@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Embarking on the journey of operating your own Lightning node on the Bitcoin Layer 2 network is more than just a tech-savvy endeavor; it's a step into a realm of financial autonomy and cutting-edge innovation. By running a node, you become a vital part of a revolutionary movement that's reshaping how we think about money and digital transactions. This role not only offers a unique perspective on blockchain technology but also places you at the heart of a community dedicated to decentralization and network resilience. Beyond the technicalities, it's about embracing a new era of digital finance, where you contribute directly to the network's security, efficiency, and growth, all while gaining personal satisfaction and potentially lucrative rewards.

In essence, running your own Lightning node is a powerful way to engage with the forefront of blockchain technology, assert financial independence, and contribute to a more decentralized and efficient Bitcoin network. It's an adventure that offers both personal and communal benefits, from gaining in-depth tech knowledge to earning a place in the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency.

Running your own Lightning node for the Bitcoin Layer 2 network can be an empowering and beneficial endeavor. Here are 10 reasons why you might consider taking on this task:

1. Direct Contribution to Decentralization: Operating a node is a direct action towards decentralizing the Bitcoin network, crucial for its security and resistance to control or censorship by any single entity.

2. Financial Autonomy: Owning a node gives you complete control over your financial transactions on the network, free from reliance on third-party services, which can be subject to fees, restrictions, or outages.

3. Advanced Network Participation: As a node operator, you're not just a passive participant but an active player in shaping the network, influencing its efficiency and scalability through direct involvement.

4. Potential for Higher Revenue: With strategic management and optimal channel funding, your node can become a preferred route for transactions, potentially increasing the routing fees you can earn.

5. Cutting-Edge Technological Engagement: Running a node puts you at the forefront of blockchain and bitcoin technology, offering insights into future developments and innovations.

6. Strengthened Network Security: Each new node adds to the robustness of the Bitcoin network, making it more resilient against attacks and failures, thus contributing to the overall security of the ecosystem.

7. Personalized Fee Structures: You have the flexibility to set your own fee policies, which can balance earning potential with the service you provide to the network.

8. Empowerment Through Knowledge: The process of setting up and managing a node provides deep learning opportunities, empowering you with knowledge that can be applied in various areas of blockchain and fintech.

9. Boosting Transaction Capacity: By running a node, you help to increase the overall capacity of the Lightning Network, enabling more transactions to be processed quickly and at lower costs.

10. Community Leadership and Reputation: As an active node operator, you gain recognition within the Bitcoin community, which can lead to collaborative opportunities and a position of thought leadership in the space.

These reasons demonstrate the impactful and transformative nature of running a Lightning node, appealing to those who are deeply invested in the principles of bitcoin and wish to actively shape its future. Jump aboard, and embrace the journey toward full independence. 🐶🐾🫡🚀🚀🚀

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Chef's notes

Serving these two dishes together will create a delightful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving meal, offering a perfect blend of traditional flavors with a homemade touch.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 30 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 - 2 hours
• 🍽️ Servings: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey (about 12-14 lbs), thawed and ready to cook
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 lemon, halved
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• Apple and Sage Stuffing
• 1 loaf of crusty bread, cut into cubes
• 2 apples, cored and chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Prepare the Herb Butter: Mix the softened butter with the chopped thyme, rosemary, and sage. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Prepare the Turkey: Remove any giblets from the turkey and pat it dry. Loosen the skin and spread a generous amount of herb butter under and over the skin.
4. Add Aromatics: Inside the turkey cavity, place the quartered onion, lemon halves, and garlic cloves.
5. Roast: Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Tent with aluminum foil and roast. A general guideline is about 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the thigh.
6. Rest and Serve: Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.
7. Next: Apple and Sage Stuffing
8. Dry the Bread: Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and let them dry overnight, or toast them in the oven.
9. Cook the Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter and cook the onion, celery, and garlic until soft.
10. Combine Ingredients: Add the apples, sage, and bread cubes to the skillet. Stir in the chicken broth until the mixture is moist. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Bake: Transfer the stuffing to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-40 minutes, until golden brown on top.

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Testing a brand new YakiHonne native client for iOS. Smooth as butter (not penis butter 🤣🍆🧈) with great visual experience and intuitive navigation. Amazing work by the team behind it! * lists * work

Bold text work!

Images could have used nostr.build instead of raw S3 from us-east-1 region.

Very impressive! You can even save the draft and continue later, before posting the long-form note!

🐶🐾🤯🤯🤯🫂💜

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

As the title states, scratch behind my ear and you get it. 🐶🐾🫡

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Test Bounty Note

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Intro

This short tutorial will help you set up your own Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) on your own LND Node that is not using Umbrel. If you are a user of Umbrel, you should use their version of NWC.

Requirements

You need to have a working installation of LND with established channels and connectivity to the internet. NWC in itself is fairly light and will not consume a lot of resources. You will also want to ensure that you have a working installation of Docker, since we will use a docker image to run NWC.

• Working installation of LND (and all of its required components)
• Docker (with Docker compose)

Installation

For the purpose of this tutorial, we will assume that you have your lnd/bitcoind running under user bitcoin with home directory /home/bitcoin. We will also assume that you already have a running installation of Docker (or docker.io).

Prepare and verify

git version - we will need git to get the latest version of NWC. docker version - should execute successfully and show the currently installed version of Docker. docker compose version - same as before, but the version will be different. ss -tupln | grep 10009- should produce the following output: tcp LISTEN 0 4096 0.0.0.0:10009 0.0.0.0: tcp LISTEN 0 4096 [::]:10009 [::]:**

For things to work correctly, your Docker should be version 20.10.0 or later. If you have an older version, consider installing a new one using instructions here: https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/

Create folders & download NWC

In the home directory of your LND/bitcoind user, create a new folder, e.g., "nwc" mkdir /home/bitcoin/nwc. Change to that directory cd /home/bitcoin/nwc and clone the NWC repository: git clone https://github.com/getAlby/nostr-wallet-connect.git

Creating the Docker image

In this step, we will create a Docker image that you will use to run NWC.

• Change directory to nostr-wallet-connect: cd nostr-wallet-connect
• Run command to build Docker image: docker build -t nwc:$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M') -t nwc:latest . (there is a dot at the end)
• The last line of the output (after a few minutes) should look like => => naming to docker.io/library/nwc:latest
• nwc:latest is the name of the Docker image with a tag which you should note for use later.

Creating docker-compose.yml and necessary data directories

• Let's create a directory that will hold your non-volatile data (DB): mkdir data
• Indocker-compose.ymlfile, there are fields that you want to replace (<> comments) and port “4321” that you want to make sure is open (check with ss -tupln | grep 4321which should return nothing).
• Create docker-compose.ymlfile with the following content, and make sure to update fields that have <> comment:

version: "3.8" services: nwc: image: nwc:latest volumes: - ./data:/data - ~/.lnd:/lnd:ro ports: - "4321:8080" extra_hosts: - "localhost:host-gateway" environment: NOSTR_PRIVKEY: <use "openssl rand -hex 32" to generate a fresh key and place it inside ""> LN_BACKEND_TYPE: "LND" LND_ADDRESS: localhost:10009 LND_CERT_FILE: "/lnd/tls.cert" LND_MACAROON_FILE: "/lnd/data/chain/bitcoin/mainnet/admin.macaroon" DATABASE_URI: "/data/nostr-wallet-connect.db" COOKIE_SECRET: <use "openssl rand -hex 32" to generate fresh secret and place it inside ""> PORT: 8080 restart: always stop_grace_period: 1m

Starting and testing

Now that you have everything ready, it is time to start the container and test.

• While you are in the nwcdirectory (important), execute the following command and check the log output, docker compose up
• You should see container logs while it is starting, and it should not exit if everything went well.
• At this point, you should be able to go to http://<ip of the host where nwc is running>:4321 and get to the interface of NWC
• To stop the test run of NWC, simply press Ctrl-C , and it will shut the container down.
• To start NWC permanently, you should execute docker compose up -d , “-d” tells Docker to detach from the session.
• To check currently running NWC logs, execute docker compose logs to run it in tail mode add -f to the end.
• To stop the container, execute docker compose down

That's all, just follow the instructions in the web interface to get started.

Updating

As with any software, you should expect fixes and updates that you would need to perform periodically. You could automate this, but it falls outside of the scope of this tutorial. Since we already have all of the necessary configuration in place, the update execution is fairly simple.

• Change directory to the clone of the git repository, cd /home/bitcoin/nwc/nostr-wallet-connect
• Run command to build Docker image: docker build -t nwc:$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M') -t nwc:latest . (there is a dot at the end)
• Change directory back one level cd ..
• Restart (stop and start) the docker compose config docker compose down && docker compose up -d
• Done! Optionally you may want to check the logs: docker compose logs

@ 0176967e:1e6f471e

Ako sa snažím praktizovať LunarPunk bez budovania opcionality "odchodom" do zahraničia. Nie každý je ochotný alebo schopný meniť "miesto", ako však v takom prípade minimalizovať interakciu so štátom? Nie návod, skôr postrehy z bežného života.

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

My suggestion for scaling up and staying humble

The original protocol design was "good enough for now"

When Nostr was invented and got started with developing implementations, the Original Devs (ODs) were convinced this was going to be big... maybe... someday... hopefully.

But, whatever they did at the moment should definitely scale up a bit and be a bit flexible, to attract innovators and keep up the momentum. So, they designed the protocol to be open and left the specifications a bit vague and very high-level, so that nobody was forced into a particular implementation, in order to adhere to the spec. And they put the specs into a GitHub repository and managed them by a committee of collaborators, who were generally open to changes to the specs, including breaking changes.

That was smart. And it was "good enough for now"... back then. After all, Nostr (and the associated wiki and modular article specs) hadn't been invented, yet, so they couldn't write the protocol in the protocol before the protocol existed. They're good, but not that good.

What they specifically wrote, into the Nostr Protocol was:

To promote interoperability, we standards (sic) that everybody can follow, and we need them to define a single way of doing each thing without ever hurting backwards-compatibility, and for that purpose there is no way around getting everybody to agree on the same thing and keep a centralized index of these standards...

Standards may emerge in two ways: the first way is that someone starts doing something, then others copy it; the second way is that someone has an idea of a new standard that could benefit multiple clients and the protocol in general without breaking backwards-compatibility and the principle of having a single way of doing things, then they write that idea and submit it to this repository, other interested parties read it and give their feedback, then once most people reasonably agree we codify that in a NIP which client and relay developers that are interested in the feature can proceed to implement.

I disagree with this statement.

I don't disagree with what they meant, or what they wanted, I disagree with what they specifically wrote.

Standards (defined as prose specifications) are not the only -- or even best -- way to ensure interoperability or to check for backwards-compatibility. And, as they later note, basing a protocol off of implementations is arguably worse (but faster) than using specifications, as implementations have a life of their own and are sometimes simply shoddy or buggy, their content eventually differs from what ends up in the final standard, or there are soon multiple implementations covering the same spec "in theory", but not in practice, so that their events are incompatible.

And then the inevitable, heated discussion begins: * Which implementation is the Real Standard™? * Who controls the Real Standard™? * How is the Real Standard™ spec supposed to be written? * Does everything have to be in the same file type or markup language? If not, how can we ensure compatibility? * What is realistic content for the data files? * Is the Real Standard™ including all of the information needed to ensure interoperability, but not anything more, without reducing innovation and artificially forcing consensus by encouraging copy-paste or forking of product code?

There is a third way: write the test first

We actually do not need standards to define a single way of doing each thing. A test is another way, and I think it is the best (i.e. the most-efficient and most-effective) way.

Specifically, I think we can borrow the simple behavior-driven design (BDD) language called Gherkin (or something similar), which is used to write dynamic specifications: i.e. implementations that test adherence to a set of rules, rather than an implementation that uses the rules to perform some task for an end user.

Gherkin simply allows you to create standard scenarios and test data and write the tests up in a way that can be performed manually or through automation. For example ( source ):

(For a concrete example of such a TDD Protocol for Nostr, please see the nostr-voliere repo from nostr:npub1axy65mspxl2j5sgweky6uk0h4klmp00vj7rtjxquxure2j6vlf5smh6ukq .)

This really is better

This TDD Protocol design would have some downsides and some upsides, of course, like any change.

Downsides

• You can't write a TDD spec by yourself unless you understand basic software functionality, how to define an acceptance test, and can formulate a use case or user story.
• The specs will be more informative and agnostic, but also longer and more detailed.
• Someone will have to propose concrete test data (i.e. a complete json event) and spec interlinking will be explicit, rather than writing "...", "etc.", or "sorta like in that other section/doc, but not really" all over the place.
• The specs will tend to focus on positive cases, and leave off error-handling or most edge-cases, so developers can't use them to replace unit tests or other verification of their product.

Upsides

• The specs will be concrete and clear, in a type of pseudocode, while leaving the actual implementation of any feature up to the individual developer, who uses the spec.
• The specs will be orderly and uniquely-identifiable, and can have hierarchy and granularity (major and minor tests, optional tests, tests only under certain conditions, etc.)
• Deciding whether changes to the spec are breaking changes to the protocol would be simple to determine: Does the previous test still pass?
• Specs will always be final, they will simply be versioned and become more or less defined over time, as the tests are adjusted.
• Product developers will feel less like they "own" particular specs, since their implementation is actually what they own and the two remain permanently separate.
• Developers can create an implementation list, defining specific tests in specific versions, that they adhere to. This makes it more transparent, what their product actually does, and lowers their own documentation burden.
• Rather than stalking the NIPs for changes, or worrying about what some other implementation someplace has built, developers can just pull the repo and try running the relevant tests.
• Each product developer can test the spec by trying to perform or automate/run it, and request changes to ensure testability, raising the quality of the spec review process.

This is already a lot to think about, so I'm just going to end this here. Thank you for reading.

@ 41fa852b:af7b7706

"I'm the diamond in the dirt, that ain't been found / I'm the underground king and I ain't been crowned." -50 Cent

Welcome back, folks! I hope you’re all soaking up the sunshine while it lasts and gearing up for some holiday adventures with family and friends.

Usually, meetup attendance tends to dip this time of year as many of us head out of town.

If you’re travelling within the UK this week, check the list below to see what’s on offer.

---

Upcoming Bitcoin Meetups

Happening this week...

1. Bitcoin Nottingham: The July Bitcoin Nottingham Meetup date for your diary is Wednesday 24th July at 6:30 PM at Carlton Town Football Club.
2. Manchester Bitcoin: On the 25th it’s Manchesters turn. Join them at The Smithfield Market Tavern, 7pm.
3. The Satoshi Society - Southampton: Join a friendly group of bitcoiners at The Maritimo Lounge, Ocean Village on Friday 26th July for food and a Bitcoin chat.
4. Bitcoin Walk - Edinburgh: Every Saturday they walk around Arthur's Seat in this historic city. Join them at 12 pm to chat about all things Bitcoin and keep fit.
5. Bitcoin East: Join Bitcoin East in Bury St. Edmunds on July 28th, 11am at Procopio’s Pantry. All welcome, Bitcoiners and anyone else curious about Bitcoin.

---

New Businesses Accepting Bitcoin

• The Ayurvedic Retreat: A residential, bespoke, three to five-day retreat for relaxation, managing stress and detoxing mind, body and soul. Includes daily four-handed Ayurvedic massage, life-coaching, yoga and meditation. Now accepting bitcoin.
• Express Boilers: Boiler repair & central heating, plumbing services company based in Teddington, Middlesex. Covering Richmond Borough, east and west Moseley, Kingston and Walton on Thames. Now accepting bitcoin.

---

Upcoming Special Events

• Tooting Market Bitcoin Event: Get your tickets now for this free event. The lineup is looking good with some great talks throughout the evening and plenty of merchants now accepting bitcoin. Guest speakers included Ray Youssef, Jordan Walker, Nicholas Gregory, Hashley Giles, Bridge2Bitcoin and many more. It all starts at 6 PM on the 7th August.
• Bitcoin - The change you've been waiting for: Mark your calendars for August 31 at 10:30 am for "The Change You’ve Been Waiting For" at Glasgow University Union. This seminar, costing £10, focuses on Bitcoin's transformative potential. With Bitcoin impacting individuals and businesses globally, understanding it is crucial. Guest speaker Allen Farrington will share his expertise, making this event perfect for both seasoned investors and the Bitcoin-curious. Don't miss this opportunity to explore how Bitcoin can shape your financial future.

---

Get Involved

• Volunteer Opportunities: Bridge2Bitcoin is actively seeking volunteers who share our passion for merchant adoption. We'd be delighted to connect if you're eager to contribute. Reach out to us on Twitter or through our website.
• Start Your Own Meetup: Interested in launching a Bitcoin meetup? We’re here to support you every step of the way. We’ve assisted numerous UK Bitcoin meetups in getting started. Get in touch via Twitter.
• Telegram users: You might find our Telegram Channel another useful way to keep up-to-date with UK meetups.
• Feedback and Suggestions: We value your input! Share your ideas on how we can enhance this newsletter.
• Consider subscribing on Substack

---

Get out and support the meetups where you can and stay tuned for more updates next week!

Simon.

@ 58edc6ae:e070cfa5

The Bitcoin journey is a long one, and books are an essential part of it. Here is a chronological record of my Bitcoin literary education—the first fifty books.

I’m sharing this list because it did the trick for me. This particular sequence first got me intrigued, then opened my eyes, converted me into a maximalist, and led me to explore areas I had never visited before. Maybe it will do the same for you or someone you know.

If you think there’s a must-read book that’s not on my list, please recommend it to me (skip other book suggestions).

1. The Evolution of Everything (Chapter: The Evolution of Money), Matt Ridley
2. Bitcoin Standard, Saifedean Ammous
3. Inventing Bitcoin: The Technology Behind The First Truly Scarce and Decentralized Money Explained, Yan Pritzker
4. Denationalisation of Money, Fridrich A. Hayek
5. Bitcoin Clarity, Kiara Bickers
6. Bitcoin, Sovereignty Through Mathematics, Knut Svanholm
7. The Internet of Money, Part 1, Andreas Antonopolous
8. Layered Money, Nick Bhatia
9. Human Action, Ludwig von Mises
10. The Fiat Standard, Saifedean Ammous
11. Cryptography, The key to digital security, How it works and why it matters, Keith Martin
12. Blocksize War, Jonathan Bier
13. The Bullish Case For Bitcoin, Vijay Boyapati
14. Bitcoin i Blockchain. Narodziny kryptowalut, Mateusz Lubiński, Mateusz Wiatr
15. The Internet of Money, Part 2, Andreas Antonopolous
16. The Internet of Money, Part 3, Andreas Antonopolous
17. Kryptowaluty dla zabieganych, Michał Zajda
18. Bitcoin, Hard Money You Can’t Fuck With, Jason A. WIlliams
19. 21 Lessons. What I’ve Learned From Falling Down the Bitcoin Rabbit Hole, Gigi
20. The Price of Tomorrow, Jeff Booth
21. Everything Divided by 21 Million, Knut Svanholm
22. Bitcoin jako przedmiot stosunków cywilnoprawnych, Marcin Michna
23. Independence Reimagined, Knut Svanholm
24. Softwar, Jason P. Lowery
25. America’s Great Depression, Murray Rothbard
26. The Ethics of Money Production, Jörg Guido Hülsmann
27. Omnipotent Government: The Rise of the Total State and Total War, Ludwig von Mises
28. Principles of Economics, Saifedean Ammous
29. Praxeology, Knut Svanholm
30. Broken Money, Lyn Alden
31. Sovereign Individual, James Dale Davidson, Lord William Rees-Mogg
32. When Money Dies, Adam Fergusson
33. Anatomy of the State, Murray Rothbard
34. Fraudcoin, Rune Ostgard
35. Check Your Financial Privilege, Alex Gladstein
36. Gradually, Then Suddenly: A Framework for Understanding Bitcoin as Money, Parker A. Lewis
37. Bitcoin Is Venice, Allen Farrington, Sacha Meyers
38. A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin: A Path Toward a More Just, Equitable, and Peaceful World, C. Jason Maier
39. Fiat Ruins Everything, Jimmy Song
40. Fossil Future, Alex Epstein
41. 21 Futures: Tales from the Timechain, 21 different authors
42. The Fourth Turning, William Strauss, Neil Howe
43. Fiat Food: Why Inflation Destroyed Our Health and How Bitcoin Fixes It, Matthew Lysiak
44. The Genesis Book, Aaron va Wirdum
45. The Book of Satoshi, Phil Champagne
46. Bitcoin Billionaires, Ben Mezrich
47. Hidden Repression, Alex Gladstein
48. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
49. Luna is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein
50. Man, Economy and State. A Treatise on Economic Principles, Murray Rothbard

bookstr

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

Well, folks, I’m starting to see the light at the end of this data tunnel. After a seemingly endless 12-hour format, my stubborn SSD finally decided to cooperate. With that hurdle cleared, I dove headfirst into the world of data migration.

Last night was a whirlwind of activity: changing to a new bed, data copying, and a valiant battle against a pesky mosquito net. I managed to keep my sanity intact until around 2 am, when sleep finally claimed me. But let's not forget the culinary highlight of the evening: Wali Maharagwe - a simple yet satisfying rice and bean dish that hit the spot perfectly. Check out this photo, it's a local favorite and incredibly affordable.

This morning, I woke up feeling not really refreshed and still tired, but ready to conquer the remaining data challenges. After a cold shower, quick breakfast and a chat with a fellow traveler, I’m back at it, transferring data from one SSD to another. Fingers crossed this one behaves itself!

One thing's for sure, the temperature has taken a drastic drop compared to the warmth of Mombasa. I'm grateful for my trusty fleece as I shiver my way through the day. It's a stark contrast to the 27 degree Celsius I was enjoying just a short distance away.

So, while I continue my data wrangling, I hope you all are enjoying a relaxing Sunday. Stay tuned for more updates on my progress!

Online

Profile Page | Support Page

If you'd like to show your appreciation, you can send a tip via the Lightning Network to rubenstorm@sats.mobi. (QR code available in the image)

@ f0aca767:dce3306e

This is going to be a sort of long one (or maybe it won't?), because I have a lot of thoughts as a tech and social media enthusiast, and some of those thoughts have to do with how I feel about the direction that social media is moving in. How I feel about Mastodon, and Nostr, side-by-side, and what the biggest problems with Bluesky are.

So, let's jump right the heck in ...

Nostr, the misconceptions, and the truth

I recently wrote about Nostr, and its relayed protocol of user-owned identity that you can take ... wherever. I outlined a lot of thoughts and impressions I initially had, and then what I wrote went to Reddit, and then it found itself on Nostr. It got there entirely outside my own involvement. I posted to Mastodon, and almost nowhere else.

This inspired me to log back in, and set some things up (such as domain verification from one of a few domains I own), and then I explored a bit. I interacted with people, participated in some community events that came up spontaneously, and really dug into the extreme multitude of features that run across the Nostr network.

Let's just say, I was pretty floored, and some of the impressions I had were wrong. Such as thinking that a place that is more centered around the idea of lacking censorship, or robust moderation, must be filled with toxic, horrible trolls. In the couple of days I've been messing with the network, I think I've muted like one person who said some off-the-wall shit in my notifications.

But ... I think Nostr has nasty people just in the same way Twitter, Threads, and Mastodon do. They exist, and they always will, no matter where you go. Suffice to say, I learned a lot about what decentralization was, and now is. I was given an article by user nostr:npub1njst6azswskk5gp3ns8r6nr8nj0qg65acu8gaa2u9yz7yszjxs9s6k7fqx that gave some really in-depth information about the emergence of decentralization--Scuttlebutt, ActivityPub, and then ATProtocol, and Nostr.

I'm not going to lie, I originally started writing this as a hit piece against Bluesky, thinking their ATProtocol was just a riff of what Nostr was doing. But, apparently, both ATP and Nostr were developed independent of each other, and mostly without any knowledge of one or the other. I think that's ... actually pretty wild, and strange.

On the topic of decentralization, which is something I feel is integral to the future of the internet, I now understand Mastodon to be a place of islands, and decentralization that occurs in a way that's more like isolated communities talking to other isolated communities. Like the latter half of The Walking Dead.

In a way, it's decentralization, the half-measure. The full-measure, that comes with some iffy trade-offs some may not like, is Nostr, and ATProtocol.

You take your identity, your thoughts, your posts, and you move freely between pieces of software, and networks, and you lose nothing (this is nearly the direct opposite of Mastodon, where moving to a new server means burning everything you've ever posted, to the ground). And, honestly, I'm kind of starting to feel like that's how it should be. The downside, is that, on Nostr, you have a public key, and a secret key. Your secret key is something you use to log in and sign events coming from your account, and your public key is basically your identity. That's not the iffy part, though. The iffy part, is that people can use your public key to see all of your data except direct messages (which are encrypted).

Not entirely too scary, unless you're doing a lot of weird things on your account. But definitely something you should know if you decide that this is a journey you want to take, and you're not jaded from hearing about how much Jack Dorsey loved Nostr and it's Bitcoin affiliation (a lot of people across different platforms hold a lot of dislike for the man).

At this point, I'm less worried about the power consumption of BTC transactions, and have more shifted that focus to content farms from the likes of Microsoft and Nvidia buying up all the AI tech they can get their grubby little hands on.

That aside, I'm not writing this to blow smoke up the Bluesky developer's butts. I, in fact, am not favorable of Bluesky and there are some specific reasons for that. Maybe this spells their downfall, or maybe they'll be a tight-knit community that doesn't really expand all that much, forever.

Bluesky, the Apple of social media

Bluesky is a place that a couple million people call home (I think, last I saw, it was around 6 million or so). There's no algorithm, and much like Nostr, you own your identity. Except, for now, that's mostly tied to the website's central server.

Now, obviously, there are far less people populating Nostr, but Nostr and its relays are able, and are connected to both ActivityPub and Bluesky (just, not through ATProtocol).

Most of what you'll see on bsky.app are quite a few furries, an actually impressive population of Second Life users, and quite a lot of LGBTQ+ people. None of these things or communities are inherently bad. In fact, I think they're probably the only reason Bluesky is really alive at all, today.

My angst and negative feelings about the direction of Bluesky have nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ community, or any other community residing on the platform. The issues I mainly hold have to do with how far up their own asses the board and developers are, in regard to the platform, and its development over the past year or so. This is why I kind of think of them as the Apple of social media. And you might think, "Hey, don't you own like a billion pieces of Apple tech?"

Yeah, I do.

But this is more like if Apple skipped over having Steve Jobs and just went straight to some random guy who didn't know what he was doing. You know, like putting up a wall and locking out all potential users for a year, and keeping all new sign-ups under lock and key via exclusive codes. As you might imagine, having that walled-garden erected through six or seven different events where people were leaving Twitter in droves, very likely probably worked against the social network's best interest.

Mainly, because Threads came out of absolutely nowhere, and sucked up most of those users.

That's only half of the issue, though. The other part to all of this, is that the developers I see directly on Bluesky do not recognize or acknowledge this at all. Paul Frazee, whose influence goes back quite a bit further than Bluesky, posts as though it's the greatest platform ever made (maybe just because he's a developer for Bluesky). But the website, despite its six million some-odd users, feels almost completely dead.

Which is ridiculous, because, as I've said, Nostr has far less users than that, and it most definitely doesn't feel dead when you post.

Not to mention, we're over a year into Bluesky, and it still, more or less, is propped up to look, feel, and act just like Twitter did in 2014. ATProtocol, in this respect, still feels mostly like an afterthought that's inaccessible to most users.

Meanwhile, if you really like Nostr, you can get going with your own chunk of the network immediately, with about a page of install commands.

It's this mixture of grandiosity that emanates from Bluesky, and the blunder of keeping their doors closed through one exodus after another, that I think they've shot themselves in the feet so much that they now don't have feet. They have stumps.

But, if you've followed me all the way through this article, I think there's a way they can blow the doors open. But, then they'd have to sort of abandon their idea of the ATProtocol, and stop trying to be the center of social media they most definitely are not, and probably never will be. And, really, that's the final issue I have with Bluesky and the ATProtocol.

It feels like they're trying to do Nostr, but be corporate-owned. Bluesky doesn't feel like it's owned by the people, developed by the people, and run by the people. It feels like it's run by some suits, who give the impression that the people will have their freedom, as long as they say it's okay.

And that, my buddy ol' pal, just ain't okay.

The elephant and the ostrich

Which brings us squarely back to Mastodon, and Nostr. Both platforms have their own merits. Nostr is about controlling your own content, and what you see, and largely eschews censorship to a high degree. But everyone can see almost everything you do and are talking about, whenever they want. Mastodon, on the other hand, puts the tools into a user's hands to create a network, and build their own communities, while picking and choosing who those communities interact with. A network that ... encourages users to police everyone around them ... which is how we end up with tyrannical admins acting like they work in a prison, and they've just been promoted to Warden.

If only there were some way to take the best parts of both of these animals, and make them one.

An elephrich.

For now, though, I am at least pretty content to screw around with both while I feel around and see what sticks. In the age of corporate control and censorship so heavy that people can't even say "kill" or "suicide" any more (these are only two of the most egregious examples I can think of), I think it's healthy to explore your options, and cement your identity, and who you are online, before everything else we've come to know is lost completely.

If that's something you care about, at least.

@ f0aca767:dce3306e

Mastodon is obviously an already established and semi-well known social network--A user-owned network of communities. But one of the biggest issues I always see the corporate social media denizens talk about, is that the loss of content when moving instances (sometimes, you have to do this) is one of the biggest turn-offs. And that's definitely something I can attest to. If I were still on mastodon.social, from my humble posting-beginnings in 2017, I'd have a post history longer than five football fields and probably plenty to cringe at.

The question remains: Why haven't we been able to take this history with us ... if every instance you've ever been federated with is keeping that data.

What do I mean by this?

Every single time you post on Mastodon, your words get pushed out to other instances (servers), and in order for people to be able to read what you said, a copy of it is downloaded onto that server. It does this very quickly, so quick that it seems as though it happens in real-time. And, for all intents and purposes, I'm not inclined to believe that it doesn't.

If you've ever had an account on an instance that isn't mastodon.social, and you have a posting history, and you remember your username: Go over to mastodon.social, create a burner account, and then search up that username.

Yeah, you see that? Your entire body of posting-work is still there, even if you deleted your account, even if the instance you were on is long dead.

This is obviously not true for every server. Some choose to delete old content to make space for the new, but there are many Mastodon servers out there retaining everything ever posted, like mastodon.social.

But what point am I trying to get at here? As far as you're probably concerned, even if that data still exists, and your account, and instance does not, you can't access it, right? You can't reclaim everything you've said and done, and put it back where it belongs: Under your ownership.

Or, what if you could?

If you've been following my posting history on here in the past week, I've been screwing around with Nostr, and musing about Bluesky. Two networks using a similar protocol, that I feel are getting the idea of what I'm thinking of here, only about 75% correct.

Bluesky's problem, is that the protocol is owned by ... the owners. The corporation. Your keys report to their server, and in return, so does your content. A central server that has a lot of different keyholes.

Not really the optimal experience, because you can't create your own server, and build your own community, and survive if the main Bluesky datacenter goes out, right? The only thing you can do is host your own software that essentially just holds keys and content, and, as far as I know, all of that will be worthless if the devs ever go offline with the main server.

So then there's Nostr, where all of your data lives everywhere on the network, and as long as you have your keys, you can use any app that utilizes the protocol, and continually access everything you post, forever. You can't be banned, but you also can't block anyone. And any random stranger can take your public key from your profile, and view your entire everything (as I've said before).

I would say this is also not really that optimal. The idea is great, but the execution trades privacy for extreme versatility.

This brings us back to Mastodon, which is still in active development, still receiving new features, and ... well, kind of also only has the whole thing about 75% correct.

There's that last little bit we're missing here.

The user should have the option of a community, a personal community away from what's viewed to be the central Mastodon server and have their privacy, but, they should also be able to retain their posts, and their bookmarks, and their likes, and their lists, and everything else.

How do we accomplish this?

Keys.

The entire fediverse (for the most part) already has all of your content. So, if every user had a key tying them to that content, no matter where you're located, be it mastodon.social, or mkultra.monster, then you could just go wherever you want?

That's the idea, at least.

Your content becomes immortal, immutable, and that's the one missing puzzle piece to ActivityPub. I am 100% sure of this, and I don't know what the developer stance is on the topic of keys and immutable data, but I fully believe this is something that should be on their roadmap. Yes, storage space is a concern ... but holding onto the text content of a post is much easier, and smaller in size, than holding onto larger pieces of data (like photos, and videos). If you scrolled back to five years ago and found something you posted, but the only thing you could see was the text, would you be all that disappointed?

I guess that part is subjective.

Mastodon is already setup nearly identical to Nostr, except users live on the relays. So just ... add user generated keys to the mix, and I am 100% double-dippin' certain that most of the naysayers being spammed by engagement farming on Threads and Twitter will jump ship.

Mark my worms.

If it isn't. Well. They're making a huge mistake.

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre Pendente di Pisa), or simply the Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre di Pisa), is one of the world's most famous leaning buildings. It is located in the city of Pisa, in the Tuscany region of Italy, near the Pisa Cathedral in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). The tower was originally built as the bell tower for the cathedral and was intended to visually attract people to it when construction began in 1173 AD. Its construction spanned 177 years.

$$Description of the Leaning Tower$$

Externally, the Leaning Tower of Pisa appears as a cylindrical stone building with balconies and columns resting on a lower support base. The bell chamber is located at the top, and it lacks floors on the inside. The central part consists of a hollow cylinder, and the interior façade is built from intricately carved grey-white marble from the nearby city of San Giuliano. The exterior façade, however, is constructed from white-gray limestone brought from San Giuliano.

The tower leans towards the southeast at an angle of 3.99 degrees currently, down from its previous inclination of 5.5 degrees before restoration works conducted between 1990 and 2001. These restoration efforts involved horizontally shifting the tower's peak by approximately 3.66 meters from its center. Here are some specific specifications:

• Height: 55.86 meters on the lower side and 56 meters on the higher side.

• Weight: 14,200 tons.

• Diameter: 15.54 meters at the base.

• Circumference: 48.6 meters at the base.

• Number of steps: Approximately 294 steps, with fewer at the seventh floor.

• Wall thickness: About 4.9 meters at the base, and 2.48 meters at the belfry; tapering from bottom to top.

$$Story of the Leaning Tower's Construction $$ Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1173 AD using white marble and was designed to reach a height of 56 meters. It was to be the third and final building in the Piazza dei Miracoli complex alongside the cathedral. After completing the third floor of the planned eight floors, construction halted due to observed instability in its foundations on the soft ground beneath. This pause coincided with wars among Italian city-states, leading to a century-long hiatus that inadvertently protected the tower from collapse by stabilizing its foundations.

Engineer Giovanni di Simone resumed the tower's construction after this long hiatus. He sought to compensate for its lean by building additional upper floors longer on the shorter side. However, this exacerbated the tower's sinking into the soil below. Over subsequent centuries, various interruptions and proposed solutions aimed at addressing the lean finally saw its completion in the 14th century. Seven bells were subsequently installed, with the largest weighing 3,600 kilograms. In the early 20th century, the heaviest bell's operation was stopped due to concerns it could worsen the tower's tilt. Cement and other materials were injected into the foundations for reinforcement, but it continued to sink at a rate of 1.2 millimeters annually by the end of the 20th century. Consequently, it faced collapse risks, leading to closure in 1990 and cessation of all bell operations. Engineers undertook major projects to modify its tilt.

$$Current Stability of the Tower$$

The tower's current stability owes to soil reinforcement beneath its foundations, allowing the tower to exert pressure on the ground below by providing spaces to redirect it opposite to its lean direction. This was part of a 1990 project led by engineer John Burland with 13 experts, costing over 30 million euros and lasting a decade. This project reopened the tower in 2001, marking the last of several efforts to maintain its stability. Adjustments to its tilt included shifting its center of gravity towards the bottom and north, placing weights to counter its southward tilt, using giant steel cables to tension the tower during project work, and adjusting its tilt after soil preparation. These cables were removed post-operation. Additionally, 60 cubic meters of mud were excavated from below the foundations through well-digging, then dried. Concrete columns were added underground, reaching 15 meters in length, to reinforce the foundations. Attempting to return the tower to its current state by pulling steel cables. The della helped

@ 681ec9c0:fe78b4e7

I was puzzled when Mike Masnick claimed that Bluesky is everything Jack wished for in a decentralized social network, being as it is highly centralized

I think the discrepancy comes down to different views of the role of decentralization encapsulated in this term, enshittification

"Even if most of the users of a decentralized system don’t know or care about the fact that it’s decentralized, the fact that the underlying protocol is that way and is set up such that others can build and provide services (algorithms, moderation services, interfaces, etc.) means that Bluesky itself has strong, built-in incentives to not enshittify the service.

In some ways, Bluesky is building in the natural antidote to the activist investors that so vexed Jack at Twitter. Bluesky can simply point out that going down the enshittification path of greater and greater user extraction/worsening service just opens up someone else to step in and provide a better competing service on the same protocol. Having it be on the same protocol removes the switching costs that centralized enshittified services rely on to keep users from leaving, allowing them to enshittify. The underlying protocol that Bluesky is built on is a kind of commitment device. The company (and, in large part, its CEO Jay) is going to face tremendous pressures to make Bluesky worse.

But by committing to an open protocol they’re building, it creates a world that makes it much harder to force the company down that path. That doesn’t mean there won’t still be difficult to impossible choices to make. Because there will be. But the protocol is still there."

https://www.techdirt.com/2024/05/13/bluesky-is-building-the-decentralized-social-media-jack-dorsey-wants-even-if-he-doesnt-realize-it/

And echoed by Bluesky CEO Jay Graber

"There will always be free options, and we can't enshittify the network with ads. This is where federation comes in. The fact that anyone can self-host and anyone can build on the software means that we'll never be able to degrade the user experience in a way where people want to leave."

https://web.archive.org/web/20240209161307/https://www.wired.com/story/bluesky-ceo-jay-graber-wont-enshittify-ads/

It all comes down to this

"the protocol is still there"

In this view of decentralization, being there is sufficient

Decentralization is this thing that can happen if needed

It's a safety valve operated by market forces

And where I think Jack and most of nostr would disagree is that market forces do not cater to the rights of individuals

Because one person being deplatformed is not a market demand

Especially for ATProto where decentralization is relatively expensive

To service deplatformed users would require building four servers, each one capable of ingesting the entire network: a Relay, a Labeller, an AppView and a Feed Generator

Decentralization by default is necessary for censorship resistance

Jack talked about censorship in the interview that formed the basis for Mike's article

"I know it's early, and Nostr is weird and hard to use, but if you truly believe in censorship resistance and free speech, you have to use the technologies that actually enable that, and defend your rights."

https://www.piratewires.com/p/interview-with-jack-dorsey-mike-solana

Mike's concerns over enshittification are highly valid

I would like to see Mike address Jack's concern for censorship resistance

I think that would help understanding

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Yesterday's edition https://stacker.news/items/613971/r/Undisciplined

• • -

July 20, 2023 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

Frostsnap - Easy, personalized, secure bitcoin multisig for everyone

Link to https://frostsnap.com/introducing-frostsnap.html

6034 sats \ 19 comments \ @utxoclub \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/211668/r/Undisciplined?commentId=211676

Excerpt

Check out @super_testnet's super simple Superstore: https://stacker.news/items/167945

614 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven

From Making a Store by @Undergotten in ~nostr

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

2nd place @utxoclub (1st hiding, presumed @siggy47)

4679 stacked \ 1826 spent \ 1 post \ 5 comments \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

48.4k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 55.2k spent \ 84 posts \ 166 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 20, 2022 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

I'm John Cantrell, entrepreneur, spiral grantee, and creator of Sensei. AMA

Excerpt

I'm @johncantrell97 and I've been working on and around Bitcoin for over a decade now. Most recently I've been working on Sensei as part of a Spiral grant.

112.7k sats \ 54 comments \ @JohnCantrell97 \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/47509/r/Undisciplined?commentId=47521

Excerpt

"As of the end of Q2, we have converted approximately 75% of our Bitcoin purchases into fiat currency." Tesla didn't HODL. Or deploy as liquidity on Lightning to earn yield. Some just have to learn the hard way 🤷‍♂️ […]

329 sats \ 4 replies \ @holzapfelbaum

From Tesla Sells 75% of Bitcoin Holdings by @kr in ~bitcoin

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

11.9k stacked \ 108.1k spent \ 4 posts \ 19 comments \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

130.5k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 140k spent \ 113 posts \ 249 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 20, 2021 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

The Bitcoin Miners banned from China are coming back online in force, bois!

Excerpt

https://bitinfocharts.com/comparison/bitcoin-hashrate.html Don't let your lettuce hands leave you with regrets. Stack those sats!

7 sats \ 3 comments \ @03cdf4abc3 \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/428/r/Undisciplined?commentId=429

Excerpt

We're supposed to believe he's acting in the interest of the people to support of a censorship resistant platform for the exchange of value while not doing anything of note to further the interests of the people regarding a censorship resistant platform for exchanging words that he just happens to be the CEO of. They deplatformed the president of the united states.

1 sat \ 1 reply \ @03cdf4abc3

From Forget Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey Is the Hero Bitcoin Deserves for the Coming Years. by @shawnyeager in ~bitcoin

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

No top stacker

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

43 stacked \ 0 revenue \ 71 spent \ 9 posts \ 14 comments

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/615090

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

Another day, another adventure in tech hell. Let’s start with last night. I was hoping to get some inspiration from an audio story before bed, but my brain decided to short-circuit. Woke up at 4 AM with headphones still on, no recollection of the story, and a general sense of disorientation.

Fast forward to this morning, I managed to escape the dorm for a quick shower and some much-needed coffee. Feeling somewhat human again, I tackled the beast that is my external SSD. It’s a 1TB behemoth that decided to be extra dramatic this morning. I’ve been staring at a “12 hours to go” message for what feels like an eternity. Who knew formatting a drive could be such a suspenseful ordeal?

This drive has been giving me trouble lately. It’s like it has a grudge or something. Constantly going into read-only mode, refusing to save large files. I think my 25,000 travel photos might be a bit too much for it. It’s not even that old! I switched from a heavy HDD to this thing for portability, and now it makes me trouble.

I’m hoping that once this formatting nightmare is over, I’ll have a happy, healthy SSD. I’ve decided to format it as exFAT, so at least it should be compatible with everything. But then I have two more drives to deal with. This is turning into a full-blown data relocation project. Why didn’t I do this when I was chilling in Kilifi?

Oh well, at least the weather is improving. Yesterday was the coldest day since I’ve been in Africa. Even my trusty fleece got some use.

Wish me luck on this digital odyssey!

@ 0176967e:1e6f471e

Tento rok vás čaká workshop na tému "oranžové leto" s Jurajom Bednárom a Mariannou Sádeckou. Dozviete sa ako mení naše vnímanie skúsenosť s Bitcoinom, ako sa navigovať v dnešnom svete a odstrániť mentálnu hmlu spôsobenú fiat životom.

Na workshop je potrebný extra lístok (môžete si ho dokúpiť aj na mieste).

Pre viac informácií o oranžovom lete odporúčame pred workshopom vypočuťi si podcast na túto tému.

@ 58537364:705b4b85

ปะภัสสะรามิทัง ภิกขะเว จิตตัง อาคันตุเกหิ อุปักกิเลเสหิ อุปักกิลิฏฐัง... ซึ่งแปลว่า ดูก่อนภิกษุทั้งหลาย จิตนี้เป็นประภัสสร แต่ว่าจิตนี้เศร้าหมอง เพราะอุปกิเลสที่จรเข้ามา ดังนี้.

ข้อที่พระองค์ตรัสว่า จิตนี้เป็นประภัสสรนั้น ท่านทั้งหลายจะต้องฟังให้ดี ๆ ในการที่พระองค์ทรงใช้คำว่า ประภัสสร ไม่ได้ใช้คำว่า บริสุทธิ์ ไม่ได้ใช้คำว่า หลุดพ้น หรือไม่ได้ใช้คำอะไร ๆ นอกไปจากคำว่า ประภัสสร.

ทีนี้คำว่า ประภัสสร ในภาษาบาลี มาเป็นภาษาไทย ก็ยังใช้ทับศัพท์ว่า ประภัสสร อยู่นั่นเอง คงจะเนื่องจาก ไม่สามารถที่จะแปลเป็นภาษาไทยคำใดให้เหมาะสม เราจึงต้องใช้คำว่า ประภัสสร ไปตามเดิม บางคนอาจจะไม่รู้ว่าประภัสสรนั้นเป็นอย่างไร ถ้าเช่นนั้น ก็จะต้องถือเอาตามตัวหนังสือนั้น ประภัสสร มาจากคำว่า ประภา สะระ ประภา คือ แสง สะระ เออ, แล่นออก หรือแล่นไป ประภัสสร จึงแปลว่า มีแสงแล่นออกไป เมื่อเราเห็นสิ่งใดมีแสงเป็นรัศมี แล่นออกไปรอบตัว โชติช่วงอยู่ดังนั้น นั่นแหละ คือ อาการที่เป็นประภัสสร หรือเรียกอีกอย่างหนึ่งว่า มีรัศมีซ่านออกไปรอบตัว เป็น เออ, แสงสว่าง อาการอย่างนี้ ตรงตามตัวหนังสือแท้ว่า ประภา สะระ หรือประภัสสร ที่ว่าจิตนี้เป็นประภัสสรนั้น หมายความว่า...มีแสง หรือเรืองแสงอยู่ในตัวมันเองโดยรอบด้าน ก็หมายความว่า มันไม่สกปรก มืดมัว เศร้าหมองแต่อย่างใด.

ทีนี้ ก็มีอุปกิเลสเกิดขึ้น มาจากเหตุปัจจัยอย่างใด อย่างหนึ่ง จากภายนอก เป็นเหมือนกับจรเข้ามา จากภายนอก เป็นอาคันตุกะ ทำให้จิตนั้นสูญเสียความเป็นประภัสสร เหมือนอย่างว่า เรามีเพชรเม็ดนึง แวววาว ส่องสว่างอยู่กลางแดด ถ้าเราเอาน้ำโคลนสาดเข้าไป รัศมีของเพชรนั้นมันก็ จะไม่ปรากฏ แต่แล้ว ท่านอย่าเพิ่งคิดไปว่ารัศมีนั้น สูญสิ้นไปเสียแล้ว ไม่ได้มีเหลืออยู่ ความจริงมันก็ต้องมีอยู่เท่าเดิม และตามเดิม หากแต่ว่าโคลนมันปิดบังเสีย ตาตามประสามนุษย์ก็มองไม่เห็น มันต้องมีตาพิเศษ ยิ่งกว่าตามนุษย์ จึงจะมองเห็นแสงเพชร ที่ทะลุโคลนออกมาได้ จิตนี้ก็เหมือนกัน เมื่อมีอุปกิเลสอย่างใด อย่างหนึ่ง นานาชนิด สรุปรวมเป็น...ความโลภ ความโกรธ ความหลง เกิดขึ้นแล้ว มันก็เป็นสิ่งปิดบังจิตนั้น ให้สูญเสียความเป็น ประภัสสร คือ ไม่ปรากฏแก่สายตา

ทีนี้ เราก็จะต้องคิดกันต่อไปว่า ทำอย่างไรจึงจะให้คงมี ความเป็นประภัสสร ปรากฏอยู่เป็นการ ถาวรได้ คำตอบง่าย ๆ ใคร ๆ พอจะมองเห็น ว่าก็กระทำอย่าให้มีกิเลสเกิดขึ้นก็แล้วกัน จิตนั้นก็เป็นประภัสสร อยู่ตลอดกาล เพราะฉะนั้น วิธีใดที่จะทำให้กิเลสไม่เกิดขึ้น แล้ววิธีนั้นแหละ คือ วิธีที่จะทำจิตนี้ ให้เป็น ประภัสสรตลอดกาล วิธีที่จะทำไม่ให้กิเลสเกิดขึ้นนั้น พระพุทธเจ้าท่านเรียกว่า อัฏฐังคิกมรรค คือ การกระทำที่ถูกต้องครบถ้วน ๘ ประการ รวมกันเป็นอันเดียวกันเรียกว่า มรรค มีความเห็นชอบ ความใฝ่ฝันชอบ พูดจาชอบ ทำการงานชอบ เลี้ยงชีวิตชอบ ความพากเพียรชอบ มีสติตั้งไว้ชอบ มีสมาธิตั้งไว้ชอบ เป็นความชอบ หรือความถูกต้องรวมกัน ๘ ประการ เป็นมรรคตั้งอยู่ดังนี้แล้ว เรียกว่า มีการเป็นอยู่ชอบ เมื่อมีการเป็นอยู่ชอบดังนี้แล้ว กิเลสใด ๆ ก็ไม่อาจจะเกิดขึ้นมาได้ จิตนั้นก็ไม่มีอะไร ที่จะมาหุ้มห่อ ให้สูญเสียความเป็นประภัสสร.

