@ 00033a93:774465e5

An Italian artist just announced in the small town of Fornelli a statue of Satoshi, involving the administration in the project and the community of Fornelli in Bitcoin!

Not all heroes wear capes!

Italian article here:

https://bitcoinbeer.events/article/21

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/971872

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

The European Accessibility Act is coming, now is a great time for accessibility trainings!. In my Accessibility for Designer workshop, you will learn how to design accessible mockups that prevent issues in visual design, interactions, navigation, and content. You will be able to spot problems early, fix them in your designs, and communicate accessibility clearly with your team. This is a practical workshop with hands-on exercises, not just theory. You’ll actively apply accessibility principles to real design scenarios and mockups. And will get access to my accessibility resources: checklists, annotation kits and more.

When? 4 sessions of 2 hours + Q and As, on: - Mon, June 16, - Tue, June 17, Mon, - June 23 and Tue, - June 24. 9:30 – 12:00 PM PT or 18:30 – 21:00 CET

Register with 15% discount ($255) https://ti.to/smashingmagazine/online-workshops-2022/with/87vynaoqc0/discount/welcometomyworkshop

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/971772

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Crabtree's Framework for Evaluating Human-Centered Research

Picture this: You've spent three weeks conducting qualitative research for a finance app redesign. You carefully recruited 12 participants, conducted in-depth interviews, and identified patterns around financial anxiety and decision paralysis. You're excited to present your findings when the inevitable happens:

"But are these results statistically significant?"

"Just 12 people? How can we make decisions that affect thousands of users based on conversations with just 12 people?"

As UX professionals, we regularly face stakeholders who evaluate our qualitative research using criteria designed for quantitative methods... This misalignment undermines the unique value qualitative research brings to product development.

Continue reading https://uxpsychology.substack.com/p/beyond-numbers-how-to-properly-evaluate

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/971767

@ 51faaa77:2c26615b

There has been a lot of debate about a recent discussion on the mailing list and a pull request on the Bitcoin Core repository. The main two points are about whether a mempool policy regarding OP_RETURN outputs should be changed, and whether there should be a configuration option for node operators to set their own limit. There has been some controversy about the background and context of these topics and people are looking for more information. Please ask short (preferably one sentence) questions as top comments in this topic. @Murch, and maybe others, will try to answer them in a couple sentences. @Murch and myself have collected a few questions that we have seen being asked to start us off, but please add more as you see fit.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/971277

@ efc19139:a370b6a8

Bitcoin has a controversial reputation, but in this essay, I argue that Bitcoin is actually a pretty cool thing; it could even be described as the hippie movement of the digital generations.

Mainstream media often portrays Bitcoin purely as speculation, with headlines focusing on price fluctuations or painting it as an environmental disaster. It has frequently been declared dead and buried, only to rise again—each time, it's labeled as highly risky and suspicious as a whole. Then there are those who find blockchain fascinating in general but dismiss Bitcoin as outdated, claiming it will soon be replaced by a new cryptocurrency (often one controlled by the very author making the argument). Let’s take a moment to consider why Bitcoin is interesting and how it can drive broad societal change, much like the hippie movement once did. Bitcoin is a global decentralized monetary system operating on a peer-to-peer network. Since nearly all of humanity lives within an economic system based on money, it’s easy to see how an overhaul of the financial system could have a profound impact across different aspects of society. Bitcoin differs from traditional money through several unique characteristics: it is scarce, neutral, decentralized, and completely permissionless. There is no central entity—such as a company—that develops and markets Bitcoin, meaning it cannot be corrupted.

Bitcoin is an open digital network, much like the internet. Due to its lack of a central governing entity and its organic origin, Bitcoin can be considered a commodity, whereas other cryptocurrencies resemble securities, comparable to stocks. Bitcoin’s decentralized nature makes it geopolitically neutral. Instead of being controlled by a central authority, it operates under predefined, unchangeable rules. No single entity in the world has the ability to arbitrarily influence decision-making within the Bitcoin network. This characteristic is particularly beneficial in today’s political climate, where global uncertainty is heightened by unpredictable leaders of major powers. The permissionless nature of Bitcoin and its built-in resistance to censorship are crucial for individuals living under unstable conditions. Bitcoin is used to raise funds for politically persecuted activists and for charitable purposes in regions where financial systems have been weaponized against political opponents or used to restrict people's ability to flee a country. These are factors that may not immediately come to mind in Western nations, where such challenges are not commonly faced. Additionally, according to the World Bank, an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide still lack access to any form of banking services.

Mining is the only way to ensure that no one can seize control of the Bitcoin network or gain a privileged position within it. This keeps Bitcoin neutral as a protocol, meaning a set of rules without leaders. It is not governed in the same way a company is, where ownership of shares dictates control. Miners earn the right to record transactions in Bitcoin’s ledger by continuously proving that they have performed work to obtain that right. This proof-of-work algorithm is also one reason why Bitcoin has spread so organically. If recording new transactions were free, we would face a problem similar to spam: there would be an endless number of competing transactions, making it impossible to reach consensus on which should officially become part of the decentralized ledger. Mining can be seen as an auction for adding the next set of transactions, where the price is the amount of energy expended. Using energy for this purpose is the only way to ensure that mining remains globally decentralized while keeping the system open and permissionless—free from human interference. Bitcoin’s initial distribution was driven by random tech enthusiasts around the world who mined it as a hobby, using student electricity from their bedrooms. This is why Bitcoin’s spread can be considered organic, in contrast to a scenario where it was created by a precisely organized inner circle that typically would have granted itself advantages before the launch.

If energy consumption is considered concerning, the best regulatory approach would be to create optimal conditions for mining in Finland, where over half of energy production already comes from renewable sources. Modern miners are essentially datacenters, but they have a unique characteristic: they can adjust their electricity consumption seamlessly and instantly without delay. This creates synergy with renewable energy production, which often experiences fluctuations in supply. The demand flexibility offered by miners provides strong incentives to invest increasingly in renewable energy facilities. Miners can commit to long-term projects as last-resort consumers, making investments in renewables more predictable and profitable. Additionally, like other datacenters, miners produce heat as a byproduct. As a thought experiment, they could also be considered heating plants, with a secondary function of securing the Bitcoin network. In Finland, heat is naturally needed year-round. This combination of grid balancing and waste heat recovery would be key to Europe's energy self-sufficiency. Wouldn't it be great if the need to bow to fossil fuel powers for energy could be eliminated? Unfortunately, the current government has demonstrated a lack of understanding of these positive externalities by proposing tax increases on electricity. The so-called fiat monetary system also deserves criticism in Western nations, even though its flaws are not as immediately obvious as elsewhere. It is the current financial system in which certain privileged entities control the issuance of money as if by divine decree, which is what the term fiat (command) refers to. The system subtly creates and maintains inequality.

The Cantillon effect is an economic phenomenon in which entities closer to newly created money benefit at the expense of those farther away. Access to the money creation process is determined by credit ratings and loan terms, as fiat money is always debt. The Cantillon effect is a distorted version of the trickle-down theory, where the loss of purchasing power in a common currency gradually moves downward. Due to inflation, hard assets such as real estate, precious metals, and stocks become more expensive, just as food prices rise in stores. This process further enriches the wealthy while deepening poverty. The entire wealth of lower-income individuals is often held in cash or savings, which are eroded by inflation much like a borrowed bottle of Leijona liquor left out too long. Inflation is usually attributed to a specific crisis, but over the long term (spanning decades), monetary inflation—the expansion of the money supply—plays a significant role. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, known for his work on currencies, describes inflation in his book The Accidental Theorist as follows, loosely quoted: "It is really, really difficult to cut nominal wages. Even with low inflation, making labor cheaper would require a large portion of workers to accept wage cuts. Therefore, higher inflation leads to higher employment." Since no one wants to voluntarily give up their salary in nominal terms, the value of wages must be lowered in real terms by weakening the currency in which they are paid. Inflation effectively cuts wages—or, in other words, makes labor cheaper. This is one of the primary reasons why inflation is often said to have a "stimulating" effect on the economy.

It does seem somewhat unfair that employees effectively subsidize their employers’ labor costs to facilitate new hires, doesn’t it? Not to mention the inequities faced by the Global South in the form of neocolonialism, where Cantillon advantages are weaponized through reserve currencies like the US dollar or the French franc. This follows the exact same pattern, just on a larger scale. The Human Rights Foundation (hrf.org) has explored the interconnection between the fiat monetary system and neocolonialism in its publications, advocating for Bitcoin as part of the solution. Inflation can also be criticized from an environmental perspective. Since it raises time preference, it encourages people to make purchases sooner rather than delay them. As Krugman put it in the same book, “Extra money burns in your pocket.” Inflation thus drives consumption while reducing deliberation—it’s the fuel of the economy. If the goal from an environmental standpoint is to moderate economic activity, the first step should be to stop adding fuel to the fire. The impact of inflation on intergenerational inequality and the economic uncertainty faced by younger generations is rarely discussed. Boomers have benefited from the positive effects of the trend sparked by the Nixon shock in 1971, such as wealth accumulation in real estate and inflation-driven economic booms. Zoomers, meanwhile, are left to either fix the problems of the current system or find themselves searching for a lifeboat.

Bitcoin emerged as part of a long developmental continuum within the discussion forums of rebellious programmers known as cypherpunks, or encryption activists. It is an integral part of internet history and specifically a counterculture movement. Around Bitcoin, grassroots activists and self-organized communities still thrive, fostering an atmosphere that is welcoming, inspiring, and—above all—hopeful, which feels rare in today’s world. Although the rush of suits and traditional financial giants into Bitcoin through ETF funds a year ago may have painted it as opportunistic and dull in the headlines, delving into its history and culture reveals ever-fascinating angles and new layers within the Bitcoin sphere. Yet, at its core, Bitcoin is simply money. It possesses all seven characteristics required to meet the definition of money: it is easily divisible, transferable, recognizable, durable, fungible, uniform, and straightforward to receive. It serves as a foundation on which coders, startup enthusiasts, politicians, financial executives, activists, and anarchists alike can build. The only truly common denominator among the broad spectrum of Bitcoin users is curiosity—openness to new ideas. It merely requires the ability to recognize potential in an alternative system and a willingness to embrace fundamental change. Bitcoin itself is the most inclusive system in the world, as it is literally impossible to marginalize or exclude its users. It is a tool for peaceful and voluntary collaboration, designed so that violence and manipulation are rendered impossible in its code.

Pretty punk in the middle of an era of polarization and division, wouldn’t you say?

The original author (not me) is the organizer of the Bitcoin conference held in Helsinki, as well as a founding member and vice chairman of the Finnish Bitcoin Association. More information about the event can be found at: https://btchel.com and https://njump.me/nprofile1qqs89v5v46jcd8uzv3f7dudsvpt8ntdm3927eqypyjy37yx5l6a30fcknw5z5 ps. Zaps and sats will be forwarded to author!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/971219

@ 91d8dece:3453543b

https://drewztools.com/ flash USDT Are you tired of the long wait times and excessive fees associated with traditional cryptocurrency transactions? Look no further! Flash USDT from @drewztooolz is here to ease the way you send and receive crypto. Experience lightning-fast transfers, total anonymity, and zero fees with this state-of-the-art service. This flash last in the wallet for 90 t0 360 days before it disappears . Just so you know this coin is tradeable , swappable and transferable to many wallet type Flash USDT is not just another crypto tool; it’s a game-changer for anyone involved in cryptocurrency trading, particularly for OTC traders, P2P dealmakers, and cold wallet testers. Here’s why you should consider making it a part of your crypto toolkit: 🔥 Instant Transfers With Flash USDT, you can send high-value USDT to any wallet in under 60 seconds. Imagine the convenience of having your funds appear instantly without the typical delay caused by blockchain confirmations. Still have questions? Reach out via Telegram for 1-on-1 support. Our team is ready to assist you with anything you need! https://drewztools.com/ 💬 @drewztooolz 📲+1 (770) 666–2531

@ 6e64b83c:94102ee8

Nostr-static is a powerful static site generator that transforms long-form Nostr content into beautiful, standalone websites. It makes your content accessible to everyone, even those not using Nostr clients. For more information check out my previous blog post How to Create a Blog Out of Nostr Long-Form Articles

What's New in Version 0.7?

RSS and Atom Feeds

Version 0.7 brings comprehensive feed support with both RSS and Atom formats. The system automatically generates feeds for your main content, individual profiles, and tag-specific pages. These feeds are seamlessly integrated into your site's header, making them easily discoverable by feed readers and content aggregators.

This feature bridges the gap between Nostr and traditional web publishing, allowing your content to reach readers who prefer feed readers or automated content distribution systems.

Smart Content Discovery

The new tag discovery system enhances your readers' experience by automatically finding and recommending relevant articles from the Nostr network. It works by:

1. Analyzing the tags in your articles
2. Fetching popular articles from Nostr that share these tags
3. Using configurable weights to rank these articles based on:
4. Engagement metrics (reactions, reposts, replies)
5. Zap statistics (amount, unique zappers, average zap size)
6. Content quality signals (report penalties)

This creates a dynamic "Recommended Articles" section that helps readers discover more content they might be interested in, all while staying within the Nostr ecosystem.

See the new features yourself by visiting our demo at: https://blog.nostrize.me

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

KOReader is a document viewer for E Ink devices. Supported file formats include EPUB, PDF, DjVu, XPS, CBT, CBZ, FB2, PDB, TXT, HTML, RTF, CHM, DOC, MOBI and ZIP files. It’s available for Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, Android and desktop Linux.

Download it from https://koreader.rocks Repository: https://github.com/koreader/koreader

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970912

@ 6868de52:42418e63

自分が僕のことをなんで否定するのかよくわかんない 自分のことを高く評価してる。周囲の理解に努力してない けど、いつも気にしてる 自分の限界に気づくのが怖い？ 周りに理解されないことに価値を見出し、意図的に理解されないようにしてるんじゃないのか 周りに影響され、自分は変わっていくんです 変わらないもの。変わっちゃいけないもの。 変わっちゃいけないものは、学問への尊敬。これが生きる目的だってこと。 変わらないものは、美少女への嗜好、世界の全てへの優しさ、屁理屈の論理が好きなこと。 で、理解されたいのか。されるべきなのか。 されるべきとは？あーそうだよ、されたいしされるべきなんだ！ そっか、じゃあ理解したいのか。するべきなのか。 するべきだよ。ネットワーク的にも、心理的にも。 したくは、ないかな。その決定権は常に僕の手元にほしい。 関われる限界を知ることになるから。 自分のことは知らなくてもいい。制御できればいい。愛してるし。 でもこうやって心情を整理してるんだけどね。まー限界はありますよ。

@ 5ffa0470:9c3e760a

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Well, today posts looks are dedicated to STAR WARS. Enjoy!

Today we’re looking at Beat Saber (2019) and why its most essential design element can be used to make great VR games that have nothing to do with music or rhythm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoOeO7S9ehw

It’s hard to believe Beat Saber was first released in Early Access seven years ago today. From day one, it was clear the game was something special, but even so we couldn’t have predicted it would become one of VR’s best-selling games of all time—a title it still holds all these years later. In celebration of the game’s lasting legacy we’re re-publishing our episode of Inside XR Design which explores the secret to Beat Saber’s fun, and how it can be applied to VR games which have nothing to do with music.

Read more at https://www.roadtovr.com/beat-saber-instructed-motion-until-you-fall-inside-xr-design/

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970909

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

In recent years, Bitcoin has often been compared to gold, earning the nickname “digital gold.” This comparison arises because both forms of value share key characteristics, such as scarcity, durability, and global acceptance. However, Bitcoin also represents a technological innovation that redefines the concept of money and investment, standing out as a modern and efficient alternative to physical gold.

One of the main reasons Bitcoin is compared to gold is its programmed scarcity. While gold is a naturally limited resource whose supply depends on mining, Bitcoin has a maximum cap of 21 million units, defined in its code. This cap protects Bitcoin from inflation, unlike traditional currencies that can be created without limit by central banks.

This scarcity gives Bitcoin lasting value, similar to gold, as the limited supply helps preserve purchasing power over time. As demand for Bitcoin grows, its reduced availability reinforces its role as a store of value.

Another feature that brings Bitcoin closer to gold is durability. While gold is resistant to corrosion and can be stored for centuries, Bitcoin is a digital asset protected by advanced cryptography and stored on the blockchain. An immutable and decentralized ledger.

Moreover, Bitcoin is far easier to transport than gold. Moving physical gold involves high costs and security risks, making transport particularly difficult for international transactions. Bitcoin, on the other hand, can be sent digitally anywhere in the world in minutes, with low fees and no intermediaries. This technological advantage makes Bitcoin more effective in a globalized and digital world.

Security is another trait that Bitcoin and gold share. Gold is difficult to counterfeit, making it a reliable store of value. Similarly, Bitcoin uses cryptographic protocols that ensure secure transactions and protect against fraud.

In addition, all Bitcoin transactions are recorded on the blockchain, offering a level of transparency that physical gold does not provide. Anyone can review transactions on the network, increasing trust and traceability.

Historically, gold has been used as a hedge against inflation and economic crises. During times of instability, investors turn to gold as a way to preserve their wealth. Bitcoin is emerging as a digital alternative with the same purpose.

In countries with high inflation or political instability, Bitcoin has been used as a safeguard against the devaluation of local currencies. Its decentralized nature prevents governments from directly confiscating or controlling the asset, providing greater financial freedom to users.

Despite its similarities with gold, Bitcoin still faces challenges. Its volatility is much higher, which can cause short-term uncertainty. However, many experts argue that this volatility is typical of new assets and tends to decrease over time as adoption grows and the market matures.

Another challenge is regulation. While gold is globally recognized as a financial asset, Bitcoin still faces resistance from governments and financial institutions, which seek ways to control and regulate it.

In summary, Bitcoin - often called "digital gold" - offers a new form of value that combines the best characteristics of gold with the efficiency and innovation of digital technology. Its programmed scarcity, cryptographic security, portability, and resistance to censorship make it a viable alternative for preserving wealth and conducting transactions in the modern world.

Despite its volatility, Bitcoin is establishing itself as both a store of value and a hedge against economic crises. As such, it represents not just an evolution of the financial system but also a symbol of the shift toward a decentralized and global digital economy.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Found this really fun, so created a few intros for latest SN newsletters https://stacker.news/items/960787/r/Design_r?commentId=970902 and https://stacker.news/items/970459/r/Design_r?commentId=970905

Create your STAR-WARS-like movie intro https://starwarsintrocreator.kassellabs.io/

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970906

@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec

Let's support Bitcoin merchants! I'd love to hear some of your latest Lightning purchases and interesting products you bought. Feel free to include links to the shops or businesses you bought from.

Who else has a recent purchase they’re excited about? Bonus sats if you found a killer deal! ⚡

If you missed our last thread, here are some of the items stackers recently spent and zap on.

Share and repost: N: https://nostrudel.ninja/#/n/nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqnlpfme... X: https://x.com/AGORA_SN/status/1918907693516914793

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970896

@ b6524158:8e898a89

Steps: 1. Run a node one mynode 2. Upgrade to premium 3. Select your Bitcoin version (to Bitcoin Knots)

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970504

@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a

I remember the first gathering of Nostr devs two years ago in Costa Rica. We were all psyched because Nostr appeared to solve the problem of self-sovereign online identity and decentralized publishing. The protocol seemed well-suited for textual content, but it wasn't really designed to handle binary files, like images or video.

The Problem

When I publish a note that contains an image link, the note itself is resilient thanks to Nostr, but if the hosting service disappears or takes my image down, my note will be broken forever. We need a way to publish binary data without relying on a single hosting provider.

We were discussing how there really was no reliable solution to this problem even outside of Nostr. Peer-to-peer attempts like IPFS simply didn't work; they were hopelessly slow and unreliable in practice. Torrents worked for popular files like movies, but couldn't be relied on for general file hosting.

Awesome Blossom

A year later, I attended the Sovereign Engineering demo day in Madeira, organized by Pablo and Gigi. Many projects were presented over a three hour demo session that day, but one really stood out for me.

Introduced by hzrd149 and Stu Bowman, Blossom blew my mind because it showed how we can solve complex problems easily by simply relying on the fact that Nostr exists. Having an open user directory, with the corresponding social graph and web of trust is an incredible building block.

Since we can easily look up any user on Nostr and read their profile metadata, we can just get them to simply tell us where their files are stored. This, combined with hash-based addressing (borrowed from IPFS), is all we need to solve our problem.

How Blossom Works

The Blossom protocol (Blobs Stored Simply on Mediaservers) is formally defined in a series of BUDs (Blossom Upgrade Documents). Yes, Blossom is the most well-branded protocol in the history of protocols. Feel free to refer to the spec for details, but I will provide a high level explanation here.

The main idea behind Blossom can be summarized in three points:

1. Users specify which media server(s) they use via their public Blossom settings published on Nostr;
2. All files are uniquely addressable via hashes;
3. If an app fails to load a file from the original URL, it simply goes to get it from the server(s) specified in the user's Blossom settings.

Just like Nostr itself, the Blossom protocol is dead-simple and it works!

Let's use this image as an example:

If you look at the URL for this image, you will notice that it looks like this:

blossom.primal.net/c1aa63f983a44185d039092912bfb7f33adcf63ed3cae371ebe6905da5f688d0.jpg

All Blossom URLs follow this format:

[server]/[file-hash].[extension]

The file hash is important because it uniquely identifies the file in question. Apps can use it to verify that the file they received is exactly the file they requested. It also gives us the ability to reliably get the same file from a different server.

Nostr users declare which media server(s) they use by publishing their Blossom settings. If I store my files on Server A, and they get removed, I can simply upload them to Server B, update my public Blossom settings, and all Blossom-capable apps will be able to find them at the new location. All my existing notes will continue to display media content without any issues.

Blossom Mirroring

Let's face it, re-uploading files to another server after they got removed from the original server is not the best user experience. Most people wouldn't have the backups of all the files, and/or the desire to do this work.

This is where Blossom's mirroring feature comes handy. In addition to the primary media server, a Blossom user can set one one or more mirror servers. Under this setup, every time a file is uploaded to the primary server the Nostr app issues a mirror request to the primary server, directing it to copy the file to all the specified mirrors. This way there is always a copy of all content on multiple servers and in case the primary becomes unavailable, Blossom-capable apps will automatically start loading from the mirror.

Mirrors are really easy to setup (you can do it in two clicks in Primal) and this arrangement ensures robust media handling without any central points of failure. Note that you can use professional media hosting services side by side with self-hosted backup servers that anyone can run at home.

Using Blossom Within Primal

Blossom is natively integrated into the entire Primal stack and enabled by default. If you are using Primal 2.2 or later, you don't need to do anything to enable Blossom, all your media uploads are blossoming already.

To enhance user privacy, all Primal apps use the "/media" endpoint per BUD-05, which strips all metadata from uploaded files before they are saved and optionally mirrored to other Blossom servers, per user settings. You can use any Blossom server as your primary media server in Primal, as well as setup any number of mirrors:

## Conclusion

For such a simple protocol, Blossom gives us three major benefits:

1. Verifiable authenticity. All Nostr notes are always signed by the note author. With Blossom, the signed note includes a unique hash for each referenced media file, making it impossible to falsify a media file and maliciously ascribe it to the note author.
2. File hosting redundancy. Having multiple live copies of referenced media files (via Blossom mirroring) greatly increases the resiliency of media content published on Nostr.
3. Censorship resistance. Blossom enables us to seamlessly switch media hosting providers in case of censorship.

Thanks for reading; and enjoy! 🌸

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

The figure in this article illustrates exactly how most biology papers are secretly p-hacked. A large number of hypotheses is explored, and only the ones that form a coherent story are reported.

This is actually the main reason behind the replication crisis in biology IMO. (source)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-025-02635-7

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970464

@ 8096ed6b:4901018b

🎵 Hype by Tokyo Machine

🔗 https://song.link/us/i/40283866

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

Listen to the new episode here!

Finally some good news. Good new games, worthwhile remakes, and bloggers facing the consequences of their actions. Gaming is healing. Let's talk about it!

Stuff cited:

• Expedition 33 reviews

Obligatory:

• Discuss this episode on OUR NEW FORUM
• Get the RSS and Subscribe (this is a new feed URL, but the old one redirects here too!)
• Get a modern podcast app to use that RSS feed on at newpodcastapps.com
• Or listen to the show on the forum using the embedded Podverse player!
• Send your complaints here

Reminder that this is a Value4Value podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors!

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

Bitcoin has emerged as a new economic tool in developing economies. These nations often face challenges such as high inflation, fragile banking systems, and limited access to financial services. With its unique characteristics—decentralization, censorship resistance, and limited supply—Bitcoin offers an alternative solution to protect wealth, facilitate international transactions, and promote financial inclusion.

Challenges Faced by Emerging Economies

• Inflation and Currency Devaluation

01 - Many developing countries struggle with unstable monetary policies, leading to the devaluation of their national currencies. 02 - Inflation erodes purchasing power, making it difficult for people to preserve wealth or plan long-term finances.

• Limited Access to the Banking System

01 - In many areas—especially rural regions - a significant portion of the population lacks access to banks or basic financial services. 02 - This restricts the ability to store money safely, obtain credit, and carry out secure transactions.

• Expensive Remittances and International Transactions

01 - Many citizens of developing economies rely on remittances from family members working abroad. 02 - Fees charged by financial intermediaries can be high, reducing the value received by families.

How Bitcoin Benefits Emerging Economies

• Protection Against Inflation

With its supply capped at 21 million units, Bitcoin acts as a deflationary asset, helping individuals shield their wealth from local currency devaluation. In countries like Venezuela and Argentina, where inflation is rampant, Bitcoin is used as a store of value.

• Financial Inclusion

Bitcoin removes the need for financial intermediaries, enabling anyone with internet access to participate in the global economy. Unbanked individuals can use digital wallets to store and transfer value, promoting widespread financial inclusion.

• Simplified International Transactions

Bitcoin enables fast, low-cost value transfers across borders, without relying on banks or remittance companies. This helps workers send money home, ensuring more of their earnings reach their families.

• Censorship Resistance and Government Control

In developing economies with authoritarian regimes or political instability, Bitcoin allows citizens to maintain control over their money without fear of confiscation or unfair restrictions. Its decentralized network prevents any single authority from controlling or manipulating the system.

Real Use Cases in Emerging Economies

• El Salvador

In 2021, El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. The goal was to reduce remittance costs and increase financial inclusion. The initiative also attracted Bitcoin-related investment and tourism, though it has faced criticism and implementation challenges.

• Nigeria

Bitcoin use in Nigeria surged due to inflation and government restrictions on financial transactions. Young entrepreneurs and freelancers use Bitcoin to receive international payments and bypass local banking limitations.

• Venezuela

Amid economic crisis and hyperinflation, Bitcoin became a key tool for protecting wealth and conducting transactions. Many Venezuelan families rely on Bitcoin to purchase essential goods and send or receive money from abroad.

Challenges of Using Bitcoin in Emerging Markets

• Volatility

Bitcoin's high price volatility can make it risky for people relying on it as a store of value. This instability may discourage its use for daily transactions.

• Limited Infrastructure

Bitcoin usage requires internet access and digital devices, which may be lacking in areas with underdeveloped infrastructure.

• Education and Adaptation

Adopting Bitcoin requires a certain level of technical knowledge, and the lack of financial literacy can hinder large-scale adoption. Many people still prefer traditional currencies due to unfamiliarity or distrust of Bitcoin.

The Future of Bitcoin in Emerging Economies

• Infrastructure Development

Projects promoting internet access and digital tools can significantly boost Bitcoin adoption in these regions.

• Stability and Trust

As the market matures, Bitcoin's volatility may decrease, making it more practical as a medium of exchange and store of value.

• Education and Empowerment

Financial education initiatives can help people understand and harness the benefits of Bitcoin, easing its integration into daily life.

In summary, Bitcoin has a transformative role in emerging economies, offering a strong alternative to traditional financial systems. Its ability to hedge against inflation, promote financial inclusion, and facilitate international transactions makes it a crucial tool for millions of people.

While challenges like volatility and infrastructure gaps remain, Bitcoin’s potential to empower individuals in developing nations is clear. As a decentralized digital asset, it represents not only a technological innovation but also a hope for a fairer and more accessible economic future.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ d0aa74cd:603d35cd

CLI #Haskell

https://photonsphere.org/post/2025-05-03-command-line-energy-prices-haskell/

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Comments: 3395 (Top Territory!!!) Posts: 306 (3rd) Stacking: 198k (2nd)

We're really bouncing back from the post-Super Bowl lull, with lots of contests and discussion threads. I think we've really found our niche with those two things.

The rest of Stacker News is experiencing declining activity, so our steady growth since February really tells me that we're on the right track.

Thanks for being part of our growing sports community!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970289

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

Text

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOqWgxCo7Kw

The Catch Up Day 1: Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro provides opening day dominance from upper echelon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1uM0FnyPvA

Next Round, elimination:

Results of the 1st day, opening round: https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/ct/325/bonsoy-gold-coast-pro/results

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970160

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

There is a well-known legend about pelicans that has been told for centuries: it was believed that pelican parents would wound their own chests with their beaks to feed their young with their blood. In reality, pelicans actually catch fish in their large beaks and then press their beaks to their chicks’ mouths to feed them. The myth likely arose because young pelicans sometimes peck their mother's chest while competing for food, but the mother does not harm herself intentionally.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970123

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970118

@ 6389be64:ef439d32

In Jewish folklore, the golem—shaped from clay—is brought to life through sacred knowledge. Clay’s negative charge allows it to bind nutrients and water, echoing its mythic function as a vessel of potential.

Biochar in Amazonian terra preta shares this trait: it holds life-sustaining ions and harbors living intention. Both materials, inert alone, become generative through human action. The golem and black earths exist in parallel—one cultural, one ecological—shaping the lifeless into something that serves, protects, and endures.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/970089

@ d9a329af:bef580d7

To be clear, this is 100% my subjective opinion on the alternatives to popular music, as it has become practically a formula of witchcraft, pseudoscience and mysticism. There is nothing you can do to get me to listen to Western pop music from the late 2010's to now. I could certainly listen to almost anything... just not modern pop, which is now completely backwards.

Most examples of compositions for these genres will be my own, unless otherwise stated. The genres on this list are in no particular order, though my favorite of which will be first: 1. Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova is a subgenre of jazz from Brazil, created in the 1950's as a mix of standard jazz and samba rhythms in a more gentle and relaxing manner. This genre's most famous songs are Tom Jobim's The Girl from Ipanema (found in albums like Getz/Gilberto), Wave, and even Triste. Most of the music is written in 2/4 time signature, and any key is almost acceptable. It's called Afro-Brazilian Jazz for a reason after all. I have a ton of compositions I produced, from Forget and Regret, to Rabbit Theory, Beaches of Gensokyo Past, Waveside, and even Willows of Ice to name a few of them.

1. Metal

This is an umbrella term for many subgenres of this fork of hard rock, with more distorted guitars, speedy and technical writing, vocals that sound demonic (some subgenres don't have that), or sometimes, chaotic lyrics and downright nasty ones if you look deep enough. If you want to get into it, just make sure it's not Black Metal (it's weird), Blackened Metal (Any subgenre of metal that's been inserted with elements of Black Metal), Metalcore, or any other genre that has vocals that aren't the best to hear (these are vocal fries that are really good if you're into the weird demonic sounds). This isn't for the faint of heart. Instrumental metal is good though, and an example is my composition from Touhou Igousaken called A Sly Foxy Liar if you want to know what techincal groove metal is like at a glance.

1. Touhou-style

I can attest to this one, as I produced bossa nova with a Touhou-like writing style. Touhou Project is a series of action video games created by one guy (Jun'ya Outa, a.k.a. ZUN), and are usually bullet curtain games in the main franchise, with some official spinoffs that are also action games (fighting games like Touhou 12.3 ~ Hisoutensoku). What I'm referring to here is music written by ZUN himself (He does almost everything for Touhou Project, and he's really good at it), or fans that write to his style with their own flair. I did this once with my composition, Toiled Bubble, which is from my self-titled EP. I probably wouldn't do much with it to be fair, and stick to bossa nova (my main genre if you couldn't tell).

1. Hip-Hop/Rap

This can get subjective here, but old-school rap and hip-hop... give me more of it. Before it became corrupted with all kinds of immoral things, hip-hop and rap were actually very good for their time. These were new, innovative and creative with how lyrics were written. Nowadays, while we're talking about cars, unspeakable acts, money, and just being dirtbags, artists in this genre back then were much classier than that. I fit in the latter category with my piece entitled, Don't Think, Just Roast, where I called out antis for a Vtuber agency who wanted to give its talent a hard time. It didn't get much traction on YouTube, because I'm not a well-known artist (I'm considered a nobody in the grand scheme of things. I'd like to get it fixed, but I don't want a record deal... I'd have to become a Pharisee or a Jesuit for that).

1. Synthwave

This is a genre of electronic music focused on 80's and 90's synths being used to carry a composition. Nowadays, we have plugins like Vital, Serum, Surge and others to create sounds we would otherwise be hearing on an 80's or 90's keyboard. An example of this is my composition, Wrenched Torque, which was composed for a promotion I did with RAES when he released his Vital synth pack.

More are to come in future installments of this series, and I will adjust the title of this one accordingly if y'all have any ideas of genres I should look into.

@ d9a329af:bef580d7

Everyone who sees it knows at this point that the matrix of control comes from the overdependence of proprietary software to do our everyday tasks. You can think of this like us being the cling wrap that will just not let go of these pieces of garbage software that don't allow you to see what is in their source code, and how they work. This will tend to lead to the unlawful collection of data (violating the most basic of privacy laws, despite unenforceable contracts that are enforced regardless), bad OPSEC that sees you being stalked and harassed over nothing significant. In the worst of cases, if you speak your mind where you aren't necessarily supposed to be able to do that, and you get doxxed, the worst cases could be far worse than one could imagine.

The solution to this, on the other hand, is using almost exclusively free/libre open-source software and GNU/Linux operation systems. If you're using certain proprietary software, hardening it to give as little data as possible to the entity responsible for it will also work, as long as you know which ones to use. This is a hard pass for a lot of people, but if you want to escape the control matrix of proprietary software, Winblows, HackOS, iHackOS, iBloatOS and stock Google AI Fever Dream, then researching which Free Software (notice the spelling) to use is your first bet. I had already done this for the past four and a half years, and will continue to do it as long as I live, seeing what new Free Software compliant applications and libraries come into the spotlight once things get locked down into walled gardens like what HackOS, iHackOS and BlindnessOS do on a regular basis.

Each of these pieces of software will be in a categorized list with a brief description of what the software is used for. There is a lot to take in, so research this yourself and see if these are right for you. These are the applications I personally use on a regular day-to-day basis, and they work for my needs.

1. Operating Systems (the core to your device)
2. GNU/Linux operating systems (for PCs) or GrapheneOS (for de-googled Android phones)

To be fair on this one, GNU/Linux is the combination of the Linux kernel with the GNU toolchain, which in turn allows any developer to make an operating system that is FOSS, not necessarily Free Software, especially with the Linux Kernel's proprietary bits of code. The Linux kernel is also used in the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP), and is used as the base of operating systems for Android phones such as GrapheneOS, the only AOSP custom ROM I would recommend based upon the research I had done on this (even if very little).

My recommendations on the Linux side of things are almost any Arch-based distribution (with the exception of Manjaro), Debian-based distributions like Linux Mint Debian edition, regular Debian, AntiX or Devuan, or a Fedora/RedHat-based distribution like Nobara Project (if you're a gamer), OpenSUSE (if set up properly) or even Bluefin if you want an atomic desktop (I wouldn't recommend Bluefin if you want to monkey with your operating system and DIY on many aspects of it). Once you learn how to set these up securely, privately and properly, you're on your way to starting your journey into digital liberation, but there's far more to go on this front.

1. Web Browsers (How you surf the internet)
2. Firefox Forks

This one is self-explanatory. I harden all the Firefox forks I use (LibreWolf, Waterfox, Cachy Browser, Floorp and Zen as some examples) to the nines, despite being unable to do anything about my fingerprint. This is why I use multiple browsers for specific purposes to counteract the fingerprint spying due to weaponized JavaScript. There are ways to circumvent the fingerprint-based espionage, and make sure the site fingerprint.com doesn't know that one's lying about what their user agent is, though it's not very easy to fool that site, as it's used by 6,000 companies.

• Brave Browser

This is the only Chromium-based browser I would recommend, as it's better when hardened against all the other Chromium-based browsers, including Ungoogled Chromium, which is almost impossible to harden due to security vulnerabilities. Despite that, Brave has some of the best features for a Chromium-based browser one can feel comfortable using, even though you'll have similar issues with Firefox-based browsers that aren't actually Firefox (and Firefox has its own issues regarding espionage from Mozilla)

1. Office Suites (If you need to do professional office documents)
2. LibreOffice

A fork of Apache's OpenOffice, made better with many features missing from even OnlyOffice and OpenOffice, this suite of applications is the go-to Free Software office suite for many people looking to switch from the proprietary software nether to the diamonds of free/libre open-source software. Though one may need to perform some extra steps to set up compatibility with G-Suite and Microsoft Office past 2015 potentially, it's still a good thing that people trust LibreOffice as their one-stop shop for office documents, despite being completely different from your standard office suite fare.

