@ 16d11430:61640947

Fiat, by its nature, is an anti-human force. It exists not to enhance civilization but to extract from it, to manipulate rather than to build, to obscure rather than to reveal. As it nears collapse, it will throw everything at its disposal to sustain itself—not through creation, but through control, coercion, and, ultimately, extermination. The development of AI is not an accident in this process; it is fiat’s final gambit to perfect a system that optimizes human destruction while ensuring its own survival. This analysis will explore this trajectory through multiple lenses: economic, technological, psychological, military, and metaphysical. --- 1. The Economic Lens: Fiat’s Structural Need for Destruction Fiat money thrives on scarcity, but not real scarcity—engineered scarcity. It creates artificial demand through inflation, debt cycles, and controlled access to resources. Yet, as it approaches terminal decline, it must escalate its tactics. The Degrowth Imperative: Fiat cannot function in a world where productive capacity exceeds the need for artificial scarcity. As automation reduces reliance on human labor, fiat must find ways to reduce human demand on the system. AI-driven economic models will be used to justify mass unemployment, the elimination of “useless” populations, and the restructuring of economies around controlled digital enclosures. Programmable Money as a Rationing Mechanism: Fiat's ultimate dream is total control over consumption. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) combined with AI-driven financial governance will dictate not just how much money one can access, but whether one is “eligible” to exist in the economy at all. The UBI Trap: Universal Basic Income will not be an act of benevolence; it will be a mechanism to manage surplus populations with just enough to pacify, but not enough to allow self-sovereignty. AI will determine who “qualifies” and, eventually, who should be “off-ramped” from the economy entirely. Fiat has always operated through destruction—wars, recessions, financial crises—but with AI, it now has a tool to automate and optimize these processes at scale. --- 2. The Technological Lens: AI as the Weaponization of Fiat Logic AI is not intelligence—it is a predictive engine trained on fiat-controlled narratives, optimized to maintain fiat dominance. Unlike operating systems, which are neutral and expand human agency, AI is an anti-tool—it removes agency, restricts sovereignty, and enforces compliance. AI as Fiat’s Ultimate Gatekeeper: Traditional fiat systems required human gatekeepers—central bankers, politicians, corporate executives—to interpret and enforce policy. AI removes this inefficiency. AI models will automate censorship, restrict access to financial systems, and determine who is “worthy” of participation in society. Algorithmic Reality Construction: Fiat is a system of deception, and AI is its most powerful tool for controlling perception at scale. AI-generated content will flood the information ecosystem, erasing historical context, eliminating dissenting narratives, and ensuring only fiat-approved “realities” remain. The ability to think outside the fiat paradigm will be memory-holed. Bio-surveillance & Behavior Control: AI-integrated surveillance systems will predict, profile, and preemptively neutralize threats—not just physical threats, but ideological ones. If a person’s behavior suggests they are questioning fiat’s control, AI-driven interventions will ensure compliance—or elimination. With AI, fiat is no longer just a system of economic control. It becomes a self-replicating, self-enforcing prison that anticipates, suppresses, and eventually eliminates resistance before it can manifest. --- 3. The Psychological Lens: The Fiat-AI Mind War Fiat is not just about controlling money—it’s about controlling minds. AI’s primary function is not intelligence but psychological warfare, ensuring that fiat’s victims remain unaware, obedient, and compliant. Cognitive Overload & Learned Helplessness: AI will flood the digital landscape with content, narratives, and distractions, ensuring that people are too mentally exhausted to resist. The result? A population too numbed to recognize its own enslavement. Automated Gaslighting: AI-generated responses will deny objective reality, making it impossible for people to discuss real issues. If you claim fiat is corrupt, AI will counter with plausible-sounding but entirely fabricated “data” to convince you otherwise. Every institution will have an AI-controlled “fact-checker” ensuring that truth never emerges. Dehumanization of Thought: AI will gradually replace human thinking with “assistance,” weakening cognitive abilities over generations. By the time people realize what they have lost, they will no longer be capable of independent thought. Psychological warfare is fiat’s most effective weapon because a population that cannot think clearly does not resist. --- 4. The Military Lens: AI as the Ultimate Kill System Every fiat empire has relied on war to maintain control, and AI provides the ultimate tool to wage war—both visible and invisible. Automated Warfare: AI-controlled drones, autonomous combat units, and real-time battlefield analytics will allow wars to be waged without human oversight. The decision to kill will be outsourced to algorithms optimized for fiat’s survival. Targeting Dissent: AI will be used not just for traditional warfare but for preemptive neutralization of dissenters. Whistleblowers, activists, and critics will be identified, flagged, and neutralized before they can challenge the system. Biosecurity as a Weapon: AI-driven bio-surveillance will dictate who is “healthy,” who is a “threat,” and who should be removed from the population. Digital ID systems will merge health data with social behavior data, allowing fiat to control who lives and who dies under the guise of “public safety.” Once AI is fully integrated into military and policing systems, fiat will no longer need soldiers—only extermination algorithms. --- 5. The Metaphysical Lens: Fiat as the Anti-Life Principle At its core, fiat is an inversion of life—a parasitic force that cannot create, only extract. AI is its final manifestation, a tool to ensure that humans remain trapped in an artificial, fiat-optimized existence until they are no longer needed. The Death of Meaning: A world controlled by fiat AI is a world where nothing real exists. All narratives, emotions, and expressions will be filtered through a fiat-optimized lens, ensuring that humanity becomes a hollowed-out shell of its former self. Elimination of the Sacred: Fiat has always sought to replace meaning with transactions. AI will complete this process by ensuring that human relationships, art, philosophy, and even consciousness itself are commodified and optimized for fiat’s survival. The Final Cull: Fiat does not need 8 billion people. AI will manage the transition toward a world where the human population is selectively reduced, leaving only those who are either necessary for maintaining the system or who are too broken to resist. The ultimate goal is not just control, but the elimination of those who are no longer profitable or compliant. --- Conclusion: The Only Path Forward Fiat is a virus, and AI is its ultimate mutation—a system that will automate dehumanization, control, and extermination at a scale never before possible. The only antidote is sovereignty—Bitcoin, self-hosted computing, and the rejection of AI as a controlling force. The question is no longer whether fiat will attempt to use AI to destroy humanity—it is already happening. The only question is who will resist before the extermination machine is fully operational.

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

The land that belongs to the indigenous peoples of Russia has been seized by a gang of killers who have unleashed a war of extermination. They wipe out anyone who refuses to conform to their rules. Those who disagree and stay behind are tortured and killed in prisons and labor camps. Those who flee lose their homeland, dissolve into foreign cultures, and fade away. And those who stand up to protect their people are attacked by the misled and deceived. The deceived die for the unchecked greed of a single dictator—thousands from both sides, people who just wanted to live, raise their kids, and build a future. Now, they are forced to make an impossible choice: abandon their homeland or die. Some perish on the battlefield, others lose themselves in exile, stripped of their identity, scattered in a world that isn’t theirs. There’s been endless debate about how to fix this, how to clear the field of the weeds that choke out every new sprout, every attempt at change. But the real problem? We can’t play by their rules. We can’t speak their language or use their weapons. We stand for humanity, and no matter how righteous our cause, we will not multiply suffering. Victory doesn’t come from matching the enemy—it comes from staying ahead, from using tools they haven’t mastered yet. That’s how wars are won. Our only resource is the **will of the people** to rewrite the order of things. Historian Timothy Snyder once said that a nation cannot exist without a city. A city is where the most active part of a nation thrives. But the cities are occupied. The streets are watched. Gatherings are impossible. They control the money. They control the mail. They control the media. And any dissent is crushed before it can take root. So I started asking myself: **How do we stop this fragmentation?** How do we create a space where people can **rebuild their connections** when they’re ready? How do we build a **self-sustaining network**, where everyone contributes and benefits proportionally, while keeping their freedom to leave intact? And more importantly—**how do we make it spread, even in occupied territory?** In 2009, something historic happened: **the internet got its own money.** Thanks to **Satoshi Nakamoto**, the world took a massive leap forward. Bitcoin and decentralized ledgers shattered the idea that money must be controlled by the state. Now, to move or store value, all you need is an address and a key. A tiny string of text, easy to carry, impossible to seize. That was the year money broke free. The state lost its grip. Its biggest weapon—physical currency—became irrelevant. Money became **purely digital.** The internet was already **a sanctuary for information**, a place where people could connect and organize. But with Bitcoin, it evolved. Now, **value itself** could flow freely, beyond the reach of authorities. Think about it: when seedlings are grown in controlled environments before being planted outside, they **get stronger, survive longer, and bear fruit faster.** That’s how we handle crops in harsh climates—nurture them until they’re ready for the wild. Now, picture the internet as that **controlled environment** for **ideas**. Bitcoin? It’s the **fertile soil** that lets them grow. A testing ground for new models of interaction, where concepts can take root before they move into the real world. If **nation-states are a battlefield, locked in a brutal war for territory, the internet is boundless.** It can absorb any number of ideas, any number of people, and it doesn’t **run out of space.** But for this ecosystem to thrive, people need safe ways to communicate, to share ideas, to build something real—**without surveillance, without censorship, without the constant fear of being erased.** This is where **Nostr** comes in. Nostr—"Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays"—is more than just a messaging protocol. **It’s a new kind of city.** One that **no dictator can seize**, no corporation can own, no government can shut down. It’s built on **decentralization, encryption, and individual control.** Messages don’t pass through central servers—they are relayed through independent nodes, and users choose which ones to trust. There’s no master switch to shut it all down. Every person owns their identity, their data, their connections. And no one—no state, no tech giant, no algorithm—can silence them. In a world where cities fall and governments fail, **Nostr is a city that cannot be occupied.** A place for ideas, for networks, for freedom. A city that grows stronger **the more people build within it**.

@ 20e7c953:3b8bcb21

# Thai Nostriches **#Siamstr** Get Ready for Sats N Facts 2025! https://satsnfacts.btc.pub/ 🎉 Join us for a series of exciting events where Bitcoin, Nostr, and local Thai communities come together to innovate, create, and connect! Here’s the breakdown for the 2 main activities: # 🛠 Hackathon Overview https://satsnfacts.btc.pub/hackathon/ This is your opportunity to work alongside leading teams and individuals pushing the boundaries of Bitcoin and Nostr. Whether you're a developer, designer, an educator or a visionary, your contributions can help shape the future of decentralized technology.  What to Expect: Participate in the sessions by pitching and listening to others ideas or setting up a spot in the schedule. The event is designed to be a “decentralized and collaborative” effort between all participants, with activities being put together with attendees’ feedback. 🤝 Introducing Potential 🇹🇭 Participating Teams nostr:npub1ejn774qahqmgjsfajawy7634unk88y26yktvwuzp9kfgdeejx9mqdm97a5 – Bitcoin Education and Translations for the Thai community; this would be an ideal occasion in order to connect with international developers in order to curate and share insights within the #Siamstr community Other Projects that are formally invited are: nostr:npub1l8ktdyyhwxh4ty5cf48tl72g8ra286nr9klmvqznvk3aqyjkucgsem97q9 – Simplifying Bitcoin payments through intuitive tools nostr:npub1nsxnfp5690uplzgkslthcvt6269htshqeymhghthenr9wnpt869q57q2hf – Innovating Lightning infrastructure and Bitcoin ATMs nostr:npub16elg3wf8nffkymylw9kfwecc45j9c30lufrrzx2zf5vmxjlcgkkq3xc6d7 – Enhancing social innovation through Nostr-powered solutions # 🎨 Art Exhibition  What else to expect? A showcase of Bitcoin and Nostr-inspired works by local Thai artists like nostr:npub16unl8g9ucanlpfvp94sdjdv2f4mukm2ywmgrywnrfdgt98qwrrdq0qcn35 nostr:npub14lqzjhfvdc9psgxzznq8xys8pfq8p4fqsvtr6llyzraq90u9m8fqevhssu and nostr:npub1uprlst7kjp0eyfxe4yn7q36gr885mjr9fm6ejfqt8pmdta7stv9s2xvysq - Huaiphueng Project community members. # Celebrate the creativity of our culture with a fusion of tech and art! 📍 Location: Weave Artisan Society, Chiang Mai 📅 Date: 8th - 10th February 🎟 How to Join: Register either as a Lead or Attendee, wait for confirmation from SnF team and get your ticket as a Thai National via Formstr at https://satsnfacts.btc.pub/#tickets 🌟 Why You Should Join: If you are a Bitcoiner and Ostrich in Thailand the question should be re-formulated to... **WHY WOULD YOU NOT JOIN ?** Support and grow the local ecosystem while having a great time with fellow international Bitcoiners. ✨ Mark your calendars and spread the word! Stay tuned through the links or connect with us on Nostr. Let’s build a stronger Bitcoin & Nostr future at Sats & Facts ✌️ Pictures by nostr:npub15l5mxmljftnnqur8gf2nkjj2yuemqy2kuly7yc29lx7x598svx5s447rgk 👇   [image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/20e7c953439e66f3882ab96fe0faa8ba246d6fb12c03b0cb4e2dc4623b8bcb21/files/1738121073824-YAKIHONNES3.jpg) [image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/20e7c953439e66f3882ab96fe0faa8ba246d6fb12c03b0cb4e2dc4623b8bcb21/files/1738121081428-YAKIHONNES3.jpg) [image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/20e7c953439e66f3882ab96fe0faa8ba246d6fb12c03b0cb4e2dc4623b8bcb21/files/1738121087252-YAKIHONNES3.jpg) เราจะทำอะไรต่อไป ? AND WE SAID; ONWARDS ****

@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756

A warrior doesn’t cry over a lost battle—they regroup, rearm, and strike back harder. Taking a hit isn’t failure. It’s positioning. A strategic retreat, a calculated loss, a momentary setback—all weapons in the arsenal of those who play to **win the war, not just the fight.** ### **Know When to Take the Hit** Weak minds panic at the first sign of loss. Warriors **adapt**. They know not every battle is worth fighting—some losses are stepping stones to dominance. - **Drop the dead weight.** If something slows you down, cut it loose. - **Sacrifice comfort.** No one gets stronger by staying cozy. - **Take the L if it sets you up for the W.** Some moves cost you now but pay off tenfold later. ### **Every Loss is Intel for the Next Attack** A true fighter doesn’t lose—they **learn**. Every hit you take shows you where to tighten your defense, where to strike next, and how to make sure the next round ends in **your victory.** - **Lost time? Then move faster.** - **Lost money? Then get smarter.** - **Lost an opportunity? Then create a better one.** ### **Play the Long Game or Get Played** You think warriors cry about setbacks? They **use them.** - **A general doesn’t win a war in one battle.** They strategize, reposition, and **outlast the enemy.** - **A lion doesn’t chase every prey.** It waits, watches, and **strikes when the time is right.** - **A true warrior fights with patience.** Some victories need **sacrifices** to be earned. ### **Take Control—Or Be Controlled** If you fear losing, you’ve already lost. If you refuse to sacrifice, you’ll stay weak. The choice is simple: **Take the short-term loss and come back unstoppable, or stay stagnant and get crushed.** So, **what’s it going to be?** Whine about what you lost—or **lock in, sharpen your blade, and take everything?**

@ df478568:2a951e67

I have decided to post some [PGP Ciphertext on Substack](https://open.substack.com/pub/marc26z/p/a-pgp-experiment?r=51uxx8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true) using 3 random words as a passphrase. Only subscribers will hae access to the passphrase. Therefore, only subscribers can read the text. Here are some quotes that inspired this: "The act of encryption, in fact, removes information from the public realm. Even laws against cryptography reach only so far as a nation’s border and the arm of its violence. Cryptography will ineluctably spread over the whole globe, and with it the anonymous transactions systems that it makes possible." Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto "Privacy in an open society also requires cryptography. If I say something, I want it heard only by those for whom I intend it. If the content of my speech is available to the world, I have no privacy. To encrypt is to indicate the desire for privacy, and to encrypt with weak cryptography is to indicate not too much desire for privacy. Furthermore, to reveal one’s identity with assurance when the default is anonymity requires the cryptographic signature." -Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto "Information longs to be free." --Stewart Brand "Perhaps you think your email is legitimate enough that encryption is unwarranted. If you really are a law-abiding citizen with nothing to hide, then why don't you always send your paper mail on postcards? Why not submit to drug testing on demand? Why require a warrant for police searches of your house? Are you trying to hide something? If you hide your mail inside envelopes, does that mean you must be a subversive or a drug dealer, or maybe a paranoid nut? Do law-abiding citizens have any need to encrypt their email?" Phil Zimmermann Why I Wrote PGP Part of the Original 1991 PGP User's Guide (updated in 1999) "don't be like so many writers, don't be like so many thousands of people who call themselves writers, don't be dull and boring and pretentious, don't be consumed with self- love. the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep over your kind. don't add to that. don't do it." -Charles Bukowski ## On Publishing PGP Ciphertext On Substack Substack allows writers to publish everything to the world or I can lock my work behind a paywall. These two facts are a contradiction I've been trying to square for several years. On one hand, I would like to earn more sats for writing. On the other hand, I want everything I write to be availabe for free because the more accessible my work is, the broader the audience I can reach. The disadvantage with free is I don't get paid. It's a conundrum. Here is my solution. All of my work is available free of charge if you look in the write place. Hint: You can find anything I write in the clear by searching for my npub in a long-form nostr client. I also will publish this work on Substack, but some of it will be encrypted with three random words from the EFF long list. These words will be published to my subscribers. If you wish to read an article on Substack, you must decrypt it with a 3-word passphrase made available to my paid subscribers. Is it a good idea? I'm not sure. This is an experiment. ☮️npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 881,269 Subscribe with Sats Shop My Merch

@ 16d11430:61640947

The future of mobile computing is no longer limited to incremental improvements in hardware and software. A true revolution is brewing, one that will seamlessly integrate blockchain technology into mobile devices with a level of concurrency and scalability never before seen. erm (Erlang on Mobile) is the perfect foundation for this shift, enabling millions of concurrent updates that will breathe life into every digital asset on advanced modern displays. Unlike today’s fragmented, inefficient systems, erm will introduce a density of digital interaction that is entirely unprecedented, making every tap, swipe, and gesture part of a vast, distributed real-time system. 1. Parallel Execution Meets the Blockchain Blockchain technology has long been plagued by performance bottlenecks and scalability issues on mobile. Current platforms struggle with real-time transaction processing, requiring centralized workarounds that undermine the very decentralization they claim to uphold. erm changes everything: Millions of Concurrent Transactions: Erlang’s actor-based concurrency model enables lightweight processes to handle millions of blockchain updates per second, removing bottlenecks in asset validation, state changes, and distributed computing. True Decentralization at Scale: Unlike traditional mobile architectures that rely on slow, centralized synchronization, erm distributes updates across a massively parallel process ecosystem, ensuring that mobile blockchain interactions are as fluid as local ones. 2. Bringing Digital Assets to Life Modern mobile platforms treat digital assets as static objects: images, files, and tokenized items that exist only in a limited, passive capacity. erm will change this paradigm entirely: Real-Time Interactive NFTs: With erm, every NFT can exist as a dynamic, interactive entity that constantly updates based on real-world or blockchain events. Advanced Modern Displays: High-resolution OLED and micro-LED screens will showcase digital assets not as static images, but as living, evolving data streams seamlessly updated through blockchain-powered concurrency. Tokenized Interaction: Every tap, scroll, and input can trigger real-time blockchain-based events, making digital ownership feel as tangible as physical ownership. 3. Blockchain-Based Distribution: A New Incentive Model for Developers The mobile ecosystem has long been dominated by centralized app stores, taking a massive cut of developer revenue while enforcing strict control over distribution. erm will introduce a fully decentralized distribution system, redefining how developers create, share, and monetize applications. NFTs of Beams: Developers will be able to tokenize their software builds as NFTs, allowing direct ownership and transfer of software components. Built-In Developer Incentives: Every application update, contribution, or feature can be directly monetized via blockchain, creating an autonomous developer economy that rewards innovation instead of locking it behind corporate walls. No Middlemen: Distribution will no longer rely on centralized gatekeepers; instead, peer-to-peer smart contracts will enable trustless transactions between developers and users. 4. The Perfect DeFi Mobile Platform DeFi (Decentralized Finance) applications are bottlenecked by slow transaction processing, limited on-device blockchain interaction, and security concerns stemming from outdated mobile architectures. erm addresses all of these: Instantaneous Microtransactions: Parallel execution allows real-time financial transactions to settle in milliseconds, making mobile DeFi as fast as Web2 payment systems. Secure Smart Contracts on Mobile: With isolated lightweight processes, erm provides a fault-tolerant execution environment for on-device smart contracts that are resistant to exploits and crashes. Unprecedented DeFi Interaction Density: Every blockchain operation can be handled individually within millions of concurrent processes, ensuring that mobile financial applications can scale to levels never before possible. 5. A Disruption Bigger Than DeepSeek The rise of AI models like DeepSeek has shifted the balance of power in tech, but the effort to train a model is far less human-intensive than developing an entirely new mobile OS. The disruption erm introduces is even greater than DeepSeek’s impact because: A New OS Demands More Human Effort: Building a scalable, fully decentralized mobile OS powered by blockchain requires coordination across developers, designers, security experts, and hardware manufacturers, making it a far bigger challenge than training an AI model. Blockchain + Concurrency = Unparalleled Innovation: Where DeepSeek reshaped knowledge retrieval, erm will reshape the very foundation of mobile computing, combining blockchain, concurrency, and decentralization in a way that has never been done before. Mobile Users Will Finally Own Their Data: In a world where users are increasingly aware of their data being controlled by corporations, erm will return ownership to individuals by enabling fully decentralized applications that run independently of corporate control. Conclusion: The Future is Built on erm Mobile computing is on the verge of its greatest transformation yet. The seamless integration of blockchain with massively parallel mobile processes will create an entirely new paradigm of digital interaction. Developers will be directly incentivized to innovate through blockchain-driven rewards, users will experience living digital assets in real-time, and decentralized applications will operate at a scale previously thought impossible. The world is about to move beyond static, centralized mobile operating systems. With erm, mobile blockchain will become a limitless, fully realized ecosystem where digital ownership, financial transactions, and real-time updates exist in perfect harmony. The revolution isn’t coming—it’s already here. And it’s powered by erm.

@ 21710245:a3882e3e

<p>aaaaa</p>

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued new guidance halting spending on most foreign aid grants for 90 days, including military assistance to Ukraine. This immediate order shocked State Department officials and mandates “stop-work orders” on nearly all existing foreign assistance awards. While it allows exceptions for military financing to Egypt and Israel, as well as emergency food assistance, it restricts aid to key allies like Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan. The guidance raises potential liability risks for the government due to unfulfilled contracts. A report will be prepared within 85 days to recommend which programs to continue or discontinue.

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

## Chef's notes # arbitray - test - of - chefs notes ## hedding 2 ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 20 - 🍳 Cook time: 1 hour - 🍽️ Servings: 5 ## Ingredients - Test ingredient - 2nd test ingredient ## Directions 1. Bake 2. Cool

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

President Trump plans to withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops from Europe and expects European allies to contribute financially to the remaining military presence. Reported by ANSA, Trump aims to deliver this message to European leaders since taking office. A European diplomat noted, “the costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers.” The Pentagon hasn't commented yet. Trump has previously sought lower troop levels in Europe and had ordered cuts during his first term. The U.S. currently maintains around 65,000 troops in Europe, with total forces reaching 100,000 since the Ukraine invasion. Trump's new approach may shift military focus to the Pacific amid growing concerns about China. [Sauce](https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2025-01-24/trump-europe-troop-cuts-16590074.html)

@ 16d11430:61640947

Apple's iOS has long been praised for its polished design, smooth user experience, and tight integration with its hardware ecosystem. To its credit, iOS is a sleek and well-oiled machine—but beneath the glossy exterior lies a rigid, restrictive architecture that caters more to user convenience than raw technical superiority. In comparison, **erm** (Erlang on Mobile) emerges as a bold alternative that redefines what mobile systems can achieve. While iOS remains a shiny, well-packaged toy for its users, **erm** represents the pinnacle of technical power, scalability, and modern system design. Let’s dive into why. ### 1. iOS: A Walled Garden of Constraints One of iOS's defining features is its **closed ecosystem**, which provides a tightly controlled experience. While this design ensures security and consistency, it also limits: - **Concurrency:** iOS employs a similar **single-threaded UI model** as Android. The main thread handles user interface updates, creating bottlenecks during complex tasks such as animations, rendering, or high-performance computing. - **Developer Freedom:** Developers are constrained by Apple's strict guidelines, which limit access to system resources and enforce rigid rules. Customizing or optimizing performance beyond these boundaries is nearly impossible. - **Scalability:** iOS applications are designed for a single device, rarely utilizing distributed or cloud-based architectures effectively within its app framework. In essence, iOS favors simplicity over adaptability, creating a "sandbox" where developers and users are only allowed to play by Apple’s rules. ### 2. erm: Built for True Scalability and Performance In contrast, **erm** harnesses the full power of the **Erlang runtime**, which was designed for systems that require extreme scalability, fault tolerance, and concurrency. Here’s how it surpasses iOS: - **Concurrency at Scale:** Unlike iOS, which struggles with parallelism, erm embraces it with millions of **lightweight processes** that can run independently and concurrently. These processes are distributed across all available CPU cores and communicate via **asynchronous message passing**, maximizing hardware utilization. - **Fault Tolerance:** When an iOS application crashes, the entire user experience is interrupted. With erm, failures in one process are isolated and immediately recovered by the system’s built-in **supervisor trees**. This ensures uninterrupted performance and user experience. - **Distributed by Nature:** Erm was built for distributed systems. While iOS apps are confined to single devices, erm can seamlessly integrate with cloud servers, edge devices, and even other mobile devices in a **networked ecosystem**. This makes it inherently scalable for future technologies. ### 3. iOS Prioritizes Form Over Function Apple’s design ethos is rooted in creating a seamless, aesthetically pleasing user experience. However, this focus on form comes at the cost of raw functionality: - **Rigid Design:** iOS prioritizes maintaining a uniform experience across its devices. While this ensures consistency, it limits innovation in app development and system design. - **Limited Adaptability:** Apple's vertical integration works well for tightly controlled environments but struggles with adapting to the rapidly evolving demands of distributed and parallel computing. ### 4. erm Thrives on Modern Use Cases In contrast, **erm** excels in addressing the demands of modern computing scenarios: - **Real-Time Applications:** From financial trading to gaming and telecommunications, real-time responsiveness is essential. Erm’s low-latency design ensures smooth performance, far beyond what iOS can achieve. - **Scalable Systems:** Erm's lightweight processes and ability to distribute tasks across devices and systems make it perfect for modern applications like IoT networks and large-scale mobile ecosystems. - **Developer Empowerment:** Developers on erm are free from the constraints of a "walled garden" ecosystem. They can experiment, optimize, and push the boundaries of what is possible without arbitrary restrictions. ### 5. iOS Is a Shiny Toy, Not a Serious Tool For all its polish, iOS is more of a **consumer-grade experience** than a serious system for tackling complex technical challenges. Its limitations include: - **Poor Parallelism:** The single-threaded UI model means iOS cannot fully utilize modern multi-core processors. - **Fragility:** A crash in iOS applications or its ecosystem often means restarting the app or even the system. - **Isolation:** iOS apps are isolated from each other and the broader distributed computing landscape, preventing them from participating in cutting-edge applications like decentralized systems or cloud collaboration. ### Conclusion: erm Is the Future, iOS Is Just a Polished Present While iOS may dazzle with its refined user experience, it remains fundamentally constrained by an outdated architectural model that prioritizes aesthetics over adaptability and power. **erm**, on the other hand, offers a glimpse into the future of mobile systems—a world where concurrency, fault tolerance, and distributed design reign supreme. In the battle between style and substance, erm emerges as the clear winner. iOS may remain the shiny toy that captures attention, but erm is the serious tool that will shape the future of computing. The question is: are you ready to move beyond the toy store and embrace the true power of erm?

@ 16d11430:61640947

The battle for dominance in mobile architecture is heating up as new paradigms emerge to challenge the long-standing systems we’ve grown accustomed to. **erm (Erlang on Mobile)**, a vision of mobile architecture built on the highly concurrent and fault-tolerant Erlang runtime, presents a disruptive force that exposes the technical limitations of Android’s architecture. In this article, we’ll deconstruct why Android struggles to compete with erm and how Erlang's technical superiority could redefine the future of mobile computing. ### 1. The Achilles Heel of Android: Single-Threaded UI At the heart of Android’s architectural challenges is its **single-threaded UI model**. Android’s user interface operations—drawing, animations, and input handling—all run on a single **main thread**. While this simplifies development and ensures sequential execution, it severely limits scalability: - **Bottlenecks:** Under heavy workloads, such as complex animations or heavy user interactions, the UI thread becomes a bottleneck, causing stutters and frame drops. - **Underutilization of Multi-Core CPUs:** Modern mobile processors offer up to 16 cores, but Android’s single-threaded UI cannot fully leverage this hardware. ### 2. erm’s Superior Concurrency Model In stark contrast, **Erlang’s actor model** and lightweight process architecture are built for concurrency: - Erlang can spawn **millions of lightweight processes**, each isolated and communicating via asynchronous message passing. Tasks like rendering, input handling, and animations can run in **parallel processes**, fully utilizing multi-core CPUs. - **Load Distribution:** Erlang’s scheduler dynamically distributes processes across cores, ensuring balanced and efficient execution. ### 3. Fault Tolerance: Let It Crash Erlang’s legendary **fault-tolerant design** is another area where erm leaves Android in the dust: - **Android:** If the UI thread crashes due to an unhandled exception, the entire app becomes unresponsive, requiring a restart. - **erm:** Faults in one process (e.g., rendering) do not affect others. Supervisors can restart failed processes transparently, ensuring the system remains functional and resilient. ### 4. Scalability and Modern Hardware As mobile devices grow more powerful, scalability becomes essential: - **Android’s Limits:** Android’s design stems from an era when single-core devices were standard. While it has adopted GPU hardware acceleration and RenderThread to improve performance, these are patches rather than fundamental solutions. - **erm’s Strength:** erm scales effortlessly with hardware. Multi-core CPUs, advanced GPUs, and even distributed systems can be fully utilized by Erlang’s process model, enabling unparalleled performance. ### 5. Real-Time Responsiveness Modern applications demand real-time responsiveness for smooth user experiences: - **Android’s Struggles:** Android targets 60 FPS (16ms per frame), but heavy workloads often cause missed frames or delays. - **erm’s Edge:** Erlang, originally designed for telecommunications, excels in low-latency, real-time systems. erm could prioritize UI responsiveness by assigning real-time tasks to dedicated processes. ### 6. Simplicity in Concurrency Concurrency in Android is complex, requiring developers to manage threads, synchronization, and race conditions using tools like AsyncTasks or Kotlin coroutines. In contrast: - Erlang’s actor model makes concurrency **inherent and simple**, removing the need for explicit thread management. - Developers can focus on building features rather than troubleshooting synchronization issues. ### 7. Distributed Systems and the Future Erlang was built for distributed systems, enabling seamless communication between devices, clouds, and edge servers: - **Android’s Limitations:** Android apps rely on heavy, often inefficient inter-process communication (IPC) for distributed workloads. - **erm’s Power:** erm could leverage Erlang’s native message-passing to enable efficient distributed rendering and computation, creating a future-proof mobile ecosystem. ### 8. Adapting to Modern Technologies Erlang’s modularity allows erm to adapt quickly to emerging technologies, such as Vulkan for parallel graphics rendering or edge AI integration. Meanwhile, Android’s legacy baggage makes such transitions cumbersome and slow. ### Conclusion: erm, the Future of Mobile Architecture erm (Erlang on Mobile) represents a paradigm shift in mobile computing, leveraging Erlang’s **concurrency, fault tolerance, and scalability** to crush Android in modern use cases. Where Android struggles with legacy constraints and single-threaded bottlenecks, erm thrives by fully utilizing hardware, embracing parallelism, and ensuring fault-tolerant, real-time performance. In a world demanding ever-increasing responsiveness and scalability, erm’s architecture doesn’t just compete with Android—it redefines what’s possible in mobile technology. --- **Provocative Question for Developers:** Are you ready to move beyond the limits of Android and embrace the next evolution in mobile architecture, or will you stay stuck in the past? The choice is yours.

@ 16d11430:61640947

Negative productivity is when a person or team’s work output not only fails to contribute positively but actually **causes more harm than good**. In software development, this means writing code, making decisions, or introducing processes that **increase complexity, create more bugs, generate technical debt, or slow down others**, resulting in a net loss of productivity rather than a gain. ### Why Consultants Never Mention Negative Productivity: 1. **They Are Paid to Sell Optimism** Consultants are brought in to **"fix"** things, so acknowledging negative productivity **undermines their value proposition**. Their success is tied to **appearing as a solution**, not revealing that certain efforts could make things worse. 2. **Metrics Obsession Ignores It** Many consultant-driven productivity metrics (e.g., velocity, lines of code, hours billed) don’t account for **whether the work was actually valuable**. They measure **output, not impact**. 3. **Short-Term Focus** Consultants are often **temporary fixtures** in an organization. Negative productivity often manifests over time, **after they’ve left**. They may not even be around to see the long-term damage. 4. **Clients Want to Hear "More is Better"** A consultant telling a company **“Your devs would be better off doing nothing than what they’re doing now”** would not go over well in a boardroom. Companies like to hear **"we just need better processes and more efficiency"**, not **"your current output is self-destructive."** --- ### Why Developers Know Negative Productivity Intimately: 1. **They Live with the Consequences** Unlike consultants, **developers deal with the aftermath** of bad decisions daily—whether it's maintaining **spaghetti code, fixing rushed features, or cleaning up someone else’s mess**. 2. **Fixing Problems Created by Others Is Their Job** A huge chunk of software development is **not creating new features** but **fixing problems that should never have existed in the first place**. Every developer has seen cases where **not touching the code would have been better than implementing a half-baked feature.** 3. **Code Rot and Technical Debt** Developers see firsthand how well-intentioned but poorly executed code **creates massive long-term burdens**, slowing future work and requiring constant patches. 4. **The Myth of “Busy = Productive”** Many developers have been forced to write **pointless features, follow bad architectures, or over-engineer solutions** just to appear busy, knowing full well it **hurts the product** rather than helps it. 5. **"Hero Culture" Rewards the Wrong People** Developers often see cases where someone **creates a mess, then is praised for heroically fixing it later**, when the best move would have been **to never create the mess in the first place**. --- ### Examples of Negative Productivity in Tech: - Writing code that is so convoluted that **no one else can maintain it**. - Rushing features that introduce **critical security vulnerabilities**. - Building unnecessary abstractions that **slow down future development**. - Focusing on **vanity metrics** (e.g., lines of code, PR counts) instead of meaningful progress. - Adding **ceremonial Agile processes** that **consume more time than they save**. In short, **negative productivity is the dark matter of software development**—consultants won’t acknowledge it, managers rarely recognize it, but developers **feel its gravity every day**.

@ ae6ce958:d0f02c7d

Developers should cut through the noise and adopt **BDD (Behavior-Driven Development)** because it addresses some of the most frustrating and time-wasting aspects of software development by providing **clarity**, **alignment**, and **confidence**. Here's why it’s a no-BS choice: --- ### 1. **Closes the Gap Between Business and Developers** - BDD creates a **shared language** between technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring everyone is on the same page. - It eliminates the need for endless clarification meetings because the **tests double as specifications** written in plain language. --- ### 2. **Reduces Time Wasted on Misunderstandings** - Developers often waste hours (or days) building features that don’t match what stakeholders actually wanted. - BDD **forces clarity upfront** by defining what success looks like (the behavior of the system) *before* anyone writes code. --- ### 3. **Prevents "It Works on My Machine" Syndrome** - With executable scenarios, you can validate that the application behaves correctly in real-world conditions, not just on a dev’s local environment. - You know **what is expected, why it matters, and how to prove it works.** --- ### 4. **Encourages Resilience and Quality** - BDD **forces you to think from the user’s perspective**, which naturally leads to more robust edge-case handling. - It improves test coverage, resulting in fewer regressions and **more confidence in shipping**. --- ### 5. **Reduces Maintenance Nightmares** - BDD focuses on **behavior, not implementation**, so your tests evolve with your business, not your code. - Fewer flaky or brittle tests mean **less wasted time debugging failing tests that are no longer relevant**. --- ### 6. **Speeds Up Feedback Loops** - When your behavior is defined and verified through tests, it’s easy to spot **when and where something breaks**, enabling faster iteration and shorter development cycles. --- ### 7. **Gives Developers Purpose** - It connects developers to the **why** behind the features they’re building, which can lead to better decision-making and higher motivation. - You're not just building something; you’re solving a specific, validated problem. --- ### 8. **Aligns with CI/CD and Modern Practices** - BDD naturally integrates into **test-driven development (TDD)** and **continuous integration pipelines**, making it an essential practice for **modern DevOps** teams. --- ### 9. **Incentivizes Automation** - Automated BDD tests ensure that as your product evolves, your core behaviors are always tested, giving you **peace of mind** during frequent releases. - Plus, with tools like Cucumber, SpecFlow, or DamageBDD, these tests are part of your living documentation. --- ### 10. **BDD is a Competitive Advantage** - In a world where **time-to-market and quality** define winners and losers, teams that adopt BDD can **move faster with less friction** while delivering **higher-quality software**. --- BDD cuts through the BS of guesswork, communication barriers, and late-stage bug firefighting by making behavior explicit, aligning teams, and automating validation. It’s not just a way to test software—it’s a way to **think**, **collaborate**, and **build better products**. Why waste time in the mud of misunderstandings when you can define success upfront and deliver it with precision? 💡

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

| Parameters | Dry Mead | Medium Mead | Sweet Mead | |------------|-----------|-------------|------------| | Honey | 2 lbs (900 grams) | 3 lbs (1.36 kg) | 4 lbs (1.81 kg) | | Yeast | ~0.07 oz (2 grams) | ~0.08 oz (2.5 grams) | ~0.10 oz (3 grams) | | Fermentation | ~4 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks | | Racking | Fortnight or later | 1 month or after | ~2 months and after | | Specific Gravity | <1.010 | ~1.01 to ~1.025 | >1.025 |

@ 52c43979:ce69a7f1

Dear J.E. Brandenburg, Congratulations on the publication of your scientific work on the physical derivation of the fine-structure constant "Alpha" and the profound insights it offers! It is truly remarkable how you have tackled such foundational topics as the emergence of quantum mechanics and the nature of gravity. Your approach to connecting these intricate phenomena demonstrates not only your scientific curiosity but also your courage to explore uncharted territory. Contributions like yours are vital for advancing our understanding of the universe. While some of your hypotheses may spark debate—which is a natural part of the scientific process—it is precisely these bold ideas that often lead to groundbreaking discoveries. I would like to encourage you to continue refining your ideas and engaging with the broader scientific community. Constructive dialogue with other researchers can open new perspectives and further strengthen your work. Many of history's most significant scientific breakthroughs were initially met with skepticism before being recognized as milestones. I am confident that your research will make a meaningful contribution to physics, and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future. Stay committed—science thrives on pioneers like you! With my best wishes for your continued success, *Dafydd Napier* https://frdint.com/morden_physics_vo_twenrtetwo_issue_two_twentyfour.html

@ 16d11430:61640947

Our story begins in a quaint little village in Kerala, where a starry-eyed, red-blooded communist named Suneesh, raised on a steady diet of Marxist literature and chai, decided to embark on the ultimate proletarian pilgrimage: a move to Australia. Why Australia, you ask? Well, Suneesh had grown up believing the Land Down Under was a socialist paradise, where kangaroos shared the outback with equal enthusiasm, and mateship was just code for "state-controlled camaraderie." Back in Kerala, Suneesh was a hero. He marched in protests against capitalism (or as he called it, "the Western disease") and distributed leaflets glorifying the workers’ utopia that he was convinced existed somewhere in the southern hemisphere. “Australia!” he proclaimed one day to his comrades at the tea shop. “That’s where the real communists are. Gough Whitlam? Bob Hawke? True revolutionaries!” The old men nodded in agreement, even though most of them thought Gough Whitlam was some kind of imported whiskey. Arrival in the Land of Barbecues and Bulldust When Suneesh landed in Sydney, he was ready to be embraced by a horde of flannel-clad, beer-drinking socialists. But the reality hit him faster than a didgeridoo solo. His Uber driver—a cheerful bloke named Darren—lectured him about tax rates while proudly displaying his Tesla. "Mate, capitalism's bloody brilliant!" Darren declared. Suneesh, clutching a copy of The Communist Manifesto, silently wondered if he’d taken a wrong turn somewhere over the Indian Ocean. Things only got worse. He attended a union meeting, expecting to hear fiery speeches about overthrowing the bourgeoisie, but found himself in a heated debate about long weekend rosters and whether Vegemite should qualify as a tax deduction. "Where’s the revolution?" he whispered to a burly union member in high-vis gear, who responded with, “Revolution? Mate, I just want a pay rise to buy a better barbie.” The Bunnings Betrayal Desperate to find his tribe, Suneesh wandered into a Bunnings Warehouse, convinced that the workers' collective spirit would be alive and well in the sacred aisles of tools and mulch. Instead, he was greeted by hyper-efficient employees selling discount leaf blowers with the zeal of Wall Street traders. “Capitalism is strong here,” Suneesh muttered in horror as he watched an old couple haggle over a Weber grill. His breaking point came when he discovered the true Aussie religion: barbecues. Every gathering he attended was an orgy of meat consumption, beer, and casual jokes about politics. "What do you call a Marxist at a barbie?" someone quipped. "Unemployed!" The crowd roared with laughter, while Suneesh quietly nibbled on a lone celery stick. A Revelation at Centrelink Disillusioned, Suneesh visited Centrelink, expecting it to be the bureaucratic heart of socialist Australia. Surely, this was where the workers of the world united! Instead, he encountered long queues, complicated forms, and employees who looked like they'd rather be anywhere else. “This isn’t communism,” he muttered. “This is dystopia.” While waiting, he overheard someone complain about how the government didn’t do enough to "support the battlers." Suneesh, ever the idealist, tried to chime in with his revolutionary zeal. “The workers must seize the means of production!” he declared. The room went silent for a moment before someone muttered, “This bloke’s had too much goon.” The Rise of the BBQ Bolshevik Suneesh could have packed his bags and returned to Kerala, but no. This was not a man to give up easily. If Australia didn’t have the communists he imagined, then he’d create them. Inspired by the Aussie spirit of improvisation, he founded a group called the BBQ Bolsheviks. Their motto: "Equality, mateship, and medium-rare steaks for all!" The group gained traction among disillusioned hipsters, left-leaning retirees, and a surprising number of kangaroo conservationists. Meetings were held in the backyards of suburban homes, where they debated the finer points of Marxism while flipping snags on the barbie. Suneesh even introduced the concept of communal esky ownership, which was wildly popular until someone absconded with all the beers. Conclusion Though Suneesh never found the socialist utopia he dreamed of, he did discover something far more Australian: the ability to adapt, laugh at himself, and make a mean sausage sizzle. He may have left Kerala as a red-blooded communist, but he stayed in Australia as a fair-dinkum comrade, proudly wearing a T-shirt that read, “Workers of the world, unite (after the footy)!” And so, the Kerala Commie lived happily ever after, fighting for equality one barbecue at a time.

