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@ f977c464:32fcbe00
2024-01-30 20:06:18Güneşin kaybolmasının üçüncü günü, saat öğlen on ikiyi yirmi geçiyordu. Trenin kalkmasına yaklaşık iki saat vardı. Hepimiz perondaydık. Valizlerimiz, kolilerimiz, renk renk ve biçimsiz çantalarımızla yan yana dizilmiş, kısa aralıklarla tepemizdeki devasa saati kontrol ediyorduk.
Ama ne kadar dik bakarsak bakalım zaman bir türlü istediğimiz hızla ilerlemiyordu. Herkes birkaç dakika sürmesi gereken alelade bir doğa olayına sıkışıp kalmış, karanlıktan sürünerek çıkmayı deniyordu.
Bekleme salonuna doğru döndüm. Nefesimden çıkan buharın arkasında, kalın taş duvarları ve camlarıyla morg kadar güvenli ve soğuk duruyordu. Cesetleri o yüzden bunun gibi yerlere taşımaya başlamışlardı. Demek insanların bütün iyiliği başkaları onları gördüğü içindi ki gündüzleri gecelerden daha karanlık olduğunda hemen birbirlerinin gırtlağına çökmüş, böğürlerinde delikler açmış, gözlerini oyup kafataslarını parçalamışlardı.
İstasyonun ışığı titrediğinde karanlığın enseme saplandığını hissettim. Eğer şimdi, böyle kalabalık bir yerde elektrik kesilse başımıza ne gelirdi?
İçerideki askerlerden biri bakışlarımı yakalayınca yeniden saate odaklanmış gibi yaptım. Sadece birkaç dakika geçmişti.
“Tarlalarım gitti. Böyle boyum kadar ayçiçeği doluydu. Ah, hepsi ölüp gidiyor. Afitap’ın çiçekleri de gi-”
“Dayı, Allah’ını seversen sus. Hepimizi yakacaksın şimdi.”
Karanlıkta durduğunda, görünmez olmayı istemeye başlıyordun. Kimse seni görmemeli, nefesini bile duymamalıydı. Kimsenin de ayağının altında dolaşmamalıydın; gelip kazayla sana çarpmamalılar, takılıp sendelememeliydiler. Yoksa aslında hedefi sen olmadığın bir öfke gürlemeye başlar, yaşadığın ilk şoku ve acıyı silerek üstünden geçerdi.
İlk konuşan, yaşlıca bir adam, kafasında kasketi, nasırlı ellerine hohluyordu. Gözleri ve burnu kızarmıştı. Güneşin kaybolması onun için kendi başına bir felaket değildi. Hayatına olan pratik yansımalarından korkuyordu olsa olsa. Bir anının kaybolması, bu yüzden çoktan kaybettiği birinin biraz daha eksilmesi. Hayatta kalmasını gerektiren sebepler azalırken, hayatta kalmasını sağlayacak kaynaklarını da kaybediyordu.
Onu susturan delikanlıysa atkısını bütün kafasına sarmış, sakalı ve yüzünün derinliklerine kaçmış gözleri dışında bedeninin bütün parçalarını gizlemeye çalışıyordu. İşte o, güneşin kaybolmasının tam olarak ne anlama geldiğini anlamamış olsa bile, dehşetini olduğu gibi hissedebilenlerdendi.
Güneşin onlardan alındıktan sonra kime verileceğini sormuyorlardı. En başta onlara verildiğinde de hiçbir soru sormamışlardı zaten.
İki saat ne zaman geçer?
Midemin üstünde, sağ tarafıma doğru keskin bir acı hissettim. Karaciğerim. Gözlerimi yumdum. Yanımda biri metal bir nesneyi yere bıraktı. Bir kafesti. İçerisindeki kartalın ıslak kokusu burnuma ulaşmadan önce bile biliyordum bunu.
“Yeniden mi?” diye sordu bana kartal. Kanatları kanlı. Zamanın her bir parçası tüylerinin üstüne çöreklenmişti. Gagası bir şey, tahminen et parçası geveliyor gibi hareket ediyordu. Eski anılar kolay unutulmazmış. Şu anda kafesinin kalın parmaklıklarının ardında olsa da bunun bir aldatmaca olduğunu bir tek ben biliyordum. Her an kanatlarını iki yana uzatıverebilir, hava bu hareketiyle dalgalanarak kafesi esneterek hepimizi içine alacak kadar genişleyebilir, parmaklıklar önce ayaklarımızın altına serilir gibi gözükebilir ama aslında hepimizin üstünde yükselerek tepemize çökebilirdi.
Aşağıya baktım. Tahtalarla zapt edilmiş, hiçbir yere gidemeyen ama her yere uzanan tren rayları. Atlayıp koşsam… Çantam çok ağırdı. Daha birkaç adım atamadan, kartal, suratını bedenime gömerdi.
“Bu sefer farklı,” diye yanıtladım onu. “Yeniden diyemezsin. Tekrarladığım bir şey değil bu. Hatta bir hata yapıyormuşum gibi tonlayamazsın da. Bu sefer, insanların hak etmediğini biliyorum.”
“O zaman daha vahim. Süzme salaksın demektir.”
“İnsanların hak etmemesi, insanlığın hak etmediği anlamına gelmez ki.”
Az önce göz göze geldiğim genççe ama çökük asker hâlâ bana bakıyordu. Bir kartalla konuştuğumu anlamamıştı şüphesiz. Yanımdakilerden biriyle konuştuğumu sanmış olmalıydı. Ama konuştuğum kişiye bakmıyordum ona göre. Çekingence kafamı eğmiştim. Bir kez daha göz göze geldiğimizde içerideki diğer iki askere bir şeyler söyledi, onlar dönüp beni süzerken dışarı çıktı.
Yanımızdaki, az önce konuşan iki adam da şaşkınlıkla bir bana bir kartala bakıyordu.
“Yalnız bu sefer kalbin de kırılacak, Prometheus,” dedi kartal, bana. “Belki son olur. Biliyorsun, bir sürü soruna neden oluyor bu yaptıkların.”
Beni koruyordu sözde. En çok kanıma dokunan buydu. Kasıklarımın üstüne oturmuş, kanlı suratının ardında gözleri parlarken attığı çığlık kulaklarımda titremeye devam ediyordu. Bu tabloda kimsenin kimseyi düşündüğü yoktu. Kartalın, yanımızdaki adamların, artık arkama kadar gelmiş olması gereken askerin, tren raylarının, geçmeyen saatlerin…
Arkamı döndüğümde, asker sahiden oradaydı. Zaten öyle olması gerekiyordu; görmüştüm bunu, biliyordum. Kehanetler… Bir şeyler söylüyordu ama ağzı oynarken sesi çıkmıyordu. Yavaşlamış, kendisini saatin akışına uydurmuştu. Havada donan tükürüğünden anlaşılıyordu, sinirliydi. Korktuğu için olduğunu biliyordum. Her seferinde korkmuşlardı. Beni unutmuş olmaları işlerini kolaylaştırmıyordu. Sadece yeni bir isim vermelerine neden oluyordu. Bu seferkiyle beni lanetleyecekleri kesinleşmişti.
Olması gerekenle olanların farklı olması ne kadar acınasıydı. Olması gerekenlerin doğasının kötücül olmasıysa bir yerde buna dayanıyordu.
“Salaksın,” dedi kartal bana. Zamanı aşan bir çığlık. Hepimizin önüne geçmişti ama kimseyi durduramıyordu.
Sonsuzluğa kaç tane iki saat sıkıştırabilirsiniz?
Ben bir tane bile sıkıştıramadım.
Çantama uzanıyordum. Asker de sırtındaki tüfeğini indiriyordu. Benim acelem yoktu, onunsa eli ayağı birbirine dolaşıyordu. Oysaki her şey tam olması gerektiği anda olacaktı. Kehanet başkasının parmaklarının ucundaydı.
Güneş, bir tüfeğin patlamasıyla yeryüzüne doğdu.
Rayların üzerine serilmiş göğsümün ortasından, bir çantanın içinden.
Not: Bu öykü ilk olarak 2021 yılında Esrarengiz Hikâyeler'de yayımlanmıştır.
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@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d
2024-01-14 13:55:28O Planetinha
Fumaça verde me entrando pelas narinas e um coro desafinado fazia uma base melódica.
nos confins da galáxia havia um planetinha isolado. Era um planeta feliz.
O homem vestido de mago começava a aparecer por detrás da fumaça verde.
O planetinha recebeu três presentes, mas o seu habitante, o homem, estava num estado de confusão tão grande que ameaçava estragá-los. Os homens já havia escravizado o primeiro presente, a vida; lutavam contra o segundo presente, a morte; e havia alguns que achavam que deviam destruir totalmente o terceiro, o amor, e com isto levar a desordem total ao pobre planetinha perdido, que se chamava Terra.
O coro desafinado entrou antes do "Terra" cantando várias vezes, como se imitasse um eco, "terra-terra-terraaa". Depois de uma pausa dramática, o homem vestido de mago voltou a falar.
Terra, nossa nave mãe.
Neste momento eu me afastei. À frente do palco onde o mago e seu coral faziam apelos à multidão havia vários estandes cobertos com a tradicional armação de quatro pernas e lona branca. Em todos os cantos da praça havia gente, gente dos mais variados tipos. Visitantes curiosos que se aproximavam atraídos pela fumaça verde e as barraquinhas, gente que aproveitava o movimento para vender doces sem pagar imposto, casais que se abraçavam de pé para espantar o frio, os tradicionais corredores que faziam seu cooper, gente cheia de barba e vestida para imitar os hippies dos anos 60 e vender colares estendidos no chão, transeuntes novos e velhos, vestidos como baladeiros ou como ativistas do ônibus grátis, grupos de ciclistas entusiastas.
O mago fazia agora apelos para que nós, os homens, habitantes do isolado planetinha, passássemos a ver o planetinha, nossa nave mãe, como um todo, e adquiríssemos a consciência de que ele estava entrando em maus lençóis. A idéia, reforçada pela logomarca do evento, era que parássemos de olhar só para a nossa vida e pensássemos no planeta.
A logomarca do evento, um desenho estilizado do planeta Terra, nada tinha a ver com seu nome: "Festival Andando de Bem com a Vida", mas havia sido ali colocada estrategicamente pelos organizadores, de quem parecia justamente sair a mensagem dita pelo mago.
Aquela multidão de pessoas que, assim como eu, tinham suas próprias preocupações, não podiam ver o quadro caótico que formavam, cada uma com seus atos isolados, ali naquela praça isolada, naquele planeta isolado. Quando o hippie barbudo, quase um Osho, assustava um casal para tentar vender-lhes um colar, a quantidade de caos que isto acrescentava à cena era gigantesca. Por um segundo, pude ver, como se estivesse de longe e acima, com toda a pretensão que este estado imaginativo carrega, a cena completa do caos.
Uma nave-mãe, dessas de ficção científica, habitada por milhões de pessoas, seguia no espaço sem rumo, e sem saber que logo à frente um longo precipício espacial a esperava, para a desgraça completa sua e de seus habitantes.
Acostumados àquela nave tanto quanto outrora estiveram acostumados à sua terra natal, os homens viviam as próprias vidas sem nem se lembrar que estavam vagando pelo espaço. Ninguém sabia quem estava conduzindo a nave, e ninguém se importava.
No final do filme descobre-se que era a soma completa do caos que cada habitante produzia, com seus gestos egoístas e incapazes de levar em conta a totalidade, é que determinava a direção da nave-mãe. O efeito, no entanto, não era imediato, como nunca é. Havia gente de verdade encarregada de conduzir a nave, mas era uma gente bêbada, mau-caráter, que vivia brigando pelo controle da nave e o poder que isto lhes dava. Poder, status, dinheiro!
Essa gente bêbada era atraída até ali pela corrupção das instituições e da moral comum que, no fundo no fundo, era causada pelo egoísmo da população, através de um complexo -- mas que no filme aparece simplificado pela ação individual de um magnata do divertimento público -- processo social.
O homem vestido de mago era mais um agente causador de caos, com sua cena cheia de fumaça e sua roupa estroboscópica, ele achava que estava fazendo o bem ao alertar sua platéia, todos as sextas-feiras, de que havia algo que precisava ser feito, que cada um que estava ali ouvindo era responsável pelo planeta. A sua incapacidade, porém, de explicar o que precisava ser feito só aumentava a angústia geral; a culpa que ele jogava sobre seu público, e que era prontamente aceita e passada em frente, aos familiares e amigos de cada um, atormentava-os diariamente e os impedia de ter uma vida decente no trabalho e em casa. As famílias, estressadas, estavam constantemente brigando e os motivos mais insignificantes eram responsáveis pelas mais horrendas conseqüências.
O mago, que após o show tirava o chapéu entortado e ia tomar cerveja num boteco, era responsável por uma parcela considerável do caos que levava a nave na direção do seu desgraçado fim. No filme, porém, um dos transeuntes que de passagem ouviu um pedaço do discurso do mago despertou em si mesmo uma consiência transformadora e, com poderes sobre-humanos que lhe foram então concedidos por uma ordem iniciática do bem ou não, usando só os seus poderes humanos mesmo, o transeunte -- na primeira versão do filme um homem, na segunda uma mulher -- consegue consertar as instituições e retirar os bêbados da condução da máquina. A questão da moral pública é ignorada para abreviar a trama, já com duas horas e quarenta de duração, mas subentende-se que ela também fora resolvida.
No planeta Terra real, que não está indo em direção alguma, preso pela gravidade ao Sol, e onde as pessoas vivem a própria vida porque lhes é impossível viver a dos outros, não têm uma consciência global de nada porque só é possível mesmo ter a consciência delas mesmas, e onde a maioria, de uma maneira ou de outra, está tentando como pode, fazer as coisas direito, o filme é exibido.
Para a maioria dos espectadores, é um filme que evoca reflexões, um filme forte. Por um segundo elas têm o mesmo vislumbre do caos generalizado que eu tive ali naquela praça. Para uma pequena parcela dos espectadores -- entre eles alguns dos que estavam na platéia do mago, o próprio mago, o seguidor do Osho, o casal de duas mulheres e o vendedor de brigadeiros, mas aos quais se somam também críticos de televisão e jornal e gente que fala pelos cotovelos na internet -- o filme é um horror, o filme é uma vulgarização de um problema real e sério, o filme apela para a figura do herói salvador e passa uma mensagem totalmente errada, de que a maioria da população pode continuar vivendo as suas própria vidinhas miseráveis enquanto espera por um herói que vem do Olimpo e os salva da mixórdia que eles mesmos causaram, é um filme que presta um enorme desserviço à causa.
No dia seguinte ao lançamento, num bar meio caro ali perto da praça, numa mesa com oito pessoas, entre elas seis do primeiro grupo e oito do segundo, discute-se se o filme levará ou não o Oscar. Eu estou em casa dormindo e não escuto nada.
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@ f977c464:32fcbe00
2024-01-11 18:47:47Kendisini aynada ilk defa gördüğü o gün, diğerleri gibi olduğunu anlamıştı. Oysaki her insan biricik olmalıydı. Sözgelimi sinirlendiğinde bir kaşı diğerinden birkaç milimetre daha az çatılabilirdi veya sevindiğinde dudağı ona has bir açıyla dalgalanabilirdi. Hatta bunların hiçbiri mümkün değilse, en azından, gözlerinin içinde sadece onun sahip olabileceği bir ışık parlayabilirdi. Çok sıradan, öyle sıradan ki kimsenin fark etmediği o milyonlarca minik şeyden herhangi biri. Ne olursa.
Ama yansımasına bakarken bunların hiçbirini bulamadı ve diğer günlerden hiç de farklı başlamamış o gün, işe gitmek için vagonunun gelmesini beklediği alelade bir metro istasyonunda, içinde kaybolduğu illüzyon dağılmaya başladı.
İlk önce derisi döküldü. Tam olarak dökülmedi aslında, daha çok kıvılcımlara dönüşüp bedeninden fırlamış ve bir an sonra sönerek külleşmiş, havada dağılmıştı. Ardında da, kaybolmadan hemen önce, kısa süre için hayal meyal görülebilen, bir ruhun yok oluşuna ağıt yakan rengârenk peri cesetleri bırakmıştı. Beklenenin aksine, havaya toz kokusu yayıldı.
Dehşete düştü elbette. Dehşete düştüler. Panikle üstlerini yırtan 50 işçi. Her şeyin sebebiyse o vagon.
Saçları da döküldü. Her tel, yere varmadan önce, her santimde ikiye ayrıla ayrıla yok oldu.
Bütün yüzeylerin mat olduğu, hiçbir şeyin yansımadığı, suyun siyah aktığı ve kendine ancak kameralarla bakabildiğin bir dünyada, vagonun içine yerleştirilmiş bir aynadan ilk defa kendini görmek.
Gözlerinin akları buharlaşıp havada dağıldı, mercekleri boşalan yeri doldurmak için eriyip yayıldı. Gerçeği görmemek için yaratılmış, bu yüzden görmeye hazır olmayan ve hiç olmayacak gözler.
Her şeyin o anda sona erdiğini sanabilirdi insan. Derin bir karanlık ve ölüm. Görmenin görmek olduğu o anın bitişi.
Ben geldiğimde ölmüşlerdi.
Yani bozulmuşlardı demek istiyorum.
Belleklerini yeni taşıyıcılara takmam mümkün olmadı. Fiziksel olarak kusursuz durumdaydılar, olmayanları da tamir edebilirdim ama tüm o hengamede kendilerini baştan programlamış ve girdilerini modifiye etmişlerdi.
Belleklerden birini masanın üzerinden ileriye savurdu. Hınca hınç dolu bir barda oturuyorlardı. O ve arkadaşı.
Sırf şu kendisini insan sanan androidler travma geçirip delirmesin diye neler yapıyoruz, insanın aklı almıyor.
Eliyle arkasını işaret etti.
Polislerin söylediğine göre biri vagonun içerisine ayna yerleştirmiş. Bu zavallılar da kapı açılıp bir anda yansımalarını görünce kafayı kırmışlar.
Arkadaşı bunların ona ne hissettirdiğini sordu. Yani o kadar bozuk, insan olduğunu sanan androidi kendilerini parçalamış olarak yerde görmek onu sarsmamış mıydı?
Hayır, sonuçta belirli bir amaç için yaratılmış şeyler onlar. Kaliteli bir bilgisayarım bozulduğunda üzülürüm çünkü parasını ben vermişimdir. Bunlarsa devletin. Bana ne ki?
Arkadaşı anlayışla kafasını sallayıp suyundan bir yudum aldı. Kravatını biraz gevşetti.
Bira istemediğinden emin misin?
İstemediğini söyledi. Sahi, neden deliriyordu bu androidler?
Basit. Onların yapay zekâlarını kodlarken bir şeyler yazıyorlar. Yazılımcılar. Biliyorsun, ben donanımdayım. Bunlar da kendilerini insan sanıyorlar. Tiplerine bak.
Sesini alçalttı.
Arabalarda kaza testi yapılan mankenlere benziyor hepsi. Ağızları burunları bile yok ama şu geldiğimizden beri sakalını düzeltip duruyor mesela. Hayır, hepsi de diğerleri onun sakalı varmış sanıyor, o manyak bir şey.
Arkadaşı bunun delirmeleriyle bağlantısını çözemediğini söyledi. O da normal sesiyle konuşmaya devam etti.
Anlasana, aynayı falan ayırt edemiyor mercekleri. Lönk diye kendilerini görüyorlar. Böyle, olduğu gibi...
Nedenmiş peki? Ne gerek varmış?
Ne bileyim be abicim! Ahiret soruları gibi.
Birasına bakarak dalıp gitti. Sonra masaya abanarak arkadaşına iyice yaklaştı. Bulanık, bir tünelin ucundaki biri gibi, şekli şemalı belirsiz bir adam.
Ben seni nereden tanıyorum ki ulan? Kimsin sen?
Belleği makineden çıkardılar. İki kişiydiler. Soruşturmadan sorumlu memurlar.
─ Baştan mı başlıyoruz, diye sordu belleği elinde tutan ilk memur.
─ Bir kere daha deneyelim ama bu sefer direkt aynayı sorarak başla, diye cevapladı ikinci memur.
─ Bence de. Yeterince düzgün çalışıyor.
Simülasyon yüklenirken, ayakta, biraz arkada duran ve alnını kaşıyan ikinci memur sormaktan kendisini alamadı:
─ Bu androidleri niye böyle bir olay yerine göndermişler ki? Belli tost olacakları. İsraf. Gidip biz baksak aynayı kırıp delilleri mahvetmek zorunda da kalmazlar.
Diğer memur sandalyesinde hafifçe dönecek oldu, o sırada soruyu bilgisayarın hoparlöründen teknisyen cevapladı.
Hangi işimizde bir yamukluk yok ki be abi.
Ama bir son değildi. Üstlerindeki tüm illüzyon dağıldığında ve çıplak, cinsiyetsiz, birbirinin aynı bedenleriyle kaldıklarında sıra dünyaya gelmişti.
Yere düştüler. Elleri -bütün bedeni gibi siyah turmalinden, boğumları çelikten- yere değdiği anda, metronun zemini dağıldı.
Yerdeki karolar öncesinde beyazdı ve çok parlaktı. Tepelerindeki floresan, ışığını olduğu gibi yansıtıyor, tek bir lekenin olmadığı ve tek bir tozun uçmadığı istasyonu aydınlatıyorlardı.
Duvarlara duyurular asılmıştı. Örneğin, yarın akşam kültür merkezinde 20.00’da başlayacak bir tekno blues festivalinin cıvıl cıvıl afişi vardı. Onun yanında daha geniş, sarı puntolu harflerle yazılmış, yatay siyah kesiklerle çerçevesi çizilmiş, bir platformdan düşen çöp adamın bulunduğu “Dikkat! Sarı bandı geçmeyin!” uyarısı. Biraz ilerisinde günlük resmi gazete, onun ilerisinde bir aksiyon filminin ve başka bir romantik komedi filminin afişleri, yapılacakların ve yapılmayacakların söylendiği küçük puntolu çeşitli duyurular... Duvar uzayıp giden bir panoydu. On, on beş metrede bir tekrarlanıyordu.
Tüm istasyonun eni yüz metre kadar. Genişliği on metre civarı.
Önlerinde, açık kapısından o mendebur aynanın gözüktüğü vagon duruyordu. Metro, istasyona sığmayacak kadar uzundu. Bir kılıcın keskinliğiyle uzanıyor ama yer yer vagonların ek yerleriyle bölünüyordu.
Hiçbir vagonda pencere olmadığı için metronun içi, içlerindekiler meçhuldü.
Sonrasında karolar zerrelerine ayrılarak yükseldi. Floresanın ışığında her yeri toza boğdular ve ortalığı gri bir sisin altına gömdüler. Çok kısa bir an. Afişleri dalgalandırmadılar. Dalgalandırmaya vakitleri olmadı. Yerlerinden söküp aldılar en fazla. Işık birkaç kere sönüp yanarak direndi. Son kez söndüğünde bir daha geri gelmedi.
Yine de etraf aydınlıktı. Kırmızı, her yere eşit dağılan soluk bir ışıkla.
Yer tamamen tele dönüşmüştü. Altında çapraz hatlarla desteklenmiş demir bir iskelet. Işık birkaç metreden daha fazla aşağıya uzanamıyordu. Sonsuzluğa giden bir uçurum.
Duvarın yerini aynı teller ve demir iskelet almıştı. Arkasında, birbirine vidalarla tutturulmuş demir plakalardan oluşan, üstünden geçen boruların ek yerlerinden bazen ince buharların çıktığı ve bir süre asılı kaldıktan sonra ağır, yağlı bir havayla sürüklendiği bir koridor.
Diğer tarafta paslanmış, pencerelerindeki camlar kırıldığı için demir plakalarla kapatılmış külüstür bir metro. Kapının karşısındaki aynadan her şey olduğu gibi yansıyordu.
Bir konteynırın içini andıran bir evde, gerçi gayet de birbirine eklenmiş konteynırlardan oluşan bir şehirde “andıran” demek doğru olmayacağı için düpedüz bir konteynırın içinde, masaya mum görüntüsü vermek için koyulmuş, yarı katı yağ atıklarından şekillendirilmiş kütleleri yakmayı deniyordu. Kafasında hayvan kıllarından yapılmış grili siyahlı bir peruk. Aynı kıllardan kendisine gür bir bıyık da yapmıştı.
Üstünde mavi çöp poşetlerinden yapılmış, kravatlı, şık bir takım.
Masanın ayakları yerine oradan buradan çıkmış parçalar konulmuştu: bir arabanın şaft mili, üst üste konulmuş ve üstünde yazı okunamayan tenekeler, boş kitaplar, boş gazete balyaları... Hiçbir şeye yazı yazılmıyordu, gerek yoktu da zaten çünkü merkez veri bankası onları fark ettirmeden, merceklerden giren veriyi sentezleyerek insanlar için dolduruyordu. Yani, androidler için. Farklı şekilde isimlendirmek bir fark yaratacaksa.
Onların mercekleri için değil. Bağlantıları çok önceden kopmuştu.
─ Hayatım, sofra hazır, diye bağırdı yatak odasındaki karısına.
Sofrada tabak yerine düz, bardak yerine bükülmüş, çatal ve bıçak yerine sivriltilmiş plakalar.
Karısı salonun kapısında durakladı ve ancak kulaklarına kadar uzanan, kocasınınkine benzeyen, cansız, ölü hayvanların kıllarından ibaret peruğunu eliyle düzeltti. Dudağını, daha doğrusu dudağının olması gereken yeri koyu kırmızı bir yağ tabakasıyla renklendirmeyi denemişti. Biraz da yanaklarına sürmüştü.
─ Nasıl olmuş, diye sordu.
Sesi tek düzeydi ama hafif bir neşe olduğunu hissettiğinize yemin edebilirdiniz.
Üzerinde, çöp poşetlerinin içini yazısız gazete kağıtlarıyla doldurarak yaptığı iki parça giysi.
─ Çok güzelsin, diyerek kravatını düzeltti kocası.
─ Sen de öylesin, sevgilim.
Yaklaşıp kocasını öptü. Kocası da onu. Sonra nazikçe elinden tutarak, sandalyesini geriye çekerek oturmasına yardım etti.
Sofrada yemek niyetine hiçbir şey yoktu. Gerek de yoktu zaten.
Konteynırın kapısı gürültüyle tekmelenip içeri iki memur girene kadar birbirlerine öyküler anlattılar. O gün neler yaptıklarını. İşten erken çıkıp yemyeşil çimenlerde gezdiklerini, uçurtma uçurduklarını, kadının nasıl o elbiseyi bulmak için saatlerce gezip yorulduğunu, kocasının kısa süreliğine işe dönüp nasıl başarılı bir hamleyle yaşanan krizi çözdüğünü ve kadının yanına döndükten sonra, alışveriş merkezinde oturdukları yeni dondurmacının dondurmalarının ne kadar lezzetli olduğunu, boğazlarının ağrımasından korktuklarını...
Akşam film izleyebilirlerdi, televizyonda -boş ve mat bir plaka- güzel bir film oynayacaktı.
İki memur. Çıplak bedenleriyle birbirinin aynı. Ellerindeki silahları onlara doğrultmuşlardı. Mum ışığında, tertemiz bir örtünün serili olduğu masada, bardaklarında şaraplarla oturan ve henüz sofranın ortasındaki hindiye dokunmamış çifti gördüklerinde bocaladılar.
Hiç de androidlere bilinçli olarak zarar verebilecek gibi gözükmüyorlardı.
─ Sessiz kalma hakkına sahipsiniz, diye bağırdı içeri giren ikinci memur. Söylediğiniz her şey...
Cümlesini bitiremedi. Yatak odasındaki, masanın üzerinden gördüğü o şey, onunla aynı hareketleri yapan android, yoksa, bir aynadaki yansıması mıydı?
Bütün illüzyon o anda dağılmaya başladı.
Not: Bu öykü ilk olarak 2020 yılında Esrarengiz Hikâyeler'de yayımlanmıştır.
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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-11-21 21:37:48Embarking on the journey of operating your own Lightning node on the Bitcoin Layer 2 network is more than just a tech-savvy endeavor; it's a step into a realm of financial autonomy and cutting-edge innovation. By running a node, you become a vital part of a revolutionary movement that's reshaping how we think about money and digital transactions. This role not only offers a unique perspective on blockchain technology but also places you at the heart of a community dedicated to decentralization and network resilience. Beyond the technicalities, it's about embracing a new era of digital finance, where you contribute directly to the network's security, efficiency, and growth, all while gaining personal satisfaction and potentially lucrative rewards.
In essence, running your own Lightning node is a powerful way to engage with the forefront of blockchain technology, assert financial independence, and contribute to a more decentralized and efficient Bitcoin network. It's an adventure that offers both personal and communal benefits, from gaining in-depth tech knowledge to earning a place in the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency.
Running your own Lightning node for the Bitcoin Layer 2 network can be an empowering and beneficial endeavor. Here are 10 reasons why you might consider taking on this task:
-
Direct Contribution to Decentralization: Operating a node is a direct action towards decentralizing the Bitcoin network, crucial for its security and resistance to control or censorship by any single entity.
-
Financial Autonomy: Owning a node gives you complete control over your financial transactions on the network, free from reliance on third-party services, which can be subject to fees, restrictions, or outages.
-
Advanced Network Participation: As a node operator, you're not just a passive participant but an active player in shaping the network, influencing its efficiency and scalability through direct involvement.
-
Potential for Higher Revenue: With strategic management and optimal channel funding, your node can become a preferred route for transactions, potentially increasing the routing fees you can earn.
-
Cutting-Edge Technological Engagement: Running a node puts you at the forefront of blockchain and bitcoin technology, offering insights into future developments and innovations.
-
Strengthened Network Security: Each new node adds to the robustness of the Bitcoin network, making it more resilient against attacks and failures, thus contributing to the overall security of the ecosystem.
-
Personalized Fee Structures: You have the flexibility to set your own fee policies, which can balance earning potential with the service you provide to the network.
-
Empowerment Through Knowledge: The process of setting up and managing a node provides deep learning opportunities, empowering you with knowledge that can be applied in various areas of blockchain and fintech.
-
Boosting Transaction Capacity: By running a node, you help to increase the overall capacity of the Lightning Network, enabling more transactions to be processed quickly and at lower costs.
-
Community Leadership and Reputation: As an active node operator, you gain recognition within the Bitcoin community, which can lead to collaborative opportunities and a position of thought leadership in the space.
These reasons demonstrate the impactful and transformative nature of running a Lightning node, appealing to those who are deeply invested in the principles of bitcoin and wish to actively shape its future. Jump aboard, and embrace the journey toward full independence. 🐶🐾🫡🚀🚀🚀
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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-11-18 23:28:31Chef's notes
Serving these two dishes together will create a delightful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving meal, offering a perfect blend of traditional flavors with a homemade touch.
Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 30 min
- 🍳 Cook time: 1 - 2 hours
- 🍽️ Servings: 4-6
Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey (about 12-14 lbs), thawed and ready to cook
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 lemon, halved
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- Apple and Sage Stuffing
- 1 loaf of crusty bread, cut into cubes
- 2 apples, cored and chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Prepare the Herb Butter: Mix the softened butter with the chopped thyme, rosemary, and sage. Season with salt and pepper.
- Prepare the Turkey: Remove any giblets from the turkey and pat it dry. Loosen the skin and spread a generous amount of herb butter under and over the skin.
- Add Aromatics: Inside the turkey cavity, place the quartered onion, lemon halves, and garlic cloves.
- Roast: Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Tent with aluminum foil and roast. A general guideline is about 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the thigh.
- Rest and Serve: Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.
- Next: Apple and Sage Stuffing
- Dry the Bread: Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and let them dry overnight, or toast them in the oven.
- Cook the Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter and cook the onion, celery, and garlic until soft.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the apples, sage, and bread cubes to the skillet. Stir in the chicken broth until the mixture is moist. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake: Transfer the stuffing to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-40 minutes, until golden brown on top.
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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-11-02 01:13:01Testing a brand new YakiHonne native client for iOS. Smooth as butter (not penis butter 🤣🍆🧈) with great visual experience and intuitive navigation. Amazing work by the team behind it! * lists * work
Bold text work!
Images could have used nostr.build instead of raw S3 from us-east-1 region.
Very impressive! You can even save the draft and continue later, before posting the long-form note!
🐶🐾🤯🤯🤯🫂💜
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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-08-22 12:14:34As the title states, scratch behind my ear and you get it. 🐶🐾🫡
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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-07-30 00:35:01Test Bounty Note
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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-07-22 09:39:48Intro
This short tutorial will help you set up your own Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) on your own LND Node that is not using Umbrel. If you are a user of Umbrel, you should use their version of NWC.
Requirements
You need to have a working installation of LND with established channels and connectivity to the internet. NWC in itself is fairly light and will not consume a lot of resources. You will also want to ensure that you have a working installation of Docker, since we will use a docker image to run NWC.
- Working installation of LND (and all of its required components)
- Docker (with Docker compose)
Installation
For the purpose of this tutorial, we will assume that you have your lnd/bitcoind running under user bitcoin with home directory /home/bitcoin. We will also assume that you already have a running installation of Docker (or docker.io).
Prepare and verify
git version - we will need git to get the latest version of NWC. docker version - should execute successfully and show the currently installed version of Docker. docker compose version - same as before, but the version will be different. ss -tupln | grep 10009- should produce the following output: tcp LISTEN 0 4096 0.0.0.0:10009 0.0.0.0: tcp LISTEN 0 4096 [::]:10009 [::]:**
For things to work correctly, your Docker should be version 20.10.0 or later. If you have an older version, consider installing a new one using instructions here: https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/
Create folders & download NWC
In the home directory of your LND/bitcoind user, create a new folder, e.g., "nwc" mkdir /home/bitcoin/nwc. Change to that directory cd /home/bitcoin/nwc and clone the NWC repository: git clone https://github.com/getAlby/nostr-wallet-connect.git
Creating the Docker image
In this step, we will create a Docker image that you will use to run NWC.
- Change directory to
nostr-wallet-connect
:cd nostr-wallet-connect
- Run command to build Docker image:
docker build -t nwc:$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M') -t nwc:latest .
(there is a dot at the end) - The last line of the output (after a few minutes) should look like
=> => naming to docker.io/library/nwc:latest
nwc:latest
is the name of the Docker image with a tag which you should note for use later.
Creating docker-compose.yml and necessary data directories
- Let's create a directory that will hold your non-volatile data (DB):
mkdir data
- In
docker-compose.yml
file, there are fields that you want to replace (<> comments) and port “4321” that you want to make sure is open (check withss -tupln | grep 4321
which should return nothing). - Create
docker-compose.yml
file with the following content, and make sure to update fields that have <> comment:
version: "3.8" services: nwc: image: nwc:latest volumes: - ./data:/data - ~/.lnd:/lnd:ro ports: - "4321:8080" extra_hosts: - "localhost:host-gateway" environment: NOSTR_PRIVKEY: <use "openssl rand -hex 32" to generate a fresh key and place it inside ""> LN_BACKEND_TYPE: "LND" LND_ADDRESS: localhost:10009 LND_CERT_FILE: "/lnd/tls.cert" LND_MACAROON_FILE: "/lnd/data/chain/bitcoin/mainnet/admin.macaroon" DATABASE_URI: "/data/nostr-wallet-connect.db" COOKIE_SECRET: <use "openssl rand -hex 32" to generate fresh secret and place it inside ""> PORT: 8080 restart: always stop_grace_period: 1m
Starting and testing
Now that you have everything ready, it is time to start the container and test.
- While you are in the
nwc
directory (important), execute the following command and check the log output,docker compose up
- You should see container logs while it is starting, and it should not exit if everything went well.
- At this point, you should be able to go to
http://<ip of the host where nwc is running>:4321
and get to the interface of NWC - To stop the test run of NWC, simply press
Ctrl-C
, and it will shut the container down. - To start NWC permanently, you should execute
docker compose up -d
, “-d” tells Docker to detach from the session. - To check currently running NWC logs, execute
docker compose logs
to run it in tail mode add-f
to the end. - To stop the container, execute
docker compose down
That's all, just follow the instructions in the web interface to get started.
Updating
As with any software, you should expect fixes and updates that you would need to perform periodically. You could automate this, but it falls outside of the scope of this tutorial. Since we already have all of the necessary configuration in place, the update execution is fairly simple.
- Change directory to the clone of the git repository,
cd /home/bitcoin/nwc/nostr-wallet-connect
- Run command to build Docker image:
docker build -t nwc:$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M') -t nwc:latest .
(there is a dot at the end) - Change directory back one level
cd ..
- Restart (stop and start) the docker compose config
docker compose down && docker compose up -d
- Done! Optionally you may want to check the logs:
docker compose logs
-
@ 82341f88:fbfbe6a2
2023-04-11 19:36:53There’s a lot of conversation around the #TwitterFiles. Here’s my take, and thoughts on how to fix the issues identified.
I’ll start with the principles I’ve come to believe…based on everything I’ve learned and experienced through my past actions as a Twitter co-founder and lead:
- Social media must be resilient to corporate and government control.
- Only the original author may remove content they produce.
- Moderation is best implemented by algorithmic choice.
The Twitter when I led it and the Twitter of today do not meet any of these principles. This is my fault alone, as I completely gave up pushing for them when an activist entered our stock in 2020. I no longer had hope of achieving any of it as a public company with no defense mechanisms (lack of dual-class shares being a key one). I planned my exit at that moment knowing I was no longer right for the company.
The biggest mistake I made was continuing to invest in building tools for us to manage the public conversation, versus building tools for the people using Twitter to easily manage it for themselves. This burdened the company with too much power, and opened us to significant outside pressure (such as advertising budgets). I generally think companies have become far too powerful, and that became completely clear to me with our suspension of Trump’s account. As I’ve said before, we did the right thing for the public company business at the time, but the wrong thing for the internet and society. Much more about this here: https://twitter.com/jack/status/1349510769268850690
I continue to believe there was no ill intent or hidden agendas, and everyone acted according to the best information we had at the time. Of course mistakes were made. But if we had focused more on tools for the people using the service rather than tools for us, and moved much faster towards absolute transparency, we probably wouldn’t be in this situation of needing a fresh reset (which I am supportive of). Again, I own all of this and our actions, and all I can do is work to make it right.
Back to the principles. Of course governments want to shape and control the public conversation, and will use every method at their disposal to do so, including the media. And the power a corporation wields to do the same is only growing. It’s critical that the people have tools to resist this, and that those tools are ultimately owned by the people. Allowing a government or a few corporations to own the public conversation is a path towards centralized control.
I’m a strong believer that any content produced by someone for the internet should be permanent until the original author chooses to delete it. It should be always available and addressable. Content takedowns and suspensions should not be possible. Doing so complicates important context, learning, and enforcement of illegal activity. There are significant issues with this stance of course, but starting with this principle will allow for far better solutions than we have today. The internet is trending towards a world were storage is “free” and infinite, which places all the actual value on how to discover and see content.
Which brings me to the last principle: moderation. I don’t believe a centralized system can do content moderation globally. It can only be done through ranking and relevance algorithms, the more localized the better. But instead of a company or government building and controlling these solely, people should be able to build and choose from algorithms that best match their criteria, or not have to use any at all. A “follow” action should always deliver every bit of content from the corresponding account, and the algorithms should be able to comb through everything else through a relevance lens that an individual determines. There’s a default “G-rated” algorithm, and then there’s everything else one can imagine.
The only way I know of to truly live up to these 3 principles is a free and open protocol for social media, that is not owned by a single company or group of companies, and is resilient to corporate and government influence. The problem today is that we have companies who own both the protocol and discovery of content. Which ultimately puts one person in charge of what’s available and seen, or not. This is by definition a single point of failure, no matter how great the person, and over time will fracture the public conversation, and may lead to more control by governments and corporations around the world.
I believe many companies can build a phenomenal business off an open protocol. For proof, look at both the web and email. The biggest problem with these models however is that the discovery mechanisms are far too proprietary and fixed instead of open or extendable. Companies can build many profitable services that complement rather than lock down how we access this massive collection of conversation. There is no need to own or host it themselves.
Many of you won’t trust this solution just because it’s me stating it. I get it, but that’s exactly the point. Trusting any one individual with this comes with compromises, not to mention being way too heavy a burden for the individual. It has to be something akin to what bitcoin has shown to be possible. If you want proof of this, get out of the US and European bubble of the bitcoin price fluctuations and learn how real people are using it for censorship resistance in Africa and Central/South America.
I do still wish for Twitter, and every company, to become uncomfortably transparent in all their actions, and I wish I forced more of that years ago. I do believe absolute transparency builds trust. As for the files, I wish they were released Wikileaks-style, with many more eyes and interpretations to consider. And along with that, commitments of transparency for present and future actions. I’m hopeful all of this will happen. There’s nothing to hide…only a lot to learn from. The current attacks on my former colleagues could be dangerous and doesn’t solve anything. If you want to blame, direct it at me and my actions, or lack thereof.
As far as the free and open social media protocol goes, there are many competing projects: @bluesky is one with the AT Protocol, nostr another, Mastodon yet another, Matrix yet another…and there will be many more. One will have a chance at becoming a standard like HTTP or SMTP. This isn’t about a “decentralized Twitter.” This is a focused and urgent push for a foundational core technology standard to make social media a native part of the internet. I believe this is critical both to Twitter’s future, and the public conversation’s ability to truly serve the people, which helps hold governments and corporations accountable. And hopefully makes it all a lot more fun and informative again.
💸🛠️🌐 To accelerate open internet and protocol work, I’m going to open a new category of #startsmall grants: “open internet development.” It will start with a focus of giving cash and equity grants to engineering teams working on social media and private communication protocols, bitcoin, and a web-only mobile OS. I’ll make some grants next week, starting with $1mm/yr to Signal. Please let me know other great candidates for this money.
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@ 104f6f7d:220bf499
2024-09-26 05:01:05“He is free to make the wrong choice, but not free to succeed with it. He is free to evade reality, he is free to unfocus his mind and stumble blindly down any road he pleases, but not free to avoid the abyss he refuses to see.” - Ayn Rand
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@ a6e6a54b:8aca70c6
2024-09-26 04:41:21Outline
- Introduction.
- Setting the Ground with Definitions: UFO, UAP and The Phenomenon.
- About the Author: Luis Elizondo.
- Skeptical Approach.
- Non-Skeptical Approach.
- Spiritual-Metaphysical Component of UAP.
- Worldview Frameworks.
- Making Sense of UAP.
- The Stickiness of The Phenomenon.
- Possibilities for UAP.
- Spiritual-Metaphysical Beings.
- Human Nature.
- UAP Intentions.
- Psyop Hypothesis.
- Conclusions.
- References.
From Lights in the Sky to the Fallen
Expanding the Conversation from Imminent by Luis Elizondo
### 1. Introduction
Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. -Oliver Wendell Holmes.
During the past few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the UFO-UAP topic. If you have been paying attention, you know by now that the phenomenon is real: there has been an acknowledgment of what people have been saying for years. However, if you are not aware of the current state of affairs, you might need to catch up. Imminent by Luis Elizondo [1] summarizes the latest events and his role in them. I think this book is not for UAP beginners, and I still consider myself as one. For this reason, it was not the book I was expecting, but it was the book I needed to challenge my approach to this topic. I had to make a mental shift in order to think about this issue more broadly. I will elaborate more on the challenges I faced later.
Luis “Lue” Elizondo explains his role as the Head of AATIP (Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program) run by the Pentagon and why he resigned due to the secrecy. As you can imagine, it is very difficult to make sense of someone else’s experiences, especially when they also involve the phenomenon. From my perspective, the book brings to the forefront yet another layer of this mystery —the spiritual and metaphysical component of UAP—, which is hard to process (it certainly was for me). I initially planned to write a review of the book, but I have decided instead that I will continue the conversation that Lue started, specifically about this aspect of UAP.
Keep in mind that whether you believe they live among us or think it is all nonsense, you may already have a strong bias that confirms your beliefs and dismisses any new information. This is part of what makes this topic so strange—most people seem to fall into one of two categories: either fully invested or completely indifferent. In my experience, the most common nuanced opinion among those who have not delved deeply into the subject but still want to appear open-minded is: “Of course, there are aliens somewhere in the universe, but it is ridiculous to think they have already visited us.” However, if you look closely at the discussions over the past few years, people are not necessarily talking about aliens visiting Earth—that is just one possibility being considered. I think claiming that aliens exist somewhere but have not shown up yet, and probably never will, is a comfort zone stance.
Furthermore, I am not inclined to convince anyone that this topic is relevant. But, if you already think that transparency is worth your time, then let’s think about the puzzle together!
Notes: 1. I think you should read the book, but if you prefer a summary and review of the key points made by Lue, I recommend watching Richard Dolan’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uazfN6CqUeQ. 2. I have been careful with the quotes I am sharing here. Having listened to several hours of Lue’s interviews and podcasts, I have only included quotes he has publicly discussed. 3.
2. Setting the Ground with Definitions: UFO, UAP and The Phenomenon
I want clarify the meanings of UFO, UAP and the phenomenon, as I understand them:
- UFO: Unidentified Flying Object. This is a well-known acronym, often associated with flying saucers. It carries a lot of stigma, taboo, and conspiracy theories. Because of the recent surge of interest in the topic, the term "UFO" is not as commonly used anymore; instead, most people now refer to UAP. Additionally, the term UFO does not encompass the full range of the phenomenon.
-
UAP: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena[^1]. It was previously defined as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, but the phenomenon is not only aerial; it is transmedium (moving through air, space, and water—USO refers to Unidentified Submerged Object), and possibly transdimensional. Therefore, “anomalous” is a more accurate word, as it better captures the broader nature of the phenomenon.
-
The Phenomenon: This is the core of the issue and what we are trying to understand. The way that I see it, the phenomenon involves the interaction[^2] between humans and a non-human intelligence, which may be more advanced than us. The elements of interaction include:
Objects: These are observed in the sky, in the ocean, or coming from outer space. Objects can also be inserted into the human body. Examples include crafts, lights, and drone-like objects. These objects may appear tangible or not.
Entities or Beings: These are sometimes seen near or inside the objects, or on their own. They may communicate messages through unusual means. Their origin is uncertain—whether material or metaphysical in nature.
To summarize:
From a human perspective, the interaction with the phenomenon can be both material—occurring through devices, human senses, and visible changes in the body with biological effects—and psychological. Even more puzzling is that the phenomenon may enclose what some refer to as paranormal activity[^3].
Whatever the phenomenon is, it seems to have both material and non-material components. So, when we talk about evidence (photos, videos, vehicles, etc.) we might only be seeing one side of the coin, not the whole picture. I am being very deliberate in using the terms material and non-material because I am referring to the materialistic interpretation of the universe. I will expand more about this later.
[^1]: As for the word "phenomena," I do not think it is necessary to use "UAPs" to refer to the plural form. However, it is very common to see “UAPs” used everywhere. I will just stick with "UAP" in this discussion. [^2]: If they are seen or detected, that counts as interaction. When I mentioned earlier that some people say that “life exists somewhere else in the universe”, they are missing the point. The life forms that might exist elsewhere, which we do not yet know about, are not interacting with humans. [^3]: Some suggest that a subset of what we call paranormal activity can be caused or related to the phenomenon. Therefore, in the end, certain instances of paranormal activity could have a material explanation.
3. About the Author: Luis Elizondo
Luis Elizondo was recruited as a senior intelligence officer to help establish counterintelligence and security for the Advanced Aerospace Weapons System Applications Program (AAWSAP), which later became the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). This program was focused on “unconventional technologies” (p. 6), “unusual phenomena” and investigated unidentified aircraft, specifically ones that seem to display beyond-next-generation technology and capabilities—what we now call unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, or what were long referred to as UFOs (p. 8).
Some interesting details discussed at the podcast Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal [2] include: * Lue still keeps his security clearance. * Lue’s book went through a year-long review process by the Pentagon, resulting in certain parts being redacted.
Due to these factors, some speculate that he could be a disinformation agent. However, I do not agree with this notion, as other whistleblowers[^4] have come forward and support some of Lue’s claims. Additionally, Lue’s coming out appears to have caused an internal struggle within the Pentagon. It is very confusing to say the least.
[^4]: Lue does not view himself as a whistleblower but rather as a “patriot”. The fact that he retains his security clearance and continues to work as a government consultant makes people wonder who is really behind this disclosure movement. He has stated that: I would never in a million years violate my security oath. The damage inflicted by people such as Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning and, later, Edward Snowden arguably did more harm than good. Yes, the truth got out, but people lost their lives, and intelligence was compromised in the process (p. 193).
In my opinion, the most important claim made by Lue is the following: Unidentified craft with beyond-next-generation technology—including the ability to move in ways that defy our knowledge of physics and to do so within air, water, and space—have been operating with complete impunity all over the world since at least World War II. These crafts are not made by humans. Humanity is in fact not the only intelligent life in the universe, and not the alpha species… While there are valid reasons for secrecy around some aspects of UAP, I do not think humanity should be kept in the dark about the fundamental fact that we are not the only intelligent life in the universe. The United States government and other major governments have decided its citizens do not have a right to know, but I could not disagree more. You might be thinking this all sounds crazy. I’m not saying it doesn’t sound crazy, I’m saying that it’s real (pp. 1-2).
4. Skeptical Approach
In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story. -Walter Cronkite.
Before sharing my opinions, assuming that the claims made by Lue and others are true, I need to outline some of the reasons for skepticism about the information being presented (in his book and in general during this disclosure process):
-
Lack of evidence: Lue has not provided concrete evidence, only his personal testimony. The Pentagon denies his claims.
-
Quality of evidence: The evidence that is presented is often of poor quality: blurry pictures and out of context videos that could be anything.
- Lue Elizondo’s Credentials: Right after the release of the book, there was considerable debate on #UFOTwitter regarding his position at AATIP.
- Government secrecy: Many think that it is impossible for a government to keep a big secret like this one from the public for so many years. They argue that the cover-up and secrecy are just conspiracy theories.
- Persistent Claims of Imminent Disclosure: Ufologists keep claiming, for decades, that disclosure is just about to happen any day now.
- Questionable Sources: A lot of the reported encounters come from people who might be unstable, seeking attention, or trying to scam others. Even those who seem genuine might be misinterpreting what they experienced.
5. Non-Skeptical Approach
The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. -Henri Bergson.
The goal here is not to focus on the skeptic view. I am well aware that one can just say “Show me the evidence”, and move on if no one points to anything convincing and irrefutable. Also, given the fact that there are many other relevant issues affecting our daily life—like inflation, climate change, geopolitical instability, wars, and surveillance— dedicating mental energy to the UAP issue seems like a waste of time. It is totally reasonable to set this discussion aside due to other priorities.
However, I think it is unfair to dismiss the UAP issue as unscientific, nonsense and full of fraudsters (and there are definitely some of those) without spending a decent amount of time trying to understand what it is really about before criticizing it. Ridiculing a subject you do not know much about and do not understand is not scientific. In my opinion, one of the best critics in this area is Dr. Michael Shermer^5. He is a well-known skeptic with a deep knowledge of various UFO cases, has read a vast amount of information and talked to experiencers and witnesses. I recommend following his work.
In the previous section, I mentioned that some people think it is impossible for a government to keep a big secret[^6] like this for so long. I agree with that perspective and it seems that whistleblowers are starting to come forward. Not just one, but several whistleblowers with military backgrounds have been sharing their stories. It is up for you to decide how trustworthy you think they are. They have appeared in interviews, podcasts and some have even testified before the US Congress. While it is possible that they could all be lying or working together, I am going to assume for now that this is not the case so I can focus on the information they are providing.
[^6]: Some people believe that if there was anything significant to the UAP issue, we would have seen it revealed in Wikileaks by now. Interestingly, the “Podesta emails” include exchanges between Tom DeLonge and John Podesta, both of whom are mentioned in the book because of their interest in the topic.
Sometimes it is important to state the obvious: if something is engaging humanity, we do not need any government to tell us whether it is real or not. As Dr. Avi Loeb^7, Head of the Galileo Project^8, puts it: The sky and oceans are not classified and we can survey them ourselves [3]. People all around the world have been sharing their experiences on this topic for years. Sure, some of these people might be fraudsters, attention seekers, or simply confused, but others might be recounting genuine experiences of events that truly happened to them (even if we do not agree on their nature). That is why the testimonies of whistleblowers who have encountered unusual phenomena during their military service are very significant. Their credibility and training to identify anomalies while staying objective make their accounts worth considering.
There are also people who have had more intriguing encounters with the phenomenon, often referred to as experiencers[^9]. If you’re a good listener, you might have heard some unusual stories from people you know, and you might even know someone who falls into this category. For those who might be unaware, experiencers do exist, and many of them choose to stay quiet. As Dr. Garry Nolan^10, Executive Director of the Sol Foundation^11, points out: I think that what [ridiculing] does is a disservice to people who come forward with stories because they have a double trauma, they have the trauma of seeing something they do not understand and doesn’t fit with their worldview, and then they have the trauma of everyone making fun of them [4]. [^9]: I think this term was originally reserved for abductees, but recently, I have heard it used more broadly to refer to anyone who has had an experience related to the phenomenon. So, I’ll use “experiencers” in this broader context.
6. Spiritual-Metaphysical Component of UAP
It is not the answer that enlightens but the question. -Eugène Ionesco.
Worldview Frameworks
To ensure we are all on the same page, let’s take a moment to discuss Materialism, which is the predominant worldview among scientists and philosophers for explaining the nature of reality.
Materialism holds that the universe is entirely physical and governed by the laws of physics.
Reductive Materialism refers to the notion that all mental states—such as emotions, beliefs, perceptions, desires—can be reduced to physical phenomena, hence, mental states correspond to physical states. Most Materialists identify with Reductive Materialism.
Eliminative Materialism takes a step further by suggesting that mental phenomena do not exist at all.
Mental phenomena is an interesting case of study because it seems to be something different. However, most scientists argue that mental states can be explained through materialistic means, suggesting, there is no need to postulate another substance[^12] or property. Nevertheless, consciousness does not seem to be reconciled in a materialistic way due to its subjective nature and we still lack a clear definition of it. This is one of science's greatest mysteries, sparking extensive debate among philosophers, psychologists, and neurologists. In recent decades, computer scientists have also joined the conversation, due to the advances in Artificial Intelligence. I mention this because, as we explore the unknown characteristics of the phenomenon later, some have proposed that moving beyond a materialistic interpretation might be necessary, especially since the phenomenon seems to interact directly with human consciousness.
[^12]: Cartesian dualism divides the world in two parts: the physical and the mental, leading us to the mind-body problem—how does the interaction occur? We have shifted toward a form of monism, assuming that the world is only made of physical stuff (materialism), thus dismissing the mind-body problem, by claiming that the mind is material (reductionism). However, phenomenal consciousness—the realm of subjective experiences or qualia—seems to escape materialism, drawing us back to reconsider dualism and other flavors of it. This scientific challenge has been famously formulated as the Hard Problem of Consciousness by the philosopher Dr. David Chalmers.
Professor Dr. Mark Harris, physicist and theologian, in his essay Faith and physics states that: Physics is widely said to have a unique ability to shine light on physical reality at its most fundamental level. But in order to do so, physicists must make many assumptions. Indeed, the widespread assumption that physics is the most fundamental of the natural sciences, and that all others relate to it, is a consequence of reductionism, a metaphysical belief which can’t itself be established empirically in any direct way. Moreover, whether theorists or experimentalists, most physicists assume a form of realism –in spite of the fact that quantum physics has led to various anti-realist challenges– and a strong belief in the uniformity of nature, that physical reality is systematic, regular and patterned everywhere, and that these patterns may be understood rationally (the idea that is often expressed as the ‘laws of nature/physics’). This requires reliance on physical models to explain or summarise observations. A model is effectively a scientific metaphor, or an analogy, a way of explaining something we don’t understand in terms of something we do… The next assumption is that the uniform patterns we think we see in nature, which we try to describe using models, are universal. This means that we can eliminate local variables. For instance, in an experiment we discard the vast array of data we observe which are not universally systematic in favour of those (usually much sparser) data that are. Note that this means that we inevitably bring theoretical expectations to the lab: we can’t perform an experiment without having a pre-conceived theoretical framework already in place. This is often summarised by the famous phrase of N. R. Hanson that, ‘All data are theory-laden’. In other words, our observations come with theoretical baggage which already goes some way towards interpreting them [5].
Hence, the scientific lenses through which we understand reality are also grounded in suppositions or metaphysical beliefs because we cannot prove: materialism, realism (reality exists independent of the observer), determinism and reductionism, and that all reality can be understood by rational means. These notions certainly help us effectively interpret, understand and predict the physical world we are familiar with. There is a common belief that if something appears to be outside this worldview, it is either because: 1) We have not yet discovered the scientific explanation for it, or 2) It simply does not exist. I find the first possibility compelling, as we should indeed strive to understand the world around us. However, if we encounter phenomena that truly[^13]defy scientific explanation and challenge our established notions of reality (such as the concept of God), dismissing them as non-existent might reflect a personal bias or attachment to a specific worldview rather than an objective search for truth. I do not think that we should just abandon ourselves to all possible explanations every chance we get, but if after a thorough examination of the issue following the scientific method we remain puzzled, maybe, it is time to consider alternative perspectives.
[^13]: We cannot be sure about this.
Making Sense of UAP
Once you find true knowledge, ignorance is no longer an option. And if the knowledge you find is unusual then strange becomes a way of life. -Thomas Campbell.
The UAP issue challenges our scientific understanding in two significant ways:
1. Behavior of UAP: The behavior of UAP do not align with our current understanding of physics. This discrepancy leads many to speculate that we might be encountering intelligence and technology far more advanced than our own. This idea often implies that these phenomena could originate from a more technologically advanced civilization, potentially from somewhere else in the universe. In this regard, Lue mentions the 6 observables that should be explained (p. 156): * Instantaneous acceleration. * Hypersonic velocity. * Low observability. * Transmedium travel. * Antigravity. * Biological effects. *
2. Interaction with Humans: The way experiencers describe their interactions with UAP could challenge our materialistic worldview. This aspect introduces what I refer to as the spiritual-metaphysical component.
When I used to think about the UAP issue, I never felt the need to consider anything beyond science. I was comfortable sticking to a materialistic interpretation of the world (although I do not subscribe to it as the ultimate explanation of reality), and this was reflected in my approach to the phenomenon—I would just ignore anything metaphysical. I was aware of some of the claims but they seemed too overwhelming to process. I also thought that once we understood ‘the observables’, we would be able to explain the rest. While I have not completely changed my perspective on how to study this topic, I am now open to the idea that we need to explore the spiritual-metaphysical side in parallel.
As I was reading and Lue mentioned Robert Bigelow^14 in the first few pages, I thought to myself “Oh no, please don’t go there…” But sure enough, he did touch on the paranormal aspects later in the book. I was disappointed and felt he might be making a mistake: if he wanted to draw attention to this topic from a broader audience, focusing only on concrete data—such as sensor readings, the capabilities of the crafts, and how they seem to defy our understanding of physics—would be more effective. Introducing the more unusual aspects of the topic might turn off physicists and the scientific community, potentially leading them to dismiss the discussion.
To be fair, Lue does not imply that the phenomenon cannot be explained materialistically and it is spiritual in nature. In fact, he references Arthur C. Clarke’s idea that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”, and he appears frustrated with the attitude of some Christian fundamentalists in government regarding this topic. But I will address this in more detail later.
I believe that Lue is intentional with his choice of words and the information he presents as he retains his security clearance. Early in the book, he mentions: Over time, my colleagues and I gained insight into how these mysterious UAP operate (p. 2). From this, I concluded: * He is signaling to a certain group. The book is not meant for beginners looking for a general overview of the UAP issue. * The spiritual-metaphysical aspect of the phenomenon is so significant that it cannot be ignored. * He may be an experiencer himself (he refers to personal experiences), and by acknowledging them, he is validating others, encouraging them to come forward.
Now that the spiritual-metaphysical part of this issue was brought front and center, I had to confront it as well, even though I had been mentally resisting it.
Remote Viewing and Orbs
Lue dedicates a whole chapter to remote viewing: Recruits were trained to spy upon enemies, but not in the usual way. Stargate trained “supersoldiers” to spy on hard targets using their psychic gifts. No, I am not kidding, this was an official US government program. They called the highly controversial technique “remote viewing.” The program, pioneered at Stanford University in the late 1960s, was led by none other than Hal Puthoff, whom I met at the dinner meeting I described earlier. Hal had been a Stanford University researcher and an employee of the NSA when he and his colleague Russell Targ were approached by the CIA and told that Russia had a remote-viewing program. The US needed to catch up and beat their efforts. That’s how it all started. Extrasensory perception had won over supporters in government who were initially dubious, then shocked that the technique worked. No one understood the mechanism. The CIA didn’t care why it worked; the only thing that mattered was that it did (p. 33). This whole story is really captivating but I was under the impression that it was unnecessary for the reader who is only interested to learn about UAP.
It turns out that Lue connects his involvement in AATIP to some unusual incidents that were occurring to him, his family and colleagues. He explains that they started seeing orbs in their homes: I was shocked to find that a lot of my colleagues and I began experiencing firsthand some of these orbs at our homes...The object behaved as if guided by some intelligence. It parked itself in the air, then drifted off down the hall before disappearing entirely (p. 68).
For those of you who do not know about orbs this is how he describes them: One of the most common types of UAP that are often reported is what we call orbs, which are small, luminous balls of light or, in some cases, smooth and metallic spheres. This is nothing new. In World War II, orbs were reported regularly in and around Allied and Axis aircraft, so much so that they were nicknamed “foo fighters” (p. 67). The orbs have been reported: by commercial pilots or military pilots or by eyewitnesses on the ground, particularly around military test ranges and sensitive US military facilities. This is not just a military phenomenon. Now, with the pervasiveness of home security systems and advancements in cell phone cameras, private civilians are capturing these orbs, just like the military is (p. 67). At this point, I was quite surprised because I remembered being part of a conversation with some colleagues in an academic setting where they expressed how much they would like to study orbs. I had no idea what orbs were, and I had never heard about them before, let alone their potential connection to UAP. Reading that chapter made a lot of things from that old conversation click into place. I wish I could go back and ask more questions about orbs, but they sounded too esoteric for my taste back then, and I was not in the right mindset to show genuine curiosity.
There is another interesting point he makes about orbs: The classification of these orbs really varies quite a bit. There are different colors and sizes; some of the colors reported were white, yellow, blue, red, and green. Reports I have seen suggested the blue orbs in particular had a very negative biological consequence, meaning if you got close to one of these, you could expect to be injured (p. 67). This example highlights that the phenomenon is not entirely harmless.
The way I see it, the connection between remote viewing and orbs in the book (not that these two are necessarily related) is that they might both be some kind of surveillance mechanism and ways to collect intel (this much information we have with remote viewing in a military context). This raises interesting questions about the nature of both remote viewing and orbs, as we venture into the blurry area between physics and metaphysics. I was under the impression that remote viewing was debunked, but Lue says that it works and is still used by the CIA, which does not care why it works but just that it does. What is going on here?
Stickiness of The Phenomenon
At the beginning of Lue’s involvement in UAP related work, he was warned that: “You should be prepared for the possibility that some of that strangeness will impact your personal life. These portfolios are sticky” (p. 12). Later, he linked this initial warning to his experience with orbs. I had heard about the Hitchhiker^15 effect but it took me a while to make the connection.
In a particularly eye-opening section of the conversation about Imminent in the podcast hosted by Post Disclosure World, the guests Christopher Sharp and James Iandoli, clearly highlight the concept of stickiness: If you engage with the phenomenon the phenomenon engages back. They raise an intriguing argument against widespread disclosure or confirmation of UAPs: There is this idea that we should not disclose because if we disclose that’s going to open a door for the phenomena to start engaging us in a much more proactive and unambiguous way. Do we want to all wake up at 3 am and see green orbs in our bedroom like Lue Elizondo and his family experience?[6]. Isn’t this a fascinating question?
There does seem to be a reactive aspect to the phenomenon. Personally, I lean towards the idea of transparency. After all, many of us have wondered whether we are alone in the universe and if human intelligence is the highest form. While the stickiness of the phenomenon might be a consequence of this new knowledge, we would eventually learn how to manage it. However, it is easier said than done. No one wants to live in fear, and this reactive part of the phenomenon appears to exacerbate that emotion. Additionally, in times of collective anxiety, there is always the risk of powers emerging “for our protection”—as Winston Churchill famously said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”
On the other hand, how deeply do you need to engage with the topic for it to become sticky? I am not sure. I have not had any experience myself.
I have noticed a common pattern among those who have opened up to me about their experiences: they often express confusion, shame, and fear. Many of them wish to forget what happened to them entirely. None of the experiences shared so far have been described as positive or exciting. But I recognize I cannot draw broad conclusions.
Possibilities for UAP
We sometimes get all the information but we refuse to get the message. -Cullen Hightower.
This classification is where things start to get even stranger. Physicist Dr. Harold Puthoff (mentioned several times by Lue), in his paper titled “Ultraterrestrial Models”, published in the Journal of Cosmology, states: It is currently unknown whether the phenomenon is exclusively extraterrestrial, extradimensional, crypto-terrestrial, demonic/djinn, proto/ancient human, time-travelers, etc., or some combination or mutation of any or all of these. However, it appears highly likely that the phenomenon per se is not constituted exclusively of members of the current human population [7]. At this point, I do not even want to speculate on what we are dealing with. The current information available to the public makes it almost impossible to even guess.
Professor Dr. Kevin Knuth[^16], physicist and member of the Advisory Board of the Sol Foundation, in his podcast appearance with the Scientific Coalition for UAP studies shares his thoughts to the very interesting question: How do you empirically study something where the very definition of just kind of a question mark, we don’t know what it is, it’s a phenomenon, it’s a thing, it's an object in the traditional sense at all? [Answer]: The first thing we need to do is to develop some kind of taxonomy. We need to come up with a way to classify things whether it's based on appearance, behavior and situation… We are faced with the difficulty in that there is a stigma attached to one of the hypotheses of what some of these things might be: the extraterrestrial hypothesis, which to me I don’t actually see very unlikely anymore, I think that’s actually very probable. But once you develop some kind of taxonomy then you can start to tease apart what you’re looking at and what you’re trying to study. These things aren’t clearly not all alien spacecraft: some of them are weather balloons, atmospheric phenomena that we don’t know anything about, pictures of birds…. It’s a very interesting and complicated problem, there is a lot to be discovered here. They are not just one thing… I’ll sometimes joke, I’m only interested in the ones that are craft, you cannot always tell which ones are craft and which ones aren’t, it’s not that simple…. We’re in a position where we really don’t know much at all and it really is smart to keep all the hypotheses on the table: the natural phenomena, the craft phenomena, the extraterrestrial hypothesis, the ultraterrestrial hypothesis, time travelers (from the past and future). There’s a lot of possibilities and there could be several of these hypotheses being true, which can be confounding and it'll be difficult to sort things out [8].
[^16]: https://www.albany.edu/physics/faculty/kevin-knuth https://thesolfoundation.org/people/
I know I mentioned things were getting weird, but now they are about to get even weirder. Lue recounts a conversation that left him stunned: “Lue, you know we already know what these things are, right?” …“It’s demonic,” he said to me. “There is no reason we should be looking into this. We already know what they are and where they come from. They are deceivers. Demons.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This was a senior intelligence official putting his religious beliefs ahead of national security. (p. 84, 85). I guess you are not disappointed by how bizarre things have become with this twist.
I was not entirely surprised by this interpretation. I agree with Lue that a senior officer’s religious beliefs should not be more important than national security. The real question is whether this officer arrived at this conclusion purely based on his religious beliefs, or if there is additional information that is being withheld from the public and from special agents like Lue, who were investigating this topic from within the government.
Spiritual-Metaphysical Beings
Believe those who are seeking truth. Doubt those who find it. -André Gide.
Tucker Carlson shared his views, and it is worth noting his perspective because of his significant influence on public discourse. In this conversation he appears with another important public figure, Joe Rogan. Also, what Carlson says is how I expect many people to react and interpret the nature of the entities associated with the phenomenon.
Carlson says: They are spiritual beings, it’s a binary, they are either team good or team bad… The template that you’re using to understand this is, science fiction or an advanced race of beings from somewhere else but the template that every other society before us has used is the spiritual one. There is a whole world that we can’t see that acts on people, the supernatural world, it’s acting on us all the time for good and bad. Every society has thought this before ours, in fact, every society in all recorded history has thought that until, I'll be specific, August 1945 when we dropped the atom bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and all of the sudden the West is just officially secular, we’re God, there is no God but and that’s the world we have grown up. But, that’s an anomaly, no one else has ever thought that… Once you discard your very recent assumptions about how the world works, well, that kind of seems like the obvious explanation [9]. I applaud Carlson for openly talking about this, especially bringing up the spiritual beings interpretation. However, amidst the confusion, we should apply caution when listening to people who emphatically tell us with certainty what they are.
On the other hand, Dr. Avi Loeb expresses his stance on this discussion: Shawn asked whether I believe that UAPs have a spiritual component. I explained that spirituality or consciousness are likely an emergent phenomenon of complex systems, like the human brain and advanced AI systems. Their behavior is difficult to predict because they have a large number of degrees of freedom and are influenced by input from uncontrolled environments. Whether there are intelligent UAPs remains to be documented by the Galileo Project. If such UAPs exist, I would add psychologists to our research team, because they are trained to deal with intelligent systems [3].
We can analyze the nature of these beings from different angles: 1. Non-Materialistic Point of View: I have not gone into a deep level of study of the UAP beings —commonly known as aliens—but I have heard people talk about these entities. They seem to be embodied although their appearances vary. When they interact with humans, some people report both physical and psychological effects, such as body marks, paralysis, telepathic communication, missing time, memory loss, and fear. This does not suggest they are intrinsically spiritual beings, such as angels and demons (the fallen ones) from the Bible. These entities seem to have a dual nature. But one could argue that angels and demons are spiritual in essence and they also have the ability to materialize, and this observation would lead us into theological territory. This shows how easy things get messy when trying to relate something unknown with something else that we think we know. 2. Materialistic Point of View: Let’s forget all the spiritual stuff and demons, nothing of that exists, and even if it does, these entities could just be material. In this case I would say pretty much what Lue keeps repeating “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. Maybe these creatures have learned how to access our consciousness in a way that we do not even think it is possible.
