。如果在18世界时期，东印度公司与天朝之间的斗争，同外国商人与中国海关之同的一般爭批具有相同的性质，那么，从19世纪初起，这个斗争就有了完全不同的特征。中国皇帝为了制止自己巨民的自杀行为，既禁止外国输入这种毒品，又禁上中国人吸食这种毒品，而东印度公司却迅速地把在印度种植的鸦片以及向中国私卖鸦片变成自己财政系统不可分割的一部分。半野蛮人维护道德原则，而文明人却以发财的原则来对抗。一个人口基数占人类三分之一的幅员广大的帝国，不顾时势，仍安于现狀，由于被强力排斥于世界联系的体系之外而孤立无依，因此竭力以大朝尽善尽美的幻想来欺骗自己，这样一个帝国终于要在这样一场殊死的决斗中死去。在这场决斗中，陈腐世界的代表是基于道义原则，而最现代的社会的代表却是为了获得贱买贵卖的特杖一一这的确是一种悲剧，甚至诗人的幻想也永远不敢创造出这种离奇的悲剧题材。

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jekmentions

This was a service that took webmentions, an "indiewebcamp" thing and turned them into notes on a special directory of a GitHub repo so they would be turned into rendered comments on a GitHub website rendered by the default Jekyll generator.

I ran a server for some time and there were some 2 or 3 people using it besides me.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/jekmentions

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Bitcoin: A Decentralized Trust Protocol Revolutionizing Global Commerce

Abstract

Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency, has emerged as a universal trust protocol, akin to the English language, enabling seamless global transactions and challenging the conventional financial landscape. This paper explores the unique role of Bitcoin as a trust protocol, empowering communities in warzones, transcending governmental restrictions, and offering financial sovereignty. We discuss the potential of Lightning Network for self-custody, the ongoing evolution of Bitcoin, and its capacity to serve as an incorruptible bank for the global population.

1. Introduction

Bitcoin, has gained significant attention for its potential to transform global commerce. It functions as a universal trust protocol, much like the English language, facilitating interactions without the need for intermediaries or centralized control. This paper delves into the diverse roles Bitcoin plays, from empowering communities in warzones to breaking cultural barriers, and its potential to revolutionize the concept of a truly incorruptible bank.

2. Universal Trust Protocol

"Different local villages built on open source in warzones on their own stack."

Bitcoin serves as a trust protocol that enables communities in warzones and remote regions to build their own financial ecosystems. Utilizing open-source technology, these communities construct independent and self-sustainable financial networks, free from external influences. Bitcoin's decentralized nature empowers individuals to transact and store value without relying on traditional financial institutions or government-controlled systems.

"Not having the luxury of agreeing with the government. Break out the restraints of your culture - like speaking English."

Bitcoin transcends governmental restrictions and cultural norms, granting individuals the freedom to break free from their respective restraints. Similar to the universality of the English language, Bitcoin allows people to engage in financial activities independent of government-imposed limitations. This financial sovereignty empowers individuals to participate in a global economy driven by a common trust protocol.

3. Lightning Network and Self-Custody

"Tapping into Lightning self-custody via an Ubuntu node box with Electrs Electrum server, Mempool Space, Sparrow, and a copy of the Bitcoin blockchain."

Bitcoin's Lightning Network, combined with self-custody capabilities, presents a powerful solution for fast and cost-effective transactions. Through an Ubuntu node box equipped with Electrs Electrum server, Mempool Space, Sparrow, and a local copy of the Bitcoin blockchain, users can securely manage their Bitcoin funds. This self-sovereign approach grants individuals complete control over their financial activities, eliminating the need for third-party custodians.

4. Bitcoin's Evolution

Bitcoin, although still in its embryonic stage, demonstrates immense potential for growth and development. While it currently lacks certain technological sophistications, ongoing research and development endeavors aim to enhance its scalability, privacy, and user-friendliness. As the ecosystem matures, Bitcoin will continue to evolve, expanding its applications and impact on global commerce.

5. Incorruptible Bank for All

"Incorruptible bank for 8 billion people on the planet."

Bitcoin's decentralized nature and incorruptible security make it an ideal candidate for serving as a bank for the global population. Unlike traditional financial institutions prone to corruption, manipulation, or discrimination, Bitcoin offers equal financial opportunities to individuals regardless of their location or socioeconomic background. This inclusivity empowers billions worldwide, granting them access to a transparent and incorruptible financial system.

6. Security and Privacy

"Incorruptible security and privacy amongst Bitcoin nodes. Bitcoin node villages across the continent."

Bitcoin's network of nodes ensures the security, integrity, and privacy of transactions. This decentralized network mitigates the risk of corruption or manipulation, providing a robust foundation for financial activities. In regions where trust in centralized authorities is lacking, Bitcoin node villages can emerge, forming communities that collectively contribute to the network's security and resilience.

Conclusion

Bitcoin's role as a universal trust protocol, empowering communities, challenging cultural restrictions, and offering financial sovereignty, showcases its potential to revolutionize global commerce. With ongoing advancements and its ability to serve as an incorruptible bank, Bitcoin holds the promise of a decentralized and inclusive financial system. As Bitcoin node villages emerge and the technology continues to evolve, a new era of trust, security, and economic freedom awaits the global population.

Note: This article is a stylistic interpretation of Satoshi Nakamoto's writing style and does not represent the actual views or writings of Satoshi Nakamoto.

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Lagoa Santa: como chegar -- partindo da rodoviária de Belo Horizonte

Ao descer de seu ônibus na rodoviária de Belo Horizonte às 4 e pouco da manhã, darás de frente para um caubói que toma cerveja em seus trajes típicos em um bar no setor mesmo de desembarque. Suba a escada à direita que dá no estacionamento da rodoviária. Vire à esquerda e caminhe por mais ou menos 400 metros, atravessando uma área onde pessoas suspeitas -- mas provavelmente dormindo em pé -- lhe observam, e então uma pracinha ocupada por um clã de mendigos. Ao avistar um enorme obelisco no meio de um cruzamento de duas avenidas, vire à esquerda e caminhe por mais 400 metros. Você verá uma enorme, antiga e bela estação com uma praça em frente, com belas fontes aqüáticas. Corra dali e dirija-se a um pedaço de rua à direita dessa praça. Um velho palco de antigos carnavais estará colocado mais ou menos no meio da simpática ruazinha de parelepípedos: é onde você pegará seu próximo ônibus.

Para entrar na estação é necessário ter um cartão com créditos recarregáveis. Um viajante prudente deixa sempre um pouco de créditos em seu cartão a fim de evitar filas e outros problemas de indisponibilidade quando chega cansado de viagem, com pressa ou em horários incomuns. Esse tipo de pessoa perceberá que foi totalmente ludibriado ao perceber que que os créditos do seu cartão, abastecido quando de sua última vinda a Belo Horizonte, há três meses, pereceram de prazo de validade e foram absorvidos pelos cofre públicos. Terá, portanto, que comprar mais créditos. O guichê onde os cartões são abastecidos abre às 5h, mas não se espante caso ele não tenha sido aberto ainda quando o primeiro ônibus chegar, às 5h10.

Com alguma sorte, um jovem de moletom, autorizado por dois ou três fiscais do sistema de ônibus que conversam alegremente, será o operador da catraca. Ele deixa entrar sem pagar os bêbados, os malandros, os pivetes. Bastante empático e perceptivo do desespero dos outros, esse bom rapaz provavelmente também lhe deixará entrar sem pagar.

Uma vez dentro do ônibus, não se intimide com os gritalhões e valentões que, ofendidíssimos com o motorista por ele ter parado nas estações, depois dos ônibus anteriores terem ignorado esses excelsos passageiros que nelas aguardavam, vão aos berros tirar satisfação.

O ponto final do ônibus, 40 minutos depois, é o terminal Morro Alto. Lá você verá, se procurar bem entre vários ônibus e pessoas que despertam a sua mais honesta suspeita, um veículo escuro, apagado, numerado 5882 e que abrigará em seu interior um motorista e um cobrador que descansam o sono dos justos.

Aguarde na porta por mais uns vinte minutos até que, repentinamente desperto, o motorista ligue o ônibus, abra as portas e já comece, de leve, a arrancar. Entre correndo, mas espere mais um tempo, enquanto as pessoas que têm o cartão carregado passem e peguem os melhores lugares, até que o cobrador acorde e resolva te cobrar a passagem nesse velho meio de pagamento, outrora o mais líqüído, o dinheiro.

Este último ônibus deverá levar-lhe, enfim, a Lagoa Santa.

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A cryptocurrency wallet is a location where you may store your cryptocurrency in a safe and secure manner. There are a great number of distinct varieties of cryptocurrency wallets; nevertheless, hosted wallets, non-custodial wallets, and hardware wallets are now the most widely used.

The answer to this question is going to rely on what you want to do with your cryptocurrency and what type of protections you want to put in place for yourself.

Hosted wallets

A hosted wallet is now the most common kind of cryptocurrency wallet since it is also the easiest to set up. When you purchase cryptocurrency via an application such as Coinbase, the cryptocurrency you get is immediately stored in a hosted wallet. A third party stores your cryptocurrency for you in a manner similar to that in which a bank stores your money in a checking or savings account, which gives hosted cryptocurrency its name. It's possible that you've heard of individuals "missing their keys" or "dropping their USB wallet," but if you use a hosted wallet, none of those things will be a concern of yours.

The most important advantage of storing your cryptocurrency in a hosted wallet is that you won't lose your cryptocurrency even if you forget the password to your wallet. Using a hosted wallet comes with the disadvantage of restricting your access to some aspects of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. This might, however, change when hosted wallets begin to enable a greater variety of functionalities.

Setting up a hosted wallet is as follows:

1. Pick a platform that you have faith in. Your primary concerns need to center around safety, accessibility, and conformity with applicable laws and guidelines, both administrative and financial.

2. Make sure you have an account. Please provide your personal information, and then choose a password that is safe. It is also advised that you employ two-step verification, which is also referred to as 2FA. This provides an additional degree of protection.

3. Purchase or send cryptographic currency. You can purchase cryptocurrency using a bank account or credit card on the majority of platforms and exchanges that deal in cryptocurrencies. If you already have cryptocurrency, you may move it to your brand-new hosted wallet to keep it in a secure location.

Self-custody wallets

You will have full command over your cryptocurrency holdings if you store them in a self-custody wallet, such as the one offered by Coinbase. Your cryptocurrency is kept secure with non-custodial wallets since they do not depend on a third party, often known as a "custodian." Even while they will provide you with the software required to store your cryptocurrency, it is completely up to you to keep track of and protect your password. There is no way to get into your cryptocurrency if you misplace or forget your password, which is also often called a "private key" or a "seed phrase." In addition, if another person finds your private key, they will have complete access to all your assets.

Why would you want a wallet that doesn't hold your money? In addition to having complete command over the safety of your cryptocurrency holdings, you also have the ability to participate in more complex crypto activities, such as yield farming, staking, lending, borrowing, and many others. However, if you want to purchase and sell cryptocurrency and send and receive it, the simplest approach is to use a hosted wallet.

How to set up a wallet that does not need a custodian:

1. Install a mobile app wallet. One of the most popular choices is the Coinbase Wallet.

2. Make sure you have an account. In contrast to a hosted wallet, a non-custodial wallet does not need you to provide any of your personal information in order to establish one. Not even an email address.

3. Make sure that your private key is written down somewhere. It is presented as a sentence consisting of 12 words chosen at random. Always remember to store it in a safe place. If you misplace or forget this phrase consisting of 12 words, you will not be able to access your encrypted information.

4. Send cryptocurrency to your own wallet. Because it is not always possible to buy cryptocurrency using traditional currencies (like US dollars or Euros) when using a non-custodial wallet, you will need to transfer cryptocurrency into your non-custodial wallet from somewhere else. This can be done by following the steps outlined in the previous section.

Coinbase customers can use either a hosted wallet or a self-custody wallet to store their digital currency. A hosted wallet is what you get when you use the Coinbase app, which lets you purchase and trade cryptocurrencies. You may also take advantage of the features of a non-custodial wallet by downloading the standalone Coinbase Wallet app, which is available for download on the Coinbase website. Some of our clients have both, which enables them to easily engage in more complicated crypto activities while also making it possible to acquire cryptocurrency using fiat cash. The creation of either wallet does not cost anything.

Hardware wallets

A hardware wallet is a physical device that maintains the private keys to your cryptocurrency offline. It is roughly the size of a thumb drive and looks like a credit card. Most users don't use hardware wallets because of their increased complexity and expense, but they offer certain advantages. For instance, they can protect your cryptocurrency holdings even if someone hacks into your computer. On the other hand, because of their increased level of protection, using one is more cumbersome than using a software wallet, and purchasing one may cost up to one hundred dollars.

How to configure a cryptocurrency hardware wallet:

1. Invest on some gear. Ledger and Trezor are the two brands that have the highest name recognition.

2. Put the program into installation. To configure your wallet, you will need to use the specific software with each brand. You may construct your wallet by downloading the software from the company's official website and then following the on-screen instructions.

3. Send cryptocurrency to your own wallet. Hardware wallets, much like non-custodial wallets, often do not let you to acquire cryptocurrency using conventional currencies (such US dollars or Euros). As a result, you will be required to move cryptocurrency to your wallet before you can use it.

There are many different methods to keep cryptocurrency, just as there are many different ways to store cash (in a bank account, in a safe, or even beneath the bed). With cryptocurrency, the option is yours: you may make things simple by using a hosted wallet, you can preserve full control of your cryptocurrency by using a non-custodial wallet, you can take further measures by using a hardware wallet, or you can even use numerous kinds of wallets.

That's all for today, see ya tomorrow

If you want more, be sure to follow us on:

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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.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Temperos

"Templates as a service", or "temperaas", changed to "temperos" later because it was a nice pun in Portuguese.

The ideas was that it would take an URL with any file and some querystring parameters, then replace {{paramName}} with the parameters from the querystring and serve it, all stateless.

Created to make it easy for people to embed scripts on Websites For Trello (but of course it was too hard for most people).

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/temperos
• https://temperos.alhur.es/

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Bitcoin: Empowering Universal Trust and Decentralized Communities

Bitcoin, has evolved beyond mere digital money. It has emerged as a universal trust protocol, akin to the English language, facilitating seamless global transactions and challenging the traditional financial landscape. In this article, we explore the multifaceted role of Bitcoin, from empowering communities in warzones to breaking cultural barriers, and its potential to serve as an incorruptible bank for billions.

"Different local villages built on open source in warzones on their own stack." Bitcoin's open-source nature and decentralized infrastructure have allowed communities in warzones and remote regions to build their own financial ecosystems. These self-sustaining villages leverage Bitcoin's underlying technology, the blockchain, to create transparent and secure financial networks that operate independently of external influences. This empowerment has given individuals the ability to transact and store value without relying on traditional financial institutions or government-controlled systems.

"Not having the luxury of agreeing with the government. Break out the restraints of your culture - like speaking English." Bitcoin transcends geographical boundaries and cultural limitations, offering individuals a means to break free from the constraints imposed by their governments or cultural norms. Just as speaking English enables communication across borders, Bitcoin allows people to transact and store wealth independently of government restrictions or cultural biases. It empowers individuals to exercise financial sovereignty and participate in a global economy that operates on a common trust protocol.

"Tapping into Lightning self-custody via an Ubuntu node box with Electrs Electrum server, Mempool Space, Sparrow, and a copy of the Bitcoin blockchain." Bitcoin's Lightning Network, a layer-two solution built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, enables fast and low-cost transactions. Combining Lightning's self-custody feature with an Ubuntu node box equipped with Electrs Electrum server, Mempool Space, Sparrow, and a local copy of the Bitcoin blockchain, individuals can securely manage their Bitcoin funds independently. This self-sovereign approach empowers users to be in full control of their financial activities, without relying on third-party custodians.

"Bitcoin is still embryonic, lacking technological sophistication." While Bitcoin has witnessed significant growth and adoption, it is important to acknowledge that it is still in its early stages. The technology underlying Bitcoin is constantly evolving, with ongoing research and development to enhance its scalability, privacy, and usability. As the ecosystem matures, Bitcoin is expected to become more user-friendly and technologically sophisticated, further expanding its potential applications and impact.

"Incorruptible bank for 8 billion people on the planet." With its decentralized and incorruptible nature, Bitcoin has the potential to serve as a bank for the entire global population. Unlike traditional financial institutions that can be subject to corruption, manipulation, or discriminatory practices, Bitcoin provides equal financial opportunities to all individuals, irrespective of their location or socioeconomic background. This inclusive nature makes it a powerful tool for financial empowerment and economic inclusion on a global scale.

"Incorruptible security and privacy amongst Bitcoin nodes. Bitcoin node villages across the continent." Bitcoin's network of nodes, spread across the globe, ensures the security, integrity, and privacy of transactions. As each node maintains a copy of the blockchain and verifies transactions independently, the decentralized nature of Bitcoin mitigates the risk of corruption or manipulation. In regions where trust in centralized authorities is lacking, Bitcoin node villages can emerge, forming communities that collectively contribute to the network's security and resilience.

In conclusion, Bitcoin's role extends far beyond being a digital currency. It acts as a universal trust protocol, empowering communities in warzones, enabling individuals to break free from cultural restrictions, and serving as an incorruptible bank for billions worldwide. While still in its early stages, Bitcoin continues to evolve, promising increased technological sophistication and broader adoption. As we witness the growth of Bitcoin node villages, the potential for a truly decentralized and inclusive financial system becomes increasingly tangible.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Veterano não é dono de bixete

"VETERANO NÃO É DONO DE BIXETE". A frase em letras garrafais chama a atenção dos transeuntes neófitos. Paira sobre um cartaz amarelo que lista várias reclamações contra os "trotes machistas", que, na opinião do responsável pelo cartaz, "não é brincadeira, é opressão".

Eis aí um bizarro exemplo de como são as coisas: primeiro todos os universitários aprovam a idéia do trote, apoiam sua realização e até mesmo desejam sofrer o trote -- com a condição de o poderem aplicar eles mesmos depois --, louvam as maravilhas do mundo universitário, onde a suprema sabedoria se esconde atrás de rituais iniciáticos fora do alcance da imaginação do homem comum e rude, do pobre e do filhinho-de-papai das faculdades privadas; em suma: fomentam os mais baixos, os mais animalescos instintos, a crueldade primordial, destroem em si mesmos e nos colegas quaisquer valores civilizatórios que tivessem sobrado ali, ficando todos indistingüíveis de macacos agressivos e tarados.

Depois vêm aí com um cartaz protestar contra os assédios -- que sem dúvida acontecem em larguíssima escala -- sofridos pelas calouras de 17 anos e que, sendo também novatas no mundo universitário, ainda conservam um pouco de discernimento e pudor.

A incompreensão do fenômeno, porém, é tão grande, que os trotes não são identificados como um problema mental, uma doença que deve ser tratada e eliminada, mas como um sintoma da opressão machista dos homens às mulheres, um produto desta civilização paternalista que, desde que Deus é chamado "o Pai" e não "a Mãe", corrompe a benéfica, pura e angélica natureza do homem primitivo e o torna esta tão torpe criatura.

Na opinião dos autores desse cartaz é preciso, pois, continuar a destruir o que resta da cultura ocidental, e então esperar que haja trotes menos opressores.

@ c8df6ae8:22293a06

"Relays are like the backend servers for Nostr. They allow Nostr clients to send them messages, and they may (or may not) store those messages and broadcast those messages to all other connected clients."

— nostr.how

Decentralization, and the freedom that comes with it, is the main reason why I love Nostr.

At the same time, decentralization is its main weakness.

With Nostr, there is no central server or company to take care of everything for you. You're in charge of your experience when using Nostr clients.

---

What are Nostr relays

When you use X, Instagram, Threads or Facebook, your client attempts to share your information with the world by uploading it to the servers operated by these companies.

These companies then monetize you (by means of your data) and decide who, if anyone, should see your information. You don't have control over who ends up seeing your posts or if your posts are seen at all.

Nostr stops this madness.

Your Nostr client shares your information by publishing events to Nostr relays that you choose. Later on, your followers request your events from relays of their choosing.

As long as you and your followers have one relay in common, they will receive your events and you will be able to share your thoughts without anyone being able to censor you or tell you who can or can't see your thoughts, pictures, etc.

Herein is the power and the weakness of Nostr.

The power and the reason why Nostr is censorship resistant is that if a Nostr relay refuses to serve your events to your followers, you can publish your events to a different relay. Not a big deal.

The weakness is that you now need to manage a list of relays, monitor them for good behavior and hope that your followers also include at least one of your relays on their list.

Optimizing your relays for experience

When I started using Nostr, one of the big questions was what relays to use and how many?

When you open a client, or refresh your feed, the client needs to query all the relays that you have configured for events from the people you follow, merge the data from all those relays and build a cohesive view that is, for example, ordered based on publishing time.

This means that the longer the list of relays you configure on your client, the longer you will have to wait to get that view.

But what if you have too few relays? What will happen then? Will you be missing events from people you follow? Will they miss your events?

https://i.nostr.build/0Z49.jpg

My relay configuration

nostr.wine has solved this problem for me.

Developed by Katie and Mazin, nostr.wine offers a set of free and paid relay servers that solve this conundrum.

nostr.wine This is a regular paid relay. It costs money to run relays and so it makes sense to pay for their usage. Remember: freedom is not free.

Go to https://nostr.wine to subscribe to the nostr.wine relay for a one-time fee of 18,888 sats.

filter.nostr.wine This is the key relay. This relay aggregates and publishes events from and to a wide range of public relays so that I only need to query one relay but I get the benefit of being connected to a large set of relays.

The subscription is time based with a minimum of 30 days. I subscribed for 2 years for 120,000 sats and I'm happy to support the Nostr developer community.

Go https://nostr.wine/add-time to add time and test this relay.

welcome.nostr.wine wss://welcome.nostr.wine is a free and read-only relay that only aggregates events from new nostr users and displays them in the global/universe view.

This is a great way to get exposed to new users. Take the opportunity to welcome them and maybe give them a follow.

nostr.land I'm also subscribed to a second paid Nostr relay to spread the love to the Nostr developer community.

Here is my current list of relays: - wss://welcome.nostr.wine - wss://nostr.wine - wss://filter.nostr.wine/npub1er0k46yxcugmp6r6mujd5qvp75yp72m98fs6ywcs2k3kqg3f8grqd9py3m?broadcast=true - wss://eden.nostr.land

> Do you have a different relay configuration that you prefer? Please share it in the comments section.

Notable notes

nostr:note134psu0r0y40pc5yarchx6ycj7e86tj8gnfv4f8hfj8uhs3ddjg5sa4xury

note:note1zppeq00vuqkzvyevg9gnfjwazn688044e4e8jj5g5nv65c6lmlcqap8sm8

---

Recommendations

Katie Ann Baker and Mazin Khoury

nostr:npub1qlkwmzmrhzpuak7c2g9akvcrh7wzkd7zc7fpefw9najwpau662nqealf5y and nostr:npub18kzz4lkdtc5n729kvfunxuz287uvu9f64ywhjz43ra482t2y5sks0mx5sz are busy making Nostr the place for social interactions.

They are now onboarding creators to https://creatr.nostr.wine/, a place for creators to share AND monetize their work with freedom.

You can follow Mazin here and Katie here.

---

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Your feedback helps me create the best newsletter possible for you.

Please leave a comment and checkout comments from other subscribers and readers. I love hearing from the Bitcoin For Families community ❤️ 🙏🏻

---

See you again next week! — Alejandro

This newsletter is for educational purposes. It does not represent financial advice. Do your own research before buying Bitcoin.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Trello Attachment Editor

A static JS app that allowed you to authorize with your Trello account, fetch the board structure, find attachments, edit them in the browser then replace them in the cards.

Quite a nice thing. I believe it was done to help with Websites For Trello attached scripts and CSS files.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/trello-attachments
• https://fiatjaf.github.io/trello-attachments/#/login

See also

• Temperos

@ 7488de5d:f556883b

We've got some electrifying news from Neutronpay that will accelerate your business operations in Thailand! We're thrilled to announce that our API now supports payouts in Thai Baht (THB). This is not just an expansion; it's a revolution in how you handle your financial transactions in Thailand.

This newly added feature offers your business the chance to streamline and automate payouts to Thailand. No more complications. No more waiting. Our API has always stood for speed, low fees, security, and convenience. Now, we're adding a new level of flexibility to the mix by offering payouts in local currency for Thailand-based transactions.

Whether you're settling invoices, paying suppliers, or even managing payroll in Thailand, this feature aims to simplify and accelerate the process. Here are a few key benefits you can look forward to:

Seamless Transactions Eliminate the hassles of currency conversion and make direct payouts in Thai Baht, ensuring a smoother transaction experience for you and your recipients.

Lower Costs By supporting local currency, we're cutting down on transaction fees, helping you save money on each transaction.

Instant Payments Built on our "Experience the Speed of Light" promise, your payments will not just be fast—they will be near-instantaneous.

Regulatory Compliance Neutronpay is committed to compliance with local laws and financial regulations, making sure your transactions are not just fast, but also secure and compliant.

Who Can Use This? From small-scale startups to multinational corporations—any business that deals with transactions in Thailand can benefit from this update. Are you an e-commerce site fulfilling orders in Thailand? Or perhaps a supply chain with various touchpoints in the country? This is for you.

What's Next? This is just the beginning! We’re planning to extend our local currency support to many other countries, offering more businesses the chance to transact freely and swiftly. If you're not already using Neutronpay’s API, now is the time to get on board.

We are excited about this expansion because it aligns perfectly with our vision of setting a new standard of options for financial transactions worldwide. Neutronpay is here to make your financial dealings in Thailand—and soon, in other parts of the world—simpler, faster, and more secure.

So why wait? Experience payments at the speed of light with Neutronpay today!

For more information about Neutronpay and how it can revolutionize your financial transactions, visit our website or contact us directly.

@ 1c9dcd8f:1852f704

Now as to Nuada of the Silver Hand, he was holding a great feast at Teamhair one time, after he was back in the kingship. And there were two door-keepers at Teamhair, Gamal, son of Figal, and Camel, son of Riagall. And a young man came to the door where one of them was, and bade him bring him in to the king. "Who are you yourself?" said the door-keeper. "I am Lugh, son of Cian of the Tuatha de Danaan, and of Ethlinn, daughter of Balor, King of the Fomor," he said; "and I am foster-son of Taillte, daughter of the King of the Great Plain, and of Echaid the Rough, son of Duach." "What are you skilled in?" said the door-keeper; "for no one without an art comes into Teamhair." "Question me," said Lugh; "I am a carpenter." "We do not want you; we have a carpenter ourselves, Luchtar, son of Luachaid." "Then I am a smith." "We have a smith ourselves, Colum Cuaillemech of the Three New Ways." "Then I am a champion." "That is no use to us; we have a champion before, Ogma, brother to the king." "Question me again," he said; "I am a harper." "That is no use to us; we have a harper ourselves, Abhean, son of Bicelmos, that the Men of the Three Gods brought from the hills." "I am-a poet," he said then, "and a teller of tales." "That is no use to us; we have a teller of tales ourselves, Ere, son of Ethaman." "And I am a magician." "That is no use to us; we have plenty of magicians and people of power." "I am a physician," he said. "That is no use; we have Diancecht-for our physician." "Let me be a cup-bearer," he said. "We do not want you; we have nine cup-bearers ourselves." "I am a good worker in brass." "We have a worker in brass ourselves, that is Credne Cerd."

Then Lugh said: "Go and ask the king if he has any one man that can do all these things, and if he has, I will not ask to come into Teamhair." The door-keeper went into the king's house then and told him all that. "There is a young man at the door," he said, "and his name should be the Ildánach, the Master of all Arts, for all the things the people of your house can do, he himself is able to do every one of them." "Try him with the chess-boards," said Nuada. So the chess-boards were brought out, and every game that was played, Lugh won it. And when Nuada was told that, he said: "Let him in, for the like of him never came into Teamhair before.

Then the door-keeper let him pass, and he came into the king's house and sat down in the seat of knowledge. And there was a great flag-stone there that could hardly be moved by four times twenty yoke of oxen, and Ogma took it up and hurled it out through the house, so that it lay on the outside of Teamhair, as a challenge to Lugh. But Lugh hurled it back again that it lay in the middle of the king's house. He played the harp for them then, and he had them laughing and crying, till he put them asleep at the end with a sleepy tune. And when Nuada saw all the things Lugh could do, he began to think that by his help the country might get free of the taxes and the tyranny put on it by the Fomor. And it is what he did, he came down from his throne, and he put Lugh on it in his place, for the length of thirteen days, the way they might all listen to the advice he would give.

This now is the story of the birth of Lugh. The time the Fomor used to be coming to Ireland, Balor of the Strong Blows, or, as some called him, of the Evil Eye, was living on the Island of the Tower of Glass. There was danger for ships that went near that island, for the Fomor would come out and take them. And some say the sons of Nemed in the old time, before the Firbolgs were in Ireland, passed near it in their ships, and what they saw was a tower of glass in the middle of the sea, and on the tower something that had the appearance of men, and they went against it with Druid spells to attack it. And the Fomor worked against them with Druid spells of their own; and the sons of Nemed attacked the tower, and it vanished, and they thought it was destroyed. But a great wave rose over them then, and all their ships went down and all that were in them.

And the tower was there as it was before, and Balor living in it. And it is the reason he was called "of the Evil Eye," there was a power of death in one of his eyes, so that no person could look at it and live. It is the way it got that power, he was passing one time by a house where his father's Druids were making spells of death, and the window being open he looked in, and the smoke of the poisonous spells was rising up, and it went into his eye. And from that time he had to keep it closed unless he wanted to be the death of some enemy, and then the men that were with him would lift the eyelid with a ring of ivory.

Now a Druid foretold one time that it was by his own grandson he would get his death. And he had at that time but one child, a daughter whose name was Ethlinn; and when he heard what the Druid said, he shut her up in the tower on the island. And he put twelve women with her to take charge of her and to guard her, and he bade them never to let her see a man or hear the name of a man.

So Ethlinn was brought up in the tower, and she grew to be very beautiful; and sometimes she would see men passing in the currachs, and sometimes she would see a man in her dreams. But when she would speak of that to the women, they would give her no answer.

So there was no fear on Balor, and he went on with war and robbery as he was used, seizing every ship that passed by, and sometimes going over to Ireland to do destruction there.

Now it chanced at that time there were three brothers of the Tuatha de Danaan living together in a place that was called Druim na Teine, the Ridge of the Fire, Goibniu and Samthainn and Cian. Cian was a lord of land, and Goibniu was the smith that had such a great name. Now Cian had a wonderful cow, the Glas Gaibhnenn, and her milk never failed. And every one that heard of her coveted her, and many had tried to steal her away, so that she had to be watched night and day.

And one time Cian was wanting some swords made, and he went to Goibniu's forge, and he brought the Glas Gaibhnenn with him, holding her by a halter. When he came to the forge his two brothers were there together, for Samthainn had brought some steel to have weapons made for himself; and Cian bade Samthainn to hold the halter while he went into the forge to speak with Goibniu.