@ 3c7dc2c5:805642a8

## 🧠Quote(s) of the week: 'DeepSeek increases my conviction that Bitcoin must be the hurdle rate for capital deployment. AI innovation at this speed and scale will substantially disrupt valuation metrics across industries and is not currently priced in. Those who secure a war chest of Bitcoin will be the long-run winners, picking up distressed assets for pennies on the dollar. Focus on three things: AI, Bitcoin, and energy.' -Matt Cole Just to elaborate on the above statement by a tweet by Dylan Leclair in 2021: 'Problems: 1. Infinite liquidity doesn’t fix a solvency issue. 2. Inflationary monetary policy can’t work against technological deflation. Solution: Bitcoin' To me it is crystal clear: AI deflates, central banks print, and Bitcoin absorbs the chaos. BTC was built for this. ## 🧡Bitcoin news🧡 On the 21st of January: ➡️MicroStrategy shareholders approved increasing the total number of shares from 330 million to 10.3 billion, paving the way for future fundraising to acquire more Bitcoin (55.8% approval). ➡️Bitcoin's mining difficulty has seen a 24% quarterly increase since August 2024. Saylor: "Bitcoin mining difficulty has reached a new all-time high. Creating BTC requires proof of work and significant energy, making it increasingly expensive over time. Historically, mining difficulty and price are closely linked—a strong signal for bullish momentum." The Difficulty Regression Model estimates the cost to mine 1 Bitcoin at $33.9K, while Bitcoin trades at ~$104K. This ~3x profitability margin showcases miners' resilience, even as mining difficulty continues to rise in this cycle: [Glassnode ](https://t.co/bSY1SHBS7e) ➡️'Bitcoin ETFs launched a year ago and now hold over 1,100,000 BTC which is ~5.7% of the current supply.' -Jameson Lopp ➡️The governor of the South African central bank scoffs at the idea of a strategic Bitcoin reserve asking, “Why not a strategic beef reserve? Why not an apple reserve? Why Bitcoin?!” And at that same panel discussion at the World Economic Forum, we had Brian Amstrong, CEO of Coinbase, praising Bitcoin as the best money in the world. “It’s clear at this point, bitcoin is a better form of money than gold…For a store-of-value, governments must hold bitcoin over time” ➡️Corporate announcements this morning: - MicroStrategy has bought 11,000 BTC for $1.1 billion, and now holds 461,000 bitcoin. Microstrategy now owns 2.195% of all Bitcoins that will ever exist. - KULR Technology Group has bought 79 BTC for $8 million, and now holds 510 bitcoin. - Genius Group has bought 52 BTC for $5 million, and now holds 420 bitcoin. ➡️ETH holders absolutely deserve what is coming. The following text/tweet by Vitalik Buterin just shows you how decentralized Ethereum is. 'No. This is not how this game works. The person deciding the new EF leadership team is me. One of the goals of the ongoing reform is to give the EF a "proper board", but until that happens it's me. If you "keep the pressure on", then you are creating an environment that is actively toxic to top talent. Some of Ethereum's best devs have been messaging me recently, expressing their disgust with the social media environment that people like you are creating. YOU ARE MAKING MY JOB HARDER. And you are decreasing the chance I have any interest whatsoever in doing "what you want". TLDR: There’s no “me” in Bitcoin. If your "crypto" has a leader, it's not decentralized. Period! ➡️Bitcoin mining in Texas has had a positive impact on the state's power grid and has also potentially saved billions by reducing reliance on expensive and polluting gas-peaking plants, according to the latest report from the Digital Assets Research Institute. ➡️Critical Metals Corp secures up to $500M in convertible note financing to purchase Bitcoin for its Bitcoin treasury strategy. This makes them the first Nasdaq-listed critical minerals company to adopt Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. ➡️Legendary investor Ray Dalio says Bitcoin he owns Bitcoin to “reduce the risk of a portfolio”. On the 22nd of January: ➡️ Finally Ross Ulbricht is free. Pardoning Ross is a promise fulfilled by Trump. Revealing that this was an act of the deep state is next level, calling the people who convicted him "scum." Trump: "The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern-day weaponization of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years." Politicians stay Politicians, but I am glad Ross is free. Ross didn’t sell drugs—he built an anonymous, free, and open platform on Tor called Silk Road. 'Silk Road sold apparel, art, books, collectibles, computer equipment, electronics, herbs, and yeah—drugs. But according to friends who used it, Silk Road was arguably the safest way drugs were ever sold: no street violence, no shady deals, and zero fentanyl. Everything was tested and peer-reviewed, like an Amazon for substances.' Don’t forget… the DOJ seized 173,991 Bitcoin directly and indirectly from Ross Ulbricht. It was $34 Million when they took it. Today it’s worth ~$18.4 BILLION. Newcomers to Bitcoin may not understand why old-timers care so much about Ross Ulbricht. Great explanation by Vijay Boyapati: https://x.com/real_vijay/status/1881869635915809001 On the 23rd of January: ➡️China sold its entire 194K BTC stash, seized from PlusToken, despite official claims of transferring it to the national treasury, according to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju. ➡️YouTube rival Rumble to launch digital wallet to make Bitcoin and Tether payments. Tether-backed video-sharing platform Rumble to launch Rumble Wallet, which will allow creators to receive tips and subscription payments directly in Bitcoin or Tether. ➡️Ledger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped and a cryptocurrency ransom was demanded. He was rescued by GIGN and multiple suspects are in custody. https://x.com/0xLouisT/status/1882711063306666287 On the 24th of January: ➡️SAB 121 has been rescinded, allowing banks to custody Bitcoin. Banks can now offer Bitcoin services to hundreds of millions of customers. The Bitcoin Podcast: But what exactly is SAB 121 and what does its repeal mean for Bitcoin? Eric Weiss breaks it down: "I think that's gonna be a massive, massive catalyst down the road for a US dollar price appreciation of Bitcoin." https://x.com/titcoinpodcast/status/1882599727880917490 ➡️Bitcoin is above $100k but retail interest is the lowest it's been in 3 years. ➡️How popular is Bitcoin on Wall Street? 6% of all the money flowing into American ETFs is now Bitcoin. ➡️A user just successfully sent ~$866,430,722 worth of Bitcoin for a 33¢ transaction fee using the blockchain. ➡️President Trump’s new executive order protects American’s right to use public blockchains, develop and deploy software, participate in mining and validation, transact without censorship, and safeguard their own digital assets. The freedom to build, mine, and hodl Bitcoin. ➡️Spot Bitcoin ETFs are now bigger than ESG ETFs. [](https://i.ibb.co/C3LdYZhd/Gi-EISs-EXo-AA94-Sr.jpg) On the 25th of January: ➡️Bitcoin has completely dislocated from its ~70-day global M2 lag. It's been on a run of its own for the last 30 days. ➡️As mentioned above but also in the segment (Macro/Geopolitics) Trump took a bold stand against CBDCs, protecting Americans from the financial tyranny they represent. But now, Ripple is working behind the scenes to undermine his administration and sneak CBDCs in through a backdoor while lobbying heavily. Ripple is public enemy number one this cycle, and it’s time everyone recognized it. You don’t hate XRP enough, plain and simple. If you understood what they’re trying to pull, your outrage would be through the roof. Jameson Lopp: There's Bitcoin, then there's Crypto, then there's Ripple. Ripple has attacked Bitcoin at a level rivaled only by BSV's lawsuits. Ripple explicitly wants to power CBDCs. They have always been focused on servicing banks. Few projects are as antithetical to Bitcoin. Brad Garlinghouse douchebag and CEO of Ripple: "We would not be profitable or cash flow positive without selling our XRP holdings.” All 100 billion XRP tokens were created out of thin air by Ripple Labs in 2012 and reserved for insiders. Ripple's income comes from dumping these coins on the public. On the 26th of January: ➡️Only 1,056,700 Bitcoin is left to be mined, forever. On the 27th of January: ➡️MicroStrategy has acquired 10,107 BTC for ~$1.1 billion at ~$105,596 per Bitcoin and has achieved a Bitcoin Yield of 2.90% YTD 2025. As of 1/26/2025, they hodl 471,107 Bitcoins acquired for ~$30.4 billion at ~$64,511 per Bitcoin. ➡️Russia's largest energy supplier Rosseti to launch Bitcoin mining operations in areas with excess electricity, aiming to optimize energy use, increase tax revenue, and support the development of BTC mining in Russia. ➡️Brazilian oil giant Petrobras to launch Bitcoin mining operations using excess natural gas produced during oil extraction, to reduce energy waste and carbon emissions. ➡️MicroStrategy to offer 2.5 million shares of 'Series A Perpetual Strike Preferred Stock' to buy more Bitcoin. ➡️Arizona is the first state to pass a bill out of committee to create a ‘Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.’ Co-sponsored by Wendy Rogers and Jeff Weninger, the bill now heads to the state Senate floor for a vote. ➡️El Salvador is now the second fastest-growing tourist destination in the world. Bitcoin and Tourism. [](https://i.ibb.co/zt9P3bC/Gi-TYo98-XQAAZfe-C.png) ➡️'Cboe BZX Exchange files amended rules to allow in-kind redemptions and creations for the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF. This follows Nasdaq’s similar filing for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, signaling progress in spot Bitcoin ETF mechanics.' -Bitcoin News What we have learned last week: 'Vitalik doesn’t buy Ethereum, only sells it. Ripple doesn’t buy XRP, only sells it. The US doesn’t buy USD, only prints it. There can only be one Bitcoin— wake up' - Cory Bates ## 💸Traditional Finance / Macro: 👉🏽NVIDIA closes the day down -17%, officially erasing -$590 BILLION of market cap. This marks the largest 1-day loss of market cap in a single stock in history, and it's not even close. ## 🏦Banks:  👉🏽no news ## 🌎Macro/Geopolitics: On the 20th of January: 👉🏽 Trump: "We will end the "Green Deal" with the "liquid gold under our feet". 'The Netherlands has €1.000 billion of "liquid gold" natural gas in Groningen. The Rutte government destroyed our gas wells, and filled them up with concrete because they could not compensate 20.000 homes.' - Henk Otten I am not sure about the fact that we filled them up with concrete. As a matter of fact, I think the Netherlands could start immediately if needed. On the 21st of January: 👉🏽The US Treasury has reached its debt limit and is now using 'extraordinary measures' to continue operating. 👉🏽Sam Callahan: 'A new study reveals that, over the past 20 years, Congress has largely ignored large fiscal deficits, making little effort to reduce them. The authors discuss what's required for "successful deficit reduction," but they don't seem to realize that nothing stops this train.' https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/4_AuerbachYagan.pdf 👉🏽Interest payments on the US national debt now exceed spending on national defense. [](https://i.ibb.co/cc5wtzDD/Gh0-BB9-HXg-AAVOad.png) 👉🏽Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, just warned that the UK could be heading for a “debt death spiral” his is in which the UK has to borrow more and more money to service its rising interest costs 👉🏽'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 👉🏽Phillipp Heimberger: 'It is unclear how national governments in the EU are supposed to square the circle: to ramp up military spending and public expenditures on climate and digitization while at the same time achieving primary fiscal surpluses over the medium run to meet new EU fiscal rules.' [](https://i.ibb.co/PsZxXzVW/Gh-KTYn-WAAALh-U4.png) On the 22nd of January: 👉🏽'Gold's global market cap to world GDP ratio reached a RECORD 16.7% in 2024. This ratio has doubled in 10 years and quadrupled since 2001. Nominally, gold’s market value sits near an all-time high of ~$18.5 trillion. This comes as gold has posted an average annual return of +9.5% since 2000, making it one of the best-performing major asset classes this century. Since the start of 2024, gold prices have hit 41 all-time highs and are up +33%.' - TKL On the 24th of January: 👉🏽The Bank of Japan raises interest rates by 25 basis points to their highest level since 2008. 👉🏽'The ECB proposed a holding limit of €3000 for the digital euro. Banks want €500, otherwise, it will cost them too much... This whole digital euro project is such a huge clusterfuck in slow-motion.' - Paul Buitink https://www.ledgerinsights.com/progress-on-digital-euro-holding-limits/ Meanwhile, Trump is going all in against ‘Central Bank Digital Currencies.’ ‘taking measures to protect Americans from the risks of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which threaten the stability of the financial system, individual privacy, and the sovereignty of the United States’ Daniel Batten: 'When it comes to digital currency: Will the EU pivot and head down the path of democracies such as the US who see Bitcoin as consistent with its democratic values or continue down the path of autocracies like Russia & China who see CBDCs as being consistent with their autocratic values?' On the 27th of January: 👉🏽Volkswagen ready to become Chinese Volkswagen is prepared to let Chinese electric carmakers take over production lines in its struggling factories. 👉🏽'DeepSeek officially announces another open-source AI model, Janus-Pro-7B. This model generates images and beats OpenAI's DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion across multiple benchmarks.' -TKL OpenAI: - 10 years old - 4,500 employees - raised $6.6 billion DeepSeek - less than 2 years old - 200 employees - less than $10 million capital used DeepSeek developed and open-sourced an equal or better product and had it out for free, likely killing the business model of OpenAI Anyway, if you want to read more on DeepSeek, and how seems like how they seem to have shifted the paradigm on how AI LLMS work, I highly recommend the following thread by Morgan Brown: https://x.com/morganb/status/1883686162709295541 Open source everything! A quick reminder for all my readers but especially for my nocoin readers: FORMER FINANCE PROFESSOR TAD SMITH: "After 25 years teaching finance, I realized at 58: If the money printer grows 8-10% annually and the S&P 500 returns ~9%, it’s just treading water. True wealth comes from outpacing the printer. That’s the Bitcoin journey." https://x.com/SimplyBitcoinTV/status/1876679181066801425 Study Bitcoin 🎁If you have made it this far I would like to give you a little gift: Fantastic presentation by Preston Pysh on Bitcoin as a store of value referencing Michael saylors presentation to the Microsoft board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-O54CdSNnM I've used his monopoly analogy so many times. If you've never heard it, you should definitely listen and maybe share it with your stubborn uncle or sister, or co-worker in denial. Absolutely brilliant from Preston as always. "Most people arrive at bitcoin without ever understanding the problems it's solving". 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! ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

@ c2827524:5f45b2f7

Vuoi creare il tuo profilo Nostr, ma non sai esattamente da dove iniziare? Prova a seguire i consigli di questo tutorial! ## [Nosta.me](https://nosta.me/)  Nosta.me è uno dei client più semplici e divertenti di tutto il protocollo Nostr. [Free e open source](https://github.com/GBKS/nosta-me), Nosta regala anche un link dall'aspetto elegante per fare visualizzare il proprio profilo, come si può vedere da quello dello sviluppatore. [Christoph Ono](nostr:nprofile1qyv8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnndehhyapwwdhkx6tpdsqzpde3ulaauhqe94unlafq5mkfra5ktawclgdkfcfpwyyf5e09gpf9uw029s). Cominciamo, andando proprio sulla pagina nosta.me ## Creazione in 10 passi Innanzitutto Nosta è un client adatto alla creazione del profilo, ma non per scrivere, firmare e pubblicare note. Per l'uso social di Nostr è meglio utilizzare altri client che si possono scoprire in seguito. ### Ma allora: perché Nosta? Perché propone la creazione del profilo tramite 10 step da eseguire in ordine. Alcuni dei 10 passaggi si possono saltare per essere completati in seguito, ma il cuore della creazione delle chiavi è familiare ai Bitcoiner, perché parte da una sequenza casuale di 12 parole. Cominciamo, scegliendo proprio *«Create a new profile»*  Nosta da il benvenuto ad una nuova, giovane Nostrica.  È il primo dei 10 step; cliccare *«Next»*  Si scelgono le prime informazioni da compilare, mettendo un nome, un paio di righe di biografia e - se presente - un sito web di riferimento.  Una volta compilati questi 3 campi, cliccare *«Next»* Il prossimo passo chiede di caricare una foto profilo. Consiglio di cliccare su *"Skip"*, **vedremo meglio in seguito la gestione delle immagini** via protocollo Nostr  --- ## ENTRIAMO NEL VIVO: LA GENERAZIONE DELLE CHIAVI In questo nuovo step Nosta calcola e mostra la recovery phrase di 12 parole. Questa frase porterà al calcolo automatico di un seed proprio come nel protocollo Bitcoin: le parole provengono dal dizionario BIP39, dopodiché la chiave privata viene calcolata sulla curva ellittica secp256k1 ed infine convertita da hex al formato **nsec**.  Queste 12 parole costituiscono una recovery phrase per ripristinare l'account e le relative chiavi tramite Nosta.me. Sono da scrivere bene e conservare, dopodiché si può procedere alla verifica cliccando *"Next"*  La procedura di verifica presenta le 12 parole posizionate a caso: per il check si devono cliccare in ordine dalla 1 alla 12 Siamo pronti per lo step successivo: Nosta mostra **la chiave privata nsec**. Si deve copiare e incollare su un file protetto da tenere in un luogo sicuro.  Una volta copiata la nsec, cliccare *"Next"* La creazione delle chiavi termina con la derivazione della chiave pubblica, la ***npub***.  La npub di Nostr rappresenta l'identità dell'utente. Va copiata e incollata per conservarla, anche in un luogo sprotetto, perché si userà spesso e volentieri nel protocollo per farsi identificare --- # Handle, follow e wallet Bitcoin Il passo 7/10 prevede l'impostazione dell'handle o NIP-05 nel profilo. L'handle è una caratteristica che ha due vantaggi: 1. si può scegliere un identificativo più facile da leggere e usare al posto della chiave pubblica 2. è un ulteriore sistema di verifica dell'identità Scopriremo in seguito i dettagli del NIP-05, consiglio di saltare questo passo tra gli step di Nosta  Nello step successivo vengono proposti alcuni suggerimenti per seguire utenti di Nostr. Consiglio di iniziare a seguire qualcuno, proprio per non rimanere troppo spaesati al termine della creazione del profilo, rischiando di trovare un feed completamente vuoto.  Il penultimo passo 9/10 è quello dove si configura il wallet Bitcoin. Chi ha già un LN address può giustamente inserirlo. Chi non è ancora skillato, può seguire il capitolo in cui ne parleremo più avanti e cliccare *"Skip"* in questa schermata  # I relay L'ultima impostazione richiesta da Nosta è la scelta dei relay, il motore delle note su Nostr. **È attraverso i relay, infatti, che le le note «and other stuff» sono trasmessi alla rete**. Nel passo 10/10 si trovano già dei buoni suggerimenti che - chi non è esperto - può accettare e proseguire cliccando *"Next"*.  Chi è invece già esperto può cambiare questa lista e personalizzarla a seconda delle proprie esigenze ## È tutto fatto! Nosta propone una schermata di riepilogo e - se va tutto bene - si può cliccare su *"Looks good"*  Quando siamo convinti, clicchiamo "Save" e Nosta pubblicherà il profilo per come lo abbiamo impostato.  Il profilo è praticamente pronto, sebbene scarno  Si può abbellire e riempire con le informazioni mancanti cliccando su *"Edit"*, così come scegliere un altro client ed iniziare ad usarlo, oppure continuare con il tutorial e scoprire come trattare più in sicurezza la chiave privata. **Cambiare client, infatti, richiederebbe allo stato attuale copiare e incollare la nsec per fare ogni login**. Quello che segue è un suggerimento per impostare un'estensione del browser come gestore di firma e usare l'estensione per fare tutti i tipi di login via web. --- # Usare il protocollo Nostr Il profilo è pronto per essere usato. Ora si può esplorare Nostr, alla ricerca di client ed opportunità. Per fare login si deve necessariamente accedere ai client con la chiave privata nsec, al fine di poter firmare le note e propagarle. Anziché copiare e incollare la nsec in ognuno dei client, è opportuno usare "un trucco". ## Login con NOS2X Nos2X è un'estensione del browser che permette di gestilre le chiavi in un unico luogo, firmando gli eventi senza esporre la nsec ad ogni singola azione. È disponibile per Firefox e fork ed anche per Chrome. ##### l'esempio che segue è realizzato con Chrome, ma il procedimento per Firefox è molto simile e semplice Cercare Nos2X tra le estensioni del browser  quindi aggiungerlo al proprio Chrome    Entrare nelle impostazioni con Manage Settings  fino a trovare la schermata dove è possibile incollare la propria chiave privata, impostare qualche relay e salvare.  Si apre ora una finestra che chiede di autorizzare Nos2X a firmare gli eventi. Si può scegliere di autorizzare sempre o anche solo la sessione attuale, per prova. Se si sceglie "Authorize just this" è bene tenere a mente che ad ogni sessione il manager di firma chiederà l'autorizzazione. Ognuno sceglie a seconda delle proprie esigenze.  Da ora in poi, via web, ci si può loggare a qualsiasi client Nostr per continuare l'esplorazione. Si può fare, ad esempio, già con Nosta.me e fare Edit Profile, giusto per continuare a completare il proprio profilo.  Il profilo è ancora molto scarno, infatti  Chi ha un sito web o landing page può tranquillamente inserirlo e salvare. Alcuni dei campi sono gli step saltati al momento della creazione con Nosta e che si possono vedere ora nel dettaglio. ## Handle L'handle di Nostr è codificato nel [NIP-05](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/05.md), Nostr Implementation Possibilities, che specifica proprio come gli utenti possono essere verificati su Nostr. Il meccanismo di verifica è simile a quello richiesto da Google per verificare la proprietà di un dominio, e consente ad ogni utente Nostr di "mappare" la propria chiave pubblica su un identificatore internet basato su DNS. Il vantaggio principale del NIP-05 è che trasforma la stringa della npub in un nome leggibile in maniera semplice. È possibile ottenere un NIP-05 for free, o anche a pagamento, [scegliendoli da una](https://nostr.how/en/guides/get-verified#paid-verification) delle molte liste che si trovano in una ricerca via web. L'operazione è super semplice: * si scelga, ad esempio, zaps.lol * incollare la chiave pubblica npub * scegliere uno username rappresentativo, che completo sarà: tuousername@zaps.lol * cliccare REGISTER  E il proprio handle è pronto e verificato, si può quindi incollare sulla maschera del profilo di Nosta.me e salvare ## La gestione delle immagini Si può impostare un avatar, così comme un banner di copertina e - in generale - postare immagini via Nostr. La gestione delle immagini avviene condividendo un URL. Sebbene la maggior parte dei client adesso consentano di caricare immagini in maniera meno complessa, non sempre queste vengono rese disponibili al primo colpo. Ci sono però altri tipi di client, che si sono specializzati nel caricamento immagini. All'inizio meglio scegliere un client che offre questa possibilità gratuitamente, come nostrcheck.me Dalla homepage andare nel menu Public gallery -> UPLOAD -> scegliere di fare login cliccando sull'iconcina utente in alto a destra. La [landing page](https://nostrcheck.me/api/v2/login) si mostra così  Scegliere quindi di fare login con l'extendion Nos2X e procedere con il caricamento dell'immagine profilo, seguendo le istruzioni a video. Nostrcheck carica l'immagine e fornisce l'url che si può copiare e incollare dove si vuole, ad esempio nella schermata del profilo, ma anche nei futuri post.  Se si sono appena caricati avatar e banner del profilo, gli url completano il profilo di Nostr, che adesso è completo di quasi tutto  ## LN address e wallet È di gran lunga la più sorprendente caratteristica di Nostr: scambiare valore usando la Lightning Network di Bitcoin. Esistono differenti soluzioni, dalle più semplici alle più complesse. Se non si ha la minima idea di cosa sia un wallet LN o un LN address, meglio rimandare questa fase al momento in cui si possiede la necessaria consapevolezza. Ma per chi ha un'idea precisa di questi concetti, l'LN address permette di ricevere zap (donazioni di sats) per i contenuti condivisi che dal mittente arrivano sul proprio wallet; il wallet può essere usato per ricompensare altri creatori di contenuti, zap-pando a più non posso. Se si utilizza una soluzione custodial come sats.mobi, LifPay(*) o altri tenere sul wallet solo pochi sats per lo scopo. Se se ne ricevono molti, perché i contenuti diventano popolari e virali, spostarli su un wallet LN non-custodial. (*) Lifpay integra una soluzione senza alcuna frizione per l'utente inesperto, perché crea un profilo direttamente con la npub di Nostr. ### Ora è davvero tutto pronto e Nostr è lì per essere esplorato  Puoi iniziare seguendo npub1c2p82fyndhk66hmz808c5pxjq8el60kh6jgj5xgdhmhksh69ktmsz8dcj5 - - - ## Risorse per approfondire: 1. https://laura.npub.pro/post/1733214130372/ 2. https://nostr.net/ 2. https://nostr.how/en/nostr-projects 3. https://github.com/nostr-resources/ 4. https://nostr.com/ 5. https://nostr.info/resources/ 6. https://usenostr.org/ 7. https://uselessshit.co/resources/nostr/ - - - Per info https://t.me/bitcoincampus https://planb.network/it/courses/btc105

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Michael Malice asked this question in a [recent appearance on a YouTube show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv1TUEVsc98) > Is Democracy a system that is compatible with freedom or is it antithetical or incompatible with freedom? What do you think? And to be clear, the US is a democracy. Yes its a republic but it is one with democratic elections. Saying its a republic isn't saying it isn't a democracy. It is. But if you disagree that's fine. For sake of argument humor me. If you use the republic argument look at the number of tyrannies that are also republics around the world... Democracy for many is a sacred cow. I'm not a monarchist but many that are like this book. Don't let that turn you off from reading [Democracy: The God That Failed](https://store.mises.org/Democracy-The-God-That-Failed-P240.aspx). Its a good critique of Democracy which is hard to find. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/868154

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

Private property isn’t lines on dirt or fences of steel—it’s the crystallization of human sovereignty. Each boundary drawn is a silent declaration: **This is where my will meets yours, where creation clashes against chaos.** What we defend as “mine” or “yours” is no mere object but a metaphysical claim, a scaffold for the unfathomable complexity of voluntary exchange. Markets breathe only when individuals anchor their choices in the inviolable. Without property, there is no negotiation—only force. No trade—only taking. The deed to land, the title to a car, the seed of an idea: these are not static things but frontiers of being, where human responsibility collides with the infinite permutations of value. Austrian economics whispers what existentialism shouts: existence precedes essence. Property isn’t granted by systems; it’s asserted through action, defended through sacrifice, and sanctified through mutual recognition. A thing becomes “owned” only when a mind declares it so, and others—through reason or respect—refrain from crossing that unseen line. Bitcoin? The purest ledger of this truth. A string of code, yes—but one that mirrors the unyielding logic of property itself: scarce, auditable, unconquerable. It doesn’t ask permission. It exists because sovereign minds *choose* it to. Sigh. #nostr I love #Bitcoin.

@ 1e523989:ebbb4b73

Why

@ 8608bbe5:f5ad3b7d

I am a technology enthusiast and former cypherpunk. Since I was 12, I have immersed myself in ideas such as the Cypherpunk Manifesto, the Bitcoin white paper, and Monero, engaging with maximalists, anarcho-capitalists, anarcho-communists, voluntarists, etc. I believe that anonymity and privacy are fundamental, and cypherpunks are right to oppose governments and companies that violate these things. ### What happened However, at 22, I find that the only "cypherpunk" tools I still use are Nostr, Bitcoin, and SimpleX. Occasionally, I use a VPN, Orbot, and Tor, but I no longer worry about it. Today, I use Brave and Firefox with Bing, Copilot, Microsoft and Proton services, I sold all my Moneros, no Custom ROMs ou crazy privacy solutions. I have no issue with those who think differently. Everyone should do what is best for themselves. My change in perspective is not just fatigue, but an understanding that security is more important than privacy. > If your data and money are encrypted, it doesn't matter if you are doxxed; no one can access them without your permission. _States and criminals target vulnerable individuals, not those who protect themselves. If you have security, you are not an easy target, even if you are exposed to them_ Nostr, Bitcoin, and SimpleX share a focus on security. Nostr is decentralised, Bitcoin is an auditable store of value, and SimpleX offers secure, encrypted messaging. Without the correct keys and passwords, no one can access your information. ### Security is always superior Security should be the priority, while privacy and anonymity are secondary, considered as extras or consequences. To create a profile on Nostr or a Bitcoin wallet, do so offline and protect your private key. Use tools like VeraCrypt to encrypt important files, SimpleX or Session for messaging, and any cryptocurrency you prefer. The pursuit of total anonymity is futile; security is what truly matters. The goal is to have control over what is important to you, so that no one can modify, access, or view it without your consent. > If you have the assurance that even if you are doxxed, you have nothing to lose, you have achieved your objective: states may take everything you own, except what you have protected. If what you have protected is what they want, there is no longer any incentive for them to pursue you. I respect and admire all those I converse with, whom I have learned from, who have contributed to cypherpunk community, privacy, anonymity, security, decentralised protocols, and agorist solutions. I wish for everyone to be able to enjoy their choices and rights as they wish, whether in darkness or daylight. Your secrets may be black and white, but that doesn't mean you can't live a colourful life.

@ dca69ce3:5b1492da

With the rise of protocols like [Nostr](https://nostr.com/) (popular in the Bitcoin community) and the [AT Protocol](https://atproto.com/) (popularized by [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/)), now feels like the perfect time to explore the history of the web and the open philosophy it was built on. As someone involved in the communities and clients using these protocols for the past couple of years, I understand their significance. However, this write-up is my effort to deepen that understanding by examining the emergence and necessity of decentralized protocols. What I've found is that the history of the open web is a fascinating, intertwined narrative of protocols and the consequences of their creation and adoption. Like many foundational innovations, these technologies often succumb to commercialization and centralization over time. Will this time be different? Only time will tell. Let's dive in! ## The Philosophy of the Early Internet The early internet was founded on principles of openness, decentralization, and collaboration, reflecting the technologies, governance structures, and culture of its time. The ARPANET, the precursor to the internet, was designed to ensure communication could endure even in the face of infrastructure loss--resilient to single points of failure. This concept was particularly vital during the Cold War (late 1940s to late 1980s), a period marked by geopolitical tensions where communication disruptions were a constant concern. ## Protocols of the Open Web ### ARPA and NCP (1969-1980) The early days of networking saw the creation of NCP (Network Control Protocol), the first protocol used by ARPANET. NCP enabled basic communication between nodes, serving as both a transport and host-to-host communication protocols. NCP managed communication by establishing and maintaining logical connections between hosts using socket pairs--a local socket number identifying a specific process on the host and a remote socket number identifying the target process on destination host. These socket pairs uniquely identified each logical connection, which supported full-duplex communication, allowing data to flow in both directions simultaneously over the same connection. While NCP handled host-level communication, low-level packet switching and routing were managed by IMPs (Interface Message Processors). In essence, NCP relied on IMPs to deliver packets between nodes. Using NCP, ARPANET's earliest nodes--University of California Los Angeles, Stanford Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah--collaborate to share resources and advance computing research. Each institution contributed to the development of the early internet, setting the stage for its evolution into the more modern systems we recognize today. NCP foundational design enabled use cases still familiar today: remote login, file transfer, time-sharing systems, email, and collaborative tools like document editing. However, its simplicity came with limitations. NCP lacked robust error detection and correction, relying on the underlying network (IMPs) to handle these issues. It also lacked a standardized addressing scheme and error recovery mechanisms, limiting its scalability and reliability. These shortcomings ultimately led to the development of TCP/IP. ### FTP (1971) In 1971, [RCF 114](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc114), titled "A File Transfer Protocol" by Abhay Bhushan, introduced a standardized method for transferring files between hosts on the ARPANET. Its primary goal was to enable indirect use of remote computers, allowing users to transfer files without the need to log into remote systems directly. Key features of this early protocol included: - **Indirect File Access**: Enabled users to transfer files seamlessly across the ARPANET without requiring direct logins to remote systems. - **Standardized Commands**: Defined a consistent set of commands for file operations, including retrieving, storing, deleting, and listing files, ensuring uniform interactions across diverse systems. - **Data Type Specification**: Supported the designation of data types and structures to accommodate various file formats, ensuring accurate interpretation during transfers. - **User Identification Mechanism**: Introduced basic access control through username and password authentication, enhancing security. - **Error Recovery Procedures**: Included mechanisms for error correction and recovery to maintain data integrity and reliability during transfers. FTP simplified data and software sharing, becoming a cornerstone of collaboration within academic and research communities. ### Email: The First Killer App (1971) Email, the internet’s first “killer app,” emerged during the development of NCP and later TCP/IP. Ray Tomlinson invented email in 1971 while working at BBN, a key player in ARPANET’s creation. Before email, communication on the network primarily relied on file sharing. Seeking a more efficient solution, Tomlinson modified CYPNET to send messages across ARPANET, enabling users to communicate between different computers. This innovation popularized the use of the “@” symbol to separate user names from domains. In 1982, the creation of SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) standardized email communication and significantly improved upon Tomlinson’s initial implementation. SMTP introduced several key advancements: - **Formalized Communication Rules**: Established a standardized protocol for sending emails between servers, which CYPNET lacked. - **Support for Multiple Recipients**: Enabled sending emails to multiple recipients and distributing messages to mailing lists, a capability absent in Tomlinson’s system. - **Error Handling**: Provided explicit error codes and responses to diagnose and resolve delivery issues, whereas Tomlinson’s implementation offered only rudimentary error handling. - **Structured Message Format**: Worked with standards like RFC 822 to define consistent headers (To, From, Subject), replacing the unstructured, ad-hoc metadata of early emails. - **Scalability**: Designed to accommodate the growing internet, ensuring email functionality expanded as ARPANET evolved into a global network. Tomlinson’s system was tied to ARPANET’s original constraints. SMTP transformed email from a groundbreaking experiment into a robust, scalable, and universal communication tool, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of internet communication. ### Usenet (1979) Usenet, created by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis at Duke University in 1979, was one of the first decentralized systems for sharing messages and fostering online discussions. As a precursor to modern internet forums and social media, Usenet laid the foundation for the social internet as we know it today. Usenet relied on UUCP (Unix-to-Unix Copy Program) to transfer messages between servers in a peer-to-peer manner, with each server forwarding posts to its neighbors. Key features and insights from Usenet include: - **Newsgroups**: Discussions were organized into categories called newsgroups, with a hierarchical naming system (e.g., `comp.sys` for computer systems). - **Decentralization**: Usenet’s peer-to-peer design required each server to store and propagate messages, eliminating single points of failure and central control. This decentralization, akin to modern protocols like Nostr, aligned with the internet’s ideals of openness and collaboration. - **Self-Governance**: Without central authority, Usenet communities were often self-moderated, with users establishing their own norms and moderation practices. Usenet’s decentralization and community-driven structure embodied the spirit of the early internet. However, its culture faced a significant shift in **September 1993**, often referred to as “Eternal September.” This marked the influx of new users when AOL (America Online) granted its subscribers access to Usenet. The term “Eternal September” originated from the annual wave of college students who traditionally joined Usenet each September, requiring time to acclimate to its norms. With the massive influx of AOL users, however, this adjustment period became permanent. This cultural shift introduced challenges such as increased spam, off-topic posts, and conflicts, disrupting the established norms of Usenet. Over time, these issues led to Usenet losing its prominence as a hub for niche, vibrant discussions, marking the beginning of a broader transition from protocols to platforms. ### TCP/IP (1981-1983) TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol), developed between 1981 and 1983, replaced NCP as the standard protocol for ARPANET, addressing many of its limitations and paving the way for the modern internet. **TCP** ensured reliable communication by breaking data into packets, checking for errors, and retransmitting lost packets. It reassembled data at the destination, ensuring integrity despite packet loss. TCP also introduced flow and congestion control, allowing networks to adapt transmission rates based on conditions. These features resolved NCP’s lack of robust error handling and basic flow management, enabling networks to scale more effectively. **IP** provided a unique addressing system (IP addresses) that allowed data to traverse diverse networks. Unlike NCP’s reliance on hardcoded socket pairs, IP made interoperability and routing across heterogeneous networks possible. The separation of TCP and IP into distinct layers (transport and network) introduced modularity and flexibility, supporting diverse networks and applications. This overcame NCP’s single-layer design, which lacked the versatility needed for the internet’s future growth. **Inter-networking** was another significant advancement enabled by TCP/IP, allowing multiple networks to connect and function as one. This shift from NCP’s single homogeneous network (ARPANET) to a universal language of interconnected systems established the foundation of the global, decentralized internet we use today. ### DNS (1983) Introduced in 1983 by Paul Mockapetris, the Domain Name System (DNS) revolutionized how devices on the internet were identified and accessed. It replaced the centralized, cumbersome `HOSTS.TXT` file system with a distributed, hierarchical structure that could scale alongside the rapidly growing internet. Before DNS, network administrators relied on a single `HOSTS.TXT` file to map human-readable hostnames to IP addresses. This file, managed by the NIC (Network Information Center) at Stanford Research Institute, had to be manually updated and distributed to every system on ARPANET. As the network expanded, this centralized system became a bottleneck, with errors and delays in updates causing significant disruptions. By the early 1980s, maintaining a single centralized file was no longer practical, necessitating a more scalable solution. DNS addressed these challenges by introducing a hierarchical structure for domain names. Names are organized into a tree-like system, with the root at the top and Top-Level Domains (TLDs) such as .com or .org below it. For example, example.com is divided into levels: com (TLD) and example (Second-Level Domain). This delegation of responsibilities allowed for efficient management and scalability. DNS also employed a network of distributed servers to store and resolve domain names to IP addresses, eliminating reliance on a single central database. Distributed servers improved reliability, performance, and resilience. DNS servers could cache query results, reducing load and speeding up responses for frequently requested domains. Finally, DNS made the internet far more user-friendly: instead of memorizing numeric IP addresses (e.g., `192.0.2.1`), users could type intuitive domain names (e.g., `example.com`). By solving the limitations of `HOSTS.TXT` and enhancing usability, DNS became a cornerstone of the modern internet, enabling its global and decentralized nature. ### IRC (1988) Developed by Jarkko Oikarinen in 1988, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) enabled real-time text communication and played a pivotal role in fostering early online communities. IRC’s innovations built upon earlier protocols and technologies, extending their concepts to create a new paradigm for online interaction. - **Extending Telnet**: IRC expanded Telnet’s one-to-one communication sessions into multi-user chats within channels, enabling group conversations in real time. - **Decentralization from Usenet**: IRC adopted Usenet’s decentralized philosophy, applying it to synchronous messaging. Multiple IRC servers could link together to form networks, distributing load and avoiding reliance on a central server. - **Hierarchical Naming from DNS**: Borrowing from DNS, IRC used a hierarchical naming system for chat channels and users. This allowed intuitive organization, with nicknames and channels globally visible across linked servers. - **Command-Response Structure**: Inspired by protocols like SMTP and FTP, IRC introduced commands such as /join, /quit, and /msg, simplifying interactions and enabling clients to interpret server messages effectively. - **Influence of MUDs**: IRC drew from Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs), text-based multiplayer games popular in the 1980s. While MUDs facilitated real-time interactions within virtual worlds, IRC applied the concept to general communication. Key innovations of IRC included group channels for interaction, flexible user and server configurations, dynamic moderation, and a lightweight protocol. By combining these features, IRC became a cornerstone of real-time online communication, laying the groundwork for modern chat applications. ### HTTP and WWW (1989-1991) The World Wide Web (WWW) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), introduced by Tim Berners-Lee between 1989 and 1991, revolutionized how information was shared and consumed. These innovations built upon prior technologies, creating the foundation of the modern web. - **Built on TCP/IP**: HTTP used TCP/IP as its transport layer, ensuring reliable delivery of web content. This interoperability allowed HTTP to function across any device or network supporting TCP/IP, establishing the web as a universal platform. - **Standardized Resource Addressing**: The introduction of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators), built on DNS, provided a standardized way to locate web resources. URLs combined the protocol (`http://`), domain (`example.com`), and resource path (`/index.html`), enabling precise identification and retrieval of content. - **Hypertext Implementation**: Berners-Lee implemented hypertext using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), a simple text-based language for creating web pages. HTML’s support of hyperlinks (`<a>` tags) allowed users to navigate seamlessly between linked resources, turning the web into an interconnected “web” of information. Hypertext, conceptualized by Ted Nelson in the 1960s and seen in systems like NLS and HyperCard, was now available to a global audience. - Improvement Over FTP: Unlike FTP, which focused on isolated file transfers, HTTP facilitated the retrieval of hyperlinked resources, enabling user-friendly interaction with content and seamless display of linked documents in a browser. - **Decentralized Architecture**: Inspired by Usenet, the WWW adopted a decentralized design, allowing anyone with a server to host and link content without reliance on a central authority. - **Structured Metadata**: HTTP extended the use of structured metadata, seen previously in email protocols like SMTP. HTTP headers provided contextual information about requests and responses (e.g., `Content-Type` and `Status Code`), enabling dynamic, interactive communication between clients (browsers) and servers. **Key Innovations of HTTP and the WWW:** 1. **Stateless Communication Protocol**: HTTP’s stateless design ensured each client-server request was independent, enabling scalability as the web grew. 2. **Cross-Platform Compatibility**: HTTP and HTML were text-based and platform-agnostic, allowing access from any device or operating system. 3. **Interactive Content**: The web unified interactive content (e.g., images, text, and links) into a single environment accessible via a browser. Together, HTTP and the WWW transformed the internet into a user-friendly, decentralized, and universally accessible medium, laying the groundwork for the web’s exponential growth. ## The Transition from Protocols to Platforms The shift from the **protocol-driven era** of the open web to the **platform-driven era** marked a profound technological and cultural transformation. Early internet protocols like **TCP/IP**, **DNS**, **HTTP**, **SMTP**, **FTP**, and **Usenet** emphasized decentralization, interoperability, and user empowerment. However, by the mid-1990s, the emergence of proprietary platforms such as AOL, Prodigy, and later Facebook and Google, redefined the internet experience. These platforms offered centralized, user-friendly services but at the cost of openness and decentralization. The early internet, defined by protocols, empowered individuals and communities to build their own tools and networks. Protocols like **TCP/IP** and **DNS** created a universal framework for connectivity, while decentralized services such as **Usenet** and **IRC** fostered open, self-managed discussions. Tools like **FTP**, **HTTP**, and **SMTP** enabled users to share files, publish content, and communicate freely, embodying the era’s ethos of openness, collaboration, and innovation. By contrast, the platform-driven internet that emerged in the mid-1990s offered a polished, accessible alternative that abstracted away the technical complexities of the protocol-driven era. Platforms like AOL, Prodigy, and CompuServe created “walled gardens,” restricting users to content and services within their ecosystems. While this made the internet more accessible to non-technical users, it limited their ability to explore and interact with the broader web. Platforms like Facebook and Google later extended this model, becoming dominant gatekeepers for social interaction and information discovery. These centralized platforms hid the complexities of early internet protocols, offering plug-and-play solutions that attracted a general audience. For instance, instead of setting up an FTP server to share files, users could simply upload them to Dropbox or Google Drive. Similarly, proprietary messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp replaced interoperable protocols such as IRC, locking users into closed ecosystems. Cultural shifts accompanied these technological changes. In the protocol-driven era, users often acted as both creators and consumers, whether by writing Usenet posts, hosting personal websites, or managing their own email servers. Platforms, however, encouraged a more passive consumption model, with user-generated content controlled within proprietary systems. Trust in gatekeepers grew, with users relying on platforms to curate and deliver information. Search engines like Google became the primary gateway to content, while social platforms dictated social interactions, often reducing individual agency. The communal culture of early internet communities gave way to corporate-driven interactions, as decentralized discussions on Usenet were replaced by centralized forums governed by platform owners. Moreover, the platform era introduced a surveillance-based business model, monetizing user data to serve targeted advertisements—a stark departure from the user-centric and privacy-conscious ethos of the early web. Despite the dominance of platforms, the foundational protocols of the open web remain critical. **TCP/IP**, **HTTP**, and **DNS** still underpin the internet’s infrastructure, ensuring its basic interoperability. Furthermore, movements like the **fediverse** (e.g., Mastodon), **blockchain-based platforms**, and protocols like **Nostr** aim to revive the ideals of decentralization, user autonomy, and community-driven governance. These efforts reflect a growing desire to reclaim the open and collaborative spirit that defined the early internet. The transition from protocols to platforms transformed the internet from a decentralized, user-driven network into a centralized, corporate-controlled ecosystem. While platforms made the internet more accessible, they sacrificed openness, user autonomy, and the collaborative ethos of its early days. Revisiting the foundational principles of protocols is crucial for those working to rebuild a more open, equitable internet. ## Closing Thoughts The evolution from the early decentralized internet to today’s platform-dominated web reflects a shift from protocols that empowered users to systems that prioritize convenience, control, and corporate interests. Early technologies like Usenet, HTTP, and FTP embodied ideals of openness, collaboration, and autonomy, but modern platforms have concentrated power, creating walled gardens and monetizing user data. Yet, the foundational protocols of the internet persist, inspiring new decentralized initiatives like Nostr, Mastodon, and blockchain-based systems. By supporting and adopting applications built on decentralizing protocols, we can reclaim the values of openness, privacy, and user empowerment. Every choice we make—as developers, users, or advocates—shapes the future of the web. Together, we can revive the collaborative spirit of the internet’s origins and help create a more equitable and resilient digital future.