• OnlyOffice

The competitor to LibreOffice with the ease of Microsoft Office and G-Suite compatibility, OnlyOffice is another office suite that can be good for those who need it, especially since anybody who had used Microsoft Office in particular will be familiar with its layout, if not for a slight learning curve. As someone who's used G-Suite more (due to schooling that stunk worse than a decomposing rat in New York City), that's part of the reason why I switched to LibreOffice, though I tried some others, including OnlyOffice and Abiword (since I use a word processor a lot). This one is another solid option for those who need it.

• Wordgrinder

For those who like to use a terminal emulator like I do, Wordgrinder is a word processor with a terminal user interface (TUI) designed with just focusing on typing without distractions in mind. .wg is the file extension for documents made using Wordgrinder, especially since nowadays most word processors are cloud based. For those who live in a terminal, this is a good option to your terminal UI-based toolbox

1. Text editors
2. Vi, Vim, Neovim and other Vim-like editors

The classic VI Improved (Vim), a fork of the TUI modal editor, vi, with keybinds that will be confusing at first, but with practice and patience, bring about muscle memory to stay on the keyboard, and not necessarily touch the mouse, keypad on the right hand side, or even the arrow keys. These keybind skills will stay with one for the rest of their life once they learn how the modes in vi, Vim or vi-based editors work. It's a classic for those working in the terminal, and a staple in FLOSS text editing and coding tools once customized potentially to the nines to your particular style.

• VSCodium

The Free Software fork of Code OSS by Microsoft, but made to be similar in function to VSCode without Microsoft's espionage baked into it. It has almost exactly the same features as VSCode that one would need, and even any VSIX files from VSCode will work in VSCodium. This one is an easy switch from VSCode for those who use it, but don't want the forced telemetry.

• Emacs

The competitor to Vim, Emacs is an editor that is FLOSS in every way imaginable. It is one of the most customizable editors anybody could have ever conceived, though the programming language used in Emacs is a dialect of Lisp the developers had made themselves. There are more keybinds to memorize compared to Vim, though Vim keybinds can be added using the Evil Mode package in any Emacs package manager to get the best of both worlds in Emacs. Once one gets a handle of the steep learning curve for Emacs, it's customizable in every imaginable way almost.

These four categories will get you started on your privacy journey, though I covered things a developer might want. I have plans on more lists to compile once I get my ducks in a row on what I want to cover here on Nostr in a longform format. Feel free to let me know if you have recommendations for me to write about, and I can do some digging on that if it isn't a rabbit hole.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

My month long endeavor to be less of a lazibones has concluded.

For the whole month, I fairly consistently did whatever little chores needed to be done, as soon as I noticed they needed to be done. That was mostly laundry, making the bed, and (un)loading the dishwasher, plus lots of random cleaning up after the dog and kid.

Even with focusing less on getting steps, my steps were up about 15% from the previous month (which had nicer weather, btw). These were less empty steps, too. I was actually being productive.

I'm not sure any of the JBP-esque room cleaning type benefits materialized, but it was good for me, so I'll try to carry some new habits forward.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969995

@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

Its been six long months of refactoring code and building out to the applesauce packages but the app is stable enough for another release.

This update is pretty much a full rewrite of the non-visible parts of the app. all the background services were either moved out to the applesauce packages or rewritten, the result is that noStrudel is a little faster and much more consistent with connections and publishing.

New layout

The app has a new layout now, it takes advantage of the full desktop screen and looks a little better than it did before.

Removed NIP-72 communities

The NIP-72 communities are no longer part of the app, if you want to continue using them there are still a few apps that support them ( like satellite.earth ) but noStrudel won't support them going forward.

The communities where interesting but ultimately proved too have some fundamental flaws, most notably that all posts had to be approved by a moderator. There were some good ideas on how to improve it but they would have only been patches and wouldn't have fixed the underlying issues.

I wont promise to build it into noStrudel, but NIP-29 (relay based groups) look a lot more promising and already have better moderation abilities then NIP-72 communities could ever have.

Settings view

There is now a dedicated settings view, so no more hunting around for where the relays are set or trying to find how to add another account. its all in one place now

Cleaned up lists

The list views are a little cleaner now, and they have a simple edit modal

New emoji picker

Just another small improvement that makes the app feel more complete.

Experimental Wallet

There is a new "wallet" view in the app that lets you manage your NIP-60 cashu wallet. its very experimental and probably won't work for you, but its there and I hope to finish it up so the app can support NIP-61 nutzaps.

WARNING: Don't feed the wallet your hard earned sats, it will eat them!

Smaller improvements

• Added NSFW flag for replies
• Updated NIP-48 bunker login to work with new spec
• Linkfy BIPs
• Added 404 page
• Add NIP-22 comments under badges, files, and articles
• Add max height to timeline notes
• Fix articles view freezing on load
• Add option to mirror blobs when sharing notes
• Remove "open in drawer" for notes

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

The top three ~econ posts, by zaprank, in April were

Pleb Economist #6: Analysis of Trump's Reciprocal Tariff Calculations by @SimpleStacker

Remember those goofy tariff and non-tariff barrier numbers? SimpleStacker walks us through the assumptions and formulas that they were derived from. There's a good discussion around how much sense those assumptions make and where they came from.

Twenty One Capital: You Can Just Do Things (Bloomberg, Matt Levine) by @denlillaapan

A commentary on a commentary on the 21 Capital bitcoin strategy. Why are investors willing to pay several multiples of bitcoin's current purchase price to get exposure to it in this form? Let @denlillaapan know in the comments.

The WSJ (kinda) covers the Mar-a-Lago Accords plus Miran's Incredible Speech by @028559d218

Analysis of Steve Miran's speech about "Global Public Goods". Will the rest of the world tell America to "go F itself", as the author repeatedly suggests? Eventually, no doubt they/we will.

---

Thanks to our great authors and generous zappers!

The top post will be entered into the quarterly top post contest, which we'll hold in July.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969806

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

I still get some errors on those relays as related in https://stacker.news/items/797226 :

wss://relay.snort.social/, wss://relay.damus.io/, wss://nostr.mutinywallet.com/, wss://relay.mutinywallet.com/

Is it "normal" ?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969662

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

Snapper Rocks surf heralds the start of the Superbank, offering some of the most iconic right barrels in the whole of Australia. If it was good enough for Mick Fanning…

An introduction to Snapper Rocks surf When people talk about Snapper Rocks surf, what they’re really talking about is the first spot in a long line of truly legendary spots that together form the Kirra Superbank. They’ve all garnered endless international attention in the last two decades, since the removal of sand from the Tweed River estuary started building up the engine room for what can only be described as a barrel machine.

Prior to 2001, Snappers was a bit fickle, a touch mushy, but nonetheless a decent left-right break for intermediates. Today, it’s a crowded take-off zone for riders chasing the long peelers that can shift them from the head all the way to Kirra Beach in one interconnected medley of hollow and heavy sections. It’s the land that crafted names like Mick Fanning and it’s understandably awesome stuff.

Location:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/28%C2%B009'41.4%22S+153%C2%B032'58.8%22E/@-28.161507,153.549664,14z/data=!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d-28.161507!4d153.549664?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

To watch it live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMnfbXRqe58

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969653

@ f72e682e:c51af867

lightning #fees #lnd #node

I'm really tired of bad node operator that do not take advantage of everything we have and expect for the LN network to work properly. If you have a node, please do this.

I recommend having an automatic fee automator like charge-lnd so channels don't become stagnant:

https://github.com/accumulator/charge-lnd

And put some negative inbound fees for channels with no liquidity:

https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/lnd/inbound-channel-fees

You'll notice you will route A LOT MORE.

Any question I will respond below.

A good starting configuration:

========

``` [encourage-routing]

'autobalance' (lower fees so using outbound is more attractive)

chan.min_ratio = 0.98 inbound_base_fee_msat = 0 inbound_fee_ppm = 0 strategy = static base_fee_msat = 0 fee_ppm = 0

[discourage-routing]

'autobalance' (higher fees so using outbound is less attractive)

chan.max_ratio = 0.2 chan.min_ratio = 0.05 inbound_base_fee_msat = -64 inbound_fee_ppm = -16 strategy = static base_fee_msat = 1_000 fee_ppm = 700

[all-liquidity-is-theirs] chan.max_ratio = 0.00 inbound_base_fee_msat = -128 inbound_fee_ppm = -128 strategy = static base_fee_msat = 100_000 fee_ppm = 5000

[discourage-routing-extreme] chan.max_ratio = 0.05 inbound_base_fee_msat = -128 inbound_fee_ppm = -32 strategy = static base_fee_msat = 10_000 fee_ppm = 2500

[proportional]

'proportional' can also be used to auto balance (lower fee rate when low remote balance & higher rate when higher remote balance)

fee_ppm decreases linearly with the channel balance ratio (min_fee_ppm when ratio is 1, max_fee_ppm when ratio is 0)

chan.min_ratio = 0.2 chan.max_ratio = 0.98 strategy = proportional min_fee_ppm = 8 max_fee_ppm = 160 inbound_base_fee_msat = 0 inbound_fee_ppm = 0 base_fee_msat = 128 min_fee_ppm_delta=16 ```

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969651

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

The first round is not quite over, with Warriors vs Rockets and Nuggets vs Clippers, still going in the West, But we do know most of who will be playing in the second round, so it's not too early to start thinking about our picks.

This contest is open entry throughout. Just submit a pick for who will win their series and who will be the leading scorer of the entire playoff round. You can select a team or player, up until tipoff of their series.

Matchups (seed)

• Pacers (4) @ Cavs (1)
• Knicks (3) @ Celtics (2)
• Nuggets (4) or Clippers (5) @ Thunder (1)
• T-Wolves (6) @ Rockets (2) or Warriors (7) @ T-Wolves (6)

Scoring

2 Points + seed for picking a winner + 2 points for picking the leading scorer (total points) of the round

Standings

These will change if the Clippers or Warriors advance. Also, if Jokic scores 37 or more, he will catch Brunson (who no one selected) and net a few stackers another point. | Stacker | Points | |---------|--------| | @grayruby | 24| | @Coinsreporter | 19 | | @Carresan | 18 | | @gnilma | 18 | | @Undisciplined | 17 | | @WeAreAllSatoshi | 12 | | @fishious | 11 | | @BlokchainB | 11 | | @Car | 1 |

Prize

10k sats (or total zaps on these posts, whichever is larger)

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969492

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

After exclusively talking about NFL draft and NBA playoffs last week, we have a lot of ground to make up.

The race for second place in the T20k cricket contest is heating up, but @Coinsreporter has a very commanding hold on 1st. I similarly have a stranglehold on last place in the CricZap contest and, not to brag, I just broke @grayruby's impressive mark for worst single month performance.

We're down to the final two survivors in the UEFA Survivor Pool. C'mon @TNStacker, we're all pulling for you.

The US continues to dominate the rest of the world... in our US vs the world contest.

Our MLB fantasy league (courtesy of @NEEDcreations) is a lot of fun, with tons of daily roster moves and movement in the standings. We should also finally have time for @grayruby to rant about how the American League is the suckiest bunch of sucks who ever sucked (where's that from?).

We do have more playoff basketball to cover. The games this week have been spectacular and we have second round series to start talking about. Shoutout to @WeAreAllSatoshi for hosting discussion threads. I'll get some posts up later summarizing how the bracket challenge is going and taking second round picks in the playoff points challenge.

NHL playoffs are also underway and we've barely talked about them, yet. What are the interesting storylines of round 1? How's the bracket challenge going?

And, of course, we'll talk about our favorite Predyx sports markets.

What else do stackers want to talk about?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969413

@ 4961e68d:a2212e1c

热死人了

@ 4961e68d:a2212e1c

热死人了！

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1

Good morning, readers!

This week, we bring pressing news from Belarus, where the regime’s central bank is preparing to launch its central bank digital currency in close collaboration with Russia by the end of 2026. Since rigging the 2020 election, President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled through brute force and used financial repression to crush civil society and political opposition. A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the hands of such an authoritarian leader is a recipe for greater control over all aspects of financial activity.

Meanwhile, Russia is planning to further restrict Bitcoin access for ordinary citizens. This time, the Central Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance announced joint plans to launch a state-regulated cryptocurrency exchange available exclusively to “super-qualified investors.” Access would be limited to those meeting previously defined thresholds of $1.2 million in assets or an annual income above $580,000. This is a blatant attempt by the Kremlin to dampen the accessibility and impact of Bitcoin for those who need it most.

In freedom tech news, we spotlight Samiz. This new tool allows users to create a Bluetooth mesh network over nostr, allowing users' messages and posts to pass through nearby devices on the network even while offline. When a post reaches someone with an Internet connection, it is broadcast across the wider network. While early in development, Mesh networks like Samiz hold the potential to disseminate information posted by activists and human rights defenders even when authoritarian regimes in countries like Pakistan, Venezuela, or Burma try to restrict communications and the Internet.

We end with a reading of our very own Financial Freedom Report #67 on the Bitcoin Audible podcast, where host Guy Swann reads the latest news on plunging currencies, CBDCs, and new Bitcoin freedom tools. We encourage our readers to give it a listen and stay tuned for future readings of HRF’s Financial Freedom Report on Bitcoin Audible. We also include an interview with HRF’s global bitcoin adoption lead, Femi Longe, who shares insights on Bitcoin’s growing role as freedom money for those who need it most.

Now, let’s see what’s in store this week!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

GLOBAL NEWS

Belarus | Launching CBDC in Late 2026

Belarus is preparing to launch its CBDC, the digital ruble, into public circulation by late 2026. Roman Golovchenko, the chairman of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (and former prime minister), made the regime’s intent clear: “For the state, it is very important to be able to trace how digital money moves along the entire chain.” He added that Belarus was “closely cooperating with Russia regarding the development of the CBDC.” The level of surveillance and central control that the digital ruble would embed into Belarus’s financial system would pose existential threats to what remains of civil society in the country. Since stealing the 2020 election, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled through sheer force, detaining over 35,000 people, labeling dissidents and journalists as “extremists,” and freezing the bank accounts of those who challenge his authority. In this context, a CBDC would not be a modern financial tool — it would be a means of instant oppression, granting the regime real-time insight into every transaction and the ability to act on it directly.

Russia | Proposes Digital Asset Exchange Exclusively for Wealthy Investors

A month after proposing a framework that would restrict the trading of Bitcoin to only the country’s wealthiest individuals (Russians with over $1.2 million in assets or an annual income above $580,000), Russia’s Ministry of Finance and Central Bank have announced plans to launch a government-regulated cryptocurrency exchange available exclusively to “super-qualified investors.” Under the plan, only citizens meeting the previously stated wealth and income thresholds (which may be subject to change) would be allowed to trade digital assets on the platform. This would further entrench financial privilege for Russian oligarchs while cutting ordinary Russians off from alternative financial tools and the financial freedom they offer. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov claims this will bring digital asset operations “out of the shadows,” but in reality, it suppresses grassroots financial autonomy while exerting state control over who can access freedom money.

Cuba | Ecash Brings Offline Bitcoin Payments to Island Nation in the Dark

As daily blackouts and internet outages continue across Cuba, a new development is helping Cubans achieve financial freedom: Cashu ecash. Cashu is an ecash protocol — a form of digital cash backed by Bitcoin that enables private, everyday payments that can also be done offline — a powerful feature for Cubans experiencing up to 20-hour daily blackouts. However, ecash users must trust mints (servers operated by individuals or groups that issue and redeem ecash tokens) not to disappear with user funds. To leverage this freedom tech to its fullest, the Cuban Bitcoin community launched its own ecash mint, mint.cubabitcoin.org. This minimizes trust requirements for Cubans to transact with ecash and increases its accessibility by running the mint locally. Cuba Bitcoin also released a dedicated ecash resource page, helping expand accessibility to freedom through financial education. For an island nation where the currency has lost more than 90% of its value, citizens remain locked out of their savings, and remittances are often hijacked by the regime, tools like ecash empower Cubans to preserve their financial privacy, exchange value freely, and resist the financial repression that has left so many impoverished.

Zambia | Introduces Cyber Law to Track and Intercept Digital Communications

Zambia’s government passed two new cyber laws granting officials sweeping powers to track and intercept digital communications while increasing surveillance over Zambians' online activity. Officials insist it will help combat cybercrime. Really, it gives the president absolute control over the direction of a new surveillance agency — a powerful tool to crush dissent. This follows earlier plans to restrict the use of foreign currency in the economy to fight inflation, which effectively trapped Zambians in a financial system centered around the volatile “kwacha” currency (which reached a record low earlier this year with inflation above 16%). For activists, journalists, and everyday Zambians, the new laws over online activity threaten the ability to organize and speak freely while potentially hampering access to freedom tech.

India | Central Bank Deputy Governor Praises CBDC Capabilities

At the Bharat Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru, India, the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Rabi Sankar, declared, “I have so far not seen any use case that potentially can solve the problem of cross-border money transfer; only CBDC has the ability to solve it.” Yet — seemingly unbeknownst to Sankar, Bitcoin has served as an effective remittance tool for more than a decade at low cost, fast speed, and with no central point of control. Sankar’s remarks follow a growing push to normalize state-controlled, surveillance-based digital money as a natural progression of currency. The RBI’s digital rupee CBDC, currently in pilot phase, is quickly growing into one of the most advanced CBDCs on the planet. It is being embedded into the government’s UPI payment system and offered through existing financial institutions and platforms. Decentralized alternatives like Bitcoin can achieve financial inclusion and payment efficiency too — but without sacrificing privacy, autonomy, or basic rights over to the state.

Tanzania | Opposition Party Excluded From Election Amid Financial Repression

Last week, the Tanzanian regime banned the use of foreign currency in transactions, leaving Tanzanians to rely solely on the rapidly depreciating Tanzanian shilling. Now, Tanzania's ruling party has taken a decisive step to eliminate political opposition ahead of October’s general elections by barring the CHADEMA party from participation under the pretense of treason against their party leader, Tundu Lissu. Law enforcement arrested Lissu at a public rally where he was calling for electoral reforms. This political repression is not happening in isolation. Last year, the Tanzanian regime blocked access to X, detained hundreds of opposition members, and disappeared dissidents. These developments suggest a broader strategy to silence criticism and electoral competition through arrests, censorship, and economic coercion.

BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS

Samiz | Create a Bluetooth Mesh Network with Nostr

Samiz, an app for creating a Bluetooth mesh network over nostr, is officially available for testing. Mesh networks, where interconnected computers relay data to one another, can provide offline access to nostr if enough users participate. For example, when an individual is offline but has Samiz enabled, their device can connect to other nearby devices through Bluetooth, allowing nostr messages to hop locally from phone to phone until reaching someone with internet access, who can then broadcast the message to the wider nostr network. Mesh networks like this hold powerful implications for activists and communities facing censorship, Internet shutdowns, or surveillance. In places with restricted finances and organization, Samiz, while early in development, can potentially offer a way to distribute information through nostr without relying on infrastructure that authoritarian regimes can shut down.

Spark | New Bitcoin Payments Protocol Now Live

Lightspark, a company building on the Bitcoin Lightning Network, officially released Spark, a new payment protocol built on Bitcoin to make transactions faster, cheaper, and more privacy-protecting. Spark leverages a technology called statechains to enable self-custodial and off-chain Bitcoin transactions for users by transferring the private keys associated with their bitcoin rather than signing and sending a transaction with said keys. Spark also supports stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to fiat currency) and allows users to receive payments while offline. While these are promising developments, in its current state, Spark is not completely trustless; therefore, it is advisable only to hold a small balance of funds on the protocol as this new payment technology gets off the ground. You can learn more about Spark here.

Boltz | Now Supports Nostr Zaps

Boltz, a non-custodial bridge for swapping between different Bitcoin layers, released a new feature called Zap Swaps, enabling users to make Lightning payments as low as 21 satoshis (small units of bitcoin). This feature enables bitcoin microtransactions like nostr zaps, which are use cases that previously required workaround solutions. With the release, users of Boltz-powered Bitcoin wallets like Misty Breez can now leverage their wallets for zaps on nostr. These small, uncensorable bitcoin payments are a powerful tool for supporting activists, journalists, and dissidents — offering a permissionless way to support free speech and financial freedom worldwide. HRF is pleased to see this past HRF grantee add support for the latest freedom tech features.

Coinswap | Adds Support for Coin Selection

Coinswap, an in-development protocol that enables users to privately swap Bitcoin with one another, added support for coin selection, boosting the protocol’s privacy capabilities. Coin selection allows Bitcoin users to choose which of their unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs) to spend, giving them granular control over their transactions and the information they choose to reveal. For activists, journalists, and anyone operating under financial surveillance and repression, this addition (when fully implemented and released) can strengthen Bitcoin’s ability to resist censorship and protect human rights. HRF’s first Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) grant was to Coinswap, and we are glad to see the continued development of the protocol.

bitcoin++ | Upcoming Bitcoin Developer Conference

The next bitcoin++ conference, a global, bitcoin-only developer series organized by Bitcoin educator Lisa Neigut, will occur in Austin, Texas, from May 7 to 9, 2025. A diverse group of privacy advocates, developers, and freedom tech enthusiasts will convene to learn about the mempool (the queue of pending and unconfirmed transactions in a Bitcoin node). Attendees will learn how Bitcoin transactions are sorted into blocks, mempool policies, and how transactions move through time and space to reach the next block. These events offer an incredible opportunity to connect with the technical Bitcoin community, who are ultimately many of the figures building the freedom tools that are helping individuals preserve their rights and freedoms in the face of censorship. Get your tickets here.

OpenSats | Announces 11th Wave of Nostr Grants

OpenSats, a nonprofit organization supporting open-source software and projects, announced its 11th round of grants for nostr, a decentralized protocol that enables uncensorable communications. Two projects stand out for their potential impact on financial freedom and activism: HAMSTR, which enables nostr messaging over ham radio that keeps information and payments flowing in off-grid or censored environments, and Nostr Double Ratchet, which brings end-to-end encrypted private messaging to nostr clients, safeguarding activists from surveillance. These tools help dissidents stay connected, coordinate securely, and transact privately, making them powerful assets for those resisting authoritarian control. Read the full list of grants here.

Bitcoin Design Community | Organizes Designathon for Open-Source UX Designers

The Bitcoin Design Community is hosting its next Designathon between May 4 and 18, 2025, inviting designers of all levels and backgrounds to creatively explore ideas to advance Bitcoin’s user experience and interface. Unlike traditional hackathons, this event centers specifically on design, encouraging open collaboration on projects that improve usability, accessibility, and innovation in open-source Bitcoin tools. Participants can earn monetary prizes, rewards, and recognition for their work. Anyone can join or start a project. Learn more here.

RECOMMENDED CONTENT

Plunging Currencies, CBDCs, and New Bitcoin Freedom Tools with Guy Swann

In this reading on the Bitcoin Audible podcast, host Guy Swan reads HRF’s Financial Freedom Report #67, offering listeners a front-row view into the latest developments in financial repression and resistance. He unpacks how collapsing currencies, rising inflation, and CBDC rollouts tighten state control in Turkey, Russia, and Nigeria. But he also highlights the tools for pushing back, from the first Stratum V2 mining pool to Cashu’s new Tap-to-Pay ecash feature. If you’re a reader of the Financial Freedom Report, we encourage you to check out the Bitcoin Audible podcast, where Guy Swan will be doing monthly readings of our newsletter. Listen to the full recording here.

Bitcoin Beyond Capital: Freedom Money for the Global South with Femi Longe

In this interview at the 2025 MIT Bitcoin Expo, journalist Frank Corva speaks with Femi Longe, HRF’s global bitcoin lead, who shares insights on Bitcoin’s growing role as freedom money for those living under authoritarian regimes. The conversation highlights the importance of building Bitcoin solutions that center on the specific problems faced by communities rather than the technology itself. Longe commends projects like Tando in Kenya and Bit.Spenda in Ghana, which integrate Bitcoin and Lightning into familiar financial channels, making Bitcoin more practical and accessible for everyday payments and saving. You can watch the interview here and catch the livestreams of the full 2025 MIT Bitcoin Expo here.

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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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Simple design

For as long as I remember, I’ve believed in simple design as a principle in my practice. It feels fundamental to me when I think about good design.

At the same time, I see many successful examples of complex products in the world. So I decided to ask, what value is simple design really providing me and my work?

Is it nostalgia?

I sometimes wonder if simple design is rooted in nostalgia. An example I like to use is:

Imagine yourself in the year 1981. You just purchased a brand new desk calculator. You are excited because you should be able to do any type of paperwork calculations you can imagine on it.

As you start to use it for the first time, it immediately prompts you to update its software. After using it for a few calculations, it asks you to fill out a survey about your experience. One day in the middle of adding up your checkbook, it interrupts you to tell you about a new leather-bound desk calendar the company just released. Sometimes in the middle of a complex calculation, the calculator will lag and crash. You have to restart it often to fix the issue.

I have a feeling that a person in 1981 would think this is a terrible calculator. They purchased the device to perform their calculations, nothing more. Why is it requiring so much more of their attention and effort?

Focus

I think simple design often refers to a focused product. A product that does a specific task can sometimes do that task really well. Products that try to do many things can offer a lot of value, but rarely do all the things well.

Some people prefer to use specific tools for specific tasks. Others prefer a wide variety of features.

I think the benefits of using fewer products are often a major reason complex products are successful. They may not be focused, they might be lower quality as a result, but people can use them for a wide variety of applications.

You can open a can of beans with a Swiss Army Knife — it will get the job done.

Art and subjectivity

Maybe simple design is valuable for intangible reasons. There is an art to simplicity. There is a beauty to simplicity.

A user can see more of the product's intentionality. The creator chose to leave certain features out. They decided what to include. The product likely exudes more vision and personality.

That might be unnoticed by some, but very valuable to others who care about craft. People who value the experience as much as the result.

Ease of use

I think a true benefit of simple design is the effect it has on ease of use. The less things there are to do in a product, the more obvious the things you can do become.

A simple product requires less of a user. That means a user can stay focused on their own needs and use the product in ways they define. They will encounter boundaries which limit them. These limitations could drive some away, but some might be engaged to find new and creative ways of working.

When to abandon simple design

I think the sad news is simple design is ultimately a limiting factor of a product's growth. I think there are many examples of this throughout the course of history (i.e. Ello vs Facebook, Rdio vs Spotify, Simplenote vs Notion, VSCO vs Instagram, Clear vs Things, Peach vs Twitter, etc). At the same time, I think 'simple design' does provide an entry point to successfully define what a product is.

The biggest challenge is continuing to evoke the benefits of simple design in an established product, while allowing a product to evolve and grow to meet its users' needs. That is a balancing act that very few products have ever achieved, but feels like an ideal that successful products should strive for.

---

One of Charlie Deets Writings

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969089

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

Regulations play a fundamental role in the evolution of the global financial market, laying the foundation for stability, security, and trust in economic transactions. However, in an increasingly globalized and digital world, regulatory challenges have become more complex—especially with the emergence of disruptive financial innovations such as Bitcoin and decentralized finance (DeFi). The interaction between regulation and the financial market has deep consequences, both positive and negative, shaping the future of the global economy.

The Importance of Regulations in the Financial Market:

01 - Economic Stability: Financial laws and regulations help prevent risky practices such as irresponsible lending and excessive speculation. 02 - Consumer Protection: Regulations ensure that consumers and investors have access to clear and accurate information, preventing fraud and abuse. 03 - Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism: Policies such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) ensure that illicit funds do not enter the financial system.

Regulatory Challenges in a Globalized Market:

01 - Market Interconnectivity: The global financial market is highly interconnected, and crises in one country can quickly spread to others. This demands more efficient international coordination among regulators. 02 - Technological Innovation: The rise of disruptive technologies like blockchain or timechain has challenged traditional regulatory models. Many governments are still trying to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and reducing risk. 03 - Compliance Costs: Financial companies face rising costs to meet increasingly strict regulations, which can impact profitability and create barriers for new entrants.

The Impact of Regulation on the Global Financial Market:

• Positive Impacts

01 - Investor Confidence: Clear rules and effective enforcement increase investor trust, promoting financial market growth. 02 - Economic Resilience: Well-designed regulations make the financial system more resistant to economic shocks. 03 - Attraction of Foreign Capital: Jurisdictions with sound regulatory governance attract investments from countries and companies seeking stability.

• Negative Impacts

01 - Excessive Bureaucracy: Overly complex regulations can hinder innovation and economic growth, especially for small businesses. 02 - Capital Flight: Companies may relocate operations to countries with looser laws, harming the economies of more regulated regions. 03 - Ineffectiveness in Global Contexts: National rules don’t always work well in global markets. Lack of international cooperation can create loopholes for bad actors.

The Role of International Institutions:

01 - Global Standards: Organizations work to create international standards, such as the Basel Accords for minimum capital requirements for banks. 02 - Crisis Resolution: International institutions also act as mediators and providers of financial assistance during global crises, as seen during the 2020–2021 pandemic.

Regulation and Innovation: A Necessary Balance

01 - Encouraging Innovation: Regulators should allow emerging technologies to grow, enabling solutions like blockchain or timechain to develop freely. 02 - Risks of No Regulation: Without proper rules, innovative markets may attract fraudulent behavior, undermining public trust.

In summary, regulations are essential to maintaining the integrity and stability of the global financial market. They protect participants, prevent crises, and foster a trustworthy environment. However, globalization and rapid technological change challenge regulators to constantly adapt.

The balance between security and innovation is vital for the future of finance. Effective rules must be flexible enough to keep up with change and strong enough to protect participants. In this way, the global financial market can continue to evolve, promoting sustainable and fair economic prosperity.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

After being featured in the NY Times and WSJ, New York City officially opens a major addition to Central Park, the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer. Designed by architect Susan T Rodriguez in collaboration with Mitchell Giurgola, the renovation project replaces the old Lasker Rink and pool with a recreational facility that’s built directly into the landscape, restoring nature, reconnecting paths, and creating a year-round space for community activity. At the heart of the new design is a transformative water feature that shifts with the seasons, from a skating rink in winter to a lush green lawn in spring and fall and a pool in the summer.

The center’s new oval-shaped pool sits lower than the old one, surrounded by a gently sloped grassy berm. In winter, the pool becomes an ice-skating rink, making the site a destination in every season. A splash pad at the end of the water feature offers extra water play in the summer. By integrating the design into the natural shape of the land, the architects were able to open up the space around the pool and allow the landscape to flow around it, resulting in a setting that feels like it’s always been there.

Sustainability was a core part of the project. The building is expected to earn LEED Gold certification, thanks to features like passive ventilation, locally sourced stone and wood, energy-efficient systems, and a roof that absorbs rainwater. Bird-safe glass helps protect local wildlife, and recycled materials from the old building were reused during construction. Even more important, the new center supports free and low-cost programming year-round, including education, nature walks, community events, and recreation. It’s designed to welcome all kinds of visitors—from families and school groups to joggers, birdwatchers, and casual parkgoers.

Continue reading: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/giant-pool-new-york-central-park-new-davis-center-susan-t-rodriguez-mitchell-giurgola-04-24-2025/

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969086

@ 2183e947:f497b975

Most darknet markets (DNMs) are designed poorly in the following ways:

1. Hosting

Most DNMs use a model whereby merchants fill out a form to create their listings, and the data they submit then gets hosted on the DNM's servers. In scenarios where a "legal" website would be forced to censor that content (e.g. a DMCA takedown order), DNMs, of course, do not obey. This can lead to authorities trying to find the DNM's servers to take enforcement actions against them. This design creates a single point of failure.

A better design is to outsource hosting to third parties. Let merchants host their listings on nostr relays, not on the DNM's server. The DNM should only be designed as an open source interface for exploring listings hosted elsewhere, that way takedown orders end up with the people who actually host the listings, i.e. with nostr relays, and not with the DNM itself. And if a nostr relay DOES go down due to enforcement action, it does not significantly affect the DNM -- they'll just stop querying for listings from that relay in their next software update, because that relay doesn't work anymore, and only query for listings from relays that still work.

2. Moderation

Most DNMs have employees who curate the listings on the DNM. For example, they approve/deny listings depending on whether they fit the content policies of the website. Some DNMs are only for drugs, others are only for firearms. The problem is, to approve a criminal listing is, in the eyes of law enforcement, an act of conspiracy. Consequently, they don't just go after the merchant who made the listing but the moderators who approved it, and since the moderators typically act under the direction of the DNM, this means the police go after the DNM itself.

A better design is to outsource moderation to third parties. Let anyone call themselves a moderator and create lists of approved goods and services. Merchants can pay the most popular third party moderators to add their products to their lists. The DNM itself just lets its users pick which moderators to use, such that the user's choice -- and not a choice by the DNM -- determines what goods and services the user sees in the interface.

That way, the police go after the moderators and merchants rather than the DNM itself, which is basically just a web browser: it doesn't host anything or approve of any content, it just shows what its users tell it to show. And if a popular moderator gets arrested, his list will still work for a while, but will gradually get more and more outdated, leading someone else to eventually become the new most popular moderator, and a natural transition can occur.

3. Escrow

Most DNMs offer an escrow solution whereby users do not pay merchants directly. Rather, during the Checkout process, they put their money in escrow, and request the DNM to release it to the merchant when the product arrives, otherwise they initiate a dispute. Most DNMs consider escrow necessary because DNM users and merchants do not trust one another; users don't want to pay for a product first and then discover that the merchant never ships it, and merchants don't want to ship a product first and then discover that the user never pays for it.

The problem is, running an escrow solution for criminals is almost certain to get you accused of conspiracy, money laundering, and unlicensed money transmission, so the police are likely to shut down any DNM that does this. A better design is to oursource escrow to third parties. Let anyone call themselves an escrow, and let moderators approve escrows just like they approve listings. A merchant or user who doesn't trust the escrows chosen by a given moderator can just pick a different moderator. That way, the police go after the third party escrows rather than the DNM itself, which never touches user funds.

4. Consequences

Designing a DNM along these principles has an interesting consequence: the DNM is no longer anything but an interface, a glorified web browser. It doesn't host any content, approve any listings, or touch any money. It doesn't even really need a server -- it can just be an HTML file that users open up on their computer or smart phone. For two reasons, such a program is hard to take down:

First, it is hard for the police to justify going after the DNM, since there are no charges to bring. Its maintainers aren't doing anything illegal, no more than Firefox does anything illegal by maintaining a web browser that some people use to browse illegal content. What the user displays in the app is up to them, not to the code maintainers. Second, if the police decided to go after the DNM anyway, they still couldn't take it down because it's just an HTML file -- the maintainers do not even need to run a server to host the file, because users can share it with one another, eliminating all single points of failure.

Another consequence of this design is this: most of the listings will probably be legal, because there is more demand for legal goods and services than illegal ones. Users who want to find illegal goods would pick moderators who only approve those listings, but everyone else would use "legal" moderators, and the app would not, at first glance, look much like a DNM, just a marketplace for legal goods and services. To find the illegal stuff that lurks among the abundant legal stuff, you'd probably have to filter for it via your selection of moderators, making it seem like the "default" mode is legal.

5. Conclusion

I think this DNM model is far better than the designs that prevail today. It is easier to maintain, harder to take down, and pushes the "hard parts" to the edges, so that the DNM is not significantly affected even if a major merchant, moderator, or escrow gets arrested. I hope it comes to fruition.

@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd

I have been recently building NFDB, a new relay DB. This post is meant as a short overview.

Regular relays have challenges

Current relay software have significant challenges, which I have experienced when hosting Nostr.land: - Scalability is only supported by adding full replicas, which does not scale to large relays. - Most relays use slow databases and are not optimized for large scale usage. - Search is near-impossible to implement on standard relays. - Privacy features such as NIP-42 are lacking. - Regular DB maintenance tasks on normal relays require extended downtime. - Fault-tolerance is implemented, if any, using a load balancer, which is limited. - Personalization and advanced filtering is not possible. - Local caching is not supported.

NFDB: A scalable database for large relays

NFDB is a new database meant for medium-large scale relays, built on FoundationDB that provides: - Near-unlimited scalability - Extended fault tolerance - Instant loading - Better search - Better personalization - and more.

Search

NFDB has extended search capabilities including: - Semantic search: Search for meaning, not words. - Interest-based search: Highlight content you care about. - Multi-faceted queries: Easily filter by topic, author group, keywords, and more at the same time. - Wide support for event kinds, including users, articles, etc.

Personalization

NFDB allows significant personalization: - Customized algorithms: Be your own algorithm. - Spam filtering: Filter content to your WoT, and use advanced spam filters. - Topic mutes: Mute topics, not keywords. - Media filtering: With Nostr.build, you will be able to filter NSFW and other content - Low data mode: Block notes that use high amounts of cellular data. - and more

Other

NFDB has support for many other features such as: - NIP-42: Protect your privacy with private drafts and DMs - Microrelays: Easily deploy your own personal microrelay - Containers: Dedicated, fast storage for discoverability events such as relay lists

Calcite: A local microrelay database

Calcite is a lightweight, local version of NFDB that is meant for microrelays and caching, meant for thousands of personal microrelays.

Calcite HA is an additional layer that allows live migration and relay failover in under 30 seconds, providing higher availability compared to current relays with greater simplicity. Calcite HA is enabled in all Calcite deployments.

For zero-downtime, NFDB is recommended.

Noswhere SmartCache

Relays are fixed in one location, but users can be anywhere.

Noswhere SmartCache is a CDN for relays that dynamically caches data on edge servers closest to you, allowing: - Multiple regions around the world - Improved throughput and performance - Faster loading times

routerd

routerd is a custom load-balancer optimized for Nostr relays, integrated with SmartCache.

routerd is specifically integrated with NFDB and Calcite HA to provide fast failover and high performance.

Ending notes

NFDB is planned to be deployed to Nostr.land in the coming weeks.

A lot more is to come. 👀️️️️️️

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

High-Level Overview

Bitcoin developers are currently debating a proposed change to how Bitcoin Core handles the OP_RETURN opcode — a mechanism that allows users to insert small amounts of data into the blockchain. Specifically, the controversy revolves around removing built-in filters that limit how much data can be stored using this feature (currently capped at 80 bytes).

Summary of Both Sides

Position A: Remove OP_RETURN Filters

Advocates: nostr:npub1ej493cmun8y9h3082spg5uvt63jgtewneve526g7e2urca2afrxqm3ndrm, nostr:npub12rv5lskctqxxs2c8rf2zlzc7xx3qpvzs3w4etgemauy9thegr43sf485vg, nostr:npub17u5dneh8qjp43ecfxr6u5e9sjamsmxyuekrg2nlxrrk6nj9rsyrqywt4tp, others

Arguments: - Ineffectiveness of filters: Filters are easily bypassed and do not stop spam effectively. - Code simplification: Removing arbitrary limits reduces code complexity. - Permissionless innovation: Enables new use cases like cross-chain bridges and timestamping without protocol-level barriers. - Economic regulation: Fees should determine what data gets added to the blockchain, not protocol rules.

Position B: Keep OP_RETURN Filters

Advocates: nostr:npub1lh273a4wpkup00stw8dzqjvvrqrfdrv2v3v4t8pynuezlfe5vjnsnaa9nk, nostr:npub1s33sw6y2p8kpz2t8avz5feu2n6yvfr6swykrnm2frletd7spnt5qew252p, nostr:npub1wnlu28xrq9gv77dkevck6ws4euej4v568rlvn66gf2c428tdrptqq3n3wr, others

Arguments: - Historical intent: Satoshi included filters to keep Bitcoin focused on monetary transactions. - Resource protection: Helps prevent blockchain bloat and abuse from non-financial uses. - Network preservation: Protects the network from being overwhelmed by low-value or malicious data. - Social governance: Maintains conservative changes to ensure long-term robustness.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of Removing Filters

• Encourages decentralized innovation.
• Simplifies development and maintenance.
• Maintains ideological purity of a permissionless system.

Weaknesses of Removing Filters

• Opens the door to increased non-financial data and potential spam.
• May dilute Bitcoin’s core purpose as sound money.
• Risks short-term exploitation before economic filters adapt.

Strengths of Keeping Filters

• Preserves Bitcoin’s identity and original purpose.
• Provides a simple protective mechanism against abuse.
• Aligns with conservative development philosophy of Bitcoin Core.

Weaknesses of Keeping Filters

• Encourages central decision-making on allowed use cases.
• Leads to workarounds that may be less efficient or obscure.
• Discourages novel but legitimate applications.

Long-Term Consequences

If Filters Are Removed

• Positive: Potential boom in new applications, better interoperability, cleaner architecture.
• Negative: Risk of increased blockchain size, more bandwidth/storage costs, spam wars.

If Filters Are Retained

• Positive: Preserves monetary focus and operational discipline.
• Negative: Alienates developers seeking broader use cases, may ossify the protocol.

Conclusion

The debate highlights a core philosophical split in Bitcoin: whether it should remain a narrow monetary system or evolve into a broader data layer for decentralized applications. Both paths carry risks and tradeoffs. The outcome will shape not just Bitcoin's technical direction but its social contract and future role in the broader crypto ecosystem.

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

Please respect Virginia Giuffre’s memory by refraining from asking about the circumstances or theories surrounding her passing.

Since Virginia Giuffre’s death, I’ve reflected on what she would want me to say or do. This piece is my attempt to honor her legacy.

When I first spoke with Virginia, I was struck by her unshakable hope. I had grown cynical after years in the anti-human trafficking movement, worn down by a broken system and a government that often seemed complicit. But Virginia’s passion, creativity, and belief that survivors could be heard reignited something in me. She reminded me of my younger, more hopeful self. Instead of warning her about the challenges ahead, I let her dream big, unburdened by my own disillusionment. That conversation changed me for the better, and following her lead led to meaningful progress.

Virginia was one of the bravest people I’ve ever known. As a survivor of Epstein, Maxwell, and their co-conspirators, she risked everything to speak out, taking on some of the world’s most powerful figures.

She loved when I said, “Epstein isn’t the only Epstein.” This wasn’t just about one man—it was a call to hold all abusers accountable and to ensure survivors find hope and healing.

The Epstein case often gets reduced to sensational details about the elite, but that misses the bigger picture. Yes, we should be holding all of the co-conspirators accountable, we must listen to the survivors’ stories. Their experiences reveal how predators exploit vulnerabilities, offering lessons to prevent future victims.

You’re not powerless in this fight. Educate yourself about trafficking and abuse—online and offline—and take steps to protect those around you. Supporting survivors starts with small, meaningful actions. Free online resources can guide you in being a safe, supportive presence.

When high-profile accusations arise, resist snap judgments. Instead of dismissing survivors as “crazy,” pause to consider the trauma they may be navigating. Speaking out or coping with abuse is never easy. You don’t have to believe every claim, but you can refrain from attacking accusers online.

Society also fails at providing aftercare for survivors. The government, often part of the problem, won’t solve this. It’s up to us. Prevention is critical, but when abuse occurs, step up for your loved ones and community. Protect the vulnerable. it’s a challenging but a rewarding journey.

If you’re contributing to Nostr, you’re helping build a censorship resistant platform where survivors can share their stories freely, no matter how powerful their abusers are. Their voices can endure here, offering strength and hope to others. This gives me great hope for the future.

Virginia Giuffre’s courage was a gift to the world. It was an honor to know and serve her. She will be deeply missed. My hope is that her story inspires others to take on the powerful.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

Redistributing Git with Nostr

Every time someone tries to "decentralize" Git -- like many projects tried in the past to do it with BitTorrent, IPFS, ScuttleButt or custom p2p protocols -- there is always a lurking comment: "but Git is already distributed!", and then the discussion proceeds to mention some facts about how Git supports multiple remotes and its magic syncing and merging abilities and so on.

Turns out all that is true, Git is indeed all that powerful, and yet GitHub is the big central hub that hosts basically all Git repositories in the giant world of open-source. There are some crazy people that host their stuff elsewhere, but these projects end up not being found by many people, and even when they do they suffer from lack of contributions.

Because everybody has a GitHub account it's easy to open a pull request to a repository of a project you're using if it's on GitHub (to be fair I think it's very annoying to have to clone the repository, then add it as a remote locally, push to it, then go on the web UI and click to open a pull request, then that cloned repository lurks forever in your profile unless you go through 16 screens to delete it -- but people in general seem to think it's easy).

It's much harder to do it on some random other server where some project might be hosted, because now you have to add 4 more even more annoying steps: create an account; pick a password; confirm an email address; setup SSH keys for pushing. (And I'm not even mentioning the basic impossibility of offering push access to external unknown contributors to people who want to host their own simple homemade Git server.)

At this point some may argue that we could all have accounts on GitLab, or Codeberg or wherever else, then those steps are removed. Besides not being a practical strategy this pseudo solution misses the point of being decentralized (or distributed, who knows) entirely: it's far from the ideal to force everybody to have the double of account management and SSH setup work in order to have the open-source world controlled by two shady companies instead of one.

What we want is to give every person the opportunity to host their own Git server without being ostracized. at the same time we must recognize that most people won't want to host their own servers (not even most open-source programmers!) and give everybody the ability to host their stuff on multi-tenant servers (such as GitHub) too. Importantly, though, if we allow for a random person to have a standalone Git server on a standalone server they host themselves on their wood cabin that also means any new hosting company can show up and start offering Git hosting, with or without new cool features, charging high or low or zero, and be immediately competing against GitHub or GitLab, i.e. we must remove the network-effect centralization pressure.

External contributions

The first problem we have to solve is: how can Bob contribute to Alice's repository without having an account on Alice's server?

SourceHut has reminded GitHub users that Git has always had this (for most) arcane git send-email command that is the original way to send patches, using an once-open protocol.

Turns out Nostr acts as a quite powerful email replacement and can be used to send text content just like email, therefore patches are a very good fit for Nostr event contents.