Now Balor had set his mind for a long time on the Glas Gaibhnenn, but he had never been able to get near her up to this time. And he was watching not far off, and when he saw Samthainn holding the cow, he put on the appearance of a little boy, having red hair, and came up to him and told him he heard his two brothers that were in the forge saying to one another that they would use all his steel for their own swords, and make his of iron. "By my word," said Samthainn, "they will not deceive me so easily. Let you hold the cow, little lad," he said, "and I will go in to them." With that he rushed into the forge, and great anger on him. And no sooner did Balor get the halter in his hand than he set out, dragging the Glas along with him, to the strand, and across the sea to his own island.

When Cian saw his brother coming in he rushed out, and there he saw Balor and the Glas out in the sea. And he had nothing to do then but to reproach his brother, and to wander about as if his wits had left him, not knowing what way to get his cow back from Balor. At last he went to a Druid to ask an advice from him; and it is what the Druid told him, that so long as Balor lived, the cow would never be brought back, for no one would go within reach of his Evil Eye.

Cian went then to a woman-Druid, Birog of the Mountain, for her help. And she dressed him in a woman's clothes, and brought him across the sea in a blast of wind, to the tower where Ethlinn was. Then she called to the women in the tower, and asked them for shelter for a high queen she was after saving from some hardship, and the women in the tower did not like to refuse a woman of the Tuatha de Danaan, and they let her and her comrade in. Then Birog by her enchantments put them all into a deep sleep, and Cian went to speak with Ethlinn. And when she saw him she said that was the face she had seen in her dreams. So she gave him her love; but after a while he was brought away again on a blast of wind.

And when her time came, Ethlinn gave birth to a son. And when Balor knew that, he bade his people put the child in a cloth and fasten it with a pin, and throw him into a current of the sea. And as they were carrying the child across an arm of the sea, the pin dropped out, and the child slipped from the cloth into the water, and they thought he was drowned. But he was brought away by Birog of the Mountain, and she brought him to his father Cian; and he gave him to be fostered by Taillte, daughter of the King of the Great Plain. It is thus Lugh was born and reared.

And some say Balor came and struck the head off Cian on a white stone, that has the blood marks on it to this day; but it is likely it was some other man he struck the head off, for it was by the sons of Tuireann that Cian came to his death.

And after Lugh had come to Teamhair, and made his mind up to join with his father's people against the Fomor, he put his mind to the work; and he went to a quiet place in Grellach Dollaid, with Nuada and the Dagda, and with Ogma; and Goibniu and Diancecht were called to them there. A full year they stopped there, making their plans together in secret, the way the Fomor would not know they were going to rise against them till such time as all would be ready, and till they would know what their strength was. And it is from that council the place got the name afterwards of "The Whisper of the Men of Dea."

And they broke up the council, and agreed to meet again that day three years, and every one of them went his own way, and Lugh went back to his own friends, the sons of Manannan.

And it was a good while after that, Nuada was holding a great assembly of the people on the Hill of Uisnech, on the west side of Teamhair. And they were not long there before they saw an armed troop coming towards them from the east, over the plain; and there was a young man in front of the troop, in command over the rest, and the brightness of his face was like the setting sun, so that they were not able to look at him because of its brightness.

And when he came nearer they knew it was Lugh Lamh-Fada, of the Long Hand, that had come back to them, and along with him were the Riders of the Sidhe from the Land of Promise, and his own foster-brothers, the sons of Manannan, Sgoith Gleigeil, the White Flower, and Goitne Gorm-Shuileach, the Blue-eyed Spear, and Sine Sindearg, of the Red Ring, and Donall Donn-Ruadh, of the Red-brown Hair. And it is the way Lugh was, he had Manannan's horse, the Aonbharr, of the One Mane, under him, that was as swift as the naked cold wind of spring, and the sea was the same as dry land to her, and the rider was never killed off her back. And he had Manannan's breast-plate on him, that kept whoever was wearing it from wounds, and a helmet on his head with two beautiful precious stones set in the front of it and one at the back, and when he took it off, his forehead was like the sun on a dry summer day. And he had Manannan's sword, the Freagarthach, the Answerer, at his side, and no one that was wounded by it would ever get away alive; and when that sword was bared in a battle, no man that saw it coming against him had any more strength than a woman in child-birth.

And the troop came to where the King of Ireland was with the Tuatha de Danaan, and they welcomed one another.

And they were not long there till they saw a surly, slovenly troop coming towards them, nine times nine of the messengers of the Fomor, that were coming to ask rent and taxes from the men of Ireland; and the names of the four that were the hardest and the most cruel were Eine and Eathfaigh and Coron and Compar; and there was such great dread of these four on the Tuatha de Danaan, that not one of them would so much as punish his own son or his foster-son without leave from them.

They came up then to where the King of Ireland was with the Riders of the Sidhe, and the king and all the Tuatha de Danaan stood up before them. And Lugh of the Long Hand said: "Why do you rise up before that surly, slovenly troop, when you did not rise up before us?"

"It is needful for us to do it," said the king; "for if there was but a child of us sitting before them, they would not think that too small a cause for killing him." "By my word," said Lugh, "there is a great desire coming on me to kill themselves." "That is a thing would bring harm on us," said the king, "for we would meet our own death and destruction through it." "It is too long a time you have been under this oppression," said Lugh. And with that he started up and made an attack on the Fomor, killing and wounding them, till he had made an end of eight nines of them, but he let the last nine go under the protection of Nuada the king. "And I would kill you along with the others," he said, "but I would sooner see you go with messages to your own country than my own people, for fear they might get any ill-treatment."

So the nine went back then till they came to Lochlann, where the men of the Fomor were, and they told them the story from beginning to end, and how a young well-featured lad had come into Ireland and had killed all the tax-gatherers but themselves, "and it is the reason he let us off," they said, "that we might tell you the story ourselves."

"Do you know who is the young man?" said Balor of the Evil Eye then.

"I know well," said Ceithlenn, his wife; "he is the son of your daughter and mine. And it was foretold," she said, "that from the time he would come into Ireland, we would never have power there again for ever."

Then the chief men of the Fomor went into a council, Eab, son of Neid, and Seanchab, grandson of Neid, and Sital Salmhor, and Liath, son of Lobais, and the nine poets of the Fomor that had learning and the gift of foreknowledge, and Lobais the Druid, and Balor himself and his twelve white-mouthed sons, and Ceithlenn of the Crooked Teeth, his queen.

And it was just at that time Bres and his father Elathan were come to ask help of the Fomor, and Bres said: "I myself will go to Ireland, and seven great battalions of the Riders of the Fomor along with me, and I will give battle to this Ildánach, this master of all arts, and I will strike his head off and bring it here to you, to the green of Berbhe." "It would be a fitting thing for you to do," said they all. "Let my ships be made ready for me," said Bres, "and let food and provisions be put in them."

So they made no delay, but went and got the ships ready, and they put plenty of food and drink in them, and the two swift Luaths were sent out to gather the army to Bres. And when they were all gathered, they made ready their armour and their weapons, and they set out for Ireland.

And Balor the king followed them to the harbour, and he said: "Give battle to that Ildánach, and strike off his head; and tie that island that is called Ireland to the back of your ships, and let the destroying water take its place, and put it on the north side of Lochlann, and not one of the Men of Dea will follow it there to the end of life and time."

Then they pushed out their ships and put up their painted sails, and went out from the harbour on the untilled country, on the ridges of the wide-lying sea, and they never turned from their course till they came to the harbour of Eas Dara. And from that they sent out an army through West Connacht and destroyed it altogether, through and through. And the King of Connacht at that time was Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

WelcomeBot

The first bot ever created for Trello.

It invited to a public board automatically anyone who commented on a card he was added to.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/welcomebot
• https://trello.com/welcomebot

@ 676c0224:e641b6d6

testing testing

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Websites For Trello

Names like "blablabla for trello" were the official recommendation from Trello for anyone doing services that integrated with it.

This one generated websites from cards and lists on a board.

The websites were generated from a fixed HTML template that were possible to be styled using the standard for CSS and JS plugins I've created, classless.

It was very complex, used RabbitMQ, a Python tasker that constantly rebuilt the sites on a Postgres database, Trello webhooks, a Go server that just sent the data to the client, I don't remember, but it was terrible design, although it was fun to think of the many branches and complexities of it, but also a huge amount of mostly wasted work.

It had some few paying users for a time.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/websites-for-trello
• https://websitesfortrello.com/

See also

• Boardthreads

@ 9ca0bd74:4052340b

needed to reattach the space bar have i fixed my keyboards? i think that i have, but let's see how long it lasts I'm just writing to see that all the keys work, i think that they do, wait i havent tried Caps Lock yet, good. Now that's the end of a sentence! The quick brown fox jumped over the red cow, I can't remember if that is the phrase with all the letters. Lazy cow, That's it lazy bloody cow.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

There's a problem with using Git concepts for everything

We've been seeing a surge in applications that use Git to store other things than code, or that are based on Git concepts and so enable "forking, merging and distributed collaboration" for things like blogs, recipes, literature, music composition, normal files in a filesystem, databases.

The problem with all this is they will either:

1. assume the user will commit manually and expect that commit to be composed by a set of meaningful changes, and the commiter will also add a message to the commit, describing that set of meaningful, related changes; or
2. try to make the committing process automatic and hide it from the user, so will producing meaningless commits, based on random changes in many different files (it's not "files" if we are talking about a recipe or rows in a table, but let's say "files" for the sake of clarity) that will probably not be related and not reduceable to a meaningful commit message, or maybe the commit will contain only the changes to a single file, and its commit message would be equivalent to "updated <name of the file>".

Programmers, when using Git, think in Git, i.e., they work with version control in their minds. They try hard to commit together only sets of meaningful and related changes, even when they happen to make unrelated changes in the meantime, and that's why there are commands like git add -p and many others.

Normal people, to whom many of these git-based tools are intended to (and even programmers when out of their code-world), are much less prone to think in Git, and that's why another kind of abstraction for fork-merge-collaborate in non-code environments must be used.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

my personal approach on using let, const and var in javascript

Since these names can be used interchangeably almost everywhere and there are a lot of people asking and searching on the internet on how to use them (myself included until some weeks ago), I developed a personal approach that uses the declarations mostly as readability and code-sense sugar, for helping my mind, instead of expecting them to add physical value to the programs.

---

let is only for short-lived variables, defined at a single line and not changed after. Generally those variables which are there only to decrease the amount of typing. For example:

for (let key in something) {
  /* we could use `something[key]` for this entire block,
     but it would be too much letters and not good for the
     fingers or the eyes, so we use a radically temporary variable
  */
  let value = something[key]
  ...
}

const for all names known to be constant across the entire module. Not including locally constant values. The value in the example above, for example, is constant in its scope and could be declared with const, but since there are many iterations and for each one there's a value with same name, "value", that could trick the reader into thinking value is always the same. Modules and functions are the best example of const variables:

const PouchDB = require('pouchdb')
const instantiateDB = function () {}
const codes = {
  23: 'atc',
  43: 'qwx',
  77: 'oxi'
}

var for everything that may or not be variable. Names that may confuse people reading the code, even if they are constant locally, and are not suitable for let (i.e., they are not completed in a simple direct declaration) apply for being declared with var. For example:

var output = '\n'
lines.forEach(line => {
  output += '  '
  output += line.trim()
  output += '\n'
})
output += '\n---'

for (let parent in parents) {
  var definitions = {}
  definitions.name = getName(parent)
  definitions.config = {}
  definitions.parent = parent
}

@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec

https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/0d/0df7462b-51b7-4ea2-9819-d4f020335cdc?rule=kijijica-640-webp https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/a3/a33c4296-1a87-4a1a-94a8-a538a28b30ba?rule=kijijica-640-webp https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/8e/8e817b42-40bf-4a10-8b27-903b42068ea3?rule=kijijica-640-webp https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/fe/fec8896e-2387-425c-b686-dc6bfa340fa9?rule=kijijica-640-webp https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/73/73e34c2d-6c60-4379-b34c-dbf5d3fa040f?rule=kijijica-640-webp https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/c1/c114ec29-e11e-45e8-bada-d712b7730fd3?rule=kijijica-640-webp https://media.kijiji.ca/api/v1/ca-prod-fsbo-ads/images/99/99c463e6-b45a-4503-b8ea-9112cd320be9?rule=kijijica-640-webp

---

New, in original box with insert. Etransfer, Bitcoin and cash accepted. Located in South Barrhaven. I do not personally delivery however I ship daily. $12 flat rate with full asking price to anywhere in Canada.

---

BITCOIN #BTCACEPTED #MARKETPLACE #AGORA #P2P #ART #KhotLaCha #CRAFTWORK #TALKINGSTICK #CANADA #NEPEAN #VINTAGE #ANTIQUES

source - testing crosspost to nostr from the ~Agora...

@ b2d670de:907f9d4a

Hello Stackers! If anyone needs a writepolicy plugin for their Strfry relay, check out Chief! You can whitelist/blacklist public keys, kinds and words/content.

https://github.com/0xtrr/chief

@ 1e52c554:21771908

Posthumous work of the Colombian poet born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948.

Welcome to this blog dedicated to the Posthumous work of the Colombian poet Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (my father), born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948-2010. Where I will be publishing each of the 175 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty-First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).' Analyzed with GPT4 artificial intelligence and illustrated with AI tools... I hope you enjoy this garden of words snatched from the solitude of a locked room.

Likewise, any enthusiast of the sonnet form is invited to conduct their personal studies of Arroyave Tabares' work, as it is a collection that, although registered since 1989, has not yet been published.

Frank Duna

---

Analysis "Space Living"

Introduction

The sonnet "Space Living" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares reflects on the enduring essence of human existence and its connection to the cosmic universe.

Thematic Analysis

Octave: The octave of the sonnet sets the stage by invoking a sense of timelessness and continuity. The speaker introduces the notion of "the bells of joy still ringing," which suggests a persistent undercurrent of happiness or harmony throughout history. Despite the passage of time ("lost in dust of time"), this joy remains resilient and enduring. The mention of "runes" adds a mystical and ancient quality to this joy, implying that it has been preserved in mysterious ways. The idea of joy being "strong and sublime" emphasizes its powerful and elevated nature.

The phrase "Across the papyrs and tongues upbringing" alludes to the transmission of this joy through written and spoken language, possibly referring to the way human knowledge and wisdom have been passed down through generations. The speaker suggests that this joy has been an integral part of human existence since ancient times, even as humanity learned to read and write ("learnt how to read and write").

The octave concludes by proposing that this joy might have been present even before the evolution of Homo sapiens, possibly reaching back to the primal stages of life ("before we were slime"). The idea of "thoughts of God" and existing in a higher realm introduces a spiritual dimension, highlighting the concept of a higher purpose to human life.

Sestet: The sestet delves deeper into the cosmic and metaphysical aspects of human existence. The speaker describes humanity as "space children," implying a connection to the universe itself. The journey to Earth is depicted as a transformative experience where humans have changed physically and in behavior ("life, shape, ways and our breath"). However, amidst all these changes, the essence of our origin remains untouched—"our Source and dreams."

These dreams and origins are depicted as an "eternal symphony," resonating across time and space. They provide both delight and companionship to humans, offering solace and connection in the midst of life's uncertainties. The notion of "star dreams" in the final line suggests aspirations that reach far beyond Earth, hinting at humanity's innate desire to explore and understand the cosmos.

In conclusion, "Space Living" explores the enduring nature of human joy, the transmission of wisdom through time, the spiritual dimensions of existence, and the cosmic connection of humanity. The poem uses a combination of ancient symbolism, philosophical contemplation, and a reflective tone to convey its themes. Just like a Petrarchan sonnet, it presents a structured exploration of complex ideas while adhering to a traditional rhyme scheme and form.

Rhyme Scheme

The sonnet "Space Living" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares follows a Petrarchan rhyme scheme, which consists of an octave (the first eight lines) with a rhyme pattern of ABBA ABBA, followed by a sestet (the final six lines) with a rhyme pattern of CCC EED. This rhyme scheme is a characteristic feature of Petrarchan or Italian sonnets, and it serves to structure the poem and create a sense of symmetry and balance. Let's analyze the rhyme scheme in more detail:

Octave (ABBA ABBA):

``` "ringing" (A)

"time" (B)

"sublime" (B)

"upbringing" (A)

"singing" (A)

"prime" (B)

"slime" (B)

"existing" (A) ```

The octave sets up a pattern of alternating rhymes, with lines 1, 4, and 5 all rhyming with each other (A) and lines 2, 3, 6, and 7 all rhyming with each other (B). This creates a sense of balance and symmetry within the first eight lines of the poem.

Sestet (CDC DCD):

``` "Earth" (C)

"breath" (C)

"dreams" (D)

"symphony" (E)

"company" (E)

"dreams" (D)
```

The consistent and symmetrical rhyme scheme in "Space Living" not only adheres to the traditional Petrarchan sonnet form but also contributes to the poem's musical quality and overall sense of harmony. The rhyme scheme works in conjunction with the thematic content of the poem to create a unified and evocative piece of poetry.

Additional Aspects to Analyze

Certainly, let's delve into the aspects of the sonnet "Space Living" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares that have not been thoroughly analyzed yet:

Language and Imagery: The language used in “Space Living” is rich and evocative, with a blend of concrete and abstract imagery. The poet uses concrete images such as “bells of joy”, “dust of time”, and “runes” to evoke a sense of history and continuity. Abstract concepts like joy, time, and existence are personified and made tangible through this imagery. The use of the phrase “space children” creates a vivid image of humanity’s cosmic origins.

Themes: The sonnet explores several themes, including the endurance of joy, the journey of life, the power of dreams, and the mystery of existence. The octave focuses on the theme of joy’s endurance and humanity’s divine origin, while the sestet explores the theme of transformation and the power of dreams.

Meter: The sonnet appears to follow the iambic pentameter, which is common in traditional sonnets. This means each line typically contains five pairs of syllables, with the stress falling on the second syllable of each pair. However, there are a few variations in the meter throughout the poem, which add rhythmic interest.

Overall, “Space Living” is a thought-provoking sonnet that uses rich language and imagery to explore deep themes. The poet skillfully uses the structure of the sonnet to create a shift in focus from the past (in the octave) to the future (in the sestet), reflecting the journey of life. The consistent meter adds a rhythmic quality to the poem, enhancing its musicality and flow. The sonnet invites readers to reflect on their own journeys and the dreams that guide them. It’s a beautiful exploration of human existence, from our cosmic origins to our earthly transformations.

(GPT4)

---

Syllable count for each line

```

Space Living

10 I can hear the bells of joy still ringing 10 Even if they seemed lost in dust of time 10 They lived in runes and kept strong and sublime
10 Across the papyrs and tongues upbringing.

10 Some day in nature we started singing 10 Perhaps when Homo Sapiens grew in prime
10 Or recalling that before we were slime
9 In thoughts of God we were existing...

10 We were space children in our way to Earth 10 Where we changed our life, shape, ways and our breath 10 And only left untouched our Source and dreams. 10 These have become eternal symphony 10 To give us much delight and company 10 While fording in the future those star dreams.
*** ```

---

Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical Written By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987)

---

Analyzed by GPT4; Image by leonardo.ai First published on Nostr Protocol by franciscoarroyavet@nostrplebs.com Space Living

@ 1c9dcd8f:1852f704

And Lugh of the Long Hand was at that time at Teamhair with the King of Ireland, and it was showed to him that the Fomor were after landing at Eas Dara. And when he knew that, he made ready Manannan's horse, the Aonbharr, at the time of the battle of the day and night; and he went where Nuada the king was, and told him how the Fomor had landed at Eas Dara and had spoiled Bodb Dearg's country; "and it is what I want," he said, "to get help from you to give battle to them." But Nuada was not minded to avenge the destruction that was done on Bodb Dearg and not on himself, and Lugh was not well pleased with his answer, and he went riding out of Teamhair westward. And presently he saw three armed men coming towards him, his own father Cian, with his brothers Cu and Ceithen, that were the three sons of Cainte, and they saluted him. "What is the cause of your early rising?" they said. "It is good cause I have for it," said Lugh, "for the Fomor are come into Ireland and have robbed Bodb Dearg; and what help will you give me against them?" he said.

"Each one of us will keep off a hundred from you in the battle," said they. "That is a good help," said Lugh; "but there is a help I would sooner have from you than that: to gather the Riders of the Sidhe to me from every place where they are."

So Cu and Ceithen went towards the south, and Cian set out northward, and he did not stop till he reached the Plain of Muirthemne. And as he was going across the plain he saw three armed men before him, that were the three sons of Tuireann, son of Ogma. And it is the way it was between the three sons of Tuireann and the three sons of Cainte, they were in hatred and enmity towards one another, so that whenever they met there was sure to be fighting among them.

Then Cian said: "If my two brothers had been here it is a brave fight we would make; but since they are not, it is best for me to fall back." Then he saw a great herd of pigs near him, and he struck himself with a Druid rod that put on him the shape of a pig of the herd, and he began rooting up the ground like the rest.

Then Brian, one of the sons of Tuireann, said to his brothers: "Did you see that armed man that was walking the plain a while ago?" "We did see him," said they. "Do you know what was it took him away?" said Brian. "We do not know that," said they. "It is a pity you not to be keeping a better watch over the plains of the open country in time of war," said Brian; "and I know well what happened him, for he struck himself with his Druid rod into the shape of a pig of these pigs, and he is rooting up the ground now like any one of them; and whoever he is, he is no friend to us." "That is bad for us," said the other two, "for the pigs belong to some one of the Tuatha de Danaan, and even if we kill them all, the Druid pig might chance to escape us in the end."

"It is badly you got your learning in the city of learning," said Brian, "when you cannot tell an enchanted beast from a natural beast." And while he was saying that, he struck his two brothers with his Druid rod, and he turned them into two thin, fast hounds, and they began to yelp sharply on the track of the enchanted pig.

And it was not long before the pig fell out from among the others, and not one of the others made away but only itself, and it made for a wood, and at the edge of the wood Brian gave a cast of his spear that went through its body. And the pig cried out, and it said: "It is a bad thing you have done to have made a cast at me when you knew me." "It seems to me you have the talk of a man," said Brian. "I was a man indeed," said he; "I am Cian, son of Cainte, and give me your protection now." "I swear by the gods of the air," said Brian, "that if the life came back seven times to you, I would take it from you every time." "If that is so," said Cian, "give me one request: let me go into my own shape again." "We will do that," said Brian, "for it is easier to me to kill a man than a pig."

So Cian took his own shape then, and he said: "Give me mercy now." "We will not give it," said Brian. "Well, I have got the better of you for all that," said Cian; "for if it was in the shape of a pig you had killed me there would only be the blood money for a pig on me; but as it is in my own shape you will kill me, there never was and never will be any person killed for whose sake a heavier fine will be paid than for myself. And the arms I am killed with," he said, "it is they will tell the deed to my son."

"It is not with weapons you will be killed, but with the stones lying on the ground," said Brian. And with that they pelted him with stones, fiercely and roughly, till all that was left of him was a poor, miserable, broken heap; and they buried him the depth of a man's body in the earth, and the earth would not receive that murder from them, but cast it up again. Brian said it should go into the earth again, and they put it in the second time, and the second time the earth would not take it. And six times the sons of Tuireann buried the body, and six times it was cast up again; but the seventh time it was put underground the earth kept it. And then they went on to join Lugh of the Long Hand for the battle.

Now as to Lugh; upon parting with his father he went forward from Teamhair westward, to the hills that were called afterwards Gairech and Ilgairech, and to the ford of the Shannon that is now called Athluain, and to Bearna nah-Eadargana, the Gap of Separation, and over Magh Luirg, the Plain of Following, and to Corr Slieve na Seaghsa, the Round Mountain of the Poet's Spring, and to the head of Sean-Slieve, and through the place of the bright-faced Corann, and from that to Magh Mor an Aonaigh, the Great Plain of the Fair, where the Fomor were, and the spoils of Connacht with them.

It is then Bres, son of Elathan, rose up and said: "It is a wonder to me the sun to be rising in the west to-day, and it rising in the east every other day." "It would be better for us it to be the sun," said the Druids. "What else is it?" said he. "It is the shining of the face of Lugh, son of Ethlinn," said they.

Lugh came up to them then and saluted them. "Why do you come like a friend to us?" said they. "There is good cause for that," he said, "for there is but one half of me of the Tuatha de Danaan, and the other half of yourselves. And give me back now the milch cows of the men of Ireland," he said. "May early good luck not come to you till you get either a dry or a milch cow here," said a man of them, and anger on him.

But Lugh stopped near them for three days and three nights, and at the end of that time the Riders of the Sidhe came to him. And Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda, came with twenty-nine hundred men, and he said:

"What is the cause of your delay in giving battle?"

"Waiting for you I was," said Lugh.

Then the kings and chief men of the men of Ireland took their armour on them, and they raised the points of their spears over their heads, and they made close fences of their shields. And they attacked their enemies on Magh Mor an Aonaigh, and their enemies answered them, and they threw their whining spears at one another, and when their spears were broken they drew their swords from their blue-bordered sheaths and began to strike at one another, and thickets of brown flames rose above them from the bitterness of their many-edged weapons.

And Lugh saw the battle pen where Bres, son of Elathan, was, and he made a fierce attack on him and on the men that were guarding him, till he had made an end of two hundred of them.

When Bres saw that, he gave himself up to Lugh's protection. "Give me my life this time," he said, "and I will bring the whole race of the Fomor to fight it out with you in a great battle; and I bind myself to that, by the sun and the moon, the sea and the land," he said.

On that Lugh gave him his life, and then the Druids that were with him asked his protection for themselves. "By my word," said Lugh, "if the whole race of the Fomor went under my protection they would not be destroyed by me." So then Bres and the Druids set out for their own country.

Now as to Lugh and the sons of Tuireann. After the battle of Magh Mor an Aonaigh, he met two of his kinsmen and asked them did they see his father in the fight. "We did not," said they. "I am sure he is not living," said Lugh; "and I give my word," he said, "there will no food or drink go into my mouth till I get knowledge by what death my father died."

Then he set out, and the Riders of the Sidhe after him, till they came to the place where he and his father parted from one another, and from that to the place where his father went into the shape of a pig when he saw the sons of Tuireann.

And when Lugh came to that place the earth spoke to him, and it said: "It is in great danger your father was here, Lugh, when he saw the sons of Tuireann before him, and it is into the shape of a pig he had to go, but it is in his own shape they killed him."

Then Lugh told that to his people, and he found the spot where his father was buried, and he bade them dig there, the way he would know by what death the sons of Tuireann had made an end of him.

Then they raised the body out of the grave and looked at it, and it was all one bed of wounds. And Lugh said: "It was the death of an enemy the sons of Tuireann gave my dear father." And he gave him three kisses, and it is what he said: "It is bad the way I am myself after this death, for I can hear nothing with my ears, and I can see nothing with my eyes, and there is not a living pulse in my heart, with grief after my father. And you gods I worship," he said, "it is a pity I not to have come here the time this thing was done. And it is a great thing that has been done here," he said, "the people of the gods of Dana to have done treachery on one another, and it is long they will be under loss by it and be weakened by it. And Ireland will never be free from trouble from this out, east and west," he said.

Then they put Cian under the earth again, and after that there was keening made over his grave, and a stone was raised on it, and his name was written in Ogham, And Lugh said: "This hill will take its name from Cian, although he himself is stripped and broken. And it was the sons of Tuireann did this thing," he said, "and there will grief and anguish fall on them from it, and on their children after them. And it is no lying story I am telling you," he said; "and it is a pity the way I am, and my heart is broken in my breast since Cian, the brave man, is not living."

Then he bade his people to go before him to Teamhair, "But do not tell the story till I tell it myself," he said.

And when Lugh came to Teamhair he sat in the high seat of the king, and he looked about him and he saw the three sons of Tuireann. And those were the three that were beyond all others at Teamhair at that time for quickness and skill, for a good hand in battle, for beauty and an honourable name.

Then Lugh bade his people to shake the chain of silence, and they did so, and they all listened. And Lugh said: "What are your minds fixed on at this time, Men of Dea?" "On yourself indeed," said they. "I have a question to ask of you," he said. "What is the vengeance each one of you would take on the man that would kill your father?"

There was great wonder on them when they heard that, and one of the chief men among them said: "Tell us was it your own father that was killed?" "It was indeed," said Lugh; "and I see now in this house," he said, "the men that killed him, and they know themselves what way they killed him better than I know it." Then the king said: "It is not a death of one day only I would give the man that had killed my father, if he was in my power, but to cut off one of his limbs from day to day till I would make an end of him." All the chief men said the same, and the sons of Tuireann like the rest.

"There are making that answer," said Lugh, "the three men that killed my father; and let them pay the fine for him now, since you are all together in the one place. And if they will not," he said, "I will not break the protection of the king's house, but they must make no attempt to quit this house till they have settled with me."

"If it was I myself had killed your father," said the king, "I would be well content you to take a fine from me for him."

"It is at us Lugh is saying all this," said the sons of Tuireann among themselves. "Let us acknowledge the killing of his father to him," said Iuchar and Iucharba. "I am in dread," said Brian, "that it is wanting an acknowledgment from us he is, in the presence of all the rest, and that he will not let us off with a fine afterwards." "It is best to acknowledge it," said the others; "and let you speak it out since you are the eldest."

Then Brian, son of Tuireann, said: "It is at us you are speaking, Lugh, for you are thinking we went against the sons of Cainte before now; and we did not kill your father," he said, "but we will pay the fine for him the same as if we did kill him." "I will take a fine from you that you do not think of," said Lugh, "and I will say here what it is, and if it is too much for you, I will let you off a share of it." "Let us hear it from you," said they. "Here it is," said Lugh; "three apples, and the

of a pig, and a spear, and two horses, and a chariot, and seven pigs, and a dog's whelp, and a cooking-spit, and three shouts on a hill. That is the fine I am asking," he said; "and if it is too much for you, a part of it will be taken off you presently, and if you do not think it too much, then pay it"

"It is not too much," said Brian, "or a hundred times of it would not be too much. And we think it likely," he said, "because of its smallness that you have some treachery towards us behind it." "I do not think it too little of a fine," said Lugh; "and I give you the guarantee of the Tuatha de Danaan I will ask no other thing, and I will be faithful to you, and let you give the same pledge to me." "It is a pity you to ask that," said Brian, "for our own pledge is as good as any pledge in the world." "Your own pledge is not enough," said Lugh, "for it is often the like of you promised to pay a fine in this way, and would try to back out of it after."

So then the sons of Tuireann bound themselves by the King of Ireland, and by Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda, and by the chief men of the Tuatha de Danaan, that they would pay that fine to Lugh.

"It would be well for me now," said Lugh, "to give you better knowledge of the fine." "It would be well indeed," said they.