In my opinion, we are dealing with a mix of different types of entities although I cannot say anything about their ontology. I would not rule out the spiritual beings, demons, or dual nature entities interpretation. For those who have experienced encounters with these beings, sharing their experiences is crucial so we can gather enough data to better understand and categorize them[^17]. But unfortunately, there is always the fear of ridicule. We need to understand what is and isn’t part of the phenomenon. I would also like to hear what other religions and traditions think.
[^17]: Esoteric groups have already developed some taxonomy, but the information they have gathered falls into the category of revelation (by the beings themselves) rather than an accumulation of data.
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. -Albert Einstein.
For example, Dr. John E. Mack^18, a renowned psychiatrist from Harvard who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2004, made significant contributions to the field. I first encountered his work through a documentary about the Ariel School UFO landing. Dr. Mack was deeply interested in speaking with the children who witnessed this traumatic event and sought to understand it. His book, Abduction, explores UFO abductions and encounters with these beings. It is important to point out that he was also a well-regarded expert on nightmares.
In an interview, journalist Ralph Blumenthal^19, who wrote a biography about Dr. Mack titled The Believer, noted that Dr. Mack's research highlighted fundamental differences between experiences of the "old hag syndrome" and UFO abductions. The former often involves reports of an evil presence that sits on the bed and causes suffocation, while abductees typically describe being given information telepathically and undergoing medical procedures.
Although these accounts are disturbing, they provide valuable insights by helping us distinguish between similar but distinct experiences. However, the question of the ontology of these beings and their origins still remains unresolved. Blumenthal adds: What are we to draw from this? Well, first of all, there is a whole kind of anomalous experiences that seem to operate in a world that we do not recognize, another reality, that penetrates our world, as John Mack said, somehow, in ways we can’t explain, we have a clear idea of reality, we think we do; reality is what you can see, smell, taste, and touch, knock on the table, feel it... So maybe there are other dimensions, aspects to the universe that we don’t understand” [10]. In addition, Professor Dr. Garry Nolan, whom I mentioned earlier, says the following: It’s interesting, religions have been dealing with extra dimensions and non-human intelligences for centuries: angels and demons, the spirits of the forest, the jinn of the Quran, etc. Where is heaven and hell? It’s another dimension. Are heaven and hell even in the same dimension? Are they different places altogether? Religion struggled with these ideas and the human mind can already encompass the possibility that they exist and had done so since the most primitive of men. That’s amazing to me [4].
This naturally leads us to ask: Are these realities and dimensions “real”? And more importantly, What do we understand by “real”?
About experiencers, Lue expresses that: In the end, abductees report feeling that these beings did not care one way or another if they lived or died. Many experiencers reported feeling completely vulnerable, helpless, and afraid. As a former special agent, if a witness reported being whisked away against their will, I would consider that an act of kidnapping, a federal crime. And if the witness said they were touched against their will, I would consider that assault, yet another crime in human terms (p. 173). I totally agree with Lue on his opinion right here.
I now think it is a mistake to rely solely on physicists, astronomers, and engineers for answers, yet that is where most people tend to focus. The phenomenon we are dealing with is not just about lights in the sky, mysterious crafts, or extraterrestrial beings. The problem is far more complex, and narrowing the scope to only the physical aspects limits our understanding. To fully grasp what is happening, we need insights from a much broader range of perspectives—psychologists, psychiatrists, philosophers, theologians, heads of different religions, anthropologists, and historians. Each of these fields offers a piece of the puzzle, whether it is understanding human consciousness, exploring ancient interpretations of similar phenomena, or delving into the spiritual implications. It is only by bringing together all of these viewpoints that we can begin to form a more complete picture of the UAP phenomenon.
Human Nature
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Ancient Buddhist proverb.
I also believe that we need to start looking inwards and understand our true nature—what makes us humans.
- *Materialistic Point of View: We have the poetic words of the physicist Sean Carroll, PhD: I want to argue that, though we are part of a universe that runs according to impersonal underlying laws, we nevertheless matter. This isn’t a scientific question — there isn’t data we can collect by doing experiments that could possibly measure the extent to which a life matters. It is at heart a philosophical problem, one that demands that we discard the way that we’ve been thinking about our lives and their meaning for thousands of years. By the old way of thinking, human life couldn’t possibly be meaningful if we are “just” collections of atoms moving around in accordance with the laws of physics. That’s exactly what we are, but it is not the only way of thinking about what we are. We are collections of atoms, operating independently of any immaterial spirits or influences, and we are thinking and feeling people who bring meaning into existence by the way we live our lives* [11].
- Non-Materialistic Point of View: Professor Mattias Desmet, PhD, expert on the Theory of Mass Formation expresses that: Young science, too, starts from a belief that the object being studied can be fully understood by means of logical reasoning. Facts are logical—how could they not be? However, the further the logical analysis of the phenomenon under investigation is carried, the more clearly one sees the emergence of a core that is intrinsically illogical and inaccessible to the human mind. And just like with a child, that moment gives rise to an awareness of the relativity of all logic as well as a heightened sensitivity to forms of language that don’t aim to be logically understood but lead to a more direct affinity, to resonance with the object (poetry, mysticism, etc.). In the same way, man also has to come to know himself as a psychological being, as a confluence of subjective experiences, thoughts, feelings, especially as they arise in relations with others. The ability to sense one’s own experience and to put it into words and to express it in relation to another is what constitutes the core of our existence as human beings… we exist as human beings when we can give something of our individuality to another through full speech—a kind of speaking in which something of the human being we are vibrates and resonates. It is through the art of full speech—which is the art learned, for example, in psychoanalytic therapy—that we are able to realize a real connection with others and the world around us (without thereby losing ourselves) [12].
If we truly understand who we are and how it feels to relate to each other in our human form, I think that we would be able to recognize what is not us and perhaps discern what kind of entity or intelligence is trying to engage with us. However, if we do not fully grasp our own humanity and the ways in which we are interconnected, how can we even begin to comprehend a non-human intelligence that might be more advanced than we are?
One of the most intriguing insights we have so far about the phenomenon is the possibility that this intelligence is reactive. This is one of the reasons why we need to start talking about our experiences with it. We may be part of a transformational process without even realizing it, and I also believe that this intelligence is being affected by our interaction—it is a two-way street. This is, of course, speculation.
For example, in the Christian worldview, Jesus was a non-human intelligence that transfigured His divinity when He adopted human form, altering His essence through His humanity and interactions with people. He is now both God and human. So, how are we planning to influence this other intelligence?
This process of understanding who we are and our purpose in the universe is entirely subjective, and/or revealed. This is a different kind of knowledge, —more like wisdom—, and, in my opinion, it cannot come from science. How could it? This is why I am now more inclined to consider the phenomenon from perspectives beyond the scientific. The wisdom and knowledge humanity has acquired over thousands of years will be crucial when addressing this subject.
7. UAP Intentions
Lue begins his book by discussing the Colares UAP case in Brazil during the 1970s. If you research about what happened you will see that the phenomenon engaged with humans in a very harmful way. This contradicts the belief held by some in the UFO community that these entities are here to help humanity. This belief is often linked to numerous reports of sightings near nuclear weapon sites and facilities, with the suggestion that they are trying to warn us about the dangers of nuclear technology. Moreover, Lue also talks about a case in 1982 in Ukraine: UAP flew over Byelo Air Base in the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Seconds later, the launch sequence for the base’s missiles switched on without any human ever entering the launch codes. Operators frantically rushed to shut the system down but could not. When the launch sequence reached its very last rung, it shut down of its own accord (p. 54). Moreover, he says that: “Adults taking matches out of the hands of children,” some say. That’s a nice hopeful thought, but reality has proven us incorrect. At no time have UAP stopped our nuclear ambitions. As examples: They did not stop us from dropping atomic bombs on Japan. UAP did not stop us from making the leap from atomic to nuclear weapons. UAP did not stop the disasters at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, or Fukushima. UAP did not stop the proliferation of nuclear technology from getting into the hands of more nations. Most recently, UAP have not interfered with North Korean, Indian, or Pakistani nuclear testing. And switching on nuclear missiles? That is not so benevolent (pp. 54-55).
Also, Lue on multiple occasions throughout the book expresses his concerns about national security: Humanity acts as if no one else is watching us, like we are alone. But a more advanced intelligent life is likely observing us. Humanity needs to become more aware of our place in the universe and the potential consequences of our actions. Regardless of their motivation, if this tech is cracked by another nation-state with bad intentions it will be an existential threat to our nation and the planet as a whole. Those are the urgent national security concerns and urgent concerns for humanity at large (pp. 168-169).
Regarding national security, I do not believe we have enough information to assign benevolent or malevolent intentions to UAP yet. Additionally, if this is a non-human intelligence, we cannot necessarily think about it in terms of human-like intentions or motivations aimed at accomplishing a specific purpose.
That being said, I appreciate the fact that someone who was in charge of studying UAP from a national security perspective, shares his concerns and makes evaluations based on his background and experience. UAP should be closely monitored. I believe that the US Congress has already briefed on this matter specifically, and they are requesting yearly reports.
8. Psyop Hypothesis
To test a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. F. Scott Fitzgerald.
We are facing a trust crisis.
A frequent argument among UAP skeptics is that the recent surge of interest in this topic could be part of a psyop (psychological operation), with the ultimate goal of instilling fear in the population to justify increased surveillance and control. This is a valid point, I have been thinking about this a lot. While I personally believe that the phenomenon is real and engaging with humans, I could also see a scenario where the phenomenon could be exploited—weaponized, even—with half-truths to serve nefarious purposes.
The pressing question then becomes: How can we discern what is real from manipulation?
After reflecting on the book, now I believe that bringing up the spiritual-metaphysical component of the phenomenon was a clever move. At the beginning I thought it was a total mistake, but I have changed my mind. If the phenomenon is used by a government or an elite group for control and manipulation, they would need a common narrative that influences people’s behavior and convinces them that they know and possess ‘the truth’. This approach might work for the material component of the phenomenon but clearly not for the spiritual-metaphysical side. What could be more diverse than people’s spiritual and metaphysical beliefs (and non-beliefs)?
If we start talking to one another about the strange experiences related to UAP, asking for opinions about their meaning and nature, and even disagreeing on interpretations, then two things could happen: 1) Through the process of open discourse, we are more likely to approach the truth, and 2) It becomes much harder for a powerful group to control the narrative. Even if such a group possesses hard evidence and attempts to use certain elements of truth to steer the public toward a specific outcome, open discussion could counteract that influence.
Regarding evidence, there is always an element of trust involved. Imagine that we are finally shown, by “official channels”, a vehicle displaying non-human capabilities: What would convince you that it is “real” and not fabricated to provoke a reaction? Who would need to validate the evidence for you to believe it? The government? Which government (don’t they all have secret programs)? Independent scientists? Scientists affiliated with institutions or organizations? And what kind of institutions or organizations are truly trustworthy?
I believe that a government or elite group can never have control of what is most intimate to a human: their subjective experiences and the meaning they attach to them which is an individual process. This is why we should not allow a particular faith, tradition, or worldview to dominate or lead the discourse related to the spiritual-metaphysical aspects of the phenomenon. Even if you believe there is no such component, you should still have a voice. This is what we, the people, can control—because we are not the ones trying to reverse-engineer retrieved craft in our backyard, but we may have an intuition about the kind of intelligence we might be dealing with. Therefore, we need to start having these conversations, open to all hypotheses, so when disclosure happens (if it does), whether real or fake, it will not catch us off guard.
9. Conclusions
The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth. -Niels Bohr.
Lue was a human who found himself in a very strange position. His decision to come forward has been complicated to digest because he is not the usual whistleblower we are used to seeing. Unlike many, he still retains his security clearance and speaks carefully, only about what is not classified. This unique position makes Lue different from typical whistleblowers. Even for those who are not interested in the UAP topic, Lue argues that it is still worth considering how taxpayer money is being used and whether resources are being properly allocated to investigate these sightings and encounters. Whether or not you are personally invested in this subject, the implications for national security and public accountability are real concerns that deserve attention. By coming forward, Lue has opened up a wide range of discussions, not only about the nature of the UAP phenomenon itself but also about the role of transparency in government and the public’s right to know.
Personally I find this topic fascinating. There are many angles to explore and here I chose to focus on the dual nature of the phenomenon, with special attention to the spiritual-metaphysical component. I understand this can also be frightening given all the possibilities we are faced with when considering the phenomenon’s nature. I have faith in humanity, and whatever we find on the other side, I am sure we can handle it. Moreover, during this time of many questions and very few answers, we should learn to embrace the discomfort of not knowing.
Despite the fear of the unknown, there is also the potential for great discoveries. If we are to fully engage with the phenomenon, we have to address not just the external mystery, but also the internal one: it seems like the phenomenon interacts with us on a deeply personal and psychological level, challenging our established ideas about the nature of reality. Understanding ourselves might be a crucial step toward understanding whatever this phenomenon represents because we are the ones extracting meaning. Maybe it is not just about figuring out what the phenomenon is, but why it engages us in the way it does—and that starts with a deeper exploration of our own human experience.
If this topic resonates with you, there are many ways to keep the conversation going: ask others for their thoughts, share your own experiences, and explore the multiple perspectives surrounding the issue. The more we talk openly about UAPs, the harder it will be for any narrative—governmental or otherwise—to control our reactions. This is not just about the phenomenon; it is about our collective right to transparency, understanding, and the courage to face the unknown together as a species.
There are many topics I would have liked to cover, and I know I am only scratching the surface of what has been discussed for years—but at last, I have arrived.
10. References
[1] Elizondo, Luis. Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs: the Former Head of the Program Responsible for Investigating UAPs Reveals Profound Secrets (p. 19). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
[2] Pentagon’s UFO investigator breaks two year silence:
[3] For the Love of the Unfamiliar by Avi Loeb: https://avi-loeb.medium.com/for-the-love-of-the-unfamiliar-9d9a7612bd8e
[4] Garry Nolan on UFOs, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Eric Weinstein:
[5] Pritchard, Duncan; Harris, Mark. Philosophy, Science and Religion for Everyone (pp. 17-18). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.
[6] Elizondo’s Imminent Round Table:
[7] Ultraterrestrial Models by H. E. Puthoff, Ph.D.: https://thejournalofcosmology.com/Puthoff.pdf
[8] Kevin Knuth on Studying Scientific Anomalies, Simulating Star Systems, & Possible UAP Origins:
[9] When Tucker Carlson Changed His Mind on Aliens:
[10]: The Harvard Psychiatrist Obsessed with Alien Abduction:
[11]Existential Therapy from the Universe: Physicist Sean Carroll on How Poetic Naturalism Illuminates Our Human Search for Meaning: https://www.themarginalian.org/2016/05/31/sean-carroll-the-big-picture/
[12] Desmet, Mattias. The Psychology of Totalitarianism (p. 223, pp. 225-226). Chelsea Green Publishing. Kindle Edition.
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@ df478568:2a951e67
2024-09-26 02:11:59One way to mitigate the risk of a Password breach is to stop using passwords and start using randomly generated passphrases. A passphrase is a combination of words. A good example can be found on the EFF dice words website. For most applications, they suggest using 6 words randomly chosen by rolling 5 dice. Each word has a corresponding combination of 5 numbers from. 1-6. In other words, they are generated by dice(That's D6 dice for all the nerds out there)Here is an example of a strong passphrase that is easy to memorize.
pacifist-area-unfiled-demeaning-rundown-oblivion
It would take a computer about 200 ocrodecillion years to brute force this passphrase so it is highly unlikely to get cracked before the sun goes all supernova.
Here's how it works: - Step 1: roll 5 dice
- Step 2: Find the coresponding word: In this example, our dice rolls are 2-6-1-3-1
- Step 3: Find the coresponding word in the eff dice roll list:
- Repeat this 6 times.
- Step 4: Write this down on paper. I like waterproof paper made by Rite in the Rain. This is not an affiliate link. I don't make any money off of them. I just like them because they are waterproof and easy to hide. You can also etch the password on military grade steel.
- Step 5: Use this password password for your passphrase manager like Vaultwarden.
Each character is really a binary number so your passphrase is just a big random number to the computer. This number is hashed with SHA256 or something. If you're really smart, you can calculate this with a pencil and paper, but I use computers and calculators. Xorbin is one of the easier tools, but this can be done in bash using the hash library too. Be aware, typing an actual passphrase you use into any website might be a phishing scam. Don't try to use this for anything you are worried about losing.
Here is the hash we get from the 6 words above:
a41c5312e2957462f9f81597088c1c943c11e864b462cddf49dc55145707b69a
Sweet, Sweet Salt
. If you don't want to hassle with running your own server, bitwarden does the same thing. Last I checked, they only charged $10.00 a year for the premium plan, but it might have changed. They both allow you to: - Create passwords and passphrases. - Add special characters, numbers and capital letters. - Check if your password was pwned.
For example, "password1" was breached 3,339,722 times. If this is your password, you might want to change it.
"Blink-182" was breached 1,810 times. This password would meet most policies. It has a capital letter, special character and a 3 numbers. Where did we go wrong? Blink 182 is a popular punk band. Of course 1,810 people and one hacker thought of this. Think your safe if you change a number? Think again. "Blink-183" was pwned 16 times. Changing the numbers are also not a good idea due to possible dictionary attacks.
I run my VaultWarden using Start9 and it is also available on Umbrel and Yunohost
Let's try our six word passphrase we created earlier.
"pacifist-area-unfiled-demeaning-rundown-oblivion"
This password was not found in any breaches. It should be safe to use. Well...except I put it on the clear net, but you get the idea.
Other Risks
Okay, we have a strong password, but that's not the only threat. A bad guy could trick us with a spear phishing attack or someone installs a keylogger onto our computer. Now what do we do? Be prepared like a boyscout. This is where it's a good idea to use 2fa or two-factor authentication. I like Aegis There are others like Google Authenticator or physical devices like YubiKeys, but I like Aegis becauseyou can create backups. YubiKeys were cool, but this happened and I'm not sure if that's been resolved yet.
Securing your login with 2fa means one password us an insufficient amount of information to gain access to your account. The attacker would need to pwn the password and your phone to gain access. While not impossible, this is much more difficult.
Here's a Dad joke created by the Duck Duck Go's free AI chatbot.
`Why did the password go to therapy?
Because it was feeling a little "insecure".`
✌️ https://marcleon.work/pgp
862,887
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@ 502ab02a:a2860397
2024-09-26 00:11:24เมื่อกรดซิตริก (citric acid) ที่จริงแล้วไม่ได้ทำมาจากผลไม้
เราเรียนรู้กันมาเราค้นกูเกิลกันมา ว่ากรดซิตริกนั้นเป็นกรดธรรมชาติ มีอยู่ในผลไม้รสเปรี้ยวต่างๆ แล้วมันก็ถูกนำมาใช้เป็นสารป้องกันการบูดเน่าจากธรรมชาติ โดยกรดซีตริกเกิดขึ้นครั้งแรกนั้นคือเมื่อปีค.ศ. 1784 โดยแยกออกมาจากน้ำมะนาว แต่ในปัจจุบัน กรดซิตริกไม่ใช่สูตรนี้ครับ
ที่ผมมีข้อมูลอยู่นั้น สามารถให้คำตอบได้ว่า
นั่นเพราะว่าราวๆปี 1917 บริษัท Pfizer ได้จ้างนักเคมีอาหารชื่อ เจมส์ เคอรี่ James Currie ที่มีแนวคิดฉีกทุกกรอบว่า จะทำการผลิตกรดซิตริก โดยไม่ใช้มะนาวแม้แต่ลูกเดียว คุณเคอรี่ ค้นพบว่าเชื้อราสีดำที่ชื่อว่า Aspergillus niger สามารถเปลี่ยนน้ำตาล ให้เป็นกรดซิตริกได้ ทำให้ Pfizer ออกจำหน่ายสินค้าตัวนี้ในปี 1919 เป็นต้นมา
ในปัจจุบัน กว่า 99% ของกรดซิตริกที่มีขายนั้นเราเรียกว่า manufactured citric acid (MCA) นั่นคือ มันไม่ใช่ของธรรมชาตินั่นเองครับ คุ้นๆไหม ที่ผมเคยบอกเรื่องสารให้ความหวาน ไม่ว่าจะ อิริททริทอล แอลลูโลส สารพัดโอสๆ และอื่นๆอีกมากมาย เราจะได้รับการขายของว่า มีอยู่ในธรรมชาติ บลา บลา บลา โดยที่จริงแล้วที่เราได้มาเป็นกระสอบนั้นไม่ได้มาจากธรรมชาติ แต่มาจากการเร่งให้เกิดปริมาณมากๆเพื่อเอามาขาย ซึ่งไม่เป็นธรรมชาติโดยสิ้นเชิง
MCA นี่ก็เช่นกันครับ เชื้อรา Aspergillus niger ซึ่งส่วนใหญ่ผลิตจากเชื้อราสายพันธุ์ที่ผ่านการดัดแปลงพันธุกรรม (GMO) เอาไปหมักน้ำตาล โดยทั่วไปจะเลี้ยงมันด้วย high fructose corn syrup ที่มีอยู่มากมายและราคาถูกๆ
ก็แน่นอนครับว่าเวลาเราเห็นคำว่ากรดซิตริก เราก็จะนึกถึงรสเปรี้ยวๆ รูปมะนาวสวยๆ cute cute แต่จริงๆแล้วในโรงงานผลิตมันตรงกันข้ามเลยครับ ในการผลิตเราจะได้เห็น ของเหลวหนืดๆเหนียวๆ มีตะกอนสีเข้มๆ ที่เกิดจากการหมักในถังสเตนเลส ข้างในนั้นเป็นส่วนผสมของ เชื้อรา น้ำตาลอุตสาหกรรมโคตรๆ( hyper-refined sugars) บางครั้งก็มีการยิงรังสีแม่เหล็กไฟฟ้าเพื่อให้ความร้อนด้วย
ได้รับการรับรองว่าเป็นออแกนิก ???
และเชื่อหรือไม่ว่า มันได้รับการรับรองว่าเป็นออแกนิก แม้กรดซิตริกจะไม่ได้มาจากแหล่งธรรมชาติแท้จริงเพราะผลิตผ่านกระบวนการหมักที่ใช้เชื้อราดำ GMO (Aspergillus niger GMO) ซึ่งมักใช้ข้าวโพดที่ผ่านการดัดแปลงพันธุกรรม (GMO) เป็นวัตถุดิบในการผลิต ด้วยเหตุผล 2 ข้อคือ
- มาตรฐานการรับรองที่แตกต่างกัน: องค์กรรับรองออร์แกนิกทั่วโลกมีหลายพันองค์กร แต่ละองค์กรมีเกณฑ์ที่แตกต่างกันในเรื่องคุณภาพและความเข้มงวดในการตรวจสอบแหล่งที่มาของวัตถุดิบ โดยบางแห่งอาจใช้แบบสอบถาม ถามผู้ผลิตว่าใช้กรดซิตริกที่มีส่วนผสมของ GMO หรือไม่
- การจัดประเภทว่าเป็น Non-GMO: ผู้ผลิตกรดซิตริกจากเชื้อราดำมักจะระบุว่ากรดซิตริกที่ผลิตได้นั้นเป็น Non-GMO เนื่องจากผลผลิตสุดท้ายไม่มีสารพันธุกรรมจาก GMO ที่สามารถตรวจพบได้ ถึงแม้ว่ากระบวนการผลิตจะเริ่มจากวัตถุดิบที่มาจากข้าวโพด GMO หรือเชื้อราที่ถูกดัดแปลงพันธุกรรมโดยการใช้รังสีความร้อน (thermo-radiation) หรือการดัดแปลง DNA ของเชื้อรานั้นก็ตาม
ถึงกระบวนการผลิตกรดซิตริกนี้จะไม่เป็นธรรมชาติและใช้วัตถุดิบที่เกี่ยวข้องกับ GMO แต่มันสามารถได้รับการรับรองออร์แกนิกได้ เนื่องจากไม่มีการตรวจพบสารพันธุกรรมจาก GMO ในผลิตภัณฑ์สุดท้ายที่จะจำหน่าย ทำให้กรดซิตริกนี้สามารถเข้าสู่ตลาดอาหารออร์แกนิกได้โดยไม่ผิดกฎ และหน่วยงานที่ให้การรับรองใบเซอร์ ออแกนิก เจ้าไหนที่ต้องการให้ใช้ MCA ได้นี่ก็เพียงระบุคำว่า "ไม่สามารถตรวจจับ DNA ที่มีแหล่งกำเนิดจาก GMO ได้" ไว้ในเอกสารก็จะทำให้แบรนด์สินค้าได้รับการรับรอง ออแกนิกได้สบายๆ
ได้รับสถานะ GRAS??
เนื่องจากกรดซิตริกมีการผลิตขึ้นมาใช้ก่อนที่สำนักงานคณะกรรมการอาหารและยา (FDA) จะจัดตั้งขึ้น กรดซิตริกจึงได้รับสถานะ GRAS (หมวด “โดยทั่วไปถือว่าปลอดภัย”) แม้ว่าจะยังไม่มีการทดสอบทางวิทยาศาสตร์ใดๆ เกี่ยวกับการบริโภคในมนุษย์ในระยะยาวก็ตาม เจ๋งเนอะ
ผลข้างเคียงจากรา Aspergillus niger
ในปี ค.ศ. 2016 มีการผลิต MCA จำนวน 2.3 ล้านตัน โดยส่วนใหญ่ผลิตในประเทศจีน และประมาณ 70% ใช้เป็นสารเติมแต่งอาหารหรือเครื่องดื่ม ยังไม่มีการศึกษาวิจัยทางวิทยาศาสตร์ใดๆ ที่ดำเนินการเพื่อประเมินความปลอดภัยของ MCA เมื่อรับประทานเข้าไปในปริมาณมากและเป็นเวลานาน (อีกแล้ว เหมือนเดิมเป๊ะ)
เชื้อรา Aspergillus nigerเกี่ยวข้องกับปัญหาการอักเสบของระบบต่างๆ รวมถึงระบบทางเดินหายใจ ระบบทางเดินอาหาร ระบบประสาท และกล้ามเนื้อและโครงกระดูก ดังนั้นหาก เชื้อรา Aspergillus niger เกิดมีเศษเล็กเศษน้อย ดันแทรกซึมเข้าไปในผลิตภัณฑ์กรดซิตริกสำเร็จรูป ผู้บริโภคผลิตภัณฑ์ที่มีกรดซิตริกนี้อาจกินสารพิษที่ก่อให้เกิดการอักเสบนี้เข้าไป แม้จะผ่านกระบวนการฆ่าเชื้อด้วยความร้อนสูงแล้วก็ตาม
นี่เป็นอีกเหตุผลที่แยม Passion of Orange ที่ผมทำนั้นไม่ใส่ citric acid ครับ
แหม่ยังมีอีกหลายเรื่องนะที่จะเล่าให้ฟังเกี่ยวกับอุตสาหกรรมอาหาร อย่างที่บอกนะครับ อะไรที่มั่นใจในวันนี้ อย่าเพิ่งมั่นใจ อาจจะจริงเราเห็นอยู่ เผื่อใจไว้ที่ยังไม่เห็น
PirateKeto #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ฉลาก3รู้ #siamstr
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@ a03b38f8:2c7ce1f0
2024-09-25 23:36:29FINANCIAL PRIVACY: Card Transactions, Cash, Monero, Sending Bitcoin Privately
Privacy is foundational for protecting freedom. Abuses to human rights and efforts to control people often depend on governments knowing details of a person’s life, this is why financial privacy is so important. Financial activity reveals details about a person’s relationships, profession, religion, political beliefs, geo location, and lots more.
Much has been said about data privacy concerns around social media, but financial data is also detrimental when abused or in the hands of the wrong persons.
A Person can speak about their humble life in a small town but their Financial data from the banks would reveal that they are actually a Billionaire.
Financial data reveals many areas of a person’s life, so it’s more likely to reveal who someone truly is, even if an individual does not want those details revealed to others.
From where you travel to, what you donate to, financial activity can paint a detailed picture of a person’s life, ensuring financial privacy means being able to have control over who gets to see that picture and purposes. You may not have something to hide but remember privacy is really about having control over your life.
Governments around the World Use Financial data to control people and activities within its jurisdiction. This is where financial privacy can act as a limit on governmental power. Where a lack of privacy is likely to lead to an abuse of that power.
Government policy on financial privacy is complex and often demands access to personal data for law enforcement and National Security purposes. Although often we see governments use that same financial data to hunt and halt activities that do not align with the policies of its agenda.
We believe any access at all should be reasonable and in accordance with privacy and human rights.
Almost all financial institution privacy standards prohibit the disclosure of client information to third parties without consent or an accepted criminal complaint, it is a conditional agreement because it has some limitations; this limitation or restriction in most cases is not clearly explained to clients but it is an ambiguous statement that further explains the limits of the financial institution, meaning the Central Bank which controls a country’s entire financial activities of all Financial institutions in a country does have the power to access all financial data as it demands, thereby limiting privacy.
CARD TRANSACIONS
Data Security and privacy are crucial in payment transactions in the digital era, protecting personal and financial information not only stops unlawful access but also increases customer trust and confidence.
Card transactions comes with a lot of risk and dangers such as Identity theft, cyber criminals use stolen data from digital payment platforms to impersonate individuals and access their financial accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or setup new accounts in order to illegally transfer funds or perform fraudulent financial transactions without owners consent.
Identity theft can have lasting effects on a victim’s financial health and credit status. Additionally phishing attacks are prevalent. Hackers use this technique to deceive users into providing their personal and payment information (Data) under the guise of legitimate request.
It is advisable for cards that you choose to carry around on your person be held in a RFID blocking wallet. Beyond physical security any cards that you use online or in stores should have spending limits and have no access to large amounts of funds you may have to prevent or limit the impact of fraud. For privacy protections consider virtual privacy cards or reloadable debit cards.
Lastly, do not use PayPal. They are a privacy nightmare and there is an entire cottage industry on the dark web selling stolen accounts.
CASH TRANSACTIONS
Cash is king. For a long time cash has been used as the primary form of payment and cash transactions have excellent privacy properties and it is widely accepted in most countries.
Cash transactions provides a high degree of privacy in payments, it also slows the growing information asymmetry between consumers and companies as well as between citizens and public authorities.
Bank notes and coins reduce your digital footprints compared to an electronic payment. Cash remains one of the most effective tools for financial privacy in a world increasingly dominated by digital payments. It offers true anonymity, leaving no digital trail or record of the transaction, making it impossible for third parties—such as governments, corporations, or hackers—to track your spending habits. Unlike card payments or online transfers, cash transactions don't reveal your identity, location, or spending patterns, providing a level of confidentiality that digital methods simply cannot match.
Physical cash works without registers of cash holders and transaction, when paying with bank notes and coins, it is only the buyer and seller who are aware of this: What is bought, how much, when, when by whom and at what.
While cash has its limitations in today’s digital society, it remains a valuable option for those who prioritize privacy. By using cash whenever possible, especially for sensitive or personal purchases, The use of cash gives room for maintenance and control over your financial data, it also help protect from unwanted surveillance, and safeguard your financial autonomy. Ultimately, cash is still king when it comes to preserving your financial privacy.
MONERO (XMR)
Monero is a decentralized cryptocurrency designed with a strong emphasis on privacy, security, stealth address and unlinkability, it is abbreviated XMR.
Monero’s transactions are completely anonymous and confidential by default making it one of the most privacy centric digital currencies available today.
Key features of Monero
·Untraceable Transactions: Monero uses advanced cryptographic techniques, such as Ring Signatures, which combine your transaction with others, making it impossible to identify the actual sender. This feature ensures that transactions cannot be traced back to any single individual.
·StealthAddresses: When you send Monero, the recipient’s address is never publicly recorded on the blockchain. Instead, a one-time address is generated for each transaction, ensuring the recipient's identity remains private.
·ConfidentialTransactions: Monero employs Ring Confidential Transactions (Ring CT) to hide the amount of XMR being transferred. This means the transaction amounts are kept entirely private, further enhancing confidentiality.
·Fungibility: Because Monero transactions are private, every XMR coin is indistinguishable from another. This makes Monero a truly fungible currency, meaning no coin carries a traceable history or stigma, unlike Bitcoin, where some coins can be "tainted" based on their transaction history.
Despite Monero’s popularity as a primary focused cryptocurrency, Monero faces criticism and challenges. The Monero community development team frequently updates the protocol to improve privacy and resist surveillance attempts, this is beneficial for security, meaning users and miners must regularly update software, this can be inconvenient and lead to potential forks if consensus is not reached within the community.
Many governments and financial institutions view Monero as a threat because of its untraceable nature, as a result this has posed some challenges making exchanges to delisted Monero in order to comply with anti-money laundering and know your customer (KYC) regulations.
SENDING BITCOIN PRIVATELY:
Bitcoin is often perceived as an anonymous payment network but in reality Bitcoin is the most transparent payment network in the world. At the same time, Bitcoin can provide acceptable levels of privacy when used correctly. All bitcoin transactions are public, traceable and permanently stored on the Bitcoin network, Bitcoin addresses are the only information used to define its allocations and history.
In ensuring privacy while Bitcoin transactions are performed it is advisable to generate a new address each time a payment is received. The incomplete privacy on transactions will lead to the Fungibility of the scripts, which could affect the stability of Bitcoin as a long-lived currency system, Bitcoin system addresses privacy by hiding the address of transactions via hash functions but the hash value is obviously unique, If the addresses and traders are bounded unconsciously through activities by attackers, the anonymity of the entire system will disappear.
Suppose that the Bitcoin system is connected to the payment of an e-commerce platform, the strong computing power can search the complete data of your incomes and outcomes, which makes everything about money exposed to the public.
Let’s say; You are paid salary via bitcoins and you spend those coins in the supermarket, the plaintext of the account of your income and outcome will inevitably be utilized by businesses to access the benefits like charge you higher prices or target you with advertisement.
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@ ae1008d2:a166d760
2024-09-25 21:52:49I wanted to share this PDF on Nostr. Original post: Block ~862,844 September 25th, 2024 Original link Original PDF 👇Click the link below to view as original PDF on YakiHonne or Satellite.Earth👇
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@ eac63075:b4988b48
2024-09-25 20:28:17🤖 Baseado na explicação de Gerard Aithen para o Morning Crypto
Nos últimos anos, o Bitcoin se consolidou como a criptomoeda de referência, trazendo inovação e mudança para o cenário econômico global. Apesar de sua notoriedade, a tecnologia por trás do Bitcoin, especialmente em termos de escalabilidade e eficiência, ainda é um campo em constante evolução. Recentemente, um novo avanço tem gerado bastante discussão entre os entusiastas do mundo cripto: a BitVM2. Desenvolvida por Robin Linus, essa inovação promete transformar a maneira como as transações são processadas e verificadas no ecossistema do Bitcoin.
A BitVM2 está sendo apontada como uma revolução na forma como programas inteiros podem ser verificados dentro da blockchain, facilitando e tornando mais acessível a participação nas transações. Mas o que exatamente é essa nova tecnologia? Como ela funciona? E, acima de tudo, por que ela é tão importante para o futuro do Bitcoin?
Neste artigo, vamos explorar a BitVM2 em profundidade, analisando seu funcionamento, os benefícios que ela traz e suas implicações para o futuro da rede Bitcoin.
O Que é a BitVM2?
Imagine que a primeira versão da BitVM era como um quebra-cabeça gigante, onde cada peça precisava ser ajustada meticulosamente para que a transação fosse validada. Essa estrutura exigia muitas etapas e transações para garantir que tudo funcionasse corretamente, o que, claro, consumia tempo e recursos. A BitVM2 vem para mudar completamente esse cenário.
Com a BitVM2, todo esse processo se torna muito mais rápido e acessível. Agora, é como se um GPS eficiente tivesse sido instalado no lugar do velho mapa. O caminho está traçado, e tudo o que você precisa fazer é seguir as direções. A nova estrutura da BitVM2 utiliza criptografia avançada para transformar programas complexos em fragmentos menores, que podem ser verificados diretamente nas transações do Bitcoin. Em outras palavras, ela permite que contratos inteligentes e programas complexos rodem dentro da blockchain do Bitcoin, sem comprometer a segurança ou eficiência.
O principal benefício? Antes, um processo que exigia mais de 70 transações agora pode ser verificado com apenas três. Isso não apenas economiza tempo e recursos, mas também abre as portas para que mais pessoas possam participar e monitorar essas transações.
A Importância da Descentralização na BitVM2
Um dos pontos mais revolucionários da BitVM2 é que ela é completamente permissionless, ou seja, não precisa de permissão. Isso significa que qualquer pessoa pode verificar ou contestar uma transação. Antes, essa era uma tarefa restrita a operadores específicos dentro da rede. Agora, a verificação e contestação de transações suspeitas podem ser feitas por qualquer um, tornando o sistema mais democrático e transparente.
Essa descentralização aumenta a segurança da rede. Em vez de depender de um grupo centralizado de validadores, o sistema se torna autossustentável. A comunidade como um todo pode vigiar e garantir a integridade das transações, o que dificulta tentativas de fraudes ou manipulações.
Além disso, o novo design da BitVM2 foi pensado para ser compatível com a estrutura atual do Bitcoin, ou seja, não foi necessário fazer alterações no código base da criptomoeda. Isso garante que o Bitcoin continue funcionando como sempre, enquanto permite a introdução de novas funcionalidades. É como construir um novo andar em um prédio sem precisar mexer na estrutura do alicerce.
Rollups e a Eficiência das Transações no Bitcoin
Um dos temas mais discutidos na comunidade de criptomoedas nos últimos anos é a questão da escalabilidade. Conforme o Bitcoin ganha mais adoção, a rede fica mais sobrecarregada, o que pode aumentar o tempo e o custo das transações. A BitVM2 pode ajudar a resolver esse problema, especialmente quando falamos de rollups.
Rollups são soluções que permitem processar transações fora da blockchain principal, para depois consolidá-las em um único registro na blockchain do Bitcoin. Isso torna as transações mais rápidas e baratas, sem comprometer a segurança. A BitVM2 pode ser vista como uma espécie de ponte entre o Bitcoin e essa nova era de rollups, permitindo uma maior eficiência e abrindo espaço para que o Bitcoin continue evoluindo.
De forma simples, a BitVM2 garante que transações complexas possam ser processadas sem sobrecarregar a blockchain principal. Com isso, ela ajuda a diminuir as taxas e a aumentar a velocidade das transações, um avanço crucial para o futuro da criptomoeda.
O Papel dos Covenants no Bitcoin
Outro conceito-chave no desenvolvimento da BitVM2 é o uso dos Covenants. Para quem não está familiarizado, os Covenants são como pequenas promessas que os Bitcoins "fazem" durante as transações. Eles colocam condições específicas sobre como e onde os Bitcoins podem ser gastos. Isso adiciona uma camada extra de segurança e funcionalidade às transações, permitindo que os Bitcoins sejam gastos apenas sob determinadas circunstâncias.
Por exemplo, um Covenant pode especificar que os Bitcoins só podem ser transferidos para certos endereços ou que só podem ser liberados após determinado período de tempo. Esses contratos inteligentes tornam o Bitcoin ainda mais flexível e permitem a criação de soluções inovadoras dentro da rede.
Na BitVM2, os Covenants desempenham um papel importante na verificação das transações, garantindo que todas as regras sejam seguidas e que não haja brechas para fraudes ou manipulações. Isso amplia as possibilidades de uso do Bitcoin, permitindo que ele seja utilizado de formas que antes eram impensáveis.
BitVM2 e a Manipulação de Opinião Pública
Outro ponto que não podemos ignorar ao discutir as inovações tecnológicas no mundo das criptomoedas é a questão da manipulação de opinião pública. Bilionários e grandes empresas têm se posicionado como grandes influenciadores no cenário das criptomoedas. O caso de Elon Musk é um exemplo clássico, onde tweets e posicionamentos podem mudar drasticamente o valor de uma criptomoeda em questão de horas.
Com a BitVM2, no entanto, o poder de manipulação pode ser mitigado, uma vez que o sistema se torna mais descentralizado e aberto à participação de todos. A liberdade de contestar transações e a democratização do processo ajudam a garantir que o Bitcoin continue sendo uma moeda de todos, sem a influência de poucos.
Conclusão: Um Futuro Promissor para o Bitcoin
O lançamento da BitVM2 representa um salto importante para o futuro do Bitcoin. A capacidade de verificar transações complexas de forma rápida e acessível, aliada à descentralização e à possibilidade de uso dos rollups, promete tornar o Bitcoin mais eficiente e acessível para todos.
Mais do que uma simples atualização tecnológica, a BitVM2 traz à tona a discussão sobre liberdade digital, transparência e o papel das criptomoedas no futuro. É um avanço que, sem dúvida, será observado de perto pelos entusiastas e críticos da criptoeconomia.
O Bitcoin sempre foi visto como uma alternativa descentralizada ao sistema financeiro tradicional, e a BitVM2 parece reforçar essa visão. À medida que mais pessoas se envolvem e a tecnologia avança, o futuro das transações digitais parece mais promissor do que nunca. Vamos ficar de olho no que essa nova fase nos reserva e nas novas possibilidades que ela pode abrir.
***
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@ 44dc1c2d:31c74f0b
2024-09-25 20:15:13Chef's notes
Last time I made this I subbed the tomato puréed with some blistered cherry tomatoes. Don't think I'll be using the purée going forward.
I prefer thighs so that's what I use for this but use whatever you want.
Adjust spices based on the size of your onions. If all you have is two massive onions maybe use one and a half onion or just up the amount of spices a little.
Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: ~10 min
- 🍳 Cook time: ~40 ish min
- 🍽️ Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 Onions
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1/3 cup cashews
- 1.5 tsp Garam Masala
- 2 ish cloves of crushed garlic
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsb ground turmeric
- 1 tsb salt
- 1 tbsp plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp of your cooking oil or fat
- 1 tbsp Coriander (Cilantro) plus extra for garnish
- 1 tbsp sultanas (golden raisins)
- 1 lb of chicken cubed
- 6 oz of white button mushrooms
Directions
- Quarter the onions and put them in a food possessor for about a minute
- Add the tomatoes, nuts, garlic, Garam masala, chili powder, lemon juice, turmeric, salt, yogurt and blend for another minute tell its well mixed in.
- In a wok or a large pan heat your cooking oil and add the onion and spice mix in. Fry gently for around 2-ish minutes, stir frequently.
- Add the chicken, coriander, and raisins to the pan. Stir-fry for another minute or so.
- Add mushrooms and water. Bring to simmer and cover the pan cook for 10 min or until the chicken is 100% cooked through.
- Serve with plain rice and enjoy!
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@ 9262b5a5:2a89f8de
2024-09-25 19:30:54testing
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@ 9262b5a5:2a89f8de
2024-09-25 19:03:12https://image.nostr.build/c7e3732889827ab0a8e2064de5fa6992e37e035347b0c91d249cb8f312b47087.jpg I love Bitcoin. Let me get that out there first of all. I sincerely believe that Bitcoin has the power to change the way the world functions if we can grow adoption to a global scale. This obviously will take time as the gears of economic change grinds slowly. As of right now, people in the western countries don't really see the need for a sovereign politically neutral money that can't be inflated away. They simply don't have to deal with inflation on a regular basis like the rest of the world.
Citizens in western countries got a small taste of what real inflation looks like and guess what? They didn't like it one bit. Overall the last three and a half years you saw countless news stories about how bad inflation and how its making life for the average American or European more difficult.
Yes inflation does suck but look at countries like Argentina, Turkey, Zimbabwe or Venezuela. The people in these countries are suffering from excessive inflation on a regular basis! According to recent economic data Turkey experienced a decline in inflation from 61 percent to 51 percent in August. This is seen as a win in their book! Can you imagine this level of inflation in America? There would be riots in the streets!
Argentina's inflation rate is an astounding 236 percent over the last 12 months! As Bitcoiners we understand that the problem is the money itself. As long as governments have the ability to manipulate the money supply, they will. This is human nature at its finest. When you give a select few that kind of power it becomes irresistible and becomes a tool to control the masses. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone to be honest.
What I find shocking is with all of this inflation globally no one is really looking around asking questions to why this is happening and looking for a way to escape this system. Are people really this lazy? Not to be mean but cmon. It seems to me that most people are perfectly fine bitching online about how hard it is to make ends meet or supporting their favored political party and wanting them to fix the problem they created. Newsflash to all the normies out there, its the GD political parties that caused inflation in the first place.
We literally have a solution that is staring them in the face, ready to go to replace the current debt based system that we are currently suffering through and no one wants to take the time to research it? Am I black pilled? No, am I realist, very much so. If 236 percent inflation in Argentina can't get them on a Bitcoin Standard immediately, we as a community have a long road ahead of us. Hyperbitcoinization isn't coming in 5 years. It isn't coming in 10 years. Hell it might not even happen in our lifetimes and we have to be ok with that.
So what is the best way to get more Bitcoin into the hands of the people, so they can see the true value of the digital monetary revolution that is Bitcoin. We need a trojan horse and that trojan horse is nostr.
Enter The Nostr Trojan Horse
https://image.nostr.build/5ffee418133ac80ba14b30abf0d5390b878f676cbf6332d67639f9384764da4c.jpg
It should be plain to see by now that the inflation or the number go up narrative alone isn't going to drive Bitcoin adoption. The reason for that is because people don't see the utility of Bitcoin. They see it as some esoteric digital funny money that drug dealers and terrorist use to do bad things.
The average Joe doesn't see how Bitcoin is helping dissidents on foreign countries fund their activism, escape oppressive regimes or simply earn a living. These stories are never told in the mainstream media because they don't want to highlight the fact that a non-state money can circumvent the status quo.
The best way to highlight these stories is to share it on social media, which again is controlled by mainstream gatekeeper such as Meta, Google and X. It is in their best interest to censor these stories or memory hole them out of existence which I suspect happens quite a bit without us even knowing. But the thing about censorship is that it slowly impacts everyone one by one until no one is allowed to say anything without the fear of being put in jail.
Think this can't happen in western democracies? It's happening already my friend! Take a look at the UK or Australia. Citizens their are being arrested over post made to social media. I sincerely believe that these two countries should be a proving ground for showing the value of nostr and Bitcoin.
Introducing the concept of a censorship resistant messaging protocol to them will go over well and once it is understood will grow like a wildfire because people innately understand that censorship is bad and will see the utility value of having the ability to speak freely again.
It is only a matter of time until they realize that they can monetize their speech and build a life using zaps aka Bitcoin.
Until people see the utility in the tools that lie before them, they will never pick them up and use them. It is really that simple. At the end of the day we are still kind of like cavemen. We only use tools when it makes life easier. Man made the wheel. We use it everyday because it has utility.
Bitcoin in the end will be the same way. Utility first, then mass adoption. Nostr is what will help people see the utility Bitcoin and from there sky is the limit. The best thing we can do as Bitcoiners is to encourage people to learn about nostr and show them how easy it is to use and to switch clients that suit their needs instead of being shoved into a one-size fits all solution on centralized platforms.
People like choices, and nostr is all about choice. The interoperability and thelack of need to give personal information to create an account are HUGE selling points that can be touched on. Go out and spread the good word about nostr!
Bitcoin #Nostr
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@ 6bae33c8:607272e8
2024-09-25 16:35:54I went 2-3 again last week to push the season record to 5-10, nearly drawing dead in the Circa Millions (though you can still win relatively big prizes for winning four-week stretches.)
I didn’t look at the lines yet, only my feel about the teams through three weeks.
Cowboys at Giants — seems like a get well game for Dallas. Probably win by 7-10, won’t be favored by nearly that much. Only chance for the Giants is to get those rushers after Prescott, but more likely the Dallas rush will crush a skittish Danny Dimes.
Saints at Falcons — I like the Falcons at -2.5 or better. Last week’s game was annoying though.
Bengals at Panthers — Get well game for Cincy. Good sell high on Panthers, but Dalton is not bad, and the Bengals defense is. Probably staying away.
Rams at Bears — Two shit teams. Probably Bears -2.5. Stay away. If anything leaning Rams.
Vikings at Packers — If Jordan Love is playing, Packers -2.5. Have to treat the Vikings as a serious contender now.
Jaguars at Texans — Jaguars are broken probably getting seven. Texans looked bad last week too. Both teams desperate in their own ways. Stay away.
Steelers at Colts — Anthony Richardson looks off, and this is not the get-well opponent. Steelers -3, stay away. If anything taking the ugly Colts.
Broncos at Jets — Jets by 7.5, think last week’s Broncos win was a fluke.
Eagles at Buccaneers — I’ll say pick ‘em. Leaning Bucs as buy-low.
Team at Cardinals — Jayden Daniels looked great, but I’m taking Cardinals up to 5.5
Patriots at 49ers — Probably 49ers -13 for me, real line maybe 10? Can’t play hide the QB forever, and this would be a tough assignment if Drake Maye plays.
Chiefs at Chargers — Depends on Herbert’s status. Can’t say. Chiefs are unwatchable with the dink, dunk and penalties in their favor.
Browns at Raiders — Two teams desperate to bounce back. I instinctively like the Raiders here, but feels like the Browns are the sharper side for some nagging reason.
Bills at Ravens — Imagine this line will be 2.5 or so. I’ll probably go with the Ravens who need it much more.
Titans at Dolphins — Two bad teams, no idea who will play QB for the Dolphins. Pass.
Seahawks at Lions — Imagine this line will be about 3.5. Probably lay the wood if I had to, but would be my fifth out of five if I use it.
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@ a03b38f8:2c7ce1f0
2024-09-25 16:11:17PROTECT YOUR HOME (NETWORK)
This is actually a rather large topic depending on your needs and how far you are willing to go. I will most likely have to put out several posts on this topic. For today we will start at the very beginning and build from there.
This is going to be more of a beginners guide but that doesn't make it any less important. First you must get your home in order before you can do anything else. If bad actors get access to your network then they can use it for illegal things that will be tied to your IP address, use it to launch a bot for a DDoS attack, gain access to any of your home devices, or just hangout and watch you log into bank accounts or whatever.
I will be blunt, your home network sucks. It's slow and unsecure but we will be fixing that.
I. EVERYONE
- WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
Somewhere in your house you have either a phone cord or a cable coming out of the wall running to a box. Go find it. This is your modem, it "translates" the internet signal from your ISP to your house so you can use the internet.
Found it? Good. Now is there a cable coming from the modem to another box or do you just have one? This other box is your router, it is pretty common now that you will have a all in one modem, router, WIFI, etc. That's fine. Write down the model number of the router or all in one. Also there should be a sticker on the side with the administrator password (sometimes listed as access code) and maybe the WIFI password. Also look if the IP address is listed as well. You will need these for the next step.
- LOG IN
Go to your computer and fire up a web browser. Enter your routers IP address if it was listed, otherwise we are going to have to find your router's IP address.
In widows and Mac you can look under Network & Internet, scroll down to your internet connection and look for details or properties. Inside properties you are looking for something listed as default or gateway or IPv4 DNS Server. It will be a 192.168.X.X number.
Or you can open a command prompt and type: ipconfig /all
Or you can just do a internet search for your router model number IP.
You will know when you get the right one because a control screen for your router will pop up in the browser.
- UPDATE
First thing first check if there is any available updates. This could be it's own tab or listed under device or in diagnostics. If it asks you for a password use the one that was written on the side of the router. Install any available updates. Honestly they rarely update these things so if there is one then it must have been pretty needed.
- CHANGE THE LOCKS
You have to realize that this device is the front door between every internet device in your home and the outside wild internet. You are probably blasting WIFI signal all the way to the street. All someone has to do is connect to your WIFI and then they will have access to your router as well. The default administrator password for these mass produced ISP devices are not exactly secret. You can even find lists of them by brand. It is like locking your front door but leaving the key under the mat, not very secure.
Look in the settings and change the administrator password. Use your password manager to generate a 10 word passphrase. Change it to that and SAVE it in your password manager.
- RENAME AND CHANGE WIFI PASSWORD
In the settings change the default name of your network to something memorable. Do NOT use anything personal like your name, address, or router brand (Netgear or whatever). If you want to be cute you can use: Not Available, or Network Error or something like that.
Now change the WIFI password. Again use your password manager to generate a passphrase. You can cut it down to 6 words since you will probably be entering this one much more often. Be sure to SAVE it in your password manager.
- ADD A GUEST NETWORK
You don't just give your WIFI password to all the kids in the neighborhood that swing by to play with your kids or to your friends visiting do you? If so, STOP it. Setup a guest network. A guest network allows people to have WIFI access at your house without giving them access to the router. Yes I know we put a strong password on the router but it doesn't matter.
Setup a guest network with a easy password. If you have given this out to several people already that are coming back often you can name the guest network the old default name and use that default WIFI password. When friends and family come over their devices will have that name already saved and will connect automatically. This way you don't have to do the whole song and dance everytime someone comes over.
- CHANGE YOUR DNS SERVER
DNS is the Domain Name System. Remember the IP address we found earlier for the router? Every device connect to the internet has a unique IP address. Every server hosting a website, etc but luckily you don't have to remember 142.250.188.14, you can just go to Google.com
This works because behind the scenes your computer is checking with a DNS server to provide a human readable address instead of a bunch of numbers. The equivalent would be a phone book that gives you John Smith and not just a address somewhere.
There is a little bit more to it than that but you don't need to know all that in order to grasp the concept.
The default DNS in your router is probably the one provided by your ISP. Your ISP can see everything that pings against that DNS server and probably uses it to feed you ads. The DNS server provider impacts how a lot of your data is handled. It's speed, it's security, how it's logged, shared, and sold.
So change your DNS server. The default one your ISP gave you is shit. It will improve your speed and security but just remember that privacy and security are not the same thing. The Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) is very secure and a good choice but as you can imagine the privacy is not really great. But not to worry, all the data they are collecting is anonymized ; )
Your best bet is to use your own DNS server with something like Pi Hole or Adguard home. Setting that up is a little bit beyond the scope of this article so I will cover it in greater detail in a future one. Until then Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) is probably your best choice until you run your own.
Now you have probably better privacy and security than most people with only these simple changes. Next steps would be to upgrade your hardware for faster internet, better firewall, more control, etc. Will detail in future drops.
Always Forward, GHOST
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@ 8d34bd24:414be32b
2024-09-25 14:41:11Also posted on substack
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us “pray without ceasing;”
You may be thinking, “I have responsibilities. How can I pray without ceasing? I can’t be on my knees praying without stopping. This can’t be what the Bible expects from us.”
Don’t worry, prayer doesn’t have to be a burden. It doesn’t have to be locking yourself in a room alone for hours on you knees on a cold, hard stone floor like the monks of the middle ages. Prayer is just what you need to help you on your next step to growing closer to Jesus.
Analogy of old married couple and believer with God
As believers, our prayer relationship with God should be like the way an old, loving couple talks. They don’t talk without stopping to do other things, but they are always talking and keeping the other person included in what they do and what they care about.
They also have lots of different kinds of conversation. Some are deep conversations that take an extended period of time. Some are brief comments about what is going on in their life. Some are pointing out something interesting or asking for help. Sometimes the words are just an acknowledgement of the other’s presence. Sometimes communications may be no more than a glance or a grunt, but it conveys so much because of how close they are.
Scheduled time
Just like the old married couple schedules a date night or other time together, there are times that we want to schedule time with God. It might be a group prayer meeting. It might be a time alone to discuss particular worries with God. This is usually an extended time to pray about something in particular. It may be scheduled regularly. It may be scheduled specifically based on circumstances.
To many people, this is what they think of when they think about being a prayer warrior, but the truth is, at least for most of us, this is the smallest portion of our prayer life.
Regular time
Just like an old married couple has times that they are regularly together and talking, such as first thing in the morning when they awake and say “Good morning!” or just talk about their plans for the day. Most couples regularly talk during meals together. These discussions might be about how the day is going or about plans for the future or about various common interests. Most couples also talk at least briefly at bed time. They know that almost every day they will talk during these periods.
In the same way, believers should have regular times that they talk to God. I think upon waking, at meals, and at bedtime are good times to pray regularly. That doesn’t mean that you always have to pray for extended periods . Most of these will probably be fairly short and the time allowed may vary from day to day.
Praying at these 5 times is handy because you wake up and go to bed every day and most people eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. These events are reminders to pray. You may have other times like when you pick kids up at school, when you get in your car to drive, or nightly devotions before putting kids to bed. You might have other times that work for you because everyone’s life is a little different. Some of these may be solitary prayers, while others might include someone else, especially family members. Whatever the case, these are times that you usually pray every day. They are guaranteed times with God. They are times God can count on you and you can count on God.
With others
An old married couple usually doesn’t hang out only with each other. They also hang out and talk with friends and family. They will get together with some friends/family on regular occasions. They will get together with others on special occasions. This is a nice time of jointly conversing and helping each other.
Believers also are called to pray together.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) {emphasis mine}
We may pray with a person or group. We may pray at church, a Bible study, or a prayer meeting. We may regularly meet with one or more people just to pray for our church, our country, and each other.
For 2-3 years I had a friend I would pray with once a week for about an hour. We were both very busy. We both homeschooled kids and had other responsibilities. We didn’t live near each other, so we prayed together on the phone. We made prayer together work, even when it wasn’t convenient, because it was important to us.
Depending on our life circumstances, we may pray with others more or less. (Singles usually have less opportunities to pray with others, while families always have each other to pray with.) Whether or not it happens every day, we are called to pray to God with other believers and for other believers.
Random discussion (Thanks, interests, & Concerns)
Random discussion normally should be the largest component of communications between a couple and between believers and God. These prayers are not planned or organized. They are a sign that we are including another in our daily lives because they are important to us.
Sometimes these prayers are a quick comment on what is happening in our lives. Sometimes these prayers are about a worry or concern. They can be a mention of something we find interesting or something we find beautiful. It may be a comment on something we learned or about us finally understanding something. Frequently they are prayers to say a quick “help” or “thank you.”
These little brief prayers shot up to God, usually while doing the normal activities of life, are just a sign that we find God important and want Him in our life. You may say, “Wow! That is a great view! You made beautiful mountains.” You may say, “I’m really struggling with this. Please help me do better.” You may say, “What is happening in the world is scary. Please help me to know what to do and help me to trust you in all things.” You might ask, “What am I supposed to say to this unbeliever to draw them to you?” or “How do I speak wisely to this person who is hurting?” We are including God in our lives and listening to Him because we want His opinion and guidance.
We may speak out loud or we may think our prayers silently where only God hears. We usually aren’t kneeling. We usually don’t have our hands folded, nor do we have our eyes closed.
If we are truly depending on God to guide our lives, these prayers should be a huge part of our lives. They should be sprinkled consistently through our day.
Cries for help
Part of the joy of a long and loving marriage is having someone to depend on when we are in need, whether sick, or tired, or sad, or frustrated, or physically unable to do something ourselves. We always have that other person to depend on and lean on.
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
In the same way believers should lean on God to support them throughout their lives. I’ll admit that I used to only “bother God” with my really big concerns. I wasn’t comfortable asking Him for help with my little, day-to-day concerns, but that was pushing God away.
Unlike with a person who has a limited amount of time and energy, God can see and hear all prayers throughout all of history at the same time and not even break a sweat. We aren’t bothering God with our requests. We are honoring Him with our requests. He wants to be not only a part of our lives, but the leading part of our lives. When we ask for His help, His wisdom, His guidance, and His power, we are doing exactly what we should and we are growing our relationship with Him.
It is good to continually ask God for help, but that doesn’t mean we should ask for every petty desire. Our prayers shouldn’t be filled with requests for wealth, fame, and power. All prayers should include the same qualifier (even if not stated explicitly) Jesus used right before going to the cross, saying, “… yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42b) We should be praying our problems and leaving the solution to Him. He frequently will answer in ways we never imagined (and frequently would never choose for ourselves), but these answers are always for our good.1
Conclusion
As you can see, praying continually is just a lifestyle. It is a way of including God in our lives. It is a way of showing we trust God fully. It is a way of serving God and being used by God.
In reality, praying continually isn’t as hard as it sounds. Like all habits, it just takes a little time to build the habit. Once prayer becomes a part of your life, it doesn’t feel like work, it just happens. It is as natural as talking to your best friend or spouse or parents or kids. You can’t imagine not talking to God continually.
I’ll end with these lyrics:
What a friend we have in Jesus\ All our sins and grieves to bear\ What a privilege it is to carry\ Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations\ Is there trouble anywhere\ Our precious Savior\ He is still our refuge\ Take it to the Lord in prayer
When we're weak and heavy laden\ Cumbered with a load of care\ We should never be discouraged\ When we take it to the Lord in prayer
Oh what peace we often forfeit\ Oh what needless pain we bear\ We should never be discouraged when we\ Take it to the Lord in prayer
Trust Jesus.\ \ your sister in Christ,
Christy
Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated
FYI, If you are wondering what to say, this acrostic (ACTS) is a handy for outline for prayer:
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A = Adoration -Praise God for who He is
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C = Confession - Admit our sins and His righteous lordship
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T = Thanks - Thank God for all He has done for us including our salvation
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S = Supplication - Make requests from God for help and to supply our needs.
For more articles and to see all of my posts check out my Trust Jesus Substack and consider subscribing to avoid missing any posts.
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@ dc652bee:6154e7d0
2024-09-25 11:28:17🆘📢Exciting news for our community! We are thrilled to announce the Bybit bot airdrop, designed to enhance your trading experience. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your game! 🚀💰 #BybitAirdrop 🌐 http://surgishop.lnkiy.in/Bybit_bot👈
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@ 13e63e99:25525c6a
2024-09-25 10:43:42The Federal Reserve has announced a 50-basis-point reduction in the benchmark interest rate, officially initiating the first easing cycle in U.S. monetary policy since March 2020. This move aims to address potential weaknesses in the U.S. economy and labor market while further reducing inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that current economic conditions are strong, and the rate cut is designed to sustain this momentum and enable a flexible response to changing conditions.
Fed officials expect additional rate reductions for the remainder of the year, gradually lowering rates over the next few years. This easing cycle is anticipated to have significant implications for the future of the U.S. economy, influencing the rates at which banks extend loans to both individuals and businesses. As a result, borrowing costs for consumers—such as home mortgages and credit card debt—are likely to decrease.
The news supported bitcoin prices, with bitcoin recently near $63,000. Bitcoin prices tend to rise on signs of monetary easing, as they are broadly seen as risk-on assets even as some investors tout their use as safe havens.
In the long run, increased borrowing and spending can lead to stronger economic growth, which may further enhance liquidity in the system. However, while liquidity may initially increase, prolonged low rates can also lead to potential risks, such as asset bubbles and excessive debt levels. Monitoring these factors is essential to maintain financial stability.
Reference: Trading Economics, Reuters
The Nostr ecosystem is known for its decentralization and focus on sovereign identity, offering a unique advantage for users. With more than 100 applications across social media, entertainment, marketplace and more, Nostr's key strengths include:
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Decentralization and Sovereignty: Protects users' privacy from censorship.
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Integration with payment system: Enhances features like zapping and streaming.
While these aspects attract Bitcoin enthusiasts, broader user adoption will require more sustainable and diverse features. Over the next few years, various opportunities and challenges may arise.
Social Media
Nostr represents a significant opportunity in decentralized social media, giving users control over their data and promoting free speech. Users can zap each other’s content through the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Nostr’s interoperability allows users to share posts across platforms, enabling a more integrated experience. Unlike traditional social media, where data is siloed, Nostr fosters collaboration among apps, allowing users to switch easily based on their needs. Over the next few years, we can expect a thriving ecosystem.
Identification and Login
Nostr's decentralized identity system relies on public and private keys, making it a fundamental feature. While no standalone disruptive applications are expected, this identification functionality can enhance social media and wallet apps by integrating features that improve competitiveness.
Decentralized Marketplace
Nostr's secure communication framework can facilitate decentralized marketplaces, enabling direct buyer-seller interactions while enhancing privacy. These marketplaces could extend beyond traditional goods to include music, writing, and services.
Regulation in the Nostr Ecosystem
As a censorship-resistant platform, Nostr might faces unique regulatory challenges. The protocol itself is neutral, but how developers manage relays will determine oversight levels. Proper regulation might prevent illegal activities and enhance the credibility of apps, helping Nostr grow without stifling its decentralized spirit. Developers focusing on decentralization may find opportunities in regulatory advising, ensuring that Nostr apps adhere to principles of decentralization while fostering healthy growth.
## MicroStrategy Raises $1.01 Billion in Convertible Notes to Fuel Bitcoin Acquisitions
MicroStrategy has completed a $1.01 billion offering of 0.625% convertible senior notes due in 2028, with plans to acquire Bitcoin using part of the proceeds. The private offering, finalized on Sept. 19, targeted institutional investors and allows conversion into cash or MicroStrategy stock. The company will also redeem $500 million in senior secured notes, releasing collateral that includes 69,080 Bitcoin. Between Sept. 13 and 19, MicroStrategy purchased approximately 7,420 Bitcoin for about $458.2 million, averaging $61,750 per Bitcoin.
> Reference: Microstrategy, Cointelegraph
Bhutan Revealed as Major Bitcoin Holder with 13,093 BTC
Bhutan, the Buddhist kingdom in the eastern Himalayas, has emerged as a significant Bitcoin holder, owning 13,093 BTC valued at approximately $830.789 million, according to Arkham Intelligence. This is the first public disclosure of Bhutan's Bitcoin addresses.
Mining is conducted by the country's investment arm, Druk Holdings, which has established facilities at various sites, including the defunct Education City project. In May 2023, Bitdeer partnered with Druk Holding & Investments to develop a 100% carbon-free Bitcoin mining operation in Bhutan. Earlier reports indicated plans to expand mining capacity from 100 to 600 megawatts, leveraging the country's abundant hydropower resources for eco-friendly operations.
Reference: Arkham, Bitcoin Magazine
Donald Trump Makes History with Bitcoin Payment
Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump made history as the first former U.S. president to complete a Bitcoin payment at PubKey, a Bitcoin-themed bar in Greenwich Village, NYC, during National Cheeseburger Day.
He described the payment as “easy” and said it went through “quickly and beautifully.”
After the transaction, Trump, accompanied by bar owner Thomas Pacchia, greeted attendees. “This was one of the most important Bitcoin transactions of all time,” said Pacchia. “President Trump came to connect with and support the Bitcoin community. We are very excited he was here.”
> Reference: Yahoo Finance, Cointelegraph
## We are Hiring: Entrepreneur In Residence
As an Entrepreneur In Residence with HCM, you will lead and drive innovative projects related to building Bitcoin ecosystem. Leveraging your extensive background in business, technology, product development, marketing, and/or operations management, you will drive projects from the seed stage through capital market financing and growth, along with our resource supports. We seek leaders with a good understanding of the Bitcoin who can achieve breakthroughs in the international market.
Please send your resume to: account_admin@hcm.capital/yake@hcm.capital\ For more information, please check out bitcoinerjobs.com
## Lifpay is sponsoring Max & Stacy Invitational at EL Encanto Golf Tournament in January 2025, El Salvador
> Reference: X.com
Unchained and University Impact Launch Bitcoin-Native Donor-Advised Funds to Streamline Charitable Donations and Maximize Tax Efficiency
> Reference: X.com
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@ c278022e:b37d01a2
2024-09-25 05:58:25Abstract
This paper proposes a comprehensive system design for a decentralized prediction market and a game-theoretic stablecoin built entirely on Bitcoin's Lightning Network. Leveraging Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) and off-chain transactions, the system enables leveraged trading, liquidity provision, and stablecoin creation without relying on alternative cryptocurrencies or tokens. We address potential flaws and criticisms, demonstrating that Bitcoin alone provides a secure, scalable, and efficient platform for advanced financial applications.
truthserum@iris.to
Introduction
Motivation
Bitcoin, as the original and most secure cryptocurrency, offers a stable and decentralized platform for financial innovation. While alternative platforms like Ethereum have introduced smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, they often suffer from network congestion, high fees, and centralization risks. This paper aims to demonstrate that Bitcoin's Lightning Network can support complex financial instruments, including a decentralized prediction market and a game-theoretic stablecoin, without the need for alternative cryptocurrencies.
Overview
We propose a system that:
- Utilizes Bitcoin's Lightning Network for scalability and low fees.
- Employs Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) for secure, private smart contracts.
- Creates a decentralized prediction market with leveraged trading.
- Introduces a synthetic stablecoin based on the net positions of long and short traders.
- Addresses potential flaws and criticisms, ensuring robustness and security.
Background
Bitcoin and the Lightning Network
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates on a peer-to-peer network, using proof-of-work consensus for security. The Lightning Network is a layer-two protocol that enables fast, off-chain transactions between participants, enhancing Bitcoin's scalability.
Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs)
DLCs are a type of smart contract that allows two parties to make a conditional payment based on the outcome of a future event, with privacy and security ensured by cryptographic techniques.
Prediction Markets and Stablecoins
Prediction markets allow participants to speculate on the outcome of future events, while stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value relative to a target asset or basket of assets.
System Design
Key Components
- Liquidity Providers (LPs): Users who provide Bitcoin as collateral to the liquidity pool.
- Traders: Users who take leveraged long or short positions on asset prices.
- Oracles: Entities that provide reliable price feeds for asset settlement.
- Stablecoin: A synthetic stablecoin derived from the net positions of traders, backed by Bitcoin collateral.
Core Features
- Decentralized Prediction Market: Facilitates leveraged trading on asset prices.
- Game-Theoretic Stablecoin: Maintains stability through the balance of longs and shorts.
- Yield Generation: LPs earn yields from trading fees, funding rates, and liquidation penalties.
- Bitcoin-Only: Built entirely on Bitcoin's network without alternative tokens.
Technical Implementation
Leveraged Trading via Discreet Log Contracts
Contract Setup
Two parties, a trader and an LP, agree on contract terms:
- Asset: Bitcoin/USD price.
- Leverage: Multiplier on the trader's collateral.
- Collateral: Bitcoin amount provided by the trader.
- Duration: Contract length.
- Oracle: Selected to provide the settlement price.
Funding the Contract
- Trader: Locks collateral C_T in a multi-signature address.
- LP: Locks collateral C_LP to cover potential payouts.
Execution and Settlement
- At maturity, the oracle provides a signature of the final price P_f.
- The DLC allows funds to be distributed based on P_f and the contract terms.
Synthetic Stablecoin Creation
Mechanism
- Stablecoins are minted when traders open positions.
- Backed by Bitcoin collateral from LPs and traders.
- Stability maintained through balanced market positions and funding rates.
