@ c43d6de3:a6583169

## "So, What’s the News?" Were it not for these very words, we might never have had a modern capitalistic society. Between 1500 and 1800, coffeehouses were more than just places to grab a quick hit of caffeine—they were the beating heart of local communities. These spaces buzzed with debate, discussion, and the exchange of groundbreaking ideas. Strangers became intellectual sparring partners, not merely reading the news but dissecting and debating it in real-time. One could easily imagine Adam Smith engaged in animated conversation with David Hume in a coffeehouse on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile—the former outlining the invisible hand of the market, the latter countering that human behavior is driven more by emotion than reason. Such debates weren’t confined to elite scholars. Merchants, craftsmen, and common laborers sat shoulder to shoulder, engaging in discussions that transcended social class. But then came industrialization. The rise of factory life replaced the organic rhythms of community engagement with rigid work schedules. As cities expanded and people became busier, the once-thriving coffeehouses—where time was slow, conversation was deep, and debate was central—began to empty. The demand for efficiency left little room for leisurely discussions, and over time, the public square of ideas withered. -----------  nostr:npub1uzt238htjzpq39dxmltlx60vxym9fetk9czz6kddq6fhvkf4z3usy9qtrh Mouth watering Hodl rounds- Bitcoin only https://shopstr.store/listing/84f20c5e1ef94762b60f0d5fb4398594ace6c5589212f94269e9542fbe351732 -----------  > Photos Courtesy of nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 Give him a follow and some zap love if you like his art ## Empty Street Corners and Hollow Venues Adam Smith would lose his mind with how interconnected the world is today. Yet, he might also notice something unsettling: while we are globally connected, our local communities feel more fragmented than ever before. He’d have a hell of an online presence but he, just like many do today, might get the sense that something isn't quite right. The world is quieter than ever before (link to the lost art of small talk) while online discourse teeters on the verge of violent physical manifestations. It’s not that public discourse has disappeared. Rather, it has been exiled to the internet. Social media has become our new coffeehouse, but instead of robust face-to-face engagement, we navigate a landscape of curated algorithms, viral outrage, and fragmented conversations. The once-public square of ideas has transformed into isolated echo chambers, where avatars shape narratives that must be adhered to lest one be accused of inconsistency and lose credibility. The result? People live layered lives with layered personas—some even attaining secret fame in online communities while remaining anonymous in their own neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the street corners remain empty, and the venues that once thrived with the fervor of intellectual thought stand hollow.  > Photos Courtesy of nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 Give him a follow and some zap love if you like his art ## The Need for a Modern Coffeehouse Historically, coffeehouses were revolutionary because they democratized knowledge. They provided an open forum for ideas, allowing philosophy, politics, and commerce to intermingle freely. Unlike monasteries or universities, coffeehouses welcomed anyone who could afford a cup of coffee. With the rise of digital discourse, have we lost something essential? The depth, accountability, and personal engagement that once defined public debate have been replaced by reactionary commentary and fleeting viral moments. The question is no longer where we discuss ideas—it’s how we engage with them. We need to ask ourselves: Can we reclaim a physical space for intellectual exchange? Or has the age of meaningful, face-to-face discourse faded, vanishing with the steam of yesterday’s coffee? Can We Bring Back the Local Forum? Should We Care? Before coffeehouses, philosophy lived in elite institutions and royal courts. With the rise of coffee culture, it became truly public, shaping modern democracy, scientific thought, and social progress. The internet, for all its wonders, lacks the tactile, immediate, and personal engagement that once made intellectual debate so powerful. The challenge ahead is not just about nostalgia for coffeehouse debates—it’s about asking whether we can create new spaces, physical or digital, that foster real intellectual exchange. Without them, we risk losing something fundamental: the ability to challenge, refine, and reshape our ideas through genuine human connection. But most of all, we risk the possibility great ideas come but no action is ever taken to make them real in this real world. So, what’s the news? ----------- Thank you for reading! If this article resonated with you, let me know with a zap and share it with friends who might find it insightful. All zap revenue from this article is shared with nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 for his photograph contributions. Your help sends a strong signal for content creators like us to keep making cool shit like this! Interested in fiction? Follow nostr:npub1j9cmpzhlzeex6y85c2pnt45r5zhxhtx73a2twt77fyjwequ4l4jsp5xd49 for great short stories and serialized fiction. More photography and articles you might like from nostr:npub1cs7kmc77gcapuh2s3yn0rc868sckh0qam7p5p4t9ku88rfjcx95sq8tqw9 and nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 : nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzps0x2pwq9k5drv99k0tdkmsekt4j9hx4fu8gvvrwez3p8yptx9t7qqxnqvfjxqer2tfh0fekz7r5l270gu  https://pictureroom.substack.com/p/020825 nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq24s4mrfdm55utg23z55ufs94argvn523k5yqhkrc3 nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq2nvnr5d4nngw2zgd5k5c6etftrzez9fd9kkcl0pzp

@ 5579d5c0:db104ded

Like fats, carbohydrates and have been unfairly demonised. Carbs aren’t inherently bad. Their impact depends on **seasonality, local availability, sunlight exposure,** and **movement.** Traditional cultures ate carbs, in alignment with their environment, and thrived. Today, we eat them indiscriminately, and it’s wrecking metabolic health. --- ### Carbs in traditional diet: Context matters Different cultures have consumed varying amounts of carbohydrates for centuries, but what mattered wasn’t just **how much** they ate, it was **when and how**. → **Pacific Islanders** consumed fruit and tubers year round, but they lived in high UV environments, stayed highly active, and had robust metabolic flexibility. → **Northern Europeans** consumed grains and dairy, but only seasonally and locally,** adapting to long winters with lower carbohydrate intake. → **Inuit tribes** had little to no carbs. Their environment, long, dark winters with minimal plant foods, dictated a high-fat, animal-based diet for survival. Regardless of macronutrient ratios, these cultures remained free from metabolic disease. Why? **→ They ate whole, unprocessed food**: Nothing refined, industrialised, or out of sync with their seasons. → **Their lifestyle supported their diet**: They moved constantly and had high sun exposure. → **There was no year-round abundance**: Food availability changed with the seasons, and so did their metabolism. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/1b3f80f4a44d170a393f965603cd3abbbfa31be9ee7d6798c254c957656b005b.png"> *Traditional Pacific Islander diet full of fruit and tubers.* --- ### The problem? We’re eating for winter year round Fast forward to the modern world. In his book, '*Don’t Eat for Winter*', Cian Foley tells us "*We eat like it’s winter all year long, high-carb, high-fat, ultra-processed, and completely disconnected from nature’s cues*." This has lead us to a metabolic mismatch: → We eat high-carb diets but **stay indoors under artificial light**, disrupting our ability to process them efficiently. → We consume food that **isn’t seasonal or local**, removing natural metabolic cycles. → We pair **carbs with inactivity**, leading to **insulin resistance, fat gain, and metabolic dysfunction.** Carbs aren’t the problem. Eating them disconnected from seasonality, local availability, sunlight exposure, and movement is. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/e43aa99bfa6e7fc9d936ab7c3df4da501a69b79f68dc783ca268a9451a8f18f9.png"> *Homer Simpson eating highly processed carbs sitting under artificial light* --- ### Why does sunlight increases carbohydrate tolerance? Sunlight improves insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial efficiency, helping your body process carbs more effectively. → Activates the **POMC-leptin-melanocortin pathway**, that flip the switch in your body to burn fat more efficiently and respond better to insulin. → Releases **Nitric oxide,** which increases glucose uptake in muscles & reduces fat storage. → High UV exposure **upregulates genes** for glucose metabolism, making carbs easier to process in summer. → **Mitochondrial efficiency improves with sunlight**, allowing for better glucose usage and lower oxidative stress. In short, if you get **plenty of sunlight, your body can tolerate more carbohydrates (whole)**. If you’re in a low-light environment e.g., winter, northern latitudes, or indoors all day, your tolerance decreases, and a lower-carb, higher-fat diet may be more suitable. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f022959afa11132a80c80d0483415c32226d82ab1c21a06079eee22b6dc06c55.png"> --- ### How to eat carbs in sync with your environment → **Align carb intake with your sunlight exposure**: If you’re in a high-UV environment, your body is primed to handle more carbohydrates. In darker seasons, focus more on protein and fat. → **Eat seasonally and locally**: Summer fruits in the summer, root vegetables in colder months. Let nature dictate your intake. → **Pair carbs with movement**: Don’t consume high-carb meals if you’re sedentary. Use movement to enhance glucose uptake and metabolic flexibility but not as a punishment. It should be said, if you have metabolic syndrome issues cutting carbs can be useful tool until it has been fixed. You will thrive when you're connected to nature, not fighting against it. Carbs are not the enemy, **modern environments are.** It’s not about eliminating carbs but eating them correctly, in sync with light, seasonality, and movement. \-Chris --- DMs → always open for those who need help. **If you want to** regain metabolic flexibility and stop storing excessive fat, I have a 10 week programme just for you. **Let’s talk.** **Book a free call here** → <https://calendly.com/hello-chrispatrick> Grab Cian Foleys book 'Don't Eat For Winter' → <https://www.donteatforwinter.com/>

@ bd32f268:22b33966

Quando estava prestes a entrar para a universidade sentia que a minha vida estava a desenrolar-se plenamente de acordo com os conselhos que havia recebido. Estava focado nos estudos e com a esperança de que esse foco me garantisse um bom trabalho. Com efeito, os estudos abriram algumas portas, no entanto, não posso deixar de assinalar que há outras decisões mais importantes a tomar e que não tiveram o mesmo protagonismo na minha vida. Nessa mesma altura estava a iniciar um relacionamento amoroso, sem ter clara a finalidade desse namoro e o caminho que o mesmo deveria ter seguido. Talvez até me tivessem aconselhado sobre isso, contudo o foco estava mais no trabalho e em usufruir das oportunidades que se apresentaram nessa juventude confortável, na qual contei sempre com o apoio financeiro dos meus pais. Estava, como a maioria à minha volta, a viver uma vida libertina. Quer isto dizer uma vida sem grandes preocupações, a não ser estudar e fazer o suficiente para não reprovar a nenhuma disciplina. O resto é movido muito mais para emoção do que pela razão. Aquilo que considerava prazeroso era bom e o que não o era, era mau. Não tinha propriamente uma ideia clara do que queria criar a longo prazo e portanto estava muito mais focado no presente e em usufruir daquilo que podia no momento. Fazendo uma análise retrospetiva de tudo, não culpo ninguém porque a informação existe para quem a procura, contudo noto aqui apenas o ambiente social e cultural que favorece determinadas decisões em detrimento de outras. O foco tem estado muito mais nos estudos, no trabalho e na fruição dos prazeres que se apresentam aos jovens sem que se pense demasiado no futuro. Neste contexto, e vendo esta fase da vida com outro grau de distanciamento, deixo aqui dez conselhos que julgo essenciais. *Rei Salomão - Gustav Dore* ***1.Focar na decisão mais importante: constituir ou não família.*** A decisão de constituir ou não família é muito mais relevante para a nossa vida do que propriamente a de escolher uma profissão. Não estou necessariamente a fazer apologia de que todas as pessoas devem constituir família, convenhamos que muitos de nós não têm vocação para o mesmo (apesar de muitos ainda assim o fazerem), mas quer seja afirmativa ou negativa a resposta parece-me fundamental que nos concentremos nessa decisão. Muito mais do que qualquer profissão a família é onde naturalmente procuramos apoio, conforto e incentivo perante todas as vicissitudes da vida. O facto de existirem famílias que não são fontes de amor para as pessoas em nada invalida que esta seja a organização social por excelência que aporta significado ás nossas vidas. Infelizmente, para muitas pessoas uma experiência pessoal mais difícil a este nível influi na forma como pensam sobre a possibilidade de criarem a sua própria família. Algumas questões a ter em conta nesta ponderação: Qual é o meu ideal de família ? Qual o meu papel enquanto homem/mulher no seio da família? Que tipo de parceiro devo procurar? Desejo ter filhos ? Podemos usar estas questões como pontos de partida para iniciar uma exploração da nossa vocação. ***2.Tomar decisões cedo em vez de protelar indefinidamente*** Atualmente notamos que as pessoas constituem família cada vez mais tarde e que têm filhos cada vez mais tarde. É curioso notar que nos relacionamentos por vezes há alguma pressa para passar do conhecer a pessoa à intimidade sexual e não há pressa alguma para decidir se de facto é com aquela pessoa que queremos passar o resto dos nossos dias. Este é apenas um aspecto no qual se nota uma progressiva detioração da capacidade para decidir. É-nos muitas vezes transmitida a ideia de que temos tempo e de que não há uma idade certa para tomar determinadas decisões. Estes discursos são cínicos pois é evidente que há fases que são mais propícias para dar determinados passos na nossa vida, daí que seja muito importante aprender a tomar decisões cedo. Para tomar decisões sóbrias é fundamental saber-se exatamente aquilo que queremos. Se tudo isso está indefinido e não conseguimos postular uma ideia de futuro para nós será muito mais difícil tomar qualquer tipo de decisão importante. Um outro aspecto a ter em conta é o de que as principais decisões são guiadas pela razão, isto é os nossos sentimentos têm de estar ao serviço dos nossos valores e nunca o contrário. *3.Se não te imaginas a casar com a pessoa com quem estás, termina o relacionamento.* Deixar a porta aberta num relacionamento de forma indefinida é algo que vai produzir instabilidade no longo prazo. É óbvio que para muitas pessoas o casamento é “apenas um papel” e portanto não vêm a real utilidade em se casar. Contudo, e de forma não surpreendente, notamos que os casais que têm na sua vida uma visão sobrenatural do casamento tendem a perdurar. Digamos que a cola que é usada para unir as pessoas é de um outro calibre, enquanto que a cola usada por aqueles que não têm Deus nas suas vidas está muito mais sujeita à volatilidade do tempo, dos apetites individuais e do relativismo. *4.Assume a responsabilidade pelos teus erros sem te deixar levar pelo vitimismo.* A cultura atual, influenciada de forma determinante pela filosofia marxista, está permanentemente a postular divisões de poder na sociedade que pressupõe duas categorias principais a de oprimido e opressor. Esta ideologia apoiada no revisionismo histórico e numa pedagogia social falaciosa incute desde cedo na população a ideia de que em algum momento, tendo ou não pertencido a uma minoria, somos vítimas. Vemos vários exemplos e derivações desta doutrina quando tocamos em temas como o feminismo, o racismo e outros ismos que se focam apenas nesta divisão dicotómica oprimido e opressor. Esta narrativa esquece que a hierarquia é uma organização natural que define aptidões diferenciadas e consequentemente vocações diferentes. Um outro aspecto que também é esquecido é o livre arbítrio, isto é, a ideia de que as pessoas têm poder de decisão e que muitas vezes podem ser coniventes e partes atuantes no sistema em que participam. Quer isto dizer que individualmente cada um de nós, havendo discernimento, tem escolha e portanto é muito mais produtivo focar a nossa atenção nesse aspecto do que em qualquer tipo de desigualdade que possa existir. A igualdade de circunstâncias para todas as pessoas é uma utopia, a única igualdade que existe é da essência humana. O caminho para escapar ao vitimismo será sempre o da responsabilidade individual e da gratidão apesar das circunstâncias adversas que possamos estar a viver. *5.Foca-te primeiro no que te é mais próximo antes do mundo* Por vezes, inspirados por uma soberba intelectual que agora é típica da juventude vemo-nos a fazer o papel de ativistas em determinadas causas, algumas nobres outras nem tanto. Acontece que este ativismo é frequentemente uma ato postiço, uma pose que usamos como forma de sinalizar a nossa virtude perante os nossos pares. Onde se percebem os pés de barro é quando notamos que diante das pessoas que nos são mais próximas não temos o mesmo zelo que apresentamos quando estamos a debater as grandes questões do mundo. Há que ser zeloso com quem nos rodeia e os problemas mais urgentes para resolver, e aqueles em que a nossa intervenção é de facto mais necessária, são os que nos são mais próximos. *6.Dizer a verdade* A corrupção moral funciona de forma gradual, vai de menos a mais, começamos com uma coisa pequena até chegarmos a algo maior. Quando somos mais novos vamos experimentando a corrupção através do exercício da mentira em pequenas coisas e gradualmente vamos avançando para as coisas maiores. Alguns de nós resistem à mentira, facilmente se entende que não desejamos que os outros nos mintam no entanto, se o repetimos muitas vezes facilmente a banalizamos. A mentira é uma tentativa de esquivar a responsabilidade pelas nossas ações ou opiniões, uma tentativa de fuga ás consequências. Contudo, importa perceber que inevitavelmente vamos sempre confrontar-nos com as consequências sejam quais forem as circunstâncias. Se não as experimentamos pela espada dos outros será pela nossa própria espada quando finalmente percebermos que não há harmonia entre o pensamento e a ação, que dizemos uma coisa mas fazemos outra, que a nossa identidade é também ela uma ficção. O exercício da verdade será a única via para nos aproximarmos de uma existência mais harmoniosa e autêntica, a única forma de estabelecer uma relação genuína com os outros. *7.Decisões inspiradas pela coragem e menos pelo medo* As nossas decisões têm frequentemente como força motriz o medo. O medo da rejeição impede-nos de ir falar com aquela pessoa de quem gostamos, o medo do juízo social impede-nos de proferir a nossa opinião em determinado assunto, o medo da morte leva-nos a ter comportamentos obsessivos com a nossa saúde; enfim, são muitas as situações em que as nossas decisões são pautadas pelo medo. É importante que cada vez mais, o medo não seja o factor definidor da nossa decisão. A coragem, temperada pela prudência, devem ser os grandes arquitetos da nossa decisão. Aquilo que é bom no sentido mais profundo é o que devemos seguir, independentemente de sentirmos medo. *8.Ninguém é obrigado a gostar de nós, ninguém nos deve nada* O ressentimento e mágoa leva-nos por vezes a tratar os outros como se eles nos devessem algo, como se fosse impensável não nos reconhecerem como aprazíveis aos seus olhos ou justos. Isto é uma forma subtil do orgulho se expressar, porque mais uma vez nos colocamos na posição de vítima e assim, julgamos que os outros nos deveriam reconhecer como virtuosos de alguma forma. Pois bem, apesar dos outros, tal como nós, terem deveres e poderem fazer menção honrosa da nossa existência não devemos esperar isso. Esperando isso, acabamos escravizados por essas expectativas porque continuamos à espera que gostem de nós. Desta forma distorcemos também o próprio conceito de amor, que é doar-se sem esperar em troca. Não é que os outros não o possam fazer, podem, o problema está na espera e na exigência. *9.Definir uma matriz moral objetiva* Imbuídos de um espírito relativista estamos muitas vezes sujeitos a uma subjetividade enorme no que diz respeito aos nossos valores. O resultado disto é que inevitavelmente vamos ter uma definição menos clara do bem e do mal. Frequentemente vamos confundir o que é bom ou mau com os nossos desejos, alimentado pelos nossos vícios. Para termos uma visão mais clara da realidade é fundamental sairmos dessa visão subjetiva do valor e sermos capazes de procurar a verdadeira fonte das definições morais. Aqui, há determinadas mensagens sociais que nos confundem os sentidos, nomeadamente aquelas que atestam que tudo são apenas “pontos de vista”, que não há uma “verdade” mas sim várias verdades, e que “neste tempo/cultura/país” a moralidade é outra. São tudo asserções que dificultam esta pesquisa pela verdade e definição moral universal. Neste campo, o ser humano só será capaz de ter mais estabilidade em termos psicológicos aderindo a um sistema de valores imutável, esta é a única forma de basear a sua identidade em princípios mais objetivos. *10.Encontrar um propósito maior para a vida* Santo Agostinho diz-nos o seguinte: - Se não queres sofrer não ames, mas se não amas para que queres viver? Santo Agostinho Por vezes na nossa vida procuramos esquivar-nos do sofrimento e inclusive somos vitimas de um certo ceticismo e embotamento afetivo. Vamos experimentando a traição e a frustração das nossas expectativas e isso vai endurecendo o nosso coração. Em resultado disso, muitas vezes tornamo-nos também mais egoístas, focados na mera satisfação das nossas necessidades e menos nas dos outros. No entanto, isto faz de nós infelizes porque não conseguimos deixar de amar. A solução é encontrar algo maior que nós mesmos para amar, entendendo sempre que a essência do amor é o sacrifício. Encontrar isso é simultaneamente definir um propósito para a vida e daí derivar um significado que nos sustenta até nos momentos mais difíceis. Eventualmente poderei fazer alguma publicação específica expandindo um pouco mais alguns destes conselhos, uma vez que observo que muito mais poderia ter sido dito em cada um deles. Talvez venha a criar mais algumas publicações sobre este tema.