"This is the way of it then," said Lugh. "The three apples I asked of you are the three apples from the Garden in the East of the World, and no other apples will do but these, for they are the most beautiful and have most virtue in them of the apples of the whole world. And it is what they are like, they are of the colour of burned gold, and they are the size of the head of a child a month old, and there is the taste of honey on them, and they do not leave the pain of wounds or the vexation of sickness on any one that eats them, and they do not lessen by being eaten for ever. And the skin I asked of you," he said, "is the pig skin of Tuis, King of Greece, and it heals all the wounds and all the sickness of the world, and whatever danger a man may be in, if it can but overtake the life in him, it will cure him; and it is the way it was with that pig, every stream of water it would go through would be turned into wine to the end of nine days after, and every wound it touched was healed; and it is what the Druids of Greece said, that it is not in itself this virtue was, but in the skin, and they skinned it, and the skin is there ever since. And I think, too, it will not be easy for you to get it, with or without leave."

"And do you know what is the spear I am asking of you?" he said. "We do not," said they. "It is a very deadly spear belonging to the King of Persia, the Luin it is called, and every choice thing is done by it, and its head is kept steeped in a vessel of water, the way it will not burn down the place where it is, and it will be hard to get it. And do you know what two horses and what chariot I am asking of you? They are the chariot and the two wonderful horses of Dobar, King of Siogair, and the sea is the same as land to them, and there are no faster horses than themselves, and there is no chariot equal to that one in shape and in strength.

"And do you know what are the seven pigs I asked of you? They are the pigs of Easal, King of the Golden Pillars; and though they are killed every night, they are found alive again the next day, and there will be no disease or no sickness on any person that will eat a share of them.

"And the whelp I asked of you is Fail-Inis, the whelp belonging to the King of Ioruaidh, the Cold Country. And all the wild beasts of the world would fall down at the sight of her, and she is more beautiful than the sun in his fiery wheels, and it will be hard to get her.

"And the cooking-spit I asked of you is a spit of the spits of the women of Inis Cenn-fhinne, the Island of Caer of the Fair Hair. And the three shouts you are to give on a hill must be given on the Hill of Miochaoin in the north of Lochlann. And Miochaoin and his sons are under bonds not to allow any shouts to be given on that hill; and it was with them my father got his learning, and if I would forgive you his death, they would not forgive you. And if you get through all your other voyages before you reach to them, it is my opinion they themselves will avenge him on you. And that is the fine I have asked of you," said Lugh.

There was silence and darkness on the sons of Tuireann when they heard that. And they went to where their father was, and told him the fine that had been put on them. "It is bad news that is," said Tuireann; "and it is to your death and your destruction you will be going, looking for those things. But for all that, if Lugh himself had a mind to help you, you could work out the fine, and all the men of the world could not do it but by the power of Manannan or of Lugh. Go then and ask the loan of Manannan's horse, the Aonbharr, from Lugh, and if he has any wish to get the fine, he will give it to you; but if he does not wish it he will say the horse is not his, and that he would not give the loan of a loan. Ask him then for the loan of Manannan's curragh, the Scuabtuinne, the Sweeper of the Waves. And he will give that, for he is under bonds not to refuse a second request, and the curragh is better for you than the horse," he said.

So the sons of Tuireann went to where Lugh was, and they saluted him, and they said they could not bring him the fine without his own help, and for that reason it would be well for them to get a loan of the Aonbharr. "I have that horse only on loan myself," said Lugh, "and I will not give a loan of a loan."

"If that is so, give us the loan of Manannan's curragh," said Brian. "I will give that," said Lugh. "What place is it?" said they. "At Brugh na Boinn," said Lugh.

Then they went back again to where Tuireann was, and his daughter Ethne, their sister, with him, and they told him they had got the curragh. "It is not much the better you will be for it," said Tuireann, "although Lugh would like well to get every part of this fine he could make use of before the battle with the Fomor. But he would like yourselves to come to your death looking for it."

Then they went away, and they left Tuireann sorrowful and lamenting, and Ethne went with them to where the curragh was. And Brian got into it, and he said: "There is place but for one other person along with me here." And he began to find fault with its narrowness. "You ought not to be faulting the curragh," said Ethne; "and O my dear brother," she said, "it was a bad thing you did, to kill the father of Lugh of the Long Hand; and whatever harm may come to you from it, it is but just." "Do not say that, Ethne," they said, "for we are in good heart, and we will do brave deeds. And we would sooner be killed a hundred times over," they said, "than to meet with the death of cowards." "My grief," said Ethne, "there is nothing more sorrowful than this, to see you driven out from your own country."

Then the three pushed out their curragh from the beautiful clear-bayed shore of Ireland. "What course shall we take first?" said they. "We will go look for the apples," said Brian, "as they were the first thing we were bade bring. And so we ask of you, curragh of Manannan that is under us, to sail to the Garden in the East of the World."

And the curragh did not neglect that order, but it sailed forward over the green-sided waves and deep places till it came to its harbour in the east of the world.

And then Brian asked his brothers: "What way have you a mind to get into the garden? for I think," he said, "the king's champions and the fighting men of the country are always guarding it, and the king himself is chief over them." "What should we do," said his brothers, "but to make straight at them and attack them, and bring away the apples or fall ourselves, since we cannot escape from these dangers that are before us without meeting our death in some place." "It would be better," said Brian, "the story of our bravery and our craftiness to be told and to live after us, than folly and cowardice to be told of us. And what is best for us to do now," he said, "is to go in the shape of swift hawks into the garden, and the watchers have but their light spears to throw at us, and let you take good care to keep out of their reach; and after they have thrown them all, make a quick flight to the apples and let each of you bring away an apple of them in your claws, and I will bring away the third."

They said that was a good advice, and Brian struck himself and the others with his Druid rod, and changed them into beautiful hawks. And they flew towards the garden, and the watchers took notice of them and shouted on every side of them, and threw showers of spears and darts, but the hawks kept out of their reach as Brian had bade them, till all the spears were spent, and then they swept down bravely on the apples, and brought them away with them, without so much as a wound.

And the news went through the city and the whole district, and the king had three wise, crafty daughters, and they put themselves into the shape of three ospreys, and they followed the hawks to the sea, and sent flashes of lightning before them and after them, that scorched them greatly.

"It is a pity the way we are now," said the sons of Tuireann, "for we will be burned through and through with this lightning if we do not get some relief." "If I can give you relief I will do it," said Brian. With that he struck himself and his brothers with the Druid rod, and they were turned into three swans, and they went down quickly into the sea, and the ospreys went away from them then, and the sons of Tuireann went into their boat.

After that they consulted together, and it is what they agreed, to go to Greece and to bring away the skin of the pig, with or without leave. So they went forward till they came near to the court of the King of Greece.

"What appearance should we put on us going in here?" said Brian. "What appearance should we go in with but our own?" said the others. "That is not what I think best," said Brian; "but to go in with the appearance of poets from Ireland, the way the high people of Greece will hold us in respect and in honour." "It would be hard for us to do that," they said, "and we without a poem, and it is little we know how to make one."

However, they put the poet's tie on their hair, and they knocked at the door of the court, and the door-keeper asked who was in it. "We are poets of Ireland," said Brian, "and we are come with a poem to the king."

The door-keeper went in and told the king that there were poets from Ireland at the door. "Let them in," said the king, "for it is in search of a good man they came so far from their own country." And the king gave orders that everything should be well set out in the court, the way they would say they had seen no place so grand in all their travels.

The sons of Tuireann were let in then, having the appearance of poets, and they fell to drinking and pleasure without delay; and they thought they had never seen, and there was not in the world, a court so good as that or so large a household, or a place where they had met with better treatment.

Then the king's poets got up to give out their poems and songs. And then Brian, son of Tuireann, bade his brothers to say a poem for the king. "We have no poem," said they; "and do not ask any poem of us, but the one we know before, and that is to take what we want by the strength of our hand if we are the strongest, or to fall by those that are against us if they are the strongest." "That is not a good way to make a poem," said Brian. And with that he rose up himself and asked a hearing. And they all listened to him, and it is what he said:

"O Tuis, we do not hide your fame; we praise you as the oak among kings; the skin of a pig, bounty without hardness, this is the reward I ask for it.

"The war of a neighbour against an ear; the fair ear of his neighbour will be against him; he who gives us what he owns, his court will not be the scarcer for it.

"A raging army and a sudden sea are a danger to whoever goes against them. The skin of a pig, bounty without hardness, this is the reward I ask, O Tuis."

"That is a good poem," said the king; "but I do not know a word of its meaning." "I will tell you its meaning," said Brian. "'O Tuis, we do not hide your fame; we praise you as the oak above the kings.' That is, as the oak is beyond the kingly trees of the wood, so are you beyond the kings of the world for open-handedness and for grandeur.

"'The skin of a pig, bounty without hardness.' That is, the skin of a pig you own is what I would wish to get from you as a reward for my poem.

"'The war of a neighbour against an ear, the fair ear of his neighbour will be against him.' That is, you and I will be by the ears about the skin, unless I get it with your consent.

"And that is the meaning of the poem," said Brian.

"I would praise your poem," said the king, "if there was not so much about my pig-skin in it; and you have no good sense, man of poetry," he said, "to be asking that thing of me, and I would not give it to all the poets and the learned men and the great men of the world, since they could not take it away without my consent. But I will give you three times the full of the skin of gold as the price of your poem," he said.

"May good be with you, king," said Brian, "and I know well it was no easy thing I was asking, but I knew I would get a good ransom for it. And I am that covetous," he said, "I will not be satisfied without seeing the gold measured myself into the skin."

The king sent his servants with them then to the treasure-house to measure the gold. "Measure out the full of it to my brothers first," said Brian, "and then give good measure to myself, since it was I made the poem."

But when the skin was brought out, Brian made a quick sudden snatch at it with his left hand, and drew his sword and made a stroke at the man nearest him, and made two halves of him. And then he kept a hold of the skin and put it about himself, and the three of them rushed out of the court, cutting down every armed man before them, so that not one escaped death or wounding. And then Brian went to where the king himself was, and the king made no delay in attacking him, and they made a hard fight of it, and at the end the King of Greece fell by the hand of Brian, son of Tuireann.

The three brothers rested for a while after that, and then they said they would go and look for some other part of the fine. "We will go to Pisear, King of Persia," said Brian, "and ask him for the spear."

So they went into their boat, and they left the blue streams of the coast of Greece, and they said: "We are well off when we have the apples and the skin." And they stopped nowhere till they came to the borders of Persia.

"Let us go to the court with the appearance of poets," said Brian, "the same as we went to the King of Greece." "We are content to do that," said the others, "as all turned out so well the last time we took to poetry; not that it is easy for us to take to a calling that does not belong to us."

So they put the poet's tie on their hair, and they were as well treated as they were at the other court; and when the time came for poems Brian rose up, and it is what he said:

"It is little any spear looks to Pisear; the battles of enemies are broken, it is not too much for Pisear to wound every one of them.

"A yew, the most beautiful of the wood, it is called a king, it is not bulky. May the spear drive on the whole crowd to their wounds of death."

"That is a good poem," said the king, "but I do not understand why my own spear is brought into it, O Man of Poetry from Ireland."

"It is because it is that spear of your own I would wish to get as the reward of my poem," said Brian. "It is little sense you have to be asking that of me," said the king; "and the people of my court never showed greater respect for poetry than now, when they did not put you to death on the spot."

When Brian heard that talk from the king, he thought of the apple that was in his hand, and he made a straight cast and hit him in the forehead, so that his brains were put out at the back of his head, and he bared the sword and made an attack on the people about him. And the other two did not fail to do the same, and they gave him their help bravely till they had made an end of all they met of the people of the court. And then they found the spear, and its head in a cauldron of water, the way it would not set fire to the place.

And after a while they said it was time for them to go and look for the rest of the great fine that was on them, and they asked one another what way should they go. "We will go to the King of the Island of Siogair," said Brian, "for it is with him are the two horses and the chariot the Ildánach asked of us."

They went forward then and brought the spear with them, and it is proud the three champions were after all they had done. And they went on till they were come to the court of the King of Siogair.

"It is what we will do this time," said Brian, "we will go in with the appearance of paid soldiers from Ireland, and we will make friends with the king, the way we will get to know in what place the horses and the chariot are kept." And when they had settled on that they went forward to the lawn before the king's house.

The king and the chief men that were with him rose up and came through the fair that was going on there, and they saluted the king, and he asked who were they. "We are trained fighting men from Ireland," they said, "and we are earning wages from the kings of the world." "Is it your wish to stop with me for a while?" said the king. "That is what we are wanting," said they. So then they made an agreement and took service with him.

They stopped in the court a fortnight and a month, and they never saw the horses through that time. Then Brian said: "This is a bad way we are in, to have no more news of the horses now than the first day we came to the place." "What is best for us to do now?" said his brothers. "Let us do this," said Brian, "let us take our arms and gather our things together, and go to the king and tell him we will leave the country and this part of the world unless he will show us those horses."

So they went to the king that very day, and he asked them what did they mean by getting themselves ready for a journey. "You will hear that, high king," said Brian; "it is because trained fighting men from Ireland, like ourselves, have always trust put in them by the kings they guard, and we are used to be told the secrets and the whispers of any person we are with, and that is not the way you have treated us since we came to you. For you have two horses and a chariot that are the best in the world, as we have been told, and we have not been given a sight of them yet." "It would be a pity you to go on that account," said the king, "when I would have showed them to you the first day, if I had known you had a wish to see them. And if you have a mind to see them now," he said, "you may see them; for I think there never came soldiers from Ireland to this place that were thought more of by myself and by my people than yourselves."

He sent for the horses then, and they were yoked to the chariot, and their going was as fast as the cold spring wind, and the sea was the same as the land to them.

And Brian was watching the horses closely, and on a sudden he took hold of the chariot and took the chariot driver out and dashed him against the nearest rock, and made a leap into his place himself, and made a cast of the Persian spear at the king, that went through his heart. And then he and his brothers scattered the people before them, and brought away the chariot.

"We will go now to Easal, the King of the Golden Pillars," said Brian, "to look for the seven pigs the Ildánach bade us bring him."

They sailed on then without delay or drawback to that high country. And it is the way the people of that country were, watching their harbours for fear of the sons of Tuireann, for the story of them had been told in all parts, how they had been sent out of Ireland by force, and how they were bringing away with them all the gifted treasures of the whole world.

Easal came to the edge of the harbour to meet them, and he asked was it true what he heard, that the king of every country they had gone to had fallen by them. Brian said it was true, whatever he might wish to do to them for it. "What was it made you do that?" said Easal. Brian told him then it was the oppression and the hard sentence of another had put them to it; and he told him all that had happened, and how they had put down all that offered to stand against them until that time.

"What did you come to this country now for?" said the king. "For the pigs belonging to yourself," said Brian; "for to bring them away with us is a part of the fine." "What way do you think to get them?" said the king. "If we get them with good-will," said Brian, "we are ready to take them thankfully; and if we do not, we are ready to do battle with yourself and your people on the head of them, that you may fall by us, and we may bring away the pigs in spite of you." "If that is to be the end of it," said the king, "it would be a pity to bring my people into a battle." "It would be a pity indeed," said Brian.

Then the king whispered and took advice with his people about the matter, and it is what they agreed, to give up the pigs of their own free will to the sons of Tuireann, since they could not see that any one had been able to stand against them up to that time.

Then the sons of Tuireann gave their thanks to Easal, and there was wonder on them to have got the pigs like that, when they had to fight for every other part of the fine. And more than that, they had left a share of their blood in every other place till then.

Easal brought them to his own house that night, and they were served with food, and drink, and good beds, and all they could wish for. And they rose up on the morrow and came into the king's presence, and the pigs were given to them. "It is well you have done by us, giving us these pigs," said Brian, "for we did not get any share of the fine without fighting but these alone." And he made a poem for the king then, praising him, and putting a great name on him for what he had done.

"What journey are you going to make now, sons of Tuireann?" said Easal. "We are going," they said, "to the country of Ioruaidh, on account of a whelp that is there." "Give me one request," said Easal, "and that is to bring me with you to the King of Ioruaidh, for a daughter of mine is his wife, and I would wish to persuade him to give you the whelp without a battle." "That will please us well," they said.

So the king's ship was made ready, and we have no knowledge of what happened till they came to the delightful, wonderful coast of Ioruaidh. The people and the armies were watching the harbours and landing-places before them, and they knew them at once and shouted at them.

Then Easal went on shore peaceably, and he went to where his son-in-law, the king, was, and told him the story of the sons of Tuireann from beginning to end. "What has brought them to this country?" said the King of Ioruaidh. "To ask for the hound you have," said Easal. "It was a bad thought you had coming with them to ask it," said the king, "for the gods have not given that much luck to any three champions in the world, that they would get my hound by force or by good-will." "It would be better for you to let them have the hound," said Easal, "since they have put down so many of the kings of the world."

But all he could say was only idleness to the king. So he went then to where the sons of Tuireann were, and gave them the whole account. And when they heard the king's answer, they made no delay, but put quick hands on their arms, and offered to give battle to the army of Ioruaidh. And when they met, there was a brave battle fought on both sides. And as for the sons of Tuireann, they began to kill and to strike at the men of Ioruaidh till they parted from one another in the fight, so that Iuchar and Iucharba chanced to be on one side, and Brian by himself on the other side. It was a gap of danger and a breaking of ranks was before Brian in every path he took, till he came to the King of Ioruaidh in the battle pen where he was. And then the two brave champions began a fierce fight together, and they did not spare one another in it. And at the last Brian overcame the king, and bound him, and brought him through the middle of the army, till he came to the place where Easal was, and it is what he said: "There is your son-in-law for you, and I swear by my hand of valour, I would think it easier to kill him three times than to bring him to you once like this."

So then the whelp was given to the sons of Tuireann, and the king was unbound, and peace was made between them. And when they had brought all this to an end, they bade farewell to Easal and to all the rest.

Now as to Lugh of the Long Hand, it was showed to him that the sons of Tuireann had got all the things that were wanting to him against the battle with the Fomor; and on that he sent a Druid spell after them to put forgetfulness on them of the rest of the fine that they had not got. And he put a great desire and longing on them to go back to Ireland; so they forgot that a part of the fine was wanting to them, and they turned back again toward home.

And it is the place where Lugh was at the time, at a gathering of the people for a fair on the green outside Teamhair, and the King of Ireland along with him. And it was made known to Lugh that the sons of Tuireann were landed at Brugh na Boinn. And he went into the city of Teamhair, and shut the gate after him, and he put on Manannan's smooth armour, and the cloak, of the daughters of Flidais, and he took his own arms in his hand.

And the sons of Tuireann came where the king was, and they were made welcome by him and by the Tuatha de Danaan. And the king asked them did they get the fine. "We did get it," said they; "and where is Lugh till we give it to him?" "He was here a while ago," said the king. And the whole fair was searched for him, but he was not found.

"I know the place where he is," said Brian; "for it has been made known to him that we are come to Ireland, and these deadly arms with us, and he is gone into Teamhair to avoid us."

Messengers were sent to him then, and it is the answer he gave them that he would not come, but that the fine should be given to the king.

So the sons of Tuireann did that, and when the king had taken the fine they all went to the palace in Teamhair; and Lugh came out on the lawn and the fine was given to him, and it is what he said: "There is a good payment here for any one that ever was killed or that ever will be killed. But there is something wanting to it yet that it is not lawful to leave out. And where is the cooking-spit?" he said; "and where are the three shouts on the hill that you did not give yet?"

And when the sons of Tuireann heard that there came clouds of weakness on them. And they left the place and went to their father's house that night, and they told him all they had done, and the way Lugh had treated them.

There was grief and darkness on Tuireann then, and they spent the night together. And on the morrow they went to their ship, and Ethne, their sister, with them, and she was crying and lamenting, and it is what she said:

"It is a pity, Brian of my life, it is not to Teamhair your going is, after all the troubles you have had before this, even if I could not follow you.

"O Salmon of the dumb Boinn, O Salmon of the Lifé River, since I cannot keep you here I am loath to part from you.

"O Rider of the Wave of Tuaidh, the man that stands best in the fight, if you come back again, I think it will not be pleasing to your enemy.

"Is there pity with you for the sons of Tuireann leaning now on their green shields? Their going is a cause for pity, my mind is filled up with it.

"You to be to-night at Beinn Edair till the heavy coming of the morning, you who have taken forfeits from brave men, it is you have increased our grief.

"It is a pity your journey is from Teamhair, and from the pleasant plains, and from great Uisnech of Midhe; there is nothing so pitiful as this."

After that complaint they went out on the rough waves of the green sea; and they were a quarter of a year on the sea without getting any news of the island.

Then Brian put on his water dress and he made a leap, and he was a long time walking in the sea looking for the Island of the Fair-Haired Women, and he found it in the end. And he went looking for the court, and when he came to it, all he found was a troop of women doing needlework and embroidering borders. And among all the other things they had with them, there was the cooking-spit.

And when Brian saw it, he took it up in his hand and he was going to bring it with him to the door. And all the women began laughing when they saw him doing that, and it is what they said: "It is a brave deed you put your hand to; for even if your brothers were along with you, the least of the three times fifty women of us would not let the spit go with you or with them. But for all that," they said, "take a spit of the spits with you, since you had the daring to try and take it in spite of us."

Brian bade them farewell then, and went to look for the boat. And his brothers thought it was too long he was away from them, and just as they were going to leave the place they were, they saw him coming towards them, and that raised their courage greatly.

And he went into the boat, and they went on to look for the Hill of Miochaoin. And when they came there, Miochaoin, that was the guardian of the hill, came towards them; and when Brian saw him he attacked him, and the fight of those two champions was like the fight of two lions, till Miochaoin fell at the last.

And after Miochaoin had fallen, his three sons came out to fight with the three sons of Tuireann. And if any one ever came from the east of the world to look at any fight, it is to see the fight of these champions he had a right to come, for the greatness of their blows and the courage of their minds. The names of the sons of Miochaoin were Core and Conn and Aedh, and they drove their three spears through the bodies of the sons of Tuireann, and that did not discourage them at all and they put their own three spears through the bodies of the sons of Miochaoin, so that they fell into the clouds and the faintness of death.

And then Brian said: "What way are you now, my dear brothers?" "We are near our death," said they. "Let us rise up," he said, "and give three shouts upon the hill, for I see the signs of death coming on us." "We are not able to do that," said they. Then Brian rose up and raised each of them with one hand, and he shedding blood heavily all the time, until they gave the three shouts.

After that Brian brought them with him to the boat, and they were travelling the sea for a long time, but at last Brian said: "I see Beinn Edair and our father's dun, and Teamhair of the Kings." "We would have our fill of health if we could see that," said the others; "and for the love of your good name, brother," they said, "raise up our heads on your breast till we see Ireland again, and life or death will be the same to us after that. And O Brian," they said, "Flame of Valour without treachery, we would sooner death to bring ourselves away, than to see you with wounds upon your body, and with no physician to heal you."

Then they came to Beinn Edair, and from that they went on to their father's house, and Brian said to Tuireann: "Go, dear father, to Teamhair, and give this spit to Lugh, and bring the skin that has healing in it for our relief. Ask it from him for the sake of friendship," he said, "for we are of the one blood, and let him not give hardness for hardness. And O dear father," he said, "do not be long on your journey, or you will not find us alive before you."

Then Tuireann went to Teamhair, and he found Lugh of the Long Hand before him, and he gave him the spit, and he asked the skin of him to heal his children, and Lugh said he would not give it And Tuireann came back to them and told them he had not got the skin. And Brian said: "Bring me with you to Lugh, to see would I get it from him."

So they went to Lugh, and Brian asked the skin of him. And Lugh said he would not give it, and that if they would give him the breadth of the earth in gold for it, he would not take it from them, unless he was sure their death would come on them in satisfaction for the deed they had done.

When Brian heard that, he went to the place his two brothers were, and he lay down between them, and his life went out from him, and out from the other two at the same time.

And their father cried and lamented over his three beautiful sons, that had the making of a king of Ireland in each of them, and his strength left him and he died; and they were buried in the one grave.

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Explore the evolution of the Bitcoin Ireland Conference, from its humble origins to a remarkable success story, as shared by Lawrence Parnis in a captivating interview on the 'Croxroad' podcast. Delve into the conference's growth, its unique focus on Bitcoin, and Lawrence's insights into Ireland's Bitcoin community. Gain exclusive insights into the upcoming conference details, including prominent speakers and exciting events. Uncover the dynamic intersection of technology, finance, and community building, making the Bitcoin Ireland Conference a key player in the global Bitcoin space. Discover the intriguing connection with UFC Champ Conor McGregor, exploring his potential involvement and the impact on the conference's popularity. This article unveils the journey of a small idea that has blossomed into a significant event, shaping the narrative around Bitcoin adoption in Ireland. Join us in this exploration of Lawrence Parnis's vision, the Bitcoin Ireland Conference's success, and the exciting prospects that lie ahead for this influential gathering.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Lawrence Parnis

• Genesis of the Bitcoin Ireland Conference

• Key Achievements and Milestones

• Speakers and Attendees

• Bitcoin Adoption in Ireland

• Conclusion

• FAQs

Introduction to Lawrence Parnis

Lawrence Parnis, a driving force behind the Bitcoin Ireland Conference, emerges as a visionary figure in the realm of cryptocurrency events. In this exclusive interview on the 'Croxroad' podcast, Lawrence unfolds his journey from conceiving a small idea to orchestrating a monumental success story with the Bitcoin Ireland Conference. With a profound understanding of Bitcoin's impact and potential, Lawrence has become a key figure in Ireland's cryptocurrency community.

A passionate advocate for Bitcoin adoption, Lawrence shares insights into the genesis of the conference, reflecting on its initial stages and the challenges overcome to become a significant event in the global cryptocurrency calendar. His commitment to fostering a thriving Bitcoin community in Ireland shines through, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, finance, and community building.

Beyond the conference's success, Lawrence provides a glimpse into the upcoming edition, teasing details about prominent speakers, events, and the overall experience attendees can anticipate. His dedication to creating an inclusive platform for Bitcoin enthusiasts is palpable, as he discusses the conference's role in shaping the narrative around cryptocurrency adoption in Ireland.

An intriguing facet of the interview is Lawrence's connection to renowned MMA fighter Conor McGregor. The discussion explores the potential involvement of McGregor in the conference and the ripple effect on its popularity. Lawrence's ability to navigate the dynamics of technology, celebrity, and finance positions him as a thought leader in the cryptocurrency space.

This introduction sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of Lawrence Parnis's journey, shedding light on his pivotal role in the Bitcoin Ireland Conference and the broader implications of this burgeoning success.

Genesis of the Bitcoin Ireland Conference

The genesis of the Bitcoin Ireland Conference, as articulated by Lawrence Parnis in the 'Croxroad' podcast, unveils a compelling narrative of inception, perseverance, and eventual triumph. Lawrence narrates the humble beginnings of what started as a small idea and evolved into a resounding success in the cryptocurrency landscape.

He recounts the initial spark that led to the conceptualization of the conference, emphasising the need for a dedicated platform to unite Ireland's growing community of Bitcoin enthusiasts. Driven by a desire to create a space for education, networking, and collaboration, Lawrence embarked on a journey to establish an event that transcended geographical boundaries and brought together thought leaders, developers, and enthusiasts.

The challenges encountered in the early stages are discussed with transparency, reflecting the grit required to transform an idea into a full-fledged conference. Lawrence provides insights into navigating logistical hurdles, garnering support from the local community, and overcoming scepticism about the feasibility of such an event.

The genesis of the Bitcoin Ireland Conference becomes a tale of resilience, adaptability, and a steadfast belief in the transformative power of Bitcoin. Lawrence's commitment to fostering a vibrant cryptocurrency ecosystem in Ireland is evident as he shares anecdotes of the pivotal moments that shaped the conference's trajectory.

The interview delves into the evolution of the conference from a local initiative to a globally recognized event. Lawrence sheds light on the strategic decisions, partnerships, and community engagement efforts that propelled the Bitcoin Ireland Conference to its current stature.

This exploration of the genesis provides a comprehensive understanding of the conference's roots, showcasing Lawrence Parnis's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to advancing the discourse around Bitcoin in Ireland and beyond.

Key Achievements and Milestones

Lawrence Parnis, the driving force behind the Bitcoin Ireland Conference, outlines a series of remarkable achievements and pivotal milestones that have marked the conference's ascent to prominence. From its inception as a small idea to becoming a powerhouse event in the cryptocurrency realm, the journey is characterised by significant accomplishments.

1.Community Growth: Lawrence discusses the substantial growth of the Bitcoin community in Ireland catalysed by the conference. He elaborates on how the event has become a focal point for enthusiasts, developers, and industry experts to converge and exchange ideas.

2.Global Recognition: The conference's evolution from a local initiative to a globally recognized event is highlighted. Lawrence details the strategic initiatives that garnered international attention, positioning the Bitcoin Ireland Conference as a key player in the cryptocurrency conference circuit.

3.Educational Impact: An emphasis on education emerges as a cornerstone achievement. Lawrence underscores the conference's role in providing valuable insights, knowledge-sharing, and fostering a culture of continuous learning within the Bitcoin community.

4.Partnerships and Sponsorships: The interview sheds light on strategic partnerships and sponsorships that have played a vital role in the conference's success. Lawrence discusses how collaborations with industry leaders and sponsors have contributed to the event's credibility and scale.

5.Positive Media Coverage: Lawrence reflects on the positive media coverage the conference has garnered over the years. The discussion includes instances of mainstream media recognition and how this coverage has contributed to changing the narrative around Bitcoin in Ireland.

6.Integration of Bitcoin into Ireland's Landscape: The interview explores the impact of the conference on Bitcoin adoption in Ireland. Lawrence talks about how the event has influenced businesses, policymakers, and the general public's perception of Bitcoin, paving the way for greater integration.

7.Continued Innovation: Lawrence discusses the commitment to innovation and adaptation, ensuring that each conference edition surpasses the previous one. The interview provides insights into how the event stays relevant by incorporating emerging trends and technologies within the cryptocurrency space.

These key achievements and milestones collectively portray the Bitcoin Ireland Conference as a dynamic and influential force, contributing significantly to the growth, awareness, and acceptance of Bitcoin in Ireland and beyond.

Speakers and Attendees

The Bitcoin Ireland Conference attracts a diverse array of speakers and attendees, creating a dynamic ecosystem for knowledge exchange and networking. Renowned figures from the cryptocurrency industry, blockchain experts, and thought leaders participate in insightful discussions. The inclusive nature of the event fosters engagement, bringing together enthusiasts, developers, and investors. Each edition sees a lineup of speakers who share valuable perspectives, ensuring attendees gain comprehensive insights into the ever-evolving landscape of Bitcoin and blockchain technology.

The conference takes an unexpected turn as Lawrence Parnis reveals the local celebrity involvement of none other than Conor McGregor. Known for his global fame in the sports and entertainment industry, McGregor's proximity to the conference's location adds a unique dimension. Lawrence shares anecdotes of McGregor's presence, indicating the growing interest of public figures in the Bitcoin space. McGregor's engagement emphasises the conference's reach beyond the cryptocurrency community, attracting attention from diverse spheres and contributing to Bitcoin's mainstream appeal in Ireland.

Bitcoin Adoption in Ireland

During the insightful conversation with Lawrence Parnis, the topic of Bitcoin adoption in Ireland emerged as a key focal point. Parnis shed light on Ireland's journey in embracing Bitcoin, marking a significant departure from traditional financial paradigms.