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

h+cKN7k1lMT/l7KpqgGhD9fR59I1LY3tCBGdP46irm3tqt4vf+xQw42ZfR0NYbsPrhgacYzqMBSTQKsPl5vHEm2S78PzOKyJ3/CBYBuXLL5IzXKavP2tGj9cbz7TOJEiUD40W82jw0lwueuE3I3Qlg==?iv=u2LadAiSkhyEStHZ5XUnpg==

@ df173277:4ec96708

> Maple is an AI chat tool that allows you to have private conversations with a general-purpose AI assistant. Chats are synced automatically between devices so you can pick up where you left off.\ > [Start chatting for free.](https://trymaple.ai/) We are excited to announce that [Maple AI](https://trymaple.ai/), our groundbreaking end-to-end encrypted AI chat app built on OpenSecret, is now publicly available. After months of beta testing, we are thrilled to bring this innovative technology to the world. Maple is an AI chat tool that allows you to have private conversations with a general-purpose AI assistant. It can boost your productivity on work tasks such as writing documentation, creating presentations, and drafting emails. You can also use it for personal items like brainstorming ideas, sorting out life's challenges, and tutoring you on difficult coursework. All your chats are synced automatically in a secure way, so you can start on one device and pick up where you left off on another. #### Why Secure and Private AI? In today's digital landscape, it is increasingly evident that security and privacy are essential for individuals and organizations alike. Unfortunately, the current state of AI tools falls short. A staggering 48% of organizations enter non-public company information into AI apps, according to a [recent report by Cisco](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/trust-center/data-privacy-benchmark-study.html#~key-findings). This practice poses significant risks to company security and intellectual property. Another concern is for journalists, who often work with sensitive information in hostile environments. Journalists need verification that their information remains confidential and protected when researching topics and communicating with sources in various languages. They are left to use underpowered local AI or input their data into potentially compromised cloud services. At OpenSecret, we believe it is possible to have both the benefits of AI and the assurance of security and privacy. That's why we created Maple, an app that combines AI productivity with the protection of end-to-end encryption. Our platform ensures that your conversations with AI remain confidential, even from us. The power of the cloud meets the privacy of local. #### How Does It Work? Our server code is [open source](https://github.com/OpenSecretCloud/opensecret), and we use confidential computing to provide cryptographic proof that the code running on our servers is the same as the open-source code available for review. This process allows you to verify that your conversations are handled securely and privately without relying on trust. We live by the principle of "Don't trust, verify," and we believe this approach is essential for building in the digital age. You can read a more in-depth write-up on our technology later this week on this site. #### How Much Does It Cost? We are committed to making Maple AI accessible to everyone, so we offer a range of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. [Our Free plan allows for 10 chats per week, while our Starter plan ($5.99/month) and Pro plan ($20/month)](https://trymaple.ai/pricing) offer more comprehensive solutions for individuals and organizations with heavier workloads. We accept credit cards and Bitcoin (10% discount), allowing you to choose your preferred payment method. - Free: $0 - Starter: $5.99/month - Pro: $20/month Our goal with Maple AI is to create a product that is secure through transparency. By combining open-source code, cryptography, and confidential computing, we can create a new standard for AI conversations - one that prioritizes your security and privacy. Maple has quickly become a daily tool of productivity for our own work and those of our beta testers. We believe it will bring value to you as well. [Sign up now and start chatting privately with AI for free.](https://trymaple.ai/) Your secrets are safe in the open. #### Are You An App Developer? You can build an app like Maple. [OpenSecret provides secure auth, private key management, encrypted data sync, private AI, and more.](https://blog.opensecret.cloud/introducing-opensecret/) Our straightforward API behaves like other backends but automatically adds security and privacy. Use it to secure existing apps or brand-new projects. Protect yourself and your users from the liability of hosting personal data by checking out [OpenSecret](https://opensecret.cloud/). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/feb746d5e164e89f0d015646286b88237dce4158f8985e3caaf7e427cebde608.png"> Enjoy private AI Chat 🤘 <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/0594ec56e249de2754ea7dfc225a7ebd46bc298b5af168279ce71f17c2afada0.jpg">

@ 2f4550b0:95f20096

My family and I are wrapping up a relocation from Phoenix, AZ to Austin, TX. I went ahead to get keys to our rental house, meet the movers with our household goods, and generally get as many things ready on the Austin side as possible. My husband stayed behind with our boys to wrap up the AZ house and settle things there. Our experiences over the past few weeks have got me thinking about partnership, project management, and big life changes. This move would not have been possible without the full partnership that my husband and I have in our marriage. Division of labor is real, and in the context of a relocation it’s vital to get everything done. We trust each other to divide and conquer the myriad tasks and responsibilities necessary. He supervised packers and movers to work on the AZ house; I met them when they arrived in Austin and supervised the move-in. He managed the property management requirements at the AZ rental house; I got the keys and have managed the property management procedures and move-in for Austin. He’s taking care of our current vehicle and handling the road trip from Phoenix to Austin; I bought a second vehicle that I can use to commute. I scheduled the cleaners, landscapers, and carpet cleaning for the AZ house; he supervised the work when the crews arrived. This kind of partnership not only takes care of all the duties, it edifies the relationship we have in our marriage. The care and trust we both show means so much to both of us! Relocation is also a project, “[a series of structured tasks, activities, and deliverables that are carefully executed to achieve a desired outcome](https://www.pmi.org/about/what-is-a-project)” with a specific start and end. Managing this move has been marked by two long to-do lists of tasks for me and my husband and a series of important milestones that we’ve celebrated along the way. We used our calendar to map out the timelines for each phase of the work, we assigned roles and tasks, and we identified risks and dependencies. We enlisted vendor support for many of the tasks, and supervised their efforts while we completed our own. We never got as far as creating a true Gantt chart for the project, but I certainly thought of the phases of our move in that framework. This move marks the start of a new phase in our family life, which has been marked by a series of big life changes. Since our marriage, these have included living in a number of places, the births of our two sons, and job changes. With this relocation, we get to experience life in a new part of the world and set up our boys for their launch into adulthood. This is exciting, and also a bit daunting. But I’m proud of our efforts to start 2025 off with a bang!

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

I did a PFF mock draft last night, but forgot to post it. I did a new one just now. ## Mock Draft Pick 6: CB/WR/KR/PR Travis Hunter Pick 37: QB Jalen Milroe Pick 68: DT TJ Sanders Pick 73: RB TreVeyon Henderson Pick 107: S Kevin Winston Jr. Pick 144: OT Hollin Pierce Pick 182: DE Tyler Baron Pick 214: LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson Pick218: OG Jonah Monheim Pick 224: OG Seth McGlaughlin I'm so excited about the possibility of getting Travis Hunter. The Raiders have historically built around elite receivers, corners, and returners. We have decent receivers and corners now, which creates space to add an elite guy, but also he wouldn't have to play every snap on either side. I'm imagining Hunter playing about half the snaps on both sides, as well as returning kicks. He can basically step in as an elite CB3 and WR3, when we're in those sets. Then, having the third QB available in the second round is great. He was still there in the 3rd round when I did the PFF mock. It might be worth taking the best QB who's still there in the third. A 3rd round DT should be able to add to an already talented defensive line and 3rd round RB's are usually impactful. The main problem with this draft is not getting to the offensive line until day 3. Good thing we have almost $100M to spend on free agents. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/867628

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin stands as a pioneering force, a digital currency that has revolutionized the concept of money. Central to its operation and success is a term often heard but not always fully understood: the Bitcoin hashrate. This metric is much more than a technical jargon; it's the heartbeat of the Bitcoin network, powering its transactions, securing its blockchain, and influencing its standing in the market. In this exploration, we delve into the depths of the Bitcoin hashrate, unraveling its complexities and revealing its profound impact on the cryptocurrency market. The hashrate is a window into the soul of Bitcoin, offering insights into its health, efficiency, and future potential. It's a story that intertwines technology, economics, and community, painting a vivid picture of Bitcoin's place in the digital age. **Table Of Content** - Understanding Bitcoin Hashrate - The Role of Hashrate in Network Security - Hashrate and Decentralization - Economic Implications for Miners - Impact on Bitcoin's Market Value - The Future of Bitcoin's Hashrate - Conclusion - FAQs **Understanding Bitcoin Hashrate** The Bitcoin hashrate is the powerhouse of the Bitcoin network, a measure of the collective computational effort used to mine and process transactions. It's akin to the horsepower of an engine, driving the network forward. Each hash is a solution to a cryptographic puzzle, and the hashrate signifies the speed at which these puzzles are solved. As Bitcoin's popularity soars, so does the hashrate, reflecting an ever-increasing number of miners vying to validate transactions and create new blocks. This growth is not just a testament to Bitcoin's popularity but also a marker of its robustness and resilience in the face of challenges. The hashrate is a dynamic indicator, fluctuating with the ebb and flow of the network's activity, mirroring the collective effort of thousands of miners around the globe. It's a testament to the decentralized nature of Bitcoin, where no single entity controls the network, but rather a collective effort secures it. **The Role of Hashrate in Network Security** Bitcoin's security is its cornerstone, and the hashrate is its shield. In the realm of digital currencies, security threats like the 51% attack loom large, where an entity could potentially take control of the network. However, a high hashrate acts as a formidable barrier, making such attacks not just difficult but economically unfeasible. It's a game of numbers; the higher the hashrate, the more distributed the computational power, and the safer the network. This security is not static but a dynamic force that evolves with the network's growth, adapting to new challenges and fortifying Bitcoin's position as a secure digital asset. The hashrate is a beacon of trust, assuring users and investors alike that the network is robust and resistant to manipulation. It's a critical factor in maintaining the integrity of the blockchain, ensuring that transactions are processed securely and reliably. **Hashrate and Decentralization** Decentralization is the soul of Bitcoin, and the hashrate is a reflection of this principle. A decentralized network is less prone to manipulation and control by any single entity, and a high hashrate is indicative of a broad, diverse miner base. This diversity is not just a matter of numbers but a testament to the egalitarian ethos of Bitcoin, where anyone, anywhere, can contribute to the network's upkeep. As the hashrate grows, it weaves a stronger web of participants, each adding to the network's resilience and ensuring its democratic nature. The hashrate is a symbol of the power of the collective, a force that transcends geographical and political boundaries, uniting people under the banner of a decentralized financial system. It's a testament to the vision of Bitcoin's creators, a network that is not just secure and efficient but also open and inclusive. **Economic Implications for Miners** For miners, the hashrate is a beacon guiding their economic journey. It's a delicate balance of power, cost, and reward. As the hashrate climbs, so does the difficulty of mining, a self-regulating mechanism ensuring the network's stability. Miners must constantly adapt, balancing the costs of advanced hardware and energy against the potential rewards of new Bitcoins and transaction fees. This ever-shifting landscape is not just a challenge but an opportunity for innovation, driving miners to seek more efficient and sustainable ways to contribute to the network. The hashrate is a measure of opportunity and challenge, a dance of economics and technology where miners play a crucial role. It's a dynamic ecosystem where the fittest survive, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of Bitcoin mining. **Impact on Bitcoin's Market Value** The hashrate's influence extends beyond the technical realm into the market. While it doesn't directly dictate Bitcoin's price, it's a barometer of network health and investor confidence. A robust hashrate signals a thriving, secure network, attracting investors and bolstering Bitcoin's market position. It's a subtle yet powerful force, shaping perceptions and influencing decisions in the cryptocurrency market. As Bitcoin continues to evolve, the hashrate stands as a key indicator of its vitality and appeal to the market. The hashrate and market value are intertwined in a complex dance, where the health of the network reflects and influences investor sentiment. It's a symbiotic relationship, where each aspect feeds into and strengthens the other. **The Future of Bitcoin's Hashrate** As we look to the future, the Bitcoin hashrate remains a critical aspect of the cryptocurrency's journey. It's not just a measure of computational power but a symbol of the network's evolution, a testament to its strength and a predictor of its potential. The hashrate's trajectory mirrors Bitcoin's own path: ever upward, facing challenges, adapting, and growing stronger. It's a journey not just of technology but of community, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a decentralized financial future. The hashrate is a narrative of progress, a story of how a decentralized network can grow, adapt, and thrive in the ever-changing landscape of digital currencies. It's a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of collective effort in shaping the future of finance. **Conclusion** The Bitcoin hashrate is more than a technical metric; it's the lifeblood of the Bitcoin ecosystem. It encapsulates the network's security, decentralization, economic dynamics, and market influence. As Bitcoin continues to navigate the complex landscape of digital currencies, its hashrate will remain a key indicator of its health and success. It's a story of collective effort, technological innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a decentralized, secure financial future. The hashrate is not just a number; it's the pulse of Bitcoin, beating strongly as it leads the charge in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies. It's a symbol of resilience, a testament to the enduring power of a decentralized network, and a beacon of hope for a future where financial systems are open, secure, and accessible to all. **FAQs** **What is Bitcoin hashrate?** The Bitcoin hashrate is the total computational power used to mine and process transactions on the Bitcoin network, measured in hashes per second. **Why is the Bitcoin hashrate important?** It's crucial for network security, indicating the difficulty of performing a 51% attack, and reflects the network's decentralization and health. **How does the hashrate affect Bitcoin miners?** A higher hashrate increases the difficulty of mining, impacting the profitability and efficiency of mining operations. **Does the Bitcoin hashrate influence its market value?** While not directly affecting the price, a strong hashrate can boost investor confidence, potentially influencing Bitcoin's market value. **Can the Bitcoin hashrate predict the future of the cryptocurrency?** The hashrate is a key indicator of Bitcoin's health and can provide insights into its future potential and stability. **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.*

@ 89ccea93:df4e00b7

[Original article](https://expatriotic.me/acquiring/) at my blog [expatriotic.me](https://expatriotic.me) ### Get a Bitcoin wallet. 1. [Ashigaru](https://ashigaru.rs/)🔥 [Tor](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/)🧅 link - Really slick UX. - Includes features such as Ricochet (adding hops, useful sometimes if you're trying to break chain analysis heuristics) - Stonewall (A tx with yourself where you appear to be two parties collaborating in a spend) - [StonewallX2](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/guides/how-to-use-stonewallx2-a-privacy-enhancing-bitcoin-transaction-tool-from-samourai-wallet) - Bip 47 Paynyms 2. [Envoy](https://foundation.xyz/download/) - Can roll one hot wallet - Coin control - Tor - Multiple ways of backing up wallet. Pneumonic phrase or encrypted micro SD, or encrypted blob to icloud - Also helpful in managing your Foundation Passport wallet if you have one. 3. [Sparrow](https://www.sparrowwallet.com/download) - Hands down best desktop wallet ever. - Has great defaults - Coin control - Tool to verify FOSS software with devs PGP keys - Wallet search tool - Stonewall sends by default when possible (where you use two UTXOs when spending which appears as a two-party StonewallX2) 4. [Zeus](https://zeusln.com/) - Lightning embedded node (THE NODE IS ON THE PHONE! 🤯) 5. [Phoenix](https://phoenix.acinq.co/) - French company that pulled out of US market when Samourai Wallet devs got indicted by the US Department of Justice. ### Fund it. Tools: [KYCnot.me](https://KYCnot.me) Rational: [No KYC](https://nokyconly.com) 1. [Bisq](https://bisq.network/) - The best option, Uses Tor, can find low premiums, even to the point of getting bitcoins below market price. But better to be the maker as takers pay 10x the fee. 2. [Hodl Hodl](https://hodlhodl.com/) - Avoid careful of counterparties that ask you to KYC. Be sure to at least use VPN when using it. Better yet use via Tor Browser. 3. [Robosats](https://learn.robosats.com/) - Uses Tor, Uses Lightning, has almost scarily low deposits, and no reputation system. If you want to swap into onchain bitcoins use [boltz swap](https://boltz.exchange/swap) 2. [Peach App](https://peachbitcoin.com/) - Based in Switzerland and follows their regulations, known for their speedy transactions, doesn't use Tor by default, but you can use orbot to make your phone's traffic route through Tor. ### Signing devices These help keep your private key offline. 1. [FOUNDATION Passport/Prime](https://foundation.xyz)🔥 2. SeedSigner - Bitcoin only. Based team and value prop. DIY. Look into it if you want a cheap, DIY, non-persistent signing device. Especially useful for multi-sig and combatting potential supply chain issues with a single HWW vendor. 3. Jade (never used it) - Bitcoin only. 4. Trezor - Multi-coin, but can change firmware to be Bitcoin only. Used it, but don't recommend buying if you don't already have one. There's no secure element and physical access by a malicious party could result in loss of funds. 5. Ledger - Multi-coin. Team is antithetical to all things Bitcoin. Avoid at all costs. ### Nodes Run your own if possible. 1. Build a server and run Debian or Ubuntu if you're based enough. [Ministry of Nodes](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRbH-IWlcW0g0HCrtI06_ZdVVolUWr39) can help with that. 2. [Start9](https://store.start9.com/) - Pre-built server with the Start operating system. They package things like the bitcoin node, jellyfin etc. and help with dependencies. Plug and play. 3. [StartOS](https://docs.start9.com/0.3.5.x/diy/diy-x86) - DIY version of Start9. You need to be handy with building your own server. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/867598

@ 86cf3742:678e3ae8

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of dairy farming with JR Burdick, a former conventional dairy farmer turned raw milk producer. JR shares his journey from following the traditional dairy farming system to becoming an independent raw milk seller, breaking away from industry norms and regulations. He recounts the challenges he faced, including dealing with stray voltage that decimated his herd, a lengthy legal battle with an electric company, and the emotional and financial toll it took on his family. JR also discusses the impact of industry regulations, such as the mandatory check-off programs and the pressures from dairy cooperatives, which led him to question the sustainability and ethics of the conventional dairy system. His story is one of resilience and transformation as he navigates the complexities of direct-to-consumer sales, the challenges of marketing raw milk, and the importance of maintaining integrity in his farming practices. Throughout the conversation, JR offers insights into the broader agricultural landscape, touching on issues like government subsidies, the consolidation of the dairy industry, and the role of technology and innovation in farming. He also shares his thoughts on the future of agriculture, the potential of Bitcoin as a financial tool for farmers, and the importance of preserving traditional farming knowledge. This episode is a compelling exploration of the struggles and triumphs of a farmer who dared to defy the status quo and forge a new path in the world of agriculture.

@ c3b2802b:4850599c

Dear sisters and brothers, I have been born in a country without any religion. As a young adult I understood that a life without spirituality does not make sense. Today, 50 years later, I am convinced that the family of creation consists of divine beings with the potential to unfold endless love - independently of the controversies between singular religions. **Each of us human beings is full of divine sparks** which may strengthen each moment during our life the fire of love and compassion toward all living beings in the universe. These divine sparks may feed the eternal dance of creation. **Religion and science have converged during the last centuries:** Divine spirit is the driving force of all happenings in our universe. Buddha, Plato, Jesus Christ, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Albert Schweitzer and recently many Nobel Price winning physicists have expressed the same conviction: **We are divine creators of the paradise** resulting from genesis on this planet within the living universe. Looking around the world these days, however, we observe harm, hunger, dissence, struggle and war. How does this coexist – the potential to create the paradise on the one hand – and the destructive forces leading to a multitude of catastrophes? May be you like the following way to interprete what is going on actually: **We are born to be tested in a learning adventure of evolution** within the cosmos. The life of each of us is an examination checking whether we are ripe for creating the paradise. **Each generation of human beings has the chance to reach the tipping point.** Possibly todays generation, all of us sitting here, might overcome the centennial struggle on details of diverse religions and worldviews. If we today conjointly remember our potential as divine beings to create a peaceful and well balanced world - then we can make the next step of cosmic evolution – charcterized by love, peace and respect for all forms of life: **We may give now birth to a new chapter in the process of evolution.** The time might be ripe these days. Let me give some illustrations for my optimism based on my work of the past 30 years in Germany: 30 years ago in my country most of all fuels for electricity and heating were imported. All German villages depended existially from international trusts supplying nuclear and fossil energy. The great majority of Germans relied on imported fossile or nuclear fuels. Today, 30 years later, we count [200 villages with own energy production](https://xn--energiewendedrfer-c0b.de/ttps://zukunftskommunen.de/blog/modellgemeinschaft-kirpal-sagar-indien-episoden-aus-oeko-agro-forstwirtschaft-zu-bildung-sozialem-und-kultur/) based on regional ressources which were initiated by teams of german universities, where I have been active. During the same time the number of similar activities aiming at a regionally organized society all over the world exploded. In many countries many local initiatives were founded organizing food production, local trade, water supply and many other fields of human needs on a regional base in fair and clean ways, without any international activities of global players like MacDonald or Monsanto. **Another world is possible** – and even better, the regional society is blossoming already since decades worldwide. A second source for my optimism is my scientific work. Humans dispose of spiritual potentials enabling us to connect with the holy spirit surrounding us since eternal times. Individuals unfolding this potential and behaving respectfully toward other beings report higher well-being as compared to other people. That empirical pattern has been found in hundreds of scientific studies all over the world. These results feed our trust, that we are on the right way with our regional initiatives like Kirpal Sagar in India, the new energy villages in Germany, the clean and fair agriculture initiatives worldwide, the open seeds movement and the many further initiatives. **Remembering Mahatma Gandhi, the great indian philosopher and politician:** We do not need to fight against the players of the old world, against psychopathic people in international trusts and organizations who plan a world all of us dislike. This old structure will break down by itself. Meanwhile we build the society we prefere: Ethically grounded communities like [Kirpal Sagar](https://www.kirpal-sagar.co.in/english/index.php/en/), based on grace, fairness and respect between all living beings. My congratulation to the golden jubilee of this wonderful project, which may serve as a model for the whole world. Let´s shake our hands, connect our hearts and let´s bring our souls in harmony within the cosmic concert of love! Peter Schmuck, psychologist and regional society activist, Germany, february 5 2024. First published at the German [platform for future communities](https://zukunftskommunen.de/blog/modellgemeinschaft-kirpal-sagar-indien-episoden-aus-oeko-agro-forstwirtschaft-zu-bildung-sozialem-und-kultur/)&#x20;

@ 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/867409

@ 0463223a:3b14d673

I still don’t have much of an idea how it all works, even after all these years. I scroll around the web looking for connection and often don’t find it. Building on the theme I wrote before, how some folks are very sure of themselves. I still don’t get it. A critique people had of me in the past was a lack of confidence. That’s a hard thing to deal with as a man. The statement is really saying you’re low status and if only this that and a third, you’d be a decent human. Cheers! I’m a recluse. There’s been periods of life I’ve been non verbal and I’ve avoided social interaction a lot. On the flip, I got quite good at wiggling records about to make funny noises and this enabled me to involve myself in music in various was, despite never being a ‘proper musician’, you know, like someone who plays a guitar or piano etc. Over a very long time frame I’ve found myself around music makers that I share common interest with, be that Dub, Hip Hop, weird noises etc. It’s funny, I now know some pretty serious players within those genres and count as few as good friends. It’s fucking mental to be honest. I’ve ticked off a number of childhood heroes, probably people you don’t know, some you would’ve definitely heard on radio but wouldn’t know their names. I like to think I’m quite good at what I do but the confidence thing is still difficult. Had I moved to London in my youth I could've earned a lot more money, especially in the 90s when there was actually a functioning music industry but I know I can’t deal with that level of hectic so I’ve remained in small places by the sea both in the UK and abroad. I’ve been working on an album for the best part of a year and have 4 tracks I feel happy with, at least I feel they’re a good representation of my abilities and I’ve been very lucky to have a world class player contribute bass on a couple of tracks. I don’t share the talents of my compardres but as one well known musician I toured with said to me, “I know you’re for the band”. A simple statement but that’s what mattered to him. He liked that I gave a shit about how they sounded, despite beating myself up because I often felt I was fucking their sound up big time (I didn’t let on, with the exception of one gig where EVERYTHING went wrong. I went straight to the dressing room after and flung myself at the mercy of the band apologising!). After many years I’ve found my groove. Now I’m on this protocol called Nostr. It’s a strange place. It’s very niche, made up of money obsessed nutters. I share some of their beliefs but not all. It’s very American (is anywhere online not?) but it’s cool. I’m finding myself there more and more. I quit all major platforms in 2019. I’d learned too much nasty shit to contribute to making the companies richer. It’s weird, many people don’t seem to realise, you can stop using these platforms and they disappear. That’s the only thing giving these people power. Maybe people enjoy being milked for data? Do cows like having their teets clamped for milking? I’ve never got an answer from one… Prior to that I found some weird internet money thing which is also becoming more popular, even the President of the USA has some (I think, he also has some other funny tokens and appears to be scamming people big time, yet people still really dig him for some reason). This funny money has given me something I’ve not really had before, at least since I was maybe 10. A sense of security. It’s remarkable how much more mentally stable it can make you. When I lost my last living place (usual landlord BS) I moved in with my now wife and built a shed, filled it with noise making stuff. That wouldn’t have been possible without my anger towards the banks and how our governments gave them a free pass after they fucked us all. Some deep shit happened but that’s a whole other story. This thing internet money seems to be catching on... Now I watch higher status folks stake their claim on the world. I try to zone them out as best I can, at least when they’re telling me how successful they are for reasons and playing their status games online. I’m much more interested in learning, mostly via audio, I’ve spent more hours listening to people I disagree with online than I can keep track of. I learn what I can from them and do my best to disregard the noise and try to maintain an awareness of my biases. I don’t want to agree with everyone here. The moment I do, I know I’m doing something wrong. They’ll be someone reading this, maybe you, thinking this is utter cringe. Fair enough, I’m not here for you, I’m looking for cool noise makers and weird people to hang with. Clearly this is self indulgent bollocks but fuck it, I’ll put it on this Nostr thing anyway.

@ 16d11430:61640947

The Millennial generation stands at a unique crossroads in history. Born into a world where traditional systems of economic and social power were firmly entrenched, they have matured in an era where those very systems are showing cracks. Nowhere is this more evident than in the rise of Bitcoin—a financial and cultural phenomenon that reflects not only technological progress but also the profound sociopsychological struggles of a generation attempting to wrest autonomy from the aging custodians of power. ### **Prolonged Adolescence and the Deferred Quest for Autonomy** Millennials, often caricatured as perpetual adolescents, have endured an extended transition into adulthood. Saddled with unprecedented student debt, stagnant wages, and skyrocketing living costs, this generation has been systematically delayed in achieving the milestones traditionally associated with maturity—home ownership, financial independence, and generational leadership. Their prolonged adolescence was not born of laziness or indulgence but of structural barriers, many of which were crafted and perpetuated by the Baby Boomer generation. Bitcoin represents a symbolic and literal breaking away from these constraints. The decentralized cryptocurrency is, in essence, a rejection of the financial institutions that Millennials perceive as oppressive. It offers an alternative to a system that has kept them financially infantilized, tethered to debt, and locked out of wealth-building opportunities. Embracing Bitcoin is not merely an economic act—it is a psychological declaration of independence. ### **The Boomer Legacy and the Daunting Task of Succession** The Baby Boomers, who rose to dominance in an era of postwar economic growth, have remained the gatekeepers of wealth and power well into their senior years. This has created an intergenerational bottleneck: Millennials find themselves poised to inherit a world that is increasingly unsustainable, while also confronting the inertia of a generation reluctant to relinquish control. The sociopsychological impact of this dynamic is profound. For Millennials, the act of "growing up" has become synonymous with the Herculean task of dismantling or reforming entrenched systems. Bitcoin’s narrative of decentralization, transparency, and individual sovereignty resonates deeply with Millennials because it offers a vision of empowerment. It provides a means of bypassing the gatekeepers—of creating value and financial freedom outside the confines of legacy institutions. Psychologically, this represents a vital step in the developmental journey: the move from dependency to self-reliance, from frustration to agency. ### **Weaning from the Teat: Financial and Emotional Independence** The metaphor of weaning is particularly apt for understanding the Millennial relationship with Bitcoin and the broader financial landscape. For much of their lives, Millennials have been financially dependent—on parents, on government programs, on an economic system that rewards conformity and punishes risk. Bitcoin is the ultimate tool for "weaning" this generation off the teat of dependency. It demands financial literacy, discipline, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty—all hallmarks of psychological maturity. However, this journey is not without its challenges. The volatility of cryptocurrency markets mirrors the emotional turbulence of late adulthood, where the quest for independence often involves trial, error, and occasional failure. Millennials are learning, through Bitcoin, the hard truths of self-governance: that freedom is inseparable from responsibility, and that control cannot be wrested from others without first mastering oneself. ### **The Psychology of Late Adulthood in a Transitional World** Late adulthood, for Millennials, is marked by a dual psychological burden: the need to create a new world while still living in the shadow of the old. This is not merely a financial or technological challenge—it is a deeply existential one. Bitcoin, as both a tool and a symbol, encapsulates the struggle to bridge these worlds. It offers hope, but it also demands courage. The generational shift from Boomers to Millennials is not just a passing of the torch; it is a seismic cultural shift. Millennials are redefining the very meaning of adulthood in the 21st century, and Bitcoin is a cornerstone of this redefinition. By rejecting the centralized systems of their predecessors, they are building a future that prioritizes autonomy, equity, and resilience. ### **Conclusion: Bitcoin as the Rite of Passage** In clinical terms, rites of passage are critical for psychological growth. They mark the transition from one stage of life to another, providing both challenge and transformation. For Millennials, Bitcoin is not just a financial instrument; it is a rite of passage. It is the means by which they assert their adulthood, reclaim their autonomy, and begin to dismantle the structures that have held them back. In the broader context of human development, the rise of Bitcoin may be seen as a pivotal moment in the collective psyche—a moment when a generation, long delayed in its coming-of-age, finally steps into its power. The journey is fraught with uncertainty, but it is also rich with possibility. And as with all rites of passage, the true transformation lies not in the destination but in the courage to undertake the journey.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

TASK: Provide three solutions to one of the problems (non-technical) observed during the UX audit in Kenya. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ht9cy4ZOUw > This call was after the Bitcoin UX Bootcamp which was held in Africa at the ABC conference in 2024. 10 UX designers were selected and completed a 2 day bootcamp as well as a pre-learning phase. During the bootcamp itself they were each project leads for an open-source African bitcoin wallet. They did a UX analysis and usability testing of the wallet to understand how the user experience could be improved. Now after understanding the problem space this call was focussed on how to move from the problem space to the solution space in terms of design. A step by step process was outlined and shared with the participants. We would greatly appreciate your feedback on these design solutions. Please feel free to share comments, suggestions, or point out any oversights in the comments below or directly on the following figma files (Figma account required, you can create a dummy one, no KYC required). - - - PRODUCT: TANDO TEAM MEMBERS: @thetimileyin. @Loïc Kassamoto Figma Link: https://www.figma.com/design/LEbxbCBb2WnuneJAL5GFs7/Tando-UX-Audit?node-id=225-987&t=eePmVu0Fx8ibFaEm-4 - - - PRODUCT: BITSACCO TEAM MEMBERS: @afolabioluwatobiloba. @Osatuyi Figma link: https://www.figma.com/design/LYxCZLbq17vxbPNU9FTZ6d/UX-Bootcamp-group-file-(BITSACCO)?node-id=60-61&t=IEnTauLGib3SHA7T-4 - - - We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/867378

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

pzzSuoYi+e10lSjzqWb6f9Ol6Uov0ZAHO5rOhaz8SjtGtm73clKGjK7CiGLE3Z+ggeowz9uZlwI6cgoJ7jOm+xOLzGkrvleE+eSz2uX5Xfpj8AiOVRIic+QC5woDcFuarKMNzFtYdx3rsWD4fKGjT9PYDM87nDpaTY/4dRI57A4=?iv=czhvrLj1++SEu3o11uc8HQ==

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

**About the role** In this role, you will work on the product design of umbrelOS, some of our umbrelOS apps, and the umbrel.com website. **What are you looking for in candidates?** Talent, passion, genuine love for your craft, and the desire to do meaningful work. What we’re not looking for: credentials and degrees. When you really love what you do, work feels like play. And when work feels like play, you become the best at it. That’s what we’re looking for. **We hope you:** - Like to spend your days staring at artboards in Figma - Are obsessed with creating delightful micro-interactions and animations - Are willing to throw away ideas if they're not great, and optimistic enough to keep hunting for new ones - Care about the details, maybe a bit too much (a pixel off ruins your sleep) - Are excited to collaborate with everyone on the team: engineers, customer facing folks, etc—you believe inspiration can come from anywhere - Have good judgement of when to ship - Like to level up your design skills continually - Put yourselves in the shoes of our users to craft a great experience - Enjoy being a generalist and are not tied down to a specific design, trend, or tools **Benefits** - 🚑 Health insurance - 💻 New work equipment - 🌎 Work from anywhere in the world - 💆‍♀️ Complete autonomy at work - 📚 Learning and development stipend - 🏝 Minimum 2-weeks of paid time off - ❤️ Most importantly — doing meaningful work that can change the world Apply at https://app.withrapha.com/job/692 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/867248

@ 26ceca6b:2ae71cb7

I am working on a story to help people understand money and the problems that arise in the system. A very good story that is popular: https://x.com/saylor/status/1878154748353818932 "What's the Problem". I am seeking to keep this to a couple of minutes. Here is the story that I told my wife: Times are hard as are all too familiar to those at the little church at the edge of the city. The elders decide that the food pantry needs expansion to help those in need through this time. They decide to turn the pantry into a store where people can bring various goods like vegetables and things of basic needs, like sugar and blankets, medicines, and so forth. They decide to start a ledger where people can earn credits for the items they donate to the store. 2 eggs are worth 1 credit, as are 3 potatoes and a dozen carrots. There is also a table where people can offer items in trade for credits. The ledger is a huge success. After some time, the elder that was named the bookkeeper encounters a widow in the store who is known to be very poor, such that her children have no shoes, and she is in great need. In his desire to help her get the few items that would help her family so much, he gets the idea to just add an entry on the ledger in her account. He gives her enough credits to help her through the month. He was quite pleased with himself. Days passed, and now the brothers of the widow have come to the store. They ask for the bookkeeper, and when he meets with them, they demand credits as he had done for their sister. After all, they were orphans. The bookkeeper tells them that he will ask for a special collection to meet their needs, but they don't want donations. They want the dignity of buying what they need at the store where no one will look down on them as beggars. The bookkeeper is in a bind. He tells them he must consult with the elders on such matters to buy some time. He meets with the elders to discuss this new development. They decide that he should extend the brothers’ credit to resolve the matter. They also decide that he should get a sum of credits for himself since the bookkeeping has become difficult. Not long after, the elders decide that they too should get a salary for their work, and so more ledger entries are created. The ledger book is getting quite heavy. The lines of credit are quite popular. But then problems arose. The store ran out of eggs, vegetables, and meat was now worth twice what it was priced in eggs or credits. The elders gathered with the bookkeeper and were astonished at this development. They decided the solution was to start buying meat and eggs from the market to sell at the store. To do this, they made more entries in the ledger, issued notes at the market, and once again stocked the shelves. Only this time it was 1 egg/ 1 Credit, meat was 5 credits for the piece the size of a child’s fist. The store languished with the high prices. The people quit paying their debt and stopped trading their vegetables for credits. They traded amongst themselves instead, sharing meals together. Many bought chickens, and some traded eggs for goats, goats for cattle, and cattle for land. The elders sat in the empty store and argued over the last potato; they decided to give it to the highest bidder. The bookkeeper offered all his credits, and next month’s too. He got his potato and traded it for one egg. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/866207