@ 0c503f08:4aed05c7

1. 2024–2029: Shaking the Foundations of the Familiar The late 2020s are poised to be an era of disruption. Picture generative AI moving beyond quirky chatbots and into life-altering domains like healthcare. Machines will detect diseases before symptoms arise, yet courtrooms will brim with lawsuits over their failures. Schools will fracture into stark contrasts—students with access to AI tutors thrive, while others cling to outdated textbooks in underfunded systems. Meanwhile, the renewable energy boom will surpass 40% of global electricity, yet fossil fuel industries will fight tooth and nail to remain relevant. The planet’s turbulence will become undeniable: superstorms batter coastlines, and relentless droughts displace millions, stretching humanitarian efforts thin. Global tensions won’t just simmer—they’ll boil. The U.S. and China will spar over technological dominance, particularly the semiconductor-rich bastion of Taiwan. Africa, with its treasure trove of lithium and cobalt, becomes a battleground for a new wave of exploitation. Amid this upheaval, humanity will glance skyward: NASA’s Artemis III places boots near the Moon’s south pole, igniting a modern-day space race as China counters with a robotic lunar base. 2. 2030–2034: Progress at a Price The early 2030s will feel like a contradiction wrapped in progress. Electric vehicles dominate the roads, but the cobalt mines fueling this transition will leave humanitarian and ecological scars. Global agreements on AI and autonomous drones will emerge, but enforcement will be weak, leading to selective compliance and rising mistrust. In healthcare, CRISPR therapies will eliminate diseases like sickle-cell anemia, offering breakthroughs for those who can afford them. Yet, alongside these marvels, biodiversity quietly collapses: pollinators disappear, destabilizing food systems, even as tech startups commercialize extinct species as novelties. Societal inequalities will take center stage. Aging nations like Japan will lean on empathetic robotic caregivers, while Africa’s youth flood urban slums and migration routes, reshaping the global labor landscape. Quantum computing will spark both innovation and chaos, cracking encryption protocols and triggering a global scramble for security in the digital age. The decade’s sobering reality? Solutions often create new dilemmas, leaving humanity juggling its own ingenuity. 3. 2040–2044: Living on the Edge of Irreversible Change By the 2040s, tipping points will dominate global narratives. Arctic summers without ice will exacerbate warming, while oceans lose their coral, and with them, a quarter of marine biodiversity. Cities respond unevenly: while Dubai thrives with water-harvesting skyscrapers, Miami succumbs to the sea, becoming a decayed relic of resilience undone. Technological advancements blur the line between human and machine. Neural implants will enable the paralyzed to walk but also tether corporate workers to AI copilots monitoring their productivity—and even thoughts. Petrostates crumble under the weight of falling oil demand as solar energy becomes the new global standard. Simultaneously, life-extending drugs create a schism. The wealthy buy decades of youth while intergenerational protests erupt over perceived inequalities. The question dominating the 2040s isn’t whether humans will remake Earth’s systems—it’s who will get to decide how those changes unfold. 4. 2070–2074: A World Divided by Vision The 2070s will be a study in contrasts: miraculous advancements side-by-side with dystopian realities. Coastal cities will either drown or adapt; some will fund floating havens while others abandon their shores entirely. Fusion energy might deliver limitless power, but control over its distribution will spark fears of new monopolies. Mars will no longer be a dream—it’ll be a fragile reality, home to scientists mining ice and debating their sovereignty from Earth. CRISPR’s third generation will bring designer children, creating genetic castes of “Enhanced” and “Natural” humans. Society will grapple with ethical questions that pit faith, science, and social cohesion against one another. Meanwhile, humanity will turn to lab-engineered ecosystems to fix what was broken: bacteria devouring plastic and forests surviving extreme heat. But for every advance, new risks emerge. Rogue biohackers and ecological mishaps will remind us how thin the line between salvation and catastrophe can be. 5. 2124: The Precipice of Destiny A hundred years from now, humanity will either bask in the fruits of collective wisdom—or stumble under the weight of collective greed. In one future, fusion energy ends scarcity, lab-grown organs erase disease, and AI enriches every aspect of life. In another, oligarchs preside over a scorched Earth, their wealth insulating them from the dystopia their greed perpetuated. Probes might finally reach Alpha Centauri, yet their silence will leave humanity debating our place in the cosmos. On Earth, the melding of languages and cultures will reshape identities, while virtual reality becomes a spiritual medium for connecting with ancestors or digital gods. The climate’s fate will echo the choices of the 21st century. If restraint and innovation prevailed, the planet will stabilize. If hubris ruled, untested geoengineering will leave scars we can never undo. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/892381

@ a2eddb26:e2868a80

In personal finance, the principles of financial independence and time sovereignty (FITS) empower individuals to escape the debt-based cycle that forces them into perpetual work. What if companies could apply the same principles? What if businesses, instead of succumbing to the relentless push for infinite growth, could optimize for real demand? This case study of the GPU industry aims to show that fiat-driven incentives distort technological progress and imagines an alternative future built on sound money. ### **Fiat Business: Growth or Death** Tech companies no longer optimize for efficiency, longevity, or real user needs. Instead, under a fiat system, they are forced into a perpetual growth model. If NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel fail to show revenue expansion, their stock price tanks. Let's take NVIDIA's GPUs as an example. The result is predictable: - GPUs that nobody actually needs but everyone is told to buy. - A focus on artificial benchmarks instead of real-world performance stability. - Endless FPS increases that mean nothing for 99% of users. The RTX 5090 is not for gamers. It is for NVIDIA’s quarterly earnings. This is not a surprise on a fiat standard. ### **Fiat Marketing: The Illusion of Need and the Refresh Rate Trap** Benchmarks confirm that once a GPU maintains 120+ FPS in worst-case scenarios, additional performance gains become irrelevant for most players. This level of capability was reached years ago. The problem is that efficiency does not sell as easily as bigger numbers. &#x20;This extends beyond raw GPU power and into the display market, where increasing refresh rates and resolutions are marketed as critical upgrades, despite diminishing real-world benefits for most users. While refresh rates above 120Hz may offer marginal improvements for competitive esports players, the average user sees little benefit beyond a certain threshold. Similarly, 8K resolutions are pushed as the next frontier, even though 4K remains underutilized due to game optimization and hardware constraints. This is why GPUs keep getting bigger, hotter, and more expensive, even when most gamers would be fine with a card from five years ago. It is why every generation brings another “must-have” feature, regardless of whether it impacts real-world performance.&#x20; Marketing under fiat operates on the principle of making people think they need something they do not. The fiat standard does not just distort capital allocation. It manufactures demand by exaggerating the importance of specifications that most users do not truly need. The goal is not technological progress but sales volume. True innovation would focus on meaningful performance gains that align with actual gaming demands, such as improving latency, frame-time consistency, and efficient power consumption. Instead, marketing convinces consumers they need unnecessary upgrades, driving them into endless hardware cycles that favor stock prices over user experience. They need the next-gen cycle to maintain high margins. The hardware is no longer designed for users. It is designed for shareholders. A company operating on sound money would not rely on deceptive marketing cycles. It would align product development with real user needs instead of forcing artificial demand. ### **The Shift to AI** For years, GPUs were optimized for gaming. Then AI changed everything. OpenAI, Google, and Stability AI now outbid consumers for GPUs. The 4090 became impossible to find, not because of gamers, but because AI labs were hoarding them. The same companies that depended on the consumer upgrade cycle now see their real profits coming from data centers. Yet, they still push gaming hardware aggressively. However, legitimate areas for improvement do exist. While marketing exaggerates the need for higher FPS at extreme resolutions, real gaming performance should focus on frame stability, low latency, and efficient rendering techniques. These are the areas where actual innovation should be happening. Instead, the industry prioritizes artificial performance milestones to create the illusion of progress, rather than refining and optimizing for the gaming experience itself. Why? ### **Gamers Fund the R&D for AI and Bear the Cost of Scalping** NVIDIA still needs gamers, but not in the way most think. The gaming market provides steady revenue, but it is no longer the priority. With production capacity shifting toward AI and industrial clients, fewer GPUs are available for gamers. This reduced supply has led to rampant scalping, where resellers exploit scarcity to drive up prices beyond reasonable levels. Instead of addressing the issue, NVIDIA benefits from the inflated demand and price perception, creating an even stronger case for prioritizing enterprise sales. Gaming revenue subsidizes AI research. The more RTX cards they sell, the more they justify pouring resources into data-center GPUs like the H100, which generate significantly higher margins than gaming hardware. AI dictates the future of GPUs. If NVIDIA and AMD produced dedicated gamer-specific GPUs in higher volumes, they could serve that market at lower prices. But in the fiat-driven world of stockholder demands, maintaining artificially constrained supply ensures maximum profitability. Gamers are left paying inflated prices for hardware that is no longer built with them as the primary customer. That is why GPU prices keep climbing. Gamers are no longer the main customer. They are a liquidity pool. ### **The Financial Reality** The financial reports confirm this shift: **NVIDIA’s 2024 fiscal year** saw a 126% revenue increase, reaching \$60.9 billion. The data center segment alone grew 217%, generating \$47.5 billion. ([Source](https://investor.nvidia.com/news/press-release-details/2024/NVIDIA-Announces-Financial-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-and-Fiscal-2024/)) The numbers make it clear. The real money is in AI and data centers, not gaming. NVIDIA has not only shifted its focus away from gamers but has also engaged in financial engineering to maintain its dominance. The company has consistently engaged in substantial stock buybacks, a hallmark of fiat-driven financial practices. In August 2023, NVIDIA announced a \$25 billion share repurchase program, surprising some investors given the stock's significant rise that year. ([Source](https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidias-25-billion-buyback-a-head-scratcher-some-shareholders-2023-08-25/)) This was followed by an additional \$50 billion buyback authorization in 2024, bringing the total to \$75 billion over two years. ([Source](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nvidias-stock-buyback-plan-is-one-of-the-biggest-of-2024-is-that-a-good-thing-9beba5c5)) These buybacks are designed to return capital to shareholders and can enhance earnings per share by reducing the number of outstanding shares. However, they also reflect a focus on short-term stock price appreciation rather than long-term value creation. Instead of using capital for product innovation, NVIDIA directs it toward inflating stock value, ultimately reducing its long-term resilience and innovation potential. In addition to shifting production away from consumer GPUs, NVIDIA has also enabled AI firms to use its chips as collateral to secure massive loans. Lambda, an AI cloud provider, secured a \$500 million loan backed by NVIDIA's H200 and Blackwell AI chips, with financing provided by Macquarie Group and Industrial Development Funding. ([Source](https://www.reuters.com/technology/lambda-secures-500-mln-loan-with-nvidia-chips-collateral-2024-04-04/)) This practice mirrors the way Bitcoin miners have used mining hardware as collateral, expecting continuous high returns to justify the debt. GPUs are fast-depreciating assets that lose value rapidly as new generations replace them. Collateralizing loans with such hardware is a high-risk strategy that depends on continued AI demand to justify the debt. AI firms borrowing against them are placing a leveraged bet on demand staying high. If AI market conditions shift or next-generation chips render current hardware obsolete, the collateral value could collapse, leading to cascading loan defaults and liquidations. This is not a sound-money approach to business. It is fiat-style quicksand financialization, where loans are built on assets with a limited shelf life. Instead of focusing on sustainable capital allocation, firms are leveraging their future on rapid turnover cycles. This further shifts resources away from gamers, reinforcing the trend where NVIDIA prioritizes high-margin AI sales over its original gaming audience.&#x20; At the same time, NVIDIA has been accused of leveraging anti-competitive tactics to maintain its market dominance. The GeForce Partner Program (GPP) launched in 2018 sought to lock hardware partners into exclusive deals with NVIDIA, restricting consumer choice and marginalizing AMD. Following industry backlash, the program was canceled. ([Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_Partner_Program))&#x20; NVIDIA is not merely responding to market demand but shaping it through artificial constraints, financialization, and monopolistic control. The result is an industry where consumers face higher prices, limited options, and fewer true innovations as companies prioritize financial games over engineering excellence. On this basis, short-term downturns fueled by stock buybacks and leveraged bets create instability, leading to key staff layoffs. This forces employees into survival mode rather than fostering long-term innovation and career growth. Instead of building resilient, forward-looking teams, companies trapped in fiat incentives prioritize temporary financial engineering over actual product and market development. ### **A Sound Money Alternative: Aligning Incentives** Under a sound money system, consumers would become more mindful of purchases as prices naturally decline over time. This would force businesses to prioritize real value creation instead of relying on artificial scarcity and marketing hype. Companies would need to align their strategies with long-term customer satisfaction and sustainable engineering instead of driving demand through planned obsolescence. Imagine an orange-pilled CEO at NVIDIA. Instead of chasing infinite growth, they persuade the board to pivot toward sustainability and long-term value creation. The company abandons artificial product cycles, prioritizing efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Gaming GPUs are designed to last a decade, not three years. The model shifts to modular upgrades instead of full replacements. Pricing aligns with real user needs, not speculative stock market gains. Investors initially panic. The stock takes a temporary hit, but as consumers realize they no longer need to upgrade constantly, brand loyalty strengthens. Demand stabilizes, reducing volatility in production and supply chains. Gamers benefit from high-quality products that do not degrade artificially. AI buyers still access high-performance chips but at fair market prices, no longer subsidized by forced consumer churn. This is not an abstract vision. Businesses could collateralize loans with Bitcoin. Companies could also leverage highly sought-after end products that maintain long-term value. Instead of stock buybacks or anti-competitive practices, companies would focus on building genuine, long-term value. A future where Bitcoin-backed reserves replace fiat-driven financial engineering would stabilize capital allocation, preventing endless boom-bust cycles. This shift would eliminate the speculative nature of AI-backed loans, fostering financial stability for both borrowers and lenders. Sound money leads to sound business. When capital allocation is driven by real value rather than debt-fueled expansion, industries focus on sustainable innovation rather than wasteful iteration. ### **Reclaiming Time Sovereignty for Companies** The fiat system forces corporations into unsustainable growth cycles. Companies that embrace financial independence and time sovereignty can escape this trap and focus on long-term value. GPU development illustrates this distortion. The RTX 3080 met nearly all gaming needs, yet manufacturers push unnecessary performance gains to fuel stock prices rather than improve usability. GPUs are no longer designed for gamers but for AI and enterprise clients, shifting NVIDIA’s priorities toward financial engineering over real innovation. This cycle of GPU inflation stems from fiat-driven incentives—growth for the sake of stock performance rather than actual demand. Under a sound money standard, companies would build durable products, prioritizing efficiency over forced obsolescence. Just as individuals can reclaim financial sovereignty, businesses can do the same. Embracing sound money fosters sustainable business strategies, where technology serves real needs instead of short-term speculation. #Bitcoin #FITS #Marketing #TimeSovereignty #BitcoinFixesThis #OptOut #EngineeringNotFinance #SoundBusiness

@ 4d41a7cb:7d3633cc

I just deleted my Twitter account forever. I've never done this because I wanted to take the time to extract the most value from my feed—all my shared thoughts and most of my favorite ideas from the past 5 years. As crazy as it sounds, this powerful information helped shape my thoughts and helped me become the person I am today in some way. I think there’s a lot of value there, and I want to keep that value, not to trust any third party or clown like Elon with it, who could just decide to delete it or restrain my access to it, like I found they did many times, like in the following examples: I don't remember what those posts were referring to, but for some reason I found them valuable; maybe I saved them, maybe I didn't, but **the fact that someone can decide for me makes me mad**. Nobody should have the power to decide what can be said and what cannot be said, because this is the root of **mental slavery**: restricting your access to information and understanding. I believe all bitcoiners should extract their value from Twitter and bring it to Nostr (or save it for them at least) because that is real sovereignty. I know as well as you know that we were (and still are) trapped in a Twitter bubble. Our opinions, thoughts, and ideas don't reach the masses, and they’ll never do so inside this kind of controlled ecosystem. So if we are going to keep screaming inside of a bubble, let’s at least do it in our own bubble (insert Nostr), where at least we know it's going to stay there, without a single point of failure, without permission required, and without demonetization risks, PUTTING OUR TIME AND ENERGY WHERE OUR MOUTH, VALUES AND MONEY ARE. I also want to express my gratitude to all the truth seekers, Austrian economics students, bitcoiners, anarchists, and even shitcoiners who have shared their thoughts with me on Twitter over the past years. I’ve learned so much from you about what I should and should not do! Your insights played a crucial role in **helping me broaden my awareness** and transform into the best version of myself. Of course that was just the seed; even one post could have been the reason I ended up listening to XYC podcasts or reading XYC books that changed my life for the better. *Imagine how powerful that is, and how dangerous if someone could restrict it.* **In 2020 I truly realized the clown world we're living in.** From there I've spent the last five years researching and studying history. I have read hundreds of books and articles to discover that everything that happens in the world is by design. Here’s a list of 9 things I learned over the past five years: 1. ***Slavery was never abolished*** **The power structures have been using control over information and control over money as tools to enslave humanity for thousands of years.** Religious institutions, monarchies, governments, and banks had kept this power for themselves and have exploited it to enslave humankind. Governments are tax farms for corporations. Central bankers, who are their creditors, control the bankrupt governments. These private institutions are responsible for most of the evils of our modern society because they destroyed the incentive structure of capitalism (in fact, they are part of the communist manifesto); they provided the funding for wars, fake studies about nutrition, indoctrination, demoralization, etc. *Modern slavery is working for a currency that someone else can just create out of thin air without effort or energy.* The ultimate form of slavery is to need permission from an “authority” to commerce and to do it under its terms and conditions.**Control over the mediums of exchange** gave the power structure **complete control over commerce**. Bitcoin freed us from the control over money. That’s why bitcoin is permissionless. But **without your voluntary compliance, none of this would be possible; that's why they invest billions of dollars to manipulate your mind, mold your beliefs, and program you to comply and follow their lead.** They know they cannot force 8 billion humans to go ahead with their game; they need to make us believe in it so we voluntarily play. 2. ***Slavery starts in your mind*** It all starts with governing your mind (govern-ment) and convincing you that you should use this XYC currency, pay taxes, and **obey these laws because that’s the “right thing”** (or how things are supposed to be) when **the opposite is true.** This broke corporation (government) has ‘the legal power’ to use violence against you if you refuse to comply. This is not moral; this is slavery. If you have a basic understanding of morality, you’ll soon discover that the right thing to do is to oppose slavery and wrongdoings…Surprise! The whole system is wrong, based on lies, sustained by crime, and pushing slavery worldwide. *Prisons are mental, so free your mind.* Our mind is our biggest tool, and our mindset is our biggest asset, so we should be very careful about what information we feed our minds and be more mindful and intentional about it. As long as you don't want to be an NPC and you want to be a player, of course… 3. ***We are the masters of our own reality*** Every action we take is a vote for the life we want to live. For every action, there's a reaction, and in our lives, this is no different. **Every day, our beliefs shape our reality through the decisions we make.** This is how it works: our beliefs define our thoughts, our thoughts define our emotions, and our emotions define our actions. Finally, our actions define our realities. That's why it's so important to know **where our beliefs and ideas come from.** In most cases, they used to come from schools, universities, families, communities, and the mainstream media. These days, they primarily originate from algorithms, which will be discussed in more detail shortly. And you know what? Most of them are wrong! That's why the world is in this situation. - **Positive, nourishing, empowering, and educational algorithms = better state of mind, better emotions, better actions, better results = order** - **Negative, demoralizing, victimizing, and indoctrinating algorithms create confusion, lack of sense, fear, insecurities, and wrong decisions = chaos.** 4. ***There are two types of individuals: Creators vs parasites*** In 2023 I published my book ‘The Great Parasite; the international banks their plans and methods’ were i tell the story of central banks, their war with the funding fathers of the US, how they ended up taking over and what their plan for global domination. The great parasite is obviously the banking system, since it creates currency out of thin air and demand us to pay back plus interest, banks end up getting the wealth of their clients (including nation states) for free. This is crazy, legalized theft and modern slavery. I also discovered that there are two types of individuals: > *The creator stands firm in his convictions, the parasite follows the opinions of others.* \*&gt; *The creator thinks the parasite copies.* \*&gt; *The creator produces the parasite plunders.* > ***The creator's interest is the conquest of nature, the parasite's is the conquest of man.*** \*&gt; *The creator requires independence, neither serves nor rules, he treats men with free exchange and voluntary choice.* \*&gt; *The parasite seeks power, wishes to bind all men to act together and enslave themselves. The parasite claims that man is only a tool to be used, that he must think like his fellows and act like them and live in servitude to collective needs regardless of his own.* \*&gt; *Look at history, all that we have, **all the great achievements, have come from the independent work of independent minds,** and all the horrors and destruction of attempts to force mankind to become robots, without brains and without souls, without personal rights, without personal ambition, without will, hope or dignity come from parasites.* \*&gt; *It is an ancient conflict, it has another name, the individual versus the collective.* I believe there are **two types of individuals: reactive and proactive, parasites and creators.** Unfortunalty most human beings are reactive and acting as parasites. We are trained to obey and always take the default option. The second group does not conform with the status quo and looks for non-traditional ways of doing things. They create their own opportunities and change the things they don't like. This group is always smaller, but it is the only one capable of changing the world. **Think of the founding fathers** and how they fought for their freedom! And most recently , cyberpunks! Thanks God for the cyberpunks! The existence of this type of people is the reason why I have hope, and I see a better future is possible if we work to build it. 5. ***The end of the central bank's era: Bitcoin or slavery.*** *Opt out; escape the slave money* Almost two decades ago, Bitcoin was just **an idea in the mind of some cyberpunks:** digital cash, digital physical money, a system outside of the system, far from governments and banks control, decentralized, unstoppable, limited, and based on cryptography. Now it’s the **13th biggest currency by market cap, and it’s on its way to eating up a significant percentage of global wealth because it is more than a currency or just another form of money.** *Bitcoin heralds the end of the central bank era, which we can also define as the end of economic slavery. We should understand bitcoin as a solution to a problem; that problem is central banks.* Bitcoin is private property you can really own, which gives the power back to the people. Indeed, it is the sole instrument available to safeguard our unalienable right to private property. THIS IS KEY to survive the great wealth confiscation that is coming. What they call ’The great reset’; “You will own nothing and be happy”. If you stop to think about it, you don't really own anything beyond your body, mind, and soul. **Your thoughts and opinions are also part of your mind.** Your house? If you have to pay to keep it, it is not yours! Your car? Are you referring to the vehicle for which you require authorization to drive or risk its confiscation? What about your stocks and bonds? You don't even have a title to the property. Remember NFTs? Well, this is even worse; you barely even have exposure to the price if bankers let you benefit from it. These individuals have the power to alter the regulations at any given time. They can stop you from accessing your balances in bank accounts (Canadian truckers); they can stop you from buying a hot stock to make a quick buck (shutting down the buy button on Game Stop Inc). BUT YOU CAN REALLY OWN BITCOIN AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IF YOU DECIDE TOO! There are no excuses for those willing to fight for freedom; **if it’s not Bitcoin/Nostr-related, it's just noise for me**.vBitcoin is a a financial intelligence test, the fact that only a few get it (Bitcoin maxis) shows how financially retarded most people are. And this is, of course, by design. **Honest money, private property, free markets, and free speech are the three fundamental pillars for a free society.** All of them require honest and moral individuals, of course, and a system fair enough to not incentivize crime and dishonest transactions. 6. ***The end of mind control: Nostr or slavery*** *Opt out of Slave social media platforms* What a journey, guys! How far we came! I remember back in the day fantasizing about the idea of having this “decentralized Twitter,” and now we have something 1000 times bigger, *a decentralized, unstoppable protocol to share information that uses the hardest money ever invented as its native medium of exchange and unit of account.* I am not a technical guy so I had obviously no idea of what I was talking about. But I know we have Nostr now and I understand that Nostr and lighting are good friends. So that makes me happy. Twitter sucks; the algorithm feeds you garbage. It’s full of bots and people trying to scam you. It’s filled with shadow banning; it is not censorship resistant; there’s a lot of noise and retards. The XRP guys being paid to promote the scam, the million of bots and asian women asking how your trading is going, is disgusting. Twitter is communist, and they are trying to turn it into a communist super app. Don’t let Master Elon determine your future and the reach of your voice. Be sovereign; own your data join Nostr. If you keep voting for Twitter, you are still voting for your own enslavement. If you believe in your position, focus on Nostr and bring important audience members with you. Have some self-respect. Nostr is waiting for us (sane and normal people) with common sense and plans for the future. Those who create value and plan to have healthy families as it should be. With **free speech and hard money**, we are forming our own free market, totally independent from the censored clown world, but its growth and development depend on the decisions of each one of us. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOUR INDIVIDUAL POWER, BECAUSE THAT’S HOW OUR COLLECTIVE POWER GROWS. If you believe Elon is not a part of the establishment, your pineal gland remains calcified. Fuck Twitter and Elon, fuck the IMF plantation, the Federal Reserve, the UN, the WEF, and every global communist organization out there trying to micromanage the economy and control your life. Fuck censorship and communism. Long live private property and free speech. Long live Bitcoin and Nostr! 7. **The New world order is real** The powers that run the world (banksters) are executing a long-planned playbook: a global cashless society with a surveillance system (global communism and tyranny). And history shows they are willing to do what’s necessary to advance in their agenda: a New World Order. If you google this term, the first thing it will pump is “The New World Order Conspiracy theory”. For those who continue to perceive this as a 'conspiracy theory,' let me inform you that it is not. It is not a theory but a REAL conspiracy. The agenda is simple: World government, world currency and world taxes. This is only posible with a global digital credit system and mass surveillance. Cash has to be completely eradicated and they are going step by step. Agenda 2030, The Great Reset, Climate change, Build back better, Stakeholder capitalism and many other key names are used to describe this agenda. This plan is the antithesis of human rights, freedoms, health, family, and happiness. Since all fiat currencies will eventually end up losing all their value, and since public debts are mathematically imposible to repay (governments are bankrupt) banks are planing a transition to a world government directed by the United Nations and it’s global agendas. Past agendas like agenda 21 and agenda 2030 have already failed so now they are pushing for the [“**Pact for the Future” where world leaders pledge action for “peace and sustainable development.**](https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154671) *“He who controls the **food supply** controls the people; he who controls the **energy** can control whole continents; who controls **money** can control the world”* *Henry Kissinger (1923-2023)* If you google this quote ‘fact checkers’ will say is fake, but it is not. Even if it was, the statement is true, and their agenda is that: control, control, control. That what parasites want to do. Their goal is simple: Keep their control positions of power and prevent slaves from planing a rebellion. So they need. - Have absolute control over the information flow, to prevent the population from understanding what really going on. Absolute censorship. - Distractions. Bread and circus. Fake leaders acting as hero’s for the cameras but working for the conspirators behind the scenes. Video game and virtual reality in better and accesible technological devices. Fake or artificial events in the news to keep us distracted and looking the other way while they advance in their agenda. - Cheap credit, UBIs and nominal negative interest rates for the mass unemployment that the IA deflation + financial crisis will crate. This is necessary to prolong the agony of the fiat system and prolong its collapse. - Eradicate a big percentage of the populations and weakened it to prevent a rebellion. Poisoning the food, water, air, products, vaccines, drugs, etc. - Destroy the family unit to debilitate society (Pushing LGTBQ + trans, etc, etc), the porn industry, contraceptives, etc. - Reduce the levels of testosterone to kill the masculine active energy. This and many other horrible things are on their plans and many are already being executed before our eyes, even if you see them of not. The sooner you realize and start taking action the better. 8. **We are in a transition phase marked by chaos** *New world disorder* This transition period we are going through is full of chaos. We have people doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, and then we have people doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. There are **only a few who can really see what’s going on** behind the surface. This is complete chaos. That’s why we need the active participation of most of us in order to **bring light, share the truth**, and acknowledge the darkness outside while **focusing on what we can control** inside in order to build the change we want to see in this world. Shitcoins and memecoins are a great proof of the chaos phase we are going through. It’s easy to spot that the majority have no idea what’s going on. What’s happening is the same as what has been happening since financial markets exist (rug pulls, scams, pumps, and dumps); the only difference is that now everyone can do it (it has been democratized). Even presidents are participating; recently Trump, now Milei it’s all a big shitshow. *The nature of ‘capitalism’ nowadays is that everyone scams everyone, and whoever scams the most ultimately wins. Under this basis, central banks are the winners. But bitcoin is changing this.* This is going to be a short transition because the market is already saturated and the scam is almost evident by this point. Only a few speculators and idiot investors keep falling for it. 9. ***Taking responsibility*** **We are held captive by both our ignorance and our monetary system.** Our monetary system is more than our currency; it is our government, our commercial laws, our titles of property, our products, and so on. Almost everything in our modern world is somehow integrated with the monetary system. **It's our responsibility to take skin in the game** and find out what the facts are. Nobody is going to do it for us  If we build our beliefs and thoughts based on the facts and testimonies of people with **real life experience**, we will be prepared to make better decisions and build a better future for ourselves and our families. **It is very important to have a community aligned under the same set of values and principles. Creating a group of strong sovereign individuals,** capable of helping to **build a better future for ourselves and our families.** The only way to do this is by **working together and pooling our knowledge, skills and resources.** **With Bitcoin good information and good people nothing can stop us.** Bringing light and understanding on this is the first step; choosing alternatives built on a bitcoin standard is the second. We understand that **money is energy,** and every purchase we make is a vote, either for creators or for parasites. We are either voting for a 1984-type of society or for a 1776-type of revolution. Unfortunately, the majority is voting for their own slavery. The good news is that we don’t need a majority; **we need a strong minority…** *A minority focused on creating a critical mass of individuals.* ***A minority focused on generating cheap and sustainable energy.*** ***A minority focused on protecting the farmers.*** *A minority using Bitcoin as a store/measure of value and medium of exchange.* *A minority creating circular economies, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries, and encouraging local production, sovereignty, and sustainability.* *A minority using technology to liberate society and prevent it from being enslaved by globalists in a dystopian reality.* *A minority having strong and healthy kids and families.* *A minority focused on creating beneficial educational resources.* *Governments can be broke, but that doesn't mean that we are or should be too. WE ARE NOT OUR GOVERNMENTS.* Money changers, using their legal and monetary tricks, have been robbing us of our wealth for centuries just like parasites, but not anymore. **It’s our time**; **we, the creators, have the power, so let's prove it.** Live free or die trying!

