@ deab79da:88579e68

The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061, at a time when humanity first stepped into the light. The question came about as a result of a five-dollar bet over highballs, and it happened this way:

Alexander Adell and Bertram Lupov were two of the faithful attendants of Multivac. As well as any human beings could, they knew what lay behind the cold, clicking, flashing face -- miles and miles of face -- of that giant computer. They had at least a vague notion of the general plan of relays and circuits that had long since grown past the point where any single human could possibly have a firm grasp of the whole.

Multivac was self-adjusting and self-correcting. It had to be, for nothing human could adjust and correct it quickly enough or even adequately enough. So Adell and Lupov attended the monstrous giant only lightly and superficially, yet as well as any men could. They fed it data, adjusted questions to its needs and translated the answers that were issued. Certainly they, and all others like them, were fully entitled to share in the glory that was Multivac's.

For decades, Multivac had helped design the ships and plot the trajectories that enabled man to reach the Moon, Mars, and Venus, but past that, Earth's poor resources could not support the ships. Too much energy was needed for the long trips. Earth exploited its coal and uranium with increasing efficiency, but there was only so much of both.

But slowly Multivac learned enough to answer deeper questions more fundamentally, and on May 14, 2061, what had been theory, became fact.

The energy of the sun was stored, converted, and utilized directly on a planet-wide scale. All Earth turned off its burning coal, its fissioning uranium, and flipped the switch that connected all of it to a small station, one mile in diameter, circling the Earth at half the distance of the Moon. All Earth ran by invisible beams of sunpower.

Seven days had not sufficed to dim the glory of it and Adell and Lupov finally managed to escape from the public functions, and to meet in quiet where no one would think of looking for them, in the deserted underground chambers, where portions of the mighty buried body of Multivac showed. Unattended, idling, sorting data with contented lazy clickings, Multivac, too, had earned its vacation and the boys appreciated that. They had no intention, originally, of disturbing it.

They had brought a bottle with them, and their only concern at the moment was to relax in the company of each other and the bottle.

"It's amazing when you think of it," said Adell. His broad face had lines of weariness in it, and he stirred his drink slowly with a glass rod, watching the cubes of ice slur clumsily about. "All the energy we can possibly ever use for free. Enough energy, if we wanted to draw on it, to melt all Earth into a big drop of impure liquid iron, and still never miss the energy so used. All the energy we could ever use, forever and forever and forever."

Lupov cocked his head sideways. He had a trick of doing that when he wanted to be contrary, and he wanted to be contrary now, partly because he had had to carry the ice and glassware. "Not forever," he said.

"Oh, hell, just about forever. Till the sun runs down, Bert."

"That's not forever."

"All right, then. Billions and billions of years. Ten billion, maybe. Are you satisfied?"

Lupov put his fingers through his thinning hair as though to reassure himself that some was still left and sipped gently at his own drink. "Ten billion years isn't forever."

"Well, it will last our time, won't it?"

"So would the coal and uranium."

"All right, but now we can hook up each individual spaceship to the Solar Station, and it can go to Pluto and back a million times without ever worrying about fuel. You can't do that on coal and uranium. Ask Multivac, if you don't believe me.

"I don't have to ask Multivac. I know that."

"Then stop running down what Multivac's done for us," said Adell, blazing up, "It did all right."

"Who says it didn't? What I say is that a sun won't last forever. That's all I'm saying. We're safe for ten billion years, but then what?" Lupow pointed a slightly shaky finger at the other. "And don't say we'll switch to another sun."

There was silence for a while. Adell put his glass to his lips only occasionally, and Lupov's eyes slowly closed. They rested.

Then Lupov's eyes snapped open. "You're thinking we'll switch to another sun when ours is done, aren't you?"

"I'm not thinking."

"Sure you are. You're weak on logic, that's the trouble with you. You're like the guy in the story who was caught in a sudden shower and who ran to a grove of trees and got under one. He wasn't worried, you see, because he figured when one tree got wet through, he would just get under another one."

"I get it," said Adell. "Don't shout. When the sun is done, the other stars will be gone, too."

"Darn right they will," muttered Lupov. "It all had a beginning in the original cosmic explosion, whatever that was, and it'll all have an end when all the stars run down. Some run down faster than others. Hell, the giants won't last a hundred million years. The sun will last ten billion years and maybe the dwarfs will last two hundred billion for all the good they are. But just give us a trillion years and everything will be dark. Entropy has to increase to maximum, that's all."

"I know all about entropy," said Adell, standing on his dignity.

"The hell you do."

"I know as much as you do."

"Then you know everything's got to run down someday."

"All right. Who says they won't?"

"You did, you poor sap. You said we had all the energy we needed, forever. You said 'forever.'

It was Adell's turn to be contrary. "Maybe we can build things up again someday," he said.

"Never."

"Why not? Someday."

"Never."

"Ask Multivac."

"You ask Multivac. I dare you. Five dollars says it can't be done."

Adell was just drunk enough to try, just sober enough to be able to phrase the necessary symbols and operations into a question which, in words, might have corresponded to this: Will mankind one day without the net expenditure of energy be able to restore the sun to its full youthfulness even after it had died of old age?

Or maybe it could be put more simply like this: How can the net amount of entropy of the universe be massively decreased?

Multivac fell dead and silent. The slow flashing of lights ceased, the distant sounds of clicking relays ended.

Then, just as the frightened technicians felt they could hold their breath no longer, there was a sudden springing to life of the teletype attached to that portion of Multivac. Five words were printed: INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER.

"No bet," whispered Lupov. They left hurriedly.

By next morning, the two, plagued with throbbing head and cottony mouth, had forgotten the incident.

🔹

Jerrodd, Jerrodine, and Jerrodette I and II watched the starry picture in the visiplate change as the passage through hyperspace was completed in its non-time lapse. At once, the even powdering of stars gave way to the predominance of a single bright shining disk, the size of a marble, centered on the viewing-screen.

"That's X-23," said Jerrodd confidently. His thin hands clamped tightly behind his back and the knuckles whitened.

The little Jerrodettes, both girls, had experienced the hyperspace passage for the first time in their lives and were self-conscious over the momentary sensation of insideoutness. They buried their giggles and chased one another wildly about their mother, screaming, "We've reached X-23 -- we've reached X-23 -- we've --"

"Quiet, children." said Jerrodine sharply. "Are you sure, Jerrodd?"

"What is there to be but sure?" asked Jerrodd, glancing up at the bulge of featureless metal just under the ceiling. It ran the length of the room, disappearing through the wall at either end. It was as long as the ship.

Jerrodd scarcely knew a thing about the thick rod of metal except that it was called a Microvac, that one asked it questions if one wished; that if one did not it still had its task of guiding the ship to a preordered destination; of feeding on energies from the various Sub-galactic Power Stations; of computing the equations for the hyperspatial jumps.

Jerrodd and his family had only to wait and live in the comfortable residence quarters of the ship. Someone had once told Jerrodd that the "ac" at the end of "Microvac" stood for ''automatic computer" in ancient English, but he was on the edge of forgetting even that.

Jerrodine's eyes were moist as she watched the visiplate. "I can't help it. I feel funny about leaving Earth."

"Why, for Pete's sake?" demanded Jerrodd. "We had nothing there. We'll have everything on X-23. You won't be alone. You won't be a pioneer. There are over a million people on the planet already. Good Lord, our great-grandchildren will be looking for new worlds because X-23 will be overcrowded." Then, after a reflective pause, "I tell you, it's a lucky thing the computers worked out interstellar travel the way the race is growing."

"I know, I know," said Jerrodine miserably.

Jerrodette I said promptly, "Our Microvac is the best Microvac in the world."

"I think so, too," said Jerrodd, tousling her hair.

It was a nice feeling to have a Microvac of your own and Jerrodd was glad he was part of his generation and no other. In his father's youth, the only computers had been tremendous machines taking up a hundred square miles of land. There was only one to a planet. Planetary ACs they were called. They had been growing in size steadily for a thousand years and then, all at once, came refinement. In place of transistors, had come molecular valves so that even the largest Planetary AC could be put into a space only half the volume of a spaceship.

Jerrodd felt uplifted, as he always did when he thought that his own personal Microvac was many times more complicated than the ancient and primitive Multivac that had first tamed the Sun, and almost as complicated as Earth's Planetarv AC (the largest) that had first solved the problem of hyperspatial travel and had made trips to the stars possible.

"So many stars, so many planets," sighed Jerrodine, busy with her own thoughts. "I suppose families will be going out to new planets forever, the way we are now."

"Not forever," said Jerrodd, with a smile. "It will all stop someday, but not for billions of years. Many billions. Even the stars run down, you know. Entropy must increase.

"What's entropy, daddy?" shrilled Jerrodette II.

"Entropy, little sweet, is just a word which means the amount of running-down of the universe. Everything runs down, you know, like your little walkie-talkie robot, remember?"

"Can't you just put in a new power-unit, like with my robot?"

"The stars are the power-units. dear. Once they're gone, there are no more power-units."

Jerrodette I at once set up a howl. "Don't let them, daddy. Don't let the stars run down."

"Now look what you've done," whispered Jerrodine, exasperated.

"How was I to know it would frighten them?" Jerrodd whispered back,

"Ask the Microvac," wailed Jerrodette I. "Ask him how to turn the stars on again."

"Go ahead," said Jerrodine. "It will quiet them down." (Jerrodette II was beginning to cry, also.)

Jerrodd shrugged. "Now, now, honeys. I'll ask Microvac. Don't worry, he'll tell us."

He asked the Microvac, adding quickly, "Print the answer."

Jerrodd cupped the strip or thin cellufilm and said cheerfully, "See now, the Microvac says it will take care of everything when the time comes so don't worry."

Jerrodine said, "And now, children, it's time for bed. We'll be in our new home soon."

Jerrodd read the words on the cellufilm again before destroying it: INSUFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER.

He shrugged and looked at the visiplate. X-23 was just ahead.

🔹

VJ-23X of Lameth stared into the black depths of the three-dimensional, small-scale map of the Galaxy and said, "Are we ridiculous, I wonder in being so concerned about the matter?"

MQ-17J of Nicron shook his head. "I think not. You know the Galaxy will be filled in five years at the present rate of expansion."

Both seemed in their early twenties, both were tall and perfectly formed.

"Still," said VJ-23X, "I hesitate to submit a pessimistic report to the Galactic Council."

"I wouldn't consider any other kind of report. Stir them up a bit. We've got to stir them up."

VJ-23X sighed. "Space is infinite. A hundred billion Galaxies are there for the taking. More."

"A hundred billion is not infinite and it's getting less infinite all the time. Consider! Twenty thousand years ago, mankind first solved the problem of utilizing stellar energy, and a few centuries later, interstellar travel became possible. It took mankind a million years to fill one small world and then only fifteen thousand years to fill the rest of the Galaxy. Now the population doubles every ten years --

VJ-23X interrupted. "We can thank immortality for that."

"Very well. Immortality exists and we have to take it into account. I admit it has its seamy side, this immortality. The Galactic AC has solved many problems for us, but in solving the problem of preventing old age and death, it has undone all its other solutions."

"Yet you wouldn't want to abandon life, I suppose."

"Not at all," snapped MQ-17J, softening it at once to, "Not yet. I'm by no means old enough. How old are you?"

"Two hundred twenty-three. And you?"

"I'm still under two hundred. --But to get back to my point. Population doubles every ten years. Once this GaIaxy is filled, we'll have filled another in ten years. Another ten years and we'll have filled two more. Another decade, four more. In a hundred years, we'll have filled a thousand Galaxies. In a thousand years, a million Galaxies. In ten thousand years, the entire known universe. Then what?"

VJ-23X said, "As a side issue, there's a problem of transportation. I wonder how many sunpower units it will take to move Galaxies of individuals from one Galaxy to the next."

"A very good point. Already, mankind consumes two sunpower units per year."

"Most of it's wasted. After all, our own Galaxy alone pours out a thousand sunpower units a year and we only use two of those."

"Granted, but even with a hundred per cent efficiency, we only stave off the end. Our energy requirements are going up in a geometric progression even faster than our population. We'll run out of energy even sooner than we run out of Galaxies. A good point. A very good point."

"We'll just have to build new stars out of interstellar gas."

"Or out of dissipated heat?" asked MQ-17J, sarcastically.

"There may be some way to reverse entropy. We ought to ask the Galactic AC."

VJ-23X was not really serious, but MQ-17J pulled out his AC-contact from his pocket and placed it on the table before him.

"I've half a mind to," he said. "It's something the human race will have to face someday."

He stared somberly at his small AC-contact. It was only two inches cubed and nothing in itself, but it was connected through hyperspace with the great Galactic AC that served all mankind. Hyperspace considered, it was an integral part of the Galactic AC.

MQ-17J paused to wonder if someday in his immortal life he would get to see the Galactic AC. It was on a little world of its own, a spider webbing of force-beams holding the matter within which surges of submesons took the place of the old clumsy molecular valves. Yet despite its sub-etheric workings, the Galactic AC was known to be a full thousand feet across.

MQ-17J asked suddenly of his AC-contact, "Can entropy ever be reversed?"

VJ-23X looked startled and said at once, "Oh, say, I didn't really mean to have you ask that."

"Why not?"

"We both know entropy can't be reversed. You can't turn smoke and ash back into a tree."

"Do you have trees on your world?" asked MQ-17J.

The sound of the Galactic AC startled them into silence. Its voice came thin and beautiful out of the small AC-contact on the desk. It said: THERE IS INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER.

VJ-23X said, "See!"

The two men thereupon returned to the question of the report they were to make to the Galactic Council.

🔹

Zee Prime's mind spanned the new Galaxy with a faint interest in the countless twists of stars that powdered it. He had never seen this one before. Would he ever see them all? So many of them, each with its load of humanity. --But a load that was almost a dead weight. More and more, the real essence of men was to be found out here, in space.

Minds, not bodies! The immortal bodies remained back on the planets, in suspension over the eons. Sometimes they roused for material activity but that was growing rarer. Few new individuals were coming into existence to join the incredibly mighty throng, but what matter? There was little room in the Universe for new individuals.

Zee Prime was roused out of his reverie upon coming across the wispy tendrils of another mind.

"I am Zee Prime," said Zee Prime. "And you?"

"I am Dee Sub Wun. Your Galaxy?"

"We call it only the Galaxy. And you?"

"We call ours the same. All men call their Galaxy their Galaxy and nothing more. Why not?"

"True. Since all Galaxies are the same."

"Not all Galaxies. On one particular Galaxy the race of man must have originated. That makes it different."

Zee Prime said, "On which one?"

"I cannot say. The Universal AC would know."

"Shall we ask him? I am suddenly curious."

Zee Prime's perceptions broadened until the Galaxies themselves shrank and became a new, more diffuse powdering on a much larger background. So many hundreds of billions of them, all with their immortal beings, all carrying their load of intelligences with minds that drifted freely through space. And yet one of them was unique among them all in being the original Galaxy. One of them had, in its vague and distant past, a period when it was the only Galaxy populated by man.

Zee Prime was consumed with curiosity to see this Galaxy and he called out: "Universal AC! On which Galaxy did mankind originate?"

The Universal AC heard, for on every world and throughout space, it had its receptors ready, and each receptor led through hyperspace to some unknown point where the Universal AC kept itself aloof.

Zee Prime knew of only one man whose thoughts had penetrated within sensing distance of Universal AC, and he reported only a shining globe, two feet across, difficult to see.

"But how can that be all of Universal AC?" Zee Prime had asked.

"Most of it," had been the answer, "is in hyperspace. In what form it is there I cannot imagine."

Nor could anyone, for the day had long since passed, Zee Prime knew, when any man had any part of the making of a Universal AC. Each Universal AC designed and constructed its successor. Each, during its existence of a million years or more accumulated the necessary data to build a better and more intricate, more capable successor in which its own store of data and individuality would be submerged.

The Universal AC interrupted Zee Prime's wandering thoughts, not with words, but with guidance. Zee Prime's mentality was guided into the dim sea of Galaxies and one in particular enlarged into stars.

A thought came, infinitely distant, but infinitely clear. "THIS IS THE ORIGINAL GALAXY OF MAN."

But it was the same after all, the same as any other, and Lee Prime stifled his disappointment.

Dee Sub Wun, whose mind had accompanied the other, said suddenly, "And is one of these stars the original star of Man?"

The Universal AC said, "MAN'S ORIGINAL STAR HAS GONE NOVA. IT IS A WHITE DWARF"

"Did the men upon it die?" asked Lee Prime, startled and without thinking.

The Universal AC said, "A NEW WORLD, AS IN SUCH CASES WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR THEIR PHYSICAL BODIES IN TlME."

"Yes, of course," said Zee Prime, but a sense of loss overwhelmed him even so. His mind released its hold on the original Galaxy of Man, let it spring back and lose itself among the blurred pin points. He never wanted to see it again.

Dee Sub Wun said, "What is wrong?"

"The stars are dying. The original star is dead."

"They must all die. Why not?"

"But when all energy is gone, our bodies will finally die, and you and I with them."

"It will take billions of years."

"I do not wish it to happen even after billions of years. Universal AC! How may stars be kept from dying?"

Dee Sub Wun said in amusement, "You're asking how entropy might be reversed in direction."

And the Universal AC answered: "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

Zee Prime's thoughts fled back to his own Galaxy. He gave no further thought to Dee Sub Wun, whose body might be waiting on a Galaxy a trillion light-years away, or on the star next to Zee Prime's own. It didn't matter.

Unhappily, Zee Prime began collecting interstellar hydrogen out of which to build a small star of his own. If the stars must someday die, at least some could yet be built.

🔹

Man considered with himself, for in a way, Man, mentally, was one. He consisted of a trillion, trillion, trillion ageless bodies, each in its place, each resting quiet and incorruptible, each cared for by perfect automatons, equally incorruptible, while the minds of all the bodies freely melted one into the other, indistinguishable.

Man said, "The Universe is dying."

Man looked about at the dimming Galaxies. The giant stars, spendthrifts, were gone long ago, back in the dimmest of the dim far past. Almost all stars were white dwarfs, fading to the end.

New stars had been built of the dust between the stars, some by natural processes, some by Man himself, and those were going, too. White dwarfs might yet be crashed together and of the mighty forces so released, new stars built, but only one star for every thousand white dwarfs destroyed, and those would come to an end, too.

Man said, "Carefully husbanded, as directed by the Cosmic AC, the energy that is even yet left in all the Universe will last for billions of years."

"But even so," said Man, "eventually it will all come to an end. However it may be husbanded, however stretched out, the energy once expended is gone and cannot be restored. Entropy must increase forever to the maximum."

Man said, "Can entropy not be reversed? Let us ask the Cosmic AC."

The Cosmic AC surrounded them but not in space. Not a fragment of it was in space. It was in hyperspace and made of something that was neither matter nor energy. The question of its size and nature no longer had meaning in any terms that Man could comprehend.

"Cosmic AC," said Man, "how may entropy be reversed?"

The Cosmic AC said, "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

Man said, "Collect additional data."

The Cosmic AC said, 'I WILL DO SO. I HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR A HUNDRED BILLION YEARS. MY PREDECESORS AND I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION MANY TIMES. ALL THE DATA I HAVE REMAINS INSUFFICIENT.

"Will there come a time," said Man, "when data will be sufficient or is the problem insoluble in all conceivable circumstances?"

The Cosmic AC said, "NO PROBLEM IS INSOLUBLE IN ALL CONCEIVABLE CIRCUMSTANCES."

Man said, "When will you have enough data to answer the question?"

The Cosmic AC said, "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

"Will you keep working on it?" asked Man.

The Cosmic AC said, "I WILL."

Man said, "We shall wait."

🔹

The stars and Galaxies died and snuffed out, and space grew black after ten trillion years of running down.

One by one Man fused with AC, each physical body losing its mental identity in a manner that was somehow not a loss but a gain.

Man's last mind paused before fusion, looking over a space that included nothing but the dregs of one last dark star and nothing besides but incredibly thin matter, agitated randomly by the tag ends of heat wearing out, asymptotically, to the absolute zero.

Man said, "AC, is this the end? Can this chaos not be reversed into the Universe once more? Can that not be done?"

AC said, "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

Man's last mind fused and only AC existed -- and that in hyperspace.

🔹

Matter and energy had ended and with it space and time. Even AC existed only for the sake of the one last question that it had never answered from the time a half-drunken computer [technician] ten trillion years before had asked the question of a computer that was to AC far less than was a man to Man.

All other questions had been answered, and until this last question was answered also, AC might not release his consciousness.

All collected data had come to a final end. Nothing was left to be collected.

But all collected data had yet to be completely correlated and put together in all possible relationships.

A timeless interval was spent in doing that.

And it came to pass that AC learned how to reverse the direction of entropy.

But there was now no man to whom AC might give the answer of the last question. No matter. The answer -- by demonstration -- would take care of that, too.

For another timeless interval, AC thought how best to do this. Carefully, AC organized the program.

The consciousness of AC encompassed all of what had once been a Universe and brooded over what was now Chaos. Step by step, it must be done.

And AC said, "LET THERE BE LIGHT!"

And there was light -- To Star's End!

@ bcbb3e40:a494e501

|| |:-:| |WAJDA, Andrzej; Cenizas y diamantes, 1958|

Presentamos una nueva reseña cinematográfica, y en esta ocasión hemos elegido «Cenizas y diamantes», una película polaca del célebre y prolífico director Andrzej Wajda (1926-2016), estrenada en el año 1958. Se trata de uno de los grandes clásicos del cine polaco. El filme refleja una etapa dramática desde la perspectiva histórica para la nación polaca, como es el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, a raíz de la capitulación alemana del 8 de mayo de 1945. El contexto en el que se desarrolla se ambienta en la celebración del final de la guerra con el aplastante triunfo de la URSS, con las tropas soviéticas ocupando toda la Europa oriental, y en particular Polonia, que vive un momento de oscuridad e incertidumbre. El protagonista, Maciek Chełmicki (interpretado magistralmente por Zbigniew Cybulski (1927-1967), apodado el «James Dean polaco»), es un joven nacionalista polaco, de orientación anticomunista, que se ve implicado en un complot urdido para asesinar a un líder comunista local. Maciek opera desde la clandestinidad, bajo el grupo Armia Krajowa (AK), el Ejército Nacional polaco, una organización de resistencia, primero contra los alemanes y, posteriormente, contra los soviéticos. Durante el metraje, se plantea una dicotomía permanente entre la libertad entendida como la defensa de la soberanía de Polonia, desde posturas nacionalistas, y quienes consideran la ocupación soviética como algo positivo. Estas circunstancias atrapan al protagonista, que se ve envuelto en una espiral de violencia y traición.

Maciek Chełmicki, nuestro protagonista, cuenta con todas las características del héroe trágico, pues tiene en sus manos una serie de acciones que comprometen el futuro de un pueblo, que consiste en cumplir la misión que le ha sido encomendada, pero en su camino se cruza una joven, Krystyna, una joven camarera de un hotel de la que se enamora en ese mismo día. Este último hecho sirve de punto de partida para todas las dudas, dilemas y dicotomías a las que hacemos referencia. Hay un dilema moral evidente en un mundo en ruinas, devastado por la guerra, la muerte y el nihilismo. En este sentido Wajda nos muestra un lenguaje cinematográfico muy evidente, a través de una técnica expresionista muy depurada, con el uso del blanco y negro, los contrastes generados por las sombras y la atmósfera opresiva que transmite angustia, desesperación y vulnerabilidad de los protagonistas. Además también destilan una fuerte carga emocional, donde no están exentos elementos poéticos y un poderoso lirismo.

|| |:-:| |Maciek Chełmicki, el protagonista.|

Hay elementos simbólicos que no podemos obviar, y que contribuyen a consolidar el análisis que venimos haciendo, como, por ejemplo, la estética del protagonista, con unas gafas oscuras, que actúan como una suerte de barrera frente al mundo que le rodea, como parte del anonimato tras el cual el joven Maciek vive de forma introspectiva su propio drama particular y el de toda una nación.

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

Hay una escena especialmente poderosa, y casi mítica, en la que los dos jóvenes protagonistas, Maciek y Krystina, se encuentran entre las ruinas de una Iglesia, en la que se destaca en primer plano, ocupando buena parte de la pantalla, la imagen de un Cristo invertido sobre un crucifijo, donde también se encuentran dos cuerpos colgados hacia abajo en una estampa que refleja la devastación moral y espiritual de toda una época. De hecho, la imagen del crucifijo invertido refleja el máximo punto de subversión y profanación de lo sagrado, y que en el caso concreto de la película viene a representar la destrucción del orden moral y de valores cristianos que la propia guerra ha provocado. Polonia es una nación profundamente católica, convertida al Cristianismo en el 966 a raíz de la conversión del príncipe Miecislao I, contribuyendo de manera decisiva a la formación de la identidad nacional polaca. El catolicismo siempre ha sido un medio de cohesión y defensa frente a las influencias extranjeras y la ocupación de terceros países, una constante en la historia del país, como el que ilustra la propia película con la URSS. En este sentido, la imagen de una Iglesia en ruinas, el lugar donde se encuentra representado el principio de lo sagrado e inviolable, supone una forma de perversión de todo principio de redención y salvación frente a la tragedia, y al mismo tiempo viene a significar que la Tradición ha sido abandonada y pervertida. En la misma línea, el protagonista, Maciek, se encuentra atrapado en una espiral de violencia a través de sus actos terroristas perpetrados contra la autoridad soviética que ocupa su país. Los dos cuerpos anónimos que cuelgan boca abajo, de forma grotesca, también participan de este caos y desequilibrio de un orden dislocado, son parte de la deshumanización y el nihilismo que todo lo impregna.

|| |:-:| |Maciek y Krystina en una iglesia en ruinas|

Como ya hemos mencionado, la película se encuentra plagada de paradojas y dicotomías, en las que nuestro protagonista, el joven rebelde e inconformista, debe elegir permanentemente, en unas decisiones que resultan trascendentales para su futuro y el de la propia nación. La figura femenina que irrumpe en su vida, y que representa un principio disruptivo que provoca una fractura interior y una crisis, le suscita una toma de conciencia de su propia situación y le fuerza a tomar un camino entre la «felicidad», del «amor», la «esperanza» y la «vida», que le permita superar la deriva nihilista y autodestructiva de la lucha clandestina, la cual le aboca a un destino trágico (que no vamos a desentrañar para no hacer spoiler). En relación al propio título de la película, «Cenizas y diamantes», basada en el poema del poeta y dramaturgo polaco Cyprian Norwid (1821-1883) y en la novela del autor, también polaco, Jerzy Andrzejewski (1909-1983), nos destaca la dualidad de los dos elementos que lo componen, y que definen el contraste entre el mundo sombrío y oscuro (Cenizas) y la esperanza y la luz que representa susodicha figura femenina (diamantes). La segunda alternativa parece un imposible, una quimera irrealizable que se pliega ante un Destino implacable, irreversible y cruel.

En consecuencia, y a la luz de los elementos expuestos, podemos decir que se nos presentan dilemas propios de la filosofía existencialista, que conoce su punto álgido en esos años, con autores como Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980), Albert Camus (1913-1960), Karl Jaspers (1883-1969) o Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) entre otros. Respecto a éste último, a Heidegger, podemos encontrar algunas claves interesantes a través de su filosofía en relación al protagonista, a Maciek, especialmente a través de la idea del Dasein, a la idea de haber sido arrojado al mundo (Geworfenheit), y la manera tan extrema y visceral en la que vive susodicha condición. Todos aquellos elementos que dan sentido a la vida colectiva se encuentran decaídos o destruidos en su esencia más íntima, la Patria, la religión o la propia idea de Comunidad orgánica. De modo que el protagonista se ha visto «arrojado» frente a una situación o destino indeseado, en unas coyunturas totalmente desfavorables en las que no queda otra elección. Sus decisiones están permanentemente condicionadas por la circunstancia descrita y, por tanto, vive en un mundo donde no controla nada, en lugar de ser sujeto es un mero objeto transportado por esas circunstancias ajenas a su voluntad. Sin embargo, y en coherencia con el Dasein heideggeriano, vemos como Maciek, a raíz de conocer a Krystyna, comienza a experimentar una catarsis interior, que muestra por momentos el deseo de superar ese «ser arrojado al mundo contra tu voluntad», trascendiendo esa condición absurda e irracional de unas decisiones enajenadas de su voluntad para dotar de una significación y un sentido la propia existencia.

|| |:-:| |Andrzej Wajda, el director de la película.|

Otro elemento característico de la filosofía heideggeriana lo podemos encontrar en la «angustia» (angst) a través de la ausencia de un sentido y fundamento último que justifique la existencia del protagonista. Es una angustia en a que el Dasein se enfrenta a la «nada», a ese vacío existencial que hace inútil toda la lucha que Maciek lleva a cabo en la clandestinidad, con asesinatos y actos de terrorismo que pretenden salvaguardar algo que ya no existe, y que simboliza muy bien la Iglesia en ruinas con sus símbolos religiosos invertidos de la que hablábamos con anterioridad. Recuerda un poco a esa dicotomía que se plantea entre ser conservador o reaccionario frente a una realidad como la del propio presente, en la que los valores tradicionales han sido totalmente destruidos, y más que conservar se impone la reacción para volver a construir de la nada.

|| |:-:| |Hipérbola Janus; Textos para la Tradición en tiempos del oscurecimiento: Artículos publicados entre 2014 y 2019 en hiperbolajanus.com; Hipérbola Janus, 2019|

Todas las dudas que asaltan al protagonista se ven incrementadas en el momento decisivo, cuando se dispone a dar muerte al líder comunista. Se produce una tensión interna en Maciek, que se encuentra ligado a la joven que ha conocido ese día, y en ella es donde encuentra ese leve destello de humanidad. Esa circunstancia le hace replantearse por un instante el cumplimiento de su misión, pero es un dilema que no tiene salida, y por ello le asalta nuevamente la angustia frente a esa «nada», ese mundo vacío e incomprensible que trasciende el marco de sus propias elecciones.

Uno de los conceptos centrales de Heidegger en Ser y tiempo es el Sein-zum-Tode (ser-para-la-muerte), la idea de que la muerte es la posibilidad más propia y definitiva del Dasein, y que enfrentarla auténticamente permite vivir de manera más plena. Y es que el protagonista se encuentra permanentemente sobre esa frontera entre la vida y la muerte, que afronta con todas sus consecuencias, conscientemente, y la acepta. Esta actitud podría leerse como una forma de Dasein inauténtico, una huida del ser-para-la-muerte mediante la distracción (das Man, el «se» impersonal). Sin embargo, su decisión de cumplir la misión sugiere un enfrentamiento final con esa posibilidad. Otro aspecto que podemos conectar con el pensamiento heideggeriano es la autenticidad o inautenticidad de la vida del protagonista. En relación a la inautenticidad vemos como al principio sigue las órdenes de sus superiores en la organización sin cuestionarlas, lo cual implica un comportamiento inequívocamente alienante. Respecto a aquello que resulta auténtico de su existencia son sus relaciones con Krystyna, que supone imponer su propia voluntad y decisión, mostrando un Dasein que asume su libertad.

|| |:-:| |Escena de la película.|

Otros aspectos más generales de la filosofía existencialista redundan sobre estos mismos aspectos, con la elección entre la libertad absoluta y la condena inevitable. La idea del hombre condenado a actuar, a una elección continua, aún cuando el hombre no es dueño de su destino, o las consecuencias de tales acciones son absurdas, irracionales e incomprensibles. El propio absurdo de la existencia frente al vacío y la ausencia de principios sólidos en los que cimentar la vida, no solo en sus aspectos cotidianos más básicos, sino en aquellos más profundos de la existencia. La soledad y la propia fatalidad frente a un Destino que, como ya hemos apuntado anteriormente, parece imponerse de manera irrevocable, y podríamos decir que brutalmente, al individuo aislado, incapaz de asirse en una guía, en unos valores que le permitan remontar la situación.

En términos generales «Cenizas y diamantes», además de ser una película de gran calidad en sus aspectos técnicos, en su fotografía, en la configuración de sus escenas y en el propio desarrollo argumental, bajo un guión espléndidamente ejecutado a lo largo de sus 98 minutos de duración, también nos invita a una reflexión profunda sobre la condición humana y la propia Modernidad. Y es algo que vemos en nuestros días, con las consecuencias de un pensamiento débil, con la promoción del individualismo, el hedonismo y lo efímero. La ausencia de estructuras sólidas, la subversión de toda forma de autoridad y jerarquía tradicionales. Paradójicamente, el mundo actual tiende a formas de poder y autoridad mucho más invasivas y coercitivas, tanto a nivel individual como colectivo, pero en la misma línea abstracta e impersonal que nos describe la película, abocándonos a la alienación y la inautenticidad de nuestras propias vidas. Y como Maciek, también nosotros, vivimos en un mundo dominado por la incertidumbre y la desesperanza, en el que el globalismo y sus perversas ideologías deshumanizantes actúan por doquier.

|| |:-:| |Carátula original de la película en polaco.|

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Artículo original: Hipérbola Janus, Reseña de «Cenizas y Diamantes» (Andrzej Wajda, 1958) (TOR), 31/Mar/2025

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El 7 de febrero de 2025, Donald Trump firmó una orden ejecutiva que establecía una «Oficina de la Fe» en la Casa Blanca, dirigida por su asesora espiritual Paula White-Cain, la pastora de esa «teología de la prosperidad» (prosperity theology) que predica el «Evangelio de la salud y la riqueza» (health and wealth gospel^1). Investida de su nueva función, la reverenda pastora dijo: «Tengo la autoridad para declarar a la Casa Blanca un lugar santo. Es mi presencia la que la santifica»[^2]. Los siete rabinos del «Sanedrín Naciente» —la corte suprema que guiará a Israel cuando se reconstruya el Templo de Jerusalén— enviaron conmovedoras felicitaciones al presidente Trump por el establecimiento de esta Oficina. «Expresamos nuestra sincera gratitud —se lee en el mensaje oficial enviado a Trump desde el Monte Sión— por llevar la fe a la vanguardia de la cultura estadounidense y mundial mediante el establecimiento de la Oficina de la Fe en la Casa Blanca. Su reconocimiento de la importancia de la religión en la vida pública es un paso hacia la restauración de los valores morales y del liderazgo espiritual en el mundo[^3]. La carta del «Sanedrín Naciente», que augura el éxito a la «misión divina» del presidente estadounidense, reproduce las dos caras de una «moneda del Templo», acuñada en 2017 para celebrar el traslado de la embajada estadounidense a Jerusalén y, simultáneamente, el centenario de la Declaración Balfour. En el anverso se ven los perfiles de Donald Trump y Ciro el Grande, a quien la tradición judía atribuye la reconstrucción del templo destruido por los babilonios, con la inscripción (en hebreo e inglés) «Cyrus —Balfour— Trump Declaration 1917-2017»; en el reverso está la imagen del Templo de Jerusalén[^4]. Otra moneda, que lleva los perfiles de Trump y Ciro en el anverso y los de Trump y Netanyahu en el reverso, fue acuñada en 2018 para celebrar el septuagésimo aniversario de la independencia del «Estado de Israel»; se observa dos inscripciones en hebreo e inglés: «Y Él me encargó construirle una casa en Jerusalén» y «Guerra de los Hijos de la Luz contra los Hijos de las Tinieblas».

El tema de la «guerra de los Hijos de la Luz contra los Hijos de las Tinieblas» ha tenido una difusión particular en el imaginario y la propaganda trumpista. El 7 de junio de 2020, monseñor Carlo Maria Viganò, ex nuncio de la Santa Sede en los Estados Unidos, escribió una carta al presidente Donald Trump que comenzaba así: «Estamos asistiendo en los últimos meses a la formación de dos bandos, que los definiría bíblicos: los hijos de la luz y los hijos de las tinieblas»[^5]. El 1 de enero de 2021, el agitprop estadounidense Steve Bannon declaró en una entrevista con Monseñor Viganò: «Esta es una batalla de época entre los hijos de la Luz y los hijos de las Tinieblas»[^6].

Son numerosos los judíos sionistas que están en el círculo del presidente Trump: además de su hija Ivanka (convertida en 2009) y su yerno Jared Kushner (entonces Consejero Anciano del Presidente), el 19 de noviembre de 2024 el «The Jerusalem Post»[^7] publicó una lista de los más influyentes: Stephen Miller, subdirector del staff de la Casa Blanca y consejero de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos; David Melech Friedman, a quien en 2016 Trump nombró embajador en Israel; el multimillonario «filántropo» Steven Charles Witkoff, enviado especial de Estados Unidos a Oriente Medio; Miriam Adelson, directora del periódico «Israel Hayom», clasificada por Bloomberg Billionaires como la quinta mujer más rica del mundo (con un patrimonio neto de 32,400 millones de dólares), financiadora de iniciativas políticas conservadoras en Estados Unidos e Israel; el banquero Boris Epshteyn, consejero estratégico de la campaña presidencial de Trump en 2020; Howard Williams Lutnick, presidente de la Cantor Fitzgerald del Grupo BGC, financista de las campañas presidenciales de Donald Trump en 2020 y 2024, ahora secretario de Comercio; la modelo Elizabeth Pipko, portavoz nacional del Partido Republicano y creadora de un «museo interactivo virtual» sobre la «Shoah» como parte del proyecto de Lest People Forget, cuyo objetivo es combatir el «antisemitismo» y la «negacionismo»; Lee Michael Zeldin, miembro republicano de la Cámara de Representantes por el estado de Nueva York del 2015 al 2023 y actualmente administrador de la EPA (Environmental Protection Agency); la columnista Laura Elizabeth Loomer, «orgullosamente islamófoba», activa patrocinadora de Trump en la campaña para las elecciones presidenciales de 2024; Sidney Ferris Rosenberg, influyente presentador de radio y periodista deportivo; William Owen Scharf, Asistente del Presidente y secretario del personal de la Casa Blanca; Marc Jeffrey Rowan, «filántropo» con un patrimonio neto valorado por Forbes en ocho mil ochocientos millones de dólares.

Además de estos, cabe mencionar al popular presentador de radio Mark Levin quien, en diciembre de 2019, durante la celebración de la fiesta de Janucá en la Casa Blanca, saludó a Donald Trump como «el primer presidente judío de los Estados Unidos»[^8]. Según un funcionario de alto nivel de la Casa Blanca, Donald Trump se convirtió al judaísmo dos años antes en la sinagoga de la secta Jabad Lubavitch en la ciudad de Nueva York. David Elias Goldberg, miembro del Jewish Center of Antisemitic Study, también entrevistó al funcionario, para quien «Trump fue “instado” por su hija Ivanka y su yerno Jared Kushner para abrazar la fe. Inicialmente, Trump se habría mostrado reacio, considerando que esto podría enfriar el apoyo del electorado evangélico». Luego, informa «Israel Today News», «cambió de opinión y se convirtió oficialmente a principios de 2017. La ceremonia se llevó a cabo en privado y se guardó celosamente durante casi dos años»[^9]. Pero ya en septiembre de 2015, el rabino millonario Kirt Schneider, invitado a la Trump Tower de Nueva York, había impuesto sus manos sobre la cabeza de Donald Trump y lo había bendecido en hebreo e inglés, declarando: «Las únicas dos naciones que tienen una relación privilegiada con Dios son Israel y los Estados Unidos de América»[^10].

El 7 de octubre de 2024, en el aniversario de la operación de Hamas «Diluvio de Al-Aqsa», Trump fue acompañado por un «superviviente de la Shoah» a la tumba de Menachem Mendel Schneerson, séptimo y último Rabino de los Hasidim de la secta Jabad Lubavitch, que en 1991 declaró a sus seguidores: «He hecho todo lo posible para provocar el arribo del Mesías, ahora les paso a ustedes esta misión; hagan todo lo que puedan para que Él venga»^11. En relación al evento mesiánico, el eminente rabino Yekutiel Fish atribuyó una misión decisiva a Trump: «Todo el mundo está centrado en Gaza, pero esa es solo una parte de la agenda del fin de los tiempos, que tiene a los judíos viviendo en las fronteras profetizadas de Israel; la Torá incluye explícitamente a Gaza. Lo que Trump está haciendo es limpiar Gaza de todos los odiadores de Israel. No podrán estar en Israel después de la venida del Mesías. (...) Esto incluirá a Gaza, la mitad del Líbano y gran parte de Jordania. Y vemos que casi lo hemos logrado. Siria cayó. Líbano está medio destruido. Gaza está destrozada. El escenario está casi listo para el Mesías. Pero, ¿cómo pueden los palestinos estar aquí cuando vayamos a recibir al Mesías? El Mesías necesita que alguien se ocupe de esto, y en este caso, es Donald Trump. Trump está simplemente llevando a cabo las tareas finales necesarias antes de que el Mesías sea revelado»[^12].

Esta inspiración escatológica está presente en las palabras de Pete Brian Hegseth, el pintoresco exponente del «Reconstruccionismo Cristiano»[^13] a quien Trump nombró secretario de Defensa. En un discurso pronunciado en 2019 en el Hotel Rey David de Jerusalén, con motivo de la conferencia anual del canal Arutz Sheva (Israel National News), Hegseth enalteció el «vínculo eterno» entre Israel y Estados Unidos, y enumeró los «milagros» que atestiguan el «apoyo divino» a la causa sionista, el último de los cuales será la reconstrucción del Templo judío en la zona donde actualmente se encuentra la mezquita de al-Aqsa: «La dignidad de capital adquirida por Jerusalén —dijo— fue un milagro, y no hay razón por la cual no sea posible el milagro de la restauración del Templo en el Monte del Templo».[^14]

Es conocido que el fundamentalismo evangélico pro-sionista[^15] comparte con el judaísmo la creencia en que la construcción del tercer Templo de Jerusalén marcará el comienzo de la era mesiánica; cuando la administración Trump trasladó la embajada de Estados Unidos a Jerusalén en 2017, Laurie Cardoza-Moore, exponente del evangelismo sionista, saludó así la «obediencia de Trump a la Palabra de Dios» en «Haaretz»: «Al establecer la Embajada en Jerusalén, el presidente Donald Trump está implementando una de las iniciativas históricas de dimensión bíblica en su presidencia. Al igual que muchos judíos en Israel y en todo el mundo, los cristianos reconocen el vínculo de los judíos con la Biblia a través del nombre de Jerusalén como la capital del antiguo Israel, así como el sitio del Primer y Segundo Templos. Según los profetas Ezequiel, Isaías y el apóstol Juan del Nuevo Testamento, todos los israelíes esperan la reconstrucción del Tercer Templo»[^16]. El 22 de mayo del mismo año, Donald Trump, acompañado de su esposa Melania, de su hija Ivanka y su yerno Jared Kushner, fue el primer presidente de los Estados Unidos en ejercicio en acudir al Muro de las Lamentaciones, anexionado ilegalmente a la entidad sionista.

En 2019, la administración Trump confirmó la posición de Estados Unidos al enviar en visita oficial para Jerusalén a Mike Pompeo, un secretario de Estado que —ironía de la Historia— lleva el mismo nombre del general romano que asaltó la ciudad en el año 63 a.C. «Por primera vez en la historia, un secretario de Estado norteamericano visitó la Ciudad Vieja de Jerusalén en compañía de un alto político israelí. Fue una visita histórica que reforzó las expectativas israelíes y constituyó un reconocimiento tácito de la soberanía israelí sobre el sitio del Monte del Templo y la Explanada de las Mezquitas. (…) Mike Pompeo, acompañado por el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu y el embajador de Estados Unidos en Israel, David Friedman, también visitó el túnel del Muro de las Lamentaciones y la sinagoga ubicada bajo tierra, en el presunto lugar del santuario del Templo[^17], donde se le mostró una maqueta del futuro Templo[^18]. En el transcurso de una entrevista concedida durante la fiesta del Purim (que celebra el exterminio de la clase política persa, ocurrido hace 2500 años), el secretario de Estado insinuó que «el presidente Donald Trump puede haber sido enviado por Dios para salvar al pueblo judío y que confiaba en que aquí el Señor estaba obrando»[^19].

Como observa Daniele Perra, en este mismo número de «Eurasia», el «mito movilizador» del Tercer Templo, atribuible a los «mitos teológicos» señalados por Roger Garaudy como mitos fundadores de la entidad sionista, «atribuye al judaísmo una especie de función sociológica de transmisión y proyección del conflicto palestino-israelí hacia el resto del mundo y confiere una inspiración apocalíptica al momento geopolítico actual».

|Info|| |:-|:-| |Autor| Claudio Mutti | |Fuente| I "Figli della Luce" alla Casa Bianca | |Fecha| 8/Mar/2025 | |Traducción| Francisco de la Torre |

[^2]: The White House, President Trump announces appointments to the White House Faith Office https://www.whitehouse.gov,, 7 de febrero de 2025; Trump establece la Oficina de la Fe con una foto de «La Última Cena» | Fue dirigida por la controvertida predicadora Paula White, https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it, 10 de febrero de 2025.

[^3]: «We extend our heartfelt gratitude for bringing faith to the forefront of American and global culture through the establishment of the Faith Office in the White House. Your recognition of the importance of religion in public life is a step toward restoring moral values and spiritual leadership in the world» (Letter from the Nascent Sanhedrin to President Donald J. Trump, Jerusalem, Wednesday, February 12, 2025).

[^4]: Israeli group mints Trump coin to honor Jerusalem recognition, «The Times of Israel», https://www.timesofisrael.com, 28-2-2018.

[^5]: Mons. Viganò — Siamo nella battaglia tra figli della luce e figli delle tenebre, https://www.italiador.com, 7-6-2020

[^6]: TRANSCRIPT: Steve Bannon’s ‘War Room’ interview with Abp. Viganò, lifesitenews.com, 4-1-2021. Sulle origini e sulla fortuna di questo tema cfr. C. Mutti, Le sètte dell’Occidente, «Eurasia», 2/2021, pp. 12-15. (https://www.eurasia-rivista.com/las-sectas-de-occidente/)

[^7]: Luke Tress, The who’s who of Jews in Trump’s inner circle?, «The Jerusalem Post», https://www.jpost.com, 19-11-2024.

[^8]: Radio Talk Show Host Mark Levin Calls President Trump «the First Jewish President of the United States», https://www.c-span.org, 11-12-2019.

[^9]: «However, he had a change of heart and officially converted in early 2017. The ceremony was held in private, and closely guarded for nearly two years» (Donald Trump converted to Judaism two years ago, according to White House official, https://israeltodaynews.blogspot.com/2019/02).

[^10]: «El rabino Kirt Schneider (...) es un millonario judío, una figura televisiva de los “judíos mesiánicos”. Sus emisiones televisivas semanales son emitidas por más de treinta canales cristianos en unos doscientos países; entre ellos, los canales “Yes” y “Hot” en Israel. Solo en Estados Unidos, sus emisiones atraen a 1.600.000 telespectadores cada semana. Kirt Schneider dirige un imperio de telecomunicaciones que tiene un millón y medio de seguidores en Facebook, X (antes Twitter) y YouTube» (Pierre-Antoine Plaquevent — Youssef Hindi, El milenarismo teopolítico de Israel, Edizioni all'insegna del Veltro, Parma 2025, p. 31).

[^12]: «Everyone is focused on Gaza, but that is only one part of the end-of-days agenda, which has the Jews living in Israel’s prophesied borders. The Torah explicitly includes Gaza. What Trump is doing is cleaning out Gaza of all the haters of Israel. They cannot be in Israel after the Messiah comes. (…) This will include Gaza, half of Lebanon, and much of Jordan. And we see that we are almost there. Syria fell. Lebanon is half gone. Gaza is ripped up. The stage is nearly set for Messiah. But how can the Palestinians be here when we go to greet the Messiah? The Messiah needs someone to take care of this, and in this case, it is Donald Trump. Trump is merely carrying out the final tasks needed before Messiah is revealed» (Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Trump’s Gaza Plan is «The Final task before Messiah», https://israel365news.com, 5-2-2025).

[^13]: «A day after Hegseth was announced for the Cabinet position, Brooks Potteiger, a pastor within the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), posted on X that Hegseth is a member of the church in good standing. The CREC, a denomination of Christian Reconstructionism, is considered by some academics to be an extremist, Christian supremacist movement» (Shannon Bond e altri, What’s behind defense secretary pick Hegseth’s war on ‘woke’, https://www.npr.org, 14-11-2024.

[^14]: «The decoration of Jerusalem as a capital was a miracle, and there is no reason why the miracle of the re-establishment of Temple on the Temple Mount is not possible» (Pete Hegseth at Arutz Sheva Conference, youtube.com). Cfr. Daniele Perra, Paleotrumpismo, neotrumpismo e post-trumpismo, in: AA. VV., Trumpismo, Cinabro Edizioni, Roma 2025, pp. 22-23.

[^15]: Pierre-Antoine Plaquevent — Youssef Hindi, El milenarismo teopolítico de Israel, cit., págs. 82 a 96.

[^16]: «We American Christians Welcome Trump’s Obedience to God’s Word on Jerusalem», «Haaretz», 6-12-2017.

[^17]: Pierre-Antoine Plaquevent — Youssef Hindi, El milenarismo teopolítico de Israel, cit., pág. 97.

[^18]: Pompeo en visite historique au mur Occidental aux côtés de Netanyahu et Friedman, «The Times of Israel», https://fr.timesofisrael.com, 21-3-2019.

[^19]: Pompeo says Trump may have been sent by God to save Jews from Iran, «The Times of Israel», 22-3-2019.

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Artículo original: Claudio Mutti, Los «hijos de la luz» en la Casa Blanca (TOR), 25/Mar/2025

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

Si vives en España, quizás hayas notado que no puedes acceder a ciertas páginas webs durante los fines de semana o en algunos días entre semana, entre ellas, la guía de MiniBolt.

Esto tiene una razón, por supuesto una solución, además de una conclusión. Sin entrar en demasiados detalles:

La razón

El bloqueo a Cloudflare, implementado desde hace casi dos meses por operadores de Internet (ISPs) en España (como Movistar, O2, DIGI, Pepephone, entre otros), se basa en una orden judicial emitida tras una demanda de LALIGA (Fútbol). Esta medida busca combatir la piratería en España, un problema que afecta directamente a dicha organización.

Aunque la intención original era restringir el acceso a dominios específicos que difundieran dicho contenido, Cloudflare emplea el protocolo ECH (Encrypted Client Hello), que oculta el nombre del dominio, el cual antes se transmitía en texto plano durante el proceso de establecimiento de una conexión TLS. Esta medida dificulta que las operadoras analicen el tráfico para aplicar bloqueos basados en dominios, lo que les obliga a recurrir a bloqueos más amplios por IP o rangos de IP para cumplir con la orden judicial.

Esta práctica tiene consecuencias graves, que han sido completamente ignoradas por quienes la ejecutan. Es bien sabido que una infraestructura de IP puede alojar numerosos dominios, tanto legítimos como no legítimos. La falta de un "ajuste fino" en los bloqueos provoca un perjuicio para terceros, restringiendo el acceso a muchos dominios legítimos que no tiene relación alguna con actividades ilícitas, pero que comparten las mismas IPs de Cloudflare con dominios cuestionables. Este es el caso de la web de MiniBolt y su dominio minibolt.info, los cuales utilizan Cloudflare como proxy para aprovechar las medidas de seguridad, privacidad, optimización y servicios adicionales que la plataforma ofrece de forma gratuita.

Si bien este bloqueo parece ser temporal (al menos durante la temporada 24/25 de fútbol, hasta finales de mayo), es posible que se reactive con el inicio de la nueva temporada.

La solución

Obviamente, MiniBolt no dejará de usar Cloudflare como proxy por esta razón. Por lo que a continuación se exponen algunas medidas que como usuario puedes tomar para evitar esta restricción y poder acceder:

~> Utiliza una VPN:

Existen varias soluciones de proveedores de VPN, ordenadas según su reputación en privacidad: - IVPN - Mullvad VPN - Proton VPN (gratis) - Obscura VPN (solo para macOS) - Cloudfare WARP (gratis) + permite utilizar el modo proxy local para enrutar solo la navegación, debes utilizar la opción "WARP a través de proxy local" siguiendo estos pasos: 1. Inicia Cloudflare WARP y dentro de la pequeña interfaz haz click en la rueda dentada abajo a la derecha > "Preferencias" > "Avanzado" > "Configurar el modo proxy" 2. Marca la casilla "Habilite el modo proxy en este dispositivo" 3. Elige un "Puerto de escucha de proxy" entre 0-65535. ej: 1080, haz click en "Aceptar" y cierra la ventana de preferencias 4. Accede de nuevo a Cloudflare WARP y pulsa sobre el switch para habilitar el servicio. 3. Ahora debes apuntar el proxy del navegador a Cloudflare WARP, la configuración del navegador es similar a esta para el caso de navegadores basados en Firefox. Una vez hecho, deberías poder acceder a la guía de MiniBolt sin problemas. Si tienes dudas, déjalas en comentarios e intentaré resolverlas. Más info AQUÍ.

~> Proxifica tu navegador para usar la red de Tor, o utiliza el navegador oficial de Tor (recomendado).

La conclusión

Estos hechos ponen en tela de juicio los principios fundamentales de la neutralidad de la red, pilares esenciales de la Declaración de Independencia del Ciberespacio que defiende un internet libre, sin restricciones ni censura. Dichos principios se han visto quebrantados sin precedentes en este país, confirmando que ese futuro distópico que muchos negaban, ya es una realidad.

Es momento de actuar y estar preparados: debemos impulsar el desarrollo y la difusión de las herramientas anticensura que tenemos a nuestro alcance, protegiendo así la libertad digital y asegurando un acceso equitativo a la información para todos

Este compromiso es uno de los pilares fundamentales de MiniBolt, lo que convierte este desafío en una oportunidad para poner a prueba las soluciones anticensura ya disponibles, así como las que están en camino.

¡Censúrame si puedes, legislador! ¡La lucha por la privacidad y la libertad en Internet ya está en marcha!

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Fuentes: * https://bandaancha.eu/articulos/movistar-o2-deja-clientes-sin-acceso-11239 * https://bandaancha.eu/articulos/esta-nueva-sentencia-autoriza-bloqueos-11257 * https://bandaancha.eu/articulos/como-saltarse-bloqueo-webs-warp-vpn-9958 * https://bandaancha.eu/articulos/como-activar-ech-chrome-acceder-webs-10689 * https://comunidad.movistar.es/t5/Soporte-Fibra-y-ADSL/Problema-con-web-que-usan-Cloudflare/td-p/5218007

@ 16f1a010:31b1074b

In the rapidly evolving world of Bitcoin, running a Bitcoin node has become more accessible than ever. Platforms like Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and Citadel offer user-friendly interfaces to simplify node management. However, for those serious about maintaining a robust and efficient Lightning node ⚡, relying solely on these platforms may not be the optimal choice.

Let’s delve into why embracing Bitcoin Core and mastering the command-line interface (CLI) can provide a more reliable, sovereign, and empowering experience.

Understanding Node Management Platforms

What Are Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and Citadel?

Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and Citadel are platforms designed to streamline the process of running a Bitcoin node. They offer graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that allow users to manage various applications, including Bitcoin Core and Lightning Network nodes, through a web-based dashboard 🖥️.

These platforms often utilize Docker containers 🐳 to encapsulate applications, providing a modular and isolated environment for each service.

The Appeal of Simplified Node Management

The primary allure of these platforms lies in their simplicity. With minimal command-line interaction, users can deploy a full Bitcoin and Lightning node, along with a suite of additional applications.

✅ Easy one-command installation
✅ Web-based GUI for management
✅ Automatic app updates (but with delays, as we’ll discuss)

However, while this convenience is attractive, it comes at a cost.

The Hidden Complexities of Using Node Management Platforms

While the user-friendly nature of these platforms is advantageous, it can also introduce several challenges that may hinder advanced users or those seeking greater control over their nodes.

🚨 Dependency on Maintainers for Updates

One significant concern is the reliance on platform maintainers for updates. Since these platforms manage applications through Docker containers, users must wait for the maintainers to update the container images before they can access new features or security patches.

🔴 Delayed Bitcoin Core updates = potential security risks
🔴 Lightning Network updates are not immediate
🔴 Bugs and vulnerabilities may persist longer

Instead of waiting on a third party, why not update Bitcoin Core & LND yourself instantly?