Funding Rates and Market Balance
Purpose
To incentivize traders to balance long and short positions, maintaining system stability.
Implementation
- Funding Rate: Funding Rate = k * (Net Position / Total Open Interest)
- Payments: Traders on the dominant side pay funding fees to the opposite side.
Risk Management and Liquidations
- Margin Requirements: Minimum collateral ratios for traders.
- Liquidation Thresholds: Positions are liquidated if collateral falls below maintenance margin.
- Automatic Liquidations: Enforced by smart contracts without human intervention.
Mathematical Foundations
Payout Calculation
Position Size
Position Size = C_T * L
Profit/Loss (P/L)
P/L = Position Size * ((P_f - P_0) / P_0)
Return on Investment (ROI)
ROI = (P/L / C_T) * 100%
Liquidation Price Calculation
For a long position:
P_liquidation = P_0 - ((C_T / Position Size) * P_0)
Game Theory and Incentive Alignment
Traders
- Incentive: Profit from accurate market predictions.
- Behavior: Manage risk to avoid liquidation.
Liquidity Providers
- Incentive: Earn yields from fees and funding rates.
- Risk: Exposure to traders' net P/L.
Oracles
- Incentive: Earn fees for accurate data provision.
- Behavior: Maintain reliability to secure future earnings.
Potential Flaws and Criticisms Addressed
Oracle Trustworthiness
Criticism
Relying on oracles introduces a single point of failure and potential for data manipulation.
Solution
- Decentralized Oracles: Use multiple oracles and aggregate data.
- Threshold Signatures: Require consensus among oracles.
- Incentive Alignment: Oracles are incentivized to provide accurate data through fees and reputation.
Liquidity Risks
Criticism
Insufficient liquidity may prevent covering traders' profits, especially during high volatility.
Solution
- Dynamic Leverage Limits: Adjust leverage based on liquidity.
- Risk Management Protocols: Implement strict margin requirements.
- Incentivizing LPs: Offer competitive yields to attract liquidity.
Price Volatility and Market Manipulation
Criticism
Extreme market movements could lead to rapid liquidations and instability.
Solution
- Anti-Manipulation Measures: Use time-weighted average prices (TWAP).
- Circuit Breakers: Temporarily halt trading during extreme volatility.
- Robust Liquidation Mechanisms: Ensure smooth liquidations without market disruption.
Technical Complexity
Criticism
Implementing DLCs and managing Lightning Network channels require advanced expertise.
Solution
- User-Friendly Interfaces: Develop intuitive platforms.
- Educational Resources: Provide guides and support.
- Community Development: Encourage collaboration and open-source contributions.
Regulatory Compliance
Criticism
Operating a leveraged trading platform may raise regulatory concerns.
Solution
- Decentralization: Structure the platform to minimize central control.
- Legal Consultation: Engage experts to navigate regulations.
- KYC/AML Policies: Implement where necessary without compromising privacy.
Network Limitations
Criticism
The Lightning Network may face limitations in liquidity and channel capacity.
Solution
- Channel Management Strategies: Utilize multi-path payments and channel factories.
- Liquidity Hubs: Establish well-funded nodes.
- Ongoing Development: Contribute to scalability improvements.
Conclusion
By leveraging Bitcoin's Lightning Network and Discreet Log Contracts, we can build a decentralized prediction market and a game-theoretic stablecoin without relying on alternative cryptocurrencies. This system addresses potential flaws and demonstrates that Bitcoin alone provides a secure, scalable, and efficient platform for advanced financial applications.
Future Work
- Prototype Development: Create a working model of the proposed system.
- Security Audits: Conduct thorough assessments to ensure robustness.
- Community Engagement: Involve developers and users in refining the system.
- Regulatory Navigation: Work with legal experts to ensure compliance.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Bitcoin and Lightning Network communities for their ongoing contributions to decentralized finance and open-source development.
References
- Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, 2008.
- Joseph Poon and Thaddeus Dryja, The Bitcoin Lightning Network: Scalable Off-Chain Instant Payments, 2016.
- Tadge Dryja, Discreet Log Contracts, 2017.
- GMX, Decentralized Perpetual Exchange, https://gmx.io/, Accessed 2023.
- BIP 0341, Taproot: SegWit Version 1 Spending Rules, 2020.
- Rusty Russell, Generic Smart Contracts Over Lightning, 2019.
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@ 472f440f:5669301e
2024-09-25 04:12:35Last night I had the pleasure of sitting down with Caitlin Long, Founder and CEO of Custodia - a fully reserved bank providing banking services to bitcoin companies, to discuss an affidavit written by Elaine Hetrick of Silvergate Bank. Elaine is the Chief Administrative Officer of Silvergate and wrote an affidavit, a sworn testimony subject to perjury, in which she detailed the events that led to Silvergate voluntarily winding down their business and returning deposits to their customers.
This affidavit is a bombshell because it confirms speculation that Silvergate was solvent in early 2023 and wasn't shut down because of bad risk management on behalf of the bank's management team, but instead was forced to shutter its doors because the Biden Administration, with strong influence from Senator Elizabeth Warren, forced Silvergate's hand because they didn't like that they were banking digital asset companies.
For those who are a bit fuzzy on the details of the narratives that were flying around Silvergate at the time, I'll jog your memory. FTX was a customer of Silvergate's at the time their Ponzi scheme unraveled. As FTX was blowing up, everyone and their mother was scrambling to get their money out of Silvergate because they assumed that since one of the bank's largest counterparties was going bust, the bank must be in trouble too. A sane decision. Especially considering the history of systemically non-important financial institutions this century.
Unless you were paying close attention during this time, you were likely under the impression that Silvergate was a typical fractionally reserved bank that was experiencing a run that led to its inevitable demise. The media made it seem this way. The regulators made it seem this way. And one pompous short seller made it seem this way. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Here are the most important parts of the affidavit:
Silvergate had stabilized, was able to make regulatory capital requirements, and had the capability to continue to serve its customers that had kept their deposits with Silvergate Bank.
Despite this, regulators decided to turn the pressure up and essentially gave Silvergate Bank, and Signature Bank as well, an ultimatum; drastically change your business models immediately by dropping your digital asset customer base or we'll shut you down. There were no hard numbers described in Elaine's testimony, but rumors are that the regulators wanted Silvergate to quickly shrink their exposure to digital asset-related clients to less than 15% of their capital base. At the time, Silvergate's customer base was made up almost entirely of digital asset companies (99.5% to be exact).
The regulators were asking Silvergate to do something that was quite literally impossible given the circumstances. Faced with an impossible task, on March 8th of 2023 Silvergate decided to voluntarily wind down their operations and return deposits back to their customers.
Let's be very clear here, Silvergate did not lose a single penny of customer deposits due to the run on their bank. Management, understanding the volatile nature of the digital asset markets, designed their risk management and capital allocation strategies in a way that would enable them to return dollars to any customer who requested them. And that's exactly what they did when customers came to request their money. They returned EVERY SINGLE PENNY.
This begs the question, "Why did they essentially force Silvergate to shut down?" They seemed to be running a very responsible operation after all. You'd think the regulators would applaud Silvergate's vigilance in risk management on behalf of their customer base. How many banks would have been able to do the same thing if put in the same situation? Probably not many.
The answer to this question is already well known throughout the industry, but Elaine Hetrick's testimony adds some hard evidence that makes it undeniable; Elizabeth Warren, the SEC, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve have been acting in concert to unconstitutionally and extrajudicially target the bitcoin and broader digital asset industry because they do not believe that it should exist. It is a threat to their power structure. The financial system, as it is designed today, gives those who would like to centrally plan the economy and micromanage the lives of American citizens a ton of power. Bitcoin is a threat to that power and they have to do everything in their power to prevent its proliferation.
The targeting of the industry was also confirmed by the aftermath of the NYDFS and FDIC uncharacteristically taking Signature Bank behind the woodshed in the evening of Sunday, March 20th, 2023, despite the fact that Barney Frank and others at the bank were convinced they could handle withdraws come market open the next day.
Signature Bank was ultimately sold to Flagstar Bank. However, they were forced to spin out their digital asset-related accounts before doing so.
This public signaling and sudden regulatory shift made clear that, at least as of the first quarter of 2023, the Federal Bank Regulatory Agencies would not tolerate banks with significant concentrations of digital asset customers, ultimately preventing Silvergate Bank from continuing its digital asset focused business model.
Pretty damning if you ask me. Also, very frustrating and most definitely illegal.
Elizabeth Warren and her gaggle of hall monitors across alphabet soup agencies and the Federal Reserve have been on one massive, unconstitutional, power trip for the last four years. They've besmirched bitcoin and those of us working hard to ensure that the United States of America leads the way forward as bitcoin adoption continues at every turn. Good people striving to make the world a better place.
No one is a better example of this than Alan Lane, the former CEO of Silvergate Bank. I consider Alan a friend and feel supremely confident when I say that he is one of the nicest and thoughtful people I have met in this industry. A man who followed his passion to bring legitimacy and much needed banking services to an industry that the incumbents refused to touch. And he did bring legitimacy. As I explained earlier, Alan and his team understood the volatile nature of the industry and built their firm in a way that took this volatility into account. Silvergate did not fail, they were forced to shut down by Elizabeth Warren and her acolytes at the regulatory agencies.
What's worse, Warren's vendetta against bitcoin and the digital asset industry incited the largest banking crisis this country had seen since 2008. Silvergate and Signature being taken behind the woodshed put everyone on their toes and bank runs started across the country. This led to the failure of First Republic, Silicon Valley Bank and a couple of smaller banks, forced the Fed to step in with their emergency BTFP program, and burdened taxpayers with $40B in FDIC costs that needed to be absorbed as a result. If it weren't for the bailouts things would have gotten completely out of control. All because Elizabeth Warren wants to live in a world in which we are forced to use CBDCs and unable to opt-in to bitcoin.
The euthanasia of Silvergate and Signature are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Chokepoint 2.0.
Caitlin Long and Custodia have been in a years long battle with the Federal Reserve to receive a Fed master account so that they can properly serve their customers. For those who are unaware, Custodia is a full-reserve bank that exist to serve bitcoin and digital asset businesses as well as other adjacent businesses like fintechs, banks and funds. Custodia is a chartered bank and special purpose depository institution that has built custody services so that customers can hold bitcoin within their bank accounts alongside their dollar accounts.
Like Silvergate and Signature, Custodia has been singled out and unlawfully denied a master account with the Fed because the Federal Reserve doesn't want a bank like Custodia to exist. Either because they worry about the ramifications of the introduction of a full-reserve bank into a system dominated by fractional-reserve banks or they simply do not want to see bitcoin succeed. If we're being honest, it's probably a combination of the two.
Despite what we, or anyone else, thinks about the potential effect a bank like Custodia could have on the market if it's granted a master account, the Fed's actions are unconstitutional in this case as well. This was made pretty clear (but yet to be determined by a court) in an amicus brief written by Paul Clement on behalf of Custodia earlier this Summer. The Fed is actively undermining the dual-banking system that was set up in this country to enable competition between state chartered banks and the Federal Reserve system.
In the case of Custodia, the Federal Reserve is exhibiting expansive discretionary power that it has never shown before. Custodia is a state chartered special purpose depository institution in the state of Wyoming. Historically, it would be trivial for this type of state chartered bank to get a master account with the Fed. But for whatever reason (we know the reason) the Fed has been denying Custodia their right to this account for a number of years. To the point where Custodia was forced to sue the Federal Reserve and take their case to the courts.
What's interesting about the saga of Custodia and the Fed is that it has forced Custodia's legal team to dig in and highlight where the Fed is overextending its reach and acting arbitrarily. In the amicus brief that was published in July of this year, Paul Clement argues that the way Federal Reserve Bank presidents are chosen is unconstitutional when you take into consideration the fact the these Fed branch presidents are unilaterally undermining state banking laws by denying master accounts.
If they are going to unilaterally undermine state banking laws they need to be appointed by the President or an official acting on behalf of the Executive Branch. Federal Reserve Bank presidents aren't appointed by the President of the United States or any official acting with the authority of the Executive Branch. Instead, they are appointed by their boards, which are controlled by the privately held commercial banks who own them. The Federal Reserve system is clearly acting unconstitutionally when they deny Custodia from being assigned a master account.
The people in power within the federal government and the Federal Reserve system are actively targeting the bitcoin and digital asset industry, acting extrajudicially and making a mockery of the rule of law in the United States. They are completely out of control and it is important that everyone who cares about the future of bitcoin in the United States and the future of the United States more broadly (even if you don't like bitcoin) speaks out and fights against these totalitarians as vehemently as possible. What they are doing is wrong. It's unconstitutional. And it is putting the future of our country at risk.
If the federal government, the regulators and the Federal Reserve do not get out of the way and let law abiding citizens build the businesses they want and associate with businesses they want, those businesses will go elsewhere and the United States will be set back generations as a result.
It's time to put these people in their place and let it be known that freedom will reign supreme in the Land of the Free. Fight!
Final thought... I promised Parker Lewis that I would do cross fit on Friday morning and I'm using today's final thought as an accountability tool.
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@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833
2024-09-25 02:56:07A mirror post on the Dora Research Blog can be found at: https://research.dorahacks.io/2024/09/25/network-states-critique-part-1/ Author: DORA Interns
Section 1:
As capitalism became the new economic system, replacing the old feudal guilds and their small and inefficient means of production, cultural conditions began to take hold that would give rise to nations and a sense of national consciousness. This thesis, argued in great detail by Benedict Anderson in his book Imagined Communities, is characteristically similar to Marxist theory, which generally holds that any difference made in a society's economic and technological base results in changes throughout its whole structure. As humans alter their environment, gain control of its variables, and reduce the severity of their conditions, higher, more rational faculties may begin to develop. Karl Marx writes, “By thus acting on the external world and changing it, (human beings) at the same time change (their) own nature.” As technology progresses; as the tools used by human beings advance and become more efficient and productive, human consciousness grows with it. Starting with primitive forms of productive forces like stone tools, human beings organize themselves in ways made possible by this primal mode of technology, which possesses a meager capacity to tame and alter nature, and, consequently, casts human understanding and knowledge into the shadows, greatly obstructing their freedom, as well as their capacity to become self-aware. Thus as the means of production progress, more complicated forms of social organization become possible. Human beings slowly become conscious of their autonomy - the ability to live a life dictated by reason, by rational choice and principle, and not by the caprice of external causal factors. Throughout this historical process, the old institutions and societal structures deteriorate and grow obsolete; revolutions occur to update the social infrastructure and catch up to the progressing economic base.
When technology grew to the point of being able to sustain capitalism, and more well-organized systems of labor were needed to underpin what the economy demanded, people flocked to the cities, leaving behind the rural life that was characteristic of the feudal system, and began thinking of themselves as part of larger collectives, as nations. Marx writes, “Independent, or but loosely connected provinces, with separate interests, laws, governments, and systems of taxation, became lumped together into one nation, with one government, one code of laws, one national class-interest, one frontier, and one-customs tariff.” Industrialization, then, and its new tools, which drastically shifted the means of production, changed human consciousness and laid the conditions necessary for societies to become nation-states.
In Imagined Communities, Anderson claims this development toward industrialization and nation-states was largely set in motion by the advent of the Gutenberg printing press in 1440. He argues that this technology, which began to distribute newspapers, novels, and bibles to readers in a language that would become a people’s common vernacular, had laid the cultural conditions for a sense of national consciousness, the feeling that one belonged to a larger community that expanded past their immediate surroundings, to arise. People who previously did not think of themselves as ‘French’, or ‘English’, or ‘American’, who spoke in largely discontinuous dialects, slowly began to think of themselves as participating in a nation of people bound together by a shared experience. These new national identities replaced the old religious, preordained orders that once provided meaning to human beings, and nationality became one of the more dominant modes through which people identified who and what they were.
Now, another important technology that facilitated the historical development of nations was the ledger and its use for double-entry bookkeeping. As information regarding debits and credits was able to be recorded, more large-scale trades, transfers of assets, and general forms of record-keeping were made possible, bringing about the need for more uniform, clear, and discrete boundaries between the various territories. Nation-states became a means to meet the demands made by society’s progress. Feudalism and its notion of the Divine Right of Kings, its old religious dogmas, and its obsolete forms of social institutions, were unable to adapt to these economic shifts. The emergence of the Enlightenment period (1685-1789) ushered in new ways of understanding the state and its position of authority and legitimacy to hold power. Rather than being conceived as a beacon of Divine order, it increasingly became seen as a rational compromise between people who invested the state with authority in exchange for preserving their natural rights. It was now a third-party institution that resided over settling disputes, enforcing the law, and punishing those who violated it. The state was now only legitimate insofar as it protected the rights of the individuals who consented to be governed.
However, over time, a great deal of trust had been handed to these new institutions, and many believe they have now led to an excess of centralized power. Banks became the holders of financial ledgers; distribution of information, of news and events, became the job of a few selected companies, and the government, over time, stepped over its initial claim to legitimacy by taking on roles far surpassing the task of merely protecting individual rights and liberties. Because there was no technology for it, people still had to be trusted as disinterested and objective third-party mediators, which human nature often fails to achieve, allowing self-interest, greed, envy, and human vice more generally to have an influential role in state and governmental processes. This creates corrosive trust issues between citizens and their institutions. In their book The Truth Machine, Michael J. Casey and Paul Vigna write, “Trust - especially in our institutions - is a vital social resource, the true lubricant of all human interaction. When it works, we take it for granted - we wait our place in line, follow road rules, and assume everyone will do the same… But when trust is lacking, things really, really break down.”
Today, with the invention of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, many believe these institutions themselves become obsolete and that new forms of social organization are needed. In his book The Network State, Balaji Srinivasan labors to demonstrate this claim, arguing that the network and its capacity to allow individuals to organize digital, landless communities, can replace the old nation-states that obstruct social development. In particular, he believes blockchain and its capacity to underpin trustless systems to be capable of supplanting the older institutions by automating what they were entrusted with doing; cryptocurrencies can automate the roles done by central banks and the Federal Reserve; information of news and events can be loaded onto blockchains and remain immutable, preventing self-serving parties from tampering and manipulating it for their interests; private information can be cryptographically secured and held by individuals rather than by centralized, private tech companies like Google; and nation-states more generally can be superseded by the network, which eliminates the perennial issue of land that has caused innumerable wars and conflicts between sovereign states. But, despite the optimism induced by these new technologies, there are problems. The rest of this article will be concerned with addressing what it means for a network state to be ‘ethical’, to use a term of Srinivasan’s. Some nation-states are viewed as unethical, as providing conditions that are degrading to human beings; North Korea immediately comes to mind. The next section will propose a way to discern why such a judgment is true, and will be used to assess what a network state must achieve to be considered ‘ethical’. I will argue that this can only be done by holding people’s autonomy as the principal end of the state.
Section 2:
To see this, we can think of creating a state as a complex activity, and, as with most activities, it is directed toward certain ends. Similarly to how playing a sport, gardening, or driving a car is an activity, so is creating a state - albeit a far more complicated one. But whereas the ends of certain activities may be for the sake of pleasure or leisure, the state’s ends are always within a moral and ethical scope. It is moral in that, whenever one is engaged in the activity of state-making, the ends by which the activity is oriented are always directed toward drafting principles that will establish cooperative social practices and institutions that guide and govern the actions of the members within the state, which lay the conditions by which human beings will pursue their individual and collective well-being. In other words, the ends that the act of founding a state is aimed toward is to create practices that consist of individuals who form collectives, and who cooperate and live according to a given set of moral ends that orient, inform, and shape the lives of those within the state. Therefore, all acts occurring within this activity are never neutral from the moral point of view but are inextricably linked to questions about morality and the ethical life. Such an activity, then, should not be viewed as anything less than a pursuit of moral and ethical ends, and to confuse this activity with the pursuit of other ends - like financial gain, technological innovation, the expansion of markets, or the satisfaction of personal interests - commits a modal confusion, which immediately involves one in a separate activity than that of founding a state. By modal confusion, I mean the error of engaging in a particular mode of activity with the wrong set of ends in mind. For example, someone who makes paintings would be deeply confused to declare themself to be an artist when their chief end is financial gain. Such an end is better captured by calling the activity manufacturing rather than artistry. Perhaps a more characteristic end of an artist would be the production of beauty, for instance, or self-expression, but not profit. Profit would be employed only as a means to further, more artistic ends that are deemed necessary by the social conditions the artist finds themself in.
Or imagine a person who becomes friends with someone to derive certain benefits from them, like using them to get to know someone they are interested in, but who nevertheless believes that the two are sincere friends. The person who befriends the other confuses what kind of activity they are engaged in. The relation of being friends with someone involves adopting certain ends that are demanded by the relationship. In the case of friendship, an obvious end that characterizes the activity is holding the other person as an end-in-themselves, as someone who is not valuable for any other reason other than the fact that they’re a friend. One would be deeply confused by believing to be engaged in friendship when one does not hold the relevant end in relation to the activity.
Now, when founding a network state, reducing the degree of modal confusion is central to the project of creating an ‘ethical’ state. If a founder holds an irrelevant set of ends in mind, they risk the potential for causing significant harm to persons, and I will argue that it does so by reducing autonomy. By autonomy, I mean a human being’s capacity to exercise willful, deliberative choice, and not be wholly dictated by external influence. The philosopher Harry Frankfurt defines it as follows: “Autonomy is essentially a matter of whether we are active rather than passive in our motives and choices - whether… they are the motives and choices that we really want and are therefore in no way alien to us.” Now, one’s autonomy exists within one’s subjectivity, which can be understood as a person’s conscious experience. It’s the center at which one’s thoughts, desires, perceptions, worries, fears, anxieties, all occur, as they manifest in experience. Subjectivity can then be divided into at least two parts, one of which is a quantitative dimension, the other being qualitative. The first consists of the stream of experience, of the constant succession of mental states and behaviors. At one moment I’m hungry and so act to satisfy the desire; at another, I’m struck with fear and run away from the object that is the target of my response, and so on. As the examples imply, this dimension of subjectivity involves a high degree of passivity; events and experiences are simply happening to me. The qualitative dimension, on the other hand, is far more active and is the space by which autonomy exists. This involves the capacity to evaluate one’s mental states and to reflect and decide whether they are worth acting on, whether they’re rational or not, whether they represent the world accurately; and to act autonomously is to act based on one’s qualitative nature, and not be carried away unreflectively by the more passive, quantitative dimension.
The central claim of this article is that the principal end of the state is to promote the development and growth of the qualitative nature of its members’ subjectivity. To hold this capacity of human beings as secondary, or accidental and not a primary need, is to be modally confused. That’s not to say the state is the primary institution responsible for promoting or even determining its citizens’ autonomy - the existence and crimes of the USSR are sufficient to refute that - but only that it shares the responsibility. Whatever its exact role is, or in what forms it is concretely realized, the state’s principal end is directed toward facilitating the development of its citizens’ subjectivity. A society can be imagined as a large, extended plain divided into proportions sized according to the degree of each part’s contribution toward reaching this goal. One part consists of the economy, another is occupied by the private and public affairs of communities and individuals, and another is delegated to the state. Whatever the exact configuration of this plain, each part cooperates and contributes toward fulfilling the full breadth of human needs. And I believe this can be done in numerous ways; there is not necessarily one form a state must have, which specifies and delineates each of its fixed parts to align with some ultimate reality, to reach this end. Nevertheless, I believe the state does have a hierarchy of ends.
It could be argued, however, that this is wrong and that founding a state is not a moral activity but merely a prudential one, whose end is to protect individual self-interests and preferences. That is, the state is not concerned with morality but with establishing conditions that enable individuals to pursue their own self-interests and preferences uninterrupted by other human beings. Because individuals are concerned with their own well-being, with their own survival, and the satisfaction of their desires, living in a state of nature, where there is no authority to settle disputes or conflicts regarding life, liberty, or property, is contrary to individual interests. It would be rational, then, to form a state invested with the authority granted by the consent of the governed which has the power to punish those who violate the law, adjudicate and settle disputes, and protect everyone’s basic liberties that prevent others from interfering with one another’s lives.
Understanding the state this way means that the ends of the state are prudential and not primarily moral. Individuals are free to opt into whatever network state they wish, insofar as they do so by their own, uncoerced choice.
Now Srinivasan, as I see it, is somewhere in the middle between the moral and prudential conceptions of state founding. He speaks of state legitimacy as being grounded entirely in the consent of the governed. If a network state receives enough members; if it expands to the point of reaching diplomatic recognition, then that is a testament to the legitimacy of that state. People have consented to their smart contract(s), they have invested a certain amount of authority to the founder(s) by agreeing to its terms, and such a state, Srinivasan concludes, is therefore ‘ethical’. But the notion of being ethical here is ambiguous. Does he mean that it is so because what constitutes something as ethical is an agreement, or does he mean that freedom to choose is the principal end of the state? The former is prudential because it reasons that it is up to individuals to decide for themselves what is ethical or moral, given that there is no objective fact of the matter; individuals calculate according to their self-interests, preferences, and desires, and whether a contract is fair, just, or equal is up to each person. The latter, on the other hand, is moral because it holds freedom of choice as what constitutes the moral ends of the state. What matters is whether individuals freely choose to join the state, and not whether the contract is fair or just independent of that. This is because individuals' most valuable capacity is to choose. Because it is up to each person to decide for themselves whether a contract is fair or just, a state is morally legitimate if people voluntarily consent to its contract.
Whichever one Srinivasan is committed to, both are problematic and I will present arguments against the two interpretations, which will be motivated by the following claims. That one, holding the state to be merely concerned with prudential ends is to confuse means with ends, which underestimates the role it plays in the individual’s life, and two, holding freedom of choice as the principal end confuses mere choice with free choice. These confusions permit the degradation of human dignity by disregarding the human need to foster the faculties necessary for autonomy. It is within each individual’s interests to be within a society. To be outside of a community, to be isolated and without access to resources, to be without recourse to institutions who will enforce the protection of one’s rights, is to live within a hostile environment that is against fulfilling one’s needs. However, establishing more hospitable conditions does not thereby define the principal end of the state, and the mere ability to choose does not necessarily respect the capacity for autonomy. It only offers the appearance of choice and not the reality. To freely choose means far more than the pursuit of satisfying an impulse. Before developing these arguments further, Srinivasan's two potential conceptions of the ‘ethical’ state need to be better understood. Let’s begin with the prudential account.
Section 3:
According to this argument, the state is directed toward establishing the conditions necessary for individuals to pursue their own self-interests, desires, and preferences, without the interference of others, and insofar as one’s projects do not infringe on someone else’s. An exemplar of this view is the philosopher Thomas Hobbes. A state of nature, where individuals exist outside of an organized collective bound by laws and institutions, is a state of war, filled with perpetual conflict and strife and the competition of self-interests, and consists of an endless pursuit of individuals attempting to gain power over one another for the sake of the control and security necessary for extinguishing the fear caused by their harsh environment. Setting aside the plausibility of such a state, what’s important is that, by understanding individuals in this way, human nature is presented as calculative, as the rational pursuit of one’s own interests. And since interests conflict, and each individual has an inborn right to preserve itself, to fight for its own survival; and because each one must determine what their survival requires, life in a state of nature is nasty, brutish, and short.
It would be far more rational, then, both for oneself and others, to form a state that would eliminate this perpetual state of war and conflict by implementing laws and institutions that enforce agreements and contracts made between persons, and that uphold conditions of peace, which allows individuals to pursue their ends without the fear of being interfered with. The philosopher Immanuel Kant phrases this as follows: “Each may seek his happiness in whatever way he sees fit, so long as he does not infringe upon the freedom of others to pursue a similar end which can be reconciled with the freedom of everyone else within a general workable law.”
Notice, then, that forming a state is not a matter of morals but of rational calculation, of looking out for one’s own interests. It’s not that a state should be formed because it allows persons to treat one another with dignity, or because each is worthy of some inviolable respect, but because it is in everyone’s best interests. Founding a state, then, “means finding out how the mechanism of nature can be applied to men in such a manner that the antagonism of their hostile attitudes will make them compel one another to submit to coercive law, thereby producing a condition of peace within which the laws can be enforced.” This is a prudential account of state-founding.
There’s a fundamental problem with this kind of account, however. The first thing to note is the conception of human subjectivity contained within it. A Hobbesian notion of human nature, simply put, suggests subjectivity consists of computational processes whose ends are the satisfaction of the subject's desires and preferences. The state’s aim, then, is to discipline the subject in a way that will lead to them having the capacity to coexist in peaceful conditions with others. It is not to prescribe certain definite moral ends, to orient them around a conception of the good, or to circumscribe what their desires should or should not be; it is to sustain the conditions necessary for individuals to pursue their interests without interfering with the right of others to pursue their own.
Now, the issue here is that human subjectivity is conceived one-dimensionally. Human beings are born with certain natural desires and preferences like survival and the fulfillment of basic needs, and the state is not to interfere with this but to protect each individual's impulse to preserve them, and to shape their lives as they see fit. Each can do as they please insofar as it does not harm another. But this is too simplistic. This amounts to believing that human desires and preferences occupy a single, quantitative plain, and each individual goes about maximizing these while simultaneously avoiding infringing on others’ ability to do so. But if we step back and ask whether a desire itself is desirable we are no longer asking a question along this quantitative plane, but have begun to ask about the qualitative nature of the desire. Is that desire of more worth than that one? This is a question regarding second-order desires.
First-order desires often happen to us, they occur, and pull us in the direction of the desired object. My desire to eat does not arise by my own volition. After a time of not eating, the desire simply renews itself. Second-order desires concern the will, of what one wants to want, of whether a desire is something one desires to motivate his or her will. Harry Frankfurt writes, “Creatures like ourselves are not limited to desires that move them to act. In addition, they have the reflexive capacity to form desires regarding their own desires - that is, regarding both what they want to want, and what they want not to want.” Focusing solely on the quantitative dimension of subjectivity does not account for this distinction. If someone goes about attempting to maximize their well-being by satisfying their immediate desires, some of the desires they do not act on, the ones that don’t motivate them to act but are present, are competing first-order desires, which do not consist of an evaluation regarding whether the one desire is of more worth than the other; one simply out-competes the other.
Now, with this distinction in mind, the point can be stated as follows: this qualitative, evaluative dimension, is first informed and shaped by the social context one finds oneself in, or, as the philosopher Martin Heidegger would phrase it, is thrown into. By being in the world with other people, through communication, language, and interaction, human beings begin to form and make sense of what occurs in their inner and outer life. William A. Luijpen and Henry J. Koren write in their book Existential Phenomenology that, “In my dealing with others, there occurs a quasi-process of sedimentation, and the quasi-effect of it is called ‘social facticity’ or my ‘social body’. The way I greet others, speak, or think is, at least in the first instance, largely the quasi-effect of the fact that I grew up in the West and not in China.” Social facticity, then, is the set of social conditions by which a human being becomes acquainted with the world, making things intelligible and meaningful, ordered and sensible. The philosopher Charles Taylor writes, “I can only learn what anger, love, anxiety, the aspiration to wholeness, etc., are through my and others’ experience of these being objects for us, in some common space.”
When developing within a social environment, the qualitative dimension of subjectivity is largely first shaped by the situation one is in, which provides the framework by which to discern who and what one is, what is valuable, what the good is, how one should conduct oneself in specific contexts, and so forth. Underpinning all of this is an assumed picture of qualitative evaluations. For this not to be present means the individual will not be able to live. Therefore, when a state is formed that will govern a society, it is not merely concerned with prudential ends but with moral ones as well. Self-interests, preferences, desires, fears, impediments to action, in short, the whole internal and external life of an individual, are first made sense of in the social environment. To think that one can merely pursue their own ends without reference to this further dimension is wrong.
As the psychologist Erich Fromm points out in his book To Have or To Be, living in social conditions that only emphasize the quantitative nature of human beings is dehumanizing. A society and state that promotes the satisfaction of desires and preferences, of one’s self-interests, which will supposedly somehow lead to realizing human beings’ higher capacities, is highly implausible. How can character traits like egoism, greed, and selfishness produce social cooperation, connection, and harmony, which are integral to well-being? Most of the great thinkers throughout history spent their time on this issue. Socrates, Plato, the Stoics, the Epicureans, all formulated distinctions between our qualitative and quantitative capacities. Fromm writes, “The essential element in their thinking is the distinction between those needs (desires)... whose satisfaction leads to momentary pleasure, and those needs that are rooted in human nature and whose realization is conducive to human growth and produces eudaimonia, i.e., ‘well-being’.” If the qualitative dimension of subjectivity possesses needs essential to well-being, such as the ability to actively and critically engage with oneself and the world, then measures must be taken that target these features of human beings, otherwise, they will be left empty and unfulfilled.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, this doesn’t mean the state must therefore be delegated the primary bearer of this responsibility. But it does mean that it plays a role toward this end. Whatever that precisely is, the principal end of the state is to discern and actualize its part in this process.
Section 4:
So much for Srinivasan’s notion of the ‘ethical’ state as one that establishes the prudential ends of rational, self-interest-seeking agents. What about the second way to understand this idea, that the state is ethical because freedom of choice is all that matters and is the fundamental end to be preserved and exercised in and by the state? The argument I will present against this way of understanding the state has to do with how we should understand the term ‘freedom’ in this context.
If freedom of choice is the primary end of the state; if non-interference in one’s decisions to pursue one’s ends is what the term ‘ethical’ amounts to, then it must be clear what constitutes a free choice. According to the prudential account of state-founding, a state was ethical because it established conditions for individuals to pursue their desires and private conceptions of happiness. It is not a question of morals but of calculative reason, of locating rational means, and the state is a way for individuals to coexist and pursue their interests.
As has been shown, however, the state does much more than this. By having an integral role in organizing society, the state substantially contributes toward the frameworks by which individuals understand themselves, which shape the concepts necessary for moral deliberation, for positing ends worthy of pursuit, and the resources used to differentiate good from bad, right from wrong.
The proposal now is that the term ethical suggests that the state is a moral activity and not merely a prudential one, but also that the sole end of the state is to allow individuals to freely choose for themselves what they consider to be the good, or what holds value, and by making an uncoerced choice, whatever the agreement is, by consenting to it, it is ethical. The freedom to choose is the principal end of all human conduct and affairs.
This creates a twofold problem that depends on the degree of value placed on choice. The first is that, if choice is held as being forfeitable, as something someone may decide to surrender when consenting to join a state, then a state can be ethical merely because people chose to opt in, even if it allows for the existence of conditions that are degrading to human beings. The second is that, if choice is held to be the principal end of the state and is not forfeitable, it may still not realize the freedom necessary for free choice, namely, autonomy. The first problem is more easily discerned, while the second is more subtle. Let’s begin with the first.
There are many reasons why someone may choose to join a state and forfeit their freedom, but for the sake of argument it’s best to focus on one and this will be when an individual feels alienated from, and alone within, a society. A historical way to frame this problem, as Erich Fromm does in his book Escape From Freedom, is to look at the fading presence of the Catholic Church after the Reformation. To put it very simply, in the Middle Ages the world was viewed as perfectly ordered and possessed an eternal structure created by God, including how human beings, both individually and collectively, were to live. The individual was not confronted with questions of how to live, what to do with one’s life, or what ends to pursue; the Church answered these questions and provided a sense of belonging in the world. Fromm writes, “In having a distinct, unchangeable, and unquestionable place in the social world from the moment of birth, man was rooted in a structuralized whole, and thus life had a meaning which left no place, and no need, for doubt… The social order was conceived as a natural order, and being a definite part of it gave a feeling of security and belonging.” When God was “demoted,” as the historian Marci Shore puts it, and when there was no longer available recourse to some greater being to understand how human beings should live and the responsibility became their own, a great space was left empty and needed to be filled again; human beings could not assume they were at the center of things. They themselves became accountable for how society was to be organized, how life should be lived, what meaning life possesses; and the answers to these concerns must be formed by human reason itself and not by an imposed, nonhuman standard. But this emerging form of freedom came with a price. Dostoevsky formulates this cost in his famous phrase, “If there is no God, then everything is permissible.” That is, without some ultimate, nonhuman reality that makes the world appear ordered, harmonious, justified, good, everything becomes unchained. And for things to return to their previous, stable state, which is of course necessary for human beings to live, it was human beings that bore the burden. Simone de Beauvoir, a 20th-century philosopher, writes in her book The Ethics of Ambiguity that Man now “bears the responsibility for a world which is not the work of a strange power, but of himself, where his defeats are inscribed, and his victories as well. A God can pardon, efface, and compensate. But if God does not exist, man’s faults are inexpiable.”
The experience of alienation in modern society can be partially explained by modernity not being able to cope with this burden. To use Fromm’s phrase, great efforts have been made to escape from it. Historians like Hannah Arendt have attributed the rise of totalitarian governments in the 20th century as arising from this condition, where individuals forfeit this new form of freedom by submerging themselves within the group and relinquishing their responsibility to choose how to live and decide what their lives ultimately mean. But doing so eliminates choice altogether and therefore reduces subjectivity to a mere thing that is not aware of itself, and thus not accountable for its actions and projects, as being the one responsible for what takes place in the world. And as the 20th century demonstrates, this is catastrophic. Therefore, no network state that attempts to allow individuals to forfeit their freedom and autonomy is worthy of being called ethical. Such a state is an attempt to avoid moral and ethical choices and does not attempt to cope with them.
The second part of the problem, where freedom is the principal value and is not forfeitable, is that it conceives of choice in purely negative terms. The mistake made is to confuse mere choice with free choice. Similarly to how the prudential account mistook individuals’ ends as being formed ultimately by the individual, this account of the ethical presupposes that choice can be a matter of pursuing first-order desires and does not require whether one has considered if such desires are worth pursuing; one could be moved entirely by instinct and therefore not by the faculties necessary for a real choice. If choice is simply a matter of determining how to maximize one’s satisfaction and is not concerned with the qualitative nature of the desires themselves, then reflection, deliberation, and thinking more generally are simply instruments used to obtain happiness. They are means employed to satisfy desires. But if desires go unchecked; if they’re taken for granted and assumed to be worth the attention we instinctively give them, then a choice was not made. That is, second-order desires are not taken into consideration. Acting purely from first-order desires is to be caused to act by impulse, instinct, or inclination, which determines the action, and not by reflection. It is through reflection and deliberation, through considerations formulated by one’s own will, that one truly chooses. The philosopher Immanuel Kant distinguishes between autonomy and heteronomy. Understanding this will clarify the argument. To act autonomously is to be an originating and self-determining cause of an action. To act heteronomously is to be caused to act, to be moved by influences and forces outside of one’s will. Thus to enact a choice freely one must will the action and not be motivated by what is outside of the will. The philosopher Paul Franco writes in his book Hegel’s Philosophy of Freedom, “Kant rejects the naturalistic understanding of freedom as exemplified by Hobbes that sees it as the unimpeded pursuit of one’s empirically given desires. In giving into natural desire or inclination, the will is determined by something other than itself…” From this, it can be seen how acting from desire does not constitute a free choice. If desires are conditioned by the external environment, then the expression of those desires was not of one’s choosing but is due to the conditioning that took place in the development and upbringing of the individual. Mere choice, then, does not constitute free choice.
But why, it may be asked, is this problematic? Even if the individual’s choice is said not to be fully free, why should the state concern itself with this? It’s up to the individual to discover their own freedom. I don’t necessarily disagree with this. It is not that the state should interfere with and enforce that individuals make free rather than mere choices, but only that it should concern itself with realizing conditions that are conducive to the development necessary for individuals to actualize their faculties for autonomy, which is located in the more qualitative dimension of subjectivity. The aim here is not to precisely articulate how the state should do this, but only that individual autonomy is the end it must strive toward. To hold this as secondary is to treat human activity as being in service to something other than itself; as if human faculties are meant for some other end. This is false. The state’s aim is to play its role in treating human beings as ends-in-themselves and as the reason for its legitimacy to have any authority. To do otherwise is to confuse self-interests with morality.
Conclusion:
The ‘ethical’ network state holds autonomy as its principal end. Its goal is to discover how to best contribute toward formulating conditions conducive to realizing this. What the government must precisely be, what laws are best, what institutions are necessary, must be understood in these terms. To do otherwise is to be confused about what activity one is involved in, which may lead to dehumanizing environments for those who opt-in to states that fail to live up to this standard.
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2024-09-25 01:45:03Table Of Content
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What is a Bitcoin Paper Wallet?
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How Does a Bitcoin Paper Wallet Work?
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Creating a Bitcoin Paper Wallet
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Benefits of Using a Bitcoin Paper Wallet
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Conclusion
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FAQ
Bitcoin has become increasingly popular over the years, and with its popularity comes the need for safe storage options. One of the most secure ways to store your Bitcoin is by using a paper wallet. But what exactly is a Bitcoin paper wallet, and how does it work? In this beginner's guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about Bitcoin paper wallets, including how to create one, and the benefits of using them.
What is a Bitcoin Paper Wallet?
A Bitcoin paper wallet is a form of cold storage for your Bitcoin. It's a physical piece of paper that contains the public and private keys necessary to access your Bitcoin. The public key is used to receive Bitcoin, while the private key is used to send Bitcoin. Since the paper wallet is offline, it's considered one of the most secure ways to store your Bitcoin.
How Does a Bitcoin Paper Wallet Work?
A Bitcoin paper wallet works by generating a pair of public and private keys using a random number generator. The public key is used to receive Bitcoin, and the private key is used to send Bitcoin. These keys are then printed onto a piece of paper, along with a QR code that represents the public key. You can then use the QR code to easily send Bitcoin to your paper wallet.
Creating a Bitcoin Paper Wallet
Creating a Bitcoin paper wallet is a simple process that you can do at home. Here are the steps to follow:
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Go to a paper wallet generator website, such as Bitaddress.org or Walletgenerator.net.
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Disconnect your computer from the internet and ensure your printer is not connected to a network.
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Generate a pair of keys by moving your mouse around the screen or using another form of randomness.
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Print out the paper wallet, ensuring you print multiple copies and store them in a secure location.
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Send Bitcoin to your paper wallet by scanning the QR code with your Bitcoin wallet.
Benefits of Using a Bitcoin Paper Wallet
There are several benefits to using a Bitcoin paper wallet, including:
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Security - Since a paper wallet is not connected to the internet, it's one of the most secure ways to store your Bitcoin.
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Control - You have complete control over your Bitcoin since you're the only one with access to your private keys.
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Accessibility - You can easily access your Bitcoin by scanning the QR code on your paper wallet.
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Backup - You can print multiple copies of your paper wallet and store them in different locations as a backup.
Conclusion
A Bitcoin paper wallet is a secure and accessible way to store your Bitcoin offline. By following the steps outlined in this beginner's guide, you can easily create a paper wallet and start safely storing your Bitcoin. Remember to keep your paper wallet in a secure location and make multiple copies as a backup. With a Bitcoin paper wallet, you can have complete control over your Bitcoin and protect it from potential online threats.
FAQ
Are paper wallets safe? Yes, paper wallets are one of the most secure ways to store your Bitcoin since they're offline and not connected to the internet.
Can I use the same paper wallet multiple times? Yes, you can use the same paper wallet multiple times to receive Bitcoin.
Can I store other cryptocurrencies on a paper wallet? Yes, you can store other cryptocurrencies on a paper wallet as long as the wallet generator supports them.
That's all for today
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@ a03b38f8:2c7ce1f0
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@ b39b8e83:0e391257
2024-09-24 22:10:59For widespread privacy, we need a social contract. People must work together to deploy these systems for the common good.
Privacy isn't just personal. It's a collective effort. The more people use privacy tech, the stronger our defenses become.
Adopting privacy tools is a form of solidarity. When you protect your data, you help protect everyone's.
Education is key. Teach others about privacy tools. Help your friends and family set up encrypted messaging.
Support privacy-focused projects, businesses, & developers. Contribute code, donate, or simply use and promote these tools.
Normalize privacy practices. Make using encryption and anonymity tools as common as locking your front door.
Privacy as a social norm benefits everyone. It protects whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens alike.
The social contract for privacy: I'll respect your right to privacy, and you'll respect mine.
https://image.nostr.build/f235113e856a4adfa13b25dd703f46e17bbeef3f40bbdebacacc5e0fc0063f79.jpg
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@ 3c7dc2c5:805642a8
2024-09-24 20:55:43🧠Quote(s) of the week:
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder,” according to 20th-century historian Arnold Toynbee.
He claimed every great culture collapses internally due to a divergence in values between the ruling class and the common people…
"Constant inflation is a human rights issue. It basically prevents people from building up liquid capital reliably. It either forces them to monetize illiquid things like real estate or just keeps rug-pulling them year after year and they're never able to build any serious capital and better themselves."
-Lyn Alden.🧡Bitcoin news🧡
On the 15th of September:
➡️More than a week a week ago rumors circulated that Coinbase is writing Bitcoin IOUs for BlackRock and they are suppressing the price. Now fast forward to today.
➡️Power bills increased by $300 per year for each home in a Norwegian town after the local Bitcoin miner shut down.
The miner paid 20% of the area's grid fees, thus subsidizing other consumers. With the miner gone, people's power bills are skyrocketing.
Aledander Ellefsen: "Politicians fall into the cobra effect trap once again: "The mayor cheered the shutdown of the controversial Bitcoin mining data center, but now residents are facing an unexpected consequence: a hefty bill increase."
Locals will now have to pay an extra $200-$300 per year due to increased costs to grid fees without the big mining customer, and the mayor of this remote municipality comments: "We work continuously to facilitate the industrial activity we want in the municipality. It may not be something we can solve in just one month, but we are dedicated to promoting business development every single day." (This is political jargon, for it will likely never happen.) The "celebration" ended the moment they got their first bill - You can't make this shit up
"Some people do not understand that Bitcoin miners lower the cost of electricity by spreading the grid's fixed costs over a larger rate base." - Pierre Rochard.
A fun fact about the Norway example is that in Norway and will quote Alexander Ellefsen again: "About 97% of our electricity production comes from renewable energy sources, with the majority generated by hydropower. In the northern regions, we have hydropower dams where excess water is released due to low electricity demand outside peak hours. It’s perplexing to see how some politicians continue to overlook Bitcoin mining as a potential solution. By utilizing this surplus renewable energy, we could support the Bitcoin network while ensuring better energy efficiency and reducing waste."
➡️ETHBTC just traded on a 0.03 handle for the first time in 3.5 years (Apr 2021) -53% since the merge in Sep 2022.
Daily reminder that all shitcoins are trending towards zero compared to Bitcoin, including Ethereum. Remember when all the altcoin fanboys were talking about the flippening?
➡️Microstrategy has 244,800 BTC. In 2025 when 1 BTC goes to $1M their holding will be worth $244.8B.
➡️Duo9BTC: "Coinbase CEO just admitted that you got to trust them on their word. They will not provide any proof of reserves for the BTC they claim they have, nor any proof of backing for their new paper BTC called cbBTC. If they print too much paper BTC they will go the FTX route."
Once again...never leave your coins on an exchange. Period!
Rumors are circulating that Coinbase is writing Bitcoin IOUs for BlackRock and they are suppressing price.
Imagine a hacker gains access to Coinbase’s 2 million+ Bitcoin in custody, sends it all to a time-locked address, 100 years into the future, and shares the private keys publicly.
➡️Bitcoin (+43%) and Gold (+25%) are the top-performing major assets in 2024. We've never seen these two in the #1/#2 spots for any calendar year.
On the 16th of September:
➡️President Bukele announces that El Salvador will no longer borrow external debt to finance its budget. Bitcoin country is winning.
➡️MicroStrategy announces plans to raise another $700M and buy more Bitcoin with proceeds.
MicroStrategy increased its capital raising by an extra +$175m. It will now raise $875 million to buy more Bitcoin and potentially raise another $135m within two weeks. Eventually, MicroStrategy sold $1.01 billion worth of convertible notes to buy more Bitcoin.
'Michael Saylor found the infinite money glitch: • Convert cash to Bitcoin • MSTR goes up • Take out more debt • MSTR goes up • Sell personal holdings • MSTR goes up • Issue more stock • MSTR goes up • Join the S&P 500 • MSTR goes up' - TheBTCTherapist
I will quote Dylan Leclair on this one: 'Rather than purchasing physical infrastructure & energy to generate computational hashes, the world's most efficient Bitcoin miner is short-selling dollars & leveraging common stock volatility.'
MicroStrategy now HODLs 252,200 Bitcoin worth +$16 BILLION. Average cost: $39,266 per bitcoin.
On the 17th of September:
➡️Bhutan and El Salvador now combined hold 18,900 BTC worth $1.1 billion. Thanks to its vast hydroelectric energy sources, Bhutan secretly started mining Bitcoin in 2020, now holding up to 13,029 BTC total. Game theory has started playing out and it will force every country to adopt it.
On the 18th September:
➡️BlackRock’s latest report on Bitcoin includes a striking comparison table, highlighting how Bitcoin, the S&P 500, and gold performed after major geopolitical events.
On top of that the world's largest asset manager sees bitcoin as a geopolitical hedge against the US debt crisis and dollar instability.
➡️The State of Louisiana becomes the first in the nation to accept Bitcoin via the Lightning network.
On the 19th of September:
➡️'Everyone who's been daily DCAing Bitcoin is once again in profit. Even those who first started DCAing at an all-time high 190 days ago.' -Wicked
➡️The first nuclear-powered Bitcoin mining facility in Pennsylvania, operated by Terrawulf Inc.
On the 20th of September:
➡️BNY Mellon, America’s biggest custodian bank, has received SEC approval for custody.
Source: https://unchainedcrypto.com/bank-of-new-york-mellon-identified-as-first-bank-to-receive-sec-exemption-from-sab-121/
They are the world’s largest custodian bank with $50T under custody. The game theory this will kick off is something we’re not ready for!
➡️Bitcoin to hit $200,000 no matter who wins 2024 US Election - Standard Chartered, Head of Digital Assets
➡️SEC approves options for BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF.
Joe Consorti: "With the introduction of options on bitcoin ETFs, sophisticated investors can now generate yield on BTC. Get ready for a huge influx of liquidity from big players looking to sell covered calls, drawing bigger players into the game, more liquidity, and on and on."
💸Traditional Finance / Macro:
On the 17th of September:
👉🏽"Warren Buffett is hoarding more cash: Last week, Berkshire Hathaway reported that it sold $229 million of Bank of America stock over 3 trading days. Since mid-July, Buffett’s total sales of hit $7.2 billion or 174.7 million shares. As a result, total holdings fell to $33.7 billion or 858 million shares, the lowest level since 2018. Berkshire Hathaway's cash position surged by $88 billion in Q2 2024, reaching a record $277 billion. Warren Buffett continues to build his cash position." -TKL.
🏦Banks:
👉🏽No news
🌎Macro/Geopolitics:
On the 15th of September:
👉🏽The Saudis have joined other Asian countries in ditching their long-term sensitivity to the gold price. Evidence suggests the Saudi central bank has been covertly buying 160 tonnes of gold in Switzerland since early 2022, contributing to the current gold bull market.
On the 1st of September, I already shared the news that global net gold purchases by central banks reached 483 tonnes in the first half of 2024, the most on record. This is 5% higher than the previous record of 460 tonnes set in the first half of 2023. The East (China, India, Russia, Saudi, etc.) no longer trusts owning Western reserve assets. Even in the West, the trust in the bond market is crumbling.
You don't believe my word?
'Blue = Foreign Central Bank holdings of USTs. Red = Total US Federal Debt. Mind the gap (with QE, bank regulations, MMF regulations, pension tax benefits, enticing US retail to buy, etc.)'- Luke Gromen
👉🏽Meloni takes the first steps for Italy to build nuclear power plants.
The Ministry of Environment revealed today that new laws will be introduced later this year and that a decree on the matter will come in 2025 Italy voted no to nuclear power in a referendum in 1987, just a year after Chornobyl. Personally, I think this is a smart move.
👉🏽Jeroen Blokland: 'But, government bonds are a wonderful asset on someone's balance sheet.' Sure, as long as you do not ask who is genuinely willing to hold all that DEBT. The UK government budget is doomed!
👉🏽'The difference between the 2-year Treasury yield and the Fed interest rates dropped to -1.69%, the most in at least 35 years.
This gap is now even larger than in 2008 and 1989, a few months before the recession began. The 2-year Treasury yield is considered a leading indicator for the next Fed’s interest rate moves. In other words, the bond market expects that the Fed will be cutting rates at a rapid pace in the coming months. This has been driven by increasing evidence of the deteriorating labor market and many indicators suggesting this trend will continue.' -TKL.
Regarding the rate cute:
The similarities between 2007 and 2024 are wild!
Fed's First Rate Cut:
Sept 18, 2007
Sept 18, 2024 (high probability)
Unemployment Rate
Sept 2007: 4.7
Sept 2024: 4.2
US Inflation Rate YoY
Sept 2007: 2.5
Sept 2024: 2.5
US Housing Starts:
Sept 2007: 1.238
Sept 2024: 1.235
US Leading Economic Activity
Sept 2007: 100.4
Sept 2024: 100.4
US Existing Home Sales
Sept 2007: 4.5 Million
Sept 2024: 3.95 Million
(This post is not calling for a 2007 crash. I am simply pointing out the intriguing similarities in timing and economic indicators.)
You can find the charts here:
👉🏽Germany's lack of public investment is structural. Germany records one of the lowest net public investment ratios* in the EU over 1995-2023 (i.e. ~zero expansion in net public capital stock). Only Latvia and Slovakia do worse. Net investment: gross investment - minus depreciation
German „green“ policy:
- 2023 25,6% of German electricity came from coal before the decision to close nuclear 31% came from nuclear
- Deindustrialization drives production to Asia, where some products cause 30% more CO2 German Greens ruin both the economy and the environment.
German business model was based on: 1. Cheap energy from Russia 2. Cheap subcontractors in Eastern Europe 3. Steadily growing exports to China All three are gone by now. And we are in the good times, imagine what will happen during the next recession. Germany is Europe's engine.
On the 17th September:
👉🏽US debt now stands at $35.3 trillion. If we were to return to 0% interest and make payments of $1 million per hour, it would take approximately 4,023 years, or until the year 6,047, to bring the debt back down to zero.
The US government has added $5 trillion to Federal Debt in the last 2 years. With annual spending of $6.95 trillion and taxes of $4.91 trillion, the US government is currently overspending by $233 million per hour. Yikes.
👉🏽'Total consumer credit jumped by $25.5 billion in July and reached a new all-time high of $5.1 trillion.
This marked the largest jump since November 2022 and the 11th straight monthly increase.
Total consumer debt has DOUBLED in 14 years. Revolving debt, which includes credit cards, jumped by $10.6 billion and also hit a new record of $1.4 trillion. Non-revolving credit rose by $14.8 billion and is just $2 billion below the January peak of $3.73 trillion. Meanwhile, the share of credit card debt delinquencies soared to 9.1%, the highest level in 12 years. The debt mountain is collapsing.' TKL
On the 18th of September:
👉🏽Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by 50 basis points, first cut in over 4 years.
On the 20th of September:
👉🏽Gold new all-time high $2,620 as markets brace for fiat destruction. Gold prices are up a MASSIVE 28% in 2024 to a fresh record high of $2,660/oz. This puts Gold on track for its best annual return since 1979, all while the Fed is calling for a "soft landing."
👉🏽 Two weeks ago I already explained a bit about the Volkswagen & Germany situation. Now we received the news that Volkswagen is planning to lay off as many as 30.000 employees.
On the 21st of September:
👉🏽"Unrealized losses on investment securities for US banks reached $512.9 billion in Q2 2024.
This is 7 TIMES higher than at the peak of the 2008 Financial Crisis. Q2 2024 also marked the 11th consecutive quarter of unrealized losses as interest rates continued to pressure the economy. Bank of America, the second-largest lender in the US, now accounts for $110.8 billion of held-to-maturity securities with unrealized losses or 20% of the total. Meanwhile, the number of banks on the FDIC Problem Bank List increased to 66 in Q1 2024, or 1.5% of the aggregate.
Unrealized losses held by banks remain a major issue." -TKL
🎁If you have made it this far I would like to give you a little gift: Matthew Pines is the Director of Intelligence at SentinelOne and a National Security Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute.
In this episode, they explore UAPs, simulation theory, remote viewing, and human consciousness. They discuss the potential implications of knowing that aliens are real and what this could mean for humanity - exploring the nature of reality and challenging our understanding of existence, as they discuss the intersection of advanced phenomena and human perception.
https://youtu.be/YN2Le9dp_Ww?si=6eydqVLxCZXLba_V
Credit: I have used multiple sources! My savings account: Bitcoin. The tool I recommend for setting up a Bitcoin savings plan: @Relai 🇨🇭 especially suited for beginners or people who want to invest in Bitcoin with an automated investment plan once a week or monthly. (Please only use it till the 31st of October - after that full KYC) Hence a DCA, Dollar cost Average Strategy. Check out my tutorial post (Instagram) & video (YouTube) for more info.⠀⠀⠀⠀
Get your Bitcoin out of exchanges. Save them on a hardware wallet, run your own node...be your own bank. Not your keys, not your coins. It's that simple.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Do you think this post is helpful to you? If so, please share it and support my work with sats.
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@ c7eadcf0:7821e562
2024-09-24 20:14:13https://image.nostr.build/c7e3732889827ab0a8e2064de5fa6992e37e035347b0c91d249cb8f312b47087.jpg I love Bitcoin. Let me get that out there first of all. I sincerely believe that Bitcoin has the power to change the way the world functions if we can grow adoption to a global scale. This obviously will take time as the gears of economic change grinds slowly. As of right now, people in the western countries don't really see the need for a sovereign politically neutral money that can't be inflated away. They simply don't have to deal with inflation on a regular basis like the rest of the world.
Citizens in western countries got a small taste of what real inflation looks like and guess what? They didn't like it one bit. Overall the last three and a half years you saw countless news stories about how bad inflation and how its making life for the average American or European more difficult.
Yes inflation does suck but look at countries like Argentina, Turkey, Zimbabwe or Venezuela. The people in these countries are suffering from excessive inflation on a regular basis! According to recent economic data Turkey experienced a decline in inflation from 61 percent to 51 percent in August. This is seen as a win in their book! Can you imagine this level of inflation in America? There would be riots in the streets!
Argentina's inflation rate is an astounding 236 percent over the last 12 months! As Bitcoiners we understand that the problem is the money itself. As long as governments have the ability to manipulate the money supply, they will. This is human nature at its finest. When you give a select few that kind of power it becomes irresistible and becomes a tool to control the masses. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone to be honest.
What I find shocking is with all of this inflation globally no one is really looking around asking questions to why this is happening and looking for a way to escape this system. Are people really this lazy? Not to be mean but cmon. It seems to me that most people are perfectly fine bitching online about how hard it is to make ends meet or supporting their favored political party and wanting them to fix the problem they created. Newsflash to all the normies out there, its the GD political parties that caused inflation in the first place.
We literally have a solution that is staring them in the face, ready to go to replace the current debt based system that we are currently suffering through and no one wants to take the time to research it? Am I black pilled? No, am I realist, very much so. If 236 percent inflation in Argentina can't get them on a Bitcoin Standard immediately, we as a community have a long road ahead of us. Hyperbitcoinization isn't coming in 5 years. It isn't coming in 10 years. Hell it might not even happen in our lifetimes and we have to be ok with that.
So what is the best way to get more Bitcoin into the hands of the people, so they can see the true value of the digital monetary revolution that is Bitcoin. We need a trojan horse and that trojan horse is nostr.
Enter The Nostr Trojan Horse
https://image.nostr.build/5ffee418133ac80ba14b30abf0d5390b878f676cbf6332d67639f9384764da4c.jpg
It should be plain to see by now that the inflation or the number go up narrative alone isn't going to drive Bitcoin adoption. The reason for that is because people don't see the utility of Bitcoin. They see it as some esoteric digital funny money that drug dealers and terrorist use to do bad things.
The average Joe doesn't see how Bitcoin is helping dissidents on foreign countries fund their activism, escape oppressive regimes or simply earn a living. These stories are never told in the mainstream media because they don't want to highlight the fact that a non-state money can circumvent the status quo.
The best way to highlight these stories is to share it on social media, which again is controlled by mainstream gatekeeper such as Meta, Google and X. It is in their best interest to censor these stories or memory hole them out of existence which I suspect happens quite a bit without us even knowing. But the thing about censorship is that it slowly impacts everyone one by one until no one is allowed to say anything without the fear of being put in jail.
Think this can't happen in western democracies? It's happening already my friend! Take a look at the UK or Australia. Citizens their are being arrested over post made to social media. I sincerely believe that these two countries should be a proving ground for showing the value of nostr and Bitcoin.
Introducing the concept of a censorship resistant messaging protocol to them will go over well and once it is understood will grow like a wildfire because people innately understand that censorship is bad and will see the utility value of having the ability to speak freely again.
It is only a matter of time until they realize that they can monetize their speech and build a life using zaps aka Bitcoin.
Until people see the utility in the tools that lie before them, they will never pick them up and use them. It is really that simple. At the end of the day we are still kind of like cavemen. We only use tools when it makes life easier. Man made the wheel. We use it everyday because it has utility.
Bitcoin in the end will be the same way. Utility first, then mass adoption. Nostr is what will help people see the utility Bitcoin and from there sky is the limit. The best thing we can do as Bitcoiners is to encourage people to learn about nostr and show them how easy it is to use and to switch clients that suit their needs instead of being shoved into a one-size fits all solution on centralized platforms.
People like choices, and nostr is all about choice. The interoperability and thelack of need to give personal information to create an account are HUGE selling points that can be touched on. Go out and spread the good word about nostr!
Bitcoin #Nostr
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@ 1b5ee74d:bb1aae6e
2024-09-24 19:21:54The days when a mere announcement from Tesla, stating that it would begin accepting Bitcoin for some of its products, would cause a surge in the cryptocurrency's price seem like a distant memory. That was in 2021.
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105Today, three years later, the price barely reacts to three pieces of institutional adoption news released within 72 hours.
The first piece of news comes from Switzerland, where SIX, the Swiss Stock Exchange operator, announced that it is seriously considering launching a crypto exchange. Bjørn Sibbern, global head of exchanges at SIX Group, stated, "The company is evaluating the creation of a platform where we can facilitate trading, both in crypto spot and derivatives."
The second news comes from Germany, where two of the country's leading banks, Commerzbank and DZ Bank, have launched Bitcoin trading for their clients. Commerzbank is one of Germany's four largest banks, while DZ Bank is part of the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken group, effectively giants of the European banking system. Together, they will open access to Bitcoin trading for approximately 40 million customers.
The third news comes from the United States, where BlackRock published a report describing Bitcoin as a diversification opportunity for traditional investors.
Some might ask: “But wasn’t Bitcoin supposed to be an anti-system technology?”
The Economic Incentive: A Core Part of Game Theory
Bitcoin is far more than just an anti-system asset. It’s a technology that incentivizes not only its most radical supporters but also potential adversaries. It’s now clear how its programmed scarcity creates a mechanism for appreciation, assuming demand stays the same. Each event signaling an increase in adoption represents a step toward an increase in the asset's value. The reason why even financial institutions—seemingly unrelated or even hostile to Bitcoin—are drawn to it lies in this market dynamic.
Banks and major institutions cannot ignore the asset’s appreciation. Bitcoin creates a perfect environment for both speculation and long-term investment. When the price rises, even the most conservative financial actors cannot overlook the economic incentive.
This is where game theory comes into play: Bitcoin is structured in such a way that anyone—even those who deny or criticize its potential—is incentivized to participate to avoid being excluded from future economic benefits. Financial institutions, driven by greed or opportunism, are forced to join in, knowing that staying out could be costly.
The Two Opposing Cycles: Virtuous for Bitcoin, Vicious for the Fiat System This process creates a reinforcing effect for Bitcoin while paradoxically weakening the traditional financial system that embraces it. Every time an institution decides to offer Bitcoin to its clients or include it in its portfolio, it legitimizes the asset in the public's eyes, strengthens its position, and further increases demand. The result is a virtuous cycle for Bitcoin: the more it is adopted, the more it appreciates, and the more financial actors become interested.
Shorting the System
For the fiat system, the process is the opposite. Bitcoin’s increasing demand pushes its value upward, while the traditional debt-based and expansionary monetary system loses strength. In this context, buying Bitcoin with fiat currency becomes an implicit shorting operation. Every transaction that shifts value from fiat to Bitcoin reduces the demand for fiat, increasing its vulnerability to inflation.
The demand dynamic is not complex: every time an investor buys Bitcoin, they commit resources that would otherwise have been destined for purchasing or investing in fiat-denominated assets. This reduces the buying pressure on fiat itself while increasing it on Bitcoin. The more money flows into Bitcoin, the less remains to sustain the value of fiat currencies.
Let’s suppose, for example, that a bank decides to allocate $100 million to Bitcoin. The market responds to this capital shift by increasing Bitcoin’s price due to its scarcity, while the demand for dollars decreases. All else being equal, this decrease in demand reduces the dollar’s purchasing power, thus increasing inflationary pressure.
This dynamic can also be expressed in terms of the relationship between supply and demand. While Bitcoin’s supply is fixed and predetermined, the dollar’s supply can be expanded infinitely through inflationary monetary policies. The dollar, therefore, tends to lose value as trust in it diminishes and its supply increases.
This process is not immediately visible, but its cumulative effect is devastating for the fiat system. Once the cycle begins, it becomes almost impossible to stop, as more institutions realize the dynamic and rush to buy Bitcoin to protect themselves from the erosion of fiat value.
The Trojan Horse
Given all this, we can understand why Alex Gladstein describes Bitcoin as a “Trojan horse for freedom.”
The news from the last three days, though seemingly small and quiet, signals a much larger and deeper phenomenon: the slow but steady transition of the traditional financial system toward Bitcoin. The banks and institutions adopting Bitcoin, often without fully realizing it, are contributing to a systemic shift that could lead to the downfall of the very institutions that fail to adapt to the new reality.
These small adoption moves are now so frequent and widespread that they no longer make a big splash. Yet with every move, with every bank launching a Bitcoin product, or every traditional investor adding it to their portfolio, the grave for the traditional financial system is being slowly dug. The actors who remain outside this process risk finding themselves in an increasingly weaker position, unable to compete with a market that is gradually embracing Bitcoin.
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@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb
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@ d6affa19:9110b177
2024-09-24 18:31:42i'm in the upstairs office. lost in some project i've been tinkering with. i feel driven with purpose.
the door is cracked open. i always leave the door open.
Her footsteps echo up the stairway. but my focus is intense; a solution just beyond my fingertips.
the door creaks open, a soft whisper of a sound.
i instantly feel Her presence. a sweet vanilla scent wraps around me, thick and intoxicating.
Her fingers brush through my hair, a gentle caress.
She grips my hair, then releases it— over and over again. it feels good.
a soothing warmth envelops me.
Her fingers glide, each stroke igniting my senses. a chill races down my spine.
the monitor becomes a bit distant.
"You're really focused, hmm?" She teases, leaning closer. "I'm just checking in on my sweet boy." Her tone alluring, already drawing me in.
"of course, my Queen." i reply, my eyes glued to the screen, struggling to concentrate. "thank You," my voice hints at annoyance. "i'm so close to finishing this up."
just when i near a breakthrough, She appears, a siren pulling me from my path. how does She know..? the quiet signals that betray my focus— that reveal my yearning.
"Hmmmm," She playfully muses.
ugh, i need to concentrate. but the way this feels...
it pulls me deeper.
Her fingers drift by my ear, lingering around my neck. nails grazing my skin, sending shivers through me.
my heart begins to race. the screen blurs, reality separates.
"Okay, sweet boy." Her voice is a soft command. Her nails dig in, a mixture of pain and pleasure. a sharp contrast to the softness of Her touch. "I'll be downstairs while you finish."
yet She remains. i close my eyes, drowning in the sensation. i should be finishing this project...
but each press feels like a silent command, an urge to abandon my thoughts, to succumb to the pull of Her presence.
the way She easily captures my attention... it makes me feel so vulnerable...
Her grip finally loosens, and slowly leaves my neck. it wants more...
i barely hear Her leave. but the air feels colder. the warmth of Her presence is fading. an aching emptiness fills the space...
the weight of Her absence settles in, another reminder of how easily She commands my thoughts...
desperately, i take in the remnants of Her scent.
i stare at my monitor. focus shattered, thoughts scattered like leaves.
i linger for a moment. fighting the urge to chase after Her.
the pull of Her absence is heavy in the air. i'm unable to resist. i rise from my seat.
the door is slightly open. She always leaves the door open.
i make my way downstairs, lost in the thoughts of serving Her. my true purpose...
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@ bcbb3e40:a494e501
2024-09-24 17:23:00|
| |:-:| |BLANCO, Carlos X. y COSTALES, Jose; España: Historia de una demolición controlada; Letras Inquietas, 2024|
Ya hemos publicado varias reseñas de algunas obras del Profesor Carlos X. Blanco, cuyas temáticas nos resultan totalmente familiares, y con las que coincidimos en un buen número de sus análisis y críticas del mundo actual. Recordaremos, para aquellos que estén interesados en sus obras las reseñas de De Covadonga a la nación española: La hispanidad en clave spengleriana y Un imperio frente al caos, además de algunas otras que podréis encontrar en nuestro blog. La obra del autor asturiano, en este caso en coautoría con José Costales, resulta muy clarificadora a la hora de analizar aspectos generales de la historia de España, cuestiones que tienen que ver con nuestra historia particular, y aquellos hechos que podemos considerar como más generales y fruto de un contexto y unas coyunturas que han marcado el destino de nuestra Patria en los últimos tiempos. Es por ese motivo, que así de entrada podemos distinguir dos bloques claramente diferenciados en esta obra: Un primer bloque que aborda nuestra historia peculiar, las características que definen el «hecho hispánico» y marcan nuestro devenir histórico; un segundo bloque en el que se señalan las amenazas y peligros que se yerguen frente a la España actual, aparentemente agonizante y desahuciada por la falta de soberanía y una serie de problemas graves y trascendentales que amenazan nuestra existencia.