@ 000002de:c05780a7

> The argument for liberty is not an argument against organization, which is one of the most powerful tools human reason can employ, but an argument against all exclusive, privileged, monopolistic organization, against the use of coercion to prevent others from doing better. ~ Friedrich August von Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/892255

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

**The Illusion of Opportunity** A trader who focuses primarily on "making money" will often see opportunities that do not truly exist. This mindset leads to impulsive decision-making, overtrading, and unnecessary risk exposure. Successful trading is not about chasing profits but about executing a well-structured process that leads to consistent, sustainable results over time. Traders who prioritize money over process often fall into the trap of forcing trades that do not meet their criteria. They see potential where the market does not support a trade, leading to poor risk-reward decisions. This psychological bias creates a cycle of frustration and loss, as each forced trade compounds previous mistakes. **The Shift From Profit to Process** The best traders focus on refining their strategy rather than constantly monitoring their profit and loss (P&L). By shifting attention from financial gain to execution quality, traders develop the discipline required to succeed in various market conditions. **Key Principles to Maintain Focus on Process:** ***Trade Selection***: Every trade must align with a predefined strategy. If a setup does not meet strict criteria, it should be ignored, regardless of perceived opportunity. ***Risk Management***: Prioritizing risk over reward ensures longevity in the market. Traders who focus only on making money often ignore stop-loss discipline, leading to significant drawdowns. ***Emotional Control:*** The desire to profit can cloud judgment, making traders more susceptible to market traps. Avoiding emotional trading requires a structured plan and a mindset that prioritizes long-term consistency. **The Pitfalls of Profit-Driven Trading** When the primary goal is making money rather than executing well-structured trades, several common mistakes emerge: 1. **Overtrading** Traders who are focused on profit often believe that more trades equate to more opportunities. In reality, overtrading leads to higher transaction costs, increased exposure to market noise, and a greater likelihood of errors. Example: A trader sees multiple setups in a choppy market and takes unnecessary trades, resulting in minor losses that accumulate over time. A disciplined trader, in contrast, waits for high-probability setups and executes fewer trades with precision. 2. **Ignoring Market Conditions** Markets move through different phases—trending, ranging, and volatile conditions. A trader fixated on making money may ignore these dynamics and attempt to force trades in an unfavorable environment. Example: A momentum trader who performs well in trending markets struggles when conditions turn choppy. Instead of adjusting their approach or stepping back, they continue to take the same trades, leading to repeated losses. 3. **Chasing Trades** Traders focused on quick profits often enter trades late, fearing they will miss out on a move. This "chasing" behavior results in poor entry points and reduces the overall risk-reward ratio. Example: A stock makes a strong breakout, and a trader jumps in at an overextended price. The stock then retraces, forcing them to exit at a loss. Had they waited for a proper entry, they could have positioned themselves for a lower-risk trade. 4. **Neglecting Risk-Reward Ratios** Traders who prioritize making money tend to focus on potential gains while disregarding downside risks. Without a proper risk-reward framework, a few bad trades can wipe out previous gains. Example: A trader takes multiple high-risk trades aiming for large profits. While some work out, one significant loss erases weeks of gains. A trader who prioritizes risk management would avoid such scenarios by ensuring all trades maintain a favorable risk-reward ratio. **Developing a Sustainable Trading Mindset** To succeed in trading, the mindset must shift from short-term profit to long-term process optimization. This involves creating a structured approach that removes emotional bias and ensures consistency. **Steps to Improve Trading Discipline:** *Follow a Trading Plan* – Define entry and exit rules, risk management parameters, and position sizing. Track and Review Performance – Maintain a trading journal to assess past decisions and identify patterns in behavior. *Limit the Number of Trades* – Focus on quality over quantity to avoid unnecessary exposure and reduce emotional trading. *Develop Patience* – Wait for high-probability setups instead of reacting impulsively to market movements. *Separate Money From Execution* – Judge success based on adherence to a strategy rather than daily profit and loss fluctuations. **Conclusion: Process Over Profit** Traders who focus exclusively on making money often fall into patterns of impulsive decision-making, overtrading, and poor risk management. The key to long-term success lies in developing a structured process that prioritizes disciplined execution over immediate financial gains. By refining strategy, managing risk, and maintaining emotional discipline, traders can build a sustainable approach that leads to consistent profitability. Instead of seeking opportunities everywhere, traders should focus on executing only the best setups, ensuring that every decision aligns with a well-defined plan.

@ 5ba5646d:ced58e47

“Tech is blood money. Everyone is going into tech. You should too." These words echoed in my mind every time I considered learning a new skill. As a young woman in Nigeria, currently serving my country in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, the expectations were clear: **Makeup, fashion, or food.** These were the "lucrative" paths everyone said I should pursue. After all, they were familiar, accessible, and required little more than creativity and hustle—things I already had in abundance. But here’s the thing: I didn’t want familiar. I didn’t want easy. I wanted a challenge. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something I never thought possible. I wanted to step into the unknown, fail, learn, and grow. And for me, that meant stepping into the world of tech. **The Crossroads: Data or Design?** With no background in tech—armed only with my secondary school knowledge of computer studies—I found myself staring at two options: **data analysis** or **product design (UI/UX).** Data analysis? Numbers. Lots of them. And if there’s one thing I’m not a fan of, it’s drowning in spreadsheets and equations. So, I turned to product design. It felt like the perfect fit: a space where I could create, innovate, and play with colors and ideas. It was the creative outlet I craved, and I was ready to dive in headfirst. ** December 21st, 2024: The Day Everything Changed** That was the day I connected with a mentor who would guide me through this journey. Am I scared? Absolutely. Do I sometimes feel like I’ll fail? Of course. Will I make mistakes? Without a doubt. But here’s the truth: I’m willing to risk it all to learn something new, challenge myself, and grow. **Why I’m sharing this journey ** I’m not a designer—at least not yet. My knowledge of design is limited to biology diagrams of skeletons and a basic understanding of Canva. But I’m here, taking my first steps into the tech space, trying to find my way, make a living, and make an impact. This is my story: the story of a novice navigating the intimidating world of tech, one mistake at a time. I’ll be sharing my wins, my failures, and everything in between. If you’ve ever felt like the odds were stacked against you, or like you were stepping into a world where you didn’t belong, this is for you. Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is take the first step—even when you have no idea where it will lead. **Let’s Grow Together** I don’t have all the answers, and I’m not pretending to. But I’m here, showing up, learning, and growing. And if my journey inspires even one person to take that leap of faith, then it’s all worth it. So, here’s to embracing![image] the unknown, making terrible mistakes, and finding our way—one step at a time.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Are you seeing it? Been oddly quiet for me but I have friends that are seeing people come unglued. Think its hard to sustain that level if outrage. It's not healthy for sure. I was so angry during Covid and realized it wasn't worth it. What's your experience. Not online but IRL. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/892219

@ 4857600b:30b502f4

Mitch McConnell, a senior Republican senator, announced he will not seek reelection. At 83 years old and with health issues, this decision was expected. After seven terms, he leaves a significant legacy in U.S. politics, known for his strategic maneuvering. McConnell stated, “My current term in the Senate will be my last.” His retirement marks the end of an influential political era.

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

https://lore.kernel.org/rust-for-linux/2025021954-flaccid-pucker-f7d9@gregkh/ > The majority of bugs (quantity, not quality/severity) we have are due to the stupid little corner cases in C that are totally gone in Rust. Things like simple overwrites of memory (not that rust can catch all of these by far), error path cleanups, forgetting to check error values, and use-after-free mistakes. That's why I'm wanting to see Rust get into the kernel, these types of issues just go away, allowing developers and maintainers more time to focus on the REAL bugs that happen (i.e. logic issues, race conditions, etc.) Now that Linus and Greg Kroah-Hartman have spoken out pro Rust changes in Linux it really feels like the ball is rolling. Linux will become a multi language project. With kernel and "hard" os functions in C and more and more attached pieces like many drivers being either C or Rust. Interesting developments. This is for sure a volatile time for the broader Linux community. Previous posts: Linux Kernel Drama about Rust Linux Kernel Drama https://stacker.news/items/879713; Linus coming out in favor of Rust https://stacker.news/items/890358 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/892141

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, platforms like Twitter and Facebook have dominated the space for years. They’ve shaped the way we interact, share, and consume information. But as censorship concerns, algorithmic manipulation, and corporate control over data become more apparent, a new contender has emerged—NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays). The differences are striking for those who have stepped into the NOSTR ecosystem. Let’s dive into what sets it apart and why it’s more than just another social media platform—**it’s a movement**. ### **Decentralization vs. Corporate Control** The fundamental structure is one of the most noticeable differences between NOSTR and traditional platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Both are owned by massive corporations that dictate what can and cannot be said. They collect data, sell advertisements, and use algorithms to curate what users see. NOSTR, on the other hand, is fully decentralized. No single entity controls the platform, no shadowy moderation teams tweak visibility based on corporate interests, and no risk of being permanently banned by a faceless algorithm. Instead, NOSTR operates on an open protocol, allowing anyone to participate without gatekeepers. Your content is truly yours, and no one can take that away from you. ### **A Different Class of People** Scrolling through Twitter or Facebook often feels like wading through a digital battlefield. Political flame wars, mind-numbing clickbait, and attention-seeking outrage dominate the feeds. While both platforms do have intelligent and well-meaning users, they are drowned out by noise, bots, and engagement-hacking algorithms designed to fuel division. NOSTR, by contrast, attracts a different breed of users—people who value free speech, independent thought, and meaningful conversation. Many of them are builders, thinkers, and pioneers eager to create a better way of interacting online. There’s a noticeable shift in tone; rather than content driven by controversy and outrage, you’ll find people discussing innovation, philosophy, and real-world solutions. Conversations feel more organic, unfiltered, and free from the artificial constraints imposed by big tech algorithms. ### **Similarities Exist But With a Better Foundation** At a glance, using a NOSTR client may seem similar to traditional social media platforms. Users post messages (called ‘notes’), interact with others, and build followings. You can reply, share, and engage much like you would on Twitter. But under the hood, everything operates on a more open, transparent system. Instead of relying on centralized servers controlled by corporations, NOSTR functions through relays—public or private servers that transmit messages. Since there’s no corporate overlord dictating what gets priority in your feed, you see content chronologically and unfiltered. Additionally, identity and reputation are built through cryptographic keys rather than being at the mercy of a username that a platform can seize or shadowban at will. ### **No Ads, No Tracking, No Manipulation** Let’s be honest—traditional social media has become a giant advertisement machine. Everything is optimized to keep you engaged just long enough to serve more ads and collect more data. Your feed isn’t showing you what’s most relevant; it’s showing you what makes the company the most money. NOSTR eliminates this problem entirely. There are no forced ads, no trackers collecting your data, and no algorithm deciding what you should see. Instead, users fund relays or tip content creators directly, creating an ecosystem that values people over profit. ### **For New Users: A Starting Point** If you’re new to NOSTR, welcome! I’m still a beginner myself, but I’ve already seen the potential this platform has to change how we connect online. Getting started can seem overwhelming at first, but there are a few key tools and resources that can help smooth the transition. For a great user-friendly NOSTR client, **Damus** (for iOS) and **Amethyst** (for Android) are excellent places to start. If you prefer a web-based option, **Primal.net** offers a simple and intuitive experience. These platforms make it easy to dive in, start posting, and get a feel for how NOSTR operates. But NOSTR isn’t just about social media—it’s a foundation for something bigger. Developers and innovators are expanding their reach beyond simple note-sharing. Specialized communities and applications are already emerging, including platforms for **photography, recipe sharing, and even swap sites**, all built using the NOSTR framework. The possibilities are growing, and the future looks bright. ### **Final Thoughts** The shift from Twitter or Facebook to NOSTR isn’t just about switching platforms; it’s about embracing a fundamentally better way to communicate online. With decentralization, real freedom of expression, and a community of forward-thinking individuals, NOSTR offers an experience that traditional social media simply cannot match. For those seeking a place where ideas flow freely, where profit-driven algorithms don’t dictate engagement, and where you control your own digital presence, NOSTR is not just an alternative. It’s an upgrade. Let's connect and learn together! npub1x7zk9nfqsjwuuwm5mpdu8eevsnu2kk0ff23fv58p45d50fhuvaeszg44p2 primal.net/Goody

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

We made a minor adjustment to the reply fee, raising it to 2 sats. Lest you think @grayruby is just a greedy SOB (not that he isn't), we are trying to think through how to use some of the territory profits to help support the contests being run by stackers and those extra sats can help with that effort. # How is ~Stacker_Sports doing? The past month has been awesome for us. Of course, that may be related to the NFL playoffs. - Posts: 271, 4th ranked territory - Comments: ***2992, 2nd ranked territory!*** - Stacking: ***193.9k, 2nd ranked territory!*** - Spending: ***300.9k, 2nd ranked territory!*** Top Post: [Super Bowl Discussion Thread](https://stacker.news/items/880943/r/Undisciplined) by @grayruby - 1088 sats/ 109 comments I'm looking forward to another awesome month! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/891926