ด้วยเหตุที่พระศาสดาสัมมาสัมพุทธเจ้า ได้ทรงแสดง อัฏฐังคิกมรรค คือ..มรรคมีองค์ ๘ ประการนั้น ในวันอาสาฬหปุรณมีนี้ ด้วยเหตุเช่นนี้เอง อาตมาจึงกล่าวว่า วันอาสาฬหบูชานี้คือ วันที่พระองค์ทรงประกาศ วิธีทำจิตให้เป็นประภัสสรอยู่ตลอดกาล เป็นสมุจเฉทปหานแก่กิเลสทั้งปวง ถ้าเราสามารถทำจิต เป็นจิตประภัสสรได้ตลอดกาลแล้ว ปัญหามันก็ไม่มีเหลืออยู่เลย จงพยายามทำความเข้าใจในเรื่องนี้ ว่า....จิตประภัสสรนั้น มันเป็นส่วนจิต ส่วนกิเลสนั้น มันเป็นแต่เพียงสิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นกับจิต ไม่ใช่ตัวจิต.

ส่วนตัวจิตนั้น คงเป็นประภัสสรตามธรรมชาติ ส่วนกิเลสนั้นเป็นสิ่งที่เกิดกับจิต เขาเรียกว่า เจตสิก เจตสิกเกิดขึ้นอย่างไร ก็ปรุงแต่งจิตไปในลักษณะเช่นนั้น เมื่อสูญเสียความเป็นประภัสสร ก็คือ สูญเสียสภาวะเดิมของมัน ด้วยอำนาจที่เจตสิกอย่างใด อย่างหนึ่ง เข้าไปปรุงแต่ง นี้เจตสิกนี้เกิดขึ้น จากสิ่งแวดล้อม ก็ตั้งต้นจากภายนอก คือ รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ธรรมารมณ์ กระทบทางตา ทางหู ทางจมูก ทางลิ้น ทางกาย หรือซึมเข้าไปถึงใจ มันจึงเกิดการปรุงแต่ง เป็นสิ่งที่เรียกว่า เจตสิกได้ในที่สุด คือ กิเลสต่าง ๆ นั่นเอง.

-พุทธทาสภิกขุ

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Table Of Content

• Security

• Convenience

• Challenges and Limitations

• Adaptation and Future Outlook

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Bitcoin and traditional banking are two different systems of financial services. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, while traditional banking is a centralized financial institution. In this article, we will compare and contrast the security and convenience of both systems to determine which offers better value to users.

Security

Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network, which means that there is no central authority that controls transactions. Every transaction is recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, making it transparent and tamper-proof. Bitcoin also uses cryptography to secure every transaction, making it nearly impossible to hack. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin and its cryptography make it more secure than traditional banking. Traditional banks are vulnerable to cyber attacks and fraud because they operate on a centralized system where a central authority controls transactions.

Convenience

Traditional banking offers a wide range of financial services, including ATM withdrawals, transfers, bill payments, loans, and credit cards. Banks also have physical branches where customers can speak to bank representatives and resolve their queries. However, traditional banking has its limitations. Customers have to comply with banks' working hours and locations, making it challenging to access their accounts during emergencies. Bank transactions are also subject to government regulations and third-party fees, making it expensive for customers to use their services.

Bitcoin, on the other hand, offers a high degree of convenience. It operates 24/7, making it accessible to customers anytime and anywhere in the world. Bitcoin transactions are also faster and cheaper compared to traditional banking. There are no third-party fees, making it more affordable for customers to use their services. However, Bitcoin still faces challenges in terms of adoption and acceptance. While more merchants are accepting Bitcoin as a mode of payment, it is still not widely accepted compared to traditional payment methods.

Challenges and Limitations

Bitcoin faces challenges in terms of adoption and acceptance. Some people are still skeptical about Bitcoin's value and stability, and some governments have imposed restrictions on its use. Additionally, Bitcoin's decentralized nature makes it difficult to regulate and control, which could lead to legal issues. On the other hand, traditional banking is subject to government regulations, which can sometimes limit their services and products. Compliance with these regulations can also increase costs, which are often passed on to customers.

Adaptation and Future Outlook

As technology continues to evolve, both Bitcoin and traditional banking will have to adapt to meet the changing needs of customers. Bitcoin is already being integrated into the financial system, and more merchants are accepting it as a mode of payment. Traditional banks are also adopting digital technologies to offer more convenience to customers. In the future, it is possible that the lines between Bitcoin and traditional banking will blur, as both systems adopt similar technologies and offer similar services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bitcoin and traditional banking offer different levels of security and convenience. Bitcoin's decentralized network and cryptography make it more secure than traditional banking, while traditional banking offers a wide range of financial services that are convenient for customers. The choice between Bitcoin and traditional banking ultimately depends on individual preferences and needs. However, as technology continues to evolve, it is likely that both systems will continue to adapt and offer better value to their users.

FAQ

What is traditional banking? Traditional banking is a centralized financial institution that offers a wide range of financial services, including loans, credit cards, and savings accounts.

Which is more secure, Bitcoin or traditional banking? Bitcoin is considered more secure than traditional banking because it operates on a decentralized network and uses cryptography to secure transactions.

Which is more convenient, Bitcoin or traditional banking? Bitcoin is more convenient in terms of accessibility and affordability, as it operates 24/7 and has no third-party fees. However, traditional banking offers a wide range of financial services and has physical branches for customer support.

What are the challenges faced by Bitcoin and traditional banking? Bitcoin faces challenges in terms of adoption and acceptance, while traditional banking is subject to government regulations and compliance issues.

How can Bitcoin and traditional banking adapt to meet the changing needs of customers? Both Bitcoin and traditional banking can adopt digital technologies to offer more convenience and value to their customers, while also adhering to regulatory compliance.

That's all for today

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If you're a straight man jacking off to straight porn, you're gay. You're looking at another man's cock as a means to get gratification. Without that man's cock, your sexual experience wouldn't be fulfilled. You needing to see that man's cock in order to be sexually fulfilled is gay. I like men but even I can't stand looking at a dude's cock as he bangs a chick. It's a complete turn off. It ruins the entire thing. I don't want to see a man's body, I don't want to see his penis, I don't want to hear him. We have the technology to perfectly replicate a male penis and even automated thrusting. There's no need to continue to jack off to a real man's penis. I don't understand how any self respecting man can become erect while watching another man and his penis bang a hot chick. It's the defenition of cucking, but people will try to rationalize their way out of it. You're the cuck, you just don't have a camera panned on you showing your shame as you pound off.

This is why lesbian or solo porn is always superior. Two is better than one, so lesbian porn is by far the best. Lesbian porno has no cocks, or if it does, they're fake and not disgusting. You don't have to deal with looking at a dildo's asshole as it pounds a chick. Lesbian porn is weirdly underrated these days. I almost NEVER see anyone talk about it. It's always degenerate straight porn or overwhelmingly gay shit. You're way more likely to see gay and tranny garbage before lesbians. It's weird that lesbians are probably one of the lesser viewed categories these days. There's a lot of homos out there. Females are not threatening to a sexual situation. It's male penetration that is cuck-like behavior. With females it is all playful and sensual, always with room for more to play. The more cocks you have around a woman, the gayer and more homosexual it is. I especially can't wrap my mind around being turned on by cum shots on a woman. You're jacking off to not only a guy's cock, but his orgasm. You're jacking off to his load. And yes, I UNDERSTAND you're "jacking off to the woman getting cummed on", but you miss the point. You are jacking off to a man having an orgasm. It's never sat right with me, when I want to utilize "material", I want to get turned on by a woman. I feel more straight than straight men at times.

@ a619eb76:11d75935

I. Over-Population

In 1931, when Brave New World was being written, I was convinced that there was still plenty of time. The completely organized society, the scientific caste system, the abolition of free will by methodical conditioning, the servitude made acceptable by regular doses of chemically induced happiness, the orthodoxies drummed in by nightly courses of sleep-teaching -- these things were coming all right, but not in my time, not even in the time of my grandchildren. I forget the exact date of the events recorded in Brave New World; but it was somewhere in the sixth or seventh century A.F. (After Ford). We who were living in the second quarter of the twentieth century A.D. were the inhabitants, admittedly, of a gruesome kind of universe; but the nightmare of those depression years was radically different from the nightmare of the future, described in Brave New World. Ours was a nightmare of too little order; theirs, in the seventh century A.F., of too much. In the process of passing from one extreme to the other, there would be a long interval, so I imagined, during which the more fortunate third of the human race would make the best of both worlds -- the disorderly world of liberalism and the much too orderly Brave New World where perfect efficiency left no room for freedom or personal initiative.

Twenty-seven years later, in this third quarter of the twentieth century A.D., and long before the end of the first century A.F., I feel a good deal less optimistic than I did when I was writing Brave New World. The prophecies made in 1931 are coming true much sooner than I thought they would. The blessed interval between too little order and the nightmare of too much has not begun and shows no sign of beginning. In the West, it is true, individual men and women still enjoy a large measure of freedom. But even in those countries that have a tradition of democratic government, this freedom and even the desire for this freedom seem to be on the wane. In the rest of the world freedom for individuals has already gone, or is manifestly about to go. The nightmare of total organization, which I had situated in the seventh century After Ford, has emerged from the safe, remote future and is now awaiting us, just around the next corner. George Orwell's 1984 was a magnified projection into the future of a present that contained Stalinism and an immediate past that had witnessed the flowering of Nazism. Brave New World was written before the rise of Hitler to supreme power in Germany and when the Russian tyrant had not yet got into his stride. In 1931 systematic terrorism was not the obsessive contemporary fact which it had become in 1948, and the future dictatorship of my imaginary world was a good deal less brutal than the future dictatorship so brilliantly portrayed by Orwell. In the context of 1948, 1984 seemed dreadfully convincing. But tyrants, after all, are mortal and circumstances change. Recent developments in Russia and recent advances in science and technology have robbed Orwell's book of some of its gruesome verisimilitude. A nuclear war will, of course, make nonsense of everybody's predictions. But, assuming for the moment that the Great Powers can somehow refrain from destroying us, we can say that it now looks as though the odds were more in favor of something like Brave New World than of something like 1984.

In the light of what we have recently learned about animal behavior in general, and human behavior in particular, it has become clear that control through the punishment of undesirable behavior is less effective, in the long run, than control through the reinforcement of desirable behavior by rewards, and that government through terror works on the whole less well than government through the non-violent manipulation of the environment and of the thoughts and feelings of individual men, women and children. Punishment temporarily puts a stop to undesirable behavior, but does not permanently reduce the victim's tendency to indulge in it. Moreover, the psycho-physical by-products of punishment may be just as undesirable as the behavior for which an individual has been punished. Psychotherapy is largely concerned with the debilitating or anti-social consequences of past punishments.

The society described in 1984 is a society controlled almost exclusively by punishment and the fear of punishment. In the imaginary world of my own fable, pun- ishment is infrequent and generally mild. The nearly perfect control exercised by the government is achieved by systematic reinforcement of desirable behavior, by many kinds of nearly non-violent manipulation, both physical and psychological, and by genetic standardization. Babies in bottles and the centralized control of reproduction are not perhaps impossible; but it is quite clear that for a long time to come we shall remain a viviparous species breeding at random. For practical purposes genetic standardization may be ruled out. Societies will continue to be controlled post-natally -- by punishment, as in the past, and to an ever increasing extent by the more effective methods of reward and scientific manipulation.

In Russia the old-fashioned, 1984-style dictatorship of Stalin has begun to give way to a more up-to-date form of tyranny. In the upper levels of the Soviets' hierarchical society the reinforcement of desirable behavior has begun to replace the older methods of control through the punishment of undesirable behavior. Engineers and scientists, teachers and administrators, are handsomely paid for good work and so moderately taxed that they are under a constant incentive to do better and so be more highly rewarded. In certain areas they are at liberty to think and do more or less what they like. Punishment awaits them only when they stray beyond their prescribed limits into the realms of ideology and politics. It is because they have been granted a measure of professional freedom that Russian teachers, scientists and technicians have achieved such remarkable successes. Those who live near the base of the Soviet pyramid enjoy none of the privileges accorded to the lucky or specially gifted minority. Their wages are meager and they pay, in the form of high prices, a disproportionately large share of the taxes. The area in which they can do as they please is extremely restricted, and their rulers control them more by punishment and the threat of punishment than through non-violent manipulation or the reinforcement of desirable behavior by reward. The Soviet system combines elements of 1984 with elements that are prophetic of what went on among the higher castes in Brave New World.

Meanwhile impersonal forces over which we have almost no control seem to be pushing us all in the direction of the Brave New Worldian nightmare; and this impersonal pushing is being consciously accelerated by representatives of commercial and political organizations who have developed a number of new techniques for manipulating, in the interest of some minority, the thoughts and feelings of the masses. The techniques of manipulation will be discussed in later chapters. For the moment let us confine our attention to those impersonal forces which are now making the world so extremely unsafe for democracy, so very inhospitable to individual freedom. What are these forces? And why has the nightmare, which I had projected into the seventh century A.F., made so swift an advance in our direction? The answer to these questions must begin where the life of even the most highly civilized society has its beginnings -- on the level of biology. On the first Christmas Day the population of our planet was about two hundred and fifty millions -- less than half the population of modern China. Sixteen centuries later, when the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, human numbers had climbed to a little more than five hundred millions. By the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, world population had passed the seven hundred million mark. In 1931, when I was writing Brave New World, it stood at just under two billions. Today, only twenty-seven years later, there are two billion eight hundred million of us. And tomorrow -- what? Penicillin, DDT and clean water are cheap commodities, whose effects on public health are out of all proportion to their cost. Even the poorest government is rich enough to provide its subjects with a substantial measure of death control. Birth control is a very different matter. Death control is something which can be provided for a whole people by a few technicians working in the pay of a benevolent government. Birth control depends on the co-operation of an entire people. It must be practiced by countless individuals, from whom it demands more intelligence and will power than most of the world's teeming illiterates possess, and (where chemical or mechanical methods of contraception are used) an expenditure of more money than most of these millions can now afford. Moreover, there are nowhere any religious traditions in favor of unrestricted death, whereas religious and social traditions in favor of unrestricted reproduction are widespread. For all these reasons, death control is achieved very easily, birth control is achieved with great difficulty. Death rates have therefore fallen in recent years with startling suddenness. But birth rates have either remained at their old high level or, if they have fallen, have fallen very little and at a very slow rate. In consequence, human numbers are now increasing more rapidly than at any time in the history of the species. Moreover, the yearly increases are themselves increasing. They increase regularly, according to the rules of compound interest; and they also increase irregularly with every application, by a technologically backward society of the principles of Public Health. At the present time the annual increase in world population runs to about forty-three millions. This means that every four years mankind adds to its numbers the equivalent of the present population of the United States, every eight and a half years the equivalent of the present population of India. At the rate of increase prevailing between the birth of Christ and the death of Queen Elizabeth I, it took sixteen centuries for the population of the earth to double. At the present rate it will double in less than half a century. And this fantastically rapid doubling of our numbers will be taking place on a planet whose most desirable and productive areas are already densely populated, whose soils are being eroded by the frantic efforts of bad farmers to raise more food, and whose easily available mineral capital is being squandered with the reckless extravagance of a drunken sailor getting rid of his accumulated pay.

In the Brave New World of my fable, the problem of human numbers in their relation to natural resources had been effectively solved. An optimum figure for world population had been calculated and numbers were maintained at this figure (a little under two billions, if I remember rightly) generation after generation. In the real contemporary world, the population problem has not been solved. On the contrary it is becoming graver and more formidable with every passing year. It is against this grim biological background that all the political, economic, cultural and psychological dramas of our time are being played out. As the twentieth century wears on, as the new billions are added to the existing billions (there will be more than five and a half billions of us by the time my granddaughter is fifty), this biological background will advance, ever more insistently, ever more menacingly, toward the front and center of the historical stage. The problem of rapidly increasing numbers in relation to natural resources, to social stability and to the well-being of individuals -- this is now the central problem of mankind; and it will remain the central problem certainly for another century, and perhaps for several centuries thereafter. A new age is supposed to have begun on October 4, 1957. But actually, in the present context, all our exuberant post-Sputnik talk is irrelevant and even nonsensical. So far as the masses of mankind are concerned, the coming time will not be the Space Age; it will be the Age of Over-population. We can parody the words of the old song and ask,

Will the space that you're so rich in Light a fire in the kitchen, Or the little god of space turn the spit, spit, spit?

The answer, it is obvious, is in the negative. A settlement on the moon may be of some military advantage to the nation that does the settling. But it will do nothing whatever to make life more tolerable, during the fifty years that it will take our present population to double, for the earth's undernourished and proliferating billions. And even if, at some future date, emigration to Mars should become feasible, even if any con- siderable number of men and women were desperate enough to choose a new life under conditions comparable to those prevailing on a mountain twice as high as Mount Everest, what difference would that make? In the course of the last four centuries quite a number of people sailed from the Old World to the New. But neither their departure nor the returning flow of food and raw materials could solve the problems of the Old World. Similarly the shipping of a few surplus humans to Mars (at a cost, for transportation and development, of several million dollars a head) will do nothing to solve the problem of mounting population pressures on our own planet. Unsolved, that problem will render insoluble all our other problems. Worse still, it will create conditions in which individual freedom and the social decencies of the democratic way of life will become impossible, almost unthinkable. Not all dictatorships arise in the same way. There are many roads to Brave New World; but perhaps the straightest and the broadest of them is the road we are traveling today, the road that leads through gigantic numbers and accelerating increases. Let us briefly review the reasons for this close correlation between too many people, too rapidly multiplying, and the formulation of authoritarian philosophies, the rise of totalitarian systems of government.

As large and increasing numbers press more heavily upon available resources, the economic position of the society undergoing this ordeal becomes ever more precarious. This is especially true of those underdeveloped regions, where a sudden lowering of the death rate by means of DDT, penicillin and clean water has not been accompanied by a corresponding fall in the birth rate. In parts of Asia and in most of Central and South America populations are increasing so fast that they will double themselves in little more than twenty years. If the production of food and manufactured articles, of houses, schools and teachers, could be increased at a greater rate than human numbers, it would be possible to improve the wretched lot of those who live in these underdeveloped and over- populated countries. But unfortunately these countries lack not merely agricultural machinery and an industrial plant capable of turning out this machinery, but also the capital required to create such a plant. Capital is what is left over after the primary needs of a population have been satisfied. But the primary needs of most of the people in underdeveloped countries are never fully satisfied. At the end of each year almost nothing is left over, and there is therefore almost no capital available for creating the industrial and agricultural plant, by means of which the people's needs might be satisfied. Moreover, there is, in all these underdeveloped countries, a serious shortage of the trained manpower without which a modern industrial and agricultural plant cannot be operated. The present educational facilities are inadequate; so are the resources, financial and cultural, for improving the existing facilities as fast as the situation demands. Meanwhile the population of some of these underdeveloped countries is increasing at the rate of 3 per cent per annum.

Their tragic situation is discussed in an important book, published in 1957 -- The Next Hundred Years, by Professors Harrison Brown, James Bonner and John Weir of the California Institute of Technology. How is mankind coping with the problem of rapidly increasing numbers? Not very successfully. "The evidence suggests rather strongly that in most underdeveloped countries the lot of the average individual has worsened appreciably in the last half century. People have become more poorly fed. There are fewer available goods per person. And practically every attempt to improve the situation has been nullified by the relentless pressure of continued population growth." Whenever the economic life of a nation becomes precarious, the central government is forced to assume additional responsibilities for the general welfare. It must work out elaborate plans for dealing with a critical situation; it must impose ever greater restrictions upon the activities of its subjects; and if, as is very likely, worsening economic conditions result in political unrest, or open rebellion, the central government must intervene to preserve public order and its own authority. More and more power is thus concentrated in the hands of the executives and their bureaucratic managers. But the nature of power is such that even those who have not sought it, but have had it forced upon them, tend to acquire a taste for more. "Lead us not into temptation," we pray -- and with good reason; for when human beings are tempted too enticingly or too long, they generally yield. A democratic constitution is a device for preventing the local rulers from yielding to those particularly dangerous temptations that arise when too much power is concentrated in too few hands. Such a constitution works pretty well where, as in Britain or the United States, there is a traditional respect for constitutional procedures. Where the republican or limited monarchical tradition is weak, the best of constitutions will not prevent ambitious politicians from succumbing with glee and gusto to the temptations of power. And in any country where numbers have begun to press heavily upon available resources, these temptations cannot fail to arise. Over-population leads to economic insecurity and social unrest. Unrest and insecurity lead to more control by central governments and an increase of their power. In the absence of a constitutional tradition, this increased power will probably be exercised in a dictatorial fashion. Even if Communism had never been invented, this would be likely to happen. But Communism has been invented. Given this fact, the probability of over-population leading through unrest to dictatorship becomes a virtual certainty. It is a pretty safe bet that, twenty years from now, all the world's over-populated and underdeveloped countries will be under some form of totalitarian rule -- probably by the Communist party.

How will this development affect the over-populated, but highly industrialized and still democratic countries of Europe? If the newly formed dictatorships were hostile to them, and if the normal flow of raw materials from the underdeveloped countries were deliberately interrupted, the nations of the West would find themselves in a very bad way indeed. Their industrial system would break down, and the highly developed technology, which up till now has permitted them to sustain a population much greater than that which could be supported by locally available resources, would no longer protect them against the consequences of having too many people in too small a territory. If this should happen, the enormous powers forced by unfavorable conditions upon central govern- ments may come to be used in the spirit of totalitarian dictatorship. The United States is not at present an over-populated country. If, however, the population continues to increase at the present rate (which is higher than that of India's increase, though happily a good deal lower than the rate now current in Mexico or Guatemala), the problem of numbers in relation to available resources might well become troublesome by the beginning of the twenty-first century. For the moment overpopulation is not a direct threat to the personal freedom of Americans. It remains, however, an indirect threat, a menace at one remove. If over-population should drive the underdeveloped countries into totalitarianism, and if these new dictatorships should ally themselves with Russia, then the military position of the United States would become less secure and the preparations for defense and retaliation would have to be intensified. But liberty, as we all know, cannot flourish in a country that is permanently on a war footing, or even a near-war footing. Permanent crisis justifies permanent control of everybody and everything by the agencies of the central government. And permanent crisis is what we have to expect in a world in which over-population is producing a state of things, in which dictatorship under Communist auspices becomes almost inevitable.

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

It's one of Granada's most famous landmarks and considered one of the greatest architectural palaces built by the Nasrid rulers of Spanish Granada in the 13th century AD, following the Islamic-Andalusian style, serving as a fortress for defending their city. Despite being built nearly 800 years ago, the Alhambra Palace remains an architectural marvel of exquisite beauty. So, discover with us some astonishing facts about it.

$$It took over 150 years to build$$

Prince Abu Abdullah Muhammad I, also known as "Al-Ghalib Billah," the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty in Granada, ordered the construction of the Alhambra Palace between 1238 and 1273 AD. While initial work on its fortified walls and thirteen tall towers began in 1238, the complete construction of the site lasted over 150 years due to additions and modifications by subsequent Nasrid rulers during their reigns.

$$Its name, "Alhambra," has several possible origins$$

Built on the elevated hill of "Sabika" near the Darro River, the origin of its name is debated. Some suggest it stems from the reddish color of the stones used in its construction or the red-tinged soil in the area. Others attribute it to the name "Al-Red," by which the rulers of Granada were known. Another theory links its name to the "Red City," named for the color of its other citadels.

$$The palace has withstood wars and earthquakes$$

From the outside, the Alhambra Palace still astonishes with its preserved architectural grandeur, despite being over 800 years old. It resisted attacks by the French army during the early 19th century invasion of Spain and has endured numerous earthquakes due to its location in a region prone to seismic activity.

$$Legend of the "Gate of Justice" and the end of the world$$

Builders of the palace believed so strongly in its exceptional construction and advanced techniques that they spread the idea that if enemies ever opened the "Gate of Justice" – the main gateway of the palace – it would signal the end of the world. The "Gate of Justice" remains a significant symbol of the Alhambra, featuring a sculpted hand on its cornerstone and a key placed beside it. Legend says the hand and key were positioned high up so that only the worthy could reach them, potentially becoming the new ruler of Granada and owner of the Alhambra Palace.

@ 1739d937:3e3136ef

This is the fourth in a series of weekly updates detailing progress on bringing MLS protocol DMs and group messaging to Nostr.

Previous Updates

• June 28th 2024
• July 6th 2024
• July 12th 2024

Progress this week

The dependency train continues to roll. This week I was in touch with the maintainers of both OpenMLS and the hkpe-rs library and have pushed my changes forward in both areas. I've also gotten closer to understanding the wire format and relay requirements for the NIP I'm working on.

To be honest, the progress feels pretty slow at the moment but I've seen this story often enough to know that I'm on the right track. To be clear, my goal here is do this right and make it as easy as possible for Nostr devs to implement MLS based messaging across all of Nostr. That necessarily requires ensuring that all the implementation libraries support the right pieces and that our NIP is clean and well thought through (no one likes a shed full of bikes).

HPKE-RS

My PR to add support for secp256k1 is moving. I've been adding tests this week and fixing a few issues. Once this is merged, I'll update my secp256k1-based library as well. One unfortunate roadblock has been a lack of solid test vectors - this has eaten some time.

OpenMLS Nostr Crypto

I had a short call with the OpenMLS maintainer team this week and was able to clarify what I'm trying to do and how they see it fitting in best. I was also able to get a better idea about how clients will need to process incoming messages. One interesting highlight: Messages have to be processed in the right order. Otherwise it's impossible to keep the ratchet tree in the correct state. My left-curve solution to this for now is to use both created at (as a dumb first pass at sorting) + a hash of the previous message content. This will give Nostr clients a simple way to double check that they have the messages in the correct order before they attempt to process them. Unfortunatley, this doesn't do a good job accounting for messages that are missing. My guess is that this isn't going to be a major issue, but I won't have a clear idea until there is a working Nostr relay based demo.

The next steps in my code for OpenMLS is to refactor the ciphersuites trait to make it easier to use custom ciphersuites. My initial PR hardcoded our secp256k1 based suite into the library but the clearly better solution is to refactor a few things to make sure that there isn't any hardcoding in the main OpenMLS library, the ciphersuite, or the credentials (which hold your identity information and make prekey bundles possible). The library's maintainers are open to this, so I've started on that this week.

Request for feedback

I'd love to hear from devs on one point. The OpenMLS library currently makes it very easy to serialize messages (both group control messages and actual messages between users). These messages have a lot of data in them about the current structure of the ratchet tree and whatever message or control event they're trying to communicate. My current plan is to simply NIP-44 encrypt those serialized messages into the content field of a new event kind. The messages themselves are deserialized and processed in two simple calls by the OpenMLS library so I don't see any reason to keep destructured or deserialized data in the nostr events that are heading over the wire. This also makes it easier to keep metadata about messages hidden to observers.

Goals Recap

It's been a few weeks since I've talked about why this is important so, it's time to recap what we're aiming for:

1. Private and Confidential DMs and Group messages
2. Private means that an observer cannot tell that Alice and Bob are talking to one another, or that Alice is part of a specific group. This necessarily requires protecting metadata.
3. Confidential means that the contents of conversations can only be viewed by the intended recipients.
4. Forward secrecy and Post-compromise security (PCS) in the case of any key material being leaked, whether that's your main Nostr identity key (your nsec) or any of the keys used in the MLS ratchet trees.
5. Forward secrecy means that encrypted content in the past remains encrypted even if key material is leaked.
6. Post compromise security means that leaking key material doesn't allow an attacker to continue to read messages indefinitely into the future.
7. Scales well for large groups. MLS provides this from a computational standpoint, but we need to make sure this works in a scalable way when multiple relays are involved.
8. Allows for the use of multiple device/clients in a single conversation/group. Importantly, we're not aiming to enable a device/client to be able to reconstruct the full history of a conversation at any point.

Onward and Upward

Grind, grind, grind. Touch grass & hug family. I'm visiting family starting next week for a few weeks. I'm going to be taking some time off in there so expect a few light updates in the coming weeks.

@ aa4955b3:e9df94de

I stood in the back of the church after Sunday’s service. An unfamiliar congregant approached me with a question: “If Saturday is the Sabbath day, and the Sabbath command is one of the ten commandments, then why do churches worship on Sunday?” It is a good question. While many evangelical churches today hold that the Sabbath command is the only commandment of the ten commandments not repeated in the New Testament, and therefore no longer binding, the more traditional Protestant view is that the ten commandments are part of the moral or natural law, and therefore all of the ten commandments remain in force, including the fourth commandment.

If that’s true, why worship on Sunday? Christians have worshiped on Sunday since the earliest times in the church because Sunday, the first day of the week, is the day Jesus rose from the dead. They called it “the Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10), and 1 Cor. 16:2 and Acts 20:7 both strongly suggest, if not demonstrate conclusively, that it was the early disciples’ custom, from the beginning, to meet on the first day of the week for worship. Jesus set apart the day not only by rising from the dead on that day, but also in His frequent appearances on the first day of the week after His resurrection (John 20:19; 20:26) and in the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, also on the first day of the week.

Still, if the Sabbath is a perpetual command, and Saturday is the Sabbath day, then how can churches simply ignore that fact and change the day it is observed? Aren’t they breaking God’s commandment? In truth, the fourth commandment never fixes Saturday as the day it must be observed. Scripture simply says it is to be observed the seventh day, because the LORD made the earth and the heavens in six days, and on the seventh day He rested from His work (Exod. 20:9; 35:2; Gen. 2:2-3). Granted, the seventh day, counted from the first day of creation, if we call that seventh day “Saturday,” would be observed Saturday each week, in perpetuity. And yet, the New Testament is very clear that Christ has inaugurated a new day, and a new creation. As 2 Cor. 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In fact, many prophecies, both verbal and typological, of the Old Testament, point to a fulfillment which sets apart the first day of the week (the eighth day as opposed to the seventh) as particularly holy (e.g. the Temple was dedicated on the first day of the week; Hebrew males were circumcised on the eighth day, etc.).

So that first resurrection Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead very early in the morning (John 20:1), was the expected and prophesied dawning of the first day of a new world (Rev. 21:5). It was the dawning of that eschatological eighth day, the beginning of a new week—a new Sabbath, if you will—prophesied in types and shadows throughout the Old Testament. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but He did come to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17). He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8), and He set apart and sanctified the first day of the week by rising from the dead on that day. Which is a more fitting day for Christians to worship Jesus our risen Redeemer—Saturday, the day He was dead in the tomb, or Sunday, the day He rose triumphant from the tomb?

The upshot is this: Christians still observe the day of God’s rest, every seventh day, just as the fourth commandment requires, but we observe it not on the day God rested from His work of creation, but on the day Jesus, God incarnate, rested from His work of redemption, as Christians have from the beginning. For if Jews under the Old Testament observed the Sabbath every seventh day in remembrance of the day God rested from His work of creation, how much more should we worship every seventh day, in remembrance of the day God rested from His greater work of making a new creation?

Author's note: I am indebted for much of the substance of this article to Robert Haldane's concise but persuasive work entitled Sanctification of the Sabbath: The Permanent Obligation to Observe the Sabbath or Lord's Day.

@ 5df413d4:2add4f5b

BLUEBERRY OKRA LIME TEA

https://image.nostr.build/f063cf64710c1551c7cfbfd090cbcb9dbf6b1ab046c26fbe9f81f9cabe454d12.jpg https://image.nostr.build/5e8267ac7c4d30764ad9748fd8ac64b5ad4c746172a4a32ecac355378ed2666a.jpg

• Blueberries
• Cut Okra fingers
• Okra Flowers
• Lime zest
• Slice of lime

Heat water 3-4 cups of water to boil. Add ingredients and let boil for 5 minutes. Lower heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Use sieve with funnel to strain into 32 oz mason jar.

Benefits: Gut health, Cardiovascular health, antioxidant and anti-inflammation, boost immunity, anti-diabetic, sexual vitality.

Also remember Okra is a "seed to stem" fruit - the seeds, stalks, leaves, flower, and fruit are all edible. It is a plant with phenomenal culinary, medicinal, and even cosmetic (i.e. hair and skin uses) range - your African, Indo-Asian, and American Southern herbalists and plant works have always known this. If this is new to you, ask your self why...

Blessing to you all friends.

~Moon

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

It's been a while since I've scolded everyone for their miserliness. The recent archiving of some popular territories inspired me to make another attempt. Plus, there are quite a few new stackers who haven't been scolded, yet.

I'll keep this one short and sweet: 1. Territory owners need to make about 100 kilosats per month. 2. They earn their sats through posting fees. 3. OP's need to recoup their posting costs through zaps.

Therefore, when there's content you like, zap big and zap often.

If there's a lack of content you like, cowboy up and write it yourself. We just might make it worth your while.

Zapping more can pay for itself through the rewards system (see: https://stacker.news/items/287074/r/Undisciplined and https://stacker.news/items/473181/r/Undisciplined)

Also, zapping more will make Stacker News more aligned with what you want it to be: https://stacker.news/items/523858/r/Undisciplined.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/614066

@ 005bc4de:ef11e1a2

It may not be going out on a limb at this point, but I'm making the call on Biden right now.

1. he spends the weekend at home "resting, recovering, thinking"
2. returns to White House early next week, Monday or Tuesday
3. lays low, but before the week's end, staffers declare a "major announcement" imminent from the president
4. gives a "Cross Hall" White House announcement something to the effect: "After consulting with my family, and for personal health reasons, we've decided it is in everyone's best interest for me to pass the torch of the Democrat party. I am withdrawing my name as a candidate for the 2024 party nominee."
5. turn, walk down the hall, turn right
6. turn the page; Democrats begin to reminisce the "incredible" job Biden did for America, practically saving the nation from certain ruin, and go "whole hog" on Harris

We'll see how it plays out.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Yesterday's edition https://stacker.news/items/612715/r/Undisciplined

I enjoyed the discussion in the 2022 AMA. I'd love to have some more stackers reporting more on the developing world. How is the bitcoin ecosystem developing? What problems is it solving for people?

• • -

July 19, 2023 📅

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📝 TOP POST

Bitcoin Optech Newsletter #260

Link to https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2023/07/19/

2733 sats \ 0 comments \ @ssaurel \ ~bitcoin

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💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/211250/r/Undisciplined?commentId=211288

Excerpt

Been very busy recently replicating the Indranet architecture to the guy who's been paying me to design and build it. It's been great for me in terms of helping delineate the core principles of the design and to spot some possible design flaws, as we […]

340 sats \ 0 replies \ @l0k18

From What are you working on this week? by @sn in ~meta

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🏆 TOP STACKER

2nd place @nerd2ninja (1st hiding, presumed @siggy47)

1335 stacked \ 2158 spent \ 0 posts \ 6 comments \ 0 referrals

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

22.1k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 29.9k spent \ 110 posts \ 192 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 19, 2022 📅

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📝 TOP POST

I'm Alex Gladstein. CSO of the Human Rights Foundation. AMA

Excerpt

I am also the author of Check Your Financial Privilege.

93.1k sats \ 48 comments \ @gladstein \ ~bitcoin

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💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/47002/r/Undisciplined?commentId=47018

Excerpt

Bitcoin is likely playing a nascent role in cross-border payments between South Korea, China, and NK, but it's too early too tell

470 sats \ 0 replies \ @gladstein

From I'm Alex Gladstein. CSO of the Human Rights Foundation. AMA by @gladstein in ~bitcoin

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🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

13.5k stacked \ 92.4k spent \ 3 posts \ 13 comments \ 0 referrals

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

126.4k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 132k spent \ 94 posts \ 300 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 19, 2021 📅

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📝 TOP POST

Dashboard: Bitcoin KPIs

Link to https://bitcoinkpis.com/

3 sats \ 3 comments \ @nathanael \ ~bitcoin

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💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/398/r/Undisciplined?commentId=409

Excerpt

nice - i added it there - welcome

2 sats \ 1 reply \ @nathanael

From Stacker.News Community by @gmd in ~bitcoin

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🏆 TOP STACKER

No top stacker

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

11 stacked \ 0 revenue \ 15 spent \ 1 post \ 7 comments

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/613971

@ a5d8475e:df9ff32c

Understanding how local estate agents determine the value of a property is crucial for anyone looking to buy or sell a home. Letting agents wolverhampton use a combination of market analysis, property characteristics, and local expertise to assess property value accurately. In regions like Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, the role of local estate agents is particularly significant due to the diverse property market. Here's an insight into the process estate agents use to value properties.

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) One of the primary methods used by estate agents west midlands, is Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This involves comparing the property in question with similar properties that have recently sold in the same area. Key factors considered include the property's location, size, age, condition, and features. By analyzing these comparable sales, agents can estimate a competitive market value for the property.

Location and Neighborhood The location of a property is a major determinant of its value. Estate agents Wolverhampton and the West Midlands consider various aspects of the neighborhood, such as proximity to schools, transportation links, shopping centers, and other amenities. Properties in highly sought-after areas, like Tettenhall or Codsall, often command higher prices due to their desirable locations.

Property Condition and Features The condition of a property significantly impacts its value. Wolverhampton estate agents evaluate both the interior and exterior condition of the property, including structural integrity, modernity of installations, and overall maintenance. Features such as a modern kitchen, updated bathrooms, double glazing, and energy-efficient systems can enhance property value. Unique features, like historical elements in older homes, can also add value.

Market Conditions Current market conditions play a crucial role in property valuation. Estate agents monitor local and national market trends, including supply and demand dynamics, interest rates, and economic indicators. For instance, if there's a high demand for properties but limited supply in the West Midlands, property values are likely to rise. Conversely, an oversupply of homes may lead to lower property prices.

Conclusion Determining the value of a property is a complex process that involves various factors and expertise. Estate agents in Wolverhampton and the West Midlands use a combination of Comparative Market Analysis, professional appraisals, market conditions, and local knowledge to provide accurate property valuations.

CONTACT:

2-3 Walsall Rd, Willenhall, WV13 2EH, info@halleuk.com, +44 (0) 1902 504455

@ b804f68e:2fb0fa1f

Just started looking into powdered mushrooms and was wondering if stackers have used or use any for supplementation. I have previously tried Lion's mane and chaga, and since haven't but am interested in playing around with them again. Cordyceps does sound interesting, if anyone has any experience taking them.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/613694

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Bitcoin Mining and Energy Consumption

• Environmental Impact of Bitcoin Mining

• Efforts to Reduce Bitcoin's Environmental Impact

• Is Bitcoin Worth the Environmental Cost?

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Bitcoin has gained immense popularity in recent years as a decentralized digital currency. However, with its rise in popularity, concerns about its environmental impact have also increased. The process of mining Bitcoin, which involves solving complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and create new Bitcoins, requires an enormous amount of energy consumption.

Bitcoin Mining and Energy Consumption

Bitcoin mining is the process of adding new transactions to the blockchain by solving complex mathematical equations. This process requires a massive amount of computational power, which is achieved by using specialized hardware and consuming a significant amount of energy. The energy consumption of Bitcoin mining has become a significant concern as the popularity of the cryptocurrency has grown.

Environmental Impact of Bitcoin Mining

Bitcoin mining has come under criticism for its significant environmental impact. The following are the environmental impacts of bitcoin mining:

Energy Consumption

Bitcoin mining requires an enormous amount of energy, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, Bitcoin mining consumes more energy than entire countries like Argentina and Norway.

Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint of Bitcoin mining is enormous. It is estimated that the annual carbon emissions from Bitcoin mining are equivalent to those of a small country. The carbon footprint is mainly due to the high energy consumption and the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

E-waste

Bitcoin mining requires specialized hardware, which has a limited lifespan. The mining hardware becomes obsolete quickly, leading to electronic waste (e-waste) and pollution.

Land Use

Bitcoin mining requires large amounts of land for the installation of mining hardware and the cooling infrastructure. The land use is a concern, especially in regions where land is scarce.

Water Use

Bitcoin mining requires water for cooling purposes. The high water consumption can strain local water supplies, especially in areas where water scarcity is an issue.

Efforts to Reduce Bitcoin's Environmental Impact

Efforts to reduce Bitcoin's environmental impact have been ongoing in recent years. Some of the most notable efforts include the increased use of renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric and geothermal power, for Bitcoin mining operations. Additionally, some mining companies have implemented more energy-efficient hardware and cooling systems to reduce energy consumption. Some initiatives also focus on developing alternative consensus mechanisms to the energy-intensive Proof-of-Work algorithm currently used in Bitcoin mining. While these efforts are promising, it remains to be seen if they will be enough to significantly reduce Bitcoin's environmental impact in the long term.

Is Bitcoin Worth the Environmental Cost?

As with any technology, there are both benefits and costs associated with Bitcoin. While the cryptocurrency has the potential to revolutionize the way we make online transactions, it also has a significant environmental cost. So, is Bitcoin worth the environmental cost?

One argument in favor of Bitcoin is that it has the potential to reduce our reliance on traditional banking systems, which can have their own environmental impact. In addition, some argue that the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining is overstated, and that renewable energy sources could be used to power mining operations.

Conclusion

Bitcoin's environmental impact is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. While Bitcoin has the potential to revolutionize the way we conduct transactions, it comes at a significant cost to the environment. The energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with Bitcoin mining are substantial and could have serious long-term consequences.

FAQ

What is Bitcoin's environmental impact? Bitcoin mining consumes a significant amount of energy, leading to a substantial carbon footprint and contributing to climate change.

How does Bitcoin mining contribute to carbon emissions? Bitcoin mining requires powerful computer systems that consume a lot of electricity. The majority of the electricity comes from non-renewable sources such as coal, which emits large amounts of carbon dioxide when burned.

What efforts are being made to reduce Bitcoin's environmental impact? Several initiatives are being undertaken to make Bitcoin mining more sustainable. These include transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving mining efficiency, and developing more eco-friendly mining hardware.

That's all for today

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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.

@ b7274d28:c99628cb

There is a general perception surrounding Bitcoin that it is prohibitively difficult to use for the average person. This perception can even infect those who are familiar with the various tools to optimally preserve their privacy, sovereignty, and security while using Bitcoin. After all, there’s 12 words you have to keep safe, or someone might steal all of your money. There’s all these tools like hardware wallets, software wallets, running a node, coin-join, and so much more you have to figure out in order to save and transact in Bitcoin securely and privately. Not to mention everything you have to learn if you want to use Lightning in a sovereign way, such as setting up channels, managing liquidity, learning LNURL, and setting up a domain so you can have a Lightning address.

All of these things can be intimidating for those considering whether they want to adopt Bitcoin, especially when comparing it with how little is needed for how most people interact with fiat today. As long as they have a debit card with their four-digit PIN memorized, and their password to their online banking, they have access to their money, and can use it virtually anywhere. Moreover, if they mess something up, they can just go to their financial institution and get a new debit card, or have their password reset. If a fraudster gets access to their account, their bank can often credit the money back to them and change their account information. The very real danger in Bitcoin of losing your funds and having no way of getting them back is scary for a lot of people.

One answer that Bitcoiners often give is, “Don’t worry. We’re still early and these tools will get easier to use as time goes on.” All that really tells someone is, “It might be better for you to wait and see if it actually does get easier.” Ease of use is a major factor for most people, and telling them that it is something they can expect from Bitcoin in the future just makes them more likely to wait until that hypothetical future arrives before they adopt it.

This perception of Bitcoin’s difficulty is really just a matter of perspective, though. Bitcoin looks incredibly difficult to use when you compare the way most people currently interact with fiat to using Bitcoin in a sovereign and private manner. This is comparing apples to oranges, though. If you instead compare apples to apples, looking at what it would take to use fiat digitally in a sovereign and private manner, suddenly Bitcoin is not more difficult than fiat, but less.

Someone may say, “Using fiat in a sovereign and private manner is easy! Just use cash.” Let’s explore that idea a bit, though. Cash can be very useful for transacting privately and without any intermediaries, but that usefulness diminishes when you want to transact with someone who is not within a short drive from you. As soon as you want to purchase something from a merchant in another state, or even the other side of the same state, a large amount of friction is added because you must travel to one another to complete the transaction. The farther you have to travel to transact in cash, the more convenient Bitcoin’s privacy tools begin to look. Indeed, the types of transactions that cash can easily make private and sovereign are exceptionally limited.

The next thing to consider is that cash may be convenient for transacting locally in a private manner, but it is much less convenient for storing your wealth privately and securely. If you want to store large sums of cash privately, a fire rated safe is much more expensive than memorizing 12 words, and is not impenetrable. Its only benefit is in making it take longer for fire to burn your cash or for a thief to break in and steal it, and that added length of time is measured in mere minutes. Meanwhile, the amount of time it would take someone to access the Bitcoin stored in 12 memorized words is measured in billions of years and the cost to secure it is just the transaction fee. Choosing to hide your cash instead may be less expensive than a safe, but then you will need to do some research on how best to protect it from the elements, which adds complexity, expense, and physical labor that is more cumbersome than rolling dice a few times and memorizing 12 words. Regardless of the method, securing cash is more difficult than securing Bitcoin and carries less assurances against theft or destruction. These shortcomings of storing wealth in cash become even more acute if you ever need to move that wealth, especially across any national border. Hiding thousands of dollars of cash in your luggage is much more difficult than carrying 12 words in your head that preserve your access to millions of sats.

Where there is no contest between the ease of using Bitcoin vs. fiat, though, is when you attempt to use fiat digitally in a private and/or sovereign manner. While privacy in Bitcoin is certainly an involved process, digital fiat is nearly impossible to use privately and is fraught with even worse “gotchas”. Forget about trying to use digital fiat in a sovereign manner. That actually is impossible. When people say using fiat is easier than using Bitcoin, they mean that using centralized, custodial, financial institutions that are surveilling your every transaction is easier than using self-custody, sovereign, Bitcoin. That’s a completely lopsided comparison, but it’s the only one that most people can imagine making, because they have never attempted to use digital fiat in a private manner in the first place.

What we should do is compare using Bitcoin in a sovereign and private way with using digital fiat in the same way, and likewise compare using Bitcoin via custodians to using digital fiat via banks and bank alternatives. When we do so, we find that not only is Bitcoin much easier to use privately than digital fiat, but it is impossible to use the latter in a sovereign manner and custodial Bitcoin is even easier to use than custodial fiat.

Anyone can get set up on a custodial wallet, with a Lightning Address, and be zapping people on Nostr, in less than 5 minutes. When was the last time you could do anything similar when setting up a bank account? Buying anything online with a custodial wallet has far less friction than using a debit or credit card. Scan the QR code and hit send. Done. No filling out card numbers, expiration dates, and billing addresses. Do you want to send money to your friend? All you need is their Lightning Address, and even if they are using a completely different custodian than you are, they receive the funds instantly and with virtually no fee. Custodial Bitcoin on Lightning already has better ease of use than any fiat custodian can provide, and it’s only improving.

Now, admittedly, the ideal in Bitcoin is to avoid custodians if you possibly can, and that is where things begin to get complicated, adding difficulty for the average user. However, avoiding custodians is not complicated or difficult with digital fiat, it’s entirely impossible. Most of us just never consider that fact when comparing the two. Instead we put the way we commonly use our fully centralized and surveilled custodial fiat up against the way we are told we ought to use Bitcoin to preserve our sovereignty and privacy, and we conclude Bitcoin is way more difficult, when that could not be farther from the truth. Sovereign, self-custody Bitcoin is far easier than sovereign, self-custody digital fiat, considering that the latter doesn’t even exist, and custodial Bitcoin is far easier than custodial fiat.