Hay que destacar que el prólogo que precede a la obra en sí y le sirve como presentación corre a cargo del conocido abogado, jurista e historiador Guillermo Rocafort. En un breve pero certero escrito delinea los grandes problemas que atenazan a un Occidente decadente en plena crisis económica, geopolítica y de valores, embarcado en una deriva suicida que hace aguas y se ha vuelto insostenible. La crisis del capitalismo unipolar y globalista enfrenta el reto de la pujanza de los BRICS, con el resurgimiento de Rusia y el desarrollo y ascenso como superpotencia de China, junto a la formación de grandes bloques geopolíticos que definen la multipolaridad que, recientemente, autores como Aleksandr Duguin vienen teorizando desde la escuela euroasiática. Esta situación hace que la el mundo anglosajón y sus oligarquías plutocráticas comiencen a ver resquebrajada su hegemonía, con su sistema de dinero fiat y sus organizaciones pantalla, tales como la Unión Europea, o el desarrollo de su conocida como ideología woke y todas las perversas y destructivas ingenierías sociales asociadas, así como la acción de la Agenda 2030.
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| |:-:| |DUGUIN, Aleksandr G.; La geopolítica de Rusia: De la revolución rusa a Putin; Hipérbola Janus, 2015|
En el caso particular de España los efectos de los más de 300 años de dominio anglosajón han tenido consecuencias especialmente perniciosas con la desindustrialización, la destrucción del sector primario, las ingenierías sociales asociadas a las ideologías de género, donde España ha servido como particular conejillo de indias, o nuestras permanentes renuncias en materia de política exterior, donde nos hemos visto obligados, por imposiciones venidas del otro lado del Atlántico, a renunciar a nuestra soberanía sobre el Sahara Occidental o a las permanentes y humillantes cesiones a Marruecos.
En el escrito de Introducción, los autores trazan una genealogía de los hechos, de las circunstancias que se hallan detrás de las razones del propio título de la obra, «Historia de una demolición controlada», en la que el papel de la angloesfera ha sido fundamental para la situación de debilidad, sometimiento y negación de nuestra propia historia que vivimos en la actualidad. Somos parte de una Europa sojuzgada que actúa a remolque de las políticas estadounidenses y anglosajonas, a través de la acción de la OTAN, donde no somos más que un agregado servil, actuando en defensa de los intereses geopolíticos del Imperio. Dentro de Europa, la UE define otro tipo de jerarquías internas, en las cuales el eje franco-alemán impone sus intereses a los países con economías menos desarrolladas del sur. Al mismo tiempo, también se advierten las importantes transformaciones que el régimen constitucional de 1978 ha experimentado en las últimas décadas, especialmente a partir de Zapatero, con el mayor sojuzgamiento de España a la Agenda globalista.
Todas estas circunstancias adversas, y también trágicas para nuestro destino, hacen necesario un análisis de la propia historia de España, de su gestación y de los atributos que han cimentado la idea de lo español o hispánico. La historia de España ha estado condicionada por su proximidad a África, lo cual ha tenido una importancia decisiva en su configuración final. Con la invasión musulmana del 711 se produjo un episodio de dislocación dentro de nuestra historia, que a partir de ese momento experimentó una situación de dualidad étnico-religiosa y comenzó un episodio transfigurador y de construcción del ideal hispánico que se había iniciado con el reino visigodo de Toledo, y que la Reconquista contribuyó a potenciar. En este sentido, la configuración étnica que resultó de la invasión árabe hizo que las zonas del Norte, donde se refugiaron los restos de la antigua nobleza visigoda derrotada, predominó el elemento germánico que se erigió como motor inicial del proceso de Reconquista, mientras que en otras latitudes del levante y el sur peninsular se produjo un proceso de africanización y semitización sobre las antiguas poblaciones hispanorromanas. Un norte cristiano, germanizado e indoeuropeo, equiparable al Norte de Europa, representado por la monarquía asturiana frente a un sur africanizado, sumido en un caos étnico y de enfrentamientos civiles era el resultado de la entidad andalusí.
El proceso de romanización afectó de manera desigual a los territorios peninsulares, y los pueblos de las regiones noroccidentales como astures, cántabros o vascones apenas se vieron afectados, conservando un importante sustrato indoeuropeo en contraste con las regiones más mediterráneas, ocupadas por los íberos, que ya poseían un modelo de civilización elevado y en conexión con las civilizaciones clásicas mediterráneas. Estos elementos ya aparecen claramente expuestos en la interpretación spengleriana que uno de nuestros autores, Carlos X Blanco, expone en De Covadonga a la nación española: La hispanidad en clave spengleriana. Es el contraste entre una España atlántica, indoeuropea y germanizada frente a otra vertiente representada por la España mediterránea, levantina y romanizada. En la confluencia de ambos modelos tenemos la definición de las sucesivos siglos en los que se forja la Reconquista, en la que, según los autores, pasamos de una etapa inicial de predominio atlántico y noroccidental, con el Reino de Asturias, y posteriormente León, capitalizando el proceso de la Reconquista, mientras que posteriormente, será Castilla, que obedecerá al modelo mediterráneo, quien llevaría la batuta en el avance hacia el Sur y la hispanización de España, porque la invasión del 711 marca un proceso de deshispanización, una idea fundamental, también en nuestra opinión, que el avance de los reinos cristianos del Norte contribuirán a erosionar y finalmente, para nuestra fortuna, destruir por completo.
Como parte de la geopolítica hispánica y su relanzamiento como Patria común, es fundamental que España vuelva a resucitar el eje atlántico y noroccidental, propiamente asturiano, frente aquel castellano, para que recupere su primacía como eje en la reconstrucción de España y revertir así la agonía y rumbo errático que nos lleva hacia la destrucción total y la desaparición como nación histórica.
No obstante, si queremos refundar España a través de un verdadero proyecto nacional debemos ser realistas, y no dejarnos embelesar por los visiones sobreexcitados que representan el modelo Imperial de los Austrias o posteriores reverberaciones del mismo a través de construcciones ideales, sino que contemplando las actuales coyunturas, con el viraje hacia la multipolaridad que está experimentando el mundo actual, quizás estaríamos llamados, o al menos existe ese gran potencial, a liderar una suerte de hispanosfera con los antiguos países que fueron parte de la América española, frente a la anglosfera, que viene perjudicando nuestra soberanía y sometiéndonos, junto al resto de Europa, como una colonia.
Blanco y Costales nos ofrecen algunas directrices para esta reconstrucción, tales como la descentralización de los centros de poder, frente a todo modelo jacobino y liberal diríamos nosotros, como parte de un modelo confederal, que incluso podría apoyarse en la fundación de centros de poder en el continente americano. Asimismo, este modelo confederal, implicaría dotar de mayor poder y protagonismo a las regiones, tal y como habría postulado uno de los grandes teóricos del tradicionalismo español, Don Juan Vázquez de Mella, frente al actual modelo balcanizador de las 17 taifas dirigidas por las oligarquías partitocráticas y corruptas del Régimen de 1978. En cuanto al modelo político requerido, este no es la monarquía, sino la república, por el descrédito de los Borbones y la trayectoria descendente y de decadencia que han venido marcando en su reinado desde hace más de 300 años. En cualquier caso, lo que este modelo debe aportar es cohesión interna y voluntad de integración en el modelo de mundo unipolar, que se viene gestando y estructurando bajo relaciones de poder, redes económicas, comerciales y de otro tipo, que deben garantizar esa capacidad de interconexión. Y, por supuesto, en coherencia con lo sostenido con anterioridad, nuestros autores proponen que el eje atlántico y noroccidental debe representar el motor y artífice de este nuevo ciclo histórico.
Desde el advenimiento de los Borbones a comienzos del siglo XVIII, el polo mediterráneo y africanizado ha venido tomando un protagonismo creciente, que vemos reflejado el el triunfo posterior, a lo largo del siglo XIX, del liberalismo con la destrucción del Imperio y el sometimiento de España y de su historia a los dominios de la leyenda negra, urdida por la anglosfera, y que tiende a presentarnos como el producto de una hibridación de pueblos afrosemitas y mahometanos, sin identidad, y como una especie de anomalía frente a la europeidad prototípica. Un discurso que, claro está, fue aceptado por el liberalismo español con la consecuente desvalorización y rechazo de los orígenes astur-godos de la monarquía hispánica y del proceso de Reconquista por parte de unas élites corruptas, antiespañolas y endófobas, que se sometieron ideológicamente a Francia y al mundo anglosajón. En un principio, esto sirvió para provocar fragmentar la unidad interna del Imperio Español y enajenar el catolicismo de la Hispanidad, y posteriormente, una vez destruida esa unidad, someter a estos países al capitalismo depredador y esclavizarlos por la vía de la deuda. Paralelamente, y a través de la masonería, también se introdujeron ideas profundamente destructivas entre las élites liberales y traidoras, como son el laicismo, el separatismo y otras ideas disolventes que nos vienen desnaturalizando desde hace siglos.
La acción de este capitalismo destructivo y depravado, es la que nos ha convertido en un instrumento en manos de grandes cenáculos y organizaciones que forman parte de un entramado complejo y anónimo, desde donde se interviene permanentemente en nuestros asuntos imponiendo cambios profundos en las costumbres, tradiciones e identidad, empobreciéndonos y reduciéndonos a la más pura insignificancia.
Otro elemento a destacar, podríamos decir una de las grandes piedras angulares que definen la idiosincrasia de lo Hispánico, viene representado por el Catolicismo, que en el caso peninsular también revistió un carácter peculiar, especialmente en lo que respecta, una vez más, a los contrastes internos entre la zona atlántica-noroccidental y la mediterránea, así como con la propia realidad del reino visigodo, donde la Iglesia resultó ser muy autónoma, vertebrada a través de sus concilios. Con la irrupción de la contemporaneidad, este elemento, el católico, de vital importancia durante la Reconquista y a lo largo de toda nuestra historia, se ha visto disminuido, con la propia acción del liberalismo, y especialmente desde la izquierda, y también desde sus propios centros de poder, desde el mismo Vaticano, a raíz de su famoso Concilio Vaticano II, abdicando en sus principios y doctrina frente al liberalismo y el mundo moderno.
En el primer párrafo hemos hablado de un primer bloque, que de algún modo vendría a hablarnos de nuestra historia, de la autorepresentación que tenemos de la misma, y los elementos basales que componen su estructura. Esta sería la primera parte del libro. Una segunda parte vendría comprendida por el análisis de otros elementos más externos que definen unas coyunturas internacionales muy características, las cuales forman parte, desgraciadamente, de nuestro presente actual.
Entre los principales elementos de análisis se encuentra la acción de la anglosfera y el sometimiento que experimenta España junto al resto de naciones del orbe europeo, especialmente occidental, bajo instituciones transnacionales como la OTAN o la UE, que lastran permanentemente nuestra soberanía y nos convierten en meros cipayos al servicio de los intereses de la anglosfera (Estados Unidos y Reino Unido) en contra de nuestros propios intereses. El ejemplo más significativo lo tenemos en Ucrania, donde la OTAN está librando una guerra contra Rusia en la que viene utilizando al pueblo ucraniano como ariete de sus intereses geopolíticos a costa de la destrucción del país, en un auténtico drama humano con la muerte de miles de jóvenes en el frente de batalla. La historia de la anglosfera viene siendo la misma desde siempre, en el que sus teóricos aliados vienen siendo humillados, con multitud de traiciones, y ataques de falsa bandera, la creación de grupos terroristas, promoción de golpes de Estado, compra y soborno de políticos con aquellos países que no se sometían a los intereses del Imperio anglosajón. La base de tal poder, en la que tal imperio basa su poder el capitalismo financiero y especulador, cuyas raíces se encuentran en el siglo XVII, y que sirve a unas élites globales que se sirve de los mecanismos tales como los procesos inflacionarios para empobrecer y someter a los pueblos, a los que desprecia e instrumentaliza al servicio de Agendas globalistas. Al mismo tiempo acaparan gran parte de la riqueza global, que mantienen oculta en paraísos fiscales y de la que se sirven para sufragar el tráfico de drogas o la financiación de grupos terroristas que protagonizan los atentados de falsa bandera a los que nos hemos referido.
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| |:-:| |MUTTI, Claudio; Democracia y talasocracia: Antología de ensayos geopolíticos; Hipérbola Janus, 2017|
El enorme y desproporcionado proceso de financiarización que padece la economía del Occidente sometido a la anglosfera ha tenido consecuencias funestas sobre el complejo productivo real, redundando en la desindustrialización y la decadencia general bajo las teorías del «decrecimiento». Desde la administración Bush, a comienzos de siglo, hemos asistido a una serie de guerras de agresión en las que se han destruido países como Irak, Libia o Afganistán con el objetivo de controlar los hidrocarburos y las rutas de transporte, una tendencia que se ha venido incrementado especialmente con la administración Biden , y anteriormente con la de Obama, con la creación de organizaciones terroristas como el ISIS y la desestabilización permanente en Oriente Próximo, y el creciente y peligroso papel del complejo militar industrial.
Pero el poder y hegemonía estadounidense están menguando a pasos agigantados con la emergencia de dos grandes potencias, como son Rusia y China, frente a las que la anglosfera ve amenazada su hegemonía económica, con la colonización comercial china y el resurgir del potencial ruso, frente al cual, como decíamos, libran una guerra con intermediarios a través de Ucrania. Al mismo tiempo, tenemos a los BRICS, liderados por Rusia y China, con países emergentes como Irán, la India o Brasil con el papel de potencias regionales. La guerra de Ucrania solamente ha conseguido revigorizar a Rusia, alejarla de Europa y reforzar su alianza con China, mientras que los grandes perjudicados son Ucrania, que quedará en manos de grandes fondos de inversión como Blackrock ante una pretendida reconstrucción del país y las multinacionales que participarán en su reconstrucción, quedando en manos del globalismo. Europa es la otra gran perdedora, empobrecida y sumisa ante los designios del Imperio yanqui, al que rinde pleitesía a través de sus gobernantes, que no son más que títeres. Ante la inevitable pérdida de soberanía en el mundo, la anglosfera también pretende llevar la guerra a Asia contra China, viendo la derrota que está sufriendo en todos los frentes.
En el contexto de los intereses hispánicos, la anglosfera siempre ha representado una amenaza y un elemento especialmente dañino, responsable de la disolución del Imperio español con la introducción de las ideas liberales y masónicas entre las élites locales hispanoamericanas, practicando formas aberrantes de neocolonialismo sobre estos territorios una vez independizados, y siendo considerados como el patio trasero de Estados Unidos, quien ha practicado una política especialmente perniciosa y de desestabilización en todos estos territorios en vistas a coartar cualquier forma de desarrollo positivo.
Otro de los grandes problemas que se abordan en el libro es la amenaza que representa el enemigo del sur, Marruecos, para la integridad territorial española, sobre Ceuta, Melilla y las Islas Canarias, con el apoyo incondicional de países como Estados Unidos, Francia o Israel, tras las primeras y humillantes concesiones que ya se produjeron en 1975 con Juan Carlos I con el Sahara Occidental, y las posteriores, bajo mandato de Sánchez. Al mismo tiempo Estados Unidos e Israel especialmente, participan activamente en el rearme y fortalecimiento del reino moro, que ha desarrollado una política expansionista y agresiva contra los países vecinos. Para ello también se sirve de los lobbies marroquíes que actúan en el propio seno de la UE y dentro de España, que se sirven de las políticas cobardes y traidoras de sus políticos adheridos al Régimen del 78. Las consecuencias no se han dejado de notar en la destrucción y progresivo debilitamiento de nuestro sector primario en detrimento de los productos del país norteafricano, que entran sin ningún tipo de control en nuestro territorio, sin cumplir los requisitos mínimos a nivel fitosanitario. La ineptitud, servilismo y cobardía del actual Régimen hacia poderes globalistas y transnacionales, hacia la anglosfera, nos condenan a seguir un guión sin ninguna autonomía ni poder de decisión.
Otro de los ámbitos importantes que contempla el libro, lo encontramos en la ya mencionada Unión Europea, que no deja de ser otro instrumento de dominación y supeditación a los intereses de la anglosfera, y donde se reúnen los representantes de los grandes poderes fácticos a través de plutócratas, banqueros y poderes económicos y financieros transnacionales. Esta institución ha ido sustrayendo progresivamente el poder de las naciones que la integran con una comisión europea con atribuciones y poderes omnímodos para dictar normas y con una presidenta, Ursula Von der Leyen, metida en multitud de casos de corrupción, entre los que destacan aquellos vinculados a la Plandemia de 2020 y las falsas vacunas. Todo ello sin contar los protocolos criminales que se impusieron durante ese periodo, la represión policial y el cercenamiento de derechos y libertades con la presión absolutamente criminal sobre los que decidieron no «vacunarse» con el producto experimental del que nadie se hacía responsable y sobre el cual reinaba toda opacidad informativa. Desde esas fechas hasta el presente los fondos de inversión globalistas, como Blackrock o Vanguard entre otros, se sirvieron de la crisis generada para enriquecerse y acaparar la compra de todo lo comprable como instrumento de las élites plutocráticas mundiales y sus ansias de dominio global.
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| |:-:| |NAD, Boris; Después del virus: El renacimiento de un mundo multipolar; Hipérbola Janus, 2022|
La Unión Europea no ha dejado de ser, como ya hemos dicho, parte de las organizaciones que la anglosfera, y particularmente el gobierno yanqui, ha utilizado para dominarnos y debilitarnos desde 1945, y en nuestros días también a través de la Agenda 2030, a partir de la cual pretenden reducir Europa a la nada, desindustrializando y destruyendo el sector primario, algo especialmente dramático en el caso español. La UE también nos habla de la implantación de la divisa digital con todos los peligros que esta entraña como, por ejemplo, la posibilidad de que se programe su uso y sirva como herramienta de control social para monitorear y controlar nuestras gestiones, la caducidad del dinero o limitar la compra de productos en función de la llamada «huella de carbono». A ello debemos añadir el proceso inflacionario que venimos sufriendo desde el 2020 en una farsa deliberadamente provocada por los bancos centrales (la Reserva Federal y el BCE) con la impresión masiva de dinero.
En el plano social la UE no ha dejado de implementar el modelo del caos multicultural que viene ocasionando estragos en buena parte de la Europa occidental a través del uso de recursos maquiavélicos y diferentes ingenierías sociales que se apoyan en los mass media. Esto ha generado una distopía social con la introducción de ideas aberrantes como las asociadas a las ideologías de género, con la castración y hormonación de niños o el odio radical y enfermizo hacia los hombres blancos heterosexuales, convertidos en potenciales violadores con la ideología feminista institucionalizada. Y todo esto con el contraste que supone la llegada masiva de «inmigrantes» de países de África, por ejemplo, donde predominan sociedades patriarcales, en muchos casos musulmanas, cuyas tradiciones y visión de la vida chocan con las ingenierías sociales de la élite globalista.
Carlos Blanco y José Costales plantean una refundación de la Unión Europea bajo otros parámetros más democráticos y bajo unos organismos reguladores que puedan controlar los lobbies, las multinacionales y a los plutócratas y frente a los abusos de poder del eje franco-alemán. Una Europa de los pueblos, de naciones soberanas al servicio del interés ciudadano frente a las oligarquías y el gobierno mundial.
Otro de los capítulos está dedicado al papel de las oligarquías y las élites, donde reaparecen algunos de los temas ya tratados, y en los que se viene a destacar la acción perniciosa y destructiva de estos poderes anónimos que actúan a través de organizaciones pantalla y agendas planificadas perpetradas desde el llamado Occidente, bajo las premisas de una ideología misántropa y deshumanizada que es asumida por los gobiernos traidores de las naciones de la Europa occidental. Todas estas políticas se presentan bajo aspectos devastadores en el sector alimentario, con la ya referida demolición del sector primario con catastróficas consecuencias en un futuro próximo, o la fabricación de guerras, conflictos sociales y polarización de la población, junto a falsas banderas y grupos terroristas creados y financiados desde el propio Occidente. En este sentido tenemos multitud de ejemplos de desestabilización en torno a la red Gladio durante los años 70 (los famosos años del plomo en Italia) o con el tráfico de drogas, que ha servido para generar conflictividad social en Ecuador en los últimos tiempos tras quedar cortadas las redes del comercio de heroína procedente de Afganistán.
En los últimos capítulos del libro también se aborda el separatismo y la balcanización de España, un fenómeno propiamente moderno y que aparece indefectiblemente ligado al advenimiento de los liberales a lo largo del siglo XIX. A raíz de una serie de conflictos de origen dinástico, se generó una antítesis irreconciliable entre dos sistemas de gobierno, el propiamente moderno representado por el liberalismo y encarnado en la futura reina Isabel II y el tradicionalismo representado por los carlistas y encarnado, inicialmente, por Carlos María Isidro (Carlos V). Se libraron tres guerras devastadoras entre liberales y carlistas a lo largo del siglo XIX, en las que se dirimieron dos modelos, uno centralista (liberal) frente a otro descentralizado (carlista) con el respeto a las instituciones locales y regionales, a los Fueros. cuyas prerrogativas y vigencia se fueron perdiendo a lo largo del siglo. El siglo XIX tuvo unas consecuencias desastrosas para España, con la liquidación del Imperio y su debilitamiento en todos los ámbitos. Es a finales de susodicha centuria cuando nacen los movimientos separatistas, especialmente en Vascongadas y Cataluña, que irá cristalizando y gestándose a través de un discurso identitario cada vez más radical y antiespañol. La decadencia política e institucional que representa el actual Régimen Constitucional del 78, ha convertido a las formaciones políticas separatistas en los árbitros del sistema, ejerciendo de bisagras en la formación de los gobiernos centrales, con episodios vergonzantes y humillantes como los asociados a la Ley de Amnistía del PSOE en los últimos tiempos. Al mismo tiempo, el separatismo ha asumido los mismos mantras ideológicos a través de sus oligarquías regionales, que el resto de los integrantes del régimen partitocrático en relación a las políticas globalistas impulsadas desde la UE o la siniestra Agenda 2030, a la que son plenamente funcionales. En este sentido el mundo anglosajón, interesado en contribuir a la destrucción interna y fragmentación territorial de España, a través de complejas redes de financiación, como las desplegadas por Soros y su Open Society o las desplegadas, a través de organizaciones pantalla, por los servicios secretos ingleses y estadounidenses. Estos poderes ya tienen experiencia en esta materia, como demuestran los resultados de la Guerra de Yugoslavia durante los años 90, de la que resultó la fragmentación de su territorio en pequeñas repúblicas.
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Artículo original: Hipérbola Janus, Reseña: «España: Historia de una demolición controlada», de José Costales y Carlos X Blanco (TOR), 24/Sep/2024
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2024-09-24 15:49:11If Bitcoin Is in Its Infancy, Nostr Is Still in Its Nursing Stage Skepticism is healthy, especially within the Bitcoin community. At the moment, Nostr users are predominantly Bitcoiners, and it's understandable that people are cautious about adopting new technologies. However, based on my limited experience over the last few months, Nostr has shown immense potential and is evolving at a breakneck pace.
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Privacy and Control Another advantage is the ability to manage your privacy more effectively. With Nostr, you can use multiple nsec/npub keys, giving you more control over your identity and interactions. This flexibility is a game-changer in a world where privacy is often compromised by centralized platforms.
Areas for Improvement Of course, Nostr is not without its challenges. Many of the available applications feel unpolished, and spam is a growing issue (the infamous "reply guy" problem). The ephemeral nature of the content also presents a challenge—once you post something, you can't "put the toothpaste back in the tube," sort to speak.
Enjoying the Ride Despite its growing pains, I’ve found Nostr to be an enjoyable experience so far. There are no algorithms dictating what you see, which results in a signal-rich environment with minimal toxicity—for now, at least. It’s refreshing to engage in conversations that aren’t manipulated by unseen forces, and I look forward to seeing where Nostr goes from here.
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2024-09-24 15:48:13This idea had been kind of percolating in the back of my mind for a bit, but on my walk today it crystalized: there ought to be a podcast affiliated with this territory.
GrayRuby, you/we/I should launch something to talk about not just what's happening in sports, but what stackers are talking about wrt sports. I'm not aware of a bitcoiner podcast that touches sports at all.
I'm imagining it would start as a short weekly experiment, covering our game reactions, ~Stacker_Sports contests and posts, bitcoin bets, personal sports stories, and our kids' sports adventures.
This seems like something that could really elevate ~Stacker_Sports and I'm sure we have enough content to keep it going and have it be distinct from other podcasts.
Btw, I'm doing this in public both to bring public pressure on you and to gauge demand.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/698947
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@ 306068fe:d542563e
2024-09-24 15:18:31Looking for a good investment insight?..Checkout “Fintech catalyst”..it’s an exchange; which runs trade in autopilot to generate weekly profits (ROI) https://app.fintechcatalysts.com/ref/Nefrod
Join the discussion group with the link beneath https://t.me/+34-QRRBVj98xMDVh
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@ 6bae33c8:607272e8
2024-09-24 14:48:34So it really happened. The Bengals lost outright, meaning for the third straight week, the league’s biggest favorite lost. The Circa Survivor pool is down to 550 entries out of 14,000 in Week 4. Unfathomable insanity. And of course, I went 2-3 on the week in Circa Millions, and at 5-10, am getting very close to drawing-dead territory.
I’m not as annoyed as I might be because Survivor this year is just funny, so that softens the blow of being out Week 1, I would have taken Cincy this week for sure had I pivoted off them and losing with the Bengals in the Millions contest is offset by the payoff of getting to marvel at it.
I am annoyed at the other game. They posted the score during the Cincy game on my screen, so it was spoiled on the 40-minute version, and once I saw what the score was, I had no interest in wasting time on it. (I did briefly flip to it for a couple drives when I realized it was the earlier game, but then realized eventually it would spoil the game I cared more about, so I switched back.) And in any event (and this is a bug on Gamepass), they flashed the final of the Bengals-Team before the game started from the beginning. I squinted, but caught a 38, and it became apparent in the third quarter which team was getting to 38 and which wasn’t given the kinds of scores they would need.
At least Ja’Marr Chase (three leagues) absolutely crushed.
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Chase had a huge game, but only seven targets. Why is it teams like the Rams (with Cooper Kupp) or even the Giants (with Malik Nabers) can motion guys and get them double-digit targets and often catches every game, while the Bengals are content to let teams double Chase and take him out of the game for long stretches? I mean this game flow should have seen Chase get 14 targets, not that I’m complaining about the production, but get your best player the ball!
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Chase Brown and Zack Moss both looked good, but easier to run from behind when the defense is conceding it.
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Joe Burrow was pretty accurate — some perfect deep throws to Chase, a couple balls behind receivers over the middle — and had decent feel in the pocket. But the offensive line wasn’t great, and he’s no longer a threat to scramble.
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Andrei Iosivas had his best game by far. Tee Higgins looked a little rusty.
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The Bengals defense is super soft. It’s the reason they lost to the Patriots in Week 1, they just can’t bring runners down.
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Jayden Daniels played great. He didn’t average much per carry, but he’s tough to tackle, has great instincts as to when to take off and has a nose for the first down. He played like the good version of Jalen Hurts, only with more tackle breaking ability.
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Two guys I crossed off my draft list this year because they were older, washed up running backs were Alvin Kamara and Austin Ekeler. Ekeler looked great on a kick return, his 24-yard TD and two catches before leaving with a concussion.
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I do have a couple shares of Brian Robinson who struggled, but I like him. He picks up the blitz well, gets a ton of goal line work, runs hard and can even catch a few passes. Ekeler looking spry though isn’t great for him.
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Terry McLaurin finally got going, and it took a full half. Daniels looks more comfortable now, so it makes sense.
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I’ve said this before but the Jets played 11-D chess winning that last game in 2020, getting the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft class instead of the No. 1 for no reason and lettng the Jaguars draft Trevor Lawrence. Now the Jets have Aaron Rodgers, but the Jaguars still have Lawrence! As I said I didn’t watch that game, but how much time does he need finally to get going?
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I wanted to draft Travis Etienne too for the skills and role, but there’s been something wrong with that offense for the last couple years, so he hasn’t been quite able to deliver. He’s like a poor man’s Saquon Barkley — have to get him to a team where he can thrive.
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I watched the Bills first two drives, both TDs, and Josh Allen makes it look so easy. It’s a foregone conclusion he’s converting the third or the fourth down.
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Dalton Kincaid finally did something, but the game flow was such you couldn’t expect much for any Bills pass catcher.
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@ 4735cdca:0c0ecb64
2024-09-24 14:12:28Em viagem recente a Praga, a capital da República Tcheca, fiquei fascinado pelo Relógio Astronômico, ou Orloj como dizem os tchecos. O fascínio veio não apenas pela idade do instrumento — instalado em 1410 — mas pela variedade de informações que ele é capaz de apontar.
Além das horas, ao consultar o Orloj também podemos obter mais algumas informações interessantes: o momento do amanhecer e do anoitecer; a fase da Lua e em qual posição está o Sol em relação às constelações do zodíaco.
Para a leitura do relógio, é essencial entender quais são suas partes móveis.
O ponteiro dourado
O ponteiro dourado tem uma mão dourada na extremidade e uma haste fixa sobre ele por onde um pequeno sol desliza. O movimento do ponteiro é sempre no sentido horário.
A mão dourada foi idealizada para apontar dois horários: o Germânico e o Boêmio.
O horário Germânico é o mais próximo do qual estamos acostumados. Representa as 24 horas do dia por meio de dois grupos de algarismos romanos de I a XII no mostrador do relógio. A primeira hora do dia fica na parte inferior do relógio.
Atualmente o Orloj está regulado para representar o Horário da Europa Central (em inglês: Central European Time — CET) no mostrador do horário Germânico. O CET só equivale ao horário local de Praga durante o inverno, quando o horário de verão não está em vigor na República Tcheca. Na imagem, podemos ver que a mão dourada está sobre o número IV. São cerca de 4 horas da tarde (16h00).
Lemos o antigo horário Boêmio com os chamados numerais de Schwabacher. São 24 numerais dispostos no anel preto mais externo, que representam quantas horas se passaram após o pôr do Sol. O anel gira com a passagem do ano para se adequar à hora em que o Sol se põe. Quando a mão dourada atinge a número 24, chega a hora do pôr do Sol. Por isso, conforme o verão se aproxima (o anoitecer começa mais tarde no verão, quando os dias são mais longos que as noites), o anel move no sentido horário. Conforme o verão se afasta, o anel move no sentido anti-horário. Na imagem, são aproximadamente 21 horas passadas após o pôr do Sol — ou 3 horas para o fim do dia.
O pequeno sol fornece um terceiro tipo de horário: o horário Babilônico. Ele é medido em 12 “horas” desiguais do dia — apenas entre o nascer e o pôr do Sol — e representado pelos numerais indo arábicos em preto, de 1 a 12. Cada numeral pertence a uma linha curva. Quando o pequeno sol passa sobre uma dessas linhas curvas, marca aquela “hora”. Na imagem, o Sol nasceu há cerca de 10 “horas”. O pequeno sol desliza sobre o ponteiro para acompanhar a variação da duração de tempo entre o nascer e o pôr do Sol. Assim, temos “horas” curtas no inverno e “horas” longas no verão.
O ponteiro da Lua
O ponteiro da Lua possui uma esfera que gira conforme o ponteiro anda. Ela é metade preta e metade prateada, simbolizando a fase em que a Lua está no céu. A pequena lua também desliza em uma haste, fixa sobre este ponteiro.
O anel zodiacal
O anel zodiacal indica o movimento do Sol e da Lua na eclíptica, região definida pelo aparente movimento do Sol no céu durante o ano.
Se observarmos o céu antes do nascer do Sol, enquanto olhamos para o Leste, podemos estimar qual constelação estará atrás do astro durante o dia. Ao repetirmos esse procedimento periodicamente, notaremos que a posição do Sol em relação às constelações varia, percorrendo as 12 constelações do zodíaco durante o ano.
https://video.nostr.build/3fd459e963b279a4192da4813aea15c0f6911850b66ae0574c1f0e4180346861.mp4
No anel zodiacal, os 12 símbolos representam as casas do zodíaco e podemos ver sobre eles quais as posições da Lua e do Sol. Repare que o pequeno sol e a pequena lua estão conectados ao centro geométrico do anel zodiacal por barras, que os mantêm na borda do anel (no caminho da eclíptica) no decorrer do ano. O pequeno sol fica sobre determinada casa do zodíaco de acordo com o calendário dos signos.
♈️ Áries (21/03 — 20/04) ♉️ Touro (21/04 — 20/05) ♊️ Gêmeos (21/05 — 20/06) ♋️ Câncer (21/06 — 22/07) ♌️ Leão (23/07 — 23/08) ♍️ Virgem (24/08 — 23/09) ♎️ Libra (24/09 — 23/10) ♏️ Escorpião (24/10 — 22/11) ♐️ Sagitário (23/11 — 21/12) ♑️ Capricórnio (22/12 — 20/01) ♒️ Aquário (21/01 — 19/02) ♓️ Peixes (20/02 — 20/03)
Este anel completa uma volta em torno do centro do relógio em um dia sideral. O dia sideral é baseado no aparente movimento das estrelas causado pela rotação da Terra. Sua duração é cerca de 4 minutos menor que o dia comum (dia solar). Por isso, o anel zodiacal anda ligeiramente mais rápido que o ponteiro com o pequeno sol.
O ponteiro menor com uma estrela na ponta conta o tempo sideral. Ele está fixo no anel zodiacal e foi posicionado entre os signos de Peixes e Áries para simbolizar o ponto vernal. A leitura das horas siderais é feita no mostrador com algarismos romanos. Na imagem, o relógio marca por volta de 2h30 no tempo sideral.
O ponto vernal é determinado pela posição do Sol durante seu movimento aparente na eclíptica, quando encontra o equador celeste (plano imaginário definido pelo equador da Terra). Nesse momento ocorre o equinócio de primavera no hemisfério norte — quando o dia tem a mesma duração que a noite (ver imagem abaixo).
https://image.nostr.build/474de14f26a1c49c339c0c1e820a64101d0bd97a77942a8a0f8566e2191133cc.png É preciso enfatizar que o Sol não se move ao redor da Terra. A imagem acima é apenas uma representação do movimento aparente do Sol para um observador aqui no nosso planeta.
Agora que sabemos quais são as partes móveis, vamos entender a parte fixa do Orloj.
A placa fixa
Já sabemos a utilidade dos numerais da placa fixa, mas resta saber o significado de suas cores e das quatro palavras nela escritas.
Quando o pequeno sol está sobre o segmento azul, significa que é dia. Quando está sobre o segmento laranja, é hora do amanhecer (AVRORA — aurora) no horizonte leste (ORTVS) ou do anoitecer (CREPVSCVLVM — crepúsculo) no horizonte oeste (OCCASVS). E quando ele entra no segmento preto, significa que é chegada a noite.
O círculo dourado mais externo, onde estão os algarismos romanos, representa o Trópico de Câncer. O círculo dourado de menor diâmetro, que contém a Terra, representa o Trópico de Capricórnio. O círculo entre esses dois representa o Equador.
Durante o verão, o pequeno sol fica mais próximo do Trópico de Câncer (quando o Sol está mais alto no céu) e durante o inverno ele fica mais próximo do Trópico de Capricórnio (quando o Sol está mais baixo no céu).
E muito mais
Mais que um ponto turístico, o Orloj é um monumento à observação dos céus. É uma máquina do tempo que nos transporta para uma época em que ainda se acreditava que a Terra estava no centro do universo. E acima de tudo, é muito mais que um relógio.
Curiosidades
- O Orloj foi criado por Mikuláš de Kadaň com base nos cálculos de Jan Šindel
- A Torre do Relógio tem outras atrações, como as esculturas que se movem (dentre elas os doze apóstolos) a cada vez que o relógio completa uma hora e um calendário que indica o dia atual
- O Orloj não é o único relógio astronômico, mas é o mais antigo em funcionamento
- A torre onde está instalado o relógio tem 69,5 metros de altura
- O ponto vernal não é mais observado na constelação de Áries, mas sim na constelação de Peixes, devido a um fenômeno chamado precessão dos equinócios
- No final da Segunda Guerra Mundial, os nazistas danificaram o Orloj, mas ele foi reparado e voltou a funcionar alguns anos depois
E você, já tinha ouvido falar do Orloj? Se já foi a Praga, conseguiu desvendá-lo? Deixe o seu comentário!
Referências:
Imagem 1: Wikipedia Imagem 2: Adaptada de Wikipedia
PRAŽSKÝ ORLOJ — The astronomical dial PRAŽSKÝ ORLOJ — Simulator of the astronomical dial of the clock Prague — five kinds of time on one clock Prague City Tourism — Astronomical Clock — How to Read Time Orloj Computer Animation — Prague a la Carte (este link não está mais disponível) http://www.praguealacarte.com/orloj/orlojLoader.html
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@ 4735cdca:0c0ecb64
2024-09-24 13:58:45Teoria e hipótese são termos de conceitos bem diferentes, mas geralmente confundidos como palavras de mesmo significado.
Você já ouviu uma das seguintes frases?
“Não acredito nessa sua teoria.”
“Essa sua hipótese é falha.”
“Interessante essa sua teoria.”
Todas elas tratam hipótese e teoria como uma opinião ou ponto de vista em relação a algo.
No entanto, meras opiniões não representam a verdade para a ciência. Para encontrarmos explicações fundamentadas sobre o funcionamento da natureza, precisamos seguir uma série de etapas que constituem o chamado método científico. E são justamente os conceitos de teoria e hipótese que fazem parte desse método.
Mas antes de vermos a diferença entre teoria e hipótese, precisamos definir o que é uma lei para a ciência.
O que é uma lei?
Uma lei é a generalização de um conjunto de observações, não tendo sido encontrada nenhuma exceção a tais observações.
Considere as leis do movimento de Newton: a terceira delas, conhecida como Lei da Ação e Reação, diz que para uma força aplicada por um corpo A sobre um corpo B, é aplicada pelo corpo B sobre o corpo A uma força de mesma intensidade, mesma direção e em sentido oposto.
Isso explica o que ocorre (a interação entre corpos que aplicam forças entre si), mas não descreve como/por que acontece uma força de reação para toda força de ação.
Qual a diferença entre teoria e hipótese?
As hipóteses são conjecturas, especulações, previsões sobre determinado fenômeno da natureza e como ele se comporta. Hipóteses devem ser testadas, o que normalmente é realizado por meio de experiências.
As teorias são explicações bem fundamentadas para descrever eventos que ocorrem na natureza. Envolvem hipóteses já testadas exaustivamente, fatos e leis.
Uma teoria pode soar como uma explicação definitiva, mas pode vir a ser derrubada com o passar dos anos.
Acompanhe este exemplo.
Aristóteles (384 a.C. – 322 a.C.) defendia a teoria da geração espontânea, baseando seus estudos em ideias já aceitas como verdade por outros pensadores.
A geração espontânea, também conhecida como abiogênese (não confundir com a abiogênese que se refere às hipóteses de origem da vida na Terra), consistia em explicar o surgimento de seres vivos a partir de matéria inanimada. Seria como se larvas fossem geradas a partir da carcaça de um animal morto ou ratos surgissem de uma toalha úmida deixada com restos de alimentos em um quarto escuro.
Hoje, isso não faz sentido para nós porque sabemos que os seres surgem a partir de outros seres. No entanto, por muito tempo essa foi a teoria dominante.
Muito tempo mesmo! Vários séculos depois de Aristóteles, cientistas que desconfiavam da teoria da geração espontânea, como Louis Pasteur, formularam a hipótese de que os seres vivos se formam a partir de outros seres vivos (biogênese). Por meio de experimentos, ficou provado que os seres vivos não surgem aleatoriamente e precisam se reproduzir para dar origem a outros seres vivos.
Com os trabalhos e descobertas de diversos cientistas, a hipótese da biogênese foi elevada a teoria, pois foi demonstrada como correta e derrubou a teoria da geração espontânea.
E então, ficou clara a diferença entre teoria e hipótese? Qualquer dúvida, é só deixar o seu comentário abaixo.
Se você gostou do artigo, não se esqueça de curtir e compartilhar com os seus amigos.
Referências: Canal OUSbiology no Youtube, About.com e TopTenz.net
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@ bf95e1a4:ebdcc848
2024-09-24 13:40:45This is the full AI-generated transcript of Bitcoin Infinity Show #127 featuring George Manolov!
If you'd like to support us, check out https://bitcoininfinitystore.com/ for our books, merch, and more!
Welcoming George Manolov
Luke: George, welcome to the Bitcoin Infinity Show, thank you for joining us.
George: Thank you, Knut.
Knut: Good to have you here, George.
George: to be here, yeah.
you're here to tell us about the city that I was most surprised by ever. Like, I've never heard of the city before I went to Bulgaria, Yeah, time flies.
Knut: So Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which was amazing, this rich, Thousands of years of history plays with a lot of different eras and different styles of architecture and stuff, really enjoyed Plovdiv, and you have a football team there.
George: yeah, indeed.
George Manolov and Botev Plovdiv
George: Please give us the story about George and Plovdiv Yeah, sure.
Knut: Plovdiv.
George: Sure, sure. So, Plovdiv is, well, I would say it's the oldest living city in Europe, so continuously inhabited. Like you say, not many people know it. I guess, like, we don't have good enough marketing, but, that's probably part of my job right now, right? To spread the word about it. so it's, like the second largest city in the country.
And, yeah, it's just this, it's very, like, I love how you put it because almost nobody has really heard of Plovdiv, right? Most people, when they hear of Bulgaria, they've probably heard of Sofia but Sofia is, okay, but Plovdiv is kind of the chill place, Plovdiv is the place that is actually worth visiting, the place where, people just enjoy going there.
I was born there, right? and, grew up there till 18 or so, then, Studied, lived in Sofia most of the time. And, last year, in kind of summer, I was already kind of way deeper into Bitcoin. I decided I'm going to go full time into Bitcoin, just commit all my time in Bitcoin at the time, educating, publishing books in Bulgarian about Bitcoin, creating my own educational platform.
And then I got, reached out and connected really to the owner of the football club in the city, which is also the oldest football club in the country, Botev Plovdiv, who was, well, he got introduced into Bitcoin himself and he realized it's going to be a very big, project. You know, going to play a central role in where the world is going.
Knut: What is this the owner of the club?
George: That's right. The owner of the club. was like, Hey, I think we can do something unique with Bitcoin because, you know, the club is really a company, right? It's a business on the one hand, but it's a special type of business, it's not where just you produce a certain product or service.
It's really a living organism where people are involved into it, for very emotional reasons. people feel like it's their own and it's not like a small group of people. It's a very large group of people. In our case, we have tens of thousands, arguably more than a hundred, 200, 000 people who care, who watch, who follow the club.
And so on the one hand, like there's many different ways in which we can look into this, but on the one hand. It's for me, what really inspired me and what got me like, Oh my God, like, is this really happening is that we can bring the conversation about Bitcoin from a completely different angle into society to a group of people who for the most part would never really They would like this, they would never listen to podcasts like this, they would never get to any of the kind of places and things we listen to, watch, consume, right?
and people go, You know, people go kind of for bread and circus, right,
Knut: yeah, yeah.
George: for the games. That's what really football is, right? It's fun and it's emotion, it's enjoyment, but then we push them censorship resistance and hard money, right?
And we don't really push it, you know, that's the thing, right? Because are like consistently, progressively, gradually over time, introducing it and finding the best way and the most appropriate way to, yeah, plant that seed. To the minds of the people, into the views of the people and so on and so forth.
so it's really like, you know, what we're trying to build is, we feel we're in a very privileged position, right? because we've been, the first really professional sports club globally, I would say, to have, uh, crypto Bitcoin, you know, people, departments, who is actually full time employed to, you know, think of a way to grow the business, to think of a way to integrate Bitcoin natively, within the various aspects of, of, of the organization, which obviously initially includes like accepting payments and so on and so forth.
But, um, but there's so much more you can do exactly with this type of, Like organization, again, like not, not, not just a business in a traditional sense.
Knut: Yeah. And, uh, won the league, right? Is that, is that right?
George: Yeah, man, like it's, uh, yeah, so we, um, when I started last year, things were super bad. Like exactly one year ago, I was there for the, for one of the first games. It was horrible. Like, I was like, okay, this is a great idea, but if the team is doing so bad and if, uh, if they keep losing and if the fans keep getting, you know, being unhappy, Um, it's not gonna go anywhere, but still, I gave it a, I gave it a go, right, because I was like, okay, I just hope that the sports side guys are going to do their, their part, and I have my opportunity here, um, to, to just like push, to educate, to, To do what, what, what life is giving me an opportunity to do.
And, uh, very fortunately, as we started working, the team started performing better and better and better. We got a completely new coach. We got a new sports director. We, we had a lot of key staff changes across the organization, which, Um, relatively quickly started showing results. So, uh, yeah, like, 10 months later in May, we won the Bulgarian Cup.
Luke: Is that the cup or the league? Like, uh,
George: it's the cup, it's the cup. So, so, I was saying, like, we started very bad in the league. And so, we were doing better and better, but still, like, we finished 9th in the league out of 16 clubs at the end of the day. But which was still okay, because, like, when I joined, like, we were, like,
Luke: Worried about relegation or something like that?
George: there. I mean,
Knut: We're complete, uh, like I've tried to take an interest to football, but like, uh, my ADD just, the brain just wanders away after five minutes and I can't concentrate anymore. So I don't
Luke: a basketball fan.
Knut: Am I now?
Football for Noobs
Knut: Uh, so, uh, what's the difference between the cup and the league? Let's begin there. That's, that's how much of a football noob I
George: So, so pretty much in every country is the same, right? You have a league or a championship where you have, in our case, 16 teams, and every team plays twice against every other team. So home game, away game, and then, you know, you either win three points when you win, or you lose, or you draw, and you, you, you win one point.
And then, so after you play, after you play, in our case, this, what is it, games? You know,
Luke: 30.
George: yeah, about 30. Yeah, right. You're better than Matt, it's obvious. So, um, so once you play these 30 games, um, you, um, yeah, like the team with the most points wins, right? Whereas, uh, the cup is direct elimination
Knut: So quarterfinals, semifinals, all that.
George: exactly. So it's the easier way. So this was the way for us to due to the bad start of the season. This was the way for us to, to achieve something in this season and to achieve something important because what the Cubs gives us as an opportunity and gave us was to play in the European Leagues.
So UEFA Leagues. And we just did that. We played six games. Uh, for the Europe, uh, Europe League and the Europe Conference League.
Knut: Okay. But to, to be in the champions league, that's a totally, you have to, yeah, yeah. You have to win the league and you have to win all sorts of stuff. Like how does that work?
George: yeah. You have to win the league. And then in our case, so in every country it's different, but in our case, we have to win, like we go to qualifications for the Champions League. So it's like, I mean, three to four games. And if we win that, we go to the Champions League.
Knut: Alright,
George: That's the current state of affairs, although that can change over the years.
Knut: alright, uh, it all makes sense to me now, that's a lie, but anyway.
Luke: No, uh, I'll definitely, we'll acknowledge here that I'm more of the, the sports fan, uh, generally here, and I, I follow football, I like, uh, I like European, uh, football, uh, well, and obviously I'm using the correct, uh, term despite my, um, my pseudo American accent, uh. Yeah, anyway, um, uh, no, it's fantastic to see, and I mean, yeah, for the non sports fans, uh, listening to this, I get that
Knut: Well, I am a sports fan, it's just that Starcraft 2 is my sport, and yeah, yeah,
Luke: yeah,
George: eSports.
Knut: yeah, yeah, so I watch, watch Starcraft 2 games. That's what I do for procrastination sometimes.
Luke: valid sports, I'm not going to compare it to other things that aren't
Knut: breakdancing? Is that a valid sport?
Luke: Breakdancing is, um, hmm, interesting. I think anything with points, that judges give points, is kind of not a sport, it's an activity.
Knut: yeah.
Luke: but, yeah, anyway,
Knut: thing to do.
Luke: is a thing to do, yes, definitely, but back to, back to, um, um, Botev Plod, is it Botev, Botev, what's, what's, Botev, Botev Plod, yeah, so, so, um, yeah, yeah, like, the, the, the achievement, winning, winning the cup, I mean, the, The cups are sort of more difficult.
They're both difficult in their own way, right? Like, the cup, you lose one game, you're out, basically, right? But, I mean, the league is like this endurance, achievement, right? You have to perform well over the course of the whole season. But the cheat code, so to say, and I probably subconsciously used the other football team's terminology, who's in the space, Real Bedford, um,
Botev Plovdiv's Bitcoin Strategy
Luke: The, the idea right, if, if I'm getting it, is that you guys would, would keep the Bitcoin in the, in the, the treasury, the, the company, and then over the course of time it's just gonna do the number go up thing and, and the, the club will have more resources.
Right. Is that, is that the idea you're thinking with the, the bitcoin strategy?
George: There's actually many, many things to it. And this is kind of the most, let's say, vanilla type of approach. Yeah, like just buy Bitcoin and hold it on the balance sheet, which is, which is great. But there's actually so many other things you can do. And that's where, because if you just do that, frankly, like, I mean, you don't need me involved, right, much.
I mean, just call Coinbase, whatever, wire the money, crack in and, buy. but with us it's like, really, uh, we see a huge opportunity to, first of all, align our brand with the Bitcoin brand, which is a royalty free, uh, The biggest brand in finance, for sure. One, uh, like it's going to be the biggest brand in the world for sure at some point.
Right. So that's, that's one play. And to do this, it's not enough for you to just buy Bitcoin and hold it on a balance sheet. It's what you need to do is proof of work, right? You need to do things that nobody has ever done. You need to really kind of be creative. Uh, and, and, um, to push the boundaries of what anyone has ever done before, right?
So, so that is, uh, that is my kind of job and it's a lot of, um, a lot of just like, let's, let's think of what, what new things we can do with Bitcoin and sports and football that nobody has ever done. Just because others are focused on the short term things, they're focused on, hitting those, those quick wins, those quick goals, which is why, for example, like a lot of the sports and, and that have, you know, interact, they haven't really interacted outside of Bedford with Bitcoin, right?
It's mostly been crypto because it's just, okay, let's make some quick money. Um,
Luke: usually, it's usually just sponsorships, right?
Knut: yeah,
George: yes. Um, and for us, because on the one hand, like, we're not like Manchester United, right? We're not Chelsea. So we don't have that much to monetize immediately. Like we're a large club, but.
Luke: You're a large club in a local league, which is, which is different from the, it's not one of the leagues that is internationally positioned like that. But, but, I mean, the, the difference between you guys and Bedford that I, that I think is, is really interesting. Like, McCormack, what he, Peter McCormack, what he's doing, I mean, he's, he's taking a club from the bottom and aiming for the top.
But who knows how long that's going to take him to get there, right? But you guys are already in the top of your league, right? Like, in the top league.
George: right, yeah, and also there's, there's different in this, we're in the top of our league. My goal, personally, is to go to Champions League, but this is very hard, right? Because, like, okay, when you start from Peter's ground, like, it's easy, okay, every year you level up, you level up, or, I mean, I'm not gonna say it's easy, but it's easier than, uh, than once you're, you know, at our level.
For us, it's important to play currently every year in European leagues like we've done so far and to every year consistently, like, increase the level of the sports, level of the business department bit by bit, and, but like breaking that point where we, you know, win the league, Where we win several more games and enter the Champions League, that, that's really hard.
I mean, because you're already at that stage where everybody, like, so many teams are so strong, right? So it's um, it takes just a lot of ingredients for you to, to, to hit, uh, in order to win. But we're gonna get there.
Knut: and does the club self custody it's bitcoin? And if so, is it a something out of 11 multisig, that sounds like a football thing?
George: Why so? Ah, yeah, an 11? Nah, nah, fuck that. I mean Nah, even, even 7 Motosick is a, is a killer, but no. Um, yeah, I can't really speak too much about this at this point. Yeah. Um, but, um, but yeah, I mean, we do, of course we do self custody. So that's, that's the approach that we've chosen with kind of a lot of, um, we've chosen to go really pure, pure Bitcoin in terms of the strategy.
And that's how we set ourselves apart. That's how we believe we win the long game because for instance, like we Bitcoin with BTC pay server. Which in my mind they don't even have competition. It's the only like, real, solid, autonomous, sovereign way to accept payments. And it's also the way which makes sense for like, Frankly, any standard business, because like, man, we're selling scarves, we're selling, um, membership boat cards, we're selling jerseys, we're selling basic merch, and if we are to sell it with basically any other service out there, outside of BTC Pay Server, we have to basically, uh, indirectly do KYC, right?
Like, we have to go through KYC, we have to go through KYB, which is ridiculous, um, in my mind. And so, um, so that's why we're exceptionally thankful to B2C Pay Server guys, uh, for what they've built. Uh, it's been like an absolute pleasure to, um, to use their product, to use their service. Uh, we have, you know, outside of B2C Pay, we, uh, we are the first, uh, sports club on Nostr.
Where, uh, we have, uh, actively been posting, exploring, you know, meeting people here. Kind of thinking of what we could do from our angle again, like first, first time on Nostr.
Aqua WAllet
George: Um, we have partnered with, uh, Aqua, JAN3's Aqua wallet, which has a, a Botive skin mode now. So if you go to settings, you can turn Botive mode and then it turns into the colors of the club and, you know, have the picture of the stadium there.
Um,
Luke: I'm using Aqua right now because, uh, uh, usually I like to use Aqua as like a sort of a middle wallet, uh, uh, because it's still slightly slower than other lightning wallets because they, they, the, everything actually lives on, on liquid and then they, they, uh, go out via bolts. Uh, so it's slightly slower than a faster, um, like, like than other, um, more direct lightning wallets.
And so usually when I come to a conference, I'm going to load up a, like a temporary. I don't know, Blink or something like that, but I forgot to do that, so I'm just using my Aqua wallet, and you know what, it's been great here, it's been working, uh, so yeah, we're big fans of Aqua wallet and what
Knut: Yeah, and a BTC pay server. I mean, uh, we can echo everything you said that we, BitcoinInfinity. com, like, and the store here We just fired up. Everything is powered by a BTC pay server, and we just love it. Yes.
Luke: So what was your question about, uh, Aqua?
George: If yours is on BOTEV mode.
Luke: Uh, I don't think I've gone into the settings and changed it to Vaudev mode, I'll have to do that, maybe we'll take
George: It's dark mode,
but cooler.
Luke: Doc dark mode, but cooler. Okay. Okay. Actually that's a, that's a, that's a good point. That's a good point. Yeah. We'll take a, we'll take a picture after, uh, after the episode and we'll de proof, bot, uh, bot e mode, and, uh, uh, post that on Nostr.
How does that sound?
George: Let's go.
Knut: Yeah. Nostr. Um, is there a connection there between both a plot and Nostr while you're doing Nostr stuff as well?
History and Freedom
George: Yeah. Well, look, um, a lot of these things is like, so What Botev Plovdiv stands for, um, very importantly, so the club was named after Hristo Botev, who's, uh, like, one of the most Bulgarians, if the most famous Bulgarian revolutionaries, like, historical figure, uh, he was a poet, he was a revolutionary, he fought for Bulgaria's freedom back in the day,
Luke: Which, which day, which, what day did you
George: uh, 110, uh, what is it, like, 50 years ago or so?
Yeah.
Knut: Mm-Hmm?
Luke: Okay. So, so
Knut: before the Commes.
Luke: ottoman, uh,
George: Yeah, yeah, yeah. He, he, he, he fought for the, for the liberation of Bulgaria from, from the Ottoman Empire. And a lot of what he stands for is this fight for freedom, his fight for liberty. Um, and this, this lives until this very day into the identity of the club and to what we stand for into the songs, into the, into the music.
Um, you know, um, the kind of like what, what our fans also resonate with, um, and, and what they sing like in many, in many ways. Right. So, um, Freedom of speech, freedom of, uh, of like freedom in general is, is a value that is deeply ingrained into kind of like what the club stands for. Um, and, uh, you know, that's why I'm into Bitcoin.
That's why I believe. And that's, that's why I saw this even bigger opportunity. Oh my God, like, how is this happening? There's so many, sometimes, you know, some like weird things happen in life and you have no explanation why and how all these things align. But, but for me, it's like this club was made really to.
to be aligned with BOTEF and to be, uh, to, to, to be aligned with Bitcoin and with Nostr. If I look at all the other clubs in Bulgaria, right, like just in Bulgaria, none of the others, like, there's no this contextual historical background that you can make these connections. But with us, we have it, and what a chance that, like, we have this owner, and he got, like, introduced to it, and then we got connected.
Like, how the hell does this happen, man? I don't know,
Luke: We like to say this, the surreal doesn't end, you know, and like, uh, my, my whole story, I've been talking about this, uh, at the, the conference here is like two years ago was the first time I ever met Bitcoiners here in Baltic Honeybadger. We, we met for the, for the first time, uh, all three of us, uh, met for the first time two years ago, I've been in Baltic Honeybadger and it's like, things, things happen so fast.
Uh, I've, I've, uh, I've thought it was been awesome just following, uh, what you've been doing with the, the club and the story. So great to, Great to get to talk about it, but, uh,
Bitcoin in Football
George: Yeah. No, for, for me, like really the, the most exciting part is really even coming forward. So, uh, because, so now it's been, so we, a long, we announced, uh, publicly that we're doing this, uh, 31st October last year. So the anniversary of the, of the, uh, Bitcoin White paper, um, we've built a lot right. And very, very importantly, I'm super proud, like, I don't know if you saw this, but like a month ago, we played on European League, the UEFA League with Bitcoin straight on our jerseys, which was like, like, when I saw this, I'm like, dude, it's crazy that this is happening.
But, but the best is really yet to come, like, like we like to say. Um, so I, I think we, we're, we have, um, we have still so much more to do. So for me, the next big part, which I'm super excited about literally in the coming month as, uh, as I go back. So is to finally get some of our. Players or at least one or two to get to do something publicly about this, because at the end of the day, that's why for me, the more I do, the more I, uh, play in this arena, I realized this is really a Trojan horse for us to bring Bitcoin into the conversation, into the minds, like I said, of people who otherwise wouldn't and, and our players, you know, especially a few of them, they're really influencers, right?
Um, a lot of people follow them. A lot of people respect them. And, um, and if they do, uh, you know, something meaningful, something cool, something impactful, this is going to have a huge impact onto our forwards. This could very well have impact onto, um, other sportsmen, other football people, other football clubs, right?
Uh, so that's why I'm doing it, right? Really?
Luke: No, this is fantastic, and actually this was exactly where I was hoping to go next, so thank you for queuing that up. But, no, no, the game theory of all this, right? Like, one club getting, Positioning as the, as the Bitcoin club in a league, uh, really means that eventually all the other clubs are going to need to adopt Bitcoin.
If they're going to be able to compete, because if play playing out the game theory, number go up, whatever it is, Bitcoin strategy plays out, you guys are going to be the most financially capable club. Financially sustainable in not very long, you know, assuming everything plays out the way we're thinking it will, right?
So, so other, other clubs then would become incentivized to also adopt Bitcoin. So what, what do you, what do you think about that? Like you, do you, do you see that, uh, happening as well?
George: Yeah, I'm not really sure if it would happen to me. That fast, to be fair. Like, I think it's inevitable, right, obviously, but I think it, yeah, like, I think this definitely takes at least three, four years, maybe more. Um,
Luke: That's, that's still pretty fast.
George: yeah, I guess. I mean, I mean, like, okay, let me define it better. It takes three, four years.
So, for other clubs within our league to start doing something like this, uh, maybe it takes less time for other clubs to realize it, but I think for them to do it, it also depends on our actions, right? So because like, we don't have like a treasury of microstrategy or something, so it's not, and we're not doing like a
Luke: you don't?
George: monthly like leverage on top of leverage on top of another leverage, you know, uh, we're not in, in Michael's privileged position. but we can do other cool things, right? Uh, one of the, um, so this is not yet live and this is not yet happening, but one of the, like two, two projects, let's say, I'm gonna briefly, like, tease here that, that I'm working on that I hope to have very large impact is first, uh, building this, uh, simple tool Uh, called like a Bitcoin, uh, football salary calculator that, uh, it's like really a DCA tool, but like looking back and like tailoring it to our niche where I want to, for us to visually and emotionally Show, um, to players, but also to fans of ours, like what Bitcoin could have done for their remuneration, if you look one year back in time, two years back in time, three years back in time, four years back in time, and for them to really realize, Oh my God, this is a no brainer.
Right? I want to make this mess. And this is hard, right? Um, because like, there's so many tools and like, but I want to be, because the audience is very wide, very different types of audience. I want to make this so that you can consume it in like two, three, four minutes. And you're like, okay, I need to learn more about this.
This actually is interesting. There's like, that's so much dense and emotional and compact information that you're like, Whoa. Why am I not doing this? How did I miss this?
Knut: What, what, what was the name of that website? I, I don't know if it's still up, but bitcoin or shit.com or something like that. So, so it lists if you bought this item when it came out, an iPhone five or whatever, uh, and if you had bought b bitcoin instead.com, I think that that's the, that's the name. So if you bought, uh, if you bought Bitcoin instead, it shows you how much, how much more money you'd have now and how many iPhones you
George: Yeah. Yeah. And of course there's many of these tools, obviously like we've all see them and we all like like them and retweet them and repost them. And it's all great. But I think, at least I hope that we can do something impactful with this. If we really tailor it, compact it to a specific type of niche audience with a specific message designed for them.
And because this audience is also like. A type of audience who can also like, um, you know, bring it to other bubbles that we ourselves are not part of, right? So that's, for example, one like, uh, one like project I'm very, very excited about and I hope we can, um, yeah, we'll bring forward relatively soon.
There's a few moving elements, but definitely in the coming month or two, uh, at most. And then, uh, and then, you know, speaking of the other clubs, what, what I want us to do is what we're working is next year, we're targeting to do, I hope we could do the world's first, uh, Bitcoin, uh, Cup tournament. Uh, for youth players, 70 year old boys who are, you know, right there before they sign their first professional contract, start earning money, for them, first of all, like, it's a Bitcoin football cup, like, it's the first time this, this could potentially ever happen And then it's, it's a football first tournament, right?
This is the, we want to make it like top quality, like really the highest quality when it comes to sports, but then you have Bitcoin involved all over the place, right? In terms of brand, in terms of rewards, in terms of, um, in terms of like plays, um, like, like games and, and interactions, activations, uh, throughout, before, throughout, and after the, And after the event, and for this, I'm targeting to get really like, like big clubs.
I mean, because it's academies, right? I mean, I cannot get the Manchester United first team, just maybe we could get the Manchester United 17 year old team or, you know, another big club. We get some of these, and then like we get their brands, we get them on the focus of Bitcoin. And we drive the conversation faster, you know, not three, four years from now, but Less
Knut: what about, um, like right now there's you and there's, um, you guys and there's a real bed for it, right? Those are the two I know of in Europe. Are you aware of any other clubs that are doing a Bitcoin strategy? I mean, is this virus spreading? Like, have you heard anything like,
George: Um, Oh, there's, uh, there's the Austrian Admira Vakir who have done some integration. So it's a second tier, uh, second league, uh, second league, uh, club that have, uh, that have, uh, you know, they've also had Bitcoin on the, their second team jersey. And, um, and they, they also accept Bitcoin payments, uh, here and there, but you know, the thing is, there's some other clubs, um, there's a Miami, um, not Miami, um, a Hawaiian club that, that is doing, uh, that is doing like their Bitcoin gig,
Knut: yeah, there are other, other sports, right, other sports team and sports teams in other sports that are doing it. But, but for football specifically,
George: which ones?
Knut: Uh, I'm so bad with sports, but wasn't there like a hockey team or a basketball team or
Luke: I'm not aware of any others, actually. Yeah, like, uh, there's been some attempts at
Knut: it's
Luke: an orange colored team or something like
Knut: more the individual athletes,
Luke: Yeah, yeah, there have been individual
Knut: for instance, a
Luke: have been individual
Knut: player, and there was some American football player.
George: There's been individual athletes, a lot of them. There's been, I was asking if you know, but there's been a baseball club in Australia, the Port Heat. Uh, who did kind of a Bitcoin strategy. Uh, but very unfortunately that didn't work out. They kind of started this at the peak of the last bull cycle. And, um, and as I understand, uh, there wasn't like a strong alignment between the owners and the management in terms of like understanding that this is a long game.
So that's why this kind of flopped. Um, but yeah, like I, I think the reason why it's not happening in more, unfortunately, and, and, and I see this even, even within our club, uh, you know, but, but definitely no other clubs because Fiat has permitted sports as well. Right. So all the sports club, uh, clubs or the vast majority in football, for sure.
They're like, you know, on the hamster wheel themselves.
Knut: They're indebted,
George: They're indebted.
Knut: to an extreme level,
George: yeah, like, like fighting for every dollar for every income. So it's, it's hard for you to like, Oh yeah, we're going to have this long term Bitcoin strategy that's going to take like two, three, four, five years to play out.
And we can benefit a lot from it. It's very, very hard in, you know, unfortunately for a large organizations, sports club in particular to To have this realization, to map this out, to get others on board. That's why it's not so popular and uh, and that's why I'm grateful and keep pushing that we have this chance.
Luke: I mean, you make a great point here about essentially the, it's the organizational alignment, right? Like the, the, these are companies, sports clubs are companies. They just have this large, the business is involved around getting fans to come in and consume this sort of marketing. Product, essentially. So it's, it's a certain kind of company that's run a certain way, but just like any other company, you need, you need alignment from the management.
So it's, it's fantastic that, uh, Boteb Plovdiv has, has the, uh, alignment and is, is putting their, their trust in you to, to move this thing forward. And I mean, from the, from the perspective of this thing, Playing out, right? The, the best part that, uh, I think one of the best parts that you, you mentioned again was the, the influencers.
Like you get, you get some players, there's, there's so many angles to, to reach people through this. I think it's, I think it's fantastic. The, uh, orange pilling a player and then they move to another club, but they, they, maybe they don't get to get paid in Bitcoin, but maybe they still put, put their money in, in Bitcoin.
Maybe they even ask their club to, to, uh, pay them in Bitcoin, something like that. And then the, the Questions start getting, uh, asked and all this.
5 Year Goals
Luke: So what, what is the, the goal in, in five years, for example, where, where do you see the club in the five year mark?
George: Oh man. Yeah, in five years, I think we definitely have to be in Champions League. Like in my mind, you know, like people around me like, oh, you're too ambitious. I'm like, man, yeah, like in five years, we definitely have to be in Champions League. Uh, that's, that's my personal goal. On our internal Slack, I have the Champions League icon there.
That's why I'm there, right? Um, so, uh, it's a lot of hard work. Like, it's really a lot of hard work. And it's also not completely dependent on me and my work, to be fair. Like, because, at all. I mean, really, like, uh, I mean, at the end of the day, the most important part is the sports department, right? Uh, in the club.
Um, so that has to continue going well. But, but I think We're going in a good direction there too, because we have the, they're the long term view as well, right. We have our academy internally, which is, yeah, it's one of the best academies. It's the best really academy in terms of infrastructure in the country.
That's why we're also can't afford to think of this Bitcoin Cup tournament, because we have the infrastructure, we have like a super cool stadium, that's crazy. If we can, if we can do a final for, for such a tournament there. Um, so, so we have all the things in place in terms of In terms of assets, I would say, uh, it's just a lot of moving parts.
a lot of work, consistency, and a bit of luck. Always it comes, you know, when, when it comes to, when it comes to football and sports, but, but five years from now, I want us to be in the champions league. I want us to be the absolute, you know, international professional level, uh, Bitcoin level, Bitcoin sports club.
and, uh, and I want for this tournament that I start to be like a, like, like to have the fourth edition by then. Uh, and, and I want to have clubs, but five years is a lot of time, you know, as you say, like, I also want to have other clubs following us by then. I think that's absolutely, absolutely is going to be doable.
Knut: What, what are the, what are the tax laws around Bitcoin in Bulgaria? Like what, are there any issues there? Or like what, is it easy enough,
George: It's kind of okay. Uh, it's kind of okay. So if you just buy Bitcoin and hold it, like you don't, uh, you don't, uh, incur taxes, uh, until you sell it, if you accept Bitcoin for payments, um, and if you don't sell it, you can just, uh, keep it as inventory on your balance sheet. So again, no,
Knut: but there's a capital gains tax or something if you sell it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Alright.
George: 10%. So it's, it's, uh,
Knut: Pretty good.
George: Yeah, I mean, it's not like El Salvador. Okay. Uh, but, but it's, uh, it's, it's way better than many other places. Um, and, uh, yeah, so we've been looking, looking actually, so I was in El Salvador a couple of months ago, because we've been looking very much to do stuff there.
And we've been, uh, yeah. Um, because we've been, we've been thinking of what to do more with Bitcoin, right? So that's why I said, like, it's not just about buying and accepting Bitcoin. It's about corporate strategies, about branding strategies, about how to make money. Um, it's about education strategies. It's, there's so much around it.
So in terms of corporate strategy, I was, uh, we're very attracted by El Salvador, um, and their, uh, capital markets regulation, because they're basically striving to build capital markets on top of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is legal tender there. They have all kinds of, tax incentives for companies to issue debt or to sell equity.
on their capital, on their, um, well, let's say nascent upcoming capital markets, because it's not like it's, you know, hustling and bustling yet. Um, but, but they're, they've put a lot of the rails, uh, um, or they're building a lot of the rails to, um, to really enable the, the, the creation of Bitcoin based capital markets.
So, um, we've had great talks there. We have meetings with, uh, um, we have. Yeah, with the Bitcoin office, right? Um, so, ideally, like, we're striving to build some connection there and to do something, interesting and world first again from a corporate perspective. It's just that, as many things, it's a little harder than you would expect it to be, or it takes a little more time than, Then you would hope to do it.
But my idea or long term vision, frankly, like what we want to do with Bitcoin, uh, and with the club is to enable our current fans and global fans to become co owners of the club. And that's why, you know, I have big hopes for, uh, for us being able to do this out of El Salvador and through El Salvador, because this would, like from a tax perspective, from a branding perspective, from legal security perspective would be, would be ideal.
It's just that, again, um, my enthusiasm is a little over, uh, ahead of kind of like how, uh, how, how advanced and set up everything there is, but, uh, but we're, we're very actively talking to them. We're working with many parties there, so. Just maybe we can have big news there too.
International and Local Effects
Luke: Well, no, and, and you actually said something great about global fans. I think this is a, a fantastic thing, right? A a again, Bedford is, is similar. They've, they've got, they've got fans all over the world and, and I think for you guys it's like who is going to tune into the Bulgarian football league outside of Bulgaria before, well, not too many people, but now a bunch of Bitcoiners.
If they're into, if they're into football or, or not even, because this is the funny thing. There were, there were a lot of people posting about that. They, they've got, they, they don't usually follow, follow sports at all, but, but they'll follow the Bitcoin team. So the, the funny thing is, I think, I think the first, the first club to adopt Bitcoin in every league is going to get all of these global fans.