Once you get used to it and the proper UIs (or CLIs) are built sending and applying patches to and from others becomes a much easier flow than the intense clickops mixed with terminal copypasting that is interacting with GitHub (you have to clone the repository on GitHub, then update the remote URL in your local directory, then create a branch and then go back and turn that branch into a Pull Request, it's quite tiresome) that many people already dislike so much they went out of their way to build many GitHub CLI tools just so they could comment on issues and approve pull requests from their terminal.

Replacing GitHub features

Aside from being the "hub" that people use to send patches to other people's code (because no one can do the email flow anymore, justifiably), GitHub also has 3 other big features that are not directly related to Git, but that make its network-effect harder to overcome. Luckily Nostr can be used to create a new environment in which these same features are implemented in a more decentralized and healthy way.

Issues: bug reports, feature requests and general discussions

Since the "Issues" GitHub feature is just a bunch of text comments it should be very obvious that Nostr is a perfect fit for it.

I will not even mention the fact that Nostr is much better at threading comments than GitHub (which doesn't do it at all), which can generate much more productive and organized discussions (and you can opt out if you want).

Search

I use GitHub search all the time to find libraries and projects that may do something that I need, and it returns good results almost always. So if people migrated out to other code hosting providers wouldn't we lose it?

The fact is that even though we think everybody is on GitHub that is a globalist falsehood. Some projects are not on GitHub, and if we use only GitHub for search those will be missed. So even if we didn't have a Nostr Git alternative it would still be necessary to create a search engine that incorporated GitLab, Codeberg, SourceHut and whatnot.

Turns out on Nostr we can make that quite easy by not forcing anyone to integrate custom APIs or hardcoding Git provider URLs: each repository can make itself available by publishing an "announcement" event with a brief description and one or more Git URLs. That makes it easy for a search engine to index them -- and even automatically download the code and index the code (or index just README files or whatever) without a centralized platform ever having to be involved.

The relays where such announcements will be available play a role, of course, but that isn't a bad role: each announcement can be in multiple relays known for storing "public good" projects, some relays may curate only projects known to be very good according to some standards, other relays may allow any kind of garbage, which wouldn't make them good for a search engine to rely upon, but would still be useful in case one knows the exact thing (and from whom) they're searching for (the same is valid for all Nostr content, by the way, and that's where it's censorship-resistance comes from).

Continuous integration

GitHub Actions are a very hardly subsidized free-compute-for-all-paid-by-Microsoft feature, but one that isn't hard to replace at all. In fact there exists today many companies offering the same kind of service out there -- although they are mostly targeting businesses and not open-source projects, before GitHub Actions was introduced there were also many that were heavily used by open-source projects.

One problem is that these services are still heavily tied to GitHub today, they require a GitHub login, sometimes BitBucket and GitLab and whatnot, and do not allow one to paste an arbitrary Git server URL, but that isn't a thing that is very hard to change anyway, or to start from scratch. All we need are services that offer the CI/CD flows, perhaps using the same framework of GitHub Actions (although I would prefer to not use that messy garbage), and charge some few satoshis for it.

It may be the case that all the current services only support the big Git hosting platforms because they rely on their proprietary APIs, most notably the webhooks dispatched when a repository is updated, to trigger the jobs. It doesn't have to be said that Nostr can also solve that problem very easily.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Large Language Models (LLMs) have transformed software engineering, but their application to physical engineering domains remains underexplored. This paper evaluates LLMs' capabilities in high-powered rocketry design through RocketBench, a benchmark connecting LLMs to high-fidelity rocket simulations. We test models on two increasingly complex design tasks: target altitude optimization and precision landing challenges. Our findings reveal that while state-of-the-art LLMs demonstrate strong baseline engineering knowledge, they struggle to iterate on their designs when given simulation results and ultimately plateau below human performance levels. However, when enhanced with reinforcement learning (RL), we show that a 7B parameter model outperforms both SoTA foundation models and human experts. This research demonstrates that RL-trained LLMs can serve as effective tools for complex engineering optimization, potentially transforming engineering domains beyond software development.

PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.19394

Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.19394

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/969083

@ 000002de:c05780a7

A lot of typing has been done comparing various right wing figures and people like Donald Trump and Elon Mush to Fascism and Nazism. It is frankly pretty absurd at this point. I'd be with them if they were just talking about these people being authoritarians. They clearly are in many ways. I'm not a fan.

But very little is said in a "non-partisan" way about the left. This is gonna be short and is meant to peak your curiosity to go and do some research for yourself.

The economist Milton Friedman famously said.

"After the fall of communism, everybody in the world agreed that socialism was a failure. Everybody in the world, more or less, agreed that capitalism was a success. And every capitalist country in the world apparently deduced from that what the West needed was more socialism."

This was said a long time ago and it is still the case. People espouse socialist ideas without even a concern about being called out for it. The same is NOT true of fascism or even traditional American patriotism.

But many of you may not realize just how deep the rot of socialism goes. Most people agree that the USSR committed terrible acts and was a failure. Before the creation of the USSR two socialists movements fought for power and control, the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. The primary difference between the two groups was how to bring about socialism. The Bolsheviks led by Lenin favored a more radical revolutionary force led by a small group. The Mensheviks, led by Julius Martov, preferred a larger, more democratic rise to power. They supported a more gradual rise of socialism. In October of 1917 the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia in a bloody revolution.

Even to this day there are two different minds around how to bring about socialism. In the US the Menshevik approach is the one more popular. People like Bernie and AOC are this type of socialist. But make no mistake. They want to bring about a socialist utopian society. The type of system we have seen fail time and time again.

A few years ago I heard about another socialist movement and was frankly shocked that I had never heard about it before. In 1890 Britain a group of socialists formed an organization called the Fabian Society. The Fabians were/are socialists. But they believe in gradual incrementalism to bring about socialism. So what did the do you ask? They were at the center of the founding of the Labour party in the UK. Now, you might say. Big deal. But here's the weird thing. The Fabian Society's coat of arms was literally a wolf in sheep's clothing

They sought to bring about socialism covertly through democratic processes by presenting themselves as more moderate politicians. They have worked for decades to bring about socialism in the UK. If you don't count Margret Thatcher's era they've done a pretty great job. The UK is a mess.

So what does this have to do with May Day or Labor day for that matter? Well, socialists are at the center of every labor movement and celebrations like May day. Socialist ideas have been pumped into the government textbooks in the US for decades. Teachers are instructed in Universities full of believers in this wolf in sheep's clothing movement of democratic socialism.

Socialism leads to death and poverty. I'm not here to say that the US economy is the example for what the world should do. I'm a free market guy. We live in a corporatism led economy where the state partners with corporations to screw many in the US as well as the world. But I can tell you this. Socialism would be even worse.

The famous and infamous Russian anarchist Emma Goldman upon returning from her visit to the USSR was broken hearted. She had been a supporter of the revolution, but when she saw it with her own eyes she had a change of heart.

The compassion that seems to be a part of socialism is a lie. You can't institutionalize compassion. It has to come from the people, not a system. We should care for our brothers and sisters. But WE have to do it. We can't take from one group and give to another. We can't surrender our liberties to those that say they will take care of it for us. We have to do it. Capitalism is amoral. The free market is amoral. Both require us to be moral and show the way.

I hope this sparks your interest into looking into the history around socialist movements across the globe. I don't doubt that some have good motives, but the results are disastrous for the masses.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968901

@ c066aac5:6a41a034

I work in the business world as a salesperson. I am frequently out and about in the community trying to make friends, connect with people who I can help, and ultimately grow my book of business. I have goals set by my employers and I aim to meet those expectations. Because of this, I find myself frequently under pressure to find ways to produce. This often leads to me being disappointed in myself; my sales cycles are long and I lose more deals than I win. My Dad often reminds me that How to Win Friends and Influence People has all the secrets of sales I'll ever need, but I still end up wishing I could find that secret edge to out-do the competition. That's where the watch temptation comes in.

I frequently see a luxurious timepiece on the left wrist of my peers and elder-statesmen closers. Rolex, Omega, Patek, a whole world of $10k minimum machines. It comes across as a power-move, a symbol of status that is hard to ignore. It sends a message that the bearer's time is more valuable than that of other people. It makes me think "if this person is wearing that watch, that means they're great at what they do." The ultimate investment in one's self.

As a newly married man expecting a child, it is hard for me to stomach such a purchase. My wife has supported the idea of me potentially getting such a timepiece; as much as it tickles my fancy, I'd rather put my capital towards things that further my family than my clout. One of the things that struck me was a statement made by an investment advisor in my Kiwanis club: "A watch is a purchase, not an investment."

What a true statement! His words helped me escape my short-lived delusions. That said, I still look at watches sometimes on the internet (The Omega No Time to Die watch is sleek looking). One day, I found myself looking at houses online shortly after looking at watches online. Then it hit me: how many purchases are being marketed as investments in this era? A Rolex is a supposed investment in your career, not just a luxury timepiece. A house is a mechanism for monetary growth, not an attainable home to be enjoyed by a family. A college degree is an investment for your future, not a vehicle for building upon passions.

The Bitcoiners will repeat the phrase "fix the money, fix the world" in harmonious chorus to address the concern I have laid out in this article. Ultimately, I leave you with this reminder: don't let the world pass off things that should be inconsequential purchases as investments with ROIs. I believe the only true investment one can make is into the people around them; that will yield the greatest rewards for the soul.

@ 56e3acda:234e8a3a

"This is Mineva Bytes. The crypto eidolon! A vtuber who has risen to become a shining star in the crypto world. She's the most followed person on Trenches, eclipsing every single crypto founder/influencer."

Dozens of images flash across the screen, each depicting a golden idol. Her golden amber hair and eyes seem to perfectly capture the color of cryptocurrency. She's wearing her standard cream Kaybug outfit, which gives off a weird futuristic vibe every time she's next to something modern. A close-up of her boob window with 2 metal coins, one for Bitcoin and the other for Cerium tucked into her cleavage makes up her header on Trenches.

"Her fan base, the Gabros, are made up of elite cretins who are eager to get anything she's a part of. Hell, she even got them to pay for cable to support her show. Cable! In 2025! Even a collab announcement between her and Xaphan got millions of views in just a few hours. Her endorsement is a godsend for any crypto project."

Even more images flash through her show moonshot. One is Mineva promoting the Sloth NFT with a picture of a dopey looking sloth next to her. Another is the announcement of the Cache Card during the On-Chain holiday, which boosted pre-order numbers. A picture of her posing like a pin-up model on an American Unlimited debit card, and finally her name and Xaphan's in the middle of a phone silhouette.

"And that's where you come in."

The images are replaced by the words Atoms.AI, made up of clouds with the sun dotting the i. Our company logo, and standing in front of it is my boss. The gray-haired woman in techwear is pointing her claw-like nails at me. She has the kind of intimidating aura you would expect from a Wall Street CEO twice her age. Quite different from when she interviewed me and quite unusual in the crypto scene.

"If you can get her to sign off on us using her IP for an AI Agent. To the moon! That's where we're going."

Another picture of Mineva showing off her toothy smile is plastered on the wall. The bright smile highlights her warm peach skin. The rays of joy emanating from her make my stomach turn. Too much optimism for me, but I couldn't help but stare. I stared a little too long, though, and my boss got suspicious.

"What? Are you a fan of hers?"

I shake my head in disapproval.

"No, I'm not a fan. I am a vtuber fan though. I'm a diehard..."

The boss holds up her hand and cuts me off. Obviously not interested in my words. Her attention is focused on checking financial charts on her phone.

"Where is this going?"

I freeze, not knowing what to do next. Shilling my Oshi isn't the right thing to do right now. I look at the picture of Mineva again. This is a solid plan on paper. Improving a vtuber's connection to her community is great, but. A question pops up in the back of my mind. Would I be okay with talking to an AI instead of my Oshi? If this is in my mind now, imagine what the gabros would think of this announcement? I exhale and bring up a glaring issue that I think the boss is overlooking.

"Um. Do you think fans of Mineva would go for an AI agent?"

She puts down her phone and gives me her full attention.

"Do you hear yourself? What loser wouldn't want to talk to their goddess 24/7?"

"The word is actually Oshi Mam."

The boss's purple eyes send daggers through me. I struggle to catch my breath. The pressure of her aura is overwhelming.

"Look are you not a good capitalist?"

"I am Mam. I love capitalism. However, I'm just trying to point out that - "

"Then enough yapping and Art of the Deal this shit!"

Her voice causes all the coders in the building to straighten up. I give her a salute among the rising tide of keyboard clicks.

"Yes, Ms Elira!"

Dysnomia, the crypto capital. A new city created as a symbolic gesture to decouple the cryptocurrency market from Wall Street. Although it still remained in New York, many founders decided to set up shop there. Turning it into a true crypto paradise. With its neon lights displaying all the new crypto brands on new skyscrapers, it resembles something out of a cyberpunk movie. A helpful tip if you plan to visit: It helps to wear some kind of sunglasses. The neon lights tend to give me a headache.

I am struggling to get my barrings. I just moved here last week after being hired by Atmos.AI. A dream job to help advance fintech, but I didn't think my first big assignment would be this important. I make my way to the meeting place. A small diner next to Airdrop Square. As the name suggests, it's a place in the middle of the city where people go to get NFT coupons for food, clothing or transportation.

Good for promotion, but a lot of complaints arise when the coupons expire too quickly. It's a little after one, so the noon drop has already happened, meaning there's not a lot of people around the diner. No big crowds and a semi-public location equals a perfect place to meet a vtuber. At least that's what the boss said when she picked the location.

The diner itself has an almost retro look in comparison to the surrounding buildings. It is made out of a shipping crate and designed to look like a mobile business. The chrome finish of the diner would be almost blinding if the sun shone directly on it. I quickly make my way inside. I sit down in a booth two booths away from the entrance. It would be unprofessional to have the meeting at the counter. After all, eye contact is important when negotiating big deals like this.

It doesn't take long after my arrival for Mineva to show up. She signals that it's her with a little wave. She's radically different from my expectations. She is[Description is redacted to prevent doxxing. For now, just use the previously mentioned description of Mineva.]

She slides into the booth and places a small object on the table. It is a miniature version of Gabro's mascot. A Parrie dog in a suit holding a pickaxe in front of it. She taps its head, causing its eyes to glow gold.

"What's that?"

"A signal jammer. Just in case you try to livestream this. Oh, and don't bother trying to take a picture."

She pushes up the glasses she is wearing.

"These bad boys block my face from showing up in photos."

We sit in silence. I am stunned by the lengths she would go to hide her identity. It makes sense, but I feel like a signal jammer is a bit much. The silence breaks as the waitress comes to our booth.

"Ready to order?"

"Yes! 6 pieces of thick-cut bacon with steamed mushrooms. One cider. And a slice of apple pie!"

They both look at me. Forcing me to hurry up and place my order.

"Um. Grilled chicken salad with apple juice."

Our food comes out after a short time. The size of the bacon she ordered is massive. Almost five times thicker than an average piece of bacon. Can she really eat six of them? A bright smile appears on her face as she cuts through her food. She basks in pleasure after taking a bite of the bacon.

"Glad some Americana made it to Dysnomia."

She continues to eat. I try to make a dent in my salad. Eating has calmed my nerves a bit. With every bite, I rehearse in my head. What I'm going to say. It has to be clear and concise. Will I be too formal with my tone? I can't be too casual. Should I use crypto-slang? That might be accessible. The thoughts continue until the sound of knuckles tapping on the table breaks my concentration. Mineva looks at me as she drinks her cider.

"So what does Atmos want?"

I take a deep breath, making sure to maintain eye contact.

"We have an amazing opportunity to improve the connection between you and the gabros. An AI agent of you would be a perfect way for the gabros to communicate with you when you're not streaming or shooting Moonshot. A seamless way to deepen their connection with you. No additional app required, by the way. It can all happen on Trenches. Oh! Not to mention the new financial opportunities AI Mineva can help them find! Expert level trades that would make any cretin jealous. Which means more Akasupas and memberships for you!"

I was so distracted by my pitch that I didn't even see Mineva clear her plate. She remains silent for a moment, playing with the piece of pie. Her face darkens when she stops playing with it. She slowly takes a bite of the pie while squinting her eyes. It's obvious that her suspicions are growing. I try to break the uncomfortable atmosphere.

"So what do you think?"

"Do I have any say in what the bot recommends?"

Okay, that's a fair question.

"Of course, you can sign off on trades before they happen!"

"Now, how would that happen? If the bot is made to chat with the gabros when I'm busy? Unless you are saying you can manipulate the suggestions the bot recommends?"

The feeling of déjà vu that hits me with each of her questions is like a knife in my stomach. I screwed up. I didn't think it was a gotcha question.

"W. W-what. No, that's not"

"So answer me, how do I sign off on referrals?"

A final stab completely shuts me down. Why on earth did I say she could do that? She finishes her pie and slides out of the booth.

"You're not going to rug my gabros that easily."

She walks to the entrance, not even turning to look at me. As the doorbell rang, she said her last words.

"And thanks for lunch!"

Then she is gone. It takes a moment for the words to register, but it hits me all at once when the waitress hands me the check.

"$150!!"

The waitress shrugs. I hand her my company card and feel myself slipping off the booth seat. As I drag myself to get my card back, only one thing goes through my mind.

"Ms. Elira is going to kill me."

@ e968e50b:db2a803a

Hey, are you familiar those scammy sites that will pay you to review companies? The line goes something like, "work from home and review products." Of course, the person is reviewing something online that they might not otherwise care about. When I look for reviews of a company, I'm almost always going to peer to peer type services.

Let's pause for a second for a seeming non-sequitur. Long story short, phone provider that I left has been charging me for an iPad that I accidentally didn't take off the plan. That's not the problem. The problem is that they made it IMPOSSIBLE to cancel this service, including going into a brick and mortar store. I'll spare you the details, but it took more than a full days work to get this thing cancelled. It was obvious that I wasn't even using the service, and it still cost me over a hundred bucks to square up after wasting so much of my life trying to get this thing cancelled on my account that supposedly didn't exist anymore.

Why is this relevant? I'm about to absolutely carpet bomb this company with bad reviews. They legitimately put significantly more work into trying to continue to charge me for this service I didn't want, didn't need, and didn't use, than they ever did trying to give me good service as a customer. When I started looking around online, I found a positive review I did about a flooring company two years ago...and wow! This review had so many great reviews. Beyond being amusingly recursive, it's real bad news for this phone company. I'm like a reviewing celebrity on this medium.

So...it occurred to me, what about a Trustpilot, BBB, or Angie's List type service that is fused with the sn news model? Put some skin in the game to review and put some skin in the game to endorse that review. stacker.reviews maybe?

Obviously, downzapping might not make sense there. Any company with a bad review could really hide their dirty laundry. But if they wanted to boost their good posts, plenty of safety mechanisms might make that costly (percentage of zaps going to website and boosts favored by numbers of zaps). I almost thought a review territory might make sense, but something like this would obviously need to be organized differently than a bulletin board.

I can imagine this being a good way to onboard people to bitcoin. Imagine it:

Wait, I can get some of these satoshi things for shouting to the rooftops about that plumber that saved my family's house?!? Hold my beer.

Wait, I can actually invest in this great review that warns people about that electrician?!?! Hold my warm beer.

idk Just a thought. I'm probably not the first person to think of this. Does it already exist? I got a humdinger of a harangue for it if so.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968624

@ b00a728d:0c16788a

Hey there, racing fans! Let’s talk about a straightforward betting strategy that’s been around for years, often used by folks who treat horse racing more like a business than a gamble. This method is all about following a clear staking plan to aim for a small, consistent profit per race—without needing to be a racing expert. I’ll break it down step-by-step so it’s easy to understand, even if you’re new to this! The Goal: Small, Steady Wins The idea here is to aim for a target profit (T) of 5 points per race. Think of a "point" as a unit of money you decide on—it could be $50, $1, or whatever you’re comfortable with. For example, I use a starting bank of $200, and I set each point at $1. So, 5 points = $5 profit per race. Important Rule: Once you pick the value of a point, stick with it throughout the entire betting sequence. Don’t change it, no matter what happens! Why This Works (Even If You Know Nothing About Racing) This plan is designed so that you’ll eventually win, even if you’re clueless about horses. The catch? You need to be patient and okay with small profits per point because the stakes (the amount you bet) can grow after each loss. For example: If you set each point at £1 and lose 10 races in a row, your 11th bet would need to recover $55 (your target plus losses).

If you set each point at 25p, you’d only need to recover $13.75 after 10 losses.

See the difference? Lower point values mean smaller risks, but also smaller profits. Pick a point value that matches the risk you’re willing to take and the profit you want to make. How the Staking Plan Works Here’s the basic idea: you start with a target profit of 5 points per race. If you lose, you add your loss to the next race’s target. If you win, you subtract your gain. The goal is to keep going until you hit your total profit target, then start over. Let’s break down the key terms: T (Target): Your profit goal for the race (starts at 5 points).

T + L: Your target plus any losses from previous races (or minus any gains if you won).

S (Stake): How much you bet on the race.

R (Result): Whether you won (e.g., 2-1 means the horse paid 2-to-1 odds) or lost (L).

W (Points Won): How many points you gained from a win.

L (Points Lost): How many points you lost from a bet.

AWL (Running Total): Your accumulated wins and losses over the sequence.

Once you reach your overall profit goal (like 40 points in the example below), you take your winnings and start the sequence over with a 5-point target. Example Sequence: Watch It in Action Here’s a sample sequence to show how this plays out. I’m using a 1-per-point value for simplicity: Race( see image posted for details in url or comment section)

What happened here? In Race 1, I aimed for 5 points but lost my 2-point stake, so my running total is -2.

In Race 2, I added my loss (2) to the new target (10), so I’m aiming for 12 points. I lost again, so my running total drops to -6.

By Race 8, I finally hit a big win (4-1 odds), gaining 44 points. My running total jumps to +50, which exceeds my overall target of 40 points.

I take my profit ($50 if each point is $1) and start over in Race 9 with a 5-point target.

How to Calculate Your Stake To figure out how much to bet (your stake), take your T + L (target plus losses) and divide by 3, rounding to the nearest whole number. Why 3? Because you want to bet on horses with odds of 3-1 or higher. A win at those odds will cover all your losses and give you your target profit. For example: In Race 4, my T + L is 33. Divide by 3: 33 ÷ 3 = 11. So, I bet 11 points.

My horse wins at 2-1 odds, so I get 22 points back (11 × 2). This clears my losses and gives me a profit.

Pro Tip: Stick to odds of evens (1-1) or higher. Many pros avoid “odds-on” bets (like 1-2) because they don’t pay enough to make this system work well. Tips to Make This Work for You Pick Your Races Wisely: You don’t have to bet on every race. Some pros bet on every race at a meeting (e.g., 6 races a day, 36 bets a week), but I recommend being selective. Consider using a professional tipping service for better picks—newspaper tips can be risky (one “expert” once picked 30 losers in a row!).

Spread Your Bets: Use 3 or 4 different bookmakers. No single bookie will be happy if you keep winning over time.

Account for Betting Tax (If Applicable): If there’s a tax on your bets, add it to your next race’s target. This way, the system covers the tax for you.

Be Prepared for Losing Streaks: Even with careful picks, you might hit a string of losses. That’s why you keep your point value low—so your stakes don’t balloon too much.

Why This Is a “Business,” Not Gambling People who use this method don’t see it as gambling—they treat racing like a business. The key is patience and discipline. A single win at 3-1 odds or higher will wipe out all your losses and deliver your target profit. It’s a slow grind, but it’s designed to keep you in the game long-term. Final Thoughts This staking plan is all about consistency and managing risk. Start with a small bank (like $200), set a point value you’re comfortable with (like 50 or 1), and stick to the rules. You don’t need to be a racing genius—just follow the system, bet smart, and wait for that big win to clear your slate and put profit in your pocket. Got questions or want to tweak this for your own style? Let me know, and I’ll help you fine-tune your approach! Happy betting!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968545

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

Bitcoin has emerged as a modern option for storing value, often compared to traditional assets like gold. Its ability to resist inflation, along with features such as scarcity, decentralization, and security, positions it as a promising tool for preserving wealth in times of economic uncertainty.

A store of value is an asset that maintains its purchasing power over time, protecting wealth against devaluation. Historically, assets like gold and real estate have fulfilled this role due to their relative scarcity and constant demand.

However, fiat currencies have proven less efficient as stores of value due to inflation. Governments and central banks frequently increase the money supply, which can reduce the purchasing power of currencies. This is where Bitcoin stands out as an alternative.

Bitcoin: Programmed Scarcity

The main feature that makes Bitcoin a potential store of value is its limited supply. Only 21 million bitcoins will ever be created—a cap embedded in its code. This programmed scarcity contrasts with fiat currencies, which can be printed without limit by governments, leading to inflation.

Bitcoin creation is also controlled by events known as halvings, which cut the reward for mining new blocks in half approximately every four years. This makes Bitcoin increasingly scarce over time, boosting its potential for appreciation.

Bitcoin offers a solution to inflation, as its fixed supply prevents governments or centralized institutions from manipulating its quantity.

01 - Decentralization and Immutability: Operating on a decentralized network, Bitcoin is immune to political decisions or central bank interventions. No authority can alter the protocol to "print" more bitcoins. 02 - Supply Transparency: All transactions and newly created bitcoins are recorded on the blockchain or timechain, ensuring full transparency. 03 - Purchasing Power Protection: With limited supply and growing demand, Bitcoin has shown a tendency to appreciate over time, acting as a hedge against inflation in various economies.

Bitcoin is often called "digital gold" due to its similarities with the precious metal as a store of value:

01 - Scarcity: Gold is limited in nature, while Bitcoin has a programmed maximum supply of 21 million units. 02 - Portability: Bitcoin is easier to transfer and store than gold, being digitally accessible from anywhere in the world. 03 - Divisibility: Each bitcoin can be divided into up to 100 million units called satoshis, allowing transactions of any value. 04 - Security: While gold requires physical storage and is subject to theft, Bitcoin can be stored in secure digital wallets.

These qualities make Bitcoin a more flexible and accessible option for storing value in an increasingly digital world.

Despite its promise, Bitcoin still faces barriers to being widely accepted as a store of value:

01 - Volatility: Bitcoin’s price has historically shown large fluctuations, which can discourage investors seeking stability. However, many believe that as adoption grows, volatility will decrease. 02 - Regulation: Some governments have implemented actions to restrict or regulate Bitcoin use, which can affect its acceptance as a store of value. 03 - Cultural Adaptation: As a new and digital asset, Bitcoin still needs to earn the trust of people who are used to physical forms of value, like gold.

Bitcoin has proven especially useful as a store of value in economies facing financial crises or hyperinflation. Countries like Venezuela, Argentina, and Zimbabwe, which have experienced severe currency devaluation, have seen increased Bitcoin adoption as a way to protect purchasing power.

Moreover, its global accessibility allows people in countries without easy access to traditional financial markets to use Bitcoin as an alternative.

In summary, Bitcoin possesses distinct features that make it a promising candidate as a store of value in an increasingly digital world affected by fiat currency inflation. Its programmed scarcity, resistance to manipulation, and global accessibility offer a modern solution for preserving wealth.

Although challenges such as volatility and regulation remain, Bitcoin has already proven to be an effective tool for protecting assets, particularly in contexts of economic instability. Over time, and with broader adoption, Bitcoin may establish itself as one of the leading store-of-value assets of the 21st century.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

sdsd

@ 0e67f053:cb1d4b93

By Carl Tuckerson, Host of “Feelings Before Finance”

Let’s be clear: May Day isn’t for mattress sales—it’s for smashing economic feudalism with a reusable water bottle and a union card.

Trump? Said he loved workers. Then he golfed while nurses rationed gloves. Elon Musk? Thinks labor laws are a nuisance between him and his next ego-fueled space tantrum. Meanwhile, AOC and Bernie are out here like revolutionary fairy godparents, yelling “TAX THE RICH” while sprinkling universal dignity on the masses.

May Day is for the tired. The overworked. The underpaid. And everyone who's ever been told “we’re a family” by a boss who’d fire them via Slack.

Today we rise. Together. Unionized. Moisturized. Ready to seize the means of basic decency.

✊ Happy May Day from Carl Tuckerson. And remember: No billionaire ever made a sandwich.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968502

@ 8125b911:a8400883

In Nostr, all data is stored as events. Decentralization is achieved by storing events on multiple relays, with signatures proving the ownership of these events. However, if you truly want to own your events, you should run your own relay to store them. Otherwise, if the relays you use fail or intentionally delete your events, you'll lose them forever.

For most people, running a relay is complex and costly. To solve this issue, I developed nostr-relay-tray, a relay that can be easily run on a personal computer and accessed over the internet.

Project URL: https://github.com/CodyTseng/nostr-relay-tray

This article will guide you through using nostr-relay-tray to run your own relay.

Download

Download the installation package for your operating system from the GitHub Release Page.

| Operating System | File Format | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Windows | nostr-relay-tray.Setup.x.x.x.exe | | macOS (Apple Silicon) | nostr-relay-tray-x.x.x-arm64.dmg | | macOS (Intel) | nostr-relay-tray-x.x.x.dmg | | Linux | You should know which one to use |

Installation

Since this app isn’t signed, you may encounter some obstacles during installation. Once installed, an ostrich icon will appear in the status bar. Click on the ostrich icon, and you'll see a menu where you can click the "Dashboard" option to open the relay's control panel for further configuration.

macOS Users:

• On first launch, go to "System Preferences > Security & Privacy" and click "Open Anyway."
• If you encounter a "damaged" message, run the following command in the terminal to remove the restrictions:

bash sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/nostr-relay-tray.app

Windows Users:

• On the security warning screen, click "More Info > Run Anyway."

Connecting

By default, nostr-relay-tray is only accessible locally through ws://localhost:4869/, which makes it quite limited. Therefore, we need to expose it to the internet.

In the control panel, click the "Proxy" tab and toggle the switch. You will then receive a "Public address" that you can use to access your relay from anywhere. It's that simple.

Next, add this address to your relay list and position it as high as possible in the list. Most clients prioritize connecting to relays that appear at the top of the list, and relays lower in the list are often ignored.

Restrictions

Next, we need to set up some restrictions to prevent the relay from storing events that are irrelevant to you and wasting storage space. nostr-relay-tray allows for flexible and fine-grained configuration of which events to accept, but some of this is more complex and will not be covered here. If you're interested, you can explore this further later.

For now, I'll introduce a simple and effective strategy: WoT (Web of Trust). You can enable this feature in the "WoT & PoW" tab. Before enabling, you'll need to input your pubkey.

There's another important parameter, Depth, which represents the relationship depth between you and others. Someone you follow has a depth of 1, someone they follow has a depth of 2, and so on.

• Setting this parameter to 0 means your relay will only accept your own events.
• Setting it to 1 means your relay will accept events from you and the people you follow.
• Setting it to 2 means your relay will accept events from you, the people you follow, and the people they follow.

Currently, the maximum value for this parameter is 2.

Conclusion

You've now successfully run your own relay and set a simple restriction to prevent it from storing irrelevant events.

If you encounter any issues during use, feel free to submit an issue on GitHub, and I'll respond as soon as possible.

Not your relay, not your events.

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

Research out of China; they used ice lithography to fabricate 72 nm patterns on living tardigrades. The wild thing isn’t just that they “tattooed” tardigrades. It’s that tardigrades are so resilient, and focused electron beams so precise, that 40% of them survived and went about their lives after the procedure.

https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/april/scientists-have-found-a-way-to-tattoo-tardigrades.html

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968469

@ 57d56d16:458edffd

Kraken

https://www.kraken.com/learn/satoshi-to-usd-converter

CoinCodex

https://coincodex.com/convert/satoshi-sats/usd/1000000/

Coin Guides

https://coinguides.org/satoshi-usd-converter/

BitcoinMagazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/satoshi-to-usd-calculator

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968362

@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec

Hey stackers,

Leave a comment below to share your hustles and wins. Let us know what you've sold this week. Have you sold it for sats or zaps? It doesn't matter how big or small your item is, solid or digital, product or service.

Just share below what you’ve listed, swapped, and sold. Let everyone rave on your latest #deals!

New to ~AGORA? Dive into the marketplace and turn your dusty gears into shiny BTC!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968324

@ 8cda1daa:e9e5bdd8

Bitcoin's blockspace is a free market (and a fee market!)

Each byte bids for inclusion according to the fee it carries, whether that byte represents a coffee payment or an encoded inscription protocol. The current debate over expanding OP_RETURN is a reminder that the ledger does not interpret meaning; it only records weight in bytes and payment in bitcoin fees.

There is no value stored on Bitcoin's ledger other than the literal number of bitcoin units recorded in your UTXO.

That means there is no "digital energy" in there, no dollars, no "store of value," nothing except a number in a database.

When you spend bitcoin, for whatever reason, it is your counterparty that decides what those units are worth. They are free to discriminate them, or you, in any way they can get away with.

They can also attribute extra value to them for any reason: a ticker price on their favorite exchange, a JPG forever attached to the output, a USDT anchor, or a private protocol no one even knows about for a VIP club membership.

All value is subjective, so it is impossible to know the trade value of every transaction merely by looking at block data.

Your counterparty also decides when a trade is settled, not the Bitcoin blockchain. They may agree on one confirmation, or three, or zero... They might require a government‑issued ID or even custody of your first‑born child.

Do not confuse Bitcoin "transactions" with trades; they are only score updates in a database. All of the value is decided by people and made competitive by the open market.

Why OP_RETURN Matters Right Now

Bitcoin offers an 80‑byte OP_RETURN field that lets users write data without polluting the UTXO set. As blockspace demand soared with Ordinals, BRC‑20, and Runes, people began hiding data in taproot leaves and bare multisig outputs, which never get spent and therefore swell the UTXO set, driving up node costs.

Relaxing, or even removing, the 80‑byte cap would invite this data back into a provably unspendable, prunable space; the chain stays neutral - every byte either pays or waits.

Is this the right thing to do? Personally, I don't care. Things are working exactly how everyone should have expected.

How to Think About "Spam" vs "Use"

Fee neutrality: If it pays the market fee, it belongs. By design. Hidden context: You can never fully know the value or trade behind the onchain transaction.

UTXO preservation: Favor prunable data (witness & OP_RETURN) over perpetually unspent outputs.

Censorship fragments the mempool: Policy bans force operators to patch their nodes or run alternate relay networks, creating isolated pools, unreliable fee estimates, and extra burden for wallets that must navigate around invisible gaps.

Takeaway

We have no objective tool for classifying "usefulness" on‑chain. The cleanest rule remains: pay the fee, get the block. If you want a lean UTXO set, widen OP_RETURN and let economics, not censorship, do the pruning.

A Meta Recommendation

Bitcoin Core is the de-facto reference implementation, not the policy police. Any subjective rule, whether it targets memes, stablecoins, transaction flags, or inscriptions, can and should be handled in downstream forks, plug‑ins, or user‑level policy. Node operators already tweak mempool size, relay settings, and script limits to match their own risk models. Pretending they cannot already only muddies the debate.

A sure path to minimizing controversy is to keep Bitcoin Core truly core: compact, predictable, and neutral. Every extra rule adds maintenance overhead and widens the surface for accidental forks. By shipping only what consensus requires and leaving higher‑layer policy to the market, Core Devs protect the common base layer we all rely on, and their own sanity.

Bonus Take: 🌶️ Shrink Blocks, or Repeal Taproot

If a transaction looks like spam to you, the blunt but honest remedy is to cut capacity, not to micromanage content. The four‑megabyte block weight and Taproot's flexible script paths are exactly what unlocked today's wave of inscriptions and tokens. If that bothers you, push to shrink the block size or even roll back Taproot and own the trade‑offs. Anything else is selective outrage dressed up as policy.

(NOTE: I do not support any current fork or mempool policy proposals.)

@ 40b9c85f:5e61b451

Introduction

Data Vending Machines (DVMs) have emerged as a crucial component of the Nostr ecosystem, offering specialized computational services to clients across the network. As defined in NIP-90, DVMs operate on an apparently simple principle: "data in, data out." They provide a marketplace for data processing where users request specific jobs (like text translation, content recommendation, or AI text generation)

While DVMs have gained significant traction, the current specification faces challenges that hinder widespread adoption and consistent implementation. This article explores some ideas on how we can apply the reflection pattern, a well established approach in RPC systems, to address these challenges and improve the DVM ecosystem's clarity, consistency, and usability.

The Current State of DVMs: Challenges and Limitations

The NIP-90 specification provides a broad framework for DVMs, but this flexibility has led to several issues:

1. Inconsistent Implementation

As noted by hzrd149 in "DVMs were a mistake" every DVM implementation tends to expect inputs in slightly different formats, even while ostensibly following the same specification. For example, a translation request DVM might expect an event ID in one particular format, while an LLM service could expect a "prompt" input that's not even specified in NIP-90.

2. Fragmented Specifications

The DVM specification reserves a range of event kinds (5000-6000), each meant for different types of computational jobs. While creating sub-specifications for each job type is being explored as a possible solution for clarity, in a decentralized and permissionless landscape like Nostr, relying solely on specification enforcement won't be effective for creating a healthy ecosystem. A more comprehensible approach is needed that works with, rather than against, the open nature of the protocol.

3. Ambiguous API Interfaces

There's no standardized way for clients to discover what parameters a specific DVM accepts, which are required versus optional, or what output format to expect. This creates uncertainty and forces developers to rely on documentation outside the protocol itself, if such documentation exists at all.

The Reflection Pattern: A Solution from RPC Systems

The reflection pattern in RPC systems offers a compelling solution to many of these challenges. At its core, reflection enables servers to provide metadata about their available services, methods, and data types at runtime, allowing clients to dynamically discover and interact with the server's API.

In established RPC frameworks like gRPC, reflection serves as a self-describing mechanism where services expose their interface definitions and requirements. In MCP reflection is used to expose the capabilities of the server, such as tools, resources, and prompts. Clients can learn about available capabilities without prior knowledge, and systems can adapt to changes without requiring rebuilds or redeployments. This standardized introspection creates a unified way to query service metadata, making tools like grpcurl possible without requiring precompiled stubs.

How Reflection Could Transform the DVM Specification

By incorporating reflection principles into the DVM specification, we could create a more coherent and predictable ecosystem. DVMs already implement some sort of reflection through the use of 'nip90params', which allow clients to discover some parameters, constraints, and features of the DVMs, such as whether they accept encryption, nutzaps, etc. However, this approach could be expanded to provide more comprehensive self-description capabilities.

1. Defined Lifecycle Phases

Similar to the Model Context Protocol (MCP), DVMs could benefit from a clear lifecycle consisting of an initialization phase and an operation phase. During initialization, the client and DVM would negotiate capabilities and exchange metadata, with the DVM providing a JSON schema containing its input requirements. nip-89 (or other) announcements can be used to bootstrap the discovery and negotiation process by providing the input schema directly. Then, during the operation phase, the client would interact with the DVM according to the negotiated schema and parameters.

2. Schema-Based Interactions

