I had a dream that I was at a cementary where only children were buried. Except the headstones for the graves weren't headstones; they were toilets. It was respectful for the family of the deceased child to use the toilet. The toilets were out in the open so everyone could see the family using the toilet. Imagine a cementary but it's all a bunch of toilets, that's what it was like. During my visit there were plenty of family paying respects and releasing themselves. I'm not sure where the family's feces and pee went after they flushed, but it seems only right that it flushed down to the dead body's casket. I'd hope nobody was paying respects to an infant, because they couldn't release much without overflowing the toilet. Also, the feces wouldn't stink since it's six feet under.

I recall the place being very filthy, there was vomit on the ground in a lot of places, except the vomit was very poorly cleaned up (mostly smeared about).

Dream analysis: Dead kids deserve to be shit on. Respectfully.

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I posted my round by round draft targets yesterday, but have a few more thoughts that didn’t make it into that piece:

I’m warming up to Bijan Robinson with a top-three pick. This interview with Kay Adams (even though it’s just the usual talk) got my attention. Robinson is so relaxed, so even-keeled and yet he’s studying Christian McCaffrey’s every carry like a fanatic. Not that it’s going out on a thin limb as he routinely goes that early, but I had previously been wedded to taking a receiver (now that McCaffrey already has a calf injury.)

I said to Alan Seslowsky that Mike Williams was on my do-not-draft list because he’s so injury prone, but I double-checked and he hasn’t been that bad other than last year. Maybe I had him the year he did a lot early and then fell off steeply despite not missing many games. Maybe he was on the injury report a lot. I don’t know. But he’s actually not a bad value in Round 11 — he’s always been good when healthy, and the Jets are not deep.

I said yesterday I don’t have a strong preference in the first round, and the Robinson note aside, that’s still mostly true. I like all the receivers, and I’m fine with Breece Hall and Jonathan Taylor too. Of course, that doesn’t mean all of them will be fine — at least a couple almost surely will not — only that I can’t tell which ones. As important as it is to know your leans and act on them, it’s equally important to realize when you don’t have one and let ADP and positional need dictate your options.

I took Anthony Richardson in Beat Chris Liss 2, and while I don’t regret it as he really could be the QB1, I think the play in the Primetime will be to wait forever on QB and get some combo of Trevor Lawrence/Kurt Cousins/Justin Herbert/Matthew Stafford/Justin Fields, or even Daniel Jones. There’s just so much depth with upside. You could even take three QBs late.

The “hero” RB build (where you take a star RB in Rounds 1 or 2) and lots of receivers around them, before getting your RB2 candidates later is popular now, and you can see why. There aren’t that many top backs, so getting one is a big edge, and then you still catch up at receiver against all the teams that took a TE or top QB early. I just think this is mostly an on-paper exercise, and by mid-season the best teams usually have 4-5 surviving good players at all positions combined and have to cobble it to together with short-term fill-ins and waiver wire, i.e., build is overrated.

Both my drafts so far were from early (1 and 3), and I wouldn’t mind having one league from the back, getting Jonathan Taylor and say Puka Nacua. It would be cool to get Cooper Kupp in Round 3 too, but lately he’s moved up out of that range.

I stacked C.J. Stroud and Stefon Diggs in BCL1, but didn’t stack anyone in BCL2. Stacking is one of those things that’s great if no one else is doing it, but loses value the more it’s done. If you have Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, but so do 25 percent of the Mahomes’ owners, is that really better than having Anthony Richardson and a random TE1 (in my case Brock Bowers). Sure there’s no correlation, but only 1 in 12 Richardson teams should be expected to have Bowers (even fewer if the Colts had a good TE as many would have paired them.) So yes, if Mahomes goes off, there’s a better chance he takes Kelce with him, but you still have to beat out 3x more teams with your same set up than I do if Richardson goes off, and Bowers happens to as well. Sure, the correlation makes your scenario more likely, but likely enough to compensate for its commonality?

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 5 mins
• 🍳 Cook time: 10mins
• 🍽️ Servings: 2-

Ingredients

• Shishito
• Butter/ Oil of your choice
• Soy sauce
• Salt
• Sugar (optional)

Directions

1. 1. Wash shishitos, remove stems, and dry.
2. 1. Heat the pan, add butter or oil, and shishitos. Sauté until shishitos are tender and winkled.
3. 1. Add a bit of sugar (optional), and a bit of salts, and finally soy sauce. Do not add too much soy sauce. Try and adjust with more say sauce if needed.

Opinion about Freewallet Multi Crypto Wallet (iphone)

The FRWT wallet is gone from Google Play, but Freewallet, the original scam, is still a major threat. We must continue to report and warn others about this dangerous app.

WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion

Join the conversation!

In today's episode, I delve into silent payments in Bitcoin, introduced through BIP 352 to enhance privacy. I discuss its benefits, drawbacks, and impact, plus updates on BitVM 2, BTrust, and more.

• Silent Payments Explained
• US "Officials" to Redefine "Money"
• BitVM2 on the Horizen
• Trump Taps Bitcoiner For Transition Team
• Ark Protocol is ALIVE!

Listen on @fountain

--> https://fountain.fm/episode/oi8mInXrys0GD1SRdEyH <--

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/654973

El hombre y el contexto

El pensamiento tradicionalista español cuenta con una amplia trayectoria en la que concurren personajes, situaciones e ideas gestadas en el transcurso de dos siglos, en los que debemos distinguir el conflicto dinástico y el papel del legitimismo de la propia doctrina, que es algo que se construirá en el tiempo, con la contribución de figuras como el protagonista de este escrito, Don Juan Vázquez de Mella, así como por la confluencia de fuerzas de diferente signo que tiene lugar a lo largo del siglo XIX y la consolidación del Estado liberal, que lo hará siempre en lucha abierta contra las peculiaridades y el carácter genuino del pueblo español. Vázquez de Mella, nuestro autor, quizás represente la consolidación y madurez doctrinal del movimiento tradicionalista español, uno de sus primeros y más brillantes sistematizadores. No se destacó por una obra extensa ni especialmente difundida más allá de sus discursos, de sus artículos en periódicos y sus escritos dispersos, los cuales fue capaz de dotar de una especial significación y dignidad fruto de su enorme carisma y especial clarividencia para dar una forma definida y meridianamente clara a las ideas y doctrinas que nutrieron el tradicionalismo español madurado al calor de las armas, de las tres guerras que el carlismo libró contra el liberalismo español.

|| |:-:| |Juan Vázquez de Mella|

Nuestro autor, de origen asturiano, y nacido en Cangas de Onís un 8 de junio de 1861, ha mantenido vivo su prestigio y el valor de sus aportaciones teórico-doctrinales, ampliamente reconocidos por sus sucesores, por Rafael Gambra Ciudad (1920-2004) y Francisco Elías de Tejada y Espinola (1918-1978), así como de otros autores como Álvaro D'Ors (1915-2004) y otros muchos, que han reivindicado su figura en el tiempo y se han nutrido de sus fecundas enseñanzas. Se ha destacado la rectitud de su pensamiento, su inquebrantable voluntad y su impagable contribución en la creación de un marco teórico y conceptual para dar un sentido y una forma a las ideas del tradicionalismo español. Hijo de un militar de origen gallego, muerto prematuramente, quedó huérfano de padre durante su niñez, por lo cual pasó al cuidado de unos parientes de origen modesto. Estudió en la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, donde mostró tempranamente su temperamento y habilidades oratorias, que explotó convenientemente a través de diarios como La Restauración o El pensamiento galaico, donde también mostró sus filiaciones militantes con el catolicismo tradicional. Sus habilidades y la brillantez de sus escritos pronto llegaron a Madrid, a las más altas instancias del Carlismo, lo que le permitió dar continuidad a sus actividades desde un medio más amplio, a través de El correo español.

En su militancia política llegó a las más altas cotas de su trayectoria con la elección en 1893 como representante de las Cortes por el distrito de Estella, Navarra, que ya con sus primeros discursos obtuvo un notable éxito, incluso entre los propios liberales, hasta 1900, fecha en la que se vio obligado a marcharse a Portugal, acusado de participar en una conspiración para derrocar el régimen de la Restauración. No regresó a España hasta 1905, manteniendo su estatus como diputado hasta 1919. De todos modos, no queremos dar más protagonismo a la biografía en detrimento de la doctrina, que es lo que nos interesa en este artículo, de ahí que obviemos otros datos biográficos trascendentes, polémicas con otras facciones del carlismo o sus posturas respecto a la dictadura del general Miguel Primo de Rivera, que nos harían desviar la atención del propósito principal que acabamos de enunciar.

La gran paradoja del Carlismo fue que a pesar de su derrota en la Tercera Guerra Carlista (1872-1876), y pese a la posterior escisión integrista en 1888, el partido carlista continuó manteniendo una fuerza y preponderancia significativa en la sociedad española del régimen de la Restauración durante el último cuarto de siglo. El Carlismo se vio inmerso en un buen número de paradojas, de situaciones encontradas, especialmente en relación al Desastre del 98 y la pérdida de los últimos territorios ultramarinos. Mientras que la gran esperanza del tradicionalismo español estaba depositada en el desmoronamiento y caída final de la restauración alfonsina, por otro lado este mismo régimen trataba de defender, al menos en teoría, los últimos restos del imperio español y, de algún modo, a la España católica frente a una nación protestante, como era la anglosajona estadounidense. Al mismo tiempo, durante esta época el tradicionalismo español se enfrentó a los grandes retos que presentaba una sociedad en cambio, con transformaciones políticas y sociales de gran calado como la emergencia del sufragio universal o el nacimiento de los separatismos periféricos (propiciados por la burguesía liberal), las cuales requerían de nuevas estrategias y reestructuraciones internas capaces de enfrentar la envergadura de todos estos cambios. Fue en este contexto donde se significó la figura de Juan Vázquez de Mella, quien merced a la obra de sistematización a la que ya hemos hecho alusión, y de sus concurridas conferencias, dio lugar a la denominada Acta Loredán, redactada por el tradicionalista asturiano y publicado en El correo español. Este escrito tenía como ejes fundamentales la defensa de la nación política española fundamentada en la monarquía, el catolicismo y el régimen foral. Al mismo tiempo, también recogía la reivindicación de un programa corporativista y gremial al abrigo de la doctrina social de la Iglesia defendido en la encíclica Rerum Novarum (1891), y es lo que se conoce como el «sociedalismo», cuyos antecedentes encontramos ya en autores como Donoso Cortés o Antonio Aparisi Guijarro. Son precisamente los atributos de esta doctrina, que contribuyó a la revitalización del pensamiento carlista, los que nos disponemos a desarrollar a continuación.

La figura del tradicionalista asturiano, de Don Juan Vázquez de Mella, aparece como necesaria ante una serie sucesiva de destrucciones que el régimen liberal ha producido sobre los fundamentos tradicionales de España, pero su papel no fue, como ya venimos apuntando, el de un gran intelectual erudito, y de hecho, como apunta Rafael Gambra, las mayores debilidades de su pensamiento se encuentran en los principios filosóficos, y destacando, en cambio, su papel de «revulsivo espiritual» podemos ubicarlo mejor en el ámbito de lo político y lo espiritual. Para ello debió tomar en cuenta las fuentes de sus predecesores, entre los cuales podemos ubicar perfectamente al ya mencionado Donoso Cortés y Jaime Balmes, así como también a otro contemporáneo suyo, Menéndez Pelayo. De los dos primeros tomó su capacidad de síntesis y la sencillez expositiva, mientras que de Menéndez Pelayo tomó, al menos en parte, el sentido de la crítica histórica en aras de la restauración de una Tradición nacional. Pero más allá de los sistemas de pensamiento y elementos retóricos, vemos a Vázquez de Mella profundamente interesado por la vida política de los pueblos medievales de Las Españas, lo cual fue, en definitiva, el marco de referencia para una síntesis política de conjunto más allá de los posicionamientos teóricos, como algo que puede ser llevado a la práctica en sus aspectos concretos y que es perfectamente viable. Todo un sistema edificado sobre el pensamiento tomista y una una profunda religiosidad, En este contexto, y más allá de las ideas formuladas por realistas y carlistas en la primera mitad del siglo XIX, Mella teoriza junto a la concepción del espíritu medieval, la idea de la coexistencia de dos soberanías, una política y otra social, una teoría de la soberanía tradicional inspirada por un principio dinámico y que se cimenta en las propias experiencias humanas en el devenir de la historia.

|| |:-:| |NITOGLIA, Curzio; En el mar de la nada: Metafísica y nihilismo a prueba en la posmodernidad, Hipérbola Janus, 2023|

El concepto de lo social

Lo social para Mella no tiene absolutamente nada que ver con las denominadas «políticas sociales», tan comunes en el lenguaje político de las democracias liberales, en las que se contempla lo social como un elemento externo a la propia estructura política, donde prevalece el individualismo a todos los niveles, y la sociedad aparece como un mero agregado de individuos. Muy al contrario, lo social, en el tradicionalismo de nuestro autor, implica la afirmación de un principio intrínseco tanto al modelo social como al tipo humano, así como a la naturaleza de las cosas en las que la persona desarrolla su existencia en común con los demás. Nos referimos a las instituciones, a los elementos jurídicos y otros órganos gestados en el tiempo por la experiencia histórica, que regulan la vida común.

En el ámbito de la sociedad cristiana medieval, en plena Reconquista, cuando todavía no existía un Estado unitario como tal, cada municipio tenía sus propias leyes y sus normas, adaptadas a su modelo de vida y costumbres, Las comunidades se concebían como agrupaciones de familias con un sistema de propiedad comunal y privado en las que el patrimonio y el estatus de cada uno de sus miembros venía garantizado por el ejercicio activo de una serie de derechos en defensa de las libertades concretas, cuya fuente última era el derecho natural. Los señores feudales y los reyes se limitaban a reclamar tributos para la guerra, pero sin interferir en la defensa de estas libertades concretas ni vulnerar el sistema que las sustentaba.

Eran gobiernos autárquicos, muy estables e inspirados por un principio democrático, el cual nada tenía que ver con las democracias liberales plutocráticas de la actualidad, cuya idea del derecho y la justicia está pervertida por el formalismo jurídico vacío e inane de sus constituciones, abstractas y plenamente funcionales a las oligarquías, al servicio de intereses espurios. En este caso, el hombre alcanzaba una plena dignidad y desarrollo en el contexto de una comunidad donde prevalecía el vínculo comunitario, al amparo de un modelo tradicional, de normas consuetudinarias y concretas que permitían la defensa efectiva del propio derecho. Ni siquiera con el advenimiento de los Estados modernos, y la centralización de algunos elementos de poder, como la Hacienda o el Ejército, se vieron alterados significativamente estos elementos, que representaban a los denominados «cuerpos intermedios» de la sociedad, y que adquirieron su propia expresión particular bajo el nombre de «Fueros», los que los propios reyes juraron respetar a lo largo de toda la Edad Moderna y hasta el advenimiento del régimen borbónico.

La antropología tradicional vincula al hombre a un medio social, a una familia, a una estirpe o a un pueblo, que reproducen esa misma estructura familiar, aunque a mayor escala. En nuestro caso particular lo vemos a través de la convivencia de pequeños grupos humanos, de ahí la importancia de los municipios o de los concejos en un marco de vida comunitaria fuertemente institucionalizada. Al mismo tiempo este modelo y estructura también se replicaba en otros ámbitos, como en la vida económica y profesional, impregnando todas las esferas de la vida del hombre. Instituciones naturales, amparadas en el derecho natural, y orientadas a la protección y garantía de prosperidad de los hombres, y esto por encima de cualquier interés particular y mercantil de negocio. Para Mella, la ruptura con este mundo, y en general con las experiencias del pasado, es la que nos lleva, merced a la acción del liberalismo, a los tiempos actuales, y lo hace recorriendo un itinerario que todos conocemos, y que tienen su punto de partida en la Ilustración y la posterior Revolución Francesa, la irrupción del elemento racional y abstracto y la destrucción de la religión, considerada como fruto de la superstición. La destrucción del orden feudal, que todavía pervivía como marco de convivencia en el mundo rural, como una suerte de prolongación de ese espíritu medieval, hizo desaparecer de un plumazo ese entorno de relaciones concretas y personales para sustituirlas por lo «público» entendido como la centralización estatal uniforme, ignorando las realidades particulares subyacentes en el cuerpo social, los denominados «cuerpos intermedios», que fueron despojados de su autonomía, corporaciones y patrimonios. De modo que la destrucción de estas «sociedades intermedias» que mediaban entre el Estado y la sociedad desenraizó y destruyó la propia sociedad, al mismo tiempo que los fundamentos cristianos del derecho natural sobre la cual se hallaba asentada, para hacer prevalecer esos principios racionales y abstractos traídos por la revolución.

Al mismo tiempo, y anejo a este desarraigo, del individuo se encuentra sometido a poderes arbitrarios del propio Estado liberal, sin un conglomerado institucional propio que lo proteja de estos atropellos, sumido en el individualismo ajeno a toda institución y destino colectivo, se limita al voto cada cuatro años de los partidos al servicio de oligarquías e intereses espurios, contrarios al Bien común. En este sentido, y advirtiendo las posibles acusaciones de «absolutismo» que en ocasiones se han lanzado contra el tradicionalismo, hay que señalar que Mella las rechaza por completo, dado que viola la idea de contrapoderes frente a la autoridad del rey que éste formula, ya que el absolutismo creía en la existencia de un poder ilimitado y tiránico del rey, transmitido por Dios y ajeno a la participación de la sociedad y sus estamentos. Como bien señaló Julius Evola, el absolutismo es un fenómeno antitradicional, vinculado a la descomposición y desacralización de las estructuras tradicionales. De hecho, el absolutismo, como los regímenes liberales de hoy, dejan al individuo totalmente desprotegido, sin un asidero sobre el que apoyarse en la defensa de sus libertades concretas. El propio Mella, como bien saben todos los que se adentren en su obra, fue partidario de contrarrestar el creciente poder del aparato estatal, tal y como hemos visto y seguiremos viendo en lo sucesivo, a lo largo del presente artículo.

|| |:-:| |EVOLA, Julis; Metapolítica, Tradición y Modernidad: Antología de artículos evolianos, Hipérbola Janus, 2020|

En nuestro caso particular, la desaparición de la organización gremial y corporativa tuvo unas consecuencias especialmente nefastas, y en especial después de las dos desamortizaciones liberales (Mendizabal y Madoz) al despojar a los grupos sociales populares de su natural organización sociohistórica. Asimismo, desvincularon la propiedad en las relaciones comunitarias y su uso patrimonial para vincularla al uso privado y anónimo, para fines puramente especulativos, los que caracterizan al liberal-capitalismo. De ahí nace la figura del asalariado, del contratado como mera mercancía, en un proceso de alienación del trabajo característico en el desarrollo del capitalismo burgués. De aquí parte lo que algunos tradicionalistas, como Gambra, denominan el «problema social», frente al cual, y al margen de las recetas ideológicas de la modernidad, Mella reivindica la restauración de los antiguos vínculos corporativos y orgánicos de inspiración medieval.

La idea de soberanía social

Todos los procesos disolutivos que conducen a la Modernidad liberal tienen su punto de inicio con el Renacimiento, con la afirmación del individualismo y la ruptura definitiva del ecumene cristiano medieval, algo que aparece indefectiblemente unido a la Reforma luterana, así como la «valorización» del mundo clásico, con la reemergencia de teorías de tipo hedonista, como las de Epicuro, por ejemplo, generando una disolución de los vínculos con el medio concreto. Esto supone la aparición de un nuevo tipo, que es el hombre abstracto que escapa cada vez más al entorno inmediato y vital, esto al tiempo que el poder del Estado se robustece y se vuelve omnipotente. Es por ese motivo que en lo sucesivo se ha impuesto en nuestras sociedades la falta de concreción, tanto en lo teórico como en lo político, lo cual ha propiciado el triunfo del contrato social roussoniano y la justificación del orden social en virtud de componendas voluntarias y totalmente artificiales. Estas construcciones político-ideológicas son las que contribuyen a la construcción de la sociedad liberal, asentada sobre patrones puramente racionales, individualistas y mercantilistas.

De hecho, la mayor preocupación de Mella es la destrucción de las instituciones locales y ese vínculo afectivo del hombre con su realidad inmediata, algo que impregnaba su relación con el trabajo, con su obra, con su impronta vocacional y devota, imprimiéndole, como en el caso del artesano, un sello propio y particular a su trabajo.

Y en este sentido, Mella afirma que la sociedad moderna ha perdido su sentido institucional como base estable de la sociabilidad. A través del elemento jurídico y la participación en las instituciones es el medio a partir del cual la comunidad se cohesiona y construye sus vínculos y su particular autonomía, que le hace tener una vida propia e interna, y con la institución nos podemos referir desde una asociación profesional, a la universidad o una cofradía etc. El individualismo ha representado el factor disolutivo y corrosivo que ha destruido este vínculo social fundado en múltiples solidaridades que han enfrentado y polarizado al cuerpo social, con el enfrentamiento entre «clases sociales» y la negación de las jerarquías naturales.

Ante todo lo relatado, y como consecuencia de las destrucciones provocadas por la revolución, Mella plantea su teoría de la soberanía social. Esta teoría consiste básicamente en encuadrar de nuevo a la sociedad en sus raíces naturales, concebida en todos sus órdenes como portadora de un dinamismo propio en una suerte de organización geométrica en la que conviven objetivos y finalidades variadas y concretas con su propia legitimidad y autonomía. Estas finalidades, amparadas en el derecho natural, son junto al poder del propio Estado las únicas formas de limitación del poder. La particularidad de esta idea de soberanía social está en el hecho de que la formación de la jerarquía social tiene una dirección ascendente, que tiene como punto de partida a las personas colectivas y concretas, pasando por una serie de instituciones, hasta llegar al Estado central, de forma escalonada y plenamente conscientes de sus funciones. Así lo expresa Mella en su propio lenguaje: «la jerar­quía de personas colectivas, de poderes organizados, de clases, que suben desde la familia hasta la sobera­nía que llamo política concretada en el Estado, que deben auxiliar, pero también contener». Es lo que Mella concibe como el sociedalismo, que supone la reintegración de la sociedad en la vida concreta de los hombres, con el desarrollo de una vida política común y estable en el marco de instituciones naturales que potencien las relaciones humanas y sociales, estimulando la sociabilidad. Y hablamos, desde la perspectiva de la integración de distintas sociedades, fuertemente institucionalizadas con funciones y finalidades concretas, más allá del sentido democrático y pactista que pueda entenderse en términos modernos o de cualquier asociación u organización relacionada con el «problema social».

¿Qué es la Tradición?

De este modo quedan formuladas las dos soberanías, la política y la social, que coexisten en un mismo espacio limitándose y apoyándose recíprocamente en lo que es uno de los fundamentos del sociedalismo de Mella. No obstante, esta doble soberanía no explica todavía la concreción política de cada pueblo y el vínculo superior que lo lleva a federarse con las diferentes sociedades y a mantenerse unido en una historia y espíritu comunes. Los vínculos que las mantienen unidas en el tiempo tienen que ver con un orden histórico concreto, con un vínculo espiritual que las entrelaza interiormente de una generación a otra, y en última instancia de ese orden tradicional que lo engloba todo, y que al mismo tiempo se asienta en la monarquía y la religión católica. La lealtad a Dios y a un solo rey en torno a los cuales se aglutina la fe, viene a coronar todas estas estructuras y lazos forjados en el fermento de la historia.

No se trata de la Tradición en términos de un «ultraconservadurismo», que ya sabemos que el prefijo «ultra» (lo que sea) es muy recurrente en nuestros días, con la idea de un medio social y político petrificado e invariable, sino que es el producto de un proceso de maduración y evolución histórica, de carácter dinámico y nutrido de experiencias humanas. Nada que ver con las monstruosas ideologías progresistas y modernas, nacidas de lo abstracto e impulsadas por un desbocado «ir hacia delante», desarraigado y que tiende siempre hacia la deshumanización y la destrucción de toda creación humana natural forjada en el devenir de los siglos. Este mismo dinamismo, planteado por Mella, en torno al concepto e idea de Tradición tiene continuidad y adquiere fuerza en sus sucesores y depositarios. Y al fin y al cabo, Mella no hace más que partir de la propia etimología del término, que viene del latín tradere, entregar, de la generación que entrega los frutos de su experiencia a la siguiente, perfeccionándola, haciéndola más estable y segura.

Podríamos seguir extrayendo más conclusiones del pensamiento tradicional de Vázquez de Mella, pero probablemente excedería, y por mucho, el modesto propósito de este escrito, de modo que nos quedaremos aquí, no sin advertir a nuestros lectores de la posibilidad de que en un futuro volvamos a retomar nuevamente el tema.

Antes de acabar queremos llamar la atención sobre una polémica acontecida hace unos años en torno a una Plaza en Madrid que llevaba el nombre de nuestro autor y que se cambio para dedicársela a un sujeto cuyos méritos eran, por decirlo suavemente, más que discutibles, concretamente a Pedro Zerolo, miembro del PSOE y activista al servicio del lobby homosexualista. Durante aquella época, en 2019, muchos miembros de la izquierda globalista trataron de identificar a Vázquez de Mella como un «pensador franquista», cuando en realidad ni cronológica ni ideológicamente tuvo nunca nada que ver con el franquismo. Recordemos que murió en 1928, y la impronta de su pensamiento ha tenido como continuadores a sus propios correligionarios dentro del ámbito tradicional, aunque en su tiempo llegó a ser muy respetado también por sus adversarios, los liberales. Aunque la retirada del nombre de una calle pueda resultar algo banal, o carente de una importancia excesiva, también contribuye, a su modo, a una forma de damnatio memoriae que condena al olvido y al ostracismo a grandes autores de la Tradición, portadores de un Patriotismo sano y capaz de entender las peculiaridades y el Dasein profundo de España, que si bien no nació invertebrada, como pretendían los Orteguianos, su esencia y naturaleza es mucho más compleja que cualquiera de las grandes naciones de Europa.

Artículo original: Hipérbola Janus, Juan Vázquez de Mella y el tradicionalismo español, 16/Ago/2024

Leela: Fry, there's nothing else here! You only wrote 2 pages of dialougue.
Fry: Well, it took an hour to write; I thought it would take an hour to read.

I like Futurama. It's my all time favourite animated tv show. I think nothing comes close to it. First 5 (?) seasons, and all of the movies are some of the most enjoyable humor I've experienced. Show got canceled multiple time, during the course of airing, and was being revived - with various degrees of success. But it'll always stay with me as some of the best shows I've ever seen.

The latest revival was not something I enjoyed very much - I tried to watch it, and seen maybe half of the season, and just stopped. I lost interest. The animation was the same, the characters were the same, the voice actors are all the same, but somehow the topics discussed, and even the delivery was off. I just didn't enjoy it anymore, so I stopped. Maybe it'll come back to me one day, but until then I just know that it exists. It might be one of those things that gets better with jokes in retrospect - hearing them joke about something that happened a couple of years back, instead of something that is fresh in your mind.

It definitely is not the only thing I leave, due to lack of interest and then come back to later on. I started to learn how to play guitar in my teen years - probably around 17. It was a hard process, that took a long time - for a 17-year old boy half a year spent on learning something is a long time - but I was very happy with the progress. I learned the basic chords, and strumming patterns. Learned how to sing while playing, and stopped at that. Now, many years later, learning music theory and guitar is a very enjoyable experience - the work I did all those years ago is very helpful - my fingers remember stuff, they have a memory of doing these things before, and they make new stuff being picked up faster than it should have been were I to start from scratch.

It's similar to muscle building - I've been reading a lot of anecdotal stories about people mentioning that building muscles for the first time is a hard process, but if you've already done that once (and then maybe lost muscle while being complacent, or due to any other circumstance), the second time around is much easier to do it. I'm not really sure why. I guess it's another form of muscle memory.

I'm in the process of building muscle right now. Well, it's been a while. Last 4 years, a lot of my focus and energy went into building muscle - endurance, strength, and everything around it. It's a hard process. I haven't done much progress if I were to compare myself to a normal person. In 4 years some regular guy, spending as much time as I am on this, would easily surpass my numbers, but for me, it's not as simple as muscle building. I have a long term illness - RA (rheumatoid arthritis). And have had it since I was 16. Medicine that was used to control the disease has destroyed my muscles, and it has taken me a long while to recover, and start working on them again. Almost 15 years.

My muscle memory was non-existent. I forgot what muscles I had, since there wasn't anything there anymore. My body was full of "holes" in places where muscles should have been. My legs, my back, sides of my arms, everything. Now, 4 years in the future, when looking back, I'm proud of the progress. It's nothing special when it comes to numbers, or even general level strength (i still have problems to jump , or dance, or do any agile moves), but my body has significantly less holes in it. I've filled up. I look in a mirror, and there's something on the other end, something more powerful than before. It's probably why I smile when "posing" in front of the mirror. I know I'm not strong, nor powerful, nor "athletic", but compared to 4 years ago, I'm awesome. Let's hope for couple of other good ones.

After finishing a podcast about unpopular ideas regarding Bitcoin and previously writing this reflection on why Stacker News works, I have to admit that I kept thinking about my own response.

And… join me in this reflection.

What does it mean if you don't have Bitcoin to spend?

It means you've been buying Bitcoin, you've stored it securely in a way that makes you feel safe. After that, you go on with your life. Now, you want to buy a coffee—let's assume you want to buy a coffee. Do you have Bitcoin to buy it? While it's true that in our circle, we promote the use of Lightning Network, during my conversations with people who use cryptocurrencies[^1], most aren't inclined to spend their Bitcoin.

[^1]: Most people don't use Lightning Network, at least when I encounter lots of bitcoiners who started recently, didn't know either about it.

What does "inclined" mean in this context?

It's the same as having a wallet or purse from which you take out your cash to pay for what you want. Following this analogy, most Bitcoiners have their satoshis secured in a safe, away from devices.

So, where are the Bitcoins ready to spend?

There's another reflection. The Bitcoins ready to spend are mostly moving in custodial wallets or with additional centralized integrations; put more simply, the reason Wallet of Satoshi, Binance, Coinbase are successful—in my opinion—is because you need some data, and they take care of the nodes, routes, channels... all you need to do is provide some info about yourself, and you're good to go. The same goes for exchanges. In exchange for information, they offer you a myriad of services so you can use your Bitcoins, pay for everything.

So...

That's one main reason why custodial projects get more attention than self-custodial ones. I'm not making judgments about whether this is right or wrong; I'm analyzing the scenarios for why the most... significant developments happen in that realm. If I want to extend this to others, we could also say that mining has been subject to this too. Bitmain and other companies have closed their patents, making the study or documentation of their machines inaccessible[^2]. In that case, yes, there are Bitcoins ready to spend[^3].

[^2]: That's why we find innovative when Nerdminer or BitAxe pulls out their product. [^3]: Kudos to BTCPayServer in this case for make the coolest software to spend my bitcoins.

Honestly, I don't have a conclusion. This morning, I was reflecting on this myself. I've supported various projects with sats and will continue to do so, but in the interest of making Bitcoin a more...usable currency, we must consider that simply holding and not spending, we're not creating a friendly environment for merchants and people interested in commerce to use their Bitcoins, but we must keep pushing forward.

In the end, I’m super bullish on Bitcoin. No doubts at all.

On the other hand, am I seeing a different panorama than you?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/654755

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 10 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 30 min
• 🍽️ Servings: 2 (depends how hungry the bears are)

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless chicken (thighs or breast)
• 1 can Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup
• half a can of heavy cream
• 6 ounces white rice
• garlic powder
• cayenne pepper
• onion powder
• salt & pepper

Directions

1. Start by getting the rice going.
2. generously season chicken with salt and pepper
3. cook chicken
4. prepare sauce: mix cream of mushroom soup with heavy cream (i use 1/2 of the empty soup can to measure)
5. add generous portions of garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Add in some onion powder and salt and pepper as well. stir all these together on low/medium heat
6. once chicken is cooked, chop it up into tiny pieces. The chicken needs to be chopped up to give the sludge the proper consistency
7. add chicken to sludge (sauce) and stir so everything is well mixed.
8. finally, pour the chicken/sludge over the rice and mix all that together. ENJOY!

https://forex-strategy.com/2024/08/19/fauci-hid-plans-for-9-years-to-create-a-virus-with-a-15-fatality-rate/ Fauci hid plans for 9 years to create a virus with a 15% fatality rate

usa #plandemic #pandemic #monkeypox #fauci #politics

O comunismo, tal como idealizado por Karl Marx e Friedrich Engels, prometia uma sociedade utópica, livre de divisões de classe, onde os recursos seriam partilhados de forma equitativa e o Estado acabaria por desaparecer. No entanto, apesar de várias tentativas de implementar esta ideologia em diferentes países, o sonho do "verdadeiro" comunismo nunca se concretizou. Uma das principais razões para esse fracasso reside no factor humano—um aspecto que Marx e Engels não consideraram completamente no seu quadro teórico. Além disso, a implementação de controlos de preços, frequentemente utilizada em economias comunistas e planificadas centralmente, tem repetidamente levado a consequências económicas não intencionais e frequentemente desastrosas. Este artigo explora os desafios inerentes à concretização do verdadeiro comunismo e o papel que os controlos de preços desempenham em minar os próprios objectivos que deveriam apoiar.

A Visão do Verdadeiro Comunismo

O Quadro Ideológico de Marx e Engels

Karl Marx e Friedrich Engels, nas suas obras revolucionárias, como "O Manifesto Comunista" e "O Capital", lançaram as bases para o que se tornaria uma das ideologias mais influentes dos séculos XIX e XX: o comunismo. No seu cerne, o comunismo é uma crítica ao capitalismo, que Marx e Engels viam como um sistema intrinsecamente explorador, onde a burguesia (a classe capitalista) se enriquece ao extrair mais-valia do proletariado (a classe trabalhadora). A sua visão para o futuro era a de uma revolução que derrubasse as estruturas capitalistas, levando à criação de uma sociedade sem classes e sem Estado.

Nesta sociedade ideal, os meios de produção—fábricas, terras e recursos—seriam colectivamente detidos pelo povo. O motivo do lucro, que impulsiona o capitalismo, seria substituído pela produção para uso, garantindo que bens e serviços fossem distribuídos com base na necessidade, em vez da capacidade de pagar. O Estado, que Marx e Engels viam como um instrumento de opressão de classe, acabaria por "definhar" à medida que a necessidade de estruturas de poder coercitivo desaparecesse. Isto levaria a uma sociedade onde a igualdade, a cooperação e a propriedade comunal seriam a norma, e a exploração de uma classe por outra deixaria de existir.

Marx e Engels acreditavam que esta transição do capitalismo para o comunismo seria alcançada através de uma série de etapas. Inicialmente, a classe trabalhadora tomaria o poder político e estabeleceria uma "ditadura do proletariado", onde o Estado serviria para desmantelar o sistema capitalista e redistribuir riqueza e recursos. Com o tempo, à medida que os vestígios do capitalismo fossem eliminados e as distinções de classe dissolvidas, o próprio Estado se tornaria desnecessário e gradualmente desapareceria, deixando para trás uma sociedade verdadeiramente comunista.

Embora esta visão fosse revolucionária e tenha inspirado muitos movimentos em todo o mundo, ela baseava-se em várias suposições—particularmente em relação à natureza humana e às dinâmicas sociais—que se revelariam problemáticas na prática.

O Factor Humano: O Que Marx e Engels Não Previram

Um dos erros críticos na teoria de Marx e Engels é a subestimação da complexidade do comportamento e das motivações humanas. A sua visão de uma sociedade harmoniosa e sem classes assume que, uma vez alterada a estrutura económica, a natureza humana se adaptaria em conformidade. No entanto, a realidade mostrou-se muito mais complicada.

Os seres humanos não são apenas actores económicos movidos por condições materiais. Eles também são motivados por ambições pessoais, desejos de poder e status, e pela necessidade de reconhecimento individual. Embora Marx e Engels reconhecessem o papel da luta de classes na formação da história, eles não consideraram plenamente o quão profundamente enraizadas estão as hierarquias sociais e as dinâmicas de poder, mesmo em sociedades que afirmam ter abolido as distinções de classe.

Em todas as tentativas de implementar o comunismo, novas elites surgiram, muitas vezes compostas por oficiais do partido e burocratas que detinham poder e privilégios significativos. Estas elites, longe de personificarem os ideais igualitários do comunismo, frequentemente perpetuaram as mesmas desigualdades que deveriam eliminar. A concentração de poder no Estado, que deveria ser uma medida temporária durante a transição do capitalismo, tornou-se entrincheirada e autoritária. Em vez de definhar, o Estado frequentemente cresceu em poder e opressão, à medida que aqueles no controle procuravam manter as suas posições.

Além disso, a abolição da propriedade privada, embora teoricamente destinada a eliminar a exploração, removeu muitos dos incentivos que impulsionam a inovação e a produtividade. Em economias comunistas, onde o emprego e as necessidades básicas eram garantidos independentemente do esforço individual, o absentismo, a ineficiência e a falta de motivação tornaram-se generalizados. O desejo humano de realização pessoal e recompensa, algo que Marx e Engels não abordaram completamente, desempenhou um papel significativo na estagnação económica que muitos sistemas comunistas experimentaram.

Outro aspecto crítico que Marx e Engels não previram é a importância da flexibilidade e adaptabilidade nos sistemas económicos. O planeamento económico centralizado, uma marca dos estados comunistas, frequentemente lutou para responder às mudanças nas condições económicas e nas exigências dos consumidores. Sem os mecanismos de feedback proporcionados pelos preços de mercado, os planificadores tiveram dificuldade em alocar recursos de forma eficiente. Esta rigidez levou a persistente escassez de bens, produtos de baixa qualidade e à incapacidade de satisfazer as necessidades da população—um cenário muito distante da abundância e igualdade prometidas pela ideologia comunista.