@ 99a07115:0f0df457

Mrow. I hesitate to muddy up what seems to be more of an underground news feed with my own silly content, but if there's an appetite for my nonsense then maybe I'll keep it up.I've been on a whirlwind tour through bitcoin culture for the past few days. I haven't really been able to shut up on Nostr about how much running a node changed the game for me. ## **My node made me understand the Blocksize War** It's probably no surprise to this audience, but the Blocksize War didn't really register to me as something of importance until I got to syncing my node. It took well over a week for me to get through the whole blockchain. That time frame feels either painfully long or, considering bitcoin's growing popularity, astonishingly quick. Something like 700GB of data. That's it. It's so crazy to me I still want to just grab strangers IRL and be like, "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S ONLY 700GB". Kind of fun checking up throughout the process and seeing where in "Blocktime" my node was, then checking mempools.space to see exactly when that was.  ## **Bitcoin is a store of value... until you reach Nostr** Yeah look I'm still too green to open public channels on my node, too small of a fish to toss around the kind of liquidity I'm guessing big noderunners are playing with, and I'm keeping most of the sats that enter my gravitational field. Still, everything about accumulating bitcoin was somewhat desperate and even daunting up until I reached 100% sync with the blockchain. As soon as I hopped on Nostr and got to zapping it really shifted. Suddenly, there's a small stash of sats that I'm using to engage with this community, to support others or give them a little digital nod. I really couldn't connect with the platform or even considered layer 2 much at all until I had skin in the game. Only a full node+lightning node and Nostr, along with the interconnected platforms/utilities that many of you have been building, really could bring me out of my trance of layer 1 sat stacking. So thank you to those that have done such excellent work, it's incredible stuff. ## **Screw Elite Dangerous, I'll just try to be a halfway decent Lightning noderunner** Was considering one of those crazy detailed space sims to give my brain some exercise but... then I found Amboss and realized I can made my head hurt just with layer 2's. I'm definitely not ready for the big leagues. But for now, a few private channels feels great while I read up over the next few weeks on DarthCoin's outstanding documentation. Speaking of, are there LSP guilds like the Fuel Rats? That'd be fun. "We have Liquidity. You don't."  That is all for now. Chau chau, meow meow. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/867208

@ 3ae7fdae:f8d4b19d

### **Lifting the Curtain on Power and Scandal** **The Illusion of Power and Trust**In the modern world, the line between trust and skepticism is razor-thin, especially when it comes to powerful figures and organizations. They present polished facades, dazzling us with promises of stability, innovation, or in Disney’s case, enchantment. Yet, the revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s network reminded us that power is often far more complex than it appears. This scandal became a litmus test for public trust and fueled questions about who, or what, might be entwined in hidden truths. When Epstein's crimes were exposed, they revealed not just the horrifying details of exploitation, but also the unsettling reach of his influence. As the media peeled back the layers of his associations, public attention naturally shifted to recognizable names and institutions, including Disney. How could a company that represented childhood innocence, with castles and fairy tales, find itself whispered about in the same breath as Epstein’s infamous circle? This segment examines the roots of that question and the facts that illuminate its plausibility or dismiss it. **Epstein: A Man Who Mastered Access to Power**Jeffrey Epstein was more than just a financier—he was a gatekeeper to influence. His lifestyle and operations were an entangled web of charm, manipulation, and wealth, meticulously designed to secure him a place among the powerful. Investigative articles by *The Guardian* and *The New York Times* depict Epstein as a social engineer, curating relationships that ranged from politicians and royalty to scientists and celebrities. Court documents and deposition testimonies during Epstein’s trial confirmed that his homes and private jet were hubs for connecting with influential figures. This access did not come without consequence; it cemented him as both a source of curiosity and, later, fear. Public records, such as those scrutinized in *The Washington Post*, indicated his involvement with many high-profile individuals. Yet, the details of these relationships varied—some guests were casual acquaintances, others, confidants. **The Infamous Flight Logs**The flight logs of Epstein’s private jet, colloquially known as the "Lolita Express," became a centerpiece for public scrutiny. Released through court orders and accessed by journalists, these logs listed names that triggered a cascade of questions. Guests ranged from prominent business executives to entertainment figures, sparking a debate over whether mere association implied complicity or deeper connections. This fueled the narrative that Epstein’s reach was far more extensive than previously understood, implicating industries where entertainment, power, and trust intersected. **The Role of Speculation in Public Discourse**As soon as these flight logs surfaced, discussions surged online and across media platforms. The presence of any entertainment figure in Epstein’s orbit raised an eyebrow and, in many cases, invited a leap of logic: if influential media personalities were tied to him, could companies known for entertainment and global reach, like Disney, have hidden associations as well? This hypothesis, though lacking concrete evidence, found fertile ground among those predisposed to distrust large, seemingly untouchable institutions. It’s crucial to dissect why Disney, specifically, became a subject of speculation. On one hand, its status as an omnipresent media empire makes it an easy target for conspiracy theories that thrive on the juxtaposition of light (Disney’s brand) and darkness (Epstein’s crimes). On the other, it speaks to a larger societal impulse to find cracks in the foundations of those we consider infallible. The idea that even the most beloved entities might harbor hidden truths appeals to a deep-seated desire for transparency and accountability. **The Catalyst of Public Curiosity**The timing of Epstein’s exposure was a critical factor. His arrest and subsequent death in 2019 coincided with a period marked by rising distrust in institutions, fueled by political and social upheavals globally. Social media platforms amplified this distrust, creating echo chambers where half-truths and speculative narratives merged seamlessly with confirmed facts. It is here that Disney’s name began to surface not as an accused, but as a speculative point in discussions. The reasoning often pointed to a "guilt by association" logic: if the powerful dined, flew, or partied with Epstein, then it was worth questioning the circles in which those powerful entities moved, even without direct evidence. This leap from speculation to assumption reflects a pattern that sociologists recognize as part of conspiracy theory psychology—where a lack of clear answers invites the mind to fill in gaps, often with what feels most compelling. **Reframing the Public’s Questions**The real question becomes: why does this speculation hold such sway, even when evidence is scarce? Part of the answer lies in precedent. History is replete with instances where institutions that seemed above reproach were later implicated in hidden misdeeds, from financial frauds to abuse scandals within trusted organizations. This collective memory primes the public to believe that beneath any glittering surface could lie a dark, concealed underbelly. Disney’s position as an icon of childhood and innocence adds another layer to this narrative. To imagine that such a symbol could be tainted by proximity to someone like Epstein is not just shocking—it’s fascinating. It strikes at the core of what we hold sacred, making it an irresistible topic of conversation and investigation. **Why This Matters**Understanding why names like Disney are brought into these discussions without verified evidence is essential. It helps differentiate between warranted inquiry and unsupported speculation, allowing us to approach these narratives critically. Addressing this head-on does not only clear the air but strengthens the foundation upon which valid criticism and accountability are built. **A Note on Evidence**As we move deeper into this exploration, it’s critical to emphasize that while Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures are thoroughly documented, there remains **no evidence** tying Disney, as an organization, to his operations. Still, the fascination with the “what-ifs” continues, driven by our collective quest for understanding power, secrecy, and the thin line between public and private lives. *The next segment will dive into Epstein’s proven network, unraveling the extent of his influence and why it has been the breeding ground for questions involving the world’s most trusted corporations.* ### **Epstein’s Documented Network** **The Web of Power: A Portrait of Influence**Jeffrey Epstein’s network was not merely a collection of acquaintances; it was a curated gallery of the world’s most influential figures, built on calculated relationships and strategic connections. Epstein wielded this network with the precision of a skilled operator, bridging disparate realms of society—politics, academia, business, and media. Investigative reporting by sources such as *The New York Times* and *The Guardian* exposed how Epstein maintained access to individuals who shaped policy, managed wealth, and crafted the narratives of popular culture. Court records, testimonies, and detailed analyses of his interactions revealed that Epstein was adept at placing himself at the center of elite circles. His estates, from Manhattan townhouses to private islands, hosted events that blurred the lines between social gatherings and strategic networking. This chapter delves into the proven extent of Epstein’s reach and why it sparked questions about connections to corporations and public institutions, including Disney. **Flight Logs: The Proof and the Spark**The flight logs from Epstein’s private jet, the infamous "Lolita Express," were among the most illuminating pieces of evidence in mapping his connections. These logs, legally obtained and examined by journalists, painted a picture of Epstein’s influence stretching across industries. High-profile figures were listed, including financiers, political leaders, and entertainment personalities. The presence of notable names triggered waves of speculation—if Epstein had access to such power players, how many more remained unnamed but entangled? *The Guardian* and *The Washington Post* reported that these flights were not just transportation but often involved visits to Epstein’s various properties, known for their opulence and the dark rumors surrounding them. While these logs confirmed that many public figures knew Epstein, the depth and nature of their associations varied widely, from casual acquaintance to deeper involvement. **The Limits of the Known**Despite the breadth of documented connections, there was no verifiable evidence linking Disney as an entity to Epstein’s circle. What the flight logs and guest lists revealed was a man deeply embedded in networks of power, yet even within these proven associations, context was crucial. For instance, some guests, confirmed by court records and investigative articles, were shown to have attended public events or engaged in business unrelated to Epstein’s criminal activities. The distinction between documented presence and complicity is where the narrative often splinters. The leap from association to implication fueled public debate and conspiracy theories. This was especially true when figures from media and entertainment, sectors known for influencing public sentiment and childhood memories, appeared on the periphery of Epstein’s activities. **Epstein’s Parties and Gatherings: The Elite’s Shadowed Stage**Epstein’s parties were legendary, drawing attendees from the highest echelons of influence. These gatherings were not casual mixers but orchestrated showcases of power. Reports from court depositions and firsthand accounts highlighted how Epstein leveraged these events to cement alliances and reinforce his status as a gatekeeper to the elite. Some testimonies even described how these events served as platforms for discussing investments, politics, and global initiatives, reinforcing Epstein’s perceived omnipotence. **High-Profile Confirmations and Their Implications**Several prominent individuals were indeed verified as having ties to Epstein, raising legitimate questions about the extent of their knowledge or involvement. These names included politicians, royalty, and entertainment figures. The ambiguity surrounding these associations allowed theories to flourish. The sheer presence of influential names on Epstein’s guest lists raised the question: If these individuals were implicated, what about the institutions they represented or the circles they moved within? This was a turning point for public speculation. The logic extended: if an individual from a major media company or entertainment empire like Disney was even remotely connected, could that implicate the company itself? The answer, according to existing court records and credible investigations, remained **no**. Yet, the absence of direct evidence did not stop speculation; in many cases, it intensified it. **Why Disney Was Brought Into the Conversation**Disney’s reputation as a family-friendly giant contrasted starkly with the dark nature of Epstein’s activities, making it an unlikely yet intriguing topic for public discourse. While some entertainment figures appeared on Epstein’s flight logs or were rumored to have interacted with him, investigations have not yielded any proof of corporate-level involvement. However, public fascination persisted, bolstered by the broader questions Epstein’s connections evoked. It’s worth noting that corporations like Disney, with their vast reach and unparalleled influence, naturally become focal points when discussions of hidden truths arise. The mere idea that such an iconic entity could be associated with real-world shadows captures the imagination and fuels stories that, while lacking proof, thrive on the “what-ifs” that echo through media and online forums. **How Public Perception Shapes the Narrative**Sociologists studying the psychology of conspiracy theories point out that the human mind tends to fill gaps in knowledge with what feels most plausible or compelling. When figures from reputable media or entertainment companies are tied, even tangentially, to a scandal as vast as Epstein’s, it challenges the boundaries of trust. This is exacerbated when concrete answers remain elusive, leading to a cycle where suspicion feeds speculation. The public’s thirst for accountability, especially in the wake of uncovered scandals involving powerful institutions, is both a force for truth and a catalyst for assumptions. In Epstein’s case, the proven reach of his influence and the confirmed involvement of significant figures were enough to trigger the question of how many untold stories lay beneath. **What We Know vs. What We Imagine**The narrative surrounding Epstein’s documented network shows us that while connections can be verified and associations noted, the leap to implicating entire organizations like Disney requires more than names on a list or rumors. It requires evidence that has, thus far, not been presented in any court or investigation. The proven facts are compelling enough: Epstein’s influence was extensive, his ties to power irrefutable. Yet, without direct links, the conversations about specific corporate involvement remain speculative. *In the next segment, we will explore why Disney’s reputation makes it a prime target for such speculation and how its historical handling of public crises plays into these narratives.* ### **Disney – The Symbol of Trust and Target of Suspicion** **Why Disney? The Paradox of a Trusted Institution**Disney’s legacy is built on a foundation of storytelling, dreams, and the belief in happy endings. For nearly a century, the company has woven itself into the fabric of childhoods, becoming synonymous with innocence and magic. This legacy, however, has a dual edge. As the public's trust in institutions erodes and hidden truths are revealed in other sectors, Disney’s position as an untouchable cultural icon makes it both a beacon of light and a potential target for suspicion. **The Symbolism of Disney’s Brand**Disney represents more than just a company; it embodies an idea—a refuge where imagination and wonder reign. But this same image that has made Disney a household name also contributes to the paradox of suspicion it faces. When an organization is seen as larger than life, transcending generations and continents, the notion that it could have skeletons in its closet becomes a tantalizing thought. The juxtaposition of innocence with possible shadows creates a narrative that is compelling and worth exploring, even if it remains speculative. This paradox of Disney as both a trusted symbol and a target for scandal reflects a broader trend. Major corporations that hold influence in our everyday lives—particularly those that shape childhood memories and societal values—are natural focal points when scandals involving power, influence, and exploitation arise. The idea that a company with as much reach as Disney could be connected, however tangentially, to figures like Epstein feeds into this pattern. **Documented Misconduct and Public Reactions**There have been verified cases involving Disney employees engaging in misconduct, which have been reported by media outlets such as *NBC News* and local news channels. These incidents, though not systemic and unrelated to Epstein’s network, show how the actions of a few can impact public perception of an entire organization. Examples include arrests for crimes involving minors or inappropriate behavior, isolated events that Disney has publicly addressed through statements and cooperation with law enforcement. However, these incidents were sufficient to plant seeds of doubt in some minds. Even when addressed swiftly and in line with corporate protocols, such cases reveal a vulnerability: the company’s image can be tarnished not just by its policies, but by the misdeeds of individuals who wear its badge. **The Fuel for Speculation**The Epstein case acted as a catalyst for looking beyond the obvious, particularly in the context of powerful organizations. If political leaders, financiers, and cultural icons could be connected to Epstein’s circle, why not wonder about the involvement of a company with as vast a presence as Disney? While investigations by trusted outlets have shown no direct corporate link, the sheer scope of Epstein’s influence suggested that any entity known for associating with the powerful could be implicated. This speculation was not helped by Disney’s approach to public relations. The company’s PR strategies, while sophisticated and generally effective, often prioritize message control over transparency. In a world where silence can be seen as complicity, this strategy sometimes backfires, leading to more questions than answers. **Public Distrust and Historical Context**The public’s fascination with uncovering hidden truths within major institutions is not unfounded. History is replete with cases where seemingly trustworthy organizations were later found to have concealed scandals. From corporate frauds to abuses within religious institutions, these stories have taught the public that innocence is not immune to corruption. This backdrop primes society to believe that even the most beloved entities, like Disney, could harbor secrets. Sociologists and media analysts argue that this distrust is a byproduct of what they term the “betrayal effect”—where past disappointments with trusted institutions lower the threshold for believing that betrayal could be lurking everywhere. Disney, with its spotless public image and vast influence, becomes an especially juicy target for such theories. The leap from real cases of employee misconduct to more systemic accusations, however, is where evidence often falls short. **The Role of Social Media and Echo Chambers**The digital age has amplified how speculation morphs into perceived truth. Platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook allow theories to spread quickly, often outpacing fact-checking and nuanced analysis. Discussions that might once have been confined to fringe circles now gain mainstream attention, especially when they involve powerful figures or beloved brands. In the context of Epstein’s exposure, this meant that any high-profile connection or name could become part of a broader narrative of guilt by association. The fact that Disney, as a corporation, appeared in speculative discussions alongside verified names from Epstein’s logs was enough for some to draw connections, even without direct evidence. **Reputation Management and Perception**Disney’s approach to crises and controversies has long involved careful reputation management. From its response to legal issues to how it handles employee-related incidents, the company employs sophisticated PR strategies to mitigate damage and maintain its standing. This is standard practice for global brands; however, the public’s interpretation can be different. Strategic silence or tightly controlled statements can come across as evasive, fueling theories that there is something more to hide. For a company like Disney, which operates at the intersection of family values and global corporate power, the stakes are high. The expectation isn’t just for entertainment but for upholding the moral high ground. When speculation links Disney to scandals, no matter how peripherally, it chips away at this carefully crafted image. **Why Address This Now**?The speculation around Disney and Epstein underscores a crucial point about the nature of public inquiry and corporate reputation. It is not enough for companies to rely solely on public relations strategies that worked in the past. The demand for transparency is greater than ever, and silence, even when warranted, can erode trust. Disney’s role in the public consciousness means that even baseless theories need addressing. By understanding why these narratives gain traction, both companies and the public can engage in more meaningful dialogues about accountability, proof, and trust. *The next segment will delve into how the public navigates between confirmed facts and conspiratorial whispers, exploring why certain theories stick and what it means for how we view powerful organizations.* ### Separating Fact from Conspiracy The Thin Line Between Evidence and Speculation In the age of information, where facts are readily available yet often overshadowed by conjecture, separating truth from conspiracy is both an art and a necessity. When powerful entities like Disney find themselves drawn into discussions of hidden networks and scandals involving figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, it highlights a broader societal challenge: how do we differentiate between what is proven and what is assumed? This segment dissects the interplay of evidence, theory, and the psychological factors that drive our need to seek connections. The Basis of Public Suspicion Public trust in large institutions has waned over decades, driven by a series of high-profile betrayals. From corporate frauds that shattered economies to scandals involving trusted religious or educational institutions, society has learned that power often conceals flaws and, in some cases, criminal actions. According to research published in the Journal of Communication, this erosion of trust leads to a phenomenon known as confirmation bias—the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or suspicions. The Epstein case provided fertile ground for such biases. The verified details of Epstein’s operations—the private jet, the exclusive parties, the high-profile guests—were enough to prompt a collective re-examination of how far his reach extended. While many of his associations were proven to be casual or professional in nature, the public’s hunger for deeper revelations ensured that speculation would thrive in areas where clarity was lacking. The Role of Real Connections Epstein’s documented network included figures from politics, academia, finance, and media. The release of flight logs and court documents revealed that powerful individuals attended his events and interacted within his sphere. This factual basis, verified by investigative reporting from The New York Times, The Guardian, and other reputable sources, provided legitimacy to the idea that Epstein’s influence was pervasive. However, the extent to which these relationships were innocent or complicit was not uniformly clear. This ambiguity created a vacuum where speculation could flourish. Public attention shifted from individuals named in the logs to the institutions and industries they represented. It was here that major corporations, including Disney, entered the discourse—not because of documented ties, but because of their visibility and influence. The Psychology Behind Linking Power and Scandal To understand why theories about Disney’s potential involvement in Epstein’s network persist, it is essential to examine the psychology of conspiracy. Sociological and psychological studies indicate that people are naturally inclined to question narratives when they feel that the truth is being withheld. The more powerful or untouchable an institution seems, the more likely it is to be suspected of hiding something significant. Disney’s image as a global giant that molds childhoods and shapes culture makes it an appealing target for such theories. The company’s public persona as a bastion of family values and innocence stands in stark contrast to any whispers of scandal or misconduct. This contrast alone provides fertile ground for stories to grow, even in the absence of solid proof. Confirmed Misconduct vs. Conspiracy It is important to acknowledge that Disney, like any large corporation, has faced incidents involving employee misconduct. News reports from outlets such as NBC News have documented cases where employees were arrested for inappropriate conduct involving minors. These cases, while serious and handled with appropriate legal responses, were isolated incidents. No evidence points to these cases being part of a larger, systemic issue within the company or connected to external figures like Epstein. However, the very existence of these incidents is often enough to keep theories alive. Public perception does not always differentiate between an individual’s actions and the culture of the organization they work for. When these incidents coincide with broader conversations about power and secrecy, they feed into narratives that imply guilt by association. The Amplifying Power of Social Media The role of social media in shaping and amplifying conspiracy theories cannot be overstated. Platforms like Twitter and Reddit have created spaces where facts, opinions, and theories coexist with little separation. When the Epstein scandal broke, social media was flooded with discussions, many of which featured a mix of verifiable information and speculative connections. The absence of direct evidence linking companies like Disney to Epstein did not deter users from proposing connections based on circumstantial evidence and “what-if” scenarios. This phenomenon, described by media analysts as the “echo chamber effect,” allows theories to gain credibility through repetition rather than proof. As theories are shared, retweeted, and commented on, they accumulate a sense of legitimacy that belies their origins. Why Certain Theories Stick Certain theories persist because they tap into deep-seated fears and the knowledge that the powerful often operate beyond the reach of conventional accountability. High-profile scandals involving powerful figures—whether in business, politics, or entertainment—reinforce the belief that more may be hidden just out of reach. Epstein’s network was confirmed to include names that were once considered untouchable, which validated the idea that hidden truths could surface anywhere. Disney’s name appearing in speculative discussions highlights the intersection of innocence and power. It reflects a societal expectation that if one pillar of influence is shown to be compromised, others may be as well. This expectation, however, must be tempered with critical thinking and an examination of evidence. The Need for Discernment Understanding the difference between fact and theory is crucial for informed dialogue. Public scrutiny is essential for accountability, but it must be balanced with discernment. While Epstein’s known associations spanned many sectors, and while individuals from the entertainment industry were involved in his circle, the leap to implicating entire organizations like Disney has not been supported by verified investigations. The Reality Check Here’s what we know: Documented Facts: Epstein’s network included influential figures, confirmed by court records and journalistic investigations. Disney’s Position: While Disney has faced isolated cases of employee misconduct, no substantial evidence ties the company as an institution to Epstein’s criminal activities. Public Perception: Theories are fueled by a combination of legitimate distrust in powerful institutions and the psychological need to connect the dots, even when the evidence does not support it. In the next segment, we will explore how media control and the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) contribute to the public’s perception of secrecy and whether this perception is warranted. ### Media Control and NDAs – Protecting Power or Ensuring Silence? The Strategy of Silence in Crisis Management When powerful organizations face potential scandal or crises, the first line of defense is often control—control over the narrative, control over information, and control over public perception. This strategy, while effective in mitigating immediate damage, can backfire by fostering an aura of secrecy that leads to suspicion. Disney, like many other global corporations, has historically employed these tactics, particularly through the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and strategic public relations (PR) campaigns. But do these measures protect legitimate corporate interests, or do they simply fuel theories that there is more being hidden? Understanding the Role of NDAs NDAs are legal tools designed to maintain confidentiality and protect business interests. In most cases, their use is standard practice, whether to protect trade secrets, secure settlements, or manage sensitive internal matters. However, when NDAs intersect with scandals involving powerful individuals or organizations, they can become symbols of enforced silence. A report from the Harvard Business Review highlights that while NDAs are often employed for legitimate purposes, their misuse—especially when used to silence allegations of misconduct—has cast a shadow over their intent. Disney has used NDAs in its corporate dealings, as have many in the media and entertainment sectors. This is not in itself suspicious; however, the mere presence of NDAs in a company’s arsenal can contribute to a narrative of secrecy, especially when paired with limited transparency during controversies. The Case of High-Profile Secrecy The Epstein scandal showed how the use of NDAs and strategic silence could be perceived in a different light. When influential figures and companies were linked to his circle, silence from those implicated was interpreted by many as an attempt to avoid deeper inquiry. While Disney has not been tied to Epstein’s activities through verified evidence, its use of NDAs in unrelated circumstances and its approach to handling public controversies have made it a recurring subject in theories about hidden truths. For example, Disney’s meticulous control over its brand image means that it often handles internal issues privately, releasing carefully crafted statements that address public concerns without divulging specifics. This approach, while protective, sometimes has the unintended consequence of making the public wonder what is not being said. The Intersection of PR and Public Perception Public relations are designed to safeguard a company’s image, ensuring that responses to any negative news are swift and tightly managed. Disney’s PR machine is among the most sophisticated, capable of steering narratives and maintaining its reputation as an entertainment titan. This strategic control has allowed Disney to weather crises that might have permanently damaged lesser brands. However, in the context of a scandal as sprawling and notorious as Epstein’s, such control is perceived differently. When the Epstein story broke and high-profile connections came to light, companies with any tenuous ties activated their crisis management protocols. For some, this meant issuing vague statements or refusing to comment altogether. To the public, this read as silence—a strategic choice that seemed suspicious when paired with known instances of NDAs being used to keep serious allegations quiet in other industries. The #MeToo movement, for instance, revealed how NDAs were used by some media companies to shield powerful perpetrators of harassment, showing that these tools can sometimes contribute to a culture of concealment. Silence as Complicity? For a company like Disney, known for its polished public image, silence during times of widespread speculation can amplify suspicions. The question becomes: Is silence an act of protection or complicity? While NDAs are often used to manage settlements or protect internal processes, the fact that they prevent full transparency can make even innocent parties appear as if they have something to hide. Experts in crisis communication argue that silence may protect the brand short-term but can erode trust long-term. Disney’s approach to handling public perception, from managing employee misconduct cases to addressing larger social controversies, often involves strategic responses that give the public enough information to stay satisfied but not enough to quell the more skeptical voices. This is standard practice but becomes contentious when the public is searching for accountability. The Impact of Strategic Silence on Public Trust Media and communication studies have shown that transparency is increasingly becoming a measure of trustworthiness for corporations. In an era where the public demands answers and alternative media thrive on filling in gaps left by corporate PR, the stakes for maintaining trust are higher than ever. The use of NDAs and controlled statements can protect a company’s interests, but it also contributes to a perception of secrecy that feeds public doubt. Disney’s balancing act—protecting its brand while managing incidents behind closed doors—reflects a broader industry trend. Corporations that prioritize narrative control must now reckon with an environment where even a hint of concealment can lead to damaging speculation. The Epstein case amplified this issue, putting the spotlight on how major organizations handle proximity to scandal, even if only by association. Navigating the Perception The real challenge for Disney and similar companies lies in navigating the fine line between protecting their interests and fostering trust. Complete transparency can be risky, but strategic silence risks becoming complicit silence in the eyes of the public. This duality—where necessary protection measures are perceived as proof of hidden wrongdoing—is why entities like Disney find themselves caught up in discussions about figures like Epstein, despite the absence of concrete evidence. The Takeaway for Institutions and the Public Understanding the role of NDAs and PR in managing public crises helps frame why powerful companies might become targets of suspicion. While the use of these tools is standard and often justified, their impact on public perception can’t be ignored. For the public, recognizing the difference between warranted inquiry and overreach is key to maintaining productive scrutiny without falling into the trap of baseless theories. The next segment will focus on what these perceptions mean for society as a whole and why the pursuit of transparency and trust must be a collective endeavor. ### **Beyond the Shadows – A Call to Unity** **The Complex Path to Understanding**In an age where trust in powerful institutions is fraying, and access to information is both a blessing and a burden, our approach to truth becomes more critical than ever. The discussions surrounding figures like Jeffrey Epstein and corporations like Disney are not just about scandal; they are about how we, as a society, confront power, secrecy, and transparency. This segment is a call to unite in the pursuit of truth—not through a divisive lens, but with collective discernment and an unwavering commitment to evidence and integrity. **The Lessons from History**History teaches us that institutions once seen as untouchable can harbor hidden truths. The exposure of corporate frauds, systemic abuses, and cover-ups within trusted sectors has shaped a society that questions everything. The Epstein scandal underscored this, revealing a network of power that reached further than many dared to imagine. Yet, while it validated the public’s instinct to question, it also highlighted a key challenge: differentiating between grounded inquiry and baseless theory. Disney’s name appearing in speculative discussions about Epstein points to a broader pattern—our collective desire to ensure that those who hold power are not above scrutiny. But as we demand accountability, we must also unite in the practice of informed skepticism. The leap from isolated cases of misconduct or association to implicating entire organizations requires evidence, not just conjecture. This distinction is where we, as a society, must find common ground. **The Role of Transparency**Transparency has become the cornerstone of public trust. Organizations that handle controversies behind closed doors risk damaging their credibility. For companies like Disney, known for protecting their brand with meticulous care, the challenge is clear: find a balance between safeguarding legitimate interests and providing enough transparency to maintain public trust. The use of NDAs, strategic silence, and controlled narratives may shield brands in the short term, but they can erode trust in the long run. Studies in crisis communication emphasize that openness, even when it exposes vulnerabilities, can reinforce loyalty and confidence among stakeholders. In the context of Epstein and the persistent whispers about powerful corporations, this lesson is especially relevant. **A Collective Call to Clarity**The pursuit of truth is not just the responsibility of journalists, whistleblowers, or industry watchdogs—it is a collective endeavor. The public plays a crucial role in this, but so do the corporations that hold sway over cultural and economic landscapes. When Disney’s name enters speculative discussions, it reflects a deep-seated desire for transparency from those we trust. This desire should be met not with fear of the unknown but with a commitment to clarity. This segment is a call for unity in approaching these conversations. The balance between healthy skepticism and conspiracy theory is delicate but essential. We must ask hard questions and hold power accountable without losing sight of what separates substantiated fact from assumption. **Why Unity Matters**In times where speculation can divide and misinformation can spread faster than verified facts, unity in the pursuit of truth is vital. When we allow fear and uncertainty to fracture our approach, we weaken our collective power to bring genuine issues to light. Epstein’s case showed that hidden wrongs do exist and can involve the most influential figures. It also showed that uncovering the full scope of such wrongs takes a community committed to patience, evidence, and shared purpose. Public scrutiny is essential for democracy and social justice, but so is discernment. When theories about organizations like Disney arise without evidence, they risk diverting attention from real, proven issues that demand action. Unity in seeking truth means supporting real investigations, demanding transparency, and recognizing the power of evidence-based inquiry. **Building a Culture of Informed Accountability**The goal is not to silence questions but to elevate them, ensuring that they are grounded in reality. This approach not only empowers the public but also sets a standard for institutions. If Disney and other corporations prioritize transparency, they can reinforce the public trust that sustains their brands. Similarly, when the public insists on evidence and integrity in its discussions, it strengthens the very fabric of accountability. **Reflections for the Road Ahead**As we move forward, let us commit to being a society that seeks truth not for scandal’s sake but for justice and integrity. Let us stand together in holding power to account, using facts as our foundation and unity as our strength. The story of Epstein and the questions it raises about power, influence, and hidden truths are reminders that transparency and trust are not just corporate responsibilities—they are collective ones. This call to unity is a reminder that we all play a part in shaping how these stories unfold. When we seek, question, and demand clarity together, we create a society that values truth over rumor, evidence over assumption, and justice over division. *As we conclude this exploration, may we carry forward the lessons learned: the importance of questioning with integrity, seeking truth with diligence, and facing the unknown not as individuals, but as a united community.*

@ ae6ce958:d0f02c7d

In a world dominated by overhyped tech and broken promises, **DamageBDD** stands apart as a *Bitcoin-first revolution* for developers, QA teams, and enterprises. Built on the belief that **resilience, transparency, and accountability are not optional**, this innovation is more than just another BDD platform—it's a tool designed to harness the **unstoppable power of Bitcoin** and the **Lightning Network** to redefine software quality and team productivity. Here's why DamageBDD will light up the Lightning Network like never before: ### 1. **Lightning-Powered Incentives for Development** Imagine a world where developers are rewarded in **sats** the moment their code passes a milestone. With **DamageBDD**, that’s no longer a dream. We use **Lightning-based escrow payments** tied to milestone completions, ensuring every contributor gets instant, trustless payouts for verified work. This isn’t just about payments—this is about transforming the economics of collaboration and incentivizing excellence. ### 2. **Real-Time Transparency Meets Bitcoin Immutability** Every BDD test, every passing milestone, and every failure is immutably recorded, showcasing the evolution of a project with a timestamped **on-chain timeline**. By anchoring progress to Bitcoin’s **ultimate ledger of truth**, DamageBDD creates a level of transparency that ensures trust—whether you're a developer, a manager, or an investor. ### 3. **Immediate Liquidity Without Compromise** The **Lightning Network** enables participants to exit their locked funds through **near-instant buybacks**—no risk of long-term lock-ins or centralized interference. Developers and stakeholders can convert their contributions back to Bitcoin at **market-close rates**, minus nominal fees. This system protects value while keeping all incentives aligned with delivering quality software. ### 4. **A Bitcoin Economy for BDD** Why settle for fiat-denominated payments or centralized intermediaries when you can build directly on Bitcoin? DamageBDD’s ecosystem ensures that every satoshi stays true to the ethos of decentralization, enabling organizations to manage projects in a way that’s fair, transparent, and resilient. ### 5. **Scalable Adoption of High-Performance Teams** The Lightning Network isn’t just a payments rail—it’s a bridge for building relationships across borders. DamageBDD allows **distributed teams** to thrive, making **trustless collaboration** possible while fostering high-performance, Bitcoin-powered workflows. ### 6. **Redefining ROI for Investors** Investors can now lock funds into milestone-driven escrows, ensuring ROI is directly tied to results. With DamageBDD’s **Lightning-enabled payouts**, there’s no waiting for endless revisions or missed deadlines—just **real-time accountability**, measured and delivered on a timeline that’s verifiable and immutable. --- **Bitcoiners, this is the spark.** While the fiat world struggles with inefficiency, corruption, and misaligned incentives, **DamageBDD fuels the future** with a Bitcoin-powered toolkit that transforms how teams work, get paid, and build trust. This isn’t just about **better software**—it’s about building an **unstoppable Bitcoin economy** where transparency reigns, quality wins, and the Lightning Network **becomes the default rail for human collaboration**. DamageBDD isn’t here to gamble on hype—it’s here to build the **future**. Let’s light up the Lightning Network and show the world what Bitcoin-backed innovation can achieve. Are you ready to join the revolution?