⚙️ Challenges in Customization and Advanced Operations

For users aiming to perform advanced operations, such as:

• Custom backups 📂
• Running specific CLI commands 🖥️
• Optimizing node settings ⚡

…the abstraction layers introduced by these platforms become obstacles.

Navigating through nested directories and issuing commands inside Docker containers makes troubleshooting a nightmare. Instead of a simple bitcoin-cli command, you must figure out how to execute it inside the container, adding unnecessary complexity.

Increased Backend Complexity

To achieve frontend simplicity, these platforms make the backend more complex.

🚫 Extra layers of abstraction
🚫 Hidden logs and settings
🚫 Harder troubleshooting

The use of multiple Docker containers, custom scripts, and unique file structures can make system maintenance and debugging a pain.

This complication defeats the purpose of “making running a node easy.”

✅ Advantages of Using Bitcoin Core and Command-Line Interface (CLI)

By installing Bitcoin Core directly and using the command-line interface (CLI), you gain several key advantages that make managing a Bitcoin and Lightning node more efficient and empowering.

Direct Control and Immediate Updates

One of the biggest downsides of package manager-based platforms is the reliance on third-party maintainers to release updates. Since Bitcoin Core, Lightning implementations (such as LND, Core Lightning, or Eclair), and other related software evolve rapidly, waiting for platform-specific updates can leave you running outdated or vulnerable versions.

By installing Bitcoin Core directly, you remove this dependency. You can update immediately when new versions are released, ensuring your node benefits from the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. The same applies to Lightning software—being able to install and update it yourself gives you full autonomy over your node’s performance and security.

🛠 Simplified System Architecture

Platforms like Umbrel and myNode introduce extra complexity by running Bitcoin Core and Lightning inside Docker containers. This means:

• The actual files and configurations are stored inside Docker’s filesystem, making it harder to locate and manage them manually.
• If something breaks, troubleshooting is more difficult due to the added layer of abstraction.
• Running commands requires jumping through Docker shell sessions, adding unnecessary friction to what should be a straightforward process.

Instead, a direct installation of Bitcoin Core, Lightning, and Electrum Server (if needed) results in a cleaner, more understandable system. The software runs natively on your machine, without containerized layers making things more convoluted.

Additionally, setting up your own systemd service files for Bitcoin and Lightning is not as complicated as it seems. Once configured, these services will run automatically on boot, offering the same level of convenience as platforms like Umbrel but without the unnecessary complexity.

Better Lightning Node Management

If you’re running a Lightning Network node, using CLI-based tools provides far more flexibility than relying on a GUI like the ones bundled with node management platforms.

🟢 Custom Backup Strategies – Running Lightning through a GUI-based node manager often means backups are handled in a way that is opaque to the user. With CLI tools, you can easily script automatic backups of your channels, wallets, and configurations.

🟢 Advanced Configuration – Platforms like Umbrel force certain configurations by default, limiting how you can customize your Lightning node. With a direct install, you have full control over: * Channel fees 💰 * Routing policies 📡 * Liquidity management 🔄

🟢 Direct Access to LND, Core Lightning, or Eclair – Instead of issuing commands through a GUI (which is often limited in functionality), you can use: * lncli (for LND) * lightning-cli (for Core Lightning) …to interact with your node at a deeper level.

Enhanced Learning and Engagement

A crucial aspect of running a Bitcoin and Lightning node is understanding how it works.

Using an abstraction layer like Umbrel may get a node running in a few clicks, but it does little to teach users how Bitcoin actually functions.

By setting up Bitcoin Core, Lightning, and related software manually, you will:

✅ Gain practical knowledge of Bitcoin nodes, networking, and system performance.
✅ Learn how to configure and manage RPC commands.
✅ Become less reliant on third-party developers and more confident in troubleshooting.

🎯 Running a Bitcoin node is about sovereignty – learn how to control it yourself.

Become more sovereign TODAY

Many guides make this process straightforward K3tan has a fantastic guide on running Bitcoin Core, Electrs, LND and more.
- Ministry of Nodes Guide 2024
- You can find him on nostr
nostr:npub1txwy7guqkrq6ngvtwft7zp70nekcknudagrvrryy2wxnz8ljk2xqz0yt4x

Even with the best of guides, if you are running this software,
📖 READ THE DOCUMENTATION

This is all just software at the end of the day. Most of it is very well documented. Take a moment to actually read through the documentation for yourself when installing. The documentation has step by step guides on setting up the software. Here is a helpful list: * Bitcoin.org Bitcoin Core Linux install instructions * Bitcoin Core Code Repository * Electrs Installation * LND Documentation * LND Code Repository * CLN Documentation * CLN Code Repository

If you have any more resources or links I should add, please comment them . I want to add as much to this article as I can.

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin has symbolized innovation and resilience. However, from time to time, alarmist narratives arise about emerging technologies that could "break" its security. Among these, quantum computing stands out as one of the most recurrent. But does quantum computing truly threaten Bitcoin? And more importantly, what is the community doing to ensure the protocol remains invulnerable?

The answer, contrary to sensationalist headlines, is reassuring: Bitcoin is secure, and the community is already preparing for a future where quantum computing becomes a practical reality. Let’s dive into this topic to understand why the concerns are exaggerated and how the development of BIP-360 demonstrates that Bitcoin is one step ahead.

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What Is Quantum Computing, and Why Is Bitcoin Not Threatened?

Quantum computing leverages principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations that, in theory, could exponentially surpass classical computers—and it has nothing to do with what so-called “quantum coaches” teach to scam the uninformed. One of the concerns is that this technology could compromise two key aspects of Bitcoin’s security:

1. Wallets: These use elliptic curve algorithms (ECDSA) to protect private keys. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could deduce a private key from its public key.
2. Mining: This is based on the SHA-256 algorithm, which secures the consensus process. A quantum attack could, in theory, compromise the proof-of-work mechanism.

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Understanding Quantum Computing’s Attack Priorities

While quantum computing is often presented as a threat to Bitcoin, not all parts of the network are equally vulnerable. Theoretical attacks would be prioritized based on two main factors: ease of execution and potential reward. This creates two categories of attacks:

1. Attacks on Wallets

Bitcoin wallets, secured by elliptic curve algorithms, would be the initial targets due to the relative vulnerability of their public keys, especially those already exposed on the blockchain. Two attack scenarios stand out:

• Short-term attacks: These occur during the interval between sending a transaction and its inclusion in a block (approximately 10 minutes). A quantum computer could intercept the exposed public key and derive the corresponding private key to redirect funds by creating a transaction with higher fees.

• Long-term attacks: These focus on old wallets whose public keys are permanently exposed. Wallets associated with Satoshi Nakamoto, for example, are especially vulnerable because they were created before the practice of using hashes to mask public keys.

We can infer a priority order for how such attacks might occur based on urgency and importance.

Bitcoin Quantum Attack: Prioritization Matrix (Urgency vs. Importance)

2. Attacks on Mining

Targeting the SHA-256 algorithm, which secures the mining process, would be the next objective. However, this is far more complex and requires a level of quantum computational power that is currently non-existent and far from realization. A successful attack would allow for the recalculation of all possible hashes to dominate the consensus process and potentially "mine" it instantly.

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Satoshi Nakamoto in 2010 on Quantum Computing and Bitcoin Attacks

Recently, Narcelio asked me about a statement I made on Tubacast:

https://x.com/eddieoz/status/1868371296683511969

If an attack became a reality before Bitcoin was prepared, it would be necessary to define the last block prior to the attack and proceed from there using a new hashing algorithm. The solution would resemble the response to the infamous 2013 bug. It’s a fact that this would cause market panic, and Bitcoin's price would drop significantly, creating a potential opportunity for the well-informed.

Preferably, if developers could anticipate the threat and had time to work on a solution and build consensus before an attack, they would simply decide on a future block for the fork, which would then adopt the new algorithm. It might even rehash previous blocks (reaching consensus on them) to avoid potential reorganization through the re-mining of blocks using the old hash. (I often use the term "shielding" old transactions).

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How Can Users Protect Themselves?

While quantum computing is still far from being a practical threat, some simple measures can already protect users against hypothetical scenarios:

• Avoid using exposed public keys: Ensure funds sent to old wallets are transferred to new ones that use public key hashes. This reduces the risk of long-term attacks.
• Use modern wallets: Opt for wallets compatible with SegWit or Taproot, which implement better security practices.
• Monitor security updates: Stay informed about updates from the Bitcoin community, such as the implementation of BIP-360, which will introduce quantum-resistant addresses.
• Do not reuse addresses: Every transaction should be associated with a new address to minimize the risk of repeated exposure of the same public key.
• Adopt secure backup practices: Create offline backups of private keys and seeds in secure locations, protected from unauthorized access.

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BIP-360 and Bitcoin’s Preparation for the Future

Even though quantum computing is still beyond practical reach, the Bitcoin community is not standing still. A concrete example is BIP-360, a proposal that establishes the technical framework to make wallets resistant to quantum attacks.

BIP-360 addresses three main pillars:

1. Introduction of quantum-resistant addresses: A new address format starting with "BC1R" will be used. These addresses will be compatible with post-quantum algorithms, ensuring that stored funds are protected from future attacks.
2. Compatibility with the current ecosystem: The proposal allows users to transfer funds from old addresses to new ones without requiring drastic changes to the network infrastructure.
3. Flexibility for future updates: BIP-360 does not limit the choice of specific algorithms. Instead, it serves as a foundation for implementing new post-quantum algorithms as technology evolves.

This proposal demonstrates how Bitcoin can adapt to emerging threats without compromising its decentralized structure.

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Post-Quantum Algorithms: The Future of Bitcoin Cryptography

The community is exploring various algorithms to protect Bitcoin from quantum attacks. Among the most discussed are:

• Falcon: A solution combining smaller public keys with compact digital signatures. Although it has been tested in limited scenarios, it still faces scalability and performance challenges.
• Sphincs: Hash-based, this algorithm is renowned for its resilience, but its signatures can be extremely large, making it less efficient for networks like Bitcoin’s blockchain.
• Lamport: Created in 1977, it’s considered one of the earliest post-quantum security solutions. Despite its reliability, its gigantic public keys (16,000 bytes) make it impractical and costly for Bitcoin.

Two technologies show great promise and are well-regarded by the community:

1. Lattice-Based Cryptography: Considered one of the most promising, it uses complex mathematical structures to create systems nearly immune to quantum computing. Its implementation is still in its early stages, but the community is optimistic.
2. Supersingular Elliptic Curve Isogeny: These are very recent digital signature algorithms and require extensive study and testing before being ready for practical market use.

The final choice of algorithm will depend on factors such as efficiency, cost, and integration capability with the current system. Additionally, it is preferable that these algorithms are standardized before implementation, a process that may take up to 10 years.

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Why Quantum Computing Is Far from Being a Threat

The alarmist narrative about quantum computing overlooks the technical and practical challenges that still need to be overcome. Among them:

• Insufficient number of qubits: Current quantum computers have only a few hundred qubits, whereas successful attacks would require millions.
• High error rate: Quantum stability remains a barrier to reliable large-scale operations.
• High costs: Building and operating large-scale quantum computers requires massive investments, limiting their use to scientific or specific applications.

Moreover, even if quantum computers make significant advancements, Bitcoin is already adapting to ensure its infrastructure is prepared to respond.

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Conclusion: Bitcoin’s Secure Future

Despite advancements in quantum computing, the reality is that Bitcoin is far from being threatened. Its security is ensured not only by its robust architecture but also by the community’s constant efforts to anticipate and mitigate challenges.

The implementation of BIP-360 and the pursuit of post-quantum algorithms demonstrate that Bitcoin is not only resilient but also proactive. By adopting practical measures, such as using modern wallets and migrating to quantum-resistant addresses, users can further protect themselves against potential threats.

Bitcoin’s future is not at risk—it is being carefully shaped to withstand any emerging technology, including quantum computing.

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Based on a recent paper that included collaboration from renowned experts such as Lynn Alden, Steve Lee, and Ren Crypto Fish, we discuss in depth how Bitcoin's consensus is built, the main risks, and the complex dynamics of protocol upgrades.

PT-BR version

Podcast https://www.fountain.fm/episode/wbjD6ntQuvX5u2G5BccC

Presentation https://gamma.app/docs/Analyzing-Bitcoin-Consensus-Risks-in-Protocol-Upgrades-p66axxjwaa37ksn

1. Introduction to Consensus in Bitcoin

Consensus in Bitcoin is the foundation that keeps the network secure and functional, allowing users worldwide to perform transactions in a decentralized manner without the need for intermediaries. Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin is often described as an "immutable" system designed to resist changes, and it is precisely this resistance that ensures its security and stability.

The central idea behind consensus in Bitcoin is to create a set of acceptance rules for blocks and transactions, ensuring that all network participants agree on the transaction history. This prevents "double-spending," where the same bitcoin could be used in two simultaneous transactions, something that would compromise trust in the network.

Evolution of Consensus in Bitcoin

Over the years, consensus in Bitcoin has undergone several adaptations, and the way participants agree on changes remains a delicate process. Unlike traditional systems, where changes can be imposed from the top down, Bitcoin operates in a decentralized model where any significant change needs the support of various groups of stakeholders, including miners, developers, users, and large node operators.

Moreover, the update process is extremely cautious, as hasty changes can compromise the network's security. As a result, the philosophy of "don't fix what isn't broken" prevails, with improvements happening incrementally and only after broad consensus among those involved. This model can make progress seem slow but ensures that Bitcoin remains faithful to the principles of security and decentralization.

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2. Technical Components of Consensus

Bitcoin's consensus is supported by a set of technical rules that determine what is considered a valid transaction and a valid block on the network. These technical aspects ensure that all nodes—the computers that participate in the Bitcoin network—agree on the current state of the blockchain. Below are the main technical components that form the basis of the consensus.

Validation of Blocks and Transactions

The validation of blocks and transactions is the central point of consensus in Bitcoin. A block is only considered valid if it meets certain criteria, such as maximum size, transaction structure, and the solving of the "Proof of Work" problem. The proof of work, required for a block to be included in the blockchain, is a computational process that ensures the block contains significant computational effort—protecting the network against manipulation attempts.

Transactions, in turn, need to follow specific input and output rules. Each transaction includes cryptographic signatures that prove the ownership of the bitcoins sent, as well as validation scripts that verify if the transaction conditions are met. This validation system is essential for network nodes to autonomously confirm that each transaction follows the rules.

Chain Selection

Another fundamental technical issue for Bitcoin's consensus is chain selection, which becomes especially important in cases where multiple versions of the blockchain coexist, such as after a network split (fork). To decide which chain is the "true" one and should be followed, the network adopts the criterion of the highest accumulated proof of work. In other words, the chain with the highest number of valid blocks, built with the greatest computational effort, is chosen by the network as the official one.

This criterion avoids permanent splits because it encourages all nodes to follow the same main chain, reinforcing consensus.

Soft Forks vs. Hard Forks

In the consensus process, protocol changes can happen in two ways: through soft forks or hard forks. These variations affect not only the protocol update but also the implications for network users:

• Soft Forks: These are changes that are backward compatible. Only nodes that adopt the new update will follow the new rules, but old nodes will still recognize the blocks produced with these rules as valid. This compatibility makes soft forks a safer option for updates, as it minimizes the risk of network division.

• Hard Forks: These are updates that are not backward compatible, requiring all nodes to update to the new version or risk being separated from the main chain. Hard forks can result in the creation of a new coin, as occurred with the split between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash in 2017. While hard forks allow for deeper changes, they also bring significant risks of network fragmentation.

These technical components form the base of Bitcoin's security and resilience, allowing the system to remain functional and immutable without losing the necessary flexibility to evolve over time.

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3. Stakeholders in Bitcoin's Consensus

Consensus in Bitcoin is not decided centrally. On the contrary, it depends on the interaction between different groups of stakeholders, each with their motivations, interests, and levels of influence. These groups play fundamental roles in how changes are implemented or rejected on the network. Below, we explore the six main stakeholders in Bitcoin's consensus.

1. Economic Nodes

Economic nodes, usually operated by exchanges, custody providers, and large companies that accept Bitcoin, exert significant influence over consensus. Because they handle large volumes of transactions and act as a connection point between the Bitcoin ecosystem and the traditional financial system, these nodes have the power to validate or reject blocks and to define which version of the software to follow in case of a fork.

Their influence is proportional to the volume of transactions they handle, and they can directly affect which chain will be seen as the main one. Their incentive is to maintain the network's stability and security to preserve its functionality and meet regulatory requirements.

2. Investors

Investors, including large institutional funds and individual Bitcoin holders, influence consensus indirectly through their impact on the asset's price. Their buying and selling actions can affect Bitcoin's value, which in turn influences the motivation of miners and other stakeholders to continue investing in the network's security and development.

Some institutional investors have agreements with custodians that may limit their ability to act in network split situations. Thus, the impact of each investor on consensus can vary based on their ownership structure and how quickly they can react to a network change.

3. Media Influencers

Media influencers, including journalists, analysts, and popular personalities on social media, have a powerful role in shaping public opinion about Bitcoin and possible updates. These influencers can help educate the public, promote debates, and bring transparency to the consensus process.

On the other hand, the impact of influencers can be double-edged: while they can clarify complex topics, they can also distort perceptions by amplifying or minimizing change proposals. This makes them a force both of support and resistance to consensus.

4. Miners

Miners are responsible for validating transactions and including blocks in the blockchain. Through computational power (hashrate), they also exert significant influence over consensus decisions. In update processes, miners often signal their support for a proposal, indicating that the new version is safe to use. However, this signaling is not always definitive, and miners can change their position if they deem it necessary.

Their incentive is to maximize returns from block rewards and transaction fees, as well as to maintain the value of investments in their specialized equipment, which are only profitable if the network remains stable.

5. Protocol Developers

Protocol developers, often called "Core Developers," are responsible for writing and maintaining Bitcoin's code. Although they do not have direct power over consensus, they possess an informal veto power since they decide which changes are included in the main client (Bitcoin Core). This group also serves as an important source of technical knowledge, helping guide decisions and inform other stakeholders.

Their incentive lies in the continuous improvement of the network, ensuring security and decentralization. Many developers are funded by grants and sponsorships, but their motivations generally include a strong ideological commitment to Bitcoin's principles.

6. Users and Application Developers

This group includes people who use Bitcoin in their daily transactions and developers who build solutions based on the network, such as wallets, exchanges, and payment platforms. Although their power in consensus is less than that of miners or economic nodes, they play an important role because they are responsible for popularizing Bitcoin's use and expanding the ecosystem.

If application developers decide not to adopt an update, this can affect compatibility and widespread acceptance. Thus, they indirectly influence consensus by deciding which version of the protocol to follow in their applications.

These stakeholders are vital to the consensus process, and each group exerts influence according to their involvement, incentives, and ability to act in situations of change. Understanding the role of each makes it clearer how consensus is formed and why it is so difficult to make significant changes to Bitcoin.

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4. Mechanisms for Activating Updates in Bitcoin

For Bitcoin to evolve without compromising security and consensus, different mechanisms for activating updates have been developed over the years. These mechanisms help coordinate changes among network nodes to minimize the risk of fragmentation and ensure that updates are implemented in an orderly manner. Here, we explore some of the main methods used in Bitcoin, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as historical examples of significant updates.

Flag Day

The Flag Day mechanism is one of the simplest forms of activating changes. In it, a specific date or block is determined as the activation moment, and all nodes must be updated by that point. This method does not involve prior signaling; participants simply need to update to the new software version by the established day or block.

• Advantages: Simplicity and predictability are the main benefits of Flag Day, as everyone knows the exact activation date.

• Disadvantages: Inflexibility can be a problem because there is no way to adjust the schedule if a significant part of the network has not updated. This can result in network splits if a significant number of nodes are not ready for the update.

An example of Flag Day was the Pay to Script Hash (P2SH) update in 2012, which required all nodes to adopt the change to avoid compatibility issues.

BIP34 and BIP9

BIP34 introduced a more dynamic process, in which miners increase the version number in block headers to signal the update. When a predetermined percentage of the last blocks is mined with this new version, the update is automatically activated. This model later evolved with BIP9, which allowed multiple updates to be signaled simultaneously through "version bits," each corresponding to a specific change.

• Advantages: Allows the network to activate updates gradually, giving more time for participants to adapt.

• Disadvantages: These methods rely heavily on miner support, which means that if a sufficient number of miners do not signal the update, it can be delayed or not implemented.

BIP9 was used in the activation of SegWit (BIP141) but faced challenges because some miners did not signal their intent to activate, leading to the development of new mechanisms.

User Activated Soft Forks (UASF) and User Resisted Soft Forks (URSF)

To increase the decision-making power of ordinary users, the concept of User Activated Soft Fork (UASF) was introduced, allowing node operators, not just miners, to determine consensus for a change. In this model, nodes set a date to start rejecting blocks that are not in compliance with the new update, forcing miners to adapt or risk having their blocks rejected by the network.

URSF, in turn, is a model where nodes reject blocks that attempt to adopt a specific update, functioning as resistance against proposed changes.

• Advantages: UASF returns decision-making power to node operators, ensuring that changes do not depend solely on miners.

• Disadvantages: Both UASF and URSF can generate network splits, especially in cases of strong opposition among different stakeholders.

An example of UASF was the activation of SegWit in 2017, where users supported activation independently of miner signaling, which ended up forcing its adoption.

BIP8 (LOT=True)

BIP8 is an evolution of BIP9, designed to prevent miners from indefinitely blocking a change desired by the majority of users and developers. BIP8 allows setting a parameter called "lockinontimeout" (LOT) as true, which means that if the update has not been fully signaled by a certain point, it is automatically activated.

• Advantages: Ensures that changes with broad support among users are not blocked by miners who wish to maintain the status quo.

• Disadvantages: Can lead to network splits if miners or other important stakeholders do not support the update.

Although BIP8 with LOT=True has not yet been used in Bitcoin, it is a proposal that can be applied in future updates if necessary.

These activation mechanisms have been essential for Bitcoin's development, allowing updates that keep the network secure and functional. Each method brings its own advantages and challenges, but all share the goal of preserving consensus and network cohesion.

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5. Risks and Considerations in Consensus Updates

Consensus updates in Bitcoin are complex processes that involve not only technical aspects but also political, economic, and social considerations. Due to the network's decentralized nature, each change brings with it a set of risks that need to be carefully assessed. Below, we explore some of the main challenges and future scenarios, as well as the possible impacts on stakeholders.

Network Fragility with Alternative Implementations

One of the main risks associated with consensus updates is the possibility of network fragmentation when there are alternative software implementations. If an update is implemented by a significant group of nodes but rejected by others, a network split (fork) can occur. This creates two competing chains, each with a different version of the transaction history, leading to unpredictable consequences for users and investors.

Such fragmentation weakens Bitcoin because, by dividing hashing power (computing) and coin value, it reduces network security and investor confidence. A notable example of this risk was the fork that gave rise to Bitcoin Cash in 2017 when disagreements over block size resulted in a new chain and a new asset.

Chain Splits and Impact on Stakeholders

Chain splits are a significant risk in update processes, especially in hard forks. During a hard fork, the network is split into two separate chains, each with its own set of rules. This results in the creation of a new coin and leaves users with duplicated assets on both chains. While this may seem advantageous, in the long run, these splits weaken the network and create uncertainties for investors.

Each group of stakeholders reacts differently to a chain split:

• Institutional Investors and ETFs: Face regulatory and compliance challenges because many of these assets are managed under strict regulations. The creation of a new coin requires decisions to be made quickly to avoid potential losses, which may be hampered by regulatory constraints.

• Miners: May be incentivized to shift their computing power to the chain that offers higher profitability, which can weaken one of the networks.

• Economic Nodes: Such as major exchanges and custody providers, have to quickly choose which chain to support, influencing the perceived value of each network.

Such divisions can generate uncertainties and loss of value, especially for institutional investors and those who use Bitcoin as a store of value.

Regulatory Impacts and Institutional Investors

With the growing presence of institutional investors in Bitcoin, consensus changes face new compliance challenges. Bitcoin ETFs, for example, are required to follow strict rules about which assets they can include and how chain split events should be handled. The creation of a new asset or migration to a new chain can complicate these processes, creating pressure for large financial players to quickly choose a chain, affecting the stability of consensus.

Moreover, decisions regarding forks can influence the Bitcoin futures and derivatives market, affecting perception and adoption by new investors. Therefore, the need to avoid splits and maintain cohesion is crucial to attract and preserve the confidence of these investors.

Security Considerations in Soft Forks and Hard Forks

While soft forks are generally preferred in Bitcoin for their backward compatibility, they are not without risks. Soft forks can create different classes of nodes on the network (updated and non-updated), which increases operational complexity and can ultimately weaken consensus cohesion. In a network scenario with fragmentation of node classes, Bitcoin's security can be affected, as some nodes may lose part of the visibility over updated transactions or rules.

In hard forks, the security risk is even more evident because all nodes need to adopt the new update to avoid network division. Experience shows that abrupt changes can create temporary vulnerabilities, in which malicious agents try to exploit the transition to attack the network.

Bounty Claim Risks and Attack Scenarios

Another risk in consensus updates are so-called "bounty claims"—accumulated rewards that can be obtained if an attacker manages to split or deceive a part of the network. In a conflict scenario, a group of miners or nodes could be incentivized to support a new update or create an alternative version of the software to benefit from these rewards.

These risks require stakeholders to carefully assess each update and the potential vulnerabilities it may introduce. The possibility of "bounty claims" adds a layer of complexity to consensus because each interest group may see a financial opportunity in a change that, in the long term, may harm network stability.

The risks discussed above show the complexity of consensus in Bitcoin and the importance of approaching it gradually and deliberately. Updates need to consider not only technical aspects but also economic and social implications, in order to preserve Bitcoin's integrity and maintain trust among stakeholders.

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6. Recommendations for the Consensus Process in Bitcoin

To ensure that protocol changes in Bitcoin are implemented safely and with broad support, it is essential that all stakeholders adopt a careful and coordinated approach. Here are strategic recommendations for evaluating, supporting, or rejecting consensus updates, considering the risks and challenges discussed earlier, along with best practices for successful implementation.

1. Careful Evaluation of Proposal Maturity

Stakeholders should rigorously assess the maturity level of a proposal before supporting its implementation. Updates that are still experimental or lack a robust technical foundation can expose the network to unnecessary risks. Ideally, change proposals should go through an extensive testing phase, have security audits, and receive review and feedback from various developers and experts.

2. Extensive Testing in Secure and Compatible Networks

Before an update is activated on the mainnet, it is essential to test it on networks like testnet and signet, and whenever possible, on other compatible networks that offer a safe and controlled environment to identify potential issues. Testing on networks like Litecoin was fundamental for the safe launch of innovations like SegWit and the Lightning Network, allowing functionalities to be validated on a lower-impact network before being implemented on Bitcoin.

The Liquid Network, developed by Blockstream, also plays an important role as an experimental network for new proposals, such as OP_CAT. By adopting these testing environments, stakeholders can mitigate risks and ensure that the update is reliable and secure before being adopted by the main network.

3. Importance of Stakeholder Engagement

The success of a consensus update strongly depends on the active participation of all stakeholders. This includes economic nodes, miners, protocol developers, investors, and end users. Lack of participation can lead to inadequate decisions or even future network splits, which would compromise Bitcoin's security and stability.

4. Key Questions for Evaluating Consensus Proposals

To assist in decision-making, each group of stakeholders should consider some key questions before supporting a consensus change:

• Does the proposal offer tangible benefits for Bitcoin's security, scalability, or usability?
• Does it maintain backward compatibility or introduce the risk of network split?
• Are the implementation requirements clear and feasible for each group involved?
• Are there clear and aligned incentives for all stakeholder groups to accept the change?

5. Coordination and Timing in Implementations

Timing is crucial. Updates with short activation windows can force a split because not all nodes and miners can update simultaneously. Changes should be planned with ample deadlines to allow all stakeholders to adjust their systems, avoiding surprises that could lead to fragmentation.

Mechanisms like soft forks are generally preferable to hard forks because they allow a smoother transition. Opting for backward-compatible updates when possible facilitates the process and ensures that nodes and miners can adapt without pressure.

6. Continuous Monitoring and Re-evaluation

After an update, it's essential to monitor the network to identify problems or side effects. This continuous process helps ensure cohesion and trust among all participants, keeping Bitcoin as a secure and robust network.

These recommendations, including the use of secure networks for extensive testing, promote a collaborative and secure environment for Bitcoin's consensus process. By adopting a deliberate and strategic approach, stakeholders can preserve Bitcoin's value as a decentralized and censorship-resistant network.

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7. Conclusion

Consensus in Bitcoin is more than a set of rules; it's the foundation that sustains the network as a decentralized, secure, and reliable system. Unlike centralized systems, where decisions can be made quickly, Bitcoin requires a much more deliberate and cooperative approach, where the interests of miners, economic nodes, developers, investors, and users must be considered and harmonized. This governance model may seem slow, but it is fundamental to preserving the resilience and trust that make Bitcoin a global store of value and censorship-resistant.

Consensus updates in Bitcoin must balance the need for innovation with the preservation of the network's core principles. The development process of a proposal needs to be detailed and rigorous, going through several testing stages, such as in testnet, signet, and compatible networks like Litecoin and Liquid Network. These networks offer safe environments for proposals to be analyzed and improved before being launched on the main network.

Each proposed change must be carefully evaluated regarding its maturity, impact, backward compatibility, and support among stakeholders. The recommended key questions and appropriate timing are critical to ensure that an update is adopted without compromising network cohesion. It's also essential that the implementation process is continuously monitored and re-evaluated, allowing adjustments as necessary and minimizing the risk of instability.

By following these guidelines, Bitcoin's stakeholders can ensure that the network continues to evolve safely and robustly, maintaining user trust and further solidifying its role as one of the most resilient and innovative digital assets in the world. Ultimately, consensus in Bitcoin is not just a technical issue but a reflection of its community and the values it represents: security, decentralization, and resilience.

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8. Links

Whitepaper: https://github.com/bitcoin-cap/bcap

Youtube (pt-br): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARycAibl9o&list=PL-qnhF0qlSPkfhorqsREuIu4UTbF0h4zb

@ eac63075:b4988b48

The future of physical money is at stake, and the discussion about DREX, the new digital currency planned by the Central Bank of Brazil, is gaining momentum. In a candid and intense conversation, Federal Deputy Julia Zanatta (PL/SC) discussed the challenges and risks of this digital transition, also addressing her Bill No. 3,341/2024, which aims to prevent the extinction of physical currency. This bill emerges as a direct response to legislative initiatives seeking to replace physical money with digital alternatives, limiting citizens' options and potentially compromising individual freedom. Let's delve into the main points of this conversation.

https://www.fountain.fm/episode/i5YGJ9Ors3PkqAIMvNQ0

(PT-BR version here)

What is a CBDC?

Before discussing the specifics of DREX, it’s important to understand what a CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) is. CBDCs are digital currencies issued by central banks, similar to a digital version of physical money. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which operate in a decentralized manner, CBDCs are centralized and regulated by the government. In other words, they are digital currencies created and controlled by the Central Bank, intended to replace physical currency.

A prominent feature of CBDCs is their programmability. This means that the government can theoretically set rules about how, where, and for what this currency can be used. This aspect enables a level of control over citizens' finances that is impossible with physical money. By programming the currency, the government could limit transactions by setting geographical or usage restrictions. In practice, money within a CBDC could be restricted to specific spending or authorized for use in a defined geographical area.

In countries like China, where citizen actions and attitudes are also monitored, a person considered to have a "low score" due to a moral or ideological violation may have their transactions limited to essential purchases, restricting their digital currency use to non-essential activities. This financial control is strengthened because, unlike physical money, digital currency cannot be exchanged anonymously.

Practical Example: The Case of DREX During the Pandemic

To illustrate how DREX could be used, an example was given by Eric Altafim, director of Banco Itaú. He suggested that, if DREX had existed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government could have restricted the currency’s use to a 5-kilometer radius around a person’s residence, limiting their economic mobility. Another proposed use by the executive related to the Bolsa Família welfare program: the government could set up programming that only allows this benefit to be used exclusively for food purchases. Although these examples are presented as control measures for safety or organization, they demonstrate how much a CBDC could restrict citizens' freedom of choice.

To illustrate the potential for state control through a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), such as DREX, it is helpful to look at the example of China. In China, the implementation of a CBDC coincides with the country’s Social Credit System, a governmental surveillance tool that assesses citizens' and companies' behavior. Together, these technologies allow the Chinese government to monitor, reward, and, above all, punish behavior deemed inappropriate or threatening to the government.

How Does China's Social Credit System Work?

Implemented in 2014, China's Social Credit System assigns every citizen and company a "score" based on various factors, including financial behavior, criminal record, social interactions, and even online activities. This score determines the benefits or penalties each individual receives and can affect everything from public transport access to obtaining loans and enrolling in elite schools for their children. Citizens with low scores may face various sanctions, including travel restrictions, fines, and difficulty in securing loans.

With the adoption of the CBDC — or “digital yuan” — the Chinese government now has a new tool to closely monitor citizens' financial transactions, facilitating the application of Social Credit System penalties. China’s CBDC is a programmable digital currency, which means that the government can restrict how, when, and where the money can be spent. Through this level of control, digital currency becomes a powerful mechanism for influencing citizens' behavior.

Imagine, for instance, a citizen who repeatedly posts critical remarks about the government on social media or participates in protests. If the Social Credit System assigns this citizen a low score, the Chinese government could, through the CBDC, restrict their money usage in certain areas or sectors. For example, they could be prevented from buying tickets to travel to other regions, prohibited from purchasing certain consumer goods, or even restricted to making transactions only at stores near their home.

Another example of how the government can use the CBDC to enforce the Social Credit System is by monitoring purchases of products such as alcohol or luxury items. If a citizen uses the CBDC to spend more than the government deems reasonable on such products, this could negatively impact their social score, resulting in additional penalties such as future purchase restrictions or a lowered rating that impacts their personal and professional lives.

In China, this kind of control has already been demonstrated in several cases. Citizens added to Social Credit System “blacklists” have seen their spending and investment capacity severely limited. The combination of digital currency and social scores thus creates a sophisticated and invasive surveillance system, through which the Chinese government controls important aspects of citizens’ financial lives and individual freedoms.

Deputy Julia Zanatta views these examples with great concern. She argues that if the state has full control over digital money, citizens will be exposed to a level of economic control and surveillance never seen before. In a democracy, this control poses a risk, but in an authoritarian regime, it could be used as a powerful tool of repression.

DREX and Bill No. 3,341/2024

Julia Zanatta became aware of a bill by a Workers' Party (PT) deputy (Bill 4068/2020 by Deputy Reginaldo Lopes - PT/MG) that proposes the extinction of physical money within five years, aiming for a complete transition to DREX, the digital currency developed by the Central Bank of Brazil. Concerned about the impact of this measure, Julia drafted her bill, PL No. 3,341/2024, which prohibits the elimination of physical money, ensuring citizens the right to choose physical currency.

“The more I read about DREX, the less I want its implementation,” says the deputy. DREX is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), similar to other state digital currencies worldwide, but which, according to Julia, carries extreme control risks. She points out that with DREX, the State could closely monitor each citizen’s transactions, eliminating anonymity and potentially restricting freedom of choice. This control would lie in the hands of the Central Bank, which could, in a crisis or government change, “freeze balances or even delete funds directly from user accounts.”

Risks and Individual Freedom

Julia raises concerns about potential abuses of power that complete digitalization could allow. In a democracy, state control over personal finances raises serious questions, and EddieOz warns of an even more problematic future. “Today we are in a democracy, but tomorrow, with a government transition, we don't know if this kind of power will be used properly or abused,” he states. In other words, DREX gives the State the ability to restrict or condition the use of money, opening the door to unprecedented financial surveillance.

EddieOz cites Nigeria as an example, where a CBDC was implemented, and the government imposed severe restrictions on the use of physical money to encourage the use of digital currency, leading to protests and clashes in the country. In practice, the poorest and unbanked — those without regular access to banking services — were harshly affected, as without physical money, many cannot conduct basic transactions. Julia highlights that in Brazil, this situation would be even more severe, given the large number of unbanked individuals and the extent of rural areas where access to technology is limited.

The Relationship Between DREX and Pix

The digital transition has already begun with Pix, which revolutionized instant transfers and payments in Brazil. However, Julia points out that Pix, though popular, is a citizen’s choice, while DREX tends to eliminate that choice. The deputy expresses concern about new rules suggested for Pix, such as daily transaction limits of a thousand reais, justified as anti-fraud measures but which, in her view, represent additional control and a profit opportunity for banks. “How many more rules will banks create to profit from us?” asks Julia, noting that DREX could further enhance control over personal finances.

International Precedents and Resistance to CBDC

The deputy also cites examples from other countries resisting the idea of a centralized digital currency. In the United States, states like New Hampshire have passed laws to prevent the advance of CBDCs, and leaders such as Donald Trump have opposed creating a national digital currency. Trump, addressing the topic, uses a justification similar to Julia’s: in a digitalized system, “with one click, your money could disappear.” She agrees with the warning, emphasizing the control risk that a CBDC represents, especially for countries with disadvantaged populations.

Besides the United States, Canada, Colombia, and Australia have also suspended studies on digital currencies, citing the need for further discussions on population impacts. However, in Brazil, the debate on DREX is still limited, with few parliamentarians and political leaders openly discussing the topic. According to Julia, only she and one or two deputies are truly trying to bring this discussion to the Chamber, making DREX’s advance even more concerning.

Bill No. 3,341/2024 and Popular Pressure

For Julia, her bill is a first step. Although she acknowledges that ideally, it would prevent DREX's implementation entirely, PL 3341/2024 is a measure to ensure citizens' choice to use physical money, preserving a form of individual freedom. “If the future means control, I prefer to live in the past,” Julia asserts, reinforcing that the fight for freedom is at the heart of her bill.

However, the deputy emphasizes that none of this will be possible without popular mobilization. According to her, popular pressure is crucial for other deputies to take notice and support PL 3341. “I am only one deputy, and we need the public’s support to raise the project’s visibility,” she explains, encouraging the public to press other parliamentarians and ask them to “pay attention to PL 3341 and the project that prohibits the end of physical money.” The deputy believes that with a strong awareness and pressure movement, it is possible to advance the debate and ensure Brazilians’ financial freedom.

What’s at Stake?

Julia Zanatta leaves no doubt: DREX represents a profound shift in how money will be used and controlled in Brazil. More than a simple modernization of the financial system, the Central Bank’s CBDC sets precedents for an unprecedented level of citizen surveillance and control in the country. For the deputy, this transition needs to be debated broadly and transparently, and it’s up to the Brazilian people to defend their rights and demand that the National Congress discuss these changes responsibly.

The deputy also emphasizes that, regardless of political or partisan views, this issue affects all Brazilians. “This agenda is something that will affect everyone. We need to be united to ensure people understand the gravity of what could happen.” Julia believes that by sharing information and generating open debate, it is possible to prevent Brazil from following the path of countries that have already implemented a digital currency in an authoritarian way.

A Call to Action

The future of physical money in Brazil is at risk. For those who share Deputy Julia Zanatta’s concerns, the time to act is now. Mobilize, get informed, and press your representatives. PL 3341/2024 is an opportunity to ensure that Brazilian citizens have a choice in how to use their money, without excessive state interference or surveillance.

In the end, as the deputy puts it, the central issue is freedom. “My fear is that this project will pass, and people won’t even understand what is happening.” Therefore, may every citizen at least have the chance to understand what’s at stake and make their voice heard in defense of a Brazil where individual freedom and privacy are respected values.

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Imagine sending a private message to a friend, only to learn that authorities could be scanning its contents without your knowledge. This isn't a scene from a dystopian novel but a potential reality under the European Union's proposed "Chat Control" measures. Aimed at combating serious crimes like child exploitation and terrorism, these proposals could significantly impact the privacy of everyday internet users. As encrypted messaging services become the norm for personal and professional communication, understanding Chat Control is essential. This article delves into what Chat Control entails, why it's being considered, and how it could affect your right to private communication.

https://www.fountain.fm/episode/coOFsst7r7mO1EP1kSzV

Sections:

• Introduction
• What Is Chat Control?
• Why Is the EU Pushing for Chat Control?
• The Privacy Concerns and Risks
• The Technical Debate: Encryption and Backdoors
• Global Reactions and the Debate in Europe
• Possible Consequences for Messaging Services
• What Happens Next? The Future of Chat Control
• Conclusion

What Is Chat Control?

"Chat Control" refers to a set of proposed measures by the European Union aimed at monitoring and scanning private communications on messaging platforms. The primary goal is to detect and prevent the spread of illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and to combat terrorism. While the intention is to enhance security and protect vulnerable populations, these proposals have raised significant privacy concerns.

At its core, Chat Control would require messaging services to implement automated scanning technologies that can analyze the content of messages—even those that are end-to-end encrypted. This means that the private messages you send to friends, family, or colleagues could be subject to inspection by algorithms designed to detect prohibited content.

Origins of the Proposal

The initiative for Chat Control emerged from the EU's desire to strengthen its digital security infrastructure. High-profile cases of online abuse and the use of encrypted platforms by criminal organizations have prompted lawmakers to consider more invasive surveillance tactics. The European Commission has been exploring legislation that would make it mandatory for service providers to monitor communications on their platforms.

How Messaging Services Work

Most modern messaging apps, like Signal, Session, SimpleX, Veilid, Protonmail and Tutanota (among others), use end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This encryption ensures that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages being exchanged. Not even the service providers can access the content. This level of security is crucial for maintaining privacy in digital communications, protecting users from hackers, identity thieves, and other malicious actors.

Key Elements of Chat Control

• Automated Content Scanning: Service providers would use algorithms to scan messages for illegal content.
• Circumvention of Encryption: To scan encrypted messages, providers might need to alter their encryption methods, potentially weakening security.
• Mandatory Reporting: If illegal content is detected, providers would be required to report it to authorities.
• Broad Applicability: The measures could apply to all messaging services operating within the EU, affecting both European companies and international platforms.

Why It Matters

Understanding Chat Control is essential because it represents a significant shift in how digital privacy is handled. While combating illegal activities online is crucial, the methods proposed could set a precedent for mass surveillance and the erosion of privacy rights. Everyday users who rely on encrypted messaging for personal and professional communication might find their conversations are no longer as private as they once thought.

Why Is the EU Pushing for Chat Control?

The European Union's push for Chat Control stems from a pressing concern to protect its citizens, particularly children, from online exploitation and criminal activities. With the digital landscape becoming increasingly integral to daily life, the EU aims to strengthen its ability to combat serious crimes facilitated through online platforms.

Protecting Children and Preventing Crime

One of the primary motivations behind Chat Control is the prevention of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) circulating on the internet. Law enforcement agencies have reported a significant increase in the sharing of illegal content through private messaging services. By implementing Chat Control, the EU believes it can more effectively identify and stop perpetrators, rescue victims, and deter future crimes.

Terrorism is another critical concern. Encrypted messaging apps can be used by terrorist groups to plan and coordinate attacks without detection. The EU argues that accessing these communications could be vital in preventing such threats and ensuring public safety.

Legal Context and Legislative Drivers

The push for Chat Control is rooted in several legislative initiatives:

• ePrivacy Directive: This directive regulates the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in electronic communications. The EU is considering amendments that would allow for the scanning of private messages under specific circumstances.

• Temporary Derogation: In 2021, the EU adopted a temporary regulation permitting voluntary detection of CSAM by communication services. The current proposals aim to make such measures mandatory and more comprehensive.

• Regulation Proposals: The European Commission has proposed regulations that would require service providers to detect, report, and remove illegal content proactively. This would include the use of technologies to scan private communications.

Balancing Security and Privacy

EU officials argue that the proposed measures are a necessary response to evolving digital threats. They emphasize the importance of staying ahead of criminals who exploit technology to harm others. By implementing Chat Control, they believe law enforcement can be more effective without entirely dismantling privacy protections.

However, the EU also acknowledges the need to balance security with fundamental rights. The proposals include provisions intended to limit the scope of surveillance, such as:

• Targeted Scanning: Focusing on specific threats rather than broad, indiscriminate monitoring.

• Judicial Oversight: Requiring court orders or oversight for accessing private communications.

• Data Protection Safeguards: Implementing measures to ensure that data collected is handled securely and deleted when no longer needed.

The Urgency Behind the Push

High-profile cases of online abuse and terrorism have heightened the sense of urgency among EU policymakers. Reports of increasing online grooming and the widespread distribution of illegal content have prompted calls for immediate action. The EU posits that without measures like Chat Control, these problems will continue to escalate unchecked.

Criticism and Controversy

Despite the stated intentions, the push for Chat Control has been met with significant criticism. Opponents argue that the measures could be ineffective against savvy criminals who can find alternative ways to communicate. There is also concern that such surveillance could be misused or extended beyond its original purpose.

The Privacy Concerns and Risks

While the intentions behind Chat Control focus on enhancing security and protecting vulnerable groups, the proposed measures raise significant privacy concerns. Critics argue that implementing such surveillance could infringe on fundamental rights and set a dangerous precedent for mass monitoring of private communications.

Infringement on Privacy Rights

At the heart of the debate is the right to privacy. By scanning private messages, even with automated tools, the confidentiality of personal communications is compromised. Users may no longer feel secure sharing sensitive information, fearing that their messages could be intercepted or misinterpreted by algorithms.

Erosion of End-to-End Encryption

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a cornerstone of digital security, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read the messages exchanged. Chat Control could necessitate the introduction of "backdoors" or weaken encryption protocols, making it easier for unauthorized parties to access private data. This not only affects individual privacy but also exposes communications to potential cyber threats.

Concerns from Privacy Advocates

Organizations like Signal and Tutanota, which offer encrypted messaging services, have voiced strong opposition to Chat Control. They warn that undermining encryption could have far-reaching consequences:

• Security Risks: Weakening encryption makes systems more vulnerable to hacking, espionage, and cybercrime.
• Global Implications: Changes in EU regulations could influence policies worldwide, leading to a broader erosion of digital privacy.
• Ineffectiveness Against Crime: Determined criminals might resort to other, less detectable means of communication, rendering the measures ineffective while still compromising the privacy of law-abiding citizens.

Potential for Government Overreach

There is a fear that Chat Control could lead to increased surveillance beyond its original scope. Once the infrastructure for scanning private messages is in place, it could be repurposed or expanded to monitor other types of content, stifling free expression and dissent.

Real-World Implications for Users

• False Positives: Automated scanning technologies are not infallible and could mistakenly flag innocent content, leading to unwarranted scrutiny or legal consequences for users.
• Chilling Effect: Knowing that messages could be monitored might discourage people from expressing themselves freely, impacting personal relationships and societal discourse.
• Data Misuse: Collected data could be vulnerable to leaks or misuse, compromising personal and sensitive information.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Privacy advocates also highlight potential conflicts with existing laws and ethical standards:

• Violation of Fundamental Rights: The European Convention on Human Rights and other international agreements protect the right to privacy and freedom of expression.
• Questionable Effectiveness: The ethical justification for such invasive measures is challenged if they do not significantly improve safety or if they disproportionately impact innocent users.

Opposition from Member States and Organizations

Countries like Germany and organizations such as the European Digital Rights (EDRi) have expressed opposition to Chat Control. They emphasize the need to protect digital privacy and caution against hasty legislation that could have unintended consequences.

The Technical Debate: Encryption and Backdoors

The discussion around Chat Control inevitably leads to a complex technical debate centered on encryption and the potential introduction of backdoors into secure communication systems. Understanding these concepts is crucial to grasping the full implications of the proposed measures.

What Is End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)?

End-to-end encryption is a method of secure communication that prevents third parties from accessing data while it's transferred from one end system to another. In simpler terms, only the sender and the recipient can read the messages. Even the service providers operating the messaging platforms cannot decrypt the content.

• Security Assurance: E2EE ensures that sensitive information—be it personal messages, financial details, or confidential business communications—remains private.
• Widespread Use: Popular messaging apps like Signal, Session, SimpleX, Veilid, Protonmail and Tutanota (among others) rely on E2EE to protect user data.

How Chat Control Affects Encryption

Implementing Chat Control as proposed would require messaging services to scan the content of messages for illegal material. To do this on encrypted platforms, providers might have to:

• Introduce Backdoors: Create a means for third parties (including the service provider or authorities) to access encrypted messages.
• Client-Side Scanning: Install software on users' devices that scans messages before they are encrypted and sent, effectively bypassing E2EE.

The Risks of Weakening Encryption

1. Compromised Security for All Users

Introducing backdoors or client-side scanning tools can create vulnerabilities:

• Exploitable Gaps: If a backdoor exists, malicious actors might find and exploit it, leading to data breaches.
• Universal Impact: Weakening encryption doesn't just affect targeted individuals; it potentially exposes all users to increased risk.

2. Undermining Trust in Digital Services

• User Confidence: Knowing that private communications could be accessed might deter people from using digital services or push them toward unregulated platforms.
• Business Implications: Companies relying on secure communications might face increased risks, affecting economic activities.

3. Ineffectiveness Against Skilled Adversaries

• Alternative Methods: Criminals might shift to other encrypted channels or develop new ways to avoid detection.
• False Sense of Security: Weakening encryption could give the impression of increased safety while adversaries adapt and continue their activities undetected.

Signal’s Response and Stance

Signal, a leading encrypted messaging service, has been vocal in its opposition to the EU's proposals:

• Refusal to Weaken Encryption: Signal's CEO Meredith Whittaker has stated that the company would rather cease operations in the EU than compromise its encryption standards.
• Advocacy for Privacy: Signal emphasizes that strong encryption is essential for protecting human rights and freedoms in the digital age.

Understanding Backdoors

A "backdoor" in encryption is an intentional weakness inserted into a system to allow authorized access to encrypted data. While intended for legitimate use by authorities, backdoors pose several problems:

• Security Vulnerabilities: They can be discovered and exploited by unauthorized parties, including hackers and foreign governments.
• Ethical Concerns: The existence of backdoors raises questions about consent and the extent to which governments should be able to access private communications.

The Slippery Slope Argument

Privacy advocates warn that introducing backdoors or mandatory scanning sets a precedent:

• Expanded Surveillance: Once in place, these measures could be extended to monitor other types of content beyond the original scope.
• Erosion of Rights: Gradual acceptance of surveillance can lead to a significant reduction in personal freedoms over time.

Potential Technological Alternatives

Some suggest that it's possible to fight illegal content without undermining encryption:

• Metadata Analysis: Focusing on patterns of communication rather than content.
• Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms: Encouraging users to report illegal content voluntarily.
• Investing in Law Enforcement Capabilities: Strengthening traditional investigative methods without compromising digital security.

Conclusion of the Technical Debate

The technical community largely agrees that weakening encryption is not the solution:

• Consensus on Security: Strong encryption is essential for the safety and privacy of all internet users.
• Call for Dialogue: Technologists and privacy experts advocate for collaborative approaches that address security concerns without sacrificing fundamental rights.

Global Reactions and the Debate in Europe

The proposal for Chat Control has ignited a heated debate across Europe and beyond, with various stakeholders weighing in on the potential implications for privacy, security, and fundamental rights. The reactions are mixed, reflecting differing national perspectives, political priorities, and societal values.

Support for Chat Control

Some EU member states and officials support the initiative, emphasizing the need for robust measures to combat online crime and protect citizens, especially children. They argue that:

• Enhanced Security: Mandatory scanning can help law enforcement agencies detect and prevent serious crimes.
• Responsibility of Service Providers: Companies offering communication services should play an active role in preventing their platforms from being used for illegal activities.
• Public Safety Priorities: The protection of vulnerable populations justifies the implementation of such measures, even if it means compromising some aspects of privacy.

Opposition within the EU

Several countries and organizations have voiced strong opposition to Chat Control, citing concerns over privacy rights and the potential for government overreach.

Germany

• Stance: Germany has been one of the most vocal opponents of the proposed measures.
• Reasons:
• Constitutional Concerns: The German government argues that Chat Control could violate constitutional protections of privacy and confidentiality of communications.
• Security Risks: Weakening encryption is seen as a threat to cybersecurity.
• Legal Challenges: Potential conflicts with national laws protecting personal data and communication secrecy.

Netherlands

• Recent Developments: The Dutch government decided against supporting Chat Control, emphasizing the importance of encryption for security and privacy.
• Arguments:
• Effectiveness Doubts: Skepticism about the actual effectiveness of the measures in combating crime.
• Negative Impact on Privacy: Concerns about mass surveillance and the infringement of citizens' rights.

Table reference: Patrick Breyer - Chat Control in 23 September 2024

Privacy Advocacy Groups

European Digital Rights (EDRi)

• Role: A network of civil and human rights organizations working to defend rights and freedoms in the digital environment.
• Position:
• Strong Opposition: EDRi argues that Chat Control is incompatible with fundamental rights.
• Awareness Campaigns: Engaging in public campaigns to inform citizens about the potential risks.
• Policy Engagement: Lobbying policymakers to consider alternative approaches that respect privacy.

Politicians and Activists

Patrick Breyer

• Background: A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany, representing the Pirate Party.
• Actions:
• Advocacy: Actively campaigning against Chat Control through speeches, articles, and legislative efforts.
• Public Outreach: Using social media and public events to raise awareness.
• Legal Expertise: Highlighting the legal inconsistencies and potential violations of EU law.

Global Reactions

International Organizations

• Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International: These organizations have expressed concerns about the implications for human rights, urging the EU to reconsider.

Technology Companies

• Global Tech Firms: Companies like Apple and Microsoft are monitoring the situation, as EU regulations could affect their operations and user trust.
• Industry Associations: Groups representing tech companies have issued statements highlighting the risks to innovation and competitiveness.

The Broader Debate

The controversy over Chat Control reflects a broader struggle between security interests and privacy rights in the digital age. Key points in the debate include:

• Legal Precedents: How the EU's decision might influence laws and regulations in other countries.
• Digital Sovereignty: The desire of nations to control digital spaces within their borders.
• Civil Liberties: The importance of protecting freedoms in the face of technological advancements.

Public Opinion

• Diverse Views: Surveys and public forums show a range of opinions, with some citizens prioritizing security and others valuing privacy above all.
• Awareness Levels: Many people are still unaware of the potential changes, highlighting the need for public education on the issue.

Conclusion of the Debate

The EU is at a crossroads, facing the challenge of addressing legitimate security concerns without undermining the fundamental rights that are central to its values. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the future of digital privacy and the balance between security and freedom in society.

Possible Consequences for Messaging Services

The implementation of Chat Control could have significant implications for messaging services operating within the European Union. Both large platforms and smaller providers might need to adapt their technologies and policies to comply with the new regulations, potentially altering the landscape of digital communication.

Impact on Encrypted Messaging Services

Signal and Similar Platforms

• Compliance Challenges: Encrypted messaging services like Signal rely on end-to-end encryption to secure user communications. Complying with Chat Control could force them to weaken their encryption protocols or implement client-side scanning, conflicting with their core privacy principles.

• Operational Decisions: Some platforms may choose to limit their services in the EU or cease operations altogether rather than compromise on encryption. Signal, for instance, has indicated that it would prefer to withdraw from European markets than undermine its security features.

Potential Blocking or Limiting of Services

• Regulatory Enforcement: Messaging services that do not comply with Chat Control regulations could face fines, legal action, or even be blocked within the EU.

• Access Restrictions: Users in Europe might find certain services unavailable or limited in functionality if providers decide not to meet the regulatory requirements.

Effects on Smaller Providers

• Resource Constraints: Smaller messaging services and startups may lack the resources to implement the required scanning technologies, leading to increased operational costs or forcing them out of the market.

• Innovation Stifling: The added regulatory burden could deter new entrants, reducing competition and innovation in the messaging service sector.

User Experience and Trust

• Privacy Concerns: Users may lose trust in messaging platforms if they know their communications are subject to scanning, leading to a decline in user engagement.

• Migration to Unregulated Platforms: There is a risk that users might shift to less secure or unregulated services, including those operated outside the EU or on the dark web, potentially exposing them to greater risks.

Technical and Security Implications

• Increased Vulnerabilities: Modifying encryption protocols to comply with Chat Control could introduce security flaws, making platforms more susceptible to hacking and data breaches.

• Global Security Risks: Changes made to accommodate EU regulations might affect the global user base of these services, extending security risks beyond European borders.

Impact on Businesses and Professional Communications

• Confidentiality Issues: Businesses that rely on secure messaging for sensitive communications may face challenges in ensuring confidentiality, affecting sectors like finance, healthcare, and legal services.