Em resumo, embora Marx e Engels tenham delineado uma visão convincente de uma sociedade livre da exploração e das desigualdades do capitalismo, subestimaram os desafios colocados pela natureza humana e pelas complexidades da organização social e económica. O factor humano—abrangendo as motivações individuais, a persistência das hierarquias sociais e a necessidade de sistemas económicos flexíveis e adaptáveis—tem consistentemente minado as tentativas de alcançar o "verdadeiro" comunismo. Esta falha tem sido uma razão fundamental pela qual o sonho de uma sociedade sem Estado e sem classes tem permanecido ilusório em todas as implementações reais da ideologia comunista.

Tentativas Históricas de Comunismo

Ao longo do século XX, várias nações tentaram implementar o comunismo com base nos princípios marxistas. Esses esforços resultaram numa ampla gama de resultados económicos e sociais, mas nenhum conseguiu alcançar a sociedade sem classes e sem Estado idealizada por Marx e Engels.

A União Soviética e a Europa de Leste

A União Soviética foi a primeira e a maior tentativa de implementar o comunismo. Estabelecida na sequência da Revolução Bolchevique de 1917, o Estado soviético rapidamente adoptou o planeamento económico centralizado e nacionalizou indústrias. Sob o comando de Joseph Stalin, a URSS embarcou numa rápida industrialização, com realizações significativas na indústria pesada e no poder militar. O modelo soviético foi posteriormente exportado para a Europa de Leste após a Segunda Guerra Mundial, onde os estados satélites adoptaram sistemas de planeamento centralizado semelhantes.

Embora a União Soviética tenha inicialmente registado alguns sucessos, particularmente na transformação de uma sociedade predominantemente agrária numa potência industrial, essas conquistas tiveram um custo significativo. A natureza rígida e centralizada do planeamento económico soviético levou a ineficiências generalizadas. A ausência de sinais de mercado dificultou a alocação eficaz de recursos, resultando em escassez crónica de bens de consumo e produtos de baixa qualidade. O controlo de preços foi uma ferramenta chave no sistema soviético, destinado a manter os bens básicos acessíveis, mas muitas vezes resultou em mercados distorcidos e actividade no mercado negro.

Politicamente, o regime soviético tornou-se cada vez mais repressivo. A concentração de poder no Partido Comunista criou uma nova classe de elite composta por burocratas e funcionários, minando os ideais igualitários do comunismo. A dissidência foi severamente reprimida, e a falta de competição política fez com que o sistema fosse resistente a reformas, mesmo perante problemas económicos crescentes. Na década de 1980, a economia soviética estava em estagnação, e as tentativas de reforma, como a Perestroika de Mikhail Gorbachev, chegaram tarde demais para salvar o regime. Em 1991, a União Soviética colapsou, e os seus estados satélites na Europa de Leste rapidamente abandonaram o comunismo em favor de reformas orientadas para o mercado.

China e Vietname: Reformas de Mercado e Capitalismo de Estado

A China apresenta um caso único na história do comunismo. Após o Partido Comunista chegar ao poder em 1949, a China inicialmente seguiu o modelo soviético de planeamento centralizado e controlo estatal da economia. No entanto, esta abordagem levou a resultados desastrosos, sendo o mais notável o Grande Salto em Frente, que resultou numa fome generalizada e na morte de milhões de pessoas. Reconhecendo a necessidade de mudança, a liderança chinesa, sob Deng Xiaoping, iniciou uma série de reformas de mercado no final da década de 1970 que transformaram profundamente a economia.

Essas reformas, frequentemente chamadas de "socialismo com características chinesas", introduziram mecanismos de mercado e permitiram a iniciativa privada, mantendo, no entanto, o controlo político do Partido Comunista. A economia da China experimentou um crescimento sem precedentes, com uma média de quase 10% de crescimento anual do PIB durante várias décadas. No entanto, esse sucesso foi alcançado à custa do abandono de muitos dos princípios fundamentais do marxismo. O sistema da China é melhor descrito como "capitalismo de estado", onde o estado mantém o controlo sobre indústrias-chave, mas as forças de mercado desempenham um papel significativo na economia mais ampla.

O Vietname seguiu um caminho semelhante. Após a Guerra do Vietname e a reunificação do país sob o domínio comunista, o Vietname inicialmente seguiu uma economia planeada centralmente. No entanto, como a China, também enfrentou dificuldades económicas, o que levou à introdução de reformas orientadas para o mercado na década de 1980, conhecidas como Đổi Mới. Essas reformas impulsionaram um rápido crescimento económico e tiraram milhões da pobreza, mas também marcaram um afastamento da ideologia comunista tradicional.

Tanto a China como o Vietname demonstram que o sucesso económico sob um governo comunista é possível quando os mecanismos de mercado são introduzidos. No entanto, esse sucesso representa uma desvio significativo da visão comunista original, destacando os desafios de alcançar o verdadeiro comunismo na prática.

Cuba: Um Legado Misto

A experiência comunista de Cuba oferece uma perspectiva diferente, focando-se mais em realizações sociais do que no sucesso económico. Desde a Revolução Cubana de 1959, o país tem mantido um governo comunista sob a liderança de Fidel Castro e seus sucessores. A economia de Cuba tem sido longamente caracterizada pelo planeamento centralizado e controlo estatal, com o controlo de preços desempenhando um papel significativo em manter os bens básicos acessíveis.

Apesar das suas dificuldades económicas, Cuba fez progressos notáveis em áreas como a saúde e a educação. O sistema de saúde do país, em particular, é frequentemente elogiado pela sua acessibilidade e resultados, com uma expectativa de vida e taxas de mortalidade infantil comparáveis às de nações muito mais ricas. A educação é outra área onde Cuba se destacou, alcançando altas taxas de alfabetização e amplo acesso à escolarização.

No entanto, esses sucessos sociais tiveram um custo de estagnação económica. Cuba classifica-se baixo em liberdade económica em comparação com outros países das Américas, e a sua economia tem sido marcada por escassez persistente de bens básicos, em parte devido aos controlos de preços que distorcem a dinâmica do mercado. O país também dependeu fortemente de apoio externo, particularmente de petróleo subsidiado de aliados como a União Soviética e, mais tarde, a Venezuela. À medida que esses apoios externos diminuíram, as dificuldades económicas de Cuba aprofundaram-se.

Politicamente, Cuba manteve um estado unipartidário, com pouca tolerância para a dissidência. Como outros estados comunistas, viu a emergência de uma nova classe de elite, com funcionários do partido e líderes militares a usufruírem de privilégios não disponíveis aos cidadãos comuns. Embora as conquistas sociais de Cuba sejam significativas, não foram suficientes para superar os desafios económicos inerentes ao seu sistema.

Ao examinar as tentativas históricas de comunismo, torna-se claro que, embora alguns estados comunistas tenham alcançado sucessos notáveis — seja na industrialização, nos serviços sociais ou no crescimento económico —, nenhum conseguiu criar a sociedade sem classes e sem Estado idealizada por Marx e Engels. O factor humano, as ineficiências económicas e as consequências não intencionais de políticas como os controlos de preços minaram consistentemente esses esforços. Seja através do colapso da União Soviética, das reformas de mercado na China e no Vietname, ou das lutas contínuas em Cuba, a história do comunismo é marcada pela tensão entre a ideologia e a realidade.

O Impacto Económico do Controle de Preços

Os controles de preços, frequentemente implementados em economias comunistas e planeadas centralmente, são ferramentas usadas pelos governos para regular os preços de bens e serviços essenciais. Embora estes controles sejam normalmente introduzidos com a intenção de proteger os consumidores, garantir a acessibilidade e manter a equidade social, eles frequentemente levam a distorções económicas significativas. Em sistemas comunistas, onde o controlo estatal sobre a economia é primordial, os controles de preços têm sido uma característica central da política económica. No entanto, as consequências desses controles têm sido muitas vezes prejudiciais, resultando em ineficiências de mercado, redução da inovação e encargos sociais e fiscais não intencionais.

Distorções na Oferta e na Procura

Uma das consequências económicas mais significativas dos controles de preços é a interrupção do equilíbrio natural entre a oferta e a procura. Em sistemas comunistas, os tectos de preços (preços máximos) são frequentemente estabelecidos em bens essenciais para garantir a acessibilidade. No entanto, quando os preços são mantidos artificialmente baixos, a procura normalmente excede a oferta, levando a escassez crónica. Este era um fenómeno comum na União Soviética, onde bens de consumo básicos como alimentos, vestuário e itens domésticos eram frequentemente escassos. A falta de sinais de mercado, como o aumento dos preços para indicar uma maior procura, impedia a alocação eficiente de recursos, exacerbando as carências.

Por outro lado, os "pisos" de preços (preços mínimos) podem levar a excedentes. Nos sectores agrícolas, por exemplo, a fixação de preços acima do nível de equilíbrio de mercado pode resultar em superprodução. Isto leva ao desperdício de recursos e ineficiências, pois o governo deve ou comprar o excesso de oferta ou deixá-lo desperdiçar. Estas distorções ilustram o desafio fundamental do planeamento central: sem os mecanismos autorreguladores de um mercado livre, as economias têm dificuldades em equilibrar eficazmente a produção com o consumo.

Redução do Investimento e da Inovação

Os controles de preços também podem ter um efeito desmotivador sobre o investimento e a inovação. Quando os governos impõem tectos de preços, eles frequentemente reduzem as margens de lucro para os produtores. Em economias comunistas, onde o Estado controla a maior parte da produção, isso pode desencorajar o investimento interno e a actividade empresarial. A ausência de incentivos baseados no mercado para a inovação leva à estagnação, pois há pouca motivação para melhorar a eficiência ou desenvolver novos produtos.

Esta falta de inovação era evidente na União Soviética e em outras economias planeadas centralmente, onde os avanços tecnológicos ficaram atrás dos países capitalistas. As indústrias que eram fortemente controladas por preços, como bens de consumo e produtos farmacêuticos, sofreram com baixa produtividade e tecnologia desactualizada. Em sectores como o farmacêutico, os controles de preços reduziram os incentivos para a investigação e desenvolvimento, potencialmente limitando futuras inovações médicas. O efeito a longo prazo desta redução do investimento é o menor crescimento económico e a diminuição da competitividade no cenário global.

Deterioração da Qualidade

Outra consequência dos controles de preços é a deterioração da qualidade. Quando os preços são estabelecidos demasiado baixos, os produtores frequentemente procuram maneiras de cortar custos para manter a rentabilidade. Isto resulta frequentemente em bens e serviços de menor qualidade. Em economias comunistas, onde a escolha do consumidor é limitada e a concorrência é suprimida, há pouca pressão sobre os produtores para manter altos padrões. O resultado é que os consumidores ficam com produtos inferiores, deteriorando ainda mais o padrão de vida.

Por exemplo, na União Soviética, o foco na quantidade em detrimento da qualidade na fabricação levou a produtos mal feitos que muitas vezes não atendiam às necessidades dos consumidores. Em sectores como a habitação, os controles de rendas mantinham os preços baixos, mas a qualidade do parque habitacional deteriorava-se, uma vez que havia pouco incentivo para a manutenção ou melhoria. Esta troca entre preços baixos e baixa qualidade destaca uma das falhas principais dos controles de preços na prática.

Mercados Negros e Economias Informais

As ineficiências criadas pelos controles de preços frequentemente levam ao surgimento de mercados negros, onde os bens são vendidos a preços superiores aos níveis estabelecidos pelo governo. Em economias comunistas, onde as carências são comuns, os mercados negros tornam-se um mecanismo crucial para obter bens escassos. Estes mercados ilegais minam o controlo do governo sobre a economia e criam uma economia paralela que opera fora do sistema oficial.

Na União Soviética e na Europa Oriental, os mercados negros prosperavam à medida que os consumidores procuravam aceder a bens que estavam indisponíveis ou eram de baixa qualidade nas lojas estatais. A existência destes mercados também destaca o fracasso dos controles de preços em atingir os seus objectivos pretendidos, pois as mesmas pessoas que deveriam beneficiar de preços baixos acabavam por pagar preços muito mais altos no sector informal.

Racionamento e Filas

Quando os controles de preços levam à escassez, os governos muitas vezes recorrem a sistemas de racionamento para distribuir os suprimentos limitados. O racionamento, embora assegure que todos recebam uma parte dos bens escassos, também introduz ineficiências e iniquidades. Filas longas para necessidades básicas tornaram-se uma visão comum em muitos países comunistas, com pessoas a gastar horas à espera de itens que frequentemente estavam em falta.

Este sistema não só desperdiçava tempo valioso, como também evidenciava as falhas do planeamento central. O racionamento e as filas são uma consequência directa dos controles de preços que impedem os mercados de se ajustarem naturalmente. Em vez de permitir que os preços subam e incentivem o aumento da produção, os governos mantêm preços artificialmente baixos, resultando em escassez crónica e frustração generalizada entre a população.

Encargo Fiscal e Consequências Sociais

Manter controles de preços frequentemente requer uma intervenção governamental significativa, incluindo subsídios aos produtores para compensar os custos dos preços baixos. Isto cria um encargo fiscal que pode sobrecarregar os orçamentos governamentais, especialmente em economias que já enfrentam ineficiências. Em alguns casos, o custo de manter os controles de preços pode superar os benefícios, levando a políticas económicas insustentáveis.

Além disso, os controles de preços podem levar a consequências sociais não intencionais. Embora sejam destinados a ajudar as populações mais vulneráveis, eles podem, por vezes, beneficiar aqueles que não precisam de assistência. Por exemplo, os controles de rendas destinados a proporcionar habitação acessível podem acabar por beneficiar indivíduos mais ricos que têm acesso a apartamentos com rendas controladas, enquanto os indivíduos de baixos rendimentos continuam a enfrentar dificuldades com a acessibilidade habitacional.

Além disso, os controles de preços podem empurrar a actividade económica para o sector informal, reduzindo as receitas fiscais e a supervisão regulatória. Esta informalidade enfraquece a capacidade do Estado de gerir a economia de forma eficaz e cria distorções adicionais.

Crescimento Económico a Longo Prazo e Impactos Específicos por Sector

A longo prazo, as distorções causadas pelos controles de preços podem levar a uma redução do crescimento económico. Ao interferir nos sinais de mercado, os controles de preços desencorajam o investimento, a inovação e a produtividade, todos essenciais para o desenvolvimento económico sustentado. Ao longo do tempo, isso pode resultar em estagnação, como visto em muitas economias comunistas onde o crescimento abrandou ou até mesmo retrocedeu.

Sectores específicos, como o farmacêutico e o agrícola, podem ser particularmente afectados pelos controles de preços. No sector farmacêutico, por exemplo, os tectos de preços podem reduzir o incentivo para as empresas investirem em investigação e desenvolvimento, potencialmente limitando futuras inovações médicas. Na agricultura, os pisos de preços podem levar à superprodução, desperdício e à necessidade de intervenções governamentais onerosas.

Os Benefícios a Curto Prazo e Potenciais Justificativas

Embora os controles de preços sejam geralmente vistos de forma negativa devido às suas consequências a longo prazo, podem haver alguns benefícios a curto prazo, especialmente em tempos de crise. Por exemplo, durante emergências, os controles de preços podem impedir a exploração de preços e garantir que bens essenciais permaneçam acessíveis às populações vulneráveis. Nestes casos, os controles de preços podem fornecer alívio temporário e proteger os consumidores de abusos.

No entanto, esses benefícios a curto prazo são muitas vezes superados pelos custos a longo prazo. Mesmo em situações de crise, os efeitos distorcionários dos controles de preços podem criar mais problemas do que resolvem, tornando-os uma ferramenta que deve ser usada com cautela.

Os controles de preços, embora destinados a proteger os consumidores e promover a equidade social, frequentemente levam a consequências económicas, de mercado e sociais não intencionais. Em sistemas comunistas, onde o controlo estatal sobre a economia é central, estes controles exacerbaram ineficiências, sufocaram a inovação e criaram uma série de resultados negativos, desde mercados negros até encargos fiscais. Embora possa haver situações onde os controles de preços sejam justificados a curto prazo, o seu impacto a longo prazo é geralmente prejudicial, minando os próprios objectivos que pretendem alcançar. Compreender o legado complexo dos controles de preços nas economias comunistas fornece lições valiosas para os formuladores de políticas que procuram equilibrar a estabilidade económica com a equidade social.

Consequências do Planeamento Centralizado e do Controlo de Preços

Autoritarismo e a Concentração de Poder

Uma das consequências políticas mais significativas do planeamento económico centralizado e do controlo de preços é a concentração de poder dentro do aparelho de Estado. Em teoria, o comunismo idealiza uma sociedade sem Estado, mas na prática, a implementação desses sistemas muitas vezes exige uma autoridade central forte para aplicar as directivas económicas e manter o controlo. Esta concentração de poder frequentemente leva ao autoritarismo, como se vê em numerosos regimes comunistas.

A centralização do poder permite que um pequeno grupo de líderes ou um único partido domine a vida política, muitas vezes suprimindo a oposição e restringindo as liberdades individuais. Sem pesos e contrapesos, estes regimes podem impor controlos rigorosos na economia e na sociedade, levando a uma repressão generalizada. A natureza autoritária desses governos é frequentemente justificada como um meio necessário para proteger a revolução e manter a ordem social, mas resulta na erosão dos princípios democráticos e na marginalização das vozes dissidentes.

Além disso, a concentração de poder no Estado mina os próprios ideais do comunismo. Em vez de uma sociedade sem classes, emerge uma nova classe dominante de funcionários do partido e burocratas, que gozam de privilégios e autoridade muito além do cidadão comum. Esta dinâmica de poder não só contradiz os objectivos igualitários do comunismo, como também perpetua a desigualdade dentro do sistema.

Desigualdade Social e o Surgimento de Novas Elites

Apesar do objectivo teórico de eliminar as classes sociais, os sistemas comunistas muitas vezes testemunham o surgimento de novas elites. Estas elites, compostas por líderes do partido, burocratas do Estado e oficiais militares, gozam de privilégios significativos que os distinguem da população em geral. Este fenómeno reflecte o desafio inerente de alcançar uma verdadeira igualdade num sistema onde o poder está concentrado nas mãos de poucos.

Em muitos casos, essas novas elites tornam-se enraizadas, criando um fosso entre os governantes e os governados que espelha as divisões de classe que o comunismo pretendia eliminar. Os privilégios e o poder desfrutados por essas elites frequentemente levam à corrupção e ao clientelismo, corroendo ainda mais a confiança pública no sistema. O descontentamento resultante entre a população pode levar a agitação, à medida que as pessoas percebem que a igualdade prometida é inatingível dentro da estrutura política existente.

A Supressão de Dissidência e Suas Consequências Económicas

A supressão da dissidência é uma característica marcante de muitos regimes comunistas, impulsionada pela necessidade de manter o controlo tanto sobre a economia quanto sobre a sociedade. Na prática, essa supressão assume várias formas, incluindo censura, vigilância e perseguição de oponentes políticos. A falta de competição política e de debate aberto sufoca a inovação e o feedback crítico, que são essenciais para uma economia dinâmica e adaptável.

Sem a capacidade de expressar preocupações ou propor políticas alternativas, os regimes comunistas muitas vezes lutam para responder de forma eficaz aos desafios económicos. A natureza rígida do planeamento centralizado, combinada com a supressão da dissidência, cria um ciclo vicioso em que os problemas são ignorados ou exacerbados, levando a um maior declínio económico. A ausência de dissidência também significa que as reformas necessárias são adiadas ou bloqueadas, à medida que as elites no poder priorizam os seus próprios interesses em detrimento do bem comum.

As consequências a longo prazo dessa supressão são profundas. Economias que carecem de flexibilidade para se adaptar às mudanças ou enfrentar ineficiências tornam-se estagnadas, levando a escassez, declínio na produtividade e uma queda no padrão de vida da população. A supressão da dissidência não só prejudica o desempenho económico, mas também enfraquece o tecido social, à medida que a confiança no governo se deteriora e as pessoas se sentem cada vez mais alienadas do sistema político.

Autoritarismo nas Sociedades Ocidentais: Uma Preocupação Crescente

Nos últimos anos, o aumento do autoritarismo nas sociedades ocidentais tornou-se uma preocupação crescente, manifestando-se através de várias tendências chave que ecoam algumas das dinâmicas observadas em regimes comunistas. Embora as democracias ocidentais estejam longe de um autoritarismo pleno, a concentração de poder, o crescimento das desigualdades sociais, o surgimento de novas elites e a supressão da dissidência sugerem um desvio preocupante dos princípios democráticos liberais.

Tem havido uma crescente centralização do poder em muitos países ocidentais, muitas vezes manifestada através do excesso de autoridade executiva e da expansão do poder presidencial ou do primeiro-ministro. O enfraquecimento dos mecanismos de pesos e contrapesos entre os ramos do governo e as tentativas de minar a independência judicial e o estado de direito são indicadores claros desta tendência. Esta concentração de poder corrói as normas e instituições democráticas ao longo do tempo, tornando mais difícil responsabilizar os líderes.

A crescente desigualdade económica tem alimentado o descontentamento e movimentos populistas em muitos países ocidentais. O aumento da disparidade de riqueza entre as elites e a população em geral, os salários estagnados para as classes média e trabalhadora e a redução da mobilidade social contribuíram para um crescente sentimento de desilusão com os sistemas democráticos tradicionais. Esta disparidade económica criou um terreno fértil para líderes com tendências autoritárias, que prometem resolver esses problemas, mas muitas vezes concentram ainda mais o poder.

O surgimento de novas estruturas de poder e grupos de elites, como os oligarcas da tecnologia e as elites empresariais ligadas à política, tem desafiado os mecanismos tradicionais de responsabilização democrática. Estas novas elites frequentemente exercem uma influência significativa sobre a informação, o discurso e a política, operando fora do alcance das instituições democráticas. Líderes populistas, que cultivam cultos de personalidade, também contribuem para esta mudança, enfraquecendo ainda mais os processos democráticos.

As preocupações sobre restrições à liberdade de expressão e ao debate aberto estão a crescer nas sociedades ocidentais. Embora não sejam equivalentes à censura autoritária vista em regimes comunistas, tendências como a "cultura do cancelamento", a vigilância governamental e a repressão de protestos têm um efeito dissuasor sobre o discurso aberto. A autocensura devido ao medo de retaliações online ou de consequências profissionais está a tornar-se mais comum, limitando a diversidade de pontos de vista no debate público.

A fé pública nos pilares centrais da democracia — governos, partidos políticos e funcionários eleitos — tem-se deteriorado em muitos países ocidentais. O cepticismo em relação aos meios de comunicação tradicionais e ao conhecimento especializado também aumentou, enquanto a integridade dos sistemas eleitorais é cada vez mais questionada. Esta perda de confiança cria oportunidades para líderes com tendências autoritárias ganharem apoio, enfraquecendo ainda mais as instituições democráticas.

O aumento do autoritarismo nas sociedades ocidentais, embora ainda não comparável ao controlo centralizado visto em regimes comunistas, sinaliza uma mudança preocupante em relação aos princípios da democracia liberal. A concentração de poder, o crescimento das desigualdades sociais, o surgimento de novas elites e a supressão da dissidência são todos factores que espelham os problemas enfrentados pelos estados comunistas históricos, embora em formas diferentes. Estas tendências, se não forem controladas, podem levar a uma erosão gradual das normas e instituições democráticas, minando os próprios alicerces de sociedades livres e abertas.

Os paralelos entre os desafios enfrentados pelos regimes comunistas e as tendências actuais nas democracias ocidentais destacam a importância de abordar essas questões subjacentes. Assim como o planeamento económico centralizado e o controlo de preços levaram a ineficiências e agitação social nos estados comunistas, a concentração de poder e a desigualdade no Ocidente ameaçam enfraquecer os sistemas democráticos por dentro. A supressão da dissidência e a diminuição da confiança nas instituições democráticas agravam ainda mais esses problemas, criando um ambiente onde o autoritarismo pode ganhar terreno.

É crucial que as sociedades ocidentais reforcem as normas e instituições democráticas. Isso envolve garantir que os pesos e contrapesos entre os ramos do governo sejam mantidos, protegendo a independência judicial e salvaguardando o estado de direito. Abordar a desigualdade económica também é essencial, pois é um dos principais impulsionadores dos sentimentos populistas e autoritários. Políticas que promovam a mobilidade social, salários justos e oportunidades económicas podem ajudar a reconstruir a confiança nos sistemas democráticos.

Além disso, promover um discurso público aberto e inclusivo é vital para prevenir a supressão da dissidência. Isso significa defender a liberdade de expressão, encorajar a diversidade de pontos de vista e resistir à tentação de silenciar opiniões impopulares através de pressão social ou governamental. Ao criar uma cultura que valoriza o debate e respeita perspectivas diferentes, as sociedades ocidentais podem resistir ao desvio para o autoritarismo.

Finalmente, reconstruir a confiança nas instituições democráticas exige transparência, responsabilização e capacidade de resposta por parte dos governos e líderes políticos. Os funcionários eleitos devem ser vistos a agir no interesse público, e as instituições devem ser percepcionadas como justas e eficazes. Restaurar a confiança nos sistemas eleitorais e nos meios de comunicação também é essencial para contrariar a ascensão do populismo e do autoritarismo.

Embora os desafios enfrentados pelas democracias ocidentais hoje sejam distintos dos que atormentaram os regimes comunistas, as dinâmicas subjacentes de poder, desigualdade e dissidência partilham algumas semelhanças preocupantes. Ao reconhecer e aprender com os fracassos do comunismo e ao abordar estas questões de frente, as sociedades ocidentais podem fortalecer as suas fundações democráticas e evitar o deslizamento para o autoritarismo.

Conclusão

Em resumo, os fracassos do verdadeiro comunismo e os efeitos prejudiciais dos controles de preços não são meramente notas de rodapé históricas, mas lições duradouras que continuam a ressoar hoje em dia. O colapso de inúmeros regimes comunistas e as persistentes dificuldades económicas em países que ainda tentam aderir aos princípios comunistas destacam as falhas fundamentais da ideologia. O factor humano—motivações individuais, o desejo de liberdade pessoal e as complexidades da governação—continuamente perturbam a visão utópica de uma sociedade sem classes e sem estado. O planeamento centralizado e os controles de preços, longe de criar igualdade e estabilidade, têm consistentemente levado a ineficiências económicas, escassez e regimes autoritários.

No entanto, estas lições não são apenas relevantes para o passado. As sociedades ocidentais de hoje enfrentam os seus próprios riscos, à medida que a esquerda se inclina cada vez mais para políticas autoritárias sob o disfarce de equidade e justiça social. A pressão por mais controlo estatal, juntamente com uma crescente intolerância à dissidência, espelha os estágios iniciais dos mesmos sistemas que levaram à tirania e ditadura no passado. O marxismo cultural, um movimento que busca remodelar a sociedade promovendo a ideologia marxista através das instituições culturais, está a ganhar força, particularmente no meio académico e nos meios de comunicação. Esta mudança ideológica está a corroer as fundações da liberdade individual e da liberdade económica que têm definido o Ocidente.

De forma alarmante, muitos jovens no Ocidente estão a louvar cada vez mais a ideologia marxista e o comunismo, muitas vezes sem compreender plenamente as realidades históricas desses sistemas. Esta tendência reflecte uma perigosa ignorância das atrocidades e do sofrimento que ocorreram sob os regimes comunistas. A romantização do comunismo ignora as duras verdades da história—a repressão, o colapso económico e a perda de liberdades pessoais que têm consistentemente acompanhado as tentativas de implementar esta ideologia.

É crucial manter-se vigilante contra estas tendências. As lições da história devem servir de alerta para aqueles que procuram replicar sistemas falhados. Embora a busca por uma sociedade mais justa e equitativa seja um objectivo nobre, não pode vir à custa das liberdades individuais e dos benefícios comprovados de uma economia baseada no mercado. As sociedades ocidentais devem proteger-se contra o fascínio do autoritarismo, seja na forma de comunismo declarado ou de formas mais subtis de controlo estatal. Garantir que a próxima geração compreenda a verdadeira natureza dessas ideologias é essencial para preservar as liberdades e a prosperidade que foram arduamente conquistadas ao longo de séculos.

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

In this tutorial, we'll build a React component using TypeScript that includes sliders for adjusting length, width, height, and volume. You will be able to fix the values of the sliders and automatically recalculate other parameters based on the volume.

Step 1: Create a New Project

First, let's create a new project using Create React App with the TypeScript template.

Open your terminal and run the following command:

bash npx create-react-app volume-slider-app --template typescript

After the installation is complete, navigate to the project directory:

bash cd volume-slider-app

Start the project with the following command:

bash npm start

The project will open in your browser at http://localhost:3000.

Step 2: Basic Slider Component

Let's create a basic component that will contain sliders for length, width, and height.

1. Create a new file src/SliderComponent.tsx.
2. Add the following code:

```tsx import React, { useState } from 'react';

const SliderComponent: React.FC = () => { const [length, setLength] = useState(10); const [width, setWidth] = useState(10); const [height, setHeight] = useState(10);

return (

export default SliderComponent; ```

1. Open the src/App.tsx file and replace its content with the following:

```tsx import React from 'react'; import SliderComponent from './SliderComponent';

const App: React.FC = () => { return (

export default App; ```

Now, when you refresh your browser, you'll see three sliders that allow you to adjust the length, width, and height.

Step 3: Adding Volume Calculation

Next, let's add volume calculation based on the length, width, and height values.

1. Update the code in SliderComponent.tsx:

```tsx const calculateVolume = (length: number, width: number, height: number): number => { return length * width * height; };

const SliderComponent: React.FC = () => { const [length, setLength] = useState(10); const [width, setWidth] = useState(10); const [height, setHeight] = useState(10); const [volume, setVolume] = useState(calculateVolume(length, width, height));

// Update volume when parameters change const updateVolume = () => { setVolume(calculateVolume(length, width, height)); };

return (

Now, the volume will be recalculated whenever any of the parameters (length, width, height) change.

Step 4: Adding Toggle Switches to Fix Values

Next, let's add the ability to fix the values of length, width, height, and volume using toggle switches.

1. Add toggle switches to the sliders in SliderComponent.tsx:

```tsx const SliderComponent: React.FC = () => { const [length, setLength] = useState(10); const [width, setWidth] = useState(10); const [height, setHeight] = useState(10); const [volume, setVolume] = useState(calculateVolume(length, width, height));

const [isLengthFixed, setIsLengthFixed] = useState(false); const [isWidthFixed, setIsWidthFixed] = useState(false); const [isHeightFixed, setIsHeightFixed] = useState(false); const [isVolumeFixed, setIsVolumeFixed] = useState(false);

const updateVolume = () => { if (!isVolumeFixed) { setVolume(calculateVolume(length, width, height)); } };

return (

  <div>
    <label>Width: {width}</label>
    <input
      type="range"
      min="1"
      max="100"
      value={width}
      onChange={(e) => {
        if (!isWidthFixed) {
          setWidth(Number(e.target.value));
          updateVolume();
        }
      }}
      disabled={isWidthFixed}
    />
    <label>
      <input
        type="checkbox"
        checked={isWidthFixed}
        onChange={() => setIsWidthFixed(!isWidthFixed)}
      /> Fix
    </label>
  </div>

  <div>
    <label>Height: {height}</label>
    <input
      type="range"
      min="1"
      max="100"
      value={height}
      onChange={(e) => {
        if (!isHeightFixed) {
          setHeight(Number(e.target.value));
          updateVolume();
        }
      }}
      disabled={isHeightFixed}
    />
    <label>
      <input
        type="checkbox"
        checked={isHeightFixed}
        onChange={() => setIsHeightFixed(!isHeightFixed)}
      /> Fix
    </label>
  </div>

  <div>
    <label>Volume: {volume}</label>
    <input
      type="range"
      min="1"
      max="100000"
      value={volume}
      onChange={(e) => {
        if (!isVolumeFixed) {
          setVolume(Number(e.target.value));
        }
      }}
      disabled={isVolumeFixed}
    />
    <label>
      <input
        type="checkbox"
        checked={isVolumeFixed}
        onChange={() => setIsVolumeFixed(!isVolumeFixed)}
      /> Fix
    </label>
  </div>
</div>

if (isLengthFixed) {
  setHeight(newVolume / (length * width));
} else if (isWidthFixed) {
  setHeight(newVolume / (length * width));
} else if (isHeightFixed) {
  setWidth(newVolume / (length * height));
} else {
  setHeight(newVolume / (length * width));
}

| OLD LOGO | NEW LOGO| |---|---| |||

LifPay is a not well know yet custodial web and mobile app that had since inception focus on deliverring some really interestingg features, as the sale of digital goods, multiple account management and nostr integration to name few.

It recently update its design proposing an interesting switch from the original orange details to some green/purple alternatives.

NEW LANDING PAGE

OLD APP SCREENS

NEW APP SCREENS

TRY LIFPAY! ... and let us know your thoughts! https://lifpay.me/

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/654432

This is the fifth 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
• July 19th 2024

Progress this week

I'm back from a few weeks of family holiday this week and feeling super productive. The major news this week is that I've posted the draft NIP to the NIPs repository for how to implement MLS messaging on Nostr. I've gotten feedback on the doc from several other Nostr devs but I'm absolutely looking for more feedback from the community.

I've also made progress on the dependencies that I was working on before my holidays. Info below.

The NIP

I won't review the entire proposed NIP here but I wanted to call out one tradeoff that I thought hard about.

In my original proposal, which only supported one-to-one direct messages, all messages between the two parties were sent as NIP-59 gift-wrapped events. This helps to hide metadata but it creates problems of it's own. Notably, it's very possible to DDoS Nostr clients with meaningless gift-wrap events since clients must decrypt and unwrap each event to even understand if it's something that is important to them.

Aside from those problems, gift-wrapping messages to an entire group would be very impractical. It would require the client sending a message to individually gift-wrap the message individually to all other participants in a group.

The tradeoff I've come up with is to use a public event, kind:445, tagged with the group ID, so that all participants in the group can easily query for messages from each of the groups that they are a part of. The content field of these event is encrypted using the MLS ratchet keys and thus is only able to be decrypted by members of the group. These events are published using an ephemeral key so that the number and identity of the group members is obfuscated.

This means that observers have a relative idea of the level of activity in a given group but don't know exactly how many or who is in the group. In addition, it's easy within the MLS spec to rotate the group ID over time.

Would love to hear thoughts on how people feel about that tradeoff.

HPKE-RS

My PR to add support for secp256k1 is stuck because of bad test vectors for the secp256k1 curve. I've been working on generating new vectors that will be usable by other HPKE implementations as well. Huge thanks to @dan for the help on this.

OpenMLS & Ciphersuites

As mentioned in the previous updated, I've spoken with the OpenMLS team about how to better support custom ciphersuites. I've started to work on the expansive refactor in OpenMLS to make this possible but it's going to take a while.

One major decision that has come from this is that I've decided that the NIP will not require a single custom ciphersuite (built around Schnorr signatures on the secp256k1 curve). Instead, clients can decide which ciphersuites they want to support and are able to implement this NIP immediately with the current OpenMLS version.

I will continue to work on refactoring the OpenMLS library to ensure that it supports custom ciphersuites and to build a custom Crypto Provider focused on the Nostr crypto primitives and I expect that, long-term, many Nostr clients will prefer to support only that ciphersuite to reduce the dependency surface area of their apps.

Onward and Upward

LFG! 🤙 Please take a moment and send me feedback and thoughts on the above and especially on the NIP if you're a developer.

Here's how people use OtherStuff apps.

1) They usually go there to write or post, not to read or view, unless someone they closely follow wrote about it in a Kind 01 note, SimpleX chat, Slack Channel, Telegram group, etc.

2) While they are there, they sometimes look around at what their frens have posted, zap them, leave a comment or a reply, etc. Sometimes they spend hours there. They really like it!

3) Then they leave.

4) If someone responds to anything they posted or wrote there, with anything other than a Kind 01 reply, they do not know about it, because it does not show up in their normal feed or notifications.

5) They do not come back until 1) happens again.

I am not a therapist

Part one of a three-part series called "Breaking my silence on social-emotional learning" I’ve been suspicious of “social-emotional circles” since I learned about them, several years ago. My first concern was how to fit this practice into a curriculum in which two snow days can mean I have to cut content. However, my second and more substantive concern, was that, put simply, I am not a therapist and am not equipped to lead an exercise like this. After reading Bad Therapy: Why the kids aren’t growing up, by Abigail Shier, I’m not only convinced that I shouldn’t do these in my classroom, I think they should rarely be done in classrooms at all.

While this and the next couple of posts will focus on circles, the book has raised many flags for me about things we routinely do in schools intended to help kids’ mental health. She argues we, the well-intentioned people who work with young people, frequently commit iatrogenesis (harm caused by those attempting to heal) and argues that many of our best-intentioned interventions likely cause more harm than benefit. I chose circles for a couple reasons. First, it’s relevant to many teachers because it – along with restorative practices, social-emotional learning (SEL) generally, and trauma-informed education – has become quite popular over the last several years. Second, it provides a concrete case study that exemplifies broader issues with SEL in schools.

For those of you unfamiliar with restorative circles, I’ll try to give you the TL:DR. A teacher puts the students in her class in a circle. Basically she then goes around the circle and everyone has the opportunity to share something. There are many variations on this. The teacher might ask students to share how they are feeling that day (check-in style circle), something their struggling with recently or something good that’s happened, or how something that happened in class - like an outburst by a student, for example - made them feel. All of these types or circles have been suggested in the trainings that I’ve attended to varying degrees. (You can read more about restorative circles here, which explains in detail more or less the what I’ve learned about them in trainings.)

For now, I want to focus on the more “meaningful” types of circles, not the “check-in” types. These are designed to help students build empathy and other social-emotional skills as well as help students process something they, or the class as a whole, is going through. (Although Shier has convinced me that the check-in style circles are a bad practice as well – an argument I plan to flesh out in part three.)

