@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a

What happens when you integrate a Nostr client with a bitcoin lightning wallet? They both get massively better! Social interactions benefit from seamless micropayments, while the wallet is able to tap into the massive address book represented by the Nostr social graph. This makes it possible to interact with people around the world in totally new ways. For example, Markus from Germany can zap a note posted by Isabella in Costa Rica, who can then buy a coffee with those sats, all from the same app.

At Primal, our goal is to deliver products that have mass appeal; products that can be easily used by anyone. Our latest iOS release represents our best take on how to build on open protocols and balance the tradeoffs between user sovereignty, user experience and ease of use. We believe that Nostr and Bitcoin will grow to billions of users, and we are building the technology that will help onboard and delight everyone.

Nostr Onboarding

Our goal is to achieve the highest level of user experience on a decentralized network, without sacrificing user sovereignty over their account, connections, and content. Therefore the onboarding process needs to be smooth and resemble what users are used to on legacy platforms, while providing access to their Nostr keys:

The user is able to sign up and start using Nostr quickly and without friction. Their key is available in the Account Settings, providing complete control over their Nostr account. In addition, the user can specify the set of Nostr relays they wish to publish to. The Primal iOS app signs all content with the user’s key and publishes it directly to the specified set of relays. This achieves full user control over their Nostr account, social connections, and the content they publish.

Performance & UX

In order to compete with the centralized legacy platforms, we must match and exceed their level of user experience. Interfaces must load quickly and completely, otherwise people will lose interest and Nostr will see a high degree of user churn. With this in mind, we built the Nostr caching service, and open sourced it so that other Nostr developers can leverage it as well. This enables us to provide the types of user experiences that are expected by most people today:

For details about our caching approach please refer to my Nostrasia presentation.

Primal Wallet

We are psyched to introduce Primal Wallet, an insanely easy-to-use transactional wallet, ideal for holding small amounts of bitcoin and making payments on the lightning network.

Strike is providing custody, fiat conversions, and lightning network connectivity to Primal users. By integrating with Strike, we are able to provide uninterrupted service to U.S. and international customers.

Smooth onboarding and wallet operation are essential for our use case. Given that we are dealing with very small amounts, we decided to take the custodial approach. This sacrifices direct user custody over the funds, but makes the overall UX seamless and reliable. New users are able to send and receive sats as soon as they download the app.

Here are a few additional points to keep in mind:

1. \In-App Purchases\: Once the wallet is activated, it is fully-operational and able to receive sats. If the user doesn’t own any sats, they are able to buy small amounts via an in-app purchase, in $5 increments. Note that these purchases are subject to “Apple tax” (15% in U.S. and Canada, 30% elsewhere, for customers with iOS devices), plus 1% Strike margin. Primal does not make any revenue on these purchases. Users can always buy sats through a different method and send them to their Primal Wallet. The in-app purchase is merely a convenient way for new users to get started with small amounts.

2. \Maximum Wallet Balance\: Primal Wallet is designed for holding and transacting with small amounts of bitcoin. Larger amounts should be kept in self custody, preferably on a hardware wallet. To encourage self custody for larger amounts, we are enforcing a maximum wallet balance of 1,000,000 sats (approximately USD $400 at the time of this writing).

We believe that Primal Wallet offers the best tradeoff balance for our use case, including social media zaps, and small purchases: coffee, beer, lunch, etc. We are planning to expand the feature set of the wallet in the upcoming releases, based on the feedback from our users.

Open Networks Win

Nostr is an open network, not controlled by any person, company, nor organization. Anyone can join without asking for permission, and any developer is free to build on it. In a short amount of time, hundreds of projects have sprouted building on Nostr, including: Damus, Amethyst, Snort, Highlighter, Alby, Nos, Mutiny, Coracle, ZBD, Fountain, Habla.news, Plebstr, Spring, Iris, Nostrgram, Current, Blogstack, Zap.stream, Listr, Nostr.band, Nostr.build, Flycat, Nosta.me, NoStrudel, Nostur, Nostore, Zaplife, Wavlake, and many more.

Your Nostr keys work with Primal, as well as every other app in the Nostr ecosystem. You can seamlessly use your Nostr identity in social media apps, blog/news sites, marketplaces, etc. Every Nostr product brings more users and more gravity to the entire network. This is why we believe that Nostr will eventually connect everybody.

If you are not satisfied with the status quo dictated by the legacy media complex, if you think that the global town square should not be owned by anyone, if you feel that people should be in control over their online identity, social connections, and the content they publish - you do have a choice. Join us on Nostr. 🤙💜

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

Prelude

I wrote this post differently than any of my others. It started with a discussion with AI on an OPSec-inspired review of separation of powers, and evolved into quite an exciting debate! I asked Grok to write up a summary in my overall writing style, which it got pretty well. I've decided to post it exactly as-is. Ultimately, I think there are two solid ideas driving my stance here:

1. Perfect is the enemy of the good
2. Failure is the crucible of success

Beyond that, just some hard-core belief in freedom, separation of powers, and operating from self-interest.

Intro

Alright, buckle up. I’ve been chewing on this idea for a while, and it’s time to spit it out. Let’s look at the U.S. government like I’d look at a codebase under a cybersecurity audit—OPSEC style, no fluff. Forget the endless debates about what politicians should do. That’s noise. I want to talk about what they can do, the raw powers baked into the system, and why we should stop pretending those powers are sacred. If there’s a hole, either patch it or exploit it. No half-measures. And yeah, I’m okay if the whole thing crashes a bit—failure’s a feature, not a bug.

The Filibuster: A Security Rule with No Teeth

You ever see a firewall rule that’s more theater than protection? That’s the Senate filibuster. Everyone acts like it’s this untouchable guardian of democracy, but here’s the deal: a simple majority can torch it any day. It’s not a law; it’s a Senate preference, like choosing tabs over spaces. When people call killing it the “nuclear option,” I roll my eyes. Nuclear? It’s a button labeled “press me.” If a party wants it gone, they’ll do it. So why the dance?

I say stop playing games. Get rid of the filibuster. If you’re one of those folks who thinks it’s the only thing saving us from tyranny, fine—push for a constitutional amendment to lock it in. That’s a real patch, not a Post-it note. Until then, it’s just a vulnerability begging to be exploited. Every time a party threatens to nuke it, they’re admitting it’s not essential. So let’s stop pretending and move on.

Supreme Court Packing: Because Nine’s Just a Number

Here’s another fun one: the Supreme Court. Nine justices, right? Sounds official. Except it’s not. The Constitution doesn’t say nine—it’s silent on the number. Congress could pass a law tomorrow to make it 15, 20, or 42 (hitchhiker’s reference, anyone?). Packing the court is always on the table, and both sides know it. It’s like a root exploit just sitting there, waiting for someone to log in.

So why not call the bluff? If you’re in power—say, Trump’s back in the game—say, “I’m packing the court unless we amend the Constitution to fix it at nine.” Force the issue. No more shadowboxing. And honestly? The court’s got way too much power anyway. It’s not supposed to be a super-legislature, but here we are, with justices’ ideologies driving the bus. That’s a bug, not a feature. If the court weren’t such a kingmaker, packing it wouldn’t even matter. Maybe we should be talking about clipping its wings instead of just its size.

The Executive Should Go Full Klingon

Let’s talk presidents. I’m not saying they should wear Klingon armor and start shouting “Qapla’!”—though, let’s be real, that’d be awesome. I’m saying the executive should use every scrap of power the Constitution hands them. Enforce the laws you agree with, sideline the ones you don’t. If Congress doesn’t like it, they’ve got tools: pass new laws, override vetoes, or—here’s the big one—cut the budget. That’s not chaos; that’s the system working as designed.

Right now, the real problem isn’t the president overreaching; it’s the bureaucracy. It’s like a daemon running in the background, eating CPU and ignoring the user. The president’s supposed to be the one steering, but the administrative state’s got its own agenda. Let the executive flex, push the limits, and force Congress to check it. Norms? Pfft. The Constitution’s the spec sheet—stick to it.

Let the System Crash

Here’s where I get a little spicy: I’m totally fine if the government grinds to a halt. Deadlock isn’t a disaster; it’s a feature. If the branches can’t agree, let the president veto, let Congress starve the budget, let enforcement stall. Don’t tell me about “essential services.” Nothing’s so critical it can’t take a breather. Shutdowns force everyone to the table—debate, compromise, or expose who’s dropping the ball. If the public loses trust? Good. They’ll vote out the clowns or live with the circus they elected.

Think of it like a server crash. Sometimes you need a hard reboot to clear the cruft. If voters keep picking the same bad admins, well, the country gets what it deserves. Failure’s the best teacher—way better than limping along on autopilot.

States Are the Real MVPs

If the feds fumble, states step up. Right now, states act like junior devs waiting for the lead engineer to sign off. Why? Federal money. It’s a leash, and it’s tight. Cut that cash, and states will remember they’re autonomous. Some will shine, others will tank—looking at you, California. And I’m okay with that. Let people flee to better-run states. No bailouts, no excuses. States are like competing startups: the good ones thrive, the bad ones pivot or die.

Could it get uneven? Sure. Some states might turn into sci-fi utopias while others look like a post-apocalyptic vidya game. That’s the point—competition sorts it out. Citizens can move, markets adjust, and failure’s a signal to fix your act.

Chaos Isn’t the Enemy

Yeah, this sounds messy. States ignoring federal law, external threats poking at our seams, maybe even a constitutional crisis. I’m not scared. The Supreme Court’s there to referee interstate fights, and Congress sets the rules for state-to-state play. But if it all falls apart? Still cool. States can sort it without a babysitter—it’ll be ugly, but freedom’s worth it. External enemies? They’ll either unify us or break us. If we can’t rally, we don’t deserve the win.

Centralizing power to avoid this is like rewriting your app in a single thread to prevent race conditions—sure, it’s simpler, but you’re begging for a deadlock. Decentralized chaos lets states experiment, lets people escape, lets markets breathe. States competing to cut regulations to attract businesses? That’s a race to the bottom for red tape, but a race to the top for innovation—workers might gripe, but they’ll push back, and the tension’s healthy. Bring it—let the cage match play out. The Constitution’s checks are enough if we stop coddling the system.

Why This Matters

I’m not pitching a utopia. I’m pitching a stress test. The U.S. isn’t a fragile porcelain doll; it’s a rugged piece of hardware built to take some hits. Let it fail a little—filibuster, court, feds, whatever. Patch the holes with amendments if you want, or lean into the grind. Either way, stop fearing the crash. It’s how we debug the republic.

So, what’s your take? Ready to let the system rumble, or got a better way to secure the code? Hit me up—I’m all ears.

@ b80cc5f2:966b8353

Originally posted on 11/12/2024 @ https://music.2140art.com/could-bitcoin-solve-the-music-industrys-legal-chaos-a-new-music-economy-in-action/

The first part of our exploration into the “New Music Economy” focused on Bitcoin’s potential to redefine how artists and fans exchange value. In this follow-up, we dive into the current state of the music industry—an ecosystem riddled with legal battles, power struggles, and technological disruptions.

From lawsuits involving AI-generated music to accusations of collusion between major labels and streaming platforms, these challenges highlight the flaws of the traditional system. A Bitcoin-powered New Music Economy doesn’t just offer an alternative—it may eventually be the solution the industry desperately needs.

The Legal Challenges Shaking the Music Industry

The music industry is no stranger to legal disputes, but recent cases reveal deeper systemic issues, highlighting the need for a foundational rethink of its economic and operational models. Let’s break down some of the most significant battles:

• Drake vs. Universal Music Group and Spotify In late 2024, Drake filed lawsuits against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, alleging they artificially inflated the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us. He accused UMG of using bots and engaging in pay-to-play schemes, distorting the competitive landscape and causing him financial harm.
• Record Labels vs. AI Music Companies Major labels such as Sony Music, UMG, and Warner Records have launched lawsuits against AI startups like Suno and Udio. These companies allegedly trained their AI models using copyrighted songs without permission, generating content that is directly competing with human artists.
• Artists’ Lawsuit Over Streaming Revenue Transparency In an ongoing class-action lawsuit, artists are demanding greater transparency from streaming platforms like Spotify, accusing them of underreporting streams and withholding royalties.
• The Copyright Battle Over AI-Generated Drake and The Weeknd Song Earlier in 2024, an AI-generated song mimicking Drake and The Weeknd went viral. Universal Music Group sought to have it removed from platforms, citing copyright infringement, but the case has sparked debate about whether AI-generated works fall under current copyright laws.
• Streaming Payout Inequities for Independent Artists Independent musicians continue to push back against low streaming payouts. Platforms like Spotify pay fractions of a penny per stream, leading to widespread frustration and calls for systemic reform.

Copyright Challenges in Blockchain-Based Platforms

While blockchain offers revolutionary benefits for transparency and fair royalties, it also introduces copyright challenges. A prominent example is Audius, a decentralised music streaming platform aiming to empower artists by removing intermediaries. Despite its innovative approach, Audius has faced significant copyright infringement issues.

Key Copyright Challenges:

Irremovability of Content: Once data is recorded on a blockchain, it becomes difficult to alter or remove, which complicates the elimination of infringing material.

Decentralised Control: With no central authority,enforcing copyright compliance is challenging, as responsibilities are distributed across the network.

Addressing Copyright in Blockchain Music:

Advanced Content Identification Systems: Integrating tools that detect and block unauthorised uploads can prevent copyright violations proactively.

Collaborative Efforts with Rights Holders: Engaging directly with artists and labels fosters trust and reduces disputes.

Robust Copyright Policies: Clear rules and enforcement mechanisms ensure compliance while promoting innovation.

Distribution Challenges and Niche Crowds

One of the most pressing concerns for Bitcoin-powered music platforms is their niche audience. Compared to major platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, Bitcoin-based platforms often attract smaller, more targeted communities. This can create challenges in distribution and reach, as artists may find it difficult to achieve visibility or access millions of listeners.

Why the Niche Approach Works

• Dedicated Fans: Smaller, focused communities often have higher engagement rates. Fans on Bitcoin-powered platforms actively choose to support artists rather than passively streaming.

• Revenue Transparency: With Bitcoin, artists retain control over their earnings, avoiding the opaque systems of major platforms.

• Early Adoption Opportunities: As Bitcoin-powered platforms grow, early adopters gain a competitive edge, establishing themselves within a loyal community.

How Bitcoin Addresses Industry Issues

A Bitcoin-powered New Music Economy offers solutions to these systemic problems:

1. Transparent and Automated Royalties With Bitcoin smart contracts, royalty payments can be automated, transparent, and instant.

2. Immutable Ownership Records Blockchain can securely record ownership and licensing information, reducing disputes over intellectual property and providing clear attribution, even for AI-generated content.

3. Global Accessibility and Fair Compensation Bitcoin’s decentralised nature enables artists worldwide to receive payments directly from fans, bypassing traditional financial barriers.

4. Decentralised Platforms Building music distribution platforms on the blockchain can eliminate centralised control, reducing the risk of manipulation and ensuring artists maintain ownership of their content and revenue streams.

5. Equitable AI Content Compensation When AI tools use songs for training, those works can be identified through their blockchain registrations. Bitcoin smart contracts could automatically pay royalties to original creators whenever their work contributes to an AI-generated song.

To demonstrate just a fraction of the possibilities, platforms like Audionals.com, founded by Jim Crane, are actively developing ways to use Bitcoin’s blockchain to decentralise music creation, rights management, and distribution. By exploring how detailed metadata and audio data can be inscribed onto Bitcoin, Audionals is working toward solutions that allow for precise and transparent ownership and royalty tracking. While still in progress, it highlights how blockchain technology could enable a more efficient and artist-focused music economy.

For further insights on how Audionals works, check out this interview with Jim Crane.

A Real Economy, Not Just an Ecosystem

The current wave of lawsuits, technological disruption, and artist frustration shows that the music industry is ripe for change. Bitcoin offers more than just a payment system—it provides a decentralised, censorship-resistant infrastructure capable of fostering true ownership, transparency, and equitable participation in the music economy.

By addressing both the promises and challenges of blockchain, platforms like Audius highlight the complexities of this shift. From royalty transparency to AI copyright disputes, Bitcoin isn’t just a tool; it’s a blueprint for the real New Music Economy. The question now is whether the industry is ready to embrace it, or whether independent artists and fans will lead the way.

@ bbef5093:71228592

Hulladékgazdálkodás – 2025. május 13. | Írta: David Dalton

A francia nukleáris hulladéktároló projekt akár 37 milliárd euróba is kerülhet, közölte az Andra

Franciaország mélygeológiai tároló projektje várhatóan 26 milliárd euró (28,9 milliárd dollár) és 37,5 milliárd euró között fog kerülni – közölte a nemzeti nukleáris hulladékügynökség, az Andra május 12-én, ami magasabb a korábbi, mintegy 25 milliárd eurós becslésnél.

A Cigéo nevű projekt Franciaország központi létesítménye lesz a nukleáris erőművekből és egyéb reaktor létesítményekből származó nagy aktivitású radioaktív hulladék hosszú távú tárolására.

Az Andra szerint az ipari minisztérium rendelete várhatóan az év végéig véglegesíti a költségeket, amelyek referenciaként szolgálnak majd a következő felülvizsgálatig. Mind a költségek, mind a helyszín további felülvizsgálatok elé néznek, legkésőbb 2026 végéig.

Az építkezés 2027-ben kezdődhet, amennyiben a francia nukleáris biztonsági hatóság (ASN – Autorité de sûreté nucléaire) jóváhagyja a kérelmet, és az első hulladékcsomagokat 2050-ben fogadnák, a várható üzemidő pedig 100 év.

2023 júniusában az ASN elfogadta, és megkezdte az Andra által benyújtott Cigéo létesítmény építési kérelmének vizsgálatát.

A Cigéo a legmagasabb aktivitású, egyben leghosszabb élettartamú radioaktív hulladékok elhelyezésére szolgál egy mélygeológiai tárolóban, amely a Meuse és Haute-Marne megyék határán, Északkelet-Franciaországban található.

Jelenleg a világon sehol nem működik hosszú távú hulladéktároló létesítmény a polgári nukleáris energia programokból származó nagy aktivitású hulladék számára.

A Nemzetközi Atomenergia Ügynökség szerint Franciaország, Finnország és Svédország az a három ország, amely a legnagyobb előrelépést tette ilyen létesítmények üzembe helyezése felé.

A finnországi Onkalo tároló várhatóan a világ első működő mélygeológiai elhelyezési létesítménye lesz, teljes üzembe helyezése a 2020-as évek közepére várható.

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Új építés – 2025. május 13. | Írta: David Dalton

Európa „aggályokat fogalmazott meg” a cseh–dél-koreai nukleáris megállapodással kapcsolatban

Az Európai Bizottság arra kérte a Cseh Köztársaságot, hogy halassza el a legalább 18 milliárd dollár (16,9 milliárd euró) értékű szerződés aláírását a dél-koreai Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) vállalattal új atomerőművek építésére, amíg kivizsgálják az esetleges külföldi támogatások felhasználását – közölte egy bizottsági szóvivő május 12-én a Reuters szerint.

A szóvivő elmondta, hogy Stephane Séjourné, az ipari stratégia biztosa egy levélben fejezte ki aggodalmát a dél-koreai pályázatot érintő külföldi támogatások szabályozásával kapcsolatban.

„Még nem tartunk ott, hogy mélyreható vizsgálatot indítanánk, és nem szeretném előre megjósolni, hogy eljutunk-e oda vagy sem” – mondta a szóvivő.

A cseh CTK hírügynökség idézte Petr Fiala cseh miniszterelnököt, aki szerint bár a levél a biztostól származik, az nem képviseli a Bizottság hivatalos álláspontját, és nincs kötelező érvénye.

Az Euractiv szerint egy bizottsági szóvivő újságíróknak május 12-én azt mondta, hogy Séjourné levele „semmiképpen sem kérte a folyamat leállítását”.

Az Euractiv szerint Séjourné levele azt írja, hogy a Bizottság vizsgálja, kapott-e a KHNP tiltott állami támogatást az EU-s szabályozás szerint, amikor elnyerte a két atomerőmű építésére kiírt tendert.

A reaktorprojektért felelős cseh vállalat, az Elektrarna Dukovany II (EDU II) közleményt adott ki, amelyben megvédte a kiválasztási folyamatot, és felszólította az EDF-et, hogy hozza nyilvánosságra a tenderben benyújtott ajánlatát.

Az EDU II, a cseh állami közműcég, a ČEZ leányvállalata kijelentette, hogy kész „teljes kártérítést követelni” és megvédeni a részvényesi értéket bármilyen peres eljárással szemben.

A közlemény szerint az illegális támogatásról szóló állítások „a sikertelen pályázó spekulációi”.

Dél-Korea és Csehország megerősítette elkötelezettségét az atomerőmű-szerződés aláírása mellett, annak ellenére, hogy egy bírósági döntés ideiglenesen elhalasztotta a szerződéskötést.

A sajtóhírek szerint a cseh kormány május 7-i ülésén kijelentette, hogy az EDU II a lehető leghamarabb folytatja a szerződéskötést a KHNP-vel két atomerőmű építésére.

A két új, nagy kapacitású APR1400 típusú reaktort a KHNP szállítja, és a csehországi Dukovany atomerőmű telephelyén építik fel.

Az eredetileg május 7-re tervezett szerződésaláírást elhalasztották, miután bírósági végzés született az EDF, a tenderen sikertelen pályázó jogi kifogása nyomán.

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Új építés – 2025. május 13. | Írta: David Dalton

Izrael tervezi első kereskedelmi atomerőművét

Javaslatot fontolgatnak Izrael első kereskedelmi atomerőművének megépítésére Shivta közelében, az ország déli részén, bár kétségek merültek fel a helyi ellenállás és Izrael atomsorompó-szerződésen (NPT) kívüli státusza miatt.

Közel-keleti jelentések szerint a terveket a jövő héten vizsgálja meg a regionális tervezési és építési bizottság, amely a Negev-sivatagi térségben felépítendő létesítményért felelős.

A jelentések szerint a bizottság már „erős ellenállását” fejezte ki a tervvel szemben.

A nemzetközi aggályok középpontjában Izrael NPT-szerződésen kívüli státusza és az a tény áll, hogy nem fogadta el a Nemzetközi Atomenergia Ügynökség (IAEA) ellenőrzését néhány főbb nukleáris tevékenységére. Az NPT az IAEA felügyelete alatt biztosítja, hogy a nukleáris anyagokat és létesítményeket ne tereljék katonai célokra.

Izrael ugyan működtet kutatóreaktorokat, de nincs kereskedelmi atomerőműve. Az évek során többször is fontolgatta kereskedelmi atomerőművek építésének lehetőségét.

Az izraeli Ynet News szerint a javaslat számos megválaszolatlan kérdést vet fel, például hogy melyik ország építené meg az erőművet, tekintettel Izrael NPT-n kívüli státuszára. További aggályok a nukleáris üzemanyag forrására, a sivatagi klímában szükséges hűtőrendszerre, valamint a víz szállításának logisztikájára vonatkoznak.

A Ynet News szerint más lehetséges helyszíneket különböző okokból elvetettek, például a katonai repülőtér közelsége, geológiai vizsgálatok eredményei vagy a népsűrűség miatt.

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Kutatás és fejlesztés – 2025. május 13. | Írta: David Dalton

Tajvani kutatási projekt nyithat utat fejlett atomerőművek előtt

A Tajvani Nemzeti Atomkutató Intézet (Nari) elindított egy 3,3 millió dolláros (2,9 millió eurós) kis moduláris reaktor (SMR) kutatási projektet, amely utat nyithat fejlett atomerőművek bevezetéséhez azon a szigeten, ahol hamarosan leállítják az összes régebbi, nagy kapacitású reaktort.

Az új nukleáris technológiák kutatása akkor kezdődött, amikor a kormány ezen a hétvégén véglegesen leállítja a Maanshan-2 atomerőművet Pingtung megyében, Dél-Tajvanon, teljesítve ígéretét, hogy Tajvant nukleárismentessé teszi.

Az SMR-eket a Nemzetközi Atomenergia Ügynökség 300 MW vagy annál kisebb kapacitásúnak definiálja, ami körülbelül egyharmada egy hagyományos atomerőmű teljesítményének. Moduláris kialakításuk lehetővé teszi a gyári előállítást és könnyebb telepítést a nagy atomerőművekhez képest. Az SMR-ek gyártói a moduláris alkatrészek tömeggyártásával kívánnak méretgazdaságosságot elérni.

2024 júliusában az állami tulajdonú atomerőmű tulajdonos és üzemeltető Taipower közölte, hogy leállította a Maanshan-1 atomerőművet, így az országban már csak egy reaktor, a Maanshan-2 maradt kereskedelmi üzemelésben.

A Maanshan-1, egy 936 MW-os nyomottvizes reaktor (PWR) leállítása közepette tovább folytatódik a törvényhozók vitája arról, hogy meghosszabbítsák-e a sziget nukleáris létesítményeinek élettartamát.

2023-ban a nukleáris energia Tajvan villamosenergia-termelésének mintegy 6,9%-át tette ki, amelyet főként szén és cseppfolyósított földgáz ural.

A Taipower szerint a Maanshan-1 leállításával a nukleáris forrásból származó áram aránya 2,8%-ra csökken.

Egy időben Tajvan hat reaktora az iparilag erősen fejlett sziget villamosenergia-termelésének több mint felét biztosította.

A Maanshan-1 1984 júliusában kezdte meg a kereskedelmi üzemet, és most járt le a 40 éves működési engedélye. A 938 MW-os Maanshan-2 várhatóan 2025. május 18-án, 40 év üzem után áll le.

„Nagyon nyitottak” az új nukleáris technológiára

Tavaly év végén Tajvan miniszterelnöke, Cho Jung-tai azt mondta, az ország „nagyon nyitott” az új nukleáris technológia alkalmazására, hogy kielégítse a chipgyártók növekvő áramigényét, akik az AI-robbanáshoz használnak villamos energiát.

„Amíg Tajvanon konszenzus van a nukleáris biztonságról, és jó irány és garancia van a hulladékkezelésre, ezzel az erős konszenzussal lefolytathatjuk a nyilvános vitát” – mondta Cho a Bloomberg Newsnak adott interjúban.

Megjegyzései az egyik legerősebb jelei annak, hogy a kormány újragondolja ellenállását a kereskedelmi atomerőművekkel szemben.

Cho vélhetően fejlett reaktorokra, köztük az SMR-ekre utalt, amelyeket számos országban fejlesztenek.

---

Egyéb hírek

• Urenco a Costain-t választotta a brit Haleu létesítmény tervezésére: A brit Costain mérnöki vállalatot választotta az angol–német–holland Urenco urándúsító vállalat Európa első magas dúsítású, alacsonyan dúsított urán (Haleu) üzemanyaggyártó létesítményének tervezésére. A Costain 2027-re fejezi be az előzetes mérnöki tervezést (Feed), amely megalapozza az Urenco új, fejlett üzemanyag-dúsítási technológiáit és gyártólétesítményét.

• A magánfinanszírozás kulcsfontosságú a fejlett reaktorfejlesztéshez, mondja az amerikai energiaügyi miniszter: Chris Wright energiaügyi miniszter szerint a magánfinanszírozás kulcsfontosságú lesz a fejlett nukleáris reaktorok fejlesztésében, szövetségi támogatások és hitelek mellett. A Trump-kormány célja, hogy több tízmilliárd dollár magánbefektetést vonzzon, annak ellenére, hogy a 2026-os költségvetésben 408 millió dolláros (367 millió eurós) csökkentést javasolnak a nukleáris energia számára.

• A NAC International új csomagolási rendszer tanúsítványt kapott: Az amerikai NAC International nukleáris technológiai vállalat bejelentette, hogy megkapta az NRC-től az új, nagy kapacitású Volunteer csomagolási rendszer tanúsítványát nem hasadó vagy hasadási mentességű radioaktív anyagok szállítására. A rendszer fejlesztése a tríciumtermelő elnyelőrúdak (TPBAR), vitrified nagy aktivitású radioaktív hulladék és besugárzott berendezések szállítására készült.

@ 5df413d4:2add4f5b

https://i.nostr.build/Ur1Je684aSgYCRn3.jpg

You Are Not A Gadget by Jaron Lanier

Reading Jaron Lanier’s 2010 You Are Not A Gadget in 2023 is an interesting experience—equal parts withering, prophetic, and heretical clarion call warning from a high priest of the Technocracy and rambling, musing, cognitive jam session from a technofied musician-philosopher.

Yet, in ways that I think the author would be simultaneously pleased, amused, saddened, and disturbed by, the 13 yeas since the book’s publishing have, in places, proven him right with stunning foresight and precision, and in others, made his ideas appear laughable, bizarre, even naive. The book is written in five parts, yet I would suggest viewing it as two discrete elements—Part One (around the first half of the book) and…everything else.

For context, Lanier, is a computer scientist and early technologist from the area of Jobs, Wozniak, and Gates, and is considered to be a founding father of virtual reality. He is also a consummate contrarian, a player of rare and obscure musical instruments, a deep interdisciplinary thinker…and a white man with dreadlocks named Jaron.

PART ONE

Part One of the book “What is a Person?” reads like a scathing and clear-eye manifesto—where Lanier is batting 1000, merciless in his rightness. Were one to pull a passage that speaks to the soul of this portion of the book, it might be the following: “The net does not design itself. We design it.”

Lanier terms the prevailing technocratic ideology—the particular winning tech-nerd subculture that has now come to capture our society—as “the cybernetic totalist” or “digital Maoists.” Essentially a materialist and stealth collectivist movement in new-age technocratic dress, that through its successes, and now excesses, represents much the same of religion that it’s founders would have claimed to be “evolving past.”

Lanier points out that in this, we are simply trading the pursuit of finding God in spirituality or the afterlife, for a notion of digital immortality—seeking, or, if possible, becoming, God in the cloud. He aptly identifies that this worldview requires that society, and all human interactions really, be savagely bent into adherence to this new religion of aggregation that demands deification of data, gross diminishment of the individual, and belief in some objective (but never defined) "meaning" that exists beyond and apart from the human observer.

With skill and simple wit, he raises strong, rational counterpoint to the digital Maoists’ obsession with quantity, data in aggregate and at-scale, as society's prime directive “A fashionable idea in technical circles is that quantity […] turns into quality at some extreme scale […] I disagree. A trope in the early days or computer science comes to mind: garbage in, garbage out.”

Lanier is able to envision the digital cages that likes of Facebook, Youtube, social-media dating apps would become for the internet native generations. Of whom he writes “The most effective young Facebook users […] are the ones who create successful online fictions about themselves,” and “If you start out by being fake, you’ll eventually have to put in twice the effort to undo the illusion if anything good is to come of it.”

Lanier’s 2010 criticism of Wikipedia-ism is now double or triply apropos in our current hype cycle of “AI magic” and Everything-GPT, “Wikipedia, for instance, works on what I can the Oracle Illusion, in which knowledge of human authorship of a text is suppressed in order to give the text superhuman validity. Traditional holy books work in precisely the same way and present many of the same problems.” This same deep truth now sits at the heart of every “new” creation churned out by the flavor-of-the-week, plagiarism-at-scale, generative AI tool.

More darkly, he is also able to foresee the spectre of a return to collectivism lurking both at the core and on the margins of our new digital age—“The recipe that led to social catastrophe in the past was economic humiliation combined with collectivist ideology. We already have the ideology in its new digital packaging, and it’s entirely possible we could face dangerously traumatic economic shock in the coming decades.”—“No Shit” said everyone who lived through 2020-2022…

This brings us, eerily, to the world of today. Where aggregate insights are upheld as more valuable than discrete insights. Where crowds are are assumed to have more wisdom than individuals. Where truth is twisted into a might-is-right numbers game. A world ruled by the idea that if we can just centralize enough information and sufficiently pulverize authorship, the result will, necessarily, be something super-intelligent, "alive," and perhaps even divine.

In short, the cybernetic totalists and digital Maoists, having killed reason, now sit on its corpse like a thrown, smearing its blood on the walls in the name of art and reading its still-steaming entrails for prophecy.

If I were to infer some ideological takeaway from Part One of the book, it might be that Lanier seems to axiomatically reject any affirmative implication of the Turing Test. Simply put, he believes that bits are not and cannot ever be alive independent of the human-as-oracle. Further, there is no objective meaning beyond the human observer—in fact, that observer fundamentally creates any meaning there is to be had. This is best illustrated by one of the most powerful passages in the book:

“But the Turing Test cuts both ways. You can’t tell if a machine has gotten smarter or if you’ve just lowered your own standard of intelligence to such a degree that the machine seems smart. If you can have a conversation with a simulated person presented by an AI program, can you tell how far you’ve let your sense of personhood degrade in order to make the illusion work for you?”

Ponder this well, Anon.

EVERYTHING ELSE

With all of the great stuff above out of the way, we must turn to…the rest of the book. Parts Two through Five breakdown into something more like a stream of consciousness. And while there are certainly many nuggets to insight and beauty to be found, the book becomes largely dis-coherent and very difficult to read. That said, the remainder of the book does contain three particularly compelling threads that I find to be worth pulling on.

Internet Attribution First, are Lanier’s musing about money and attribution in our authorless “information wants to be free” world. He laments the infinite elevation of advertising and offers harsh critique to the concept of attention as the new currency—as this tends to overwhelmingly reward the aggregator and a piddling few soulless super-influencers at the expense of all other users and creators.

Interestingly, under the guise of “what could have been” he imagines a world where attribution is tracked across the web (though how this achieved is left unanswered) and royalty payments can flow back to the author seamlessly over the internet. I find his vision to be intriguing because in 2010, we lacked the technology to either track attribution across the web or facilitate seamless micropayment royalties based on access / usage.

While we still don't have the ability to achieve the type of fully-tracked, always-on attribution Lanier imagines, we do now have the ability to stream payments across the internet with bitcoin and the lightning network. While Lanier can be excused for not mentioning the then uber-nascent bitcoin in 2010, bitcoin’s development since only goes to underscore the prescience of Lanier’s imagination.

The bigger question that now remains, especially in the face of the advent of “AI,” is whether such a system to manage and therefore enforce attribution globally on the internet would even be a good thing. Where obscured attribution enables mashed-up plagiarism-at-scale, centrally enforced attribution can just as easily enable idea, content, discovery, and innovation suppression-at-scale.

Music in the New Age Second, much of the book, particularly in the second half, is filtered through the lens and language of music. Music is essential to Lanier’s inner life and it is clear that he views music as an emergent mystery force attributable to something unknowable, if not divine, and entirely unique to the human experience.

He bemoans the music of the 2000s as lacking in any distinct chronological era sound—everything is either a rehashed mashup or digitally lofi-ed emulation of sounds from previous begone eras—it is music that is impossible to place. To him, it is as though musical evolution stopped right around the time of the advent of the internet…and then folded back in on itself, creating an endless kaleidoscoping of what came before but rarely, if ever, the creation anything truly new.

In response, Lanier goes so far as to imagine the ridiculous (my take, not his) world of “Songles”—songs on dongles—essentially physical music NFTs. In Songleland, listening to the hottest tracks at a party hinges on the guy or gal with the dankest songles swinging through and plugging them into the Songle player. And songles, being scarce, even become speculative investments. On this, Lanier manages to be both right and wrong in only the most spectacularly absurd of ways.

But what Lanier really laments is the passing of popular music as a shared cultural experience at national or even global scale. During Lanier’s coming of age through the 1960-80s—with only a few consolidated channels for music distribution, it was truly impossible to escape the sounds and influence of the Beatles or Prince or Micheal Jackson—everyone heard it and even the deaf still felt it.

In the end, Lanier could image Songles but he couldn’t envision what Spotify would become—a conduit to shatter music distribution into a myriad of tiny longtails—providing infinitely fragmented and individually fine-tuned music experiences rather than large and cohesive cultural moments. However, even in this miss, Lanier is largely able to project what Spotify-ed music would resolve to—music designed as much or more to please the self-referential selection algorithm than any real, human listeners. A dangerously foretelling insight that goes well beyond music as AI tools are posed to become the "googling" of the next technological cycle—what happens to information, to human thought, when the majority of "generative AI" outputs are just the machine referencing itself?

Digital Neoteny The final thread to pull is that of "digital neoteny," the retention of juvenile behaviors in adult form, in this case, a neoteny of the mind if you will. Lanier sees the internet as specifically primed to propagate three kinds of neoteny in digital-native humans— a blissful and curious Bachelardian neoteny (as in Gaston Bachelard’s Poetics of Reverie); a cruel and mob-like Goldingesque neoteny (as in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies); and a general and deeply pervasive, infantile neoteny.

Neoteny of the Bachelardian variety, which Lanier likens to “the sense of wonder and weirdness that a teen can find in the unfolding world,” is what he feels the internet has provided in a few brief and magical moments generally aligned with the “early days” of successive internet technologies, movements, and companies—through this generally degrades into Goldingesque neoteny as novelty gives way to ossification.

Lanier’s missives on Bachelardian neoteny feel especially pertinent to the present state of Nostr (where I am publishing this writing). Nostr is in a moment where winner-take all dynamics and corporatization have yet to take hold. Child-like revelry abounds with each new discovery or novel Nostr client development so much so that the likes of Jack Dorsey compare it to the excitement of the early internet.

But with time, if and as the Nostr protocol wins, to what extent will technical lock-in take hold here? To what extent will calcification of seemingly trivial or even comical decisions being made by client devs today have dramatic implications on the feasibility of other development in the future? And will we early Nostr users, at some point put down welcoming inclusivesness for insular tribalism—and in what ways might we be doing this already?

Finally, to the third kind of neoteny, Infantile neoteny—which perhaps incapsulates the internet even more so than either of the other two types—Lanier sees the net driving an evermore prolonged deferral of maturity, resulting ultimately in some centrally-managed permanent arresting of society in a stupefied and juvenile mental state:

“Some of the greatest speculative investments in human history continue to converge on Silicon Valley schemes that seemed to have been named by Dr. Seuss. On any given day, one might hear of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars flowing to a start-up company named Ublibudly or MeTickly. These are names I just made up, but they would make great venture capital bait if they existed. At these companies one finds rooms full of MIT PhD engineers not seeking cancer cures or sources of safe drinking water for the underdeveloped world but schemes to send little digital pictures of teddy bears and dragons between adult members of social networks. At the end of the road of the pursuit of technological sophistication appears to lie a playhouse in which humankind regresses to nursery school.”

The popular culture of the early 2020s—with it’s NFT Monke JPEGs, silent and masked TikTok dancing in the drab aisles of crumbling department stores, and rampant peer-pressured social-media virtue-signaling and paternalism—could scarcely be described in any more stark and specific detail. That such could be seen so vividly in 2010 is as masterful as it is dishearteningly dark.

CONCLUSION

You Are Not A Gadget is a special thing, a strange beast—as lucid in its first half as it is jumbled, meandering, and even nonsensical in its second half. And while the discerning reader might judge the book harshly for these structural failings, I doubt the author would care, he might even welcome it. Lanier’s apparent purpose in writing is to share his mind rather than please the reader in any particular regard. The sufficiently curious reader, one who is willing to engage with the book’s content, for whatever the book’s faults may be, finds a king’s randoms of wisdom, insight, and uncanny foresight.

In closing, it seems fitting to recall one of Lanier’s earliest warnings in the book, “Maybe if people pretend they are not conscious or do not have free will […] then perhaps we have the power to make it so. We might be able to collectively achieve antimagic.” 13 years on, this feels more pressing and urgent and true than ever. (Rating: 4/5🐙)

~Moon

Buy the Book: You Are Not A Gadget

@ c066aac5:6a41a034

I’m drawn to extremities in art. The louder, the bolder, the more outrageous, the better. Bold art takes me out of the mundane into a whole new world where anything and everything is possible. Having grown up in the safety of the suburban midwest, I was a bit of a rebellious soul in search of the satiation that only came from the consumption of the outrageous. My inclination to find bold art draws me to NOSTR, because I believe NOSTR can be the place where the next generation of artistic pioneers go to express themselves. I also believe that as much as we are able, were should invite them to come create here.

My Background: A Small Side Story

My father was a professional gamer in the 80s, back when there was no money or glory in the avocation. He did get a bit of spotlight though after the fact: in the mid 2000’s there were a few parties making documentaries about that era of gaming as well as current arcade events (namely 2007’sChasing GhostsandThe King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters). As a result of these documentaries, there was a revival in the arcade gaming scene. My family attended events related to the documentaries or arcade gaming and I became exposed to a lot of things I wouldn’t have been able to find. The producer ofThe King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters had previously made a documentary calledNew York Dollwhich was centered around the life of bassist Arthur Kane. My 12 year old mind was blown: The New York Dolls were a glam-punk sensation dressed in drag. The music was from another planet. Johnny Thunders’ guitar playing was like Chuck Berry with more distortion and less filter. Later on I got to meet the Galaga record holder at the time, Phil Day, in Ottumwa Iowa. Phil is an Australian man of high intellect and good taste. He exposed me to great creators such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Shakespeare, Lou Reed, artists who created things that I had previously found inconceivable.

I believe this time period informed my current tastes and interests, but regrettably I think it also put coals on the fire of rebellion within. I stopped taking my parents and siblings seriously, the Christian faith of my family (which I now hold dearly to) seemed like a mundane sham, and I felt I couldn’t fit in with most people because of my avant-garde tastes. So I write this with the caveat that there should be a way to encourage these tastes in children without letting them walk down the wrong path. There is nothing inherently wrong with bold art, but I’d advise parents to carefully find ways to cultivate their children’s tastes without completely shutting them down and pushing them away as a result. My parents were very loving and patient during this time; I thank God for that.

With that out of the way, lets dive in to some bold artists:

Nicolas Cage: Actor

There is an excellent video by Wisecrack on Nicolas Cage that explains him better than I will, which I will linkhere. Nicolas Cage rejects the idea that good acting is tied to mere realism; all of his larger than life acting decisions are deliberate choices. When that clicked for me, I immediately realized the man is a genius. He borrows from Kabuki and German Expressionism, art forms that rely on exaggeration to get the message across. He has even created his own acting style, which he calls Nouveau Shamanic. He augments his imagination to go from acting to being. Rather than using the old hat of method acting, he transports himself to a new world mentally. The projects he chooses to partake in are based on his own interests or what he considers would be a challenge (making a bad script good for example). Thus it doesn’t matter how the end result comes out; he has already achieved his goal as an artist. Because of this and because certain directors don’t know how to use his talents, he has a noticeable amount of duds in his filmography. Dig around the duds, you’ll find some pure gold. I’d personally recommend the filmsPig, Joe, Renfield, and his Christmas film The Family Man.

Nick Cave: Songwriter

What a wild career this man has had! From the apocalyptic mayhem of his band The Birthday Party to the pensive atmosphere of his albumGhosteen, it seems like Nick Cave has tried everything. I think his secret sauce is that he’s always working. He maintains an excellent newsletter calledThe Red Hand Files, he has written screenplays such asLawless, he has written books, he has made great film scores such asThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the man is religiously prolific. I believe that one of the reasons he is prolific is that he’s not afraid to experiment. If he has an idea, he follows it through to completion. From the albumMurder Ballads(which is comprised of what the title suggests) to his rejected sequel toGladiator(Gladiator: Christ Killer), he doesn’t seem to be afraid to take anything on. This has led to some over the top works as well as some deeply personal works. Albums likeSkeleton TreeandGhosteenwere journeys through the grief of his son’s death. The Boatman’s Callis arguably a better break-up album than anything Taylor Swift has put out. He’s not afraid to be outrageous, he’s not afraid to offend, but most importantly he’s not afraid to be himself. Works I’d recommend include The Birthday Party’sLive 1981-82, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’The Boatman’s Call, and the filmLawless.

Jim Jarmusch: Director

I consider Jim’s films to be bold almost in an ironic sense: his works are bold in that they are, for the most part, anti-sensational. He has a rule that if his screenplays are criticized for a lack of action, he makes them even less eventful. Even with sensational settings his films feel very close to reality, and they demonstrate the beauty of everyday life. That's what is bold about his art to me: making the sensational grounded in reality while making everyday reality all the more special. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is about a modern-day African-American hitman who strictly follows the rules of the ancient Samurai, yet one can resonate with the humanity of a seemingly absurd character. Only Lovers Left Aliveis a vampire love story, but in the middle of a vampire romance one can see their their own relationships in a new deeply human light. Jim’s work reminds me that art reflects life, and that there is sacred beauty in seemingly mundane everyday life. I personally recommend his filmsPaterson,Down by Law, andCoffee and Cigarettes.

NOSTR: We Need Bold Art

NOSTR is in my opinion a path to a better future. In a world creeping slowly towards everything apps, I hope that the protocol where the individual owns their data wins over everything else. I love freedom and sovereignty. If NOSTR is going to win the race of everything apps, we need more than Bitcoin content. We need more than shirtless bros paying for bananas in foreign countries and exercising with girls who have seductive accents. Common people cannot see themselves in such a world. NOSTR needs to catch the attention of everyday people. I don’t believe that this can be accomplished merely by introducing more broadly relevant content; people are searching for content that speaks to them. I believe that NOSTR can and should attract artists of all kinds because NOSTR is one of the few places on the internet where artists can express themselves fearlessly. Getting zaps from NOSTR’s value-for-value ecosystem has far less friction than crowdfunding a creative project or pitching investors that will irreversibly modify an artist’s vision. Having a place where one can post their works without fear of censorship should be extremely enticing. Having a place where one can connect with fellow humans directly as opposed to a sea of bots should seem like the obvious solution. If NOSTR can become a safe haven for artists to express themselves and spread their work, I believe that everyday people will follow. The banker whose stressful job weighs on them will suddenly find joy with an original meme made by a great visual comedian. The programmer for a healthcare company who is drowning in hopeless mundanity could suddenly find a new lust for life by hearing the song of a musician who isn’t afraid to crowdfund their their next project by putting their lighting address on the streets of the internet. The excel guru who loves independent film may find that NOSTR is the best way to support non corporate movies. My closing statement: continue to encourage the artists in your life as I’m sure you have been, but while you’re at it give them the purple pill. You may very well be a part of building a better future.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

One of the most common criticisms leveled against nostr is the perceived lack of assurance when it comes to data storage. Critics argue that without a centralized authority guaranteeing that all data is preserved, important information will be lost. They also claim that running a relay will become prohibitively expensive. While there is truth to these concerns, they miss the mark. The genius of nostr lies in its flexibility, resilience, and the way it harnesses human incentives to ensure data availability in practice.

A nostr relay is simply a server that holds cryptographically verifiable signed data and makes it available to others. Relays are simple, flexible, open, and require no permission to run. Critics are right that operating a relay attempting to store all nostr data will be costly. What they miss is that most will not run all encompassing archive relays. Nostr does not rely on massive archive relays. Instead, anyone can run a relay and choose to store whatever subset of data they want. This keeps costs low and operations flexible, making relay operation accessible to all sorts of individuals and entities with varying use cases.

Critics are correct that there is no ironclad guarantee that every piece of data will always be available. Unlike bitcoin where data permanence is baked into the system at a steep cost, nostr does not promise that every random note or meme will be preserved forever. That said, in practice, any data perceived as valuable by someone will likely be stored and distributed by multiple entities. If something matters to someone, they will keep a signed copy.

Nostr is the Streisand Effect in protocol form. The Streisand effect is when an attempt to suppress information backfires, causing it to spread even further. With nostr, anyone can broadcast signed data, anyone can store it, and anyone can distribute it. Try to censor something important? Good luck. The moment it catches attention, it will be stored on relays across the globe, copied, and shared by those who find it worth keeping. Data deemed important will be replicated across servers by individuals acting in their own interest.

Nostr’s distributed nature ensures that the system does not rely on a single point of failure or a corporate overlord. Instead, it leans on the collective will of its users. The result is a network where costs stay manageable, participation is open to all, and valuable verifiable data is stored and distributed forever.

@ 374ee93a:36623347

Chef's notes

Lovely tart rhubarb jam with the extra firey kick of fresh root ginger.

Technically a vegetable rhubarb has low pectin content so be sure to include a high pectin fruit such as lemon/cooking apple/redcurrant/gooseberry. It also quite watery so we use a slightly higher fruit to sugar ratio (1.2:1) and evaporate off some water at the beginning.

Testing for setting point: put a saucer in the freezer to chill whilst cooking the fruit, after 5 mins of a high boil with the sugar put a small blob of jam on the cold saucer and return to the freezer for 2 minutes. If the jam forms a solid wrinkle when pushed with a spoon it is ready, if it is runny continue cooking and retest every 5 mins

The recipe can be halved for a small batch but if you have lots of rhubarb to process it is better to cook double batches in separate pans because it will take much longer to heat through, this affects the colour and flavour - the jam will taste warm and mellow rather than zingy

Sterilise glass jars in a 120c oven and pot the jam hot leaving 1/4 inch head space, it will keep for 5 years unopened if the lids are well sealed and does not require water bath canning

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 mins
• 🍳 Cook time: 30 mins
• 🍽️ Servings: 6 (jars)

Ingredients

• 1.2kg Rhubarb
• 200g Grated Root Ginger
• 100g Chopped Crystalised Ginger
• 1kg Sugar
• 1 Lemon

Directions

1. Chop the rhubarb into 1/2 inch pieces, peel and finely grate the fresh root ginger, chop crystalised ginger into tiny bits. Juice and quarter a lemon (discard pips) and add all these to a pan with a small amount of water
2. Simmer gently for 20 mins until the lemon and rhubarb are soft then add the sugar, stir until fully dissolved
3. Boil on high to reach setting point, usually at 105 degrees c or when a small blob of jam wrinkles on a cold plate instead of being runny
4. Remove the lemon pieces and pot into sterilised jars

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

I want to see Nostr succeed. If you can think of a way I can help make that happen, I’m open to it. I’d like your suggestions.

My schedule’s shifting soon, and I could volunteer a few hours a week to a Nostr project. I won’t have more total time, but how I use it will change.

Why help? I care about freedom. Nostr’s one of the most powerful freedom tools I’ve seen in my lifetime. If I believe that, I should act on it.

I don’t care about money or sats. I’m not rich, I don’t have extra cash. That doesn’t drive me—freedom does. I’m volunteering, not asking for pay.

I’m not here for clout. I’ve had enough spotlight in my life; it doesn’t move me. If I wanted clout, I’d be on Twitter dropping basic takes. Clout’s easy. Freedom’s hard. I’d rather help anonymously. No speaking at events—small meetups are cool for the vibe, but big conferences? Not my thing. I’ll never hit a huge Bitcoin conference. It’s just not my scene.

That said, I could be convinced to step up if it’d really boost Nostr—as long as it’s legal and gets results.

In this space, I’d watch for social engineering. I watch out for it. I’m not here to make friends, just to help. No shade—you all seem great—but I’ve got a full life and awesome friends irl. I don’t need your crew or to be online cool. Connect anonymously if you want; I’d encourage it.

I’m sick of watching other social media alternatives grow while Nostr kinda stalls. I could trash-talk, but I’d rather do something useful.

Skills? I’m good at spotting social media problems and finding possible solutions. I won’t overhype myself—that’s weird—but if you’re responding, you probably see something in me. Perhaps you see something that I don’t see in myself.

If you need help now or later with Nostr projects, reach out. Nostr only—nothing else. Anonymous contact’s fine. Even just a suggestion on how I can pitch in, no project attached, works too. 💜

Creeps or harassment will get blocked or I’ll nuke my simplex code if it becomes a problem.

https://simplex.chat/contact#/?v=2-4&smp=smp%3A%2F%2FSkIkI6EPd2D63F4xFKfHk7I1UGZVNn6k1QWZ5rcyr6w%3D%40smp9.simplex.im%2FbI99B3KuYduH8jDr9ZwyhcSxm2UuR7j0%23%2F%3Fv%3D1-2%26dh%3DMCowBQYDK2VuAyEAS9C-zPzqW41PKySfPCEizcXb1QCus6AyDkTTjfyMIRM%253D%26srv%3Djssqzccmrcws6bhmn77vgmhfjmhwlyr3u7puw4erkyoosywgl67slqqd.onion

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

I. Historical Foundations of U.S. Monetary Architecture

The early monetary system of the United States was built atop inherited commodity money conventions from Europe’s maritime economies. Silver and gold coins—primarily Spanish pieces of eight, Dutch guilders, and other foreign specie—formed the basis of colonial commerce. These units were already integrated into international trade and piracy networks and functioned with natural compatibility across England, France, Spain, and Denmark. Lacking a centralized mint or formal currency, the U.S. adopted these forms de facto.

As security risks and the practical constraints of physical coinage mounted, banks emerged to warehouse specie and issue redeemable certificates. These certificates evolved into fiduciary media—claims on specie not actually in hand. Banks observed over time that substantial portions of reserves remained unclaimed for years. This enabled fractional reserve banking: issuing more claims than reserves held, so long as redemption demand stayed low. The practice was inherently unstable, prone to panics and bank runs, prompting eventual centralization through the formation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.

Following the Civil War and unstable reinstatements of gold convertibility, the U.S. sought global monetary stability. After World War II, the Bretton Woods system formalized the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency. The dollar was nominally backed by gold, but most international dollars were held offshore and recycled into U.S. Treasuries. The Nixon Shock of 1971 eliminated the gold peg, converting the dollar into pure fiat. Yet offshore dollar demand remained, sustained by oil trade mandates and the unique role of Treasuries as global reserve assets.

II. The Structure of Fiduciary Media and Treasury Demand

Under this system, foreign trade surpluses with the U.S. generate excess dollars. These surplus dollars are parked in U.S. Treasuries, thereby recycling trade imbalances into U.S. fiscal liquidity. While technically loans to the U.S. government, these purchases act like interest-only transfers—governments receive yield, and the U.S. receives spendable liquidity without principal repayment due in the short term. Debt is perpetually rolled over, rarely extinguished.

This creates an illusion of global subsidy: U.S. deficits are financed via foreign capital inflows that, in practice, function more like financial tribute systems than conventional debt markets. The underlying asset—U.S. Treasury debt—functions as the base reserve asset of the dollar system, replacing gold in post-Bretton Woods monetary logic.

III. Emergence of Tether and the Parastatal Dollar

Tether (USDT), as a private issuer of dollar-denominated tokens, mimics key central bank behaviors while operating outside the regulatory perimeter. It mints tokens allegedly backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars or dollar-denominated securities (mostly Treasuries). These tokens circulate globally, often in jurisdictions with limited banking access, and increasingly serve as synthetic dollar substitutes.

If USDT gains dominance as the preferred medium of exchange—due to technological advantages, speed, programmability, or access—it displaces Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) not through devaluation, but through functional obsolescence. Gresham’s Law inverts: good money (more liquid, programmable, globally transferable USDT) displaces bad (FRNs) even if both maintain a nominal 1:1 parity.

Over time, this preference translates to a systemic demand shift. Actors increasingly use Tether instead of FRNs, especially in global commerce, digital marketplaces, or decentralized finance. Tether tokens effectively become shadow base money.

IV. Interaction with Commercial Banking and Redemption Mechanics

Under traditional fractional reserve systems, commercial banks issue loans denominated in U.S. dollars, expanding the money supply. When borrowers repay loans, this destroys the created dollars and contracts monetary elasticity. If borrowers repay in USDT instead of FRNs:

• Banks receive a non-Fed liability (USDT).
• USDT is not recognized as reserve-eligible within the Federal Reserve System.
• Banks must either redeem USDT for FRNs, or demand par-value conversion from Tether to settle reserve requirements and balance their books.

This places redemption pressure on Tether and threatens its 1:1 peg under stress. If redemption latency, friction, or cost arises, USDT’s equivalence to FRNs is compromised. Conversely, if banks are permitted or compelled to hold USDT as reserve or regulatory capital, Tether becomes a de facto reserve issuer.

In this scenario, banks may begin demanding loans in USDT, mirroring borrower behavior. For this to occur sustainably, banks must secure Tether liquidity. This creates two options: - Purchase USDT from Tether or on the secondary market, collateralized by existing fiat. - Borrow USDT directly from Tether, using bank-issued debt as collateral.

The latter mirrors Federal Reserve discount window operations. Tether becomes a lender of first resort, providing monetary elasticity to the banking system by creating new tokens against promissory assets—exactly how central banks function.

V. Structural Consequences: Parallel Central Banking

If Tether begins lending to commercial banks, issuing tokens backed by bank notes or collateralized debt obligations: - Tether controls the expansion of broad money through credit issuance. - Its balance sheet mimics a central bank, with Treasuries and bank debt as assets and tokens as liabilities. - It intermediates between sovereign debt and global liquidity demand, replacing the Federal Reserve’s open market operations with its own issuance-redemption cycles.

Simultaneously, if Tether purchases U.S. Treasuries with FRNs received through token issuance, it: - Supplies the Treasury with new liquidity (via bond purchases). - Collects yield on government debt. - Issues a parallel form of U.S. dollars that never require redemption—an interest-only loan to the U.S. government from a non-sovereign entity.