And maybe the, maybe the, the second one, the third one, maybe can get some kind of other support, but it's really the first one in every
George: really.
Luke: That, that
George: Not
Luke: That's that. I, I completely agree with you there. It's the, it's the first one
Knut: first mover advantage.
Luke: mover advantage. It's gonna get, it is gonna get all of the, all of the Bitcoiners are gonna now be, be supporting and, uh, uh, yeah.
I mean, have, have you seen, uh, some, some uptick in, uh, kind of international
George: yeah, yeah. So, international but also local. Like, local is very important. Like, we have, like, so many people in the country who's like, just what you say, like, I didn't care about sports or football, like, forever, or at all, ever, but now I follow, now I buy merch, now I come, you know, every now and then they come to games, so
Luke: Well, because there's the bread and circuses thing that you said, it gets tossed around in the Bitcoin world and also some other places on kind of the Twitter sphere and whatever, it's like it's a distraction, that sports is sort of a distraction from clown world basically and it's a way of people to sort of Uh, forget about what's going on around them, but I think that's also missing the, the positives, which it, it's a, it's a community builder, it brings people together, there's a, there's a sense of, of pride in, in something local succeeding, everyone, everyone's happy, there's, there's real economic, uh, effects usually when a, when a local sports team wins, and so, so from, from my perspective, I, I, I think, I think sport is a good thing, and it's, and it's, it's something that, that people can rally around, and so,
George: an amazing thing.
Luke: Yeah.
And, and so what, what are, what are you looking at locally? Like what, what do you hope to have the effect, uh, uh, locally in, in piv?
George: Yeah. Um, yeah, no, look, uh, for me, sports, like, for us, the, the, the, the, about Plovdiv, for me, that's what I realized, like, we're kind of very much into Bitcoin and stuff, obviously, that's our interest, but I think when we go on a Bitcoin standard, Right. And, uh, in general, people start feeling wealthier, opposed to, like, being in the grind.
You're just going to have more time for fun stuff, right? Like playing football, I mean, or volleyball, or whatever your sport is, or, like, going and cheering your team, and, uh, and being part of such a community. And I think that's really what, you know, even Nostr is about. Like it's, Being part of these communities, because that's fun, and like, we as humans, at the end of the day, we are living to be part of communities, right?
And you find your community, you're an active part of it, you contribute to it, you evolve it, right? You build it in one way or another. And unfortunately, you know, today in the fiat world, this is just like A stress valve in many ways, or like you say, like Brothers and Sisters, whatever. Um, but, uh, but I think it can be so much more, right?
It is, but it can be so much more for a larger amount of people and so on and so forth. uh, but yeah, well, back in Plovdiv, man, like, I have big hopes. I really have big, big ambitions there. I want to get Bitcoin into the wallets of, uh, of like tens of thousands of people. I want people to wake up. I want people to see.
Luke: big is piv? How many
George: It's like three, four hundred thousand people. So it's a lot. Uh, our stadium is, uh, 21, 000 seats stadium. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. It's, it's 19. I wish it was 21.
Luke: Yeah. You'll have to add 2000 more
George: Maybe, yeah, we'll, we'll think of some additional construction.
Luke: the, make the infinity stand when
George: Right. Right. But, uh, but yeah, like the setting was super cool. Like, it's really cool.
Like when it's feel like, man, the atmosphere is amazing. Um, and so it's, and it's really this community that you can feel that people are involved. So it's, it's like consistency and it's social engineering in one way or another, right?
Knut: one of our favorite words,
George: but in a positive way.
Knut: in a positive way, okay.
George: So it's social engineering for us to ingrain Bitcoin and make it part of kind of what people see, do, have, own, interact with, right?
So, uh, I think exactly because of this community element, exactly because, Because, you know, football is a football club and there's this unique living organism we can, we can create this and, you know, it's fascinating. I'm so much into this and there's other people who are so much into this. Oh my god, like, we can make such a big difference.
And, and like in the country. You know, on a political and economic level, they don't get it. Like, they don't see it. They just are in their, you know, like, oh, are we going to accept the euro? Oh, what's happening with the war? I'm like, who cares? Let's build.
Bulgarian Currency Situation
Knut: Yeah, Bulgaria has its own shitcoin, I almost forgot about that, but uh, what's it called again?
George: Kinda. Um, but not quite, to be fair. It's, it's a good coin, uh, not for investing, but, but for medium of exchange is actually decent. Uh, Lev, Lev
Knut: Lev, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah,
George: and I recently got educated about this. So, uh, the lev is pegged to the euro. So, um, uh, so, so that, that is super cool for, for us, for me as a consumer, for businesses, because like the fixed rate.
So for trade is, um, It's, it's good, right? As the world would be in the future. You have one currency, Bitcoin, you don't have the currency exchange risk, right? We don't have it only with the European Union. And the good part with this, so, we got, we got hyperinflation back in 1997. Was really bad. People lost almost everything, everything, in many cases.
Um, and then we got this so called currency board introduced and the currency board is like we have the left, but the left has to be backed up by other currencies. So it's like a stable coin, kind of like how Tether is backed by, by dollars. You know, the levy is backed by euro and like a basket of, I think they have some other currencies and assets, which is cool because the local politicians, they cannot print, they cannot, you know, so, so it's been, it's been, I think, way better than Hungary, Sweden, uh, Finland, you have your, oh
but Sweden I've heard it's kind of bad,
Knut: It's kinda bad, Norway too, like, both Swedish and Norwegian crown, and the crown in Czechia, like the Czech Republic, it's also
George: Yeah.
Knut: I mean, they're all going to shit the smaller
George: So, so for us, it's like, I would say we're better than, than the Corona, the, and, and all these like local currencies, because we kind of just are there to the, peg to the Euro. The local politicians don't have the opportunity to print. So it's, it's a very good position for us to be.
Luke: You, you get the, the negatives of the, the euro. But, but still, I mean, I mean the, the realistically, the dollar at the Euro and maybe the, the Chinese currency are the only, are the only ones that are in the, sort of within our own, within our own lifetimes are, are going to be not as terribly bad against Bitcoin.
But all the other ones are just, are. All the other ones are
Knut: Yeah, I think it's just a matter of time before both, uh, at least Sweden, uh, switches to Euro standard. If not switching to Bitcoin standard happens first, but well, we'll see, we'll see what happens.
George: man. I'm very bearish about the Euro.
Knut: yeah, yeah, it's like,
Luke: It'll be the second last to fall or third last but but yeah it's it's it's it's not going to be the the last and so it's yeah.
Knut: So that is what it is. I mean, speaking of Bulgaria and currencies and stuff,
Bitcoin Adoption in Bulgaria
Knut: like, how is the rest of, how is Bitcoin adoption in general in Bulgaria? What's happening in other places? Like, Plamen opened a bar, I saw, and like, what are the connections? What's happening?
George: It's actually quite cool. I'm, I'm, I'm quite happy with, with how the ecosystem is evolving. There's, there's Plamen, um, with his whole community, like content creation, the conferences he's been doing, which has been like a very, I think he's responsible for like, I don't know, probably like, 000, maybe several 10, 000s of people who have opened their eyes and even if they're not hard bitcoiners, they now own bitcoin.
Uh, so that's huge. We have other content creators also who've had an impact. We have now once or twice per, yeah, about twice per year we have like, uh, A small, uh, merchant, uh, like, conference events, so for merchants to accept Bitcoin. we have these people who are active and who are doing things. Now, actually, yeah, there's something new that's coming up here, uh, literally in Plovdiv is we have this, um, this, uh, great dudes who have this, um, um, it's an application for, uh, ordering food, like takeaway and, uh, what is it, like,
Knut: like Glovo or
George: yeah, yeah, like Glovo, um, but, um, but, um, But it's not like this big corporate thing that, but, but still, it's a very good product and they've integrated accepting Bitcoin there for quite some time now they've made it even easier and they've introduced.
So we have like about, I think it's 15 restaurants in Sofia and like five or so in Plovdiv where through their system, you can order food. And pay with Bitcoin online, or you can also go in the restaurant and pay in Bitcoin online, and they just, um, they just won a, uh, grant from, uh, Bitcoin Beach, uh, and, uh, they're going to use the grant, uh, to, well, the attempt is really to start like a small circular economy, if you would Um, where, so if you go, uh, to one of those restaurants and pay with Bitcoin, you're going to get sats back 10%, and then, um, the restaurant is also going to get 10 percent sats back.
And if you order food, um, through their app, also the driver is going to get, uh, some sats back. And, uh, we've just been discussing, because obviously we're partnering with them, with the football club, so we'll push this out, because some of the restaurants that are there are our, I mean, basically, like, we have two restaurants locally that are partners, we got them in, right, obviously, in the deal, um, So, so that is also like, for me, it's like super cool because now for so far, the club has been pushing Bitcoin.
Now we have two of our restaurant partners who are themselves like hard Botevists, Botefans, and like they're popular. Now they're starting to accept Bitcoin in their, in their two restaurants, right? And they're going to have their campaigns. We're going to push them more. So, um, so I'm really excited about this and fingers crossed this goes well.
We have good metrics because if we have good metrics. Yeah, we'll look for ways to grow this. So there's a lot of grassroots things happening, which I love. On the top, nothing.
Knut: It's the way it's supposed to be.
George: But it's the way it is. Yeah, it's a better
Luke: Yeah it really seems like that you get one or two of these big anchors like like for example you you guys have had that had that conference last couple of years but now with both of Plavdev now Bulgaria is really got a couple of big anchors. Big relative in relative terms, uh, and all of this other stuff can, can start coming up around it.
And, uh, love, love to see it. I mean, he, I mean here, here with Rega, there's Honey Budger has been going for a really long time, and I, and I even think that they are honest about, we, we would, we just talked to, to Max, uh, about this, uh, from Defi and like yeah, there's not much other adoption in, in Lavia and this conference has been going on for a long time.
Exactly. And so it's just like, uh, it's, it's, it's great to see, uh, in, in your case, in Bulgaria's case, that there's, there's more of this, uh, picking up. So, yeah,
George: Well, I think it's really, in our case, I don't know, like it's grassroots, like I said, and I really believe grassroots and then Rio or for the vast majority, Rio adoption comes permissionless life. It comes like it's not forced. You know, there is this point where, okay, there's Plamen, like, he got the inspiration, he makes his content, he does the conferences, Like, our owner, he sees this opportunity for Bitcoin, for the club. He takes the action, right? So it's, it's not like, so it's individuals, right? Taking actions and then, as you have, you know, several of them, maybe others get inspired or get ideas going and that's how the magic happens. And, uh, yeah. Excited about it.
Wrapping Up
Luke: it's awesome, man. Great hear your story. So, was, uh, was there anything else that you wanted to discuss or bring up on this topic?
George: no, I mean, what I would say is absolutely, uh, Please, uh, you know, Knut, you've been, but please, you're absolutely welcome, Luke, join as well, like, both of you should come
Knut: Absolutely. Highly recommend it. I had a great time in Bulgaria, and it's such a fascinating country, it's such a rich history and such a beautiful place, and the food is great, and it's very affordable, it's very, yeah, very
George: like, I have people who come in Plogis specifically to, like, nomads, spend, like, a or a month. So, so please enjoy, visit the game. come spend in the restaurants where they accept Bitcoin, follow us on social media for sure, so, X and Nostr,
Luke: Yes, all the details, please.
Knut: And also like one of the eras, uh, infamous eras of Bulgaria is the commie era, right? Where you can see the impact that system had on the country and how horrid it is. Uh, so it's, it's, uh, that might not be a good pitch for, uh, but that's
Luke: Let him, let him share his social medias, Knut.
George: wait, do you have, do you have something
Knut: no, no, I think like the, The point I was getting to is, if you get to Bulgaria, don't only go to Sofia, go around the rest of the country, because it's not as raped as that town was by, as that city was by communism, all this concrete, yeah, yeah,
George: yeah, the,
Knut: you can really see the impact there. I'm not, um, yeah, this came out totally wrong, but I'm trying to, I'm trying to, To hype Bulgaria here, but also there's a historical lesson to be learned in the country, for sure,
George: sure. It's really like, there's so many different things there. So there's the communist part, there's like fucking amazing nature, there's like
Knut: is everything, yeah.
George: if you're into hiking, there's like, just like from Sofia, what I love about Sofia, like just last week, twice, end of the day, I'm like fucked up, like tired of computer.
40 minutes up and I'm up in the mountains, hiking, in like 2000 meters altitude. Uh, so, so there's all these like super cool things, but on the socials, yeah, we're on Twitter. we're on Nostr, uh, so Twitter is, um, botif underscore, uh, en, on Nostr, uh, we are just botif. Yeah, you can find us.
Luke: going say you're NPUB? No, no, no,
George: I'm still learning it, okay?
Luke: we'll post, you're still learning, we'll post all the details in the show
George: Yes. Yes. And feel free to also check out our website. We have, due to our El Salvadorian, um, kind of project, we already have a Salvadorian website, which is very easy to remember, botif. sv. So you can go there and from there you'll find all the links and information.
Luke: Absolutely fantastic.
Knut: Great! Get the inverse of Clown World. This is a shill. BitcoinInfinityStore. com And thank you very much for coming on,
George: was great having
Knut: Great to have
Luke: George, thanks so much. This has been Bitcoin Infinity Show. Thank you for
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@ bf95e1a4:ebdcc848
2024-09-24 13:38:58This is the cleaned, AI-generated transcript of Bitcoin Infinity Show #127
If you'd like to support us, check out https://bitcoininfinitystore.com/ for all our books, merch, and more!
Welcoming George Manolov
Luke: George, welcome to the Bitcoin Infinity Show, thank you for joining us.
George: Thank you, Knut.
Knut: Good to have you here, George.
George: to be here, yeah.
you're here to tell us about the city that I was most surprised by ever. Like, I've never heard of the city before I went to Bulgaria, Yeah, time flies.
Knut: So Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which was amazing, this rich, Thousands of years of history plays with a lot of different eras and different styles of architecture and stuff, really enjoyed Plovdiv, and you have a football team there.
George: yeah, indeed.
George Manolov and Botev Plovdiv
George: Please give us the story about George and Plovdiv Yeah, sure.
Knut: Plovdiv.
George: Sure, sure. So, Plovdiv is, well, I would say it's the oldest living city in Europe, so continuously inhabited. Like you say, not many people know it. I guess, like, we don't have good enough marketing, but, that's probably part of my job right now, right? To spread the word about it. so it's, like the second largest city in the country.
And, yeah, it's just this, it's very, like, I love how you put it because almost nobody has really heard of Plovdiv, right? Most people, when they hear of Bulgaria, they've probably heard of Sofia but Sofia is, okay, but Plovdiv is kind of the chill place, Plovdiv is the place that is actually worth visiting, the place where, people just enjoy going there.
I was born there, right? and, grew up there till 18 or so, then, Studied, lived in Sofia most of the time. And, last year, in kind of summer, I was already kind of way deeper into Bitcoin. I decided I'm going to go full time into Bitcoin, just commit all my time in Bitcoin at the time, educating, publishing books in Bulgarian about Bitcoin, creating my own educational platform.
And then I got, reached out and connected really to the owner of the football club in the city, which is also the oldest football club in the country, Botev Plovdiv, who was, well, he got introduced into Bitcoin himself and he realized it's going to be a very big, project. You know, going to play a central role in where the world is going.
Knut: What is this the owner of the club?
George: That's right. The owner of the club. was like, Hey, I think we can do something unique with Bitcoin because, you know, the club is really a company, right? It's a business on the one hand, but it's a special type of business, it's not where just you produce a certain product or service.
It's really a living organism where people are involved into it, for very emotional reasons. people feel like it's their own and it's not like a small group of people. It's a very large group of people. In our case, we have tens of thousands, arguably more than a hundred, 200, 000 people who care, who watch, who follow the club.
And so on the one hand, like there's many different ways in which we can look into this, but on the one hand. It's for me, what really inspired me and what got me like, Oh my God, like, is this really happening is that we can bring the conversation about Bitcoin from a completely different angle into society to a group of people who for the most part would never really They would like this, they would never listen to podcasts like this, they would never get to any of the kind of places and things we listen to, watch, consume, right?
and people go, You know, people go kind of for bread and circus, right,
Knut: yeah, yeah.
George: for the games. That's what really football is, right? It's fun and it's emotion, it's enjoyment, but then we push them censorship resistance and hard money, right?
And we don't really push it, you know, that's the thing, right? Because are like consistently, progressively, gradually over time, introducing it and finding the best way and the most appropriate way to, yeah, plant that seed. To the minds of the people, into the views of the people and so on and so forth.
so it's really like, you know, what we're trying to build is, we feel we're in a very privileged position, right? because we've been, the first really professional sports club globally, I would say, to have, uh, crypto Bitcoin, you know, people, departments, who is actually full time employed to, you know, think of a way to grow the business, to think of a way to integrate Bitcoin natively, within the various aspects of, of, of the organization, which obviously initially includes like accepting payments and so on and so forth.
But, um, but there's so much more you can do exactly with this type of, Like organization, again, like not, not, not just a business in a traditional sense.
Knut: Yeah. And, uh, won the league, right? Is that, is that right?
George: Yeah, man, like it's, uh, yeah, so we, um, when I started last year, things were super bad. Like exactly one year ago, I was there for the, for one of the first games. It was horrible. Like, I was like, okay, this is a great idea, but if the team is doing so bad and if, uh, if they keep losing and if the fans keep getting, you know, being unhappy, Um, it's not gonna go anywhere, but still, I gave it a, I gave it a go, right, because I was like, okay, I just hope that the sports side guys are going to do their, their part, and I have my opportunity here, um, to, to just like push, to educate, to, To do what, what, what life is giving me an opportunity to do.
And, uh, very fortunately, as we started working, the team started performing better and better and better. We got a completely new coach. We got a new sports director. We, we had a lot of key staff changes across the organization, which, Um, relatively quickly started showing results. So, uh, yeah, like, 10 months later in May, we won the Bulgarian Cup.
Luke: Is that the cup or the league? Like, uh,
George: it's the cup, it's the cup. So, so, I was saying, like, we started very bad in the league. And so, we were doing better and better, but still, like, we finished 9th in the league out of 16 clubs at the end of the day. But which was still okay, because, like, when I joined, like, we were, like,
Luke: Worried about relegation or something like that?
George: there. I mean,
Knut: We're complete, uh, like I've tried to take an interest to football, but like, uh, my ADD just, the brain just wanders away after five minutes and I can't concentrate anymore. So I don't
Luke: a basketball fan.
Knut: Am I now?
Football for Noobs
Knut: Uh, so, uh, what's the difference between the cup and the league? Let's begin there. That's, that's how much of a football noob I
George: So, so pretty much in every country is the same, right? You have a league or a championship where you have, in our case, 16 teams, and every team plays twice against every other team. So home game, away game, and then, you know, you either win three points when you win, or you lose, or you draw, and you, you, you win one point.
And then, so after you play, after you play, in our case, this, what is it, games? You know,
Luke: 30.
George: yeah, about 30. Yeah, right. You're better than Matt, it's obvious. So, um, so once you play these 30 games, um, you, um, yeah, like the team with the most points wins, right? Whereas, uh, the cup is direct elimination
Knut: So quarterfinals, semifinals, all that.
George: exactly. So it's the easier way. So this was the way for us to due to the bad start of the season. This was the way for us to, to achieve something in this season and to achieve something important because what the Cubs gives us as an opportunity and gave us was to play in the European Leagues.
So UEFA Leagues. And we just did that. We played six games. Uh, for the Europe, uh, Europe League and the Europe Conference League.
Knut: Okay. But to, to be in the champions league, that's a totally, you have to, yeah, yeah. You have to win the league and you have to win all sorts of stuff. Like how does that work?
George: yeah. You have to win the league. And then in our case, so in every country it's different, but in our case, we have to win, like we go to qualifications for the Champions League. So it's like, I mean, three to four games. And if we win that, we go to the Champions League.
Knut: Alright,
George: That's the current state of affairs, although that can change over the years.
Knut: alright, uh, it all makes sense to me now, that's a lie, but anyway.
Luke: No, uh, I'll definitely, we'll acknowledge here that I'm more of the, the sports fan, uh, generally here, and I, I follow football, I like, uh, I like European, uh, football, uh, well, and obviously I'm using the correct, uh, term despite my, um, my pseudo American accent, uh. Yeah, anyway, um, uh, no, it's fantastic to see, and I mean, yeah, for the non sports fans, uh, listening to this, I get that
Knut: Well, I am a sports fan, it's just that Starcraft 2 is my sport, and yeah, yeah,
Luke: yeah,
George: eSports.
Knut: yeah, yeah, so I watch, watch Starcraft 2 games. That's what I do for procrastination sometimes.
Luke: valid sports, I'm not going to compare it to other things that aren't
Knut: breakdancing? Is that a valid sport?
Luke: Breakdancing is, um, hmm, interesting. I think anything with points, that judges give points, is kind of not a sport, it's an activity.
Knut: yeah.
Luke: but, yeah, anyway,
Knut: thing to do.
Luke: is a thing to do, yes, definitely, but back to, back to, um, um, Botev Plod, is it Botev, Botev, what's, what's, Botev, Botev Plod, yeah, so, so, um, yeah, yeah, like, the, the, the achievement, winning, winning the cup, I mean, the, The cups are sort of more difficult.
They're both difficult in their own way, right? Like, the cup, you lose one game, you're out, basically, right? But, I mean, the league is like this endurance, achievement, right? You have to perform well over the course of the whole season. But the cheat code, so to say, and I probably subconsciously used the other football team's terminology, who's in the space, Real Bedford, um,
Botev Plovdiv's Bitcoin Strategy
Luke: The, the idea right, if, if I'm getting it, is that you guys would, would keep the Bitcoin in the, in the, the treasury, the, the company, and then over the course of time it's just gonna do the number go up thing and, and the, the club will have more resources.
Right. Is that, is that the idea you're thinking with the, the bitcoin strategy?
George: There's actually many, many things to it. And this is kind of the most, let's say, vanilla type of approach. Yeah, like just buy Bitcoin and hold it on the balance sheet, which is, which is great. But there's actually so many other things you can do. And that's where, because if you just do that, frankly, like, I mean, you don't need me involved, right, much.
I mean, just call Coinbase, whatever, wire the money, crack in and, buy. but with us it's like, really, uh, we see a huge opportunity to, first of all, align our brand with the Bitcoin brand, which is a royalty free, uh, The biggest brand in finance, for sure. One, uh, like it's going to be the biggest brand in the world for sure at some point.
Right. So that's, that's one play. And to do this, it's not enough for you to just buy Bitcoin and hold it on a balance sheet. It's what you need to do is proof of work, right? You need to do things that nobody has ever done. You need to really kind of be creative. Uh, and, and, um, to push the boundaries of what anyone has ever done before, right?
So, so that is, uh, that is my kind of job and it's a lot of, um, a lot of just like, let's, let's think of what, what new things we can do with Bitcoin and sports and football that nobody has ever done. Just because others are focused on the short term things, they're focused on, hitting those, those quick wins, those quick goals, which is why, for example, like a lot of the sports and, and that have, you know, interact, they haven't really interacted outside of Bedford with Bitcoin, right?
It's mostly been crypto because it's just, okay, let's make some quick money. Um,
Luke: usually, it's usually just sponsorships, right?
Knut: yeah,
George: yes. Um, and for us, because on the one hand, like, we're not like Manchester United, right? We're not Chelsea. So we don't have that much to monetize immediately. Like we're a large club, but.
Luke: You're a large club in a local league, which is, which is different from the, it's not one of the leagues that is internationally positioned like that. But, but, I mean, the, the difference between you guys and Bedford that I, that I think is, is really interesting. Like, McCormack, what he, Peter McCormack, what he's doing, I mean, he's, he's taking a club from the bottom and aiming for the top.
But who knows how long that's going to take him to get there, right? But you guys are already in the top of your league, right? Like, in the top league.
George: right, yeah, and also there's, there's different in this, we're in the top of our league. My goal, personally, is to go to Champions League, but this is very hard, right? Because, like, okay, when you start from Peter's ground, like, it's easy, okay, every year you level up, you level up, or, I mean, I'm not gonna say it's easy, but it's easier than, uh, than once you're, you know, at our level.
For us, it's important to play currently every year in European leagues like we've done so far and to every year consistently, like, increase the level of the sports, level of the business department bit by bit, and, but like breaking that point where we, you know, win the league, Where we win several more games and enter the Champions League, that, that's really hard.
I mean, because you're already at that stage where everybody, like, so many teams are so strong, right? So it's um, it takes just a lot of ingredients for you to, to, to hit, uh, in order to win. But we're gonna get there.
Knut: and does the club self custody it's bitcoin? And if so, is it a something out of 11 multisig, that sounds like a football thing?
George: Why so? Ah, yeah, an 11? Nah, nah, fuck that. I mean Nah, even, even 7 Motosick is a, is a killer, but no. Um, yeah, I can't really speak too much about this at this point. Yeah. Um, but, um, but yeah, I mean, we do, of course we do self custody. So that's, that's the approach that we've chosen with kind of a lot of, um, we've chosen to go really pure, pure Bitcoin in terms of the strategy.
And that's how we set ourselves apart. That's how we believe we win the long game because for instance, like we Bitcoin with BTC pay server. Which in my mind they don't even have competition. It's the only like, real, solid, autonomous, sovereign way to accept payments. And it's also the way which makes sense for like, Frankly, any standard business, because like, man, we're selling scarves, we're selling, um, membership boat cards, we're selling jerseys, we're selling basic merch, and if we are to sell it with basically any other service out there, outside of BTC Pay Server, we have to basically, uh, indirectly do KYC, right?
Like, we have to go through KYC, we have to go through KYB, which is ridiculous, um, in my mind. And so, um, so that's why we're exceptionally thankful to B2C Pay Server guys, uh, for what they've built. Uh, it's been like an absolute pleasure to, um, to use their product, to use their service. Uh, we have, you know, outside of B2C Pay, we, uh, we are the first, uh, sports club on Nostr.
Where, uh, we have, uh, actively been posting, exploring, you know, meeting people here. Kind of thinking of what we could do from our angle again, like first, first time on Nostr.
Aqua WAllet
George: Um, we have partnered with, uh, Aqua, JAN3's Aqua wallet, which has a, a Botive skin mode now. So if you go to settings, you can turn Botive mode and then it turns into the colors of the club and, you know, have the picture of the stadium there.
Um,
Luke: I'm using Aqua right now because, uh, uh, usually I like to use Aqua as like a sort of a middle wallet, uh, uh, because it's still slightly slower than other lightning wallets because they, they, the, everything actually lives on, on liquid and then they, they, uh, go out via bolts. Uh, so it's slightly slower than a faster, um, like, like than other, um, more direct lightning wallets.
And so usually when I come to a conference, I'm going to load up a, like a temporary. I don't know, Blink or something like that, but I forgot to do that, so I'm just using my Aqua wallet, and you know what, it's been great here, it's been working, uh, so yeah, we're big fans of Aqua wallet and what
Knut: Yeah, and a BTC pay server. I mean, uh, we can echo everything you said that we, BitcoinInfinity. com, like, and the store here We just fired up. Everything is powered by a BTC pay server, and we just love it. Yes.
Luke: So what was your question about, uh, Aqua?
George: If yours is on BOTEV mode.
Luke: Uh, I don't think I've gone into the settings and changed it to Vaudev mode, I'll have to do that, maybe we'll take
George: It's dark mode,
but cooler.
Luke: Doc dark mode, but cooler. Okay. Okay. Actually that's a, that's a, that's a good point. That's a good point. Yeah. We'll take a, we'll take a picture after, uh, after the episode and we'll de proof, bot, uh, bot e mode, and, uh, uh, post that on Nostr.
How does that sound?
George: Let's go.
Knut: Yeah. Nostr. Um, is there a connection there between both a plot and Nostr while you're doing Nostr stuff as well?
History and Freedom
George: Yeah. Well, look, um, a lot of these things is like, so What Botev Plovdiv stands for, um, very importantly, so the club was named after Hristo Botev, who's, uh, like, one of the most Bulgarians, if the most famous Bulgarian revolutionaries, like, historical figure, uh, he was a poet, he was a revolutionary, he fought for Bulgaria's freedom back in the day,
Luke: Which, which day, which, what day did you
George: uh, 110, uh, what is it, like, 50 years ago or so?
Yeah.
Knut: Mm-Hmm?
Luke: Okay. So, so
Knut: before the Commes.
Luke: ottoman, uh,
George: Yeah, yeah, yeah. He, he, he, he fought for the, for the liberation of Bulgaria from, from the Ottoman Empire. And a lot of what he stands for is this fight for freedom, his fight for liberty. Um, and this, this lives until this very day into the identity of the club and to what we stand for into the songs, into the, into the music.
Um, you know, um, the kind of like what, what our fans also resonate with, um, and, and what they sing like in many, in many ways. Right. So, um, Freedom of speech, freedom of, uh, of like freedom in general is, is a value that is deeply ingrained into kind of like what the club stands for. Um, and, uh, you know, that's why I'm into Bitcoin.
That's why I believe. And that's, that's why I saw this even bigger opportunity. Oh my God, like, how is this happening? There's so many, sometimes, you know, some like weird things happen in life and you have no explanation why and how all these things align. But, but for me, it's like this club was made really to.
to be aligned with BOTEF and to be, uh, to, to, to be aligned with Bitcoin and with Nostr. If I look at all the other clubs in Bulgaria, right, like just in Bulgaria, none of the others, like, there's no this contextual historical background that you can make these connections. But with us, we have it, and what a chance that, like, we have this owner, and he got, like, introduced to it, and then we got connected.
Like, how the hell does this happen, man? I don't know,
Luke: We like to say this, the surreal doesn't end, you know, and like, uh, my, my whole story, I've been talking about this, uh, at the, the conference here is like two years ago was the first time I ever met Bitcoiners here in Baltic Honeybadger. We, we met for the, for the first time, uh, all three of us, uh, met for the first time two years ago, I've been in Baltic Honeybadger and it's like, things, things happen so fast.
Uh, I've, I've, uh, I've thought it was been awesome just following, uh, what you've been doing with the, the club and the story. So great to, Great to get to talk about it, but, uh,
Bitcoin in Football
George: Yeah. No, for, for me, like really the, the most exciting part is really even coming forward. So, uh, because, so now it's been, so we, a long, we announced, uh, publicly that we're doing this, uh, 31st October last year. So the anniversary of the, of the, uh, Bitcoin White paper, um, we've built a lot right. And very, very importantly, I'm super proud, like, I don't know if you saw this, but like a month ago, we played on European League, the UEFA League with Bitcoin straight on our jerseys, which was like, like, when I saw this, I'm like, dude, it's crazy that this is happening.
But, but the best is really yet to come, like, like we like to say. Um, so I, I think we, we're, we have, um, we have still so much more to do. So for me, the next big part, which I'm super excited about literally in the coming month as, uh, as I go back. So is to finally get some of our. Players or at least one or two to get to do something publicly about this, because at the end of the day, that's why for me, the more I do, the more I, uh, play in this arena, I realized this is really a Trojan horse for us to bring Bitcoin into the conversation, into the minds, like I said, of people who otherwise wouldn't and, and our players, you know, especially a few of them, they're really influencers, right?
Um, a lot of people follow them. A lot of people respect them. And, um, and if they do, uh, you know, something meaningful, something cool, something impactful, this is going to have a huge impact onto our forwards. This could very well have impact onto, um, other sportsmen, other football people, other football clubs, right?
Uh, so that's why I'm doing it, right? Really?
Luke: No, this is fantastic, and actually this was exactly where I was hoping to go next, so thank you for queuing that up. But, no, no, the game theory of all this, right? Like, one club getting, Positioning as the, as the Bitcoin club in a league, uh, really means that eventually all the other clubs are going to need to adopt Bitcoin.
If they're going to be able to compete, because if play playing out the game theory, number go up, whatever it is, Bitcoin strategy plays out, you guys are going to be the most financially capable club. Financially sustainable in not very long, you know, assuming everything plays out the way we're thinking it will, right?
So, so other, other clubs then would become incentivized to also adopt Bitcoin. So what, what do you, what do you think about that? Like you, do you, do you see that, uh, happening as well?
George: Yeah, I'm not really sure if it would happen to me. That fast, to be fair. Like, I think it's inevitable, right, obviously, but I think it, yeah, like, I think this definitely takes at least three, four years, maybe more. Um,
Luke: That's, that's still pretty fast.
George: yeah, I guess. I mean, I mean, like, okay, let me define it better. It takes three, four years.
So, for other clubs within our league to start doing something like this, uh, maybe it takes less time for other clubs to realize it, but I think for them to do it, it also depends on our actions, right? So because like, we don't have like a treasury of microstrategy or something, so it's not, and we're not doing like a
Luke: you don't?
George: monthly like leverage on top of leverage on top of another leverage, you know, uh, we're not in, in Michael's privileged position. but we can do other cool things, right? Uh, one of the, um, so this is not yet live and this is not yet happening, but one of the, like two, two projects, let's say, I'm gonna briefly, like, tease here that, that I'm working on that I hope to have very large impact is first, uh, building this, uh, simple tool Uh, called like a Bitcoin, uh, football salary calculator that, uh, it's like really a DCA tool, but like looking back and like tailoring it to our niche where I want to, for us to visually and emotionally Show, um, to players, but also to fans of ours, like what Bitcoin could have done for their remuneration, if you look one year back in time, two years back in time, three years back in time, four years back in time, and for them to really realize, Oh my God, this is a no brainer.
Right? I want to make this mess. And this is hard, right? Um, because like, there's so many tools and like, but I want to be, because the audience is very wide, very different types of audience. I want to make this so that you can consume it in like two, three, four minutes. And you're like, okay, I need to learn more about this.
This actually is interesting. There's like, that's so much dense and emotional and compact information that you're like, Whoa. Why am I not doing this? How did I miss this?
Knut: What, what, what was the name of that website? I, I don't know if it's still up, but bitcoin or shit.com or something like that. So, so it lists if you bought this item when it came out, an iPhone five or whatever, uh, and if you had bought b bitcoin instead.com, I think that that's the, that's the name. So if you bought, uh, if you bought Bitcoin instead, it shows you how much, how much more money you'd have now and how many iPhones you
George: Yeah. Yeah. And of course there's many of these tools, obviously like we've all see them and we all like like them and retweet them and repost them. And it's all great. But I think, at least I hope that we can do something impactful with this. If we really tailor it, compact it to a specific type of niche audience with a specific message designed for them.
And because this audience is also like. A type of audience who can also like, um, you know, bring it to other bubbles that we ourselves are not part of, right? So that's, for example, one like, uh, one like project I'm very, very excited about and I hope we can, um, yeah, we'll bring forward relatively soon.
There's a few moving elements, but definitely in the coming month or two, uh, at most. And then, uh, and then, you know, speaking of the other clubs, what, what I want us to do is what we're working is next year, we're targeting to do, I hope we could do the world's first, uh, Bitcoin, uh, Cup tournament. Uh, for youth players, 70 year old boys who are, you know, right there before they sign their first professional contract, start earning money, for them, first of all, like, it's a Bitcoin football cup, like, it's the first time this, this could potentially ever happen And then it's, it's a football first tournament, right?
This is the, we want to make it like top quality, like really the highest quality when it comes to sports, but then you have Bitcoin involved all over the place, right? In terms of brand, in terms of rewards, in terms of, um, in terms of like plays, um, like, like games and, and interactions, activations, uh, throughout, before, throughout, and after the, And after the event, and for this, I'm targeting to get really like, like big clubs.
I mean, because it's academies, right? I mean, I cannot get the Manchester United first team, just maybe we could get the Manchester United 17 year old team or, you know, another big club. We get some of these, and then like we get their brands, we get them on the focus of Bitcoin. And we drive the conversation faster, you know, not three, four years from now, but Less
Knut: what about, um, like right now there's you and there's, um, you guys and there's a real bed for it, right? Those are the two I know of in Europe. Are you aware of any other clubs that are doing a Bitcoin strategy? I mean, is this virus spreading? Like, have you heard anything like,
George: Um, Oh, there's, uh, there's the Austrian Admira Vakir who have done some integration. So it's a second tier, uh, second league, uh, second league, uh, club that have, uh, that have, uh, you know, they've also had Bitcoin on the, their second team jersey. And, um, and they, they also accept Bitcoin payments, uh, here and there, but you know, the thing is, there's some other clubs, um, there's a Miami, um, not Miami, um, a Hawaiian club that, that is doing, uh, that is doing like their Bitcoin gig,
Knut: yeah, there are other, other sports, right, other sports team and sports teams in other sports that are doing it. But, but for football specifically,
George: which ones?
Knut: Uh, I'm so bad with sports, but wasn't there like a hockey team or a basketball team or
Luke: I'm not aware of any others, actually. Yeah, like, uh, there's been some attempts at
Knut: it's
Luke: an orange colored team or something like
Knut: more the individual athletes,
Luke: Yeah, yeah, there have been individual
Knut: for instance, a
Luke: have been individual
Knut: player, and there was some American football player.
George: There's been individual athletes, a lot of them. There's been, I was asking if you know, but there's been a baseball club in Australia, the Port Heat. Uh, who did kind of a Bitcoin strategy. Uh, but very unfortunately that didn't work out. They kind of started this at the peak of the last bull cycle. And, um, and as I understand, uh, there wasn't like a strong alignment between the owners and the management in terms of like understanding that this is a long game.
So that's why this kind of flopped. Um, but yeah, like I, I think the reason why it's not happening in more, unfortunately, and, and, and I see this even, even within our club, uh, you know, but, but definitely no other clubs because Fiat has permitted sports as well. Right. So all the sports club, uh, clubs or the vast majority in football, for sure.
They're like, you know, on the hamster wheel themselves.
Knut: They're indebted,
George: They're indebted.
Knut: to an extreme level,
George: yeah, like, like fighting for every dollar for every income. So it's, it's hard for you to like, Oh yeah, we're going to have this long term Bitcoin strategy that's going to take like two, three, four, five years to play out.
And we can benefit a lot from it. It's very, very hard in, you know, unfortunately for a large organizations, sports club in particular to To have this realization, to map this out, to get others on board. That's why it's not so popular and uh, and that's why I'm grateful and keep pushing that we have this chance.
Luke: I mean, you make a great point here about essentially the, it's the organizational alignment, right? Like the, the, these are companies, sports clubs are companies. They just have this large, the business is involved around getting fans to come in and consume this sort of marketing. Product, essentially. So it's, it's a certain kind of company that's run a certain way, but just like any other company, you need, you need alignment from the management.
So it's, it's fantastic that, uh, Boteb Plovdiv has, has the, uh, alignment and is, is putting their, their trust in you to, to move this thing forward. And I mean, from the, from the perspective of this thing, Playing out, right? The, the best part that, uh, I think one of the best parts that you, you mentioned again was the, the influencers.
Like you get, you get some players, there's, there's so many angles to, to reach people through this. I think it's, I think it's fantastic. The, uh, orange pilling a player and then they move to another club, but they, they, maybe they don't get to get paid in Bitcoin, but maybe they still put, put their money in, in Bitcoin.
Maybe they even ask their club to, to, uh, pay them in Bitcoin, something like that. And then the, the Questions start getting, uh, asked and all this.
5 Year Goals
Luke: So what, what is the, the goal in, in five years, for example, where, where do you see the club in the five year mark?
George: Oh man. Yeah, in five years, I think we definitely have to be in Champions League. Like in my mind, you know, like people around me like, oh, you're too ambitious. I'm like, man, yeah, like in five years, we definitely have to be in Champions League. Uh, that's, that's my personal goal. On our internal Slack, I have the Champions League icon there.
That's why I'm there, right? Um, so, uh, it's a lot of hard work. Like, it's really a lot of hard work. And it's also not completely dependent on me and my work, to be fair. Like, because, at all. I mean, really, like, uh, I mean, at the end of the day, the most important part is the sports department, right? Uh, in the club.
Um, so that has to continue going well. But, but I think We're going in a good direction there too, because we have the, they're the long term view as well, right. We have our academy internally, which is, yeah, it's one of the best academies. It's the best really academy in terms of infrastructure in the country.
That's why we're also can't afford to think of this Bitcoin Cup tournament, because we have the infrastructure, we have like a super cool stadium, that's crazy. If we can, if we can do a final for, for such a tournament there. Um, so, so we have all the things in place in terms of In terms of assets, I would say, uh, it's just a lot of moving parts.
a lot of work, consistency, and a bit of luck. Always it comes, you know, when, when it comes to, when it comes to football and sports, but, but five years from now, I want us to be in the champions league. I want us to be the absolute, you know, international professional level, uh, Bitcoin level, Bitcoin sports club.
and, uh, and I want for this tournament that I start to be like a, like, like to have the fourth edition by then. Uh, and, and I want to have clubs, but five years is a lot of time, you know, as you say, like, I also want to have other clubs following us by then. I think that's absolutely, absolutely is going to be doable.
Knut: What, what are the, what are the tax laws around Bitcoin in Bulgaria? Like what, are there any issues there? Or like what, is it easy enough,
George: It's kind of okay. Uh, it's kind of okay. So if you just buy Bitcoin and hold it, like you don't, uh, you don't, uh, incur taxes, uh, until you sell it, if you accept Bitcoin for payments, um, and if you don't sell it, you can just, uh, keep it as inventory on your balance sheet. So again, no,
Knut: but there's a capital gains tax or something if you sell it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Alright.
George: 10%. So it's, it's, uh,
Knut: Pretty good.
George: Yeah, I mean, it's not like El Salvador. Okay. Uh, but, but it's, uh, it's, it's way better than many other places. Um, and, uh, yeah, so we've been looking, looking actually, so I was in El Salvador a couple of months ago, because we've been looking very much to do stuff there.
And we've been, uh, yeah. Um, because we've been, we've been thinking of what to do more with Bitcoin, right? So that's why I said, like, it's not just about buying and accepting Bitcoin. It's about corporate strategies, about branding strategies, about how to make money. Um, it's about education strategies. It's, there's so much around it.
So in terms of corporate strategy, I was, uh, we're very attracted by El Salvador, um, and their, uh, capital markets regulation, because they're basically striving to build capital markets on top of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is legal tender there. They have all kinds of, tax incentives for companies to issue debt or to sell equity.
on their capital, on their, um, well, let's say nascent upcoming capital markets, because it's not like it's, you know, hustling and bustling yet. Um, but, but they're, they've put a lot of the rails, uh, um, or they're building a lot of the rails to, um, to really enable the, the, the creation of Bitcoin based capital markets.
So, um, we've had great talks there. We have meetings with, uh, um, we have. Yeah, with the Bitcoin office, right? Um, so, ideally, like, we're striving to build some connection there and to do something, interesting and world first again from a corporate perspective. It's just that, as many things, it's a little harder than you would expect it to be, or it takes a little more time than, Then you would hope to do it.
But my idea or long term vision, frankly, like what we want to do with Bitcoin, uh, and with the club is to enable our current fans and global fans to become co owners of the club. And that's why, you know, I have big hopes for, uh, for us being able to do this out of El Salvador and through El Salvador, because this would, like from a tax perspective, from a branding perspective, from legal security perspective would be, would be ideal.
It's just that, again, um, my enthusiasm is a little over, uh, ahead of kind of like how, uh, how, how advanced and set up everything there is, but, uh, but we're, we're very actively talking to them. We're working with many parties there, so. Just maybe we can have big news there too.
International and Local Effects
Luke: Well, no, and, and you actually said something great about global fans. I think this is a, a fantastic thing, right? A a again, Bedford is, is similar. They've, they've got, they've got fans all over the world and, and I think for you guys it's like who is going to tune into the Bulgarian football league outside of Bulgaria before, well, not too many people, but now a bunch of Bitcoiners.
If they're into, if they're into football or, or not even, because this is the funny thing. There were, there were a lot of people posting about that. They, they've got, they, they don't usually follow, follow sports at all, but, but they'll follow the Bitcoin team. So the, the funny thing is, I think, I think the first, the first club to adopt Bitcoin in every league is going to get all of these global fans.
And maybe the, maybe the, the second one, the third one, maybe can get some kind of other support, but it's really the first one in every
George: really.
Luke: That, that
George: Not
Luke: That's that. I, I completely agree with you there. It's the, it's the first one
Knut: first mover advantage.
Luke: mover advantage. It's gonna get, it is gonna get all of the, all of the Bitcoiners are gonna now be, be supporting and, uh, uh, yeah.
I mean, have, have you seen, uh, some, some uptick in, uh, kind of international
George: yeah, yeah. So, international but also local. Like, local is very important. Like, we have, like, so many people in the country who's like, just what you say, like, I didn't care about sports or football, like, forever, or at all, ever, but now I follow, now I buy merch, now I come, you know, every now and then they come to games, so
Luke: Well, because there's the bread and circuses thing that you said, it gets tossed around in the Bitcoin world and also some other places on kind of the Twitter sphere and whatever, it's like it's a distraction, that sports is sort of a distraction from clown world basically and it's a way of people to sort of Uh, forget about what's going on around them, but I think that's also missing the, the positives, which it, it's a, it's a community builder, it brings people together, there's a, there's a sense of, of pride in, in something local succeeding, everyone, everyone's happy, there's, there's real economic, uh, effects usually when a, when a local sports team wins, and so, so from, from my perspective, I, I, I think, I think sport is a good thing, and it's, and it's, it's something that, that people can rally around, and so,
George: an amazing thing.
Luke: Yeah.
And, and so what, what are, what are you looking at locally? Like what, what do you hope to have the effect, uh, uh, locally in, in piv?
George: Yeah. Um, yeah, no, look, uh, for me, sports, like, for us, the, the, the, the, about Plovdiv, for me, that's what I realized, like, we're kind of very much into Bitcoin and stuff, obviously, that's our interest, but I think when we go on a Bitcoin standard, Right. And, uh, in general, people start feeling wealthier, opposed to, like, being in the grind.
You're just going to have more time for fun stuff, right? Like playing football, I mean, or volleyball, or whatever your sport is, or, like, going and cheering your team, and, uh, and being part of such a community. And I think that's really what, you know, even Nostr is about. Like it's, Being part of these communities, because that's fun, and like, we as humans, at the end of the day, we are living to be part of communities, right?
And you find your community, you're an active part of it, you contribute to it, you evolve it, right? You build it in one way or another. And unfortunately, you know, today in the fiat world, this is just like A stress valve in many ways, or like you say, like Brothers and Sisters, whatever. Um, but, uh, but I think it can be so much more, right?
It is, but it can be so much more for a larger amount of people and so on and so forth. uh, but yeah, well, back in Plovdiv, man, like, I have big hopes. I really have big, big ambitions there. I want to get Bitcoin into the wallets of, uh, of like tens of thousands of people. I want people to wake up. I want people to see.
Luke: big is piv? How many
George: It's like three, four hundred thousand people. So it's a lot. Uh, our stadium is, uh, 21, 000 seats stadium. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. It's, it's 19. I wish it was 21.
Luke: Yeah. You'll have to add 2000 more
George: Maybe, yeah, we'll, we'll think of some additional construction.
Luke: the, make the infinity stand when
George: Right. Right. But, uh, but yeah, like the setting was super cool. Like, it's really cool.
Like when it's feel like, man, the atmosphere is amazing. Um, and so it's, and it's really this community that you can feel that people are involved. So it's, it's like consistency and it's social engineering in one way or another, right?
Knut: one of our favorite words,
George: but in a positive way.
Knut: in a positive way, okay.
George: So it's social engineering for us to ingrain Bitcoin and make it part of kind of what people see, do, have, own, interact with, right?
So, uh, I think exactly because of this community element, exactly because, Because, you know, football is a football club and there's this unique living organism we can, we can create this and, you know, it's fascinating. I'm so much into this and there's other people who are so much into this. Oh my god, like, we can make such a big difference.
And, and like in the country. You know, on a political and economic level, they don't get it. Like, they don't see it. They just are in their, you know, like, oh, are we going to accept the euro? Oh, what's happening with the war? I'm like, who cares? Let's build.
Bulgarian Currency Situation
Knut: Yeah, Bulgaria has its own shitcoin, I almost forgot about that, but uh, what's it called again?
George: Kinda. Um, but not quite, to be fair. It's, it's a good coin, uh, not for investing, but, but for medium of exchange is actually decent. Uh, Lev, Lev
Knut: Lev, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah,
George: and I recently got educated about this. So, uh, the lev is pegged to the euro. So, um, uh, so, so that, that is super cool for, for us, for me as a consumer, for businesses, because like the fixed rate.
So for trade is, um, It's, it's good, right? As the world would be in the future. You have one currency, Bitcoin, you don't have the currency exchange risk, right? We don't have it only with the European Union. And the good part with this, so, we got, we got hyperinflation back in 1997. Was really bad. People lost almost everything, everything, in many cases.
Um, and then we got this so called currency board introduced and the currency board is like we have the left, but the left has to be backed up by other currencies. So it's like a stable coin, kind of like how Tether is backed by, by dollars. You know, the levy is backed by euro and like a basket of, I think they have some other currencies and assets, which is cool because the local politicians, they cannot print, they cannot, you know, so, so it's been, it's been, I think, way better than Hungary, Sweden, uh, Finland, you have your, oh
but Sweden I've heard it's kind of bad,
Knut: It's kinda bad, Norway too, like, both Swedish and Norwegian crown, and the crown in Czechia, like the Czech Republic, it's also
George: Yeah.
Knut: I mean, they're all going to shit the smaller
George: So, so for us, it's like, I would say we're better than, than the Corona, the, and, and all these like local currencies, because we kind of just are there to the, peg to the Euro. The local politicians don't have the opportunity to print. So it's, it's a very good position for us to be.
Luke: You, you get the, the negatives of the, the euro. But, but still, I mean, I mean the, the realistically, the dollar at the Euro and maybe the, the Chinese currency are the only, are the only ones that are in the, sort of within our own, within our own lifetimes are, are going to be not as terribly bad against Bitcoin.
But all the other ones are just, are. All the other ones are
Knut: Yeah, I think it's just a matter of time before both, uh, at least Sweden, uh, switches to Euro standard. If not switching to Bitcoin standard happens first, but well, we'll see, we'll see what happens.
George: man. I'm very bearish about the Euro.
Knut: yeah, yeah, it's like,
Luke: It'll be the second last to fall or third last but but yeah it's it's it's it's not going to be the the last and so it's yeah.
Knut: So that is what it is. I mean, speaking of Bulgaria and currencies and stuff,
Bitcoin Adoption in Bulgaria
Knut: like, how is the rest of, how is Bitcoin adoption in general in Bulgaria? What's happening in other places? Like, Plamen opened a bar, I saw, and like, what are the connections? What's happening?
George: It's actually quite cool. I'm, I'm, I'm quite happy with, with how the ecosystem is evolving. There's, there's Plamen, um, with his whole community, like content creation, the conferences he's been doing, which has been like a very, I think he's responsible for like, I don't know, probably like, 000, maybe several 10, 000s of people who have opened their eyes and even if they're not hard bitcoiners, they now own bitcoin.
Uh, so that's huge. We have other content creators also who've had an impact. We have now once or twice per, yeah, about twice per year we have like, uh, A small, uh, merchant, uh, like, conference events, so for merchants to accept Bitcoin. we have these people who are active and who are doing things. Now, actually, yeah, there's something new that's coming up here, uh, literally in Plovdiv is we have this, um, this, uh, great dudes who have this, um, um, it's an application for, uh, ordering food, like takeaway and, uh, what is it, like,
Knut: like Glovo or
George: yeah, yeah, like Glovo, um, but, um, but, um, But it's not like this big corporate thing that, but, but still, it's a very good product and they've integrated accepting Bitcoin there for quite some time now they've made it even easier and they've introduced.
So we have like about, I think it's 15 restaurants in Sofia and like five or so in Plovdiv where through their system, you can order food. And pay with Bitcoin online, or you can also go in the restaurant and pay in Bitcoin online, and they just, um, they just won a, uh, grant from, uh, Bitcoin Beach, uh, and, uh, they're going to use the grant, uh, to, well, the attempt is really to start like a small circular economy, if you would Um, where, so if you go, uh, to one of those restaurants and pay with Bitcoin, you're going to get sats back 10%, and then, um, the restaurant is also going to get 10 percent sats back.
And if you order food, um, through their app, also the driver is going to get, uh, some sats back. And, uh, we've just been discussing, because obviously we're partnering with them, with the football club, so we'll push this out, because some of the restaurants that are there are our, I mean, basically, like, we have two restaurants locally that are partners, we got them in, right, obviously, in the deal, um, So, so that is also like, for me, it's like super cool because now for so far, the club has been pushing Bitcoin.
Now we have two of our restaurant partners who are themselves like hard Botevists, Botefans, and like they're popular. Now they're starting to accept Bitcoin in their, in their two restaurants, right? And they're going to have their campaigns. We're going to push them more. So, um, so I'm really excited about this and fingers crossed this goes well.
We have good metrics because if we have good metrics. Yeah, we'll look for ways to grow this. So there's a lot of grassroots things happening, which I love. On the top, nothing.
Knut: It's the way it's supposed to be.
George: But it's the way it is. Yeah, it's a better
Luke: Yeah it really seems like that you get one or two of these big anchors like like for example you you guys have had that had that conference last couple of years but now with both of Plavdev now Bulgaria is really got a couple of big anchors. Big relative in relative terms, uh, and all of this other stuff can, can start coming up around it.
And, uh, love, love to see it. I mean, he, I mean here, here with Rega, there's Honey Budger has been going for a really long time, and I, and I even think that they are honest about, we, we would, we just talked to, to Max, uh, about this, uh, from Defi and like yeah, there's not much other adoption in, in Lavia and this conference has been going on for a long time.
Exactly. And so it's just like, uh, it's, it's, it's great to see, uh, in, in your case, in Bulgaria's case, that there's, there's more of this, uh, picking up. So, yeah,
George: Well, I think it's really, in our case, I don't know, like it's grassroots, like I said, and I really believe grassroots and then Rio or for the vast majority, Rio adoption comes permissionless life. It comes like it's not forced. You know, there is this point where, okay, there's Plamen, like, he got the inspiration, he makes his content, he does the conferences, Like, our owner, he sees this opportunity for Bitcoin, for the club. He takes the action, right? So it's, it's not like, so it's individuals, right? Taking actions and then, as you have, you know, several of them, maybe others get inspired or get ideas going and that's how the magic happens. And, uh, yeah. Excited about it.
Wrapping Up
Luke: it's awesome, man. Great hear your story. So, was, uh, was there anything else that you wanted to discuss or bring up on this topic?
George: no, I mean, what I would say is absolutely, uh, Please, uh, you know, Knut, you've been, but please, you're absolutely welcome, Luke, join as well, like, both of you should come
Knut: Absolutely. Highly recommend it. I had a great time in Bulgaria, and it's such a fascinating country, it's such a rich history and such a beautiful place, and the food is great, and it's very affordable, it's very, yeah, very
George: like, I have people who come in Plogis specifically to, like, nomads, spend, like, a or a month. So, so please enjoy, visit the game. come spend in the restaurants where they accept Bitcoin, follow us on social media for sure, so, X and Nostr,
Luke: Yes, all the details, please.
Knut: And also like one of the eras, uh, infamous eras of Bulgaria is the commie era, right? Where you can see the impact that system had on the country and how horrid it is. Uh, so it's, it's, uh, that might not be a good pitch for, uh, but that's
Luke: Let him, let him share his social medias, Knut.
George: wait, do you have, do you have something
Knut: no, no, I think like the, The point I was getting to is, if you get to Bulgaria, don't only go to Sofia, go around the rest of the country, because it's not as raped as that town was by, as that city was by communism, all this concrete, yeah, yeah,
George: yeah, the,
Knut: you can really see the impact there. I'm not, um, yeah, this came out totally wrong, but I'm trying to, I'm trying to, To hype Bulgaria here, but also there's a historical lesson to be learned in the country, for sure,
George: sure. It's really like, there's so many different things there. So there's the communist part, there's like fucking amazing nature, there's like
Knut: is everything, yeah.
George: if you're into hiking, there's like, just like from Sofia, what I love about Sofia, like just last week, twice, end of the day, I'm like fucked up, like tired of computer.
40 minutes up and I'm up in the mountains, hiking, in like 2000 meters altitude. Uh, so, so there's all these like super cool things, but on the socials, yeah, we're on Twitter. we're on Nostr, uh, so Twitter is, um, botif underscore, uh, en, on Nostr, uh, we are just botif. Yeah, you can find us.
Luke: going say you're NPUB? No, no, no,
George: I'm still learning it, okay?
Luke: we'll post, you're still learning, we'll post all the details in the show
George: Yes. Yes. And feel free to also check out our website. We have, due to our El Salvadorian, um, kind of project, we already have a Salvadorian website, which is very easy to remember, botif. sv. So you can go there and from there you'll find all the links and information.
Luke: Absolutely fantastic.
Knut: Great! Get the inverse of Clown World. This is a shill. BitcoinInfinityStore. com And thank you very much for coming on,
George: was great having
Knut: Great to have
Luke: George, thanks so much. This has been Bitcoin Infinity Show. Thank you for
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@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740
2024-09-24 13:36:24I have a thesis as to why things have gone so off the rails in the United States (and beyond), but it might not be what you think. Most of what we decry as insane and inexplicable policies are but symptoms of an underlying process. That process is the creation of money via fiat, the way in which the money propagates through the system and how it distorts the incentives of so many who are beholden to it.
Let’s start at the beginning. New money is created via debt issuance all the time. It’s why the US government is nearly $36 trillion in debt — it issues bonds and owes the bond buyers the interest and principle on it. “Issuing debt” is a fancy way of saying “borrowing money.” The US government borrows from its citizens, corporations, geopolitical allies (and even adversaries) to finance its operations.
If there is insufficient demand for its debt — if not enough people want to loan it money, it can raise rates, i.e., promise to pay more interest so as to entice more lenders, or just have the Federal Reserve buy the debt (either via its primary dealer banks or in some cases directly) and place the assets (bonds) on its balance sheet. US government debt (promise to pay) is an asset, and so the Fed can put that promise on its balance sheet.
The result of new money coming into the system via government borrowing is inflation. There is simply more money chasing the same amount of goods and services, so the prices for them rise. If while injecting more money into the economy the government were simultaneously injecting more goods and services, there wouldn’t be inflation, but unfortunately while you can always print more money out of thin air, you can’t print more energy, grass-fed steak or expert medical care.
But the inflation of the money supply and its concomitant debasement doesn’t happen all at once. Initially when there’s more money injected into the system, those who are closest to the new supply (banks through which it passes, their largest accounts, investors and asset holders) spend it and benefit from it before its inflationary effect has fully taken hold. This is known as the Cantillon Effect. Eventually inflation drives ordinary wages up too, but not enough to offset higher prices, and only after the Cantillonaire class has disproportionately benefited.
The unfairness of this arrangement is evident enough, but the second and third order effects are far more sinister. When the government can essentially borrow (print) money to finance whatever it wants, whether the Iraq War and its military contractors, “free” mRNA shots (Pfizer made nearly $100B off those contracts) or any other policy that benefits cronies and favored corporations, there are going to be a lot of resources and effort devoted to getting in good with the decision makers in the government.
Put differently, if I run a small business, I can only earn money if I offer my customers something they value enough to pay more for it than it cost me to produce. If I hire you, you’ll need to add value to the business and also hope it can continuing adding enough value to customers to pay your salary. We have to work for it.
But the government can simply print it, and in infinite supply. Are you better off starting a business (or working for one) that relies on adding value to its customers in a competitive environment or one that taps the infinite font of government money?
People respond to incentives, and as a result of the untethered money printing which began in earnest in 1971 when Richard Nixon took us off the gold standard (essentially a default caused in part by the cost of the Vietnam War), financial services experienced explosive growth, making up a larger share of the economy than at any time since the eve of the Great Depression. The best and brightest in large numbers eschewed value-creating careers in fields like engineering for jobs in finance. Why try to innovate and compete in the ruthless marketplace if you can join forces with the Cantillonaires, quickly become one and amass generational wealth via passive asset holding?
But it’s not just the bankers and the asset holders. In the scheme of things that theft off the top and upward redistribution is almost benign. Where things start to go seriously off the rails is that people cannot save in an inflating currency, and so they are forced to buy financial instruments like stocks and bonds. (Poor people can’t afford to do so, try to save in a debasing currency and usually stay poor and stuck.) But even middle and upper middle class people who get a small piece of the Cantillon pie, as their asset values rise on account of the increased money supply (to offset their lagging wages), have a new problem: most lack the time, skill or inclination to hold down a second job managing their investments.
As a result, they either lost money in the markets (selling when the market dropped, buying the top when everyone had already made money) or paying exorbitant fees to brokers who added little value except to take the stress of managing it out of their hands.
Eventually, investors figured out low-fee passive index funds outperform brokers, and so millions piled into them. As a result, companies like Black Rock, Vanguard and Fidelity absorbed money flows in the trillions of dollars, giving them outsized power. If they divested from a company its stock would tank, and its executives would miss their marks. If Blackrock and its ilk decided every company needed to be ESG or DEI compliant, the CEOs had little choice but to follow suit or they would be replaced. Consequently, you had a few elites, essentially dictating policy for the entire economy.
But back to that $36 trillion in debt, roughly a quarter of which was racked up during ill-conceived wars of choice in the Middle East. A country with that level of debt can’t honor its obligations over the medium and especially longer term. The elites know this — they know the promised social security, pensions, healthcare entitlements, etc. can never be delivered in the way they’re expected. Via inflation they might be delivered nominally, i.e., you might get the number you were promised, but no chance you’d ever get the purchasing power that number represented when the promise was made. When groceries cost a thousand dollars, a million dollar pension doesn’t go far.
What that means is the wealth people think is coming to them is not there. Even the wealth represented by the digital bits in your bank account isn’t there. Sure, if you took it out and spent it tomorrow, you could get 2024-level value for it, but even Bernie Madoff’s first clients to withdraw were able to get their money out. The problem is that collectively the digital bits do not remotely have the purchasing power they purport.
The elites need to do something about this, or there will be a French Revolution-style reckoning for them. They looted society’s collective wealth, and they need to assert control over the fallout. And they need to make sure the fallout is delayed. They need to keep people divided and fearful of demanding what they were promised.
The fear-mongering takes many forms (pandemics, climage change terrorism, white supremacy!), but foremost among them is to cast anyone who purports to reveal the unfair arrangement to the people as an enemy. “Populist” candidates must be smeared as “racist” or “fascist” and deemed unacceptable to large swaths of the population. Luckily for the oligarchs they had a few aces in the hole to enforce this perception. First, they had the megaphone of legacy media and also large centralized social media companies like Facebook and Twitter on which they could lean to suppress content that undermined their aims.
Second, via the centralized investment firms, they could dictate terms and initiatives to large publicly traded corporations and the officers of said corporations could reward compliant employees with promotions and power. Anyone who worked in those spheres therefore was selected for belief in the corporate-media dictated narratives.
Third, via their control of academia (donations from academia to the Blackrock-favored democratic party outpace donations to the disfavored one by a factor of 10), they could indoctrinate college students, reward the ones for whom it takes with jobs and social acceptance. Moreover, they also encouraged more people to go to college than ever before, creating an overproduction of elites, and a large indebted, indoctrinated wave of young people who didn’t have much to show for the debt they took on. That made them more desperate to stay in the good graces of the oligarchy, more compliant lest they lose the small income stream they were able to find in low-level managerial roles. Finally, as a reward for following the path, they were given status as educated people, those who had mastered the protocols of the elite.
Things like using the proper pronouns, avoiding the forbidden words for which a less savvy person would be cancelled and having the right beliefs (like climate change being an existential threat, more on that below) signaled moral and class superiority. Even if the electrician or plumber made more money than them, offered a service that provided real value to people, he did not know increasingly labyrinthine protocols for navigating elite discourse.
The more successful members of this class have all of these incentives plus a real paycheck, and they and those aspiring to join them formed a strong and influential bulwark against the rising discontent of working class people struggling with rising costs and feeling the disdain of elites who saw them as “deplorables” and “racists.”
The climate change agenda — promulgated religiously via academia and corporate media — was especially powerful because it instilled fear, a sense of dwindling resources and an incentive to consume less. That last part was especially crucial because if the digital bits in people’s accounts were going to fall far short of their purported purchasing power, getting an army of people to voluntarily reduce their power consumption (and angrily demand it of others) killed two birds with one stone. Not only would they have a ready-made excuse for the lack of promised power (purchasing power is the ability to wield energy, and “energy” and “power” are essentially synonymous), but they would also have a reason to bar those who did not voluntarily relinquish it from enjoying its full use.
Once the oligarchs had successfully indoctrinated a large swath of the population to be in debt, desperate to hang onto their trivially replaceable jobs, believe power consumption was not only wrong but an existential threat and anyone advocating otherwise was racist, fascist and morally inferior, they could sell them on ever-increasing top-down government control for the greater good. No matter how draconian the measures — covid lockdowns, forced injections, mask mandates for toddlers — the indoctrinated (and terrified) subject would not only go along but enforce those edicts on others.
Anyone refusing to go along would be accused of heresy, so to speak, and mobs of eager acolytes would be quick to call for his excommunication. If you think this is hyperbole, you are probably memory-holing the covid era wherein some of the most prominent celebrities and politicians eagerly advocated for those who declined pharmaceutical conglomerate chemicals to be barred from participating in society, put in camps and left to die should they need medical attention.
Of course, maintaining total control over the population is difficult, especially as economic conditions worsen, and those who are not totally beholden to the cantillonaire corporate class and who bypassed the university indoctrination complex gain awareness via uncensored niches of social media and ignorantly trusting their own eyes and ears. To that end, pushes for increased censorship were needed, as well as ever novel social wedge issues to divide the populace. On their face insane policies like letting biological males compete in women’s sports and encouraging minors to have sex changes served to further divide people and also served as a loyalty test of sorts. If you could advocate for Lia Thomas dominating collegiate women’s swimming, for example, you demonstrated your bona fides as a true comrade to the educated class.
Of course, suggesting something like this or advocating for sex changes among 12 year olds would have landed you in a straitjacket 15 years ago, but that was the point. If you were not willing to state a woman could have a penis and men could get pregnant you were not sufficiently loyal to the cause. Perhaps that’s a little too strong, but at a minimum you could not vociferously object to these absurd precepts and still expect to keep your job.
As such we now have a wide swath of educated, above-average IQ, ostensibly otherwise sensible Americans cheering on the fomenting of World War III in Ukraine, justifying ideological censorship contra the very First Amendment of the United States Constitution, unchecked illegal immigration irrespective of financial and social cost, among other insane policies of which virtually no one had been in favor when they identified as garden-variety liberals 10 years ago.
They have been bribed not to see what’s happening in front of their faces, not to remember how their rights were violated during covid, not to acknowledge the myriad lies to their faces like “the lab leak is a conspiracy theory,” “Trump colluded with Russia to steal the 2016 election,” that “Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation” that they only needed to take the vaccine to avoid covid, that covid was a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” that Joe Biden was “sharp as a tack” and anyone saying otherwise was a conspiracy theorist.
I could go on for pages about the lies and hoaxes, but you get the point. The problem is via money printing, the oligarchy has essentially unlimited power to astroturf all manner of absurd agendas and incentivize tens of millions to go along via social and professional bribes. Of course the truth will come out eventually because it always does. Lies can carry the day so long as enough energy is pumped into the system to sustain them, but the truth is like gravity — when your plane runs out of fuel it will necessarily fall to the ground.
So this is where we find ourselves — a half awake populace of “conspiracy theorists,” “racists,” “anti-vaxxers,” “xenophobes” and “cranks” pointing out the unfathomable and mind-boggling destruction taking place in our cities, schools and once esteemed institutions, being dismissed, ignored and vilified by mobs of head-in-the-sand loyalists bribed not to see the blue whale in the room, the unsustainable, immoral and unholy assault upon the foundations of civilization itself, right in front of their faces.
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@ 32b3653a:500d7f43
2024-09-24 12:47:59Opinion about HTX: Buy Crypto & Bitcoin (android)
Caution should be exercised when dealing with investment firms , as i unfortunately experienced a significant loss with an online investment company . With the intervention by Againstcon. com , i was able to successfully track and recover my funds . Their intervention was pivotal in resolving the situation effectively
WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion
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@ 9358c676:9f2912fc
2024-09-24 12:29:11OBJECTIVES
To establish a guideline for the management of Acute Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in our center, for both outpatient and hospitalized patients, with the aim of:
- Reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the condition.
- Improving the quality of medical care and optimizing hospital resources.
- Delaying the progression of antimicrobial resistance.
SCOPE
All patients over 16 years of age diagnosed with Acute Community-Acquired Pneumonia who are being followed by our institution in an outpatient or inpatient setting.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Physicians from the Medical Clinic, Medical Emergency, Coronary Unit, and Intensive Care Service. Nursing Coordination. Pharmacy Service. Infection Control Committee.
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults. Recommendations for its management. Lopardo et al. MEDICINA (Buenos Aires) 2015; 75: 245-257. Argentine Society of Infectiology. ISSN 0025-7680
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Adults with Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official Clinical Practice Guideline of the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2019. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Volume 200 Number 7 | October 1, 2019. DOI: 10.1164 rccm.201908-1581ST
- ERS/ESICM/ESCMID/ALAT guidelines for the management of severe community-acquired pneumonia. Intensive Care Med (2023) 49:615–632 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-023-07033-8
- Antimicrobial resistance. WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial resistance
- Internal Medicine. Farreras-Rosman. Volume I. Elsevier. 2008 Edition.
- Considerations for the Responsible Use of Antibiotics in COVID-19. Argentine Society of Infectiology. 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BmXD5x6rEpSqDIc8urccdqLcZKkP3U7X/view
- Penicillin Allergy. Castells M. New England Journal of Medicine, 381(24), 2338–2351. doi:10.1056 nejmra1807761
INTRODUCTION
Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting patients of all ages and with various risk factors. Proper management in both outpatient and hospital settings is crucial for improving clinical outcomes and reducing associated complications.
This document aims to standardize and optimize the treatment of pneumonia based on the most current evidence and recommendations from leading scientific organizations. It seeks to be a practical tool for healthcare professionals, providing a clear and concise approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with pneumonia.
