@ fa7153ef:1de1cf78

"Things usually don't pan out the way you want them to." It's not really a quote, probably someone said it at some point, but I just wanted to have it at the beginning. My thought process while sitting here is going as - I haven''t written anything for close to 6 months, I need to refer to that fact, and say something about it. I know, things don't usually work out, and wanting to write once a week turned to be no writing for 6 months. Tough luck I don't really have a good explanation for this. Last post was from end of August 2024. I wouldn't say a lot of things happened in the meantime (especially not a lot that would make me not have time to sit down and write something). People always ask "How have you been?", "Anything happened to you lately?", and my answer is usually - "Nothing special", "Nothing new", "Same old".. (that's probably why I'm not good in conversations with people). But a lot of things have happened, it's just that I feel none of my stories would be interesting to people, or things I find fascinating would just bore everyone. So I usually keep quiet. This is strange, really, since a lot of things that people talk to me about, I don't really care for. But those are their interests, and what are friends for, than to listen to each other? I may be wrong with this one, since writing these words was hard - and I don't really believe in them. It requires some additional thought. I've always considered myself to be good at spotting when people are uncomfortable, or bored with something (or someone) - like George form Seinfeld. It's likely that I've caught on to people being that way in my presence, so I stopped sharing a lot. Who the heck knows, it's hard being your own psychiatrist, so I won't be one. I'm here to write things. Since we're on the topic of what happened in the past 6 months, I'd really need to think about everything, and even though you're reading this quickly, a lot of pause has been made when composing this list (I'm going at it one by one, and really trying to remember): - I met with my old university friends - haven't seen them in 3 years - visited my sister in another country, and hung out with my little nephew - had a PR in my squats (50kg) - it's a topic for a different day, but it's a big thing for me, I'm very proud of it. - I'm working on my spiritual side - trying to get closer to God by reading scripture, praying, and listening to various sermons (which is also a good topic - to share my experiences here) - I'm following semen retention, it's been a whole year recently. Being single helps, but I won't go into details of it now - I bought a small 25-key keyboard, and I'm learning playing on it (trying to transfer as much as I can from the guitar experience) - I feel like anxiety, and fears which have been overwhelming my whole life, have died down a bit. I can still feel them, and when days are bad, so are they, but there have been a lot of good days. Causes for this are numerous, but again, a topic for another time - I've kept my job - I've started buying Bitcoin again - I was so "down and out" that even the thought of re-activating my accounts on exchanges was a no-go, but somehow I managed to do it, and am becoming increasingly richer in sats, on a daily basis - I've been going out more - hanging out with people, and socializing - I'm noticing a substantial increase of this kind of behaviour. I'm not really meeting new people, mostly stick to the ones I already know (which is not a lot) - I've visited my lifelong friend in another country again, and have a feeling we've rekindled the friendship. It's been a rough time for both of us, and even though we met here and there, at times it felt to be more of a chore. Now, I feel things have changed a bit, and I like it. - I'm still living with my parents. I don't hate it, it's just something I do. There are strange comments, and I guess people find it curious, but it is what it is. - I have a much better relation with my father. We've always had an OK relation. He's also a reserved person - I'm not sure of the term and google isn't helping. Likes to keep to himself mostly. We've found some common topics to discuss, and I've been enjoying it. He seems to like it as well. It mostly revolves around football, and watching games together. - even though I've been sick for the past couple of weeks, my health in general is good. I'm not totally happy with the situation I'm in, but it's still miles ahead of what it has been just a year or two ago - Some plans have been popping up in my head - after a long time, I have some things I'd like to do. It usually takes a long time to actually do them, but even the thought of wanting something new and different is refreshing, and I'll take it. I don't know.. There probably are a lot of other things - I mean, there certainly are more private thoughts I've been thinking about - love, romance, romantic partners, God, inner peace, lust, fears, music, family, future.. But I'm not willing to share those yet. I've finished the Bible last year - by doing daily readings of 10-15 minutes via an app. I've restarted it this year, and going through it again. Also, I'M noticing that a lot of these sentences start with "I've done this", "I've done that", "I'm this" or "I'm that" - it's understandable, with this being sort-of a personal writing journey, but somehow it's not sitting well with me to have most of the sentences being this way. I'll keep that in mind for next time. ^^

@ 638d2a79:f5645f4e

When doing division with two-digit dividends, round up to the nearest tens place if the number ends in 6-9. **Example:** 200÷29200 \div 29200÷29 can be approximated as 200÷30200 \div 30200÷30, which simplifies to 20÷320 \div 320÷3. Also, zeros cancel out in division. **Example:** 20000÷70020000 \div 70020000÷700 can be simplified to 200÷7200 \div 7200÷7, which gives the same answer. ### Multiplication Rule: When doing multiplication, do not write out all of the zeros. **Example:** For 90×290 \times 290×2, you don’t need to write out “00” at the start. Just do 9×29 \times 29×2 and add the zero later. ### Division with Two-Digit Divisors: If the second digit of the divisor is between 1-5, only divide the first digit by the first digit. **Example:** 5124÷215124 \div 215124÷21 can be solved as follows: 1. Approximate: 5÷2=25 \div 2 = 25÷2=2 (write 2 as the first digit). 2. 21×2=4221 \times 2 = 4221×2=42, subtract to get 92. 3. 9÷2≈49 \div 2 \approx 49÷2≈4, so 21×4=8421 \times 4 = 8421×4=84, subtract to get 8. 4. Bring down the 4 to make 84, which we already know is 21×421 \times 421×4. 5. Final answer: **244**. ![[Recording 20250122112454.m4a]] ### Converting a Remainder into a Decimal: To turn a remainder into a decimal, divide the remainder by the divisor. 6. Add a zero to the end of your remainder and divide normally. 7. The quotient becomes the decimal value. **Example:** 32÷10032 \div 10032÷100 → Rewrite as 320÷100320 \div 100320÷100. - 100 goes into 320 three times (3). - Bring down a zero → 30. - Add another zero → 300 → 100 goes in three times (3). - Final answer: **0.32**. If one of the numbers is smaller, like in 880÷22880 \div 22880÷22, where 22 doesn’t go into 0: - Instead, check how many times **0.22** goes into **88**. The answer is **4**. - 22 goes into 0, 0 times. - So, 880÷22=40880 \div 22 = 40880÷22=40. ### Division with Three-Digit Numbers: Use the same method as with two-digit divisors. **Example:** 100,492÷518100,492 \div 518100,492÷518 - Approximate using **5** for each digit of the answer. Another example: 36.85÷21636.85 \div 21636.85÷216 - 222 goes into **3** once → Write **1**. - 216×1=216216 \times 1 = 216216×1=216, subtract from **368** → **152**. - Bring down the **5** and continue dividing. ### Calculating Volume: To find the volume of something, use the equation: Width×Height\text{Width} \times \text{Height}Width×Height The answer will be in **square units**. **Example:** A 2D box with width **1 inch** and height **4 inches** has an area of **4 inches squared**. ### [[America|American]] Flag Instructions: - The length of the flag is **1.9 times its width**. - Each stripe should be **one-thirteenth** of the flag's height. - The blue area covers **7.6** of the flag’s width. - The height of the blue area is exactly **7 stripes**, or **7/13** of the flag’s height. ### Finding the Median Score of a Class: 8. Count the number of students with the highest score, then move downward. 9. Write scores in one column and the number of students in another. 10. Find the median of the possible scores. **Example:** Possible scores: **10, 9, 8, 6, 4** → Median is **8**. Then, count students until you reach the middle score **(8 or the median value)** | Posable score | number of students | | - | | | 10 | 3 | | 9 | 6 | | 8 | 4 | | 6 | 1 | | 4 | 1 | The answer would be 6 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and we are in the 6 Groupe Tags: [[arrhythmic]]

@ 638d2a79:f5645f4e

China was ruled by one ruler, but over time, China split into two—South and North—which had a rivalry between them. At this time, Yang Chien was a general in the army of Northern China. He thought that China should be whole once more, so, like any _insert age here_ year old would do, he attacked the king of the South (for peace!). After a bit of fighting, he overpowered Southern China and took control of all of China. This man founded a dynasty—the Sui Dynasty—to rule and to keep China united. But wait! Rivers made travel difficult between the North and South, so his son created a new river when he became emperor. This canal made it easier to cross the rivers, which greatly improved trade. The people did not like working on this river, and after it was completed, they killed him, making him the second and last emperor of the Sui Dynasty. Cue the new emperor, Li Yuan, AKA "the smart guy." He wanted to stay alive for a long time, and he saw how unhappy people had just killed the last important ruler. So, he decided to invest in keeping people happy instead. This started the Golden Age of China, also called the Tang Dynasty. Tags: [[human behavior index]]

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

I got into a [friendly discussion](https://x.com/snoyberg/status/1887007888117252142) 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

@ 8be6bafe:b50da031

Botev Plovdiv FC is proud to present the [Bitcoin Salary Calculator](https://bitcoinfootballcup.com/salary/) tool, as the foundational tool to showcase athletes the financial power of Bitcoin. We built the [Salary Calculator](https://bitcoinfootballcup.com/salary/) to help anyone follow in the financial footsteps of prominent athletes such as Kieran Gibbs, Russell Okung, Saquon Barkley, and Renato Moicano, who have significantly increased their savings tank thanks to Bitcoin. The [Bitcoin Salary Calculator](https://bitcoinfootballcup.com/salary/) allows any person to choose how much of their monthly salary they are comfortable saving in Bitcoin. Instantly, users can backtrack and see how their Bitcoin savings would have performed using the once-in-a-species opportunity which Bitcoin brings. **[Try it out NOW for yourself](https://bitcoinfootballcup.com/salary/).** https://video.nostr.build/a9f2f693f6b5ee75097941e7a30bfc722225918a896b29a73e13e7581dfed77c.mp4 ## Athletes need Bitcoin more than anyone else Unlike most people, athletes’ careers and earning years are limited. This has driven the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and Alex Crognale to also start saving a part of their income in Bitcoin with a long-term outlook as they prepare for retirement. “*The reason why announced 50% of my salary in Bitcoin is because I feel one the noblest things you can do is to get people to understand Bitcoin*.” Kieran Gibbs, founder ONE FC, ex Arsenal, ex Inter Miami, ex West Bromich Albion. “*I am trusting Bitcoin for my life after football. Every time my club paid me, I bought Bitcoin*.” Alex Crognale, San Antonio FC player. https://x.com/TFTC21/status/1883228348379533469 “*At Botev Plovdiv FC, we believe not only in fostering sporting talent, but also helping them the the most of their careers so they excel in life after retiring from sports. It is with this mission in mind that the club is launching the Bitcoin Football Cup hub, striving to accelerate mass Bitcoin education via sports and athletes - the influencers and role models for billions of people*.” shared Botev’s Bitcoin Director George Manolov. https://x.com/obj/status/1856744340795662432 The Bitcoin Football Cup aims for young prospects to be able to learn key financial lessons from seasoned veterans across all sports. Our Bitcoin Salary Calculator is only the first step toward that goal. We encourage anyone to hear these stories straight from the current roster of Bitcoin athletes -for whom -in many cases- Bitcoin has allowed them to outperform the wealth it took decades to earn on the field. Follow us on the Bitcoin Cup’s social media channels to learn more and hear the latest stories of how Bitcoin is shaking up the world of sports: * Twitter: https://x.com/Bitcoin_Cup/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BitcoinCup/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@BitcoinCup/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinCup/

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

This post was written because of an error I made on Substack. I'm sharing it here despite the fact the scheduling error didn't happen on NOSTR. The intro paragraph isn't fully applicable for you NOSTR friends. On Sunday 2/1/25, I made an oopsie. I tend to write articles ahead of time so I can schedule them and not worry about being inspired on a schedule. I had written two posts: [Don't Be Like Martha](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/dont-be-like-martha) and [Whose Point of View](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/whose-point-of-view). One was supposed to post on Sunday 2/1/25 and one on Wednesday 2/5/25. I accidentally posted both on Sunday. I was fretting about what to do for a post on Wednesday, because I usually have my husband review posts but he was out of town. I don’t like to do the deep posts without Him checking for grammatical errors, theological errors, or lack of clarity. I also had a brief idea I wanted to discuss and was debating whether to make it a short long form post or a longish note and this situation decided it for me. ## Excited Puppy I recently got into a long discussion/debate with a couple of people on Nostr about God. I tend to get pretty excited about God, the Bible, and biblical inerrancy. It made me think about my dog. I have a Leonberger. He is about 115 pounds, is very tall, is very long, and has thick hair which makes him look even bigger. He is 8 years old, but still acts like a puppy. When his tail gets going it causes mayhem and destruction. It knocks all of the Christmas cards and missionary prayer cards off the refrigerator. It knocks ornaments off the Christmas tree. On occasion, his excitement can even cause a person to stumble or fall (he never actually jumps on anyone). He is a sweet, loving dog that likes everyone and wants to give and receive attention to and from everyone, but he doesn’t realize how big and strong he is. Sometimes I think I can be like my dog. I am passionate about God and the Bible. I have seen what He has done in my life. I have seen what reading and studying the Bible has done for my faith and understanding of God and His word. I intellectually know that it has taken 40ish years to get me this far, but I want everyone to come to this level of faith and understanding right now! There is a reason that God uses years of time and a lifetime of experiences to teach us and sanctify us. This growth can’t be forced. It can’t be rushed. We all have our own paths in growth in Christ and certain things can’t be changed until it is time. Sometimes I am like my sweet puppy. I get so excited about God’s word that I may cause more harm than good. I want to help, but people feel judged. I want to bless, but they feel attacked. I want to raise them up, but end up knocking them down. Although I wonder why my dog has to push the one person in the room that doesn’t want his attention, I then end up doing the same thing with faith. I am working on improvement, paying closer attention to their response (harder to do online than in person where you can see body language and hear voice tone), and listen to the Spirit on when to press forward and when to pull back. My prayer is that God will guide us all in our service to Him, that He we would never be afraid to witness and stand for the truth, but that with His help we will not trample those we seek to guide to the Savior and in faith in Him. Trust Jesus.