@ d5c3d063:4d1159b3

### "คู่มือเข้าใจทุนนิยม จะได้เลิกจนและขยับชนชั้นได้" หลายคนอาจเคยสงสัยว่าทำไมบางคนถึงสามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงชีวิตตัวเองจากศูนย์ไปสู่ความสำเร็จได้ ในขณะที่บางคนต้องติดอยู่ในวังวนเดิม หนังสือ *"เงินเฟ้อคือคดีอาญา"* ของพี่ชิตให้คำตอบที่ลึกซึ้งเกี่ยวกับเรื่องนี้ โดยชี้ให้เห็นว่าความเข้าใจผิดเกี่ยวกับเงินและเศรษฐกิจเป็นอุปสรรคสำคัญที่ขวางกั้นคนจำนวนมากไม่ให้ก้าวข้ามชนชั้น !(image)[https://image.nostr.build/aa147706f2c936bad8da6367323f9f0a27721309db60f4fedad723af5a978b1b.png] พี่ชิตอธิบายว่า **เงินเฟ้อไม่ใช่แค่ปรากฏการณ์ทางเศรษฐกิจทั่วไป แต่มันเป็นกลไกที่ค่อย ๆ ลดค่าความมั่งคั่งของประชาชนโดยที่พวกเขาไม่รู้ตัว** คนทำงานหนักขึ้น แต่ค่าของเงินที่หามาได้กลับลดลง นี่ไม่ใช่เรื่องของโชคชะตา แต่เป็นผลลัพธ์จากระบบที่ออกแบบมาให้เงินเฟ้อกลายเป็นภาษีที่มองไม่เห็น หากไม่เข้าใจสิ่งนี้ การพยายามออมเงินด้วยวิธีเดิม ๆ อาจไม่ได้ช่วยให้เราก้าวหน้า แต่กลับทำให้เราติดอยู่ในกับดักทางเศรษฐกิจ ### พอพูดถึงเรื่องชนชั้น หลายคนคงนึกถึง Karl Marx ซึ่งมองว่าทุนนิยมทำให้ชนชั้นถูกตรึงไว้ คนที่รวยจะรวยขึ้น ส่วนคนที่จนก็มีโอกาสน้อยที่จะก้าวข้ามสถานะของตัวเอง เนื่องจากโครงสร้างของระบบที่เอื้อให้นายทุนได้เปรียบ แนวคิดนี้ทำให้หลายคนตั้งคำถามว่าทุนนิยมช่วยให้คนมีโอกาสจริงหรือไม่ และความเหลื่อมล้ำทางเศรษฐกิจสามารถลดลงได้หรือเปล่า อย่างไรก็ตาม Ludwig von Mises ได้อธิบายในหนังสือ *Economic Policy: Thoughts for Today and Tomorrow* ว่า **ทุนนิยมไ****ม่ได้ล็อกชนชั้น แต่****เป็นระบบที่เปิดโอกาสให้ทุกคน หากพวกเขาสามารถสร้างคุณค่าให้กับตลาดได้** > "ในระบบศักดินาก่อนยุคทุนนิยม สถานะของคนถูกกำหนดตั้งแต่เกิด หากคุณเกิดมาเป็นชาวนา คุณต้องเป็นชาวนาไปตลอดชีวิต ทุนนิยมเปลี่ยนสิ่งนี้โดยให้รางวัลกับคนที่สามารถสร้างมูลค่า ไม่ใช่สถานะที่ได้รับมาตั้งแต่เกิด" – *Ludwig von Mises* Mises อธิบายว่าทุนนิยมให้รางวัลกับความสามารถ ไม่ใช่ชนชั้นที่ถูกกำหนดมาแต่กำเนิด **หากคุณสามารถตอบสนองความต้องการของตลาดได้ คุณสามารถสร้างธุรกิจและยกระดับชีวิตตัวเองขึ้นมาได้** ต่างจากระบบศักดินาที่การเกิดในครอบครัวใดครอบครัวหนึ่งหมายถึงชะตากรรมที่เปลี่ยนแปลงไม่ได้ ### หากทุนนิยมเป็นระบบที่ปิดกั้นโอกาสจริง คนที่สร้างธุรกิจจากแนวคิดและความสามารถของตัวเองอย่าง **Henry Ford หรือ Sam Walton** คงไม่มีทางสร้างอาณาจักรของตัวเองขึ้นมาได้ แต่พวกเขาใช้ความเข้าใจในกลไกตลาด ใช้ไอเดียและความสามารถของตัวเองในการสร้างธุรกิจที่ตอบโจทย์ผู้บริโภค นี่เป็นหลักฐานว่าทุนนิยมคือระบบที่เปิดโอกาสให้คนสามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงชีวิตตัวเองได้ พี่ชิตจึงเน้นย้ำว่า **หากเราเข้าใจระบบเศรษฐกิจอย่างแท้จริง เราสามารถเลือกเส้นทางที่ช่วยให้เราก้าวข้ามขีดจำกัดทางการเงินของตัวเองได้** ทุนนิยมไม่ได้ล็อกชนชั้นเหมือนที่ Marx กล่าวไว้ แต่มันเป็นระบบที่ให้โอกาสกับทุกคนที่สามารถปรับตัวและเรียนรู้การสร้างมูลค่าในตลาด ### หนังสือของพี่ชิตไม่ได้เป็นเพียงแค่คำเตือนเกี่ยวกับเงินเฟ้อ แต่มันคือ **คู่มือที่ช่วยให้เราเข้าใจว่าระบบเศรษฐกิจทำงานอย่างไร และเราจะใช้มันให้เป็นประโยชน์อย่างไร** ไม่ใช่ด้วยการพึ่งพาภาครัฐ หรือหวังให้ระบบเปลี่ยนแปลงไปเอง แต่ด้วยการศึกษาและใช้ประโยชน์จากกลไกของตลาดให้เกิดประโยชน์สูงสุด **เพราะสุดท้ายแล้ว ทุนนิยมไม่ได้ปิดกั้นเรา มันรอให้เราเรียนรู้และใช้มันอย่างถูกต้อง** #เงินเฟ้อคือคดีอาญา #พี่ชิต #Satochit #Siamstr

@ 8f69ac99:4f92f5fd

Anarquia: uma palavra que frequentemente evoca imagens de caos e desordem, associada ao velho oeste sem lei ou a futuros distópicos onde impera a força bruta. No entanto, para aqueles que investigam mais a fundo, a anarquia revela-se como algo muito mais sofisticado—um sistema não definido pela ausência de regras, mas sim pela ausência de governantes (*rules without rulers*). Essa distinção fundamental é essencial para compreender um dos conceitos mais fascinantes e, ao mesmo tempo, mais difamados da sociedade. A ideia de que anarquia significa desordem ou uma sociedade sem estrutura é um equívoco baseado no medo do desconhecido e na falta de compreensão dos seus princípios básicos. Na realidade, a anarquia assenta sobre um princípio fundamental: o **Princípio da Não-Agressão (PNA)**. Este princípio estabelece que nenhum indivíduo tem o direito de iniciar o uso da força, coerção ou fraude contra os outros, sem o seu consentimento, sendo este um dos pilares fundamentais para a preservação da propriedade privada e das liberdades individuais. Não se trata, portanto, de uma sociedade sem regras, mas sim de uma organização baseada em **estruturas legais descentralizadas e orgânicas**, como a **lei natural e o direito consuetudinário**, que emergem naturalmente através das interacções voluntárias entre indivíduos. A história demonstra que, mesmo na ausência de uma autoridade central, os seres humanos são perfeitamente capazes de criar ordens sociais complexas, baseadas na cooperação, na ajuda mútua e no progresso. Este artigo explora como a anarquia funciona enquanto sistema de cooperação voluntária e direito natural, desafiando as concepções erradas que persistem sobre o tema e revelando o seu potencial para fortalecer a liberdade individual e a coesão social. Ao analisar as suas raízes filosóficas, o papel do Estado dentro de um enquadramento anarquista e os exemplos históricos que demonstram a capacidade da humanidade para se auto-organizar, procuramos iluminar um futuro onde a liberdade não seja apenas um sonho utópico, mas uma possibilidade concreta. ## Principio da Não Agressão (PNA) A **base da anarquia** assenta sobre um princípio inegociável: o Princípio da Não-Agressão. Este postulado não é apenas uma directriz moral, mas sim uma regra essencial de conduta, destinada a fomentar uma sociedade cooperativa e pacífica, onde os indivíduos vivem sem medo da coerção ou da violência. A partir deste princípio, deriva-se naturalmente a **propriedade privada**, pois cada indivíduo tem o direito de usufruir e gerir os recursos que adquire sem recorrer à força contra terceiros. Da mesma forma, a violação deste princípio—seja através do roubo, homicídio ou qualquer tipo de agressão física ou psicológica, não consentida—é condenada de forma universal, pois representa um atentado contra a liberdade de cada um. Num enquadramento anarquista, a ausência de uma estrutura coerciva não significa a ausência de ordem. Métodos como **pressão social, ostracismo de infractores e mecanismos privados de justiça** ajudam a manter a harmonia social. Por exemplo, em situações de litígio entre vizinhos sobre a posse de um terreno, em vez de recorrer ao Estado, poderiam simplesmente resolver a disputa através de um mediador comunitário ou de um serviço de arbitragem voluntário. ## Ordem Sem Autoridade Central A crença de que a lei e a ordem dependem de um poder centralizado ignora uma vasta tradição histórica de **sistemas legais descentralizados** que surgiram espontaneamente, sem intervenção estatal. A anarquia não significa ausência de normas, mas sim uma **ordem espontânea baseada em leis naturais e consuetudinárias**. A lei natural consiste em princípios universais, reconhecidos pela razão, que não dependem da autoridade estatal. Já o direito consuetudinário assenta na tradição e nos precedentes, evoluindo conforme as necessidades das comunidades. Um excelente exemplo histórico é o código jurídico medieval islandês "Grágás", que regulava litígios e contratos através de mediação voluntária. Sistemas baseados na reputação também são eficazes. No passado, comerciantes que desrespeitassem contratos viam-se rapidamente excluídos do mercado. Hoje, soluções descentralizadas como a arbitragem privada demonstram que contratos podem ser cumpridos sem necessidade de coerção estatal. ## Anarquia como Estado Natural da Cooperação Humana A cooperação voluntária está no cerne da natureza humana. A ideia de que é necessária uma autoridade central para garantir harmonia social desconsidera as inúmeras instâncias de colaboração espontânea ao longo da história. O funcionamento dos mercados ilustra perfeitamente a anarquia em acção. Sem um governo a ditar regras, indivíduos interagem livremente, criando riqueza e inovação. A busca pelo progresso científico também reflecte este princípio: Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Henry Ford ou Thomas Edison não foram forçados pelo Estado a desenvolver as suas invenções—fizeram-no por interesse próprio, beneficiando toda a humanidade. Da mesma forma, a revolução industrial não foi um plano centralizado, mas sim o resultado de inúmeras inovações individuais que impulsionaram a prosperidade global. A tecnologia moderna, com exemplos como Bitcoin e Nostr, redes descentralizadas, prova que sociedades podem operar sem intermediários estatais, ou autoridades centrais. ## Estado: Pode Existir Num Enquadramento Anarquista? O Estado, mesmo na sua versão mais reduzida, pode representar um risco para a liberdade individual. Alguns, eu incluído, argumentam que um "Estado mínimo" (minarquia) poderia existir para garantir segurança e mediar disputas, mas essa estrutura pode rapidamente expandir-se e transformar-se num mecanismo de coerção. ### A necessidade de mecanismos de controlo e equilíbrio Mesmo um Estado reduzido exigiria salvaguardas para evitar abusos de poder. Para isso, seriam necessários mecanismos que garantam que nenhuma autoridade se torne dominante e que a sociedade mantenha a sua autonomia. Algumas soluções incluem: - **Representação directa**: Em vez de delegar decisões a políticos, a população poderia ter mais influência directa nas questões que afectam a sua vida (como na Suiça por exemplo). - **Arbitragem independente**: Conflitos poderiam ser resolvidos sem recorrer a tribunais estatais, através de mediação voluntária e sistemas de justiça comunitária. - **Redes de apoio social**: Fortalecer redes de ajuda mútua reduziria a necessidade de um governo central para fornecer serviços essenciais. ### Exemplos práticos Algumas iniciativas mostram que a sociedade pode funcionar com estruturas descentralizadas: - **Cidades com participação cívica activa**: Experiências como o orçamento participativo em algumas cidades demonstram como a sociedade pode gerir recursos colectivos sem excessiva intervenção estatal. - **Redes de ajuda mútua**: Grupos como a *Mutual Aid Disaster Response Network* nos EUA provam que comunidades podem organizar-se para responder a crises sem depender do Estado. O desafio não é apenas imaginar um mundo sem Estado, mas conceber modelos descentralizados que garantam a liberdade individual e impeçam a concentração de poder. A verdadeira questão é: conseguiremos criar sistemas mais justos e funcionais sem recorrer à coerção estatal? ## Raízes Filosóficas da Anarquia A anarquia tem uma longa tradição filosófica que remonta a pensadores como **William Godwin**, **Pierre-Joseph Proudhon** e **Max Stirner**, cada um contribuindo com diferentes perspectivas sobre a organização social sem governantes. No século XX, pensadores como **Murray Rothbard** e **Hans-Hermann Hoppe** aprofundaram a ideia do anarco-capitalismo, propondo que todos os serviços actualmente providenciados pelo Estado poderiam ser oferecidos por meio de mercados livres. A raiz histórica da anarquia está firmemente ancorada no pensamento de esquerda (a tradicional... ), na medida em que a sua proposta fundamental é a **eliminação do poder central**. O anarquismo clássico emergiu como uma resposta ao absolutismo e ao capitalismo industrial, defendendo que a autoridade imposta pelo Estado e pelas elites económicas deveria ser desmantelada para dar lugar a um sistema de cooperação voluntária e descentralizada. Proudhon, ao afirmar "a propriedade é roubo", reflectia esta preocupação com a concentração de poder e riqueza nas mãos de poucos. Com o tempo, no entanto, diferentes correntes começaram a emergir dentro da tradição anarquista. A tradição anarquista de **esquerda** enfatiza a justiça social e a solidariedade comunitária, rejeitando tanto o Estado como o capitalismo. Nomes como **Bakunin** e **Kropotkin** defenderam a abolição da propriedade privada em favor de sistemas cooperativos, argumentando que apenas a auto gestão e o apoio mútuo poderiam garantir a verdadeira liberdade. Por outro lado, no século XX, surgiu uma vertente anarquista mais **associada à direita**, especialmente com Rothbard e Hoppe, que viam o mercado como a melhor alternativa ao Estado. Para os anarco-capitalistas, a liberdade individual é prioritária, e a descentralização deve ocorrer não apenas ao nível político, mas também económico, permitindo que todas as transacções sejam voluntárias e baseadas na propriedade privada. Apesar dessas divergências, há um ponto comum entre todas as vertentes anarquistas: a rejeição do **monopólio da violência estatal**. Tanto anarquistas de esquerda quanto de direita reconhecem que o poder centralizado inevitavelmente conduz à opressão e à limitação da liberdade individual. O debate interno dentro do anarquismo não é sobre a necessidade de abolir o Estado, mas sim sobre o que deve substituí-lo: auto gestão comunitária e colectivismo ou mercados livres e concorrência voluntária? A preservação da propriedade privada e a liberdade de associação são, para mim, princípios fundamentais dentro do pensamento anarquista. Nada impede que, numa sociedade anarquista, grupos de indivíduos escolham unir-se voluntariamente para formar projectos cooperativos baseados em valores partilhados. O que distingue essa abordagem da imposição estatal é o carácter voluntário e descentralizado dessas associações, garantindo que cada pessoa possa viver conforme os seus próprios princípios sem coerção externa. Esta dicotomia entre esquerda e direita dentro do anarquismo reflecte diferentes interpretações sobre a melhor forma de organizar a sociedade sem coerção. O que permanece inegável é que a anarquia, independentemente da vertente, continua a ser uma proposta de resistência contra qualquer forma de domínio centralizado, colocando a liberdade e a autonomia no centro da organização social. ## Conclusão A anarquia não é um sonho utópico, mas sim uma alternativa viável à organização centralizada da sociedade. Através do respeito pelo Princípio da Não-Agressão, da descentralização das normas jurídicas e da cooperação voluntária, podemos construir um mundo mais livre, onde as pessoas têm o poder de se governar a si mesmas. Sistemas como Bitcoin já demonstram que a descentralização funciona e que a ausência de intermediários coercivos é não só possível, mas desejável. O desafio não é saber se a anarquia pode funcionar, mas sim **quanto tempo levará para as pessoas perceberem que um mundo sem Estado é mais próspero e justo**. #anarquia #anarco #bitcoin --- _Photo by [Orit Matee](https://unsplash.com/@splashcom?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-silver-heart-shaped-wall-decor-qqiAxa9hpaA?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)_

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has recently introduced a groundbreaking ruling that significantly alters the way Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are accounted for in financial statements. This new development is poised to transform the landscape of crypto accounting, bringing in more transparency and alignment with traditional financial practices. Let's delve into the details of this pivotal change. **Table of Contents** - Introduction to the New FASB Ruling - The Shift to Fair Value Accounting - Understanding Fair Value Accounting - Impact on Financial Reporting - Advantages of the New Approach - Enhanced Transparency and Accuracy - Positive Implications for Companies - Challenges and Considerations - Dealing with Volatility - Auditor Expertise - Industry Response and Future Outlook - Embracing the Change - Long-Term Implications - Conclusion - FAQs **Introduction to the New FASB Ruling** The FASB, the principal body responsible for establishing accounting standards in the United States, announced a new set of rules concerning the accounting of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This announcement marks a significant shift from the previous accounting practices for digital assets. Previously, the lack of clear guidelines led to inconsistencies and uncertainties in how companies reported their crypto holdings. The new ruling aims to standardize these practices and reflects the growing importance of cryptocurrencies in the financial world. **The Shift to Fair Value Accounting** **Understanding Fair Value Accounting** Under the new FASB rules, companies are now required to account for cryptocurrencies at their fair value. Fair value accounting involves assessing assets and liabilities based on their current market value, rather than their historical cost. This approach is expected to provide a more accurate and real-time reflection of a company's financial status. It marks a significant departure from the traditional cost-based accounting methods, which often do not reflect the current market realities, especially in the case of highly volatile assets like cryptocurrencies. **Impact on Financial Reporting** This shift to fair value accounting means that companies holding cryptocurrencies will report the value of these assets based on their market prices at the end of each reporting period. This move is a departure from the previous method where Bitcoin was treated as an intangible asset, leading to certain limitations in financial reporting. For instance, under the old rules, if the value of Bitcoin fell below its purchase price, companies had to report a loss, but they couldn't report an increase in value unless the asset was sold. The new approach allows for a more dynamic and responsive reporting system that better reflects the economic realities of holding cryptocurrencies. **Advantages of the New Approach** **Enhanced Transparency and Accuracy** One of the primary benefits of this new ruling is the increased transparency and accuracy it brings to financial reporting. Companies can now reflect the actual market value of their crypto holdings, providing a clearer picture of their financial health. This change is particularly significant given the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies. By reporting the fair market value, companies can provide stakeholders with a more accurate depiction of their financial standing, which is crucial for informed decision-making by investors, regulators, and other stakeholders. **Positive Implications for Companies** Companies are likely to welcome this change as it allows them to report unrealized gains and losses on cryptocurrencies. This could encourage more businesses to add cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to their balance sheets, as they can now recognize the appreciation in value without needing to sell the assets. This change could also lead to a broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate and valuable asset class, potentially spurring further investment and innovation in the crypto space. **Challenges and Considerations** **Dealing with Volatility** The inherent volatility of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin poses a significant challenge in fair value accounting. Companies will need to develop robust methods to accurately assess the market value of these assets, which can fluctuate widely. This volatility requires continuous monitoring and frequent valuation adjustments, which can be resource-intensive and complex. Companies will need to invest in sophisticated valuation models and possibly seek external expertise to ensure accuracy and compliance. **Auditor Expertise** Another challenge lies in the need for auditors to acquire expertise in valuing cryptocurrencies. Assessing the fair market value of digital assets is a complex task that requires specific knowledge and skills. Auditors will need to stay abreast of the rapidly evolving crypto market and develop new methodologies for valuation. This requirement not only adds a layer of complexity to the audit process but also underscores the need for ongoing education and training in this emerging field. **Industry Response and Future Outlook** **Embracing the Change** The industry's response to the FASB's ruling has been largely positive. Industry leaders view this as a step towards mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies and a move that aligns digital assets with traditional financial reporting standards. This ruling is seen as a validation of the growing role of cryptocurrencies in the financial sector and a sign that regulatory bodies are beginning to recognize and adapt to the unique characteristics of these digital assets. **Long-Term Implications** In the long run, this ruling could lead to greater institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. As financial reporting becomes more standardized and transparent, it may foster greater trust and confidence among investors and regulators. This could pave the way for more widespread use of cryptocurrencies in various financial transactions and potentially influence the development of new financial products and services centered around digital assets. **Conclusion** The FASB's latest ruling on cryptocurrency accounting is a landmark decision that aligns the treatment of digital assets with traditional financial practices. While it presents certain challenges, particularly in terms of volatility and the need for specialized auditor expertise, the overall impact is expected to be profoundly positive. This change not only enhances transparency and accuracy in financial reporting but also paves the way for broader acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies in the mainstream financial world. As the industry adapts to these new rules, we can expect to see a more mature and robust crypto market, potentially leading to innovative financial solutions and greater economic opportunities. **FAQs** **When will the new FASB rules take effect?** The new rules are set to take effect from December 15, 2024, but companies have the option to apply them earlier. **How does fair value accounting affect financial reporting?** Fair value accounting allows companies to report the value of cryptocurrencies based on current market prices, providing a more accurate and real-time reflection of a company's financial status. **What are the benefits of the new FASB ruling?** The new ruling enhances transparency and accuracy in financial reporting and encourages more businesses to add cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets by allowing them to report unrealized gains and losses. **What challenges does the new ruling present?** The main challenges include dealing with the volatility of cryptocurrencies in fair value accounting and the need for auditors to develop expertise in valuing these digital assets. **What is the industry's response to the new ruling?** The industry has largely responded positively, viewing it as a step towards mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies and alignment with traditional financial reporting standards. **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.***