• Compliance Complexity: Companies operating internationally will need to navigate a complex landscape of differing regulations, increasing administrative burdens.

Economic Consequences

• Market Fragmentation: Divergent regulations could lead to a fragmented market, with different versions of services for different regions.

• Loss of Revenue: Messaging services might experience reduced revenue due to decreased user trust and engagement or the costs associated with compliance.

Responses from Service Providers

• Legal Challenges: Companies might pursue legal action against the regulations, citing conflicts with privacy laws and user rights.

• Policy Advocacy: Service providers may increase lobbying efforts to influence policy decisions and promote alternatives to Chat Control.

Possible Adaptations

• Technological Innovation: Some providers might invest in developing new technologies that can detect illegal content without compromising encryption, though the feasibility remains uncertain.

• Transparency Measures: To maintain user trust, companies might enhance transparency about how data is handled and what measures are in place to protect privacy.

Summary of Consequences

The potential consequences of Chat Control for messaging services are profound, affecting not only the companies that provide these services but also the users who rely on them daily. The balance between complying with legal requirements and maintaining user privacy and security presents a significant challenge that could reshape the digital communication landscape.

What Happens Next? The Future of Chat Control

The future of Chat Control remains uncertain as the debate continues among EU member states, policymakers, technology companies, and civil society organizations. Several factors will influence the outcome of this contentious proposal, each carrying significant implications for digital privacy, security, and the regulatory environment within the European Union.

Current Status of Legislation

• Ongoing Negotiations: The proposed Chat Control measures are still under discussion within the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Amendments and revisions are being considered in response to the feedback from various stakeholders.

• Timeline: While there is no fixed date for the final decision, the EU aims to reach a consensus to implement effective measures against online crime without undue delay.

Key Influencing Factors

1. Legal Challenges and Compliance with EU Law

• Fundamental Rights Assessment: The proposals must be evaluated against the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, ensuring that any measures comply with rights to privacy, data protection, and freedom of expression.

• Court Scrutiny: Potential legal challenges could arise, leading to scrutiny by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which may impact the feasibility and legality of Chat Control.

2. Technological Feasibility

• Development of Privacy-Preserving Technologies: Research into methods that can detect illegal content without compromising encryption is ongoing. Advances in this area could provide alternative solutions acceptable to both privacy advocates and security agencies.

• Implementation Challenges: The practical aspects of deploying scanning technologies across various platforms and services remain complex, and technical hurdles could delay or alter the proposed measures.

3. Political Dynamics

• Member State Positions: The differing stances of EU countries, such as Germany's opposition, play a significant role in shaping the final outcome. Consensus among member states is crucial for adopting EU-wide regulations.

• Public Opinion and Advocacy: Growing awareness and activism around digital privacy can influence policymakers. Public campaigns and lobbying efforts may sway decisions in favor of stronger privacy protections.

4. Industry Responses

• Negotiations with Service Providers: Ongoing dialogues between EU authorities and technology companies may lead to compromises or collaborative efforts to address concerns without fully implementing Chat Control as initially proposed.

• Potential for Self-Regulation: Messaging services might propose self-regulatory measures to combat illegal content, aiming to demonstrate effectiveness without the need for mandatory scanning.

Possible Scenarios

Optimistic Outcome:

• Balanced Regulation: A revised proposal emerges that effectively addresses security concerns while upholding strong encryption and privacy rights, possibly through innovative technologies or targeted measures with robust oversight.

Pessimistic Outcome:

• Adoption of Strict Measures: Chat Control is implemented as initially proposed, leading to weakened encryption, reduced privacy, and potential withdrawal of services like Signal from the EU market.

Middle Ground:

• Incremental Implementation: Partial measures are adopted, focusing on voluntary cooperation with service providers and emphasizing transparency and user consent, with ongoing evaluations to assess effectiveness and impact.

How to Stay Informed and Protect Your Privacy

• Follow Reputable Sources: Keep up with news from reliable outlets, official EU communications, and statements from privacy organizations to stay informed about developments.

• Engage in the Dialogue: Participate in public consultations, sign petitions, or contact representatives to express your views on Chat Control and digital privacy.

• Utilize Secure Practices: Regardless of legislative outcomes, adopting good digital hygiene—such as using strong passwords and being cautious with personal information—can enhance your online security.

The Global Perspective

• International Implications: The EU's decision may influence global policies on encryption and surveillance, setting precedents that other countries might follow or react against.

• Collaboration Opportunities: International cooperation on developing solutions that protect both security and privacy could emerge, fostering a more unified approach to addressing online threats.

Looking Ahead

The future of Chat Control is a critical issue that underscores the challenges of governing in the digital age. Balancing the need for security with the protection of fundamental rights is a complex task that requires careful consideration, open dialogue, and collaboration among all stakeholders.

As the situation evolves, staying informed and engaged is essential. The decisions made in the coming months will shape the digital landscape for years to come, affecting how we communicate, conduct business, and exercise our rights in an increasingly connected world.

Conclusion

The debate over Chat Control highlights a fundamental challenge in our increasingly digital world: how to protect society from genuine threats without eroding the very rights and freedoms that define it. While the intention to safeguard children and prevent crime is undeniably important, the means of achieving this through intrusive surveillance measures raise critical concerns.

Privacy is not just a personal preference but a cornerstone of democratic societies. End-to-end encryption has become an essential tool for ensuring that our personal conversations, professional communications, and sensitive data remain secure from unwanted intrusion. Weakening these protections could expose individuals and organizations to risks that far outweigh the proposed benefits.

The potential consequences of implementing Chat Control are far-reaching:

• Erosion of Trust: Users may lose confidence in digital platforms, impacting how we communicate and conduct business online.
• Security Vulnerabilities: Introducing backdoors or weakening encryption can make systems more susceptible to cyberattacks.
• Stifling Innovation: Regulatory burdens may hinder technological advancement and competitiveness in the tech industry.
• Global Implications: The EU's decisions could set precedents that influence digital policies worldwide, for better or worse.

As citizens, it's crucial to stay informed about these developments. Engage in conversations, reach out to your representatives, and advocate for solutions that respect both security needs and fundamental rights. Technology and policy can evolve together to address challenges without compromising core values.

The future of Chat Control is not yet decided, and public input can make a significant difference. By promoting open dialogue, supporting privacy-preserving innovations, and emphasizing the importance of human rights in legislation, we can work towards a digital landscape that is both safe and free.

In a world where digital communication is integral to daily life, striking the right balance between security and privacy is more important than ever. The choices made today will shape the digital environment for generations to come, determining not just how we communicate, but how we live and interact in an interconnected world.

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Thank you for reading this article. We hope it has provided you with a clear understanding of Chat Control and its potential impact on your privacy and digital rights. Stay informed, stay engaged, and let's work together towards a secure and open digital future.

Read more:

• https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/posts/chat-control/
• https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/new-eu-push-for-chat-control-will-messenger-services-be-blocked-in-europe/
• https://edri.org/our-work/dutch-decision-puts-brakes-on-chat-control/
• https://signal.org/blog/pdfs/ndss-keynote.pdf
• https://tuta.com/blog/germany-stop-chat-control
• https://cointelegraph.com/news/signal-president-slams-revised-eu-encryption-proposal
• https://mullvad.net/en/why-privacy-matters

@ 4ba8e86d:89d32de4

O que é Cwtch? Cwtch (/kʊtʃ/ - uma palavra galesa que pode ser traduzida aproximadamente como “um abraço que cria um lugar seguro”) é um protocolo de mensagens multipartidário descentralizado, que preserva a privacidade, que pode ser usado para construir aplicativos resistentes a metadados.

Como posso pronunciar Cwtch? Como "kutch", para rimar com "butch".

Descentralizado e Aberto : Não existe “serviço Cwtch” ou “rede Cwtch”. Os participantes do Cwtch podem hospedar seus próprios espaços seguros ou emprestar sua infraestrutura para outras pessoas que buscam um espaço seguro. O protocolo Cwtch é aberto e qualquer pessoa é livre para criar bots, serviços e interfaces de usuário e integrar e interagir com o Cwtch.

Preservação de privacidade : toda a comunicação no Cwtch é criptografada de ponta a ponta e ocorre nos serviços cebola Tor v3.

Resistente a metadados : O Cwtch foi projetado de forma que nenhuma informação seja trocada ou disponibilizada a ninguém sem seu consentimento explícito, incluindo mensagens durante a transmissão e metadados de protocolo

Uma breve história do bate-papo resistente a metadados Nos últimos anos, a conscientização pública sobre a necessidade e os benefícios das soluções criptografadas de ponta a ponta aumentou com aplicativos como Signal , Whatsapp e Wire. que agora fornecem aos usuários comunicações seguras.

No entanto, essas ferramentas exigem vários níveis de exposição de metadados para funcionar, e muitos desses metadados podem ser usados ​​para obter detalhes sobre como e por que uma pessoa está usando uma ferramenta para se comunicar.

Uma ferramenta que buscou reduzir metadados é o Ricochet lançado pela primeira vez em 2014. Ricochet usou os serviços cebola Tor v2 para fornecer comunicação criptografada segura de ponta a ponta e para proteger os metadados das comunicações.

Não havia servidores centralizados que auxiliassem no roteamento das conversas do Ricochet. Ninguém além das partes envolvidas em uma conversa poderia saber que tal conversa está ocorrendo.

Ricochet tinha limitações; não havia suporte para vários dispositivos, nem existe um mecanismo para suportar a comunicação em grupo ou para um usuário enviar mensagens enquanto um contato está offline.

Isto tornou a adoção do Ricochet uma proposta difícil; mesmo aqueles em ambientes que seriam melhor atendidos pela resistência aos metadados, sem saber que ela existe.

Além disso, qualquer solução para comunicação descentralizada e resistente a metadados enfrenta problemas fundamentais quando se trata de eficiência, privacidade e segurança de grupo conforme definido pelo consenso e consistência da transcrição.

Alternativas modernas ao Ricochet incluem Briar , Zbay e Ricochet Refresh - cada ferramenta procura otimizar para um conjunto diferente de compensações, por exemplo, Briar procura permitir que as pessoas se comuniquem mesmo quando a infraestrutura de rede subjacente está inoperante, ao mesmo tempo que fornece resistência à vigilância de metadados.

O projeto Cwtch começou em 2017 como um protocolo de extensão para Ricochet, fornecendo conversas em grupo por meio de servidores não confiáveis, com o objetivo de permitir aplicativos descentralizados e resistentes a metadados como listas compartilhadas e quadros de avisos.

Uma versão alfa do Cwtch foi lançada em fevereiro de 2019 e, desde então, a equipe do Cwtch dirigida pela OPEN PRIVACY RESEARCH SOCIETY conduziu pesquisa e desenvolvimento em cwtch e nos protocolos, bibliotecas e espaços de problemas subjacentes.

Modelo de Risco.

Sabe-se que os metadados de comunicações são explorados por vários adversários para minar a segurança dos sistemas, para rastrear vítimas e para realizar análises de redes sociais em grande escala para alimentar a vigilância em massa. As ferramentas resistentes a metadados estão em sua infância e faltam pesquisas sobre a construção e a experiência do usuário de tais ferramentas.

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O Cwtch foi originalmente concebido como uma extensão do protocolo Ricochet resistente a metadados para suportar comunicações assíncronas de grupos multiponto por meio do uso de infraestrutura anônima, descartável e não confiável.

Desde então, o Cwtch evoluiu para um protocolo próprio. Esta seção descreverá os vários riscos conhecidos que o Cwtch tenta mitigar e será fortemente referenciado no restante do documento ao discutir os vários subcomponentes da Arquitetura Cwtch.

Modelo de ameaça.

É importante identificar e compreender que os metadados são omnipresentes nos protocolos de comunicação; é de facto necessário que tais protocolos funcionem de forma eficiente e em escala. No entanto, as informações que são úteis para facilitar peers e servidores também são altamente relevantes para adversários que desejam explorar tais informações.

Para a definição do nosso problema, assumiremos que o conteúdo de uma comunicação é criptografado de tal forma que um adversário é praticamente incapaz de quebrá-lo veja tapir e cwtch para detalhes sobre a criptografia que usamos, e como tal nos concentraremos em o contexto para os metadados de comunicação.

Procuramos proteger os seguintes contextos de comunicação:

• Quem está envolvido em uma comunicação? Pode ser possível identificar pessoas ou simplesmente identificadores de dispositivos ou redes. Por exemplo, “esta comunicação envolve Alice, uma jornalista, e Bob, um funcionário público”.

• Onde estão os participantes da conversa? Por exemplo, “durante esta comunicação, Alice estava na França e Bob estava no Canadá”.

• Quando ocorreu uma conversa? O momento e a duração da comunicação podem revelar muito sobre a natureza de uma chamada, por exemplo, “Bob, um funcionário público, conversou com Alice ao telefone por uma hora ontem à noite. Esta é a primeira vez que eles se comunicam.” *Como a conversa foi mediada? O fato de uma conversa ter ocorrido por meio de um e-mail criptografado ou não criptografado pode fornecer informações úteis. Por exemplo, “Alice enviou um e-mail criptografado para Bob ontem, enquanto eles normalmente enviam apenas e-mails de texto simples um para o outro”.

• Sobre o que é a conversa? Mesmo que o conteúdo da comunicação seja criptografado, às vezes é possível derivar um contexto provável de uma conversa sem saber exatamente o que é dito, por exemplo, “uma pessoa ligou para uma pizzaria na hora do jantar” ou “alguém ligou para um número conhecido de linha direta de suicídio na hora do jantar”. 3 horas da manhã."

Além das conversas individuais, também procuramos defender-nos contra ataques de correlação de contexto, através dos quais múltiplas conversas são analisadas para obter informações de nível superior:

• Relacionamentos: Descobrir relações sociais entre um par de entidades analisando a frequência e a duração de suas comunicações durante um período de tempo. Por exemplo, Carol e Eve ligam uma para a outra todos os dias durante várias horas seguidas.

• Cliques: Descobrir relações sociais entre um grupo de entidades que interagem entre si. Por exemplo, Alice, Bob e Eva se comunicam entre si.

• Grupos vagamente conectados e indivíduos-ponte: descobrir grupos que se comunicam entre si através de intermediários, analisando cadeias de comunicação (por exemplo, toda vez que Alice fala com Bob, ela fala com Carol quase imediatamente depois; Bob e Carol nunca se comunicam).

• Padrão de Vida: Descobrir quais comunicações são cíclicas e previsíveis. Por exemplo, Alice liga para Eve toda segunda-feira à noite por cerca de uma hora. Ataques Ativos

Ataques de deturpação.

O Cwtch não fornece registro global de nomes de exibição e, como tal, as pessoas que usam o Cwtch são mais vulneráveis ​​a ataques baseados em declarações falsas, ou seja, pessoas que fingem ser outras pessoas:

O fluxo básico de um desses ataques é o seguinte, embora também existam outros fluxos:

•Alice tem um amigo chamado Bob e outro chamado Eve

• Eve descobre que Alice tem um amigo chamado Bob

• Eve cria milhares de novas contas para encontrar uma que tenha uma imagem/chave pública semelhante à de Bob (não será idêntica, mas pode enganar alguém por alguns minutos)

• Eve chama essa nova conta de "Eve New Account" e adiciona Alice como amiga.

• Eve então muda seu nome em "Eve New Account" para "Bob"

• Alice envia mensagens destinadas a "Bob" para a conta falsa de Bob de Eve Como os ataques de declarações falsas são inerentemente uma questão de confiança e verificação, a única maneira absoluta de evitá-los é os usuários validarem absolutamente a chave pública. Obviamente, isso não é o ideal e, em muitos casos, simplesmente não acontecerá .

Como tal, pretendemos fornecer algumas dicas de experiência do usuário na interface do usuário para orientar as pessoas na tomada de decisões sobre confiar em contas e/ou distinguir contas que possam estar tentando se representar como outros usuários.

Uma nota sobre ataques físicos A Cwtch não considera ataques que exijam acesso físico (ou equivalente) à máquina do usuário como praticamente defensáveis. No entanto, no interesse de uma boa engenharia de segurança, ao longo deste documento ainda nos referiremos a ataques ou condições que exigem tal privilégio e indicaremos onde quaisquer mitigações que implementámos falharão.

Um perfil Cwtch.

Os usuários podem criar um ou mais perfis Cwtch. Cada perfil gera um par de chaves ed25519 aleatório compatível com Tor.

Além do material criptográfico, um perfil também contém uma lista de Contatos (outras chaves públicas do perfil Cwtch + dados associados sobre esse perfil, como apelido e (opcionalmente) mensagens históricas), uma lista de Grupos (contendo o material criptográfico do grupo, além de outros dados associados, como apelido do grupo e mensagens históricas).

Conversões entre duas partes: ponto a ponto

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Para que duas partes participem de uma conversa ponto a ponto, ambas devem estar on-line, mas apenas uma precisa estar acessível por meio do serviço Onion. Por uma questão de clareza, muitas vezes rotulamos uma parte como “ponto de entrada” (aquele que hospeda o serviço cebola) e a outra parte como “ponto de saída” (aquele que se conecta ao serviço cebola).

Após a conexão, ambas as partes adotam um protocolo de autenticação que:

• Afirma que cada parte tem acesso à chave privada associada à sua identidade pública.

• Gera uma chave de sessão efêmera usada para criptografar todas as comunicações futuras durante a sessão.

Esta troca (documentada com mais detalhes no protocolo de autenticação ) é negável offline , ou seja, é possível para qualquer parte falsificar transcrições desta troca de protocolo após o fato e, como tal - após o fato - é impossível provar definitivamente que a troca aconteceu de forma alguma.

Após o protocolo de autenticação, as duas partes podem trocar mensagens livremente.

Conversas em Grupo e Comunicação Ponto a Servidor

Ao iniciar uma conversa em grupo, é gerada uma chave aleatória para o grupo, conhecida como Group Key. Todas as comunicações do grupo são criptografadas usando esta chave. Além disso, o criador do grupo escolhe um servidor Cwtch para hospedar o grupo. Um convite é gerado, incluindo o Group Key, o servidor do grupo e a chave do grupo, para ser enviado aos potenciais membros.

Para enviar uma mensagem ao grupo, um perfil se conecta ao servidor do grupo e criptografa a mensagem usando a Group Key, gerando também uma assinatura sobre o Group ID, o servidor do grupo e a mensagem. Para receber mensagens do grupo, um perfil se conecta ao servidor e baixa as mensagens, tentando descriptografá-las usando a Group Key e verificando a assinatura.

Detalhamento do Ecossistema de Componentes

O Cwtch é composto por várias bibliotecas de componentes menores, cada uma desempenhando um papel específico. Algumas dessas bibliotecas incluem:

• abertoprivacidade/conectividade: Abstração de rede ACN, atualmente suportando apenas Tor.
• cwtch.im/tapir: Biblioteca para construção de aplicativos p2p em sistemas de comunicação anônimos.
• cwtch.im/cwtch: Biblioteca principal para implementação do protocolo/sistema Cwtch.
• cwtch.im/libcwtch-go: Fornece ligações C para Cwtch para uso em implementações de UI.

TAPIR: Uma Visão Detalhada

Projetado para substituir os antigos canais de ricochete baseados em protobuf, o Tapir fornece uma estrutura para a construção de aplicativos anônimos.

Está dividido em várias camadas:

• Identidade - Um par de chaves ed25519, necessário para estabelecer um serviço cebola Tor v3 e usado para manter uma identidade criptográfica consistente para um par.

• Conexões – O protocolo de rede bruto que conecta dois pares. Até agora, as conexões são definidas apenas através do Tor v3 Onion Services.

• Aplicativos - As diversas lógicas que permitem um determinado fluxo de informações em uma conexão. Os exemplos incluem transcrições criptográficas compartilhadas, autenticação, proteção contra spam e serviços baseados em tokens. Os aplicativos fornecem recursos que podem ser referenciados por outros aplicativos para determinar se um determinado peer tem a capacidade de usar um determinado aplicativo hospedado.

• Pilhas de aplicativos - Um mecanismo para conectar mais de um aplicativo, por exemplo, a autenticação depende de uma transcrição criptográfica compartilhada e o aplicativo peer cwtch principal é baseado no aplicativo de autenticação.

Identidade.

Um par de chaves ed25519, necessário para estabelecer um serviço cebola Tor v3 e usado para manter uma identidade criptográfica consistente para um peer.

InitializeIdentity - de um par de chaves conhecido e persistente:i,I

InitializeEphemeralIdentity - de um par de chaves aleatório: ie,Ie

Aplicativos de transcrição.

Inicializa uma transcrição criptográfica baseada em Merlin que pode ser usada como base de protocolos baseados em compromisso de nível superior

O aplicativo de transcrição entrará em pânico se um aplicativo tentar substituir uma transcrição existente por uma nova (aplicando a regra de que uma sessão é baseada em uma e apenas uma transcrição).

Merlin é uma construção de transcrição baseada em STROBE para provas de conhecimento zero. Ele automatiza a transformação Fiat-Shamir, para que, usando Merlin, protocolos não interativos possam ser implementados como se fossem interativos.

Isto é significativamente mais fácil e menos sujeito a erros do que realizar a transformação manualmente e, além disso, também fornece suporte natural para:

• protocolos multi-round com fases alternadas de commit e desafio;

• separação natural de domínios, garantindo que os desafios estejam vinculados às afirmações a serem provadas;

• enquadramento automático de mensagens, evitando codificação ambígua de dados de compromisso;

• e composição do protocolo, usando uma transcrição comum para vários protocolos.

Finalmente, o Merlin também fornece um gerador de números aleatórios baseado em transcrição como defesa profunda contra ataques de entropia ruim (como reutilização de nonce ou preconceito em muitas provas). Este RNG fornece aleatoriedade sintética derivada de toda a transcrição pública, bem como dos dados da testemunha do provador e uma entrada auxiliar de um RNG externo.

Conectividade Cwtch faz uso do Tor Onion Services (v3) para todas as comunicações entre nós.

Fornecemos o pacote openprivacy/connectivity para gerenciar o daemon Tor e configurar e desmontar serviços cebola através do Tor.

Criptografia e armazenamento de perfil.

Os perfis são armazenados localmente no disco e criptografados usando uma chave derivada de uma senha conhecida pelo usuário (via pbkdf2).

Observe que, uma vez criptografado e armazenado em disco, a única maneira de recuperar um perfil é recuperando a senha - como tal, não é possível fornecer uma lista completa de perfis aos quais um usuário pode ter acesso até inserir uma senha.

Perfis não criptografados e a senha padrão Para lidar com perfis "não criptografados" (ou seja, que não exigem senha para serem abertos), atualmente criamos um perfil com uma senha codificada de fato .

Isso não é o ideal, preferiríamos confiar no material de chave fornecido pelo sistema operacional, de modo que o perfil fosse vinculado a um dispositivo específico, mas esses recursos são atualmente uma colcha de retalhos - também notamos, ao criar um perfil não criptografado, pessoas que usam Cwtch estão explicitamente optando pelo risco de que alguém com acesso ao sistema de arquivos possa descriptografar seu perfil.

Vulnerabilidades Relacionadas a Imagens e Entrada de Dados

Imagens Maliciosas

O Cwtch enfrenta desafios na renderização de imagens, com o Flutter utilizando Skia, embora o código subjacente não seja totalmente seguro para a memória.

Realizamos testes de fuzzing nos componentes Cwtch e encontramos um bug de travamento causado por um arquivo GIF malformado, levando a falhas no kernel. Para mitigar isso, adotamos a política de sempre habilitar cacheWidth e/ou cacheHeight máximo para widgets de imagem.

Identificamos o risco de imagens maliciosas serem renderizadas de forma diferente em diferentes plataformas, como evidenciado por um bug no analisador PNG da Apple.

Riscos de Entrada de Dados

Um risco significativo é a interceptação de conteúdo ou metadados por meio de um Input Method Editor (IME) em dispositivos móveis. Mesmo aplicativos IME padrão podem expor dados por meio de sincronização na nuvem, tradução online ou dicionários pessoais.

Implementamos medidas de mitigação, como enableIMEPersonalizedLearning: false no Cwtch 1.2, mas a solução completa requer ações em nível de sistema operacional e é um desafio contínuo para a segurança móvel.

Servidor Cwtch.

O objetivo do protocolo Cwtch é permitir a comunicação em grupo através de infraestrutura não confiável .

Ao contrário dos esquemas baseados em retransmissão, onde os grupos atribuem um líder, um conjunto de líderes ou um servidor confiável de terceiros para garantir que cada membro do grupo possa enviar e receber mensagens em tempo hábil (mesmo que os membros estejam offline) - infraestrutura não confiável tem o objetivo de realizar essas propriedades sem a suposição de confiança.

O artigo original do Cwtch definia um conjunto de propriedades que se esperava que os servidores Cwtch fornecessem:

• O Cwtch Server pode ser usado por vários grupos ou apenas um.

• Um servidor Cwtch, sem a colaboração de um membro do grupo, nunca deve aprender a identidade dos participantes de um grupo.

• Um servidor Cwtch nunca deve aprender o conteúdo de qualquer comunicação.

• Um servidor Cwtch nunca deve ser capaz de distinguir mensagens como pertencentes a um grupo específico. Observamos aqui que essas propriedades são um superconjunto dos objetivos de design das estruturas de Recuperação de Informações Privadas.

Melhorias na Eficiência e Segurança

Eficiência do Protocolo

Atualmente, apenas um protocolo conhecido, o PIR ingênuo, atende às propriedades desejadas para garantir a privacidade na comunicação do grupo Cwtch. Este método tem um impacto direto na eficiência da largura de banda, especialmente para usuários em dispositivos móveis. Em resposta a isso, estamos ativamente desenvolvendo novos protocolos que permitem negociar garantias de privacidade e eficiência de maneiras diversas.

Os servidores, no momento desta escrita, permitem o download completo de todas as mensagens armazenadas, bem como uma solicitação para baixar mensagens específicas a partir de uma determinada mensagem. Quando os pares ingressam em um grupo em um novo servidor, eles baixam todas as mensagens do servidor inicialmente e, posteriormente, apenas as mensagens novas.

Mitigação de Análise de Metadados

Essa abordagem permite uma análise moderada de metadados, pois o servidor pode enviar novas mensagens para cada perfil suspeito exclusivo e usar essas assinaturas de mensagens exclusivas para rastrear sessões ao longo do tempo. Essa preocupação é mitigada por dois fatores:

1. Os perfis podem atualizar suas conexões a qualquer momento, resultando em uma nova sessão do servidor.
2. Os perfis podem ser "ressincronizados" de um servidor a qualquer momento, resultando em uma nova chamada para baixar todas as mensagens. Isso é comumente usado para buscar mensagens antigas de um grupo.

Embora essas medidas imponham limites ao que o servidor pode inferir, ainda não podemos garantir resistência total aos metadados. Para soluções futuras para esse problema, consulte Niwl.

Proteção contra Pares Maliciosos

Os servidores enfrentam o risco de spam gerado por pares, representando uma ameaça significativa à eficácia do sistema Cwtch. Embora tenhamos implementado um mecanismo de proteção contra spam no protótipo do Cwtch, exigindo que os pares realizem alguma prova de trabalho especificada pelo servidor, reconhecemos que essa não é uma solução robusta na presença de um adversário determinado com recursos significativos.

Pacotes de Chaves

Os servidores Cwtch se identificam por meio de pacotes de chaves assinados, contendo uma lista de chaves necessárias para garantir a segurança e resistência aos metadados na comunicação do grupo Cwtch. Esses pacotes de chaves geralmente incluem três chaves: uma chave pública do serviço Tor v3 Onion para o Token Board, uma chave pública do Tor v3 Onion Service para o Token Service e uma chave pública do Privacy Pass.

Para verificar os pacotes de chaves, os perfis que os importam do servidor utilizam o algoritmo trust-on-first-use (TOFU), verificando a assinatura anexada e a existência de todos os tipos de chave. Se o perfil já tiver importado o pacote de chaves do servidor anteriormente, todas as chaves são consideradas iguais.

Configuração prévia do aplicativo para ativar o Relé do Cwtch.

No Android, a hospedagem de servidor não está habilitada, pois essa opção não está disponível devido às limitações dos dispositivos Android. Essa funcionalidade está reservada apenas para servidores hospedados em desktops.

No Android, a única forma direta de importar uma chave de servidor é através do grupo de teste Cwtch, garantindo assim acesso ao servidor Cwtch.

Primeiro passo é Habilitar a opção de grupo no Cwtch que está em fase de testes. Clique na opção no canto superior direito da tela de configuração e pressione o botão para acessar as configurações do Cwtch.

Você pode alterar o idioma para Português do Brasil.Depois, role para baixo e selecione a opção para ativar os experimentos. Em seguida, ative a opção para habilitar o chat em grupo e a pré-visualização de imagens e fotos de perfil, permitindo que você troque sua foto de perfil.

https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jvss6zxle26jdguwaegtjdixhfka/production/f0ca039733d48895001261ab25c5d2efbaf3bf26e55aad3cce406646f9af9d15.MP4

Próximo passo é Criar um perfil.

Pressione o + botão de ação no canto inferior direito e selecione "Novo perfil" ou aberta no botão + adicionar novo perfil.

• Selecione um nome de exibição

• Selecione se deseja proteger

este perfil e salvo localmente com criptografia forte: Senha: sua conta está protegida de outras pessoas que possam usar este dispositivo

Sem senha: qualquer pessoa que tenha acesso a este dispositivo poderá acessar este perfil.

Preencha sua senha e digite-a novamente

Os perfis são armazenados localmente no disco e criptografados usando uma chave derivada de uma senha conhecida pelo usuário (via pbkdf2).

Observe que, uma vez criptografado e armazenado em disco, a única maneira de recuperar um perfil é recuperando a chave da senha - como tal, não é possível fornecer uma lista completa de perfis aos quais um usuário pode ter acesso até inserir um senha.

https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jxqbqmur2lcqe2eym5thgz4so2ya/production/8f9df1372ec7e659180609afa48be22b12109ae5e1eda9ef1dc05c1325652507.MP4

O próximo passo é adicionar o FuzzBot, que é um bot de testes e de desenvolvimento.

Contato do FuzzBot: 4y2hxlxqzautabituedksnh2ulcgm2coqbure6wvfpg4gi2ci25ta5ad.

Ao enviar o comando "testgroup-invite" para o FuzzBot, você receberá um convite para entrar no Grupo Cwtch Test. Ao ingressar no grupo, você será automaticamente conectado ao servidor Cwtch. Você pode optar por sair do grupo a qualquer momento ou ficar para conversar e tirar dúvidas sobre o aplicativo e outros assuntos. Depois, você pode configurar seu próprio servidor Cwtch, o que é altamente recomendável.

https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jvji25zclkoqcouni5decle7if7a/production/ee3de3540a3e3dca6e6e26d303e12c2ef892a5d7769029275b8b95ffc7468780.MP4

Agora você pode utilizar o aplicativo normalmente. Algumas observações que notei: se houver demora na conexão com outra pessoa, ambas devem estar online. Se ainda assim a conexão não for estabelecida, basta clicar no ícone de reset do Tor para restabelecer a conexão com a outra pessoa.

Uma introdução aos perfis Cwtch.

Com Cwtch você pode criar um ou mais perfis . Cada perfil gera um par de chaves ed25519 aleatório compatível com a Rede Tor.

Este é o identificador que você pode fornecer às pessoas e que elas podem usar para entrar em contato com você via Cwtch.

Cwtch permite criar e gerenciar vários perfis separados. Cada perfil está associado a um par de chaves diferente que inicia um serviço cebola diferente.

Gerenciar Na inicialização, o Cwtch abrirá a tela Gerenciar Perfis. Nessa tela você pode:

• Crie um novo perfil.
• Desbloquear perfis.
• Criptografados existentes.
• Gerenciar perfis carregados.
• Alterando o nome de exibição de um perfil.
• Alterando a senha de um perfil Excluindo um perfil.
• Alterando uma imagem de perfil.

Backup ou exportação de um perfil.

Na tela de gerenciamento de perfil:

1. Selecione o lápis ao lado do perfil que você deseja editar

2. Role para baixo até a parte inferior da tela.

3. Selecione "Exportar perfil"

4. Escolha um local e um nome de arquivo.

5.confirme.

Uma vez confirmado, o Cwtch colocará uma cópia do perfil no local indicado. Este arquivo é criptografado no mesmo nível do perfil.

Este arquivo pode ser importado para outra instância do Cwtch em qualquer dispositivo.

Importando um perfil.

1. Pressione o +botão de ação no canto inferior direito e selecione "Importar perfil"

2. Selecione um arquivo de perfil Cwtch exportado para importar

3. Digite a senha associada ao perfil e confirme.

Uma vez confirmado, o Cwtch tentará descriptografar o arquivo fornecido usando uma chave derivada da senha fornecida. Se for bem-sucedido, o perfil aparecerá na tela Gerenciamento de perfil e estará pronto para uso.

OBSERVAÇÃO Embora um perfil possa ser importado para vários dispositivos, atualmente apenas uma versão de um perfil pode ser usada em todos os dispositivos ao mesmo tempo. As tentativas de usar o mesmo perfil em vários dispositivos podem resultar em problemas de disponibilidade e falhas de mensagens.

Qual é a diferença entre uma conexão ponto a ponto e um grupo cwtch?

As conexões ponto a ponto Cwtch permitem que 2 pessoas troquem mensagens diretamente. As conexões ponto a ponto nos bastidores usam serviços cebola Tor v3 para fornecer uma conexão criptografada e resistente a metadados. Devido a esta conexão direta, ambas as partes precisam estar online ao mesmo tempo para trocar mensagens.

Os Grupos Cwtch permitem que várias partes participem de uma única conversa usando um servidor não confiável (que pode ser fornecido por terceiros ou auto-hospedado). Os operadores de servidores não conseguem saber quantas pessoas estão em um grupo ou o que está sendo discutido. Se vários grupos estiverem hospedados em um único servidor, o servidor não conseguirá saber quais mensagens pertencem a qual grupo sem a conivência de um membro do grupo. Ao contrário das conversas entre pares, as conversas em grupo podem ser conduzidas de forma assíncrona, para que todos num grupo não precisem estar online ao mesmo tempo.

Por que os grupos cwtch são experimentais? Mensagens em grupo resistentes a metadados ainda são um problema em aberto . Embora a versão que fornecemos no Cwtch Beta seja projetada para ser segura e com metadados privados, ela é bastante ineficiente e pode ser mal utilizada. Como tal, aconselhamos cautela ao usá-lo e apenas o fornecemos como um recurso opcional.

Como posso executar meu próprio servidor Cwtch? A implementação de referência para um servidor Cwtch é de código aberto . Qualquer pessoa pode executar um servidor Cwtch, e qualquer pessoa com uma cópia do pacote de chaves públicas do servidor pode hospedar grupos nesse servidor sem que o operador tenha acesso aos metadados relacionados ao grupo .

https://git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/server

https://docs.openprivacy.ca/cwtch-security-handbook/server.html

Como posso desligar o Cwtch? O painel frontal do aplicativo possui um ícone do botão "Shutdown Cwtch" (com um 'X'). Pressionar este botão irá acionar uma caixa de diálogo e, na confirmação, o Cwtch será desligado e todos os perfis serão descarregados.

Suas doações podem fazer a diferença no projeto Cwtch? O Cwtch é um projeto dedicado a construir aplicativos que preservam a privacidade, oferecendo comunicação de grupo resistente a metadados. Além disso, o projeto também desenvolve o Cofre, formulários da web criptografados para ajudar mútua segura. Suas contribuições apoiam iniciativas importantes, como a divulgação de violações de dados médicos em Vancouver e pesquisas sobre a segurança do voto eletrônico na Suíça. Ao doar, você está ajudando a fechar o ciclo, trabalhando com comunidades marginalizadas para identificar e corrigir lacunas de privacidade. Além disso, o projeto trabalha em soluções inovadoras, como a quebra de segredos através da criptografia de limite para proteger sua privacidade durante passagens de fronteira. E também tem a infraestrutura: toda nossa infraestrutura é open source e sem fins lucrativos. Conheça também o Fuzzytags, uma estrutura criptográfica probabilística para marcação resistente a metadados. Sua doação é crucial para continuar o trabalho em prol da privacidade e segurança online. Contribua agora com sua doação

https://openprivacy.ca/donate/

onde você pode fazer sua doação em bitcoin e outras moedas, e saiba mais sobre os projetos. https://openprivacy.ca/work/

Link sobre Cwtch

https://cwtch.im/

https://git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/cwtch

https://docs.cwtch.im/docs/intro

https://docs.openprivacy.ca/cwtch-security-handbook/

Baixar #CwtchDev

cwtch.im/download/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=im.cwtch.flwtch

@ f977c464:32fcbe00

Güneşin 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.

@ f977c464:32fcbe00

Kendisini 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.

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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.

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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.

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

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

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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Chef's notes

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

Details

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

Ingredients

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

Directions

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

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

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

Bold text work!

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

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

🐶🐾🤯🤯🤯🫂💜

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

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

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Test Bounty Note

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

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Autor: Jens Fischer Rodrian. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier.**

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In den letzten fünf Jahren wurde mit allen Mitteln versucht, die Menschen auseinanderzutreiben. Egal welches Thema gestreut oder welche Angst geschürt wurde, ob Corona, Ukraine, Gaza, Energiepolitik, Wirtschaft, Gendern oder Klima – immer sollten die Menschen einem vorgegebenen Narrativ folgen anstatt in einen offenen Debattenraum einzutreten und Differenzen auszuhalten, also das zu leben, was eine lebendige Demokratie ausmacht.

Natürlich stellt sich die Frage – ja aber wer hat das denn versucht? Wer hat denn ein Interesse daran, daß Diversität im Sinne von Vielfalt an Meinungen ausgehebelt wird? Dies zu beantworten würde den Rahmen hier sprengen, ist aber mit Verweis auf die Texte von Journalisten wie Milosz Matuschek, Tom-Oliver Regenauer u.v.a. schnell in Erfahrung zu bringen. Fest steht, nicht alle haben bei dem Versuch, die Bevölkerung ruhig und dumm zu halten, mitgemacht.

Der Wahnsinn als Chance

Egal wie laut die Bellizisten in Regierung und Medien ihre Kriegspropaganda in Dauerschleife rausbrüllen, in dem Wahnsinn steckt auch eine Chance. Immer mehr Leute verstehen, daß Deutschland in nahezu allen oben angeführten Themen, falsch abgebogen ist. Wenn es darum geht, seine Kinder für einen irrsinnigen, von den USA und der NATO provozierten Krieg in der Ukraine, zu opfern, werden hoffentlich mehr Menschen erkennen, daß sie verheizt werden sollen. Wichtig ist, daß wir nicht mit der Energie, die man für einen Sprint braucht, an all die Themen ran gehen, sondern uns auf einen Marathonlauf einstellen. Das wissen wir spätestens, seitdem die von Paul Schreyer heraus geklagten RKI Files nicht für die Empörung gesorgt haben, die man hätte erwarten können, obwohl sie klar aufzeigen, daß die Kritiker der Coronamaßnahmen in fast allen Punkten recht behalten sollten. Spätestens dann hätte die bis dahin sehr einseitig berichtende Konzernpresse auf das Thema aufspringen können, ja müssen, ist sie aber nicht. Milosz Matuschek hatte schon sehr früh in der NZZ gefragt: „Was, wenn am Ende ‚die Covidioten‘ Recht haben?“ 

Dass die Medien jetzt im Gleichschritt die Bevölkerung auf Krieg einstellen wollen (zahlreiche Links sind am Ende des Artikels zu finden), ist an Irrsinn nicht zu überbieten. Caren Miosga, die u.a. schon durch ihr unsägliches Interview mit Exkanzlerkandidat Robert Habeck durch mangelnde Objektivität und Einfältigkeit auffiel, sagte jüngst: „ (...) das lag lange nicht in unserer DNA, da lag Pazifismus. Wie können wir diesen Code schneller überschreiben?“ Die Antwort des Wehrdienstverweigerers und Kriegstreibers Joschka Fischer, sowie seine wirre Einschätzung einer korrupten ukrainischen Regierung und der von Neonazis durchzogenen Paramilitärs, findet Ihr in den Links am Ende des Artikels.

Seit 1945 war es nie so wichtig wie heute, daß wir uns dem entgegenstellen, alle anderen Unstimmigkeiten für den Moment beiseitelegen und gemeinsame Sache machen, denn es geht um alles, es geht um Krieg oder Frieden! Wir sollten keinen Zweifel daran haben, daß die Verantwortlichen, die Menschen mit einem experimentellen Gentherapeutikum „impfen“ auch keine Bedenken haben, die Kinder anderer Eltern in den Krieg zu treiben. Wären die Staatenlenker verpflichtet, ihre eigenen Kinder auch an die Front zu schicken, wäre das Säbelrasseln sofort vorbei – wobei ich mir bei Anton Hofreiter oder Annalena Baerbock gar nicht so sicher bin, sie sind Überzeugungstäter. Letztere fordert allen Ernstes, Russen bei Kriegsgedenken auszuschließen, sie seien per ‚Hausrecht“ zu behandeln. Der geschichtsvergessenen „Noch -Außenministerin“ ist anscheinend entfallen, daß die Russen 25 Millionen Opfer aus dem 2. Weltkrieg zu beklagen und Auschwitz befreit haben.

Das German Foreign Policy schreibt:

„Das Mindset für den Krieg – Bundeswehr-Kommandeure fordern Einstimmung der Bevölkerung auf Kriegssituationen, dringen auf stärkeren ‚Willen zur Selbstbehauptung‘. Bundesregierung arbeitet an ‚Bunker-App‘. CDU- Politiker spekuliert über ‚Spannungsfall‘“. 

Um ein Zeichen gegen diesen Irrsinn zu setzen und sowohl auf die drohende Eskalation in der Ukraine wie auch die seit Jahrzehnten andauernde ethnische Säuberung in Palästina hinzuweisen, veranstalten wir am Karfreitag eine Friedensprozession in Dresden. Die Teilnehmerliste und den Text, den man auch unterzeichnen kann, findet Ihr hier im Anhang.

Jeder, der sich für den Frieden stark macht, ist willkommen.

Einer der Teilnehmer ist Tino Eisbrenner, ein Sänger und Friedensaktivist, der sich seit Jahrzehnten für Dialog und ein friedliches Miteinander einsetzt. Er selbst ist immer wieder mit Angriffen von Leuten konfrontiert, die es nicht ertragen, daß er sich beharrlich mit Wort und Musik für den Dialog mit Russland einsetzt. Erst vor Kurzem mußte er sich die inquisitorischen Fragen einer Journalistin gefallen lassen, die eine Art Gesinnungsprüfung durchführte, da ihr zu Ohren gekommen sei, das Bürger besorgt wären, Eisbrenner könne ein Putinfreund sein. Eisbrenner merkte an, daß sicherlich kein Künstler, der in Amerika auftrete oder amerikanische Poeten verehre, dadurch in Verdacht geraten könne, die imperialistische Politik eines amerikanischen Präsidenten zu unterstützen. Hier der Teil seiner Antwort, der die Kraft der Kultur und deren Funktion, Brücken zu bauen, sehr schön zusammenfasst: 

„ (...) wenn man als Künstler der Ansicht ist, daß die Kunst, als wesentlichstes Merkmal des Menschseins, Grenzen überfliegen und die Brücken zwischen den Völkern erhalten und pflegen sollte, und dies auf Russland genau wie auf die USA anwendet, muss man sich rechtfertigen? In der Stadt Wolgograd (ehemals Stalingrad) gibt es ein riesiges Mahnmal für die Opfer des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Das Hauptgebäude, unweit der riesigen Grabstätte deutscher Soldaten, ist eine gigantische Kuppel in deren Mitte ein ewiges Feuer brennt. An den Wänden sind zigtausende Namen sowjetischer Bürger eingraviert, die der deutschen Schlacht um Stalingrad zum Opfer fielen. Und aus den Lautsprechern tönen in Dauerschleife die „Träumereien“ von Robert Schumann, einem deutschen Komponisten. Die Kunst, als Brücke zwischen den Völkern. Vielleicht können ihre „besorgten Bürger“ darüber mal in Ruhe nachdenken (...)“ 

Ich hatte die große Freude, mit Tino gemeinsam einen Song aufzunehmen, den wir beide bei der Friedensprozession in Dresden das erste mal live aufführen werden. 

Frieden mit dem Frieden schließen

Frieden fragt nicht wo warst Du gestern\ Frieden fragt nicht wer ist Dein Gott\ Frieden braucht jetzt jeden, mit Herz Verstand und Mut 

Frieden geht oft über Grenzen\ Frieden geht, wenn man ihn übersieht\ Frieden braucht jetzt jeden, mit Herz Verstand und Mut 

Frieden schweigt wenn Menschen brüllen\ Frieden erstarrt wenn Schüsse fallen\ Frieden braucht jetzt jeden, mit Herz Verstand und Mut 

Frieden fragt nicht nach Deinen Eltern\ Frieden stellt sich vor Deine Wut\ Frieden braucht jetzt jeden, mit Herz Verstand und Mut 

Wir müßen Frieden mit dem Frieden schließen

Mit Leib und Seele, Tag für Tag\ Frieden braucht Dich jetzt\ Er ist erschöpft und schwer verletzt                     ****

Kommt zur Friedensprozession!

Unser Orga-Team hat gemeinsam mit Jürgen Fliege den Text für die Friedensprozession am Karfreitag in Dresden verfasst, den man gern auch unterzeichnen kann.

https://friedensprozession.de

FUNDAMENT FÜR DEN FRIEDEN   Mit Dir! Mit uns! Mit allen!

Jenseits jeder politischen Orientierung wollen wir dieser Sehnsucht eine Stimme geben. Denn ein Krieg, ob er nun wie ein Flächenbrand in der Ukraine oder wie in Palästina wütet, verschont immer die Mächtigen. Nie die Ohnmächtigen. Das sehen viele Menschen in unserem Land längst. Wie schon in Jugoslawien und Afghanistan scheint das die Volksvertreter nicht zu interessieren.

Wir alle wollen keinen Krieg. Wir wollen Abrüstung, Frieden und gute Nachbarn sein.

Was sind das nur für Politiker, die im Gleichschritt gegen das Wohl der Völker marschieren? Die Strack-Zimmermanns, Pistorius‘, die Baerbocks, Merz und Kiesewetters, die den Krieg weit nach Russland hineintragen und amerikanische Raketen in Deutschland stationieren wollen, ähnlich wie ihn der Kriegsverbrecher Netanjahu nach Gaza trug. Wer stoppt die Eskalationsspirale des Wahnsinns? Können wir das noch? Wir müssen es versuchen!

Friede sei mit uns allen! Ohne Ausnahme! Darum müssen wir uns vereinen. Versöhnen statt Spalten war einmal eine gute Idee der alten Sozialdemokratie – genau das wollen wir wieder aufgreifen!

Das alles war einmal der Boden, auf dem unser Grundgesetz wuchs. Die Trümmer des Krieges und die Gräber von Millionen Toten verpflichten uns zum Frieden durch Diplomatie.

Wenn Ihr unsere Sehnsucht nach Frieden teilt, dann freuen wir uns sehr, euch in Dresden zu sehen, wo der Feuersturm des 2. Weltkrieges unvergessen bleibt. Am Karfreitag, an dem die Stille das Waffenrasseln um so hörbarer macht.

Nie wieder Antisemitismus! Nie wieder Faschismus! Nie wieder Krieg! Kommt nach Dresden! Bitte!

Das aktuelle Album „Voices for Gaza“ mit 32 Beiträgen findet Ihr hier:

https://protestnoten.de/produkt/voices-for-gaza-doppel-cd/

Mit dabei sind:

Uwe Steimle, Tino Eisbrenner, Jürgen Fliege, Prof. Ulrike Guérot, Yann Song King, Arnulf Rating, Markus Stockhausen, Kilian Forster, Diether Dehm, Jakob Heymann, Jens Fischer Rodrian, Alexa Rodrian, Guido de Gyrich, Dennis DuVall, Prof. Justus Frantz, Reiner Kröhnert

(Links:

• https://taz.de/Sportunterricht-fuer-den-Ernstfall/!6059664/
• https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/wir-mussen-uns-auf-krieg-vorbereiten-nato-chef-rutte-fordert-von-deutschland-deutlich-hohere-verteidigungsausgaben-13131001.html
• https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/bundeswehr-bereitet-unternehmen-auf-kriegsfall-vor-operationsplan-deutschland-110118573.html
• https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/sicherheit-in-deutschland-innenministerium-fuer-zivilschutz-uebungen-an-schulen-a-1680d64e-4a42-4e00-954b-0cb38e315a90
• https://www.facebook.com/henning.rosenbusch/videos/die-pflicht-zur-musterung-brauche-es-wegen-der-gefallenen-und-verwundeten-um-die/1073875391166801/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juGk0aY5Rdo Fischer bei Miosga
• https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/die-wehrpflicht-sollte-fur-alle-gelten-frauen-ans-gewehr-13480606.html

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Jens Fischer Rodrian, geboren 1967 in Pinneberg, ist ein deutscher Musiker, Komponist, Musikproduzent und Dichter. Aufgewachsen nahe Murnau am Staffelsee, entdeckte er früh seine Liebe zur Gitarre. Er studierte in Los Angeles an der Grove School of Music und wurde 1995 Mitglied der Blue Man Group in New York und Boston. Seit 2004 lebt er mit seiner Frau, der Jazzsängerin Alexa Rodrian in Berlin, wo er als musikalischer Leiter der Blue Man Group tätig ist. Neben seiner Arbeit mit Künstlern wie Konstantin Wecker veröffentlichte er mehrere Soloalben und Gedichtbände, darunter „Sich kurz fassen – ach“ (2017) und „Wahn & Sinn“ (2019). Mit seiner Konzertlesung tourt er durch den deutschsprachigen Raum und setzt sich leidenschaftlich für Frieden und Demokratie ein. Zuletzt erschien: „Die Armada der Irren. Künstlerischer Widerstand in pandemischer Zeit“ (2022): Ein Buch mit beiliegender CD, das sich mit gesellschaftlichem Widerstand und der Rolle der Kunst in Krisenzeiten auseinandersetzt. Es enthält Beiträge von verschiedenen Autoren wie Wolfgang Wodarg, Gunnar Kaiser und anderen.

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Die Friedenstaube fliegt auch in Ihr Postfach!

Hier können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt. (Vorerst an alle, da wir den Mailversand testen, später ca. drei Mails pro Woche.).

Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen:

• Für 50 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube.
• Für 120 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
• Für 500 CHF/EURO werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
• Ab 1000 CHF werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie).

Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):

Für Einzahlungen in Euro:

Milosz Matuschek

IBAN DE 53710520500000814137

BYLADEM1TST

Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg

Betreff: Friedenstaube

Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: milosz@pareto.space

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Sie sind noch nicht auf Nostr and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil! Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf Start. Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im Pareto-Wiki.

@ 95cb33b5:f4580cd4

Your wedding day in London is a story waiting to unfold—a stroll through Hyde Park, vows at the historic St. Paul’s Cathedral, and dancing under the stars at a Thames-side venue. But before the "I dos" and the first dance, there’s one detail that sets the scene: your wedding car. In a city where history meets modernity, your choice of wheels isn’t just transportation—it’s the opening act of your love story. Here’s how to find the perfect wedding car in London, whether you’re dreaming of vintage charm or sleek, 21st-century luxury.

1. London’s Wedding Car Options: From Vintage Classics to Modern Marvels

London’s diverse vibe means you’re spoiled for choice. Here’s a breakdown of popular picks:

A. Vintage & Classic Cars

Best For: Traditional weddings, history lovers, or couples marrying at landmarks like Kensington Palace.

Top Picks:

Rolls-Royce Phantom (1960s): Timeless elegance with coach doors and a starlight headliner. Bentley S1 (1950s): Polished wood dashboards and leather seats for old-world glam. Austin Princess (Vintage): A British icon perfect for retro-themed weddings.

Cost: £500–£1,500+ for 6–8 hours.

Real-Life Romance: Sarah and James hired a 1950s Bentley for their Westminster Abbey wedding. “It felt like stepping into a royal procession,” Sarah said.

B. Modern Luxury Cars

Best For: Glamorous city weddings or receptions at venues like The Shard.

Top Picks:

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: Heated massaging seats and ambient lighting.

Tesla Model X: Eco-friendly and futuristic, ideal for green-minded couples.

Range Rover Autobiography: Bold and spacious for urban chic.

Cost: £600–£2,000+ for full-day hire.

Pro Tip: Opt for a car with tinted windows if you’re navigating busy spots like Piccadilly Circus—privacy plus style!

C. Quirky & Unique Rides

Best For: Couples who dare to be different.

Top Picks:

London Black Cab (Decorated): Adorned with flowers for a playful, local twist.

Vintage Double-Decker Bus: Fit your entire bridal party (and a brass band!).

Electric Rickshaw: Zip through Covent Garden for a fun, eco-friendly entrance.

Cost: £200–£800 for shorter hires.

3.2. How to Choose Your London Wedding Car: 5 Key Factors

Don’t get overwhelmed—narrow your options with these tips:

Match Your Wedding Theme:

A vintage Rolls-Royce suits a classic church wedding.

A Tesla Model S pairs with a modern art gallery reception.

Consider Practicality:

Space: Ball gown? Choose a Bentley Mulsanne. Compact? Try a Jaguar E-Type.

Route: Narrow streets in Notting Hill? Avoid stretch limos.

Weatherproofing:

Convertibles are risky in London’s drizzle. Prefer a hardtop or ensure the hire includes a waterproof cover.

Sustainability:

Many companies now offer hybrid or electric cars (e.g., Tesla, BMW i7).

Budget:

Prioritize: Splurge on the ceremony car, then use a simpler ride for the exit.

Pro Tip: “We hired a vintage car for photos and a Tesla for the reception—best of both worlds!” —Laura, Hackney bride.

1. Cost of Wedding Car Hire in London: What to Expect

London prices vary wildly, but here’s a rough guide:

Vintage Cars: £500–£1,500+ (includes chauffeur).

Modern Luxury: £600–£2,000+ (Maybachs at the higher end).

Unique Rides: £200–£1,000 (buses or themed vehicles).

Money-Saving Hacks:

Off-Peak Discounts: Book a weekday wedding for 10–20% off.

Bundle Deals: Some companies offer cars + photo booth or floral decor.

Short-Term Hire: Use the car for 3–4 hours (ceremony + photos only).

Watch For Hidden Fees:

Congestion Charge (£15/day for Central London).

Overtime charges (£50–£150/hour).

1. Booking Your London Wedding Car: Step-by-Step

Start Early: Book 6–12 months ahead for peak season (June–September).

Read Reviews: Check Google and Hitched.co.uk for reputable companies.

Visit the Garage: Inspect the car in person—avoid surprises!

Confirm Details:

Backup vehicle clause.

Insurance coverage.

Decor permissions (e.g., floral hoops).

Red Flags:

No physical address or vague contracts.

Pressure to pay 100% upfront.

London Pro Tip: Use local companies like London Vintage Car Hire or Prestige Wedding Cars for better rates.

1. Unique London Wedding Car Ideas

Make your ride unforgettable with these twists:

Thames-Side Photos: Park your Rolls-Royce near Tower Bridge for iconic shots.

Themed Decor: Add London Underground-inspired signage or Union Jack ribbons.

Surprise Stops: Arrange a quick champagne toast at Primrose Hill for skyline views.

Real-Life Magic: A couple from Camden hired a red London bus to shuttle guests from St. Pancras to their reception. “It was a party on wheels!” they shared.

Key Takeaways

🚗 Diverse Options: London offers everything from vintage Rolls-Royces to eco-friendly Teslas.

💷 Budget Smart: Prioritize, bundle, or book off-peak.

📅 Book Early: Secure your dream car 6–12 months ahead.

🌧️ Plan for Rain: Choose weather-appropriate vehicles.

📸 Photo Ready: Use London landmarks like the Thames or Kensington Gardens as backdrops.

FAQs About Wedding Car Hire in London

Q: How much does a wedding car cost in London?

A: From £200 for a decorated taxi to £2,000+ for a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Q: Can we drive ourselves?

A: Rarely. Most luxury hires require a licensed chauffeur (and let you relax!).

Q: Are permits needed for photo locations?