@ 77aba0b1:7e3350f5

### **Canada and Mexico don't have any leverage** The cheapest labor in the world is not China and it's not on the other side of the world. It's in Mexico. ###### Due to rising Chinese wages, a rapidly growing economy, and demographic changes, China is no longer the low-wage capital of the world. Great news for Mexico as it means more manufacturing jobs have come their way. But bad news if your wealthy neighbor to the north wants to impose tariffs that are going to prevent you from selling to the world's largest consumer market. ---  Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum talking with President Trump | AI generated image --- Now consider Canada's dilemma. The US buys 97% of Canada's oil, at a discount. Canada lacks the capacity to refine 75% of their oil production, so they have to sell their sour crude oil to the US at discounted rates because only the US has the infrastructure to move, refine, store, and distribute this commodity. (See [video](https://x.com/themfingcoo/status/1885838258451493305?s=46) for a detailed explanation.) ---  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meeting with President Trump | AI generated image --- Canada and Mexico share a common double-edged sword; they're geographically close to the United States. This is a huge benefit for reducing transportation costs to the largest consumer market in the world. But that also means you don't have the transportation infrastructure necessary to sell your products around the world. ###### China had to build a global transportation and supply chain infrastructure if it wanted to reach American and European markets. Because of this inherent characteristic, China is much better positioned to withstand an economic trade war with the United States than either Mexico or Canada. ###### People often mention how fragile the American economy has become because of its reliance on imported foreign goods. They are absolutely correct. But that cuts both ways. The United States can be cut off from foreign goods, but foreign nations will be cut off from a market to sell their products. What happens when there is a huge supply of goods and demand for those goods goes away? Prices drop... precipitously. ###### The United States largest export is the US Dollar. Like it or not, as the printer of the Global Reserve Currency, the US finances the consumer markets and the manufacturing base of the world economy. ---  The value of fiat currencies always goes to zero | AI generated image --- ### **Free Trade vs Managed Trade** We see a lot of economists and media pundits talking about how tariffs will increase prices and lead to even more inflation. What they really mean is it will lead to "price inflation" which is how most of American society has come to view inflation. Actual inflation is an increase of the money supply and with more moeny chases the same amounts of goods and services, we get an increase in prices or price inflation. ###### The same people who told you that inflation was "transitory" are now telling you the price of a Corona will go up. They're forgetting that we have a fairly robust domestic beer industry. ---  Chuck Schumer and Dylan Mulvaney share bad takes | AI generated image --- But what really needs to be highlighted is that these pundits are discussing Trump's trade war as if we lived under a free trade system; a truly free market. Sadly, we are nowhere close to this being a reality. The global economic system is Managed Trade, or Bureaucratic Trade; with corporations, lobbyists, the politically appointed and well connected making deals that protect their fiefdoms and syphon money to those who control the levers of power. ###### They are right that tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods and those taxes are passed on to the consumer. But they act as if tariffs don't didn't exist before Trump. The Biden administration placed tariffs on Chinese "green" technologies. The same administration that said climate change was an existential threat made cheaper, environmentally friendly technology more expensive. It's almost as if it's not about the climate. ### **The Global Economic Empire** When you owe the bank $1 million, the bank owns you. When you owe the bank $37 trillion, you own the bank. ###### Trump is betting the house and calling everyone's bluff and he's betting that the US can weather the economic fallout better than any other country, except maybe China. It's a race to the bottom and he knows that the USG can cover its finances longer, causing other countries to go bankrupt and need US assistance. ###### It's the equivalent of a run on the banks and the US will buy up the debt for cheap. Really they'll buy it for free, since they're printing the currency they buy up assets with. Canada and Mexico folding are a no brainer. Their economies are not built to export large quantities of goods acros the world. It's almost entirely north or south across the border. They had to cave or risk economic collapse. ---  China: Rising Dragon or Paper Tiger | AI generated image --- ###### China is another story. "Is China a Rising Dragon or a Paper Tiger" has been the headline for 20 to 30 years ever since Deng Xiaoping liberalized their economy and instituted social reform. Their economy has been booming but also suffering from population decline due to the One Child policy that was in effect from 1980 to 2016. ###### China has a global supply chain and provides most of the world with manufactured goods. That means they need markets to sell their goods in. If Trump threatens every nation with tariffs, it effects the global economy; meaning it will massively effect China. Couple that with a declining population that’s getting older. ###### The strength of the Chinese economy is that it already has this well established global supply chain. They stand the best chance to weather a trade war with the United States. But a global economic collapse would be a race to the bottom to see which, if any, global power emerges victorious. Just as in war, there is no winner; just bigger losers than others. ###### If Trump uses this leverage to get concessions that benefit the American people, he could be the greatest statesmen who ever lived. Trump may not be clever enough to think this deeply, but he is certainly brash and confident enough to attempt it.

@ 044da344:073a8a0e

Zugegeben: Die Erwartung war groß. „Angepasst. Aktivistisch. Abgehoben“, ruft das Cover. Triple-A sozusagen. Und das in einem Buch über die *Tagesschau*, geschrieben von einem Ostdeutschen, der dort sechs Jahre gearbeitet hat, vorher lange beim MDR war und außerdem damit wirbt, auch Privatfernsehen und Presse zu kennen. Mehr Insider geht nicht. Die drei Adjektive mit dem großen A im gelben Punkt sagen: Jetzt spreche ich. Jetzt wird abgerechnet.  Das Marketing hat funktioniert, nicht nur bei mir. Platz drei in der *Spiegel*-Bestsellerliste und Platz sieben in den Wochencharts von *Amazon*, nur knapp hinter Angela Merkel. Ich dachte eigentlich, dass ich nach [Claus Kleber](https://medienblog.hypotheses.org/958) auf ewig die Finger lassen würde von den Ergüssen beitragsfinanzierter Redakteure. Was soll da schon kommen? Wir sind frei. Niemand ruft an. Niemand redet uns rein. Wir machen das, was die Nachrichtenlage verlangt und was wir kraft Ausbildung und Wassersuppe für richtig halten. Eine ganze Menge Claus Kleber steckt auch in Alexander Teske. Staatsfunk? Nicht doch. Wir sind halt „alle ähnlich sozialisiert“ (S. 110), haben die „gleichen Relevanzkriterien“ (S. 108) und „schreiben voneinander ab“ – „aus lauter Unsicherheit, etwas ‚falsch‘ zu machen“ (S. 109). Wenn die Sprecherin des Bundespräsidenten, eine Kollegin, die die Seiten gewechselt hat, doch mal nachhelfen muss, dann ist das in der Welt von Alexander Teske die Ausnahme, die die Regel bestätigt. Kein Einfluss, nirgends – bis auf den Seiten 140 und 141 plötzlich Reiner Haseloff auftaucht, Ministerpräsident von Sachsen-Anhalt. Alexander Teske braucht diesen Redaktionsbesuch („Haseloff redete über eine Stunde (…) im vollbesetzten Konferenzraum“) für eine seiner Kernthesen. Der Osten, sagt er, ist der Redaktion in Hamburg nicht einfach nur egal. Dieser Haseloff nervt. O-Ton einer *Tagesthemen*-Frau: „Sollen wir jetzt etwa über den Rosenmontag in Köthen berichten?“ Vermutlich war es dieser Teil, der mich hat rückfällig werden lassen. Die „[Arroganz der Westmedien](https://www.message-online.com/das-wissen-um-die-wucht/)“ ist eines meiner Lebensthemen. Alexander Teske liefert dafür reichlich Futter. Zehn von 300, schätzt er, sind im *Tagesschau*-Maschinenraum „ostdeutsch sozialisiert“ (S. 141). Genauer geht es nicht, weil man das im Fall der Fälle lieber für sich behält, immer noch. Achtung: Karrierehindernis. Der Dialekt sowieso. Teske, ein Sachse, nahm „jahrelang Sprecherziehung“, um im *Ersten* auf Sendung gehen zu dürfen (S. 156). In Bayern oder Hessen lachen darüber die Hühner. Entsprechend sieht der Osten aus in der *Tagesschau*. Wenn das Volk hier sprechen darf, sagt Kronzeuge Alexander Teske, „werden die kürzesten, plakativsten und dümmsten Aussagen“ bevorzugt, „gern in emotionaler Tonlage“ (S. 143). Dass die Redaktion nur Westpresse abonniert (Ausnahme: die LVZ, die aber keiner liest, S. 146), passt genauso in dieses Bild wie das Sozialporträt einer Redaktion, in der man Arbeiterkinder, HSV-Fans oder Nichtakademiker mit der Lupe suchen muss, dafür aber an der Spitze eine Phalanx von zehn Chefs vom Dienst findet, die auf 11.000 Euro brutto kommen (manchmal offenbar auch mehr, S. 23), für ein „Klima der Angst“ (S. 51) sorgen und, so sagt es jedenfalls Teske, selbst bestimmen, wer zu ihnen aufrücken darf (S. 29). Was fängt man mit alldem an? Vor allem: Wer kann etwas damit anfangen? Alexander Teske erwähnt einen MDR-Kommentar von Rommy Arndt, gesprochen im Januar 2023, der gegen deutsche Panzer in der Ukraine war (S. 144). In der *Tagesschau* undenkbar, sagt er, und für Rommy Arndt der letzte große öffentlich-rechtliche Auftritt. Auch Sarah Frühauf kommt bei ihm vor, eine andere MDR-Journalisten, „berühmt“ geworden durch einen *Tagesthemen*-Kommentar im November 2021, der einer Impfpflicht das Wort redete und „alle Ungeimpften“ gar nicht sehr subtil mitverantwortlich machte für die „wohl Tausenden Opfer dieser Corona-Welle“ (S. 41). Teske beklagt, dass die *Tagesschau* das Thema RKI-Protokolle erst fünf Tage nach der Veröffentlichung aufgegriffen hat und dabei das Online-Magazin *Multipolar* nicht erwähnte (S. 127). Davon abgesehen gibt es die Gegenöffentlichkeit bei ihm nicht. Nicht einmal die Dokumentation der [Ständigen Publikumskonferenz](https://publikumskonferenz.de/blog/), die sich lange in weiten Teilen um die *Tagesschau* drehte, oder die entsprechenden [Bücher](https://medienblog.hypotheses.org/8010). Alexander Teske mag nicht, wenn jemand „Zwangsgebühr“ sagt (S. 191), nutzt „Querdenker“ als Schimpfwort (S. 25), hält Telegram für einen Ort, an dem sich „bevorzugt Rechtsradikale, Waffenhändler, Drogendealer, Coronaleugner und Reichsbürger“ tummeln, und wirft der *Bild-Zeitung* vor, „jeden noch so kleinen Fehler“ zum Skandal aufzublasen (S. 115). Dass Sarah Frühauf ihren Kommentar sprechen konnte, passiert bei ihm einfach so. War knapp bei der Abstimmung. Drei Namen zur Auswahl. Und am nächsten Morgen wundern sich alle. Was also, ich wiederhole diese Frage, fängt man mit einem Buch an, das sich eher wie ein Bewerbungsschreiben für öffentlich-rechtliche Führungsaufgaben liest, so sich die Zeiten doch noch ändern sollten? Punkt eins: Die Redaktionen der Leitmedien sind nicht so homogen, wie es von außen oft scheint. Alexander Teske trägt die Auseinandersetzungen von innen nach außen – sicher ein Grund, warum der NDR eher [dünnhäutig reagierte](https://www.turi2.de/aktuell/ndr-prueft-abrechnungsbuch-von-ex-tagesschau-mitarbeiter/) und darauf hinwies, dass sich der geliebte Ex-Kollege noch 2022 erfolglos auf eine Dauerstelle beworben hat. Punkt zwei, wichtiger: Das Buch von Alexander Teske dokumentiert den Wandel im Journalismus, den wir gerade live erleben und erleiden. Teske selbst steht dabei für das Früher. Sagen, was ist. Sachlich, nüchtern, mit Distanz. Auch dann, wenn es um die AfD geht. Die wichtigen Themen nach vorn und nicht die, die Quote garantieren. „Nachrichten pur“, wie er das an einer Stelle nennt (S. 227) – ohne Soft News und Infotainment, ohne elend lange Fußball-, Promi- und Katastrophenblöcke mit Bochum gegen Heidenheim, Waldbränden noch und nöcher und jeden Pups der Royals, auch ohne „moderative Sprache“ (S. 226). Nachrichten pur heißt bei ihm im Subtext auch: Finger weg von den Digitalplattformen (im Moment jeden Tag bedient von 20 Redakteuren plus Planer, Grafiker, Cutter, S. 271). Finger weg auch davon, einfach ein, zwei Minuten länger zu machen, um die Quote mit denen aufzufüllen, die nur die nächste Sendung sehen wollen (S. 232). Das ist in diesem *Tagesschau*-Buch-Kosmos auch ein Streit zwischen Alten und (oft schlechter bezahlten) Jungen, aber nicht nur. Alexander Teske erzählt, wie er mit seinem Journalismus-Ideal auch und gerade an der Generation 50+ gescheitert ist (vor allem an Männern, die im Dienst Antifa-T-Shirts tragen und den FC St. Pauli lieben) – auch, weil ein Ostdeutscher wie er in Hamburg kaum auf Seinesgleichen stößt. Über den Tellerrand zu schauen, hat er dabei trotzdem nicht gelernt. Anders formuliert: Auch in einer *Tagesschau* made by Alexander Teske würde ein Teil der Wirklichkeit fehlen. [Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/)