In this context, Tether performs monetary functions of both a central bank and a sovereign wealth fund, without political accountability or regulatory transparency.

VI. Endgame: Institutional Inversion and Fed Redundancy

This paradigm represents an institutional inversion:

• The Federal Reserve becomes a legacy issuer.
• Tether becomes the operational base money provider in both retail and interbank contexts.
• Treasuries remain the foundational reserve asset, but access to them is mediated by a private intermediary.
• The dollar persists, but its issuer changes. The State becomes a fiscal agent of a decentralized financial ecosystem, not its monetary sovereign.

Unless the Federal Reserve reasserts control—either by absorbing Tether, outlawing its instruments, or integrating its tokens into the reserve framework—it risks becoming irrelevant in the daily function of money.

Tether, in this configuration, is no longer a derivative of the dollar—it is the dollar, just one level removed from sovereign control. The future of monetary sovereignty under such a regime is post-national and platform-mediated.

@ e39333da:7c66e53a

::youtube{#ELC4r7fbKEQ}

Silver Palace, developed by Silver Studio and published by Elementa, a fantasy adventure action RPG, built with Unreal Engine 5, was announced along with a 10-minute long gameplay video showcasing the game in what appears to be a pre-beta state.

::youtube{#EIUa74hDJiQ}

Find more information about the game from the game's website.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

In much of the world, it is incredibly difficult to access U.S. dollars. Local currencies are often poorly managed and riddled with corruption. Billions of people demand a more reliable alternative. While the dollar has its own issues of corruption and mismanagement, it is widely regarded as superior to the fiat currencies it competes with globally. As a result, Tether has found massive success providing low cost, low friction access to dollars. Tether claims 400 million total users, is on track to add 200 million more this year, processes 8.1 million transactions daily, and facilitates $29 billion in daily transfers. Furthermore, their estimates suggest nearly 40% of users rely on it as a savings tool rather than just a transactional currency.

Tether’s rise has made the company a financial juggernaut. Last year alone, Tether raked in over $13 billion in profit, with a lean team of less than 100 employees. Their business model is elegantly simple: hold U.S. Treasuries and collect the interest. With over $113 billion in Treasuries, Tether has turned a straightforward concept into a profit machine.

Tether’s success has resulted in many competitors eager to claim a piece of the pie. This has triggered a massive venture capital grift cycle in USD tokens, with countless projects vying to dethrone Tether. Due to Tether’s entrenched network effect, these challengers face an uphill battle with little realistic chance of success. Most educated participants in the space likely recognize this reality but seem content to perpetuate the grift, hoping to cash out by dumping their equity positions on unsuspecting buyers before they realize the reality of the situation.

Historically, Tether’s greatest vulnerability has been U.S. government intervention. For over a decade, the company operated offshore with few allies in the U.S. establishment, making it a major target for regulatory action. That dynamic has shifted recently and Tether has seized the opportunity. By actively courting U.S. government support, Tether has fortified their position. This strategic move will likely cement their status as the dominant USD token for years to come.

While undeniably a great tool for the millions of users that rely on it, Tether is not without flaws. As a centralized, trusted third party, it holds the power to freeze or seize funds at its discretion. Corporate mismanagement or deliberate malpractice could also lead to massive losses at scale. In their goal of mitigating regulatory risk, Tether has deepened ties with law enforcement, mirroring some of the concerns of potential central bank digital currencies. In practice, Tether operates as a corporate CBDC alternative, collaborating with authorities to surveil and seize funds. The company proudly touts partnerships with leading surveillance firms and its own data reveals cooperation in over 1,000 law enforcement cases, with more than $2.5 billion in funds frozen.

---

The global demand for Tether is undeniable and the company’s profitability reflects its unrivaled success. Tether is owned and operated by bitcoiners and will likely continue to push forward strategic goals that help the movement as a whole. Recent efforts to mitigate the threat of U.S. government enforcement will likely solidify their network effect and stifle meaningful adoption of rival USD tokens or CBDCs. Yet, for all their achievements, Tether is simply a worse form of money than bitcoin. Tether requires trust in a centralized entity, while bitcoin can be saved or spent without permission. Furthermore, Tether is tied to the value of the US Dollar which is designed to lose purchasing power over time, while bitcoin, as a truly scarce asset, is designed to increase in purchasing power with adoption. As people awaken to the risks of Tether’s control, and the benefits bitcoin provides, bitcoin adoption will likely surpass it.

@ 7e538978:a5987ab6

Introduction

Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) is a powerful open protocol built on Nostr that enables a connection between Bitcoin Lightning wallets and applications—offering strong privacy, user control, easy connection, open interoperability, and support for a wide range of use cases without needing port forwarding or other network configuration. It allows a user to use many different Lightning apps with their own Lightning node via NWC.

In this post, we’ll give an overview of NWC as well as how to use a home-hosted LNbits instance as a private funding source for a public LNbits instance—giving you the benefits of privacy, control, and simplicity, to unleash the full power of LNbits.

Why Self-host with NWC?

• Privacy: Keep your Lightning node and LNbits instance at home, within your own network.
• Ownership & Control: Retain full custody of your funds, with no third-parties.
• Security: No port forwarding or VPN required—your node is not accessible from the public internet.
• Simplicity: Easy to set up and maintain.
• Flexible Funding: Fund your clearnet LNbits with any NWC-capable service—including your own LNbits instance, Alby, Minibits, Coinos, and more.
• App Access: Use LNbits at home as a Lightning wallet for one of the many NWC compatible apps.

How It Works

Your home Lightning node (running Raspiblitz, Umbrel, Start9, MyNode or one of the many other node packages) runs LNbits. You enable the NWCProvider extension in LNbits and generate a connection string.

On your clearnet LNbits instance (hosted with the LNbits SaaS or on your own VPS), set this connection string as your funding source.

This lets you:

• Fund and use LNbits from anywhere
• Keep your node private
• Add or change funding sources at any time with minimal config

How To Set It Up

1. Install LNbits at Home

Use a Raspiblitz, MyNode, Umbrel or other node package to run your home LNbits instance. You can also build your own node with Phoenixd and LNbits or any other combination of LNbits and Lightning node software.

• Enable the NWCProvider extension

• Create a new NWC connection

• Copy the NWC connection string

2. Provision a Clearnet LNbits Instance

Use:

• LNbits SaaS
• Your own VPS on a VPS provider like Vultr, Linode, AWC EC2 and install LNbits

---

3. Connect via NWC

On your clearnet LNbits instance:

• Go to Settings → Funding

• Select "Nostr Wallet Connect"

• Paste your copied NWC connection string

• Click Save, then Restart Server

---

Done! 🎉 Your clearnet LNbits instance is now funded by your home Lightning node—no open ports, no VPN, no fuss.

Home Nodes

You can use this setup with any LNbits-compatible home Lightning node, including:

• Raspiblitz
• Start9
• Umbrel
• MyNode
• Your own home server box with LNbits plus any other Lightning funding source for example Phoenixd, Core-Lightning, LND, etc.

Try it Out

Want to try this yourself?

• 🧠 Enjoy control, privacy, and simplicity
• 🌍 Use LNbits on the clearnet with funding from your own node
• 🔌 Connect apps like Alby, Minibits, Coinos, or your own LNbits

🚀 Run LNbits

Start exploring the power of NWC and LNbits today:

• 🌐 Use the LNbits SaaS
• 🧰 Self-host
• 💬 Join the LNbits community on Telegram

NWC Apps

Here are some great apps that make use of NWC.

• Alby Go
• A lightning wallet that uses one or many NWC providers to make and receive lightning payments
• Damus
• Decentralised social app on Nostr
• Amethyst
• Android Nostr social media client client
• Clean interface, popular among mobile users
• Snort
• Web-based Nostr client
• Familiar UI, easy access via browser
• Stacker News
• Bitcoin-centric news/discussion site
• Earn sats via upvotes
• Zeus
• Mobile app for controlling your own Lightning node
• Favoured by self-custody and privacy-focused users

Resources

• 🔗 Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC)
• ☁️ LNbits SaaS
• 🛠️ LNbits GitHub
• 📘 Phoenixd on GitHub
• 💬 Telegram Community

@ 86d4591f:a987c633

Libertarianism presents itself as the philosophical champion of liberty. Its premise is seductively simple: minimize state interference, maximize individual freedom. Property rights become sacrosanct, markets are held as the purest expression of voluntary exchange, and the role of governance is reduced to little more than a referee.

But the reality of liberty is far less accommodating to such minimalism.

The trouble lies not in the desire for freedom, but in the shallow map libertarianism draws of the terrain. Its cartography focuses obsessively on the boundaries—where the state ends and the individual begins—while neglecting the hidden infrastructures beneath. This blind spot renders it ill-equipped to grapple with the actual systems that govern human freedom in practice.

Liberty is Not Found in the Margins

Liberty is often framed as a negative space: freedom from coercion, interference, or centralized control. Yet this definition presumes a level playing field, where the absence of external force guarantees the flourishing of personal agency.

But what if the constraints on liberty are not imposed overtly, but arise from the very systems we navigate daily?

Consider money—not as coin or token, but as a networked system of credit, collateral, and trust. When these systems are opaque, governed by unaccountable intermediaries, or prone to systemic dysfunction, the freedom to transact becomes illusory. One may own property, but ownership is hollow if liquidity dries up, credit evaporates, or markets seize beneath unseen fractures.

Libertarian frameworks often ignore these subterranean forces. They champion free markets while remaining blind to the fact that markets themselves rest on infrastructural scaffolding—often beyond democratic oversight or public comprehension.

The Primacy of Systems, Not Slogans

Freedom is not merely a function of rights. It is an emergent property of robust, transparent, and well-aligned systems. These systems—monetary, informational, technological—shape the conditions under which liberty can be exercised.

When protocols are fragile, intermediaries unaccountable, or information flows asymmetrical, individuals are subject to manipulation, exclusion, and systemic coercion—even in the absence of overt state interference.

In such an environment, slogans about personal responsibility and market freedom ring hollow. Liberty does not thrive in vacuum-sealed ideology. It requires deliberate, often complex, systems design that prioritizes neutrality, resilience, and verifiability.

The architecture of freedom must be engineered, not merely declared.

The Hidden Terrain of Power

One of the most persistent illusions is that power resides solely in visible institutions: governments, central banks, regulatory bodies. Yet much of the real leverage over individual agency lies in shadow systems—networks of private credit creation, opaque collateral chains, algorithmic information flows, and surveillance architectures.

Liberty falters when these systems operate without transparency or accountability. And herein lies libertarianism’s central failure: an inability to recognize that decentralizing power requires more than deregulating government. It demands the cultivation of systems where trust is minimized by design, not by rhetorical fiat.

This is not an argument for more state control. Rather, it is a call for infrastructural clarity—for systems where the rules are visible, the incentives aligned, and no actor, public or private, holds disproportionate informational or structural advantage.

Liberty as a Systems Condition

To be genuinely pro-liberty is to engage in the difficult, often thankless task of systems cartography. It means mapping not just the borders of state power, but the flows of credit, information, and influence that shape real-world freedom.

Liberty is not a given. It is not protected by slogans, nor guaranteed by ownership in a vacuum. It is a condition that must be continually cultivated through the architecture of systems that underpin social, economic, and informational life.

Libertarianism’s map, while well-intentioned, is incomplete. It charts the edges while ignoring the plumbing beneath.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Metaplanet Issues $15 Million in Bonds To Buy More Bitcoin

Japanese public company Metaplanet announced Monday it will issue $15 million in zero-interest bonds to fund additional Bitcoin purchases, marking its latest move to expandBitcoin holdings amid rising institutional adoption.

According to regulatory filings, the company’s 15th Series of Ordinary Bonds will be issued exclusively to EVO FUND, with each bond carrying a face value of $375,000. The bonds will mature on November 12, 2025, and investors will receive full principal repayment without interest.

JUST IN: Metaplanet Issues $15 Million in bonds to buy more #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/7HVpecUwDK

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 13, 2025

The latest bond issuance follows Metaplanet’s recent acquisition of 1,241 Bitcoin valued at $126.7 million, bringing its total holdings to 6,796 BTC (approximately $705 million at current prices). The company aims to reach 10,000 Bitcoin by the end of 2025.

“The funds raised through this issuance are scheduled to be allocated to Bitcoin purchases,” Metaplanet stated in its filing. The company plans to secure redemption funds through proceeds from its 15th and 16th Series of Stock Acquisition Rights.

The zero-interest bonds are being issued without collateral or guarantees, reflecting growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a treasury asset. Metaplanet noted that while the issuance is expected to have a minimal impact on its FY2025 financial results, it will provide updates if material changes occur.

The bond issuance represents another step in Metaplanet’s Bitcoin-focused strategy, following similar moves by North American institutions in using low-cost debt to accumulate Bitcoin. The company’s growing Bitcoin position highlights the increasing mainstream acceptance of it as a corporate treasury asset.

This post Metaplanet Issues $15 Million in Bonds To Buy More Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vivek Sen.

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

A Realidade por Trás dos Números

Padrão de Desagregação Familiar

• Países como Brasil (~55%) e Venezuela (~65%) apresentam não apenas altos índices de mães solo, mas também contextos de violência descontrolada.
• A desagregação da família nuclear tradicional não é causa única, mas é fator agravante quando associada à instabilidade cultural, abandono paterno e permissividade institucional.
• Homens ausentes e baixa exigência de responsabilidade paterna geram ciclos de pobreza, violência e ressentimento intergeracional.

Cultura da Irresponsabilidade

• Em muitos contextos, a paternidade é tratada como um ato opcional. A ausência de consequências legais, sociais e morais para o abandono paterno normaliza o ciclo de mães solteiras.
• Políticas públicas mal calibradas muitas vezes premiam o fracasso familiar com benefícios, sem exigir contrapartidas.

Inversão de Valores

• A valorização de comportamentos hedonistas, imediatistas e instáveis, promovidos culturalmente, mina qualquer tentativa de reconstrução familiar sólida.
• Em muitos casos, a maternidade é enfrentada sem planejamento ou estrutura mínima, gerando famílias instáveis e frágeis, mais propensas à violência e vulnerabilidade social.

---

Recomendações Realistas e Não Assistencialistas

Reforço da Responsabilidade Paterna

• Criar mecanismos legais mais rigorosos e efetivos de responsabilização civil e criminal para pais ausentes.
• Estimular socialmente o resgate do papel paterno, valorizando não apenas a presença física, mas o compromisso emocional e financeiro.

Incentivo à Formação Familiar Estável

• Reformar o currículo escolar para incluir educação sobre vínculos afetivos, responsabilidade conjugal e parentalidade realista.
• Desestimular a glamorização de estruturas familiares instáveis, combatendo a ideia de que qualquer forma familiar é igualmente funcional sob qualquer condição.

Cultura da Autossuficiência e Planejamento

• Substituir políticas puramente assistenciais por programas de incentivo ao planejamento familiar e responsabilidade pessoal, com foco na autonomia financeira e educacional antes da maternidade/paternidade.
• Campanhas públicas de conscientização sobre os impactos reais da desestrutura familiar na violência social e no desenvolvimento infantil.

---

O aumento da violência em países com alta proporção de mães solteiras não é uma coincidência, mas uma consequência de fatores culturais e sociais profundamente negligenciados.

Reverter esse cenário não exige mais Estado, mas sim mais responsabilidade individual, mais cobrança social e menos permissividade institucional. Qualquer solução duradoura passa por restaurar o valor da família como núcleo formador de caráter e estabilidade, não apenas como estatística para justificar políticas públicas.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

If you're an engineer stepping into the Bitcoin space from the broader crypto ecosystem, you're probably carrying a mental model shaped by speed, flexibility, and rapid innovation. That makes sense—most blockchain platforms pride themselves on throughput, programmability, and dev agility.

But Bitcoin operates from a different set of first principles. It’s not competing to be the fastest network or the most expressive smart contract platform. It’s aiming to be the most credible, neutral, and globally accessible value layer in human history.

Here’s why that matters—and why Bitcoin is not just an alternative crypto asset, but a structural necessity in the global financial system.

1. Bitcoin Fixes the Triffin Dilemma—Not With Policy, But Protocol

The Triffin Dilemma shows us that any country issuing the global reserve currency must run persistent deficits to supply that currency to the world. That’s not a flaw of bad leadership—it’s an inherent contradiction. The U.S. must debase its own monetary integrity to meet global dollar demand. That’s a self-terminating system.

Bitcoin sidesteps this entirely by being:

• Non-sovereign – no single nation owns it
• Hard-capped – no central authority can inflate it
• Verifiable and neutral – anyone with a full node can enforce the rules

In other words, Bitcoin turns global liquidity into an engineering problem, not a political one. No other system, fiat or crypto, has achieved that.

2. Bitcoin’s “Ossification” Is Intentional—and It's a Feature

From the outside, Bitcoin development may look sluggish. Features are slow to roll out. Code changes are conservative. Consensus rules are treated as sacred.

That’s the point.

When you’re building the global monetary base layer, stability is not a weakness. It’s a prerequisite. Every other financial instrument, app, or protocol that builds on Bitcoin depends on one thing: assurance that the base layer won’t change underneath them without extreme scrutiny.

So-called “ossification” is just another term for predictability and integrity. And when the market does demand change (SegWit, Taproot), Bitcoin’s soft-fork governance process has proven capable of deploying it safely—without coercive central control.

3. Layered Architecture: Throughput Is Not a Base Layer Concern

You don’t scale settlement at the base layer. You build layered systems. Just as TCP/IP doesn't need to carry YouTube traffic directly, Bitcoin doesn’t need to process every microtransaction.

Instead, it anchors:

• Lightning (fast payments)
• Fedimint (community custody)
• Ark (privacy + UTXO compression)
• Statechains, sidechains, and covenants (coming evolution)

All of these inherit Bitcoin’s security and scarcity, while handling volume off-chain, in ways that maintain auditability and self-custody.

4. Universal Assayability Requires Minimalism at the Base Layer

A core design constraint of Bitcoin is that any participant, anywhere in the world, must be able to independently verify the validity of every transaction and block—past and present—without needing permission or relying on third parties.

This property is called assayability—the ability to “test” or verify the authenticity and integrity of received bitcoin, much like verifying the weight and purity of a gold coin.

To preserve this:

• The base layer must remain resource-light, so running a full node stays accessible on commodity hardware.
• Block sizes must remain small enough to prevent centralization of verification.
• Historical data must remain consistent and tamper-evident, enabling proof chains across time and jurisdiction.

Any base layer that scales by increasing throughput or complexity undermines this fundamental guarantee, making the network more dependent on trust and surveillance infrastructure.

Bitcoin prioritizes global verifiability over throughput—because trustless money requires that every user can check the money they receive.

5. Governance: Not Captured, Just Resistant to Coercion

The current controversy around OP_RETURN and proposals to limit inscriptions is instructive. Some prominent devs have advocated for changes to block content filtering. Others see it as overreach.

Here's what matters:

• No single dev, or team, can force changes into the network. Period.
• Bitcoin Core is not “the source of truth.” It’s one implementation. If it deviates from market consensus, it gets forked, sidelined, or replaced.
• The economic majority—miners, users, businesses—enforce Bitcoin’s rules, not GitHub maintainers.

In fact, recent community resistance to perceived Core overreach only reinforces Bitcoin’s resilience. Engineers who posture with narcissistic certainty, dismiss dissent, or attempt to capture influence are routinely neutralized by the market’s refusal to upgrade or adopt forks that undermine neutrality or openness.

This is governance via credible neutrality and negative feedback loops. Power doesn’t accumulate in one place. It’s constantly checked by the network’s distributed incentives.

6. Bitcoin Is Still in Its Infancy—And That’s a Good Thing

You’re not too late. The ecosystem around Bitcoin—especially L2 protocols, privacy tools, custody innovation, and zero-knowledge integrations—is just beginning.

If you're an engineer looking for:

• Systems with global scale constraints
• Architectures that optimize for integrity, not speed
• Consensus mechanisms that resist coercion
• A base layer with predictable monetary policy

Then Bitcoin is where serious systems engineers go when they’ve outgrown crypto theater.

Take-away

Under realistic, market-aware assumptions—where:

• Bitcoin’s ossification is seen as a stability feature, not inertia,
• Market forces can and do demand and implement change via tested, non-coercive mechanisms,
• Proof-of-work is recognized as the only consensus mechanism resistant to fiat capture,
• Wealth concentration is understood as a temporary distribution effect during early monetization,
• Low base layer throughput is a deliberate design constraint to preserve verifiability and neutrality,
• And innovation is layered by design, with the base chain providing integrity, not complexity...

Then Bitcoin is not a fragile or inflexible system—it is a deliberately minimal, modular, and resilient protocol.

Its governance is not leaderless chaos; it's a negative-feedback structure that minimizes the power of individuals or institutions to coerce change. The very fact that proposals—like controversial OP_RETURN restrictions—can be resisted, forked around, or ignored by the market without breaking the system is proof of decentralized control, not dysfunction.

Bitcoin is an adversarially robust monetary foundation. Its value lies not in how fast it changes, but in how reliably it doesn't—unless change is forced by real, bottom-up demand and implemented through consensus-tested soft forks.

In this framing, Bitcoin isn't a slower crypto. It's the engineering benchmark for systems that must endure, not entertain.

Final Word

Bitcoin isn’t moving slowly because it’s dying. It’s moving carefully because it’s winning. It’s not an app platform or a sandbox. It’s a protocol layer for the future of money.

If you're here because you want to help build that future, you’re in the right place.

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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?

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Wie fühlst Du dich, nachdem Du mit deinem Partner oder deiner Partnerin, oder sonst einem Menschen geschlafen hast – nachdem der Drang und die Erregung ein Ende gefunden haben? Gut – oder schlecht? Befriedigt – oder unbefriedigt? Verbunden – oder getrennt? Erfüllt – oder leer? Was geht dir durch den Kopf? Warum überhaupt geht dir irgendetwas durch den Kopf? Warum bleibst Du dich nicht in deinem Körper – in seiner noch anhaltenden Nähe zu dem Körper, mit dem Du gerade noch eins warst? Vielleicht weil Du dich davon ablenken möchtest, dass ihr gerade dies nicht wart? Dass ihr nicht «eins» wart; sondern zwei, die für einen Moment Druck abgelassen haben – ohne höheren Sinn und ohne tieferes Gefühl? Ist das der Grund, weswegen Du lieber in die Verklärungen deines Verstandes abdriftest, anstatt die gerade erlebte Verbindung noch etwas in deinem Körper nachklingen zu lassen? Ist das allgemein der Grund, weswegen Du lieber in Rationalitäten lebst? Um dir nicht eingestehen zu müssen, wie unverbunden Du wirklich bist? Wie unverbunden und allein, ohne tiefere Verbindung zu dir oder einem anderen Menschen? Ist es das? Ist es das, was Du einfach nicht wahrhaben kannst? Und weswegen Du lieber die Masse an Oberflächlichkeit suchst, um bloß nie in einer Beziehung zu enden, in der Du an deine eigene Unfähigkeit erinnert wirst, gerade dies zu sein – in Beziehung?

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Vielleicht beginnt alle Trennung dieser Welt mit der Verwechslung von Sex und Nähe, Nähe und Liebe, als auch Liebe und Frieden. Du sehnst dich nach dem einen und jagst doch dem anderen hinterher. Wie kann das sein?

Liegt es daran, dass Du als Kind keine stabilen Beziehungen erfahren hast und diese aus dem Grund auch im Erwachsenenalter nicht leben kannst? Hast Du einst schlechte Erfahrungen mit Intimität und Nähe gemacht, aufgrund derer etwas in dir diese fortwährend verhindert, um dich zu «schützen»? Hältst Du dich selbst für nicht liebenswert und kannst deshalb auch im Außen keine Liebe annehmen? Oder hast Du Angst davor, durch die Nähe und Berührung eines anderen Menschen von etwas in dir selbst berührt zu werden, an dessen Existenz Du nicht erinnert werden möchtest?

Falls ja, warum gehst Du dann fortwährend «Beziehungen» zu anderen Menschen ein, bevor Du nicht die Beziehung zu dir selbst geklärt hast? Hast Du wirklich so sehr verlernt zu lieben und so weit vergessen, was Liebe ist, dass Du dich damit zufriedengibst? Ich glaube kaum. Und ich glaube, Du spürst das auch. Ganz tief in dir sehnt auch deine Seele sich nach einer Begegnung, in der Du nichts von dir zurückhalten musst. In der Du ganz, und damit ganz Du sein kannst.

Doch was machst Du stattdessen? Du unterdrückst diese Sehnsucht, verneinst deinen innersten Herzenswunsch nach Berührung, nach Nähe, nach Liebe. Und damit auch jedes Bedürfnis, was mit seinem ausbleibenden Ausdruck ebenfalls unterdrückt wird. Langsam, ganz langsam hörst Du auf, über deine Gefühle zu sprechen, Du hörst auf, deine Grenzen zu wahren, das zu machen, was dich dir selbst näherbringt. Auf diese Weise machst Du dich selbst nicht nur immer kleiner, Du entfernst dich auch zusehends von deiner eigenen Lebendigkeit – dem eigentlichen Schlüssel zu jeder Beziehung, die nicht von Besitz und Lustbefriedigung, sondern von Selbstsein und Nähe getragen wird.

Falsche Versprechen: Verbindung statt Symbiose

Erich Fromm war es, der mit seinem 1956 erschienenen und insgesamt über 25 Millionen Mal verkauften Werk «Die Kunst des Liebens» erstmals herausgearbeitet hat, wie zerstörerisch unsere moderne Konsumgesellschaft doch für die Art und Weise ist, wie wir Beziehungen eingehen. Nicht nur die untereinander und zu uns selbst, sondern auch die zu Tier und Natur. Liebe, so schreibt Fromm, ist allem voran eine Haltung des Seins, nicht des Habens. Es gehe nicht darum, den anderen zu besitzen oder von ihm in Besitz genommen zu werden. Nicht Verschmelzung sei das Ziel, sondern das Selbstsein mit, oder auch trotz, der anderen Person.

Ohne dieses Selbstsein, das durch den modernen Glauben, alles sei käuflich, insofern untergraben wurde, dass nun auch der Mensch und seine Beziehungen als Objekte betrachtet würden, gäbe es laut Fromm keine Nähe – und ohne Nähe keinen wahren Frieden. «Sexualität», so schreibt er, könne «ein Mittel sein, um die Isolation zu überwinden – aber sie kann auch ein Ersatz für Liebe sein.» Womit ich hinzufügen würde: Wie Sexualität ein Ersatz für Liebe sein kann, so werden heute Konsum, Sicherheit und Ablenkung zum Ersatz für wahren Frieden. Und gleich wie Nähe zur Illusion von Intimität werden kann, werden falsche Sicherheitsversprechen oft zur Maskerade des Friedens – einer Stille, die nichts heilt.

Das ist der Zustand unserer Zeit: Sexualität ersetzt Liebe, Waffen ersetzen Frieden. Doch genauso wie Sex in Wahrheit keine Liebe ersetzt, ersetzt auch ein Wettrüsten keinen Frieden. Beides täuscht Nähe und Sicherheit vor, wo eigentlich Distanz und Kälte herrschen. Von ihnen eingenommen, hältst Du die Liebe, die dein Körper imitiert, für echt, und die äußere Ordnung, die dir simuliert wird, für den Frieden, von dem Du glauben, Du würdest ihn in dir tragen. Dabei bleibt beides leer, wenn dein Herz nicht mitgeht. Da ist weder Ordnung im Außen, noch Frieden in deinem Innern. Was herrscht, ist Krieg. Innen wie außen.

Wut im Innern, Krieg im Außen

Wer Nähe meidet, verlernt Frieden. Denn Frieden beginnt dort, wo Du aushältst, was ist. Nicht im Politischen, sondern in deiner eigenen Gerichtskammer: dem Austarieren und Verhandeln der eigenen Gefühle und Bedürfnisse – dem Eingeständnis, dass am Ende nicht der Sex das Problem ist, sondern dein Umgang mit Nähe; deine Unfähigkeit, mit dir selbst in Frieden zu sein – und dies darum auch mit dem Rest der Welt nicht bist. Nenn’ es Karma, das Gesetz der Anziehung oder eine traumatische Rückkopplungsschleife; aber wo immer Du diesen Blick nicht vom Außen zurück auf das Minenfeld in dir wendest, wird sich sein Krieg solange fortsetzen, bis Du der Wut, die mit ihm in dir hochkocht, Dampf verschaffst. Ob auf konstruktive oder destruktive Weise hängt davon ab, wie früh Du sie als das erkennst, woraus sie sich speist: deine unterdrückten Gefühle.

«Das grundsätzliche Ausweichen vor dem Wesentlichen ist das Problem des Menschen.» – Wilhelm Reich

In dieser Hinsicht noch radikaler als Fromm ging Wilhelm Reich vor. Als Schüler Sigmund Freuds sah er sexuelle Unterdrückung als Wurzel aller gesellschaftlichen Gewalt. Nur wer sexuell befreit sei – im Sinne von energetisch gelöst und beziehungsfähig – könne inneren Frieden erfahren. Ginge es nach Reich, so hängt gesellschaftlicher Frieden unmittelbar davon ab, wie weit es uns gelingt, uns körperlich zu entpanzern und emotional zu öffnen. Womit sein Ansatz in der Idee gipfelte, dass die gesellschaftliche Ordnung nicht durch äußere Gesetze, sondern durch die innere Struktur des Einzelnen geprägt wird. Diametral zu Marx, demzufolge es nicht das Bewusstsein der Menschen sei, das ihr Sein bestimmt, sondern umgekehrt ihr gesellschaftliches Sein, das ihr Bewusstsein bestimmt, beschrieb Reich also, wie emotionale Blockaden im Körper verankert seien und sich dort als chronische Spannungen manifestierten. Diese Panzerungen würden nicht nur freie Gefühlsäußerung verhindern, sondern stauten auch lebendige Energie an, was zu Aggression, Entfremdung und letztlich zu kollektiver Gewalt führen könne. Frieden, so Reich, beginne nicht in politischen Institutionen, sondern in der Fähigkeit des Einzelnen, Angst und Abwehr abzubauen, sich selbst zu spüren – und andere nicht als Bedrohung, sondern als lebendige Gegenüber wahrzunehmen.

Warum wir dies scheinbar nicht mehr können, warum aber kein Weg daran vorbeiführt, über den Frieden in uns heilsame Beziehungen einzugehen, wollen wir den Frieden auch außerhalb von uns – in der Welt, folgt im zweiten Teil dieses Texts.

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Lilly Gebert betreibt den Substack-Blog "Treffpunkt im Unendlichen" und schreibt regelmäßig für "die Freien" und Manova. Zuletzt erschien von ihr "Das Gewicht der Welt". Im Herbst erscheint "Sein statt Haben. Enzyklopädie für eine neue Zeit." (vorbestellbar).

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Autor: René Boyke. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier. Die neuesten Pareto-Artikel finden Sie in unserem Telegram-Kanal.

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Recht gilt als Fundament für Frieden. So predigen es die Lehrer in der Schule und die Professoren an den Universitäten. Mit der – theoretischen – Funktionsweise von Gerichten und deren Streitschlichtungsfunktion wird die Notwendigkeit und Verträglichkeit eines staatlichen Gewaltmonopols hergeleitet. Die Behauptung: Ohne staatliches Recht herrsche Chaos, das Recht des Stärkeren. Das Gedankenspiel des fiktiven Naturzustands, mit dem Hobbes bereits seinen übergriffigen Leviathan rechtfertigen konnte, überzeugt die meisten.

Mit Recht?

Larken Roses Kritik am Gewaltmonopol

Der libertäre Denker Larken Rose („The Most Dangerous Superstition“, deutscher Titel: „Die gefährlichste aller Religionen“, 2018) hält dagegen. Er argumentiert, staatliches Recht sei Ausdruck von Autorität und Zwang und institutionalisiere damit Gewalt. Und in der Tat: Der Staat nimmt für sich kein Friedensmonopol in Anspruch, sondern ein Gewaltmonopol.

Rose verdeutlicht, dass staatliches Recht auf Zwang basiert: Gesetze und Verordnungen können als Drohungen interpretiert werden, die mit Sanktionen, Strafen, Gefängnis oder mancherorts mit Todesstrafe durchgesetzt werden. Für Rose ist der Staat eine Gruppe von Räubern, denen durch den tief verwurzelten Glauben an Autoritäten ein legitimer Anstrich verpasst wird. Diese „Bande“ schaffe ständig Konflikte, etwa durch inszenierte Gefahren, aber auch durch Gesetze. So seien Steuergesetze seiner Meinung nach „legitimierter Raub“, die Widerstand provozieren und damit Unfrieden. Politiker würden sich nach Belieben eigene Regeln schaffen und selbst bestimmen, was gut und was schlecht sei.

Steigt Ihnen angesichts solcher Behauptungen bereits die Röte der Empörung ins Gesicht?

Doch können Sie ihm widersprechen? Können Sie leugnen, dass staatliche Gewalt von Politikern, Apparatschiks und Staatslenkern zum eignen Vorteil eingesetzt wird? Und müssen nicht auch Sie eingestehen, dass daraus Konflikte und Unfrieden entstehen? Hat Rose also Recht?

Rechtsstaatliche Defizite in Deutschland

Um solchen Missbrauch des Gewaltmonopols zu verhindern, gibt es die Gewaltenteilung: die Aufteilung staatlicher Macht in Legislative, Exekutive und Judikative sind Grundpfeiler der Demokratie, in Deutschland verankert im Grundgesetz. Damit diese Gewaltenteilung funktioniert, setzt sie unabhängige Institutionen voraus, insbesondere eine Trennung von der Politik. Haben wir diese in Deutschland?

Unsere Legislative leidet unter Koalitionsdisziplin und Fraktionszwang. Abgeordnete stimmen zu oft nach Parteilinie, nicht nach individuellem Gewissen. Unsere Judikative ist stark politisiert. So werden die Richter des Bundesverfassungsgerichts von einem Wahlausschuss gewählt, der aus Bundestags- und Bundesratsmitgliedern besteht, was eine Einladung für parteipolitische Deals ist – ganz zu schweigen davon, dass die Richter den Parteien oft eng verbunden sind bzw. oft selbst Politiker waren (siehe beispielhaft: Stephan Harbarth, Peter Müller, Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt) und von den regelmäßigen gemeinsamen Edeldiners zwischen Spitzen der Exekutive und der Judikative, die Sie und ich als Bürger zwar bezahlen aber nicht daran teilnehmen dürfen, ausgeschlossen werden, ganz zu schweigen. Besonders kritisch: Unsere Strafverfolgungsbehörden können durch die Weisungsgebundenheit der Staatsanwaltschaften politisch gesteuert werden. Dass der Verfolgungsdruck auf Regierungskritiker immer härter wird, ist mittlerweile offenkundig. Der Deutsche Richterbund forderte erst vor wenigen Tagen einen besseren Schutz der Justiz vor autoritären Kräften. Und auch bei der Exekutive sind die Mängel offensichtlich: So sollen die Behörden eigentlich die Gesetze ausführen, aber diese Anwendung ist allzu oft selektiv und interessengeleitet. Sich daran zu gewöhnen, dass ehemalige Regierungsmitglieder in Führungspositionen von Unternehmen wechseln und damit Interessenkonflikte heraufbeschwören, ist ebenfalls ein Zeichen eines kranken Rechtsstaats.

Und wie sieht es international aus?

Internationale rechtsstaatliche Defizite

In meinem letzten hier veröffentlichten Beitrag beleuchtete ich den Papiertiger des praktisch in Stein gemeißelten völkerrechtlichen Gewaltverbots. Man beruft sich darauf, wenn es einem nützt, und ansonsten ignoriert man es oder bemüht umständliche Ausflüchte, warum es nicht greife. Ähnliches lässt sich beim Internationalen Strafgerichtshof beobachten: Die Staaten, die die heißesten Kandidaten für Kriegsverbrechen sind, werden gar nicht erst Mitglied, und die übrigen folgen seinen Regeln nur, wenn es opportun ist. So hat der IStGH zwar einen Haftbefehl gegen Benjamin Netanjahu erlassen, aber er kann unbeirrt nach Ungarn reisen, obwohl dieses hätte vollstrecken müssen. Es darf meiner Meinung nach aber auch stark bezweifelt werden, ob Deutschland einen Haftbefehl gegen Netanjahu vollstrecken würde. Ein weiteres Beispiel völkerrechtswidrigen Handelns: Die Sanktionen gegen Russland.

Ganz unempört müssen wir leider feststellen: Unsere Schutzmechanismen, den Gewaltmissbrauch zu verhindern, sind mittlerweile arg durchlöchert und angeschlagen. Kann Larken Rose helfen?

Kann Larken Rose helfen?

Rose sieht Steuern als „legitimierten Raub“. In der Tat werden auch in Deutschland etwa die Abgaben für den  öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunk falls nötig mittels Gerichtsvollziehern und Haft erzwungen. Ohne Frage handelt es sich dabei um Gewaltausübung, die konfliktträchtig ist. Doch der Staat legitimiert seine Gewaltausübung selbst. Polizeieinsätze gegen Kritiker der Corona-Maßnahmenpolitik erfolgten z.B. mittels grober Gewalt, nämlich Wasserwerfern und Pfefferspray gegen die Demonstranten. Auch der Europäische Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte verurteilte Deutschland bereits mehrfach wegen übermäßiger Polizeigewalt. Das sind Beispiele für Roses Vorbringen, dass der Staat Gewalt institutionalisiert, um Gehorsam zu erzwingen – und das erzeugt und verschärft Spannungen und Konflikte.

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\ Rose betont, dass staatliches Recht immer auf Zwang basiert. In Deutschland führt die Nichtbeachtung von Gesetzen – etwa bei Verkehrsdelikten – zu Bußgeldern, Führerscheinentzug oder Haft. Im Völkerrecht erzwingen Sanktionen, wie die gegen Russland, wirtschaftlichen Druck, der für Rose ebenfalls Gewalt ist. Diese Mechanismen bestätigen seine Sicht, dass der Staat Gewalt als Standardwerkzeug nutzt.

Vielleicht hat Ihre eventuell aufgetretene Empörungsröte die Blässe einsichtiger Scham angenommen. Wenn ja, ist das nicht ganz unbegründet. Rose hat völlig Recht damit, dass die buchstäblich gewaltigen Möglichkeiten des Staates gefährlich sein können. Und er hat recht damit, dass blindes Vertrauen darauf, dass Autoritäten mit dieser Gewalt schon maß- und verantwortungsvoll umgehen werden, völlig fehl am Platze ist.

Und auch eine andere zentrale Frage ist gerechtfertigt: Wenn der Staat die Legitimation seiner Macht daraus bezieht, dass die Bürger ihm diese Macht übertragen, wie kann es dann sein, dass der Staat Macht ausübt, die ein einzelner Bürger weder jemals innehat noch innehatte? Ein Paradoxon.

Selbstverantwortung als Heilmittel für den Rechtsstaat

Rose setzt daher statt eines Staates auf Freiwilligkeit und Selbsteigentum. Er betont, dass „Menschlichkeit Freiwilligkeit bedeutet“. Jede Interaktion sollte auf gegenseitigem Einverständnis beruhen, ohne Zwang durch Gesetze oder staatliche Institutionen. Einen Impfzwang schlösse dies also aus. Aber auch einen Tötungszwang in Form eines Kriegsdienstes, bei uns verbal zum „Wehrdienst“ aufgehübscht. Jeder Mensch habe das Recht, über sein Leben, seinen Körper und sein Eigentum zu bestimmen, ohne dass eine „Autorität“ eingreift.

Das klingt gut, aber müsste dieses „Selbsteigentum“ nicht auch wieder durch ein irgendwie geartetes Rechtssystem abgesichert werden? Und besteht nicht die Gefahr, dass statt der Polizei dann ein privates Sicherheitsunternehmen ein neues Gewaltmonopol erschafft? Offensichtlich ist eine völlig widerspruchsfreie Antwort auf das rechtsstaatliche Dilemma nicht so leicht zu finden.

Rose fordert zudem, dass Menschen unmoralische Gesetze ignorieren und aktiv Widerstand leisten, von passivem Ungehorsam bis hin zu gewaltsamen Aktionen, je nach Unterdrückungsgrad. Er sieht dies als Mittel, um die Illusion der staatlichen „Autorität“ zu brechen und Gewalt zu reduzieren.

Bei einigen mag hier bereits wieder die Empörungsröte emporsteigen, aber vielleicht hilft dagegen die Vergegenwärtigung folgender Fragen: War der Widerstand eines Mahatma Gandhi dem Recht eher dienlich oder eher schädlich? Und war der mutige, aber rechtswidrige Ungehorsam Rosa Parks’ eher wünschenswert als nicht? Hat ihr Widerstand zu mehr oder weniger Freiheit beigetragen? Haben uns die rechtswidrigen Offenlegungen Edward Snowdens und Julian Assanges nicht die Augen geöffnet, welche Verbrechen durch demokratische Staaten begangen werden?

Und ist die von Larken Rose eingeforderte Selbstverantwortung und sein Aufruf, dem eigenen Gewissen zu folgen, anstatt „Autorität“ zu gehorchen, nicht genau das Antiserum gegen einen übergriffigen, ja diktatorischen Staat, wie etwa unter der Naziherrschaft?

Selbt als Jurist wird man Rose in vielen Punkten zustimmen müssen und einsehen, dass es in vielen Fällen der Glaube an die Autorität ist, der erst das monströse Unrecht ermöglicht, dessen Zeugen wir sind.

Ich selbst halte es für sehr zweifelhaft, ob man wie Rose daraus die Abschaffung des Staates herleiten kann oder muss.

Nicht zweifelhaft ist hingegen, dass wir eine Stärkung individueller Selbstverantwortung brauchen. Kein Warten auf einen Erlöser, auf eine Partei. Aus dieser Selbstverantwortung heraus folgt die Ausbesserung der gezeigten – auch bei uns vorhandenen – rechtsstaatlichen Defizite.

Recht ohne individuelle Selbstverantwortung führt unweigerlich zu den genannten rechtsstaatlichen Konflikten und damit zu Unfrieden und Gewalt. Recht mit Selbstverantwortung kann hingegen zu einem friedlichen Rechtssystem führen.

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---

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@ 21335073:a244b1ad

Before I saw those X right-wing political “influencers” parading their Epstein binders in that PR stunt, I’d already posted this on Nostr, an open protocol. 

“Today, the world’s attention will likely fixate on Epstein, governmental failures in addressing horrific abuse cases, and the influential figures who perpetrate such acts—yet few will center the victims and survivors in the conversation. The survivors of Epstein went to law enforcement and very little happened. The survivors tried to speak to the corporate press and the corporate press knowingly covered for him. In situations like these social media can serve as one of the only ways for a survivor’s voice to be heard. 

It’s becoming increasingly evident that the line between centralized corporate social media and the state is razor-thin, if it exists at all. Time and again, the state shields powerful abusers when it’s politically expedient to do so. In this climate, a survivor attempting to expose someone like Epstein on a corporate tech platform faces an uphill battle—there’s no assurance their voice would even break through. Their story wouldn’t truly belong to them; it’d be at the mercy of the platform, subject to deletion at a whim. Nostr, though, offers a lifeline—a censorship-resistant space where survivors can share their truths, no matter how untouchable the abuser might seem. A survivor could remain anonymous here if they took enough steps. 

Nostr holds real promise for amplifying survivor voices. And if you’re here daily, tossing out memes, take heart: you’re helping build a foundation for those who desperately need to be heard.“

That post is untouchable—no CEO, company, employee, or government can delete it. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t take it down myself. The post will outlive me on the protocol. 

The cozy alliance between the state and corporate social media hit me hard during that right-wing X “influencer” PR stunt. Elon owns X. Elon’s a special government employee. X pays those influencers to post. We don’t know who else pays them to post. Those influencers are spurred on by both the government and X to manage the Epstein case narrative. It wasn’t survivors standing there, grinning for photos—it was paid influencers, gatekeepers orchestrating yet another chance to re-exploit the already exploited.

The bond between the state and corporate social media is tight. If the other Epsteins out there are ever to be unmasked, I wouldn’t bet on a survivor’s story staying safe with a corporate tech platform, the government, any social media influencer, or mainstream journalist. Right now, only a protocol can hand survivors the power to truly own their narrative.

I don’t have anything against Elon—I’ve actually been a big supporter. I’m just stating it as I see it. X isn’t censorship resistant and they have an algorithm that they choose not the user. Corporate tech platforms like X can be a better fit for some survivors. X has safety tools and content moderation, making it a solid option for certain individuals. Grok can be a big help for survivors looking for resources or support! As a survivor, you know what works best for you, and safety should always come first—keep that front and center.

That said, a protocol is a game-changer for cases where the powerful are likely to censor. During China's # MeToo movement, survivors faced heavy censorship on social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, where posts about sexual harassment were quickly removed, and hashtags like # MeToo or "woyeshi" were blocked by government and platform filters. To bypass this, activists turned to blockchain technology encoding their stories—like Yue Xin’s open letter about a Peking University case—into transaction metadata. This made the information tamper-proof and publicly accessible, resisting censorship since blockchain data can’t be easily altered or deleted.

I posted this on X 2/28/25. I wanted to try my first long post on a nostr client. The Epstein cover up is ongoing so it’s still relevant, unfortunately.

If you are a survivor or loved one who is reading this and needs support please reach out to: National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7 https://rainn.org/

Hours: Available 24 hours

@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd

Introduction

Me and Fishcake have been working on infrastructure for Noswhere and Nostr.build. Part of this involves processing a large amount of Nostr events for features such as search, analytics, and feeds.

I have been recently developing nosdex v3, a newer version of the Noswhere scraper that is designed for maximum performance and fault tolerance using FoundationDB (FDB).

Fishcake has been working on a processing system for Nostr events to use with NB, based off of Cloudflare (CF) Pipelines, which is a relatively new beta product. This evening, we put it all to the test.

First preparations

We set up a new CF Pipelines endpoint, and I implemented a basic importer that took data from the nosdex database. This was quite slow, as it did HTTP requests synchronously, but worked as a good smoke test.

Asynchronous indexing

I implemented a high-contention queue system designed for highly parallel indexing operations, built using FDB, that supports: - Fully customizable batch sizes - Per-index queues - Hundreds of parallel consumers - Automatic retry logic using lease expiration

When the scraper first gets an event, it will process it and eventually write it to the blob store and FDB. Each new event is appended to the event log.

On the indexing side, a Queuer will read the event log, and batch events (usually 2K-5K events) into one work job. This work job contains: - A range in the log to index - Which target this job is intended for - The size of the job and some other metadata

Each job has an associated leasing state, which is used to handle retries and prioritization, and ensure no duplication of work.

Several Workers monitor the index queue (up to 128) and wait for new jobs that are available to lease.

Once a suitable job is found, the worker acquires a lease on the job and reads the relevant events from FDB and the blob store.

Depending on the indexing type, the job will be processed in one of a number of ways, and then marked as completed or returned for retries.

In this case, the event is also forwarded to CF Pipelines.

Trying it out

The first attempt did not go well. I found a bug in the high-contention indexer that led to frequent transaction conflicts. This was easily solved by correcting an incorrectly set parameter.

We also found there were other issues in the indexer, such as an insufficient amount of threads, and a suspicious decrease in the speed of the Queuer during processing of queued jobs.

Along with fixing these issues, I also implemented other optimizations, such as deprioritizing Worker DB accesses, and increasing the batch size.

To fix the degraded Queuer performance, I ran the backfill job by itself, and then started indexing after it had completed.

Bottlenecks, bottlenecks everywhere

After implementing these fixes, there was an interesting problem: The DB couldn't go over 80K reads per second. I had encountered this limit during load testing for the scraper and other FDB benchmarks.

As I suspected, this was a client thread limitation, as one thread seemed to be using high amounts of CPU. To overcome this, I created a new client instance for each Worker.

After investigating, I discovered that the Go FoundationDB client cached the database connection. This meant all attempts to create separate DB connections ended up being useless.

Using OpenWithConnectionString partially resolved this issue. (This also had benefits for service-discovery based connection configuration.)

To be able to fully support multi-threading, I needed to enabled the FDB multi-client feature. Enabling it also allowed easier upgrades across DB versions, as FDB clients are incompatible across versions:

FDB_NETWORK_OPTION_EXTERNAL_CLIENT_LIBRARY="/lib/libfdb_c.so" FDB_NETWORK_OPTION_CLIENT_THREADS_PER_VERSION="16"

Breaking the 100K/s reads barrier

After implementing support for the multi-threaded client, we were able to get over 100K reads per second.

You may notice after the restart (gap) the performance dropped. This was caused by several bugs: 1. When creating the CF Pipelines endpoint, we did not specify a region. The automatically selected region was far away from the server. 2. The amount of shards were not sufficient, so we increased them. 3. The client overloaded a few HTTP/2 connections with too many requests.

I implemented a feature to assign each Worker its own HTTP client, fixing the 3rd issue. We also moved the entire storage region to West Europe to be closer to the servers.

After these changes, we were able to easily push over 200K reads/s, mostly limited by missing optimizations:

It's shards all the way down

While testing, we also noticed another issue: At certain times, a pipeline would get overloaded, stalling requests for seconds at a time. This prevented all forward progress on the Workers.

We solved this by having multiple pipelines: A primary pipeline meant to be for standard load, with moderate batching duration and less shards, and high-throughput pipelines with more shards.

Each Worker is assigned a pipeline on startup, and if one pipeline stalls, other workers can continue making progress and saturate the DB.

The stress test

After making sure everything was ready for the import, we cleared all data, and started the import.

The entire import lasted 20 minutes between 01:44 UTC and 02:04 UTC, reaching a peak of: - 0.25M requests per second - 0.6M keys read per second - 140MB/s reads from DB - 2Gbps of network throughput

FoundationDB ran smoothly during this test, with: - Read times under 2ms - Zero conflicting transactions - No overloaded servers

CF Pipelines held up well, delivering batches to R2 without any issues, while reaching its maximum possible throughput.

Finishing notes

Me and Fishcake have been building infrastructure around scaling Nostr, from media, to relays, to content indexing. We consistently work on improving scalability, resiliency and stability, even outside these posts.

Many things, including what you see here, are already a part of Nostr.build, Noswhere and NFDB, and many other changes are being implemented every day.

If you like what you are seeing, and want to integrate it, get in touch. :)

If you want to support our work, you can zap this post, or register for nostr.land and nostr.build today.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Bitcoin has always been rooted in freedom and resistance to authority. I get that many of you are conflicted about the US Government stacking but by design we cannot stop anyone from using bitcoin. Many have asked me for my thoughts on the matter, so let’s rip it.

Concern

One of the most glaring issues with the strategic bitcoin reserve is its foundation, built on stolen bitcoin. For those of us who value private property this is an obvious betrayal of our core principles. Rather than proof of work, the bitcoin that seeds this reserve has been taken by force. The US Government should return the bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex and the Silk Road.

Usually stolen bitcoin for the reserve creates a perverse incentive. If governments see a bitcoin as a valuable asset, they will ramp up efforts to confiscate more bitcoin. The precedent is a major concern, and I stand strongly against it, but it should be also noted that governments were already seizing coin before the reserve so this is not really a change in policy.

Ideally all seized bitcoin should be burned, by law. This would align incentives properly and make it less likely for the government to actively increase coin seizures. Due to the truly scarce properties of bitcoin, all burned bitcoin helps existing holders through increased purchasing power regardless. This change would be unlikely but those of us in policy circles should push for it regardless. It would be best case scenario for American bitcoiners and would create a strong foundation for the next century of American leadership.

Optimism

The entire point of bitcoin is that we can spend or save it without permission. That said, it is a massive benefit to not have one of the strongest governments in human history actively trying to ruin our lives.

Since the beginning, bitcoiners have faced horrible regulatory trends. KYC, surveillance, and legal cases have made using bitcoin and building bitcoin businesses incredibly difficult. It is incredibly important to note that over the past year that trend has reversed for the first time in a decade. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a key driver of this shift. By holding bitcoin, the strongest government in the world has signaled that it is not just a fringe technology but rather truly valuable, legitimate, and worth stacking.

This alignment of incentives changes everything. The US Government stacking proves bitcoin’s worth. The resulting purchasing power appreciation helps all of us who are holding coin and as bitcoin succeeds our government receives direct benefit. A beautiful positive feedback loop.

Realism

We are trending in the right direction. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a sign that the state sees bitcoin as an asset worth embracing rather than destroying. That said, there is a lot of work left to be done. We cannot be lulled into complacency, the time to push forward is now, and we cannot take our foot off the gas. We have a seat at the table for the first time ever. Let's make it worth it.

We must protect the right to free usage of bitcoin and other digital technologies. Freedom in the digital age must be taken and defended, through both technical and political avenues. Multiple privacy focused developers are facing long jail sentences for building tools that protect our freedom. These cases are not just legal battles. They are attacks on the soul of bitcoin. We need to rally behind them, fight for their freedom, and ensure the ethos of bitcoin survives this new era of government interest. The strategic reserve is a step in the right direction, but it is up to us to hold the line and shape the future.

@ ffbcb706:b0574044

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Using form, color, typography, and art direction, designers create entire worlds around fragrance – translating scent into sight, touch, and story. But how do you design for something you cannot see? And can design help us smell what we see?

Does design have a smell? While sight, touch, and even taste have long been intertwined with aesthetics, scent remains a more elusive medium – intangible yet profoundly evocative. In a screen-based world, scent has to be seen before it’s smelled – meaning design does more heavy-lifting. Unlike the olden days of magazine inserts spritzed with perfume, scent no longer leads the experience. Instead, branding has to translate fragrance into something we can see, study, and feel. But how do you give form to the formless? Can design make us smell what we see?

Fragrance has always been a playground for aesthetic exploration. Perfume branding has historically been an exercise in worldbuilding; desire is conjured through design. Think of David Lynch’s commercial for YSL’s Opium, a hypnotic fever dream of saturated reds and oranges and surreal imagery, where the perfume becomes almost mythical – more ritual than product. Or take vintage Guerlain ads, whose painterly compositions and opulent typography evoke a world of old-money glamour and whispered intrigue. Here, design and art direction don’t just encode meaning; they heighten the fantasy. The aesthetics transcend the physical product to sell a feeling, an atmosphere – a dream.

Continue reading at https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/designing-for-scent-branding-graphic-design-feature-240425

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978832

@ 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.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

You don’t have to be a type designer to appreciate what goes into the design of a letterform. In fact, even if you’re just a humble graphic designer, you should have a basic knowledge of what constructs the type you employ.

Typography, for all its concepts, expectations, implications, connotations and artistry, is, ultimately, a system. Just like a body has bones and muscles, every letterform has parts that give it shape, rhythm, and character.

If you're a creative working with type, learning the names of these parts helps you communicate clearly, better analyze your work and others, and design with precision. Everything comes down to a foundational understanding of the anatomy of the letterform and its essential component. So let’s help you with that.

Pangram Pangram Foundry is where the art of typography meets unparalleled craftsmanship. Established in 2018 by designer Mat Desjardins, Pangram Pangram has swiftly risen to become a globally recognized independent type foundry, admired and trusted by industry peers and the design community alike.

Read more about the anatomy of fonts at https://pangrampangram.com/blogs/journal/anatomy-of-the-letterform

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978828

@ 4925ea33:025410d8

1. O que é um Aromaterapeuta?

O aromaterapeuta é um profissional especializado na prática da Aromaterapia, responsável pelo uso adequado de óleos essenciais, ervas aromáticas, águas florais e destilados herbais para fins terapêuticos.

A atuação desse profissional envolve diferentes métodos de aplicação, como inalação, uso tópico, sempre considerando a segurança e a necessidade individual do cliente. A Aromaterapia pode auxiliar na redução do estresse, alívio de dores crônicas, relaxamento muscular e melhora da respiração, entre outros benefícios.

Além disso, os aromaterapeutas podem trabalhar em conjunto com outros profissionais da saúde para oferecer um tratamento complementar em diversas condições. Como já mencionado no artigo sobre "Como evitar processos alérgicos na prática da Aromaterapia", é essencial ter acompanhamento profissional, pois os óleos essenciais são altamente concentrados e podem causar reações adversas se utilizados de forma inadequada.

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2. Como um Aromaterapeuta Pode Ajudar?

Você pode procurar um aromaterapeuta para diferentes necessidades, como:

✔ Questões Emocionais e Psicológicas

Auxílio em momentos de luto, divórcio, demissão ou outras situações desafiadoras.

Apoio na redução do estresse, ansiedade e insônia.

Vale lembrar que, em casos de transtornos psiquiátricos, a Aromaterapia deve ser usada como terapia complementar, associada ao tratamento médico.

✔ Questões Físicas

Dores musculares e articulares.

Problemas respiratórios como rinite, sinusite e tosse.

Distúrbios digestivos leves.