Then, when you add back into the equation the fact that fiat is constantly stealing from you, while Bitcoin is hard money that cannot have its supply arbitrarily inflated, the comparison is no contest. Bitcoin is far superior to fiat in every way! The tools to really take personal ownership of it without custodial risk may initially be intimidating, but they are not difficult if you take them on incrementally. You don’t need to dive immediately into hardware wallets, running a node, or managing the liquidity in your Lightning channels. You can start with a basic wallet app on your phone and your first few thousand sats and venture forth from there at your own pace. Bitcoin is hard money that won’t steal the value of your time and energy from you, but it’s not difficult to learn if you approach it like anything else new you have learned before. Take your time, and get comfortable with one new idea or tool every week or two, and before you know it you’ll be the one telling your friends and family just how easy it really is.

@ 8947a945:9bfcf626

วันที่ 15/7/2024 เป็นวันแรกของทริป ครั้งนี้ไปที่ปากช่องครับ เส้นทางที่ใช้คือนนทบุรี ออกอยุธยา เข้าสระบุรี เข้าปากช่อง

วัดพระพุทธบาท จังหวัดสระบุรี

ตอนที่หาข้อมูลของวัดแห่งนี้ ผมตั้งใจจะพาครอบครัวมาไหว้พระ ไหว้รอยพระพุทธบาท เพื่อขอรากฐานความมั่นคงทั้งทางโลกและทางธรรม เสมือนรอยพระพุทธบาทขององค์พระพุทธเจ้า ที่ท่านก้าวเดินอย่างหนักแน่นมั่นคง มีสติในทุกๆก้าว รอยพระพุทธบาทอยู่ในวิหารหลังนี้ครั้ง แต่พวกผมเคารพความศักดิ์สิทธิ์และไม่ต้องการทำให้คนอื่นๆที่มาสักการะเสียสมาธิ ผมเลยเลือกถ่ายรูปเฉพาะภายนอก ไม่ถ่ายข้างในครับ

หลังจากไหว้รอบพระพุทธบาทเสร็จ ด้านหลังตัววิหารมีบันไดทางขึ้นไปกราบไหวพระพุทธฉาย บันไดขึ้นเขาสูงประมาณ 300 ขั้น มีเจ้าหน้าที่นำทางและอธิบายประวัติความสำคัญของสถานที่

เมื่อมาถึงจุดของพระพุทธฉาย บริเวณที่เป็นหน้าผาแห่งนี้ หากมองดีๆ “อาจจะ” เห็นรูปพระพุทธเจ้าอยู่ในอิริยาบทนั่งสมาธิ

ถัดจากบริเวณนี้เป็นทางเดินระหว่างหุบเขาที่คนจีนและชาวบ้านสมัยก่อนใช้เป็นเส้นทางในการเดินแสวงบุญระหว่างวัดพระพุทธบาทแห่งนี้และวัดอีกแห่งที่อยู่บนภูเขาลูกถัดไป รวมถึงเป็นเส้นทางที่ใช้อัญเชิญรูปปั้นของเทพเจ้าของจีน เช่น อากงเห้งเจีย เจ้าแม่กวนอิม มาประดิษฐานที่วัดพระพุทธบาท

เป็นทางเดินที่ลาดชัน เป็นทางน้ำไหลผ่านลงเขาเวลาฝนตก มีถ้ำพระนอนเป็นจุดสักการะสุดท้าย ย้อนไปในสมัยของหลวงปู่มั่น และ สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์โตพรหมรังสี ท่านทั้งสองก็ใช้เส้นทางนี้ในการเดินทางตอนที่มาวัดพระพุทธบาท ท่านใช้ถ้ำแห่งนี้ในการค้างคืน สวดมนต์นั่งสมาธิ แต่บรรยากาศในถ้ำก็ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ผมและครอบครัวนั่งระลึกถึงพระสังฆคุณที่พระอาจารย์ทั้งสองได้เทศสอนไว้ เลยไม่ได้ถ่ายรูปครับ มีแต่ถ่ายรูปบรรยากาศด้านนอก และวิวเขาที่ยืนอยู่หน้าถ้ำ

---

หลังจากนี้ครอบครัวผมเดินทางเข้าที่พักครับ ทริปนี้ผมเข้าพักที่ “มาดี ปากช่อง รีสอร์ท”ครับ เป็นที่พักที่เด็กๆจะต้องร้องกรี๊ด เพราะมีเครื่องเล่นของเด็กๆครบ เด็กเล่นได้ทั้งวันทั้งคืน จนกว่าเจ้าหน้าที่จะกลับ เครื่องเล่นหลายรายการฟรี เช่นสนามเด็กเล่น จักรยาน ยิงธนู ลูกดอกปาเป้า สระว่ายน้ำในพูลวิลล่าของใครของมัน และสระขนาดใหญ่ส่วนกลาง แต่ก็จะมีรายการที่ต้องจ่ายเพิ่มบ้างเช่นรถ ATV ภายในยังมีร้านสะดวกซื้อเล็กๆด้วย

พามาดูบรรยากาศห้องพักพูลวิลลาครับ

กิจกรรมครอบครัว = ลงน้ำ

สำหรับมื้อเย็นวันแรก สั่งหมูกระทะมากินในตัววิลลาครับ

บรรยากาศรอบๆตัวรีสอร์ท

เดี๋ยวมาเล่าต่อครั้งถัดไปครับ ว่าไปเที่ยวไหนต่อ

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

$$Pablo Picasso$$ What you may not know about Picasso Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, and co-founder of the Cubist movement. He was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain. His first words were "piz, piz," a childish pronunciation of the Spanish word "lápiz," meaning pencil. His father began teaching him art when he was a child. He drew inspiration from the people he met at the Quatre Gats café in Barcelona.

Pablo's life went through several stages: the Blue Period (1901-1904) included works like "La Vie" and "The Old Guitarist." The Rose Period (1904-1906) featured works such as "Family of Saltimbanques" and "Gertrude Stein." Picasso's later works were characterized by simplicity and a childlike style. He had countless wives, girlfriends, and children. One of his famous quotes is "Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth."

Additional information about Picasso is that his parents initially thought he was stillborn, but they discovered his early talent for drawing and mastering art at a young age. He was also a poet and playwright. He was asked to investigate the theft of the Mona Lisa painting. Pablo Picasso's birthdate is October 25, 1881.

$$Biography of Picasso$$ Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga on October 25, 1881, becoming one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. He co-founded the Cubist school with Georges Braque. Picasso, the Spanish expatriate, was a painter, sculptor, theatrical designer, and was considered avant-garde in his work.

Picasso died on April 8, 1973, in Mougins, France, after a long professional life filled with creativity, yet he remained through the massive amount of his work and the legend that lives on to honor the controversial Spanish, the owner of the gloomy look that he believed would keep him alive.

Nearly eighty of his 91 years old, Picasso devoted himself to producing works of art that significantly contributed to the development of modern art in the 20th century.

$$Early life of Picasso$$ Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, in Malaga, Spain. His full name, honored by a collection of relatives and saints, was: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispin Crispiniano María Remedios de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso.

His mother was Doña Maria Picasso Lopez, and his father was Don José Ruiz Blasco, a painter and art teacher. Picasso was a precocious boy with a pair of dark, intense eyes and a bright look that made him seem destined for greatness.

My mother told me when I was a child: "If you become a soldier, you will be famous; if you become a monk, you will be the Pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up Picasso.

Picasso showed a remarkable talent for drawing despite being relatively poor, and the story goes that his first words were "piz, piz," an attempt as a child to say the Spanish word "lápiz," meaning pencil.

His father began teaching him drawing and painting when he was a child, and by the age of 13, the boy had surpassed his father's skill level. Later, Picasso lost any desire to complete his studies and chose instead to spend his days at school drawing in his notebook.

Picasso said: "As a bad student, I was punished and banished to" Calamus, "a room with walls painted white and a seat to sit on. Later, I said," I loved that room because I used its walls as a large board I drew on constantly, I had to stay there forever drawing without stopping. "

Picasso and his family moved to Barcelona when he was 14 years old, where he was immediately accepted into the prestigious City School of Fine Arts. Although the school usually only accepted students older than Picasso by several years, Picasso's admission exam was unusual and received recognition and exception. Nevertheless, Picasso became tired of the strict rules and regulations of art school and began skipping classes to wander the streets of Barcelona and draw the scenes he noticed there.

Picasso moved to Madrid at the age of 16 in 1897 to receive his education at the Royal Academy of San Fernando. However, he was again frustrated by the teaching style that focused solely on classical subjects and techniques.

He wrote to his friend at the time: "They come on the same old things: Velázquez for painting, Michelangelo for sculpture."

Picasso again began skipping his lessons to wander the streets of Madrid and draw what he noticed: dawn, beggars, and other things. Picasso returned to Barcelona in 1899 and met a group of artists and intellectuals who made their headquarters in a cafe called Cuatre Gats "Cats Four."

Picasso drew inspiration from the disorderly people he met there and completely disconnected from the classical styles he was trained in and entered an experimental and creative stage that spanned his life.

$$Personal life of Picasso$$ Picasso was a ladies' man, and he had countless relationships with girlfriends, lovers, and musicians. He married twice during his first life. A dancer was named Olga Khokhlova in 1918, and they continued together for nine years, where they had one child named Paulo, who was separated from them in. 1979 He married for a second time, Jacqueline Rock, who suicide in. 1986 Had with has in them a daughter of his death. Of these marriages, met 1935 Doramar in the film "Le Crime Monsieurlang" produce 1936, quickly a relationship professional, they into 1946. Three Three year relationship with Francois Gilot child.

@ 9fec72d5:f77f85b1

Each relay selects a branch from above and starts serving.

Some big machines in the top layers can handle more. Smaller machines in layers below are needed for decentralization and scalability.

Some top layer machines can act in sync only mode, efficiently distributing notes among layers.

Relay or the admin posts a special kind for advertisement of the relay:

```

{ "pubkey": "...pubkey of admin or the relay itself..", "kind": 30202, "tags": [ ["d","..10"], ["ip4","111.222.33.44:443","primary"], ["ip6","abc:def::443","backup"], ], ... } ```

The above example says this relay will handle the note id's that are ending with bits ..10. In this case it is going to handle about 1/4th of the network.

Primary way of reaching at this relay is through ip 111.222.33.44. There is also a backup server.

Clients can accept this advertisement based on web of trust or historical reliability of the npub. Or other npubs can measure the reliability of this relay and send reactions to this note. Clients then can see these reactions and rank these services.

Solves: - Possible future DNS ban issues: I don't know when or if DNS will be an issue for Nostr. The above design can help with the situation.

• Scalability: If 1 million users join the network at the same time, the machines that are handling ".." i.e. all of the traffic may fail. But if the clients are using relays on other layers, the load will be efficiently distributed to many machines. The failure of layer 0 and 1 will not stop the network. Every layer can operate independently without the other layers (in theory).

• Traffic efficiency: A client has to query many relays, depending on what it wants to do. It may choose to stay efficient (talk to top layers) on mobile traffic, or it may choose to help decentralization over wifi. The notes that match the queries will not be repeated as many times as current design, because relays will hold a portion of the network.

• Storage efficiency: Relay operators can just save a part of the network that they are responsible for, on NVME drives. The rest of the network they can save in hard drives. In case of major failure the hard drives can still have a copy.

• Speed: Since the notes will come from many different relays at the same time, there may be a slight speed increase.

• Decentralization: If the top layer relays collude and start banning the other layers can still continue to serve notes.

• Backup relay: In case a relay instance fails, users can find the backup server on the same note.

• Zero down time migration: The ability to define a backup server allows zero down time migrations. An operator can set the primary to the new server and backup to the old server and do migration and continue without interruption.

• Efficient sync among servers: A relay has to sync with 3 servers, 1 above, 2 below. But it can do 6 or 9 depending on how much reliability it wants.

• Writing to logN relays: Clients has to write to logN relays (i.e. 1 relay in each layer), to effectively distribute their notes to everyone and also to help with decentralization.

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

These are my very preliminary RB rankings, my only research being the RotoWire depth charts and player notes.

**Tier 1

Christian McCaffrey**

He’s 28 years old, has 1,402 career carries including the postseason and weighs only 205 pounds at 5-11. But McCaffrey is arguably the greatest running back all time, when you include the pass catching, and he’s in the league’s best system for backs. Health is really the only variable, and anyone can get hurt.

**Tier 2

Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor**

These are the three-down backs with elite skill sets. Hall should be better another year removed from the ACL tear and playing with a better QB, Robinson should get the heavy usage he merits with Arthur Smith gone, Barkley finally gets a quality offensive line and QB and Taylor plays next to a running QB and has little competition for carries.

**Tier 3

Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane, Kyren Williams, Travis Etienne**

These are the little guys, all of whom can run and catch passes, plus Etienne. Williams is the biggest risk as an early-down high-workload guy, but he was also insanely productive when he played in Sean McVay’s lead-back-friendly system. Gibbs seems like peak Alvin Kamara, only faster and Achane in the Miami offense was the most efficient back in league history by a mile. I originally had Etienne in Tier 4, but he doesn’t have much competition for the job and should be a three-down back.

**Tier 4

Isaiah Pacheco, Josh Jacobs, Joe Mixon, James Cook, David Montgomery, Derrick Henry, Kenneth Walker, Racchad White, James Conner, Rhamondre Stevenson, Zack Moss, Javonte Williams, Devin Singletary **

This is a big tier, but these are all the incomplete players guaranteed reps if healthy. Pacheco could be moved to Tier 3, but Patrick Mahomes doesn’t check down to the back all that often, and Pacheco rarely gets to 20 carries in a game. Jacobs is a beast but has a ton of mileage in a short span and fell off last year. Mixon is another old warhorse with a lot of mileage, albeit also in a good situation. Cook suffers due to Josh Allen’s goal-line prowess and tendency to take off rather than check down. Montomgery will cede the third-down work, Henry is old and doesn’t catch many passes, Walker splits carries, gets hurt often, White is a ham and egger who happened to see a huge workload, Conner is 29 and always misses time, Stevenson is a workhorse on a bad team, Moss is an average back in a good spot, Williams is another year off the injury, but on a bad team and Singletary is the clear lead back on a poor offense.

**Tier 5

Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Brooks, Alvin Kamara, Brian Robinson, Jaylen Warren, Austin Ekeler, Chuba Hubbard, Zamir White, Raheem Mostert, Aaron Jones, Najee Harris, Nick Chubb, Tyjae Spears, Trey Benson, Zach Charbonnet ** These are mostly timeshare backs, with the exception of Kamara whose efficiency fell through the floor and White who I’m not convinced will lock down the job all year.

**Tier 6

Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle, Gus Edwards, Jerome Ford, Zeke Elliott, Roschon Johnson, Jaylen Wright, Bucky Irving, JK Dobbins, Antonio Gibson, Chase Brown, Elijah Mitchell, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Algeier, MarShawn Lloyd**

This is the backup tier, all of whom probably need an injury ahead of them to break out.

These rankings will change, but I like to get my preliminary ones down on paper before I get influenced by ADP and training camp hype.

@ c7eda660:efd97c86

Bitvora is a unified Bitcoin & Lightning rail. A single API with no infrastructure overhead.

So you don’t have to go through this:

App engineers and product people, this is for you: two lines of code—bitcoin sent.

https://i.nostr.build/8Wp3jNhqHcml3pxl.gif

Bitvora makes on-chain and Lightning payments simple, fast, and friction-free.

I’ll be at The Bitcoin Conference in Nashville next week, and I’d love to give you a sneak peek of the product. We’ll be in an invite-only beta.

If you’ll be in town, DM me or leave a reply below to set up a meeting. I can’t wait to show you what we've built.

@ a9434ee1:d5c885be

What makes Nostr and Bitcoin so extremely exciting to me, as a designer, is that they offer an entirely new design space. Something we never had before. Something that we can, for the first time ever, call…
A Free Market.

And not just that, but one where everyone speaks the same language. One that acknowledges that Sovereignty doesn’t go that far without Interoperability.

Since this is literally a first, it seems terribly naïve to assume that we can just copy what works for Big Tech’s walled gardens and add some Freedom sauce on top. I’ve been sketching out things like “Twitter but with Zaps”, “Youtube but with many algo’s”, “Patreon but with Bitcoin”, etc... for long enough to realize the harsh limits of such an approach. Instead I’ve found it more fruitful to start by looking at the characteristics of this new digital, interoperable free market and, only then, look for similar existing benchmarks that can serve as inspiration.

Because the convergence of the various Freedom Tech protocols (Nostr, Bitcoin, Cashu, …) are such a huge game changer for online monetization specifically, it seems even more naïve to just start copying Big Tech on that front, without proper examination.

If we did just play copycat, Monthly Subscriptions and Paywalls would be the obvious answer. This article dives into why they’re not.

Free as in Competition

In a free market, it’s going to be hard for you to set a price if you don’t have something scarce to sell. Unlike in a Big Tech walled garden, there’s no one blocking competitors from entering the market. That includes competitors that offer your stuff!
If what you create can easily be copied, it will.

Yes, Content creators, FOSS devs, Designers, … that’s you.
Charging for your article, podcast, app or movie doesn’t end well when people can find a free upload right next to yours. Open protocols remove the friction of having to go PirateBay for that sort of stuff. Luckily, they also remove the friction for people to value your content directly (#V4V Zaps) and for you to launch unique and scarce products related to what you do (Community, Merch, …).

Even if you have a scarce product to sell though, Nostr sets the bar lower than ever for others to start competing with your product. Every part of your product!

Interoperability breaks products and services down to their constituents and opens up every layer of the stack to competition. Currently most SAAS business models are basically very expensive monthly subscriptions for some hosting and computation. And guess what Nostr is extremely good at → Discovering and switching providers of hosting and computation.

In a competitive context like that, you need a monetization model that lets you adapt fast. If you choose to monetize with monthly subscriptions, you’ll be updating your subscription tiers every month, if not every week, just to remain competitive. If that’s the case, then what’s the point? Why not just have a cash price list?

Free as in Volatile

The reality of a free market is that price-discovery never takes a break. This is especially true for a market that uses a money that is still being discovered as money by 99% of the world. A money that, just like Nostr, only saw the light of day because its creators saw total chaos ahead without it.

Bitcoin and Nostr do #fixthemoney and do #fixtheinternet, but all that fixing isn’t exactly taking us on a smooth ride.

Smooth rides are stable rides, stable prices, stable amounts of locked-in users, stable ties with the state, etc… They are everything Freedom Tech is taking us on exciting journey away from.

Again, adaptability is key and your business model needs to reflect that. Monthly subscriptions don’t handle volatility well. It takes a lot of confidence, extremely loyal customers and liquid reserves to survive bumpy roads. That’s a lot of capital that probably has better uses. Better uses that Big Tech monopolies can ignore, but your competitors won’t.

Free as in “Number Go Up”

Denominating your subscriptions in “stable” fiat-currencies isn’t going to help neither. The mental cost for customers is only low as long you don’t have juggle more than 21 subscriptions. (yes, I completely made up that number but it’s somewhere around that, so bear with me).

Given that Subscription Hell is already a thing in Fiat-land once you go beyond that number, just try to imagine the amount of subscriptions you’d be handling in Nostr-land. Your 1 Netflix subscription suddenly became 6, to different service providers, plus 20 to all your favorite creators. Then add the subscriptions for all other internet use cases you can think of. Then add some more for the ones that you can’t even imagine yet.
This is not an overstatement. It is very very unlikely that your service happens to be the only one that subscriptions would work for. If they appear to work for you, every competitor or similar use case will be copying that model in no time.

So if they work, there would be a loooot of subscriptions.
That’s also a looot of: - recurring payments to forget about - different time periods to oversee - extra effort to go and unsubscribe or switch tiers - users thinking ‘I didn’t even really use this!” - users also thinking “What am I paying for exactly?”

In short, that’s asking for frustrated, disappointed and confused customers.

These subscriptions would then also need to be handled on top of all the #V4V Zaps and cash payments that are inevitably happening as well. Unlike Big Tech products you don’t get to just pick Subscriptions as the only option. You will have to be optimizing both the Wallet and Social UX/UI for all of these types of payments. Something I naïvely tried and quickly gave up on. It overcrowds interfaces, makes different applications less interoperable and creates a very confusing user experience.

And if you denominate everything in fiat, you add even more confusion since the Zaps from others are denominated in Bitcoin. That suddenly makes them variable from the fiat-denominator’s perspective. Other denominations work when you only have two parties (f.e. seller and buyer), not when you have groups of people zapping away at an article. For #V4V to gain traction zappers need recognition. If it’s completely variable, and thus unclear, who the top zappers of a piece of content are or if the biggest patrons of a creator are only visible if you go to some specific subscriber dashboard, you’re creating confusion and diluting recognition.

Zaps are awesome, nearly universally implemented, very simple to design for and they might just be enough. We’re mostly still early. Creators can’t even reply to Zaps yet. The first prototypes for frictionless Cashu zaps are only just coming out. Let’s explore all that further before we start adding subscriptions to the UI, the users’ mental load and the app developers endless list of “things to implement”.

If the current zap-rate of daily Nostr users (myself included) tells me anything, it’s that sending around small payments all the time isn’t really the issue. The mental cost for the user happens mostly at the level of:
”How the f*ck do I keep track of all this?”
“How do I fit this in with my regular monthly expenses?”
Subscriptions are only one answer to this. If they happen to still somehow solve the above issues for some use cases, we still have to find solutions anyway for the micro-payments side of things.

My point is thus mainly: we might as well start there and, who knows, we don’t even need subscriptions. Or at least not as a standard to strive towards. No one is stopping you from using time-based pricing for things that are actually time-based or from creating micro-apps that let you set up recurring zaps and other fun stuff like that. Just don’t promise creators and merchants that they can base their business models on them.

If you’re talking to people that will only consider Freedom Tech if they can have the stability of a group of monthly subscribers, you’re probably not talking to the right people (yet!).

Freedom Tech = Responsibility Tech.

Both seller and buyers need tools that help them take that responsibility. Especially regarding payments, the currently available tools are far from optimal and have barely scratched the surface of what’s possible in the interoperable ocean of possibilities. I say this more as an invitation than as a complaint of course. We are — yes, I’m saying it again — sooooo early.

So how can we help buyers be responsible while “not having to think about every little payment”?

For rich npubs on a network denominated in #NGU technology the answer can be quite simple: They simply don’t have to really think about it.
In fact, poor npubs neither as long they can set a spending budget and have great tools and transparency to help them manage it.

They need something a bit like their “lives left” in a video game. Or something that resembles envelope budgeting: like going to the farmers market with only a limited amount of cash.

Talking about farmers markets

Let’s look at what currently comes close to an interoperable free market in meat-space: Restaurant & Farmers markets. - No one has copyrights on pizza Margherita or chicken eggs - Entering the market is relatively cheap (food trucks, farmer stands, …) - Customers can pick and choose where they get “every layer of the stack” (drinks here, main dish there and ice cream over there)

Now look at how these businesses monetize: - Cash price lists - Discounts (for special occasions, loyal customers, ..) - Bundles (lunch menus, vegetable baskets, …)

Both restaurant owners and farmers have been trying out monthly subscriptions since forever, mostly because it would benefit them. But in places with high competition this has had exactly zero success.

What did have success is services that bundle farmers market food items for you and deliver it at your doorstep on a weekly basis. That’s what lower mental cost looks like. Ironically, these services often started out with the monthly subscription model and have had to switch because customers needed more flexibility. Now, in their apps, they let users pick what day they want what, at what price.
And these apps are not even Nostr yet.

Talking about Nostr markets

Nostr markets are not exactly farmers markets of course. But that is mostly good news. Nostr, Bitcoin and Cashu, in particular, remove a lot of the friction that cash still has in the physical world. They enable seamless micro-payments. That’s an innovation worth embracing, not something to hide away behind subscriptions.

Embracing micro-payments means that every little thing can have a real-time price. A price that, once payed, you never have to think about again. And some, if not most, micro-payments are so micro that you don’t have to really think about them in the first place. Especially if we’re talking about recurring events (pun intended).

If a chat message in a certain Community costs 2 sats, after your third message your added mental cost will likely be close to zero. At that point, the price is mostly a matter of transparency, fairness and spam prevention. When the Admin suddenly changes this price to 1000 sats however, you will need to think twice about posting such a message. But again, that is a good thing. That’s exactly what the Admin is monetizing.

He is curating for high signal content and conversations around a certain interest. His price list is one of his top tools for doing so. You pay him for being able to publish in his unique community. You “Pay Per Use” of that Community as a broadcasting channel for your messages, articles, videos, … You know everyone else does too.

Using monthly subscriptions for such a community would just invite abuse and poor quality. It would be like an all-you-can-eat restaurant where everyone has an infinite stomach size, you’re all at the same table and only the loudest screamers get heard.
So the Admin would put limits on what you specifically get for your subscription (100 messages per month, 210MB of hosting, etc etc…). The members would then demand flexibility or go elsewhere.

The admin would then provide different tiers.
Yet, most members would still need flexibility more than they need flat rate monthly pricing.

At the same time, the Admin’s “Pay Per Use” competitors will still be cheaper. They don’t have the overhead of handling the uncertainty that comes with providing stable pricing for several months. Trying their offer out is also way cheaper than immediately having to pay a subscription. The admin, on the other hand, cannot really offer free trials if he doesn’t have the locked-in users to pay for them.

In the end, just like restaurants, the Admin will switch to “Pay Per Use” and will use discounts and bundles to his advantage.

As long as users have great tools to keep an eye their spending, this sort of outcome is a win-win for the whole ecosystem. What users tend to like most about monthly subscriptions for something is the guarantee that they will not exceed XXX amount of money on that thing for the month. Nothing is stopping us from building tools that provide the same guarantee without the complications of handling monthly subscriptions.

Since most Bitcoin wallets are not daily-spending wallets and most Nostr projects aren’t monetizing yet, hardly any attention has been spent on tools like this. They all copied bank apps and display your total amount of money and a chronological feed of your transaction history. There are several problems with this: 1. You don’t want to openly showcase your total balance to everyone around you when you open the app 2. Your total balance shows “everything you have”. That is a terrible benchmark for determining “what you can sustainably spend”. 3. It’s also a terrible benchmark for determining “what you earned this month” 4. Micro-payments make a chronological feed of all your transactions completely unusable 5. Zaps make a lot of your transactions social. Zaps and eCash blur the line between money and message. And messages require interaction that transactions don’t.

I think we can do better.
So, let’s try!

Cash Budgets

Just like the previously mentioned “lives” in a game or the cash in your wallet for a night out, the first thing users will want to see is “How much do I have left?”. Since most people organize their budgets per month we can more specifically turn this into “How much do I have left this month?”. This means we need to allow users to set a monthly budget in the first place. Once that budget is set for the month, it facilitates all the rest.

This budget is their subscription now. Their Nostr subscription.
An interoperable subscription they can interact with in any trusted app.

And the best part: They pick the price.
They’re taking their responsibility and lowering their mental cost with one action.

Now, you can start playing with wallet and home screen Interfaces that show the user at a glance: - What they’ve got left to spend for that month - What they already spent - What they earned (relative to that budget and/or a specific earnings goal)

I’m currently exploring this design space myself and the extent to which Freedom Tech budgeting can be gamified in novel ways will make TikTok look boring.

Some baby UI steps in this direction

But that’s just the budget part of course. We still need non-intrusive ways to display all these little price-tags for things if we’re not hiding them away behind a subscription.

The good news is that, when it comes to movies, music, articles, posts, FOSS apps and all other types of information that can easily be copied, it doesn’t have a price tag. It just has people zapping it. People that can use a lot more context and recognition than they currently get. (showing top zappers everywhere and letting creators reply to zaps being just a humble start for that)

For the stuff that does have price-tag, even the most obvious answer isn’t as bad I though it would be:
Just put it on the button.
The bigger the sum, the bigger the button.

eCash is what can make all of this work as a one-button action anyway, removing most of the friction. A budget, on the other hand, is what can remove most of the worrying. Color indications, permission prompts for higher amounts, etc etc… can all work in tandem for this.

With these examples I’m mostly trying to give you an idea of what is still left largely unexplored territory.

A territory that we will have to go and explore in any case.
A territory where Communities are easier to monetize then Content is.
A territory where I can count the current number of active designers on both hands.
A territory that can desperately use a Design Community.

You can guess twice what’s next on my todo-list….

@ fce4177b:f504cdc8

Hi all!

Lately I've been working on a small python project to try approaching the pathfinding problem in lightning as a Min-cost network flow problem.

I know Renè Pickhardt already used this approach in order to prove the superiority of the Zero base fee approach, in fact I read his papers and got the gist of it.

Now I'm trying to model the problem mathematically - using the pyomo package in python - but I came up with a question that I couldn't find an answer for:

in a multi-path payment (MPP), can two HTLCs go though the same channel?

More specifically, I'm interested in understanding if the following situation can happen or not:

Nodes = {S, A, B, C, E, F, G, I, D} # S source, D destination

With S being the source node (aka the payer), D being the destination node (aka the payee). The scope of the question does not include considerations about base or rate fees. Node S computes the optimal path that minimises the fees for an amount and finds out that the optimal choice is to execute a MPP that follows this path(s):

``` B E
A -> -> -> G -> D C F

h0 h1 h2 h3 h4 ```

where the first two hops (h1 and h2) see two parallel payments going on, then at the hop h3 the MPP converges to the node G and then procedes with the last hop to destination.

As far as I know, in classical MPP the preimage is the same for every parallel path (correct me if I'm wrong), thus I'm wondering if that thing is possible or not. Moreover, if there was an another hop such that:

``` B E
A -> I -> -> -> G -> D C F

h0 h1 h2 h3 h4 h5 ```

would that be possible too? That meaning two HTLCs flowing in the same channel for the first hop, then splitting and the riconverging.

Hope the question is clear enough, otherwise I'm open to clarifications.

Thanks!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/612642

@ 1e52c554:21771908

Obra póstuma del poeta colombiano nacido en Don Matías el 20 de enero de 1948.

Bienvenidos a este blog dedicado a la obra póstuma del poeta colombiano Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (mi padre), nacido en Don Matías el 20 de enero de 1948-2010. Aquí estaré publicando cada uno de los 175 sonetos de su colección inédita ‘Sonetos para el siglo XXI y un Festival Circadiano (1984-1987)

En este blog, compartiré las traducciones de los sonetos que he estado publicando. Mi objetivo es dar a conocer al público hispanohablante el legado de este colombiano, quien escribió una de las colecciones más grandes de sonetos en inglés.

El escritor siempre enfatizo que al traducir los sonetos sonarian tan natural que no se sentiria que estan escritos con toda la estructura en lengua inglesa.

Espero que disfruten de este jardín de palabras arrancadas de la soledad de una habitación cerrada.

Frank Duna

---

Soneto 1 por Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares

``` Donde Abunda el Consenso

En días escasos no pude escribir versos Ni encontrar palabras un poco cerca de mi pensamiento Y ni un arte u otra forma tan correcta Podría mostrar bien lo que mi corazón gustaba o luchaba.

A menudo con rimas condenatorias yo apedreo Otras mentes que piensan que sus modales son los mejores Pero juro que quiero que todo el odio se vaya de mí Porque el odio fermenta y puede corromper el resto.

Hazme responsable de los males que encuentres Y con ojos perspicaces soporta mis luces y oscuridad Llama a mi pluma la herramienta de un rústico siervo Y por favor lee mis lágrimas de su marca humana.

De esta manera, tonos más altos pueden surgir en las nubes Para reunir fuerza donde abunda el consenso. *** Anotaciones: 11-. Hind = un trabajador agrícola hábil o sirviente. ```

Análisis “Donde Abunda el Consenso”

Estructura y Forma

El poema sigue la estructura de un soneto shakespeariano, compuesto por 14 versos con un esquema de rima específico ABABCDCDEFEFGG. Cada línea está escrita predominantemente en pentámetro yámbico, un patrón métrico común en los sonetos en inglés, que ayuda a crear un flujo rítmico y melódico.

Esquema de Rima

El primer cuarteto (líneas 1-4): ABAB El segundo cuarteto (líneas 5-8): CDCD El tercer cuarteto (líneas 9-12): EFEF El pareado final (líneas 13-14): GG

Análisis Temático

• Expresión y Lucha: En el cuarteto inicial, el poeta expresa la dificultad de encontrar palabras que capten adecuadamente sus pensamientos y emociones. Los versos transmiten una sensación de frustración y limitación, sugiriendo que ni el arte ni cualquier otro medio pueden representar completamente las complejidades de los deseos y luchas de su corazón.

• Crítica y Auto-reflexión: El segundo cuarteto revela la conciencia del poeta sobre sus propias tendencias a juzgar y condenar a otros a través de su poesía. La metáfora de "apedrear" con "rimas condenatorias" destaca la naturaleza agresiva de su crítica. Sin embargo, el poeta también expresa un deseo de deshacerse del odio, reconociendo su efecto corrosivo tanto en uno mismo como en la comunidad en general.

• Vulnerabilidad y Humanidad: En el tercer cuarteto, el poeta invita a los lectores a examinar sus fallos ("los males que encuentres") con ojos perspicaces. Describe su pluma como una herramienta simple ("la herramienta de un campesino hábil"), enfatizando la humildad y una conexión con la humanidad común. La solicitud de "leer en mis lágrimas su marca humana" subraya la vulnerabilidad del poeta y la autenticidad de su expresión emocional.

• Esperanza y Unidad: El pareado final lleva el poema a una conclusión esperanzadora, imaginando el surgimiento de "tonos más elevados" en las nubes metafóricas. Esta imaginería sugiere el potencial de crecimiento, inspiración y fuerza que se puede encontrar en la unidad y el consenso. El poeta implica que al abrazar la empatía y la comprensión, puede surgir una colectividad más armoniosa y poderosa.

• Lenguaje y Dicción: El lenguaje del poema es formal y reflexivo, con una atención cuidadosa a la elección de palabras. Frases como "rimas condenatorias," "el odio fermenta," y "campesino hábil" enriquecen el texto con imágenes vívidas y profundidad metafórica. La dicción ayuda a transmitir la lucha interna del poeta y sus aspiraciones, así como los temas más amplios de empatía y unidad.

• Imaginería y Simbolismo: Apedrear con rimas: Representa el daño que las palabras duras pueden infligir a otros. Fermenta el odio: Simboliza cómo el odio puede crecer y extenderse, corrompiendo todo lo que toca. Tonos más elevados que surgen en nubes: Sugiere el potencial elevador y unificador del consenso y la comprensión mutua.

• Conclusión: El "Soneto 1" de Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares es una meditación conmovedora sobre los desafíos de la autoexpresión, los peligros del juicio y el odio, y la esperanzadora posibilidad de la unidad a través de la empatía. La forma estructurada del poema, su rica imaginería y su lenguaje reflexivo se combinan para crear una exploración poderosa de la condición humana y el poder transformador del consenso.