Ireland, once recognized for its economic transformation in the '90s, has continued its trajectory of change, now extending to the realm of cryptocurrency. Parnis spoke of a thriving Bitcoin community in the country, showcasing a robust network of enthusiasts and developers. The Bitcoin Ireland Conference, conceived from a small idea, has become a catalyst for fostering adoption by providing a platform for education and dialogue.

The regulatory landscape in Ireland has played a pivotal role in shaping Bitcoin's acceptance. Parnis shared insights into the country's progressive stance, highlighting ongoing efforts to integrate cryptocurrency into mainstream financial practices. The conference itself serves as a testament to this adoption, attracting attendees who are eager to delve into the potential of Bitcoin as a transformative force in finance.

Notably, Parnis discussed Ireland's evolving narrative around Bitcoin in mainstream media. He pointed out positive coverage in national newspapers and media channels, indicating a shifting perception. The impending launch of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Ireland, as mentioned by Parnis, further underscores the country's commitment to embracing digital currencies.

Overall, the interview provides a compelling narrative of Ireland's journey towards Bitcoin adoption. The Bitcoin Ireland Conference, under Parnis's guidance, stands as a beacon for fostering understanding, collaboration, and the widespread integration of Bitcoin in the Irish financial landscape.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Lawrence Parnis's insights into the Bitcoin Ireland Conference offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Bitcoin adoption in Ireland. From its modest origins to becoming a significant annual event, the conference symbolises the country's growing enthusiasm for cryptocurrency.

Parnis, as the driving force behind this initiative, has successfully brought together a diverse range of speakers, attendees, and even garnered attention from local celebrities like Conor McGregor. The conference's key achievements and milestones, coupled with its positive impact on mainstream media narratives, showcase Ireland's commitment to embracing Bitcoin.

As Bitcoin continues to shape the financial landscape globally, the Irish example, as portrayed by Parnis, becomes a compelling case study. The Bitcoin Ireland Conference not only serves as a platform for education and collaboration but also as a testament to Ireland's progressive stance on digital currencies. Parnis's vision and dedication have undeniably propelled the conference into a significant milestone in Ireland's journey towards broader Bitcoin adoption.

FAQs

How can I attend the Bitcoin Ireland Conference? To attend the Bitcoin Ireland Conference, you can visit the official website at www.bitcoinireland.eu. There, you'll find detailed information about upcoming events, ticket prices, and registration instructions. The conference typically offers various ticket options to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

Who are some notable speakers at the Bitcoin Ireland Conference? The Bitcoin Ireland Conference attracts a diverse range of speakers, including industry experts, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. Lawrence Parnis has consistently curated an impressive lineup. To stay updated on the latest speaker announcements, you can follow the conference's official Twitter account @BitcoinConfIRL or check the conference website for regular updates.

Is the Bitcoin Ireland Conference suitable for beginners in cryptocurrency? Yes, the Bitcoin Ireland Conference caters to a broad audience, including beginners in the cryptocurrency space. The event typically features a mix of introductory sessions and advanced discussions, making it accessible to individuals at various levels of expertise. Whether you're new to Bitcoin or a seasoned enthusiast, the conference provides valuable insights, networking opportunities, and a platform to engage with the growing crypto community in Ireland.

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But if Nuada won the battle, he lost his own arm in it, that was struck off by Sreng; and by that loss there came troubles and vexation on his people.

For it was a law with the Tuatha de Danaan that no man that was not perfect in shape should be king. And after Nuada had lost the battle he was put out of the kingship on that account.

And the king they chose in his place was Bres, that was the most beautiful of all their young men, so that if a person wanted to praise any beautiful thing, whether it was a plain, or a dun, or ale, or a flame, or a woman, or a man, or a horse, it is what he would say, "It is as beautiful as Bres." And he was the son of a woman of the Tuatha de Danaan, but who his father was no one knew but herself.

But in spite of Bres being so beautiful, his reign brought no great good luck to his people; for the Fomor, whose dwelling-place was beyond the sea, or as some say below the sea westward, began putting tribute on them, the way they would get them under their own rule.

It was a long time before that the Fomor came first to Ireland; dreadful they were to look at, and maimed, having but one foot or one hand, and they under the leadership of a giant and his mother. There never came to Ireland an army more horrible or more dreadful than that army of the Fomor. And they were friendly with the Firbolgs and content to leave Ireland to them, but there was jealousy between them and the Men of Dea.

And it was a hard tax they put on them, a third part of their corn they asked, and a third part of their milk, and a third part of their children, so that there was not smoke rising from a roof in Ireland but was under tribute to them. And Bres made no stand against them, but let them get their way.

And as to Bres himself, he put a tax on every house in Ireland of the milk of hornless dun cows, or of the milk of cows of some other single colour, enough for a hundred men. And one time, to deceive him, Nechtan singed all the cows of Ireland in a fire of fern, and then he smeared them with the ashes of flax seed, the way they were all dark brown. He did that by the advice of the Druid Findgoll, son of Findemas. And another time they made three hundred cows of wood with dark brown pails in place of udders, and the pails were filled with black bog stuff. Then Bres came to look at the cows, and to see them milked before him, and Cian, father of Lugh, was there. And when they were milked it was the bog stuff that was squeezed out; and Bres took a drink of it thinking it to be milk, and he was not the better of it for a long time.

And there was another thing against Bres; he was no way open-handed, and the chief men of the Tuatha de Danaan grumbled against him, for their knives were never greased in his house, and however often they might visit him there was no smell of ale on their breath. And there was no sort of pleasure or merriment in his house, and no call for their poets, or singers, or harpers, or pipers, or horn-blowers, or jugglers, or fools. And as to the trials of strength they were used to see between their champions, the only use their strength was put to now was to be doing work for the king. Ogma himself, the shining poet, was under orders to bring firing to the palace every day for the whole army from the Islands of Mod; and he so weak for want of food that the sea would sweep away two-thirds of his bundle every day. And as to the Dagda, he was put to build raths, for he was a good builder, and he made a trench round Rath Brese. And he used often to be tired at the work, and one time he nearly gave in altogether for want of food, and this is the way that happened. He used to meet in the house an idle blind man, Cridenbel his name was, that had a sharp tongue, and that coveted the Dagda's share of food, for he thought his own to be small beside it. So he said to him: "For the sake of your good name let the three best bits of your share be given to me." And the Dagda gave in to that every night; but he was the worse of it, for what the blind man called a bit would be the size of a good pig, and with his three bits he would take a full third of the whole.

But one day, as the Dagda was in the trench, he saw his son, Angus Og, coming to him. "That is a good meeting," said Angus; "but what is on you, for you have no good appearance to-day?" "There is a reason for that," said the Dagda, "for every evening, Cridenbel, the blind man, makes a demand for the three best bits of my share of food, and takes them from me." "I will give you an advice," said Angus. He put his hand in his bag then, and took out three pieces of gold and gave them to him.

"Put these pieces of gold into the three bits you will give this evening to Cridenbel," he said, "and they will be the best bits in the dish, and the gold will turn within him the way he will die."

So in the evening the Dagda did that; and no sooner had Cridenbel swallowed down the gold than he died. Some of the people said then to the king: "The Dagda has killed Cridenbel, giving him some deadly herb." The king believed that, and there was anger on him against the Dagda, and he gave orders he should be put to death. But the Dagda said: "You are not giving the right judgment of a prince." And he told all that had happened, and how Cridenbel used to say, "Give me the three best bits before you, for my own share is not good to-night." "And on this night," he said, "the three pieces of gold were the best things before me, and I gave them to him, and he died."

The king gave orders then to have the body cut open. And they found the gold inside it, and they knew it was the truth the Dagda had told.

And Angus came to him again the next day, and he said: "Your work will soon be done, and when you are given your wages, take nothing they may offer you till the cattle of Ireland are brought before you, and choose out a heifer then, black and black-maned, that I will tell you the signs of."

So when the Dagda had brought his work to an end, and they asked him what reward he wanted, he did as Angus had bidden him. And that seemed folly to Bres; he thought the Dagda would have asked more than a heifer of him.

There came a day at last when a poet came to look for hospitality at the king's house, Corpre, son of Etain, poet of the Tuatha de Danaan. And it is how he was treated, he was put in a little dark narrow house where there was no fire, or furniture, or bed; and for a feast three small cakes, and they dry, were brought to him on a little dish. When he rose up on the morrow he was no way thankful, and as he was going across the green, it is what he said: "Without food ready on a dish; without milk enough for a calf to grow on; without shelter; without light in the darkness of night; without enough to pay a story-teller; may that be the prosperity of Bres."

And from that day there was no good luck with Bres, but it is going down he was for ever after. And that was the first satire ever made in Ireland.

Now as to Nuada: after his arm being struck off, he was in his sickness for a while, and then Diancecht, the healer, made an arm of silver for him, with movement in every finger of it, and put it on him. And from that he was called Nuada Argat-lamh, of the Silver Hand, for ever after.

Now Miach, son of Diancecht, was a better hand at healing than his father, and had done many things. He met a young man, having but one eye, at Teamhair one time, and the young man said: "If you are a good physician you will put an eye in the place of the eye I lost." "I could put the eye of that cat in your lap in its place," said Miach. "I would like that well," said the young man. So Miach put the cat's eye in his head; but he would as soon have been without it after, for when he wanted to sleep and take his rest, it is then the eye would start at the squeaking of the mice, or the flight of the birds, or the movement of the rushes; and when he was wanting to watch an army or a gathering, it is then it was sure to be in a deep sleep.

And Miach was not satisfied with what his father had done to the king, and he took Nuada's own hand that had been struck off, and brought it to him and set it in its place, and he said: "Joint to joint, and sinew to sinew." Three days and three nights he was with the king; the first day he put the hand against his side, and the second day against his breast, till it was covered with skin, and the third day he put bulrushes that were blackened in the fire on it, and at the end of that time the king was healed.

But Diancecht was vexed when he saw his son doing a better cure than himself, and he threw his sword at his head, that it cut the flesh, but the lad healed the wound by means of his skill. Then Diancecht threw it a second time, that it reached the bone, but the lad was able to cure the wound. Then he struck him the third time and the fourth, till he cut out the brain, for he knew no physician could cure him after that blow; and Miach died, and he buried him.

And herbs grew up from his grave, to the number of his joints and sinews, three hundred and sixty-five. And Airmed, his sister, came and spread out her cloak and laid out the herbs in it, according to their virtue. But Diancecht saw her doing that, and he came and mixed up the herbs, so that no one knows all their right powers to this day.

Then when the Tuatha de Danaan saw Nuada as well as he was before, they gathered together to Teamhair, where Bres was, and they bade him give up the kingship, for he had held it long enough. So he had to give it up, though he was not very willing, and Nuada was put back in the kingship again.

There was great vexation on Bres then, and he searched his mind to know how could he be avenged on those that had put him out, and how he could gather an army against them; and he went to his mother, Eri, daughter of Delbaith, and bade her tell him what his race was.

"I know that well," she said; and she told him then that his father was a king of the Fomor, Elathan, son of Dalbaech, and that he came to her one time over a level sea in some great vessel that seemed to be of silver, but she could not see its shape, and he himself having the appearance of a young man with yellow hair, and his clothes sewed with gold, and five rings of gold about his neck. And she that had refused the love of all the young men of her own people, gave him her love, and she cried when he left her. And he gave her a ring from his hand, and bade her give it only to the man whose finger it would fit, and he went away then the same way as he had come.

And she brought out the ring then to Bres, and he put it round his middle finger, and it fitted him well. And they went then together to the hill where she was the time she saw the silver vessel coming, and down to the strand, and she and Bres and his people set out for the country of the Fomor.

And when they came to that country they found a great plain with many gatherings of people on it, and they went to the gathering that looked the best, and the people asked where did they come from, and they said they were come from Ireland. "Have you hounds with you?" they asked them then, for it was the custom at that time, when strangers came to a gathering, to give them some friendly challenge. "We have hounds," said Bres. So the hounds were matched against one another, and the hounds of the Tuatha de Danaan were better than the hounds of the Fomor. "Have you horses for a race?" they asked then. "We have," said Bres. And the horses of the Tuatha de Danaan beat the horses of the Fomor.

Then they asked was any one among them a good hand with the sword, and they said Bres was the best. But when he put his hand to his sword, Elathan, his father, that was among them, knew the ring, and he asked who was this young man. Then his mother answered him and told the whole story, and that Bres was his own son.

There was sorrow on his father then, and he said: "What was it drove you out of the country you were king over?" And Bres said: "Nothing drove me out but my own injustice and my own hardness; I took away their treasures from the people, and their jewels, and their food itself. And there were never taxes put on them before I was their king."

"That is bad," said his father; "it is of their prosperity you had a right to think more than of your own kingship. And their good-will would be better than their curses," he said; "and what is it you are come to look for here?" "I am come to look for fighting men," said Bres, "that I may take Ireland by force." "You have no right to get it by injustice when you could not keep it by justice," said his father. "What advice have you for me then?" said Bres.

And Elathan bade him go to the chief king of the Fomor, Balor of the Evil Eye, to see what advice and what help would he give him.

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Module Linker

A browser extension that reads source code on GitHub and tries to find links to imported dependencies so you can click on them and navigate through either GitHub or package repositories or base language documentation. Works for many languages at different levels of completeness.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/module-linker
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@ 0cf08d28:41f090b7

_An article originally published in 1947, and Republished in The Atlantic and republished on Nostr without permission. _

freedom of speech and of the press are usually attacked by arguments which are not worth bothering about. anyone who has experience in lecturing and debating knows them backwards. here i am not trying to deal with the familiar claim that freedom is an illusion, or with the claim that there is more freedom in totalitarian countries than in democratic ones, but with the much more tenable and dangerous proposition that freedom is undesirable and that intellectual honesty is a form of antisocial selfishness.

though other aspects of the matter are usually in the foreground, the controversy over freedom of speech and of the press is at bottom a controversy over the desirability, or otherwise, of telling lies. what is really at issue is the right to report contemporary events truthfully, or as truthfully as is consistent with the ignorance, bias, and self-deception from which every observer necessarily suffers. in saying this i may seem to be saying that straightforward reportage is the only branch of literature that matters; but i will try to show later that at every literary level, and probably in every one of the arts, the same issue arises in more or less subtilized forms. meanwhile, it is necessary to strip away the irrelevancies in which this controversy is usually wrapped up.

the enemies of intellectual liberty always try to present their case as a plea for discipline versus individualism. the issue truth-versus-untruth is as far as possible kept in the background. although the point of emphasis may vary, the writer who refuses to sell his opinions is always branded as a mere egoist, he is accused, that is, either of wanting to shut himself up in an ivory tower, or of making an exhibitionist display of his own personality, or of resisting the inevitable current of history in an attempt to cling to unjustified privileges. the catholic and the communist are alike in assuming that an opponent cannot be both honest and intelligent. each of them tacitly claims that “the truth” has already been revealed, and that the heretic, if he is not simply a fool, is secretly aware of “the truth” and merely resists it out of selfish motives.

in communist literature the attack on intellectual liberty is usually masked by oratory about “petty-bourgeois individualism,” “the illusions of nineteenth-century liberalism,” etc., and backed up by words of abuse such as “romantic" and “sentimental,” which, since they do not have any agreed meaning, are difficult to answer. in this way the controversy is maneuvered away from its real issue. one can accept, and most enlightened people would accept, the communist thesis that pure freedom will only exist in a classless society, and that one is most nearly free when one is working to bring about such a society. but slipped in with this is the quite unfounded claim that the communist party is itself aiming at the establishment of the classless society, and that in the u.s.s.r. this aim is actually on the way to being realized. if the first claim is allowed to entail the second, there is almost no assault on common sense and common decency that cannot be justified. but meanwhile, the real point has been dodged. freedom of the intellect means the freedom to report what one has seen, heard, and felt, and not to be obliged to fabricate imaginary facts and feelings. the familiar tirades against “escapism,” “individualism,” “romanticism,” and so forth, are merely a forensic device, the aim of which is to make the perversion of history seem respectable.

fifteen years ago, when one defended the freedom of the intellect, one had to defend it against conservatives, against catholics, and to some extent—for in england they were not of great importance—against fascists. today one has to defend it against communists and “fellow travelers.” one ought not to exaggerate the direct influence of the small english communist party, but there can be no question about the poisonous effect of the russian mythos on english intellectual life. because of it, known facts are suppressed and distorted to such an extent as to make it doubtful whether a true history of our times can ever be written.

let me give just one instance out of the hundreds that could be cited. when germany collapsed, it was found that very large numbers of soviet russians —mostly, no doubt, from nonpolitical motives-had changed sides and were fighting for the germans. also, a small but not negligible proportion of the russian prisoners and displaced persons refused to go back to the u.s.s.r., and some of them, at least, were repatriated against their will. these facts, known to many journalists on the spot, went almost unmentioned in the british press, while at the same time russophile publicists in england continued to justify the purges and deportations of 1936-1938 by claiming that the u.s.s.r. “had no quislings.” the fog of lies and misinformation that surrounds such subjects as the ukraine famine, the spanish civil war, russian policy in poland, and so forth, is not due entirely to conscious dishonesty, but any writer or journalist who is fully sympathetic to the u.s.s.r.—sympathetic, that is, in the way the russians themselves would want him to be does have to acquiesce in deliberate falsification on important issues.

2

i have before me what must be a very rare pamphlet, written by maxim litvinoff in 1918 and outlining the recent events in the russian revolution. it makes no mention of stalin, but gives high praise to trotsky, and also to zinoviev, kamenev, and others. what could be the attitude of even the most intellectually scrupulous communist towards such a pamphlet? at best, he would take the obscurantist attitude that it is an undesirable document and better suppressed. and if for some reason it should be decided to issue a garbled version of the pamphlet, denigrating trotsky and inserting references to stalin, no communist who remained faithful to his party could protest. forgeries almost as gross as this have been committed in recent years. but the significant thing is not that they happen, but that even when they are known, they provoke no reaction from the leftwing intelligentsia as a whole. the argument that to tell the truth would be “inopportune” or would “play into the bands of” somebody or other is felt to be unanswerable, and few people are bothered by the prospect that the lies which they condone will get out of the newspapers and into the history books.

the organized lying practiced by totalitarian states is not, as is sometimes claimed, a temporary expedient of the same nature as military deception. it is something integral to totalitarianism, something that would still continue even if concentration camps and secret police forces had ceased to be necessary. among intelligent communists there is an underground legend to the effect that although the russian government is obliged now to deal in lying propaganda, frame-up trials, and so forth, it is secretly recording the facts and will publish them at some future time. we can, i believe, be quite certain that this is not the case, because the mentality implied by such an action is that of a liberal historian who believes that the past cannot be altered and that a correct knowledge of history is valuable as a matter of course. from the totalitarian point of view history is something to be created rather than learned.

a totalitarian state is in effect a theocracy, and its ruling caste, in order to keep its position, has to be thought of as infallible. but since, in practice, no one is infallible, it is frequently necessary to rearrange past events in order to show that this or that mistake was not made, or that this or that imaginary triumph actually happened. then, again, every major change in policy demands a corresponding change of doctrine and a revaluation of prominent historical figures. this kind of thing happens everywhere, but clearly it is likelier to lead to outright falsification in societies where only one opinion is permissible at any given moment. totalitarianism demands, in fact, the continuous alteration of the past, and in the long run probably demands a disbelief in the very existence of objective truth. the friends of totalitarianism in england usually tend to argue that since absolute truth is not attainable, a big lie is no worse than a little lie. it is pointed out that all historical records are biased and inaccurate, or, on the other hand, that modem physics has proved that what seems to us the real world is an illusion, so that to believe in the evidence of one’s senses is simply vulgar philistinism.

a totalitarian society which succeeded in perpetuating itself would probably set up a schizophrenic system of thought, in which the laws of common sense held good in everyday life and in certain exact sciences, but could be disregarded by the politician, the historian, and the sociologist. already there are countless people who would think it scandalous to falsify a scientific textbook, but would see nothing wrong in falsifying a historical fact. it is at the point where literature and politics cross that totalitarianism exerts its greatest, pressure on the intellectual. the exact sciences are not, at this date, menaced to anything like the same extent. this difference partly accounts for the fact that in all countries it is easier for the scientists than for the writers to line up behind their respective governments.

it may seem that all this time i have been talking about the effects of censorship, not on literature as a whole, but merely on one department of political journalism. granted that soviet russia constitutes a sort of forbidden area in the british press, granted that issues like poland, the spanish civil war, the russo-german pact, and so forth, are debarred from serious discussion, and that if you possess information that conflicts with the prevailing orthodoxy you are expected either to distort it or to keep quiet about it —granted all this, why should literature in the wider sense be affected? is every writer a politician, and is every book necessarily a work of straightforward reportage? even under the tightest dictatorship, cannot the individual writer remain free inside his own mind and distill or disguise his unorthodox ideas in such a way that the authorities will be too stupid to recognize them? and if the writer himself is in agreement with the prevailing orthodoxy, why should it have a cramping effect on him? is not literature, or any of the arts, likeliest to flourish in societies in which there are no major conflicts of opinion and no sharp distinctions between the artist and his audience? does one have to assume that every writer is a rebel, or even that a writer as such is an exceptional person?

whenever one attempts to defend intellectual liberty against the claims of totalitarianism, one meets with these arguments in one form or another. they are based on a complete misunderstanding of what literature is, and how—one should perhaps rather say why—it comes into being. they assume that a writer is either a mere entertainer or else a venal hack who can switch from one line of propaganda to another as easily as an organ grinder changes tunes. but after all, how is it that books ever come to be written? above a quite low level, literature is an attempt to influence the views of one’s contemporaries by recording experience. and so far as freedom of expression is concerned, there is not much difference between a mere journalist and the most “unpolitical” imaginative writer. the journalist is unfree, and is conscious of unfreedom, when he is forced to write lies or suppress what seems to him important news: the imaginative writer is unfree when he has to falsify his subjective feelings, which from his point of view are facts. he may distort and caricature reality in order to make his meaning clearer, but he cannot misrepresent the scenery of his own mind: he cannot say with any conviction that he likes what he dislikes, or believes what he disbelieves. if he is forced to do so, the only result is that his creative faculties dry up.

nor can the imaginative writer solve the problem by keeping away from controversial topics. there is no such thing as genuinely non-political literature, and least of all in an age like our own, when fears, hatreds, and loyalties of a directly political kind are near to the surface of everyone’s consciousness. even a single taboo can have an all-round crippling effect upon the mind, because there is always the danger that any thought which is freely followed up may lead to the forbidden thought. it follows that the atmosphere of totalitarianism is deadly to any kind of prose writer, though a poet, at any rate a lyric poet, might possibly find it breathable. and in any totalitarian society that survives for more than a couple of generations, it is probable that prose literature, of the kind that has existed during the past four hundred years, must actually come to an end.

3

literature has sometimes flourished under despotic regimes, but, as has often been pointed out, the despotisms of the past were not totalitarian. their repressive apparatus was always inefficient, their ruling classes were usually either corrupt or apathetic or half-liberal in outlook, and the prevailing religious doctrines usually worked against perfectionism and the notion of human infallibility. even so, it is broadly true that prose literature has reached its highest levels during periods of democracy and free speculation. what is new in totalitarianism is that its doctrines are not only unchallengeable but also unstable. they have to be accepted on pain of damnation, but on the other hand they are always liable to be altered at a moment’s notice.

consider, for example, the various attitudes, completely incompatible with one another, which an english communist or “fellow traveler” has had to adopt towards the war between britain and germany. for years before september, 1939, he was expected to be in a continuous stew about “the horrors of nazism” and to twist everything he wrote into a denunciation of hitler; after september, 1939, for twenty months, he had to believe that germany was more sinned against than sinning, and the word “nazi,” at least so far as print went, had to drop right out of his vocabulary. immediately after hearing the eight o’clock news bulletin on the morning of june 22, 1941, he had to start believing once again that nazism was the most hideous evil the world had ever seen.

now, it is easy for a politician to make such changes; for a writer the case is somewhat different. if he is to switch his allegiance at exactly the right moment, he must either tell lies about his subjective feelings, or else suppress them altogether. in either case he has destroyed his dynamo. not only will ideas refuse to come to him, but the very words he uses will seem to stiffen under his touch. political writing in our time consists almost entirely of prefabricated phrases bolted together like the pieces of a child’s meccano set. it is the unavoidable result of self-censorship. to write in plain, vigorous language one has to think fearlessly, and if one thinks fearlessly one cannot be politically orthodox.

it might be otherwise in an “age of faith,” when the prevailing orthodoxy has been long established and is not taken too seriously. in that case it would be possible, or might be possible, for large areas of one’s mind to remain unaffected by what one officially believed. even so, it is worth noticing that prose literature almost disappeared during the only age of faith that europe has ever enjoyed. throughout the whole of the middle ages there was almost no imaginative prose literature and very little in the way of historical writing; and the intellectual leaders of society expressed their most serious thoughts in a dead language which barely altered during a thousand years.

totalitarianism, however, does not so much promise an age of faith as an age of schizophrenia. a society becomes totalitarian when its structure becomes flagrantly artificial: that is, when its ruling class has lost its function but succeeds in clinging to power by force or fraud. such a society, no matter how long it persists, can never afford to become either tolerant or intellectually stable. it can never permit either the truthful recording of facts, or the emotional sincerity, that literary creation demands. but to be corrupted by totalitarianism one does not have to live in a totalitarian country. the mere prevalence of certain ideas can spread a poison that makes one subject after another impossible for literary purposes. wherever there is an enforced orthodoxy-or even two orthodoxies, as often happens-good writing slops. this was well illustrated by the spanish civil war. to many english intellectuals the war was a deeply moving experience, but not an experience about which they could write sincerely. there were only two things that you were allowed to say, and both of them were palpable lies; as a result, the war produced acres of print but almost nothing worth reading.

4

it is not certain whether the effects of totalitarianism upon verse need i be so deadly as its effects on prose. there is a whole series of converging reasons why it is somewhat easier for a poet than for a prose writer to feel at home in an authoritarian society. to begin with, bureaucrats and other “practical” men usually despise the poet too deeply to be much interested in what he is saying. secondly, what the poet is saying that is, what his poem “means” if translated into prose is relatively unimportant even to himself. the thought contained in a poem is always simple, and is no more the primary purpose of the poem than the anecdote is the primary purpose of a picture. a poem is an arrangement of sounds and associations, as a painting is an arrangement of brush marks. for short snatches, indeed, as in the refrain of a song, poetry can even dispense with meaning altogether. it is therefore fairly easy for a poet to keep away from dangerous subjects and avoid uttering heresies; and even when he does utter them, they may escape notice.

but above all, good verse, unlike good prose, is not necessarily an individual product. certain kinds of poems, such as ballads, or, on the other hand, very artificial verse forms, can be composed coöperatively by groups of people. whether the ancient english and scottish ballads were originally produced by individuals, or by the people at large, is disputed; but at any rate they are nonindividual in the sense that they constantly change in passing from mouth to mouth. even in print no two versions of a ballad are ever quite the same. many primitive peoples compose verse communally. someone begins to improvise, probably accompanying himself on a musical instrument, somebody else chips in with a line or a rhyme when the first singer breaks down, and so the process continues until there exists a whole song or ballad which has no identifiable author.

in prose, this kind of intimate collaboration is quite impossible. serious prose, in any case, has to be composed in solitude, whereas the excitement of being part of a group is actually an aid to certain kinds of versification. verse-and perhaps good verse of its kind, though it would not be the highest kind-might survive under even the most inquisitorial regime. even in a society where liberty and individuality had been extinguished, there would still be need either for patriotic songs and heroic ballads celebrating victories, or for elaborate exercises in flattery; and these are the kinds of poetry that can be written to order, or composed communally, without necessarily lacking artistic value, prose is a different matter, since the prose writer cannot narrow the range of his thoughts without killing his inventiveness.

but the history of totalitarian societies, or of groups of people who have adopted the totalitarian outlook, suggests that loss of liberty is inimical to all forms of literature. german literature almost disappeared during the hitler regime, and the case was not much better in italy. russian literature, so far as one can judge by translations, has deteriorated markedly since the early days of the revolution, though some of the verse appears to be better than the prose. few if any russian novels that it is possible to take seriously have been translated for about fifteen years. in western europe and america large sections of the literary intelligentsia have either passed through the communist party or been warmly sympathetic to it, but this whole leftward movement has produced extraordinarily few books worth reading. orthodox catholicism, again, seems to have a crushing effect upon certain literary forms, especially the novel. during a period of three hundred years, how many people have been at once good novelists and good catholics?

the fact is that certain themes cannot be celebrated in words, and tyranny is one of them. no one ever wrote a good book in praise of the inquisition. poetry might survive in a totalitarian age, and certain arts or half-arts, such as architecture, might even find tyranny beneficial, but the prose writer would have no choice between silence and death. prose literature as we know it is the product of rationalism, of the protestant centuries, of the autonomous individual. and the destruction of intellectual liberty cripples the journalist, the sociological writer, the historian, the novelist, the critic, and the poet, in that order. in the future it is possible that a new kind of literature, not involving individual feeling or truthful observation, may arise, but no such thing is at present imaginable. it seems much likelier that if the liberal culture that we have lived in since the renaissance actually comes to an end, the literary art will perish with it.

5

meanwhile totalitarianism has not fully triumphed anywhere. our own society is still, broadly speaking, liberal. to exercise your right of free speech you have to fight against economic pressure and against, strong sections of public opinion, but not, as yet, against a secret police force. you can say or print almost anything so long as you are willing to do it in a hole-and-corner way. but what is sinister is that the conscious enemies of liberty are those to whom liberty ought to mean most. the public do not care about the matter one way or the other. they are not in favor of persecuting the heretic, and they will not exert themselves to defend him. they are at once too sane and too stupid to acquire the totalitarian outlook. the direct, conscious attack on intellectual decency comes from the intellectuals themselves.

it is possible that the russophile intelligentsia, if they had not succumbed to the russian myth, would have succumbed to another of much the same kind. but at any rate the russian myth is there, and the corruption it causes stinks. when one sees highly educated men looking on indifferently at oppression and persecution, one wonders which to despise more, their cynicism or their shortsightedness. many scientists, for example, are uncritical admirers of the u.s.s.r. they appear to think that the destruction of liberty is of no importance so long as their own line of work is for the moment unaffected. the u.s.s.r. is a large, rapidly developing country which has acute need of scientific workers and, consequently, treats them generously. provided that they steer clear of dangerous subjects such as psychology, scientists are privileged persons.

writers, on the other hand, are viciously persecuted. it is true that literary prostitutes like ilya ehrenburg or alexei tolstoy are paid huge sums of money, but the only thing which is of any value to the writer as such—his freedom of expression— is taken away from him. some, at least, of the english scientists who speak so enthusiastically of the opportunities enjoyed by scientists in russia are capable of understanding this. but their reflection appears to be: “writers are persecuted in russia. so what? i am not a writer.” they do not see that any attack on intellectual liberty, and on the concept of objective truth, threatens in the long run every department of thought.

for the moment, the totalitarian state tolerates the scientist because it needs him. even in nazi germany, scientists, other than jews, were relatively well treated, and the german scientific community, as a whole, offered no resistance to hitler. at this stage of history, even the most autocratic ruler is forced to take account of physical reality, partly because of the lingering on of liberal habits of thought, partly because of the need to prepare for war. so long as physical reality cannot be altogether ignored, so long as two and two have to make four when you are, for example, drawing the blueprint of an aeroplane, the scientist has his function, and can even be allowed a measure of liberty. his awakening will come later, when the totalitarian state is firmly established. meanwhile, if he wants to safeguard the integrity of science, it is his job to develop some kind of solidarity with his literary colleagues and not regard it as a matter of indifference when writers are silenced or driven to suicide, and newspapers systematically falsified.

but however it may be with the physical sciences, or with music, painting, and architecture, it is—as i have tried to show—certain that literature is doomed if liberty of thought perishes. not only is it doomed in any country which retains a totalitarian structure; but any writer who adopts the totalitarian outlook, who finds excuses for persecution and the falsification of reality, thereby destroys himself as a writer. there is no way out of this. no tirades against “individualism” and “the ivory tower,” no pious platitudes to the effect that “true individuality is only attained through identification with the community,”can get over the fact that a bought mind is a spoiled mind. unless spontaneity enters at some point or another, literary creation is impossible, and language itself becomes ossified. at some time in the future, if the human mind becomes something totally different from what it now is, we may learn to separate literary creation from intellectual honesty. at present we know only that the imagination, like certain wild animals, will not breed in captivity. any writer or journalist who denies that fact-and nearly all the current praise of the soviet union contains or implies such a denial—is, in effect, demanding his own destruction.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Método científico

o método científico não pode ser aplicado senão numa meia dúzia de casos, e no entanto ei-nos aqui, pensando nele para tudo.