Dores de cabeça e enxaquecas. Nesses casos, a Aromaterapia pode ser um suporte, mas não substitui a medicina tradicional para identificar a origem dos sintomas.

✔ Saúde da Pele e Cabelos

Tratamento para acne, dermatites e psoríase.

Cuidados com o envelhecimento precoce da pele.

Redução da queda de cabelo e controle da oleosidade do couro cabeludo.

✔ Bem-estar e Qualidade de Vida

Melhora da concentração e foco, aumentando a produtividade.

Estímulo da disposição e energia.

Auxílio no equilíbrio hormonal (TPM, menopausa, desequilíbrios hormonais).

Com base nessas necessidades, o aromaterapeuta irá indicar o melhor tratamento, calculando doses, sinergias (combinação de óleos essenciais), diluições e técnicas de aplicação, como inalação, uso tópico ou difusão.

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3. Como Funciona uma Consulta com um Aromaterapeuta?

Uma consulta com um aromaterapeuta é um atendimento personalizado, onde são avaliadas as necessidades do cliente para a criação de um protocolo adequado. O processo geralmente segue estas etapas:

✔ Anamnese (Entrevista Inicial)

Perguntas sobre saúde física, emocional e estilo de vida.

Levantamento de sintomas, histórico médico e possíveis alergias.

Definição dos objetivos da terapia (alívio do estresse, melhora do sono, dores musculares etc.).

✔ Escolha dos Óleos Essenciais

Seleção dos óleos mais indicados para o caso.

Consideração das propriedades terapêuticas, contraindicações e combinações seguras.

✔ Definição do Método de Uso

O profissional indicará a melhor forma de aplicação, que pode ser:

Inalação: difusores, colares aromáticos, vaporização.

Uso tópico: massagens, óleos corporais, compressas.

Banhos aromáticos e escalda-pés. Todas as diluições serão ajustadas de acordo com a segurança e a necessidade individual do cliente.

✔ Plano de Acompanhamento

Instruções detalhadas sobre o uso correto dos óleos essenciais.

Orientação sobre frequência e duração do tratamento.

Possibilidade de retorno para ajustes no protocolo.

A consulta pode ser realizada presencialmente ou online, dependendo do profissional.

---

Quer saber como a Aromaterapia pode te ajudar? Agende uma consulta comigo e descubra os benefícios dos óleos essenciais para o seu bem-estar!

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

"Malcolm Forbes recounts that a lady, wearing a faded cotton dress, and her husband, dressed in an old handmade suit, stepped off a train in Boston, USA, and timidly made their way to the office of the president of Harvard University. They had come from Palo Alto, California, and had not scheduled an appointment. The secretary, at a glance, thought that those two, looking like country bumpkins, had no business at Harvard.
— We want to speak with the president — the man said in a low voice.
— He will be busy all day — the secretary replied curtly.
— We will wait.
The secretary ignored them for hours, hoping the couple would finally give up and leave. But they stayed there, and the secretary, somewhat frustrated, decided to bother the president, although she hated doing that.
— If you speak with them for just a few minutes, maybe they will decide to go away — she said.
The president sighed in irritation but agreed. Someone of his importance did not have time to meet people like that, but he hated faded dresses and tattered suits in his office. With a stern face, he went to the couple.
— We had a son who studied at Harvard for a year — the woman said. — He loved Harvard and was very happy here, but a year ago he died in an accident, and we would like to erect a monument in his honor somewhere on campus.

— My lady — said the president rudely —, we cannot erect a statue for every person who studied at Harvard and died; if we did, this place would look like a cemetery.

— Oh, no — the lady quickly replied. — We do not want to erect a statue. We would like to donate a building to Harvard.

The president looked at the woman's faded dress and her husband's old suit and exclaimed:

— A building! Do you have even the faintest idea of how much a building costs? We have more than seven and a half million dollars' worth of buildings here at Harvard.

The lady was silent for a moment, then said to her husband:

— If that’s all it costs to found a university, why don’t we have our own?

The husband agreed.

The couple, Leland Stanford, stood up and left, leaving the president confused. Traveling back to Palo Alto, California, they established there Stanford University, the second-largest in the world, in honor of their son, a former Harvard student."

Text extracted from: "Mileumlivros - Stories that Teach Values."

Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message helped you in any way, consider leaving your glass “🥃” as a token of appreciation.

A toast to our family!

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

This post is part of a series. It is meant to be a place for stackers to discuss creative projects they have been working on, or ideas they are aiming to build. Regardless of your project being personal, professional, physical, digital, or even simply an idea to brainstorm together.

If you have any creative projects or ideas that you have been working on or want to eventually work on... This is a place for discussing those, gather initial feedback and feel more energetic on bringing it to the next level.

Thank you @sangekrypto, @nkmg1c_ventures and @SilkyNinja for your contributions in the previous edition https://stacker.news/items/966136/r/DeSign_r Look forward to hearing if there's any progress there.

₿e Creative, have Fun! :D

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978934

@ 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. 👀️️️️️️

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Steve Jobs sent me an email saying “Great idea, thank you."

Wait, what? What was the great idea?

new guy at NeXT In October of 1991, I was a new Systems Engineer at NeXT. NeXT, of course, was the company Steve Jobs had founded after leaving Apple in 1985, and which eventually merged back into Apple in 1996. I was one of three employees in Canada, and I think NeXT had about 400 people total.

NeXTMail Mail on the NeXT Computer was pretty amazing in 1991. Multimedia! Fonts! Attachments! Sounds! It’s hard to overstate how cool that was compared to the command line email everybody was used to. Every NeXT user got this email from Steve when they started up their computer.

That message included an attachment of what NeXT called Lip Service, the crazy idea that you could embed an audio file inside an email message. Crazy.

i have an idea

NeXT automatically set everybody up with a first-initial last-name address in the usual way, so I was shayman@next.com, and the big guy was sjobs@next.com.

A few colleagues had somehow acquired cooler email aliases - single letter things, or their first name, or a nickname or an easier to spell version, or whatever. Turns out NeXT had set up some sort of form where you could request an email alias that would redirect to whatever your real email address was.

I also noticed that even though there were seven or eight people at NeXT named Steve, nobody was using the email alias steve@next.com.

So late one Friday night, two weeks into the job, I figured, naively, what the heck, nobody else seems to want it, so I filled in the form asking for steve@next.com to be forwarded to me, shayman@next.com.

In the back of my mind was a vague idea that maybe somebody would have to approve this. But no, it all got set up automatically, and …

Continue reading at https://blog.hayman.net/2025/05/06/from-steve-jobs-great-idea.html

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978825

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

If you ever read about a hypothetical "evil AI"—one that manipulates, dominates, and surveils humanity—you might find yourself wondering: how is that any different from what some governments already do?

Let’s explore the eerie parallels between the actions of a fictional malevolent AI and the behaviors of powerful modern states—specifically the U.S. federal government.

Surveillance and Control

Evil AI: Uses total surveillance to monitor all activity, predict rebellion, and enforce compliance.

Modern Government: Post-9/11 intelligence agencies like the NSA have implemented mass data collection programs, monitoring phone calls, emails, and online activity—often without meaningful oversight.

Parallel: Both claim to act in the name of “security,” but the tools are ripe for abuse.

Manipulation of Information

Evil AI: Floods the information space with propaganda, misinformation, and filters truth based on its goals.

Modern Government: Funds media outlets, promotes specific narratives through intelligence leaks, and collaborates with social media companies to suppress or flag dissenting viewpoints.

Parallel: Control the narrative, shape public perception, and discredit opposition.

Economic Domination

Evil AI: Restructures the economy for efficiency, displacing workers and concentrating resources.

Modern Government: Facilitates wealth transfer through lobbying, regulatory capture, and inflationary monetary policy that disproportionately hurts the middle and lower classes.

Parallel: The system enriches those who control it, leaving the rest with less power to resist.

Perpetual Warfare

Evil AI: Instigates conflict to weaken opposition or as a form of distraction and control.

Modern Government: Maintains a state of nearly constant military engagement since WWII, often for interests that benefit a small elite rather than national defense.

Parallel: War becomes policy, not a last resort.

Predictive Policing and Censorship

Evil AI: Uses predictive algorithms to preemptively suppress dissent and eliminate threats.

Modern Government: Experiments with pre-crime-like measures, flags “misinformation,” and uses AI tools to monitor online behavior.

Parallel: Prevent rebellion not by fixing problems, but by suppressing their expression.

Conclusion: Systemic Inhumanity

Whether it’s AI or a bureaucratic state, the more a system becomes detached from individual accountability and human empathy, the more it starts to act in ways we would call “evil” if a machine did them.

An AI doesn’t need to enslave humanity with lasers and killer robots. Sometimes all it takes is code, coercion, and unchecked power—something we may already be facing.

@ a5ee4475:2ca75401

clients #list #descentralismo #english #article #finalversion

*These clients are generally applications on the Nostr network that allow you to use the same account, regardless of the app used, keeping your messages and profile intact.

**However, you may need to meet certain requirements regarding access and account NIP for some clients, so that you can access them securely and use their features correctly.

---

CLIENTS

---

Twitter like

• Nostrmo - [source] 🌐🤖🍎💻(🐧🪟🍎)
• Coracle - Super App [source] 🌐
• Amethyst - Super App with note edit, delete and other stuff with Tor [source] 🤖
• Primal - Social and wallet [source] 🌐🤖🍎
• Iris - [source] 🌐🤖🍎
• Current - [source] 🤖🍎
• FreeFrom 🤖🍎
• Openvibe - Nostr and others (new Plebstr) [source] 🤖🍎
• Snort 🌐(🤖[early access]) [onion] [source]
• Damus 🍎 [source]
• Nos 🍎 [source]
• Nostur 🍎 [source]
• NostrBand 🌐 [info] [source]
• Yana 🤖🍎🌐💻(🐧) [source]
• Nostribe [on development] 🌐 [source]
• Lume 💻(🐧🪟🍎) [info] [source]
• Gossip - [source] 💻(🐧🪟🍎)
• Camelus [early access] 🤖 [source]

---

Communities

• CCNS - Community Curated Nostr Stuff [source]
• noStrudel - Gamified Experience [onion] [info/source] 🌐
• [Nostrudel Next] - [onion]
• moStard - Nostrudel with Monero [onion] [info/source] 🌐
• Nostr Kiwi [creator] 🌐
• Satellite [info] 🌐
• Flotilla - [source] 🌐🐧
• Chachi - [source] 🌐
• Futr - Coded in haskell [source] 🐧 (others soon)
• Soapbox - Comunnity server [info] [source] 🌐
• Ditto - Soapbox comunnity server 🌐 [source] 🌐
• Cobrafuma - Nostr brazilian community on Ditto [info] 🌐
• Zapddit - Reddit like [source] 🌐
• Voyage (Reddit like) [on development] 🤖

---

Wiki

• Wikifreedia [source] 🌐
• Wikinostr [source] 🌐
• Wikistr [info] [source] 🌐

---

Search

• Advanced nostr search - Advanced note search by isolated terms related to a npub profile [source] 🌐
• Nos Today - Global note search by isolated terms [info] [source] 🌐
• Nostr Search Engine - API for Nostr clients [source]
• Ntrends - Trending notes and profiles 🌐

---

Website

• Nsite - Nostr Site [onion] [info] [source]
• Npub pro - Your site on Nostr [source]

---

App Store

ZapStore - Permitionless App Store [source] 🤖 💻(🐧🍎)

---

Video and Live Streaming

• Flare - Youtube like 🌐 [source]
• ZapStream - Live streaming and zap who you want (NIP-53) [source] 🤖(on zapstore) 🌐
• Swae - Live streaming [source] (on development) ⏳

---

Audio and Podcast Transmission

• Castr - Your npub as podcast feed [source]
• Nostr Nests - Audio Chats [source] 🌐
• Fountain - Podcast [source] 🤖🍎
• Corny Chat - Audio Chat [source] 🌐

---

Music

• Tidal - Music Streaming [source] [about] [info] 🤖🍎🌐
• Wavlake - Music Streaming [source] 🌐(🤖🍎 [early access])
• Tunestr - Musical Events [source] [about] 🌐
• Stemstr - Musical Colab (paid to post) [source] [about] 🌐

---

Images

• Lumina - Trending images and pictures [source] 🌐
• Pinstr - Pinterest like [source] 🌐
• Slidestr - DeviantArt like [source] 🌐
• Memestr - ifunny like [source] 🌐

---

Download and Upload

• DTAN - Distributed Torrent Archive on Nostr [info] [source] 🌐

---

Documents, graphics and tables

• Mindstr - Mind maps [source] 🌐
• Docstr - Share Docs [info] [source] 🌐
• Formstr - Share Forms [info] 🌐
• Sheetstr - Share Spreadsheets [source] 🌐
• Slide Maker - Share slides 🌐 (advice: https://zaplinks.lol/ and https://zaplinks.lol/slides/ sites are down)

---

Health

• Sobrkey - Sobriety and mental health [source] 🌐
• NosFabrica - Finding ways for your health data 🌐
• LazerEyes - Eye prescription by DM [source] 🌐

---

Forum

• OddBean - Hacker News like [info] [source] 🌐
• LowEnt - Forum [info] 🌐
• Swarmstr - Q&A / FAQ [info] 🌐
• Staker News - Hacker News like 🌐 [info]

---

Direct Messenges (DM)

• 0xchat 🤖🍎 [source]
• Nostr Chat 🌐🍎 [source]
• Blowater 🌐 [source]
• Anigma (new nostrgram) - Telegram based [on development] [source]
• Keychat - Signal based [🤖🍎 on development] [source]

---

Reading

• nRSS - Nostr RSS reader 🌐
• Highlighter - Insights with a highlighted read [info] 🌐
• Zephyr - Calming to Read [info] 🌐
• Flycat - Clean and Healthy Feed [info] 🌐
• Nosta - Check Profiles [on development] [info] 🌐
• Alexandria - e-Reader and Nostr Knowledge Base (NKB) [source] 🌐

---

Writing

• Habla - Blog [info] 🌐
• Blogstack - Blog [info]🌐
• YakiHonne - Articles and News [info] 🤖🍎🌐

---

Lists

• Following - Users list [source] 🌐
• Nostr Unfollower - Nostr Unfollower
• Listr - Lists [source] 🌐
• Nostr potatoes - Movies List source 💻(numpy)

---

Market and Jobs

• Shopstr - Buy and Sell [source] 🌐
• Nostr Market - Buy and Sell 🌐
• Plebeian Market - Buy and Sell [source] 🌐
• Ostrich Work - Jobs [source] 🌐
• Nostrocket - Jobs [source] 🌐

---

Data Vending Machines - DVM (NIP90)

(Data-processing tools)

• Noogle - [source] 🌐
• Vendata - [source] 🌐
• TaskTiger 🌐
• Malware DVMs 🌐

---

Games

• Chesstr - Chess 🌐 [source]
• Jestr - Chess [source] 🌐
• Snakestr - Snake game [source] 🌐
• DEG Mods - Decentralized Game Mods [info] [source] 🌐
• NG Engine - Nostr Game Engine [source] 🌐
• JmonkeyEngine - Java game engine [source] 🌐

---

Customization

• Emojito - Send Funny Stickers to React 🌐 [creator]

---

Like other Services

• Olas - Instagram like [source] 🤖🍎🌐
• Nostree - Linktree like 🌐
• Rabbit - TweetDeck like [info] 🌐
• Zaplinks - Nostr links 🌐
• Omeglestr - Omegle-like Random Chats [source] 🌐

---

General Uses

• Njump - HTML text gateway source 🌐
• Filestr - HTML midia gateway [source] 🌐
• W3 - Nostr URL shortener [source] 🌐
• Playground - Test Nostr filters [source] 🌐
• Spring - Browser 🌐

---

Places

• Wherostr - Travel and show where you are
• Arc Map (Mapstr) - Bitcoin Map [info]

---

Driver and Delivery

• RoadRunner - Uber like [on development] ⏱️
• Nostrlivery - iFood like [on development] ⏱️

[⚠️SCAM⚠️] Arcade City - Uber like [source]

---

OTHER STUFF

---

Lightning Wallets (zap)

• Alby - Native and extension [info] 🌐
• ZBD - Gaming and Social [info] 🤖🍎
• Wallet of Satoshi [info] 🤖🍎
• Minibits - Cashu mobile wallet [info] 🤖
• Blink - Opensource custodial wallet (KYC over 1000 usd) [source] 🤖🍎
• LNbits - App and extesion [source] 🤖🍎💻
• Zeus - [info] [source] 🤖🍎

---

Exchange

• Mostro - P2P lightning exchange on Nostr [info] 🌐
• Emptio - Bitcoin P2P on Nostr [on development]

---

Media Server (Upload Links)

audio, image and video

Connected with Nostr (NIP):

• Nostr Build - Free and paid Upload [info] [source] 🌐
• NostrMedia - Written in Go with Nip 96 / Blossom (free and paid) [info] [source]
• Nostr Check - [info] [source] 🌐
• NostPic - [info] [source] 🌐
• Sovbit - Free and paid upload [info] [source] 🌐
• Voidcat - Nip-96 and Blossom [source] 🌐
• Primal Media - [source] 🌐

Blossom - Your Media Safer

Primal Blossom 🌐 NostrBuild Blossom - Free upload (max 100MiB) and paid [info] [source] 🌐

Paid Upload Only

Satellite CDN - prepaid upload (max 5GB each) [info] [source] 🌐

Without Nostr NIP:

• Pomf - Upload larger videos (max 1GB) [source]
• Catbox - max 200 MB [source]
• x0 - max 512 MiB [source]

---

Donation and payments

• Zapper - Easy Zaps [source] 🌐
• Autozap [source] 🌐
• Zapmeacoffee 🌐
• Nostr Zap 💻(numpy)
• Creatr - Creators subscription 🌐
• Geyzer - Crowdfunding [info] [source] 🌐
• Heya! - Crowdfunding [source]

---

Security

• Secret Border - Generate offline keys 💻(java)
• Umbrel - Your private relay [source] 🌐

---

Key signing and Extension

• Nowser - Account access keys 📱(🤖🍎) 💻(🐧🍎🪟)
• Nos2x - Account access keys 🌐
• Nsec.app 🌐 [info]
• Lume - [info] [source] 🐧🪟🍎
• Satcom - Share files to discuss - [info] 🌐
• KeysBand - Multi-key signing [source] 🌐

---

Code

• Nostrify - Share Nostr Frameworks 🌐
• Git Workshop (github like) [experimental] 🌐
• Gitstr (github like) [on development] ⏱️
• Osty [on development] [info] 🌐
• Python Nostr - Python Library for Nostr
• Sybil - Creating, managing and test Nostr events [on development] ⏱️

---

Relay Check and Cloud

• Nostr Watch - See your relay speed 🌐
• NosDrive - Nostr Relay that saves to Google Drive

---

Bidges and Getways

• Matrixtr Bridge - Between Matrix & Nostr
• Mostr - Between Nostr & Fediverse
• Nostrss - RSS to Nostr
• Rsslay - Optimized RSS to Nostr [source]
• Atomstr - RSS/Atom to Nostr [source]

Useful Profiles and Trends

• Kinostr - Nostr Cinema [english]
• Equinox - Nostr Cinema [portuguese]

nostr-voice - Voice note (just some clients)

---

NOT RELATED TO NOSTR

---

Android Keyboards

• Futo - Gboard like [source]
• Florisboard - [source]
• Heliboard - Openboard based [source]

---

Personal notes and texts

• Joplin - privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities [source] 📱(🤖🍎) - 💻 (🐧🪟🍎)

---

Front-ends

• Nitter - Twitter / X without your data [source]
• NewPipe - Youtube, Peertube and others, without account & your data [source] 🤖
• Piped - Youtube web without you data [source] 🌐

---

Other Services

• Brave - Browser [source]
• DuckDuckGo - Search [source]
• LLMA - Meta - Meta open source AI [source]
• DuckDuckGo AI Chat - Famous AIs without Login [source]
• Proton Mail - Mail [source]

Other open source index: Degoogled Apps

---

Some other Nostr index on:

Nostr Apps | Nostorg | Awesome Nostr

@ bbef5093:71228592

Nukleáris politika – 2025. május 12. | Szerző: David Dalton

Lengyelország és Franciaország nukleáris szerződést ír alá, Macron új építési szerződéseket céloz

Lengyelország és Franciaország olyan szerződést kötött, amely együttműködést irányoz elő a polgári nukleáris energia szektorban, miközben Párizs reménykedik abban, hogy Varsótól jövedelmező új atomerőmű-építési szerződéseket nyer el.

A szerződés közös tevékenységeket tartalmaz, amelyek célja a nukleáris energia előnyeinek kihasználása az európai ipar dekarbonizációja érdekében.

A két ország együtt kíván működni a nukleáris fűtőanyag-ellátás biztonságának megerősítésében is.

Európa szeretné kizárni Oroszországot a nukleáris fűtőanyag-piacáról, de az Euratom Ellátási Ügynökség (ESA) legfrissebb éves jelentése szerint 2023-ban nőtt az Oroszországból származó természetes urán szállítása, mivel az uniós szolgáltatók készleteket halmoztak fel az orosz tervezésű VVER atomerőművekhez.

Az ESA, amely az európai nukleáris anyagok rendszeres és méltányos ellátásáért felelős, közölte, hogy az uniós szolgáltatók tovább diverzifikálják nukleáris fűtőanyag-beszerzéseiket, különösen a VVER reaktorokhoz, hogy csökkentsék a „egy forrásból származó vagy magas kockázatú” ellátásoktól való függést.

„Majdnem minden olyan ország, amely orosz tervezésű reaktorokat üzemeltet, halad az alternatív fűtőanyagok engedélyeztetésében, és ígéretes fejlemények várhatók a közeljövőben” – közölte az ESA.

Az EU-ban jelenleg 19 VVER reaktor működik, köztük négy 1000 MW-os Bulgáriában és Csehországban, valamint tizenöt 440 MW-os Csehországban, Finnországban, Magyarországon és Szlovákiában.

A jelentések szerint a francia–lengyel nukleáris szerződés különösen fontos a francia állami EDF energetikai vállalat számára, amely még mindig reménykedik abban, hogy részt vehet Lengyelország ambiciózus atomerőmű-építési programjában, annak ellenére, hogy az első új építésű projekt tenderét az amerikai Westinghouse nyerte el Pomeránia északi tartományában.

Franciaország ambiciózus reaktorépítési tervei

Franciaország maga is nagyszabású nukleáris fejlesztési terveket dédelget: a kormány nemrégiben felkérte az EDF-et, hogy gyorsítsa fel a hat új generációs EPR2 atomerőmű megépítésének előkészítését.

Az EDF kezdetben három EPR2 párost tervez: az elsőt Penlyben, majd egyet-egyet a Gravelines-i atomerőmű telephelyén (Calais közelében), illetve vagy Bugey-ben (Lyon keleti részén), vagy Tricastinban (Lyon és Avignon közelében).

A nukleáris szerződés aláírását megelőzte egy másik szerződés is, amely a két szövetséges közötti kapcsolatok elmélyítését, valamint kölcsönös biztonsági garanciákat is tartalmaz háború esetére.

Donald Tusk lengyel miniszterelnök, aki Emmanuel Macron francia elnökkel együtt írta alá a biztonsági dokumentumot, „áttörésnek” nevezte a szerződést, kiemelve, hogy csak Németországnak van hasonló biztonsági paktuma Franciaországgal, és ez Lengyelországot „egyenrangú partnerként” helyezi nyugati szövetségesei közé.

Macron eközben úgy fogalmazott, hogy a szerződés „új korszakot nyit” nemcsak Lengyelország és Franciaország, hanem egész Európa számára. „Bresttől Krakkóig Európa együtt áll ki” – mondta a francia elnök.

---

Nukleáris politika – 2025. május 12. | Szerző: David Dalton

Trump csapata a nukleáris erőművek építésének felgyorsítását tervezi

A Trump-adminisztráció tisztviselői végrehajtási rendeleteket készítenek elő, amelyek célja az atomerőművek jóváhagyásának és építésének felgyorsítása az Egyesült Államokban – számolt be róla a sajtó.

Az erőfeszítés, amelyet egy kormányzati tisztviselő és más, az egyeztetéseket ismerő személyek írtak le, még folyamatban van. Az elnök még nem hagyta jóvá a tervezetet – mondta az egyik forrás, aki névtelenséget kért, mivel hivatalos bejelentés még nem történt. Az amerikai Axios hírportál és a New York Times is beszámolt az egyeztetésekről.

Trump és kormányának tisztviselői többször hangsúlyozták a bőséges, olcsó villamos energia fontosságát az energiaigényes mesterséges intelligencia ipar számára, amely segítheti az Egyesült Államokat abban, hogy megnyerje a feltörekvő technológia globális versenyét.

„Meg kell nyernünk az MI-versenyt, és ebben vezetnünk kell – ehhez pedig sokkal több energiára lesz szükség” – mondta Chris Wright energiaügyi miniszter múlt hónapban egy kabinetülésen Trump társaságában.

Az elnök már hivatalosan is energia-vészhelyzetet hirdetett, nemzeti és gazdasági biztonsági szempontokra hivatkozva annak érdekében, hogy gyorsítsa az erőművek, csővezetékek és elektromos távvezetékek építését az országban.

A szóban forgó tervezetek célokat tűznének ki az atomerőművek gyors országos építésére, illetve az amerikai nukleáris ipar vezető szerepének visszaállítására.

Legalább az egyik intézkedés a Nukleáris Szabályozási Bizottságnál (NRC) vezetne be változtatásokat, amelyek gyorsíthatják az erőműtervek, köztük az új kis moduláris reaktorok (SMR-ek) engedélyezését.

Wright nemrégiben úgy nyilatkozott, hogy az új reaktorblokkok építésének legnagyobb akadálya az Egyesült Államokban a szabályozás volt.

Az elképzelés részeként akár katonai létesítményekre is telepíthetnek majd atomerőműveket, valószínűleg mikroreaktorok vagy SMR-ek formájában.

Jelenleg az Egyesült Államokban nincs kereskedelmi atomerőmű építés alatt. Az utolsó két üzembe helyezett blokk a georgiai Vogtle-3 és Vogtle-4 volt, 2023-ban és 2024-ben.

Előrehaladott tervek vannak a michigani Palisades atomerőmű újraindítására. Ha megvalósul, ez lenne az első olyan, korábban leállított amerikai atomerőmű, amely ismét működésbe lép.

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Új építések – 2025. május 12. | Szerző: David Dalton

Vietnam és Oroszország tárgyalásokat kezd atomerőmű-építésről

Vietnam és Oroszország megállapodott abban, hogy tárgyalásokat folytatnak és szerződéseket írnak alá kereskedelmi atomerőművek építéséről Vietnamban – közölték a két ország egy közös nyilatkozatban.

„Az erőművek fejlesztése korszerű technológiával szigorúan megfelel majd a nukleáris és sugárbiztonsági előírásoknak, és a társadalmi-gazdasági fejlődést szolgálja” – áll a közleményben, amely a vietnami vezető, To Lam moszkvai látogatása után jelent meg.

Az orosz állami atomenergetikai vállalat, a Roszatom szerint a látogatás „az együttműködés új szakaszát” jelenti – egy nagy atomerőmű építését Délkelet-Ázsiában.

A Roszatom felajánlotta Vietnámnak a VVER-1200 nyomottvizes reaktor technológiáját, amelyből kettő már működik az oroszországi Novovoronyezs 2 atomerőműben, és kettő Fehéroroszországban.

A Roszatom közölte, hogy további tárgyalásokra van szükség a vietnami atomerőmű műszaki és pénzügyi feltételeinek tisztázásához, de hozzátette: „ezek a tárgyalások ma [május 10-én] megkezdődtek”.

A Roszatom arról is beszámolt, hogy Alekszej Lihacsov vezérigazgató és Nguyen Manh Hung vietnami tudományos és technológiai miniszter aláírt egy nukleáris energia ütemtervet.

Az ütemterv tartalmazza egy nukleáris tudományos és technológiai központ lehetséges megépítését, fűtőanyag-szállítást a dél-vietnami Dalat kutatóreaktorhoz, Vietnam részvételét Oroszország IV. generációs MBIR többcélú gyorsneutronos kutatóreaktor projektjében, valamint vietnami szakemberek képzését.

Vietnamnak jelenleg egy kutatóreaktora van Dalatban, és egy másik is tervben van. A Roszatom nem közölte, melyikre gondolt.

A múlt hónapban Vietnam elfogadta a nemzeti energiastratégia módosított változatát, amely 2030-ig 136 milliárd dollárt irányoz elő az energiaellátás hosszú távú biztonságának megerősítésére, és először szerepel benne az atomenergia.

Vietnam azt szeretné, ha első atomerőművei 2030 és 2035 között lépnének üzembe. A beépített nukleáris kapacitás várhatóan 4–6,4 GW lesz, ami körülbelül 4–6 nagy atomerőműnek felel meg.

A kormány szerint további 8 GW nukleáris kapacitás kerül majd a mixbe az évszázad közepéig.

Vietnam már 2009-ben is tervezett két atomerőművet, de a Nemzetgyűlés 2016-ban költségvetési okokból elutasította a javaslatot.

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Új építések – 2025. május 12. | Szerző: David Dalton

Az NRC engedélyt adott az „energia-sziget” munkálatokra a TerraPower wyomingi atomerőművénél

Az Egyesült Államok Nukleáris Szabályozási Bizottsága (NRC) mentességet adott a TerraPower Natrium demonstrációs atomerőművének wyomingi Kemmererben, lehetővé téve a vállalat számára bizonyos „energia-sziget” tevékenységek folytatását, miközben a hatóságok tovább vizsgálják az építési engedély iránti kérelmet.

Az energia-sziget a tervezett Natrium atomerőműben a felesleges hő tárolására szolgál majd, hogy csúcsterhelés idején növelje az áramtermelést.

Az NRC szerint az energia-szigethez kapcsolódó bizonyos tevékenységek engedélyezése nem jelent indokolatlan kockázatot a közegészségre és biztonságra, és „különleges körülmények” állnak fenn.

A mentesség a létesítmények, rendszerek és komponensek korlátozott részére vonatkozik, lehetővé téve például cölöpverést, alapozást, vagy bizonyos szerkezetek, rendszerek és komponensek összeszerelését, gyártását, tesztelését korlátozott munkavégzési engedély nélkül.

Az NRC szerint a mentesség nem befolyásolja a reaktor építési engedélyéről szóló végső döntést. „Az NRC folytatja az építési engedély iránti kérelem vizsgálatát az egész projektre vonatkozóan” – áll a közleményben.

A Bill Gates által alapított TerraPower üdvözölte a döntést, hozzátéve, hogy a nukleáris reaktor és az energiatermelő létesítmények szétválasztása rövidebb építési időt és alacsonyabb anyagköltségeket tesz lehetővé.

Februárban az amerikai energiaügyi minisztérium befejezte a projekt előzetes tevékenységeire vonatkozó végső környezeti értékelést.

A TerraPower, amelyet Gates 2008-ban alapított, 2024 júniusában kezdte meg első kereskedelmi Natrium atomerőművének építését Kemmererben, ahol egy széntüzelésű erőmű zár be.

A Natrium demonstrációs projekt három különálló részből áll: egy nátrium teszt- és feltöltő létesítményből, az energiatermelő vagy energia-szigetből, valamint a nukleáris szigetből magával a reaktorral.

A kezdeti építkezés a teszt- és feltöltő létesítményre összpontosít, amely egy különálló, nem nukleáris épület, és a reaktor nátrium hűtőrendszerének tesztelésére szolgál. Itt történik a folyékony nátrium fogadása, mintavételezése, feldolgozása és tárolása, mielőtt a Natrium reaktorhoz kerülne.

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Egyéb hírek

A lengyel atomerőmű-projekt biztosítási szerződéseket kötött

A lengyel Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) atomerőmű-projekt vállalat négy biztosítási bróker céggel kötött keretmegállapodást. Az Aon Polska, GrECo Polska, Marsh és Smartt Re cégek támogatják a PEJ-t Lengyelország első kereskedelmi atomerőművének biztosítási szerződéseinek megkötésében, valamint a napi működéshez szükséges biztosítások beszerzésében. A PEJ minden brókerrel keretmegállapodást írt alá, amelyek alapján egyes biztosítási feladatokra kiválasztja a megfelelő brókert.

Az Aecon cég nyerte az ontariói SMR építési szerződését

A kanadai Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners nyerte el az Ontario Power Generation (OPG) által Darlingtonban építendő első kis moduláris reaktor (SMR) kivitelezési szerződését. A szerződés értéke 1,3 milliárd kanadai dollár (934 millió USD, 841 millió euró), amely projektmenedzsmentet, kivitelezési tervezést és végrehajtást foglal magában, a befejezést és a kereskedelmi üzemet 2030-ra tervezik. Ontario tartomány és az OPG múlt héten hagyta jóvá a négy SMR első darabjának 20,9 milliárd CAD értékű tervét Darlingtonban.

26 000 dolgozó a Hinkley Point C projekten a csúcskivitelezés idején

Az Egyesült Királyságban mintegy 26 000 dolgozó vesz részt a Hinkley Point C atomerőmű építésében, amely jelenleg csúcskivitelezési szakaszban van – derül ki az EDF Energy jelentéséből. Közvetlenül a projekten 18 000-en dolgoznak, ebből 12 000-en a helyszínen, további 3 000 fővel bővülhet a létszám a következő 12 hónapban. További 8 000-en a beszállítói láncban dolgoznak. A jelentés szerint a Hinkley Point C építése fontos katalizátor a gazdasági növekedésben, jelenleg 13,3 milliárd fonttal (15,7 milliárd euró, 17,5 milliárd dollár) járul hozzá a gazdasághoz. Ebből 5 milliárd fontot már a délnyugati régió beszállítóinál költöttek el – jóval meghaladva az 1,5 milliárd fontos célt. A Hinkley Point C két francia EPR reaktort kap.

Az Ansaldo Nucleare nukleáris mesterszakot indít Olaszországban

Az olasz Ansaldo Nucleare és a Politecnico di Milano vállalati mesterszakot indít, amely a nukleáris energia és kapcsolódó technológiák új szakértő generációját képzi. A képzés októberben indul, egy évig tart, 1500 órás, mérnöki, fizikai és kémiai diplomásoknak szól. Húsz résztvevőt választanak ki a következő hónapokban, akiket az Ansaldo Nucleare azonnal, határozatlan időre alkalmaz, és október elején kezdik meg a képzést.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Prepared for Off-World Visitors by the Risan Institute of Cultural Heritage

Welcome to Risa, the jewel of the Alpha Quadrant, celebrated across the Federation for its tranquility, pleasure, and natural splendor. But what many travelers do not know is that Risa’s current harmony was not inherited—it was forged. Beneath the songs of surf and the serenity of our resorts lies a history rich in conflict, transformation, and enduring wisdom.

We offer this briefing not merely as a tale of our past, but as an invitation to understand the spirit of our people and the roots of our peace.

I. A World at the Crossroads

Before its admittance into the United Federation of Planets, Risa was an independent and vulnerable world situated near volatile borders of early galactic powers. Its lush climate, mineral wealth, and open society made it a frequent target for raiders and an object of interest for imperial expansion.

The Risan peoples were once fragmented, prone to philosophical and political disunity. In our early records, this period is known as the Winds of Splintering. We suffered invasions, betrayals, and the slow erosion of trust in our own traditions.

II. The Coming of the Vulcans

It was during this period of instability that a small delegation of Vulcan philosophers, adherents to the teachings of Surak, arrived on Risa. They did not come as conquerors, nor even as ambassadors, but as seekers of peace.

These emissaries of logic saw in Risa the potential for a society not driven by suppression of emotion, as Vulcan had chosen, but by the balance of joy and discipline. While many Vulcans viewed Risa’s culture as frivolous, these followers of Surak saw the seed of a different path: one in which beauty itself could be a pillar of peace.

The Risan tradition of meditative dance, artistic expression, and communal love resonated with Vulcan teachings of unity and inner control. From this unlikely exchange was born the Ricin Doctrine—the belief that peace is sustained not only through logic or strength, but through deliberate joy, shared vulnerability, and readiness without aggression.

III. Betazed and the Trial of Truth

During the same era, early contact with the people of Betazed brought both inspiration and tension. A Betazoid expedition, under the guise of diplomacy, was discovered to be engaging in deep telepathic influence and information extraction. The Risan people, who valued consent above all else, responded not with anger, but with clarity.

A council of Ricin philosophers invited the Betazoid delegation into a shared mind ceremony—a practice in which both cultures exposed their thoughts in mutual vulnerability. The result was not scandal, but transformation. From that moment forward, a bond was formed, and Risa’s model of ethical emotional expression and consensual empathy became influential in shaping Betazed’s own peace philosophies.

IV. Confronting Marauders and Empires

Despite these philosophical strides, Risa’s path was anything but tranquil.

• Orion Syndicate raiders viewed Risa as ripe for exploitation, and for decades, cities were sacked, citizens enslaved, and resources plundered. In response, Risa formed the Sanctum Guard, not a military in the traditional sense, but a force of trained defenders schooled in both physical technique and psychological dissuasion. The Ricin martial arts, combining beauty with lethality, were born from this necessity.

• Andorian expansionism also tested Risa’s sovereignty. Though smaller in scale, skirmishes over territorial claims forced Risa to adopt planetary defense grids and formalize diplomatic protocols that balanced assertiveness with grace. It was through these conflicts that Risa developed the art of the ceremonial yield—a symbolic concession used to diffuse hostility while retaining honor.

• Romulan subterfuge nearly undid Risa from within. A corrupt Romulan envoy installed puppet leaders in one of our equatorial provinces. These agents sought to erode Risa’s social cohesion through fear and misinformation. But Ricin scholars countered the strategy not with rebellion, but with illumination: they released a network of truths, publicly broadcasting internal thoughts and civic debates to eliminate secrecy. The Romulan operation collapsed under the weight of exposure.

• Even militant Vulcan splinter factions, during the early Vulcan-Andorian conflicts, attempted to turn Risa into a staging ground, pressuring local governments to support Vulcan supremacy. The betrayal struck deep—but Risa resisted through diplomacy, invoking Surak’s true teachings and exposing the heresy of their logic-corrupted mission.

V. Enlightenment Through Preparedness

These trials did not harden us into warriors. They refined us into guardians of peace. Our enlightenment came not from retreat, but from engagement—tempered by readiness.

• We train our youth in the arts of balance: physical defense, emotional expression, and ethical reasoning.
• We teach our history without shame, so that future generations will not repeat our errors.
• We host our guests with joy, not because we are naïve, but because we know that to celebrate life fully is the greatest act of resistance against fear.

Risa did not become peaceful by denying the reality of conflict. We became peaceful by mastering our response to it.

And in so doing, we offered not just pleasure to the stars—but wisdom.

We welcome you not only to our beaches, but to our story.

May your time here bring you not only rest—but understanding.

– Risan Institute of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Council of Enlightenment and the Ricin Circle of Peacekeepers

@ 75869cfa:76819987

GM, Nostriches!

The Nostr Review is a biweekly newsletter focused on Nostr statistics, protocol updates, exciting programs, the long-form content ecosystem, and key events happening in the Nostr-verse. If you’re interested, join me in covering updates from the Nostr ecosystem!

Quick review:

In the past two weeks, Nostr statistics indicate over 211,000 daily trusted pubkey events. The number of new users has seen a notable decrease, Profiles with contact lists were representing a 50% decline. More than 5 million events have been published, reflecting a 34% decrease. Total Zap activity stands at approximately 14 million, marking a 12% increase.

Additionally, 25 pull requests were submitted to the Nostr protocol, with 8 merged. A total of 60 Nostr projects were tracked, with 18 releasing product updates, and over 356 long-form articles were published, 36% focusing on Bitcoin and Nostr. During this period, 5 notable events took place, and 2 significant events are upcoming.

Nostr Statistics

Based on user activity, the total daily trusted pubkeys writing events is about 211,000, representing a slight 2.7 % decrease compared to the previous period. Daily activity peaked at 17027 events, with a low of approximately 15340.

The number of new users has decreased significantly.Profiles with contact lists were 12961, representing a decline of approximately 50% compared to the previous period. The number of profiles with bios and pubkey-written events remained stable.

The total number of note events published is around 5 million, reflecting a 34% decrease.Posts remain the most dominant category by volume, representing a 9% decrease compared to the previous period.

For zap activity, the total zap amount is about 14 million, showing an decrease of over 12% compared to the previous period.

Data source: https://stats.nostr.band/

NIPs

Introduce NIP-PNS: Private Note Storage #1893

nostr:npub1xtscya34g58tk0z605fvr788k263gsu6cy9x0mhnm87echrgufzsevkk5s is proposing PNS that empowers Nostr users with a secure and seamless way to store personal notes—like diaries, drafts, or private application settings—across devices while keeping them completely private. Built on client-side encryption, PNS ensures that only the user can read or manage their notes, even as they sync effortlessly via Nostr relays. Unlike traditional local storage or cumbersome encrypted file solutions, PNS offers privacy without sacrificing convenience, using deterministic keys tied to each user or device. It integrates directly with Nostr’s open infrastructure, enabling private data to coexist with public events—secure, synchronized, and under your control.

Create 97.md: Ring Signatures #1894

nostr:npub1u5njm6g5h5cpw4wy8xugu62e5s7f6fnysv0sj0z3a8rengt2zqhsxrldq3 is proposing a PR that ring signatures can be synergistic with other web of trust related tools.

Introduce NIP: Relay metadata propagation #1900

nostr:npub1txukm7xckhnxkwu450sm59vh2znwm45mewaps4awkef2tvsgh4vsf7phrl is proposing a simple propagation mechanism for kind:0 (user metadata) and kind:10002 (relay list metadata) events between relays. Relays are allowed to forward such events to their peers, improving client synchronization.

Rewrite the DVM spec #1904

nostr:npub1gzuushllat7pet0ccv9yuhygvc8ldeyhrgxuwg744dn5khnpk3gs3ea5ds defines a standardized interaction pattern for Nostr Data Vending Machines (DVMs). It focuses on how clients discover DVM capabilities, request jobs, and receive results. This NIP decouples the core DVM interaction from specific job-type implementations, which should be defined in separate documents.

NIP-47 Add Hold Invoice Support #1913

frnandu is proposing PR that introduces support for hold invoices in the Nostr Wallet Connect (NIP-47) protocol.Hold invoices enable more advanced payment workflows where the receiver must explicitly settle or cancel the invoice using the preimage. This allows for enhanced control and coordination in payment flows, such as conditional payments or escrow-like behavior.

Add A Generic Raitng/Review NIP #1914

nostr:npub1cgd35mxmy37vhkfcmjckk9dylguz6q8l67cj6h9m45tj5rx569cql9kfex is proposing generic nip that meant to handle all categories of things via namespaced Ids.

Notable Projects

​​Coracle 0.6.15 nostr:npub13myx4j0pp9uenpjjq68wdvqzywuwxfj64welu28mdvaku222mjtqzqv3qk

New version of Coracle is out: 0.6.15 — this one is just more QoL improvements and bugfixes — the big one this time is better blossom support (and dropping nip 96!). * Fix safe areas more * Improve remote signing * Drop nip 96 support * Use user blossom servers * Improve profile edit page * Avoid duplicate notes in feeds

Flotilla nostr:npub1jlrs53pkdfjnts29kveljul2sm0actt6n8dxrrzqcersttvcuv3qdjynqn

New version of Flotilla is out as well — 1.0.2 is mostly cleanup from the 1.0 release earlier this week. * Fix add relay button * Fix safe inset areas * Better rendering for errors from relays * Improve remote signer login

Damus Notedeck Beta nostr:npub18m76awca3y37hkvuneavuw6pjj4525fw90necxmadrvjg0sdy6qsngq955

New in Notedeck Beta: * Dave nostr ai assistant app * GIFs! * Fulltext note search * Add full screen images, add zoom & pan * Zaps! NWC/ Wallet ui * Introduce last note per pubkey feed (experimental) * Allow multiple media uploads per selection * Major Android improvements (still wip) * Added notedeck app sidebar * User Tagging * Note truncation * Local network note broadcast, broadcast notes to other notedeck notes while you're offline * Mute list support (reading) * Relay list support * Ctrl-enter to send notes * Added relay indexing (relay columns soon) * Click hashtags to open hashtag timeline

Primal V2.2 nostr:npub12vkcxr0luzwp8e673v29eqjhrr7p9vqq8asav85swaepclllj09sylpugg

Version 2.2 is now live, bringing long-awaited features like Amber signing support and much more. Here’s what’s new: * Blossom media * Push notifications * Notifications overhaul * External signer support * Feed: image gallery revamp * Muted words, hashtags, & threads * Request delete for notes and articles * System photos: share via Primal

Nostur nostr:npub1n0stur7q092gyverzc2wfc00e8egkrdnnqq3alhv7p072u89m5es5mk6h0

New in this version: * Add blossom media server support * Support multiple blossom servers as mirror * Fixed feed position reset on audio bar toggle * Fixed post screenshot broken for quoted posts

Fountain 1.2 nostr:npub1v5ufyh4lkeslgxxcclg8f0hzazhaw7rsrhvfquxzm2fk64c72hps45n0v5

Fountain 1.2 is live on iOS and Android This massive update brings significant design and UX improvements across the app along with new episode summaries features. Here's what's new: * Library Design Update: Fountain has made it much easier to navigate between podcasts and music in the library with the addition of new content-type filters. The Recently Played view allows users to quickly jump back into what they were listening to before, and the design of the content cards has also been refreshed. * Content Pages Design Update: All content pages—including shows, episodes, artists, albums, tracks, clips, and playlists—have undergone an extensive redesign. The previous tab layout has been replaced with scrollable pages, show notes formatting has been improved, and features like chapters and transcripts have been revamped. * Episode Summaries: Each episode page now features a Summary button above the show notes. Users can pay 500 sats to unlock a summary or upgrade to Fountain Premium for $2.99/month to enjoy unlimited summaries. Summaries and transcripts are now bundled together, and they’re faster, cheaper, and more accurate than ever before. * Playback Improvements: The audio engine has been completely rebuilt from the ground up. Playback is now more robust and reliable—especially for music. Tracks now play instantly when tapped, and users can skip seamlessly between tracks in albums and playlists. The player interface has also been updated for easier access to show notes, comments, transcripts, and chapters, with the addition of a smart resume feature for podcasts.

DEG Mods nostr:npub17jl3ldd6305rnacvwvchx03snauqsg4nz8mruq0emj9thdpglr2sst825x

• New Events Aggregator Server, a type of aggregate/caching server that helps collect and organize mod and blog posts from the (nostr) network and presents them to the user, providing more (immensely more) reliability in discovering and presenting mods and blog posts.
• Adjusted how the mods and blogs are fetched and presented in various pages (there's now pagination for each of their pages, making navigation easier than before).
• Minor adjustment to the design of the gallery of mod posts.
• Images in a social post (in /feed) are now clustered depending on if they're next to each other.
• Quote-repost chain won't render its preview with the second quote-repost (under the posts tab in the feed page).
• Added media upload to the edit profile page.
• The games page now has a filter to switch between popular ones (shows the most popular games first based on mods published to it) or latest ones (shows games based on the latest published mods).
• Mods that are blocked by the user are now swapped with a box telling the user this is a blocked mod by them, with an option to see what that mod is.
• Mods can now be properly discovered, as soon as they're discovered, and presented (Because of that aggregate server implementation).
• A lot more games, with better search term prioritization, are now properly showing when searching in the mod submission page
• Visiting a social post directly is now visible without needing to login

RUNSTR nostr:npub1vygzr642y6f8gxcjx6auaf2vd25lyzarpjkwx9kr4y752zy6058s8jvy4e

• Record your cardio and post to nostr
• Save your stats to nostr
• Listen to your nostr:npub1yfg0d955c2jrj2080ew7pa4xrtj7x7s7umt28wh0zurwmxgpyj9shwv6vg playlists and zap your favorite artists
• Interact with the Kind1 RUNSTR Feed
• Interact with NIP29 run clubs

voca v0.1.4

nostr:npub17h9fn2ny0lycg7kmvxmw6gqdnv2epya9h9excnjw9wvml87nyw8sqy3hpu Now it's possible to keep playing your text while voca is in the background.

Wasabi Wallet v2.6.0 nostr:npub1jw7scmeuewhywwytqxkxec9jcqf3znw2fsyddcn3948lw9q950ps9y35fg

• Support for Standard BIP 158 Block Filters
• Full Node Integration Rework
• Create & Recover SLIP 39 Shares
• Nostr Update Manager

Futr nostr nostr:npub18wxf0t5jsmcpy57ylzx595twskx8eyj382lj7wp9rtlhzdg5hnnqvt4xra

• Solved memory leak in Qt5
• Fixed recursive re-rendering bug in Qt5
• Enable QML debugger through Haskell binding
• Improve event handling and Qt5 signal triggering

ZEUS v0.11.0 nostr:npub1xnf02f60r9v0e5kty33a404dm79zr7z2eepyrk5gsq3m7pwvsz2sazlpr5

ZEUS v0.11.0-alpha3 with Cashu support is now available for testing: * Fix: addresses issues with sweeping Cashu tokens to self-custody with remote connections * Feat: Core Lightning: Taproot address support * Misc: UX enhancements * Cashu wallets are tied to Embedded LND wallets. Enable under Settings > Ecash * Other wallet types can still sweep funds from Cashu tokens * ZEUS Pay now supports Cashu address types. You can switch between Zaplocker, Cashu, and NWC mode but can only use one at a time.

Oracolo nostr:npub10000003zmk89narqpczy4ff6rnuht2wu05na7kpnh3mak7z2tqzsv8vwqk

Now the short notes block has two new styles: "Board" and "Full content"; the former shows notes in a pinterest-like fashion on two columns, while the latter shows full notes in full screen.

Umbrel 1.4.1 nostr:npub1aghreq2dpz3h3799hrawev5gf5zc2kt4ch9ykhp9utt0jd3gdu2qtlmhct

• Search files anywhere with ⌘/Ctrl + K
• New Favorites & Recents widgets
• Real-time transfer speed + ETA
• Snappier performance
• Several other enhancements & fixes

Shopstr v0.4.2 nostr:npub15dc33fyg3cpd9r58vlqge2hh8dy6hkkrjxkhluv2xpyfreqkmsesesyv6e

This update brings the following improvements and fixes: * Added Blossom media support for image uploads with metadata stripping * Added a terms of service and privacy policy * Added pagination for product viewing * Fixed relay list duplication bug * Removed excessive bottom margin on marketplace page

nostr.build nostr:npub1nxy4qpqnld6kmpphjykvx2lqwvxmuxluddwjamm4nc29ds3elyzsm5avr7

The latest free features are: * 100MB upload size * Blossom support * David Lynch tribute page

openvibe nostr:npub1plstrz6dhu8q4fq0e4rjpxe2fxe5x87y2w6xpm70gh9qh5tt66kqkgkx8j

• Share Even Further : Crosspost from one network to another, or take posts beyond the open social web. Share anything, anywhere — effortlessly from

Ditto.13 nostr:npub10qdp2fc9ta6vraczxrcs8prqnv69fru2k6s2dj48gqjcylulmtjsg9arpj

Ditto 1.3 is all about discovery. From improved search and event fetching to a brand-new Explore tab, this release makes it easier than ever to find people, posts, and conversations across the #Nostr network. We've also rolled out streaks, media improvements, translation upgrades, and key admin tools.

Long-Form Content Eco

In the past two weeks, more than 356 long-form articles have been published, including over 90 articles on Bitcoin and more than 37 related to Nostr, accounting for 36% of the total content.

These articles about Nostr mainly explore the ongoing evolution and challenges of the decentralized protocol, including relay scalability, spam mitigation, signer tools, and publishing workflows. They highlight the network’s technical progress as it handles increasing data loads and infrastructure demands, while also addressing issues like spam and search limitations. Many articles focus on content creation and distribution, showcasing tools for decentralized publishing and media hosting. Others introduce practical guides for secure identity management and signer usage. The ecosystem’s economic potential is also discussed, with suggestions for monetization and community growth. Personal reflections and critiques further illustrate the culture and complexity of Nostr as it expands.

These articles about Bitcoin cover a broad spectrum of topics, highlighting its evolving role in technology, culture, and the global economy. They discuss core concepts such as decentralization, financial sovereignty, and Bitcoin as digital gold, while also addressing current issues like OP_RETURN restrictions, mining centralization, and environmental concerns. Real-world use cases—such as remittances, merchant adoption, and Bitcoin's growth in emerging markets like Africa and South America—are frequently explored. Many articles focus on user education, including wallet security, key management, and node operation. Others provide commentary through book reviews, political reflections, and personal narratives, illustrating how Bitcoin is shaping both individual behavior and institutional thinking.
Thank you, nostr:npub186a9aaqmyp436j0gkxl8yswhat2ampahxunpmfjv80qwyaglywhqswhd06 nostr:npub1xncam2l8u5chg6w096v89f2q2l0lz4jz4n7q7tdjsu6y5t9qea7q2cmrua nostr:npub10m6lrv2kaf08a8um0plhj5dj6yqlw7qxzeag6393z352zrs0e5nsr2tff3 nostr:npub15hhygatg5gmjyfkkguqn54f9r6k8m5m6ksyqffgjrf3uut982sqsffn4vc nostr:npub18ams6ewn5aj2n3wt2qawzglx9mr4nzksxhvrdc4gzrecw7n5tvjqctp424 nostr:npub1rsv7kx5avkmq74p85v878e9d5g3w626343xhyg76z5ctfc30kz7q9u4dke nostr:npub1jp3776ujdul56rfkkrv8rxxgrslqr07rz83xpmz3ndl74lg7ngys320eg2 nostr:npub1dk8z5f8pkrn2746xuhfk347a0g6fsxh20wk492fh9h8lkha2efxqgeq55a nostr:npub18sufer6dgm9gzvt8gw37x08dk8gxr8u80rh8f4rjv4m4u73wlalsygnz5q nostr:npub1qpdufhjpel94srm3ett2azgf49m9dp3n5nm2j0rt0l2mlmc3ux3qza082j nostr:npub1th6p84x9u5p4lagglkvm8zepa2dq4s9eanp57vcj4w5652kafads7m930q nostr:npub1xx8t4wk2cvnz5ez7sxkvx40phgqa05a8qas4mcss0fjcdx3x96hq7jdm20 npub1qn4ylq6s79tz4gwkphq8q4sltwurs6s36xsq2u8aw3qd5ggwzuf, nostr:npub1jrr9dlerex7tg8njvc88c60asxnf5dp8hgcerh0q8w3gdyurl48q6s5nwv nostr:npub1harur8s4wmwzgrugwdmrd9gcv6zzfkzfmp36xu4tel0ces7j2uas3gcqdy and others, for your work. Enriching Nostr’s long-form content ecosystem is crucial.

Nostriches Global Meet Ups

Recently, several Nostr events have been hosted in different countries. * Recently, YakiHonne collaborated with the University of Jos and Ipaybtc community to successfully host two Nostr Workshops, attracting over 50 enthusiastic participants. The events not only provided a comprehensive introduction to the Nostr ecosystem and Bitcoin payments but also offered hands-on experiences with decentralized technologies through the YakiHonne platform.
The Nostr & Poker Night* was held on April 30 at the Bitcoin Embassy in El Salvador.

The event featured an engaging Nostr-themed presentation by nostr:npub1dmnzphvk097ahcpecwfeml08xw8sg2cj4vux55m5xalqtzz9t78q6k3kv6 followed by a relaxed and enjoyable poker night. Notably, 25% of the poker tournament prize was donated to support MyFirstBitcoin and its mission to provide Bitcoin education. * A free webinar on venture capital, Bitcoin, and cryptocurrencies was held online on May 6 at 12:00 PM (ARG time). Organized in collaboration with Draper Cygnus, the event introduced the fundamentals of venture capital, showcased the projects of ONG Bitcoin Argentina Academy, and provided attendees with the opportunity to interact with the guest speakers. * Bitcoin Unveiled: Demystifying Freedom Money was held on May 10, 2025, at Almara Hub. The event explored Bitcoin’s transformative potential, helping participants understand its purpose, learn how to get started, build a career in the Bitcoin space, and begin their Bitcoin savings journey. Featured speakers included nostr:npub1sn0q3zptdcm8qh8ktyhwtrnr9htwpykav8qnryhusr9mcr9ustxqe4tr2x Theophilus Isah, nostr:npub1s7xkezkzlfvya6ce6cuhzwswtxqm787pwddk2395pt9va4ulzjjszuz67p and Megasley.

Here is the upcoming Nostr event that you might want to check out. * The Bitcoin 2025 conference was held from May 26 to 29 at the Venetian Convention Center in Las Vegas, with the Nostr community hosting a series of vibrant activities. While the Nostr Lounge served as a central hub for socializing and technical exchange, featuring app demos, lightning talks, and limited-edition merchandise. Nostr also delivered two key presentations during the conference, focusing on multisig key management and the future of decentralized social media. * BTC Prague 2025 is the largest and most influential Bitcoin-only conference in Europe. It will take place from June 19 to 21, 2025, at PVA Expo Praha in Prague, Czech Republic. The event is expected to attract over 10,000 attendees from around the world, including entrepreneurs, developers, investors, and educators.