Soneto original:

``` Soneto 1 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares

Where Consensus Abounds

In days this is sparce no verses I could write Nor find words a little close to my thought And not an art or other way so right Could display well what my heart liked or fought.

Often times with condemning rhymes I stone Other minds which think their manners are best But I swear that hate I want from me all gone Because hate yeasts and may corrupt the rest.

Account for me the evils that you find And with insight eyes bear my lights and dark Call my pen the tool of a rustic hind 11
And please read my tears of their human mark.

This way loftier hues may rise in clouds To gather strength where consensus abounds. *** 11-. Hind = a skilled farm worker or servant. ```

---

“Sonetos para el Siglo XXI y un Festival Circadiano” escrito por Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987) copyright1989

---

Imagen por Frank Duna (Bahia de Santa Marta)

@ b34b4408:acfb9667

"ผลกระทบของน้ำยาบ้วนปากต่อจุลชีพในช่องปากและร่างกาย: มุมมองใหม่จากการวิจัยล่าสุด"

ในช่วงหลายทศวรรษที่ผ่านมา น้ำยาบ้วนปากได้กลายเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของกิจวัตรการดูแลสุขภาพช่องปากของคนจำนวนมาก โดยมีจุดประสงค์หลักเพื่อลดกลิ่นปาก ป้องกันฟันผุ และรักษาสุขภาพเหงือก อย่างไรก็ตาม การวิจัยล่าสุดได้เผยให้เห็นถึงผลกระทบที่ไม่คาดคิดของการใช้น้ำยาบ้วนปากเป็นประจำ โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งต่อระบบนิเวศของจุลชีพในช่องปากและร่างกาย

การศึกษาล่าสุดที่ตีพิมพ์ในวารสาร Journal of Medical Microbiology เมื่อวันที่ 4 มิถุนายน 2024 โดย J.G.E. Laumen และคณะ ( https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001830 )ได้ศึกษาผลของการใช้น้ำยาบ้วนปาก Listerine Cool Mint เป็นประจำทุกวันต่อจุลชีพในช่องปากและลำคอ

ผลการวิจัยพบว่าการใช้ Listerine เป็นเวลา 3 เดือนทำให้เกิดการเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างมีนัยสำคัญในองค์ประกอบของจุลชีพในช่องปากและลำคอ โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่ง การเพิ่มขึ้นของแบคทีเรีย Fusobacterium nucleatum และ Streptococcus anginosus ซึ่งเป็นเชื้อที่ก่อให้เกิดปัญหาสุขภาพหากมีปริมาณมากเกินไป

โดยเชื้อทั้งสองตัวนั้นมีผลต่อสุขภาพดังนี้

Fusobacterium nucleatum:

เป็นเชื้อแบคทีเรียที่พบได้ตามปกติในช่องปาก แต่หากมีปริมาณมากเกินไปจะก่อให้เกิดปัญหาได้
มีความเกี่ยวข้องกับโรคปริทันต์ (โรคเหงือกอักเสบ)
มีการศึกษาพบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างเชื้อนี้กับมะเร็งลำไส้ใหญ่
มีส่วนในการกระตุ้นการอักเสบในร่างกาย ซึ่งอาจเชื่อมโยงกับโรคทางระบบอื่นๆ

Streptococcus anginosus:

เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของกลุ่ม Streptococcus milleri ซึ่งพบได้ในช่องปาก ลำคอ และทางเดินอาหาร โดยปกติไม่ก่อโรค แต่ในบางกรณีอาจกลายเป็นเชื้อฉวยโอกาส
สามารถก่อให้เกิดการติดเชื้อในช่องปาก เช่น ฝีในช่องปาก
ในกรณีที่รุนแรง ทำให้เกิดการติดเชื้อในกระแสเลือด หรือฝีในอวัยวะภายใน เช่น สมอง ปอด หรือตับ

ผลการวิจัยนี้ทำให้เกิดคำถามสำคัญเกี่ยวกับกลไกการทำงานของน้ำยาบ้วนปากและผลกระทบระยะยาวต่อสุขภาพ เมื่อพิจารณาส่วนประกอบหลักของ Listerine Cool Mint (รวมถึง น้ำยาบ้วนปากอื่นๆด้วย) ซึ่งประกอบด้วย

1. น้ำ (เป็นส่วนประกอบหลัก)
2.แอลกอฮอล์ (มักจะอยู่ที่ประมาณ 21.6%)
3.น้ำมันหอมระเหยจากพืช ได้แก่:
    Eucalyptol (น้ำมันยูคาลิปตัส)
    Menthol (เมนทอล)
    Thymol (ไทมอล)
    Methyl salicylate (เมทิลซาลิไซเลต หรือ น้ำมันวินเทอร์กรีน)
4.สารให้ความหวาน (มักใช้ซอร์บิทอล)
5.กรดเบนโซอิก (สารกันบูด)
6.สารให้สี (อาจใช้สีเขียว)
7.โซเดียมซักคาริน (สารให้ความหวาน)
8.โซเดียมเบนโซเอต (สารกันบูด)

จะพบว่าแต่ละสารมีส่วนทำให้เกิดการเสียสมดุลของจุลชีพในช่องปาก:

1. แอลกอฮอล์และน้ำมันหอมระเหย: 
    มีฤทธิ์ฆ่าเชื้อที่รุนแรง ทำลายทั้งแบคทีเรียที่เป็นโทษและเป็นประโยชน์ เปิดโอกาสให้เชื้อบางชนิดเติบโตได้มากขึ้น
2. สารกันบูด: 
    ยับยั้งการเจริญเติบโตของจุลินทรีย์บางชนิดมากกว่าชนิดอื่น
3. สารให้ความหวาน: 
    เป็นแหล่งอาหารสำหรับแบคทีเรียบางชนิด หรือเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพแวดล้อมในช่องปาก

ผลการวิจัยนี้ได้ท้าทายความเชื่อดั้งเดิมเกี่ยวกับประโยชน์ของน้ำยาบ้วนปาก ในอดีต น้ำยาบ้วนปากถูกส่งเสริมว่ามีประโยชน์ในการลดกลิ่นปาก ป้องกันฟันผุ และช่วยรักษาโรคเหงือก อย่างไรก็ตาม การค้นพบใหม่นี้บ่งชี้ว่า ประโยชน์ระยะสั้นเหล่านี้อาจไม่คุ้มค่ากับผลเสียที่อาจเกิดขึ้นในระยะยาว การเสียสมดุลของจุลชีพในช่องปากอาจนำไปสู่การเพิ่มขึ้นของแบคทีเรียที่เป็นอันตราย ซึ่งจะเพิ่มความเสี่ยงต่อโรคต่างๆ ทั้งในช่องปากและระบบอื่นๆ ของร่างกาย เช่น โรคปริทันต์ มะเร็งหลอดอาหารและลำไส้ใหญ่ รวมถึงโรคทางระบบอื่นๆ

บทความนี้เน้นย้ำความสำคัญของการพิจารณาอย่างรอบคอบในการใช้ผลิตภัณฑ์สุขภาพช่องปาก และ ผู้บริโภคควรตระหนักถึงความสำคัญของการรักษาสมดุลของจุลชีพในช่องปากและพิจารณาทางเลือกอื่นๆ ในการดูแลสุขภาพช่องปากที่อาจมีผลกระทบน้อยกว่าต่อระบบนิเวศของจุลชีพ เช่น การแปรงฟันอย่างสม่ำเสมอ การใช้ไหมขัดฟันอย่างถูกวิธี และการรับประทานอาหารที่มีประโยชน์ต่อสุขภาพช่องปาก

ซึ่งการรับประทานอาหารที่ดีต่อสุขภาพช่องปาก เป็นส่วนสำคัญในการดูแลสุขภาพฟันและเหงือก รวมถึงการรักษาสมดุลของจุลชีพในช่องปากและร่างกายด้วย ซึ่งประกอบด้วย:

    **อาหารธรรมชาติที่มีการแปรรูปน้อย 
        อาหารที่มีโพรไบโอติกส์และพรีไบโอติกส์ 
            ช่วยรักษาสมดุลของจุลชีพที่ดี เช่น โยเกิร์ต คีเฟอร์ กิมจิ ชีส
        อาหารที่กระตุ้นการหลั่งน้ำลาย:
            น้ำลายช่วยชะล้างแบคทีเรียและเศษอาหาร เช่น เนื้อสัตว์ ไข่
            นอกจากนี้ การเคี้ยวอาหารให้ละเอียดและใช้เวลาในการรับประทานอาหารช้าๆ ยังช่วยกระตุ้นการหลั่งน้ำลายและส่งเสริมสุขภาพช่องปากที่ดีอีกด้วย
        น้ำเปล่า:
            ดื่มน้ำสะอาดอย่างเพียงพอช่วยชะล้างช่องปากและรักษาความชุ่มชื้น**

อาหารที่ควรหลีกเลี่ยงหรือจำกัดคือ

       ** อาหารและเครื่องดื่มที่มีแป้ง/น้ำตาลสูง ซึ่งส่งเสริมการเจริญเติบโตของแบคทีเรียที่ก่อให้เกิดฟันผุ และการอักเสบ รวมถึงอาหารที่ผสมสารต่างๆที่กล่าวมาก่อนหน้า**

การรับประทานอาหารที่สมดุลและหลากหลายไม่เพียงแต่ส่งผลดีต่อสุขภาพช่องปากเท่านั้น แต่ยังช่วยส่งเสริมสุขภาพโดยรวมของร่างกายอีกด้วย

หากยังต้องการใช้น้ำยาบ้วนปาก ควรพิจารณาใช้เฉพาะเมื่อจำเป็น ไม่ใช้เป็นประจำทุกวัน และอาจเลือกน้ำยาบ้วนปากที่ไม่มีแอลกอฮอล์ รวมถึงสารต่างๆอย่างที่กล่าวไปก่อนหน้า

ในท้ายที่สุด การวิจัยนี้เน้นย้ำถึงความสำคัญของการไม่ยึดติดกับความเชื่อเดิมๆ โดยไม่พิจารณาหลักฐานใหม่ทางวิทยาศาสตร์ และวิธีการดูแลสุขภาพที่คำนึงถึงระบบนิเวศของจุลชีพมากขึ้น

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Advantages of Bitcoin in Online Payments and E-Commerce

• The Future of Bitcoin in Online Payments and E-Commerce

• Multiple Industries Are Getting Involved

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, has been making waves in the world of online payments and e-commerce. It offers several advantages over traditional payment methods, such as lower transaction fees, faster processing times, and increased security. Additionally, Bitcoin's decentralized nature and lack of government or financial institution control make it an attractive option for those who prioritize privacy and autonomy.

Advantages of Bitcoin in Online Payments and E-Commerce

Bitcoin, the world's first cryptocurrency, has the potential to revolutionize online payments and e-commerce. Here are some of the advantages of using Bitcoin in these areas:

Decentralization

Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network, meaning it is not controlled by a central authority like a government or financial institution. This eliminates the need for intermediaries, such as banks, to facilitate transactions, resulting in lower transaction fees and quicker processing times.

Security

Bitcoin transactions are secured by complex algorithms and cryptographic protocols, making them virtually impossible to hack or counterfeit. This offers increased security for both merchants and consumers in online payments and e-commerce.

Anonymity

Bitcoin transactions are pseudonymous, meaning they are not linked to real-world identities. This provides a level of anonymity that is not possible with traditional payment methods, making it an attractive option for those who value privacy.

Global Reach

Bitcoin is a global currency that can be used for transactions anywhere in the world, without the need for currency conversions or additional fees. This makes it an ideal option for cross-border e-commerce transactions.

Low Fees

Because Bitcoin eliminates intermediaries and their associated fees, transactions can be processed at a much lower cost than traditional payment methods.

Transparency

All Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, providing transparency and accountability for all parties involved in online payments and e-commerce.

The Future of Bitcoin in Online Payments and E-Commerce

The future of Bitcoin in online payments and e-commerce is still uncertain. While the cryptocurrency has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, it is still subject to regulatory and market risks. However, there are several reasons to believe that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could play a significant role in the future of online payments and e-commerce. One reason is the growing acceptance of Bitcoin by major companies, such as Microsoft, PayPal, and Tesla. Additionally, the increasing use of blockchain technology could lead to the development of new, more secure and efficient payment systems. As such, it is clear that Bitcoin has the potential to change the world of online payments and e-commerce in significant ways, but much will depend on how the cryptocurrency is regulated and adopted in the years to come.

Multiple Industries Are Getting Involved

It is true that multiple industries are getting involved in the world of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. From finance to healthcare, entertainment to real estate, many sectors are exploring the potential benefits of these new technologies. Some companies are using Bitcoin as a form of payment or investment, while others are exploring the use of blockchain for data management and security. As the technology continues to develop, we can expect more industries to get involved in the future.

Conclusion

Bitcoin is a disruptive technology that has the potential to transform the world of online payments and e-commerce. While there are challenges and risks associated with its use, the benefits of Bitcoin make it a compelling option for both consumers and merchants alike.

FAQ

What is the advantage of using Bitcoin for online payments? One of the main advantages of using Bitcoin for online payments is that it is a fast and secure payment method that does not require the use of intermediaries.

What is the advantage of using Bitcoin for e-commerce? Bitcoin offers several advantages for e-commerce, including lower transaction fees, faster transaction processing times, and increased security and privacy for buyers and sellers.

What are the challenges and risks associated with using Bitcoin? Some of the challenges and risks associated with using Bitcoin include its volatility, the potential for fraud or hacking, and the lack of regulation and legal protection.

That's all for today

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@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

Are you looking for new ways to increase your productivity? Maybe you thought about using the same methods that some historical figures used, from musicians and artists to politicians. Most of them spent their days drinking regular doses of caffeine, but few had strange habits that helped them work faster and more efficiently.

From Charles Dickens' addiction to routine to the trick used by an ancient Greek politician to resist procrastination and dawdling, here are historical figures who had unconventional ways to accomplish their tasks.

$$Charles Dickens$$

The author of "A Tale of Two Cities" and "A Christmas Carol" was known to be demanding and meticulous about his working conditions. He adhered to a strict "military" schedule, always writing in his study from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon, then taking a three-hour walk.

Dickens demanded complete silence from everyone in his house during his working hours, and arranged his pens, inks, and a set of small statues specifically on his desk to help him think.

The writer maintained these habits wherever he traveled, even rearranging the furniture of hotel rooms and guest houses to resemble his study as much as possible.

His eccentric habits extended to his bedroom, where he always slept facing north, believing it made him better aligned with the Earth's electrical currents.

$$Beethoven$$

Ludwig van Beethoven composed most of his work while in motion. After his daily breakfast consisting only of coffee — often preparing 60 beans for use in his coffee — the composer worked for several hours in his study before going on long walks.

These enjoyable walks were supposed to stimulate his creativity; he often stopped during his walks to jot down quickly and hurriedly a set of musical notes on a large notebook.

If the composition process was slow, the composer copied some compositions of other musicians to study their style. Beethoven also composed music while bathing.

According to his secretary, Anton Schindler, Beethoven often moved quickly around his room, frequently pouring several pitchers of water over his hands, while he cares for some tunes and stares off into space with "deep meditation."

$$Marcel Proust$$

While writing his massive 3,000-page novel "In Search of Lost Time" (also known as "Remembrance of Things Past") in the early 20th century, French author Marcel Proust lived within the confines of his bedroom.

He usually woke up at three or four in the afternoon, then drank coffee and ate a croissant, and often his only meal throughout the day, after that, he smoked his hookah, which included tobacco mixed with opium, which he thought helped him bear the asthma.

Proust worked on his novel lying on his bed, with a set of thin cushions, and despite the seemingly comfortable working conditions, the author continued to say that writing his novel was hard and tiring work.

$$Salvador Dali$$

Considered one of the masters of surrealism, a school of art aimed at exploiting the unconscious mind and reaching its hidden treasures. Dali used mental tricks to experiment with and blur the boundary between his dreams and reality, and this helped his mind produce hallucinatory images "Surrealist" that he painted through paintings like "The Persistence of Memory" and "Swans Reflecting Elephants."

One of his actual and proven techniques was to hold a metal key over a tin container during his nap time, and when he starts to fall asleep, the key drops from his hand, and he wakes up, and that gave him a chance to record the bizarre images he produces in his mind.

Dali invented a special method he called "Paranoid-Critical" "Madness of doubt-shame," the artist was working through this method to convey himself to a state of madness of doubt and greatness by prolonging deliberate thinking with weird, irrational ideas, and then he starts drawing the images he sees in his mind.

$$B.F. Skinner$$

He was an American psychologist, a behavioralist, an author, an inventor, and a social philosopher. Skinner invented the Israbutroom room and his own philosophy in the science called the Extreme Behavior and founded his school in experimental research in psychology, which is the experimental analysis of behavior.

Skinner's analysis of human behavior culminated in his work in Verbal Behavior, which has seen significant recent development in the experimental field and the application settings, and in a study conducted in June 2002, Skinner was classified as the most influential psychologist of the 20th century.

He worked on a strict schedule and used a timer to remind him of the start and stop time to write. In his memoirs, he wrote that he recorded every twelve hours of his work, where he drew a point on an accumulating curve showing him the overall production of his productivity.

In addition to dividing times during the day and analyzing daily work, Skinner endorsed what is called intermittent sleep, so often he would wake up after midnight to work for an hour, and then he would return to his sleep.

$$Demosthenes$$

The Greek statesman and politician Demosthenes were known for his ability to deliver exciting and enthusiastic speeches without any effort, His skill in speaking came through following a strict, often unusual system.

Demosthenes spent long hours studying the art of rhetoric and law in a specially made underground office, and trained with an actor to learn how to control his body movements.

To overcome his stuttering and shortness of breath, Demosthenes would speak while placing pebbles in his mouth, and he would deliver his speeches loudly while running up a hill, but the strangest thing was his way of facing procrastination and delaying, Demosthenes had shaved half of his head with the aim of looking his appearance funny, and thus he had to stay in his home and focus on his studies.

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

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@ 000002de:c05780a7

Bitcoiners have been saying this for a while. The firearms community needs to adopt bitcoin before they have no other options. Few have headed this advice. I went to YouTube today a saw a video from a very popular firearms training channel called Hickok45. The released a video titled Bad News - YouTube where they let their subscribers know about the uncertainty of their future due to YouTube's new policy banning firearms advertising.

YouTube is of course within their rights to do this but that's not a solution to the problem. The problem goes deeper. Credit card processors and companies as well as banks have and could increase their censorship of firearms purchases. Bitcoin fixes this.

As far as the video hosting problem there are other platforms that will likely open their doors to these trainers and educators but that isn't good enough. Nostr is new but I see it as the most hopeful solution coupled with bitcoin over lightning. Over the past week I've been experimenting with satellite.earth CDN file hosting service. I've been pretty impressed by it. Its very new but it seems like a real solution to the file hosting centralization problem for Nostr.

I've tried in the past to make the case for bitcoin to gun owners and few seem to see the problem. I think this is largely due to their faulty belief in the state. There are some companies that have adopted bitcoin. The only one that I'm aware of is Fenix Ammunition. Anyone aware of others?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/612067

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

*** I’ve had several inspirations to write on subjects other than the fruits of the Spirit, so we will take a brief break on that series and do a couple of stand alone posts and then go back and finish the Fruits of the Spirit Series.

I was reading Job and saw something I’d never seen before.

Job, a man the Bible refers to as “… blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:1b), loses his children, his wealth, and then his health. He is suffering immensely. Several friends come to console him, but instead start falsely accusing him of horrible sins. They should’ve known better and they shouldn’t have judged Job based on what was happening to him instead of how he lived his life.

After losing his family, his wealth, and his health, now his friends are defaming his godly reputation. In one of his soliloquies, after naming all of the things he has lost he prays this prayer:

“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever! (Job 19:23-24)

I think every other time I had read these verses I just thought that was an odd request, but I saw something different this time. Job prayed that “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!” Little did Job know, God would write his words in the Bible, God’s book, the most published book in history. His words would be read as an example to us for over 4,000 years. He couldn’t have imagined that his prayer would be answered this way.

He prayed, “That with an iron stylus and lead, They were engraved in the rock forever!” His words are written by God so they will last as long as the rocks on which he wished them to be engraved. Job didn’t know his prayer would/was being answered, but it was. It was being answered in ways beyond his greatest imagining. When God answers, he usually answers in big ways, even if not in our timing or in our ways.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

As abandoned as Job felt and as unfairly as he felt he was treated, he never lost faith in God or His goodness. The next verse in Job states:

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. (Job 19:25)

There may be times it feels like God is not with you, but He is. There may be times it feels like He isn’t listening, but He is. There may be times it feels like He will never answer your prayers, but He will. The important thing is to never lose faith in His power, His goodness, or His love.

God’s answers to prayers may not be exactly what you asked for and they rarely happen in our desired timing, but He gives us what we need and what is for our and other’s best and He never makes a mistake.

Trust Jesus.

your sister in Christ,

Christy

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

These are my very preliminary QB rankings, my only research being the RotoWire depth charts and player notes.

Tier 1

Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts

I don’t know who Allen will throw to other than Dalton Kincaid, but he needs only 25-ish TD passes to be the QB1 if he stays healthy, given all the rushing numbers. Hurts is second only because he’s not as good in real life, and there’s some small risk of implosion, skills-wise. But 10-plus TDs on the ground creates its own tier.

Tier 2

Patrick Mahomes, Anthony Richardson, Lamar Jackson

What’s odd about this tier is how different these players are. Mahomes, despite a poor 2023 regular season, gets in because he’s the GOAT, and Andy Reid is a arguably the greatest offensive coach of all time. Richardson could easily be the 1.1, but injury risk and lack of track record give him a much lower floor. Jackson doesn’t get the goal line looks that often, especially with Derrick Henry in tow, but obviously his running gives him a huge lift.

Tier 3

CJ Stroud, Kyler Murray, Jordan Love, Dak Prescott

Stroud has a loaded receiving corps now with Stefon Diggs on the team, and he’d be my bet to lead the league in passing yards. But he doesn’t run much, and that caps his ceiling slightly. I almost put him in Tier 2 because you can make the case he’s basically Mahomes with 200 fewer rushing yards. Murray is another year off his ACL tear, runs a lot and gets Marvin Harrison. It’s still an open question whether he’s good, though. Love looks like a player, runs a little and has young, developing wideouts. Prescott is in a pass-heavy offense, has an elite WR1 and is the ultimate stat-padder which works in fantasy. (You could just push all four into Tier 2 and make it seven deep, as the cutoff is a bit arbitrary.)

Tier 4

Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence

This is the tier of the passing-only QBs with the exception of Herbert who can run, but might be hamstrung by a run-heavy offense, and Lawrence, who might not be good. I would gamble on Herbert’s athleticism and skills nonetheless if he falls into this tier. And Lawrence gets a much-needed rookie deep threat which could open things up. Burrow is Tier 3 if he would stay healthy, but he obviously carries more risk on that front, and I don’t think he’ll run much now.

Tier 5

Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith

Watson might be cooked, but there’s still upside if he can run like he used to. Jones has a big ceiling with his mobility and Malik Nabers on the team. Stafford has two top receivers and a great offensive coach. Rodgers is old, but he has weapons now, and Williams has a loaded receiving corps. People might laugh at Darnold in this tier, but he’s mobile and has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. If he keeps the job (a big if), he has upside, which is what you want in this tier. Mayfield and Smith are solid and boring, which is also fine if you wait forever on QB. Daniels’ mobility puts him here instead of the scrub tier.

Tier 6 (Scrubs)

Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, Will Levis, Drake Maye, Raiders QBs, Bo Nix

These are the scrubs. One or two might not turn out to be scrubs, but it’s hard to get excited about any of them.

These rankings will change, but I like to get my preliminary ones down on paper before I get influenced by ADP and training camp hype.

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

These are my very preliminary TE rankings, my only research being the RotoWire depth charts and player notes.

**Tier 1 **

Sam LaPorta

He gets his own tier because he’s the only TE for whom there are no red flags. Most TEs do very little as rookies, while LaPorta was a rare exception and should only get better. His competition for targets is perfect — a true No.1 receiver, a play-making field-stretcher and a speedy running back, i.e., defenses have to account for multiple threats, but it’s not too crowded for LaPorta to see 140-odd targets in Year 2.

**Tier 2 **

**Mark Andrews, Dalton Kincaid, Evan Engram, Trey McBride, Travis Kelce, George Kittle **

Kelce is the fantasy GOAT, but he turns 35 in October, and age catches up to everyone eventually. Andrews gets hurt a lot, but he should still be Lamar Jackson’s favorite target when healthy. Kincaid might lead the Bills in targets, and in Year 2 could take the leap to TE1. But unlike LaPorta, he hasn’t quite done it yet. Engram caught 114 passes last year, and Calvin Ridley is gone, so I don’t see his role diminishing much. McBride is a rising star in a good situation with only Marvin Harrison, Jr. to compete with for targets. And Kittle is a star when healthy and could see more looks if Brandon Aiyuk is traded.

Tier 3

T.J. Hockenson, Kyle Pitts, Jake Ferguson, David Njoku, Cole Kmet, Brock Bowers

There’s no doubt about Hockenson’s talent, but the downgrade to Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy could be steep. Pitts can still be the 1.1 with a competent quarterback, but at this point there’s some O.J. Howard risk (great athlete, average NFL player.) Ferguson is just in a great spot with the Cowboys and their thin group of pass catchers after CeeDee Lamb. Njoku looked like a guy who belonged in the first round seven years ago, and it’s not that unusual for TEs to take some time to peak. (Njoku took longer than most, but like Engram, some of that was probably due to poor QB play early on.) Kmet’s got a lot more competition for targets, but also a likely QB upgrade, and he’s still young and on the upswing. Bowers is a home run swing — he might do nothing as a rookie, but could also be the Raiders 1A to Davante Adams out of the gate.

**Tier 4 **

Dalton Schultz, Dallas Goedert, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith

If I were to get shut out from the top-three tiers, I’d be okay with any of these guys. Schultz will have a role in a top passing offense, even if it’s a secondary one. Goedert has never really put it together, but is still in a good spot in the Eagles top-heavy offense. Freiermuth is a good pass catcher and could see more opportunities with the trade of Diontae Johnson. Smith is a wild card. His floor is basically zero as he could be used to block, but his upside is Tier 2 if the Dolphins indeed make him the No. 3 option in their fast-paced offense.

**Tier 5 (scrubs) **

Hunter Henry, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tyler Conklin, Mike Gesicki

You never know, one of them might bust out, and there are others not listed, but it would be hard to count on these guys. Gesicki intrigues me a bit since he used to be productive, and the Bengals are thin after their star receivers, but they never seem to use the TE much.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Pros of Investing in Bitcoin

• Cons of Investing in Bitcoin

• The Future of Bitcoin

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates independently of central banks and governments. Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin has emerged as a popular investment option for individuals and institutions seeking to diversify their portfolio. However, like any investment, Bitcoin comes with its own set of risks and rewards. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of investing in Bitcoin.

Pros of Investing in Bitcoin

Decentralization

One of the main advantages of Bitcoin is its decentralized nature. This means that there is no central authority controlling the currency, making it resistant to government interference and manipulation.

Security

Bitcoin transactions are secured through advanced cryptographic techniques, making it virtually impossible for hackers to steal funds.

High Potential for Growth

Bitcoin has shown tremendous growth potential over the years, with its value skyrocketing from just a few cents in 2009 to over $60,000 in 2021.

Diversification

Investing in Bitcoin can help diversify your portfolio, reducing your overall risk by spreading your investments across multiple assets.

Cons of Investing in Bitcoin

Volatility

Bitcoin is known for its extreme volatility, with its value fluctuating wildly in short periods. This can make it a risky investment option, particularly for those seeking stability.

Lack of Regulation

Bitcoin is not regulated by any central authority or government, making it vulnerable to fraud, scams, and market manipulation.

Limited Acceptance

While Bitcoin has gained wider acceptance in recent years, it is still not accepted by all merchants and businesses, limiting its utility as a currency.

Environmental Impact

Bitcoin mining, the process of verifying transactions on the blockchain, requires a massive amount of energy, contributing to environmental concerns.

Conclusion

Investing in Bitcoin can be a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. While it offers the potential for tremendous growth, it also comes with significant risks and challenges. Before investing in Bitcoin, it is important to carefully consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and overall financial situation. As with any investment, it is important to do your own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions.

FAQ

How does Bitcoin work? Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain. The blockchain uses cryptography to ensure the security and integrity of the network. Bitcoin is created through a process called mining, where powerful computers solve complex mathematical equations to verify transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain.

Is Bitcoin a good investment? Bitcoin has seen significant price fluctuations since its inception, making it a high-risk investment. While some investors have made significant profits from Bitcoin, others have lost money. It's important to do your research and understand the risks before investing in Bitcoin.

What are the advantages of investing in Bitcoin? One advantage of investing in Bitcoin is its potential for high returns. Bitcoin has seen significant price increases in the past, and some experts predict that its value will continue to rise. Another advantage is the decentralized nature of Bitcoin, which means it's not subject to government or financial institution control.

That's all for today

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E-waste is a major problem in the world. Most governments are taking steps to tackle the challenge of e-waste and encouraging people to recycle the e-waste. That’s why you will often find government-funded e-waste recycling programs, non-profit organizations collecting e-waste, and private e-waste recycling companies recycling e-waste for free.

Out of all the ways to get rid of e-waste, hiring a professional e-waste recycling company is the most convenient way to get rid of the e-waste. However, you have to pay for the convenience. Your private e-waste recycling company charges you the fee for the collection of e-waste from your home.

Before you call professional e-waste services, here are the five things you need to keep in mind:

1. Find out whether the company is certified

E-waste recycling comes with a lot of complexities. It contains a range of harmful chemicals that need to be treated in a controlled environment. Look for a certified e-waste recycling company that has an active license to recycle e-waste in the area. Many companies just collect the e-waste and transport it to developing countries for disposal. Look for an e-waste company that actually recycles e-waste.

1. Ask about the e-waste recycling terms and conditions

Most electronic waste items can be recycled for free, but for some items such as printers, copiers, and fax machines, you have to pay the recycling fee. For some items or certain quantities of e-waste, you can get rewards too. Ask about the terms and conditions of the e-waste recycling company. They include everything you need to learn about e-waste recycling.

1. Check the reputation of the company

It is always a good idea to check the reputation of the company. You can do so by reading the reviews of the company. You can search online for any complaints registered against the company. Go through the website of the company.

This will help you get some idea about the reputation of the company. If you find a company that has mostly negative reviews, you can move to another company.

1. Ask about free drop off

Most private residential electronics recycling companies provide free drop-off services. It includes dropping off the accepted e-waste items at the recycling center. You can get your e-waste recycled for free.

1. Learn about the buyback program

The buyback program includes the exchange of e-waste items in return for rewards. These rewards can be anything from cash to store discounts and coupons. Buyback programs are mostly applicable for commercial companies that have a large number of electronic units in decent condition eligible for exchange.

If you are looking for a professional e-waste recycling company, you can get in touch with Xtreme Green Recycling. Check out our client review:

Highly recommend these guys! Extreme by all measures- speed, courtesy, and care (for you and the planet!). Mark and company went out of their way to get piles of e-waste out of our way. Thanks again, fellas! –Artin Gorjian

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Once again here are the fruits of the Spirit as defined in Galatians 5.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) {emphasis mine}

What is Good?

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:16-26)

If the Bible says that there is no one good except God, how can we be good or show the goodness expected by God? We can only do good and be good if we “abide in the vine,” if we have the Spirit within us. This is because only God is good. We can have the fruit of the Spirit, goodness, only when we have the Spirit of God within us. Our goodness comes from Him. He enables us to overcome our sin nature and to act within His very good, sinless nature through Him.

Goodness Through Obedience & a Right Attitude

Goodness is obeying God, but it is more, it is obeying with a totally right attitude. It is submitting our lives fully to God. It is submitting to His will and His plan including putting the good of others above our own good, just as Jesus did when he came down to Earth, lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on the cross to take away our sins. We can’t just obey by our own power.

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. … “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:21-22,27-28)

We can’t just obey the letter of the law and be good. If you notice, it is the thought as well as the action that we are to avoid. Hating another is counted as murder because of the righteous nature of God. Lusting for another is considered adultery because of the Holiness of God. We must have a change of heart through faith in Jesus and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that changes our motivations and the way we think. This goodness is unlike anything the world has seen and it draws people to Jesus like flies to honey.

Obey as God Enables

While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Mark14:3)

The goodness expected by Jesus is not the goodness of the world. It is different. Frequently the goodness of the Spirit is considered foolishness by people. Goodness is acting according to the will of God and for His eternal plan.

The thing that really stands out to me in the passage, is the statement “She has done what she could.” All God asks of us is to obey His commands and submit to His Spirit. We are not responsible for the result. We are not responsible for things we cannot control. God has got this. God has an eternal plan that will come to fruition. We are just blessed to be used by Him to make His plan a reality. Knowing the result is in His hands really takes the pressure off. When we trust and obey Him, He will use our faithfulness for good and give us His goodness.

This passage should be the cry of our hearts.

You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word.
Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes. (Psalms 119:65-68)

We need to study His commandments and statutes in order to know what God wants us to do. We should keep His word. We should do good as He does good.

Even though our goodness is done through the power of the Spirit and under the covering of Jesus, we still need to know God’s commands to live a life of goodness. We need to actively learn what He wants from us. We cannot truly live a good life on our own, but that doesn’t mean we should be passive. We are called to actively obey His commands. We are called to study His word. We are called to speak the truth (that we learn from the Bible). We are called to follow Him. We are not called to lie around like a puppet waiting for the puppeteer to move us and speak for us.

Goodness Now, but Results In God’s Timing

Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. (Ecclesiastes 11:6)

God tells us to obey Him and to do what is right at every opportunity (not waiting for what we think is the best time). We then must leave the results to Him. When we are kind to someone, sometimes they will be kind in return, but sometimes they won’t. When we witness to others, sometimes they will repent and turn to God, but sometimes they won’t. We are only responsible for the witnessing, and obeying now. The results are up to God.

This should give us peace knowing that we can’t mess things up by doing it wrong. God can use the most awkward words and actions for His glory, but the most silver tongued orator or the most hard working evangelist can’t bring about a single conversion if God is not part of it. As we obey we must always keep in mind that all of our goodness comes from God, not through our works.

Use of Our Wealth for the Good of Others

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

There are many kinds of wealth. We may have the obvious wealth, money and property. We can also have a wealth of friends, a wealth of opportunities, a wealth of influence, or a wealth of skills. Of course the greatest wealth is faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior. God calls us to share this wealth. Part of the goodness we get from the Spirit is the generosity to share this wealth with those around us. We can’t share with everyone, but we can share what we have been given with those near us, who are in need.

I’ve said to people for a while that I have had two periods of time in my life: when I had more time than money and when I had more money than time. We will have different stages in life when you have different things to share. For example, if you are a parent of young children or a caregiver to someone with major health problems, you may not have much time to give to others, but there may be other things you can give. God calls us to be generous with what we have. He calls us to be stewards of His treasure. If you have a loving family, that is a gift from God. If you have a good church, that is a gift from God. If you have skills, faith, or knowledge, they are gifts from God. If you have monetary wealth, that is a gift from God. If you have influence, that is a gift from God. We should use all of these for the good of those around us.

If you have a loving family, you could invite over a young person who doesn’t have family close by or comes from a broken family and show them what a loving, Godly family looks like. If you have a Godly, loving, Bible-believing church, invite those around you to attend. If you have skills, use them to teach another or to help someone in need. If you have faith, talk about your faith to those who are suffering or doubting. If you have knowledge, teach those who don’t know as much. This may be speaking to a large audience, but it also may be talking to one person at your home or at a coffee shop. If you have monetary wealth, you may be called to give generously to those in need or ministries that share the Gospel. Whatever God has given you, you are called to share this with others. This is part of the goodness of God.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17)

We are given good things so we can share the goodness of God with others.

Be Good as God is Good

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

“God causes all things to work together for good,” so we should also act in goodness for the good of others. We should actively seek the good of others, not just wait until the moment seems right. That moment may never come.

I still regret two missed opportunities in particular. Neither seemed like a big deal at the time, but I still think about them decades later.

In high school, I was at school late for some reason. I was talking to a fellow student. It ends up that student was stuck at school and didn’t have a ride home. They hinted that they needed a ride, but I was too focused on my own schedule that I missed it. It wasn’t till I got home that I realized they were asking for a ride without asking. I totally missed it. I would’ve been willing to give them a ride, but I was too self-focused to catch the hint. I have no idea how long they had to stay at school till they got a ride. I was not seeking that person’s good. I was seeking my own.

Another event happened when my husband and I were driving to church one morning. As we drove out of our neighborhood, there was a little old lady struggling taking the trash out to the curb. It would’ve been easy to stop and help her. It wouldn’t have taken more than a minute or two, but we were in a hurry and didn’t stop. (I don’t think my husband saw her because he was driving and paying attention to the road.) I still wish I had stopped to help that lady. I missed an opportunity to do good to another because I was focused on myself. I may have been doing a “good” thing, going to church, but missed the best thing, helping and witnessing to a struggling, old lady. The goodness of the Spirit is doing God’s best instead of what is merely good.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:9-10) {emphasis mine}

Sometimes we may get tired of doing good when it feels like no good is coming from it, but God tells us to “not lose heart in doing good.” God’s plan is never according to our timing. People talk about certain individuals being so smart that when making decisions “they play 3D chess.” In other words, they are seeing so many steps that a normal person doesn’t see and can therefore make better decisions. God doesn’t just “play 3D chess,” He plays more than 1,000,000D chess. We can’t even imagine all of the variables that He manages to bring His plan to fruition. We should never lose heart and we should continue to “do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
I would have despaired unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living. (Psalms 27:12-13)

All Christians know that God and Good (is there a difference?) win in the end and that there will be no pain and suffering in heaven, but we long to see that same goodness here on Earth, “in the land of the living.” If we are diligently watching, God gives us peeks at the fulfillment of His plan, glimpses of the goodness being accomplished, and flashes of the positive influences we are helping to bring about. Don’t be so focused on your current cares that you miss the wonderous works that God is doing, especially those being done through your life.

How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men! (Psalms 31:19)

As we deal with the evil of the world, we need to keep doing good and “take refuge in” God’s goodness and the power of His Spirit.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalms 34:8)

Slander, Not Hypocrisy

And keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:16-18) {emphasis mine}

One thing we need to keep in mind is that we will be persecuted and derided for living a good Christian life and imitating Jesus. We need to make sure that all of the accusations are for having Christ-like goodness, and not for being lazy, sinful, or hypocritical. Many people have turned away from Jesus because of the hypocrisy of those who call themselves Christians or organizations that call themselves the Church. Don’t be the reason someone turns away from God. Live out God’s goodness, so that people want to learn more about being a Christian and knowing Jesus.

Bad Company Corrupts Good Morals

We get our goodness from obeying God, studying His word, and trusting in His power, but most of all we get our goodness from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the covering of the Blood of the Lamb. We are told that we are “washed white as snow.”

If you are a parent, you’ve probably experience your child being dressed up in his/her Sunday best, but then they decided to go hug the hairy dog, play in a mud puddle, or some equally messy endeavor. That beautiful, clean outfit, gets dirty and ruined. In the same way, spending time with ungodly, bad company can dirty our “white as snow” soul and keep us from the goodness that God intends. If we are truly a child of God, this doesn’t mean we lose our salvation or anything like that, but we do become unfruitful.

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)

The Bible tells us to be in the world, sharing the Gospel, but not to be of the world, living like the rest of sinful mankind. We need to be careful to not use the excuse “that we are witnessing” to be of the world as an excuse for living a worldly life. Is our sending our kids to government schools actually just doing what is easy? Is our hanging out at the bar to witness just an excuse to drink or hangout with our ungodly friends? Are we saying we are being wise stewards with our money, but in reality we are refusing to give according to God’s will because we are saving up emergency money to provide for ourselves because we don’t trust God to provide for us? Sometimes it is hard to judge our motives because we lie to ourselves as well as to God. Be careful that we don’t let “little” lies and “little” excuses draw us away from God’s will. Be careful that we aren’t so much in the world, that we are no good to anyone.

Sometimes it is hard to find that right balance. Some people so avoid the worldly sinners that they are of no use to anyone, especially God. Some people are so in the world that they are led astray and look no different than the ungodly sinners around them. We need to pray that God would guide us to witness to the sinners without being changed negatively by their presence. We need to have Godly friends who keep us on track and encourage our walk with God. We need to attend a Bible believing church, so we are regularly taught God’s word and guided in how to apply it. We need to read the Bible daily so we are filling our minds with God’s goodness and not the sinful culture of the world. We want our goodness to shine out and point to the goodness of God. We want our goodness to be the light that draws those around us to salvation.

Goodness Unlike Anything Known to Man

As a Christian, being good and showing goodness to fellow believers should be fairly easy (in the Spirit, but not of ourselves). On the other hand, even for those walking closely with Christ, there is almost always someone to whom it is hard to act with goodness and kindness because they have so mistreated and hurt us. We are called to be good to them as much as we are to those we care about. God’s goodness is acting in a way that is so contrary to human nature that it is hard for people to comprehend. It makes those who don’t know God say, “Are you for real?”

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21) {emphasis mine}

The key to goodness is this, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

*** I’ll include a few more verses on goodness below for those who want to continue studying God’s word on goodness.

Trust Jesus.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13) {emphasis mine}

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. (Romans 14:13-19) {emphasis mine}

The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. (1 Timothy 5:24-25) {emphasis mine}

FYI, my following posts will continue going through each of the individual fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

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Over the past week, I've spent a little time here and there checking out the latest game out of grindy, microtransaction game maker, Nexon. This is what I think about it.

Hold up, haven't I seen this before?

Back in the olden days of gaming o' yore, there was a time when Shephards saved the galaxy, and the Inquisition had only just begun, guards of the veil be damned.

Before developer studios killed their community forums and moved communication to Twitter, and while we were all playing Mafia Wars and The Sims Social on Facebook, awkwardly flirting with sims created by our close friends. An age where the latest Sims game didn't have swimming pools, and most of us were still venturing out Into the Future.

That time was 2014. A time before gaming was corrupted by an onslaught of nonstop subscription models and battle passes. When 30 hours to beat a game was perfectly acceptable. When loading into something brand new, felt ... exciting. But war, war has changed.

Warframe was released in 2013, and then later, for the Playstation 4, in 2014. This was mostly only an alpha, and all you could really do was jump down to a handful of extermination missions from a static solar system map.

Around the same timeframe, the first Destiny was released on consoles, and, at the time, didn't even remotely touch a PC.

Both games shared (and still share) similarities. As Warframe evolved, it became a mission-hub, shooter-looter game where you built your character, played with friends, and spent the rest of your time sifting through playing-card-eque warframe modifications. Destiny, and then its sequel, years later, are really not all that different.

It's a theme I don't feel has really caught on all that much outside of ... well, Warframe and Destiny. Sure, we have Helldivers 2, but, that's kinda sorta similar, but also not really.

Warframe and Destiny 2 exist as "live service" games. Games that exist without a subscription, but do have expansions and microtransactions, and are persistent, never-ending. I think back in the golden age of gaming, we would call this a hybrid MMO.

They don't really exist in a niche, but this genre has largely been overshadowed by MOBAs, and then survival games, and then battle royales. I think the battle royale genre still reigns supreme as one of the most popular format of games to play. Although, personally, it's starting to feel pretty stale for me. Even if Apex Legends is really cool.

But, now we're in 2024. Warframe has been out for about 11 years, and Destiny has been chugging along for around the same amount of time. And I guess Nexon decided to throw their own hat into the ring. For ... reasons?