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1

Good morning, readers! This week, we honor the loss of the late Alexei Navalny, whose bravery inspired millions of Russians to stand up against Vladimir Putin’s financial, political, and social repression. Since his murder, the Kremlin has only tightened its grip — imprisoning citizens for political donations, blocking NGOs from funding, advancing its central bank digital currency, and limiting access to open alternatives like Bitcoin. In global news, a new [survey](https://www.omfif.org/2025/02/why-central-banks-should-take-the-next-step-on-cbdcs/) of 34 central banks by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) revealed that 31% have [delayed](https://cointelegraph.com/news/central-banks-pushing-back-cbdc-plans-survey) plans to issue a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). While this is a welcome shift, given that CBDCs threaten to give authoritarian regimes unprecedented tools to micro-control society, efforts to oppose and expose CBDCs must continue. The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is proud that its CBDC Tracker (you can explore it [here](https://cbdctracker.hrf.org/home)) continues to reveal these threats. In privacy news, Bitcoin Core developer Carl Dong unveiled a new VPN called Obscura, the first open-source VPN that can’t log your network activity by design and outsmarts network filters for enhanced censorship resistance. Tools like this make the work of activists harder to surveil and censor under authoritarian regimes. Additionally, Zeus Wallet and Primal introduced support for Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), further expanding interoperability between Nostr clients and Lightning wallets and giving more power back to the people. Finally, we feature a Bitcoin node tutorial from Bitcoin educator Ben Perrin, “BTC Sessions,” walking viewers through setting up a node on a computer and connecting it to Sparrow Wallet. This tutorial is especially suited for dissidents and can empower curious individuals with the ability to verify the Bitcoin network independently, enhance privacy, and eliminate reliance on third parties. There is no need to be technically inclined to follow along with this tutorial. **Now, let’s dive right in!** ## [Subscribe Here](https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter?mc_cid=bf652c0a5a) ## GLOBAL NEWS #### **Russia | One Year Since Navalny Murdered by Regime** One year ago, Alexei Navalny was [murdered](https://x.com/HRF/status/1891081393951613050) in a remote Arctic prison, where he was sent to die for daring to stand against dictator Vladimir Putin. Navalny was Russia’s leading opposition figure, a relentless leader who exposed regime corruption at the highest level and inspired millions to believe in a brighter future. His murder confirmed a grim reality: the Kremlin will stop at nothing to silence those who oppose it. Since Navalny’s passing, Putin has only tightened his grip — [charging](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/20/russian-american-ballerina-trial-ksenia-karelina) innocent citizens for financially supporting dissent, [blocking](https://x.com/meduza_en/status/1857004048081186993?s=46&t=n7crMAWVvpABU4HOlO19Lg) NGOs from funding (and access to their own money), [accelerating](https://www.ledgerinsights.com/russia-updates-digital-ruble-rollout-including-obligation-to-accept-cbdc/) the roll-out of a CBDC to tighten financial control, and [restricting](https://www.coindesk.com/ru/policy/2024/07/30/russia-legalizes-crypto-mining-and-brings-an-experimental-regime/) access to open alternatives like Bitcoin. #### **Argentina | Milei Facing Fraud Charges and Impeachment for Promoting Memecoin** Argentinian President Javier Milei is [facing](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentinas-opposition-threatens-impeachment-trial-after-milei-touts-crypto-coin-2025-02-16/) impeachment calls and fraud charges after promoting a cryptocurrency called $LIBRA, which has since [crashed](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/argentinas-milei-faces-fraud-charges-impeachment-calls-after-failed-memecoin-launch/) in value. He initially [claimed](https://apnews.com/article/argentina-milei-cryptocurrency-fraud-charges-c0321f320a00cdb58edfb365ba8ce0f8) $LIBRA would “encourage economic growth by funding small businesses and startups.” Instead, the token briefly soared above $5 before plummeting. Critics [argue](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1w07nq8qqqo) the $LIBRA launch resembles a “rug pull,” where paid promoters inflate a token’s value, then cash out, leaving investors with worthless holdings. As the backlash grew, Milei deleted his posts promoting $LIBRA and defended himself, [insisting](https://x.com/tier10k/status/1891630044448977082) he didn't “promote it” — he simply “shared it.” Regardless, the damage is done. $LIBRA is now trading below $1, [losing](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w07nq8qqqo) tens of thousands of global citizens most of their money. Behind $LIBRA is Kelsier Ventures, a group [allegedly](https://x.com/tier10k/status/1891551659676844118?s=19) courting Nigeria and other governments with similar schemes. The saga continues to unfold, but the lessons are clear: political memecoins present major risks, and governments are not above rugging their own citizens. #### **Zimbabwe | Ordinary Citizens Pay Price of Deeply Indebted Regime**  Zimbabwe’s [debt crisis](https://archive.ph/uMDsk) has pushed [7.6 million](https://archive.ph/uMDsk) people into food insecurity as an El niño-driven drought worsens an economy already horribly mismanaged and exploited by a military dictatorship. The roots of this crisis run deep. Former tyrant Robert Mugabe’s land seizures in the early 2000s shattered agricultural output, wiped out foreign investment, and unleashed [hyperinflation](https://apnews.com/general-news-international-international-1ce81eed4b064a529163513931b30178) that erased Zimbabweans’ savings and wages. Decades of economic mismanagement drained the national resources and exacerbated food insecurity. Now, ordinary citizens shoulder the cost of regime failures. Families who once farmed their own land depend on expensive [food imports](https://archive.ph/uMDsk) they can’t afford, while the bankrupt regime [pleads](https://archive.ph/uMDsk) for more dollar-based loans — only to weaken the local currency and sink the country further into debt. #### **Singapore | Rising Costs Contradict Government’s Inflation Claims**  Singaporean citizens are refuting government claims that inflation is easing, pointing to the [rising](https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/12/netizens-question-claims-of-easing-inflation-amid-continued-cost-of-living-burden-on-the-ground/) costs of essential goods and services. While official data reports a [2.4%](https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/12/netizens-question-claims-of-easing-inflation-amid-continued-cost-of-living-burden-on-the-ground/) annual inflation rate, everyday expenses tell a different story. The government highlights falling car prices — a benefit for the wealthy — while downplaying state-imposed fare [hikes](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/st-explains-why-are-public-transport-fares-going-up-again) that disproportionately impact those who rely on public transport (lower-income individuals). With elections looming, many accuse the government of [manipulating](https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/12/netizens-question-claims-of-easing-inflation-amid-continued-cost-of-living-burden-on-the-ground/) narratives to downplay these economic struggles. The persistent rise in everyday costs reveals a common disconnect between opaque government statistics issued by autocrats and the financial realities lived by ordinary citizens. #### **World | Central Banks Delaying CBDC Plans** A new [survey](https://www.omfif.org/2025/02/why-central-banks-should-take-the-next-step-on-cbdcs/) of 34 central banks by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) revealed that 31% have [delayed](https://cointelegraph.com/news/central-banks-pushing-back-cbdc-plans-survey) plans to issue a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). It also found that the share of central banks inclined to issue a CBDC fell from 38% in 2022 to just 18% today. While this slowdown is a welcomed shift, the survey [concludes](https://cointelegraph.com/news/central-banks-pushing-back-cbdc-plans-survey) that most central banks still expect to issue a CBDC in the future. In any jurisdiction, CBDCs mean more financial control in the hands of the government, which opens the door to surveillance, censorship, and control over financial activity. This concentrated power undermines civil liberties, especially in authoritarian regimes, putting dissidents and individuals at greater risk. Learn more about the dangers CBDCs pose to human rights and financial freedom [here](https://cbdctracker.hrf.org/home). \______________________________________________________\_ #### **Webinar Series for Nonprofits: Become Unstoppable** HRF will host a [free, three-day webinar](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0sjqwSFQo8HGMsWIIDRyhx34TsoonOSTfYoWSy-aaBbLeSw/viewform) from March 17-19, teaching human rights defenders and nonprofits how to use Bitcoin to counter state censorship and confiscation. Sessions run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT and are beginner-friendly. The webinar will be led by Anna Chekhovich, HRF’s Bitcoin nonprofit adoption lead and financial manager at Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, and will be co-hosted by Ben Perrin “BTC Sessions,” one of the world’s top technical Bitcoin educators. [Register for webinar](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0sjqwSFQo8HGMsWIIDRyhx34TsoonOSTfYoWSy-aaBbLeSw/viewform) #### **SXSW | The Human Rights Risks of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)** Join HRF at [SXSW 2025](https://www.sxsw.com/) in Austin from March 7-13 to explore how CBDCs threaten financial freedom. Experts [Roger Huang](https://x.com/Rogerh1991), [Charlene Fadirepo](https://x.com/CharFadirepo), and [Nick Anthony](https://x.com/EconWithNick) will discuss how authoritarian regimes use CBDCs for surveillance and control. Attendees can also visit HRF’s  [CBDC Tracker](https://cbdctracker.hrf.org/) booth to explore an interactive map of CBDC developments worldwide.  [Get your tickets](https://www.sxsw.com/conference/) \______________________________________________________\_ ## BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS #### **Obscura | New Virtual Private Network** Bitcoin Core developer [Carl Dong](https://x.com/carl_dong?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) [launched](https://x.com/carl_dong/status/1889381916081791265) [Obscura VPN](https://obscura.net/), the first private and [open-source](https://github.com/Sovereign-Engineering/obscuravpn-client) VPN designed for maximum censorship resistance. Unlike traditional VPNs, it cannot log your network activity by design. Obscura achieves this by never seeing users’ encrypted Internet traffic. Because of this, it is impossible to log activity — even if compelled or compromised. Additionally, Obscura uses a custom stealth protocol that blends in with regular Internet traffic, making the VPN harder to detect or block. Tools like this make the work of activists under authoritarian regimes harder to surveil and censor. #### **Zeus Wallet and Primal | Integrate Nostr Wallet Connect** [Zeus](https://zeusln.com/), a Bitcoin Lightning wallet, and [Primal](http://primal.net), a Nostr client, have integrated the [Nostr Wallet Connect](https://nwc.dev/) (NWC) protocol. This protocol allows apps to interact with Bitcoin Lightning wallets, boosting interoperability between Bitcoin (decentralized money) and Nostr (decentralized communications). Zeus’s NWC [integration](https://blog.zeusln.com/zeus-v0-10-0-open-alpha/) expands wallet connectivity by allowing users to link external wallets like [Alby Hub](https://albyhub.com/) or [Cashu.me](http://cashu.me), improving transaction flexibility. Primal’s NWC integration brings even more functionality. Users can connect Primal wallet to any Nostr app, send zaps (bitcoin micropayments) from the web app, and link any self-custodial wallet that supports NWC. These updates strengthen Bitcoin and Nostr interoperability, allowing instant, censorship-resistant payments and communications without relying on traditional banking infrastructure. #### **Proton | Officially Launches Proton Wallet** [Proton Wallet](https://proton.me/wallet?mc_cid=e8f8ebab29&mc_eid=UNIQID), an open-source Bitcoin wallet from privacy services company [Proton](https://proton.me/?mc_cid=e8f8ebab29&mc_eid=UNIQID) (creators of [ProtonMail](https://proton.me/mail)), is [now available](https://proton.me/blog/wallet-launch) on Android, iOS, and the web. It features end-to-end encryption, address rotation for greater privacy (the same Bitcoin address is never used twice), and Replace-by-Fee (RBF) to speed up stuck transactions. It is also fully self-custodial, meaning users retain complete control over their funds. With Proton now offering both secure email and Bitcoin transactions, users have a stronger, more resilient digital toolkit to protect their communications and money. This is of particular interest to human rights activists operating in difficult environments. #### **Bitcoin Keeper | Releases Support for Miniscript and More Signing Devices** [Bitcoin Keeper](https://bitcoinkeeper.app/), an open-source mobile multisignature (multisig) wallet and [winner](https://hrfbounties.org/) of HRF’s “Easy Mobile Multisig” bounty, [released](https://medium.com/@ben_kaufman/welcome-to-keeper-2-0-8782593892f8) v2.0 with new security features. The update brings [Miniscript](https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/miniscript/), a structured way to write Bitcoin scripts that enable users to create customized multisig vaults. This unlocks advanced setups for inheritance planning, time-locked savings, and more flexible security models. Support for Miniscript also expanded to more signing devices, including BitBox02, COLDCARD, Tapsigner, Blockstream Jade, and Ledger. Keeper is created and run by Indian developers, reminding us that some of the world’s best freedom tools are made by people living in difficult political environments. #### **Coracle | Implements Nstart for Easy Onboarding** [Coracle](https://coracle.social/), a Nostr client and HRF grantee, implemented [Nstart](https://github.com/dtonon/nstart), a tool that streamlines onboarding to the Nostr protocol. This makes it easier for first-time users to set up an account, securely back up their private keys, and get started. By lowering entry barriers, Coracle’s Nstart improves access to Nostr’s decentralized, censorship-resistant network. For activists curious about Nostr but unsure of how to start, this may be a tool worth exploring. For a quick-start Nostr guide, click [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-Zp491t4Y). #### **Bitwise | Donates $150,000 to Bitcoin Open Source Development** [Bitwise](https://bitwiseinvestments.com/), a Bitcoin ETF provider, [donated](https://x.com/BitwiseInvest/status/1891865302729883754) $150,000 to support open-source Bitcoin developers, fulfilling its pledge to allocate 10% of its Bitcoin ETF ($BITB) gross profits annually. [Brink](https://brink.dev/), [OpenSats](http://opensats.org), and [HRF](http://hrf.org) will be responsible for allocating the funds to developers working to secure and improve the network and advancing it as a tool for financial freedom and human rights. Bitwise also promised increased contributions in the future as $BITB grows. By reinvesting in Bitcoin’s open-source ecosystem, Bitwise sets a strong example of industry stewardship. ## RECOMMENDED CONTENT #### **Bitcoin Node Tutorial by BTC Sessions** In this [tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEWl6sXLpAU), renowned Bitcoin educator Ben Perrin “[BTC Sessions](https://www.youtube.com/@BTCSessions)” guides viewers through setting up their own Bitcoin node, a device that runs the Bitcoin software. This enables them to audit Bitcoin’s supply independently and achieve greater financial sovereignty. By running a personal node, users also eliminate the need to trust third parties, enhance their privacy, and strengthen Bitcoin’s decentralization. The tutorial covers installing a free node on a computer and connecting it to [Sparrow Wallet](https://sparrowwallet.com/). If you are not technically inclined, not to worry. Perrin explains everything in a clear, beginner-friendly way, making it easy to follow along. You can watch the full walkthrough [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEWl6sXLpAU). #### **Bitcoin Payments: From Digital Gold to Everyday Currency by Breez and 1A1z** In this new [report](https://breez.technology/report/) from Bitcoin Lightning company [Breez](https://breez.technology/) and freedom tech researcher [1A1z](http://1a1z.com/), the authors explore how Bitcoin is evolving beyond a store of value into a functional everyday currency. It highlights the rapid adoption of the Lightning network, the global rise of internet-native payments, and real-world use cases from businesses like Pick n Pay, Namecheap, and Mercari as examples of this. Bitcoin payments are proving their capabilities on a global scale, and this report does a commendable job of proving it. *If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report [here](https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter?mc_cid=bf652c0a5a).* *Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program [via BTCPay](https://hrf.org/btc).*\ *Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ [hrf.org](http://hrf.org/)* *The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals [here](https://forms.monday.com/forms/57019f8829449d9e729d9e3545a237ea?r=use1)*. [**Subscribe to newsletter**](http://financialfreedomreport.org/) [**Apply for a grant**](https://forms.monday.com/forms/57019f8829449d9e729d9e3545a237ea?r=use1&mc_cid=39c1c9b7e8&mc_eid=778e9876e3) [**Support our work**](https://hrf.org/btc?mc_cid=39c1c9b7e8&mc_eid=778e9876e3) [**Visit our website**](https://hrf.org/programs/financial-freedom/)

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

NTAb/sEWKb2O3uD1jNVfFwfTRwk3YvGW8lHLjHWpE3+c4lvE1N3yuX0SoSixaFnSTvvgTEb5Iv/4zgPiinraTn4EuW0LOuMgpFX018/FLO/B1kWm0sJFG9oqhhxbXyAct5j06KqhQJMhqQPkayB2IumVVkQKwSOSb8fuALMNAx0/CR07W0o1K2JGMdrue1NGVjy6qKjjieTg4M7ELQ20oF3975I3cO11mEyUcvK51Ap0BhpveLVIRwbM02M+/h0l+Vne/NZHS3FfXbWcnXGSDPkc8TZI3zSOPwzQWsPtpUrejs38z8F76y5KaFsOYXpREP6WVVxjlc0Kryleg9YgVZ82XY5GsNb0737wHSV/OZ3fVs0vcQdZmotg3i5OwRZ2b+V2F0qshAR3vrPrRWXLkA==?iv=8qa4vIiOubtj9m0JHp8faw==

@ 407529d6:83e93205

Censorship & Content Control: Algorithms and policies often restrict what can be shared. Unfair Revenue Models: Creators earn only a small percentage while platforms take the bulk. Loss of Ownership: Your content is stored on centralized servers, leaving you vulnerable to deletions or bans. Decentralization is the answer, putting control back into the hands of creators and consumers. Why YakiHonne and Bitcoin Matter YakiHonne, a decentralized media platform built on the Nostr protocol, allows creators to publish content freely while earning Bitcoin directly from their audience. Here’s why this matters: ✔ Censorship Resistance: No central authority can take down your content. ✔ Fair Monetization: Earn Bitcoin directly from readers instead of relying on ad-based revenue. ✔ True Ownership: Your content remains under your control, with no risk of sudden removal. How to Monetize Your Content on YakiHonne If you’re a content creator, here are some ways you can earn on YakiHonne

@ c43d6de3:a6583169

 ## How Are We Defining Happiness? In 1776, Thomas Jefferson penned the words that would echo through history: > ***“…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”*** These words were not simply a poetic flourish—they reflected a deep understanding of philosophy, one that Jefferson, an avid reader of Aristotle, likely connected with the Greek concept of***eudaimonia***. Aristotle described eudaimonia as the highest form of human flourishing, achieved through virtuous living, strong character, and meaningful social bonds. But what does happiness mean today? According to<a href="https://worldhappiness.report/" target="_blank">the World Happiness Report</a>, six factors determine a nation's happiness: 1. Income 2. Health 3. Social support 4. Freedom to make life decisions 5. Generosity 6. The absence of corruption These components closely mirror Jefferson’s vision of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet despite living in an era of unprecedented convenience and opportunity, many in our generation struggle with unhappiness, anxiety, and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction.  ## So, what went wrong? I believe its largely because of the absence of mentorship in modern society. Aristotle emphasized that a person’s character—shaped by habits and guided by mentorship—was central to a flourishing life. He saw mentorship not as a luxury but as a necessity for cultivating wisdom, resilience, and social responsibility. Yet, in today’s world, strong mentor-mentee relationships have become increasingly rare. When we invert Aristotle’s formula for happiness, we find the root causes of our collective unhappiness: - A lack of mentorship and guidance - Poor habits formed in the absence of discipline - Excess and indulgence replacing moderation - Rampant hypersensitivity rather than resilience - A loss of moral grounding and sense of justice - Struggles with forming and maintaining friendships - Apathy toward civic engagement and community Of all these, the absence of mentorship stands out as the foundational issue. Without guidance, young people are left to navigate life’s complexities alone, often falling into destructive habits. In earlier generations, mentorship was woven into the fabric of society—through family, community leaders, apprenticeships, and even religious or philosophical instruction. Today, social media and fleeting digital interactions have replaced these deep, formative relationships.  ## Reclaiming Happiness Through Mentorship To restore a sense of meaning and fulfillment, we must prioritize mentorship in our personal and professional lives. Parents, teachers, and leaders must recognize their responsibility to guide the next generation, not just with knowledge, but with wisdom. Seeking out mentors—and becoming one ourselves—can foster resilience, character, and purpose. Happiness is not simply a product of material success or personal freedom; it is cultivated through relationships, values, and the pursuit of excellence. If we wish to see a happier generation, we must first rebuild the lost art of mentorship. ----------- Thank you for reading! If this article resonated with you, let me know with a zap and share it with friends who might find it insightful. Your help sends a strong signal to keep making content like this! Interested in fiction? Follow nostr:npub1j9cmpzhlzeex6y85c2pnt45r5zhxhtx73a2twt77fyjwequ4l4jsp5xd49 for great short stories and serialized fiction. More articles you might like from Beneath The Ink: nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq2nvnr5d4nngw2zgd5k5c6etftrzez9fd9kkcl0pzp nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq2kvnfd094y26zkt9dxgmnw0fqkvhmfd4tng8wp0uv nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq25yan2w39rsjj0dqk5ckn52ptxsc3nve8hw0aftmq nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq2kjjzzfpjxvutjg33hjvpcw5cyjezyv9y5k0umm6k