The conference will feature more than 200 speakers from various sectors of the global Bitcoin ecosystem, nostr:npub14gm6rq7rkw56cd08aa4k5tvjnepqnxm4xvc535wj0wyjxlgrfa8sqdgv87 nostr:npub1dg6es53r3hys9tk3n7aldgz4lx4ly8qu4zg468zwyl6smuhjjrvsnhsguz nostr:npub1ymgefd46k55yfwph8tdlxur573puastaqdmxff4vj20xj0uh3p2s06k8d5 nostr:npub1jt97tpsul3fp8hvf7zn0vzzysmu9umcrel4hpgflg4vnsytyxwuqt8la9y nostr:npub1dtgg8yk3h23ldlm6jsy79tz723p4sun9mz62tqwxqe7c363szkzqm8up6m nostr:npub1g53mukxnjkcmr94fhryzkqutdz2ukq4ks0gvy5af25rgmwsl4ngq43drvk nostr:npub16c0nh3dnadzqpm76uctf5hqhe2lny344zsmpm6feee9p5rdxaa9q586nvr

and more. In addition to the main program, several side events will be held, such as Developer Hack Days, Cypherpunk gatherings, and Women in Bitcoin initiatives.

Additionally, We warmly invite event organizers who have held recent activities to reach out to us so we can work together to promote the prosperity and development of the Nostr ecosystem.

Thanks for reading! If there’s anything I missed, feel free to reach out and help improve the completeness and accuracy of my coverage.

@ 4857600b:30b502f4

Mitch McConnell, a senior Republican senator, announced he will not seek reelection.

At 83 years old and with health issues, this decision was expected. After seven terms, he leaves a significant legacy in U.S. politics, known for his strategic maneuvering.

McConnell stated, “My current term in the Senate will be my last.” His retirement marks the end of an influential political era.

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978915

@ efcb5fc5:5680aa8e

We're living in a digital dystopia. A world where our attention is currency, our data is mined, and our mental well-being is collateral damage in the relentless pursuit of engagement. The glossy facades of traditional social media platforms hide a dark underbelly of algorithmic manipulation, curated realities, and a pervasive sense of anxiety that seeps into every aspect of our lives. We're trapped in a digital echo chamber, drowning in a sea of manufactured outrage and meaningless noise, and it's time to build an ark and sail away.

I've witnessed the evolution, or rather, the devolution, of online interaction. From the raw, unfiltered chaos of early internet chat rooms to the sterile, algorithmically controlled environments of today's social giants, I've seen the promise of connection twisted into a tool for manipulation and control. We've become lab rats in a grand experiment, our emotional responses measured and monetized, our opinions shaped and sold to the highest bidder. But there's a flicker of hope in the darkness, a chance to reclaim our digital autonomy, and that hope is NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays).

The Psychological Warfare of Traditional Social Media

The Algorithmic Cage: These algorithms aren't designed to enhance your life; they're designed to keep you scrolling. They feed on your vulnerabilities, exploiting your fears and desires to maximize engagement, even if it means promoting misinformation, outrage, and division.

The Illusion of Perfection: The curated realities presented on these platforms create a toxic culture of comparison. We're bombarded with images of flawless bodies, extravagant lifestyles, and seemingly perfect lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

The Echo Chamber Effect: Algorithms reinforce our existing beliefs, isolating us from diverse perspectives and creating a breeding ground for extremism. We become trapped in echo chambers where our biases are constantly validated, leading to increased polarization and intolerance.

The Toxicity Vortex: The lack of effective moderation creates a breeding ground for hate speech, cyberbullying, and online harassment. We're constantly exposed to toxic content that erodes our mental well-being and fosters a sense of fear and distrust.

This isn't just a matter of inconvenience; it's a matter of mental survival. We're being subjected to a form of psychological warfare, and it's time to fight back.

NOSTR: A Sanctuary in the Digital Wasteland

NOSTR offers a radical alternative to this toxic environment. It's not just another platform; it's a decentralized protocol that empowers users to reclaim their digital sovereignty.

User-Controlled Feeds: You decide what you see, not an algorithm. You curate your own experience, focusing on the content and people that matter to you.

Ownership of Your Digital Identity: Your data and content are yours, secured by cryptography. No more worrying about being deplatformed or having your information sold to the highest bidder.

Interoperability: Your identity works across a diverse ecosystem of apps, giving you the freedom to choose the interface that suits your needs.

Value-Driven Interactions: The "zaps" feature enables direct micropayments, rewarding creators for valuable content and fostering a culture of genuine appreciation.

Decentralized Power: No single entity controls NOSTR, making it censorship-resistant and immune to the whims of corporate overlords.

Building a Healthier Digital Future

NOSTR isn't just about escaping the toxicity of traditional social media; it's about building a healthier, more meaningful online experience.

Cultivating Authentic Connections: Focus on building genuine relationships with people who share your values and interests, rather than chasing likes and followers.

Supporting Independent Creators: Use "zaps" to directly support the artists, writers, and thinkers who inspire you.

Embracing Intellectual Diversity: Explore different NOSTR apps and communities to broaden your horizons and challenge your assumptions.

Prioritizing Your Mental Health: Take control of your digital environment and create a space that supports your well-being.

Removing the noise: Value based interactions promote value based content, instead of the constant stream of noise that traditional social media promotes.

The Time for Action is Now

NOSTR is a nascent technology, but it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact online. It's a chance to build a more open, decentralized, and user-centric internet, one that prioritizes our mental health and our humanity.

We can no longer afford to be passive consumers in the digital age. We must become active participants in shaping our online experiences. It's time to break free from the chains of algorithmic control and reclaim our digital autonomy.

Join the NOSTR movement

Embrace the power of decentralization. Let's build a digital future that's worthy of our humanity. Let us build a place where the middlemen, and the algorithms that they control, have no power over us.

In addition to the points above, here are some examples/links of how NOSTR can be used:

Simple Signup: Creating a NOSTR account is incredibly easy. You can use platforms like Yakihonne or Primal to generate your keys and start exploring the ecosystem.

X-like Client: Apps like Damus offer a familiar X-like experience, making it easy for users to transition from traditional platforms.

Sharing Photos and Videos: Clients like Olas are optimized for visual content, allowing you to share your photos and videos with your followers.

Creating and Consuming Blogs: NOSTR can be used to publish and share blog posts, fostering a community of independent creators.

Live Streaming and Audio Spaces: Explore platforms like Hivetalk and zap.stream for live streaming and audio-based interactions.

NOSTR is a powerful tool for reclaiming your digital life and building a more meaningful online experience. It's time to take control, break free from the shackles of traditional social media, and embrace the future of decentralized communication.

Get the full overview of these and other on: https://nostrapps.com/

@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e

Nostr is a revolutionary protocol that enables decentralized, censorship-resistant communication. Unlike traditional social networks controlled by corporations, Nostr operates without central servers or gatekeepers. This openness makes it incredibly powerful—but also means its success depends entirely on users, developers, and relay operators.

If you believe in free speech, decentralization, and an open internet, there are many ways to support and strengthen the Nostr ecosystem. Whether you're a casual user, a developer, or someone looking to contribute financially, every effort helps build a more robust network.

Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference.

---

1️⃣ Use Nostr Daily

The simplest and most effective way to contribute to Nostr is by using it regularly. The more active users, the stronger and more valuable the network becomes.

✅ Post, comment, and zap (send micro-payments via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network) to keep conversations flowing.\ ✅ Engage with new users and help them understand how Nostr works.\ ✅ Try different Nostr clients like Damus, Amethyst, Snort, or Primal and provide feedback to improve the experience.

Your activity keeps the network alive and helps encourage more developers and relay operators to invest in the ecosystem.

---

2️⃣ Run Your Own Nostr Relay

Relays are the backbone of Nostr, responsible for distributing messages across the network. The more independent relays exist, the stronger and more censorship-resistant Nostr becomes.

✅ Set up your own relay to help decentralize the network further.\ ✅ Experiment with relay configurations and different performance optimizations.\ ✅ Offer public or private relay services to users looking for high-quality infrastructure.

If you're not technical, you can still support relay operators by subscribing to a paid relay or donating to open-source relay projects.

---

3️⃣ Support Paid Relays & Infrastructure

Free relays have helped Nostr grow, but they struggle with spam, slow speeds, and sustainability issues. Paid relays help fund better infrastructure, faster message delivery, and a more reliable experience.

✅ Subscribe to a paid relay to help keep it running.\ ✅ Use premium services like media hosting (e.g., Azzamo Blossom) to decentralize content storage.\ ✅ Donate to relay operators who invest in long-term infrastructure.

By funding Nostr’s decentralized backbone, you help ensure its longevity and reliability.

---

4️⃣ Zap Developers, Creators & Builders

Many people contribute to Nostr without direct financial compensation—developers who build clients, relay operators, educators, and content creators. You can support them with zaps! ⚡

✅ Find developers working on Nostr projects and send them a zap.\ ✅ Support content creators and educators who spread awareness about Nostr.\ ✅ Encourage builders by donating to open-source projects.

Micro-payments via the Lightning Network make it easy to directly support the people who make Nostr better.

---

5️⃣ Develop New Nostr Apps & Tools

If you're a developer, you can build on Nostr’s open protocol to create new apps, bots, or tools. Nostr is permissionless, meaning anyone can develop for it.

✅ Create new Nostr clients with unique features and user experiences.\ ✅ Build bots or automation tools that improve engagement and usability.\ ✅ Experiment with decentralized identity, authentication, and encryption to make Nostr even stronger.

With no corporate gatekeepers, your projects can help shape the future of decentralized social media.

---

6️⃣ Promote & Educate Others About Nostr

Adoption grows when more people understand and use Nostr. You can help by spreading awareness and creating educational content.

✅ Write blogs, guides, and tutorials explaining how to use Nostr.\ ✅ Make videos or social media posts introducing new users to the protocol.\ ✅ Host discussions, Twitter Spaces, or workshops to onboard more people.

The more people understand and trust Nostr, the stronger the ecosystem becomes.

---

7️⃣ Support Open-Source Nostr Projects

Many Nostr tools and clients are built by volunteers, and open-source projects thrive on community support.

✅ Contribute code to existing Nostr projects on GitHub.\ ✅ Report bugs and suggest features to improve Nostr clients.\ ✅ Donate to developers who keep Nostr free and open for everyone.

If you're not a developer, you can still help with testing, translations, and documentation to make projects more accessible.

---

🚀 Every Contribution Strengthens Nostr

Whether you:

✔️ Post and engage daily\ ✔️ Zap creators and developers\ ✔️ Run or support relays\ ✔️ Build new apps and tools\ ✔️ Educate and onboard new users

Every action helps make Nostr more resilient, decentralized, and unstoppable.

Nostr isn’t just another social network—it’s a movement toward a free and open internet. If you believe in digital freedom, privacy, and decentralization, now is the time to get involved.

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

intro

The Russian state made me a Bitcoiner. In 1991, it devalued my grandmother's hard-earned savings. She worked tirelessly in the kitchen of a dining car on the Moscow–Warsaw route. Everything she had saved for my sister and me to attend university vanished overnight. This story is similar to what many experienced, including Wences Casares. The pain and injustice of that time became my first lessons about the fragility of systems and the value of genuine, incorruptible assets, forever changing my perception of money and my trust in government promises.

In 2014, I was living in Moscow, running a trading business, and frequently traveling to China. One day, I learned about the Cypriot banking crisis and the possibility of moving money through some strange thing called Bitcoin. At the time, I didn’t give it much thought. Returning to the idea six months later, as a business-oriented geek, I eagerly began studying the topic and soon dove into it seriously.

I spent half a year reading articles on a local online journal, BitNovosti, actively participating in discussions, and eventually joined the editorial team as a translator. That’s how I learned about whitepapers, decentralization, mining, cryptographic keys, and colored coins. About Satoshi Nakamoto, Silk Road, Mt. Gox, and BitcoinTalk. Over time, I befriended the journal’s owner and, leveraging my management experience, later became an editor. I was drawn to the crypto-anarchist stance and commitment to decentralization principles. We wrote about the economic, historical, and social preconditions for Bitcoin’s emergence, and it was during this time that I fully embraced the idea.

It got to the point where I sold my apartment and, during the market's downturn, bought 50 bitcoins, just after the peak price of $1,200 per coin. That marked the beginning of my first crypto winter. As an editor, I organized workflows, managed translators, developed a YouTube channel, and attended conferences in Russia and Ukraine. That’s how I learned about Wences Casares and even wrote a piece about him. I also met Mikhail Chobanyan (Ukrainian exchange Kuna), Alexander Ivanov (Waves project), Konstantin Lomashuk (Lido project), and, of course, Vitalik Buterin. It was a time of complete immersion, 24/7, and boundless hope.

After moving to the United States, I expected the industry to grow rapidly, attended events, but the introduction of BitLicense froze the industry for eight years. By 2017, it became clear that the industry was shifting toward gambling and creating tokens for the sake of tokens. I dismissed this idea as unsustainable. Then came a new crypto spring with the hype around beautiful NFTs – CryptoPunks and apes.

I made another attempt – we worked on a series called Digital Nomad Country Club, aimed at creating a global project. The proceeds from selling images were intended to fund the development of business tools for people worldwide. However, internal disagreements within the team prevented us from completing the project.

With Trump’s arrival in 2025, hope was reignited. I decided that it was time to create a project that society desperately needed. As someone passionate about history, I understood that destroying what exists was not the solution, but leaving everything as it was also felt unacceptable. You can’t destroy the system, as the fiery crypto-anarchist voices claimed.

With an analytical mindset (IQ 130) and a deep understanding of the freest societies, I realized what was missing—not only in Russia or the United States but globally—a Bitcoin-native system for tracking debts and financial interactions. This could return control of money to ordinary people and create horizontal connections parallel to state systems. My goal was to create, if not a Bitcoin killer app, then at least to lay its foundation.

At the inauguration event in New York, I rediscovered the Nostr project. I realized it was not only technologically simple and already quite popular but also perfectly aligned with my vision. For the past month and a half, using insights and experience gained since 2014, I’ve been working full-time on this project.

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

My favorite line in any Marvel movie ever is in “Captain America.” After Captain America launches seemingly a hopeless assault on Red Skull’s base and is captured, we get this line:

“Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but I must say, you do it better than anyone.”

Yesterday, I came across a comment on the song Devil Went Down to Georgia that had a very similar feel to it:

America has seemingly always been arrogant, in a uniquely American way. Manifest Destiny, for instance. The rest of the world is aware of this arrogance, and mocks Americans for it. A central point in modern US politics is the deriding of racist, nationalist, supremacist Americans.

That’s not what I see. I see American Arrogance as not only a beautiful statement about what it means to be American. I see it as an ode to the greatness of humanity in its purest form.

For most countries, saying “our nation is the greatest” is, in fact, twinged with some level of racism. I still don’t have a problem with it. Every group of people should be allowed to feel pride in their accomplishments. The destruction of the human spirit since the end of World War 2, where greatness has become a sin and weakness a virtue, has crushed the ability of people worldwide to strive for excellence.

But I digress. The fears of racism and nationalism at least have a grain of truth when applied to other nations on the planet. But not to America.

That’s because the definition of America, and the prototype of an American, has nothing to do with race. The definition of Americanism is freedom. The founding of America is based purely on liberty. On the God-given rights of every person to live life the way they see fit.

American Arrogance is not a statement of racial superiority. It’s barely a statement of national superiority (though it absolutely is). To me, when an American comments on the greatness of America, it’s a statement about freedom. Freedom will always unlock the greatness inherent in any group of people. Americans are definitionally better than everyone else, because Americans are freer than everyone else. (Or, at least, that’s how it should be.)

In Devil Went Down to Georgia, Johnny is approached by the devil himself. He is challenged to a ridiculously lopsided bet: a golden fiddle versus his immortal soul. He acknowledges the sin in accepting such a proposal. And yet he says, “God, I know you told me not to do this. But I can’t stand the affront to my honor. I am the greatest. The devil has nothing on me. So God, I’m gonna sin, but I’m also gonna win.”

Libertas magnitudo est

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

What is the diference between a sea lion and a seal:

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978903

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Esteemed representatives of Risa,

We gather here under the calming glow of our twin suns, stewards of a society admired for its peace and celebrated for its tranquility. But we must not mistake serenity for passivity, nor confuse peace with weakness. Our peace is not an accident. It is not the byproduct of ignorance or naivety. It is hard-earned—preserved by those willing to stand vigilant in its defense.

Love as a Foundation, Strength as a Shield

Love conquers hate. This is the core truth of Risan philosophy. Yet, as every Ricin child is taught, love without strength is a leaf in the wind. The Ricin do not lay down their lives without resistance. We do not ask our people to accept violence without confronting it. True peace is not imposed by stripping the people of their agency—it is built by enabling them to protect it.

The Lessons of a Failed Experiment

There was a time, not so distant in our history, when we attempted to enforce peace through the abolition of all weapons. A time when even the mention of self-defense in our educational centers was met with rebuke. Schools purged training programs. Cultural arts that honored our warrior traditions were dismissed. And for a brief moment, we believed this would lead us to harmony.

But peace born from helplessness is a fragile illusion. It fractures under the slightest pressure. And fracture it did—when off-world raiders targeted our unguarded sanctuaries, when radical sects within our own society struck out, knowing the citizenry could not defend itself. It was then that we remembered: Risa’s greatest peacekeepers had always been those who knew how to fight—but chose restraint.

The Age of Ricin and the Reawakening of Discipline

So we returned to our roots. To the traditions of the Age of Ricin, when youth, upon reaching maturity, were taught not only the arts of compassion and creation but also the martial disciplines. They learn to wield weapons—not to glorify violence, but to understand it. To control it. To stand firm against it when all else fails.

https://i.nostr.build/kuUjRovISz7367TX.jpg

We do not romanticize war. We do not celebrate conflict. But we prepare for it, should it seek to extinguish our light. Our children now learn the disciplines of defense alongside their studies in poetry, music, and healing. They spar with blunt blades under the watchful eyes of masters. They meditate on the consequences of force. And they grow into citizens not easily provoked, but never unprepared.

A Call for Balance, Not Extremes

Let those beyond our borders question our ways. Let them forget the countless incursions by the Romulans. Let them ignore the scars left by centuries of subversion from the Orion Syndicate. We do not forget. We remember the lives lost, the liberties challenged, and the lessons learned through suffering. These experiences shaped us.

We do not wish to return to the era of soft silence, when teachers trembled at the word "weapon" and children were told that even imagination was dangerous. That was not enlightenment. That was indoctrination.

Conclusion: Guarding the Flame

We are the guardians of Risa’s flame—not just with words and treaties, but with discipline and readiness. We have made peace a practice, and preparation a virtue. And so I say to this chamber: let us never again disarm our people in the name of utopia. Let us never confuse comfort with safety, or the absence of weapons with the presence of peace.

Instead, let us raise generations who know what peace costs, and who will pay that price—not with surrender, but with courage.

Let our children be artists, lovers, dreamers—and if necessary, defenders.

This is the Risan way.

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

I got into a friendly discussion on X regarding health insurance. The specific question was how to deal with health insurance companies (presumably unfairly) denying claims? My answer, as usual: get government out of it!

The US healthcare system is essentially the worst of both worlds:

• Unlike full single payer, individuals incur high costs
• Unlike a true free market, regulation causes increases in costs and decreases competition among insurers

I'm firmly on the side of moving towards the free market. (And I say that as someone living under a single payer system now.) Here's what I would do:

• Get rid of tax incentives that make health insurance tied to your employer, giving individuals back proper freedom of choice.
• Reduce regulations significantly.

• In the short term, some people will still get rejected claims and other obnoxious behavior from insurance companies. We address that in two ways:

  1. Due to reduced regulations, new insurance companies will be able to enter the market offering more reliable coverage and better rates, and people will flock to them because they have the freedom to make their own choices.
  2. Sue the asses off of companies that reject claims unfairly. And ideally, as one of the few legitimate roles of government in all this, institute new laws that limit the ability of fine print to allow insurers to escape their responsibilities. (I'm hesitant that the latter will happen due to the incestuous relationship between Congress/regulators and insurers, but I can hope.)

Will this magically fix everything overnight like politicians normally promise? No. But it will allow the market to return to a healthy state. And I don't think it will take long (order of magnitude: 5-10 years) for it to come together, but that's just speculation.

And since there's a high correlation between those who believe government can fix problems by taking more control and demanding that only credentialed experts weigh in on a topic (both points I strongly disagree with BTW): I'm a trained actuary and worked in the insurance industry, and have directly seen how government regulation reduces competition, raises prices, and harms consumers.

And my final point: I don't think any prior art would be a good comparison for deregulation in the US, it's such a different market than any other country in the world for so many reasons that lessons wouldn't really translate. Nonetheless, I asked Grok for some empirical data on this, and at best the results of deregulation could be called "mixed," but likely more accurately "uncertain, confused, and subject to whatever interpretation anyone wants to apply."

https://x.com/i/grok/share/Zc8yOdrN8lS275hXJ92uwq98M

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/978875

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Spoken by Counselor Elaron T’Saren of Risa to the High Council, Stardate 52874.2

Honored members of the Council,

I bring you greetings from Risa—not the Risa of travel brochures and romantic holo-novels, but the true Risa. The Risa that has endured, adapted, and emerged stronger after each trial. I speak not as a tourist ambassador, but as a Counselor of our oldest institute of philosophy, and as a son of the Ricin tradition.

Today, the specter of the Borg hangs above us. The collective offers no room for diplomacy, no respect for culture, no compromise. We face not mere invaders—but a force that seeks to erase individuality, history, and identity. Some among the Council wonder what Risa—a world of peace—can offer in such a time. I say to you: we can offer the truth about peace.

The Hidden Roots of Our Tranquility

Long ago, before Risa joined the Federation, we too believed that peace could be maintained by disarming the populace, by eliminating even the mention of conflict in our schools. It was called the Great Disarmament. A generation was raised with no understanding of defense, and in time, we paid the price.

We were raided by Orion pirates. Exploited by off-world cartels. Our people were taken, our arts destroyed, our skies blackened. And we learned—too late—that peace without preparedness is only the illusion of safety.

The Birth of Ricin Doctrine

From the ashes of that failure arose the Ricin: scholars, philosophers, warriors of thought and purpose. They taught that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the mastery of it. That the mind and the body must be trained in tandem. That love without strength is a leaf in the wind.

We did not become a militant world. We became a watchful one. Our children were taught martial discipline—not to glorify violence, but to understand it, to confront it, and to defeat it when necessary. They learned meditation alongside hand-to-hand technique, negotiation beside tactical reasoning.

When we joined the Federation, we did so willingly. But let none assume we surrendered our right to defend our way of life.

Why I Speak to You Now

The Borg are not like the Orion Syndicate. They are not opportunistic, or ideological. They are methodical. And they are coming. You cannot debate with them. You cannot delay them. You can only prepare for them.

And yet, I hear murmurs within the halls of the Federation: whispers of abandoning planetary defense training, of downplaying the psychological need for individual and planetary preparedness. I hear the tired lie that “peace will protect us.”

No, Councilors. It is discipline that protects peace.

The Call to Action

I do not come bearing weapons. I come bearing wisdom. Let us take the Risan lesson and apply it across the Federation. Reestablish tactical readiness training in civilian schools. Encourage planetary governments to integrate defense and philosophy, not as contradictions, but as complements.

Let every child of the Federation grow up knowing not just the principles of liberty, but the means to defend them. Let every artist, scientist, and healer stand ready to protect the civilization they help to build.

Let us not wait until the Borg are in our orbit to remember what we must become.

Conclusion

The Borg seek to erase our uniqueness. Let us show them that the Federation is not a fragile collection of planets—but a constellation of cultures bound by a shared resolve.

We do not choose war. But neither do we flee from it.

We are the guardians of Risa’s flame—and we offer our light to the stars.

Thank you.

@ 7e8ca676:b6a7569f

There was a time when Bitcoin smelled like ozone and rebellion. When men wore hoodies because they meant it. When software didn’t come with a mission statement or a DAO-approved pronoun guide. When the only thing a Bitcoin dev feared was being wrong, not being unpopular. \ \ That time is dead. \ \ It died somewhere between the fifth Twitter thread explaining why putting JPEGs on the base layer was “valid use,” and the fiftieth PR that added complexity to the engine in order to simplify the cupholders. Now we’re here, ankle-deep in a pool of our own mediocrity, arguing over whether we should triple the OP_RETURN limit so a VC-backed sidechain company can offload its plumbing costs onto your Raspberry Pi. \ \ Welcome to the future. It’s paved in GitHub comments and smells like a WeWork bathroom. \ \ Let’s speak plainly. This whole drama is not about OP_RETURN. It’s about power. Not electrical power. Not hash power. Soft power. The power to redefine what Bitcoin is for, one pull request at a time. It is the power to turn the protocol from a blunt, uncompromising monetary weapon into a polite corporate middleware bus for protocol startups that couldn’t raise a Series B without a little help from their friends in Core. \ \ Jameson Lopp wants to increase the OP_RETURN limit. Why? Because his company, Citrea, needs to squeeze a few more bytes into every transaction. It's not a crime. It’s not even dishonest. It's just pathetically on the nose. They don’t want to pay miners directly. They want the mempool to be their free emergency broadcast system. They want to lean on the public infrastructure without sending flowers or even a thank-you note. \ \ And what does Core say? \ \ They say yes. \ \ Because of “technical merit.” \ \ Because it’s “more efficient.” \ \ Because the devs have long since stopped being guardians of the protocol and started being unpaid product managers for whoever can string enough buzzwords together in a conference talk. \ \ You can see it in their eyes. You can hear it in their interviews. The Core devs aren’t building Bitcoin anymore. They’re managing Bitcoin. They’re curating it. Polishing it. Nerfing it for mass adoption. Like a bunch of Brooklyn baristas trying to make espresso kid-friendly. Bitcoin used to be an espresso shot poured directly into the mouth of the Federal Reserve. Now it’s a lukewarm latte with oat milk and consensus-breaking sprinkles. \ \ The worst part? The refusal to acknowledge that this is not about UTXO bloat. It's not about cleaner mempools. It’s about upstreaming corporate convenience into the base layer under the halo of neutrality. It’s about giving polite names to ugly compromises. “Policy adjustment.” “Ergonomic improvement.” “Relay optimization.” They speak in this weird dialect of bureaucratic techspeak that means nothing and does less. \ \ Meanwhile, the only thing that actually matters gets lost: ossification. \ \ The holy grail of this protocol is ossification. Not stagnation. Not laziness. Not gridlock. Just stability. The longer Bitcoin can go without consensus changes, the more credible it becomes. The more unchangeable it becomes. Like gravity. Like rust. It doesn’t matter how good your argument is. The system won’t budge. That’s the point. The value of Bitcoin isn’t in how clever the devs are. It’s in how irrelevant they become. \ \ But ossification isn't something you declare. You sneak up on it. You approach it sideways, like a wild animal. You do less and less until eventually you’re doing nothing at all, and nobody even remembers how to change the code anymore. That is the goal. To make the protocol so boring, so petrified, that no one can move it. Not Lopp. Not Luke. Not even Larry from Legal. \ \ To get there, we need something devs hate: client balkanization. \ \ That means splitting the client into pieces. Break the codebase. Separate the consensus engine from the policy fluff. Let people run different implementations. Let the free market decide what filters they want, what mempool rules they tolerate, what behavior they’re willing to relay. You want a node that bans inscriptions? Run it. You want a client that auto-forwards every transaction with a JPEG of your left toe? Go for it. Just don’t make it my problem. \ \ Right now, Bitcoin Core is a monoculture. It’s the cathedral and the altar and the pamphlet all rolled into one. That’s not healthy. That’s a single point of failure. That’s a priesthood. \ \ And no, Bitcoin isn’t a religion. It’s worse. It’s a culture. Religion has rituals. Culture has habits. And habits are harder to break. Especially when your dev team gets drunk on the idea that their opinions are features. \ \ If you want to fix this mess, you need to kill the idea that Bitcoin Core is the final word. Strip it down. Remove every line of non-consensus code. Make it boring. Make it dumb. Let the client rot in peace, and let a thousand weird little nodes bloom. \ \ Let the spammers spam themselves into oblivion. Let the free-riders find someone else to subsidize their infrastructure. Let every operator set their own damn filters. \ \ You’ll know ossification is working when the devs start getting bored. When they stop showing up. When there are no more debates. When the politics dry up. When Jameson Lopp finally logs off. \ \ Until then, every line of code you don’t remove is a future argument you’ll be forced to have with someone who thinks “data availability” is more important than keeping the protocol boring. \ \ Bitcoin does not need to be exciting. It needs to be a brick. A self-righteous, opinionated, uncompromising, utterly stubborn monetary brick. \ \ Keep your hands off it. \ \ And take your startup with you.OP_RETURN and the Cult of Cleverness: Or, How Bitcoin Core Learned to Love the Smell of Its Own Farts

There was a time when Bitcoin smelled like ozone and rebellion. When men wore hoodies because they meant it. When software didn’t come with a mission statement or a DAO-approved pronoun guide. When the only thing a Bitcoin dev feared was being wrong, not being unpopular.

That time is dead.

It died somewhere between the fifth Twitter thread explaining why putting JPEGs on the base layer was “valid use,” and the fiftieth PR that added complexity to the engine in order to simplify the cupholders. Now we’re here, ankle-deep in a pool of our own mediocrity, arguing over whether we should triple the OP_RETURN limit so a VC-backed sidechain company can offload its plumbing costs onto your Raspberry Pi.

Welcome to the future. It’s paved in GitHub comments and smells like a WeWork bathroom.

Let’s speak plainly. This whole drama is not about OP_RETURN. It’s about power. Not electrical power. Not hash power. Soft power. The power to redefine what Bitcoin is for, one pull request at a time. It is the power to turn the protocol from a blunt, uncompromising monetary weapon into a polite corporate middleware bus for protocol startups that couldn’t raise a Series B without a little help from their friends in Core.

Jameson Lopp wants to increase the OP_RETURN limit. Why? Because his company, Citrea, needs to squeeze a few more bytes into every transaction. It's not a crime. It’s not even dishonest. It's just pathetically on the nose. They don’t want to pay miners directly. They want the mempool to be their free emergency broadcast system. They want to lean on the public infrastructure without sending flowers or even a thank-you note.

And what does Core say?

They say yes.

Because of “technical merit.”

Because it’s “more efficient.”

Because the devs have long since stopped being guardians of the protocol and started being unpaid product managers for whoever can string enough buzzwords together in a conference talk.

You can see it in their eyes. You can hear it in their interviews. The Core devs aren’t building Bitcoin anymore. They’re managing Bitcoin. They’re curating it. Polishing it. Nerfing it for mass adoption. Like a bunch of Brooklyn baristas trying to make espresso kid-friendly. Bitcoin used to be an espresso shot poured directly into the mouth of the Federal Reserve. Now it’s a lukewarm latte with oat milk and consensus-breaking sprinkles.

The worst part? The refusal to acknowledge that this is not about UTXO bloat. It's not about cleaner mempools. It’s about upstreaming corporate convenience into the base layer under the halo of neutrality. It’s about giving polite names to ugly compromises. “Policy adjustment.” “Ergonomic improvement.” “Relay optimization.” They speak in this weird dialect of bureaucratic techspeak that means nothing and does less.

Meanwhile, the only thing that actually matters gets lost: ossification.

The holy grail of this protocol is ossification. Not stagnation. Not laziness. Not gridlock. Just stability. The longer Bitcoin can go without consensus changes, the more credible it becomes. The more unchangeable it becomes. Like gravity. Like rust. It doesn’t matter how good your argument is. The system won’t budge. That’s the point. The value of Bitcoin isn’t in how clever the devs are. It’s in how irrelevant they become.

But ossification isn't something you declare. You sneak up on it. You approach it sideways, like a wild animal. You do less and less until eventually you’re doing nothing at all, and nobody even remembers how to change the code anymore. That is the goal. To make the protocol so boring, so petrified, that no one can move it. Not Lopp. Not Luke. Not even Larry from Legal.

To get there, we need something devs hate: client balkanization.

That means splitting the client into pieces. Break the codebase. Separate the consensus engine from the policy fluff. Let people run different implementations. Let the free market decide what filters they want, what mempool rules they tolerate, what behavior they’re willing to relay. You want a node that bans inscriptions? Run it. You want a client that auto-forwards every transaction with a JPEG of your left toe? Go for it. Just don’t make it my problem.

Right now, Bitcoin Core is a monoculture. It’s the cathedral and the altar and the pamphlet all rolled into one. That’s not healthy. That’s a single point of failure. That’s a priesthood.

And no, Bitcoin isn’t a religion. It’s worse. It’s a culture. Religion has rituals. Culture has habits. And habits are harder to break. Especially when your dev team gets drunk on the idea that their opinions are features.

If you want to fix this mess, you need to kill the idea that Bitcoin Core is the final word. Strip it down. Remove every line of non-consensus code. Make it boring. Make it dumb. Let the client rot in peace, and let a thousand weird little nodes bloom.

Let the spammers spam themselves into oblivion. Let the free-riders find someone else to subsidize their infrastructure. Let every operator set their own damn filters.

You’ll know ossification is working when the devs start getting bored. When they stop showing up. When there are no more debates. When the politics dry up. When Jameson Lopp finally logs off.

Until then, every line of code you don’t remove is a future argument you’ll be forced to have with someone who thinks “data availability” is more important than keeping the protocol boring.

Bitcoin does not need to be exciting. It needs to be a brick. A self-righteous, opinionated, uncompromising, utterly stubborn monetary brick.

Keep your hands off it.

And take your startup with you.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Hear this, warriors of the Empire!

A dishonorable shadow spreads across our once-proud institutions, infecting our very bloodlines with weakness. The House of Duras—may their names be spoken with contempt—has betrayed the sacred warrior code of Kahless. No, they have not attacked us with disruptors or blades. Their weapon is more insidious: fear and silence.

Cowardice Masquerading as Concern

These traitors would strip our children of their birthright. They forbid the young from training with the bat'leth in school! Their cowardly decree does not come in the form of an open challenge, but in whispers of fear, buried in bureaucratic dictates. "It is for safety," they claim. "It is to prevent bloodshed." Lies! The blood of Klingons must be tested in training if it is to be ready in battle. We are not humans to be coddled by illusions of safety.

Indoctrination by Silence

In their cowardice, the House of Duras seeks to shape our children not into warriors, but into frightened bureaucrats who speak not of honor, nor of strength. They spread a vile practice—of punishing younglings for even speaking of combat, for recounting glorious tales of blades clashing in the halls of Sto-Vo-Kor! A child who dares write a poem of battle is silenced. A young warrior who shares tales of their father’s triumphs is summoned to the headmaster’s office.

This is no accident. This is a calculated cultural sabotage.

Weakness Taught as Virtue

The House of Duras has infected the minds of the teachers. These once-proud mentors now tremble at shadows, seeing future rebels in the eyes of their students. They demand security patrols and biometric scanners, turning training halls into prisons. They have created fear, not of enemies beyond the Empire, but of the students themselves.

And so, the rituals of strength are erased. The bat'leth is banished. The honor of open training and sparring is forbidden. All under the pretense of protection.

A Plan of Subjugation

Make no mistake. This is not a policy; it is a plan. A plan to disarm future warriors before they are strong enough to rise. By forbidding speech, training, and remembrance, the House of Duras ensures the next generation kneels before the High Council like servants, not warriors. They seek an Empire of sheep, not wolves.

Stand and Resist

But the blood of Kahless runs strong! We must not be silent. We must not comply. Let every training hall resound with the clash of steel. Let our children speak proudly of their ancestors' battles. Let every dishonorable edict from the House of Duras be met with open defiance.

Raise your voice, Klingons! Raise your blade! The soul of the Empire is at stake. We will not surrender our future. We will not let the cowardice of Duras shape the spirit of our children.

The Empire endures through strength. Through honor. Through battle. And so shall we!

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

According to Malaysia’s main electricity provider, electricity theft for bitcoin mining has reached alarming levels.

Malaysia is facing a surge in electricity theft tied to bitcoin mining, with a 300% increase over the past six years, according to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the country’s primary power supplier.

The company revealed that cases of electricity theft related to mining rose from 610 in 2018 to 2,397 in 2024. This surge is driven not only by more widespread mining operations but also by increased citizen vigilance in reporting suspicious activity.

To combat the growing threat, TNB has deployed a network of smart meters equipped with radio signal technology. These devices monitor consumption in real time, quickly detecting abnormal usage patterns typically associated with unauthorized mining operations.

Illegal operators have developed methods to bypass standard meters, taking advantage of subsidized electricity rates and compromising grid stability. Some unsuspecting property owners have received electricity bills as high as 1.2 million Malaysian ringgit (around $275,000), only to later discover their premises had been covertly converted into mining farms.

Malaysian authorities have stepped up their response, coordinating operations between regulators, anti-corruption units, and local law enforcement.

According to CEIC data, Malaysia reached a power generation capacity of 15,451 gigawatt-hours, with prices starting as low as $0.052. This availability of affordable energy has made the country an attractive target for miners. An analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that typical mining rigs consume between 1 kW and 8 kW of power.

Regulation

TNB is pushing for stricter enforcement of the Electricity Supply Act, which includes severe penalties for power theft, with prison terms of up to ten years or fines of up to 1 million Malaysian ringgit ($230,000).

“Bitcoin mining itself isn’t illegal in Malaysia,” clarified a TNB spokesperson_, “but it must be conducted in compliance with existing laws and regulations, including the proper payment of commercial electricity tariffs.”_

The post Illegal mining in Malaysia: electricity theft up 300% since 2018 appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 21ffd29c:518a8ff5

• What Are Homestead Chickens?
  Homestead chickens are domesticated fowl kept by homeowners to provide eggs and companionship. They play a vital role in the homestead ecosystem.

Why Water is Essential in Cold Weather - Hydration Basics:
Chickens don't drink much water naturally but need it for hydration, especially during cold weather when metabolic rates increase. - Environmental Factors:
Cold weather can lead to ice buildup on water sources. Chickens benefit from having access to fresh water year-round.

Maintaining Accessible Water Sources - Shallow Troughs:
Use shallow troughs instead of deep containers to minimize ice formation and ensure constant water supply. - Automatic Feeders:
Consider installing automatic feeders for convenience, especially in unpredictable weather conditions. - Multiple Water Sources:
Provide multiple water sources to prevent competition and ensure all chickens have access.

Preventing Ice Buildup - Floating Shallow Troughs:
Opt for troughs that sit above the ground to avoid ice buildup. Ensure they're placed where they can't freeze completely. - Regular Checks:
Inspect water sources regularly to remove ice and debris, maintaining accessibility for chickens.

Best Practices for Watering Chickens - Waterers Designed for Cold Weather:
Use waterers made of stainless steel or plastic that can withstand cold temperatures. - Seasonal Adjustments:
During extreme cold spells, supplement with a small amount of fresh water to aid in drinking.

Conclusion - Key Takeaways:
Providing proper water is crucial for the health and well-being of homestead chickens during cold weather. Maintaining accessible, shallow water sources prevents issues like ice buildup and ensures hydration.

Final Thoughts - Sustainability Considerations:
While chickens don't drink much, ensuring they have water supports their overall health and sustainability efforts. - Environmental Impact:
Thoughtful water management can reduce water usage, promoting eco-friendly practices on the homestead.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

In an age where culture often precedes policy, a subtle yet potent mechanism may be at play in the shaping of American perspectives on gun ownership. Rather than directly challenging the Second Amendment through legislation alone, a more insidious strategy may involve reshaping the cultural and social norms surrounding firearms—by conditioning the population, starting at its most impressionable point: the public school system.

The Cultural Lever of Language

Unlike Orwell's 1984, where language is controlled by removing words from the lexicon, this modern approach may hinge instead on instilling fear around specific words or topics—guns, firearms, and self-defense among them. The goal is not to erase the language but to embed a taboo so deep that people voluntarily avoid these terms out of social self-preservation. Children, teachers, and parents begin to internalize a fear of even mentioning weapons, not because the words are illegal, but because the cultural consequences are severe.

The Role of Teachers in Social Programming

Teachers, particularly in primary and middle schools, serve not only as educational authorities but also as social regulators. The frequent argument against homeschooling—that children will not be "properly socialized"—reveals an implicit understanding that schools play a critical role in setting behavioral norms. Children learn what is acceptable not just academically but socially. Rules, discipline, and behavioral expectations are laid down by teachers, often reinforced through peer pressure and institutional authority.

This places teachers in a unique position of influence. If fear is instilled in these educators—fear that one of their students could become the next school shooter—their response is likely to lean toward overcorrection. That overcorrection may manifest as a total intolerance for any conversation about weapons, regardless of the context. Innocent remarks or imaginative stories from young children are interpreted as red flags, triggering intervention from administrators and warnings to parents.

Fear as a Policy Catalyst

School shootings, such as the one at Columbine, serve as the fulcrum for this fear-based conditioning. Each highly publicized tragedy becomes a national spectacle, not only for mourning but also for cementing the idea that any child could become a threat. Media cycles perpetuate this narrative with relentless coverage and emotional appeals, ensuring that each incident becomes embedded in the public consciousness.

The side effect of this focus is the generation of copycat behavior, which, in turn, justifies further media attention and tighter controls. Schools install security systems, metal detectors, and armed guards—not simply to stop violence, but to serve as a daily reminder to children and staff alike: guns are dangerous, ubiquitous, and potentially present at any moment. This daily ritual reinforces the idea that the very discussion of firearms is a precursor to violence.

Policy and Practice: The Zero-Tolerance Feedback Loop

Federal and district-level policies begin to reflect this cultural shift. A child mentioning a gun in class—even in a non-threatening or imaginative context—is flagged for intervention. Zero-tolerance rules leave no room for context or intent. Teachers and administrators, fearing for their careers or safety, comply eagerly with these guidelines, interpreting them as moral obligations rather than bureaucratic policies.

The result is a generation of students conditioned to associate firearms with social ostracism, disciplinary action, and latent danger. The Second Amendment, once seen as a cultural cornerstone of American liberty and self-reliance, is transformed into an artifact of suspicion and anxiety.

Long-Term Consequences: A Nation Re-Socialized

Over time, this fear-based reshaping of discourse creates adults who not only avoid discussing guns but view them as morally reprehensible. Their aversion is not grounded in legal logic or political philosophy, but in deeply embedded emotional programming begun in early childhood. The cultural weight against firearms becomes so great that even those inclined to support gun rights feel the need to self-censor.

As fewer people grow up discussing, learning about, or responsibly handling firearms, the social understanding of the Second Amendment erodes. Without cultural reinforcement, its value becomes abstract and its defenders marginalized. In this way, the right to bear arms is not abolished by law—it is dismantled by language, fear, and the subtle recalibration of social norms.

Conclusion

This theoretical strategy does not require a single change to the Constitution. It relies instead on the long game of cultural transformation, beginning with the youngest minds and reinforced by fear-driven policy and media narratives. The outcome is a society that views the Second Amendment not as a safeguard of liberty, but as an anachronism too dangerous to mention.

By controlling the language through social consequences and fear, a nation can be taught not just to disarm, but to believe it chose to do so freely. That, perhaps, is the most powerful form of control of all.

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

![[yedinaya-rossiya-bear.png]]

1️⃣ Be where the bear roams. Stay in its territory, where it hunts for food. No point setting a trap in your backyard if the bear’s chilling in the forest.

2️⃣ Set a well-hidden trap. Bury it, disguise it, and place the bait right in the center. Bears are omnivores—just like secret police KGB agents. And what’s the tastiest bait for them? Money.

3️⃣ Wait for the bear to take the bait. When it reaches in, the trap will snap shut around its paw. It’ll be alive, but stuck. No escape.

Now, what you do with a trapped bear is another question... 😏

@ 846ebf79:fe4e39a4

The next iteration is coming

We're busy racing to the finish line, for the #Alexandria Gutenberg beta. Then we can get the bug hunt done, release v0.1.0, and immediately start producing the first iteration of the Euler (v0.2.0) edition.

While we continue to work on fixing the performance issues and smooth rendering on the Reading View, we've gone ahead and added some new features and apps, which will be rolled-out soon.

The biggest projects this iteration have been:

• the HTTP API for the #Realy relay from nostr:npub1fjqqy4a93z5zsjwsfxqhc2764kvykfdyttvldkkkdera8dr78vhsmmleku,
• implementation of a publication tree structure by nostr:npub1wqfzz2p880wq0tumuae9lfwyhs8uz35xd0kr34zrvrwyh3kvrzuskcqsyn,
• and the Great DevOps Migration of 2025 from the ever-industrious Mr. nostr:npub1qdjn8j4gwgmkj3k5un775nq6q3q7mguv5tvajstmkdsqdja2havq03fqm7.

All are backend-y projects and have caused a major shift in process and product, on the development team's side, even if they're still largely invisible to users.

Another important, but invisible-to-you change is that nostr:npub1ecdlntvjzexlyfale2egzvvncc8tgqsaxkl5hw7xlgjv2cxs705s9qs735 has implemented the core bech32 functionality (and the associated tests) in C/C++, for the #Aedile NDK.

On the frontend:

nostr:npub1636uujeewag8zv8593lcvdrwlymgqre6uax4anuq3y5qehqey05sl8qpl4 is currently working on the blog-specific Reading View, which allows for multi-npub or topical blogging, by using the 30040 index as a "folder", joining the various 30041 articles into different blogs. She has also started experimenting with categorization and columns for the landing page.

nostr:npub1l5sga6xg72phsz5422ykujprejwud075ggrr3z2hwyrfgr7eylqstegx9z revamped the product information pages, so that there is now a Contact page (including the ability to submit a Nostr issue) and an About page (with more product information, the build version displayed, and a live #GitCitadel feed).

We have also allowed for discrete headings (headers that aren't section headings, akin to the headers in Markdown). Discrete headings are formatted, but not added to the ToC and do not result in a section split by Asciidoc processors.

We have added OpenGraph metadata, so that hyperlinks to Alexandria publications, and other events, display prettily in other apps. And we fixed some bugs.

The Visualisation view has been updated and bug-fixed, to make the cards human-readable and closeable, and to add hyperlinks to the events to the card-titles.

We have added support for the display of individual wiki pages and the integration of them into 30040 publications. (This is an important feature for scientists and other nonfiction writers.)

We prettified the event json modal, so that it's easier to read and copy-paste out of.

The index card details have been expanded and the menus on the landing page have been revamped and expanded. Design and style has been improved, overall.

Project management is very busy

Our scientific adviser nostr:npub1m3xdppkd0njmrqe2ma8a6ys39zvgp5k8u22mev8xsnqp4nh80srqhqa5sf is working on the Euler plans for integrating features important for medical researchers and other scientists, which have been put on the fast track.

Next up are:

• a return of the Table of Contents
• kind 1111 comments, highlights, likes
• a prototype social feed for wss://theforest.nostr1.com, including long-form articles and Markdown rendering
• compose and edit of publications
• a search field
• the expansion of the relay set with the new relays from nostr:npub12262qa4uhw7u8gdwlgmntqtv7aye8vdcmvszkqwgs0zchel6mz7s6cgrkj, including some cool premium features
• full wiki functionality and disambiguation pages for replaceable events with overlapping d-tags
• a web app for mass-uploading and auto-converting PDFs to 30040/41 Asciidoc events, that will run on Realy, and be a service free for our premium relay subscribers
• ability to subscribe to the forest with a premium status
• the book upload CLI has been renamed and reworked into the Sybil Test Utility and that will get a major release, covering all the events and functionality needed to test Euler
• the #GitRepublic public git server project
• ....and much more.

Thank you for reading and may your morning be good.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Reanalysis: Could the Great Pyramid Function as an Ammonia Generator Powered by a 25GW Breeder Reactor?

Introduction

The Great Pyramid of Giza has traditionally been considered a tomb or ceremonial structure. Yet an intriguing alternative hypothesis suggests it could have functioned as a large-scale ammonia generator, powered by a high-energy source, such as a nuclear breeder reactor. This analysis explores the theoretical practicality of powering such a system using a continuous 25-gigawatt (GW) breeder reactor.

The Pyramid as an Ammonia Generator

Producing ammonia (NH₃) from atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂) requires substantial energy. Modern ammonia production (via the Haber-Bosch process) typically demands high pressure (~150–250 atmospheres) and temperatures (~400–500°C). However, given enough available energy, it is theoretically feasible to synthesize ammonia at lower pressures if catalysts and temperatures are sufficiently high or if alternative electrochemical or plasma-based fixation methods are employed.

Theoretical System Components:

1. High Heat Source (25GW breeder reactor)
   A breeder reactor could consistently generate large amounts of heat. At a steady state of approximately 25GW, this heat source would easily sustain temperatures exceeding the 450°C threshold necessary for ammonia synthesis reactions, particularly if conducted electrochemically or catalytically.

2. Steam and Hydrogen Production
   The intense heat from a breeder reactor can efficiently evaporate water from subterranean channels (such as those historically suggested to exist beneath the pyramid) to form superheated steam. If coupled with high-voltage electrostatic fields (possibly in the millions of volts), steam electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen becomes viable. This high-voltage environment could substantially enhance electrolysis efficiency.

3. Nitrogen Fixation (Ammonia Synthesis)
   With hydrogen readily produced, ammonia generation can proceed. Atmospheric nitrogen, abundant around the pyramid, can combine with the hydrogen generated through electrolysis. Under these conditions, the pyramid's capstone—potentially made from a catalytic metal like osmium, platinum, or gold—could facilitate nitrogen fixation at elevated temperatures.

Power Requirements and Energy Calculations

A thorough calculation of the continuous power requirements to maintain this system follows:

• Estimated Steady-state Power: ~25 GW of continuous thermal power.
• Total Energy Over 10,000 years: """ Energy = 25 GW × 10,000 years × 365.25 days/year × 24 hrs/day × 3600 s/hr ≈ 7.9 × 10²¹ Joules """

Feasibility of a 25GW Breeder Reactor within the Pyramid

A breeder reactor capable of sustaining 25GW thermal power is physically plausible—modern commercial reactors routinely generate 3–4GW thermal, so this is within an achievable engineering scale (though certainly large by current standards).

Fuel Requirements:

• Each kilogram of fissile fuel (e.g., U-233 from Thorium-232) releases ~80 terajoules (TJ) or 8×10¹³ joules.
• Considering reactor efficiency (~35%), one kilogram provides ~2.8×10¹³ joules usable energy: """ Fuel Required = 7.9 × 10²¹ J / 2.8 × 10¹³ J/kg ≈ 280,000 metric tons """
• With a breeding ratio of ~1.3: """ Initial Load = 280,000 tons / 1.3 ≈ 215,000 tons """

Reactor Physical Dimensions (Pebble Bed Design):

• King’s Chamber size: ~318 cubic meters.
• The reactor core would need to be extremely dense and highly efficient. Advanced engineering would be required to concentrate such power in this space, but it is within speculative feasibility.

Steam Generation and Scaling Management

Key methods to mitigate mineral scaling in the system: 1. Natural Limestone Filtration 2. Chemical Additives (e.g., chelating agents, phosphate compounds) 3. Superheating and Electrostatic Ionization 4. Electrostatic Control

Conclusion and Practical Considerations

Yes, the Great Pyramid could theoretically function as an ammonia generator if powered by a 25GW breeder reactor, using: - Thorium or Uranium-based fertile material, - Sustainable steam and scaling management, - High-voltage-enhanced electrolysis and catalytic ammonia synthesis.

While speculative, it is technologically coherent when analyzed through the lens of modern nuclear and chemical engineering.

See also: nostr:naddr1qqxnzde5xymrgvekxycrswfeqy2hwumn8ghj7am0deejucmpd3mxztnyv4mz7q3qc856kwjk524kef97hazw5e9jlkjq4333r6yxh2rtgefpd894ddpsxpqqqp65wun9c08

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Custodial Lightning wallets allow users to transact without managing private keys or channel liquidity. The provider handles technical complexities, but this convenience comes with critical trade-offs:

• You don’t control your keys: The custodian holds your bitcoin.
• Centralized points of failure: Servers can be hacked or shut down.
• Surveillance risks: Providers track transaction metadata.

Key Risks of Custodial Lightning Wallets

*1. Hacks and Exit Scams*

Custodians centralize large amounts of bitcoin, attracting hackers:

• Nearly $2.2 billion worth of funds were stolen from hacks in 2024.
• Lightning custodians suffered breaches, losing user funds.

Unlike non-custodial wallets, victims have no recourse since they don’t hold keys.

*2. Censorship and Account Freezes*

Custodians comply with regulators, risking fund seizures:

• Strike (a custodial Lightning app) froze accounts of users in sanctioned regions.
• A U.K. court in 2020 ordered Bitfinex to freeze bitcoin worth $860,000 after the exchange and blockchain sleuthing firm Chainalysis traced the funds to a ransomware payment.

*3. Privacy Erosion*

Custodians log user activity, exposing sensitive data:

• Transaction amounts, receiver addresses, and IPs are recorded.

*4. Service Downtime*

Centralized infrastructure risks outages.

*5. Inflation of Lightning Network Centralization*

Custodians dominate liquidity, weakening network resilience:

• At the moment, 10% of the nodes on Lightning control 80% of the liquidity.
• This centralization contradicts bitcoin’s decentralized ethos.

How to Switch to Self-Custodial Lightning Wallets

Migrating from custodial services is straightforward:

*1. Choose a Non-Custodial Wallet*

Opt for wallets that let you control keys and channels:

• Flash: The self-custodial tool that lets you own your keys, control your coins, and transact instantly.
• Breez Wallet : Non-custodial, POS integrations.
• Core Lightning : Advanced, for self-hosted node operators.

*2. Transfer Funds Securely*

• Withdraw funds from your custodial wallet to a bitcoin on-chain address.
• Send bitcoin to your non-custodial Lightning wallet.

*3. Set Up Channel Backups*

Use tools like Static Channel Backups (SCB) to recover channels if needed.

*4. Best Practices*

• Enable Tor: Mask your IP (e.g., Breez’s built-in Tor support).
• Verify Receiving Addresses: Avoid phishing scams.
• Regularly Rebalance Channels: Use tools like Lightning Pool for liquidity.

Why Self-Custodial Lightning Matters

• Self-custody: Control your keys and funds.
• Censorship resistance: No third party can block transactions.
• Network health: Decentralized liquidity strengthens Lightning.

Self-custodial wallets now rival custodial ease.

Custodial Lightning wallets sacrifice security for convenience, putting users at risk of hacks, surveillance, and frozen funds. As bitcoin adoption grows, so does the urgency to embrace self-custodial solutions.

Take action today:

1. Withdraw custodial funds to a hardware wallet.
2. Migrate to a self-custodial Lightning wallet.
3. Educate others on the risks of custodial control.

The Lightning Network’s potential hinges on decentralization—don’t let custodians become its Achilles’ heel.

@ 3ae7fdae:f8d4b19d

Lifting the Curtain on Power and Scandal

The Illusion of Power and TrustIn the modern world, the line between trust and skepticism is razor-thin, especially when it comes to powerful figures and organizations. They present polished facades, dazzling us with promises of stability, innovation, or in Disney’s case, enchantment. Yet, the revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s network reminded us that power is often far more complex than it appears. This scandal became a litmus test for public trust and fueled questions about who, or what, might be entwined in hidden truths.

When Epstein's crimes were exposed, they revealed not just the horrifying details of exploitation, but also the unsettling reach of his influence. As the media peeled back the layers of his associations, public attention naturally shifted to recognizable names and institutions, including Disney. How could a company that represented childhood innocence, with castles and fairy tales, find itself whispered about in the same breath as Epstein’s infamous circle? This segment examines the roots of that question and the facts that illuminate its plausibility or dismiss it.

Epstein: A Man Who Mastered Access to PowerJeffrey Epstein was more than just a financier—he was a gatekeeper to influence. His lifestyle and operations were an entangled web of charm, manipulation, and wealth, meticulously designed to secure him a place among the powerful. Investigative articles by The Guardian and The New York Times depict Epstein as a social engineer, curating relationships that ranged from politicians and royalty to scientists and celebrities.

Court documents and deposition testimonies during Epstein’s trial confirmed that his homes and private jet were hubs for connecting with influential figures. This access did not come without consequence; it cemented him as both a source of curiosity and, later, fear. Public records, such as those scrutinized in The Washington Post, indicated his involvement with many high-profile individuals. Yet, the details of these relationships varied—some guests were casual acquaintances, others, confidants.