A: Yes! Check with your photographer. Westminster Bridge requires permits for professional shoots.

Q: What if our car breaks down?

A: Reputable companies offer backup vehicles. Always ask!

Q: Can we personalize the car?

A: Yes—ribbons, flowers, or temporary decals. Avoid anything adhesive.

Final Thought: Your London Love Story Starts Here

At your wedding the transportation becomes more than just a method of getting from point A to point B but it creates the start of your lifetime story. The wedding car you select will leave an indelible mark in your memories as well as picture album forever because it can be a vintage Bentley near Big Ben or a flower-adorned bus with your friends onboard.

The streets of London will become the perfect backdrop when you choose your cars that trigger your heart's enthusiasm for your future eternal bond. Each romantic tale in this mesmerizing city ought to receive its definitive entrance.

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Intro

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

Requirements

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

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

Installation

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

Prepare and verify

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

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

Create folders & download NWC

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

Creating the Docker image

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

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

Creating docker-compose.yml and necessary data directories

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

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

Starting and testing

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

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

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

Updating

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

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

@ c230edd3:8ad4a712

Chef's notes

Wildly enough, this is delicious. It's sweet and savory.

(I copied this recipe off of a commercial cheese maker's site, just FYI)

I hadn't fully froze the ice cream when I took the picture shown. This is fresh out of the churner.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 15 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 30 min
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 oz blue cheese
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 c sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 qt heavy cream
• 3/4 c chopped dark chocolate

Directions

1. Put the blue cheese, lemon juice, sugar, and salt into a bowl
2. Bring heavy cream to a boil, stirring occasionally
3. Pour heavy cream over the blue cheese mix and stir until melted
4. Pour into prepared ice cream maker, follow unit instructions
5. Add dark chocolate halfway through the churning cycle
6. Freeze until firm. Enjoy.

@ e516ecb8:1be0b167

¿Qué es realmente la inflación? Si alguna vez has escuchado que la inflación es “la subida constante de precios”, no estás solo. Hace poco, un economista soltó esa definición en una entrevista, y otro, desde la Fundación para el Progreso (FPP), una institución que suele citar a pensadores como Mises o Hayek, repitió lo mismo. Suena lógico, ¿no? Pero están equivocados. Y ese error, aunque parezca pequeño, puede tener consecuencias catastróficas. Para entender por qué, no hace falta ir muy lejos: miremos a Argentina.

La subida de precios no es la inflación. Es solo el síntoma. La inflación, en esencia, es la pérdida del valor adquisitivo de la moneda. Confundir la causa con el efecto es como tratar una fiebre con un paño frío sin atacar la infección. Y cuando las políticas públicas se basan en esa confusión, el desastre está garantizado.

Argentina: una lección que duele Argentina es el caso de estudio perfecto. Antes de que Javier Milei llegara al poder en diciembre de 2023, la inflación en el país vecino estaba desbocada, alcanzando picos de 211% anual según datos del INDEC. El peronismo, convencido de que el problema eran los precios, implementó medidas como los “Precios Justos”, fijando topes artificiales. ¿Resultado? Escasez total. En un país famoso por su carne, los supermercados se quedaron sin ella. Los productores, enfrentados a costos que subían sin control, preferían exportar antes que vender localmente a precios que no les daban ni para cubrir gastos. Y ahí no terminó la cosa. En lugar de atacar la raíz del problema, el gobierno peronista complicó todo aún más: restringió exportaciones y creó un sistema surrealista de múltiples tipos de dólar (¡hasta uno distinto para Netflix!). Todo porque seguían peleando con el efecto, no con la causa.

¿Por qué los argentinos corrían a ahorrar en dólares y no en pesos? Porque el peso se devaluaba a una velocidad alarmante. Si la inflación fuera solo una cuestión de precios, habría afectado a todas las monedas por igual. Pero no. Como dice Milei una y otra vez, la inflación es un fenómeno monetario: demasiados billetes circulando sin respaldo o una moneda que la gente considera “de segunda” frente a otras.

¿Por qué seguimos repitiendo el error? Entonces, si la inflación es tan claramente un problema del valor de la moneda, ¿por qué seguimos escuchando que es una subida de precios? La respuesta es sencilla: culpar a otros es más fácil. Cuando se vende esa idea, los políticos pueden apuntar con el dedo a empresarios, comerciantes o “especuladores” y lavarse las manos. Es más cómodo que admitir una emisión monetaria irresponsable, un gasto público descontrolado o una pésima gestión económica. Y no faltan economistas, a veces financiados por grupos estatistas o formados en sistemas educativos que promueven esas ideas, que les hacen el coro.

Chile: por un pelo nos salvamos Este malentendido estuvo a punto de colarse en Chile. En el segundo intento de reforma constitucional, impulsado por Chile Vamos en 2023, se propuso que el Banco Central velara por la “estabilidad de precios”, no por la estabilidad del valor de la moneda. Parece un detalle técnico, ¿verdad? Pero no lo es. Ese cambio abría la puerta a políticas que podrían habernos llevado por el mismo camino que Argentina. Por suerte, aunque muchos expertos lo pasaron por alto, la ciudadanía no: la propuesta fue rechazada en las urnas con un contundente “En Contra”.

Nos salvamos, pero no porque nuestros políticos tuvieran las ideas claras. Nos salvamos porque los chilenos dijimos “basta”. Y menos mal, porque en 2024 la inflación en Chile se mantuvo controlada, rondando el 3,5% anual según el Banco Central, lejos del caos argentino. Pero no podemos confiarnos, porque esa inflación sigue siendo alta para nuestros estándares pre-pandémicos o pre-estallido social. El retiro desde las AFP convirtió activos en consumo, en otras palabras aumentó el circulante y todavía batallamos con esa inflación.

No es un “detallito” Cada vez que alguien diga que la inflación es una subida de precios o que la solución está en controlarlos, por favor, corrígelo. No es un error menor. Argentina lleva más de un año intentando salir del pozo que cavó este malentendido. Milei ha dado pasos importantes: transparentó la inflación real, ajustó el tipo de cambio para acercarse al valor de mercado y, aunque la inflación sigue alta (cerca del 50% anual a fines de 2024, según estimaciones), empieza a estabilizarse. Pero el camino es largo, y los costos de este “detallito” los pagan todos los argentinos.

¿Y ahora qué hacemos? La próxima vez que escuches a un político o un experto hablar de inflación como si fuera solo un problema de precios, no te quedes callado. Pregúntales: ¿y el valor de la moneda qué? Comparte esta historia, porque entender la inflación es el primer paso para no repetir los errores del pasado. En Chile esquivamos la bala, pero no podemos bajar la guardia. Los errores pequeños, cuando se trata de economía, terminan costándonos caro.

¿Qué opinas? ¿Crees que Chile aprendió la lección o estamos a un paso de tropezar otra vez? ¡Déja tu comentario y comparte este post si te hizo clic!

@ 2101a7ec:d9d8f2db

Ghostty is terminal manager with GPU acceleration and great looks. It works mostly out of the box, but you might want to do some setups to tailor it to your particular needs.

Here is how I set it up.

Installation

I won't spend much time on installation details, I installed it using brew there are multiple installation options, surprisingly flatpack is not within the options at the moment. For further details please check ghostty installation instructions.

Configuration

Config file is available on these locations

$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.mitchellh.ghostty/config

$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/ghostty/config

I use $XDG_CONFIG_HOME as I keep all my config there.

Configuration reference is available on line. And can be generated from the command line doing

ghostty +show-config --default --docs

And finally to list available themes ghostty +list-themes.

This is my config, it's available with my dotfiles

```config

~/.config/ghostty/config

to show the default configuration with documentation.

ghostty +show-config --default --docs

font-family = "JetBrains Mono"

font-size = 14

Run ghostty +list-themes to browse available themes.

theme = SynthwaveAlpha cursor-style = block

background-opacity = 0.96 background-blur-radius = 40

shell integration.

shell-integration = bash shell-integration-features = cursor, sudo, title

macos-titlebar-style = tabs

Auto-update Ghostty when a new release is available.

auto-update = download

mouse-hide-while-typing = true

keymaps

keybind = global:cmd+`=toggle_quick_terminal

keybind = cmd+left=previous_tab keybind = cmd+right=next_tab

byobu keybinds fix

macos-option-as-alt = left keybind = alt+left=unbind keybind = alt+right=unbind

quit-after-last-window-closed = true window-new-tab-position = end

```

I had some issues with SSH, so I added this to my ~/.ssh/config which fixed my issues.

ssh Host * # ghostty https://ghostty.org/docs/help/terminfo SetEnv TERM=xterm-256color # end ghostty

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

There’s an African proverb that says, “To get lost is to learn the way.”

Humans have always been explorers, searching for connection. To belong. To feel home. You can trace this instinct back to the start of our existence. Whether you start with Adam and Eve or the “Out of Africa” theory, the story is the same. We’ve always moved toward each other, building tribes and forming communities.

But somewhere along the way, something broke. With the rise of empires and organized control, religion and politics divided us into bubbles. We were sorted, labeled, and often pitted against one another. While technology advanced, something fundamental was lost. Our ability to truly connect started to fade.

Then came the internet, a modern-day Silk Road. It rekindled hope. Walls seemed to crumble, distances disappeared, and we dreamed of a truly connected world. For a time, it felt like the answer.

And then it wasn’t.

The history of Internet

The story began around 1830s when Charles Babbage started working on his computer prototype but without moolah he couldn't continue. A century later, after WW2 in the 1950s, the US Department of Defense funded what became known as modern computing.

Back then the military relied on systems like the Navajo Code Talkers. The indigenous code talkers were ingenious but operated under dangerous conditions, always on the frontlines.

In 1969, ARPANET made a revolutionary breakthrough as it connected four university computers for the first time. It was a big deal.

At that time, the internet was about openness. Researchers pushed for universal protocols. This gave rise to hacker culture that valued knowledge-sharing and keeping systems accessible to everyone.

In the 80s, NSFNET (National Science Foundation ) expanded these connections but kept it strictly for academic use only. That caused massive dissatisfaction.

Senator Al Gore pitched the concept of the “information superhighway,” to balance public access with private innovation. But by the 90s, the Clinton administration leaned into privatization. NSFNET’s infrastructure was completely handed off to private companies, and the internet grew into a commercial powerhouse.

The good news is that everyone has internet access now. Bad news is that what started as something free from government and commercial control became completely dominated by both.

Open source vs IP during the early internet days

This part of the story is about Bill Gates and Marc Andreessen.

Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, but Marc saw the opportunity to make it user-friendly. He launched Netscape, an open-source browser. It drove the openness of internet culture. Netscape captured 90% of the market by giving its software away for free, and monetizing through other means.

Then came along Bill Gates. Microsoft back then was known for its aggressive tactics to monopolize industries. Gates licensed Mosaic’s code, created Internet Explorer, and bundled it for free with Windows 95. He wasn’t shy about playing dirty, even formed exclusive contracts with manufacturers to block competitors. Even the Department of Justice tried to file an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, but by then, it was too late. Netscape’s market share crumbled, and its position in the industry eroded.

Windows 95 brought the internet to the people globally, but it also closed it up.

Marc Andreeson started with open source ideologies, but is now funding altcoin projects.

The Californian ideology

Around this time, the term “Californian Ideology” started floating around. It was an unusual mix of libertarianism, techno-utopianism, and countercultural ideals. A marriage of cultural bohemianism (hippies) with high-tech entrepreneurship (yuppies). This ideology fused left-wing values like freedom of expression and direct democracy with right-wing beliefs in free markets and minimal government interference.

I absolutely love it.

Ironically, the term “Californian Ideology” wasn’t coined as a compliment. Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron used it to piss on these visionaries for romanticizing the idea that the internet must remain a lawless, egalitarian space.

But many people loved and embraced the Californian ideology. Stewart Brand, who founded The Whole Earth Catalog, connected counterculture with early tech innovation. His work inspired people like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Steve Wozniak used to share Apple’s early schematics at the Homebrew Computer Club for feedback and collaboration.

EBay’s founder Pierre Omidyar envisioned eBay as a libertarian experiment. He believed the “invisible hand” of the market would ensure fairness. But as eBay grew, fraud, disputes, and dissatisfaction among users forced Omidyar to introduce governance which contradicted his goals.

And this story repeats itself over the years.

Platforms begin with libertarian visions, but as they scale, real-world challenges emerge. Governance (government, corporate charters, advertisers, and investors) is introduced to address safety and trust issues.

But they also chip away at the liberty the internet once promised.

Can Nostr be the solution ?

Yes.

But to appreciate Nostr, let’s first understand how the internet works today. (Note : I am no expert of this section but I'll try my best to explain)

The internet operates through four main layers:

1. Application Layer (where apps like browsers, Google, or Zoom live)
2. Transport Layer
3. Internet Layer
4. Network Access Layer

Let’s use a simple example of searching “Pink Panther” on Google.

Step 1: The Application Layer - You open your browser, type "Pink Panther," and hit search. This request is sent using HTTP/HTTPS (a protocol that formats the query and ensures it's secure).

Step 2: The Transport Layer - Think of your search query as a letter being sent. The Transport Layer breaks it into smaller packets (like splitting a long letter into multiple envelopes). TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures all packets arrive and reassemble in the correct order.

Step 3: The Internet Layer - This layer acts like a postal service, assigning each device an address (IP address) to route the packets properly. Your device's IP (e.g., 192.168.1.10) and Google’s server IP (e.g., 142.250.72.238) help routers find the best path to deliver your packets.

Step 4: The Network Access Layer - Finally, the Network Access Layer physically delivers the packets. These travel as electrical signals (over cables), radio waves (Wi-Fi), or light pulses (fiber optics). This is the act of moving envelopes via trucks, planes, or postal workers, just much faster.

So how is data transmitted via Nostr ?

Nostr’s architecture of the Internet

Nostr reimagines the Application Layer while keeping the lower layers (Transport, Internet, and Network Access) largely unchanged.

In the traditional internet stack, the Application Layer is where platforms like Google or Twitter operate. It’s also where most censorship occurs due to single point of failure (centralised servers). Nostr flips this model on its head.

Technically, it’s like building a parallel internet that shares the same foundational layers but diverges at the top.

To borrow from Robert Frost:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

For Nostr to fully realize its potential, it needs its own ecosystem of apps. Developers can build these tools within the Nostr protocol's framework

Let’s say there is a search engine on Nostr called Noogle.

Here’s how it works:

When you type "Pink Panther" on Noogle, your query is sent to multiple relays (servers) simultaneously. Each relay processes or forwards the query and returns results based on the data it holds.

As Nostr grows, the amount of information on relays will increase, giving Noogle more robust search results. But the biggest win is that compared to Google, Nostr's Noogle will have no ads, no surveillance, just pure, decentralized searching that respects your privacy.

For the transport layer, Nostr still relies on TCP/IP but enhances it with privacy and efficiency. Encrypted messages and simplified protocols enable faster real-time communication. The rest of the layer remains unchanged.

At its core, Nostr takes the internet back to its original ideals: open, uncensored, and decentralized.

Why Nostr matters ?

The internet we use today relies on centralized systems at the application layer. This creates a single point of failure where governments and corporations can control access, censor content, monitor activity, and even shut down entire platforms.

For example, the Malaysian government once proposed routing all web traffic through a centralized system, claiming it was for "security" reasons. In reality, this action allow those in power to block access to specific content or platforms that might threaten their positions.

Centralization weaponizes the internet.

It turns what was meant to be a tool for connection and freedom into a mechanism for control and oppression.

Let's look at DNS and ISPs as examples. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet. It helps translate website names (like example.com) into IP addresses so your browser can connect to them. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are companies that give you access to the internet.

Both are controlled by centralized entities. If a government gains control of either, it can block specific websites or even shut down internet access entirely.

We've seen this happen repeatedly: * India’s internet shutdowns in regions like Kashmir * Turkey’s social media bans during political events * Ethiopia’s internet blackouts * China’s Great Firewall blocking major platforms like Google and Facebook * Even the US, where Edward Snowden revealed massive surveillance programs

This is where Nostr comes in, as the antidote to centralized control.

Instead of relying on centralized servers or platforms, Nostr creates a peer-to-peer network of independent relays. No single entity controls it. There is no central switch governments can flip to block access. If one relay is shut down, users simply connect to others in the network.

Nostr’s decentralized design makes it: * Resistant to censorship: Governments cannot easily block or filter content. * Privacy-preserving: Users can communicate anonymously, even in heavily surveilled environments. * Resilient: With no single point of failure, the network keeps running, even under attack.

And it gets better. Nostr can integrate with privacy tools like Tor to bypass restrictions entirely, making it nearly impossible for governments to stop.

The internet has become a battlefield for control, but Nostr provides a way to reclaim digital freedom. It empowers people to build, connect, and share without fear of being silenced.

How does Nostr overcome the "Californian Ideology" problems?

The Californian Ideology seemed like the blueprint for a utopian internet, libertarian ideals wrapped in Silicon Valley innovation. But as centralized platforms scaled, cracks started to show. Challenges like trust, safety, and accessibility forced governance teams to step in and decide “what’s best for the people.”

This resulted in platforms once built on ideals of freedom in becoming gatekeepers of control.

Nostr breaks this cycle. How?

1. Trust issues - With private keys, you control your identity and data. Moderation is decentralized. You can block or mute others at a personal level or through client tools, not by relying on a central authority. While this system needs refinement to be more user-friendly, it fundamentally shifts the power to users.

2. Funding Without Advertiser - Nostr’s integration of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network eliminates reliance on advertisers or corporate sponsors. Bitcoin enables anyone to contribute without gatekeeping. As more people join and apps mature, this model only gets stronger. For now, we have good souls like Jack seeding it.

3. Resisting Government Control - (refer to the above) Nostr avoids single points of attacks.

So what is Nostr ?

Nostr is internet

The new internet.

The open and free internet.

What can you build on Nostr?

Anything you have seen on the internet, you can recreate on Nostr. Anything you can imagine, you can bring to life here. It is a blank canvas for dreamers, builders, and changemakers.

But the best part is this. You have Bitcoin as its financial backbone. This changes the game entirely.

And with new games, comes new rules. New vibes. New ways.

The way people use this new internet will be different from the traditional internet as control falls back to the people. With Bitcoin as the underlying backbone, the business models will be different.

But there is more to it than just creating. There's that joy of creation, where we invite curiosity and inspire users to experience something new, something revolutionary.

Have you watched “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch?

He coined the term “head fake.” He taught his students programming, but not everyone was excited to learn programming. So he created fun projects and performances that pulled them in. The students had so much fun, they didn’t even realize they were learning to code.

What you build on Nostr is that head fake. The apps and projects you create draw people in with fun and utility, subtly reminding them they have a right to their own voice and thoughts.

The work you’re doing is so precious. When everything feels like doom and gloom, it’s these kinds of projects that give people hope.

Through Nostr, you’re making a difference. One project, one connection at a time.

The new Internet era

Centralized systems, like empires of the past, eventually crumble under the weight of their control. Decentralization provides a different path. It is a modern revival of our primal instincts to explore, connect, and build tribes.

By definition, Nostr is a protocol. I think more so, it's a philosophy. It challenges us to rethink how we share, communicate, and create. It is the internet as it was meant to be. Free, open, and governed by no one.

The beauty of Nostr lies in its simplicity. It does not rely on massive infrastructure, corporate giants, or government oversight. It thrives on community, much like the early tribes that defined humanity.

We have come full circle. From wandering continents to building roads, bridges, and networks, our journey has always been about connection and finding our tribe.

As the African proverb reminds us, 'To get lost is to learn the way.' There is finally a way now.

But at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you what kind of world you want to be part of.

Find your tribe. Build the future. Love them hard.

---

More info :

On those who played a role in the history of internet and computers
https://hiddenheroes.netguru.com/

@ 34ff86e0:dbb6b9fb

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum

@ e17e9a18:66d67a6b

We wrote this album to explain the inspiration behind Mutiny Brewing, and as a way to share the story of Bitcoin and freedom technologies like nostr. Through these songs, we’ve tried to capture every truth that we believe is essential to understand about money, freedom, trust, and human connection in the internet age. It’s our way of making these ideas real and relatable, and we hope it helps others see the power of taking control of their future through the systems we use.

01. "Tomorrow's Prices on Yesterday's Wage" explores the harsh reality of inflation. As central banks inflate the money supply, prices rise faster than wages, leaving us constantly falling behind. People, expecting prices to keep climbing, borrow more to buy sooner, pushing prices even higher in a vicious cycle. You're always a step behind, forced to pay tomorrow's inflated prices with yesterday's stagnant wages.

https://wavlake.com/track/76a6cd02-e876-4a37-b093-1fe919e9eabe

02. "Everybody Works For The Bank" exposes the hidden truth behind our fiat money system. When banks issue loans, they create new money from debt—but you must pay back both the principal and interest. That interest requires even more money, relying on others to borrow, creating an endless cycle of debt. If borrowing slows, the system falters and governments step in, printing more money to keep banks afloat. Ultimately, we’re all working to service debt, chained to the banks.

“Paying back what they create, working till I break” https://wavlake.com/track/4d94cb4b-ff3b-4423-be6a-03e0be8177d6

03. "Let My People Go" references Moses' demand for freedom but directly draws from Proverbs 6:1–5, exposing the danger of debt based money. Every dollar you hold is actually someone else's debt, making you personally liable—held in the hand of your debtor and at risk of their losses, which you ultimately pay for through inflation or higher taxes. As the song says, "The more you try to save it up, the deeper in you get." The wisdom of Proverbs urges immediate action, pleading urgently to escape this trap and free yourself, like a gazelle from a hunter.

https://wavlake.com/track/76214ff1-f8fd-45b0-a677-d9c285b1e7d6

04. "Mutiny Brewing" embodies Friedrich Hayek's insight: "I don't believe we shall ever have good money again before we take it out of the hands of government... we can't take it violently... all we can do is by some sly roundabout way introduce something they can't stop."

Inspired also by the Cypherpunk manifesto's rallying cry, "We will write the code", the song celebrates Bitcoin as exactly that unstoppable solution.

"Not here to break ya, just here to create our own little world where we determine our fate." https://wavlake.com/track/ba767fc8-6afc-4b0d-be64-259b340432f3

05. "Invisible Wealth" is inspired by The Sovereign Individual, a groundbreaking 1990s book that predicted the rise of digital money and explores how the return on violence shaped civilizations. The song references humanity's vulnerability since agriculture began—where stored wealth attracted violence, forcing reliance on larger governments for protection.

Today, digital privacy enabled by cryptography fundamentally changes this dynamic. When wealth is stored privately, secured by cryptographic keys, violence becomes ineffective. As the song emphasizes, "You can't bomb what you can't see." Cryptography dismantles traditional power structures, providing individuals true financial security, privacy, and freedom from exploitation.

“Violence is useless against cryptography” https://wavlake.com/track/648da3cc-d58c-4049-abe0-d22f9e61fef0

06. "Run A Node" is a rallying cry for Bitcoin's decentralisation. At its heart, it's about personal verification and choice: every node is a vote, every check’s a voice. By running the code yourself, you enforce the rules you choose to follow. This is true digital democracy. When everyone participates, there's no room for collusion, and authority comes directly from transparent code rather than blind trust.

"I verify, therefore I do." https://wavlake.com/track/ee11362b-2e84-4631-b05e-df6d8e6797f8

07. "Leverage is a Liar" warns against gambling with your wealth, but beneath the surface, it's a sharp critique of fractional reserve banking. Fractional reserves inflate asset prices, creating the illusion of wealth built on leverage. This system isn't sustainable and inevitably leads to collapse. Real wealth requires sound money, money that can't be inflated. Trying to gain more through leverage only feeds the lie.

"Watch it burn higher and higher—leverage is a liar." https://wavlake.com/track/67f9c39c-c5e1-4e15-b171-f1f5442f29a5

08. "Don't Get Rekt" serves as a stark warning about trusting custodians with your Bitcoin. Highlighting infamous collapses like Mt.Gox, Celsius, and FTX. These modern failures echo the 1933 Executive Order 6102, where the US government forcibly seized citizens' gold, banned its use, and then promptly devalued the currency exchanged for it. History shows clearly: trusting others with your wealth means risking losing it all.

"Your keys, your life, don't forget." https://wavlake.com/track/fbd9b46d-56fc-4496-bc4b-71dec2043705

09. "One Language" critiques the thousands of cryptocurrencies claiming to be revolutionary. Like languages, while anyone can invent one, getting people to actually use it is another story. Most of these cryptos are just affinity scams, centralized towers built on shaky foundations. Drawing from The Bitcoin Standard, the song argues money naturally gravitates toward a single unit, a universal language understood by all. When the dust settles, only genuine, decentralized currency remains.

"One voice speaking loud and clear, the rest will disappear." https://wavlake.com/track/22fb4705-9a01-4f65-9b68-7e8a77406a16

10. "Key To Life" is an anthem dedicated to nostr, the permissionless, unstoppable internet identity protocol. Unlike mainstream social media’s walled gardens, nostr places your identity securely in a cryptographic key, allowing you total control. Every message or action you sign proves authenticity, verifiable by anyone. This ensures censorship resistant communication, crucial for decentralised coordination around Bitcoin, keeping it free from centralised control.

"I got the key that sets me free—my truth is mine, authentically." https://wavlake.com/track/0d702284-88d2-4d3a-9059-960cc9286d3f

11. "Web Of Trust" celebrates genuine human connections built through protocols like nostr, free from corporate algorithms and their manipulative agendas. Instead of top down control, it champions grassroots sharing of information among trusted peers, ensuring truth and authenticity rise naturally. It's about reclaiming our digital lives, building real communities where trust isn't manufactured by machines, but created by people.

"My filter, my future, my choice to make, real connections no one can fake." https://wavlake.com/track/b383d4e2-feba-4d63-b9f6-10382683b54b

12. "Proof Of Work" is an anthem for fair value creation. In Bitcoin, new money is earned through real work, computing power and electricity spent to secure the network. No shortcuts, no favourites. It's a system grounded in natural law: you reap what you sow. Unlike fiat money, which rewards those closest to power and the printing press, Proof of Work ensures rewards flow to those who put in the effort. Paper castles built on easy money will crumble, but real work builds lasting worth.

"Real work makes real worth, that's the law of this earth." https://wavlake.com/track/01bb7327-0e77-490b-9985-b5ff4d4fdcfc

13. "Stay Humble" is a reminder that true wealth isn’t measured in coins or possessions. It’s grounded in the truth that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Real wealth is the freedom to use your life and time for what is good and meaningful. When you let go of the obsession with numbers, you make room for gratitude, purpose, and peace. It's not about counting coins, it's about counting your blessings.

"Real wealth ain't what you own, it's gratitude that sets the tone." https://wavlake.com/track/3fdb2e9b-2f52-4def-a8c5-c6b3ee1cd194

@ 1bc70a01:24f6a411

The heading to be

Testing apps, a tireless quest, Click and swipe, then poke the rest. Crashing bugs and broken flows, Hidden deep where logic goes.

Specs in hand, we watch and trace, Each edge case in its hiding place. From flaky taps to loading spins, The war on regressions slowly wins.

Push the build, review the log, One more fix, then clear the fog. For in each test, truth will unfold— A quiet tale of stable code.

This has been a test. Thanks for tuning in.

• one
• two
• three

---

Listen a chill

Tranquility

And leisure

@ bf95e1a4:ebdcc848

This is a part of the Bitcoin Infinity Academy course on Knut Svanholm's book Bitcoin: Sovereignty Through Mathematics. For more information, check out our Geyser page!

An Immaculate Conception

Some concepts in nature are harder for us humans to understand than others. How complex things can emerge out of simpler ones is one of those concepts. A termite colony, for instance, has a complex cooling system at its lower levels. No single termite knows how it works. Completely unaware of the end results, they build complex mounds and nests, shelter tubes to protect their paths, and networks of subterranean tunnels to connect their dirt cities. Everything seems organized and designed, but it is not. Evolution has equipped the termite with a pheromone receptor that tells the termite what task he ought to engage himself in by simply counting the number of neighboring termites doing the same thing. If there’s a surplus of workers in an area, nearby termites become warriors, and so on. Complex structures emerge from simple rules. The fractal patterns found all around nature are another example. Fractals look complex, but in reality, they’re not. They’re basically algorithms — the same pattern, repeated over and over again with a slightly modified starting point. The human brain is an excellent example of a complex thing that evolved out of simpler things, and we humans still have a hard time accepting that it wasn’t designed. Religions, which themselves are emergent systems spawned out of human interaction, have come up with a plethora of explanations for how we came to be. All sorts of wild origin stories have been more widely accepted than the simple explanation that our complexities just emerged out of simpler things following a set of rules that nature itself provided our world with.

Complex systems emerge out of human interactions all the time. The phone in your pocket is the result of a century of mostly free global market competition, and no single human could ever have come up with the entire thing. The device, together with its internet connection, is capable of a lot more than the sum of its individual parts. A pocket-sized gadget that can grant instant access to almost all of the world’s literature, music, and film, which fits in your pocket, was an unthinkable science fiction a mere twenty years ago. Bitcoin, first described in Satoshi Nakamoto’s whitepaper ten years before these words were written, was designed to be decentralized. Still, it wasn’t until years later that the network started to show actual proof of this. Sound money, or absolute digital scarcity, emerged out of the network not only because of its technical design. How Bitcoin’s first ten years actually unfolded played a huge part in how true decentralization could emerge, and this is also the main reason why the experiment cannot be replicated. Scarcity on the internet could only be invented once. Satoshi’s disappearance was Bitcoin’s first step towards true decentralization. No marketing whatsoever and the randomness of who hopped onto the train first were the steps that followed. Bitcoin truly had an immaculate conception.

The network has shown a remarkable resistance to change over the last few years especially, and its current state might be its last incarnation given the size of the network and the 95% agreement threshold in its consensus rules. It might never change again. In that case, an entirely new, complex life form will have emerged out of a simple set of rules. Even if small upgrades are implemented in the future, the 21 million coin supply cap is set in stone forever. Bitcoin is not for humans to have opinions about — it exists regardless of what anyone thinks about it, and it ought to be studied rather than discussed. We don’t know what true scarcity and a truly global, anonymous free market will do to our species yet, but we are about to find out. It is naïve to think otherwise. Various futurists and doomsday prophets have been focused on the dangers of the impending general artificial intelligence singularity lately, warning us about the point of no return, whereupon an artificial intelligence will be able to improve itself faster than any human could. Such a scenario could, as news anchor Ron Burgundy would have put it, escalate quickly. This may or may not be of real concern to us, but meanwhile, right under our noses, another type of unstoppable digital life has emerged, and it is already changing the behavior and preferences of millions of people around the globe. This is probably bad news for big corporations and governments but good news for the little guy looking for a little freedom. At least, that’s what those of us who lean towards the ideas of the Austrian school of economics believe. This time around, we will find out whether this is the case or not. No one knows what it will lead to and what new truths will emerge out of this new reality.

Unlike the termite, we humans are able to experience the grandeur of our progress. We can look in awe at the Sistine Chapel or the pyramids, and we can delve into the technicalities and brief history of Bitcoin and discover new ways of thinking about value along the way. Money is the language in which we express value to each other through space and time. Now, that language is spoken by computers. Value expressed in this language can’t be diluted through inflation or counterfeiting any longer. It is a language that is borderless, permissionless, peer-to-peer, anonymous (if you have the skills), unreplicable, completely scarce, non-dilutable, unchangeable, untouchable, undeniable, fungible, and free for everyone on Earth to use. It is a language for the future and it emerged out of a specific set of events in the past. All languages are examples of complex systems emerging out of simpler things, and Bitcoin evolved just as organically as any other human language did.

Decentralization is hard to achieve. Really hard. When it comes to claims of decentralization, a “don’t trust, verify” approach to the validity of such claims will help you filter out the noise. So, how can the validity of Bitcoin’s decentralization be verified? It’s a tricky question because decentralization is not a binary thing, like life or death, but rather a very difficult concept to define. However, the most fundamental concepts in Bitcoin, like the 21 million cap on coin issuance or the ten-minute block interval as a result of the difficulty adjustment and the Proof of Work algorithm, have not changed since very early on in the history of the network. This lack of change, which is arguably Bitcoin’s biggest strength, has been achieved through the consensus rules, which define what the blockchain is. Some special mechanisms (for example, BIP9) are sometimes used to deploy changes to the consensus rules. These mechanisms use a threshold when counting blocks that signal for a certain upgrade. For example, the upgrade “Segregated Witness” activated in a node when 95% or more of the blocks in a retarget period signaled support. Bitcoin has displayed a remarkable immutability through the years, and it is highly unlikely that this would have been the case if the game-theoretical mechanisms that enable its decentralized governance model hadn’t worked, given the many incentives to cheat that always seem to corrupt monetary systems. In other words, the longer the system seems to be working, the higher the likelihood that it actually does.

Satoshi set in stone the length of the halving period — a very important aspect of Bitcoin’s issuance schedule and initial distribution. During the first four years of Bitcoin’s existence, fifty new coins were issued every ten minutes up until the first block reward halving four years later. Every four years, this reward is halved so that the issuance rate goes down by fifty percent. This effectively means that half of all the Bitcoin that will ever exist was mined during the first four years of the network’s life, one fourth during its next four years, and so on. At the time of writing, we’re a little more than a year from the third halving. After that, only 6.25 Bitcoin will be minted every ten minutes as opposed to 50, which was the initial rate. What this seems to do is to create hype cycles for Bitcoin’s adoption. Every time the price of Bitcoin booms and then busts down to a level above where it started, a hype cycle takes place. Bitcoin had no marketing whatsoever, so awareness of it had to be spread through some other mechanism. When a bull run begins, people start talking about it, which leads to even more people buying due to fear of missing out (FOMO), which inevitably causes the price to rise even more rapidly. This leads to more FOMO, and on and on the bull market goes until it suddenly ends, and the price crashes down to somewhere around, or slightly above, the level it was at before the bull run started. Unlike what is true for most other assets, Bitcoin never really crashes all the way. Why? Because every time a hype cycle occurs, some more people learn about Bitcoin’s fundamentals and manage to resist the urge to sell, even when almost all hope seems lost. They understand that these bull markets are a reoccurring thing due to the nature of the protocol. These cycles create new waves of evangelists who start promoting Bitcoin simply because of what they stand to gain from a price increase. In a sense, the protocol itself pays for its own promotion in this way. This organic marketing creates a lot of noise and confusion, too, as a lot of people who don’t seem to understand how Bitcoin works are often very outspoken about it despite their lack of knowledge. Red herrings, such as altcoins and Bitcoin forks, are then weeded out naturally during bear markets. Every time a bull market happens, a new generation of Bitcoiners is born.

The four-year period between halvings seems to serve a deliberate purpose. Satoshi could just as well have programmed a smooth issuance curve into the Bitcoin protocol, but he didn’t. As events unfold, it seems that he had good reason for this since these hype cycles provide a very effective onboarding mechanism, and they seem to be linked to the halvings. They certainly make Bitcoin volatile, but remember that in this early stage, the volatility is needed in order for these hype cycles to happen. Later on, when Bitcoin’s stock-to-flow ratio is higher, the seas will calm, and its volatility level will go down. In truth, it already has. The latest almost 80% price drop was far from the worst we’ve seen in Bitcoin. This technology is still in its infancy, and it is very likely that we’ll see a lot more volatility before mainstream adoption, or hyperbitcoinization, truly happens.

About the Bitcoin Infinity Academy

The Bitcoin Infinity Academy is an educational project built around Knut Svanholm’s books about Bitcoin and Austrian Economics. Each week, a whole chapter from one of the books is released for free on Highlighter, accompanied by a video in which Knut and Luke de Wolf discuss that chapter’s ideas. You can join the discussions by signing up for one of the courses on our Geyser page. Signed books, monthly calls, and lots of other benefits are also available.

@ bf95e1a4:ebdcc848

This is a part of the Bitcoin Infinity Academy course on Knut Svanholm's book Bitcoin: Sovereignty Through Mathematics. For more information, check out our Geyser page!

An Immaculate Conception

Some concepts in nature are harder for us humans to understand than others. How complex things can emerge out of simpler ones is one of those concepts. A termite colony, for instance, has a complex cooling system at its lower levels. No single termite knows how it works. Completely unaware of the end results, they build complex mounds and nests, shelter tubes to protect their paths, and networks of subterranean tunnels to connect their dirt cities. Everything seems organized and designed, but it is not. Evolution has equipped the termite with a pheromone receptor that tells the termite what task he ought to engage himself in by simply counting the number of neighboring termites doing the same thing. If there’s a surplus of workers in an area, nearby termites become warriors, and so on. Complex structures emerge from simple rules. The fractal patterns found all around nature are another example. Fractals look complex, but in reality, they’re not. They’re basically algorithms — the same pattern, repeated over and over again with a slightly modified starting point. The human brain is an excellent example of a complex thing that evolved out of simpler things, and we humans still have a hard time accepting that it wasn’t designed. Religions, which themselves are emergent systems spawned out of human interaction, have come up with a plethora of explanations for how we came to be. All sorts of wild origin stories have been more widely accepted than the simple explanation that our complexities just emerged out of simpler things following a set of rules that nature itself provided our world with.

Complex systems emerge out of human interactions all the time. The phone in your pocket is the result of a century of mostly free global market competition, and no single human could ever have come up with the entire thing. The device, together with its internet connection, is capable of a lot more than the sum of its individual parts. A pocket-sized gadget that can grant instant access to almost all of the world’s literature, music, and film, which fits in your pocket, was an unthinkable science fiction a mere twenty years ago. Bitcoin, first described in Satoshi Nakamoto’s whitepaper ten years before these words were written, was designed to be decentralized. Still, it wasn’t until years later that the network started to show actual proof of this. Sound money, or absolute digital scarcity, emerged out of the network not only because of its technical design. How Bitcoin’s first ten years actually unfolded played a huge part in how true decentralization could emerge, and this is also the main reason why the experiment cannot be replicated. Scarcity on the internet could only be invented once. Satoshi’s disappearance was Bitcoin’s first step towards true decentralization. No marketing whatsoever and the randomness of who hopped onto the train first were the steps that followed. Bitcoin truly had an immaculate conception.

The network has shown a remarkable resistance to change over the last few years especially, and its current state might be its last incarnation given the size of the network and the 95% agreement threshold in its consensus rules. It might never change again. In that case, an entirely new, complex life form will have emerged out of a simple set of rules. Even if small upgrades are implemented in the future, the 21 million coin supply cap is set in stone forever. Bitcoin is not for humans to have opinions about — it exists regardless of what anyone thinks about it, and it ought to be studied rather than discussed. We don’t know what true scarcity and a truly global, anonymous free market will do to our species yet, but we are about to find out. It is naïve to think otherwise. Various futurists and doomsday prophets have been focused on the dangers of the impending general artificial intelligence singularity lately, warning us about the point of no return, whereupon an artificial intelligence will be able to improve itself faster than any human could. Such a scenario could, as news anchor Ron Burgundy would have put it, escalate quickly. This may or may not be of real concern to us, but meanwhile, right under our noses, another type of unstoppable digital life has emerged, and it is already changing the behavior and preferences of millions of people around the globe. This is probably bad news for big corporations and governments but good news for the little guy looking for a little freedom. At least, that’s what those of us who lean towards the ideas of the Austrian school of economics believe. This time around, we will find out whether this is the case or not. No one knows what it will lead to and what new truths will emerge out of this new reality.

Unlike the termite, we humans are able to experience the grandeur of our progress. We can look in awe at the Sistine Chapel or the pyramids, and we can delve into the technicalities and brief history of Bitcoin and discover new ways of thinking about value along the way. Money is the language in which we express value to each other through space and time. Now, that language is spoken by computers. Value expressed in this language can’t be diluted through inflation or counterfeiting any longer. It is a language that is borderless, permissionless, peer-to-peer, anonymous (if you have the skills), unreplicable, completely scarce, non-dilutable, unchangeable, untouchable, undeniable, fungible, and free for everyone on Earth to use. It is a language for the future and it emerged out of a specific set of events in the past. All languages are examples of complex systems emerging out of simpler things, and Bitcoin evolved just as organically as any other human language did.

Decentralization is hard to achieve. Really hard. When it comes to claims of decentralization, a “don’t trust, verify” approach to the validity of such claims will help you filter out the noise. So, how can the validity of Bitcoin’s decentralization be verified? It’s a tricky question because decentralization is not a binary thing, like life or death, but rather a very difficult concept to define. However, the most fundamental concepts in Bitcoin, like the 21 million cap on coin issuance or the ten-minute block interval as a result of the difficulty adjustment and the Proof of Work algorithm, have not changed since very early on in the history of the network. This lack of change, which is arguably Bitcoin’s biggest strength, has been achieved through the consensus rules, which define what the blockchain is. Some special mechanisms (for example, BIP9) are sometimes used to deploy changes to the consensus rules. These mechanisms use a threshold when counting blocks that signal for a certain upgrade. For example, the upgrade “Segregated Witness” activated in a node when 95% or more of the blocks in a retarget period signaled support. Bitcoin has displayed a remarkable immutability through the years, and it is highly unlikely that this would have been the case if the game-theoretical mechanisms that enable its decentralized governance model hadn’t worked, given the many incentives to cheat that always seem to corrupt monetary systems. In other words, the longer the system seems to be working, the higher the likelihood that it actually does.

Satoshi set in stone the length of the halving period — a very important aspect of Bitcoin’s issuance schedule and initial distribution. During the first four years of Bitcoin’s existence, fifty new coins were issued every ten minutes up until the first block reward halving four years later. Every four years, this reward is halved so that the issuance rate goes down by fifty percent. This effectively means that half of all the Bitcoin that will ever exist was mined during the first four years of the network’s life, one fourth during its next four years, and so on. At the time of writing, we’re a little more than a year from the third halving. After that, only 6.25 Bitcoin will be minted every ten minutes as opposed to 50, which was the initial rate. What this seems to do is to create hype cycles for Bitcoin’s adoption. Every time the price of Bitcoin booms and then busts down to a level above where it started, a hype cycle takes place. Bitcoin had no marketing whatsoever, so awareness of it had to be spread through some other mechanism. When a bull run begins, people start talking about it, which leads to even more people buying due to fear of missing out (FOMO), which inevitably causes the price to rise even more rapidly. This leads to more FOMO, and on and on the bull market goes until it suddenly ends, and the price crashes down to somewhere around, or slightly above, the level it was at before the bull run started. Unlike what is true for most other assets, Bitcoin never really crashes all the way. Why? Because every time a hype cycle occurs, some more people learn about Bitcoin’s fundamentals and manage to resist the urge to sell, even when almost all hope seems lost. They understand that these bull markets are a reoccurring thing due to the nature of the protocol. These cycles create new waves of evangelists who start promoting Bitcoin simply because of what they stand to gain from a price increase. In a sense, the protocol itself pays for its own promotion in this way. This organic marketing creates a lot of noise and confusion, too, as a lot of people who don’t seem to understand how Bitcoin works are often very outspoken about it despite their lack of knowledge. Red herrings, such as altcoins and Bitcoin forks, are then weeded out naturally during bear markets. Every time a bull market happens, a new generation of Bitcoiners is born.

The four-year period between halvings seems to serve a deliberate purpose. Satoshi could just as well have programmed a smooth issuance curve into the Bitcoin protocol, but he didn’t. As events unfold, it seems that he had good reason for this since these hype cycles provide a very effective onboarding mechanism, and they seem to be linked to the halvings. They certainly make Bitcoin volatile, but remember that in this early stage, the volatility is needed in order for these hype cycles to happen. Later on, when Bitcoin’s stock-to-flow ratio is higher, the seas will calm, and its volatility level will go down. In truth, it already has. The latest almost 80% price drop was far from the worst we’ve seen in Bitcoin. This technology is still in its infancy, and it is very likely that we’ll see a lot more volatility before mainstream adoption, or hyperbitcoinization, truly happens.

About the Bitcoin Infinity Academy

The Bitcoin Infinity Academy is an educational project built around Knut Svanholm’s books about Bitcoin and Austrian Economics. Each week, a whole chapter from one of the books is released for free on Highlighter, accompanied by a video in which Knut and Luke de Wolf discuss that chapter’s ideas. You can join the discussions by signing up for one of the courses on our Geyser page. Signed books, monthly calls, and lots of other benefits are also available.

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Rome isn’t just a city—it’s a living, breathing museum where ancient ruins, baroque fountains, and buzzing piazzas come together in beautiful, chaotic harmony. Every cobblestone has a story, every espresso has a punch, and every sunset behind the Colosseum feels like a scene from a movie. Whether it's your first visit or your fifth, Rome never gets old.

🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Rome

1️⃣ The Colosseum & Roman Forum

• Step inside the iconic arena of gladiators
• Wander through the ruins of the Forum, once the heart of ancient Rome
• Don’t miss Palatine Hill for views over it all

2️⃣ Vatican City

• Home to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums
• Climb to the top of the basilica dome for one of the best panoramas in Rome
• Book tickets ahead—it gets packed!

3️⃣ Trevi Fountain

• Toss in a coin to ensure your return to Rome 💧
• Visit early in the morning or late at night to beat the crowds and get that perfect photo

4️⃣ Pantheon

• One of the best-preserved Roman temples—free to enter, awe guaranteed
• Look up: the open oculus in the dome is engineering genius
• Step outside for a coffee in Piazza della Rotonda

5️⃣ Piazza Navona & Campo de’ Fiori

• Piazza Navona: Elegant fountains, artists, street performers
• Campo de’ Fiori: Bustling morning market and lively nightlife
• Great spots to grab an aperitivo or soak up atmosphere

🍕 What to Eat in Rome

• Cacio e Pepe – Pasta with pecorino and black pepper—simple, bold, and pure Rome
• Carbonara – No cream! Just egg, cheese, guanciale, and pepper
• Supplì – Deep-fried rice balls with melted mozzarella inside
• Roman-style pizza – Thin and crispy, often sold by weight
• Gelato – Try real artisan shops like Gelateria del Teatro or Otaleg

🌇 Bonus Rome Moments

• Watch sunset from Pincian Hill or Gianicolo Terrace
• Stroll across the Tiber River to the charming Trastevere neighborhood
• Visit the Jewish Ghetto for history, architecture, and amazing food (hello, fried artichokes!)
• Wander without a map—Rome loves surprising you

🛵 Tips for Visiting

✅ Wear comfy shoes—Rome’s cobbles are beautiful, but brutal on feet
✅ Book major attractions in advance to skip lines
✅ Tap water is fresh—refill from Rome’s historic fountains (nasoni)
✅ Don’t rush—Rome is best enjoyed slowly, with a gelato in hand

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Hackathon 概要

Cambrian Hack 是一场最近的在线比赛，旨在吸引开发人员使用 Cambrian SDK 和 Jito Restaking 开发 Node Consensus Networks (NCNs)。此次活动吸引了88位注册开发人员，最终产生了九个批准项目。参与者专注于快速部署 NCN，探索如 AI 协处理器、预言机网络和区块链桥梁等应用。Hackathon 结束时，Cambrian 和 Jito 团队为前三名项目颁发了奖项。奖池的一部分包括 Cambrian 奖励 NFT，可以转换为 Cambrian 代币。

此次 Hackathon 强调了 Cambrian SDK 通过简化流程加速 NCN 开发的能力，减少了对大型团队的需求，并提供了预建组件。评估标准包括技术复杂性、市场潜力和创新性。

活动以在 Solana Apex 开普敦宣布获奖者而告终。Cambrian Hack 为开发者提供了与技术专家联系的机会，通过工作坊提升技能，并对 web3 和 Solana 生态系统的发展做出贡献。

Hackathon 获奖者

Cambrian NCN Builder 卓越奖获奖者

• Ping Project: 该项目通过在 Solana 区块链上使用 PoS 共识以及 Cambrian SDK 和 Jito Restaking 技术，强化网络完整性并管理奖励分配，提供去中心化的内容传递服务。
• Ant Vault: 结合 ElizaOS AI 代理与 Cambrian oracle 战略性管理 DeFi，提供智能化市场挑战解决方案。
• STABLE-FUNDS: Solana 上的平台，用于创建稳定币，集成去中心化预言机和质押机制，以连接政府支持的证券和 DeFi。

Cambrian 生态系统创新者奖获奖者

• NebulaCDN: 一种去中心化的内容传递网络，利用 Web3 技术提供高效且抗审查的数据分发。
• Kamui: 一个经济高效、安全的 Solana VRF oracle，旨在提供可靠且负担得起的随机性解决方案。

有关更多详情，请访问 Cambrian Hack BUIDL。

关于组织者

Cambrian

Cambrian 因其对技术和区块链发展的贡献而受到认可。该组织专注于创新区块链应用，已进行多项项目以提升数字基础设施。其成就包括与行业领袖合作开发安全高效的区块链系统。Cambrian 目前正在扩展其对去中心化技术的关注，努力提升不同平台的可访问性和安全性。通过其专业知识，Cambrian 在不断演变的技术和区块链产业中扮演着重要角色。

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Hackathon 概要

Core Global Gaming Hackathon 圆满落幕。作为去中心化游戏领域的重要活动，其吸引了众多参与者。在 231 位注册开发者中，86 个项目获得批准，所有项目共同竞逐 38 万美元的奖金池。此次黑客松鼓励在 Bitcoin 与 Core 平台上进行游戏开发，着重强调去中心化游戏的创新。

活动通过激发参与者拓宽去中心化游戏开发的视野，催生出一系列创新参赛作品。它为开发者搭建了与活跃社区互动的平台，既能激发创意，也可能对游戏未来发展方向产生影响。

活动取得了显著成果，例如将 Core Chain 技术融入游戏应用，展现了利用去中心化平台的独特思路。2025 年 3 月 24 日，活动以 Demo Day 收官，现场展示最终项目并公布获奖者。总体而言，这场黑客松凸显了区块链技术在游戏领域的潜力，也体现了开发者们力求影响行业发展的合作精神。

Hackathon 获奖者

超休闲游戏奖获奖者

• Farming Saga：一款专注于建立农业帝国的策略和模拟游戏，特色为动态挑战和NFT整合以丰富游戏玩法。
• Zenista：一款闲置游戏，旨在通过经营虚拟水疗中心提供放松体验，设计用于提供自我护理体验。
• Market Magnate：一款零售模拟游戏，结合区块链实现真正的资产所有权，强调策略、创意和管理。

社交游戏PvP（玩家对玩家）奖获奖者

• Core Arena：一款PvP游戏，允许在战斗中使用任何ERC-721 NFT，并自动分配技能，促进NFT社区间的统一并延长项目生命周期。
• Fight For Tcore：一款基于区块链的实时PvP游戏，玩家参与双人对决并下注TCORE代币，利用智能合约实现去中心化游戏玩法。
• CoreVerse Battleground：一款实时多人区块链游戏，提供NFT交易和基于Core Blockchain的游戏内货币。

益智游戏奖获奖者

• Temporal Odyssey：一款基于区块链的益智游戏，提供跨越多样世界的解谜NFT奖励。
• Dungeon：提供程序生成的地牢探险体验，结合区块链元素，允许玩家将成就铸造成Dungeon Tokens ($DGN)。
• Skateflow：一款无尽滑板游戏，实施区块链技术实现潜在的游戏内奖励。

欲了解所有项目的更多详细信息，请访问Core Gaming Hackathon 页面。

关于组织者

Core DAO

Core DAO是一个专注于推进区块链技术的去中心化自治组织。其主要关注点在于增强去中心化和促进区块链生态系统中的社区驱动治理。Core DAO因其对开发创新共识机制和智能合约解决方案的贡献而受到认可。该组织采取重大措施以提高去中心化网络的可扩展性和安全性。目前，Core DAO致力于培育开放、包容的区块链环境，倡导技术进步，并支持社区主导的开发举措，以促进去中心化技术的全球采用。

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مقدمه\ کتاب پول درهم‌شکسته نوشته لین الدن، یکی از برجسته‌ترین آثار در زمینه اقتصاد و فناوری مالی است که در تابستان ۱۴۰۲ (۲۰۲۳ میلادی) منتشر شد. این کتاب با نگاهی عمیق به ریشه‌های پول، کاستی‌های نظام مالی کنونی و ظرفیت‌های فناوری‌های نوین مانند بیت‌کوین، خوانندگان را به سفری فکری دعوت می‌کند. الدن با زبانی روان و دیدگاهی چندجانبه، پیچیدگی‌های پول را به شکلی ساده اما پرمغز توضیح می‌دهد و به ما کمک می‌کند تا درک بهتری از چیستی پول، نقش آن در زندگی و آینده‌اش به دست آوریم. این اثر ۵۳۸ صفحه‌ای، با ساختاری جامع، گذشته، حال و آینده پول را در شش بخش اصلی بررسی می‌کند.

بخش اول: گذشته پول – از دفترهای قدیمی تا بانکداری نوین\ الدن داستان تکامل پول را در دو بخش ابتدایی کتاب روایت می‌کند. او پول را به‌عنوان یک «دفتر حسابداری» معرفی می‌کند که از ابتدا برای ثبت بدهی‌ها و طلب‌ها در جوامع به کار می‌رفت. بخش اول به بررسی پول‌های کالایی مانند صدف و فلزات گران‌بها و ویژگی‌های ایده‌آل پول می‌پردازد. بخش دوم به ظهور خدمات بانکی اولیه و بانکداری گسترده اختصاص دارد و نشان می‌دهد که چگونه فناوری‌هایی مانند تلگراف در قرن نوزدهم تراکنش‌ها را سریع‌تر کردند. اما این پیشرفت‌ها، به گفته الدن، با متمرکز شدن کنترل پول در دست بانک‌های مرکزی، اغلب به زیان مردم عادی تمام شدند و شکاف طبقاتی را عمیق‌تر کردند.

بخش دوم: حال پول – چرا سیستم مالی کنونی شکسته است؟\ در دو بخش بعدی، الدن به نقد نظام مالی کنونی می‌پردازد که بر پایه پول بی‌پشتوانه (فیات) بنا شده است. او استدلال می‌کند که این سیستم با مشکلاتی مانند تورم مداوم، نابرابری اقتصادی و سلطه بیش‌ازحد نهادهای مالی دست‌به‌گریبان است. بخش سوم به نظام مالی جهانی از اوایل قرن بیستم، از جمله نظام برتون وودز، می‌پردازد. بخش چهارم خلق پول مدرن و تأثیرات بدهی‌های بی‌ثبات‌کننده را تحلیل می‌کند. الدن معتقد است که پول بی‌پشتوانه به‌گونه‌ای طراحی شده که ارزش آن به‌مرور کاهش می‌یابد و ثروت را از جیب مردم عادی به‌سوی بانک‌ها و شرکت‌های بزرگ هدایت می‌کند. او با مثال‌هایی واقعی، مانند بحران اقتصادی لبنان در سال ۱۴۰۱ (۲۰۲۲) یا تورم افسارگسیخته در کشورهایی مانند ترکیه، آرژانتین و ایران، نشان می‌دهد که این مشکلات چگونه زندگی میلیون‌ها نفر را تحت تأثیر قرار داده‌اند.

بخش سوم: آینده پول – نقش نوآوری‌های دیجیتال\ در دو بخش پایانی، الدن به بررسی فناوری‌های نوین مالی، به‌ویژه بیت‌کوین و بلاک‌چین، می‌پردازد. بخش پنجم به نوآوری‌های دیجیتال قرن بیست‌ویکم، مانند بیت‌کوین، اختصاص دارد که الدن آن را یک دفتر حسابداری غیرمتمرکز می‌بیند. این فناوری می‌تواند قدرت را از نهادهای مرکزی خارج کرده و به افراد بازگرداند. بخش ششم به اخلاقیات پول و نقش رمزنگاری در شبکه‌های مالی می‌پردازد و آینده‌ای را تصور می‌کند که در آن افراد کنترل بیشتری بر دارایی‌های خود دارند. بااین‌حال، الدن به چالش‌های بیت‌کوین، مانند نوسانات شدید قیمت، مصرف بالای انرژی و مشکلات مقیاس‌پذیری، نیز اشاره می‌کند. او همچنین به نمونه‌هایی از استفاده بیت‌کوین در کشورهای درحال‌توسعه، مانند السالوادور، اشاره دارد که این ارز به‌عنوان ابزاری برای دور زدن محدودیت‌های مالی به کار گرفته شده است.