FOUNDATIONS. HOSPITAL SITUATION ANALYSIS:
- Pneumonias represent a significant burden on the healthcare system due to their high prevalence and potential severity, underscoring the need for a standardized approach.
- A clinical guideline facilitates decision-making, ensuring that all healthcare professionals follow a uniform protocol that integrates best practices, thereby reducing variability in treatments. This allows for better resource utilization, optimizing antibiotic use and reducing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
- Antimicrobial resistance has been proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and related organizations as the leading cause of death and hospital expenditure by the year 2050.
- Pneumonias in our center, in their various presentations, have shown significant prevalence in hospitalizations according to measurements taken in 2024.
- In our center, antibiotics, as a whole, have been the main source of financial losses related to drugs during the billing cycle from June 2023 to July 2024.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION:
Pneumonias represent a global incidence of 1.26 cases per 1000 inhabitants. It has been documented in some centers that this incidence can increase in patients over 65 years of age, representing 34 cases per 1000 inhabitants. Outpatient mortality varies between 0.1% and 5%, but can reach up to 50% in hospitalized patients, especially those requiring Intensive Care Unit stay.
The main risk factors for developing pneumonia are:
- Chronic Heart Disease.
- Chronic Respiratory Disease.
- Chronic Kidney Disease.
- Advanced-stage HIV infection.
- Immunosuppressed. Solid Organ Transplant. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Neoplasms.
- Smoking.
- Chronic use of Corticosteroids or Proton Pump Inhibitors.
- Multiple Myeloma and Hypogammaglobulinemia.
- Anatomical or Functional Asplenia.
The main causative agents of acute community-acquired pneumonia in our setting are:
- Respiratory Viruses (Influenza, SARS-CoV2, RSV).
- Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Haemophilus influenzae.
- Staphylococcus aureus.
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.
It should be noted that Streptococcus pneumoniae shows a good sensitivity pattern to penicillin and continues to be the most frequent causative microorganism. Haemophilus influenzae only shows beta-lactamase production in 10% to 23% of cases. Staphylococcus aureus in our setting has a low incidence of methicillin resistance, although this possibility should be considered in certain situations and severe clinical presentations. Given these considerations, beta-lactams remain the first-line treatment.
Regarding Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, they will only be relevant in patients with risk factors such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, prior treatment with corticosteroids, or broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Emerging pathogens of some relevance include the eventual emergence of cases caused by Leptospira interrogans, Legionella pneumophila, and Hantavirus. These cases should always be associated with a specific epidemiological link.
DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis of pneumonia is based on clinical and imaging criteria. For the diagnosis of Acute Community-Acquired Pneumonia, we will consider:
Symptoms and Clinical Signs (at least 1 of the following): * Fever. * Altered general condition. * Cough. * Sputum production. * Chest pain. * Dyspnea. * Hemoptysis.
plus
Radiopacity on Chest X-ray (Alveolar consolidation with or without air bronchogram, interstitial pattern, bronchiectasis, cavitation, pleural effusion, new radiopacity, etc.). It is always recommended to request both frontal and lateral views.
Chest CT remains a method with greater sensitivity and specificity for evaluating lung parenchyma compared to conventional X-ray in infectious pathology. However, a simple chest X-ray is an adequate method for the initial evaluation of the condition and its complications, which is why a CT scan is not recommended as an initial method for evaluating pneumonia and should always be preceded by a conventional chest X-ray.
CT studies should be considered in the following situations:
- Respiratory failure.
- Evaluation or suspicion of differential diagnoses to Acute Community-Acquired Pneumonia.
- Evaluation or suspicion of complications of Acute Community-Acquired Pneumonia.
- Evaluation of radiological patterns that are not entirely clear on the chest X-ray.
CHOICE OF CARE SITE AND TREATMENT
For the choice of care site and treatment of pneumonia, it is recommended to complement clinical criteria with validated mortality scores associated with risk factors and clinical status.
CURB-65 (1 point for each item): * Confusion * Elevated urea greater than 90 mg/dl * Respiratory rate greater than 30/minute * Systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure < 60 mmHg * Age equal to or greater than 65 years
Results:
- Groups 0 to 1: Outpatient management.
- Groups 1-2: Admission to General Ward.
- Groups 3-5: Admission to Intensive Care Unit.
- Appendix: A pulse oximetry reading of less than 92% is recommended as an independent factor for inpatient management under expert recommendation to complement the score.
COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES AND CULTURE SAMPLING
Once the diagnosis is completed, the patient's risk stratification and the choice of admission site are made, the following complementary studies and culture sampling are recommended to proceed with the patient's study during treatment.
Outpatient patient: * Pulse Oximetry. * Laboratory routine (complete blood count, glucose, urea, creatinine, liver function tests).
Inpatient patient in general ward: * Pulse Oximetry. * Laboratory routine (complete blood count, glucose, urea, creatinine, liver function tests). Acid-base status if pulse oximetry is less than 92%. * Sputum sample (Gram stain, culture, antibiogram). * Blood cultures. * In the presence of pleural effusion: Thoracentesis. Physical-chemical study for Light's Criteria. Direct and Culture of Pleural Fluid.
Inpatient patient in intensive care unit: * Pulse Oximetry. * Laboratory routine (complete blood count, glucose, urea, creatinine, liver function tests) plus acid-base status. * Sputum sample (Gram stain, culture, antibiogram). Tracheal aspirate, Mini-BAL, or BAL sampling for patients requiring ARM upon admission. * Blood cultures. * Urinary antigen for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, if available in microbiology. * In the presence of pleural effusion: Thoracentesis. Physical-chemical study for Light's Criteria. Direct and Culture of Pleural Fluid.
Special considerations for Viral Pneumonias: * We recommend performing a viral panel for Influenza A/B for any pneumonia presenting at least 1 risk factor mentioned during periods of viral circulation in the community. * We recommend performing a viral panel for SARS-CoV2 for any pneumonia presenting at least 1 risk factor mentioned during periods of viral circulation in the community or having epidemiological criteria of a suspected COVID-19 case. * The Infection Control Committee will timely inform based on the National Epidemiological Bulletin about the presence of circulating respiratory viruses in our setting.
Special considerations for Atypical Pneumonias and HIV Testing: * We recommend serological testing for IgM/IgG for Chlamydia and Mycoplasma for any pneumonia presenting a subacute evolution at the time of clinical presentation or clinical-radiological dissociation in its presentation. * In the suspicion of pneumonia caused by emerging pathogens (Legionella pneumophila, Leptospira interrogans, Hantavirus), consider the necessary epidemiological link as a prior epidemiological background before requesting specific diagnostic tests. * HIV testing is recommended for all pneumonias, with special emphasis on those that do not present the conventional risk factors mentioned.
ANTIMICROBIAL TREATMENT AND DURATION OF TREATMENT:
Directed antimicrobial treatment will be based on the present risk factors and the choice of care site and treatment.
Outpatient patient <65 years and without risk factors:
First choice: * Amoxicillin 875mg/12h orally for 5-7 days.
Scheme for history of allergy to Beta-Lactams: * Clarithromycin 500mg/12h orally for 5 days or * Azithromycin 500-1000mg/day for 5 days.
Outpatient patient >65 years or with at least 1 risk factor:
First choice: * Amoxicillin-Clavulanate 1g/12h orally for 7 days.
Scheme for history of allergy to Beta-Lactams: * Clarithromycin 500mg/12h orally for 5 days or * Azithromycin 500-1000mg/day orally for 5 days.
Inpatient patient in General Ward <65 years and without risk factors:
First choice: * Ampicillin-Sulbactam 1.5g/6h IV +/- Clarithromycin 500mg/12h orally/IV for 5-7 days.
Scheme for history of allergy to Beta-Lactams: * Ceftriaxone 1g/day IV for 5-7 days.
Inpatient patient in General Ward >65 years or with at least 1 risk factor:
First choice: * Ampicillin-Sulbactam 1.5g/6h IV for 7 days +/- Clarithromycin 500mg/12h orally/IV for 5 days.
Scheme for history of allergy to Beta-Lactams: * Ceftriaxone 1g/day IV for 7 days.
Inpatient patient in Intensive Care Unit:
First choice: * Ampicillin-Sulbactam 1.5g/6h IV for 7 days +/- Clarithromycin 500mg/12h orally/IV for 5 days.
Scheme for history of allergy to Beta-Lactams: * Ceftriaxone 1-2g/day IV for 7 days.
Special Considerations for Inpatients:
Scheme for risk factors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa*: * Piperacillin/Tazobactam 4.5g/6h IV or Cefepime 2g/8h IV for 7 days +/- Clarithromycin 500mg/12h orally/IV for 5 days.
Scheme for risk factors for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus**: * Add to conventional scheme: Vancomycin 15-20mg/kg/8-12h IV +/- Clindamycin 600mg/8h IV for 7-14 days.
Aspiration Pneumonia:
First choice: * Ampicillin-Sulbactam 1.5g/6h IV for 5-7 days.
*Risk factors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, prior treatment with corticosteroids or broad-spectrum antibiotics. Documented isolates in respiratory cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
**Risk factors for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Previously healthy young patients with severe, necrotizing, and rapidly progressive pneumonia, cavitary infiltrates, hemoptysis, prior influenza, intravenous drug users, rash, leukopenia, recent or concomitant skin and soft tissue infections.
The routine use of corticosteroids in pneumonia is not recommended.
CONSIDERATIONS ON ANTIMICROBIALS IN VIRAL AND ATYPICAL PNEUMONIAS:
In the case of a concomitant antigen test or PCR for Influenza A/B or SARS-CoV2, the following treatment recommendations are made:
Influenza Virus A/B:
First choice: * Oseltamivir 75mg every 12 hours orally for 5 days. Other considerations: * In cases of Respiratory Failure in ARM or Obesity: Oseltamivir 150mg every 12 hours orally for 5 days. * Concomitant antimicrobial treatment is recommended as there is documented frequent association of Influenza Virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
COVID-19: * First choice is conventional treatment with dexamethasone 8 mg IV for 10 days in the event of respiratory failure. * Routine antimicrobial treatment is not recommended for COVID-19; therefore, upon a positive SARS-CoV2 test, it is recommended to discontinue antimicrobials.
Consider maintaining concomitant antimicrobial treatment only in suspected bacterial infection due to severe presentation: * Focal alveolar consolidation +/- air bronchogram in imaging studies plus 1 of the following: sepsis, risk factors, and/or immunosuppression.
Atypical Pneumonias with Seroconversion for Chlamydia or Mycoplasma:
First choice: * Clarithromycin 500mg every 12 hours IV/orally for 14 days. * Azithromycin 500-1000mg/day IV/orally for 14 days. * Doxycycline 100mg every 12 hours IV/orally for 14 days.
CONSIDERATIONS ON PENICILLIN AND OTHER BETA-LACTAM ALLERGIES:
Patients who report penicillin allergy are often misclassified. It is documented that more than 95% of patients who report penicillin allergy can receive beta-lactams without any complications. Additionally, penicillin hypersensitivity diminishes over the years.
Allergy to one beta-lactam does not imply the impossibility of using the entire spectrum of beta-lactams, as there are only a few cases of cross-hypersensitivity.
Therefore, we recommend the safe use of beta-lactams except in cases of a reported or documented history of severe allergy to penicillin (anaphylaxis).
In doubtful cases or confirmed allergy events during hospitalization, a consultation with an Allergy Specialist is available to evaluate the case.
FOLLOW-UP IN OUTPATIENT TREATMENT MODALITY
Patients undergoing pneumonia treatment in an outpatient setting can continue their treatment at home, considering advising them to seek further consultation in case of alarm signs (fever that does not subside after 48 to 72 hours, dyspnea, hemoptysis, chest pain, etc.). Nevertheless, it is good practice to consider a follow-up consultation in the emergency department or clinic after 48 to 72 hours of starting antibiotic therapy.
It is not routinely recommended to repeat a chest X-ray or CT scan to evaluate the evolution of pneumonia under outpatient treatment. Only in the case of suspected complications or unfavorable evolution. A follow-up at the end of treatment with the primary care physician is suggested.
FOLLOW-UP IN INPATIENT TREATMENT MODALITY
For hospitalized patients, we should consider transitioning from parenteral medication to oral when the following conditions are met
- Completion of 48 hours of parenteral treatment.
- Presence of a 24-hour afebrile period, with hemodynamic stability and significant clinical improvement.
- Availability of the oral route.
It is not routinely recommended to repeat a chest X-ray or CT scan to evaluate the evolution of pneumonia under outpatient or inpatient treatment. Only in the case of suspected complications or unfavorable evolution.
PREVENTION
The prevention of pneumonia is based on timely immunization with pneumococcal vaccines, influenza vaccination, and COVID-19 vaccination according to the immunization recommendations and current schedule from the Ministry of Health.
ICD-11 CODING
- CA40 - Pneumonia.
- CA40.0 - Bacterial Pneumonia.
- CA40.1 - Viral Bronchopneumonia.
- CA40.2 - Fungal Pneumonia.
- CA40.Z - Pneumonia, organism unspecified.
Autor
Kamo Weasel - MD Infectious Diseases - MD Internal Medicine - #DocChain Community npub1jdvvva54m8nchh3t708pav99qk24x6rkx2sh0e7jthh0l8efzt7q9y7jlj
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@ 3cfa816b:545fa2d9
2024-09-24 10:27:16Il progetto online Bisanz.io nasce dalla convinzione che Bitcoin sia un incredibile strumento di promozione e giustizia sociale, e nessuno che si dica riformista o progressista dovrebbe ignorare questo fatto. Un sito web in cui progressisti, riformisti, ambientalisti ed attivisti per la democrazia possano informarsi e discutere su com Bitcoin possa ridurre le disparità e le storture dell’attuale sistema finanziario.
L’urgenza di attivarsi affinché questa visione si diffonda nasce dal rischio concreto che si ripeta in Europa la stessa dinamica osservata negli Stati Uniti, dove questo tema fondamentale è stato lasciato nelle mani delle destre, da quelle liberali alle neo-con. La posizione del Partito Democratico USA su Bitcoin è infatti oggi ampiamente ostile, in maniera pregiudiziale e dettata principalmente da ragioni di posizionamento strategico.
In Italia Bitcoin è, al momento, semplicemente ignorato dalla politica. In Europa la situazione non è molto diversa da quella italiana con rare eccezioni.
Questa apatia della politica italiana ed europea nei confronti di Bitcoin può essere vinta mostrando quanto grande sia il potenziale di progresso sociale, equità e pace derivante dall'adozione di Bitcoin. Una opportunità che i progressisti europei dovrebbero cogliere, guidando l’analisi e il dibattito su questi temi.
Non si tratta naturalmente di inserire la parola “blockchain” nei contesti più assurdi (vedi i pomodori e le arance di Di Maio), ma di elaborare proposte unitarie di politica monetaria che includano una tecnologia (Bitcoin) rodata, democratica, globale, solidale.
Nel gruppo di amici che ha dato vita a Bisanz.io, c’è chi segue e studia con passione il tema Bitcoin dal lontano 2010, e chi invece ci si è avvicinato solo di recente. Cosa ci accomuna è la consapevolezza che questa innovazione ha il potenziale per risolvere le tante storture dell’attuale sistema finanziario. Una tecnologia che proteggendo i soggetti più deboli, può contribuire a ridurre le disparità, proteggere i risparmi, e stimolare gli investimenti.
Purtroppo, Bitcoin è ancora visto da tanti come uno strumento per criminali e speculatori, una percezione in gran parte giustificata da vicende legate non a Bitcoin, ma alle cosiddette criptovalute, e al più recente fenomeno dei token e degli NFT. Queste “innovazioni” nulla hanno a che spartire con la tecnologia e i valori di Bitcoin (decentralizzazione, trasparenza, open access, …) e le loro aberrazioni hanno alimentato la narrazione di cui sopra.
Più recentemente si è aggiunta la critica relativa all'impatto ambientale di Bitcoin, critica ancor più pretestuosa e in malafede. Chiunque dedichi un minimo di studio all'argomento potrà constatare come essa risulti infondata e che il mining di Bitcoin è in realtà un prezioso alleato nella transizione alle energie rinnovabili. Queste ombre e la copertura mediatica negativa non hanno impedito all'ecosistema di Bitcoin di svilupparsi e crescere con costanza dal 2009 a oggi. Mentre centinaia di monete digitali alternative, nascevano e morivano guidate solo da logiche di profitto (o peggio), Bitcoin ha sempre tenuto la barra dritta sui valori fondanti, ampliato la base di utenti e le tipologie di utilizzo (esempio: pagamenti istantanei con Lightning Network).
La missione di Bisanzio è semplice: portare il nostro contributo affinché in Italia ed Europa maturino proposte per consentire a Bitcoin di esprimere tutto il suo potenziale democratico e di giustizia.
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@ 610b2232:af6c59fd
2024-09-24 09:06:13Hello Nostr Enthusiast!
Welcome to your personalized Nostr newsletter, where we dive into the latest posts and discussions that lit up the community. Let's get started!
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Unique Reaction Emojis on Nostr
Original Post by npub1f6ugxyxkknket3kkdgu4k0fu74vmshawermkj8d06sz6jts9t4kslazcka:
"Anybody ever think about how unique reaction emojis on #Nostr could be potentially analyzed as a form of metadata to identify patterns of interest and behavior? ...yeah, me neither. Gn #Nostr 💜"
nostr:nevent1s6s2h32pk2eqr3rm3643jsjqmjk3e6qgfn56vqkerzsgc6es396qgchryv
Replies:
- npub14ktnsqc2hpxqflawce9t4htvc6pvkdgp6xf6tlcujjuswuy324vqfhukks: "GN ✨🫂✨"
- npub1l6scds4yv7xmcsmhqnhdy9sggm520q09lvts2m5mkvecgr2mmmeqsuj5rc: Preference for a minimal client experience, engaging primarily as a "lurker."
It’s a nice mix of lightheartedness and introspection in the replies. A thought-provoking yet casual topic to end the night!
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The Idea of a Nostr Reader Client
Original Post by npub1f6ugxyxkknket3kkdgu4k0fu74vmshawermkj8d06sz6jts9t4kslazcka:
"A #Nostr 'reader' client would be useful to just catch up in the mornings or whenever as well. I like it."
nevent: nevent19f7urtrglqxl04n9xxj6gt2vfht44etwgymmdsja6yk47p5qsqfqnse0gc
Replies:
- npub1f6ugxyxkknket3kkdgu4k0fu74vmshawermkj8d06sz6jts9t4kslazcka: Reaffirms the idea.
- npub1nqx3lfjxpkqhck3kgrdtkhncvffe94l7qrep6ftw49nphnmw9szqvh3quf: Suggests logging in with your npub to use it as a reader-only platform.
The concept of a reader client strikes a chord, making it more practical to stay updated without the overwhelm!
---
### Exploring Tim Berners-Lee's Solid Project
Original Post by npub1melv683fw6n2mvhl5h6dhqd8mqfv3wmxnz4qph83ua4dk4006ezsrt5c24:
"If you want to give Tim Berners-Lee's Solid project a try, here's a list of servers that run it. It's still quite buggy, but I am hoping to help improve that. Also, add login with Nostr identity, which will allow long-lived personal storage for Nostr users, micro apps, and much more. Hopefully we can fix the web together!"
nevent: nevent1uceamf3v2yvht6v6lrpuelszlx3u608q7pc5jmc7vkufwz4299es76m460
Reply by npub1h0uj825jgcr9lzxyp37ehasuenq070707pj63je07n8mkcsg3u0qnsrwx8:
Affirms the significance of using Nostr IDs for web logins and appreciates the efforts.
The excitement around Solid and its potential integration with Nostr shines through, promising a brighter, decentralized web!
---
### French Disagreements and Cheese
Original Post by npub149p5act9a5qm9p47elp8w8h3wpwn2d7s2xecw2ygnrxqp4wgsklq9g722q:
"The French disagree 😉"
nevent: nevent1tutnpxrcar0g7skp95kldk02xcpqscjevns8wmkyc4xw4z6ul8dqrnscfr
Reply by npub1crsvgfepxnvjm2r9zegvzr9xz2m3pfns6hsyxjy0yls88g0k8gtqhc9r37:
"Which is why I will always have a reason to buy cheese! 🧀"
A delightful exchange highlighting French culture’s beloved cheese, adding some fun to our day.
---
Vibrant Art Post by npub1qhjxfxpjm7udr0agr6nuhuwf9383e4g9907g64r9hf6y4fh6t6uqpcp36k
Original Post:
"#nostr and PV 🧡💜🤙"
nevent: nevent1r822ejskxwya5dnv2mg7vyngp695fva40kma859stjruxtzf8jaqxwn4nx
No direct replies yet, but the visually captivating post under several art-related hashtags showcases the creativity within the Nostr community.
---
Naming Conventions for QR Codes
Original Post by npub1h0uj825jgcr9lzxyp37ehasuenq070707pj63je07n8mkcsg3u0qnsrwx8:
"We aren’t sure how to name the QR code, so we still call it a QR code. This name can be misleading, as it might be mistaken for Npub."
nevent: nevent1x53mrmurn3y0s8p96ragsredyjp6g8egxaapcr7q5lkkgc0zfj6qgk0nwf
Discussing the need for clear and distinct naming to avoid confusion. Terminology is crucial in ensuring smooth user experiences.
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Dumb Relay Concept
Original Post by npub10000003zmk89narqpczy4ff6rnuht2wu05na7kpnh3mak7z2tqzsv8vwqk:
"The concept of 'dumb relay,' as it was initially coined, in my opinion, should be framed in terms of minimum and necessary functionality."
nevent: nevent1qqqzcweg5fvugf2nnmc3r7chw4lwjzy0v3hz9zlxl87jg9y0244qnnpvw4
Discusses ensuring the core functionality of relays while promoting synergistic cooperation with clients. Good insights on the relay-client ecosystem!
---
Highlight and Quote Feature
Original Post by npub1xdtducdnjerex88gkg2qk2atsdlqsyxqaag4h05jmcpyspqt30wscmntxy:
"Highlight and quote show up if you select some text"
nevent: nevent1vxqnssf8se2arrrngcm486qlykd2x9rpa7rqz3ctx98te2afc46qlcrxgk
A neat trick for enhancing user interaction. Try it out!
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A Friendly "Good Morning"
Original Post by npub1qhjxfxpjm7udr0agr6nuhuwf9383e4g9907g64r9hf6y4fh6t6uqpcp36k:
"Morning visitor 🐿️ Have a wonderful day #nostriches"
nevent: nevent1m5jytjhwwt8wv6sv35h332hwfa4m9mle5wpnrvuggy9w452nmkeqef9n3t
A charming post featuring a squirrel making everyone's day a bit brighter!
---
Android App Confirmation
Original Post by npub1v0lxxxxutpvrelsksy8cdhgfux9l6a42hsj2qzquu2zk7vc9qnkszrqj49:
"What do you mean? we have an android app LOL"
nevent: nevent19kkq6hw5j6pl9w2tjkuehhfzhes5k3tlw9u0pzagqhw6flga5p4qa7d7pc
Confirming the existence of an Android app with a touch of humor.
---
Simple Banter
Original Post by npub1v0lxxxxutpvrelsksy8cdhgfux9l6a42hsj2qzquu2zk7vc9qnkszrqj49:
"No you!"
nevent: nevent1ltywx73aycrwwcsmpghrl33779uu62mh4vdz0wwue0wwr7uzr4dq0e70kw
A playful retort that adds some fun to the conversation.
---
Importance of Nostr IDs for Web Login
Original Post by npub1h0uj825jgcr9lzxyp37ehasuenq070707pj63je07n8mkcsg3u0qnsrwx8:
"Using a Nostr ID to log in to the web is very important and has been underestimated. Thank you for your contribution."
nevent: nevent1cvp9k8404al85ke3x7wt0c7qdslkfqalgjz4r4df2vkgdkw4p8qq67d3nn
Reinforces the vital role of Nostr IDs in web logins.
---
Morning Greetings
Original Post by npub1q33jywkl8r0e5g48lvrenxnr3lw59kzrw4e7p0cecslqzwc56eesjymqu0:
"Morning Nela!"
nevent: nevent170g8m29hhvy497trd8caxf4gtre3vxqnx2vjna6ha3end6lphr5qg9muft
A simple yet warm greeting to start the day.
---
Policy Update on Telegram
Original Post by npub1hxjnw53mhghumt590kgd3fmqme8jzwwflyxesmm50nnapmqdzu7swqagw3:
"Telegram Changes Policy to Share Phone Numbers & IP Addresses in 'Valid Requests'"
nevent: nevent1392kxy2upl89my89nu8nz820h2234kuuqklregkwtr4a98stet5qw5te4x
Telegram will now share phone numbers and IP addresses under certain conditions. Read the full details on [NoBS Bitcoin](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/telegram-changes-policy-to-share-phone-numbers-ip-addresses-in-valid-requests/).
---
Settlement in Hostile Takeover Saga
Original Post by npub1hxjnw53mhghumt590kgd3fmqme8jzwwflyxesmm50nnapmqdzu7swqagw3:
"Bitfarms and Riot Platforms Reach Settlement in Hostile Takeover Saga"
nevent: nevent1x09l4k6n0phlyuvcunnqk6ny9ns30x97xvktur7surc02tssrrzq7p30xp
Bitfarms and Riot Platforms settle their takeover dispute. Check out the full article on [NoBS Bitcoin](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/bitfarms-and-riot-platforms-reach-settlement-in-hostile-takeover-saga/).
---
Attraction vs. Repulsion
Original Post by npub149p5act9a5qm9p47elp8w8h3wpwn2d7s2xecw2ygnrxqp4wgsklq9g722q:
"Attraction > Repulsion Appears as one of the deepest habits of the universe."
nevent: nevent1y0wjctntjyyg2fws4mhwuqswyhywfa93r094y3kc36ushsjukamsw3kl9u
A philosophical note reflecting on how attraction might be a fundamental force of the universe.
---
That wraps up our Nostr discussion roundup! Keep those conversations flowing and enjoy the vibrant community. Until next time!
Cheers,
Your Friendly Nostr Newsletter Assistant
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@ 62b7629b:c012720e
2024-09-24 07:41:03 -
@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2024-09-24 06:42:32Table Of Content
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A Leap Towards Financial Inclusion
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Boosting E-Commerce Growth
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Reducing Transaction Costs
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Enhancing Security and Privacy
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Challenges and Concerns
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Conclusion
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FAQ
Chile, the economic powerhouse of Latin America, has recently expanded its e-commerce landscape by allowing Bitcoin trading on its largest e-commerce platform. This bold move signifies a significant milestone for the Latin American e-commerce industry, offering new opportunities for both merchants and consumers. This article will explore the benefits and implications of incorporating Bitcoin trading into the Chilean e-commerce market, and discuss how this development is expected to revolutionize the region's digital economy.
A Leap Towards Financial Inclusion
The integration of Bitcoin trading on Chile's leading e-commerce platform aims to promote financial inclusion by giving more people access to the digital economy. By accepting Bitcoin as a payment option, merchants can cater to customers who may not have access to traditional banking services, broadening their reach and fostering economic growth. This inclusive approach helps bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked populations, reducing income inequality and providing a more level playing field for all.
Boosting E-Commerce Growth
The addition of Bitcoin trading on the platform is expected to boost e-commerce growth in the region. With the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies, more consumers are likely to be attracted to online shopping, benefiting both local and international merchants. Additionally, the ease of cross-border transactions with cryptocurrencies can potentially increase international trade, further accelerating e-commerce growth in Latin America.
Reducing Transaction Costs
One of the major advantages of Bitcoin is its low transaction costs compared to traditional payment methods. By incorporating Bitcoin trading into the platform, merchants can save on transaction fees, making their products and services more competitively priced. This benefit will likely lead to higher sales volumes, increased revenue, and improved profitability for businesses operating in the e-commerce space.
Enhancing Security and Privacy
Bitcoin's decentralized nature and secure encryption make it an appealing payment method for consumers who value their privacy and security. By adopting Bitcoin, Chile's largest e-commerce platform is offering users an additional layer of protection against fraud and identity theft. This move can potentially build trust among users and increase the platform's credibility in the eyes of consumers.
Challenges and Concerns
Despite the numerous benefits of integrating Bitcoin trading into Chile's e-commerce platform, there are several challenges and concerns that need to be addressed. These include regulatory issues, price volatility, and the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining. It is crucial for governments, regulators, and industry stakeholders to work together to create a supportive framework that addresses these concerns while fostering innovation and growth.
Conclusion
Chile's decision to welcome Bitcoin trading on its largest e-commerce platform demonstrates the country's commitment to fostering innovation and expanding financial inclusion. As the Latin American e-commerce market continues to grow, embracing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can provide a competitive advantage for businesses and consumers alike. By addressing the challenges and concerns associated with this new form of payment, Chile has the potential to become a leader in the global digital economy.
FAQ
Why is Bitcoin trading being introduced to the platform? Bitcoin trading is being introduced to promote financial inclusion, boost e-commerce growth, reduce transaction costs, and enhance security and privacy.
How does Bitcoin trading benefit consumers and merchants? Consumers benefit from increased privacy and security, while merchants can save on transaction fees, cater to a wider audience, and enjoy higher sales volumes.
How can Chile address these challenges and concerns? Governments, regulators, and industry stakeholders must work together to create a supportive framework that addresses concerns while fostering innovation and growth.
That's all for today
If you want more, be sure to follow us on:
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Store: https://croxroad.store
Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter
https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe
DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.
-
-
@ 502ab02a:a2860397
2024-09-24 06:20:57ร่างกฎหมาย "ฮิปโปบิลล์" (Hippo Bill) ปี 1910 เป็นหนึ่งในเรื่องราวทางการเมืองที่แปลกและน่าสนใจที่สุดในประวัติศาสตร์ของสหรัฐอเมริกา เรื่องนี้เริ่มต้นจากการที่ประเทศเผชิญกับปัญหาขาดแคลนเนื้อสัตว์และปัญหาผักตบชวาที่กำลังล้นแหล่งน้ำในรัฐลุยเซียนา ซึ่งสร้างความเสียหายให้กับแหล่งน้ำและทรัพยากรประมงในท้องถิ่น เพื่อแก้ไขปัญหานี้ สมาชิกสภาคองเกรส โรเบิร์ต โบรซซาร์ด (Robert Broussard) จึงเสนอร่างกฎหมายที่มีชื่อว่า "American Hippo Bill" โดยมีเป้าหมายในการนำเข้าฮิปโปโปเตมัสจากแอฟริกาเพื่อช่วยกำจัดปัญหาผักตบชวารุกราน และในขณะเดียวกันยังเสนอแนวคิดว่าฮิปโปจะสามารถเป็นแหล่งเนื้อสัตว์ใหม่ให้กับชาวอเมริกันได้
ที่มาของปัญหาการขาดแคลนเนื้อสัตว์
ในช่วงต้นศตวรรษที่ 20 (ราวๆ 1900s ฮาๆๆ ปีนี้ช่วงนี้อีกแล้ว แฟนๆ #บอกเล่า90บวก1 น่าจะคุ้นเคยดี) มีการอพยพเข้ามามาก สหรัฐอเมริกาจึงประสบกับปัญหาขาดแคลนอาหารอย่างหนัก โดยเฉพาะเนื้อสัตว์ที่เป็นหนึ่งในอาหารหลักของชาวอเมริกัน แม้อุตสาหกรรมเนื้อสัตว์ขยายตัวอย่างมาก แต่ก็ไม่สามารถตามทันได้เนื่องจากการล่าและการทำลายถิ่นที่อยู่อาศัยของสัตว์ในทวีปอเมริกาเหนือทำให้สัตว์บางชนิดเกือบจะสูญพันธุ์ อาทิ ไบซัน และกวาง ที่เป็นแหล่งเนื้อหลัก ส่งผลให้เกิดการขาดแคลนเนื้อสัตว์ จนทำให้รัฐบาลต้องพิจารณาหาวิธีการในการเพิ่มแหล่งเนื้อสัตว์ใหม่อย่างจริงจัง
ปัญหาผักตบชวารุกราน
ในช่วงเวลานั้น รัฐลุยเซียนายังประสบปัญหาพืชน้ำชนิดหนึ่งคือ "วอเตอร์ไฮยาซินท์ (Water Hyacinth) " หรือผักตบชวา ซึ่งนำเข้ามาในอเมริกาโดยคณะผู้แทนจากญี่ปุ่นที่มาเยือนนิวออร์ลีนส์ในปี 1884 แล้วมันดันเติบโตอย่างรวดเร็วมากกกกอย่างที่เรารู้ฤทธิ์มันดี และทำให้การทำประมงเป็นไปอย่างยากลำบาก เพราะมันทำลายแหล่งที่อยู่อาศัยของปลาและสัตว์น้ำอื่น ๆจนตายเป็นเบือ ผักตบชวาเจริญเติบโตอย่างรวดเร็วและครอบคลุมแม่น้ำลำคลองเกือบทั้งหมด ทำให้การคมนาคมทางน้ำและการใช้ประโยชน์จากแหล่งน้ำเป็นไปอย่างยากลำบากมาก ** สำหรับประเทศไทย เท่าที่หาข้อมูลมาได้ ในปี พ.ศ. 2444 (ค.ศ. 1901) เมื่อครั้งที่พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัวเสด็จประพาสประเทศอินโดนีเซีย ไม่มีบันทึกว่าพระองค์ได้นำผักตบชวากลับมาด้วย อย่างไรก็ตาม ผักตบชวานั้นถูกนำเข้ามาในประเทศไทยในช่วงหลังจากนั้น โดยในปี พ.ศ. 2455 (ค.ศ. 1912) เป็นช่วงที่พระยาศรีวิสารวาจานำพืชชนิดนี้เข้ามาเพื่อใช้ในงานประดับและฟอกน้ำตามคูคลองในประเทศไทย แต่ในที่สุดกลับกลายเป็นพืชที่แพร่กระจายและก่อปัญหาในแหล่งน้ำของประเทศครับ **
เกิดแนวคิดฮิปโปจ๋าเป็นทางแก้ปัญหา
ด้วยปัญหาทั้งสองนี้ โรเบิร์ต โบรซซาร์ด เห็นว่าฮิปโปโปเตมัสอาจเป็นคำตอบของทั้งปัญหาขาดแคลนเนื้อสัตว์และปัญหาผักตบชวารุกราน เนื่องจากฮิปโปเป็นสัตว์ที่กินพืชน้ำในแหล่งน้ำต่าง ๆ รวมถึงผักตบชวาด้วยแถมกินจุมากๆ นอกจากนี้ โบรซซาร์ดเชื่อว่าฮิปโปสามารถเป็นสัตว์เลี้ยงเพื่อเอาเนื้อให้แก่ชาวอเมริกันบริโภคได้
แนวคิดนี้ได้รับการสนับสนุนจากบุคคลสำคัญอย่าง เฟรเดอริก รัสเซล เบิร์นแฮม (Frederick Russell Burnham) บุคคลสำคัญอย่างน่าตะลึงและถูกลืมเลือนไปจากประวัติศาสตร์โดยสิ้นเชิง เป็นสุดยอดลูกเสือและสปาย เดินทางไปแอฟริกาเพื่อต่อสู้ให้กับนักล่าอาณานิคมชาวอังกฤษ เพราะเช่นเดียวกับผู้คนจำนวนมากในสมัยนั้น เขาคิดว่านี่เป็นภารกิจอันสูงส่งที่จะนำ "อารยธรรม" มาสู่แอฟริกา ครั้งหนึ่งเขาเคยได้รับการขนานนามว่าเป็น most complete human being who ever lived อีกด้วย อ่อ นอกจากนี้เขายังเป็นนักผจญภัยต้นแบบของการเขียนเรื่อง อินเดียน่าโจนส์ ด้วยครับ มีวลีอมตะที่นักข่าวคนนึงเขียนถึงเขาว่า “He has trained himself to endure the most appalling fatigues, hunger, thirst, and wounds; has subdued the brain to infinite patience, has learned to force every nerve in his body to absolute obedience, to still even the beating of his heart,”
และอีกคนนึงคือ ฟริตซ์ ดูเคน (Fritz Duquesne) เป็นชาวบัวร์ เขาเป็นคนมีไหวพริบมาก เขาใช้ชีวิตไปวันๆ โดยใช้ชื่อปลอม เขาเป็นนักต้มตุ๋นที่เก่งกาจและทะเยอทะยาน เขาต่อสู้กับอังกฤษในสงครามบัวร์ครั้งที่สอง เขาเป็นสายลับที่อิสระ เบิร์นแฮมเคยเรียกเขาว่า human epitome of sin and deception ที่ฮาคือ ในช่วงสงครามบัวร์ ชายสองคนนี้ได้รับมอบหมายให้ฆ่ากันเองครับ 5555 เอาเป็นว่าทั้งสองคนเคยใช้ชีวิตในแอฟริกาและเคยมีประสบการณ์การกินเนื้อฮิปโปมาแล้ว ในช่วงเวลาที่พวกเขาอาศัยอยู่ที่นั่น
สงครามบัวร์ (Boer War) หรือที่เรียกอย่างเป็นทางการว่า "สงครามแองโกล-บัวร์" (Anglo-Boer Wars) เป็นความขัดแย้งที่เกิดขึ้นระหว่างชาวบัวร์ (Boer) ซึ่งเป็นผู้ตั้งถิ่นฐานชาวดัตช์ในแอฟริกาใต้ กับจักรวรรดิอังกฤษ โดยเกิดขึ้นทั้งหมดสองครั้ง:
-
สงครามบัวร์ครั้งที่หนึ่ง (1880–1881):*** เกิดจากความไม่พอใจของชาวบัวร์ที่ต่อสู้เพื่ออิสรภาพจากการยึดครองของอังกฤษ ซึ่งควบคุมอาณานิคมแหลม (Cape Colony) ในแอฟริกาใต้ การต่อสู้นี้จบลงด้วยความพ่ายแพ้ของอังกฤษ และบัวร์ได้รับสิทธิในการปกครองตนเองในบางพื้นที่
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สงครามบัวร์ครั้งที่สอง (1899–1902):*** เกิดจากการขยายตัวของจักรวรรดิอังกฤษในแอฟริกาใต้ โดยเฉพาะในภูมิภาคที่ชาวบัวร์ครอบครอง ซึ่งมีแหล่งทองคำและเพชรอยู่ สงครามครั้งนี้กินเวลานานกว่าและทารุณกว่าครั้งแรก โดยอังกฤษใช้ยุทธวิธีกักกันครอบครัวบัวร์ในค่ายกักกันและเผาทำลายฟาร์ม จนในที่สุดชาวบัวร์พ่ายแพ้และดินแดนของพวกเขาถูกผนวกเข้าเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของจักรวรรดิอังกฤษ
ผลจากสงครามครั้งที่สอง ทำให้เกิดการก่อตั้งสหภาพแอฟริกาใต้ในปี 1910 ซึ่งเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของจักรวรรดิอังกฤษ สงครามบัวร์ถือเป็นเหตุการณ์สำคัญในประวัติศาสตร์แอฟริกาใต้ที่ส่งผลต่อการเมืองและสังคมในภูมิภาคนี้ต่อมา
แน่นอนว่าต้องได้รับสนับสนุนจากบุคคลสำคัญ
แนวคิดในการนำเข้าฮิปโปของโบรซซาร์ดได้รับการสนับสนุนจากบุคคลสำคัญในสังคมสหรัฐอเมริกาในเวลานั้น เช่น อดีตประธานาธิบดี Theodore Roosevelt และ William Newton Irvin กระทรวงเกษตรของสหรัฐ - USDA (อีกแล้ว) รวมถึงการผนึกกำลังกับสื่อมวลชนยักษ์ใหญ่ในขณะนั้น อย่าง The Washington Post และ The New York Times ต่างก็ได้รายงานถึงร่างกฎหมายนี้ด้วยความสนใจ ถึงกับเรียกเนื้อฮิปโปว่า "lake cow bacon" (เบคอนจากวัวทะเลสาบ) เพื่อยกย่องถึงคุณภาพของเนื้อที่คาดว่าจะได้จากฮิปโปว่ารสเลิศ และไม่ต้องเปลืองพื้นที่ในการเลี้ยง เพราะมันอยู่ในบ่อน้ำได้สบายๆ พยายามนำเสนอชวนเชื่อให้ประชาชนเต็มที่
แผนการและข้อเสนอ
แผนการของโบรซซาร์ดคือการนำเข้าฮิปโปจากแอฟริกาและปล่อยลงในแม่น้ำลำคลองในภาคใต้ของสหรัฐอเมริกา โดยเฉพาะในรัฐลุยเซียนา ซึ่งฮิปโปจะช่วยกำจัดพืชน้ำอย่างผักตบชวาและยังให้เนื้อสัตว์เป็นแหล่งอาหารใหม่ให้กับประชาชนได้พร้อมๆกัน โบรซซาร์ดและผู้สนับสนุนของเขายืนยันว่าฮิปโปสามารถเลี้ยงในฟาร์มขนาดเล็กและสามารถให้เนื้อได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพกว่าวัว รสชาติและกลิ่นคล้ายคลึงกัน สามารถเป็นสัตว์เศรษฐกิจได้เนื่องจากฮิปโปเป็นสัตว์ที่กินพืชน้ำและสามารถเจริญเติบโตได้ในแหล่งน้ำของสหรัฐ เฟรเดอริก เบิร์นแฮม ยังเสนอแนะว่าฮิปโปสามารถช่วยในการแก้ปัญหาสิ่งแวดล้อมและการขาดแคลนอาหารของประเทศ เขาชี้ให้เห็นว่าในอดีต สหรัฐอเมริกาเคยนำเข้าสัตว์ต่างถิ่นอย่างเช่น อูฐจากแอฟริกาเพื่อใช้ในพื้นที่ทะเลทรายตะวันตก และยังเคยนำเข้ากวางเรนเดียร์จากรัสเซียมาเลี้ยงในอะแลสกาเพื่อใช้ทดแทนกวางคาริบูพื้นเมืองที่ลดจำนวนลง รวมถึงนกกระจอกเทศเพื่อหวังเรื่องการบริโภคเนื้อมาแล้ว
แต่ก็ยังมีข้อกังวล
แม้จะมีการสนับสนุนอย่างมาก แต่ก็มีข้อกังวลเกี่ยวกับความเป็นไปได้ในการเลี้ยงฮิปโปในฟาร์มขนาดเล็ก ความปลอดภัยของประชาชนเป็นเรื่องที่น่ากังวลอย่างยิ่ง เพราะฮิปโปเป็นหนึ่งในสัตว์ที่อันตรายที่สุดในโลก แม้จะเป็นสัตว์กินพืช แต่ฮิปโปก็มีรายงานว่าสามารถฆ่าคนได้หลายร้อยคนต่อปี และยังมีพฤติกรรมที่เป็นอันตรายเมื่อถูกรบกวนหรือถูกคุกคาม เอาจริงๆมันหวงที่มากแม้จะไม่ได้ทำอะไรมัน มันก็พร้อมจะเข้าโจมตีคน นอกจากนี้ ยังมีคำถามเกี่ยวกับอาหารของฮิปโปด้วย โดยผู้สนับสนุนร่างกฎหมายเชื่อว่าฮิปโปจะกินพืชน้ำอย่างผักตบชวา แต่ความจริงแล้ว ฮิปโปกินพืชน้ำอย่างผักตบชวาเพียงเล็กน้อย ในธรรมชาติพวกมันส่วนใหญ่จะกินหญ้าและพืชบกเป็นอาหารหลักต่างหาก นั่นหมายความว่าการนำเข้าฮิปโปมาเพื่อลดปริมาณผักตบชวาอาจไม่เกิดผลตามที่คาดหวัง
โดนให้คะแนนลบ ด้านผลกระทบทางเศรษฐกิจและสิ่งแวดล้อม
มีการโต้แย่งว่าการนำเข้าฮิปโปอาจส่งผลกระทบต่อระบบนิเวศและเศรษฐกิจในระยะยาว เนื่องจากการนำเข้าสัตว์ต่างถิ่นอาจก่อให้เกิดปัญหาการรุกรานทางชีวภาพ นอกจากนี้ การเลี้ยงฮิปโปยังต้องใช้พื้นที่จำนวนมากและอาจส่งผลกระทบต่อพื้นที่เกษตรกรรมอื่น ๆ ของประเทศ แม้ว่าร่างกฎหมาย "ฮิปโปบิลล์" จะไม่ผ่านการพิจารณาของสภาคองเกรส แต่เรื่องราวนี้ยังคงเป็นตัวอย่างที่น่าสนใจของวิธีการแก้ปัญหาแปลกใหม่กึ่งประหลาดที่สุดในประวัติศาสตร์ของสหรัฐอเมริกา
ปัดตก
ร่างกฎหมาย H.R. 23261 หรือ "American Hippo Bill" ที่เสนอในปี 1910 มีเป้าหมายเพื่อให้รัฐบาลจัดสรรงบประมาณประมาณ 1 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ (หรือเทียบเท่าในปัจจุบัน) เพื่อการนำฮิปโปจากแอฟริกามาใช้ในฟาร์มและการผลิตในสหรัฐฯ โดยมีวัตถุประสงค์ในการใช้ฮิปโปในการผลิตเนื้อและควบคุมจำนวนพืชน้ำในบางพื้นที่ แต่ในที่สุดกฎหมายนี้ไม่เคยผ่านการอนุมัติและกลายเป็นเรื่องที่น่าสนใจในประวัติศาสตร์สหรัฐฯ
แม้ว่าแนวคิดในการนำเข้าฮิปโปโปเตมัสจะดูแปลกในสายตาของคนปัจจุบัน แต่ในบริบทของเวลานั้น การคิดค้นวิธีการใหม่ ๆ เพื่อแก้ปัญหาสิ่งแวดล้อมและเศรษฐกิจเป็นเรื่องที่ได้รับการสนับสนุนอย่างมาก มันเลยเป็นสาเหตุของอะไรหลายๆอย่าง ตามที่เคยเล่าไว้ใน #บอกเล่า90บวก1 ครับ
สิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นในครั้งนี้คือจุดเริ่มต้นของเกษตรกรรมเชิงอุตสาหกรรม แทนที่จะนำสัตว์ชนิดใหม่เข้ามาเพื่อใช้ประโยชน์จากภูมิประเทศที่ดูเหมือนจะไม่อุดมสมบูรณ์ เราเพียงแค่ดัดแปลงภูมิประเทศเหล่านั้นให้เป็นทุ่งหญ้ามากขึ้น และเราก็บรรจุสัตว์ประเภทเดียวกันเข้าไปในดินแดนใหม่นั้นมากขึ้นเรื่อยๆ นั่นคือ feed lots and confinement operations ครับ เป็นแนวปฏิบัติในอุตสาหกรรมการเลี้ยงสัตว์เพื่อการผลิตเนื้อสัตว์ โดยเฉพาะในระบบการผลิตขนาดใหญ่ในตอนนั้น
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Feedlots: คือสถานที่เลี้ยงสัตว์ เช่น วัว หรือหมู ในพื้นที่จำกัด โดยสัตว์จะถูกเลี้ยงในลานที่จัดไว้ให้พวกมันอยู่รวมกันเพื่อการขุนอาหารสูตรเข้มข้น โดยมักเป็นอาหารผสมที่มีส่วนผสมของธัญพืช โปรตีน และสารเสริมอื่น ๆ เป้าหมายของ feedlots คือการเพิ่มน้ำหนักตัวของสัตว์ให้เร็วขึ้นเพื่อให้พร้อมสำหรับการแปรรูปเป็นเนื้อสัตว์ ซึ่งช่วยให้การผลิตเนื้อสัตว์มีประสิทธิภาพมากขึ้น
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Confinement operations: หมายถึงการเลี้ยงสัตว์ในสภาพที่ถูกจำกัดพื้นที่มาก สัตว์จะไม่สามารถเคลื่อนที่หรือหากินในพื้นที่ธรรมชาติได้เอง ซึ่งการเลี้ยงแบบนี้อาจมีอยู่ในหลายรูปแบบ เช่น การเลี้ยงหมูในโรงเรือน หรือการเลี้ยงไก่ในกรง สัตว์จะได้รับอาหาร น้ำ และการดูแลอย่างเข้มงวดในสภาพแวดล้อมที่ถูกควบคุมเพื่อเพิ่มผลผลิตอย่างต่อเนื่อง #PirateKeto #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #หมูเด้ง #siamstr
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@ b5b91959:134a187a
2024-09-24 05:33:26Inleiding: lesgeven is bijzaak
\ Er was eens, in het fantastische stad Antwerpen, een systeem zo briljant dat het zelfs de Sovjet-Unie jaloers zou maken: het Antwerpse scholenloterijsysteem (meldt je aan).\ \ Het is een soort van Hunger Games, maar dan zonder het spektakel en de heldenverhalen, en met de toekomst van je kind als inzet. Mijn dochter, twaalf jaar oud, leergierig, nieuwsgierig en vol enthousiasme om aan haar middelbare schoolavontuur te beginnen, kwam terecht in het Gemeenschapsonderwijs (GO). Niet omdat wij dat zo wilden, maar omdat we simpelweg geen keuze hadden. Hierna volgde de ene na de andere poging om mijn kind te kleineren, demotiveren en vooral : er geen les aan te geven.\ Het gemeenschapsonderwijs heeft dan al geen al te beste naam, maar wat wij als gezin daar meemaken mag toch even aan het licht gebracht worden vonden we.
Het wonderlijke loterijsysteem
\ Voor de mensen die niet bekend zijn met het "systeem" van school toekenning in sommige leefzones België: de Antwerpse scholenloterij is een proces waarbij je als ouder denkt dat je enige inspraak hebt in de schoolkeuze van je kind.\ Je vult een lijstje in met 3 tot 6 scholen, en daar wordt dan een "voorkeur" gerespecteerd zogezegd. Je zegt tegen jezelf en je kind: "Oké, deze school zou goed zijn, daar willen we haar wel naartoe sturen." En dan wacht je. Vol spanning, natuurlijk. Maar zoals je misschien al geraden hebt, is die lijst puur symbolisch.\ De kans dat je kind effectief in een school terechtkomt die jij hebt gekozen. En dan nog, de lijst die je opstelt is eigenlijk kiezen tussen enkele versies van dezelfde soort leerplan-volgende vuilbak scholen.
Het resultaat? Mijn dochter, slim, nieuwsgierig en vooral een kind met een hart voor boeken en kennis, komt terecht in een school die, hoe zal ik het netjes zeggen, niet bepaald het epicentrum van intellectuele uitwisseling is. Niet dat ik per se een elite-instelling verwachtte, maar een klas waar minstens de helft van de leerlingen weet wat een boek is, leek me toch niet te veel gevraagd. Blijkbaar wel. De lat ligt niet alleen erg laag... de lat is gewoon verdwenen en vervangen door chips-eten, "oh my god" zeggen en mensen proberen te converteren naar het Islam-geloof (op 2 weken tijd al 2 keer prijs, want blijkbaar mag je in Vlaanderen je kind naar school sturen met de opdracht om "die meisjes moeten moslim sijn". Terwijl het kind in kwestie niet eens tot tien kan tellen zelf.\ Maar ach, maak er vooral geen opmerking over, dan ben je een complet-gek een extreem-rechts iemand of erger.
Da's eigen aan dit soort giftige school-systemen: je kan er maar beter je mond over houden, want anders eindig je zoals "Sandra" (fictieve naam), die effectief een opmerking maakte als kind en omsingeld werd door de stoere jongens op de speelplaats, werd gestampt, een hoertje genoemd en dan bespuwd en bespot omdat ze "haram" was.\ \ In mijn opinie, kan je dit geen scholen meer noemen, maar een gesubsidieerde facade vol ronselaars die verder aangemoedigd worden door extreem lakes proof-of-stake leerkrachten die eigenlijk meteen zouden moeten ontslaan worden.\ Of nog beter, gooi zulke facades gewoon meteen dicht en laat de kinderen die er "school lopen" hun plan trekken op straat of waar dan ook waar ze thuis horen.
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Segregatie, maar dan "toevallig"?
\ Natuurlijk kan je in zo’n systeem veel van de nadelen toeschrijven aan pech.\ Maar als je wat verder kijkt, begint er iets op te vallen.\ \ Sommige scholen in Antwerpen hebben 0,2% leerlingen van Marokkaanse of Turkse afkomst.\ Ja, dat leest u goed: nul, komma iets procent.\ Andere scholen daarentegen zijn voor 95% bevolkt door kinderen van diverse afkomst.\ \ En dit alles in een zogenaamd "random" toewijzingssysteem? Dat klopt niet.\ Of ik begrijp het alvast niet.\ Wanneer je at random plaatsen toekent aan een school, kan het niet zijn dat in Antwerpen er mathematisch gezien niet minimaal 10% allochtone leerlingen aanwezig zijn. Een random toewijzing op die aantallen studenten kan nooit in 1 school een 0,2% resultaat geven.\ Het is net zoals in een slechte sitcom: je weet dat het nergens op slaat, maar je blijft kijken omdat je je afvraagt hoe absurd het nog kan worden.
Groenhout
\ Neem nu de school Groenhout. Ah, Groenhout, die oase van welvarende, gelegen in de schaduw van het museum voor Schone Kunsten op het trendy dure Zuid. Op een boogscheut van Hoboken of de Brederodestraat, waar er toch heel wat migranten wonen.\ De Groen-stemmende gezinnen zwaaien hier echter de plak.\ \ Als je ooit het gevoel hebt dat Antwerpen een smeltkroes van culturen is, hoef je alleen maar aan deze school te denken om je daarvan te genezen. Hoe ze het daar voor elkaar krijgen, vraag je je af?\ \ Het is een school die – puur toevallig natuurlijk – enkel kinderen aantrekt die passen in het profiel van "Anuna De Wever-types". Je kent het soort wel: biologische katoenen T-shirts, composteerbare drinkflessen en de nodige scheut activisme. Ik stel voor dat we een Pulitzer uitreiken aan de eerste journalist die uitvogelt hoe Groenhout erin slaagt om haar voorrecht zo moeiteloos te behouden in een zogenaamd willekeurig systeem. Want mathematisch kan het in ieder geval niet.
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Het avontuur in het Gemeenschapsonderwijs
\ Ondertussen gaat mijn dochter, vol goede moed, naar haar nieuwe school. Het Gemeenschapsonderwijs, of GO, zoals we het noemen (want alles klinkt beter met een afkorting), heeft blijkbaar niet alleen een tekort aan diversiteit, maar ook aan leerkrachten. Op de eerste schooldag waren er al een paar leerkrachten "ziek" gemeld (ook hier zal het lot er voor gezorgd hebben dat het enkel de Arabisch klinkende namen waren die het begin van het schooljaar jammer genoeg niet haalden wegens ziekte).\ En nu, op 15 september, zijn ze nog steeds niet opgedoken. Misschien hadden ze wat last van post-vakantieblues? Acht weken vakantie is natuurlijk zwaar, en het vooruitzicht om terug voor een klas te staan waarin ze een compleet achterhaald leerplan moeten volgen, was waarschijnlijk iets te veel om te verdragen. Wie weet.
Mijn dochter is ondertussen nog steeds enthousiast. Gelukkig maar, want haar klasgenoten lijken vooral bezig te zijn met, wel ja, alles behalve leren. Sommige kinderen kennen het concept "boek" blijkbaar niet eens. Ze kijken naar een papieren bundel met pagina’s alsof het een relikwie uit een lang vervlogen tijdperk is. Het is bijna aandoenlijk, als het niet zo schrijnend was.
En dan is er nog de samenstelling van de klas. Want laten we eerlijk zijn: als je dochter ineens in een klas zit met vier op de vijf kinderen die letterlijk geen volzin kunnen vormen, dan weet je gewoon dat het geen mooie rit gaat worden.\ Deze kinderen hebben blijkbaar nog nooit van geschiedenis of economie gehoord, en het idee dat iemand hen ooit heeft uitgelegd hoe de wereld werkt, lijkt op een ver verleden gebaseerd te zijn (of een eigen invulling van "geld krijgen van vanalles".\ \ Je kan geen enkel gesprek voeren dat verder gaat dan TikTok-filmpjes en de nieuwste sneakers.\ Niet dat ik van iedereen verwacht dat ze een universitair diploma ambiëren, maar een basisniveau zou toch wel prettig zijn, niet? Ook de ouders van die kinderen zijn niet echt mensen waar je langer dan enkele minuten mee wilt praten, waarna ze met de nieuwste Iphone naar hun huizen verdwijnen, eender welk uur van de dag schijnen ze ook tijd te hebben om hun kinderen te komen oppikken van school. Hoe je als werkende mens om 15u20 aan een schoolpoort kan staan, is me een raadsel, maar ik zal ouderwets zijn, ... ik hoor bij de generatie die gaat werken om al die subsidie en uitkering te betalen uiteraard. "\ Want "ikke domme belg zijn." (Da's onze nieuwe rol in de communistische samenleving waar Europa naartoe gaat: betalen en hard werken, zwijgen, consumeren en vooral rap doodvallen om plaats te ruimen voor de meest parasitaire soort domme mensen die in groep leven en denken, en order-volgers worden van een ziek Fiat-gebaseerd failliet systeem).\ \ Mijn dochter wordt dan ook een "Tata" genoemd door het getesem dat er school loopt.\ Conflict opwekken is hier de boodschap. Om dan andere organisaties die op hun beurt ook op subsidies en "Linkie Winkies" drijven te gaan promoten.\ Gaat de klas slecht? (wat een garantie is met dit soort zielige aanpak) dan kan je naar "Elk Kind Telt". Een organisatie die subsidies krijgt om sociale assistenten types met je kind te laten "praten".\ Deze organisatie is officieel volgens hun eigen website bezig met het bestrijden van kinder armoede (een nobel doel uiteraard, of toch zo klinkt het).\ Echter, worden deze mensen als een "praatbarak" aangesmeerd aan de leerlingen, want wanneer je vaak te laat bent, of wanneer je een probleem hebt met de leerstof of klas situatie (100% van de kinderen dus) kan je bij hen terecht. Kassa kassa verzekerd qua subsidies dus. Er werd met geen woord over financiële problemen gepraat.\ \ Met andere woorden: men lokt de kinderen letterlijk naar het bureau van zulke organsatie onder het mom van "problemen aanpakken op school", waar dat naar boven toe wordt gebracht als "kind in financiële problemen". En daarna rinkelt de subsidie-kassa alweer.\ Men gaat een verdien-model opstarten op deze manier, waar eender welk kind in zulke vuilbak-achtige school, automatische een kosten post wordt en zogenaamd financiële problemen of armoede kent thuis.\ \ Mijn kind heeft voldoende financiële middelen, en omdat ze iets vroeg over de belachelijke kledij-voorschriften waar een bepaald deel van de scholieren zich wel (en een andere deel totaal niet) aan moet houden, werd ze meteen weggezet als iemand "zonder geld".\ De "elk kind telt" organisatie is dan ook in mijn visie niets anders dan een subsidie zwendel om een fake oplossing te bieden voor iets dat niet bestaat.\ Kinder-armoede bestaat in principe niet, zonder dat de ouders of een van de ouders/voogden in armoede zit. Je hebt dus altijd "armoede" in het algemeen nodig om ook zogenaamde kinder armoede te hebben.\ Wanneer de ouders niet eens het concept "boek" kennen, blijf je natuurlijk arm en afhankelijk. En geen over-gesubsidieerde mislukte pol&soc student met ongewassen haar gaat daar ooit iets aan veranderen.
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Bad reputation
\ Natuurlijk is dat alles een recept voor slechte resultaten. Het lijkt bijna alsof het systeem ontworpen is om falen te garanderen en te kunnen met de open hand staan om al die problemen op te lossen met veel subsidie en geklaag.\ Intussen klaagt vooral de kleine groep Vlaamse kinderen in die school omdat ze gewoon eens echt les willen krijgen, ... zoals een school betaamt zou men beter LES GEVEN, in plaats van problemen op te pompen en onnodige aandacht te geven aan mensen die toch opgroeien voor galg en rad.\ \ De leerkrachten, die blijkbaar vanaf dag één doorhadden dat ze een groep niet te temmen jongeren voor zich hadden, beginnen meteen repressief te dreigen met straffen. Niet omdat ze geloven in discipline of structuur, maar gewoon omdat ze totaal de taak niet machtig zijn.\ Ze hebben simpelweg geen flauw idee hoe ze met zo'n klas moeten omgaan. Het is geen kwestie van onderwijzen meer, maar van overleven. \ De les wordt een oefening in brandjes blussen, waar elke opflakkering van interesse in leren snel wordt geblust door de constante chaos. Dit is het onderwijs anno 2024: een loterij die niet alleen beslist welke school je kind gaat bezoeken, maar ook welk niveau van frustratie je als ouder moet verdragen. Want o-wee wanneer je durft klagen of opmerkingen maken.\ Een onduidelijke lijst met benodigdheden bij voorbeeld, werd meteen op paraplu-gedrag onthaald, waarbij men nul verantwoordelijkheid neemt als school maar steevast de leerplannen, of andere leerkrachten voor de bus gooit. Als men al antwoord uiteraard. Gewoonlijk negeert men problemen, tot je bij de subsidie-bende van "Elk kind telt" moet gaan aankloppen.\ De directie is nooit te zien, de onder-directeur al helemaal niet, ... die zijn altijd in vergadering zogezegd.
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Het domheidsprincipe van het systeem
\ Het meest frustrerende aan dit alles? Het gevoel dat dit systeem erop gericht is om creatief en zelfstandig denken te ontmoedigen, ja, ik durf zelfs zeggen: actief te fnuiken.\ \ Vanaf dag één wordt mijn dochter geconfronteerd met een systeem dat lijkt te zeggen: "Luister, hier is wat je moet weten. Denk niet te veel na, stel geen vragen, en doe vooral geen moeite om buiten de lijntjes te kleuren." Het leerplan? Droog, saai, en ontworpen om elk sprankje nieuwsgierigheid in de kiem te smoren. Er staat ook onnoemelijk veel overbodige "meningen" in die boeken. Meningen over allerlei groene leugens, politiek en historisch ongenuanceerde boodschappen en totale achterlijkheid. Een les over het oude Egypte wordt bij voorbeeld gelinkt aan de huidige situatie in die regio. Wat totaal overbodig is in een les geschiedenis.
En dat is nog niet eens het ergste. Zelf nadenken wordt niet alleen niet aangemoedigd, het wordt bestraft. Je zou verwachten dat scholen, als plekken van kennisoverdracht, kinderen juist zouden stimuleren om vragen te stellen, om de wereld kritisch te bekijken.\ \ Maar nee. In het GO! draait alles om het volgen van de meest domme regels, het memoriseren van nutteloze feiten en het voorbereiden op examens die niets te maken hebben met de realiteit van het leven en nog minder met echte kennis.\ Een datum van buiten leren, of enkele cijfers in de juiste volgorde zetten, en hup, men heeft weer een lesuur vol gekregen de leerkracht kan nadien tussen de middag naar de kapper terwijl ze met de heilige verbetersleutel een toets corrigeert die op zich al vol fouten stond.
Ik leer m'n dochter dus vooral aan om de "kennis van de oenen" te leren herkennen en nooit te erkennen. Maar haar "punten" er wel op te halen, terwijl ze de echte kennis tot zich neemt via boeken en documentaires of lessen die ik zelf samenstel.
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De toekomst van mijn dochter, en die van vele anderen
\ Het Gemeenschapsonderwijs, en het Antwerpse onderwijssysteem in het bijzonder, lijkt ontworpen te zijn om middelmatigheid of onderpresteren te bevorderen.\ \ Voor mijn dochter betekent dit dat ze op eigen houtje moet proberen om de leemtes in haar onderwijs op te vullen. Gelukkig heeft ze nog steeds die onuitputtelijke honger naar kennis. Maar wat met de kinderen die dat niet hebben? Wat gebeurt er met de leerlingen die afhankelijk zijn van het systeem om hen te stimuleren en uit te dagen? Niets. Deze kinderen komen op de stoel terecht bij de "praat meneer" van een subsidie organisatie. Waar ze niets mee gaan vooruit komen.
Er is iets grondig mis. Niet alleen met de loterij, maar met het hele idee van wat onderwijs zou moeten zijn. Het zou een plek moeten zijn waar kinderen hun potentieel ontdekken, waar ze leren kritisch na te denken, en waar ze worden aangemoedigd om hun eigen weg te vinden. Maar in plaats daarvan lijkt het onderwijs in Antwerpen vast te zitten in een vicieuze cirkel van bureaucratie, vooroordelen en desinteresse.\ Ik zou het recht moeten hebben op goed onderwijs als kind. En dat recht heeft men afgenomen door verwatering, verloedering, desinteresse, desinformatie en invasie van "asocialen" en "de-les-spellers" uit een godsdienst.
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Tijd voor verandering
\ Het is hoog tijd dat dit systeem herzien wordt. Dat journalisten eens de tijd nemen om uit te zoeken waarom scholen zoals Groenhout kunnen blijven bestaan in een zogenaamd eerlijk loterijsysteem en tegelijk alle "minder presterende kindjes" uit hun school kunnen houden. (hint: de toepassing van de "extra vragen" die vrijwillig worden ingevuld op de school inschrijf formulieren bij "meldt je aan" zijn daar een begin van trouwens... en kijk ook eens bij de organisatie Digipolis en hun eerlijke toepassing van dit school systeem).\ \ En dat beleidsmakers eens goed kijken naar wat er echt nodig is om het onderwijs in Antwerpen eerlijker, inclusiever en vooral uitdagender te maken. Want als het zo blijft, zullen we nog veel meer slimme, leergierige kinderen verliezen aan de middelmaat, en de bodemkruip-mentaliteit waar enkel consumeer-koeien en straatschorem uit voort zal komen.
En dat zou pas echt een verlies-post zijn.
Onze stad heeft meer nodig dan dit soort vuilbakscholen.\ Durf zulke scholen radicaal te sluiten, tot er een oplossing bedacht wordt. \ Stop deze fake, doe het voor de kinderen, ... want elk kind telt, moet meer zijn dan een subsidie-opwekkende slogen van de meest evil mensen die geen hol inzitten met de samenleving, maar gewoon hun uren staan te kloppen voor niemendal aan echte vooruitgang.\ Stop de fake, gooi ze buiten en start opnieuw.
In deze blog zal ik verdere items posten over het GemeenschapsOnderwijs, zodat diegenen die het willen weten, het ook weten en ook hun mond durven open doen.
15 september 2024
DioGenes
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@ 862fda7e:02a8268b
2024-09-24 01:14:40The media, government, and "elite" (who are only elite in this low vibration illusion we call "life") are afraid of people like me because I do not accept the reality they have forced us into. My manifesto is an attempt to wake you up from ideas you have been conditioned into believing because it benefits one class - the protected class known as the "elite".
The elite would like to have you believe that my message is something crafted from hatred and they would like to label me with mental issues. They would like you to think I am some crazy extremist who wants to advocate for the harm of others. They would like you to think that I am enciting violence.
This could not be further from the truth.
I am not and will never be an extremist, white supermicist, terrorist, radical, hateful human being. I do not believe in killing in order to convey a message or movement. I do not believe in division.
I only advocate that you become conscious of the reality around us. The reality is that this is a world controlled by the most evil, controlling, destructive freaks. These people work to make sure we are essentially slaves to a system that benefits those who created the system - the elites. Let me make this clear: I do NOT advocate for violence, destruction, death, killing, murder, hatred, division, or terrorism. The elite are threatened by people like me, because they know that we know their game. We know their plans are to destroy, to advocate for violence, to kill, murder, to encite hatred and division. This is all the elite do - they cannot fathom having people live in peace because it isn't beneficial if you want to control the world.
So while you may think it's impossible there is a group of a few evil people who control the world - look back at history. It has always been littered with the few evil who control the many. It would be stupid to think it would be different
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@ b39b8e83:0e391257
2024-09-23 23:54:40https://image.nostr.build/54d4830e16f42daf7eeff67ddc8b19f811ea2e484ff330bcc72ad5c73a8ed447.jpg
It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and sputtering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spreads of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.
It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.
Sunday morning came-next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their faces alight with material dreams-visions of a stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!-then home from the war, bronzed heros, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation -- "God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!"
Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was that an ever--merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory -
https://image.nostr.build/810192ce50f2dbb274b26c2753fe742d7fbc50fe7cd3307baf1bc2d74e5a2e14.jpg
An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there, waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal,"Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!"
The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside -- which the startled minister did -- and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said
"I come from the Throne-bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd and grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import-that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of-except he pause and think. "God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of His Who hearth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this-keep it in mind. If you beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it. "You have heard your servant's prayer-the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it-that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts, fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory-must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!
"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle-be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it-for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.
https://image.nostr.build/dd0a7be5db79d2f2885ffb7f229519c28bb3d6a4ed37df9e4ae55702ea8d17ad.jpg
(After a pause)
"Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits."
It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.
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@ b39b8e83:0e391257
2024-09-23 23:51:33My letter to my U.S. Representative asking them to cosponsor H.R. 9649 to restore UNRWA funding.
Dear Representative ABC,
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen and member of the Quaker faith community. My belief in peace, equality, and the inherent worth of every human being compels me to urge you to support the restoration of funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza.
As a Quaker, I believe we are called to speak truth to power and to work towards alleviating suffering wherever we find it. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza deeply troubles me, as I believe it should trouble all who value human life and dignity. The prospect of famine and disease outbreaks in Gaza is not just a political issue, but a moral one that speaks to our shared humanity.
UNRWA serves as the primary source of aid for millions of Palestinians facing dire circumstances. While I acknowledge the concerns that have been raised about the agency, I believe that UNRWA has demonstrated a commitment to addressing these issues through immediate action and reform. The decision by many of our allies to resume funding to UNRWA after careful consideration should encourage us to do the same.
The Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship (SPICES) guide us to seek peaceful solutions and to care for those in need. By supporting the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act (H.R. 9649), we can take a significant step towards fulfilling these values and preventing further suffering.
I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 9649 and to advocate for its passage. This action would align with our nation's humanitarian principles and our moral obligation to help those in desperate need, regardless of political boundaries.
Thank you for your consideration of this crucial matter. I look forward to hearing about your stance on this issue and any actions you plan to take.
Sincerely, TheFreeQuaker
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@ 472f440f:5669301e
2024-09-23 22:33:24While most of the world is focused on the lead up to the Presidential election here in the US and louder war drums being beat across the world, the number of bullish developments that are stacking up for bitcoin is increasing rapidly. These developments deserve the OG Marty's Bent smorgasbord treatments, so here are the things that have caught my attention over the last week in no particular order.