Enter: The First Descendant. Like if Mass Effect Andromeda had a child with Destiny, and then got cybernetically modified with implants from Warframe. It's a game occupying a concept that already exists, so much so, they purposely or accidentally copied UI design directly from Destiny 2. And, as damning as this may look, I decided to give the game a shot, regardless.

Hello, I am now a bunny.

The game starts out kind of unremarkable, dropping you into a sci-fi universe where an evil big guy wants an artifact for his own evil doing and bidding, and you've got to stop him.

The First Descendant is a third-person looter shooter powered by Unreal Engine 5. Become a Descendant. Fight for the survival of humanity. Descendants have unique abilities to tackle both solo and co-op missions. Up to 4 players use varied mechanics to defeat giant bosses. BE THE FIRST DESCENDANT!

It ... kind of reminds me of the beginning of Destiny 2, paraphrased and rewritten. You're a descendant, and you can do really cool stuff with your hands, like shoot out ice, or electricity, and also fire guns at monsters.

My first impression, is that the gun play kind of sucks. It feels like holding a stick and going "pew pew pew" with imaginary bullets. Sure, they're actually coming out of the gun, but there's next to no feedback when you're firing a gun, and when your shots are hitting your target. It just doesn't feel like I'm shooting a weapon that kills things.

Now, the graphics are pretty slick, and, well, I don't know if this is an issue with Linux, or what, but I'm running pretty good hardware, okay? And having the settings on high, I get great FPS ... until I venture into an area where there's a lot going on, or onto a battlefield where missions are happening. Everything slows down to a 15 FPS slug-fest. And, apparently, this is something that's happening to a lot of people, and it may not actually be a hardware issue.

It's been quite a while since I've felt the struggle of a poorly optimized game. Within the first ten levels, I wasn't really feeling like I was having all that much fun. I was feeling like I was just shooting a gun at some aliens until loot popped out, and repeating the process over and over until I was really powerful, and also had access to the Bunny descendant.

This is about where things start to get better. I like the bunny lady.

With my descendant now fully maxed out with all the gear you can wear, and equipped with modifications (that has an interface eerily similar to Warframe), I'm starting to feel like progress is happening.

I notice something though ... this game takes place, entirely, on just one planet? Did I miss something? What happens when you've completed all the missions across the map? Is it endgame time? Do I get to go to space and see other planets? I mean, this is what I'm expecting, since this is a direct copy and paste of Destiny and Warframe. But I've done almost no reading on the extended story of this game, and am speaking about it now from only first-hand experience.

But what about the voice acting?

The voice-overs in TFD sound like a typical dub in an anime. Some of them are alright, some of them sound like the person speaking has no emotional capacity whatsoever. It's a very, Nexon-ish, Eastern grinder game. Which is fine! Grinding mobs for loot is something I've done since 2001, when I joined Anarchy Online.

More issues, and stuff, and things.

From the jump, to level 14, I'm only really now starting to feel like I could enjoy TFD, and that's if they continue to fix it, and put out new content, and aren't sued by two different developer studios.

One of the issues I encountered while randomly playing the game, thus far, is that pretty much all the content is designed with having other people around you, in mind. Except, even though there are a lot of people playing this game, sometimes there is nobody doing the mission you need help with. So, you kind of just fail, and then fail again, and then either stand there and wait for someone to waltz in, or go do another mission and return later.

I've said it before years and years ago, and over and over again since then: A persistent online game where there is only group content, is a game I'm not that interested in.

Eve Online is great, until you find out you can't do anything actually fun or remarkable unless you become a social butterfly and join massive corporations, and constantly collaborate with other people. I'm a recluse! I don't want to do that all the time!

Albion Online is awesome ... until you hit a wall and find out you're gonna die, son. You're gonna die and enjoy it, unless you join a guild with active players, and collab--You already know what the heck's going on.

Black Desert Online is exactly the same, but it has more solo content than the previously mentioned games.

What I'm trying to get at here is, even if your game is online only, built around co-op and being massively multiplayer, you still need to have content people can do by themselves, or you're going to annoy me. You're going to bring a screeching halt to your entire game if for some reason a ton of people just stop playing.

I will give TFD a little merit, though. One of the reasons I don't really play Warframe, is that their story and quests are ridiculously convoluted, and not very friendly to people who have day jobs. You're telling me I have to grind for a week if I want a cool gun? Are you fuggin' serious, dude?

The same kind of goes for Destiny. I like the theme, but I don't like how a lot of the game kind of feels like a slog, until you get to the content you want to be in. TFD, so far, you pretty much just blast through everything like a stream of water through toilet paper.

This could be good, or bad, depending on what exactly the endgame is.

At the end of it all.

With my initial impressions down, and my extensive history of having seen this all before, and knowing exactly who Nexon is, as a company, and what they're probably going to do (Hello, exorbitant cash shop prices), would I continue playing?

Probably. I kind of do want to see what the endgame is like, and just how deep customization and stat-building goes.

Would I recommend it to other people?

Uh ... maybe? If you feel the same way I do about Warframe and Destiny? Give it a shot, maybe we'll talk, and I'll help you shoot some mindless aliens.

@ c5395d20:25baac60

The Gang Met A Witch

This is from the 10th session of my #DnD game, we play around every other week, sometimes with longer breaks. The party (Wizard, Druid, Forge Cleric/Artificer) just reached 4th level and has a Stronghold (the Manor at the Old Orchard Hill).

The party has been chasing rumors over the game, and decided to investigate the caustic black ooze local hunter Lars Bailey has seen on a few animals in the southern edges of the Duskwood. They consulted with the medicine woman in the town (Anton's Mill) and got general directions and advice, including a warning about the Witch of the Ashfens: Mother Leondra.

Mother Leondra is known to the villagers, but doesn't make herself a nuisance, typically only concerned with her domain in the marshland south of the mill town. The party decided to seek her advice.

They made their way into the Ashfens, and were met by two crows, their eyes sewn shut with red thread. Winora the druid spoke to them (queue the goofy voices) and asked if they knew Mother Leondra, of course they do. That's their mother.

---

After some convincing (and bribery) the party successfully persuaded the crows to guide them to the witch's home. On the way they ran into a Catoblepas afflicted with black ooze. They fought the monster, realizing that if it takes damage the ooze scatters dealing acid damage. After they defeated the monster, Destin the Artificer collected the tusks, tail and eyes.

They established camp, and watches. Wizard Armond got distracted by Will-o-the-Wisps during his, wandered out into the swamp and abandoned. He ended up spending the night sleeping rough, the party went without a watch the rest of the night.

The next day the party regrouped and made it to the witch's hut. A sign in giant (the lingua franca of my world) reads "No Soliciting" and in the clearing beyond a hut stood on a giant bird leg, moving slowly like sleeping breath. Armond knockef on the door, a voice inside asked if he'd read the sign, once he promised he wasn't here to sell something the door opened to reveal a middle aged woman working on some knitting in the far side of the hut. They talked for a while, the party joined them, Leondra made some veiled comments implying that she was going to eat them. Leondra snapped her fingers and the cookware began preparing lunch.

While waiting, several crochet poppets came and inspected the party, one observed Destin, then came back with tin armor, he gave it a bell which it wore as a helm. Another surveyed Winora and found a mop of yarn dreadlocks to wear, Winora gave it a feather from her hair to wear. A candle lit itself in blue flame and a third doll, red-haired, chased it. As it got close to the candle it extinguished and another lit. The doll chased the "Will-o-the-Wisp" for a minute or so until Around gave it a playing card (thematically his spells draw inspiration from card tricks). It parachuted down from the shelf with the card.

The party has lunch with Mother Leondra, she gives more specific directions to the well of black slime. She thinks it's leaking from the Lake of Midnight Oil in the Feywild (the barriers between the mundane world and Feywild have been blurring in the region, it's one of the larger themes of the campaign so far). She said to look for a fairy ring around the source of the ooze, perhaps breaking it would help. She told them iron, salt and fire can be useful for pushing back fey magic. Lastly she cautioned them to be careful of "Old Jed" a "Scion of Death" and unfortunately unneighborly resident of that region of the Ashfens.

---

The party headed out again with bellies full, guided by one of the crow-familiars of Leondra. As they go, they run into a pair of Ettercaps. This was supposed to be a random encounter to give Winora a monstrosity to transform into (being a druid with a Stronghold has its perks). The flight went pretty south pretty fast, and before long, Armond was dead. After they dispatched the Ettercaps, the crow stood on Armond's chest, it's mouth opened and Leondra's voice emitted from it's mouth. "What is he worth to you?" After some discussion, Destin decided to give up his dreams to bring back his friend (Destin has seen many PCs die, mostly due to low levels and poor rolls). A red thread ties itself around his finger and then turns invisible, sealing the deal. The crow began to hack and cough, eventually it vomited up the poppet Armond gave the card. The doll doubled, then tripled in size, rapidly changing and taking on more of Armond's features, if still in knit form.

---

That, my friends, is how my party's wizard became a puppet.

@ f954303f:6e1b0af5

阿巴拉契亚的话题最近很火 我也来谈谈我在那里的四年生活

(https://www.reddit.com/r/China_irl/comments/1e50743/阿巴拉契亚的话题最近很火_我也来谈谈我在那里的四年生活/)

如题。楼主15岁时来美国读高中，我的学校就位于阿巴拉契亚山脉，号称Allegheny山脉以西最古老的预科学校，也是州内最好的私立高中，学校甚至还有专门的校车路线每天单程四十分钟跨州去接其他城市的day student。如果去看Niche或者reddit上的评价，当地人都会说academically challenging并且升学很好。具体情况暂不表。本文不提美国高中比较普遍的文化问题，皆在作为一个outsider观察所谓rust belt区居民的精神与生活状态。

刚来读书的时候学校所在城市人口还能排到州内第三，刚刚去查已经第四了 (https://preview.redd.it/qdfq6iflgxcd1.png?width=380&format=png&auto=webp&s=6e06e8545b71eed4cfe38faaef6b7145feb3d20e)

学校所在的城市曾是19世纪末美国人均最有钱的城市，但现在去downtown却只能看到一两百年前留下来的各式各样的厂房废墟。由于煤炭和重工业的衰退，城市的就业在各类服务业中达成了一个奇妙的平衡：教育和健康占比gdp 19%，政府15%，贸易交通和公用事业21%，休闲娱乐12%。其实也是国内资源枯竭型城市的一个future outlook了。如此的数据也导致pandemic期间城市内失业率达到了将近16%，而现在最新数据只有3.7%。

23年十月的最新downtown街景，得益于拜登的Building a better America grant，在修路 (https://preview.redd.it/wnu9molznxcd1.png?width=1196&format=png&auto=webp&s=2e2196580945ff8549bf9e2f6bcd8d33d9be2eb9)

废弃工厂 (https://preview.redd.it/o44t4hl7nxcd1.png?width=2544&format=png&auto=webp&s=8c801c1cb7d47613300b28387f2c2c884b1bdeff)

回到学校内，因为学校白人比例过高，作为一个私立学校，即使当地人实际完全不在乎，但学校多年来一直维持一位黑人老师的传统。同理，学校会付全奖给巴哈马国际学生请他们来上学，我们中国学生戏称进口黑人。当然，这一切的一切都只是表面功夫。没有人真正在乎diversity，也没有人在乎自己bubble之外的世界。即使学生的家长们人均会计师律师医生，甚至我的某位当地同学会开着当时最新款的s500来上学，同学们的活动范围依旧局限于tri-state area：度假去virginia beach，购物就近解决。即使每年走读学费要两万美元，依旧只有寥寥几人去过DC纽约，更别提什么加州欧洲甚至更远的地方了。

这些所谓中上层阶级的阿巴拉契亚居民怀揣着他们american small town centric的生活方式，那就更不用提J.D. Vance等种种没有特权的当地白人了。无知，迷茫和傲慢是当地特产，于是在学校被问中国有没有DQ是日常，在超市里被人说you are in america so speak english 更是日常。那种红脖式的传统教育更是在21世纪显得匪夷所思：boarding director会无视欧洲学生吸大麻但按着没要permission出门钓鱼的中国学生的头往墙上砸并让他们go back to China，学生早上迟到会被强迫把学校垃圾桶搬到校后河边倒进河里，目的是被河对岸超市顾客怒骂以“长记性”。

作为曾经的军校，为延续传统，每届freshman感恩节之前一周会被送到一个手机信号只有一格的户外中心做团建，爬树，攀岩，在山里负重徒步，坐在落叶堆上写日记，如此等等。当然，手机每天是要被收走的，每两天固定时间可以去食堂旁边用十五分钟跟家里发条消息。16年11月川普当选时，我们学生们围在common room的那台radio旁边，在这样的播音效果 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkc5ApocI7Q&ab_channel=Serj)里等来了川普当选的消息。我无法形容当地学生听到消息开始欢呼跳舞的情形，甚至到了晚上洗澡时间可以看到橄榄球队alpha male们裹着浴巾在洗澡堂chest bump。唯有年级唯二的其中一个小黑（因为和我一样不受“主流学生”待见，给了我nword pass）独自黯然神伤。

在Junior year的Human Geo课上, 我们有机会和本州senator视频连线。作为班里唯一的中国人，我被老师强行安排当演员，提问他对中国的看法，于是尴尬狼狈不堪的站在摄像头前被狠狠china bad了十分钟。其他一些Environmental Science 或是Contemporary Issues课上更是充斥着什么联合国要强迫美国人不喝牛奶并且限制美国人聚集区域等Conspiracy Theory。btw，这个老白男老师是UPENN Chemistry毕业，因为成绩太差最后去iowa读了phd来高中教书。

最后的Senior year，作为本州最好的高中，抛开中国学生不谈，一届四五十个学生中，只有个位数当地学生真正意义上跨出了所谓的tri-state area，去的学校也更是USC或liberal arts这一类。剩下的大部分会继续留在小城里，在学校方圆几十英里内的几所大学或是去州立读一个学位。和J.D. Vance一样，我最好的当地白人朋友选择marine crop当兵，自此也就不再联系。当然，这位白人朋友也是校内被bully的对象之一，因为坊间传言他是被收养的俄罗斯弃婴。

至此，tldr，阿巴拉契亚区域的事实生活环境与国内的众多资源枯竭型城市类似，但多数居民依旧固步自封，怀揣着对生活变得日益艰难的不满，坚定的持有他们传统的教育和生活理念。与更普遍的传统美国小镇生活不一样的是，因为周边经济环境的持续衰退，这些阿巴拉契亚居民的生活实质上不可持续，面临死局。不过就像J.D. Vance一样，有能力并且真正有意愿跳出bubble打破幻想的，仅仅为极少数。

submitted by /u/Leading_Software_163 (https://www.reddit.com/user/Leading_Software_163)

[link] (https://www.reddit.com/r/China_irl/comments/1e50743/阿巴拉契亚的话题最近很火_我也来谈谈我在那里的四年生活/)[comments] (https://www.reddit.com/r/China_irl/comments/1e50743/阿巴拉契亚的话题最近很火_我也来谈谈我在那里的四年生活/)

#China_irl

https://www.reddit.com/r/China_irl/comments/1e50743/阿巴拉契亚的话题最近很火_我也来谈谈我在那里的四年生活/

@ 6259dcac:b006221d

🧠Quote(s) of the week:

'If you want to keep the smoke and mirrors, endless war machine charade going... buy US Treasuries and other government bonds.

If you want to help defund the clown world... buy Bitcoin. Few understand that it's really this simple.' - Dr. Jeff Ross

'Bitcoin won’t be adopted like the iPhone because it’s cool. Bitcoin will be adopted like gunpowder: if you don’t own it, you’ll be its victim.' - Saifedean

🧡Bitcoin news🧡

Now before I start with the Weekly Recap I want to share the following quote & picture: 'The fight between left and right is just a smoke screen to keep you confused and busy fighting each other and not the system.

The real fight is Tyranny vs Freedom. Central banking vs Bitcoin. We need to work on the vertical axis not the horizontal.' - CarlBMenger

Maybe in that light and with a heavy heart, I need to tell you guys that from the 31st of October you need to verify (full KYC) yourself to use the Relai app.

Personally, it was nice to have used Relai as an On-Ramp Bitcoin service for a while. Still think it is one of the best Bitcoin apps in the world. Fortunately, there are still other services that have greater privacy and confidentiality protections. For example Bisq, Robosats. For now, I am not sure what will happen with Pocket Bitcoin & Peach Bitcoin, both Swiss companies.

My advice. Get your corn from Relai before the 31st of October if you don't want to go full KYC. I'm certainly not using a Bitcoin wallet that needs KYC. Goes against anything a self-custody wallet stands for. Mayor setback, I feel sorry for Relai, but unfortunately this is part of the game. It is just the harsh reality as from next year, with MiCA, everyone will have to comply.

'Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at the close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light...'

Glad we have light...and it shines bright...Bitcoin!

8th of July:

➡️The 2024 Republican Party Platform is insanely bullish on Bitcoin and crypto: - Right to self custody - Right to mine Bitcoin - Right to transact freely - No CBDCs - End harmful regulations

The Republican Party Platform now includes the following language: "We will defend the right to mine Bitcoin, and ensure every American has the right to self-custody of their Digital Assets, and transact free from Government Surveillance and Control."

Tens of millions of Americans who hold crypto or believe in Bitcoin must now choose between their overall politics and their Bitcoin bags, or crypto livelihoods. Let the games begin! Bitcoin + 2024 GOP = Hello game theory!

9th of July:

➡️German Government is now left with 22,800 Bitcoin, less than half its original holdings. They are running out of BTC to sell. And that's a good thing. Buyers are gobbling up Germany’s weak-handedness.

A day later on the 10th.

German government transfers 5,103 Bitcoin to Kraken, Coinbase, an unknown address, and other exchanges. They now hold 18,860 BTC.

Eventually, on the 12th of July, the German Government was out of Bitcoin. They send 3846.05 BTC ($223.81M) to Flow Traders and 139Po (likely institutional deposit/OTC service). By that the German Government has 0 BTC ($0.00M) remaining.

To give you some context: Germany sold 42,000 BTC in one week, 250 BTC per hour, 168 hours, in one fucking week! Approximately as fast as they were mined in the first epoch, which is 16x the current rate of issuance.

Germany selling all their Bitcoin will go down as one of the most retarded things their politicians ever did. It will be just as great a decision as the one where they closed all their nuclear power plants to start importing energy from nuclear power plants in France. In a few years, this will be looked back on as one of the biggest geopolitical blunders of all time.

Mark my words it will be studied in universities. 'So let me get this straight. First Germany sells its scarce Bitcoin for euros that they can simply print, now Germans are holding 2.8 trillion euros in bank accounts* that don't even earn interest.' -CarlBMenger (https://x.com/Schuldensuehner/status/1810962887889834027)

➡️'Australia approved a second Bitcoin ETF. It starts trading on Friday.' -Bitcoin Archive

➡️While being a whole coiner (1BTC) is an important goal for many, for some it might also be helpful to see other milestones like 0.1 and 0.5. The following chart and explanation can help you to get that. No matter if you believe in the 'Power Law' of Bitcoin, I love the breakdown of acquiring BTC today. Take that from the following statement & chart. 'The maximum Bitcoin you will ever own. Assumptions: - You only perform DCA with a fixed amount per month in perpetuity. - Bitcoin price follows (i.e. mean reverts to) a power law with exponent 5.7

In this case, there is a theoretical maximum amount of Bitcoin you will ever own (since the sum of bitcoins bought every month forms a convergent series). If you start today (July 2024), the formula for calculating this is a*0.0006631, where a is the dollar amount you invest per month.

Below is the figure showing the same for different values of the amount invested and starting time. Based on this model, if you want to reach 1 bitcoin, starting today, you will need to invest a minimum of 1500$ per month. In 2026, this number becomes 2300$. By 2033, even 10,000$ invested per month will never get you to 1 Bitcoin. So, starting early is always better (not financial advice).'

Remember only 0.26% of the global population can be a Bitcoin whole coiner. Ever!

➡️Suriname Presidential candidate and fellow Noderunner Maya Parbhoe says people in the country are "isolated" due to the lack of banking. "We don’t have a lot of infrastructure, so we might as well use Bitcoin".

Maya Parbhoe is running for President of Suriname on a pro-Bitcoin platform. The trailblazing businesswoman wants to get the Surinamese people out of “survival mode” and take on the corruption that plagues her country, some of which has impacted her on the most personal level: Read the full article here

10th of July:

➡️'BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF has had $18 BILLION inflows since launching in January. Only 1 day of outflows, which was just $37m.' -Bitcoin Archive

➡️"We believe we are halfway through the current Bitcoin bull market. And just because we're halfway there doesn't mean we're halfway through price growth because, at the end of a bull market, prices tend to go parabolic," says ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood.

12th of July:

➡️'New All-Time High Bitcoin mining now uses 56.2% sustainable energy. At the current rate of increase, it will cross 60% by July 2025, and be 80% sustainable by end of 2030' - Daniel Batten

'Bitcoin mining is using more and more sustainable energy and will continue to do so. Not because Bitcoin miners are eco-conscious treehuggers, but for an even more powerful reason - economic incentive.'

➡️U.K. Bank refuses to accept funds converted from Bitcoin to buy a house.

➡️Worldcoin misses its 2023 goal of one billion users by 994 million. Worldcoin is at 0.6% of its goal. I’m stunned that the all-seeing orb hasn’t taken over the world by now. I mean how could it not have?!

13th of July:

➡️'Exactly 1 year today, Ripple "won" their lawsuit against the SEC. The XRP/BTC ratio has been down 73% ever since.' -Pledditor Just don't do shitcoins guys.

➡️'HFSP German Government” inscribed on the $1.87 Bitcoin transaction sent by a pleb to the German government wallet.' - Bitcoin News What a legend, that's a proper way to use inscription! HFSP = Have Fun Staying Poor And yes poor in Bitcoin terms, they still have the €1.3 billion.

15th of July:

➡️LARRY FINK (CEO BlackRock): I studied Bitcoin and am now a major believer it is a legitimate financial instrument with uncorrelated returns. Full clip here: link

Eric Balchunas:

'Hard to overstate how big a deal it is for Larry Fink, who runs $10.6T, to keep giving these full-throated endorsements of bitcoin as a legit asset class for everyday portfolios. Buy-in from BlackRock - as well as other legacy firms like Fidelity - gives boomer advisors comfort and cover to make the allocation. That's why betting against, or minimizing the clear-to-anyone-with-eyes-and-a-brain early success of, these ETFs has been and will be dumb IMO.'

Larry Fink is just another person on his Bitcoin journey. Step 1: Skeptic (2017: Bitcoin is an index of money laundering.)

Step 2: Put in the work

Step 3: Realized he was wrong (2023: Bitcoin could revolutionize finance. Files for a Bitcoin ETF.)

Step 4: Bitcoin is an uncorrelated asset used to hedge currency debasement (Bitcoin is a legitimate financial instrument. Launches Bitcoin ETF.)

Next step: Bitcoin is hope.

What can you learn from this all? Study Bitcoin! Why?

'Your models can't account for the world's largest manager going on national TV & saying:

👉🏽Bitcoin is a hedge against debasement

👉🏽Bitcoin is a legit financial instrument

👉🏽Bitcoin is a flight to safety

👉🏽I was wrong about Bitcoin

👉🏽Bitcoin is digital gold' - Luke Mikic

💸Traditional Finance / Macro:

👉🏽Billionaire Warren Buffet says he could end the United States deficit problem in five minutes. "You just pass a law that says any time there's a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election."

I agree with this! It could end the deficit problem, corruption, and other problems. But we all know this won't happen. And because of that, we have Bitcoin.

🏦Banks:

👉🏽 No news

🌎Macro/Geopolitics:

On the 8th of June:

👉🏽41% of jobs added since 2019 were by the government burning taxpayer dollars. Now ask Greece how well it works to prop up your labor force by just hiring everyone into government jobs. This is why I always try to explain that reported job numbers from macro data are pretty useless. It's a mess.

You don't believe me...well go figure: 'Jobs report numbers have been revised DOWN in 4 out of 5 months of 2024. The largest revision from 353,000 to 256,000, or by 97,000 took place in January. Subsequently, February saw a -39,000 downward adjustment.

April and May were revised down by 67,000 and 54,000, respectively, or a total of 111,000 jobs. In the first 5 months of 2024, non-farm payrolls have been revised down by a combined 240,000 jobs. Is the initial headline number even worth following anymore?' -TKL

👉🏽Real estate's rising valuation reflects the debasement of fiat currency.

CAGR M2 Money Supply (1971-2024): 6.8% CAGR Housing in the US: 5.7% CAGR Commercial US Real Estate: 4.4%

Denying the connection between the money supply expansion and real estate values is denying reality. Yet, many still choose to ignore this fact.' -Leon Wankum

The EU is on the same path as the US with M2 supply & real estate. Bitcoin will suck the monetary premiums out of real estate. That is actually a good thing because houses will be priced by their utility values. Ergo: It makes them far more affordable for average buyers.

On the 9th of July:

👉🏽'With 5 Million fewer workers in Germany in just a few years who is supposed to pay for pensions and healthcare for all the new retirees?' -Michael A. Arouet Not only Germany, but the EU in general...low growth and a social service deficit, demographic crisis, second highest tax rate, and so on.

Now combine the above with the fact that, and I say this in the utmost polite way, Europe is becoming an open-air museum due to overregulation and lack of innovation. Recipe for disaster.

Don't believe me...

Maybe we can still turn this around by printing more money. Nope, the ECB balance sheet as % of GDP is much higher than the Fed.

Maybe we can still turn this around if we would increase taxes and more regulations.

The Dutch are planning to implement a 36% yearly tax on unrealized capital gains from 2027, and the new French government plans up to 90% income tax. 90% tax on any annual income above €400,000.

Capital will leave the country so quickly that the leftist government can't even look. (I am in no favor of the right...left..couldn't care less) but for fuck sake NINETY f* percent.

The future of Europe is bright (not)... America makes software. Asia makes hardware. Europe makes it difficult. Those who can, do it. Those who can't, regulate. Europe

👉🏽Shocking tweet by Alex Gladstein @gladstein:

'Truly insane Debt Trap chart. Pakistan's interest payments are 57% (!) of its government revenue this year. To try to pay it off, the government is looking to increase total tax revenue by 40%/ I am sure the public will be happy with that...' Click here for the chart: https://www.ft.com/content/1b88fff6-bebb-4650-9677-7a7caa268f05

'IMF staff have reached a Staff-Level Agreement with Pakistan on a 37-month Extended Fund Facility of about US$7 billion to maintain economic stability and enhance conditions for stronger, more inclusive, and resilient growth.' -IMF

Let me translate the above IMF statement and I will use Alex Gladstein's tweet:

“Extended Fund Facility” = Debt Trap

“7 billion” = $10 billion+ including P+I

“Economic stability” = Starving the poor

“More resilient growth” = Devaluation

Combine the above with a staggering 43% loss in purchasing power against the dollar, pushing all the prices higher and higher. Seems like a recipe for a disaster.

And it's not only in Pakistan but also for example in Keyna: https://archive.ph/UiLxq

IMF we know your handwriting...anyway the money is broken, study Bitcoin.

On the 11th of July:

👉🏽US Spent A Record $140 Billion On Debt Interest In June, 30% Of All Tax Revenues. Now read that statement again. They are paying the debt with your money (taxes). Please read the article. Link here

Ergo: It’s like Tetris and we’re getting into the faster levels of the game where clearing the lines is just getting harder and harder.

And that was just one month!

'Annualized interest payments on US federal debt just reached an all-time high of $1.14 trillion. This is more than DOUBLE the amount of interest recorded in 2022 when the Fed started raising rates.

To put this into perspective, even during the 2008 Financial Crisis, annual interest costs were ~$450 billion, or 60% lower. As a % of GDP, net interest cost this year is on track to exceed the 1980s high of 3.2%.

By comparison, during World War II, net interest expense as a % of GDP was much lower, at 1.8%.' -TKL

Spending $1M a day would take 2,740 years to reach $1T. The US debt is $35T and grows by $1T every 100 days.

Now read the above statement again.

Study Bitcoin.

👉🏽US inflation was 3.0% in June, below expectations. Core inflation came in at 3.3%, BELOW expectations. Rate cuts are imminent.

On the 12th of July:

👉🏽'Elon Musk says "The European Commission offered X an illegal secret deal: if we quietly censored speech without telling anyone, they would not fine us. The other platforms accepted that deal. X did not." - Watcher Guru Do you want to learn/know more about this topic?

Please read the following post:

https://x.com/PirateWires/status/1811863158816223580

On the 13th of July:

👉🏽'US bankruptcies just hit their highest level in 14 years:

346 companies have declared bankruptcy through June 2024, the most since 2010, a year after the Financial Crisis.

US bankruptcies have also recorded their largest monthly increase in at least 4.5 years, with 75 new bankruptcies in June 2024.

Even during the 2020 Pandemic, the highest number of filings in a given month was 74.

The highest number of bankruptcies have been in Consumer discretionary companies, with a total of 55.

This is further evidence of weakening consumer spending.' -TKL

👉🏽Sometimes I love Twitter:

Q: "Why are energy, food, and even housing sometimes excluded from price indices for calculating “inflation”?"

A: (by Luke Gromen):

'Energy is excluded from CPI "because it's volatile." Yet from 1861-1971, oil prices were remarkably steady when the USD was tied to gold.

Energy only got "too volatile" when the USD's tie to gold was cut in 1971. Energy's volatility is a symptom of an inflationary system.'

👉🏽'10% of the world population hold 75% of all wealth, get 50% of all income, and account for nearly 50% of all CO2 emissions.' - World Inequality Report 2022 If you read this Weekly Recap, chances are you are part of the top 10%.

🎁If you have made it this far I would like to give you a little gift:

Your monthly must-read this week, Lyn Alden's July 2024 newsletter is out.

The two main focuses are:

-A reiteration and further detail of the fiscal dominance view (i.e. nothing stops this train).

-An observation that the US economy is likely to be insensitive to rate cuts like it was for hikes.

Free Newsletter

Ignore here newsletter and book (Broken Money - order here) at your own peril.

Credit: I have used multiple sources!

My savings account: Bitcoin

The tool I recommend for setting up a Bitcoin savings plan: @Relai 🇨🇭 especially suited for beginners or people who want to invest in Bitcoin with an automated investment plan once a week or monthly. (Please only use it till 31st of October - after that full KYC) Hence a DCA, Dollar cost Average Strategy. Check out my tutorial post (Instagram) & video (YouTube) for more info.⠀⠀⠀⠀

Get your Bitcoin out of exchanges. Save them on a hardware wallet, run your own node...be your own bank. Not your keys, not your coins. It's that simple.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Do you think this post is helpful to you? If so, please share it and support my work with sats.

zap 🧡 #weeklyrecap #nostr

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BTC

Bitcoin

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plebchain

grownostr

stacksats

bitcoineducation

adoption

@ b804f68e:2fb0fa1f

Here are 5 of mine:

1. Choosing not to complete a 4 year degree.
2. Choosing to start a serious relationship with my girlfriend.
3. Choosing to learn everything I could about Bitcoin and choosing to save in it.
4. Choosing to quit my job and go all in on getting the absolute most out of my athletic career.
5. Choosing to travel to Thailand.

What are some of the most significant choices you made during your 20s?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/610740

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

Naji Al-Ali was a Palestinian caricaturist, known for his revolutionary spirit depicted through his cartoons addressing political issues concerning Palestine and the broader Arab world. He worked for various Arab newspapers in Kuwait, London, and Lebanon. His drawings, notably featuring the character Handala and other figures, gained widespread recognition.

Throughout his career, Naji Al-Ali created around forty thousand cartoons. In 1978, he was awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom by the International Federation of Journalists. Tragically, he was assassinated in London in 1987.

Naji Salim Hussein Al-Ali was born in the village of Al-Shajara, Palestine, around 1937. At age ten, he moved with his family to Lebanon and settled in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp after the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948. Despite facing imprisonment by Israeli forces and the Lebanese army for his anti-occupation activities, he continued his artistic journey, often drawing on prison walls.

He couldn't complete formal education due to difficult circumstances but later studied mechanics and then pursued art at the Lebanese Academy in 1960. His breakthrough came when writer Ghassan Kanafani noticed his work in Ein el-Hilweh, leading to publications and recognition.

Naji Al-Ali's iconic character, Handala, first appeared in 1969 in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa. Handala, a ten-year-old Palestinian boy with his back turned and hands clasped behind his back, became a symbol of Palestinian steadfastness and defiance against injustice.

Naji Al-Ali's work extended beyond Handala to include characters like Fatima, symbolizing unwavering determination, and other symbolic figures critiquing Palestinian and Arab leaderships, as well as Israeli policies.

He published three books compiling his most significant cartoons and received numerous awards, including first place at the Arab Cartoon Exhibition in Damascus in 1979 and 1980.

Naji Al-Ali's assassination in London in 1987 remains unsolved, with speculation implicating Israeli Mossad or Palestinian factions due to his outspoken criticism of both.

He was laid to rest in the Brookwood Islamic Cemetery in London, despite his wish to be buried in Ein el-Hilweh next to his father, reflecting the challenges and controversies that marked his life and legacy.

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

Why do paper currencies carried in people's pockets hold value? Some experts say that banknotes derive their value because the government or central bank that issues them declares so, while others argue that their value stems from people's willingness to accept them as a means of payment.

In this report, "Business Insider" seeks to identify the reasons that give banknotes their purchasing power, explaining the stages of their evolution and their close relationship with gold.

$$**Government or Social Custom**$$

Demand for goods arises from the need for the benefits they contain; for example, people demand food because of its value in nourishing the body and sustaining life.

As for paper money, people demand it not for its intrinsic benefit but to "exchange" it for other goods and services. Money is not beneficial in itself but possesses value as a medium of exchange.

People demand paper notes because of the "purchasing power" and specifically their "price."

Saying that the value of banknotes comes from the government that issues them or from social custom does not provide a complete answer. Some experts argue that money holds value simply because it is "accepted."

$$Purchasing Power$$

For a note to be accepted as "currency," it must have purchasing power. But how does paper designated by the government as "money" attain such purchasing power or price?

The law of supply and demand explains the price of goods and some experts say the same law applies to the price of banknotes.

Paper money was not money in its inception but merely a "representative" substituting for gold. Many paper certificates were "evidence" of ownership of gold held in banks.

Holders of certificates could convert them into gold at any time, and people found it convenient to use paper certificates to purchase goods and services as long as they were considered "money."

Certificates gained "purchasing power" based on people's view of them as a "substitute" for gold.

$$Other Doctrines$$

Some economic doctrines argue that once a "certificate" or paper note gains purchasing power, it can become money regardless of gold, because demand now exists for it.

Acceptable paper certificates opened the door to fraudulent practices as banks succumbed to the temptation to lend more certificates without gold backing to increase their profits.

In free-market economies, banks printing more cash find that the value of paper currency against goods and services declines rapidly.

To preserve their purchasing power, holders of certificates printed without gold backing seek to convert them into the yellow metal.

However, if all holders of paper currency demand conversion to gold simultaneously, it could lead to the bankruptcy of the bank issuing the paper currency. Hence, banks avoid the risk of bankruptcy by printing notes without gold backing.

$$Cessation of Paper Currency Exchange for Gold$$

Governments can bypass this system by issuing decrees allowing banks not to exchange paper currency for gold.

Once banks are no longer obliged to change currencies into precious metal, they see significant opportunities to profit, encouraging them to continue expanding paper currency issuance.

Uncontrolled expansion in printing paper currencies can lead to a sharp rise in prices of goods and services, potentially collapsing the market economy.

The primary purpose of controlling the supply of paper currencies is to prevent competing banks from excessive issuance of currencies and causing each other's bankruptcy.

This can be achieved by establishing a bank with a monopoly on currency printing, the central bank, which has exclusive authority to print its own certificates (paper currency) to replace certificates issued by other banks in all their forms.

$$Power of the Dollar$$

Central bank-issued banknotes derive their purchasing power from the fact that various securities can be exchanged for central bank notes at a specified price.

Currency issued by the central bank is fully backed by the bank and has a historical link to gold, and because of this link, central bank notes have purchasing power.

In the United States, which holds the world's reserve currency, contrary to popular belief, the value of the "dollar" derives from its historical connection to money backed by a commodity, namely gold, not by government decree or social custom.

Non-commodity currency, mandated by governments or so-called mandatory currency used in modern banking systems, does not exist in its literal sense.

What the market has created, based on gold-backed money, forced governments to cancel before leaving us dealing with monetary assets whose value is based on the practices of central banks.

@ d360efec:14907b5f

สัญญาเหมาเอ๋อ เชื่อมผูกพันคนกับแมว พันธะพันปี จะเป็นทาสทุกชาติไป

ในสมัยราชวงศ์ซ่ง (960-1279) การจะเลี้ยงแมวได้ ต้องมีพิธีรีตอง เช่น ต้องเลือกวันที่จะรับแมว ต้องยื่นคำขอให้นักบวชเต๋าอุทิศแมวให้ รวมถึงทำสัญญาเป็นลายลักษณ์อักษร

เรียกว่า #สัญญาเหมาเอ๋อ หรือ สัญญาเหมา ที่แปลว่า แมว (貓)

ในสัญญาเป็นข้อตกลงว่าจะทำดีกับแมว ไม่ให้แมวทิ้งเราไป และช่วยให้แมวไม่หายหลุด หลงทาง กลับบ้านไม่ถูก

จากข้อมูล #สัญญาแมว แม้จะมีมาตั้งแต่ราชวงศ์ซ่ง แต่เพิ่งมาได้รับการเผยแพร่ เขียนถึงก็ในช่วงราชวงศ์หยวน (1814-1911) หรืออีก 500 ปีต่อมา

สัญญาเก่าแก่ระหว่าง 'มนุษย์' กับ 'แมว' นี้ ก็ไม่ต่างไปจาก #มนต์สะกด เนื้อหาของสัญญา ถูกเขียนให้วนเวียนอยู่รอบๆ รูปแมว

รายละเอียดในสัญญา จะเริ่มจากบอกลักษณะทางกายภาพของแมวตัวที่อยู่ในสัญญาก่อน เช่น แมวขนสีอะไร มีตำหนิ แต้ม อยู่ตรงจุดไหน เจอแมวตัวนี้ได้ยังไง เป็นลูกหลานของใคร รับต่อจากใครๆ มา

อ่านดูแล้วก็คล้ายๆ กับใบเซอร์แมวในยุคปัจจุบันเหมือนกัน

ความพิลึกอยู่ตรงนี้ -- ในสัญญาจะระบุว่า ถ้ามาอยู่ด้วยกันแล้ว แมวต้องมีนิสัยยังไง ต้องช่วยให้ร่ำรวย ต้องขยันขันแข็ง ออกลาดตระเวน ช่วยจับหนู ป้องกันหัวขโมย

แถมยังมีข้อห้ามอย่าง ห้ามทำร้ายสัตว์ ห้ามขโมยนู่นนี่ และห้ามออกจากบ้านไปทางทิศตะวันออกและทิศตะวันตก หากออกไปโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาติ จะถูกเฆียนตี !!!

จากนั้น ก็เป็นการระบุชื่อผู้ให้กับผู้รับ ราวกับเป็นการโอนย้ายโฉนดที่ดิน

เหตุที่นักบวชเต๋าเข้ามาเกี่ยว เพราะในสมัยนั้น แมวถูกนักบวชเลี้ยง เพื่อช่วยป้องกันหนูไม่ให้มากัดทำลายพระคัมภีร์ พอแมวยุคแรกของนักบวช ออกลูกหลาน คนมารับเลี้ยงต่อ ก็ต้องทำสัญญาแมวกับนักบวช

ความทาสแมวก็คือ ทั้งคนให้และคนรับ เชื่อจริงๆ เหรอ ว่าแมวจะตกลง ปฏิบัติตน ตามข้อแม้ในสัญญา

หาข้อมูลเรื่องแมวกับภาพวาดมากๆ เริ่มจะเพี้ยนขึ้นไปเรื่อยๆ แล้ว มีอะไรที่คิดไม่ถึงอึกเยอะ

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Yesterday's edition https://stacker.news/items/609082/r/Undisciplined

Don't miss @siggy47's Golden Oldies, today.

Financial housekeeping: I'm currently zapping the top posts and comments 42 sats each, while forwarding 10% to the top stackers, which tallies up to about 600 sats per post including the 202 for posting in ~meta. So far, This Day In has been roughly breaking even at those levels. If zaps increase on these posts, then I'll increase the amount going out to the OP's.

• • -

July 16, 2023 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

What's wrong with you?

No additional context. Let us know in the comments.

1542 sats \ 63 comments \ @andrews \ ~meta

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/209703/r/Undisciplined?commentId=209797

Excerpt

Buried in grief from all the recent death in my life.

419 sats \ 7 replies \ @elvismercury

From What's wrong with you? by @andrews in ~meta

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

5035 stacked \ 5150 spent \ 1 post \ 15 comments \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

26.3k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 29.6k spent \ 70 posts \ 151 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 16, 2022 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

My life should not revolve around Bitcoin

Excerpt

I can't stop thinking about Bitcoin while it is made so that I shouldn't have to think about it anymore. I waste my time listening to Bitcoin podcasts and watch Bitcoin Youtube videos and procrastinate an a Bitcoin social media. Why is that?

1097 sats \ 51 comments \ @tomlaies \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/45962/r/Undisciplined?commentId=46014

Excerpt

It becomes all encompassing. Listen to some music again. After about 6 months of non stop podcast when I went back to just listening to music in the car,it was glorious, like finding the music all over again.

430 sats \ 4 replies \ @falsefaucet

From My life should not revolve around Bitcoin by @tomlaies in ~bitcoin

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

15.3k stacked \ 20.9k spent \ 2 posts \ 25 comments \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

27.3k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 29.6k spent \ 80 posts \ 203 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 16, 2021 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

Jack Dorsey Announces New Square Division To Build DeFi on Bitcoin

Link to https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/bitcoin/jack-dorsey-announces-new-square-division-to-build-defi-on-bitcoin

5 sats \ 8 comments \ @shawnyeager \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/349/r/Undisciplined?commentId=371

Excerpt

Adding a math plugin to my markdown editor is on my todo list ... so I can show rather than tell what the ranking algo is among other things. […]

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @k00b

From Frequently Asked Questions by @sn in ~bitcoin

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

14 stacked \ 30 spent \ 1 post \ 8 comments \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

39 stacked \ 0 revenue \ 84 spent \ 4 posts \ 15 comments

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/610267

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• What is Bitcoin?

• Getting started with Bitcoin

• Using Bitcoin

• The Future of Bitcoin

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Bitcoin is a digital currency that has been making headlines since its inception in 2009. It's the first cryptocurrency and has sparked a wave of innovation in the financial industry. Understanding Bitcoin is important for anyone interested in finance, technology, or investing. This article provides a beginner's guide to Bitcoin, covering its history, benefits, and how to get started with it.

Bitcoin Beginners Guide To First Cryptocurrency What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is a decentralized currency that operates independently of central banks. Transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain. The blockchain is a distributed ledger that ensures that all transactions are transparent, secure, and irreversible. Bitcoin has a finite supply, with a maximum of 21 million coins that can ever be mined.

Getting started with Bitcoin

To start using Bitcoin, you need a wallet to store your coins. A Bitcoin wallet is a digital wallet that stores your private keys, which are used to access your Bitcoin. You can acquire Bitcoin through a variety of means, such as mining, buying on exchanges, or earning it through payment for goods or services. Exchanges and trading platforms are places where you can buy, sell, and trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin Beginners Guide To First Cryptocurrency Using Bitcoin

Once you have acquired Bitcoin, you can use it to make transactions. Bitcoin transactions are secure, fast, and anonymous. You can send Bitcoin to anyone in the world, and transactions are processed in minutes. To accept Bitcoin as payment, you need a Bitcoin address, which is a unique identifier that is used to receive Bitcoin. It's important to take security measures when using Bitcoin, such as keeping your private keys safe and using a reputable exchange.

The Future of Bitcoin

The future of Bitcoin is uncertain, but many experts predict that it will continue to grow in popularity and adoption. Bitcoin has the potential to revolutionize the financial industry, and its benefits include faster transactions, lower fees, and greater privacy. However, there are also potential challenges and obstacles, such as regulation and scalability issues. Bitcoin's impact on the economy could be significant, with the potential for it to become a global currency.

Conclusion

Bitcoin is a fascinating and innovative currency that has the potential to change the way we think about money and transactions. Understanding Bitcoin is important for anyone interested in finance, technology, or investing. We've covered the basics of what Bitcoin is, how to get started with it, and how to use it. We encourage you to continue learning about Bitcoin and to use it responsibly.

FAQ

How does Bitcoin work? Bitcoin uses a decentralized network that allows users to make transactions directly without the need for intermediaries.

How do I acquire Bitcoin? You can acquire Bitcoin through a variety of means, such as mining, buying on exchanges, or earning it through payment for goods or services.

Is Bitcoin secure? Bitcoin transactions are secure because they are processed on the blockchain, which ensures that transactions are transparent, secure, and irreversible. However, it's important to take security measures, such as keeping your private keys safe and using a reputable exchange.

That's all for today

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.

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

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💥 Dettagli del Lancio:

Depositi: Già disponibili! Trading: Inizia il 18 luglio, 12:00 (UTC) Prelievi: Disponibili dal 19 luglio, 13:00 (UTC)

🌍 Entra nel mondo di Pixelverse e scopri come $PIXFI può trasformare la tua esperienza di gioco e investimento. Non perdere questa opportunità!

🔗 Iscriviti ora su Bitget e partecipa alla promozione! https://bonus.bitget.com/U1JNEK

@ 1123ece2:7d1e00c0

Welcome to The Refinery.

The Church The Body of Christ has been the theme for the last few Sunday’s.

These messages are primarily based around Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Today we are discussing, The Peace Of The Church.

Text

1 Thessalonians 5:13 NKJV

13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Scripture Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:1-13 NKJV

The Day of the Lord

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 

8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Various Exhortations

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 

13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Introduction.

I read a story recently of a pastor - evangelist who was holding meetings in a small rural town in Kentucky back in the 1940’s.

He was in the home of one of the oldest families in the area and to his delight, he discovered that some member of the family had been a deacon in that church for more than 100 years.

Think of that legacy for the family, someone throughout the generations had been serving in the local church for more than 100 years.

The church had kept records since 1839, when it first started, and it was in the family’s care.

For the visiting pastor, the book was interesting reading.

In the minutes of almost every business meeting, the same entry appeared.

“The peace of the church was called for.”

The visiting pastor was told that the moderator of the business meetings would ask, “Brethren, are we at peace?”

No one knew what might follow.

I have no doubt that their meetings were interesting and well attended.

But whatever the shortcomings of these people, in what ever way they may have fallen short, they sincerely tried to carry out the literal words of our text.

They meant to have peace if they had to fight with each other to obtain it.

If these people were too strict when it comes to church discipline, perhaps our churches today are too soft, too lazy.

I think there are three things we can consider from our text today.

Firstly, the spirit of this text cannot be enforced by force.

No peace of any sort can be either secured or maintained by force.

Those who try and enforce “the peace of the church” cause trouble and wound as many saints as they convert sinners.

Secondly, this text presupposes an autonomous, independent, democratic body.

The words “be at peace among yourselves” addressed to any other group would make no sense.

Who else besides a plain, simple, New Testament church, where every member is equal in rank and privilege with every other member, a pure democracy, would even have the privilege of being at war among themselves.

Thirdly, the status of peace, the degree of fellowship within the church, is difficult to analyse.

Sometimes a churches like a shallow, clear mountain stream where every ripple can be seen.

At other times, a church may be like a deep, muddy river, calm and placid on the surface but torn by dangerous undercurrents.

“Be at peace among yourselves.”

This text provokes three important questions.

1. What does this text mean?

The answer should be considered both negatively and positively.

Firstly, negatively.

Peace is not the painlessness of inertia and lifelessness.

A church may appear to be at peace when in reality it is dead!

Peace is a living thing, positive and dynamic, fruitful and productive.

Peace is not the stupor of unconcern and indifference.

To have the spiritual senses stupefied is not to be at peace.

Peace is not the negative spirit of leaving an issue alone.

In every church there are those who retreat to the safety of a judicial position, refusing either to be quoted of to get involved.

But cowardly retreat is not peace!

Secondly, positively.

The text implies the peace of a good conscience, resulting from a faithful and consistent walk before God as a Christian.