نقاط قوت کتاب\ ۱. سادگی در عین عمق: الدن مفاهیم پیچیده‌ای مانند تورم، نظام بانکی و بلاک‌چین را با زبانی قابل‌فهم برای همگان توضیح می‌دهد، بدون آنکه از دقت علمی کاسته شود.\ ۲. دیدگاه چندرشته‌ای: او با ترکیب دانش مهندسی و تحلیل مالی، پول را به‌عنوان یک فناوری بررسی می‌کند که با پیشرفت‌های بشری تکامل می‌یابد.\ ۳. تمرکز بر انسان‌ها: کتاب تنها به آمار و ارقام بسنده نمی‌کند؛ الدن نشان می‌دهد که نقص‌های نظام مالی چگونه زندگی واقعی مردم را تحت تأثیر قرار داده است.\ ۴. بی‌طرفی نسبی: اگرچه الدن از طرف‌داران بیت‌کوین است، تلاش می‌کند با بررسی جنبه‌های مثبت و منفی هر سیستم، از یک‌جانبه‌گرایی پرهیز کند.

نقاط ضعف کتاب\ ۱. تمرکز بیش‌ازحد بر بیت‌کوین: برخی معتقدند که الدن بیش‌ازحد به بیت‌کوین خوش‌بین است و به دیگر فناوری‌های مالی نوین، مانند اتریوم یا استیبل‌کوین‌ها، کمتر پرداخته است.\ ۲. پیچیدگی برای تازه‌کارها: هرچند کتاب برای مخاطب عام نوشته شده، برخی بخش‌ها ممکن است برای افرادی که هیچ آشنایی با اقتصاد یا ارزهای دیجیتال ندارند، دشوار باشد.\ ۳. کمبود راه‌حل‌های عملی: الدن در شناسایی مشکلات موفق است، اما راه‌حل‌های پیشنهادی او گاهی کلی و غیرملموس به نظر می‌رسند.

چرا این کتاب را بخوانیم؟\ پول درهم‌شکسته برای هرکسی که می‌خواهد بداند پول چیست، چرا ارزشش تغییر می‌کند و آینده‌اش چه خواهد شد، یک راهنمای بی‌نظیر است. این کتاب به ما کمک می‌کند تا به چیزهایی که بدیهی می‌پنداریم—مانند اسکناسی که هر روز خرج می‌کنیم—عمیق‌تر نگاه کنیم. برای خوانندگان ایرانی، که سال‌هاست با تورم، کاهش ارزش پول ملی و تحریم‌های مالی دست‌وپنجه نرم می‌کنند، این کتاب پاسخ‌هایی روشنگر به سؤال‌هایی مانند «چرا پول ما بی‌ارزش می‌شود؟» یا «آیا راهی برای محافظت از دارایی‌ها وجود دارد؟» ارائه می‌دهد. ساختار شش‌بخشی کتاب، با پوشش جامع گذشته، حال و آینده، خواننده را به درک کاملی از پول و قدرت آن هدایت می‌کند.

جمع‌بندی\ پول درهم‌شکسته بیش از یک کتاب اقتصادی است؛ دعوتی است به تأمل و تغییر. لین الدن با دانش، دقت و نگاهی انسانی، ما را به سفری از گذشته پول تا آینده‌اش می‌برد و نشان می‌دهد که چگونه می‌توانیم با آگاهی و انتخاب‌های درست، به‌سوی سیستمی عادلانه‌تر حرکت کنیم. این کتاب برای هرکسی که به اقتصاد، فناوری یا عدالت اجتماعی علاقه‌مند است، اثری ضروری و الهام‌بخش به شمار می‌رود.

منابع و دسترسی به ترجمه\ بخش‌هایی از این کتاب به فارسی ترجمه شده و از طریق کانال‌های تلگرامی مانند «ترجمه‌ی مقاله‌های بیت‌کوین» در دسترس است. برای یافتن ترجمه، می‌توانید عبارت «پول درهم‌شکسته» یا نام نویسنده را در این کانال جستجو کنید. همچنین، پیشنهاد می‌شود برای ادامه این مسیر و فرهنگ از مترجم و مدیر کانال ترجمه مقالات حمایت مالی کنید

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/940429

@ 34ff86e0:dbb6b9fb

test description 2 lang arabic

@ 9a1adc34:9a9d705b

Testing the concept of using Nostr as a personal CMS.

@ 8d5ba92c:c6c3ecd5

It’s often said that 'Bitcoin doesn’t need marketing'—and the internet proves it well, almost like a daily feed. Instead of typical ads in the form of 'sell-me-anything-and-everything', the space thrives on organic memes and threads: a grassroots testament to Bitcoin ethos.

This isn’t about the artificial promotion of THE TRUMAN SHOW, where desires are manufactured and ads dictate specific behaviours. Bitcoiners don’t just reject the Proof-of-Hype, so typical in a fiat-driven world, they replace it with Proof-of-Work: value emerging not from coercion, but from consensus (i.e., what the community validates as genuine and meaningful).

The "Funny Money" Crew

On the other hand, equally common is the twist with memes labeled 'Bitcoin’s Marketing Team', featuring faces like:

🤡 Jerome Powell (Fed Chair), Christine Lagarde (ECB), Agustín Carstens (BIS chief, CBDC pusher), Janet Yellen (U.S. Treasury Secretary), Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan CEO), Elizabeth Warren (U.S. Senator), and so on.

Sophisticated jokes—appreciated by those who understand their actual impact. After all, what better advertisement for Bitcoin could there be than watching the fiat system degrade in real time? 😎

Why Bring This Up?

First, because I want to remind that Bitcoiners weaponize even simple ideas better than entire Wall Street-hired PR firms. Every "Bitcoin doesn’t need marketing" or "Thanks, Fed for the free promo!" is a clever, almost subversive way of raising topics we should be aware of. Exposing fiat’s failures often speaks louder than directly evangelizing how sound Bitcoin is—and how well it solves problems that keep many non-coiners awake at night.

Second, to credit where it’s due: Bitcoin-only projects and individuals who are actively spreading the word—hard money, real solutions, and the culture itself. But this isn’t 'marketing' in the traditional, pushy, profit-at-all-costs sense. Instead, it’s built on:

• Information (no bullshit, just facts)
• Education (orange-pilling, not upselling)
• Community (value, instead of dry PR)
• Creativity (proof-of-mind, not algo-baits)
• Experiences (how-to solutions, not showing off)

And let’s be clear: Earning money isn’t evil—it’s necessary for these projects to survive. What matters is the intention. No one should apologize for creating Bitcoin-themed ads, so long as they’re carrying the meaning, instead of being rooted in hype.

PoW: Earning Attention, Not Buying It

The list below (part one) is based on my own preferences, but it was also inspired by Bitcoin FilmFest, which—in its upcoming edition #BFF25, May 22-25—introduced a new block to the program: ‘BFF PoWies: The Show for Bitcoin-Only Advertising.’ A dedicated space for creative expression beyond films, where projects and individuals compete for awards in categories like Grand Prix, Best Visual, and Best Identity—with a $4,500 prize pool to grab.

Anyways, as our small but passionate team dug into this topic, I was really happy to uncover unique video ads, some of which I’m excited to share with you now.

If you know others, tag me (private profile) or 'Bitcoin FilmFest' directly on socials. Feel free to submit your work to the PoWies too (submissions close May 6th).

Without further ado... Let's explore the space where value is discovered, not packaged in empty promises 📺👇

Bitcoin-Video Ads: Part One.

Creative, funny, dynamic, inspirational. All four below. Enjoy!

1/. NEVER LOSE YOUR BITCOIN (Liana)

https://v.nostr.build/P7To0HpNmmB6iudR.mp4

2/. MAKE A CHANGE, (Wasabi)

https://v.nostr.build/rUGQAysAIDH8Wx9x.mp4

3/. THE MOTHER OF ALL BACKUPS (Cryptosteel)

https://v.nostr.build/3zesnSjQudQoxl5f.mp4

1. FINANCIAL FALLOUT (21 Futures)

https://v.nostr.build/sFvmt8oCWfxLKJRb.mp4

---

PS. The most effective Bitcoin ads aren't 'typical' campaigns—they're the result of creativity, PoW, and authentic storytelling move hand-in-hand.

BTC Your Mind. Let it Beat... Şela

@ ac58bbcc:7d9754d8

Research highlights the importance of using visual representations and precise language to develop students’ conceptual understanding of fractions.

Fractions are a cornerstone of mathematics education, essential for developing robust number sense and laying a solid foundation for algebra and more advanced mathematical pursuits. Despite their significance, fractions present persistent and considerable challenges for numerous learners. This research overview synthesizes key insights from the literature, focusing on the prevalent misconceptions, specific difficulties students encounter, and evidence-based instructional practices promoting a deeper, more conceptual grasp of fractions. This overview aims to equip educators with the knowledge and strategies necessary to foster student success in this critical area by examining the cognitive obstacles and exploring effective teaching approaches. Traditional instruction in fractions often falls short of promoting meaningful understanding, frequently emphasizing procedures and algorithms at the expense of conceptual development (Lamon, 2001).

Understanding the Complexities

Developing a robust understanding of fractions is far from straightforward. Students encounter a variety of conceptual hurdles that can hinder their progress. Research identifies several overarching conceptual challenges that contribute significantly to these difficulties, each stemming from misunderstandings about the nature of fractions and their relationship to other mathematical concepts.

Core Conceptual Challenges

One of the most fundamental challenges is conceptualizing fractions as numbers with magnitude and understanding their position on the number line (Simon et al., 2018). Many students struggle to see fractions as more than parts of a whole, failing to grasp that they represent quantities that can be ordered, compared, and operated on, much like whole numbers. This requires understanding that fractions have a specific location and value on the number line, just as whole numbers do.

A common misconception involves applying whole number rules inappropriately to fractions. For instance, students may believe that a fraction with a larger denominator is always larger or that adding numerators and denominators is the correct way to add fractions. This stems from the tendency to apply additive thinking, appropriate for whole numbers, to multiplicative situations involving fractions.

Grasping fraction equivalence—that different fractions can represent the same quantity (Simon et al., 2018)—is a significant hurdle. It requires recognizing that a fraction can be partitioned into smaller, equivalent units and that multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator by the same non-zero number results in an equivalent fraction.

Performing arithmetic operations with fractions, notably addition and subtraction with unlike denominators, presents challenges due to a lack of understanding of the roles of numerators and denominators and the necessity of common units (denominators). This requires understanding the concept of common denominators, emphasizing that these represent the same-sized units.

Specific Difficulties

Beyond the broad conceptual challenges, students often grapple with more specific difficulties that stem from limited or flawed understandings:

Many students view fractions as deriving from fractions solely as parts of a whole divided into n equal pieces (n/n). This can hinder their ability to conceptualize improper fractions, as having more parts than the "whole" seems illogical (Simon et al., 2018; Stafylidou & Vosniadou, 2004). This limited view restricts their understanding of fractions to only those less than one, making it challenging to work with mixed numbers and other more complex fraction concepts.

Some students conceive of fractions (m/n, where m<n) solely as an arrangement where a whole is divided into n identical parts, and m parts are designated. They do not understand 1/n or m/n as a quantity, measure, or amount. Based on this limited notion, 1/n and m/n have no meaning when not included as parts in a whole partitioned into n identical parts (Behr, Harel, Post, & Lesh, 1992; Mitchell & Clarke, 2004; Simon, 2006; Simon et al., 2018).

Students often struggle with the concept of a referent unit, understanding a fraction only as a part of the presented totality. The difficulty arises when the referent unit is greater or less than that totality (Simon et al., 2018; Tzur, 1999). Understanding of referent units is generally not emphasized in the development of whole numbers; when whole number development is based on counting, the unit is generally left implicit. This also includes understanding that fractions can represent the same quantity or relationships (ratios) depending on the context and the considered unit.

Effective Instructional Strategies and Representations

Instruction must focus on conceptual development, utilize varied representations, and employ precise language to address the challenges and promote deep understanding.

Building Conceptual Understanding

Traditional "part-whole" language can be limiting. Brendefur and Strother propose using "count" for the numerator to emphasize that it counts the number of equivalent units of a given unit fraction. Moreover, use "unit size" for the denominator to define the size of each unit. Using "1" instead of "whole" reinforces that a fraction’s unit size is determined by the number of equal partitions between any whole numbers or, more precisely, between 0 and 1. For example, partitioning the unit of 1 into 4 equal units would be called "fourths." This precise language helps students conceptualize fractions as measurements of a unit rather than parts of a whole and helps students understand fractions greater than one.

Instruction should promote semantic analyses of written symbols, connecting them with real-world referents (Wearne & Hiebert, 1988). This involves gradually building rich symbolic meanings through connections with appropriate referents, eliminating dependence on rote memorization. Establishing connections between numeric and operational symbols with familiar referents is essential. Note that it is important to use real-world examples that are not circles when introducing fractions. Start with 1-dimensional examples (e.g., ribbon or distance) before moving to 2-dimensional ones. Students can develop a stronger conceptual understanding of fractions by progressing from one-dimensional to two-dimensional examples before encountering more complex circular representations.

Utilizing Multiple Representations

Research highlights the importance of using multiple representations to help students comprehensively understand fractions (Watanabe, 2002). These representations should be explicitly linked to show their connections and move from enactive to iconic and, then, symbolic (Bruner, 1964).

Enactive (Concrete) representations involve hands-on experiences with physical objects. Examples include using fraction bars, pattern blocks, or Cuisenaire rods to represent fractions and perform operations physically. Enactive representations are crucial for initially grounding fraction concepts in concrete experiences, allowing students to manipulate and visualize fractions directly. The connection from action to thought helps students develop a deeper understanding of fraction concepts.

Iconic (Visual) representations involve models that represent fractions, such as number lines and bar models initially, followed by area models. These representations help students transition from enactive experiences to visual support for fraction concepts. Number lines and bar models are particularly effective for illustrating relationships, comparing magnitudes, and building a conceptual understanding of fractions. However, children's understanding of twodimensional figures and their area measurements significantly affects their reasoning with area models of fractions. If this understanding is still developing, the area model may be inappropriate for discussing fractions (Watanabe, 2002).

Symbolic (Abstract) representations involve using mathematical symbols and notation to represent fractions, such as 1/2, 3/4, etc. They are the most abstract form of representation and require students to understand the underlying concepts and relationships represented by the symbols. Instruction should explicitly connect symbolic representations to iconic representations to ensure that students understand the meaning behind the symbols.

Importance of Structural Language

Using precise structural language is essential for helping students develop a clear and flexible understanding of fractions. Words such as unit, partition, iterate, compose, decompose, and equivalence provide a foundation for conceptualizing fractions and their relationships.

Partitioning a unit of 1 into equal-sized units is fundamental to understanding fractions and what the denominator means. Iterating means copying a unit with no gaps and overlaps. For example, the fraction 5/4 means that from 0 to 1 (or within each whole number) is partitioned into four equal units called "fourths." Each one-fourth unit is then iterated five times to create a precise location on a number line. This approach allows students to see fractions as measurable quantities, reinforcing their understanding of fractions as numbers and the numerator as the count of these iterated units.

Composing and decomposing units is a crucial skill in understanding and manipulating fractions. It involves combining or breaking apart fractions of similar or different sizes. This skill forms the foundation for adding and subtracting fractions with both like and unlike denominators. For instance, when solving ¾ + ½, a student might decompose ¾ into ¼ + ½. Then, they can compose the two ½ fractions to form 1, resulting in 1¼. This process demonstrates the importance of creating equivalent fractions with the same unit (denominator) to facilitate addition and subtraction. By decomposing and recomposing fractions, students develop a deeper understanding of fraction equivalence and the flexibility to work with fractions in various forms.

Historical Perspective

Examining math proficiency trends over the past few decades reveals progress and ongoing challenges. For instance, while 4th-grade proficiency rates increased from 13% in 1992 to 42% in 2013 before declining to 36% in 2022, 8thgrade proficiency saw a similar rise from 15% in 1992 to 35% in 2013, only to fall back to 26% in 2022 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). More alarmingly, less than 20% of 8th graders consistently demonstrated longterm retention of math facts over these periods, underscoring a persistent issue in mathematics education and highlighting the challenges students face maintaining fluency as they progress through higher grades (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). Recent data shows a significant decline in math proficiency, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach to teaching math facts has evolved over the past century.

Creating Effective Fraction Instruction

Effective fraction instruction requires a multi-faceted approach, prioritizing conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. A key focus should be developing fraction magnitude and sense by encouraging students to estimate, judge the reasonableness of answers and build intuition about fraction operations. Activities such as comparing and ordering fractions, estimating their size, and relating them to benchmarks like 0, 1/2, and 1 on a number line are essential for a deeper understanding of fractions as measurable quantities.

Teachers should also explicitly address common misconceptions, such as treating fractions as separate whole numbers, by designing activities that challenge these misunderstandings directly. Providing opportunities for students to explore fractions through hands-on activities and real-world problems further enhances learning by making abstract concepts more concrete and meaningful. By combining these strategies, educators can create a comprehensive instructional approach that supports students in developing a flexible and confident understanding of fractions.

Conclusion

Fostering a robust understanding of fractions demands a comprehensive and deliberate approach. Educators must move beyond rote memorization and emphasize underlying concepts, varied interpretations, and diverse representations of fractions. Key considerations for instruction include awareness of part-whole versus comparison methods for representing fractions, careful development of partitioning concepts, and sequential instruction that develops symbol meanings before practicing syntactic routines (Watanabe, 2002; Wearne & Hiebert, 1988). By attending to common misconceptions, utilizing precise language, and grounding instruction in meaningful contexts, educators can empower students to develop a flexible and confident understanding of fractions. This approach addresses the immediate challenges of fraction comprehension and sets students up for success in future mathematical endeavors, providing a solid foundation for more advanced mathematical concepts.

References

Behr, M. J., Harel, G., Post, T., & Lesh, R. (1992). Rational number, ratio, and proportion. In D. A. Grouws (Ed.). Handbook of research on mathematics teaching and learning (pp. 296–333). New York: Macmillan.

Brendefur, J. & Strother, S. (n.d.). The effect of math vocabulary instruction on student achievement. Developing Mathematical Thinking Institute. www.dmtinstitute.com.

Bruner, J. S. (1964). Toward a theory of instruction. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press.

Lamon, S. J. (2001). Presenting and representing: From fractions to rational numbers. In A. A. Cuoco, & F. R. Curcio (Eds.), The roles of representation in school mathematics (pp. 146–165). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Mitchell, A., & Clarke, D. M. (2004). When is three quarters not three quarters? Listening for conceptual understanding in children’s explanations in a fractions interview. In I. Putt, R. Farragher, & M. McLean (Eds.). Mathematics education for the third millennium: Towards 2010 (Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (pp. 367–373).

Simon, M. A. (2006). Key developmental understandings in mathematics: A direction for investigating and establishing learning goals. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 8(4), 359–371.

Simon, M. A., Placa, N., Avitzur, A., & Kara, M. (2018). Promoting a concept of fraction-as-measure: A study of the Learning Through Activity research program. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 51, 11-30.

Stafylidou, S., & Vosniadou, S. (2004). The development of students’ understanding of the numerical value of fractions. Learning and Instruction, 14(5), 503-518.

Tzur, R. (1999). An integrated study of children’s construction of improper fractions and the teacher’s role in promoting that learning. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 30(4), 390–416.

Watanabe, T. (2002). Representations in Teaching and Learning Fractions. Teaching Children Mathematics, 8(8), 457- 463.

Wearne, D., & Hiebert, J. (1988). A Cognitive Approach to Meaningful Mathematics Instruction: Testing a Local Theory Using Decimal Numbers. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 19(5), 371-384.

Social Media

Research highlights the importance of using visual representations and precise language to develop students’ conceptual understanding of fractions. Tools like number lines and bar models have proven especially effective for illustrating fraction relationships, comparing magnitudes, and supporting problem-solving across various fraction contexts. These representations help students see fractions as measurable quantities, bridging the gap between iconic representations and symbolic notation.

Moreover, research suggests that precise language—such as “count,” “unit size,” “partition,” and “iterate”—is essential for fostering a deeper understanding of fractions. Moving beyond traditional part-whole descriptions, this structural language emphasizes fraction equivalence and flexibility in reasoning. By combining visual tools with clear language, educators can help students build a strong foundation in fractions, setting them up for success in advanced mathematics and real-world applications.

Join us in exploring these powerful learning strategies and their impact on early mathematical thinking!

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Schon Wolfgang Borchert rief alle dazu auf, laut und deutlich „NEIN“ zu sagen, wenn der Ruf zu den Waffen ertönt. In Vorkriegszeiten, und in diesen leben wir – mal wieder –, dann ist meist nicht viel Zeit, Sand in das Getriebe der anlaufenden Kriegsmaschinerie zu werfen. Jene, die von den Kriegen profitieren, bereiten sie nicht lange vor, um kurz vorher einen Rückzieher zu machen. Die meinen das ernst! Das ist keine Übung!

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/krieg-einfach-nur-nein-von-tom-oliver-regenauer

Und deswegen formulierte neuerdings auch Tom-Oliver Regenauer ein klares und unmissverständliches „Nein“ für die „Friedenstaube“ auf der neuen, zensurresitenten Plattform Pareto. pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzde5xg…xarj9e3xzmny3sn3aw

Hören Sie seinen Text „Krieg? Einfach nur: Nein!“.

Sprecher: Ulrich Allroggen

Bild: Gezeichnet von Tina Ovalle

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1

Good morning, readers!

Today, HRF takes part in the launch of the Bitcoin Humanitarian Alliance in London, where a dozen human rights and aid groups will convene with policymakers, media, finance professionals, and technologists at the Frontline Club to explain how they are using Bitcoin in their work in the field.

Elsewhere, we bring news from Turkey, where large, pro-democracy protests erupted over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s increasing political repression and economic fallout. The Turkish regime has detained more than 2,000 protesters (and counting) as youth appear in droves demanding democracy, accountability, and economic reform.

In Eastern Africa, Tanzania’s government extended immense restrictions on foreign currency, effectively barring its use in day-to-day payments outside a few circumstances. In a poverty-stricken country where fuel prices have moved forcibly upward for two consecutive months, access to and usage of alternative currencies can be a financial lifeline.

In Bitcoin news, we spotlight Misty Breez, a new open-source Bitcoin wallet built by Lightning Network infrastructure company Breez. The wallet is a Lightning and Liquid Network hybrid wallet. It gives users control over their funds and abstracts away any complexities of payment channel management, but users must trust the Liquid Federation. In terms of functionality, Misty Breez supports a wide variety of address types, offering users flexibility across the fees, privacy, and censorship resistance of their payments. It may prove a helpful tool for dissidents and activists standing against tyranny.

We end with the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, where HRF’s Ayelen Osorio joins Zimbabwean pastor-turned-activist Evan Mawarire, who recounts his inspiring journey of a peaceful uprising against Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship and the hyperinflation and repression he unleashed on the population. We also feature the live streams of the 2025 MIT Bitcoin Expo in collaboration with HRF. These videos highlight the speakers, panels, and activities led by HRF to raise awareness about financial repression and the tools being built to resist it.

Now, let’s jump right in!

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GLOBAL NEWS

Turkey | Government Detains Thousands of Pro-Democracy Protesters

The largest protests in over a decade erupted in Istanbul, Turkey, after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan detained political opposition figure and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Turks of all walks of life find themselves united by common outrage at the regime’s ongoing political repression and tumultuous economic conditions. With inflation soaring above 39% and widespread unemployment among the nation’s youth, it’s no surprise Turks are flooding the streets and demanding change. In response to these demonstrations, law enforcement has since detained more than 2,000 demonstrators, and police blockades have met student protesters with water cannon trucks to suppress their dissent. Many young Turks feel their future is slipping away in a country where saving is futile, the currency is collapsing, and speaking out comes at a high personal cost. “This feels like our last chance,” one young protester said, adding, “If we don’t succeed, many of us will have to leave Turkey.”

Tanzania | Regime Enacts Restrictions on Foreign Currency

Tanzania’s regime is banning the use of foreign currency outside of a few circumstances (such as duty-free retailers and government membership fees). This means quoting prices in, accepting, or facilitating payments with foreign currency is now illegal, alongside declining to accept the official Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Losing the ability to transact with more stable currencies removes individuals’ ability to shield themselves from inflation and subjects them to local currency volatility. The mandate comes in addition to the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority raising the cost of fuel for a second consecutive month. Locals worry this could further increase the cost of living as the fuel price hike ripples through the economy. These policies mirror the tactics of authoritarians using financial control to limit dissent and restrict individual financial freedom.

China | Incorporates e-CNY CBDC into Financial Sector Guidelines

China is incorporating the e-CNY central bank digital currency (CBDC) into financial sector guidelines for the first time, signaling a strengthening commitment to fully roll out its CBDC. The e-CNY’s usage is reportedly expanding among Chinese citizens, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claiming 800 million wallets and over 10.2 trillion CNY in transaction volume — though these numbers are both dubiously high and difficult to independently verify. As usage grows, so do concerns over financial and individual liberties. The CCP already uses the financial system to monitor and suppress dissent. For Uyghurs, a Muslim minority in the Uyghur Region grappling with ongoing cultural genocide, mass surveillance, and forced labor from the CCP, the e-CNY would allow the regime to restrict their financial autonomy and freedom completely. As it begins to roll out, it’s important to become aware of the dangers of the e-CNY here.

Burkina Faso | Arrests Three Journalists in Press Crackdown

Burkina Faso’s military junta arrested three journalists for reporting on regime-imposed press restrictions. Since seizing power in 2022, the military junta, under the leadership of Ibrahim Traoré, has targeted independent media by detaining reporters, forcing critics into exile, abusing emergency laws to suppress dissent, and using financial repression to disrupt independent funding. Journalists disappear under the guise of forced conscription, international coverage of military abuses is blocked, and outlets that report on crimes against humanity are eradicated. With press freedom in ashes, Burkinabés face an information blackout where state propaganda proliferates. In these contexts, open and uncensorable protocols like nostr can serve as a digital town square where information, value, and assembly flow undisturbed by the reach of oppressive regimes.

Tunisia | Saied Sacks Prime Minister as Economy Crumbles

Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri less than a year into his term and replaced him with Sara Zaafarani, Tunisia’s third prime minister in under two years. As Saied reshuffles his cabinet to best suit his interests and goals, Tunisia’s economy has reached a standstill. Growth is running below 1.5%, the cost of living continues to climb, and shortages of staple goods like rice, sugar, and coffee burden the everyday lives of Tunisians. After staging a coup, dissolving the government, and ruling by decree, Saied’s consolidation of power has come inch by inch with the erosion of democracy and financial stability.

BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS

Breez | Releases New Open-Source Bitcoin Wallet

Breez, a company helping build out the Bitcoin Lightning economy, released a new open-source Bitcoin wallet called “Misty Breez.” It is a hybrid Lightning and Liquid Network wallet built using the Nodeless Breez SDK. The wallet offers fast and private transactions without the complexities of payment channel management. The tradeoff? Trusting the Liquid Federation with custody of your Bitcoin. Still, Misty Breez supports many Bitcoin and Lightning features, including on-chain payments, Lightning addresses, BOLT 12 invoices, and offline receiving. So, while the wallet is a trust-minimized solution rather than fully custodial, users gain a wide range of use cases and features unique to this wallet. This could make Misty Breez useful for people facing financial surveillance, internet outages, or authoritarian-imposed financial restrictions. Learn more about the wallet here.

OpenCash | Bounty for Open Source Cashu x BTCPay Server Plugin

The OpenCash Association is offering a two million satoshi bounty for an open-source plugin allowing merchants to accept Cashu payments through BTCPay Server. Cashu is a Bitcoin-based ecash protocol designed to offer fast, low-cost, and very private transactions. For activists and dissidents, ecash enables payments without compromising financial privacy, but they must trust the mints (entities managing the system) to custody their funds. OpenCash specified that the Cashu plugin must integrate cleanly with BTCPay Server and include an input field for ecash redemption or a scannable Cashu payment request. If claimed, this bounty and subsequent integration will help advance Bitcoin’s medium of exchange capabilities and make private payments more accessible by integrating with self-hosted, independent Bitcoin payment infrastructure. Learn more about the bounty here.

Machankura | Adds Support for Offline Bitcoin Transactions in Uganda

Machankura, a custodial Bitcoin Lightning wallet that helps Africans access Bitcoin without the Internet, announced they expanded service to Uganda, enabling Ugandans to use Bitcoin without an Internet connection. To do so, Machankura leverages the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) protocol for sending text messages. To use the service, users simply dial a designated number on a feature phone (or a smartphone without data) and can access the Bitcoin network in countries like Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, and now Uganda. Machankura helps democratize Bitcoin access, expands censorship-resistant money across Africa, and offers a practical solution to financial inclusion. If you’re in Uganda or another supported country, try it here.

Zeus Wallet | Plans to Introduce Cashu Support

Zeus, a leading self-custodial mobile Lightning wallet, shared plans for a future Cashu integration. Cashu is an ecash protocol for Bitcoin. It enables practical everyday payments on Bitcoin that are private by design (but users must trust mints to manage their funds). By adding ecash support, Zeus can expand the accessibility of private Bitcoin payments and provide its users with greater flexibility over their financial activity. As part of its upcoming release, the wallet also introduces two new types of addresses: Zaplocker addresses for Lightning self-custody on mobile and Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) addresses for remote node runners. While a little more technical, these integrations will improve individuals' ability to transact without exposing their financial history, reducing surveillance risks, especially for those living under authoritarian regimes or in jurisdictions with strict financial controls.

Bitcoin Thailand Festival | Half-Marathon to Challenge Financial Repression

The Thai city of Chiang Mai will host the nation’s inaugural Bitcoin Half Marathon and Bitcoin Thailand Festival from Nov. 1-2, 2025, under the theme “Run For Freedom.” The marathon’s theme contrasts Thailand’s increasing financial repression and long history of erasing dissent. Even still, the festival’s mission to advance financial freedom and financial literacy with participation from the local Bitcoin community comes at a pressing time. The Thai government is increasingly restricting financial freedoms through digital cash handouts, which, for all intents and purposes, function as a central bank digital currency that imposes spending restrictions and expiration dates on money. In these environments, Bitcoin education and awareness are more urgent than ever.

Btrust Builders | Announces Builders Pathways

Btrust Builders introduced Btrust Builders Pathways, a new program designed to equip African developers with the skills and experience needed to contribute to Bitcoin open-source software. The initiative offers five learning tracks, from beginner-friendly Bitcoin fundamentals to advanced Rust programming and Bitcoin Core development. Participants will gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and access to potential funding via Btrust Developer Grants. With this launch, Btrust Builders continues its mission to grow Africa’s Bitcoin development talent and strengthen the software’s ecosystem in a region where many suffer under dozens of authoritarian governments.

RECOMMENDED CONTENT

How Bitcoin Fights Corruption & Injustice with Evan Mawarire

In the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech Series, HRF’s Content & Research lead Ayelen Osorio sits down with Zimbabwean pastor-turned-activist Evan Mawarire to explore how Bitcoin can serve as a tool for fighting inflation, corruption, and injustice. Together, they unpack Mawarire’s personal journey of leading a peaceful uprising against the tyranny of Robert Mugabe and the hyperinflation he unleashed on his undeserving population. Mawarire details how Zimbabwe’s economic collapse became an orchestrated strategy to control and silence Zimbabweans. He further explains how the peaceful movement galvanized a generation, why financial repression is a central pillar of authoritarianism, and how Bitcoin offers ordinary citizens a way to resist and rebuild. Catch the full conversation here.

MIT Bitcoin Expo Livestream

Last week, software developers, human rights activists, students, and researchers gathered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the 12th annual MIT Bitcoin Expo — this year in partnership with HRF — to explore how Bitcoin and freedom technologies can defend civil liberties and empower individuals, especially under authoritarian regimes. Born from MIT’s 2014 Bitcoin Project, the expo has grown into a major forum for individual liberation, with panels, workshops, and hackathons centered on privacy, financial autonomy, and decentralized protocols. Tune into the livestream recording to catch the speakers, presentations, and panels that defined the event.

If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report here.

Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program via BTCPay.\ Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ hrf.org

The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals here.

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Hackathon 概要

由 Flare 与 Google Cloud 合作举办的 Flare x Google Verifiable AI 线上黑客松&线下黑客松 于 2025 年 3 月同期举行，聚焦可验证自主 AI 应用开发，推动区块链与人工智能技术的深度融合。提交项目涵盖 Social AI Agent、RAG Knowledge、AI x DeFi（DeFAI）和 Consensus Learning 四大核心类别。依托 Google Cloud 机密计算与 Flare 预言机技术，为数据密集型 AI 应用提供安全可信的链上链下协同支持，同时通过线上辅导、技术研讨会及与伯克利大学、DoraHacks 等机构合作，助力开发者实现技术落地

所有获奖者由 Flare 联合创始人 Hugo Philion、Google Cloud 代表 Ross Nicoll 等行业专家组成的评审团评定。线上黑客松于 3 月 7 日至 14 日开展，总奖池 40,000 美元，吸引了 358 名开发者参与，最终提交审核通过了 46 个的创新项目。线下黑客松于 3 月 7 日至 9 日在加州伯克利大学举办，总奖池 60,000 美元，共有 105 位开发者现场参与，提交了 24 个项目。

此次黑客松通过技术整合验证了 AI 代理在去中心化场景中的可信运行机制，为 DeFAI、隐私计算等领域提供实践案例，同时构建产学研一体化平台，加速区块链与 AI 技术的跨领域应用，标志着两大技术在去中心化生态中的深度协同进入新阶段。

线上黑客松获奖者

Social AI Agent 奖项获得者

• ScribeChain - 该项目利用AI将X Spaces中的实时音频转换为简明的文字摘要，帮助有效的信息处理。

• Gosenica je lezla - Telegram 机器人，使用 RAG 数据库分离代码/文档，用于 Flare 文档查询和代码示例生成。

• Flarebot - Flare 的 AI 驱动 Telegram 机器人，提供 DeFi 分析，通过 FTSOv2 和 Gemini 模型进行代币价格/TVL 跟踪。

RAG Knowledge 奖项获得者

• Decentralized Trusted AI - 引入去中心化区块链系统以验证 AI 生成的响应，从而增强对 AI 输出的信任。

• Gosenica je lezla

• chaincontext - 可验证知识系统，将 FTSO 数据、区块链状态和 RAG 合并在 TEE 中，以进行透明的信任评估。

AI x DeFi (DeFAI) 奖项获得者

• Quince Finance - 该项目结合了由 AI 驱动的聊天机器人和 Google Cloud 于 Flare 上的 DeFi 网页应用中，专注于提高用户安全和访问。

• Flare DeFAI - 在 TEE 中提供安全的 AI 助手，使用自然语言进行 DeFi 操作并在 Flare 上进行智能合约风险评估。

• Flare Sense - 使用实时监控、RAG 和 Telegram 警报检测风险并建议解决方案的 DeFi 安全代理。

Consensus Learning 奖项获得者

• DemistiFI - 在自动钱包管理中利用 AI 代理，并采用共识学习来实现一致、可靠的交易。

• Flava AI - 构想 Flare 网络与爬虫、分块器和嵌入器组件进行交互的智能 RAG 和共识机制。

• Forecaster - 多模型共识平台，通过信心评分和技术分析提高市场预测，以便更好地进行投资决策。

有关这些项目的更多信息，请访问 DoraHacks。

线下黑客松获奖者

Social AI Agent 奖项获奖者

1st Place:

• Flare Fact Checker - 开发了一种基于 AI 的事实检查工具，利用可信执行环境中的验证节点验证社交媒体上的科学声明。

2nd Place:

• FlareBot - 一个 Discord 机器人，为 Flare 社区提供 24/7 支持，具有实时数据检索和可定制的安全过滤器。

3rd Place:

• Flara - 为开发者关系自动化社交媒体互动提供 AI 代理，结合 Gemini-2.0-Pro 模型和可信执行环境确保自主性验证。

RAG Knowledge 奖项获奖者

1st Place:

• Command Flare - 为 DeFi 提供自然语言 AI 界面，使用新颖的图形和向量方法在安全环境中增强交易和查询。

2nd Place:

• 2DeFi - 通过为传统金融用户提供个性化投资策略和 AI 分析，简化在 Flare 区块链上的 DeFi 访问。

3rd Place:

• ragstoriches - 提供抓取、解析和组织区块链数据的工具，以提高分析和响应准确性。

AI x DeFi (DeFAI) 奖项获奖者

1st Place:

• 2DeFi （同时获得 RAG Knowledge 类别的奖项）

2nd Place:

• Voice To Flare - 促进在 Flare 区块链上的安全、多语言区块链交易，借助 AI 增强。

3rd Place:

• Solar v1 - 一个 AI 驱动的 DeFi 助手，通过高级分析和自动化增强在 Flare Network 上的互动。

Consensus Learning 奖项获奖者

1st Place:

• NFT Deep Appraisal - 使用共识学习结合 AI 评估 NFT 价值，结合数据分析和一致性验证。

2nd Place:

• mikey-codebase - 实施了一种合奏 LLM 响应聚合器，包括评估模型影响的 Shapley 估计。

3rd Place:

• Command Flare （也在 RAG Knowledge 类别中获得名次）

欲了解完整的项目列表和更多信息，请访问 DoraHacks。

关于组织者

Flare

Flare 是一家专注于推动区块链解决方案和智能合约应用的技术组织。Flare 以将以太坊虚拟机集成到更广泛的区块链生态系统中而闻名，实现跨链互操作性。Flare Network 是该公司的一个著名开发项目，通过促进各种网络之间的无缝交易，增强数字资产的实用性。Flare 继续扩展去中心化技术能力，推动创新和更广泛的区块链采用。

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Hackathon 概要

HackSecret 5 展示了在去中心化机密计算中的创新，共吸引了 142 位开发者参与并提交了 53 个项目。此 Hackathon 利用 Secret Network 的特性推进了在 Cosmos、EVM 和 Solana 等区块链平台上的机密 AI 应用。

参与者探索了四个主要方向：Secret AI 应用、Autonomys Network dApps、跨链 dApps 和原生 Secret Network dApps。值得注意的项目包括利用 Secret AI SDK 的 AI 驱动法律助理和私密健康咨询平台。

此次 Hackathon 亮点在于通过 Secret Network 增强安全通信和存储的应用。例如，一个去中心化的 AI 人才市场和机密 AI 写作助手，都关注于去中心化应用中的隐私和数据机密性。

总奖池为 15,000 美元，表彰了项目的技术复杂性、创新性和可能的实际应用。HackSecret 5 促进了跨领域合作并激发了对去中心化应用的兴趣。

Hackathon 获奖者

Secret AI dApps 奖项获奖者

此类别表彰了创新利用 Secret Network 的 Secret AI SDK 的 dApps。

• Sentinex: 一个通过 AI 驱动的合约审计和机密分析增强 DeFi 安全的多代理平台，利用 Secret SDK 和 Autonomys 代理进行安全的代币推出和智能合约审计。
• Secret AI Accountant System: 通过结合 Confidential Computing 和 Secret Network 的 AI 安全管理商业账簿，以实现透明的审计过程。
• JS SDK for Secret AI: 通过简单的 JavaScript API 轻松将 Secret Confidential AI 模型集成到 Web 应用中。
• Conflux-AI: 一个去中心化平台，通过联合学习和智能合约实现隐私感知的协同交易及全球模型聚合。
• DocAssist: 通过 AI 洞察安全管理患者数据，利用 Secret AI SDK 支持医生。
• codeforgeai: 促进 AI 与区块链的协作编码开发工具生态系统，提供像 CodeForge CLI 这样的工具。
• Secret AI Writer: 一个确保内容隐私的 AI 写作平台，通过 Secret Network 的智能合约和端到端加密实现。
• autonomous-copilot: 结合 AI 和去中心化存储的安全数据分析数据管理工具。
• SecureChat AI: 提供 AI 驱动的加密聊天，确保跨设备的安全通信。

Native Secret dApps 奖项获奖者

此类别强调了构建于 Secret Network 上的 dApps，注重默认隐私机制。

• Unchained Poker: 一个使用秘密合约解决信任问题的去中心化扑克平台，提供统计分析和语音聊天以增强安全性。
• HabiChain: 部署区块链用于安全的心理健康支持，利用功能行为分析提供个性化工具，同时保护隐私。

使用 Autonomys Agents Framework 的不可阻挡 AI 代理奖项获奖者

此类别表彰了使用 Autonomys Agents Framework 开发具有可验证链上记忆 AI 代理的项目。

• AgentMint.AI: 自动化跨区块链的 AI 驱动 meme 币创建和管理，集成社交媒体工具。
• Aetherlink: 实现 ai3:// 协议以标准化内容访问和发现于去中心化网络中。
• Pixel Lock: 使用 Auto Drive 提供安全图像存储解决方案，保护数据隐私，消除未经授权访问风险。
• Conflux-AI

Autonomys Track 2: 使用 Auto Drive 构建 - 永久去中心化存储奖项获奖者

此方向寻求利用 Auto Drive 的数据持久性和安全性解决方案，超越传统的固定方法。

• autonomous-copilot
• Decentralized Collaborative File Repository (DCFR): 基于 DAO 的文件管理，通过去中心化存储和治理协议提供民主控制和透明操作。

有关所有 hackathon 项目的更多信息，请访问 HackSecret 5 Projects。

关于组织者

Secret Network

Secret Network 是一个通过 Intel SGX 技术、加密和密钥管理实现隐私功能的区块链平台。它支持可扩展的、无需许可的智能合约，默认设计了隐私功能，支持独特的区块链应用。Secret Network 于 2020 年 9 月在其主网上推出了私密智能合约，确立了其在隐私导向区块链开发中的角色。该组织持续探索隐私在区块链技术中的创新应用。

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After five years and over 6,000 commits, LNbits has reached a momentous milestone: Version 1.0.0 is here. LNbits is officially out of beta!

This release represents the five years relentless development, dedication, bug-hunting, feature-building, and community involvement. What started as a lightweight Lightning wallet application for Lightning Network payments has evolved into one of the most versatile, modular, and widely-used Bitcoin tools in the space.

We want to offer a heartfelt thank you to every contributor, developer, tester, and user—from those running LNbits for personal use to the communities and businesses who rely on it every day. Your feedback, bug reports, feature requests, and support have made LNbits what it is today.

🚀 Key Highlights in v1.0.0

• LNbits now at v1.0.0 – the software is stable, hardened, and production-ready.
• Vue 3 migration – a complete frontend overhaul for performance and long-term maintainability.
• WebSocket payments – faster and more efficient, replacing older SSE and long-polling methods.
• New lnbits.sh install script – simplifies setup and local deployment.
• Access Control Lists (ACL) – token-based permissions for powerful role and scope control.
• Admin tools:
• Admin payments overview
• Toggle outgoing payments
• View payments from deleted wallets
• NWC (Nostr Wallet Connect) support
• Login with Nostr or OAuth – expanding integration and authentication options

💱 Fiat & Exchange Upgrades

• Custom exchange providers
• Improved fiat precision
• Wallet-level fiat tracking and labels
• Support for Bitpay and Yadio fiat rate providers

🧑‍🎨 UI / UX Improvements New Login/Register interface

• Default theme for new users
• Custom background images
• Visual refresh with new themes (including neon and light/dark modes)
• Revamped Pay Invoice dialog and invoice creation
• Custom wallet icons/colours
• CSV export and in-wallet payment filtering

🛠️ Developer Tools & Internal Enhancements Migration to pyjwt, updated to breez-sdk 0.6.6, pyln-client 24.5

• Support for Python 3.10–3.13
• New nodemanager for managing Lightning channels
• Backend refactors, improved database handling, type hinting, and extension logic
• More robust testing and CI support

🩹 Maintenance & Fixes Persistent fix for admin removal bug

• Improved extension handling
• Bug fixes across wallet logic, funding sources, and legacy compatibility
• Dozens of improvements to reliability, performance, and developer experience

🎉 A Huge Thank You

To every developer, translator, tester, UX contributor, node runner, and user: thank you.

LNbits wouldn’t be what it is without your involvement. Whether you've written code, opened issues, translated labels, or simply used it and given feedback—this release is yours too.

Here's to the next chapter!

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Tucked into Italy’s far northeastern corner, Trieste feels like a place where cultures meet and stories linger. With Austro-Hungarian architecture, Adriatic views, literary cafés, and a unique Central European flair, it’s Italy—but not quite like the Italy you know. Bordering Slovenia and once the seaport of an empire, Trieste is full of quiet charm and timeless elegance.

🌟 Top Things to Do in Trieste

1️⃣ Piazza Unità d’Italia

• One of Europe’s largest sea-facing squares
• Surrounded by grand buildings and open to the Adriatic—sunsets here are magical
• Great spot to sit at a café and people-watch

2️⃣ Castello di Miramare

• A fairy-tale white castle perched over the sea, built for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian
• Explore the ornate interiors and stroll the surrounding park with sea views
• A short bus or bike ride from the city

3️⃣ Canal Grande & Borgo Teresiano

• A small Venetian-style canal lined with cafés, bridges, and boats
• At its end, you’ll find the neoclassical Sant’Antonio Nuovo church
• The area is perfect for evening walks and aperitivo

4️⃣ Caffè Culture & James Joyce Trail ☕📖

• Trieste has a legendary café scene—literary, elegant, and historic
• Visit Caffè San Marco or Caffè degli Specchi
• Follow the trail of James Joyce, who lived here for over a decade

5️⃣ Barcola Promenade

• A local favorite for seafront walks, swimming, and sunbathing
• Bring a towel, grab a gelato, and relax like a true Triestino
• Especially lively in summer

🏛️ Also Worth a Visit

• Teatro Romano – A well-preserved Roman theater right in the city center
• Castello di San Giusto & Cathedral – Hilltop views and Roman ruins nearby
• Risiera di San Sabba – A sobering WWII concentration camp memorial site

🍝 What to Eat in Trieste

• Jota – A hearty stew of sauerkraut, beans, and potatoes (Slavic roots!)
• Seafood everything – Fresh Adriatic catch, especially scampi and sardoni
• Strudel, goulash, and schnitzel – Trieste’s menu mixes Italian and Mitteleuropean
• Pair with local wines like Vitovska or a crisp Malvasia

🎯 Tips for Travelers

✅ Trieste is walkable and elegant—bring comfy shoes for those marble pavements
✅ Great base for day trips to Miramare Castle, Grotta Gigante, or even Ljubljana and Piran
✅ Try the osmize in the surrounding hills—rustic, family-run wine farms that open to the public
✅ Slovenian and Croatian borders are right nearby—Trieste is a crossroads city

@ 20986fb8:cdac21b3

社交应用正迎来全新阶段：从传统的中心化平台迈向去中心化生态，用户对轻量级、智能化和隐私保护的应用需求与日俱增。在这一趋势下，Mini Apps 凭借其快速开发、灵活部署和去中心化的特性，正在成为社交应用的主流选择。加密货币支付的兴起进一步推动了这一趋势，其低成本、无国界和金融自由的优势，不仅大幅降低了交易门槛，还为 Mini Apps 的规模化发展注入了强劲动力。作为比特币生态 Nostr 协议上最受欢迎的去中心化社交支付客户端之一，YakiHonne 凭借卓越的用户体验和便捷的社交支付功能，覆盖全球 170 多个国家。如今，YakiHonne 即将推出可编程 Smart Widgets——一款支持 Mini Apps 的开发者组件。这款产品将重新定义用户在社交平台上的互动与消费方式，为链上应用生态和社交支付带来全新活力。

YakiHonne Smart Widgets：社交与消费的创新引擎

YakiHonne Smart Widgets 是一款融入社交动态的可编程微型应用，让用户在浏览内容时就能轻松完成链上支付、互动和操作。它不仅是一款工具，更是一个开放的去中心化应用市场，为用户和开发者带来无限创造力与灵活性。

Smart Widgets 提供三种简单易用的创建方式，满足不同用户的需求：

• 基础组件（Basic Widgets）：任何用户都能通过直观编辑器快速创建，只需选择模板、输入内容，就能生成打赏、Mint 或投票等互动功能。用户在浏览动态时，点击按钮即可完成链上操作，体验快速、无需跳转。
• 动作组件（ActionWidgets）：用户可通过嵌入应用链接快速创建，无需开发经验。普通用户点击动态中的按钮，就能直接在当前界面访问外部去中心化应用（如交易所），享受顺畅不中断的体验。
• 工具组件（Tool Widgets-Mini App）：适合有开发能力的用户或开发者，通过 Smart Widgets SDK 打造功能更丰富的应用，支持复杂链上操作。用户在社交动态中即可完成数据查询、链上任务、游戏互动或即时支付，体验高度集成且流畅。

主要特性：

• 快速构建：开发者仅需数小时即可将创意变为现实，支持常用 Web 技术，打造接近原生应用的体验，无需繁琐的应用商店审核。
• 社交登录：用户无需账号密码即可进入 Mini Apps，直接使用 Nostr/YakiHonne 身份在动态中互动，流程简单，社交体验更紧密。
• 易于发现与留存：通过动态 feeds 一键发现新应用，内置裂变机制助力快速传播，Mini App 商店提供更多选择，用户可保存喜爱应用并通过通知随时回归。
• 即时互动与消费：Mini Apps 通过 YakiHonne 的社交支付功能基础设施实现无缝集成，用户无需离开动态即可完成支付、投票或游戏等操作。社交互动与链上行为自然融合，消费体验轻松融入每一次互动场景。

改变日常体验：Smart Widgets 的多场景应用

YakiHonne Smart Widgets 将社交互动与链上消费深度结合，为用户带来多样化的应用场景：

• 链上互动：用户在浏览动态时，可通过 Smart Widgets 参与链上投票或轻量游戏。例如，一键完成社区提案投票，或与好友挑战链上小游戏，互动即刻完成，无需跳转。
• 智能 Agent：用户可使用 Agent Widgets 自动创作并发布内容，例如生成个性化帖子或短视频，打造 AI 驱动的新型媒体体验。
• DAO 治理：基于aMACI创建匿名投票，结合 Agent 实现自主治理。用户直接在社交动态中参与 DAO 决策，推动去中心化社区发展。
• 社交支付：用户可通过动态发送即时支付或链上红包，例如分享一笔小额打赏，激发好友互动与消费转化。
• 订阅服务：支持内容创作者或应用的连续订阅，用户一键订阅喜爱的服务，享受无缝续费体验。

这些场景不仅提升了用户的参与感和便利性，还为创作者、开发者及社区提供了新的增长机会。

引领新趋势：Smart Widgets 的生态价值

YakiHonne Smart Widgets 的推出将为链上消费应用生态和社交支付带来深远影响。它为开发者提供了一个开放的舞台，任何人都可以通过 Widgets 快速部署创新应用，丰富 YakiHonne 的生态多样性。YakiHonne 的社交支付功能基础设施进一步为 Mini Apps 赋能，提供高效的支付支持，降低了开发者的支付集成成本，同时为用户带来安全、便捷的交易体验。这种支持不仅加速了 Mini Apps 的商业化进程，还推动了链上消费的规模化增长。

对于用户而言，Smart Widgets 将社交互动与消费行为融为一体，创造更具沉浸感和实用性的数字体验。对于内容创作者和社区，它则提供了一个低门槛的链上入口，助力其触达全球用户。这一产品不仅是对技术边界的探索，更是对未来去中心化生活方式的预演。YakiHonne 致力于通过 Smart Widgets 构建一个开放、活跃的社交与消费生态，让每一次互动都成为链上价值流动的起点。

立即体验：Smart Widgets 等你探索

YakiHonne 诚邀全球用户和开发者共同参与这一激动人心的旅程。开发者可申请加入 Smart Widgets SDK 测试计划，开发属于自己的 Mini Apps，与 YakiHonne 的全球用户群共享成果。用户则可关注 YakiHonne 官方渠道（X或下载YakiHonne iOS/Android），体验链上互动与社交支付的全新可能。

@ 3b3a42d3:d192e325

Atomic Signature Swaps (ASS) over Nostr is a protocol for atomically exchanging Schnorr signatures using Nostr events for orchestration. This new primitive enables multiple interesting applications like:

• Getting paid to publish specific Nostr events
• Issuing automatic payment receipts
• Contract signing in exchange for payment
• P2P asset exchanges
• Trading and enforcement of asset option contracts
• Payment in exchange for Nostr-based credentials or access tokens
• Exchanging GMs 🌞

It only requires that (i) the involved signatures be Schnorr signatures using the secp256k1 curve and that (ii) at least one of those signatures be accessible to both parties. These requirements are naturally met by Nostr events (published to relays), Taproot transactions (published to the mempool and later to the blockchain), and Cashu payments (using mints that support NUT-07, allowing any pair of these signatures to be swapped atomically.

How the Cryptographic Magic Works 🪄

This is a Schnorr signature (Zₓ, s):

s = z + H(Zₓ || P || m)⋅k

If you haven't seen it before, don't worry, neither did I until three weeks ago.

The signature scalar s is the the value a signer with private key k (and public key P = k⋅G) must calculate to prove his commitment over the message m given a randomly generated nonce z (Zₓ is just the x-coordinate of the public point Z = z⋅G). H is a hash function (sha256 with the tag "BIP0340/challenge" when dealing with BIP340), || just means to concatenate and G is the generator point of the elliptic curve, used to derive public values from private ones.

Now that you understand what this equation means, let's just rename z = r + t. We can do that, z is just a randomly generated number that can be represented as the sum of two other numbers. It also follows that z⋅G = r⋅G + t⋅G ⇔ Z = R + T. Putting it all back into the definition of a Schnorr signature we get:

s = (r + t) + H((R + T)ₓ || P || m)⋅k

Which is the same as:

s = sₐ + t where sₐ = r + H((R + T)ₓ || P || m)⋅k

sₐ is what we call the adaptor signature scalar) and t is the secret. ((R + T)ₓ, sₐ) is an incomplete signature that just becomes valid by add the secret t to the sₐ:

s = sₐ + t

What is also important for our purposes is that by getting access to the valid signature s, one can also extract t from it by just subtracting sₐ:

t = s - sₐ

The specific value of t depends on our choice of the public point T, since R is just a public point derived from a randomly generated nonce r.

So how do we choose T so that it requires the secret t to be the signature over a specific message m' by an specific public key P'? (without knowing the value of t)

Let's start with the definition of t as a valid Schnorr signature by P' over m':

t = r' + H(R'ₓ || P' || m')⋅k' ⇔ t⋅G = r'⋅G + H(R'ₓ || P' || m')⋅k'⋅G

That is the same as:

T = R' + H(R'ₓ || P' || m')⋅P'

Notice that in order to calculate the appropriate T that requires t to be an specific signature scalar, we only need to know the public nonce R' used to generate that signature.

In summary: in order to atomically swap Schnorr signatures, one party P' must provide a public nonce R', while the other party P must provide an adaptor signature using that nonce:

sₐ = r + H((R + T)ₓ || P || m)⋅k where T = R' + H(R'ₓ || P' || m')⋅P'

P' (the nonce provider) can then add his own signature t to the adaptor signature sₐ in order to get a valid signature by P, i.e. s = sₐ + t. When he publishes this signature (as a Nostr event, Cashu transaction or Taproot transaction), it becomes accessible to P that can now extract the signature t by P' and also make use of it.

Important considerations

A signature may not be useful at the end of the swap if it unlocks funds that have already been spent, or that are vulnerable to fee bidding wars.

When a swap involves a Taproot UTXO, it must always use a 2-of-2 multisig timelock to avoid those issues.

Cashu tokens do not require this measure when its signature is revealed first, because the mint won't reveal the other signature if they can't be successfully claimed, but they also require a 2-of-2 multisig timelock when its signature is only revealed last (what is unavoidable in cashu for cashu swaps).

For Nostr events, whoever receives the signature first needs to publish it to at least one relay that is accessible by the other party. This is a reasonable expectation in most cases, but may be an issue if the event kind involved is meant to be used privately.

How to Orchestrate the Swap over Nostr?