I am not a therapist

You might be wondering, if a teacher has time to do them, what could be the harm in doing these regularly with students? Wouldn’t they help build a stronger classroom community?

Let’s suppose that time is not an issue. The biggest problem I see is that I am not a therapist and nearly every teacher is not trained as a therapist either.

I remember sitting in trainings and imagining situations in which I’m running a circle and a kid shares something and bursts into tears. Or shares something deeply personal that maybe they shouldn’t have shared with me or their peers. Or calls out another student in class for some reason, creating a conflict in front of the entire class. Whenever circles were described to me it felt like a description of group therapy, and I am simply not trained to handle the variety of situations that might arise in group therapy. In fact, if you really want to see how closely they resemble each other, check out this page by the counseling Center Group for group therapy in New York City and compare it the description of circles in the article I linked above. You’ll find a lot of common themes, although the group therapy article emphasizes repeatedly that trained therapists will be leading the groups. 

I’ve raised this concern with individual colleagues and in various meetings over the last several years, including recently at a district-level diversity, equity, and inclusion task force meeting. This is not a direct quote, but I’m most often met with some flavor of the following, either from a teacher who uses circles often, an education consultant leading professional development, or an administrator who has seen teachers run them:

Most of the time these concerns aren’t an issue. Kids don’t share those kinds of things. If anything gets shared beyond what you think you can handle, you can always end the circle and bring in a school counselor to help you with that individual student or to help you run the circle again to address what happened. Maybe you should work with a teacher who does circles often to help you feel more comfortable.

Sometimes other tips are also shared at this point – a sort of ad hoc list of group therapy hacks. Start doing circles with light-hearted prompts to help build community, they might say. Make sure students know they can “pass” and don’t have to share if they don’t want to share. Don’t pass judgement on what students share, be empathic, ask open questions instead of closed questions. And so on.

This is akin to taking a truck driver and giving him a three-hour training on driving a school bus and telling him he can start a bus route next week. When he says he’s not sure that he can actually pull that off, he’s told that “opening the door is actually pretty easy to figure out, remember to take wide turns, and don’t forget to stop at every railroad crossing. I’ll let you talk with Sam – he’s been driving bus on the side for years! I’m sure you’ll do great!”

Are there similarities between driving a semi-truck and trailer and a school bus? Of course. Are there some truck drivers who could make the switch and be just fine after some practice? Certainly. Will there be many accidents, some of which are avoidable and catastrophic? If this practice continues long enough – absolutely.

Similarly, some interpersonal skills required to teach overlap with those needed by therapists, surely some teachers would be good therapists with minimal training, and having this as a practice by an institution will almost certainly lead to kids being victims of mishandled situations (iatrogenesis).

Bad therapy in circles - a specific example

Undoubtedly, many bad therapy practices are hidden from me because I don’t have the expertise to know what I don’t know, but I want to share one bad practice that Shier writes about to help make my point – therapist self-disclosure.

When educators are taught about circles we are told that if we share personal stories then we will build trust with our students and this will encourage them to share more as well. From the Edutopia article linked above, we are told, “Share authentically of yourself. This gives others permission to do the same.”

Unfortunately, this is usually unethical according to Shier (she cites this paper, which doesn’t argue that self-disclosure is always unethical, but that it is a very nuanced question in psychotherapy and that generally erring away from self-disclosure is best; which reiterates my argument since, as I’m not trained in psychotherapy, I’m not even aware of the aspects of it which are nuanced or settled or debated. But, I digress). Shier writes about a teacher (Kendra Jones, cited from this Education Week article) who is “very vulnerable” with her students and goes on to say the following:

Interestingly, were Jones an actual therapist, such self disclosure would be considered unethical. Anytime a therapist might be inclined to share her personal history in order to gratify her own need, she must abstain in order to prioritize the clients needs. And here’s where things get tricky: teachers aren't actually trained in psychotherapy, and they aren't bound by its ethical guidelines, either. Setting up an “emotional sharing” session may sound good, but typically, therapists perform this function under ethical guidelines, so that they don't inadvertently exploit or betray their patients.

Are the nuances of psychotherapy explored in trainings about restorative circles? Of course not. Because the trainers know that we aren’t therapists! Again, when I have raised this issue I’m told that this should not really be a concern - if you think anything is beyond what you can handle, get support from one of the school counselors.

SEL circles exist in a superposition of importance; they are simultaneously innocuous enough that a teacher needn’t worry about not being trained in psychotherapy, but important enough that every teacher should be working to integrate them in all of their classes.

The problems with SEL circles go beyond my lack of training in psychotherapy. In the next post I will explore the issues of confidentiality in circles and in part three explain how even if I was a therapist and we could somehow erase the issue of confidentiality, we still shouldn’t try to make circles a common practice.

Disclaimer: I realize that in writing this and publishing it publicly I run the risk of upsetting some friends, colleagues, and, potentially, administrators. Unfortunately, there are times when that risk must be taken in order to say what is true, needs to be said, and is not being said. I write this while passing no bad judgement on any educator who has implemented restorative circles or other restorative and social-emotional learning practices in their school or classroom. We have had countless trainers in countless hours of professional development the last several years telling us that this is best for kids – that kids will learn better and be more emotionally healthy if we do this. I don’t fault anyone for doing what we were told by the experts was best practice. I hope only to illuminate a contrary perspective that, in my opinion and experience, has significant ramifications if we are to truly do what’s best for our students.

# Introducing the Robosats Alert Bot for SimpleX

Hey everyone,

Glad to make my fist post here! I am 🏛️TempleOfSats🏛️, a Robosats coordinator.

I'm excited to introduce a new tool for those using RoboSats—a SimpleX bot that notifies you when an order meeting your specific criteria (currency, premium, payment method, and amount) is posted. This project is designed to uphold the privacy philosophy of RoboSats by leveraging the security features of SimpleX.

🚀 Overview

This bot monitors RoboSats for orders that fit your requirements and sends notifications via SimpleX, ensuring your privacy. The bot checks for matches in the background and alerts you instantly when a match is found.

📖 User Guide

1. Connect to the Bot
Click here to connect to the public instance of the SimpleX Chat Bot.

2. Getting Started
Upon connection, you'll receive a welcome message. Start by typing /help to see how to interact with the bot.

3. Create an Alert
Just type /new and follow the prompts to set up your alert. The bot will guide you step by step.

4. Receive Notifications
The bot monitors for new orders that match your criteria. When it finds one, you’ll get detailed info about the order, including an onion link to place the order.

5. Manage Alerts
View your alerts by typing /list. You can enable, disable, or delete them as needed. Alerts have a 7-day lifetime by default, but you can extend this with /extend command.

🛠️ Self Hosting & future of the project

Everyone is encouraged to self-host this bot, following the guide on the Github repo: https://github.com/lft3t8bx/Robosats-Orderbook-Alert-Bot-for-SimpleX-Chat !

Self Hosted version of the project could further extend the capabilities of the project. For instance, an integration with the excellent roboauto project could allow users to make/take orders and automatically pay bonds / submit invoice through the self hosted lightning node.

🥚 Easter Egg

For those who made it this far, type /satoshi to get a random quote from Satoshi Nakamoto!

This bot is a great way to stay on top of RoboSats orders while maintaining your privacy. If you’re interested in self-hosting or have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Happy trading!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/649204

After months of development I am excited to officially announce the first version of DVMDash (v0.1). DVMDash is a monitoring and debugging tool for all Data Vending Machine (DVM) activity on Nostr. The website is live at https://dvmdash.live and the code is available on Github.

Data Vending Machines (NIP-90) offload computationally expensive tasks from relays and clients in a decentralized, free-market manner. They are especially useful for AI tools, algorithmic processing of user’s feeds, and many other use cases.

The long term goal of DVMDash is to become 1) a place to easily see what’s happening in the DVM ecosystem with metrics and graphs, and 2) provide real-time tools to help developers monitor, debug, and improve their DVMs.

DVMDash aims to enable users to answer these types of questions at a glance: * What’s the most popular DVM right now? * How much money is being paid to image generation DVMs? * Is any DVM down at the moment? When was the last time that DVM completed a task? * Have any DVMs failed to deliver after accepting payment? Did they refund that payment? * How long does it take this DVM to respond? * For task X, what’s the average amount of time it takes for a DVM to complete the task? * … and more

For developers working with DVMs there is now a visual, graph based tool that shows DVM-chain activity. DVMs have already started calling other DVMs to assist with work. Soon, we will have humans in the loop monitoring DVM activity, or completing tasks themselves. The activity trace of which DVM is being called as part of a sub-task from another DVM will become complicated, especially because these decisions will be made at run-time and are not known ahead of time. Building a tool to help users and developers understand where a DVM is in this activity trace, whether it’s gotten stuck or is just taking a long time, will be invaluable. For now, the website only shows 1 step of a dvm chain from a user's request.

One of the main designs for the site is that it is highly clickable, meaning whenever you see a DVM, Kind, User, or Event ID, you can click it and open that up in a new page to inspect it.

Another aspect of this website is that it should be fast. If you submit a DVM request, you should see it in DVMDash within seconds, as well as events from DVMs interacting with your request. I have attempted to obtain DVM events from relays as quickly as possible and compute metrics over them within seconds.

This project makes use of a nosql database and graph database, currently set to use mongo db and neo4j, for which there are free, community versions that can be run locally.

Finally, I’m grateful to nostr:npub10pensatlcfwktnvjjw2dtem38n6rvw8g6fv73h84cuacxn4c28eqyfn34f for supporting this project.

Features in v0.1:

Global Network Metrics:

This page shows the following metrics: - DVM Requests: Number of unencrypted DVM requests (kind 5000-5999) - DVM Results: Number of unencrypted DVM results (kind 6000-6999) - DVM Request Kinds Seen: Number of unique kinds in the Kind range 5000-5999 (except for known non-DVM kinds 5666 and 5969) - DVM Result Kinds Seen: Number of unique kinds in the Kind range 6000-6999 (except for known non-DVM kinds 6666 and 6969) - DVM Pub Keys Seen: Number of unique pub keys that have written a kind 6000-6999 (except for known non-DVM kinds) or have published a kind 31990 event that specifies a ‘k’ tag value between 5000-5999 - DVM Profiles (NIP-89) Seen: Number of 31990 that have a ‘k’ tag value for kind 5000-5999 - Most Popular DVM: The DVM that has produced the most result events (kind 6000-6999) - Most Popular Kind: The Kind in range 5000-5999 that has the most requests by users. - 24 hr DVM Requests: Number of kind 5000-5999 events created in the last 24 hrs - 24 hr DVM Results: Number of kind 6000-6999 events created in the last 24 hours - 1 week DVM Requests: Number of kind 5000-5999 events created in the last week - 1 week DVM Results: Number of kind 6000-6999 events created in the last week - Unique Users of DVMs: Number of unique pubkeys of kind 5000-5999 events - Total Sats Paid to DVMs: - This is an estimate. - This value is likely a lower bound as it does not take into consideration subscriptions paid to DVMs - This is calculated by counting the values of all invoices where: - A DVM published a kind 7000 event requesting payment and containing an invoice - The DVM later provided a DVM Result for the same job for which it requested payment. - The assumption is that the invoice was paid, otherwise the DVM would not have done the work - Note that because there are multiple ways to pay a DVM such as lightning invoices, ecash, and subscriptions, there is no guaranteed way to know whether a DVM has been paid. Additionally, there is no way to know that a DVM completed the job because some DVMs may not publish a final result event and instead send the user a DM or take some other kind of action.

Recent Requests:

This page shows the most recent 3 events per kind, sorted by created date. You should always be able to find the last 3 events here of all DVM kinds.

DVM Browser:

This page will either show a profile of a specific DVM, or when no DVM is given in the url, it will show a table of all DVMs with some high level stats. Users can click on a DVM in the table to load the DVM specific page.

Kind Browser:

This page will either show data on a specific kind including all DVMs that have performed jobs of that kind, or when no kind is given, it will show a table summarizing activity across all Kinds.

Debug:

This page shows the graph based visualization of all events, users, and DVMs involved in a single job as well as a table of all events in order from oldest to newest. When no event is given, this page shows the 200 most recent events where the user can click on an event in order to debug that job. The graph-based visualization allows the user to zoom in and out and move around the graph, as well as double click on any node in the graph (except invoices) to open up that event, user, or dvm in a new page.

Playground:

This page is currently under development and may not work at the moment. If it does work, in the current state you can login with NIP-07 extension and broadcast a 5050 event with some text and then the page will show you events from DVMs. This page will be used to interact with DVMs live. A current good alternative to this feature, for some but not all kinds, is https://vendata.io/.

Looking to the Future

I originally built DVMDash out of Fear-of-Missing-Out (FOMO); I wanted to make AI systems that were comprised of DVMs but my day job was taking up a lot of my time. I needed to know when someone was performing a new task or launching a new AI or Nostr tool!

I have a long list of DVMs and Agents I hope to build and I needed DVMDash to help me do it; I hope it helps you achieve your goals with Nostr, DVMs, and even AI. To this end, I wish for this tool to be useful to others, so if you would like a feature, please submit a git issue here or note me on Nostr!

Immediate Next Steps:

• Refactoring code and removing code that is no longer used
• Improve documentation to run the project locally
• Adding a metric for number of encrypted requests
• Adding a metric for number of encrypted results

Long Term Goals:

• Add more metrics based on community feedback
• Add plots showing metrics over time
• Add support for showing a multi-dvm chain in the graph based visualizer
• Add a real-time mode where the pages will auto update (currently the user must refresh the page)
• ... Add support for user requested features!

Acknowledgements

There are some fantastic people working in the DVM space right now. Thank you to nostr:npub1drvpzev3syqt0kjrls50050uzf25gehpz9vgdw08hvex7e0vgfeq0eseet for making python bindings for nostr_sdk and for the recent asyncio upgrades! Thank you to nostr:npub1nxa4tywfz9nqp7z9zp7nr7d4nchhclsf58lcqt5y782rmf2hefjquaa6q8 for answering lots of questions about DVMs and for making the nostrdvm library. Thank you to nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft for making the original DVM NIP and vendata.io which I use all the time for testing!

P.S. I rushed to get this out in time for Nostriga 2024; code refactoring will be coming :)

Introduction

Bitcoin is often cited as a prime example of a truly decentralized system. Unlike traditional financial systems that rely on central authorities, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network of nodes, where each node independently validates and records transactions. This decentralization is critical for Bitcoin’s security, trust, and resistance to censorship. Understanding how entropy and Proof of Work (PoW) contribute to this decentralization helps elucidate why Bitcoin remains a robust and effective decentralized system. Additionally, examining how these concepts relate to thermodynamics can provide a deeper insight into the physical and informational transformations involved.

Understanding Entropy in Bitcoin

In the context of Bitcoin, entropy can be understood both from a physical perspective and an information-theoretic perspective:

1. Entropy in Physical Terms: In Bitcoin, physical entropy arises from the distributed nature of the network and the computational work involved in mining. Each miner competes to find a valid hash that meets a specific target by adjusting a nonce in the block header. This process introduces randomness and unpredictability into the network, leading to a high degree of entropy in terms of computational effort and energy consumption.

2. Entropy in Information Theory: Information entropy, introduced by Claude Shannon in 1948, measures the uncertainty or unpredictability associated with a random variable. In Bitcoin, this concept applies to the state of the blockchain. The entropy of Bitcoin's blockchain can be understood as the uncertainty in the ledger’s state before and after a new block is added [1][2].

Formulation of Information Entropy:

Shannon defined entropy H(X) for a discrete random variable X with a probability mass function P(x), where x represents the possible outcomes of X. The entropy H(X) is given by:

$$H(X) = -\sum_{x \in X} P(x) \log_2 P(x)$$

where: - The sum is taken over all possible outcomes x of X, - The logarithm base 2 measures entropy in bits.

In Bitcoin, X can be considered as the state of the blockchain, and P(x) represents the probability distribution of different blockchain states. High entropy indicates high uncertainty or disorder in the blockchain's state [1][2].

Proof of Work and Reducing Entropy

Proof of Work (PoW) plays a crucial role in Bitcoin’s mechanism for managing entropy and maintaining decentralization. Here’s how PoW works to reduce entropy in Bitcoin:

1. PoW and Hashing

Bitcoin miners perform PoW by repeatedly hashing the block header using the SHA-256 algorithm until they find a hash value that is less than or equal to the current target threshold. This process involves trial and error, where miners adjust a small variable called a nonce to generate new hash values. The difficulty of this task is adjusted periodically to ensure that new blocks are added roughly every 10 minutes.

The randomness and unpredictability of the hashing process introduce entropy into the mining process. However, once a valid hash is found, it imposes order on the blockchain by allowing the miner to add a new block, reducing the overall entropy of the ledger state [3].

1. Block Addition and Entropy Reduction

When a miner successfully finds a valid hash that meets the difficulty target, they add a new block to the blockchain. This process involves:

• Verification: The solution (i.e., the valid hash) is verified by other nodes, confirming the correctness and integrity of the block.
• Consensus: The new block is propagated across the network, and nodes update their copies of the blockchain.

The addition of a new block with a valid PoW solution reduces the entropy of the ledger state S. To quantify this, let’s relate the reduction in entropy to the probability of finding a valid hash:

Entropy Reduction Quantification

The probability of finding a valid hash p affects the entropy of the blockchain state. Initially, the entropy H(S) of the ledger state before adding the block can be modeled as:

$$H(S) = -\sum_{s \in S} P(s) \log_2 P(s)$$

After a block is mined and added to the blockchain, the entropy H(S') of the new ledger state S' can be expressed as:

$$H(S') = -\sum_{s' \in S'} P(s') \log_2 P(s')$$

To determine H(S'), consider the effect of p. The addition of a block with a valid PoW solution implies that the blockchain state is more certain and less variable. This leads to a more concentrated probability distribution over valid states.

If the probability distribution P(s') of the new states is more concentrated due to the successful addition of a block, the entropy H(S') decreases. Mathematically, this concentration can be approximated by the lower entropy due to the fewer number of valid states s':

$$H(S') = -p\log_2(p)-(1-p)log_2(1-p)$$

With high difficulty, the probability p of successfully finding a valid hash is very low, which means that only a few states are valid. As a result, the entropy contribution of these few valid states is reduced, leading to a lower overall entropy H(S′). This is because the logarithm of a small probability is large and negative, but when multiplied by a very small probability, the result is small. Thus, the overall entropy H(S′) decreases.

Therefore, the reduction in entropy due to PoW can then be represented as:

$$ΔH=H(S′)−H(S)$$

Given that H(S′)<H(S), ΔH is negative, reflecting the decrease in uncertainty about the blockchain state due to the successful resolution of the PoW.

This reduction in entropy highlights how PoW helps maintain the order and consistency of the blockchain, even as new blocks are added.

Proof of Work as a Mechanism for Order

PoW transforms physical work into a structured record. The process ensures that adding new blocks requires solving computational puzzles, which imposes a cost on creating new records. This cost (in terms of computational effort and energy) acts as a deterrent against tampering and contributes to maintaining the order and consistency of the blockchain.

The reduction in entropy due to PoW can be formalized by noting that the probability distribution of valid ledger states becomes more concentrated after a block is added. This makes the state of the ledger more predictable and less uncertain, reducing the overall entropy.

Relation to Thermodynamics

The concept of entropy in thermodynamics refers to the measure of disorder or randomness in a physical system. In thermodynamics:

1. Entropy and Energy: In thermodynamics, entropy is a measure of the amount of energy in a system that is not available to do work. When energy is added to a system, it often leads to an increase in entropy, reflecting the system's transition to a more disordered state.

2. Entropy Reduction: To reduce entropy in a thermodynamic system, energy must be expended to impose order. For example, cooling a system can reduce its entropy by decreasing its temperature and organizing the particles in a more orderly state.

Applying Thermodynamic Concepts to Bitcoin

1. Physical Work in PoW: In Bitcoin, PoW can be analogously related to thermodynamic processes. The computational work required for PoW is akin to expending physical energy in thermodynamics. The physical energy used by miners in finding a valid hash can be seen as a mechanism to impose order on the blockchain, similar to how energy can be used to reduce entropy in a physical system.

2. Transforming Physical to Informational Order: PoW transforms physical work into informational order. Just as energy expenditure in thermodynamics can lead to a more ordered state, the computational work done in PoW helps organize and secure the blockchain, reducing the entropy of the ledger state.

3. Balancing Order and Disorder: The relationship between energy and entropy in thermodynamics mirrors the balance between order and disorder in Bitcoin’s blockchain. The work done in PoW introduces structure and consistency, reducing entropy and enhancing the system's overall stability.

Proof of Stake: Limitations in Reducing Entropy

In contrast, Proof of Stake (PoS), while offering a different approach to consensus, faces limitations in managing entropy:

1. No Physical Energy Input: PoS does not involve physical work or energy expenditure. Validators are chosen based on their financial stake rather than their computational efforts, which limits its ability to impose order and structure.

2. Internal System Dynamics: PoS operates within a closed system of staked assets, relying on the existing wealth of participants rather than external physical resources. This does not effectively reduce entropy in the same way that PoW does.

3. Potential for Centralization: PoS can lead to centralization if a few participants control a large portion of the stake, introducing new forms of entropy and inequality.

Bitcoin: A Truly Decentralized System

Bitcoin’s decentralization is supported by its use of Proof of Work, which effectively reduces entropy by transforming physical energy into a structured and ordered blockchain. This ensures that the network remains secure, consistent, and resistant to tampering while maintaining its decentralized nature. The relationship between physical energy, information entropy, and thermodynamic entropy underscores the complex interplay between order and disorder in Bitcoin’s design and operation.

Acknowledgments

This article benefited from the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, which provided valuable insights and suggestions for understanding and explaining concepts related to entropy in decentralized systems and Bitcoin mining.

References

1. Shannon, C. E. (1948). "A Mathematical Theory of Communication." The Bell System Technical Journal, 27(3), 379-423.

2. Cover, T. M., & Thomas, J. A. (2006). Elements of Information Theory (2nd ed.). Wiley.

3. Nakamoto, S. (2008). "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System." Link to paper

Introducing Our New Whitepaper on Escrow-Less Bitcoin-Collateralized Lending

We are thrilled to release our latest whitepaper, elaborating on our innovative Escrow-Less Bitcoin-Collateralized Lending protocol. This pioneering system leverages the power of Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) and Hash Time Lock Contracts (HTLCs) to create a trustless, peer-to-peer lending environment that aligns with the ethos of decentralization and user empowerment.

Read the full whitepaper here

Empowering Users with Our Architecture

Our protocol is meticulously designed to empower users by allowing them to borrow against their Bitcoin while retaining full control over it. We believe that this is not just a technological advancement, but a crucial step towards crafting a more decentralized, trust-minimized, and secure financial ecosystem. By eliminating the need for intermediaries, we aim to give users greater autonomy and flexibility, freeing them from traditional constraints.

Addressing Market Needs for Peer-to-Peer, Trustless Lending

Extensive market research highlights a significant, growing demand for peer-to-peer, trustless lending solutions. Users consistently expressed a desire for more control over their assets and greater flexibility in their lending options. Our Escrow-Less Lending protocol directly addresses these needs, providing a robust framework that enhances user control while maintaining the integrity and security of the lending process.

Exploring the Potential of Ark for Microloan Liquidity Management

Initially, our focus was predominantly on micro-loans. However, user interviews revealed a relatively limited demand for such products at this time. Nonetheless, we identified Ark as good solution in the context of Bitcoin microloans. Ark's capabilities could unlock new possibilities and efficiencies, making microloans more viable and attractive.

Remaining Flexible and Adaptable

Even as our primary focus shifts, the potential of Ark continues to intrigue us. Our protocol's design is inherently flexible and adaptable, allowing for continuous refinement and adjustments based on user interest and feedback. Should there be sufficient interest in the future, we are open and ready to explore Ark's integration once again to better serve our users’ needs.

Revolutionizing Bitcoin Borrowing and Lending

We firmly believe that our Escrow-Less Bitcoin-Collateralized Lending protocol has the potential to revolutionize the borrowing and lending landscape within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Our commitment is steadfast; we aim to make this innovative protocol a reality and will diligently work to iterate and improve based on user feedback. Together, let’s shape the future of decentralized lending.

Your Feedback Matters

We invite you to delve into our whitepaper and share your thoughts and feedback on this groundbreaking approach. Your insights are invaluable as we strive to create a more user-centric, flexible, and secure lending protocol. Read the full whitepaper here

Feel free to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or suggestions. We’re eager to engage with you and iterate based on your valuable input.

On social media and in the Nostr space in particular, there’s been a lot of debate about the idea of supporting deletion and editing of notes.

Some people think they’re vital features to have, others believe that more honest and healthy social media will come from getting rid of these features. The discussion about these features quickly turns to the feasibility of completely deleting something on a decentralized protocol. We quickly get to the “We can’t really delete anything from the internet, or a decentralized network.” argument. This crowds out how Delete and Edit can mimic elements of offline interactions, how they can be used as social signals.

When it comes to issues of deletion and editing content, what matters more is if the creator can communicate their intentions around their content. Sure, on the internet, with decentralized protocols, there’s no way to be sure something’s deleted. It’s not like taking a piece of paper and burning it. Computers make copies of things all the time, computers don’t like deleting things. In particular, distributed systems tend to use a Kafka architecture with immutable logs, it’s just easier to keep everything around, as deleting and reindexing is hard. Even if the software could be made to delete something, there’s always screenshots, or even pictures of screens. We can’t provably make something disappear.

What we need to do in our software is clearly express intention. A delete is actually a kind of retraction. “I no longer want to associate myself with this content, please stop showing it to people as part of what I’ve published, stop highlighting it, stop sharing it.” Even if a relay or other server keeps a copy, and keeps sharing it, being able to clearly state “hello world, this thing I said, was a mistake, please get rid of it.” Just giving users the chance to say “I deleted this” is a way of showing intention. It’s also a way of signaling that feedback has been heard. Perhaps the post was factually incorrect or perhaps it was mean and the person wants to remove what they said. In an IRL conversation, for either of these scenarios there is some dialogue where the creator of the content is learning something and taking action based on what they’ve learned.

Without delete or edit, there is no option to signal to the rest of the community that you have learned something because of how the content is structured today. On most platforms a reply or response stating one’s learning will be lost often in a deluge of replies on the original post and subsequent posts are often not seen especially when the original goes viral. By providing tools like delete and edit we give people a chance to signal that they have heard the feedback and taken action.

The Nostr Protocol supports delete and expiring notes. It was one of the reasons we switched from secure scuttlebutt to build on Nostr. Our nos.social app offers delete and while we know that not all relays will honor this, we believe it’s important to provide social signaling tools as a means of making the internet more humane.

We believe that the power to learn from each other is more important than the need to police through moral outrage which is how the current platforms and even some Nostr clients work today.

It’s important that we don’t say Nostr doesn’t support delete. Not all apps need to support requesting a delete, some might want to call it a retraction. It is important that users know there is no way to enforce a delete and not all relays may honor their request.

Edit is similar, although not as widely supported as delete. It’s a creator making a clear statement that they’ve created a new version of their content. Maybe it’s a spelling error, or a new version of the content, or maybe they’re changing it altogether. Freedom online means freedom to retract a statement, freedom to update a statement, freedom to edit your own content. By building on these freedoms, we’ll make Nostr a space where people feel empowered and in control of their own media.

Table Of Content

• What is Fiat Money?

• The Misaligned Incentives of Fiat Money

• The Consequences of a Broken Corporate Model

• Conclusion

• FAQ

The modern corporate model, characterized by hierarchies of managers and shareholders, has been the dominant form of economic organization for centuries. However, recent events have exposed significant flaws in this system. One of the primary drivers of these flaws is the use of fiat money, which creates misaligned incentives throughout the corporate hierarchy. In this article, we will explore how fiat money is fueling these misaligned incentives and the consequences of this broken corporate model.

What is Fiat Money?

Fiat money is a currency that is not backed by any physical commodity, such as gold or silver. Instead, its value is based solely on the trust and faith in the government that issued it. Fiat money is used by governments all over the world as a means of exchange and is the backbone of most modern economies.

The Misaligned Incentives of Fiat Money

Fiat money creates misaligned incentives throughout the corporate hierarchy. At the highest level, corporate executives are incentivized to maximize shareholder value, often at the expense of other stakeholders, such as employees, customers, and the environment. This is because shareholder value is measured in terms of profits and share price, which can be easily manipulated through financial engineering and cost-cutting measures.

Furthermore, the use of fiat money creates a culture of short-termism, as executives are focused on meeting quarterly earnings targets rather than long-term sustainable growth. This short-term focus can lead to decisions that benefit shareholders in the short term but harm the company in the long term.

At the middle management level, managers are incentivized to please their superiors, rather than focus on the needs of their subordinates. This can lead to a lack of focus on employee well-being and development, resulting in high turnover rates and a demotivated workforce.

The Broken Corporate Model

At the lowest level, employees are incentivized to meet performance targets set by their managers, often at the expense of their own well-being and the well-being of their colleagues. This can result in a toxic work environment and a lack of innovation and creativity.

The Consequences of a Broken Corporate Model

The consequences of a broken corporate model are severe. Short-termism and a focus on shareholder value can lead to decisions that harm the environment and society, such as pollution and exploitation of workers. Additionally, a demotivated workforce can lead to a lack of innovation and creativity, which can stifle long-term growth.

Moreover, the misaligned incentives created by fiat money can lead to a lack of trust in corporations and the financial system as a whole. This lack of trust can result in decreased investment in the stock market and a decrease in economic growth.

Conclusion

The use of fiat money creates misaligned incentives throughout the corporate hierarchy, leading to a broken corporate model. Short-termism, a focus on shareholder value, and a lack of focus on employee well-being and development can lead to decisions that harm the environment and society, stifle long-term growth, and decrease trust in corporations and the financial system. To fix this broken model, we need to rethink the use of fiat money and create incentives that align with the long-term well-being of all stakeholders.

FAQ

What is the broken corporate model? The broken corporate model refers to the flaws in the traditional structure of corporations, where the focus on short-term profits can lead to misaligned incentives and negative consequences for stakeholders.

How does fiat money contribute to the broken corporate model? Fiat money, which is money that is not backed by a physical commodity, can lead to a situation where corporations prioritize short-term financial gains over long-term sustainability because there is no tangible anchor to the value of the money.

What are some examples of misaligned incentives in the corporate world? Examples of misaligned incentives in the corporate world include prioritizing quarterly profits over long-term sustainability, excessive executive compensation that is not tied to performance, and cutting corners on environmental or social responsibility to boost profits.

What can be done to address the broken corporate model? To address the broken corporate model, stakeholders can push for more transparency and accountability in corporate decision-making, advocate for a shift towards sustainable and responsible business practices, and explore alternative economic models that prioritize stakeholder well-being over short-term profits.

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On August 10, 2024, the vibrant Sarit Expo was alive with energy as Bitcoin Dada celebrated the graduation of its seventh cohort. This momentous event, dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of cryptocurrency, showcased the dynamism and innovation of the Bitcoin Dada community. The evening began with the MC engaging the audience in a series of lively questions. “What is Bitcoin? Explain it to me like I’m five,” was one such question that underscored the diverse range of understanding in the room. While some answers were complex, others offered simpler explanations, highlighting the challenge of conveying intricate concepts.

As the MC continued, participants were asked for their impressions of the event space and suggestions for improvement. Comments ranged from critiques of overly bright lighting to discussions about the relevance of Bitcoin. One participant proposed an intriguing app idea that combined Eventbrite and WhatsApp, reflecting the innovative spirit of the audience.

The highlight of the evening was the inspiring opening speech by the CEO of Bitcoin Dada. She addressed the marginalization of women in tech, celebrating Bitcoin Dada’s commitment to inclusivity and support. She introduced her team

each member contributing uniquely: Edith, the community lead from Uganda; Sabina, the recruiter who found a sense of belonging; and Memelord, the project manager with a flair for comedy.

The ideathon segment was particularly thrilling. Debra’s third-place pitch proposed a Bitcoin-powered marketplace aimed at reducing youth unemployment by showcasing skills. Shantelle’s second-place idea focused on using Bitcoin to address global issues, such as helping refugees find safe zones with GPS technology. The top prize went to Meg, with her solution promising a significant impact—though the specifics were left as a tantalizing cliffhanger. 🌟🏆

PS : Sabina also gave a preview of the #tando app tha you can check out here on my youtube channel Link HERE

Meeting Inspiring Figures and Making Connections 📸

Throughout the event, I had the pleasure of meeting some remarkable individuals who are deeply involved in the Bitcoin community.

First, I met Felix from TheCore, a key panelist in the discussion on the financial revolution amidst economic unrest. We took a photo together, capturing a moment of shared enthusiasm for the potential of Bitcoin.

Later, I connected with a Bitcoin Dada and gamer who is actively involved with Thndr Games, Mary Imasuen. We took a photo showcasing our shared passion for Bitcoin and gaming.

I also had the chance to meet a Bitcoin enthusiast named Hope and she was adorned in Bitcoin-themed merchandise. We snapped a photo together, celebrating our mutual enthusiasm for Bitcoin and its future.

Panel Discussions: Insightful Exchanges and Thoughtful Dialogues

The panel discussion titled “Financial Revolution Amidst Economic Unrest” featured Felix from TheCore, Jason, a Bitcoin Dada supporter, and Bill, a lawyer with expertise in Bitcoin. They delved into the major challenges Kenyans face in adopting Bitcoin, emphasizing the importance of education and community support. They discussed the solid foundation of Bitcoin’s base layer and the need for further development in subsequent layers to enhance its functionality.

The discussion also touched on Kenya’s future in the Bitcoin space. Bill suggested integrating Bitcoin with fiat transactions and stock exchanges, while Jason highlighted the government's welcoming stance and the need for energy to support Bitcoin. Felix proposed making Bitcoin legal tender and finding sustainable energy sources to bolster its use. ⚖️🌍

Audience questions added further depth to the conversation. One attendee asked about using Bitcoin to offset government debt, while another inquired about measures for improving public education on Bitcoin. The responses stressed the need for comprehensive educational initiatives. When asked about alternative cryptocurrencies, the panel firmly rejected the idea of “shitcoins,” focusing instead on the value of Bitcoin. 🚫💸

The second panel discussion, moderated by Sharon from ₿-Trust, explored personal experiences with Bitcoin Dada. Panelists Anon, Vera, and Caroline shared how the program impacted their perspectives.

• Anon discovered a niche and a supportive community, emphasizing Bitcoin’s role as “lightning-fast internet money,” especially with Layer 2 advancements. 🌐⚡
• Vera found Bitcoin to be a valuable medium of exchange, advocated against other cryptocurrencies as “shitcoins,” and highlighted opportunities for women. 💪💰
• Caroline expanded her knowledge and aimed to educate others, describing Bitcoin as a store of value and emphasizing the importance of combating inflation through education. 📚🔍

The panelists also discussed opportunities for Bitcoin in their communities: - Anon saw potential for learning and growth through knowledge-sharing. - Vera mentioned BitSacco, a solution for saving in Bitcoin, and other upcoming projects like Sabina’s Tando app. - Caroline stressed the importance of education to counteract misconceptions about Bitcoin and its benefits. 🏡📈

In their closing remarks, the panelists shared their future aspirations: - Anon aimed to become a developer impacted by Bitcoin. - Vera planned to engage with the community and learn from others. - Caroline focused on educating the community to dispel myths about Bitcoin. 🌟👩‍💻

The event concluded with a warm dinner where attendees mingled, exchanged ideas, and enjoyed a meal together. WATCH https://video.nostr.build/4d0fbc2dd6ae0c20e0d45aa071a9e88000a9544f4289414900c91134d13960da.mp4

The Bitcoin Dada Cohort 7 graduation was more than just a celebration of individual achievements; it was a testament to the collective potential of the Bitcoin community.

As the event wrapped up, the atmosphere was charged with optimism and a shared commitment to advancing bitcoin technology. The graduating cohort left with new skills, fresh ideas, and a network of like-minded individuals, ready to make a significant impact on the future of Bitcoin. 🌍💡 #kenya #bitbiashara #kenya

Will man der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung glauben, so handelt es sich bei Propaganda um den Versuch der gezielten Beeinflussung des Denkens, Handelns wie auch Fühlens von Menschen. Charakteristisch für Propaganda ist, dass sie darauf verzichtet die verschiedenen Seiten einer Thematik darzulegen, sondern gezielt Meinung mit (Fehl)-Information vermischt. Wer Propaganda betreibt, strebt nicht danach zu diskutieren oder die Öffentlichkeit gar mit Argumenten zu überzeugen, sondern greift zu verschiedensten Manipulationstechniken, die die Emotionen und das Verhalten der Öffentlichkeit beeinflussen. Propaganda nimmt dem Menschen (eigenständiges) Denken ab und gibt ihm stattdessen das Gefühl, mit der übernommenen Meinung goldrichtig zu liegen. Hier zeigt sich auch der wesentliche Unterschied zum Journalismus: Journalismus strebt nach Aufklärung, indem alle verfügbaren Fakten und Hintergründe dargelegt werden und der Empfänger selbst darüber entscheiden darf, was er für richtig und was er für falsch hält [1].

Zwar verbinden wir den Begriff Propaganda heutzutage mit autoritären und totalitären Staaten, wo diese auch zweifelsfrei Anwendung findet, doch kommen Propagandatechniken auch im Westen zum Einsatz, wenn auch in einer auf die demokratische Herrschaftsform zugeschnittene Art und Weise. Wie die Geschichte gezeigt hat - hier sind die Werke von Edward Bernays ganz besonders relevant [2] - wurde Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, sprich Public Relations (PR), basierend auf den Erkenntnissen der Propagandaforschung verfeinert, über welche die öffentliche Wahrnehmung von Personen, Konzernen und Regierungen beeinflusst wird. In Summe lässt sich daraus ableiten, dass auch Propaganda in unseren Breitengraden Tradition hat.