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The cryptocurrency market is a dynamic and often unpredictable space. With Bitcoin's impressive surge in value, many investors are looking beyond the pioneer cryptocurrency to diversify their portfolios. This article explores various cryptocurrency options, weighing the potential of holding (HODLing) or selling them in the current market. **Table Of Content** - Bitcoin's Stellar Performance - Ether (ETH) - Solana (SOL) - Binance Coin (BNB) - BLUR - Conclusion - FAQs **Bitcoin's Stellar Performance** Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, has seen a remarkable increase in value, rising by 120% in 2023. This surge sets a benchmark for evaluating other cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin's growth is influenced by several factors, including the anticipation of a Bitcoin ETF and its upcoming fourth halving. These developments could further drive its demand and value. The potential introduction of a Bitcoin ETF is particularly significant. It would allow a broader range of investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without the complexities of direct cryptocurrency ownership. This development could lead to increased institutional investment and potentially stabilize Bitcoin's historically volatile price. Furthermore, the halving event, expected to occur in April, is a fundamental aspect of Bitcoin's design. It reduces the reward for mining new blocks, effectively limiting the supply of new bitcoins. This scarcity is a key driver of Bitcoin's value and has historically led to significant price increases. However, Bitcoin's dominance and performance also raise questions about market saturation and the potential for continued growth. While Bitcoin remains a safe haven for many investors, its large market capitalization means that it may not offer the same growth potential as some smaller, emerging cryptocurrencies. Investors looking for high-growth opportunities may find these in altcoins, which, while riskier, offer the potential for higher returns. **Ether (ETH)** Ether, the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, has a different appeal compared to Bitcoin. While Bitcoin excels as a payment network, Ethereum's strength lies in its versatility as a platform for decentralized applications. Ether's growth has been modest compared to Bitcoin, with a 65% increase this year. Ethereum's broader utility stems from its ability to support smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). These features have made it the backbone of various sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The recent upgrade to Ethereum 2.0, transitioning to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, aims to address scalability and energy efficiency issues, potentially increasing its attractiveness to both developers and investors. Despite these advancements, Ether's price has not seen the same explosive growth as Bitcoin. This could be due to the market's maturation and the increasing competition from other blockchain platforms. However, Ethereum's established position and ongoing development make it a strong contender for long-term growth. Investors may consider holding Ether as a bet on the continued expansion and innovation in the DeFi and NFT spaces, where Ethereum plays a central role. **Solana (SOL)** Solana, a blockchain platform seen as a competitor to Ethereum, has recovered remarkably from the impacts of the FTX collapse, with its value increasing by 313% this year. This growth is a testament to the resilience and potential of Solana as an investment. Solana's key selling point is its high throughput and low transaction costs, making it an attractive platform for both developers and users. Its ability to process thousands of transactions per second outpaces Ethereum significantly, which has been a bottleneck for the latter. This technical superiority has led to increased adoption of Solana for various applications, including decentralized exchanges, gaming, and NFTs. The rapid recovery of Solana's value post-FTX collapse indicates strong investor confidence and market support for the platform. It suggests that Solana has managed to dissociate itself from the negative sentiment surrounding FTX and is being recognized for its inherent technological strengths. For investors, Solana presents an opportunity to diversify into a high-potential blockchain platform that could capture significant market share in the future. **Binance Coin (BNB)** BNB, the native token of the Binance exchange, has faced significant challenges following legal issues with Binance’s CEO. These developments have led to a decrease in BNB's value, prompting considerations for selling the asset. The legal troubles surrounding Binance and its CEO have raised concerns about the exchange's future and, by extension, the value of BNB. Binance Coin's utility is closely tied to the Binance ecosystem, being used for transaction fee discounts and participation in token sales. If regulatory actions lead to a decrease in Binance's user base or a change in its operational model, BNB could see a further decline in value. However, it's also important to consider Binance's position as one of the largest and most influential cryptocurrency exchanges globally. The platform has a substantial user base and a wide array of services, including trading, staking, and a native blockchain, Binance Smart Chain. If Binance navigates through its legal challenges successfully, BNB could recover and potentially grow in value. Investors need to weigh the risks of regulatory impacts against the potential for Binance to continue playing a major role in the crypto ecosystem. **BLUR** BLUR, associated with the NFT marketplace Blur, has maintained a significant market capitalization despite a downturn in NFT trading. As the NFT market shows signs of a potential rebound, holding BLUR could be a strategic move for investors interested in the digital art and collectibles space. The NFT market has experienced a significant cooldown from its peak in 2021, but it remains a sector with potential for innovation and growth. BLUR's association with the Blur marketplace positions it well within this niche. The marketplace has gained traction among NFT traders for its user-friendly interface and unique features, such as rewarding users with BLUR tokens based on their trading volume. BLUR's utility within the Blur ecosystem could drive its value as the NFT market evolves. The token's use in governance and transaction fee payments on the platform aligns it closely with the marketplace's success. As new artists and collectors continue to enter the NFT space, platforms like Blur that offer a streamlined and rewarding experience could see increased usage, potentially boosting BLUR's value. Investors considering BLUR should monitor the broader NFT market trends and Blur's position within it. While the NFT market is known for its volatility, it also offers unique opportunities for growth, especially in niches that are innovating and capturing user interest. **Conclusion** The cryptocurrency market is diverse and constantly evolving. While Bitcoin continues to be a strong performer, other cryptocurrencies offer varied investment opportunities. Investors should consider their risk tolerance, market trends, and the unique attributes of each cryptocurrency when making decisions. Whether to HODL or sell depends on individual investment goals and the ever-changing landscape of the crypto world. Diversification and staying informed are key to navigating this dynamic market successfully. **FAQs** **Is it better to invest in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies?** It depends on your investment goals and risk tolerance. Bitcoin is more established but may offer lower growth potential compared to some emerging altcoins. Diversifying your portfolio with a mix of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies might be a balanced approach. **What makes Ether a good investment option?** Ether is the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, known for its versatility in supporting smart contracts and decentralized applications. Its ongoing development and central role in the DeFi and NFT sectors make it a strong contender for long-term growth. **Why is Solana considered a rising competitor in the crypto market?** Solana offers high transaction speeds and low costs, making it an attractive platform for developers and users. Its rapid recovery post-FTX collapse indicates strong market support and potential for significant market share in the future. **What are the risks associated with investing in Binance Coin (BNB)?** BNB faces risks due to legal issues surrounding Binance and its CEO. Its value is closely tied to the Binance ecosystem, so any negative impact on the exchange could affect BNB's value. **Is investing in BLUR a good strategy?** Investing in BLUR could be a strategic move if you're interested in the NFT market. As the native token of the Blur NFT marketplace, its value may grow with the platform's success in the evolving NFT space. **How important is diversification in cryptocurrency investment?** Diversification is crucial in managing risk in the volatile cryptocurrency market. It involves spreading your investment across different assets to reduce the impact of any single asset's performance on your overall portfolio. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ c69b71dc:426ba763

# Nature shows us the way…
 ## …but what does humanity do? ### Let’s take a look at winter: Trees shed their leaves. The plant’s energy withdraws so it can conserve strength and survive the cold season.
 Wild animals follow the same pattern: In autumn, they build up reserves, grow thick fur, and retreat into their caves and thickets. Little movement, lots of sleep – a natural strategy for preserving energy. Animals that wouldn’t survive the cold migrate to warmer places to spend the winter. #### And what does humanity do?
 We eat just as much, move just as much (or little), sleep too little – just as we do all year round. Why? Because we can. Because our lives are no longer governed by the seasons. Refrigerators are full, supermarkets are always open, work calls, and daily routines remain unchanged. But this does not come without consequences. During winter, we don’t allow ourselves to rest or retreat. We ignore our natural needs, overexerting ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. The result? An exhausted body and mind, discontent. The lymphatic system gets clogged, the body becomes overly acidic. Spring fatigue, low energy, depression, inflammation, and other ailments follow.  ### And then comes spring…
 Nature awakens. Life begins anew everywhere. Buds sprout, blossoms unfold – pure energy in its most vibrant form! Everything that grows now serves cleansing and detoxification: wild herbs, fresh shoots, and buds – nature’s medicine for body and mind. Wild animals follow this rhythm. They shed their winter coats, become more active, consume this natural medicine, mate, or give birth. #### And what does humanity do?
 We keep eating the same, sleeping too little, rushing through our daily routines. And then we wonder why we feel tired, sluggish, and drained. Why our thoughts feel heavy and our bodies weak. Why depression creeps up on us at this very moment. Did you know that the highest suicide rate is in spring?  ### Summer – the time of abundance
 Nature gifts us with light, warmth, ripe fruits, berries, and fresh vegetables. Animals spend most of their time outdoors, eating what nature provides and recharging their energy into every cell of their being. #### And what does humanity do?
 We keep working as always, consuming industrially processed foods, barely spending time outside. Too much artificial light, too little sleep. No wonder so many feel exhausted even in summer, drained, struggling with digestion and metabolism.  ### Autumn – preparing for retreat
 Now is the time for harvest. Nuts, mushrooms, apples, pears, root vegetables, pumpkins, cabbage – all available to build up reserves. Animals follow nature’s call, gathering, storing energy, preparing for the coming months. Chlorophyll in leaves breaks down, green turns to vibrant autumn colours. #### And what does humanity do?
 We ignore these signals. We stay trapped in the hamster wheel. We enter winter unprepared, weakened, prone to infections, drained by a lack of sunlight and an overly acidic system.  ### A cycle of exhaustion
 And so the wheel keeps turning. Because we ignore nature. Because we no longer listen to our bodies. Because we have lost touch with our intuition. Because we have enslaved ourselves. #### What can you do?
 Not everyone is ready to leave their daily life behind, move to a warm country, and become self-sufficient. Many want to maintain their current lifestyle. #### So how can we break the cycle?
 Turn inward. Take time each day to listen to yourself. To truly feel what you need. To give space to your needs. Sense what drains you, what makes you sluggish. What brings you joy. Cleanse yourself – physically, mentally, emotionally! > **********Do** more of what you miss, of what makes you happy and **fulfilled.** **Remember:** **You** **too** **are** **nature.********** If all this sounds like a lot of inner work, I invite you to take first steps. #### Ask yourself: - Does your body need detoxification? - Cleansing? - More movement? - Or is it time for emotional release? *If you wish support, let me know and we will discuss an energy exchange that allows you to do something good for yourself in a sustainable way. Supporting you in reclaiming your energy and strength – for a year filled with vitality, self-respect, and self-love. 💛* ** ``` Spring is calling! It offers us a new chance.
 Do you hear it? Yes, it’s calling you! Let’s go! 🚀 ``` **