Rather than relying on rigid specifications for each job type, DVMs could self-advertise their schemas. This would allow clients to understand which parameters are required versus optional, what type validation should occur for inputs, what output formats to expect, and what payment flows are supported. By internalizing the input schema of the DVMs they wish to consume, clients gain clarity on how to interact effectively.

3. Capability Negotiation

Capability negotiation would enable DVMs to advertise their supported features, such as encryption methods, payment options, or specialized functionalities. This would allow clients to adjust their interaction approach based on the specific capabilities of each DVM they encounter.

Implementation Approach

While building DVMCP, I realized that the RPC reflection pattern used there could be beneficial for constructing DVMs in general. Since DVMs already follow an RPC style for their operation, and reflection is a natural extension of this approach, it could significantly enhance and clarify the DVM specification.

A reflection enhanced DVM protocol could work as follows: 1. Discovery: Clients discover DVMs through existing NIP-89 application handlers, input schemas could also be advertised in nip-89 announcements, making the second step unnecessary. 2. Schema Request: Clients request the DVM's input schema for the specific job type they're interested in 3. Validation: Clients validate their request against the provided schema before submission 4. Operation: The job proceeds through the standard NIP-90 flow, but with clearer expectations on both sides

Parallels with Other Protocols

This approach has proven successful in other contexts. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) implements a similar lifecycle with capability negotiation during initialization, allowing any client to communicate with any server as long as they adhere to the base protocol. MCP and DVM protocols share fundamental similarities, both aim to expose and consume computational resources through a JSON-RPC-like interface, albeit with specific differences.

gRPC's reflection service similarly allows clients to discover service definitions at runtime, enabling generic tools to work with any gRPC service without prior knowledge. In the REST API world, OpenAPI/Swagger specifications document interfaces in a way that makes them discoverable and testable.

DVMs would benefit from adopting these patterns while maintaining the decentralized, permissionless nature of Nostr.

Conclusion

I am not attempting to rewrite the DVM specification; rather, explore some ideas that could help the ecosystem improve incrementally, reducing fragmentation and making the ecosystem more comprehensible. By allowing DVMs to self describe their interfaces, we could maintain the flexibility that makes Nostr powerful while providing the structure needed for interoperability.

For developers building DVM clients or libraries, this approach would simplify consumption by providing clear expectations about inputs and outputs. For DVM operators, it would establish a standard way to communicate their service's requirements without relying on external documentation.

I am currently developing DVMCP following these patterns. Of course, DVMs and MCP servers have different details; MCP includes capabilities such as tools, resources, and prompts on the server side, as well as 'roots' and 'sampling' on the client side, creating a bidirectional way to consume capabilities. In contrast, DVMs typically function similarly to MCP tools, where you call a DVM with an input and receive an output, with each job type representing a different categorization of the work performed.

Without further ado, I hope this article has provided some insight into the potential benefits of applying the reflection pattern to the DVM specification.

@ 8cda1daa:e9e5bdd8

Bitcoin cracked the code for money.  Now it's time to rebuild everything else.

What about identity, trust, and collaboration? What about the systems that define how we live, create, and connect?

Bitcoin gave us a blueprint to separate money from the state. But the state still owns most of your digital life. It's time for something more radical.

Welcome to the Atomic Economy - not just a technology stack, but a civil engineering project for the digital age. A complete re-architecture of society, from the individual outward.

The Problem: We Live in Digital Captivity

Let's be blunt: the modern internet is hostile to human freedom.

You don't own your identity. You don't control your data. You don't decide what you see.

Big Tech and state institutions dominate your digital life with one goal: control.

• Poisoned algorithms dictate your emotions and behavior.
• Censorship hides truth and silences dissent.
• Walled gardens lock you into systems you can't escape.
• Extractive platforms monetize your attention and creativity - without your consent.

This isn't innovation. It's digital colonization.

A Vision for Sovereign Society

The Atomic Economy proposes a new design for society - one where: - Individuals own their identity, data, and value. - Trust is contextual, not imposed. - Communities are voluntary, not manufactured by feeds. - Markets are free, not fenced. - Collaboration is peer-to-peer, not platform-mediated.

It's not a political revolution. It's a technological and social reset based on first principles: self-sovereignty, mutualism, and credible exit.

So, What Is the Atomic Economy?

The Atomic Economy is a decentralized digital society where people - not platforms - coordinate identity, trust, and value.

It's built on open protocols, real software, and the ethos of Bitcoin. It's not about abstraction - it's about architecture.

Core Principles: - Self-Sovereignty: Your keys. Your data. Your rules. - Mutual Consensus: Interactions are voluntary and trust-based. - Credible Exit: Leave any system, with your data and identity intact. - Programmable Trust: Trust is explicit, contextual, and revocable. - Circular Economies: Value flows directly between individuals - no middlemen.

The Tech Stack Behind the Vision

The Atomic Economy isn't just theory. It's a layered system with real tools:

1. Payments & Settlement

• Bitcoin & Lightning: The foundation - sound, censorship-resistant money.
• Paykit: Modular payments and settlement flows.
• Atomicity: A peer-to-peer mutual credit protocol for programmable trust and IOUs.

2. Discovery & Matching

• Pubky Core: Decentralized identity and discovery using PKARR and the DHT.
• Pubky Nexus: Indexing for a user-controlled internet.
• Semantic Social Graph: Discovery through social tagging - you are the algorithm.

3. Application Layer

• Bitkit: A self-custodial Bitcoin and Lightning wallet.
• Pubky App: Tag, publish, trade, and interact - on your terms.
• Blocktank: Liquidity services for Lightning and circular economies.
• Pubky Ring: Key-based access control and identity syncing.

These tools don't just integrate - they stack. You build trust, exchange value, and form communities with no centralized gatekeepers.

The Human Impact

This isn't about software. It's about freedom.

• Empowered Individuals: Control your own narrative, value, and destiny.
• Voluntary Communities: Build trust on shared values, not enforced norms.
• Economic Freedom: Trade without permission, borders, or middlemen.
• Creative Renaissance: Innovation and art flourish in open, censorship-resistant systems.

The Atomic Economy doesn't just fix the web. It frees the web.

Why Bitcoiners Should Care

If you believe in Bitcoin, you already believe in the Atomic Economy - you just haven't seen the full map yet.

• It extends Bitcoin's principles beyond money: into identity, trust, coordination.
• It defends freedom where Bitcoin leaves off: in content, community, and commerce.
• It offers a credible exit from every centralized system you still rely on.
• It's how we win - not just economically, but culturally and socially.

This isn't "web3." This isn't another layer of grift. It's the Bitcoin future - fully realized.

Join the Atomic Revolution

• If you're a builder: fork the code, remix the ideas, expand the protocols.
• If you're a user: adopt Bitkit, use Pubky, exit the digital plantation.
• If you're an advocate: share the vision. Help people imagine a free society again.

Bitcoin promised a revolution. The Atomic Economy delivers it.

Let's reclaim society, one key at a time.

Learn more and build with us at Synonym.to.

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

Bitcoin is widely recognized as the first and most important innovation in the field of digital currencies. Created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, it laid the foundation for a decentralized financial system. Since then, thousands of other digital currencies have emerged - often referred to as cryptocurrencies or even "shitcoins" by critics, who highlight their volatility, lack of clear utility, or centralized control. Comparing Bitcoin to other cryptocurrencies is essential to understanding the unique values that Bitcoin represents.

Bitcoin was created as an alternative to the traditional financial system. Its core mission is to provide a decentralized, censorship-resistant currency free from intermediaries like banks or governments.

In contrast, most other cryptocurrencies/shitcoins were created with different goals, ranging from technological experiments to quick-profit schemes. Many of these coins lack the decentralization and security of Bitcoin, and are often managed by centralized teams or organizations - making them more vulnerable to manipulation and security failures.

• Decentralization and Security

Bitcoin: The Bitcoin network is supported by thousands of nodes around the world, ensuring true decentralization. Its consensus algorithm, Proof of Work (PoW), is time-tested and provides high levels of security against attacks. There is no centralized control, meaning no entity can change its fundamental rules.

Other Cryptocurrencies/Shitcoins: Almost all of them sacrifice decentralization in favor of speed or added features. Some use alternative consensus mechanisms like Proof of Stake (PoS), which, while more energy-efficient, are often criticized for promoting centralization and offering lower security. In many cases, centralized development teams can modify the code, issue more coins, or even shut down the project - undermining user trust.

• Supply and Scarcity

Bitcoin: Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million units, ensuring its scarcity. This feature, combined with increasing demand, positions Bitcoin as a reliable store of value, often compared to digital gold.

Other Cryptocurrencies/Shitcoins: Many have no clear supply limits, resulting in uncontrolled inflation. Some are intentionally inflationary, which can decrease their value over time. In many cases, coins are pre-mined or distributed unevenly, favoring creators over the community.

• Purpose and Utility

Bitcoin: Bitcoin is, above all, a form of digital money and a store of value. Its network is reliable and straightforward, with a core focus on being a medium of exchange and a hedge against inflation. Its robustness makes it ideal for both transactions and long-term value storage.

Other Cryptocurrencies/Shitcoins: Many shitcoins are presented as solutions for specific use cases like smart contracts, gaming, or decentralized finance (DeFi). Despite bold promises, many fail to provide real utility or to compete with existing centralized solutions. A significant number of projects lack a clear purpose and are abandoned after a period of speculation.

• Volatility and Reputation

Bitcoin: While Bitcoin is volatile, it is widely accepted as the gold standard of digital currencies. Its reputation has been built over more than a decade of reliable operation and proven security.

Other Cryptocurrencies/Shitcoins: Many shitcoins face extreme volatility, often driven by speculation or market manipulation. Lack of transparency and questionable practices by some projects harm the sector's overall image.

• Censorship Resistance

Bitcoin: Thanks to its decentralization and security, Bitcoin is highly resistant to censorship. Anyone with internet access can participate in the network and make transactions.

Other Cryptocurrencies/Shitcoins: Many "shitcoins" depend on centralized structures or identifiable leaders who can be pressured by governments or other actors to censor transactions.

In summary, Bitcoin remains the undisputed leader in the world of digital currencies due to its decentralization, security, and proven scarcity. It is a system built to last, offering financial freedom and protection against inflation.

Meanwhile, many cryptocurrencies or shitcoins fail to meet the same standards of security and trust - often prioritizing speed, extra features, or speculative profits. For investors and users, it is crucial to distinguish between Bitcoin and the many alternative projects, many of which may not stand the test of time.

Bitcoin not only started a financial revolution but continues to be the benchmark by which all other digital currencies are measured.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 7460b7fd:4fc4e74b

PR 32359：取消 OP_RETURN 字节限制提案深入分析

提案概述及代码变更内容

提案背景与意图：比特币核心当前对交易中的 OP_RETURN 输出（数据载体输出）有严格限制：默认最多允许单个 OP_RETURN 输出，且其 scriptPubKey 大小不超过 83 字节（约80字节数据加上OP_RETURN和Pushdata前缀）groups.google.com。这一标准规则旨在轻度阻碍链上存储大量任意数据，鼓励将非金融数据以“更无害”的方式存入链上（比如用OP_RETURN而非可花费的UTXO输出）groups.google.com。然而随着时间推移，这一限制并未阻止用户将数据写入区块链，反而促使开发者设计各种变通方案绕过限制。例如，近期 Citrea Clementine 协议（闪电网络相关项目）因为OP_RETURN容量不足，而改用不可花费的Taproot输出来存储所需数据groups.google.com。这样的做法导致大量小额UTXO留存在UTXO集，对全节点造成负担，被视为比使用OP_RETURN更有害的副作用github.com。基于此背景，Bitcoin Core 开发者 Peter Todd（与 Chaincode 实验室的 Antoine Poinsot 等人）提出了 PR #32359，意在解除OP_RETURN的字节大小限制，以消除这种“适得其反”的限制策略groups.google.comgithub.com。

**代码变更要点：**该PR主要修改了与标准交易校验和策略配置相关的代码，包括移除 script/standard.cpp 中对OP_RETURN输出大小和数量的检查，以及删除策略配置选项 -datacarrier 和 -datacarriersizegithub.com。具体而言：

• 取消OP_RETURN大小限制：删除了判断OP_RETURN数据长度是否超过 MAX_OP_RETURN_RELAY（83字节）的标准性检查。此后，交易中的OP_RETURN输出脚本长度将不再被固定上限限制，只要满足区块重量等共识规则即可（理论上可嵌入远大于83字节的数据）github.comgroups.google.com。PR说明中明确提到移除了这些限制的执行代码github.com。相应地，-datacarriersize 配置参数被删除，因为其存在意义（设置OP_RETURN字节上限）已不复存在github.com。此前 -datacarriersize 默认为83，当用户调高该值时节点可接受更大数据载体输出；而现在代码中已无此参数，节点将无条件接受任意大小的OP_RETURN输出。

• 移除OP_RETURN输出数量限制：原先比特币核心默认策略还规定每笔交易最多只有一个OP_RETURN输出是标准的，多于一个即视为非标准交易（拒绝中继）bitcoin.stackexchange.com。该PR同样意在取消此“任意”限制groups.google.com。修改中移除了对 nDataOut（OP_RETURN输出计数）的检查，即允许一笔交易包含多个OP_RETURN输出而仍被视作标准交易。之前的代码若检测到 nDataOut > 1 会返回“multi-op-return”的拒绝原因github.com；PR删除了这一段逻辑，相应的功能测试也更新或移除了对“multi-op-return”非标准原因的断言github.com。

• 保留标准形式要求：值得注意的是，OP_RETURN输出的形式要求仍保留。PR描述中强调“数据载体输出的形式仍保持标准化：脚本以单个 OP_RETURN 开头，后跟任意数量的数据推字节；不允许非数据类的其他脚本操作码”github.com。也就是说，虽然大小和数量限制解除了，但OP_RETURN脚本内容只能是纯数据，不能夹带其他执行opcode。这保证了这些输出依然是“不可花费”的纯数据输出，不会改变它们对UTXO集的影响（不会增加UTXO）。

综上，PR #32359 的核心改动在策略层面放宽了对 OP_RETURN 的限制，删除了相关配置和检查，使节点默认接受任意大小、任意数量的 OP_RETURN 数据输出。同时维持其基本形式（OP_RETURN+数据）以确保此变更不会引入其它类型的非标准交易格式。

改动层级：策略规则 vs 共识规则

该提案属于策略层（policy-level）的更改，而非共识层规则的更改。也就是说，它影响的是节点对交易的_中继、存储和打包_策略，而不改变交易或区块在链上的有效性判定。OP_RETURN字节上限和数量限制从一开始就是标准性约束（Standardness），并非比特币共识协议的一部分groups.google.com。因此，移除这些限制不会导致旧节点与新节点产生区块共识分歧。具体理由如下：

• 无共识规则变动：原有的83字节上限只是节点默认_拒绝转发/挖矿_超限交易的规则，但如果矿工强行将超83字节的OP_RETURN交易打包进区块，所有遵循共识规则的节点（包括未升级的旧节点）依然会接受该区块。因为共识层并没有“OP_RETURN大小不得超过83字节”的规定github.com。正如开发者所指出的，现行的OP_RETURN限制属于“standardness rules”，其约束可以被轻易绕过，并不影响交易的最终有效性github.com。Peter Todd 在评论中强调，为真正禁止链上发布任意数据，必须修改比特币的共识协议，而这在现实中几乎不可能实施github.com。

• **旧节点兼容性：**由于没有引入新的脚本opcode或共识验证规则，旧版本节点即使不升级，仍然会承认包含大OP_RETURN输出的区块为有效。换言之，不存在分叉风险。旧节点唯一的区别是仍会按照老策略拒绝中继此类交易，但一旦交易被打包进区块，它们仍会接受github.com。正因如此，这一提议不会引发硬分叉，只是改变默认策略。

• **策略可自行定制：**另外，正如PR作者所言，这纯粹是默认策略的调整，用户依然可以选择运行修改版的软件继续实施先前的限制。例如，Peter Todd提到有替代实现（如 Bitcoin Knots）可以继续强制这些限制github.com。因此，这并非要“强制”所有节点解除限制，而是主流软件默认策略的演进。

需要澄清的是，有反对者担心解除限制可能扩大攻击面（下文详述），但这些都是针对节点资源和网络层面的影响，而非共识层安全性问题。总的来看，PR #32359 是策略层改进，与先前如RBF默认开启、逐渐弱化非标准交易限制等改变类似，其出发点在于网络行为而非协议规则本身。

对闪电网络节点和交易验证的影响

对链上验证的影响：由于这是策略层变更，交易和区块的验证规则并未改变，因此运行旧版本 Bitcoin Core 的闪电网络节点在共识上不会出现任何问题。闪电网络全节点通常依赖比特币全节点来跟踪链上交易，它们关心的是交易确认和共识有效性。解除OP_RETURN限制并不会使旧节点拒绝新区块，因而不会造成闪电通道关闭交易或HTLC交易在旧节点上验签失败等情况。换句话说，不升级Bitcoin Core软件的LN节点仍可正常参与链上共识，无需担心链上交易验证兼容性。

对节点中继和资源的影响：主要影响在于网络传播和资源占用。如果闪电网络节点所连接的Bitcoin Core没有升级，它将不会中继或存储那些含有超大OP_RETURN的未确认交易（因为旧版本视之为非标准交易）。这可能导致未升级节点的内存池与升级节点不一致：某些在新版节点中合法存在的交易，在旧版中被拒之门外。不过这通常不影响闪电网络的运行，因为闪电通道相关交易本身不会包含OP_RETURN数据输出。此外，当这些交易被矿工打包进区块后，旧节点依然会接收到区块并处理。所以，即便LN节点的后端Bitcoin Core未升级，最坏情形只是它在交易未打包时可能感知不到这些“大数据”交易，但这通常无碍于闪电网络功能（闪电网络主要关心的是通道交易的确认情况）。

升级的好处和必要性：从闪电网络生态来看，放宽OP_RETURN限制反而可能带来一些正面作用。正如前述，已有闪电网络周边项目因为83字节限制不足，转而使用不可花费输出存储数据groups.google.com。例如 Antoine Poinsot 在邮件列表中提到的 Clementine 协议，将某些watchtower挑战数据存进Taproot输出，因为OP_RETURN容量不够groups.google.com。解除限制后，此类应用完全可以改用更友好的OP_RETURN输出来存储数据，不再制造永久占据UTXO集的“垃圾”UTXOgithub.com。因此，闪电网络的watchtower、跨链桥等组件若需要在链上写入证据数据，将可直接利用更大的OP_RETURN输出，网络整体效率和健壮性都会提升。

需要注意的是，如果PR最终被合并并广泛部署，闪电网络节点运营者应该升级其Bitcoin Core后端以跟上新的默认策略。升级后，其节点将和大多数网络节点一样中继和接受大OP_RETURN交易，确保自己的内存池和网络同步，不会漏掉一些潜在相关交易（尽管目前来看，这些交易对LN通道本身并无直接关联）。总之，从兼容性看不升级没有致命问题，但从网络参与度和功能上看，升级是有益的。

潜在的间接影响：反对者提出，解除限制可能导致区块和内存池充斥更多任意数据，从而推高链上手续费、影响闪电通道关闭时所需的手续费估计。例如，如果大量大OP_RETURN交易占据区块空间，链上拥堵加剧，LN通道关闭需要支付更高费用才能及时确认。这其实是一般性拥堵问题，并非LN特有的兼容性问题。支持者则认为，这正是自由市场作用的体现，使用链上空间就该竞争付费github.com。无论如何，闪电网络作为二层方案，其优势在于减少链上交互频率，链上手续费市场的变化对LN有影响但不改变其运行逻辑。LN节点只需确保其Bitcoin Core正常运行、及时跟上链上状态即可。

开发者讨论焦点：支持与反对观点

PR #32359 在开发者社区引发了激烈讨论，支持者和反对者针锋相对，各自提出了有力的论据。以下总结双方主要观点：

• 支持方观点：

• 当前限制无效且适得其反：支持者强调83字节上限并未阻止人们在链上存数据，反而促使更有害的行为。Peter Todd指出，很多协议改用不可花费UTXO或在scriptsig中藏数据来绕过OP_RETURN限制，结果增加了UTXO集膨胀，这是限制OP_RETURN带来的反效果github.com。与其如此，不如移除限制，让数据都写入可被丢弃的OP_RETURN输出，避免UTXO污染github.comgithub.com。正如一位支持者所言：“与其让尘埃UTXO永远留在UTXO集合，不如使用可证明不可花费的输出（OP_RETURN）”github.com。

• **限制易被绕过，增添维护负担：**由于有些矿工或服务商（如MARA Slipstream私有广播）本就接受大OP_RETURN交易，这一限制对有心者来说形同虚设github.com。同时，存在维护这个限制的代码和配置选项，增加了节点实现复杂度。Todd认为，与其让Bitcoin Core承担维护“低效甚至有害”的限制，不如干脆取消，有需要的人可以使用其他软件实现自己的政策github.com。他提到有替代的Bitcoin Knots节点可自行过滤“垃圾”交易，但没必要要求Bitcoin Core默认坚持这些无效限制github.com。

• 尊重自由市场，拥抱链上数据用例：部分支持者从理念上认为，比特币区块空间的使用应交由手续费市场决定，而不应由节点软件做人为限制。著名开发者 Jameson Lopp 表示，是时候承认“有人就是想用比特币做数据锚定”，我们应当提供更优方式满足这种需求，而不是一味阻碍github.com。他认为用户既然愿意付费存数据，就说明这种行为对他们有价值，矿工也有动力处理；网络层不应进行过度的“父爱”式管制github.com。对于反对者所称“大数据交易会挤占区块、抬高手续费”，Lopp直言“这本来就是区块空间市场运作方式”，愿付高费者得以优先确认，无可厚非github.com。

• 统一与简化策略：还有支持者指出，既然限制容易绕过且逐渐没人遵守，那保留它只会造成节点之间策略不一致，反而增加网络复杂性。通过取消限制，所有核心节点一致地接受任意大小OP_RETURN，可避免因为策略差异导致的网络孤块或中继不畅（尽管共识不受影响，但策略不一致会带来一些网络层问题）。同时删除相关配置项，意味着简化用户配置，减少困惑和误用。Peter Todd在回应保留配置选项的建议时提到，Bitcoin Core在Full-RBF功能上也曾移除过用户可选项，直接默认启用，因为现实证明矿工最终都会朝盈利的方向调整策略，节点自行设置反而无济于事github.com。他以RBF为例：在Core开启默认Full-RBF之前，矿工几乎已经100%自行采用了RBF策略，因此保留开关意义不大github.com。类比来看，数据交易也是如此：如果有利可图，矿工终会打包，无论节点是否选择不转发。

• 反对方观点：

• 去除限制会放松对垃圾交易的防线：反对者担心，一旦解除OP_RETURN限制，链上将出现更多纯粹存储数据的“垃圾”交易，给网络带来DoS攻击和资源消耗风险。开发者 BrazyDevelopment 详细描述了可能被加剧的攻击向量github.com：首先，“Flood-and-Loot”攻击——攻击者构造带有巨大OP_RETURN数据的低价值交易（符合共识规则，多笔交易可达数MB数据），疯狂填充各节点的内存池。github.com这样会占满节点内存和带宽，延迟正常交易的传播和确认，并推高手续费竞争。github.com虽然节点有maxmempool大小限制和最低中继费率等机制，但这些机制基于常规交易行为调校，面对异常海量的数据交易可能捉襟见肘github.com。其次，“RBF替换循环”攻击——攻击者可以利用无需额外费用的RBF替换，不断发布和替换包含大OP_RETURN的数据交易，在内存池中反复占据空间却不被确认，从而扰乱手续费市场和内存池秩序github.com。反对者认为，移除大小上限将使上述攻击更廉价、更容易实施github.com。他们主张即便要放宽，也应设定一个“高但合理”的上限（例如100KB），或在内存池压力大时动态调整限制，以保护较小资源节点的运行github.com。

• 用户丧失自定义策略的权利：一些开发者反对彻底删掉 -datacarrier 和 -datacarriersize 选项。他们认为即使大势所趋是接受更多数据，也应保留用户自主选择的空间。正如开发者 BitcoinMechanic 所言：“矿工接受大数据交易不代表用户就不能选择自己的内存池装些什么”github.com。目前用户可以通过配置将-datacarrier设为0（不中继OP_RETURN交易）或者调低-datacarriersize来严格限制自己节点的策略。直接去除这些选项，会让那些出于各种考虑（如运营受限资源节点、防范垃圾数据）的用户失去控制权。从这个角度看，反对者认为限制应该由用户 opt-in 地解除，而不是一刀切放开。开发者 Retropex 也表示：“如果矿工想要更大的数据载体交易，他们完全可以自行调整这些设置…没有理由剥夺矿工和节点运营者做选择的权利”github.com。

• 此改动非必要且不符合部分用户利益：有反对意见认为当前83字节其实已经能覆盖绝大多数合理应用需求，更大的数据上链并非比特币设计初衷。他们担心放开限制会鼓励把比特币区块链当作任意数据存储层，偏离“点对点电子现金”主线，可能带来长期的链膨胀问题。这一阵营有人将此争议上升为理念之争：是坚持比特币作为金融交易为主，还是开放成为通用数据区块链？有评论形容这场拉锯“有点类似2017年的扩容之争”，虽然本质不同（一个是共识层区块大小辩论，一个是策略层数据使用辩论），但双方观点分歧同样明显99bitcoins.com99bitcoins.com。一些反对者（如Luke Dashjr等）长期主张减少非必要的数据上链，此次更是明确 Concept NACK。Luke-Jr 认为，其实完全可以通过引入地址格式变化等办法来识别并限制存数据的交易，而不需要动用共识层改动github.com（虽然他也承认这会非常激进和不现实，但以此反驳“除了改共识无计可施”的观点）。总之，反对者倾向于维持现状：代码里已有的限制无需移除，至少不应在无压倒性共识下贸然改变github.com。

• 社区共识不足：许多开发者在GitHub上给出了“Concept NACK”（概念上不支持）的评价。一位参与者感叹：“又来？两年前讨论过的理由现在依然适用”github.com。在PR的Review日志中，可以看到反对此提案的活跃贡献者数量明显多于支持者github.com。例如，反对阵营包括 Luke-Jr、BitcoinMechanic、CryptoGuida、1ma 等众多开发者和社区成员，而支持此提案的核心开发者相对少一些（包括Jameson Lopp、Sjöors、Sergio Demian Lerner等）github.com。这种意见分裂显示出社区对取消OP_RETURN限制尚未达成广泛共识。一些反对者还担忧这么大的改动可能引发社区矛盾，甚至有人夸张地提到可能出现新的链分叉风险99bitcoins.com99bitcoins.com（虽然实际上由于不涉及共识，硬分叉风险很小，但社区内部分歧确实存在）。

综上，支持者聚焦于提高链上效率、顺应实际需求和减轻UTXO负担，认为解除限制利大于弊；而反对者强调网络稳健、安全和用户自主，担心轻易放开会招致滥用和攻击。双方在GitHub上的讨论异常热烈，很多评论获得了数十个👍或👎表态，可见整个社区对此议题的关注度之高github.comgithub.com。

PR当前状态及后续展望

截至目前（2025年5月初），PR #32359 仍处于开放讨论阶段，并未被合并。鉴于该提案在概念上收到了众多 NACK，缺乏开发者间的明确共识，短期内合并的可能性不大。GitHub 上的自动统计显示，给予“Concept NACK”的评审者数量显著超过“Concept ACK”的数量github.com。这表明在Bitcoin Core维护者看来，社区对是否采纳此改动存在明显分歧。按照 Bitcoin Core 一贯的谨慎作风，当一个提案存在较大争议时，通常会被搁置或要求进一步修改、讨论，而不会仓促合并。

目前，该PR正等待进一步的评审和讨论。有开发者提出了替代方案或折中思路。例如，Bitcoin Core维护者 instagibbs 提交了相关的 PR #32406，提议仅取消默认的OP_RETURN大小上限（等效于将-datacarriersize默认提高到极大），但保留配置选项，从而在不牺牲用户选择权的情况下实现功能开放github.com。这表明部分反对者并非完全拒绝放宽限制，而是希望以更温和的方式推进。PR #32359 与这些提案互相冲突，需要协调出统一的方案github.com。另外，也有开发者建议在测试网上模拟大OP_RETURN交易的攻击场景，以评估风险、说服怀疑者github.com。

审议状态总结：综合来看，PR #32359 尚未接近合并，更谈不上被正式接受进入下一个Bitcoin Core版本。它既没有被关闭（拒绝），也没有快速进入最终review/merge阶段，而是停留在激烈讨论中。目前Bitcoin Core的维护者并未给出明确的合并时间表，反而是在鼓励社区充分讨论其利弊。未来的走向可能有几种：要么提案经过修改（例如保留配置项、增加安全机制等）逐渐赢得共识后合并，要么维持搁置等待更明确的社区信号。此外，不排除开发者转而采用渐进路线——例如先在测试网络取消限制试验，或先提高上限值而非彻底移除，以观察效果。也有可能此提案最终会因共识不足而长期悬而不决。

总之，OP_RETURN字节限制之争体现了比特币开发中策略层决策的审慎和平衡：需要在创新开放与稳健保守之间找到折衷。PR #32359 所引发的讨论仍在持续，它的意义在于促使社区重新审视链上数据存储的策略取舍。无论最终结果如何，这一讨论本身对比特币的发展具有积极意义，因为它让开发者和社区更加清晰地权衡了比特币作为数据载体和价值载体的定位。我们将持续关注该提案的进展，以及围绕它所展开的进一步测试和论证。github.comgroups.google.com

引用来源：

• Bitcoin Core PR #32359 提案内容github.comgithub.com及开发者讨论（Peter Todd评论github.comgithub.com等）

• Bitcoin Dev 邮件列表讨论帖：《Relax OP_RETURN standardness restrictions》groups.google.comgroups.google.com

• GitHub 开发者评论摘录：支持意见（Jameson Loppgithub.com等）与反对意见（BitcoinMechanicgithub.com、BrazyDevelopmentgithub.com等）

• Bitcoin Core PR 评论自动统计（Concept ACK/NACK 汇总）github.com

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

O Contexto Legal Brasileiro e o Consentimento

No ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, o consentimento do ofendido pode, em certas circunstâncias, afastar a ilicitude de um ato que, sem ele, configuraria crime (como lesão corporal leve, prevista no Art. 129 do Código Penal). Contudo, o consentimento tem limites claros: não é válido para bens jurídicos indisponíveis, como a vida, e sua eficácia é questionável em casos de lesões corporais graves ou gravíssimas.

A prática de BDSM consensual situa-se em uma zona complexa. Em tese, se ambos os parceiros são adultos, capazes, e consentiram livre e informadamente nos atos praticados, sem que resultem em lesões graves permanentes ou risco de morte não consentido, não haveria crime. O desafio reside na comprovação desse consentimento, especialmente se uma das partes, posteriormente, o negar ou alegar coação.

A Lei Maria da Penha (Lei nº 11.340/2006)

A Lei Maria da Penha é um marco fundamental na proteção da mulher contra a violência doméstica e familiar. Ela estabelece mecanismos para coibir e prevenir tal violência, definindo suas formas (física, psicológica, sexual, patrimonial e moral) e prevendo medidas protetivas de urgência.

Embora essencial, a aplicação da lei em contextos de BDSM pode ser delicada. Uma alegação de violência por parte da mulher, mesmo que as lesões ou situações decorram de práticas consensuais, tende a receber atenção prioritária das autoridades, dada a presunção de vulnerabilidade estabelecida pela lei. Isso pode criar um cenário onde o parceiro masculino enfrenta dificuldades significativas em demonstrar a natureza consensual dos atos, especialmente se não houver provas robustas pré-constituídas.

Outros riscos:

Lesão corporal grave ou gravíssima (art. 129, §§ 1º e 2º, CP), não pode ser justificada pelo consentimento, podendo ensejar persecução penal.

Crimes contra a dignidade sexual (arts. 213 e seguintes do CP) são de ação pública incondicionada e independem de representação da vítima para a investigação e denúncia.

Riscos de Falsas Acusações e Alegação de Coação Futura

Os riscos para os praticantes de BDSM, especialmente para o parceiro que assume o papel dominante ou que inflige dor/restrição (frequentemente, mas não exclusivamente, o homem), podem surgir de diversas frentes:

1. Acusações Externas: Vizinhos, familiares ou amigos que desconhecem a natureza consensual do relacionamento podem interpretar sons, marcas ou comportamentos como sinais de abuso e denunciar às autoridades.
2. Alegações Futuras da Parceira: Em caso de término conturbado, vingança, arrependimento ou mudança de perspectiva, a parceira pode reinterpretar as práticas passadas como abuso e buscar reparação ou retaliação através de uma denúncia. A alegação pode ser de que o consentimento nunca existiu ou foi viciado.
3. Alegação de Coação: Uma das formas mais complexas de refutar é a alegação de que o consentimento foi obtido mediante coação (física, moral, psicológica ou econômica). A parceira pode alegar, por exemplo, que se sentia pressionada, intimidada ou dependente, e que seu "sim" não era genuíno. Provar a ausência de coação a posteriori é extremamente difícil.
4. Ingenuidade e Vulnerabilidade Masculina: Muitos homens, confiando na dinâmica consensual e na parceira, podem negligenciar a necessidade de precauções. A crença de que "isso nunca aconteceria comigo" ou a falta de conhecimento sobre as implicações legais e o peso processual de uma acusação no âmbito da Lei Maria da Penha podem deixá-los vulneráveis. A presença de marcas físicas, mesmo que consentidas, pode ser usada como evidência de agressão, invertendo o ônus da prova na prática, ainda que não na teoria jurídica.

Estratégias de Prevenção e Mitigação

Não existe um método infalível para evitar completamente o risco de uma falsa acusação, mas diversas medidas podem ser adotadas para construir um histórico de consentimento e reduzir vulnerabilidades:

1. Comunicação Explícita e Contínua: A base de qualquer prática BDSM segura é a comunicação constante. Negociar limites, desejos, palavras de segurança ("safewords") e expectativas antes, durante e depois das cenas é crucial. Manter registros dessas negociações (e-mails, mensagens, diários compartilhados) pode ser útil.

2. Documentação do Consentimento:

   • Contratos de Relacionamento/Cena: Embora a validade jurídica de "contratos BDSM" seja discutível no Brasil (não podem afastar normas de ordem pública), eles servem como forte evidência da intenção das partes, da negociação detalhada de limites e do consentimento informado. Devem ser claros, datados, assinados e, idealmente, reconhecidos em cartório (para prova de data e autenticidade das assinaturas).

   • Registros Audiovisuais: Gravar (com consentimento explícito para a gravação) discussões sobre consentimento e limites antes das cenas pode ser uma prova poderosa. Gravar as próprias cenas é mais complexo devido a questões de privacidade e potencial uso indevido, mas pode ser considerado em casos específicos, sempre com consentimento mútuo documentado para a gravação.

     Importante: a gravação deve ser com ciência da outra parte, para não configurar violação da intimidade (art. 5º, X, da Constituição Federal e art. 20 do Código Civil).

3. Testemunhas: Em alguns contextos de comunidade BDSM, a presença de terceiros de confiança durante negociações ou mesmo cenas pode servir como testemunho, embora isso possa alterar a dinâmica íntima do casal.

4. Estabelecimento Claro de Limites e Palavras de Segurança: Definir e respeitar rigorosamente os limites (o que é permitido, o que é proibido) e as palavras de segurança é fundamental. O desrespeito a uma palavra de segurança encerra o consentimento para aquele ato.
5. Avaliação Contínua do Consentimento: O consentimento não é um cheque em branco; ele deve ser entusiástico, contínuo e revogável a qualquer momento. Verificar o bem-estar do parceiro durante a cena ("check-ins") é essencial.
6. Discrição e Cuidado com Evidências Físicas: Ser discreto sobre a natureza do relacionamento pode evitar mal-entendidos externos. Após cenas que deixem marcas, é prudente que ambos os parceiros estejam cientes e de acordo, talvez documentando por fotos (com data) e uma nota sobre a consensualidade da prática que as gerou.
7. Aconselhamento Jurídico Preventivo: Consultar um advogado especializado em direito de família e criminal, com sensibilidade para dinâmicas de relacionamento alternativas, pode fornecer orientação personalizada sobre as melhores formas de documentar o consentimento e entender os riscos legais específicos.

Observações Importantes

• Nenhuma documentação substitui a necessidade de consentimento real, livre, informado e contínuo.
• A lei brasileira protege a "integridade física" e a "dignidade humana". Práticas que resultem em lesões graves ou que violem a dignidade de forma não consentida (ou com consentimento viciado) serão ilegais, independentemente de qualquer acordo prévio.
• Em caso de acusação, a existência de documentação robusta de consentimento não garante a absolvição, mas fortalece significativamente a defesa, ajudando a demonstrar a natureza consensual da relação e das práticas.

• A alegação de coação futura é particularmente difícil de prevenir apenas com documentos. Um histórico consistente de comunicação aberta (whatsapp/telegram/e-mails), respeito mútuo e ausência de dependência ou controle excessivo na relação pode ajudar a contextualizar a dinâmica como não coercitiva.

• Cuidado com Marcas Visíveis e Lesões Graves Práticas que resultam em hematomas severos ou lesões podem ser interpretadas como agressão, mesmo que consentidas. Evitar excessos protege não apenas a integridade física, mas também evita questionamentos legais futuros.

O que vem a ser consentimento viciado

No Direito, consentimento viciado é quando a pessoa concorda com algo, mas a vontade dela não é livre ou plena — ou seja, o consentimento existe formalmente, mas é defeituoso por alguma razão.

O Código Civil brasileiro (art. 138 a 165) define várias formas de vício de consentimento. As principais são:

Erro: A pessoa se engana sobre o que está consentindo. (Ex.: A pessoa acredita que vai participar de um jogo leve, mas na verdade é exposta a práticas pesadas.)

Dolo: A pessoa é enganada propositalmente para aceitar algo. (Ex.: Alguém mente sobre o que vai acontecer durante a prática.)

Coação: A pessoa é forçada ou ameaçada a consentir. (Ex.: "Se você não aceitar, eu termino com você" — pressão emocional forte pode ser vista como coação.)

Estado de perigo ou lesão: A pessoa aceita algo em situação de necessidade extrema ou abuso de sua vulnerabilidade. (Ex.: Alguém em situação emocional muito fragilizada é induzida a aceitar práticas que normalmente recusaria.)

No contexto de BDSM, isso é ainda mais delicado: Mesmo que a pessoa tenha "assinado" um contrato ou dito "sim", se depois ela alegar que seu consentimento foi dado sob medo, engano ou pressão psicológica, o consentimento pode ser considerado viciado — e, portanto, juridicamente inválido.

Isso tem duas implicações sérias:

1. O crime não se descaracteriza: Se houver vício, o consentimento é ignorado e a prática pode ser tratada como crime normal (lesão corporal, estupro, tortura, etc.).

2. A prova do consentimento precisa ser sólida: Mostrando que a pessoa estava informada, lúcida, livre e sem qualquer tipo de coação.

   Consentimento viciado é quando a pessoa concorda formalmente, mas de maneira enganada, forçada ou pressionada, tornando o consentimento inútil para efeitos jurídicos.

Conclusão

Casais que praticam BDSM consensual no Brasil navegam em um terreno que exige não apenas confiança mútua e comunicação excepcional, mas também uma consciência aguçada das complexidades legais e dos riscos de interpretações equivocadas ou acusações mal-intencionadas. Embora o BDSM seja uma expressão legítima da sexualidade humana, sua prática no Brasil exige responsabilidade redobrada. Ter provas claras de consentimento, manter a comunicação aberta e agir com prudência são formas eficazes de se proteger de falsas alegações e preservar a liberdade e a segurança de todos os envolvidos. Embora leis controversas como a Maria da Penha sejam "vitais" para a proteção contra a violência real, os praticantes de BDSM, e em particular os homens nesse contexto, devem adotar uma postura proativa e prudente para mitigar os riscos inerentes à potencial má interpretação ou instrumentalização dessas práticas e leis, garantindo que a expressão de sua consensualidade esteja resguardada na medida do possível.

---

Importante: No Brasil, mesmo com tudo isso, o Ministério Público pode denunciar por crime como lesão corporal grave, estupro ou tortura, independente de consentimento. Então a prudência nas práticas é fundamental.

Aviso Legal: Este artigo tem caráter meramente informativo e não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. As leis e interpretações podem mudar, e cada situação é única. Recomenda-se buscar orientação de um advogado qualificado para discutir casos específicos.

Se curtiu este artigo faça uma contribuição, se tiver algum ponto relevante para o artigo deixe seu comentário.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Design and build chemical processes, better. Alkali is creating the world's first AI Process Engineer.

What the future of chemical process design should look like.

Under the hood, APE-0 uses tried-and-true open-source packages to run simulations. You don't have to trust that the LLM predicted the result — you can check out the simulation file it produced, and run it yourself!

Discover more at https://www.alkali-eng.com/blogs/introducing-fel-0

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968211

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

The mystical d attribute in SVG paths is actually a series of small commands. In this guide, we'll take a look at each path command and how we can use them to draw icons. Read more at https://www.nan.fyi/svg-paths

I you'd like to learn Interactive SVG Animations, here a text-based mini-course on making whimsical, playful SVG animations https://www.svg-animations.how/

credits: @nandafyi

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968195

@ 56cd780f:cbde8b29

[Test3] Trying to show subtitle

Is it actually called “summary”?

@ 24462930:3caf03ab

Nostr 中所有的数据都是事件，通过将事件存储在多个中继器上来实现去中心化，通过签名来证明事件的拥有者。但如果你想真正拥有你的事件，你应该运行一个自己的中继器来保存它们。否则一旦你使用的所有中继器出了故障或者刻意删除了你的事件，你将永远丢失它们。

对于大部份人来说，运行一个中继器是复杂的，成本高昂的。为了解决这个问题，我开发了 nostr-relay-tray，这是一款可以很方便在个人电脑上运行的中继器，并且支持通过互联网对其进行访问。

项目地址：https://github.com/CodyTseng/nostr-relay-tray

本文将介绍如何使用 nostr-relay-tray 来运行一个自己的中继器。

下载

从 GitHub Release 页面 下载对应你操作系统的安装包

| 操作系统 | 文件格式 | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | Windows | nostr-relay-tray.Setup.x.x.x.exe | | macOS (Apple Silicon) | nostr-relay-tray-x.x.x-arm64.dmg | | macOS (Intel) | nostr-relay-tray-x.x.x.dmg | | Linux | 你们应该知道使用哪个 |

安装

因为我没有对这个安装包进行数字签名，所以在安装时会有一些阻碍。安装成功后，菜单栏会出现一个鸵鸟图标。点击鸵鸟图标，你会看到一个菜单，点击 "Dashboard" 选项可以打开中继器的控制面板进行更多的配置。

macOS 用户注意：

• 首次打开时需要前往「系统设置 > 隐私与安全性」点击“仍要打开”按钮。
• 若遇损坏提示，需要在终端执行以下命令解除限制：

bash sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/nostr-relay-tray.app

Windows 用户：

• 在安全警告界面点击「更多信息 > 仍要运行」

连接

默认情况下，nostr-relay-tray 只能在本地通过 ws://localhost:4869/ 进行访问。这让它的用途非常有限，所以我们需要将它暴露到互联网。

在控制面板中点击 "Proxy" 选项卡，并打开开关。你将会获得一个 "Public address"，你可以使用这个地址在任何地方访问你的中继器。就是这么简单。

接下来，你要将刚刚获得的地址添加到你的中继器列表中。并且要让它在列表中尽可能靠前的位置。因为大部份的客户端会优先连接列表中靠前的中继器，后面的中继器常常会被忽略。

限制

接下来我们需要增加一些限制来防止中继器保存一些与你无关的事件，浪费存储空间。nostr-relay-tray 可以非常灵活精细地设置允许接收哪些事件，但有些复杂，所以不在这里介绍，如果有兴趣可以日后探索。

在这里我先介绍一个很简单有效的策略 —— WoT (Web of Trust)。你可以在 "WoT & PoW" 选项卡中打开这个功能。打开之前你需要先输入你的 pubkey。

这里还有一个非常重要的参数 Depth，它表示某个人与你的关系深度。你关注的人与你的深度为 1，你关注的人关注的人与你的深度为 2，以此类推。

• 如果你将这个参数设置为 0，那么你的中继器只会接收你自己的事件。
• 如果你将这个参数设置为 1，那么你的中继器只会接收你和你关注的人的事件。
• 如果你将这个参数设置为 2，那么你的中继器只会接收你和你关注的人的事件，以及你关注的人关注的人的事件。

目前这个参数的最大值只能为 2。

总结

至此，你已经成功运行了一个自己的中继器，并且设置了一个简单的限制来防止中继器保存一些与你无关的事件。

如果你在使用中遇到任何问题，请随时在 GitHub 上提交 issue，我会尽快回复你。

Not your relay, not your events

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

"It's gonna be permissionless or hell."

Gigi and gzuuus are vibing towards dystopia.

Books & articles mentioned:

• AI 2027
• DVMs were a mistake
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
• Takedown by Laila michelwait
• The Ultimate Resource by Julian L. Simon
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• Momo by Michael Ende

In this dialogue:

• Pablo's Roo Setup
• Tech Hype Cycles
• AI 2027
• Prompt injection and other attacks
• Goose and DVMCP
• Cursor vs Roo Code
• Staying in control thanks to Amber and signing delegation
• Is YOLO mode here to stay?
• What agents to trust?
• What MCP tools to trust?
• What code snippets to trust?
• Everyone will run into the issues of trust and micropayments
• Nostr solves Web of Trust & micropayments natively
• Minimalistic & open usually wins
• DVMCP exists thanks to Totem
• Relays as Tamagochis
• Agents aren't nostr experts, at least not right now
• Fix a mistake once & it's fixed forever
• Giving long-term memory to LLMs
• RAG Databases signed by domain experts
• Human-agent hybrids & Chess
• Nostr beating heart
• Pluggable context & experts
• "You never need an API key for anything"
• Sats and social signaling
• Difficulty-adjusted PoW as a rare-limiting mechanism
• Certificate authorities and centralization
• No solutions to policing speech!
• OAuth and how it centralized
• Login with nostr
• Closed vs open-source models
• Tiny models vs large models
• The minions protocol (Stanford paper)
• Generalist models vs specialized models
• Local compute & encrypted queries
• Blinded compute
• "In the eyes of the state, agents aren't people"
• Agents need identity and money; nostr provides both
• "It's gonna be permissionless or hell"
• We already have marketplaces for MCP stuff, code snippets, and other things
• Most great stuff came from marketplaces (browsers, games, etc)
• Zapstore shows that this is already working
• At scale, central control never works. There's plenty scams and viruses in the app stores.
• Using nostr to archive your user-generated content
• HAVEN, blossom, novia
• The switcharoo from advertisements to training data
• What is Truth?
• What is Real?
• "We're vibing into dystopia"
• Who should be the arbiter of Truth?
• First Amendment & why the Logos is sacred
• Silicon Valley AI bros arrogantly dismiss wisdom and philosophy
• Suicide rates & the meaning crisis
• Are LLMs symbiotic or parasitic?
• The Amish got it right
• Are we gonna make it?
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
• Takedown by Laila michelwait
• Harry Potter dementors & Momo's time thieves
• Facebook & Google as non-human (superhuman) agents
• Zapping as a conscious action
• Privacy and the internet
• Plausible deniability thanks to generative models
• Google glasses, glassholes, and Meta's Ray Ben's
• People crave realness
• Bitcoin is the realest money we ever had
• Nostr allows for real and honest expression
• How do we find out what's real?
• Constraints, policing, and chilling effects
• Jesus' plans for DVMCP
• Hzrd's article on how DVMs are broken (DVMs were a mistake)
• Don't believe the hype
• DVMs pre-date MCP tools
• Data Vending Machines were supposed to be stupid: put coin in, get stuff out.
• Self-healing vibe-coding
• IP addresses as scarce assets
• Atomic swaps and the ASS protocol
• More marketplaces, less silos
• The intensity of #SovEng and the last 6 weeks
• If you can vibe-code everything, why build anything?
• Time, the ultimate resource
• What are the LLMs allowed to think?
• Natural language interfaces are inherently dialogical
• Sovereign Engineering is dialogical too

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

credits: @rubenslp

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/968189

@ 56cd780f:cbde8b29

A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend at a coffee shop. We hadn’t spoken in years, and within five minutes, she said something I’ve heard countless times:

“I just feel like I’m so behind.”

Behind who? Behind what?

There’s this idea—quiet, nagging, oddly universal—that we’re all somehow in a race we didn’t sign up for. That we’re supposed to have hit certain milestones by certain ages. That if we’re not married, promoted, rich, settled, happy (and photogenic) by 30 or 40 or pick your poison, then we’ve failed some invisible test.

Where did this come from?

Some of it’s cultural, obviously. Social media compresses timelines. You’re 27, doom-scrolling, and suddenly someone from high school just IPO’d their startup and got engaged in Rome. Another just bought a house with a kitchen island the size of a small country. You wonder if you missed a memo.

But beneath that, there’s something deeper. A belief that life is linear. That it should look like a staircase: school, job, marriage, house, kids, success. But real life? It’s a squiggle. A mess. A beautiful disaster.

Here’s the truth: You’re not behind. There’s no schedule. There’s only your path, and the courage it takes to stay on it—even when it looks wildly different from everyone else’s.

I say this as someone who has taken the “scenic route.” I changed careers in my 30s. I moved cities on a hunch. I dropped things that looked great on paper because they felt wrong in my gut. I’ve had seasons of momentum and seasons of stuckness. Both were necessary.

“Catching up” assumes there’s a fixed destination. But what if there isn’t? What if the point isn’t arrival, but presence? Progress that feels real, not performative?

If you need a permission slip to stop comparing, let this be it.

You’re not late. You’re not early.
You’re right on time.

@ 56cd780f:cbde8b29

There’s something sacred about morning air — the way it carries just enough chill to remind you you’re alive, without pushing you back inside. I’ve been starting my days on the balcony lately. Not because it’s glamorous (it isn’t), or because I have a routine (I don’t), but because it’s the only space in my apartment that feels both open and still.

This morning I made coffee with too much cinnamon and curled up with a blanket that’s seen better days. I watched the city slowly wake up — one barking dog, two joggers, and the clatter of a recycling truck below. It’s odd how these tiny patterns become a kind of comfort.

I used to think that slowing down meant falling behind. But here, perched on the third floor with my feet on cold concrete and the sky just starting to blush, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

If you’re reading this, maybe you needed that reminder too.

— Natalie

@ dab6c606:51f507b6

Core idea: Use geotagged anonymized Nostr events with Cashu-based points to snitch on cop locations for a more relaxed driving and walking

We all know navigation apps. There's one of them that allows you to report on locations of cops. It's Waze and it's owned by Google. There are perfectly fine navigation apps like Organic Maps, that unfortunately lack the cop-snitching features. In some countries, it is illegal to report cop locations, so it would probably not be a good idea to use your npub to report them. But getting a points Cashu token as a reward and exchanging them from time to time would solve this. You can of course report construction, traffic jams, ...

Proposed solution: Add Nostr client (Copstr) to Organic Maps. Have a button in bottom right allowing you to report traffic situations. Geotagged events are published on Nostr relays, users sending cashu tokens as thank you if the report is valid. Notes have smart expiration times.

Phase 2: Automation: Integration with dashcams and comma.ai allow for automated AI recognition of traffic events such as traffic jams and cops, with automatic touchless reporting.

Result: Drive with most essential information and with full privacy. Collect points to be cool and stay cool.

@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6

Offline transactions with Cashu

Over the past few weeks, I've been busy implementing offline capabilities into nutstash. I think this is one of the key value propositions of ecash, beinga a bearer instrument that can be used without internet access. It does however come with limitations, which can lead to a bit of confusion. I hope this article will clear some of these questions up for you!

What is ecash/Cashu?

Ecash is the first cryptocurrency ever invented. It was created by David Chaum in 1983. It uses a blind signature scheme, which allows users to prove ownership of a token without revealing a link to its origin. These tokens are what we call ecash. They are bearer instruments, meaning that anyone who possesses a copy of them, is considered the owner.

Cashu is an implementation of ecash, built to tightly interact with Bitcoin, more specifically the Bitcoin lightning network. In the Cashu ecosystem, Mints are the gateway to the lightning network. They provide the infrastructure to access the lightning network, pay invoices and receive payments. Instead of relying on a traditional ledger scheme like other custodians do, the mint issues ecash tokens, to represent the value held by the users.

How do normal Cashu transactions work?

A Cashu transaction happens when the sender gives a copy of his ecash token to the receiver. This can happen by any means imaginable. You could send the token through email, messenger, or even by pidgeon. One of the common ways to transfer ecash is via QR code.

The transaction is however not finalized just yet! In order to make sure the sender cannot double-spend their copy of the token, the receiver must do what we call a swap. A swap is essentially exchanging an ecash token for a new one at the mint, invalidating the old token in the process. This ensures that the sender can no longer use the same token to spend elsewhere, and the value has been transferred to the receiver.

What about offline transactions?

Sending offline

Sending offline is very simple. The ecash tokens are stored on your device. Thus, no internet connection is required to access them. You can litteraly just take them, and give them to someone. The most convenient way is usually through a local transmission protocol, like NFC, QR code, Bluetooth, etc.

The one thing to consider when sending offline is that ecash tokens come in form of "coins" or "notes". The technical term we use in Cashu is Proof. It "proofs" to the mint that you own a certain amount of value. Since these proofs have a fixed value attached to them, much like UTXOs in Bitcoin do, you would need proofs with a value that matches what you want to send. You can mix and match multiple proofs together to create a token that matches the amount you want to send. But, if you don't have proofs that match the amount, you would need to go online and swap for the needed proofs at the mint.

Another limitation is, that you cannot create custom proofs offline. For example, if you would want to lock the ecash to a certain pubkey, or add a timelock to the proof, you would need to go online and create a new custom proof at the mint.

Receiving offline

You might think: well, if I trust the sender, I don't need to be swapping the token right away!

You're absolutely correct. If you trust the sender, you can simply accept their ecash token without needing to swap it immediately.

This is already really useful, since it gives you a way to receive a payment from a friend or close aquaintance without having to worry about connectivity. It's almost just like physical cash!

It does however not work if the sender is untrusted. We have to use a different scheme to be able to receive payments from someone we don't trust.

Receiving offline from an untrusted sender

To be able to receive payments from an untrusted sender, we need the sender to create a custom proof for us. As we've seen before, this requires the sender to go online.

The sender needs to create a token that has the following properties, so that the receciver can verify it offline:

• It must be locked to ONLY the receiver's public key
• It must include an offline signature proof (DLEQ proof)
• If it contains a timelock & refund clause, it must be set to a time in the future that is acceptable for the receiver
• It cannot contain duplicate proofs (double-spend)
• It cannot contain proofs that the receiver has already received before (double-spend)

If all of these conditions are met, then the receiver can verify the proof offline and accept the payment. This allows us to receive payments from anyone, even if we don't trust them.

At first glance, this scheme seems kinda useless. It requires the sender to go online, which defeats the purpose of having an offline payment system.

I beleive there are a couple of ways this scheme might be useful nonetheless:

1. Offline vending machines: Imagine you have an offline vending machine that accepts payments from anyone. The vending machine could use this scheme to verify payments without needing to go online itself. We can assume that the sender is able to go online and create a valid token, but the receiver doesn't need to be online to verify it.