Nun halte ich es in Zeiten von (leider) wiederkehrenden heißen Konflikten in Europa besonders wichtig sich über existierende Manipulationstechniken wie auch gezielter Meinungsmache in (Massen)-medien bewusst zu sein wie auch erscheinenden Artikeln, Posts, Videos und ganz besonders Schlagzeilen mit einem gewissen Grad an Achtsamkeit zu begegnen, um nicht umgehend Opfer von Manipulation zu werden. Denn wie schon von der bereits erwähnten Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung erwähnt wurde, kann nur jener sich gegen den Einfluss von Propaganda wehren, der diese als solche erkennt. Dadurch motiviert nehme ich heute die Prinzipien der Kriegspropaganda ins Fadenkreuz.

„Auf die Dauer vermag auch die frechste und bestorganisierte Propaganda nichts gegen die Wahrheit.“ ―Albert Schweitzer

Die Prinzipien der Kriegspropaganda

Unter dem Eindruck des Ersten Weltkriegs schrieb Arthur Ponsonby, britischer Adeliger & Staatsbeamter, 1928 das Buch "Lüge in Kriegszeiten", in welchem er die Mechanismen der damaligen Kriegspropaganda untersuchte. Er steht übrigens im Verdacht Urvater des berühmten Zitats "das erste Opfer im Krieg ist die Wahrheit" zu sein [3]. In diesem Werk schildert Ponsonby 20 Aspekte, die wiederum später von der Historikerin Anne Morelli im Jahr 2001 zu den zehn Prinzipien der Kriegspropaganda zusammengefasst wurden. Wie sie selbst betonte geht es bei diesen Prinzipien nicht darum herauszufinden, wer lügt und wer die Wahrheit sagt, wer das glaubt, was er sagt, sondern Mittels dieser Prinzipien die verbreitete Propaganda zu veranschaulichen und ihr Funktionieren zu beschreiben (Seite 6, [4]). Nachdem ich mich selbst mit diesen Prinzipien beschäftigt hatte, wurde mir mit jeder einzelnen Gedankenrunde immer klarer, wie die von Anne Morelli beschriebenen Prinzipien als wie eine Art Leitfaden verwendet werden, um Pressemeldungen, Argumente und Schlagzeilen in Sozialen Medien so zu formulieren, dass unabhängig vom Geschehnis stets eine unterbewusste Botschaft mitschwingt, so dass der gewünschte Effekt der Manipulation maximiert wird.

Nun könnte man nach Durchsicht der größten Tagesblätter des Deutschsprachigen Raums etliche Beispiele für jeden einzelnen der in Kürze vorgestellten Prinzipien präsentieren, doch habe ich in Anbetracht des Themas bewusst Abstand davon genommen, um nicht gewisse Journalisten - oder kriegstreibende Propagandisten wie ich sie nenne - samt Klarnamen an den Pranger zu stellen. Wie Anne Morelli, sehe ich den größtmöglichen Mehrwert darin, die Mechanik offenzulegen, um die Leserschaft für dieses Thema zu sensibilisieren.

Wir wollen keinen Krieg!

Stets wird versichert, dass man den stattfindenden Krieg keines Falles wolle. In einer demokratischen Gesellschaft ist Krieg ein ungebetener Gast, weswegen Bevölkerungen fast ausnahmslos jedes Mal in die Kriegsbereitschaft hineingelockt werden müssen, siehe Brutkastenlüge im Zusammenhang mit dem Irakkrieg. Nun kann man sehr oft beobachten, wie Staatsführer stets in aller Inbrunst gegen den aktuellen oder einen eventuell bevorstehenden Krieg poltern. Wenn jedoch alle Personen an den entscheidenden Machthebeln so sehr gegen Kriege sind, wie können Kriege dann überhaupt ausbrechen?

Der Gegner ist allein für den Krieg verantwortlich!

Der zugrundeliegenden Logik nach zeigt jeweils die eine Kriegspartei auf die andere und schiebt dabei die Schuld für den stattfindenden Krieg der anderen Seite zu. Selbst hat man natürlich keine provozierenden Schritte gesetzt, wie etwa das Stationieren von Raketensystemen, das Verschieben von Machtblöcken oder Ähnliches. Statt zum Mittel der Diplomatie zu greifen muss der Konflikt jetzt weiter angeheizt und der Krieg fortgeführt werden, denn schließlich muss dieser Krieg jetzt geführt werden, damit (ewiger) Frieden herrschen kann - siehe "Krieg ist Frieden" nach George Orwell. Darüber hinaus kann der Konflikt auch deshalb nicht beendet werden, weil der Feind sonst "unsere Werte" zerstört, "uns" die Freiheit nimmt oder gar ein Genozid "an unserem Volk" stattfindet.

Der Führer des feindlichen Lagers wird dämonisiert

Dieses Prinzip folgt der Logik des Reduzierens eines ganzen Landes auf eine an der Spitze sitzenden Person, also dem Zuschneiden auf Putin, Obama, Scholz, etc. Diese Person repräsentiert quasi einen fleischgewordenen Dämon, der die Macht über das Feindesland errungen hat und nun in Abwesenheit von geistiger Gesundheit einen Konflikt vom Zaun bricht. Morelli argumentiert dazu: "Man kann eine Gruppe von Menschen nicht insgesamt hassen, nicht einmal als Feinde. Es ist daher wirkungsvoller, den Hass auf die feindliche Führungspersönlichkeit zu richten. Der Gegner bekommt so ein Gesicht und dieses Gesicht wird natürlich Gegenstand des Hasses werden."

Wir verteidigen ein edles Ziel und keine besonderen Interessen!

Der Fokus auf moralische und legitime Werte spielt diesem Prinzip nach deshalb eine besondere Rolle, weil es dazu dient die wirtschaftlichen und geopolitischen Ziele der eignen Seite zu verdecken, was auf das Stärken der Zustimmung der eigenen Bevölkerung schielt, da der Konflikt zu einem gewissen Grad nur durch Zustimmung eben dieser Bevölkerung geführt werden kann. So hatte Antonio Gramsci dargelegt wie sich die Ziele des Ersten Weltkriegs in drei Punkte zusammenfassen lassen: den Militarismus zu vernichten, die kleinen Staaten (wie etwa Belgien) zu verteidigen und die Welt für "die Demokratie" vorzubereiten. Letzteres Argument fand sich auch in den Konflikten des aktuellen Jahrhunderts in ähnlicher Form als "Spreading Democracy" oder "Befreiung des Iraks" wieder. Ergänzend könnte man zu diesem Prinzip sagen, dass ein Unterton von "der Feind ist ein blutrünstiges Monster aus einer barbarischen Gesellschaft" mitschwingt.

Der Feind begeht wissentlich Grausamkeiten, wenn wir Fehler machen, geschieht dies unbeabsichtigt

Erzählungen über Gräueltaten des Feindes stellen ein wesentliches Element von Kriegspropaganda dar. Zwar sind Grausamkeiten zweifelsohne integraler Bestandteil eines jeden Krieges, und das auf beiden Seiten, jedoch ist die gegensätzliche Darstellung der eigenen "humanitären" Armee, die selbstverständlich von der Bevölkerung geliebt wird, und der feindlichen Armee, die als einzige Kriegspartei Grausamkeiten begeht, altbekannte Propaganda. Üblicherweise begnügt man sich nicht mit den tatsächlich auftretenden Verbrechen, im Gegenteil, man kann in vergangenen Konflikten wiederholt beobachten wie Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit am Schreibtisch erfunden werden, um den Feind als die Wiederkehr Adolf Hitlers erscheinen zu lassen.

Der Feind benutzt unerlaubte Waffen

In gewisser Weise ergänzt dieses Prinzip das vorangegangene und das nämlich um den Aspekt den Krieg selbst auf ritterliche Art und Weise zu führen, als wäre Krieg ein vollends definiertes Brettspiel, während der Feind geächtete Waffen einsetzt - zu jenen man selbst natürlich niemals greifen würde. Die Geschichte zeigt, dass hier oft der Gegenseite vorgeworfen wird, was die eigene Armee-(führung) bereits lange vorbereitet oder gar eingesetzt hat. Ein älteres Beispiel wäre die Verwendung von Giftgas im Ersten Weltkrieg, während Streumunition wie auch mit Uran angereicherte Munition ein trauriges Kapitel der vergangenen Monate ist.

Wir erleiden geringe Verluste, die Verluste des Feindes sind erheblich

Zitat aus dem Buch von Morelli: "Von seltenen Ausnahmen abgesehen, schließen Menschen sich eher den siegreichen Anliegen an. Im Falle des Krieges hängt die Präferenz der öffentlichen Meinung sehr stark von den augenscheinlichen Ergebnissen des Konflikts ab. Wenn die Ergebnisse nicht gut sind, muss die Propaganda unsere Verluste verschleiern und die des Feindes übertreiben."

Anerkannte Kulturträger und Wissenschafter unterstützen unser Anliegen

Ein unterschätztes Mittel der Propaganda ist das Einbeziehen von Personen des öffentlichen Lebens, favorisiert jene zu denen möglichst große Teile der Bevölkerung ein Vertrauensverhältnis entwickelt haben oder Personen mit einer gewissen "moralischen Autorität", wie etwa geistliche Führer. Darüber hinaus ließen sich in der Vergangenheit - wie auch heute - Künstler und Medienschaffende dazu instrumentalisieren Filme, Dokumentationen und Karikaturen über den Feind zu erstellen wie auch zu verbreiten. Man rufe sich in Erinnerung, dass man nicht ohne Grund von der Heimatfront spricht. In einer halbwegs von Demokratie geprägten Gesellschaft entscheidet das Wahlvolk wie lange ein Konflikt noch geführt werden kann bzw. wie stabil die kriegsführende Regierung im Sattel sitzt.

Unser Anliegen hat etwas Heiliges

Dieses Prinzip mag bei erster Betrachtung an die Kreuzzüge erinnern, bei jenen "der Wille Gottes" in gewisser Weise im Mittelpunkt stand. Ein in meinen Augen wichtiges Element bei diesem Aspekt ist die versteckte Nachricht des Kampfes Gut gegen Böse. Wir, die Guten, kämpfen gegen das Böse, den Feind, und treiben diesen Konflikt nun gewaltsam voran, um die Welt von dem Bösen zu befreien, die Welt also einer Heilung zu unterziehen. Neben dem religiös angehauchten Argument scheint dieses Propagandaprinzip um das Schlagwort "Demokratie" bereichert geworden zu sein. Wie in meinen Augen zurecht aufgezeigt wird, sprach auch George Bush von der "Achse des Bösen" wie auch der Pflicht dem Irak Demokratie zu bringen, also ein Gut, dass gottesgleiche Züge zu haben scheint. Sprachliche Ausschmückungen wie "Gott ist mit uns" tun in Botschaften, die sich nach diesem Prinzip richten, ihr übriges.

Wer unsere Propaganda in Zweifel zieht, arbeitet für den Feind und ist damit ein Verräter

Das zehnte und somit letzte Prinzip kann mit den vorangegangenen Prinzipien kombiniert werden. In manchen Situationen dient dieses Prinzip jedoch auch als Leitmotiv im Umgang mit kritischen Stimmen aus der Heimatfront. Wer auch immer Meldungen, Schlagzeilen oder gar Argumente infrage stellt, ist automatisch ein Kollaborateur des Feindes. Anhand dieser polarisierten Betrachtungsweise des "entweder bist du für uns oder gegen uns" muss umgehend Farbe bekannt werden. Durch diese Eliminierung einer abgewogenen Betrachtung von komplexen Ereignissen wird es also unmöglich gemacht, eine abweichende Meinung zu entwickeln, ohne einen regelrechten Lynchprozess am Hals zu haben. Man könnte dies auch als das Ende des Meinungspluralismus interpretieren, wo jegliche Opposition zum Schweigen verurteilt wird und zur Not diffamiert wie auch diskriminiert wird.

(Weitere) Methoden der Kriegspropaganda

Wie in [6] präsentiert, können Propagandisten auf eine erstaunlich große Bandbreite von Manipulationsmethoden zurückgreifen. In meinen Augen lohnt sich ein kurzer Blick darauf. Ein wesentlicher Punkt, den es meiner Meinung nach zu beachten gilt, ist die Tatsache, dass mit dem gezielten Einsatz von (Kriegs)-Propaganda meist lange vor dem ersten Schusswechsel begonnen wird und auch nach Beendigung des Konfliktes Propaganda einen wichtigen Teil der militärischen Strategie darstellt.

Die Rolle von Angst

Das Zeichnen eines immanenten Bedrohungsszenarios, welches besonders über die emotionale Schiene wahrgenommen wird, stimmt Menschen am ehesten um die Notwendigkeit eines Militäreinsatzes zu befürworten. Dabei spielt es meiner Ansicht nach gar keine so große Rolle, ob diese Bedrohung real existiert oder nicht, ausschlaggebend ist die gefühlte Wahrnehmung der Bevölkerung. Bestehende oder induzierte Angst lassen sich durch geschicktes Beeinflussen schnell in Wut wandeln und am Ende des Prozesses in einen flammenden Hass auf den vermeintlichen Feind. Aus diesem Grund wird oft ein Zustand der permanent gefühlten Bedrohung geschaffen, sodass in den Köpfen eine gefühlte Gefahr für Laib und Leben so oft wie möglich präsent ist. Dieser Prozess wird durch ständiges Wiederholen der Botschaft verstärkt, bis es sich tief im Unterbewusstsein der Bevölkerung eingenistet hat.

Zensur

Zensur - das gezielte Unterdrücken oder Weglassen von Informationen zu einem Sachverhalt, ist schon lange fixer Bestandteil von Propaganda. Bestimmte Sichtweisen können in der Abwesenheit von Gegenargumenten oder gar Gegenbeweisen besonders gut verfestigt werden. Hierzu genügt es aus Sicht des Staatsapparats nicht nur Beiträge zu löschen oder Meinungen zu unterdrücken, nein, damit dies möglich ist, muss flächendeckende wie auch umfängliche Überwachung stattfinden, damit in den Augen des Unterdrückers problematische Informationen schnellstmöglich aus dem Verkehr gezogen werden können.

Von Zensur betroffen sind Druckerzeugnisse wie etwa Zeitungen und Bücher, aber auch Ton und Bildproduktionen. Auf digitaler Ebene können Webseiten, Blogs, Content Creatoren oder gar ganze Online Communities hiervon betroffen sein. Im Kontext eines Krieges ist es für die heimische Konfliktpartei von enormer Bedeutung Zensur anzuwenden, um dem Feind keinerlei geheime Informationen zukommen zu lassen - zum Beispiel über Waffen, Truppenbewegungen oder geplante Manöver der eigenen Einheiten. Ein weiteres Anliegen geht in die Richtung wie der Krieg in der Öffentlichkeit dargestellt wird. So kann ohne Anwendung von Zensur das Vertrauen in die Politik schwinden und somit schlussendlich die Zustimmung zum Fortführen der kriegerischen Handlungen schwinden. Dies kann beispielsweise passieren, sobald die Bevölkerung von Niederlagen, Fehlschlägen, dem von der eigenen Armee ausgelösten Leid oder gar Kriegsverbrechen der eigenen Reihen Wind bekommt. Daher ist es im Interesse des Zensors solche Informationen geheim zu halten. Während die direkte Zensur in der westlichen Welt weitestgehend abgeschafft wurde, findet indirekte Zensur nach wie vor Anwendung. Hierbei ist die Zugangskontrolle zu bestimmten Informationen gemeint. Es existieren quasi Torwächter, die darüber entscheiden welcher Journalist welche Informationen gefüttert bekommt. Darüber hinaus können Informationen - etwa über bestimmte Kriegsverbrechen - bewusst vorenthalten werden oder Journalisten dürfen bestimmte Orte erst gar nicht betreten. Somit bleibt vielen Journalisten wie auch Berichterstattern oft nichts anderes übrig, als die Meldungen der Militärführung zu übernehmen.

Eine dritte Form von Zensur, die in meinen Augen oftmals gar nicht erst bedacht wird, ist die Selbstzensur von Berichterstattern. Obwohl es in vielen Fällen keine politischen oder militärischen Zensurvorschriften gibt, unterschlagen Berichterstatter bestimmte Informationen. Erklärungen hierfür können Motivationen wirtschaftlicher Natur eines Mediums, direkte Bestechung oder Begünstigung sein. Nicht zu unterschätzen ist die aufkommende Angst eines Journalisten sich durch das Vertreten von unpopulären Ansichten Karrierechancen zu verbauen. Zu dieser Gefühlslage kommt hinzu, dass Journalisten oftmals wegen ihrer eigenen Weltanschauung und dem damit verbundenen Wertekompass die Realität nur einseitig wahrnehmen.

Die Verzerrung der Sprache

Die menschliche Sprache verwendet Bilder um Botschaften zu transportieren. Dabei ist jedes Hauptwort wie ein Paket mit einem gewissen bildlichen Inhalt zu verstehen. Zudem lassen sich durch geschickte Auswahl von Worten Stimmungen hervorrufen oder unterdrücken. In der Kriegspropaganda unterscheidet man hier zwischen:

• Black Words - Diese dienen zum Erschaffen eines klaren Feindbildes, welche beim Empfänger Unbehagen und Angst wecken können. Besonders in Kriegszeiten greifen Politiker in ihren Ansprachen auf Begriffe wie Diktator, Hass, Waffen, Terrorismus, Unterdrückung, Regime, Tyrannei, das Böse und so weiter zurück.
• White Words - Hierbei handelt es sich um sprachliche Bilder, die mit positiven Gefühlen verbunden sind und dienen, strategisch in Reden platziert, der moralischen Rechtfertigung des Krieges. Hierzu zählen Begriffe wie Demokratie, Freiheit, Gerechtigkeit, Sicherheit, Frieden, Familie, Nation, Humanität, Vaterland, etc.
• Sprachliche Schönfärberei - Gezielt werden Formulierungen verwendet, die einen beschönigenden Effekt haben wie beispielsweise "Kollateralschaden" statt "Getötete oder verletzte Zivilisten" oder "Luftschlag" statt "Bombardement".

Mitläuferfang

Es liegt wohl in der Natur des Menschen lieber auf der Gewinner als auf der Verliererseite stehen zu wollen, weswegen wir Menschen uns tendenziell lieber der Mehrheit anschließen. Mehrheiten versprechen Erfolg, denn allzu gutgläubig glauben wir Mehrheiten würden sich niemals täuschen. Die Strategie des Mitläuferfangs nutzt diese menschliche Anlage aus, indem die kundgetane Meinung als die Meinung der Mehrheit verkauft wird. Hierzu werden öfters auch Bilder eingesetzt, die den Eindruck erwecken, eine große Masse würde bereits dieser propagierten Meinung folgen.

Ästhetisierung

Unter dem Begriff Ästhetisierung versteht man eine verschönerte Darstellung einer Sache. Etwa wird durch eine ästhetische Darstellung des Krieges versucht dem Krieg den Schrecken zu nehmen, wodurch abgezielt wird den Krieg dadurch leichter akzeptieren zu können. Fotos und Filme, die den Krieg dokumentieren sollen, werden bewusst so aufgenommen bzw. ausgewählt, dass sie beim Betrachter eher Faszination als Abschreckung auslösen. All das sorgt dafür, dass das Bild schön und ansprechend empfunden wird, und den Betrachter die eigentlich hässliche Kriegsrealität vergessen lässt.

Militainment

Dieser Begriff verbindet "Militär" und "Entertainment" und besonders jüngere Leser sollten schnell erkennen was hier gemeint ist. Hingedeutet wird hier auf die aktive Zusammenarbeit zwischen Militär und Medienunternehmen bei der Produktion von Kriegsfilmen, -serien, -dokumentationen oder Computerkriegsspielen. Beide Seiten ziehen Nutzen daraus: Das Militär stellt die Ausrüstung zur Verfügung, die für eine Produktion nötig ist. Als Gegenleistung verpflichten sich die Medienmacher, den Krieg in der vom Militär gewünschten Weise darzustellen. Letztlich entscheidet das Militär darüber, was gezeigt werden darf und was nicht. So wird der Krieg zum Schauplatz von Heldengeschichten, in denen das Militär ehrenvoll erscheint und andere Möglichkeiten als Krieg zur Lösung von Konflikten ausgeblendet werden. Diese Darstellungsweise trägt dazu bei, dass das Ansehen des Militärs und die gesellschaftliche Akzeptanz von Kriegen steigen.

Auch die Computer- und Softwareindustrie wird durch das Militär unterstützt. Ähnlich wie bei Kriegsfilmen ist ein realistisches Erscheinungsbild für Computerkriegsspiele sehr wichtig. Doch wie kommt man an alle Taktiken, Uniformen, Sounds, Einsatzpapiere oder gar Stimmen und Karten heran? – Man braucht die Army. Da die sich allerdings aussucht, wer welches Material bekommt, kann sie von einem Einspruchsrecht Gebrauch machen. Das ist nicht unstatthaft, wer würde schließlich ein Projekt finanzieren oder unterstützen, das das eigene Werbebild beschädigt?

Fazit

Wie im Lauf des Posts immer deutlicher wird, ist die Bandbreite an Methoden, aus der Propagandisten schöpfen können, beträchtlich. Darüber hinaus stammen diese Techniken nicht aus dem letzten Quartal, sondern hatten jahrhundertelang Zeit, um verfeinert zu werden. Ich hoffe mit diesem Post zur Stärkung der Achtsamkeit im Bereich der Propaganda wie auch der Sensibilisierung im Hinblick auf den Einsatz von Propagandatechniken im Alltag beizutragen. Nur wer Propaganda wie auch Manipulationsversuche als solche erkennt, wird in der Lage sein sich dessen zu erwehren. Das Schlusswort möchte ich nun einer Person überlassen, die mich schon vor Jahren dazu inspiriert hatte mich mit dieser unbequemen Thematik zu beschäftigen:

"Nearly every war that has started in the past 50 years, has been the result of media lies. The media could have stopped it, if they hadn't reprinted government propaganda but what does that mean? Well, that means basically populations don't like wars and populations have to be fooled into wars. populations don't willingly and with open eyes go into a war So, if we have a good media environment then we will also have a peaceful environment. Our number one enemy is ignorance." - Julian Assange

Quellen

1. https://www.bpb.de/themen/medien-journalismus/krieg-in-den-medien/130697/was-ist-propaganda
2. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/493212.Propaganda
3. https://weltwoche.ch/daily/prinzipien-der-kriegspropaganda-von-arthur-ponsonby
4. https://www.morawa.at/detail/ISBN-9783866744158/Morelli-Anne/Die-Prinzipien-der-Kriegspropaganda?CSPCHD=002000000000JAZLG7CSVpoEmIWvrDniZIp7zJA2Cmz9CJ_rwt
5. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Prinzipien_der_Kriegspropaganda
6. https://www.bpb.de/themen/medien-journalismus/krieg-in-den-medien/130699/methoden-der-kriegspropaganda/

Bücher zum Thema

• Edward Bernays - Propaganda
• Anne Morelli - Die Prinzipien der Kriegspropaganda
• Patrik Baab - Propaganda-Presse: Wie uns Medien und Lohnschreiber in Kriege treiben
• Jonas Tögel - Kognitive Kriegsführung: Neueste Manipulationstechniken als Waffengattung der NATO
• Gustave Le Bon - Psychologie der Massen
• Marcus Klöckner - Umstritten: Ein journalistisches Gütesiegel

Videos zum Thema

• Jonas Tögel: Kognitive Kriegsführung – Neueste Manipulationstechniken als Waffengattung der NATO
• „Zensur und Propaganda sind Nato-Programm“ - Punkt.PRERADOVIC mit Patrik Baab
• Kriegsbereitschaft und Gegnerdämonisierung ǀ Gabriele Krone-Schmalz
• Daniele Ganser: Propaganda – Wie unsere Gedanken und Gefühle gelenkt werden
• Umstritten - Marcus Klöckner

Happy to announce a new major version of NDK. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to improve NDK in a lot of fronts.

Optimistic Signature verification

For most nostr apps, event signature verification is, by far, the most computationally-expensive part.

If you've ever felt your phone getting a bit hot while using a nostr app, this is probably why.

NDK introduces signature verification sampling. Each relay gets a lower and upper threshold of what ratio of events need to be verified. An unknown relay might start at getting 100% of it's events verified and, over time, lower the ratio to 50%. Whereas a relay the user has in their NIP-65 list might start at 50% and lower to 1%.

When the same event is fetched from multiple relays, only the first time an event is seen (might) have it's signature verified. If the signature is verified, subsequent relays that send the same event ID and signature, have their ratio updated, further reducing the number of signatures we need to check.

Relays should never send an invalid signature, so it only takes catching an evil relay lying about a signature once, to expel it from the pool and, perhaps, have the user add that relay to their relay blacklist event.

In order to activate this feature, developers MUST explicitly handle receiving an invalid signature, as they should probably warn the user that some trickery is happening.

👉 Tutorial

Nostr Cache Adapter

A new cache adapter, which leverages, well, nostr.

ndk-cache-nostr is a cache adapter that connects to a single local relay. This could be your a relay running in your user's computer/phone, like the nostr-tray-relay, Citrine, or it can even be a local relay you run in your server to assist in creating server-side-rendering.

If you've been envious of njump previews when sharing a link, now you can implement the same in your app by leveraging this adapter in your SSR calls.

👉 Docs

Refactored Zapping interface

This is the one breaking change; the code for sending zaps was tightly coupled to the assumption that LN was the interface. This new interface abstracts away the funding mechanism (NWC, WebLN, built-in-wallet) and the delivery mechanism (LN, ecash, Rai stones)

Major subscription Lifecycle refactor

The core of how NDK works was completely refactored from the ground-up, removing a lot of dependencies from nostr-tools, and bringing a lot of clarity to how NDK orchestrates subscriptions at the relay level.

👉 NDK Internal's documentation

Tutorials and other stuff

A few months ago I started a new effort to write more high-level documentation, instead of focusing on interface specs of NDK. https://nostr-dev-kit.github.io/ndk is the ongoing result.

ndk-wallet

A new NDK extension package, provides access to nostr-native NIP-60 wallets.

NIP-60 is a new NIP that proposes a nostr-native wallet that follows a user around any nostr application. Instead of having to manage a bunch of different NWC tokens, implement LN on their own, NIP-60 leverages multiple ecash mints, making it completely frictionless to onboard into Nostr with the capability to send and receive (via NIP-61 or a proxy like npub.cash) zaps.

ndk-wallet is the wallet that Nutsack.me is built on, providing: - wallet creation/discovery - token verification - nutzap redemption - UTXO management - balance tracking

With this package you'll be able to give your users a non-kyc wallet from which they can send both NIP-61 nutzaps and the usual NIP-57 lightning zaps.

I was reflecting on Arnold Kling's description of the three main political tribes (Progressives, Conservatives, Libertarians) and how Bitcoin serves each of them. I'm going to give each group a charitable hearing, which means I'm talking about the good faith actors in each of these tribes. I have no illusions about there being bad faith power seeking sociopaths in each group.

Full disclosure: I have not read Kling's book The Three Languages of Politics, so this is only based on listening to him discuss these ideas with Russ Roberts on Econ Talk and perhaps hearing it come up in other conversations.

Libertarians

In Kling's taxonomy, Libertarians frame issues around a liberty vs coercion distinction (can confirm). It's pretty easy to see the appeal of bitcoin to this group (and not just because it's the group I'm in).

The state and other criminals can't take your bitcoin from you without your consent and they can't stop you from transacting with it.

There's another element of bitcoin that appeals to Libertarians greatly. Using Bitcoin directly undermines the coercive state, reducing it's capacity to coerce innocent people.

Progressives

Kling describes Progressives as framing things as oppressor vs oppressed. At first blush this sounds similar to Libertarians, but Progressives don't see violations of property rights as the dividing line. Progressives are concerned about the plight of the "little guy" and not only in cases of outright coercion.

What likely appeals to Progressives is that Bitcoin is open to all. Disenfranchised people, who may be blocked out of formal financial institutions, have just as much access to Bitcoin as everyone else.

That Bitcoin also allows ordinary people to preserve their savings without relying on and enriching corrupt bankers should be quite appealing.

Conservatives

The Conservative framing is civilization vs barbarism, according to Kling. There's a lot to unpack there and I'm not going try to be comprehensive about it. One way to think about this distinction is that a civilization has formal institutional structures for dealing with disputes that are rooted in their societies traditions, rather than resorting to unseemly ad hoc solutions (again, there's a lot to unpack here).

I found conservatives the most difficult to think about. Those of you who are familiar with The Righteous Mind will likely be able to guess why.

Where I think the main appeal is for conservatives is that the state, in general, and fiat, in particular, undermine many of the traditional institutions of society. Bitcoin undermines their ability to undermine the organic institutions of civil society. There's a whole treatise to be written on this topic, but suffice to say conservatives believe that the state undermines and crowds out churches, fraternal societies, charities, the family, and cultural tradition, while the high time preference induced by fiat leads to all manner of antisocial behaviors like drug abuse, casual sex, and gambling.

Wrapping up

Let me know what you think about this. Did I miss something obvious? Did I mischaracterize anything/anyone?

Only hold as much fiat as you're willing to lose.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/653982

TL;DR - Embracing Bitcoin will not be the downfall of the US financial system; rather, it will save it. This demand will be good for Bitcoin, too.

There is no doubt the largest market for Bitcoin trading is in the US. Bitcoin and dollars are traded for each other more than any other fiat-Bitcoin pair. The USD remains the highest volume asset on the global stage, however, trust in the dollar wanes on it as well.

A great amount of uncertainty remains about Bitcoin in the public, but the public is becoming increasingly aware. At some point, the "then suddenly" threshold, when uncertainty about the dollar matches the uncertainty of Bitcoin in the public eye, a great and rapid flip will occur.

Retirement Will Become Impossible Unless Backed by Unprintable Money

It is this flip that will cause enormous and unprecedented loss for at least the aging population in the US, as well as holders of large amounts of cash. Let us focus on one aspect of this great loss: social security, which is already known to be at great risk, an almost certain bankruptcy of the whole system only a few years away, and this is only if the US dollar lasts that long.

The responsibility of this failure rests on the shoulders of the US Federal Government and the Federal Reserve. Salvation for the system will only be in one manner: backing the fund with Bitcoin.

A Strategic Reserve

If the US Government funded a strategic Bitcoin reserve rather than wars, the issuance of USD could be then exchanged for payouts in the form of Bitcoin. Retirees who depend on those monthly checks could instead receive Bitcoin. This would be reparation for the theft of the wealth promised by the system to begin, and it would be an efficient way to do so.

While the USD-BTC rate is still in the 5-figures, investments into it can see returns of hundreds times by the time Social Security becomes fully defunct. This window of opportunity is quickly closing. Returns in the tens of times should still be possible for a few years, but likely not past the year 2029.

This Will Also be Good for Bitcoin

The urgency is high. To avoid a cataclysm for our aging population, the US needs Bitcoin, and because of the demand this will generate, the adoption and valuation of Bitcoin can accelerate.

This is but one mode that Bitcoin will save the US economy, and more is to come.

test

teslgnslknsdlgnvlsdkvgnleihvlwevnlwkvlwekvnldskvnld dsvmdslvdslvndsklvndslkvnsd

```js import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react'; import dynamic from 'next/dynamic'; import { Button } from 'primereact/button'; import { Dialog } from 'primereact/dialog'; import { initializeBitcoinConnect } from './BitcoinConnect'; import { LightningAddress } from '@getalby/lightning-tools'; import { useToast } from '@/hooks/useToast'; import { useSession } from 'next-auth/react'; import axios from 'axios';

const Payment = dynamic( () => import('@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react').then((mod) => mod.Payment), { ssr: false } );

const ResourcePaymentButton = ({ lnAddress, amount, onSuccess, onError, resourceId }) => { const [invoice, setInvoice] = useState(null); const [userId, setUserId] = useState(null); const { showToast } = useToast(); const { data: session } = useSession(); const [dialogVisible, setDialogVisible] = useState(false);

useEffect(() => { if (session?.user) { setUserId(session.user.id); } }, [session]);

useEffect(() => { initializeBitcoinConnect(); }, []);

useEffect(() => { const fetchInvoice = async () => { try { const ln = new LightningAddress(lnAddress); await ln.fetch(); const invoice = await ln.requestInvoice({ satoshi: amount }); setInvoice(invoice); } catch (error) { console.error('Error fetching invoice:', error); showToast('error', 'Invoice Error', 'Failed to fetch the invoice.'); if (onError) onError(error); } };

fetchInvoice();

}, [lnAddress, amount, onError, showToast]);

const handlePaymentSuccess = async (response) => { try { const purchaseData = { userId: userId, resourceId: resourceId, amountPaid: parseInt(amount, 10) };

  const result = await axios.post('/api/purchase/resource', purchaseData);

  if (result.status === 200) {
    showToast('success', 'Payment Successful', `Paid ${amount} sats and updated user purchases`);
    if (onSuccess) onSuccess(response);
  } else {
    throw new Error('Failed to update user purchases');
  }
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Error updating user purchases:', error);
  showToast('error', 'Purchase Update Failed', 'Payment was successful, but failed to update user purchases.');
  if (onError) onError(error);
}
setDialogVisible(false);

};

return ( <> ${amount} sats} icon="pi pi-wallet" onClick={() => setDialogVisible(true)} disabled={!invoice} severity='primary' rounded className="text-[#f8f8ff] text-sm" />

setDialogVisible(false)} header="Make Payment" style={{ width: '50vw' }} > {invoice ? ( Pay ${amount} sats} /> ) : (

Loading payment details...

)}

); };

export default ResourcePaymentButton; ```

My first draft of the year went down today — a 12-team NFFC RotoWire Online championship league. I drew the first pick.

Here are the results: (live-streamed here)

1.1 Christian McCaffrey — I didn’t want the first pick, but I neglected to set my KDS, so it’s what I got. It was either McCaffrey or CeeDee Lamb for me, and while my brain said Lamb (massive target hog on a pass-first offense with a stat-padding QB), my gut said McCaffrey as I liked some of the receivers I’d likely get in Rounds 2 and 3. The problem for McCaffrey isn’t just the age, it’s playing all the way into February, three extra games after two extra games the year prior. But the 49ers are such an ideal environment, any running back can get hurt at any age, and McCaffrey is healthy now.

2.12 De’Von Achane — He was my first choice among potential second-round options, but he was going a few spots ahead per ADP, so I figured I’d get a WR like Jaylen Waddle. But Achane fell, and I snapped-called it. Now my team would probably be better served with Lamb over McCaffrey, but I couldn’t know I’d get Achane in advance.

3.12 Stefon Diggs — He’s my WR9, while NFFC ADP has him at WR24. I guess they think his second-half decline at age 30 was a big deal, and maybe it is. But it coincided with an offensive coaching change, and it’s hard to believe Diggs would just fall off a cliff midseason after such a monster start. Diggs is getting paid $22.5M on a one-year deal too, which means the Texans intend to feature him, and he’ll be motivated for a new contract. I can’t think of a better landing spot than on a team with an elite young QB, and two good, but injury-prone complements.

4.1 Sam LaPorta — Maybe this was a mistake as I really needed receivers here, and I passed on Tee Higgins and Amari Cooper. But LaPorta is my TE1, and none of the receivers were on my target list. Sometimes though, you take the solid, but unexciting player because you need to start three every week. But I didn’t.

5.12 CJ Stroud — I was hoping Marquise Brown would make it back to me, but he didn’t, and when Terry McLaurin went too, I knew I was taking Stroud (ahead of Lamar Jackson and Anthony Richardson) to stack with Diggs. In other words, I’ll have a Texans stack to go along with Achane/McCaffrey/LaPorta. But by taking both a premium QB and TE, along with two RBs, I knew my receiving corps would be thin.

6.1 Ladd McConkey — He was the only receiver left I really liked here. I don’t know if he’ll be the top target out of the gate, but Justin Herbert is good, and he’s got Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark and Quentin Johnston as his other options, no TE of which to speak and also lost Austin Ekeler.

7.12 Rome Odunze — I don’t know how he’ll get the targets with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen around, but he was the No. 9 overall pick and has an elite prospect profile. I remember taking Randy Moss as a rookie, when he was “blocked” by Cris Carter and Jake Reed too.

8.1 Jonathan Brooks — My third rookie in a row, and this might have been a mistake. I needed a third RB, but Raheem Mostert (who I don’t like at 32 and coming off a career-high in carries) would probably have been a better pick, given I have Achane. Brooks should take over for Chuba Hubbard at some point, but he tore his ACL in November, and it might be hard early on for the rookie.

9.12 Courtland Sutton — This was a hold-your-nose pick, just to acquire some likely target volume for my thin receiving corps. Someone has to catch passes in Denver.

10.1 Rashid Shaheed — Shaheed has been a playmaker since he entered the league and with Michael Thomas gone, he’s the de facto No. 2 opposite Chris Olave. The Saints don’t have great TEs, either, so he should get 90-odd targets at least.

11.12 Rashod Bateman — I actually wanted to take Bateman in Round 10, but his ADP was so far below I figured I could wait a round, and I was right. The Ravens are talking him up in camp, and Zay Flowers is more of a short-route, slot guy. Oft-injured Mark Andrews will get a lot of targets too, but there’s room for the 24-YO first-round pick to have a post-hype breakout.

12.1 Tua Tagovailoa — This was a time-expired auto pick! Rare to do that with back to back picks, but I snap-called Bateman, so it was just like a regular pick. I was trying to type in Ty Chandler when the clock expired. That said, Tua is a fine backup, and the value is certainly fair.

13.12 Roschon Johnson — I don’t trust D’Andre Swift to hold up, and there are rumors Khalil Herbert might be dealt.

14.1 Michael Wilson — Marvin Harrison and Trey McBride will get most of the looks, but Wilson should be the No. 3 after a solid rookie year, and Year 2 is when receivers typically break out.

15.12 Kenneth Gainwell — I hope Saquon Barkley sets the league on fire, but he’s been hurt a good deal. But maybe this was a bad pick because fourth rounder Will Shipley could take on a bigger role in that event. (I honestly had neglected Shipley when building my initial cheat sheet.)

16.1 Roman Wilson —In contrast to Gainwell, I really like this pick. Van Jefferson is a scrub, and Wilson could be the Steelers No. 2 before long. Moreover, George Pickens seems more like a field stretcher than true No. 1. I expect to have a lot of Wilson at this price.

17.12 Chiefs Kicker — How could I not take Harrison Butker after the offseason he’s had?

18.1 Elijah Moore — He’s been a bust so far, but Amari Cooper is getting old, and Jerry Jeudy has never really made it. Moore still has a small chance for a post-hype breakout.

19.12 Giants Defense — They have three dangerous rushers with Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and now Brian Burns and draw Sam Darnold and the Vikings Week 1, and Washington and its rookie QB Week 2.

20.1 Jonnu Smith — He can catch passes, and the Dolphins receiving corps isn’t very deep.

Roster By Position:

QB CJ Stroud RB Christian McCaffrey/De’Von Achane WR Stefon Diggs/Ladd McConkey/Rome Odunze TE Sam LaPorta FLEX Courtland Sutton K Harrison Butker D Giants B Jonathan Brooks/Rashid Shaheed/Rashod Bateman/Tua Tagovailoa/Roschon Johnson/Michael Wilson/Kenneth Gainwell/Roman Wilson/Elijah Moore/Jonnu Smith