The First Ark Transactions on Bitcoin Mainnet
I had the pleasure of participating in a demo of Second's Ark protocol implementation. For those who are unaware, Ark is a new layer-two protocol solution for making off-chain bitcoin payments. Unlike the lightning network, Ark doesn't depend on liquidity channels to facilitate payments. Within the lightning network two counterparties share UTXOs within a channel to move sats back and forth, nodes connect to many different channels to create a network effect that increases the chance of payments getting routed successfully, and node operators manage their channel liquidity as channel imbalances emerge.
Ark is similar in the sense that it also leverages a shared UTXO model. However, instead of having one-to-one channels that come with liquidity management issues, Ark enables a large amount of individuals to share UTXOs, which are managed by an Ark Service Provider (ASP). The ASP is a central party within the protocol, but it is a central party that does not custody UTXOs. It only coordinates the transfer of sats between Ark "rounds". Users have the ability to unilaterally exit the second-layer protocol whenever they deem necessary by broadcasting a Virtual UTXO (vtxo) transaction.
This may seem daunting and complicated. All you need to know is that there is now an new way to make off-chain bitcoin payments that are fast and relatively cheap and it is possible today. As it stands today, Ark has some scaling limitations that can be solved if covenants get merged into the bitcoin protocol, which would significantly reduce the data requirements for signing this type of transaction.
It should also be noted that Ark isn't here to replace the lightning network. It can help serve different use cases and, at the same time, significantly improve the UX of the lightning network. Particularly channel management. The progression of the Ark protocol is a welcomed development. I look forward to following what's going on with Ark as the protocol matures.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is Stacking A LOT of Sats
We were made aware of the fact that the Kingdom of Bhutan, a small country in the Himalayas with a population less than 1,000,000 people, was mining bitcoin in early 2023 when their sovereign wealth fund was doxxed in the bankruptcy proceedings of BlockFi and Celsius. Don't look now, but Bhutan has been doxxed again, this time by the chain surveillance firm Arkham, which is reporting that the nation currently holds more than 13,000 bitcoin, which is nearly 1/3 of its GDP. Driven predominately by its mining operations, which have expanded significantly over the last two years in an attempt to monetize the country's excess hydroelectric power.
While we're not big fans of doxxing here at TFTC, we are fans of the game theory of bitcoin playing out in front of our eyes. And the Kingdom of Bhutan is a shining example of the game theory bitcoiners have been talking about for 15 years playing out perfectly.
Bitcoin is a very thorny topic for individuals at every layer of society. At the individual layer, people have to independently decide that bitcoin is a better money and they have to actively decide to store their wealth in it instead of other assets. For companies, the decision to use bitcoin as the preferred savings vehicle is even harder because most businesses have multiple stakeholders that need to align on a decision before making it. When you move up to the nation state level, the complexity of making the decision to add bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset gets even harder. Many more people and different branches of government need to agree and pass bills (in most cases) before bitcoin can ever make it into a nation's treasury asset mix.
It has long been said within bitcoin circles that individuals who have the ability to think independently, companies that have a lean corporate structure, and nation states with little to lose will be the first movers into bitcoin. And they will benefit massively over the long-run for being early.
If you're an individual reading this who is using bitcoin as their money of choice, you are one of these early movers. Microstrategy under Michael Saylor, who has the ability to make somewhat unilateral decisions due to the company's share structure, is an early move. And, Bhutan, a small nation in the Himalaya mountains with a sovereign wealth fund that seems to have the ability to take risk, is an early mover. With little to lose and greatness to gain, Bhutan is giving other small nation states the playbook for leap frogging the competition in the digital age. Stack a shit ton of bitcoin on the DL, hold on to it for a considerable amount of time, and wake up one day as an economic powerhouse.
The Fed Cuts Rates by 50 Basis Points
I'm sure all of you are well aware at this point. Last week the Federal Reserve made it's first rate cuts in over four years when it cut the fed funds target rate by 0.50% to 4.75-5.00%. With the economy reeling despite what the official government and mainstream narrative may try to make you believe, Jerome Powell and crew have decided it is time to ease up on their monetary policy.
Put another way, inflation is likely to come back with a vengeance as easy money begins to reenter the economy. To be clear, a lower fed funds rate doesn't technically necessitate that newly printed dollars enter the economy like they have over the last 15 years via operations like quantitative easing. However, one has to imagine that the Fed sees some sort of liquidity crisis on the horizon that requires them to begin cutting rates. And not only cutting, but cutting at a pace that was very low probability only a couple of months ago. The consensus in the middle of the Summer was that the Fed would begin lowering rates with a modest 25bps cut this month. They doubled that.
It's probably safe to assume that something is approaching a breaking point on the back end of the financial system. One only has to look at record high credit card debt, record low savings rates, the state of the job market for native born Americans, and the continued turn over of commercial real estate markets to see that not all is well in the American economy. Your Uncle Marty's spidey senses are signaling that a liquidity crunch is likely lurking around the corner. When it does rear its ugly head, you can expect quantitative easing to make a big come back.
When money printer goes brrr, bitcoin goes berserk.
It seems that the Treasury's move over the last 18-months of over-indexing on the front end of the curve during their auctions is already having an expansionary effect on M2 as it has officially entered expansion territory for the first time since 2022. Hold on to your butts, freaks.
Bitcoin's fundamentals are only getting stronger as time goes on. This is evidenced by continued improvement to the protocol stack via second layer protocols, continued adoption by reputable actors like the Kingdom of Bhutan, and the continued mismanagement of the fiat monetary system.
The price of bitcoin has been range bound since the Spring and it has lulled the market into a state of boredom. Enjoy the boring period while it lasts. All signs are pointing to a bitcoin bull run the likes of which the world hasn't seen before. There is a lot of tinder, it is extremely dry, and there are flame throwers on the horizon.
Final thought... Nothing makes me happier than meeting someone who gets value from this newsletter or the podcasts in the wild. Love you, freaks.
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@ e477586c:63d94e3f
2024-09-23 21:06:45..and maybe an example?
This weekend, I had opportunity to submit estimated labor costs for myself to my church which needs a lot of work done. There's a whole long story about whether or not the congregation owns the building on which it's members paid-off the mortgage over a decade ago. The original request was for me to submit an estimated number of hours so that they could have a ballpark figure once the council decided on an hourly rate. I gave them not only that, but also thoughts, alternatives, and long-term "permanent" fixes done by specialists in their respective fields. If we are merely tenants of a building we paid-off and the Texas District remains the landlord, then the council should be better prepared to approach District and once again and say, "give us the deed, or come take care of your property."
If you've read my recent posts, you know I'm newly unemployed. My former employer happened to be the sister congregation to the Deaf Church. In the position of facilities manager, I answered to the board of trustees. They hold meetings (really boring meetings) once a month. I'd attend about twice a year which seemed satisfactory to the board at the time. One of the trustees was a constant volunteer on the property many weeks, putting in more hours than me. He was at the meetings, he'd fill the board in on what we'd been up to on campus, and they'd give him new requests. I'd see him the next morning and we'd GSD.
When asked for information from the board, I'd present it as I'm presenting this post, or the letter I plan on cut-and-pasting here in a moment. I tried to be thoughtful, thorough, detailed, clear, and not assuming they knew the back-story behind whatever project I was referring to. In short, Professional.
What I got back from the new chair was, "That's a nice little 'story-narrative' report you've submitted, but what do you actually do here anyway? People ask me and I don't know how to answer." "Why are you spending your time troubleshooting? Call a contractor." and then when he came in one day to see a contractor estimating an electrical project, "Who gave you the authority to do that?" For 6 months, to answer his question of what I did, I filled-out a time study in 15 minute increments, daily. In March of 2023 my supervolunteer left after one particularly unprofessional dialogue. He didn't have to take it anymore. That incident made the chair realize that he didn't have any idea how much institutional information had just walked out the door. I don't know for certain that he panicked at the time, but he should have. He certainly was easily "frustrated" (his word) after that. When he became frustrated, he'd verbally lash-out at myself and at multiple contractors. My words were "abusive," and "A-hole."
Over the ensuing 14 months my job went from one which I loved, but for which I was underpaid, to one which you wouldn't be able to pay me enough to take. While there is some restructuring involved with my dismissal, the job description hasn't changed all that much. And they're offering the new sucker $15k over my final salary.
While the Sledgehammer remains focused on efficiency of hours spent and a schedule of when to replace air filters, what he needs is institutional knowledge and stories. He needs to be reminded of the mission of the organization, the church, for which he volunteers, and how it has historically performed its mission in serving the members and surrounding community. It is completely possible to efficiently and effectively do exactly the wrong things. A little professionalism in communication (and maybe an anger management class) could have gone a long way to prevent a lot of heartache and grief.
When asked a direct question with a simple answer, I would do him the courtesy of answering directly and simply. When the answer required more of an explanation than I felt he was ready to listen to, I'd simply tell him, "It'll be in the book." The new Operations Manager role they plan on filling pretty much has all my old responsibilities with additional "administrative" work. They rightly assumed I wouldn't really be interested in extra administrative duties. They knew I'd rather be out on the grounds than behind a desk. But through the whole process, no one even asked. What they didn't didn't know, or hadn't considered, is just how much the role had changed over the course of the years, how much flexibility I had already imparted to the position, and how I might have been instrumental in capturing more of this institutional knowledge in the process of the transition. Another thing they may not have considered is that not only was I serious about wanting to write a book, but that I had actually started... in fits and spurts... in bits and pieces... "this would be a good chapter..." a title... chapter structure... I started shortly before SuperVolunteer left. There was often talk... "What will we ever do if something happens to S.V.?" I mean, they weren't literally looking into key-man insurance on him, but he was that valuable. I wanted to capture more of his information and make it available; a handbook of sorts.
I'm not writing the book for the Sledgehammer. I'm writing it for me. With recent developments, the book may or may not take on a different tone than originally intended, but hopefully not too much different. #grownostr will be my sandbox and my sounding board. I've had over a dozen #ideasforbooks over the years, and maybe several of them will find their way into the posts of this blog. What I've just written would fit into my book on old churches needing love. What I hope to be focusing more on in the near future is capturing #startup progress and processes. Follow me as I #write , #TaskRabbit , and #sidehustle my way to a #rightlivelihood in #regenag or #soilfertility
And now, the moment y'all've been waiting for... an example of what I'd consider #professional #communication ...That is if it copies over from a G**gle doc okay. (The numbers will be out of order, because they are in response to someone else's list and I chose to give the simple answers first, followed by those requiring more explanation.)
Members of Jesus Deaf Lutheran church council,
Sunday after our voters’ meeting, K--- approached me with the idea of the congregation hiring me to take care of some of the issues with the building, especially the issues with water. He specifically asked me for estimates of how long each project would take. I also received the letter in which Pr. L------ shared with the district some of the major issues with the building.
I’m going to share some of my thoughts here with the council along with my time estimates, then we can discuss as a council which jobs still need to be contracted out for long-term fixes on the bigger jobs, and what we will tell Texas District.
The cracked foundation. We need to have a foundation specialist come and look and give a quote. Since this is the base of several of the other problems, the specialist could tell us if any of them (twisting) would be corrected when the foundation is repaired, or if the process would only affect the foundation. Twisting - the foundation specialist would have recommendations. (4) The two air conditioners- we had already requested a quote for some of the work, but have not received a quote. I’m reaching out again.
Rotten window frames - I believe the rotten wood at the bottom of the windows on the south side of the building was repaired not too long ago. The bottoms of the frames were cut out and new wood was installed below the window, and about 18” up the sides. These should be checked and re-caulked if necessary, but the repairs appear to be in good shape. It looks like the North side of the building had been repaired as well, but the repairs were much older. The recent failure of one of the windows during a storm was the result of a dry-rotted piece of plastic that is an integrated part of the aluminum window frame. The long-term solution is to have all the windows replaced. The window installer will be able to advise on the best long-term solution with the wood frames.
My proposal for getting us through the next rainy season before we make it through our discussions with Texas District, is to cut-out the old rotten repair and do it again pretty much the same way. This would easily provide several years of protection from water infiltration and the repairs would have to be done anyway, before a new window install.
(5)a The Roof - The only long-term solution is a full replacement. We’d have to call a roofer to bid. To get us through the next rainy season, I propose to seal areas around vents, check that screws are tight, clean the roof thoroughly, tape the seams, and apply an elastomeric coating (a paint-on rubber coating) The product has a 10 year warranty, and the repairs I have done at St. Paul with it have lasted 8 and counting.
Another contributing factor to water infiltration is the condition of the gutters. New Gutters should be considered when getting bids for the roof. These are broken in several places and rusted through. Just removing them will be better for the building than leaving them in place. Another thing that needs to be considered is having the eaves extended if possible. It will help prevent some of the problems we have with the windows and the sliding door at the brick patio. I have an idea about that too, but not sure how it will go over with all of you.
I could build something like the awning over the double doors and install it up-high, just below the roofline. It could be extended over the double doors and the low one could be removed.
(5)b The sliding doors. All three of them are due for replacement and should be considered along with windows and roof. I need confirmation on this, but it seems the water is not coming through the door frame, but under it. For the short-term, I recommend removing any wood trim, sealing between the aluminum frame and the cement slab, replacing the trim and re-caulking.
(6) The trees - There’s one dead tree in the south yard along with many young, small trees that grew up in between the fences. I’m planning on taking these out in preparation for the shed. Unless the neighbor to the south has complained of any problems with the oak, I suggest we leave it alone over their property. If it needs to be done, I’d hire a tree service for liability purposes. The oak does have a few branches getting close to the church roof which I can remove. I can also remove branches over our own roof and trim any branches that hang too low in the parking lot. The issue with city codes that Pr. L------- mentioned, would be those growing into the utility lines, or are not high enough off the street. I’d have these done by a tree service as well.
(7) The water drainage on the parking lot - besides the parking lot, there is also a grading problem on the brick patio at the north side of the building. I had already been planning on grading the south lawn in order to improve drainage from the parking lot to the alley on the east end of the property before putting in a base for the shed. K--- brought the brick patio to my attention, and I can re-grade that by removing the bricks, grinding down some of the roots, and re-setting the brick and using smaller stone instead of brick right around the tree trunk. A third area I can play with is that little patch of dirt that goes in between the office and parking lot and runs north to the duplex property. I haven’t been on the property during a flooding event, so I’m not sure whether these steps will be enough, or if we’ll eventually need to have a portion of the parking-lot itself redone, but these steps will definitely help.
Costs: Rental Equipment:
Tractor W/ Loader and backhoe $329/day for 1 or 2 days plus delivery fee (last time I did this it was $100 or $150) For Grading S. yard and in front of church office.
Stump Grinder: $122/half day for grinding roots of removed tree in S. Lawn and the roots of the tree in the brick patio.
6” Chipper $232/ half day. For reducing tree waste to wood chips.
Trailer $60/day to $122/day depending on model may or may not be needed to move other equipment, materials purchased, or remove wood chips.
Compactor: $70 /half day For preparing shed foundation.
Scaffolding? For installing awning.
Materials costs have not been calculated. 10 Cubic Yards road base for foundation of shed: They don’t have current prices on their website, but last time I priced it, it was about $30/yard and the delivery was between $100 and $200. Gravel for graded area in front of church offices: estimated 3 yards (more than the roadbase/yard, but don’t know how much maybe $45/yd
4” PVC pipe and fittings. 30 feet @$50/10’ Approx. $250
Roof Coating $99/5gal Covers 500 square feet. Does someone know how many square feet the building is?
Materials for ‘awning’ ???
Estimated labor hours:
Grading S. Lawn 8 Spreading and compacting shed foundation 4 Misc Tree trimming over parking lot, roof, and in S yard 9 Shredding and removal of tree waste 6 Roof inspection and prep work for coating 24 Roof Coating 16 Grading area in front of offices to drain to North 16 North Patio Re grading 24 Removing gutters 24 Repairing windows on N side and sealing sliding door frames 32 Construct “awning” to move rainfall away from the building. 40?
Zap if you liked it or learned something, and give me a follow.
I do have my first #Task lined up with #TaskRabbit. we'll see what kind of sorcery the algorithms do once I've shown #proofofwork
And it looks like the text of the google doc came over fine, but not any images... they were mostly just pictures of rotten window frames, anyway.
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@ e8b86bc1:3503c58f
2024-09-23 20:45:24Opinion about Freewallet Multi Crypto Wallet (iphone)
Let’s unite to stop Freewallet's scam! Every complaint makes a difference. Visit freewalletreviews.org/countries-organizations to learn how to file yours.
WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion
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@ 8cb60e21:5f2deaea
2024-09-23 20:29:04Here's an explanation of the changes made to make the input and button work for creating invoices:
Added a new state variable invoiceAmount to store the user input for the invoice amount. Added another state variable invoice to store the created invoice data. Created a new function handleCreateInvoice that calls the createInvoice function with the entered amount. Updated the input field to be controlled by the invoiceAmount state. Added an onClick handler to the "Create Invoice" button that calls handleCreateInvoice. Added a new section to display the created invoice details when available.
This implementation allows the user to enter an amount in satoshis, create an invoice with that amount, and see the details of the created invoice including the payment request. Would you like me to explain any part of this code in more detail?
```js import React, { useEffect, useState } from "react"; import { getInfo, getBalances, createInvoice } from "./lib/lnd"; import "./App.css";
export default function App() { const [info, setInfo] = useState({}); const [lightningBalance, setLightningBalance] = useState({}); const [inbound, setInbound] = useState({}); const [invoiceAmount, setInvoiceAmount] = useState(""); const [invoice, setInvoice] = useState(null);
const fetchData = async () => { const fetchedInfo = await getInfo(); setInfo(fetchedInfo); const fetchedBalance = await getBalances(); setLightningBalance(fetchedBalance.local_balance.sat); setInbound(fetchedBalance.remote_balance.sat); };
useEffect(() => { fetchData(); }, []);
const handleCreateInvoice = async () => { try { const createdInvoice = await createInvoice(parseInt(invoiceAmount)); setInvoice(createdInvoice); } catch (error) { console.error("Error creating invoice:", error); // You might want to show an error message to the user here } };
return (
{info && ( ); } ```Connected to {info.alias}
Pubkey: {info.identity_pubkey}
Lightning Balance
Balance: {lightningBalance} sats
Inbound: {inbound} sats
Create Invoice
setInvoiceAmount(e.target.value)} placeholder="Amount in sats" />Created Invoice
Payment Request: {invoice.payment_request}
Amount: {invoice.value} sats
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@ a03b38f8:2c7ce1f0
2024-09-23 20:08:38DATA PRIVACY AND BEST PRACTICES
Your Data Privacy should be a major concern of yours, as enormous personal data about you is shared across various medias and platforms.
Data collection, data sharing, and it's management is a key concern for businesses organizations across the globe. It is a huge global business collecting and selling your personal data. In many ways you are their product.
In our daily activity of mobile phone usage, information about us is being constantly collected, and this is not just limited to our own personal devices, so it is important to know what data is being collected and how it is being used without our consent.
Data Privacy in a nutshell is a series of activity aimed at safeguarding (Protection) of our personal data from those who should not have access to it and the ability of the individual to determine who can access this personal information in their custody.
The term data privacy is synonymous with Information Privacy or Data Protection depending on which context this term is used.
TYPES OF DATA COLLECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
Your Financial information is incredibly sensitive data, this data when compromised could result in a huge financial loss, you becoming a fraud victim, or suffuring from identity theft. cyber criminals are always hoping to gain access to information such as your customer accounts or credit card details.
Financial data is collated from various activity, products usage, service consumed, which can be offline or online this financial data when compromised the result is a loss.
On the cyber space hackers have schemes used in stealing information from victims while offline activities could involve humans or usage of advance tools to steal your information.
Local grocery stores and banks are good examples of where credit card information is stolen. Hackers use skimming methods to capture payment information from your credit card in local grocery stores and at ATMs, using an advanced approach involving a small device called a SKIMMER that reads the information stored in a cards magnetic strip or microchip. Skimming devices most times are installed at Automated Teller Machines and other point of sales locations, especially gas stations. Most times fraudster use cameras and overlay touchpads to capture victims’ personal identification number(PIN).
Hackers also use phishing methods through texts and phony emails. Malware that can record keystrokes to steal your sensitive information, it is advisable to never enter your credit cards information on a website or email you did not verify. Or better still only use limited balance cards or visa reloadable cards for online activities.
INTERNET DATA
As we access the internet daily, our data is collected in different ways, the use of search engines and data mining has created a capability for data collection from a variety of sources very easily.
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this has facilitated creating inferential information about individuals and groups, based on such enormous amount of collected data, as a result of this the Fair Information Practice Principle was formulated to provide a set of guidelines that represent widely accepted concepts concerning fair information practices in an electronic marketplace. This action has received a lot of criticism because of insufficiency in the field of Artificial Intelligence enabled inferential information.
When using the internet we give away a lot information about ourselves in cases where emails are not encrypted by administrators of servers when the connection is encrypted and the internet service provider (ISP) and other parties surfing the network traffic of that connection are able to know the contents, this applies to any of kind of traffic generated on the internet including web browsing, instant messaging, that is why it is advisable to always encrypt emails and regular use of it can be done traceless via anonymizers. The use of routing protocols that create hard to trace communication by using a chain of proxy servers is encouraged, with this each message is encrypted to each proxy using public key cryptography
There are many content with privacy concerns in an era where other people might not be as privacy conscious as you are. It is often we see people tagged on Facebook and other social media without their consent, this act could lead to cyber stalking which might escalate to offline stalking.
Some websites engage in deceptive practices such as placing a cookie notice in places on the page that are not allowing them to change their privacy settings apps like Instagram. Facebook collects user data for personalized app experience; however, they track user activity on other apps, while other information collected are used for marketing purposes. This in turn has made this companies more powerful over their consumers.
LOCATION DATA
Location data can be some of the most sensitive data.
Location data provides publishers and app developers with advertising revenue so consumers can access free services and information, it helps with city planning, help ride sharing users get to their destination guide, Travelers to great local spots, reassure parents of their children safety while away from home. Location data can also enhance personal safety in cases of emergencies services like the dispatch of help at a speed of light, additional features like “FIND MY DEVICE” help locate lost or stolen phones.
But the pervasive use of geo-location technology poses new challenge to data privacy as they enable third parties to locate and track people and objects anywhere at any anytime.
The Smart devices we carry along with us have in fact become tools for surveillance, yet many of us have embraced them willingly, the risk for abuse of personal data and the threats to privacy that arise from government and commercial entities using geo-location technology are enormous. Like all powerful tools location data is a double-edge sword, we cannot refrain from this potential service but instead we can use it judiciously and responsibly.
Google takes the cake when it comes to tracking most of our data, because it’s entire business model relies on data collection, while Facebook stores user information.
POLITICAL DATA
Political Data Privacy has been a thing of concern with the use of digital voting machines, in the United States of America (USA) where the M650 electronic ballot scanner is used, it is possible that the smart cards can be reprogrammed wirelessly using mobile phones. This activity could result in election hacking, bringing about erosion of public trust in the electoral process. When the masses lose faith in the integrity of elections they become disillusioned and disengaged from participating in democracy.
MEDICAL DATA
With the increased incorporation of electronic health records into care delivery and research, the growing volumes of data for evidence base research and care might eventually force significant changes to strike a balance between privacy and medical data.
People may not wish for their medical records to be revealed to others due to confidentiality and sensitivity of what the data might reveal about their health. They might be concerned that it might affect their Insurance coverage or employment, some people might not wish for others to know about any medical or psychological conditions or treatments that might bring embarrassment upon themselves or social scrutiny.
Revealing medical data could also reveal other defects about one’s personal life, health-care data breach can result from hacking, data theft or loss, unauthorized access and when this occurs all parties suffer a loss.
Data breaches are not just a concern and complication for security experts, it also affects, stakeholders and organizations.
The Internet of Medical Things (IOMT), smart devices, information systems and cloud services have led to a digital transformation of the healthcare industry with this technologies sensitive data is collected by healthcare organizations from patients stored on network servers for easy accessibility at all times so as to facilitate patient care.
Cyber criminals use ransomware to steal a victim’s medical records from a healthcare provider by decrypting the data or device in turn for a ransom, hackers knowing that most health care providers store and manage medical records online, most Healthcare providers use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)to access medicals records, cyber criminals try to exploit vulnerabilities of unsecured RDP to steal medical records.
EDUCATIONAL DATA
Stolen student records can come back to haunt children when they attain adulthood; for example say a student has a history of drug use that’s been successfully overcome or they have disciplinary records that should have been expunged but are publicly available, this data could resurface in College Applications, Job Interviews and Court Hearings.
In an era where education data mining is prevalent a robust cyber security is essential for protecting everyone within the education ecosystem, as security breaches in higher education can lead to significant data loss, affecting personal information and institutional data. Implementing stringent data security protocols and response strategies is vital.
BEST TECHNOLOGIES FOR DATA PRIVACY PRACTICES
These are just some of the technologies available today that can protect user privacy and keep data more secure.
I. ENCRYPTION
Encryption is a way to conceal information by scrambling it so that it appears to be random data. Only parties with the encryption key can unscramble the information, this involves the use PGP.
Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is a widely recognized encryption system used for securing digital communications and data. PGP keys employ a combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of information.
PGP keys consist of two parts: a public key and a private key. The public key can be freely shared and is used for encrypting data, while the private key is kept secure and is used to decrypt the information. This dual-key mechanism ensures that only the intended recipient can access the encrypted message.
Moreover, PGP allows for digital signatures, enabling the sender to verify their identity and the message's integrity. This provides a high level of trust, making PGP ideal for secure communications, email encryption, file encryption, and software distribution.
PGP keys offer robust security by leveraging advanced cryptographic principles, ensuring data privacy and authenticity. Their reliability and effectiveness have made them a cornerstone in secure communication practices, widely adopted across various industries to protect sensitive information.
II. ACCESS CONTROL
Access control ensures that only authorized parties access systems and data. Access control can be combined with data loss prevention (DLP) to stop sensitive data from leaving the network.
Access Control is a fundamental security mechanism used to regulate who or what can view or use resources in a computing environment. It is crucial for protecting sensitive data, ensuring that only authorized users have the right to access, modify, or manage particular resources, systems, or information.
There are several types of access control models, each serving different security requirements:
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Discretionary Access Control (DAC) allows resource owners to control access based on user identities.
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Mandatory Access Control (MAC) uses strict policies controlled by a central authority to manage access based on classification levels.
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Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) grants access based on a user’s role within an organization, offering scalability and efficiency in managing permissions.
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Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) provides dynamic, context-aware access based on attributes like user role, time of access, and location.
Effective access control ensures data confidentiality, integrity, and availability by preventing unauthorized access, reducing the risk of data breaches, and ensuring regulatory compliance. In today’s digital landscape, implementing robust access control measures is critical for safeguarding organizational assets, maintaining trust, and protecting against cyber threats.
In conclusion, Access Control is a vital element of cybersecurity that helps organizations enforce security policies, manage permissions efficiently, and protect sensitive information, making it a cornerstone of data protection and information security strategies.
III. TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
Two-factor authentication is one of the most important technologies for regular users, as this makes it far harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access to personal accounts.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security process that requires two forms of verification to access an account or system. It combines something you know (like a password) with something you have (such as a smartphone or security token) or something you are (biometrics like fingerprints). This additional layer of security makes it harder for unauthorized users to gain access, even if they have the password, thereby enhancing protection against cyber threats.
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@ f66b34f6:88b6bc20
2024-09-23 19:26:00Test
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@ 9c47509c:382a95af
2024-09-23 19:18:58This is a song I've wrote. Titled "God Given Rights" Maybe it's time for us to raise up
Music
Listen: https://audio.nostr.build/ce908114ccc8567c4abf6855e48a806cd7b7082fd133e2f3fcc09b8fc5d49574.mp3
Lyrics
From when I wake till I'm in bed Iife is fuzzy I'm not sure what to do so let me make my words buzzy
Land was supposed to be free, you made it luxury You own 27%, you put human to misery
We didn't vote for that, You imposed it You put the title deed in your safe and locked it
Islam says Zakat is fixed at 2.5% a year on holdings In You system we have less but your taxes are folding
God gave us right to dig this land You made us slaves with cuffs on hands
Salt, Coal, Metal, oil was supposed to be fairly shared We woke up one day and nothing is spared
Those were pre-medieval 1400 years old but fair laws When we traded it for modernity our rights were gone with the flow
Muhammad said "No harm" "go trade" put a stand on the street, sell, dig the ground by the spade
Muhammad said Who revive the dead land owns it They say it's government's, if you touch it you will be buried in it
They told us he was evil, liar, that he never said the truth Cause they want you to be locked in your tiny booth
Islam says no tax on under 85 grams of your Gold holdings That's 40 except 1 you are withholding.
On agricultural you pay on the dried grains 10% if it's watered by rain
5% if an effort is put, it's simple, plain
For cattle, let us say you got 40 You give one sheep and it's the same till 120
But wait, that is only if they fed on pasture If you bring them feed, then no, not hard to master
Collectors were only allowed to check for wealth in their plain view No access for your safe or clearance to fall out of the blue
If you extract Gold from earth then it's yours Some say you only pay 2.5%, some say the fifth, enjoy your ores
expenditures of what you paid are half 14 Want to read about them check Al-Baqarah 215
One of the expenditures is freeing the slave Don't take hate for Islam with you to the grave
Zakat is not taken to build roads, schools or mosques If the people wants they establish Waqhfs
When Muhammad was surrounded he didn't collect taxes He asked Muslims to dig a trench with their axes
When people where thirsty, the Jew got the well Muhammad pled to the people with the good will
Islam, a religion where tax collection is a major sin Would you want to be with adulterers in the same bin?
Once the people said, prices have shot up, fix prices for us He said, I hope that when I meet Allah
none of you will have any claim on me for an injustice regarding blood or property
God knows the best, he revealed the book Man made laws are tools of the crook
But people like Jameel Akbar wouldn't let this knowledge go
God grace is ample Religion is simple
Wanna learn more go read What Dr. Jameel Akbar have said
https://audio.nostr.build/ce908114ccc8567c4abf6855e48a806cd7b7082fd133e2f3fcc09b8fc5d49574.mp3
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@ e27ae11e:e0c36580
2024-09-23 15:24:50Choosing the right size ceiling fan for your room is crucial for both comfort and efficiency. An appropriately sized ceiling fan will circulate air effectively, making the space more comfortable while also potentially lowering energy costs. Here’s a detailed guide to help you make the best choice:
Understanding Ceiling Fan Size
Ceiling fans come in various sizes, and selecting the correct size depends primarily on the dimensions of the room where the fan will be installed. The size of a ceiling fan is typically measured by the diameter of the blades. Here’s a general breakdown:
Small Rooms (up to 75 sq. ft.)
Recommended Fan Size: 29-36 inches
Example Rooms: Small bathrooms, small offices, or small guest rooms.
Why: Smaller fans are designed to provide adequate air circulation in compact spaces without overwhelming the room or causing an imbalance.
Medium Rooms (76-144 sq. ft.)
Recommended Fan Size: 42-48 inches
Example Rooms: Standard bedrooms, medium-sized living rooms, or dining rooms.
Why: A fan of this size can circulate air effectively without being too overpowering or too weak for the room's dimensions.
Large Rooms (145-400 sq. ft.)
Recommended Fan Size: 50-54 inches
Example Rooms: Larger living rooms, larger bedrooms, or open-plan areas.
Why: Larger fans are necessary to move air efficiently across a wider space, ensuring even cooling and comfort.
Extra-Large Rooms (over 400 sq. ft.)
Recommended Fan Size: 56 inches and above
Example Rooms: Large great rooms, large open spaces, or expansive lofts.
Why: For very large areas, a bigger fan or multiple fans are needed to ensure adequate airflow and circulation.
Factors to Consider
Room Shape and Ceiling Height
Shape: Irregularly shaped rooms or those with obstacles may require additional considerations. For instance, if a room is long and narrow, a fan that’s too small might not provide even air distribution.
Ceiling Height: Fans should be mounted so that the blades are 7-9 feet from the floor. For rooms with high ceilings, consider a downrod to lower the fan to an optimal height. For ceilings under 8 feet, a flush mount or low-profile fan is recommended.
Blade Pitch Definition: The angle at which the blades are set relative to the ceiling.
Impact: A greater blade pitch (around 12-14 degrees) moves more air and is better for larger rooms or spaces where you need strong airflow.
Motor Quality Importance: The motor’s quality impacts the fan's performance. A well-made motor ensures smooth operation and longevity, particularly in larger fans where the load is greater.
Design and Aesthetics
Style: Ceiling fans come in various styles, from modern to traditional. Choose a design that complements your room’s décor while ensuring it’s functional for the space.
Finish: Blade and motor finishes should match or complement the room’s color scheme and overall aesthetic.
Installation Tips
Proper Placement
Centering: Position the fan in the center of the room to maximize airflow. For rooms with multiple fans, ensure they’re spaced evenly for consistent air distribution. Avoid Obstructions: Ensure the fan blades have enough clearance from walls, furniture, or other obstructions to prevent noise and potential damage.
Balancing
Importance: An unbalanced fan can wobble or shake, which is not only noisy but can also damage the fan or ceiling. Most modern fans come with balancing kits to address this issue.
Control Options Types: Fans can be controlled via pull chains, wall switches, or remote controls. Consider your preference for convenience and ease of use.
Energy Efficiency
Choosing an energy-efficient fan can help reduce your electricity bills. Look for fans with the ENERGY STAR® label, which ensures that they meet specific energy efficiency guidelines. Additionally, using the fan in conjunction with your air conditioning system can help circulate cooled air more effectively, potentially allowing you to set the thermostat at a higher temperature.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right ceiling fan involves considering the size of the room, ceiling height, and your specific cooling needs. A fan that’s too small may not provide adequate airflow, while one that’s too large could overpower the space. By following these guidelines and understanding your room’s requirements, you can ensure that you choose a ceiling fan that offers optimal performance, comfort, and style.
How high should a ceiling fan be installed?
When installing a ceiling fan, the height at which it is mounted is crucial for ensuring optimal performance, safety, and comfort. Here’s a concise guide on how high a ceiling fan should be installed:
Optimal Ceiling Fan Height
General Height Recommendations
Standard Height: For most rooms, the ideal height for a ceiling fan’s blades is 7 to 9 feet from the floor. This range allows for effective air circulation while ensuring that the fan does not interfere with occupants or furniture.
Ceiling Height Considerations: If your ceiling is lower or higher than the standard height, adjustments need to be made:
Low Ceilings (8 feet or less): For rooms with lower ceilings, use a low-profile or flush mount fan. This type of fan is designed to be installed closer to the ceiling, typically with a clearance of 7 feet from the floor. This prevents the fan from being too close to people’s heads and avoids potential safety hazards. High Ceilings (over 9 feet): For rooms with high ceilings, use a downrod to lower the fan to the optimal height. Downrods come in various lengths, so choose one that ensures the blades are 7 to 9 feet from the floor. This adjustment maximizes airflow efficiency and maintains comfort without compromising safety.
Benefits of Proper Height
Efficient Air Circulation: Installing the fan at the correct height ensures that the air circulated by the fan reaches all parts of the room effectively. Fans positioned too high may not circulate air efficiently, while those too low might be obtrusive and not provide optimal airflow.
Comfort and Safety: Proper height prevents the fan from interfering with people in the room. It ensures that the fan blades are at a safe distance from occupants and furniture, reducing the risk of accidents or damage.
Aesthetic Appeal: A well-positioned fan complements the room’s design. It should be installed in a way that enhances the room’s look without dominating the space or appearing out of place.
Special Considerations
Room Shape and Size: In larger or oddly shaped rooms, the fan should be positioned to maximize airflow distribution. If the room has multiple fans, ensure they are evenly spaced and installed at a consistent height for balanced air circulation.
Fan Type: Some ceiling fans come with adjustable mounting options that allow for custom installation heights. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines for the specific fan model you choose.
Installation Tips
Professional Installation: For best results, consider having the fan installed by a professional electrician, especially if adjustments to the ceiling height or wiring are needed. Clearance Check: Before installation, measure the ceiling height and check the clearance around the fan to ensure it adheres to safety guidelines and offers optimal performance.
Conclusion
Proper installation height is key to the ceiling fan’s effectiveness and safety. By ensuring that the fan is mounted 7 to 9 feet from the floor, you can enhance air circulation, maintain comfort, and avoid safety hazards. Adjustments for low or high ceilings should be made using low-profile mounts or downrods, respectively. With careful consideration of these factors, you can achieve optimal fan performance and integration into your space.
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@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5
2024-09-23 15:01:17Hey Freaks,
Below is a transcript of the debate between TheWildHustle and Billy Death on the topic of using Bitcoin as a store of value, medium of exchange, and unit of account.
Participants
Billy Death TheWildHustle
Debate Transcript
Billy: Hey Hustle, I recently saw a post on stacker news about spending and replacing your bitcoin. Isn't that retarded? Wouldnt it make more sense to just hodl.
- TheWildHustle: Well that depends Billy, what do you plan on using bitcoin for?
Billy: Well its an asset that will go up forever and I can accumulate a bunch of it at a huge discount right now, and in the future i'll probably be able to take a loan out on the bitcoin instead of selling. And on top of that there are capital gains taxes and exchange fees, and bitcoin is so niche right now that merchant adoption is few and far between anyway.
- TheWildHustle: Seems like your only thinking about bitcoin from the vantage point of store of value, and not unit of account and medium of exchange. Bitcoin is a lot more powerful than you think, you should consider unlocking all of the power of your bitcoin.
Billy: Oh, so your going to get all maxi on me.
- TheWildHustle: Why dont you want bitcoin to fulfill all of the aspects of money for you?
Billy: I can use bitcoin any way that I want, Its free open source software. I dont have the time or patience to be jumping from discountinued lightning wallet to discountinued lightning wallet, just so that I can virtue signal to the maxi's.
- TheWildHustle: If you want bitcoin to primarily be your store of value, what will you use for medium of exchange and unit of account?
Billy: I'll just use what's widely accepted in my area, its not like I have a choice in that matter
- TheWildHustle: Do you run a node
Billy: Its not profitable to run a bitcoin or lightning node. And I dont do anything for strictly altruistic reasons.
- TheWildHustle: Are you on nostr
Billy: Yeah, but nostr is dead. I dont have any followers and it feels like i'm just posting into the void. I dont see alot of content and the clients have a bunch of spam and lag.
- TheWildHustle: Are you going to report your zaps and e-cash to the IRS when you file your taxes?
Billy: Its such a small amount it doesnt matter.
- TheWildHustle: We havent seen the personal finance side of things take off in bitcoin. I'm seeing a not to distant future where you throw corn on your node and through a series of automations and budgeting, you achieve better financial privacy, insight and control. Seems like your not interested in financial sovereigny as much as you are with NGU. You shouldnt need to loan your bitcoin to a bank for tokens to buy your lunch.
Billy: This is the accumulation stage in my bitcoin journey. I'll learn how to spend, run a node and limit third party intermediaries after the tech get a bit better. I'm not technical at all.
- TheWildHustle: Do you think that fiat world will break gradually and then suddenly?
Billy: I doubt I'll be in a situation where I'm scrambling to make payments due to fiat implosion. And even if I am, at least I wont be alone.
- TheWildHustle: Do you enjoy your current banking setup?
Billy: Yep, works really well for me. I spend with my credit cards and get rewards, I have a Weekly DCA that goes into a hardware wallet, I have stocks on robin hood and an IRA with my job.
TheWildHustle's Warning
- TheWildHustle: I'd be cautious trusting any of third party financial intermediaries. Things are going to get wild, and fiat is an illusion, its a decree from an entity that is currently in a death spiral. Switching your unit of account and using bitcoin as peer to peer digital cash will be a no brainer. Are you still learning about bitcoin?
Billy: What else is there to learn besides the value prop and how to send to cold storage? You want me to learn Austrian economics or something? I'm actually pretty busy.
- TheWildHustle: Which hardware wallet are you using?
Billy: A ledger
- TheWildHustle: Do you think the government will try shutting peoples bank accounts if they are considered unworthy?
Billy: That sounds like a conspiracy theory. Why would they do that, I'm not doing anything wrong.
- TheWildHustle: So your fine with giving your bitcoin to Larry for LarryCoin if it means you avoid tax liabilities and can buy a cheeseburger at McDonalds?
Billy: I'm just loaning him my bitcoin, and plus he's offering risk free yield. Its not like BlackRock is going to fall apart, their nothing like FTX or MT GOX. And I don't want to use bitcoin as peer to peer digital cash, I want to use it like its another type of financial asset that works with my current portfolio.
- TheWildHustle: This game is about more than stacking as many coins as you can. If bitcoin does what we think it will, understanding how to use it will be a huge advantage. The game is more about leaving the traditional fiat banking system.
Billy: I'm too comfortable to move.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/697535
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@ 6bae33c8:607272e8
2024-09-23 14:45:00I’ll start with what’s on my mind and then get to the important stuff. I just watched the 40-minute version of Falcons-Chiefs, and it was infuriating because I had Atlanta +3.5 in the Circa Millions. I was 2-1 on the day (won with Indy and Baltimore, lost with Houston) and badly needed Atlanta to cover. They drove the ball to the six on the penultimate drive, went four and out (could have kicked the covering FG with 7:13 and three timeouts remaining, but okay, that’s a 50/50 call at best) and on the final drive failed to convert from the Chiefs 13 on 4th-and-inches.
But it’s not so much that they failed but how they failed. On the first drive, it was 4th-and-five, and Kirk Cousins threw a ball that had zero chance of being completed. Maybe he was under pressure (didn’t see the replay), but on fourth down you just chuck it up for grabs, as there’s no downside to a turnover. But what was far, far worse was the play call during the final drive on 4th-and-inches. They ran Bijan Robinson (who had no room to run all game, but also looked ordinary af) horizontally, the Chiefs got penetration (as they had all game) and he got stuffed. Why are you running a sweep when you need inches? Sneak it with the QB, and if he’s too old and brittle, direct snap it to a back or just hand it off and have him run straight up the middle. Why the fuck would you run sideways? You’re not trying to get eight yards, only a few inches!
Maybe they would have gotten the first down and still not scored the TD (which they had to have at that point) anyway. Who knows? But the play calling and play design for the Falcons is bad, including so many screens to freaking Darnell Mooney. How many times can you go to that play? He’s not Tyreek Hill!
The Chiefs are also extremely annoying to watch, maybe the ugliest good offense in the league. While other teams hate the dink and dunk and getting seven first downs to score, they don’t mind it one bit. Just a shit way to wake up in the morning, to watch that game. Maybe worse than last week even though that one was tough to top.
Okay, onto the important stuff. Survivor is just bananas this year. Here’s the Circa board for Week 3:
It had already been massive carnage leading into this week with the biggest favorites on the board in both Weeks 1 and 2 (Bengals and Ravens, respectively) losing outright, and now the Browns (931), Bucs (667), Raiders (515), 49ers (69) and Titans (54) got bounced. That’s 2,236 more deaths, leaving 1,638 (out of 14K originally!) in Week 3.
But the craziest thing is Week 3 is not even over. The Bengals (988) and the Bills (71) still have yet to play! I happen to think the Bengals will crush (Cincy -7.5 is my final Circa Millions pick), but if they go down, there would be only 550 left heading into Week 4. I’d be shocked if the biggest favorite has ever lost three weeks in a row, let alone during the very first three of the year, but now I’m almost rooting for the Football Team despite my Circa pick for the sheer sickness of it. It’s been such an insane year my 24-person “home” pool ended after Week 2.
It also makes me feel better about getting bounced in Week 1 because had the Bengals won I almost certainly would have lost this week with them unavailable to me, and that’s assuming I didn’t take the Ravens last week. Essentially, you were drawing dead with the Bengals even if the Mike Gesicki TD counts and they win that game.
By the way, much respect to the three “No Pick” entries at the bottom. Takes a real man to pony up $1000, dodge the minefield of the first two weeks and not even submit a pick!
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I faded Travis Kelce, but even I didn’t think it would be this bad. But it’s actually okay if you drafted him because TE is like defensive lineman IDP now. You’re happy if you get a sack or two, but not really counting on much.
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Carson Steele did fine running straight ahead and breaking tackles, but there’s not much upside there.
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Rashee Rice is the whole offense right now and looks like a real alpha that catches everything and maxes out yards after the catch. Since I have none of him, it would be tremendous if the NFL randomly meted out an extended suspension in two weeks.
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Xavier Worthy will get loose unpredictably but he’s a tough start.
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Bijan Robinson is a smooth, gliding runner, but I’ve never been blown away by him. I’m sure he’ll prove me wrong one of these weeks.
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Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback when he has time, but has no Plan B if pressured. The Falcons couldn’t get much going after the first drive.
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The Giants defense played great, dropping Deshaun Watson eight times. Will probably need some deep tissue work after that.
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Danny Dimes was bad in the second half. He didn’t turn it over, but there was no rhythm at all to the offense. Thank God for Malik Nabers who’s the WR1 in fantasy through three weeks. His first TD catch was incredible too. Marvin Harrison looks good, but if we re-run the NFL draft and fantasy drafts, Nabers is going ahead of him in both.
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Brian Daboll likes Devin Singletary, but Tyrone Tracy (a converted WR) has a spark, is worth a stash.
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The Browns offense might be the only one uglier than the Giants.
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Malik Willis is 2-0, Jordan Love 0-1. What a best-case scenario for the Packers who were 0-1 and without their star QB for at least a couple weeks to be in this situation now.
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Emanuel Wilson looks like a player, and he’s the clear No. 2 behind Josh Jacobs.
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DeAndre Hopkins is better than Calvin Ridley, and unlike Ridley he’s an alpha that requires the ball.
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I drafted Anthony Richardson in two leagues, and he’s been brutal. Just no confidence or feel, overthinking everything. It reminds me of how they destroyed Justin Fields in Chicago — just let the guy play wild and use his skills. He can develop the other skill set slow while succeeding, like Lamar Jackson did. Luckily, I have Joe Burrow in one of the leagues and started him over Richardson this week.
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I don’t see much hope for the Colts receivers. Richardson will throw some bombs to Alec Pierce and short stuff to the other guys. Hard to rely on any of them.
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Rome Odunze broke out in the absence of Keenan Allen. Not sure that genie is ever going back in the bottle, so when Allen returns he could just as easily take target share from DJ Moore. Cole Kmet is now a top-five scoring TE by virtue of one good game.
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Facing a soft Colts defense without DeForest Buckner, D’Andre Slug managed 20 yards on 13 carries.
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I had the Texans -2, and the Vikings annihilated them. C.J. Stroud was under pressure all day, never seemed to find any consistency. The silver lining was Stefon Diggs (all five leagues) getting 12 targets, 10 catches and 94 yards. He still has it, and he’s still an alpha.
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I have Sam Darnold and Patrick Mahomes in my Dynasty League and keep making the mistake of starting Mahomes.
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Aaron Jones would go in the second round at worst were we to re-draft for Week 4 on. He hasn’t lost a step, and he’s involved as a receiver too. It’s not obvious to me that Bijan Robinson, for example, will outproduce him. Maybe Robinson has the edge due to youth/durability, but that’s about it.
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I swapped out Jaylen Waddle for Rashid Shaheed this week because Alan Seslowsky told me to. Luckily for him, Waddle didn’t do much.
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The one silver (actually gold, no bitcoin) lining is my NFFC Primetime team. It’s the highest stakes, the most important one, and, knock on wood, it’s loaded. Part of the reason why is I waited forever on TE and took Dallas Goedert who so far is TE1.
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When Saquon Barkley was on the Giants, I would always longshot bet him for OPOTY and to lead the league in rushing TDs or yards. He could do all three on the Eagles.
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So much for Derek Carr and the Saints offense being unstoppable. Even the great Alvin Kamara had a modest day, though 26 carries and three targets is nothing at which to sneeze.
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The Steelers are the opposite of a carnival team, more like a funeral one. Jaylen Warren is behind Cordarrelle Patterson now? Is Mike Tomlin going back to his Le’Veon Bell/DeAngelo Williams, starter-gets-everything days with Najee Harris?
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In one of my bold predictions (a few of which look pretty good), I said Roman Wilson would lead the team in catches. It’s not like George Pickens is going crazy, but it would be nice if Wilson were activated at least.
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Tyler Badie led the Broncos in rushing on nine carries. Wonder if his family ever asked, “Are we the Badies?”
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Jaleel McLaughlin had five carries for seven yards, but his TD run was insane. He was dead to rights with 2-3 defenders having him up against the sideline at the five and showhow he wriggled through them and extended for the score.
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Baker Mayfield vastly overestimates his scrambling ability.
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Chris Godwin is in the right role now, but Mike Evans was shadowed by arguably the league’s best corner (Patrick Surtain.)
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I didn’t watch much of this game, but seems like Bucky Irving is pushing Rachaad White for the early down work?
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Andy Dalton channeled 2023 Joe Flacco and destroyed Bryce Young’s trade value completely.
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Maybe it’s not so much that defenses have solved the modern offense, but that the modern offenses solved the 2015-2021 era defenses with athletic QBs, and now the modern defense has responded to that threat, but can be beaten if you decode what they’re doing. Enter the grizzled journeyman who can do it. Flacco last year, Dalton, Carr (until this week), Cousins (last year), Darnold (who has been around since 2018.) For some reason it has to be a journeyman.
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Diontae Johnson and Chuba Hubbard sure aren’t missing Young. I have a couple Jonathan Brooks shares that suddenly got interesting too.
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Brock Bowers didn’t see much work, but his 21-yard catch showed why he’s going to be great. He caught it in stride and changed directions on a dime, leaving his defender in the dust.
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I should have bet the Seahawks. Of course they were going to kill the Dolphins who were playing without a real QB. It’s not like the Dolphins have a dominant defense to rely on.
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It’s annoying to miss the JSN monster game last week and use him this week but that’s fantasy football.
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I had the Ravens -2, easy peasy, never in doubt.
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The Cowboys need a running back. You can’t drop back 50 times a game.
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Brandon Aubrey drilled a 65-yard FG with room to spare. Honestly he should have gone in like the eighth round.
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Derrick Henry is a health nut apparently. Had I known, I would have taken him in a league or two despite being 29 with 200K miles.
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Zay Flowers is just a garden-variety short-pass catcher. Prove me wrong.
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I feel for Justin Tucker — like a punch-drunk Muhammad Ali fighting Larry Holmes at this point. Even though I faded him this year, I take no joy in seeing it.
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When Sam LaPorta got carted off, I thought — well at least it’s the Christian McCaffrey team. Put them all on one sinking ship. But he returned to put up a monsterous (for TEs) 2-2-36-0 line.
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The boxscore for Jahmyr Gibbs reads zero targets for zero catches, 20 yards and a TD. That hook and ladder was a thing of beauty.
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Where was Jameson Williams all day? Alpha ARSB must have had words with management after Week 1. Jarvis Landy 2.0 — just commands targets!
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Marvin Harrison had a modest day, but they sure do throw to him a ton in the end zone. Trey McBride is just another tight end living hand to mouth these days.
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2024-09-23 12:34:31Table Of Content
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Who is the Bitcoin Advocacy Group?
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Why is Bitcoin important?
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The ECB's stance on Bitcoin
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Eurotower's response to the Bitcoin Advocacy Group
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How is the Bitcoin Advocacy Group educating the ECB and Eurotower?
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Conclusion
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FAQ
Bitcoin is a digital currency that has been gaining popularity worldwide in recent years. While it has many benefits, including decentralization and security, there is still a lot of skepticism and misunderstanding surrounding it. The Bitcoin Advocacy Group aims to address this by bringing awareness and education to institutions such as the European Central Bank (ECB) and Eurotower.
Who is the Bitcoin Advocacy Group?
The Bitcoin Advocacy Group is a community of individuals and businesses who believe in the potential of Bitcoin as a decentralized digital currency. They aim to educate individuals, institutions, and governments about the benefits of Bitcoin and advocate for its adoption.
Why is Bitcoin important?
Bitcoin is a digital currency that operates on a decentralized network, meaning that it is not controlled by any government or financial institution. It allows for fast, secure, and low-cost transactions, making it an ideal alternative to traditional banking and payment systems.
Furthermore, Bitcoin has the potential to provide financial freedom to those who are unbanked or underbanked, as it can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. With Bitcoin, individuals can have complete control over their finances without the need for intermediaries.
The ECB's stance on Bitcoin
The European Central Bank (ECB) has been cautious about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, expressing concerns about their volatility and lack of regulation. In 2017, the ECB's President, Mario Draghi, stated that Bitcoin was not a currency, but a highly risky and speculative asset.
Eurotower's response to the Bitcoin Advocacy Group
Eurotower, which is the headquarters of the ECB, has been a target for the Bitcoin Advocacy Group's education efforts. The group has been organizing events and campaigns to raise awareness about Bitcoin and its potential benefits.
Eurotower has responded by acknowledging the importance of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, stating that they can have a positive impact on the economy if they are properly regulated. However, they have also emphasized the need for caution and regulation to prevent fraud and criminal activity.
How is the Bitcoin Advocacy Group educating the ECB and Eurotower?
The Bitcoin Advocacy Group has been using various methods to educate the ECB and Eurotower about Bitcoin. Some of these methods include:
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Organizing events and conferences: The group has been organizing events and conferences to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss the benefits of Bitcoin and blockchain technology.
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Providing educational resources: The group has created educational resources such as videos, articles, and infographics to help individuals and institutions better understand Bitcoin and its potential.
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Advocating for regulation: The group has been advocating for proper regulation of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to prevent fraud and ensure that they are used for legitimate purposes.
Conclusion
The Bitcoin Advocacy Group's efforts to educate and bring awareness about the potential of Bitcoin to the ECB and Eurotower are crucial in promoting its adoption and acceptance. While there are still concerns and skepticism surrounding Bitcoin, the group's advocacy and education can help individuals and institutions better understand its benefits and potential.
As more people become aware of the benefits of Bitcoin and its potential to provide financial freedom, we may see greater acceptance and adoption in the Eurozone and beyond. The Bitcoin Advocacy Group's mission is an important step in this direction.
FAQ
Is Bitcoin illegal in the Eurozone? No, Bitcoin is not illegal in the Eurozone. However, the ECB and Eurotower have expressed concerns about its lack of regulation and potential for criminal activity.
Can I invest in Bitcoin through the Eurozone? Yes, it is possible to invest in Bitcoin through the Eurozone. However, it is important to note that investing in Bitcoin can be highly volatile and risky, and individuals should conduct their own research and consider the potential risks before investing.
Will the ECB and Eurotower adopt Bitcoin as a form of currency? It is currently unlikely that the ECB and Eurotower will adopt Bitcoin as a form of currency, as they have expressed concerns about its volatility and lack of regulation. However, they have acknowledged the importance of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies and may continue to explore their potential benefits.
That's all for today
If you want more, be sure to follow us on:
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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.
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@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d
2024-09-23 11:00:13O padrão Bitcoin, vai muito além de um troca monetária, é uma revolução completa em termos monetários, económicos, sociais e políticos. Uma das grandes mudanças será a nível político, os governos terão que ser mais rigorosos economicamente. Atualmente os governos têm 3 principais fontes de financiamento: impostos, dívida e inflação monetária. Com o padrão Bitcoin, a inflação monetária fica de imediato descartada, restando as outras duas.
Um governo economicamente saudável, terá que governar apenas com os impostos. A dívida soberana deverá ser zero ou próxima de zero, deverá apenas ser utilizada em casos excepcionais, em extrema emergência, como as pandemias ou grandes crises. Na gestão dos governos terá que existir uma mudança de 180°, em vez de endividamento, os governos terão que ter superávits e reservas no tesouro.
Os governos terão que ter uma gestão mais similar ao cidadão comum, ou seja, gastar sempre menos do que ganham (no caso do governo impostos ), é necessário ter uma reserva de emergência, com algum capital guardado, para ser utilizado numa emergência, numa crise. Só que o modelo é totalmente oposto ao atual sistema, a mudança política será tremenda, os atuais políticos dificilmente vão conseguir ter esta disciplina. Esta disciplina orçamental, vai obrigatoriamente tornar os governos mais pequenos e menos interventivos economicamente e socialmente.
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@ e83b66a8:b0526c2b
2024-09-23 10:27:24If you have your own domain and optionally run a node, then you can consolidate your email address, NIP-05 and Lightning address to yourname@yourdomain
Here’s how to do it.
First NIP-05
Want your NIP-5 to be: yourname@yourdomain
Copy this nostr.json file from here: https://mikehardcastle.com/.well-known/nostr.json
Replace the "mike" with your own name. Replace the string to the right with the hex of your npub.
You can obtain the hex of your npub here: https://nostrcheck.me/converter/
Also replace the string at the top of the relay list with your hex npub.
Then replace the relays at the bottom with your primary relays (just 3 or 4 primary relays are needed).
Be careful not to change commas, quotes, brackets etc....
Upload the "nostr.json" file to your web server, making sure it is in the directory:
/.well-known
at the root of your HTML content
Then your NIP-05 will be:
yourname@yourdomain
Lightning Address, optionally routing to your own node:
If you have your own domain, have an Alby account and want your Lightning payment address to be yourname@yourdomain then follow this guide: https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/v/alby-account-and-browser-extension/alby-account/use-your-lightning-address/own-domain
If you run your own lightning node, or have always wanted to self sovereign your own Sats, then follow this guide: https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/v/alby-account-and-browser-extension/alby-hub/getting-started
If you run an Umbrel or Start9, you can run Alby Hub directly from your node: https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/v/alby-account-and-browser-extension/alby-hub/alby-hub-flavors/umbrel-start9-etc
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@ 502ab02a:a2860397
2024-09-23 02:37:17จำได้ว่าเคยลงในทุ่งม่วง แต่ไม่ได้เก็บเป็น long form ไว้ ขอบันทึกลงในนี้ใหม่อีกทีครับ 1 ใน เจอนี่ ——
มีเรื่องอยากเล่าให้อ่านครับ มันเป็นเรื่องกึ่งๆรู้สึกผิด กึ่งๆเกรียน แต่อยู่ในกลุ่มนี้มานานและเห็นว่ากลุ่มนี้รัก cm มากเหมือนกัน
เรื่องของเรื่องคิอ สมัยเรียน abac ตอนนั้น ติดเกมส์ cm1 มาก อยากให้มีทีมชาติไทยในนั้นบ้าง เพราะสมัยนั้นถ้ากดเล่นลีกอังกฤษ เราจะเห็น อันโตนิโอ คอนเต ที่ซื้อมาเล่นยากมากๆ เลยคิดหวังว่า ไทยเราจะมีสิทธิ์ไหมนะ
และที่ abac นี่ก็เป็นครั้งแรกที่ได้ใช้อีเมลล์ ก็เลย yahoo! หาอีเมลล์ทีมโปรแกรมเมอร์ สมัยนั้นยังไม่มีกูเกิ้ลครับ เราจะใช้ ยาฮู หรือไม่ก็ อัลตวิสต้า ในการจะสืบค้นอะไรสักอย่าง จนในที่สุดก็ไล่เรียงจากเว็บไซต์ของผู้ผลิต คลิกอ่านโน่นนี่จน ได้มาคนนึง น่าจะเป็นโปรแกรมเมอร์ที่จัดการเรื่องฐานข้อมูลนักเตะ เหมือนเค้าจะมีบอกว่า ต่างชาติสนใจส่งชื่อมาได้เพราะเขาก็ไม่รู้จักทั้งโลก
ก็เลยจัดการส่งชื่อไปให้ 20-30 ชื่อ บอกว่ามีข้อมูลนักฟุตบอลไทย มาให้เพิ่มในฐานข้อมูล
ตรงนี้หละครับ ด้วยความเกรียน แอบใส่ชื่อตัวเองกับชื่อเพื่อนไปด้วย ในใจคิดเอาวะ โอกาสมาแล้ว ชื่อเพื่อนของผมคนนึงสะกดว่า borijet ภาษาไทยคือ บริเจต ชื่อเพื่อนที่สะกดแปลกที่สุดในโลก และเป็นการวางยาทีมงาน เพื่อทำให้รู้ได้ทันทีว่าข้อมูลที่เราส่งไปเขาใช้มันหรือเปล่า ของเราแน่นนอนเลยหรือเปล่า มั่นใจว่าสมัยนั้นประเทศไทยยังเป็นเมืองเล็กๆของโลกอินเตอร์เนทอยู่เลย
นอกจากนี้ ยังมีชื่อ ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ แท่งทอง และ อุดม แต้พานิช ด้วย เพราะตอนนั้นแมงปอล้อคลื่นดังมาก เลยแอบใส่ไว้บันทึกประวัติศาสตร์ อันนี้โปรแกรมเขาจะ random ชื่อนักบอลเองนะครับ ตามประสาโลกที่สาม ที่ไม่เทียบเท่า อังกฤษ อิตาลี สเปน หลายครั้งก็เป็นตัวเทาๆ
ไม่น่าเชื่อว่าอีเมลล์จากมหาวิทยาลัย ส่งด้วยระบบ unix ตึกA ที่เอแบค จอดำอักษรเขียว ที่หนุ่มจีบสาวผ่าน โปรแกรม talk นั่นแหละครับ ที่ผมใช้ส่งสิ่งยิ่งใหญ่นี้จนต้องขนลุกทุกครั้งที่นึกถึง
จนวันที่เกมส์ cm2 ตัวแรกสุดออกมา ก็ไปซื้อแผ่นจริงจากพันทิพ วันที่ซื้อเกมส์นี้มาเล่น ก็ซื้อหนังสือ computer today มาด้วย ตอนนั้นเป็นเล่มเล็กพอคเก็ตบุกแล้ว ในนั้นเขารีวิวชื่อพี่แท่ง พี่โน้ต ผมนั่งอ่านแล้วอุทานดังลั่นในใจอยู่ใน ปอพ.4 เบาะหลังสุด ขึ้นรถที่อนุสาวรีย์ชัย จำได้แม่น ฝีมือเรานี่หว่า -..-
สัมผัสได้ถึงพลังอันมหาศาลของการสื่อสารข้อมูลข้ามโลกแบบนี้ พลังของอินเตอร์เนท ทำให้ผมมีอาชีพเกี่ยวกับเรื่องนี้อยู่พักใหญ่เลย ตั้งแต่สอนการใช้อินเตอรเนท รับทำเว็บไซท์ ทำโฮสติ้ง ทำ flash animation ตั้งแต่ version beta
เรื่องนี้มันพิสูจน์ให้เห็นอีกครั้งว่าอย่ารอโอกาส ถ้าจะทำเรื่องยิ่งใหญ่คุณต้องวิ่งชนมัน ทำไม่ได้หรือไม่ได้ทำ มันเป็นเรื่องจริงครับ ที่สำคัญ . . กูไม่ได้เครดิต ซักนิดเลยเว้ยยย เวรของกรรม อุตส่าห์ร่ายอีเมลล์ ยาวเหยียดพร้อมชื่อ นามสกุล กะว่าอยู่ใน list ไกลๆก็ยังดีวะ 5555
นึกแล้วก็มีความสุขทุกทีครับ เพราะมันเป็นฐานข้อมูล official ในแผ่นแท้เลยครับ
Teera
pirateketo #siamstr
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@ e0fc4030:ef132fa1
2024-09-23 02:32:41wqeqweqeqweqeq * eqweqweq 1. 1. eqweqwe 1. eqwqwreq
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@ dc652bee:6154e7d0
2024-09-22 18:05:14Everything is almost ready 👌👌👌
Please Connect Wallet and ready to withdrawal https://n9.cl/binance_bot
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@ 8d34bd24:414be32b
2024-09-22 13:42:14When dealing with a stubborn mule, traditionally you use both a carrot and a stick. The carrot is something the mule wants that is used to encourage good behavior, while the stick is the punishment for doing wrong. Sadly most of us tend to focus more on God’s stick rather than His carrot. God’s primary stick is:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
We seek God in hopes of avoiding death and hell, but instead we should be seeking God’s blessing and His presence.
Separated from a Holy God
Adam’s original sin separated us from our holy God. Throughout all of the Old Testament, the people of God were required to follow rituals and make sacrifices in an attempt to get right with God, but nobody was allowed to approach God directly.
Moses, one of the men in the Old Testament times who was closest to God, made this request:
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:18-23) {emphasis mine}
Moses asked God to show him His glory, but God replied, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” No sinful person can look at our holy God and live. Sin has wholly separated us from God. We cannot approach God
Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:1-15) {emphasis mine}
Also, God setup a statute that required the high priest to purify himself and offer sacrifices and to enter the holy of holies once per year to atone for the people. This was done every year. It was only allowed for the high priest and he had to go through extensive purification processes and multiple sacrifices for this annual duty. All of this was required just to approach God’s ordained ark of the covenant, not to actually be able to look at the face of God.
“This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord. .... So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year.” And just as the Lord had commanded Moses, so he did. (Leviticus 16:29-30,32-34) {emphasis mine}
We can also look at when God talked to the Israelites at Mount Sinai:
The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” (Exodus 19:10-13)
For God to speak to them, the Israelites had to purify themselves for two days, wash their clothes, and even then they couldn’t approach closely. They had to not touch the holy mountain of God. If man or beast so much as touched the mountain, they were to be put to death, and not just killed, but put to death in such a manner that nobody touched them. Sinful man cannot approach a holy God even if they are His chosen people and even if they have worked to cleanse themselves from sin.
The Veil Torn so We May Approach the Throne of God
And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15:37-38) {emphasis mine}
When Jesus, the perfect sacrifice and kinsmen redeemer, died on the cross, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” It was torn from the top to the bottom illustrating that the barrier separating us from God was torn by God himself. (The Holy of Holies was 20 cubits wide and tall, but 2 Chronicles 3 says it had columns 35 cubits tall with capitals 5 cubits tall. That would make the room 40 cubits tall, or 60 feet tall. No person could tear the veil top to bottom.)
Jesus’s death on the cross allows those who believe in Him to approach God in a way that they haven’t been able to do since Adam and Eve first sinned.
When the apostles asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus said:
“Pray, then, in this way:\ ‘Our Father who is in heaven,\ Hallowed be Your name.’” (Matthew 6:9) {emphasis mine}
Because of what Jesus did for us to take away our sins and to cleanse and cover us, we can now approach God directly and address Him as “Our Father.” Imagine that! We, sinful creatures, can approach the God, who spoke the universe into existence, and call Him “Father.” If you have repented of your sins and believed in all that Jesus has done for us, you are adopted to become a child of God.
In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. (John 16:26-27) {emphasis mine}
We no longer have to wish for well being. We no longer have to have a priest as a go-between to God. We don’t need someone holier than us to intercede for us. We can speak directly with our creator and He lovingly answers our prayers and acts for our good (although not necessarily in the way we would chose, because He knows better what is for our eternal good).
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16) {emphasis mine}
When Jesus was asked how we should pray, He specifically told us to pray directly to the Father saying, “Our Father.” At the same time, we can approach God through any and all parts of the trinity. We can approach the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We can address them independently or as the one God they are. Jesus provided the way and when we address Him, we know that He sympathizes with us because He experienced what we experience and He lived the perfect life that He desires for us. Do you truly understand how amazing this privilege is?
We can directly commune with the Holy God who spoke the universe into existence along with time and space, whose creation of all of the stars in the universe was so easy that the Bible mentions this miraculous creation almost as an aside “… He made the Stars Also.” (Genesis 1:16b) We have been blessed beyond comprehension, but so many of us treat it as just ho-hum.
Prayer should not be a burden. We should hurry to the presence of God every day. We should make use of this privilege and be grateful for it every day of our lives.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1-3) {emphasis mine}
Of course, this closeness and love that we have now is only a beginning. At the rapture, we will be transformed to be more like Jesus, physically and spiritually. Then we will truly be able to see Him face to face like not even Moses was able to do.
How Do We Get This Privilege?
I hope you are a born-again child of God who has repented of your sins and trusted Jesus as your Savior and believed all that He has told you. If not God calls you to repent (admit wrongdoing and chose to change and obey/submit to God’s commands).
Romans 10:9 says:
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
You just have to confess your sins and believe that Jesus is God and that after living a perfect, sinless life, He died on the cross to save us from our sins. You have to believe that on the third day He rose from the dead. There is more that He wants us to believe, but that is all that is necessary to become a child of God. (Of course our repentance must be real and not just be words said as insurance against Hell. God knows our heart.)
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25) {emphasis mine}
Jesus came down to earth as a man to live the perfect life that we were unable to live, take our sins upon Himself, pay the punishment that we deserved, and give us His righteousness. Amazing!
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) {emphasis mine}
We all know that we have not lived perfect lives. We have all done things we regret. We have been unkind. We have lied. We have stolen (even if only a pen from the bank or our workplace). Instead of walking around in sin and guilt, faith in Jesus lets us walk around in blessings and His righteousness.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:11-12) {emphasis mine}
If you’ve trusted Jesus, you don’t have to approach God timidly. You can approach Him boldly (although always with the awe and respect He deserves).
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7) {emphasis mine}
Be grateful for all that our awesome, creator God has done for us and go to Him with all of your needs, worries, fears, and desires. He is an unimaginably powerful and holy God, but He is also a loving and merciful God. We, as believers, are truly blessed.
Trust Jesus.\ \ your sister in Christ,
Christy
Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated
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@ 08f96856:ffe59a09
2024-09-22 13:02:22สวัสดีครับเพื่อน ๆ ชาว #siamstr วันนี้ผมจะมาแนะนำ Meshtastic เครื่องมือสื่อสารที่ไร้ศูนย์กลางที่เพื่อน ๆ ไม่ควรพลาดเป็นอันขาด!! เพราะมันคือเครือข่ายการสื่อสารที่ใช้เทคโนโลยี LoRa (Long Range Radio) ซึ่งสามารถส่งข้อความได้ไกลมาก ๆ เป็นกิโลเลยทีเดียว ที่สำคัญไม่ต้องพึ่งพาโครงสร้างพื้นฐานของอินเทอร์เน็ตและไร้การสอดส่องและควบคุมจากรัฐ
Meshtastic คืออะไร?