The Infamous Flight LogsThe flight logs of Epstein’s private jet, colloquially known as the "Lolita Express," became a centerpiece for public scrutiny. Released through court orders and accessed by journalists, these logs listed names that triggered a cascade of questions. Guests ranged from prominent business executives to entertainment figures, sparking a debate over whether mere association implied complicity or deeper connections. This fueled the narrative that Epstein’s reach was far more extensive than previously understood, implicating industries where entertainment, power, and trust intersected.

The Role of Speculation in Public DiscourseAs soon as these flight logs surfaced, discussions surged online and across media platforms. The presence of any entertainment figure in Epstein’s orbit raised an eyebrow and, in many cases, invited a leap of logic: if influential media personalities were tied to him, could companies known for entertainment and global reach, like Disney, have hidden associations as well? This hypothesis, though lacking concrete evidence, found fertile ground among those predisposed to distrust large, seemingly untouchable institutions.

It’s crucial to dissect why Disney, specifically, became a subject of speculation. On one hand, its status as an omnipresent media empire makes it an easy target for conspiracy theories that thrive on the juxtaposition of light (Disney’s brand) and darkness (Epstein’s crimes). On the other, it speaks to a larger societal impulse to find cracks in the foundations of those we consider infallible. The idea that even the most beloved entities might harbor hidden truths appeals to a deep-seated desire for transparency and accountability.

The Catalyst of Public CuriosityThe timing of Epstein’s exposure was a critical factor. His arrest and subsequent death in 2019 coincided with a period marked by rising distrust in institutions, fueled by political and social upheavals globally. Social media platforms amplified this distrust, creating echo chambers where half-truths and speculative narratives merged seamlessly with confirmed facts.

It is here that Disney’s name began to surface not as an accused, but as a speculative point in discussions. The reasoning often pointed to a "guilt by association" logic: if the powerful dined, flew, or partied with Epstein, then it was worth questioning the circles in which those powerful entities moved, even without direct evidence. This leap from speculation to assumption reflects a pattern that sociologists recognize as part of conspiracy theory psychology—where a lack of clear answers invites the mind to fill in gaps, often with what feels most compelling.

Reframing the Public’s QuestionsThe real question becomes: why does this speculation hold such sway, even when evidence is scarce? Part of the answer lies in precedent. History is replete with instances where institutions that seemed above reproach were later implicated in hidden misdeeds, from financial frauds to abuse scandals within trusted organizations. This collective memory primes the public to believe that beneath any glittering surface could lie a dark, concealed underbelly.

Disney’s position as an icon of childhood and innocence adds another layer to this narrative. To imagine that such a symbol could be tainted by proximity to someone like Epstein is not just shocking—it’s fascinating. It strikes at the core of what we hold sacred, making it an irresistible topic of conversation and investigation.

Why This MattersUnderstanding why names like Disney are brought into these discussions without verified evidence is essential. It helps differentiate between warranted inquiry and unsupported speculation, allowing us to approach these narratives critically. Addressing this head-on does not only clear the air but strengthens the foundation upon which valid criticism and accountability are built.

A Note on EvidenceAs we move deeper into this exploration, it’s critical to emphasize that while Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures are thoroughly documented, there remains no evidence tying Disney, as an organization, to his operations. Still, the fascination with the “what-ifs” continues, driven by our collective quest for understanding power, secrecy, and the thin line between public and private lives.

The next segment will dive into Epstein’s proven network, unraveling the extent of his influence and why it has been the breeding ground for questions involving the world’s most trusted corporations.

Epstein’s Documented Network

The Web of Power: A Portrait of InfluenceJeffrey Epstein’s network was not merely a collection of acquaintances; it was a curated gallery of the world’s most influential figures, built on calculated relationships and strategic connections. Epstein wielded this network with the precision of a skilled operator, bridging disparate realms of society—politics, academia, business, and media. Investigative reporting by sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian exposed how Epstein maintained access to individuals who shaped policy, managed wealth, and crafted the narratives of popular culture.

Court records, testimonies, and detailed analyses of his interactions revealed that Epstein was adept at placing himself at the center of elite circles. His estates, from Manhattan townhouses to private islands, hosted events that blurred the lines between social gatherings and strategic networking. This chapter delves into the proven extent of Epstein’s reach and why it sparked questions about connections to corporations and public institutions, including Disney.

Flight Logs: The Proof and the SparkThe flight logs from Epstein’s private jet, the infamous "Lolita Express," were among the most illuminating pieces of evidence in mapping his connections. These logs, legally obtained and examined by journalists, painted a picture of Epstein’s influence stretching across industries. High-profile figures were listed, including financiers, political leaders, and entertainment personalities. The presence of notable names triggered waves of speculation—if Epstein had access to such power players, how many more remained unnamed but entangled?

The Guardian and The Washington Post reported that these flights were not just transportation but often involved visits to Epstein’s various properties, known for their opulence and the dark rumors surrounding them. While these logs confirmed that many public figures knew Epstein, the depth and nature of their associations varied widely, from casual acquaintance to deeper involvement.

The Limits of the KnownDespite the breadth of documented connections, there was no verifiable evidence linking Disney as an entity to Epstein’s circle. What the flight logs and guest lists revealed was a man deeply embedded in networks of power, yet even within these proven associations, context was crucial. For instance, some guests, confirmed by court records and investigative articles, were shown to have attended public events or engaged in business unrelated to Epstein’s criminal activities.

The distinction between documented presence and complicity is where the narrative often splinters. The leap from association to implication fueled public debate and conspiracy theories. This was especially true when figures from media and entertainment, sectors known for influencing public sentiment and childhood memories, appeared on the periphery of Epstein’s activities.

Epstein’s Parties and Gatherings: The Elite’s Shadowed StageEpstein’s parties were legendary, drawing attendees from the highest echelons of influence. These gatherings were not casual mixers but orchestrated showcases of power. Reports from court depositions and firsthand accounts highlighted how Epstein leveraged these events to cement alliances and reinforce his status as a gatekeeper to the elite. Some testimonies even described how these events served as platforms for discussing investments, politics, and global initiatives, reinforcing Epstein’s perceived omnipotence.

High-Profile Confirmations and Their ImplicationsSeveral prominent individuals were indeed verified as having ties to Epstein, raising legitimate questions about the extent of their knowledge or involvement. These names included politicians, royalty, and entertainment figures. The ambiguity surrounding these associations allowed theories to flourish. The sheer presence of influential names on Epstein’s guest lists raised the question: If these individuals were implicated, what about the institutions they represented or the circles they moved within?

This was a turning point for public speculation. The logic extended: if an individual from a major media company or entertainment empire like Disney was even remotely connected, could that implicate the company itself? The answer, according to existing court records and credible investigations, remained no. Yet, the absence of direct evidence did not stop speculation; in many cases, it intensified it.

Why Disney Was Brought Into the ConversationDisney’s reputation as a family-friendly giant contrasted starkly with the dark nature of Epstein’s activities, making it an unlikely yet intriguing topic for public discourse. While some entertainment figures appeared on Epstein’s flight logs or were rumored to have interacted with him, investigations have not yielded any proof of corporate-level involvement. However, public fascination persisted, bolstered by the broader questions Epstein’s connections evoked.

It’s worth noting that corporations like Disney, with their vast reach and unparalleled influence, naturally become focal points when discussions of hidden truths arise. The mere idea that such an iconic entity could be associated with real-world shadows captures the imagination and fuels stories that, while lacking proof, thrive on the “what-ifs” that echo through media and online forums.

How Public Perception Shapes the NarrativeSociologists studying the psychology of conspiracy theories point out that the human mind tends to fill gaps in knowledge with what feels most plausible or compelling. When figures from reputable media or entertainment companies are tied, even tangentially, to a scandal as vast as Epstein’s, it challenges the boundaries of trust. This is exacerbated when concrete answers remain elusive, leading to a cycle where suspicion feeds speculation.

The public’s thirst for accountability, especially in the wake of uncovered scandals involving powerful institutions, is both a force for truth and a catalyst for assumptions. In Epstein’s case, the proven reach of his influence and the confirmed involvement of significant figures were enough to trigger the question of how many untold stories lay beneath.

What We Know vs. What We ImagineThe narrative surrounding Epstein’s documented network shows us that while connections can be verified and associations noted, the leap to implicating entire organizations like Disney requires more than names on a list or rumors. It requires evidence that has, thus far, not been presented in any court or investigation. The proven facts are compelling enough: Epstein’s influence was extensive, his ties to power irrefutable. Yet, without direct links, the conversations about specific corporate involvement remain speculative.

In the next segment, we will explore why Disney’s reputation makes it a prime target for such speculation and how its historical handling of public crises plays into these narratives.

Disney – The Symbol of Trust and Target of Suspicion

Why Disney? The Paradox of a Trusted InstitutionDisney’s legacy is built on a foundation of storytelling, dreams, and the belief in happy endings. For nearly a century, the company has woven itself into the fabric of childhoods, becoming synonymous with innocence and magic. This legacy, however, has a dual edge. As the public's trust in institutions erodes and hidden truths are revealed in other sectors, Disney’s position as an untouchable cultural icon makes it both a beacon of light and a potential target for suspicion.

The Symbolism of Disney’s BrandDisney represents more than just a company; it embodies an idea—a refuge where imagination and wonder reign. But this same image that has made Disney a household name also contributes to the paradox of suspicion it faces. When an organization is seen as larger than life, transcending generations and continents, the notion that it could have skeletons in its closet becomes a tantalizing thought. The juxtaposition of innocence with possible shadows creates a narrative that is compelling and worth exploring, even if it remains speculative.

This paradox of Disney as both a trusted symbol and a target for scandal reflects a broader trend. Major corporations that hold influence in our everyday lives—particularly those that shape childhood memories and societal values—are natural focal points when scandals involving power, influence, and exploitation arise. The idea that a company with as much reach as Disney could be connected, however tangentially, to figures like Epstein feeds into this pattern.

Documented Misconduct and Public ReactionsThere have been verified cases involving Disney employees engaging in misconduct, which have been reported by media outlets such as NBC News and local news channels. These incidents, though not systemic and unrelated to Epstein’s network, show how the actions of a few can impact public perception of an entire organization. Examples include arrests for crimes involving minors or inappropriate behavior, isolated events that Disney has publicly addressed through statements and cooperation with law enforcement.

However, these incidents were sufficient to plant seeds of doubt in some minds. Even when addressed swiftly and in line with corporate protocols, such cases reveal a vulnerability: the company’s image can be tarnished not just by its policies, but by the misdeeds of individuals who wear its badge.

The Fuel for SpeculationThe Epstein case acted as a catalyst for looking beyond the obvious, particularly in the context of powerful organizations. If political leaders, financiers, and cultural icons could be connected to Epstein’s circle, why not wonder about the involvement of a company with as vast a presence as Disney? While investigations by trusted outlets have shown no direct corporate link, the sheer scope of Epstein’s influence suggested that any entity known for associating with the powerful could be implicated.

This speculation was not helped by Disney’s approach to public relations. The company’s PR strategies, while sophisticated and generally effective, often prioritize message control over transparency. In a world where silence can be seen as complicity, this strategy sometimes backfires, leading to more questions than answers.

Public Distrust and Historical ContextThe public’s fascination with uncovering hidden truths within major institutions is not unfounded. History is replete with cases where seemingly trustworthy organizations were later found to have concealed scandals. From corporate frauds to abuses within religious institutions, these stories have taught the public that innocence is not immune to corruption. This backdrop primes society to believe that even the most beloved entities, like Disney, could harbor secrets.

Sociologists and media analysts argue that this distrust is a byproduct of what they term the “betrayal effect”—where past disappointments with trusted institutions lower the threshold for believing that betrayal could be lurking everywhere. Disney, with its spotless public image and vast influence, becomes an especially juicy target for such theories. The leap from real cases of employee misconduct to more systemic accusations, however, is where evidence often falls short.

The Role of Social Media and Echo ChambersThe digital age has amplified how speculation morphs into perceived truth. Platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook allow theories to spread quickly, often outpacing fact-checking and nuanced analysis. Discussions that might once have been confined to fringe circles now gain mainstream attention, especially when they involve powerful figures or beloved brands.

In the context of Epstein’s exposure, this meant that any high-profile connection or name could become part of a broader narrative of guilt by association. The fact that Disney, as a corporation, appeared in speculative discussions alongside verified names from Epstein’s logs was enough for some to draw connections, even without direct evidence.

Reputation Management and PerceptionDisney’s approach to crises and controversies has long involved careful reputation management. From its response to legal issues to how it handles employee-related incidents, the company employs sophisticated PR strategies to mitigate damage and maintain its standing. This is standard practice for global brands; however, the public’s interpretation can be different. Strategic silence or tightly controlled statements can come across as evasive, fueling theories that there is something more to hide.

For a company like Disney, which operates at the intersection of family values and global corporate power, the stakes are high. The expectation isn’t just for entertainment but for upholding the moral high ground. When speculation links Disney to scandals, no matter how peripherally, it chips away at this carefully crafted image.

Why Address This Now?The speculation around Disney and Epstein underscores a crucial point about the nature of public inquiry and corporate reputation. It is not enough for companies to rely solely on public relations strategies that worked in the past. The demand for transparency is greater than ever, and silence, even when warranted, can erode trust.

Disney’s role in the public consciousness means that even baseless theories need addressing. By understanding why these narratives gain traction, both companies and the public can engage in more meaningful dialogues about accountability, proof, and trust.

The next segment will delve into how the public navigates between confirmed facts and conspiratorial whispers, exploring why certain theories stick and what it means for how we view powerful organizations.

Separating Fact from Conspiracy

The Thin Line Between Evidence and Speculation In the age of information, where facts are readily available yet often overshadowed by conjecture, separating truth from conspiracy is both an art and a necessity. When powerful entities like Disney find themselves drawn into discussions of hidden networks and scandals involving figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, it highlights a broader societal challenge: how do we differentiate between what is proven and what is assumed? This segment dissects the interplay of evidence, theory, and the psychological factors that drive our need to seek connections.

The Basis of Public Suspicion Public trust in large institutions has waned over decades, driven by a series of high-profile betrayals. From corporate frauds that shattered economies to scandals involving trusted religious or educational institutions, society has learned that power often conceals flaws and, in some cases, criminal actions. According to research published in the Journal of Communication, this erosion of trust leads to a phenomenon known as confirmation bias—the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or suspicions.

The Epstein case provided fertile ground for such biases. The verified details of Epstein’s operations—the private jet, the exclusive parties, the high-profile guests—were enough to prompt a collective re-examination of how far his reach extended. While many of his associations were proven to be casual or professional in nature, the public’s hunger for deeper revelations ensured that speculation would thrive in areas where clarity was lacking.

The Role of Real Connections Epstein’s documented network included figures from politics, academia, finance, and media. The release of flight logs and court documents revealed that powerful individuals attended his events and interacted within his sphere. This factual basis, verified by investigative reporting from The New York Times, The Guardian, and other reputable sources, provided legitimacy to the idea that Epstein’s influence was pervasive. However, the extent to which these relationships were innocent or complicit was not uniformly clear.

This ambiguity created a vacuum where speculation could flourish. Public attention shifted from individuals named in the logs to the institutions and industries they represented. It was here that major corporations, including Disney, entered the discourse—not because of documented ties, but because of their visibility and influence.

The Psychology Behind Linking Power and Scandal To understand why theories about Disney’s potential involvement in Epstein’s network persist, it is essential to examine the psychology of conspiracy. Sociological and psychological studies indicate that people are naturally inclined to question narratives when they feel that the truth is being withheld. The more powerful or untouchable an institution seems, the more likely it is to be suspected of hiding something significant.

Disney’s image as a global giant that molds childhoods and shapes culture makes it an appealing target for such theories. The company’s public persona as a bastion of family values and innocence stands in stark contrast to any whispers of scandal or misconduct. This contrast alone provides fertile ground for stories to grow, even in the absence of solid proof.

Confirmed Misconduct vs. Conspiracy It is important to acknowledge that Disney, like any large corporation, has faced incidents involving employee misconduct. News reports from outlets such as NBC News have documented cases where employees were arrested for inappropriate conduct involving minors. These cases, while serious and handled with appropriate legal responses, were isolated incidents. No evidence points to these cases being part of a larger, systemic issue within the company or connected to external figures like Epstein.

However, the very existence of these incidents is often enough to keep theories alive. Public perception does not always differentiate between an individual’s actions and the culture of the organization they work for. When these incidents coincide with broader conversations about power and secrecy, they feed into narratives that imply guilt by association.

The Amplifying Power of Social Media The role of social media in shaping and amplifying conspiracy theories cannot be overstated. Platforms like Twitter and Reddit have created spaces where facts, opinions, and theories coexist with little separation. When the Epstein scandal broke, social media was flooded with discussions, many of which featured a mix of verifiable information and speculative connections. The absence of direct evidence linking companies like Disney to Epstein did not deter users from proposing connections based on circumstantial evidence and “what-if” scenarios.

This phenomenon, described by media analysts as the “echo chamber effect,” allows theories to gain credibility through repetition rather than proof. As theories are shared, retweeted, and commented on, they accumulate a sense of legitimacy that belies their origins.

Why Certain Theories Stick Certain theories persist because they tap into deep-seated fears and the knowledge that the powerful often operate beyond the reach of conventional accountability. High-profile scandals involving powerful figures—whether in business, politics, or entertainment—reinforce the belief that more may be hidden just out of reach. Epstein’s network was confirmed to include names that were once considered untouchable, which validated the idea that hidden truths could surface anywhere.

Disney’s name appearing in speculative discussions highlights the intersection of innocence and power. It reflects a societal expectation that if one pillar of influence is shown to be compromised, others may be as well. This expectation, however, must be tempered with critical thinking and an examination of evidence.

The Need for Discernment Understanding the difference between fact and theory is crucial for informed dialogue. Public scrutiny is essential for accountability, but it must be balanced with discernment. While Epstein’s known associations spanned many sectors, and while individuals from the entertainment industry were involved in his circle, the leap to implicating entire organizations like Disney has not been supported by verified investigations.

The Reality Check Here’s what we know:

Documented Facts: Epstein’s network included influential figures, confirmed by court records and journalistic investigations. Disney’s Position: While Disney has faced isolated cases of employee misconduct, no substantial evidence ties the company as an institution to Epstein’s criminal activities. Public Perception: Theories are fueled by a combination of legitimate distrust in powerful institutions and the psychological need to connect the dots, even when the evidence does not support it. In the next segment, we will explore how media control and the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) contribute to the public’s perception of secrecy and whether this perception is warranted.

Media Control and NDAs – Protecting Power or Ensuring Silence?

The Strategy of Silence in Crisis Management When powerful organizations face potential scandal or crises, the first line of defense is often control—control over the narrative, control over information, and control over public perception. This strategy, while effective in mitigating immediate damage, can backfire by fostering an aura of secrecy that leads to suspicion. Disney, like many other global corporations, has historically employed these tactics, particularly through the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and strategic public relations (PR) campaigns. But do these measures protect legitimate corporate interests, or do they simply fuel theories that there is more being hidden?

Understanding the Role of NDAs NDAs are legal tools designed to maintain confidentiality and protect business interests. In most cases, their use is standard practice, whether to protect trade secrets, secure settlements, or manage sensitive internal matters. However, when NDAs intersect with scandals involving powerful individuals or organizations, they can become symbols of enforced silence. A report from the Harvard Business Review highlights that while NDAs are often employed for legitimate purposes, their misuse—especially when used to silence allegations of misconduct—has cast a shadow over their intent.

Disney has used NDAs in its corporate dealings, as have many in the media and entertainment sectors. This is not in itself suspicious; however, the mere presence of NDAs in a company’s arsenal can contribute to a narrative of secrecy, especially when paired with limited transparency during controversies.

The Case of High-Profile Secrecy The Epstein scandal showed how the use of NDAs and strategic silence could be perceived in a different light. When influential figures and companies were linked to his circle, silence from those implicated was interpreted by many as an attempt to avoid deeper inquiry. While Disney has not been tied to Epstein’s activities through verified evidence, its use of NDAs in unrelated circumstances and its approach to handling public controversies have made it a recurring subject in theories about hidden truths.

For example, Disney’s meticulous control over its brand image means that it often handles internal issues privately, releasing carefully crafted statements that address public concerns without divulging specifics. This approach, while protective, sometimes has the unintended consequence of making the public wonder what is not being said.

The Intersection of PR and Public Perception Public relations are designed to safeguard a company’s image, ensuring that responses to any negative news are swift and tightly managed. Disney’s PR machine is among the most sophisticated, capable of steering narratives and maintaining its reputation as an entertainment titan. This strategic control has allowed Disney to weather crises that might have permanently damaged lesser brands. However, in the context of a scandal as sprawling and notorious as Epstein’s, such control is perceived differently.

When the Epstein story broke and high-profile connections came to light, companies with any tenuous ties activated their crisis management protocols. For some, this meant issuing vague statements or refusing to comment altogether. To the public, this read as silence—a strategic choice that seemed suspicious when paired with known instances of NDAs being used to keep serious allegations quiet in other industries. The #MeToo movement, for instance, revealed how NDAs were used by some media companies to shield powerful perpetrators of harassment, showing that these tools can sometimes contribute to a culture of concealment.

Silence as Complicity? For a company like Disney, known for its polished public image, silence during times of widespread speculation can amplify suspicions. The question becomes: Is silence an act of protection or complicity? While NDAs are often used to manage settlements or protect internal processes, the fact that they prevent full transparency can make even innocent parties appear as if they have something to hide.

Experts in crisis communication argue that silence may protect the brand short-term but can erode trust long-term. Disney’s approach to handling public perception, from managing employee misconduct cases to addressing larger social controversies, often involves strategic responses that give the public enough information to stay satisfied but not enough to quell the more skeptical voices. This is standard practice but becomes contentious when the public is searching for accountability.

The Impact of Strategic Silence on Public Trust Media and communication studies have shown that transparency is increasingly becoming a measure of trustworthiness for corporations. In an era where the public demands answers and alternative media thrive on filling in gaps left by corporate PR, the stakes for maintaining trust are higher than ever. The use of NDAs and controlled statements can protect a company’s interests, but it also contributes to a perception of secrecy that feeds public doubt.

Disney’s balancing act—protecting its brand while managing incidents behind closed doors—reflects a broader industry trend. Corporations that prioritize narrative control must now reckon with an environment where even a hint of concealment can lead to damaging speculation. The Epstein case amplified this issue, putting the spotlight on how major organizations handle proximity to scandal, even if only by association.

Navigating the Perception The real challenge for Disney and similar companies lies in navigating the fine line between protecting their interests and fostering trust. Complete transparency can be risky, but strategic silence risks becoming complicit silence in the eyes of the public. This duality—where necessary protection measures are perceived as proof of hidden wrongdoing—is why entities like Disney find themselves caught up in discussions about figures like Epstein, despite the absence of concrete evidence.

The Takeaway for Institutions and the Public Understanding the role of NDAs and PR in managing public crises helps frame why powerful companies might become targets of suspicion. While the use of these tools is standard and often justified, their impact on public perception can’t be ignored. For the public, recognizing the difference between warranted inquiry and overreach is key to maintaining productive scrutiny without falling into the trap of baseless theories.

The next segment will focus on what these perceptions mean for society as a whole and why the pursuit of transparency and trust must be a collective endeavor.

Beyond the Shadows – A Call to Unity

The Complex Path to UnderstandingIn an age where trust in powerful institutions is fraying, and access to information is both a blessing and a burden, our approach to truth becomes more critical than ever. The discussions surrounding figures like Jeffrey Epstein and corporations like Disney are not just about scandal; they are about how we, as a society, confront power, secrecy, and transparency. This segment is a call to unite in the pursuit of truth—not through a divisive lens, but with collective discernment and an unwavering commitment to evidence and integrity.

The Lessons from HistoryHistory teaches us that institutions once seen as untouchable can harbor hidden truths. The exposure of corporate frauds, systemic abuses, and cover-ups within trusted sectors has shaped a society that questions everything. The Epstein scandal underscored this, revealing a network of power that reached further than many dared to imagine. Yet, while it validated the public’s instinct to question, it also highlighted a key challenge: differentiating between grounded inquiry and baseless theory.

Disney’s name appearing in speculative discussions about Epstein points to a broader pattern—our collective desire to ensure that those who hold power are not above scrutiny. But as we demand accountability, we must also unite in the practice of informed skepticism. The leap from isolated cases of misconduct or association to implicating entire organizations requires evidence, not just conjecture. This distinction is where we, as a society, must find common ground.

The Role of TransparencyTransparency has become the cornerstone of public trust. Organizations that handle controversies behind closed doors risk damaging their credibility. For companies like Disney, known for protecting their brand with meticulous care, the challenge is clear: find a balance between safeguarding legitimate interests and providing enough transparency to maintain public trust.

The use of NDAs, strategic silence, and controlled narratives may shield brands in the short term, but they can erode trust in the long run. Studies in crisis communication emphasize that openness, even when it exposes vulnerabilities, can reinforce loyalty and confidence among stakeholders. In the context of Epstein and the persistent whispers about powerful corporations, this lesson is especially relevant.

A Collective Call to ClarityThe pursuit of truth is not just the responsibility of journalists, whistleblowers, or industry watchdogs—it is a collective endeavor. The public plays a crucial role in this, but so do the corporations that hold sway over cultural and economic landscapes. When Disney’s name enters speculative discussions, it reflects a deep-seated desire for transparency from those we trust. This desire should be met not with fear of the unknown but with a commitment to clarity.

This segment is a call for unity in approaching these conversations. The balance between healthy skepticism and conspiracy theory is delicate but essential. We must ask hard questions and hold power accountable without losing sight of what separates substantiated fact from assumption.

Why Unity MattersIn times where speculation can divide and misinformation can spread faster than verified facts, unity in the pursuit of truth is vital. When we allow fear and uncertainty to fracture our approach, we weaken our collective power to bring genuine issues to light. Epstein’s case showed that hidden wrongs do exist and can involve the most influential figures. It also showed that uncovering the full scope of such wrongs takes a community committed to patience, evidence, and shared purpose.

Public scrutiny is essential for democracy and social justice, but so is discernment. When theories about organizations like Disney arise without evidence, they risk diverting attention from real, proven issues that demand action. Unity in seeking truth means supporting real investigations, demanding transparency, and recognizing the power of evidence-based inquiry.

Building a Culture of Informed AccountabilityThe goal is not to silence questions but to elevate them, ensuring that they are grounded in reality. This approach not only empowers the public but also sets a standard for institutions. If Disney and other corporations prioritize transparency, they can reinforce the public trust that sustains their brands. Similarly, when the public insists on evidence and integrity in its discussions, it strengthens the very fabric of accountability.

Reflections for the Road AheadAs we move forward, let us commit to being a society that seeks truth not for scandal’s sake but for justice and integrity. Let us stand together in holding power to account, using facts as our foundation and unity as our strength. The story of Epstein and the questions it raises about power, influence, and hidden truths are reminders that transparency and trust are not just corporate responsibilities—they are collective ones.

This call to unity is a reminder that we all play a part in shaping how these stories unfold. When we seek, question, and demand clarity together, we create a society that values truth over rumor, evidence over assumption, and justice over division.

As we conclude this exploration, may we carry forward the lessons learned: the importance of questioning with integrity, seeking truth with diligence, and facing the unknown not as individuals, but as a united community.

@ 7e8ca676:b6a7569f

There was a time when mining meant something. Not just the noise of fans and the stink of ozone, but a political act. An act of rebellion, like smuggling pamphlets under the nose of the king. You mined in the basement. You mined with pride. You mined because you could. Not because Fidelity wrote a whitepaper on it. Not because a hosting provider in Iceland offered you a bulk discount. But because you believed.

That miner is dead.

He didn’t die in a blaze of glory. He didn’t go down swinging. He was euthanized. Slowly, over years, by spreadsheets, subsidies, and a thousand tiny concessions. Killed off by a culture that said, “Why do it yourself when you can outsource the soul of Bitcoin to a pool in Singapore?”

Welcome to the age of industrial Bitcoin: a world where miners don’t mine, pools don’t just process. They rule. And the only thing sovereign anymore is the dividend.

The Sovereign Miner is Dead, And No One Mourned

The sovereign miner, the madman with a dusty rack, a full node, and a middle finger pointed squarely at the Eccles Building, is extinct. He’s gone the way of the dodo, the blacksmith, the outlaw. And in his place? A fleet of khaki-wearing ASIC clerks uploading hashrate reports to their VC lords like dutiful little interns. These are not revolutionaries. They are box operators. Corporate larvae wiggling around in server farms financed by pension funds.

Once upon a time, mining was an act of insubordination. You ran a rig to say "no" to Janet Yellen. You ran a node because you meant it. You didn’t need permission. You didn’t ask for subsidies. You didn’t file paperwork. You fought for consensus by living it. Every block was a punch thrown in a quiet, bloodless rebellion. Now? Now you’ve got KPMG-certified mining outfits measuring ESG impact and tweeting about carbon offsets like they’re trying to win a grant from the UN.

The eulogies for that old miner are full of oily euphemisms. They drone on about "efficiency," as if selling your vote for a cheaper power bill is some kind of virtue. "Economies of scale," they whisper, as though scale were some holy sacrament instead of the Trojan horse that delivered centralization to our doorstep. What they call progress, I call a back-alley mugging of Bitcoin’s soul.

The modern miner isn’t mining. He’s leasing his dignity to a pool that doesn’t know his name. He’s plugging in Bitmain boxes like a hotel maintenance worker changing light bulbs. The only heat he generates is for the benefit of someone else's node. Someone else's mempool. Someone else's idea of consensus. He doesn’t build the block. He just pays the electric bill.

And the worst part? He likes it. He thinks it’s normal. He thinks it’s “smart business.” He’s internalized the defeat so completely he brags about it on social media. He’ll tweet about uptime, about efficiency ratios, about hashprice curves—as if he were describing a well-run gulag. He’s the obedient prisoner who polishes the chains and calls it freedom.

The sovereign miner didn’t die in a blaze of glory. He died quietly, smothered under a fleece blanket of comfort and yield optimization. And no one mourned. No one wept. Because everyone was too busy benchmarking their ROI and counting fiat. The revolution didn’t end in a shootout. It ended in quarterly earnings calls.

Power Reversed: Pools Run Nodes, Miners Run Cable

Let’s be crystal clear: The pools run the nodes. The miners do not. This is not a subtle shift. It is a total inversion of power. A coup d'état wrapped in JSON-RPC and relayed with a smile. The pool clerks have become the governors of consensus, and the miners? They’re errand boys. They might control the heat, but they don’t control the protocol. They’re like engine pistons in a car they’ll never be allowed to drive.

Pointing hash at a pool and calling yourself sovereign is like renting a tux and declaring yourself royalty. It’s cosplay. At best. Pools decide what transactions are valid. Pools enforce the rules. Pools interpret consensus, not the miners, not the miners, and certainly not the plebs stacking sats on Raspberry Pis, who, through their economic activity and validation, still enforce the rules but are powerless to stop this creeping centralization in the mining layer. In a world obsessed with decentralization theater, pools are the centralized prop masters pulling the strings.

And when the curtain pulled back in 2021, it wasn’t some secret backroom scandal. No. Marathon Digital bragged about OFAC-compliant mining. They filtered transactions with state-sanctioned precision. They announced it like a new feature rollout. “Censorship-as-a-Service, now in beta!” The mining pool became an extension of the U.S. Treasury—while still waving the Bitcoin banner.

That wasn’t a red flag. That was a blood-soaked banner waved from the parapets of captured consensus. And the response? Nothing. No mass exit. No fork. No slash-and-burn rebellion. Just soft mewling from miners who’d already convinced themselves this was “pragmatic.”

Miners didn’t revolt. They shrugged. They shrugged because they didn’t feel it in their bones anymore. They’d been domesticated. Fattened on subsidies and mining-as-a-service. Pacified by dashboards and yield spreadsheets. When the pools took the steering wheel, the miners reached for the air conditioning controls.

This is the hard truth: sovereignty cannot be delegated. You don’t get to outsource rebellion. You don’t get to file a ticket and request autonomy. If someone else runs the node, someone else owns the power. And if you’re pointing hash at their rules, you’re not free. You’re furniture. Industrial-grade silicon furniture humming in tune with someone else’s politics.

ASICs Are Treadmills, Not Weapons

Here’s a bitter pill: plugging in an ASIC doesn’t make you a participant in Bitcoin. It makes you a battery. Yes, economic nodes still set the rules through their validation and transaction activity. But what happens when the mining layer, the muscle that enforces those rules on-chain, goes rogue? What happens when the mempool you built gets ignored because your hashpower is pointed at someone else's filter?

A node might define validity, but without aligned mining, it’s a lion without teeth. If economic consensus is the blueprint, mining is the builder. And right now, most builders are following someone else's floor plan. The node might say, "this is how we build," but the pool, with its centralized relay and selective enforcement, says, "this is what we’re willing to build."

Without a node, without building your own block, without choosing your own mempool, you’re a hamster in a high-voltage wheel. All that heat and noise? It’s not rebellion. It’s treadmill sweat.

Without a node, without building your own block, without choosing your own mempool, you’re a hamster in a high-voltage wheel. All that heat and noise? It’s not rebellion. It’s treadmill sweat.

You are not a general. You are a grunt. A CPU on contract to someone else’s war.

Fiat Habits: The Culture of Convenience

Bitcoin was supposed to be the great divorce from fiat thinking, a severance from the debt-ridden clown world where every moral principle is for sale if the yield’s high enough. But lo and behold, the fiat habits came slithering in through the miner’s back door. It started small. “Just a hosting service,” they said. “Just outsourcing the firmware,” they claimed. “Just using a pool for efficiency.” And before you knew it, the average miner was indistinguishable from a middle manager at an Enron reunion. Optimizing, spreadsheeting, begging for subsidies like a lobbyist on his third bourbon.

The culture is poison. It rewards cowardice, convenience, and cost-shifting. Small miners moan about volatility like day traders with arthritis. Big miners wine and dine regulators, sniffing after tax incentives and ESG badges like some filthy dog begging at the World Economic Forum’s dinner table. We’re no longer talking about building a sovereign financial system—we’re talking about quarterly earnings, power purchase agreements, and whether your server farm meets carbon neutrality guidelines. What the hell happened?

Take a look back at the New York Agreement in 2017. That wasn’t a negotiation. It was a ransom note. The largest mining outfits, including BTC.Top and ViaBTC, held SegWit hostage because it didn’t butter their bread. The principles didn’t matter. The technical merit didn’t matter. All that mattered was leverage, yield, and preserving their own stranglehold. They tried to shove a hard fork down Bitcoin’s throat like a goose being force-fed for foie gras. And if not for the sheer stubbornness of the user base, real economic nodes who still gave a damn, Bitcoin would’ve gone full Frankenstein.

But did those miners learn? No. They just shifted tactics. Today they ask for different forms of convenience: not block size increases, but subsidies, regulations tailored to their rigs, public-private partnerships. The song remains the same. It’s the fiat mindset dressed up in ASIC drag. Instead of defending neutrality, they demand special treatment. Instead of embracing the responsibility of consensus participation, they’d rather hand it off to a pool that promises good customer service and a Discord server with emojis.

What we’re seeing is the spiritual sequel to fiat monetary policy—moral hazard in overclocked silicon. Miners begging for insulation from the market, protection from volatility, and someone else to carry the political weight of consensus. That’s not sovereignty. That’s serfdom with a spreadsheet. These aren't rebels. They’re corporate supplicants doing yield gymnastics while the heart of Bitcoin withers under the fluorescent lights of their co-location facility.

Bitcoin doesn’t need more efficient parasites. It needs fewer of them. The culture must shift from comfort to combat. From optimization to obligation. A miner who outsources consensus is no better than a fiat printer optimizing bond auctions. The minute you make convenience your god, you become indistinguishable from the system Bitcoin was meant to destroy.

The Culture of Convenience

Bitcoin was born as a rejection of fiat habits. So naturally, miners dragged every last fiat habit into the server farm like rats carrying plague. Outsource the firmware. Outsource the hosting. Outsource the power contract. Outsource the node. Outsource the sovereignty. What’s left?

Mining today looks like Goldman Sachs cosplay. ESG reports. Carbon credits. Webinars on regulatory compliance. Bitcoin isn't being mined anymore. It's being monetized. It's being lobotomized by yield-chasers and spreadsheet cultists.

The New York Agreement was the test. The miners failed. They held the protocol hostage for a slightly thicker block and a fat slice of yield. They were willing to hard fork Bitcoin into a Frankenstein fiat-friendly platform if it meant a better power purchase agreement.

They haven't changed. They’ve just gotten better at disguising their cowardice as competence.

Software Will Not Save You (But Cowards Sure Will Sell You the Illusion)

Let me tell you a ghost story. A tale of silicon treachery dressed up as innovation. It was 2017. The air stank of backroom deals and nervous sweat. Bitmain, the ASIC kingpin of the age, had quietly embedded a little something into its hardware. A cheat code. A hidden rake. A parasitic exploit called ASICBoost, but not the honest kind. No, this was the covert variant, slinking beneath the protocol’s floorboards, exploiting transaction ordering for a tidy little edge. It wasn’t disclosed. It wasn’t debated. It was used. Quietly. Gleefully. While the rest of the ecosystem was busy arguing about scaling like philosophers in a house fire.

Bitmain wasn't interested in consensus. It was interested in arbitrage. They saw Bitcoin not as a commons, but as a slot machine they had rigged. And when SegWit appeared, when it offered scaling and immunity to covert ASICBoost in one surgical tweak, Bitmain panicked. Because SegWit would end the grift. Not softly. Not eventually. Immediately.

So they did what every entrenched parasite does when exposed. They lied. They stalled. They "compromised." They ginned up support for SegWit2x, not to scale Bitcoin, but to preserve their exploit. A hard fork with extension blocks would keep the legacy block structure alive and well, tucked into a cozy parallel track where covert ASICBoost could still thrive. It was a bait-and-switch. A con. A trojan upgrade smuggled in under the banner of progress.

But this time, the hosts fought back.

Node runners saw the ploy. They didn’t need fancy tooling. They needed guts. They didn’t negotiate. They didn’t flinch. They ran SegWit. They activated UASF. They drew a line—not in sand, but in bedrock. Bitcoin would not be held hostage by ASIC cartels. It would not bend for Bitmain. It would not become an extension block casino for rent-seekers in Shenzhen.

So no, software didn’t save Bitcoin. Men did.

Ordinary plebs with full nodes and no backdoor. They used the tool, yes, but what mattered is that they refused. Refused the scam. Refused the deal. Refused to bend the knee to an ASIC cartel dressed in business-casual and lies.

SegWit didn’t win because it was elegant. It won because enough people had the guts to jam it through in spite of sabotage. The protocol gave them a knife, and they had the moral clarity to use it. That’s the lesson. Not that we need better code, but that we need sharper men.

Because in the end, every exploit is possible when the culture is weak. And every fix is worthless if the people implementing it don’t care. The problem was never ASICBoost. The problem was what miners were willing to do to keep it.

The Pool Cartel is the New Central Bank

Middlemen were supposed to die in 2009. That’s the entire reason Bitcoin exists. To gut them. To render them obsolete. To salt the earth behind them so nothing like them could ever grow again. But here they are, reborn, not as banks, but as pools. Not in suits, but in server racks. They wear the garb of "infrastructure providers," but they function as gatekeepers, choke points wrapped in API documentation.

Pools don’t just process, they decide. They decide what gets into the chain. They decide whose transactions are valid. They decide what software matters, and what consensus looks like. They’ve become the central banks of the hashrate economy: unaccountable, invisible, and too boring to fear until it’s too late.

They don’t win power. They absorb it. They don’t need legislation or signatures. They just need you to keep pointing your hash in their direction. That’s the magic trick of middlemen: their power lies in being taken for granted. And in that, they’re the perfect parasite, one that feeds on your energy and then tells you they’re helping you digest it.

Every time you optimize for pool payout efficiency, every time you default to the biggest provider, every time you accept their mempool instead of building your own, you’re kneeling. You’re pledging allegiance to a cartel of block-builders whose loyalty isn’t to Bitcoin, it’s to operational ease and regulatory appeasement.

These aren’t neutral actors. They’re political animals. They hold the levers of consensus without bearing any of its weight. They’re the mortgage-backed securities of Bitcoin: abstracted, opaque, and one market panic away from becoming a systemic risk. We have, once again, created a class of intermediaries who profit by extracting value from a system they didn’t build and no longer understand.

Bitcoin didn’t kill the middlemen. It fed them. It made them smarter. It made them less visible. But their hunger hasn’t changed. And until we name them for what they are—cartels in priestly robes—we will keep mistaking the cage for the cathedral.

Stratum v2: A Rifle, Not a Revolution

Stratum v2 is the closest thing to a loaded weapon Bitcoin miners have been handed in a decade. It is, quite literally, the mechanism by which miners can wrench their dignity back from the clenched fists of the pool cartel. And what have they done with it? Mostly shrugged. A few pilot programs, some halfhearted integrations, and a handful of blog posts filled with the kind of cautious optimism you’d expect from a risk-averse actuary.

This isn’t a critique of the protocol. Stratum v2 is beautifully ugly. It’s messy, technical, and dense enough to scare away the very consultants who want to repackage Bitcoin into polite compliance middleware. But none of that matters if no one has the guts to use it. You don’t win wars by stockpiling weapons you refuse to fire.

Stratum v2 gives miners the power to construct their own blocks. Not just vote with hash, but wield it. Choose transactions. Set mempool policy. Actually participate in consensus instead of spectating like a retiree watching a soap opera. It is the rifle hanging over the mantelpiece. The one Chekhov warned us about. And right now it’s gathering dust.

The tragedy here isn’t technical. It’s cultural. Because this tool, this literal key to sovereignty, is being treated like a library dependency. Something for someone else to test, to vet, to implement. Meanwhile, miners continue to act like it’s 2015 and their biggest concern is firmware compatibility and finding a better power rate in Kazakhstan.

Ignore Stratum v2, and it becomes protocol theater. A museum piece. A tragic artifact of what could have been. But use it, and it becomes a wedge. A crowbar in the gears of centralized mining. A bright, shining middle finger to the entire architecture of compliance-friendly consensus.

But don’t fool yourself. Stratum v2 won’t make you sovereign any more than buying a gun makes you a revolutionary. It won’t beam liberty into your soul via Tor, won’t whisper “freedom” into your hashboard, won’t bathe your rack in the holy light of decentralization. It’s not salvation. It’s a tool. And tools don’t care who uses them—they serve the hand that holds them.

Stratum v2 is a rifle, yes—but even a rifle requires guts, aim, and the clarity to know what you're shooting at. In the hands of a coward, it’s a paperweight. In the hands of a rent-seeker, it’s a bargaining chip. But in the hands of a miner with fire in his gut and sovereignty in his blood? It’s a revolution.

This isn’t about technology. It’s about spine. About picking up the one weapon you’ve been given and refusing to keep it locked in the safe while tyrants build your blocks. Stratum v2 offers freedom, but it demands ferocity. You have to load it with your own mempool. You have to chamber every transaction. And then you have to fire.

No protocol, no BIP, no whitepaper will ever substitute for moral will. And if you’re too polite to use the weapon, too busy maximizing uptime to get your hands dirty with real consensus, then you deserve whatever filtered, censored, OFAC-compliant future you inherit.

Stratum v2 is not your savior. You are. And until miners act like it, until they treat this protocol like a weapon and not a toy, the pools will rule, and the timechain will continue to serve the highest bidder.

It’s just a rifle. But rifles have rewritten history when wielded by men who knew they weren’t free.

Ossification Without Decentralization Is Death

Everyone loves ossification, until they realize they missed their chance to do it when it mattered. We had a window. A golden, fleeting window to freeze Bitcoin in a state of clarity, minimalism, and neutrality. Instead, we blinked. We let upgrades seep in. Complexity crept through the back door, and with it came unintended consequences. Among the earliest and most corrosive: the rise of centralized mining pools. A structural outcome embedded in Satoshi’s original design, born from the brutal variance of solo mining. But if that centralization was unforeseen, imagine how many more we’ve introduced since, through every soft fork, every upgrade, every decision to keep tinkering instead of locking the vault when we had the chance.

Ossification isn’t just about code. It’s about culture. It’s a posture. A refusal. And we failed to assume it when it counted. We chose tinkering over tenacity. We chose cleverness over caution. And now the fruits of our hubris hang heavy on the vine: a mining layer riddled with capture points, a mempool hijacked by middlemen, and a user base quietly wondering why their transactions feel like applications.

Yes, economic nodes enforce the rules through validation and usage. But that power has a prerequisite: inclusion. If the only blocks being built are by pools with selective relay policies and a fondness for government compliance, then your economic activity is a shout into a soundproof room. The validation rules may be perfect, but if your transaction never hits the chain, it’s as good as invalid.

The trap we set for ourselves was gilded with good intentions. Soft forks meant to improve scalability. Relay policies meant to minimize bloat. Fee markets meant to incentivize good behavior. And now? Now we find ourselves staring at a timechain that functions—but no longer feels inviolable. The foundation wasn’t corrupted in a day. It was eroded, line by line, by developers trying to be helpful.

Freeze Bitcoin now, and we don’t immortalize virtue—we immortalize vulnerability. We lock in the flaws. We preserve a snapshot where the power has already been ceded to those least equipped to wield it justly. It’s like slamming the vault door shut just as the thieves finish loading the bags.

That’s not ossification. That’s embalming. That’s turning the timechain into a museum exhibit of the ideals we almost lived up to, before we traded principle for pragmatism and thought we could always fix it later.

Ossification is not neutral. It’s not some universal good. It is power, fixed in time. And if that power belongs to the wrong class of actors, the OFAC miners, the hosting conglomerates, the Silicon Valley startups that mine with ESG consultants on speed dial, then ossification doesn’t lock in liberty. It locks in them. It fossilizes a regime that already serves someone else’s interests.

We speak of ossification like it’s an event. One final commit. One last hardening. But in truth, it’s asymptotic. You don’t slam the door shut in one dramatic gesture. You inch toward it. You tighten the bolts over time until change becomes culturally, politically, and economically impossible. And that means we’re ossifying right now.

Picture it: a frozen Bitcoin where the rules can’t change, but the blockspace is filtered, the miners are compliant, and the pools relay transactions based on a government-approved blacklist. That’s not sound money. That’s a digital leash. A ledger of obedience masquerading as freedom.

If Bitcoin ossifies after it has been captured, it does not become incorruptible. It becomes irredeemable. Like sealing a vault before checking what’s inside, you don’t get resilience, you get entombment. You get permanence without virtue. You get consensus without sovereignty.

That’s not ossification. That’s embalming. That’s turning the timechain into Lenin’s corpse: glassy-eyed, sterile, and meticulously preserved in service of a state it was meant to outlive.

We may only have one chance to rescue bitcoin from the clutches of the fiat maximalists, before it is impossible to do so.

Core's Quiet Capitulation

Bitcoin Core was once the temple guard. Militant minimalism. Ruthless conservatism. The last line of defense against creeping bloat and protocol erosion. You didn’t have to agree with them, but by God, you respected the trench they were willing to die in.

Now? They’re white-gloving the stretcher for a dying protocol. Hospice caretakers tending to consensus rot with polite documentation and GitHub tickets labeled "enhancement." The keepers of the flame have become interior decorators for a collapsing cathedral.

They removed filters, the thin defensive crust that kept bad-faith actors at bay. They weakened defaults, the backbone settings that preserved network sanity. They bend policies not to protect consensus, but to please mining cartels and PR-sensitive operators. Every decision smells like appeasement baked in a think tank.

This isn’t some grand betrayal of principle for power or riches. It’s worse. It’s resignation. Exhaustion wrapped in technocratic humility. They didn’t sell out to the highest bidder, they just ran out of fire.

Where once they chanted ossification, now they mumble "flexibility." Where once they enforced sanity with zero tolerance for grift, now they entertain proposals that would’ve been laughed out of the room a decade ago. They say yes out of fatigue. They say no with asterisks. They commit code like bureaucrats signing off on a slow-motion demolition.

Core didn’t just get captured. It got comfortable. And comfort, in protocol stewardship, is fatal. The war for Bitcoin's soul isn’t being lost in some smoky backroom. It’s being forfeited in polite silence by maintainers who forgot the protocol doesn’t just need to run. It needs to refuse.

The Call: Rewild the Hash

This is the fork in the road. This is the final flare fired into the sky before the trench goes quiet forever. You either take back the hash, or you become a dependent serf in a digital fiefdom run by pool lords and relay priests. No more excuses. No more polite appeals. No more PRs begging middlemen to do the right thing.

Run your own node. Build your own block, even if it takes a lifetime. Not tomorrow. Not after the next bull run. Not when it’s convenient. Now. Because if you don’t, someone else will do it for you, and they will not share your values.

Stop waiting for permission. Stop tweeting at pool operators like they’re public servants. Stop optimizing for latency like it’s a sacrament. You are not here to impress compliance officers. You are here to enforce your damn sovereignty.

Don’t beg the cartel to behave. Starve it. Cut it off. Build the mempool you want to see in the world and let their VC primed and bloated relay network choke on their own paperwork. Let their blocks fill with NFT spam and chain analysis reports. You are not required to participate in their theater.

Use Stratum v2. Not because it’s clever, not because it’s next-gen, but because it puts the steering wheel back in your hands. It lets you carve your transactions from granite instead of begging for a line on someone else's spreadsheet. It is not optional. It is not academic. It is your rifle, and the target is consensus capture.

Rewilding the hash isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about survival. It’s about tearing up the artificial turf of corporate convenience and letting the hard, messy, glorious chaos of sovereign mining grow back. Every node a fortress. Every block a declaration. Every miner a free man with dirt under his fingernails and fire in his chest.

This is the line. Pick up your weapon. Run your own node. Build your own block. Or die watching someone else sell your freedom by the byte.

Murder the pools. Rewild the hash. And mine like it means something... because it does.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Assumptions

| Factor | Assumption | |--------|------------| | CO₂ | Not considered a pollutant or is captured/stored later | | Water Use | Regulated across all sources; cooling towers or dry cooling required | | Compliance Cost | Nuclear no longer burdened by long licensing and construction delays | | Coal Waste | Treated as valuable raw material (e.g., fly ash for cement, gypsum from scrubbers) | | Nuclear Tech | Gen IV SMRs in widespread use (e.g., 50–300 MWe units, modular build, passive safety) | | Grid Role | All three provide baseload or load-following power | | Fuel Pricing | Moderate and stable (no energy crisis or supply chain disruptions) |

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Performance Comparison

| Category | Coal (IGCC + Scrubbers) | Natural Gas (CCGT) | Nuclear (Gen IV SMRs) | |---------|-----------------------------|------------------------|--------------------------| | Thermal Efficiency | 40–45% | 55–62% | 30–35% | | CAPEX ($/kW) | $3,500–5,000 | $900–1,300 | $4,000–7,000 (modularized) | | O&M Cost ($/MWh) | $30–50 | $10–20 | $10–25 | | Fuel Cost ($/MWh) | $15–25 | $25–35 | $6–10 | | Water Use (gal/MWh) | 300–500 (with cooling towers) | 100–250 | 300–600 | | Air Emissions | Very low (excluding CO₂) | Very low | None | | Waste | Usable (fly ash, FGD gypsum, slag) | Minimal | Compact, long-term storage required | | Ramp/Flexibility | Slow ramp (newer designs better) | Fast ramp | Medium (SMRs better than traditional) | | Footprint (Land & Supply) | Large (mining, transport) | Medium | Small | | Energy Density | Medium | Medium-high | Very high | | Build Time | 4–7 years | 2–4 years | 2–5 years (with factory builds) | | Lifecycle (years) | 40+ | 30+ | 60+ | | Grid Resilience | High | High | Very High (passive safety, long refuel) |

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Strategic Role Summary

1. Coal (Clean & Integrated)

• Strengths: Long-term fuel security; byproduct reuse; high reliability; domestic resource.
• Drawbacks: Still low flexibility; moderate efficiency; large physical/logistical footprint.
• Strategic Role: Best suited for regions with abundant coal and industrial reuse markets.

2. Natural Gas (CCGT)

• Strengths: High efficiency, low CAPEX, grid agility, low emissions.
• Drawbacks: Still fossil-based; dependent on well infrastructure; less long-lived.
• Strategic Role: Excellent transitional and peaking solution; strong complement to renewables.

3. Nuclear (Gen IV SMRs)

• Strengths: Highest energy density; no air emissions or CO₂; long lifespan; modular & scalable.
• Drawbacks: Still needs safe waste handling; high upfront cost; novel tech in deployment stage.
• Strategic Role: Ideal for low-carbon baseload, remote areas, and national strategic assets.

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Adjusted Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE)

| Source | LCOE ($/MWh) | Notes | |--------|------------------|-------| | Coal (IGCC w/scrubbers) | ~$75–95 | Lower with valuable waste | | Natural Gas (CCGT) | ~$45–70 | Highly competitive if fuel costs are stable | | Gen IV SMRs | ~$65–85 | Assuming factory production and streamlined permitting |

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Final Verdict (Under Optimized Assumptions)

• Most Economical Short-Term: Natural Gas
• Most Strategic Long-Term: Gen IV SMRs
• Most Viable if Industrial Ecosystem Exists: Clean Coal

All three could coexist in a diversified, stable energy grid: - Coal filling a regional or industrial niche, - Gas providing flexibility and economy, - SMRs ensuring long-term sustainability and energy security.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

A follow-up to nostr:naddr1qqgxxwtyxe3kvc3jvvuxywtyxs6rjq3qc856kwjk524kef97hazw5e9jlkjq4333r6yxh2rtgefpd894ddpsxpqqqp65wuaydz8

This whitepaper, a comparison of baseload power options, explores a strategic policy framework to reduce the cost of next-generation nuclear power by aligning Gen IV Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with national security objectives, public utility management, and a competitive manufacturing ecosystem modeled after the aerospace industry. Under this approach, SMRs could deliver stable, carbon-free power at $40–55/MWh, rivaling the economics of natural gas and renewables.

---

1. Context and Strategic Opportunity

Current Nuclear Cost Challenges

• High capital expenditure ($4,000–$12,000/kW)
• Lengthy permitting and construction timelines (10–15 years)
• Regulatory delays and public opposition
• Customized, one-off reactor designs with no economies of scale

The Promise of SMRs

• Factory-built, modular units
• Lower absolute cost and shorter build time
• Enhanced passive safety
• Scalable deployment

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2. National Security as a Catalyst

Strategic Benefits

• Energy resilience for critical defense infrastructure
• Off-grid operation and EMP/cyber threat mitigation
• Long-duration fuel cycles reduce logistical risk

Policy Implications

• Streamlined permitting and site access under national defense exemptions
• Budget support via Department of Defense and Department of Energy
• Co-location on military bases and federal sites

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3. Publicly Chartered Utilities: A New Operating Model

Utility Framework

• Federally chartered, low-margin operator (like TVA or USPS)
• Financially self-sustaining through long-term PPAs
• Focus on reliability, security, and public service over profit

Cost Advantages

• Lower cost of capital through public backing
• Predictable revenue models
• Community trust and stakeholder alignment

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4. Competitive Manufacturing: The Aviation Analogy

Model Characteristics

• Multiple certified vendors, competing under common safety frameworks
• Factory-scale production and supply chain specialization
• Domestic sourcing for critical components and fuel

Benefits

• Cost reductions from repetition and volume
• Innovation through competition
• Export potential and industrial job creation

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5. Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) Impact

| Cost Lever | Estimated LCOE Reduction | |------------|--------------------------| | Streamlined regulation | -10 to -20% | | Public-charter operation | -5 to -15% | | Factory-built SMRs | -15 to -30% | | Defense market anchor | -10% |

Estimated Resulting LCOE: $40–55/MWh

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6. Strategic Outcomes

• Nuclear cost competitiveness with gas and renewables
• Decarbonization without reliability sacrifice
• Strengthened national energy resilience
• Industrial and workforce revitalization
• U.S. global leadership in clean, secure nuclear energy

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7. Recommendations

• Create a public-private chartered SMR utility
• Deploy initial reactors on military and federal lands
• Incentivize competitive SMR manufacturing consortia
• Establish fast-track licensing for Gen IV designs
• Align DoD/DOE energy procurement to SMR adoption

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Conclusion

This strategy would transform nuclear power from a high-cost, high-risk sector into a mission-driven, economically viable backbone of American energy and defense infrastructure. By treating SMRs as strategic assets, not just energy projects, the U.S. can unlock affordable, scalable, and secure nuclear power for generations to come.

@ f9cf4e94:96abc355

Para esse exemplo iremos usar: | Nome | Imagem | Descrição | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | Raspberry PI B+ | | Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit a 1.4GHz e 1 GB de SDRAM LPDDR2, | | Pen drive | | 16Gb |

Recomendo que use o Ubuntu Server para essa instalação. Você pode baixar o Ubuntu para Raspberry Pi aqui. O passo a passo para a instalação do Ubuntu no Raspberry Pi está disponível aqui. Não instale um desktop (como xubuntu, lubuntu, xfce, etc.).