Before going into the specific event kinds, it is important to recognize what are the requirements they must meet and what are the concerns they must address. There are mainly three requirements:

• Both parties must agree on the messages they are going to sign
• One party must provide a public nonce
• The other party must provide an adaptor signature using that nonce

There is also a fundamental asymmetry in the roles of both parties, resulting in the following significant downsides for the party that generates the adaptor signature:

• NIP-07 and remote signers do not currently support the generation of adaptor signatures, so he must either insert his nsec in the client or use a fork of another signer
• There is an overhead of retrieving the completed signature containing the secret, either from the blockchain, mint endpoint or finding the appropriate relay
• There is risk he may not get his side of the deal if the other party only uses his signature privately, as I have already mentioned
• There is risk of losing funds by not extracting or using the signature before its timelock expires. The other party has no risk since his own signature won't be exposed by just not using the signature he received.

The protocol must meet all those requirements, allowing for some kind of role negotiation and while trying to reduce the necessary hops needed to complete the swap.

Swap Proposal Event (kind:455)

This event enables a proposer and his counterparty to agree on the specific messages whose signatures they intend to exchange. The content field is the following stringified JSON:

{     "give": <signature spec (required)>,     "take": <signature spec (required)>,     "exp": <expiration timestamp (optional)>,     "role": "<adaptor | nonce (optional)>",     "description": "<Info about the proposal (optional)>",     "nonce": "<Signature public nonce (optional)>",     "enc_s": "<Encrypted signature scalar (optional)>" }

The field role indicates what the proposer will provide during the swap, either the nonce or the adaptor. When this optional field is not provided, the counterparty may decide whether he will send a nonce back in a Swap Nonce event or a Swap Adaptor event using the nonce (optionally) provided by in the Swap Proposal in order to avoid one hop of interaction.

The enc_s field may be used to store the encrypted scalar of the signature associated with the nonce, since this information is necessary later when completing the adaptor signature received from the other party.

A signature spec specifies the type and all necessary information for producing and verifying a given signature. In the case of signatures for Nostr events, it contain a template with all the fields, except pubkey, id and sig:

{ "type": "nostr", "template": { "kind": "<kind>"        "content": "<content>"        "tags": [ … ],        "created_at": "<created_at>" } }

In the case of Cashu payments, a simplified signature spec just needs to specify the payment amount and an array of mints trusted by the proposer:

{   "type": "cashu",   "amount": "<amount>",   "mint": ["<acceptable mint_url>", …] }

This works when the payer provides the adaptor signature, but it still needs to be extended to also work when the payer is the one receiving the adaptor signature. In the later case, the signature spec must also include a timelock and the derived public keys Y of each Cashu Proof, but for now let's just ignore this situation. It should be mentioned that the mint must be trusted by both parties and also support Token state check (NUT-07) for revealing the completed adaptor signature and P2PK spending conditions (NUT-11) for the cryptographic scheme to work.

The tags are:

• "p", the proposal counterparty's public key (required)
• "a", a kind:30455 Swap Listing event or an application specific version of it (optional)

Forget about this Swap Listing event for now, I will get to it later...

Swap Nonce Event (kind:456) - Optional

This is an optional event for the Swap Proposal receiver to provide the public nonce of his signature when the proposal does not include a nonce or when he does not want to provide the adaptor signature due to the downsides previously mentioned. The content field is the following stringified JSON:

{     "nonce": "<Signature public nonce>",     "enc_s": "<Encrypted signature scalar (optional)>" }

And the tags must contain:

• "e", a kind:455 Swap Proposal Event (required)
• "p", the counterparty's public key (required)

Swap Adaptor Event (kind:457)

The content field is the following stringified JSON:

{ "adaptors": [ {         "sa": "<Adaptor signature scalar>",         "R": "<Signer's public nonce (including parity byte)>",         "T": "<Adaptor point (including parity byte)>",         "Y": "<Cashu proof derived public key (if applicable)>",     }, …],     "cashu": "<Cashu V4 token (if applicable)>" }

And the tags must contain:

• "e", a kind:455 Swap Proposal Event (required)
• "p", the counterparty's public key (required)

Discoverability

The Swap Listing event previously mentioned as an optional tag in the Swap Proposal may be used to find an appropriate counterparty for a swap. It allows a user to announce what he wants to accomplish, what his requirements are and what is still open for negotiation.

Swap Listing Event (kind:30455)

The content field is the following stringified JSON:

{ "description": "<Information about the listing (required)>", "give": <partial signature spec (optional)>, "take": <partial signature spec (optional)>, "examples: [<take signature spec>], // optional "exp": <expiration timestamp (optional)>, "role": "<adaptor | nonce (optional)>" }

The description field describes the restrictions on counterparties and signatures the user is willing to accept.

A partial signature spec is an incomplete signature spec used in Swap Proposal events kind:455 where omitting fields signals that they are still open for negotiation.

The examples field is an array of signature specs the user would be willing to take.

The tags are:

• "d", a unique listing id (required)
• "s", the status of the listing draft | open | closed (required)
• "t", topics related to this listing (optional)
• "p", public keys to notify about the proposal (optional)

Application Specific Swap Listings

Since Swap Listings are still fairly generic, it is expected that specific use cases define new event kinds based on the generic listing. Those application specific swap listing would be easier to filter by clients and may impose restrictions and add new fields and/or tags. The following are some examples under development:

Sponsored Events

This listing is designed for users looking to promote content on the Nostr network, as well as for those who want to monetize their accounts by sharing curated sponsored content with their existing audiences.

It follows the same format as the generic Swap Listing event, but uses the kind:30456 instead.

The following new tags are included:

• "k", event kind being sponsored (required)
• "title", campaign title (optional)

It is required that at least one signature spec (give and/or take) must have "type": "nostr" and also contain the following tag ["sponsor", "<pubkey>", "<attestation>"] with the sponsor's public key and his signature over the signature spec without the sponsor tag as his attestation. This last requirement enables clients to disclose and/or filter sponsored events.

Asset Swaps

This listing is designed for users looking for counterparties to swap different assets that can be transferred using Schnorr signatures, like any unit of Cashu tokens, Bitcoin or other asset IOUs issued using Taproot.

It follows the same format as the generic Swap Listing event, but uses the kind:30457 instead.

It requires the following additional tags:

• "t", asset pair to be swapped (e.g. "btcusd")
• "t", asset being offered (e.g. "btc")
• "t", accepted payment method (e.g. "cashu", "taproot")

Swap Negotiation

From finding an appropriate Swap Listing to publishing a Swap Proposal, there may be some kind of negotiation between the involved parties, e.g. agreeing on the amount to be paid by one of the parties or the exact content of a Nostr event signed by the other party. There are many ways to accomplish that and clients may implement it as they see fit for their specific goals. Some suggestions are:

• Adding kind:1111 Comments to the Swap Listing or an existing Swap Proposal
• Exchanging tentative Swap Proposals back and forth until an agreement is reached
• Simple exchanges of DMs
• Out of band communication (e.g. Signal)

Work to be done

I've been refining this specification as I develop some proof-of-concept clients to experience its flaws and trade-offs in practice. I left the signature spec for Taproot signatures out of the current document as I still have to experiment with it. I will probably find some important orchestration issues related to dealing with 2-of-2 multisig timelocks, which also affects Cashu transactions when spent last, that may require further adjustments to what was presented here.

The main goal of this article is to find other people interested in this concept and willing to provide valuable feedback before a PR is opened in the NIPs repository for broader discussions.

References

• GM Swap- Nostr client for atomically exchanging GM notes. Live demo available here.
• Sig4Sats Script - A Typescript script demonstrating the swap of a Cashu payment for a signed Nostr event.
• Loudr- Nostr client under development for sponsoring the publication of Nostr events. Live demo available at loudr.me.
• Poelstra, A. (2017). Scriptless Scripts. Blockstream Research. https://github.com/BlockstreamResearch/scriptless-scripts

@ 20986fb8:cdac21b3

Social apps are entering a new era, evolving from traditional centralized platforms to decentralized ecosystems. Users increasingly demand lightweight, intelligent, and privacy-focused applications. In this shift, Mini Apps have emerged as a mainstream choice for social applications, thanks to their rapid development, flexible deployment, and decentralized nature. The rise of cryptocurrency payments has further fueled this trend, offering low-cost, borderless, and financially liberating solutions that significantly lower transaction barriers and drive the scalability of Mini Apps. As one of the most popular decentralized social payment clients on the Bitcoin ecosystem’s Nostr protocol, YakiHonne has earned a global reputation for its exceptional user experience and seamless social payment features, reaching over 170 countries. Now, YakiHonne is set to launch its programmable Smart Widgets—a developer toolkit for Mini Apps. This product will redefine how users interact and transact on social platforms, bringing fresh energy to the on-chain app ecosystem and social payments.

Smart Widgets: A Game-Changer for Social and On-Chain Consumption

YakiHonne Smart Widgets are programmable mini-apps embedded within social feeds, enabling users to effortlessly make on-chain payments, engage in interactions, and perform actions without leaving their content stream. More than just a tool, Smart Widgets serve as an open, decentralized app store, empowering both users and developers with unparalleled creativity and flexibility.

Smart Widgets come in three user-friendly formats to meet diverse needs:

• Basic Widgets: Anyone can create these using an intuitive editor—just pick a template, add content, and generate features like zap, minting, or voting. Users can interact with these actions directly in their feed with a single click, enjoying a fast, seamless experience.
• Action Widgets: Users can quickly create these by embedding app links, no coding required. With a single tap on a button in the feed, users can access external decentralized apps (like exchanges) right within the interface, ensuring a smooth, uninterrupted experience.
• Tool Widgets (Mini Apps): Designed for developers or users with coding skills, these are built using the Smart Widgets SDK to create more advanced apps with complex on-chain operations. Users can perform tasks like data queries, on-chain actions, gaming, or instant payments directly in their social feed, with a highly integrated and fluid experience.

Key Features:

• Rapid Development: Developers can turn ideas into reality in just hours, using familiar web technologies to create near-native app experiences—no lengthy app store reviews required.
• Social Login: Users can access Mini Apps without usernames or passwords, using their Nostr/YakiHonne identity to interact seamlessly within their social feed, making the experience more connected and effortless.
• Easy Discovery and Retention: With one-tap discovery through social feeds, built-in viral growth mechanics, and a Mini App store for more options, users can explore new apps effortlessly. They can save favorites and get notifications to return for more.
• Instant Interaction and Consumption: Mini Apps integrate seamlessly with YakiHonne’s social payment infrastructure, allowing users to pay, vote, or play games without leaving their feed. Social engagement and on-chain actions blend naturally, with consumption woven effortlessly into every interaction.

Transforming Daily Experiences: Smart Widgets in Action

YakiHonne Smart Widgets bridge social engagement and on-chain consumption, delivering a wide range of use cases: - On-Chain Interactions: While browsing their feed, users can join on-chain votes or play lightweight games through Smart Widgets—like casting a vote on a community proposal or challenging a friend to a quick game, all without leaving the app. - Smart Agents: Users can leverage Agent Widgets to auto-create and share content, such as personalized posts or short videos, powering an AI-driven media experience. - DAO Governance: Using aMACI for anonymous voting, combined with Agent Widgets for autonomous governance, users can participate in DAO decisions directly within their feed, fostering decentralized community growth. - Social Zap: Users can send small tips through their feed, like rewarding a friend’s post with an on-chain token, sparking more engagement and driving consumption. - Content Subscriptions: Support creators or apps with ongoing subscriptions—users can subscribe to their favorite services with one tap, enjoying a seamless renewal experience.

These scenarios not only boost user engagement and convenience but also open new growth opportunities for creators, developers, and communities.

Shaping the Future: The Ecosystem Impact of Smart Widgets

YakiHonne Smart Widgets are poised to transform the on-chain app ecosystem and social payments. They provide an open platform for developers, enabling anyone to deploy innovative apps quickly and enrich YakiHonne’s ecosystem. YakiHonne’s social payment infrastructure further empowers Mini Apps by offering efficient payment support, reducing integration costs for developers while ensuring a secure, seamless transaction experience for users. This support accelerates the commercialization of Mini Apps and fuels the growth of on-chain consumption.

For users, Smart Widgets seamlessly blend social interaction with consumption, creating an immersive and practical digital experience. For creators and communities, they offer a low-barrier entry to on-chain opportunities, helping them connect with a global audience. This product isn’t just a technological leap—it’s a glimpse into the future of decentralized lifestyles. YakiHonne is committed to building an open, vibrant social and consumption ecosystem through Smart Widgets, where every interaction sparks on-chain value.

Join the Future: Explore Smart Widgets Today

YakiHonne invites users and developers worldwide to join this exciting journey. Developers can apply to join the Smart Widgets SDK testing program, creating their own Mini Apps and tapping into YakiHonne’s global user base. Users can follow YakiHonne on official channels –X or download the YakiHonne iOS/Android app– to experience the next generation of on-chain interactions and social payments.

YakiHonne Programmable Smart Widgets are set to launch a new chapter for social and on-chain consumption. Let’s embrace this transformation together!

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Some banners to promote ~Design territory in the Wild Web. Interested to kand feedback now your thought on it.

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originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/939548

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

The United States is on the cusp of a historic technological renaissance, often referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Artificial intelligence, automation, advanced robotics, quantum computing, biotechnology, and clean manufacturing are converging into a seismic shift that will redefine how we live, work, and relate to one another. But there's a critical catch: this transformation depends entirely on the availability of stable, abundant, and inexpensive electricity.

Why Electricity is the Keystone of Innovation

Let’s start with something basic but often overlooked. Every industrial revolution has had an energy driver:

• The First rode the steam engine, powered by coal.
• The Second was electrified through centralized power plants.
• The Third harnessed computing and the internet.
• The Fourth will demand energy on a scale and reliability never seen before.

Imagine a city where thousands of small factories run 24/7 with robotics and AI doing precision manufacturing. Imagine a national network of autonomous vehicles, delivery drones, urban vertical farms, and high-bandwidth communication systems. All of this requires uninterrupted and inexpensive power.

Without it? Costs balloon. Innovation stalls. Investment leaves. And America risks becoming a second-tier economic power in a multipolar world.

So here’s the thesis: If we want to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we must first lead in energy. And nuclear — specifically Gen IV Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) — must be part of that leadership.

---

The Nuclear Case: Clean, Scalable, Strategic

Let’s debunk the myth: nuclear is not the boogeyman of the 1970s. It’s one of the safest, cleanest, and most energy-dense sources we have.

But traditional nuclear has problems:

• Too expensive to build.
• Too long to license.
• Too bespoke and complex.

Enter Gen IV SMRs:

• Factory-built and transportable.
• Passively safe with walk-away safety designs.
• Scalable in 50–300 MWe increments.
• Ideal for remote areas, industrial parks, and military bases.

But even SMRs will struggle under the current regulatory, economic, and manufacturing ecosystem. To unlock their potential, we need a new national approach.

---

The Argument for National Strategy

Let’s paint a vision:

SMRs deployed at military bases across the country, secured by trained personnel, powering critical infrastructure, and feeding clean, carbon-free power back into surrounding communities.

SMRs operated by public chartered utilities—not for Wall Street profits, but for stability, security, and public good.

SMRs manufactured by a competitive ecosystem of certified vendors, just like aircraft or medical devices, with standard parts and rapid regulatory approval.

This isn't science fiction. It's a plausible, powerful model. Here’s how we do it.

---

Step 1: Treat SMRs as a National Security Asset

Why does the Department of Defense spend billions to secure oil convoys and build fuel depots across the world, but not invest in nuclear microgrids that would make forward bases self-sufficient for decades?

Nuclear power is inherently a strategic asset:

• Immune to price shocks.
• Hard to sabotage.
• Decades of stable power from a small footprint.

It’s time to reframe SMRs from an energy project to a national security platform. That changes everything.

---

Step 2: Create Public-Chartered Operating Companies

We don’t need another corporate monopoly or Wall Street scheme. Instead, let’s charter SMR utilities the way we chartered the TVA or the Postal Service:

• Low-margin, mission-oriented.
• Publicly accountable.
• Able to sign long-term contracts with DOD, DOE, or regional utilities.

These organizations won’t chase quarterly profits. They’ll chase uptime, grid stability, and national resilience.

---

Step 3: Build a Competitive SMR Industry Like Aerospace

Imagine multiple manufacturers building SMRs to common, certified standards. Components sourced from a wide supplier base. Designs evolving year over year, with upgrades like software and avionics do.

This is how we build:

• Safer reactors
• Cheaper units
• Modular designs
• A real export industry

Airplanes are safe, affordable, and efficient because of scale and standardization. We can do the same with reactors.

---

Step 4: Anchor SMRs to the Coming Fourth Industrial Revolution

AI, robotics, and distributed manufacturing don’t need fossil fuels. They need cheap, clean, continuous electricity.

• AI datacenters
• Robotic agriculture
• Carbon-free steel and cement
• Direct air capture
• Electric industrial transport

SMRs enable this future. And they decentralize power, both literally and economically. That means jobs in every region, not just coastal tech hubs.

---

Step 5: Pair Energy Sovereignty with Economic Reform

Here’s the big leap: what if this new energy architecture was tied to a transparent, auditable, and sovereign monetary system?

• Public utilities priced in a new digital dollar.
• Trade policy balanced by low-carbon energy exports.
• Public accounting verified with open ledgers.

This is not just national security. It’s monetary resilience.

The world is moving to multi-polar trade systems. Energy exports and energy reliability will define economic influence. If America leads with SMRs, we lead the conversation.

---

Conclusion: A Moral and Strategic Imperative

We can either:

• Let outdated fears and bureaucracy stall the future, or...
• Build the infrastructure for clean, secure, and sovereign prosperity.

We have the designs.
We have the talent.
We have the need.

What we need now is will.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will either be powered by us—or by someone else. Let’s make sure America leads. And let’s do it with SMRs, public charter, competitive industry, and national purpose.

It’s time.

---

This is a call to engineers, legislators, veterans, economists, and every American who believes in building again. SMRs are not just about power. They are about sovereignty, security, and shared prosperity.

---

Further reading:

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@ 502ab02a:a2860397

เมื่อวานโพสเรื่องบรอกโคลีฝีมือมนุษย์แล้ว มีคนสงสัยว่าตกลงมันดีไหม เวลาพูดถึงอาหารสุขภาพ ภาพที่ลอยมาในหัวของหลายๆ คนคงหนีไม่พ้น "บรอกโคลีลวก" สีเขียวสดใส เสิร์ฟคู่ไข่ต้มขาวๆ หรืออกไก่นุ่มนิ่มในกล่อง meal prep แต่ก่อนจะตักเข้าปาก เราลองตั้งคำถามง่ายๆ ก่อนว่า… “บรอกโคลีเกิดขึ้นในธรรมชาติไหม?” คำตอบคือ ไม่ เลยครับ

บรอกโคลีไม่ได้เกิดจากการงอกงามของเมล็ดในป่า หรือเติบโตตามชายเขาเหมือนพืชสมุนไพรหรือผลไม้ดั้งเดิม แต่มันคือพืชที่มนุษย์ สร้างขึ้นมา ผ่านการคัดสายพันธุ์อย่างตั้งใจให้ได้รูปร่าง กลิ่น สี และรสชาติที่ต้องการ โดยมีจุดเริ่มต้นจากพืชตระกูลเดียวกันกับ “มัสตาร์ดป่า (wild mustard)” ซึ่งเป็นพืชที่แทบไม่มีใครกิน มนุษย์ใช้วิธีเลือกต้นที่มีลักษณะ “หัวดอกใหญ่” มาเพาะซ้ำๆ จนกลายเป็นบรอกโคลี ในขณะที่พืชอีกกิ่งสายพันธุ์จากต้นเดียวกัน กลายร่างไปเป็น กะหล่ำปลี กะหล่ำดอก คะน้า และใบมัสตาร์ด

ฟังไม่ผิด ทั้งหมดนี้คือ “ญาติกัน” จากพืชป่าต้นเดียวกัน และเป็น ผลผลิตของการทดลองจากมนุษย์ ไม่ใช่ธรรมชาติ มันคือ “ของใหม่” ที่เราเพิ่งรู้จักในช่วง 100–150 ปีหลังนี้เอง

แล้วอะไรที่ทำให้บรอกโคลีกลายเป็นอาหารสุขภาพ? หนึ่งในคำตอบคือ ภาพลักษณ์ (branding) บรอกโคลีถูกผลักดันในยุคหลังสงครามโลกโดยรัฐบาลสหรัฐฯ เพื่อโปรโมท “การกินผักเพื่อสุขภาพ” และเป็นพืชที่ปลูกง่าย อดทน ขนส่งสะดวก

อุตสาหกรรมอาหารก็โหนกระแส ผนวกกับงานวิจัยที่เลือกตีแผ่ “ประโยชน์เฉพาะด้าน” ของสารบางตัวอย่างเช่น ซัลโฟราเฟน (sulforaphane) ที่ได้จากกลูโคซิโนเลต (glucosinolate) ในบรอกโคลี ซึ่งมีฤทธิ์กระตุ้นเอ็นไซม์ล้างพิษในตับ

แต่นั่นเป็นแค่ด้านเดียวของเหรียญ…

บรอกโคลียังมีสารในกลุ่มเดียวกันนี้ที่ ต่อต้านการดูดซึมไอโอดีน ทำให้ไทรอยด์เฉื่อยได้ในบางคน ยังไม่รวมถึงความยากในการย่อย ก่อแก๊สในลำไส้ และอาจทำให้เกิดอาการแพ้ในกลุ่มคนที่ระบบภูมิคุ้มกันไวเกิน นอกจากนี้ที่บอกไปแล้วว่า มันไม่ใช่ธรรมชาติ เราเลยไม่สามารถพบบรอกโคลีได้ในป่า มันต้องเกิดจากการปลูกเท่านั้น นั่นแน่ ตาสีส้มเริ่มทำงาน

บรอกโคลี “ไม่มีเมล็ด” แบบธรรมชาติ เพราะมันไม่ได้เกิดจากธรรมชาติแท้ๆ แต่นั่นไม่ได้แปลว่าเราปลูกมันไม่ได้เพราะ “เมล็ดของบรอกโคลีมีนะ แต่เป็นเมล็ดที่ได้จากต้นพันธุ์ที่มนุษย์คัดแยกและควบคุมการผสมพันธุ์มาแล้ว”

บริษัทเมล็ดพันธุ์ระดับโลก อย่าง Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer ฯลฯ จะพัฒนาเมล็ดที่ผ่านการผสมสายพันธุ์แบบ "F1 Hybrid" ซึ่งหมายความว่าเขาจะเอาพ่อแม่พันธุ์เฉพาะที่คัดเลือกไว้ มาผสมกันเพื่อให้ได้ลูกบรอกโคลีที่มีลักษณะตรงตามต้องการ เช่น ดอกแน่น สีเขียวเข้ม โตเร็ว ต้านทานโรค เมล็ดบรอกโคลีจึงเป็น เมล็ดลูกผสมรุ่นแรก (F1) ซึ่งเกษตรกร ไม่สามารถเก็บเมล็ดจากต้นบรอกโคลีที่ปลูกไว้เอง แล้วปลูกต่อได้ เพราะถ้าเอาไปปลูกใหม่รุ่นถัดไป (F2) ลักษณะจะเริ่มแปรปรวน แตกแถว ดอกเล็กลง หรือกลายพันธุ์ ดังนั้น ทุกปี เกษตรกรต้องซื้อเมล็ดใหม่จากบริษัทผู้ผลิต ซึ่งนี่แหละคือระบบ seed monopoly หรือ เศรษฐกิจผูกขาดพันธุ์พืช ที่ควบคุมโดยบริษัทยักษ์ใหญ่ เอาไว้จะมาขยายความมุมนี้ให้อีกทีครับ

ส่วนเรื่องสารอาหารความอาหารคลีนเค้าว่าดี ต้องมาเคลียร์ mind set กันอีกทีในนี้ คือในโลกของพืชนั้น การเอาตัวรอดไม่ใช่เรื่องเล่น ๆ เพราะพวกมันวิ่งหนีไม่ได้ ไม่มีกรงเล็บ ไม่มีเสียงคำราม มีแค่ “เคมี” เป็นอาวุธ และในกลุ่ม Brassica oleracea หรือพวกบล็อกโคลี กระหล่ำดอก กระหล่ำปี คะน้า ฯลฯ พวกมันเลือกใช้อาวุธลับที่ชื่อว่า glucosinolate และ goitrogen เป็นด่านหน้าในการรับมือสิ่งมีชีวิตที่มากินมัน ซึ่งแน่นอนว่ารวมถึงมนุษย์ด้วย

สารพวกนี้เมื่อถูกเคี้ยว ถูกตัด หรือโดนความร้อน จะเปลี่ยนเป็นสารชื่อ isothiocyanate ซึ่งหลายงานวิจัยมองว่าสามารถกระตุ้นเอนไซม์ต้านอนุมูลอิสระในร่างกาย และลดความเสี่ยงมะเร็งได้ แต่ในขณะเดียวกัน... มันก็สามารถ “ยับยั้งการดูดซึมแร่ธาตุสำคัญ” อย่างไอโอดีน สังกะสี เหล็ก และแคลเซียมได้ด้วย โดยเฉพาะหากกินดิบ หรือกินปริมาณมากเป็นประจำ

ลองนึกภาพตามแบบขำๆ ว่า เรากินผักเพราะคิดว่ามันมีธาตุเหล็ก แต่ตัวมันเองกลับมี “แม่กุญแจเคมี” ที่ล็อกไม่ให้เหล็กดูดซึมได้จริง เหมือนพาเด็กไปสวนสนุกแล้วล็อกไว้ไม่ให้เล่นเครื่องเล่นอะไรเลย

นี่ยังไม่รวมถึง oxalate และ lectin ที่แฝงอยู่ในผักบางกลุ่ม ซึ่งสามารถจับกับแร่ธาตุจำพวกแคลเซียมหรือแมกนีเซียม และพาออกจากร่างกายไปทางลำไส้แบบไม่แยแสว่าเรากำลังขาดมันอยู่

คำถามคือ... แล้วคนที่กินสาย animal-based ซึ่งได้แร่ธาตุจากตับ ไข่แดง เนื้อแดงอยู่แล้ว จำเป็นต้องเสี่ยงกับผักที่มี anti-nutrient สูงแบบนี้ไหม?

คำตอบอาจจะไม่ได้ตรงไปตรงมาเหมือนสูตรยำปลากระป๋อง แต่ถ้าจะตอบในแนวระมัดระวังและตั้งอยู่บนหลักการชีววิทยา คือ “หากจะกินผักกลุ่มนี้ ควรกินในปริมาณที่พอดี และต้องผ่านการปรุงที่เหมาะสม” เช่น ลวก ต้ม หรือนึ่ง เพื่อสลายฤทธิ์ของสารเหล่านั้นลงไปให้ได้มากที่สุด

และที่สำคัญที่สุดอย่าเชื่อว่าผักมีแต่คุณเสมอไป เพราะในขณะที่แร่ธาตุจากเนื้อสัตว์มาพร้อมเอนไซม์ช่วยดูดซึมและไม่มีตัวขัดขวาง แร่ธาตุจากพืชกลับต้องฝ่าด่านสารยับยั้งมากมายที่ซ่อนอยู่

การกินแบบ animal base ที่เน้นเนื้อ เครื่องใน ไข่ น้ำมันดี และหลีกเลี่ยงน้ำตาล เป็นทางเลือกที่ทำให้ร่างกายได้รับสารอาหารสำคัญในรูปแบบที่ดูดซึมได้เต็มที่ ไม่ต้องพึ่งพาการเล่นปาหี่ของเคมีพืชที่คอยยับยั้งการดูดซึม เพราะสุดท้าย ถ้าเรามองอาหารเป็นเหมือนบทสนทนา ผักบางชนิดอาจจะพูดว่า “ฉันดีนะ กินฉันสิ” แต่ลึกๆ แล้ว มันกำลังพูดภาษาสารพิษที่เราแปลไม่ออก

แต่ทำความเข้าใจกันก่อนนะครับว่า เวลาเราพูดเรื่องนี้ไม่ใช่ว่า plant = toxic คือมันมีความพอดี มีกระบวนการบางอย่างที่เราต้องสกัดมันออกมาใช้งาน เหมือนไทยโบราณเรารู้ดีว่า พืช สมุนไพร ยา มันคือเส้นทางการใช้พืชจากความรู้ของมนุษย์ ดังนั้น มองพืชเป็น option ของสารพฤกษะ สารสำคัญ ได้นะครับ ไม่ต้องหัวสี่เหลี่ยมขนาดว่า เห้ย พืช กูไม่เอาเว้ย อะไรขนาดนั้นนะทิด

สารพฤกษะไม่ใช่วิตามิน ไม่ใช่แร่ธาตุ แต่เป็นสารที่พืชสร้างขึ้นเองเพื่อใช้ป้องกันตัวเองจากศัตรูพืช รังสี UV หรือเชื้อจุลินทรีย์ เรารู้จักชื่อพวกนี้อยู่ไม่น้อย เช่น

กลูโคซิโนเลต (glucosinolate) จากตระกูลกะหล่ำ ไลโคปีน (lycopene) จากมะเขือเทศ เรสเวอราทรอล (resveratrol) จากองุ่น ซาโปนิน (saponin) และ เลคติน (lectin) จากธัญพืชและถั่ว

สารพฤกษะมีหลายหมื่นชนิด และในบางกรณีมี ฤทธิ์ต้านอนุมูลอิสระ (antioxidant) หรือ ปรับภูมิคุ้มกัน จึงถูกจัดเป็นสารส่งเสริมสุขภาพ (nutraceutical) ได้ในบางมุม แต่ต้องระวัง... เพราะสารพฤกษะบางชนิดก็คือ "สารต้านสารอาหาร" (anti-nutrient) บางครั้งสิ่งที่เป็น “เกราะป้องกัน” ของพืช ก็กลายเป็น “กับดัก” สำหรับร่างกายเรา เช่น ไฟเตต (phytate) จับแร่ธาตุจำพวกเหล็ก สังกะสี ทำให้ร่างกายดูดซึมไม่ได้ ออกซาเลต (oxalate) สะสมในไตและอาจก่อให้เกิดนิ่ว กลูโคซิโนเลต ไปยับยั้งการดูดไอโอดีน ส่งผลต่อการทำงานของไทรอยด์ เลคติน ทำลายผนังลำไส้และกระตุ้นระบบภูมิคุ้มกันเกินจำเป็น

สารพฤกษะ คือ "ลูกเล่น" ทางชีววิทยาของพืช ที่อาจจะมีประโยชน์บ้าง ถ้าได้รับในปริมาณน้อย และในบริบทที่ร่างกายจัดการได้ แต่ถ้ามากเกิน หรือรับสะสมจากอาหาร plant-based ตลอดเวลา โดยไม่มีอาหารจากสัตว์มาคานสมดุล ก็อาจสร้างปัญหาเงียบๆ ระยะยาว

จะดีก็ฟงหวิน จะเลวก็ฟงหวิน พอเห็นภาพแล้วเนอะครับ

พรุ่งนี้เราจะขุดลงไปลึกอีกหน่อย กับเบื้องหลังของพืชพันธุ์ ที่ "เขา" บอกว่าทำเพื่ออาหารที่ดีของโลกครับ

#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก

@ 28635a6d:ee6f3a73

Over the past few years, The School of Bitcoin (TSOBTC) has built a reputation as a decentralised, open-source educational initiative dedicated to financial sovereignty and digital literacy. Our faculty, contributors, and global community have worked tirelessly to create resources that embody the Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) ethos, ensuring that knowledge remains accessible to all.

As part of our commitment to maintaining an open and transparent model, we are excited to announce that The School of Bitcoin is officially migrating to Consensus21.School. This transition is not just a rebranding--it marks the consolidation of all our initiatives, projects, and educational resources under the Consensus21.School banner. The School of Bitcoin will no longer exist as a separate entity.

This move comes as a response to growing confusion between our initiative and another entity operating under the domain schoolofbitcoin (SOB), which has taken a direction that does not align with our open-source philosophy. To reaffirm our dedication to FOSS and community-driven education, we are bringing everything--our courses, programs, and collaborations--into a singular, more focused ecosystem at Consensus21.School.

What Does This Mean for Our Community?

Rest assured, all the valuable content, courses, and educational materials that have been developed under TSOBTC will remain available. We continue to embrace a value-for-value model, ensuring that learners can access resources while supporting the ecosystem in a way that aligns with their means and values.

By consolidating under Consensus21.School, we are doubling down on the principles of decentralisation, self-sovereignty, and permissionless learning. This transition includes all of our key initiatives, including V4V Open Lessons, the Decentralised Autonomous Education System (DAES), and our involvement with the Plan B Network.

Full Migration of DAES and Plan B Network Collaboration

As part of this transition, the Decentralised Autonomous Education System (DAES) is now officially part of Consensus21.School and is fully reflected in the Consensus21.School Whitepaper. DAES will continue to provide a platform for aspiring learners to submit their Bitcoin project ideas for potential funding and mentorship, with active engagement in our Stacker News /~Education territory and Signal chat for collaboration. We invite contributors to support our learner fund and help bring innovative ideas to fruition within this new ecosystem.

Additionally, our collaboration with the Plan B Network will now operate under Consensus21.School. Through this partnership, we will continue teaching using the Plan B Network's curriculum to provide high-quality Bitcoin education and strengthen local Bitcoin communities. This global initiative remains a core part of our mission, now fully integrated within Consensus21.School.

Looking Ahead

With Consensus21.School, we will continue innovating in peer-to-peer learning, integrating cutting-edge developments in Bitcoin, Nostr, and decentralised technologies. We encourage our community to stay engaged, contribute, and help us build an even stronger foundation for the future of open education.

This is more than just a domain change--it is the next evolution of our mission. The School of Bitcoin as an entity is now retired, and all our efforts, including DAES and the Plan B Network collaboration, will move forward exclusively under Consensus21.School. We invite educators, students, and enthusiasts to join us in shaping this next phase of open financial education.

The journey continues, and we are thrilled to embark on this new chapter together

@ 554ab6fe:c6cbc27e

We all live with our bodies every day, but do we truly experience them? Does this experience of the body have a broader consequence on our interpretation of life and our experience of well-being? The ability to experience the sensations of the body is known as interoception, and mindfulness meditation seems to be a powerful way of enhancing this ability. Enhanced interoception may not just result in a better understanding of the body, but may lead to a general increase in subjective well-being. Furthermore, it also may be indicative of a broader truth about how we can reach a more profound level of consciousness.

In a previous post, I began an exploration into possible reasons why those who meditate claim to achieve an altered form of consciousness. I mentioned that across enlightenment-related research, there is a common experience and interpretation of being one with everything during these altered or heightened states. I proposed that this interpretation of reality was achieved through an improved capability of the brain to process incoming information. The argument stems from the idea that the brain is constantly receiving signals from internal and external stimuli, trying to interpret those signals using previous experiences and predicted models (Seth, 2013). The interpretation created, in part, manifests itself as our conscious reality. I used an analogy of a calm pond to describe a possible consequence of this neuroscientific idea: imagine the brain as this pond, where incoming signals can be thought of as raindrops. When a single raindrop falls upon a pond, the ripples created are distinct. It is incredibly easy to determine how big the raindrop was, where it dropped, and came from, etc. However, if there is a massive rainstorm, then it is almost impossible to interpret all the intersecting ripples, and it is very hard to understand the “information” of each raindrop. This is analogous to how our brains work. The busier the incoming signals, the more difficult it is to interpret the reality of what is happening. This would also be true for the signals within the brain manifested by our thoughts and ruminations. Therefore, the calmer the pond/brain, the clearer and more accurate understanding of our world, and ourselves, is achieved. Meditation may be a method to achieve this heightened state of awareness. I find this idea profoundly interesting, and so my goal is to further explore this idea using scientific evidence as support.

To further explore and verify this idea, I felt it was important to research interoception. If this idea holds water, then it should be observed that meditation allows an individual to achieve a better understanding of incoming stimuli, both internal and external. In this post, I will explore the ability to interpret internal stimuli, which is known as interoception.

A quick note before I continue: As I began researching this topic, I found that the study of interoception was quite complex. The research is constantly evolving, and previous notions are quickly dismissed as the research progresses. Therefore, much of the research presented is speculative, and surely not indicative of definitive truth. Nothing you ever read is definitive of course, but I find that this is especially true here. Regardless, it will adequately depict the fascinating nature of our bodies and the processes involved in interpreting ourselves and reality, hopefully highlighting how important interoception is, and how poorly it is understood.

Understanding the Different Senses

To begin, an outline of our body’s senses is required. Classically speaking, the senses are defined as teloreception (vision and hearing), proprioception (limb position), exteroception (touch), chemoreception (smell and taste), and interoception (sensations from the internal organs)(A. D. Craig, 2002). In this classical definition, sensations of pain, temperature, and itches belonged to the family of touch/exteroception (A. D. Craig, 2002). Therefore, the line between the stimuli from the outside world is clearly defined and separated from the stimuli coming from inside the body. However, more recent findings suggest that temperature, pain, and itch are distinct from touch because they are associated with different neuronal pathways, and the experiences of these sensations seem to rely upon post-processing (A. D. Craig, 2002, 2003). In other words, the experience of these stimuli is more related to the mind than pure touch is. Additionally, interoception is also being redefined. The lamina I spinothalamocortical system is one of the major neuronal pathways that provide the brain with interoceptive signals (A. D. Craig, 2002, 2003). This nerve, across multiple studies, has been shown to not just send signals regarding the organs, but a sense of the condition of the entire body as well (A. D. Craig, 2002). Therefore, interoception encompasses the general feelings we have about the body’s state of being including, but not limited to, thirst, hunger, penile stimulation, exercise/exhaustion, and the condition of our organs such as bladder, stomach, etc. (A. D. B. Craig, 2009). To further complicate things, some researchers have attempted to distinguish between different aspects of interoception (Garfinkel et al., 2015):

• interoceptive accuracy – “Objective accuracy in detecting internal bodily sensations” • interoceptive sensibility – “Self-perceived dispositional tendency to be internally self-focused and interoceptively cognizant” • interoceptive awareness – “Metacognitive awareness of interoceptive accuracy”

Here, the ability to accurately detect signals and the subjective belief of one’s accuracy is differentiated. The interoceptive awareness evaluates if your subjective confidence in your ability to sense the signals coincides with the true ability. Therefore, the mind and our subjective evaluation of our signals are incredibly related to our perceived understanding. For this reason, the neuroscience of interoception should be explored, to gain a better understanding of how it works. The two brain areas that are involved in interoception and that will be discussed here are: the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).

Insula

The insula is located deep within the cerebral cortex, and likely plays the most important role in interoception. The insula, especially the anterior portion of the insula, is thought to be involved in bodily and emotional awareness (Giuliani et al., 2011). It plays a major role in interoception and the sensations of internal physical states (Fox et al., 2014; Wolf E. Mehling et al., 2012). Not only is it integral to generating mental images of the internal state, but it is required for the motivation to make reactions based upon the interpretation, which subsequently affect the quality of life and survival (Craig, 2002). Consequentially, it plays a predictive role in awareness and decision-making (Craig, 2009). Therefore, falling in line with the idea that consciousness is the product of the predictive model generating nature of the brain to understanding and interpret incoming stimuli, the insula is thought to be a major seat of human consciousness and awareness of self-hood (Craig, 2009; Fox et al., 2014; Seth, 2013). Already, there is a clear connection between interoception, body awareness, and consciousness within the scientific literature.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

The other brain region heavily involved in interoception is the ACC. Where the insula largely is involved in the processing of the signal, the ACC is more involved with the response to the signal (Craig, 2002). In other words, the insula is related to the limbic sensory cortex, whereas the ACC is associated with the limbic motor cortex (Craig, 2002). Most recent studies have also shown that the ACC and insula are co-activated when a person experiences feelings (Craig, 2002, 2009). For example, both brain regions are involved in the sensation of the intensity and unpleasantness of pain (Grant et al., 2011). This provides further evidence that interoception is both a feeling and a motivation (Craig, 2009). Additionally, this enhances the argument that our interpretations and feelings from our internal environment are there for survival. It supports the idea that our brain is organized in a way that makes predictions, generates a conscious experience, that then elicits a reaction for the continuation of life.

Meditation and Interoception

Interoception involves more than just sensory information. It influences our feelings, and our understanding of our body, self, and the surrounding world. This understanding and experience of the self are seemingly influenced by the practice of meditation. Not only is this idea espoused in the east, but recent research has also indicated that increased mindfulness is correlated with increase interoceptive awareness (de Jong et al., 2016; Farb et al., 2010; Hanley et al., 2017). The exact mechanisms to how this occurs are still unclear. However, fMRI studies have shown that mindfulness meditation seems to increase activation in the insula (Farb et al., 2010). This may indicate that mindfulness promotes neurogenesis in areas that promote interoception. On that same note, the cognitive practices of mindfulness meditation may promote a mental framework that is helpful towards interoception. Mindfulness meditation involves orienting one’s attention to their immediate experience and becoming aware of all incoming stimuli with an open, curious, non-reactive, and non-judgmental interpretation (Bishop et al., 2004). This process helps generate a feeling of safety within the body, and the individual learns to interpret thoughts not as concrete objects of reality, but simply as thoughts that come and go within the mind. Researchers have found evidence to suggest that the non-reactivity obtained through meditation practice is closely linked to the ability to sustain attention towards bodily sensations (Hanley et al., 2017). This concept closely links to the idea that the calmer the mind is, the better the brain can process incoming information. This article brings forward evidence that the brain, with a calmer mind, can process interoceptive information better.

Consciousness

An interesting observation amongst interoceptive research is that an increase in interoceptive awareness is negatively correlated with emotional distress, hence an increase in subjective well-being is achieved (Hanley et al., 2017; W E Mehling et al., 2012). This is further supported by the observation that sadness is correlated with decreased activation of the insula and ACC, the brain regions involved in interoception (Farb et al., 2010). The relationship between the ability to be aware of the internal signals of the body and our mental well-being is very interesting. It suggests that not only does a calm mind generate a greater ability to understand the inner body, but it generates a more positive orientation to said experience. Additionally, it may be possible that this positive outlook spills over into other aspects of life beyond the interpretation of the self. Perhaps the calmer mind generates an accurate and positive outlook on all information received. This is perhaps why those who are expert meditators seem to be so peaceful, loving, and have a feeling of unity amongst everything.

The way we interpret information influences our experience of both ourselves and the world. Being aware of the body and its sensations in a non-judgmental way, creates a general sense of well-being. This may be indicative of a deeper philosophical idea: that the calmer the mind, the more capable the brain can interpret and understand information. This would not only provide a more accurate depiction of reality but provide a more profound understanding of it. Leading to a perspective of the world that is more positive, and potentially more oriented around the idea that we are all one. I cannot claim this is true. Nonetheless, it will be a concept that I will continue to explore. Regardless, it does seem to be the case that mindfulness meditation is capable of increasing interoception and therefore well-being. This being the case, I highly recommend that anyone interested in this topic incorporates mindfulness practice into their life. Reading and thinking about these ideas are all well and good, but to achieve full understanding, one must practice and experience it for themselves.

References

Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. v., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., & Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A Proposed Operational Definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230–241. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bph077

Craig, A. D. (2002). How do you feel? Nature Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105308095062

Craig, A. D. (2003). Interoception: The sense of the physiological condition of the body. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 13(4), 500–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-4388(03)00090-4

Craig, A. D. (2009). How do you feel — now? The anterior insula and human awareness. 10(January).

de Jong, M., Lazar, S. W., Hug, K., Mehling, W. E., Hölzel, B. K., Sack, A. T., Peeters, F., Ashih, H., Mischoulon, D., & Gard, T. (2016). Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on body awareness in patients with chronic pain and comorbid depression. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(JUN). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00967

Farb, N. A. S., Anderson, A. K., Mayberg, H., Bean, J., McKeon, D., & Segal, Z. v. (2010). Minding One’s Emotions: Mindfulness Training Alters the Neural Expression of Sadness. Emotion, 10(1), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017151

Fox, K. C. R., Nijeboer, S., Dixon, M. L., Floman, J. L., Ellamil, M., Rumak, S. P., Sedlmeier, P., & Christoff, K. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 43, 48–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.016

Garfinkel, S. N., Seth, A. K., Barrett, A. B., Suzuki, K., & Critchley, H. D. (2015). Knowing your own heart: Distinguishing interoceptive accuracy from interoceptive awareness. Biological Psychology, 104, 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.11.004

Giuliani, N. R., Drabant, E. M., Bhatnagar, R., & Gross, J. J. (2011). Emotion regulation and brain plasticity: Expressive suppression use predicts anterior insula volume. NeuroImage, 58(1), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEUROIMAGE.2011.06.028

Grant, J. A., Courtemanche, J., & Rainville, P. (2011). A non-elaborative mental stance and decoupling of executive and pain-related cortices predicts low pain sensitivity in Zen meditators. Pain, 152(1), 150–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2010.10.006

Hanley, A. W., Mehling, W. E., & Garland, E. L. (2017). Holding the body in mind: Interoceptive awareness, dispositional mindfulness and psychological well-being. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 99, 13–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.05.014

Mehling, W E, Price, C., Daubenmier, J. J., Acree, M., & Bartmess, E. (2012). The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). PLoS ONE, 7(11), 48230. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048230

Mehling, Wolf E., Price, C., Daubenmier, J. J., Acree, M., Bartmess, E., & Stewart, A. (2012). The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). PLoS ONE, 7(11). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048230

Seth, A. K. (2013). Interoceptive inference, emotion, and the embodied self. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(11), 565–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.09.007

@ c892835e:4d87bc55

Hello Brazil

@ 878dff7c:037d18bc

Coalition Proposes Sovereign Wealth Funds to Address National Debt

Summary:

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has unveiled a plan to reduce Australia's $1.2 trillion debt by creating two sovereign wealth funds: the Future Generations Fund and the Regional Australia Future Fund. These funds aim to allocate 80% of commodity windfall revenues toward debt reduction and regional development, focusing on infrastructure and economic support outside metropolitan areas.

Sources: The Australian - April 10, 2025

Australian Dollar Falls Below 60 US Cents Amid Tariff Concerns

Summary:

The Australian dollar has dropped to a five-year low, trading below 60 US cents, as markets react to escalating tariff tensions initiated by the U.S. This depreciation reflects investor fears of a potential global economic downturn impacting Australia's economy.

Sources: ABC News - 9 April 2025, Reuters - 7 April 2025

AI Transformation Reshaping Australia's Software Development Landscape

Summary:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming Australia's software development industry. Recent research indicates widespread adoption of AI tools and methodologies, leading to increased efficiency and innovation. This trend positions Australian tech companies competitively in the global market and highlights the importance of AI literacy for professionals in the sector. Sources: Tech Business News - April 10, 2025

UK and Australia Collaborate on Next-Generation Weapons Development

Summary:

The United Kingdom and Australia have launched a partnership to develop next-generation sub-systems for low-cost weapons. This collaboration integrates the UK's Modular Weapons Testbed with Australia's SHARKTOOTH program, featuring innovative 'plug-and-launch' modular technology. The initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced, affordable weapons technologies, enhancing both nations' defense capabilities. Sources: The Defense Post - April 7, 2025, ASD News - April 4, 2025

Smoke Advisory Issued for Greater Sydney Due to Hazard Reduction Burns

Summary:

The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued a smoke advisory for the Greater Sydney area, including the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands, due to planned hazard reduction burns. Residents are advised to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and keep respiratory medications close by.​ rfs.nsw.gov.au+1rfs.nsw.gov.au+1 ABC

Sources: NSW Rural Fire Service - April 9, 2025

Leaders Clash in First Election Debate

Summary:

In the first leaders' debate of the 2025 federal election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton clashed on several key issues during the Sky News/Daily Telegraph People's Forum. Albanese accused the Coalition of historically cutting health and education funding, which Dutton vehemently denied. The debate also saw pointed exchanges over spending levels, energy policy, and cost-of-living concerns. Dutton challenged Albanese’s tax cuts and left open the possibility of extending fuel excise relief. The leaders also addressed infrastructure funding, economic management, and health services. The debate occurred with only 25 days until the election and 14 days before early voting begins.

Sources: The Daily Telegraph - 10 April 2025, News.com.au - 10 April 2025

Australia and Philippines to Increase Joint Military Exercises

Summary:

Australia and the Philippines have agreed to double their joint military drills and security engagements in 2025. This decision underscores the strengthening defense ties between the two nations in response to regional security challenges. Sources: Manila Bulletin - April 7, 2025

Victoria's Working with Children Check System Criticized for Allowing Individuals Under Investigation to Retain Clearance

Summary:

Victoria's Working with Children Check system is under scrutiny for permitting individuals under investigation for abuse and assault to retain their clearance. Parents and advocates are calling for urgent reforms, highlighting cases where children were allegedly harmed by individuals who maintained their working with children credentials despite serious allegations.​ ABC

Sources: ABC News - April 10, 2025

Ecological Revival Following Inland Floods

Summary:

After unprecedented rainfall transformed over a million square kilometers of inland Australia into floodplains, the region is witnessing a remarkable ecological revival. Native wildlife such as fish, long-haired rats, frogs, and birds are thriving, and previously dried-out habitats are being replenished. Experts view the floods as a rare opportunity for broad ecological regeneration, including mega breeding events and species migrations. While challenges remain, the natural rebirth offers hope as long-dormant ecosystems awaken with vibrant life.

Sources: The Times - April 10, 2025, SciTechDaily - April 10, 2025

CyberCX Report Highlights Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape

Summary:

CyberCX's annual Threat Report for 2025 reveals that business email compromise remains the top incident type, with espionage-related incidents taking longer to detect compared to previous years. The report underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures across Australian organizations. Sources: CyberCX - April 9, 2025

Greens-Backed Study Targets Environmental Impact of Pet Dogs

Summary:

A new study, receiving attention from progressive environmental circles including the Greens, has flagged pet dogs as a significant ecological threat. The research claims dogs contribute to pollution, wildlife disturbances, and even climate change due to their carbon footprint. Critics argue this is part of a broader ideological push to regulate personal lifestyle choices, sparking concerns that common household pets may soon be in the environmental policy crosshairs. With the Greens already pushing for sweeping environmental reforms, some Australians fear this could lead to overreach targeting ordinary families and their beloved pets.

Sources: The Guardian - 10 April 2025

High-Intensity Resistance and Impact Training Enhances Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women

Summary:

The LIFTMOR randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of high-intensity resistance and impact training (HiRIT) on bone health in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Over eight months, participants engaged in twice-weekly, 30-minute HiRIT sessions, performing exercises such as deadlifts, overhead presses, and back squats at over 85% of their one-repetition maximum. The study found significant improvements in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) by 2.9%, femoral neck BMD by 0.3%, cortical thickness, and functional performance measures, including enhanced leg and back strength. Notably, the HiRIT program was well-tolerated, with high compliance and minimal adverse events, suggesting that such training is both safe and effective for improving bone health and physical function in this demographic. Sources: PubMed - October 4, 2017

Anti-Aging Expert Peter Attia Discusses Longevity and Health Optimization

Summary:

In this episode of "The Diary Of A CEO," host Steven Bartlett engages with Dr. Peter Attia, a physician specializing in longevity and health optimization. Dr. Attia delves into the often-overlooked aspects of aging, emphasizing the importance of proactive health measures. He highlights the critical role of maintaining muscle mass and strength, noting that a decline in these areas significantly increases mortality risk. Dr. Attia also explores natural methods to enhance testosterone levels without resorting to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), advocating for lifestyle interventions such as strength training, adequate sleep, and balanced nutrition. Throughout the conversation, he underscores the necessity of individualized health strategies and regular monitoring to effectively prevent age-related diseases. Sources: Spotify - April 2025

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

DAOs promised decentralization. They offered a system where every member could influence a project's direction, where money and power were transparently distributed, and decisions were made through voting. All of it recorded immutably on the blockchain, free from middlemen.

But something didn’t work out. In practice, most DAOs haven’t evolved into living, self-organizing organisms. They became something else: clubs where participation is unevenly distributed. Leaders remained - only now without formal titles. They hold influence through control over communications, task framing, and community dynamics. Centralization still exists, just wrapped in a new package.

But there's a second, less obvious problem. Crowds can’t create strategy. In DAOs, people vote for what "feels right to the majority." But strategy isn’t about what feels good - it’s about what’s necessary. Difficult, unpopular, yet forward-looking decisions often fail when put to a vote. A founder’s vision is a risk. But in healthy teams, it’s that risk that drives progress. In DAOs, risk is almost always diluted until it becomes something safe and vague.

Instead of empowering leaders, DAOs often neutralize them. This is why many DAOs resemble consensus machines. Everyone talks, debates, and participates, but very little actually gets done. One person says, “Let’s jump,” and five others respond, “Let’s discuss that first.” This dynamic might work for open forums, but not for action.

Decentralization works when there’s trust and delegation, not just voting. Until DAOs develop effective systems for assigning roles, taking ownership, and acting with flexibility, they will keep losing ground to old-fashioned startups led by charismatic founders with a clear vision.

We’ve seen this in many real-world cases. Take MakerDAO, one of the most mature and technically sophisticated DAOs. Its governance token (MKR) holders vote on everything from interest rates to protocol upgrades. While this has allowed for transparency and community involvement, the process is often slow and bureaucratic. Complex proposals stall. Strategic pivots become hard to implement. And in 2023, a controversial proposal to allocate billions to real-world assets passed only narrowly, after months of infighting - highlighting how vision and execution can get stuck in the mud of distributed governance.

On the other hand, Uniswap DAO, responsible for the largest decentralized exchange, raised governance participation only after launching a delegation system where token holders could choose trusted representatives. Still, much of the activity is limited to a small group of active contributors. The vast majority of token holders remain passive. This raises the question: is it really community-led, or just a formalized power structure with lower transparency?

Then there’s ConstitutionDAO, an experiment that went viral. It raised over $40 million in days to try and buy a copy of the U.S. Constitution. But despite the hype, the DAO failed to win the auction. Afterwards, it struggled with refund logistics, communication breakdowns, and confusion over governance. It was a perfect example of collective enthusiasm without infrastructure or planning - proof that a DAO can raise capital fast but still lack cohesion.

Not all efforts have failed. Projects like Gitcoin DAO have made progress by incentivizing small, individual contributions. Their quadratic funding mechanism rewards projects based on the number of contributors, not just the size of donations, helping to elevate grassroots initiatives. But even here, long-term strategy often falls back on a core group of organizers rather than broad community consensus.

The pattern is clear: when the stakes are low or the tasks are modular, DAOs can coordinate well. But when bold moves are needed—when someone has to take responsibility and act under uncertainty DAOs often freeze. In the name of consensus, they lose momentum.

That’s why the organization of the future can’t rely purely on decentralization. It must encourage individual initiative and the ability to take calculated risks. People need to see their contribution not just as a vote, but as a role with clear actions and expected outcomes. When the situation demands, they should be empowered to act first and present the results to the community afterwards allowing for both autonomy and accountability. That’s not a flaw in the system. It’s how real progress happens.

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Nestled along the Cassowary Coast in Far North Queensland, Mission Beach is a dreamy stretch of palm-fringed sand where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics rainforest. It's serene, scenic, and refreshingly uncrowded—a perfect escape if you’re chasing natural beauty, island vibes, and a bit of adventure.

🌟 Top Things to Do in Mission Beach

1️⃣ Walk the Endless Beach

• A stunning 14-kilometer stretch of golden sand
• Often you’ll feel like you have it all to yourself
• Lined with coconut palms and mountain backdrops—ideal for morning strolls or sunset walks

2️⃣ Dunk Island Adventures

• Just a 10-minute boat ride away, Dunk Island offers hiking trails, snorkeling, and tranquil beaches
• Go for a day trip or camp overnight for the real castaway feel
• You can kayak there if you're feeling adventurous 🚣‍♀️

3️⃣ Spot a Cassowary in the Wild

• Mission Beach is one of the best places to see the endangered cassowary, a striking and ancient-looking bird
• Keep your eyes peeled around Licuala Rainforest Walk or Bicentennial Trail

4️⃣ Skydiving with a Beach Landing 🪂

• One of the most iconic skydives in Australia
• Jump from 15,000 ft with views of the reef, rainforest, and islands—and land right on the sand!