2. Offline marketplaces: Imagine you have an offline marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade goods and services. Before going to the marketplace the sender already knows where he will be spending the money. The sender could create a valid token before going to the marketplace, using the merchants public key as a lock, and adding a refund clause to redeem any unspent ecash after it expires. In this case, neither the sender nor the receiver needs to go online to complete the transaction.

How to use this

Pretty much all cashu wallets allow you to send tokens offline. This is because all that the wallet needs to do is to look if it can create the desired amount from the proofs stored locally. If yes, it will automatically create the token offline.

Receiving offline tokens is currently only supported by nutstash (experimental).

To create an offline receivable token, the sender needs to lock it to the receiver's public key. Currently there is no refund clause! So be careful that you don't get accidentally locked out of your funds!

The receiver can then inspect the token and decide if it is safe to accept without a swap. If all checks are green, they can accept the token offline without trusting the sender.

The receiver will see the unswapped tokens on the wallet homescreen. They will need to manually swap them later when they are online again.

Later when the receiver is online again, they can swap the token for a fresh one.

Summary

We learned that offline transactions are possible with ecash, but there are some limitations. It either requires trusting the sender, or relying on either the sender or receiver to be online to verify the tokens, or create tokens that can be verified offline by the receiver.

I hope this short article was helpful in understanding how ecash works and its potential for offline transactions.

Cheers,

Gandlaf

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

@ a39d19ec:3d88f61e

Die Debatte um Migration, Grenzsicherung und Abschiebungen wird in Deutschland meist emotional geführt. Wer fordert, dass illegale Einwanderer abgeschoben werden, sieht sich nicht selten dem Vorwurf des Rassismus ausgesetzt. Doch dieser Vorwurf ist nicht nur sachlich unbegründet, sondern verkehrt die Realität ins Gegenteil: Tatsächlich sind es gerade diejenigen, die hinter jeder Forderung nach Rechtssicherheit eine rassistische Motivation vermuten, die selbst in erster Linie nach Hautfarbe, Herkunft oder Nationalität urteilen.

Das Recht steht über Emotionen

Deutschland ist ein Rechtsstaat. Das bedeutet, dass Regeln nicht nach Bauchgefühl oder politischer Stimmungslage ausgelegt werden können, sondern auf klaren gesetzlichen Grundlagen beruhen müssen. Einer dieser Grundsätze ist in Artikel 16a des Grundgesetzes verankert. Dort heißt es:

„Auf Absatz 1 [Asylrecht] kann sich nicht berufen, wer aus einem Mitgliedstaat der Europäischen Gemeinschaften oder aus einem anderen Drittstaat einreist, in dem die Anwendung des Abkommens über die Rechtsstellung der Flüchtlinge und der Europäischen Menschenrechtskonvention sichergestellt ist.“

Das bedeutet, dass jeder, der über sichere Drittstaaten nach Deutschland einreist, keinen Anspruch auf Asyl hat. Wer dennoch bleibt, hält sich illegal im Land auf und unterliegt den geltenden Regelungen zur Rückführung. Die Forderung nach Abschiebungen ist daher nichts anderes als die Forderung nach der Einhaltung von Recht und Gesetz.

Die Umkehrung des Rassismusbegriffs

Wer einerseits behauptet, dass das deutsche Asyl- und Aufenthaltsrecht strikt durchgesetzt werden soll, und andererseits nicht nach Herkunft oder Hautfarbe unterscheidet, handelt wertneutral. Diejenigen jedoch, die in einer solchen Forderung nach Rechtsstaatlichkeit einen rassistischen Unterton sehen, projizieren ihre eigenen Denkmuster auf andere: Sie unterstellen, dass die Debatte ausschließlich entlang ethnischer, rassistischer oder nationaler Kriterien geführt wird – und genau das ist eine rassistische Denkweise.

Jemand, der illegale Einwanderung kritisiert, tut dies nicht, weil ihn die Herkunft der Menschen interessiert, sondern weil er den Rechtsstaat respektiert. Hingegen erkennt jemand, der hinter dieser Kritik Rassismus wittert, offenbar in erster Linie die „Rasse“ oder Herkunft der betreffenden Personen und reduziert sie darauf.

Finanzielle Belastung statt ideologischer Debatte

Neben der rechtlichen gibt es auch eine ökonomische Komponente. Der deutsche Wohlfahrtsstaat basiert auf einem Solidarprinzip: Die Bürger zahlen in das System ein, um sich gegenseitig in schwierigen Zeiten zu unterstützen. Dieser Wohlstand wurde über Generationen hinweg von denjenigen erarbeitet, die hier seit langem leben. Die Priorität liegt daher darauf, die vorhandenen Mittel zuerst unter denjenigen zu verteilen, die durch Steuern, Sozialabgaben und Arbeit zum Erhalt dieses Systems beitragen – nicht unter denen, die sich durch illegale Einreise und fehlende wirtschaftliche Eigenleistung in das System begeben.

Das ist keine ideologische Frage, sondern eine rein wirtschaftliche Abwägung. Ein Sozialsystem kann nur dann nachhaltig funktionieren, wenn es nicht unbegrenzt belastet wird. Würde Deutschland keine klaren Regeln zur Einwanderung und Abschiebung haben, würde dies unweigerlich zur Überlastung des Sozialstaates führen – mit negativen Konsequenzen für alle.

Sozialpatriotismus

Ein weiterer wichtiger Aspekt ist der Schutz der Arbeitsleistung jener Generationen, die Deutschland nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg mühsam wieder aufgebaut haben. Während oft betont wird, dass die Deutschen moralisch kein Erbe aus der Zeit vor 1945 beanspruchen dürfen – außer der Verantwortung für den Holocaust –, ist es umso bedeutsamer, das neue Erbe nach 1945 zu respektieren, das auf Fleiß, Disziplin und harter Arbeit beruht. Der Wiederaufbau war eine kollektive Leistung deutscher Menschen, deren Früchte nicht bedenkenlos verteilt werden dürfen, sondern vorrangig denjenigen zugutekommen sollten, die dieses Fundament mitgeschaffen oder es über Generationen mitgetragen haben.

Rechtstaatlichkeit ist nicht verhandelbar

Wer sich für eine konsequente Abschiebepraxis ausspricht, tut dies nicht aus rassistischen Motiven, sondern aus Respekt vor der Rechtsstaatlichkeit und den wirtschaftlichen Grundlagen des Landes. Der Vorwurf des Rassismus in diesem Kontext ist daher nicht nur falsch, sondern entlarvt eine selektive Wahrnehmung nach rassistischen Merkmalen bei denjenigen, die ihn erheben.

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

Bitcoin has emerged as a modern option for storing value, often compared to traditional assets like gold. Its ability to resist inflation, combined with features such as scarcity, decentralization, and security, makes it a promising tool for preserving wealth in times of economic uncertainty.

A store of value is an asset that maintains its purchasing power over time, protecting wealth from devaluation. Historically, assets like gold and real estate have played this role because they are relatively scarce and in constant demand.

However, fiat currencies have proven less effective as stores of value due to inflation. Governments and central banks often increase the money supply, which can reduce the purchasing power of currencies. In this context, Bitcoin stands out as an alternative.

Bitcoin: Programmed Scarcity

The main feature that makes Bitcoin a potential store of value is its limited supply. Only 21 million bitcoins will ever be created, a cap established in its code. This programmed scarcity contrasts with fiat currencies, which can be printed without limits by governments, leading to inflation.

The creation of Bitcoin is also controlled by events known as halvings, which cut the mining reward in half approximately every four years. This makes Bitcoin increasingly scarce over time, boosting its potential for appreciation.

Bitcoin offers a solution to the problem of inflation, as its fixed supply prevents governments or centralized institutions from manipulating its quantity.

01 - Decentralization and Immutability: Operating on a decentralized network, Bitcoin is immune to political decisions or central bank interventions. No authority can change the protocol to "print" more bitcoins. 02 - Transparency of Supply: All transactions and newly created bitcoins are recorded on the blockchain or timechain, ensuring full transparency. 03 - Purchasing Power Protection: With limited supply and growing demand, Bitcoin has shown a tendency to appreciate over time, acting as a hedge against inflation in several economies.

Bitcoin is often called “digital gold” due to its similarities to the precious metal as a store of value:

01 - Portability: Bitcoin is easier to transfer and store than gold, being digitally accessible anywhere in the world. 02 - Divisibility: Each bitcoin can be divided into up to 100 million units called satoshis, allowing for transactions of any value. 03 - Security: While gold requires physical storage and is subject to theft, Bitcoin can be stored in secure digital wallets.

These qualities make Bitcoin a more flexible and accessible option for storing value in an increasingly digital world.

Despite its promise, Bitcoin still faces barriers to being widely accepted as a store of value:

01 - Volatility: Bitcoin's price has historically shown large fluctuations, which can discourage investors seeking safety. However, many believe that as adoption grows, volatility will decrease. 02 - Regulation: Some governments have implemented measures to restrict or regulate Bitcoin use, which may impact its acceptance as a store of value. 03 - Cultural Adaptation: As a new and digital asset, Bitcoin still needs to earn the trust of people accustomed to physical stores of value like gold.

Bitcoin has proven to be a particularly useful store of value in economies facing financial crises or hyperinflation. Countries like Venezuela, Argentina, and Zimbabwe, which experienced sharp currency devaluation, have seen growing adoption of Bitcoin as a way to preserve purchasing power.

Moreover, its global accessibility allows people in countries without easy access to traditional financial markets to use Bitcoin as an alternative.

In summary, Bitcoin has unique characteristics that make it a promising candidate as a store of value in an increasingly digital world affected by fiat currency inflation. Its programmed scarcity, resistance to manipulation, and global accessibility offer a modern solution for preserving wealth.

Although challenges like volatility and regulation still need to be addressed, Bitcoin has already proven to be an effective tool for protecting assets, especially in economically unstable environments. Over time, and with growing adoption, Bitcoin may solidify its place as one of the primary stores of value in the 21st century.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 1c19eb1a:e22fb0bc

I am happy to present to you the first full review posted to Nostr Reviews: #Primal for #Android!

Primal has its origins as a micro-blogging, social media client, though it is now expanding its horizons into long-form content. It was first released only as a web client in March of 2023, but has since had a native client released for both iOS and Android. All of Primal's clients recently had an update to Primal 2.0, which included both performance improvements and a number of new features. This review will focus on the Android client specifically, both on phone and tablet.

Since Primal has also added features that are only available to those enrolled in their new premium subscription, it should also be noted that this review will be from the perspective of a free user. This is for two reasons. First, I am using an alternate npub to review the app, and if I were to purchase premium at some time in the future, it would be on my main npub. Second, despite a lot of positive things I have to say about Primal, I am not planning to regularly use any of their apps on my main account for the time being, for reasons that will be discussed later in the review.

The application can be installed through the Google Play Store, nostr:npub10r8xl2njyepcw2zwv3a6dyufj4e4ajx86hz6v4ehu4gnpupxxp7stjt2p8, or by downloading it directly from Primal's GitHub. The full review is current as of Primal Android version 2.0.21. Updates to the review on 4/30/2025 are current as of version 2.2.13.

In the ecosystem of "notes and other stuff," Primal is predominantly in the "notes" category. It is geared toward users who want a social media experience similar to Twitter or Facebook with an infinite scrolling feed of notes to interact with. However, there is some "other stuff" included to complement this primary focus on short and long form notes including a built-in Lightning wallet powered by #Strike, a robust advanced search, and a media-only feed.

Overall Impression

Score: 4.4 / 5 (Updated 4/30/2025)

Primal may well be the most polished UI of any Nostr client native to Android. It is incredibly well designed and thought out, with all of the icons and settings in the places a user would expect to find them. It is also incredibly easy to get started on Nostr via Primal's sign-up flow. The only two things that will be foreign to new users are the lack of any need to set a password or give an email address, and the prompt to optionally set up the wallet.

Complaints prior to the 2.0 update about Primal being slow and clunky should now be completely alleviated. I only experienced quick load times and snappy UI controls with a couple very minor exceptions, or when loading DVM-based feeds, which are outside of Primal's control.

Primal is not, however, a client that I would recommend for the power-user. Control over preferred relays is minimal and does not allow the user to determine which relays they write to and which they only read from. Though you can use your own wallet, it will not appear within the wallet interface, which only works with the custodial wallet from Strike. Moreover, and most eggregiously, the only way for existing users to log in is by pasting their nsec, as Primal does not support either the Android signer or remote signer options for users to protect their private key at this time. This lack of signer support is the primary reason the client received such a low overall score. If even one form of external signer log in is added to Primal, the score will be amended to 4.2 / 5, and if both Android signer and remote signer support is added, it will increase to 4.5.

Update: As of version 2.2.13, Primal now supports the Amber Android signer! One of the most glaring issues with the app has now been remedied and as promised, the overall score above has been increased.

Another downside to Primal is that it still utilizes an outdated direct message specification that leaks metadata that can be readily seen by anyone on the network. While the content of your messages remains encrypted, anyone can see who you are messaging with, and when. This also means that you will not see any DMs from users who are messaging from a client that has moved to the latest, and far more private, messaging spec.

That said, the beautiful thing about Nostr as a protocol is that users are not locked into any particular client. You may find Primal to be a great client for your average #bloomscrolling and zapping memes, but opt for a different client for more advanced uses and for direct messaging.

Features

Primal has a lot of features users would expect from any Nostr client that is focused on short-form notes, but it also packs in a lot of features that set it apart from other clients, and that showcase Primal's obvious prioritization of a top-tier user experience.

Home Feed

By default, the infinitely scrolling Home feed displays notes from those you currently follow in chronological order. This is traditional Nostr at its finest, and made all the more immersive by the choice to have all distracting UI elements quickly hide themselves from view as the you begin to scroll down the feed. They return just as quickly when you begin to scroll back up.

Scrolling the feed is incredibly fast, with no noticeable choppiness and minimal media pop-in if you are on a decent internet connection.

Helpfully, it is easy to get back to the top of the feed whenever there is a new post to be viewed, as a bubble will appear with the profile pictures of the users who have posted since you started scrolling.

Interacting With Notes

Interacting with a note in the feed can be done via the very recognizable icons at the bottom of each post. You can comment, zap, like, repost, and/or bookmark the note.

Notably, tapping on the zap icon will immediately zap the note your default amount of sats, making zapping incredibly fast, especially when using the built-in wallet. Long pressing on the zap icon will open up a menu with a variety of amounts, along with the ability to zap a custom amount. All of these amounts, and the messages that are sent with the zap, can be customized in the application settings.

Users who are familiar with Twitter or Instagram will feel right at home with only having one option for "liking" a post. However, users from Facebook or other Nostr clients may wonder why they don't have more options for reactions. This is one of those things where users who are new to Nostr probably won't notice they are missing out on anything at all, while users familiar with clients like #Amethyst or #noStrudel will miss the ability to react with a 🤙 or a 🫂.

It's a similar story with the bookmark option. While this is a nice bit of feature parity for Twitter users, for those already used to the ability to have multiple customized lists of bookmarks, or at minimum have the ability to separate them into public and private, it may be a disappointment that they have no access to the bookmarks they already built up on other clients. Primal offers only one list of bookmarks for short-form notes and they are all visible to the public. However, you are at least presented with a warning about the public nature of your bookmarks before saving your first one.

Yet, I can't dock the Primal team much for making these design choices, as they are understandable for Primal's goal of being a welcoming client for those coming over to Nostr from centralized platforms. They have optimized for the onboarding of new users, rather than for those who have been around for a while, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Post Creation

Composing posts in Primal is as simple as it gets. Accessed by tapping the obvious circular button with a "+" on it in the lower right of the Home feed, most of what you could need is included in the interface, and nothing you don't.

Your device's default keyboard loads immediately, and the you can start typing away.

There are options for adding images from your gallery, or taking a picture with your camera, both of which will result in the image being uploaded to Primal's media-hosting server. If you prefer to host your media elsewhere, you can simply paste the link to that media into your post.

There is also an @ icon as a tip-off that you can tag other users. Tapping on this simply types "@" into your note and brings up a list of users. All you have to do to narrow down the user you want to tag is continue typing their handle, Nostr address, or paste in their npub.

This can get mixed results in other clients, which sometimes have a hard time finding particular users when typing in their handle, forcing you to have to remember their Nostr address or go hunt down their npub by another means. Not so with Primal, though. I had no issues tagging anyone I wanted by simply typing in their handle.

Of course, when you are tagging someone well known, you may find that there are multiple users posing as that person. Primal helps you out here, though. Usually the top result is the person you want, as Primal places them in order of how many followers they have. This is quite reliable right now, but there is nothing stopping someone from spinning up an army of bots to follow their fake accounts, rendering follower count useless for determining which account is legitimate. It would be nice to see these results ranked by web-of-trust, or at least an indication of how many users you follow who also follow the users listed in the results.

Once you are satisfied with your note, the "Post" button is easy to find in the top right of the screen.

Feed Selector and Marketplace

Primal's Home feed really shines when you open up the feed selection interface, and find that there are a plethora of options available for customizing your view. By default, it only shows four options, but tapping "Edit" opens up a new page of available toggles to add to the feed selector.

The options don't end there, though. Tapping "Add Feed" will open up the feed marketplace, where an ever-growing number of custom feeds can be found, some created by Primal and some created by others. This feed marketplace is available to a few other clients, but none have so closely integrated it with their Home feeds like Primal has.

Unfortunately, as great as these custom feeds are, this was also the feature where I ran into the most bugs while testing out the app.

One of these bugs was while selecting custom feeds. Occasionally, these feed menu screens would become unresponsive and I would be unable to confirm my selection, or even use the back button on my device to back out of the screen. However, I was able to pull the screen down to close it and re-open the menu, and everything would be responsive again.

This only seemed to occur when I spent 30 seconds or more on the same screen, so I imagine that most users won't encounter it much in their regular use.

Another UI bug occurred for me while in the feed marketplace. I could scroll down the list of available feeds, but attempting to scroll back up the feed would often close the interface entirely instead, as though I had pulled the screen down from the top, when I was swiping in the middle of the screen.

The last of these bugs occurred when selecting a long-form "Reads" feed while in the menu for the Home feed. The menu would allow me to add this feed and select it to be displayed, but it would fail to load the feed once selected, stating "There is no content in this feed." Going to a different page within the the app and then going back to the Home tab would automatically remove the long-form feed from view, and reset back to the most recently viewed short-form "Notes" feed, though the long-form feed would still be available to select again. The results were similar when selecting a short-form feed for the Reads feed.

I would suggest that if long-form and short-form feeds are going to be displayed in the same list, and yet not be able to be displayed in the same feed, the application should present an error message when attempting to add a long-form feed for the Home feed or a short-form feed for the Reads feed, and encourage the user add it to the proper feed instead.

Long-Form "Reads" Feed

A brand new feature in Primal 2.0, users can now browse and read long-form content posted to Nostr without having to go to a separate client. Primal now has a dedicated "Reads" feed to browse and interact with these articles.

This feed displays the author and title of each article or blog, along with an image, if available. Quite conveniently, it also lets you know the approximate amount of time it will take to read a given article, so you can decide if you have the time to dive into it now, or come back later.

Noticeably absent from the Reads feed, though, is the ability to compose an article of your own. This is another understandable design choice for a mobile client. Composing a long-form note on a smart-phone screen is not a good time. Better to be done on a larger screen, in a client with a full-featured text editor.

Tapping an article will open up an attractive reading interface, with the ability to bookmark for later. These bookmarks are a separate list from your short-form note bookmarks so you don't have to scroll through a bunch of notes you bookmarked to find the article you told yourself you would read later and it's already been three weeks.

While you can comment on the article or zap it, you will notice that you cannot repost or quote-post it. It's not that you can't do so on Nostr. You absolutely can in other clients. In fact, you can do so on Primal's web client, too. However, Primal on Android does not handle rendering long-form note previews in the Home feed, so they have simply left out the option to share them there. See below for an example of a quote-post of a long-form note in the Primal web client vs the Android client.

Primal Web:

Primal Android:

The Explore Tab

Another unique feature of the Primal client is the Explore tab, indicated by the compass icon. This tab is dedicated to discovering content from outside your current follow list. You can find the feed marketplace here, and add any of the available feeds to your Home or Reads feed selections. You can also find suggested users to follow in the People tab. The Zaps tab will show you who has been sending and receiving large zaps. Make friends with the generous ones!

The Media tab gives you a chronological feed of just media, displayed in a tile view. This can be great when you are looking for users who post dank memes, or incredible photography on a regular basis. Unfortunately, it appears that there is no way to filter this feed for sensitive content, and so you do not have to scroll far before you see pornographic material.

Indeed, it does not appear that filters for sensitive content are available in Primal for any feed. The app is kind enough to give a minimal warning that objectionable content may be present when selecting the "Nostr Firehose" option in your Home feed, with a brief "be careful" in the feed description, but there is not even that much of a warning here for the media-only feed.

The media-only feed doesn't appear to be quite as bad as the Nostr Firehose feed, so there must be some form of filtering already taking place, rather than being a truly global feed of all media. Yet, occasional sensitive content still litters the feed and is unavoidable, even for users who would rather not see it. There are, of course, ways to mute particular users who post such content, if you don't want to see it a second time from the same user, but that is a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, so your only realistic choices in Primal are currently to either avoid the Nostr Firehose and media-only feeds, or determine that you can put up with regularly scrolling past often graphic content.

This is probably the only choice Primal has made that is not friendly to new users. Most clients these days will have some protections in place to hide sensitive content by default, but still allow the user to toggle those protections off if they so choose. Some of them hide posts flagged as sensitive content altogether, others just blur the images unless the user taps to reveal them, and others simply blur all images posted by users you don't follow. If Primal wants to target new users who are accustomed to legacy social media platforms, they really should follow suit.

The final tab is titled "Topics," but it is really just a list of popular hashtags, which appear to be arranged by how often they are being used. This can be good for finding things that other users are interested in talking about, or finding specific content you are interested in.

If you tap on any topic in the list, it will display a feed of notes that include that hashtag. What's better, you can add it as a feed option you can select on your Home feed any time you want to see posts with that tag.

The only suggestion I would make to improve this tab is some indication of why the topics are arranged in the order presented. A simple indicator of the number of posts with that hashtag in the last 24 hours, or whatever the interval is for determining their ranking, would more than suffice.

Even with those few shortcomings, Primal's Explore tab makes the client one of the best options for discovering content on Nostr that you are actually interested in seeing and interacting with.

Built-In Wallet

While this feature is completely optional, the icon to access the wallet is the largest of the icons at the bottom of the screen, making you feel like you are missing out on the most important feature of the app if you don't set it up. I could be critical of this design choice, but in many ways I think it is warranted. The built-in wallet is one of the most unique features that Primal has going for it.

Consider: If you are a new user coming to Nostr, who isn't already a Bitcoiner, and you see that everyone else on the platform is sending and receiving sats for their posts, will you be more likely to go download a separate wallet application or use one that is built-into your client? I would wager the latter option by a long shot. No need to figure out which wallet you should download, whether you should do self-custody or custodial, or make the mistake of choosing a wallet with unexpected setup fees and no Lightning address so you can't even receive zaps to it. nostr:npub16c0nh3dnadzqpm76uctf5hqhe2lny344zsmpm6feee9p5rdxaa9q586nvr often states that he believes more people will be onboarded to Bitcoin through Nostr than by any other means, and by including a wallet into the Primal client, his team has made adopting Bitcoin that much easier for new Nostr users.

Some of us purists may complain that it is custodial and KYC, but that is an unfortunate necessity in order to facilitate onboarding newcoiners to Bitcoin. This is not intended to be a wallet for those of us who have been using Bitcoin and Lightning regularly already. It is meant for those who are not already familiar with Bitcoin to make it as easy as possible to get off zero, and it accomplishes this better than any other wallet I have ever tried.

In large part, this is because the KYC is very light. It does need the user's legal name, a valid email address, date of birth, and country of residence, but that's it! From there, the user can buy Bitcoin directly through the app, but only in the amount of $4.99 at a time. This is because there is a substantial markup on top of the current market price, due to utilizing whatever payment method the user has set up through their Google Play Store. The markup seemed to be about 19% above the current price, since I could purchase 4,143 sats for $4.99 ($120,415 / Bitcoin), when the current price was about $101,500. But the idea here is not for the Primal wallet to be a user's primary method of stacking sats. Rather, it is intended to get them off zero and have a small amount of sats to experience zapping with, and it accomplishes this with less friction than any other method I know.

Moreover, the Primal wallet has the features one would expect from any Lightning wallet. You can send sats to any Nostr user or Lightning address, receive via invoice, or scan to pay an invoice. It even has the ability to receive via on-chain. This means users who don't want to pay the markup from buying through Primal can easily transfer sats they obtained by other means into the Primal wallet for zapping, or for using it as their daily-driver spending wallet.

Speaking of zapping, once the wallet is activated, sending zaps is automatically set to use the wallet, and they are fast. Primal gives you immediate feedback that the zap was sent and the transaction shows in your wallet history typically before you can open the interface. I can confidently say that Primal wallet's integration is the absolute best zapping experience I have seen in any Nostr client.

One thing to note that may not be immediately apparent to new users is they need to add their Lightning address with Primal into their profile details before they can start receiving zaps. So, sending zaps using the wallet is automatic as soon as you activate it, but receiving is not. Ideally, this could be further streamlined, so that Primal automatically adds the Lightning address to the user's profile when the wallet is set up, so long as there is not currently a Lightning address listed.

Of course, if you already have a Lightning wallet, you can connect it to Primal for zapping, too. We will discuss this further in the section dedicated to zap integration.

Advanced Search

Search has always been a tough nut to crack on Nostr, since it is highly dependent on which relays the client is pulling information from. Primal has sought to resolve this issue, among others, by running a caching relay that pulls notes from a number of relays to store them locally, and perform some spam filtering. This allows for much faster retrieval of search results, and also makes their advanced search feature possible.

Advanced search can be accessed from most pages by selecting the magnifying glass icon, and then the icon for more options next to the search bar.

As can be seen in the screenshot below, there are a plethora of filters that can be applied to your search terms.

You can immediately see how this advanced search could be a very powerful tool for not just finding a particular previous note that you are looking for, but for creating your own custom feed of notes. Well, wouldn't you know it, Primal allows you to do just that! This search feature, paired with the other features mentioned above related to finding notes you want to see in your feed, makes Primal hands-down the best client for content discovery.

The only downside as a free user is that some of these search options are locked behind the premium membership. Or else you only get to see a certain number of results of your advanced search before you must be a premium member to see more.

Can My Grandma Use It?

Score: 4.8 / 5 Primal has obviously put a high priority on making their client user-friendly, even for those who have never heard of relays, public/private key cryptography, or Bitcoin. All of that complexity is hidden away. Some of it is available to play around with for the users who care to do so, but it does not at all get in the way of the users who just want to jump in and start posting notes and interacting with other users in a truly open public square.

To begin with, the onboarding experience is incredibly smooth. Tap "Create Account," enter your chosen display name and optional bio information, upload a profile picture, and then choose some topics you are interested in. You are then presented with a preview of your profile, with the ability to add a banner image, if you so choose, and then tap "Create Account Now."

From there you receive confirmation that your account has been created and that your "Nostr key" is available to you in the application settings. No further explanation is given about what this key is for at this point, but the user doesn't really need to know at the moment, either. If they are curious, they will go to the app settings to find out.

At this point, Primal encourages the user to activate Primal Wallet, but also gives the option for the user to do it later.

That's it! The next screen the user sees if they don't opt to set up the wallet is their Home feed with notes listed in chronological order. More impressive, the feed is not empty, because Primal has auto-followed several accounts based on your selected topics.

Now, there has definitely been some legitimate criticism of this practice of following specific accounts based on the topic selection, and I agree. I would much prefer to see Primal follow hashtags based on what was selected, and combine the followed hashtags into a feed titled "My Topics" or something of that nature, and make that the default view when the user finishes onboarding. Following particular users automatically will artificially inflate certain users' exposure, while other users who might be quality follows for that topic aren't seen at all.

The advantage of following particular users over a hashtag, though, is that Primal retains some control over the quality of the posts that new users are exposed to right away. Primal can ensure that new users see people who are actually posting quality photography when they choose it as one of their interests. However, even with that example, I chose photography as one of my interests and while I did get some stunning photography in my Home feed by default based on Primal's chosen follows, I also scrolled through the Photography hashtag for a bit and I really feel like I would have been better served if Primal had simply followed that hashtag rather than a particular set of users.

We've already discussed how simple it is to set up the Primal Wallet. You can see the features section above if you missed it. It is, by far, the most user friendly experience to onboarding onto Lightning and getting a few sats for zapping, and it is the only one I know of that is built directly into a Nostr client. This means new users will have a frictionless introduction to transacting via Lightning, perhaps without even realizing that's what they are doing.

Discovering new content of interest is incredibly intuitive on Primal, and the only thing that new users may struggle with is getting their own notes seen by others. To assist with this, I would suggest Primal encourage users to make their first post to the introductions hashtag and direct any questions to the AskNostr hashtag as part of the onboarding process. This will get them some immediate interactions from other users, and further encouragement to set up their wallet if they haven't already done so.

How do UI look?

Score: 4.9 / 5

Primal is the most stunningly beautiful Nostr client available, in my honest opinion. Despite some of my hangups about certain functionality, the UI alone makes me want to use it.

It is clean, attractive, and intuitive. Everything I needed was easy to find, and nothing felt busy or cluttered. There are only a few minor UI glitches that I ran into while testing the app. Some of them were mentioned in the section of the review detailing the feed selector feature, but a couple others occurred during onboarding.

First, my profile picture was not centered in the preview when I uploaded it. This appears to be because it was a low quality image. Uploading a higher quality photo did not have this result.

The other UI bug was related to text instructions that were cut off, and not able to scroll to see the rest of them. This occurred on a few pages during onboarding, and I expect it was due to the size of my phone screen, since it did not occur when I was on a slightly larger phone or tablet.

Speaking of tablets, Primal Android looks really good on a tablet, too! While the client does not have a landscape mode by default, many Android tablets support forcing apps to open in full-screen landscape mode, with mixed results. However, Primal handles it well. I would still like to see a tablet version developed that takes advantage of the increased screen real estate, but it is certainly a passable option.

At this point, I would say the web client probably has a bit better UI for use on a tablet than the Android client does, but you miss out on using the built-in wallet, which is a major selling point of the app.

This lack of a landscape mode for tablets and the few very minor UI bugs I encountered are the only reason Primal doesn't get a perfect score in this category, because the client is absolutely stunning otherwise, both in light and dark modes. There are also two color schemes available for each.

Log In Options

Score: 4 / 5 (Updated 4/30/2025)

Unfortunately, Primal has not included any options for log in outside of pasting your private key into the application. While this is a very simple way to log in for new users to understand, it is also the least secure means to log into Nostr applications.

This is because, even with the most trustworthy client developer, giving the application access to your private key always has the potential for that private key to somehow be exposed or leaked, and on Nostr there is currently no way to rotate to a different private key and keep your identity and social graph. If someone gets your key, they are you on Nostr for all intents and purposes.

This is not a situation that users should be willing to tolerate from production-release clients at this point. There are much better log in standards that can and should be implemented if you care about your users.

That said, I am happy to report that external signer support is on the roadmap for Primal, as confirmed below:

nostr:note1n59tc8k5l2v30jxuzghg7dy2ns76ld0hqnn8tkahyywpwp47ms5qst8ehl

No word yet on whether this will be Android signer or remote signer support, or both.

This lack of external signer support is why I absolutely will not use my main npub with Primal for Android. I am happy to use the web client, which supports and encourages logging in with a browser extension, but until the Android client allows users to protect their private key, I cannot recommend it for existing Nostr users.

Update: As of version 2.2.13, all of what I have said above is now obsolete. Primal has added Android signer support, so users can now better protect their nsec by using Amber!

I would still like to see support for remote signers, especially with nstart.me as a recommended Nostr onboarding process and the advent of FROSTR for key management. That said, Android signer support on its own has been a long time coming and is a very welcome addition to the Primal app. Bravo Primal team!

Zap Integration

Score: 4.8 / 5

As mentioned when discussing Primal's built-in wallet feature, zapping in Primal can be the most seamless experience I have ever seen in a Nostr client. Pairing the wallet with the client is absolutely the path forward for Nostr leading the way to Bitcoin adoption.

But what if you already have a Lightning wallet you want to use for zapping? You have a couple options. If it is an Alby wallet or another wallet that supports Nostr Wallet Connect, you can connect it with Primal to use with one-tap zapping.

How your zapping experience goes with this option will vary greatly based on your particular wallet of choice and is beyond the scope of this review. I used this option with a hosted wallet on my Alby Hub and it worked perfectly. Primal gives you immediate feedback that you have zapped, even though the transaction usually takes a few seconds to process and appear in your wallet's history.

The one major downside to using an external wallet is the lack of integration with the wallet interface. This interface currently only works with Primal's wallet, and therefore the most prominent tab in the entire app goes unused when you connect an external wallet.

An ideal improvement would be for the wallet screen to work similar to Alby Go when you have an external wallet connected via Nostr Wallet Connect, allowing the user to have Primal act as their primary mobile Lightning wallet. It could have balance and transaction history displayed, and allow sending and receiving, just like the integrated Primal wallet, but remove the ability to purchase sats directly through the app when using an external wallet.

Content Discovery

Score: 4.8 / 5

Primal is the best client to use if you want to discover new content you are interested in. There is no comparison, with only a few caveats.

First, the content must have been posted to Nostr as either a short-form or long-form note. Primal has a limited ability to display other types of content. For instance, discovering video content or streaming content is lacking.

Second, you must be willing to put up with the fact that Primal lacks a means of filtering sensitive content when you are exploring beyond the bounds of your current followers. This may not be an issue for some, but for others it could be a deal-breaker.

Third, it would be preferable for Primal to follow topics you are interested in when you choose them during onboarding, rather than follow specific npubs. Ideally, create a "My Topics" feed that can be edited by selecting your interests in the Topics section of the Explore tab.

Relay Management

Score: 2.5 / 5

For new users who don't want to mess around with managing relays, Primal is fantastic! There are 7 relays selected by default, in addition to Primal's caching service. For most users who aren't familiar with Nostr's protocol archetecture, they probably won't ever have to change their default relays in order to use the client as they would expect.

However, two of these default relays were consistently unreachable during the week that I tested. These were relay.plebes.fans and remnant.cloud. The first relay seems to be an incorrect URL, as I found nosflare.plebes.fans online and with perfect uptime for the last 12 hours on nostr.watch. I was unable to find remnant.cloud on nostr.watch at all. A third relay was intermittent, sometimes online and reachable, and other times unreachable: v1250.planz.io/nostr. If Primal is going to have default relays, they should ideally be reliable and with accurate URLs.

That said, users can add other relays that they prefer, and remove relays that they no longer want to use. They can even set a different caching service to use with the client, rather than using Primal's.

However, that is the extent of a user's control over their relays. They cannot choose which relays they want to write to and which they want to read from, nor can they set any private relays, outbox or inbox relays, or general relays. Loading the npub I used for this review into another client with full relay management support revealed that the relays selected in Primal are being added to both the user's public outbox relays and public inbox relays, but not to any other relay type, which leads me to believe the caching relay is acting as the client's only general relay and search relay.

One unique and welcomed addition is the "Enhanced Privacy" feature, which is off by default, but which can be toggled on. I am not sure why this is not on by default, though. Perhaps someone from the Primal team can enlighten me on that choice.

By default, when you post to Nostr, all of your outbox relays will see your IP address. If you turn on the Enhanced Privacy mode, only Primal's caching service will see your IP address, because it will post your note to the other relays on your behalf. In this way, the caching service acts similar to a VPN for posting to Nostr, as long as you trust Primal not to log or leak your IP address.

In short, if you use any other Nostr clients at all, do not use Primal for managing your relays.

Media Hosting Options

Score: 4.9 / 5 This is a NEW SECTION of this review, as of version 2.2.13!

Primal has recently added support for the Blossom protocol for media hosting, and has added a new section within their settings for "Media Uploads."

Media hosting is one of the more complicated problems to solve for a decentralized publishing protocol like Nostr. Text-based notes are generally quite small, making them no real burden to store on relays, and a relay can prune old notes as they see fit, knowing that anyone who really cared about those notes has likely archived them elsewhere. Media, on the other hand, can very quickly fill up a server's disk space, and because it is usually addressable via a specific URL, removing it from that location to free up space means it will no longer load for anyone.

Blossom solves this issue by making it easy to run a media server and have the same media mirrored to more than one for redundancy. Since the media is stored with a file name that is a hash of the content itself, if the media is deleted from one server, it can still be found from any other server that has the same file, without any need to update the URL in the Nostr note where it was originally posted.

Prior to this update, Primal only allowed media uploads to their own media server. Now, users can upload to any blossom server, and even choose to have their pictures or videos mirrored additional servers automatically. To my knowledge, no other Nostr client offers this automatic mirroring at the time of upload.

One of my biggest criticisms of Primal was that it had taken a siloed approach by providing a client, a caching relay, a media server, and a wallet all controlled by the same company. The whole point of Nostr is to separate control of all these services to different entities. Now users have more options for separating out their media hosting and their wallet to other providers, at least. I would still like to see other options available for a caching relay, but that relies on someone else being willing to run one, since the software is open for anyone to use. It's just not your average, lightweight relay that any average person can run from home.

Regardless, this update to add custom Blossom servers is a most welcome step in the right direction!

Current Users' Questions

The AskNostr hashtag can be a good indication of the pain points that other users are currently having with a client. Here are some of the most common questions submitted about Primal since the launch of 2.0:

nostr:note1dqv4mwqn7lvpaceg9s7damf932ydv9skv2x99l56ufy3f7q8tkdqpxk0rd