"formule hipóteses e teste-as independentemente", "obtenha uma quantidade de dados estatisticamente significante", teste, colete dados, mensure.

não é que de repente todo mundo resolveu calcular desvios-padrão, mas sim que é comum, para as pessoas mais cultas, nível Freakonomics, acharem que têm que testar e coletar dados, e nunca jamais confiar na sua "intuição" ou, pior, num raciocínio que pode parecer certo, mas na verdade é enormemente enganador.

sim, é verdade que raciocínios com explicações aparentemente sensatas nos são apresentados todos os dias -- para um exemplo fácil é só imaginar um comentarista de jornal, ou até uma matéria inocente de jornal, aliás, melhor pensar num comentarista da GloboNews --, e sim, é verdade que a maioria dessas explicações é falsa.

o que está errado é achar que só o que vale é testar hipóteses. você não pode testar a explicação aparentemente sensata que o taxista te fornece sobre a crise brasileira, deve então anotá-la para testar depois? mantê-la para sempre no cabedal das teorias ainda por testar?

e a explicação das redinhas que economizam água quando instaladas na torneira? essa dá pra testar, então você vai comprar um relógio de água e deixar a torneira ligada lá 5 horas com a redinha, depois 5 horas sem a redinha? obviamente não vai funcionar se você abrir o mesmo tanto, você vai precisar de um critério melhor: a satisfação da pessoa que está lavando as mãos com o resultado final versus a quantidade de água gasta. daí você precisaria de muitas pessoas, mas satisfação é uma coisa imensurável, nem adianta tentar fazer entrevistas antes e depois com as pessoas. o certo então, é o quê? procurar um estudo científico publicado numa revista de qualidade (porque tem aquelas revistas que aceitam estudos gerados por computador, então é melhor tomar cuidado) que fala sobre redinhas? como saber se a redinha é a mesma que você comprou? e agora que você já comprou, o resultado do experimento importa? (claro: pode ser que a redinha faça gastar mais água, você nunca saberá até que faça o experimento).

por que não, ao invés de condenar todos os raciocínios como enganadores e mandar que as pessoas façam experimentos científicos, ensinar a fazer raciocínios certos?

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Flowi.es

At the time I thought Workflowy had the ideal UI for everything. I wanted to implement my custom app maker on it, but ended up doing this: a platform for enhancing Workflowy with extra features:

• An email reminder based on dates input in items
• A website generator, similar to Websites For Trello, also based on Classless Templates

Also, I didn't remember this was also based on CouchDB and had some couchapp functionalities.

• https://flowi.es
• https://github.com/fiatjaf/flowies

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

The peaceful opposition and former Cuban political prisoner José Antonio Pompa López was arrested at his home in Old Havana by agents of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).

"Right now, the sector chief has just arrived at my house to arrest me. He says that I have to accompany him to the police station because State Security wants to talk to me," the opposition member denounced via telephone just before the arrest.

In statements to CubaNet, his wife, Suarmi Hernández Vilar, said that her husband was transferred to the Dragones police station, according to the information provided by the sector chief.

"They supposedly took him to Dragones to talk to him but we do not know what could happen to him while in the hands of security," she added.

Last week, the opponent and member of the Coalition of Cuban Self-Employed had hung a sign on the balcony of his home which read, "S.O.S my children are dying of hunger."

Shortly after the protest, he was visited by the Cuban State Security, which demanded he remove the sign. The harassment by State Security

Pompa López worked as a pizza maker at a private pizzeria (Pizzas Pachi), but due to pressure from State Security, the business owner fired him and his economic situation worsened.

Days after the dismissal, he decided to protest in response to the repressive action of the Cuban regime.

The activist has been sent to prison on a couple of occasions for staging protests in public roads. For this reason, he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail on charges of "public disorder."

In 2011, he was also expelled from his workplace due to harassment by the regime's repressive organs, which, according to his complaint, try to break him by starvation.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

SummaDB

This was a hierarchical database server similar to the original Firebase. Records were stored on a LevelDB on different paths, like:

• /fruits/banana/color: yellow
• /fruits/banana/flavor: sweet

And could be queried by path too, using HTTP, for example, a call to http://hostname:port/fruits/banana, for example, would return a JSON document like

json { "color": "yellow", "flavor": "sweet" }

While a call to /fruits would return

json { "banana": { "color": "yellow", "flavor": "sweet" } }

POST, PUT and PATCH requests also worked.

In some cases the values would be under a special "_val" property to disambiguate them from paths. (I may be missing some other details that I forgot.)

GraphQL was also supported as a query language, so a query like

graphql query { fruits { banana { color } } }

would return {"fruits": {"banana": {"color": "yellow"}}}.

SummulaDB

SummulaDB was a browser/JavaScript build of SummaDB. It ran on the same Go code compiled with GopherJS, and using PouchDB as the storage backend, if I remember correctly.

It had replication between browser and server built-in, and one could replicate just subtrees of the main tree, so you could have stuff like this in the server:

json { "users": { "bob": {}, "alice": {} } }

And then only allow Bob to replicate /users/bob and Alice to replicate /users/alice. I am sure the require auth stuff was also built in.

There was also a PouchDB plugin to make this process smoother and data access more intuitive (it would hide the _val stuff and allow properties to be accessed directly, today I wouldn't waste time working on these hidden magic things).

The computed properties complexity

The next step, which I never managed to get fully working and caused me to give it up because of the complexity, was the ability to automatically and dynamically compute materialized properties based on data in the tree.

The idea was partly inspired on CouchDB computed views and how limited they were, I wanted a thing that would be super powerful, like, given

json { "matches": { "1": { "team1": "A", "team2": "B", "score": "2x1", "date": "2020-01-02" }, "1": { "team1": "D", "team2": "C", "score": "3x2", "date": "2020-01-07" } } }

One should be able to add a computed property at /matches/standings that computed the scores of all teams after all matches, for example.

I tried to complete this in multiple ways but they were all adding much more complexity I could handle. Maybe it would have worked better on a more flexible and powerful and functional language, or if I had more time and patience, or more people.

Screenshots

This is just one very simple unfinished admin frontend client view of the hierarchical dataset.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/summadb
• https://github.com/fiatjaf/summuladb
• https://github.com/fiatjaf/pouch-summa

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

El opositor pacífico y expreso político cubano José Antonio Pompa López fue arrestado en su hogar de La Habana Vieja por agentes de la Policía Nacional Revolucionaria (PNR).

“Ahora mismo acaba de llegar el jefe de sector a mi casa para arrestarme. Dice que tengo que acompañarlo a la estación de policía porque la Seguridad del Estado quiere hablar conmigo”, denunció el opositor vía telefónica momentos antes del arresto.

En declaraciones a CubaNet, su esposa, Suarmi Hernández Vilar, dijo que su cónyuge fue trasladado a la estación de Dragones, de acuerdo con la información ofrecida por el jefe de sector.

“Supuestamente se lo llevaron para Dragones para conversar con él pero no sabemos qué es lo que pueda pasarle estando en manos de la seguridad”, añadió.

La semana pasada, el opositor y miembro de la Coalición de Cuentapropistas Cubanos había colgado un cartel en el balcón de su hogar en el cual se podía leer “S.O.S mis hijos se mueren de hambre”.

Al poco tiempo de la protesta fue visitado por la Seguridad del Estado cubano que le exigió retirar el cartel. El acoso de la Seguridad del Estado

Pompa López trabajaba como elaborador de pizzas en pizzería particular (Pizzas Pachi) pero por presiones de la Seguridad del Estado el dueño del negocio lo despidió y su situación económica empeoró.

Días después del despido, decidió hacer la protesta en respuesta a la acción represiva del régimen cubano.

El activista ha sido enviado en par de ocasiones a prisión por protagonizar protestas en la vía pública. Por esta causa fue sancionado a dos años y medio de cárcel bajo acusaciones de “desorden público”.

En 2011 también fue expulsado de su centro laboral por hostigamiento de los órganos represivos del régimen que, según su denuncia, intentan doblegarlo por hambre.

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

El cubanoamericano Yorjelguis Bolaño Fernández, reportado como desaparecido desde la noche del 7 de enero, fue encontrado sin vida en las inmediaciones del Instituto de Ciencia Animal, ubicado en San José de las Lajas, provincia de Mayabeque, informó CubaNet.

El hombre de 41 años habría sido asesinado como parte de un robo, según declaró al medio independiente la ciudadana Aylen Fundora, una amiga cercana a la víctima. Un familiar comentó que entre los sospechosos habría personas que conocían a Bolaños Fernández, quien llegó de Estados Unidos para visitar a su familia en Madruga.

La historia de este caso comenzó cuando el hombre fue visto por última vez conduciendo un Chevrolet antiguo de color azul, con matrícula P194951. Al no regresar a casa, su pareja, Saray Calvo Marrero, hizo una denuncia en redes sociales para tratar de hallarlo sano y salvo.

A partir de ese momento comenzó una desesperada búsqueda, que involucró el ofrecimiento de una recompensa de 3.000 dólares a cambio de información confiable sobre un posible paradero.

Inclusive, Fundora llegó a compartir un mensaje que daba a entender un posible secuestro. “Si los que se lo llevaron buscan dinero, mándenos una prueba de vida o devuélvanlo con las personas que lo queremos”, expresó la internauta.

La amiga comentó que el hombre había salido de su casa con rumbo a un kiosco particular que tenía en la zona, y fue visto por última vez cuando abandonó el lugar en su vehículo, el cual fue captado por cámaras de seguridad mientras transitaba por San José de las Lajas. Su celular siempre estuvo apagado desde que se determinó su desaparición.

Días después, la página de Facebook Woody Alguacil Cubano informó que el automóvil fue encontrado desmantelado en un garaje de San Miguel del Padrón, La Habana.

Bolaño Fernández era padre de tres hijos, dos niñas y un niño, siendo la más pequeña de tan solo cuatro años. Las autoridades locales están llevando a cabo una investigación para esclarecer los detalles del presunto asesinato y dar con los responsables.

La Policía Nacional Revolucionaria (PNR) arrestó hace tres días a una mujer llamada Dayanis Vega por estar presuntamente vinculada al caso. Según datos proporcionados al portal independiente Cubanos por el Mundo, la sospechosa habría participado en una reconstrucción de los eventos que tuvo lugar en su residencia, donde se encontraron prendas de vestir quemadas.

Una fuente llamada Yomi dijo que esta sospechosa declaró que entregó con vida a Bolaño Fernández a unas personas, pero después ya no tuvo conocimiento del destino de la víctima. Asimismo, se mencionó que residentes de Madruga intentaron agredir a la detenida al revelarse su involucramiento en el caso.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

A memória humana e as databases

A comparação entre uma database e a memória humana é trivial, todo mundo pensa. Os exemplos das letras de música e dos rostos humanos citados neste trabalhinho acadêmico boboca fazem muito sentido: de fato a analogia entre index keys e trechos de música ou rostos humanos parece explicar fenômenos que experimentamos.

O que me parece loucura é a simplificação, o reducionismo, que povoa a mente dos responsáveis por essas analogias. O fato de que uma database tem uma lista de keys enquanto a memória humana tem um mecanismo de busca vago, context-sensitive, que opera com dicas soltas e ora funciona ora não funciona -- não é argumento para afirmar que o computador é melhor do que a memória humana.

Claro, todos esses cientistas vão dizer que a memória humana tem uma eficiência enorme, porque ela armazena muito mais dados do que os computadores blablablá, mas em tese ela pode ser reimplementada usando os algoritmos de databases que nós já usamos.

A imagem simplificada da memória humana que se faz é a seguinte: quando vimos uma coisa qualquer, um menino pulando um muro, ela nos lembra de outras coisas relacionadas, uma certa vez em que nós mesmos pulamos um muro, o muro que estamos pensando em construir, umas brincadeiras parecidas com pular muro, os motivos que já levaram outras pessoas a pular muro, um filme que tinha cenas de meninos travessos, a muralha da China, uma imagem de assaltante que não está pulando nenhum muro, uma casa da mesma cor do muro. Simples: nosso cérebro pega os dados dos sentidos e com eles faz uma busca na memória.

A questão toda é: quais "dados dos sentidos"? Como é que o coitado do cérebro sabe que é pra procurar um muro, e não uma parede qualquer, ou os tijolos separados, ou o cimento, o barro de onde são feitos os tijolos? Isto sem contar a distinção, que é outro problema, que fazemos entre a mancha colorida a que chamamos muro e a outra mancha colorida a que chamamos menino, dentre infinitas outras, porque isto é outro problema. Mas a escolha dos dados que vão ser usados na busca que será feita na memória é crucial para o sucesso da operação, e nenhum computador saberia escolher.

Alguém vai argumentar que um mecanismo de computer vision poderia identificar um menino e um muro na cena e encontrar no banco de dados várias coisas relacionadas a meninos e várias coisas relacionadas a muros, mas temos que concordar que não é nada nem próximo disto que a mente humana faz. O assaltante, por exemplo, só seria encontrado se, no ato de indexá-lo, já colocássemos lá "atravessar obstáculos" e, putz, como tirar esta mesma frase de uma imagem de um menino perto de um muro? Mesmo que a computer vision seja ótima e consiga, como decidir entre a query "atravessar obstáculos" e "correr risco físico", "desafiar-se a si mesmo", "chegar mais alto", "invadir propriedade privada", "brincar", "tentar impressionar as meninas", "lutar para ser aceito entre seus pares", "mostrar que sabe", "chegar primeiro" e infinitos outros sentimentos, motivações, expectativas e processos que podem estar em curso naquela subida de muro?

Não é nada disso que a mente humana faz, eu dizia, porque a computer vision pode identificar o muro e o menino e o ato do menino de subir o muro, mas e quando a atenção humana foca no material que constitui o muro, a cor do muro ou a planta que está nascendo no meio do muro? Ou no reboque malfeito do muro, a casa que imagina haver atrás do muro? Cada foco destes, cuja causa também não vem ao caso aqui, deveria produzir queries bem diferentes.

Há vários outros pontos que poderiam ser levantados aqui contra o reducionismo e a simplificação da analogia entre a memória humana e uma database simples, e o erro que é igualá-las, mas me perdi, e acho que se você entendeu os pontos que levantei acima saberá encontrar vários outros exemplos nos quais o funcionamento da memória humana ultrapassa em complexidade qualquer algoritmo infinitamente -- e uso aqui "infinitamente" em sentido estritamente literal.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Not that long ago I made a small mistake with one of my bank accounts for my businesses (yep, I still have those). As directed by support I called the bank's support line to fix the issue. A couple days later my account was shut down and I had no access to any of my accounts with this bank. Long story short, the support person had made a mistake when they logged my info and the bank security flagged me as attempting fraud. Thankfully after several weeks and many calls to the bank I was able to resolve the issue and my funds and access were restored.

Nothing like this had ever happened to me before. I typically only use credit unions but my credit union doesn't support business account so I had to go with a commercial bank. I had always liked the idea of having the option to be my own bank. To run my own node. To host my own lightning routing node (Bank). This event made it real to me. The frustration, anger, and helplessness I felt was massive. I would venture to say most folks on SN have never experienced this. For the most part I doubt most people in advanced economies deal with these issues. But, it made the value of self-sovereign bitcoin real to me in a way that it was not before.

Read my previous posts in this series.

• 1: Bitcoin is a Hurricane
• 2: SeedSigner
• 3: China Mining Ban

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

In the year 1922, a Cuban journalist, José M. Muzarrieta, wrote a small satirical book titled Manual del Perfecto Sinvergüenza. In a preface he called "Spiritual Exercises," the author recommended ways of behaving for those who wished to achieve results in the political career.

Muzarrieta was a prophet in his land. Many of those tips, which seem to be followed punctually by the leaders of Castroism, prove their validity. Let's look at some.

"Love yourself above all things." This idea is applied entirely by the Castroist leaders, who always display themselves in arrogant poses.

"Never say what you feel, nor feel what you say." A phrase followed to the letter, because they say things that later almost never come true or they twist them.

"Daring, that should be your main characteristic." Nothing better to illustrate the position of Fidel Castro during his struggle to take power and maintain it until his death. To this day, this recommendation is practiced by his successors, who are capable of anything in order to cling to power.

"No idea is good if it is not your own." That is, of Fidel Castro and his successors.

"Any procedure is good for success." It was applied by Fidel since the attack on the Moncada Barracks.

"Do not fight the so-called tyrannies, stand by the side of the tyrants and exploit others, never swim against the current." The Cuban regime has applied this since 1959 to support all left-wing tyrannies.

"Live life 24 hours at a time, remember that one of these days you have to die." If there is a very true phrase in this manual, it is this, applied meticulously by the high hierarchy for themselves and their families, who live like kings.

"Avoid accepting anything as definitive. You must always be hope." An expression used daily to excite their supporters and maintain in them the idea that if they strive and sacrifice they will have more, regardless of the problems that arise along the way.

"Look over your shoulder, give yourself importance." One only has to see the posture adopted in public by the current leaders.

"Laws were not made for you to comply with, but for you to mock them." What a great truth! In Cuba, socialist legality adjusts to what the rulers think, believe, and say, which is why they change the laws according to their convenience.

"Do not go to bed without having done something for your own benefit." Every passing day they invent a story that allows them to stay in power indefinitely.

"Perseverance chains fortune, the one who knows how to live always wins." That's why they travel a lot to other countries, to relate to others like them.

"Try to put on weight, fat people always look like nice people." There is not one of the current Cuban leaders who does not have a belly and double width.

"Think that power is at the same distance from you as it is from itself." The fight for power positions here is the order of the day. Among the leaders, they spy on each other and trip each other up. Purges and defenestrations are constant.

"Always aspire, when you least think it, you will succeed." This message is a continuation of the previous one, but seen from the one who is below.

"Always look forward, the past is not yours." They have done this for 65 years.

"You can quickly get to know your peers if you judge them by yourself." That is why they criticize other Governments, without taking into account the atrocities they commit.

"You are not obliged to fulfill pacts and commitments that do not favor you." This recommendation has been fully complied with over these 65 years, during which they have been modifying their position according to their interests and the changes in the world.

"Legal is all that brings you some benefit." Nothing is more truthful than this, and it faithfully matches all the ideological transformations of Castroism.

Muzarrieta, by warning that "these exercises do not exclude others that emanate from your natural shamelessness that is characteristic to you," thus left the door open to continue adding deceit and villainy. Were the leaders of Castroism to do this, they could form an encyclopedia of at least 20 volumes.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

hyperscript-go

A template rendering library similar to hyperscript for Go.

Better than writing HTML and Golang templates.

• https://github.com/fiatjaf/hyperscript-go

See also

• tempreites

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

notes on "Economic Action Beyond the Extent of the Market", Per Bylund

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7St6pCipCB0

Markets work by dividing labour, but that's not as easy as it seems in the Adam Smith's example of a pin factory, because

1. a pin factory is not a market, so there is some guidance and orientation, some sort of central planning, inside there that a market doesn't have;
2. it is not clear how exactly the production process will be divided, it is not obvious as in "you cut the thread, I plug the head".

Dividing the labour may produce efficiency, but it also makes each independent worker in the process more fragile, as they become dependent on the others.

This is partially solved by having a lot of different workers, so you do not depend on only one.

If you have many, however, they must agree on where one part of the production process starts and where it ends, otherwise one's outputs will not necessarily coincide with other's inputs, and everything is more-or-less broken.

That means some level of standardization is needed. And indeed the market has constant incentives to standardization.

The statist economist discourse about standardization is that only when the government comes with a law that creates some sort of standardization then economic development can flourish, but in fact the market creates standardization all the time. Some examples of standardization include:

• programming languages, operating systems, internet protocols, CPU architectures;
• plates, forks, knifes, glasses, tables, chairs, beds, mattresses, bathrooms;
• building with concrete, brick and mortar;
• money;
• musical instruments;
• light bulbs;
• CD, DVD, VHS formats and others alike;
• services that go into every production process, like lunch services, restaurants, bakeries, cleaning services, security services, secretaries, attendants, porters;
• multipurpose steel bars;
• practically any tool that normal people use and require a little experience to get going, like a drilling machine or a sanding machine; etc.

Of course it is not that you find standardization in all places. Specially when the market is smaller or new, standardization may have not arrived.

There remains the truth, however, that division of labour has the potential of doing good.

More than that: every time there are more than one worker doing the same job in the same place of a division of labour chain, there's incentive to create a new subdivision of labour.

From the fact that there are at least more than one person doing the same job as another in our society we must conclude that someone must come up with an insight about an efficient way to divide the labour between these workers (and probably actually implement it), that hasn't happened for all kinds of jobs.

But to come up with division of labour outside of a factory, some market actors must come up with a way of dividing the labour, actually, determining where will one labour stop and other start (and that almost always needs some adjustments and in fact extra labour to hit the tips), and also these actors must bear the uncertainty and fragility that division of labour brings when there are not a lot of different workers and standardization and all that.

In fact, when an entrepreneur comes with a radical new service to the market, a service that does not fit in the current standard of division of labour, he must explain to his potential buyers what is the service and how the buyer can benefit from it and what he will have to do to adapt its current production process to bear with that new service. That's has happened not long ago with

• services that take food orders from the internet and relay these to the restaurants;
• hostels for cheap accommodation for young travellers;
• Uber, Airbnb, services that take orders and bring homemade food from homes to consumers and similars;
• all kinds of software-as-a-service;
• electronic monitoring service for power generators;
• mining planning and mining planning software; and many other industry-specific services.

See also

• Profits, not wages, as the originary factor
• Per Bylund's insight

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

The Cuban, Geovanny Ibáñez González, ended up detained by the authorities of the Island, after being denounced by his ex-wife, Heidi Peña, due to threats and an alleged attempt of gender-based homicide in Alamar, Havana.

The profile of Marlon Michel Álvarez, linked to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), confirmed the detention of said individual, indicating that he was arrested for violence after appearing before the Municipal Unit.

In a desperate Facebook post, Peña expressed her fear of becoming another victim of femicide and recounted the moments of horror she had experienced at the hands of Ibáñez González. The attacker had threatened her in the presence of her four-year-old son and even attempted to take her life with a knife, being stopped by the intervention of neighbors and her own father.

The victim had reported that she feared for her life because agents of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) of Alamar had ignored her complaints, allowing the aggressor's release on bail when he was arrested for the first time.

She had asked the community to share her complaint on social media so that the fear she faces due to the aggressiveness of the aforementioned individual would be known. "A scared and very desperate mother who fears for her life and the life of her child is writing to you," she stated.

The Federation of Cuban Women spoke out about this, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and emphasizing that on the Island these acts of gender violence are not tolerated. "Cuba is not exempt from these social phenomena. This is a deplorable fact in which the country has zero tolerance. Our Constitution and Penal Code categorizes this act as serious," noted the organization.

The case of Heidi Peña highlights the urgent need to address the referred problem in the Greater of the Antilles. According to statistics, last year 88 femicides were recorded, according to independent gender observatories such as YoSíTeCreo in Cuba and the Gender Observatory of the magazine Alas Tensas.

However, the Cuban regime has published even more alarming figures, reporting 117 deaths due to gender violence until the month of October last year. This crime does not have a specific punishment in the Penal Code of the Island.

At the beginning of the current year, at least five cases of femicides have been reported, registered in the provinces of Holguín, Havana, and Camagüey. The victims were murdered by their partners or ex-partners.

@ c8843652:c2b050cb

SamouraiDev (Samourai Wallet) announces on twitter the live beta of his atomic swap gui : you can dl it here https://code.samourai.io/wallet/comit-swaps-java. It's pretty good and it use whirlpool for the btc so it add privacy.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Ok, it was just a Wizards-Pistons deal, but let this be a reminder that trade season is upon us and that you don't want to miss out on the Stacker Sports NBA Trade Season Challenge.

Nobody predicted Muscala and Galinari for Bagley (or anything involving those guys) so all of our predictions are still alive.