Meshtastic จะสร้างเครือข่าย "mesh" โดยที่ทุกอุปกรณ์ในเครือข่ายจะช่วยกันรับส่งข้อความต่อ ๆ กันไป ทำให้ทุกคนในเครือข่ายสามารถรับข้อความได้ แม้ว่าจะอยู่ไกลแค่ไหน นอกจากนี้ ข้อความทั้งหมดจะถูก เข้ารหัสไว้ ทำให้เฉพาะผู้ส่งและผู้รับเท่านั้นที่สามารถอ่านได้ ส่วนอุปกรณ์ที่ส่งต่อข้อความจะไม่สามารถเข้าถึงเนื้อหาได้เลย ในการใช้งานนั้นเพื่อน ๆ สามารถเชื่อมต่ออุปกรณ์ Meshtastic เข้ากับโทรศัพท์มือถือเพื่อทุกคนในเครืองข่ายสามารถสื่อสารกันได้ง่าย ๆ ผ่านแอปส่งข้อความบนมือถือ
จับมือทำ เริ่มต้นใช้งาน Meshtastic แบบง่าย ๆ
เพื่อน ๆ อยากลองใช้ Meshtastic แล้วใช่มั้ย? มาดูขั้นตอนง่ายๆ กันเลยครับ
1. หาซื้ออุปกรณ์ที่ต้องใช้
ขั้นแรกเลย เราต้องมีอุปกรณ์ LoRa กันก่อนครับ ส่วนตัวผมแนะนำบอร์ด LoRa32 ของ LILYGO ครับ เพราะหาซื้อในไทยและต่างประเทศได้ง่ายมาก โดยจะมีให้เลือกหลายรุ่นมากตามความชอบและการใช้งาน ผมได้ทำตารางเปรียบเทียบคุณสมบัติของแต่ละรุ่นดังนี้ | Name | MCU | RF option | Battery | GPS | Link | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Lora32 2.1-1.6 | ESP32 | 433/868/915/923 Mhz | no | no | https://a.aliexpress.com/_opRiKMR | | Lora32 T3S3 | ESP32 | 433/868/915 Mhz / 2.4 GHz | no | no | https://a.aliexpress.com/_opRiKMR | | T-Beam v1.1 | ESP32 | 433/868/915/923 Mhz | has batt slot | yes | https://a.aliexpress.com/_oneeH43 | | T-Watch S3 | ESP32 | 433/868/915 Mhz | yes | no | https://a.aliexpress.com/_olkXkLlData | | T-Deck | ESP32 | 433/868/915 Mhz | yes | no | https://a.aliexpress.com/_olkXkLlData | | T-Echo | nRF52840 | 433/868/915 Mhz | yes | yes | https://a.aliexpress.com/_olkXkLlData |
คุณสมบัติสำคัญที่ควรพิจารณาเป็นหลักในการเลือกอุปกรณ์เลยคือความถี่คลื่นวิทยุ (radio frequency) ครับ เพราะการเลือกความถี่สำหรับใช้งานกับ Meshtastic นั้นขึ้นอยู่กับหลายปัจจัย เช่น กฎระเบียบในประเทศ, ระยะทางที่ต้องการสื่อสาร, และความหนาแน่นของสัญญาณในพื้นที่นั้นๆ อุปกรณ์ LoRa ทำงานที่ความถี่ต่างกันในแต่ละภูมิภาค ตามกฎระเบียบในแต่ละประเทศ เช่น สหรัฐอเมริกาใช้คลื่น 915 MHz, ยุโรปใช้ 868 MHz สำหรับประเทศไทยความถี่ที่ได้รับอนุญาตและไม่มีข้อจำกัดในการใช้งานมีดังนี้ครับ: * 433 MHz: ความถี่นี้เป็นที่นิยมใช้ในหลายประเทศรวมถึงในยุโรปสำหรับอุปกรณ์ที่ใช้พลังงานต่ำและไม่ต้องขอใบอนุญาต (LPWAN) เหมาะสำหรับการใช้งานส่งสัญญานได้ไกลเพราะความยาวคลื่นยาวที่สุดในบรรดาตัวเลือกทั้งหมด * 923 MHz: ความถี่นี้ใช้ได้ในหลายประเทศในเอเชีย รวมถึงประเทศไทยที่อนุญาตให้ใช้อุปกรณ์ IoT ที่สื่อสารระยะไกลอย่าง LoRa ได้รับอนุญาตให้สามารถส่งสัญญาณได้ด้วยกำลังงาน (50mW) ที่สูงกว่าคลื่น 433 MHz (10mW) ถือว่าเป็นความถี่ที่เหมาะสำหรับการใช้งานในไทย * 2.4 GHz: เป็นความถี่ที่ใช้กันทั่วโลก และนิยมใช้กับอุปกรณ์หลายประเภท เช่น Wi-Fi และ Bluetooth ความถี่นี้สามารถใช้ในทั่วโลกได้อย่างเสรี แต่มีระยะการส่งสัญญาณที่สั้นกว่าและไม่ค่อยทะลุทะลวงสิ่งกีดขวางได้ดีนัก เหมาะกับพื้นที่ในเมือง
ส่วนตัวผมเลือกใช้ความถี่ 433 MHz เพราะมันทะลุทะลวงสิ่งกีดขวางได้ดี เหมาะกับการใช้งานในพื้นที่ที่มีสิ่งกีดขวางเยอะ เช่น ป่าเขา และช่วยให้การสื่อสารครอบคลุมระยะทางไกลโดยไม่ต้องพึ่งอินเทอร์เน็ตครับ
2. ประกอบอุปกรณ์
เมื่ออุปกรณ์มาถึง ก็จัดการประกอบเลย! อย่าลืมต่อเสาอากาศและแบตเตอรี่ (ถ้ามี) ให้เรียบร้อยก่อนเปิดเครื่องล่ะ ถ้ารุ่นที่ไม่มีแบตก็ต้องหา power bank อแดปเตอร์จ่ายไฟไว้ให้พร้อมครับ
3. Flash Firmware
ต่อไปก็มาลงเฟิร์มแวร์ล่าสุดให้กับอุปกรณ์ของคุณ โดยใช้เครื่องมือ Meshtastic Flasher ซึ่งแนะนำให้ใช้ผ่านเบราว์เซอร์ Chrome จะดีที่สุด ภายในเว็บให้เลือกอุปกรณ์ตามรุ่นที่เราซื้อมา เลือกเวอร์ชันของ firmware เป็นล่าสุด แล้วกด flash ได้เลยครับ
4. ติดตั้งแอป Meshtastic
จากนั้นก็ดาวน์โหลดแอป Meshtastic มาลงบนมือถือของคุณได้เลย iPhone: https://meshtastic.org/docs/software/apple/installation/ Android: https://meshtastic.org/docs/software/android/installation/
หลังจากนั้นเชื่อมต่อกับอุปกรณ์ เปิดแอป Meshtastic แล้วเชื่อมต่ออุปกรณ์ LoRa กับมือถือผ่าน Bluetooth ด้วยการกดที่เครื่องหมาย + ที่ขวาล่างในหน้า setting ดังรูป
แอปจะทำการค้นหาและเชื่อมต่ออุปกรณ์ ให้ทำการกรอกหมายเลขตามที่ปรากฏบนหน้าจอของอุปกรณ์ lora
5. ปรับแต่งการตั้งค่า
เข้าไปตั้งค่าในแอป เลือกภูมิภาคตามความถี่ของอุปกรณ์ที่เราซื้อมาครับ ยกตัวอย่างเช่น * ความถี่ 433 MHz ให้เลือก EU_433 * ความถี่ 923 MHz ให้เลือก TH * ความถี่ 2.4 GHz ให้เลือก LORA_24
หลังจากนั้นตั้งชื่ออุปกรณ์ให้เท่ ๆ และปรับแต่งค่าอื่น ๆ ได้ตามใจชอบ
6. ทดสอบส่งข้อความ
ลองส่งข้อความทดสอบไปที่ช่องแชทสาธารณะ "LongFast" ดู แล้วรอคำตอบจากเพื่อน ๆ ในเครือข่าย
7. สนุกกับการสื่อสารแบบไร้ศูนย์กลาง
เมื่อทุกอย่างพร้อมแล้ว ก็เริ่มใช้ Meshtastic ได้เลยครับ ลองสำรวจฟังก์ชันต่าง ๆ และสนุกไปกับการแชทส่วนตัวแบบไม่ต้องพึ่งพาเครือข่ายอินเทอร์เน็ตกันเลยครับ
สรุปส่งท้าย
Meshtastic เป็นโซลูชันการสื่อสารที่ดีและประหยัดสุด ๆ เหมาะกับการใช้ในพื้นที่ที่ไม่มีสัญญาณโทรศัพท์หรืออินเทอร์เน็ต เพราะมันทำงานได้โดยไม่ต้องพึ่งพาโครงสร้างพื้นฐานของเครือข่ายที่รัฐควบคุม เพื่อน ๆ สามารถใช้ Meshtastic ได้อย่างอิสระ ใครได้ลองกันแล้วเป็นยังไงก็อย่าลืมทักกันเข้ามานะครับ จะ DM ผ่าน meshtatic นี้หรือ nostr ก็ได้ หากเพื่อน ๆ มีข้อสงสัยหรือติดปัญหาอะไรก็ทักมาถามกันได้ ไว้พบกันใหม่นะครับ :)
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@ 41fa852b:af7b7706
2024-09-22 12:07:13"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete” — Buckminster Fuller
So many new events are popping up!
Cyphermunk House is hosting many of the upcoming events, and I was lucky enough to visit for the first time last night, for an event entitled 'Be Your Own Bank'.
Cyphermunk House is an amazing venue with great energy, and yesterday's event was a big success. There were three talks throughout the day, with plenty of time in between for conversations with fellow attendees. The final talk was with former MP Steve Baker, and even though I'm not a big fan of politicians, if he were running the country, we'd probably be better off. The guy's a stone-cold, sound-money, Misesian. Hopefully, he'll return to parliament to instill some much-needed wisdom.
Anyway, that was last night, and today's newsletter (as usual) is all about what's happening next week.
Let's dive in...
Upcoming Bitcoin Meetups
Happening this week...
- Bitcoin Nottingham: The September Bitcoin Nottingham Meetup date for your diary is Tuesday the 24th at 6:30 PM at Carlton Town Football Club.
- Leamington Spa: Meetups on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 PM. You'll find them this month at the White Horse, CV32 5PZ on the 24th.
- Brighton Bitcoin: Building a bitcoin community in the Brighton & Hove area. A regular informal meetup happens every last Wednesday of the month. This month on Wednesday the 25th at 7:30 PM. Join their Telegram group for more info.
- Bitcoin Racing - High Octane, Thrill-Seeker's Networking Experience: Buckle up for an adrenaline-pumping event on September 26th that combines high-octane thrills with valuable business connections. Experience the track: Enjoy exhilarating passenger rides alongside Chris Mackenzie in their powerful JCW MINI. Expand your network: Connect with like-minded individuals and industry leaders. It's an all-day event, 9 AM to 5 PM. Check out the link for tickets and pricing.
- Manchester Bitcoin: On the 26th it’s the Manchester monthly meetup. Join them at The Smithfield Market Tavern, at 7 PM.
- Penzance Bitcoin: Will be at The Dolphin Tavern on Quay Street on Thursday 26th at 8 PM.
- 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.
- Real Bedford/Southampton Meetup: I've been featuring this one for the last few weeks in the event section and the day has finally arrived. The Southampton Satoshi Society is making the pilgrimage to Real Bedford for their game against Ware on the 28th. Before the match, there will be a panel discussion at 12 PM featuring Peter McCormack, James Dewar, and myself. After the game, we'll head into Bedford for a meal and wrap up with drinks at Peter's bar, The Auction Room.
- Bitcoin East: Join Bitcoin East in Halesworth on Sunday 29th, 11 AM at The Wissett Plough. All welcome, Bitcoiners and anyone else curious about Bitcoin. Bitcoin is accepted at the pub.
New Businesses Accepting Bitcoin
- The Bike Shop: Based in Watford, Hertfordshire, and now accepting Bitcoin. Get your bike repaired, serviced, or buy a new one. They also offer fully serviced second-hand bikes for sale. Visit them at 66 Queens Road, Watford, Herts, WD17 2LA.
- Offman (2010) Ltd: aka the Office Manager, is a Payroll Bureau in Sussex now accepting bitcoin payments. They specialise in payroll services and you can contact them via email.
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 Meetup with Roger Huang, Bitcoin Magazine and Forbes: Roger Huang author of 'Would Mao Hold Bitcoin?' will be hosting a meetup at Cyphermunk House for a presentation and a book signing on Monday the 7th of October.
- 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 £28.68 as an early bird deal, the regular price is £21.40 for a single ticket. Get involved with the chocolate-making workshop with Roger9000. 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.
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.
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@ eac63075:b4988b48
2024-09-22 11:55:42I've been banging this drum for almost a decade: stop using Telegram. Seriously, folks, it's high time we faced the facts about this so-called "secure" messaging app. Just the other day, someone told me my name was mentioned in the Cypherpunks Brasil Telegram group. My immediate reaction? "First of all, stop using Telegram!"
Back in December 2015—yeah, nearly ten years ago—I tweeted about the anonymity issues with Telegram. I shared an article highlighting four security flaws found by experts. The gist? Telegram's supposed privacy features were nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
Fast forward to 2021, and I was still at it. When WhatsApp updated its privacy policy, people flocked to Telegram as a safer alternative. I couldn't help but point out that Signal is infinitely superior to Telegram in terms of security. Telegram doesn't use end-to-end encryption by default, stores all your messages and files, and has possible agreements with governments to avoid legal troubles.
I even found an old post where we did a proof of concept. We proved that even if you delete a message or set it to self-destruct before it's read, it's still possible to recover the content later. Translation: everything is stored. In 2022, when Brazil temporarily banned Telegram, I noted that it aligned us with countries known for heavy censorship like China and Iran. The ban didn't last, of course. Telegram likely made some concessions to keep operating, possibly sharing data with the government.
Now, let's talk about that Wired article from earlier this year, titled "The Kremlin Has Entered the Chat". It's a must-read. It tells the story of activists in Russia who were arrested, and their private Telegram messages were already in the hands of authorities—even before their devices could be searched. One activist noted, "They already knew everything I was saying. There wasn't enough time for them to scan my phone. They had the information beforehand."
How is this possible? The article delves into the history of Telegram, including how founder Pavel Durov and his brother initially wanted to create a platform for free communication. Noble intentions, perhaps, but somewhere along the line, things went awry.
Telegram's group messages are accessible through an open API. You can retrieve information from any group, including all participants and messages, without even being a member. Yes, you read that right. You don't need to be in a group to extract all its messages. I'll even show you how.
There are scripts and tools—like Telethon and Telepathy—that allow you to automate data collection from public channels and groups. With a few lines of code, you can pull messages, media, documents—everything. There's an article on Medium that walks you through how to do this step by step. It's that easy.
But wait, there's more. You can geolocate users. There's a tool called Telepathy that lets you find Telegram users nearby. It leverages the app's "People Nearby" feature, which is enabled by default. This means anyone can find out who's using Telegram around them, down to a few meters. Think about the privacy implications of that.
Recently, Pavel Durov announced that he's disabling the personal geolocation feature on Telegram. According to a Cointelegraph article, Durov acknowledged that security researchers had found a way to use this feature to triangulate a user's exact location. So, he decided to disable it to protect user privacy.
But is that enough? Disabling one feature doesn't address the fundamental issues with Telegram's architecture. The app doesn't use end-to-end encryption by default, and group chats are not encrypted at all. Everything is stored on Telegram's servers, which could be accessed by governments or malicious actors.
Remember, the founder's reemergence has sparked debates in the crypto community. As reported by Decrypt, some see Durov as a champion of privacy, while others are skeptical of his motives and Telegram's security practices.
In the Wired article, they also discuss how Telegram was banned in Russia at one point, only to be unbanned after possible agreements were made. The speculation is that Durov may have struck a deal with the Kremlin to provide access to user data in exchange for the app's continued operation in Russia.
And let's not forget the investors behind Telegram. The article mentions that Russian entities have funneled money into Telegram. So, when Durov flies from Azerbaijan to France—where he has legal issues—you have to wonder what's really going on behind the scenes.
So, what can you do? Stop using Telegram. There are better alternatives out there. Signal is infinitely superior when it comes to security. It uses end-to-end encryption by default and doesn't store your data. There's also Session and SimpleX, which don't even require a phone number to use.
Another promising platform is Veilid, developed by the Cult of the Dead Cow—the same group that coined the term "hacktivism" and has been pioneering digital privacy since the '80s. Valet uses strong encryption and decentralization to protect your communications.
And let's not forget about Element, which operates on the Matrix protocol. It's decentralized and offers end-to-end encryption, making it another solid choice for secure messaging.
In conclusion, Telegram is not the privacy-focused app it claims to be. Its architecture and business practices raise serious concerns about user privacy and data security. With so many better alternatives available, there's no reason to keep using Telegram.
I've been saying this for years, and the evidence keeps piling up. So, please, for your own sake, stop using Telegram. Switch to a platform that genuinely respects your privacy and keeps your data secure.
Technical Considerations When Choosing a Messaging Platform
When evaluating messaging apps, it is essential to consider the following technical aspects:
- End-to-End Encryption by Default: Ensures that only the participants in the conversation can read the messages.
- Open Source: Allows the community to review the source code for vulnerabilities or backdoors.
- Metadata Collection: Minimizing or eliminating metadata collection reduces the risk of user profiling.
- Decentralization: Reduces single points of failure or control, increasing resistance to censorship and surveillance.
- Registration Requirements: Avoiding the need to provide personal information, such as phone numbers or emails, enhances anonymity.
Practical Recommendations for Users
- Disable Geolocation Features: As advised by Pavel Durov, disable "People Nearby" to prevent unwanted tracking.
- Use Secret Chats: If you continue to use Telegram, always use "secret chat" for sensitive conversations, and
- Never, ever store sensitive information like passwords or private keys in your Saved Messages.
- Keep the App Updated: Updates often contain critical security fixes.
- Explore Secure Alternatives: Consider migrating to apps like Signal, Session, or SimpleX for communications requiring a high level of privacy.
- Continuous Education: Stay informed about best practices in digital security and be aware of emerging threats.
References:
- "The Kremlin Has Entered the Chat" - Wired
- Collecting Data from Telegram Channels and Groups Using Telethon - Medium
- Durov Disabling Personal Geolocation on Telegram - Cointelegraph
- Telegram Founder’s Reemergence Sparks Split - Decrypt
Alternative Messaging Apps:
- Signal: End-to-end encryption by default, open-source, and highly respected in the security community.
- Session: No phone number required, uses blockchain technology for decentralization.
- SimpleX: Doesn't require personal identifiers, focuses on strong privacy.
- Veilid: Developed by Cult of the Dead Cow, emphasizes privacy and security.
- Element: Based on the Matrix protocol, decentralized, and offers end-to-end encryption.
Final Thoughts:
Privacy isn't just a buzzword; it's a fundamental right. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by apps that claim to protect you but do the opposite. Do your research, choose wisely, and take control of your digital life.
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@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d
2024-09-22 09:50:04Sim, é verdade, permitiu aumentar a qualidade de vida das pessoas, mas as consequências são tremendas. É verdade que nós temos uma qualidade de vida melhor que a dos nossos avós, mas este aumento da qualidade de vida é insustentável. Se nada for feito, os nossos netos terão a mesma qualidade de vida dos nossos avós, vão retroceder.
Na minha opinião existem duas causas que explicam esse crescimento nos últimos 50 anos, o crédito e a produtividade.
Crédito
O principal factor é o endividamento, o sistema FIAT transformou a sociedade e os governos dependentes de dívida, altamente endividados, o viver muito acima das suas possibilidades, com uma alta preferência temporal.
No momento em que fazemos um crédito é bom, as nossas contas bancárias ficam com mais dinheiro, podemos comprar muitos bens, a curto prazo ficamos com mais liquidez, mais “ricos” mas é uma ilusão.
A longo prazo temos um problema, a dívida tem que ser paga e não existe dinheiro para pagar, a única maneira é a austeridade, será necessário baixar o custo de vida para pagar a dívida do passado.
Na prática, o crédito é a antecipação das receitas, é o gastar hoje as receitas do futuro. Só que as pessoas do futuro não terão receitas, serão gastas para pagar as dívidas do passado, vão viver do quê?
Este é o problema, os políticos responsáveis pelo crescimento, hipotecaram o futuro dos seus netos, o viver acima das possibilidades é insustentável.
Se nós olharmos para a qualidade de vida, no período entre os 20 e 30 anos, o período da emancipação, nas diversas gerações: Quem tinha essa idade na década de 1970/1980 foi o principal beneficiado; Os jovens adultos da década de 2000 começaram a notar os primeiros problemas. Hoje em dia, os jovens entre 20 e os 30 anos já estão com muitas dificuldades económicas, em construir uma família, adquirir uma casa, o custo de vida está insuportável. O problema é que ainda vai agravar-se, as próximas gerações, ainda será pior que as atuais.
As dívidas dos países não diminui, só aumenta, os governos só rolam a dívida, apenas estão a adiar o problema, um dia vai rebentar.
Produtividade
O desenvolvimento tecnológico foi tremendo nos últimos 50 anos, ajudou para o aumento da produtividade e consequentemente, a melhoria salarial, melhoria na qualidade de vida das pessoas. Só que as pessoas apenas “receberam” uma pequena parte desse melhoramento, porque uma parte significativa desse aumento de produtividade foi absorvida pelos governos através da inflação da moeda.
Até 1971 (criação do sistema FIAT), o salário do trabalho acompanhou, o aumento da produtividade. Após 1971, acontece uma divergência entre a compensação e a produtividade.
Os governos ao desvalorizar a moeda afetam sobretudo os salários dos trabalhadores. Como as empresas têm uma maior “elasticidade”, permite-lhes mais rapidamente atualizar os preços dos produtos, corrigindo parcialmente a perda de valor da moeda. Enquanto a actualização do salário é muito mais lenta, prejudicando os trabalhadores.
O desenvolvimento tecnológico, que permitiu que o trabalhador produzisse mais, no mesmo espaço de tempo, essa mais valia, em vez de criar valor nas empresas e nos funcionários, foi essencialmente para os governos.
Neste momento estamos perante outro enorme salto tecnológico, que vai permitir um enorme aumento da produtividade, a AI. Se nada for feito, os governos vão absorver esses ganhos, possibilitando adiar o problema da dívida por mais uma década.
O sistema FIAT cria a iluminação que dá com uma mão, mas depois tira com a outra.
Quem tem poupanças mais elevadas consegue adquirir bens mais escassos, com uma melhor protecção contra a inflação, como o imobiliário, algumas ações e ouro.
Mas a classe trabalhadora, principalmente as pessoas com rendimentos mais baixos, acabam por guardar as suas poupanças em moeda. São duplamente afetados, no salário e na poupança.
Agora fica a pergunta, que é impossível responder: Se nos últimos 50 anos, não houvesse sistemas FIAT e se a produtividade tivesse sido repercutida nos salários dos trabalhadores, como estaríamos hoje em dia? Com melhor ou pior qualidade de dia?
A minha convicção é que em qualidade de vida estaríamos um pouco melhor, os governos estariam, sem dúvida nenhuma, muito melhor e as crianças não teriam o seu futuro hipotecado. As crianças de hoje, que serão os Homem de amanhã, ao responder a esta mesma pergunta, vão dizer: A qualidade de vida seria muito melhor.
É triste, mas é verdade, a nossa geração e especialmente a geração anterior priorizou o seu bem-estar em detrimento do bem-estar das futuras gerações, hipotecou o futuro dos seus próprios netos, com uma dívida que é impagável. Esses jovens, muitos ainda nem nasceram, terão que pagar os custos de bens ou de obras públicas, que nem existirão no seu “presente”, apenas vão pagar sem usufruir. -
@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5
2024-09-22 02:34:19Hey Freaks!
Hustle recently stumbled upon an article titled "Top Ten Ways to Stack More Bitcoin." Of course, Hustle clicked on the article... but after skimming through, he didn't see anything he hadn't already come across before. He sat back in his chair and pondered an interesting thought:
Our Primary Focus Shouldn't Be on Accumulation
If you think you need 3 BTC to retire and have obtained it, how much of your corn would you give to Coinbase for yield? Hustle remembers running a lightning node to get "routing yield." He attended a bitcoin meetup and saw the irrational exuberance of new stackers, the eager and crazed eyes of someone who has recently discovered the fountain of eternal youth.
A Key Realization
Everyone reading this already has an immense advantage in accumulating life-changing wealth before the rest of the world figures this stuff out. And in a deflationary world, the deflation is the yield.
A Shift in Focus
I'm thinking it would be more constructive to focus on...
1. Properly Secure Your Stack
Don't trust third-party custodians like JP Morgan with your Bitcoin. Take control of your assets and secure them properly.
2. Bitcoin Usability
Ensure you can easily spend and use your Bitcoin without relying on intermediaries. Improve your Lightning setup and explore alternative payment methods.
3. V4V
Engage with like-minded individuals and support online V4V community through platforms like SN and Nostr, where you can earn thousands of sats while learning and contributing to the constructive conversation.
4. Meatspace Communities
Connect with local Bitcoin enthusiasts and explore Bitcoin-friendly jurisdictions. This will help you stay sane and build strong relationships with others who share your ethics and morals.
5. Switching Your Unit of Account
Abandon fiat currency units and adopt Bitcoin as your standard unit of account. This will help you make clearer economic decisions and avoid the pitfalls of inflationary yield ridden thinking.
6. Finding Work that Pays in Bitcoin
Seek out opportunities that pay in Bitcoin or explore alternative income streams that are denominated in sats. This will help you build wealth more efficiently and avoid the risks of being associated with fiat currency.
7. Preparing Your Uncle Jim Setup
Be ready to assist and onboard the laggards, they wont know whats happening to the world around them or where to turn, you'll have sub accounts, spending and saving wallets ready for them.
8. Curating an Environment that is in Total Contrast to Fiat
Create a community or environment that rejects the values and morals of fiat culture. Focus on building and growing in a new thriving ecosystem while disregarding the system that is doomed to fail (to the best of your ability).
9. Health
Prioritize your mental health. Be ready to properly Sheppard your generational wealth. Face melting god candles have a way of shaking up your resolve or distracting you from your mission. (whatever you mission may be).
10. Node Running and Solo Mining
Contribute to the decentralization of the Bitcoin network by running a node and using open source mining solutions like the Bitaxe. ** We run the Network** Bitcoin dies if we don't.
Conclusion
Prepare for a future where Bitcoin is widely acknowledged as the global world reserve currency. Prioritize your preparedness, security, health, and community involvement. Run bitcoin like Hal Finney and don't give your bitcoin to JP (Freaking) Morgan for 5% yield.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/695607
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@ 15d646fa:950987fc
2024-09-22 00:00:27https://image.3001.net/images/20240914/1726306425_66e558791fa49d030a58c.jpg!small
延迟退休终究还是落地了。
9月13日,第十四届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十一次会议通过,同步启动延迟男、女职工的法定退休年龄,用十五年时间,逐步将男职工的法定退休年龄从原六十周岁延迟至六十三周岁,将女职工的法定退休年龄从原五十周岁、五十五周岁分别延迟至五十五周岁、五十八周岁。实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄坚持小步调整、弹性实施、分类推进、统筹兼顾的原则。
那么对于广大的网络安全从业者们来说,延迟退休落地是该哭还是该笑呢?FreeBuf通过小范围的问卷调查活动收集了部分网安人的回答,发现了一些有意思的观点。
注:篇幅有限,大家共同反馈的共性观点这里不再叙述,只针对网络安全行业进行梳理。
先说说悲观点的
1、加班现象严重,年龄大了熬不动
大部分受访者都认为网络安全行业加班现象较为严重,而随着年龄持续增加,身体素质不断下降,越来越难以抗住加班。
《2023网络安全产业人才发展报告》数据显示,73%的网络安全从业者每周工作时间超40个小时。其中,33.8%的从业者每周工作41-50小时,22.2%每周工作51-60小时。因工作性质原因,网络安全从业者需要时刻保持警惕,随时应对可能或已经发生的网络安全漏洞和风险,因此工作强度较高,加班情况较为普遍。
2、技术更新太快,年龄大了跟不上
网络安全技术迭代速度非常快,这在当下的数字化+AI时代更加体现的淋漓尽致。随着数字化撰写加速,网络攻击的表面和深度都在不断变化,对于网络安全提出了新的需求。而AI大模型技术的广泛应用为网络安全领域提供了新型防御方式,同时也为攻击者提供了新的攻击工具、方法和路径。这对于年轻从业者来说接受度更高,但对于年龄较大的网安人却难以快速掌握。
同时,网络安全技术学习需要抱有极大的热忱与兴趣,保持对新的安全技术和研究成果的求知欲、好奇心,但随着年龄的持续增长,很多网安人都表示有种力不从心的感觉,也无法像以前一样融入社区和圈子之中。因此,当延迟退休落地后,网安人将面临更严峻的就业压力,也需要付出更多的汗水和努力。
再说说乐观点的
1、网络安全是一个相对稳定的行业
延迟退休,行业稳定性的含金量将会越来越高。和其他互联网、科技企业相比,网络安全行业的稳定性相对较高,可以一辈子持续深耕和发展。随着数字化进程的加速和网络攻击的增加,网络安全的重要性日益凸显,再加上如今已经上升为国家安全战略,将成为国家安全和经济发展不可或缺的一部分,行业稳定性将会越来越高。
同时网络安全市场规模持续增加。据中国信通院的统计测算,从2020年的1729.3亿元,到2022年的2200亿元,该行业市场规模连年扩大且不容小觑;从支出来看,据IDC数据显示,2021年中国网络安全相关支出为122.0亿美元左右,初步统计,2022年中国网络安全行业规模达到137.6亿美元,增长率为12.8%,行业增长较为稳定。
另外,网络安全就业广泛,网安毕业生可以在多个领域从事相关工作,包括政府机关、金融机构、电信公司、医疗机构等。网络安全领域也提供了从初级职位到高级职位的广泛职业发展机会,包括网络安全分析师、渗透测试专家、安全架构师、CSO等,完全可以满足大家在职业发展、晋升上的诉求。
2、网络安全行业没有35岁魔咒
和互联网行业存在35岁魔咒不同的是,网络安全行业对于人才年龄的限制远没有那么严苛,身边不乏年纪较大但依旧在企业安全岗位上发光发热的网安人。在笔者采访的诸多行业人物中,从业时间超过20年的不在少数,既有企业安全负责人、技术大佬也有安全创业者,他们也是引领网络安全行业发展不可忽视的力量。
《2023网络安全产业人才发展报告》数据显示,2023年,31-40岁的网络安全从业者占比最高,达到35.2%,是网络安全行业人才的重要组成部分。某种程度上来说,网络安全行业与医疗行业类似,经验和技术的积累使得资深专家在职场上的价值逐渐提升。
3、人才缺口大,尤其缺专家级人才
随着信息技术的飞速发展,全球范围内网络安全事件的日益增加,关键信息基础设施、重要数据和个人隐私都面临新的威胁和风险,网络安全人才缺口也越来越大。报告显示,网络安全专业人才缺口较大,目前全球有340万网络安全职位正在招聘但未能找到相应人才。
与此同时,网安行业更缺的还是具有实战攻防能力的专家级人才。据调研统计,用人部门在招聘时最关注的是网络安实战能力(60%),其次才是网络安全专业知识(45%)。企业更加需要的是具有实际操作能力,能够解决实际问题的安全技术人员。
除了那些天赋型选手,每一位优秀的网络安全专家都需要时间的积累。网络安全专家不仅要熟悉产品、熟悉网络攻防技术、熟悉黑客攻击手段,熟悉各种安全策略,还要具备优秀的理论基础,解决方案实践等,这些没有个十年左右的时间很难达到。
4、网络安全内容体系庞大,需要终生学习
干过网安的都知道,整个行业学科交叉现象十分严重,涉及计算机科学、网络技术、信息安全、通信技术、数学、密码学等多个领域,内容体系极为庞大。多学科交叉不仅提升了网络安全的复杂性和深度,也增加了网安人的学习难度,需要我们持续学习,终生学习。
一个最常见的现象是,Gartner、IDC,FreeBuf咨询,每年发布大量安全报告,各种新名词、新概念、新方向层出不穷,高频更新,令人应接不暇。哪怕只有6个月脱离网安学习,你会发现这个行业又出现了许多听都没听过的英文字母缩写,或者是又新出台了几部法规,企业安全合规要求出现了新的变化等。如果公司还有海外业务,那么所需的知识量还要上一个台阶......
但从这个角度来看,网安行业对于延迟退休的接受程度会更高,毕竟延不延迟网安行业依旧是要活到老,学到老。
与时间做朋友
其实,网络安全是一个与时间做朋友的行业,选择深耕网络安全,意味着选择了一条不断学习和探索的道路。随着技术掌握的越来越多,实战经验越来越丰富,行业的视野也会越来越开阔,很多以前不懂的问题会有一种豁然开朗的感觉,个人价值与竞争力也将不断上升。
网络安全也是一个很“实在”的行业,付出了时间、精力总会得到相应的技能与经验,而专业技能和丰富经验将会成为个人网安职业生涯中硬通货。
永远保持热爱,永远保持好奇,一路勇往直前,延迟退休只会成为你的加油站。
本文作者:流苏_, 转载请注明来自FreeBuf.COM
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@ 2ca61871:f4ab98c0
2024-09-21 19:44:07We all feel disqualified sometimes. The truck that hit me in that pedestrian crossing was my own truck. I landed in the hospital, because of my insolence.
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@ e83b66a8:b0526c2b
2024-09-21 16:29:23Here are some of the more interesting projects that I like:
Messaging:
https://www.0xchat.com/#/ - Private messaging - think WhatsApp
Xitter Like Clients:
https://damus.io/ - iPhone client
https://nostrapps.com/amethyst - Android client
https://primal.net/downloads - Android, iPhone & Desktop
https://shipyard.pub/posts - Schedule future posts
Interesting sites:
https://zap.stream/ - Video streaming
https://fountain.fm/ - Podcasting
https://wavlake.com/ - Music streaming
https://shopstr.store/ - Online shop
https://zap.cooking/recent - Cooking recipes
https://ostrich.work/ - NOSTR jobs board
NOSTR tools
https://nostr.band/ - Powerful search tool
https://nostr.wine/ - Powerful, but centralised paid relay
https://npub.pro/ - Website creation tool
https://nostr.build/ - Media and file storage
https://relay.tools/ - Build and curate your own relay
https://creatr.nostr.wine/subscriptions/new-user - Creator tools
List of NOSTR apps:
https://nostrapps.com/
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@ df478568:2a951e67
2024-09-21 14:34:08CyberSecurity Awareness Training: Note-this is a link to a downloadable PDFhttps://puhsd-ca.safeschools.com/training/certificate/3AFD09CE-6D73-11EF-B6F3-B8ABE6806967
Currently Studying
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@ 03742c20:2df9aa5d
2024-09-21 09:31:17ถ้าอยากเก็บข้อมูล Nostr ของตัวเองทั้งหมด นอกจาก Relay ที่เราสร้างเองได้แล้วยังมี Media Server ที่สำคัญไม่แพ้กันถึงแม้จะไม่เหมาะกับทุกคน แต่ถ้าอยากควบคุมข้อมูลทั้งหมดนี่คือคำตอเเลย
ผมแนะนำ Nostrcheck Server ที่ติดตั้งง่าย แถมใช้ Docker ได้ด้วยมันสะดวกสุดๆ
สิ่งที่ต้องเตรียม - เครื่องที่เปิดตลอด 24/7 - Docker - Domain (แนะนำจดกับ Cloudflare)
วิธีติดตั้ง Nostrcheck Server ด้วย Docker
ดาวน์โหลด Nostrcheck Server
git clone https://github.com/quentintaranpino/nostrcheck-api-ts.git
เข้าไปที่โฟลเดอร์ Nostrcheckcd nostrcheck-api-ts
สั่ง Build Containersudo docker-compose up -d --build
อนุญาต Firewall พอร์ต 3000sudo ufw allow 3000/tcp comment 'Allow for nostrcheck'
เท่านี้ก็มี Media Server แล้วแต่ถ้าอยากให้คนอื่นเข้าถึงได้ต้องทำยังไงล่ะ
วิธีออก Public โดยไม่ต้องมี Public IP ด้วย Cloudflare Tunnel
จดโดเมนกับ Cloudflare
ไปที่ Zero Trust คลิกไปที่ Network จากนั้นคลิก create a tunnel
ตั้งชื่อ Tunnet แล้วติดตั้ง Cloudflare Tunnel ลงเครื่อง (ผมเลือก docker)
เพิ่ม Public Hostname ใน Cloudflare Tunnel Subdomain: ตั้งชื่อที่ต้องการ Domain: เลือกโดเมนที่จดเอาไว้ Type: เลือก http URL: ใส่ localhost แล้วตามด้วย port หรือใส่ IP แล้วตามด้วย port ได้เช่นกัน
แค่นี้ก็เรียบร้อย! Nostrcheck Server ของคุณพร้อมใช้งานแล้ว
มาเริ่มใช้งานกัน
เปิด URL ที่เราสร้างคลิกที่รูปมุมขวาบนเลือก Settings แล้วเลื่อนลงมาจนเจอ Server secret key
คลิกเปิดตา Coppy ไปใส่ Nostr extension ผมแนะนำ AKA Profiles จดบันทึกไว้ได้เช่นกัน
ไปเพิ่ม Media Servers ใน Amethyst
หวังว่าแนวทางนี้อาจเป็นประโยชน์ปรับใช้ได้หลายอย่าง มีส่วนไหนผิดพลาดพูดคุยเสริมกัน ขอบคุณทุกคนที่แวะมาอ่าน
ไว้เจอกันใหม่ครั้งหน้าจะเป็นเรื่องอะไรรอติตามกัน
บ๊ะบาย
ลิงค์ Github: https://github.com/quentintaranpino/nostrcheck-server
siamstr #Nostr
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@ dc652bee:6154e7d0
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@ f5f9e186:1fb7e621
2024-09-21 08:18:34asdasd
asdsada
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@ 09fbf8f3:fa3d60f0
2024-09-21 07:44:42软件名称: OSSQ
这款软件打开时杀毒软件会报毒,大家忽略即可,如果实在不放心,大家可以先杀毒后再使用!
软件使用很简单,选择想要转换的版本,选择后点【开始转换】即可。
这里转换需要点时间,大家耐心等待,等转换成功了以后会跳出“版本切换成功!”的提示。
转换后再重启电脑,那么你的系统版本就转换成功了。 我自己电脑是Windows11,但我办公电脑是Win10,看看我原来的是专业版。
转换以后就变成了家庭版了。
这个软件在版本转换后,可能会出现“Win+X”和右键开始菜单失效的问题,这时候可以用作者开发的一款“菜单修复”软件进行修复。
下载地址:
蓝奏云: https://lepidus.lanzouv.com/b00zx2euef 密码:gomr
菜单修复工具: 蓝奏云: https://lepidus.lanzouv.com/b00zx2euij 密码:9dl6
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2024-09-21 06:43:47Table Of Content
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Factors behind the Rise in Bitcoin's Hash Rate
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Implications of the Rise in Bitcoin's Hash Rate
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Conclusion
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FAQ
Bitcoin's hash rate has been skyrocketing lately, with the mining difficulty hitting all-time highs. This surge in hash rate has left many wondering about the reasons behind it and its implications for the cryptocurrency industry. In this article, we will explore the factors contributing to the rise in Bitcoin's hash rate and the implications of this development.
Factors behind the Rise in Bitcoin's Hash Rate:
Increase in the number of miners
One of the primary factors behind the rise in Bitcoin's hash rate is the increase in the number of miners. As the price of Bitcoin continues to surge, more and more people are entering the mining space, trying to capitalize on the opportunity to earn profits. This has led to an increase in the number of miners, which, in turn, has resulted in a surge in hash rate.
Improved Mining Hardware
Another reason for the increase in hash rate is the improvement in mining hardware. As the demand for Bitcoin continues to rise, mining hardware manufacturers are constantly innovating and improving their products to meet the demand. This has resulted in more efficient and powerful mining hardware that can process more transactions in less time, leading to an increase in hash rate.
Increase in Institutional Investment
Institutional investors are increasingly investing in Bitcoin, resulting in an increase in the overall hash rate. These investors have more resources and can afford to purchase high-end mining equipment, which leads to an increase in hash rate.
Halving
Bitcoin undergoes a halving event every four years, which reduces the reward for miners. This event is designed to control the supply of Bitcoin and maintain its value. However, it also has the effect of reducing the number of miners, which results in a drop in hash rate. After each halving event, it takes some time for the hash rate to recover, and this could be a contributing factor to the recent surge in hash rate.
Implications of the Rise in Bitcoin's Hash Rate:
Increased Security:
The rise in hash rate means that the Bitcoin network is becoming more secure. The higher the hash rate, the more difficult it becomes to launch a 51% attack, where an attacker gains control of the network. This increased security is good news for Bitcoin investors as it reduces the risk of a security breach.
Reduced Mining Rewards
As the hash rate increases, mining rewards become more difficult to obtain. This means that smaller mining operations may be forced to shut down, resulting in a more centralized mining ecosystem. This could be seen as a negative development as it goes against the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies.
More Transactions
The increase in hash rate means that more transactions can be processed on the Bitcoin network. This is good news for Bitcoin users as it reduces transaction times and fees. With the rise in hash rate, Bitcoin is becoming a more practical payment method, which could lead to increased adoption.
Conclusion
The rise in Bitcoin's hash rate is a result of several factors, including an increase in the number of miners, improved mining hardware, institutional investment, and the halving event. While there are some potential drawbacks to the increase in hash rate, such as reduced mining rewards and a more centralized mining ecosystem, the benefits of increased security and faster transaction processing make it a positive development for the cryptocurrency industry. As Bitcoin continues to gain mainstream acceptance, it is likely that the hash rate will continue to increase, leading to further innovation and improvements in the network.
FAQ
What is Bitcoin's hash rate? Hash rate is the measure of the computational power of the Bitcoin network. It is the number of calculations that the network can perform per second.
Why is the hash rate important? The hash rate is important because it determines the security of the Bitcoin network. The higher the hash rate, the more secure the network becomes.
How is the hash rate calculated? The hash rate is calculated by counting the number of calculations that the network can perform per second.
That's all for today
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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.
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@ 6bae33c8:607272e8
2024-09-20 15:32:58I went 2-3 last week to bring my two-week mark to 3-7. I’m not drawing dead yet, but obviously you don’t get many of those stretches if you expect to cash in this contest.
This week I feel more strongly about a couple games:
I love the Bengals laying the 7.5 at home against the Football team. The Giants should have beaten them in Washington last week (but for not having a kicker and Malik Nabers dropping an easy 4th-down conversion at the end.) The Bengals will get Ja’Marr Chase going and blow them out.
I like the desperate Ravens in Dallas laying only one point. It’s usually not a great idea to think, “I can’t imagine them at 0-3” so I have to bet them when they’re 0-2 because you probably didn’t foresee them at 0-2, either, and once they’re 0-2, they only need to lose one road game to get to 0-3. That said, I think they’ll be focused, and the Cowboys would have to bring their A game to beat them.
Give me the Falcons getting the 3.5 at home against the Chiefs. Atlanta should hang with them.
I like the Texans laying less than a FG in Minnesota. The Vikings have played well, but I’ll sell high off the big win over the 49ers.
I was on the Bucs initially, but something feels off about it. It’s too obvious, the Broncos aren’t getting nearly enough points with Bo Nix. I’ll stay away.
My last choice is between the Colts as a buy-low at home and the way overpriced Lions on the road.
The Colts are ugly, can’t stop the run, missing DeForest Buckner, etc. But really the names on the jerseys, the details of that sort are already priced in, not the way to handicap games. The better way is to get a sense of the league’s ebb and flow. I think the Colts win at home, maybe Anthony Richardson plays better this week.
The Lions should be 2.5-point underdogs, so this line caught my attention — something is off, and it gives me a feeling I’m missing something, makes me want to take them. But that’s probably overthinking it. I’ll take the Colts with the last pick.
Final Picks
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@ 6bae33c8:607272e8
2024-09-20 15:31:21This was one of those games where I’m grateful to be in Portugal and not catching it in real time. I have Rhamondre Stevenson in one league unfortunately, but none of the prominent players on the Jets (who I don’t have) went crazy, either. And I finally got a Thursday night ATS win in the books. I probably should have used it in the Circa Millions, but I hate submitting the whole slate on Thursday.
-
Aaron Rodgers looks sharp at 40 still. He even moved well in the pocket and scrambled for some yards. The Jets might actually be good.
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Breece Hall is getting the requisite work (16 carries, five targets), but Braelon Allen (11 carries, 3 targets) looks more or less just as good. On the one hand, Hall won’t dominate the workload the way say Jonathan Taylor or Saquon Barkley might on their respective teams, but on the other, he’ll stay fresh and still get plenty. If Hall goes down, Allen is probably a top-five back instantly.
-
Rodgers spread the ball around, but the Jets tree is pretty narrow: Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mike Williams, Tyler Conklin and the backs. Wilson had a modest game, but it was a good sign they kept going to him and eventually got him the TD (while he was covered by top corner Christian Gonzalez) even with a big lead.
-
Conklin looks like a top-10 TE right now. I’d expect Williams to overtake Lazard before long as the team’s No. 2 wideout. He’s just better and more explosive.
-
There’s not much to say about the Pats. Antonio Gibson looked okay after Stevenson was pulled following his fumble. DeMario Douglas took Hunter Henry’s place as the lone productive pass catcher. Maybe you could use one of those two in a pinch.
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It’s time to see more of Drake Maye who looked comfortable and confident in mop-up duty. The circumstances are rough, but Jacoby Brissett is best suited as a stop-gap game-manging backup, not someone who should block real prospect.
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@ eac63075:b4988b48
2024-09-20 09:23:23Overview of the Infrastructure
- Umbrel/Citadel/RaspiBlitz/Start9 Server
- Purpose: Acts as your personal Bitcoin and Lightning Network node.
- Setup: Installed on a Raspberry Pi 4 running Debian or Umbrel OS.
- Benefits:
- Participate in Bitcoin Consensus: Validates transactions and blocks independently.
- Lightning Network Routing: Facilitates faster transactions and earns routing fees.
- Cold Storage Wallets
- Coldcard: A highly secure hardware wallet designed specifically for Bitcoin.
- Ledger Nano X: A versatile hardware wallet supporting multiple cryptocurrencies.
- Purpose: Store your Bitcoin offline to protect against online threats.
- Secure Devices
- Encrypted Computer: A notebook with encrypted storage for managing your wallets and nodes securely.
- Android Phone with Secure Area:
- Old Device: Repurposed without a SIM card to minimize exposure.
- Secure Area for Apps: Uses features like Samsung's Secure Folder/Knox to isolate sensitive applications.
- NerdMiner
- Purpose: A compact mining device like the Nerdminer V2 to engage in Bitcoin mining.
- Function: Attempts to mine Bitcoin blocks, offering a chance (albeit very low) to earn block rewards and learn about the mining process.
### Advantages of This Setup
- Self-Sovereignty: You have complete control over your funds without relying on third-party services.
- Enhanced Privacy:
- CoinJoin Transactions: Mix your coins with others to obfuscate transaction history.
- No SIM Card Devices: Reduces the risk of SIM swapping attacks.
- Network Participation:
- Consensus Involvement: By running a full node, you help maintain the network's integrity.
- Lightning Network: Improve transaction speeds and network scalability.
- Security:
- Cold Storage: Keeps your private keys offline, away from potential online threats.
- Encrypted Devices: Protects data even if physical devices are lost or stolen.
### Simplifying the Perceived Complexity
While the infrastructure may seem daunting, it's more approachable than it appears:
- Starting Point: Use an old computer or phone as a cold wallet with software like Electrum or Sparrow.
- Step-by-Step Setup:
- Begin with setting up the Umbrel/Citadel/RaspiBlitz/Start9 server.
- Gradually add hardware wallets like Coldcard, SeedSigner DIY, Jade, Ledger, Trezor or Onekey.
- Implement security measures on your existing devices.
- Community Resources: Numerous guides and communities are available to assist with each step.
### Embracing Freedom and Privacy
Practicing self-sovereignty and custody isn't just about securing your Bitcoin—it's about embracing freedom and privacy in the digital age. By taking control:
- Financial Independence: You're not dependent on banks or exchanges.
- Data Privacy: Your financial data remains confidential.
- Empowerment: Gain a deeper understanding of how Bitcoin and blockchain technology work.
Remember: Even simple steps like using an old device as a cold wallet can significantly enhance your security. The journey towards complete self-sovereignty is a progressive one, and each step you take strengthens your position in the digital world.
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@ eac63075:b4988b48
2024-09-20 08:46:49Lá na outra rede, o Dov havia feito um post bacana mostrando como usar a Electrum mobile de cold wallet nessa playlist.
Então ao comentar que a minha primeira cold wallet havia sido uma Electrum num notebook velho e formatado só pra isso, algumas pessoas me perguntaram sobre meu setup atual.
Então preparei o seguinte esboço:
No geral é: * Server Umbrel para os nodes * Coldcard e Ledger (coldwallets) * Computador criptografado e celular android com área segura p/ apps
É um caso de uso extremo mas além da auto-soberania e custódia dos meus satoshis, essa estrutura ainda me permite:
- Participar do consenso do Bitcoin
- Auxiliar no roteamento de sats na Lightning Network
- Fazer coinjoin facilmente para aumentar a privacidade
E embora a estrutura pareça complicada, é bastante simples:
- Raspberry Pi 4 com Debian e Umbrel (p/ os nodes e servers)
- Celular antigo android com área segura e sem simcard
- Notebook com storage criptografada
- Ledger Nano X
- Coldcard
E ainda pude evoluir de N.O.I.A. (Network Operator Innovator and Advocate) para M.A. (Minerador Anônimo), com uma Nerdminer pra tentar um ticket da sorte a cada 10 minutos
Não esqueça que uma cold wallet para a auto-custódia pode começar com um computador ou celular velho!
É mais simples do que parece e praticar sua auto-soberania e custódia significa na verdade liberdade e privacidade nesse mundo digital!
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2024-09-20 05:55:35Table Of Content
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Bitcoin Beach Wallet Rebrands as Global Shore Wallet
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Feature-Rich Wallet for Enhanced User Experience
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Partnerships to Drive Adoption and Education
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Conclusion
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FAQ
Bitcoin Beach Wallet, originally developed to support the Bitcoin community in El Salvador, has made significant strides since its inception. The wallet started as a grassroots project aimed at driving Bitcoin adoption in a small coastal town, and has now transformed into a global force. With a new name and a plethora of innovative features, the wallet is set to become a major player in the world of cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin Beach Wallet Rebrands as Global Shore Wallet
As part of the wallet's evolution, it has been rebranded as the Global Shore Wallet. This name change reflects the wallet's expanded focus beyond El Salvador, as it aims to promote Bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion in communities across the globe. The new name signifies a broader commitment to empowering individuals and businesses with a versatile cryptocurrency wallet that caters to their unique needs.
Feature-Rich Wallet for Enhanced User Experience
The Global Shore Wallet comes packed with features designed to enhance the user experience and promote widespread adoption. Some of these exciting new features include:
1. Multilingual Support
To cater to a global audience, the wallet now supports multiple languages, ensuring that users worldwide can navigate and use the wallet with ease.
2. Multi-Currency Compatibility
In addition to Bitcoin, the wallet now supports various cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and more, making it a one-stop solution for users looking to manage multiple digital assets.
3. Lightning Network Integration
To facilitate faster, cheaper, and more scalable transactions, the Global Shore Wallet has integrated the Lightning Network. This upgrade allows users to make instant payments with minimal fees.
4. Advanced Security Features
The wallet offers cutting-edge security features, such as biometric authentication, two-factor authentication, and encrypted backups, ensuring that users' digital assets are well-protected.
5. Seamless Onboarding
The Global Shore Wallet simplifies the onboarding process with a user-friendly interface and step-by-step guidance, making it easy for new users to get started with cryptocurrency.
Partnerships to Drive Adoption and Education
To further its mission of promoting Bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion, the Global Shore Wallet team has entered into strategic partnerships with various organizations. These collaborations aim to provide educational resources and offer support to communities looking to embrace cryptocurrency.
Conclusion
The transformation of the Bitcoin Beach Wallet into the Global Shore Wallet marks an important milestone in the journey towards global cryptocurrency adoption. With a new name, cutting-edge features, and strategic partnerships, the Global Shore Wallet is poised to become a leading wallet solution for individuals and businesses around the world. By fostering financial inclusion and empowering users with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy, the Global Shore Wallet is set to make a lasting impact on the cryptocurrency landscape.
FAQ
What was the original purpose of the Bitcoin Beach Wallet? The Bitcoin Beach Wallet was initially developed to support the Bitcoin community in El Salvador, focusing on driving Bitcoin adoption in a small coastal town.
What is the new name of the Bitcoin Beach Wallet? The Bitcoin Beach Wallet has been rebranded as the Global Shore Wallet.
Why was the name changed to Global Shore Wallet? The name change reflects the wallet's expanded focus on promoting Bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion in communities across the globe, beyond just El Salvador.
How is the Global Shore Wallet promoting Bitcoin adoption? The Global Shore Wallet is fostering adoption through its user-friendly features, educational resources, and strategic partnerships with organizations to support communities looking to embrace cryptocurrency.
That's all for today
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@ 502ab02a:a2860397
2024-09-20 02:30:23มีเรื่องจะประกาศครับ ถ้าสามารถแชร์ออกไปได้ก็ยินดีมากครับ
เป็นความตั้งใจตั้งแต่ก่อนงาน Thailand Bitcoin Conference 2024 ว่าจะเป็นงานสุดท้ายที่ผมจะใช้คำว่า ขนมคีโต
ตลอดเส้นทางที่ผ่านมา หมวกอีกใบนึงของผมคือ การถ่ายทอดความรู้ที่ศึกษามาในแขนงโภชนาการ และคำถามตลอดกาลคือ "อันไหนเป็นอาหารคีโต"
จริงอยู่ครับก็ยินดีตอบให้ได้ แต่ลึกๆมันก็มีความขุ่นๆนิดๆว่า หากเป็นขวบปีแรกของคีโตก็ยังพอเข้าใจ แต่ขณะนี้ก้าวเข้าวปีที่ 8 แล้ว อีกไม่เท่าไรก็ 10ปีคีโตในไทยแล้ว สิ่งแรกที่คนคีโตมองหาเวลาซื้ออาหารคือ ฉลากคีโต
แล้วพอเจอบางสินค้าแปะป้ายคีโต แต่มีวัตถุดิบที่ต่างจากกูรูต่างจากเจ้าพ่อเจ้าแม่คีโต ได้บัญญัติไว้ ก็เกิดความสับสนวุ่นวายทะเลาะเบาะแว้ง ว่าตกลงมันเป็นอาหารคีโตหรือไม่
ผมเลือกทางนี้ครับ หักดิบไปเลย
ต่อไปนี้ผมจะไม่ใส่คำว่า คีโต ในชื่อเรียกอาหาร ต่อไปนี้จะไม่มีชีสเค้กคีโต ดาร์คชอคกานาซคีโต หน้าไก่คีโต บลาบลาบลา ที่มีคีโตเป็นชื่อเรียก อีกต่อไปครับ พอกันทีกับสิ่งนี้
ของกินทุกอย่างที่ผมทำ จะใช้ความเชี่ยวชาญด้านโภชนาการ ความสะอาด สุขอนามัย ฉลากสารอาหาร ใช้การคำนวนแบบเผื่อข้อผิดพลาด(บวก ไม่ลบ) ด้วยการใส่ Macro Nutrient ให้ในทุกเมนู !!!!
เพราะผมเชื่อว่า การกินคาร์บต่ำ เป็นการกินแบบ "ปกติ" การกินคาร์บมากก็เป็นการกินแบบ "ปกติ" เหมือนคนไม่ชอบกินผิก ไม่ชอบกินปลา ไม่ชอบกินเนื้อ อันนี้มันก็แค่คนไม่ชอบกินคาร์บสูงเกินไป แค่นั้นครับ เป็นการกินแบบปกติ ย้ำ เป็นการกินแบบปกติ คาร์บต่ำแบบคีโต เป็นการกินแบบปกติ ที่ควรเป็นมานานแล้วด้วย
การยัดทะนานคาร์บสูงมากๆ ในมุมมองผมคือ นี่แหละที่ไม่ปกติ
ทีนี้ความไม่ปกตินี้มันก็ไม่ผิดอะไรด้วย ถ้าคนกินไม่ปกติ นิยามไม่ปกติคือ ไม่ใช่คนทั่วๆไปเช่น นักกล้าม นักกีฬา ผู้ที่ใช้ "พลังงาน" สูงมากๆแลละต้องการใช้คาร์บ เพื่อการใดการหนึ่งโดยเฉพาะ ดังนั้นไม่มีอะไรที่ผิดเลยครับ ใครอยากกินอะไร กิน ตราบใดที่เรารู้ตัวเราเองว่าทำอะไร
ผมอยู่ในวงการธุรกิจทั้งอาหารและการโฆษณา เข้าใจดีครับว่าการแปะป้ายคีโต คือการช่วยให้คนตัดสินใจง่ายขึ้น เข้าใจง่ายขึ้น ช่วยในการขายให้สะดวกขึ้น แต่ ผมพอแล้วครับ เหรียญอีกด้านนึงของป้ายนีคือ มันไม่ได้ช่วยให้คนคีโต เรียนรู้การทำความเข้าใจด้านสารอาหารเท่าที่ผมคาดหวัง เพราะถ้าไม่มีป้ายพวกนี้ คนคีโตหลายๆคนถึงกับไปไม่เป็นกันเลยทีเดียว แล้วทุกวันนี้เหรียญมันออกด้านนี้ซะเยอะด้วย
นอกจากนี้ประเด็นที่หลีกไม่ได้คือ การหมอบคลานเข้ารับวัตถุดิบคีโตจากกูรู ซึ่งไม่เคยได้เหตุผลในการ "ห้าม" ของหลายๆอย่างเช่น สารหวานบางประเภท แครอท ฟักทอง(ตัวนี้มีคนถามและส่งมาให้ดูเยอะ เดี๋ยวจัดให้เคลียร์ๆ)
ซึ่งใครที่เลือกกินสิ่งนี้แล้วแชร์ความรู้ให้คนคีโตว่ากินได้ ก็จะโดนตรรกะวิบัติจากกูรูด้วยการแปะคำว่า "อยากกิน เลยชวนคนอื่นกิน ชวนคนให้ไม่เคร่ง" เป็นตรรกะวิบัติที่เรียกว่า Ad Hominem หรือ การโจมตีที่ตัวบุคคล นั่นเอง (ref : https://siripun.com/2023/06/09/logical-fallacies-2-ad-hominem ) ทั้งที่ถ้าจะนิยามคำว่าเคร่ง สิ่งที่กูรูให้ทำ ไม่สามารถมีคำตอบที่สร้างสมการสมดุลได้ (ทำไม A ได้แล้ว B ไม่ได้ถ้าเทียบบริบทเอามาชนกันชัดๆเลย)
จริงๆก็อยากรณรงค์ให้ผู้ประกอบการอาหารคีโต ร่วมโครงการนี้ แต่เข้าใจว่ามันคงไม่สามารถทำได้ เพราะอาจจะมองในมุมที่ต่างกัน ผมเข้าใจในสิ่งนั้นครับ แต่มุมของผมคือ การทำอาหารคีโตให้กลับมาอยู่ในประเภทอาหารปกติ จะยิ่งขยายมูลค่าตลาดออกไปได้มากกว่าทุกวันนี้
ตลาดคีโตมันซบเซา เพราะเราทำให้มัน "ประหลาด" ทำให้มันกลายเป็นของ "ไม่ปกติ" พอได้น้ำหนัก หุ่น ลูก สมปรารถนาแล้วก็ถวิลหาการ "ออกไปกินปกติ" นั่นคือการทำให้ตลาดหายไปเรื่อยๆเพราะพวกคุณเองครับ ผมกลับมองว่าทำให้คีโตคืออาหารปกติ แล้วกินกันไปตลอด ไม่มีการขอออกจากเผ่า หานเป็ดอะไรคือทางที่ดีกว่า ได้สุขภาพที่ดีกว่า
คีโตคือการกินปกติ ไม่ควรต้องมาแยกเป็นชนเผ่าอะไรเลย คีโตคือคนเมือง คนมีความรู้ คือ วิทยาศาสตร์ คือความฉลาดในการเลือกสารอาหาร อย่าไปยัดเยียดความ "ไม่ปกติ" ให้อาหาร "ปกติ"
ก็เลยคิดว่า ไม่เป็นไร ร้านคีโตร้านใดอยากร่วมเรายินดี แต่ถ้ามองว่าไม่เอาด้วยก็ยินดีเหมือนกัน เพราะการค้าเสรี อยากทำอะไรก็ทำได้ครับ ในส่วนตัวผม เราทำของเรา เราเริ่มของเราเลยก็ได้ เพราะเส้นทางที่ผ่านมา เราก็เดินอยู่ในเส้นทางของเราอยู่แล้ว และผมเชื่อใน Proof of Work ครับ ผมสามารถทุ่มแรงกายแรงใจ ลงในอาหาร ลงในการสอน ให้คนตระหนักถึง "สารอาหาร" มากกว่า "ป้ายฉลาก"
แล้ววันนึง มันจะส่งผลที่ impact ครับ ผมเชื่ออย่างนั้น Proof of Work สามารถส่งต่อได้ และ พลิกโลกได้ มานับต่อนับแล้ว
ทุกวันนี้ผมทุ่มเนื้อหาด้าน ฉลากอาหาร เพื่อให้คนหัดอ่าน รู้เท่า รู้ทัน มันก็ทำให้ผมยิ่งรู้สึกว่า ผมไม่ควรแปะคำว่าคีโต ลงไปเลย มันเหมือนไปสปอยให้คนลืมพื้นฐานสำคัญ
ไม่ใช่ว่าไม่ง้อคนคีโตนะ คนทำการค้าต้องยินดีกับทุกการค้าอยู่แล้ว แต่ผมกลับมมองว่า ตลาดของผมขอเป็นตลาดที่มีการอ่านฉลาก มีการหัดพิจารณาสารอาหาร ดูคาร์บเป็น เลือกวัตถุดิบที่เหมาะกับแต่ละคน มากกว่าวัตถุดิบที่ต้องได้รับการโปรดจากกูรู
ผมมองว่า คนกินคลีน คนกินไฮโปรตีน หรือแม้แต่แค่คนที่ไม่อยากกินน้ำตาล ก็จะสามารถกินอาหารที่ผมทำได้ ไม่โดนปิดกั้นจากป้ายคีโต ที่โลกประเคน mind set ให้ว่าต้อง high fat เท่านั้น
ซึ่งถ้าผมทำอาหารในแบบของผม + คนกินพิจารณาได้เองว่าสารอาหารเหมาะกับเขาไหม = การกินแบบมีความรู้จริง เหมาะกับตัวเองจริงๆ
ถือว่าเป็นอีกเส้นทางที่ผมต้อง fight for ครับ ถ้าสำเร็จ มันจะช่วยให้คนในสังคมหลุดกรอบ และมองสารอาหารได้ ดูแลสุขภาพได้ ด้วยพื้นฐานความรู้ที่มากขึ้นครับ ไม่ใช่ทางที่สบายแน่นอนครับ แต่พวกคุณจะได้ประโยชน์ติดตัวไปแน่ๆ
ถามว่าทำเพื่อการค้าใช่ไหม ก็ใช่ครับ การค้ามันคู่กับโลก ผมไม่ค่อยเข้าใจในมุมของการต้องการอะไรฟรีๆอยู่ตลอด ถ้าคุณเคารพใน value แล้วยินดีส่งต่อ value for value คุุณจะยินดีในการค้าที่ไม่ยัดเยียด (fiat) คุณจะยินดีในการส่งต่อ value ด้วยคุณค่า คุณจะยินดีในการมองคุณค่าของ "เวลา" ที่ผู้สร้างผู้ทำลงทุนลงไป (เวลาคือทรัพยการที่มีค่าที่สุดในโลก) แล้วถ้าคุณให้เกียรติกับสิ่งเหล่านี้ คุณจะไม่อยากได้มันฟรีๆ คุณจะกระดากใจที่จะหยิบมันมาเปล่าๆ นี่คือเหตุผลที่ผมไม่เคยมองว่า การทำการค้า มันจะเลวร้ายอะไร แต่ที่แน่ๆ ผมจะไม่ทำ FIAT keto ครับ ผมจะไม่เร่งเร้า ไม่ขู่เข็ญ ไม่ใช้ตรรกะประเภท "ของมันต้องมี" ผมจะแบไต๋แฟร์ๆด้วยสารอาหารครับ
แม้มันจะแลกมาด้วยการขาดโอกาส จากป้าย "คีโต" ก็ตาม แม้คนคีโตจะมองว่า ไม่มีป้ายคือไม่คีโตก็ตาม แม้จะไม่ได้รับการรับรองจากกูรูใดๆ ว่า "คีโตกินได้" ก็ตาม ถ้าจะให้สังคมมีการเรียนรู้สารอาหารขึ้นได้ ผมยอม
pirateketo #ตำรับเอ๋ #siripun #siamstr
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@ db95cd8e:399d79e2
2024-09-19 22:09:14Hello [[Nostr]]! For my first post, an introduction feels appropriate with [[Nostr]], but why is that? Why do so many of us talk about our discovery of [[Nostr]] like we just discovered the next best thing? We don't act that way with any other social media.
Simply, I think it is because we have discovered the next best thing. And not just the next best thing, but the thing that will change online communication forever.
[[Nostr]] revolutionizes social media and is fundamentally different from anything else due to how our information is shared through relays and different clients instead of a single source. This change alone has the potential to disrupt current social media, and is the path forward to [[Freedom]] communication channels for the world.
My journey to [[Nostr]] started with [[Bitcoin]]. I first heard about [[Bitcoin]] in 2020, but didn't really start learning about it until late 2021. I heard about [[Nostr]] from the [[Bitcoin]] influencers and podcasters I listened to. My understanding of how #Bitcoin worked was fundamental to me understanding [[Nostr]] and it's importance. The #Freedom provided by these two beautiful inventions is set to change the world in a way we can't fully see yet.
The note app Obsidian is also a big part of this start for me. I’ve wanted to improve and organize my thoughts for a long time, as well as learn better ways to articulate my thoughts. I found Obsidian, and there is a community plugin to publish notes directly to [[Nostr]].
So this is the start of my journey with the future of social media and communication.
- Jared
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@ 8cb60e21:5f2deaea
2024-09-19 22:09:05 -
@ 8cb60e21:5f2deaea
2024-09-19 21:25:34 -
@ 8cb60e21:5f2deaea
2024-09-19 20:54:23Python Introduction Guide
1. What is Python?
Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It's widely used in various fields, including web development, data science, artificial intelligence, and more.
2. Installing Python
Visit python.org to download and install the latest version of Python for your operating system.
3. Your First Python Program
Open a text editor and type:
python print("Hello, World!")
Save this as
hello.py
and run it from the command line:python hello.py
4. Basic Syntax
Variables and Data Types
```python
Strings
name = "Alice"
Integers
age = 30
Floats
height = 5.5
Booleans
is_student = True ```
Lists
python fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"] print(fruits[0]) # Outputs: apple
Dictionaries
python person = { "name": "Bob", "age": 25, "city": "New York" } print(person["name"]) # Outputs: Bob
5. Control Flow
If statements
python age = 18 if age >= 18: print("You're an adult") elif age >= 13: print("You're a teenager") else: print("You're a child")
Loops
```python
For loop
for i in range(5): print(i)
While loop
count = 0 while count < 5: print(count) count += 1 ```
6. Functions
```python def greet(name): return f"Hello, {name}!"
message = greet("Alice") print(message) # Outputs: Hello, Alice! ```
7. Modules
Python has a vast standard library and many third-party packages. You can import them like this:
python import math print(math.pi) # Outputs: 3.141592653589793
8. Exception Handling
python try: result = 10 / 0 except ZeroDivisionError: print("Error: Division by zero!")
9. Classes and Objects
```python class Dog: def init(self, name): self.name = name
def bark(self): return f"{self.name} says Woof!"
my_dog = Dog("Buddy") print(my_dog.bark()) # Outputs: Buddy says Woof! ```
10. Next Steps
- Practice writing small programs
- Explore the Python standard library
- Learn about virtual environments and package management with pip
- Dive into specific areas like web development (Django, Flask) or data science (NumPy, Pandas)
Remember, the best way to learn Python is by writing code. Happy coding!
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@ 8cb60e21:5f2deaea
2024-09-19 20:46:05Markdown Cheatsheet
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@ 361d3e1e:50bc10a8
2024-09-19 15:52:59An attack on Belarus will be the beginning of the Third World War
usa #belarus #russia #ukraine #war #politics
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@ dc652bee:6154e7d0
2024-09-19 13:47:51https://www.ouxyi.link/ul/1G3I1x
-
@ 52adc2ef:9f4bc0ba
2024-09-19 09:54:56สวัสดีครับ
ผมว่าจะลองเขียนบทความหรืออะไรที่มีประโยชน์ ในสิ่งที่ตัวเองได้รู้และมาเเชร์ หลังจากได้ฟัง
'Stoic' ปรัชญาเปลี่ยนชีวิตและพัฒนาการทำงานของ 'ทอย DataRockie' มีช่วงนึงพูดไว้ว่า
คนไทย consume กับ social media ลำดับต้นๆ ซึ่งหลายคน consume อย่างเดียว จะเป็นได้แค่ effect ของส่วนที่เรา content ที่เราเสพ แต่ถ้าเราสร้าง content ที่มี value เราก็จะเป็น เหตุ ที่มี effect กับคนอื่น สร้างเเรงกระเพื่อมส่งต่อไป
รู้สึกว่าน่าสนใจ เพราะก็เป็นหนึ่งในคนที่รับสารมาตลอด ไม่เคยลองที่จะ create ขึ้นมา เพราะเขิน ไม่ค่อยได้โพสอะไรอยู่เเล้ว บวกกับ คิดว่ารู้ไม่พอ เเต่คนเราก็น่าจะมีความรู้อะไรที่รู้ดีกว่าคนอื่นเค้าบ้าง
คิดว่าลองเริ่มดู ก็คงไม่เสียหายอะไร หวังว่าน่าจะเป็นประโยชน์กับใครก็คนใดคนหนึ่งครับ
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