Paul put all this together in his epistles.

John demonstrated the connection between a worthy walk and peace in 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Corinthians 3:3 says, for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

When we walk like this we violate “the peace of the church.”

If a Christian doesn’t have the peace of a good conscience, what else matters?

The text implies the peace of an individual heart.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart” in Matthew 5:8.

Pure means being undivided, entire, without anything added.

“Blessed are the undivided in heart.”

Thirdly, the text implies the peace of a contented mind resulting from the knowledge of having done our best for Christ while serving Him in His church.

People who work together get together and stay together.

They have to because even a donkey cannot kick when it is pulling or pull the it is kicking.

2. Why is this test so necessary to a church?

“Be at peace among yourselves.”

Any other state of affairs in a church is a horrendous blow, both to the church as a body and to the individual members.

Why?

First, For the sake of our growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

We are commanded to grow in 2 Peter 3:18.

We do not grow while we are on a spiritual hunger strike.

Some of the church try this with God, they go on a spiritual hunger strike.

He is not impressed, and they hurt only themselves.

Second, For the sake of our witness as a church before the world.

It is unthinkable that a child of God should have no resemblance to their Father.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:33, ** **For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 

Jesus taught in Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

True peacemakers are “sons of God” and are recognised as such.

For peacemakers not to be at peace among themselves is an unthinkable contradiction.

Third, for the sake of the effectiveness of the church as a soul winning agency.

To whom did Christ give His Great Commission?

His church.

To whom did our Lord commit the task of winning people to Him?

His church, and only His church.

Paul asked the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 14:8, For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

How likely is the world to hear the message and understand it if there is discord in the ranks?

3. How can we apply this text to our lives?

How can we be at peace among ourselves in the church?

We can be at peace with God within ourselves as members of the church.

In the church at Philippi there were two women, Euodia, meaning fragrant, and Syntyche, meaning fortunate, who had some form of disagreement, and it seems to have been more than a personal matter.

Paul was impartial.

He said simply, in Philippians 4:2, I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

He was saying to Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer.

This was necessary for the peace of the church because these women had been active members.

We have a consciousness of Christian love that will rule out strife by putting others first.

Jesus said, in But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

Paul’s admonition to the Philippians that they “be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” would bring peace to any church anywhere.

1 John 3:14, We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

We can be at peace through a common loyalty to the supreme head, Christ.

Colossians 1:18, And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Jesus said, in Matthew 23:10, And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.

Christ is the only true point of fellowship.

If we talk with Him, we will be at peace.

1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Conclusion.

If some of the church fathers were too concerned about “the peace of the church” and how to maintain it, we are too unconcerned.

Paul’s injunction still applies.

This text, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 is as relevant and important as it ever was.

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 

13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings

I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.

When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer. Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!

You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at The Refinery.

When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.

So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us at www.refinerylife.org

2024 IS A YEAR OF DECISIONS AND OPEN DOORS

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@ e968e50b:db2a803a

OK, I've digitized this crossword puzzle for easier game play. There's an unclaimed bounty still out for the broader puzzle associated with this crossword. It should be easy to make more now. Sorry to the hardcore folks that actually printed out the physical version.

https://stackernewscrosswordpuzzle.vercel.app/

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/609501

@ 124b23f2:02455947

Stacker.News if a website that may be familiar to most nostriches. But in case it is not, stacker.news is effectively a forum-style website that functions similar to reddit. But, with the very cool feature that sending sats works as the 'upvote' function. It's a great site, so check it out regardless of what I am about to break down.

One of the great features of Stacker News is that you get a custodial lightning wallet with your account. This wallet comes with a lightning address as well. Now, this alone is not unique or entirely useful. What makes Stacker News stand out is the way you can configure this wallet to interact with your self-hosted lightning stack. Now, I'm not just talking about the power user that is running their own node (although they do have useful configuration for those users). But, the lighter users that may be using a mobile wallet, such as mutiny, zeus, blixt, phoenix can use Stacker News to improve their zap receiving game.

Before I get into how, I want to highlight two great options to receive zaps via ln address if you are using a 'node in the phone solution.' The two options are zaplocker, provided as a solution for users of Zeus' embedded lightning node wallet, and lightning box, provided as a solution for users of the Blixt embedded lightning node wallet. Here is a summary of these two ln address solutions:

• Zaplocker: Zaplocker is an ln address provided for Zeus embedded node users. The way zaplocker works is that the sats are held temporarily in Zeus' node (for up to 24 hours), and once you log into your Zeus app and access the embedded node, you can redeem the sats. This can be made easier by setting your Zeus app to automatically redeem and sats awaiting redemption upon logging in, and there is also a persistent mode that can help the app stay on in the background. If the app is on in the background and you have turned on the auto redemption feature, it will function more or less to automatically receive sats much like a custodial wallet or a node you are running on a server

• Lightning Box: Lightning Box is an ln address provided for users of Blixt wallet. The way lightning box works is that, as long as you have a channel opened with the blixt wallet node and it has inbound liquidity, you can receive sats to the lightning box ln address. You have to set blixt wallet to persistent mode as part of using lightning box, which makes it more likely that your app will be running in the background and will successfully facilitate receipt of sats sent to the lightning box ln address. Unlike zaplocker, there is no 24 hour redemption time ; if your blixt wallet is not running in the background when the send is attempted, you will not receive the sats.

So, these both sound like great solutions and a pleb need not do anything else, right ? Wrong. Both are not perfect solutions, with the main issue being that even with persistent app settings, the apps will inevitably close because phones seem to do that for one unknown reason or another. Or a connection will be lost, and your app will not be running to receive the sats. Or if you want t run the apps over tor, your very likely to have a connection inturrupted. Now, with zeus you still have 24 hours to open it up, sync up your node and receive but we want to up our game so that a user does not have a chance to lose zaps.

Enter Stacker News. By Creating a stacker news account (you can even do so with using your blixt or zeus wallet to log in and create your account!), you now have an ln address you can use in place of your zaplocker or lightning box address. Use that stacker news address for receiving zaps on your nostr account. In your stacker news account, go to the wallet link, and click 'Attach Wallets'. Next, click 'configure' under the ln address option. Input your zaplocker or lightning box address. If you want, you can configure stacker news to withdraw automatically by setting the 'desired balance' to 0 sats. There will be a moment of custody, but it is a few seconds in my experience.

So, what have we just done and what's the improvement? Well, zaps you receive are going to be received to your stacker news ln address now. The improvement is that the stacker news node is on all the time, and you do not risk missing payments much like one can expect from say a Wallet of Satoshi ln address. With the configuration we made, the stacker news wallet is going to automatically withdraw sats received to your custody in your zaplocker or lightning box. For example: In the event that you are asleep, and your zeus or blixt wallet is not online for hours while nostriches across the globe are zapping the crap out of your viral post, your sats are sitting comftorably in your stacker news wallet. You will fire up your Zeus or Blixt app, and proceed to watch the sats flow into your custody from your stacker news wallet.

The result of this setup is a pleb who is not running an 'on all the time' node can experience a comparable receiving experience with minimal custodial exposure. I encourage any pleb, especially those using zaplocker due to the potential harm it can cause to the lightning network, to consider this setup. Let me know what your experience is or, for users already leveraging the Stacker News ln address, I'd be curious to hear about your configuration. Thanks for reading, hopefully someone finds this article helpful!

bitcoin #lightning #zeus #blixt

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/609313

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

This post is about my experience switching from ChromeOS to Linux on a refurbished ThinkPad T470s.

Starting with a not-so-genuine Windows 10

I wasn't comfortable with the potentially hacked Windows 10 that came pre-installed on my ThinkPad, so I decided to replace it with Linux. My initial goal was to install Fedora, a distro I'd used happily since versions 2 or 3. Unfortunately, the installation failed due to a damaged image on a small USB stick.

Ubuntu detour and Flatpak frustration

With Fedora out of the picture for now, I opted for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. While I liked Ubuntu overall, the outdated snap packages were a letdown. Installing Flatpak for more options resulted in a bunch of errors.

Back to Fedora, finally!

Determined to get Fedora running, I discovered the culprit behind the previous failed installation - a small and corrupted USB stick. With a bigger and healthy USB stick, Fedora 39 went in smoothly, followed by a successful upgrade to Fedora 40.

Why Fedora?

Fedora has been my trusted Linux companion for years. I switched to Ubuntu around versions 13 or 14, mainly for Ubuntu One and Long Term Support (LTS), which unfortunately got discontinued later. After a life-changing event that required me to relearn basic skills (like walking, reading and writing), Linux felt overwhelming, so I opted for the simplicity of Windows, but I wasn’t happy with it. Eventually, I found myself on a Chromebook for its lightweight and I thought travel-friendly nature.

Back on Linux with the ThinkPad

Now, with the ThinkPad, I'm back in the Linux world. The age of the machine isn't an issue, but I do miss the Nautilus image manipulation plugins I used to have. If anyone knows the package names or a setup guide to enable image resizing via right-click, please share in the comments!

Bonus: Desktop Environment Dilemma

Is it worth installing KDE Plasma alongside Gnome to have a choice at login? Or is it too big of a package? Let me know your thoughts (Pro and Cons) in the comments!

P.S. My foot is healing, and let's just say some travel food choices weren't the best! It happens when you're on the road full-time.

Images: My current workspace and a screenshot of my Gnome desktop.

Online

Profile Page | Support Page

Feel free to support me by sending some sats via the lightning network to rubenstorm@sats.mobi

@ 3b4a00cd:e0487acc

Saya suka menulis hal-hal yang perlu saja, hal-hal ringan yang tidak terlalu penting. Sejak 2008 dan tahun setelahnya, tulisan saya tersebar di beberapa media penulisan blog, seperti Wordpress, kemudian Blogspot, Medium, lalu merambat ke platfrom blogging Web 3 yang berpotensi mendapatkan kripto, seperti Steemit dan Hive. Pertengahan Juli 2024, saya pertama menulis di Habla.

Menulis kegiatan yang menyenangkan, kendati tidak gampang. Apalagi saya tidak pernah mengikuti kelas menulis untuk belajar cara menyusun kalimat yang benar. Saya merangkai kata begitu saja, seadanya yang terlintas di pikiran. Biasanya saya menulis jika ada ide-ide menarik, pun begitu jarang-jarang juga punya ide menarik atau opini yang dapat diandalkan.

Tentang Habla News

Habla merupakan media penulisan artikel yang dibangun dengan protokol Nostr. Ini menarik menurut saya, sebab dengan Nostr, Bitcoin menjadi mudah untuk masuk ke dunia blogging. Sederhananya penulis di Habla berpeluang mendapatkan Sats (sebutan nominal terendah Bitcoin) dari pembacanya. Mirip dengan Steemit atau Hive, tapi ini Bitcoinnya bukan kripto.

Teknologi Nostr yang dirancang pada ujung tahun 2022, masih dalam pengembangan, protokolnya berbasis kriptografi membuatnya unik sebab aplikasi apapun dapat dibangun dengannya, ibarat tepung sebagai bahan dasar untuk membuat kue apa saja. Satu akun dapat masuk di lintas aplikasi yang berbasis Nostr.

Akun saya di Habla ini yang merupakan media untuk blogging, dapat saya gunakan untuk masuk di Primal, yaitu media sosial mirip X yang berbasis Nostr juga. Begitu pun jika ada teknologi atau media lainnya yang dibikin dengan protokol Nostr, untuk mengakses fiturnya saya hanya perlu satu akun saja. Inovasi teknologi terbaik abad ini. Anda mesti mencobanya.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

A inteligência artificial (AI) vai e já está a provocar mudanças profundas na nossa civilização. É uma arma que pode ser poderosíssima, que pode ser utilizada para o bem, como para o mal.

O problema é quem está por detrás da AI, ou qual o objetivo dessa AI.

Liberdade

O meu grande receio da AI, não está relacionada com aquelas ideias fantasiosas dos filmes de ficção científica, onde as máquinas entram em guerra com os humanos, o meu receio é algo mais realista, é a utilização da AI para oprimir ou condicionar as liberdades individuais, ou seja, são humanos a querer controlar outros humanos.

Durante as últimas décadas os governos, criaram leis que violam a privacidade e liberdades, onde todo online é guardado e monitorizado. As câmaras de videovigilância estão por todo o lado. Depois de recolher os dados, será necessário a AI para analisar todos esses dados, aqui está o perigo, um verdadeiro Big Brother.

É um perigo para as democracias, para a privacidade, para as liberdades individuais e contra o livre-arbítrio.

Produtividade

A produtividade é basicamente definida como a relação entre a produção e os factores de produção utilizados. A produção é definida como os bens produzidos (quantidade de produtos produzidos). Os fatores de produção são definidos como sejam pessoas, máquinas, materiais e outros. Quanto maior for a relação entre a quantidade produzida por fatores utilizados, maior é a produtividade.

Simplificado, consiste em, um trabalhador produzir mais produtos, no mesmo período de tempo.

Aqui a AI poderá ter um lado positivo, vai permitir um ganho enorme na produtividade. O mundo do trabalho vai mudar, certos empregos vão acabar, essas pessoas terão que se adaptar a uma nova realidade. O essencial é que vai gerar um aumento na produtividade como nunca antes vista, possivelmente o maior de sempre após a revolução industrial.

Esse aumento de produtividade deveria repercutir para o trabalhador e para a empresa, com salários superiores e maior lucro, respetivamente.

“Para aumentar os salários, é necessário aumentar a produtividade”

Esta mensagem repetida até à náusea pelos políticos que é certa medida é verdade, mas o problema são os próprios políticos, os maiores “ladrões”/destruidores da produtividade/salário, através da inflação (aumento da base monetária).

Isto é a história do cartoon, do burro e a cenoura, onde a cenoura é a produtividade e o burro é o povo, onde apenas o político beneficia.

As pessoas esforçam-se para aumentar o seu salário, produzem mais, o seu salário é aumentado mas ao mesmo tempo o governo desvaloriza a moeda, ou seja, o valor nominal do salário aumenta, mas o poder de compra fica igual ou menor.

O esforço do trabalhador é inglório, não serviu para nada.

Crescimento da produtividade e remuneração por hora desde 1948:

Fonte: O QUE ACONTECEU EM 1971?

Este gráfico é perfeitamente demonstrativo do efeito do aumento da base monetária na remuneração dos trabalhadores. Até 1971, o aumento da remuneração dos trabalhadores, acompanha o aumento da produtividade. Após a criação do sistema fiduciário (1971), que permite desvalorizar a moeda, o imposto invisível, o grande beneficiado do aumento da produtividade foram os governos (e os seus amigos), em vez dos trabalhadores. Nas últimas 5 décadas, houve duas grandes revoluções que permitiram um aumento enorme da produtividade, da tecnologia/industrialização e a internet, mas estes avanços foram absorvidos pelos governos, os cidadãos pouco beneficiaram economicamente.

O mesmo vai acontecer com ganho de produtividade gerada pela AI, os governos vão querer absorver esse benefícios para si. Em vez do aumento de salário dos cidadãos, essa riqueza vai ser utilizada para reduzir os enormes déficits públicos e para financiar estados gordos.

Assim, esta parte da AI que poderia ser boa para a civilização, vai acabar por ser diluída pelos estados.

É curioso que o cidadão comum, consegue compreender o conceito económico de produtividade, mas já tem dificuldades em entender a inflação (o aumento da base monetária). E o estado, por interesse próprio, também não ensina, preferem manter o assunto meio nublado.

Há uns anos, eu em conversa com um senhor com bastante idade, um sujeito com poucos estudos, que foi sempre agricultor. O senhor contava a história, que antigamente nos campos com batatas eram necessários dezenas de trabalhadores para colher as batatas, mas hoje, basta um trator e uma pessoa, para fazer o mesmo trabalho. Depois concluía, se o custo com os trabalhadores diminuiu, logo o preço das batatas deveria diminuir, mas aconteceu o contrário, logo é culpa do proprietário/empresário, que está a enriquecer e é ganancioso.

A primeira parte é a descrição do aumento da produtividade, mas a sua conclusão está errada porque o senhor não tem noção do aumento da base monetária. O preço das batatas só baixaria, caso a base monetária fosse fixa. Enquanto ambos apontam o dedo, os trabalhadores acusam os empresários, os empresários acusam os trabalhadores; o estado observa e rouba os dois em simultâneo.

A impressão de dinheiro é um imposto invisível. Só existe uma maneira de evitar este roubo do século:

Bitcoin

@ af9c48b7:a3f7aaf4

Republican Lawmakers Propose Income Tax Exclusion for Overtime Pay

By Debbie Tam, CPP, Checkpoint

On July 8, 2024, Representative Russ Fulcher (R-ID) introduced a bill (H.R. 8938) that seeks to eliminate income taxes on overtime compensation. The bill entitled the "Keep Every Extra Penny Act of 2024" (KEEP Act) proposes a new provision that would specifically provide a gross income exclusion for overtime compensation that is required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Overtime requirements under the FLSA. Under 29 USC 207, employers are required to pay workers overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek. Employees covered by these overtime requirements are referred to nonexempt employees. Such workers do not need to be necessarily paid on an hourly basis and can be paid on a salaried basis. Overtime pay would be paid at one and one-half times of the regular rate of pay. The FLSA provides for an exemption for white collar workers known as the Executive, Administrative, and Professional (EAP) exemption and some other limited exceptions. Proposed legislation. The bill carves out a new exclusion from gross income amounts received for overtime compensation as required under 29 USC 207. Under the proposal, the overtime pay exclusion impacts only federal income tax and overtime pay would continue to be subject to Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes. Similar to Alabama law. ** The bill mirrors an Alabama law that took effect on January 1, 2024, that excludes overtime pay from state income tax. The original bill specified that only full-time hourly employees were eligible for the exclusion. Subsequently, Alabama legislators amended the law to clarify that any amounts received for overtime as required under the FLSA would be eligible for the exclusion. The change was made to include certain workers that were previously excluded based on the hourly worker requirement. By tying the exclusion to the FLSA overtime requirements, workers such as public safety employees and other workers who are paid on a salaried basis that were previously ineligible are now eligible for income exclusion. The Alabama exemption is temporary and only available for tax years that begin after December 31, 2023, and end prior to June 30, 2025. Response to labor shortage. The House bill was proposed in response to an ongoing labor shortage, a similar reasoning as the Alabama law.  Representative Fulcher said: "Our nation is facing unprecedented challenges due to workforce shortages and continued high inflation levels. Millions of Americans are looking for financial relief... By eliminating income taxes from overtime pay we can help alleviate this burden for hardworking folks by letting them keep more of what they earn while continuing to safeguard government programs such as Medicare and Social Security." Current bill status. ** Since its introduction, the bill has found three additional co-sponsors, indicating growing Republican support. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

@ 862fda7e:02a8268b

As of April 27, 2024, I will make the conscious effort to no longer refer nor use the imperial system for measurments. This will be a difficult change for me to make, as I have been accostumed to the imperial measurment system for the past 25 years of my life. However, I find the system of measurment very flawed and inconvenient, especially as most of the world opts for the more accurate metric system.

I have decided to finally make this change after learning about the ridiculous naming system of CMD ceramic capacitor casings. The CMD ceramic capacitor casings are named after their measurments, which I find convenient and straight forward. However, they are based off of imperial measurments. When we know that CMD ceramic capacitors are notociously small; you would think it's foolish to name their casings after the imerial system, as we know the smallest measurment in the imerial system is inches. Most Americans do not bother using centimeters nor millimeters.

Well, this is where our problem is. The CMD ceramic capacitor casings are MILLIMETERS small. They cannot measure an inch, not even half an inch. A common CMD cermaic capacitor measures 0.08 inches by 0.06 inches. The casing is named a 0806 casing, meaning it's 0.08 inches by 0.06 inches.

When we try to visiualize what 0.08 inches looks like, it's nearly impossible. This is not due to a lack of intelligence. However, it is due to a lack of using inches in such a miniscule measurement. Americans never refer to inches in such small measurements, it's very hard to visualize. This is an absurd naming convention and they should have realized this flaw.

If I want to measure a CMD ceramic capacitor to determine what casing size it is, I would never in my right mind use the inches section of my ruler. It's very impractical and confusing. However, a very simple choice a sane person would make is to refer to the millimeters section of their ruler to measure a very small object for a very accruate measurment. This example was the final straw for me. I am no longer going to abide by the imperial system. It is flawed. It is a very generalized way of measuring something. It's also very pig-headed and innacurate. It limits how specific we can get with a measurment. For some reason I am a lot more well versed in millimeters and centimeters than most Americans. I am shocked at the average American's lack of compresension of superior measurment practices.

I am not as well versed in metric measurments as someone who has grown up with this superior measurment instilled in them since childhood. I will frequently be measuring items around my house to gain a more familiar understanding with their size in the superior measurment convention. Due to pure habit, I may casually refer to something in inches. This is not due to a lack of willpower, nor a lack of commitment to my new change. It is purely a bad habit that I am trying to rid away. There will be mistakes.

While we are on this topic, I will quickly mention other strictly Americanized choices that I reject for purely logical reasons. 1. I do not spell it "publicly". This makes no sense when words that typically end in "cally" have an "a" in them. Logically, it should be spelled, "publically". I will continue to choose to spell it this way, as it logically makes more sense.

1. I do not spell it "gray". When I pronounce the word "grey", there is clearly an "e" in it. Not an "a". The original word is spelled with an "e", there was no need to bastardize its spelling with an "a".

2. I do not pronounce the word "solder" as "sodder". The word is spelled with an "l", but not only that. I refered to the origin of the word "solder", and this is what I found. "to consolidate, close, fasten together, join with solder" (13c.), from Latin solidare "to make solid," from solidus "solid" The word ultimately comes from "solid", which we do not pronounce "soid". We say, "solid" with an "l".

@ 1aa437b3:51119dbd

I will confess, I went the pirate way with Jellyfinn and Plex and quickly got a letter from my ISP that I was naughty. So if I am going to do this legit, what is the best service? I do have a bunch of stuff on Amazon, and I trust they will stick around, but my god there is no rhyme or reason to organization. Apple... well it's Apple. And of course Google Play/Youtube.. and I don't know what others are out there.. but share what you use and why.. thanks, cheers!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/608576

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Content

• Conclusion

• FAQ

• You May Also Like

• External Links

Introduction

The emergence of Bitcoin options has provided a new tool for investors to hedge risks in the cryptocurrency market. In this article, we will explore the rise of Bitcoin options and their potential as a hedging tool.

The Emergence of Bitcoin Options

The growth of the cryptocurrency market has led to increased demand for new financial instruments to manage risk. Options provide a way for investors to manage risk by buying the right to buy or sell a specific asset at a specific price within a certain period. The introduction of Bitcoin options has given cryptocurrency investors a new tool to hedge risks and manage their portfolios.

According to data from Skew, a crypto derivatives analytics firm, Bitcoin options trading volume has grown significantly in recent years, with a daily trading volume of more than $2 billion in January 2021.

How Bitcoin Options Work

Options contracts give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price (strike price) within a specific time period (expiration date). In the Bitcoin market, call options give the buyer the right to buy Bitcoin at a specific price, while put options give the buyer the right to sell Bitcoin at a specific price.

Bitcoin options can be settled in two ways: physically or cash-settled. Physical settlement means that the buyer of the option receives the underlying asset (in this case, Bitcoin) at the agreed-upon price. Cash settlement means that the buyer receives a cash payout equal to the difference between the strike price and the market price of Bitcoin at the time of expiration.

Bitcoin Options as a Tool for Hedging Risks

Bitcoin options can be used as a hedging tool to manage risk in a variety of ways. For example, a Bitcoin miner who is concerned about a drop in the price of Bitcoin can purchase put options to protect against price fluctuations. Institutional investors can use Bitcoin options to manage risk in their portfolios, while traders can use options to profit from volatility in the Bitcoin market.

Potential Drawbacks and Risks of Bitcoin Options

While Bitcoin options can be a useful tool for hedging risks, there are also potential drawbacks and risks to consider. One of the biggest risks is the volatility and uncertainty in the cryptocurrency market. The lack of regulation in the Bitcoin options market can also be a concern, as it can lead to fraud and other forms of market manipulation. Additionally, the misuse of options for speculative trading can result in significant losses for investors who are not using them appropriately.

Conclusion

Bitcoin options have emerged as a new tool for investors to manage risk in the cryptocurrency market. The growth of the cryptocurrency market and increased demand for risk management tools have driven the development of Bitcoin options. While Bitcoin options can be a useful tool for hedging risks, investors must be aware of the potential drawbacks and risks associated with this financial instrument. As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the use of Bitcoin options evolves as well.

FAQ

What are Bitcoin options? Bitcoin options are financial contracts that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell Bitcoin at a specific price within a specific time period.

How do Bitcoin options work? Bitcoin options contracts give the buyer the right to buy or sell Bitcoin at a specific price within a specific time period. The buyer can choose to exercise this right or let the contract expire.

Who can use Bitcoin options? Bitcoin options can be used by a range of investors, from individual traders to institutional investors. However, due to the potential risks associated with Bitcoin options, investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and investment goals before using them.

That's all for today

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.

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

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@ 9ca0bd74:4052340b

Step 1:

find the RSS feeds you want to follow

(Right click on the website's page, and choose Page Source. In the new window that appears, use the “find” feature and search 'rss')

some websites will have a standard format eg. substack add '/feed' at the end of the URL. You can even have RSS feeds of YouTube channels;)

Step 2:

Go to https://atomstr.data.haus/

Add at least one of the following relays to your nostr account to read the feeds:

wss://nostr.data.haus

wss://relayable.org

wss://relay.highlighter.com

Step 3:

add your RSS feed URLs to atomstr

(you can also 'find' existing feeds people have already added to atmostr)

Step 4:

open the link to the generated RSS nostr accounts in Nostrudel and Follow

Step 5:

Clicking on Follow in Nostrudel also brings up Lists you have created to sort your RSS feeds

or select New List to make a ..new list

DONE

(these lists will also show up on other clients that support Lists eg Amethyst where it will show up on homescreen clicking on All Follows dropdown)

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

In 1917, a public call was made by a group of "Independent Artists" stating: "Any person with $6 can send in a work to be exhibited." On the day of the exhibition, everyone was surprised to find a urinal signed "R.mutt" among the entries, presented under the title "Fountain". The contributor of the urinal paid the $6 fee but their name was not included in the list of participants; the urinal was rejected by the exhibition. However, this urinal, known as "Fountain," became one of the pivotal points in art history.

Within the pages of art history, amidst the beauty of paintings and artworks, there is a disturbing page featuring a photograph of a ready-made urinal. It is known that the piece was submitted to an exhibition by Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), who was part of the Independent Artists, but the exhibition committee found it disagreeable. Duchamp decided to play with them and handed in his work titled "Fountain" under a pseudonym.

At that time, World War I had destroyed everything, leaving Europe suffering from the bitter aftermath. It was a period of violent change, where many artists viewed the decision to go to war as an expression of rationalism—believing that reason had led to the decision to wage war under the pretense that it would bring about positive societal change in Europe. However, after the devastation, destruction, and massacres, everything became clear: artists came to detest everything associated with that period dominated by rationalistic thought and material culture. Various strange and divergent movements began to emerge in art and literature circles, equating their followers between the war that ravaged and the conviction that values associated with pre-war art were largely corrupt.

$$The Dada movement... art against art$$

A photograph of the urinal submitted by Marcel Duchamp in 1917

On an evening in 1916, in the one country that had not directly fallen into the grips of war, Switzerland, which served as a refuge for many artists and intellectuals, the Dada movement was born in a café in Zurich on February 8th. Their presence in Zurich was due to Switzerland's neutral stance during a time when their homelands were engulfed in the turmoil of World War I. A group of artists and poets, all around their twenties, decided to choose a name that reflected their approach to literature, art, music, and thought. They randomly opened a linguistic dictionary, Larousse, and the first word that caught their eye was "Dada," which meant nothing and was just a linguistic root. They chose it as the name for their movement.

The Dada movement quickly spread across Europe and America. A French literary historian said, "There has never been an intellectual movement more difficult to attribute to a specific country than Dadaism. It was a movement whose circumstances were inherently global, and all conditions were ripe for its reception, which explains its rapid spread." Tristan Tzara, one of the movement's founders, remarked, "To understand Dadaism, and how it came to be, one must imagine the mental state of a group of young people in that prison that was Switzerland during World War I, while also considering the level that art and literature had reached during that period.

"In the years 1916 and 1917, it seemed to us that the war would continue forever, and we saw no end to it... Our desire for life was immense, and our rejection and lack of taste for all the colors of civilization called modern, even at its core... To logic and to language... Our rejection took the form of mockery and contempt... And we mustn't forget that the real human essence in literature was covered by a false emotional layer, and that taste, or bourgeois taste, dominated all artistic and literary fields."

Dadaism specifically saw itself concerned with reenacting the psychological disorder caused by World War I. - David Hopkins

Marcel Duchamp's work titled "L.H.O.O.Q." (1921/1964), manufactured ready-made, consists of 152 marble cubes shaped like sugar cubes + a thermometer + a cuttlefish bone in a birdcage.

The Dada movement was born in this manner, deliberately concerned with mocking the very notion of meaning itself and rejecting all fixed interpretations of things. As one Dada poet put it:

Dada does not speak and has no fixed ideas

Dada does not catch flies

Dada has existed since the beginning

And the Virgin Mary was a Dadaist

Dada against the high cost of living

Dada against the future

Dada is dead

Dada is foolish

Dada doubts everything

Do not trust in Dada

Dada is the greatest trickster of this age

Dada has no meaning

Dada is a state within a state

This poem rejects the confinement of meaning to anything specific, reflecting the Dadaists' principle. Marcel Duchamp, one of the foremost pioneers of the Dada movement, allowed for all interpretations of his art, even those considered far-fetched. Their philosophy was that to confront the chaos and destruction that had befallen the world, they needed to create art that contradicted art itself, hence they coined the motto "art against art." They famously proclaimed, "everything is equal, therefore nothing is everything."

Exhibition of the First International Dada Fair, Berlin, June 1920

David Hopkins says about Dadaism: "It sought to undermine traditional bourgeois ideas in art. Mostly, the movement boldly opposed art, and more importantly, its participants like Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, Tristan Tzara, Hans Arp, Kurt Schwitters, Raoul Hausmann, expressed their love for irony and audacity in response to the world's madness, while World War I raged in Europe."

"They strongly disliked bourgeois values and the professional tint of art: 'If oil painting and bronze casting are synonyms for the opulent houses of the aristocratic class, then Dada followers would collect new forms of paper cutouts or existing items. If poetry is synonymous with polished awareness, they will pull their arms and dismantle them and redirect them into forms of chatter and spells. They were a united group in their hatred of professional artistry, seeing themselves as cultural saboteurs, but not necessarily rejecting art itself, but rather the manner in which art served as a particular perspective on human nature.'"

When we felt disgusted by the brutality of World War I, which erupted in 1914, we devoted ourselves to the arts in Zurich. While the sounds of cannons echoed in the distance, we sang, painted collages, and wrote poetry with all our might. We were searching for an art based on foundations to heal the madness of this era. We were looking for a new system of things that would restore balance between heaven and hell.

(Arp)

$$Marcel Duchamp.. Ideas are more important than craftsmanship.$$

Ready-made works by Marcel Duchamp, on the right "Bottle Rack" 1914-1964, and on the left "Bicycle Wheel" 1913.

Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain," which he exhibited, shook established art values and caused a significant shock—not just because it was a urinal, but because it was ready-made and not made by Duchamp himself. This meant the artwork could be easily reproduced, diminishing its uniqueness. Duchamp intended exactly this, aiming to sever craftsmanship from visual art and emphasizing that ideas should replace manual skill as the fundamental components of artworks. David Hopkins states:

"Duchamp formulated what he termed an anti-visual stance in relation to the visual innovations introduced into French art by Matisse on the one hand and Cubism on the other. Duchamp's antipathy to art that appeals to the eye alone, to the exclusion of the mind, was a satire on the effects of the machine age on the human psyche"... "Duchamp's aversion to craftsmanship's association with visual art and his belief that ideas should replace manual skill as the essential components of artworks led him to select ready-made objects as artistic propositions."

Duchamp's work raised fundamental questions about the nature of art—what constitutes art and what can lie beyond its boundaries? These questions sparked extensive debates challenging previous definitions of art. Duchamp shifted focus away from the artwork itself to highlight the concepts and ideas it conveys. Consequently, critics view all art post-Duchamp as conceptual art; he shattered the concept of the uniqueness of an artwork, as his works do not need to be physically exhibited and can be reproduced anywhere with ease.

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

I've been meditating for years and I think am out of sync with my body 😅 need to move more!

Any valid suggestion will be highly zapped ⚡️

🧡

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/608508

@ c5f77418:90f86d12

U(zla)/acc is obfuscation as defence against Panoptic-Technocapital.

Attention-hacking is the name of the game. Cyberspace is a battle for attention using Anti-Ghazalian spiritual hermeneutics to attack the lower self using the promises of comfort, convenience and familiarity. All that the masters of the past had warned against have been institutionalised and baked into the largest platforms billions enter into unwittingly. This genie of spiritual decay has been loose not recently, but for decades, whatever chance of resisting it, brute-forcing it into a marginalised hobby has long since departed.

This circus, this asylum metastasizing through cyberspace is deployed as a weapon of mass distraction often by highly professional and dedicated large nation-state actors to achieve strategic ends. All the while, a higher network of surveillance watches unerringly which way the data, the spice flows. Which way does it bend, twist and strike. Attention-hacking is an exercise in surveillance and behavioural engineering. Engineering behaviour is not possible without data, without wilful and deeply invested participation on the part of subjects, without the time that is sunk into the whole process by enthusiastic partisans of cyber-asylums.

Panoptic-Technocapital is a more grounded and sober understanding of how technocapital operates - it understands that mundane but layered networks of bureucracy, technocratic agencies and the great post 9/11 intelligence empires in the shadows have just as much of a hand in building the Machine God as hyper-financialization and semiconductor manufacturing. It is also intimately and closely tied, the origins of much of what we take for granted in our civilian architecture of cyberspace has roots in the militarism of 20th century meatspace geopolitical intrigue. The Cypherpunks romanticised in part the creation of Cyber as an antithesis to meatspace not fully owing confronting its debts to the escalating and accelerating dynamics of intra-spook competition between the great metallic and clanking industrialised empires of the last century.

Liberalism in its intellectual genesis owed much to philosophers and men who were steeped in an entirely different moral code and spiritual psychology centuries ago now. The deism of early liberal theorists would in today wastelands, would likely resemble deep organic faith - time has snapped and wrought all our assumptions about the type of religious sentiments underlying early and proto-liberal thinking. Liberalism is nothing really but an extension of Christian heresies in response to unending sectarian conflict.

Today, however to call what we are experiencing as that same "liberalism" is foolishness. Today, what we refer to as "liberalism" is just an aesthetic wrapper, a charade, a shared delusion spread amongst the masses to hide something colder. A vast network of State-backed agencies, affiliated organisations in finance and pharmaceutical research, healthcare, commerce intimately tied with intelligence agencies that have formed an ossified, largely uncontested and reasonably stable layer of Administration that keeps marching along no matter who or which party is in charge.

U(zla)-acc is an acceptance of this process, it is an invitation to understand that we have bought our tickets and now must see where the train ends up, not much can be done to course-correct. We are heading towards Hyper-Intelligence with the promise that disease can be predicted and prevented but with the costs of precognitive criminalisation (precrime).

Legible Hyper-Intelligence writ large by the State and its partners, subsidiaries and outsourced contractors means that the social contract is now just saying okay to the Terms & Conditions, the cookies you accept to sign up to the newest and most exciting OpenAI or Google app. Soon it will be downloading a national ID app with access to banking services, where you file your taxes, download your healthcare records, sell your house, buy your car in exchange for surrendering your face, irises and fingerprints, whilst granting said app complete and total intimacy about what you do and where you go.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Yesterday's edition https://stacker.news/items/607040/r/Undisciplined

Happy July 14th, everyone. America narrowly averted a civil war last night and I'm pretty happy about that. I was impressed by how well Stacker News covered the biggest breaking news event of the site's existence. People were pulling together lots of sources and offering generally measured thoughts.

• • -

July 14, 2023 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

Common psychological biases that bitcoiners have

Excerpt

One of the primary reasons I got involved with markets is my interest in psychology. Humans are a fickle bunch, and it's fascinating to observe the human condition in such a clear, mathematical way.

3217 sats \ 11 comments \ @birdeye21 \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/208075/r/Undisciplined?commentId=208936

Excerpt

I get your point, but this seems to me one of the (rare) differences where "technically possible but empirically infeasible" vs "technically impossible" matters a lot.

1128 sats \ 3 replies \ @elvismercury

From Portable experiences by @k00b in ~nostr

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

2nd place @k00b (1st hiding, presumed @siggy47)

7947 stacked \ 10.5k spent \ 3 posts \ 12 comments \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

37.3k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 51.8k spent \ 95 posts \ 214 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 14, 2022 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

Pine – A bitcoin wallet w/ a messenger-like UI || A BTC Wallet UX for the masses

Link to https://pine.pm/

509 sats \ 15 comments \ @Spartan \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/44747/r/Undisciplined?commentId=45060

Excerpt

The user @darthcoin has way to many guides from wich you can learn a lot IMO, he is active here to most of the time, though I dont know if I've @ him correctly.

300 sats \ 4 replies \ @bangbang_u_r_done

From Any Good Routing Node Strategies? by @andyleroy in ~bitcoin

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @nerd2ninja

544 stacked \ 1765 spent \ 3 posts \ 17 comments \ 0 referrals

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

14.6k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 31.6k spent \ 133 posts \ 261 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 14, 2021 📅

---

📝 TOP POST

How Bitcoin And Green Energy Can Save Ethiopia’s Economy

Link to https://stacker.news/items/320/r/Undisciplined

2 sats \ 1 comment \ @0268486dc4 \ ~bitcoin

---

💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/332/r/Undisciplined?commentId=333

Excerpt

From the Twitter announcement

Students will learn how to build #Bitcoin applications from the ground up using the Rust programming language. […]

18 sats \ 0 replies \ @sha256

From Fodé Diop Launches a Bitcoin Academy by @sha256 in ~bitcoin

---

🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @sha256

4 stacked \ 5 spent \ 2 posts \ 1 comment \ 0 referrals

---

🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

10 stacked \ 0 revenue \ 47 spent \ 9 posts \ 8 comments

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/608036

@ e17e9a18:66d67a6b

Welcome to our hobby kombucha brewery. Once a fortnight we take over the kitchen and brew up a batch of the finest quality kombucha. https://image.nostr.build/04e27abc39cae9e7812a0033f7443aa75120d0d64783c6151285d737f34c8edc.jpg

We start by brewing a large pot of sweet black tea. Once it has steeped we cool it and add it to the starter culture. We then test the pH to check that it is food safe and that the starter culture is sufficient. https://image.nostr.build/1ff3627681b8b8e3c4b2d2a1f5e272679cd6df97a75f045491463680ba475f40.jpg

We ferment in a temperature-controlled environment to ensure the perfect conditions every time. An aquarium pump ensures that the kombucha gets plenty of oxygen to convert the alcohol into healthy acids. https://image.nostr.build/8e2eb7a6e2143b3478bd90dbd02e2e8d8bc57c0c971bb93e25134c857fc290db.jpg

After the kombucha has completed its two week primary ferment, we add flavours and allow it to ferment for another tow to three days to extract the goodness from the fruits, berries and ginger. https://image.nostr.build/64c72f472cb21e48f00f221e3c5be34f68fd58c2c371b246cd9d7f4392864b35.jpg

The kombucha is then chilled and transferred into kegs. https://image.nostr.build/d917c67f51084fcb20a231fce9a957620fd3d208e7ecef7d1a25ca8fcd16eb2d.jpg Lastly, we bottle the kombucha in sturdy glass bottles ready to be enjoyed. Https://image.nostr.build/1496a4eff114a549c038fbbbd51a8daa2d7674adf27cce687f06b21db3ecc6c6.jpg

We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. https://image.nostr.build/3d7a3261ec80865afbd8e7d946d99e4f0b69925b5963fdfe80fa70398f7d40f3.jpg

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

The African sun is warming things up here at Kilimanjaro, but there's still a crispness in the morning air. My fleece jacket came in handy after a refreshing shower! I started my day with a perfect combo: coffee and breakfast on the rooftop, with a stunning view as my backdrop.

Speaking of tech, today was dedicated to getting my workspace set up. First on the agenda: Thunderbird, my trusty email client from my Linux days. It took a few hours to wrangle everything, especially the S/MIME encryption. Feeling a bit lost in the weeds, I decided to switch gears and embrace OpenPGP for end-to-end encryption – a simpler solution in my opinion.

Just as I finished conquering Thunderbird, Kilimanjaro itself decided to make an appearance! The clouds parted to reveal the majestic peak, and I couldn't resist capturing the moment with a couple of photos.

Today's another day with no set plans, just taking things minute by minute. Soaking up the beautiful scenery, the cool mornings, and the positive vibes. As soon as my foot heals, I'll be out exploring the town, snapping photos, and enjoying a delicious coffee at a local cafe.

Speaking of exploring, the world of NFTs has piqued my interest. I have a few on Opensea and WAX Blockchain, but I'm curious – where else are people showcasing their digital art? Let me know in the comments where you buy and sell your NFTs, or if they're just patiently waiting for a better future. I'd love to hear your NFT stories!

Life has a way of taking us on unexpected journeys. So, here's to embracing the unexpected, making the most of each situation, and maybe even finding a small online job to boost my budget. Wishing you all a wonderful day – and remember, don't stress yourself!

Online

Profile Page | Support Page