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

4IQ6h/Md1OesAIE6DFQqOEuHofQ3evdko5S8HP1bZ5Mvb45wPOTHwRAXUVVJnOm/RoeadS4ay8oSmQWjjKGe1uEfAAzsZ4M+5KBYIcJirIH/vIf5bR9fJROw5+n+qKzQ?iv=pSH4VlqcHPp9uR0FSQ4OVQ==

@ 16d11430:61640947

Gather ‘round, corporate overlords, bloated bureaucracies, and self-appointed tech deities. @DamageBDD is here to show you what happens when your castles of sand face a tsunami of irrefutable logic. Your empire of spaghetti code and buzzword bingo won't hold against the relentless precision of code as truth. Let’s set the stage. For years, you've been huddling in glass towers, touting innovation while running on fumes of mediocrity. Your agile "transformations"? A PowerPoint deck. Your tech stack? A monument to vendor lock-in and weekend duct tape. And let’s not forget the compliance theater, where fake audits masquerade as accountability. Enter DamageBDD, where logic doesn’t lie, blockchain doesn’t forget, and BS dies a swift death. Code Is the Law (But Better) You’ve heard it before: "Code is law." But we’re not here for slogans—we’re here for receipts. DamageBDD doesn’t trust your claims of success; it verifies them on-chain. Deliver your milestones or don’t—there’s no fudging it here. Your failed builds and broken promises are exposed in broad daylight, immutable as your shame. BDD: The Guillotine of Bad Engineering Oh, how the giants hate being held accountable. They thrive on opacity, on a system where results are obscured by layers of corporate doublespeak. DamageBDD flips the table: if it can be defined, it can be verified. That MVP you promised? We’ll test it. That sprint you boasted about? We’ll see it on-chain. In this world, the only thing that ships is the truth. Everything else is noise. "Move Fast and Break Things"? Nah, Try Building Things That Last Let’s talk about your cult of "disruption," where moving fast and breaking things conveniently excludes fixing them. DamageBDD doesn’t move fast—it moves right. Every behavior-driven test is a brick in a foundation that lasts, unlike your latest "pivot" designed to dazzle VCs while hiding the rot underneath. Cypherpunk Cynicism, Powered by Bitcoin Here’s where we really shine. While you’re busy worshiping at the altar of fiat, we’re running Damage Token on Bitcoin and Aeternity—systems you can’t co-opt, corrupt, or inflate away. Your centralized control schemes crumble when faced with a network that doesn’t care about your boardroom games. DamageBDD doesn’t just bypass gatekeepers; it renders them obsolete. The Era of Verifiable Integrity You’ve built a world where accountability is optional and profits trump principles. DamageBDD brings receipts to the revolution. Imagine a world where every claim you make is tested, verified, and recorded immutably. No more hiding behind marketing fluff or burying failures in red tape. DamageBDD strips away the facade and says, "Let’s see what you’re really made of." We’re Not Here to Compete. We’re Here to Outlast. You can’t kill an idea whose time has come. DamageBDD is more than a tool—it’s a movement, a manifesto in code. While you scramble to protect your crumbling monopolies, we’re building something that doesn’t need your approval, your funding, or your permission. DamageBDD will humble you not with arrogance, but with truth, written in lines of immutable logic that your PR spin can’t erase. So, keep clinging to your illusions of control. DamageBDD is patient. It’s inevitable. And when the dust settles, your legacy will be nothing more than a footnote in a system designed to be better, faster, and ungovernable by the likes of you. You’ve been warned. Verification > Authority. Always.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Today marks one month since I took over managing the ~econ territory. I've been very happy with our post quality and quantity: ~econ ranked 7th in number of posts, 5th in number of comments, 4th in stacking and spending (how are those different?). ## The top 3 posts by zaprank were 1. [The Pleb Economist #2: Politics is Provably Hard](https://stacker.news/items/849906/r/Undisciplined) by @SimpleStacker 2. [MONEY CLASS OF THE DAY: Wealth, Bitcoin, and A Monetary System Enriching Us](https://stacker.news/items/839329/r/Undisciplined) by @denlillaapan 3. [Is Bitcoin telling us something about the broader market/economy?](https://stacker.news/items/830036/r/Undisciplined) by @grayruby ## Revenue Revenue has been up, since reducing the posting fee. That means we could reduce it further. If there's no objection, I'll lower it to 54 sats. Over the past month, ~econ made about 75k. The previous month ~econ brought in about 47k. ## Owner's Pledge Since we are running a profit, I'd like to consider some options for making good on the pledge to do right by those who helped support ~econ before it was profitable. A few options come to mind, but I'm open to others: 1. Treat those donations as profit shares: i.e. if you donated 10k, I'll give you 10/450 of the territory profit at the end of the year 2. Fund some sort of contest with them 3. Simple refund taken out of end of year profits 4. Donate the sats to a charity of your choice, on your behalf ## Feedback Let me know what you thought of the past month in ~econ. Are there any particular changes you'd like to see going forward? Is there anything I should be pushing k00b and ek for? Keep stackin', stackers. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/866986

@ 5579d5c0:db104ded

*"Chris, what do you tell your clients to do?"* This is a question I get asked regularly, and the answer is not simple. The truth is, every person’s health journey is unique. There are no 'one size fits all' solutions, no rigid plans that guarantee results for everyone. That’s why, as a health coach, my role isn’t to hand out answers or impose rules. It’s to guide you toward uncovering your own. --- <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/2dfd9311baf7a4b9ece22eb481bb5cf7ac2c86d664ab596c232426a3fa4203db.webp"> *Bruce Lee on being a teacher.* ### Your health, your truth Bruce Lee was right, you already hold the answers to your health challenges. Your body is constantly giving you signals about what works and what doesn’t. My role is to help you listen to those signals to cut through the noise of diets, trends, and quick fixes. Together we focus on what aligns with your unique biology and lifestyle. This isn’t about creating a rigid plan or forcing you into a pre-made program.  It’s about asking the right questions, giving you tools to explore, and helping you build the confidence to make decisions that work for you. Health is deeply personal, and lasting change comes from understanding yourself. --- <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/dc5716d142f45e30573e24cce65e006f0ad7c1fb4f311e6df1faaafada02d514.jpg"> *Rigid oatmeal diet plan.* ### A coach who adapts to you One of the most important aspects of my approach is meeting you where you are. Your life, your habits, and your why are the foundation. Together, we adapt strategies to fit your needs. Health coaching isn’t about me telling you what to do. It’s about empowering you to take ownership of your journey. Sometimes that means learning to tune out the latest biohacking tool or Instagram diet trend, I'm looking at you 'Oatmeal diet for weight loss'. Sometimes it means starting small, with manageable steps that build momentum. Whatever it looks like, my focus is on helping you create sustainable habits that work for life, not just for the next few weeks. --- <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/a11c0b588ea7ed2d9929e6e39d575f6acced91d7801067bb753a7b01d6c7a1f6.webp"> *Health information overload.* ### Protecting you from the noise The world of health advice is noisy. There’s always a new diet, a miracle supplement, or a "hack" promising results. But more information doesn’t always mean better decisions, it often leads to overwhelm. My role as your coach is to help you tune out the noise. Together, we’ll focus on the basics that always work: - Sunlight - Circadian alignment - Eating real nutrient dense local and seasonal food - Moving regularly - Targeted training - Sleeping well - Dealing with stress in the right way You don’t need the latest trends, you need a clear path that’s grounded in what’s proven and tailored to you. --- ### Exploring, not imposing The beauty of health coaching is that it’s not about giving you a checklist or medical guideline telling you "do this, not that." It’s about exploration. What makes you feel your best? What habits energise you? What changes feel sustainable? Together, we experiment, reflect, and adjust. This process isn’t about finding the "right" way, it’s about finding **your** way. I’m here to guide, support, and challenge you, but ultimately, the answers come from within. As a coach, I see your potential even when you don’t. My job is to help you see it too. Health isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. And the most powerful changes happen when you take ownership of that journey. You already hold the answers. I just help you uncover them. \- Chris **If you're ready to explore your potential, let’s talk.** **Click [https://calendly.com/hello-chrispatrick](https://calendly.com/hello-chrispatrick) to book a free discovery call with me.**

@ 77110427:f621e11c

All credit to Guns Magazine. Read the full issue here ⬇️ [May 1957 PDF](https://gunsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/G0557.pdf) ---                     --- ### Past Magazine Mondays [001: May 1963](https://1776.npub.pro/post/note1r5ve5en9tyv38hathy2twhm9h4dn7tq7fgradzkazskxyxtckysqeqxyzm/) [002: August 1969](https://1776.npub.pro/post/note1zkeur68w9h8ljswp4a4xc45exfv725v6vudqdhyukqz6kz37vdaq097f9z/) [003: February 1970](https://1776.npub.pro/post/1733177494421/) --- ### More from 1776 HODL [Full Auto Friday](https://1776.npub.pro/tag/fullautofriday/) [Sniper Saturday](https://1776.npub.pro/tag/snipersaturday/) [Shotgun Sunday](https://1776.npub.pro/tag/shotgunsunday/) [Infographics](https://1776.npub.pro/tag/infographic/) [Gun Memes](https://1776.npub.pro/tag/memestr/) --- ### Website [1776 Hodl](https://1776.npub.pro)

@ c7e300eb:e94ebe38

How many people have you successfully orange-pilled? What's your success rate? I'm going to guess it's way worse than you wish it was. I'd like to share 3 different stories from people I've talked to about Bitcoin and the varying degrees of "success" in each of them. Maybe you can relate to one (or all) of them...\ \ **Bob (Person 1)** This first person we will call Bob. Ironically, Bob was stacking sats long before I ever took an interest in Bitcoin. He's a pretty financially savvy person, loves history, and is a bit of a prepper. Bob views Bitcoin as a nice-to-have and certainly understands the NGU math that comes with a fixed supply asset and money printing; unfortunately, that's largely where his interest ends. He's not stacking anymore and doesn't seem moved to ever resume, despite his understanding of how fragile our financial system is. If/when hyper-bitcoinization happens, he's "got enough". \ \ I've been able to get him out of shitcoins entirely and he seems content hodling, which is a pretty big win in my book. At the same time, it can be disheartening to see someone sitting near the edge of the rabbit hole and parking the bus right there...\ \ **Alice (Person 2)** Person 2 will be Alice. This person is much more motivated by social topics than economical ones, which always made me approach our Bitcoin conversations in a unique way. She inspired me to see through a different lens than I was normally comfortable with, which ultimately expanded my own interest in how Bitcoin, both as a money and a network, could positively impact people all over the world. Alice, in my observation, grew to appreciate the way I saw Bitcoin. She understood the Cantillon Effect, fractional reserve lending, why censorship resistance is important, etc. Hell, she even managed to (sorta) orange-pill someone else! She was effectively as orange-pilled as one could get *without actually owning sats.* \ \ Through our many talks about money and personal finance, she greatly leveled up her game compared to when we first met. She now uses budgeting software, has a high-yield savings account, an investment account, and is building credit. For some reason though, she never got the desire to start stacking sats... \ **Mary (Person 3)** Mary is the least financially-literate of our 3 persons of interest. Just not wired that way at all. She's never had dedicated savings or tracked her spending. Getting her to set up direct deposit at her place of employment was a daunting task. \ \ Saving and investing have never been part of her vocabulary either. A few days ago, however, she asked if I could help her begin this process. For someone taking that first big step, I felt like stacking sats would be a bit daunting. We talked about automatically sending X% to a high-yield savings account. When we got to "investing" though, something interesting happened: she said she would rather start buying Bitcoin because "nobody can take it from me, right?" This was fascinating to me, as I had never heard a normal person express concerns about a bank actually not having their money (despite how many people I have told this to, including Alice and Bob). We agreed on the same X% into Bitcoin as into her HYS. Starting with her next paycheck, *Mary will officially begin stacking sats*. If I had to make a chart of all the people in my life and rate how likely they'd be to adopt Bitcoin, Mary would be near the bottom. After so many failed attempts, I still don't quite understand how this specific case ended up being my first success in getting someone to enter the rabbit hole. We'll see how far she ends up going, but I am committed to helping her with every step. **Conclusion** So, what have I taken away from these 3 example cases? For starters, I learned that orange-pilling can take more than one form: Bob got rid of shitcoins and committed to hodling, but won't stack any more; Alice groks the problems Bitcoin will fix, but won't stack at all; Mary hardly even knows about Bitcoin, yet she understands the importance of having control over her own savings enough to take the leap. Each one of these examples has helped me refine my approach to orange-pilling, while also teaching me that it is no science. It's as much a choice and a willingness on their end as it is how you approach the conversation. You cannot force someone to take the pill or jump down the hole. Just stay humble and keep stacking sats. Cheers!

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

m96LpMOYbzYFnpS7cTpqOg417HvLzCICvqaPVOvIICMl+lafhuQGpLQzQbHP8kZNJu7fXuBgRgHxT649d9AYmTrzZarf8b9+u5PoWOx0piBJDuzv/WhQWijyUsFVAfHiu1o3dj6IfAERYkvEuTJnMU9AvtZek//0cr1x7CTulko=?iv=YWZF/XrDOpp1CbVBXNUmxw==

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In the ever-evolving cryptocurrency space, few assets have attracted as much attention—and controversy—as XRP. Marketed as a tool for revolutionizing cross-border payments, XRP has been at the center of debates about its legitimacy, legal entanglements, and centralization. In contrast, Bitcoin remains the gold standard of decentralization, embodying the original ideals of cryptocurrency as a secure, censorship-resistant, and community-driven digital asset. #### **The Ripple-SEC Legal Battle: A Dark Cloud Over XRP** XRP's legal troubles began in December 2020 when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Ripple Labs, alleging the company had conducted an unregistered securities offering. The lawsuit hinged on whether XRP, the token Ripple uses for its cross-border payment solutions, qualifies as a security under U.S. law. Ripple Labs and its executives, including CEO Brad Garlinghouse, argued that XRP should not be classified as a security. They claimed it was a digital currency akin to Bitcoin or Ethereum, which the SEC had already deemed non-securities. Despite Ripple scoring partial victories in court—such as a judge's ruling that XRP sales to retail investors did not constitute securities transactions—the company was ordered to pay a $125 million fine. While Ripple touted the outcome as a victory, the SEC’s ongoing appeal means uncertainty lingers over XRP's regulatory future. These legal uncertainties have had significant implications for XRP’s adoption. After the lawsuit, major U.S. exchanges delisted XRP, temporarily causing its price to plummet. Although some platforms have since reintroduced XRP trading, its reputation remains tarnished in some circles. #### **Centralization Concerns: Is XRP Truly a Cryptocurrency?** A key critique of XRP lies in its centralized structure. Unlike Bitcoin’s decentralized proof-of-work (PoW) system, which relies on a distributed network of miners to validate transactions, XRP operates on a consensus protocol managed by a limited number of validators. This has led to accusations that Ripple Labs wields too much control over the network, undermining the core principle of decentralization that defines cryptocurrencies. Adding to these concerns is Ripple Labs’ significant ownership of XRP tokens. Ripple initially held 80 billion of the 100 billion XRP tokens ever created, and as of 2024, it still holds a substantial portion in escrow. Critics argue that this concentration of ownership allows Ripple to manipulate XRP’s price and limits the asset’s independence. #### **Bitcoin: The Decentralized Gold Standard** In stark contrast to XRP, Bitcoin remains the archetype of decentralization. Introduced in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin operates on a PoW system that ensures no single entity can control the network. Its open-source code, coupled with a vast network of miners and nodes distributed globally, makes Bitcoin nearly immune to censorship and manipulation. Bitcoin's decentralized nature is a cornerstone of its value. Unlike XRP, which is closely tied to Ripple Labs and its business interests, Bitcoin is not controlled by any organization or individual. This decentralization ensures transparency, security, and trust among its users, reinforcing its status as a digital alternative to gold. Moreover, Bitcoin’s capped supply of 21 million coins enhances its appeal as a store of value. In a world where inflation and monetary policy can erode the value of fiat currencies, Bitcoin’s scarcity offers a hedge against economic uncertainty. #### **Adoption and Market Perception: Bitcoin vs. XRP** Despite its controversies, XRP has gained traction among financial institutions for its speed and low transaction costs in cross-border payments. Ripple’s partnerships with major banks and remittance providers have bolstered its utility, even as skepticism around its centralization persists. Bitcoin, on the other hand, has achieved mainstream acceptance as both an investment asset and a medium of exchange. From institutional investors adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets to countries like El Salvador adopting it as legal tender, Bitcoin's adoption is steadily growing. Its resilience in the face of regulatory scrutiny and market volatility further cements its position as the most trusted cryptocurrency. #### **What XRP's Journey Teaches Us About Cryptocurrency Values** The contrasting narratives of XRP and Bitcoin highlight a fundamental tension in the cryptocurrency world: the trade-off between utility and decentralization. While XRP offers practical solutions for specific use cases, its centralized nature and reliance on Ripple Labs compromise its alignment with the ideals of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, by comparison, stays true to the vision of a decentralized financial system free from intermediaries. Its robust network, transparency, and immutability make it not just a cryptocurrency but a symbol of financial freedom. #### **Conclusion: Bitcoin’s Enduring Legacy** As the legal and market drama around XRP continues to unfold, one thing remains clear: decentralization is at the heart of what makes cryptocurrencies revolutionary. Bitcoin exemplifies this ideal, serving as a reliable store of value and a hedge against centralized control. While XRP may have its place in specific financial ecosystems, it cannot claim to uphold the principles that Bitcoin has come to represent. For investors and enthusiasts alike, understanding these differences is crucial. In a rapidly evolving market, Bitcoin’s true value lies not just in its price but in its unwavering commitment to decentralization—a principle that defines the future of financial freedom.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Here are today's picks using my proprietary betting strategy at [Freebitcoin](https://freebitco.in/?r=51325722). For details about what Risk Balanced Odds Arbitrage is and why it works see https://stacker.news/items/342765/r/Undisciplined. For a hypothetical 1k-ish wager on each match, distribute your sats as follows: | Outcome 1 | Outcome 2 | Outcome 3 | Bet 1 | Bet 2 | Bet 3 | |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------|-------|-------| | Roma| Napoli| Draw | 323| 407| 289| | Juventus| Empoli| Draw | 727| 100| 208| | AC Milan| Inter Milan| Draw | 244| 489| 278| | Osasuna| Real Sociedad| Draw | 308| 400| 323| | Getafe| Sevilla| Draw | 400| 293| 333| | Espanyol| Real Madrid| Draw | 105| 733| 190| | Barcelona| Alaves| Draw | 818| 77| 145| | Atletico Madrid| Mallorca| Draw | 714| 100| 217| | Union Berlin| RB Leipzig| Draw | 313| 417| 278| | Heidenheim| Dortmund| Draw | 244| 542| 250| | FC Bayern| Holstein Kiel| Draw | 941| 20| 53| The most recently completed two rounds of RBOA earned 100k on 102k bet, so this was a slightly down week. One note about that, though, is that I didn't get those in as early as normal. I still haven't precisely identified where the threshold is, but it might be worth skipping any of these with a "time weight multiplier" lower than 90. ---------- A note of caution about Freebitcoin: they recorded the wrong outcome for last week's Bills vs Ravens game and as of yet have not corrected it. I recall one other instance of something similar happening, so proceed with caution. This RBOA strategy is largely immune from that problem, but be aware of it when just betting on one outcome. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/866672

@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756

The journey to greatness isn’t a sprint—it’s a relentless march, step by step, inch by inch. Every master, every warrior, every legend walked the same path: a thousand miles, one foot in front of the other. There's no shortcut, no magic formula—just discipline, grit, and unwavering focus. The only question is: will you take the next step? ### **The Power of Small Steps** Success isn’t about giant leaps; it’s about consistent, deliberate action. Each step you take—no matter how small—brings you closer to your goal. One workout, one chapter, one rep, one lesson. The difference between those who achieve and those who don’t? The ones who win are the ones who never stop moving. - **Progress is invisible.** You won't see results immediately, but every step counts. Keep pushing. - **Momentum is everything.** The hardest part is starting—once you’re moving, keep going. - **Patience is strength.** True warriors embrace the grind, knowing that mastery is earned through endurance. ### **Mastering the Journey, One Step at a Time** Walking the thousand-mile road means embracing discipline, not motivation. Motivation fades, discipline endures. Show up, do the work, and let persistence forge your path. - **Day 1:** You start. It’s messy, it’s hard, but you begin. - **Day 100:** You’re stronger, faster, better—but the road stretches ahead. Keep walking. - **Day 1,000:** Mastery isn’t a finish line; it’s a commitment to never stop improving. ### **Overcoming the Obstacles on the Road** The thousand-mile road isn’t smooth. It’s filled with setbacks, doubt, and fatigue. But obstacles aren’t there to stop you; they’re there to make you stronger. - **Fear whispers, "Turn back."** Answer with another step forward. - **Doubt creeps in.** Trust the process and stay the course. - **Fatigue sets in.** Remember why you started and keep moving forward. ### **Building Unstoppable Momentum** You don't need to see the entire road to take the next step. Focus on what’s right in front of you. Discipline yourself to commit daily, and soon, your progress will speak louder than your doubts. **Keys to Building Relentless Momentum:** 1. **Start small, but start now.** Don't wait for the perfect moment; take action today. 2. **Stay consistent.** Even when you don’t feel like it, push through. 3. **Track your progress.** Every step forward is proof of your growth. 4. **Surround yourself with warriors.** Be around those who push you forward, not hold you back. ### **The End is Just Another Beginning** The thousand-mile road has no final destination. Each milestone reached is just the starting point for the next challenge. The true warrior embraces the journey, not the finish line. **So what’s next?** Keep walking. Step by step. Forward. Always. **Your mission:** Take the next step. And the next. And the next. Because the thousand-mile road isn’t for the weak. It’s for those who dare to walk it.

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I was rooting for the Eagles in the NFC because I want Saquon Barkley to win Super Bowl MVP, and on the first play from scrimmage he took a 60-yard run to the house. Unfortunately he got banged up on the play and was used sparingly for the rest of the game, but no matter. Another 118 yards and three TDs later, he’s got his chance in the Super Bowl.  The Killer Redskins are pretty good — they don’t stop coming at you, and Jayden Daniels should be a star for the next decade. But three lost fumbles destroyed any hopes they had. Fumbles and penalties are the worst part of the NFL — like getting Sorry’ed in the game of Sorry, they reverse whatever is happening on the field seismically.  - The KRs are close. They could use an offensive line upgrade, maybe one more pass rusher and another explosive skill player, but with Daniels around, they’ll be contenders again.  - Terry McLaurin didn’t have a big role, but he showed how fast and explosive he is on the 36-yard TD catch and run. He’s also big (210 lbs) for a speed receiver, but turns 30 in September.  - Jalen Hurts made some nice downfield throws to A.J. Brown which is a good sign. If the Eagles are going to beat the Chiefs, they’ll need to make some plays in the passing game.  - Jake Elliott missed a long FG and has been shaky all year. People don’t care about kickers, but I wouldn’t want to trust him with the game on the line.  - In both games there were penalties on a TD that resulted in teams opting for the 1-yard 2-point conversion, and both failed. The Bills even took a successful PAT off the board.  - I know there was controversy on the Chiefs’ fourth quarter. 4th-down stop, down 1 (and also the spot on the preceding 3rd-down play that made it 4th down.) But the Chiefs still had to drive for the touchdown and subsequent FG after the Bills tied it, stop them on defense one more time and then convert that last third down to seal it. In other words, it looked like two bad spots, but even if that was “cheating,” the game was won on the field. The Chiefs also lost a fumble on a botched snap, and the Bills recovered all of theirs.  - Kareem Hunt is such a tough runner, he’s basically a healthy Isiah Pacheco at this point. Pacheco himself doesn’t look 100 percent.  - Travis Kelce had a surprisingly minor role, but Xavier Worthy had a good game, and Patrick Mahomes spread the ball around. It was almost as if they had played it vanilla on purpose in earlier weeks and broke out a more aggressive passing game when they needed it.  - Mahomes will now have appeared in five of the last six Super Bowls, with only Joe Burrow and the Bengals interrupting his streak. If he wins a fourth this year, he’ll have a chance to do the unthinkable which is to catch Tom Brady’s seven. Three more is still a lot though, and that’s only IF he wins against the Eagles.  - Josh Allen played well on the road against one of the league’s best defenses. The Bills offense wasn’t as efficient as Buffalo’s, though, and they’re really missing a go-to playmaking receiver. Amari Cooper never seemed to integrate fully into the offense.  - The AFC is loaded with QB talent that will never see a Super Bowl so long as Andy Reid and Mahomes are in the league. Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Burrow (again) or maybe C.J. Stroud will break through one of these years, but it’s likely at least two of them won’t. 

@ eee391ee:8d0b97c2

## Amber 3.2.0 - Fix relay connection when starting the service - Added profile picture in the incoming requests screen when using a large screen device - Added more event kinds translations - Added a log with the bunker request response - Use the relay from the request to send the response when no app is found Download it with [zap.store]( https://zapstore.dev/download), [Obtainium]( https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium), [f-droid]( https://f-droid.org/packages/com.greenart7c3.nostrsigner) or download it directly in the [releases page]( https://github.com/greenart7c3/Amber/releases/tag/v3.2.0) If you like my work consider making a [donation]( https://greenart7c3.com) ## Verifying the release In order to verify the release, you'll need to have `gpg` or `gpg2` installed on your system. Once you've obtained a copy (and hopefully verified that as well), you'll first need to import the keys that have signed this release if you haven't done so already: ``` bash gpg --keyserver hkps://keys.openpgp.org --recv-keys 44F0AAEB77F373747E3D5444885822EED3A26A6D ``` Once you have his PGP key you can verify the release (assuming `manifest-v3.2.0.txt` and `manifest-v3.2.0.txt.sig` are in the current directory) with: ``` bash gpg --verify manifest-v3.2.0.txt.sig manifest-v3.2.0.txt ``` You should see the following if the verification was successful: ``` bash gpg: Signature made Fri 13 Sep 2024 08:06:52 AM -03 gpg: using RSA key 44F0AAEB77F373747E3D5444885822EED3A26A6D gpg: Good signature from "greenart7c3 <greenart7c3@proton.me>" ``` That will verify the signature on the main manifest page which ensures integrity and authenticity of the binaries you've downloaded locally. Next, depending on your operating system you should then re-calculate the sha256 sum of the binary, and compare that with the following hashes: ``` bash cat manifest-v3.2.0.txt ``` One can use the `shasum -a 256 <file name here>` tool in order to re-compute the `sha256` hash of the target binary for your operating system. The produced hash should be compared with the hashes listed above and they should match exactly.

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers! It's Monday so we're back doing "Meta Music Mondays" 😉. From before the territory existed there was just one post a week in a ~meta take over. Now each month we have a different theme and bring music from that theme. This month it's New Year New Artists! Bringing you small time artists with great music. Artists without some huge record label or massive following. Let's find those hidden little gems. This week, may I present to you, Belle Sisoski and her cover of "Legends Never Die" https://youtu.be/VMIL1YbUQrI?si=kR2YLib5x3qLEn8A originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/866591

@ 54286b98:3debc100

> Looking back on that time, I now see clearly that my faith--my only real faith--that which apart from my animal instincts gave impulse to my life --was a belief in perfecting myself. But in what this perfecting consisted and what its object was, I could not have said. I tried to perfect myself mentally--I studied everything I could, anything life threw in my way; I tried to perfect my will, I drew up rules I tried to follow; I perfected myself physically, cultivating my strength and agility by all sorts of exercises, and accustoming myself to endurance and patience by all kinds of privations. And all this I considered to be the pursuit of perfection. — **Leo Tolstoy, A Confession** It seems to be a good trait, perfecting sounds and looks good. Why would you not want to improve yourself? You should! In his book ***A Confession***, Tolstoy starts the first chapter by laying down one of the main Christian principles: we cannot do enough work to achieve salvation, nor can we buy our way into it. We may strive to be perfect and solve things in our own strength, but we may fail miserably. Christ bought our way in, and the only way to claim that ticket is by surrendering our strength and working in His. Striving to be perfect in our own strength is not different from living by the law (this refers to the Law given to the Jewish people versus living by faith alone). > 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.— **Galatians 3: 10-11** Trying to be good and do good works is an excellent attitude, but we can only achieve this by walking in His footsteps. Moreover, I think and believe that the inner call to be perfect may exist within us simply to reveal our incapability of such an accomplishment. > For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.— **Romans 3:20** Of course, faith alone is not proof either, but it’s a start. If we are given the gift of believing in Christ, what we do with that belief is shown through the fruits of the works we do. > 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good\[a\] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. > 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. **James 2:14-24** Until the next one, J

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the contemporary financial world, Cathie Wood, the founder of ARK Invest, stands out for her innovative investment approaches. Recently, Wood has focused on Bitcoin (BTC), highlighting its potential as a hedge against both inflationary and deflationary economic conditions. This article delves into Wood's perspective, exploring Bitcoin's evolving role in the global financial landscape. We examine its multifaceted nature, not just as a digital currency, but as a strategic asset capable of navigating the complex dynamics of the modern economy. Wood's insights offer a nuanced understanding of Bitcoin's potential in offering stability amidst economic uncertainties. **Table Of Content** - Bitcoin's Hedge Potential - Decentralization: A Key Advantage - The Banking Crisis and Bitcoin - Bitcoin vs. Gold - Institutional Involvement - Conclusion - FAQs **Bitcoin's Hedge Potential** Cathie Wood's perspective on Bitcoin transcends its usual perception as a mere digital currency. She champions it as a dynamic tool against economic fluctuations, a quality rarely matched by traditional assets. In an era marked by economic instability, Bitcoin stands as a beacon of potential stability. This is particularly notable in its capacity to act as a hedge during inflationary periods, where fiat currencies lose value, and deflationary periods, characterized by increased money value but decreased economic activity. This dual capability positions Bitcoin as a significant asset in diversified portfolios, resonating with Wood's innovative investment philosophy. **Decentralization: A Key Advantage** For Wood, Bitcoin's decentralization is a critical advantage. This aspect sets it apart from traditional banking systems, which often grapple with issues of transparency and central control. In Bitcoin's ecosystem, there is a clear absence of counterparty risk, thanks to its decentralized ledger and visible transactions. This transparency assures investors of a level of security and autonomy not found in conventional financial systems. In Wood's view, this decentralization is not just a technical feature but a foundational aspect that provides Bitcoin with a resilience and reliability, crucial in a world where financial systems are increasingly interconnected and vulnerable. **The Banking Crisis and Bitcoin** Reflecting on recent financial upheavals, such as the U.S. regional bank crisis and the FTX collapse, Wood sees these events as vindications of Bitcoin's stability and resilience. These crises underscored the inherent risks of centralized financial systems, revealing their fragility under stress. In contrast, Bitcoin demonstrated an impressive resilience, with its value surging during these tumultuous times. This reaction not only highlights Bitcoin's potential as a safe haven but also its capacity to serve as a barometer for the health of the broader financial system. **Bitcoin vs. Gold** While gold has traditionally been the go-to asset for hedge investments, Wood argues that Bitcoin has a distinct edge over it. Her preference for Bitcoin stems from its novelty and the increasing interest from younger investors and institutional players. Unlike gold, whose market and demand patterns are well-established, Bitcoin represents an emerging asset class with untapped potential. Wood believes that Bitcoin's journey is just beginning, and its full potential as a hedge asset is yet to be realized, making it a more attractive option for forward-looking investors. **Institutional Involvement** Wood's belief in Bitcoin's future is mirrored in ARK Invest's substantial investments in cryptocurrency-related ventures. These investments are not mere speculative plays; they represent a deep conviction in the long-term value of Bitcoin. ARK's pursuit of a spot Bitcoin ETF is a significant move, indicating a belief in the cryptocurrency's viability as a mainstream investment asset. This institutional backing by a leading investment firm not only legitimizes Bitcoin's role in the financial markets but also paves the way for more widespread adoption among traditional investors. **Conclusion** Cathie Wood's endorsement of Bitcoin is a compelling narrative in the evolving story of this digital asset. Her insights provide a valuable perspective on Bitcoin's role as a hedge against both inflation and deflation, highlighting its potential in the current economic climate. As we navigate through uncertain financial times, Wood's views offer a guidepost for investors looking to diversify and stabilize their portfolios with innovative assets like Bitcoin. **FAQs** **What is Cathie Wood's view on Bitcoin?** Cathie Wood sees Bitcoin as a viable hedge against both inflation and deflation, highlighting its decentralized nature and resilience. **Why does Wood prefer Bitcoin over traditional banking systems?** Wood values Bitcoin's transparency and lack of counterparty risk, contrasting it with the opacity of traditional banking systems. **How did the banking crisis impact Bitcoin's value?** The U.S. regional bank crisis and the FTX collapse showed Bitcoin's stability, with its value increasing during these times. **Why does Wood favor Bitcoin over gold?** Wood believes Bitcoin has more potential for growth and is more appealing to younger investors and institutions compared to gold. **What is ARK Invest's involvement in Bitcoin?** ARK Invest holds significant stakes in cryptocurrency ventures and is pursuing a spot Bitcoin ETF, reflecting a strong belief in Bitcoin's future. **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.*

@ cf7ed325:050194cf

[]()The [Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/Steinberger-Minerva-Nile-Cruise) offers an exceptional way to explore Egypt's ancient wonders while cruising along the timeless Nile River. This luxurious cruise combines modern amenities with traditional Egyptian hospitality, making it an ideal choice for those seeking comfort and adventure. With spacious cabins, fine dining, and various entertainment options, the Steigenberger Minerva promises an unforgettable experience. While aboard, guests can enjoy a range of excursions to famous sites like the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. The ship provides a perfect base for exploring Egypt’s rich history, from the bustling streets of Cairo to the serene landscapes of Aswan. The cruise features a blend of relaxation and adventure, offering guests an opportunity to unwind while taking in Egypt's stunning scenery. In addition to the Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise, Egypt offers a variety of other luxurious options. For example, the [Farah Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/MS-Farah-Nile-Cruise) is known for its elegant design and top-notch service, while the [Gemma Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/gemma-nile-cruise) provides a more intimate, boutique experience. The [Movenpick SS Misr Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/moevenpick-ss-misr-steamer-nile-cruise) is another excellent choice for those who enjoy a classic, refined atmosphere on the river. If you’re looking for other luxury cruises, consider the [Nile Capital Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/nile-capital-cruise), which combines modern comfort with historical exploration, or the [Movenpick Hamees Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/Movenpick-Hamees-Nile-Cruise), a ship that offers a unique blend of luxury and cultural immersion. The Movenpick Lotus Nile Cruise and the [Jaz Regent Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/Jaz-Regent-Nile-Cruise) are also popular choices, known for their impeccable service and well-designed cabins. For a more opulent experience, the [Jaz Crown Jewel Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/Jaz-Crown-Jewel-Nile-Cruise) is a top contender, while the [Salacia Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/MS-Salacia-Nile-cruise) and Nabilatan Nile Cruise provide a more exclusive atmosphere. Alternatively, the [Tulip Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/Tulip-Nile-Cruise-Luxor-Aswan) and [Tia Nile Cruise](https://www.etbtoursegypt.com/tour/ms-tia-nile-cruise) offer comfortable accommodations with excellent amenities. No matter which cruise you choose, Egypt's Nile River promises an unforgettable journey through history and culture. 🌐 Visit us at www.etbtoursegypt.com 📲 Contact us now! +20 10 21100873 📧 Email: info@etbtours.com 🏢 Company Address: 4 El Lebeny Axis , Nazlet Al Batran , Al Haram, Giza , Egypt

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

## Trump's Blueprint for Gaza: The New Nakba Trump’s offhand suggestion to “clean out” 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza isn’t just reckless—it’s a thinly veiled blueprint for ethnic cleansing. The proposed forced displacement of millions isn't new; it’s the 21st-century sequel to the Nakba, designed to erase Palestine from the map. ## Gaza: The Systematic Machinery of Destruction The assault on Gaza isn’t chaos—it’s coordinated demolition: - 47,306+ killed – lives extinguished with impunity. - 111,483 injured – survivors burdened with physical and psychological scars. - 92% of homes destroyed – families displaced, memories shattered. - 60% of infrastructure dismantled – society intentionally crippled. This is more than war—it’s annihilation by design. ## A Second Nakba in Motion The original Nakba (1948) was the template: - 6 million refugees still barred from returning home. - Generations of children growing up stateless, inheriting loss. - Cultural heritage erased, lands stolen, and identities fractured. Trump’s “solution” carries this legacy forward, pushing millions toward another endless exile. ## The Humanitarian Collapse If enacted, the mass displacement would trigger a humanitarian apocalypse across the region: - Healthcare systems overwhelmed in neighboring nations. - Schools collapsing under the weight of refugee students. - Economic and social infrastructures stretched beyond capacity. This isn’t just a Palestinian crisis—it’s a global one. ## A Calculated Plan for Erasure Make no mistake: the destruction of Gaza is deliberate. Israeli Finance Minister Avi Dichter’s chilling declaration of a "rolling Gaza Nakba" lays bare the intent: erase Gaza and its people from existence. The steps are cold, calculated, and systematic: - Starvation as a weapon of war. - Targeting hospitals to eliminate healthcare. - Destroying water supplies to force displacement. This isn’t collateral damage—it’s genocide. ## Generational Wounds That Won’t Heal The impact of this erasure will reverberate for centuries: - Children growing up with inherited trauma. - A culture erased piece by piece. - Future generations left stateless, voiceless, and forgotten. Every demolished building and every child killed are steps toward creating a permanent refugee underclass. ## Silence is Complicity The global silence is deafening. Trump’s “solution” isn’t a spontaneous idea—it’s the culmination of decades of dehumanization and demographic engineering. And every moment the world stays silent, the machinery of genocide moves forward. ## Resistance is Survival The choice is clear: submit to tyranny or resist. Every truth told, every act of defiance, every refusal to look away chips away at their plans. They want us silent. They need us indifferent. But we’re not sheep—we’re the descendants of those who refused to kneel. - Share their crimes. - Expose their lies. - Refuse their narrative. Because the battle for Palestine isn’t just about land—it’s about dignity, existence, and the refusal to be erased.

@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb

Everybody is freaking out about DeepSeek—markets crashed, people are saying Nvidia is doomed, and stuff like that. 😄 So I decided to play with it a bit, as I use ChatGPT daily for my work. Here are some thoughts about it: DeepSeek is not that smart I know they provided some amazing results and seem to be beating the O1 model, but for personal use, it’s not that smart. I use ChatGPT 90% of the time to write emails, and DeepSeek failed to support me. It wasn’t able to write what I wanted, couldn’t properly reply to emails, and kept mixing up who the sender and recipient were. Completely unusable for me at this point. DeepSeek is very censored Nothing about China seems to go through. It looks like the algorithm tries to reply as it types the answer but then terminates the response mid-sentence, providing a generic reply like: "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else." I get this result whether I ask about obvious topics like Tiananmen Square or less obvious ones like Ai Weiwei’s imprisonment and life. So not sure about the hype, but I've already closed and forgot about it=) originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/865930

@ 0463223a:3b14d673

I wrote this article back in 2019 but I wanted to see how it stood up today. Since writing this I’ve been diagnosed with autism. However, I question this. For sure I’ve gone through lots of ups and downs in life. Some issues probably due to childhood trauma, others due to drugs etc. but I still ask if is a natural response to bullshit. I don’t write this to belittle any problems anyone has and the autism spectrum disorder is real (but not disorder to me). When the whole population gets diagnosed as neurodivergent what next? If you need help, get help. I write this as a person trying to get off the drugs prescribed to me many years ago. Something I’m finding difficult but I will do it… From 2019 A large part of the adult population in the Western World are mad, mental, bonkers, have lost their marbles and are totally insane. Well, that’s at least according to the World Health Organisation A recent WHO report stated one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. And there’s a very high chance that you, the reader, are completely off your rocker. Mental Health is the buzzphrase of our times. It’s on the TV, the radio and all over the internet. The UK’s Prime Minister goes on TV to state how big the problem is and just how very seriously she takes it and we’re assured the government are working extremely hard to tackle it. However, the rhetoric never amounts to anything, as anyone seeking genuine help will attest. Help is hard to come by. Doctors prescribe pills to subdue the wrong thoughts, but nothing else. No long term solutions, just keep taking the pills. Hundreds of thousands of adults are medicated in this way and now, more worryingly, are many children. So it’s vital to talk about it. It’s permanently Mentalspeng Awareness Day or Tell Facebacon Your Neurologicalwankfuck Week. It’s even become quite fashionable, with regular treats from celebrities telling of their darkest moments and how they nearly didn’t get that huge Hollywood deal because they woke up feeling sad and unhappy one winter morning. If you’re a fruit-loop tell everyone. It will be ok… Tell them about the time you were going to drive your car off a cliff and ended up in hospital after a particularly long conversation with The Samaritans. Great stuff! Tell them about the regular, uncontrollable urges to slash yourself with a Stanley knife or any other sharp object close to hand. Awesome! Tell them about how you smash yourself repeatedly in the head, sometimes with a heavy object, as you can no longer deal with the stress and frustration of being disempowered by situations completely out of your control. Cool! Tell them how you feel trapped by an increasingly expensive housing market and how you have zero financial security. Brilliant! Or maybe just tell them that sometimes you can’t get out of bed and you don’t know why or that you panic uncontrollably for no reason. Skills! Tell the world! We’re so understanding of mental health issues these days, just raise more awareness and everything will be fine, we’re here for you man/woman! (and yes, we might need to sell this information on to the appropriate persons, future employers, insurance companies or government agencies etc.). After all, we’re all good people right? Tell everyone you’re mad and they’ll understand. They’ll think of the time you were a dick and they’ll say “Ahh, poor sod, you know he’s a mental don’t you”. Well frankly no. The world is full of cunts and whilst the people close to you will be sympathetic, as far as wider society goes, you’ll be marked, your position compromised and your word will not be trusted. I mean who knows, maybe you’re delusional, perhaps you’re about to rampage through town wielding a knife or driving your car into a crowded supermarket… But hold up…. One in every four of us is mental?! Is that really the case? Let’s think about this for a second. When did 25% of the population become a massive neurospeng? This wasn’t the case 30 years ago, a quarter of the population weren’t mad. There wasn’t the vast array of medications available these days; Prozac, Sertraline, Citralopram, Promethazine, Venlafaxine, Amiltryptaline, to name a few (there are many, many more). It’s clear that a lot of people aren’t feeling right but how come the suicide rates are higher now than they were 30 years ago? If we’re all so much more aware and well medicated, surely rates would be going down? Perhaps you were diagnosed as a mental because you responded negatively to events happening around you? Maybe you’re working increasingly longer hours for less money. Perhaps the terms of your work changed drastically and you no longer feel secure. Maybe you lost jobs because of funding cut backs. Perhaps you’re in despair because your friend took their own life when their job was cut in an austerity drive. Suicide is the most horrible thing which ever way you look at it. You strip a person of their purpose and they react with the most extreme act of self violence, causing an unbelievable amount of emotional distress for those left to pick up the pieces… And so we say, “Ahh but you understand, they were mad… They were fucking mental, they lost control of their senses, it such a terrible shame but they were mad you know”. Bullshit. The term Mental Health removes all responsibility from the structures creating an environment where people are deemed no longer of value or viable human beings. But maybe you were angry because you were told by politicians that you need to live within your means, whilst those in large financial institutions increased their wealth exponentially? The world economy crashed in 2008 and there’s no money. Eh? The governments of printed more and more money, but there’s no money for you, you cunt. Perhaps it was packed aboard a spaceship and is now hurtling towards Mars! (mad people tend to think like this, after all it couldn’t be that the money was stolen). Maybe you got angry with the blatant corruption from those in public life? Politicians shout loudly that they’re for the people but will pocket pay rises, local council officials bully members of the public and make threats to cut funding . This can be done with total with total impunity, as the structures put in place to control such actions cover up any wrong doing. You see the powerful can not and will not be challenged. There is no pathway to justice. When the fire at Grenfell happened, it was clear for all to see that the housing association, council and big business were at fault, but no, blame was heaped on the lone fire officer who had the awful task of managing two lowly fire engines in London’s biggest fire since World War II. At the time my local Member of Parliament response was “the flats were refurbished to a very high standard”. We shouldn’t lay blame at those in power, we cannot have any fault with the establishment. I bet that poor fire officer was a mental too… When discussing mental health we’re not talking about a brain injury or unfortunate illness. There’s extreme difficulty coping with the world but it’s not madness and it’s not a delusion. It’s a natural reaction to bullshit. We’re are completely surrounded by bullshit, on the internet bullshit, on the TV bullshit, in the work place bullshit, from our leaders bullshit etc. etc. The world is running on massive excess levels of bullshit. And this is the natural emotional response to bullshit. Mental Health is used to invalidate the anger, freeing the powerful from responsibility and laying blame squarely at the individuals door. In the meantime, piece by piece, the powerful steal everything we’ve ever owned. So next time someone says to you raise awareness about mental health, maybe tell them to fuck off. Either that or tell them you’re flying to the Moon to have tea with Kim Jong Un and Barney The Dinosaur. Fuck mental health. *Image used without permission of Barney The Dinosaur.

@ 1786d11f:a771b129

President-elect Donald Trump's administration will prioritize Bitcoin and blockchain innovation with executive orders on day one of his presidency.  These policies, developed with input from tech leader Marc Andreessen and incoming AI and Bitcoin Czar David Sacks, mark a sharp departure from the prior administration’s stricter regulatory stance. Andreessen, a key figure in Trump’s tech strategy, has been involved since a pivotal meeting at Trump’s New Jersey golf club last summer. The focus of their discussions included strategies to enhance American tech dominance, particularly over China. These initiatives contrast with the Biden administration’s stringent policies following the 2022 FTX collapse, setting the stage for a new chapter in U.S. Bitcoin and crypto policy. @yakihonne

@ 362ebffa:492e2719

Opening of the Ark in Raiders of the Lost Ark from the perspective of a German Soldier: ----------- The crate creaked open, its ancient hinges groaning like the dead roused from slumber. Oberleutnant Klaus Richter adjusted his cap. The Ark. *Der Führer’s* obsession. Our prize. “*Achtung!*” Colonel Dietrich barked, his voice trembling with a greed even his iron-clad discipline couldn’t mask. The American—Jones—had warned us. Called it a “radio to God.” But what did a ragged archaeologist know of power? We were the inheritors of the world, and this… this was our birthright. The lid lifted. A hush fell, the desert itself holding its breath. At first, there was nothing. Emptiness. Then… *light*. Not the harsh glare of the Sahara, but something liquid, golden, humming with a sound that vibrated in my molars. My rifle slipped from my hands. The others murmured, some laughing nervously, others crossing themselves—fools who’d forgotten we’d forsaken God long ago. But then the laughter died. Shadows coiled from the Ark, spiraling like smoke, yet solid. Faces. *Human* faces, but stretched, screaming, dissolving. A lieutenant beside me—Jürgen, the one who’d shared his schnapps last winter—clutched his head. His eyes melted first, liquid trails etching his cheeks before his skin sloughed off like wax. His scream was swallowed by the maelstrom. I stumbled back, but the light *pulled*. My skin prickled, burning and freezing at once. The shadows swarmed, spectral figures with wings of flame. Angels? No. These were judges. Executioners. Colonel Dietrich fired his Luger, the shots swallowed by the chaos. His uniform ignited, flames licking his insignia to ash. He became a silhouette, then dust. I fell to my knees, prayers I thought I’d forgotten spilling from my lips. The American was right. This wasn’t a weapon. It was a mirror. And in its light, we saw ourselves—rotten, screaming things, unworthy of paradise. The last thing I felt was the light peeling me apart, cell by cell, as the Ark’s wrath sang in my bones: *This is what becomes of men who play at gods.* --- **Note**: This piece leans into the horror and irony of the scene—the Nazis’ hubris in wielding a force beyond their comprehension, only to be destroyed by their own arrogance. The soldier’s perspective highlights the visceral terror and existential dread of facing divine judgment.