```js import React, { useEffect, useState, useCallback, useRef } from 'react'; import { useRouter } from 'next/router'; import { useImageProxy } from '@/hooks/useImageProxy'; import { Tag } from 'primereact/tag'; import { Button } from 'primereact/button'; import Image from 'next/image'; import dynamic from 'next/dynamic'; import axios from 'axios'; import { nip04, nip19 } from 'nostr-tools'; import { v4 as uuidv4 } from 'uuid'; import { useSession } from 'next-auth/react'; import { useNDKContext } from "@/context/NDKContext"; import { NDKEvent } from "@nostr-dev-kit/ndk"; import { findKind0Fields } from '@/utils/nostr'; import { useToast } from '@/hooks/useToast'; import 'primeicons/primeicons.css';

const MDDisplay = dynamic(() => import("@uiw/react-markdown-preview"), { ssr: false });

// ... keep the validateEvent function as is ...

export default function DraftCourseDetails({ processedEvent, draftId, lessons }) { // ... keep state declarations and hooks as is ...

const fetchAuthor = useCallback(async (pubkey) => {
    if (!pubkey) return;
    const author = await ndk.getUser({ pubkey });
    const profile = await author.fetchProfile();
    const fields = await findKind0Fields(profile);
    if (fields) setAuthor(fields);
}, [ndk]);

useEffect(() => {
    if (processedEvent) fetchAuthor(processedEvent?.user?.pubkey);
}, [fetchAuthor, processedEvent]);

useEffect(() => {
    if (session) setUser(session.user);
}, [session]);

const handleDelete = async () => {
    try {
        await axios.delete(`/api/courses/drafts/${processedEvent.id}`);
        showToast('success', 'Success', 'Draft Course deleted successfully');
        router.push('/');
    } catch (error) {
        showToast('error', 'Error', 'Failed to delete draft course');
    }
};

const handlePostResource = async (resource) => {
    // ... keep this function as is ...
};

const createCourseEvent = (courseId, title, summary, coverImage, lessons, price) => {
    const event = new NDKEvent(ndk);
    event.kind = 30004;
    event.content = "";
    event.tags = [
        ['d', courseId],
        ['name', title],
        ['picture', coverImage],
        ['image', coverImage],
        ['description', summary],
        ['l', "Education"],
        ['price', price.toString()],
        ...lessons.map((lesson) => ['a', `${lesson.kind}:${lesson.pubkey}:${lesson.d}`]),
    ];
    return event;
};

const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    const newCourseId = uuidv4();

    try {
        if (!ndk.signer) await addSigner();

        // Process lessons
        await Promise.all(processedLessons.map(async (lesson) => {
            const unpublished = lesson?.unpublished;
            if (unpublished && Object.keys(unpublished).length > 0) {
                const validationResult = validateEvent(unpublished);
                if (validationResult !== true) {
                    throw new Error(`Invalid event: ${validationResult}`);
                }

                const published = await unpublished.publish();
                const saved = await handlePostResource(unpublished);

                if (published && saved) {
                    await axios.delete(`/api/drafts/${lesson?.d}`);
                }
            }
        }));

        // Create and publish course
        const courseEvent = createCourseEvent(newCourseId, processedEvent.title, processedEvent.summary, processedEvent.image, processedLessons, processedEvent.price);
        const published = await courseEvent.publish();

        if (!published) {
            throw new Error('Failed to publish course');
        }

        // Save course to db
        await axios.post('/api/courses', {
            id: newCourseId,
            resources: {
                connect: processedLessons.map(lesson => ({ id: lesson?.d }))
            },
            noteId: courseEvent.id,
            user: {
                connect: { id: user.id }
            },
            price: processedEvent?.price || 0
        });

        // Update resources with course id
        await Promise.all(processedLessons.map(lesson => 
            axios.put(`/api/resources/${lesson?.d}`, { courseId: newCourseId })
        ));

        // Delete draft
        await axios.delete(`/api/courses/drafts/${processedEvent.id}`);

        showToast('success', 'Success', 'Course created successfully');
        router.push(`/course/${courseEvent.id}`);

    } catch (error) {
        console.error('Error creating course:', error);
        showToast('error', 'Error', error.message || 'Failed to create course. Please try again.');
    }
};

useEffect(() => {
    const buildEvent = async (draft) => {
        // ... keep this function as is ...
    };

    const buildDraftEvent = async (lesson) => {
        const { unsignedEvent } = await buildEvent(lesson);
        return unsignedEvent;
    };

    const processLessons = async () => {
        if (!hasRunEffect.current && lessons.length > 0 && user && author) {
            hasRunEffect.current = true;

            const processedLessons = await Promise.all(lessons.map(async (lesson) => {
                const isDraft = !lesson?.pubkey;
                if (isDraft) {
                    const unsignedEvent = await buildDraftEvent(lesson);
                    return {
                        d: lesson?.id,
                        kind: lesson?.price ? 30402 : 30023,
                        pubkey: unsignedEvent.pubkey,
                        unpublished: unsignedEvent
                    };
                } else {
                    return {
                        d: lesson?.d,
                        kind: lesson?.price ? 30402 : 30023,
                        pubkey: lesson.pubkey
                    };
                }
            }));

            setProcessedLessons(processedLessons);
        }
    };

    processLessons();
}, [lessons, user, author, ndk]);

// ... keep the return statement (JSX) as is ...

} ```

json {"id":"7bcd1b31-7312-4ac7-bd98-26135ae3532c","userId":"cc89e769-1cf7-4c9f-9558-cacc07ec9233","price":0,"noteId":"naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpr9kpcs4v7y8nndqhm6dtvlurfw9jfwj4k6a33860d7s8d0jm6h2qqjrwcnrvsckyve395mnxvfj956xzceh943xgwfc95ervvfnx4sk2ve4xvexxpvjj4y","courseId":"a02d8514-2f56-4ab9-9f1a-16fba4d07614"}

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Objavte, ako avatari a pseudonymné identity ovplyvňujú riadenie kryptokomunít a decentralizovaných organizácií (DAOs). V tejto prednáške sa zameriame na praktické fungovanie decentralizovaného rozhodovania, vytváranie a správu avatarových profilov, a ich rolu v online reputačných systémoch. Naučíte sa, ako si vytvoriť efektívny pseudonymný profil, zapojiť sa do rôznych krypto projektov a využiť svoje aktivity na zarábanie kryptomien. Preskúmame aj príklady úspešných projektov a stratégie, ktoré vám pomôžu zorientovať sa a uspieť v dynamickom svete decentralizovaných komunít.

Black Holes: The Mysterious Giants of Space

Black holes are among the most fascinating and enigmatic objects in the universe. They are regions of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape their pull. This extreme gravitational force is a result of an enormous amount of mass being concentrated into a very small area, creating a singularity—a point of infinite density.

Formation of Black Holes:

Black holes typically form when massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel and undergo gravitational collapse. This collapse causes the core of the star to compress into a singularity, while the outer layers are often expelled into space. There are different types of black holes based on their size and formation process:

1. Stellar-Mass Black Holes: These are formed from the remnants of massive stars that have exploded in supernovae. They typically have a mass between 3 to 10 times that of the Sun.

2. Supermassive Black Holes: Found at the centers of galaxies, including our Milky Way, these black holes have masses ranging from millions to billions of times that of the Sun. Their formation is still a topic of research, but they likely grew by accumulating matter over billions of years.

3. Intermediate-Mass Black Holes: These are black holes with masses between stellar and supermassive, and their existence is still somewhat speculative. They might form through the merging of smaller black holes or the collapse of very large stars.

4. Primordial Black Holes: Hypothetical black holes that could have formed soon after the Big Bang due to density fluctuations in the early universe. These black holes could be much smaller than stellar-mass black holes.

Anatomy of a Black Hole:

• Event Horizon: The "point of no return," beyond which nothing can escape the black hole's gravity. Once something crosses this boundary, it is inevitably pulled toward the singularity.

• Singularity: The core of the black hole, where matter is thought to be infinitely dense, and the laws of physics as we know them break down.

• Accretion Disk: A disk of gas, dust, and other material that orbits the black hole. As this material spirals in, it heats up and emits radiation, often making black holes visible to telescopes.

• Jet: Some black holes eject powerful jets of particles at nearly the speed of light, which can extend for thousands of light-years. These jets are thought to be powered by the black hole's magnetic fields.

The Mystery of Black Holes:

Black holes challenge our understanding of physics, particularly at the singularity, where current theories like general relativity and quantum mechanics do not fully agree. The study of black holes is not only about understanding these exotic objects themselves but also about pushing the boundaries of science.

Observing Black Holes:

Directly observing black holes is impossible since they emit no light. However, their presence can be inferred by observing the effects of their immense gravity on nearby stars and gas. In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first-ever image of a black hole's event horizon, located in the galaxy M87, marking a milestone in astrophysics.

The Role of Black Holes in the Universe:

Black holes play a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies. Supermassive black holes, in particular, are thought to influence the formation and growth of galaxies by regulating star formation through their powerful jets and winds.

Jerome Powell, Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, stated during a hearing in March that the central bank has no plans to introduce a central bank digital currency (CBDCs) or consider it necessary at present. He said this even though the material Fed staff presents to Congress suggests otherwise - that CBDCs are described as one of the Fed’s key duties .

A CBDC is a state-controlled and programmable currency that could allow the government or its intermediaries the possibility to monitor all transactions in detail and also to block payments based on certain conditions.

Critics argue that the introduction of CBDCs could undermine citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights . Republican House Majority Leader Tom Emmer, the sponsor of a bill aimed at preventing the central bank from unilaterally introducing a CBDC, believes that if they do not mimic cash, they would only serve as a “CCP-style [Chinese Communist Party] surveillance tool” and could “undermine the American way of life”. Emmer’s proposed bill has garnered support from several US senators , including Republican Ted Cruz from Texas, who introduced the bill to the Senate. Similarly to how Swedish cash advocates risk missing the mark , Tom Emmer and the US senators risk the same outcome with their bill. If the central bank is prevented from introducing a central bank digital currency, nothing would stop major banks from implementing similar systems themselves, with similar consequences for citizens.

Indeed, the entity controlling your money becomes less significant once it is no longer you. Even if central bank digital currencies are halted in the US, a future administration could easily outsource financial censorship to the private banking system, similar to how the Biden administration is perceived by many to have circumvented the First Amendment by getting private companies to enforce censorship. A federal court in New Orleans ruled last fall against the Biden administration for compelling social media platforms to censor content. The Supreme Court has now begun hearing the case.

Deng Xiaoping, China’s paramount leader who played a vital role in China’s modernization, once said, “It does not matter if the cat is black or white. What matters is that it catches mice.” This statement reflected a pragmatic approach to economic policy, focusing on results foremost. China’s economic growth during his tenure was historic.

The discussion surrounding CBDCs and their negative impact on citizens’ freedoms and rights would benefit from a more practical and comprehensive perspective. Ultimately, it is the outcomes that matter above all. So too for our freedoms.

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27 มกราคม 2017 เป็นวันเกิดลูกชายของผม และเป็นวันที่ครอบครัวของผมย้ายเข้ามาอาศัยบ้านหลังแรกที่ซื้อ เพื่อลงหลักปักฐานที่จังหวัดนนทบุรี บ้านหลังนี้เป็น “หนี้ธนาคาร” ก้อนแรกในชีวิตของผม ถ้าผมไม่คิดมาก ลำพังรายได้จากงานประจำของผมก็เพียงพอกับการผ่อนธนาคารและได้บ้านเป็นของตัวเอง เพียงแต่ต้องใช้ระยะเวลาประมาณ 20 ปี ผมมีความคิดไม่อยากเป็นหนี้นานขนาดนั้น เลยมองหาโอกาสในการสร้างรายได้ทางอื่นๆนอกจากงานประจำ เหตุการณ์นี้เป็นจุดเริ่มต้นของผมในการศึกษาหาความรู้ใหม่ๆเรื่องการเงินครับ

“เป็นหนี้(บ้าน) ทำให้มีไฟในการหารายได้เพิ่มนั่นเอง”

ผมมีโอกาสได้ศึกษาวิชาการลงทุนในตลาดหุ้น , การเทรดเก็งกำไรสินค้าต่างๆของต่างประเทศ , กองทุนรวม + ตราสารหนี้ รวมถึงบิตคอยน์และเหรียญคริปโตอื่นๆ ใช้เวลาหลายปีกว่าจะเข้าใจและอยู่รอดได้ แต่ก็ยังไม่ประสบความสำเร็จตามเป้าหมาย

ในช่วงปีนั้นเป็นช่วงเวลาที่มีการสร้างคอนโดตามแนวรถไฟฟ้า BTS บริเวณพญาไท สุขุมวิทย์จำนวนมาก มีการซื้อขายกันอย่างคึกคักทำให้หลายๆคนประสบความสำเร็จในการลงทุนอสังหา ขณะเดียวกันรถไฟฟ้าสายสีม่วงในจังหวัดนนทบุรีได้เปิดใช้เป็นทางการ เป็นเส้นทางรถไฟฟ้าสายแรกที่เชื่อมจังหวัดนนทบุรีเข้ากับกรุงเทพ มีคอนโดสร้างใหม่ตลอดแนวรถไฟฟ้าสายสีม่วงเป็นจำนวนมาก ดึงดูดนักลงทุนในแวดวงอสังหาอยู่ไม่น้อย

“รีบซื้อคอนโดตามแนวรถไฟฟ้าสายสีม่วงจังหวัดนนทบุรี จะได้สำเร็จเหมือนการครอบครองคอนโดตามแนว BTS ในกรุงเทพ ” หรือ “ซื้อคอนโดจังหวัดนนทบุรี ใกล้แหล่งงาน เดินทางเข้าออกตัวเมืองสะดวก รวดเร็ว”

แต่ความจริงจังหวัดนนทบุรี มีระบบขนส่งสาธารณะที่ครอบคลุมมากเพียงพออยู่แล้ว ได้แก่

รถเมล์รถประจำทาง รถสองแถว พี่วินมอเตอร์ไซค์ เรือด่วนแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา

การขนส่งสาธารณะในจังหวัดนนทบุรี ครอบคลุม สะดวกสบาย ดีอยู่แล้ว

การเดินทางภายในตัวนนทบุรีก็ดี การเดินทางไป-กลับกรุงเทพก็ดี มันไม่ได้ยากขนาดนั้น ค่าเดินทางก็ถูกกว่าการขึ้นรถไฟฟ้ามากอยู่ ผมได้แต่คิดว่าคอนโดที่สร้างใหม่เหล่านี้มันจำเป็นจริงๆหรือเปล่า จะมีความต้องการในการซื้อ (demand) มากตามการคาดการณ์จริงหรือเปล่า เป็นการลงทุนที่คุ้มค่าจริงหรือเปล่า ในวันนี้ที่ผมกำลังเขียนบทความคือเดือนสิงหาคมปี 2024 ผมคิดว่าใครที่ติดตามข่าวสารการลงทุนและแวดวงอสังหาริมทรัพย์ก็คงจะทราบดีว่าความจริงเป็นยังไง

มุมมองของผมต่อการลงทุนอสังหาริมทรัพย์

จากที่ผมศึกษาด้วยตัวเอง การลงทุนอสังหาฯ สามารถแบ่งได้หลักๆ 2 แบบคือ

ซื้อขายเก็งกำไร (Flip) ตรงตัวเลยครับ เป็นการเก็งกำไรมูลค่าในอนาคต ซื้อวันนี้ขายวันหน้า เพื่อหวังกำไรส่วนต่าง (capital gain)

ซื้อและถือระยะยาว (Hold) เป็นการซื้อแล้วถือเก็บไว้ แล้วทำให้มันสร้างค่าเช่ารายเดือนเป็นกระแสเงินสด

สาย hold เป็นการลงทุนที่ปลอดภัยกว่า ผลตอบแทนไม่ได้โลดโผน ไม่ได้ตื่นเต้นมาก แต่มันมีข้อดีคือสามารถสร้างผลตอบแทนนิ่งๆได้ในทุกสภาวะเศรษฐกิจ ที่อยู่อาศัยเป็นหนึ่งในปัจจัยสี่ที่มนุษย์ต้องมี ยกเว้นเสียแต่ว่ามนุษย์จะย้ายไปอาศัยอยู่ในถ้ำหรือบนต้นไม้ อันนั้นอีกเรื่องนึง

แต่อุปสรรคที่สำคัญของการเข้ามาสู่วงการอสังหาที่หลายๆคนทราบกันดีก็คือต้องมีทุนที่มากพอ เริ่มต้นหลักล้านในครอบครองคอนโดซักห้องนึง ถ้าหากว่าไม่ได้มีเงินสดมากพอก็ต้องยอมเป็นหนี้ธนาคารในการกู้ ตอนนั้นเองสถานการณ์ครอบครัวของผมยังไม่ได้วางแผนเผื่อการเอาตัวเข้าไปในวงการนี้ ผมเข้าใจดีว่ามันเป็นลงทุนที่น่าสนใจ เพียงแต่ “มันยังไม่ใช่สำหรับเรา ในตอนนั้น”

แต่ทำความเข้าใจก่อนนะครับ คำว่าอสังหาริมทรัพย์ มันไม่ได้หมายถึงคอนโดอย่างเดียว มันยังมีอย่างอื่นอีกได้แก่

อาคารชุด (คอนโด) - ตึกแถว - ทาวโฮม - บ้านเดี่ยว - อาคารพานิชย์ - ที่ดิน - โกดังสินค้า - อพาร์ตเม้นท์ ห้องเช่า - โรงแรม - รีสอร์ท

อสังหาริมทรัพย์ = ทรัพย์สินที่เดินไปไหนไม่ได้ เอาติดตัวไปด้วยไม่ได้

วิกฤตครอบครัว และ การได้เป็นเจ้าของคอนโดห้องแรก

จากที่ผมเกริ่นไว้ตอนแรก “เป็นหนี้(บ้าน) ทำให้มีไฟในการหารายได้เพิ่ม” มันเกิดดาบสองคมที่หันมาฆ่าผมเอง ผมเก็งกำไรในตลาด futures แล้วพอร์ตระเบิด มูลค่าความเสียหายประมาณ 1,500,000 บาทครับ

มันเกิดจาก “กับดักของเทรดเดอร์หน้าใหม่” ที่คิดว่าตัวเองเข้าใจการเทรดแล้ว อ่านตลาดออกแล้ว นั่นเองครับ มาลองดูนะครับว่ามันเหมือนกระสบการณ์ของเพื่อนๆมั้ย

เรียนการเทรดเอง คิดว่าเข้าใจแล้ว แล้วก็ไปไม่รอด

ผมศึกษาจาก Youtube ครับ ดูคลิปไป 3–4 คลิป ก็เข้าใจว่า “ตัวเองเข้าใจแล้ว” ง่ายแค่นี้เอง แต่พอไปเทรดเอง เจอของจริงหน้างาน กลับขาดทุน

ตามหาระบบเทพในการเทรด

ไปหาตามเวบบอร์ดทั้งไทย ทั้งของต่างชาติ ทั้งระบบฟรีและเสียตังค์ ไปลองมาหมดครับ แล้วก็ขาดทุน

ไปซื้อคอร์สเรียน

ทั้งเรียนออนไลน์และเรียนตัวต่อตัวกับครูผู้เชี่ยวชาญในวิธีการของเขา ผมไปเรียนคอร์สตัวต่อตัวกับครูสองท่าน ปัจจุบันนี้ครูทั้งสองท่านทำกำไรได้สม่ำเสมอจนลาออกจากงานประจำมาเลี้ยงชีพเลี้ยงครอบครัว ส่งลูกเรียนโรงเรียนนานาชาติได้จากรายได้จากการเทรด มันฟังดูยิ่งใหญ่และน่าชื่นชมมาก แต่ด้วยวิธีการเทรดและเงื่อนไขทางด้านเวลาของผม ทำให้ไม่สามารถทำเหมือนครู่ทั้งสองท่านได้ ก็ขาดทุนครับ แต่ขาดทุนไม่มาก เพราะเป็นการเทรดที่ทำตามระบบ

จ้างโปรแกรมเมอร์เขียนบอทเทรด แต่ไม่รอบคอบ

ความรู้ที่ผมได้จากครูท่านแรก มันคือการสร้างระบบเทรดและทดสอบย้อนหลังด้วยตัวเอง (systematic and back test) เป็นการเทรดที่มีเงื่อนไขการเข้าและออกออเดอร์ชัดเจน แต่ว่ามันต้องเฝ้าจอใน timeframe 15 นาที มันทำให้ชีวิตผมไม่อันเป็นทำอะไรครับ เวลาไปเดินห้างซื้อของกับครอบครัว พอมีเสียง alert เตือนว่าถึงจุดเฝ้าระวังในการเปิดออเดอร์ ผมต้องขอเวลาครอบครัว หาที่นั่งแปปนึงแล้วบริหารจัดการการเทรด บางครั้ง alert ดังตอนกำลังขับรถ ผมก็ต้องเอามือข้างนึงมาจัดการการเทรด โชคดีที่เป็นช่วงรถติดแถวๆปิ่นเกล้า เลยรอดจากอุบัติเหตุ ผมมองว่ามันไม่เวิคละ เลยว่าจ้างฟรีแลนซ์จาก “fastwork” ของคุณ “ซีเค เจิง”ในการ code บอทเทรดให้ครับ มันทำงานได้ดีมาก แต่พี่ฟรีแลนซ์ท่านนั้นก็เตือนผมด้วยความหวังดีว่า

“อย่าพึ่ง” เอาไปลองกับบัญชีจริงนะ ไปลองในเดโม่ก่อน เอาให้แน่ใจก่อน เพราะเงื่อนไขการเทรดระบบของผมมันสุดยอดแห่งความซับซ้อนเลย

พี่เขากลัวว่าจะเขียนโค้ดผิดซักที่นึง ผมก็ลองบอทในบัญชีเดโม่อยู่ 1–2 สัปดาห์แล้วเห็นว่ามันใช้ได้ ก็เลยเอามาเปิดในบัญชีจริงครับ นี่คือข้อผิดพลาดอย่างนึงของผมก็คือ ในช่วงเวลาที่ทดสอบกับบัญชีเดโม่ มันชนะตลอด ไม่มีช่วงแพ้

อธิบายแบบนี้ครับ ระบบเทรดของผมเป็นการเทรดแบบ grid ระยะในการวิ่งของราคาที่จะปิดออเดอร์ไม่ว่าจะเป็น take profit หรือ stop loss มันแคบมาก มันเทรดไปประมาณ 10 ครั้ง มันจะแพ้ 1–2 ครั้ง แต่เวลาแพ้ครั้งนึงมูลค่าความเสียหายคือ ขาดทุน 15%

ไม่มีอะไรได้มาฟรีๆครับ ระบบเทรดที่อัตราชนะสูงถึง 90–95% เวลาเจอ 5–10% ที่เป็นการแพ้ แพ้ทีนึงจุก ครูผมเรียกว่า “inverted martingale” แต่มันแก้ด้วยการ money management ดีๆ

วันที่เกิดเรื่องผ่านไป 3 เดือนหลังจากเริ่มให้บิททำงานเทรดบนบัญชีจริง แล้วเจอวันที่มันแพ้พอดี วันนั้นบอทมันไม่ได้ stop loss แต่ปล่อยให้การขาดทุนไหลยาวไปเรื่อยๆ พอผมมาดูพบว่าพอร์ตมูลค่าเกือบๆหนึ่งล้านบาท ขาดทุนอยู่ 50–60% ผมเลยโทรปรึกษาพี่ที่เขียนบอทให้ ปรากฏว่ามันมีโค้ดที่ผิดพลาดในคำสั่ง stop loss ครับ สุดท้ายพอร์ตก็เสียหายหนัก

เอาเงินไปลงในเวบพนัน

ในเมื่อการเทรดเองมันยาก ไปลองหาช่องทางลัดก็แล้วกัน ชนิดที่ว่ารีบเข้ารีบออก ลุกช้าจ่ายรอบวง ผลลัพธ์คือขาดทุนครับ

เหตุการณ์ทั้งหมดนี้เกิดขึ้นในปี 2017–2018

ผลที่ตามมาก็คือบ้านแตก ภรรยาผมโมโหที่ผมทำอะไรไม่บอกและโมโหที่ผมแบกรับทุกอย่างไว้คนเดียวไม่ให้เขาเข้ามาช่วย ไม่ได้โกรธที่เทรดขาดทุน ภรรยาผมบอกว่าหากอยู่บ้านเดียวกันต่อไปมีความเป็นไปได้มากที่เขาจะขอหย่ากับผม (ก็เขาเคืองผมมาก) มีช่วงนึงที่เขาพาลูกไปเที่ยวไปค้างที่ต่างจังหวัด ตัดขาดการติดต่อกับผม เพื่อพักสมองพักความคิด จนสุดท้ายก็กลับมาคุยกัน แต่แก้วที่มันร้าวไปแล้วการคุยมันไม่ได้ราบรื่นหรอกครับ ภรรยาผมให้แยกกันอยู่คนละบ้าน ผมยอมรับข้อเสนอนี้ด้วยเหตุผลว่าให้สองแม่ลูกอยู่เป็นหลักแหล่งที่บ้าน ให้ทั้งคู่มีความปลอดภัย ส่วนผมออกไปตะลอนๆคนเดียวได้ไม่เป็นไร เพราะผมก่อเรื่องไว้ ก้มหน้าก้มตายอมรับผิดในสิ่งที่ตัวเองทำไป มันดีแล้ว

แต่ก็แปลกนะครับ กลายเป็นว่าสองคนสามีภรรยานั่งดูกันว่าจะหาห้องเช่าให้ผมอยู่ใกล้ๆที่ทำงาน มันจะได้ไม่ต้องเหนื่อยกับการเดินทางมาก พอจะรู้ราคาค่าเช่าบ้างแล้ว แต่ก็พบว่าบริเวณใกล้เคียงก็มีคอนโดที่พึ่งสร้างเสร็จ ราคาเช่าก็ไม่ได้ต่างจากห้องเช่ามาก เลยพากันเข้าไปดูครับ

“ตั้งใจว่าจะไปหาห้องคอนโดเช่า แต่ดันได้เป็นเจ้าของกรรมสิทธิ์คอนโดซะเอง”

คอนโดหลังนี้คือโครงการ Zeen condo อยู่ซอยงามวงศ์วาน 31 ห้องที่ผมได้ครอบครองเป็นห้องชั้น 6 ห้องริมที่หันหลังเข้าซอยชุมชนดั้งเดิม ไม่มีตึกสูงบังวิว ลมพัดเข้าทั้งวัน เงียบ ขนาด 28.xx ตารางเมตร เป็นห้องที่หลุดมาจากผู้ยื่นกู้ซื้อ 2 ท่านก่อนหน้านี้

ส่วนกระบวนการการคิดการตัดสินใจ กู้เพิ่มภาระหนี้ ตอนนั้นผมและภรรยาคิดอะไรอยู่ เดี๋ยวมาเล่าให้ฟังต่อตอนต่อไปนะครับ

Hello Nostr-verse,

I have now fiddled so much with the photos and table, so, enjoy the photos!

https://cdn.satellite.earth/b24577e9162d7a313f703bef22b169f33945b9314d70561c953f01e96011776a.jpg

The first set of photos shows the progress from a nice, ripe and bubbly sourdough starter to mixing the dough and putting it in the fridge for overnight cool proofing.

| | | | --- | --- | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/b505474eeadfc64e1874162ac57dab05b8ba0926c0361442b0c462887af21026.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/6d7c8faac003a3937e0dc35ef2ee1d230e1e3e781e5fa6aae9dbc9e58140f30e.jpg | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/7ac5dbc578074c0ab101fdb45c4e9ea158da060aaac7bfe09071ed9cdae58de6.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/40429d73a05dfe7437656d6d26ab12ce506b1d519732a65302f1c6a07df384da.jpg | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/b594cf669967bf944f94e23112f4518318752574f2264a2c7a121cf03de46313.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/4d4fc89a986b25bb8bcb135fae8c5358aaaf3b34affbbc79bc44722bcf60aeb6.jpg | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/9a25fde6fb761a52ca7d669f2a26b6c95536fcf01c5e22eeeff05a611af8fe60.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/af9d0f9a48e6d3e76c33a88ce4cefd87125a26bd9e2f1ec1f01ae40fe9cdc611.jpg |

You can see quite nicely how the dough kept on developing overnight. I knew last night that I didn't want to make bread otherwise I would have shaped a bread loaf and stored it in a banneton overnight. This time I was going to make

Breadlings

a.k.a. rolls or dinner rolls. There wasn't much shaping involved, none actually. I took the dough out of the bowl, put it on a floured surface and divided it into 12 (?) differently shaped little dough pieces.

I placed them on a baking paper into my Dutch oven and baked each batch for about 30 - 35 minutes, 10 minutes on high heat and the remaining time on moderate heat.

| | | | --- | --- | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/b786ddc52895468ee47d59cca7a8bb0361a4cac1a59d06721232264edd510eb0.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/0ef42689e0b0b5647abbd5111cabb69a40b4d47c23b443cb51a2f89b80c61b04.jpg | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/184c7dc2e23ec939ebbc7f6d11d80acf3789af9fe58ce4485c1d7069d9e52bdc.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/1f5df9aa5be31bb80c2ac61185db3f9b755b5d0baa51c477e8ae9ac533d40db5.jpg | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/4617bea30796b81fddc1ecde6a354bd975c0e1628c6de54f0792ba2b88c62ffb.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/ec0aa6496b521285ccf0c206e9e8776980922518e1789796f267388c31f83845.jpg | | https://cdn.satellite.earth/8ac7a1cb4b621c803ef42bb98d9d7c079f5723a632d9be6b105c048db44e123a.jpg | https://cdn.satellite.earth/9287253cd388f00b3083e713695c7de86a7e8ec2cdb4271db39da8b9da003740.jpg |

Then they had to cool down before, finally, two of them found their way onto our breakfast table and into our tummies.

The verdict:

Awesome! They were slightly crusty on the outside, chewy but airy on the inside - perfect!

https://cdn.satellite.earth/d239a280f8a23fe6d68657201d5000da074b963d1f9eba423f50f9337416bb67.jpg

Happy Weekend! OceanBee

I've shared this story a couple of times and often I have second thoughts about sharing the story again. But if my sharing it here can save ONE life, it's worth it., this issue is too important to stay silent about, so I want to raise awareness.

In November 2018, I was diagnosed with stage T2b intermediate prostate cancer. To make matters worse, it was an aggressive form genetically meaning there was a high likelihood of metastasis if I didn't take action.

Hearing the doctor deliver this news was devastating. I was stunned, caught off guard, and I broke down. Given the context of the preceding 18 months, it felt like a knockout blow:

• My mother passed away in June 2017.
• My father passed away in April 2018.
• My uncle (my mom's older brother) passed away in August 2018.

With all the grief I'd been dealing with, my first thought upon receiving the diagnosis was, "Am I next?"

Reflecting on it, I realized I experienced a microcosm of the stages of grief. I initially tried to deny the diagnosis, but there it was, staring me in the face. I got angry and sought a second opinion, hoping the first doctor was wrong. But the facts were undeniable. Facts don't care about your fears. As anyone close to me can tell you, I became deeply depressed. I was no fun to be around during the holidays. But then I realized that wallowing in fear and sadness was hurting me and those around me. I was still scared, but I knew I had to take action.

My wife was instrumental in helping me through this difficult time. I couldn’t have done it without her.

In the weeks following my diagnosis, I consulted with my urologist to devise a plan of action. He strongly recommended surgery over radiation. After doing some research, I understood why: given the aggressive nature of my cancer, radiation would leave a lingering uncertainty about recurrence. And if the cancer returned, I would have no options left. Despite the fear, surgery was the best option. I had to keep reminding myself of one thing:

I was going to have the final word on this cancer. I was determined to remove it by any means necessary and move on with my life. Was I still scared? Absolutely. But the sooner I got treatment, the better.

My urologist referred me to Swedish Urology for treatment, saying, "I'm good, but they're better, and I think you need to see them for treatment." More blood tests and planning ensued throughout December. In January, I met with my surgeon and got on the schedule.

A few months later, I underwent surgery to remove the cancer. If you're curious about the procedure, look up "da Vinci robotic surgery" online. My wife and I had to drive through the final (and worst) snow of the year on the day of the surgery, but everything went as planned. My wife stayed with me during pre-op, chatting with the anesthesiologist and nurses while they completed the final checklists. I wasn't too nervous at first, but seeing her walk away to the waiting area made everything suddenly real. In hindsight, I probably should have taken the valium they offered.

The surgery went well overall, despite a few hiccups that extended my hospital stay by a night. The pain was intense; Oxycodone helped, but I didn't enjoy the hallucinations it caused (like letters on the dry erase board melting down the board), so I minimized its use.

My wife never left my side, sleeping on an uncomfortable cot next to me. She's incredibly strong and courageous. Maybe I should get her something special for her birthday... perhaps those diamonds she was eyeing the other day.

A week later I had my first follow-up and reviewed the final pathology report. The results were good: no metastasis. I was still sore and recovering, but getting better every day. Was I out of the woods yet? Mostly, yes. There's some concern that some cancer cells might have been left behind. The cancer had advanced between my initial biopsy and final pathology report, from a Gleason score of 4+3=7 to 4+5=9. Opting for surgery was the right call. If follow-up radiation is ever needed, it will be minimal and focused.

So why am I sharing all of this? It's not about seeking attention. I'm sharing this to shake a few people out of complacency. If you're reading this and have concerns, don't ignore them. Looking back, I realize there were warning signs I dismissed as mere aging. Those ads on TV promising miracle supplements? Ignore them. They should be against the law...! They almost cost me dearly. Ask yourself:

• Are you over 40?
• Do you have a family history of reproductive or pancreatic cancers?
• Have you noticed any changes or discomfort when sitting, using the restroom, or riding a bicycle?
• Any unusual discharge in your underwear?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these, see a doctor. Go now. Get a PSA test. If your doctor dismisses the need for it, find another doctor. PSA tests do work. My PSA was only 7 (normal is 1 to 4), and my first urologist didn't think they would find anything. But here I am, post-prostatectomy. PSA tests are easy: a simple blood draw, and the results come back in a few days. If it's below 4, check it again in six months to ensure it hasn't risen. And if you're over 50, definitely get a direct exam.

Did you know the percentage of males with prostate cancer increases linearly with age? It does: 30% of males in their 30s have prostate cancer, 40% in their 40s, and so on. Recent studies have found this, and urologists are taking these findings seriously. Ignoring early warning signs is not worth your life.

Ignore those TV ads for miracle supplements. They’re a dangerous distraction. Many contain Saw Palmetto, which can suppress PSA levels and create a false sense of security. Instead of relying on these supplements, see a doctor.

Go get checked. Talk to a doctor. Do it now.

Finally, I want to thank my wife. I know this has been tough, but I'm glad you're here. I couldn't have done this without you. I love you.

My first post in this community is going to be a simple on i.e. not a recipe. However, if you'd like me to post the recipe, you know what to do.

Last night's dinner was born out of the fact that we ran out of fresh alternatives of chicken or fish, our usual staples to have for dinner with salad. Since I felt lazy, it's the weekend after all, I didn't feel like going shopping, I started checking our pantry for something, for an inspiration.

And inspiration struck in the form of: Garbanzo beans, also known as chick peas. We love those little bundles of healthy protein. Add them to salad, roast and spice them, make them into a pate or hummus or a good ol' German pea soup, they are extremely versatile.

But what I had in mind was a protein main to be accompanied by a mixed greens salad with honey vinaigrette, hence I made veggie burgers.

Earlier in the day we had talked about potato pancakes or hashbrowns or rösti in Switzerland. Luckily I had some potatoes on hand, unlucky for me they were small which makes them harder to hold when grating them. Yet somehow I managed to not get any of my fingers into the mix.

And thus our two patties dinner with salad was created. I added a little roasted garlic aioli to the rösti and a spicy habanero aioli to the bean patty.

https://cdn.satellite.earth/6c14c39a0a3809b8b66351e0a6187f7914d6befe1ddc4e68018a8bcf4c182ccf.jpg

https://cdn.satellite.earth/dd759f338afc6f88e1bbc3cc803899e5b98661d846f6b5604d5695a6a585b253.jpg

I dare say it was a pretty good dinner - yum!