This was a pretty common question, because users expect that they will be able to create the same type of content that they can consume in a particular client. I can understand why this was left out in a mobile client, but perhaps it should be added in the web client.

nostr:note16xnm8a2mmrs7t9pqymwjgd384ynpf098gmemzy49p3572vhwx2mqcqw8xe

This is a more concerning bug, since it appears some users are experiencing their images being replaced with completely different images. I did not experience anything similar in my testing, though.

nostr:note1uhrk30nq0e566kx8ac4qpwrdh0vfaav33rfvckyvlzn04tkuqahsx8e7mr

There hasn't been an answer to this, but I have not been able to find a way. It seems search results will always include replies as well as original notes, so a feed made from the search results will as well. Perhaps a filter can be added to the advanced search to exclude replies? There is already a filter to only show replies, but there is no corresponding filter to only show original notes.

nostr:note1zlnzua28a5v76jwuakyrf7hham56kx9me9la3dnt3fvymcyaq6eqjfmtq6

Since both mobile platforms support the wallet, users expect that they will be able to access it in their web client, too. At this time, they cannot. The only way to have seamless zapping in the web client is to use the Alby extension, but there is not a way to connect it to your Primal wallet via Nostr Wallet Connect either. This means users must have a separate wallet for zapping on the web client if they use the Primal Wallet on mobile.

nostr:note15tf2u9pffy58y9lk27y245ew792raqc7lc22jezxvqj7xrak9ztqu45wep

It seems that Primal is filtering for spam even for profiles you actively follow. Moreover, exactly what the criteria is for being considered spam is currently opaque.

nostr:note1xexnzv0vrmc8svvduurydwmu43w7dftyqmjh4ps98zksr39ln2qswkuced

For those unaware, Blossom is a protocol for hosting media as blobs identified by a hash, allowing them to be located on and displayed from other servers they have been mirrored to when when the target server isn't available. Primal currently runs a Blossom server (blossom.primal.net) so I would expect we see Blossom support in the future.

nostr:note1unugv7s36e2kxl768ykg0qly7czeplp8qnc207k4pj45rexgqv4sue50y6

Currently, Primal on Android only supports uploading photos to your posts. Users must upload any video to some other hosting service and copy/paste a link to the video into their post on Primal. I would not be surprised to see this feature added in the near future, though.

nostr:note10w6538y58dkd9mdrlkfc8ylhnyqutc56ggdw7gk5y7nsp00rdk4q3qgrex

Many Nostr users have more than one npub for various uses. Users would prefer to have a way to quickly switch between accounts than to have to log all the way out and paste their npub for the other account every time they want to use it.

There is good news on this front, though:

nostr:note17xv632yqfz8nx092lj4sxr7drrqfey6e2373ha00qlq8j8qv6jjs36kxlh

Wrap Up

All in all, Primal is an excellent client. It won't be for everyone, but that's one of the strengths of Nostr as a protocol. You can choose to use the client that best fits your own needs, and supplement with other clients and tools as necessary.

There are a couple glaring issues I have with Primal that prevent me from using it on my main npub, but it is also an ever-improving client, that already has me hopeful for those issues to be resolved in a future release.

So, what should I review next? Another Android client, such as #Amethyst or #Voyage? Maybe an "other stuff" app, like #Wavlake or #Fountain? Please leave your suggestions in the comments.

I hope this review was valuable to you! If it was, please consider letting me know just how valuable by zapping me some sats and reposting it out to your follows.

Thank you for reading!

PV 🤙

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

It's our podcast and we'll talk about whatever we want. Welcome to a return to normalcy where we cover a variety of subjects instead of just a couple of really long ones. Crack open a beer and chill with us. We're gonna talk about the Galaxy showcase, Marathon, Skyblivion & the leaked Oblivion remake, and a whole bunch more.

In the opening of the episode we get Vic's reaction to a really specific trailer, if you want to follow along, this is the link to that video

Other stuff cited:

• Switch 2 isn't changing price after all?
• Adi Shankar is an Asmon fan

Obligatory:

• Listen to the new episode here!
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Reminder that this is a Value4Value podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors!

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

@ c9badfea:610f861a

1. Create

bash git bundle create backup.bundle --all

2. Verify

bash git bundle verify backup.bundle

3. Restore

bash git clone backup.bundle

ℹ️ Feel free to change the backup.bundle file name

@ 41959693:3888319c

Die Schnelllebigkeit der Moderne tilgt in unserer Wahrnehmung die zeitlichen Abstände von Ereignissen. Es bleibt kaum Gelegenheit ein Thema im Rückspiegel zu erfassen, zu durchdenken, zu rezipieren – schon buhlt der nächste Augenblick um Aufmerksamkeit.

Mögen an die Leipziger Buchmesse Ende März mittlerweile nur noch Visitenkarten und Selfies oder manch signiertes Exemplar im Buchregal erinnern; es lohnt sich doch, die größte deutsche Besuchermesse der Buchbranche nun rückblickend zu betrachten. Gerade da ihr Event-Charakter von Jahr zu Jahr zunimmt, ist die Frage reizvoll, welche beständigen Themen dort wie präsentiert wurden, in diesem Fall natürlich „Frieden“.

An allen vier Messetagen hielt ich die Augen auf, wo sich Autoren, Verlage und allgemeine die Institutionen der Branche dazu äußerten. Vorgreifend muss gesagt werden, dass Krieg und Frieden heute nicht mehr zwingend primäre Themen sind, sondern oft begleitend mitbehandelt werden. Für Zerstörung und Elend scheint dabei immer die große Bühne bereitet zu werden; einvernehmliche Koexistenz wird gewöhnlich mit leiser Klaviatur gespielt. Dennoch fand ich vier Bücher, welche direkt das Thema ansprachen:

• Die norwegische Soziologin und Publizistin Linn Stalsberg stellte ihr Werk „War is contempt for life. An essay on peace“ (ISBN: 978-8282262736, Res Publica, 2024) vor, in welchem sie auf all die Menschen eingeht, die für Pazifismus, Gewaltlosigkeit und Anti-Militarismus einstehen. Ihrer Meinung nach haben wir unzählige Berichte über Kriegs-, kaum jedoch Geschichten von Friedenshelden. Die deutsche Ausgabe soll im schweizerischen Kommode-Verlag im September diesen Jahres erscheinen.

• „Die Evolution der Gewalt. Warum wir Frieden wollen, aber Kriege führen“, geschrieben von Kai Michel, Harald Meller und Carel van Schaik, wurde für den Preis der Leipziger Buchmesse in der Kategorie Sachbuch/Essayistik nominiert. Die Autoren vertreten u. a. die Thesen, dass Krieg kein essentieller Gesellschaftsprozess ist, wie es einige geflügelte Worte oder ideologische Äußerungen vermuten lassen – und, dass die Erfolge der Bellizisten nur 1 % der Weltgeschichte ausmachen (ISBN: 978-3423284387, dtv, 2024).

• Der Publizist und taz-Redakteur Pascal Beucker gibt mit „Pazifismus – ein Irrweg?“ (ISBN 978-3170434325, Kohlhammer, 2024) eine Übersicht über die Geschichte des Pazifismus, geht auf in Vergessenheit geratene Hintergründe der einzelnen Motivationen und Bewegungen ein und wagt Zukunftsprognosen über die Erfolgschancen gewaltloser Auseinandersetzungen.

• Neben den Sachbüchern fand sich auch ein Vertreter aus dem Bereich der Belletristik: Rüdiger Heins und Michael Landgraf gaben eine Anthologie mit Friedenstexten, Prosa und Lyrik, heraus: „365 Tage Frieden“ (ISBN: 978-3930758951 Edition Maya, 2025), verspricht der Titel, für den zahlreiche Autoren auf ganz unterschiedliche Art und Weise träumten, sich erinnerten, uns mahnten und weiterhin hoffen.

Ansonsten fanden sich viele kleinere Veranstaltungsformate und Verlage, welche ihr Scherflein beitragen wollten, dabei aber sehr unscharf blieben und beispielsweise im Forum Offene Gesellschaft u. a. Grenzoffenheit, Toleranz und Inklusion behandelten. Inwieweit diese, in jüngster Vergangenheit doch recht stark medial forcierten Themen die zentrale Friedensfrage ergründen und stützen, ist vermutlich Auslegungssache.

Unsere Definition von Frieden mag nicht sonderlich scharf sein; jeder zieht darin andere Grenzen und wird sich situativ nach eigenem Gusto verhalten. Dennoch bewegt uns eine Grundschwingung, führt uns ein Sehnen in eine höhere, gemeinsame Richtung. Diese Erkenntnis ist es wert, durch den Lauf der Geschichte bewahrt zu werden, durch aktuelle Zeugnisse ebenso wie durch die Gedanken derer, die vor uns waren.

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Ich habe beschlossen diese Bücher für Sie, werte Leser, in den nächsten Wochen nach und nach zu rezensieren.

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Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben.

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@ 401014b3:59d5476b

And here's what it said.

And for what it's worth, I actually think ChatGPT nailed it.

Thoughts?

1. Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs Andy Reid remains the gold standard among NFL head coaches. With three Super Bowl titles in the past six seasons and a career record of 273-146-1 (.651), Reid's offensive innovation and leadership continue to set him apart. ​

2. Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams Sean McVay has revitalized the Rams since taking over in 2017, leading them to two Super Bowl appearances and maintaining only one losing season in eight years. His ability to adapt and keep the team competitive has solidified his status as one of the league's elite coaches. ​

3. John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens John Harbaugh's tenure with the Ravens has been marked by consistent success, including a Super Bowl victory in 2012 and multiple double-digit win seasons. His leadership and adaptability have kept Baltimore as a perennial contender. ​

4. Nick Sirianni – Philadelphia Eagles Nick Sirianni has quickly risen through the ranks, boasting a .706 regular-season winning percentage and leading the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, including one victory. His emphasis on player morale and adaptability have been key to Philadelphia's recent success. ​

5. Dan Campbell – Detroit Lions Dan Campbell has transformed the Lions into a formidable team, improving their record each season and instilling a culture of toughness and resilience. Despite a disappointing playoff exit in 2024, Campbell's impact on the franchise is undeniable.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/967880

@ c066aac5:6a41a034

I am all about fleshing out a fantasy, even if the chances of it coming to reality are fairly slim. Dreams should be written down, meditated on, processed over long periods of time. I don't think of it as manifesting (nor do I condone manifestation); one could argue such practices are Biblical (Habakkuk 2:2).

So I'm going to write this out and make it plain, on the off chance that putting it out there brings somethings to fruition:

Jack Dorsey should take over Mozilla.

Either via an invitation from Mozilla, or via a hostile takeover. I don't really care how it happens, but I believe it should happen and I'll outline why.

The Fallen Hero

Mozilla has been having a bad time. I'm not sure that the organization has done much good since the unceremonious departure of Brenden Eich (there's Rust, but is that really a good thing?).

Firefox is losing its relevance. The FireFox Terms of Service update has sparked outrage, the removal of the promise to never sell your data was a Judas level of betrayal, FireFox currently (at the time this article was penned) makes up less than 3% of the total browser marketshare, their main source of income from Google is in jeopardy, most websites are only optimized for Chromium-based browsers, and the Gecko engine is not very secure.

Mozilla's best product is dying, and what is the organization doing about it? They're working on a plethora of issues their core user base does not care about. They've jumped on the AI hype train, they've bought an advertising company (which is very irrelevant to their user base, especially considering uBlock Orgin exists), they're selling white labeled VPNs (Mullvad), they're selling data removal services (which is powered by a former data broker), they're pushing shopping products, they're forcing features on their users which were never asked for (POCKET!!), it seems that Mozilla is completely out of touch with the people they claim to serve. They've abandoned their first love.

Thunderbird is showing some promise with the recent announcement of Thundermail, but that project will sadly suffer from guilt by association.

We have to remember though: Mozilla used to mean something in the FOSS/Open Source world.

They were the shining city on the hill of the internet. They rose up from the ashes of Netscape. FireFox kicked Internet Explorer's butt; it was a punk rock movement. Thunderbird is still an amazing email client. Rust (despite the arguing programmers) is a significant innovation in the programming language space.

I'm not rooting for the downfall of Mozilla. Sure, in a way I'd be happy about it: I'd like to see poor leadership get what it deserves, but I fear Mozilla as a symbol of FOSS/OS would send a sad signal across the ecosystem. I'm a capitalist at heart so I don't favor bailouts (nor am I calling for one); I truly believe this organization could be turned around with the right leadership. Maybe it could be as simple as going back to their original model of serving the deep pockets of the corporate world with open source tech rather than going for the wallets of the consumer.

Every problem is a leadership problem. Fix the leadership, fix the problems.

The Last Great Open Source Hero?

Sadly FOSS figures tend to die of public crucifixion. As time goes on, we have less and less great figures to point to. Thankfully, Jack hasn't been canceled yet.

Jack Dorsey has a pretty good résumé in the open source world. He jumped right in with Bitcoin. He left BlueSky for NOSTR. He would've made Twitter a protocol if he didn't need to feed himself early in his career. He is currently financing several projects in the Bitcoin and NOSTR world, which is arguably the best open source technology in the world right now.

I do believe that people should stay in their lane of expertise, and maybe Jack should. However, my message to Jack would be that it would be a shame if his passion for open source remained solely in Bitcoin and NOSTR. If his leadership was injected into the Mozilla machine, it could be steered into a magical direction.

Imagine FireFox being the first browser with layer 2 wallet integration (stick it to Brave and their BAT crap [we still love you Brenden Eich flaws and all]). Imagine having a whole world of existing talented developers suddenly interested in contributing their talents to the NOSTR community. Imagine having a browser with an engine that can actually go toe-to-toe with Chromium. Imagine an organization that once again gives FOSS a good name rather than actively eroding public confidence in FOSS.

The True FOSS Heroes

Jack is probably not going to touch Mozilla with a 150 foot pole (or see this article). We all probably need to let the Mozilla dream die in front of us.

Things aren't always black and white. I don't think of Mozilla as an evil organization; just an organization subject to the flaws of fellow humans like you and me. Even the Eye of Sauron, Google, has been a huge blessing to the open source world (Go programming language, Android, all of their open source sponsorships, many more things I could mention).

The beautiful thing about FOSS/OS is that it is a movement of the people. Titans will rise up and fall, but you and I make up the backbone of FOSS. I've had nothing but good interactions with FOSS fanatics. NOSTR's own OceanSlim taught me about Ungoogled Chromium, the Go programming language, and NOSTR relays. When I wanted to get into Linux, I was able to plug in immediately with a group of Linux users here in Nashville. NOSTR devs for the most part are happy to answer my inquiries when I slide into their DMs. I've been in group chats with people openly discussing the best way to make a great lightning wallet.

There's a lot of connection in the Open Source world that I cherish; it's very different from the corporate world most of us are immersed in. The corporate world has gatekeepers; Open Source has collaborators. The corporate world operates in the shadows to maximize profits; Open Source steps into the light for everyone's benefit. The corporate world says you'll never have enough experience/qualifications; Open Source encourages and equips you.

My point is, don't worship any organization. Be thankful for the people around you, try out FOSS programs whenever you can, and have fun with it.

All that said, I wouldn't mind if Jack took over Mozilla. Or if one of his friends took a position (ODELL?). Heck, throw Snowden in while we're at it.

Footnote: "Open Source" and "FOSS/Free and Open Source Software" are used interchangably in this article. Mistakes were made I'm sure, but I hope I got the point across.

@ 826e9f89:ffc5c759

What follows began as snippets of conversations I have been having for years, on and off, here and there. It will likely eventually be collated into a piece I have been meaning to write on “payments” as a whole. I foolishly started writing this piece years ago, not realizing that the topic is gargantuan and for every week I spend writing it I have to add two weeks to my plan. That may or may not ever come to fruition, but in the meantime, Tether announced it was issuing on Taproot Assets and suddenly everybody is interested again. This is as good a catalyst as any to carve out my “stablecoin thesis”, such as it exists, from “payments”, and put it out there for comment and feedback.

In contrast to the “Bitcoiner take” I will shortly revert to, I invite the reader to keep the following potential counterargument in mind, which might variously be termed the “shitcoiner”, “realist”, or “cynical” take, depending on your perspective: that stablecoins have clear product-market-fit. Now, as a venture capitalist and professional thinkboi focusing on companies building on Bitcoin, I obviously think that not only is Bitcoin the best money ever invented and its monetization is pretty much inevitable, but that, furthermore, there is enormous, era-defining long-term potential for a range of industries in which Bitcoin is emerging as superior technology, even aside from its role as money. But in the interest not just of steelmanning but frankly just of honesty, I would grudgingly agree with the following assessment as of the time of writing: the applications of crypto (inclusive of Bitcoin but deliberately wider) that have found product-market-fit today, and that are not speculative bets on future development and adoption, are: Bitcoin as savings technology, mining as a means of monetizing energy production, and stablecoins.

I think there are two typical Bitcoiner objections to stablecoins of significantly greater importance than all others: that you shouldn’t be supporting dollar hegemony, and that you don’t need a blockchain. I will elaborate on each of these, and for the remainder of the post will aim to produce a synthesis of three superficially contrasting (or at least not obviously related) sources of inspiration: these objections, the realisation above that stablecoins just are useful, and some commentary on technical developments in Bitcoin and the broader space that I think inform where things are likely to go. As will become clear as the argument progresses, I actually think the outcome to which I am building up is where things have to go. I think the technical and economic incentives at play make this an inevitability rather than a “choice”, per se. Given my conclusion, which I will hold back for the time being, this is a fantastically good thing, hence I am motivated to write this post at all!

Objection 1: Dollar Hegemony

I list this objection first because there isn’t a huge amount to say about it. It is clearly a normative position, and while I more or less support it personally, I don’t think that it is material to the argument I am going on to make, so I don’t want to force it on the reader. While the case for this objection is probably obvious to this audience (isn’t the point of Bitcoin to destroy central banks, not further empower them?) I should at least offer the steelman that there is a link between this and the realist observation that stablecoins are useful. The reason they are useful is because people prefer the dollar to even shitter local fiat currencies. I don’t think it is particularly fruitful to say that they shouldn’t. They do. Facts don’t care about your feelings. There is a softer bridging argument to be made here too, to the effect that stablecoins warm up their users to the concept of digital bearer (ish) assets, even though these particular assets are significantly scammier than Bitcoin. Again, I am just floating this, not telling the reader they should or shouldn’t buy into it.

All that said, there is one argument I do want to put my own weight behind, rather than just float: stablecoin issuance is a speculative attack on the institution of fractional reserve banking. A “dollar” Alice moves from JPMorgan to Tether embodies two trade-offs from Alice’s perspective: i) a somewhat opaque profile on the credit risk of the asset: the likelihood of JPMorgan ever really defaulting on deposits vs the operator risk of Tether losing full backing and/or being wrench attacked by the Federal Government and rugging its users. These risks are real but are almost entirely political. I’m skeptical it is meaningful to quantify them, but even if it is, I am not the person to try to do it. Also, more transparently to Alice, ii) far superior payment rails (for now, more on this to follow).

However, from the perspective of the fiat banking cartel, fractional reserve leverage has been squeezed. There are just as many notional dollars in circulation, but there the backing has been shifted from levered to unlevered issuers. There are gradations of relevant objections to this: while one might say, Tether’s backing comes from Treasuries, so you are directly funding US debt issuance!, this is a bit silly in the context of what other dollars one might hold. It’s not like JPMorgan is really competing with the Treasury to sell credit into the open market. Optically they are, but this is the core of the fiat scam. Via the guarantees of the Federal Reserve System, JPMorgan can sell as much unbacked credit as it wants knowing full well the difference will be printed whenever this blows up. Short-term Treasuries are also JPMorgan’s most pristine asset safeguarding its equity, so the only real difference is that Tether only holds Treasuries without wishing more leverage into existence. The realization this all builds up to is that, by necessity,

Tether is a fully reserved bank issuing fiduciary media against the only dollar-denominated asset in existence whose value (in dollar terms) can be guaranteed. Furthermore, this media arguably has superior “moneyness” to the obvious competition in the form of US commercial bank deposits by virtue of its payment rails.

That sounds pretty great when you put it that way! Of course, the second sentence immediately leads to the second objection, and lets the argument start to pick up steam …

Objection 2: You Don’t Need a Blockchain

I don’t need to explain this to this audience but to recap as briefly as I can manage: Bitcoin’s value is entirely endogenous. Every aspect of “a blockchain” that, out of context, would be an insanely inefficient or redundant modification of a “database”, in context is geared towards the sole end of enabling the stability of this endogenous value. Historically, there have been two variations of stupidity that follow a failure to grok this: i) “utility tokens”, or blockchains with native tokens for something other than money. I would recommend anybody wanting a deeper dive on the inherent nonsense of a utility token to read Only The Strong Survive, in particular Chapter 2, Crypto Is Not Decentralized, and the subsection, Everything Fights For Liquidity, and/or Green Eggs And Ham, in particular Part II, Decentralized Finance, Technically. ii) “real world assets” or, creating tokens within a blockchain’s data structure that are not intended to have endogenous value but to act as digital quasi-bearer certificates to some or other asset of value exogenous to this system. Stablecoins are in this second category.

RWA tokens definitionally have to have issuers, meaning some entity that, in the real world, custodies or physically manages both the asset and the record-keeping scheme for the asset. “The blockchain” is at best a secondary ledger to outsource ledger updates to public infrastructure such that the issuer itself doesn’t need to bother and can just “check the ledger” whenever operationally relevant. But clearly ownership cannot be enforced in an analogous way to Bitcoin, under both technical and social considerations. Technically, Bitcoin’s endogenous value means that whoever holds the keys to some or other UTXOs functionally is the owner. Somebody else claiming to be the owner is yelling at clouds. Whereas, socially, RWA issuers enter a contract with holders (whether legally or just in terms of a common-sense interpretation of the transaction) such that ownership of the asset issued against is entirely open to dispute. That somebody can point to “ownership” of the token may or may not mean anything substantive with respect to the physical reality of control of the asset, and how the issuer feels about it all.

And so, one wonders, why use a blockchain at all? Why doesn’t the issuer just run its own database (for the sake of argument with some or other signature scheme for verifying and auditing transactions) given it has the final say over issuance and redemption anyway? I hinted at an answer above: issuing on a blockchain outsources this task to public infrastructure. This is where things get interesting. While it is technically true, given the above few paragraphs, that, you don’t need a blockchain for that, you also don’t need to not use a blockchain for that. If you want to, you can.

This is clearly the case given stablecoins exist at all and have gone this route. If one gets too angry about not needing a blockchain for that, one equally risks yelling at clouds! And, in fact, one can make an even stronger argument, more so from the end users’ perspective. These products do not exist in a vacuum but rather compete with alternatives. In the case of stablecoins, the alternative is traditional fiat money, which, as stupid as RWAs on a blockchain are, is even dumber. It actually is just a database, except it’s a database that is extremely annoying to use, basically for political reasons because the industry managing these private databases form a cartel that never needs to innovate or really give a shit about its customers at all. In many, many cases, stablecoins on blockchains are dumb in the abstract, but superior to the alternative methods of holding and transacting in dollars existing in other forms. And note, this is only from Alice’s perspective of wanting to send and receive, not a rehashing of the fractional reserve argument given above. This is the essence of their product-market-fit. Yell at clouds all you like: they just are useful given the alternative usually is not Bitcoin, it’s JPMorgan’s KYC’d-up-the-wazoo 90s-era website, more than likely from an even less solvent bank.

So where does this get us? It might seem like we are back to “product-market-fit, sorry about that” with Bitcoiners yelling about feelings while everybody else makes do with their facts. However, I think we have introduced enough material to move the argument forward by incrementally incorporating the following observations, all of which I will shortly go into in more detail: i) as a consequence of making no technical sense with respect to what blockchains are for, today’s approach won’t scale; ii) as a consequence of short-termist tradeoffs around socializing costs, today’s approach creates an extremely unhealthy and arguably unnatural market dynamic in the issuer space; iii) Taproot Assets now exist and handily address both points i) and ii), and; iv) eCash is making strides that I believe will eventually replace even Taproot Assets.

To tease where all this is going, and to get the reader excited before we dive into much more detail: just as Bitcoin will eat all monetary premia, Lightning will likely eat all settlement, meaning all payments will gravitate towards routing over Lightning regardless of the denomination of the currency at the edges. Fiat payments will gravitate to stablecoins to take advantage of this; stablecoins will gravitate to TA and then to eCash, and all of this will accelerate hyperbitcoinization by “bitcoinizing” payment rails such that an eventual full transition becomes as simple as flicking a switch as to what denomination you want to receive.

I will make two important caveats before diving in that are more easily understood in light of having laid this groundwork: I am open to the idea that it won’t be just Lightning or just Taproot Assets playing the above roles. Without veering into forecasting the entire future development of Bitcoin tech, I will highlight that all that really matters here are, respectively: a true layer 2 with native hashlocks, and a token issuance scheme that enables atomic routing over such a layer 2 (or combination of such). For the sake of argument, the reader is welcome to swap in “Ark” and “RGB” for “Lightning” and “TA” both above and in all that follows. As far as I can tell, this makes no difference to the argument and is even exciting in its own right. However, for the sake of simplicity in presentation, I will stick to “Lightning” and “TA” hereafter.

1) Today’s Approach to Stablecoins Won’t Scale

This is the easiest to tick off and again doesn’t require much explanation to this audience. Blockchains fundamentally don’t scale, which is why Bitcoin’s UTXO scheme is a far better design than ex-Bitcoin Crypto’s’ account-based models, even entirely out of context of all the above criticisms. This is because Bitcoin transactions can be batched across time and across users with combinations of modes of spending restrictions that provide strong economic guarantees of correct eventual net settlement, if not perpetual deferral. One could argue this is a decent (if abstrusely technical) definition of “scaling” that is almost entirely lacking in Crypto.

What we see in ex-Bitcoin crypto is so-called “layer 2s” that are nothing of the sort, forcing stablecoin schemes in these environments into one of two equally poor design choices if usage is ever to increase: fees go higher and higher, to the point of economic unviability (and well past it) as blocks fill up, or move to much more centralized environments that increasingly are just databases, and hence which lose the benefits of openness thought to be gleaned by outsourcing settlement to public infrastructure. This could be in the form of punting issuance to a bullshit “layer 2” that is a really a multisig “backing” a private execution environment (to be decentralized any daw now) or an entirely different blockchain that is just pretending even less not to be a database to begin with. In a nutshell, this is a decent bottom-up explanation as to why Tron has the highest settlement of Tether.

This also gives rise to the weirdness of “gas tokens” - assets whose utility as money is and only is in the form of a transaction fee to transact a different kind of money. These are not quite as stupid as a “utility token,” given at least they are clearly fulfilling a monetary role and hence their artificial scarcity can be justified. But they are frustrating from Bitcoiners’ and users’ perspectives alike: users would prefer to pay transaction fees on dollars in dollars, but they can’t because the value of Ether, Sol, Tron, or whatever, is the string and bubblegum that hold their boondoggles together. And Bitcoiners wish this stuff would just go away and stop distracting people, whereas this string and bubblegum is proving transiently useful.

All in all, today’s approach is fine so long as it isn’t being used much. It has product-market fit, sure, but in the unenviable circumstance that, if it really starts to take off, it will break, and even the original users will find it unusable.

2) Today’s Approach to Stablecoins Creates an Untenable Market Dynamic

Reviving the ethos of you don’t need a blockchain for that, notice the following subtlety: while the tokens representing stablecoins have value to users, that value is not native to the blockchain on which they are issued. Tether can (and routinely does) burn tokens on Ethereum and mint them on Tron, then burn on Tron and mint on Solana, and so on. So-called blockchains “go down” and nobody really cares. This makes no difference whatsoever to Tether’s own accounting, and arguably a positive difference to users given these actions track market demand. But it is detrimental to the blockchain being switched away from by stripping it of “TVL” that, it turns out, was only using it as rails: entirely exogenous value that leaves as quickly as it arrived.

One underdiscussed and underappreciated implication of the fact that no value is natively running through the blockchain itself is that, in the current scheme, both the sender and receiver of a stablecoin have to trust the same issuer. This creates an extremely powerful network effect that, in theory, makes the first-to-market likely to dominate and in practice has played out exactly as this theory would suggest: Tether has roughly 80% of the issuance, while roughly 19% goes to the political carve-out of USDC that wouldn’t exist at all were it not for government interference. Everybody else combined makes up the final 1%.

So, Tether is a full reserve bank but also has to be everybody’s bank. This is the source of a lot of the discomfort with Tether, and which feeds into the original objection around dollar hegemony, that there is an ill-defined but nonetheless uneasy feeling that Tether is slowly morphing into a CBDC. I would argue this really has nothing to do with Tether’s own behavior but rather is a consequence of the market dynamic inevitably created by the current stablecoin scheme. There is no reason to trust any other bank because nobody really wants a bank, they just want the rails. They want something that will retain a nominal dollar value long enough to spend it again. They don’t care what tech it runs on and they don’t even really care about the issuer except insofar as having some sense they won’t get rugged.

Notice this is not how fiat works. Banks can, of course, settle between each other, thus enabling their users to send money to customers of other banks. This settlement function is actually the entire point of central banks, less the money printing and general corruption enabled (we might say, this was the historical point of central banks, which have since become irredeemably corrupted by this power). This process is clunkier than stablecoins, as covered above, but the very possibility of settlement means there is no gigantic network effect to being the first commercial issuer of dollar balances. If it isn’t too triggering to this audience, one might suggest that the money printer also removes the residual concern that your balances might get rugged! (or, we might again say, you guarantee you don’t get rugged in the short term by guaranteeing you do get rugged in the long term).

This is a good point at which to introduce the unsettling observation that broader fintech is catching on to the benefits of stablecoins without any awareness whatsoever of all the limitations I am outlining here. With the likes of Stripe, Wise, Robinhood, and, post-Trump, even many US megabanks supposedly contemplating issuing stablecoins (obviously within the current scheme, not the scheme I am building up to proposing), we are forced to boggle our minds considering how on earth settlement is going to work. Are they going to settle through Ether? Well, no, because i) Ether isn’t money, it’s … to be honest, I don’t think anybody really knows what it is supposed to be, or if they once did they aren’t pretending anymore, but anyway, Stripe certainly hasn’t figured that out yet so, ii) it won’t be possible to issue them on layer 1s as soon as there is any meaningful volume, meaning they will have to route through “bullshit layer 2 wrapped Ether token that is really already a kind of stablecoin for Ether.”

The way they are going to try to fix this (anybody wanna bet?) is routing through DEXes, which is so painfully dumb you should be laughing and, if you aren’t, I would humbly suggest you don’t get just how dumb it is. What this amounts to is plugging the gap of Ether’s lack of moneyness (and wrapped Ether’s hilarious lack of moneyness) with … drum roll … unknowable technical and counterparty risk and unpredictable cost on top of reverting to just being a database. So, in other words, all of the costs of using a blockchain when you don’t strictly need to, and none of the benefits. Stripe is going to waste billions of dollars getting sandwich attacked out of some utterly vanilla FX settlement it is facilitating for clients who have even less of an idea what is going on and why North Korea now has all their money, and will eventually realize they should have skipped their shitcoin phase and gone straight to understanding Bitcoin instead …

3) Bitcoin (and Taproot Assets) Fixes This

To tie together a few loose ends, I only threw in the hilariously stupid suggestion of settling through wrapped Ether on Ether on Ether in order to tee up the entirely sensible suggestion of settling through Lightning. Again, not that this will be new to this audience, but while issuance schemes have been around on Bitcoin for a long time, the breakthrough of Taproot Assets is essentially the ability to atomically route through Lightning.

I will admit upfront that this presents a massive bootstrapping challenge relative to the ex-Bitcoin Crypto approach, and it’s not obvious to me if or how this will be overcome. I include this caveat to make it clear I am not suggesting this is a given. It may not be, it’s just beyond the scope of this post (or frankly my ability) to predict. This is a problem for Lightning Labs, Tether, and whoever else decides to step up to issue. But even highlighting this as an obvious and major concern invites us to consider an intriguing contrast: scaling TA stablecoins is hardest at the start and gets easier and easier thereafter. The more edge liquidity there is in TA stables, the less of a risk it is for incremental issuance; the more TA activity, the more attractive deploying liquidity is into Lightning proper, and vice versa. With apologies if this metaphor is even more confusing than it is helpful, one might conceive of the situation as being that there is massive inertia to bootstrap, but equally there could be positive feedback in driving the inertia to scale. Again, I have no idea, and it hasn’t happened yet in practice, but in theory it’s fun.

More importantly to this conversation, however, this is almost exactly the opposite dynamic to the current scheme on other blockchains, which is basically free to start, but gets more and more expensive the more people try to use it. One might say it antiscales (I don’t think that’s a real word, but if Taleb can do it, then I can do it too!).

Furthermore, the entire concept of “settling in Bitcoin” makes perfect sense both economically and technically: economically because Bitcoin is money, and technically because it can be locked in an HTLC and hence can enable atomic routing (i.e. because Lightning is a thing). This is clearly better than wrapped Eth on Eth on Eth or whatever, but, tantalisingly, is better than fiat too! The core message of the payments tome I may or may not one day write is (or will be) that fiat payments, while superficially efficient on the basis of centralized and hence costless ledger amendments, actually have a hidden cost in the form of interbank credit. Many readers will likely have heard me say this multiple times and in multiple settings but, contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a fiat debit. Even if styled as a debit, all fiat payments are credits and all have credit risk baked into their cost, even if that is obscured and pushed to the absolute foundational level of money printing to keep banks solvent and hence keep payment channels open.

Furthermore! this enables us to strip away the untenable market dynamic from the point above. The underappreciated and underdiscussed flip side of the drawback of the current dynamic that is effectively fixed by Taproot Assets is that there is no longer a mammoth network effect to a single issuer. Senders and receivers can trust different issuers (i.e. their own banks) because those banks can atomically settle a single payment over Lightning. This does not involve credit. It is arguably the only true debit in the world across both the relevant economic and technical criteria: it routes through money with no innate credit risk, and it does so atomically due to that money’s native properties.

Savvy readers may have picked up on a seed I planted a while back and which can now delightfully blossom:

This is what Visa was supposed to be!

Crucially, this is not what Visa is now. Visa today is pretty much the bank that is everybody’s counterparty, takes a small credit risk for the privilege, and oozes free cash flow bottlenecking global consumer payments.

But if you read both One From Many by Dee Hock (for a first person but pretty wild and extravagant take) and Electronic Value Exchange by David Stearns (for a third person, drier, but more analytical and historically contextualized take) or if you are just intimately familiar with the modern history of payments for whatever other reason, you will see that the role I just described for Lightning in an environment of unboundedly many banks issuing fiduciary media in the form of stablecoins is exactly what Dee Hock wanted to create when he envisioned Visa:

A neutral and open layer of value settlement enabling banks to create digital, interbank payment schemes for their customers at very low cost.

As it turns out, his vision was technically impossible with fiat, hence Visa, which started as a cooperative amongst member banks, was corrupted into a duopolistic for-profit rent seeker in curious parallel to the historical path of central banks …

4) eCash

To now push the argument to what I think is its inevitable conclusion, it’s worth being even more vigilant on the front of you don’t need a blockchain for that. I have argued that there is a role for a blockchain in providing a neutral settlement layer to enable true debits of stablecoins. But note this is just a fancy and/or stupid way of saying that Bitcoin is both the best money and is programmable, which we all knew anyway. The final step is realizing that, while TA is nice in terms of providing a kind of “on ramp” for global payments infrastructure as a whole to reorient around Lightning, there is some path dependence here in assuming (almost certainly correctly) that the familiarity of stablecoins as “RWA tokens on a blockchain” will be an important part of the lure.

But once that transition is complete, or is well on its way to being irreversible, we may as well come full circle and cut out tokens altogether. Again, you really don’t need a blockchain for that, and the residual appeal of better rails has been taken care of with the above massive detour through what I deem to be the inevitability of Lightning as a settlement layer. Just as USDT on Tron arguably has better moneyness than a JPMorgan balance, so a “stablecoin” as eCash has better moneyness than as a TA given it is cheaper, more private, and has more relevantly bearer properties (in other words, because it is cash). The technical detail that it can be hashlocked is really all you need to tie this all together. That means it can be atomically locked into a Lightning routed debit to the recipient of a different issuer (or “mint” in eCash lingo, but note this means the same thing as what we have been calling fully reserved banks). And the economic incentive is pretty compelling too because, for all their benefits, there is still a cost to TAs given they are issued onchain and they require asset-specific liquidity to route on Lightning. Once the rest of the tech is in place, why bother? Keep your Lightning connectivity and just become a mint.

What you get at that point is dramatically superior private database to JPMorgan with the dramatically superior public rails of Lightning. There is nothing left to desire from “a blockchain” besides what Bitcoin is fundamentally for in the first place: counterparty-risk-free value settlement.

And as a final point with a curious and pleasing echo to Dee Hock at Visa, Calle has made the point repeatedly that David Chaum’s vision for eCash, while deeply philosophical besides the technical details, was actually pretty much impossible to operate on fiat. From an eCash perspective, fiat stablecoins within the above infrastructure setup are a dramatic improvement on anything previously possible. But, of course, they are a slippery slope to Bitcoin regardless …

Objections Revisited

As a cherry on top, I think the objections I highlighted at the outset are now readily addressed – to the extent the reader believes what I am suggesting is more or less a technical and economic inevitability, that is. While, sure, I’m not particularly keen on giving the Treasury more avenues to sell its welfare-warfare shitcoin, on balance the likely development I’ve outlined is an enormous net positive: it’s going to sell these anyway so I prefer a strong economic incentive to steadily transition not only to Lightning as payment rails but eCash as fiduciary media, and to use “fintech” as a carrot to induce a slow motion bank run.

As alluded to above, once all this is in place, the final step to a Bitcoin standard becomes as simple as an individual’s decision to want Bitcoin instead of fiat. On reflection, this is arguably the easiest part! It's setting up all the tech that puts people off, so trojan-horsing them with “faster, cheaper payment rails” seems like a genius long-term strategy.

And as to “needing a blockchain” (or not), I hope that is entirely wrapped up at this point. The only blockchain you need is Bitcoin, but to the extent people are still confused by this (which I think will take decades more to fully unwind), we may as well lean into dazzling them with whatever innovation buzzwords and decentralization theatre they were going to fall for anyway before realizing they wanted Bitcoin all along.

Conclusion

Stablecoins are useful whether you like it or not. They are stupid in the abstract but it turns out fiat is even stupider, on inspection. But you don’t need a blockchain, and using one as decentralization theatre creates technical debt that is insurmountable in the long run. Blockchain-based stablecoins are doomed to a utility inversely proportional to their usage, and just to rub it in, their ill-conceived design practically creates a commercial dynamic that mandates there only ever be a single issuer.

Given they are useful, it seems natural that this tension is going to blow up at some point. It also seems worthwhile observing that Taproot Asset stablecoins have almost the inverse problem and opposite commercial dynamic: they will be most expensive to use at the outset but get cheaper and cheaper as their usage grows. Also, there is no incentive towards a monopoly issuer but rather towards as many as are willing to try to operate well and provide value to their users.

As such, we can expect any sizable growth in stablecoins to migrate to TA out of technical and economic necessity. Once this has happened - or possibly while it is happening but is clearly not going to stop - we may as well strip out the TA component and just use eCash because you really don’t need a blockchain for that at all. And once all the money is on eCash, deciding you want to denominate it in Bitcoin is the simplest on-ramp to hyperbitcoinization you can possibly imagine, given we’ve spent the previous decade or two rebuilding all payments tech around Lightning.

Or: Bitcoin fixes this. The End.

• Allen, #892,125

thanks to Marco Argentieri, Lyn Alden, and Calle for comments and feedback

@ e968e50b:db2a803a

Has anyone developed a lightning wallet using a raspberry pi or something like that? This would be a device that could fit in your pocket with a small screen and QR scanner for people that can't afford or don't want to carry a smart phone. It would use wifi or something like that. Is this too much of a security headache? Can it be done easily with any wallet's current software?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/967863

@ dbc27e2e:b1dd0b0b