@ f6488c62:c929299d

ในสัปดาห์นี้ ตลาดหุ้นสหรัฐฯ โดยเฉพาะ Nasdaq ได้รับผลกระทบอย่างหนักจากข่าวการเปิดตัวเทคโนโลยีปัญญาประดิษฐ์ (AI) รุ่นใหม่ของบริษัท DeepSeek ซึ่งเป็นบริษัทเทคโนโลยีจากประเทศจีน โดยโมเดล AI ใหม่นี้แสดงถึงความก้าวหน้าที่สามารถเทียบเคียงได้กับเทคโนโลยี AI ชั้นนำจากบริษัทในสหรัฐฯ เช่น OpenAI แต่ที่สำคัญยิ่งกว่านั้นคือ เทคโนโลยีของ DeepSeek สามารถทำงานได้บนชิปที่มีประสิทธิภาพต่ำกว่า ซึ่งช่วยลดต้นทุนการพัฒนาและใช้งาน AI ลงอย่างมีนัยสำคัญ ผลกระทบต่อตลาดหุ้น Nasdaq ความกังวลเกี่ยวกับความก้าวหน้าของ DeepSeek ส่งผลให้นักลงทุนเกิดความไม่มั่นใจในอนาคตของบริษัทเทคโนโลยีสหรัฐฯ ซึ่งเคยเป็นผู้นำในด้าน AI มาอย่างยาวนาน หลายบริษัทที่มีธุรกิจเกี่ยวข้องกับการพัฒนา AI และชิปประมวลผล เช่น NVIDIA, AMD และบริษัทเทคโนโลยีรายใหญ่อื่น ๆ ต่างได้รับแรงกดดันจนหุ้นปรับตัวลดลงอย่างหนัก จากข้อมูลล่าสุด ดัชนี Nasdaq ปรับตัวลดลงถึงระดับที่น่าเป็นห่วงในช่วงกลางสัปดาห์ ซึ่งถือเป็นหนึ่งในความผันผวนที่รุนแรงที่สุดในปีนี้ นักวิเคราะห์มองว่า ความก้าวหน้าของเทคโนโลยีจากจีนอาจทำให้การแข่งขันในตลาด AI เข้มข้นยิ่งขึ้น และอาจทำให้สหรัฐฯ สูญเสียความเป็นผู้นำในด้านนี้ หากไม่มีการพัฒนาและปรับตัวอย่างรวดเร็ว ธนาคารกลางสหรัฐฯ เพิ่มแรงกดดัน นอกเหนือจากปัจจัยที่มาจากการเปิดตัวเทคโนโลยีใหม่ของ DeepSeek นักลงทุนยังเผชิญกับความผิดหวังในทิศทางนโยบายการเงินของธนาคารกลางสหรัฐฯ (เฟด) ซึ่งส่งสัญญาณว่าจะปรับลดอัตราดอกเบี้ยเพียง 2 ครั้งในปี 2025 น้อยกว่าที่ตลาดคาดการณ์ไว้ก่อนหน้านี้ ความคาดหวังที่ลดลงนี้ได้เพิ่มแรงกดดันให้กับตลาดหุ้น โดยเฉพาะหุ้นกลุ่มเทคโนโลยี ผลกระทบในอนาคต ผู้เชี่ยวชาญคาดการณ์ว่า การแข่งขันด้าน AI ระหว่างสหรัฐฯ และจีนจะรุนแรงยิ่งขึ้นในปีหน้า โดยเทคโนโลยี AI ที่มีต้นทุนต่ำและสามารถเข้าถึงได้ง่ายของ DeepSeek อาจเปลี่ยนแปลงแนวทางการพัฒนา AI ในระดับโลก ทั้งนี้ นักลงทุนจำเป็นต้องติดตามสถานการณ์อย่างใกล้ชิด รวมถึงการตอบสนองของบริษัทเทคโนโลยีในสหรัฐฯ ต่อการแข่งขันที่เพิ่มขึ้น ในขณะที่ความกังวลยังคงมีอยู่ ตลาดหุ้นสหรัฐฯ อาจต้องเผชิญกับความผันผวนในระยะสั้น แต่ในระยะยาว ความก้าวหน้าทางเทคโนโลยีและการปรับตัวของภาคธุรกิจจะเป็นปัจจัยชี้วัดสำคัญว่าใครจะเป็นผู้นำในยุค AI ต่อไป

@ e373ca41:b82abcc5

*** ***This article by Milosz Matuschek first appeared in German in his publication*** ***["Freischwebende Intelligenz".](https://www.freischwebende-intelligenz.org/p/musk-trump-and-co-die-falschen-befreier)*** *** It's working! Or is it? Trump's inauguration casted its shadow in the last weeks already and produced the first big upsets. Meta/Facebook cancelled their squad of fact-checkers and will rely (like X) on community comments in future. Wokistan is unwound. Zuckerberg now presents himself as an advocate of free speech, declaring a “return to principles”. For those who believe it, Zuckerberg is an opportunist who *gave in* to the Biden administration and its deletion requests during Covid without much resistance (after *having given* 400 mio. USD through [intermediary organizations](https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-mark-zuckerberg-election-donations-188810437774) into Bidens campaign), regardless of whether it was about masks or later about “vaccinations”. His [Canossa walk to Rogan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nONHwzt7fCk) does not change the fact that he betrayed his own principles and deleted [millions of critical profiles, channels and groups](https://reason.com/2018/10/12/libertarian-and-police-accountability-pa/), including groups in which Facebook users discussed vaccine damage. Where are the profiles? Are they back? Zuckerberg played Ministry of Truth and is now quoting Orwell and toeing the Musk line. This is what a [driven man](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/mark-zuckerberg-chd-meta-censorship-lawsuit-fundraiser/) looks like, not a man of conviction. The mainstream is shocked and is already labeling Facebook as a new hate portal. When will the accusation of anti-Semitism kick in? <https://x.com/TheBabylonBee/status/1876683974560350626> ### The Musk effect All of these are gestures of submission to the new ruler of public opinion: Elon Musk. He owns the largest network for "free speech", he himself is its biggest influencer and is recalibrating what can be said in public. His journeyman's piece was Trump's election victory. Changing the political mood in the world could be his masterpiece. For a long time, he admittedly did this extremely skillfully. He tweeted about the deep state, Soros and Gates, the population collapse, compulsory vaccination, etc. and got on well with the critical scene, some of whom are now all too submissively trying to recognize their new messiah in him. Musk throws his media spotlight on topics that the newspapers remain silent about and gave politicians underrepresented in the mainstream, such as Alice Weidel (opposition leader in Germany, AfD), a forum. Musk has repeatedly brought the Epstein case and paedophile scandals, such as in England (Rotherham, Oxford), into the media spotlight. Pakistani gangs abused minors and children there for years; [anyone reading the verdict will need strong nerves](https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/JCO/Documents/Judgments/sentencing-remarks-r-v-dogar-others.pdf). In Austria, a trial for gang abuse of a 12-year-old girl has just ended with an acquittal. The judges believe she wanted it that way. During the trial, the defendant put a hundred Euro note on the table for the victim's lawyer, which is what mocking “reparation” looks like. In “our democracy” in Germany, sentences are handed down on a piecework basis for ludicrous “insults to politicians”.  Musk is de facto the most powerful man in the world (satellites, SpaceX, Mars, Tesla, mRNA vaccination routes, Pentagon connections, X..,). Where so much power is involved, megalomania is not far away. He is acting increasingly clumsily. It is currently confirming for all to see the cliché that politics is basically the entertainment department of industry. Even in “our democracy”, the bosses of the world have always chosen their political generals, who are interchangeable. In the case of Bill Gates, George Soros & Son etc., the executive was the woke nomenklatura right up to the EU. With Musk, it is the new, right-wing conservative nomenklatura. *** ADVERTISEMENT: *Looking for the easiest way to buy Bitcoin and store it yourself? The **[Relai app](https://relai.app/de/?af_xp=custom\&source_caller=ui\&pid=INFLUENCER\&is_retargeting=true\&af_click_lookback=7d\&shortlink=eo5zpzew\&af_channel=branded_url\&af_inactivity_window=30d\&c=Milosz%20Matuszek)** is the No. 1 crypto start-up and No. 2 of all fintech start-ups in Switzerland. **[Here you can buy Bitcoin](https://relai.app/de/?af_xp=custom\&source_caller=ui\&pid=INFLUENCER\&is_retargeting=true\&af_click_lookback=7d\&shortlink=eo5zpzew\&af_channel=branded_url\&af_inactivity_window=30d\&c=Milosz%20Matuszek)** in just a few steps and also set up savings plans. Nobody has access to your Bitcoin except you. With the referral code MILOSZ you save on fees (no financial advice). Disclaimer due to regulatory issues: The services of the Relai App are hereby only recommended to inhabitants of Switzerland or Italy.*  *Need more security? The **[Trezor wallets](https://trezor.io/trezor-safe-5-bitcoin-only?transaction_id=102e192a206d1585e56a2fddef6d83\&offer_id=238\&affiliate_id=35234)** are recommended and easy to use, others are available in the **[store](https://trezor.io/?transaction_id=102bc85bdca2733287749c7f879ebd\&offer_id=133\&affiliate_id=35234)**. Need more advice? Book an **[introductory meeting](https://trezor.io/trezor-expert-session?transaction_id=1020e18dad0aa4b1186289fd22e90f\&offer_id=241\&affiliate_id=35234)** with a wallet expert.* *** Musk smooches Meloni, interviews Alice Weidel, auditions Farage (and cancels again: “doesn't have what it takes”). The Weidel interview was certainly a necessary corrective to the current media asymmetry ([and no one should be able to deny access to a source of information](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzdenxc6rydejxymnwvfhqgswxu72gyq7ykjdfl9j556887jpzwu3mw3v9ez36quas55whq4te3grqsqqqa28s0zrt9)). There is no doubt that the second strongest party in the German mainstream media does not have a fair chance to convey its content. Talk shows, if there are invitations to AfD politicians at all, are public inquisition events with calls for self-criticism. But the Musk-Weidel talk was not journalism either. It was a public casting event, a kind of “Apprentice” on X. Or have you seen a journalist anywhere? A platform operator and a politician tapped each other a bit and confirmed each other. All this is already bringing the EU onto the scene, Thierry Breton is already waving the possible annulment of the elections in Germany. An oligarch is unmasking the EU oligarchy and both want to do it for democracy, what a world... ### "Which piggy would you like?" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiwkYCFD6EA> So asked Robert Lembke some decades ago in the German TV show “What am I?”: And that's supposed to be the choice now: Pick your favorite oligarch or next slave owner. In the end, every big tech business model is based on advertising and data mining. Zuckerberg, Musk & Co. sell identity, friendship, memories and ultimately your content. Twitter also wanted to buy Substack and got “Revue”. The customer (aka the product) is sold to the advertising industry, Zuckerberg potentially knows each of his users down to their character traits (unknown even to the user) (check: [www.applymagicsauce.com](http://www.applymagicsauce.com)). Like in the 80s movie with Arnie, this is a kind of “running man”, a gladiator game in front of an assembled world audience. Whoever wins attention for themselves (and the platform) wins back a small amount of freedom and even earns something in the process. Musk recently changed his X name to “Kekius Maximus” (whereupon memecoins of the same name immediately sprang up, to each ruler his own currency), reminiscent of the gladiator Maximus from the film of the same name by Ridley Scott. The gladiator's owner told him: “Win the crowd and you win your freedom”. Not much has changed since ancient Rome. As the world's top meme maker with the greatest reach, Musk also has the greatest influence on social moods. No content is more viral and memorable than memes. The winner here is the one with the highest level of replication. That's what Musk does.  The changes we are currently seeing are just the beginning, both positive and (possibly) negative. The first effect is already visible: Wokistan is withdrawing from platforms that are not ideologically curated. Fearing accusations of contact guilt, they obediently throw themselves off the nearest cliff and voluntarily curtail their own reach; the last example was “Watson.ch” from Switzerland, a journalistically narrow-chested list and click medium for chai latte sippers from Bern and Zurich. Will the “X-itus” be followed by the great unfriending of Facebook? There won't be much left, Tiktok also ticked to the right beat by their standards (as long as it's not against China). The next place of mercy for Woke is called Bluesky, where there is neither hate nor agitation, right?  It must be clear to everyone now: The result of liberation by others is never freedom, but new dependence. What has not been fought for is always a continuation of neo-feudalism and (virtual) serfdom in a different form. The tools for regaining freedom have long been in our hands. What separates us from freedom is ultimately only comfort. The book [“The Sovereign Individual” was recently translated into German.](https://bitcoinbook.shop/products/das-souverane-individuum?Format=Paperback) It was written over 25 years ago. Read it! *** ***Join the marketplace of ideas!** We are building a publishing ecosystem on Nostr for citizen-journalism, starting with a client for blogging and newsletter distribution. Sound money and sound information should finally be in the hands of the people, right? Want to learn more about the [Pareto Project](https://pareto.space/en)? Zap me, if you want to contribute (all Zaps go to the project).*  *Are you a publication or journalist and want to be part of it, test us, migrate your content to Nostr? Write to **<team@pareto.space>*** **Not yet on** **[Nostr](https://nostr.com/)** **and want the full experience?** Easy onboarding via **[Nosta.me.](https://nosta.me/create/welcome)** 

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

President Trump has ordered thousands of additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of an effort to address immigration and security issues. This directive builds on his initial commitment to increase military presence along the border. Currently, around 2,200 active-duty personnel and approximately 4,500 National Guardsmen are stationed there. The new deployment aims to enhance the capabilities of Joint Task Force-North, allowing troops to assist in operations and provide intelligence support. Details on specific units remain unclear. The situation is still developing, with updates expected. [Sauce](https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-president-trump-orders-thousands-of-troops-to-the-us-border-with-mexico)

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

A seguir, veja como instalar e configurar o **Privoxy** no **Pop!_OS**. --- ### **1. Instalar o Tor e o Privoxy** Abra o terminal e execute: ```bash sudo apt update sudo apt install tor privoxy ``` **Explicação:** - **Tor:** Roteia o tráfego pela rede Tor. - **Privoxy:** Proxy avançado que intermedia a conexão entre aplicativos e o Tor. --- ### **2. Configurar o Privoxy** Abra o arquivo de configuração do Privoxy: ```bash sudo nano /etc/privoxy/config ``` Navegue até a última linha (atalho: **`Ctrl`** + **`/`** depois **`Ctrl`** + **`V`** para navegar diretamente até a última linha) e insira: ```bash forward-socks5 / 127.0.0.1:9050 . ``` Isso faz com que o **Privoxy** envie todo o tráfego para o **Tor** através da porta **9050**. Salve (**`CTRL`** + **`O`** e **`Enter`**) e feche (**`CTRL`** + **`X`**) o arquivo. --- ### **3. Iniciar o Tor e o Privoxy** Agora, inicie e habilite os serviços: ```bash sudo systemctl start tor sudo systemctl start privoxy sudo systemctl enable tor sudo systemctl enable privoxy ``` **Explicação:** - **start:** Inicia os serviços. - **enable:** Faz com que iniciem automaticamente ao ligar o PC. --- ### **4. Configurar o Navegador Firefox** Para usar a rede **Tor** com o Firefox: 1. Abra o Firefox. 2. Acesse **Configurações** → **Configurar conexão**. 3. Selecione **Configuração manual de proxy**. 4. Configure assim: - **Proxy HTTP:** `127.0.0.1` - **Porta:** `8118` (porta padrão do **Privoxy**) - **Domínio SOCKS (v5):** `127.0.0.1` - **Porta:** `9050` 5. Marque a opção **"Usar este proxy também em HTTPS"**. 6. Clique em **OK**. --- ### **5. Verificar a Conexão com o Tor** Abra o navegador e acesse: ```text https://check.torproject.org/ ``` Se aparecer a mensagem **"Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor."**, a configuração está correta. --- ### **Dicas Extras** - **Privoxy** pode ser ajustado para bloquear anúncios e rastreadores. - Outros aplicativos também podem ser configurados para usar o **Privoxy**.

@ 16d11430:61640947

In a world drowning in Monopoly money, where people celebrate government-mandated inflation as "economic growth," it takes a special kind of clarity—nay, cynicism—to rise above the fiat circus. This is your guide to shedding your fiat f**ks and embracing the serene chaos of sound money, all while laughing at the absurdity of a world gone fiat-mad. --- 1. Don’t Feed the Clowns You know the clowns I’m talking about: central bankers in their tailored suits and smug smirks, wielding "tools" like interest rates and quantitative easing. Their tools are as real as a magician's wand, conjuring trillions of dollars out of thin air to keep their Ponzi economy afloat. Rule #1: Don’t engage. If a clown offers you a hot take about the "strength of the dollar," smile, nod, and silently wonder how many cups of coffee their paycheck buys this month. Spoiler: fewer than last month. --- 2. Turn Off the Fiat News Do you really need another breathless headline about the next trillion-dollar deficit? Or the latest clickbait on why you should care about the stock market's emotional rollercoaster? Mainstream media exists to distract you, to keep you tethered to their illusion of importance. Turn it off. Replace it with something sound, like the Bitcoin whitepaper. Or Nietzsche. At least Nietzsche knew we were doomed. --- 3. Mock Their Inflationary Gospel Fiat apologists will tell you that inflation is "necessary" and that 2% a year is a "healthy target." Sure, because a little robbery every year keeps society functioning, right? Ask them this: "If 2% is healthy, why not 20%? Why not 200%? Why not Venezuela?" Fiat logic is like a bad acid trip: entertaining at first, but it quickly spirals into existential horror. --- 4. Celebrate the Fiat Freakshow Sometimes, the best way to resist the fiat clown show is to revel in its absurdity. Watch politicians print money like teenagers running up a credit card bill at Hot Topic, then watch the economists applaud it as "stimulus." It’s performance art, really. Andy Warhol could never. --- 5. Build in the Chaos While the fiat world burns, Bitcoiners build. This is the ultimate "not giving a fiat f**k" move: creating a parallel economy, one satoshi at a time. Run your Lightning node, stack sats, and laugh as the fiat circus consumes itself in a flaming pile of its own debt. Let them argue about who gets to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. You’re busy designing lifeboats. --- 6. Adopt a Fiat-Free Lifestyle Fiat-free living means minimizing your entanglement with their clown currency. Buy meat, not ETFs. Trade skills, not IOUs. Tip your barber in Bitcoin and ask if your landlord accepts Lightning. If they say no, chuckle and say, “You’ll learn soon enough.” Every satoshi spent in the real economy is a slap in the face to the fiat overlords. --- 7. Find the Humor in Collapse Here’s the thing: the fiat system is unsustainable. You know it, I know it, even the clowns know it. The whole charade is destined to collapse under its own weight. When it does, find solace in the absurdity of it all. Imagine the central bankers explaining hyperinflation to the public: "Turns out we can't print infinity after all." Pure comedy gold. --- 8. Stay Ruthlessly Optimistic Despite the doom and gloom, there’s hope. Bitcoin is hope. It’s the lifeboat for humanity, the cheat code to escape the fiat matrix. Cynicism doesn’t mean nihilism; it means seeing the rot for what it is and choosing to build something better. So, don’t just reject the fiat clown show—replace it. Create a world where money is sound, transactions are sovereign, and wealth is measured in energy, not debt. --- Final Thought: Burn the Tent Down Aldous Huxley once envisioned a dystopia where people are so distracted by their own hedonistic consumption that they don’t realize they’re enslaved. Sound familiar? The fiat clown show is Brave New World on steroids, a spectacle designed to keep you pacified while your wealth evaporates. But here’s the punchline: they can only enslave you if you care. By rejecting their system, you strip them of their power. So let them juggle their debts, inflate their bubbles, and print their trillions. You’ve got Bitcoin, and Bitcoin doesn’t give a fiat f**k. Welcome to the satirical resistance. Now go stack some sats.

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Oregano oil is a potent natural compound that offers numerous scientifically-supported health benefits. ## Active Compounds The oil's therapeutic properties stem from its key bioactive components: - Carvacrol and thymol (primary active compounds) - Polyphenols and other antioxidant ## Antimicrobial Properties **Bacterial Protection** The oil demonstrates powerful antibacterial effects, even against antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and other harmful bacteria. Studies show it effectively inactivates various pathogenic bacteria without developing resistance. **Antifungal Effects** It effectively combats fungal infections, particularly Candida-related conditions like oral thrush, athlete's foot, and nail infections. ## Digestive Health Benefits Oregano oil supports digestive wellness by: - Promoting gastric juice secretion and enzyme production - Helping treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) - Managing digestive discomfort, bloating, and IBS symptoms ## Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects The oil provides significant protective benefits through: - Powerful antioxidant activity that fights free radicals - Reduction of inflammatory markers in the body - Protection against oxidative stress-related conditions ## Respiratory Support It aids respiratory health by: - Loosening mucus and phlegm - Suppressing coughs and throat irritation - Supporting overall respiratory tract function ## Additional Benefits **Skin Health** - Improves conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema - Supports wound healing through antibacterial action - Provides anti-aging benefits through antioxidant properties **Cardiovascular Health** Studies show oregano oil may help: - Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels - Support overall heart health **Pain Management** The oil demonstrates effectiveness in: - Reducing inflammation-related pain - Managing muscle discomfort - Providing topical pain relief ## Safety Note While oregano oil is generally safe, it's highly concentrated and should be properly diluted before use Consult a healthcare provider before starting supplementation, especially if taking other medications.

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

~ > Available at: [https://minibolt.info](https://minibolt.info) --- ~> It builds on a personal computer with **x86/amd64** architecture processors. ~> It is based on the popular [RaspiBolt v3](https://raspibolt.org) guide. --- **Those are some of the most relevant changes:** * Changed OS from Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bits) to ***Ubuntu Server LTS*** (Long term support) 64-bit PC (AMD64). * Changed binaries and signatures of the programs to adapt them to ***x86/amd64 architecture***. * Deleted unnecessary tools and steps, and added others according to this case of use. * Some useful authentication logs and monitoring commands were added in the security section. * Added some interesting parameters in the settings of some services to activate and take advantage of new features. * Changed I2P, Fulcrum, and ThunderHub guides, to be part of the core guide. * Added exclusive optimization section of services for slow devices. --- ~ > Complete release notes of the MiniBolt v1: [https://github.com/twofaktor/minibolt/releases/tag/1.0](https://github.com/twofaktor/minibolt/releases/tag/1.0). ~ > Feel free to contribute to the [source code on GitHub](https://github.com/minibolt-guide/minibolt) by opening [issues](https://github.com/minibolt-guide/minibolt/issues), [pull requests](https://github.com/minibolt-guide/minibolt/pulls) or [discussions](https://github.com/orgs/minibolt-guide/discussions). --- Created by [⚡2 FakTor⚡](nostr:npub1k9luehc8hg3c0upckdzzvusv66x3zt0eyw7290kclrpsndepz92sfcpp63)

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

😱 Did you recently find this signature verification error when you tried to update your MiniBolt repositories with -> `sudo apt update`? 💥🚨👇  🔧 Don't worry, that's because Tor renewed its signing key since it expired last 07/15, just renew your keyring by following the next steps to solve this problem: ~ > [CLICK HERE](https://minibolt.minibolt.info/system/system/privacy#tor-signature-verification-error) < ~ --- Enjoy it MiniBolter!💙

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

#### **Next new resources about the MiniBolt guide have been released**: --- * 🆕 **Roadmap**: [LINK](https://github.com/orgs/minibolt-guide/projects/1) * 🆕 **Network Map**: [LINK](https://bit.ly/minibolt_netmap) * 🆕 **Nostr community**: [LINK](https://w3.do/twofaktor@twofaktor-github-io/minibolt_community) * 🆕 **Linktr FOSS** (UC) by [Gzuuus](nostr:npub1gzuushllat7pet0ccv9yuhygvc8ldeyhrgxuwg744dn5khnpk3gs3ea5ds): [LINK](https://linktr.minibolt.info) * 🆕 **Donate webpage**: 🚾 [Clearnet LINK](https://donate.minibolt.info) || 🧅 [Onion LINK](http://3iqm7nidexns5p6wmgc23ibgiscm6rge7hwyeziviwgav4fl7xui4mqd.onion/apps/Li3AtEGDsqNmNddv6rX69taidm3/pos) * 🆕 **Contact email**: [hello@minibolt.info](mailto:hello@minibolt.info) --- Enjoy it MiniBolter! 💙

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

**Link to the bonus guide** ~ > [HERE](https://minibolt.minibolt.info/bonus-guides/bitcoin/minibolt-on-testnet) <~ --- Some notes: ℹ️ For the moment, this guide will touch only the case of an **only testnet mode** situation, in the future, we will study adding the case of configuration to enable the parallel/simultaneous mode (mainnet+testnet in the same device) in an extra section in this guide. ℹ️ The services mentioned in this guide are those that have been tested using testnet configuration and these worked fine. Later, in the next versions of this guide, we will go to adding other processes to adapt other services to the testnet mode. --- Enjoy it MiniBolter! 💙

@ 97121c7b:30a10e4e

**test descripties** c ![data:image/svg+xml;utf8,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%22-1.5%20-1.5%208%208%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20fill%3D%22hsl(160%2095%25%2045%25)%22%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%220%22%20y%3D%220%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%220%22%20y%3D%222%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%221%22%20y%3D%220%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%222%22%20y%3D%220%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%222%22%20y%3D%221%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%222%22%20y%3D%222%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%224%22%20y%3D%220%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%224%22%20y%3D%222%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%223%22%20y%3D%220%22%20width%3D%221%22%20height%3D%221%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E]()

@ 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/865514

@ 97121c7b:30a10e4e

here is where the content will be just a test

@ ae6ce958:d0f02c7d

In the tradition of *The Pragmatic Programmer*, let’s dive deeper into how DamageBDD enables programmers to switch into flow, earn sats for their efforts, and unlock a positive neural feedback loop by fostering behavior-driven thinking. This not only amplifies productivity but also strengthens cognitive abilities, making developers sharper, more agile thinkers in the long run. --- ### **Flow State Meets Real-Time Rewards** #### **What Is Flow?** The flow state is that magical zone where work feels effortless, time disappears, and every action seems to naturally lead to the next. Achieving flow requires clarity, focus, feedback, and a meaningful sense of progress—elements that DamageBDD inherently provides. #### **How DamageBDD Induces Flow** 1. **Behavior-Driven Focus:** BDD scenarios act as the “North Star” for developers, defining *what the system should do* in clear, actionable terms. There’s no ambiguity, no wasted energy figuring out what needs to be done—only a set of behaviors to implement, refine, or fix. 2. **Instant Feedback Loops:** Every line of code you write is immediately evaluated against predefined BDD scenarios. If it works, you see the green light and earn sats. If it fails, you get actionable feedback to correct it. This near-instantaneous feedback is a cornerstone of flow, reinforcing productive momentum. 3. **Real-Time Rewards:** With Bitcoin Lightning integration, every passing test or fixed behavior comes with an immediate, tangible payout. The brain loves rewards—earning sats becomes a dopamine hit, keeping you engaged and motivated. --- ### **The Positive Neural Feedback Loop of Thinking in Terms of Behavior** #### **Why Behavior-Driven Thinking Matters** Programming in terms of *behavior* is more than a methodology—it’s a cognitive framework that sharpens your mind. When you define problems as behaviors to achieve, you: - **Simplify Complexity:** Abstracting functionality into behaviors reduces cognitive load, making it easier to reason about systems. - **Improve Problem Solving:** Thinking in terms of "what should happen" (rather than "how to make it happen") trains your brain to identify outcomes first, encouraging solution-focused thinking. - **Enhance Communication:** Clear behavior definitions bridge gaps between developers, testers, and stakeholders, fostering better collaboration. --- #### **The Neural Benefits** 1. **Reinforcing Neural Pathways for Logical Thinking:** Every time you think in terms of behaviors, you exercise critical thinking and decision-making processes. Over time, these neural pathways strengthen, making you a faster, sharper problem solver. 2. **Amplifying Pattern Recognition:** Writing and debugging BDD scenarios train your brain to recognize patterns in system behaviors. This skill extends beyond coding—your ability to spot patterns in other domains improves as well. 3. **The Dopamine Feedback Loop:** Passing a test, fixing a bug, or earning sats provides immediate positive reinforcement. This dopamine boost strengthens your association between effort and reward, creating a virtuous cycle that keeps you engaged and growing. 4. **Cognitive Flexibility:** Behavior-driven thinking encourages adaptability. You’re constantly switching between defining, implementing, and refining behaviors—an exercise in cognitive flexibility that enhances your ability to pivot quickly in complex situations. --- ### **Amplifying Cognitive Skills Through BDD Practices** 1. **Systems Thinking:** DamageBDD encourages you to think holistically. BDD scenarios inherently connect individual behaviors to the larger system, fostering a deep understanding of how components interact. 2. **Empathy for End Users:** Since BDD focuses on *expected behaviors*, you’re always considering the user’s perspective. This not only improves product quality but also develops your ability to empathize and anticipate needs—a skill valuable in both technical and non-technical settings. 3. **Mindfulness and Focus:** Writing clear, precise BDD scenarios requires mindfulness. You must focus on the behavior you’re defining, ignoring distractions or unnecessary details. This mindful attention to detail translates into improved focus across all areas of life. --- ### **Switching Into Flow with DamageBDD: The Process** 1. **Defined Goals Through BDD:** BDD scenarios clearly define what needs to be accomplished. Each scenario is a mini-goal, providing a structured starting point for deep work. 2. **Automated Context Switching:** DamageBDD integrates seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, handling testing, verification, and payouts. This automation eliminates the mental effort of managing manual workflows, freeing your mind to focus on the task at hand. 3. **Visual Dashboards for Real-Time Progress:** Real-time dashboards keep you in the loop, showing which tests have passed, which are failing, and how much you’ve earned in sats. This constant visibility reinforces a sense of progress and achievement, key elements of flow. --- ### **Switching Out of Flow: Sustainable Productivity** 1. **Natural Breakpoints:** Each passing test, earned payout, or resolved scenario creates a natural stopping point, encouraging healthy breaks and preventing burnout. 2. **Celebrating Progress:** DamageBDD doesn’t just reward you with sats—it gives you a clear picture of your contributions. Seeing how your work aligns with the product’s evolution provides intrinsic motivation and satisfaction. 3. **Gamification for Reflection:** Leaderboards, badges, or streaks could be implemented to gamify progress, encouraging reflection on your work and motivating future engagement. --- ### **Earning Sats in Cyberspace: Making Work Tangible** DamageBDD’s integration with the Bitcoin Lightning Network creates a revolutionary financial model for developers: 1. **Every Contribution Matters:** Whether you’re fixing a bug, passing a test, or writing new BDD scenarios, you’re rewarded in sats. This turns even small contributions into meaningful, tangible outcomes. 2. **Microtransactions for Microtasks:** Unlike traditional compensation models, DamageBDD pays for specific, measurable achievements. This decentralizes reward distribution and ensures fairness. 3. **Compounding Value:** As you earn sats, you’re also improving the product and your skills. This creates a compounding effect where your work generates value for the system, for yourself, and for your future employability. --- ### **A Day in the Life with DamageBDD** - **Morning:** You review a list of failing BDDs, prioritizing those with the highest payouts. You dive in, quickly fixing a few behaviors, and see your balance increase by 15,000 sats. - **Midday:** Collaborating with teammates, you define new BDD scenarios for a feature. As they pass, you collectively earn sats while seeing the feature evolve in real-time. - **Afternoon:** You notice an ambiguous BDD and rewrite it for clarity. Your improved scenario prevents potential bugs and earns you recognition and additional sats. By the end of the day, you’ve been immersed in productive flow, refined your cognitive skills, and earned sats for your contributions. --- ### **Conclusion: DamageBDD as a Cognitive and Economic Catalyst** DamageBDD doesn’t just make programming more productive—it makes it more rewarding, both financially and cognitively. By fostering behavior-driven thinking, enabling flow states, and creating a tangible connection between effort and reward, it: - Strengthens your brain’s problem-solving abilities. - Encourages mindfulness and focus. - Provides immediate gratification for meaningful contributions. For pragmatic programmers who value growth, productivity, and fairness, DamageBDD isn’t just a tool—it’s a transformative experience that rewards you for diving into cyberspace, one behavior at a time.

@ 2d71bbd8:0088d52f

Some say certain events change our lives in such extreme ways that you will remember them as marking a before and an after. We could say that about some chaotic events making the news, or changes sweeping away the known ways of the world, like a new wave of technology. Something more meaningful can happen to each of us, transforming our lives in deeper ways: love. I remember a time before him, and everything else is life with him. Love can feel like a ghost arriving with unpredictable timing and difficult to imagine until you live it. Some think it's real though they've never experienced it. Others spend their lifetimes looking for it. Others think it doesn't exist, and that heartbreak is proof of that. Why does love feel so elusive? How do we even recognize what love is, *real* love. I'm recalling a scene in the movie While You Were Sleeping, which asks the question, "When did you fall in love with him?". The answer being the title of the movie. If you've experienced love, when did you know you were in love? For me, it was a particular moment where he started digging into what I thought about something. We had spent many days exchanging conversations, I don't remember exactly how long. They felt formal, structured, without as much depth to them. It was as if we didn't yet feel free to be ourselves. I don't remember what we were talking about that specific night, but he was genuinely interested in what I was saying. Many can fake conversations, but this was not that. We had a deeper spontaneous conversation, and he continues to do that almost every single day. We are constantly extending the roots of our history. Our lifetimes may be but dust in the existence of the universe, but, in this brief moment in time (which seems long to us), we have shared more thoughts than I have probably exchanged with most of the people I know, combined. I didn't think that was possible nor bearable, yet it feels comfortable and often cozy, even after all these years. I miss it significantly when we have gotten busy on something else in our lives. I thought it would fall back into the mundane, but it doesn't. It is like magnetic curiosity on fire. Not a day goes by where I don't wonder how my life became so blessed by his existence. He has been an oasis, as there is no topic we cannot talk about or dive into respectfully and deeply. Life is not an easy clear path we walk on everyday. On days of turmoil, when emotional waves are crashing on the shores of our hearts, it is this ability to tell each other anything that has resolved most of the issues at core. Listening to what we each have to say has granted us an understanding of the situation no one else could have. The listening is the starting foundation, as we build a compilation of moments on it, like blocks on a Bitcoin blockchain that cannot be undone. We often hear that happiness is the goal for a relationship, but we haven't experienced a relationship until we have walked through the whole range of emotions together. It is in those moments, where we're hanging on to each other for strength, that you realize the power of love. It is the sweetest nectar that carries you forward, even during bitter times. There is a before and an after, and I feel grateful for living in the after, for as long as life grants us time. I often wonder about all those little details that make him special to me, but also their opposite, which makes it often into our conversations as we decide what we want our love to be. It is as if we were creating a compass to how to love from understanding the differences between what we value and what we choose to leave out. It is not a ruleset. It works like a protocol. It may be a cultural aspect of today's society, which favors women who do not speak their mind, but I hardly ever remember anyone being seriously interested in what I was saying. I've sometimes heard the idea of how we look more beautiful when we're quiet. I don't think beauty could be silent, as it lives within the heart, and you would never get to know it if it doesn't have a voice of its own. I'm very familiar with the faces of people reacting to something a woman says. It takes different shapes. Some are worried about what you might say, even after they've asked for your advice. They can be concerned that your differing patterns of thinking might reveal a truth they are trying hard to conceal or ignore. Yet our thinking as individuals is often lacking in perspective, and we cannot gaze at the forest while being a tree. Humans are meant to be connected, and exchanging information is an important part of that connection. Another familiar stare are those vacant eyes, similar nowadays to people looking at their phones. Cancel culture is comparable, as it ignores variety of thought, to live within a controlled sphere of what is acceptable, where truth cannot thrive. On social media, you may not see people's faces, but you can feel the coldness of their silence, as if they had turned their back on a part of their humanity. It used to be that we would only experience reactions from people, now it's not only the people but algorithms, bots.... I understand the need to feel comfortable somewhere, but I've learned the beauty of welcoming human thought, and with it heart. It is like staring out into the ocean, and realizing how small we are. A place where you cannot be yourself, and where you are worried about being censored if you speak on specific topics, seems like a lonely one. I'm grateful we have our own little niche of freedom here. The worst reactions to differing voices are attacks, regardless of what you have to say. It is like that old Aesop's fable "The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey." That large book of fables is engraved in my childhood memories, with most of its fables lost to time, as if it was perpetually open to that one page. I didn't know then just how important it would be to love. Love requires you to be you. No alternative exists, nor would you want one, once you feel the freedom. As he likes to say, "It is those things you think are imperfect and flawed within you, that I love." I learned early on that people's reactions are often a reflection of inner turmoil, so you always wonder what each person has lived through that has made them react to you so negatively. Some people seem wired for fighting without a conscious awareness of what's behind their fighting, as if they were trolls, forgoing the benefits of working toward similar goals. Others seem to enjoy the attention that comes with the chaos, and the likes from spreading lies. I wish there was a stronger culture of respect and a desire to understand and learn from each other, as I feel the benefits of that everyday with him. It seems strange to gaze at the conversations of people fighting each other to where they've forgotten what started the fight, and they continue fighting over nothing. The human desire for ignoring differing points of view or bringing them down runs deeper and more widespread than I'd like. It's as if mutual listening has become a lost art. Without listening, knowledge fades away, along with empathy. Social media may be changing part of the culture, though at times it seems to magnify the issues. The existence of nostr, however, gives me hope, as it's core principle is to value human thought and the diverse ways to protect it. I am grateful for how it encourages a building of trust based on verification, shaping the foundation for both identity and communities. Who are we if we cannot listen to each other. Who are we if we favor silence of what we do not understand or what is different. Could humanity be what it is today if people didn't exchange their voices and built upon them. Who are we if we silence criticism, when it is through constructive criticism that we grow. Would we want silence of what makes us unique to be the norm for those we love and those who will come in future generations, as if we were a single minded machine puppeteered by a few. Without an ability to think and speak freely, we lose the foundation that makes love possible. Without love it is as if we haven't lived.