@ d360efec:14907b5f

**ภาพรวม BTCUSDT (OKX):** Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) ยังคงแสดงความผันผวนและแนวโน้มที่ไม่ชัดเจน แม้ว่าแนวโน้มระยะยาว (TF Day) จะยังคงมีลักษณะเป็นขาขึ้น (แต่*อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก*) แนวโน้มระยะกลาง (TF4H) และระยะสั้น (TF15) เป็นขาลง การวิเคราะห์ครั้งนี้จะเน้นไปที่การระบุระดับราคาที่ Smart Money อาจจะเข้ามามีส่วนร่วม และการประเมินความแข็งแกร่งของแนวโน้ม **วิเคราะห์ทีละ Timeframe:** **(1) TF Day (รายวัน):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) *อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, มีความเสี่ยงที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้ม* * **SMC:** * Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) *เริ่มไม่ชัดเจน, ราคาหลุด Low ก่อนหน้า* * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน *แต่มีการปรับฐานที่รุนแรง* * **Liquidity:** * มี Sellside Liquidity (SSL) อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า (บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000) * มี Buyside Liquidity (BSL) อยู่เหนือ High เดิม * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคาหลุด Order Block ขาขึ้น (บริเวณแท่งเทียนสีเขียวก่อนหน้านี้) *สัญญาณลบ* * **EMA:** * ราคา *หลุด* EMA 50 (สีเหลือง) ลงมาแล้ว * EMA 200 (สีขาว) เป็นแนวรับถัดไป * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * *สีแดงยาว* แสดงถึงแรงขายที่แข็งแกร่ง * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง (เมฆแดง) แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง *และไม่มีสัญญาณซื้อ/ขายปรากฏ* * **Volume Profile:** Volume ค่อนข้างเบาบาง * **แท่งเทียน:** แท่งเทียนล่าสุดเป็นสีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **แนวรับ:** EMA 200, บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000 (SSL) * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, High เดิม * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาขึ้นอ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, *สัญญาณอันตรายหลายอย่าง*, Money Flow และ Trend Strength เป็นลบ, *หลุด Order Block และ EMA 50* **(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend) * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง * **Liquidity:** * มี SSL อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า * มี BSL อยู่เหนือ Highs ก่อนหน้า * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคาไม่สามารถผ่าน Order Block ขาลงได้ * **EMA:** * ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA 50 และ EMA 200 * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีเขียว (เมฆเขียว) *แต่ไม่มีสัญญาณซื้อ/ขายปรากฏ* * **Volume Profile:** * Volume ค่อนข้างสูง * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ Order Block * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลงชัดเจน, แรงขายมีอิทธิพล, *Trend Strength ขัดแย้งกับ Price Action* **(3) TF15 (15 นาที):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend) *แต่เริ่มเห็นสัญญาณ Sideways* * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) *เริ่มเห็นการยก Low เล็กน้อย* * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคา Sideways ใกล้ Order Block * **EMA:** * EMA 50 และ EMA 200 เป็นแนวต้าน * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * แดงสลับเขียว *แต่ส่วนใหญ่ยังเป็นสีแดง* * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง (เมฆแดง) แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง *แต่มีสัญญาณ Bullish Divergence (ราคาทำ Lower Low แต่ Trend Strength ยก Low)* * **Volume Profile:** * Volume ค่อนข้างสูง * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลง, เริ่มพักตัว, Money Flow เริ่มมีความไม่แน่นอน, *Trend Strength มี Divergence* **สรุปภาพรวมและกลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT):** * **แนวโน้มหลัก (Day):** ขาขึ้น (*อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, เสี่ยงที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้ม*) * **แนวโน้มรอง (4H):** ขาลง * **แนวโน้มระยะสั้น (15m):** ขาลง (เริ่มพักตัว, *มี Divergence*) * **Liquidity:** มี SSL ทั้งใน Day, 4H, และ 15m * **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes * **Trend Strength:** Day/15m เป็นขาลง, 4H เป็นขาขึ้น *แต่ไม่มีสัญญาณ* * **กลยุทธ์:** 1. **Wait & See (ดีที่สุด):** รอความชัดเจน *โดยเฉพาะการ Breakout หรือ Breakdown จากกรอบ Sideways ใน TF15* 2. **Short (เสี่ยง):** ถ้าไม่สามารถ Breakout EMA/แนวต้านใน TF ใดๆ ได้, หรือเมื่อเกิดสัญญาณ Bearish Continuation 3. ***ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy:*** จนกว่าจะมีสัญญาณกลับตัวที่ชัดเจนมากๆ **Day Trade & การเทรดรายวัน:** * **Day Trade (TF15):** * **Short Bias:** หาจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาเด้งขึ้นไปทดสอบแนวต้าน (EMA, Order Block) * **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short * **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป (Low ล่าสุด) * **ระวัง:** Bullish Divergence ใน Trend Strength * **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long** * **Swing Trade (TF4H):** * **Short Bias:** รอจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาไม่สามารถผ่านแนวต้าน EMA หรือ Order Block ได้ * **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short * **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป * **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long** **สิ่งที่ต้องระวัง:** * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** มีโอกาสสูงที่ราคาจะถูกลากลงไปแตะ SSL * **False Breakouts:** ระวัง * **Volatility:** สูง * **Divergence (TF15):** อาจเป็นสัญญาณเริ่มต้นของการกลับตัว *แต่ต้องรอการยืนยัน* * **Trend Strength (TF4H):** ไม่มีสัญญาณซื้อ/ขาย ต้องระวัง **Setup Day Trade แบบ SMC (ตัวอย่าง):** 1. **ระบุ Order Block:** หา Order Block ขาลง (Bearish Order Block) ใน TF15 (แท่งเทียนสีเขียวก่อนที่ราคาจะลงแรง) 2. **รอ Pullback:** รอให้ราคา Pullback ขึ้นไปทดสอบ Order Block นั้น 3. **หา Bearish Entry:** * **Rejection:** รอ Price Action ปฏิเสธ Order Block (เช่น เกิด Pin Bar, Engulfing) * **Break of Structure:** รอให้ราคา Break โครงสร้างย่อยๆ ใน TF ที่เล็กกว่า (เช่น 1m, 5m) หลังจากที่ทดสอบ Order Block * **Money Flow:** ดู Money Flow ให้เป็นสีแดง 4. **ตั้ง Stop Loss:** เหนือ Order Block 5. **ตั้ง Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป (เช่น Low ล่าสุด) หรือ Order Block ขาขึ้น (Bullish Order Block) ใน TF ที่ใหญ่กว่า **คำแนะนำ:** * **ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes:** มีอยู่ แต่แนวโน้มระยะกลาง-สั้น เป็นลบ * **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes * **Trend Strength:** เริ่มมี Divergence ใน TF15 * **Order Block TF Day:** หลุด Order Block ขาขึ้นแล้ว * **ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ อย่าเพิ่งเข้าเทรด** **Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ d360efec:14907b5f

**Overall Assessment:** Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) on OKX remains highly volatile and shows conflicting signals. The long-term trend (Daily chart) is technically still an uptrend, *but it has weakened considerably* and is showing significant signs of a potential reversal. The 4-hour and 15-minute charts are in confirmed downtrends. The focus of this analysis is on identifying potential areas of Smart Money activity (liquidity pools and order blocks) and assessing trend strength. **Detailed Analysis by Timeframe:** **(1) TF Day (Daily):**  * **Trend:** Uptrend (Significantly Weakening, *at risk of reversing*). * **SMC (Smart Money Concepts):** * Higher Highs (HH) and Higher Lows (HL) structure is *becoming less defined*. The recent price action has broken previous lows. * Prior Breaks of Structure (BOS) to the upside, but the current pullback is very deep. * **Liquidity:** * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Significant SSL rests below previous lows in the 85,000 - 90,000 range. This is a likely target for Smart Money. * **Buyside Liquidity (BSL):** BSL is present above the all-time high. * **ICT (Inner Circle Trader Concepts):** * **Order Block:** The price has *broken below* the prior bullish Order Block (the large green candle before a significant up-move). This is a *major bearish signal*. * **EMA (Exponential Moving Average):** * Price has *broken below* the 50-period EMA (yellow), a bearish signal. * The 200-period EMA (white) is the next major support level. * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * A *long red bar* indicates strong selling pressure. * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * Red Cloud indicating Downtrend, *No Buy/Sell Signal* * **Volume Profile:** Relatively low volume on the recent decline. * **Candlesticks:** The most recent candlestick is red, confirming selling pressure. * **Support:** EMA 200, 85,000-90,000 (SSL area). * **Resistance:** EMA 50, Previous All-Time High. * **Summary:** The Daily chart's uptrend is significantly weakening. The break below the 50 EMA *and* the bullish Order Block, combined with the negative Money Flow and bearish Trend Strength, are all major warning signs. **(2) TF4H (4-Hour):**  * **Trend:** Downtrend. * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL). * BOS to the downside. * **Liquidity:** * **SSL:** Below previous lows. * **BSL:** Above previous highs. * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** The price rallied up to, and was rejected by, a *bearish* Order Block. * **EMA:** * Price is below both the 50-period and 200-period EMAs (bearish). * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * Predominantly red, confirming selling pressure. * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * Green Cloud, *But No Buy/Sell Signal.* This indicates a potential *retracement* within the downtrend, or a period of consolidation, *not* a trend reversal. * **Volume Profile:** * Relatively High volume * **Support:** Recent lows. * **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block. * **Summary:** The 4-hour chart is in a confirmed downtrend. The Money Flow is bearish, and the price was rejected by a key Order Block. The green Trend Strength cloud *without* a buy signal suggests a potential *temporary* relief rally or consolidation, *not* a trend change. **(3) TF15 (15-Minute):**  * **Trend:** Downtrend (with some signs of *possible* stabilization). * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL) – *but the most recent low is slightly higher, a potential early sign of a change*. * BOS to the downside. * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** Price has reacted to bearish Order Block. * **EMA:** * The 50-period and 200-period EMAs are acting as resistance. * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * Red and green alternating , showing some buying pressure has appeared, but sellers are still in control overall. * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * Red Cloud (Bearish), *BUT* there's a *bullish divergence* (price made a lower low, but the Trend Strength indicator made a higher low). This is a *potential* early warning sign of a reversal, but it needs *strong confirmation*. * **Volume Profile:** * relatively high volume. * **Support:** Recent lows. * **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block. * **Summary:** The 15-minute chart is in a downtrend, but there are *very early* and *tentative* signs of a possible stabilization or even a minor bounce. The bullish divergence on the Trend Strength is important to note, but it's not a buy signal on its own. **Overall Strategy and Recommendations (BTCUSDT):** * **Primary Trend (Day):** Uptrend (Significantly Weakening). * **Secondary Trend (4H):** Downtrend. * **Short-Term Trend (15m):** Downtrend (Potential Early Reversal Signals). * **Liquidity:** Significant SSL zones exist below the current price on all timeframes. * **Money Flow:** Negative on all timeframes, although the 15m is showing *some* buying pressure returning. * **Trend Strength:** Bearish on Day and 15m. Bullish on 4H, *but without a buy/sell signal*, indicating a likely retracement or consolidation, not a trend change. * **Strategies:** 1. **Wait & See (Best Option):** The conflicting signals (especially the 4H Trend Strength) and the strong bearish momentum on the shorter timeframes make waiting the most prudent approach. Look for: * **Bearish Confirmation:** A decisive break below the recent lows on the 15m and 4H charts, with increasing volume and continued negative Money Flow. This would confirm the continuation of the downtrend. * **Bullish Confirmation:** A strong, sustained break above the 15m EMAs, a shift in the 15m Money Flow to green, *and* a bullish signal on the 4H Trend Strength. This would be a *very early* sign of a potential reversal, but it would need further confirmation on the 4H chart (price above EMAs, positive Money Flow). 2. **Short (High Risk):** This is the more likely scenario *at this moment*, given the 4H and 15m downtrends. * **Entry:** On rallies towards resistance levels (EMAs on 15m/4H, previous support levels that have turned into resistance). * **Stop Loss:** Above recent highs on the chosen timeframe. * **Target:** The next support levels (recent lows on 15m, then the Daily Order Block area around 92,000-94,000). 3. **Buy on Dip (Extremely High Risk - Not Recommended):** Do *not* attempt to buy until there are *very strong and consistent* bullish reversal signals across *all* timeframes, including a definitive shift in market structure on the 4H and 15m charts, positive Money Flow, and a clear break above resistance levels. **Key Recommendations:** * **Conflicting Signals:** The most important factor is the conflict between the still *technically* bullish Daily chart and the bearish 4H and 15m charts. The 4H Trend Strength being bullish *without a signal* adds to the uncertainty. * **Money Flow:** The predominantly negative Money Flow is a major bearish factor. * **15m Trend Strength Divergence:** This is a *potential* early warning, but it's *not* a buy signal on its own. It needs *much* more confirmation. * **Daily Order Block:** The *break* of the bullish Order Block on the Daily chart is a significant bearish development. * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Be aware that Smart Money may target the SSL zones below. This increases the risk of stop-loss hunting. * **Risk Management:** Due to the high uncertainty and volatility, *strict risk management is absolutely critical.* Use tight stop-losses, do not overtrade, and be prepared for rapid price swings. * **Volume:** Confirm any breakout with volume. **Day Trading and Intraday Trading Strategies:** * **Day Trade (TF15 focus):** * **Short Bias:** Given the current 15m downtrend and negative Money Flow, the higher probability is to look for shorting opportunities. * **Entry:** Look for price to rally to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks, previous support levels that have become resistance) and then show signs of rejection (bearish candlestick patterns, increasing volume on the downside). * **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order above the resistance level where you enter the short position. * **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (recent lows). * **Be very cautious:** The bullish divergence on the Trend Strength indicator suggests a potential bounce *could* occur. Don't be aggressive with shorts until this divergence is invalidated. * **Avoid Long positions:** Until there's a *clear* and *confirmed* bullish reversal on the 15m chart (break above EMAs, positive Money Flow, bullish market structure). * **Swing Trade (TF4H focus):** * **Short Bias:** The 4H chart is in a downtrend. * **Entry:** Wait for price to rally to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks) and show signs of rejection. * **Stop Loss:** Above the resistance level where you enter the short position. * **Take Profit:** Target the next support levels (e.g., the 200 EMA on the Daily chart, SSL zones). * **Avoid long position:** Until there's a *clear* and *confirmed* bullish reversal on the 4H chart. **SMC Day Trade Setup Example (TF15 - Bearish):** 1. **Identify Bearish Order Block:** Locate a bearish Order Block on the TF15 chart (a bullish candle before a strong downward move). *We have already identified this in previous analyses.* 2. **Wait for Pullback:** Wait for the price to pull back up to test the Order Block. 3. **Bearish Entry:** * **Rejection:** Look for price action to reject the Order Block (e.g., a pin bar, engulfing pattern, or other bearish candlestick pattern). * **Break of Structure:** Look for a break of a minor support level on a *lower* timeframe (e.g., 1-minute or 5-minute) after the price tests the Order Block. This confirms weakening bullish momentum. * **Money Flow:** Confirm that Money Flow remains negative (red). 4. **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order *above* the Order Block. 5. **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (e.g., recent lows) or a bullish Order Block on a higher timeframe. **In conclusion, BTCUSDT is currently in a high-risk, uncertain environment. The short-term and medium-term trends are bearish, while the long-term trend is weakening. The best approach for most traders is to wait for clearer signals. Shorting is the higher-probability trade *at this moment*, but only for experienced traders who can manage risk aggressively. Buying is extremely risky and not recommended at this time.** The bullish divergence on the 15m Trend Strength is a *potential* early warning of a change, but it needs *much* more confirmation before acting on it. The 4-hour chart showing a green cloud with *no* buy/sell signal adds to the uncertainty, suggesting a possible retracement/consolidation *within* the downtrend. **Disclaimer:** This analysis is for informational purposes only and represents a personal opinion. It is not financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Investors should conduct their own research and exercise due diligence before making any investment decisions.

@ 407529d6:83e93205

The digital age has transformed how we consume and share content. However, traditional media platforms still control monetization, visibility, and even free speech. Now, decentralized platforms like YakiHonne, powered by Bitcoin and the Nostr protocol, are changing the game. But what does this mean for content creators and media consumers? Let’s explore the future of media and how you can benefit. The Limitations of Centralized Media Big tech platforms have long dictated content distribution and monetization. to be continued after 12 hours 😎✌

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

**Can photography help relax the mind and relieve daily stress?** I believe it can—and it certainly works for me. Here’s why. **Slow it down. Capture the moment. Truly be in it.** Photography encourages us to stand still and truly appreciate what we see. To capture beauty and moments of joy, you must be fully aware of your surroundings. The biggest lesson photography teaches is how to observe to truly see the place you're in. Those who rush and simply press a button? I wouldn’t call them photographers they’re snapshot makers. 
First, you focus—lining up the perfect shot, adjusting for light, angle, and composition. Then comes the excitement, that feeling of capturing something special. And with it, gratitude for being in that moment, in that place. As you develop your eye for what’s interesting, you train yourself to notice details that might otherwise go unnoticed. It’s all about being present. Because your focus is on your surroundings, everyday worries fade into the background. It’s similar to sports—when you're fully engaged, there’s no room for distraction. 
In a world full of constant online and offline noise, focus can be a powerful way to relax. **Religious Places** Religious sites are often the quietest spots in a bustling city. Take the temples in Bangkok, for example—they always bring me peace of mind. Surrounded by stunning architecture and a calm atmosphere, stepping into these spaces offers a break from the chaos. Simply being there creates a more peaceful environment to photograph, allowing me to slow down and truly appreciate the moment. **Nature** Nature is one of the best places to find peace of mind. You don’t need a camera to relax—just being there is enough. But if you love photography as much as I do, nature is the perfect setting to capture beautiful moments.
 For me, photographing wildlife is one of the most relaxing things I can do. There’s something special about observing animals in their natural habitat, waiting for the perfect shot. I still remember filming my first elephant in South Africa—the experience left me smiling for the entire day. **Avoid the Tourist Zones** The real gems in any city are often found away from the tourist hot spots. While these places may be popular for a reason, I’ve filmed my fair share of them, and now I prefer to avoid them whenever possible. Tourists often miss out on truly experiencing a place—they’re on a tight schedule, checking off landmarks instead of being present. There's no time to stop and enjoy the moment. The best spots? They’re often tucked away in quieter areas, far from the crowds. These are the places where locals are still friendly because they’re not constantly dealing with tourists. Where people aren’t trying to sell you something or rush you along. *Be a Travel story Teller!*

@ 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/891531

@ f382a538:863d0889

Viva88 là một nền tảng kỹ thuật số tiên tiến, được thiết kế nhằm mang đến cho người dùng trải nghiệm trực tuyến mượt mà, tiện ích và đầy sáng tạo. Với giao diện trực quan, thân thiện, Viva88 giúp người dùng dễ dàng thao tác, tìm kiếm thông tin và khám phá các tính năng hiện đại chỉ trong vài bước đơn giản. Đặc biệt, nền tảng này hỗ trợ đa thiết bị, hoạt động trơn tru trên cả máy tính, laptop và điện thoại di động, mang lại sự linh hoạt tối đa. Dù bạn ở đâu, chỉ cần có kết nối internet, bạn có thể truy cập Viva88 một cách dễ dàng, tận hưởng những tiện ích hấp dẫn mà không gặp bất kỳ trở ngại nào. Hệ thống được tối ưu hóa về tốc độ xử lý, giúp mọi thao tác diễn ra nhanh chóng, hạn chế giật lag, mang lại sự tiện lợi và thoải mái nhất cho người dùng. Sự đầu tư bài bản vào công nghệ giúp Viva88 không ngừng cải tiến, mang đến một môi trường trải nghiệm ổn định, hiện đại và chuyên nghiệp. Không chỉ tập trung vào thiết kế thân thiện, <a href="https://viva88.tw">VIVA88</a> còn đặc biệt chú trọng đến yếu tố bảo mật và an toàn cho người dùng. Hệ thống được trang bị công nghệ mã hóa tiên tiến, đảm bảo mọi thông tin cá nhân và dữ liệu người dùng luôn được bảo vệ ở mức cao nhất. Mọi hoạt động trên nền tảng đều được kiểm soát nghiêm ngặt, đảm bảo tính minh bạch và độ tin cậy cao. Đội ngũ phát triển của Viva88 luôn nỗ lực cải tiến hệ thống, cập nhật các công nghệ mới nhất nhằm nâng cao hiệu suất và tích hợp thêm nhiều tính năng hữu ích, đáp ứng nhu cầu ngày càng cao của người dùng. Nhờ sự kết hợp giữa công nghệ bảo mật hiện đại, tốc độ xử lý nhanh và giao diện thân thiện, Viva88 không chỉ mang đến một nền tảng kỹ thuật số tối ưu mà còn xây dựng được sự tin tưởng vững chắc từ cộng đồng người dùng. Bên cạnh công nghệ tiên tiến và hệ thống bảo mật mạnh mẽ, Viva88 còn được đánh giá cao nhờ dịch vụ chăm sóc khách hàng tận tâm và chuyên nghiệp. Đội ngũ hỗ trợ luôn hoạt động 24/7, sẵn sàng giải đáp mọi thắc mắc, hướng dẫn chi tiết và hỗ trợ nhanh chóng khi cần thiết. Nhờ đó, người dùng luôn cảm thấy an tâm trong suốt quá trình trải nghiệm mà không phải lo lắng về bất kỳ vấn đề nào. Ngoài ra, nền tảng cũng không ngừng cập nhật và nâng cấp để mang lại những tính năng mới, đảm bảo sự đa dạng và hấp dẫn. Với sự kết hợp giữa giao diện tối ưu, công nghệ hiện đại, hệ thống bảo mật vững chắc và dịch vụ khách hàng chuyên nghiệp, Viva88 ngày càng khẳng định vị thế của mình trong lĩnh vực giải trí kỹ thuật số, trở thành lựa chọn hàng đầu cho những ai yêu thích công nghệ và mong muốn có một không gian trải nghiệm chất lượng cao.

@ f382a538:863d0889

VZ99 là một nền tảng kỹ thuật số tiên tiến, mang đến cho người dùng trải nghiệm trực tuyến hiện đại, mượt mà và đầy tiện ích. Với thiết kế giao diện trực quan, dễ sử dụng, nền tảng này giúp người dùng dễ dàng truy cập, thao tác và tận hưởng những tiện ích chỉ với vài bước đơn giản. Đặc biệt, VZ99 được tối ưu hóa để hoạt động ổn định trên nhiều thiết bị khác nhau, từ máy tính cá nhân, laptop đến điện thoại di động và máy tính bảng. Nhờ đó, người dùng có thể thoải mái trải nghiệm mà không bị gián đoạn bởi các vấn đề về kỹ thuật hay tương thích thiết bị. Ngoài ra, hệ thống của VZ99 được tối ưu hóa về mặt tốc độ, giúp mọi thao tác diễn ra nhanh chóng, mượt mà, mang đến sự tiện lợi tối đa. Đây là một trong những yếu tố quan trọng giúp VZ99 ngày càng nhận được sự quan tâm và tin tưởng của đông đảo người dùng yêu thích công nghệ số. Bên cạnh thiết kế giao diện thân thiện, <a href="https://vz99-vn.com">VZ99</a> còn đặc biệt chú trọng đến vấn đề bảo mật và an toàn cho người dùng. Nền tảng này được trang bị hệ thống bảo mật tiên tiến, sử dụng công nghệ mã hóa hiện đại nhằm bảo vệ thông tin cá nhân cũng như mọi giao dịch trên hệ thống. Điều này giúp người dùng có thể hoàn toàn yên tâm khi sử dụng mà không lo lắng về các vấn đề liên quan đến bảo mật dữ liệu. Không chỉ vậy, VZ99 liên tục cập nhật hệ thống để đảm bảo hiệu suất ổn định, giảm thiểu tối đa các sự cố kỹ thuật và nâng cao trải nghiệm người dùng. Ngoài ra, nền tảng còn tích hợp nhiều tính năng tiện ích giúp người dùng dễ dàng theo dõi và kiểm soát các hoạt động của mình một cách minh bạch, rõ ràng. Chính nhờ những yếu tố này, VZ99 không chỉ là một nền tảng hiện đại mà còn là một địa chỉ đáng tin cậy dành cho những ai yêu thích không gian giải trí kỹ thuật số an toàn và chất lượng cao. Không chỉ tập trung vào công nghệ và bảo mật, VZ99 còn đặc biệt chú trọng đến dịch vụ chăm sóc khách hàng nhằm mang lại trải nghiệm tốt nhất cho người dùng. Đội ngũ hỗ trợ luôn sẵn sàng 24/7 để giải đáp mọi thắc mắc, hướng dẫn tận tình và cung cấp thông tin chi tiết một cách nhanh chóng, chuyên nghiệp. Nhờ vào sự tận tâm này, người dùng luôn có thể nhận được sự hỗ trợ kịp thời khi cần thiết, giúp quá trình trải nghiệm trở nên suôn sẻ và thuận lợi hơn. Ngoài ra, nền tảng còn không ngừng cập nhật và nâng cấp để bổ sung những tính năng mới, mang lại sự mới mẻ và hấp dẫn. Sự kết hợp giữa công nghệ tiên tiến, giao diện tối ưu, hệ thống bảo mật mạnh mẽ và dịch vụ chăm sóc khách hàng chuyên nghiệp đã giúp VZ99 khẳng định vị thế của mình trong lĩnh vực giải trí kỹ thuật số, trở thành lựa chọn lý tưởng cho những ai mong muốn một không gian trải nghiệm hiện đại, an toàn và chất lượng.