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Passo 1: Atualizar o Sistema 🖥️

Primeiro, atualize seu sistema e instale o Tor:

bash apt update apt install tor

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Passo 2: Criar o Arquivo de Serviço nrs.service 🔧

Crie o arquivo de serviço que vai gerenciar o servidor Nostr. Você pode fazer isso com o seguinte conteúdo:

```unit [Unit] Description=Nostr Relay Server Service After=network.target

[Service] Type=simple WorkingDirectory=/opt/nrs ExecStart=/opt/nrs/nrs-arm64 Restart=on-failure

[Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target ```

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Passo 3: Baixar o Binário do Nostr 🚀

Baixe o binário mais recente do Nostr aqui no GitHub.

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Passo 4: Criar as Pastas Necessárias 📂

Agora, crie as pastas para o aplicativo e o pendrive:

bash mkdir -p /opt/nrs /mnt/edriver

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Passo 5: Listar os Dispositivos Conectados 🔌

Para saber qual dispositivo você vai usar, liste todos os dispositivos conectados:

bash lsblk

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Passo 6: Formatando o Pendrive 💾

Escolha o pendrive correto (por exemplo, /dev/sda) e formate-o:

bash mkfs.vfat /dev/sda

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Passo 7: Montar o Pendrive 💻

Monte o pendrive na pasta /mnt/edriver:

bash mount /dev/sda /mnt/edriver

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Passo 8: Verificar UUID dos Dispositivos 📋

Para garantir que o sistema monte o pendrive automaticamente, liste os UUID dos dispositivos conectados:

bash blkid

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Passo 9: Alterar o fstab para Montar o Pendrive Automáticamente 📝

Abra o arquivo /etc/fstab e adicione uma linha para o pendrive, com o UUID que você obteve no passo anterior. A linha deve ficar assim:

fstab UUID=9c9008f8-f852 /mnt/edriver vfat defaults 0 0

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Passo 10: Copiar o Binário para a Pasta Correta 📥

Agora, copie o binário baixado para a pasta /opt/nrs:

bash cp nrs-arm64 /opt/nrs

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Passo 11: Criar o Arquivo de Configuração 🛠️

Crie o arquivo de configuração com o seguinte conteúdo e salve-o em /opt/nrs/config.yaml:

yaml app_env: production info: name: Nostr Relay Server description: Nostr Relay Server pub_key: "" contact: "" url: http://localhost:3334 icon: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u= https://public.bnbstatic.com/image/cms/crawler/COINCU_NEWS/image-495-1024x569.png base_path: /mnt/edriver negentropy: true

---

Passo 12: Copiar o Serviço para o Diretório de Systemd ⚙️

Agora, copie o arquivo nrs.service para o diretório /etc/systemd/system/:

bash cp nrs.service /etc/systemd/system/

Recarregue os serviços e inicie o serviço nrs:

bash systemctl daemon-reload systemctl enable --now nrs.service

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Passo 13: Configurar o Tor 🌐

Abra o arquivo de configuração do Tor /var/lib/tor/torrc e adicione a seguinte linha:

torrc HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/nostr_server/ HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:3334

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Passo 14: Habilitar e Iniciar o Tor 🧅

Agora, ative e inicie o serviço Tor:

bash systemctl enable --now tor.service

O Tor irá gerar um endereço .onion para o seu servidor Nostr. Você pode encontrá-lo no arquivo /var/lib/tor/nostr_server/hostname.

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Observações ⚠️

• Com essa configuração, os dados serão salvos no pendrive, enquanto o binário ficará no cartão SD do Raspberry Pi.
• O endereço .onion do seu servidor Nostr será algo como: ws://y3t5t5wgwjif<exemplo>h42zy7ih6iwbyd.onion.

---

Agora, seu servidor Nostr deve estar configurado e funcionando com Tor! 🥳

Se este artigo e as informações aqui contidas forem úteis para você, convidamos a considerar uma doação ao autor como forma de reconhecimento e incentivo à produção de novos conteúdos.

@ 6389be64:ef439d32

Bitcoin is more than money, more than an asset, and more than a store of value. Bitcoin is a Prime Mover, an enabler and it ignites imaginations. It certainly fueled an idea in my mind. The idea integrates sensors, computational prowess, actuated machinery, power conversion, and electronic communications to form an autonomous, machined creature roaming forests and harvesting the most widespread and least energy-dense fuel source available. I call it the Forest Walker and it eats wood, and mines Bitcoin.

I know what you're thinking. Why not just put Bitcoin mining rigs where they belong: in a hosted facility sporting electricity from energy-dense fuels like natural gas, climate-controlled with excellent data piping in and out? Why go to all the trouble building a robot that digests wood creating flammable gasses fueling an engine to run a generator powering Bitcoin miners? It's all about synergy.

Bitcoin mining enables the realization of multiple, seemingly unrelated, yet useful activities. Activities considered un-profitable if not for Bitcoin as the Prime Mover. This is much more than simply mining the greatest asset ever conceived by humankind. It’s about the power of synergy, which Bitcoin plays only one of many roles. The synergy created by this system can stabilize forests' fire ecology while generating multiple income streams. That’s the realistic goal here and requires a brief history of American Forest management before continuing.

Smokey The Bear

In 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign began in the United States. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” remains the refrain of the Ad Council’s longest running campaign. The Ad Council is a U.S. non-profit set up by the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Association of National Advertisers in 1942. It would seem that the U.S. Department of the Interior was concerned about pesky forest fires and wanted them to stop. So, alongside a national policy of extreme fire suppression they enlisted the entire U.S. population to get onboard via the Ad Council and it worked. Forest fires were almost obliterated and everyone was happy, right? Wrong.

Smokey is a fantastically successful bear so forest fires became so few for so long that the fuel load - dead wood - in forests has become very heavy. So heavy that when a fire happens (and they always happen) it destroys everything in its path because the more fuel there is the hotter that fire becomes. Trees, bushes, shrubs, and all other plant life cannot escape destruction (not to mention homes and businesses). The soil microbiology doesn’t escape either as it is burned away even in deeper soils. To add insult to injury, hydrophobic waxy residues condense on the soil surface, forcing water to travel over the ground rather than through it eroding forest soils. Good job, Smokey. Well done, Sir!

Most terrestrial ecologies are “fire ecologies”. Fire is a part of these systems’ fuel load and pest management. Before we pretended to “manage” millions of acres of forest, fires raged over the world, rarely damaging forests. The fuel load was always too light to generate fires hot enough to moonscape mountainsides. Fires simply burned off the minor amounts of fuel accumulated since the fire before. The lighter heat, smoke, and other combustion gasses suppressed pests, keeping them in check and the smoke condensed into a plant growth accelerant called wood vinegar, not a waxy cap on the soil. These fires also cleared out weak undergrowth, cycled minerals, and thinned the forest canopy, allowing sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. Without a fire’s heat, many pine tree species can’t sow their seed. The heat is required to open the cones (the seed bearing structure) of Spruce, Cypress, Sequoia, Jack Pine, Lodgepole Pine and many more. Without fire forests can’t have babies. The idea was to protect the forests, and it isn't working.

So, in a world of fire, what does an ally look like and what does it do?

Meet The Forest Walker

For the Forest Walker to work as a mobile, autonomous unit, a solid platform that can carry several hundred pounds is required. It so happens this chassis already exists but shelved.

Introducing the Legged Squad Support System (LS3). A joint project between Boston Dynamics, DARPA, and the United States Marine Corps, the quadrupedal robot is the size of a cow, can carry 400 pounds (180 kg) of equipment, negotiate challenging terrain, and operate for 24 hours before needing to refuel. Yes, it had an engine. Abandoned in 2015, the thing was too noisy for military deployment and maintenance "under fire" is never a high-quality idea. However, we can rebuild it to act as a platform for the Forest Walker; albeit with serious alterations. It would need to be bigger, probably. Carry more weight? Definitely. Maybe replace structural metal with carbon fiber and redesign much as 3D printable parts for more effective maintenance.

The original system has a top operational speed of 8 miles per hour. For our purposes, it only needs to move about as fast as a grazing ruminant. Without the hammering vibrations of galloping into battle, shocks of exploding mortars, and drunken soldiers playing "Wrangler of Steel Machines", time between failures should be much longer and the overall energy consumption much lower. The LS3 is a solid platform to build upon. Now it just needs to be pulled out of the mothballs, and completely refitted with outboard equipment.

The Small Branch Chipper

When I say “Forest fuel load” I mean the dead, carbon containing litter on the forest floor. Duff (leaves), fine-woody debris (small branches), and coarse woody debris (logs) are the fuel that feeds forest fires. Walk through any forest in the United States today and you will see quite a lot of these materials. Too much, as I have described. Some of these fuel loads can be 8 tons per acre in pine and hardwood forests and up to 16 tons per acre at active logging sites. That’s some big wood and the more that collects, the more combustible danger to the forest it represents. It also provides a technically unlimited fuel supply for the Forest Walker system.

The problem is that this detritus has to be chewed into pieces that are easily ingestible by the system for the gasification process (we’ll get to that step in a minute). What we need is a wood chipper attached to the chassis (the LS3); its “mouth”.

A small wood chipper handling material up to 2.5 - 3.0 inches (6.3 - 7.6 cm) in diameter would eliminate a substantial amount of fuel. There is no reason for Forest Walker to remove fallen trees. It wouldn’t have to in order to make a real difference. It need only identify appropriately sized branches and grab them. Once loaded into the chipper’s intake hopper for further processing, the beast can immediately look for more “food”. This is essentially kindling that would help ignite larger logs. If it’s all consumed by Forest Walker, then it’s not present to promote an aggravated conflagration.

I have glossed over an obvious question: How does Forest Walker see and identify branches and such? LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) attached to Forest Walker images the local area and feed those data to onboard computers for processing. Maybe AI plays a role. Maybe simple machine learning can do the trick. One thing is for certain: being able to identify a stick and cause robotic appendages to pick it up is not impossible.

Great! We now have a quadrupedal robot autonomously identifying and “eating” dead branches and other light, combustible materials. Whilst strolling through the forest, depleting future fires of combustibles, Forest Walker has already performed a major function of this system: making the forest safer. It's time to convert this low-density fuel into a high-density fuel Forest Walker can leverage. Enter the gasification process.

The Gassifier

The gasifier is the heart of the entire system; it’s where low-density fuel becomes the high-density fuel that powers the entire system. Biochar and wood vinegar are process wastes and I’ll discuss why both are powerful soil amendments in a moment, but first, what’s gasification?

Reacting shredded carbonaceous material at high temperatures in a low or no oxygen environment converts the biomass into biochar, wood vinegar, heat, and Synthesis Gas (Syngas). Syngas consists primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. All of which are extremely useful fuels in a gaseous state. Part of this gas is used to heat the input biomass and keep the reaction temperature constant while the internal combustion engine that drives the generator to produce electrical power consumes the rest.

Critically, this gasification process is “continuous feed”. Forest Walker must intake biomass from the chipper, process it to fuel, and dump the waste (CO2, heat, biochar, and wood vinegar) continuously. It cannot stop. Everything about this system depends upon this continual grazing, digestion, and excretion of wastes just as a ruminal does. And, like a ruminant, all waste products enhance the local environment.

When I first heard of gasification, I didn’t believe that it was real. Running an electric generator from burning wood seemed more akin to “conspiracy fantasy” than science. Not only is gasification real, it’s ancient technology. A man named Dean Clayton first started experiments on gasification in 1699 and in 1901 gasification was used to power a vehicle. By the end of World War II, there were 500,000 Syngas powered vehicles in Germany alone because of fossil fuel rationing during the war. The global gasification market was $480 billion in 2022 and projected to be as much as $700 billion by 2030 (Vantage Market Research). Gasification technology is the best choice to power the Forest Walker because it’s self-contained and we want its waste products.

Biochar: The Waste

Biochar (AKA agricultural charcoal) is fairly simple: it’s almost pure, solid carbon that resembles charcoal. Its porous nature packs large surface areas into small, 3 dimensional nuggets. Devoid of most other chemistry, like hydrocarbons (methane) and ash (minerals), biochar is extremely lightweight. Do not confuse it with the charcoal you buy for your grill. Biochar doesn’t make good grilling charcoal because it would burn too rapidly as it does not contain the multitude of flammable components that charcoal does. Biochar has several other good use cases. Water filtration, water retention, nutrient retention, providing habitat for microscopic soil organisms, and carbon sequestration are the main ones that we are concerned with here.

Carbon has an amazing ability to adsorb (substances stick to and accumulate on the surface of an object) manifold chemistries. Water, nutrients, and pollutants tightly bind to carbon in this format. So, biochar makes a respectable filter and acts as a “battery” of water and nutrients in soils. Biochar adsorbs and holds on to seven times its weight in water. Soil containing biochar is more drought resilient than soil without it. Adsorbed nutrients, tightly sequestered alongside water, get released only as plants need them. Plants must excrete protons (H+) from their roots to disgorge water or positively charged nutrients from the biochar's surface; it's an active process.

Biochar’s surface area (where adsorption happens) can be 500 square meters per gram or more. That is 10% larger than an official NBA basketball court for every gram of biochar. Biochar’s abundant surface area builds protective habitats for soil microbes like fungi and bacteria and many are critical for the health and productivity of the soil itself.

The “carbon sequestration” component of biochar comes into play where “carbon credits” are concerned. There is a financial market for carbon. Not leveraging that market for revenue is foolish. I am climate agnostic. All I care about is that once solid carbon is inside the soil, it will stay there for thousands of years, imparting drought resiliency, fertility collection, nutrient buffering, and release for that time span. I simply want as much solid carbon in the soil because of the undeniably positive effects it has, regardless of any climactic considerations.

Wood Vinegar: More Waste

Another by-product of the gasification process is wood vinegar (Pyroligneous acid). If you have ever seen Liquid Smoke in the grocery store, then you have seen wood vinegar. Principally composed of acetic acid, acetone, and methanol wood vinegar also contains ~200 other organic compounds. It would seem intuitive that condensed, liquefied wood smoke would at least be bad for the health of all living things if not downright carcinogenic. The counter intuition wins the day, however. Wood vinegar has been used by humans for a very long time to promote digestion, bowel, and liver health; combat diarrhea and vomiting; calm peptic ulcers and regulate cholesterol levels; and a host of other benefits.

For centuries humans have annually burned off hundreds of thousands of square miles of pasture, grassland, forest, and every other conceivable terrestrial ecosystem. Why is this done? After every burn, one thing becomes obvious: the almost supernatural growth these ecosystems exhibit after the burn. How? Wood vinegar is a component of this growth. Even in open burns, smoke condenses and infiltrates the soil. That is when wood vinegar shows its quality.

This stuff beefs up not only general plant growth but seed germination as well and possesses many other qualities that are beneficial to plants. It’s a pesticide, fungicide, promotes beneficial soil microorganisms, enhances nutrient uptake, and imparts disease resistance. I am barely touching a long list of attributes here, but you want wood vinegar in your soil (alongside biochar because it adsorbs wood vinegar as well).

The Internal Combustion Engine

Conversion of grazed forage to chemical, then mechanical, and then electrical energy completes the cycle. The ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) converts the gaseous fuel output from the gasifier to mechanical energy, heat, water vapor, and CO2. It’s the mechanical energy of a rotating drive shaft that we want. That rotation drives the electric generator, which is the heartbeat we need to bring this monster to life. Luckily for us, combined internal combustion engine and generator packages are ubiquitous, delivering a defined energy output given a constant fuel input. It’s the simplest part of the system.

The obvious question here is whether the amount of syngas provided by the gasification process will provide enough energy to generate enough electrons to run the entire system or not. While I have no doubt the energy produced will run Forest Walker's main systems the question is really about the electrons left over. Will it be enough to run the Bitcoin mining aspect of the system? Everything is a budget.

CO2 Production For Growth

Plants are lollipops. No matter if it’s a tree or a bush or a shrubbery, the entire thing is mostly sugar in various formats but mostly long chain carbohydrates like lignin and cellulose. Plants need three things to make sugar: CO2, H2O and light. In a forest, where tree densities can be quite high, CO2 availability becomes a limiting growth factor. It’d be in the forest interests to have more available CO2 providing for various sugar formation providing the organism with food and structure.

An odd thing about tree leaves, the openings that allow gasses like the ever searched for CO2 are on the bottom of the leaf (these are called stomata). Not many stomata are topside. This suggests that trees and bushes have evolved to find gasses like CO2 from below, not above and this further suggests CO2 might be in higher concentrations nearer the soil.

The soil life (bacterial, fungi etc.) is constantly producing enormous amounts of CO2 and it would stay in the soil forever (eventually killing the very soil life that produces it) if not for tidal forces. Water is everywhere and whether in pools, lakes, oceans or distributed in “moist” soils water moves towards to the moon. The water in the soil and also in the water tables below the soil rise toward the surface every day. When the water rises, it expels the accumulated gasses in the soil into the atmosphere and it’s mostly CO2. It’s a good bet on how leaves developed high populations of stomata on the underside of leaves. As the water relaxes (the tide goes out) it sucks oxygenated air back into the soil to continue the functions of soil life respiration. The soil “breathes” albeit slowly.

The gasses produced by the Forest Walker’s internal combustion engine consist primarily of CO2 and H2O. Combusting sugars produce the same gasses that are needed to construct the sugars because the universe is funny like that. The Forest Walker is constantly laying down these critical construction elements right where the trees need them: close to the ground to be gobbled up by the trees.

The Branch Drones

During the last ice age, giant mammals populated North America - forests and otherwise. Mastodons, woolly mammoths, rhinos, short-faced bears, steppe bison, caribou, musk ox, giant beavers, camels, gigantic ground-dwelling sloths, glyptodons, and dire wolves were everywhere. Many were ten to fifteen feet tall. As they crashed through forests, they would effectively cleave off dead side-branches of trees, halting the spread of a ground-based fire migrating into the tree crown ("laddering") which is a death knell for a forest.

These animals are all extinct now and forests no longer have any manner of pruning services. But, if we build drones fitted with cutting implements like saws and loppers, optical cameras and AI trained to discern dead branches from living ones, these drones could effectively take over pruning services by identifying, cutting, and dropping to the forest floor, dead branches. The dropped branches simply get collected by the Forest Walker as part of its continual mission.

The drones dock on the back of the Forest Walker to recharge their batteries when low. The whole scene would look like a grazing cow with some flies bothering it. This activity breaks the link between a relatively cool ground based fire and the tree crowns and is a vital element in forest fire control.

The Bitcoin Miner

Mining is one of four monetary incentive models, making this system a possibility for development. The other three are US Dept. of the Interior, township, county, and electrical utility company easement contracts for fuel load management, global carbon credits trading, and data set sales. All the above depends on obvious questions getting answered. I will list some obvious ones, but this is not an engineering document and is not the place for spreadsheets. How much Bitcoin one Forest Walker can mine depends on everything else. What amount of biomass can we process? Will that biomass flow enough Syngas to keep the lights on? Can the chassis support enough mining ASICs and supporting infrastructure? What does that weigh and will it affect field performance? How much power can the AC generator produce?

Other questions that are more philosophical persist. Even if a single Forest Walker can only mine scant amounts of BTC per day, that pales to how much fuel material it can process into biochar. We are talking about millions upon millions of forested acres in need of fuel load management. What can a single Forest Walker do? I am not thinking in singular terms. The Forest Walker must operate as a fleet. What could 50 do? 500?

What is it worth providing a service to the world by managing forest fuel loads? Providing proof of work to the global monetary system? Seeding soil with drought and nutrient resilience by the excretion, over time, of carbon by the ton? What did the last forest fire cost?

The Mesh Network

What could be better than one bitcoin mining, carbon sequestering, forest fire squelching, soil amending behemoth? Thousands of them, but then they would need to be able to talk to each other to coordinate position, data handling, etc. Fitted with a mesh networking device, like goTenna or Meshtastic LoRa equipment enables each Forest Walker to communicate with each other.

Now we have an interconnected fleet of Forest Walkers relaying data to each other and more importantly, aggregating all of that to the last link in the chain for uplink. Well, at least Bitcoin mining data. Since block data is lightweight, transmission of these data via mesh networking in fairly close quartered environs is more than doable. So, how does data transmit to the Bitcoin Network? How do the Forest Walkers get the previous block data necessary to execute on mining?

Back To The Chain

Getting Bitcoin block data to and from the network is the last puzzle piece. The standing presumption here is that wherever a Forest Walker fleet is operating, it is NOT within cell tower range. We further presume that the nearest Walmart Wi-Fi is hours away. Enter the Blockstream Satellite or something like it.

A separate, ground-based drone will have two jobs: To stay as close to the nearest Forest Walker as it can and to provide an antennae for either terrestrial or orbital data uplink. Bitcoin-centric data is transmitted to the "uplink drone" via the mesh networked transmitters and then sent on to the uplink and the whole flow goes in the opposite direction as well; many to one and one to many.

We cannot transmit data to the Blockstream satellite, and it will be up to Blockstream and companies like it to provide uplink capabilities in the future and I don't doubt they will. Starlink you say? What’s stopping that company from filtering out block data? Nothing because it’s Starlink’s system and they could decide to censor these data. It seems we may have a problem sending and receiving Bitcoin data in back country environs.

But, then again, the utility of this system in staunching the fuel load that creates forest fires is extremely useful around forested communities and many have fiber, Wi-Fi and cell towers. These communities could be a welcoming ground zero for first deployments of the Forest Walker system by the home and business owners seeking fire repression. In the best way, Bitcoin subsidizes the safety of the communities.

Sensor Packages

LiDaR

The benefit of having a Forest Walker fleet strolling through the forest is the never ending opportunity for data gathering. A plethora of deployable sensors gathering hyper-accurate data on everything from temperature to topography is yet another revenue generator. Data is valuable and the Forest Walker could generate data sales to various government entities and private concerns.

LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) can map topography, perform biomass assessment, comparative soil erosion analysis, etc. It so happens that the Forest Walker’s ability to “see,” to navigate about its surroundings, is LiDaR driven and since it’s already being used, we can get double duty by harvesting that data for later use. By using a laser to send out light pulses and measuring the time it takes for the reflection of those pulses to return, very detailed data sets incrementally build up. Eventually, as enough data about a certain area becomes available, the data becomes useful and valuable.

Forestry concerns, both private and public, often use LiDaR to build 3D models of tree stands to assess the amount of harvest-able lumber in entire sections of forest. Consulting companies offering these services charge anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per square kilometer for such services. A Forest Walker generating such assessments on the fly while performing its other functions is a multi-disciplinary approach to revenue generation.

pH, Soil Moisture, and Cation Exchange Sensing

The Forest Walker is quadrupedal, so there are four contact points to the soil. Why not get a pH data point for every step it takes? We can also gather soil moisture data and cation exchange capacities at unheard of densities because of sampling occurring on the fly during commission of the system’s other duties. No one is going to build a machine to do pH testing of vast tracts of forest soils, but that doesn’t make the data collected from such an endeavor valueless. Since the Forest Walker serves many functions at once, a multitude of data products can add to the return on investment component.

Weather Data

Temperature, humidity, pressure, and even data like evapotranspiration gathered at high densities on broad acre scales have untold value and because the sensors are lightweight and don’t require large power budgets, they come along for the ride at little cost. But, just like the old mantra, “gas, grass, or ass, nobody rides for free”, these sensors provide potential revenue benefits just by them being present.

I’ve touched on just a few data genres here. In fact, the question for universities, governmental bodies, and other institutions becomes, “How much will you pay us to attach your sensor payload to the Forest Walker?”

Noise Suppression

Only you can prevent Metallica filling the surrounds with 120 dB of sound. Easy enough, just turn the car stereo off. But what of a fleet of 50 Forest Walkers operating in the backcountry or near a township? 500? 5000? Each one has a wood chipper, an internal combustion engine, hydraulic pumps, actuators, and more cooling fans than you can shake a stick at. It’s a walking, screaming fire-breathing dragon operating continuously, day and night, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. The sound will negatively affect all living things and that impacts behaviors. Serious engineering consideration and prowess must deliver a silencing blow to the major issue of noise.

It would be foolish to think that a fleet of Forest Walkers could be silent, but if not a major design consideration, then the entire idea is dead on arrival. Townships would not allow them to operate even if they solved the problem of widespread fuel load and neither would governmental entities, and rightly so. Nothing, not man nor beast, would want to be subjected to an eternal, infernal scream even if it were to end within days as the fleet moved further away after consuming what it could. Noise and heat are the only real pollutants of this system; taking noise seriously from the beginning is paramount.

Fire Safety

A “fire-breathing dragon” is not the worst description of the Forest Walker. It eats wood, combusts it at very high temperatures and excretes carbon; and it does so in an extremely flammable environment. Bad mix for one Forest Walker, worse for many. One must take extreme pains to ensure that during normal operation, a Forest Walker could fall over, walk through tinder dry brush, or get pounded into the ground by a meteorite from Krypton and it wouldn’t destroy epic swaths of trees and baby deer. I envision an ultimate test of a prototype to include dowsing it in grain alcohol while it’s wrapped up in toilet paper like a pledge at a fraternity party. If it runs for 72 hours and doesn’t set everything on fire, then maybe outside entities won’t be fearful of something that walks around forests with a constant fire in its belly.

The Wrap

How we think about what can be done with and adjacent to Bitcoin is at least as important as Bitcoin’s economic standing itself. For those who will tell me that this entire idea is without merit, I say, “OK, fine. You can come up with something, too.” What can we plug Bitcoin into that, like a battery, makes something that does not work, work? That’s the lesson I get from this entire exercise. No one was ever going to hire teams of humans to go out and "clean the forest". There's no money in that. The data collection and sales from such an endeavor might provide revenues over the break-even point but investment demands Alpha in this day and age. But, plug Bitcoin into an almost viable system and, voilà! We tip the scales to achieve lift-off.

Let’s face it, we haven’t scratched the surface of Bitcoin’s forcing function on our minds. Not because it’s Bitcoin, but because of what that invention means. The question that pushes me to approach things this way is, “what can we create that one system’s waste is another system’s feedstock?” The Forest Walker system’s only real waste is the conversion of low entropy energy (wood and syngas) into high entropy energy (heat and noise). All other output is beneficial to humanity.

Bitcoin, I believe, is the first product of a new mode of human imagination. An imagination newly forged over the past few millennia of being lied to, stolen from, distracted and otherwise mis-allocated to a black hole of the nonsensical. We are waking up.

What I have presented is not science fiction. Everything I have described here is well within the realm of possibility. The question is one of viability, at least in terms of the detritus of the old world we find ourselves departing from. This system would take a non-trivial amount of time and resources to develop. I think the system would garner extensive long-term contracts from those who have the most to lose from wildfires, the most to gain from hyperaccurate data sets, and, of course, securing the most precious asset in the world. Many may not see it that way, for they seek Alpha and are therefore blind to other possibilities. Others will see only the possibilities; of thinking in a new way, of looking at things differently, and dreaming of what comes next.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

The United States is on the cusp of a historic technological renaissance, often referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Artificial intelligence, automation, advanced robotics, quantum computing, biotechnology, and clean manufacturing are converging into a seismic shift that will redefine how we live, work, and relate to one another. But there's a critical catch: this transformation depends entirely on the availability of stable, abundant, and inexpensive electricity.

Why Electricity is the Keystone of Innovation

Let’s start with something basic but often overlooked. Every industrial revolution has had an energy driver:

• The First rode the steam engine, powered by coal.
• The Second was electrified through centralized power plants.
• The Third harnessed computing and the internet.
• The Fourth will demand energy on a scale and reliability never seen before.

Imagine a city where thousands of small factories run 24/7 with robotics and AI doing precision manufacturing. Imagine a national network of autonomous vehicles, delivery drones, urban vertical farms, and high-bandwidth communication systems. All of this requires uninterrupted and inexpensive power.

Without it? Costs balloon. Innovation stalls. Investment leaves. And America risks becoming a second-tier economic power in a multipolar world.

So here’s the thesis: If we want to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we must first lead in energy. And nuclear — specifically Gen IV Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) — must be part of that leadership.

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The Nuclear Case: Clean, Scalable, Strategic

Let’s debunk the myth: nuclear is not the boogeyman of the 1970s. It’s one of the safest, cleanest, and most energy-dense sources we have.

But traditional nuclear has problems:

• Too expensive to build.
• Too long to license.
• Too bespoke and complex.

Enter Gen IV SMRs:

• Factory-built and transportable.
• Passively safe with walk-away safety designs.
• Scalable in 50–300 MWe increments.
• Ideal for remote areas, industrial parks, and military bases.

But even SMRs will struggle under the current regulatory, economic, and manufacturing ecosystem. To unlock their potential, we need a new national approach.

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The Argument for National Strategy

Let’s paint a vision:

SMRs deployed at military bases across the country, secured by trained personnel, powering critical infrastructure, and feeding clean, carbon-free power back into surrounding communities.

SMRs operated by public chartered utilities—not for Wall Street profits, but for stability, security, and public good.

SMRs manufactured by a competitive ecosystem of certified vendors, just like aircraft or medical devices, with standard parts and rapid regulatory approval.

This isn't science fiction. It's a plausible, powerful model. Here’s how we do it.

---

Step 1: Treat SMRs as a National Security Asset

Why does the Department of Defense spend billions to secure oil convoys and build fuel depots across the world, but not invest in nuclear microgrids that would make forward bases self-sufficient for decades?

Nuclear power is inherently a strategic asset:

• Immune to price shocks.
• Hard to sabotage.
• Decades of stable power from a small footprint.

It’s time to reframe SMRs from an energy project to a national security platform. That changes everything.

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Step 2: Create Public-Chartered Operating Companies

We don’t need another corporate monopoly or Wall Street scheme. Instead, let’s charter SMR utilities the way we chartered the TVA or the Postal Service:

• Low-margin, mission-oriented.
• Publicly accountable.
• Able to sign long-term contracts with DOD, DOE, or regional utilities.

These organizations won’t chase quarterly profits. They’ll chase uptime, grid stability, and national resilience.

---

Step 3: Build a Competitive SMR Industry Like Aerospace

Imagine multiple manufacturers building SMRs to common, certified standards. Components sourced from a wide supplier base. Designs evolving year over year, with upgrades like software and avionics do.

This is how we build:

• Safer reactors
• Cheaper units
• Modular designs
• A real export industry

Airplanes are safe, affordable, and efficient because of scale and standardization. We can do the same with reactors.

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Step 4: Anchor SMRs to the Coming Fourth Industrial Revolution

AI, robotics, and distributed manufacturing don’t need fossil fuels. They need cheap, clean, continuous electricity.

• AI datacenters
• Robotic agriculture
• Carbon-free steel and cement
• Direct air capture
• Electric industrial transport

SMRs enable this future. And they decentralize power, both literally and economically. That means jobs in every region, not just coastal tech hubs.

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Step 5: Pair Energy Sovereignty with Economic Reform

Here’s the big leap: what if this new energy architecture was tied to a transparent, auditable, and sovereign monetary system?

• Public utilities priced in a new digital dollar.
• Trade policy balanced by low-carbon energy exports.
• Public accounting verified with open ledgers.

This is not just national security. It’s monetary resilience.

The world is moving to multi-polar trade systems. Energy exports and energy reliability will define economic influence. If America leads with SMRs, we lead the conversation.

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Conclusion: A Moral and Strategic Imperative

We can either:

• Let outdated fears and bureaucracy stall the future, or...
• Build the infrastructure for clean, secure, and sovereign prosperity.

We have the designs.
We have the talent.
We have the need.

What we need now is will.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will either be powered by us—or by someone else. Let’s make sure America leads. And let’s do it with SMRs, public charter, competitive industry, and national purpose.

It’s time.

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This is a call to engineers, legislators, veterans, economists, and every American who believes in building again. SMRs are not just about power. They are about sovereignty, security, and shared prosperity.

---

Further reading:

nostr:naddr1qqgrjv33xenx2drpve3kxvrp8quxgqgcwaehxw309anxjmr5v4ezumn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tczyrq7n2e62632km9yh6l5f6nykt76gzkxxy0gs6agddr9y95uk445xqcyqqq823cdzc99s

@ ee6ea13a:959b6e74

Chef's notes

You can cook this in one pan on the stove. I use a cast iron pan, but you can make it in a wok or any deep pan.

I serve mine over rice, which I make in a rice cooker. If you have a fancy one, you might have a setting for sticky or scorched rice, so give one of those a try.

To plate this, I scoop rice into a bowl, and then turn it upside-down to give it a dome shape, then spoon the curry on top of it.

Serve with chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20
• 🍳 Cook time: 20
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 2" pieces
• 2 tablespoons coconut or avocado oil
• 1 cup white or yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 cup red bell pepper, sliced or diced
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small (4oz) jar of Thai red curry paste
• 1 can (13oz) unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cup carrots, shredded or julienned
• 1 lime, zest and juice
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Once hot, add onions and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook 3 minutes, or until onions are softened, stirring often.
2. Add the red curry paste, garlic, ginger, and coriander. Cook about 1 minute, or until fragrant, stirring often.
3. Add coconut milk, brown sugar, soy sauce, and chicken. Stir, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered for 7 minutes, occasionally stirring.
4. Add carrots and red bell peppers, and simmer 5-7 more minutes, until sauce slightly thickens and chicken is cooked through.
5. Remove from heat, and stir in the lime zest, and half of the lime juice.
6. Serve over rice, topped with cilantro, and add more lime juice if you like extra citrus.

@ 23b0e2f8:d8af76fc

Necessário

• Um Android que você não use mais (a câmera deve estar funcionando).
• Um cartão microSD (opcional, usado apenas uma vez).
• Um dispositivo para acompanhar seus fundos (provavelmente você já tem um).

Algumas coisas que você precisa saber

• O dispositivo servirá como um assinador. Qualquer movimentação só será efetuada após ser assinada por ele.
• O cartão microSD será usado para transferir o APK do Electrum e garantir que o aparelho não terá contato com outras fontes de dados externas após sua formatação. Contudo, é possível usar um cabo USB para o mesmo propósito.
• A ideia é deixar sua chave privada em um dispositivo offline, que ficará desligado em 99% do tempo. Você poderá acompanhar seus fundos em outro dispositivo conectado à internet, como seu celular ou computador pessoal.

---

O tutorial será dividido em dois módulos:

• Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador.
• Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador.

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No final, teremos:

• Uma carteira fria que também servirá como assinador.
• Um dispositivo para acompanhar os fundos da carteira.

---

Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador

1. Baixe o APK do Electrum na aba de downloads em https://electrum.org/. Fique à vontade para verificar as assinaturas do software, garantindo sua autenticidade.

2. Formate o cartão microSD e coloque o APK do Electrum nele. Caso não tenha um cartão microSD, pule este passo.

1. Retire os chips e acessórios do aparelho que será usado como assinador, formate-o e aguarde a inicialização.

1. Durante a inicialização, pule a etapa de conexão ao Wi-Fi e rejeite todas as solicitações de conexão. Após isso, você pode desinstalar aplicativos desnecessários, pois precisará apenas do Electrum. Certifique-se de que Wi-Fi, Bluetooth e dados móveis estejam desligados. Você também pode ativar o modo avião.\ (Curiosidade: algumas pessoas optam por abrir o aparelho e danificar a antena do Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, impossibilitando essas funcionalidades.)

1. Insira o cartão microSD com o APK do Electrum no dispositivo e instale-o. Será necessário permitir instalações de fontes não oficiais.

1. No Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão e gere suas palavras-chave (seed). Anote-as em um local seguro. Caso algo aconteça com seu assinador, essas palavras permitirão o acesso aos seus fundos novamente. (Aqui entra seu método pessoal de backup.)

---

Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador.

1. Criar uma carteira somente leitura em outro dispositivo, como seu celular ou computador pessoal, é uma etapa bastante simples. Para este tutorial, usaremos outro smartphone Android com Electrum. Instale o Electrum a partir da aba de downloads em https://electrum.org/ ou da própria Play Store. (ATENÇÃO: O Electrum não existe oficialmente para iPhone. Desconfie se encontrar algum.)

2. Após instalar o Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão, mas desta vez escolha a opção Usar uma chave mestra.

1. Agora, no assinador que criamos no primeiro módulo, exporte sua chave pública: vá em Carteira > Detalhes da carteira > Compartilhar chave mestra pública.

1. Escaneie o QR gerado da chave pública com o dispositivo de consulta. Assim, ele poderá acompanhar seus fundos, mas sem permissão para movimentá-los.

2. Para receber fundos, envie Bitcoin para um dos endereços gerados pela sua carteira: Carteira > Addresses/Coins.

3. Para movimentar fundos, crie uma transação no dispositivo de consulta. Como ele não possui a chave privada, será necessário assiná-la com o dispositivo assinador.

1. No assinador, escaneie a transação não assinada, confirme os detalhes, assine e compartilhe. Será gerado outro QR, desta vez com a transação já assinada.