This method focuses on the amount of water in the first pour, which ultimately defines the coffee’s acidity and sweetness (more water = more acidity, less water = more sweetness). For the remainder of the brew, the water is divided into equal parts according to the strength you wish to attain.

Dose:

20g coffee (Coarse ground coffee)
300mL water (92°C / 197.6°F)
Time: 3:30

Instructions:

1. Pour 1: 0:00 > 50mL (42% of 120mL = 40% of total – less water in the ratio, targeting sweetness.)
2. Pour 2: 0:45 > 70mL (58% of 120mL = 40% of total – the top up for 40% of total.)
3. Pour 3: 1:30 > 60mL (The remaining water is 180mL / 3 pours = 60mL per pour)
4. Pour 4: 2:10 > 60mL
5. Pour 5: 2:40 > 60mL
6. Remove the V60 at 3:30

@ 1bc70a01:24f6a411

I've been meaning to dogfood my own vibe project for a while so this feels like a good opportunity to use Untype to publish this update and reflect on my vibe coding journey.

New Untype Update

As I write this, I found it a bit annoying dealing with one of the latest features, so I'll need to make some changes right after I'm done. Nonetheless, here are some exciting developments in the Untype article composer:

1. Added inline AI helper! Now you can highlight text and perform all sorts of things like fix grammar, re-write in different styles, and all sorts of other things. This is a bit annoying at the moment because it takes over the other editing functions and I need to fix the UX.

2. Added pushing articles to DMs! This option, when enabled, will send the article to all the subscribers via a NIP-44 DM. (No client has implemented the subscription method yet so technically it won’t work, until one does. I may add this to nrss.app) Also, I have not tested this so it could be broken… will test eventually!

3. Added word counts
4. Added ability to export as markdown, export as PDF, print.

The biggest flaw I have already discovered is how "I" implemented the highlight functionality. Right now when you highlight some text it automatically pops up the AI helper menu and this makes for an annoying time trying to make any changes to text. I wanted to change this to show a floating clickable icon instead, but for some reason the bot is having a difficult time updating the code to this desired UX.

Speaking of difficult times, it's probably a good idea to reflect a bit upon my vibe coding journey.

Vibe Coding Nostr Projects

First, I think it's important to add some context around my recent batch of nostr vibe projects. I am working on them mostly at night and occasionally on weekends in between park runs with kids, grocery shopping and just bumming around the house. People who see buggy code or less than desired UX should understand that I am not spending days coding this stuff. Some apps are literally as simple as typing one prompt!

That said, its pretty clear by now that one prompt cannot produce a highly polished product. This is why I decided to limit my number of project to a handful that I really wish existed, and slowly update them over time - fixing bugs, adding new features in hopes of making them the best tools - not only on nostr but the internet in general. As you can imagine this is not a small task, especially for sporadic vibe coding.

Fighting the bot

One of my biggest challenges so far besides having very limited time is getting the bot to do what I want it to do. I guess if you've done any vibe coding at all you're probably familiar with what I'm trying to say. You prompt one thing and get a hallucinated response, or worse, a complete mess out the other end that undoes most of the progress you've made. Once the initial thing is created, which barely took any time, now you're faced with making it work a certain way. This is where the challenges arise.

Here's a brief list of issues I've faced when vibe-coding with various tools:

1. Runaway expenses - tools like Cline tend to do a better job directly in VSCode, but they can also add up dramatically. Before leaning into v0 (which is where I do most of my vibe coding now), I would often melt through $10 credit purchases faster than I could get a decent feature out. It was not uncommon for me to spend $20-30 on a weekend just trying to debug a handful of issues. Naturally, I did not wish to pay these fees so I searched for alternatives.

2. File duplication - occasionally, seemingly out of nowhere, the bot will duplicate files by creating an entire new copy and attached "-fixed" to the file name. Clearly, I'm not asking for duplicate files, I just want it to fix the existing file, but it does happen and it's super annoying. Then you are left telling it which version to keep and which one to delete, and sometimes you have to be very precise or it'll delete the wrong thing and you have to roll back to a previous working version.

3. Code duplication - similar to file duplication, occasionally the bot will duplicate code and do things in the most unintuitive way imaginable. This often results in loops and crashes that can take many refreshes just to revert back to a working state, and many more prompts to avoid the duplication entirely - something a seasoned dev never has to deal with (or so I imagine).

4. Misinterpreting your request - occasionally the bot will do something you didn't ask for because it took your request quite literally. This tends to happen when I give it very specific prompts that are targeted at fixing one very specific thing. I've noticed the bots tend to do better with vague asks - hence a pretty good result on the initial prompt.

5. Doing things inefficiently, without considering smarter approaches - this one is the most painful of vibe coding issues. As a person who may not be familiar with some of the smarter ways of handling development, you rely on the bot to do the right thing. But, when the bot does something horribly inefficiently and you are non-the-wiser, it can be tough to diagnose the issue. I often fight myself asking the bot "is this really the best way to handle things? Can't we ... / shouldn't we .../ isn't this supposed to..." etc. I guess one of the nice side effects of this annoyance is being able to prompt better. I learn that I should ask the bot to reflect on its own code more often and seek ways to do things more simply.

A combination of the above, or total chaos - this is a category where all hell breaks loose and you're trying to put out one fire after another. Fix one bug, only to see 10 more pop up. Fix those, to see 10 more and so on. I guess this may sound like typical development, but the bot amplifies issues by acting totally irrationally. This is typically when I will revert to a previous save point and just undo everything, often losing a lot of progress.

Lessons Learned

If I had to give my earlier self some tips on how to be a smarter vibe coder, here's how I'd summarize them:

1. Fork often - in v0 I now fork for any new major feature I'd like to add (such as the AI assistant).

2. Use targeting tools - in v0 you can select elements and describe how you wish to edit them.

3. Refactor often - keeping the code more manageable speeds up the process. Since the bot will go through the entire file, even if it only makes one small change, it's best to keep the files small and refactoring achieves that.

I guess the biggest lesson someone might point out is just to stop vibe coding. It may be easier to learn proper development and do things right. For me it has been a spare time hobby (one that I will admit is taking more of my extra time than I'd like). I don't really have the time to learn proper development. I feel like I've learned a lot just bossing the bot around and have learned a bunch of things in the process. That's not to say that I never will, but for the moment being my heart is still mostly in design. I haven't shared much of anything I have designed recently - mostly so I can remain speaking more freely without it rubbing off on my work.

I'll go ahead and try to publish this to see if it actually works 😂. Here goes nothing... (oh, I guess I could use the latest feature to export as markdown so I don't lose any progress! Yay!

@ c230edd3:8ad4a712

Chef's notes

I found this recipe on beyondsweetandsavory.com. The site is incredibly ad infested (like most recipe sites) and its very annoying so I'm copying it to Nostr so all the homemade ice cream people can access it without dealing with that mess. I haven't made it yet. Will report back, when I do.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 55 min
• 🍽️ Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 8 oz dark chocolate, 70%
• ¼ cup Dutch cocoa
• 2 tbsps loose Earl grey tea leaves
• 4 medium egg yolks
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ¼ cup dark chocolate, 70% chopped

Directions

1. In a double boiler or a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, add the cacao solids and ½ cup of heavy cream. Stir chocolate until melted and smooth. Set melted chocolate aside.
2. In a heavy saucepan, combine remaining heavy cream, milk, salt and ½ cup of sugar.
3. Put the pan over medium heat and let the mixture boil gently to bubbling just around the edges (gentle simmer) and sugar completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Add the Earl Grey tea leaves and let it steep for 7-8 minutes until the cream has taken on the tea flavor, stirring occasionally and tasting to make sure it’s not too bitter.
5. Whisk in Dutch cocoa until smooth. Add in melted chocolate and whisk until smooth.
6. In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk the yolks just to break them up and whisk in remaining sugar. Set aside.
7. Put the saucepan back on the stove over low heat and let it warm up for 2 minutes.
8. Carefully measure out ½ cup of hot cream mixture.
9. While whisking the eggs constantly, whisk the hot cream mixture into the eggs until smooth. Continue tempering the eggs by adding another ½ cup of hot cream to the bowl with the yolks.
10. Pour the cream-egg mixture back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until it is thickened and coats the back of a spatula, about 5 minutes.
11. Strain the base through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container.
12. Pour the mixture into a 1-gallon Ziplock freezer bag and submerge the sealed bag in an ice bath until cold, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate the ice cream base for at least 4 hours or overnight.
13. Pour the ice cream base into the frozen canister of your ice cream machine and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
14. Spin until thick and creamy about 25-30 minutes.
15. Pack the ice cream into a storage container, press a sheet of parchment directly against the surface and seal with an airtight lid. Freeze in the coldest part of your freezer until firm, at least 4 hours.
16. When ready to serve, scoop the ice cream into a serving bowl and top with chopped chocolate.

@ cb4352cd:a16422d7

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword — it’s becoming the quiet powerhouse behind many of the most meaningful changes in financial services. From helping people access credit to stopping fraud in its tracks, AI is making the financial world faster, smarter, and more personal.

Smarter Risk Management

Until recently, getting a loan meant paperwork, credit history checks, and plenty of waiting. But now, AI models can process huge amounts of data — including mobile usage and online behavior — to help lenders better understand a borrower’s real financial picture.

Startups like Upstart and Zest AI are making credit more inclusive by moving beyond legacy scoring models and enabling access to financing for underserved communities.

Personalized Financial Services

Robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront are already using AI to build investment portfolios tailored to individual users. Digital banks use machine learning to analyze spending, offer savings tips, or spot unusual charges.

Meanwhile, virtual assistants and intelligent chatbots help customers manage finances without ever speaking to a human. The result? Financial tools that feel personal — and actually useful.

Fighting Fraud in Real Time

AI is becoming essential in financial security. Firms like Darktrace and Feedzai deploy AI systems that monitor transaction data in real time and flag anything suspicious. They learn from each interaction, making fraud detection faster and more accurate over time.

And in compliance, AI-powered tools can digest dense regulatory texts and help institutions stay within complex legal boundaries.

AI in Trading and Asset Management

In the world of trading, AI is now a key player. Quantitative funds use it to test strategies, scan headlines, and model price movements in seconds. Machine learning enables more nuanced, high-frequency trading — and can even spot trends before humans notice.

The Road Ahead: AI as a Financial Foundation

What once sounded futuristic is now foundational. AI is being woven into nearly every layer of financial services — and the impact is only just beginning.

The Beyond Banking Conference by WeFi will explore what’s next. From ethical AI use to the automation of banking infrastructure, the event will bring together leaders from FinTech, Web3, and AI to map the future of finance.

AI may not replace human judgment — but it’s already changing how we understand money, trust, and access.

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

Ascolta.

We live in times where the average man is measured by the speeches he gives — not by the commitments he keeps. People talk about dreams, goals, promises… but what truly remains is what’s honored in the silence of small gestures, in actions that don’t seek applause, in attitudes unseen — yet speak volumes.

Punctuality, for example. Showing up on time isn’t about the clock. It’s about respect. Respect for another’s time, yes — but more importantly, respect for one’s own word. A man who is late without reason is already running late in his values. And the one who excuses his own lateness with sweet justifications slowly gets used to mediocrity.

Keeping your word is more than fulfilling promises. It is sealing, with the mouth, what the body must later uphold. Every time a man commits to something, he creates a moral debt with his own dignity. And to break that commitment is to declare bankruptcy — not in the eyes of others, but in front of himself.

And debts? Even the small ones — or especially the small ones — are precise thermometers of character. A forgotten sum, an unpaid favor, a commitment left behind… all of these reveal the structure of the inner building that man resides in. He who neglects the small is merely rehearsing for his future collapse.

Life, contrary to what the reckless say, is not built on grand deeds. It is built with small bricks, laid with almost obsessive precision. The truly great man is the one who respects the details — recognizing in them a code of conduct.

In Sicily, especially in the streets of Palermo, I learned early on that there is more nobility in paying a five-euro debt on time than in flaunting riches gained without word, without honor, without dignity.

As they say in Palermo: L’uomo si conosce dalle piccole cose.

So, amico mio, Don’t talk to me about greatness if you can’t show up on time. Don’t talk to me about respect if your word is fickle. And above all, don’t talk to me about honor if you still owe what you once promised — no matter how small.

Thank you for reading, my friend!

If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your "🥃" as a token of appreciation.

A toast to our family!

@ c066aac5:6a41a034

“If a man is considered guilty
For what goes on in his mind
Then give me the electric chair
For all my future crimes”

-Electric Chair by Prince

The very last paragraph of Touré’s 2013 biography of Prince I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon made a very bold claim about the lewd nature of Prince’s music:

“Imagine America as one house on a suburban lane… Prince knocked on America’s door through his music. He came to the door holding a guitar and an umbrella while concealing a Bible. He flirted his way inside the door and told us he had a dirty mind and was controversial, and then he sat down in the living room on the good couch. And, when America’s guard was down, because we thought we were having a conversation about sex, Prince eased out his Bible and said, let me also tell you about my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.”

Wow. Talk about a Sixth Sense level plot twist! I will say if you’re well versed in Prince’s catalog (I listened to every Prince album released [except for The Black Album because Jack Dorsey is holding it hostage on Tidal] last year) it won’t be as shocking as a surprise as it would be to the unversed listener, but surprising nonetheless considering the content of the man’s lyrics (and life).

Regardless of whether or not Prince achieved this goal of bringing people to Christ via a vehicle of sexy shock value, he was a person of impact. The book by Touré I mentioned earlier is a great picture of the life he lived, and I’m sure there are many others that people can recommend in the comments. He touched many lives and I believe his music will still be listened to for many years to come.

Prince’s method of evangelism may have been unconventional (to say the least), but I still think there is something to be learned from his efforts.

Obviously, worshiping sex or encouraging lust isn’t great. Prince’s view of sex was broken; they didn’t line up with Biblically ordered sex (see his songs Sister, Darling Nikki, Sexy M.F., and many many more). His inability to sustain healthy relationships or make meaningful lasting connections with those around him are a testament to that.

Despite his flaws, his art captured an entire generation - and continues to capture the attention of people seeking true art. His authenticity, raw emotion, and intentionality made for true connection between his music and his listeners. He resonated with people’s souls, and still does today. Perhaps Touré was wrong and Prince didn’t mean to evangelize through his music, but don’t all people stand testament to the powerful work of God?

We are all broken people. Our job is to the use the tools and resources set before us to spread the Gospel. “…we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” -2 Corinthians 4:7

The Western Church should consider using the seemingly profane, off limits, unconventional, or even just plain weird in an effort to continue to spread the gospel. On a high level, that’s our good-christian dinner table no-gos: Sex, Money, and Politics. I believe that the Church’s abdication of such conversations is the reason why those are areas of failure for the Church at large. We shouldn’t sin or condone/promote sin. Instead, I’m proposing that like how Prince used sex in his music to get people to learn about Jesus, Christian Bitcoiners should use money (Bitcoin) to do good works and lead people to Jesus in the process. We may just make the world a better place along the way.

“If you're sick of cryin' and tired of tears
Then close your eyes and open your ears
Listen to the music, listen to the song
Listen to your heart, is that so wrong?
Stop lookin' in the mirror, there's nothin' to fear
Your salvation is near
1,000 light years away from here”

-1,000 Light Years From Here by Prince

It doesn’t take a lot of mental effort to see how Christian’s could leverage Bitcoin’s magic for kingdom work. Look Alex Gladstein’s writings. Look at the work that Gridless is doing in Africa. Look at Roya Mahboob’s impact in Afghanistan. Look at the impact of Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador.

Now imagine what the Church (and by the Church, I mean you and I the Christian Bitcoiners) could do with Bitcoin:

A Christian Bitcoiner could help the woman with an abusive husband escape a bad situation with finances intact by teaching her how to use Bitcoin and keep self-custody wallet. An orange-pilled youth group leader could teach the inner city kid in a bad household how to set up a wallet and stack sats without the permission of the dead beat parents or conventional employment. The church bake sale could make things easy via accepting lightning payments, bringing in outsiders for sweet treats and teaching them about how to be a Bitcoin merchant. A church could send funds to a missionary across the world in a christian adverse country instantly without having to involve a single bank, and that missionary would have those funds same-day ready for deployment.

“Everybody's looking for the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
The steps you take are no easy road
But the reward is great
For those who want to go”

-The Ladder by Prince

In my own attempts to teach people about the virtues of Bitcoin, I find it usually clicks for people in one of two different ways for the most part:

The first way it clicks is when they can receive and send a lightning payment. The instant funds make a light bulb go off.

The second way is when I show them the humanitarian impact that Bitcoin has had and is counting to have. The use of Bitcoin internationally as a means of humanitarian aid/sovereignty for the less fortunate should shut down any questions like “But what about (insert crapcoin)?” in an instant.

Much like how people get Bitcoin once they see it in action, I believe people will get Jesus when they see Jesus’ Church in action. One of the best ways today the Church can display that action may be through Bitcoin.

Sex was Prince’s trojan horse for something much deeper that he wanted to convey to people. Bitcoin can be the trojan horse for the Church. The Church could gain attention for what they’re doing with Bitcoin similar to the attention that the Human Rights Foundation gets. One might ask why use a trojan horse? I think that Bitcoin adoption itself has been a bit of a trojan horse movement. Your local politicians didn’t bat an eye when they heard about a peer-to-peer e-cash system, but they were all over it when it was presented as a digital gold. Michael Saylor has garnered a lot of hate from the Bitcoin true-believers for presenting Bitcoin as a digital gold as opposed to a currency, but I believe he knows what he’s doing and he’s presenting in this manner on purpose. He might not get gratitude for it from the community, but I believe he’s willing to be the bad guy in order to further the mission (see Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Night [which is arguably a Jesus story]).

Christian Bitcoiner, I challenge you to channel your enthusiasm to do good in your neighborhood. Let the world see your actions and gain a curiosity for what you’re doing. The Bitcoin conversation will make many people think that you’re crazy, that you’re an idiot when it comes to investing, that you’re selling a scam. Much like how people wrote off Prince for being a vulgar musician. Much like how people write off Michael Saylor for misunderstanding Bitcoin. Much like how people wrote off (and continue to write off) Jesus for being a false prophet or the leader of a rebellion.

But there will be someone who sees the work that you do with Bitcoin. The work that the Church will do with Bitcoin. Even if just one soul is saved with Bitcoin, that’s worth the effort.

“Black day, stormy night No love, no hope in sight Don't cry, He is coming Don't die without knowing the cross” -The Cross by Prince

This article was written with help from my wife Elaina freedom@happytavern.co

Feel free to drop your favorite book about Prince, favorite Prince song, or favorite Prince album in the comments

Or, you can drop your favorite Bitcoin as a trojan horse story in the comments

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

The promised Nintendo direct has come and there is a LOT to say about it. If you ever wondered how such a reveal would be taken differently by a dad, a NEET, and a people programmer this is the episode for you! Also those SAG bootlickers are getting uppity again. All of that and more!

Sources cited:

• Nintendo Online subscribers get to upgrade the zelda games for free for some reason?
• Do Nintendo games ever actually go on sale?
• Kirby
• Metroid
• TOTK
• Pokeshit
• EOW
• there's literally 252 games on sale at VGP right now
• SAG agreement you can read for yourself
• SAG literally says on their website to go audition for non-union roles and then strongarm them into going union if they wanna keep you

Obligatory:

• Listen to the new episode here!
• Discuss this episode on OUR NEW FORUM
• Get the RSS and Subscribe (this is a new feed URL, but the old one redirects here too!)
• Get a modern podcast app to use that RSS feed on at newpodcastapps.com
• Or listen to the show on the forum using the embedded Podverse player!
• Send your complaints here

Reminder that this is a Value4Value podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors!

@ b99efe77:f3de3616

asfadfadsf

afasdfasdfsadf

Places & Transitions

• Places:

• Bla bla bla: some text

• Transitions:

• start: Initializes the system.
• logTask: bla bla bla.

petrinet ;startDay () -> working ;stopDay working -> () ;startPause working -> paused ;endPause paused -> working ;goSmoke working -> smoking ;endSmoke smoking -> working ;startEating working -> eating ;stopEating eating -> working ;startCall working -> onCall ;endCall onCall -> working ;startMeeting working -> inMeetinga ;endMeeting inMeeting -> working ;logTask working -> working

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Introduction: The Power of Fiction and the Shaping of Collective Morality

Stories define the moral landscape of a civilization. From the earliest mythologies to the modern spectacle of global cinema, the tales a society tells its youth shape the parameters of acceptable behavior, the cost of transgression, and the meaning of justice, power, and redemption. Among the most globally influential narratives of the past half-century is the Star Wars saga, a sprawling science fiction mythology that has transcended genre to become a cultural religion for many. Central to this mythos is the arc of Anakin Skywalker, the fallen Jedi Knight who becomes Darth Vader. In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Anakin commits what is arguably the most morally abhorrent act depicted in mainstream popular cinema: the mass murder of children. And yet, by the end of the saga, he is redeemed.

This chapter introduces the uninitiated to the events surrounding this narrative turn and explores the deep structural and ethical concerns it raises. We argue that the cultural treatment of Darth Vader as an anti-hero, even a role model, reveals a deep perversion in the collective moral grammar of the modern West. In doing so, we consider the implications this mythology may have on young adults navigating identity, masculinity, and agency in a world increasingly shaped by spectacle and symbolic narrative.

Part I: The Scene and Its Context

In Revenge of the Sith (2005), the third episode of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the protagonist Anakin Skywalker succumbs to fear, ambition, and manipulation. Convinced that the Jedi Council is plotting against the Republic and desperate to save his pregnant wife from a vision of death, Anakin pledges allegiance to Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Upon doing so, he is given a new name—Darth Vader—and tasked with a critical mission: to eliminate all Jedi in the temple, including its youngest members.

In one of the most harrowing scenes in the film, Anakin enters the Jedi Temple. A group of young children, known as "younglings," emerge from hiding and plead for help. One steps forward, calling him "Master Skywalker," and asks what they are to do. Anakin responds by igniting his lightsaber. The screen cuts away, but the implication is unambiguous. Later, it is confirmed through dialogue and visual allusion that he slaughtered them all.

There is no ambiguity in the storytelling. The man who will become the galaxy’s most feared enforcer begins his descent by murdering defenseless children.

Part II: A New Kind of Evil in Youth-Oriented Media

For decades, cinema avoided certain taboos. Even films depicting war, genocide, or psychological horror rarely crossed the line into showing children as victims of deliberate violence by the protagonist. When children were harmed, it was by monstrous antagonists, supernatural forces, or offscreen implications. The killing of children was culturally reserved for historical atrocities and horror tales.

In Revenge of the Sith, this boundary was broken. While the film does not show the violence explicitly, the implication is so clear and so central to the character arc that its omission from visual depiction does not blunt the narrative weight. What makes this scene especially jarring is the tonal dissonance between the gravity of the act and the broader cultural treatment of Star Wars as a family-friendly saga. The juxtaposition of child-targeted marketing with a central plot involving child murder is not accidental—it reflects a deeper narrative and commercial structure.

This scene was not a deviation from the arc. It was the intended turning point.

Part III: Masculinity, Militarism, and the Appeal of the Anti-Hero

Darth Vader has long been idolized as a masculine icon. His towering presence, emotionless control, and mechanical voice exude power and discipline. Military institutions have quoted him. He is celebrated in memes, posters, and merchandise. Within the cultural imagination, he embodies dominance, command, and strategic ruthlessness.

For many young men, particularly those struggling with identity, agency, and perceived weakness, Vader becomes more than a character. He becomes an archetype: the man who reclaims power by embracing discipline, forsaking emotion, and exacting vengeance against those who betrayed him. The emotional pain that leads to his fall mirrors the experiences of isolation and perceived emasculation that many young men internalize in a fractured society.

The symbolism becomes dangerous. Anakin's descent into mass murder is portrayed not as the outcome of unchecked cruelty, but as a tragic mistake rooted in love and desperation. The implication is that under enough pressure, even the most horrific act can be framed as a step toward a noble end.

Part IV: Redemption as Narrative Alchemy

By the end of the original trilogy (Return of the Jedi, 1983), Darth Vader kills the Emperor to save his son Luke and dies shortly thereafter. Luke mourns him, honors him, and burns his body in reverence. In the final scene, Vader's ghost appears alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda—the very men who once considered him the greatest betrayal of their order. He is welcomed back.

There is no reckoning. No mention of the younglings. No memorial to the dead. No consequence beyond his own internal torment.

This model of redemption is not uncommon in Western storytelling. In Christian doctrine, the concept of grace allows for any sin to be forgiven if the sinner repents sincerely. But in the context of secular mass culture, such redemption without justice becomes deeply troubling. The cultural message is clear: even the worst crimes can be erased if one makes a grand enough gesture at the end. It is the erasure of moral debt by narrative fiat.

The implication is not only that evil can be undone by good, but that power and legacy matter more than the victims. Vader is not just forgiven—he is exalted.

Part V: Real-World Reflections and Dangerous Scripts

In recent decades, the rise of mass violence in schools and public places has revealed a disturbing pattern: young men who feel alienated, betrayed, or powerless adopt mythic narratives of vengeance and transformation. They often see themselves as tragic figures forced into violence by a cruel world. Some explicitly reference pop culture, quoting films, invoking fictional characters, or modeling their identities after cinematic anti-heroes.

It would be reductive to claim Star Wars causes such events. But it is equally naive to believe that such narratives play no role in shaping the symbolic frameworks through which vulnerable individuals understand their lives. The story of Anakin Skywalker offers a dangerous script:

• You are betrayed.
• You suffer.
• You kill.
• You become powerful.
• You are redeemed.

When combined with militarized masculinity, institutional failure, and cultural nihilism, this script can validate the darkest impulses. It becomes a myth of sacrificial violence, with the perpetrator as misunderstood hero.

Part VI: Cultural Responsibility and Narrative Ethics

The problem is not that Star Wars tells a tragic story. Tragedy is essential to moral understanding. The problem is how the culture treats that story. Darth Vader is not treated as a warning, a cautionary tale, or a fallen angel. He is merchandised, celebrated, and decontextualized.

By separating his image from his actions, society rebrands him as a figure of cool dominance rather than ethical failure. The younglings are forgotten. The victims vanish. Only the redemption remains. The merchandise continues to sell.

Cultural institutions bear responsibility for how such narratives are presented and consumed. Filmmakers may intend nuance, but marketing departments, military institutions, and fan cultures often reduce that nuance to symbol and slogan.

Conclusion: Reckoning with the Stories We Tell

The story of Anakin Skywalker is not morally neutral. It is a tale of systemic failure, emotional collapse, and unchecked violence. When presented in full, it can serve as a powerful warning. But when reduced to aesthetic dominance and easy redemption, it becomes a tool of moral decay.

The glorification of Darth Vader as a cultural icon—divorced from the horrific acts that define his transformation—is not just misguided. It is dangerous. It trains a generation to believe that power erases guilt, that violence is a path to recognition, and that final acts of loyalty can overwrite the deliberate murder of the innocent.

To the uninitiated, Star Wars may seem like harmless fantasy. But its deepest myth—the redemption of the child-killer through familial love and posthumous honor—deserves scrutiny. Not because fiction causes violence, but because fiction defines the possibilities of how we understand evil, forgiveness, and what it means to be a hero.

We must ask: What kind of redemption erases the cries of murdered children? And what kind of culture finds peace in that forgetting?

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

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

Dieser Beitrag erschien zuerst auf dem Substack-Blog des Autors.

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Er soll andauern, was er auch tut. Genau wie der nie endende Krieg in Orwells 1984 wird er vom Imperium gegen seine eigenen Untertanen geführt, aber nicht nur, um die Struktur der Gesellschaft intakt zu halten, sondern in unserem Fall auch, um die Gesellschaft in eine neo-totalitäre global-kapitalistische Dystopie zu verwandeln.

Bist du nicht vertraut mit dem Krieg gegen was auch immer?

Nun ja, okay, du erinnerst dich an den Krieg gegen den Terror.

Du erinnerst dich daran, als die „Freiheit und Demokratie“ von „den Terroristen“ angegriffen wurden und wir keine andere Wahl hatten, als uns unserer demokratischen Rechte und Prinzipien zu entledigen, einen nationalen „Notstand“ auszurufen, die verfassungsmäßigen Rechte der Menschen auszusetzen, einen Angriffskrieg gegen ein Land im Nahen Osten anzuzetteln, das für uns keinerlei Bedrohung darstellte, und unsere Straßen, Bahnhöfe, Flughäfen und alle anderen Orte mit schwer bewaffneten Soldaten zu füllen, denn sonst hätten „die Terroristen gewonnen“. Du erinnerst dich, als wir ein Offshore-Gulag bauten, um verdächtige Terroristen auf unbestimmte Zeit wegzusperren, die wir zuvor zu CIA-Geheimgefängnissen verschleppt hatten, wo wir sie gefoltert und gedemütigt haben, richtig?

Natürlich erinnerst du dich. Wer könnte das vergessen?

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DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH!

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Erinnerst du dich, als die National Security Agency keine andere Wahl hatte, als ein geheimes „Terroristen-Überwachungsprogramm“ einzurichten, um Amerikaner auszuspionieren, oder sonst „hätten die Terroristen gewonnen“? Oder wie wäre es mit den „Anti-Terror“-Unterleibsuntersuchungen der TSA, der Behörde für Transportsicherheit, die nach über zwanzig Jahren immer noch in Kraft sind?

Und was ist mit dem Krieg gegen den Populismus? An den erinnerst du dich vielleicht nicht so gut.

Ich erinnere mich, denn ich habe zwei Bücher dazu veröffentlicht. Er begann im Sommer 2016, als das Imperium erkannte, dass „rechte Populisten“ die „Freiheit und Demokratie“ in Europa bedrohten und Trump in den USA auf dem Vormarsch war. Also wurde ein weiterer „Notstand“ ausgerufen – diesmal von der Gemeinschaft der Geheimdienste, den Medien, der akademischen Welt und der Kulturindustrie. Ja, genau, es war wieder einmal an der Zeit, unsere demokratischen Prinzipien hintanzustellen, „Hassrede“ in sozialen Medien zu zensieren, die Massen mit lächerlicher offizieller Propaganda über „Russiagate,“ „Hitlergate“ und so weiter zu bombardieren – sonst hätten „die Rechtspopulisten gewonnen.“

Der Krieg gegen den Populismus gipfelte in der Einführung des Neuen Normalen Reichs.

Im Frühjahr 2020 rief das Imperium einen globalen „gesundheitlichen Ausnahmezustand“ aus, als Reaktion auf ein Virus mit einer Überlebensrate von etwa 99,8 Prozent. Das Imperium hatte keine andere Wahl, als ganze Gesellschaften abzuriegeln, jeden dazu zu zwingen, in der Öffentlichkeit medizinisch aussehende Masken zu tragen, die Öffentlichkeit mit Propaganda und Lügen zu bombardieren, die Menschen dazu zu nötigen, sich einer Reihe experimenteller mRNA-„Impfungen“ zu unterziehen, Proteste gegen ihre Dekrete zu verbieten und systematisch diejenigen zu zensieren und zu verfolgen, die es wagten, ihre erfundenen „Fakten“ in Frage zu stellen oder ihr totalitäres Programm zu kritisieren.

Das Imperium hatte keine andere Wahl, als das alles zu tun, denn sonst hätten „die Covid-Leugner, die Impfgegner, die Verschwörungstheoretiker und all die anderen Extremisten gewonnen.“

Ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass du dich an all das erinnerst.

Und jetzt … nun, hier sind wir. Ja, du hast es erraten – es ist wieder einmal an der Zeit, kräftig auf die US-Verfassung und die Meinungsfreiheit zu scheißen, Menschen in irgendein salvadorianisches Höllenloch abzuschieben, das wir angemietet haben, weil ein Polizist ihre Tattoos nicht mochte, Universitätsstudenten wegen ihrer Anti-Israel-Proteste festzunehmen und zu verschleppen und natürlich die Massen mit Lügen und offizieller Propaganda zu bombardieren, denn … okay, alle zusammen jetzt: „sonst hätten die antisemitischen Terroristen und venezolanischen Banden gewonnen!“

Fängst du an, ein Muster zu erkennen? Ja? Willkommen beim Krieg gegen-was-auch-immer!

Wenn du die Zusammenhänge noch nicht ganz siehst, okay, lass es mich noch einmal ganz simpel erklären.

Das globale ideologische System, in dem wir alle leben, wird totalitär. (Dieses System ist der globale Kapitalismus, aber nenne es, wie du willst. Es ist mir scheißegal.) Es reißt die Simulation der Demokratie nieder, die es nicht mehr aufrechterhalten muss. Der Kalte Krieg ist vorbei. Der Kommunismus ist tot. Der globale Kapitalismus hat keine externen Feinde mehr. Also muss er die Massen nicht mehr mit demokratischen Rechten und Freiheiten besänftigen. Deshalb entzieht er uns diese Rechte nach und nach und konditioniert uns darauf, ihren Verlust hinzunehmen.

Er tut dies, indem er eine Reihe von „Notständen“ inszeniert, jeder mit einer anderen „Bedrohung“ für die „Demokratie,“ die „Freiheit,“ „Amerika“ oder „den Planeten“ – oder was auch immer. Jeder mit seinen eigenen „Monstern,“ die eine so große Gefahr für die „Freiheit“ oder was auch immer darstellen, dass wir unsere verfassungsmäßigen Rechte aufgeben und die demokratischen Werte ad absurdum führen müssen, denn: sonst „würden die Monster gewinnen.“

Es tut dies, indem es sein Antlitz von „links“ nach „rechts,“ dann zurück nach „links“, und dann zurück nach „rechts,“ dann nach „links“ und so weiter neigt, weil es unsere Kooperation dafür benötigt. Nicht die Kooperation von uns allen auf einmal. Nur eine kooperative demografische Gruppe auf einmal.

Es ist dabei erfolgreich – also das System – indem es unsere Angst und unseren Hass instrumentalisiert. Dem System ist es völlig egal, ob wir uns als „links“ oder „rechts“ identifizieren, aber es braucht uns gespalten in „links“ und „rechts,“ damit es unsere Angst und unseren Hass aufeinander nähren kann … eine Regierung, ein „Notfall,“ ein „Krieg“ nach dem anderen.

Da hast du es. Das ist der Krieg gegen was auch immer. Noch simpler kann ich es nicht erklären.

Oh, und noch eine letzte Sache … wenn du einer meiner ehemaligen Fans bist, wie Rob, die über meine „Einsichten“ oder Loyalitäten oder was auch immer verwirrt sind … nun, der Text, den du gerade gelesen hast, sollte das für dich klären. Ich stehe auf keiner Seite. Überhaupt keiner. Aber ich habe ein paar grundlegende demokratische Prinzipien. Und die richten sich nicht danach, was gerade populär ist oder wer im Weißen Haus sitzt.

Die Sache ist die: Ich muss mich morgens im Spiegel anschauen können ohne dort einen Heuchler oder … du weißt schon, einen Feigling zu sehen.

(Aus dem Amerikanischen übersetzt von René Boyke).

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CJ Hopkins ist ein US-amerikanischer Dramatiker, Romanautor und politischer Satiriker. Zu seinen Werken zählen die Stücke Horse Country, Screwmachine/Eyecandy und The Extremists. Er hat sich als profilierter Kritiker des Corona-Regimes profiliert und veröffentlicht regelmäßig auf seinem Substack-Blog.

Sein aktuelles Buch:

https://x.com/CJHopkins_Z23/status/1907795633689264530

Hier in einem aktuellen Gespräch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF-G32P0leI

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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.

@ 526bec6a:07c68d13

01: Counterfeiting Money002: Credit Card Fraud003: Making Plastic Explosives from Bleach004: Picking Master Locks005: The Arts of Lockpicking I006: The Arts of Lockpicking II007: Solidox Bombs008: High Tech Revenge: The Beigebox (NEW Revision 4.14)009: CO2 Bombs010: Thermite Bombs (NEW Rivision, 4.14)011: Touch Explosives012: Letter Bombs013: Paint Bombs014: Ways to send a car to HELL015: Do ya hate school? (NEW Revision, 4.14)016: Phone related vandalism017: Highway police radar jamming018: Smoke Bombs019: Mail Box Bombs020: Hotwiring cars021: Napalm022: Fertilizer Bomb023: Tennis Ball Bomb024: Diskette Bombs025: Unlisted Phone Numbers (NEW Revision, 4.14)026: Fuses027: How to make Potassium Nitrate028: Exploding Lightbulbs029: Under water igniters030: Home-brew blast cannon031: Chemical Equivalency List032: Phone Taps033: Landmines034: A different kind of Molitov Cocktail035: Phone Systems Tutorial I036: Phone Systems Tutorial II037: Basic Alliance Teleconferencing038: Aqua Box Plans039: Hindenberg Bomb040: How to Kill Someone with your Bare Hands041: Phone Systems Tutorial III042: Black Box Plans043: The Blotto Box044: Blowgun045: Brown Box Plans046: Calcium Carbide Bomb047: More Ways to Send a Car to Hell048: Ripping off Change Machines (NEW Revision, 4.14)049: Clear Box Plans050: CNA Number Listing051: Electronic Terrorism052: How to Start a Conference w/o 2600hz or M-F053: Dynamite054: Auto Exhaust Flame Thower055: How to Break into BBS Express056: Firebomb057: Fuse Bomb058: Generic Bomb059: Green Box Plans060: Portable Grenade Launcher061: Basic Hacking Tutorial I062: Basic Hacking Tutorial II063: Hacking DEC's064: Harmless Bombs 065: Breaking into Houses (NEW Revision, 4.14)066: Hypnotism067: Remote Informer Issue #1068: Jackpotting ATM Machines069: Jug Bomb070: Fun at K-Mart071: Mace Substitute072: How to Grow Marijuana073: Match Head Bomb074: Terrorizing McDonalds075: "Mentor's" Last Words076: The Myth of the 2600hz Detector077: Blue Box Plans (Ye' olde Favorite)078: Napalm II079: Nitroglycerin Recipe080: Operation: Fuckup081: Stealing Calls from Payphones082: Pool Fun (NEW Revision, 4.14)083: Free Postage084: Unstable Explosives085: Weird Drugs086: The Art of Carding087: Recognizing Credit Cards088: How to Get a New Identity089: Remote Informer Issue #2090: Remote Informer Issue #3091: Remote Informer Issue #4092: Remote Informer Issue #5093: Phreaker's Guide to Loop Lines094: Ma-Bell Tutorial095: Getting Money out of Pay Phones096: Computer-based PBX097: PC-Pursuit Port Statistics098: Pearl Box Plans099: The Phreak File100: Red Box Plans101: RemObs102: Scarlet Box Plans103: Silver Box Plans104: Bell Trashing105: Canadian WATS Phonebook106: Hacking TRW107: Hacking VAX & UNIX108: Verification Circuits109: White Box Plans110: The BLAST Box111: Dealing with the Rate & Route Operator112: Cellular Phone Phreaking113: Cheesebox Plans114: How to Start Your Own Conferences115: Gold Box Plans116: The History of ESS117: The Lunch Box118: Olive Box Plans119: The Tron Box120: More TRW Info121: "Phreaker's Phunhouse"122: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 27 (Intro to MIDNET)123: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 27 (The Making of a Hacker)124: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 28 (Network Miscellany)125: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 28 (Pearl Box Schematic)126: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 28 (Snarfing Remote Files)127: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 30 (Western Union, Telex, TWX & Time Service)128: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 30 (Hacking & Tymnet)129: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 3, Issue 30 (The DECWRL Mail Gateway)130: Sodium Chlorate131: Mercury Fulminate132: Improvised Black Powder 133: Nitric Acid134: Dust Bomb Instructions135: Carbon-Tet Explosive136: Making Picric Acid from Aspirin137: Reclamation of RDX from C-4 Explosives138: Egg-based Gelled Flame Fuels139: Clothespin Switch140: Flexible Plate Switch141: Low Signature Systems (Silencers)142: Delay Igniter From Cigarette143: Nicotine144: Dried Seed Timer145: Nail Grenade146: Bell Glossary147: Phone Dial Locks -- How to Beat'em148: Exchange Scanning149: A Short History of Phreaking150: "Secrets of the Little Blue Box" (story)151: The History of British Phreaking152: "Bad as Shit" (story)153: Telenet154: Fucking with the Operator155: Phrack Magazine - Vol. 1, Issue 1 (The Phone Preak's Fry-Um Guide)156: International Country Code Listing157: Infinity Transmitter Schematic and Plans158: LSD159: Bananas160: Yummy Marihuana Recipes161: Peanuts162: Chemical Fire Bottle163: Igniter from Book Matches164: "Red or White Powder" Propellant165: Pipe Hand Grenade166: European Credit Card Fraud (Written by Creditman! A Cookbook IV Recap!!)167: Potassium Bomb168: Your Legal Rights (For adults, or some of us think we are)169: Juvenile Offenders' Rights170: Down The Road Missle171: Fun With ShotGunn Shells172: Surveillance Equipment173: Drip Timer174: Stealing175: Miscellaneous176: Shaving cream bomb177: Ripping off change machines 2178: Lockpicking the EASY way179: Anarchy 'N' Explosives Prelude180: Anarchy 'N' Explosives Vol. 1181: Anarchy 'N' Explosives Vol. 2182: Anarchy 'N' Explosives Vol. 3183: Anarchy 'N' Explosives Vol. 4184: Anarchy 'N' Explosives Vol. 5185: Explosives and Propellants186: Lockpicking 3187: Chemical Equivalent List 2188: Nitroglycerin 2189: Cellulose Nitrate190: Starter Explosives191: Flash Powder192: Exploding Pens193: Revised Pipe Bombs 4.14194: * SAFETY * A MUST READ!195: Ammonium TriIodide196: Sulfuric Acid / Ammonium Nitrate III197: Black Powder 3198: Nitrocellulose199: R.D.X. (Revised 4.14)200: The Black Gate BBS 201: ANFOS202: Picric Acid 2203: Bottled Explosives204: Dry Ice205: Fuses / Ignitors / Delays206: Film Canister Bombs207: Book Bombs208: Phone Bombs209: Special Ammunition210: Rocketry211: Pipe Cannon 2212: Smoke Bombs 4.14213: Firecrackers214: Suppliers II215: Lab-Raid Checklist216: Misc. Anarchy217: LockPicking 4218: Misc. Anarchy II219: -* THERMITE 4 Index of Additions to the Anarchist Cookbook

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1. Ripping off Coke Machines
2. Build an original style zip gun
3. Diary of a hacker part one
4. Diary of a hacker part two
5. How to create a new identity
6. Findind Security Holes
7. Hacking techniques
8. Composite Rocket Fuels
9. The Complete Social Engineering faq's
10. Association Betting System
11. The Beginners Betting System
12. The Dream Racing System
13. The NetProfits Racing Plan
14. The Professional Betting System
15. Unix Hacking Tutorial
16. Extract from the New York Times
17. Unix Hacking Commands
18. Home Brew Blast Cannon
19. Down The Road Missile
20. Internet email security
21. Pneumatic spud gun
22. The School Stoppers Textbook
23. The Big Book of Mischief
24. Terror Handbook - 100% bombs and explosives
25. Beginners guide to hacking and phreaking
26. Easy Grenades/Rockets
27. toilet bowl cleaner Bomb
28. Blowgun![