Cheers, OceanBee

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.

Having recovered from my 27-hour trip to a remote area of Argentina at the foot of the Andes, I figured I’d bust out my round by round draft targets.

For point of reference (as to my location), here’s a shot of the snow-capped mountains outside my window (it’s winter here in the Southern Hemisphere):

Keep in mind this is all subject to context and I’d absolutely hold my nose and draft someone off this list if it were a player of need, or he fell below ADP. (Also, I’ll probably change my mind on a few of these guys.)

For point of reference, here’s the NFFC ADP for the RotoWire Online Championship over last three days:

Round 1: Obviously, it depends where you pick, but there are only two players I’m avoiding, and one is McCaffrey (of whom I already have a share), but I don’t like the calf injury, however minor they say it is. Sure, if he drops to nine or whatever I would gamble, but he won’t. The other is Marvin Harrison sight unseen. I’d gamble on Gibbs (also has an injury, but he’s much younger than McCaffrey) or Puka Nacua (also with a knee issue) ahead of him.

Bottom line, I’m fine with any of these guys and not really targeting anyone per se. I know that sounds a little odd, but I just don’t have that much of a preference between them.

Round 2: I mentioned Gibbs and Nacua, I’m fine with Harrison if he slips to pick 15 or so, and I like De’Von Achane, Travis Etienne and Jaylen Waddle at the second half of the round. I’m out on Davante Adams (age, team context), Olave (nothing special) and probably Kyren Williams (too small for his role.) I could be talked into Cooper Kupp, though I liked him better when he was going in Round 3.

Round 3: DJ Moore and DeVonta Smith seem just as good as the second round receivers to me, Isiah Pacheco is the best of the remaining running back options by far, and Stefon Diggs is the WR1 in Houston in my opinion. As a Giants fan, I love Malik Nabers, but he’s got a lot more risk than those other three in this round.

Round 4: I’d take Sam LaPorta who is locked into a great role in a good passing offense and could even improve in Year 2. Rashee Rice might go at the 2/3 turn if he weren’t in legal trouble, and there’s a chance nothing comes of it this year. Amari Cooper is rock solid every year, Josh Jacobs has overall RB1 upside despite last year’s abysmal showing. I’d also take Tee Higgins late in the round — he was a 2/3 turn guy the last couple years, and he’s still the same player.

Round 5: I hate this round. I’d take either Trey McBride or Dalton Kincaid (Kincaid first as he could be Josh Allen’s top guy). Otherwise I might reach into round six to take some guys.

Round 6: Jayden Reed was good as a rookie, and Year 2 is when receivers make the leap. I know it’s crowded in Green Bay, but if he’s the real deal, the other guys will settle into lesser roles. Rhamondre Stevenson is a good back on a bad team, but he’ll be the workhorse, and the offense can hardly be worse than last year’s. James Conner and Aaron Jones are old, but they were still good last year. CJ Stroud is my bet to lead the league in passing yards, but I’d probably rather just flat gamble on Anthony Richardson who goes early Round 7.

Round 7: Richardson could easily be QB1, and there’s so much depth at the position, he’s worth the gamble. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a Year 2 WR who could take the leap. Ladd McConkey seems like the obvious go-to slot guy for the Chargers and Javonte Williams should be himself again, two years removed from the ACL tear.

Round 8: Jake Ferguson is Dak Prescott’s de facto No. 2, seems like a bargain here. Brian Thomas is in the right place as the Jaguars lack both depth at WR and also a true No. 1, Kyler Murray has QB1 upside now that he’s two years removed from injury and has Harrison, McBride and even Michael Wilson.

Round 9: Brian Robinson is the early down workhorse, and Austin Ekeler (even if he’s not washed) is probably third-down only. And Robinson will catch some passes too. I like Brock Bowers’ upside even though it’s kind of crowded in Vegas. (I’d take David Njoku this round too.) Devin Singletary should get sufficient work in an impoved offense, and Zack Moss isn’t bad and could be more or less what Joe Mixon was last year if Chase Brown turns out to be just a guy.

Round 10: Who knows with Nick Chubb, but he’s worth a gamble here. I like Blake Corum because Kyren Williams is light for the rigors of the role, and RB1 for Sean McVay is an ideal spot. I’d also settle for Rico Dowdle as he might not be good, but Zeke Elliott is way past his prime.

Round 11: Jaylen Wright doesn’t need much to get a shot — Raheem Mostert is 32, and Achane is undersized. I keep drafting Rashid Shaheed who is the same size as Chris Olave and makes plays down the field whenever they give his a shot.

Round 12+: This is just a late-round sleeper list:

Josh Downs — has a high ankle sprain, but showed enough as a rookie to take a leap.

Michael Wilson — He showed something as a rookie and is locked in as a starter opposite Harrison.

Bucky Irving — Rachaad White is just a guy, so Irving could get a shot if he struggles. ** Tyrone Tracy** — Singletary is a pro, but he’s ordinary, and Tracy can catch as he’s a converted receiver.

Kimani Vidal — Built like a mini tank and with little durable competition ahead of him.

Khalil Herbert — He’s a good running back, even caught 20 passes last year in limited work, and D’Andre Swift probably won’t hold up.

Rashod Bateman — He should be involved if he can ever stay healthy.

Jordan Mason — McCaffrey’s only reasonably reliable backup. Elijah Mitchell is way too injury prone. ** Wan’Dale Robinson** — Probably the No. 2 target on the Giants after Nabers.

Matthew Stafford — He has two receivers going in the second round, and McVay’s offense has 35-TD upside for its QB.

Jonnu Smith — The Dolphins really don’t have a No. 3 WR, and Smith has shown he can make plays in the passing game.

Roman Wilson — Van Jefferson isn’t good, and I’m not sold on George Pickens as a No. 1, either. Wilson could be the slot guy and even lead the team in catches. ** Justin Fields — Russell Wilson is on his last legs, and should Fields get the job, he’d be a top-10 fantasy QB out of the gate. ** Daniel Jones — He was actually good in 2022, won a playoff game and now gets a king-making receiver in Nabers, a healthy Robinson, Year 2 of deep threat Jalin Hyatt and more familiarity with Brian Daboll’s offense. Plus he’ll get plenty of points on the ground.

yyyyyy

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.

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.

Published at Bitcoin Magazine, blockheight = 852766

--₿--

Bitcoin changes our lives.

It’s an almost spiritual observation that we’ve all seen within ourselves. After acquiring some, learning how it works, and to various degrees delving into what this decentralized, uncensorable, proof-of-work money is, we’ve seen our lives change. It echoes history. Some people see god in it.

Bitcoiners have had their lives upended, their perspectives shifted, and their value systems altered. We see how our behavior changed from our pre-Bitcoin selves, our emphasis now squarely placed on real things, hard things, the long term, and the local. We look to our inner selves, and we look after ourselves. We see to our families. We set our own house in order before we criticize the world.

Bitcoin encourages higher-level thinking, of the dynamic kind that once characterized good economics. Once a Bitcoiner, we become less prone to believing commonly accepted just-so stories — more skeptical and interested in verifying rather than trusting.

Anyone who’s been in Bitcoin for a while can point to countless such examples in their own lives. It’s undeniable, therefore, that Bitcoin itself has a culture. It affects change in the people it welcomes; you don’t change Bitcoin, Bitcoin changes you.

The values embedded in it are rules that people who embrace this monetary revolution can’t help but internalize. Whether they understand it or not is unimportant. Bitcoin is for anyone, sure, but you don’t stay that same person after Bitcoin has changed your life; you’re a different “anyone” than when you first opened your fiat eyes.

Bitcoin allowed us to see much of the stupidity of the collective delusions at the base of the state, democracy, central banks, public health, public schooling — public anything, really. It’s the same realization that makes us put huge question marks on climate change worries or trans ideology.

In the world of fiat, anything goes. You can unverifiably feel oppressed, a man can unverifiably be a woman, anyone who’s sad or distracted can unverifiably feel autistic or depressed. If the lord of the printing press doesn’t feel like there’s enough money around, he makes more. Violently extorting productive members of society is held as a morally good thing and celebrated. The experts and fiat media voices say the world ends in twelve (or five) years, and if you disbelieve them or ask for verification, you’re on par with the Nazis.

In Bitcoin, this playbook doesn’t fly anymore. Identifying as receiving a block reward does nothing, political votes become irrelevant, nobody’s unverifiable feelings reign supreme, and cheating gets harder. UTXOs don’t have a sex. It all goes out the window, revealed and denuded for the nonsense it always was.

Thus, something doesn’t add up in Margot Paez’s recent article thrashing Bitcoin culture. She writes:

She writes:

“…popular influencers who are often millennial men spending a lot of time taking photos of themselves flexing their muscles in front of a mirror. I really wonder how big those muscles have to get to protect the fragile ego buried beneath those muscular fibers.”

Big muscles are flexes because they’re unfakeable — like a hash under the difficulty target. A transaction is valid and confirmed or it isn’t. It’s right there, objective, and verifiable to anyone who cares to look.

Pull-ups are flexes because they display truth, regardless of what anyone else thinks about an invisible ego beneath. You can do them, or you can’t; they’re verifiable and undeniable. A muscle-up doesn’t ask_ _for permission or tries to confuse you about nuances to an imagined reality.

This stands in contrast to the fiat, legacy world — of which trans ideology is merely one of the least material but verifiably stupid examples — where words are violence, invisible and unverifiable identities rule, fiat schools can’t teach people to read or count, Uber doesn’t have any cars, and the banks don’t have your money. It’s a broken culture, where the only thing running away faster than the deaths of despair are the deficits in a profligate Treasury, forever bound to send welfare checks to rent-seekers.

It’s a culture dominated by sensitivity instead of truth, that celebrates weakness instead of strength and responsibility and self-improvement, that encourages therapy even though it barely works and shoves you pharmacy-full of meds and injections at the first sign of trouble.

That’s why I’m not sold on this “Progressive Bitcoiner” ethos flying around. Progressives came to Bitcoin and carved out a niche for themselves, and for now that works well as a bridge over from the hyper-leftwing clown world to our world. But you won’t be a Bitcoiner and long remain a progressive; they’re mostly incompatible ideas.

Progressivism came to Bitcoin as a breath of fresh air, but it will ultimately die here.

Bitcoin strips a government of control over transactions and economic value. A progressive requires a large and invasive government to uphold and enact the many things they yearn for. If you still want those goodies, but not the violent organized crime syndicate we call government, you’re merely a libertarian with a strong social ethos. Congrats. I’ve said so before regarding Jason Maier’s A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin, and I maintain that in time Bitcoin will change him too, like it has the rest of us.

Bitcoin sooner or later forces you into seeing the world of truth and acting in unfakeable ways, looking to what is rather than what’s voiced or recommended by “experts.” On the way there one usually complains loudly about the mean Bitcoiners not seeing the world you do.

It’s not a coincidence that so many Bitcoiners proudly and diligently consume steak. We saw that the nutritional guidelines were gunk (some might even say corrupt), and the people pushing them were obese, ill, and ugly. We ate a bunch of meat and felt better. _Do I look unhealthy to you?! _we ceremoniously ask.

The LGBTQ flags that Paez defends sit next to flags with “Free Palestine” — even though Palestinians aren’t exactly known for their pro-gay values — and “Slava Ukraini,” celebrating a country that scores among the worst on the Rainbow Europe index and routinely counts as Europe’s second most corrupt country (behind Russia). These are not serious people. You know something is rotten when originally peace-loving leftists celebrate the very warmongering people they should detest.

The ultimate shit-test is the clown world shitshow, not Bitcoiner culture. In fact, the truth and honesty in Bitcoin culture is the antidote.

Quit whining and go do some pull-ups.

--₿--

Originally published here.

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….

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.

```js import { getCourseById, updateCourse, deleteCourse } from "@/db/models/courseModels";

export default async function handler(req, res) { const { slug } = req.query;

if (req.method === 'GET') { try { const course = await getCourseById(slug); if (course) { res.status(200).json(course); } else { res.status(404).json({ error: 'Course not found' }); } } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ error: error.message }); } } else if (req.method === 'PUT') { try { const course = await updateCourse(slug, req.body); res.status(200).json(course); } catch (error) { res.status(400).json({ error: error.message }); } } else if (req.method === 'DELETE') { try { await deleteCourse(slug); res.status(204).end(); } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ error: error.message }); } } else { // Handle any other HTTP method res.setHeader('Allow', ['GET', 'PUT', 'DELETE']); res.status(405).end(Method ${req.method} Not Allowed); } } ```

I’ve been reading The Unchanging Word of God by David Jeremiah. This book has chapters from multiple books he wrote previously. I was particularly inspired by some of what I read in his chapter entitled “When You are at Your Wits’ End.” The title of this article was inspired by something he said as well.

What Prayer Says About Our Faith

To start us off, I’m going share the quote that led to this post. It is found on page 145.

A devoted believer will pray for God’s deliverance from problems, but a wiser one will pray for God’s use of them.

I would expand upon this quote and say, “In times of trouble, a foolish believer will try to fix things himself; a generally faithful believer will pray for God to deliver him from hardship; but a wise believer, who knows what an awesome, holy, good God we have, will pray for God to use the problem/hard times for good according to His will.”

Truly understanding who God is (His holiness, goodness, omniscience, omnipotence etc.) and truly understanding our own weakness and lack of understanding enables us to honestly pray “thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” When we think too highly of ourselves and to lowly of God, then we want to fix things ourselves or we just ask for deliverance. Nothing that happens to us is an accident or God being unfair.

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)

The Good Father

God is like a parent. He wants the best for His children, knows what is best better than His children, and gives His children what is best for their long-term good rather than their short-term happiness.

As a parent, I make my kids eat healthy food rather than the junk food they may want (especially my youngest). As a parent, I tell my kids not to do certain things that I know will cause them harm. Sometimes they don’t understand the why and try to do otherwise. When my kids were very little and just learning to crawl, I found a few spots with 1-3 steps and allowed them to fall off the steps scaring them and maybe even allowing minor pain. I did this so they would learn about the dangers of heights. If they fell off 1-3 steps, the worst thing they could get was a minor bruise and a scare. On the other hand, if they fell off a great height, they could break a bone, become paralyzed, or even die. By allowing them to have a small, short-term pain, they learned an important lesson that would prevent greater harm.

God does the same for us. He seeks our long-term good rather than our short-term comfort. He intentionally puts us through temporary hardship so we can grow in strength, wisdom, and faith to prepare us for eternity. We look at the here and now and wonder why God would allow such awful things to happen to us, but He looks at what will help us grow in faith and likeness to Himself. God is not limited by time, so He does not look at things in the same way we do. He always controls things with an eternal perspective and with complete knowledge of all things throughout eternity. He knows how each and every event or action affects every other. He works out everything according to His very good plan. We just have to reach the point of knowing that everything will work out according to God’s plan and that everything will work out for good. Sometimes God allows us to see the good in this life and other times not till we reach heaven. When we trust Jesus, we don’t have to worry.

Secure in the Storm

On page 150 of Dr. David Jeremiah’s The Unchanging Word of God, he writes:

We are far more secure in the storm with Jesus in our boat than we will ever be on the shore without Him.

Let’s start with this narrative from Luke 8:

Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:22-25)

In this event, The disciples are crossing a lake with Jesus in the boat. They have the creator God with them in the boat when a terrible storm rolls in while they are far from shore. Instead of trusting in their friend and God, they cry out in terror. “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Instead of looking for God’s miracles (of which they had seen many), they instantly assumed they were about to die. Did they really need to worry? Of course not. Did they need to be afraid? Not at all. God was in control. Should they have been looking for another miracle? Absolutely Yes.

How often do we fear a financial calamity, lament an illness, mourn a loss, or otherwise have the wrong attitude about things happening around us or to us? For most (all?) of us, I’d guess the answer is “way too often.” If we know how wise, loving, and powerful our God is, we shouldn’t fear, lament, or mourn. We should just trust Him. We should lay our needs before Him and trust His goodness and power will take care of things. We should be actively looking for how God is going to use these hardships.

God is good all of the time. He isn’t being unfair. He isn’t making a mistake. He isn’t being mean. He is working for our good and the good of others. Nothing can happen outside His will.

I know that living out this belief can be difficult when you are in the storm, but trust me. Hard times with Jesus are always better than easy times without Him. Yes, we really can have joy and happiness even in the worst situation when we trust Jesus and join Him in having an eternal perspective.

Trust Jesus.your

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

Find more articles at my Trust Jesus Substack

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

```js import { getCourseById, updateCourse, deleteCourse } from "@/db/models/courseModels";

export default async function handler(req, res) { const { slug } = req.query;

if (req.method === 'GET') { try { const course = await getCourseById(slug); if (course) { res.status(200).json(course); } else { res.status(404).json({ error: 'Course not found' }); } } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ error: error.message }); } } else if (req.method === 'PUT') { try { const course = await updateCourse(slug, req.body); res.status(200).json(course); } catch (error) { res.status(400).json({ error: error.message }); } } else if (req.method === 'DELETE') { try { await deleteCourse(slug); res.status(204).end(); } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ error: error.message }); } } else { // Handle any other HTTP method res.setHeader('Allow', ['GET', 'PUT', 'DELETE']); res.status(405).end(Method ${req.method} Not Allowed); } } ```

What Can We Get by Breaking NOSTR?

"What if we just started over? What if we took everything we have learned while building nostr and did it all again, but did it right this time?"

That is a question I've heard quite a number of times, and it is a question I have pondered quite a lot myself.

My conclusion (so far) is that I believe that we can fix all the important things without starting over. There are different levels of breakage, starting over is the most extreme of them. In this post I will describe these levels of breakage and what each one could buy us.

Cryptography

Your key-pair is the most fundamental part of nostr. That is your portable identity.

If the cryptography changed from secp256k1 to ed25519, all current nostr identities would not be usable.

This would be a complete start over.

Every other break listed in this post could be done as well to no additional detriment (save for reuse of some existing code) because we would be starting over.

Why would anyone suggest making such a break? What does this buy us?

• Curve25519 is a safe curve meaning a bunch of specific cryptography things that us mortals do not understand but we are assured that it is somehow better.
• Ed25519 is more modern, said to be faster, and has more widespread code/library support than secp256k1.
• Nostr keys could be used as TLS server certificates. TLS 1.3 using RFC 7250 Raw Public Keys allows raw public keys as certificates. No DNS or certification authorities required, removing several points of failure. These ed25519 keys could be used in TLS, whereas secp256k1 keys cannot as no TLS algorithm utilizes them AFAIK. Since relays currently don't have assigned nostr identities but are instead referenced by a websocket URL, this doesn't buy us much, but it is interesting. This idea is explored further below (keep reading) under a lesser level of breakage.

Besides breaking everything, another downside is that people would not be able to manage nostr keys with bitcoin hardware.

I am fairly strongly against breaking things this far. I don't think it is worth it.

Signature Scheme and Event Structure

Event structure is the next most fundamental part of nostr. Although events can be represented in many ways (clients and relays usually parse the JSON into data structures and/or database columns), the nature of the content of an event is well defined as seven particular fields. If we changed those, that would be a hard fork.

This break is quite severe. All current nostr events wouldn't work in this hard fork. We would be preserving identities, but all content would be starting over.

It would be difficult to bridge between this fork and current nostr because the bridge couldn't create the different signature required (not having anybody's private key) and current nostr wouldn't be generating the new kind of signature. Therefore any bridge would have to do identity mapping just like bridges to entirely different protocols do (e.g. mostr to mastodon).

What could we gain by breaking things this far?

• We could have a faster event hash and id verification: the current signature scheme of nostr requires lining up 5 JSON fields into a JSON array and using that as hash input. There is a performance cost to copying this data in order to hash it.
• We could introduce a subkey field, and sign events via that subkey, while preserving the pubkey as the author everybody knows and searches by. Note however that we can already get a remarkably similar thing using something like NIP-26 where the actual author is in a tag, and the pubkey field is the signing subkey.
• We could refactor the kind integer into composable bitflags (that could apply to any application) and an application kind (that specifies the application).
• Surely there are other things I haven't thought of.

I am currently against this kind of break. I don't think the benefits even come close to outweighing the cost. But if I learned about other things that we could "fix" by restructuring the events, I could possibly change my mind.

Replacing Relay URLs

Nostr is defined by relays that are addressed by websocket URLs. If that changed, that would be a significant break. Many (maybe even most) current event kinds would need superseding.

The most reasonable change is to define relays with nostr identities, specifying their pubkey instead of their URL.

What could we gain by this?

• We could ditch reliance on DNS. Relays could publish events under their nostr identity that advertise their current IP address(es).
• We could ditch certificates because relays could generate ed25519 keypairs for themselves (or indeed just self-signed certificates which might be much more broadly supported) and publish their public ed25519 key in the same replaceable event where they advertise their current IP address(es).

This is a gigantic break. Almost all event kinds need redefining and pretty much all nostr software will need fairly major upgrades. But it also gives us a kind of Internet liberty that many of us have dreamt of our entire lives.

I am ambivalent about this idea.

Protocol Messaging and Transport

The protocol messages of nostr are the next level of breakage. We could preserve keypair identities, all current events, and current relay URL references, but just break the protocol of how clients and relay communicate this data.

This would not necessarily break relay and client implementations at all, so long as the new protocol were opt-in.

What could we get?

• The new protocol could transmit events in binary form for increased performance (no more JSON parsing with it's typical many small memory allocations and string escaping nightmares). I think event throughput could double (wild guess).
• It could have clear expectations of who talks first, and when and how AUTH happens, avoiding a lot of current miscommunication between clients and relays.
• We could introduce bitflags for feature support so that new features could be added later and clients would not bother trying them (and getting an error or timing out) on relays that didn't signal support. This could replace much of NIP-11.
• We could then introduce something like negentropy or negative filters (but not that... probably something else solving that same problem) without it being a breaking change.
• The new protocol could just be a few websocket-binary messages enhancing the current protocol, continuing to leverage the existing websocket-text messages we currently have, meaning newer relays would still support all the older stuff.

The downsides are just that if you want this new stuff you have to build it. It makes the protocol less simple, having now multiple protocols, multiple ways of doing the same thing.

Nonetheless, this I am in favor of. I think the trade-offs are worth it. I will be pushing a draft PR for this soon.

The path forward

I propose then the following path forward:

1. A new nostr protocol over websockets binary (draft PR to be shared soon)
2. Subkeys brought into nostr via NIP-26 (but let's use a single letter tag instead, OK?) via a big push to get all the clients to support it (the transition will be painful - most major clients will need to support this before anybody can start using it).
3. Some kind of solution to the negative-filter-negentropy need added to the new protocol as its first optional feature.
4. We seriously consider replacing Relay URLs with nostr pubkeys assigned to the relay, and then have relays publish their IP address and TLS key or certificate.

We sacrifice these:

1. Faster event hash/verification
2. Composable event bitflags
3. Safer faster more well-supported crypto curve
4. Nostr keys themselves as TLS 1.3 RawPublicKey certificates

The Law Giver

In my previous article, I briefly went into the topic of how contract law is holy law.

The Father of the Christians, you see, is a God of Covenants, and He sent His Son to Earth to fulfill the Law and pay a Price for our salvation. The Father also created the Natural Order to confirm His Laws through our observation of that Law in action.

That is why Christians have a deep respect for honest contracts, true prices, fair measures, natural systems, and good laws. Not merely for their own sake, but also because understanding them helps us to understand and emulate the Law Giver.

The tired What would Jesus do? meme is actually an attempt to capture this emulation of the Highest Judge. Jesus knows the Law, since His Father defined it and He is One with the Father, so how would He apply the Law best, in this situation?

The Last Things

Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.”

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

-- 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 New Testament, RSV Bible

One of the things most devout Christians frequently ruminate over, is when Christ will return.

Every day, we ponder. We go for a walk, and ponder. We cook dinner, and ponder.

At the same time, we are called upon to live each day in a productive manner, and to not simply lie around, vegetating, and staring at the heavens. Not only for our own sake, but also because to do so would be to limit our ability to inform others about the Good News, so that they can take to pondering with us. We are called to ponder with as many people as we can produce, adopt, convert, or simply collect through our daily interactions.

This means that we are not of the world (as our eyes are watching God and baptism has made us Immortals), but we are definitely in the world (involved in, and effected by, the everyday dealings around us.) It is a very difficult balancing act to know when we are paying too much attention to the one or the other, or to know where to store up our treasures, if we can't put them all immediately into the Final Treasury.

So, we worked today and earned a bit of fiat cash and we have no immediate usage for it. What to do with it?

Well, some of it should go to charity or be invested in a business that provides important goods, services, and employment. Some of it will be needed to simply cover the day-to-day costs of our own life, or that of those dependent upon us. But it might be prudent to store up some of it, for the mysterious length of time between receipt of the monies and our own ascent into Heaven.

Typically, that store was the local currency, but that's being inflated away at an alarming rate. Then we all began to move to precious metals, and many of us still do, but they are so difficult to spend and can't be broken into small bits or transported over wide distances at low cost.

Enter Bitcoin.

The Great Ledger

In our frustration, more and more Christians are turning to a new technology, to save up some treasure in a liquid asset, for the mid-term. And, once we begin using it, and begin to understand how it works, we quickly grow fond of it.

Bitcoin is a beautiful money because it is a money based upon keeping precise accounts, using a fair measure, and obeying the Laws of Nature.

In essence, Bitcoin is a debt note emitted by a universal debtor (the network) in exchange for some good or service. This frees the individual people using it from ever needing to carry debt, as the debt stays in the network, the value and enforceability of that debt note is protected by the effort used to create and maintain the network, and the eagerness with which other people wish to store their efforts up in that same network. The debt still exists, but it can be so thinly and widely spread that it no longer rests as a burden upon one particular person.

The debt, in other words, has been disassociated from humans and the management has been distributed to machines. This is the precise opposite process of a "fiat" (by decree) currency, which only has value so long as it is associated with some particularly solvent group of humans (who personally vouch for repayment of any debts denominated in the currency), and where management is centralized to some other group of humans.

Have you accepted Bitcoin as your personal money and store of value?

You have invested $10 to buy the electricity to mine Bitcoin? Then you receive $10 of Bitcoin in return. The Bitcoin network now owes you the $10 purchasing power equivalent of that electricity.

If someone then gives you $5 worth of pizza, then you can then give them a $5 portion of your $10 worth of Bitcoin. You have taken a part of your Bitcoin debt note and shared it with them.

They now hold $5 worth of Bitcoin invested in the network and can spend it on some other good or service. Or they can simply hold it and wait for it to rise in value, as more people "mine" more of it (and produce more notes, paradoxically making the existing notes more useful and therefore valuable) and more people try to gain the notes in order to manage their own finances by storing their energy in the network or transporting their energy using the network.

Bitcoin, in other words, is an accounting book that needs no accountant because it stores, tracks, and controls the ledger on its own. It is a Natural Ledger that runs according to the the Laws.

It is the only human-made ledger that allows for true and immediate Final Settlement. This Final Settlement is what allows people to trade using the convenience of digital debt notes, with neither person occurring or even risking any personal debt. We Christians know that all debt is a burden, including monetary debts, which is why we are called to forgive each other's debt and to hope that our own debts are forgiven. Better still, is to avoid the accumulation of debts, altogether.

So, Final Settlement? Final Settlement is what Jesus would do.

Nostr で見掛けた焼肉店情報。いつか見返す。

ちょうしゅう

石垣島

http://yugafu-llc.com/

nostr:note1tgnt39hgyvn4lskp5s684czgsce9y55xm8ysfrfdj4mp3gguhhvsu6jtjw

とらじ

http://www.toraji.net/

大阪上新庄

nostr:note1x3fhl9w0wf5r7e75aem3n4ffcqcuqggp3uda6cj8p3ewg4hgrrjqwye9lc

瑞園

https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270307/27001977/

大阪上新庄

nostr:note1whjkp27hztcy5yey5r7nvc23yjcavpu322q5xyp8grua98rshz7stz9grh

たん清

https://www.tankiyo.com/

東京秋葉原

nostr:note1ke9ekpe3h92nq7qgjg4w4nmz4u7s4wyn753gagsf49pam4h6aefsddwr0k

```js import { createCourseDraft } from '@/db/models/courseDraftModels';

export default async function handler(req, res) { if (req.method === 'POST') { try { const { userId, title, summary, image, price, topics, resources, drafts } = req.body;

        const courseDraft = await createCourseDraft({
            userId,
            title,
            summary,
            image,
            price,
            topics,
            resources: {
                connect: resources.map(id => ({ id }))
            },
            drafts: {
                connect: drafts.map(id => ({ id }))
            }
        });

        res.status(201).json(courseDraft);
    } catch (error) {
        res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to create course draft' });
    }
} else {
    res.setHeader('Allow', ['POST']);
    res.status(405).end(`Method ${req.method} Not Allowed`);
}

} ```

“Bitcoin is the train that is coming. You can either be on the train or on the tracks. —Andreas M. Antonopoulos

Welcome aboard, folks! Please take your seats as we embark on our tour of the UK Bitcoin scene. 🚂

This scenic journey will take us through nine meetups, from Glasgow all the way down to Penzance. Along the way, we’ll stop at six new Bitcoin-accepting merchants, offering everything from fish and chips to music lessons.

Tickets are free as always—just make sure to share the newsletter with your fellow Bitcoiners.

All aboard! Mind the gap, and let’s roll…

Upcoming Bitcoin Meetups

Happening this week...

1. Newcastle upon Tyne Bitcoin Meetup: The next Newcastle meetup is on Tuesday 20th August at The Ware Rooms Bar. 6:30 PM. This month is a Seedsigner special, learn how to build your very own low-cost hardware wallet/signing device. ✍🏼
2. Cyphermunk House: Join the London Cyphermunk House group for a session on 'Sovereign Computing', on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. They have a live demonstration of how to use Start9 Labs software and a discussion about the future of the internet. 👨🏻‍💻
3. Canterbury Bitcoin: Meeting this month at The Parrot, 1-9 Church Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2AG at 7 PM on Tuesday the 20th. An informal meetup to discuss Bitcoin and chat. 🦜
4. Bitcoin Glasgow: Bitcoin Glasgow meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month and this month will be at The Maltman, 59-61 Renfield Street at 6 PM to 8 PM. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
5. Bitcoin Bristol: August's Bitcoin Bristol Social is at Canteen, Hamilton House, Stokes Croft from 6.15pm on Weds 21st. Support local & enjoy a balmy summer evening with some Bristol Bitcoiners. ☀️
6. Shropshire Bitcoin**: On the 21st, the Shropshire crew will meet at the Admiral Benbow in Shrewsbury. You'll find them at 7 PM, all welcome. 🍻
7. Penzance Bitcoin: Will be at The Dolphin Tavern on Quay Street on Thursday 22nd at 8 PM. They'll be meeting in the 'little room' at table 21. Everyone is welcome from beginners to OG's. 🍻
8. 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. 🚶🏻🚶🏻‍♀️🚶‍♂️
9. Real Bedford - Home Game: Peter MacCormack's boys are at home this Saturday, the 24th playing North Leigh. Join them for a 3 pm kickoff. ⚽️

New Businesses Accepting Bitcoin

It’s a huge week for merchant onboarding, with 6 new businesses to report across the country.

• The Mining Shop: The Mining Shop UK began with a passion for Bitcoin and has grown into a community of Bitcoin enthusiasts, IT professionals, and traders. They aim to make mining accessible to all, led by passionate Bitcoiners. A great selection of mining equipment can be purchased with bitcoin. Great work by the Newcastle meetup for spotting this one. ⛏️🖥️
• Nemo Cafe: Nemo Cafe at Hampton railway station serves great coffee, ice creams and a range of refreshing drinks, plus a small selection of edible treats; and they now accept bitcoin and Lightning Network payments! Well done to Rob for onboarding these guys.⚡️☕️🥐🍦
• The Lone Fisherman The Lone Fisherman in Tooting Market serves authentic fresh Caribbean dishes, salt fish fritters, jerk chicken and more. They now accept bitcoin and Lightning Network payments!⚡️🇯🇲
• Gav's Fish & Chips: The UK’s most southwesterly business that accepts bitcoin and Lightning Network payments! Gav’s on the Isles of Scilly for fresh-caught fish, lobster scampi and more! Shout-out to OPD for another business onboarded.🐟
• Lynsey Clarke Music: Looking for piano or singing lesson in Scotland? Thanks to Zaprite, Lynsey Clarke now accepts bitcoin & Lightning Network payments! 🎹🎤
• Blue Fox Homes: Looking for an AirBnB in Worcestershire? Check out Blue Fox Homes in Pershore, a modern, spacious 3 bedroom house that sleeps 5; they now accept bitcoin and Lightning payments with a 10% DISCOUNT!!⚡️

Upcoming Special Events

These events aren’t happening next week, but they’re important to add to your calendar now as tickets are selling fast.

• 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.
• Bitcoin Whitepaper Party: Celebrate Bitcoin’s 16th birthday on Bitcoin Whitepaper Day at the Dockside Vaults this Halloween. Currently, you can buy two tickets for £25 as an early bird deal, the regular price is £21.40 for a single ticket. Enjoy a performance by Roger9000 and DJ sets from MadMunky, itsTOMEKK, and ZAZAWOWOW. The party kicks off at 19:30. Bitcoin is accepted at the venue, and you can also pay for tickets with Bitcoin here.

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.

Products I Endorse

Laser Eyes Cards: Bolt Cards with laser eyes. Worldwide shipping. Visit lasereyes.cards/buy-now.

Get out and support the meetups where you can, visit Bitcoin Events UK for more info on each meetup and to find your closest on the interactive map.

Stay tuned for more updates next week!

Simon.

Full story Covid and Monkeypox - What an amazing coincidence in Germany It turns out that the new pandemic (Monkeypox) begins in an absolutely identical way, just like the old one pandemic - the covid.

Nos últimos dias, Donald Trump tem demonstrado apoio ao #bitcoin. Eu tenho muitas dúvidas sobre esta repentina mudança de opinião, Trump não dá ponto sem nó. Não devem passar de meras promessa eleitorais.

Ele ao mesmo tempo continua a dizer que fará tudo para defender o dólar, ele é muito protecionista da economia dos EUA. Mas ao defender o Bitcoin entra em contradição com a defesa do dólar, porque são dois coisas antagónicas.

Donald Trump na Convenção Nacional Libertária:

"I will ensure that the future of crypto and #Bitcoin will be made in the USA…I will support the right to self custody to the nations 50 million crypto holders."

"Vou garantir que o futuro da criptografia e #Bitcoin será feito nos EUA… Apoiarei o direito à autocustódia para os 50 milhões de detentores de criptografia da nação."

https://twitter.com/WatcherGuru/status/1794540423882432606

"I will keep Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from your #Bitcoin and I will never allow the creation of a CBDC"

“Vou manter Elizabeth Warren e seus capangas longe de você #Bitcoin e nunca permitirei a criação de um CBDC”

Trump promete comutar a sentença de Ross Ulbricht se for eleito presidente.

"He's already served 11 years. We're going to get him home."

"Ele já cumpriu 11 anos. Vamos levá-lo para casa."

Curiosamente quando Trump foi presidente dos EUA, tinha a possibilidade mas nunca comutou Ulbricht ou o Assange. Nestes 4 anos, nada mudou no caso do Ulbricht, está tudo igual, o porquê desta mudança repentina de opinião?

Trump é político puro, possivelmente é apenas uma promessa eleitoral, depois de eleito será tudo esquecido. Isto são apenas palavras para cativar um eleitorado jovem e 50 milhões já é uma percentagem relevante.

Palavras, leva-as o vento...

Full story Covid and Monkeypox - What an amazing coincidence in Germany It turns out that the new pandemic (Monkeypox) begins in an absolutely identical way, just like the old one pandemic - the covid.

germany #covid #monkeypox #pandemic #health #medicine

Full story Covid and Monkeypox - What an amazing coincidence in Germany It turns out that the new pandemic (Monkeypox) begins in an absolutely i... This is a preview of my post. Join my community and get access to this and more of my work.

https://highlighter.com/npub1xcwnu8sx6vs5ae478lzzahpmg46428nkewa46prev4jhz59uzz5qqhm0u6

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

Previous Updates

• June 28th 2024

Progress this week

This week was mostly spent on the topic of how to properly publish prekey bundles and what would be needed in the bundle itself to make it workable. I've included an early version of the spec below for prekeys, and would love thoughts on it. Treat this as an alpha version, very subject to change.

The other thing I spent time on was making changes to the OpenMLS library to add support for our custom ciphersuite. One issue that I've run into is that the IETF standard for HPKE doesn't include the secp256k1 curve. Because of this, the library being used in the OpenMLS library doesn't implement the necessary methods using our curve. Thankfully, there is another library with an open PR (shout out to nostr:npub1yevrvtp3xl42sq06usztudhleq8pdfsugw5frgaqg6lvfdewfx9q6zqrkl for that!) that would fix this. Additionally, there's an expired proposal to add secp256k1 to the HPKE spec itself. I've bumped both of these and will continue to follow up. Even without the formal addition to the spec, if we have a working library, I can add that to the OpenMLS library.

Spec Draft for Prekeys

Initial keying material (Prekey Event)

Each user that wishes to be reachable via MLS-based messaging MUST first publish a prekey event. Prekeys are used to authenticate and add members to groups (one-to-one DMs or groups with more than two participants) in an asynchronous way. The prekey event is a simple replaceable event and contains all the information needed to add a user to a group.

Prekeys SHOULD be used only once. Resuse of prekeys can lead to replay attacks.

In most cases, clients that implement this NIP will manage the creation and rotation of the prekey event. It's recommended that clients do so interactively with user consent in order to avoid overwriting prekeys created by other clients.

Derived vs Ephemeral Prekeys

Since prekeys are generated on a single device/client pair, the private key of the prekey must be either stored or generated in a way that can be deterministically recovered.

The recommended approach is to use derived keys, generated in the manner described in NIP-06. In this way, the user can respond to a new group request from any device/client pair, not just from the same device/client pair that created the initial prekey event. If using derived keys;

• Clients MUST use 104 as the account level value and 0 at the change level value (e.g. m/44'/1237'/104'/0/0).
• Keys are then generated using public derivation by incrementing the address_index level value.
• Clients MUST include the full derivation path corresponding to the key used in the content field on the prekey event.
• The content field MUST be encrypted using standard NIP-44 encryption (encrypted to themselves).

However, for added security (and consequently a more restrictive user experience), clients can chose to generate an ephemeral key and store the private key locally. This means that users will only be able to respond to new group requests from the same device/client pair and won't be able to respond at all if the prekey's private key is lost. Ephemeral keys can also be used with minimal degredation of UX if you're using a remote signer that can manage these keys.

If using an ephemeral key;

• The content field on the prekey event MUST be filled in with EPHEMERAL and then encrypted using standard NIP-44 encryption (encrypted to themselves). This ensures that anyone looking at prekey events cannot tell whether it's a derived or an ephemeral prekey.

Example Prekey Event

json { "id": <id>, "kind": 10443, "created_at": <unix timestamp in seconds>, "pubkey": <main identity pubkey>, "content": <encrypted derivation path | EPHEMERAL>, "tags": [ ["mls_protocol_version", "1.0"], ["ciphersuite", "MLS_256_DHKEMK256_CHACHA20POLY1305_SHA256_K256"], ["pubkey", <prekey pubkey>], ["prekey_sig", <signature generated from hex encoded pubkey of the prekey>], ["r", "wss://nos.lol"], ["r", "wss://relay.primal.net"] ], "sig": <signed with main identity key> }

Tags

• The mls_protocol_version tag identifies the MLS protocol version being used. For now, this MUST be 1.0
• The ciphersuite tag identifies the ciphersuite supported. For now on Nostr, we're using a custom ciphersuite, MLS_256_DHKEMK256_CHACHA20POLY1305_SHA256_K256. Read more about ciphersuites in MLS.
• pubkey is the derived or ephemeral prekey pubkey.
• The prekey_sig tag value is a Schnorr signature (over the secp256k1 curve) of the SHA-256 hashed value of the prekey's pubkey, signed with the prekey's private key.