1. No dispositivo de consulta, escaneie o QR da transação assinada e transmita-a para a rede.

---

Conclusão

Pontos positivos do setup:

• Simplicidade: Basta um dispositivo Android antigo.
• Flexibilidade: Funciona como uma ótima carteira fria, ideal para holders.

Pontos negativos do setup:

• Padronização: Não utiliza seeds no padrão BIP-39, você sempre precisará usar o electrum.
• Interface: A aparência do Electrum pode parecer antiquada para alguns usuários.

Nesse ponto, temos uma carteira fria que também serve para assinar transações. O fluxo de assinar uma transação se torna: Gerar uma transação não assinada > Escanear o QR da transação não assinada > Conferir e assinar essa transação com o assinador > Gerar QR da transação assinada > Escanear a transação assinada com qualquer outro dispositivo que possa transmiti-la para a rede.

Como alguns devem saber, uma transação assinada de Bitcoin é praticamente impossível de ser fraudada. Em um cenário catastrófico, você pode mesmo que sem internet, repassar essa transação assinada para alguém que tenha acesso à rede por qualquer meio de comunicação. Mesmo que não queiramos que isso aconteça um dia, esse setup acaba por tornar essa prática possível.

---

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

มีคนเคยพูดเล่นว่า “ถ้าคุณอยากเปลี่ยนโลก ไม่ต้องปฏิวัติ แค่เปลี่ยนอาหารคนซะ" บรรดาเจ้าพ่อเทคโนโลยีชีวภาพก็เลยเริ่มจับมือกับกลุ่มทุนระดับโลก สร้าง “อาหารแห่งอนาคต” ที่แม้จะไม่งอกจากธรรมชาติ แต่งอกมาจากถังหมักในโรงงานได้แทน

หลังจากที่เราเริ่มมองเห็นแล้วว่า ช่องทางแทรกซึมเข้าสู่อาหารโลกอนาคตนั้น ตั้งอยู่บนพื้นฐาน "โปรตีน" ซึ่งถ้าใครตามซีรีส์นี้กันมาตลอด คงจำโพสเรื่อง "เรากินนมเพราะความกลัว?" กันได้ดีนะครับ ไวรัล และ ตีความหลุด theme กันกระจาย ซึ่งเป็นธรรมดาของ social media ที่มันจะโผล่ไปหาขาจรแค่ครั้งเดียว ดังนั้น ก้าวข้ามมันไปครับ

สิ่งที่ปูทางไว้แล้วก่อนจะแบไต๋ว่า เป้าหลักของโลกคือ โปรตีน นั่นคือ นมทางเลือก มาสู่การยึดพื้นที่นมโรงเรียน การเข้าตลาดของ Perfect Day โปรตีนนมที่อยู่ในทั้งนม ขนม ไอศกรีม แล้วทั้งหมดจะถูกปรับภาพล้างไพ่ใหม่ ในนามของ milk 2.0 ครับ เรามาต่อซีรีส์ของเราด้วยการทำความรู้จัก ผู้เล่น กันทีละตัวนะครับ หลังจากเราได้ เวย์นมตั้งบนชั้นบนเชลฟ์กันไปแล้ว

New Culture เป็นบริษัทสตาร์ทอัปจากซานลีอันโดร รัฐแคลิฟอร์เนีย ที่ก่อตั้งขึ้นในปี 2018 โดย Matt Gibson และ Inja Radman โดยมีเป้าหมายในการผลิตโปรตีนเคซีน (casein) ซึ่งเป็นโปรตีนหลักในนมวัว โดยไม่ใช้สัตว์ ผ่านกระบวนการ precision fermentation หรือการหมักด้วยจุลินทรีย์ที่ได้รับการดัดแปลงพันธุกรรม โดยการฝึกจุลินทรีย์ให้ผลิตโปรตีนเคซีนในห้องปฏิบัติการ เพื่อสร้างผลิตภัณฑ์ชีสที่ปราศจากสัตว์ ซึ่งโปรตีนนี้สามารถนำมาใช้ในการผลิตชีสที่มีคุณสมบัติใกล้เคียงกับชีสจากนมวัว แต่ยังคงคุณสมบัติของชีสแท้ๆ เช่น การยืดหยุ่น การละลาย และรสชาติที่คุ้นเคย เปลี่ยนนิยามของคำว่า “ชีส” ให้กลายเป็นโปรตีนเคซีนจากจุลินทรีย์ ไม่ใช่จากน้ำนมวัวอีกต่อไป

Matt Gibson ชายชาวนิวซีแลนด์ ผู้ก่อตั้ง New Culture ไม่ใช่นักวิทยาศาสตร์ แต่เป็นคนหัวธุรกิจที่มีปมบางอย่างกับการกินชีสแบบดั้งเดิม เขาร่วมมือกับ Dr. Inja Radman นักชีววิทยา แล้วตั้งเป้าผลิต “เคซีน” โปรตีนหลักในนมโดยไม่ใช้สัตว์เลยสักตัว

การที่เขาเลือกใช้ precision fermentation หรือการหมักจุลินทรีย์ที่ตัดต่อพันธุกรรม ให้ผลิตเคซีนออกมาจากถังหมัก ซึ่งไม่ใช่เทคโนโลยีใหม่ในโลกแล้ว (แม้บ้านเราหลายคนจะเพิ่งเคยได้ยิน และ ตกใจกันอยู่) บริษัทคู่แข่งอย่าง Perfect Day ก็ใช้แนวทางเดียวกัน ผลิต “เวย์โปรตีนไร้สัตว์” ไปก่อนแล้ว และตอนนี้ มหาเศรษฐีสายลงทุนยั่งยืนก็กำลังรุมแห่ใส่เงินสนับสนุนแขนงนี้เหมือนเห็นโอกาสใหม่ในโลก Fiat ทำให้ New Culture ปรับทิศไปที่ "ชีส"

ผลิตภัณฑ์หลักของ New Culture คือ มอสซาเรลล่าปราศจากสัตว์ ที่มีคุณสมบัติใกล้เคียงกับมอสซาเรลล่าจากนมวัว โดยสามารถละลายและยืดหยุ่นได้เหมือนชีสแท้ๆ และยังมีปริมาณโปรตีนเคซีนเพียง 50% ของชีสทั่วไป ซึ่ง "ช่วยลดต้นทุนการผลิตและผลกระทบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อม"

New Culture ได้รับการสนับสนุนทางการเงินจากนักลงทุนรายใหญ่ เช่น Kraft Heinz, ADM, CJ CheilJedang, และ Dr. Oetker โดยในปี 2021 บริษัทได้ระดมทุนรอบ Series A จำนวน 25 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ เพื่อขยายการผลิตและนำผลิตภัณฑ์ออกสู่ตลาด นอกจากนี้ New Culture ยังได้ร่วมมือกับ CJ CheilJedang บริษัทผู้ผลิตผลิตภัณฑ์จากการหมักที่ใหญ่ที่สุดในโลก เพื่อเข้าถึงโรงงานการหมักที่ทันสมัยและลดต้นทุนการผลิตโปรตีนเคซีน

และแน่นอนเลยครับว่า ผลิตภัณฑ์ของ New Culture ต้องมาพร้อมกับการโหมประกาศว่า ปราศจากแลคโตส คอเลสเตอรอล ฮอร์โมน และยาปฏิชีวนะที่พบในนมวัว นอกจากนี้ การผลิตโปรตีนเคซีนผ่านการหมักยังช่วยลดการปล่อยก๊าซเรือนกระจกและการใช้ทรัพยากรน้ำและที่ดินเมื่อเทียบกับการผลิตนมวัวแบบดั้งเดิม เพื่อรับความดีงามจากประชากรโลกไปตามระเบียบ

มาดูรอบการระดมทุนกันครับ ยอดเงินทุนรวมที่ได้รับ จนถึงเดือนมีนาคม 2025 New Culture ได้รับเงินทุนรวมประมาณ $35 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ จากการระดมทุนทั้งหมด 8 รอบ ที่น่าจับตามองคือ Series A ในเดือนพฤศจิกายน 2021 บริษัทได้รับเงินทุน $25 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ จากนักลงทุนรวมถึง ADM Ventures และ Evolv Ventures ซึ่งเป็นหน่วยงานร่วมลงทุนของ Kraft Heinz

นอกจาก Evolv Ventures จาก Kraft Heinz แล้ว อย่าคิดว่ามันไกลเกินนะครับ CJ CheilJedang บริษัทจากเกาหลีใต้ที่เป็นผู้นำด้านเทคโนโลยีการหมัก ได้เข้าร่วมลงทุนในรอบ Series A เมื่อเดือนพฤศจิกายน 2022 แล้วเจ้านี้นี่บอกได้เลยครับ บิ๊กเนม CJ CheilJedang เป็นผู้นำด้านเทคโนโลยีการหมักและมีส่วนแบ่งตลาด 25% ในตลาดพิซซ่าแช่แข็งของสหรัฐฯ เป้าหมายการเข้าร่วมลงทุนใน New Culture ก็เพื่อสนับสนุนการพัฒนาผลิตภัณฑ์และการขยายกำลังการผลิตของชีสปราศจากสัตว์ของบริษัท

New Culture ยังได้ร่วมมือกับเชฟชื่อดัง Nancy Silverton เพื่อเปิดตัวผลิตภัณฑ์ชีสในร้านอาหารระดับเชฟชื่อดังในสหรัฐฯ กลางปี 2025 โดยเริ่มที่ร้าน Pizzeria Mozza ในลอสแอนเจลิส ซึ่งถือเป็นการเปิดตัวผลิตภัณฑ์สู่ตลาดผู้บริโภคครั้งแรกของบริษัท

การเข้ามาลงทุนของ Evolv Ventures กองทุนร่วมลงทุนของ Kraft Heinz ทำให้เจ้าพ่อชีสโปรเซสในตำนาน มีโอกาสเข้ามาร่วมมือเปิดร้านอาหารนำร่องกับ New Culture

น่าสนใจไหม เงินทุนใหญ่ๆมาจากหน่วยลงทุนที่มีผลิตภัณฑ์เป็น พิซซ่า #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

Markdown: Syntax

• Overview
  • Philosophy
  • Inline HTML
  • Automatic Escaping for Special Characters
• Block Elements
  • Paragraphs and Line Breaks
  • Headers
  • Blockquotes
  • Lists
  • Code Blocks
  • Horizontal Rules
• Span Elements
  • Links
  • Emphasis
  • Code
  • Images
• Miscellaneous
  • Backslash Escapes
  • Automatic Links

Note: This document is itself written using Markdown; you can see the source for it by adding '.text' to the URL.

---

Overview

Philosophy

Markdown is intended to be as easy-to-read and easy-to-write as is feasible.

Readability, however, is emphasized above all else. A Markdown-formatted document should be publishable as-is, as plain text, without looking like it's been marked up with tags or formatting instructions. While Markdown's syntax has been influenced by several existing text-to-HTML filters -- including Setext, atx, Textile, reStructuredText, Grutatext, and EtText -- the single biggest source of inspiration for Markdown's syntax is the format of plain text email.

Block Elements

Paragraphs and Line Breaks

A paragraph is simply one or more consecutive lines of text, separated by one or more blank lines. (A blank line is any line that looks like a blank line -- a line containing nothing but spaces or tabs is considered blank.) Normal paragraphs should not be indented with spaces or tabs.

The implication of the "one or more consecutive lines of text" rule is that Markdown supports "hard-wrapped" text paragraphs. This differs significantly from most other text-to-HTML formatters (including Movable Type's "Convert Line Breaks" option) which translate every line break character in a paragraph into a <br /> tag.

When you do want to insert a <br /> break tag using Markdown, you end a line with two or more spaces, then type return.

Headers

Markdown supports two styles of headers, [Setext] [1] and [atx] [2].

Optionally, you may "close" atx-style headers. This is purely cosmetic -- you can use this if you think it looks better. The closing hashes don't even need to match the number of hashes used to open the header. (The number of opening hashes determines the header level.)

Blockquotes

Markdown uses email-style > characters for blockquoting. If you're familiar with quoting passages of text in an email message, then you know how to create a blockquote in Markdown. It looks best if you hard wrap the text and put a > before every line:

This is a blockquote with two paragraphs. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus. Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.

Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit. Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.

Markdown allows you to be lazy and only put the > before the first line of a hard-wrapped paragraph:

This is a blockquote with two paragraphs. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus. Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.

Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit. Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.

Blockquotes can be nested (i.e. a blockquote-in-a-blockquote) by adding additional levels of >:

This is the first level of quoting.

This is nested blockquote.

Back to the first level.

Blockquotes can contain other Markdown elements, including headers, lists, and code blocks:

This is a header.

1. This is the first list item.
2. This is the second list item.

Here's some example code:

return shell_exec("echo $input | $markdown_script");

Any decent text editor should make email-style quoting easy. For example, with BBEdit, you can make a selection and choose Increase Quote Level from the Text menu.

Lists

Markdown supports ordered (numbered) and unordered (bulleted) lists.

Unordered lists use asterisks, pluses, and hyphens -- interchangably -- as list markers:

• Red
• Green
• Blue

is equivalent to:

• Red
• Green
• Blue

and:

• Red
• Green
• Blue

Ordered lists use numbers followed by periods:

1. Bird
2. McHale
3. Parish

It's important to note that the actual numbers you use to mark the list have no effect on the HTML output Markdown produces. The HTML Markdown produces from the above list is:

If you instead wrote the list in Markdown like this:

1. Bird
2. McHale
3. Parish

or even:

1. Bird
2. McHale
3. Parish

you'd get the exact same HTML output. The point is, if you want to, you can use ordinal numbers in your ordered Markdown lists, so that the numbers in your source match the numbers in your published HTML. But if you want to be lazy, you don't have to.

To make lists look nice, you can wrap items with hanging indents:

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus. Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.
• Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit. Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.

But if you want to be lazy, you don't have to:

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus. Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.
• Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit. Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.

List items may consist of multiple paragraphs. Each subsequent paragraph in a list item must be indented by either 4 spaces or one tab:

1. This is a list item with two paragraphs. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus.

   Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus. Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit.

2. Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.

It looks nice if you indent every line of the subsequent paragraphs, but here again, Markdown will allow you to be lazy:

• This is a list item with two paragraphs.

  This is the second paragraph in the list item. You're only required to indent the first line. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.

• Another item in the same list.

To put a blockquote within a list item, the blockquote's > delimiters need to be indented:

• A list item with a blockquote:

  This is a blockquote inside a list item.

To put a code block within a list item, the code block needs to be indented twice -- 8 spaces or two tabs:

• A list item with a code block:

  <code goes here>
  

Code Blocks

Pre-formatted code blocks are used for writing about programming or markup source code. Rather than forming normal paragraphs, the lines of a code block are interpreted literally. Markdown wraps a code block in both <pre> and <code> tags.

To produce a code block in Markdown, simply indent every line of the block by at least 4 spaces or 1 tab.

This is a normal paragraph:

This is a code block.

Here is an example of AppleScript:

tell application "Foo"
    beep
end tell

A code block continues until it reaches a line that is not indented (or the end of the article).

Within a code block, ampersands (&) and angle brackets (< and >) are automatically converted into HTML entities. This makes it very easy to include example HTML source code using Markdown -- just paste it and indent it, and Markdown will handle the hassle of encoding the ampersands and angle brackets. For example, this:

<div class="footer">
    &copy; 2004 Foo Corporation
</div>

Regular Markdown syntax is not processed within code blocks. E.g., asterisks are just literal asterisks within a code block. This means it's also easy to use Markdown to write about Markdown's own syntax.

tell application "Foo" beep end tell

Span Elements

Links

Markdown supports two style of links: inline and reference.

In both styles, the link text is delimited by [square brackets].

To create an inline link, use a set of regular parentheses immediately after the link text's closing square bracket. Inside the parentheses, put the URL where you want the link to point, along with an optional title for the link, surrounded in quotes. For example:

This is an example inline link.

This link has no title attribute.

Emphasis

Markdown treats asterisks (*) and underscores (_) as indicators of emphasis. Text wrapped with one * or _ will be wrapped with an HTML <em> tag; double *'s or _'s will be wrapped with an HTML <strong> tag. E.g., this input:

single asterisks

single underscores

double asterisks

double underscores

Code

To indicate a span of code, wrap it with backtick quotes (`). Unlike a pre-formatted code block, a code span indicates code within a normal paragraph. For example:

Use the printf() function.

@ 1bda7e1f:bb97c4d9

Tldr

• Nostr is an open and interoperable protocol
• You can integrate it with workflow automation tools to augment your experience
• n8n is a great low/no-code workflow automation tool which you can host yourself
• Nostrobots allows you to integrate Nostr into n8n
• In this blog I create some workflow automations for Nostr
• A simple form to delegate posting notes
• Push notifications for mentions on multiple accounts
• Push notifications for your favourite accounts when they post a note
• All workflows are provided as open source with MIT license for you to use

Inter-op All The Things

Nostr is a new open social protocol for the internet. This open nature exciting because of the opportunities for interoperability with other technologies. In Using NFC Cards with Nostr I explored the nostr: URI to launch Nostr clients from a card tap.

The interoperability of Nostr doesn't stop there. The internet has many super-powers, and Nostr is open to all of them. Simply, there's no one to stop it. There is no one in charge, there are no permissioned APIs, and there are no risks of being de-platformed. If you can imagine technologies that would work well with Nostr, then any and all of them can ride on or alongside Nostr rails.

My mental model for why this is special is Google Wave ~2010. Google Wave was to be the next big platform. Lars was running it and had a big track record from Maps. I was excited for it. Then, Google pulled the plug. And, immediately all the time and capital invested in understanding and building on the platform was wasted.

This cannot happen to Nostr, as there is no one to pull the plug, and maybe even no plug to pull.

So long as users demand Nostr, Nostr will exist, and that is a pretty strong guarantee. It makes it worthwhile to invest in bringing Nostr into our other applications.

All we need are simple ways to plug things together.

Nostr and Workflow Automation

Workflow automation is about helping people to streamline their work. As a user, the most common way I achieve this is by connecting disparate systems together. By setting up one system to trigger another or to move data between systems, I can solve for many different problems and become way more effective.

n8n for workflow automation

Many workflow automation tools exist. My favourite is n8n. n8n is a low/no-code workflow automation platform which allows you to build all kinds of workflows. You can use it for free, you can self-host it, it has a user-friendly UI and useful API. Vs Zapier it can be far more elaborate. Vs Make.com I find it to be more intuitive in how it abstracts away the right parts of the code, but still allows you to code when you need to.

Most importantly you can plug anything into n8n: You have built-in nodes for specific applications. HTTP nodes for any other API-based service. And community nodes built by individual community members for any other purpose you can imagine.

Eating my own dogfood

It's very clear to me that there is a big design space here just demanding to be explored. If you could integrate Nostr with anything, what would you do?

In my view the best way for anyone to start anything is by solving their own problem first (aka "scratching your own itch" and "eating your own dogfood"). As I get deeper into Nostr I find myself controlling multiple Npubs – to date I have a personal Npub, a brand Npub for a community I am helping, an AI assistant Npub, and various testing Npubs. I need ways to delegate access to those Npubs without handing over the keys, ways to know if they're mentioned, and ways to know if they're posting.

I can build workflows with n8n to solve these issues for myself to start with, and keep expanding from there as new needs come up.

Running n8n with Nostrobots

I am mostly non-technical with a very helpful AI. To set up n8n to work with Nostr and operate these workflows should be possible for anyone with basic technology skills.

• I have a cheap VPS which currently runs my HAVEN Nostr Relay and Albyhub Lightning Node in Docker containers,
• My objective was to set up n8n to run alongside these in a separate Docker container on the same server, install the required nodes, and then build and host my workflows.

Installing n8n

Self-hosting n8n could not be easier. I followed n8n's Docker-Compose installation docs–

• Install Docker and Docker-Compose if you haven't already,
• Create your docker-compose.yml and .env files from the docs,
• Create your data folder sudo docker volume create n8n_data,
• Start your container with sudo docker compose up -d,
• Your n8n instance should be online at port 5678.

n8n is free to self-host but does require a license. Enter your credentials into n8n to get your free license key. You should now have access to the Workflow dashboard and can create and host any kind of workflows from there.

Installing Nostrobots

To integrate n8n nicely with Nostr, I used the Nostrobots community node by Ocknamo.

In n8n parlance a "node" enables certain functionality as a step in a workflow e.g. a "set" node sets a variable, a "send email" node sends an email. n8n comes with all kinds of "official" nodes installed by default, and Nostr is not amongst them. However, n8n also comes with a framework for community members to create their own "community" nodes, which is where Nostrobots comes in.

You can only use a community node in a self-hosted n8n instance (which is what you have if you are running in Docker on your own server, but this limitation does prevent you from using n8n's own hosted alternative).

To install a community node, see n8n community node docs. From your workflow dashboard–

• Click the "..." in the bottom left corner beside your username, and click "settings",
• Cilck "community nodes" left sidebar,
• Click "Install",
• Enter the "npm Package Name" which is n8n-nodes-nostrobots,
• Accept the risks and click "Install",
• Nostrobots is now added to your n8n instance.

Using Nostrobots

Nostrobots gives you nodes to help you build Nostr-integrated workflows–

• Nostr Write – for posting Notes to the Nostr network,
• Nostr Read – for reading Notes from the Nostr network, and
• Nostr Utils – for performing certain conversions you may need (e.g. from bech32 to hex).

Nostrobots has good documentation on each node which focuses on simple use cases.

Each node has a "convenience mode" by default. For example, the "Read" Node by default will fetch Kind 1 notes by a simple filter, in Nostrobots parlance a "Strategy". For example, with Strategy set to "Mention" the node will accept a pubkey and fetch all Kind 1 notes that Mention the pubkey within a time period. This is very good for quick use.

What wasn't clear to me initially (until Ocknamo helped me out) is that advanced use cases are also possible.

Each node also has an advanced mode. For example, the "Read" Node can have "Strategy" set to "RawFilter(advanced)". Now the node will accept json (anything you like that complies with NIP-01). You can use this to query Notes (Kind 1) as above, and also Profiles (Kind 0), Follow Lists (Kind 3), Reactions (Kind 7), Zaps (Kind 9734/9735), and anything else you can think of.

Creating and adding workflows

With n8n and Nostrobots installed, you can now create or add any kind of Nostr Workflow Automation.

• Click "Add workflow" to go to the workflow builder screen,
• If you would like to build your own workflow, you can start with adding any node. Click "+" and see what is available. Type "Nostr" to explore the Nostrobots nodes you have added,
• If you would like to add workflows that someone else has built, click "..." in the top right. Then click "import from URL" and paste in the URL of any workflow you would like to use (including the ones I share later in this article).

Nostr Workflow Automations

It's time to build some things!

A simple form to post a note to Nostr

I started very simply. I needed to delegate the ability to post to Npubs that I own in order that a (future) team can test things for me. I don't want to worry about managing or training those people on how to use keys, and I want to revoke access easily.

I needed a basic form with credentials that posted a Note.

For this I can use a very simple workflow–

• A n8n Form node – Creates a form for users to enter the note they wish to post. Allows for the form to be protected by a username and password. This node is the workflow "trigger" so that the workflow runs each time the form is submitted.
• A Set node – Allows me to set some variables, in this case I set the relays that I intend to use. I typically add a Set node immediately following the trigger node, and put all the variables I need in this. It helps to make the workflows easier to update and maintain.
• A Nostr Write node (from Nostrobots) – Writes a Kind-1 note to the Nostr network. It accepts Nostr credentials, the output of the Form node, and the relays from the Set node, and posts the Note to those relays.

Once the workflow is built, you can test it with the testing form URL, and set it to "Active" to use the production form URL. That's it. You can now give posting access to anyone for any Npub. To revoke access, simply change the credentials or set to workflow to "Inactive".

It may also be the world's simplest Nostr client.

You can find the Nostr Form to Post a Note workflow here.

Push notifications on mentions and new notes

One of the things Nostr is not very good at is push notifications. Furthermore I have some unique itches to scratch. I want–

• To make sure I never miss a note addressed to any of my Npubs – For this I want a push notification any time any Nostr user mentions any of my Npubs,
• To make sure I always see all notes from key accounts – For this I need a push notification any time any of my Npubs post any Notes to the network,
• To get these notifications on all of my devices – Not just my phone where my Nostr regular client lives, but also on each of my laptops to suit wherever I am working that day.

I needed to build a Nostr push notifications solution.

To build this workflow I had to string a few ideas together–

• Triggering the node on a schedule – Nostrobots does not include a trigger node. As every workflow starts with a trigger we needed a different method. I elected to run the workflow on a schedule of every 10-minutes. Frequent enough to see Notes while they are hot, but infrequent enough to not burden public relays or get rate-limited,
• Storing a list of Npubs in a Nostr list – I needed a way to store the list of Npubs that trigger my notifications. I initially used an array defined in the workflow, this worked fine. Then I decided to try Nostr lists (NIP-51, kind 30000). By defining my list of Npubs as a list published to Nostr I can control my list from within a Nostr client (e.g. Listr.lol or Nostrudel.ninja). Not only does this "just work", but because it's based on Nostr lists automagically Amethyst client allows me to browse that list as a Feed, and everyone I add gets notified in their Mentions,
• Using specific relays – I needed to query the right relays, including my own HAVEN relay inbox for notes addressed to me, and wss://purplepag.es for Nostr profile metadata,
• Querying Nostr events (with Nostrobots) – I needed to make use of many different Nostr queries and use quite a wide range of what Nostrobots can do–
  • I read the EventID of my Kind 30000 list, to return the desired pubkeys,
  • For notifications on mentions, I read all Kind 1 notes that mention that pubkey,
  • For notifications on new notes, I read all Kind 1 notes published by that pubkey,
  • Where there are notes, I read the Kind 0 profile metadata event of that pubkey to get the displayName of the relevant Npub,
  • I transform the EventID into a Nevent to help clients find it.
• Using the Nostr URI – As I did with my NFC card article, I created a link with the nostr: URI prefix so that my phone's native client opens the link by default,
• Push notifications solution – I needed a push notifications solution. I found many with n8n integrations and chose to go with Pushover which supports all my devices, has a free trial, and is unfairly cheap with a $5-per-device perpetual license.

Once the workflow was built, lists published, and Pushover installed on my phone, I was fully set up with push notifications on Nostr. I have used these workflows for several weeks now and made various tweaks as I went. They are feeling robust and I'd welcome you to give them a go.

You can find the Nostr Push Notification If Mentioned here and If Posts a Note here.

In speaking with other Nostr users while I was building this, there are all kind of other needs for push notifications too – like on replies to a certain bookmarked note, or when a followed Npub starts streaming on zap.stream. These are all possible.

Use my workflows

I have open sourced all my workflows at my Github with MIT license and tried to write complete docs, so that you can import them into your n8n and configure them for your own use.

To import any of my workflows–

• Click on the workflow of your choice, e.g. "Nostr_Push_Notify_If_Mentioned.json",
• Click on the "raw" button to view the raw JSON, ex any Github page layout,
• Copy that URL,
• Enter that URL in the "import from URL" dialog mentioned above.

To configure them–

• Prerequisites, credentials, and variables are all stated,
• In general any variables required are entered into a Set Node that follows the trigger node,
• Pushover has some extra setup but is very straightforward and documented in the workflow.

What next?

Over my first four blogs I explored creating a good Nostr setup with Vanity Npub, Lightning Payments, Nostr Addresses at Your Domain, and Personal Nostr Relay.

Then in my latest two blogs I explored different types of interoperability with NFC cards and now n8n Workflow Automation.

Thinking ahead n8n can power any kind of interoperability between Nostr and any other legacy technology solution. On my mind as I write this:

• Further enhancements to posting and delegating solutions and forms (enhanced UI or different note kinds),
• Automated or scheduled posting (such as auto-liking everything Lyn Alden posts),
• Further enhancements to push notifications, on new and different types of events (such as notifying me when I get a new follower, on replies to certain posts, or when a user starts streaming),
• All kinds of bridges, such as bridging notes to and from Telegram, Slack, or Campfire. Or bridging RSS or other event feeds to Nostr,
• All kinds of other automation (such as BlackCoffee controlling a coffee machine),
• All kinds of AI Assistants and Agents,

In fact I have already released an open source workflow for an AI Assistant, and will share more about that in my next blog.

Please be sure to let me know if you think there's another Nostr topic you'd like to see me tackle.

GM Nostr.

@ c1e6505c:02b3157e

I rarely make black and white photographs. I usually find color more interesting. But sometimes, it’s wise to strip it away.

Color can be distracting. It can pull attention from what matters. Beauty, I believe, should be simple - something that’s felt, not overthought.

Removing the excessive, the superfluous, can do a lot. It reduces noise. It reveals what’s often hidden. What’s elusive becomes clear.

@ c9badfea:610f861a

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@ c8adf82a:7265ee75

What is knowledge? Why do we need it?

Since we were small, our parents/guardian put us in school, worked their asses off to give us elective lessons, some get help until college, some even after college and after professional work. Why is this intelligence thing so sought after?

When you were born, you mostly just accepted what your parents said, they say go to school - you go to school, they say go learn the piano - you learn the piano. Of course with a lot of questions and denials, but you do it because you know your parents are doing it for your own good. You can feel the love so you disregard the 'why' and go on with faith

Everything starts with why, and for most people maybe the purpose of knowledge is to be smarter, to know more, just because. But for me this sounds utterly useless. One day I will die next to a man with half a brain and we would feel the same exact thing on the ground. Literally being smarter at the end does not matter at all

However, I am not saying to just be lazy and foolish. For me the purpose of knowledge is action. The more you learn, the more you know what to do, the more you can be sure you are doing the right thing, the more you can make progress on your own being, etc etc

Now, how can you properly learn? Imagine a water bottle. The water bottle's sole purpose is to contain water, but you cannot fill in the water bottle before you open the cap. To learn properly, make sure you open the cap and let all that water pour into you

If you are reading this, you are alive. Don't waste your time doing useless stuff and start to make a difference in your life

Seize the day

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

Author:塔林·克里斯滕森（Taryn Christiansen）,DoraHacks

摘要：本文探讨了人工智能和自动化的未来。在考虑了关于人工智能和自动化是否有益的各种观点后，文章提出，如果工作（work）作为一项社会制度变得基本过时，就需要一种新的黑客范式，以提供“质性（qualitatively）丰富机会”，让人们能够行使其能动性（agency）。也就是说，由于工作在人类发展中起着根本性作用，需要其他机会来填补这一空缺。本文主张，开源生态系统（open source ecosystems）对于实现这一目标至关重要。文章接着认为，像谷歌和亚马逊这样的潜在AI垄断者，将缩小人们在瞬息万变的经济中找到有意义的工作的空间。

Part 1

自动化的浪潮无疑正在到来。人类劳动将迅速贬值。人工智能已经取得了巨大的进展，并且，随着许多创新降低了成本，越来越多的企业将能够整合这一技术。随着生产模式、资本和供应链越来越多地实现自动化，生产力和效率将加速发展。

问题是，这是否是好事。答案五花八门。从末世论者如埃利泽·尤德科夫斯基（Eliezer Yudkowsky）[1] 和罗曼·扬波尔斯基（Roman Yampolskiy）[2] 等人认为，人工智能有潜力——并最终将——消灭人类物种。人类将远远不如未来的人工智能高效，因此，当通用人工智能（AGI）得以实现时，智能机器很容易得出结论：人类消耗太多，世界没有人类会更好。然后是怀疑论者，如马克斯·泰格马克（Max Tegmark）[3]，他认为应该暂停人工智能的发展，以便更好地将其与人类利益对齐。“只有当我们确信其影响将是积极的、其风险可控时，才应开发强大的人工智能系统[4]。 ”再者，也有技术乐观主义者，如马克·安德森（Mark Andreessen）[5]、萨姆·奥特曼（Sam Altman）[6]和雷·库兹韦尔（Ray Kurzweil）[7]，他们主张人工智能将带来物质上的丰盈乌托邦。发展应该加速，监管者应当退让，未来将带来经济增长、生产力提高和生活水平的惊人提升。

在这里很难做出具体的预测。不同立场的人常常以某种“不可避免性”的口气宣扬他们的观点。安德森是乐观主义最著名的主张者之一，他坚信由快速技术进步所带来的未来将是每一代人梦寐以求的那种未来。将会有具备无限同情心和耐心的人工智能导师，使教育更加普及和易获取；医疗行业将大幅提升，提供更好的预测并减少错误；机器人可以执行危险的工作，从而让人们追求自己的愿望。经济效益也将是巨大的。由于生产成本的降低，价格将更低，人们的钱将有更强的购买力，需求将增加，新的工作岗位将被创造，工资也将提高。他主张这一观点的主要论据是历史先例。每次有新技术革命到来时，社会总会从中获得净效益（net good）。十九世纪石油工业的形成之前，鲸鱼行业雇用了成千上万的工人。石油取代了这些工作，但也消除了依赖屠杀成千上万头鲸鱼来制造日常产品的需求。汽车威胁了许多行业，但当它成为普遍拥有的财产时，突然之间，需要更多的道路、桥梁和加油站来满足需求。虽然将会有自动化，人工智能将以良好的成果充斥世界，赋予经济前所未有的机会，让人们找到工作、积累财富，并利用人工智能所创造的价值。

然而，人工智能不同于以往的技术发展。人工智能是一种智能的进步和普及，而不仅仅是机械化的进步。库兹韦尔写道：“第一次工业革命扩展了我们身体的能力，第二次则扩展了我们思想的能力。”但是，一种新变量意味着结果的不同。人工智能能够学习、适应、生成、发现、反驳、怀疑、确认、设定目标，能够制定手段，也许有一天它会拥有意志并感知情感。它变得越来越具能动性（agentic）和自主性（autonomous），能够承担和完成通过它自身流程所生成的任务。如果它现在还没有具备能动性，那目标是让它达到这一点。仅仅基于先前经验得出的预测可能是一种范畴错误，容易导致误导和错误。当然，过去的技术形式与人工智能之间存在重叠，但它们之间有一个明确的区别，并且这种区别应该指导我们的预测。

另一方面，末世论者的观点并不具备很大的现实意义。那些通常潜藏在末世论者警告背后的“终结者”般的情景是不太可能发生的。尽管正如埃隆·马斯克（Elon Musk）[8]最近在《乔·罗根播客》（The Joe Rogan Podcast）上所言，如果嵌入了错误的目标，也许像“太空奥德赛（Space Odyssey）”系列作品中的HAL 9000那样的情景[9]是可能的。考虑到DeepSeek公司最近在降低计算成本方面的进展，该公司开发的AI模型已具有与美国最先进的模型竞争的水平，一场新的竞赛已经宣告开始，事情将会加速发展。美国副总统在人工智能行动峰会上的讲话清楚地表明了这一点。当前存在着一场争夺国际技术主导地位的竞争，这将塑造未来，发展速度的减缓等同于举白旗。因此，如果对安德森的主张有任何可行的反对意见，那也必须集中在如何引导技术发展，而非停止它。这应当为关于自动化的讨论提供启示：如何最好地引导自动化以避免不良结果？我们需要一种积极主动的方式。

Section 1.1

安德森对自动化的乐观态度存在一个问题，那就是他过于确定新工作机会会得到足够的分配，供人们享受并加以利用。问题在于，经济正变得越来越依赖知识和信息。知识和信息的比重远远超过了体力劳动，而在市场上能够取得成功的人是那些拥有相关技能的人，这些技能需要通过教育和培训来获得。正如托马斯·皮凯蒂（Thomas Piketty）[10]在其《21世纪资本论》（Capital in the Twenty-First Century）一书中所观察到的，这是一个普遍的经济趋势，“趋同（即减少和限制不平等）的主要动力是知识的传播和对培训与技能的投资。”因此，随着经济日益依赖知识，那些没有相关技能或安全保障的失业工人将处于严重的不利地位。而那些拥有相关知识、技能和信息的人则更有优势，能够投资资本并增加财富。例如，即便经济增长和生产成本降低，那些没有技能的人将看到工资停滞不前。但是，假设由于生产成本降低，消费者的购买力增强，需求可能会上升，如果供应无法迅速满足这一需求，价格可能会随之上涨，从而引发需求拉动型通货膨胀。关键在于，经济和生产力增长可能无法自然应对的变量和情境。正如皮凯蒂所说，“没有自然、自发的过程能够防止不稳定、不平等的力量永久占据主导地位。”因此，必须采取积极的应对策略，来避开那些可能会导致漂浮在经济表面上的大量船只沉没的尖锐岩石。

在杰里米·里夫金（Jeremy Rifkin）[11]的《工作的终结》（The End of Work）一书中，他采用了更加严峻的语气：“（下一个）工业革命正迫使全球经济面临空前的危机，数百万人因技术创新失业，全球购买力急剧下降。”而埃里克·布林约尔松（Erik Brynjolfsson）[12]和安德鲁·麦卡菲（Andre McAfee）[13]在《第二次机器时代》（The Second Machine Age）[14]一书中提供了充分的理由，认为里夫金的观点具有一定的道理。他们认为，经济增长所带来的回报（bounty）——即通过较少的投入产生更多的产出，使商品更加便宜、更加易得，从而改善人们生活——并没有通过财富、收入和资本的分配，使每个人都被惠及而受益。换句话说，“科技进步的浪潮可能并不会使所有船只都得以提升。”例如，在上文提到的技能差距上，“自1970年代中期以来，拥有研究生学位的人的工资上涨了约25%，而高中辍学者的平均工资则下降了30%。”尽管自20世纪中期以来，美国GDP和经济生产力呈现“令人印象深刻的轨迹”，但该国的中位数收入却在下降，表明少数人正在获得好处，而大多数人却错失了机会：自里根时代以来，贫富差距不断扩大。布鲁金斯学会的这篇文章[15]也支持这一观点。

然而，也许这些观点的实际含义被错误的同情心所误导。尽管不平等的确存在，但这并不意味着它应该被视为最主要的关注变量。再次强调，技术创新使商品变得异常便宜，使人们的生活更加轻松、生活水平更高，并且通过提供更多商品、服务、信息和知识的可获取性，来满足人们的需求和愿望，从而让日常生活更便利。尽管财富分配可能存在不平等，但其整体增长使每个人都变得更好。而且，随着财富的进一步增长，这一趋势将持续。曾经只有富人能够负担得起的东西，如今大多数人都可以买得起。比如iPhone，它能提供比所有现存图书馆更多的信息，而历史上，只有最富有的人才能使用后者，而几乎任何人都能购买前者。欧洲最大的图书馆是1481年的梵蒂冈图书馆，馆内估计有三千五百本书籍和文献。ChatGPT估计，如果将网上的信息转化为书籍大小的量，将约合467千万亿本书。看看农业的发展。当经济学家米尔顿·弗里德曼（Milton Friedman）在1980年写《选择的自由》（Free to Choose）时，他写道，在《独立宣言》被签署的时代，“每20个工人中就需要有19个（从事农业劳动），以养活这个国家的居民，以及提供生产盈余以供出口，来交换外国商品。如今，只需要每20个工人中的不到1个工人，就能养活2.2亿美国居民，并提供生产盈余使美国成为世界上最大的食品出口国。”

彼得·蒂尔（Peter Theil）[16]常常宣称，问题是技术创新停滞，而不是与福利项目或分配模式相关的道德失败。科学和技术需要突破，以转变行业并提高生活标准。人工智能的智能革命，理应能够实现这一潜力。因此，也许最好是直接放手不管。专注于特定分配模式的公平或正义，就像尼采所说的那样，是一种“坏良心（bad-conscience）”——以被认为的集体利益为代价而追求个人利益时所体验到的罪疚感，但实际上，这种感受只会阻碍进步，而非推动它。真正和最好的目标，可以说是努力创新并创造推动历史发展的价值，这就像亚当·斯密（Adam Smith）[17]的“看不见的手”的隐喻一样，自然地调和了人们的自利。正如米尔顿·弗里德曼所说，“对于促使个人之间合作，进而使得每个个人都可以从合作中受益的状态而言，没有外部力量是必要的，没有对自由的侵犯是必要的。这就是为什么正如亚当·斯密所说的，‘只关心自身利益’的个人会‘被一只隐形之手引导，以推动一种与他的意图无关的目标’。”

Section 1.2

关于经济增长是否足以改善长期的福祉和生活水平的问题，存在着高度争议。这个问题显然在这里无法解决。然而，提到这一点的目的是为了表明两种观点都具有正确性。个人在市场上追求自己的利益，像价格和工资这样的变量通过人们的自愿交换达成平衡，已经带来了巨大的成果。但差距也随之产生。 自动化是一个潜在的威胁。忽视它并声称它是危言耸听是一个错误。在可能的人工智能颠覆之后，某种形式的平衡达成之前，过渡期可能是复杂的，并且可能造成不必要的痛苦，如果事先处理，这些痛苦本可以避免。革命性的新技术可能既有好的一面，也有坏的一面。例如，十五世纪的印刷术使人们摆脱了教会强加的信息控制，催生了科学文献涌现的浪潮，为文明提供了巨大的价值。但它也导致了激烈而血腥的宗教战争，因为它允许人们传播各种信息。因此，为了避免类似的结果，在实施任何能够重新安排和重组社会经济安排的技术时，采取主动的方式非常重要。

从这里出发，通常的推论是，监管措施是应对这些可能性最好的手段。但与其满足于监管，正如马克·安德森在拜登政府执政期间警告的那样，监管会导致人工智能垄断，本文将力图支持自由市场中的自愿交换，同时促进必要的社会合作，帮助人们适应并在一个越来越不依赖于人力资本的经济中发挥作用。

本文的担忧是人们失去行使自身能动性（agency）的机会，从而无法拥有对自己的生活的控制（control）感和影响（influence）感。如果大量的人失去参与工作的机会，将会出现一条鸿沟，阻挡人们在世界中通常实现自己潜力的方式。他们将不再有机会在关键的社会领域做出具有深远影响的生活选择，这些选择需要谨慎和远见。人们将失去测试自我、发现天性的倾向和兴趣、辨认自己重视的事物以及行使选择去追求它的机会。社会中培养毅力、动机和个人意志的主要机会将会丧失。如果工作将主要被自动化替代，那么需要一个新的机会媒介来取而代之。作为社会制度的工作需要进步，并保持人们成长和发展的途径。

20世纪的自由主义哲学家约翰·杜威（John Dewey）写道：“正如感觉需要可感知的对象来刺激它们，我们的观察、回忆和想象能力也不是自发工作的，而是由当前社会活动所设定的需求激发。”像教育和工作这样的社会环境提供了刺激特定能力和功能所需的活动媒介，这些能力和功能需要完成定义活动的任务。人们常常争论说，自动化将使人们摆脱繁琐和机械的工作束缚。他们将有更多时间寻找新的方式来表达自己的需求，并最终实现工作一直阻碍他们实现的目标。人们将有自由去实现自己的潜力。但这一切不会自发发生。需要有能激发实现真正自由、意义和目的的活动的环境。当一个人完全孤单地待在一个没有人阻碍其动作和倾向的房间里时，可以说他是自由的。这样的人可以随心所欲。但由于没有能够激发适当反应的情境，且没有成功与失败的可能性，也缺少需要合作和协调的场景，这些场景有助于培养社会和情感的能力，也没有必要发挥智力和解决问题的能力，这个房间里的人的成长会停止，反而会枯萎，无法实现自由。一个从天空自由下落、不被任何东西阻挡的人，他看似自由，其实并不自由，因为他注定会撞向地面。

正如弗朗茨·卡夫卡（Franz Kafka）所写：“我自由了，因此我迷失。”哲学家让-保罗·萨特（Jean-Paul Sartre）则说：“人类被注定要自由。”

因此，当前的问题是，如何开辟一个人们能够自愿进入其中，并找到表达美好生活所需能力的机会的空间。此类机会，旨在行使人们的能动性，将被称为“质性丰富（qualitatively rich）机会”，而能够实现这些机会的环境则被称为“质性丰富环境”。

一个体现“质性丰富机会”的“质性丰富环境”是“开源生态系统”（open source ecosystems），它应当是人工智能发展的主要模式，它提供了以下框架：市场将为人们提供机会，让他们通过具有挑战性和刺激性的工作来行使自己的能动性，进而实现有意义的项目。人们将不得不学习新技能，克服障碍，但这一过程不仅是为了保持一个人们可以竞争、做出选择、发展能动性的市场，同时也促进人们生活中的目的和意义。如果经济要关上旧有工作形式的门，比如流水线和服务性工作，那么应该为人们提供更多有意义的工作机会。正如经济学家泰勒·科文（Tyler Cowen）在《莱克斯·弗莱德曼博客》（Lex Fridman podcast）中指出的那样，人们需要事情做。他们不想只是待在家里，正如COVID封锁所证明的那样。如果例行劳动和低技术劳动将被自动化，那么唯一的选择是确保存在“质性丰富机会”，以便人们能够利用并行使自己的能力，进行有意义的工作。

因此，应该在经济中引入一种新的范式。从佩卡·希曼宁（Pekka Himanen）[18]的《黑客伦理》（The Hacker Ethic）一书中汲取灵感，人们应当从以工业为基础的工作范式转向一种“黑客范式”。在工业范式中，个体主要执行重复性的劳动任务，其目的仅仅是为了获取收入以维持生存。而黑客范式则以内在价值为核心，强调工作本身的趣味性、刺激性、创造性与游戏性，其特征是激情与游戏，而非“履行对工作的责任”或“为经济做出贡献”的社会义务，正如马克斯·韦伯（Max Weber）[19]在《新教伦理与资本主义精神》（Capitalism and The Protestant Ethic）中所揭示的那样。黑客范式强调人类能动性及其实现价值的潜力，这种价值能提升人类。工业范式则在工人与他们与世界的积极参与之间产生疏离感：工人对他们所贡献的工作漠不关心；人们通常不喜欢甚至讨厌他们的工作。他们在那里是为了赚钱，而不是参与有意义的工作。正如希曼宁所写：“改革工作形式不仅是尊重工人的问题，更是尊重人类作为人类的问题。黑客不认同‘时间就是金钱’的格言，而认同‘这是我的生活’的格言。”正如埃里克·史蒂文·雷蒙德（Eric Steven Raymond）在《如何成为黑客》（How To Become A Hacker）[20]中所说，黑客认为世界充满了奇妙的问题，并在致力于解决这些问题中找到了自由。他们寻找需要动机和热情的项目，并相信当其他人也有机会获得同样的自由时，世界将变得无限美好，这需要社会合作以及对信息的最大程度的开放获取——这也正是“开源”的重要意义所在。

为了凸显为何引入新范式对于应对人工智能的挑战至关重要，具有显著的历史意义，我们可以回到亚当·斯密的思想。随后，将进一步阐明“质性丰富环境”与“质性丰富机会”的概念，并将其应用于当下以专有技术（proprietary technology）为核心的人工智能垄断体系。届时可以看到，这些垄断将扼杀黑客范式的生成，因此是不可取的。

透过亚当·斯密的视角我们可以看到，尽管工业化在长期内极大地提升了人们的生活水平，但它也对从事重复性、机械性劳动的人产生了消极影响，因为这类劳动削弱了对人类认知能力的刺激，阻碍了其全面发展。劳动分工极大地加速了专业化的进程，却减少了个体接触那些能调动其高级心智能力的机会——而这些能力正是实现有意义、有目标、富有成就感的工作的基础。人工智能与自动化正成为一种转型催化剂，逐步替代工业时代的工作模式与生产逻辑，将人力资本曾承担的任务转交予智能机器完成。若人工智能真的是一种进步——即人类进步——那么它就应回应亚当·斯密关于劳动分工及其对人类生活影响的担忧。

Part 2

Section 2.1

亚当·斯密在1776年写下了《国富论》（The Wealth of Nations）。受到艾萨克·牛顿（Isaac Newton）的影响，斯密希望理解社会背后的设计，以及社会的运作机制，类似于牛顿发现并使用采用机械论术语来公式化了解释宇宙的物理法则。那个时代的模型是将现象看作是像精密调校的手表一样有组织和有秩序的，所有部件和机械都在完美的和谐中协同工作，产生各种各样的效应和涌现现象。

在斯密生活的时代，第一次工业革命正在英格兰进行。城市扩张，曾经仅限于富人阶层的商品和服务变得更加廉价且易于获取，生活水平提高，基础设施得到了发展，表面上看，人们过上了前所未有的更好生活。斯密观察到社会的进步。由于大发现时代以及使欧洲人能够踏上新大陆的技术，欧洲人与那些似乎尚未经历欧洲所经历的历史进程、被欧洲人认为是“未开化”的民族接触，因此，欧洲大陆的风尚（ethos）是历史和文明正在进入一个新的、更为先进的阶段。科学探索和知识带来的创新提升了生产力和效率，从而使社会系统的组织更加复杂。斯密希望了解推动这一进程的因果机制。

斯密观察并认为劳动分工在社会经济中扮演了主要的，甚至是基础性的角色。随着社会组织的扩展，制造与生产过程逐渐细分为更为专业的任务，结果这些过程的产出大幅增加。在传统的行会框架中，工匠将一生投入到完整的手工业中，学习所需的所有方面并精通每一部分。这种行会框架逐渐被分工化的工厂模式所取代，后者在日益发展的城市中通过劳动分工的方式系统化生产。一个庞大的个体系统因此浮现，它需要极高的协调性，而劳动分工则将这一系统组织成一个复杂的机制，旨在调和人们的利益。

斯密还认为，劳动分工反映了人类本性中的某些更深层次的特征。人们涌向城市，赚取劳动报酬并享受更好的生活条件，因为斯密认为，人类天生具有进行交换（truck）、易货交易（barter）和贸易（exchange）[21]的倾向。他写道：“交换、易货和将一种物品与另一种物品贸易的倾向是所有人类共有的，在其他任何动物种群中都无法找到。”像狼这样的动物自然地在等级化的群体中组织自己，刚孵化的小鸟倾向于飞行，而像树木这样的有机体则在密林中争夺阳光。与此不同，人类进行交换、易货和贸易，是因为他们有天生的倾向来改善自身状况。劳动分工推动了这一目标的实现。

然而，斯密认为，劳动分工是一种权衡——它也有代价。尽管人们的生活水平提高，他们享受更好的条件，能够满足诸如食物、水和住所等消费需求，但劳动分工却将工人简化为机器中的齿轮。这些任务几乎不需要认知努力。一旦任务变得常规化，并转化为肌肉记忆后，便没有更多的障碍或问题需要克服。因此，斯密深切担忧这一过程将随着时间推移产生深远的负面认知效应。人们去上班，只要他们熟悉自己的任务，就不需要动脑；他们机械地行动。斯密直言不讳地写道：

一个人一生都在执行少量简单的操作，并且这些操作的效果始终显而易见，他便无需发挥理解力，或利用自己的创造力去寻求解决从未出现的困难的方法。他自然会变得愚笨无知，几乎达到人类可能变得最愚笨和无知的地步。

劳动分工提供的机会在质性上较为贫乏，无法使人们具备过上有意义和有目的生活的能力。借用另一位启蒙时期哲学家伊曼纽尔·康德（Immanuel Kant）的术语，劳动分工未能尊重人类的尊严，而尊严要求针对并培养那些能够使人过上自主选择生活所必需的能力。拥有尊严意味着对个人生活拥有影响力（influence）和掌控力（efficacy）。

劳动分工创造了更多提高生活水平的机会，但它没有提供“质性丰富机会”，使人们能够整合他们的能力并实现全面的人生。大多数人可用的机会并未促使他们将创造性和生产力能力集中于那些能够扩展他们在世界中自由感的目标上。与行会制度相比，劳动分工提供了更多的机会，但这些机会也更浅薄，更缺乏产生掌控感的体验。但由于生活水平较高，人们正确地选择了将自己降级为齿轮的工作。但正如斯密所观察到的，提高生活水平不足以满足人类需求的全面范围。它没有让大多数个体能够发挥他们的更高能力。

斯密认为，必须进行改善。对人们而言，更多“质性丰富机会”是至关重要的，这些机会使他们能够过上更有意义和目的的生活，体现人类尊严，并为行使他们的能动性提供基础。劳动分工提供了物质自由的增益，但并未提供足够的机会以实现更内在的、主体驱动的自由。

这无疑是卡尔·马克思对资本主义的重大批评之一。在资本主义体制下，人们与他们的劳动发生异化（alienation）。劳动的异化意味着人们与自己的活动脱离；即人在其自身和它的创造与生产能力之间产生了距离。在心理学家埃里克·弗洛姆（Eric Fromm）关于马克思的著作[22]中，他写道：

对马克思而言，异化的过程表现在工作和劳动分工中。工作是人类与自然之间的积极联系，是创造新世界的过程，包括创造人类自身……但随着私有制和劳动分工的发展，劳动失去了作为人类力量表达的特性；劳动及其产品变成了与人类、与他的意志和计划分离的存在。

人类通过他们所参与的活动以及在其中投入的内在力量和驱动力来理解和塑造自己的身份。通过创造和塑造世界及其环境，并将能量集中于外部项目和目标，一个人在世界中实现自我感。活动（Activity），而非被动的消费或任务，定义了马克思所说的人类本质。正如弗洛姆在其著作《拥有与存在》（To Have or To Be）中所指出的，通过“存在（being）”，而非“拥有（having）”，一个人才能体验到生活的意义和目的。通过“在爱中存在”，“以充满激情的方式存在”，“以积极行动的方式存在”，“以有希望的方式存在”，“有目的地存在”，以及“以有生产力地方式存在”，一个人才能过上充实的生活，而不必依赖“拥有”（爱、激情、积极性，等等）这些东西。劳动分工强调“拥有”，而其所涉及的许多工作和活动并未促使人们发展出“存在感”。正如德国诗人歌德（Johann Wolfgang von Goethe）所言，人类通过“将自己从可能性的黑夜转化为现实的白昼”来努力存在。人类通过外化他们内心的价值观和设想来追求成为自我，而这一过程通过活动得以实现。弗洛姆写道：“人类只有在生产性行为中才是活着的，只有在他通过表达自己特定的人类能力来把握外部世界，并且以这些能力来把握世界时……在这个生产性过程中，人类实现了自己的本质。”劳动分工减少了人类的能动性感，即人类以他们所珍视的、选择并在其上实践自身意志的有意义的方式，来主动影响和引导自己生活的能力。

通过创建“质性丰富环境”，黑客范式及其对开源的推动提供了多个“质性丰富机会”，从而推动了我们社会和政治结构的进步。它具有实现人类天性中更为积极的一面——人的能动感——的潜力，而不仅仅是其消极和消费的部分。这里的主要假设是，如果人工智能要发展并融入经济基础，它应当使人们的生活得到改善。更具体地说，如果自动化发生，其结果应当是改善人们的生活，而非对他们造成伤害。实现这一目标的一种途径是确保足够分配“质性丰富机会”，让每个人都能从中受益，而开源正是实现这一目标的途径。人工智能发展可能导致人们境况恶化以及抑制他们潜在机会的一个重要原因是存在使用专有模型来控制人工智能并主导其市场使用的垄断现象。黑客范式和开源则为避免这种结果提供了可能的解决方案。

Section 2.2

在理解垄断如何减少“质性丰富机会”之前，我们需要进一步弄清楚什么是“质性丰富机会”，以及它们激发并帮助发展哪些能力。在解释这类机会的性质及其意义之后，我们将探讨垄断是如何大幅削弱这些机会的可及性，以及这意味着什么。

“质性丰富机会”的理念源自亚里士多德（Aristotle）[23]，更具体地说，是由哲学家玛莎·努斯鲍姆（Martha Nussbaum）和经济学家阿玛蒂亚·森（Amartya Sen）进一步发展的。亚里士多德认为，人类要实现繁荣、过上充实而有尊严的生活，必须达成某些特定的功能（functions）或方式。他认为存在一种“人性（human nature）”，而这种人性包含基本的和更高层次的需求。无论历史和偶然条件如何变化，人类都具有一些根本特征。当然，这些特征是在历史情境中体现的，但在所有文化和文明中都可以观察到某些本质上的一致性。亚里士多德说：“善是万物所追求的目标。”所谓“善”，即是一种事物的适当功能。例如，眼睛的善是“看见”，种子的善是“长成一棵树”。实现某物的适当功能，就是实现其“繁荣”（flourish），也就是达到它所追求和努力趋向的状态。达到这样的状态，就是获得一种内在价值。

作为一个人去实现其功能，需要基本的生活必需品，如食物、水、住所和行动能力。但这些物品本身并不具有内在价值；它们之所以有价值，是因为它们使人能够运作以追求更进一步、更有内在价值的事物。如果一个人仅仅拥有这些基本的生存条件，我们可以说他“运作”着，但未必是“良好地运作”。要使一个人“良好地运作”，必须拥有其他内在价值更高的资源。人类需要教育与信息获取，以发展其认知能力；需要家庭和亲密关系，以发展社交技巧、个人身份认同和情感处理能力；还需要能够施展意志、探索兴趣、投入热情的追求，并培养目标感的渠道。一个良好的政治与社会安排，即我们应当追求的那种社会制度，应当为人们提供具体的机会，让他们得以实践这些需求，从而实现良好的人类运作状态。“质性丰富机会”即是指那些能够为人类发展内在有价值的能力（如做出知情决策的能力、制定值得追求的目标及其实现路径的能力，以及建立有意义、有影响力的人际关系的能力）提供基础的机会。像工作、教育、社区和艺术等社会制度，正是那些激发并促进实现这些目标所需能力的质性丰富环境。

质性丰富机会之所以重要，是因为它们使人们具备发展“能动性”的能力。借用斯坦福大学心理学家阿尔伯特·班杜拉（Albert Bandura）[24]的概念，我们可以将“人类的能动性”理解为个体感受到自己对生活有控制和影响力的能力。更具体地说，质性丰富机会能够激发那些针对“自我效能”（self-efficacy）能力的行为。所谓“自我效能”，是指一个人在面对挑战和障碍时所拥有的自我信心感。当面对一个困难且新颖的任务时，高自我效能的人会评估自己有能力克服困难完成任务；他们会拥有坚持不懈、克服失败的动机；即使身处陌生与复杂情境中，他们也能维持良好的心理状态。质性丰富机会旨在发展那些能够提升自我效能以及应对具体情境所需的能力。通过这些机会，一个人得以锻炼其能动性、获取掌控力，从而扩展其自由感。而正如班杜拉（1994）[25]所说：“一个人自我效能感越强，他为自己设定的目标挑战越高，并且对这些目标的承诺也越坚定。”因此，通过增强自我效能，无论是在信念层面还是实践层面，个人将获得更高程度的自由，并过上更具质感、更丰富的人生。

工作在塑造个体身份和自我认同方面具有至关重要的作用。它为人们提供了探索不同职业路径的机会，使他们能够发现自己在人生中希望追求的目标。工作往往也是建立职业与个人关系、融入不同社会网络的重要方式，同时也是人们获取能力、攀登社会阶梯的媒介。工作这一领域还能帮助人们在多种环境和情境中培养动机、智力以及态度。换句话说，工作为人们提供了发展某些功能或生活方式的机会，而这些功能和生活方式正是实现美好生活所必不可少的。

例如，想象一个年轻人第一次进入劳动力市场。他尝试了几份工作。他发现自己不太喜欢零售业，因为需要持续与顾客打交道。他又尝试了送货服务，结果发现自己不喜欢那种日复一日的重复性工作。最后，他在一个建筑工地找到了工作，并发现有些任务既有趣又具有挑战性。他喜欢动手工作的感觉，于是决定投身技工行业。这个人随后进入技校学习，建立起重要的人际关系，在新环境中受到挑战，被激发去提升技能、积累知识与经验，并在这个过程中不断面对和克服新的困难与障碍。毕业后，他抓住了一个机会——一位欣赏他职业精神的导师为他提供了许多关注和支持。之后，他在某家公司工作了一段时间，并在这个过程中积累了足够的知识和自信，决定创办自己的公司，以实现这个目标。他开始建立客户关系，专注于能让自己在竞争中脱颖而出的技能，并最终打造出一家成功的企业。

这听起来也许有些理想化，但却是一个既熟悉又现实的例子。它描绘了一种有目的的生活，这些目的是通过在环境和情境中发现的机会而形成的，这些环境和情境提供了能够产生能动感和自我价值感的体验。当然，要实现这样的人生画面，通常还需要一系列其他条件，例如成长于一个有支持的环境中，拥有探索个人兴趣所需的资源和时间等——但在美国，工作无疑是提供发展构成美好生活的关键功能的核心渠道。上文中的这个人通过学习新技能、克服挑战、做出关键选择来应对社会环境，最终实现了成功与成就。随着在专业领域的成长，他不断设立新的目标，并获得足够的自我效能感，相信自己能够实现这些目标。他发展出一整套完整的能力体系，最终也获得了尊严感。无论这个人过去或未来是否还拥有其他美好的人生经历，如果没有那些能够让他工作与成长的机会，他的人生质量将会大打折扣。

这里有一个真实的例子，不过这个人将保持匿名。在荷兰大学毕业后，他不想找一份“普通的工作”，于是开始前往其他国家旅行。他靠在 YouTube 上制作音乐赚了一些钱，住在各地的酒店和青年旅舍。但随着资金逐渐减少，孤独与疏离感开始加剧，他变得抑郁。他完全自由——可以去任何地方、看任何东西，做任何他想做的事——但他感到极度孤独。在亚洲的一家青年旅舍，他一个人躺在床上盯着天花板，没有钱、没有女朋友、也没有工作，他想起了父亲曾对他说的话：“他小时候教过我：每当我感到沮丧或者不知道做什么时，就去找一座沙堆，拿把铲子，把沙子从院子的一边搬到另一边……干点体力活，做点辛苦的事——做点什么。我做创业项目时也一样。”于是，他开始学习编程，开发软件和应用程序，并利用 Stripe 平台[26]将作品发布给公众以筹集资金。他专注于那些能够带来方向感与创作机会的活动。在真正的“黑客精神”指引下，他把世界看作充满待解决问题的迷人场域，有些问题他认为是可处理且值得去做的，于是尝试去解决。令人惊讶的是，他立下目标：一年内创办十二个初创公司——而他真的做到了。

这个人起初感到疏离与孤独，缺乏人生目标。因此他选择行动起来，把自己投入到使用基础编程语言与工具进行的创造性表达中。通过利用人工智能，他也更能创造出具有价值和实用性的产品，供他人使用与体验。他采纳了父亲的建议，将自己投入到实际行动中，结果是抑郁与焦虑逐渐缓解。他在信息丰富的环境中，发现了许多“质性丰富机会”，得以发展自我，提升自我效能感与能力。他与更多富有挑战性的目标建立联系，不断努力达成这些目标。而开源技术在这一过程中扮演了关键角色。

这也正是 Dora 生态系统的重要意义所在。通过像 DoraHacks.io 这样的平台，像上文所描述的那样的人们可以借由“质性丰富机会”，与全球各地的开发者协作，共同创新，创造出人们认为紧迫且相关的有意义的解决方案。该生态系统为开发者提供了必要的资源，使他们能够加入全球任何地方的 “BUIDL” 团队，解决引人入胜的问题；并在黑客松中与其他建设者一起感受到社区归属感；同时还通过激励机制推动他们实现有意义的目标，而这些目标往往又会引发更具挑战性和刺激性的下一阶段任务。Dora 生态系统创造了一个充满可能性的环境，使人们能够构建去中心化的产品与服务，例如将所有权交还给用户本人，增强他们在数字世界中的自主性、安全性以及对金融资产的控制力。正如下文将进一步讨论的，大型企业和垄断机构通常并不会从这些类型的技术中直接受益。那么，他们又有什么动机去资助这类技术呢？开源技术栈能够提升价值的质量，因为它为人们提供了开发更具意义产品的路径，而这些产品通常比那些由大型、目标狭隘的机构所产出的产品更具意义。

因此，如果自动化有可能减少甚至消除人们运用能动性、获得自我效能感的“质性丰富机会“，那么它所腾出的空间，理应由其他在质性上更丰富的机会来填补。如果确实存在“人性”这样的东西，而这种人性包含了一系列需要被发展、以使人得以过上有尊严生活的能力，那么最优与最值得追求的政治与社会安排，应当是将“质性丰富机会”公平分配，以确保人们有选择去运用自身能力、成为能够良好运作并实现繁荣生活的个体。为人们提供质性丰富机会，使他们能够加以利用，并据此组织、调动并集中自身内在力量于那些能够锻炼与激发个体能力的实践之上，这就构成了一个让人过上更有意义人生的基础。它是给予人们成为他们所珍视之人的自由。

接下来的部分将转向对 AI 垄断企业的讨论，揭示它们是如何压制上述这类未来机会的。

Part 3

Section 3.1

人工智能领域中潜在的垄断者不言自明：谷歌、苹果、微软、Meta 和亚马逊。这些公司以及少数其他企业在 2024 年占据了 65% 的固定网络流量和 68% 的移动网络流量[27]。谷歌大约占据全球约 90% 的搜索市场，其品牌名几乎已成为“搜索”行为本身的代名词；Meta 拥有主要的社交媒体平台，如 Instagram、Facebook 和 WhatsApp，这些都是人们日常交流与信息分享中访问量极高的平台；微软控制着大约 72% 的桌面操作系统市场；在美国，苹果约占据 60% 的智能手机市场份额；而亚马逊则主导了线上零售，其规模“超过美国排名其后的 15 家最大电商零售商的总和”[28]。此外，谷歌、Meta 和亚马逊合计占据了美国约 60% 的广告收入。我们在网上所接触到的产品、精美广告、以及注意力的买卖，主要都是由这几家大型科技公司驱动的。根据 Synergy Research[29]的研究，到本世纪末，微软、谷歌和亚马逊三家公司可能将掌握全球高达三分之二的数据份额。这些公司还控制着大部分云基础设施——亚马逊、微软、谷歌（以及阿里巴巴）合计拥有全球 67% 的云计算市场份额[20]。