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

I’d like to see a world where a small artisan in Sarawak sells handcrafted goods directly to a boutique in Paris by bypassing currency exchange fluctuations, banking restrictions, and government-imposed tariffs. Or where a coffee farmer in Ethiopia sells beans straight to a roaster in Tokyo by sidestepping middlemen, exchange fees, and bureaucratic red tape. In theory, free trade should enable this exchange smoothly, allowing businesses of all sizes to compete on a level playing field. But in reality, global trade is far from free. Policies, interventions, and economic theories are often designed to favor the powerful. One particular theory that troubled me was Paul Krugman’s New Trade Theory (NTT), which argues that large businesses with economies of scale, supported by government-backed advantages, dominate international trade. This manifestation of the global marketplace favoring the giants, leaving smaller players like that Ethiopian coffee farmer out and struggling to compete, had led to trade hegemonies and trade wars. After going through centuries of trade theories from Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations to Keynesian interventionism and Friedman’s libertarianism I found myself questioning: Is Krugman right? After all, in today’s world, global trade is controlled by a few key players. The U.S., China, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. alone contribute to 40% of global trade in goods and services. The 134 countries of the Global South are often forgotten. Can Bitcoin offer a countermeasure to help globalize small businesses from anywhere in the world? ### Big players rule the game. Let’s go a little deeper on Krugman’s New Trade Theory. He believes that trade is increasingly dominated by large firms because they benefit from economies of scale and brand power. While older trade theories assumed that countries traded based on resource advantages, NTT tries to explain why similar economies like the U.S. and Europe, engage in high levels of trade with each other, missing out on the obvious nuances of global alliances on geopolitical control and power. Another aspect of Krugman’s theory is that large companies have a better chance of capturing market lead if they can benefit from unfair advantages through additional boosters in an imperfect market. In simple terms, power, status, and wealth are all you need to win. So if you are a big company and you have status, government perks, and economic advantages, you can be the market leader. It’s like the Olympics of global trade, except some players get to use performance-enhancing drugs (subsidies, trade barriers, and financial influence) while others run clean. The race isn’t fair, but the rules say it’s fine. So what is the blind spot here? Well, other than the obvious disregard for merits and fair play, this model also assumes that only large corporations drive global trade, leaving small businesses to struggle against giants - despite the fact that small businesses often contribute significantly (sometimes up to 80%) to a country's revenue. ### Small business in a big economy NTT was developed in the 1970s and 1980s when economies of scale and industrial advantages were the primary drivers of global trade. Kugman's argument assumes that large corporations, due to their financial and logistical dominance, will continue to dictate trade flows. But is this still true today? Small businesses are establishing themselves in a globalized world, even without economies of scale, as opposed to Krugman's belief. The rise of e-commerce, digital platforms, and decentralized technologies has significantly altered the trade landscape, though many barriers remain. In the past, small businesses struggled because they lacked access to global markets, but platforms like Alibaba, Amazon, and Shopify have reduced the barriers to entry, allowing even micro-businesses to participate in international trade. When Jack Ma started Alibaba, businesses didn’t automatically sign up. His team traveled to small villages and industrial hubs to onboard businesses that had never considered global trade let alone understand digital interfaces, communicate in English, or use the internet. This grassroots effort revolutionized commerce, digitizing and globalizing it at an unprecedented scale. Krugman’s model assumes that large firms control trade, but in reality, many countries thrive on small business-driven exports. I’ve been to these areas in China and seen firsthand how they operate. These small manufacturers in China may not have the scale of a multinational, but they’re deeply integrated into global supply chains. And despite limited resources, they’re able to compete globally. Other countries like Germany and Japan are great examples where ‘hidden champions' who are typically highly specialized small businesses, play a crucial role in global supply chains. US is not there yet, but it has the opportunity to explore untapped potential of globalizing small businesses and compete in the global market to drive sustainable economic growth. In fact with this model, ideally anyone is welcome. But there are many barriers that still exist in limiting the globalization of small businesses : * High transaction costs. * Complexity of currency exchange and exchange fees * Complex regulations and banking restrictions * Difficulty finding trustworthy international partners Imagine a small business trying to import materials from multiple global suppliers. Not only is it hard to find them, as many countries still rely on government agencies, trade directories, and outdated methods for searching and connecting with suppliers, but when it comes to solidifying deals, the complications don’t stop. One supplier might require an international wire transfer, another may only accept Western Union, and a third insists on using a local bank with high fees and delays. Small businesses simply don’t have the same access to banking services and streamlined financial systems that large corporations do. The variations often depend on the specific banking practices and infrastructure of both parties. To make matters even more complicated, small businesses don't have dedicated teams like large corporations. They run on minimal resources, managing everything themselves. One small error or delay can stall shipments, disrupt cash flow, and risk losing customers. Yet, global trade expects them to compete at the same level as industry giants, without the same financial infrastructure or support. More often than not, small businesses are left to fend for themselves, struggling to overcome these challenges alone. And that’s where Bitcoin changes everything. ### Can Bitcoin Create a True Free Market? Unlike traditional banking systems, which are tied to government policies and centralized institutions, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized, borderless network. This enables direct transactions between buyers and sellers without intermediaries or excessive fees. While Krugman’s theory explains why big corporations once held an advantage, it overlooks how decentralization removes trade bottlenecks, giving small businesses a real chance to compete globally. In a Bitcoin-based global economy: * No more currency conversion fees - Businesses trade freely across borders. * No more reliance on banks - Transactions occur on a trustless system, reducing fraud and expensive intermediaries. * No more cross-border delays - Payments are instantaneous, bypassing restrictive banking regulations. For small businesses, this means fewer barriers to global trade. A textile producer in India could sell directly to a retailer in Canada without needing to figure out the bureaucratic maze of currency exchanges and trade laws. A graphic designer in Brazil could collaborate with a company in Australia and receive payment instantly without relying on high-fee banking systems. A shea butter producer in Kenya could sell organic products directly to small skincare manufacturers in the U.S., bypassing middlemen and avoiding international shipping delays. Bitcoin removes middlemen, slashes costs, and levels the playing field, not by government intervention, but by eliminating artificial barriers altogether. ### The Challenges and the Future Bitcoin isn’t a perfect solution, and we know that. Scalability, price volatility, and regulatory pushback remain major hurdles. Currently, stablecoins are attempting to integrate into the Bitcoin Layer 2 network, which could potentially distract from Bitcoin's intended role as a global decentralized medium of exchange. Some are pushing for trade to happen through currency-pegged, centralized coins, which risks undermining Bitcoin's strong push toward free trade and decentralization. Governments and banks resist decentralization because it threatens their control over money flows. However, the concept of Bitcoin as a medium of exchange is already taking root. Leaders and developers are dedicating their legacies to building this system for a truly global community. El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment has shown both the potential and the obstacles of a Bitcoin-driven economy with many lessons to learn from. Block Inc’s innovations have expanded into strengthening Bitcoin’s role as a decentralized medium globally, particularly through decentralized mining benefits and commercialized cold wallets. Nostr has been very successful in seeing growth in these domains as well. It is slow but it's taking the right steps towards simplifying Bitcoin commerce adoption through zaps. However the million-dollar question remains. If Bitcoin removes trade barriers, will small businesses adopt it? History suggests yes but with the right approach. Just as Jack Ma went door to door convincing small businesses to embrace e-commerce, a similar effort is needed for Bitcoin adoption. With Bitcoin, global trade can become digitized, commercialized, and pain-free, but only if small businesses understand how to use it. More importantly, it disrupts trade hegemony and creates a more equitable world that everyone can be part of. A challenge I foresee beyond technology, is education. Initiatives that focus on simple onboarding, low-cost adoption, and real-world use cases can drive Bitcoin-powered trade forward. There are many non-tech Bitcoin enthusiasts who want to contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem and would love to take on educator roles. Once the infrastructure and understanding around Bitcoin become more conceptualized, these folks could play a strong role in spreading awareness and adoption. If Bitcoin is introduced strategically, not as a speculative asset but as an international trade enabler through its medium of exchange, it could reshape global commerce just as e-commerce once did. The only difference is that this time, trade is truly borderless, trustless, and not controlled by financial intermediaries. Krugman’s New Trade Theory remains useful in explaining how economies of scale shape trade. But it fails to account for decentralized digital economies, where small businesses can bypass the old rules of power and privilege. If Bitcoin achieves mainstream adoption, we may finally see a world where trade is truly free, where merit, not governments or middlemen, determines success.

@ 0fb8901a:2bced885

We are a family passionate about working with and for people, and we have a deep love for food.  Our journey began when our neighbors, who have a pizza oven, invited us and our children to make our own pizzas. The experience was delightful and memorable. Inspired by this, we decided to offer the same joy to other kids and adults. We invested in a handcrafted wood-fired pizza oven, made from scratch by a friend who specializes in pizza oven craftsmanship. This oven was imported to the UK, and it brings out the most wonderful flavors in our pizzas, taking us back to the basics of traditional cooking. We proudly serve Bracknell and the surrounding areas within a 20-mile radius.  What’s Different About Us? Our pizza oven is brand new and crafted from reliable, safe materials. Unlike traditional setups confined to a van, our oven is fully visible from all angles, allowing you to watch your pizza being made. It features detachable stainless steel tables on both sides, enabling you to work in close proximity to the oven. Our pizzas are wood-fired, giving them a wonderful, authentic taste. Both our tomato and cream sauces are homemade, and our dough is made from organic flour, ensuring the freshest ingredients.  

@ c8383d81:f9139549

**My own stats on what I’ve done over the weekend:** - Spoke to +100 developers, it was great seeing a couple of familiar Flemish faces and meeting some new ones but overall the crowd was extremely diverse. - Ended up doing a short interview promoting the protocol and ended up going to 0 talks. - Tried to evangelize by going booth by booth to distribute a Nostr flyer to other FOSDEM projects, with the hope that they would broadcast the info towards their SOME person to add Nostr on their list or to build out a library for the languages that were present ( This was a fairly slow approach ) - Kept it to Nostr protocol 95% of the time, the Bitcoin narrative is not always a good time to push and as a side note I’ve met more Monero users than in the last 5 years. - Was able to convince some engineers to look into the #soveng endeavor. **Small overview from the most common questions:** - They have heard about Nostr but are not sure of the details. ( mostly through the bitcoin community ) - What is the difference with ActivityPub, Mastodon, Fediverse ? - IOT developers, so questions regarding MQTT & Meshtastic integrations ? - Current state of MLS on Nostr ? - What are the current biggest clients / apps build on Nostr ? - Will jack still give a talk ? **Things we could improve:** - Bring more stickers like loads more, - Bring T-shirts, Pins… could be a good way to fund these adventures instead of raising funds. ( Most projects where selling something to help raise funds for projects ) - Almost no onboarding / client installs. - Compared to the Nostr booth at BTC Amsterdam not a single person asked if they could charge their phone. **Personal Note:** The last time I visited was roughly 13 years ago and me being a little more seasoned I just loved the fact that I was able to pay some support to the open source projects I’ve been using for years ( homebrew, modzilla, Free BSD,.. ) and see the amazing diverse crowd that is the open source Movement 🧡 **Al final shoutout to our great pirate crew 🏴‍☠️:** The Dutch Guard ( nostr:npub1qe3e5wrvnsgpggtkytxteaqfprz0rgxr8c3l34kk3a9t7e2l3acslezefe & nostr:npub1l77twp5l02jadkcjn6eeulv2j7y5vmf9tf3hhtq7h7rp0vzhgpzqz0swft ) and a adrenaline fueled nostr:npub1t6jxfqz9hv0lygn9thwndekuahwyxkgvycyscjrtauuw73gd5k7sqvksrw , nostr:npub1rfw075gc6pc693w5v568xw4mnu7umlzpkfxmqye0cgxm7qw8tauqfck3t8 and nostr:npub1r30l8j4vmppvq8w23umcyvd3vct4zmfpfkn4c7h2h057rmlfcrmq9xt9ma amazing finally meeting you IRL after close to 2 years since the Yakihonne hackathon 😀 

@ a7bbc310:fe7b7be3

In 2018 I started doing film photography. I asked myself what could I do that was unique. So, I tried taking picture at local gig venues. I’d look around and everyone was using digital cameras. I had a limited number of shots I could take, inconsistent lighting at different venues but some delayed gratification of not knowing how the images would turn out until I developed them. I’d come home late from a show and be up until the early hours developing and scanning the images. 2020 put a stop to that. It’s something I’d like to start again. I’ll be sharing some of my favourite images I from my badly categorised/labled folders.  Artist in photo is called Conner Youngblood. It’s been interesting to listen to his most recent projects (Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly) to compare to his earlier ones (Australia) Australia is a stripped back, couple guitars, vox and drums. Most recent has a few more vocal effects and electronica sounds. A comparison I would make would be Bon Iver’s - Emma with their 3rd album 22, a million. As a when I arrange the files on my HD, I’ll be share a few more band photos.

@ 5e13e5d5:217fe898

<p>With the rapid development of science and technology, communication technology has penetrated into all aspects of our lives, but the accompanying security risks cannot be ignored. As an effective technical means, signal jamming technology has gradually attracted people's attention in the field of public security in recent years. This article will explore the application of <a href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/">signal jammer</a> in public security and its potential impact.</p> <h2> Basic concept of signal jammer</h2> <p>Signal jammer, as the name suggests, is a device used to interfere with or block signals of a specific frequency. By emitting electromagnetic waves of a specific frequency, signal jammers can effectively shield or weaken the reception of certain wireless signals, thereby preventing unnecessary information transmission. Signal jammers have a wide range of application scenarios, from countermeasures in the military field to security protection in the civilian field.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/t-us-08-6-high-power-wi-fi-blocker-for-classroom/"><img src="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1-1-300x293.jpg" alt="Simple to use iPhone Cell Phone Jammer for Classroom" width="450"/></a></p> <h3> Application in public security</h3> <h4> 1. Preventing terrorist attacks</h4> <p>In some important public places, such as airports, stadiums, and large conferences, signal jammers can be used to prevent terrorists from remotely detonating bombs through mobile phones and other devices. Such devices can create a &quot;jamming area&quot; in a critical area, making communications related to explosive devices impossible, thereby effectively reducing the risk of terrorist attacks.</p> <p><a title="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/cell-phone-jammer-blocker-for-gsm-5g/" href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/cell-phone-jammer-blocker-for-gsm-5g/">https://www.thejammerblocker.com/cell-phone-jammer-blocker-for-gsm-5g/</a></p> <h4> 2. Maintaining public order</h4> <p>In some special cases, such as demonstrations or large gatherings, in order to prevent criminals from using mobile phones to organize or incite, law enforcement agencies can choose to use signal jammers moderately. By interfering with the communication signals at the scene, the organization ability of criminals can be effectively weakened, thereby maintaining public order.</p> <h4> 3. Criminal investigation</h4> <p>During criminal investigations, the police sometimes need to monitor certain targets. Signal jammers can be used to block the communication between suspects and the outside world, so as to further obtain evidence or make arrests. However, this method must be carried out within the scope permitted by law to avoid infringing personal privacy.</p> <h4> 4. Security precautions</h4> <p>In some special places, such as prisons and important laboratories, <a href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/gps-jammer-car-tracker-blocker/">gps blocker</a> can prevent jailbreaks or leaks. By interfering with mobile phone signals, prisoners can be effectively prevented from contacting the outside world and ensuring the safety of the place.</p> <h3> Potential impacts and legal ethical issues</h3> <p>Although signal jammers have many applications in public safety, their use also faces some potential impacts and legal ethical issues. First, the use of signal jammers may infringe on personal freedom of communication. Interference with citizens' mobile phone signals may affect their ability to seek help in an emergency. Secondly, if the jammer is abused by criminals, it may lead to social chaos. Therefore, when using <a href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/drone-uavs-jammers-blockers/">drone jamming device</a>, relevant departments should formulate strict usage specifications and legal frameworks to protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.</p> <h3> Conclusion</h3> <p>In summary, as an emerging public safety technology, <a href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/wifi-bluetooth-camera-jammer-blocker/">bluetooth blocker</a> have important application value in preventing terrorist attacks, maintaining public order and criminal investigation. However, how to maintain personal privacy and freedom of communication while ensuring public safety is a question worth pondering. In the future, with the further development of science and technology, the application of signal jammers in public safety will become more and more common, but we must be vigilant about its potential impact and use this technology reasonably and legally.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thejammerblocker.com/dj-x5-military-grade-signal-jammer-device-5-antennas/">https://www.thejammerblocker.com/dj-x5-military-grade-signal-jammer-device-5-antennas/</a></p>