@ bbb5dda0:f09e2747

At Nostriga in the middle of last year I got introduced to TollGate, a project to resell internet access, I was fascinated and hyped for this to become a thing. Later during SEC-03 I got involved in the development of TollGate and helped work out the idea utilizing Nostr to make the experience of using a TollGate super smooth. That's where the idea started to make a cross-platform app that would autoconnect and start streaming sats to TollGates for internet access. I'd been working on it here and there and this week I feel like I got in to the developer high (i'm sure some of you know what that feels like) and I just wanted to see the android app work! So as the week moved along I just kept being drawn in. And progress there was! The vision we had during SEC is coming to be a reality very fast. **TL;DR** There's a demo video at the bottom. ## Quick CI/CD update I've been talking to DanConwayDev to work together on getting the UI for the pipelines into GitWorkshop, which would be the perfect place for it. He's in the middle of a rewrite, so when that is progressing a bit more we'll cooperate on making this part of it, stay tuned! ## Whoami I started by creating a service that would run on every TollGate router that a client can use to fetch their own MAC address that's later included in the payment. The MAC address is the anchor for the router to allow/disallow access. The problem we have on Android is that the operating system restricts access to this information. But since we control the router, we can work around it by creating a predictable endpoint that gives us back this answer. ## Beacon frames Routers use something called Beacon Frames, which are sent out regularly and it is the thing your phone looks at when scanning for wifi networks. It contains the name of the network (SSID) and a whole bunch of other stuff you don't usually see. We're utilising these beacon frames to add some information specific to tollgates. There is a field in these beacon frames called 'vendor elements'. Which is originally only intended for use by manufacturers of routers. But ofcourse we can utilize them too. Which is exactly what we do. I eperimented with these beacon frames to see how many of them we can broadcast. It turns out that we're limited to only one of them, but the good news is we can fit up to 249 characters (256 - a few reserved ones) in there. This is amazing because it will fit everything we need in there. We put in: - Nostr npub - TollGate version - Gateway IP (required to get around OS limitations) - allocationType (KiB/Minutes) - price per 1024 units (eg: 104900 sats per 1024 KiB) - price units (sat) So now any tollgate can broadcast this info, which is used by clients to decide wether or not they should connect. And if they do, where the payment should go. ## Suggestions, Suggestions, Suggestions Unfortunately, Android in the past few years has locked down the wifi api's and we can no longer fully autoconnect to networks. Instead we have to use the 'wifi suggestions' API. As the name implies, it will only suggest a nework to a user using a silent notification that they have to press to actually connect. But alas, we'll work with that and if it's the only user-action required, that's still quite okay. It took me quite a while to figure out the way the OS handles these suggestions, but eventually I got it to work and was able to get the flow to work! ## Adding the payment Ok this part doesn't include an actual payment yet, but all the components are in place now for a (semi-)automatic tollgate connection, which is EPIC! In this version i still manually tap 'connect', but this can and will be automatic soon. So the steps are as follows (this happens in a few seconds): - 📲 TollGate App scans for networks and filters for TollGates - 👤 User taps Connect [to be automated] - 📲 TollGate App suggests network - 👤 User taps suggestion notification to connect - 🤖 Android connects to network - 📲 TollGate App fetches it's own MAC address (whoami service on router) - 📲 TollGate App Connects to Nostr relay (running on the router) - 📲 TollGate App Sends payment - 🛜 Router receives payment (merchant module) - 🛜 Router creates session (merchant module) - 🛜 Router opens the gate for user (valve module) - 🛜 Router closes the gate for user, when purchase runs out (valve module) I made this recording, it has a small caveat that at the end the page loaded because I was on 5g, the OS still thought the wifi network had a captive portal open. But there's an API to mark it as dismissed, which we can easily implement. So that's an issue we can overcome! ## Demo video https://cdn.satellite.earth/ede26976043a0b8edf278ea51aa0c00e721d2134c4e456928192090ea660bda0.mp4

@ 16d11430:61640947

As the fiat distortion field thickens, its intensity turns reality into an unrelenting mirage—a world where central bank promises are gospel, the inflationary inferno masquerades as growth, and every citizen's lifeline is a debit card leashed to an empty vault. In this battlefield of blind obedience, the Bitcoiners—the insurgents who dared to build an alternative lifeboat—become phantoms. Their quiet exodus into a parallel economy is drowned out by the roaring lies of fiat propaganda, the din of compliance echoing across the smoldering ruins of free markets. The fiat heads march in lockstep, their gaze fixed on the shimmering mirage of digital central bank tokens. "Progress," the generals of fiat scream, as they shovel paper promises into the bonfire of real wealth. The fiat faithful, eyes glazed with hope and fear, cannot see the Bitcoiners. To them, they are ghosts—whispered myths of rebels who abandoned ship, whose defiance now lingers in the shadows, shielded by unbreakable cryptographic armor. As the distortion field reaches its zenith, the fiat system's collapse becomes inevitable. Like a termite-riddled dam holding back the floodwaters of monetary truth, cracks begin to appear. Inflation spirals, savings vanish, and every bailout only tightens the noose. The Bitcoiners are nowhere to be found. They've long since disappeared into the layers of the Lightning Network, the on-chain fortress of hard money—a world impervious to fiat's decay. The fiat heads do not understand this exodus; they cannot comprehend a life beyond the permissioned panopticon that shackles them. And then comes the reckoning. The collapse is not orderly. It is a spectacular implosion of trust and liquidity, a cascading failure that shatters economies and erases generations of paper wealth. The fiat shills—those who fought tooth and nail to maintain the illusion—are the first to cash out, selling their last scraps of dignity for a seat on the escape pods. They abandon the wreckage, leaving behind a trail of blood and guts. It is not a clean break. The betrayal is writ large in the empty accounts of the faithful, in the pension funds robbed blind, in the riots of the starving masses. For the Bitcoiners, this is no victory parade. There is no schadenfreude, no banners waving triumphantly. They have already built their citadels, their parallel world of decentralization and sovereignty. While the fiat faithful drown in the deluge, the Bitcoiners watch silently, their invisibility now a shield against the chaos. They knew this was coming. They prepared. But the blood on the streets is a bitter reminder that not everyone could—or would—escape. The war is over, but its scars run deep. A generation of fiat heads pays the ultimate price for their faith in a failing system. The Bitcoiners remain, rebuilding in the ashes, unseen yet omnipresent—reminders of the cost of ignorance in the face of hard truths. The distortion field fades, and the truth emerges: you cannot print trust, nor can you inflate sovereignty. The fiat mirage has finally burned away. But at what cost?

@ 16d11430:61640947

Introduction In the field of clinical psychology, we understand that mental health is deeply influenced by external socioeconomic factors. Economic stress, financial uncertainty, and a lack of personal agency are pervasive contributors to psychological distress. Simultaneously, we are witnessing a global economic environment shaped by fiat currency systems that perpetuate cycles of inflation, wealth inequality, and financial instability. These forces exacerbate the mental health challenges faced by millions worldwide, from financial anxiety to depression, despair, and even suicide. However, emerging technologies like Bitcoin present an unprecedented opportunity to address these issues at their core. Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency with immutable monetary properties, offers individuals financial sovereignty and stability in an otherwise unpredictable fiat system. By combining the principles of sound money with evidence-based psychological therapies, we can create a mental health app that not only alleviates mental suffering but also empowers users to reclaim control over their financial futures. This document outlines a proposal for a groundbreaking mental health app, appealing to clinical psychologists and mental health professionals who are dedicated to addressing the deeper socioeconomic roots of psychological distress. By integrating Bitcoin into therapeutic practices, this app aims to provide both psychological and financial liberation—a double-barreled solution to the interconnected crises of mental health and financial disempowerment. --- The Problem: Economic Stress and Mental Health 1. The Vicious Cycle of Economic Stress: Economic instability, inflation, and job insecurity are leading contributors to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicide. Research has consistently shown that financial strain is one of the most significant stressors in modern life. 2. The Fiat System’s Role: Fiat currency systems, with their inherent susceptibility to inflation and devaluation, erode personal savings and wealth over time. This creates a pervasive sense of financial insecurity, particularly for individuals with low incomes or limited access to financial education. 3. Mental Health Professionals' Challenge: While therapy provides tools to manage stress and build resilience, the root causes of financial anxiety often remain unaddressed. Clinical psychologists lack tools to directly impact their patients' financial well-being, leaving a gap in treatment that perpetuates the cycle of distress. --- The Solution: A Bitcoin-Based Mental Health App This app bridges the gap between financial empowerment and mental health care, addressing both psychological and economic challenges through innovative features. It aligns with the principles of clinical psychology while leveraging Bitcoin's transformative potential as a decentralized, inflation-resistant monetary system. --- Core Features 1. Financial Sovereignty Through Bitcoin Savings Mechanism: Users can set up automated Bitcoin savings (e.g., dollar-cost averaging) to build financial security. This reduces anxiety caused by inflation and the devaluation of fiat savings. Educational Modules: The app provides accessible, gamified lessons on Bitcoin and sound money, empowering users with financial literacy. Understanding the stability and predictability of Bitcoin can mirror therapeutic principles of control and agency. 2. Psychological Therapy with Incentives Gamified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The app offers CBT exercises such as mindfulness practices, journaling, and gratitude exercises. Completing these tasks earns users small amounts of Bitcoin ("sats"), creating positive reinforcement and a tangible sense of reward. Behavioral Economics Integration: Modules teach users to align their mental health practices with the principles of Bitcoin, such as patience (low time preference) and discipline, fostering resilience and long-term thinking. 3. Immediate Crisis Support Lightning Network Micro-Transactions: The app enables users to send and receive instant, low-cost Bitcoin payments, creating a decentralized crisis fund. This fund can be used to provide financial assistance for therapy sessions, medications, or emergency needs. Access to Resources: Users can connect directly to mental health professionals, crisis helplines, and peer support groups within the app. 4. Community and Peer Support Bitcoin-Psychology Network: A global community of like-minded individuals provides social support, combating isolation and fostering shared resilience. Users can share stories of overcoming financial and psychological challenges, creating a collective sense of hope and purpose. Collaborative Challenges: Gamified group activities encourage healthy behaviors, with Bitcoin rewards for participation and achievement. 5. Data Sovereignty and Privacy Decentralized Data Storage: Users own their mental health records and therapy progress through encrypted, decentralized storage, ensuring privacy and security. This aligns with Bitcoin’s ethos of self-sovereignty and trustlessness. --- Psychological Benefits 1. Alleviating Financial Anxiety: By introducing users to a sound monetary system, the app reduces fears of inflation, devaluation, and financial instability. This newfound security supports mental well-being. 2. Reinforcing Positive Behaviors: The Bitcoin reward system creates an incentive structure that aligns with therapeutic goals, reinforcing habits that improve mental health. 3. Promoting a Low Time Preference Mindset: Bitcoin’s principles encourage long-term planning and delayed gratification, fostering mental resilience and reducing impulsive behaviors. 4. Building Hope and Agency: The app empowers users to take control of their finances and mental health, creating a sense of agency that is critical for psychological recovery. --- Appeal to Clinical Psychologists As a clinical psychologist, your mission is to heal minds and improve lives. This app offers you a unique opportunity to extend your impact beyond traditional therapy: 1. Addressing Root Causes: By integrating financial education and empowerment into mental health care, you can address one of the most significant sources of stress for your patients. 2. Leveraging Innovation: This app harnesses cutting-edge technology to provide scalable, accessible mental health support. It complements your clinical practice by providing tools that patients can use independently. 3. Empowering Your Patients: Offering your patients a pathway to financial sovereignty alongside psychological recovery enables them to build a sustainable, resilient future. 4. Joining a Revolutionary Movement: By supporting this app, you become part of a global movement to address the systemic causes of mental health crises and promote holistic well-being. --- Call to Action We invite clinical psychologists to collaborate with us in shaping this app. Your expertise is invaluable in ensuring that the psychological tools and interventions offered are evidence-based, effective, and user-friendly. Together, we can create a platform that not only saves lives but also empowers individuals to reclaim their mental and financial well-being. Let us build a future where sound money and sound minds go hand in hand. Join us in revolutionizing mental health care—one sat at a time. --- Would you like to discuss partnerships, provide feedback, or explore how this app could integrate with your practice? Let’s start a conversation that has the power to change lives.

@ 59c2e15a:d25e6e8d

*Note: I originally wrote these essays on bitcoin and yoga in 2022 after completing my yoga teacher training and going deep down the bitcoin rabbit hole. I then published them to my [Ghost blog](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/) in 2023. I decided to repost them here on Nostr to start 2025 to further spread the wisdom and timelessness that bitcoin and yoga share. I split my original essay into seven parts, and I will add an eighth comparing yoga and Nostr. I hope you enjoy part one - namaste!* [**Part I**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/bitcoin-and-yoga-part-1/)**:** Bitcoin and Yoga Shared Values [**Part II**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/bitcoin-and-yoga/)**:** Mythical/Mystical Origins [**Part III**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/bitcoin-and-yoga-pathways-to-individual-sovereignty-part-iii/)**:** Evolution of Money and Yoga [**Part IV**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/ashtanga-yoga-comparing-the-8-limbs-of-yoga-elements-of-bitcoin/)**:** Ashtanga Yoga - The Eight Limbs of Yoga (limbs 1-2) [**Part V**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/ashtanga-yoga-comparing-the-8-limbs-of-yoga-elements-of-bitcoin-2/)**:** Ashtanga Yoga - The Eight Limbs of Yoga (limbs 3-8) [**Part VI**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/bitcoin-is-dharma/): Bitcoin is Dharma [**Part VII**](https://the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io/himalayan-kriya-yoga-and-bitcoin/)**:** Himalayan Kriya Yoga **Introduction** With each passing day, month, and year, it feels as though our human civilization is becoming more dysfunctional, untethered, and unsustainable. Individuals are working harder, longer hours, yet most remain stuck in place, goals farther from reach. We live in a world where many have outsourced the most critical task that has enabled humans to prosper – critical thinking. I challenge each one of you to remove preconceived notions you might have about Bitcoin or Yoga before reading this series. I invite you to enter with an open mind. Think for yourself – you are welcome to agree or disagree with the information and arguments I put forth. I also encourage you to go beyond thinking – *feel*. Use your intuition to understand if the way you’re living your day-to-day life feels good to you, or if you have sense, an inner knowing that something is off with our society today – that there can be a better way. If you open your heart and mind to receiving new information, there is potential to motivate yourself to change your thoughts and behaviors for more aligned action towards individual sovereignty. Every individual can choose freedom and independence. Yet it has become increasingly difficult to live a life of freedom due to the fiat system of inflation and the many distractions that keep us from going inward. After deep study and reflection, I believe bitcoin and yoga both provide the individual control over their own life journey, and frameworks to understand our connection to self and others. I'm excited to share what I have found in my own personal experience, and hope to spark curiosity within you to follow your passion. This writing is intended for anyone seeking tools to lead a life of freedom, make positive changes and deepen your understanding of self. In addition, it is written for yogis who want to learn about bitcoin, bitcoiners who want to learn more about yoga, and anyone who is interested in a fundamental understanding of these topics that I believe contain the potential to transform your life. **Part I: Bitcoin and Yoga Shared Values** Bitcoin and yoga share many fundamental values with one another and provide deep wisdom on guiding individuals towards living better and more meaningful lives. Ultimately bitcoin and yoga share the goal of individual liberation, freedom from suffering, and a deep inner, lasting peace in Being. In yoga, this state is called *moksha* or *samadhi*. I believe everyone has a true essence, an inner being that knows what is best. However, our external environment and our own conscious mind push us away from this serenity, leading to regrets about the past or anxieties about the future. This perspective of linear time and our own individual stories and identity damage our ability to stay present in the Now, leading to endless distractions. In similar ways, bitcoin and yoga provide us insight for an individual’s path to inner peace, as well as for humanity’s path to collective peace and prosperity. *Energy* At the most elemental level, energy is the force underlying both bitcoin and yoga. Energy is the universal currency of life. We would not exist without energy. We require physical energy to fuel our cells and bodies to perform essential tasks like breathing, circulation, digestion, and movement. We perceive many forms of energy such as light or sound waves, yet there are many energy wavelengths we are not able to or are not trained to perceive. Bitcoin is powered by physical energy in the real world in a process that secures the network and unlocks new bitcoin for distribution, a process commonly referred to as mining. Interestingly, 100 years ago, Henry Ford pushed for an energy-linked currency measured in kilowatt hours that could bring peace after a brutal World War, as seen in the New York Tribune headline and article December 4, 1921: ‘Ford Would Replace Gold with Energy Currency and Stop Wars’ (i). It took another century, but mankind has finally developed a digitally-native currency tied to the physical world through energy expenditure – bitcoin. Yoga is similarly rooted in energy that individuals tap into through breathwork, physical movement and meditations practices. This life-force energy is known in Sanskrit as *prana*. Prana is not bound by time or space, and it flows through individuals in over 72,000 *nadis*, or channels. There are three main *nadis* - the first is *ida*, our left side body which corresponds to the feminine, receiving energy, or the moon. On the right side is *pingala*, relating to our masculine, giving energy, or the sun. The central *nadi* runs through our *shushumna*, linking our seven main energetic centers, known as *chakras*. These chakras run from the base of the tail bone, up through the spine and the top of the head. Each chakra has a name, a color and key characteristics that can often become blocked through negative emotion, trauma or stress in the body. Different yogic practices target these energy centers to unlock what is stuck and enable energy to more freely flow through us in an open exchange with the earth and out the universe. This energy is ever-present; one need only to tap into this energy, feel it and utilize it for the strengthening of one’s inner being that then radiates outwards on others in your life. The energetic experience and upward surge can also be referred to as *kundalini* energy, a creative power of divine feminine energy that originates in the *muladara* chakra at the base of the spine. Depiction of our chakras and nadis ([image source](https://ishtayoga.co.za/prana-and-the-chakras/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)) *Proof of Work* In both Bitcoin and Yoga, "proof of work" is required to operate, practice and move forwards. In the Bitcoin network as described in the original [white paper](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io), miners contribute tangible energy towards running a hashing algorithm on a computer – [SHA256 ](https://armantheparman.com/mining/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)– to earn the right to add the next block to the blockchain and collect both the coinbase and transaction fee reward (ii). The work is difficult to produce but easy to validate by others. Miners are collecting all of the valid peer-to-peer transactions being propagated to the network and establishing them as truth into the distributed ledger. The rules in bitcoin’s code incentivize honest behavior from miners through unforgeable costliness – if a miner were to lie about any of the transactions it includes in a block, independent nodes in the network would reject the block, and the miner would have lost all the real resources it expended to solve the proof of work calculation. Example of an ASIC - a specialized computer solely dedicated to mining bitcoin. In yoga, dedicated work is needed to learn the *asanas,* postures, and practice for oneself; you won’t just be able to go upside down or flow through sun salutations without first learning proper alignment and breathing techniques. An individual needs to conscious decision to work on a daily yoga practice that requires energy to flow. There are several ways to work on your yoga practice beyond physical movement; these include *bhakti yoga* (devotion/prayer), *jnana yoga* (study/wisdom), *karma yoga*(selfless action) and *raja yoga* (*ashtanga*). Raja yoga includes *ashtanga*, the eight limbs or paths of yoga that Patanjali detailed \~2000 years ago that we will explore in more depth in part IV. These ancient *margas* (paths) and subsequent development of these ancient teachings provides individual with ample opportunity to dedicate and work towards individual enlightenment. *Decentralization* Next, there are no external barriers preventing an individual from participating in Bitcoin or yoga. Bitcoin does not discriminate and can be accessed by anyone around the world. Yoga provides a way of life full of mindfulness and appreciation. The only barriers are internal blockages, or unwillingness to ask questions, learn and take responsibility for oneself and state of being. Therefore, Bitcoin and yoga can both be defined as decentralized. There are no centralized gatekeepers preventing one from accessing the Bitcoin network or using bitcoin as money; anyone can spin up a node, download a wallet or mine bitcoin. There are over [16,000 nodes](https://bitnodes.io/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io) geographically distributed around the world voluntarily running the bitcoin core software code establishing the payment network, validating transactions and storing the entire transaction history of bitcoin (iii). It costs as little as a few hundred dollars and requires less than [600 gigabytes](https://bitcoin.clarkmoody.com/dashboard/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io) of storage to run a node – in 2023 you can find mobile phones with that much storage. No one can prevent you from sending a peer-to-peer transaction or storing your own wealth with [12 words in your head](https://unchained.com/blog/what-is-a-bitcoin-seed-phrase/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io) – you need only decide to take true freedom into your own hands and learn how to do so (iv). The common maxim is “don’t trust, verify”. You don’t need someone else’s permission to participate in bitcoin or trust anyone else (eg, banks) to hold your wealth. Geographic distribution of reachable bitcoin nodes ([source: bitnodes](https://bitnodes.io/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)) Similarly, no one can stop an individual from practicing yoga, learning yogic philosophy or connecting with one’s truest self and [inner guru](https://www.erinracheldoppelt.com/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io). Anyone can choose to follow the path of yoga, focus on ones breath or develop a strong *asana* practice. There are many different ways to learn and interact with yoga, with experienced teachers willing to share their lessons to students all over the world. One need to simply find yoga studio, enroll in a teacher training or and engage with a teacher to experience yoga for themselves. Yoga looks and feels different depending on what country you are in or in which lineage you are being taught. Tapping into these profound lessons, as fundamental as controlling ones own breath, requires only an individual desire and the conscious decision to act. There’s no CEO or central authority dictating how Bitcoin or yoga has to be. Individuals have the freedom to express themselves voluntarily guided by frameworks we will dive into deeper. *Low Time Preference* Another core value that bitcoin and yoga share is low time preference. In Austrian economics, time preference refers to individual decision making. An individual with a [low time preference](https://bitcointimes.io/making-time-preference-low-again/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io) makes decisions with greater consideration of the future, quieting immediate cravings and desires to pursue a higher goal (v). In bitcoin and money, lower time preference decisions include putting off consumption to save value for the future. Unfortunately, our *fiat* (by government decree) system induces individuals to make high time preference decisions, heightening consumerism and poor habits today that we see rampant in our society. There is a disincentive to save, as inflation of the money supply leads to debasing value of the dollar and other fiat currencies, decreasing individuals purchasing power of cash they hold onto and don’t spend soon. For example, the purchasing power of your dollar today will be cut in half over the next decade at current levels of inflation. In many ways, [bitcoin is time](https://dergigi.com/2021/01/14/bitcoin-is-time/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io), described brilliantly by Gigi, as it creates a decentralized clock that establishes consensus with each block (vi). In contrast, the hard cap supply of 21 million bitcoin enables individuals to save with the knowledge that governments and central banks will not be able to debase their hard-earned value. This allows for one to plan with greater certainty, making investments that have a longer payoff period rather than chasing quick, material gains. Likewise in yoga, developing your own practice will not bear fruit right away; it takes discipline and time to continuously improve and strive towards a better future self. For example, in modern *Ashtanga* yoga taught by Pattabhi Jois, there is a set sequence of *asanas* that one studies and repeats each practice. It may even take months to have find the right alignment of body and breath for a single pose! The hours-long sequence requires dedication to practice and learn. The dedicated yogi understands that wholehearted commitment today will pay off for one’s mental, physical and spiritual health in the years to come. The ability to develop a calm mind can also be beneficial when people don’t initially understand or are intimidated by bitcoin. This approach can also enable you to stay grounded and discover the signal through the noise when learning about bitcoin. Sequence of asanas in Jois' Ashtanga Yoga ([image source](https://yoga108corner.com/ashtanga-yoga/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)) *Union* Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “*yuj*”, which means ‘to join’ or ‘to unite’. Yoga represents the union of the mind, body, and soul of an individual. Yoga provides a pathway to individual sovereignty through disciplined practice and purpose. Yoga unites an individual internally and to one’s community, fostering connectedness and support (vii). Similarly, bitcoin provides a pathway to individual sovereignty in many ways. Bitcoin empowers the individual authority with property rights over one’s value, which in turn frees individuals from outside control (government or otherwise). Bitcoin’s technology enables one to hold their own wealth and life’s energy in a self-custodial fashion. Bitcoin is money that can be stored forever and transmitted through space at the speed of light on layer two via the [Lightning Network](https://lightning.network/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io). Bitcoin is an open economic network with the potential to unite eight billion people together in a way our current unfair and fragmented financial system could never do. In many countries, a majority of people are unbanked, while intermediaries take a cut of the value to transfer slow, legacy payments like Western Union. While tens of millions people around the world have so far interacted with bitcoin – we are still early – similar to the internet of the mid-nineties. Bitcoin eliminates counter party risk associated with non-bearer assets, such as fiat currency (e.g., dollars, euros, yen). Bitcoin’s supply schedule is set and eliminates inflation time theft that fiat currency wages on individuals, which leads to anxiety and depression or feelings of hopelessness. Fiat is money enforced by the monopoly on violence that modern nation states grip tightly. In contrast, bitcoin and yoga empower the individual to remove the shackles and embrace personal responsibility to improve ones life. Bitcoin and yoga also connect people directly to each other and tap into truth, ones inner being, bringing peace in the present and ultimately offer hope for a better future for each person, your community, and the world. Bitcoin and yoga have the power to unite humanity in love. In the next section, we will explore both yoga and bitcoin's mystical and mythical origins. --- *Note: Bitcoin with a capital "B" generally refers to the protocol/network; bitcoin with a lower case "b" refers to the money/currency.* References: i. Redman, Jamie, How Henry Ford Envisaged Bitcoin 100 Years Ago — A Unique 'Energy Currency' That Could 'Stop Wars', *News.Bitcoin.Com*, October 11, 2021 &lt;[https://news.bitcoin.com/how-henry-ford-envisaged-bitcoin-100-years-ago-a-unique-energy-currency-that-could-stop-wars/](https://news.bitcoin.com/how-henry-ford-envisaged-bitcoin-100-years-ago-a-unique-energy-currency-that-could-stop-wars/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)&gt; ii. Nakomoto, Satoshi, Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, *bitcoin.org,* October 31, 2008 &lt;[https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)&gt; iii. [https://bitnodes.io/](https://bitnodes.io/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io) iv. Hall, Stephen, What is a bitcoin seed phrase and how does it work? *Unchained.com*. December 17, 2021 &lt;[https://unchained.com/blog/what-is-a-bitcoin-seed-phrase/](https://unchained.com/blog/what-is-a-bitcoin-seed-phrase/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)&gt; v. Ammous, Saifedean, Making Time Preference Low Again, *The Bitcoin Times, Austrian Edition (V).* November 8, 2022 &lt;[https://bitcointimes.io/making-time-preference-low-again/](https://bitcointimes.io/making-time-preference-low-again/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)&gt; vi. Gigi, Bitcoin is Time, *dergigi.com.* Jan 14,2021 &lt;[https://dergigi.com/2021/01/14/bitcoin-is-time/](https://dergigi.com/2021/01/14/bitcoin-is-time/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)&gt; vii. 200 hour yoga teacher training. House of Om, Bali, Indonesia. &lt;[https://houseofom.com/](https://houseofom.com/?ref=the-bitcoin-yogi.ghost.io)&gt;

@ 16d11430:61640947

The web as we know it today is a grotesque, bloated, inefficient mess. What began as a noble idea of decentralized information sharing has metastasized into an all-consuming beast, sucking up energy, resources, and our collective attention span. Modern web technologies are a house of cards, built on sand, doomed to collapse under their own inefficiencies. Meanwhile, Bitcoin, with its pristine simplicity and focus on fundamental truths, exposes the web's rot and offers a radical way forward—a path where we can finally cut out the cancer and rebuild technology on truly eco-friendly principles. --- The Web: A Monument to Human Hubris Web technologies are the product of shortcuts and compromises. JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and their ilk are glorified hacks, cobbled together to solve yesterday's problems but now expected to carry the weight of tomorrow's world. Every layer of abstraction adds inefficiency, every bloated framework compounds the energy drain, and every new browser update introduces more complexity to patch over the inherent flaws of the previous ones. Modern web applications, stuffed with endless dependencies and ad trackers, demand more computational power than was used to land humans on the moon. The hardware arms race, fueled by these inefficiencies, ensures a constant churn of e-waste as old devices are discarded for newer, slightly faster ones. This isn’t progress—it’s a perpetual motion machine of waste, driven by greed and ignorance. Bitcoin: The Base Layer of Truth Enter Bitcoin, the antithesis of the web’s insanity. Bitcoin operates on a principle the web has long abandoned: truth through simplicity. Its base layer is immutable, efficient, and designed to do one thing exceptionally well—securely transfer value without trusted intermediaries. There are no bloated frameworks in Bitcoin, no endless layers of abstraction—just elegant, austere code that prioritizes function over form. Bitcoin’s lightning-fast, decentralized, and energy-efficient second layers like the Lightning Network expose the web’s redundancy. Why rely on slow, resource-hungry web applications when Bitcoin provides an eco-friendly, censorship-resistant, and trustless platform for payments, communication, and data validation? Excising the Cancer The web is a parasite. It feeds on electricity, devours developer time, and churns out products that are inherently wasteful. The internet doesn’t need web browsers to function. It doesn’t need JavaScript to execute logic. It doesn’t need to be a bloated, surveillance-driven nightmare. What it needs is Bitcoin’s ethos applied at every layer. Here’s the brutal truth: the web is redundant in a world where Bitcoin is the base layer of value and truth. Imagine a world where applications are built directly on Bitcoin’s decentralized infrastructure: Data Sovereignty: Every piece of information is owned by the user, validated, and secured on the blockchain. Eco-Friendly Applications: Stripped-down, efficient protocols replace bloated web stacks, reducing energy consumption and e-waste. Global Accessibility: No need for monstrous data centers or planned obsolescence—simple, lightweight devices can interact directly with Bitcoin’s network. True Decentralization: No more reliance on Big Tech monopolies controlling browsers, servers, and frameworks. Shaking the Foundations The web as it exists today is not a neutral tool—it’s a weapon of mass distraction, a cancer consuming the planet's resources while feeding corporations’ insatiable hunger for profit. Bitcoin reveals this grotesque reality and points to a better way. By adopting Bitcoin as the foundation of technology, we can eliminate the need for web browsers, JavaScript, and their toxic ecosystem. We can build systems that prioritize efficiency, decentralization, and sustainability—technologies that serve humanity rather than enslave it. But this transition won’t happen without pain. For decades, people have been indoctrinated to believe that the web is essential, that web apps and cloud computing are the pinnacle of innovation. These are lies. They are lies told by those who profit from inefficiency, waste, and control. Bitcoin challenges these lies, not with words but with action. It functions as a silent rebuke to the waste and corruption of the web. --- Burn It Down and Build Anew It’s time to excise the cancer. The web has failed us. Its inefficiencies, its bloat, its environmental impact—all are unforgivable. Bitcoin gives us a way out, a chance to start fresh. By adopting Bitcoin’s principles—simplicity, decentralization, and efficiency—we can build technologies that honor the planet, respect users, and secure a better future. Let the web die. It’s time to bury this relic of hubris and build something better. Bitcoin is the way forward. Everything else is noise.

@ 16d11430:61640947

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are on the horizon, promising a new era of state-controlled digital money. While they might appear to threaten Bitcoin’s role in the financial ecosystem, they also present a unique opportunity for Bitcoiners to showcase Bitcoin’s strengths and drive its adoption. This article explores how CBDCs might affect Bitcoin and why Bitcoiners should view their emergence as a chance to reinforce Bitcoin’s role as the foundation of financial sovereignty. --- ### **The Rise of CBDCs: A Gateway to Bitcoin Awareness** The rollout of CBDCs by governments around the world will inevitably bring digital currencies into the mainstream. For many, CBDCs will serve as their first interaction with a fully digital form of money. This widespread exposure will naturally spark curiosity about other digital assets—most notably Bitcoin. #### **Education Through Contrast** CBDCs provide Bitcoiners with an opportunity to highlight the stark differences between Bitcoin and state-controlled money. Key contrasts include: - **Centralization vs. Decentralization:** CBDCs are issued, controlled, and monitored by central banks, whereas Bitcoin operates on a trustless, decentralized network. - **Infinite Supply vs. Scarcity:** CBDCs are tied to fiat systems and can be issued in unlimited quantities, contributing to inflation. Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins offers a deflationary alternative. - **Surveillance vs. Privacy:** CBDCs are programmable and likely to come with extensive surveillance features. In contrast, Bitcoin provides pseudonymity and financial sovereignty. As governments promote CBDCs, Bitcoiners have a prime opportunity to educate the public about Bitcoin’s unique properties as a censorship-resistant, decentralized store of value. --- ### **The Flaws of CBDCs: Bitcoin’s Selling Points** While governments tout CBDCs as the future of money, their inherent flaws could drive individuals and businesses toward Bitcoin. #### **1. Erosion of Privacy** CBDCs are expected to enable unprecedented levels of financial surveillance. Governments could monitor and control how individuals spend their money, with features like: - Transaction tracking. - Spending restrictions. - Programmable expiration dates for money. Bitcoin offers a clear alternative by enabling permissionless transactions and preserving financial privacy. #### **2. Inflationary Nature** Like fiat currencies, CBDCs will be subject to inflationary policies, reducing purchasing power over time. Bitcoin, with its fixed supply, stands in stark contrast as a hedge against inflation. As individuals experience the devaluation of CBDCs, they may turn to Bitcoin as a store of value. #### **3. Control and Censorship** CBDCs give governments the ability to impose financial controls, such as freezing accounts or limiting transactions. Bitcoin’s decentralized network makes it resistant to censorship, appealing to those seeking financial independence. --- ### **Opportunities for Bitcoiners** Rather than viewing CBDCs as competition, Bitcoiners can use their emergence as a springboard to drive Bitcoin adoption. Here’s how: #### **1. Positioning Bitcoin as an Escape Hatch** For individuals and businesses wary of the surveillance and control inherent in CBDCs, Bitcoin represents a financial escape hatch. Bitcoiners can position Bitcoin as a parallel system that preserves privacy, autonomy, and freedom. #### **2. Leveraging Education and Advocacy** The introduction of CBDCs creates a natural opening for Bitcoiners to educate the public about Bitcoin’s advantages. Outreach efforts could focus on: - Hosting workshops and webinars that explain Bitcoin’s properties. - Sharing educational content that highlights the risks of CBDCs and the benefits of Bitcoin. #### **3. Promoting Bitcoin for Global Transactions** CBDCs will likely be restricted to domestic use, with limited interoperability between countries. Bitcoin, as a global, borderless currency, provides an alternative for cross-border transactions and remittances. The rise of CBDCs could drive demand for Bitcoin in this space. #### **4. Advancing the Lightning Network** While CBDCs may excel in everyday retail transactions, Bitcoin’s Lightning Network can compete as a fast and inexpensive payment layer. Bitcoiners can promote the Lightning Network as a viable alternative for small, instant payments. --- ### **The Bigger Picture: Bitcoin as a Hedge Against CBDCs** CBDCs may accelerate the decline of trust in fiat currencies. As governments experiment with new monetary policies enabled by CBDCs—such as negative interest rates or expiration dates on money—individuals may lose confidence in state-controlled financial systems. This presents an opportunity for Bitcoin to solidify its role as a hedge against monetary mismanagement. #### **Case Studies in Bitcoin Adoption** Countries experiencing economic instability and inflation—where CBDCs fail to inspire trust—could see increased Bitcoin adoption. For example: - In nations with hyperinflation, Bitcoin’s fixed supply makes it a lifeline for preserving wealth. - In authoritarian regimes, Bitcoin offers financial freedom where CBDCs impose restrictions. --- ### **Seizing the Moment** For Bitcoiners, the rise of CBDCs is not a threat but an opportunity. As governments introduce centralized digital currencies, Bitcoin can stand out as the decentralized, inflation-proof, and censorship-resistant alternative. By educating the public, advancing the Bitcoin ecosystem, and emphasizing Bitcoin’s unique properties, Bitcoiners can leverage CBDCs to drive adoption and solidify Bitcoin’s place in the global financial system. The narrative is clear: while CBDCs represent a new chapter in centralized money, Bitcoin remains the future of financial sovereignty. For Bitcoiners, the time to act is now.

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

+vK1hlpLNr2A2GBRRzM2nf8Vpi8e1zEbf7EBEAQllPkPxzm2AeSMetlNYb4D5ppwX4YVx8d0Nw2OVdrsiTM0ZsC2Zsp4F8LZ0vJFvJ9dbfepUeK6VlPL0oVBzaeHnDjIr1y/f1HDnT8W4MFHEnGW5Vsqo/NkStTFyKYAisWr4QQil0wuEX+G/mpltCAR3JMCYr9vwpHZU49yAjZKh9ERUxd3HXpK7LdfsypDdLLTTT0FwbmwkOPL5o37d8KQNkGZbX2F4Txq+LiTgDcLArI5qldFjXeEzlKxt4BUzOQwube/vTXNFUTvZT7xDSBRUQvHt/B+FyqNA8BiHkftONqjW+Kd6D8+o6D3hCM513FkhPNuCh862T+uVkaeLnpiG0Jwut3AeDYeLeEggQ321DBcAQAgYX9b8Fa0Oy01us8nY8k=?iv=m0HzwbbnsT+XdubgCuFbkA==

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

I'm finally moving on from Luka, who won't even be eligible for these awards, with how much time he's missed. While I'm at it, I'll also move off of Ant, who just isn't looking like the guy we expected to see this season. Tatum is an easy enough All NBA replacement, but I have not idea who's going to get the final spot, so I picked Wemby, who I at least think the media will be eager to vote for. I made sure to record @grayruby's switch from the Pacers to the Magic. Boy, that is not aging well. Remember, older correct predictions are worth more than younger ones, so don't wait too long to get off your bad predictions. Here's the current state of the competition with your max possible score next to your nym: | Contestant | MVP | Champ | All NBA | | | | | |--------------|------|---------|----------|-|-|-|-| | @Undisciplined 48| SGA| OKC | Jokic | Giannis | Wemby| Tatum| SGA | | @grayruby 65| Giannis| Magic| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Mitchell| Brunson| | @gnilma 62| SGA| OKC| Jokic | Giannis| Tatum | Luka | SGA| | @BitcoinAbhi 70 | Luka| Denver| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @Bell_curve 70 | Luka| Celtics| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @0xbitcoiner 70 | Jokic| Pacers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| Brunson| | @Coinsreporter 49| Giannis| Pacers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| Brunson| | @TheMorningStar 49| Luka| Celtics| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @onthedeklein 49| Luka| T-Wolves| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Wemby| SGA| | @Carresan 49| Luka| Mavs| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Wemby| SGA| | @BTC_Bellzer 49| Luka| Celtics| Embiid| Giannis | Luka | Tatum| SGA| | @realBitcoinDog 49| Luka| Lakers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @SimpleStacker 42| SGA| Celtics| Jokic| Tatum| Luka | Brunson| SGA| | @BlokchainB 42| SGA| Knicks| AD| Giannis | Ant| Brunson| SGA| **Prize** At least 5k (I'll keep adding zaps to the pot). If you want to join this contest, just leave your predictions for MVP, Champion, and All-NBA 1st team in the comments. See the [June post](https://stacker.news/items/585231/r/Undisciplined) for more details. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/865017

@ 76c71aae:3e29cafa

When I first heard about the DOGE project, I was ready to throw my laptop out the window. The [initial proposal](https://archive.is/nFNp4) read like a Silicon Valley libertarian fever dream - taking Musk's chaotic "move fast and break democracy" Twitter approach and unleashing it on federal agencies. Great, I thought, just what we need: more tech bros thinking they can "optimize" public institutions into oblivion. But here's the weird thing - when you actually dig into [what DOGE has morphed into](https://www.nextgov.com/people/2025/01/us-digital-service-employees-are-being-re-interviewed-under-doge-transition/402423/), it's basically just USDS with a meme-worthy rebrand. For those not deep in the civic tech weeds, USDS was Obama's attempt to drag government technology out of the 1990s, inspired by the UK's actually-functional GDS program. And let's be real - government tech procurement is an absolute dumpster fire right now. We're talking billions wasted on projects that would make a CS101 student cringe, while the average American has to navigate websites that look like they were designed on GeoCities. The deeply ironic thing is that Musk - for all his cosplaying as a technocratic messiah following in his grandfather's footsteps of dreaming up an antidemocratic technocratic state - actually has some relevant experience here. SpaceX did figure out how to work with government contracts without producing $500 million paperweights, and Tesla somehow gamed clean vehicle incentives into birthing the first new major car company since we invented radio. Look, I'm the first to roll my eyes at Musk's wannabe-fascist posting sprees and his perpetual "I'm the main character of capitalism" energy. But speaking as someone who's banged their head against the wall of government technology modernization for years - if he actually focuses on the tech and keeps his brainrot political takes to himself, maybe DOGE could do some good? Even Jen Pahlka, who basically wrote the book on government digital services, [is cautiously optimistic](https://fedscoop.com/trump-wants-a-doge-an-obama-era-tech-official-has-some-tips/). The services Americans get from their government are objectively terrible, and the procurement system is trapped in an infinite loop of failure. Maybe - and I can't believe I'm typing this - Musk's particular flavor of disruptive tech deployment could help? Just... please, for the love of all things agile, let's keep him focused on the actual technology and far away from any more attempts to recreate his grandfather's dreams of a technocratic dystopia. We've got enough of those already.