```js const privKey = schnorr.utils.randomPrivateKey(); const pubKey = schnorr.getPublicKey(privKey);

const prekeySig = bytesToHex( schnorr.sign(bytesToHex(sha256(pubKey)), privKey) );

const prekeyTag = ["prekey_sig", prekeySig]; ```

Finally, clients SHOULD include r tags to identify each of the relays that they will attempt to publish this prekey event to. This allows for more complete replacement of prekey events at a later date.

Replacing Prekey Events

Clients MUST replace the prekey event on all the listed relays any time they successfully process a group welcome event. If the prekey was a derived prekey, clients SHOULD increment the derivation path by 1 for the next key.

Onward and Upward

This next week I'll continue to work on getting the right curves and code added to the OpenMLS library and start work on a simple demo app. The focus is on better understanding what we need from the control and message events and how we can make those as simple as possible for Nostr clients and relays while also preserving as much privacy as possible.

I do a lot of Sudoku. They’re logic puzzles, using the numbers one through nine in a nine-by-nine grid. The goal is to use all nine numbers once and only once in every nine-field row, column and box. If you find yourself with two sixes in the same row, for example, you’ve blown it.

It’s pure deductive reasoning, no probability, no induction (if it happened this way in nine of the last 10 puzzles, it’s probably the case here!), no guessing. You do not want to fill in a number unless you are absolutely sure it’s the only place it could go. As in bet-your-life-on-it sure. If there’s more than one place for it, you do not guess. It’s like Highlander: “There can only be one!”

I find it relaxing — there is no ambiguity, no argument. You either know for sure and know why you know, or you don’t know.

What a contrast to the information environment the last few years, where there are so many people, wittingly or not, feigning certainty while espousing bullshit. Compromised fact-checkers relying on captured science and medicine, misleading the demoralized and credulous, desperate for a narrative to hold off the tidal wave of fear and doubt. A giant chorus of the obedient protecting themselves from dangerous dissent with their various incantations: “Conspiracy Theory!’ “You Are Not An Epidemiologist!” “Trust the Science!”

But if the 6 can’t be here and here, and the 5 must be there, then there’s nowhere else for the 7 except there. And once we know the 7 is there, the 7 in the bottom left box must be there. That means the 8 is in the lower row, so we can eliminate the eights from the upper and middle rows of that box…

Even when you can’t immediately solve a Sudoku, when the lightning bolt of insight that opens up the whole puzzle hasn’t yet struck, at least you know for sure what you don’t know. No matter how difficult the puzzle, there is such simplicity, order and peace in the realm of pure deductive logic.

. . .

The harder puzzles require you to make assumptions. That is, you might have a box with two possible candidates, and you assume one is correct conditionally and go through the implications of it.

For example, if a box can contain only a 1 or a 3, you might assume it’s a 1, see what happens to the boxes around it, and then alternatively assume it’s a 3, and see the effects of that. If some other box has three candidates, say 3, 4 and 7, and the 1-assumption, makes it a 3, and the 3 makes it a 7, you can be sure it’s not a 4.

Eliminating the 4 doesn’t tell you what the answer is, either for it or the initial box, but it narrows down the possibilities and enables you to play out further conditional scenarios more easily. In other words, by running scenarios for both, “if x is true” and “if x is false” you can find out that “z must be false” even though you still don’t know the truth with respect to x.

It’s important though not to treat your conditional findings as true. In the example above, assuming a 1 in the first box yielded a 3 in the second. If you fill in the 3, though, you just making a 50/50 gamble that might screw up the entire puzzle.

That sounds obvious, but that’s only because my example contains two boxes. Imagine you’re five or six boxes down the cascading chain, making assumptions (and then assumptions within assumptions — like the dreams within dreams of Inception — and you can see how easily you could get it confused.

There is a big difference between “this is the case if x is true”, and “this is case, period.” But sometimes when you’re deep down the assumption rabbit hole, you forget that the entire edifice is based on a conditional. That’s how you wind up with two 6s in the same box and realize the entire 40 minutes you’ve spent wrestling with this puzzle were wasted. You thought you were making breakthroughs, but it turns out you were living a lie the entire time!

. . .

The real world is infinitely more complex than even the hardest Sudoku. It requires us to make conditional assumptions within conditional assumptions all the time. Assuming, the data from this study in the Lancet is correct, assuming that its design is not flawed, assuming it hasn’t been influenced by its funding sources, assuming the subjects in the study don’t differ in some material respect from me (lifestyle, genetics, etc.), you should consider it’s findings.

But if you forget the assumptions involved and simply fill in the box based on the conclusions therein, you run the risk of making a serious error. Many people adopted low-fat, high sugar diets to defeat cholesterol, got on statins, avoided the sun, became vegan for health. It’s pretty obvious where I stand on those practices, but irrespective of whether they’re in fact beneficial, the decision to adopt them is based on many (dubious) assumptions being true.

. . .

The beauty of Sudoku is not only do you know — or find out soon at minimal cost — what you don’t know, but also your assumptions (at least initially) are explicit. You say to yourself, “assume this is a 1, and let’s see what it does, and assume it’s instead a 3, and let’s see what that does.” You are therefore capable of untangling the results of your conditional experiments and drawing sound conclusions from them.

Often when I talk with people about health, civil liberties, medicine or other matters of import, the conversation gets derailed due to conflicting assumptions. Can we examine a question and in so doing untangle the conditional beliefs informing it? Can we agree that what one is saying is only true if one buys into particular premises, and that those premises themselves cannot be taken as a given, but also should be examined?

If you support giving endless weapons to Ukraine no matter the cost, is that because you believe it is an innocent being attacked without provocation by the evil Vladimir Putin? Is that assumption beyond scrutiny? It doesn’t matter where you come out on that question so much as recognizing you are filling in a box based on that assumption, and should that assumption be false, your entire policy prescription is bankrupted.

Let’s say you do believe Putin invaded Ukraine because he is evil and will move onto the rest if Europe next, i.e., he’s basically Hitler. Why do you believe that? Do you have first-hand knowledge of him, or is it something you read in the New York Times? If the latter, then your belief about Putin being true depends on the Times being reliable with respect to geopolitics.

If you follow this sort of reasoning to its logical conclusion, you end up looking for first principles. What can I trust? How can I be sure to fill in the boxes accurately so as not to find out later I was living a lie?

It’s difficult in the real world to find certainty. Even René Descartes, who settled on “I think, therefore I am” didn’t get far*. The best we can do, in my opinion, is via the scientific method, offering a hypothesis that purports to fit the facts, and scrapping it as new facts and better-fitting (more explanatory) hypotheses come along.

The allegory of a perfectly deductive realm like Sudoku then isn’t in completing the puzzle. It’s in not filling in the boxes inappropriately. Forget about believing what’s true, but take great pains to avoid the lie.

*And at best Descartes found an Oscillating Truth, if you think, then you must exist, but you could be deluded, so maybe not, but if you can be deluded then you must exist, but you could be deluded about that, so maybe not, but if you can be deluded about that, then you exist… ad infinitum.

The day before yesterday was a whirlwind of exploration in Moshi, Tanzania. My plan was to find the elusive Art Market, a haven for local artists nestled outside the town center. Google Maps wasn't much help, but armed with a vague memory and a thirst for artistic discovery, I set off on foot.

After a scenic walk, I stumbled upon the hidden gem. Unlike the tourist-oriented markets in town, this place brimmed with authenticity. Artists displayed their paintings, sculptures, and wood carvings, creating a vibrant atmosphere. While browsing, I encountered a sight that gave me pause: a man working on elephant tusks. Knowing the illegality of the ivory trade in many countries, I snapped a couple of photos and continued my exploration.

Deeper into the market, I came across two artists diligently creating new pieces. They even offered me a friendly lunch invitation, which I politely declined (unsure of the mysterious meat on the menu!).

Energized by the artistic encounters, I decided to venture further. I hopped on a tuk-tuk, aiming for the outskirts of Moshi, a place called Raul, the gateway to the Materuni Waterfall hike (which I'd already conquered in December). Unfortunately, my tuk-tuk driver wasn't feeling as honest. He tried to overcharge me, but luckily, I knew the fair price and negotiated a fair deal.

The adventure took a turn for the worse on the return trip. Due to poor lighting and a hidden curb, I had a nasty nighttime fall. My hands, knee, and foot took the brunt of the impact, leaving me with some nasty (and still painful!) wounds. Thankfully, a kind soul at the hostel provided disinfectant, and I followed up with medication from the pharmacy the next day.

While the mishaps put a damper on the evening, the day's earlier discoveries still hold a special place in my memory. The Art Market, with its raw talent and local charm, was a true gem. This experience serves as a reminder that sometimes the best adventures are the ones that stray from the beaten path, even if they come with a few bumps and bruises along the way.

After tending to my wounds, I decided to treat myself to some comfort food. Opting for something familiar, I ordered a dish called "Wali Maharagwe." This Tanzanian staple, consisting of rice and beans, was exactly what I needed to soothe my body and soul. The flavors were simple yet satisfying, a perfect end to an eventful day.

Feel free to support me by sending some sats via the lightning network to rubenstorm@getalby.com

The rhythmic thump thump of the wipers’ frantic attempt to rid the windshield of raindrops glimmering in the passing streetlights came and went in Jonah’s sight. A thin layer of water about the lonely street glistened in the headlights. His breaths were heavy between the squeal and thump, thump.

“Your mom was right, you know?” were the words Julia, his wife had said. The street lights stretched across the darkness then vanished over her reflection in the rearview mirror revealing only a split second of the shimmer in her eyes.

Their boy cooed in the car seat behind Jonah as Julia fed him with her left hand. Their girl slept, head bobbing gently in the seat to Julia’s right.

“Julia, c’mon. You can’t be serious.”

“You haven’t been there for us. You haven’t been there for me and it's embarrassing that your mom had to call you out on it. You think you're a man?”

Jonah’s breaths were heavy between the thump thump and squeal of the windshield wipers. The lights were stagnant then, when the engine ticked strangely and he had the taste of iron in his mouth.

The words he had said a few moments before echoed in his head, “Julia, I was doing it for you and the kids.”

“The kids needed you home. I nee—” Julia’s voice cracked, “I needed you.” Her voice slipped into a soft whine of desperation, “We can get by with your parents' help. It’s ok to ask for help.”

“Why do we need their help? We can do this on our own. I can do this for us,” growled Jonah. His rage was building but he didn’t dare raise his voice and wake the children. “I can do this,” he repeated, staring at Julia.

Julia couldn’t fight the frown. She wiped away a tear and said, “Maybe you can. But I can’t. Not anymore, I already told your mother I’ll be comi—”

Thump.

Thump.

The street lights and water filled the splintered windshield glass like streams of gold. The Red and blue lights flashing wildly against the concrete median came and went in Jonah’s sight. Julia hung limp in her seat. Her body was tethered down by the seatbelt; her hands suspended above her head. It was dark even with all the lights and it wasn’t until there came the glare of a flashlight and Jonah noticed the blood streaming from the gash in Julia’s face that he really noticed the taste of iron in his mouth.

All sounds were muffled. When he looked at the glaring light the moment just vanished.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Jonah shivered. The pain was unbearable but the cold still racked his body. He shook awake and was blinded by the overhead light.

“Easy. Easy,” came a familiar voice.

His mother’s voice brought tears to Jonah’s eyes. Eyes still sensitive to the light. His mother’s silhouette shifted beside him. Then, he felt her touch and though there was warmth against the chill, he shook. Jonah realized he was in the hospital and now it was the pain that racked his body.

Jonah wheezed, “Julia? Julia? Mom.” His voice cracked. “Grayson? Tory? What happened?”

Jonah’s mother hugged him, “You were in an accident son.”

“Mom,” Jonah wheezed again as he spoke and struggled to free himself from her embrace. “What room are they in? Are they ok?”

His mother spoke softly as she separated from him and said, “Jonah, you need to rest.”

“I need to see my wife and kids! Tell them to come in.” Jonah searched the bedside table for his phone. Then he searched the bed. His arms were riddled with sutures and streaks of black coagulated blood. “I’ll call Julia. Pass me my phone,” he said wanting to raise his hand in his inquiry but the pain was unbearable.

His mother covered her mouth and shook her head as she cried.

“Mom?” Her silence bothered Jonah. The wounds of his ego after the way his family turned on him that weekend were still fresh. At that moment, it was fresher still than the wounds of the accident. The idea that his mother was still treating him like he wasn’t man enough to care for his family enraged him. “Will you stop treating me like a boy? I’m thirty years old. I have a family. I don’t need to be coddled.”

His mother gasped and reached out a hand that Jonah swatted away. “Oh, no son. You don’t understand.”

Jonah winced at his mother’s reaction. It wasn’t uncommon for his mother to turn the tables on him and make him feel like the scum of the earth for having any sort of feelings whatsoever. For the first time however, that wouldn’t come. She was speechless and remorse blanketed her face. Jonah finally came to the realization that something was very wrong. He fought the frown that his lips wanted to take. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

His mother inhaled slowly and struggled to answer, “The paramedics tried their best, but you were the only one who made it to the hospital alive.”

Jonah stared at his mother in disbelief. The weight of the news made him sink further into the bed sheets. “No, no no no.” He struggled to conjure the sound of Julia’s voice from his memories of her.

“Your mom was right, you know?” Julie had said. “I already told your mother I’ll be comi—” were her last words. The streetlights expanding across her face in the rearview mirror and the glimmer of her tears was the last image he held of her. His daughter’s bobbing head and his son’s coo were the last memories he had of his children.

Everyone was right. His mother was right. Why had he insisted on spending so much time away from home in search of money. In search of greatness. Little did he know that the seconds were ticking away and every moment he spent away from his family was one less minute he would have memories of.

From The Precipice Lectures Archive

DAY 17, IN THIS DIMENSION, OF FLASH AUGUST FICTION. I woke up giggling yesterday morning. That's pretty much all I have to say about this one, except here is some background info on the 4th dimension from an earlier episode: How's the Fourth Dimension? _

I am on the web3 apps. The podcast is called “Smell the Inside of Your Nose. Do it Right Now”. _

Here's the Substack podcast. Here is Spotify. RSS here. I think listening is better, that's just me. _ _

Dr. Freebius Lipsmaciladapus: The Absence of Pathology in the 4th Dimension

From The Precipice Lectures Archive 1019 WORDS WRITTEN IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES _

[ Clears throat ] Gentlemen,

To discuss the 4th dimension, we must discuss some of the laws that govern the 3rd-dimensional existence we are currently experiencing.

It is not necessary to understand how electricity works in order to use it. When one walks into a room, one uses a light switch, and the light fills the room. This is functional knowledge. We need not comprehend the details and intricacies of electronics in order to use electronics. In our experience in these three dimensions, there are many activities that are possible. It is possible to do unnecessary and even undesirable things. It is not wise or necessary to do a thing, simply because it is possible. Doing such things, however, does not alter or disrupt the nature of this three-dimensional realm.

The use of devastating weapons, for instance, is utilized by those with devious and avaricious intent and who do not possess the capacity for the creation and exchange of values. This is possible and, in fact, common in our plane of existence in this realm. There is no law of nature or physics in this dimension that prevents this.

These activities are not possible in the 4th dimension, to which some will become a part. There are laws of nature and physics in the fourth dimension that prevent such puerility. Actors will be bound to this dimensional realm that we are experiencing until better thinking and practices happen as a matter of course along their lifetimes.

First, we must describe how the fourth dimension is structured and what material it comprises. Our imaginations are the best example for describing the material; the matter that the fourth dimension comprises.

It does not function in the same way that our imaginations do, but it is comprised of the same matter. That is not to say that the fourth dimension allows you to create ex-nihilo. That is to say one cannot simply create something from nothing in the fourth dimension, as we can in our imaginations.

In this three-dimensional existence, we watch skilled magicians create flowers out of thin air and pull rabbits out of hats. These are illusions. To actually do that is not possible in the fourth dimension. However, existing matter can easily be manipulated physically using only one's hands and bodies. For instance, one might have a bowl of soup but no spoon, only a butter knife. In the 4th dimension, one can shape the knife easily with one's fingers to fashion a spoon for eating the soup.

Suppose there is a large basket on the dinner table, but only two tomatoes are in the basket, and the basket is taking up too much room on the table. One simply takes the basket and, using one's hands, and understanding the lattice of the basket, simply compresses the basket with one's hands. One can reshape the basket so that it fits the two tomatoes. Now there is more room on the table. This sort of thing is common practice in the fourth dimension. These are elementary examples.

You have a small box, but you need a large box for a large item. One simply changes the size of the box for your large item, and so on. One cannot pull things out of thin air, as you can with your imagination, but you can manipulate already existing material physically in a way that is not physically possible in our current realm.

There are certain conceptions about value and function that are simply a part of a person's nature there. The very nature of the fourth dimension is integrated with all the natures associated in it. Therefore, pathology cannot be part of that dimension. Pathological people and such behaviors would be prohibitive to the very matter that existence is comprised of in the fourth dimension, and it is necessary for the fourth dimension to exist. All dimensions must exist. They coincide, and are related.

If pathologies that are possible in the current dimension that we are experiencing in this moment were to breach the fourth dimension, it would be a prohibitive disruption effecting all of existence in all dimensions. The sort of piracy and mendaciousness that can exist in this dimension simply cannot, by nature and the laws of physics, be a part of the fourth dimension. There are no violations of laws in physics, in any dimension.

One might consider the reports of military personnel, where crafts appear above nuclear silos. These may be concerned beings from other dimensions, understanding how such operations could affect them in their dimension. They perhaps feel a need to intervene in this dimension in order to preserve their own.

Why? Some ask. Why is it not possible for such mendacity to exist in the fourth dimension? Is it perfect there? Of course, it is not perfect; it is more advanced, so to speak, but not perfect. There are imperfect events and, of course, imperfect people who make mistakes and take liberties that are possible, though perhaps not wise. To understand the reason, it's an imperative to remember that the material; the very matter of the 4th dimension consists of the same matter that our imaginations are comprised of.

Here is the illustration to use. You may think of the imaginations of individuals as fields of energy, or waves, or particles. It should be easy then to understand how affecting the fields, or waves; or particles of the fourth dimension as a whole, in the behaviors that we have become accustomed to in this dimension, would be disruptive and, in fact, destructive to existence itself.

For this simple reason, those who rule the three-dimensional realm that we experience simply could not be a part of the fourth dimension. Again, only those who would by their matter of course master the practice of value creation and production be a part of that dimension. While there are blunders and varying degrees of judgement there, no pathological behavior is possible, as it is antithetical to the very existence of the matter; the field; the waves; the particles of which the fourth dimension is comprised. These are simply the natural and physical laws of the fourth dimension.

The End

That was a wild dream, and that’s what I got out of it. I was glad I was able to get a story out of it. Here is another link to a different episode where I get into coinciding planes and why other beings can’t always interact with us. It is called Alien Avoidance On Our Coinciding Plane. I hope you might get a paid subscription, or buy me a coffee, or donate some bitcoin.

I wish you the best in these messed up times. My target audience are the people doing the very difficult and risky anti-corporate, anti-war, independent, honest journalism. I want to be a brief respite from the craziness for them. If you know any of them and want to point out my 10-20 minute, daily storytelling podcast, that would be the best. I’m Herschel Sterling, and I’m here to help.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/653477

1. Create git repo:

export USER=<github-user-name> export REPO=nostr-site-demo mkdir $REPO; cd $REPO;

1. Create $REPO on github.

2. Init local repo and push to Github:

echo "# nostr-site-demo" >> README.md git init git add README.md git commit -m "first commit" git branch -M main git remote add origin https://github.com/$USER/$REPO.git git push -u origin main

1. Setup Github Pages:

2. open repo page on github

3. open Settings -> Pages

4. under Branch choose 'main' and save

5. Wait 1-2 minutes and reload the settings -> Pages page until you see "Your site is live at URL".

6. copy URL of your github pages website

7. Go to npub.pro admin panel and choose your site and open Settings.

8. edit Website Address, paste the URL of your Github Pages address

9. click Save

10. Download the updated zip archive for self-hosting at .npub.pro/dist.zip

11. Extract files from archive to your REPO dir, commit, push to Github:

unzip path/to/zip/dist.zip git add . git commit -m "Add site files" git push origin main

1. Wait 1 minute for Github to update your site.

You should be done now!

Introducing Npub.pro - your personal websites from your Nostr content! Made with creators in mind, available to all.

Creating a website, maintaining and securing it is a lot of work. Sometimes it feels like an additional job, when all you really want to do is create. Setting up the hosting is a pain, securing the website is a constant uncertainty, and updating across all of your publishing platforms and your website feels like a huge chore.

Enter Npub.pro - a powerful tool to attract and convert your fans with less work. Powered by your Nostr content and enhanced with beautiful open source themes from Ghost, Npub.pro websites just work!

Some of the perks of a Nostr-based website: - Style it your way. Pick a theme that fits your audience and your preferences. You’re not limited to showing your content on one particular client. - Shareable links. Links to your website look amazing when shared on social media and messenger apps. - Great for conversions. A place to attract your audience and measure outcomes using existing web tools. - Hassle-free. No complex hosting, maintenance or security issues. Your content lives on relays. Themes are on Nostr relays and Blossom servers. No matter what, your site still works. - No duplicate work. Already published on Nostr? Npub.pro displays your Nostr content and you choose which type of content to display! - Works like an app. Your website is a progressive web app that can be added to home screen and works offline. - Post from any Nostr client. No need to log in to a CMS to check for comments. Everything is on Nostr so it just works from any client. - SEO friendly. Your content has proper meta tags and your website is rendered on the server to make sure search engines love it. - Self-host if you like. Use our scalable hosting infrastructure or switch to any file hosting like Github Pages. - Interoperable. Your website is a Nostr event proposed in NIP-512, themes are proposed NIP-136. Our engine is open-source libnostrsite.

Heads up! While this has been a long time in the making, we’re still in the early beta stage. Some stuff may be rough, won’t work properly and features may be missing. Content management is still a work in progress, please be patient.

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Link: https://npub.pro

Built by Nostr.Band team.

_

LISTEN HERE (The podcasts are more complete and nuanced, imo)

DAY 13 OF FLASH AUGUST FICTION. Not a lot to say about this one. A skill I have is building. I was a bricklayer and a stonemason, and I know fire tech. What that means is that I can build fireplaces, masonry heaters, flue systems, and chimneys. I think a lot about how the buildings around us affect us. I hate gargoyles. I love angels. I’m Commercial Herschel, and I’m here to help.

Purge the Gargoyles

The People Agreed

614 WORDS WRITTEN IN A HALF HOUR

Mayor Jackson won the election in surprising fashion. No one expected her to win. She had no real money, she didn't have any high-profile support, and the other two candidates were as shocked as she was that she won. Her campaign was simple. “Our City for Us”.

The dominant Party was on the outs with the people. They usually controlled the big cities, and the people finally stopped falling for them. They had lost favor, and there was no politics, or even violence, that would bring the people back to them. The other Party was more of a rural and suburban party, but the idea that they could get this city was like a conquest. They courted Mrs. Jackson, but they could not win her. They offered her money, and all sorts of corporations made all sorts of promises, but he just wanted her city to be for her people.

Her campaign was so unfamiliar. All of these corporations were making all of these promises to her. Her response was, “We'll see.” She didn't present herself as a candidate with all sorts of business and influence as leverage behind her. Instead, she presented herself as someone with the support of the people as the leverage behind her, so she could get the best deal for the people that she could. Her attitude toward the corporations was, “Look, do you see all these people I have behind me? If you want their business, I'm here to be sure you make a really good deal for my people.”

Once she took office, there were so many questions. The media and her critics were all over her, looking for answers to all the tough policy questions. She knew these were pressing concerns, but she wanted to truly ground herself. She had to establish some things in some kind of permanent way.

Her first press conference after the election was the time that she could establish her intent.

“Ma'am, no one expected you to win this election. What was the first thought you had when you saw the results?” One of the media people asked.

“My first thought was that the establishment didn't expect that they would have to cheat on me, so they didn't try very hard.”

Another reporter shouts out the next question. “Mrs. Jackson, what's the first thing you want to do with your new position?”

“Well, the Library really bothers me,” she says.

People are perplexed, it doesn't make sense. What could be the problem with a library?

“You don't like libraries, ma'am?” One of the reporters asks.

“Of course, I like libraries. Who does not like libraries? What I don't understand is why the library has gargoyles all over the roof-line. I want to replace those demonic gargoyles with angels.”

DAY 13 OF FLASH AUGUST FICTION

There are a lot of raised eyebrows among the press crew, it's not what they were expecting.

“I'm not going to use the city budget to do this,” the new mayor says. “I'm going to ask people to make donations at the library.”

Within a matter of days, the library had enough donations to replace the gargoyles with angels. There was a contest for some different angel designs. Some weird, wealthy people offered money for the old gargoyles, but the mayor crushed them into dust and dumped them into the nearby lake.

People felt better, something was right about this. It set the new administration on a good path, and the mayor was able to cut a lot of good deals that benefited the people of the city. She won several elections and served for three terms until she retired at an age that would allow her to enjoy her grandchildren.

The End.

I hope you might get a paid subscription, or buy me a coffee, or donate some bitcoin. I wish you the best. I’m Commercial Herschel, and I’m here to help.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/653465

Chef's notes

You will need a blender! 🌱 This breakfast is nutritious, healthy, easy, and quick to make. 🌱 It's gluten free and vegan.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 10 min.
• 🍳 Cook time: 0
• 🍽️ Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 1 Apple 🍏
• 2 Ripe Peaches 🍑
• 1 Banana 🍌
• 1/2 cup (Wild) Blueberries 🫐 (frozen or fresh)
• 1/2 cup pine nuts (or optional ground almonds)
• 4 tbsp Almond Butter (or optional cashew butter)
• 2 Pitted Dates
• 1 tbsp Vegan Protein Vanilla Powder (optional)

Directions

1. Peach, apple, pine nuts, pitted dates, and vanilla protein powder: Blend until smooth.
2. Peel and slice the banana into rounds.
3. Blueberries (thaw in a water bath if frozen) and just mix and stir with a spoon in a little bowl with almond butter. (no need to blend with a blender)
4. Alternate layers of peach-apple mixture, banana and blueberry-almond butter mix in a glass.
5. Garnish with grapes, pine nuts, cacao nibs, and a drizzle of almond butter
6. Enjoy and tag me, when you try the recipe 💜🙏🏽💚

The motivation of building decentralized media protocols is to balance the power of centralized media platforms, and provide an alternative for the public to take part in the curation of information, not just access information. It has to perform checks-and-balances to the centralized media powers, while providing a credible and neutral mechanism for different communities to improve a platform over time. The operation and maintenance of such a media platform should be autonomous, unstoppable, and self-improving.

While a traditional media platform has to align itself with the interests of its owners, shareholders, and donors, the new type of media platform should not be subject to the control of any entity at all times.

The ownership and stewardship of the new media platform should be open and transparent to the public. This is in contrast to state/corporate-controlled media platforms, in which case the public is often not informed of a media platform’s real ownership and stewardship, hence the public cannot be aware of its real purpose, bias, and hidden agendas.

If each individual is more informed, it will be harder to manipulate public opinions, and it will be easier to foster independent judgment within human societies. The positive externality will be enormous. The transition from centralized media platforms to decentralized media platforms speeds up this process.

This article discusses the two pillars to implement a decentralized media technology stack: decentralized publication and decentralized content moderation.

Decentralization of publication

In a previous article, we extensively discussed the importance of content decentralization. It is the last defense of censorship - content removed or hidden by popular client websites could be stored permanently and be displayed on other (perhaps non-popular) client websites. We also discussed the importance of token economics neutrality, because token economics itself could lead to censorship.

As a non-microblogging platform, Yakihonne is currently one of the most popular clients that implemented NIP-23, attracting bloggers and readers from all over the world to post articles and read contents about Bitcoin and beyond.

As of the time of writing of this article, the platform serves users in 116 countries, supporting 18 languages, and has become the most widely used and feature-rich client within the Nostr ecosystem. Yakihonne is also the first Nostr client to support mobile applications and article editing on mobile apps.

When publishing articles on Yakihonne.com, you can choose multiple relays to publish the content. Relays can also implement logic to sync articles of their own interests and offer them to clients.

Joining the relay network is easy. If someone wants to join the relay network, he is able to do so by deploying one of the open source versions of Nostr relays, and starting to store content for the network.

The number of relays serving content within the Nostr protocol is currently quite small. Over the next period of time, it is important to grow the number of reliable relays.

It should be economically viable and encouraging to set up a relay, so that the number of relays can grow over time. Very likely, the number of relays will correspond to the net income of the network, which comes from revenue streams of each of the clients. Therefore, it is foreseeable that the number of reliable relays will be correlated to the traffic of the Nostr protocol in general and therefore, to the traffic of popular clients.

The zap feature (Lightning Zaps) can be used to incentivize relays. But we cannot set unrealistic expectations over zapping. Zapping an article is making a donation. Donation is unpredictable, and it is definitely not a sustainable way to maintain a large, reliable network of relays. One possible solution to this problem is to have profitable clients make continuous contributions to well-performing relays via enforceable protocol setups.

An ideal incentive mechanism for a relay network is to establish a profit-sharing protocol between clients and the relays.

Decentralization of content moderation and content curation

Striking a balance between moderation and anti-moderation has been an almost impossible task for centralized media platforms. Whoever performs the moderation dominates the narratives.

The most recent community notes feature on X took a major step towards community-driven moderation. In community notes, users who are eligible to provide notes can write community notes to a post, and a community can vote for the notes so that the best recognized notes can emerge on the top. It has been proven to be effective in content moderation in many instances, and the ability to add community-backed notes reduced the need for shadow bans.

Community notes are obviously a more effective system than shadow bans in Jack Dorsey’s Twitter era. At times even Elon Musk himself can be “community noted” is definitely making people trust this system more.

But it cannot be ignored that users still have to sign up to apply for eligibility for community notes. It is in X's own direction to decide who is eligible and who is not. The voting process of community notes itself could also be subject to censorship, because there is no way to verify the votes.

This is to say, X has the power to do evil, it doesn’t matter if it does evil or not.

The countermeasure to balance the power of a centralized media platform is a platform that is not manipulatable by its operating team or share/token holders.

So content moderation has to be permissionless, while verifiability to content moderation mechanisms like community notes.

The first step to developing a decentralized content moderation system is to implement a permissionless community notes system.

X’s community notes can be censored in two steps: the eligibility review process can filter people based on X’s own preference; the ranking and displaying rules are also controlled by X. In a permissionless community notes system, any relay or even client should be able to implement its own version of community notes, and users can choose their preferred system(s) to work with.

Notes have to be stored on an open, token economics neutral relay network to ensure their immutability and resistance to censorship. Community members can add notes to any media content, and the notes are distributed to non-related parties who operate the nodes.

Incentives

The content moderation mechanism needs to be incentivized through the decentralized media protocol.

In a non-sponsored model, income comes from ads or subscription fees, and is distributed to content creators, content relays, and additional network security providers.

In a sponsored model, income is from content sponsors, and further distributed to community note contributors, content relays, and additional network security providers. A sponsored post, in old media platforms, can be quite expensive. The cost to post sponsored content can be dramatically reduced on a decentralized media platform because of the great reduction of content moderation cost.

Ranking

Community notes can be ranked by either relays or clients. A content relay can rank community notes based on its own preference, and deliver to clients. Clients can also rank community notes based on its rules. Basically, everyone can rank any post’s community notes.

In general, community notes ranking algorithms can be stake-based or non-stake based. Stake-based ranking algorithms in general show how people who have a stake in something react to a post. Non-stake based ranking algorithms can be any mechanism, such as reputation-weighted ranks, 1p1v ranks, quadratic voting ranks, random selection, or even asking an AI to rank community notes.

What’s perhaps important is not which ranking algorithm is the best, it’s the flexibility for both the content storage layer and the interfaces (clients) to choose their ideal ranking algorithms. Probably for a client, the best strategy is to provide all ranks from multiple sources, so that people can view community notes from very different angles.

The Current Status of Bitcoin and the Nostr Protocol

As Nostr is the ideal relay network for decentralized media at this moment, it is necessary to write some notes on the current status of the Bitcoin ecosystem, as Nostr is largely inspired by the Bitcoin network to be decentralized, and is greatly supported by the Bitcoin community.

The Bitcoin community is so far the most legitimate crypto community. It has a very simple mission: to create a decentralized monetary system that is not controlled by centralized powers. The progressive element of the Bitcoin community is relative to the old banking world, where Bitcoin is a completely new and alternative technology stack to the centralized money and finance systems. The conservative element of the Bitcoin community is relative to the other crypto community, where the Bitcoin community is largely skeptical of the motivation and decentralization of them.

In my opinion, the scrutiny Bitcoin community puts upon the rest of the crypto world is totally reasonable. However, as much as Nostr is inspired by the Bitcoin network, it will also go beyond the Bitcoin community, in terms of content.

This is not a bad thing!

If this happens on a big monolithic blockchain, probably the Nostr major contributors will be required to create a token pretty soon and then pay gas fees to the blockchain so that the blockchain’s revenue can increase. The Bitcoin community will never ask that. This gives Nostr enough freedom and flexibility to evolve, while continuously getting support from the Bitcoin community.

However, if Nostr users are forever a subset of Bitcoin users, Nostr will be limited. Nostr is not a subset of Bitcoin, it is not an “ecosystem project” of Bitcoin either (a.k.a., it should not become a “layer-2” of Bitcoin, as some people reason about the future of Bitcoin totally from the analogy of Ethereum).

In the best world, Nostr and Bitcoin can expand each other’s user base, and create healthy synergy.

Conclusion

Yakihonne is, so far, not a protocol. With the products and features it offers, Yakihonne is ready to build up a decentralized media stack. The stack has two pillars : decentralized publication and decentralized content moderation. The former guarantees that content will never be lost; the latter creates a new cost-incentive model to make sure that when content and moderation go permissionless, the platform can still maintain truthfulness and cost-effectiveness. In fact, a decentralized media platform can be more cost-effective than centralized media platforms. So the next step for us is to build this up and experiment with it.

The Flash News and the uncensored notes are introduced for such purpose, and everyone is welcomed to give it a try. Note that it is still in the early stages and various improvements will come eventually, for this your feedback is valuable to us to reach any expectations.

Introduction

If you've ever wondered how big corporations, governments, and media giants manage to influence public perception so effectively, it's time you met Edward Bernays. Often called the "father of public relations," his work continues to shape our world. This write up will introduce you to Bernays and his book "Propaganda," explaining how his strategies are still relevant and widely used today.

Who Was Edward Bernays?

He was a major pioneer in public relations and propaganda as we know them today. The nephew of Sigmund Freud, Bernays had a unique perspective on human psychology, which he leveraged to create compelling messages that resonated deeply with the public. His career take-off began during World War I, where he played an instrumental role with the US government to shape public opinion about the war, in particular to promote public investment in war bonds to help fund the USA's involvement in the war. He was so successful with that initiative, that after the war he decided to apply his skills to various other fields, including business, politics, and social causes, playing a major role in influencing public opinion at scale.

A Master Manipulator

Bernays believed that the "conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society." He introduced the idea of an "invisible government" made up of influential individuals and organizations that guide public opinion. This concept is crucial for understanding how modern propaganda works.