@ 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/876357

@ 3c7dc2c5:805642a8

## 🧠Quote(s) of the week: Old model: -You work for money. -They print it. -You save your money. -They devalue it. -You invest your money. -They manipulate it. New model: -You save in Bitcoin. -There’s nothing they can do about it. ## 🧡Bitcoin news🧡 Before we start some extra info to get you focused. 1 BTC is unreachable for the majority. The aspiration used to be 6.15. Now it's 0.1. 'Now who owns Bitcoin? 'The Answer Might Surprise You. 👉🏽Bitcoin is often misunderstood. Some think it’s controlled by a handful of institutions, others believe governments secretly hoard it. The reality? Bitcoin ownership is diverse and widely distributed across individuals, businesses, funds, and even governments. 👉🏽57% of Bitcoin is held by individuals. From everyday savers to long-term believers, Bitcoin’s largest share is in the hands of the people. 👉🏽4% belongs to businesses. Companies are increasingly adding BTC to their treasuries, recognizing its role as digital gold. 👉🏽5% is held by funds and ETFs. Bitcoin is being adopted by the financial system, providing new ways for institutions and retail investors to gain exposure. 👉🏽Governments own 2% to 3%. Whether through seized BTC or strategic holdings where states already acknowledged Bitcoin’s value. 👉🏽Around 18% is estimated to be lost forever. This actually makes Bitcoin even scarcer than its 21 million cap suggests. 👉🏽Miners and yet-to-be-mined Bitcoin represent the rest. This small remaining fraction coupled with a fixed supply means competition for mining remaining bitcoins will only increase over time. This distribution is one of the many reasons why Bitcoin is unique. Not only there is no single entity that controls it (no government or bank can print more of it), but also its distribution among the population is more fairly distributed than for any other monetary asset. Bitcoin is owned by those who understand its value, regardless of nationality, religion, skin color, political affiliation, or beliefs. Bitcoin is for everyone.' -Thomas Jeegers [](https://i.ibb.co/5gJH2pLk/Gi-XWUx0-W8-AAcp84.jpg) On the 28th of January: ➡️European Squash Federation adopts Bitcoin for its treasury. ➡️Binance under investigation for money laundering, tax fraud, and drug trafficking in France - Reuters ➡️'Metaplanet will issue 21 million new stock warrants with a 0% discount rate, raising approximately $870 million to fund additional Bitcoin purchases. This marks the largest-ever fundraising for Bitcoin purchases in the history of the Asian stock market.' -Metaplanet ➡️U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis received a framed Bitcoin block from Marathon’s Jayson Browder to mark her role as the new chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets. MARA Pool mined the block by calculating 1,476,600,000,000,000,000,000 Bitcoin hashes within 46 seconds. ➡️'Fidelity is now bigger than Greyscale: 1. BlackRock ETF: 576k BTC 2. Fidelity ETF: 205k BTC 3. Greyscale ETF: 202k BTC' -Bitcoin for Freedom ➡️'Brazil’s state-owned oil and gas company Petrobras is reportedly assessing getting into Bitcoin mining. This is a new chapter for the company and shows how traditional industries are adapting to the digital world. Petrobras, one of the largest and most profitable oil companies in the world, is going to use excess natural gas produced during the oil extraction process to power Bitcoin mining. This will reduce energy waste and methane emissions, and create a new revenue stream for the company.' -Bitcoin News ➡️Last week, the 613-foot smokestack of the former Somerset Generating Station in Niagara County, New York was demolished. The site, now Tera Wulf Inc.’s Lake Mariner Data, will focus on Bitcoin mining and AI processing powered by hydroelectric energy ➡️'For the first time ever in Bitcoin's 16-year history, the epoch-over-epoch (EOE) growth has fallen below +100%. Pack it up, fellas.'- Wicked [](https://i.ibb.co/sJFgh93r/Gi-Zncd-PXk-AAuh.jpg) On the 29th of January: ➡️Czech central bank Governor Ales Michl said he would propose a plan to include bitcoin in the country’s official reserves, the Financial Times reported. Michl statement: 'Czech National Bank’s goal is price stability. When we took office in July 2022, inflation was 17.5%. We brought it down to target. We are also diversifying reserves—gradually increasing gold holdings from 0% to around 5% and planning for 30% in equities. An asset under consideration is Bitcoin. It currently has zero correlation to bonds and is an interesting asset for a large portfolio. Worth considering. Right now, it’s only at the stage of analysis and discussion. The Bank Board decides, and no decision is imminent. Thoughtful analysis is needed. Bitcoin has significant volatility, which makes it harder to take advantage of its current low correlation with other assets. That’s why I will ask our team on Thursday to further assess Bitcoin’s potential role in our reserves. Nothing more, nothing less. The article is very accurate, including my statement that Bitcoin could one day be worth either zero or a huge amount. At our meeting on Thursday, after discussing a document on international reserve management in 2024, the Bank Board of the Czech National Bank (CNB) approved a proposal to analyze the options for investing in additional asset classes. The central bank has been increasingly diversifying its investments over the last two years as part of its reserve management strategy. At the proposal of Governor Aleš Michl, the CNB is to assess whether it would be appropriate in terms of diversification and return to include other asset classes in the reserves as well. Based on the results of the analysis, the Bank Board will then decide how to proceed further. No changes will be implemented in this area until then. Any changes in the reserve portfolios will be disclosed in the quarterly information on the CNB’s international reserves and the CNB’s annual report.' The head of a central bank tweeting about potentially allocating to Bitcoin was not on my 2025 bingo card. ➡️Jerome Powell: "Banks are perfectly able to serve crypto customers." I love how everyone is recognizing and acknowledging Bitcoin now. Banks can custody Bitcoin on behalf of clients, create structured Bitcoin financial products, and allow customers to buy Bitcoin. Even Powell isn't badmouthing it anymore. On the 29th of January: ➡️'It is utterly remarkable that BTC Dominance is at 62% considering it's really from 45% to 62% has coincided with massive issuance of Memecoins This really is a different market, a schism between Bitcoin and Crypto.' - Steven Lubka ➡️Illinois State Rep. has introduced a bill to establish a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. ➡️The decoupling of Bitcoin & Crypto Market Caps: [](https://i.ibb.co/svqCWGcM/Gifa-ERa-XUAA80-A8.jpg) ETH losing 50% of its value vs. BTC in the past 11 months explains the lack of enthusiasm about $100K BTC. Mitchell Hodl: '2 years ago if you sold 1 ETH and bought Bitcoin, you would have acquired ~.07 BTC. Today if you sell 1 ETH and buy Bitcoin, you’ll acquire .03 BTC. Those “toxic maximalists” were right. If it’s not BTC, it’s dogshit.' On the 3rd of February Bitcoin dominance soared over 64%. Four-year high. Massively bullish. Despite the hundreds of billions of dollars invested in crypto, Bitcoin dominance has just tagged Nov 2017 levels. At 73%, it unwinds back to the pre-ICO era. 'The truth is, there is no more alt season. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can still build up a meaningful Bitcoin position. You're not too late. You're among the first 1-2% of people to get into bitcoin. It's time to leave this chapter of false narratives behind and get on board with something real and meaningful.' - Sam Wouters If you're trying to outperform Bitcoin with an "alt", just remember that you're mixing with a crowd that is simply trying to beat you to the exit. ➡️Senator Bob Menendez who fought against El Salvador adopting Bitcoin was just sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking bribes in Gold and Cash! Classic! ➡️INDIANA Bitcoin Bill! HB 1322 would allow 'the Hoosier state' to invest state retirement funds in Bitcoin ETFs. Nation-states, States, Companies & Individuals are clamoring to acquire Bitcoin. [](https://i.ibb.co/qYRcVvLM/Gioi-YI-XYAAw-XP2.jpg) On the 30th of January: ➡️World's largest stablecoin Tether is now minting its stablecoin on the Bitcoin Lightning Network. ➡️ECB chief Lagarde says she "is confident" that Bitcoin will not end up in the EU central bank reserves. [Here ](https://x.com/pete_rizzo_/status/1885293996412383720) is the video of how she is explaining that Bitcoin isn’t liquid, secure, or safe for EU reserves. Bitcoin trades 24/7—one of the most liquid markets in the world. Its code secures $2T+ in wealth, never hacked. It’s the most secure computer code ever written. Remember what she said on Bitcoin a while ago: 'It's a matter that needs to be agreed at a global level. If there is an escape, that escape will be used.' Oh one more: "People are happier to have a job than to have their savings protected." — Christine Lagarde, 10/30/2019 Christine Lagarde has been convicted of more crimes than the average Bitcoin user.  Oh well, the more that central banks manipulate the money, the more people will want sound money, and the more people will turn to Bitcoin. Checkmate. [](https://i.ibb.co/svsv0vZB/Gik-U1-Vp-W8-AA1-Q-V.jpg) ➡️Norway's sovereign wealth fund's indirect Bitcoin exposure has increased by 153% in the past year, reaching 3,821 BTC. Since 2020, its Bitcoin holdings have grown from 796 BTC to over 3,821 BTC, now valued at over € 350M. ➡️'A $400 home Bitcoin miner just mined a block worth OVER $330,000. They beat ONCE IN A LIFETIME odds.' -Pete Rizzo On the 31st of January: ➡️'For the first time in nearly 2 years, the Bitcoin network is running out of pending transactions to fill up new blocks. It's looking like it could happen within a few hours (only 6 block backlog). This is nothing to worry about. But if you self-custody bitcoin, it's a great time to learn about UTXOs and consolidate the ones in your wallet, which could save you thousands of dollars worth of bitcoin in the long term.' - Tom Honzik Learn more here: https://unchained.com/blog/too-many-bitcoin-utxos ➡️MicroStrategy will have up to $584m to buy more Bitcoin after its stock offering was oversubscribed by nearly 3X, increasing from 2.5M shares to 7.3M priced at $80 each. ➡️El Salvador removes Bitcoin's legal tender status and makes its acceptance voluntary, in line with IMF requirements for a $1.4B credit line. Francis Pouliot: 'Bukele bends the knee to IMF and officially abandons the original Bitcoin law that had caused Bitcoiners to move and invest there in the first place... exactly at the same time as the Bitcoin conference in El Salvador attracting Bitcoiners from all over the world.' ➡️The 2nd time this week another solo Bitcoin miner mined a $300.000 block. On the 1st of February: ➡️'For the past three consecutive months, the Bitcoin network has processed more than $2 trillion worth of transactions. That's a lot of utility!' -Pierre Rochard ➡️Retail are capitulating their Bitcoin, whilst whales are buying. Transfer of wealth from the weak hands to the strong hands. Retail investors are reducing exposure, while large investors (whales) are capitalizing on this opportunity to accumulate. Historically, this divergence aligns with accumulation phases before price appreciation. ➡️So far, so good: Spot bitcoin ETFs pulled in $4.94 billion in January, which annualizes to ~$59 billion. For context: In all of 2024, they brought in $35.2 billion. On the 3rd of February: ➡️Ethereum just fell -37% in 60 hours since the trade war headlines mid-day on Friday. ➡️$2B liquidated in 24 hours. That’s a record. More than the COVID dump. More than the FTX collapse. ➡️Trump signs an executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund spearheaded by Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent. Both are avowedly pro-Bitcoin. ➡️New Record Bitcoin Network Computer Hashrate: 800,000,000,000,000,000,000x per second ➡️OKLAHOMA BITCOIN BILL SB 315 allows state employees (and all OK residents) to receive payments in Bitcoin. The bill has progressed to Committee consideration. ➡️'Solid, data-driven reporting on why Bitcoin mining is increasingly regarded among energy experts, academics, and those in the environmental movement as a net positive to the environment across several fronts.' - Daniel Batten on the Mara report. https://x.com/MARAHoldings/status/1880063353168753133 ➡️$562m leveraged Bitcoin positions liquidated as the price plunged as low as $91,359 this morning. ## 💸Traditional Finance / Macro: On the 27th of January: 👉🏽Over $787 billion was wiped out from the US stock market today. On the 28th of January: 👉🏽'Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle's CapEx are expected to reach a record $274 billion this year. This would be more than DOUBLE the CapEx posted in 2021 and $127 billion more than in 2023. Amazon, and Microsoft, are expected to spend $86 billion and $63 billion, respectively. Spending has accelerated as Big Tech invests in more advanced chips from firms like Nvidia, and large data centers to store them. The big question is whether China’s DeepSeek will disrupt this trend. Is AI spending out of control?' -TKL But meanwhile: 'Magnificent 7 stocks have underperformed the market in 2025: The Magnificent 7 stocks are down -1.4% while the S&P 500 itself is up ~2.9%. Meanwhile, the remaining 493 stocks in the S&P 500 have gained +6.6%. To put this into perspective, in 2024, the Magnificent 7 stocks returned +67.4% while the remaining 493 firms gained just +5.0%.' -TKL 👉🏽MicroStratey today announced the launch of STRK a new convertible preferred stock offering available to institutional investors & select retail investors. To view the investor presentation video, learn more about participating, & access key details, click [here](https://www.microstrategy.com/press/microstrategy-announces-proposed-strk-preferred-stock-offering_01-27-2025). 👉🏽Microsoft shares closed down 6.2% on the worst day since 2022. If only they had listened to Saylor's 3-minute Bitcoin pitch. ## 🏦Banks:  👉🏽Global central banks now hold more Gold than at any point in the past 45 years. Something is brewing. ## 🌎Macro/Geopolitics: On the 28th of January: 👉🏽'Positions Europe to play a leading role globally.' Inhale, exhale! The EU bureaucrats are stifling innovation. The EU developed the AI Act instead of AI. To paraphrase Geoffrey Howe, the EU is like a man who knows 364 ways of making love but doesn’t know any women. [](https://i.ibb.co/BVzLxvKp/Gi-Yc-C-x-Ws-AA1eme.jpg) Europe also innovated with 'smart waste bins'. The sad this is, I couldn't even refute that now. What groundbreaking future technology has Europe produced in the last 30, 40 50 years? Europe is done. No Bitcoin, no AI, no tech, no nothing. Regulation fees are becoming their only source of revenue. Wrong side of history, they'll be left behind. 👉🏽Jeroen Blokland: 'China has literally bought its 5% growth target, issuing and swapping tons of DEBT! China's budget deficit is expected to have hit a whopping 7.1% of GDP in 2024. Why do you think China's 10-year yield is at 1.60%? In a world full of debt, invest in scarce assets!' 👉🏽The following is from last week's Weekly Recap: 'The rich are getting richer faster than ever before: US household net worth has risen ~$56 TRILLION since Q1 2020 and hit a record $160 trillion in Q3 2024. Currently, the top 10% own $111 trillion of all wealth, accounting for 69% of the total. The top 0.1% alone own a massive $22 trillion, reflecting 14% of household net worth. On the other hand, the bottom 50% holds just $3.9 trillion, or 2.4% of wealth. This comes as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 have risen 128% and 166% since Q1 2020 while national home prices have surged ~50%. The wealth gap is growing.' -TKL Just to elaborate on that, in 1990 the wealth gap between the top 1% and the bottom 50% was $3 trillion. Incredible chart! [](https://i.ibb.co/60ckYL3V/Gi-Yafk7-W8-AAy-Giw.jpg) Now the gap is $40 trillion. Ask yourself why. Has there been more or less government since 1990? Is there more or less money printing? Cantillion things I guess, and oh don't forget if it was adjusted for inflation it would be even worse, the red line would be pointed down. 👉🏽Ursula von der Leyen: " Dear Christine, dear ECB Governing Council Europe’s competitiveness is our shared interest—and an urgent challenge. The Savings and Investments Union must become a reality. It is so needed. Looking forward to our great work together also in this new mandate." You mean: "We will grab and redistribute your savings." These people (one convicted criminal - Lagarde) are so out of touch with reality. And a new mandate? Are you kidding me? 👉🏽Jeroen Blokland: 'Germany is heading for something 'unique!' BDI, which calls itself 'The Voice of German Industry,' expects the German economy to shrink again in 2025. That would mean three consecutive years of GDP decline. How do German politicians explain this, and how does this reconcile with the re-election of that other German politician, Ursula von der Leyen?' On the 29th of January: 👉🏽'SUMMARY OF FED DECISION (1/29/2025): 1. Fed leaves rates unchanged, pausing the "Fed Pivot" 2. The decision to halt cuts was a unanimous 12-0 vote 3. Fed says inflation "remains somewhat elevated" 4. The Fed says "Unemployment has stabilized at a low level" 5. Statement on progress toward 2% inflation removed 6. The Fed seems to be aware disinflation has stalled The battle against inflation continues in 2025.' -TKL 👉🏽Americans spent over $113 billion on lottery tickets last year, which is more than they spent on movies, books, concerts, and sports tickets - combined. James Lavish: 'Central Banks have turned otherwise normal people into desperate gamblers trying to keep up with the cost of everything.' 👉🏽Gold prices surge to a new all-time high of $2840/oz. Gold prices are now up +40% in 12 months as the US Dollar and interest rates are up sharply. This has never happened in history. Gold is telling us something.' -TKL Yes, let me use the following quote by Lawrence Lepard: 'Analog sound money saying sovereign debt crisis inbound.' But remember, Gold hit an ATH in USD but an ATL in Bitcoin. Fiat money is absolute garbage and Bitcoin is superior to both. On the 30th of January: 👉🏽The ECB, Christine Lagarde:  'We’re redesigning euro banknotes! Our Governing Council has selected motifs based on our two chosen themes, “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”. We’ll be launching a design contest later this year to help us select the final designs in 2026.' [](https://i.ibb.co/67GBJrhm/Gin-UBzd-XYAAj-Kb-V.jpg) On the 31st of January: 👉🏽Germany's unemployment rate hits its highest level in almost 10 years. The unemployment rate spiked by 0.4% to 6.4%. 👉🏽December PCE inflation, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, RISES to 2.6%, in line with expectations of 2.6%. Core PCE inflation was 2.8%, in line with expectations of 2.8%. PCE inflation is now at its highest level since May 2024. On the 1st of February: 👉🏽 The DOJ just argued that your money isn’t actually property—so the government can take it at will. If that sounds insane, it’s because it is. A federal court will decide if this madness stands. https://reason.com/2025/01/31/the-government-says-money-isnt-property-so-it-can-take-yours/ The money in your bank isn’t actually yours. Only Bitcoin can fix this. Still think you don't need Bitcoin? ## 🎁If you have made it this far I would like to give you a little gift: ++++ Preston Pysh podcast with Lawrence Lepard: 'Exploring the roots of broken money, the moral case for sound currency, and how Bitcoin offers hope for a decentralized financial future.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxB8M8q8hQ8 Credit: I have used multiple sources! My savings account: Bitcoin The tool I recommend for setting up a Bitcoin savings plan: PocketBitcoin especially suited for beginners or people who want to invest in Bitcoin with an automated investment plan once a week or monthly. Use the code BITCOINFRIDAY Get your Bitcoin out of exchanges. Save them on a hardware wallet, run your own node...be your own bank. Not your keys, not your coins. It's that simple.⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ Do you think this post is helpful to you? If so, please share it and support my work with a zap. ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ⭐ Many thanks⭐ Felipe - Bitcoin Friday! ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell has been around for a long time. I first read this book maybe about 10 years ago, but this time around I read it from the perspective of marketing, and PR. Gladwell is a highly controversial and thought-provoking author - and while I often both agree and disagree, I'm impressed by how he links and simplifies his ideas to real-world examples from sports, fashion, social attributes, genes, religion, kids, politics, history and more. If you have similar or opposing views on Gladwell’s takes; I’d love to hear it This book talks about how niche or idiosyncratic trends become mainstream. If I were to re-read books related to these topics again, to understand the concepts better, I would read all 4 books in the following sequence : 1. Crossing the Chasm; Marketing and selling disruptive products to mainstream customers by Geoffrey A.Moore 2. Tipping Point; How little things can make a big difference by Malcolm Gladwell 3. Made to Stick; Why some ideas survive and others die by Chip and Dan Heath 4. Contagious; Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger (I've shared No 1 a long time ago, and No 4 recently. This is No 2) Now, onto Gladwell's take - 3 factors can make an idea spread like wildfire or become contagious like an epidemic : 1. Law of The Few - influence of a few individuals 2. Stickiness Factor - how messages stick in people’s minds 3. The Power of Context - how environment and circumstances affect outcome The overarching concept is how small actions can lead to significant and unexpected outcomes very quickly 1. Law of the Few - talks about connectors, mavens and salespeople. These are people who are your links to groups, and communities and make the messages spread. Some examples shared - Paul Revere as the connector - he is famously known for his midnight ride, went town to town, knocked on each door, spread the right message and everyone was ready for the British invaders by morning leading to the American Revolution. William Dawes took on the same mission in the West of Boston but did not have the same impact - which concludes that connectors have a special gift of spreading messages Another example is six degrees of separation - and eventually, the points of contact will be connectors More people find jobs through connections Needle exchange programme - discovered that the “insiders” collect all the used needles, exchange them for fresh ones and sell them for a dollar each to drug addicts. While this wasn't the original plan for needle exchange, it was effective as the insiders knew where the junkies were, when they were used etc and effectively got them fresh needles. Connectors are people who know a lot of people, and also, the kind of people that they know. They bring people together, there’s no snobbery. They may not be the first to discover it, but they are the people who can broadcast it. Mavens are people who are experts in certain areas and accumulate knowledge. Salespeople are persuaders. Sometimes you can find all 3 in one, sometimes they are different individuals 2. The second factor is the stickiness factor and understanding what keeps people glued. Examples include : Tetanus shot - In an experiment, half of the students received a "high fear" booklet on tetanus and the other half a regular one. The high fear group was more convinced but only 3% got the shot. The second time, a booklet with schedules and shot locations improved adoption, showing persuasion alone was not enough - the right information sealed the deal. Sesame Street - getting children to stay focused on a TV programme. The observation is that children would only like straightforward information and can get distracted from time to time - hence every few minutes, there is a “distractor” on the show that switches the kids' focus and back. The concept of a "distractor" refers to something attention-grabbing or visually stimulating that can potentially divert a child's focus from the educational content being presented such as colourful puppets, catchy songs, and entertaining characters like Elmo. These distractors are strategically woven into the show to maintain children's interest and keep them engaged in the main educational program Blue Clues took it a step further and made it engaging for the kids to participate by answering questions and repeating many times The factors that make a message stick are: Repetition, Distractor (something unexpected or unusual that captures people's attention), Unexpectedness ( things that are out of the ordinary), Concreteness, Emotion, Simplicity, Credibility, Storytelling 3. The Power of Context was quite interesting - It says that human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem. It retells the idea of PR and the importance of it. An example is the Broken Window Theory, which highlights how people's behaviour can change based on their environment. For instance, in a poorer community, you're more likely to observe higher social issues, whereas in an improved community in terms of proper infrastructure, and visually appealing, the same individuals tend to exhibit and experience fewer problems. The example referred to the NY subway problems in the 80s and how it was reduced drastically. Another well-known experiment is the Stanford Prison Experiment. In this study, individuals were assigned the roles of either prisoners or guards. The environment was transformed to resemble a grim prison, leading the guards to exhibit cruelty while the prisoners lost their sense of self, referring to themselves by numbers. The experiment was called off after just six days. The power of context talks about the importance of Nature over Nurture and the influence of Peers that impacts how you react and make decisions. Other examples were the teen smoking epidemic, and the suicide epidemic (these two were on how to contain it) 4. Some other examples that are related to community building If you want to bring about a fundamental change in people’s beliefs and behaviour, a change that would persist and serve as an example to others, you need to create a community around them, where those new beliefs could be practised and expressed and nurtured. Examples - the Methodist group spread - John Wesley who went from town to town, met with the locals, set up communities and connected it. Another example is the Ya-Ya sisterhood book - this did not spread early on, but it did when the author when town to town over a year and reached out to the book clubs Both the above two examples talked about a continuous time frame of say 1 year of going from location to location (both within a country) to spread the message. 150 seems like a good number within a small community to have effective engagement. Anything more leads to a new community, to build up the next 150. Gladwell gave many examples from tribes (Hutterites) to the corporate environment that uses this concept. To serve as incubators for contagious messages, the group has to be kept below the 150 Tipping Point. One last example - there was a campaign to spread awareness of diabetes - and this was done in churches for its large group of people - but it did not catch on because people were tired, hungry, and wanted to go home. So the campaign shifted location to saloons and that picked up because people were relaxed and spent hours there. In comparison to the diffusion model - connectors to me are not the early adopters, but rather the key spokesperson in the early minorities. Connectors also translate the message of the innovators into something the rest of us can understand. In summary - The tipping point talks about the possibility of doing a lot with a little - by concentrating on a few key areas - to make something spread. The "Law of the Few" emphasizes that Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen drive word-of-mouth epidemics, so concentrate resources on them if you want to start one. Stickiness - the key is to package information irresistibly - you just need to discover how. The "Power of Context" reveals our profound sensitivity to environmental changes. Our inner states reflect our outer circumstances.