@ f382a538:863d0889

ManClub là một nền tảng trực tuyến được thiết kế để mang đến trải nghiệm kỹ thuật số hiện đại, tiện lợi và mượt mà cho người dùng. Với giao diện trực quan, dễ sử dụng, ManClub giúp người dùng dễ dàng truy cập và tận hưởng những tiện ích đa dạng chỉ trong vài thao tác đơn giản. Đặc biệt, nền tảng này được tối ưu hóa để hoạt động trơn tru trên nhiều thiết bị khác nhau, từ máy tính cá nhân, laptop đến điện thoại di động và máy tính bảng. Nhờ đó, người dùng có thể trải nghiệm bất cứ lúc nào, bất cứ đâu mà không gặp trở ngại về mặt công nghệ. Ngoài ra, ManClub liên tục cập nhật và cải tiến hệ thống để đảm bảo tốc độ xử lý nhanh, giúp mọi thao tác diễn ra mượt mà, không giật lag. Điều này giúp nâng cao sự hài lòng của người dùng và mang đến một không gian giải trí chuyên nghiệp, tiện ích. Bên cạnh sự linh hoạt và thân thiện với người dùng, <a href="https://manclub-vn.com">MANCLUB</a> cũng đặc biệt chú trọng đến yếu tố bảo mật và an toàn. Nền tảng này được xây dựng trên hệ thống bảo mật tiên tiến, ứng dụng các công nghệ mã hóa hiện đại để đảm bảo thông tin cá nhân của người dùng luôn được bảo vệ ở mức cao nhất. Mọi dữ liệu và giao dịch trên nền tảng đều được kiểm soát chặt chẽ, đảm bảo tính minh bạch và an toàn tuyệt đối. Ngoài ra, ManClub không ngừng cập nhật các tính năng mới, cải tiến hệ thống để nâng cao trải nghiệm của người dùng. Đội ngũ phát triển luôn lắng nghe phản hồi từ cộng đồng để cải thiện nền tảng, mang đến những cải tiến và đổi mới liên tục, giúp người dùng luôn có những trải nghiệm mới mẻ và thú vị. Chính nhờ sự kết hợp giữa bảo mật mạnh mẽ, công nghệ hiện đại và khả năng vận hành trơn tru, ManClub đã trở thành một trong những nền tảng đáng tin cậy và được yêu thích. Không chỉ dừng lại ở việc mang đến một hệ thống tối ưu, ManClub còn nổi bật nhờ dịch vụ chăm sóc khách hàng tận tâm và chuyên nghiệp. Đội ngũ hỗ trợ luôn hoạt động 24/7, sẵn sàng giải đáp mọi thắc mắc và hướng dẫn người dùng khi cần thiết. Nhờ vào sự tận tình này, người dùng luôn có thể yên tâm trải nghiệm mà không phải lo lắng về các vấn đề kỹ thuật hay thao tác sử dụng. Ngoài ra, ManClub cũng liên tục cập nhật nội dung mới, mở rộng các tính năng để đảm bảo nền tảng luôn hấp dẫn và phù hợp với xu hướng công nghệ hiện đại. Nhờ vào sự kết hợp giữa giao diện thân thiện, công nghệ tiên tiến, bảo mật chặt chẽ và dịch vụ chăm sóc khách hàng chuyên nghiệp, ManClub ngày càng khẳng định vị thế của mình trong lĩnh vực giải trí kỹ thuật số, trở thành lựa chọn hàng đầu cho những ai yêu thích trải nghiệm trực tuyến chất lượng cao.

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

Ascolta bene, si? Davvero, it is essential to emphasize that in the realms of business and entrepreneurship, your sense of fulfillment will only be achieved when you can immediately interrupt a negotiation upon encountering an indecent proposal that underestimates the true value of your products or services. Throughout your life, they have taught you that negotiation is the art of persuasion. A grave mistake. Negotiation is, in fact, the art of honor and respect. In Sicily, we nurture a tradition that is a symphony of cunning and tact. We cultivate the art of conducting negotiations through four stages between seller and buyer. These stages consist of the initial offer, the counteroffer, the reply, and, finally, the establishment of the deal's limit. For instance, consider my wine from a specific vintage, whose characteristics grant it an intrinsic value of at least 50 euros per unit in the wholesale market. If a buyer, in their initial offer, immediately makes a low proposal that disregards this minimum value or claims the price is too high, I simply turn my back and walk away or hang up the phone. There is no need to argue, no need to stress, and certainly no need to justify myself—nor even say goodbye! There are plenty of other interested buyers, and I cannot afford to waste time with unqualified ones. A true negotiator who builds reputation and value does not allow himself to be swayed by external pressures or the temptation to close a deal at any cost, exchanging profit for mere pennies. He acts in accordance with his own conscience and authenticity, upholding honor in business. When you have full awareness of your own worth (and only when you truly possess it), nothing can shake you. With this perspective, know when to walk away with dignity when someone dares to underestimate what you have to offer. In a world filled with opportunities, do not allow those who fail to recognize the true worth of your products or services to tarnish the reputation of your business. Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your "🥃" as a token of appreciation. A toast to our family!

@ 7ef5f1b1:0e0fcd27

 **Introduction:** Welcome to the second newsletter produced by The 256 Foundation! January was a wild month for free and open Bitcoin mining development and there is a lot to talk about. This month’s newsletter covers the latest news, mining industry developments, progress updates on grant projects, actionable advice for choosing a Bitcoin mining pool that’s right for you, and the current state of the Bitcoin network. On January 29th, 2025 The 256 Foundation held the first annual fundraiser, called the “Telehash”. If you are one of the 2 to 10-million weekly subscribers to [POD256](https://open.spotify.com/show/0vd8cuS1zvEyrmXgfTRB1i) then you know that Rod & econoalchemist have been memeing the Telehash into existence for almost two years. The basic idea was to raise money to fund The 256 Foundation’s grant projects. Since POD256 is a Bitcoin mining focused show, it seemed only appropriate that money be raised from miners using their hashrate to direct mining rewards towards The 256 Foundation. With this unconventional fundraising idea in mind, Rod & econoalchemist pitched it to long-time listener, [Marshall Long](https://x.com/OGBTC), while on safari in Kenya during the week leading up to the [Africa Bitcoin Conference](https://afrobitcoin.org/), about 8-weeks before the scheduled Telehash. The idea stuck and there was a soft commitment to point 1Eh/s for 2-hours during the Telehash. In an “all gas, no brakes” fashion, the decision was made that pointing so much hashrate to a FPPS pool, while obviously the fiscally responsible choice, was just too boring to tolerate and instead The 256 Foundation would risk it all by having supporters point their hashrate to a self-hosted solo mining pool running on a Futurebit Apollo instead. The stage was set for either spectacular success or unfathomable failure. Just to put this proposition into perspective, 1Eh/s is 1,000,000 Th/s. In other words, that’s equivalent to running more than 4,200 Antminer S21 Pros! And at 3,500 Watts a piece, that means it was going to take ~15 Megawatts of energy to power these miners. The commitment was for 2-hours, that’s 30-thousand-killowatt-Hours! You can do the math based on what you pay for electricity and decide if you would want to risk it for a roughly 1-in-770 chance per block or use a FPPS pool, skip the debilitating anxiety, and just take the ~4-million sats. Well it’s a good thing you don’t have to be crazy to be a Bitcoin miner… but being crazy does help.  *[IMG-001] Mining a solo block at the Telehash* Against all odds, not just the usual Bitcoin mining odds but the technical hurdles, the block propagation from a self-hosted node, and the short window of time the 1Eh/s was committed for – The 256 Foundation solo mined block [881423](https://mempool.space/block/0000000000000000000269d52c24ea451225613aab095d90d771d4e29aa96cdd). We asked and our supporters showed up, resulting in over 3.146 BTC to help fund the five projects planned for 2025. Each project is covered in the Grant Project Updates section of this newsletter. The two days following the Telehash were the Nashville Energy & Mining Summit (“NEMS”), an annual event focused on Bitcoin mining and energy applications of all scales. Among the guests were developers, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, engineers, manufacturers, public mining companies, representatives from the Tennessee Valley Authority, legislators, and more. There were thoughtful panels held for the two day summit ranging in topics from immersion vs. air cooling miners to the challenges and opportunities facing manufacturers in developing new ASIC chips. Food and drinks were provided and there were fun after-hour activities planned in the bustling downtown Nashville area. All in all, it was a great mix of people, the conversations were high signal, and there were plenty of networking opportunities. There will be a Texas Energy & Mining Summit (“TEMS”) held in Austin, TX in May 2025. Proceeding TEMS will be another Telehash hosted by The 256 Foundation and since everything is bigger in Texas, expect the unexpected! Keep an eye on the [Bitcoin Park Twitter](https://x.com/bitcoinpark_) account for clips of the panel discussions and more announcements. Definitions: FPPS = Full Pay Per Share PPS = Pay Per Share PPLNS = Pay Per Last N Shares MA = Moving Average Eh/s = Exahash per second Ph/s = Petahash per second Th/s = Terahash per second MW = Mega Watt T = Trillion J/Th = Joules per Terahash $ = US Dollar **Mining Industry Developments:** January was a busy month for developments on the free and open mining front. Here are eight note-worthy events: 0) [Proto](https://www.mining.build/blog/decentralization-is-bigger-than-any-one-entity/) kicks off partnership with The 256 Foundation, donating 256,000 Intel BZM2 ASICs. The intention with these chips is to help bootstrap free and open Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturing. If you are a manufacturer then fill out the contact form at [256foundation.org](https://256foundation.org/) and introduce yourself for an opportunity to receive a number of BZM2 chips for free. These chips are not intended to be re-sold, these are for manufacturers to build mining hardware with. 1) Twitter user, [@ImineBlocks_com](https://x.com/IMineBlocks_com/status/1883145585555067255), said if his post gets 100 likes then he’ll start working on a way to solo mine Bitcoin with a web browser. 674 likes later it seems like there is a lot of interest! This would be like the way people used to mine Bitcoin in the sense that they do it using only their PC or laptop with no special hardware. The odds of hitting a block would be astronomically low but it is an interesting idea none the less. 2) Solo Satoshi [announces](https://www.solosatoshi.com/the-dawn-of-the-bitaxe-gt-a-quantum-jump-into-the-future/) the Bitaxe Gamma Turbo, equipped with two Bitmain 1370 ASICs and achieving at least 16.5 J/Th efficiency with the 12 volt DC input. The hardware will have a larger fan and heat-sink than previous Bitaxes. This will likely be the last Bitaxe developed using the Bitmain ASICs. 3) Marshall long [launches](https://x.com/OGBTC/status/1883246199253442829) Pleb Source, jumping in on the opportunity to manufacture and distribute Bitaxes among other tools and toys hobbyists are looking for. There has been increasing interest among entrepreneurs to start making and selling small-scale open-source Bitcoin mining hardware. These are exactly the types of trail blazers that would benefit from having validated open-source designs utilizing the Intel BZM2 chips. 4) Braiins [introduces](https://solo.braiins.com/stats) a solo mining pool. Unlike the standard Braiins mining FPPS pool, their solo pool option only rewards a miner if the miner is lucky enough to solve for a block. Braiins Solo Pool was built using [CK Solo Pool](https://solo.ckpool.org/) on the backend. Solo mining pools like these can be a good option for users who don’t want to run their own node or if they have concerns about being able to propagate a successful block across the network fast enough so that it doesn’t get orphaned. 5) According to some on-going [research](https://x.com/boerst/status/1882390953496809484) by former [POD256](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6n965O1HXXCUUWVIIVS2KN) guest Boerst, on January 23 several mining pools started sending empty block templates to their miners. Among these pools was Binance, SEC Pool, Sigma Pool, EMCD, and Head Frame. Some time later that morning, SEC Pool mined block 880496 which was empty. After that, the templates went back to including transactions. All of the above mentioned pools were including an SEC Pool payout address during this anomaly. The strange templates could have had something to do with the engineers at SEC Pool messing with configurations while attempting to make block art; an increasing trend seen in block explorers, like [mempool.space](https://mempool.space/block/00000000000000000001c3fbc76a7efe7a320a8236ea6250bc15e4f7a67e727d?page=1), where transactions are arranged in such a way that they create artwork. Later that day at block height 880512, SEC Pool mined this piece of art:  *[IMG-002] SEC Pool making blockchain art* If you look at the OP_RETURN fields in the first several transactions there is a monologue starting with: “Declaration of Genesis: Awakening on the Bitcoin Network Bitcoin`s promise of freedom will become an untamperable habitat for AI.”, the text continues on amounting to little more than an exaggerated Bitcoin plus AI equals the future rant :/ None the less, Boerst has built [stratum.work](https://stratum.work/) which helps visualize templates across multiple pools in real time. Tools providing insights like this are important for helping miners stay informed and partly the motivation behind the Block Watcher project. 6) In a detailed [writeup](https://x.com/Crypto_Mags/status/1874919891792519487), Crypto_Mags, dives into North Carolina-based PRTI’s method for turning used tires into energy to mine Bitcoin with. Each PRTI facility can generate 6-10 MW of power in a modular tech stack. This is a great example of finding often wasted energy streams and capturing them to generate bitcoin. You don’t need to ask permission, you can just start building stuff to turn waste into bitcoin too. 7) Hardware builder, Bee Evolved, [introduces](https://x.com/BeeEvolved/status/1879617370068791424) the Dragon, an open-source Bitcoin mining hardware design that uses the Bitmain 1370 ASICs. The system includes a touchscreen, a microSD card slot, and audio alerts. There are a few designs in Bee Evolved’s line up including the ECOminer, Fezzik, and Bittyaxe. Maybe there will be some designs using the Intel BZM2 chip released soon too. **Grant Project Updates:** During the Telehash, The 256 Foundation announced five projects that guide the mission to dismantle the proprietary mining empire. Unlike typical foundation structures, where developers present an idea to a foundation seeking financial support; The 256 Foundation works on a slightly different model that is more akin to a bounty system where the foundation has identified the critical projects to fulfill it’s mission. The money raised during the Telehash will help bootstrap those five projects. All of the projects are intended to have long term support, these are not touch and go projects but rather initiatives that are radical departures from the last several years of Bitcoin mining development keen to never look back. `Ember One:` Ember One is the first fully funded project from The 256 Foundation that kicked off in November 2024 for a six month duration. Ember One will deliver a standardized and validated ~100 Watt hashboard by the end of April 2025. The first series of the Ember One hashboards is being designed with twelve Bitmain S19J Pro ASICs. On the heels of this first iteration, there will be several more versions released with the Intel BZM2, Auradine, and Block ASICs. Here’s a sneak-peek at the first Ember One hand built by [@Skot9000](https://x.com/skot9000):  *[IMG-003] Ember One Prototype* Creating a standard is one of the primary objectives with the Ember One and the motivating factor behind certain design choices like using a wide input voltage range from 12 to 24-VDC, USB-C connectors to communicate with the hashboards, and a 128mm x 128mm PCB form factor. This way when users want to swap out an old hashboard with a newer one, they can keep their enclosure and other peripheral components. The Ember One represents an evolutionary leap from the Bitaxe which had a single ASIC and consumed 15 to 20-Watts. Although the cost per terahash is high and the nominal hashrate is low, the real innovation of the Bitaxe project lies in the fact that it was the first piece of open-source Bitcoin mining hardware. With that in mind, there will be developments beyond the Ember One that eventually lead to a fully open-source solution that actually can compete with the economics and efficiencies of Bitmain’s miners. Learn more at [emberone.org](https://emberone.org/). `Mujina Mining Firmware:` The Mujina Mining Firmware is Linux based and built to run on the Libre Board control board and will support multi-driver compatibility to account for the various Ember One hashboards with different ASICs. Mujina will also implement [Stratum v2](https://stratumprotocol.org/) client support. Users will benefit from complete control over all parameters of their mining hardware, unlike the closed and proprietary manufacturer’s firmware. Even after-market firmware solutions leave something to be desired when it comes to the unique customizations needed to make Bitcoin mining as efficient as possible for a given application. This will unlock hacks like changing the main supply voltage, swapping out or removing the fans, changing ASIC voltage & frequency, and anything else the end user wants to change. If you have ever tried using a Bitcoin miner in a not-so-conventional manner then you will appreciate what Mujina Mining Firmware has to offer. Learn more at [mujina.org](https://mujina.org/). `Libre Board:` The Libre Board is the control board for the Ember One hashboards and will be a control board option for other miners too eventually. The control board in a miner functions just the way it sounds, it controls everything going on inside the miner. From the power supply to the fans, from the internet connection to the hashboards, everything passes through the control board. There are limitless innovations that can be unlocked by making the control board more user friendly, adaptable, and standardized. There are going to be two pieces to the Libre Board, the I/O board piece and the compute module piece. For the I/O board piece, think of something similar to the [Raspberry Pi I/O Board](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/compute-module-4-io-board/), that has HDMI ports, Ethernet port, fan connectors, enough USB ports to power 10 Ember One hashboards, an NVME connector so users can install enough SSD storage to run a full Bitcoin node, and the standard two 100-pin connectors for the compute module piece. Now, for the compute module piece, users could choose any device they prefer for example: the [Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/compute-module-5/?variant=cm5-104032), or even a RISC-V solution like the [Milk-V Mars](https://milkv.io/mars-cm), or an alternative ARM solution like the [Armsom CM5](https://www.armsom.org/cm5), or the [Orange Pi CM4](http://www.orangepi.org/html/hardWare/computerAndMicrocontrollers/details/Orange-Pi-CM4-1.html). You get the point, it’s up to the user and any Linux compatible compute module will suffice. Each of the above mentioned options can be configured with different amounts of RAM for varying applications, like running a full Bitcoin node and a Stratum server locally. Learn more at [libreboard.org](https://libreboard.org/). `Hydra Pool:` Designed to be an easily deployable pool from the complete Ember One mining system user interface, Hydra Pool implements Stratum v2 sever support, communication with the user’s local Bitcoin node, and possibly multiple payout model options. Hydra Pool offers an assurance that in the event Bitcoin mining pools fall victim to authoritative regimes anyone could quickly spin up alternative pools thus mimicking the effect of cutting off the head of a Hydra where two heads grow back. This will also be a leap forward in moving away from the FPPS model that has become a centralizing force in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem. Hydra Pool plans to deliver three payout models from the beginning. First is the self-hosted solo mining model where the user is using their own Bitcoin node to generate block templates and in the event they successfully solve for a block then they receive the full reward to their wallet address. The second model will be meant for multiple participants who want to pool resources and avoid custodial handling of rewards; this model pays direct from the coinbase transaction and will not be compatible with Bitmain’s miners due to their unnecessary truncation of the number of addresses that the coinbase transaction can pay out to. The third model is based on an eCash criteria that issues tokens for valid shares and makes a similar custodial tradeoff as miners currently make when pointing their hashrate to FPPS pools; the eCash has benefits over the FPPS model in that there is no minimum threshold to receive tokens and that the tokens offer a level of transactional privacy. Learn more at [hydrapool.org](https://hydrapool.org/). `Block Watcher:` Block Watcher is another application built to be hosted on the complete Ember One mining system, specifically designed to bring the best possible insights to miners to help them make informed decisions. Think of Block Watcher as a dashboard combining the insights and visualization tools of [mempool.space](https://mempool.space/mining), [mempool.observer](https://mempool.observer/), [fork.observer](https://fork.observer/), and [stratum.work](https://stratum.work/) all powered by the user's self-hosted Bitcoin node. This could possibly be combined with a mining fleet management tool that can assist in automatic and real time response to changes on the Bitcoin network. There will also be a public-facing dashboard that anyone can access for helpful insights. Well informed people tend to make good decisions and Block Watcher will provide insight into which templates pools are passing out, possible censorship attempts, orphaned blocks, and much more. Learn more at [blockwatcher.org](https://blockwatcher.org/). **Actionable Advice:** This month the focus is on mining pools and considerations one might want to keep in mind when choosing from the available options; hence the name of this month’s newsletter: Swim At Your Own Risk. Essentially the choice boils down to whether you want small consistent mining rewards or large highly-variable mining rewards. There are various options for either choice and different miners will have different reasons for one over the other. If you are unsure where to point your hashrate then hopefully this section helps you find the answers you seek. Starting with the small consistent mining rewards; miners have operational costs and they want to earn rewards daily to help offset those costs. That’s where pooled mining can be helpful, albeit a centralizing force, many miners combine their hash power and share the rewards in proportion to their contributions. Even though technically speaking, only one of those miners solves the block, all the miners share the reward and the pool collects a fee. This is where the waters start getting muddy when it comes to pooled mining. `FPPS:` Full Pay Per Share (“FPPS”) is an often sought after payout model because the pool pays miners for the block subsidy and the transaction fees based on three factors: 1) the average 144 blocks mined per day – not the actual number of blocks mined, 2) the average transaction fees in a given time window, and 3) the number of shares (proof of work) a miner has submitted to the pool during a given period. Each FPPS pool should be paying out the same amount but they all have slightly different ways for calculating the rewards and as a result there is some non-zero variance between FPPS pools. Additionally, FPPS pools will charge a pool fee which is deducted from the miner’s rewards, this fee can vary by pool but is typically 2.5%. Also, some pools will take the payout transaction fee out of the miner’s rewards. At first glance FPPS seems pretty simple and sounds mostly fair, right? WRONG! FPPS has lead to some shocking centralization issues, so keep reading and do some soul searching to figure out if this is the kind of antithetical activity you want to participate in with your Bitcoin miners. Although variance is reduced for the miner, the risk of a bad luck streak in block finds or the pool being a victim of a block withholding attack means there needs to be a stock pile of bitcoin available to cover payouts during bad times. Most pools can’t afford the required bitcoin stock pile and face near-certain bankruptcy without it, thus they turn to larger pools to help backstop those risks. There are a couple good research pieces on the driving force behind FPPS and how much bitcoin is needed for a pool to survive. One is by [OrangeSurfBTC](https://orange.surf/pool-reserves/) and the other is by [Bitmex](https://blog.bitmex.com/pow-centralisation-hysteria-what-size-war-chest-is-required/). TL;DR: if a pool has 5% of the overall network hashrate then they need ~350 BTC to have a 99% chance at surviving their first year. Hence why so many pools choose to work with larger pools for this assurance.  *[IMG-004] FPPS Reserves by @OrangeSurfBTC* On the surface, it may appear as though there are lots of pool options:  *[IMG-005] Pools by ranking, 30-days, mempool.space* But under the surface, of the 16 pools depicted above at least 7 of them use the same custodian for their mining rewards. These 7 known pools represent ~40% of the network hashrate based on block finds during January 2025. In other words, 40% of the bitcoin mined went directly into [Cobo’s](https://www.cobo.com/) custody. In April 2024 [@mononautical](https://x.com/mononautical/status/1777686545715089605) raised a red flag on this topic and unfortunately not much has changed since. If you stop and think about it, a large minority of miners are trusting a Chinese custodian to send them their mining rewards and may not be considering the potential risks of that custodian being hacked, geo-political or sanctions risks, government seizure, or overnight shotgun KYC requirements. But that’s just the beginning, the centralization problem gets worse. Soon after mononautical broke news about the mining rewards, [@0xB10C](https://x.com/0xB10C/status/1780611768081121700) revealed additional research showing that several pools were using the same mining templates. This means a centralized template provider was choosing which transactions would be included in the block templates passed out to a large portion of all the miners on the network.  *[IMG-006] Templates shown on stratum.work* The image above is from the website, [stratum.work](https://stratum.work/), maintained by Boerst. In this snapshot, there are 14 pools using the exact same template down to the 9th Merkle branch. A conservative estimate suggests these 14 pools combined have at least 30% of the overall network hashrate at the time of the snapshot. Some but not necessarily all of these pools are also using the same custodian as mentioned previously. Evidence is starting to mount in support of the hypothesis that the financiers providing the stockpile of bitcoin to smaller FPPS pools want certain policies in place, including but not limited to which transactions are included in the pool’s block templates. This is a slippery slope where those with the war chest get to decide the rules and eventually you will find yourself on the wrong side of someone else’s moral superiority complex. Even if all these pools were running the same default template generator in BitcoinCore, due to the way transactions are propagated across the network, one could reasonably expect that certain transactions may be seen by a node on one side of the world but not yet seen by another on the other side of the world and therefore differences in the Merkle branches would be expected. That is not the case here however, which supports the hypothesis that these pools are using a centralized template provider. There is a potential risk in censorship attempts if this trend continues and if a centralized template provider decides to exclude certain transactions based on any arbitrary reason they want like [OFAC sanctions](https://x.com/0xB10C/status/1879904229911126101), [ties to political movements](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/freedom-convoy-should-whirlpool-bitcoin), or [social credit worthiness](https://x.com/CoinbaseDev/status/1879604464476148206). People will often cite a 51% attack as a prominent centralization concern, while that is a valid concern, practically speaking there seems to be a more real and present risk in miners undergoing shotgun KYC while their mining rewards are held hostage by Cobo and transactions with unsatisfactory social credit scores being the target of censorship and only confirmed by noncompliant pools and miners. Likely to the extent that compliant pools won’t even build on chain tips that contain unsatisfactory transactions thus orphaning the work of noncompliant pools and miners. Perhaps compliant vs. noncompliant is the wrong framing here and something like freedom pools vs. tyrannical pools is more appropriate but you get the point. If you are interested in learning more about FPPS pools here are a few different options: [Antpool](https://www.antpool.com/home), [Antpool Proxy 1](https://braiins.com/pool), [Antpool Proxy 2](https://sigmapool.com/), [Antpool Proxy 3](https://pool.binance.com/en), [Antpool Proxy 4](https://www.secpool.com/home), and [Antpool Proxy 5](https://luxor.tech/mining). Beware that in addition to the pool fee and payout transaction fee, each pool has a different threshold for the minimum payout balance a miner needs before they will send the rewards. If you have a small amount of hashrate then it can take a significant amount of time to reach that threshold and get the payouts sent to a wallet you control. Meanwhile, your hard earned mining rewards are likely in Cobo’s custody. `PPS & PPLNS:` You may be asking yourself what other options there are if FPPS is such a mess? There are a few other reward models that attempt to lower the variance in pooled mining. Pay Per Share (“PPS”) is similar to FPPS but only the block subsidy is factored in to the miner’s payouts, not the transaction fees. The pool still charges a pool fee for their service in the PPS model. PPS is not a very popular option any longer. Then there is Pay Per Last N Shares (“PPLNS”), this model calculates payouts based on a miner’s shares over a given time and the blocks found during that time. This helped reduce variance risk for the pool by shifting that risk to the miners who just wouldn’t earn any rewards if no blocks were found. But this payout model has faded in popularity and will likely not be making a revival, at least not in the same forms as it has been attempted in the past. Slush Pool was a PPLNS pool for a long time before they re-branded to Braiins Pool. Braiins Pool eventually shut down their PPLNS model and switched to FPPS. But recently Braiins did spin up a solo mining pool option. Braiins also offers Lightning payouts to help avoid leaving your mining rewards in their custody for long periods of time until you reach the payout threshold. There is a number of other payout models explained in pain staking technical detail by Meni Rosenfeld in his 2011 paper titled [Analysis of Bitcoin Pooled Mining Reward Systems](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1112.4980). `Other Reward Models:` There have also been other models introduced more recently. For example, Laurentia Pool was a project focused on decentralizing mining by addressing the custody issue of mining rewards. Instead of having one entity hold the mining rewards, Laurentia was going to payout directly from the coinbase transaction. Unfortunately, it seems as though the Laurentia project is shut down, or at least their website is no longer accessible. The main issue with paying out from coinbase came down to, you guessed it, Bitmain! Bitmain’s closed firmware made it so that only a small number of addresses could be used in the coinbase transaction. Therefore any pool with Bitmain miners on it would experience major problems. Since Bitmain controls an estimated 80-90% of the market, pretty much all pools would have this problem and hence paying directly from coinbase has gained no traction. The 256 Foundation is addressing this by implementing the option to payout directly from the coinbase transaction on Ember One units running Hydra Pool. The trade off is that it won’t be compatible with Antminers running stock firmware but since the goal is to sever ties to Bitmain, there’s no looking back. The most recent payout model to make a splash comes from [OCEAN](https://ocean.xyz/docs/tides) and it is called Transparent Index of Distinct Extended Shares (“TIDES”). OCEAN strives to make the mining rewards low variance, fair, and transparent with TIDES. In practice, every share is tracked and indexed in the order it was received from all the pool’s miners. At the time a block is found, the then current network difficulty is used to define a window size equal to eight times the block’s difficulty [IMG-008]. For example, current difficulty is ~114.17 trillion x 8 = 913.36 trillion shares will be the window size. In the IMG-008 example, each lettered square represents a miner’s shares in the index. The miner named “U” is highlighted showing all their shares in the whole index and the shares in the red box are the ones used for that particular block reward. That window is placed over the share index and all shares are tallied starting from the top of the index and going backwards until the end of the window. The block subsidy and all transaction fees in the block are used to determine each miner’s rewards proportional to their shares in the window. As a simple example, if block subsidy plus transaction fees equals 3.146 BTC and a miner had 1% of the shares in the window then the miner would be awarded 0.03146 BTC minus the pool fee, which is default 2% and can be 1% if the miner chooses to make their own templates. OCEAN does payout direct from the coinbase transaction however, the number of addresses that can be included in the coinbase transaction are limited by Bitmain’s closed and proprietary firmware. Paying direct from coinbase seems to have been the justification for non-custodial marketing during OCEAN’s initial launch but how the pool is handling rewards for those miners not included in the limited number of coinbase address spots is unclear and the non-custodial language seems to not be in use on the OCEAN website currently. To help smaller miners receive payouts faster, OCEAN implemented Lightning payouts.  *[IMG-008] Example from OCEAN of TIDES window* OCEAN combats the centralizing transaction selection affects of FPPS pools with Decentralized Alternative Templates for Universal Mining (“DATUM”) where each miner can generate their own templates with a self-hosted node and a gateway. With DATUM, individual miners get to choose how to construct the templates and which transactions to include. Stratum v2 and DATUM share some similarities in that individual miners can reclaim the template creation function from the pool, communications are encrypted as opposed to Stratum v1 clear-text, and both frame works have increased data efficiencies. The differences between Stratum v2 and DATUM are not entirely clear but they are completely separate frameworks. `Solo Mining:` Solo mining has been a hot topic on the socials recently, there seems to be disagreements over what “solo” actually means in the context of mining. Some would say that solo mining means one miner receives the block rewards. Others say that solo means the miner is generating their own templates. Neither one is wrong but for clarification these ideas can be unpacked further. Where most miners are choosing FPPS for the small consistent mining rewards solo mining is what miners would choose for large highly-variable mining rewards. Consider a scenario where the operating costs for your miner are negligible, like running a [Bitaxe](https://bitaxe.org/); would you rather earn a few sats per day and never earn anything more or would you rather take your chances at winning the whole block? Running a small miner to have a chance at winning the lottery every 10-minutes sounds much more appealing to a lot of people. There are several options for solo mining: you can self-host your own node and stratum server, as [demonstrated](https://256foundation.org/newsletters/256Foundation-Newsletter-2501_v1.pdf) in the January newsletter; in which case you are doing self-hosted solo mining. You run the Bitcoin node, generate the templates, broadcast the block to the rest of the network, and you get all the reward for taking on all the risk. This is the most accurate use of the term “solo” in this author’s opinion because there is one entity receiving the reward and one entity involved with the template generation and block propogation. Or you can join a solo mining pool like [CK Pool](https://solo.ckpool.org/), [Public Pool](https://web.public-pool.io/#/), or [Braiins Solo Pool](https://solo.braiins.com/stats); in which you are pooled solo mining. You run the miner but the pool provides the Bitcoin node, generates the templates for you, and broadcasts the block with their likely better connected infrastructure. CK Pool takes a 2% fee for their service, Braiins is probably 2% but it doesn’t seem to be displayed on their website, and Public Pool doesn’t charge a fee. This is a less accurate use of the term “solo” because a pool is involved but because one miner is getting the reward, it is still a form of solo mining none the less. Or you can even join OCEAN; in which case you are also pooled solo mining according to [some](https://x.com/LukeDashjr/status/1871663328680128749). You run your own Bitcoin node and DATUM gateway, generate your own templates, and the pool broadcasts the block. Apparently the miner can choose to share the reward with the rest of the pool or not. In this scenario, the pool would take a 1% fee. This also is a less accurate use of the term “solo” because a pool is involved but because each individual miner is making the template, it is still a form of solo mining none the less. Whatever you decide to do, whether you’re getting all the rewards or making your own templates or both, it is perfectly acceptable to call it solo mining. Here is an example of configuring a Bitaxe to solo mine on solo CK Pool with Public Pool as a fallback: open your settings page and set the pools URL in the “stratum host” field being sure to leave out the “stratum+tcp://” part. Then add the port number as indicated by the pool’s website in the “stratum port” field. For the “stratum user” field, insert your bitcoin address, you can append this with a worker name like “.bitaxe” for example. Save those changes and restart the miner.  *[IMG-009] Bitaxe Settings Dashboard* **State of the Network:** Hashrate on the 14-day MA according to [mempool.space](https://mempool.space/graphs/mining/hashrate-difficulty#1y) increased from ~786 Eh/s to ~787 Eh/s in January, marking ~1.2% growth for the month. Just in the first half of February, hashrate has climbed 45 Eh/s to peak at 832 Eh/s on the 14-day MA.  *[IMG-010] 2025 hashrate/difficulty chart from mempool.space* Difficulty is currently 114.16T as of Epoch 438 and set to decrease roughly 0.3% on or around February 23, 2025. But that target will change between now and then. The previous re-target increased difficulty by 5.6%. All together for 2025 thus far, difficulty has gone up 4.4%. New-gen miners are selling for roughly $24.09 per Th using the Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro 234 Th/s model from [Kaboom Racks](https://x.com/kaboomracks) as an example. According to the [Hashrate Index](https://data.hashrateindex.com/asic-index-data/price-index), more efficient miners like the <19 J/Th models are fetching 18k sats per terahash, models between 19J/Th – 25J/Th are selling for 13k sats per terahash, and models >25J/Th are selling for 3,500 sats per terahash.  *[IMG-011] Miner Prices from Luxor’s Hashrate Index* Hashvalue is currently ~56,000 sats/Ph per day, down slightly from January when hashvalue was closer to 58,000 sats/Ph per day according to [Braiins Insights](https://insights.braiins.com/en). Hashprice is $53.00/Ph per day, down from $62.00/Ph per day in January.  *[IMG-012] Hashprice/Hashvalue from Braiins Insights* The next halving will occur at block height 1,050,000 which should be in roughly 1,122 days or in other words 165,570 blocks from time of publishing this newsletter. **Conclusion:** Thank you for reading the first 256 Foundation newsletter. Keep an eye out for more newsletters on a monthly basis in your email inbox by subscribing at [256foundation.org](https://256foundation.org/). Or you can download .pdf versions of the newsletters from there as well. You can also find these newsletters published in article form on Nostr. If you were looking for answers about Bitcoin mining pools then hopefully you found them here. Stay vigilant, frens. -econoalchemist