@ 2c7cc62a:622a5cdc

algia

nostr CLI client written in Go

Usage

``` NAME: algia - A cli application for nostr

USAGE: algia [global options] command [command options] [arguments...]

DESCRIPTION: A cli application for nostr

COMMANDS: timeline, tl show timeline stream show stream post, n post new note reply, r reply to the note repost, b repost the note unrepost, B unrepost the note like, l like the note unlike, L unlike the note delete, d delete the note search, s search notes dm-list show DM list dm-timeline show DM timeline dm-post post new note profile show profile powa post ぽわ〜 puru post ぷる zap zap note1 version show version help, h Shows a list of commands or help for one command

GLOBAL OPTIONS: -a value profile name --relays value relays -V verbose (default: false) --help, -h show help ```

Installation

Download binary from Release page.

Or install with go install command. go install github.com/mattn/algia@latest

Configuration

Minimal configuration. Need to be at ~/.config/algia/config.json

json { "relays": { "wss://relay-jp.nostr.wirednet.jp": { "read": true, "write": true, "search": false } }, "privatekey": "nsecXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" }

If you want to zap via Nostr Wallet Connect, please add nwc-pub and nwc-uri which are provided from https://nwc.getalby.com/apps/new?c=Algia

json { "relays": { ... }, "privatekey": "nsecXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX", "nwc-uri": "nostr+walletconnect://xxxxx", "nwc-pub": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" }

TODO

• [x] like
• [x] repost
• [x] zap
• [x] upload images

FAQ

Do you use proxy? then set environment variable HTTP_PROXY like below.

HTTP_PROXY=http://myproxy.example.com:8080

License

MIT

Author

Yasuhiro Matsumoto (a.k.a. mattn)

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

En el año 1922, un periodista cubano, José M. Muzarrieta, escribió un pequeño libro satírico titulado Manual del Perfecto Sinvergüenza. En un preámbulo que llamó “Ejercicios Espirituales”, el autor recomendaba formas de comportarse a quien deseara obtener resultados en la carrera política.

Muzarrieta fue un profeta en su tierra. Muchos de esos consejos, que parecen seguir puntualmente los dirigentes del castrismo, muestran su vigencia. Veamos algunos.

“Ámese a sí mismo sobre todas las cosas”. Esta idea es aplicada en su totalidad por los dirigentes castristas, quienes siempre se exhiben en poses arrogantes.

“Nunca diga lo que sienta, ni sienta lo que diga”. Frase cumplida al pie de la letra, porque dicen cosas que después casi nunca se cumplen o las tergiversan.

“La osadía, esa debe ser su característica principal”. Nada mejor para ilustrar la posición de Fidel Castro durante su lucha por tomar el poder y mantenerse en el mismo hasta su muerte. Hasta hoy, esa recomendación es practicada por sus sucesores, que son capaces de todo con tal de mantenerse aferrados al poder.

“Ninguna idea es buena si no es la suya”. O sea, de Fidel Castro y sus continuadores.

“Cualquier procedimiento es bueno para triunfar”. Fue aplicada por Fidel desde el ataque al Cuartel Moncada.

“No combata a las llamadas tiranías, póngase al lado de los tiranos y explote a los demás, nunca nade contra la corriente”. El régimen cubano la aplica desde 1959 para apoyar a todas las tiranías de izquierda.

“Viva la vida de 24 en 24 horas, recuerde que uno de estos días usted debe de morirse”. Si hay una frase muy cierta en este manual es esta, que aplica al dedillo la alta jerarquía para ellos y sus familias, que viven como reyes.

“Huya de aceptar nada como definitivo. Usted debe ser siempre una esperanza”. Expresión usada a diario para ilusionar a sus partidarios y mantener en ellos la idea de que si se esfuerzan y se sacrifican tendrán más, independientemente de los problemas que surjan por el camino.

“Mire por encima del hombro, dese importancia”. Solo hay que ver la postura que adoptan en público los actuales dirigentes.

“Las leyes no se han hecho para que usted las cumpla, sino para que se burle de ellas”. ¡Qué verdad tan grande! En Cuba, la legalidad socialista se ajusta a lo que piensen, crean y digan los gobernantes, por lo cual cambian las leyes según su conveniencia.

“No se acueste sin haber hecho algo en beneficio propio”. Cada día que pasa se inventan una historia que les permita seguir en el poder de manera indefinida.

“La constancia encadena la suerte, siempre vence el que sabe vivir”. Por eso, viajan a mucho a otros países, para relacionarse con otros iguales a ellos.

“Procure engordar, los gruesos siempre tienen cara de buenas personas”. No hay uno de los actuales dirigentes cubanos que no tenga barriga y doble ancho.

“Piense que el poder está a la misma distancia que usted de él”. La lucha por posiciones en el poder aquí se encuentra a la orden del día. Entre los dirigentes se espían y se ponen zancadillas. Las purgas y defenestraciones son constantes.

“Aspire siempre, cuando menos usted se lo piense engrampa”. Este mensaje es continuidad del anterior, pero visto por el que se haya abajo.

“Mire siempre hacia adelante, el pasado no es suyo”. Lo han hecho durante 65 años.

“Usted puede conocer prontamente a sus semejantes si los juzga por usted”. Por eso, critican a los demás Gobiernos, sin reparar en las barbaridades que hacen ellos.

“Usted no está obligado a cumplir los pactos y compromisos que no le favorezcan”. Esta recomendación la han cumplido a cabalidad en estos 65 años, durante los cuales han ido modificando su posición de acuerdo a sus intereses y según los cambios en el mundo.

“Legal esto todo aquello que le reporte algún beneficio”. Nada es más verídico que esto, y se ajusta con fidelidad a todas las transformaciones ideológicas del castrismo.

Muzarrieta, al advertir que “estos ejercicios no excluyen otros que dimanen de su natural impudor que le sea a usted característico”, dejaba así la puerta abierta para seguir añadiendo trapacerías y canalladas. De hacer esto los dirigentes del castrismo, pudieran formar una enciclopedia de 20 tomos, por lo menos.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

It was looking like a rough week for Risk Balanced Odds Arbitrage, until the MNF WC games. Still, I didn't quite broke even on NFL and came out significantly behind on something called "soccer" that Europeans play.

See more about RBOA, which has been working really well for me with the pool betting system at freebitcoin.

As an aside, I'd rather see the Cowboys, Browns, and Eagles lose than win a few hundred sats. The real bummer of the weekend is not getting to see 100,000 Chiefs fans witness their team lose at home after 4 hours in 30 below weather. You can't get everything you want.

@grayruby brought another bitcoin sports betting site to my attention: nitrobetting. It seems like they only accept on-chain deposits, so I probably won't check it out unless that gets cheaper. Has anyone else used this site? It looks like a more conventional sports betting site.

@ 20986fb8:cdac21b3

The YakiHonne community is excited about Nostrasia, and they have diligently transcribed Nostrasia's inspiring speeches. Additional speech transcripts will be made available over time. The Japanese and Spanish versions are initially translated and proofread by community members with the help of AI tools. All YakiHonne users are invited to join in the review process. Those who successfully complete the review will be granted a special reward of 3000 Sats. To get started, simply reach out to us (Comment here, DM, or TG) to sign up, and the first person to contact and submit their review will be the lucky recipient of the reward. And hey, if you're up for it, we'd love to have these speeches translated into even more languages. Join us!

🌟中文版: Nostr如何取胜 🌟日本語: ノストルが勝つ方法 🌟Español: Cómo gana Nostr

Today, I'm going to talk about how Nostr wins. I asked a bunch of people how Nostr wins because I wanted to see what people answered. I got a bunch of different answers, but from a few people, I got, "Do we even want to win?" which is okay. I said okay; I'm going to just address that part. Yes, we do want to win. The argument that people gave me for why we don't have to win is that they want to keep the signal of it's a few people in Nostr, so it's pure signal. If you want that, you can just create a relay white list, add the current pubkeys, and never see another person. That is not Nostr. To this date, ever again. Perfect, that's optionality; that's what Nostr is about. You have the option of interacting with Nostr in whatever way you want.

Defining Winning

Let's define a little bit more precisely what winning means. It just means adoption; it's not fancy. It just means more people using it, more relays existing, more economic activity, more businesses, more, just more. Nostr has a very cool design that it's very much you choose what you see. The way it works is you go and fetch data even at the protocol level. It is very much a protocol where you decide the nodes that you're getting. When you see airdrop spam, you went and asked for that spam; no one sent you the spam; you went and got it. So, it's pretty cool because you can create your own experience on how you feel Nostr.

How Do We Not Win

The first is how do we not win. Let's get that part cleared out because I think it helps us think.

The first one is very hard to out-Twitter Twitter. I don't think you can win by just being Twitter. They've been around for longer; they are much better funded; they used to have name recognition.

We have a bit of a mantra, a bit of a cliche that for a product to disrupt another product, it needs to be at least 10x better; it's a very well-known cliche; it's a very valid cliche.

In my opinion, we don't win (this might be a bit controversial) by censorship resistance. People don't care for the most part. Most people will see censorship resistance as a problem to be fixed. We don't win by focusing on censorship resistance; it's just not appealing. It's not appealing except for a very small cohort of people.

It is not something that conveys or pushes people to act, and wishful thinking; there's a lot of wishful thinking in Nostr. There's a lot of wishful thinking in Bitcoin. Bitcoin has already won; it is inevitable. It's pre-ordained by the gods. It leads to complacency. That's not the way we should go about thinking about how to improve things, how to improve the world because if the efficient market hypothesis is correct, then we don't have to do anything. Everything has been done, and we're good, right? That's not how we win. We win by acting, by doing things, and we don't win if we centralize. It's funny because I have in the same slide; I have censorship resistance and centralizing is the other side of censorship resistance. If we are not censorship resistance, we centralize and the other way around. Even though it's not a good pitch, it's not something that will make people move into learning about relays and all these things and private keys and all these things, it is absolutely fundamental. When I say centralizing, I mean both relays and clients; either of those could centralize or both could centralize. If we end up with a model that requires just connecting to one or two hubs, that means that we are under risk of first failing, which is the most likely case, we first failing because the network can't scale, and when there is an influx of new users, everything crushes. We've seen that a couple of times when I think was when Snowden came or when Jack came, it was one time that the basically relays were just non-functional, like the big relays or if a client owns a very large chunk of the market share, which is one of the things that has been worrying me about Nostr for quite a while. If a client becomes very popular that gains a bunch of market share, it could be very easily used to command the design of the protocol, and it could very easily capture it. That's why I've been trying to talk a lot about the micro apps and the micro apps ecosystem because if culture has a lot of power to shape things, there's a saying that culture is a strategy for breakfast, and it's very true, and establishing a culture of using micro apps and being used to create using different apps is very important because it preempts the move of a large capitalized client from capturing a lot of market share.

Not to be naive because this is still very possible; we are nowhere near being like safe on this part. To me, this is a very important one. Tomorrow we're going to have a panel about this, but the lack of an outbox model, and I use the term outbox model very loosely. It simply means having some kind of decision tree or algorithm on how you decide to which relays you're going to write and from which relays you're going to read. It's a bit technical, but it basically means how easy is for a person to run their own relay, and even though they are banned and censored from all the main hubs, they can still have a voice where the users that want to interact with that person don't even realize that person is being banned. That's the ultimate test; if a server goes down, if a relay goes down, and the users realize that it went down, then that means that the network is not decentralized enough.

Making Blaster Irrelevant Again

Basically, if there is an economic incentive to use Blaster, which is simply a relay that when you publish to it, it just sends it to 300 other relays. As long as there is an incentive to use that, then we know that we are still not there yet. There's still a lot of work to be done.

How Does Nostr Win

We went through a bunch of reasons why it would not win. Okay, if you're here, I'm going to guess what's the answer that I'm going to give. Oh, first, when I say that it's the other stuff, that doesn't mean that microblogging, the Twitter use case is not important; it's absolutely fundamental. Having a myriad of different clients, solid, well-done executed clients is a necessity; it's just not sufficient. It's necessary but not sufficient. Well, network effects are incredibly powerful; they are almost everything. There is a reason why it's very rare to see that an incumbent like a social network is replaced by something else. They can make horrible, terrible decisions. Facebook has abused their users to no end. Snowden revealed how much this was going on, and this has happened so many times yet people still flock to it. Network effects make the product incredibly sticky. When all your friends are on a network, clearing this 10x better bar, the cliche that I was referring to earlier, clearing that is very, very, very hard. And Nostr has not cleared that bar; I mean it's nowhere near close to clearing the bar where it's 10x better at anything than something else. But there are many, many good chances, there are many good reasons why Nostr has a really good chance of clearing this, and only one of them is enough.

And to me, that reason is interoperability, just the transparent like a magic interoperability of Nostr because when you have this basically for free interoperability, it unleashes something that is even more powerful than network effects; it's one of the very few things in reality that is more powerful than network effects. It's Network effects time, Network effects time, Network effects time, Network effects time. We can summarize it to raise to the power of Network effects, raise to the power of use cases. Why? Each use case that is implemented in Nostr gains a bunch of really cool properties, and it multiplies; it makes all the other products that are completely independent of the use case of this one application of this one use case, it makes them a little bit better. It's like saying eBay Network effects times Netflix Network effects times Twitter Network effects, etc. This is very powerful; we are so much at the very early stages of this compounding of network effects that it is really hard to see.

Something interesting that happened when I was going to Miami that I noticed. I created Subster, which is like a music app, and Nostr integrated support for Subster. So, users that were uploading music to Subster had their music maybe sapped or listened to, at least from Nostr users, and then Amethyst implemented Subster support, and now Coracle implemented support for web, or Subster. This is super crazy, this leaking of the different use cases that improve the product throughout the spectrum of the Nostr ecosystem. It's really wild when you think about it. It means that Facebook, which has an enormous advantage over Nostr, obviously, Facebook has to compete with the rest of the world when it comes to building stuff on Nostr, and then Twitter has to compete with the rest of the world that comes on Nostr. Like each independent, completely vertical corporation as big as they are, they must compete with the rest of the world. Right now, the rest of the world is almost nothing, but my thinking is that it's going to gain more and more momentum. But we need to do a couple of things.

The Role of Entrepreneurs

The first one that I think we need to do is we need to change the way we think and define Nostr. So far, usually, we are defining Nostr by what it's not; we say it's censorship resistant, there are no manipulative algorithms hidden, there are no Masters, so it's great, and it's real, but it's hard to relate. It's like finding, "Oh, my wife is great; she almost never manipulates me." You would talk about her beautiful attributes that she's very smart, that she's very supportive, or whatever attribute she has; you wouldn't say, "Oh, she doesn't do this really ugly thing to me," but this is the way we tend to define and explain, and even reason around Nostr, and it just puts the energy in the wrong place. There are so many positive things to say about Nostr that focusing on what it is, and it's like missing the possibilities. And when I think about how do we explore these possibilities, I think that what we need to explore these possibilities is entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs. We have a very healthy ecosystem of developers currently, and it's fantastic, and we need more. I think the groundwork that we've done in the past few months to bring more developers to be able to create applications, and create robust applications, and create applications that kind of work, which is pretty surprising. It's really good, and we've done great; the developers are coming. I see my DMs a lot, and that's fantastic; we need the tinkerers because we are still largely on unexplored territory, but we have very few entrepreneurs; we have very few businesses thinking long term. One of the things that a business has, regardless of scale, that a developer doesn't have is usually focus. I mean, a million things, but usually for these talks, it's focus on a vision for a product. Developers tend to get very excited about technology, and we want to play with this, play with that, and we end up with a bunch of abandoned wear or stuff that is buggy or stuff simply does not have a robust road map of where we are going. We definitely need to bring more entrepreneurs into the fold to help us find a bunch of things that still need to be discovered, and I think businesses are going to help us unlock these things.

Building Non-Extracting Businesses

There's a very interesting chance of creating very compelling, very powerful businesses that are non-extracting. If we think about how big Tech has evolved over the past 20, 25 years, they didn't really create that much value. Facebook has an enormous valuation, but they didn't really create it; they were just lucky; they were definitely in the right place at the right time to be able to capture the value that is intrinsically created by network effects. They just happen to be able to capture it, and they obviously execute it magnificently well, and that part of that execution is what we need in Nostr, but the value created by network effects, what's going to happen; it's just capturable or is it not capturable. I think there are many reasons to build a business on Nostr. It sounds kind of weird because businesses on Nostr, I mean there are no profitable businesses on Nostr, but that's simply that the Nostr economy is way too small; it's impossible to create a sustainable business at this stage, and I don't think businesses should be thinking about monetizing; I know some people are thinking about monetizing now; I think that's insanely early, and it's going to lead you to poor decisions; it's going to lead you to wrong conclusions; like stuff that would have worked but it didn't work yet just because the economy is so small, but why would you build a business on Nostr? Why not just build a typical SaaS or just try to deplatform Google or go Blue Sky style? There is a philosophical answer to this is and it's that Nostr aligns with nature much better, which means that by aligning that your energy and your business, you benefit from having to exert less force; it's more sound; it's more thermodynamically sound. It's like deciding whether to swim against the current or with the current. A few months ago, I emphasized that all companies with a social component will eventually become either Nostr clients or cease to exist. The compounding force of network effects is unstoppable; any business lacking this adaptation will succumb. Almost every internet activity involves a social layer, and Nostr operates as a social framework. Anything with a social aspect benefits from being integrated with Nostr. If a business doesn't embrace Nostr and it emerges victorious, nature will crush any use case not built on Nostr.

Despite these potential strengths, numerous questions remain unanswered. Censorship resistance, economic sustainability of relays, and other vital aspects have yet to be thoroughly tested. Theoretical discussions are abundant, but real-world economic activity and entrepreneurs leveraging Nostr are essential for finding practical solutions. Convincing entrepreneurs of Nostr's potential is a challenging task due to its small economy. Yet, if one looks closely, powerful building blocks are emerging, as evidenced by the growing number of developers joining the ecosystem. This trend, while promising, demands resilience and determination from those involved.

Questions and Answers

With that, I would like to express my gratitude. If you have any questions, we have three minutes.

Audience Question: Is there a concept of a Nostr United Nations?

Answer: The idea of a Nostr United Nations makes me uneasy. Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?

Audience Question: We have various builders working towards the same goal of expanding the Nostr ecosystem. Would it be beneficial to have more intercommunication and collaboration between them? Is anyone trying to organize such efforts?

Answer: Currently, there is no coordinated effort like that in place. In fact, if such an initiative were to arise, I would consider working on Blue Sky or even forking Nostr. The truth is often discovered through competition and conflict, much like how nature operates. Consensus and roundtable discussions tend to lead to poor decisions. Client competition is a healthy aspect of our ecosystem.

Audience Question: In the past, platforms like Myspace were more appealing to creators than Facebook. Why do you think Facebook ultimately prevailed over Myspace?

Answer: Facebook succeeded by initially targeting a specific niche and conquering it. They didn't attempt to be a global social network from the start. They solved one particular use case, expanded to nearby universities, and grew from there. Myspace's downfall included a major code base rewrite, a common startup killer. Such decisions can make it incredibly challenging for startups to survive.

---

About YakiHonne:

YakiHonne is a Nostr-based decentralized content media protocol, which supports free curation, creation, publishing, and reporting by various media. Try YakiHonne.com Now!

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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

El cubano Geovanny Ibáñez González terminó detenido por las autoridades de la Isla, tras ser denunciado por su exesposa, Heidi Peña, a causa de amenazas y un presunto intento de homicidio por motivo de género en Alamar, La Habana.

El perfil de Marlon Michel Álvarez, vinculado al Ministerio del Interior (Minint), confirmó la detención de dicho sujeto, indicando que fue arrestado por violencia tras comparecer ante la Unidad Municipal.

En una desesperada publicación en Facebook, Peña expresó su temor a convertirse en otra víctima de feminicidio y relató los momentos de horror que había vivido a manos de Ibáñez González. El agresor la había amenazado en presencia de su hijo de cuatro años e incluso intentó quitarle la vida con un cuchillo, siendo detenido por la intervención de vecinos y su propio padre.

La víctima había denunciado que temía por su vida, ya que agentes de la Policía Nacional Revolucionaria (PNR) de Alamar habían ignorado sus denuncias, permitiendo la liberación del agresor bajo fianza cuando fue arrestado por primera vez.

Ella había pedido a la comunidad que se compartiera su denuncia a través de las redes sociales para que se conociera el temor que enfrenta por la agresividad del referido sujeto. “Les escribe una madre con miedo y muy desesperada que teme por su vida y la de su niño”, manifestó.

La Federación de Mujeres Cubanas se pronunció al respecto, destacando la gravedad de la situación y enfatizando que en la Isla no se toleran estos actos de violencia de género. “Cuba no está exenta de estos fenómenos sociales. Este es un hecho deplorable en el que el país tiene tolerancia cero. Nuestra Constitución y Código Penal cataloga con fuerza este hecho como grave”, señaló la organización.

El caso de Heidi Peña destaca la urgente necesidad de abordar el referido problema en la Mayor de las Antillas. Según estadísticas, el pasado año se registraron 88 feminicidios, según los observatorios de género independientes como YoSíTeCreo en Cuba y el Observatorio de Género de la revista Alas Tensas.

Sin embargo, el régimen cubano ha publicado cifras aún más alarmantes, reportando 117 muertes por violencia de género hasta el mes de octubre del año pasado. Este delito no cuenta con un castigo específico en el Código Penal de la Isla.

En el inicio del actual año, se han reportado, al menos, cinco casos de femicidios, registrados en las provincias de Holguín, La Habana y Camagüey. Las víctimas fueron asesinadas por sus parejas o exparejas.

@ 58f5a230:304d59f7

บทความชุดนี้ผมคิดว่าจะเขียนแยกเป็นตอน ๆ ตามบทเรียนที่ได้รับจาก Bitcoin FOSS Program ของทาง Chaincode Labs โดยจะมาแชร์การแก้โจทย์ปัญหาตามบททดสอบในแต่ละสัปดาห์

สัปดาห์แรกนี้ผมได้โจยท์มาทั้งหมด 8 ข้อ และการตอบปัญหาทั้งหมดจะใช้ Bash Script เขียนคำสั่งร่วมกับ bitcoin-cli ในการทำความเข้าใจพื้นฐานของ Bitcoin-Core ระบบการบันทึกบัญชีลง Blockchain การดู/ตรวจสอบ ข้อมูลบน Block รวมถึงพื้นฐานข้อมูลภายใน Block จนถึง Transaction เบื้ิองต้น และในบทความนี้จะควบคุมความรู้ในหนังสือนั้นในบทที่ 1-3 ของหนังสือ Mastering Bitcoin หากท่านต้องการศึกษาเพิ่มเติมให้เข้าใจมากขึ้น แนะนำให้อ่านไปด้วย

ข้อที่ 1: แฮชของบล็อคที่ 654,321 คืออะไร?

ข้อนี้ง่ายมาก ๆ โดยเราจะใช้โปรแกรม bitcoin-cli จาก bitcoin-core ที่ติดตั้งไว้แล้ว เชื่อมไปยัง RPC server ที่เป็น Full-node ของเรา พร้อมกับคำสั่ง getblockhash เราสามารถดูได้ว่ามันใช้งานยังไงด้วยการพิมพ์ help นำหน้าคำสั่ง เราก็จะได้คำอธิบายพร้อมกับตัวอย่างการใช่งานมา

```sh $ bitcoin-cli help getblockhash getblockhash height

Returns hash of block in best-block-chain at height provided.

Arguments: 1. height (numeric, required) The height index

Result: "hex" (string) The block hash

Examples:

bitcoin-cli getblockhash 1000 curl --user myusername --data-binary '{"jsonrpc": "1.0", "id": "curltest", "method": "getblockhash", "params": [1000]}' -H 'content-type: text/plain;' http://127.0.0.1:8332/ ```

ในโจทย์นี้เราจะใช้เพียงคำสั่งเดียวเท่านั้น มาดูกัน

sh $ bitcoin-cli getblockhash 654321 000000000000000000058452bbe379ad4364fe8fda68c45e299979b492858095

ผมได้เรียกใช้ bitcoin-cli พร้อมกับคำสั่ง getblockhash 654321 และได้คำตอบมาว่า 000000000000000000058452bbe379ad4364fe8fda68c45e299979b492858095 นั้นคือแฮชของบล็อคที่ 654,321 นั่นเอง ข้อมูลเหล่านี้เราจะได้ใช้มันในข้อหลัง ๆ ไปข้อต่อไปกัน

ข้อที่ 2: จงพิสูจน์ข้อความนี้ว่าถูกเซนต์โดยที่อยู่นี้ถูกต้องหรือไม่

(true / false) Verify the signature by this address over this message: address: `1E9YwDtYf9R29ekNAfbV7MvB4LNv7v3fGa` message: `1E9YwDtYf9R29ekNAfbV7MvB4LNv7v3fGa` signature: `HCsBcgB+Wcm8kOGMH8IpNeg0H4gjCrlqwDf/GlSXphZGBYxm0QkKEPhh9DTJRp2IDNUhVr0FhP9qCqo2W0recNM=`

ตามโจทย์นี้อาจจะดูงง ๆ ผมจึงไปค้นใน Docs ของ Bitcoin-Core ดูและพบกับคำสั่ง verifymessage มาลองดูกัน

```sh $ bitcoin-cli help verifymessage verifymessage "address" "signature" "message"

Verify a signed message.

Arguments: 1. address (string, required) The bitcoin address to use for the signature. 2. signature (string, required) The signature provided by the signer in base 64 encoding (see signmessage). 3. message (string, required) The message that was signed.

Result: true|false (boolean) If the signature is verified or not.

Examples:

Unlock the wallet for 30 seconds

bitcoin-cli walletpassphrase "mypassphrase" 30

Create the signature

bitcoin-cli signmessage "1D1ZrZNe3JUo7ZycKEYQQiQAWd9y54F4XX" "my message"

Verify the signature

bitcoin-cli verifymessage "1D1ZrZNe3JUo7ZycKEYQQiQAWd9y54F4XX" "signature" "my message"

As a JSON-RPC call

curl --user myusername --data-binary '{"jsonrpc": "1.0", "id": "curltest", "method": "verifymessage", "params": ["1D1ZrZNe3JUo7ZycKEYQQiQAWd9y54F4XX", "signature", "my message"]}' -H 'content-type: text/plain;' http://127.0.0.1:8332/ ```

สังเกตุว่าคำสั่งนี้ใช้ 3 ตัวแปรตามที่โจทย์ให้มาเป๊ะ ๆ มาลองใช้ดูกัน

sh address="1E9YwDtYf9R29ekNAfbV7MvB4LNv7v3fGa" message="1E9YwDtYf9R29ekNAfbV7MvB4LNv7v3fGa" signature="HCsBcgB+Wcm8kOGMH8IpNeg0H4gjCrlqwDf/GlSXphZGBYxm0QkKEPhh9DTJRp2IDNUhVr0FhP9qCqo2W0recNM="

เริ่มจากการประกาศตัวแปรไว้ตามฉบับสายผู้ใช้ Linux แล้วก็ลองส่งคำสั่งกันเลย

sh $ bitcoin-cli verifymessage $address $signature $message false

false ... ตอนแรกก็ยังงง ๆ แต่ข้อนี้คำตอบคือ false จริง ๆ นั่นแหละ อาจจะเพราะคนทำโจทย์ลืมดูว่า message มันซ้ำกับ address อยู่ หรือไม่ก็จงใจ ช่างมัน ไปข้อต่อไปกัน

ข้อที่ 3: บล็อคที่ 123,456 มีจำนวน outputs Transaction ทั้งหมดเท่าไหร่?

ข้อนี้จะไปไวหน่อยเพราะว่าเราไม่จำเป็นต้อง loop เพื่อดูข้อมูล Transaction ในบล็อคเพื่อนับเอา outputs เราสามารถใช้คำสั่ง getblockstats ได้เลย แล้วใช่ jq แปลงข้อมูลให้เป็น JSON เพื่อให้เราอ่านได้ง่ายขึ้น

sh $ bitcoin-cli getblockstats 123456 | jq . { "avgfee": 416666, "avgfeerate": 1261, "avgtxsize": 330, "blockhash": "0000000000002917ed80650c6174aac8dfc46f5fe36480aaef682ff6cd83c3ca", "feerate_percentiles": [ 0, 0, 0, 3861, 3891 ], "height": 123456, "ins": 17, "maxfee": 1000000, "maxfeerate": 3891, "maxtxsize": 618, "medianfee": 0, "mediantime": 1305197900, "mediantxsize": 258, "minfee": 0, "minfeerate": 0, "mintxsize": 257, "outs": 24, "subsidy": 5000000000, "swtotal_size": 0, "swtotal_weight": 0, "swtxs": 0, "time": 1305200806, "total_out": 16550889992, "total_size": 3964, "total_weight": 15856, "totalfee": 5000000, "txs": 13, "utxo_increase": 7, "utxo_increase_actual": 7, "utxo_size_inc": 567, "utxo_size_inc_actual": 567 }

นี่คือข้อมูลเบื้องต้นของบล็อค 123,456 ที่มีรายการ transaction อยู่ 13 รายการ และมี outputs รวม 24 รายการ เราสามารถใช้ jq แสดงผลเฉพาะข้อมูลที่เราต้องการได้ง่าย ๆ โดยพิมพ์ชื่อข้อมูลที่เราต้องการตามไปหลังจุด . ข้อนี้สามารถตอบได้เลย

sh $ bitcoin-cli getblockstats 123456 | jq .outs 24

ข้อที่ 4: จงหา taproot address ลำดับที่ 100 โดยคำนวนจาก xpub ต่อไปนี้

ตัว extended public key หรือ xpub ที่ผมได้มาคือ xpub6Cx5tvq6nACSLJdra1A6WjqTo1SgeUZRFqsX5ysEtVBMwhCCRa4kfgFqaT2o1kwL3esB1PsYr3CUdfRZYfLHJunNWUABKftK2NjHUtzDms2 เอาหล่ะ แล้วจะทำยังไงต่อหล่ะเนี่ย

แล้วผมก็ไปเจอกับคำสั่งนี้ในที่สุด deriveaddresses ว่าแต่มันใช้ยังไงหว่า

```sh $ bitcoin-cli help deriveaddresses deriveaddresses "descriptor" ( range )

Derives one or more addresses corresponding to an output descriptor. Examples of output descriptors are: pkh() P2PKH outputs for the given pubkey wpkh() Native segwit P2PKH outputs for the given pubkey sh(multi(,,,...)) P2SH-multisig outputs for the given threshold and pubkeys raw() Outputs whose scriptPubKey equals the specified hex scripts tr(,multi_a(,,,...)) P2TR-multisig outputs for the given threshold and pubkeys

In the above, either refers to a fixed public key in hexadecimal notation, or to an xpub/xprv optionally followed by one or more path elements separated by "/", where "h" represents a hardened child key. For more information on output descriptors, see the documentation in the doc/descriptors.md file.

Arguments: 1. descriptor (string, required) The descriptor. 2. range (numeric or array, optional) If a ranged descriptor is used, this specifies the end or the range (in [begin,end] notation) to derive.

Result: [ (json array) "str", (string) the derived addresses ... ]

Examples: First three native segwit receive addresses

bitcoin-cli deriveaddresses "wpkh([d34db33f/84h/0h/0h]xpub6DJ2dNUysrn5Vt36jH2KLBT2i1auw1tTSSomg8PhqNiUtx8QX2SvC9nrHu81fT41fvDUnhMjEzQgXnQjKEu3oaqMSzhSrHMxyyoEAmUHQbY/0/)#cjjspncu" "[0,2]" curl --user myusername --data-binary '{"jsonrpc": "1.0", "id": "curltest", "method": "deriveaddresses", "params": ["wpkh([d34db33f/84h/0h/0h]xpub6DJ2dNUysrn5Vt36jH2KLBT2i1auw1tTSSomg8PhqNiUtx8QX2SvC9nrHu81fT41fvDUnhMjEzQgXnQjKEu3oaqMSzhSrHMxyyoEAmUHQbY/0/)#cjjspncu", "[0,2]"]}' -H 'content-type: text/plain;' http://127.0.0.1:8332/ ```

อื้อหือ ยิ่งงงไปอิ๊กก เอาวะลองดูตามตัวอย่างของ P2TR ละกัน

sh $ bitcoin-cli deriveaddresses "tr(xpub6Cx5tvq6nACSLJdra1A6WjqTo1SgeUZRFqsX5ysEtVBMwhCCRa4kfgFqaT2o1kwL3esB1PsYr3CUdfRZYfLHJunNWUABKftK2NjHUtzDms2)" error code: -5 error message: Missing checksum

อะ...อ้าว ย้อนกลับไปดูตัวอย่าง และอ่าน Docs ดี ๆ จะพบว่าการ deriveaddresses นั้นจะมีรูปแบบอยู่ เช่น wpkh([d34db33f/84h/0h/0h]xpub6DJ2dNUysrn5Vt36jH2KLBT2i1auw1tTSSomg8PhqNiUtx8QX2SvC9nrHu81fT41fvDUnhMjEzQgXnQjKEu3oaqMSzhSrHMxyyoEAmUHQbY/0/*)#cjjspncu

1. wpkh() นั้นคือรูปแบบของการเข้ารหัส ซึ่งมีหลายอย่างให้ใช้ตามวัตถุประสงค์ อย่าง multisig ก็จะเป็นอีกแบบ
2. [d34db33f/84h/0h/0h] ส่วนนี้ึคือ fingerprint จาก pubkey หลักก่อนจะคำนวน xpub ซึ่งโจทย์ข้อนี้ไม่มีให้ และหลังจากศึกษามาก็พบว่ามันไม่จำเป็นสำหรับการสร้าง address แบบ basic ง่าย ๆ
3. xpub6DJ2dNUysrn5Vt36jH2KLBT2i1auw1tTSSomg8PhqNiUtx8QX2SvC9nrHu81fT41fvDUnhMjEzQgXnQjKEu3oaqMSzhSrHMxyyoEAmUHQbY ส่วนนี้คืิอ extended public key ซึ่งคำนวนมาจาก pubkey หลักที่คำนวนมาจาก private key หรือ seed ของเราอีกที
4. /0/_ คือ path สำหรับระยะการคำนวน address โดยให้มองเป็น /เริ่มต้น/สิ้นสุด เช่น /0/99 หมายถึง เราจะคำนวน address จากตำแหน่งที่ 0 ถึงตำแหน่ง 99 ถ้าใช้ _ คือจะคำนวนกี่ที่อยู่ก็ได้

5. cjjspncu คือ checksum ของ descriptor กระเป๋านี้ และสามารถใช้คำสั่ง getdescriptorinfo เพื่อดูข้อมูลได้

เอาหล่ะ มาลองกันใหม่ โดยที่ผมจะ derive ตำแหน่งที่ /100 ที่อยู่เดียวเท่านั้น

sh $ bitcoin-cli getdescriptorinfo "tr(xpub6Cx5tvq6nACSLJdra1A6WjqTo1SgeUZRFqsX5ysEtVBMwhCCRa4kfgFqaT2o1kwL3esB1PsYr3CUdfRZYfLHJunNWUABKftK2NjHUtzDms2/100)" { "checksum": "5p2mg7zx", "descriptor": "tr(xpub6Cx5tvq6nACSLJdra1A6WjqTo1SgeUZRFqsX5ysEtVBMwhCCRa4kfgFqaT2o1kwL3esB1PsYr3CUdfRZYfLHJunNWUABKftK2NjHUtzDms2/100)#5p2mg7zx", "hasprivatekeys": false, "isrange": false, "issolvable": true }

ได้แฮะ ลองเอา checksum ที่ได้ไปคำนวนที่อยู่กัน

sh $ bitcoin-cli deriveaddresses "tr(xpub6Cx5tvq6nACSLJdra1A6WjqTo1SgeUZRFqsX5ysEtVBMwhCCRa4kfgFqaT2o1kwL3esB1PsYr3CUdfRZYfLHJunNWUABKftK2NjHUtzDms2/100)#5p2mg7zx" [ "bc1p3yrtpvv6czx63h2sxwmeep8q98h94w4288fc4cvrkqephalydfgszgacf9" ]

หลังจากนั้นผมก็ใช้ jq -r .[0] เพื่อดึงข้อมูลออกจาก JSON array แล้วส่งคำตอบ ผ่านได้ด้วยดี

ข้อที่ 5 สร้าง P2SH multisig address ด้วย public keys 4 ชุดจาก inputs ใน transaction นี้