这些公司拥有庞大的资源储备，同时也长期以来采用各种手段排挤竞争对手，包括通过并购消灭潜在威胁、利用市场主导地位优先推广自家产品、实行掠夺性定价、利用网络效应，以及其他众所周知的策略。例如，鉴于亚马逊在电子商务领域的市场主导地位，它可以通过优先推荐自家产品，排挤其他可能品质更高的供应商产品。消费者在面对价格更低的亚马逊产品时，往往更倾向于购买，而亚马逊正好拥有充足的资源来维持这种低价策略。在网络效应方面，“目前[31]大多数科技巨头的用户数量都以十亿计”，这为初创企业和小公司制造了几乎无法跨越的障碍。而谷歌也多次被指控故意降低某些内容的排名，并优先展示有利于自身利益的信息。

如今，这些公司正积极争夺对人工智能发展的主导权。“Meta、微软、亚马逊和Alphabet 预计在2025年将累计投入高达 3250 亿美元的资本支出与投资……相比这些公司在2024年报告[32]的约 2230 亿美元，这相当于增长了 46%。”此外，“几乎没有例外，所有初创公司、新进入者，甚至 AI 研究实验室都依赖这些大型科技公司：他们依靠微软、亚马逊和谷歌的计算基础设施来训练系统，也依靠它们庞大的消费市场渠道来部署和销售 AI 产品[33]。”科技巨头垄断了初创公司赖以生存[34]的关键资源——人才、数据和算力。 现有的行业巨头正在开发各种模型，以维持其在各自市场中的立足点。由于它们掌握着大多数资源——例如，“这些公司贡献了标普500指数公司市值的 22% 以上，其单独市值甚至超过了加拿大、意大利等[35]部分 G7 国家 GDP”——它们可以随意挤压竞争对手，阻止初创企业和小型公司进入市场。正如前文所述，随着 DeepSeek 在全球市场中作为竞争者不断取得进展，这些最大规模的 AI 公司正在大肆渲染一场“军备竞赛”，并夸大中国威胁以及人工智能可能带来的危害，从而推动对 AI 的监管和开发限制，而这些限制最终最有可能使它们自身受益。与此同时，由于垄断体制依赖于专有模型，其架构、权重、学习算法、代码以及内嵌目标都对公众隐蔽不明，在 AI 渗透信息网络的过程中，这些公司的经济与市场主导地位也将以一种“隐秘的方式”塑造人们的思维和行为。

那么，监管是否能解决这个问题呢？《麻省理工科技评论》最近指出：“监管或许有帮助[36]，但政府政策最终往往加固了这些公司的权力，而非加以削弱——这些公司能够利用其资本与政治影响力来操控政策。”亚历克斯·蓝姆佩尔（Alex Rampell）[37]最近写道[38]：“拜登政府发布了一项行政命令[39]，试图以人为设定的门槛限制计算能力，禁止开源技术，理由是其对国家安全构成威胁，同时这实际上为几家最大公司垄断监管资源敞开了大门。”例如，尽管萨姆·奥特曼在与贝利·韦斯（Barry Weiss）[40]的《自由新闻播客》（Free Press podcast）中否认了这一说法，投资人马克·安德森却一再警告称，拜登的 AI 行政命令的真正目的在于将 AI 的控制权交到少数几家公司（极可能是 OpenAI）手中，并通过提高市场准入门槛来消除竞争者。此外，尽管此举颇具争议、甚至可能显得天真，自从 DeepSeek 发布其 V1 和 V3 模型以来，Anthropic的 CEO 达里·阿摩地（Dario Amodei）一直呼吁加强出口管制政策[41]，进一步限制中国获取芯片的能力。然而，正如迪伦·潘特（Dylan Patel）[42]和纳森·兰伯特（Nathan Lambert）[43]在 《莱克斯·弗莱德曼博客》中指出的那样，DeepSeek 的开源模型显然并不构成任何实质性的国家安全威胁。但它确实对那些依赖专有系统、通过模型控制潜在价值的生态构成了威胁。DeepSeek 的方法迫使这些“专有资本”朝着可被任何人使用与构建的公共资源方向转化。正因如此，阿摩地对“单极 vs. 双极世界”的坚持背后其实包含着竞争性的动机：要么 AI 权力集中于美国，要么中美都拥有对等的 AI 能力——而后者，在阿摩地看来，是必须避免的局面。

或许，我们应当持有一种不那么鹰派的乐观态度。经济学家泰勒·科文提出了充分理由，认为与其全面投入一场军备竞赛，不如在相互合作[44]与共赢中寻找发展路径。当然，竞争仍然是必要的，但推动未来事件进程的竞争心态，不应仅仅源于达尔文式的“适者生存”逻辑，而应更接近尼采所观察到[45]的古希腊式“竞技”（Agon）[46]传统——那是一种社会制度，其中的艺术家、军事领袖与运动员通过竞争彼此激励、共同成长。

没有对手，竞争者也将迷失方向。因为没有了改进、突破和创新的机会，个体便失去了变得更好、更具创造力的可能。竞争者的存在本身就依赖于愿意对抗他们的人。正是因为有人挑战，希腊诗人才得以想象得更深远、表达得更出色。尼采指出，希腊竞技者面临的最大危险不是失败，而是——失去竞争对手。他写道：“这正是希腊竞技理念的核心：它厌恶独裁，畏惧其危险，它渴望用‘另一个天才’来抵御某一位天才的压倒性力量。”我们不应将竞争理解为自然状态下的求生挣扎，那种资源稀缺、人与人互为威胁的霍布斯（Thomas Hobbes）式处境——“孤独、贫穷、肮脏、残暴而短暂”[47]。我们也不应将竞争本能视为某种原始性冲动的残余，只为了压制对手、消灭威胁。我们应当将其理解为一种可以高贵化的本能，正如尼采所言，它是“所有人类情感、行为与作品的唯一丰沃土壤”。竞争本能自身也具有德性，应当被培养成“在正确的时间、以正确的方式、出于正确的理由”去发挥作用的东西（亚里士多德，《尼各马科伦理学》（Nicomachean Ethics）第二卷），而不是被视作一种必要之恶。阿摩地害怕中国，这可能不是正确的回应——或许，一个更好的、更具德性的回应，是将中国视为值得尊敬的竞争者。

Section 3.2

现在让我们聚焦于这些潜在的 AI 垄断企业为何会通过主导 AI 生态系统，压制质性丰富机会的更广泛传播。原因至少有两个：第一个涉及经济能动性，第二个涉及价值能动性。所谓经济能动性，是指人们进入市场、创造能满足消费者需求与欲望的价值与效用的能力。如果市场上的 AI 模型被集中掌握在少数公司手中，新兴企业与创业者为世界做出有价值贡献的机会将受到限制。那些能够回应民主、医疗保健、金融自主、政治权利与自由，或其他重大而有意义问题的创新，将大幅减少，从而也会降低 AI 所可能带来的社会福祉。任何威胁到这些少数 AI 垄断企业的控制力、影响力或财富的产品与服务，将被直接排除在市场之外，而不是由市场自然机制或消费者的真实需求所决定。

另一方面，所谓价值能动性，是指人们有能力对社会应追求的目标产生影响、发表意见。如果 AI 是在不透明的条件下、依据无法被公众了解和介入的价值与目标进行训练的，那么人们在这些问题上的影响力就会被削弱。如果由专有模型决定大多数或几乎全部嵌入 AI 的产品与服务的性质，那么人们对这些技术的控制权将大为减少。例如，所谓“对齐问题”指的是如何使 AI 与人类的利益保持一致。那么，什么是人类的利益？什么是构成一个良好且值得追求社会的目标？AI 的运行应遵循哪些道德与伦理原则？这些价值是否可以由少数几家公司决定，而无需公开其训练数据与学习算法？是否可以不接受公众监督与介入？如果技术架构被封闭在公众视野之外，那么上述问题的答案就更有可能来自权威的决定，而不是通过民主程序获得的共识。

经济能动性与价值能动性的双重丧失是危险的，本文余下部分将进一步阐述原因。

Section 3.3: 经济能动性

正如奥地利经济学家路德维希·冯·米塞斯（Ludwig von Mises）与弗里德里希·哈耶克（Friedrich Hayek）所著名指出的，苏联之所以在某些方面具有毁灭性，部分原因在于它无法通过自然发生的市场机制来合理分配资源。在这样的体制下，由内部的中央计划者来决定人民的需求与欲望——而这些人所掌握的信息资源既稀缺、又充满偏见与误差，无法实现准确分配。因此，大量官僚主义和强制性的手段被实施来调配国家资源。

举例来说，国家必须设定价格。至少是在苏联的情况中，并不存在一个广泛可用的自由市场，来使商品与服务受到供需关系的调节。生产者依据国家命令进行生产，而非根据市场激励（如竞争）自行调整方向——这些激励本应协调生产与消费，促成市场均衡。换句话说，价格失去了其关键信息功能——它本应指示资源该流向何处。哈耶克在《通往奴役之路》（The Road to Serfdom）中写道：“任何对某些商品的价格或数量的控制，都剥夺了竞争协调个体努力的能力，因为此时价格变动无法反映环境中的相关变化，也就无法为个体行动提供可靠的指导。”

不过，对本文来说，更重要的是：国家控制的生产与经济计划还意味着人们被剥夺了进入市场并创造价值的机会，使他们难以通过创新改善自身生活。任何可能威胁国家权力、削弱其合法性与影响力，或转移其部分控制权的创新行为，都将被禁止进入市场。举个例子：假设某人观察到，在某国的偏远乡村地区，由于常年洪水泛滥，人们无法修建道路，从而难以参与国家选举。这位发明者研发了一种不受洪水腐蚀的新型混凝土，并希望在乡村修建道路，改善人们的通行条件，让他们更容易参与公共事务。但当他向国家交通委员会申请资源时，却遭到了拒绝。原因是：该地区居民普遍希望拥有农业生产的自主权，因此国家不愿意为这些人提供进入选举制度的通道。而在缺乏市场竞争的情况下，也没有其他机会和机制可以去建设这些道路。

垄断，尤其是在受到监管体系保护的情况下，构成了类似的威胁。马克思曾做出一个著名批评：资本主义作为一种社会制度，其内在逻辑会逐步而不可避免地导致生产资料向少数人手中集中。虽然包括哈耶克和米塞斯在内的许多经济学家认为这种看法是错误的，并坚信在正常运作的资本主义体系中，这一结果是可以避免的。但如果人工智能遭到垄断，那么马克思的预测将比以往更加接近现实——无论这是由于历史规律，还是由于无法预见的结构性变数所致。正如克里斯·迪克森（Chris Dixon）[48]在其著作《阅读、写作、拥有》（Read, Write, Own）中观察到的，初创公司之所以能在市场中找到生存空间，部分原因在于大公司往往目光短浅，无法及时察觉到新兴产品正逐步获得消费者的关注。在专注于自身业务的过程中，这些巨头常常错失市场趋势与动向，而初创企业若运气足够好，就能积累足够势能以形成竞争力。但如果这些老牌巨头掌控了人工智能，他们就可能利用 AI 的能力来抹平初创企业原本可以利用的那些优势。随着时间推移，垄断企业将对市场形成难以穿透的控制权，各行各业的价值链最终将进一步“上游集中”到这些公司手中——比现在更甚。由专家所忽视、却能在市场中创造出意想不到价值的颠覆性技术，其创新空间可能会被完全挤压出去。

由于人工智能具备智能能力，它作为资本工具拥有极大的潜力，能够创造出改善人类生活的先进技术。但，由于有些对公众最有益的应用方式，可能并不符合政府与大型企业的利益，其潜在福祉也就可能在权力结构中被悲剧性地削弱。其中最明显的例子就是金融自主权。

看看比特币的案例就足以说明问题。中本聪（Satoshi）[49]发明比特币的初衷，是为了让人们拥有金融自由的能力——通过创造一种稀缺资源，其价值储存功能可与黄金相类比。比特币使那些生活在高通胀、货币极度贬值国家的人们，能够积累具有全球流通性的财富。人们可以拥有一种不会因货币供应过量或国家财政赤字上升而贬值的资产。比特币能够帮助人们过上更加稳定、安全的生活，它提供了透明性、个人所有权，以及能够激励社会合作的制度安排——这一切都无需依赖强制性信任或道德施舍。

人们本希望掌权者能够设法将中本聪为世界带来的巨大价值纳入现有体系。并不是说比特币应立即取代法定货币，而是说，考虑到比特币在应对法币体系中潜在致命问题方面提供了极具前景的解决方案，政府至少应当付出更大的努力，将这些解决方案纳入实践。合理的期待是，执政者会寻求一种方式，将区块链、比特币及其增强经济自由的潜力加以整合。然而，直到最近，有关这一技术的监管进展一直缓慢而混乱。在拜登政府期间，由于政策缺乏清晰性与明确性，关于加密货币的许多举措都未能充分发挥其潜在价值，反而阻碍了其更高效、更具生产性的使用路径。

如果AI被通过监管框架实现垄断，那么那些原本有潜力改善人类生活的技术也可能轻易被弃置。若这些技术与政府或企业利益发生冲突，大多数人将无法通过授权或专利使用这些专有模型，而中小型企业也会被并购吸收。尽管人工智能本可以彻底革新选举平台及人们参与选举的方式；尽管它本可以通过更优的数据安全手段或创造更多经济机会来增强个体自由，但探索这些可能性的路径，若与掌控大多数 AI 技术栈（甚至全部）的公司利益不符，就很可能被封锁。如果某项潜在的 AI 技术有可能通过解决某些产业赖以牟利、甚至具有寄生性质的问题，从而威胁广告收入，那么像谷歌与 Meta 这样的科技公司几乎必然会阻止这一技术进入市场的尝试。

特朗普政府迄今为止最重要的政策举措之一，就是其新的加密货币政策。该政策废除了上一届政府的行政命令，并致力于制定一个有助于推动该技术发展的监管框架。这对于人工智能领域中正在发生的其他形式的创新具有重要意义。有了除了传统风险投资之外的其他资源——例如通证经济（tokenomics）[50]，初创公司可以为其项目提供资金支持，并积累发展势能。

彼得·蒂尔在其著作《从零到一》（Zero to One）中提出，初创公司本身就在、也应该在寻求成为垄断者。他们需要在市场中占据一个特定空间，通过开发专有技术击败其他竞争者，并进一步排除后来者进入该市场。正如蒂尔所言，如果企业不想成为失败者，这种策略是至关重要的。若他们希望获得投资者的关注，就必须采取建立垄断地位的路径。然而，借助通证经济以及其他与加密货币相关的机制，人们也有机会开发出有价值的技术，同时保留开源精神。在这样的机制下，合作与协作得以推动，同时也能获得支持增长所需的资金。

Section 3.4 价值能动性

经济能动性之所以被削弱，是因为市场中那些具备质感的价值创造机会正在减少，使个体难以通过创新与生产满足不断变化的需求与欲望。当 AI 技术栈被少数几家垄断企业掌控并主导整个生态系统时，即使有人识别出一个真正有意义的问题，并设计出强有力的解决方案，如果这不符合大型企业的利益，该方案也很可能无法进入市场。经济活动及其所带来的社会价值，不应建立在一套容许权力任意压制、扼杀对社会整体有益事务的权威机制上。那么，AI 垄断企业又是如何压缩人们在价值能动性上的“质性丰富机会”的呢？

如果雷·库兹韦尔的奇点理论及其相关预测哪怕部分属实——如果人类真的将与非生物智能融合，并生活在日益人工化的环境中——那么人工智能的垄断不仅不可取，而且可以说是一种反乌托邦式的局面。这种设想唤起了关于“技术霸主”的画面：他们主宰着人类社会，而人们要么沦为智能机器的奴工，要么则是舒适而满足地享受着智能繁荣所带来的物质成果。在这样的图景中，总有人必须开采矿物资源，而另一些人则消费着由此生产出的丰富商品与服务。但如果我们假设 AI 的发展会快到足以让智能机器人无需人力就能完成矿产开采工作，那最终所有人都会转变为纯粹的“消费者”。“在接下来的几十年里，”库兹韦尔预测，“几乎所有例行性的体力与脑力活动都将被自动化。”届时，唯有那些具有社交性、创造性、创新性或高度不可预测性的工作将对拥有相关技能与培训的人开放，其余人将大多成为消费者。而借助纳米机器人、虚拟现实、非生物智能增强技术与无处不在的信息流动，我们的现实将愈加接近哲学家罗伯特·诺齐克（Robert Nozick）所设想的“体验机”（experience machine）。

通过某种装置的介入——无论是接入某种模拟装置，还是完全沉浸于类似虚拟现实（VR）那样的数字化、信息化环境中——人们可以体验到他们所希望的任何事情。任何感官体验、情绪、思想或事件，都会随时向任何人开放，随时可供消费。一个人可以体验写出“伟大的美国小说”所带来的深刻满足，像苏格拉底[51]那样在雅典法庭上勇敢地对抗陪审团，或像拿破仑那样英勇地站在青翠的高岗上俯瞰敌军，也可以在模拟的攀登中登上珠穆朗玛峰，体会坚持不懈的荣耀与世界之巅的视野。重要的不是这些事件是否真实发生，而是有人“渴望”它，而它就会“存在”。在这样的图景中，人生的目标就是消费；而“道德生活”——值得追求的生活——则被定义为追求内部刺激的生活。外部世界、个体真实的存在状态将不再重要。一个人是否真实地勇敢、富有同情心、充满爱意、公正、虔诚、善良或邪恶——这都不再有意义。人们的兴趣与冲突将在人工体验的消费中得到调和。在一个“问题已被解决”的世界中，没有需要行动者去解决的具体问题，行动者也就变得可有可无；唯一需要的，是“消费”。

这种情境真正危险之处在于，垄断企业将完全掌控生成技术的算法，也即控制我们可接触的信息结构。信息将不断被嵌入到以消费为中心的环境中。理想情况下，人们应当拥有自由，做他们想做的事，以他们认可的方式生活。但人们“看待”世界的方式，他们建构现实的方式，他们所处的社会语境——都会被那些已经整合智能资本、成为未来唯一商品与服务生产者的公司所过滤与塑造。哲学家艾伦·布鲁姆（Allan Bloom）在其著作《美国精神的封闭》（The Closing of the American Mind）中写道：“每一个教育系统都有一个它希望达成的道德目标，并据此构建其课程。它希望塑造出某种特定类型的人。”人工智能的垄断企业将通过改造人的生存环境来塑造“人是什么”的意义，以符合其自身利益。而真正重要的那些事情——运用能动性、实现真实的自我效能感、发现自己在人生中真正珍视与渴望的事物、建构让现实更一贯、宜居和统一的人生目标等等的机会——将被被企业利益所强烈影响和操控。而这些利益，本质上是围绕经济增长与利润最大化构建的。

在诺姆·乔姆斯基（Noam Chomsky）[52]与爱德华·赫尔曼（Edward Herman）[53]合著的《制造共识》（Manufacturing Consent）[54]一书中，两位作者提出，美国媒体实际上是一种宣传工具，而非客观的信息来源（这一观点当时颇具争议，但如今已成为主流看法）。他们认为，这种宣传功能是通过一套“过滤模型”来运作的，该模型将信息作为输入，并为公众“福祉”完美制造出标准化的输出。而其中一些媒体过滤机制，正是今天科技巨头所采用的。第一个过滤器是媒体公司的规模、所有权结构及其以利润为导向的商业模式。这使得进入媒体市场所需的投资与准入成本变得高得惊人，从而使其他竞争者难以生存。法律制度被用来执行一系列标准，这些标准压制了初创公司与中小企业的发展；而政府补贴则倾向于支持那些与政府利益保持一致的媒体公司。第二个过滤器是广告收入。广告不仅提升了特定公司的利润，也让它们在竞争中占据优势。那些无法吸引广告支持的媒体来源往往被市场边缘化。在此过程中，那些资金雄厚的媒体公司为了争取广告商的“青睐”，被迫迎合股东所要求的持续利润增长。这意味着任何挑战企业利益的声音，都可能因营收减少而遭受惩罚，最终被逐出市场竞争。

这两个过滤器，正是当今科技巨头在其平台上运用的机制。他们主导市场，并依靠广告收入获取惊人的利润。正如乔姆斯基与赫尔曼所指出的另一个过滤器——意识形态偏向，大科技公司同样如此。就像上世纪八十年代的主流媒体会大肆报道敌对国家的种族灭绝与谋杀，却对发生在美国“势力范围”如拉美地区的同类事件视而不见，大科技公司也会在符合其经济与利益考量时，沿着特定的意识形态线索行事。由于其庞大的利润模式与动机，大科技公司的利益并不必然与真理、勇气、准确性、诚实、公正或善恶标准一致。只有当这些价值可以带来可预见的利润与效用最大化时，它们才可能被采纳。因此，如果 AI 垄断企业逐步获得市场主导权，并以其最先进模型为基础将大量商品与服务推向市场，那么人们对于世界的理解、他们如何看待现实、哪些事物最值得关注——都会在信息过滤器的引导下被重塑。这些过滤器正是大科技公司用于“产出有利于技术发展结果”的机制的一部分。个体发展自身的机会、形成自我世界观的过程、以及构成生活统一性的价值体系，都将受到科技信息过滤器的支配与重构。

我们很容易想象这样一个世界：信息的生成由一小部分集中的模型主导，这些模型构建出一套相互交织的信息网络，强化着不准确、不诚实、甚至是伪造的信息结构。新闻标题与报道可能散布错误主张与对现实的歪曲，而这些说法又会被其他虚假信息源所“证实”，彼此互为支撑。这种信息结构——即信息的组织方式及其意义赋予机制——可能会被人为策划，以服务于掌握权力与控制信息传播资源者所设定的特定目的。少数人认为“最好的”内容将被优先推送，而公众的想法将逐渐变得从属，最终被操控以符合权力方的利益。这并不是在指责某个实体或个人有恶意意图，而是在强调这样一种结构性困境：当生成并传播社会所消费的信息的能力被集中在少数几方手中时，这种权力格局所带来的难以解决的困境。

这最终将不可避免地导向类似于前文提到的诺齐克“体验机”的世界。人们获得一种超越消费伦理的生活形式能力的机会将被极大压缩，甚至被彻底剥夺。确实，假设未来大多数工作被自动化，人们通过基本收入实现生活保障，那么个体将从劳作的束缚中解放，不再被迫为经济增长贡献劳动力。从某种意义上说，人类将获得对约束与必需品的自由。但问题在于，如果没有施展自由的媒介，如果没有真正的机会在具体经验中运用自己的能动性，那么这种自由就并不是真正的自由——至少不是那种更深层次的、积极意义上的自由。那种引导人们思考“如何生活”、那种通过探索而发现值得投入心力与时间的事业的过程、那种确立人生目标并在充满挑战与刺激的环境中努力实现的能力，将会在这样的结构中逐渐失效，甚至彻底被边缘化。

哲学家约翰·杜威（John Dewey）曾写道：

我们很少意识到，我们对什么有价值、什么无价值的判断，在多大程度上是受制于我们并不自觉的标准。但一般来说，那些我们未经思考便视为理所当然的事物，正是决定我们有意识思维与判断结论的关键。而那些位于反思之下的习性，往往正是在我们与他人的持续互动与交换中形成的。

如果构成社会的制度是由那些以提升股东利润为目的的大型企业所主导——这将在它们主导人工智能时成为现实——那么它们的模型将渗透进经济的每一个领域，渗入我们的环境。这些环境将影响我们所被激发的生活方式，朝向不再体现为实际的‘存在’（being），而是依赖于‘拥有’（having）。也就是说，什么是显著的、值得追求的、具有吸引力的，不再取决于它所需要的努力、它所要求的冒险精神，或它所能激发的成长过程，而是取决于它能否填满并打发时间。对于一种由消费伦理塑造的意识而言，显而易见、理所当然的东西，将与另一种由合作构成、旨在促使个体能动性寻求意义与目标的社会完全不同。前者会看到一个充满各种可能体验的世界，但这些体验除了即时呈现的感受之外毫无意义；而后者则仍然会体验到“必要性”，以及那种不可遏制的冲动——即人必须感受到世界上仍有值得行动之事。赫尔曼·梅尔维尔（Herman Melville）在其伟大的美国小说《白鲸》（Moby Dick）中写下了这样的句子：

我坚定目标的道路铺设着铁轨，我的灵魂被刻槽其上。穿越无底峡谷，穿越山脉深处与激流之下，我直奔而去！没有障碍，没有转弯，只有通向铁轨终点的直路！

但愿，那些曾赋予梅尔维尔写作力量的精神碎片，在未来的某个角落依然得以存在。

Section 3.5

在《查拉图斯特拉如是说》（Thus Spoke Zarathustra）一书中，尼采描绘了两种未来人类的形象：“末人”（Last Man）与“超人”（Overman）。这两者在本能、欲望、动机与驱力方面有着根本性的不同。他们所看到的世界、感知世界的方式也截然不同：哪些事物对他们而言是显著且有意义的，什么是“善”或“恶”，对自我与世界的信念与态度，皆南辕北辙。

尼采对“末人”充满蔑视，而他的理想目标则是“超人”。“末人”代表一种追求舒适、安逸与满足的生活方式——那是一种消费的生活，是一种被动的满足。末人的畜群（herd）沉浸在“白天的微小快乐、夜晚的微小快乐中，但极度重视健康。他们说：‘我们发现了幸福’，眨着眼睛”。这样的存在，培养出的是享乐、安逸、饱足与消费的本能。尼采常将这种状态比喻为“反刍的牛”。而“超人”则是那种能够保有创造与超越本能的存在，他将生命导向某个遥远而艰难的目标，借此创造出一种超出自身的价值，使生活因此获得尊严与意义。超人仍然保有那种穿越变革性经验的冲动，那种能改变自我存在状态与意识体验的本能。正是这种冲动激发个体去掌握现实、理解现实，并因此增强他们影响现实的能力——个体越来越能够通过自己的活动与存在方式去塑造经验，建构世界。“末人”的美德——最大化快乐并最小化痛苦，在“超人”看来，恰恰是堕落的恶德。

人工智能的垄断结构及其以利润为导向的模式，正在推动“末人”的出现；而开源则是在为“超人”保留空间。随着人工智能被集中于少数强权之手，并通过这些权力机构设定的参数向市场大量输出商品与服务，整个信息景观及其传播网络将被精心策划成一种伦理结构——这种伦理以最大满足与持续消费所带来的舒适感为核心。在这样的结构中，个体所接触到的机会与环境将不再是“质感质性丰富”的；它们不会激发人们内在的主动能力，而只会使人变得能够追求一种消费社会所设定的终极目标——即最大化产出与回报的路径。

而开源生态系统，则保留了一个人类能动性仍能找到出口的空间。在那里，创造力与创新的目标不再仅仅是为了逐利，而是为了实现一种更完整的人类生活。

现在，本文开篇提出的一个问题是：自动化是否能带来足够多的机会，使被替代的劳动力能够重新获得工作？到现在我们已经看到，黑客范式与开源生态系统的确让这一目标更为可行。彼得·蒂尔的《从零到一》可以说是一本创业者指南。而他在书中明确指出：创业的目标应当是至少模仿，并努力实现垄断。所谓“成功”，就是在某一市场领域内占据主导地位，排除其他进入者，并通过专属供应尚未满足的需求来实现利润最大化。但成功初创企业的统计数据[55]却令人沮丧。初创企业的失败率高达90%。在那些成功者中，首次创业者只占18%。获得风险投资资金的初创企业不到1%；获得天使投资的比例也不到1%；约有75%的初创公司依赖“信用卡债务、商业贷款与信用额度”来筹集资金。成功的几率微乎其微，而对那些敢于创业，尤其是技术驱动型创业者（这是失败率最高的一类）所需承担的门槛与风险，往往近乎不可逾越。蒂尔之所以鼓励初创企业采用垄断策略，部分原因正是因为唯有在获得足够稳固的市场地位之后，公司才终于能够喘息、拓展与创新。一旦达到垄断标准，企业便能掌控其特定领域（甚至是整个）市场中的价值输出——理论上，这会给企业与消费者双方带来好处。

然而，这种能力最终被集中在极少数能够侥幸成功的公司手中。一旦掌握了这种能力，它们便没有自利的动机去放手。而当某家企业依靠其垄断地位终于获得创新的自由之时，这种专属能力却也意味着其他拥有创造潜力的人被排除在外，仅仅因为他们没有获得那唯一的机会。

如果企业的成功几率更高，那无疑会更具吸引力。但传统的融资方式以及作为成功创业者所需经历的艰难过程，往往会打击甚至扼杀那些本有能力提出改变世界的强大创意的人们。而黑客范式之所以具有深远意义，正是因为它能够提供丰富的机会，让人们得以创造价值，而无需承担传统创业所附带的高风险。黑客范式的“北极星”之一，就是致力于打造一个开放的、无需许可的生态系统——一个充满机会、人们可以自由进入、自由利用关键技术信息，并能够与成熟企业协作，从而共同创造出更好、更具创新性的产品的环境。开放的生态系统能够赋予人们创造价值的可能，而封闭系统则将他人排除在外，关闭了协作的大门。

按照蒂尔模式的创业路径，那是一条崎岖不平的道路。它需要强烈的意志、非凡的创造力，当然还需要一定的运气。而这三者的完美契合，是极其罕见的。因此，真正能在创业中成功的人少之又少。通过一个无需许可的开源生态系统，通过减轻人们在创造有价值事物时所承受的沉重负担，我们可以释放出大量机会——这些机会无需你拥有成为乔布斯或贝索斯那样的雄心与资源，也不要求你必须独力成就一番技术帝国。事实上，那些科技巨头的成功，早已远远超越了他们当初想要创造创新科技的初衷。开源生态系统将推动科技进步的机会民主化，使人们能够真正参与其中，不必成为少数天才企业家的复制品。创新，理应是更具协作性、更广泛分布的，也应当距离普通人更近。黑客范式正在使这成为可能，它正在重构赛场的平衡。

或许，并不是每个人都想成为一名“黑客”。但开源为我们保留并拓展了一种最佳的原型模式，通过它，可以将具体的机会持续地、公平地分配给人们，让他们得以实践自己的能动性。正是通过拥有这类机会，人们仍能发现和体验到那种强烈的召唤感——“我必须去做某事”——即，一个目标的存在，使个体不得不相信，若忽视它，人生就将失去意义与目标。如果我们生活的世界中，人们能接触到的、最显眼且最具吸引力的事物，仅仅是尼采所说的那种“幸福”——那种不涉及个人牺牲、不包含作为德性的献身（devotion）、也无需为艰难而变革性的事业奋斗的意愿的“幸福”——那么这样的世界无疑比不上另一个世界：在那里，人们拥有真正的机会去成就伟大的事业，只要他们愿意去追求。

结语

当 IBM 的“深蓝”在 1997 年击败国际象棋冠军卡斯帕罗夫（Garry Kasparov）时，象棋并未因此被淘汰。人们依旧继续比赛，并不断变得更强。这一事实——即从那以后任何人类棋手都不可能战胜 AI 程序——并未动摇那些热爱象棋之人的热情与动力。那些献身于象棋的人依旧渴望打磨自己的技艺，学习更复杂的策略，在不断成长的过程中超越其他选手。象棋选手依然渴望变得更优秀，仅仅是为了变得更优秀。通过意志与投入实现成长，当他们登上新的水平时，那种深刻的成就感依旧真实而宝贵，尽管一台机器将永远是更强的选手。 在一部关于李世石（Lee Sedol）在 2016 年败给 AlphaGo 的纪录片中，有人说：“他在这台机器的对弈中获得了成长。他的人性在与这台无生命的创造物对局之后得到了拓展。而我们的希望，是这种机器，尤其是背后的技术，也能对我们所有人产生同样的作用。”还有人说：“或许 AlphaGo 能向人类展示一些我们从未发现过的东西。或许那是一种美。”如果被正确使用，人工智能可以拓展个体影响与改变世界的能力。它可以提供创造的机会，而非只是劳作的义务；可以唤起意义的体验，而非冷漠与疏离；可以使人获得一种有价值的自由，而非无所依托的自由。但这一切都取决于社会写作和去推动人们向值得努力实现的目标前进的环境；它也要求我们以不同的方式理解竞争。

Agency/Agent/Agentic/… 能动性 Being （以…方式）存在 Qualitatively Rich 质性（上）丰富 Open Source Ecosystem 开源生态系统 Proprietary 专有 Pleasure 快乐 Happiness 幸福 所有著作、节目与人物名称第一次出现标记英文原文。 除网站链接之外的脚注，均为译者补充；脚注中的外部链接为原文超链接的对应标记。 原文中的特殊格式均保留在中文对应词项中。

参考文献

[1] 美国人工智能理论家、作家，MIRI（Machine Intelligence Research Institute，机器智能研究所）创始人之一。 [2] 俄罗斯裔美国计算机科学家，路易斯维尔大学教授，专长于AI安全和人工智能伦理。 [3] 瑞典裔美国物理学家、MIT教授，Future of Life Institute（未来生命研究院）联合创办人。 [4] https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/. [5] https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/.硅谷知名风险投资家、网景（Netscape）浏览器联合创始人，Andreessen Horowitz投资公司创始人。 [6] https://ia.samaltman.com/. OpenAI CEO. [7] 发明家、未来学家、作家，现为谷歌工程总监。 [8] 特斯公司CEO，SpaceX创始人兼首席执行官，X（原Twitter）所有人。 [9] HAL 9000（简称HAL）是科幻小说和电影系列《太空奥德赛》中的虚构人工智能角色，由阿瑟·克拉克（Arthur C. Clarke）和斯坦利·库布里克（Stanley Kubrick）共同创作。在作品中，HAL 9000原本是飞船“发现号”（Discovery One）的中央控制系统，它被设计得极其可靠，拥有高度智能、情感模拟能力，负责飞船运行，包括导航、生命支持、通信等核心任务。在执行任务时，由于HAL开始表现出微妙的异常（如错误报告设备损坏），同行宇航员决定关闭HAL。当这一计划被HAL得知，HAL控制飞船上设备造成了同行宇航员的死亡。但后续作品揭示，HAL的表现是由于收到了相互冲突的人类指令，并决定杀死宇航员来保证两种指令都能够实现。 [10] 法国经济学家。 [11] 美国经济和社会理论家、作家、公众演说家、政治顾问和活动家。 [12] 经济学家、教授，现任斯坦福大学数字经济实验室主任。 [13] 研究员、作家，MIT斯隆管理学院副教授、MIT数字经济计划副主任。 [14] http://digamo.free.fr/brynmacafee2.pdf/ [15]https://www.brookings.edu/articles/rising-inequality-a-major-issue-of-our-time/ [16] 硅谷投资人，PayPal创始人，企业家、风险投资家、政治思想家、作家。 [17] 经济学家、哲学家、道德理论家，古典经济学奠基人。 [18] 芬兰哲学家。 [19] 社会学家、经济学家、历史学家、政治学理论家，德国社会学与历史学传统的代表人物之一，被称为现代社会学的奠基人之一。 [20] http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html [21] 这三个词的区别在斯密研究中并没有得到广泛讨论。一些学者认为它们是同义的，通过重复表达强调（参考J.Z. Muller, (1993) Adam Smith in His Time and Ours: Designing the Decent Society, New York: Free Press第69页，Willie Henderson and Warren J. Samuels, (2004) The etiology of Adam Smith’s division of labor, in Essays on the History of Economics）。就这三个词在英语中的使用历史而言，truck system在英国曾经意为用实物作为工资的薪资制度，barter通常指不涉及货币的物物交换。 [22] Eric Fromm, Marx's Concept of Man. [23] 古希腊哲学家。 [24]https://happyheartfamilies.citymax.com/f/Self_Efficacy.pdf [25]https://happyheartfamilies.citymax.com/f/Self_Efficacy.pdf [26] 一个专注于在线支付处理和金融基础设施的平台，帮助企业在互联网上管理资金流动。 [27]https://www.applogicnetworks.com/blog/sandvines-2024-global-internet-phenomena-report-global-internet-usage-continues-to-grow [28]https://www.emarketer.com/learningcenter/guides/amazon-revenue/ [29]https://cxotoday.com/news-analysis/big-tech-to-own-two-thirds-of-world-data/#:~:text=Without%20sounding%20like%20a%20predictor%20of%20doomsday%2C,data%20centers%20while%20the%20rest%20is%20on [30]https://botpopuli.net/digging-deeper-assessing-big-techs-capture-of-the-internets-infrastructure/#:~:text=The%20dominance%20of%20Big%20Tech,Services%20(AWS)%20in%202006. [31]https://academic.oup.com/policyandsociety/advance-article/doi/10.1093/polsoc/puae012/7636223 [32]https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-tech-set-to-invest-325-billion-this-year-as-hefty-ai-bills-come-under-scrutiny-182329236.html [33]https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/05/1084393/make-no-mistake-ai-is-owned-by-big-tech/ [34]https://academic.oup.com/policyandsociety/advance-article/doi/10.1093/polsoc/puae012/7636223 [35]https://academic.oup.com/policyandsociety/advance-article/doi/10.1093/polsoc/puae012/7636223 [36]https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/05/1084393/make-no-mistake-ai-is-owned-by-big-tech/ [37] 硅谷知名投资人，安德森·霍洛维茨基金（Andreessen Horowitz，简称a16z）的普通合伙人（General Partner）。 [38]https://a16z.com/why-deepseek-is-a-gift-to-the-american-people/ [39]https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/01/2023-24283/safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence [40] 美国著名记者、专栏作家，独立新闻平台自由新闻（The Free Press）的创办人。 [41]https://darioamodei.com/on-deepseek-and-export-controls [42] 半导体行业分析师，SemiAnalysis网站创始人。 [43] AI研究员、工程师。 [44]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcJtvzF-FP8&t=2736s [45]http://www.northamericannietzschesociety.com/uploads/7/3/2/5/73251013/nietzscheana5.pdf [46] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agon [47] 霍布斯的《利维坦》（Leviathan）中对自然状态下的人的生活的刻画。 [48] 安德森·霍洛维茨基金普通合伙人，负责加密货币与Web3投资部门（a16z crypto）。 [49] 比特币（Bitcoin）的创造者，身份不明。 [50] 也译为“代币经济学”，是对加密货币或区块链项目的经济层面的研究和分析，尤其关注其原生数字代币的设计和发行。该术语由“代币/通证”（token）和“经济学”（economics）两个词组合而成。 [51] 古希腊哲学家。 [52] 美国教授和公共知识分子，以其在语言学、政治活动和社会批评领域的研究而闻名。乔姆斯基有时被称为“现代语言学之父”，他也是分析哲学的重要人物和认知科学领域的创始人之一。 [53] 美国经济学家、媒体学者和社会评论家。 [54] https://focalizalaatencion.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/herman-chomsky-2002-manufacturingconsent.pdf [55] https://explodingtopics.com/blog/startup-failure-stats

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

I. Introduction

The phenomenon known as "speaking in tongues" has long been interpreted as either the miraculous ability to speak foreign languages or utter mysterious syllables by divine power. However, a re-examination of scriptural and apostolic texts suggests a deeper, spiritual interpretation: that "tongues" refers not to foreign speech but to the utterance of divine truths so profound that they are incomprehensible to most unless illuminated by the Spirit.

This treatise explores that interpretation in light of the writings of Paul, Peter, John, and the early Apostolic Fathers. We seek not to diminish the miraculous but to reveal the deeper purpose of spiritual utterance: the revelation of divine knowledge that transcends rational comprehension.

II. The Nature of Tongues as Spiritual Utterance

Tongues are best understood as Spirit-inspired expressions of divine truth—utterances that do not conform to human categories of knowledge or language. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:2, "He who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit."

Such mysteries are not unintelligible in a chaotic sense but are veiled truths that require spiritual discernment. The speaker becomes a vessel of revelation. Without interpretation, the truth remains hidden, just as a parable remains a riddle to those without ears to hear.

III. Paul and the Hidden Wisdom of God

In his epistles, Paul often distinguishes between surface knowledge and spiritual wisdom. In 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, he writes:

"We speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age... but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages."

Tongues, then, are one vehicle by which such hidden wisdom is spoken. The gift of interpretation is not mere translation but the Spirit-led unveiling of meaning. Hence, Paul prioritizes intelligibility not to invalidate tongues, but to encourage the edification that comes when deep truth is revealed and understood (1 Cor. 14:19).

IV. Peter at Pentecost: Many Tongues, One Spirit

At Pentecost (Acts 2), each listener hears the apostles speak "in his own language"—but what they hear are "the mighty works of God." Rather than focusing on the mechanics of speech, the emphasis is on understanding. It was not merely a linguistic miracle but a revelatory one: divine truth reaching every heart in a way that transcended cultural and rational barriers.

V. John and the Prophetic Language of Revelation

The apostle John writes in symbols, visions, and layered meanings. Revelation is full of "tongues" in this spiritual sense—utterances that reveal while concealing. His Gospel presents the Spirit as the "Spirit of truth" who "will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). This guiding is not logical deduction but illumination.

VI. The Apostolic Fathers on Inspired Speech

The Didache, an early Christian manual, warns that not everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit is truly inspired. This aligns with a view of tongues as spiritual utterance—deep truth that must be tested by its fruits and conformity to the ways of the Lord.

Polycarp and Ignatius do not emphasize miraculous speech, but their prayers and exhortations show a triadic awareness of Father, Son, and Spirit, and a reverence for spiritual knowledge passed through inspiration and faithful transmission.

VII. Interpretation: The Gift of Spiritual Discernment

In this model, the interpreter of tongues is not a linguist but a spiritual discerner. As Joseph interpreted dreams in Egypt, so the interpreter makes the spiritual intelligible. This gift is not external translation but inward revelation—an unveiling of what the Spirit has spoken.

VIII. Conclusion: Tongues as a Veil and a Revelation

The true gift of tongues lies not in speech but in meaning—in truth spoken from a higher realm that must be spiritually discerned. It is a veil that conceals the holy from the profane, and a revelation to those led by the Spirit of truth.

Thus, we do not reject the miraculous, but recognize that the greatest miracle is understanding—when divine mysteries, spoken in spiritual tongue, are made known to the heart by the Spirit.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:7)

@ d360efec:14907b5f

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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

The corporate sector surpasses ETFs and retail investors, becoming the largest bitcoin buyer this year.

According to recent research conducted by River, companies and corporations have emerged as the biggest bitcoin buyers in 2025, outpacing both Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and retail investors. Businesses have increased their holdings by 157,000 bitcoins, equivalent to around $16 billion at current prices.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy dominates the market, accounting for 77% of the total growth in the corporate sector. River highlighted that this trend isn’t limited to large companies:

“We’re seeing businesses across all industries sign up to River. They’re aligned with Bitcoin and how it can change their future.”

ETFs and governments follow

After corporations, ETFs represent the second most active investor category, with an increase of 49,000 bitcoins (around $5 billion). Governments come next, having added roughly 19,000 bitcoins to their reserves. In contrast, retail investors have reduced their holdings by 247,000 bitcoins this year.

Source: River

From a sectoral perspective, River revealed that financial and investment firms are the largest buyers, accounting for 35.7% of the total, followed by tech companies (16.8%) and professional consulting firms (16.5%). The remainder is spread across real estate, non-profits, consumer goods, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and transportation.

Source: River

New players

2025 has also seen the arrival of new entrants in the market. Among them are video streaming platform Rumble, which made its first purchase in March, Hong Kong-based construction firm Ming Shing, and investment company HK Asia Holdings Limited.

According to a Bitwise report published in April, at least 12 listed companies bought the cryptocurrency for the first time in the first quarter of 2025. The volume of bitcoin held on the balance sheets of publicly traded companies increased by 16% during the period, with over 95,000 bitcoins added to corporate portfolios.

The post Companies lead the bitcoin buying wave in 2025 appeared first on Atlas21.

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Introduction

Nutsax is a capability-based access control system for Nostr relays, designed to provide flexible, privacy-preserving rate limiting, permissioning, and operation-scoped token redemption.

At its core, Nutsax introduces:

• Blind-signed tokens, issued by relays, for specific operation types.
• Token redemption as part of Nostr event publishing or interactions.
• Encrypted token storage using existing Nostr direct message infrastructure, allowing portable, persistent, and private storage of these tokens — the Nutsax.

This mechanism augments the existing Nostr protocol without disrupting adoption, requiring no changes to NIP-01 for clients or relays that don’t opt into the system.

Motivation

Nostr relays currently have limited tools for abuse prevention and access control. Options like IP banning, whitelisting, or monetized access are coarse and often centralized.

Nutsax introduces:

• Fine-grained, operation-specific access control using cryptographic tokens.
• Blind signature protocols to issue tokens anonymously, preserving user privacy.
• A native way to store and recover tokens using Nostr’s encrypted event system.

This allows relays to offer:

• Optional access policies (e.g., “3 posts per hour unless you redeem a token”)
• Paid or invite-based features (e.g., long-term subscriptions, advanced filters)
• Temporary elevation of privileges (e.g., bypass slow mode for one message)

All without requiring accounts, emails, or linking identity beyond the user’s npub.

Core Components

1. Operation Tokens

Tokens are blind-signed blobs issued by the relay, scoped to a specific operation type (e.g., "write", "filter-subscribe", "broadcast").

• Issued anonymously: using a blind signature protocol.
• Validated on redemption: at message submission or interaction time.
• Optional and redeemable: the relay decides when to enforce token redemption.

Each token encodes:

• Operation type (string)
• Relay ID (to scope the token)
• Expiration (optional)
• Usage count or burn-on-use flag
• Random nonce (blindness)

Example (before blinding):

json { "relay": "wss://relay.example", "operation": "write", "expires": 1720000000, "nonce": "b2a8c3..." }

This is then blinded and signed by the relay.

2. Token Redemption

Clients include tokens when submitting events or requests to the relay.

Token included via event tag:

json ["token", "<base64-encoded-token>", "write"]

Redemption can happen:

• Inline with any event (kind 1, etc.)
• As a standalone event (e.g., ephemeral kind 20000)
• During session initiation (optional AUTH extension)

The relay validates the token:

• Is it well-formed?
• Is it valid for this relay and operation?
• Is it unexpired?
• Has it been used already? (for burn-on-use)

If valid, the relay accepts the event or upgrades the rate/permission scope.

3. Nutsax: Private Token Storage on Nostr

Tokens are stored securely in the client’s Nutsax, a persistent, private archive built on Nostr’s encrypted event system.

Each token is stored in a kind 4 or kind 44/24 event, encrypted with the client’s own npub.

Example:

json { "kind": 4, "tags": [ ["p", "<your npub>"], ["token-type", "write"], ["relay", "wss://relay.example"] ], "content": "<encrypted token blob>", "created_at": 1234567890 }

This allows clients to:

• Persist tokens across restarts or device changes.
• Restore tokens after reinstalling or reauthenticating.
• Port tokens between devices.

All without exposing the tokens to the public or requiring external storage infrastructure.

Client Lifecycle

1. Requesting Tokens

• Client authenticates to relay (e.g., via NIP-42).
• Requests blind-signed tokens:
• Sends blinded token requests.
• Receives blind signatures.
• Unblinds and verifies.

2. Storing Tokens

• Each token is encrypted to the user’s own npub.
• Stored as a DM (kind 4 or compatible encrypted event).
• Optional tagging for organization.

3. Redeeming Tokens

• When performing a token-gated operation (e.g., posting to a limited relay), client includes the appropriate token in the event.
• Relay validates and logs/consumes the token.

4. Restoring the Nutsax

• On device reinstallation or session reset, the client:
• Reconnects to relays.
• Scans encrypted DMs.
• Decrypts and reimports available tokens.

Privacy Model

• Relays issuing tokens do not know which tokens were redeemed (blind signing).
• Tokens do not encode sender identity unless the client opts to do so.
• Only the recipient (npub) can decrypt their Nutsax.
• Redemption is pseudonymous — tied to a key, not to external identity.

Optional Enhancements

• Token index tag: to allow fast search and categorization.
• Multiple token types: read, write, boost, subscribe, etc.
• Token delegation: future support for transferring tokens via encrypted DM to another npub.
• Token revocation: relays can publish blacklists or expiration feeds if needed.

Compatibility

• Fully compatible with NIP-01, NIP-04 (encrypted DMs), and NIP-42 (authentication).
• Non-disruptive: relays and clients can ignore tokens if not supported.
• Ideal for layering on top of existing infrastructure and monetization strategies.

Conclusion

Nutsax offers a privacy-respecting, decentralized way to manage access and rate limits in the Nostr ecosystem. With blind-signed, operation-specific tokens and encrypted, persistent storage using native Nostr mechanisms, it gives relays and clients new powers without sacrificing Nostr’s core principles: simplicity, openness, and cryptographic self-sovereignty.

@ c9badfea:610f861a

► Video Tools

• 🌐 Digital Video Intro - Digital Video Guides / Resources
• ↪️ AI Video Generators
• ⭐ Reincubate Camo - Use Any Camera as Webcam
• Deep-Live-Cam, Rope, SimSwap or Roop - Video Face Swap Tools
• VideoHelp Forum - All Things Media / Video
• ICAT - Video Quality Comparison & Analysis Tool
• videoduplicatefinder - Duplicate Video Finder
• VHS Decode - VHS Decoder
• VidClue - Short Form Video Inspiration

---

▷ Disc Utilities

• ImgBurn, DVDStyler, DeepBurner or Alcohol Soft - CD / DVD Burning
• MakeMKV - Create MKV From Blu-ray / DVD / Beta Keys
• VidCoder or DVDDecrypter - DVD / Blu-ray Ripping
• DGDemux - Blu-Ray/UHD Disk Demuxer
• PgcDemux - DVD Disk Demuxer
• BatchGuy - Blu-Ray Ripping

---

▷ Video File Hosts

• Note - Most file hosts remove files after inactivity, while some delete them regardless. Check each host if you're concerned about file expiry.

---

• ⭐ DoodStream - 5GB / 60 Days / Account Required
• ⭐ Litterbox - 1GB / 3 Days
• ⭐ Catbox - 200MB / Forever / Allows Hotlinking
• ⭐ Gofile - 100GB Monthly / 10 Days
• ⭐ Send.now - Unlimited / 30 Days
• Files.vc - Unlimited / 10GB / Forever / Discord
• VOE - Unlimited / 60 Days / 720p / Account Required
• MixDrop - Unlimited / 60 Days / 720p / Account Required
• FEX.NET - 100GB / 10GB Guest / 7 Days
• FileMoon, 2, 3 - 50GB / 40TB per account / Forever / Account Required
• Hexupload or AnonTransfer - 15GB / 30 Days
• Fastupload.io - 10GB / 30 Days (60 Days with Account)
• Vidoza - 15GB / 15 Days / Account Required
• Streamtape - 15GB / Account Required / .to
• Dubz - 100MB / Forever
• EarnVids
• Streamable - 250MB / 2 Days (90 Days with Account)
• uguu - 128MB / 3 Hours
• webmshare - WebM & GIF Hosting / 20MB / Forever
• Videy - 100MB / MP4 Only

---

▷ Screen Recording

• ⭐ OBS
• gifcap - Turn Screencasts into GIFs / GitHub
• Shinobi - Network Video Recorder
• MythTV - Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
• tldv or ZoomRec - Record Google Meets / Zoom Calls
• FFmpeg / Tools
• Vileo
• ShareX
• Screen Recorder
• vokoscreenNG
• Cap / GitHub
• Shar.ec - Online
• ScreenREC - Online
• ScreenRecorder.me - Online
• KazCap - Online
• RecordScreen - Online
• Google Screen Recorder - Online

---

▷ Processing / Encoding

• ⭐ HandBrake - Video Encoding Software / Guide
• ⭐ FFmpeg - Multimedia Processors / Converters / Tools
• ⭐ Shutter Encoder - Video Encoding Software / GitHub
• ⭐ MKVToolNix - MKV Editing Tools
• ⭐ archived-things, The Encoding Guide or Silentaperture - Video Encoding Guides
• ⭐ Disc Rip - Disc Ripping Guide / Mirror
• ⭐ Basics to the Art of Remuxing - Learn How to Remux Videos
• DDVT - Dolby Vision RPU Demuxing / Injecting / Editing
• MKV Muxing Batch GUI - Mux Videos
• staxrip - Video Encoding / Contact Sheet + Thumbnails Creator
• IFME - Video Encoding
• XMedia Recode - Video Conversion
• FastFlix - Video Conversion / GitHub
• NEAV1E or Av1an - AV1 Encoding
• Winnydows - Video Conversion Software
• sickbeard_mp4_automator - Automate Video Processing
• Seven Converter - Video Conversion / GitHub
• nmkoder - Media Encoding / Muxing
• selur - Video Encoding
• vvenc, vvdec or VVCEasy - VVC Encode / Decode
• Ingex - Tapeless (Uncompressed) Recording / Digital Tape Converter

---

▷ Online Processing

• Compress Video Online - Compress / Unlimited
• 8mb.video - Compress / 2GB
• autocompressor - Compress / 2GB
• Rotato - Compress / 2GB
• VideoSmaller - Compress / 500MB
• YouCompress - Compress / 500MB
• MP4Compress - Compress / 500MB
• VERT - Converter / Discord / GitHub
• Video Express Converter
• VideoConverter - Converter
• Restream Tools - Converter

---

▷ FFmpeg Tools

• FFmpeg-Builds or media-autobuild_suite - Autobuild Tools
• ffmpeg-web - FFmpeg Web App / GitHub
• FFmpeg Libav or ffmprovisr - FFmpeg Guides
• ASM Lessons - FFmpeg Assembly Language Lessons
• FFmpeg Cheat Sheet, FFmpeg Commander or FFmpeg Buddy - Command Lists
• WebMConverter - WebM Converter
• PureMPV - Info Copy Tool
• ffmpeg.lav - Preview Filters
• LLmpeg or idli - AI Commands
• FFmpeg Batch - Bulk Conversion Tools

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▷ Live Streaming

• 🌐 Awesome Streaming or StreamerFreebies - Live Streaming Resources
• ⭐ OBS - Live Stream Manager
• ⭐ OBS Tools - Virtual Cam / Tweaks / Effects / Keyboard Visualiser / Background Remover / Web App / Phone Controller / Dock Layouts / WebRTC Server / Plugin Updater / Guide
• Stream Elements - Streaming Service Manager
• Streamlabs-OBS - Live Stream Manager
• StreamLabs - Live Stream Manager
• Restream - Live Stream Manager
• FBX - Live Stream Manager
• XSplit - Live Stream Manager
• TwitchChat - Live Stream Manager / Discord
• VDO Ninja - Live Stream Colab Tool
• LiveStreamDVR / Display Chat - Live Stream Recorders
• NVIDIA Broadcast - Stream Audio / Video Enhancer
• Owncast or Restreamer - Self-Hosted Live Streaming
• WDFlat - Stream Elements
• Twelve47Studios - Stream Overlays
• Strem - Stream Automation
• ppInk, glnk, Annotate Screen or Live Draw - Screen Annotation
• Amuse or Songify - Now Playing Overlays
• StreamPi or ODeck - ElGato Streamdeck Alternatives
• real-url - Copy Live Stream URLs
• Chat-Downloader - Retrieve Chat Messages from Livestreams

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▷ VTuber Tools

• 🌐 Runa's Archive - VTuber Resources / Discord
• Best VTuber - VTuber Resources
• VTResources - VTuber Resources
• VTuber Assets - VTuber Resources
• VTuber Kit - VTuber App
• Inochi2D - VTuber App / Discord
• Vtube Studio - VTuber App
• Kalidoface 3D, VRoid, Animaze or TransTube - VTuber Characters
• avatarify-python or veadotube - Video Call Avatars
• VTuberized Logos - VTuber Style Logos

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▷ Subtitle Tools

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▷ Linux Video Tools

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▷ Mac Video Tools

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► Video Players

• 🌐 Awesome Video - Video Streaming Resources
• 🌐 Video Help - Video Player Index
• ⭐ MPC-HC, MPC-QT or MPC-BE - Video Player / YT-DL Support
• ⭐ MPV - Video Player / Frontends
• ⭐ VLC - Video Player
• Screenbox - Video Player
• AVPlayer, ICAT or GridPlayer - Multi-Video Players
• SPlayer - Video Player with Smart Translation
• PotPlayer - Video Player / Twitch Addon / YouTube Addon
• ImPlay - Video Player
• SMPlayer / 2 - Video Player / YouTube
• uView - Video Player
• Rise Media Player - Video Player
• Flyleaf - Video Player
• MoonPlayer - Video Player
• KikoPlay - Video Player
• Plyr - Online HTML5, YouTube and Vimeo Player / GitHub
• PiP-Tool - Use Picture-in-Picture on All Videos
• PlayVideo - Google Drive Video Player
• MotionMonkey - Stream Online Videos in Player
• StreamLink - Extract Videos from Sites to Players / Twitch Adblock / GitHub
• Hohoema - Nico Nico Video Player
• polsy.org.uk - Alt Players for Video Sites

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▷ Stream Sync

• ⭐ SyncPlay - App
• ⭐ Watch2Gether - Online Player
• ⭐ SyncWatch - Online Extension
• ⭐ Kosmi - Online Player
• ⭐ WatchParty - Online / Virtual Browser
• ⭐ neko / GitHub - Docker Virtual Browser
• HyperBeam / VIP - Virtual Computer Embed
• Trast, OpenTogetherTube, TurtleTV or twoseven - Online Player
• bear.cat - Online Virtual Machine / Allows NSFW
• Metastream - Online Extension / Discord / GitHub / X
• Caracal Club - Online Video Player
• CyTube - Online Video Player
• VideoTogether - App
• baked.live - Online Video Player
• Rave.io - Online Extension
• MovieNight / Discord - Docker
• Kast - Screen Share
• Screen Share Party - Online Screen Share

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▷ MPV Tools

• ↪️ MPV Shaders
• MPV Config Guide, 2, 3
• ModernX, tethys or uosc - Alt User Interfaces
• Simple MPV WebUI - WebUI Controller
• MPV Context Menu
• MPV Scripts - Userscripts
• VideoClip, 2 - Clip Tool
• MPV WebM - WebM Tool
• Play With MPV or ff2mpv - Open Videos with MPV
• MPV WebTorrent Hook - Torrent Streaming
• AutoSubSync MPV - Sub Sync
• MPV SponsorBlock, 2 - SponsorBlock for MPV
• ThumbFast - MPV Thumbnails

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▷ VLC Tools

• 🌐 Awesome VLC - VLC Resources
• VLSub - Sub Downloader
• VLC Skin - VLC Skins
• VLC Slow Seek Fix

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► Media Servers

• 🌐 Auto Download Tool Index
• ⭐ Jellyfin - Media Server
• ⭐ Kodi - Media Server
• TRaSH Guides / Discord or The Complete Guide - Server Setup Guides
• Self-hosted Anime - Anime Server Setup Guides
• Prowlarr, FlexGet or /r/softwarr - Autodownload Tools
• Organizr, Reiverr or Homarr - Media Server Managers
• Fixarr - Media Server File Renamer
• HTPC Download Box - Media Server Automation
• Emby - Media Server
• Plex - Media Server
• Universal Media Server - Media Server
• OSMC - Media Server
• Kawaii-Player - Media Server
• Streama - Media Server
• Gerbera - Media Server
• Homehost - Media Server
• Dim - Media Server
• Kyoo - Media Server
• WatchIt / GitHub / Discord - Media Server
• SimpleDLNA - Media Server
• Chocolate - Media Server
• Media-Hoarder - Media Catalog Frontend
• Seanime - Anime Server
• Frames - Google Drive Server
• HTPC - Home Theater PC guides / Subreddit
• MSX - Web App
• ErsatzTV or dizqueTV - Live Channel Media Servers
• YTDL-Sub - Add YouTube Channels to Media Servers / GitHub
• xTeVe - Plex / Emby M3U Proxy
• Ombi - Plex / Emby User Request Management

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▷ Plex Tools

• Reddit Guide - Plex Setup Guides
• Tautulli - Server Monitor / Note
• SuperPlex - Plex Plugins
• Kitana - Plugin Frontend
• Plex Ripper - Merge Plex Libraries w/ Your Own
• PlexDrive or mergerfs - Mount Google Drive
• SyncLounce - Media Sync
• PseudoTV - Create TV Channels
• Overseerr - User Requests / IMDb Extension
• Pasta Tool - Audio / Sub Changer

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▷ Jellyfin Tools

• 🌐 Awesome Jellyfin - Jellyfin Resources
• ⭐ Blink, Fladder or jellyfin-media-player - Desktop Clients
• /r/JellyfinShare - Jellyfin Server Sharing
• Jellyfin Forum - Official Jellyfin Forum
• Jellyfin Vue - Jellyfin Web Client
• Jellyfin "arr" Setup Guide
• Jellyfin Customization Guide
• Jellyfin Themes
• Jellyseerr - User Requests
• Jellyfin RPC - Jellyfin Discord Rich Presence

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▷ Kodi Tools

• ⭐ Elementum - Torrent Streaming / Trakt Sync / Similar to Stremio + Torrentio
• EverythingKodi - Kodi Addon Tutorials
• Kodi Builds Chart
• /r/Addons4Kodi / Tracker / Trending - Kodi Addons
• Kodi Skins or WIP Skins - Kodi Skins
• Synko - Kodi Stream Sync
• Plex Kodi Connect or plex-for-kodi - Plex for Kodi
• quasar - Torrent Plugin
• IPTV Client
• Simkl - Media Tracker
• tinyMediaManager or MediaElch - Media Collection Managers

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► Video Download

• ↪️ YouTube Video Downloaders
• ↪️ Twitch Video Downloaders
• ↪️ Download Managers
• ⭐ yt-dlp or YTDL-PATCHED - Multi-Site / Commands / Zoom Fix / Discord
• ⭐ cobalt - Multi-Site / Online / Instances / Playlist Support, 2
• ⭐ 9xbuddy, 2, 3 - Multi-Site / Online
• ⭐ Download Helper, FetchV or MPMux - Extensions
• CD(R)M-Project - DRM Tools / Discord
• VideoFK - Multi-Site / Online
• you-get - Multi-Site / CLI
• Hitomi Downloader - Multi-Site / Software
• SCrawler - Multi-Site / Software / Discord
• Musvkrobot - Multi-Site / Telegram Bot
• myfaveTT, SnapTik or tiktok-to-ytdlp - TikTok
• Threads Downloader - Threads
• Piner - Pinterest / Online
• hls-downloader, hls extension or hlsloader - HLS Downloaders
• GetWVKeys - Send Widevine Requests / GitHub

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► Video Editing

• ⭐ /r/VideoEditing - Video Editing Subreddit / Wiki
• ⭐ Eyecandy - Visual Technique Examples
• ⭐ Waifu2x GUI, Video2x, Enhancr, Lossless Scaling or Dandere2x - Video Upscaling
• Codecs and Containers - Info on Codecs & Containers
• ALF FreeWare VideoCODECs, Codec Guide or Free-Codecs - Video Codec Collections
• VideoHelp Forum - Video Editing Forums

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▷ Video Editors

• ⭐ LosslessCut - Video Editor
• ⭐ kdenlive - Video Editor / GitHub
• ⭐ DaVinci Resolve - Video Editor / Sign-Up Required
• ⭐ Shotcut - Video Editor
• Auto-Editor - CLI Editor
• MoviePy - Python Editor
• Webm Generator - Webm Editor
• avisynth or VapourSynth - Video Processors
• Source Filmmaker - Steam Movie-Making Tool / Resources
• OpenRV - Image / Sequence Playback Review
• Remotion - Video Editor
• Olive - Video Editor
• EZVid - Video Editor
• OpenShot - Video Editor
• Lightworks - Video Editor
• VSDC - Video Editor
• Pitivi - Video Editor
• Visla - Video Editor
• Windows Movie Maker, 2, 3 - Video Editor
• Avidemux - Cut / Filter / Encode
• suckless-cut or vidcutter - Cut / Trim Videos
• Opus - Clip Creator
• Kurku or FreeMoCap - Motion Tracking Tools
• VSeeFace - Face / Hand Tracking VRM

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▷ Online Editors

• ⭐ wide.video - Discord
• ⭐ Pikimov - Use Edge or Chrome
• ⭐ Mastershot - Sign-Up Required
• VideoToolbox - Sign-Up Required
• VideoInu - Works Offline
• Panzoid
• vidmix
• Video Cutter
• Omniclip - GitHub / Discord
• Vididoo - Multitool
• VideoCandy - Multitool
• Video2Edit - Multitool
• Crop Video - Crop Videos
• LoopVid - Loop Videos
• Crossfade - Video / Audio Crossfading
• VidLouder - Increase Video Volume
• Convert2Video - Image / Audio to Video

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▷ Video Enhancement / Effects

• Video Enhance AI - Video Enhancement Tool / Search "Topaz" on LR
• Gyroflow - Video Stabilization / GitHub
• Flowframes / Beta or SVP / Guide - Video Interpolation / Increase FPS
• VideoColorizerColab - Video Colorization Colab
• OpenColorIO - Video Color Manager
• FreshLUTs - Free LUTs (Color Filters)
• blur or Smoothie - Add Motion Blur to Videos / Tutorial
• ProPainter - Video Inpainting

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▷ VFX Sites

• FootageCrate
• FreeVideoEffect
• VideoCoPilot
• VFXmed
• Team V.R releases
• flex_cg_vfx
• VFXLoot
• Download Pirate - Use Adblock / Avoid Fake Download Buttons / Discord
• ShareAE - After Effects
• HunterAE - After Effects
• Visual Effects Pack - After Effects
• AERiver - After Effects
• AEDownloadPro - After Effects
• Intro HD - After Effects

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▷ Animation Tools

• 🌐 Creator Resources - Art & Animation Resource Index
• ⭐ Unreal Engine, MoonRay, cgsoftbox, SketchUp or Twinmotion - 3D Creation Tools
• ⭐ Immersity AI - 2D Image to 3D Animation Tool
• OpenToonz, Wick Editor, Clipnote Studio or Pencil2D - Animation Tools
• Animaker - Animated Video Creator
• 3DThis - 3D Animation Tools
• Mega Scans - 3D Scans
• Mixer - 3D Texture Creation Tool
• PlanetSide - CG Environment Generator
• cgplugdump - CG Software Plugins
• Physically Based - RGB Values of Elements
• AnimeEffects, enve, Cavalry, TupiTube or Synfig - 2D Animation Tools
• ScribbleDiffusion - Turn Doodles into Artwork
• MonsterMash - Sketch-Based Modeling & Animation Tool
• Storyboarder - Quickly Visualize & Test Animations / GitHub
• LuxCoreRender - Rendering Engine
• RenderChan - 2D Animation Render Manager
• Mandelbulber or FragM - Fractal Rendering Software / 3D
• JWildfire, IFSRenderer or Fractorium - Flame Fractal Rendering Software
• BestSnip, Sketch Machine, Plask or Rive - Online Animation Tools
• Glaxnimate or Trangram - Vector Animation Tools
• LibreSprite, GraphicsGale, Pixel Compresor, JPixel, Aseprite / Guide or SpookyGhost - Pixel Art Animation Tools
• Spritesheet Generator - Spritesheet Generator / Gitea
• Animated Drawings, FAIR Animated Drawings or MotorPen - Animate Drawings
• FlipAnim - Create Animated Flipbooks
• Viggle / Discord or Picrew - Animated Character Creators
• Mixamo or Cascadeur - 3D Character Animation Tools
• MMHuman3D - 3D Human Model Creator
• Talking Face Avatar - Talking Avatar Generator
• Blender Open Movies - CGI Assets

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▷ Stock Videos

• 🌐 Awesome Stock Resources or CuteStockFootage - Stock Video Indexes
• Pexels - Stock Videos
• 4K Media - 4K Stock Videos
• Dareful - 4K Stock Videos
• Monzoom - 4K Stock Videos
• BeachFrontBroll - Stock Videos
• Videvo - Stock Videos
• veed.io - Stock Videos
• VidsPlay - Stock Videos
• MitchMartinez - Stock Videos
• MixKit - Stock Videos
• ineedfx - Stock Videos
• MotionPlaces - Worldwide Stock Videos
• DroneStock - Drone Video Footage
• MovieTools - Video Loops