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

During tough economic times, governments have to decide if they should open markets to global trade or protect local businesses with tariffs. The United States has swung between these two strategies, and history shows that the results are never straightforward Just days ago, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. He framed these tariffs (25% on most Canadian goods, 10% on Canadian energy, 25% on Mexican imports, and 10% on Chinese imports) as a way to protect American industries. But will they actually help, or could they backfire? ### A History of U.S. Tariffs Many have asked if countries will retaliate against the US. They can and they have. Once upon a time, 60 countries were so pissed off at the US, they retaliated at one go and crushed US dominance over trade. This was during the Great Depression era in the 1930s when the government passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, placing high taxes on over 20,000 foreign goods. The goal was to protect American jobs, especially American farmers and manufacturers, but it backfired so badly. Over 60 countries, including Canada, France, and Germany, retaliated by imposing their own tariffs. By 1933, US imports and exports both dropped significantly over 60%, and unemployment rose to 25%. After President Franklin Roosevelt came to office, he implemented the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934 to reverse these policies, calming the world down and reviving trade again. ### The economist history of protectionism The idea of shielding local businesses with tariffs isn’t new or recent. It's been around for a few centuries. In the 16th to 18th centuries, mercantilism encouraged countries to limit imports and boost exports. In the 18th century, Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations, argued that free trade allows nations to specialize in what they do best countering protectionism policies. Friedrich List later challenged Smith's view by stating that developing countries need some protection to grow their “infant” industries which is a belief that still influences many governments today. But how often do governments truly support startups and new small businesses in ways that create real growth, rather than allowing funds to trickle down to large corporations instead? In modern times, John Maynard Keynes supported government intervention during economic downturns, while Milton Friedman championed free trade and minimal state interference. Paul Krugman argued that limited protectionism can help large industries by providing them unfair advantages to become global market leaders. I have deep reservations about Krugman’s take, particularly on its impact or lack thereof in globalizing small businesses. The debate between free trade and protectionism has existed for centuries. What’s clear is that there is no one-size-fits-all model to this. ### The Political Debate Both the left and right have used tariffs but for different reasons. The right supports tariffs to protect jobs and industries, while the left uses them to prevent multinational corporations from exploiting cheap labor abroad. Neoliberal policies favor free trade, arguing that competition drives efficiency and growth. In the US this gets a little bit confusing as liberals are tied to the left, and free trade is tied to libertarianism which the rights align closely with, yet at present right wing politicians push for protectionism which crosses the boundaries of free-trade. There are also institutions like the WTO and IMF who advocate for open markets, but their policies often reflect political alliances and preferential treatment - so it depends on what you define as true 'free trade’. ### Who Really Benefits from Tariffs? Most often, tariffs help capital-intensive industries like pharmaceuticals, tech, and defense, while hurting labor-intensive sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. This worsens inequality as big corporations will thrive, while small businesses and working-class people struggle with rising costs and fewer job opportunities. I’ve been reading through international trade economics out of personal interest, I'll share some models below on why this is the case #### 1. The Disruption of Natural Trade Tariffs disrupt the natural flow of trade. The Heckscher-Ohlin model explains that countries export goods that match their resources like Canada’s natural resource energy or China’s labour intensive textile and electronics. When tariffs block this natural exchange, industries suffer. A clear example was Europe’s energy crisis during the Russia-Ukraine war. By abruptly cutting themselves off from the supply of Russian energy, Europe scrambled to find alternative sources. In the end, it was the people who had to bear the brunt of skyrocketing prices of energy. #### 2. Who wins and who loses? The Stolper-Samuelson theorem helps us understand who benefits from tariffs and who loses. The idea behind it is that tariffs benefit capital-intensive industries, while labor-intensive sectors are hurt. In the US, small manufacturing industries that rely on low-cost imports on intermediary parts from countries like China and Mexico will face rising costs, making their final goods too expensive and less competitive. This is similar to what happened to Argentina, where subsidies and devaluation of pesos contributed to cost-push inflation, making locally produced goods more expensive and less competitive globally. This also reminded me of the decline of the US Rust Belt during the 1970s and 1980s, where the outsourcing of labour-intensive manufacturing jobs led to economic stagnation in many regions in the Midwest, while capital-intensive sectors flourished on the coasts. It resulted in significantly high income inequality that has not improved over the last 40 years. Ultimately the cost of economic disruption is disproportionately borne by smaller businesses and low-skilled workers. At the end of the day, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. #### 3. Delays in Economic Growth The Rybczynski theorem suggests that economic growth depends on how efficiently nations reallocate their resources toward capital- or labor-intensive industries. But tariffs can distort this transition and progress. In the 70s and 80s, the US steel industry had competition from Japan and Germany who modernized their production methods, making their steel more efficient and cost-effective. Instead of prioritizing innovation, many U.S. steel producers relied on tariffs and protectionist measures to shield themselves from foreign competition. This helped for a bit but over time, American steelmakers lost global market share as foreign competitors continued to produce better, cheaper steel. Other factors, such as aging infrastructure, and economic shifts toward a service-based economy, further contributed to the industry's decline. A similar struggle is seen today with China’s high-tech ambitions. Tariffs on Chinese electronics and technology products limit access to key inputs, such as semiconductors and advanced robotics. While China continues its push for automation and AI-driven manufacturing, these trade barriers increase costs and disrupt supply chains, forcing China to accelerate its decoupling from Western markets. This shift could further strengthen alliances within BRICS, as China seeks alternative trade partnerships to reduce reliance on U.S.-controlled financial and technological ecosystems. Will the current Tariff imposition backfire and isolate the US like it did a hundred years ago or 50 years ago? Is US risking it's position as a trusted economic leader? Only time would tell ### The impact of tariff on innovation - or lack thereof While the short-term impacts of tariffs often include higher consumer prices and job losses, the long-term effects can be even more damaging, as they discourage innovation by increasing costs and reducing competition. Some historical examples globally : * Nigeria: Blocking import of rice opened up black market out of desperation to survive. * Brazil: Protectionist car policies led to expensive, outdated vehicles. * Malaysia’s Proton: Sheltered by tariffs and cronyism and failed to compete globally. * India (before 1991): Over-regulation limited the industries, until economic reforms allowed for growth. * Soviet Union during Cold War : Substandard products and minimal innovation due to the absence of foreign alternatives, yielding to economic stagnation. On the flip side, Vietnam has significantly reduced protectionism policies by actively pursuing free trade agreements. This enabled it to become a key manufacturing hub. But Vietnam is not stopping there as it is actively pushing forward its capital-intensive growth by funding entrepreneurs. ### The Future of U.S. Tariffs History has shown that tariffs rarely deliver their intended benefits without unintended consequences. While they may provide temporary relief, they often raise prices, shrink job opportunities, and weaken industries in the long run. Without a clear strategy for innovation and industrial modernization, the U.S. risks repeating past mistakes of isolating itself from global trade rather than strengthening its economy. At this point, only time will tell whether these tariffs will truly help Americans or will they, once again, make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