37d966a263350fe747f1c606b159987545844a493dd38d84b070027a895c4517

ไหนดูซิ transaction นี้เป็นยังไง

sh $ bitcoin-cli getrawtransaction "37d966a263350fe747f1c606b159987545844a493dd38d84b070027a895c4517" 1 { "blockhash": "000000000000000000024a848a9451143278f60e4c3e73003da60c7b0ef74b62", "blocktime": 1701158269, "confirmations": 7751, "hash": "e28a0885b6f413e24a89e9c2bac74d4c6f335e17545f0b860da9146caf7ffe39", "hex": "02000000000104b5f641e80e9065f09b12f3e373072518885d1bd1ddd9298e5b9840de515edac90000000000feffffffd54f8986afbb6ff18572acaee58fa3ad64446dd770ffe9b6a04f798becdafb440000 000000feffffff475e3062b1c3ee87544c29d723866da2b65a1b1a42e6ea4a4fd48d79f83c26c50000000000feffffffa56387352ecc93dfd37648e6ebd4d9effb37ffefcad02eb7b85860c9097cf8090000000000feff ffff02fa440f00000000001600148070ec3954ecdcbfc210d0117e8d28a19eb8467270947d0000000000160014b5fe46c647353ec9c06374655502094095f0289c0247304402200dd758801b40393f68dad8ab57558803 efcd2b681ee31eb44fb3cfa9666d2bf90220254d34fa4990e23652bf669053c5e16fd2fbb816bed2eeb44c1f1e6e54143e3e012102bbb4ba3f39b5f3258f0014d5e4eab5a6990009e3e1dba6e8eaff10b3832394f70247 304402201694761a5749b6a84f71459c04a44cf9d34a36ae8c9044c3af7a3a5514ef2e64022058f61feb92d6d54b71fdea47e7dfcd20f6a5c12e2fbcb15bc44fe95c73f2e808012103aaf17b1a7b4108f7e5bc4f7d59c2 0f7fb1a72dbc74a9a3d6d1f8488df159c76002473044022014b65c60f65e62d9dac893e404c8de2a007c7c6b74dbac18e454d8374e159759022012453f69112adadf9495fd3fe288aa5ed9e3d836340da06fa1e82c8e09 adef57012103a6d919c76d9117c23570a767450013edf31cf6be7d3b5a881c06a9aa1f2c24ce0247304402203d3b02390803c1d673fa49bd64d4a26fbeb29e3fc152af8f844d776c9409e41302206903a011a04e00a7f4 ec606da4320226d2d393f565702cc58cfcef6dca67f84c01210383d12258e3e294a6d7754336f6b4baef992ec4b91694d3460bcb022b11da8cd2817e0c00", "locktime": 818817, "size": 666, "time": 1701158269, "txid": "37d966a263350fe747f1c606b159987545844a493dd38d84b070027a895c4517", "version": 2, "vin": [ { "scriptSig": { "asm": "", "hex": "" }, "sequence": 4294967294, "txid": "c9da5e51de40985b8e29d9ddd11b5d8818250773e3f3129bf065900ee841f6b5", "txinwitness": [ "304402200dd758801b40393f68dad8ab57558803efcd2b681ee31eb44fb3cfa9666d2bf90220254d34fa4990e23652bf669053c5e16fd2fbb816bed2eeb44c1f1e6e54143e3e01", "02bbb4ba3f39b5f3258f0014d5e4eab5a6990009e3e1dba6e8eaff10b3832394f7" ], "vout": 0 }, { "scriptSig": { "asm": "", "hex": "" }, "sequence": 4294967294, "txid": "44fbdaec8b794fa0b6e9ff70d76d4464ada38fe5aeac7285f16fbbaf86894fd5", "txinwitness": [ "304402201694761a5749b6a84f71459c04a44cf9d34a36ae8c9044c3af7a3a5514ef2e64022058f61feb92d6d54b71fdea47e7dfcd20f6a5c12e2fbcb15bc44fe95c73f2e80801", "03aaf17b1a7b4108f7e5bc4f7d59c20f7fb1a72dbc74a9a3d6d1f8488df159c760" ], "vout": 0 }, { "scriptSig": { "asm": "", "hex": "" }, "sequence": 4294967294, "txid": "c5263cf8798dd44f4aeae6421a1b5ab6a26d8623d7294c5487eec3b162305e47", "txinwitness": [ "3044022014b65c60f65e62d9dac893e404c8de2a007c7c6b74dbac18e454d8374e159759022012453f69112adadf9495fd3fe288aa5ed9e3d836340da06fa1e82c8e09adef5701", "03a6d919c76d9117c23570a767450013edf31cf6be7d3b5a881c06a9aa1f2c24ce" ], "vout": 0 }, { "scriptSig": { "asm": "", "hex": "" }, "sequence": 4294967294, "txid": "09f87c09c96058b8b72ed0caefff37fbefd9d4ebe64876d3df93cc2e358763a5", "txinwitness": [ "304402203d3b02390803c1d673fa49bd64d4a26fbeb29e3fc152af8f844d776c9409e41302206903a011a04e00a7f4ec606da4320226d2d393f565702cc58cfcef6dca67f84c01", "0383d12258e3e294a6d7754336f6b4baef992ec4b91694d3460bcb022b11da8cd2" ], "vout": 0 } ], "vout": [ { "n": 0, "scriptPubKey": { "address": "bc1qspcwcw25anwtlsss6qgharfg5x0ts3njad8uve", "asm": "0 8070ec3954ecdcbfc210d0117e8d28a19eb84672", "desc": "addr(bc1qspcwcw25anwtlsss6qgharfg5x0ts3njad8uve)#pzjnvw8p", "hex": "00148070ec3954ecdcbfc210d0117e8d28a19eb84672", "type": "witness_v0_keyhash" }, "value": 0.01000698 }, { "n": 1, "scriptPubKey": { "address": "bc1qkhlyd3j8x5lvnsrrw3j42qsfgz2lq2yu3cs5lr", "asm": "0 b5fe46c647353ec9c06374655502094095f0289c", "desc": "addr(bc1qkhlyd3j8x5lvnsrrw3j42qsfgz2lq2yu3cs5lr)#hzcalwww", "hex": "0014b5fe46c647353ec9c06374655502094095f0289c", "type": "witness_v0_keyhash" }, "value": 0.0823 } ], "vsize": 344, "weight": 1374 }

เราจำเป็นต้องเรียนรู้เรื่อง Witness program ของ bip-141 เพื่อเข้าใจ scriptPubKey หรือ redeemScript เบื่องต้นเสียก่อน โดยพื้นฐานธุรกรรมแบบ P2WPKH ภายใน txinwitness จะมี signature และ public keys ตามลำดับ เราจะลองใช้ pubkey นี้ในการสร้างกระเป๋า multisig กัน

sh txinfo=$(bitcoin-cli getrawtransaction "37d966a263350fe747f1c606b159987545844a493dd38d84b070027a895c4517" 1) ad1=$(echo $txinfo | jq '.vin[0] | .txinwitness[1]') ad2=$(echo $txinfo | jq '.vin[1] | .txinwitness[1]') ad3=$(echo $txinfo | jq '.vin[2] | .txinwitness[1]') ad4=$(echo $txinfo | jq '.vin[3] | .txinwitness[1]') bitcoin-cli createmultisig 1 ["$ad1","$ad2","$ad3","$ad4"] | jq -r '.address'

3GyWg1CCD3RDpbwCbuk9TTRQptkRfczDz8

ง่ายเลยข้อนี้ ไปข้อต่อไปกัน

ข้อที่ 6: transaction ไหนในบล็อค 257,343 ใช้เงินรางวัลจากการขุดจากบล็อค 256,128?

Which tx in block 257,343 spends the coinbase output of block 256,128? ข้อนี้ต้องไปหาว่า coinbase output ก็คือเงินรางวัลจากการขุดบล็อคนั้น ๆ รวมกับค่า fee นั่นเอง ซึ่งจะอยู่ในลำดับแรกของบล็อคนั้น ๆ เสมอ เรามาเขียนน Bash Script หา coinbase txid กัน

sh blockhash=$(bitcoin-cli getblockhash 256128) tx256=$(bitcoin-cli getblock $blockhash 2)

ด้วยคำสั่ง getblock ตามด้วยแฮชของบล็อค และระดับข้อมูล โดยที่ระดับ

1. จะแสดงข้อมูลบล็อค ไม่มี transaction
2. จะแสดงข้อมูล transaction แต่ไม่รวม inputs
3. จะแสดงข้อมูลทั้งหมดของบล็อคนั้น ๆ

sh coinbase_txid=$(echo $tx256 | jq -r '.tx[0].txid') echo $coinbase_txid

แล้วก็เลือก txid จากข้อมูลแรกมา ซึ่งก็คือ coinbase output ของเรา

611c5a0972d28e421a2308cb2a2adb8f369bb003b96eb04a3ec781bf295b74bc นี่คือ txid ที่เราจะเอาไปหาว่ามันมีใน inputs ไหนของ transaction ไหนใน block 257,343 ซึ่งโดยทั่วไปแล้วหากเรา loop หากทีละ transaction คงเสียเวลาน่าดู เราลองมาใช้ฟังชั่น select() ของ jq กัน

```sh blockhash=$(bitcoin-cli getblockhash 256128) tx256=$(bitcoin-cli getblock $blockhash 2) coinbase_txid=$(echo $tx256 | jq -r '.tx[0].txid') blockhash=$(bitcoin-cli getblockhash 257343) tx257=$(bitcoin-cli getblock $blockhash 3)

เลือกข้อมูล transaction

block257tx=$(echo $tx257 | jq -r '.tx')

ใน .tx นั้นเราจะได้ JSON array ที่มีรายการ transaction เยอะมาก ๆ เราจะเลือกอันเดียวที่มี coinbase txid ใน vin หรือ inputs นั้น ๆ กัน และใช้ jq อีกครั้งเพื่อให้แสดงผลแค่ txid

echo "$block257tx" | jq ".[] | select(.vin[].txid==\"$coinbase_txid\")" | jq -r '.txid' ```

และนี่คือคำตอบของข้อนี้

c54714cb1373c2e3725261fe201f267280e21350bdf2df505da8483a6a4805fc

ข้อที่ 7: มี UTXO อันนึงที่ไม่เคยถูกใช้งานเลยในบล็อคที่ 123,321 UTXO นั้นคือ address อะไร?

Only one single output remains unspent from block 123,321. What address was it sent to?

ข้อนี้เราจะใช้คำสั่ง gettxout ที่จะ return ข้อมูลของ UTXO ที่ไม่เคยถูกใช้งานให้เรา โดยการ loop ไปทีละ transaction

```sh blockhash=$(bitcoin-cli getblockhash 123321) blockinfo=$(bitcoin-cli getblock $blockhash 3) transaction=$(echo $blockinfo | jq '.tx[]') txid=$(echo $transaction | jq -r '.txid')

for item in $txid; do bitcoin-cli gettxout "$item" 0 | jq -r '.scriptPubKey.address' done ```

1FPDNNmgwEnKuF7GQzSqUcVQdzSRhz4pgX ได้มาแล้วคำตอบของเรา โจทย์ข้อนี้คงผิดแน่ ๆ หากมี UTXO ที่ยังไม่ได้ใช้งานมากกว่า 1 อันเพราะเราสั่งให้แสดงมันทุก transaction เลย! ฮาาา

ข้อที่ 8: public key อะไรที่ใช้เซ็นอันดับแรกใน transaction e5969add849689854ac7f28e45628b89f7454b83e9699e551ce14b6f90c86163

ข้อนี้ค่อนข้างหินเลย ตอนแรกเอาไปเปิดในดูใน mempool พบว่าเป็นธุรกรรมที่ถูก force close lightning channel ซึ่งมันต้องเป็น multisig แน่ ๆ เอาหล่ะ ดูข้อมูลธุรกรรมนี้ก่อนแล้วกัน

sh bitcoin-cli getrawtransaction "e5969add849689854ac7f28e45628b89f7454b83e9699e551ce14b6f90c86163" 1 { "blockhash": "0000000000000000000b0e5eec04d784347ef564b3ddb939eca019a66c9cedbe", "blocktime": 1610254919, "confirmations": 161208, "hash": "881d7ab9ad60d6658283dbbad345f6f28491a264cd11d060b4fb4f121851a7f3", "hex": "020000000001018b1aab3917e6595816c63bf9dd0ebf4303f2b2a23103aee1500282c944affd71000000000000000000010e26000000000000160014c47082b5a49065d85ab65730e8c28bb0b4810b960347 3044022050b45d29a3f2cf098ad0514dff940c78046c377a7e925ded074ad927363dc2dd02207c8a8ca7d099483cf3b50b00366ad2e2771805d6be900097c2c57bc58b4f34a50101014d6321025d524ac7ec6501d018d3 22334f142c7c11aa24b9cffec03161eca35a1e32a71f67029000b2752102ad92d02b7061f520ebb60e932f9743a43fee1db87d2feb1398bf037b3f119fc268ac00000000", "locktime": 0, "size": 237, "time": 1610254919, "txid": "e5969add849689854ac7f28e45628b89f7454b83e9699e551ce14b6f90c86163", "version": 2, "vin": [ { "scriptSig": { "asm": "", "hex": "" }, "sequence": 0, "txid": "71fdaf44c9820250e1ae0331a2b2f20343bf0eddf93bc6165859e61739ab1a8b", "txinwitness": [ "3044022050b45d29a3f2cf098ad0514dff940c78046c377a7e925ded074ad927363dc2dd02207c8a8ca7d099483cf3b50b00366ad2e2771805d6be900097c2c57bc58b4f34a501", "01", "6321025d524ac7ec6501d018d322334f142c7c11aa24b9cffec03161eca35a1e32a71f67029000b2752102ad92d02b7061f520ebb60e932f9743a43fee1db87d2feb1398bf037b3f119fc268ac" ], "vout": 0 } ], "vout": [ { "n": 0, "scriptPubKey": { "address": "bc1qc3cg9ddyjpjask4k2ucw3s5tkz6gzzukzmg49s", "asm": "0 c47082b5a49065d85ab65730e8c28bb0b4810b96", "desc": "addr(bc1qc3cg9ddyjpjask4k2ucw3s5tkz6gzzukzmg49s)#c68e8rrv", "hex": "0014c47082b5a49065d85ab65730e8c28bb0b4810b96", "type": "witness_v0_keyhash" }, "value": 9.742e-05 } ], "vsize": 121, "weight": 483 }

เรารู้แล้วว่าข้อมูลจะอยู่ใน txinwitness ซึ่งอันดับแรก ๆ เป็น signature และอันหลังเป็น public key แต่ว่า มันมีหลาย public key ใช่มะ ในนี้

sh transaction=$(bitcoin-cli getrawtransaction "e5969add849689854ac7f28e45628b89f7454b83e9699e551ce14b6f90c86163" 1) scriptpubkey=$(echo $txinfo | jq -r .vin[].txinwitness[2]) echo $scriptpubkey

6321025d524ac7ec6501d018d322334f142c7c11aa24b9cffec03161eca35a1e32a71f67029000b2752102ad92d02b7061f520ebb60e932f9743a43fee1db87d2feb1398bf037b3f119fc268ac เอาหล่ะ เรามาแกะข้อมูลนี้กัน หากเราไปอ่าน bip-143 จะมีรูปแบบตัวอย่างลำดับอยู่ และก็พบว่ามันคืออักษรลำดับที่ 5 ถึง 67 เราต้องใช้ Bash slicing string เพื่อตัดให้เหลือส่วนที่เราต้องการและส่งข้อสอบดู

sh echo ${scriptpubkey:4:66}

025d524ac7ec6501d018d322334f142c7c11aa24b9cffec03161eca35a1e32a71f

@ 20986fb8:cdac21b3

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@ 41d0a715:9733c512

Over New Years I found myself telling my cousins and their friends that the dollar was going to zero and it made sense to spend it as soon as you get your paycheck. They said so what is the alternative for saving, gold?

I said the problem with gold (besides inconvenience) is they already confiscated all of it back in the 1930's. It was all in banks so it was easy. Then they marked up it's value so the dollars based on gold were worth less. Of course bitcoin needs to be discussed at that point.

Bitcoin is automated and distributed and the infrastructure is owned by people like me who have a record of every bitcoin transaction that has ever been written to the blockchain. A transaction is created and verified by countless nodes within 10 minutes becoming immutable on the blockchain which is spread all over the world and cannot be stopped. This happens without any central control. You cannot change the rules or the total amount of bitcoin. Unlike the dollar or the euro which are printed and manipulated for political reasons.

Who do you trust to enforce the rules about money? I think an automated, distributed peer-owned system, is a better choice than politicians.

Note: I had spoken about bitcoin at Thanksgiving with a subset of the group and told them "Don't spend money on bitcoin until you understand how it works". So the New Years conversation was an attempt to explain how and why it works the way it does.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

In 2021 the Chinese Communist Party attempted to ban bitcoin mining within their borders. Before this predictable event happened many in and out of the bitcoin world expressed concern about mining being so centralized in China. This is a very reasonable concern. I remember being very curious what would happened next. Well, as we all know know bitcoin didn't miss a beat. No downtime. Bitcoin worked as designed. This outcome didn't surprise me but it did making me even more bullish on bitcoin's ability to weather the coming storms.

So far each time a nation state attempts to ban or subvert bitcoin they show their impotence. At some point the smart scumbags in positions of power will get the memo and realize this. At that point I think they will attempt to join the rest of us. Not out of ideological motives but out of self preservation. Bitcoin is a force of nature. I'm super bullish.

In case you missed it here is Why I'm Bullish 2.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Pequenos problemas que o Estado cria para a sociedade e que não são sempre lembrados

- **vale-transporte**: transferir o custo com o transporte do funcionário para um terceiro o estimula a morar longe de onde trabalha, já que morar perto é normalmente mais caro e a economia com transporte é inexistente.
- **atestado médico**: o direito a faltar o trabalho com atestado médico cria a exigência desse atestado para todas as situações, substituindo o livre acordo entre patrão e empregado e sobrecarregando os médicos e postos de saúde com visitas desnecessárias de assalariados resfriados.
- **prisões**: com dinheiro mal-administrado, burocracia e péssima alocação de recursos -- problemas que empresas privadas em competição (ou mesmo sem qualquer competição) saberiam resolver muito melhor -- o Estado fica sem presídios, com os poucos existentes entupidos, muito acima de sua alocação máxima, e com isto, segundo a bizarra corrente de responsabilidades que culpa o juiz que condenou o criminoso por sua morte na cadeia, juízes deixam de condenar à prisão os bandidos, soltando-os na rua.
- **justiça**: entrar com processos é grátis e isto faz proliferar a atividade dos advogados que se dedicam a criar problemas judiciais onde não seria necessário e a entupir os tribunais, impedindo-os de fazer o que mais deveriam fazer.
- **justiça**: como a justiça só obedece às leis e ignora acordos pessoais, escritos ou não, as pessoas não fazem acordos, recorrem sempre à justiça estatal, e entopem-na de assuntos que seriam muito melhor resolvidos entre vizinhos.
- **leis civis**: as leis criadas pelos parlamentares ignoram os costumes da sociedade e são um incentivo a que as pessoas não respeitem nem criem normas sociais -- que seriam maneiras mais rápidas, baratas e satisfatórias de resolver problemas.
- **leis de trãnsito**: quanto mais leis de trânsito, mais serviço de fiscalização são delegados aos policiais, que deixam de combater crimes por isto (afinal de contas, eles não querem de fato arriscar suas vidas combatendo o crime, a fiscalização é uma excelente desculpa para se esquivarem a esta responsabilidade).
- **financiamento educacional**: é uma espécie de subsídio às faculdades privadas que faz com que se criem cursos e mais cursos que são cada vez menos recheados de algum conhecimento ou técnica útil e cada vez mais inúteis.
- **leis de tombamento**: são um incentivo a que o dono de qualquer área ou construção "histórica" destrua todo e qualquer vestígio de história que houver nele antes que as autoridades descubram, o que poderia não acontecer se ele pudesse, por exemplo, usar, mostrar e se beneficiar da história daquele local sem correr o risco de perder, de fato, a sua propriedade.
- **zoneamento urbano**: torna as cidades mais espalhadas, criando uma necessidade gigantesca de carros, ônibus e outros meios de transporte para as pessoas se locomoverem das zonas de moradia para as zonas de trabalho.
- **zoneamento urbano**: faz com que as pessoas percam horas no trânsito todos os dias, o que é, além de um desperdício, um atentado contra a sua saúde, que estaria muito melhor servida numa caminhada diária entre a casa e o trabalho.
- **zoneamento urbano**: torna ruas e as casas menos seguras criando zonas enormes, tanto de residências quanto de indústrias, onde não há movimento de gente alguma.
- **escola obrigatória + currículo escolar nacional**: emburrece todas as crianças.
- **leis contra trabalho infantil**: tira das crianças a oportunidade de aprender ofícios úteis e levar um dinheiro para ajudar a família.
- **licitações**: como não existem os critérios do mercado para decidir qual é o melhor prestador de serviço, criam-se comissões de pessoas que vão decidir coisas. isto incentiva os prestadores de serviço que estão concorrendo na licitação a tentar comprar os membros dessas comissões. isto, fora a corrupção, gera problemas reais: __(i)__ a escolha dos serviços acaba sendo a pior possível, já que a empresa prestadora que vence está claramente mais dedicada a comprar comissões do que a fazer um bom trabalho (este problema afeta tantas áreas, desde a construção de estradas até a qualidade da merenda escolar, que é impossível listar aqui); __(ii)__ o processo corruptor acaba, no longo prazo, eliminando as empresas que prestavam e deixando para competir apenas as corruptas, e a qualidade tende a piorar progressivamente.
- **cartéis**: o Estado em geral cria e depois fica refém de vários grupos de interesse. o caso dos taxistas contra o Uber é o que está na moda hoje (e o que mostra como os Estados se comportam da mesma forma no mundo todo).
- **multas**: quando algum indivíduo ou empresa comete uma fraude financeira, ou causa algum dano material involuntário, as vítimas do caso são as pessoas que sofreram o dano ou perderam dinheiro, mas o Estado tem sempre leis que prevêem multas para os responsáveis. A justiça estatal é sempre muito rígida e rápida na aplicação dessas multas, mas relapsa e vaga no que diz respeito à indenização das vítimas. O que em geral acontece é que o Estado aplica uma enorme multa ao responsável pelo mal, retirando deste os recursos que dispunha para indenizar as vítimas, e se retira do caso, deixando estas desamparadas.
- **desapropriação**: o Estado pode pegar qualquer propriedade de qualquer pessoa mediante uma indenização que é necessariamente inferior ao valor da propriedade para o seu presente dono (caso contrário ele a teria vendido voluntariamente).
- **seguro-desemprego**: se há, por exemplo, um prazo mínimo de 1 ano para o sujeito ter direito a receber seguro-desemprego, isto o incentiva a planejar ficar apenas 1 ano em cada emprego (ano este que será sucedido por um período de desemprego remunerado), matando todas as possibilidades de aprendizado ou aquisição de experiência naquela empresa específica ou ascensão hierárquica.
- **previdência**: a previdência social tem todos os defeitos de cálculo do mundo, e não importa muito ela ser uma forma horrível de poupar dinheiro, porque ela tem garantias bizarras de longevidade fornecidas pelo Estado, além de ser compulsória. Isso serve para criar no imaginário geral a idéia da __aposentadoria__, uma época mágica em que todos os dias serão finais de semana. A idéia da aposentadoria influencia o sujeito a não se preocupar em ter um emprego que faça sentido, mas sim em ter um trabalho qualquer, que o permita se aposentar.
- **regulamentação impossível**: milhares de coisas são proibidas, há regulamentações sobre os aspectos mais mínimos de cada empreendimento ou construção ou espaço. se todas essas regulamentações fossem exigidas não haveria condições de produção e todos morreriam. portanto, elas não são exigidas. porém, o Estado, ou um agente individual imbuído do poder estatal pode, se desejar, exigi-las todas de um cidadão inimigo seu. qualquer pessoa pode viver a vida inteira sem cumprir nem 10% das regulamentações estatais, mas viverá também todo esse tempo com medo de se tornar um alvo de sua exigência, num estado de terror psicológico.
- **perversão de critérios**: para muitas coisas sobre as quais a sociedade normalmente chegaria a um valor ou comportamento "razoável" espontaneamente, o Estado dita regras. estas regras muitas vezes não são obrigatórias, são mais "sugestões" ou limites, como o salário mínimo, ou as 44 horas semanais de trabalho. a sociedade, porém, passa a usar esses valores como se fossem o normal. são raras, por exemplo, as ofertas de emprego que fogem à regra das 44h semanais.
- **inflação**: subir os preços é difícil e constrangedor para as empresas, pedir aumento de salário é difícil e constrangedor para o funcionário. a inflação força as pessoas a fazer isso, mas o aumento não é automático, como alguns economistas podem pensar (enquanto alguns outros ficam muito satisfeitos de que esse processo seja demorado e difícil).
- **inflação**: a inflação destrói a capacidade das pessoas de julgar preços entre concorrentes usando a própria memória.
- **inflação**: a inflação destrói os cálculos de lucro/prejuízo das empresas e prejudica enormemente as decisões empresariais que seriam baseadas neles.
- **inflação**: a inflação redistribui a riqueza dos mais pobres e mais afastados do sistema financeiro para os mais ricos, os bancos e as megaempresas.
- **inflação**: a inflação estimula o endividamento e o consumismo.
- **lixo:** ao prover coleta e armazenamento de lixo "grátis para todos" o Estado incentiva a criação de lixo. se tivessem que pagar para que recolhessem o seu lixo, as pessoas (e conseqüentemente as empresas) se empenhariam mais em produzir coisas usando menos plástico, menos embalagens, menos sacolas.
- **leis contra crimes financeiros:** ao criar legislação para dificultar acesso ao sistema financeiro por parte de criminosos a dificuldade e os custos para acesso a esse mesmo sistema pelas pessoas de bem cresce absurdamente, levando a um percentual enorme de gente incapaz de usá-lo, para detrimento de todos -- e no final das contas os grandes criminosos ainda conseguem burlar tudo.

@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec

https://ireland.apollo.olxcdn.com/v1/files/ptyia3bwn33u-PT/image;s=1000x700 https://ireland.apollo.olxcdn.com/v1/files/u5xqezjmd85w2-PT/image;s=1000x700

---

Vendo maquina fotográfica Bilora antiga, Tem em alguns sítios ferrugem entrego em mãos. Aceito pagamento em Bitcoin. Obrigado

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BITCOIN #BTCACEPTED #MARKETPLACE #AGORA #P2P #CAMERA #VINTAGE #PHOTO #PHOTOGRAPHY

source - testing crosspost to nostr from the ~Agora...

@ 7076f659:ca493321

El compañero de Meshtastic España Dani R., nos ha realizado este magnífico tutorial para conectar un nodo de Meshtastic a Home Assistant para recoger datos del nodo o de otros nodos conectados a la malla Meshtastic y dar órdenes a Home Assistant para controlar cualquier dispositivo conectado a él mediante MQTT.

meshtastic #homeassistant #tutorial #hispano

@ 21e127ec:b43a5414

En el mundo de las redes sociales, se está produciendo una importante eclosión conceptual, una especie de contra poder espontáneo llamado #Nostr.

El abuso desmedido en el control y uso de tus datos, la infracción a la privacidad, las numerosas censuras en diversas plataformas sociales, y las crecientes restricciones de monetización en una economía de contenidos en pleno auge, forman parte de lo que muchos denominan la "4ta revolución industrial". Empresas como Twitter, Instagram, YouTube y otras, cada vez más hegemónicas y respaldadas por regulaciones gubernamentales, están impulsando a la comunidad FOSS de software libre a explorar alternativas en el ámbito de las redes sociales, destacando el protocolo de comunicaciones #Nostr como una de estas soluciones emergentes.

Sin embargo, en este camino para lograr un producto verdaderamente diferenciador, se requieren características notablemente superiores tanto en la forma como, sobre todo, de fondo, que permitan satisfacer esas necesidades crecientes.

Anteriormente, creía que gigantes como Instagram y Twitter eran invulnerables debido a su tan alabado "efecto de red"; sin embargo, la historia nos muestra que la televisión no contaba con "efecto de red" para ser el medio de comunicación dominante antes del auge de las redes sociales. Aunque la “forma” ha transformado notablemente la experiencia del usuario en el consumo de información y es el brillo que atrae a las personas, la cuestión siempre ha sido de "fondo": la capacidad de decidir cuándo, qué, cómo y dónde consumir información es la capa añadida que ha cimentado el éxito de lo que hoy conocemos como redes sociales.

Ahora bien, ¿Cuál es esa capa de fondo que añade #Nostr y que le puede permitir competir con lo establecido?

Descentralización, privacidad, resistencia a la censura y monetización: estas cualidades brillarán como el rayo de Lightning Network en un futuro próximo.

El desvelo de la realidad que nos brinda #Bitcoin y el incansable trabajo de los desarrolladores imbuidos con el espíritu de la libertad permiten que la cuestión de la verdad y la mentira no se limite solo a la visión del mundo proporcionada por #Bitcoin, sino que se expandan y propaguen líneas de pensamiento en una amplia gama de variantes que dan forma a una nueva manera de hacer las cosas, como podría ser #Nostr.

Existen opiniones que indican la necesidad de atraer a los "normies", mientras que otros creen que no es necesario "ponerles la comida en la boca".

Bitcoin nos ha mostrado que su anti fragilidad está forjada gracias a una confluencia de incentivos que hacen que los aciertos y errores eventualmente nos conduzcan a la resiliencia que la libertad requiere; trabajemos para que #Nostr corra con la misma “suerte”.

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

💰 Il mondo delle criptovalute è in costante evoluzione, e con ogni nuovo sviluppo, si aprono nuove opportunità per rendere l'uso delle criptovalute più integrato nella vita quotidiana. La Bitget Card è un passo avanti in questa direzione, fungendo da ponte tra le criptovalute e le valute fiat. Questa carta crypto di prima classe offre una serie di vantaggi esclusivi, progettati per soddisfare le esigenze dei moderni utenti crypto.

💰 Come Richiedere la Bitget Card: Al momento, la Bitget Card è disponibile solo per i trader VIP selezionati. L'applicazione richiede una verifica KYC e la presentazione di una prova di indirizzo valida. È possibile trovare ulteriori dettagli sulla verifica KYC nella guida rapida di Bitget. La carta è disponibile in due versioni: Premium e Black, con la versione Black riservata ai trader VIP di livello 2 o 3.

💰 Dopo l'approvazione, i dettagli della Bitget Card, compresi il numero della carta, la data di scadenza e il codice CVV, saranno immediatamente disponibili nella sezione "Conto di finanziamento".

💰 Tipi di Bitget Card: La Bitget Card è disponibile in due formati: virtuale e fisica. La carta virtuale è immediatamente accessibile dopo l'approvazione, mentre quella fisica sarà spedita all'indirizzo scelto, arrivando entro 45 giorni lavorativi.

💰 Spese e Limiti di Spesa: In qualità di carta Visa Platinum multivaluta, la Bitget Card ha un elevato limite di spesa di $1 milione. La carta è accettata in oltre 180 Paesi e territori, con Visa che gestisce automaticamente la conversione di valuta per le spese in valute diverse dal dollaro statunitense. Tutti i pagamenti vengono detratti dal saldo in USDT del conto di finanziamento.