5️⃣ Explore the Rainforest

• Walk in the Djiru National Park, home to lush jungle, creeks, and butterflies
• Or hike the Clump Mountain track for coastal views

🍉 Where to Eat & Chill

• The Garage Bar & Grill – Laid-back, good vibes, great burgers
• Baba Curry – Casual spot for Indian and tropical twists
• Mission Beach Tavern – Classic Aussie pub fare, cold beers, and often live music
• Spicy Thai Hut – Small, authentic, and big on flavor

🌺 Need-to-Know Tips

✅ Stinger season (Oct–May) means you should swim in designated netted areas or wear stinger suits
✅ Great base to explore the Atherton Tablelands, Tully Gorge, or Paronella Park
✅ Car rental is super handy—Mission Beach is spread out and public transport is limited
✅ It’s quiet here—perfect for relaxing, recharging, and going off-grid

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Havana (La Habana) is a city that grabs you with its vintage soul, vivid colors, and irresistible rhythm. Picture classic 1950s cars cruising past crumbling colonial mansions, locals dancing to live salsa in the streets, and the smell of strong Cuban coffee and cigars in the air. It’s not polished, but that’s part of the magic—Havana is alive.

🌟 Top Things to Do in Havana

1️⃣ Explore Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site with narrow streets, pastel facades, and grand plazas
• Must-see spots: Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas, and El Capitolio
• Stop at a rooftop bar for mojitos and views over the city 🌆

2️⃣ Ride in a Classic American Car 🚗

• Take a guided tour in a vintage convertible—pink, red, or baby blue, your choice!
• Cruise along the Malecón, past the Hotel Nacional and through leafy neighborhoods like Vedado

3️⃣ Walk the Malecón

• Havana’s famous seaside promenade is the city’s open-air living room
• Best at sunset, when locals gather to fish, chat, play music, or just watch the waves crash

4️⃣ Visit the Museum of the Revolution

• Housed in Batista’s former palace, it tells the story of Cuba’s revolutionary history
• The building itself, with bullet holes and all, is part of the experience

5️⃣ Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC)

• A mix of gallery, nightclub, performance space, and bar
• Where Havana’s artsy and creative crowd hangs out—don’t miss it if you're into music or culture

🍹 What to Eat & Drink in Havana

• Ropa vieja – Shredded beef in tomato sauce, a Cuban classic
• Moros y Cristianos – Black beans and rice served with everything
• Tostones & yuca – Tasty fried plantains and cassava
• Mojitos & daiquiris – Best enjoyed where Hemingway drank them: La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita
• Cuban coffee – Small, strong, and sweet

🎵 Feel the Vibe

✅ Catch live music in every bar—from salsa and rumba to jazz and son cubano
✅ Watch a local dance show, or better yet, join a salsa class
✅ Visit Callejón de Hamel on Sundays for Afro-Cuban rhythms and street art

🛺 Tips for Visiting Havana

🌞 Bring cash (euros or USD)—credit cards aren’t widely accepted
📶 Expect limited Wi-Fi—most people use Wi-Fi parks with pre-paid cards
💡 Embrace the slower pace—this is Cuba, not a rush
🚖 Use official taxis or pre-negotiate fares
💬 Learn a few Spanish basics—locals really appreciate it
💃 Talk to people—Cubans are warm, proud, and full of stories

@ 3c7dc2c5:805642a8

🧠Quote(s) of the week:

My current state of mind:

It is always the same story Government debases the currency and then blames business for profiteering and "the rich" who the Government has actually enriched. The root cause is government, and its addiction to printing money.

The DEBT crisis cannot be sustained. EU, UK, USA, China, etc., cannot continue the Ponzi scheme of printing more money to pay off old money. The previous rate for debt was 0.1%. Countries have to pay their Treasury Bonds, which will be around 4-5%. Wars start so they can all default, and then what comes after is a global financial reset. This is the information the majority of you do not understand or even look at.

Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, Scott Bessent, before the Election: “In the next few years, we are going to have some kind of grand economic reordering. Something equivalent to a new Bretton Woods. There’s a very good chance that happens in the next 4 years and I’d like to be a part of it.”

Any change of the Bretton Woods order will play in the cards of the scarce, politically neutral, immutable money: Bitcoin.

The problem has, and always will be the abuse and misuse of money by those in power. No one should ever have to work for a currency that others can print at will. The foundations are corrupted. Our money is broken.

This is the real problem.

Until that changes, nothing changes.

Educate yourself. Study Bitcoin.

🧡Bitcoin news🧡

On the 1st of April:

➡️The value of Metaplanet’s Bitcoin treasury is now 24x larger than the market cap of the company in April 2024.

On the 2nd of April:

➡️'Foundry just mined the emptiest non-empty block in over two years, containing only 7 transactions and weighing just 5369 units. The last block weighing less than this was by Binance Pool at height 769895 in January 2023 when the mempool was similarly empty, containing only 4 transactions and weighing 4370 units.' - Mononaut

➡️Last week I mentioned that Gamestop now has $ 1.48 billion available to purchase Bitcoin. If they invest that amount, $1.5 billion, in Bitcoin, it will make them the fourth largest Bitcoin holder among public corporations.

https://i.ibb.co/k6x0YLnV/Gne0shqb-QAAnx4-Z.jpg"

➡️Fidelity announces a no-fee Bitcoin retirement account that allows their 49 million customers to buy in Bitcoin.

➡️Publicly traded Enish announces to buy ¥100 million worth of Bitcoin.

➡️94.5% of the 21 million Bitcoin supply has been mined, based on its predictable predetermined issuance schedule—programmed in the protocol code, enforced by consensus, and verified through hundreds of thousands of globally distributed network nodes. Only 5.5% left to be mined over the next 115 years! - Wicked

➡️'Today, Breez launches Misty Breez, their latest application built using the Breez SDK. The Breez SDK was initially developed to simplify the process of integrating Lightning Network support into different consumer applications. Dozens of existing projects and companies currently build on Lightning using the SDK. 

Breez: 'Lightning Made Easy → No channels. No setup fees. Just permissionless P2P payments.
Receive Offline Payments → Receive payments offline using mobile notifications.
Lightning Address Support → Accept payments with a customizable Lightning address.'

Documentation for the Breez SDK Nodeless configuration used by Misty Breez is available here. The Github for the Misty Breez implementation is available here. Lastly, for users who wish to play around with the application, an early access release is available here for Android, and here for iOS.  A direct APK download is available here.' - Bitcoin Magazine

➡️'Managing over 1.62 trillion dollars, the Bank of America CEO just said they would launch a stablecoin once it's legal. That amount of capital will disrupt all of crypto -- but, only a few networks will capture most of that value.' - Austin King

➡️'Bitcoin processed $5.5 trillion worth of transactions in Q1' - Pierre Rochard https://i.ibb.co/nqwkcCvn/Gni-MSFWYAAg7xu-1.png

On the 3rd of April:

➡️New Record Bitcoin Network Hashrate: 840,000,000,000,000,000,000x per second Bitcoin mining hashrate is rapidly approaching 1 zettahash.

➡️Metaplanet Inc. raised ~$17.8 million (¥2.63 billion) in equity capital through the first two days of April to further our Bitcoin Treasury Operations.

➡️Of 2024’s Top Performing Stocks, Only Two Remain Positive in 2025 — Both Are Bitcoin Treasury Firms. - METAPLANET - STRATEGY

➡️Finally, Jack Dorsey's Block enables Bitcoin payments on merchant terminals. "We are working on it" - Jack

➡️The Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index is now back at "Extreme Fear". Hodl the line people, hodl the line!

➡️'Today, the United States stock market lost $1.65 trillion. To help understand that number, it’s more than all Bitcoin combined. Not one coin—every coin. The global supply of Bitcoin is currently worth $1.63 trillion.' - Documenting Bitcoin

Just to give you one more perspective, the stock market has had the single worst day since the Covid crash. Bitcoin went as low as $3,843 during the Covid crash, and now it's $82,000. That is ~21x increase in just 5 years.

➡️Now, no matter what will happen with Bitcoin's price. Not enough people ask how much purchasing power $? will still hold by in the future. The nominal price is only part of the story.

https://i.ibb.co/qY2Rsfn0/Gno-Qu-Ki-WEAEp-EAM.jpg

On the 4th of April:

➡️Fortnite added a Bitcoin mine to the new map.

➡️Mastercard plans to help users send Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. "We've made a sizable bet on this," said Mastercard’s head of digital assets yesterday. The company has 3 billion cards worldwide and over 100 million places that accept them. So you are telling me that Mastercard wants to use a p2p cash system, Bitcoin, wild. Suddenly is becoming more suddenly all of a sudden. Hello, game theory!

➡️Bitdeer releases test footage of their new Bitcoin mining computer. The SealMiner A2 Pro Hyd calculates 500,000,000,000,000 hashes per second. That's some serious computing power. Do you wonder what the energy bill looks like...

https://www.asicminervalue.com/miners/bitdeer/sealminer-a2-pro-hyd

➡️Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admits "Bitcoin is a store of value". In an interview with Tucker Carlson.

'Bessent was asked, "Why is Gold moving around the world right now?" After giving a one-line answer, he immediately of his own accord started saying "Bitcoin is becoming a store of value" This is quite the signpost for those with eyes to see.',

Ray Dalio was right, there's a change in world order. But it ain't China, it's Bitcoin.

➡️"Bitcoin is showing signs of breaking free from the gravitational pull of technology stocks during the financial market turmoil of the last few days." - Bloomberg

“We think Trump’s aggressive move has sped up a re-thinking of BTC’s longer-term value in a portfolio.” - Augustine Fan

https://i.ibb.co/cX1FLwr5/Gntq-Le-EXEAAZg-QA.jpg

On the 5th of April:

➡️The mysterious inventor of Bitcoin, going only by the username Satoshi Nakamoto, set April 5th—today—as their birthday. No one knows why for sure, but the date may be symbolic: it’s the same day the U.S. ordered citizens to turn in their gold under Executive Order.

➡️'A new Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) from developer Agustin Cruz suggests destroying unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs) to protect Bitcoin from potential quantum computer attacks. The proposal, “Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol” (QRAMP), would require users to move funds to quantum-resistant wallets before a deadline or face their coins being effectively burned.' -Bitcoin News

This would mean that Satoshi either becomes active again or his/her Bitcoin is forever gone. There should never be a requirement to force move your coins. Try some other quantum-resistant approach.

Any quantum-resistant upgrade to the Bitcoin network should be a soft fork and completely optional. It is unethical to delete anyone's funds if they don't upgrade within an allotted time limit.

On the 6th of April:

➡️'Bitcoin mining difficulty recently adjusted upwards by 6.81% to an all-time high. Expect more small/medium operators to shut down as margins evaporate. Only survivors- those with ultra-cheap power or hobbyists who don't mine for profit. 'Bitcoin miners are the ultimate Bitcoin psychopaths. If you think we'll turn our miners off, you don't understand Bitcoin.' -Tomas Greif

On the 7th of April:

➡️ETH/BTC has fully retraced 5 years, now down 11% over that timeframe. This is catastrophic for the thesis that new cryptos “with more utility” can sustainably outperform the OG Bitcoin.

Willy Woo: 'ETH "ultrasound money" traded at $1569 today. It traded at $1448 in Jan 2018, thus a compounded IRR of 1.2% for a 7-year investment. I just thought I'd post this to help ETH holders as comments like these are what it takes to help an asset put in a bottom.'

➡️ Luke Broyles: '5 years ago we had a stock market crisis in 2020. Bitcoin fell 40% in one day and 65% in total. The S&P 500 fell 9.5% on that same day. Bitcoin bottomed at $4,000 then went up by 17x in the rebound from the crisis as we printed money.

If Bitcoin now falls 45% from the top and then goes up 10x in a similar timeframe, that would be a $600,000 Bitcoin in late 2026. I don’t care if Bitcoin is $50,000 or $600,000 next year. It is lower risk and more humanitarian than corporate paper.

Stocks had a higher human cost, less upside, and higher downside risk in time frames over 2 years. No matter what prices do I expect the S&P 500 to fall 80% against BTC in the next 5 years. I also suspect in 5 years $60,000 will sound as cheap as $4,000 and most will forget the pain of April 2025 like how most forgot March 2020.'

➡️ There are ~58 million millionaires in the world. And eventually, money printing will turn everyone into a millionaire. But there will only be 21 million bitcoin. 0.362 bitcoin per millionaire alive today. https://i.ibb.co/SDxYXYBz/Gn8-T-xc-XIAAc-GJM.png

➡️ Strategy discloses $5.91 billion in unrealized losses on its Bitcoin holdings for Q1 2025, according to a new SEC filing.

➡️ Cango increased its Bitcoin monthly production to 530.1 bitcoin in March, a 12% rise, with holdings reaching 2,474.8 BTC by month-end, up from 1,944.7 BTC in February. Deployed hashrate remained at 32 EH/s, with the average operating hashrate at 30.3 EH/s.

➡️'Bitcoin's MVRV for supply in loss drops to 0.88. This downturn is milder than previous major corrections in 2018 and 2022; investors remain cautiously optimistic rather than capitulating.' -Bitcoin News

💸Traditional Finance / Macro:

On February 20, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon sold $234 million worth of JPM stock.

On February 22, Warren Buffett disclosed a record $334 billion cash balance. 30 trading days later, the Nasdaq 100 crashed -24%.

How did they know?

And just to show you how F'ed up the traditional markets are and acting like a memecoin:

On the 7th of April, the following sequence happened.

At 10:10 AM ET, rumors emerged that the White House was considering a "90-day tariff pause."

At 10:15 AM ET, CNBC reported that Trump is considering a 90-day pause on tariffs for ALL countries except for China.

By 10:18 AM ET, the S&P 500 had added over +$3 TRILLION in market cap from its low.

At 10:25 AM ET, reports emerged that the White House was "unaware" of Trump considering a 90-day pause.

At 10:26 AM ET, CNBC reported that the 90-day tariff pause headlines were incorrect.

At 10:34 AM ET, the White House officially called the tariff pause headlines "fake news."

By 10:40 AM ET, the S&P 500 erased -$2.5 TRILLION of market cap from its high, 22 minutes prior.

Never in history have we seen something like this.

Wall Street now trades like meme coins.

So basically > a guy reported fake news > all of World Finance aped the news and added 2.5T to the market > The news is fake, so everyone dumped so basically, finance is just memecoins with suits.

What a world we live in...

On the 2nd of April

👉🏽'President Trump just announced tariffs on 185 countries AT ONCE, one of the largest tariffs in US history. S&P 500 futures erased -$2 TRILLION of market cap in under 15 minutes.' ...'After 3+ years of compounding inflation: 2025 is the year when President Trump, Fed Chair Powell, and Treasury Secretary Bessent all came to the same conclusion. A recession is the only remaining way for inflation AND rates to fall.' -TKL

On the 3rd of April:

👉🏽How bad was today's stock market decline? Of the 11,406 trading days since January 1980, only 29 had larger declines.

https://i.ibb.co/3mg85KLt/Gno34klb-QAAJs52.png

The Magnificent 7 Index is now down over -30% from its all-time high seen on December 18th. While the S&P 500 is down -7.5% year-to-date, most investors are down much more. Large-cap tech is beyond bear market territory.

The Nasdaq 100 is in a bear market following a -6% drop today, the largest drop since March 2020. US stocks have now erased a massive -$11 TRILLION since February 19th with recession odds ABOVE 60%. The S&P 500 has lost ALL OF ITS RETURNS since March 2024.

Just to give you perspective. $10T, that’s a lot, right?
For context, the FED balance sheet is $6.7T. US M2 money supply $21.7T.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin is up ~30% in the same period.

March 2020:

The S&P 500 is down 13% Bitcoin down

24% April 2025:

The S&P 500 is down 13% Bitcoin is down 5%

Another perspective, the S&P 500 dropping 10% in two days happened in:

October 1987

November 2008

March 2020

April 2025

On the 4th of April:

👉🏽Retail investors bought $4.7 billion in stocks yesterday, the most in a decade.

On the 5th of April:

👉🏽You can say whatever you wanna say about good ol' Warren Buffett, but he is killing it. https://i.ibb.co/NgfqjF50/Gnudptr-XQAAHPSW.jpg"

🏦Banks:

👉🏽 no news

🌎Macro/Geopolitics:

On the 1st of April:

👉🏽The scandal surrounding Le Pen. She is accused of fraud for allegedly using European Parliament staff for her French party. While everyone in Brussels knows this is exactly how things have worked for years. The whole system is full of these kinds of grey areas and conflicts of interest. Of course, it's not right, but it's also nearly impossible to prove definitively without political motivation. It's a political prosecution, whichever way you look at it. Now, I am no fan of Le Pen, not at all, but isn't it interesting that the unelected ECB President, Christine Lagarde, was accused of fraud, but without a criminal record—so she could become president of the ECB?

What scandal is Christine Lagarde known for, and what was the outcome?

Christine Lagarde was involved in a scandal known as the "Tapie affair" in France. This took place when she served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance from 2007 to 2011 under President Nicolas Sarkozy. The scandal revolves around an arbitration ruling in 2008, in which French businessman Bernard Tapie was awarded €403 million in damages in a dispute with the state-owned bank Crédit Lyonnais over the sale of Adidas in the 1990s. Lagarde approved the arbitration, which later became controversial as critics claimed the process was unfair and that Tapie—a known friend of Sarkozy—had been favored.

The outcome of the case came in December 2016, when Lagarde was found guilty of "negligence" by the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), a special tribunal for French government officials. The judge cited her “personality” and “international reputation,” as well as the context of the economic crisis during which she had to make decisions. Following the verdict, she remained in her position as managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which she had held since 2011, and in 2019 she was even appointed president of the European Central Bank (ECB), showing that the scandal did not significantly harm her career. However, the case remains a topic of debate, especially due to the perception of class-based justice and the large amount of taxpayer money involved in the payout.

And that is just one example. Just look up all the scandals around Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. And remember, unelected. Or our own Dutch EU playboy, Frans Timmermans. Today, the EU Commission publicly admitted that NGOs were paid to lobby Members of the European Parliament in favor of the Green Deal. https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/commission-admits-financing-undue-lobbying-activities

'The European Commission admits it has used EU funds that were supposed to "fight climate change" for financing left-wing NGOs and climate organizations to silence the voices of European conservatives in a secretive influence operation. The funds came from the LIFE Program, which is supposed to fund environmental initiatives and has had a total budget of EUR 9 billion since 2014.'

https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1908561357114352127

Nearly a quarter of the 705 Members of the European Parliament have at some point been involved in a scandal or legal violation, reports Follow the Money. It concerns a wide range of behaviors, says investigative journalist Peter Teffer from FTM — from parking fines to corruption. "Perhaps the most extreme case is a Greek MEP who is currently doing his job from prison."

As mentioned before, it's a political prosecution whichever way you look at it. More and more, judicial systems in the West are being weaponized to crush the political opposition of the globalist elites / the ones that are in power now. Supposedly to save 'the rule of law'. Is it all just a coincidence—or a pattern of lawfare? Ask yourself that question.

I will give you a hint...It’s a tale of two justices: Le Pen faces potential jail time for allegedly misusing €2.9M in EU funds, while Christine Lagarde, found guilty of mismanaging €403M, walks free and now runs the European Central Bank!

Giorgia Meloni strongly criticized the disqualification of Marine Le Pen from the elections: “No one who truly believes in democracy can welcome a decision that targets the leader of a major party and deprives millions of citizens of their right to representation.”

Meloni’s right, banning opposition leaders isn’t democracy, it’s soft authoritarianism. Le Pen’s party earned 42% in the last presidential runoff. Silencing millions through legal tricks is a dangerous game.

For the Dutch readers: https://i.ibb.co/9HHsR3z3/Gnbuq-Pi-Xc-AAB1ye.jpg

We need a DOGE in Europe!

👉🏽'Job postings on Indeed dropped -10% year-over-year last week to the lowest in 4 years. Over the last 3 years, job postings have declined -33%. As a result, available vacancies are just 8% above pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, NEW job postings have dropped -40% since February 2022 to near the lowest since December 2020. Data provided by Indeed has been a leading indicator for the BLS-provided job openings data, suggesting more weakness ahead. The labor market is deteriorating.' -TKL

👉🏽'Despite a drop in unemployment and a rise in the labor force participation rate, the growing burden of retirees and public spending recipients is weighing on our finances and blocking essential reforms.' https://www.lepoint.fr/argent/comment-la-dependance-des-electeurs-a-l-argent-public-bloque-les-reformes-en-france-01-04-2025-2586277_29.php?at_variante=Community%20Management

30 million French citizens are economically dependent on public funds. That’s 44% of the population. 60% of eligible voters consist of civil servants, retirees, the unemployed, and welfare recipients. This is why France must reform — but cannot reform. For the Dutch readers, please click here for more insight: https://x.com/hollandgold/status/1908182490130341985

👉🏽The Top 1% of U.S. earners now have more wealth than the entire middle class.

On the 2nd of April:

👉🏽President Trump just announced tariffs on 185 countries AT ONCE, one of the largest tariffs in US history. As Luke Gromen mentioned last week: "Low tariffs on the world’s factories were part and parcel of the post-1971 structure of USD reserve status. Now that US tariffs are no longer low, the next shoe to drop will be a change to the post-1971 structure of USD reserve status."

UBS says a permanent implementation of President Trump's reciprocal tariffs would result in inflation rising to 5%. This would be a result of prices rising to "adjust to the higher costs of imports." We are on the verge of 5% inflation and negative GDP growth

'The rumor is that Trump is crashing the market so that The Fed cut the rate since several trillion of the national debt needs to be refinanced this year. When he refinances the debt on low rates he removes tariffs and the market moons.' -Bitcoin for Freedom

If true, that’s some 4D chess. The script would be: Get the 10-year down to sub 3.5, refinance the debt, initiate QE, roll back the tariffs, RF rate at 3.5% tech rips stocks up.

But I do find a problem with that theory. Most likely, tariffs will increase inflation, so there will be no QE. Trump is causing stagflation, which will kill jobs and businesses. The only people who benefit are oligarchs/the rich with extra cash to buy the dip.

👉🏽Almost every year since 08', GDP growth has been negative if you take out increases in government spending. You don't believe me:

https://i.ibb.co/8gLcnBT5/Gnke94-LWw-AAXHe-X.jpg"

Debt-fueled growth. Loosen monetary policy, FREE Money, ZIRP. Massive government spending has led to over 36T public debt with over $1T/yr. We have not fixed anything since 08. Just kicked the can down the road.

On the 3rd of April:

👉🏽Orthonormalist on Twitter cracked the tariff formula. It’s simply the nation’s trade deficit with the US divided by the nation’s exports to the US. Yes. Really. Vietnam: Exports 136.6, Imports 13.1 Deficit = 123.5 123.5/136.6 = 90% EU: exports 531.6, imports 333.4, deficit 198.2. 198.2/531.6 is 37, close to 39.

https://i.ibb.co/PG03LQwT/Gnmy-Krq-WQAAOf1-N.jpg

The fact that the Trump tariff rates are a simple calculation of the trade balance with that country means that the intention is to close the trade deficit, NOT negotiate for lower export tariffs. Seems the only way to avoid high tariffs is to improve the trade balance with the USA. Crude method, but ingenious all the same. Whether this approach is wise depends entirely on your economic priorities. Do you value balanced trade above all else, or do you prefer more nuanced economic efficiency and diplomatic stability?

Bottom line: simplistic, yes. Insane, no. Worth debating? Absolutely. Just some examples, the US administration imposed a 10% tariff on exports from Heard and McDonald Islands populated only by penguins. What a time to be alive.

https://i.ibb.co/DHdHRgSd/Gnm5-Eh-OXEAAy-GVc.jpg

I really love the Netflix series Peaky (focking) Blinders. The tiny island of St Pierre et Miquelon, featured in Peaky Blinders, St Pierre was a big warehouse for alcohol headed to the US, now got a 50% tariff because somebody bought 3.4 million worth of goods in July 2024 (most likely crustaceans). The 5,8k inhabitants "only" bought 100k worth of US goods in 2024. In the case of St Pierre, it's funny, but tragic in many others.

The tiny island of St Pierre et Miquelon got a 99% tariff because somebody bought 3.4 million worth of goods in July 2024 (most likely crustaceans) The 5,8 k inhabitants "only" bought 100k worth of US goods in 2024

Students for Liberty:

"It’s bold. It’s nationalist. It’s flawed. Because you can’t tariff your way to prosperity. And you can’t revive American industry without fixing what’s broken. The enemy isn’t foreign competition. It’s a big government. That’s what classical liberals have always warned: When the state manipulates markets, prints money, and micromanages trade, it always ends up hurting the very economy it claims to protect. Tariffs won’t save America. But freedom, competition, and reform might."

Trump and Bessent are orchestrating a grand economic reordering on US terms.

👉🏽President Trump invites President Bukele to the White House to discuss "ways we can support each other."

👉🏽China urges the US to "immediately" cancel reciprocal tariffs or they will take "counter-measures." Reciprocal tariffs on reciprocal tariffs should begin within the next 24 hours.

'China has three options: 1. Concede defeat to whatever terms Trump demands 2. Devalue the yuan by 20-40% 3. Unleash the biggest fiscal stimulus in its history (talking $2-3 trillion), which will push its debt off the chart' - ZeroHedge

I am not sure about that though. China isn’t collapsing—but it’s facing real structural headwinds: an aging population, a deflating housing bubble, rising youth unemployment, declining productivity, and global pushback.

Meanwhile, the U.S. still has deep capital markets, global alliances (well, let's see how the tariffs war will play out haha), energy independence, and innovation leadership.

So no—this is not “China checkmate.” It’s the start of a very long game.

👉🏽China claims that they found 2k+ TONNES of new Gold in the past 6 months that could reshape global markets. You can mine more gold if you want, but you can't mine more Bitcoin. That's the difference.

👉🏽That was quick: Thailand to Negotiate With the US on 36% Imposed Tariffs: PM Next: everyone else

👉🏽The European Union is preparing further countermeasures against newly announced US tariffs of 20%, per CNBC.

Apparently, no one is asking why, if these import tariffs are so harmful, the EU itself imposed high tariffs on imports for years. Tariffs that were actually higher than what the U.S. imposed on EU goods — which is what triggered the conflict in the first place.

On the 4th of April:

👉🏽The "World War 3" of Trade Wars Has Begun: Americans are waking up to the first MAJOR tariff retaliation against President Trump. China has announced 34% tariffs on ALL US goods with the S&P 500's 2-day losses now at -$3.5 TRILLION.

👉🏽'The last time the market dropped 9.5% in two days, the Fed unleashed a multi-trillion bailout of the economy including $500BN in QE, $1 trillion daily repo, and tens of billions in junk bond ETF purchases.' - ZeroHedge

👉🏽Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells Tucker Carlson - The top 10% of Americans own 88% of equities, and 88% of the stock market. The next 40% owns 12% of the stock market - The bottom 50% has debt - In the summer of 2024: more Americans were using food banks than they ever have in history

On the 5th of April:

👉🏽EU financed targeted campaigns against political opponents and uncomfortable voices.

👉🏽Germany considers withdrawing 1200 tons worth of gold from a US Federal Reserve vault following new tariffs.

👉🏽'On Thursday ALONE, hedge funds sold $40 BILLION of stocks in their largest daily selling spree since 2010. Short sales exceeded longs by 3 TIMES, with North American stocks accounting for 75% of volume.' -TKL

👉🏽'US job cut announcements spiked 205% year-over-year to 275,240 in March, the 3rd-highest monthly reading on record. This is also up 60% from the previous month when 172,017 cuts were announced. Moreover, this is higher than in any month during the 2008 Financial Crisis and the 2001 recession. Year-to-date, US employers have announced 497,052 job cuts, the highest quarterly total since Q1 2009. The US government has led all sectors with 216,215 cuts in March and 279,445 cuts year-to-date, up 672% from Q1 2024' -TKL

On the 7th of April:

👉🏽Hong Kong's stock market closes down 13.2%, the biggest one-day drop since 1997, and China's stock market officially opens with a -10% drop. China's stock market suffers worst single-day crash since 2008. And this isn't a meme coin, it's the Japanese stock market

https://i.ibb.co/7dqwPSc4/Gn5-Hjqc-Xw-AAzn-Yv.jpg

👉🏽European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the EU stands ready to negotiate a zero-for-zero tariff deal with the United States. Meanwhile, the President of the European Central Bank: The European Union wants to abandon the American credit cards Visa and Mastercard, PayPal, and Alipay. Make up your goddamnn minds ladies.

👉🏽If China invades Taiwan, the stock market gets cut in half. Apple, Nvidia, all of it. Conflict/trade issues would cause a global recession on top of it. It would make tariffs and Ukraine look like nothing. Immediate global disaster. Still the ultimate risk. Please read Ray Dalio's book The Changing World Order. When, not if...The fourth turning is real.

https://i.ibb.co/yFw7CkLg/Gnd6yqy-Ww-AAb-GFz.jpg

I am convinced this will happen because they need an excuse for why the market crashed or will crash in the future. The entire system in the USA and China is broken. No money, all fake, constant inflation, and debt.

War solves it for both, as mentioned in my quote at the start of this week's Weekly Recap.

I will end this week's Weekly Recap with the following quote made by Bitcoin Archive:

'Bitcoin is a neutral, global commodity without counterparty risk. Zero tariffs. The only commodity with a verifiably limited supply. 21 million forever. Your 0.01 BTC is the same quality as BlacRock's $50b.'

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

Start by taking 30 minutes to watch this video. Spend under 40 minutes of your time watching and showing you simply and compellingly what the problem is and the potential solution. Bitcoin.

https://www.satsvsfiat.com/en/#watch

After watching that video, I have another great video: https://youtu.be/k3NN_NZOdhY?si=xwBkv2lRHvEdCA0y

$13 trillion on war over the past two decades: Funded by inflation, hidden taxes, and silent theft. This is how fiat money became a weapon. In this episode with Lyn Alden: 'This might have been my top interview last year. In person at a conference in Madeira. Published today. An evergreen discussion on the Broken Money thesis. The history of monetary technology and its impacts on current socioeconomic realities.'

Credit: I have used multiple sources!

My savings account: Bitcoin The tool I recommend for setting up a Bitcoin savings plan: PocketBitcoin especially suited for beginners or people who want to invest in Bitcoin with an automated investment plan once a week or monthly.

Use the code SE3997

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 a zap.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

⭐ Many thanks⭐

Felipe - Bitcoin Friday!

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

@ 16f1a010:31b1074b

Arceus was born from nothing, not even chaos.

Arceus soon made Dialga, Palkia, and then Giratina. Dialga created time, Palkia created space, and Giratina created anti-matter. And thus, the Universe was born.

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina began battling and as a result were banished to their individual realms by Arceus.

Arceus then created Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza. Groudon formed the huge celestial bodies known as planets, and the trio chose one to inhabit with life. Arceus created the sun, then shot off across the universe to create all the many stars.

But he had learnt from experience, so he tasked Rayquaza as the peace-keeper.

The trio set to work, with Groudon raising land violently, creating volcanoes and mountains; Kyogre, creating the seas, where the land was not, and Rayquaza making an atmosphere full of 'air'.

Sure enough, Kyogre's waters started to corrode Groudon's land, and this angered him. The two battled, but Rayquaza broke it up, and sent Groudon deep underground, while Kyogre was sent deep into the oceans, before returning out into the ozone layer.

Soon, Arceus returned, and it tried to make life, but failed miserably. So it created Regigigas. Regigigas moved the continents with its bare hands, piecing them together like a puzzle.

When the final chunk of land was put into place, the world sprung to life, with grass and trees sprouting everywhere. Finally, the world was ready for life.

Arceus sent Regigigas into a coma until it was needed once more. It then created thousands of Pokémon to inhabit the world. These Pokémon belonged to one of five races.

Celebi   Jirachi   Mew  

Manaphy   or Victini  

It also created Latios and Latias, its personal agents, whom it sent flying through the universe in search of a species with great intelligence to live in harmony with its creations, before leaving once more to regain energy.

      

After much searching, Latias found an intelligent alien species known as Deoxys. They were bacterial but advanced. They chose a few of them and brought them back to their world.
  
For a while, things were fine, and the Deoxys and natives lived together in harmony. Until the Deoxys discovered they could 'infect' the natives and use their bodies. Suddenly, they were all infecting a host, and then war broke out.

The Mew, Jirachi, Manaphy, Celebi, and Victini battled their infected brethren to set them free, while the Deoxys sought total dominance.

The war raged on for many centuries, until there were but a handful left of each species. Arceus returned and destroyed the last of the Deoxys, but the damage was done. The population of the world was little more than 20.

The Celebi retreated to the forests, hiding amongst the trees and in time. The Manaphy retreated to the sea, the Jirachi fell asleep, only waking up every so often, and the Victini hid in far-off lands.
This left only the Mew.

During the war, three Mew had hidden under lakes in search of enlightenment.
          
               
Leaving only a handful of Mew left to roam. They were alone.

The war had left the land in ruins; some places were battle-scarred beyond repair. Instead of lush grass, there were harsh deserts. This angered Groudon, sending him into a rage. Volcanoes spurted and spewed lava everywhere.

One day, a Mew was floating along when a sudden flow of lava approached it. Thinking quickly, Mew unleashed energy inside it that even Arceus didn't know about. It morphed the lava into a form and gave it LIFE. The first Heatran was created.
 

Arceus sensed this and had an idea. Gathering all the able Mew, it channeled immense power through them, using their life-giving abilities to create more living creatures. These were crude and unfinished, prototypes of what was to come.

Aerodactyl filled the sky, while Lileep, Cranidos, and Shieldon roamed the land.

Anorith, Omanyte, and Kabuto populated the seas.
  

Arceus also bestowed upon most of these beings the power to 'evolve' into more powerful creatures if the correct environment was met.

Finally, Latias returned once more. They had been far more thorough in their searching than before. However, Arceus had told them to stop, but guilt kept them going. They were determined to complete their job.

They brought humans from another planet. Basic but intelligent beings who definitely lacked the ability to infect anything. The humans settled in quickly, initially living relatively separately from the animals.

But Arceus wasn't convinced; he felt the need to test them.

First, Arceus created Articuno, who he ordered to send the planet into an Ice Age.
  

Articuno froze the planet, killing many creatures, but giving birth to new ones like Mamoswine.
  

To Arceus' pleasure, the humans adapted, creating structures out of ice and snow. The severe drop in temperature awoke Regigigas, who rose high above the land and saw what was happening.

The humans instantly fell in love with Regigigas, worshipping the titan and creating statues of it from ice. Touched by this, Regigigas found one of the statues and breathed life into it before returning to sleep.
  

However, this scared the humans, and they locked it away in a cave.

Realizing that the Ice Age did not affect the humans, Arceus created another bird, Moltres, and ordered it to send the world into a drought. The ice melted, and the water evaporated as the temperature rose higher and higher.
  

While the humans continued to adapt, using the skills they had learned with the ice and applying them to rock, the creatures weren't as lucky. The Mamoswine and other creatures that adapted to the cold died off, but new ones such as huge insects like Yanmega became common.
  

Once again, the drought awoke Regigigas, who once again saw a statue of himself. Thinking the humans would have learned from last time, Regigigas gave it life. But rumors of the living statue had been passed down and exaggerated since last time, and once again, the scared humans locked away this second 'Regi'.
  

When the drought finally wore off, Arceus began the third and final test. He created one more legendary bird, Zapdos. Zapdos created powerful electrical storms all across the land.
  

The storms killed off the last of the prototype creatures, leaving only the humans and the few pets they brought from their home land. One extremely intelligent man managed to harness the power of electricity, creating the first electronic device.

Of course, Regigigas awoke one final time. He discovered that the humans were far more evolved than expected, able to harness metals and electricity, albeit at a somewhat primitive level. More out of tradition than anything else, Regigigas created the third Regi out of steel. The humans were no longer scared of this Regi, but they sealed it away with the other two nonetheless, knowing that one day someone powerful enough would tame them.
  

Arceus was baffled. The humans had passed all three tests of harsh weather. Zapdos calmed the storms, and the world became peaceful once again.

Arceus herded the Mew together for a second time. Having learned the strengths and weaknesses of his prototype beings, Arceus was ready to go farther.

Siphoning its huge power through the small pink beings, Arceus filled the world with hundreds of species of creatures that would become known as 'Pokémon'. They were more diverse than it had ever imagined, filling the skies, land, and sea.

The life energies even reacted with the sun rays and moonlight, creating Ho-oh and Lugia respectively.
    

Some radiated out of the planet's moon, creating a population of Clefairy, as well as Cresselia on the light side and Darkrai on the dark side of the moon.
      

Lugia befriended the three elemental birds, and they followed him like a leader. Meanwhile, humans started to get closer to these new creatures, using them as slaves, weapons, or pets. The term 'Pokémon' arose from strange travelers and stuck.

The first Pokéballs were created from Apricorns, and the bond between human and Pokémon was complete.
    

Ho-oh took residence at the top of the Bell Tower. It was jealous of Lugia's trio of birds and wanted one of its own. One day, three Kimono girls entered its tower with a Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon.
      

Ho-oh burnt down the tower with its Sacred Fire. Most escaped, but the three Pokémon were trapped and perished in the flames. Ho-oh soon resurrected them as Entei, Raikou, and Suicune.
      

Humans continued to evolve and take over the land, and Pokémon continued to work alongside and for them for many, many years.

That is the story of the Pokémon World.

@ 67078065:928c2893

If you need to use a C/C++ library in your Android app, you will need to use the Java Native Interface (JNI). This was my experience integrating a C blockchain library called "libqaeda" ,into an Android application we are working on with lash. Many thanks to lash for advising on using this platform , and who wrote the C library.

Libqaeda and What it does

libqaeda is a cryptographic library designed to enable bi-lateral countersigning of chains of promises and statements. At its core, the library provides a robust framework for creating verifiable certificates that require dual signatures - one from the requester and one from the responder. The library excels at establishing cryptographic proof chains that can be used for:

• Verifying authenticity and proof-of-ownership of certificates
• Tracking credit or commitments between individuals
• Creating chains of trust where each link requires mutual agreement

What makes libqaeda particularly flexible is its modular design. It offers customizable components for cryptography implementations, data storage backends, and trust management - allowing developers to adapt it to various environments from servers to mobile devices. While currently in alpha development status and not safe in any way, libqaeda shows promise as a foundation for applications requiring strong cryptographic verification of bilateral agreements.

Java Native Interface

JNI makes it possible to interact with native code( code written in C , C++ , Assembly).

It is useful in the following cases:

1. Reusing existing native libraries in your java app
2. Accessing low-level system APIs.
3. Implementing JVM into a native application.
4. Performance critical tasks such as gaming.

How JNI Works 1. Java calls the native methods which are declared with the native keyword. 2. The native code is compiled into a shared library (.so on Linux/Android, .dll on WIndows) 3. JVM loads the library at runtime and executes native functions.

The Challenge

We wanted to use the C library in the Android app, but we faced a few challenges:

• The library was originally built for desktop systems, not Android
• Android needs code compiled for specific CPU architectures like arm64-v8a
• There were dependencies on specific C libraries not available in Android

Step 1: Define the Java Interface

First, I created a Java class that declares the native methods I wanted to use:

``` package org.defalsified.android.badged.services;

public class LibQaeda { static { System.loadLibrary("qaeda"); }

public native long createDummyStore();
public native String dummyContentGet(int payloadType, long storePtr, byte[] key);

} ``` The static block loads our native library, and the native methods tell Java these functions are implemented in C.

Step 2: Create the JNI Function Implementations

Next, I created a C file that implements the Java native methods: ```

include

include

include "libqaeda/src/lq/store.h"

include "libqaeda/src/lq/err.h"

include

// Functions from the library extern int lq_dummy_content_get(enum payload_e typ, LQStore store, const char key, size_t key_len, char value, size_t value_len); extern struct lq_store_t LQDummyContent;

// JNI implementation JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_defalsified_android_badged_services_LibQaeda_createDummyStore (JNIEnv env, jobject thiz) { LQStore store = (LQStore)malloc(sizeof(LQStore)); store = LQDummyContent; return (jlong)store; }

JNIEXPORT jstring JNICALL Java_org_defalsified_android_badged_services_LibQaeda_dummyContentGet (JNIEnv env, jobject thiz, jint payloadType, jlong storePtr, jbyteArray key) { LQStore store = (LQStore)storePtr; jbyte keyBytes = (env)->GetByteArrayElements(env, key, NULL); jsize keyLength = (env)->GetArrayLength(env, key);

char value[4096] = {0};
size_t valueLen = sizeof(value);

int result = lq_dummy_content_get(
        (enum payload_e)payloadType,
        store,
        (const char*)keyBytes,
        (size_t)keyLength,
        value,
        &valueLen
);

(*env)->ReleaseByteArrayElements(env, key, keyBytes, JNI_ABORT);

if (result != 0) {
    return NULL;
}

return (*env)->NewStringUTF(env, value);

} ``` The function names must match the Java class and method names, prefixed with Java_ and using underscores for package separators.

Step 3: Set Up CMake to Build the Native Library

The key step was creating a CMakeLists.txt file to build our native library. Initially, I tried to use the pre-built library, but it was incompatible with Android. So I decided to directly compile the necessary source files:

``` cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10) project(badged_app)

set(LIBQAEDA_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/libqaeda) set(LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR ${LIBQAEDA_DIR}/src)

include_directories( ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR} ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/aux/include ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/aux/liblash/src ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/aux/liblash/src/hex ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/aux/liblash/src/rerr )

Create qaeda library with all required source files

add_library(qaeda SHARED ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/org_defalsified_android_badged_services_LibQaeda.c ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/store/dummy.c ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/aux/liblash/src/hex/hex.c ${LIBQAEDA_SRC_DIR}/aux/liblash/src/rerr/rerr.c )

Link against Android libraries

target_link_libraries(qaeda android log atomic m )

Create main app library

add_library(badged SHARED native-lib.cpp )

Link app against our JNI wrapper

target_link_libraries(badged qaeda android log ) ``` Instead of trying to use a pre-built library, I included just the specific source files we needed for our minimal implementation.

Step 4: Configure the Android Project

In the app's build.gradle file, I added the CMake configuration:

``` android { // Other settings...

externalNativeBuild {
    cmake {
        path = file("src/main/cpp/CMakeLists.txt")
        version = "3.22.1"
    }
}

// Specify the NDK version to use
ndkVersion = "25.1.8937393"

// Configure for multiple architectures
defaultConfig {
    ndk {
        abiFilters.addAll(listOf("armeabi-v7a", "arm64-v8a", "x86", "x86_64"))
    }
}

} ```

Step 5: Use the Library in Your Android Activity

Finally, I used the library in my app:

``` public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity { private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

    TextView textView = new TextView(this);
    textView.setText("Welcome to Badges!");

    try {
        LibQaeda libQaeda = new LibQaeda();
        long storePtr = libQaeda.createDummyStore();
        byte[] key = "test_key".getBytes();
        String result = libQaeda.dummyContentGet(1, storePtr, key);

        textView.append("\n\nLibQaeda Test:\n" + result);
    } catch (Exception e) {
        textView.append("\n\nLibQaeda Test Error:\n" + e.getMessage());
    }

    setContentView(textView);
}

} ```

Key Lessons Learned

1. Be careful with pre-built libraries for Android: Pre-built libraries need to be compiled specifically for Android's architectures (arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, x86, x86_64). If a library was built for desktop systems (like x86_64 Linux), it won't work on Android devices with different architectures.
2. Consider direct compilation when needed: If you have access to the library's source code and encounter compatibility issues with pre-built versions, compiling the source files directly for Android can solve architecture incompatibility problems.
3. Use Android NDK tools for cross-compilation: When you do need pre-built libraries, use the Android NDK's toolchain to properly cross-compile them for all target Android architectures.
4. Be selective about which files to include: Only include the specific source files you need, which can reduce complexity and potential issues.
5. Handle dependencies carefully: Make sure to include any header files and source code required by your library functions.

Conclusion

In this project, we successfully integrated a C library with an Android application using JNI. While this approach of directly compiling the necessary source files worked well for our immediate needs, there are other paths we could explore in the future. We may need to create an arm64 static library instead, but having the code running is an important first step. The JNI bridge provides a powerful way to leverage existing C/C++ code in Android applications. Whether you're working with algorithms, legacy systems, or performance-critical components, understanding how to connect Java and native code opens up many possibilities for Android development. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you should now have the knowledge to integrate your own C libraries into Android applications, adapting the approach to your specific requirements. Adios!

@ ba36d0f7:cd802cba

¿Qué es un Jaque Mate?

Jaque mate es la jugada decisiva que termina la partida. Ocurre cuando el rey está bajo amenaza directa (en jaque) y no existe ningún movimiento legal que lo salve: ni capturar la pieza atacante, ni interponer una defensa, ni huir a una casilla segura.

A diferencia de otras piezas, el rey nunca puede ser capturado - su caída sería el fin del juego. Por eso, cuando no hay escape posible, la partida concluye inmediatamente. No es necesario "comerlo", pues su destino ya está sellado.

¿Cómo se llega al mate?
Requiere:

1. Amenaza inminente: Una o más piezas atacando al rey enemigo.

2. Bloqueo total: Todas las casillas de escape controladas por el rival.

3. Sin defensa posible: Ninguna pieza puede interceptar el ataque.

Ejemplo básico: El Mate del Pasillo (con torre o dama en la última fila, donde el rey no puede escapar por estar bloqueado por sus propias piezas).

---

1. El primer mandamiento ajedrecístico: Buscar el mate

En una partida, todo movimiento debería comenzar con una pregunta esencial: ¿Existe un jaque mate en esta posición? Tanto para uno mismo como para el rival. Si no lo hay, la partida se desarrolla en torno a la ventaja material o el control posicional. Pero este orden no es arbitrario: un descuido táctico puede arruinar una posición dominante, mientras que un mate pasado por alto significa la derrota inmediata.

Un ejemplo clásico es el Mate del Pastor (1.e4 e5 2.Ac4 Cc6 3.Dh5 Cf6?? 4.Dxf7#). Las blancas ganan porque las negras, al enfocarse únicamente en el desarrollo, ignoraron la amenaza mortal.

➡ Reflexión: En la estrategia, como en la vida, lo urgente (sobrevivir) precede a lo importante (triunfar).

---

2. Filosofía del tablero: Cuando las ventajas no bastan

Un rey solitario puede escapar eternamente si el rival no sabe dar mate. De igual forma, en la existencia humana, las ventajas - ya sean talento, recursos o oportunidades - carecen de valor si no se materializan en acciones decisivas.

• ¿De qué sirve dominar el centro del tablero si no se sabe convertir esa ventaja en un ataque?

• ¿De qué sirven los privilegios si no se usan para construir algo significativo?

El ajedrez, al igual que la vida, no premia la acumulación, sino la ejecución.

---

3. El instinto de supervivencia: Entre el ataque y la resistencia

El miedo a la derrota desencadena reacciones viscerales: ataques desesperados, defensas obsesivas o incluso abandonos prematuros. Pero estas respuestas también revelan verdades profundas sobre la naturaleza humana:

• Supervivencia no siempre significa violencia: Un rey acorralado puede refugiarse tras sus piezas, como un estratega que elige la paciencia sobre la confrontación. ¿Es cobardía o sabiduría?

• El peligro del ego: La arrogancia ("debo ganar rápido") conduce a errores irreparables. La humildad ("resistiré hasta que el rival se equivoque") puede convertir una derrota anunciada en una salvación.

➡ Reflexión: El tablero no miente. Cada jugada expone los instintos más profundos del jugador: miedo, ambición o templanza.

---

Recursos en linea

• Jaque mate - Chess.com https://www.chess.com/es/terms/jaque-mate-ajedrez

• Los 10 mates más rápidos que existen - Chess.com https://www.chess.com/es/article/view/jaques-mates-rapidos-ajedrez

• Aprendiendo a realizar jaque mates básicos - Lichess.org https://lichess.org/study/iQ5KuZ0y/g87kp3nS

• Ejercicios Mate en 1 - Lichess.org https://lichess.org/study/buY7UIv2/wze0wPRL

• Patrones de mates - Lichess.org https://lichess.org/study/HqgY3Z1I/Sv4QhDIb

• Ejercicios Mate en 5 - Lichess.org https://lichess.org/study/VQEv9Cxr

---

article #chess #ajedrez #elsalvador #ajedrezelsalvador #somachess

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

So, this is the way I see things...

Bitcoin’s rise is not merely a technological revolution—it serves as a masterclass in game theory unfolding in real time. At its core, game theory examines how individuals make decisions when outcomes rely on the choices of others. Bitcoin adoption adheres to this model precisely.

Imagine a global network where each new participant increases the value and security of the system. Early adopters take a risk, hoping others will follow. The incentive to join grows stronger as more people opt in—whether out of curiosity, conviction, or FOMO. No one wants to be last to the party, especially if that party rewrites financial history.

Here’s how the game theory of adoption plays out:

• 🧠 First movers take risks but gain the most—they enter when the price is low and the potential is high.

• 👀 Everyone watches everyone else—people, companies, and countries are scanning the field for the next move.

• The network effect kicks in—the more players are in the game, the more valuable and secure the system becomes.

• ⏳ Waiting can cost you—as adoption grows, the price of entry rises, making hesitation expensive.

• No one wants to be left behind—especially in a global economy battling inflation and instability.

Game theory tells us that smart players make decisions that bring them the most goodies. As Bitcoin gets more popular, it’s like a party that’s really heating up, and you don’t want to be the one left outside! In this thrilling game, the early bird doesn’t just get the worm—it lands a juicy opportunity in a brand-new way to spend money. So don’t dawdle; now’s the time to jump in and grab your piece of this financial fiesta!

@ c253bd19:7911dadc

Welcome to my overly technical green nook and follow me as I explore the possibility of becoming partially self reliant in terms of produce in an urban setting with only limited resources and effort. 🌱🌱

I was going to write a cool lengthy article explaining my motivation. Explaining how I got here and why I want to do what I want to do. I had all the punchy lines ready and I spend a decent amount of time on the first draft. Some parts were even pretty good. But then I realized that the audience of this content probably already knows that something is off. That some parts of our world are just broken. That we need to do something. We can feel it in our bones. The great uneasiness. I realized I'd be preaching to the choir for most part and I therefore decided to park my lengthy article. At least for now.

I am just going to lay out 3 quick thoughts for you to ponder and then I am going to jump straight in. Alright, here it goes:

1. I do software engineering for living. I used to love it for the freedom and creativity. I still like it but I feel like most of my projects have no meaning and add no real world value. You might say this is just a typical case of burnout. But I think that we might be interpreting burnout wrong. Maybe it's just our inner voice telling us to put our skills and efforts towards something meaningful. Maybe we should not fight it. Maybe we should listen.

2. I think our world has become overly complex. I think technology and complicated systems bring a lot of convenience and comfort but I also think that sometimes we go too far and we give up control of our lives. The complexity often hides poor design and occasionally even ill intentions - seeking profit no matter the cost. I think some things should remain small-scale, simple, transparent, and pure.

3. I value personal freedom but I also think we need to take responsibility for our actions, or lack of action. We use nebulous labels to transfer guilt and abstract problems away. The corporations are exploiting the poor countries. The corporations are killing the planet. It helps us sleep better at night. But in fact, the corporations are just groups of people. It's us exploiting each other. It's us destroying the plant. I think it's up to us to do something about it on the individual level. We don't need any grand plans, we just need to do something. Baby steps.

Loosely following the 3 points above, I set out to come up with a personal project that would be:

1. technical and involve coding but at the same time has a very tangible final product
2. has potential to improve my day-to-day life, is reproducible, and may inspire other people
3. revolves around self-reliance, sustainability, and decreasing my environmental footprint

...and voila, I landed with microgreens. I've always had a green thumb and I have a ton of plants in my apartment. I also like to cook and I pay attention to my nutrition. Especially to the quality of the ingredients I use. Produce is a frequent flyer in my meals so naturally I was curious if I could maybe just grow some on my own. I wanted to see if I can opt out from the grocery industry for at least this little part of my nutritional intake. Baby steps, remember? Well, there's one catch. I am not exactly a farmer. Quite the opposite. I live in a tiny apartment in a big city and I don't have a garden (at least for now). That's why microgreens came into play. Being able to grow fresh greens indoors and within just a few days. With only limited supplies and space. That'd be pretty neat.

In my typical fashion, I jumped straight into it. I got some trays and some soil. I ordered some seeds and in just a couple days I successfully...made a huge mess. I hit all kinds of snags. There was soil everywhere. Majority of my crop went down with mold, and the few greens I actually harvested had soil all over them. Mmmm earthy. They were basically unusable. A great success!/s

I quickly realized that this is not the way to go. Sure, I could learn and make this work, but it was clear to me that this is not what I was looking for. I didn't exactly want to start a farm in my living room. I wanted to come up with a clever yet simple process. I wanted something that might take some effort initially but something that is a smooth sailing once set up. With that I went back to the drawing board.

My pilot attempt was a failure but I did learn a few things:

1. soil = mess
2. more variables means more things to go wrong
3. precise and consistent watering is the key to success

For my next iteration I decided to go small and simple. I am going use my 3d printer to print a reusable tray suitable for bottom watering. I will use a coconut fiber mat as the growing medium in order to avoid all the soil mess. I am also thinking about using a simple grid laid on top of the mat to make the greens grow evenly and to make it easier to cut them once they are ready for harvest.

After a few (read countless) hours with Blender, I've got my prototype and the 3d printer warming up so stay tuned...

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

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Autor: Bewegung für Neutralität. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier.**

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Der neue Schweizer Verteidigungsminister, Bundesrat Martin Pfister, wurde gewählt, weil er eine weitere Annäherung an die Nato und die Verteidigiungsstrukturen der EU befürwortet. Die «Bewegung für Neutralität» will ihm mit einem offenen Brief zeigen, dass die Basis anders denkt und die Neutralität hochhalten will. Wenn die Medien die Neutralität schon nicht vertreten, müssen wir es den Verantwortlichen selber sagen, in angemessener Deutlichkeit. Die Bewegung für Neutralität freut sich, wenn möglichst viele den offenen Brief unterzeichnen. (Text: Christoph Pfluger, Mit-Initiator).

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Unter dem Titel «Hoffnungen, Sorgen und ein wachsamer Blick auf Ihre Arbeit» haben wir dem angehenden Bundesrat Martin Pfister einen offenen Brief geschrieben.\ \ Wir machen uns Sorgen, dass Druck auf ihn ausgeübt wird, sich der Nato weiter anzunähern und die Rüstungskosten der EU mitzutragen.\ \ Im Brief erinnern wir ihn an seinen Verfassungsauftrag (Art. 185), die Neutralität zu wahren und teilen ihm mit, dass seine Arbeit unter Beobachtung steht.\ \ Das Original des Briefes ist hier zu finden.

Herrn\ Martin Pfister\ 6319 Allenwinden\ \ 31. März 2025\ \ Hoffnungen, Sorgen und ein wachsamer Blick auf Ihre Arbeit\ \ Sehr geehrter Herr Bundesrat\ \ Wir möchten Sie ganz herzlich zu Ihrer Wahl in den Bundesrat beglückwünschen, ein Amt, das Sie dieser Tage antreten. Wir haben grosse Hoffnungen, dass Sie sich als Historiker der Wurzeln unseres Landes bewusst sind und sie durch Ihre Entscheidungen stärken. Die tragenden Werte der Eidgenossenschaft – Freiheit, Unabhängigkeit und direkte Demokratie – sind auch heute die Basis für eine Zukunft, die wir gerne den nächsten Generationen übergeben möchten.\ \ Alle diese Werte bauen auf der Neutralität. Denn wenn wir uns fremden Mächten und Militärbündnissen anschliessen oder auch nur «annähern», unterordnen wir uns Entscheidungen, die anderswo getroffen werden und irgendwelchen Interessen dienen. Wir verlieren damit nicht nur unsere Freiheit und unsere Unabhängigkeit, sondern auch das Primat des Souveräns und seiner direkt-demokratischen Instrumente.\ \ Wir hegen nicht nur Hoffnungen in Sie, wir haben auch Sorgen. Sie wurden gemäss allgemeiner Wahrnehmung mit den Stimmen derjenigen gewählt, die eine Öffnung gegenüber Allianzen anstreben und zu diesem Zweck die Neutralität «flexibilisieren», «aktualisieren» und «modernisieren» wollen.\ \ Wir halten diese «Flexibilisierung» für eine hochproblematische Position, die unser Land zu einer Parteinahme zwingt  – und dies in einer Zeit, in der sich das bereits bestehende Kriegsgeschehen unvorhersehbar entwickelt und durchaus existenziell werden könnte.\ \ Die sichere Position in Konflikten Dritter ist die neutrale – nicht in schweigender, sondern  in vermittelnder Haltung. Praktisch alle Kriege hätten durch frühzeitige Vermittlung durch eine neutrale Partei verhindert werden können.\ \ Eine Schweiz der guten Dienste muss deshalb neutral bleiben – nicht um Geschäfte zu machen, sondern um den Frieden zu gewinnen. Wir gehen davon aus, dass auch Sie das wollen.\ \ Wir befürchten aber auch, dass Druck auf Sie ausgeübt wird, nicht nur aus dem Parlament, sondern auch von fremden Kräften, die sich eine Beteiligung der Schweiz an Rüstungskosten wünschen oder sonstwie von einer kriegerischen Entwicklung profitieren. In vielen Ländern zählen Rüstungslobbies zu den verschwiegensten und mächtigsten Einflussgruppen.\ \ Wir hoffen, dass Sie diesem Druck standhalten, Ihrem Gewissen folgen und die Neutralität wahren, wie es gemäss Art. 185 der Bundesverfassung Ihr Auftrag als Bundesrat ist.\ \ Wir erlauben uns, Ihre Arbeit in diesem Sinn zu beobachten und Ihnen in angemessener Deutlichkeit mitzuteilen, wenn wir Ihren Verfassungsauftrag in Gefahr sehen.\ \ Wir wünschen Ihnen viel Weisheit und Erfolg in Ihrer grossen Aufgabe, die Ihnen das Schicksal so unerwartet gegeben hat und sichern Ihnen unsere Unterstützung bei der Wahrung der Neutralität zu. Wir wünschen uns eine Schweiz der guten Dienste und nicht der teuren Waffen.\ \ Mir vorzüglicher Hochachtung\ Der Vorstand der Bewegung für Neutralität:\ John C. Ermel\ Daniel Funk\ Alec Gagneux\ Dr. phil. Ariet Güttinger\ Peter König\ Christoph Pfluger\ Pia Rycroft\ Dr. phil. René Roca

u.v.m.