***Tree branches. 4' x 4' [Littleton, USA. 2016]*** --- #### Introduction Platte captures a tranquil bend of the South Platte River, where the steady flow of water meets the rugged backdrop of Waterton Canyon. This lens offers a moment of respite, encouraging visitors to step away from the river’s busy recreational activities and focus on the quiet beauty of this secluded scene. #### Site & Placement Positioned on the west bank of the South Platte River, the lens directs attention to the water’s gentle curves and the canyon rising in the background. A bench placed 12 feet away provides the perfect spot for reflection, emphasizing the interplay of movement and stillness in the landscape. #### Impermanence & Integration The lens, constructed from branches and stone, mirrors the ever-changing nature of the river itself. As it stands, it frames a single moment within the flow of time, but its materials will soon be reclaimed by the earth, echoing the river’s constant reshaping of the land. #### Reflection Platte invites viewers to contemplate the river’s journey—its constancy in motion and its quiet persistence. The work becomes a metaphor for life’s flow, urging us to find beauty in the transient and the enduring alike. --- ## Photos        --- #### More from the 'Earth Lens' Series: [Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) ["Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1736304563962/) ["Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1737844073125/) ["Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) [COMING SOON: "Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) [COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) --- #### More from Hes [Portfolio](https://hesart.npub.pro) [Online Store](https://plebeian.market/community/hes@nostrplebs.com/hesmart-ym3fcufdfz) [Artist Statements](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) [Money](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/money) [Tech](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/tech) --- *All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ c43d6de3:a6583169

 Right this moment, 5.52 billion pairs of hands are within arm’s reach of the internet. Hands stretch across pillows, eagerly reaching for phones first thing in the morning. Fingertips tap at keyboards and swipe across glowing glass. The world has never been so connected. Billions of conversations are happening every second. Yet, humanity has never been so quiet. Hotel lobbies, waiting rooms, train stations, and airports — places once buzzing with the chatter of strangers — now lie quieter than libraries. Most libraries don’t exist in the physical sense anymore. Humanity Has Gone Mute.  Small talk is disappearing. The tiniest thoughts are condensed into 280 characters to be posted on X, hoping to garner hearts, claps, zaps, or whatever gimmick social media platforms use to keep us tethered to their feeds. Instead of sharing these thoughts with the few souls occupying the same physical space as us, we broadcast them into the digital void. Gone are the genuine, physical reactions — a smile, a laugh, maybe a headshake if a joke didn’t land. Who needs small talk, right? Wasn’t it just that awkward thing people did before cellphones and the internet existed? No. The silence is worse. It’s the manifestation of relational decay. That’s why people talked. People talked about the weather or about Mrs. Jones’ dog that always gets out. That’s what helped neighbors scale one another’s emotional fences and get to know one another. It was, and always will be, the first step to any meaningful relationship. Today, small talk has been relegated to social feeds and forums. It’s easier to make a friend across the planet than to make one next door. People fall into the trap of chasing likes, followers, and fame, while their local connections — the ones critical to mental health and a sense of purpose — fade into the background. Maybe I’m out of touch. Maybe I just don’t get out enough. But as a member of the Army Reserves, I’ve experienced something rare. Once a month, I attend drill, and once a year, we’re sent on an annual training that can last up to thirty days. During those thirty days, we’re often shipped off to a place far from the internet. And in that time, something remarkable happens: small talk comes back to life. It’s incredible to watch my fellow Soldiers connect. The relationships we have before training versus after are night and day. And it all starts with small talk — simple jokes, shared gripes, and the mundane details that snowball into camaraderie. When we’re forced to take that first step to avoid the boredom of silence, we discover one another’s existence. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the absence of convenience is what sparks true connection. Small talk isn’t just filler. It’s the foundation of relationships. Maybe it’s time to put down the phone, look around, and say something — anything — to the person next to you. While the world may feel quieter than ever, the potential for connection has never been stronger. ----------- I want to show the world that life is a scroll riddled with ink. The marks will only ever be simple blots on the parchment unless you pause and perceive them for the characters they are. Thank you for reading. If you liked this article let me know with a zap and share with friends you feel might enjoy it too!

@ c43d6de3:a6583169

## Reflection on Growth and Gratitude  Ah, the Holidays… That time of year when we return where it all began. The hustle and grind of the past twelve months has built to a fever pitch, and whatever we’ve achieved — or failed to — clings to us like a weight on our shoulders as we step onto the doorsteps of home. It’s a time of reunions, of seeing faces that knew us before careers, titles, and responsibilities etched lines into our brows. Eyes linger a moment too long, quietly assessing: “Have they changed?” “Have they succeeded?” “How much weight have they gained — or lost?” And then come the words — warm, congratulatory, or otherwise. “You look amazing!” they’ll gush, or worse, the silence of unspoken judgment. Later, with old friends, the comparisons begin. It’s subtle, unspoken, but there. This year, as I stood in front of my best friend’s meticulously polished Porsche SUV, a gift to his wife, the voice in my head wasn’t congratulating him. It was whispering something else: envy.  I was happy for him — truly. I congratulated him on being in a position to give his wife something so extravagant. But as we spent the day together, subtle hints started to pile up, revealing there was more to his gift than I’d initially thought. Since the last time I’d seen him, he’d grown significantly wealthier. There were comments and allusions that suggested he might even be a millionaire. What started as a faint whisper of envy in the back of my mind soon ignited into a flame of curiosity — and, I’ll admit, a touch of self-pity. I couldn’t help but wonder: How the hell did he do it? I tried to play it cool, to not make a fuss about it, but it was gnawing at me. I’d spent the last 12 months busting my ass, juggling work, two kids, and a wife, barely keeping my head above water. He had kids. He was married. He worked a full-time job. Yet, somehow, he was fitter than me, his house was tidier than mine, and everything I struggled to maintain at a high standard seemed effortlessly better in his world. What was I missing? I fought the urge to chalk it up to something simple, like a secret inheritance from a wealthy relative I didn’t know about. Maybe, his grandfather passed and left him a fortune? Our conversation deepened. I started to understand more about his daily routines and professional growth. There was no silver bullet. No stroke of luck or hidden windfall. He was simply outworking me in every way imaginable. Looking at him in his beautiful home, talking about his plans and the ways he still aspired to grow, took me back to when we were kids. Back to the times we would sit on the porch, watching cars roll by, projecting our dreams into the world. He had turned those dreams into reality — and now, here he was, setting his sights on even higher ceilings to break through. I felt a pang of shame for the envy stirring inside me. What had I been doing wrong? We were essentially the same person. We grew up in the same neighborhood, shared the same circle of friends all the way through college, believed in the same values, and approached life with the same mindset. But as I listened to him, I realized we had the same foundations and potential, yet we executed differently. He was waking up at 4 a.m. to pursue the things he loved, knowing his busy days wouldn’t allow for it otherwise. Meanwhile, I was hitting snooze, sleeping until the last possible moment before scrambling to get the kids ready and start my day. I’d been putting off the things I love — like writing. I’d turned down opportunities for higher-paying jobs because I feared they’d chip away at the little time I already had. The envy I’d felt began to crystalize, forming a smooth, reflective surface — and staring back at me was my own face. That’s when it hit me: I was actually lucky. What better friend could I ask for than someone who serves as a reflection of a better version of myself? What better inspiration could there be than the drive to return next year and say, “Hey man, I’m right there with you.”  Not everyone returns from the holidays feeling inspired. Most head back to their “real” lives with bags of half-thought-out gifts, a few extra pounds around the waist, and the quiet relief of leaving their hometown behind. Many start the new year armed with a list of goals but rarely with a clear vision of the person they want to become. The seed of envy grew into something better in me; a desire to do more, to be more. Cheers to you, bud. Here’s to the push I needed. #Envy #growNostr #Friends

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

 Pre-Foundational learning for these participants has now kicked off in the Bitcoin Design Community, check out the #⁠education channel on the [Bitcoin.Design](https://Bitcoin.Design) [Discord channel](https://discord.com/channels/903125802726596648/1260871907050393620). ## 🪇 10 talented participants from South America will be: Learning bitcoin UX Design fundamentals using the Bitcoin Design Guide Working hands-on with South American-built products to evaluate their user experiences and support builders with data > Attending [BTC++ in Florianópolis](https://btcplusplus.dev/conf/floripa) This initiative is sponsored by the [Human Rights Foundation](https://HRF.org) in collaboration with the [Bitcoin Design Foundation](https://bitcoindesignfoundation.org/) and [Area Bitcoin](https://areabitcoin.co). ## 🥅 Goals: - Empower local talent to improve the UX of South American bitcoin products - seeing their passion and drive to bring bitcoin to their countries is really inspiring - Create meaningful relationships with wallet developers through practical collaboration - Scale bitcoin adoption by improving the user experience - Create a public knowledge base: All research conducted in Africa and South America will be made publicly available for builders originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/876215