💰 Utilizzo della Bitget Card: La Bitget Card supporta pagamenti istantanei in crypto, con l'opzione di personalizzare il limite di spesa mensile. La carta è compatibile con portafogli mobili come Apple Pay, Google Pay e Alipay, offrendo praticità e flessibilità agli utenti crypto.

💰 Cashback in BGB e Altri Vantaggi: I titolari della Bitget Card possono godere di cashback in BGB fino all'8% per ogni acquisto idoneo. Ulteriori vantaggi includono l'accesso al Rewards Mall per riscattare regali e coupon.

💰 Scopri il Mondo delle Criptovalute con Bitget Card: Le criptovalute hanno sempre rappresentato una forza rivoluzionaria nella finanza, sfidando le idee tradizionali sul denaro e sulle transazioni. Le carte crypto, come la Bitget Card, colmano il divario tra le criptovalute e gli acquisti quotidiani, offrendo praticità, sicurezza e vantaggi esclusivi.

💰 In conclusione, la Bitget Card rappresenta un passo significativo verso l'integrazione completa delle criptovalute nella vita di tutti i giorni. Sebbene attualmente disponibile solo per i trader VIP, si prevede che diventerà accessibile a un pubblico più ampio nel breve termine. Continua a seguire le ultime notizie da Bitget per restare aggiornato su questa innovativa soluzione di pagamento con criptovalute. Con Bitget Card, il potenziale dei tuoi asset digitali può finalmente essere sfruttato appieno, aprendo le porte a una nuova era di libertà finanziaria.

🚨 Scopri come Bitcoin sta veramente cambiando il mondo! Entra nella nostra community Telegram per approfondire la discussione sulla rivoluzione Bitcoin, strategie di trading e altro ancora! 🚀

📣 https://t.me/Bitcoin_Report_Italia

🚀 Leggi tutti i nostri articoli: https://t.me/BitcoinReportChannel

@ cce0989b:b497e608

Old Happy: "I have to hold tightly and control."
New Happy: "I can let go and trust."

You want that person to change. You want the past to have gone differently. You want the future to go your way.

One of the hardest things about being human is that at the end of the day, we don’t have a lot of control over what happens to us. This is incredibly hard on our well-being, because as human beings, we absolutely love being in control and absolutely hate having no control.

That’s why we cling onto things. We think that it gives us the control that we long for. Unfortunately, though, this clinging just needs to new pain. Think about the burden that you’ve put upon yourself by trying to control the uncontrollable. As hard as it is to acknowledge, it must be done: you can’t change that person, you can rewrite the past, you can’t control the future.

If you’re ready to let go, there’s a tool we’ve developed to help you. It’s called the 4 C’s.

Clinging: Name what you’re holding onto. You can usually identify it by asking yourself, “What am I trying to control in this moment?”

Compassion: Acknowledge any pain you’re in and extend love to yourself, saying something like, “It’s okay that I want this.”

Choose: Now that you’ve named it, you have the opportunity to decide whether you choose to let go of what you’re clinging to. Would it serve you more to hold onto it—or to let go of it?

Courage: If the answer is ‘let go,’ take one brave step towards releasing it.

• You could say an affirmation: “I release what I’m holding onto.”

• It could be an intention: “Today, I will let go of this.”

• It could be an action: writing in a journal, talking to a friend, closing your phone, making a choice.

• Or it could be an inaction: refusing to engage further with it or ceasing to fight reality.

Letting go is not something you do once. It’s something you do over and over again. Every time you let go, you free yourself a little bit more, until suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, you realize that you have truly moved forward into a new phase of your life — one of greater peace and happiness.

Tips and Tools

1. Your journey — This week's animation.

2. If you want to grow — Make mistakes.

3. Don't give up — Discouragement is not a sign to throw in the towel.

4. Your three selves — Improve your relationship with your self.

5. How to be resilient — Three reminders.

More from TNH

Podcast — Get a daily morning pep talk — in five minutes or less

Speaking — Book us to speak to your team about well-being, resilience, and productivity.

Articles — Read more articles on our website.

@ d830ee7b:4e61cd62

A Show for Thai Nostrs That Aligns with Austrian Economics

The initiative behind the specific program #สภายาม่วง (The Purple Council, hosted by nostr:npub1ejn774qahqmgjsfajawy7634unk88y26yktvwuzp9kfgdeejx9mqdm97a5) emerged from blending various concepts together. My objective is thus diverse and dynamic.

Benefits to the Community

• Supporting Austrian Economic Principles: When you create value out of self-interest, leading to genuine benefits to the community, you deserve to be rewarded.
• Open to All: This space is for everyone in our community who contributes value through their proof of work, expecting more than just personal gain.
• Opportunity for Recognition: Individuals can voluntarily reveal their stories, helping the community to appreciate and understand different aspects of their identities.
• Promoting a Culture of Respect and Admiration: We push a new culture where value creation is not seen as futile or ignored.
• Accessible to All, Not Just Influencers: The platform is for anyone who deserves it, even if the positive value they bring is just making others laugh.
• Inspiring Community Engagement: Motivating everyone to benefit others without expecting anything in return other than personal satisfaction, while respecting each other through creative and positive contributions.
• Fostering a Positive Community Atmosphere: Connecting values and interactions among community members.
• Self-Value and Pride in the Community: Encouraging unity and cooperation to achieve greater things in the future.
• Content Rich in Value: Easygoing and comfortable viewing culture, full of warmth and fun, with a free and interactive chat environment.
• Unique Experiences with Influencers: Exclusive content on Nostr that differs from mainstream media, offering new experiences and fun.
• Space for Special Agendas and Topics: A place for sharing knowledge, experiences, and discussions beneficial to the community, not necessarily requiring interviews.

Benefits to Individuals (Crew, Guests, Audience)

• Freedom of Speech: Discuss topics that are hard to find a platform for, without self-censorship (while still being responsible for one's actions). Allows for full expression of personality (if distributed further, some parts may be cut to prevent negative impacts on the speaker and our community).
• On-Camera Presence in Live Shows: Practice real-time, unscripted interaction. Mistakes and slip-ups are allowed, fostering a more relaxed expression without the pressure of production quality expectations. This leads to habituation in public speaking and skill development.
• Spontaneous Interaction: As I am the only one aware of the content and the identity of the guests in each episode, other participants must respond spontaneously to unforeseen situations (known at the same time as the audience). It's a practice in handling unprepared presentations, unexpected questions, and developing quick thinking, reducing panic in similar future scenarios (especially for my team members).
• Listening Skills Development: Cultivate mindfulness, attention, and the ability to think, analyze, and discern. Design approaches to respond to unscripted events and create content with a forward-thinking approach, while considering the experiences and values the audience will gain.
• Boost in Self-Confidence: Pride in handling unforeseen events effectively, overcoming fears and perceived obstacles.
• Learning Responsibility: Understand the consequences of actions, decisions, and immediate responses, as well as the digital footprint created. These experiences are valuable for personal development.
• For the Audience: Enjoy uncensored, friendly, and relaxed content (even if some topics are mentally challenging). The informal setting allows for engaging and entertaining discussions in chat, alleviating loneliness.
• Using Satoshi through Zaps: A beneficial use-case for both giver and receiver. It allows one to appreciate and marvel at the value of their choices. Receivers gain pride and recognition for their contributions, supported by positive reinforcement. Givers feel fulfilled, contributing to the community's value creation.
• Inspiration for Self-Improvement: Encourages bold suggestions for both the program and the platform, aiming for future improvements. Participate in the development of these improvements.

My Contribution to the Global Nostr Community

One thing I believe I have contributed to the global Nostr community is bringing into practical use the creations of developers. By implementing these developments, I have helped realize beneficial use-cases that genuinely add value in various aspects. Moreover, I strive to demonstrate that these contributions significantly benefit a large number of people, creating a ripple effect that extends both within and beyond the community.

---

There are many things in my mind, but let me just share a part of it. I hope this gives you some understanding of my intentions behind producing this program.

Although I don't have enough time to personally acknowledge everyone who contributes value extensively (and there are many who are not comfortable being in the media - no problem there), as long as this Purple Field exists, there will come a day when I can express my appreciation to everyone.

If there is anyone you would like to know more about, I am more than willing to listen to suggestions and invite these individuals to join and share their value in future episodes of The Purple Council.

Another thing I want to emphasize about the value of this program (even if it seems self-praising) is that I've never intended to appear in the media or any programs before. It's still the same today, except for very important and necessary occasions.

This program is the only one I've chosen to be a part of, to show the "price" of the value created here, to demonstrate how much I value this principle and love our Purple Field community.

Please continue to follow The Purple Council. If there's anything I can improve or develop, don't hesitate to give your suggestions.

Thank you. 🙏

P.S. We now have #Siamstr Radio on #Nostrnest operating 24/7. It's a similar space for our Purple Field community. You can join and have fun with friends there without having to wait for The Purple Council.

I've been quite busy with various tasks lately and haven't been as active in the Purple Field as before. I apologize for this.

@ f6488c62:c929299d

การเริ่มต้นศึกษา เกี่ยวกับการเริ่มต้นกำเนิด web3 นั้น เราควรจะรู้ที่มาที่ไป จากการติดตามอ่านของผม สรุปสั้นๆ ดังนี้ Web 3 เกิดจากไอเดียคุณ Gravin Wood หนึ่งในผู้ร่วมก่อตั้ง ETH ซึ่งได้เสนอแนวคิดไว้ ของอินเตอร์เน็ตแบบไร้ศูนย์กลาง กระจายศูนย์ โดยใช้ blockchain เป็นพื้นฐาน

ตั้งแต่นั้นมา แนวคิดนี้ก็กระจายไปอย่างรวดเร็ว จนถึงปัจจุบัน

@ deba271e:36005655

PICO-8 is a "fantasy console". What is a fantasy console? Usually we have a real-world console (e.g. Playstation or Super Nintendo) and then smart developers implement "emulators", so you can play the old games ("ROMs") on your PC/phone/TV/handheld. PICO-8 is different. Joseph White created PICO-8 as "emulator" for non existing console and he made sure that this emulator runs on your phone, web browser, etc. Why? Because restricted environment breeds creativity. Hundreds of devs created thousands of new fun games on this console with a thriwing community.

Console Specs - Display: 128x128 16 colours - Cartridge Size: 32k - Sound: 4 channel chip blerps - Code: P8 Lua - CPU: 4M vm insts/sec - Sprites: 256 8x8 sprites - Map: 128x32 tiles

The fun part is that the game carts are stored inside of regular .png images. So you can just send someone that png image and it has the game in it! The cartridge-looking images below are not just images of the game cart - THESE ARE THE ACTUAL GAMES!

Top PICO-8 Games

(i.e. the best pico8 games that nout@ enjoys actually playing - I like platformers, deal with it)

Captain Neat-O in the Time Nexus

While the graphics may look a bit plain, Captain Neat-O has quite long gameplay with a lot of smaller puzzles and tricky bosses in the style of Commander Keen. This is surprisingly fun and puts a lot of content into a single Cart.

| | | | ---- | ----|

• Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=107459#p

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Golf Sunday

A low resolution golf, but you can also jump on the cart. There's now a paid version "Golf Monday", which lets you run over other players.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=96338#p - Check out Golf Monday: https://johanpeitz.itch.io/golf-monday

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Air Delivery

A fun and chill paltformer with a cool story. And gliding!

| | | | ---- | ----|

• Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=129275#p

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Combo Pool

Combination of pool and candy crush. Interesting mechanics game that is somehow quite a lot of fun.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=21515#p

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Harold's Bad Day

Harold has a bad day. As you walk him through a series of fun puzzles, Harold always ends up being inevitably hurt, burnt, drowned, arrowed to the chest, etc. Pay attention to the hints on the bottom!

| | | | ---- | ----|

• Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=100973#p

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P.Craft

Creating a flat "clone" of Minecraft in pico8 is a stupid ide... 20 mins in... ok, now let's get gold so I can build the ship.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=3200 - Game with couple adjustments: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=125304#p

---

Scrap Boy

This is probably the best looking platformer on PICO-8. The visual effects are squeezing PICO-8 to its limits and it's fun too.

| | | | ---- | ----|

• Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=82518#p

---

NEMO

If you like little Sudoku-like puzzles, you will have fun with this one. The controls are smooth and NEMO fits the spots in the day when there's nothing else to do.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=105731#p - Game pack 2 (NEMO Puzzle Pack II): https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=109965#p

---

UFO Swamp Odyssey

This is a really smooth & chill platformer game that has some fun mechanics. The only con is that it's very short.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=77254#p

---

Pico Tennis

Great implementation of tennis that's actually quite challenging, but you can get a hang of it. Also the graphics has nice 3d models of the players.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=53753

---

Dank Tomb

Solving lighting of environment with only 16 colors (!!) is a major feat! The different puzzles are quite fun.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=42784#p

---

Ascent

For people that think that PICO-8 has too high resolution, this game reduces the resultion to half (quarter?), but it still makes for a fun platformer where you gradually gain more skills and follow the story.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=116846#p

---

Link's Ascent

This is quite basic game, but I like the mechanics that result in interesting puzzles, where you have to plan your movements carefully. This specific game is a graphics mode on top of Alpine descent, but I like the theme with Link's Ascent more.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Game: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=138505#p

---

Celeste

This is the most famous game made on PICO-8, it's hard and you need to get your timing right, but it's fun to figure out the levels.

Since PICO-8 makes it so easy to see and modify the sourcecodes there are many mods and variants. The 2 I'd recommend are Violet and Celeste 2.

| | | | ---- | ----| - Celeste: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=11722#p - Celeste 2: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=86783#p - Violet: https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=105950#p

---

If you would like to see more ideas, then check out this link

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

Costa Rican congressman Eli Feinzaig from the Progressive Liberal Party denounced having received a warning from the Cuban regime's ambassador in his country, Jorge Rodríguez, about his relations with Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, the leader of the Cuban Resistance Assembly.

According to Feinzaig, the Cuban ambassador warned him in a letter not to meet again with Gutiérrez-Boronat, who has been included by the Havana regime on a list of supposed “terrorists”.

In an interview granted to Martí Noticias, Feinzaig detailed the content of the letter: “Last Thursday, I received a note from the ambassador of Cuba in Costa Rica, which attached a publication from the Cuban Official Gazette with a list of people and organizations that the regime considers or has designated as terrorists.”

The congressman expressed his rejection of these accusations, stating that "those on that list are all opponents of the regime inside and outside the Island." Also, he “absolutely rejected the designation of terrorists of people with a democratic vocation who are fighting to free their country from the clutches of the dictatorship.”

Gutiérrez-Boronat, mentioned at number 52 on the list published by the Havana regime, is accused of inciting violent actions against public officials and socioeconomic entities, and of promoting an armed aggression to the Island.

Feinzaig commented on the specific mention of his friend in the note: “In the note that he addresses to me, he makes special mention of my friend Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, warning me that he is a terrorist, according to their consideration and, in other words, warning me that I should not be associating with him."

Upon learning of the inclusion of Gutiérrez-Boronat in the “National List of Terrorists,” Feinzaig expressed his solidarity and rejection of the accusation: “I have a beautiful friendship with Orlando, I consider him my brother, I admire him for his fight for the freedom of Cuba, the fight for democracy in Cuba and, of course, I also reject the accusation.”

Furthermore, he described as “unprecedented and disrespectful” that an ambassador would dare to tell a congressman of an independent and democratic country who he can or cannot associate with.

In early December 2023, the “National List” of “persons and entities linked to acts of terrorism” was made public, which includes dozens of activists, communicators, influencers, and organizations based in the United States.

This list, which is part of Resolution 19/2023 of the MININT, was published in the extraordinary edition number 83 of the Official Gazette. The document also attributes to the United States the responsibility of promoting actions against the security of the Cuban state.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

bitcoind decentralization

It is better to have multiple curator teams, with different vetting processes and release schedules for bitcoind than a single one.

"More eyes on code", "Contribute to Core", "Everybody should audit the code".

All these points repeated again and again fell to Earth on the day it was discovered that Bitcoin Core developers merged a variable name change from "blacklist" to "blocklist" without even discussing or acknowledging the fact that that innocent pull request opened by a sybil account was a social attack.

After a big lot of people manifested their dissatisfaction with that event on Twitter and on GitHub, most Core developers simply ignored everybody's concerns or even personally attacked people who were complaining.

The event has shown that:

1) Bitcoin Core ultimately rests on the hands of a couple maintainers and they decide what goes on the GitHub repository[^pr-merged-very-quickly] and the binary releases that will be downloaded by thousands; 2) Bitcoin Core is susceptible to social attacks; 2) "More eyes on code" don't matter, as these extra eyes can be ignored and dismissed.

Solution: bitcoind decentralization

If usage was spread across 10 different bitcoind flavors, the network would be much more resistant to social attacks to a single team.

This has nothing to do with the question on if it is better to have multiple different Bitcoin node implementations or not, because here we're basically talking about the same software.

Multiple teams, each with their own release process, their own logo, some subtle changes, or perhaps no changes at all, just a different name for their bitcoind flavor, and that's it.

Every day or week or month or year, each flavor merges all changes from Bitcoin Core on their own fork. If there's anything suspicious or too leftist (or perhaps too rightist, in case there's a leftist bitcoind flavor), maybe they will spot it and not merge.

This way we keep the best of both worlds: all software development, bugfixes, improvements goes on Bitcoin Core, other flavors just copy. If there's some non-consensus change whose efficacy is debatable, one of the flavors will merge on their fork and test, and later others -- including Core -- can copy that too. Plus, we get resistant to attacks: in case there is an attack on Bitcoin Core, only 10% of the network would be compromised. the other flavors would be safe.

Run Bitcoin Knots

The first example of a bitcoind software that follows Bitcoin Core closely, adds some small changes, but has an independent vetting and release process is Bitcoin Knots, maintained by the incorruptible Luke DashJr.

Next time you decide to run bitcoind, run Bitcoin Knots instead and contribute to bitcoind decentralization!

---

See also:

• How to attack Bitcoin, Anthony Towns' take

[^pr-merged-very-quickly]: See PR 20624, for example, a very complicated change that could be introducing bugs or be a deliberate attack, merged in 3 days without time for discussion.

@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09

El diputado costarricense Eli Feinzaig, del Partido Liberal Progresista, denunció haber recibido una advertencia del embajador del régimen cubano en su país, Jorge Rodríguez, sobre sus relaciones con Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, líder de la Asamblea de la Resistencia Cubana.

Según Feinzaig, el embajador cubano le advirtió en una carta que no volviera a reunirse con Gutiérrez-Boronat, incluido por el régimen de La Habana en una lista de supuestos “terroristas”.

Feinzaig, en una entrevista concedida al medio Martí Noticias, detalló el contenido de la carta: “El jueves pasado recibí una nota del embajador de Cuba en Costa Rica, donde me adjunta una publicación de la Gaceta Oficial cubana con una lista de personas y organizaciones que el régimen considera o ha designado como terroristas”.

El diputado expresó su rechazo a estas acusaciones, afirmando que “quienes están en esa lista son todos opositores al régimen dentro y fuera de la Isla”. Asimismo, “rechazó absolutamente la designación de terroristas de personas de vocación democrática que están luchando por liberar a su país de las garras de la dictadura”.

Gutiérrez-Boronat, mencionado en el número 52 de la lista publicada por el régimen de La Habana, es acusado de incitar acciones violentas contra funcionarios públicos y entidades socioeconómicas, y de promover una agresión armada a la Isla.

Feinzaig comentó sobre la mención específica de su amigo en la nota: “En la nota que él me dirige me hace especial mención de mi amigo Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, advirtiéndome que es un terrorista, de acuerdo con la consideración de ellos y, en otras palabras, advirtiéndome que no debería de estar relacionándome con él”.

Feinzaig, al conocer la inclusión de Gutiérrez-Boronat en la “Lista Nacional de Terroristas”, manifestó su solidaridad y rechazo a la acusación: “Con Orlando me une una linda amistad, lo considero mi hermano, lo admiro por su lucha por la libertad de Cuba, la lucha por la democracia en Cuba y, por supuesto, que también rechazo la acusación”.

Además, calificó de “insólito e irrespetuoso” que un embajador se atreva a decirle a un diputado de un país independiente y democrático con quién puede o no relacionarse.

A inicios de diciembre de 2023, hizo pública su “Lista Nacional” de “personas y entidades vinculadas a actos de terrorismo”, la cual incluye a decenas de activistas, comunicadores, influencers y organizaciones con sede en Estados Unidos.

Dicha lista, que forma parte de la Resolución 19/2023 del MININT, se hizo pública en la edición extraordinaria número 83 de la Gaceta Oficial. El documento, además, atribuye a Estados Unidos la responsabilidad de impulsar acciones contra la seguridad del Estado cubano.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Drivechain

Understanding Drivechain requires a shift from the paradigm most bitcoiners are used to. It is not about "trustlessness" or "mathematical certainty", but game theory and incentives. (Well, Bitcoin in general is also that, but people prefer to ignore it and focus on some illusion of trustlessness provided by mathematics.)

Here we will describe the basic mechanism (simple) and incentives (complex) of "hashrate escrow" and how it enables a 2-way peg between the mainchain (Bitcoin) and various sidechains.

The full concept of "Drivechain" also involves blind merged mining (i.e., the sidechains mine themselves by publishing their block hashes to the mainchain without the miners having to run the sidechain software), but this is much easier to understand and can be accomplished either by the BIP-301 mechanism or by the Spacechains mechanism.

How does hashrate escrow work from the point of view of Bitcoin?

A new address type is created. Anything that goes in that is locked and can only be spent if all miners agree on the Withdrawal Transaction (WT^) that will spend it for 6 months. There is one of these special addresses for each sidechain.

To gather miners' agreement bitcoind keeps track of the "score" of all transactions that could possibly spend from that address. On every block mined, for each sidechain, the miner can use a portion of their coinbase to either increase the score of one WT^ by 1 while decreasing the score of all others by 1; or they can decrease the score of all WT^s by 1; or they can do nothing.

Once a transaction has gotten a score high enough, it is published and funds are effectively transferred from the sidechain to the withdrawing users.

If a timeout of 6 months passes and the score doesn't meet the threshold, that WT^ is discarded.

What does the above procedure mean?

It means that people can transfer coins from the mainchain to a sidechain by depositing to the special address. Then they can withdraw from the sidechain by making a special withdraw transaction in the sidechain.

The special transaction somehow freezes funds in the sidechain while a transaction that aggregates all withdrawals into a single mainchain WT^, which is then submitted to the mainchain miners so they can start voting on it and finally after some months it is published.

Now the crucial part: the validity of the WT^ is not verified by the Bitcoin mainchain rules, i.e., if Bob has requested a withdraw from the sidechain to his mainchain address, but someone publishes a wrong WT^ that instead takes Bob's funds and sends them to Alice's main address there is no way the mainchain will know that. What determines the "validity" of the WT^ is the miner vote score and only that. It is the job of miners to vote correctly -- and for that they may want to run the sidechain node in SPV mode so they can attest for the existence of a reference to the WT^ transaction in the sidechain blockchain (which then ensures it is ok) or do these checks by some other means.

What? 6 months to get my money back?

Yes. But no, in practice anyone who wants their money back will be able to use an atomic swap, submarine swap or other similar service to transfer funds from the sidechain to the mainchain and vice-versa. The long delayed withdraw costs would be incurred by few liquidity providers that would gain some small profit from it.

Why bother with this at all?

Drivechains solve many different problems:

It enables experimentation and new use cases for Bitcoin

Issued assets, fully private transactions, stateful blockchain contracts, turing-completeness, decentralized games, some "DeFi" aspects, prediction markets, futarchy, decentralized and yet meaningful human-readable names, big blocks with a ton of normal transactions on them, a chain optimized only for Lighting-style networks to be built on top of it.

These are some ideas that may have merit to them, but were never actually tried because they couldn't be tried with real Bitcoin or inferfacing with real bitcoins. They were either relegated to the shitcoin territory or to custodial solutions like Liquid or RSK that may have failed to gain network effect because of that.

It solves conflicts and infighting

Some people want fully private transactions in a UTXO model, others want "accounts" they can tie to their name and build reputation on top; some people want simple multisig solutions, others want complex code that reads a ton of variables; some people want to put all the transactions on a global chain in batches every 10 minutes, others want off-chain instant transactions backed by funds previously locked in channels; some want to spend, others want to just hold; some want to use blockchain technology to solve all the problems in the world, others just want to solve money.

With Drivechain-based sidechains all these groups can be happy simultaneously and don't fight. Meanwhile they will all be using the same money and contributing to each other's ecosystem even unwillingly, it's also easy and free for them to change their group affiliation later, which reduces cognitive dissonance.

It solves "scaling"

Multiple chains like the ones described above would certainly do a lot to accomodate many more transactions that the current Bitcoin chain can. One could have special Lightning Network chains, but even just big block chains or big-block-mimblewimble chains or whatnot could probably do a good job. Or even something less cool like 200 independent chains just like Bitcoin is today, no extra features (and you can call it "sharding"), just that would already multiply the current total capacity by 200.

Use your imagination.

It solves the blockchain security budget issue

The calculation is simple: you imagine what security budget is reasonable for each block in a world without block subsidy and divide that for the amount of bytes you can fit in a single block: that is the price to be paid in satoshis per byte. In reasonable estimative, the price necessary for every Bitcoin transaction goes to very large amounts, such that not only any day-to-day transaction has insanely prohibitive costs, but also Lightning channel opens and closes are impracticable.

So without a solution like Drivechain you'll be left with only one alternative: pushing Bitcoin usage to trusted services like Liquid and RSK or custodial Lightning wallets. With Drivechain, though, there could be thousands of transactions happening in sidechains and being all aggregated into a sidechain block that would then pay a very large fee to be published (via blind merged mining) to the mainchain. Bitcoin security guaranteed.

It keeps Bitcoin decentralized

Once we have sidechains to accomodate the normal transactions, the mainchain functionality can be reduced to be only a "hub" for the sidechains' comings and goings, and then the maximum block size for the mainchain can be reduced to, say, 100kb, which would make running a full node very very easy.

Can miners steal?

Yes. If a group of coordinated miners are able to secure the majority of the hashpower and keep their coordination for 6 months, they can publish a WT^ that takes the money from the sidechains and pays to themselves.

Will miners steal?

No, because the incentives are such that they won't.

Although it may look at first that stealing is an obvious strategy for miners as it is free money, there are many costs involved:

1. The cost of ceasing blind-merged mining returns -- as stealing will kill a sidechain, all the fees from it that miners would be expected to earn for the next years are gone;
2. The cost of Bitcoin price going down: If a steal is successful that will mean Drivechains are not safe, therefore Bitcoin is less useful, and miner credibility will also be hurt, which are likely to cause the Bitcoin price to go down, which in turn may kill the miners' businesses and savings;
3. The cost of coordination -- assuming miners are just normal businesses, they just want to do their work and get paid, but stealing from a Drivechain will require coordination with other miners to conduct an immoral act in a way that has many pitfalls and is likely to be broken over the months;
4. The cost of miners leaving your mining pool: when we talked about "miners" above we were actually talking about mining pools operators, so they must also consider the risk of miners migrating from their mining pool to others as they begin the process of stealing;
5. The cost of community goodwill -- when participating in a steal operation, a miner will suffer a ton of backlash from the community. Even if the attempt fails at the end, the fact that it was attempted will contribute to growing concerns over exaggerated miners power over the Bitcoin ecosystem, which may end up causing the community to agree on a hard-fork to change the mining algorithm in the future, or to do something to increase participation of more entities in the mining process (such as development or cheapment of new ASICs), which have a chance of decreasing the profits of current miners.

Another point to take in consideration is that one may be inclined to think a newly-created sidechain or a sidechain with relatively low usage may be more easily stolen from, since the blind merged mining returns from it (point 1 above) are going to be small -- but the fact is also that a sidechain with small usage will also have less money to be stolen from, and since the other costs besides 1 are less elastic at the end it will not be worth stealing from these too.

All of the above consideration are valid only if miners are stealing from good sidechains. If there is a sidechain that is doing things wrong, scamming people, not being used at all, or is full of bugs, for example, that will be perceived as a bad sidechain, and then miners can and will safely steal from it and kill it, which will be perceived as a good thing by everybody.

What do we do if miners steal?

Paul Sztorc has suggested in the past that a user-activated soft-fork could prevent miners from stealing, i.e., most Bitcoin users and nodes issue a rule similar to this one to invalidate the inclusion of a faulty WT^ and thus cause any miner that includes it in a block to be relegated to their own Bitcoin fork that other nodes won't accept.

This suggestion has made people think Drivechain is a sidechain solution backed by user-actived soft-forks for safety, which is very far from the truth. Drivechains must not and will not rely on this kind of soft-fork, although they are possible, as the coordination costs are too high and no one should ever expect these things to happen.

If even with all the incentives against them (see above) miners do still steal from a good sidechain that will mean the failure of the Drivechain experiment. It will very likely also mean the failure of the Bitcoin experiment too, as it will be proven that miners can coordinate to act maliciously over a prolonged period of time regardless of economic and social incentives, meaning they are probably in it just for attacking Bitcoin, backed by nation-states or something else, and therefore no Bitcoin transaction in the mainchain is to be expected to be safe ever again.

Why use this and not a full-blown trustless and open sidechain technology?

Because it is impossible.

If you ever heard someone saying "just use a sidechain", "do this in a sidechain" or anything like that, be aware that these people are either talking about "federated" sidechains (i.e., funds are kept in custody by a group of entities) or they are talking about Drivechain, or they are disillusioned and think it is possible to do sidechains in any other manner.

No, I mean a trustless 2-way peg with correctness of the withdrawals verified by the Bitcoin protocol!

That is not possible unless Bitcoin verifies all transactions that happen in all the sidechains, which would be akin to drastically increasing the blocksize and expanding the Bitcoin rules in tons of ways, i.e., a terrible idea that no one wants.

What about the Blockstream sidechains whitepaper?

Yes, that was a way to do it. The Drivechain hashrate escrow is a conceptually simpler way to achieve the same thing with improved incentives, less junk in the chain, more safety.

Isn't the hashrate escrow a very complex soft-fork?

Yes, but it is much simpler than SegWit. And, unlike SegWit, it doesn't force anything on users, i.e., it isn't a mandatory blocksize increase.

Why should we expect miners to care enough to participate in the voting mechanism?

Because it's in their own self-interest to do it, and it costs very little. Today over half of the miners mine RSK. It's not blind merged mining, it's a very convoluted process that requires them to run a RSK full node. For the Drivechain sidechains, an SPV node would be enough, or maybe just getting data from a block explorer API, so much much simpler.

What if I still don't like Drivechain even after reading this?

That is the entire point! You don't have to like it or use it as long as you're fine with other people using it. The hashrate escrow special addresses will not impact you at all, validation cost is minimal, and you get the benefit of people who want to use Drivechain migrating to their own sidechains and freeing up space for you in the mainchain. See also the point above about infighting.

See also

• Podcast episode with Ruben Somsen and Aaron van Wirdum explaining Drivechain
• Alternatives to Drivechain
• Drivechain comparison with Ethereum