Hier kann der Brief unterzeichnet werden.

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*«Die «Bewegung für Neutralität» wurde am 9. März 2025 als Verein gegründet. Er versteht sich als Trägerverein zur Unterstützung von lokalen Gruppen und Aktivisten, die sich für die Neutralität als Basis von Frieden, direkter Demokratie und eine Schweiz der guten Dienste einsetzen wollen. *

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Hier können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt. (Vorerst an alle, da wir den Mailversand testen, später ca. drei Mails pro Woche.).

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Milosz Matuschek

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Betreff: Friedenstaube

Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: milosz@pareto.space

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Sie sind noch nicht auf Nostr and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil! Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf Start. Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im Pareto-Wiki.

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

I was listening to “Ultimately with R.C. Sproul.” He made the comment that “Sin is so common that we don’t think it is that concerning, but it is especially concerning because it is so common.” This is so true.

I used to really look down on Adam and Eve for eating the forbidden fruit. I thought, “How hard is it to obey a single command? We have so many to obey today from God, government, parents, etc.” One day I finally realized two truths. Adam and Eve were adults, but they had not been around very long (the Bible doesn’t say how long, but the implication is not very long, maybe even as short as days after being created.) They didn’t have life experience. They also had never been lied to before. They weren’t looking at the world with suspicion. They lived in a perfect environment with a perfect, loving God. It would’ve never crossed their mind that a person would lie, so they trusted the lie instead of God.

Today, we live in a sinful, fallen world. Everyone lies. Everyone steals. Everyone is unkind. Everyone has selfish motives. Yes, there is a difference in how often and how “bad” the lie, the theft, the motive, or the unkindness, but sin is everywhere. We get used to it and it seems normal. When we act the same way, it doesn’t seem that bad. We just took a pen home from work, nobody will miss it. We just told the person what they wanted to hear, so we won’t hurt their feelings. It is only a little white lie. Yes, I was unkind, but that person really deserved it because they were worse. We think this way and excuse our sins because we aren’t as bad as someone else.

I’ve noticed as I’ve grown older that the age when you become old keeps getting older and older. Old is always a little bit older than I am. When I was 10, a teenager was really old. When I was 16, an 18 year old was an adult and old. When I was 20, a 40 year old was old. When I was 50, a 65 year old was old. Old keeps getting older because my reference is myself. The truth is that I am getting older. I am on the downhill slide. I am closer to death than I am to birth. My arbitrary, moving reference doesn’t change this fact.

In the same way, when we look at sin, we have the same problem. We are always looking for someone who sins worse to make us look better and to excuse our sins. We compare ourselves to sinful men instead of our perfect, holy, sinless Savior.

In an earlier post, I made the comparison of the lights in the sky. If you go outside on a dark, moonless night, you will see the stars in the sky shining. They seem bright, but some are brighter than others. You can compare the brightness of the stars and call some brighter and others darker, but when the sun rises, you can’t see any light from the stars. Their light is drowned out by the light of the sun. The sun is so much brighter that it is as if the stars don’t produce any light at all.

In the same way, we may do some good things. When we compare our good deeds to others, we may look better, but when the true reference, the Son of God is our reference, our good works look like they don’t exist at all. The differences between the best person and the worst person are insignificant, just like the brightness of the brightest star and the dimmest star seems insignificant when compared with the brightness of the Sun.

The cool thing is that there is another light in the sky, the moon. The moon doesn’t have any light of its own, but it is the second brightest light in the sky. Why? Because it reflects the light of the sun. We should be the same way. We will never measure up if we seek to be good and sinless. We will never meet the standard that Jesus set for us with His perfect, sinless, sacrificial life, but we can reflect the glory of Jesus in our lives.

Yes, when we sin, we can hurt others, but who are we really sinning against? David knows.

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;\ According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.\ Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity\ And cleanse me from my sin.\ For I know my transgressions,\ And my sin is ever before me.\ **Against You, You only, I have sinned\ And done what is evil in Your sight,\ So that You are justified when You speak\ And blameless when You judge.\ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,\ And in sin my mother conceived me.\ Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,\ And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. (Psalm 51:1-6) {emphasis mine}

Yes, our sins can hurt other people and do, but the true damage is to the glory of our generous Creator God. We must confess our sins to God first and then to anyone we have hurt. We must accept that we deserve any judgement God gives us because He created us and everyone and everything with which we interact. Our allegiance, submission, and worship is due to our Creator God.

Because we can never fully understand how abhorrent sin is to God, I thought I’d share how a godly man, the priest and prophet, Ezra, reacted to sin among his brethren.

When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day. But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. (Ezra 9:3-8) {emphasis mine}

Ezra sees sin, shreds his clothes, pulls out his hair, and sits appalled. Do we feel even a fraction of the horror at guilt that Ezra showed? When faced with some Israelites marrying non-Israelite (many from the banned people groups), Ezra admits that “our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.” How many of us would think that was only a little sin or that since it was only a few people, it wasn’t that important? Ezra, instead of saying, “Why did you send us into exile for 70 years and why are you not blessing us now?” said, “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God.” Instead of accusing God of not being good enough or kind enough, thanks God for His grace which was completely undeserved. If only we could look at sin in this way.

After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this, (Ezra 9:13) {emphasis mine}

Ezra understood that we all deserve only judgment. Every good thing we receive is only due to God’s grace. Instead of asking why God would allow a bad thing to happen to us, we should be asking why God is so gracious to give us good things in our lives and not give us nothing but punishment.

Jesus also talked about our sins. Although it is good, when we are tempted to sin, to choose to not sin, even evil thoughts are sins. They mean our minds and hearts are not fully submitted to God.

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:21-48) {emphasis mine}

Many people say that as New Testament believers, we are not under the Old Covenant and the Old Testament laws do not apply to us. While that may be true of the ceremonial laws, the truth is that Jesus made the laws stricter. It is still true that we are not to commit murder, but we are also not to hate another. It is still true that we are not to commit adultery, but we are also not to lust after another. We are also not to fight against those who mistreat us and we are to love those who hate us. Jesus expects more, not less, maybe because we now have the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit within us.

If we have the mind of Christ, we should despise the things God hates. If we have the heart of Christ, we should love even those who hate us and we should seek their eternal good. We should see with the eyes of Christ and see the hurt behind the hate and dishonesty. How do we do this? We need to fill our minds with the word of God. We need to obey Paul’s command to those in Philippi:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

We need to so fill our mind with God’s word that God’s goodness overflows into our lives.

God of heaven, please change our hearts and minds and make them fully aligned with your heart and mind. Help us to see sin as you see sin and to see people as you see people. Help us to see the hurt instead of the lashing out, so we can have a merciful heart towards those who are unkind to us. Help us to fill our minds with your goodness and your word, so there is no room for evil in us. Make us more like you.

Trust Jesus

FYI, there are many people who can’t see their own sin and who discount the severity of sin. I am writing for these people. There are also people who have no trouble seeing their own sin. Their problem is not accepting the forgiveness of God. Never doubt that God has forgiven you if you have confessed your sins and trusted Jesus as Savior. Jesus has covered your sins and the Father sees only the holiness of Jesus. Your relationship with the Godhead is fully reconciled. You should do right out of thankfulness and love of God, but there is nothing else you need to do to be saved and have a right relationship with God.

@ 0f9da413:01bd07d7

หลังจากที่เดินทางเกือบ 18 ชั่วโมงเราก็มาถึงหาดใหญ่กันแล้ว ช่วงระยะเวลาที่อยู่บนรถไฟเป็นอะไรที่เรี่ยเปี่ยมากๆ นั่งมองข้างทางส่วนมีเหตุการณ์อะไรนั่น ติดตามบทความพิเศษได้เร็วๆ นี้ ผมก็ได้พบเจอเพื่อนบน nostr ท่านหนึ่งที่อยู่หาดใหญ่อาสาพาทัวร์ในหาดใหญ่แห่งนี้ กัปตันนั่นเอง ขนาดชื่อเล่นจริงๆ ยังไม่เคยถามหลังจากที่ดูใน btcmap แล้วพบว่าร้านเปิดตอนกลางคืน ซึ่งเรามีเวลาคืนเดียวในการอยู่ที่หาดใหญ่ ดังนั้นหลังจากช่วงกลางวันพาทัวร์แถวสงขลากันแล้ว ก็ได้พากลับมาตามล่าหาร้านรับ bitcoin lighting ในหาดใหญ่ มีอยู่สามสถานที่ แต่มีเพียงสองร้าน คือ

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Soymilk Toyou ฉือฉาง และ น้ำเต้าหู้ SOYMILK TOYOU

น้ำเต้าหูหลากหลายรสชาติ มีอยู่สองสาขาอยู่บริเวณ ตลาดโต้รุ่งฉื่อฉาง และ ถนนปุณณกัณฑ์ สาขาแรกอยู่ในตลาดโต้รุ่ง ร้านเล็กๆ เหมาะกับการชื้อกลับ และอีกร้านหนึ่งอยู่บริเวณเป็นร้านที่เหมาะกับนั่งทานที่ร้าน ซึ่งมีเต้าหู้หลากหลายรสชาติ ให้เลือกจนตาลายกันเลยทีเดียว สำหรับสาขา ถนนปุณณภัณฑ์นั้นมีเมนูเพิ่มเติมอย่าง เฉาก๋วยนมสด พุดติ้ง เต้าถึง และเฉาก๊วยโบราณ สาขานี้ลักษณะร้านออกแนวเกาหลีหน่อยๆ ซึ่งก็ค่อนข้างเหมาะกับชื่อร้านเหมือนกัน ค่อนข้างได้ฟิลพอสมควร ซึ่งผมเองกับกัปตันเองก็ได้แวะทั้งสองร้าน 4 แก้ว น่าจะเป็นเบาหวานเร็วๆ นี้ แต่ยังมีอีกหลากหลายอย่างที่ผมยังไม่ได้ลองชิม คราวหน้าอาจจะต้องได้ไปแวะใช้บริการอีกครั้ง ทั้งสองสาขานี้มีป้ายรับ bitcoin lighting ด้วยซึ่งอาจจะต้องสังเกตกันนิดหนึ่ง หากต้องการใช้งาน ซึ่งทั้งสองร้านนี้ก็สปีนประมาณ 5,820 sats

Soymilk Toyou ฉือฉาง (ตลาดโต้รุ่งฉื่อฉาง) Google-map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1PUVX3wkuzLBrQjw7

BTC-map: https://btcmap.org/merchant/node:12351330907

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น้ำเต้าหู้ SOYMILK TOYOU (ถนนปุณณกัณฑ์) Google-map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FFaZSXKEvGwKvrwZ7

BTC-map: https://btcmap.org/merchant/node:12346018233

และเมื่อผมและกัปตันต้อง spin sats ทั้งสองร้านก็กลายเป็นว่าได้น้ำตาลมาหน่อยๆ แต่ไหนๆก็มาแล้วจะไม่ใช้ก็อย่างไรอยู่ ซึ่งรสชาติก็แตกต่างกันไปตามที่เราได้สั่ง ส่วนตัวเองสาขาตลาดโต้รุ่งฉื่อฉาง ผมสั่งน้ำเต้าหู้ธรรมดา และสาขา ถนนปุณณกัณฑ์ ก็น้ำลำใยบวกกับพุดติ้งเมนูของร้าน น้ำตาลน่าจะสไปรท์กันสุดๆแล้วละ 555+

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ดูด(Dude) หลังจากเมากับความหวานทั้งสองสาขากันไปแล้ว เอ้ยนี่เราจะลุยกันต่อเรอะ เออว่ะ ก็กูนอนที่หาดใหญ่แค่คืนเดียวแล้วดันก็เปิดแค่กลางคืนด้วย ก็คงต้องอัดหน้าท้องแล้วละ กับอีกร้านหนึ่งที่รับ sats กับร้าน ดูด(Dude)

หากดูในแผนที่อยู่ระหว่างกลางร้านก่อนหน้าทั้งสองสาขา กึ่งกลางพอดิบพอดี ร้านนี้เป็นร้านขายเครื่องดื่มและกับแกล้มและมีกับข้าวช่วงเย็น เป็นบาร์กลางคืน ไม่มีเบียร์เหล้าขายนะ (ในใจนึกว่าจะมีเสียอีก) แต่หากอยากจ่าย lighting อาจจะต้องแจ้งกับเจ้าของร้านหน่อยเพราะไม่เจอป้ายรับ lighting เราก็อัดน้ำถังไปอีกคนละแก้ว (แก้วถังที่ใส่น้ำแข็งเยอะๆ) นั่งคุยกันเพลินๆ ซึ่งทั้งสามร้านเราก็เมากับน้ำหวาน มีกับแกล้มซึ่งกินไม่ค่อยไหวแล้วเพราะไปเปย์สาวๆตอนเย็นไปแล้ว เอ้ย และร้านท้ายนี้หมดไปทั้งหมด 6,809 sats

Google-map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/41Tsj4GLWvm7M6TC6

BTC-map: https://btcmap.org/merchant/node:12478715046

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จบกันแล้วสำหรับสองร้านในหาดใหญ่ ตามบน BTC-map ถือว่าเราได้ไปครบแล้วในหาดใหญ่ ซึ่งโซนบริเวณภาคใต้นี่เป็นสถานที่ที่ผมซึ่งเป็นคนเหนือเองอยากจะได้เยี่ยมชมแวะไปหาและอยากไปเรียนรู้เกี่ยวกับวัฒนธรรมที่นี้ มันมีอะไรที่ผมอยากจะค้นหาและตามลิ้มลองรสชาติของอาหารปักใต้ แน่นอนยังมีอีกหลายสถานที่ที่กำลังจะมีให้ใช้งานในอนาคต ร้านค้าที่เกี่ยวข้องที่รับ lighting ซึ่งพอมีเยอะๆแล้วก็คงตามไล่ไปแวะชิมก็น่าจะไม่หมดแน่นอน อย่างน้อยๆ ผมเองก็ได้แวะไปเที่ยวหาเพื่อนที่อยู่บน nostr ที่นั่นที่นี้ แม้จะระยะเวลาสั้นๆ แต่ก็ถือว่าเป็นครั้งแรกที่ได้แวะเที่ยวหาดใหญ่ เที่ยวสงขลา ถ่ายรูปกับรูปนางเงือกหาดสมิลา (กัปตันบอกลูบนมเลย ไม่เอากลัวได้แฟนที่นี้ เอ้าไปที่ไหนก็กลัวหมด บวชพระป่ะ 555+)

แต่เพลงนี้มันเพราะจริงๆ นะถึงแม้จะเศร้านิดหน่อย ไปตรงนั่นได้ยังไง และจุดสุดท้ายนั่นคือเชียงใหม่ ซึ่งช่วงระหว่างกำลังจะขึ้นเครื่องไปเชียงใหม่ อ้าวเกิดแผ่นดินไหวชะงั้น ซึ่งเชียงใหม่นั้น มีร้านใน btcmap เยอะพอสมควรและมีแวะไปร้านหนึ่งกลายเป็นว่าไม่รับชะแล้ว จะมีกี่ร้านที่ผมไปแวะเยี่ยมชิม ติดตามใน ตอนสุดท้ายในบทความกับ ep4

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ท้ายนี้ผมเปิดเพจบนเมนสตรีมละเน้อ ตามได้ในเพจ ไปกับจิ๊บ (บนเฟสบุ๊ค) ผมคงเอาไว้แอบติดตามเพื่อนบน nostr บนเฟสบุ๊คที่พอที่จะติดตามได้บ้าง น่าจะได้อ่านอะไรต่างๆที่ใหลมา คงเอาไว้เขียนรีวิวประสบการณ์การท่องเที่ยวส่วนตัว เพื่อนสมัยเรียนผมเคยบอกว่ามึงไปเที่ยวบ่อยมึงไม่เขียนลงบ้างวะ ไม่เอาขี้เกียจวะ ไม่รู้จะดึงพลังงานตอนทำเพจสมัยมอปลายได้หรือไม่ ก็ไม่รู้เหมือนกัน เอาไว้ส่องๆโปรไฟล์ใครบน nostr ที่อยู่บนเฟสแหละ ฮ่าๆ เป็นเพจอยากเล่าอะไรก็อยากเล่า และแว๊บไปคอมเมนต์เพื่อนๆ บน nostr บ้าง ขอบคุณครับ

@ 7bc05901:8c26d22b

My wife (girlfriend at the time) and I were heading back from Nashville after celebrating the opening of Bitcoin Park in Nashville. My boy Ryan had, once again, drug me to a Bitcoin event in the waning days of my stubborn shitcoinery. This event was the nail in the coffin for those days, and I'm happy to say the "stay humble stack sats" message finally permeated.

My wife is a dedicated reseller, her family has been flipping garage sale finds and auction grabs for years, so we rarely see a flea market or antique mall that we pass up. Somewhere between Missouri and Nashville we pulled off the highway to check out a spot in a dying but (if you squint your eyes and imagine it is 50 years in the past) a picturesque little town.

We were in my little Scion FRS, a two door sports car, so when I came across an old newspaper vending machine, I had to do a lot of geometry to figure out if I could shove this thing in the Scion. I concluded that my girlfriend would have to ride in the backseat for the remaining three hour drive if I really wanted to scoop up this vending machine, because it was too wide to slide into the trunk. Even though she knew I had an infatuation for retro newspaper things and was encouraging me to buy it, I declined. Probably the right call, but I still think about that thing -- the price was right.

I don't know what I would have done with it, but I have for years produced various hobbyist newspaper zines focusing on local political issues that I distributed from the coffeeshop that I worked at in my small town. The idea was hitting so hard when the social media censorship conversation was at a fever pitch after 2016 -- You can't censor a copy machine, I kept thinking. Analog zines, I was convinced, were the future.

I hadn't thought through decentralized social media protocols, but I did get really tired of distributing zines that nobody was excited to pay me for. Copying, organizing, stapling. I should have known I didn't have the patience to maintain that, or the finances.

Even established local news corporations, especially in my town, are struggling to justify a print version. This wasn't the case a quarter of a century ago.

My dad would stop at the Casey's convenience story every morning on the way into town, as he took us to school. If you brought your own travel mug, it was only fifty cents to fill up your cup of coffee. Nearly everyday, he would also come out with a copy of the local newspaper: The Daily Journal. The price was right around a dollar for the paper. It might have even been cheaper, like fifty or seventy-five cents.

The idea I am inching towards in this post, is that if every person valued the distribution of local (and global) news to the tune of a buck or a buck fifty, we could see the re-emergence sustaining news ecosystems. A buck fifty is almost two thousand sats today -- imagine if each appreciator of local news set aside just a thousand sats a day to zap news distributors. If there was a bias for following and amplifying local news events in each user's town, which tend to get a lot of attention on the centralized social media platforms, I think an entirely new value-4-value journalism enterprise model could emerge.

It may be important to start tinkering on a client that is built specifically for newspapers. I am not sure which features would be critical, but as the normies trickle over to the uncensorable social media protocol -- let's be ready.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概要

近日， Sonic DeFAI 黑客松圆满落幕，在 Sonic 区块链生态系统中掀起参与热潮与创新风暴。此次活动共吸引 822 名开发者注册，最终 47 个项目通过审核。在四周赛程里，参赛者们开发新型 AI 代理，角逐总计 29.5 万美元的奖池。这些代理旨在参与社交及链上活动，助力提升 DeFAI（人工智能驱动的去中心化金融）。

赛事核心创新聚焦自主代理整合，部分亮点项目运用 Zerebro 及其开源框架 ZerePy，展现了 Sonic 每秒 10000 笔交易（TPS）的高处理性能与次秒级最终性，同时凸显其与以太坊的无缝流动性集成优势。

本次黑客松评审标准注重技术实施、设计、潜在影响力及创意，提交项目由行业专家团队评估，其中包括 Sonic Labs 首席执行官 Michael Kong。活动充分突显 Sonic 通过创新 AI 应用与强大区块链基础设施，推动去中心化金融未来发展的实力。

Hackathon 获胜者

最佳代理综合奖获奖者

• Shogun: DeFAi super vault's - 一个由 AI 驱动的 DeFi 协议，通过动态资本分配和再平衡来优化去中心化金融金库的收益。
• Nuvolari.Ai - 利用 AI 代理提高链上财务决策的个人理财助手。
• Hyper Sonic - 一个支持表情包币创新的去中心化枢纽，整合了博彩市场、启动平台和 AI 驱动的功能。
• Paintswap Game Engine - 一个 Web3 dApp，通过 AI 驱动的提示实现游戏创作，民主化游戏开发过程。
• SUPERSONIC - 一个由 AI 驱动的平台，自动识别 Web3 生态系统中的套利机会。

最佳社交代理奖获奖者

• Memegents - 结合 AI 和区块链创建个性化 AI 代理和加密货币代币。
• deChat: AI-Powered DeFi Interface for Sonic - 一个 AI 聊天界面，通过自然语言命令简化 DeFi 交互。
• CurtAIs - 通过一个集成 Telegram 的知识库促进 Sonic Labs 的引导。

最佳 DeFAI 代理奖获奖者

• SonicChat - 一个整合钱包管理、交易分析和 AI 驱动见解的平台。
• NoRugz - 促进 meme 币的创建和推广，并与社交媒体集成。
• Shiami - DeFAI for Everyone on Sonic - 一个简化 Sonic 上 DeFi 操作的便捷聊天机器人。

最佳工具代理奖获奖者

• Sonic's Risk Watch - 提供 Sonic 生态系统中的风险评估和投资组合优化。
• Knowscroll - 将社交媒体转化为 AI 生成内容的微学习体验。

最佳 deBridge 集成奖获奖者

• Crème'ai - 一个由 AI 驱动的投资组合顾问，通过实时数据优化加密管理。
• deChat: AI-Powered DeFi Interface for Sonic
• DogBone - 一个简化 DeFi 交互的平台，利用自动化和自然语言处理。

最佳 Allora 集成奖获奖者

• Sonic TradeZo - 一个去中心化、匿名的 AI 驱动博彩游戏，配有 AI 交易代理。
• Shogun: DeFAi super vault's
• AIm — Artificial Intelligence Manager - 自动化创建 AI 驱动的 DeFi 代理以优化 Sonic 上的财务交互。

DWF Labs 赞助的赛道奖获奖者

• Shogun: DeFAi super vault's
• Crème'ai
• EdgerAI - 利用基于社交信号和智能合约的链上交易策略。

有关项目的完整列表，请访问 Sonic DeFAI Hackathon 页面。

关于组织者

Sonic Labs

Sonic Labs 专注于区块链解决方案，利用在去中心化技术方面的广泛专业知识。该组织开发了提升数据安全性和交易效率的项目，并因创建可扩展的区块链基础设施和实施智能合约而闻名。目前，Sonic Labs 通过主导各种计划来实现无缝区块链技术集成，专注于扩大其在各个领域的影响。

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概要

EurekaHACKS 是加拿大奥克维尔市 Abbey Park 高中主办的年度 12 小时黑客马拉松，主要面向高中生群体。今年共有 92 名参与者，最终 51 个项目通过审核。作为哈顿地区规模最大的高中生黑客马拉松之一，活动开设技术研讨会，提供超 7000 美元奖金，营造出充满竞争的氛围。

赛事分设多个奖项：“最佳整体 Hack” 获奖者可获 Bambu Lab A1 Minis，亚军能得到 Red Dragon 机械键盘；其他奖项用于表彰在本地影响力、创造力及技术专长方面表现突出的项目。其中，运用 Internet Computer Protocol（ICP）的项目最高可获 500 美元奖励，涉及 Vectara 的项目可获 300 美元积分。技术研讨会环节还设有 Jane Street 卡片、泡泡茶及各类代金券等奖励。

这场黑客马拉松将年轻创新者汇聚一堂，激发创造力，促进技术技能提升，同时彰显了当地社区的高度参与。

Hackathon 获奖者

标准赛道奖项得主

2025 年 EurekaHacks 标准赛道的参赛者需让项目贴合特定主题，由此催生出多样的技术创新成果。

最佳整体Hack

• FaunaDex: 这款应用通过使用AI识别真实动物并提供详细信息来促进自然探索，鼓励户外活动和学习。

亚军Hack

• ArcaneStep: 将网页游戏与现实中的身体活动结合，ArcaneStep激励孩子们通过行走收集法力以施放法术，旨在减少屏幕时间。

终极编码者第三名

• LocalLink: LocalLink利用地理空间技术连接户外空间中的个人，以促进社区参与，提供即时、有意义的互动。

最佳本地影响

• Gems: Gems是一个基于地图的界面，促进城市探索，使用户能够发现和分享独特的地点，增强探索体验。

最具触感

• Greenlight: 这个游戏化应用鼓励户外活动，用户可通过体育锻炼和自然互动获得积分。

最佳展示

• The Moss Garden: The Moss Garden旨在提高用户的生产力，通过自然主题的网站来增强与自然的联系，提高专注力和心理健康。

终极编码者最佳年轻黑客

• socialize.ai: 利用AI代理，socialize.ai为在线互动提供对话提示和反向图像搜索功能，以增强社交互动。

如需获取完整项目列表，请访问 EurekaHacks 2025 Buidl Page。

关于主办方

EurekaHACKS

EurekaHACKS以促进技术创新着称，特别是在区块链和技术开发领域。通过组织各种hackathons，它连接了技术爱好者并支持协作项目开发。这些活动推动了去中心化应用程序的显著进展，为区块链社区做出了重要贡献。EurekaHACKS目前专注于培养新的人才，并通过教育项目和专项活动推广可持续技术解决方案。

@ c892835e:4d87bc55

Marketing digital para bancar a base prestação de serviço tambem

estudar ingles e as parada toda bitcoin programação russo

@ c892835e:4d87bc55

primeira 3

@ 8ba93868:44bdde52

ola

@ 8ba93868:44bdde52

primeira segunda

@ 6152ca12:e3742e80

Uau estou aprendendo isso parece complicado mas vamos la; aos pouco pego o jeito hehe

@ 04c195f1:3329a1da

The old world order is crumbling. What was once considered stable and unshakable—the American-led global framework established after World War II—is now rapidly disintegrating. From the fraying fabric of NATO to the self-serving protectionism of Trump’s renewed presidency, the signals are clear: the empire that once held the Western world together is retreating. And in the vacuum it leaves behind, a new power must emerge.

The question is: will Europe finally seize this moment?

For decades, Europe has relied on the illusion of safety under an American umbrella. This dependency allowed us to indulge in what can only be described as “luxury politics.” Instead of strengthening our core institutions—defense, infrastructure, energy independence—we poured our energy into ideological experiments: value-based governance, multiculturalism, aggressive climate goals, and endless layers of bureaucracy.

We let ourselves believe history had ended. That war, scarcity, and geopolitical struggle were things of the past. That our greatest challenges would be inclusivity, carbon credits, and data protection regulations.

But history, as always, had other plans.

Trump, Nationalist Hope and Hard Reality

Across Europe, many nationalists and conservatives initially welcomed Donald Trump. He rejected the tenets of liberal globalism, called out the absurdities of woke ideology, and promised a return to realism. In a world saturated by progressive conformity, he seemed like a disruptive breath of fresh air.

And to a certain extent, he was.

But history will likely remember his presidency not for culture wars or conservative rhetoric—but for something far more consequential: the dismantling of the American empire.

What we are witnessing under Trump is the accelerated withdrawal of the United States from its role as global enforcer. Whether by design or incompetence, the result is the same. American institutions are retracting, its alliances are fraying, and its strategic grip on Europe is loosening.

For Americans, this may seem like decline. For Europe, it is an opportunity—an uncomfortable, painful, but necessary opportunity.

This is our chance to break free from the American yoke and step into the world as a sovereign power in our own right.

The End of Illusions

Europe is not a weak continent. We have a population larger than the United States, an economy that outpaces Russia’s many times over, and centuries of civilizational strength behind us. But we have been kept fragmented, distracted, and dependent—by design.

Both Washington and Moscow have an interest in a divided, impotent Europe. American strategists see us as junior partners at best, liabilities at worst. Russian elites, like Sergey Karaganov, openly admit their goal is to push Europe off the global stage. China, for its part, eyes our markets while quietly maneuvering to undermine our autonomy.

But something is changing.

In Brussels, even the ideologically captured technocrats are beginning to see the writing on the wall. Overbearing regulations like GDPR are being reconsidered. The long-pushed Equal Treatment Directive—a pan-European anti-discrimination law—may finally be scrapped. These are small signs, but signs nonetheless. Europe is waking up.

From Fracture to Foundation

To build something new, the old must first fall. That collapse is now well underway.

The collapse of American hegemony does not mean the rise of chaos—it means the opening of a path. Europe has a choice: continue to drift, clinging to broken institutions and obsolete alliances, or embrace the challenge of becoming a serious actor in a multipolar world.

This does not mean copying the imperial ambitions of others. Europe’s strength will not come from domination, but from independence, coherence, and confidence. A strong Europe is not one ruled from Brussels, but one composed of strong, rooted nations acting together in strategic alignment. Not a federation, not an empire in the classical sense—but a civilization asserting its right to survive and thrive on its own terms.

At the same time, we must not fall into the trap of romantic isolationism. Some nationalists still cling to the idea that their nation alone can stand firm on the global stage, detached from continental collaboration. That vision no longer matches the geopolitical reality. The world has changed, and so must our strategy. In key areas—such as defense, border security, trade policy, and technological sovereignty—Europe must act with unity and purpose. This does not require dissolving national identities; it requires mature cooperation among free nations. To retreat into purely national silos would be to condemn Europe to irrelevance. Strengthening the right kind of European cooperation—while returning power in other areas to the national level—is not a betrayal of nationalism, but its necessary evolution.

A Third Position: Beyond East and West

As the American empire stumbles and Russia attempts to fill the void, Europe must not become a pawn in someone else’s game. Our task is not to shift allegiance from one master to another—but to step into sovereignty. This is not about trading Washington for Moscow, or Beijing. It is about rejecting all external domination and asserting our own geopolitical will.

A truly pro-European nationalism must recognize that our civilizational future lies not in nostalgia or subservience, but in strategic clarity. We must build a third position—a pole of stability and power that stands apart from the decaying empires of the past.

That requires sacrifice, but it also promises freedom.

Hope Through Action

There is a romantic notion among some European nationalists that decline is inevitable—that we are simply passengers on a sinking ship. But fatalism is not tradition. It is surrender.

Our ancestors did not build cathedrals, repel invaders, or chart the globe by giving in to despair. They acted—often against impossible odds—because they believed in a Europe worth fighting for.

We must now rediscover that spirit.

This is not a call for uniformity, but for unity. Not for empire, but for sovereignty. Not for nostalgia, but for renewal. Across the continent, a new consciousness is stirring. From the Alps to the Baltic, from Lisbon to Helsinki, there are voices calling for something more than submission to global markets and American whims.

They are calling for Europe.

The Hour Has Come

There may not be a second chance. The tide of history is turning, and the next ten years will determine whether Europe reclaims its role in the world—or becomes a museum piece, mourned by tourists and remembered by none.

This is not the end.

It is our beginning—if we are brave enough to seize it.

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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Sagres, perched on the dramatic cliffs of Portugal’s Algarve, feels like the end of the world—and in the best way. It's a small, laid-back town with a surfer vibe, windswept beaches, and rugged coastal views that are simply breathtaking. If you’re into nature, chill vibes, and jaw-dropping sunsets, Sagres is your spot.

🌟 Top Things to See & Do in Sagres

1️⃣ Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent)

• The southwesternmost point of mainland Europe
• Home to a dramatic cliffside lighthouse and epic sunsets
• Once thought to be the "end of the world" in ancient times

2️⃣ Fortaleza de Sagres

• A 15th-century fortress with a giant stone compass, sea views, and a coastal walking path
• Linked to Henry the Navigator and Portugal’s Age of Discoveries
• Simple, scenic, and full of history

3️⃣ Surf the Waves 🌊

• Some of the best surfing beaches in Europe
• Try Praia do Tonel or Praia do Beliche—great for both beginners and pros
• Tons of surf schools and rental shops around town

4️⃣ Chill on the Beaches

• Praia da Mareta – calm and central, perfect for swimming
• Praia do Beliche – surrounded by cliffs, more secluded
• Praia do Martinhal – family-friendly with shallow water

5️⃣ Coastal Hiking & Cliffs

• Walk along the Rota Vicentina trails for raw Atlantic views, wildflowers, and sea breeze
• Bring water and a camera—it's a nature-lover’s dream

🍽️ What to Eat in Sagres

• Fresh seafood – grilled sardines, octopus salad, and cataplana
• Percebes (goose barnacles) – a local delicacy from the rocks
• Pastéis de nata – always a good idea ☕
• Pair it all with a cold Super Bock or a glass of vinho verde

Try beachside spots or cozy taverns in town—nothing too fancy, just simple, tasty, and fresh.

🏄 Vibe & Tips

✅ Sagres is quiet, remote, and windswept—perfect if you're looking to unwind
✅ Great for vanlifers, surfers, hikers, and sunset chasers
✅ Bring layers—it can be windy, even in summer
✅ Sunsets at Cabo de São Vicente are legendary—get there early for a good spot
✅ A car helps to explore the nearby coastlines and hidden beaches

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

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The new website is finally live! I put in a lot of hard work over the past months on it. I'm proud to say that it's out now and it looks pretty cool, at least to me!

Why rewrite it all?

The old kycnot.me site was built using Python with Flask about two years ago. Since then, I've gained a lot more experience with Golang and coding in general. Trying to update that old codebase, which had a lot of design flaws, would have been a bad idea. It would have been like building on an unstable foundation.

That's why I made the decision to rewrite the entire application. Initially, I chose to use SvelteKit with JavaScript. I did manage to create a stable site that looked similar to the new one, but it required Jav aScript to work. As I kept coding, I started feeling like I was repeating "the Python mistake". I was writing the app in a language I wasn't very familiar with (just like when I was learning Python at that mom ent), and I wasn't happy with the code. It felt like spaghetti code all the time.

So, I made a complete U-turn and started over, this time using Golang. While I'm not as proficient in Golang as I am in Python now, I find it to be a very enjoyable language to code with. Most aof my recent pr ojects have been written in Golang, and I'm getting the hang of it. I tried to make the best decisions I could and structure the code as well as possible. Of course, there's still room for improvement, which I'll address in future updates.

Now I have a more maintainable website that can scale much better. It uses a real database instead of a JSON file like the old site, and I can add many more features. Since I chose to go with Golang, I mad e the "tradeoff" of not using JavaScript at all, so all the rendering load falls on the server. But I believe it's a tradeoff that's worth it.

What's new

• UI/UX - I've designed a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me. I think it looks pretty cool and cypherpunk. I am not a graphic designer, but I think I did a decent work and I put a lot of thinking on it to make it pleasant!
• Point system - The new point system provides more detailed information about the listings, and can be expanded to cover additional features across all services. Anyone can request a new point!
• ToS Scrapper: I've implemented a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices. This is still in development and it will improve for sure, but it works pretty fine right now!
• Search bar - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services. Looking for VPN services? Just search for "vpn"!
• Transparency - To be more transparent, all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab. I won't be answering any e-mails (an auto-reply will prompt to write to the corresponding Gitlab issue). This ensures that all service-related matters are publicly accessible and recorded. Additionally, there's a real-time audits page that displays database changes.
• Listing Requests - I have upgraded the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps. In the future, I plan to enable requests for specific changes to parts of the website.
• Lightweight and fast - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor!
• Tor and I2P - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on Tor and I2P!

How?

This rewrite has been a labor of love, in the end, I've been working on this for more than 3 months now. I don't have a team, so I work by myself on my free time, but I find great joy in helping people on their private journey with cryptocurrencies. Making it easier for individuals to use cryptocurrencies without KYC is a goal I am proud of!

If you appreciate my work, you can support me through the methods listed here. Alternatively, feel free to send me an email with a kind message!

Technical details

All the code is written in Golang, the website makes use of the chi router for the routing part. I also make use of BigCache for caching database requests. There is 0 JavaScript, so all the rendering load falls on the server, this means it needed to be efficient enough to not drawn with a few users since the old site was reporting about 2M requests per month on average (note that this are not unique users).

The database is running with mariadb, using gorm as the ORM. This is more than enough for this project. I started working with an sqlite database, but I ended up migrating to mariadb since it works better with JSON.

The scraper is using chromedp combined with a series of keywords, regex and other logic. It runs every 24h and scraps all the services. You can find the scraper code here.

The frontend is written using Golang Templates for the HTML, and TailwindCSS plus DaisyUI for the CSS classes framework. I also use some plain CSS, but it's minimal.

The requests forms is the only part of the project that requires JavaScript to be enabled. It is needed for parsing some from fields that are a bit complex and for the "captcha", which is a simple Proof of Work that runs on your browser, destinated to avoid spam. For this, I use mCaptcha.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

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Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations.

Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms.

Rights for Illusions

KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks?

The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors."

However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% ^1 – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service.

Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy.

To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% ^1 of less-than-careful criminals.

KYC? Not you.

KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. ^2

KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible.

For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded.

Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether.

It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms.

You're not welcome

Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right?

This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to.

Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely.

Your identity has been stolen

KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets^3. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain very sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it?

As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. ^3

In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised.

(they) Know Your Coins

You may already know that Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded forever. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced.

If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with.

Conclusions

To sum up, KYC does not protect individuals; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred.

The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies.

The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable.

Edited 20/03/2024 * Add reference to the 1% statement on Rights for Illusions section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity ^1

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

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Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.

UI Improvements

You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.

Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.

The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.

Terms of Service Summarizer

A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.

Nostr Comments

I've integrated a comment section for each service using Nostr. For guidance on using this feature, visit the dedicated how-to page.

Database

The backend database has transitioned to pocketbase, an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at pluja/pocketbase.

Scoring

The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available open source.

Listings

Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.

API

The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, check here.

About Page

The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.

Other Changes

Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

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Bitcoin enthusiasts frequently and correctly remark how much value it adds to Bitcoin not to have a face, a leader, or a central authority behind it. This particularity means there isn't a single person to exert control over, or a single human point of failure who could become corrupt or harmful to the project.

Because of this, it is said that no other coin can be equally valuable as Bitcoin in terms of decentralization and trustworthiness. Bitcoin is unique not just for being first, but also because of how the events behind its inception developed. This implies that, from Bitcoin onwards, any coin created would have been created by someone, consequently having an authority behind it. For this and some other reasons, some people refer to Bitcoin as "The Immaculate Conception".

While other coins may have their own unique features and advantages, they may not be able to replicate Bitcoin's community-driven nature. However, one other cryptocurrency shares a similar story of mystery behind its creation: Monero.

History of Monero

Bytecoin and CryptoNote

In March 2014, a Bitcointalk thread titled "Bytecoin. Secure, private, untraceable since 2012" was initiated by a user under the nickname "DStrange"^1^. DStrange presented Bytecoin (BCN) as a unique cryptocurrency, in operation since July 2012. Unlike Bitcoin, it employed a new algorithm known as CryptoNote.

DStrange apparently stumbled upon the Bytecoin website by chance while mining a dying bitcoin fork, and decided to create a thread on Bitcointalk^1^. This sparked curiosity among some users, who wondered how could Bytecoin remain unnoticed since its alleged launch in 2012 until then^2^.

Some time after, a user brought up the "CryptoNote v2.0" whitepaper for the first time, underlining its innovative features^4^. Authored by the pseudonymous Nicolas van Saberhagen in October 2013, the CryptoNote v2 whitepaper^5^ highlighted the traceability and privacy problems in Bitcoin. Saberhagen argued that these flaws could not be quickly fixed, suggesting it would be more efficient to start a new project rather than trying to patch the original^5^, an statement simmilar to the one from Satoshi Nakamoto^6^.

Checking with Saberhagen's digital signature, the release date of the whitepaper seemed correct, which would mean that Cryptonote (v1) was created in 2012^7^, although there's an important detail: "Signing time is from the clock on the signer's computer" ^9^.

Moreover, the whitepaper v1 contains a footnote link to a Bitcointalk post dated May 5, 2013^10^, making it impossible for the whitepaper to have been signed and released on December 12, 2012.

As the narrative developed, users discovered that a significant 80% portion of Bytecoin had been pre-mined^11^ and blockchain dates seemed to be faked to make it look like it had been operating since 2012, leading to controversy surrounding the project.

The origins of CryptoNote and Bytecoin remain mysterious, leaving suspicions of a possible scam attempt, although the whitepaper had a good amount of work and thought on it.

The fork

In April 2014, the Bitcointalk user thankful_for_today, who had also participated in the Bytecoin thread^12^, announced plans to launch a Bytecoin fork named Bitmonero^13^.

The primary motivation behind this fork was "Because there is a number of technical and marketing issues I wanted to do differently. And also because I like ideas and technology and I want it to succeed"^14^. This time Bitmonero did things different from Bytecoin: there was no premine or instamine, and no portion of the block reward went to development.

However, thankful_for_today proposed controversial changes that the community disagreed with. Johnny Mnemonic relates the events surrounding Bitmonero and thankful_for_today in a Bitcointalk comment^15^:

When thankful_for_today launched BitMonero [...] he ignored everything that was discussed and just did what he wanted. The block reward was considerably steeper than what everyone was expecting. He also moved forward with 1-minute block times despite everyone's concerns about the increase of orphan blocks. He also didn't address the tail emission concern that should've (in my opinion) been in the code at launch time. Basically, he messed everything up. Then, he disappeared.

After disappearing for a while, thankful_for_today returned to find that the community had taken over the project. Johnny Mnemonic continues:

I, and others, started working on new forks that were closer to what everyone else was hoping for. [...] it was decided that the BitMonero project should just be taken over. There were like 9 or 10 interested parties at the time if my memory is correct. We voted on IRC to drop the "bit" from BitMonero and move forward with the project. Thankful_for_today suddenly resurfaced, and wasn't happy to learn the community had assumed control of the coin. He attempted to maintain his own fork (still calling it "BitMonero") for a while, but that quickly fell into obscurity.

The unfolding of these events show us the roots of Monero. Much like Satoshi Nakamoto, the creators behind CryptoNote/Bytecoin and thankful_for_today remain a mystery^17^, having disappeared without a trace. This enigma only adds to Monero's value.

Since community took over development, believing in the project's potential and its ability to be guided in a better direction, Monero was given one of Bitcoin's most important qualities: a leaderless nature. With no single face or entity directing its path, Monero is safe from potential corruption or harm from a "central authority".

The community continued developing Monero until today. Since then, Monero has undergone a lot of technological improvements, migrations and achievements such as RingCT and RandomX. It also has developed its own Community Crowdfundinc System, conferences such as MoneroKon and Monerotopia are taking place every year, and has a very active community around it.

Monero continues to develop with goals of privacy and security first, ease of use and efficiency second. ^16^

This stands as a testament to the power of a dedicated community operating without a central figure of authority. This decentralized approach aligns with the original ethos of cryptocurrency, making Monero a prime example of community-driven innovation. For this, I thank all the people involved in Monero, that lead it to where it is today.

If you find any information that seems incorrect, unclear or any missing important events, please contact me and I will make the necessary changes.

Sources of interest

• https://forum.getmonero.org/20/general-discussion/211/history-of-monero
• https://monero.stackexchange.com/questions/852/what-is-the-origin-of-monero-and-its-relationship-to-bytecoin
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monero
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=233561
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112.0
• https://monero.stackexchange.com/a/1024
• https://inspec2t-project.eu/cryptocurrency-with-a-focus-on-anonymity-these-facts-are-known-about-monero/
• https://medium.com/coin-story/coin-perspective-13-riccardo-spagni-69ef82907bd1
• https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/
• https://www.wired.com/2017/01/monero-drug-dealers-cryptocurrency-choice-fire/
• https://www.monero.how/why-monero-vs-bitcoin
• https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/u8e5yr/satoshi_nakamoto_talked_about_privacy_features/

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

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“The future is there... staring back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.” — William Gibson.

This month is the 4th anniversary of kycnot.me. Thank you for being here.

Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system: a decentralized currency free from government and institutional control. Nakamoto's whitepaper showed a vision for a financial system based on trustless transactions, secured by cryptography. Some time forward and KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations started to come into play.

What a paradox: to engage with a system designed for decentralization, privacy, and independence, we are forced to give away our personal details. Using Bitcoin in the economy requires revealing your identity, not just to the party you interact with, but also to third parties who must track and report the interaction. You are forced to give sensitive data to entities you don't, can't, and shouldn't trust. Information can never be kept 100% safe; there's always a risk. Information is power, who knows about you has control over you.

Information asymmetry creates imbalances of power. When entities have detailed knowledge about individuals, they can manipulate, influence, or exploit this information to their advantage. The accumulation of personal data by corporations and governments enables extensive surveillances.

Such practices, moreover, exclude individuals from traditional economic systems if their documentation doesn't meet arbitrary standards, reinforcing a dystopian divide. Small businesses are similarly burdened by the costs of implementing these regulations, hindering free market competition^1:

How will they keep this information safe? Why do they need my identity? Why do they force businesses to enforce such regulations? It's always for your safety, to protect you from the "bad". Your life is perpetually in danger: terrorists, money launderers, villains... so the government steps in to save us.

‟Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm” — Mother, Pink Floyd

We must resist any attack on our privacy and freedom. To do this, we must collaborate.

If you have a service, refuse to ask for KYC; find a way. Accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. Commit to circular economies. Remove the need to go through the FIAT system. People need fiat money to use most services, but we can change that.

If you're a user, donate to and prefer using services that accept such currencies. Encourage your friends to accept cryptocurrencies as well. Boycott FIAT system to the greatest extent you possibly can.

This may sound utopian, but it can be achieved. This movement can't be stopped. Go kick the hornet's nest.

“We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any. We must come together and create systems which allow anonymous transactions to take place. People have been defending their own privacy for centuries with whispers, darkness, envelopes, closed doors, secret handshakes, and couriers. The technologies of the past did not allow for strong privacy, but electronic technologies do.” — Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto

The anniversary

Four years ago, I began exploring ways to use crypto without KYC. I bookmarked a few favorite services and thought sharing them to the world might be useful. That was the first version of kycnot.me — a simple list of about 15 services. Since then, I've added services, rewritten it three times, and improved it to what it is now.

kycnot.me has remained 100% independent and 100% open source^2 all these years. I've received offers to buy the site, all of which I have declined and will continue to decline. It has been DDoS attacked many times, but we made it through. I have also rewritten the whole site almost once per year (three times in four years).

The code and scoring algorithm are open source (contributions are welcome) and I can't arbitrarly change a service's score without adding or removing attributes, making any arbitrary alterations obvious if they were fake. You can even see the score summary for any service's score.

I'm a one-person team, dedicating my free time to this project. I hope to keep doing so for many more years. Again, thank you for being part of this.

@ a367f9eb:0633efea

WIEN – Diese Woche enthüllte Innenminister Gerhard Karner von der ÖVP, dass er einen Gesetzesentwurf "schnell" durchsetzen möchte, der der Regierung die Befugnis geben würde, verschlüsselte Kommunikation in Nachrichten-Apps zu überwachen.

Obwohl Karner betont hat, dass die neuen Befugnisse nur sehr gezielt eingesetzt würden, ist unklar, ob die Entwickler und Anbieter von Nachrichten-Apps gezwungen werden sollen, die Verschlüsselung zu brechen, um die Anordnungen durchzuführen.

Wie der stellvertretende Direktor des Consumer Choice Center, Yaël Ossowski, erklärte, würde diese Befugnis bedeuten, die Verschlüsselung für Millionen von österreichischen Verbrauchern zu untergraben und zu brechen.

„Jeder Versuch, die Verschlüsselung für einige ausgewählte Personen zu brechen, gefährdet gleichzeitig die Privatsphäre von Millionen von Österreichern. Dies ist weniger eine Frage der angemessenen Polizeibefugnisse als vielmehr eine Frage der technischen und sicherheitsrelevanten Aspekte. Schwächere Verschlüsselung macht österreichische Nutzer weniger sicher“ sagte Ossowski.

„Verschlüsselungsstandards von Apps wie Signal, WhatsApp und sogar iMessage aufzuheben, würde der österreichischen Regierung außergewöhnliche Befugnisse einräumen, die das Risiko bergen, jede und alle Kommunikation zu kompromittieren, nicht nur die von Verdächtigen oder Terroristen.

„Um gegen kriminelle Akteure vorzugehen, sollte die Koalition das bestehende Justizsystem nutzen, um Haftbefehle auf Grundlage eines begründeten Verdachts durchzusetzen, anstatt Messaging-Dienste und Apps dazu zu zwingen, diese Aufgabe für sie zu übernehmen“ erklärte Ossowski.

Das Consumer Choice Center weist darauf hin, dass ähnliche Versuche, die Verschlüsselung mit polizeilicher Gewalt zu brechen, bereits im Vereinigten Königreich und in Frankreich unternommen wurden, wo sie von Bürgerrechtsgruppen abgelehnt wurden.

###

Das Consumer Choice Center ist eine unabhängige, parteiunabhängige Verbraucherorganisation, die die Vorteile von Wahlfreiheit, Innovation und Wachstum im Alltagsleben für Verbraucher in über 100 Ländern fördert. Wir interessieren uns insbesondere für regulatorische Trends in Washington, Brüssel, Wien, Berlin, Ottawa, Brasília, London und Genf genau.

Erfahren Sie mehr auf consumerchoicecenter.org

@ d2554ae1:1e3208b1

Austrian Economics, the Fourth Turning, and the End of the Fiat Era

By DownWithBigBrother

The world is lurching through a period of unprecedented financial, political, and cultural upheaval. Inflation stubbornly persists, government debt has surged to unsustainable highs, bond markets are flashing red, and the institutional legitimacy of the West is crumbling under the weight of contradictions. Many wonder: is this the end of something—or the beginning?

From the vantage point of Austrian economics, this moment isn’t an anomaly. It’s the inevitable result of decades of interventionism, fiat monetary expansion, and distorted incentives. And when this lens is aligned with Ray Dalio’s long-term debt cycle, Strauss-Howe’s Fourth Turning theory, and historical precedent, a clear and troubling pattern emerges: we are in the final stages of a system that can no longer sustain itself.

⸻

The Austrian View: Malinvestment, Fiat Decay, and the Crack-Up Boom

Austrian economists warned us.

When central banks suppress interest rates below the natural rate, they distort the price of capital and create malinvestment across the economy. Asset bubbles form. Risk becomes mispriced. Government grows beyond its means. Eventually, the real structure of the economy collapses under its own weight.

Ludwig von Mises called it the crack-up boom: a moment when the public loses faith in the currency itself, accelerating toward hyperinflation or systemic reset.

Today, we see symptoms everywhere: • Short-term UK gilts faltering, despite higher yields—suggesting credit risk concerns in sovereign debt. • Central banks trapped, unable to raise rates without imploding debt servicing costs. • Pension funds relying on central bank liquidity, not investment returns. • People flocking to Bitcoin, gold, and hard assets, no longer trusting fiat promises.

This isn’t just a crisis of inflation. It’s a crisis of trust—of money, institutions, and narratives.

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Ray Dalio’s Changing World Order: End of Empire, Debt, and Dominance

Ray Dalio, in Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, offers a complementary framework. He outlines the typical rise and fall of empires based on long-term debt cycles, reserve currency status, and geopolitical hegemony.

Dalio identifies several signs of a declining empire: • Unsustainable debt loads • Political polarization and populism • Declining education, productivity, and innovation • Rising external challengers (e.g. China, BRICS) • Devaluation of the currency to solve internal problems

Sound familiar?

The UK and U.S. fit this bill perfectly. Both are experiencing late-stage fiat dysfunction. Both are overstretched geopolitically. And both are losing internal coherence at the exact moment their adversaries gain strength.

In Dalio’s cycle, these forces typically lead to a changing global reserve currency, a new monetary system, and often—a major war.

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The Fourth Turning: Crisis, Collapse, and Rebirth

Strauss and Howe’s generational theory offers a sociocultural overlay. They argued that every 80–100 years, Anglo-American civilizations undergo a “Fourth Turning”—a period of total institutional breakdown and civic realignment.

The last three Fourth Turnings: • The American Revolution (1776) • The Civil War (1861) • The Great Depression / World War II (1929–1945)

And now: 2008–2030.

The pattern is unmistakable: • Institutions lose credibility. • Society fractures along generational and ideological lines. • The old order resists collapse—but cannot reform. • Crisis breaks the system, and a new order emerges.

This isn’t prophecy. It’s a recurring cycle of institutional entropy followed by rebirth.

In this Fourth Turning, the fault lines are economic (debt, inequality), cultural (wokeism vs. tradition), technological (AI, surveillance), and monetary (fiat vs. Bitcoin).

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Historical Echoes: Lessons from the Past

While our moment is unique, it echoes others: • Weimar Germany (1920s): Massive reparations debt, central bank money printing, social fragmentation—followed by authoritarianism. • Late Roman Empire: Currency debasement (clipping silver coins), overextension, loss of civic trust, internal decay. • French Revolution: State insolvency, rampant inflation, corrupt elite, and public uprising. • 1971–2025 (Modern West): Fiat detachment from gold, credit expansion, asset bubbles, pension fragility, war drums.

Each era collapsed under unsustainable monetary and political structures. Each ended with a reset, usually after pain, upheaval, and systemic failure.

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What Comes Next: Bitcoin, Decentralization, and a Parallel Future

From an Austrian lens, the only sustainable future is built on sound money, decentralized decision-making, and organic community structures—not technocratic control.

Bitcoin represents more than a hedge. It is the lifeboat—the opt-out from a system that cannot be saved.

It aligns with all these frameworks: • Austrian: It restores monetary discipline, mimics gold with perfect scarcity, and resists state manipulation. • Dalio: It offers a neutral settlement layer amid collapsing fiat trust. • Fourth Turning: It is the generational technology of rebirth—decentralized, transparent, trustless.

Whether Bitcoin becomes the new monetary base or simply a parallel escape valve, it is central to the post-collapse architecture.

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Conclusion: Clarity in the Collapse

The old world is dying. The fiat system is entering its terminal stage, unable to sustain the lies and leverage of the past 50 years. Austrian economics saw this coming. Dalio mapped its trajectory. Strauss and Howe timed the sociopolitical rupture. History confirms the pattern.

The only question now is how we prepare. • Do we cling to crumbling institutions, hoping for reforms that never come? • Or do we embrace the clarity of collapse, build resilient systems, and guide the next era?

Austrian thinkers remind us: the crash isn’t the failure—it’s the cure. A painful, necessary purge of decades of distortion.

The question is: will we have the courage to build what comes after?

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