@ dd1f9d50:06113a21

#### **(Because Most People Don’t Understand Money)** #### The requisite knowledge needed to know whether $100 or $100,000 per Bitcoin is relatively speaking “a lot,” is what value means. One way to measure value is through a universal yardstick we call “Money.” The question of “What is money?” is perhaps one of the most overlooked and under answered in our day and age. There is even an entire podcast dedicated to that question with the eponymous title, hosted by Robert Breedlove. That podcast often delves into the more philosophical underpinnings whereas I hope to approach this with a more practical answer. **Money is a technology.** Money is the technology with which we interact with one another to reorganize goods and services to the place and time they are best suited. Most money of the past has been tangible (though not a requisite feature), scarce, recognizable (read: verifiable), durable, portable, and divisible. These features one might call the “Attributes of Money.” These attributes are absolutely essential for a money to maintain its status as a money. (Those of you who understand the U.S. Dollar system maybe scratching your heads right now but, believe me, I will address that elephant in due time.) These attributes, you may notice, are not a yes or no but more of a gradient. A money can be MORE portable than another yet, less durable. One more divisible but not scarce whatsoever. The point being they must have, in some capacity, these attributes or they simply aren’t money. **One of These Things is Not Like the Other** | | **Bitcoin** | **Gold** | **Dollars** | |-----------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:|:------------------------------------------------------------------:|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:| | **Scarcity** | 21 million coins <br />is the maximum supply | Unknown- the <br />supply grows roughly 2% per year | Also unknown to anyone outside of the Federal Reserve, Trillions and counting | | **Recognizability** | Each coin is verifiable to it's genesis on the timechain | Each molecule of gold has distinct physical verifiable properties | If the Federal reserve says it is a valid note, it is (Unless you are an enemy of the United States) | | **Durablility** | Each "Bitcoin" is information stored on a globally distributed network | Doesn't Rust and as far as can be measured Au197 is stable forever | Can be destroyed by any means that effect fabric and centralized databases | | **Portability** | Available wherever data can be store- Anywhere | Can be moved at 9.81 Newtons per Kilogram- Methods may vary | Can be moved physically with fabric notes- Digitally with express permission from a US accredited banking institution | | **Divisibility** | Currently can be divided into 100 million parts called Sats (can be further subdivided by adding decimal places) | Can be divided to the Atomic level (Though not practical) | Can be divided (without dilution) by adding new denominative bills or coinage<br />Can be divided (with dilution) by printing new bills or coinage | | | **Bitcoin** | **Gold** | **Dollars** | You may think with all of the great functionality of Bitcoin that the phrase "One of these things is not like the other" refers to BTC. No, I was referring to the Dollar. It is the only one on the list that was a currency that was substituted as some kind of faux money. It asserts itself, or rather the Federal Reserve asserts it, as money, de facto. **Dollars are NOT money.** Dollars are (allegedly) a currency. If money is a specific technology, currency is the financial infrastructure that allows that technology to reach and be used by the most number of people possible. This requires a firm tether between the asset being used as money and the currency used as a claim to that money. For example: If I hand you a chicken, you have a chicken. But, if I hand you a coupon that is redeemable for a chicken, you do not have a chicken. You have a claim to a chicken that is only as good as the party making that claim. Bringing it back to money again, dollars (Prior to 1971) were redeemable for gold at a rate of $35 per ounce. This is that strong tether that pegged dollars to gold and physical reality itself. Without a proof of work, mining, . Until… **WTF Happened in 1971?** The Nixon shock happened. Briefly, The U.S. took in Europe’s gold in the 1940’s to keep it out of Hitler’s hands. The U.S. made an agreement to peg the dollar to Europe’s gold. The U.S. over printed dollars in relation to the gold holdings. Around 1971 France (among others) called the U.S. out for devaluing the dollar and thus European currencies. So, Nixon “Temporarily” suspended the convertibility of dollars to gold. Now, here we all are like Wile E. Coyote having run off of the golden cliff clutching our dollars in our arms and 54 years later we still haven’t looked down to see the truth. **Dollars Aren’t Backed by Anything** This is why no country in the world today has a money standard. Seemingly they all forgot the number one rule of issuing currency, it must be backed by something. Now, you may hear dollar proponents say “The U.S. dollar is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States!” Another way of saying that is, “We said it is worth something, so it is!” This fiat (by decree) mentality creates a plethora of perverse incentives. The ever growing supply disallows users of the Dollar to save without inccuring the penalties of inflation. **Just a Few Examples of How You're Being Crushed** Because your dollar loses value: - It pushes people to spend them on assets that seem to appreciate (as the dollar debases) but are truly staying stagnant. - It pushes people to gamble on securities hoping the perceived value is enough to beat the inflationary curve. - It pushes people away from saving for their future and the future of their families. - It creates insane credit incentives so that people borrow way more than they can afford today knowing that dollars will be cheaper in the future. (Effectively a short position) - It pushes people to spend less and less time making and maintaining their families as it becomes more expensive to keep a similar lifestyle to which it was founded. These are just a few of the terrible consequences of not knowing that trading a currency with no monetary backing has on a society. Most may blame this soley on the ability to print currency by a central bank but, that is not the only factor. If the fed printed dollars against gold, people would simply take the best rate they could get and remonetize themselves with the gold. But because there is no monetary escape hatch guaranteed by the issuance of dollars, I.E. no one has to take your dollars in exchange for their Bitcoin or gold, you are left at the mercy of the market. **One Day, People Will Stop Accepting Your Dollars** Those lementing the high price of Bitcoin might want to thank their lucky stars that Bitcoin still has a rational number next to the "BTC 1=$?" sign. One day you will have to exchange something of actual value to the spender (no longer a seller). Your product, good or service, will be the only thing that anyone might be willing to part with their Bitcoin over. That is what makes a money, the most salable non-consumable good, whose only funtion is to back a financial structure that facilitates trade. **Bitcoin is Capital** Capital is a broad term that can describe anything that confers value or benefit to its owners, such as a factory and its machinery, or the financial assets of a business or an individual. Bitcoin being the latter creates the financial structures from which you build upon. You use capital to hold, transfer, and grow value. You do not do this with cash. Cash is a depreciating asset when you don't use it to gain goods or services for yourself or your business. This misconception around the equivalance between cash and money (financial capital) is what tricks people into believing Dollars are money. And what's worse is that even some of our greatest heroes have done this. **Slay Your Heroes, Within Reason** Unfortunately due to a mixing of verbiage that have **very distinct** differences, the title: "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" is technically inaccurate. Bitcoin doesn't fit the definition of **cash**, which is a liquid asset that can be easily converted into its equivalent value. In short, Satoshi misspoke. In reality, owning Bitcoin UTXOs (with private keys) means you already possess the asset, not just a claim to it. When you spend Bitcoin, the recipient receives the actual asset, not a promise of it. When you receive Bitcoin, you have final settlement on that transaction. Fundamentally Bitcoin is not cash, electronic or otherwise. # Bitcoin is Money.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

# How does the collaborative nature of open design in bitcoin influence innovation and product development in the ecosystem? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/876187

@ df478568:2a951e67

 About 150,000 blocks ago, I bought burgers for my family with sats at NextBurger in Newport, California. The Orange County Bitcoin Meetup found a hamburger stand that wanted to accept Bitcoin. This attracted Bitcoiners from all over Southern California. People brought their families. Some sat stackers sold wares outside as if it were a Farmer's Market. A couple kids sold some hats. One dude sold pins. I bought one off him. It resembled the Opendime I use as a keychain. He wore a 21M/infinity hat. We talked about Knut Svanholm books. He asked me, "What do you do for bitcoin?" "I write a blog," I said. I must have written three articles about Bitcoin back then. I set up a BTCpayServer with LunaNode. My real idea was to write for sats, but I spent more sats on Lunanode than I made. I needed something to sell. I had a few shitty ideas but no real business plan. I told Pins about one of these shitty ideas. "I'm thinking about selling BIP39 raffle tickets, but they're a pain in the ass to cut." See what I mean, bad ideas. Pins didn't say it was a bad idea though. I assure you, it was, but Pins gave this advice. ”Maybe you can use a 3D Printer." I never did it, but I was impressed by how willing he was to help me. That's common in bitcoin. Bitcoiners are incentivized to help other Bitcoiners. The more people that accept Bitcoin at their stores, the bigger the demand for Bitcoin. The bigger the demand, the more the  ## Bitcoin Is For Spending I participate in the circular economy because I consider using Bitcoin as money to be more advantageous for my *savings strategy*. When you earn sats, spend sats, and save sats, you break free from the chains of fiat debasement. Dollars are designed to go down in purchasing power to manipulate the public into spending more. That's why most people have more than one TV, but can't afford a $400 emergency. I spend Bitcoin because it forces me to be frugal. Fiat is designed to spend as quickly as possible since it will buy less groceries tomorrow than it will today. Bitcoin is designed to buy more groceries tomorrow than it will today. When you expect $30 worth of Open AI services will likely be worth $433 in 21 years(if we assume Saylor is correct) you evaluate everything you buy with an orange colored lens. Your shopping habits change. A month of Chat GPT premium mightr be a month's worth of groceries in the future. I no longer buy Nike's because they coat 80k-120k sats, but I expect them to look like shredded cheese in six months. I would rather pay 100k sats for a nice pair of hiking shoes. I expect they will last me a few years. Knowing this, you might ask, why would you spend Sats on a stupid pin? I've had my open dime pin for almost 4 years now and I expect to have it for years to come. It must have cost me about 100k sats. I don't expect it to be worth that much in the future, but you never know. Sometimes, I watch The Antique Road Show on PBS. Some pins, made by famous artists, are worth thousands of dollars. There is a chance collectibles like this will become more valuable, but I'm skeptical of this. I bought this PIN because it sparks joy, as Marie Kondo says. This is not investment advice. Your Sats will almost certainly be worth more than your pins in the future, but if you buy a PIN from Salvador Dali, nobody stacks Sats. If you buy a PIN from BTCPins, a hardcore bitccoiner stack sats, which means less sats on the market will be availavle for 8 billion people when you buy a pin. Maybe pins will buy another hat from a bitccoiner, but that just means another bitccoiner stacks Sats. Notice how these Sats never make it back to the exchange because Bitcoiners know their stack will be more valuable in the future than they are today. So when you spend Sats, you only spend Sats on the things you find most valuable. ## Pins I Bought Online  Although I consider these Pins art. I don't view art as an investment. I don't expect to ever sell one of these Pins for $110,000 like that banana duct-taped to a canvas before the artist got the munchies. **I don't want dollars anyway**. That's like a whole coin for a banana. I wouldn't spend 100,000,000 sats for one of these Pins, but BTCPins are not so pretentiously priced. I recently bought some pins I've been salivating over for months. I need a better way of displaying them, but here are the pins I recently bought. ### An Awesome Affiliate Link  BTCPins has a [unique affiliate link](https://btcpins.com/affiliate-signup/). Provide your lightning address and it will generate an affiliate link for you. These things have been around since the 90s, but what makes this particular link notable is how commissions are paid: In sats on the Bitcoin lightning network. #### How BTCPins Affiliates Work  - Navigate to https://btcpins.com/affiliates/ - Enter your lightning address. - Generate your link - Share with the world. So buy a pin or two from BTCPins today using my affiliate link: Encrypted Link: https://btcpins.com/?aff=ex1GhhNeeU9-PQ1-ZVEkarU9bSnsNyq98Jy_lEUBLmsrWsCqa69PYohMWcCOGK9tK1rAqmuvT2KITFnAjhivbfOajnP3D8A8O09Hi-OY4K8 npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [802,338](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000001552286d359e5064ee9f97406e1d1ba2f790df43c613a) [Subscribe on Substack](https://marc26z.substack.com)

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Introduction: Colonization as a Multi-Generational Trauma Colonization was not only a political and economic endeavor but also a deeply psychological one. Through forced labor, cultural erasure, and systematic oppression, colonizers imposed a set of economic and social behaviors that favored their interests. Though most colonies gained independence in the mid-20th century, the trauma of colonization remains embedded in their financial and governance structures. Modern research in epigenetics suggests that trauma can alter gene expression and be passed down through generations (Yehuda & Lehrner, 2018). In a socio-economic context, the colonial mindset—marked by dependency, economic passivity, and a lack of financial sovereignty—persists within many post-colonial nations. One of the most insidious methods by which this trauma is maintained is through fiat currency and debt-based financial systems, which perpetuate economic dependency on former colonizers. --- 1. The Psychological Impact of Colonial Trauma and Economic Passivity Historical trauma theory suggests that populations subjected to prolonged oppression develop collective learned helplessness—a psychological state in which they stop attempting to resist their conditions because they have been conditioned to believe resistance is futile (Sotero, 2006). This manifests in post-colonial societies in several ways: 1. Economic Dependency: A tendency to rely on foreign aid, multinational corporations, and foreign direct investment (FDI) rather than fostering self-sustaining industries. 2. Risk Aversion in Economic Policy: Research suggests that traumatic experiences affect the brain’s ability to take financial risks (Shields et al., 2016), leading to post-colonial states preferring IMF/World Bank solutions rather than exploring independent monetary policies. 3. Political Elite Compliance: Many former colonies' elites were educated in Western institutions, perpetuating colonial economic structures that maintain wealth extraction. --- 2. Fiat Currency as a Tool of Economic Control Fiat currency—money that has no intrinsic value but is backed by government decree—has been one of the most effective tools for maintaining economic dominance over former colonies. A. The CFA Franc: A Colonial Currency in 2024 One of the most blatant examples of fiat currency maintaining colonial control is the CFA franc, used by 14 African countries, but ultimately controlled by France. These countries must keep 50% of their foreign reserves in the French Treasury. France dictates the monetary policies of these countries, limiting their financial autonomy. Import dependency: Because the CFA franc is overvalued, it makes local goods more expensive while making European imports cheaper, reinforcing dependency on former colonizers. B. The Role of the IMF and World Bank in Debt Colonialism Post-colonial nations, lacking industrial infrastructures due to resource extraction under colonial rule, often turn to IMF and World Bank loans for development. However, these loans come with conditions that ensure neo-colonial economic control: Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs): Force nations to privatize industries, cut social spending, and open markets to foreign corporations—benefiting Western investors. Perpetual Debt: Since loans are taken in foreign fiat currencies (USD, Euro), debt is rarely reduced, creating a cycle of endless repayment that prevents real economic independence. --- 3. How Colonial Trauma Conditions Profitable Behaviors for Former Colonizers Even outside of direct financial mechanisms, the trauma of colonization has conditioned post-colonial societies to adopt behaviors that benefit the former colonizers. A. Elites as Gatekeepers of Colonial Structures In many post-colonial nations, political and economic elites maintain colonial financial policies because they personally benefit from them. Studies (Acemoglu & Robinson, 2012) show that economic elites in post-colonial states are more likely to align with global financial institutions rather than advocate for economic self-determination. B. Consumer Culture as a Neo-Colonial Tool Western consumerism remains deeply ingrained in many post-colonial societies. This is a legacy of cultural imperialism, where local industries were suppressed in favor of Western goods. The majority of African, South Asian, and Latin American countries continue to import Western luxury goods, technology, and services instead of developing their own. As a result, much of the wealth generated in these countries flows back to Western corporations, mirroring the colonial economic extraction model. --- Conclusion: Fiat Currency as the Modern Brand of Colonization The economic and psychological trauma of colonization ensures that former colonies remain profitable markets and debt-ridden nations under the control of their colonizers. Fiat currency, international debt structures, and cultural hegemony serve as the modern pillars of economic colonialism, reinforcing behaviors that favor Western economic dominance. Key Takeaways: 1. Historical trauma conditions former colonies into economic dependency. 2. Fiat currency (such as the CFA franc) remains a tool of colonial control. 3. The IMF and World Bank perpetuate financial dependency through debt cycles. 4. Consumer culture ensures wealth extraction from former colonies to Western economies. Unless these structures are dismantled, economic sovereignty for formerly colonized nations remains an illusion. Breaking free from the financial colonial matrix requires monetary independence, de-dollarization strategies, and local industrialization, rather than continued reliance on Western financial systems. --- References: Yehuda, R., & Lehrner, A. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: Putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry, 17(3), 243-257. Sotero, M. M. (2006). A conceptual model of historical trauma: Implications for public health practice and research. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 1(1), 93-108. Shields, G. S., Sazma, M. A., & Yonelinas, A. P. (2016). The effects of acute stress on economic decision-making. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 67, 226-234. Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. (2012). Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. Crown Business. Sylla, N. S. (2019). The CFA Franc: The Shackles of Monetary Dependence. Pluto Press. Hudson, M. (2021). Super Imperialism: The Economic Strategy of American Empire. Pluto Press.

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# How does open source development contribute to bitcoin's security, reliability, and evolution as a network? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/876130