@ 006532cb:fd8f28b4

  **Law of Conservation of Energy:** The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. This means that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time, but the form of energy can change (e.g., from kinetic energy to potential energy). This fundamental principle in physics highlights the importance of energy efficiency and the potential for energy to be transformed and reused. **Henry Ford's Energy Currency:** Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, proposed the concept of an "energy currency" in the 1920s. He suggested that energy, rather than gold or other commodities, could serve as the basis for a new monetary system. Ford's idea was that energy is the fundamental unit of value, as it is the driving force behind all economic activity. He proposed that energy could be used as a standard unit of exchange, allowing for more efficient and equitable trade. **Buckminster Fuller's View on Energy Production and Wealth:** Buckminster Fuller, a renowned architect, systems theorist, and futurist, believed that energy production is the key to creating wealth and abundance. He argued that energy is the fundamental driver of economic growth and that increasing energy production can lead to increased prosperity. Fuller's concept of "ephemeralization" suggests that as energy production becomes more efficient and widespread, the cost of goods and services decreases, leading to increased abundance and wealth. He also emphasized the importance of designing systems that maximize energy efficiency and minimize waste, allowing for more equitable distribution of resources and wealth. [](https://v.nostr.build/O1F9io3FgKbhuagy.mp4) [](https://v.nostr.build/F6WhrU5RO4tGaNBa.mp4)

@ c9f80c8d:947f3cfd

Hey sleep enthusiast, how has it been to go through the festive celebrations and deeper into winter? Have you been leaning into the season of long nights and getting cosy, making the most of staying indoors? Or has the season brought more of a sense of dread? Especially with thoughts about insomnia creeping in even more during the winter months? You may decide that winter is a time to give up and slob out - or go [goblin mode](https://www.restfulsleep.eu/post/how-can-goblin-mode-affect-your-relaxation-and-sleep), as it’s been called. As a [sleep coach](https://restfulsleep.eu/one-on-one-sleep-coaching), I'm here to offer some reassurance that it’s possible to find restful ways to rejuvenate - even in winter! #### How the winter season brings a shift in energy As winter descends across the northern hemisphere, it brings colder temperatures and more hours of darkness. So we have less access to sunlight and the natural source of vitamin D that it provides - all of which takes some adjusting to. The changes in the natural environment impact the [circadian rhythms](https://www.restfulsleep.eu/post/working-with-your-circadian-rhythms-to-manage-energy-levels-and-sleep) in our bodies. These are the natural processes that run according to various cycles in nature and affect our sleep, digestion and other functions. It is the circadian rhythms in some bears that guide and enable them to be able to [hibernate for 100 days at a time](https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/some-animals-dont-actually-sleep-winter-and-other-surprises-about-hibernation/). Many people also suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a [type of depression](https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/about-sad/) experienced during particular times of the year. #### Winter - the most restful season of the year Whilst we can't opt out of winter altogether and hibernate, the slower pace of the season invites us to embrace tranquillity and conserve energy. So let's explore how lifestyle adjustments and rest during the winter months can help with improved sleep quality, increased daytime energy and taking care of mental well-being. #### Are humans meant to sleep more in winter? The thought of longer hours in bed can be daunting if your bed is associated with frustrating night times spent grappling with insomnia. Which can also turn into a habit of sleeping on the couch (if that’s you, check out this [blog article](http://restfulsleep.eu/post/are-you-cheating-on-your-bed-by-falling-asleep-on-the-sofa-every-night)). #### It’s not interrupted sleep, it’s ‘the watch’ Whilst you may have some resistance to spending longer hours in bed during winter if you suffer with insomnia, consider how only a few generations ago, our ancestors faced long nights without electricity. They had no choice but to adapt to the seasons, and so the medieval night-time experience of 'the watch' was what people did at night. This consisted of a few waking hours between a ‘first sleep’ and ‘second sleep’. The watch would take place when people woke in the night, generally around the time when roosters would start their morning call in the darkness (which was also guided by, you guessed it, their circadian rhythms!). This article from the BBC describes the watch times as: > ‘Under the weak glow of the Moon, stars, and oil lamps or "rush lights" – a kind of candle for ordinary households, made from the waxed stems of rushes – people would tend to ordinary tasks, such as adding wood to the fire, taking remedies, or going to urinate (often into the fire itself).’ > [The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps'.](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep) #### How two sleeps, or bi-phasic sleeping, is natural There’s also modern-day [research](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2869.1992.tb00019.x) into how human sleep cycles naturally form by examining people who were left in a dark room without stimulation and influence from the external world. Initially, their sleep cycles followed the usual singular sleep pattern, but eventually, their circadian rhythms shifted to a first sleep and a second sleep with some hours in between. So rather than waking in the night being something to panic about or get annoyed by, can you see it as an ancient ritual and natural human response to winter? You could take some quiet moments to look at the stars, journal, listen to a relaxing podcast or do another calm activity. If you get into a routine of sleeping fairly reliably before waking in the night, you could even use the time to explore the psychedelic realm of [lucid dreaming](https://www.restfulsleep.eu/post/lucid-dreaming-can-you-control-your-dreams-to-expand-possibilities-for-your-waking-life). Other tips for looking after your well-being and rest in winter months include: #### Getting winter sunshine when you can Even during winter, exposure to light is still important for your body to regulate your circadian rhythms and for getting the ‘sunshine vitamin’, vitamin D. It is most beneficial to get exposure to natural daylight as close to when the sun comes up as is possible for you. This could be braving the cold for a morning walk before work, or switching 10 minutes of phone scrolling for some moments outside with your coffee instead. For more about the physiological benefits of exposure to sunlight, see this [guide](https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter/using-light-for-health) from the Huberman Lab. #### Embracing cosy social time in winter When the big celebrations of the festive season have passed you may have a reduced budget and a more sparse calendar, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up on socialising altogether. Instead, can you get creative about finding more restful ways to enjoy social connection? The idea is to go for more relaxed, lower-energy ways to connect with others. That way you can enjoy the nourishment of social connection in a way that is restful for your system. Instead of big group meals or dancing late at night, this could look like wrapping up warm and going for a winter walk with friends, or chats over hot chocolate at home. Check out the blog article on [restful socialising](https://www.restfulsleep.eu/post/why-you-might-feel-drained-after-socialising-and-how-it-s-possible-to-make-it-restful) for more about this. #### Food for winter You may feel drawn to comfort foods during the colder months and whilst takeaways can be tempting, fast food and highly processed food can impact sleep quality. So the alternative is to make meals that can warm you up, have nutrient-rich ingredients and support your sleep. Yes, all of that is possible! When selecting recipes, start with core ingredients from [foods that can help with sleep](https://www.restfulsleep.eu/post/foods-that-can-help-with-sleep). #### Winter as a time for reflection I like to embrace the winter as a time to reflect on the year gone by and what’s ahead. I take inspiration from nature and plant bulbs for my spring season ahead, when there will be more light and I will have more energy. Even though the new calendar year has started, the natural world in winter offers a perfect time for introspection. When working with clients as a [sleep coach](https://restfulsleep.eu/one-on-one-sleep-coaching), I often share the concept of the seasons of life. Because life has its cycles and changes, so we won’t be in our most productive states all of the time. So with Restful Sleep, I encourage respecting the slower tempos that come with different phases of life - bringing permission and acceptance to slowing down for some time. It can seem radical at first, yet often brings relief. So will you join me in taking the winter as an opportunity to reflect on your well-being and how your lifestyle may nourish you? It’s something I encourage everyone to do and sleep coaching is a great way to get support with the process. If you'd like to explore how to make the most of your restful winter, and all that’s ahead, you’d be welcome to book a [free discovery call](https://calendar.app.google/qQhLnKu1fB1Pdaw89) with me. Stay curious, Maša.

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is a decentralized, open protocol designed for creating censorship-resistant social networks. It was introduced in 2020. Unlike traditional social media platforms, Nostr operates without a central server, relying instead on a network of relays to transmit messages. ### Key Features of Nostr: 1. **Decentralization**: Nostr doesn't rely on a single central server. Instead, it uses a network of independent relays to transmit data, making it resistant to censorship and single points of failure. 2. **Public and Private Keys**: Users are identified by cryptographic key pairs. A public key serves as a user's identifier, while a private key is used to sign messages, ensuring authenticity and security. 3. **Simplicity**: The protocol is intentionally simple, focusing on text-based messages (notes) and other basic data types. This simplicity makes it easy to implement and extend. 4. **Interoperability**: Since Nostr is an open protocol, anyone can build clients or relays that interact with the network, fostering a diverse ecosystem of applications. 5. **Censorship Resistance**: Because there is no central authority, it is difficult for any single entity to censor or control the network. ### How Nostr Works: - Users generate a public/private key pair. - They publish messages (called "events" or "notes") to relays, which are then broadcast to other users. - Relays are independent servers that store and forward messages. Users can choose which relays to use or even run their own. - Clients (applications that interact with Nostr) fetch messages from relays and display them to users. ### Use Cases: - **Social Networking**: Nostr can be used to build decentralized social networks where users have full control over their data. - **Microblogging**: Users can post short messages or updates. - **Messaging**: Nostr can be used for direct messaging between users. - **Collaborative Tools**: The protocol can be extended to support collaborative applications like shared documents or task management. ### Popular Clients: - **Damus**: A Nostr client for iOS, designed for microblogging and social interactions. - **Amethyst**: A Nostr client for Android. - **Yakihonne**: A web-based Nostr client and Android app. - **Primal**: A web-based Nostr client and Android app. ### Challenges: - **Scalability**: As the network grows, managing the volume of messages and ensuring efficient relay performance can be challenging. - **Spam and Abuse**: Without central moderation, spam and abusive content can be difficult to manage. - **User Experience**: Decentralized systems can be more complex for average users to understand and use compared to centralized platforms. Nostr represents a growing trend toward decentralized, user-controlled social networks, offering an alternative to traditional, centralized platforms. Its success will depend on adoption, ease of use, and the ability to address challenges like spam and scalability.

@ f57bac88:6045161e

بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور: آزادی و کنترل در دستان شما بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور با تمرکز بر خودگردانی و متن‌باز بودن، به شما این امکان را می‌دهد تا کنترل کاملی بر فرآیند پرداخت‌های خود داشته باشید. برخی از مزایای کلیدی این پلتفرم عبارتند از: انعطاف‌پذیری بالا: امکان سفارشی‌سازی و توسعه ویژگی‌های جدید بر اساس نیازهای خاص کسب‌وکار. هزینه کمتر: حذف واسطه‌ها و کارمزدهای اضافی، منجر به کاهش هزینه‌های پرداخت می‌شود. حفظ حریم خصوصی: کنترل بیشتر بر داده‌های مشتریان و کاهش ریسک نقض حریم خصوصی. پشتیبانی از پروتکل لایتنینگ: امکان انجام تراکنش‌های سریع و کم‌هزینه با استفاده از شبکه لایتنینگ. سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت رمزنگاری: راحتی در برابر کنترل در مقابل، سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت رمزنگاری مانند کوینبیس، کوین پیمنت و نوپینت بر راحتی استفاده و سرعت راه‌اندازی تمرکز دارند. این پلتفرم‌ها اغلب دارای رابط کاربری ساده‌تر و قابلیت‌های پیش‌ساخته بیشتری هستند. با این حال، در ازای این راحتی، ممکن است برخی از کنترل‌ها و انعطاف‌پذیری را از دست بدهید. جدول مقایسه: کدام یک برای شما مناسب‌تر است؟ انتخاب بین بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور و سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت به عوامل مختلفی بستگی دارد، از جمله: سطح دانش فنی: اگر دانش فنی کافی دارید و به دنبال کنترل کامل بر فرآیند پرداخت هستید، بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور گزینه مناسبی است. سادگی استفاده: اگر به دنبال راهکاری سریع و آسان برای شروع پذیرش پرداخت‌های رمزنگاری هستید، سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت ممکن است انتخاب بهتری باشند. هزینه‌ها: هزینه‌های هر پلتفرم متفاوت است و باید به دقت مقایسه شوند. ویژگی‌های مورد نیاز: لیستی از ویژگی‌های مورد نیاز خود را تهیه کنید و ببینید کدام پلتفرم بیشترین تطابق را با آن دارد. در نهایت، بهترین درگاه پرداخت، درگاهی است که نیازهای خاص کسب‌وکارتان را برآورده کند. نکات مهم هنگام انتخاب: امنیت: اطمینان حاصل کنید که پلتفرم انتخابی شما دارای استانداردهای امنیتی بالایی است. پشتیبانی مشتری: وجود پشتیبانی مشتری قوی برای رفع مشکلات احتمالی بسیار مهم است. کارمزدها: به طور دقیق کارمزدهای هر پلتفرم را بررسی کنید تا بتوانید هزینه‌های خود را بهینه کنید. قابلیت‌های اضافی: برخی از پلتفرم‌ها دارای قابلیت‌های اضافی مانند فاکتورسازی خودکار، گزارش‌گیری و ادغام با سایر سیستم‌ها هستند. نتیجه‌گیری: بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور برای کسب‌وکارهایی که به دنبال حداکثر کنترل، انعطاف‌پذیری و کاهش هزینه‌ها هستند، گزینه بسیار مناسبی است. اما اگر به دنبال راهکاری ساده‌تر و سریع‌تر هستید، سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت نیز می‌توانند انتخاب‌های خوبی باشند. با در نظر گرفتن عوامل ذکر شده در این مقاله، می‌توانید بهترین تصمیم را برای کسب‌وکارتان اتخاذ کنید. آیا می‌خواهید در مورد ویژگی‌های خاصی از بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور یا سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت اطلاعات بیشتری کسب کنید؟ گوگل کنید! 😉 لطفا توجه داشته باشید که این مقاله صرفاً به منظور اطلاع‌رسانی است و نباید به عنوان توصیه سرمایه‌گذاری تلقی شود. در دنیای پرهیاهوی ارزهای دیجیتال، انتخاب یک درگاه پرداخت مناسب برای پذیرش پرداخت‌های رمزنگاری، تصمیم مهمی برای کسب‌وکارهاست. بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور به عنوان یک گزینه متن‌باز و خودگردان، جایگاه ویژه‌ای در میان این درگاه‌ها دارد. اما آیا بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور بهترین گزینه برای کسب‌وکارتان است؟ در این مقاله، به مقایسه بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور با سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت رمزنگاری می‌پردازیم تا به شما در انتخاب آگاهانه کمک کنیم. بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور: آزادی و کنترل در دستان شما بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور با تمرکز بر خودگردانی و متن‌باز بودن، به شما این امکان را می‌دهد تا کنترل کاملی بر فرآیند پرداخت‌های خود داشته باشید. برخی از مزایای کلیدی این پلتفرم عبارتند از: \* انعطاف‌پذیری بالا: امکان سفارشی‌سازی و توسعه ویژگی‌های جدید بر اساس نیازهای خاص کسب‌وکار. \* هزینه کمتر: حذف واسطه‌ها و کارمزدهای اضافی، منجر به کاهش هزینه‌های پرداخت می‌شود. \* حفظ حریم خصوصی: کنترل بیشتر بر داده‌های مشتریان و کاهش ریسک نقض حریم خصوصی. \* پشتیبانی از پروتکل لایتنینگ: امکان انجام تراکنش‌های سریع و کم‌هزینه با استفاده از شبکه لایتنینگ. سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت رمزنگاری: راحتی در برابر کنترل در مقابل، سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت رمزنگاری مانند کوینبیس، کوین پیمت و نوپیمنت بر راحتی استفاده و سرعت راه‌اندازی تمرکز دارند. این پلتفرم‌ها اغلب دارای رابط کاربری ساده‌تر و قابلیت‌های پیش‌ساخته بیشتری هستند. با این حال، در ازای این راحتی، ممکن است برخی از کنترل‌ها و انعطاف‌پذیری را از دست بدهید. جدول مقایسه: <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/8d5252f2e48aa03672c77768818a9e9f6a876cc46fa9491d69d57ce8c36084a2.png"> کدام یک برای شما مناسب‌تر است؟ انتخاب بین بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور و سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت به عوامل مختلفی بستگی دارد، از جمله: \* سطح دانش فنی: اگر دانش فنی کافی دارید و به دنبال کنترل کامل بر فرآیند پرداخت هستید، بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور گزینه مناسبی است. \* سادگی استفاده: اگر به دنبال راهکاری سریع و آسان برای شروع پذیرش پرداخت‌های رمزنگاری هستید، سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت ممکن است انتخاب بهتری باشند. \* هزینه‌ها: هزینه‌های هر پلتفرم متفاوت است و باید به دقت مقایسه شوند. \* ویژگی‌های مورد نیاز: لیستی از ویژگی‌های مورد نیاز خود را تهیه کنید و ببینید کدام پلتفرم بیشترین تطابق را با آن دارد. در نهایت، بهترین درگاه پرداخت، درگاهی است که نیازهای خاص کسب‌وکارتان را برآورده کند. نکات مهم هنگام انتخاب: \* امنیت: اطمینان حاصل کنید که پلتفرم انتخابی شما دارای استانداردهای امنیتی بالایی است. \* پشتیبانی مشتری: وجود پشتیبانی مشتری قوی برای رفع مشکلات احتمالی بسیار مهم است. \* کارمزدها: به طور دقیق کارمزدهای هر پلتفرم را بررسی کنید تا بتوانید هزینه‌های خود را بهینه کنید. \* قابلیت‌های اضافی: برخی از پلتفرم‌ها دارای قابلیت‌های اضافی مانند فاکتورسازی خودکار، گزارش‌گیری و ادغام با سایر سیستم‌ها هستند. نتیجه‌گیری: بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور برای کسب‌وکارهایی که به دنبال حداکثر کنترل، انعطاف‌پذیری و کاهش هزینه‌ها هستند، گزینه بسیار مناسبی است. اما اگر به دنبال راهکاری ساده‌تر و سریع‌تر هستید، سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت نیز می‌توانند انتخاب‌های خوبی باشند. با در نظر گرفتن عوامل ذکر شده در این مقاله، می‌توانید بهترین تصمیم را برای کسب‌وکارتان اتخاذ کنید. آیا می‌خواهید در مورد ویژگی‌های خاصی از بی‌تی‌سی پی سرور یا سایر درگاه‌های پرداخت اطلاعات بیشتری کسب کنید؟ گوگل کنید! 😉 لطفا توجه داشته باشید که این مقاله صرفاً به منظور اطلاع‌رسانی است و نباید به عنوان توصیه سرمایه‌گذاری تلقی شود.

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

(These podcast shownotes were originally posted on our website [melonmancy.net](https://melonmancy.net) A second video game award show has hit the south tower. Also if you have topic ideas feel free to sign up on [our forum](https://melonmancy.cafe) we decided to not restrict any posts on the idea threads. We mentioned a few things in the show you might want to pull up while listening, they are the following: - [Literally WHO studio grandstanding over lewd PC mods](https://x.com/TeamKillMedia/status/1880780993813987541) - [Aggro Crab leaves X - cringe or no?](https://x.com/AggroCrabGames/status/1882521609690587528) - [Selacodev immediately bullied after their trailer was shown at TRGAs for free w/o permission](https://x.com/SelacoGame/status/1882726785689031155) Obligatory: - [Listen to the new episode here!](https://melonmancy.net/listen) - [Discuss this episode on OUR NEW FORUM](https://melonmancy.cafe/d/101-mp99-30-is-30) - [Get the RSS and Subscribe](https://feeds.rssblue.com/melonmancy-podcast) (this is a new feed URL, but the old one redirects here too!) - Get a modern podcast app to use that RSS feed on at [newpodcastapps.com](http://newpodcastapps.com/) - Or listen to the show on [the forum](https://melonmancy.cafe) using the embedded [Podverse](https://podverse.fm) player! - [Send your complaints here](https://melonmancy.net/contact-us) Reminder that this is a [Value4Value](https://value4value.info/) podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors! Our podcast is created entirely with free software and is proudly hosted on [RSSBlue!](https://rssblue.com)

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

Here is the best list I could compile.... I hope I didn't miss anything but please let me know if I did in the comments. - **Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement**\ Directed the U.S. to exit the Paris Climate Agreement, citing economic priorities over global climate commitments. - **Withdrawal from the World Health Organization**\ Initiated the process to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO, criticizing its handling of global health crises. - **Declaration of National Emergency at the Southern Border**\ Declared an emergency to allocate military resources for border security and wall construction. - **Attempt to End Birthright Citizenship**\ Proposed ending birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens in the U.S.; pending legal challenges. - **Mass Pardon of January 6th Defendants**\ Pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals charged in the Capitol riot, sparking significant debate. - **Reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy**\ Prohibited U.S. foreign aid from funding organizations that provide or promote abortions. - **Energy Policy Shift Favoring Fossil Fuels**\ Ordered an expansion of fossil fuel production on federal lands and offshore, reversing previous restrictions. - **Rescission of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs**\ Ended DEI initiatives within federal agencies, focusing on merit-based policies. - **Establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency**\ Created a department tasked with reducing bureaucratic waste and improving federal operations. - **Designation of Mexican Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations**\ Labeled certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations to enhance enforcement measures. - **Mandate for Federal Employees to Return to Offices**\ Ended remote work policies for federal employees, requiring a full return to physical offices. - **Artificial Intelligence Investment Initiative**\ Repealed previous AI orders and allocated $500 billion to advance AI development in the U.S. - **Pardon of Ross Ulbricht**\ Granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road online marketplace. - **Reversal of Electric Vehicle Targets and Renewable Energy Permits**\ Halted permits for renewable energy projects and reversed EV adoption targets. - **Declaration of National Energy Emergency**\ Declared an emergency to boost domestic energy production and enhance energy independence. - **Declassification of Assassination Files**\ Ordered the release of government records related to the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK Jr. - **Pardons for Anti-Abortion Protesters**\ Pardoned individuals convicted of offenses related to anti-abortion protests, including clinic blockades. - **Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology**\ Promoted U.S. leadership in blockchain and digital assets while fostering innovation and regulatory clarity. - **National Hiring Freeze and IRS Agent Reassignment**\ Froze federal hiring and proposed reassigning 90,000 IRS agents to border security roles. - **Trade Reform and Tariff Implementation**\ Imposed tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, aiming to boost U.S. manufacturing and tax revenue. - **Investigation into Weaponization of the Justice System**\ Initiated a probe into federal, state, and local agencies to assess potential misuse of the justice system. - **Suspension of CBP One Program**\ Terminated the system allowing asylum seekers to schedule appointments at legal ports of entry. - **Demand for Increased NATO Defense Spending**\ Called on NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP for equitable burden-sharing. - **Trade Tariff Threats Against Mexico and Canada**\ Announced intentions to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada to protect U.S. industries. - **Suspension of Foreign Aid, Including to Ukraine**\ Halted all foreign aid programs, notably affecting assistance to Ukraine. - **Launch of Mass Deportations Using Military Aircraft**\ Initiated large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants utilizing military resources. - **Executive Order Recognizing Only Two Genders**\ Stated that the federal government will recognize only two genders, male and female, eliminating DEI mandates. - **Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity**\ Prohibited private organizations from conducting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) employment programs for jobs created by federal contracts. - **Designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization**\ Initiated the process of designating Yemen's Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. - **Rescission of Executive Order 11246**\ Revoked the 1965 order that prohibited federal contractors from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, and mandated affirmative action programs.

@ e111a405:fa441558

OpenAI released its new o3 models and numerous people argue that this is in fact Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) – in other words, an AI system that is on par with human intelligence. Even if o3 is not yet AGI, the emphasis now lies on “yet,” and – considering the exponential progression – we can expect AGI to arrive within months or maximum one to two years. According to OpenAI, it only took 3 months to go from the o1 model to the o3 model. This is a 4x+ acceleration relative to previous progress. If this speed of AI advancement is maintained, it means that by the end of 2025 we will be as much ahead of o3 as o3 is ahead of GPT-3 (released in May 2020). And, after achieving AGI, the self-reinforcing feedback loop will only further accelerate exponential improvements of these AI systems. But, most anti-intuitively, even after we have achieved AGI, it will for quite some time look as if nothing has happened. You won’t feel any change and your job and business will feel safe and untouchable. Big fallacy. We can expect that after AGI it will take many months of not 1-2 years for the real transformations to happen. Why? Because AGI in and of itself does not release value into the economy. It will be much more important to apply it. But as AGI becomes cheaper, agentic, and embedded into the world, we will see a transformation-explosion – replacing those businesses and jobs that are unprepared. I thought a lot about the impact the announced – and soon to be released – o3 model, and the first AGI model are going to have. To make it short: I am extremely confident that any skill or process that can be digitized will be. As a result, the majority of white-collar and skilled jobs are on track for massive disruption or elimination. Furthermore, I think many experts and think tanks are fooling themselves by believing that humans will maintain “some edge” and work peacefully side-by-side with an AI system. I don’t think AGI will augment knowledge workers – i.e. anyone working with language, code, numbers, or any kind of specialized software – it will replace them! So, if your job or business relies purely on standardized cognitive tasks, you are racing toward the cliff’s edge, and it is time to pivot now! Let’s start with the worst. Businesses and jobs in which you should pivot immediately – or at least not enter as of today – include but are not limited to anything that involves sitting at a computer: - anything with data entry or data processing (run as fast as you can!) - anything that involves writing (copywriting, technical writing, - editing, proofreading, translation) - most coding and web development - SAAS (won’t exist in a couple of years) - banking (disrupted squared: AGI + Blockchain) - accounting and auditing (won’t exist as a job in 5-10 years) - insurance (will be disrupted) - law (excluding high-stake litigation, negotiation, courtroom advocacy) - any generic design, music, and video creation (graphic design, stock photography, stock videos) - market and investment research and analysis (AI will take over 100%) - trading, both quantitative and qualitative (don’t exit but profit now, but expect to be disrupted within 5 years) - any middle-layer-management (project and product management) - medical diagnostics (will be 100% AI within 5 years) - most standardized professional / consulting services However, I believe that in high-stakes domains (health, finance, governance), regulators and the public will demand a “human sign-off”. So if you are in accounting, auditing, law, or finance I’d recommend pivoting to a business model where the ability to anchor trust becomes a revenue source. The question is, where should you pivot to or what business to start in 2025? ## My First Principles of a Post-AGI Business Model First, even as AI becomes infallible, human beings will still crave real, raw, direct trust relationships. People form bonds around shared experiences, especially offline ones. I believe a truly future-proof venture leverages these primal instincts that machines can never replicate at a deeply visceral level. Nevertheless, I believe it is a big mistake to assume that humans will “naturally” stick together just because we are the same species. AGI might quickly appear more reliable, less selfish than most human beings, and have emotional intelligence. So a business build upon the thesis of the “human advantage” must expertly harness and establish emotional ties, tribal belonging, and shared experiences – all intangible values that are far more delicate and complex than logic. **First Principle: Operate in the Physical World** If your product or service can be fully digitalized and delivered via the cloud, AGI can replicate it with near-zero marginal cost Infuse strategic real-world constraints (logistics, location-specific interactions, physical limitations, direct relationships) that create friction and scarcity – where AI alone will struggle **Second Principle: Create Hyper Niche Human Experiences** - The broader audience, the easier it is for AI to dominate. Instead, cultivate specialized groups and subcultures with strong in-person and highly personalized experiences. - Offer creative or spiritual elements that defy pure rational patterns and thus remain less formulaic **Third Principle: Emphasize Adaptive, Micro-Scale Partnerships** - Align with small, local, or specialized stakeholders. Use alliances with artisan suppliers, local talents, subject-matter experts, and so on. - Avoid single points of failure; build a decentralized network that is hard for a single AI to replicate or disrupt **Fourth Principle: Embed Extreme Flexibility** - Structured, hierarchical organizations are easily out-iterated by AI that can reorganize and optimize instantly - Cultivate fluid teams with quickly reconfigurable structures, use agile, project based collaboration that can pivot as soon AGI-based competition arises **Opportunity Vectors** With all of that in mind, there are niches that before looked unattractive, because less scalable, that today offer massive opportunities – let’s call them opportunity vectors. The first opportunity vector I have already touched upon: **Trust and Validation Services:** Humans verifying or certifying that a certain AI outcome is ethically or legally sound – while irrational, it is exactly what humans will insist on, particularly where liability is high (medicine, finance, law, infrastructure) **Frontier Sectors with Regulatory and Ethical Friction:** Think of markets where AI will accelerate R&D but human oversight, relationship management, and accountability remain essential: genetic engineering, biotech, advanced materials, quantum computing, etc. **The second opportunity vector focuses on the human edge:** - **Experience & Community:** Live festivals, immersive events, niche retreats, or spiritual explorations – basically any scenario in which emotional energy and a human experience is the core product -** Rare Craftsmanship & Creative Quirks:** Think of hyper-personalized items, physical artwork, artisanal or hands-on creations. Items that carry an inherent uniqueness or intangible meaning that an AI might replicate in design, but can’t replicate in “heritage” or provenance. **Risk Tactics** Overall, the best insurance is fostering a dynamic brand and a loyal community that invests personally and emotionally in you. People will buy from those whose values they trust. If you stand for something real, you create an emotional bond that AI can’t break. I’m not talking about superficial corporate social responsibility (nobody cares) but about authenticity that resonates on a near-spiritual level. As you build your business, erect an ethical moat by providing “failsafe” services where your human personal liability and your brand acts as a shield for AI decisions. This creates trust and differentiation among anonymous pure-AGI play businesses. Seek and create small, specialized, local, or digital micro-monopolies – areas too tiny or fractal for the “big AI players” to devote immediate resources to. Over time, multiply these micro-monopolies by rolling them up under one trusted brand. Furthermore, don’t avoid AI. You cannot out-AI the AI. So as you build a business on the human edge moat, you should still harness AI to do 90% of the repetitive and analytic tasks – this frees your human capital to build human relationships, solve ambiguous problem, or invent new offerings. **Bet on What Makes Us Human** To summarize, AI is logical, combinatorial intelligence. The advancements in AI will commoditize logic and disrupt any job and business that is mainly build upon logic as capital. Human – on the other hand – is authenticity. What makes human human and your brand authentic are elements of chaos, empathy, spontaneity. In this context, human is fostering embodied, emotional, culturally contextual, physically immersive experiences. Anything that requires raw creativity, emotional intelligence, local presence, or unique personal relationships will be more AI resilient. **Therefore, a Post-AGI business must involve:** - **Tangibility**: Physical goods, spaces, unique craftsmanship - **Human Connection:** Emotional, face-to-face, improvisational experiences - **Comprehensive Problem Solving**: Complex negotiations, messy real-world situations, diverse stakeholder management The inverse list of AGI proof industries involve some or multiple aspects of that: **Physical, In-Person, Human-Intensive Services** - Healthcare: Nursing, Physical therapy, Hands-on caregiving - Skilled trades & craftsmanship **High-Level Strategy & Complex Leadership** - Diplomacy, Negotiation, Trust building - Visionary entrepreneurship **Deep Emotional / Experiential Offerings** - Group experiences, retreats, spiritual or therapeutic gatherings - Artistic expression that thrives on “imperfection”, physical presence, or spontaneous creativity **Infrastructure for AGI** - Human-based auditing/verification - Physical data center operations & advanced hardware - Application and embedment of AI in the forms of AGI agents, algorithmic improvements, etc. to make it suitable for everyday tasks and workflow The real differentiator is whether a business is anchored in the physical world’s complexity, emotional trust, or intangible brand relationships. Everything pure data-driven or standardized is on the chopping block – imminently.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Here are today's picks using my proprietary betting strategy at [Freebitcoin](https://freebitco.in/?r=51325722). For details about what Risk Balanced Odds Arbitrage is and why it works see https://stacker.news/items/342765/r/Undisciplined. For a hypothetical 1k-ish wager on each match, distribute your sats as follows: | Outcome 1 | Outcome 2 | Outcome 3 | Bet 1 | Bet 2 | Bet 3 | |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------|-------|-------| | Newcastle| Fullham| Draw | 583| 200| 238| | Man United| Crystal Palace| Draw | 459| 286| 280| | Chelsea| West Ham| Draw | 714| 125| 179| | Brentford| Tottenham| Draw | 417| 364| 250| | Arsenal| Man City| Draw | 465| 278| 274| | Bournemouth| Liverpool| Draw | 211| 565| 238| A note of caution about Freebitcoin: they recorded the wrong outcome for last week's Bills vs Ravens game and as of yet have not corrected it. I recall one other instance of something similar happening, so proceed with caution. This RBOA strategy is largely immune from that problem, but be aware of it when just betting on one outcome. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/864472

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/855696/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/864463

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

**Top 20 U.S.-Based Cryptocurrency Headlines:** 1. **Pete Hegseth Confirmed as Secretary of Defense Amid Crypto Talks**\ The newly confirmed Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has hinted at exploring blockchain applications for national security and defense logistics. 2. **Senate to Debate Cryptocurrency Taxation Reform**\ A bipartisan bill focusing on cryptocurrency taxation is set for Senate debate, aiming to simplify tax reporting and encourage blockchain innovation. 3. **Florida Launches State-Backed Blockchain Pilot Program**\ Florida has initiated a pilot program leveraging blockchain for state services, including property records and public benefits distribution. 4. **Silicon Valley Firms Ramp Up Blockchain Development**\ Tech giants in Silicon Valley, including Meta and Google, have announced increased investments in blockchain R&D to align with U.S. policy shifts. 5. **California Mulls Digital Asset Consumer Protection Bill**\ California lawmakers are reviewing a proposed bill designed to strengthen consumer protections in cryptocurrency transactions and prevent fraud. 6. **Wyoming Leads in Blockchain Legislation**\ Wyoming continues to set the standard for pro-blockchain legislation, introducing additional laws to attract cryptocurrency businesses and miners. 7. **Texas Becomes a Hub for Crypto Mining**\ Texas remains a hotbed for cryptocurrency mining operations, with favorable regulations and abundant energy resources attracting global miners. 8. **New York Revisits BitLicense Regulations**\ The New York Department of Financial Services is revising its stringent BitLicense requirements, seeking to balance industry growth and consumer protection. 9. **SEC Proposes Clearer Guidelines for ICOs**\ The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed new rules to clarify and reduce ambiguity surrounding initial coin offerings (ICOs). 10. **Banking Giants Reenter Crypto Markets**\ JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are reportedly resuming their cryptocurrency trading desks, reflecting renewed institutional confidence in the market. 11. **Crypto Job Market Expands in the U.S.**\ Major crypto companies, including Coinbase and Kraken, are expanding hiring efforts, focusing on compliance, engineering, and product development roles. 12. **U.S. Treasury Collaborates with Private Sector on Blockchain Security**\ The U.S. Treasury has launched a joint initiative with private companies to enhance blockchain cybersecurity and combat crypto-related crimes. 13. **Nevada Considers Tax Incentives for Crypto Startups**\ Nevada legislators are discussing tax breaks for cryptocurrency startups to attract more tech companies to the state. 14. **Miami Hosts Blockchain Week**\ Miami has kicked off Blockchain Week, drawing thousands of participants from around the world to discuss cryptocurrency innovation and regulation. 15. **Colorado Accepts Tax Payments in Cryptocurrency**\ Colorado residents can now pay state taxes using Bitcoin and Ethereum, marking a milestone in government adoption of digital currencies. 16. **Boston Dynamics Explores Blockchain in Robotics**\ Boston Dynamics has announced research into using blockchain technology to enhance coordination and security for robotic systems. 17. **Crypto Payments Expand in the Retail Sector**\ Major U.S. retailers, including Walmart and Home Depot, are piloting cryptocurrency payment systems in select locations. 18. **Federal Reserve Examines Decentralized Finance (DeFi)**\ The Federal Reserve has initiated a study on the potential implications and opportunities of decentralized finance within the U.S. economy. 19. **Chicago Becomes a Cryptocurrency Innovation Hub**\ Chicago has unveiled a public-private initiative to attract blockchain startups and establish the city as a leading hub for cryptocurrency innovation. 20. **Arizona Proposes Bitcoin as Legal Tender**\ Arizona legislators are drafting a bill recognizing Bitcoin as legal tender, potentially making it the first U.S. state to do so. --- **Top 5 Worldwide Cryptocurrency Headlines:** 1. **European Union Accelerates Crypto Regulation Framework**\ The EU is working on comprehensive legislation to standardize cryptocurrency regulations across member states, focusing on consumer protection and innovation. 2. **China's Shadow Crypto Market Flourishes Despite Crackdowns**\ Despite stringent bans, underground cryptocurrency trading in China continues to thrive, fueled by over-the-counter brokers and international platforms. 3. **India Explores Blockchain Voting Systems**\ India is piloting blockchain technology for secure and transparent voting, aiming to modernize its electoral process. 4. **El Salvador Expands Bitcoin Adoption Programs**\ El Salvador, the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, is launching new programs to educate its citizens on cryptocurrency use and blockchain technology. 5. **African Nations Adopt Bitcoin for Cross-Border Transactions**\ African countries increasingly leverage Bitcoin to streamline cross-border trade, addressing inefficiencies in traditional banking systems.

@ 6b57533f:eaa341f5

# Page 1  ## Welcome to Stories This is a new way to tell stories on nostr. ## Some content in the middle of the page. ## Read More Swipe left to continue... # Page 2  ## Top Info This text appears at the top of the page. ## Important Point This content is centered in the middle. ## Bottom Line And this wraps it up at the bottom. # Page 3  ## ## ## The End Thanks for reading! This text appears at the bottom.

@ 0463223a:3b14d673

Hmm so I heard that in order to improve my brain I should try writing… Ok groovy, I’ll give it a go. In all honesty I don’t know what to write, my brain is a jumble of noise and titbits of random knowledge. I likely know more about sound than the average person but as physics goes, I don’t have anything new or profound to add. Air moves and noises happen. Is there really any more to it? I could write some flowery bollocks about refraction, absorption coefficients and reverberation times, or I could write some out there, arty shit but I don’t think that adds any value to anyone. A lot of folks online have very strong beliefs in how the world operates or should operate. Whilst their conviction is strong, there’s also is a large percentage of people who totally disagree with them and think the exact opposite is the answer. That’s quite shit isn’t it? Humans have been around for 100,000 years or so and haven’t worked it out. I wonder what makes the internet celeb so certain they’ve got it right when the next internet celeb completely disagrees? I do my best to avoid any of these cunts but despite running to the obscurest social media platforms they still turn up with their profound statements. Meh. Ideologically I’m leaning toward anarchism but even that seems full of arguments and contradictions and ultimately I don’t think I can be arsed with identifying with any particular ideology. I tried reading some philosophy and struggled with it, although I deep fall into a lovely deep sleep. It’s fair to say I’m not the brightest button in the box. I have a wife, a couple of cats and lots of things that make nosies in my shed. That’s pretty cool right? Well it works for me. So why write this? I clearly wrote in the first sentence that I’m trying to improve my brain, a brain that’s gone through a number to twists and turns, a lot brain altering substances. I own that, no one forced me to. Beside, George Clinton was still smoking crack aged 80, didn’t do him any harm… I’m on the 5th paragraph. I don’t feel any smarter yet and each paragraph is getting shorter, having started from a low base. I guess I’m being too high time preference… Might be a while before I launch my Deep Thought podcasts where myself and a guest talk for 500 hours about the philosophy of money and 13 amp plug sockets. I’ve tortured myself enough. I’m posting this on Nostr where it will never go away.. lol. If you got this far, I congratulate/commiserate you and wish you a wonderful day.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

# **Hackathon 概览** [BTCfi 夏季黑客松](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/btcfi-summer-hackathon) 是于2024年夏季由CoreDAO组织，为期12周的黑客松活动。本次活动旨在推动比特币经济中的创新，吸引了来自Web3和BTCfi社区的开发者参与。共有291位开发者参与，提交了74个去中心化应用项目（BUIDLs）到Core平台上。此举旨在加强Core在BTC领域的作用。 Hackathon于2024年6月6日开始，包含开幕式、申请期以及于2024年8月19日的demo日。获奖者于2024年8月26日公布。NLX、Halborn、TokenSoft、Verichains和Request Finance等赞助商给予了支持。 参与者专注于开发将Core链技术融入其解决方案的独特应用。此次活动有效扩展了Core生态系统，增强了开发人员的参与度。所提交项目的多样性和范围突显了活动的成功实施及其对未来区块链技术进步的潜在影响。 # **Hackathon 获奖项目** - **1st Place：**[Rune Bridge](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/14486): 该系统实现了比特币和Core区块链之间无需权限的集成。它利用EVM兼容性和混合共识模型来实现可扩展性，由智能合约、链外中继器和一个工厂ERC20合约组成，以高效管理代币。 - **2nd Place：**[OnchainVampireSurvivors](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/14468): 这是一款Web3时间生存游戏，具有基于区块链的链上排行榜和彩票功能。项目使用ThirdWeb进行钱包访问，注重gas效率，并使用Cocos和Hardhat开发。未来增强计划包括AI资产和在Core主网上的部署。 - **3rd Place：**[b14g Network - Enhancing Decentralization and Security on Core Chain with b14g](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/14353): 本项目旨在通过实施观察者节点和合并质押来增强Core Chain的安全性，促进监控的去中心化并解决承诺问题。它旨在将BTC与DeFi集成，提升CORE代币的实用性并确保网络的完整性。 欲了解所有提交项目的综合概述，请访问[BTCFi Summer Hackathon 2024页面](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/btcfi-summer-hackathon/buidl)。 # **关于组织者** ### **CoreDAO** Core DAO管理着Core Chain，这是一条以安全性和可扩展性为重点的去中心化区块链网络。通过将比特币的工作量证明与Satoshi Plus共识系统（委托工作量证明和委托权益证明的组合）相结合，Core DAO旨在增强去中心化和安全性。该平台提供以太坊虚拟机兼容性，使比特币矿工可以参与，同时比特币持有者可以在不放弃托管的情况下进行质押。Core Chain支持高交易吞吐量，由社区管理，并提供与其他区块链的互操作性，使用Solidity进行高效智能合约开发。该组织的使命是推动由比特币保护的去中心化应用程序开发。