Feel free to support me by sending some sats via the lightning network to rubenstorm@sats.mobi

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

Estamos numa época tão estranha da humanidade…

Onde alguns querem reescrever a história, em vez de aprender e evoluir com a mesma. São com os erros que se cresce.

Onde o termo fascista é sinónimo de alguém com uma opinião diferente da sua, sem minimamente saber o real significado dessa palavra.

Onde defendem uma liberdade, que proíba o contraditório.

Onde não se discutem ideias, mas sim combatem ideias.

Onde o ambientalmente sustentável é substituir árvores e zonas verdes por estruturas em aço e zonas negras.

Onde os políticos constroem casas ou cidades, literalmente, em cima dos rios mas depois a culpa das cheias é as alterações climáticas.

Onde os alimentos tem menos importância que um peido de uma vaca.

Onde pessoas defendem que a solução para o aquecimento, é morrer de frio.

Onde a igualdade é favorecer um grupo, em detrimento de outro.

Onde o essencial é viver para consumir, em vez de usufruir.

Onde o importante é ser rico e ostentar essa mesma riqueza, mesmo que tenha de espezinhar outros para a conquistar.

Onde o mais importante é parecer em vez de ser.

Onde políticos defendem que o conhecimento pode levar a escolhas erradas, defendem o carneirismo.

Onde um político define o que é verdade ou mentira, limitando o que as pessoas podem expressar. Mas quem controla o controlador.

Onde os revisores da verdade deixaram de estar num gabinete, passando a ser um exército de jovens atrás de um teclado.

Onde, são propostas e aprovadas limitações de liberdade, sem esclarecimento ou divulgação pública. Pior que a obscuridade, é desinteresse da comunidade por liberdade.

Onde a censura é o novo normal, defender o contrário é que é censurável.

Onde a imprensa é tão livre como uma pomba dentro de sua gaiola.

Onde, quem comete o crime é protegido, quem o denúncia é perseguido.

Onde o certo é pensar com a cabeça dos outros, sem questionar.

Onde os pais delegaram o papel de educar às escolas e aos ecrãs azuis.

Onde a escola deixou de ser um lugar de conhecimento e/ou do desenvolvimento do espírito crítico.

Onde as crianças crescem doutrinados por políticos e por AI.

Onde a sociedade é programada e com um destino predefinido, como um rato dentro da sua roda.

Onde o maior erro, é pretender construir seres que não cometem erros, que não tenham vícios. Quando isso acontecer, deixamos de ser humanos. A imperfeição é a essência dos seres humanos, é o que nos difere das máquinas.

Onde só se ensina a não cair, em vez de ajudar e incentivar a levantar.

Onde se suspende a liberdade de circulação e os direitos mais básicos, sem ninguém questionar.

Onde a privacidade é crime.

Onde Satoshi é excomungado, mas Miguel Tiago é idoleterado.

Onde a moeda é utilizado como uma arma.

Onde uma guerra é digladiada entre zeros e uns, sem o comum mortal aperceber da sua existência.

Onde crianças caem em campos de batalha, como folhas em pleno outono.

Onde o direito ao Livre-arbítrio está sob ameaça.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

Ontem, Trump foi baleado.

“Trump baleado na orelha escapa a aparente atentado onde morreram duas pessoas. Donald Trump ficou ferido na orelha direita após terem sido disparados vários tiros num aparente atentado durante um comício na Pensilvânia.” - Correio da Manhã

O ambiente está a ferro e fogo, para “incendiar” ainda mais as eleições norte-americanas, hoje e nos próximos dias vão ser de discursos acérrimos e polarizados e certamente com muitas teorias da conspiração, outros vão dizer que isto foi encenação.

“Na guerra, a verdade é a primeira vítima.” - Ésquilo

No outro quadrante, o Biden, há muito tempo que demonstra problemas de saúde, mesmo assim insistem na sua candidatura. Eu não consigo compreender, se é o Biden que insiste em querer ser o candidato ou são os membros de topo do partido Democrata que insistem que ele deve ser o candidato? Não sei, mas é francamente notório que ele já não tem condições físicas e mentais para continuar a ser presidente. Só demonstra muita incompetência do partido Democrata. Depois, só falta algo ainda mais teatral no lado do Biden. Talvez, a poucos dias das eleições, vai acontecer algo de estranho ao Biden, vai obrigá-lo a desistir, mas como está muito em cima das eleições, será o nome de Biden que estará nos boletins de voto. No boletim de voto está o nome de Biden, mas as pessoas de antemão já sabem que o candidato é outro, possivelmente o vice passa a presidente.

Como é possível, num país com 330 milhões de habitantes, não consegue arranjar dois bons candidatos a presidente. As sociedades ocidentais estão cada vez mais polarizadas, os partidos estão-se a afastar do centro, os partidos extremos (direita e esquerda) crescem cada vez mais. Onde as pessoas, não votam no melhor candidato, mas sim, no menos mau, ou votam no contra.

Este desenho/meme é demonstrativo do meu pensamento sociopolítico, comparando as minhas convicções de há 20 anos, com as de hoje, são as mesmas, pouco mudou. Mas há 20 anos, eu sentia-me mais perto do lado dos progressistas, mas hoje sinto-me que estou mais perto do lado dos conservadores. Na verdade, eu sempre fui e sou do centro, os polos é que estão a afastar-se do centro, os conservadores “moveram-se’ um pouco para direita, mas os progressista é que se afastaram imenso do centro.

Se o afastamento do centro crescer ainda mais e os extremos cada vez mais radicais, o futuro é inevitável, uma guerra civil. O que estamos a viver agora não é nada novo, já aconteceu no passado e os resultados não foram bons. O pior é que continuamos a cometer os mesmos erros, sem nunca aprender com o passado.

"A história não se repete, mas frequentemente rima."

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Recentemente os EUA e a União Europeia anunciaram novas taxas alfandegárias impostas aos produtos importados da China.

“Presidente norte-americano, Joe Biden, anunciou esta terça-feira um aumento das taxas alfandegárias impostas aos produtos importados da China, com o agravamento mais significativo a ser aplicado sobre os veículos elétricos: dos atuais 25% vai para 100%, já a partir deste ano. Além dos automóveis elétricos, as barreiras comerciais sobre o maior concorrente dos Estados Unidos também aumentam em produtos como o aço e alumínio; baterias e suas componentes e minerais críticos; gruas portuárias; painéis solares; semicondutores; e equipamento de saúde.” – ECO

Na Europa:

“A Comissão Europeia pretende impor novas taxas sobre as importações dos carros elétricos que sejam produzidos no gigante asiático. O Executivo comunitário pretende aplicar uma taxa adicional, de 21%, em média, sobre as importações de veículos chineses, que se soma à taxa que já está atualmente em vigor, de 10%. O valor adicional pode ir até aos 38%, no caso de fabricantes que não cooperaram com Bruxelas no seu processo de investigação sobre subsídios atribuídos pelo Estado chinês.”_ – ECO

Os países ocidentais estão a acentuar as políticas protecionistas, além disso os EUA estão a endurecer as restrições aos semicondutores contra a China:

“A administração Biden segue reduzindo a gama de semicondutores que as empresas norte-americanas poderão vender à China. O Departamento de Comércio dos Estados Unidos emitiu novas regras que endurecem as restrições de exportação introduzidas em outubro de 2022. Para o governo, as medidas são necessárias para eliminar brechas nas regulações impostas no final do ano passado. As regras atualizadas “aumentarão a eficácia do nosso controle e fecharão ainda mais caminhos para contornar as nossas restrições”, disse a secretária do Comércio dos EUA, Gina Raimondo, num comunicado._ ‘Continuaremos a trabalhar para proteger a nossa segurança nacional, restringindo o acesso a tecnologias críticas, aplicando vigilantemente as nossas regras, ao mesmo tempo que minimizamos qualquer impacto não intencional nos fluxos comerciais.’ Chips avançados de inteligência artificial (IA), como os produtos H800 e A800 da Nvidia, serão afetados, de acordo com um documento regulatório da empresa norte-americana. Além da China e Macau, os regulamentos também expandem as restrições às exportações para outros 21 países com os quais os Estados Unidos mantêm um embargo de armas, incluindo o Irã e a Rússia.” – CNN Brasil

Crise

Atualmente a China está com uma grave crise, com um excesso de endividamento a nível público, como no privado. Ao contrário das duas grandes potências do ocidente, a China tem tido uma política muito comedida na desvalorização da sua própria moeda, ela tem acontecido, mas gradualmente. Nada se compara com as políticas dos EUA e da UE, que têm utilizado uma política altamente expansionista para combater as crises desde 2008.

Este gráfico demonstra bem a diferença:

Em 15 anos a China aumentou o balance sheet do banco central em 133%, o BCE aumentou em 359% e o FED aumentou 703%. Os EUA chegaram aos 900%, é um valor completamente absurdo, os estados estão a abusar do quantitative easing (QE). No final de 2022, tanto o FED e o BCE começaram a reduzir, mas ainda está muito acima dos valores pré-covid.

Onde está o problema?

Devido à Teoria dos jogos, a China nunca tentou invadir a Taiwan, porque tinha mais a perder do que a ganhar. Se houvesse uma guerra entre os dois, o mundo ficaria com um grave problema devido à falta de semicondutores, sobretudo os de última geração. Mas a China também ficaria sem essa tecnologia, além disso iria sofrer sanções do mundo ocidental, os seus produtos ficariam impedidos de entrar nesses mercados. A China iria sofrer sanções semelhantes à que a Rússia está a ter devido à Guerra na Ucrânia. Os impactos económicos e políticos desta guerra é case study para a China, deve estar a analisar ao milímetros, a criar alternativas, projetar meios de defesa, caso lhe aconteça algo similar.

Nos últimos anos a China tem reduzido imenso a exposição aos títulos do tesouro dos EUA, a China chegou a ser o maior detentor de dívida. Agora a China está a optar pela compra de ouro. Ao mesmo tempo, a China e a Rússia estão a tentar desenvolver uma alternativa ao dólar para o comércio internacional e também aumentar os laços económicos com os países aliados, especialmente dos BRICS. Além disso, tem investido biliões no desenvolvimento da sua própria indústria de semicondutores. Nos últimos anos as políticas da China têm sido focadas em diminuir a dependência do ocidente e de Taiwan, preferindo aliar-se aos países emergentes, grandes potências mas pouco democráticos, à sua semelhança.

No outro lado, os EUA também estão a diminuir a exposição à economia chinesa, estão a trocar as fábricas e mão-de-obra chinesa por mexicana, o México está a tornar-se um parceiro estratégico. 

Enquanto isso, a União Europeia assobia para o lado, apenas observa. Quando acordar será tarde demais, os líderes europeus não aprenderam nada com a pandemia, a Europa está fortemente dependente da indústria chinesa.

Se a única opção para combater a crise na China for o QE, além da desvalorização imensa da sua moeda, vai gerar uma enorme reação em cascata. Os seus produtos vão ficar extremamente baratos, a China vai inundar os mercados ocidentais com produtos, para combater isso os ocidentais vão endurecer as políticas de protecionismo.

Se a China ficar sem acesso aos mercados ocidentais devido ao aumentos das políticas protecionistas do ocidente, essas mesmas políticas já estão a impedir o acesso aos semicondutores. Assim vai existir uma inversão na Teoria dos jogos, como a China já não tem mais nada a perder, já perdeu tudo o que tinha a perder, é uma passadeira vermelha para invadir Taiwan. Se todas as sanções possíveis já estão a ser aplicadas à China ainda antes da invasão a Taiwan, em caso de uma invasão, o ocidente não terá nenhuma “arma” poderosa para retaliar. Essa possível invasão afetaria sobretudo o ocidente que ficaria sem a tecnologia de Taiwan. Não sendo possível aplicar mais sanções, restando apenas confronto direto entre a China e o Ocidente.

A guerra da Ucrânia tem demonstrado que as sanções já não tem tanta eficácia, o mundo está muito globalizado e muito interconectado, existem cada vez mais meios de contornar. A UE deixou de comprar produtos fósseis à Rússia, agora está a receber da China ou da Índia, ou seja, é o mesmo produto, só que agora existe um intermédio. Chegamos ao ridículo de existir o transhipping em alto mar, ao largo de Portugal, onde os produtos são movidos de um navio de pavilhão russo para um outro navio de um país não sancionado. Algumas horas depois ou no dia seguinte o mesmo navio atraca em Portugal ou em outro porto europeu. Todos os líderes europeus sabem que isto acontece, não fazem nada para mudar, apenas fecham os olhos, são cúmplices.

Outro caso vergonhoso é demonstrado por este gráfico, os países europeus estão proibidos de exportar produtos para a Rússia, mas continuam a fazê-lo através de um intermediário. É tão ridículo, é à europeia, criam uma lei e ao mesmo tempo criam uma maneira de contornar essa lei que acabaram de criar. É uma lei cartaz, é só o viver das aparências. É a hipocrisia europeia, querer demonstrar ao mundo que eles são o exemplo, mas depois faz o contrário. É façam aquilo que eu digo, mas não façam aquilo que eu faço.

Neste caso o intermediário é o Quirguistão, mas existem inúmeros países a fazer o mesmo. É bem notório nos gráficos, após o início da guerra da Ucrânia as exportações subiram exponencialmente para o Quirguistão, mas é claro que o destino final dos produtos é a Rússia.

Com uma poderosa indústria e com produtos de baixo custo, facilmente a China vai arranjar intermediários. Em último caso usam a tática da VolksWagen, onde uma fábrica portuguesa constrói 99% do carro, mas como não está terminado é exportado como produto inacabado, para a Alemanha. Depois na Alemanha é só colocar a etiqueta “made in Germany” e o carro fica finalizado, pronto para exportação. Neste caso a VW utiliza este subterfúgio para fugir a impostos, os impostos da Alemanha são muito mais baixos que os de Portugal, mas a China pode usar para contornar as sanções.

Conclusão

Se a crise acentuar-se na China nos próximos tempos e se a única solução for uma forte desvalorização da moeda, vai provocar uma reação em cascata na economia mundial. Se escalar muito, o problema não será só económico, irá muito além disso.

Mas isto são muitos “ses”, é apenas uma hipótese muito remota e esperemos que não conheça, pelo bem de todos nós.

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É com muito agrado que eu vejo este texto crítico ao Bitcoin, eu não concordo em muitas partes com o autor, mas é notório que estudou o Bitcoin, é uma crítica construtiva/argumentativa. Saiu do padrão habitual dos críticos do Bitcoin, como não estudam são monocórdicos, apenas replicam ideias feitas e erradas do passado, como “só serve para criminosos”, “o gasto energético” e outras coisas absurdas.

Este contraditório é muito importante, todos os críticos deveriam de ser assim, estudar minimamente antes de criticar, por isso, este texto merece todo o meu respeito mas eu vou fazer alguns comentários:

Ataques coordenados

O autor no texto utilizou a seguinte citação:

De fato, se um grupo com poder (hashrate) suficiente se unir, é capaz de gerar dados contendo transações inválidas. Dessa forma, cabe aos próprios usuários se coordenarem para ignorar essa sequência de transações.

Ataque com transações inválidas

Se um grupo de mineradores_/pools_ atacar com transações inválidas, não é necessário uma coordenação de usuários, mas sim individual. Segundo o protocolo, quem adiciona os blocos à blockchain são os nós(nodes) e não os mineradores/pools. Os mineradores/pools apenas propõem um template para o próximo bloco, os nós é têm a responsabilidade de verificar todas as informações contidas no template, se cumprir as regras é adicionado. Caso exista alguma inconformidade no template, essa será rejeitada pelos nós, ficando a aguardar por um novo template. No caso de transações inválidas, é muito simples de travar qualquer ataque. O adicionar do bloco é trabalho exclusivo dos nós, é feito individualmente, sem uma necessidade de coordenação entre eles.

Agora vamos imaginar um ataque ainda mais sofisticado, os maiores mineradores/pools uniam-se e realizavam um ataque coordenado. Também é fácil de travar, como a verificação é feita pelos nós, não é possível adicionar transações inválidas.

O único problema que pode causar, caso o hashrate do atacante seja muito elevado, é a rede vai ficar lenta. Em vez dos novos blocos a cada 10 minutos, vai demorar mais tempo.

No caso do ataque duradouro, os nós no período máximo de 2016 blocos, vão reajustar a dificuldade, voltando ao 10 minutos. É claro neste período até ao ajustamento a rede fica lenta, mas a probabilidade de ataque destes é muito remota. Como o atacante não tem qualquer hipótese de ter proveitos económicos, mas tem uma exorbitante custos com eletricidade, é pouco provável que alguém tente o efectuar.

Ataque com transações válidas

Qualquer ataque com transações invalidadas é fácil de resolver, o mais complexo/delicado é quando esse ataque é realizado com transações válidas.

Vamos a um exemplo concreto, imaginemos que a OFAC, obrigue as mineradoras e as pools norte-americanas a censurar transações, essas empresas não terão alternativa, terão que cumprir. Os EUA têm uma percentagem de hashrate muito elevada.

Vamos extremar ainda mais o exemplo, imaginemos que 95% do hashrate “cumprirá” com OFAC. Isto não afeta o regular funcionamento do Bitcoin, afeta apenas as transações sancionadas, vão demorar mais tempo a serem adicionadas à blockchain. Tem que aguardar por algum minerador, que não cumpra as regras OFAC, vença a corrida pelo novo bloco.

Para minimizar a possibilidade de uma censura por parte das pools, está a ser desenvolvida a Stratum V2, uma nova versão do software das pools. Nesta nova versão, a responsabilidade de criar o template passa a ser realizada pelo minerador, agora só falta as pools atualizarem o software.

Ataque de 51%

Também pode acontecer um Ataque de 51%, a possibilidade de várias pools cooperarem para realizar este ataque é extremamente baixa, quase nula. O mesmo acontece, se o ataque for organizado por um estado ou vários estados, não passam de apenas hipóteses teóricas.

A quantidade de mineradores é tremenda, distribuídos por todo o mundo, é completamente descentralizada, sendo muito pouco provável um minerador sozinho ter mais de 51% da hashrate. A única hipótese é um ataque com a cumplicidade de várias pools mas é extremamente improvável, quase nula. O ataque de 51% é raro mas já aconteceu em blockchains pequenas e centralizadas, mas o atacante foi a solo, nunca foi algo organizado por várias pools.

A estrutura necessária para o ataque é tremenda, é impossível o atacante ficar anónimo, a probabilidade de ter proveitos económicos e não ser identificado é quase nula. Mas destruirá por completo a sua credibilidade, será o fim das pools envolvidas.

Em último caso, numa situação extrema, o ataque pode ser revertido com rollback da blockchain.

Em termos genéricos, este ataque possibilita a reorganização da cadeia de blocos, permitindo uma espécie de gasto duplo, colocando em causa a imutabilidade da rede. Devido às características do Bitcoin não é possível existir uma regra de quantas confirmações são necessárias para que a transação seja imutável, quanto mais melhor. Como não existe uma regra, é uma decisão individual, de quem está a receber os satoshis (os outputs da transação), são as possíveis vítimas do ataque.

Quando eu comecei no Bitcoin, a ideia que circulava na comunidade, o mais seguro seriam 6 confirmações, mas agora em vários locais (corretoras) já aceitam 3 confirmações, quanto mais facilitamos, maior o risco que corremos. Na minha opinião, 3 confirmações é pouco e nos casos de valores mais elevados de BTC, mais exigentes temos que ser.

Eu sou bastante paranóico, gosto de seguir o lema: mais vale prevenir do que remediar. Por isso geralmente aguardo por 6 confirmações e tem que incluir 3 mineradores diferentes.

A probabilidade de um ataque é muito baixa e se nós formos rigorosos nas confirmações, o risco de ser vítima de um golpe é nula.

Agora uma conclusão que engloba todos estes possíveis ataques falados em cima, a ideia fulcral é as probabilidades. Devido à segurança do Bitcoin, tudo isto não passa de probabilidades teóricas, onde o risco é bastante reduzido ou nulo. São apenas conceitos teóricos, mas é essencial tê-los em mente, especialmente para trabalhar preventivamente, para que o Bitcoin seja cada vez mais resiliente. Para que, estes conceitos não passam da teoria à prática, é mais questão paranóica, do que um perigo real, é a segurança levada a um nível extremo. Mas foi esta paranóia que tornou o Bitcoin a rede mais segura do mundo. É importante debater estes conceitos, mas é necessário algum cuidado para não gerar alarme social.

Descentralização

Esse é um argumento muito bom. Não ter uma pessoa ou um grupo que tome as decisões da rede isoladamente chama a atenção de muitas pessoas. Imagina que maravilha um sistema que não depende da confiança em pessoas que normalmente tendem a corrupção. Imagina não depender de bancos para poder custodiar o seu dinheiro. Um verdadeiro dinheiro do povo. Seria o Bitcoin o grande libertador dessas amarras antigas de ter que confiar em um emissor de moeda? Não é bem assim.

A descentralização é o maior desafio para as comunicações, como nas blockchains. Existe o problema do Trilema das blockchains, dos 3 vértices, apenas é possível escolher dois.

Satoshi priorizou a segurança e a descentralização, deixando para um segundo plano a escalabilidade. Assim, para manter a camada base (L1) descentralizada, o número de transações são baixas, é impossível biliões de pessoas utilizá-la para as suas compras do dia-a-dia, deve apenas ser utilizadas para transações onde é necessário maior segurança ou para transações de liquidação(Settlements). As transações do dia-a-dia (a escalabilidade) devem ser executadas em camadas secundárias(L2).

No Bitcoin, devemos ter o mesmo escalonamento utilizado na banca tradicional, uma conta poupança e uma conta corrente.

Na conta poupança é destinado para guardar as poupanças de uma vida (médio/longo prazo), onde está parte significativa do nosso capital, logo necessita de uma maior segurança, devem estar na L1.

Na conta corrente é destinado para os pagamentos do dia-a-dia (curto prazo), composta por uma pequena parte do nosso capital, esta deve estar na L2.

Vamos a dois exemplos concretos:

Exemplo 1: Uma pessoa que acumulou btc e agora sobrevive exclusivamente das poupanças. Esta pessoa, a cada 2 ou 3 meses, faz uma transação da L1 para a L2 com um valor suficiente para sobreviver nesse período. Depois utiliza a L2 para efetuar os seus pagamentos do dia-a-dia.

Exemplo 2: Uma pessoa que está agora a acumular btc, está a fazer o chamado hodl. Utiliza a L2 para fazer o DCA, acumular os satoshis, quando este valor for significativo, aí sim, faz uma transação da L2 para a L1.

Em ambos os casos, a L1 é utilizada para as liquidações, onde são realizadas meia dúzia de transações por ano, nas L2 são feitas milhares de transações por ano.

A descentralização é fundamental para o seu funcionamento, mas não é imperativo para os pagamentos, ou seja, é fundamental na L1, é a única maneira para garantir a segurança do btc e garantir a descentralização nas camadas seguintes.

Sendo a L1 descentralizada, é possível construir L2 descentralizadas ou centralizadas, ambas.

Se a L1 for centralizada, não é possível construir L2 descentralizadas, são todas centralizadas.

Quem são os “emissor da moeda” no ecossistema do Bitcoin?

São os intermediários, os custodiantes. Podem estar na L1, nas L2 ou em sistemas complemente centralizados, como as corretoras ou bancos.

Temos necessariamente de confiar no emissor da moeda?

Não, primeiro as pessoas podem utilizar apenas a L1, só que pode ter um custo elevado.

Podem optar por L2, neste caso existem 2 opções: descentralizadas ou centralizadas. Destas 3 opções possíveis, para efetuar transações, só numa existe algum risco do emissor. No caso do Bitcoin, o “confiar no emissor” é uma opção e não uma obrigação.

No caso das moedas no sistema FIAT, a centralização é imposta, é obrigatório o confiar, não existiam alternativas.

Esta é a beleza do Bitcoin, dá liberdade de escolha ao indivíduo.

Utilizar L2 não é sinónimo de perder a descentralização/soberania, é apenas uma opção. Muitos utilizadores prescindem da soberania pela conveniência, preferem as carteiras centralizadas/intermediários, porque são mais simples, mais baratas, sem a necessidade de manutenções e de ter conhecimentos técnicos. É totalmente legítimo e compreensível esta escolha, no meu caso eu utilizo ambas mas preferencialmente a descentralização.

É claro, quem prefere o centralizado, corre mais riscos, está dependente do custodiante/intermédio.

Além disso, a maioria dos usuários não possui o software (node) para validar as transações por conta própria. Mesmo dentre os entusiastas que o fazem, muitos não possuem conhecimento técnico para validar o código-fonte ou participar dos debates técnicos. A descentralização é utopia. Não existe. Sempre haverão pessoas ou grupos que terão o maior poder de algo (Regra de Pareto). Logo, o Bitcoin também não foge da regra.

Rodar de nós

A descentralização não é uma utopia, o que é utópico, é acreditar que todas as pessoas vão rodar o próprio nó, isso não vai acontecer. Só roda quem quer, não é obrigatório, quem quer roda, que não quer não roda, mas todos podem se beneficiar com o Bitcoin. Com o avanço tecnológico, atualmente nem é necessário rodar o nó para usufruir da soberania. Para a rede ser segura não é necessário milhões de nós, basta dezenas de milhares para a tornar imutável e plenamente descentralizada.

O bitcoin dá liberdade individual, liberdade de escolha, permite a utilização de carteira não-custodiais ou custodiais, cada um escolhe a melhor que se adapta ao seu perfil ou conhecimento. Nada disto é possível no sistema tradicional, onde só é possível carteiras custodiais, não existe alternativa.

No meu ponto de vista, a soberania é essencial (como rodar um nó), é utópico acreditar que todas as pessoas vão seguir este caminho, mas isto é escolha pessoal, uma liberdade individual. Se eu tenho o direito/liberdade de ser soberano, a outra pessoa também têm a liberdade de o não ser soberano, de não querer a responsabilidade de guardar a seed.

Temos visões diferentes, mas ambos nos beneficiamos e acreditamos no Bitcoin. Por não rodar um nó, não é inferior a mim, somos todos iguais nos direitos, o Bitcoin é para todos, mesmo para aqueles que não acreditam no Bitcoin, não existe distinção.

Mas é claro que, quem não quer ter a responsabilidade da custódia, terá que estar consciente dos riscos, poderá ter problemas no futuro. Terá que pesar os prós e os contras da soberania. Eu penso no exemplo dos meus pais, a probabilidade de eles perderem a seed é muito superior, à possibilidade de serem confiscados pelo estado. Para o perfil deles, o mais adequado é uma carteira custodial ou com seed recovery. Conhecendo bem os meus pais, nunca na minha vida, eu aconselharia uma carteira não-custodial.

É claro que rodar um nó é importante, mas não é essencial, essa é mais uma função para os maximalistas.

Verificação do código-fonte

Hoje em dia, o ecossistema do Bitcoin é tão extenso, são milhões de linhas de código, é humanamente impossível um indivíduo verificar o código-fonte sozinho. Se alguém com conhecimentos técnicos não consegue verificar tudo sozinho, é impossível para os leigos.

Por isso o Bitcoin é opensource, onde a desenvolvimento e verificação é realizada por milhares de olhos, é um trabalho colaborativo, realizado por pessoas altamente qualificadas. Onde cada linha, cada alteração é verificada por centenas de pessoas.

Esse é o motivos de sermos conservadores nas atualizações, qualquer alteração é necessário um longo período de testes e de rigorosas verificações. Não pode haver falhas, qualquer distração pode colocar em causa anos de trabalho.

O código-fonte opensource é um trabalho colaborativo.

A não verificação do código-fonte por pessoas comuns não é razão para colocar em causa a descentralização do Bitcoin. A única verificação que os não técnicos devem realizar, é fazer os downloads nos locais oficiais e manter os softwares atualizados.

Centralização das Pools

É importante também dizer que as pools de mineração são centralizadas. Aproximadamente 80% da mineração de Bitcoins é controlada por apenas 5 pools. Cada node dentro das pools possuem o poder por conta própria, é verdade. Porém existe um certo poder de influência das pools com os nodes de mineração.

Em cima, já respondi em parte ao problema da centralização das pools de mineração.

Em suma, a centralização das pools não coloca em causa a descentralização da rede, porque o fundamental na descentralização são os nós da rede, as pools desempenham um papel muito diminuto nessa descentralização.

É claro, se o hashrate fosse mais disperso por mais pools era melhor. Com o novo software para as pools, é dado mais poder aos mineradores, na elaboração do template, o risco das pools fica ainda mais minimizado.

A Escalabilidade

Lastro dos IOUs

O problema com o ouro foi a escalabilidade. Pelas limitações físicas, o ouro não conseguiu ser escalável. Tendo que utilizar soluções de segunda camada (certificados de ouro) como uma representação do ouro original. Essa falta de contato com o ouro físico fez as pessoas se acostumarem a trocar somente certificados em papel-moeda e, posteriormente, foi se perdendo o lastro em ouro até se tornar 100% fiduciária.

Concordo plenamente com a afirmação, só que o Bitcoin tem algumas pequenas alterações que fazem toda a diferença. Os certificados de ouro criaram um risco, mas o maior risco aconteceu com a centralização, na existência de apenas um emissor (FED) e em um único produto (o dólar).

No Bitcoin é totalmente diferente, as carteiras custodiais ou IOUs são uma opção, só usa quem quer.

No caso das L2, existem carteiras custodiais e não-custodial. Esta parte é fundamental, as pessoas podem ter satoshis em carteiras L2 não-custodiais e “trocar” por L1 sem intermediários, sem a necessidade de uma permissão de um governo, estão seguros.

Os riscos associados às L2 centralizadas, é menor que o risco existente nos certificados de ouro/papel-moeda, porque existem vários emissores e em várias jurisdições, é um pormenor que faz toda a diferença.

Como o Bitcoin é digital, o emissor pode estar literalmente em qualquer ponto do mundo, ou simultaneamente em vários países, camuflado pelo TOR, irrastreável, ou em países pró Bitcoin, existe uma maior segurança jurídica.

Podemos estar num país e utilizar uma custodiante de noutro país, como aconteceu com a WOS, está oficialmente indisponível nos EUA, mas muitos norte-americano continuam a utilizar.

Como existem muitos emissores, as pessoas vão optar pelos mais seguros.

Um país pode confiscar o lastro dos emissores, mas só o consegue nas empresas sob sua jurisdição e esse confisco apenas afeta os residentes desse país, os restantes povos não são afetados. Assim, o que pode acontecer, é alguns emissores/custodiantes podem ser confiscados, ficando sem o lastro, mas o Bitcoin no geral não tem problemas. Como aconteceu na FTX, a corretora perdeu parcialmente o lastro, os clientes tiveram grandes perdas, mas o restante ecossistema Bitcoin, não perdeu o “lastro”.

O confisco é algo inevitável no futuro, algum país vai fazê-lo, possivelmente o primeiro será um país pequeno. Mas essa notícia vai propagar-se pelo mundo, vai colocar todos os utilizadores em alerta, a pensar que poderá também acontecer a si. Esse medo de perder os fundos vai estimular e gerar uma forte adoção à auto-custódia. Como acontece sempre após uma falência de uma corretora, gera uma corrida bancária em todas as corretoras, um pico de demanda por soberania. Infelizmente as pessoas só aprendem com a dor.

A parte mais curiosa disto tudo, a existência de múltiplos custodiantes/bancos em cada país e por centenas de países, essa enorme distribuição de empresas centralizadas cria uma certa descentralização, minimizando o risco.

Em suma, um risco universal dos IOUs de Bitcoin, perderem o lastro é nulo, o que poderá acontecer é casos localizados, ou seja, não é perda de lastro do Bitcoin, é o confisco realizado por algum estado ou a fraude de algum custodiante/emissor. Mas isto é um problema localizado e não sistémico. No caso do ouro foi sistémico, porque só existia um emissor e com poder absoluto.

Assim, para minimizar os riscos, a melhor opção é a auto-custódia.

Tamanho do Bloco

O Bitcoin é programado para fazer 1 bloco de transações de apenas 1 mb a cada ~10min. Isso significa que para sua transação ter prioridade terá que pagar taxas mais altas do que a média do mercado. A limitação de 1 mb serve para deixar a rede mais descentralizada já que quanto maior o bloco, maior também será a capacidade necessária para rodar um node na rede. Menos nodes significa mais centralização.

Análise perfeita.

Sem falar que já foi tentado aumentar o Bloco em 2017 com o Bitcoin Cash e a rede não foi para frente.

Pelo contrário, essas ideias foram em frente, o projeto foi criado, por isso existe o Bcash. Só que o tempo provou que o aumento do tamanho do bloco não é a solução, as pessoas preferiram o Bitcoin original.

Basta ver as consequências do aumento do bloco, onde existem apenas 3 pools de mineração e uma delas é responsável por 85% do hashrate.

Os nós são muito poucos:

Aumentou o tamanho do bloco, mas tem uma blockchain menor que a do Bitcoin:

Além do Bcash, surgiu também o BSV, um fork do Bcash, onde as consequências do aumento do tamanho foram terríveis, apenas consegui dados até 2023, o tamanho da blockchain aumentou exponencialmente, é 12x maior que o atual tamanho do Bitcoin:

Em ambos os projetos a descentralização está comprometida, não existe.

Custo de Transação na L1

Em Abril de 2024, logo após o halving, a taxa para transacionar na rede do Bitcoin estava em média 200 dólares. Imagina quanto pode chegar essa taxa nos próximos halvings com mais usuários na rede e com com mais implementações do tipo Ordinals ou Runes. É no mínimo irônico que maximalistas disputem espaço na rede com especuladores de memecoins e nfts congestionando a blockchain da criptomoeda.

É verdade que atingiu esses valores, mas foi num curto espaço de tempo, foi uma loucura momentânea que certamente não irá repetir, isso foi uma ocasião especial. O custo médio de uma transação na L1 está longe desses valores, neste preciso momento está inferior a 1$.

No futuro é provável que a médio prazo, o custo médio fique entre os 10$ e 20$.

Os NFTs e memecoins só estão na L1, porque está barata, quando ficar cara, estes projectos vão migrar para L2, ninguém vai pagar 10$ de fee para transacionar uma memecoin que vale alguns centavos. Na L1 vão ficar apenas coisas com valores elevados.

Pode parecer contraditório mas o chegar a 200$ é sinal que o sistema funcionou, está saudável. Isso só aconteceu devido a uma procura extraordinária, fez com que o custo aumentasse, mas a rede nunca parou. Enquanto no sistema financeiro tradicional, quando existe um pico de procura, muito fora do normal, os servidores vão abaixo e o sistema fica inoperacional para todos, durante um período. No caso do bitcoin os custos aumentam, é uma espécie de proteção contra DDoS, sem nunca o sistema ir a baixo.

Eu não quero dizer que o custo de uma transação de 200$ é bom, claro que não é, mas isto é algo que aconteceu esporadicamente. Mas não podemos colocar em causa um sistema por algo que acontece esporadicamente e num espaço de tempo tão curto.

Nos 15 anos do Bitcoin apenas por 5 períodos onde o preço de transação atingiu valores exorbitantes e sempre num curto espaço de tempo.

• 22 de Dezembro de 2017:

• 21 de Abril de 2021:

• 17 de Dezembro de 2023:

• 20 de Abril de 2024:

• 7 de Junho de 2024:

Nestes 5 períodos, apenas em um (20 de Abril de 2024), o percentil 50 foi superior a 31$. É verdade que 30$ não é acessível para toda a gente, mas o Bitcoin é a rede mais segura do mundo, isto tem um custo.

O 7 de Junho de 2024 é um caso particular, não foi um problema de uma elevada procura, mas sim, devido a um bug de uma corretora. Colocou um fee(taxa) absurdo nas suas transações de consolidação.

A L1 vai ser utilizada sobretudo para transações de liquidação(Settlements) ou com altos valores, onde podem pagar taxas mais elevadas.

Uma transação de liquidação na L1, “condensa” centenas ou milhares de operações realizadas em L2, logo esse custo pode ser dividido por essas centenas. Os custos são minimizados.

É similar ao que acontece na banca tradicional, durante o dia, os clientes de dois bancos realizam milhares de transações entre si, são apenas alterações nas bases de dados de ambos bancos. No fim do dia, os bancos fazem um balanço e o banco que estiver em crédito, efetuará uma transação para o outro banco. Essa real efetivação da transação (a liquidação), onde existe realmente um troca monetária entre os bancos só acontece algum tempo depois.

Geralmente nas transações de liquidação, não existe uma urgência imperativa, a transacção não necessita de ser executada de imediato, existindo uma maior flexibilidade, podendo aguardar por um momento com fees mais baixas.

Se for urgente está sujeito ao custo do momento.

Lightning Network

Os bitcoiners alegam que o Bitcoin resolve o problema da escalabilidade por ser digital. Mas até agora não temos nada concreto que mostre que seja possível escalar uma moeda “descentralizada”. Um passo nesse sentido foram a implementação da Lightining Network, uma “segunda camada” do Bitcoin implementada em 2018. Enquanto o ecossistema do Bitcoin se expande, a Lightning se move em direção contrária. Além disso, a Lightning apresenta falhas críticas que não favorecem o crescimento da adoção.

As soluções de L2 são a única via para resolver o problema da escalabilidade.

A Lightning Network (LN) foi a primeira a surgir e está completamente funcional, consegue processar 1 milhão de transações por segundo.

Os problemas da LN não são de código mas sim da dependência da L1, para fazer a abertura, fecho ou balancear os canais. Se no momento em que for necessário realizar estas operações, os custos na L1 for elevado, é um problema. Este problema afeta quem faz a auto-custódia, para evitar esse risco, as pessoas preferem utilizar carteira custodiais.

Hoje em dia estes períodos de custos mais altos na L1 são raros, mas é previsível no futuro com o aumento da adoção, estes períodos vão ser mais recorrentes, por isso a LN tem que ser melhorada, para que no futuro não seja um problema crítico.

Será que todos nós necessitamos de uma carteira L2 não-custodial para os pequenos pagamentos?

Na minha opinião não. Como as carteiras L2 necessitam de estar online e geralmente em smartphones, logo existe um maior risco de segurança, por esse motivo devemos ter pouco capital nesses dispositivos. Como o capital alocado é baixo, a grande maioria dos utilizadores prefere optar por carteiras simples, a soberania não é uma prioridade. A descentralização e a soberania é fulcral apenas na L1, onde estão os valores elevados, nas L2 não.

As L2 custodiais como a WOS é um excelente produto, simples, é um produto ideal para os leigos, que serão a maior parte da população.

Eu abri um canal de LN(não-custodial), há mais de ano, possivelmente já fiz milhares de transações, sempre a baixo custo, mesmo nos dias de congestionamento da L1 não houve qualquer problema. A minha experiência com LN é muito boa, mas a auto-custódia tem um custo. Mas esses custos da abertura e fecho do canal são divididos por dezenas ou centenas de transações na LN, assim os custos operacionais continuam a ser baixos, menor que qualquer sistema tradicional.

Atualmente com a Phoenix é simples ter LN não custodial, mas as pessoas continuam a preferir WOS, mesmo entre os maximalistas. Isto demonstra que a soberania/descentralização não é um ponto fundamental na escolha de uma carteira LN, mas sim a sua simplicidade e usabilidade, nisto a WOS é vencedora.

As carteiras custodiais têm a possibilidade de crescimento exponencial, mesmo com a atual tecnologia.

As pessoas preferem terceirizar a custódia, não querem ter essa responsabilidade, querem ter alguém para apontar o dedo quando algo corre mal. A sociedade foi construída na base da confiança, mas ao longo da história essa mesma confiança foi abusada inúmeras vezes, sobretudo pelos políticos.

É natural com a massificação da adoção, os novos utilizadores são cada vez menos geeks, são mais pessoas comuns, sem conhecimentos técnicos, vão preferir serviços custodiais.

É este o melhor caminho certo?

Na opinião não, mas a maioria das pessoas preferem, a adoção demonstra isso. Mas compreendo essa escolha, faz todo o sentido, como são montantes baixos, compensa aceitar esse risco e deixar todo o trabalho da gestão de um canal para o custodiante.

O essencial é existir as duas vias, depois cada indivíduo escolhe o melhor que se adapta ao seu perfil.

O real problema

É claro que a utilização da LN poderia ser muito superior, mas na minha opinião, não é a tecnologia que está a atrasar a adoção. O problema é que a maioria das pessoas olha para o Bitcoin apenas como uma reserva de valor, apenas guarda-o. São poucas as pessoas a gastá-lo. Este sim é o grande desafio, a mudança de mentalidade.

Alternativas

Este texto de opinião, apenas fala da LN, mas existem outras L2 no Bitcoin. A carteira Aqua ou a Helm são excelentes produtos. A interoperacionalidade das duas carteiras é extraordinária, o comum mortal nem nota que está a utilizar uma sidechain Liquid. A Liquid é segura e muito barata transacionar. Ambos são muito bons para o cidadão comum como a Helm diz: “a Lightning wallet that even your grandma can use”.

Bitcoin é um organismo vivo, sempre em desenvolvimento. Atualmente já estão numa fase avançada de desenvolvimento a Ark, Fedi, Cashu e a Mercury.

O desenvolvimento de L2 tem sido tremendo no último ano, talvez seja o período onde existe mais desenvolvimento no ecossistema do Bitcoin, são dezenas de projetos em desenvolvimento, surgem ideias novas quase todos os dias. É claro que a maioria será um flops, mas certamente algumas boas ideias vão sobressair.

Futuro

A atual tecnologia da LN ainda permite um enorme crescimento na adoção, mas para o Bitcoin estar disponível para biliões de utilizadores, a utilizar como moeda, como nós desejamos, é necessário outras soluções, sem dúvida nenhuma.

A médio prazo, a LN ainda será a principal solução, mas é muito provável que no futuro(a longo prazo) as pessoas deixem de usar a LN para pagamentos, talvez optem por Ark ou dispersam por várias tecnologias. A LN vai se transformar num sistema que vai ligar, vai fazer a interoperacionalidade da liquidez entre diferentes L2 e a ligação à L1.

Repito, a tecnologia tem muito que melhorar, mas não é ela a principal responsável pelo atraso da adoção do Bitcoin como moeda.

Adoção da LN

A rede vem perdendo a sua adoção

Isto é uma interpretação errada dos números, apesar da capacidade da LN ter diminuído ligeiramente, não significa que tenha perdido adoção, pelo contrário. Como a unidade de conta dos produtos é em FIAT, temos que analisar os dados em FIAT.

A capacidade mais alta da LN ocorreu a 8 de julho de 2023, com 5523 BTCs, correspondia a 167 milhões de dólares.

Hoje a capacidade está ligeiramente abaixo, nos 5206 BTCs, corresponde a 322 milhões de dólares.

Isto significa que não diminuiu, mas sim aumentou 48%, mais 155 milhões de dólares. Como o valor total em dólares alocado aumentou imenso mas o número médio de satoshis por pessoa reduziu. Isto significa que existem mais pessoas a utilizar.

Eu sou um exemplo prático disso, com a valorização do Bitcoin, o valor já era demasiado alto, muito superior ao que eu necessito, por isso movi parte para a L1.

Apesar de hoje a capacidade em BTC está próximo ao máximo de 2023, a grande diferença está no número de canais, que diminuiu bastante. Isto significa que são menos canais mas com maior capacidade de liquidez. A LN está a centralizar-se em canais maiores, isto é a prova que as pessoas optam por carteiras custodiais.

Escola Austríaca

As partes sobre a escola austríaca prefiro não comentar, deixo para os mais entendidos sobre o assunto.

Conclusão

Para finalizar, apesar de não concordar com muitas coisas que o autor do texto diz, mas tenho que louvar a sua atitude e a maneira como expressou os seus argumentos. Apesar de algumas imprecisões, o autor demonstrou ter bons conhecimentos sobre o Bitcoin. É um exemplo a seguir por outros críticos, uma crítica construtiva.

Eu creio que no futuro o autor vai reconhecer que estava errado nesta análise, vai voltar a acreditar no Bitcoin, ao não fechar essa porta, é um bom sinal.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

A baleia alemã finalmente está morta.

O governo da Alemanha concluiu nesta sexta-feira, 12, a venda de todos os Bitcoin que as autoridades tinham apreendido no início deste ano.

Origem dos fundos

Os 49.857 bitcoins foram apreendidos em meados de janeiro, avaliados em cerca de US$ 2,1 biliões na época, pela polícia no estado alemão oriental da Saxónia. A apreensão foi o resultado de uma “transferência voluntária” do suspeito, acusado de operar o Movie2k.to.

“A promotoria pública de Dresden deu a notícia, afirmando que Movie2K era operado ilegalmente e distribuía mais de 880 mil cópias pirateadas de filmes e seriados entre 2008 e 2013. Em novembro de 2019, autoridades alemãs prenderam um dos dois principais operadores do site Movie2K, enquanto o segundo operador está foragido. Os dois operadores alegadamente começaram a comprar bitcoin em meados de 2012 do dinheiro recebido por inscrições e receitas de anúncio. Movie2K era o 19º site mais visitado da Alemanha em 2013 antes de ser tirado do ar. O operador, agora em custódia, comprou mais de 22 mil bitcoins (atualmente equivalentes a US$ 260 milhões), afirmou a promotoria. Então, entre 2013 e 2016, compraram propriedades com cripto, que também foram confiscadas. A promotoria disse ter confiscado os criptoativos com a ajuda da Polícia Criminal Federal da Alemanha e do Departamento Federal de Investigação dos EUA (FBI)” – Moneytimes

Venda

A venda iniciou a 19 de junho, ao mover 500btc para a Kraken.

Mas foi nas últimas duas semanas que o processo acelerou, mas ontem foram movidos os últimos Bitcoins, a conta está a zeros.

Isto contribuiu para gerar uma pressão de venda no mercado, resultando em um movimento de queda no preço. Mais que a dimensão da venda, a principal razão da queda é o FUD. Além do governo alemão, neste mesmo periodo o Mt. Gox começou a realizar pagamentos em Bitcoin no valor de US$ 9 biliões aos credores, o governo dos EUA vendendo bitcoins apreendidos do Silk Road e Banmeet Singh.

Tudo isto somado gerou algum FUD e mesmo assim a queda não foi assim tão significativa, no passado teria sido bem pior.

Quem aproveitou desta “nova” liquidez e a queda de preço foram os EFTs à vista, receberam capital fresco. Os investidores desses fundos desaceleraram a queda no preço. Desde 25 de junho, os fundos viram entradas líquidas de 886,8 milhões de dólares, segundo dados da CoinGlass.

Ou seja, saiu de uma baleia e foi redistribuído para outras baleias, não é o ideal, mas é assim que funciona o mercado.

Ondas de Choque

A venda em massa da Alemanha não foi bem recebida pela legisladora alemã e ativista do Bitcoin Joana Cotar:

“A membro do parlamento alemão Joana Cotar disse que a venda em massa do Bitcoin não é “sensata” e “produtiva”, pois poderia ser usada para diversificar os ativos do tesouro e proteger contra a desvalorização da moeda. A parlamentar alemã e ativista do Bitcoin, Joana Cotar, pediu ao governo que pare sua “apressada” venda de Bitcoin e o adote como “moeda de reserva estratégica” para se proteger contra riscos no sistema tradicional. Cotar disse que o Bitcoin poderia ajudar a Alemanha a diversificar seus ativos do tesouro, proteger contra a inflação e a desvalorização da moeda e promover a inovação no país.” – Cointelegraph

Eu não tenho qualquer dúvida, o governo alemão vai se arrepender de ter realizado esta operação. No futuro, quando os historiadores forem analisar isto, vão perceber que foi um dos maiores erros das história alemã.

Memes

Não há notícias de Bitcoin, sem os respectivos memes e esta notícia não fugiu à regra.

Devido à transparência da blockchain do Bitcoin, é possível saber os endereços do governo alemão, e a comunidade não perdeu esta oportunidade para fazer humor.

Um utilizador enviou um NFT, com uma mensagem, que se traduz como “Impostos são roubo.”

outro

brc-20

Runes

Muitos milhões de tokens runes. 1 2

OpRETURN

Um OpRETURN também surgiu: “we shall buy on the beaches, we shall buy on the landing grounds, we shall buy in the fields and in the streets, we shall buy in the hills; we shall never sell”

Coinjoin

Também não poderiam faltar as transações oriundas de Coinjoin, foram exatamente 15 transações. Curiosamente, ou não, o governo alemão enviou esses satoshis para as exchanges e foram ~~lavados~~ vendidos.

No fim de contas, só houve um único vencedor, o Bitcoin.

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

It is a technical school, founded by the German architect Walter Gropius in 1919 in the city of Weimar, Germany. Its purpose was to liberate art from industry, revive craftsmanship, and integrate art and craft. The school attracted the most important artists of that era, who aimed to rebuild the world from a new perspective after World War I, marking a new era. Consequently, new teaching methods, architectural techniques, drawing, and design were discovered and developed to train a new type of artist capable of working across all fields.

A mandatory course was created for all students to learn art and handicrafts, developed by the Swiss painter Johannes Itten, who encouraged students to work based on their instincts by allowing them to experiment with models, materials, and colors. The primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and geometric shapes (square, triangle, circle) became distinctive features and a registered trademark of the Bauhaus.

The Bauhaus school was relocated to Dessau in 1925 and then to Berlin in 1932. A year later, it was forcibly closed by the Nazis, who considered it a foreign influence that needed to be eliminated. This led to the migration of its patrons and architects out of Germany, who spread their ideas worldwide, especially in America.

Despite its short existence from 1919 to 1933, its impact is evident globally. For instance, the famous book "Neufert" by Ernst Neufert, a Bauhaus graduate, remains a fundamental reference for architects worldwide.

$$Characteristics of the Bauhaus school$$

• Simplification, abstraction, and departure from the decorative elements prevalent in Europe at that time.
• Use of primary geometric forms.
• Utilization of primary colors.
• Fusion of Cubist and Expressionist influences.
• Integration of form and function.

$$The Bauhaus school$$

• Architectural creativity should emphasize clarity, honesty, and a departure from anything unrelated to true architecture.

• Residential buildings should be designed with content and execution that align with economic feasibility, addressing the economic aspects of the time including construction materials and expenses.

• Furnishings and building equipment should be accessible, beautiful, and durable.

• Standardization and modeling of residential building design, emphasizing the importance of prefabricated construction methods that facilitate global architectural ideas, aiming for universal architecture.
• Bauhaus envisions a prosperous future of architecture through collaborative architectural work characterized by generosity, democracy, and defined intellectual direction.

Wassily Kandinsky was born in Moscow in 1866 and settled in Germany by the end of the 19th century. He became a key figure in the development of Expressionism in Northern Europe over the following years. His famous painting "Der Blaue Reiter" was an inspiration for the Expressionist art movement.