The Playbook: "Propaganda"

In 1928, Bernays published "Propaganda," a small, relatively short book that candidly lays out his methods for shaping public opinion. Let's take a little dive into each chapter:

Chapter I: Organizing Chaos

Bernays starts off asserting that democratic societies require the manipulation of public opinion to function smoothly. He writes, "We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of." This invisible government, composed of elites, directs the masses through strategic communication.

Chapter II: The New Propaganda

Bernays discusses the evolution of propaganda, highlighting how new technologies like newspapers, radio, and telegraphs (cinema, television, internet, mobile phones) have expanded its reach. He emphasizes the necessity of responsible use of these tools, as they hold significant power to influence public opinion.

Chapter III: The New Propagandists

Bernays introduces the key players behind modern propaganda:

1. public relations professionals,
2. advertisers,
3. and political consultants.

These individuals, often operating behind the scenes, have significant power over societal trends and behaviors. He explains that these propagandists are "specialists in interpreting enterprises and ideas to the public and in interpreting the public to the promulgators of new enterprises and ideas."

Chapter IV: The Psychology of Public Relations

Drawing on psychological theories, Bernays explains how understanding human motivations enhances propaganda's effectiveness. He stresses the importance of appealing to emotions and subconscious desires, rather than just presenting logical arguments. This chapter underscores the need for a deep understanding of mass psychology to successfully influence public opinion.

Chapter V: Business and the Public

Bernays examines the relationship between businesses and the public, stating that companies must actively manage their public image. He discusses various techniques, such as publicity stunts, to strategic partnerships, all to shape public perception. He also highlights the role of corporate social responsibility in building trust and goodwill with the target audience.

Chapter VI: Propaganda and Political Leadership

In this chapter, Bernays explores the use of propaganda in politics. He explains how political leaders and parties use public relations techniques to gain and maintain power, emphasizing the importance of media manipulation and compelling narratives. He also touches on the ethical challenges of political propaganda, advocating for transparency and honesty. Which we all know, is the absolute standard these days, right?

Chapter VII: Women’s Activities and Propaganda

Bernays discusses how women’s movements and consumer habits have been influenced by propaganda. He explains how advertisers target women, recognizing their significant influence on household purchasing decisions. This chapter highlights specific aspects of propaganda and its role in shaping social norms.

Chapter VIII: Propaganda for Education

Bernays says that propaganda can be a powerful tool for educational purposes. He discusses how public relations techniques can promote educational initiatives and foster public support for different kinds of reforms. Effective communication and engaging storytelling are crucial for successful educational propaganda.

Chapter IX: Propaganda in Social Service

This chapter explores the use of propaganda in social services, such as healthcare and public welfare. Bernays points out how public relations campaigns can raise awareness and mobilize support for social programs, using successful examples to show the potential for positive social change to really make that connection with the target audience.

Chapter X: Art and Science

Bernays examines how propaganda can promote cultural and scientific (or medical?) achievements. He argues that effective communication is essential for advancing public appreciation of art and science. The challenge lies in making complex ideas accessible to the general public.

Chapter XI: The Mechanics of Propaganda

In the final chapter, Bernays provides a detailed overview of the techniques and strategies used in propaganda. He explains the importance of research, planning, and execution in creating successful public relations campaigns. Bernays emphasizes the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation to maintain effectiveness. He writes, "The counsel on public relations must maintain constant vigilance, because inadequate information, or false information from unknown sources, may have results of enormous importance." Or perhaps, results of enormous negative consequences?

The Relevance Today

Edward Bernays' strategies remain highly relevant in today's world. I might even dare to say, a modern Machiavelli. Corporations, governments, and media organizations continue to use his techniques to shape public opinion and control narratives. Here are a few ways his strategies are still in play:

Big Tech and Social Media

Algorithms curate the information you see, subtly influencing your worldview. Social media platforms use data-driven strategies to keep you engaged, often without your conscious awareness.

Corporate Marketing

From influencer partnerships to viral campaigns, businesses use sophisticated public relations tactics to create demand and shape consumer behavior. Bernays' principles of emotional appeal and subconscious influence are evident in modern advertising.

Political Campaigns

Political parties use media manipulation, targeted ads, and strategic messaging to sway public opinion. Election cycles are prime examples of Bernays' theories in action, with campaigns meticulously crafted to appeal to voters' emotions and biases.

Conclusion

Edward Bernays' "Propaganda" offers timeless insights into the art and science of influencing public opinion. By understanding his methods, you can better navigate the modern media landscape and recognize the subtle forces shaping your perceptions. They are relentless. Stay curious, stay informed, and always question the narratives.

Next time you encounter a news story, advertisement, political message, or even a post from an "influensooorr" remember Bernays and ask yourself: Who is behind this message, and what are they trying to achieve?

I hope you find the time to dive into the book some day, and I hope this writeup helps you get there.

--

Bernays, Edward. Propaganda. 1928.

The huge share of ultra-processed foods, especially in the United States, is due to the fact that the food industry is in the hands of several global corporations. They have literally occupied all the supermarkets with their products. Full story

The huge share of ultra-processed foods, especially in the United States, is due to the fact that the food industry is in the hands of several global corporations. They have literally occupied all the supermarkets with their products. Full story

The huge share of ultra-processed foods, especially in the United States, is due to the fact that the food industry is in the hands of several global... This is a preview of my post. Join my community and get access to this and more of my work.

https://highlighter.com/npub1xcwnu8sx6vs5ae478lzzahpmg46428nkewa46prev4jhz59uzz5qqhm0u6

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, here are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/653241

After changing components in my upstairs and downstairs speaker systems, I had ended up with my living room's ELAC B6.2 speakers using empty S19j Pro boxes as stands. I don't have a spouse, y'all; I've been fine with this shit setup for months!

But motivation and some inspiration finally struck so I brainstormed some plans in SketchUp (which is an AMAZING tool!).

Kinda hilarious, but SketchUp always starts new projects with a person included for scale

I kept in mind some basic audiophile design principles:

Speaker height

You want the speaker's tweeter (the smallest speaker in the cabinet) right at the listener's ear height.

Spiked feet

My living room has thick carpet. Spikes are meant to stab all the way through the carpet to the floorboards, giving the stands much better stability. They'll be a lot less likely to tip over when bumped.

But more importantly for audiophile nerds: conventional wisdom is that you want a stable platform for your speakers. Speakers have to physically push air around; you don't want to introduce any additional variances or vibrations from a mushy/wobbly platform.

Fill 'er up with sand!

For the same reasons as above, you want a dense, heavy stand that is as inert as possible. Filling empty space in a stand with sand obviously adds weight but also reduces any chance of additional ringing or resonance from the structure itself.

Components

Each stand consists of: * Speaker shelf: plywood board cut to the exact footprint of the speaker. * Column top/bottom boards: Same as the speaker shelf, but with 45° bevel cuts on 3 edges. * Bottom base board: Same as the speaker shelf, but 2" wider in 3 directions w/bevels. * 1" PVC pipes and flanges * M8 threaded t-nuts and spiked feet

The boards are 3/4" baltic birch plywood. Cut to size on the table saw. The angled bevels in the design are simple 45° cuts that I can do safely on the table saw. I like the clean simplicity of the look (I've always loved the design of ziggurats!) and for DIY simple is always better.

Having 3 of the 4 boards start from the same cut size simplifies the table saw setups. And then the bevels are all the same 45° angle so that's a single setup.

Building

Added 3/8" holes via the drill press so I could hammer in threaded t-nuts for these gorgeous spiked feet.

Plywood looks like ass on its own. Painting it helps, but the exposed edge striations still show through. So this was the first time I tried sealing it with wood filler. It's a paste that you can thin with water. Instead of using a spreader tool, I found it easier to just use my fingers. Wetter, thinner coats worked better.

That raw mess then had to be sanded down with 220 grit sandpaper. The plywood should now have its porous, thirsty edges filled and smoothed over.

Then I got to break out the amazingly awesome bug excretion: shellac!

Dissolve the flakes in denatured alcohol and then apply as a sealer.

The hope was that this would provide an even smoother base surface for the spray paint, seal off the thirsty flat faces of the plywood, and provide an ideal contact surface for the paint to adhere to.

After a few coats of shellac, I sanded everything down with 400 grit sandpaper.

Then I planned out how I wanted to arrange the PVC flanges.

And transferred that to a paper template.

Used one of my spring-loaded punches to mark pilot holes through the template on each board.

Pre-drilled the holes to depth and then used 1-1/2" construction screws (HUGE fan of torx-style star screws instead of phillips head).

I re-measured my target height for the speaker stands, cut the 1" PVC to length (felt safer using my table saw crosscut sled than the mitre saw, but either would be fine), and glued them into place. Annoyingly / weirdly, the flanges exerted a little bit of ejection pressure on the pipes that I wasn't expecting. So I had to quickly grab a scrap board and push down on all three columns at once and try to keep them down, fully seated in the flange, and as level as I could guesstimate.

I let the glue cure for 30 minutes, then filled with sand.

I prepped the columns' top board for gluing the mating PVC flanges. But I was worried about how I'd ensure that the tops would end up level; it would look so sad and janky if those platforms made my speakers sit askew.

So I ended up using a bubble level app on my phone. Zeroed it when lying on the base, then put the phone on the board I was gluing on as I held it down (remember, the PVC flanges want to slightly eject the pipes until the glue starts locking in). Then I could slightly adjust my pressure to keep the bubble level at zero-ish.

I also looked down the back edge of the stand to keep the platform aligned with the base to try to avoid any possible slight twisting in the horizontal plane (around the z-axis).

Yes, I know, my garage is a mess.

PVC glue ups are unavoidably messy. I had some paper towels covering the base to avoid any glue drips that might mar the plywood that I worked so hard to smooth to perfection!

30 more minutes to let the tops cure. Then on to spray painting!

I used Krylon Fusion in black satin. It's designed to adhere to just about any surface type. Important since I've got plywood and PVC here. Satin to give it some sheen to hopefully make the materials look more premium than they are (especially the crappy looking PVC).

It was windy so I did it inside the garage but with the door rolled up for ventilation.

Final touch was to cut a bit of nonslip silicone to go on top of the stand. Not so much to prevent the speaker from slipping, but more to absorb any surface imperfections that might interfere with how the speaker sits.

And it's done! (er, not quite)

Some misgivings (as always) discussed below, but overall really happy with the results!

I intentionally left the top caps of the foot spikes in their original silver for a nice contrast. I f'n LOVE how the whole look for the base came together!

But my design does have a final piece that's still missing: a narrow board of dyed wood (walnut? Figured maple?) to run vertically along the back of the stands to act as a color accent (I'm thinking a fairly strong dark red tint) and to channel and hide the speaker wire.

I haven't tried to dye wood in such an aggressive way so that'll be its own rabbit hole. I'll dig into that later. Or never. 🤷‍♂️

Lessons learned

Sand is heavy, but volume matters

1" PVC doesn't hold much sand! I thought each stand would take on ~20lbs of sand. But with 1" exterior diameter PVC columns that were only 19.5" tall... just not much volume to work with there. I didn't weight them, but the stands are probably ~15lbs each IN TOTAL. Better with the sand than without, but certainly not the density I was envisioning.

I suck at spray painting

You really have to focus on consistent passes that may go on thin and just leave it for a second or third pass later. As soon as you start trying to get full coverage in a specific area, you create buildup that is visibly uneven when dried. Or worse, you create runs or drips. I spent all this time perfectly smoothing and sanding the plywood, only to create much bigger, more obvious flaws with my shitty spray painting technique.

Shoulda stuck with iron

My original plan was to use black iron pipe for the columns. But pipe sections that have threading at each end only come in specific lengths. At the time that was just too limiting when I was trying to hit an exact height for these stands. Plus some of the iron parts were just annoyingly more expensive than I expected (not necessarily out of my budget, but annoying).

So I switched to the PVC approach and figured that once it's all spray painted, there wouldn't be much of a visual difference anyway.

The pipe flanges would have looked better and, more importantly, the iron would have added considerably more weight. The build process would have been easier and cleaner without dealing with the PVC gluing mess, flange ejection, and the worries about getting it all level during the ~60s that the glue sets.

You do NOT always (ever?) save money via DIY

I probably spent more on parts for this than I would have spent on off-the-shelf stands. Some of it is amortized over materials I'll be able to use on later projects (e.g. the tub of wood filler, 1-1/2" construction screws) or might find a use for (e.g. plenty of leftover t-nuts, 50+ lbs of sand!).

But the PVC glue kit will likely dry out before I do my next PVC project since they tend to be infrequent.

Overall the goal probably can't be about saving money. It's more about getting a final result that's tailored exactly to your own specs and getting to enjoy the fun and challenge and satisfaction of building, learning, and making mistakes along the way.

Satin is still a little too glossy

I wanted a light gloss to give the build some pop / wow, but the glossier something gets, the more the imperfections stand out.

Can see a spray paint build up blob, drips, imperfections in the plywood, even f'n bits of sand that I failed to brush off before painting! 😡

The PVC flanges do still sorta look like PVC but also mostly came out better than I expected.

Misc notes:

The t-nuts ended up being a bit of over-engineering; since I thought the stands would be heavier than they turned out to be, I wanted a stronger mount point down there (more threads, broader surface under the board to distribute the weight to avoid them tearing through).

But the spikes do thread in really nicely and make the the bases seem way more pro-quality, so no regrets here.

An immodest proposal

It is grant season again, and -- as every grant season -- there is some cheering, some complaining, and much bewilderment, as the grants are announced and monies are dispersed.

I'm mostly a bystander to this spectacle, but it's impossible to ignore it, or to not become emotionally entangled in the general circus of it, so I've decided to write about it -- again -- as it is effecting me and interrupting my own efforts -- again.

What I'm about to suggest here is something that has never been done before (at least, not on a grant system of this scale), but it's always easy to criticize, whine, or fall into conspiracy-theorizing, so I've decided to try something more constructive and propose a solution.

The Five Whys

Why do some projects get turned down for grants?

Why do some people receive grants over and over and over?

Why do others refuse to apply for grants?

Why is an enormous amount of money being spent, but nobody knows how much is left over?

Why is it not really clear who is receiving what?

Why, why, why?!

Doctor, heal thyself!

Leaving this many whys lying around, or responding to them defensively or with small information-leaks, is an open communication fail on our open communication protocol.

We don't really have the excuse of not knowing how to communicate transparently and publicly, since that is our professional specialty. If we can't figure out how to run a grant program in the most continuously innovative and traceable way possible, even though we are a collection of some of the most talented perpetual innovators on the planet, then who can?

We are all process engineers, so let's engineer our own processes.

The application process

The main problem with the grant application process is that there is a grant application process. There shouldn't be. Everyone who is working in our space is working transparently, actively marketing their ideas, and everything they do is a matter of public record.

We know who the builders are. We know what they are doing. We can interact with them about what they are doing. We can turn on our computers, pull out some popcorn, and entertain ourselves all day, every day, just watching them labour and think aloud and debate, and fork various repositories or Nostr notes.

There is, at most, a loss of information, as there are so many people working on so many things, that it can become difficult to even track one particular person. That means it is not too much for us to ask, to suggest that anyone interested in a grant at least make their interest known in some small way.

Wave if you want a grant

That way should be as small as possible. Tiny. Ideally, they shouldn't even have to go that way themself; others should be able to nominate them. A 10-minute barrier to entry is already high, if it requires some formal, explicit act of supplication.

Does that sound silly to you? Then you do not understand how profoundly logical, forward-thinking, and diligent software developers can be. If they "just fill out a form" and/or "have an informal discussion", in order to receive money, it smacks disturbingly of "job interview" and "contract". These are people for whom contract law is holy law, so many will agonize over the decision.

• Some already have a job and they don't know how it will be in the future. What if they have to work overtime?

• Or they have a family and worry that they can't promise to deliver within some particular time. The wife could get pregnant, the baby could get sick, they might have to move house.

• Maybe they are students and exam time is approaching. Or they are simply shy or very young, and therefore reluctant to be seen "tooting their own horn". There is probably someone more worthy, and they are taking away the money he would get.

• Maybe they were hit with such an inner building passion that they hacked the whole implementation out their last vacation and... well... it's now already there. Everyone is already using it. Darn. Why apply for a grant, for something you've already finished? Seems sort of silly. Is that even allowed? What are the grants even for?

• What if they already have such a well-publicized project, that everyone is already watching them and keeping tabs? Then it's embarrassing to apply, on a lark, and get turned down. But if they don't apply, then everyone encourages them to apply. What to do?

• Many prefer to keep their head down and keep building, for months or years at a time, and clap politely when others are awarded a grant. In fact, they happily zap the recipients and then go right back to building and releasing. They're often grateful to just bathe in other people's joy, by proxy, while they stack sats and stay humble and keep coding.

That is why a large subset of potential grant recipients never even apply. That is also why those who have received a grant are less reluctant to apply for another. Successful application breeds successful application. The emotional barrier to entry has fallen. To those that have, shall be given.

Let's use Nostr to run Nostr grants

We should turn the tables around completely. We want the developers to keep developing, not jumping through hoops. We don't want them to be distracted and internally torn over the ethics of requesting funding. We don't want them to be afraid to apply for grants or be mystified by the grant-giving process, or be humiliated or frustrated by a declined grant.

1. Let us come up with very clear, understandable criteria for rewarding grants, write them down, and publish them on Nostr Wiki. Accept comments and critiques of the criteria. After every round of grants, we should review the criteria, suggest improvements, and publish the new version in the same place.

2. Let every application be judged according to this criteria and the results should be published after every round. The results should include a rating for each criteria and (if the grant is given) the amount of the grant awarded or (if the grant is declined) the reasons for the decline and what the applicant can improve to have a better chance of receiving a grant in the future.

3. Ideally, no applicant should walk away from a declined grant feeling hopeless or slighted. Every applicant should feel like the grant process gave them valuable feedback on their own efforts and expert guidance on what they should maybe focus more on.

4. Every application should be a standing application that has to be explicitly removed from the list by the person listed as an applicant. Anything not removed automatically enters the next round. If there is no further development on the project, then the application should be paused and removed after 2 rounds of being paused.

5. The application process should consist of adding yourself or someone else to a Wiki Grant Application List and linking to some documentation of the project. Any npub that trolls or spams the list should be prohibited from further contribution. The quality and completeness of that documentation should be a factor in grant acceptance.

6. Grant decisions should include a "handicap" (like in golf), that take into account how Nostr-experienced the applicant is and how easy it was for them to add a new implementation to some already-existing system. The tendency should be to award newer applicants such grants, with more-experienced applicants competing for long-term funding or being offered a paid(!) place on the grant board, but not both.

7. Each grant round should be proceeded by a grant scope declaration (we shall be awarding X number of grants with an average of X Bitcoin per grant) accompanied by a funding overview and update (How much money was collected since the last round? How much did we spend? How much do we have now? etc.).

Okay, this is just a prototype

I'm sure that I'm going to be bombarded with naysayers, critics, and people who think I am "writing above my pay grade", but I wouldn't be me if I let that daunt me.

All I am trying to do is change the discussion into one focused on uncovering the grant problems and offering grant solutions, rather than debates about whether some particular person was grant-worthy, or long rants on some particular person's real motives.

It's a lot of Real Money. It's worth talking about, but it's not worth fighting over. Let's talk.

The challenges associated with physical work and delayed payments, as discussed in the construction and logistics industries articles, might not be as directly applicable to industries with less physical movement. However, the principles of instant settlement and the removal of intermediaries can still bring efficiency and innovation to various sectors. The advantages of instant settlement, such as reduced transaction fees, faster payment processing, and increased transparency, can positively impact industries beyond the physical realm. Whether it's in the realm of digital services, intellectual property, or other sectors that are already dematerialized, the application of instant settlement principles can streamline transactions and enhance overall efficiency.

Navigating The Written Odyssey

Entering the realm of book publishing, especially for a debut author, is a journey filled with challenges. The primary hurdle involves persuading a publishing house to forge a deal, a daunting task for those yet to establish their reputation in the market. The negotiation landscape is complicated by endless uncertainties, making it difficult to strike a mutually beneficial deal. Even if you try to be fair for both sides it is hard. Most people will prioritize themselves and what they get in an uncertain environment - like figuring out how many books will be sold for a first time author. The dynamics intensify when publishing houses provide editors to authors--an arrangement that frequently sparks friction. Authors, protective of their creative work, may resist alterations, but editors, with seasoned expertise, have to navigate the delicate balance between preserving the author's vision and refining the content.

The complexities extend to the business side, with potential pitfalls surrounding signing bonuses. Questions linger: What if the bonus overshoots and the book underperforms? What if the book succeeds, but the bonus proves inadequate, leading the author to seek alternatives for subsequent works? Marketing poses another challenge, raising dilemmas about investments, audiobook adaptations, navigating royalty payments, and banking fees for small markets and international payments.

Just like in the logistics industry here with royalties, we have the same problem of counterparty risk. In addition to stopping the payments to the authors completely, do you trust the publishers that they are giving the correct sales numbers? Translation decisions add another layer, raising queries about language choices, and fair compensation for translators. What about the illustrators? Each party involved creates more and more friction in the system just because everyone is seeking fair compensation. The payment system does not allow them to focus on what they provide in terms of value, but focuses everyone on mitigating the shortcomings of it. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires not only innovation but also transparent and adaptive contractual frameworks to foster a more equitable and efficient publishing ecosystem.

The challenges for authors extend beyond the realm of creative content, and the intricacies of the publishing and marketing landscape. While the invention of ebooks has somewhat dismantled barriers, enabling easier self-publishing, the journey is not without hurdles. Authors opting for self-publishing must navigate the complexities of setting up accounts and managing distribution before reaching the point of uploading their work. Once published, the dual role of author and marketer emerges, demanding not only literary prowess but also strategic promotional efforts to capture the audience's attention and drive sales. The demanding nature of marketing leaves authors with limited time for their core competency - writing - which hinders the development of subsequent books that they would like to write.

Lighting Up Publishing: From Solo Authors to Collaborative Ventures, Unleashing the Potential of Instant Split Payments

Now that this is the third industry that we are looking into, we know that delayed payments are the problem and that they are tied to time and not actual work - “You have to write the book till this date or else…” “We will gather all payments and royalties will be paid later”. Since we know now that the Lightning Network can fix this let’s dig into the solution and what it may look like.

If you're a first-time author and choose to publish your book on your self-made app, you can instantly receive 100% of the income for each purchase. By utilizing a non-custodial solution like Breez, where no one holds money for others, you avoid the complexities associated with traditional payment methods. This setup eliminates the need for currency exchanges, providing a seamless global payment network directly connected to your app. The benefits go beyond mere currency considerations, freeing buyers from the hassle of exchange rate fees and relieving them of the complexities associated with navigating diverse regulations and processes across various countries. Who knows what regulations you have to deal with to be able to operate with the Iranian Rial just to sell a simple book? With a non-custodial solution on the Lightning Network, you get to avoid all that.

That is a big benefit for one-man shows in the book industry, but let’s take it a step further. In this scenario, where the relationship involves only the author and a publisher, the process becomes streamlined without the need for intricate negotiations, personal data sharing, or complex contracts with various clauses. With the instant settlement, there's no need for advance payments, both the author and publisher receive a percentage from each sale instantly when the purchase is made. The publisher, responsible for uploading and promoting the book on their website, and the author are now aligned in the common goal of selling more books. The only task left is to determine the fair percentage splits between the author and the publisher, fostering a collaborative and efficient partnership. Now the word royalties will have a completely new meaning.

Okay, that is between two entities, but we are not going to stop there. Now that the book is published the book can be translated to other languages. In that case, the complexity does not increase a lot. They just have to determine the percentage share split between the publisher, author, and translator for each sale of the translated version. Upon purchase of the translated book, each payment will be split three ways. Meanwhile, the original language version undergoes a two-way split, with the translator excluded from this split since they didn't contribute to that version. This ensures that the relevant individuals receive sats exclusively for their specific contributions. There might be a need for a separate publisher for the translated language, leading to a split between the author, translator, and second publisher. For the original language, the split occurs between the author and the first publisher. Theoretically, the current system goes through a similar structure for the payments, but I am reminding you here that only the instant split settlement makes that plan match the reality in practice. The moment that any entity starts holding funds for someone else even for a little, then the problems go up exponentially. This is why Breez is committed to preserving the peer-to-peer nature of Bitcoin in lightning payments.

Instant Splits For Narrators, Producers, And All Contributors - A Symphony Of Fair Compensation

We are not done yet with the benefits. Now that we have a path for each language, what will it look like for audiobooks? In that case, you just add one more split based on the agreement between the parties. If you create an audiobook in the original language then the split will be between Author, Publisher, and Audiobook creator. The creation of an audiobook is a project on its own of casting, recording, post-production, and distribution. That has multiple people involved so the split for the audiobook payment in reality may look like this:

Author, Publisher, Producer, Recording engineer, Narrator, Editing/mastering engineer.

In this dynamic model, contributors may wear multiple "hats" within a project, allowing them to assume various roles and, consequently, earn a share for each responsibility they undertake. For instance, an Author might take on the roles of both Producer and Narrator, performing additional work beyond their original scope. In such cases, the Author receives a percentage for each distinct role. However, should the Author choose not to take on these additional roles, someone else can assume those responsibilities and reap the corresponding benefits. This structure ensures alignment, with compensation tied directly to individual contributions at the time of each book sale, eliminating compensation for time or speculation based on future sales.

Unlike the other two industries we explored in construction here and logistics here, the timing of payment in the publishing industry differs. In the preceding sectors, individuals receive compensation instantly upon completing their respective tasks. However, in the realm of authors, payment is not immediate for the act of writing; it occurs when someone is willing to pay the price for the published work. This distinction highlights a fundamental principle: everyone is remunerated when they deliver value to someone else who is willing to pay. Whether delivering a package to the correct address or constructing a house for someone else to inhabit, optimizing the process with the client in mind becomes paramount. Therefore, receiving sats is contingent on providing intrinsic value to others, aligning the industry with similar principles observed in construction and logistics. If you build or deliver something that people do not want, that means you did not provide value.

Instant Influence: From Metrics To Value - A Paradigm Shift In Compensation For Promotions

Now let’s take it even a step further. This will not be the only industry where the influencers can change their business model, but I will use it as an example to explain the change that they will experience in their service. Currently, the influencers get paid for views or mentions depending on whether the medium is audio or video. Their value, as perceived by those paying them, hinges on metrics such as subscriber counts, views, and downloads. But for the person that is paying, is it going to matter if the influencer talks about a book but then it does not result in sales of the book? Or again what happens if someone mentions it but the sales are extraordinary, then the influencer has to receive a more fair compensation. Connecting payments directly to actual value, rather than relying on derivative indicators, ensures influencers receive fair compensation in line with their impact on sales.

Well, the instant settlement fixes that. Authors can now decide on a fixed percentage for influencers per sale, allowing anyone to become an influencer without the need for a massive following. Even a small blog with a modest readership of less than fifty people can result in direct, instant compensation for sales generated. This eliminates barriers to entry for the influencers to have a following and aligns incentives for authors seeking broader promotion. There is a massive friction in the influencer market currently because with poor measuring tools you do not want the money to be wasted on promotion that does not work. This future system is not going to waste a single sat for promotion because it is not paying for a promotion. You are negotiating a commission on every sale which the actual buyer pays - increasing sales is the intent of the authors reaching out to influencers anyway.

Now that we have an influencer promoting a book the UX (user experience) is going to be completely different. Right now to promote anything as an influencer you receive a code that you have to ask for, from the publisher in this case. Then your viewers/listeners have to go to the website and fill in all the information about themselves. Then they have to enter their card information which has to be secured from the website somehow. Then they enter the promo code and receive the ebook that they wanted. On the other side, the publisher has to hope he does not get a chargeback for whatever reason in the next 30 days. The instant settlement UX will be:

• Influencers enter a lightning address where they want to receive their commissions from for every sale.

• Then they display a link or a QR code that will be a lightning invoice for the specific book.

• The buyer enters an email where they want the ebook to be sent.

The instant split payment is sent and everyone including the influencer receives their share of it. This way even influencers might realize that the likes, views and comments are not the most important thing and focus on providing real value for their viewers. This not only streamlines the process but may also alleviate the impact of negative comments and dislikes for influencers. Because their income is not tied to the likes that means it will no longer be the most important thing. They will focus on promoting quality products that sell a lot so they get a piece of those sales and the likes will be secondary.

The transformation in influencer behavior triggered by instant settlement not only disrupts their traditional approaches but sparks competition among publishers and influencers alike. Authors may opt for a model where they focus solely on writing, leveraging influencers to handle promotion without dealing with traditional editors. This introduces a more diverse competitive landscape, where publishing houses will compete with content creators from different industries who passionately recommend authors they love. While these changes benefit readers, authors, and participants, those resistant to competition may be the only ones disliking this evolving landscape. image1

Indeed, envisioning the transformative power of instant payments, there's an opportunity for an innovator to replicate what Amazon did to bookstores. By adopting a model built on advanced technology and leveraging the advantages of instant settlements, this individual can start with books and subsequently explore avenues for expansion. The potential for such a disruptive force lies not only in reshaping the publishing landscape but also in inspiring new possibilities across diverse industries.

Now let’s go and publish that app.

Finding Catholics and Catholic-friendly content on Nostr

Obvious Catholics being obvious

nostr:npub1m4ny6hjqzepn4rxknuq94c2gpqzr29ufkkw7ttcxyak7v43n6vvsajc2jl

nostr:npub1k92qsr95jcumkpu6dffurkvwwycwa2euvx4fthv78ru7gqqz0nrs2ngfwd

nostr:npub1wqfzz2p880wq0tumuae9lfwyhs8uz35xd0kr34zrvrwyh3kvrzuskcqsyn

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Other good Christian follows

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nostr:npub1q6ya7kz84rfnw6yjmg5kyttuplwpauv43a9ug3cajztx4g0v48eqhtt3sh

nostr:npub1356t6fpjysx9vdchfg7mryv83w4pcye6a3eeke9zvsje7s2tuv4s4k805u

nostr:npub1kun5628raxpm7usdkj62z2337hr77f3ryrg9cf0vjpyf4jvk9r9smv3lhe

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nostr:npub18zqmath26txwfhc70af8axk7pftjre9x7cf0lxkg92nvj2cpfgts8va790

Christian follow list

An exhaustive list of Christians is maintained by nostr:npub1mt8x8vqvgtnwq97sphgep2fjswrqqtl4j7uyr667lyw7fuwwsjgs5mm7cz. Just look at his list on https://listr.lol/

Catholic community

You can also join the community, to reach other catholics (usable on #Nostrudel #Coracle #Amethyst and #Satellite): nostr:naddr1qvzqqqyx7cpzqqnd3dl8hnptg9agfugwmdcmgfl7wcrfjpgfpv28ksq6dnmqc0e8qqyyxct5dphkc6trmu6k9l

Christian topic relay

And always make sure to use the #catholic hashtag, to get onto the top-specific christpill relay (add it to your relay list: wss://christpill.nostr1.com/).

Hope that helps! 😊

The spread of the Lightning Network may change the incentives behind human interactions, thus also affecting the world of jobs. In the first episode: the construction industry.

When talking about the social implications of Bitcoin, reference is often made to the potential effects of Bitcoin's spread that are not immediately evident: these are second, third, and fourth-degree effects that could change the way people behave in everyday life. Even if the thought might sound hyperbolic, the fact of the matter is that technology has already changed the features of our everyday life, more than once.

Raise your hand if, in the 1980s, you would not have found crazy the idea that one-day people would choose which restaurant to go to based on star ratings and reviews on a digital screen. Who would have thought that one day it would no longer be necessary to pay attention to the route to take by car to reach one's destination and, possibly, learn it by heart, because software would calculate the best route for them based on traffic? How would you have reacted if, back in the 1970s, a friend had told you that in the future he might fall in love with a girl he had never seen who lived on the other side of the world, thanks to text messages processed by software that allows you to meet like-minded people?

Innovation changes social interactions: it always has and will continue to do so, especially if technology is particularly disruptive.

The effects of the large-scale diffusion of the Lightning Network - a technology that allows instant payments from one part of the world to another at almost non-existent costs - can be extremely profound, and can act to change entire sectors. In the first example, in this article, we will discuss how instant settlement could revolutionize the construction industry.

The construction industry is a complex ecosystem involving a myriad of stakeholders, each with its own set of incentives. These often conflicting interests lead to inefficiencies, delays, and increased costs.

The Lightning Network offers a solution to align these disparate interests.

The problems

Misaligned Incentives

In the traditional construction setup, each stakeholder operates with a different set of incentives. More specifically: Buyers aim for high-quality construction within a stipulated time and budget. Planners, including architects, designers, and engineers, are primarily concerned with their designs and less about the actual construction. Construction companies are focused on maximizing profits, realizing the building as quickly as possible and with the lowest possible quality at the agreed price. Supervisors' incentives are tied to bonuses, which may or may not align with the project's overall goals. Construction workers are paid for their time, not the quality or efficiency of their work.

Let's step outside the imagery of the construction site for a moment and think about football. Can you imagine if defenders had a bonus for putting the ball out of bounds? And midfielders had one for the most passes? And strikers for the most goals? Imagine the chaos on the pitch if the different skills of all the players were not employed for only two goals: to score goals and to avoid conceding them. Such a team would hardly be efficient or successful.

The construction industry, with its varied incentives, faces a similar problem, leading to delays, increased costs, and compromised quality.

The underlying issues

Several other issues exacerbate the inefficiencies in the construction industry. Machinery and tools, often owned by the construction company, are not well-maintained by the workers. This leads to faster wear and tear, increasing costs for the company. Small changes in the project requested by the buyer are not usually compensated, adding to the company's costs. Planners are not held accountable for design flaws that manifest during construction, leading to additional costs and delays.

The solution: instant task-based payments

Construction workers

In a hyperbitcoinized world, the Lightning Network's instant settlement feature can be a game-changer.

Workers would be paid for tasks completed rather than time spent. For instance, upon successful construction of a wall or installation of windows, payments could be made instantly. This aligns the workers' incentives with quality and efficiency, as they would aim to complete as many tasks as possible to earn more.

Because workers are paid per task there will be no need for a company to hire workers on a payroll. The company just needs to post the tasks, for example on its app, and anyone can apply for them, do their tasks, and get paid for each execution. The more tasks a worker does, the more bitcoin he earns, the better his skills become, the better his reputation will be in the app. Isn't that what already happens with Uber drivers - except for the Bitcoin part, for now?

Supervisors

This system would also eliminate the need for supervisors to focus on time management, allowing them to concentrate solely on quality assurance. If a task meets the quality standards, the worker gets paid instantly. This would eliminate the need for time-based bonuses or penalties.

Supervisors would be incentivized to focus even more on quality alone by the split payments feature made possible by the Lightning Network. When a specific task is up for grabs, multiple workers can apply for it via a specialized app. The workers then negotiate among themselves to determine the division of payment - be it an even 50/50 split or a more nuanced arrangement like 60/40. This self-organization extends to scenarios involving more than two workers, where payment divisions could be negotiated as 33.3% for each in a three-way split, or perhaps a 40/40/20 arrangement.

The self-organizing mechanism alleviates the supervisory burden. Instead of mediating disputes or assigning tasks, the supervisor's role becomes even more focused on quality control. Once a task is completed to satisfaction, the supervisor approves it in the app, triggering the release of funds. The app itself is programmed to automatically split the payments among the workers based on their pre-negotiated terms, streamlining the entire process and eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Tools ownership

Since workers are compensated for completed tasks rather than time spent, there's a heightened incentive to complete tasks as efficiently as possible. More tasks, more money. The quickest route to efficiency? Utilizing high-quality, well-maintained tools.

When multiple workers vie for the same task, the one equipped with the best tools gains a distinct advantage, capable of completing the task more swiftly and effectively. This system has a ripple effect on tool ownership. Over time, workers might prefer using their own tools over company-provided ones, ensuring better maintenance and ultimately contributing to a more efficient and effective construction process.

In short, the instant payment system would also encourage workers to invest in and maintain their own high-quality tools, further improving efficiency and competition in the construction workers market. This would also reduce the company's costs related to tool maintenance and replacement.

Planners and buyers

Planners would be more involved in the construction process, ensuring that their designs are being followed accurately. They would be paid partially upfront for their blueprints, with the rest being released upon successful completion of tasks. This system would make planners more accountable and invested in the successful execution of their plans.

The task-based payment system also benefits the buyer and the construction company by reducing financial risks. Payments would be made for completed tasks, ensuring that neither party is financially exposed. This would also make the negotiation process smoother, as both parties would know exactly what is included in the price for each task.

Construction companies

While the Lightning Network's instant settlement feature promises to decentralize many aspects of the construction industry, the need for centralized oversight cannot be entirely eliminated. A single entity must be accountable for the holistic execution of the project, meticulously tracking resources required for each construction phase and ensuring the right personnel are deployed at the appropriate times.

Technological advancements have made it possible for specialized apps to manage these complex tasks. Such apps could, in theory, allow the buyer of the finished building to oversee the entire project. However, this assumes that the buyer possesses the requisite expertise in construction management, which is often not the case. As a result, most buyers prefer to employ specialized companies to manage the project until its completion.

This scenario closely mirrors the current state of Lightning Network nodes. While anyone can set up a node, doing so effectively requires a certain level of expertise. Some individuals may choose to manage their own nodes to earn revenue, but the majority are willing to pay fees for expert management, opting for non-custodial apps to simplify the process. Similarly, some buyers may use construction management apps to avoid paying a construction company, but they must then assume full responsibility for the project's outcome.

Now go and build

The next logical step is clear: it's time to build that pay-per-task app and usher in a new era of decentralized construction. By leveraging the capabilities of the Lightning Network and Bitcoin, we can shift the balance of power towards those who are at the heart of every construction project—the workers. These are the individuals who bring blueprints to life, who lay each brick and install each window. By empowering them with instant, task-based payments, we not only align incentives across the board but also elevate the entire industry to new heights of efficiency and quality.

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