He began teaching at the Bauhaus school in 1922, where he focused on teaching his students how to analyze primary colors and their interactions. In 1923, he developed a survey where participants were asked to fill a circle, square, and triangle with the appropriate primary color. The result was the yellow triangle, red square, and blue circle, which became classic Bauhaus shapes discovered and popularized by Kandinsky through his famous work.

Marcel Breuer was born in Hungary in 1902 and was one of the youngest members of the original Bauhaus generation. At the age of eighteen, he left his hometown of Pecs and joined the Bauhaus in 1920, becoming one of its early standout talents. He was appointed head of the carpentry workshop at the Bauhaus and later taught in the newly established architecture department after the school moved from Weimar to Dessau in 1925.

One of his most famous works is the design of the chair known as the Model B3 chair, created between 1925-1926. Inspired by bicycle handlebars, this chair was developed while Breuer was head of the workshop at the Bauhaus.

Wassily Kandinsky admired the completed design of the chair and its embodiment of Bauhaus principles. Breuer subsequently created a duplicate version for Kandinsky's personal use, and later the chair became widely known as the "Wassily Chair."

And the list extends with names of pioneers of this legendary school who contributed to its flourishing, such as:

• Hannes Meyer
• Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
• Lilly Reich
• Lyonel Feininger
• Oskar Schlemmer
• Gerhard Marcks

One of the most prominent figures of the Bauhaus school is Paul Klee.

Paul Klee was among the most talented and enigmatic artists closely associated with the Bauhaus. He created the canvas painting "Red Balloon" in 1922, where geometric shapes (rectangles, squares, and domes) in primary colors were selected. A single red circle floats at the center of the upper part of the painting, resembling a hot air balloon.

@ 700c6cbf:a92816fd

... something else

This is the final image. Or is it? Likely, it is not. I have already started on a perfect version of my Mother Earth painting.

Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect painting. What I mean is that I already started on a vector version of Mother Earth. You're familiar with vector vs. pixel, right?

But let's start at the beginning, not the end.

This here is a pic from the sketching phase. I am not one who can just magically and with a few strokes produce an amazing sketch of something that resembles a human. There are artists out there that do this wonderfully. It's amazing but it is not me (unfortunately).

Here I am starting to color in the sketch with a watercolor brush. This is all done in Procreate App on an iPad Pro. The coloring is on a separate layer with the pencil sketch set to multiply to shine through the colors. That's why the pencil strokes now are black. I like that look.

And here, I am almost done. Just need to decide on the background color. And as you can see from the gif and video I didn't really decide. Though at the moment I am favoring that muted pinkish red - LOL

Which color is your favorite?

Here you can see the whole process in a timelapse. Above pictures were grabbed from it to detail the process a little.

https://cdn.satellite.earth/05774dcaaf4679c34cbeb46cb43b4c4f85553a3d2b4850a7256d26a871b0c4f3.mp4

And that's it my Nostr friends for my first longform post in this community.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Comments are encouraged an appreciated. Thank you.

Cheers, OceanBee

@ a8d1560d:3fec7a08

I have made an event viewer and an event crafter for #Nostr using https://websim.ai. The event crafter works flawlessly, but sadly without NIP-07. It can be used to craft events of any kind, with any tags you want. You can find it here:

https://websim.ai/c/tZxeQ9DWZf9bCkTd1

As for the event viewer, making it brought several difficulties, and I'm not really happy with it in its current state. But it does show any event of any kind. If you enter your own pubkey, you can choose to only show events from pubkeys you follow. And you can always choose to either show all events or use a pubkey filter.

https://websim.ai/c/KI87SEQljLys4nVIX

@ 9edd72eb:cb697b0a

If one knows exactly what to do to alleviate one's pain, comfort oneself, and emerge more or less unscathed from Adversity, I think it can be said that one has reached a fairly high level of Wisdom in Life.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/607422

@ 6c2d79de:0407f1b7

In this inaugural investigative campaign, we at The Xibao Times invite you to embark on a journey down the rabbit hole of Chinese propaganda. Our mission: to expose the intricate network of disinformation and anti-Western sentiment that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has meticulously woven through various channels, including state media, non-profits, coalition groups, and more. Our starting point: a seemingly innocuous image (above) reposted by China Daily, which has led us to uncover a web of deception that spans the globe.

At the heart of Operation Codepink lies a comprehensive examination of the CCP's propaganda apparatus. We delve into the inner workings of this sophisticated machine, revealing the strategies and tactics employed to disseminate disinformation and manipulate public opinion. From the recruitment of "useful idiots" to the exploitation of social media, we uncover the CCP's playbook and the players involved.

Our investigation spans multiple platforms and formats, providing readers with a multi-faceted view of the propaganda war being waged. In addition to in-depth articles on Habla News, we are creating wiki-pages on Wikifreedia to serve as a repository of information, and relationship charts to illustrate the complex web of connections between entities and individuals.

As we continue our investigative journey, we will be publishing updates, revelations, and analyses. Stay tuned for an exposé on the CCP's infiltration of Russian state media, US non-profits, and coalition groups, among others. Our objective is not only to educate and inform but also to spark a broader conversation about the dangers of disinformation and the need for transparency and accountability in the media landscape.

Join us as we unravel the threads of this intricate web and shed light on the dark corners of the CCP's propaganda machine. With Operation Codepink, we aim to provide the spiciest content on Nostr, and we invite you to be a part of this groundbreaking campaign.

---

Inside the Operation

Articles on Habla News:

Our in-depth articles on Habla News will provide a comprehensive overview of the CCP's propaganda machine, its tactics, and the individuals and organizations involved. These articles will delve into specific cases of disinformation, analyze the CCP's propaganda strategies, and expose the connections between various entities and individuals. The articles will be written in an engaging and accessible style, making complex information easily understandable for a broad audience.

Wiki-pages on Wikifreedia:

We will create a series of wiki-pages on Wikifreedia to serve as a central repository of information related to Operation Codepink. These wiki-pages will provide a detailed and organized overview of the CCP's propaganda machine, its various components, and the individuals and organizations involved. They will include information on specific cases of disinformation, analysis of propaganda tactics, and connections between various entities and individuals.

Relationship Charts:

To illustrate the complex web of connections between the entities and individuals involved in the CCP's propaganda machine, we will create relationship charts. These charts will show the relationships between different organizations, individuals, and governments, providing a visual representation of the intricate network of disinformation and propaganda. The relationship charts will help readers understand the scale and scope of the CCP's influence and manipulation efforts.

Investigative Approach:

Our investigative approach for Operation Codepink will involve a combination of open-source research, data analysis, and interviews with experts and insiders. We will use a range of tools and techniques to gather information, including:

Open-Source Research: We will conduct extensive open-source research, using publicly available information to identify patterns, connections, and trends related to the CCP's propaganda machine.

Data Analysis: We will analyze large datasets to identify relationships between individuals, organizations, and governments, as well as patterns in disinformation and propaganda tactics.

Expert Interviews: We will interview experts and insiders who have firsthand knowledge of the CCP's propaganda machine, as well as individuals who have been targeted by the CCP's disinformation campaigns.

Social Media Monitoring: We will monitor social media platforms for signs of disinformation and propaganda, as well as for clues about the identities of individuals and organizations involved in the CCP's propaganda machine.

By using a combination of these techniques, we aim to provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of the CCP's propaganda machine and its activities.

Updates and Revelations:

As we continue our investigation, we will provide regular updates and revelations on our findings. These updates will be published on Habla News and shared on our Nostr account xibaotimes@zaps.lol, keeping readers informed about the latest developments in Operation Codepink. We will also provide analyses and commentary on the implications of our findings for global politics, media, and society.

Stay tuned for more revelations and updates!

@ 6f170f27:711e26dd

This century has known a stunning decrease in global income inequality, bringing it down to levels not seen in well over a century. That's the conclusion that Branko Milanovic, one of the world's foremost inequality researchers, comes to in an important essay for Foreign Affairs.

https://www.axios.com/2024/07/11/world-income-inequality-ubs-wealth-report

https://www.axios.com/2023/06/14/global-economic-inequality

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/607318

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Yesterday's edition https://stacker.news/items/605773/r/Undisciplined

We have a confessional from a professional shitcoiner, today. That's fun.

• • -

July 13, 2023 📅

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📝 TOP POST

Validating Lightning Signer - AMA

Excerpt

VLS is a nifty piece of software that helps boost the security of the Bitcoin Lightning Network. 🛡️

11k sats \ 33 comments \ @devrandom \ ~bitcoin

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💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/208442/r/Undisciplined?commentId=208454

Excerpt

Ever bought a computer or cell phone? Why? Why not wait until your money is worth more later compared to the price of that cell phone?

1441 sats \ 7 replies \ @02674f045a

From Opinion: Why BTC can't become the reserve currency by @0xBTC in ~bitcoin

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🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

5838 stacked \ 7855 spent \ 3 posts \ 19 comments \ 0 referrals

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

27k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 40.6k spent \ 108 posts \ 281 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 13, 2022 📅

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📝 TOP POST

Any Good Routing Node Strategies?

Excerpt

For people who have/are running nodes, are there any strategies that have been most effective for you for earning routing fees? From my very limited routing experience so far it seems there are a few main questions:

1232 sats \ 33 comments \ @andyleroy \ ~bitcoin

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💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/44747/r/Undisciplined?commentId=44755

Excerpt

Obligatory not a node routing expert, but this guy is a good follow: https://mobile.twitter.com/cold_sats

276 sats \ 1 reply \ @Cornleone

From Any Good Routing Node Strategies? by @andyleroy in ~bitcoin

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🏆 TOP STACKER

1st place @k00b

37.3k stacked \ 15.2k spent \ 1 post \ 29 comments \ 0 referrals

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

27.4k stacked \ 0 revenue \ 34.7k spent \ 117 posts \ 279 comments

https://imgprxy.stacker.news/fsFoWlgwKYsk5mxx2ijgqU8fg04I_2zA_D28t_grR74/rs:fit:960:540/aHR0cHM6Ly9tLnN0YWNrZXIubmV3cy8yMzc5Ng

July 13, 2021 📅

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📝 TOP POST

I joined a shitcoin project full time couple of months ago

Excerpt

I though it would be exciting and fun. But I think I'm wasting my time.

3 sats \ 9 comments \ @03785de7ab \ ~bitcoin

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💬 TOP COMMENT

https://stacker.news/items/306/r/Undisciplined?commentId=316

Excerpt

There are many companies working with Bitcoin but it's not their main focus. I did implement Bitgo sevices for one e-wallet provider but that was it. What I'm looking for is a project which build useful things for user with current Bitcoin features, […]

2 sats \ 1 reply \ @03785de7ab

From I joined a shitcoin project full time couple of months ago by @03785de7ab in ~bitcoin

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🏆 TOP STACKER

No top stacker

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🗺️ TOP TERRITORY

~bitcoin

everything bitcoin related

founded by @k00b on Tue May 02 2023

37 stacked \ 0 revenue \ 60 spent \ 6 posts \ 10 comments

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/607040

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

I woke up in my dorm this morning to the sound of rain – a rarity in Africa, but a common occurrence here around Mount Kilimanjaro. The climate is much like a European summer, with comfortable temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius. Unlike the rest of Africa, this region receives more rainfall, creating a lush and scenic environment.

After a quick shower, I stepped out onto the balcony to find myself greeted by a chilly rain. Not ideal weather for exploring, but it did present a different perspective of the majestic Kilimanjaro. The mountain, often shrouded in clouds, occasionally peeks through, and on a clear day, might even be bathed in sunshine. From this vantage point, it's hard to imagine the countless hikers making their way up its slopes.

Did you know that Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain and a dormant volcano, once held a unique title? Back in 1910, during the German Empire, it was considered the empire's highest peak. While Mount Everest holds the title of the world's highest mountain overall, Kilimanjaro takes the crown for the tallest freestanding mountain – any higher peak is likely part of a mountain range or group.

Gazing at Kilimanjaro, I'm struck by its history – a single, towering volcano, once a part of the German Empire. Traces of that era linger in Moshi, with some colonial-era buildings, some in disrepair, others beautifully restored. Arusha, another nearby town, boasts an impressive art gallery and a fascinating National Museum. This museum, housed in a former German fort, offers a glimpse into the past. One particularly intriguing resident is a giant tortoise, discovered by German colonists as a hatchling in Kilimanjaro National Park. This living relic has witnessed a century of change, a silent observer of a bygone era.

Today promises to be a relaxing one. I'll spend time soaking up the views from the rooftop, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kilimanjaro in all its glory. On a more practical note, I'm also on the hunt for a remote job to help with some financial constraints. Finding the right opportunity seems to be a bit more challenging than anticipated.

As I wrap up this post, the weather has taken a turn for the better. The rain has stopped, the temperature has risen, and the sun is beginning to peek through the clouds. Here's to a wonderful day for everyone – enjoy yours!

(P.S. Be sure to check out the photos – one captures Kilimanjaro from yesterday evening, the other is a picture of me with the giant tortoise from my previous trip here in December 2022).

Online

Profile Page | Support Page

Feel free to support me by sending some sats via the lightning network to rubenstorm@sats.mobi

@ 58537364:705b4b85

อารมณ์ คือ โลก - โลก คือ อารมณ์ อารมณ์ ในโลกปัจจุบันรวมอยู่ที่ วัตถุนิยม อารมณ์ จึงเป็นปัจจัยแห่งเหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างในโลก

…. “ เดี๋ยวนี้คําว่า “อารมณ์” ในภาษาไทยนั้น หมายถึงความรู้สึกในใจมากกว่า; เช่น พื้นเพของจิตใจในขณะนั้นเป็นอย่างไร, เรียกว่าอารมณ์ของเขาเป็นอย่างไร, อารมณ์กําลังดี อารมณ์กําลังไม่ดี, นี่ คําว่าอารมณ์ในภาษาไทยใช้กันไปเสียอย่างนี้ ; มันคนละเรื่องกับในภาษาบาลี ซึ่งคําว่า “อารมณ์” หมายถึง สิ่งที่จะเข้ามากระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ.

…. ถ้ากระทบแล้วเกิดความรู้สึกอย่างไร งุ่นง่านอยู่ในใจ อันนั้นไม่ได้เรียกว่าอารมณ์; อันนั้นก็เรียกว่ากิเลสอย่างอื่น เช่น เรียกว่าตัณหาบ้าง อุปาทานบ้าง; ถ้าจัดเป็นพวกขันธ์ ก็เรียกว่า เวทนาขันธ์บ้าง สัญญาขันธ์บ้าง สังขารขันธ์บ้าง; ถ้าเป็นความคิดที่งุ่นง่านก็เรียกว่า “สังขารขันธ์” ทั้งนั้น ดังนั้น เราจะต้องถือเอาคําว่าอารมณ์ในบาลีมาเป็นหลัก …. คําว่า อารมณ์ ที่จะเข้าใจกันง่ายๆ ก็หมายความว่า รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ที่จะมากระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย นี้ ๕ อย่าง แล้วก็ความรู้สึกเก่าแก่ที่จะมาผุดขึ้นในใจอีก เรียกว่า ธัมมารมณ์ ที่จะมากระทบใจในปัจจุบันนี้ นี้ก็เป็นอันหนึ่ง เลยได้เป็นอารมณ์ ๖. อารมณ์กระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ๕ อย่างข้างนอกนี้ก็สําคัญไปพวกหนึ่ง ที่ปรุงขึ้นภายในสําหรับกระทบใจโดยไม่ต้องอาศัย ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ เลย ในเวลานั้นก็ยังมีอยู่นี้เรียกว่าธัมมารมณ์ นี้ก็ยิ่งสําคัญ: แต่ว่ารวมกันแล้วก็เรียกว่า อารมณ์ ได้ด้วยกันทั้งนั้น แปลว่า สิ่งที่จะมากระทบกับ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ นั่นเอง

…. นี้ ดูให้ละเอียดตามตัวหนังสือ คําว่า “อารมณ์” แปลว่า ที่หน่วงบ้าง แปลว่า ที่ยินดีบ้าง, มันมีความหมายละเอียดมาก. ถ้าถือเอาความหมายอย่างคนที่มีตัวตนเป็นหลัก ธรรมะในฝ่ายฮินดูหรือฝ่ายพรหมณ์เขาก็จะพูดว่า สําหรับจิตหรืออาตมันเข้าไปจับฉวยเอา. แต่ถ้าพูดอย่างภาษาชาวพุทธพูดอย่างนั้นไม่ได้ เพราะไม่มีจิตไม่มีอาตมันชนิดนั้น แล้วจิตนี้ก็เพิ่งเกิดขึ้นหลังอารมณ์กระทบแล้ว; เลยต้องพูดตามพระบาลีที่ว่า อาศัยตาด้วย อาศัยรูปด้วย ย่อมเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ; ตาอาศัยกับรูปคืออารมณ์นั้นได้แล้วจึงจะเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ วิญญาณหรือจิตนี้เกิดทีหลัง

…. ฉะนั้น จึงไม่พูดว่า อารมณ์นี้เป็นสิ่งสําหรับจิตหรือตัวตนเข้าไปจับฉวยยึดเอา; ถ้าพูดอย่างนั้นมันก็จะเป็นฮินดูหรือพราหมณ์ไป คือมีตัวตนไป. พูดอย่างพุทธไม่มีตัวตน ทุกอย่างไม่ใช่ตัวตน เป็นสักว่าธาตุ, ได้การปรุงแต่งที่เหมาะแล้วมันก็ปรุงแต่งเป็นสิ่งใหม่ขึ้นมา ในนั้นอาจจะมีความรู้สึกโง่ไปว่าเป็นตัวเราก็ได้

…. ฉะนั้น คําว่าอารมณ์ ถ้าถือตามหลักในทางพุทธศาสนา ก็แปลว่า สิ่งที่อาศัยกันกับจิต จะเรียกว่าเป็นที่หน่วงของจิตมันก็ยังได้: ถ้าเข้าใจผิดมันก็ผิดได้: เรียกว่าสิ่งที่อาศัยกับอายตนะ แล้วก็เกิดเป็นความรู้สึกเป็นจิตขึ้นมา จิตกําลังหน่วงสิ่งนั้นเป็นอารมณ์ก็ได้ แต่จะให้เป็นตัวตนนั้นไม่ได้

…. โดยพยัญชนะก็มีอยู่อย่างนี้ ตัวพยัญชนะก็ยังกํากวม อารมฺมณํ หรือที่มาจาก อาลมฺพนํ ก็แปลว่า ที่หน่วงของจิต. ถ้าจะถือว่ามาจาก รม ที่แปลว่า ยินดี ก็แปลว่า มันเป็นสิ่งที่หลงใหลยินดีของจิต อย่างนี้ก็ยังได้อีก

…. แต่ขอให้รู้จักจากภายในดีกว่าที่จะมารู้จักจากตัวหนังสือ เมื่อตากระทบรูป เมื่อหูกระทบเสียง เป็นต้น มันเกิดขึ้นในใจ, แล้วสังเกตเอาที่นั่นก็แล้วกัน ว่ารูปที่มากระทบตานั้นมันคืออะไร? เสียงที่มากระทบหูนั้นมันคืออะไร? จะค่อยเข้าใจแจ่มแจ้งขึ้นทีละน้อยๆ ว่าอารมณ์นั้นคืออะไร? แต่ให้เข้าใจไว้ทีหนึ่งก่อนว่าสิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์ๆที่มากระทบนี้ มันยังไม่ดีไม่ชั่ว ยังไม่จัดเป็นสิ่งดีสิ่งชั่ว มันต้องผสมปรุงแต่งเป็นความคิดอย่างนั้นอย่างนี้เสียก่อน จึงจะจัดเป็นดีเป็นชั่ว อารมณ์ล้วนๆยังไม่ดีไม่ชั่ว จะได้รู้จักป้องกัน อย่าให้เป็นไปในทางชั่ว, ให้เป็นไปแต่ในทางดีได้ตามปรารถนา

…. นี้เรียกว่าโดยพยัญชนะ โดยตัวหนังสือ คําว่า “อารมณ์” แปลว่า เป็นที่ยินดีแห่งจิต, เป็นที่ยึดหน่วงแห่งจิต; โดยเฉพาะภาษาอภิธรรมแล้วก็ใช้คําว่า “เป็นที่หน่วงเอาของจิต”, คือจิตย่อมหน่วงสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่งเป็นอารมณ์ แปลคําว่าอารมณ์บ้าง, อาลัมพนะ แปลว่า เป็นที่หน่วงเอา.

…. เดี๋ยวนี้เราเรียนพุทธศาสนาไม่ใช่เรามาเรียนหนังสือบาลี, เราจะเรียนพระธรรมคําสอนของพระพุทธเจ้า เราก็ต้องดูสิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์ โดยหลักของธรรมชาติที่ปรุงแต่งกันอยู่ในใจดีกว่า; ก็อย่างพระบาลีที่ได้ว่ามาแล้วข้างต้นว่า จกฺขุญฺจ ปฏิจฺจ รูเป จ อุปฺปชฺชติ จกฺขุวิญฺญาณํ = เพราะอาศัยตาด้วย รูปด้วย ย่อมบังเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ ติณฺณํ ธมฺมานํ สงฺคติ ผสฺโส - การประจวบกันของ ๓ สิ่งนี้เรียกว่า “ผัสสะ”, ผสฺสปจฺจยา เวทนา = เพราะผัสสะเป็นปัจจัยจึงเกิดเวทนา, อย่างนี้เรื่อยไปจนเกิดทุกข์ จนเกิดความทุกข์, นี้เรียกว่าโดยธรรมชาติ

…. สิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์มีอยู่โดยธรรมชาติที่จะเข้ามาอาศัยกันกับตาข้างใน ที่มีอยู่ในตัวคน. แล้วจะเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ เป็นต้น ขึ้นในตัวคน; จะเกิด ผัสสะ เวทนา ตัณหา อุปาทาน ภพ ชาติ ขึ้นในตัวคน; นี้โดยธรรมชาติ พระพุทธเจ้าท่านบันดาลอะไรไม่ได้ : ธรรมชาติเป็นอยู่อย่างนี้ แต่ท่านรู้เรื่องนี้ท่านจึงนํามาสอนว่า ธรรมชาติมันมีอยู่อย่างนี้ เราจะต้องเข้าใจให้ถูกต้อง โดยที่จะป้องกันความทุกข์ไม่ให้เกิดขึ้นมาได้, หรือถ้าเกิดขึ้นมาได้ก็จะดับเสียได้

…. เราควรจะรู้จักอารมณ์ในฐานะที่เป็นธรรมชาติอันหนึ่ง ที่มีอยู่ตามธรรมชาติ แล้วที่จะเข้ามาทําเรื่องทําราวขึ้นในจิตใจของคนเราให้เกิดปัญหายุ่งยากนี้ให้ดีๆ นี้เรียกว่ารู้จักอารมณ์จากธรรมชาติโดยตรงอย่างนี้ ดีกว่าที่จะรู้จักตามตัวหนังสือ, ดีกว่าที่จะรู้จักตามคําบอกเล่าบางอย่างบางประการที่มันไม่มีประโยชน์อะไร. รู้จักตามคําบอกเล่าก็รู้จักตามที่พระพุทธเจ้าท่านตรัสดีกว่า แต่แล้วยังไม่รู้จักตัวจริง จนกว่าจะมารู้จักจากที่เมื่ออารมณ์มากระทบตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ เข้าจริงๆ : นั่นจึงจะรู้จักอารมณ์ รู้จักผลที่เกิดขึ้นจากการกระทบของอารมณ์, รู้จักต่อไปตามลําดับ จนแก้ปัญหาต่างๆ ได้

…. นี่ ขอร้องให้รู้จักสิ่งที่เรียกว่า อารมณ์ ในฐานะที่เป็นธรรมชาติอันหนึ่ง ที่มีอยู่ตามธรรมชาติ ที่จะเข้ามากระทบอายตนะภายใน คือ กระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ แล้วมีเรื่องมีราวมีปัญหา

อารมณ์ คือ โลก - โลก คือ อารมณ์ …. “ ที่นี้จะให้ดูต่อไปอีก ว่าโดยข้อเท็จจริงที่เป็นอยู่แล้ว อารมณ์นั้นคืออะไร? ถ้าจะพูดโดยข้อเท็จจริงหรือตามสถานการณ์ที่เป็นอยู่จริงในชีวิตของคนเรา อารมณ์มันก็คือ “โลก” นั่นเอง. เดี๋ยวนี้เราไม่รู้จักโลกในฐานะอย่างนี้, เราไปเข้าใจความหมายของคําว่าโลกแคบไปบ้าง หรือว่าเขวไปบ้าง.

…. ถ้าจะรู้ตามหลักพระพุทธศาสนาแล้ว โลกทั้งหมดก็คือสิ่งที่จะมาปรากฏแก่ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ ของเรา, เรามีเพียง ๖ อย่าง, แล้วมันก็ ปรากฏได้เพียง ๖ ทาง, มากกว่านั้นมันปรากฏไม่ได้ ดังนั้น โลกก็คือสิ่งที่จะมาปรากฏแก่ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ ๖ อย่างของเรา. “โลก” ก็คือ รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ธัมมารมณ์ ๖ ประการเท่านั้น, ไม่มีอะไรมากไปกว่านั้น

…. ฉะนั้น รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ธัมมารมณ์ แต่ละอย่าง ๆ ก็คือ โลกในแต่ละแง่ละมุม นั่นเอง, ที่เป็น รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ก็อยู่ข้างนอก จะเรียกว่าอยู่ข้างนอกก็ได้, ที่เป็นอารมณ์เกิดขึ้นในใจ ปรุงขึ้นในใจก็เรียกว่าโลกข้างในก็ได้ แต่มันก็เป็นโลกอยู่นั่นแหละ เพราะมันเป็นสิ่งที่จิตจะต้องรู้สึก จิตรู้สึกก็เรียกว่าโลกสําหรับจิต ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย รู้สึก ก็เรียกว่าโลกสำหรับ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย. นี้ขอให้มองให้เห็นชัดตามพระพุทธประสงค์ว่า โลก ก็คือ อารมณ์, อารมณ์ ก็คือ โลก.

…. แต่ทีนี้ พระพุทธเจ้าท่านมองลึกกว่านั้น ท่านตรัสถึงข้อที่ว่า ถ้ามันมาเกิดเป็นปัญหาแก่เราเมื่อไรจึงจะเรียกว่า “มันมี” พอมันมาเป็นปัญหาแก่เราเมื่อไรก็เรียกว่า “เป็นทุกข์”; เพราะว่าเราได้ไปจับฉวยยึดถือเอาตามประสาตามวิสัยของคนที่ไม่รู้จักโลก ถ้าพูดว่าไม่รู้จักโลกแล้วคนก็มักจะไม่ยอมรับ เพราะว่าเขาจะพูดว่าเขารู้จักโลกดี. ยิ่งพวกฝรั่งสมัยนี้ นักวิทยาศาสตร์ปราดเปรื่องนั้น เขาจะไม่ยอมรับว่าเขาไม่รู้จักโลก. แต่ถ้าพูดตามหลักพุทธศาสนาแล้วก็จะพูดได้ว่ายังไม่รู้จักโลกเลย เป็นคนตาบอดยิ่งกว่าตาบอด; เพราะว่าฝรั่งเหล่านั้นรู้จักโลกแต่ในแง่สําหรับจะยึดมั่นถือมั่นเป็น “ตัวกู ของกู” จะครองโลกจะอะไร เอาประโยชน์ทุกอย่าง; เขารู้จักโลกในแง่นี้ อย่างนี้พุทธบริษัทไม่เรียกว่า “รู้จักโลก”; แต่ถือว่าเป็นคนตาบอดต่อโลก, หลงยึดมั่นถือมั่นในโลก. เพราะว่าคนเหล่านั้นไม่รู้จักโลกโดยความเป็นอารมณ์ ๖ ประการ คือ รูป เสียง กลิ่นรส โผฏฐัพพะ ธัมมารมณ์, แล้วเป็น “มายา” คือ เอาจริงไม่ได้ เป็นของชั่วคราวๆ หลอกให้เกิดความรู้สึกยึดมั่นถือมั่น

…. นี้เรารู้จัก เราไม่ไปหลงยึดมั่นถือมั่นกับมัน นี้จึงเรียกว่า “คนที่รู้จักโลก” ไปตามหลักของพุทธศาสนา, ฉะนั้น จึงไม่ยึดมั่นถือมั่นสิ่งใดโดยความเป็นตัวตน หรือโดยความเป็นของตน, เรียกว่าเป็นผู้รู้จักอารมณ์ ๖ ประการนั้นก็คือรู้จักโลกทั้งปวง, แล้วก็ไม่หลงไปในโลกในแง่ใดแง่หนึ่ง นี้เรียกว่า อารมณ์ ก็คือ โลก นั่นเอง ในความหมายที่ลึกที่สุดของพระพุทธสาสนา ไม่ใช่โลกก้อนดิน, ไม่ใช่โลกก้อนกลมๆ นี้. แต่มันหมายถึงคุณค่าอะไรที่มันมีอยู่ในโลกกลมๆ นี้ ที่จะเข้ามามาทําให้เกิดปัญหา ที่ตา ที่หู ที่จมูก ที่ลิ้น ที่กาย ที่ใจ ของคน. นั่นแหละคือตัวร้ายกาจของสิ่งที่เรียกว่า โลก เราจะต้องรู้จักในส่วนนี้ให้เพียงพอ

อารมณ์ในโลกปัจจุบันมารวมที่วัตถุนิยม …. ทีนี้ ดูอีกแง่หนึ่งก็โดยปัญหาที่กําลังมีอยู่ อารมณ์ในโลกนี้ในฐานะที่มันเป็นตัวปัญหาที่กําลังมีอยู่ มันมารวมอยู่ที่คําว่า “วัตถุนิยม”: หมายความว่า ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ นี้ มันเป็นฝ่ายชนะ ไปหลงใหลในอารมณ์ รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ฯลฯ, แล้วก็เกิดนิยมหลงใหลในวัตถุเหล่านั้น จนเกิดความคิดใหม่ๆ, ปรุงแต่งไปในทางที่จะให้หลงใหลในโลกยิ่งขึ้นๆ, ความเจริญก้าวหน้า ในโลกสมัยนี้เป็นไปแต่ในทางอย่างนี้ ฉะนั้น จึงไกลความสงบ, ไกลสันติภาพ ไกลอะไรออกไปทุกที. การที่มนุษย์ที่มีปัญญาในโลกสมัยนี้ โดยเฉพาะฝรั่งที่ก้าวหน้านั้นเขาก็จัดโลกไปแต่ในแง่ของวัตถุมากขึ้นๆ: มันก็ไกลจากสันติภาพ ไกลจากความสงบสุขยิ่งขึ้นทุกที

…. ความสะดวกสบายที่ทําให้เกิดขึ้นมาได้นั้น ไม่ได้ช่วยส่งเสริมเกิดสันติภาพ; แต่มันช่วยให้เกิดความหลงในโลกนั้นเองมากขึ้น แล้วก็ช่วยให้หลงใหลใน “ตัวกู ของกู”, ยึดมั่นถือมั่นเห็นแก่ตัวมากขึ้น รวมกันแล้วมันไม่มีทางที่จะเกิดสันติภาพหรือสันติสุขในโลกได้เลย, จึงกลายเป็นความหลอกลวงเหลือประมาณ โลกจึงกลายเป็นความหลอกลวง, หรือสิ่งที่หลอกลวงเหลือประมาณใน เวลานี้ เราเรียกกันว่า ติดบ่วง หรือว่า ติดเหยื่อของวัตถุนิยม. คําพูดทั้งหมดนี้ ล้วนแต่เป็นการแสดงให้เห็นว่า อารมณ์นี้คืออะไร สิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์นั้น คือตัวโลกที่กําลังหลอกลวงเราอยู่ทุกวันอย่างยิ่ง โดยเฉพาะในปัจจุบันนี้เป็นวัตถุนิยม นี้คืออารมณ์”

พุทธทาสภิกขุ ที่มา : ธรรมบรรยายภาคมาฆบูชา ครั้งที่ ๗ หัวข้อเรื่อง “อารมณ์ คือ ปัจจัยแห่งเหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างในโลก” เมื่อวันที่ ๑๖ กุมภาพันธ์ ๒๕๑๗ จากหนังสือชุดธรรมโฆษณ์ เล่มชื่อว่า “ก ข ก กา ของการศึกษาพุทธศาสนา”

หมายเหตุ

“อารมณ์ ” ในทางพุทธศาสนา มี ๖ คือ... * ๑. รูปะ = รูป, สิ่งที่เห็น หรือ วัณณะ คือ สี * ๒. สัททะ = เสียง * ๓. คันธะ = กลิ่น * ๔. รสะ = รส * ๕. โผฏฐัพพะ = สัมผัสทางกาย * ๖. ธรรมารมณ์ = สิ่งที่ใจนึกคิด, อารมณ์ที่เกิดกับใจ

…. ทั้ง ๖ อย่างนี้ เป็นสิ่งสำหรับให้จิตยึดหน่วง เรียกอีกอย่างว่า "อายตนะภานนอก" ก็ได้

“อายตนะภายใน ๖” คือ ที่เชื่อมต่อให้เกิดความรู้, แดนต่อความรู้ฝ่ายภายใน มี * ๖ อย่าง คือ... * ๑. จักษุ - ตา * ๒. โสตะ - หู * ๓. ฆานะ - จมูก * ๔. ชิวหา - ลิ้น * ๕. กาย - กาย * ๖. มโน - ใจ

… หรือจะเรียกอีกอย่างว่า “อินทรีย์ ๖” ก็ได้ เพราะเป็นใหญ่ในหน้าที่ของตนแต่ละอย่าง เช่น จักษุ เป็นเจ้าการ(เป็นใหญ่)ในการเห็น เป็นต้น

ท. ส. ปัญญาวุฑโฒ – รวบรวม.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Content

• Conclusion

• FAQ

• You May Also Like

• External Links

Introduction

Bitcoin is a highly volatile asset that can experience dramatic price swings in short periods of time. In a bull market, traders can capitalize on rising prices and generate significant profits. However, when the market turns bearish, it can be challenging to navigate and maintain profitability. A bear market is a period of declining prices, where negative sentiment dominates and trading volumes may decrease. In this context, it's important to have a set of strategies that can help you navigate the market and protect your investments. In this article, we'll explore five essential strategies for trading Bitcoin in a bear market. By implementing these strategies, you can reduce your risks and maximize your chances of success.

Strategy 1: Take profit regularly

This strategy involves selling a portion of your Bitcoin holdings when prices reach a certain level. By taking profits regularly, you can lock in gains and minimize the risk of losses in a bear market. It's important to have a plan for taking profits and stick to it, even if prices continue to rise.

Strategy 2: Set stop-loss orders

A stop-loss order is an instruction to sell your Bitcoin if prices fall below a certain level. By setting stop-loss orders, you can limit your losses in a bear market and avoid holding onto Bitcoin that's losing value. It's important to set stop-loss orders at a level that allows for normal price fluctuations but also provides adequate protection against sharp declines.

Strategy 3: Short sell Bitcoin

Short selling involves borrowing Bitcoin from a broker and selling it on the open market with the hope of buying it back at a lower price. This strategy can be useful in a bear market when prices are falling, as it allows you to profit from the decline. However, short selling is a high-risk strategy that requires careful consideration of the potential risks and rewards.

Strategy 4: Use dollar-cost averaging

Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of the current price of Bitcoin. By buying Bitcoin at regular intervals, you can take advantage of market fluctuations and potentially reduce the average cost of your holdings. This strategy can be effective in a bear market where prices are falling and may present buying opportunities.

Strategy 5: Stay up-to-date with news and trends

Staying informed about news and trends in the cryptocurrency market is essential for making informed trading decisions. By staying up-to-date, you can identify potential risks and opportunities and adjust your trading strategies accordingly. It's important to use reliable sources of information and avoid making impulsive trading decisions based on emotions or rumors.

Conclusion

The Bitcoin bear market can be difficult to navigate, but with these five essential strategies, traders can reduce their risks and maximize their chances of success. These strategies include taking profits regularly, setting stop-loss orders, short selling, using dollar-cost averaging, and staying up-to-date with news and trends. It's important to remain disciplined, avoid impulsive decisions, and stay flexible to adapt to changing market conditions. By following these strategies, traders can emerge successful from the Bitcoin bear market.

FAQ

What is a bear market? A bear market is a period of declining prices, where negative sentiment dominates and trading volumes may decrease.

How can I protect my investments in a bear market? To protect your investments in a bear market, you can implement strategies such as taking profits regularly, setting stop-loss orders, short selling, using dollar-cost averaging, and staying up-to-date with news and trends.

Is short selling a high-risk strategy? Yes, short selling is a high-risk strategy that requires careful consideration of the potential risks and rewards.

That's all for today

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Opinion about Bitcoin Wallet Crypto Ethereum (android)

For archival purposes

Atomic Wallet suffers hack on June 2023

Sources

Cointelegraph

Atomic Wallet users have been left wanting more answers, despite the decentralized wallet provider finally releasing a full “event statement” about the June exploit — which some estimate has run up to $100 million in losses.

In a June 20 blog post — the first major update from the firm since the June 3 exploit — Atomic Wallet claimed there have been no new confirmed cases after initial reports of the hack.

Coindesk:

Atomic Wallet Was Breached by North Korean Hackers: Elliptic

Atomic Wallet users might have fallen victim to Lazarus, the infamous North Korean hacking group, said blockchain intelligence firm Elliptic in a blog post on Tuesday.

Early Saturday morning, the team behind Atomic, a non-custodial crypto wallet, announced that some users were compromised and lost the funds from their wallets. According to the company, the number of incidents did not exceed 1% of "monthly active users." The announcement followed multiple reports on Reddit from users complaining their wallets had been drained.

WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion

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Anna Britt Agnsäter ผู้อุทิศชีวิตให้โภชนาการ แต่โดนโลกบูลลีเพราะอเมริกา?

โลกรับรู้ว่า คุณ Anna Britt Agnsäter (ขอเรียกสั้นๆว่า ป้าแอน) เป็นผู้ที่นำเสนอ ปิรามิดอาหาร คนแรกของโลก และเป็นแบบจำลองที่ทาง USDA นำไปพัฒนาปรับใช้แล้วนำมาเป็น แบบที่ใช้สื่อสารกับคนทั้งโลก ในเรื่องของการกำหนด ประเภทอาหารที่ควรกิน ในช่วงปี 1992-2005 ซึ่งในบทความที่แล้วผมได้เขียนว่า ปิรามิดเวอร์ชั่นที่ป้าแอนคิด กับ ที่อเมริกาเอาไปปรับใช้เป็นคนละตัวกัน แต่โลกทั้งโลกก็บูลลีป้าเอนว่า เป็นสาเหตุของการทำลายสุขภาพคนทั้งโลก ทั้งๆที่ไม่ได้เป็นนักวิทยาศาสตร์ ผมก็เป็นคนนึงที่เคยคิดแบบนั้นครับ และเคยอุทานในใจเบาๆว่า แกเป็นใครนะทำไมถึงนำเสนออะไรแบบนี้มาทำร้ายคนทั้งโลก???

นานวันเข้า ความคิดอีกฝั่งของผมก็บอกมาว่า ประโยคข้างบนเป็นคำบ่นหรือคำถาม

นั่นสิ!!!!! ถ้ามันเป็นคำถาม มันจะทำให้เราได้รู้จักตัวตนป้าแอนและเข้าใจว่าแกได้ทำอะไรลงไปนะ มันควรเป็นคำถามมากกว่าคำบ่น นั่นเลยเป็นเหตุผลที่ทำให้ผมเริ่มขุดเรื่องป้าแอน Anna Britt Agnsäter มากที่สุดเท่าที่จะทำได้ พร้อมที่จะอ่านกันแล้วใช่ไหมครับ

Anna Britt Agnsäter เกิดเมื่อปี 1915 ที่เมือง Älmhult ประเทศสวีเดน (นอกเรื่องนิดนึง เมืองนี้คือเมืองที่ให้กำเนิด IKEA ที่เรารู้จักกันดีเรื่องเฟอร์นิเจอร์ ที่นี่มีพิพิธภัณฑ์อิเกีย ซึ่งปรับปรุงมาจากโกดังแห่งแรกของเขาด้วยครับ) เรียกได้ว่า เกิดในช่วงสงครามโลกครั้งที่1 พอดีเลยครับ

ป้าแอน จบการศึกษาที่โรงเรียนสตรี ในเมือง Ystad ก่อนจะเข้ารับการฝึกสอนเพื่อเป็นครูสอนวิทยาศาสตร์ในครัวเรือน (rural domestic science teacher) ในช่วงปี 1930 ที่โรงเรียนวิทยาศาสตร์ในครัวเรือนในชนบทชื่อว่า Rimforsa ก่อนจะได้รับวุฒิการศึกษาการสอนวิทยาศาสตร์ในครัวเรือนในชนบทในปี 1939 จาก Kvinnliga medborgarskola (civic women’s school) จนกระทั่ง ปี 1943 ถึง 1945 เธอได้เดินทางไปทั่ว Norrland (พื้นที่ภาคเหนือของสวีเดน) โดยได้รับเงินสนับสนุนจาก Kooperativa Förbund (เรียกสั้นๆว่า KF หรือ สมาคมสหกรณ์ ก่อตั้งขึ้นในปี 1899 โดยสหกรณ์ผู้บริโภคในท้องถิ่น 41 แห่ง เป็นผู้นำด้านการค้าปลีกในสวีเดนโดยพัฒนารูปแบบร้านค้าใหม่และใหญ่ขึ้น และเป็นหนึ่งในกลุ่มธุรกิจหลักในสแกนดิเนเวีย ในสมัยนี้คำว่าสหกรณ์อาจจะดูเชยๆ แต่ต้องเข้าใจครับว่ายุคนั้นคือความก้าวหน้ามากๆ และต้องมีความรู้รอบด้านทั้งวิทยาศาสตร์ เศรษฐกิจ การเมือง) เพื่อบรรยายให้คนหนุ่มสาวและแม่บ้านฟังเกี่ยวกับวิธีรับมือกับเสบียงที่มีจำกัดในช่วงสงครามที่ตึงเครียด เนื่องจากอยู่ในภาวะสงครามโลกครั้งที่2

ในปี 1946 ป้าแอนได้รับการแต่งตั้งเป็นหัวหน้าของSwedish Cooperative Union หรือ Kooperativa Förbundets (KF) Provkök (experimental kitchen หรือ ภาษาสมัยนี้น่าจะใกล้เคียงกับ kitchen lab นั่นเอง) ซึ่งเป็นองค์กรที่มีอิทธิพลทางด้านอาหารเป็นอย่างมากในสวีเดน มีบทบาทสำคัญในเศรษฐกิจและสังคมสวีเดน โดยสร้างโอกาสให้แก่สมาชิกและส่งเสริมการพัฒนาที่ยั่งยืนในชุมชนต่าง ๆ ทั่วประเทศ

ป้าแอนทำงานที่นี่นานจนถึงช่วงปี 1980 ขนาดของ KF ก็ใหญ่โตขึ้นมากมาย จนขยายอำนาจและขอบเขตการทำงานไปถึงการเป็นคณะกรรมการทดสอบรสชาติซึ่งทดสอบอาหารกึ่งสำเร็จรูปและอาหารสำเร็จรูปใหม่ด้วย ในจุดนี้ ป้าแอน เล็งเห็นความสำคัญและความรับผิดชอบของผู้ผลิต/ผู้ค้าอาหาร ควรจะขยายความรับผิดชอบครอบคลุมไปจนถึงโต๊ะอาหาร (ในที่นี่น่าจะหมายถึงลูกค้า) นั่นคือเหตุผลที่การติดฉลากอาหารจึงมีความสำคัญมาก ป้าแอนได้มุ่งเน้นให้ความรู้กับผู้บริโภคว่า ‘Weigh up the price against the quality’ หรือ ให้ชั่งน้ำหนักพิจารณาให้ดี ระหว่างราคากับคุณภาพ ตลอดระยะเวลาการทำงาน Anna-Britt Agnsäter ได้รณรงค์เพื่อให้มีการแสดงข้อมูล ให้ผู้บริโภครับทราบ เพื่อคุณภาพชีวิตที่ดีขึ้นและได้ให้คำแนะนำด้านโภชนาการ เพื่อให้เข้าใจได้ง่ายขึ้น ในรูปแบบฉลากโภชนาการ

ในปี 1946 เช่นกันป้าแอนได้มีแผนในการทำ มีแผนที่จะผลิตหนังสือสอนทำอาหารสำหรับสถานการณ์ฉุกเฉิน เพราะบทเรียนในภาวะสงครามโลก ที่ป้าแอนผ่านมาตลอด แต่ไม่สามารถพิมพ์ออกมาได้เนื่องจากกระดาษขาดแคลนเนื่องจากอยู่ในภาวะหลังสงคราม

ในปี 1948-1949 ป้าแอนเดินทางไปอเมริกา เพื่อศึกษาเทคนิคการทำอาหารใหม่ๆ การผลิตภัณฑ์อาหารแช่แข็ง รวมถึงอาหารผงแห้งต่างๆ (dry powder) รวมไปถึงวิทยาศาสตร์การอาหาร (food science) ที่มหาวิทยาลัย Iowa State University การเดินทางมาอเมริกาครั้งนี้เปลี่ยนโลกของป้าแอนเป็นอย่างมาก ในตอนที่ป้าทำงานกับ KF เธอมักจะร่วมงานกับ Hemmens Forskningsinstitut (สถาบันวิจัยในประเทศ) เพื่อจัดหาเครื่องมือในครัวที่ยกระดับมาตรฐานการทำอาหารที่ดียิ่งขึ้น รวมถึงอุปกรณ์การครัว ภาชนะต่างๆที่เข้าเตาอบได้ และจากประสบการณ์ที่อเมริกานี้

ป้าแอนได้จับมือกับ โรงงานเครื่องเคลือบและพลาสติก Gustavsberg และ HFI Anna-Britt Agnsäter พัฒนาช้อนตวง ชุด4ชิ้น ที่วางซ้อนกันได้ ซึ่งเป็นการปฎิวัติวงการอาหารครั้งสำคัญของสวีเดน เรียกว่า “ชุดช้อนตวงมาตรฐาน” ซึ่งจะมีการระบุขนาดที่ชัดเจน 4 ชิ้น ประกอบไปด้วย

ซึ่งทำให้ผู้ใช้สามารถวัดปริมาณวัตถุดิบได้อย่างถูกต้องตามที่สูตรอาหารกำหนด กลายเป็นเครื่องมือที่จำเป็นในครัวเรือนและการประกอบอาหารในเชิงพาณิชย์

แม้การพัฒนา “ชุดช้อนตวงมาตรฐาน” นี้จะเริ่มต้นในสวีเดน แต่นวัตกรรมนี้มีผลกระทบที่กว้างขวางและแพร่หลายไปยังครัวเรือนและอุตสาหกรรมอาหารทั่วโลกจนถึงปัจจุบัน

ในชุดช้อนตวงมาตรฐาน original 4 คุณอาจสังเกตคำนึงที่ไม่ค่อยคุ้นสักเท่าไรคือหน่วย kryddmått

นอกจากชุดช้อนตวงมาตรฐานแล้ว ป้าแอนยังคิดค้นสิ่งต่างๆอีกมากมาย ให้กับวงการอาหารสวีเดน รวมถึงหน่วยวัดใหม่ที่เรียกว่า kryddmått นี้ด้วยครับ ซึ่งมันเป็นหน่วยวัดขนาดเล็กที่ใช้ในการตวงเครื่องเทศและวัตถุดิบปริมาณน้อย โดยหน่วยวัดนี้มีขนาด 1 มิลลิลิตร (ml)ซึ่งถูกกำหนดมาเป็นหน่วยที่เล็กที่สุดซึ่งทำให้มีการจดบันทึกสูตรได้แม่นยำยิ่งขึ้น นั่นเพราะว่า การตวงเครื่องเทศ หรือ เกลือ นั้นหากรสชาติที่เข้มข้น หรือมีการใช้มากเกินไปหรือไม่พออาจทำให้รสชาติของอาหารเปลี่ยนไป การใช้ kryddmått ช่วยให้การวัดปริมาณเครื่องเทศที่ใช้ในสูตรอาหารเป็นไปอย่างแม่นยำและสม่ำเสมอ

ถือว่าเป็นอีกผลงานคุโณปการที่ป้าแอน ฝากไว้ให้กับโลกนี้ มันมีส่วนสำคัญในการทำให้งานครัวเรือนง่ายขึ้นและมีประสิทธิภาพมากขึ้นผ่านการพัฒนาหน่วยวัดที่แม่นยำและสะดวกในการใช้งาน นวัตกรรมนี้ช่วยให้การทำอาหารเป็นไปอย่างราบรื่นและมีคุณภาพสูงยิ่งขึ้น

ในปี 1951 ป้าแอนได้บูรณะหนังสือการทำอาหารประจำสวีเดนใหม่ทั้งหมด (Vår kokbok) จุดประสงค์ของตำราอาหาร Vår คือการนำเสนอตำราอาหารราคาต้นทุนวัตถุดิบไม่แพง ที่ให้ความรู้เรื่องสารอาหารและใช้งานง่าย นอกจากนี้ยังเป็นการวางวัตถุดิบให้ได้รับสารอาหารที่เพียงพออีกด้วย เพราะในยุคนั้นสวีเดนมีข้อจำกัดในเรื่องอาหารเป็นอย่างมาก

เนื้อหาสูตรอาหารที่ใช้ในหนังสือเล่มนี้กลายเป็นบรรทัดฐานในช่วงทศวรรษ 1950 โดยมีการใช้หน่วยชั่งตวงแบบใหม่ ตามชุดช้อนตวงมาตรฐาน (ปริมาตร) จากของเดิมที่ใช้การชั่งน้ำหนัก ใช้ศัพท์ในการทำอาหารแบบเป็นสากล เช่น ขูด ปอกเปลือก ล้าง เป็นต้น (grate, peel, rinse) จัดอาร์ทเวิคให้แต่ละสูตร สามารถจบได้ในหน้าเดียวไม่ต้องพลิกอ่านหน้าต่อๆไป ทำให้สะดวกในการเปิดแล้วทำตาม การไล่ลำดับอาหาร เปลี่ยนจากการไล่ประเภทอาหาร ไปเป็นไล่ลำดับตามวัตถุดิบหลักของอาหาร ทำให้คนอ่านสามารถบริหารจัดการเมนูได้ง่าย เช่น ไก่ ก็สามารถไล่เรียงได้เลยว่า วันนี้มีไก่ จะทำอะไรกินดี

นอกจากนี้ยังรับประกันว่าทุกสูตรสามารถทำได้จริง เพราะป้าแอนลงมือทดสอบสูตรด้วยตัวเองทุกสูตร นอกจากนี้ยังคงมีการแนะนำให้ใช้การวัดอุณหภูมิในการทำอาหารด้วยเพื่อความเป๊ะในรสชาติ เนื่องจากป้าแอนเห็นตอนไปดูงานที่อเมริกา จนถึงทุกวันนี้ Vår kokbok เป็นหนึ่งในตำราอาหารที่ขายมากที่สุดในโลกด้วยยอดขายมากกว่า 2.3 ล้านเล่มนับตั้งแต่เริ่มต้น โดยเฉลี่ยมากกว่า 40,000 เล่มต่อปี

ด้วยความที่ Kooperativa Förbundets เป็นองค์กรที่มีอิทธิพลสูงมากในวงการอาหารสวีเดน และคุณป้าแอน ก็มีตำแหน่งที่สูงมาก จึงสามารถเป็นผู้มีส่วนสนับสนุนรูปแบบซูเปอร์มาร์เก็ตสมัยใหม่ ในการใส่รายการส่วนผสมและคำแนะนำในการปรุงอาหารในรูปแบบฉลากของผลิตภัณฑ์อาหารสมัยใหม่

จนกระทั่งในช่วงปี 1970 ประเทศสวีเดนต้องเผชิญกับปัญหาราคาอาหารที่สูงเนื่องจากเงินเฟ้อ รวมถึงสภาพอากาศของสวีเดนนั้น ไม่เอื้อต่อการได้รับสารอาหารที่หลากหลายได้ ครอบครัวที่มีเด็ก ไม่สามารถปรุงอาหารและรับประทานอาหารที่มีคุณค่าทางโภชนาการในราคาที่เหมาะสมได้ รัฐบาลจึงมอบหมายให้ Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare (คณะกรรมการสุขภาพและสวัสดิการแห่งชาติของสวีเดน) หาวิธีแก้ไขสถานการณ์ดังกล่าว และคัดกรองแบ่งประเภทอาหารออกเป็น “basic food” และ “supplement” มาเป็นรูปแบบของ กราฟวงกลม (diet circle) แต่ป้าแอนพบปัญหาบางอย่าง ที่ทำให้กราฟวงกลมนี้ใช้งานยาก เพราะการแบ่งปริมาณของอาหารแต่ละประเภทไม่ชัดเจน

ในระหว่างบรรยายเรื่องการกำหนดอาหารพื้นฐาน คุณ Fjalar Clemes หนึ่งในผู้เข้าร่วมการบรรยาย ได้ให้ไอเดียด้วยการสร้างแบบจำลองที่เรียกว่า ปิรามิดอาหาร (Food Pyramid) ขึ้นมา เพื่อให้เห็นภาพสัดส่วนอาหารที่ชัดเจนขึ้น ป้าแอนเลยนำข้อมูลจากกราฟวงกลมนั้น มาสร้างโมเดลจำลองให้อยู่ในรูปแบบปิรามิด โดยให้ “basic food” เช่น ขนมปัง มันฝรั่ง พาสต้า และนม และ “supplements” เช่น ผลไม้ ผัก เนื้อสัตว์ และปลา อยู่ในรูปแบบที่เข้าใจได้ง่ายขึ้น แม้แต่คนที่อ่านหนังสือไม่ออก

แต่นี่แหละที่เป็นจุดเริ่มต้นของปัญหา ด้วยความที่มันใช้งานง่ายสะดวก อเมริกาจึงนำไปปรับปรุงเป็นเวอร์ชั่นตัวเอง แต่ก็มีการเปลี่ยนแปลงไปอย่างมาก ตามที่ได้มีการทำบทความไปแล้ว (อ่านที่นี่)

ทั้งๆที่ปิรามิดต้นแบบของป้าแอนนั้น สร้างขึ้นมาเพื่อชาวสวีเดนเนื่องจากนำข้อมูลพื้นฐานจากข้อจำกัดในประเทศในขณะนั้น ไม่ว่าจะเรื่องของวัตถุดิบที่หาได้ในภาวะยากแค้นแบบนั้น อุณหภูมิอันปรวนแปร รวมถึงสภาพเศรษฐกิจที่ย่ำแย่มาก การจัดแจงข้อจำกัดที่มีเพื่อให้ได้สารอาหารที่เพียงพอที่สุดเท่าที่จะทำได้ต่างหาก (eat healthier, more affordable and save on fat) ที่เป็นที่มาของ “ปิรามิดอาหารของสวีเดน” (คือ จะให้เอาอุดมคติมาสร้างปิรามิดอาหาร คงไม่มีประโยชน์ เพราะยังไงก็ไม่มีเงินซื้อและหาวัตถุดิบไมไ่ด้ตามอุดมคติ วัตถุประสงค์ในการสร้างและเผยแพร่ครั้งนี้มันเพื่อให้ประชาชนทั้งประเทศที่มีความรู้ด้านอาหารน้อย รู้และทำตามได้จริง สมกับพื้นที่และกำลังทรัพย์ // ความเห็นส่วนตัวผมครับ)

ปิรามิดอาหารที่แท้จริงแล้ว จะมีการปรับปรุงตลอดเวลา ตามปัจจัยที่เปลี่ยนไป ไม่ใช่ปิรามิดที่เอาไว้ยึดถือตลอดไป แต่การที่อเมริกานำไปยึดถือว่าเป็น all time information เป็นค่าคงที่ให้ทั้งโลกยึดตาม รวมถึงสร้างด้วยเบื้องหลังด้านธุรกิจ จึงต่างกับที่ป้าแอนทำในทุกมิติ แต่ไฉน เป้าการบูลลี จึงต้องไปตกที่ป้าแอน ว่าเป็นต้นตอความพังของสุขภาพ มันแฟร์แล้วหรือ

เรื่องนี้มีข้อพิสูจน์ได้จนถึงปัจจุบันเช่น ในปี 2022 ก็มีการนำเสนอ ปิรามิดอาหารสำหรับ Mixed diet, flexitarian, vegetarian และ vegan ออกมาสืบทอดเจตนารมณ์ป้าแอน นอกจากนี้ในช่วงที่ป้าแอนมีชีวิต ก็ยังคงมีการช่วยเหลือแนะนำให้ประเทศต่างๆ “มีปิรามิดอาหารของตัวเอง” นั่นคือ วิชั่นที่กว้างไกลของป้าแอน ที่เห็นได้ชัดเจนว่า อาหารพื้นถิ่นกับสารอาหารที่สมดุล ของแต่ละประเทศมีความไม่เหมือนกัน และแนวคิดนี้ได้มีทั้ง เดนมาร์ก, นอร์เวย์, ฟินแลนด์, ญี่ปุ่น, ศรีลังกา ได้นำไปพัฒนาใช้เช่นกัน

นอกจากนี้ ป้าแอนและองค์กร Kooperativa Förbundets ยังให้ข้อมูลการศึกษาที่สำคัญสำหรับประชาชนผ่านบทความเกี่ยวกับอาหารที่ตีพิมพ์ใน นิตยสาร Vi รวมถึงการจัดตั้งกลุ่มการศึกษาร่วมกับทาง สมาคมการศึกษาของชนชั้นแรงงาน หรือ Arbetarnas bildningsförbund (ABF) มีส่วนสนับสนุนในการอภิปรายแบบเปิดทางสังคมเกี่ยวกับปัญหาโรคอ้วนอีกด้วย รวมถึงยังออกหนังสือเกี่ยวกับการทำอาหารอีกร่วมๆ 30เล่ม ซึ่งรวมถึงบทเกี่ยวกับมื้ออาหารที่มีคุณค่าทางโภชนาการที่สมดุล ด้วยเช่นกัน

ในปี 1983 ป้าแอนได้ตีพิมพ์หนังสือ Matboken ซึ่งได้รับการพิสูจน์แล้วว่าเป็นประโยชน์อย่างมาก โดยเฉพาะกับคนหนุ่มสาวเกี่ยวกับวิธีการกินอาหารที่มีคุณค่าทางโภชนาการและมีวิธีทำที่เรียบง่ายที่สุด

ในช่วงทศวรรษ 1990 เมื่อป้าแอนเป็นม่าย จึงได้ย้ายเข้าไปอยู่ในบ้านพักคนชรา Färdknäppen ใน Södermalm ในสตอกโฮล์ม และ ได้แก้ไขสูตรอาหาร 250 สูตรจาก Vår kokbok เพื่อให้เหมาะสมกับสภาพแวดล้อมการปรุงอาหารส่วนกลางของบ้านพักคนชรา เพื่อให้ได้อาหารที่มีสารอาหารครบถ้วนตามที่ควรเป็น

เกียรติประวัติป้าแอนได้รับการตอบแทนดังนี้ ในปี 1979 ได้รับรางวัลเหรียญ St Erik เพื่อเป็นการยกย่องสิ่งที่เธอทุ่มเทแรงกายแรงใจทำมาตลอดชีวิต ในปี 1993 ได้รับเหรียญ HM Konungens ลำดับที่ 8 (HM The King’s Medal หรือ H.M. Konungens medalj ในภาษาสวีเดน) เป็นหนึ่งในรางวัลเกียรติยศที่สำคัญที่สุดที่มอบโดยพระมหากษัตริย์สวีเดนเพื่อยกย่องบุคคลที่มีผลงานดีเด่นหรือมีความโดดเด่นในด้านต่าง ๆ เช่น วิทยาศาสตร์ ศิลปะ วัฒนธรรม และการบริการสาธารณะ ในปี 1995 ได้รับเหรียญทอง Albin Johansson สำหรับผลงานอันทรงคุณค่าของเธอต่อสหกรณ์สวีเดน ในปี 1998 ได้รับรางวัล Gastronomiska Akademiens Guldpenna (ปากกาทองของสถาบันอาหาร) สำหรับบทความเกี่ยวกับส่วนผสมและการทำอาหารของเธอ

Anna-Britt Agnsäter เสียชีวิตในปี 2006 (อายุ 90ปี) ป้าแอนทำงานทั้งชีวิตเพื่อสอนชาวสวีเดนในการจัดการอาหารให้ดีขึ้น ทุกการทดลอง ทดสอบ ได้มีการบันทึกไว้อย่างชัดเจนสามารถพัฒนาต่อไปได้ การริเริ่มให้ข้อมูลที่ซื่อสัตย์ต่อผู้บริโภค ทั้งการติดฉลากอุปกรณ์ คำแนะนำในการทำอาหาร สูตรอาหาร บทความ และตำราอาหาร สิ่งเหล่านี้กลายเป็นพื้นฐานสำคัญในอุตสาหกรรมอาหารจนปัจจุบัน

แต่ทุกวันนี้วงการสุขภาพส่วนมากยังคงล้อเลียนเธอว่าเป็นครูธรรมดา ที่มีหน้ามาสร้างปิรามิดอาหาร จึงทำให้คนทั่งโลกป่วย ทั้งที่ความจริงทั้งหมดนั้น ความรู้ของป้าแอนไม่ได้น้อยไปกว่า ผู้เชี่ยวชาญทางวิทยาศาสตร์การอาหาร ซึ่งในสมัยนั้นนับว่าเป็นอีกแขนงที่อยู่ในระดับบนของการศึกษา ไม่ต่างกับวิทยาศาสตร์อื่นๆ ปิรามิดควรเป็นไปตามถิ่นที่อยู่ สภาพเวลาและสภาพเศรษฐกิจขณะนั้น ไม่ใช่การสร้างมาตรฐานให้ต้องทำเหมือนกันทั่วโลก โดยมาจากอิทธิพลของกลุ่มธุรกิจดังที่ usda ได้ทำการแก้ไขก่อนจะประกาศให้คนทั่วไปยึดถือ รายละเอียดเป็นไปตามที่สืบค้นข้อมูลประวัติของป้าแอน มาเล่าสู่กันฟัง ณ วันนี้ครับ

ผมก็เป็นหนึ่งในนั้น สิ่งที่ผมสามารถทำได้เพื่อเป็นการขอโทษคุณ Anna-Britt Agnsäter ที่ดีที่สุดที่ทำได้ตอนนี้คือ เผยแพร่ประวัติอันทรงคุณค่าของเธอ ให้คนอื่นๆได้รับทราบมากที่สุด เท่าที่จะทำได้

โปรดแชร์ เพื่อคืนความเป็นธรรมให้ Anna-Britt Agnsäter ให้โลกได้เข้าใจและรับรู้ถึงการอุทิศชีวิตให้วงการอาหารของคุณป้าครับ

ปล.มีการค้นพบไฟล์เสียง ที่ป้าแอน จัดรายการวิทยุในปี 1968 ให้ลองฟังกันครับ (น่าจะภาษาสวีเดนนะ 5555) ฟังได้ที่นี่ครับ https://rumble.com/v56p1wa-ann-britt-agnster-in-a-radio-find-from-1968.html

siamstr #pirateketo

@ 6c8c7979:15595f3e

Rococo is a style in interior design, decorative arts, painting, architecture, and sculpture, originating in Paris in the early 18th century. It quickly spread throughout France and later to other countries, primarily Germany and Austria.

Palace of Versailles - France

$$The origin of the word "Rococo"$$

The term Rococo was first used by the designer Jean Mondon in his book "First Book Of Rococo Form And Setting" in 1736, where he used it alongside illustrations depicting the style used in architecture and interior design.

The word Rococo combines the French word "Rocaille," meaning shell, which was used to describe fountains and grottoes in gardens adorned with pebbles and shells, and "Barocco," the Italian word for Baroque, the art style preceding Rococo. Rococo art is characterized by curved forms resembling shells and wave-like ornaments.

One of the most famous paintings by the artist François Boucher is "The Swing" (La Balançoire), painted in 1767.

$$How Rococo Art Emerged$$

With the death of King Louis XIV of France in 1715, one of the greatest French monarchs known for his lengthy reign and cultural influence, France was left economically and militarily powerful, setting it as a cultural beacon in arts, fashion, and culture. His successor, King Louis XV, in contrast, faced challenges and mismanagement, leading France toward bankruptcy with extravagant spending and failed policies. Despite this, his reign fostered an era of lavish court entertainment and artistic patronage, contrasting sharply with his predecessor.

Rococo art developed an aristocratic flavor, adopted by rising upper-middle-class individuals emulating the French nobility's fashion and lifestyle, known as the bourgeoisie. The period, spanning roughly from Louis XIV's death to the French Revolution in 1789, marked an era more than a defined style. Aristocrats in France imposed Rococo artistic style, constructing more elegant homes and commissioning interior decorations for palaces. Unlike its predecessor Baroque art, which was less suited for intimate and comfortable home decor, Rococo allowed for artistic rebellion.

Rococo paintings offered a unique glimpse into the lives of the French upper class in the decades preceding the French Revolution, though it didn't reflect the political and economic realities of the era and largely ignored working-class issues. While intricate Baroque architecture thrived in France, Italy, England, Spain, and South America, softer Rococo styles were prevalent in Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe, and Russia, mainly focusing on interior and exterior design.

$$Information about Rococo Art$$

Rococo art, termed by some historians as the late phase of Baroque but lighter and more delicate, was employed by artists and designers in interior design and the arts.

The Rococo era was considered a revolution against the formal Baroque designs that characterized the French royal court at Versailles, emphasizing comfort, warmth, and intimacy.

Rococo is distinguished by its softness, playfulness, imagination, and whimsy compared to its more serious predecessor, Baroque. Ornamentation was used to create a sense of flow, especially through abstract and asymmetrical details.

This art style was influenced by Asian motifs such as Chinese design, influenced by trade relations with the Far East, leading to more modern decorative works. Interior decor and its components formed a harmonious unity, giving a unified impression, with great effort put into selecting furniture shapes, placements, and decorations.

Wealthy property owners renewed their homes' interiors with Rococo-style plasterwork, murals, mirrors, furniture, and porcelain, characterized by a delicate, feminine touch, while maintaining Baroque architecture on the exterior.

In Rococo decor, large candelabra, beautiful chandeliers, and wall sconces stand out to create a warm atmosphere, complemented by luxurious gilt-framed mirrors with floral motifs, enhancing a sense of openness in spaces.

$$Architecture$$

As the fundamental principle in Rococo architecture was to achieve the purpose of celebration, in the early 18th century, the aim of construction was festive. French aristocrats ceased gathering at the royal court and palaces of kings, instead opting to enjoy themselves in private palaces intended as venues for parties, incorporating complex, ornate, and asymmetrical styles that imparted a sense of joy and whimsy.

The Fountain of Fountains (Fontänebnlo): A stunning water sculpture located in Munich, Germany, considered a masterpiece of Rococo art, and was part of the design for the Nymphenburg Palace.

$$Art of Painting$$

Painters used pastel colors, flowing lines, and non-symmetrical shapes, with many artworks characterized by off-center compositions, meaning the overall design or arrangement was asymmetric or whimsical. Each element contributed to creating a sense of movement and playfulness within the painting, depicting mythical scenes set in imaginative landscapes and images of love as well.

$$Themes Embraced by Rococo$$

Rococo paintings did not address national issues, religious piety, morality, saints, or heroes, nor did they provoke deep thought. They depicted outdoor scenes for leisurely activities, lovers in romantic encounters, and playful behavior with a sense of humor. These artworks were created for aesthetic purposes and to please the viewer's eye.

One of the most famous Rococo painters was the French artist Jean Antoine Watteau, and his painting "Les Plaisirs Du Bal" is considered exemplary of the early Rococo period.

$$Rococo in Germany$$

aristocrats and nobles desired their palaces to be venues for celebrations, similar to the French. One of the notable examples is the construction of Amalienburg Palace, originally a hunting lodge within the grounds of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. It was commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII and his wife Maria Amalia, designed by architect François de Cuvilliés and decorated by painter Johann Baptist Zimmermann between 1734-1739. The building is distinguished by its smooth lines, intricate designs, and light pink color.

Amalienburg

Moving inside the palace, one must pause at the Hall of Mirrors, a circular room at the center of the building surrounded by mirrors. It is filled with decorations of gold and silver on the walls, featuring motifs of leaves, flowers, birds, and small cupids. Its design is intricate, vibrant with life and movement.

Inside the palace - Hall of Mirrors

Critics dubbed this art as frivolous, appearing only to vanish, and condemned it for its superficiality, with some even labeling it as failed art, leading to a backlash against it. This resulted in a strong reaction from intellectuals like Voltaire. By the mid-18th century, the popularity of Rococo art began to decline in France, and interest waned across Europe.