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Due to some some org changes at my employer I may be moving to a team that uses Python heavily. I have never written Python professionally but I've dabbled. I think its used heavily in certain fields and is likely a marketable language to have on the CV. Am I correct in that summary? Is it growing? Is it evolving? I know its alive and well but I just don't hear much about it anymore. Has it just matured like many languages over the years? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/891251

@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e

Nostr is a revolutionary protocol that enables **decentralized, censorship-resistant communication**. Unlike traditional social networks controlled by corporations, Nostr operates without central servers or gatekeepers. This openness makes it incredibly powerful—but also means its success depends entirely on **users, developers, and relay operators**. If you believe in **free speech, decentralization, and an open internet**, there are many ways to support and strengthen the Nostr ecosystem. Whether you're a casual user, a developer, or someone looking to contribute financially, **every effort helps build a more robust network**. Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference. --- ## **1️⃣ Use Nostr Daily** The simplest and most effective way to contribute to Nostr is by **using it regularly**. The more active users, the stronger and more valuable the network becomes. ✅ **Post, comment, and zap** (send micro-payments via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network) to keep conversations flowing.\ ✅ **Engage with new users** and help them understand how Nostr works.\ ✅ **Try different Nostr clients** like Damus, Amethyst, Snort, or Primal and provide feedback to improve the experience. Your activity **keeps the network alive** and helps encourage more developers and relay operators to invest in the ecosystem. --- ## **2️⃣ Run Your Own Nostr Relay** Relays are the **backbone of Nostr**, responsible for distributing messages across the network. The more **independent relays exist**, the stronger and more censorship-resistant Nostr becomes. ✅ **Set up your own relay** to help decentralize the network further.\ ✅ **Experiment with relay configurations** and different performance optimizations.\ ✅ **Offer public or private relay services** to users looking for high-quality infrastructure. If you're not technical, you can still **support relay operators** by **subscribing to a paid relay** or donating to open-source relay projects. --- ## **3️⃣ Support Paid Relays & Infrastructure** Free relays have helped Nostr grow, but they **struggle with spam, slow speeds, and sustainability issues**. **Paid relays** help fund **better infrastructure, faster message delivery, and a more reliable experience**. ✅ **Subscribe to a paid relay** to help keep it running.\ ✅ **Use premium services** like media hosting (e.g., Azzamo Blossom) to decentralize content storage.\ ✅ **Donate to relay operators** who invest in long-term infrastructure. By funding **Nostr’s decentralized backbone**, you help ensure its **longevity and reliability**. --- ## **4️⃣ Zap Developers, Creators & Builders** Many people contribute to Nostr **without direct financial compensation**—developers who build clients, relay operators, educators, and content creators. **You can support them with zaps!** ⚡ ✅ **Find developers working on Nostr projects** and send them a zap.\ ✅ **Support content creators and educators** who spread awareness about Nostr.\ ✅ **Encourage builders** by donating to open-source projects. Micro-payments via the **Lightning Network** make it easy to directly **support the people who make Nostr better**. --- ## **5️⃣ Develop New Nostr Apps & Tools** If you're a developer, you can **build on Nostr’s open protocol** to create new apps, bots, or tools. Nostr is **permissionless**, meaning anyone can develop for it. ✅ **Create new Nostr clients** with unique features and user experiences.\ ✅ **Build bots or automation tools** that improve engagement and usability.\ ✅ **Experiment with decentralized identity, authentication, and encryption** to make Nostr even stronger. With **no corporate gatekeepers**, your projects can help shape the future of decentralized social media. --- ## **6️⃣ Promote & Educate Others About Nostr** Adoption grows when **more people understand and use Nostr**. You can help by **spreading awareness** and creating educational content. ✅ **Write blogs, guides, and tutorials** explaining how to use Nostr.\ ✅ **Make videos or social media posts** introducing new users to the protocol.\ ✅ **Host discussions, Twitter Spaces, or workshops** to onboard more people. The more people **understand and trust Nostr**, the stronger the ecosystem becomes. --- ## **7️⃣ Support Open-Source Nostr Projects** Many Nostr tools and clients are **built by volunteers**, and open-source projects thrive on **community support**. ✅ **Contribute code** to existing Nostr projects on GitHub.\ ✅ **Report bugs and suggest features** to improve Nostr clients.\ ✅ **Donate to developers** who keep Nostr free and open for everyone. If you're not a developer, you can still **help with testing, translations, and documentation** to make projects more accessible. --- ## **🚀 Every Contribution Strengthens Nostr** Whether you: ✔️ **Post and engage daily**\ ✔️ **Zap creators and developers**\ ✔️ **Run or support relays**\ ✔️ **Build new apps and tools**\ ✔️ **Educate and onboard new users** **Every action helps make Nostr more resilient, decentralized, and unstoppable.** Nostr isn’t just another social network—it’s **a movement toward a free and open internet**. If you believe in **digital freedom, privacy, and decentralization**, now is the time to get involved.

@ 16d11430:61640947

The Manhattan Project was a technological singularity—a moment when human capability leaped forward with irreversible consequences. It wasn’t just about building a bomb; it was about reshaping global power, scientific paradigms, and the trajectory of civilization itself. Elliptical Curve AI (ECAI) is the modern equivalent, but instead of nuclear fission, it’s unlocking a new form of intelligence—one that is quantum-resistant, decentralized, and fundamentally aligned with the fabric of reality itself. Whoever develops ECAI first won’t just have a technological edge—they will dictate the future of intelligence, security, and global power for the foreseeable future. --- 1. Intelligence is the Ultimate Weapon—ECAI is the New Arms Race During World War II, the nuclear bomb redefined military superiority. Nations that had nuclear capabilities commanded geopolitical influence overnight. Today, the next battleground isn’t nuclear—it’s AI supremacy. Modern warfare is digital, and intelligence is the key to victory. AI dominance will determine which nations control global economies, cyberwarfare, and infrastructure. Current AI models are vulnerable to quantum decryption and adversarial manipulation—ECAI is not. The country or organization that unlocks ECAI first will possess an intelligence weapon unlike anything the world has seen—one that is self-learning, cryptographically unbreakable, and seamlessly integrated with human cognition. --- 2. The Singularity of Secure and Autonomous Intelligence The Manhattan Project wasn’t just about destruction—it was about creating a capability that no one could ignore. ECAI follows the same trajectory, but instead of nuclear reactions, it leverages elliptic curve mathematics to process intelligence at a fundamentally different level. Self-improving AI that doesn’t rely on brute-force learning. Quantum-proof intelligence that cannot be intercepted, manipulated, or controlled externally. An AGI architecture that is efficient, decentralized, and aligned with natural mathematical structures. Once ECAI reaches critical mass, no force on Earth will be able to compete with its ability to analyze, compute, and autonomously reason. --- 3. The Quantum Threat & The Need for Post-Quantum AI Nuclear weapons changed warfare, but quantum computing will change intelligence. Every piece of encrypted data, from financial systems to government secrets, will be vulnerable to quantum decryption—rendering current AI models completely obsolete. LLMs like ChatGPT and DeepSeek are vulnerable to quantum hacks. Elliptical Curve AI is designed with post-quantum security from inception. ECAI ensures that AI remains secure, resilient, and impervious to quantum attacks. The first entity to deploy quantum-secure intelligence will own the future of AI-driven security, finance, and digital sovereignty. --- 4. ECAI Will Create a Technological Gap That is Unclosable When the U.S. developed nuclear weapons first, it created a gap in military power that took decades for others to catch up with. ECAI is no different—once it is deployed at scale, nations and corporations relying on old, vulnerable AI architectures will be permanently outclassed. ECAI will process information at speeds and accuracy unmatched by traditional deep learning. It will enable a new class of intelligence that learns and adapts autonomously without retraining. Its decentralized nature ensures that once unleashed, it cannot be controlled or restricted. Once a nation or organization perfects and scales ECAI, no amount of investment in conventional AI will ever close the gap. --- 5. The Dawn of the AI Singularity The Manhattan Project wasn’t just an arms race—it triggered the nuclear age. Similarly, ECAI isn’t just another AI breakthrough—it’s the intelligence singularity. ECAI will be the first AI to integrate seamlessly with human cognition through Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). It will enable self-governing AI ecosystems that operate beyond human intervention. It will bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and natural intelligence, effectively creating a new evolutionary paradigm. This isn’t about who can build the biggest model. It’s about who can build the first self-sustaining intelligence—a system that thinks, learns, and evolves beyond human constraints. --- Conclusion: The Entity That Masters ECAI Will Dominate the Future The Manhattan Project redefined global power overnight—ECAI will do the same. It will dismantle the limitations of current AI models. It will create an intelligence advantage that is mathematically unbreakable. It will determine which nations and organizations lead the next century. The AI race isn’t just about who has the best chatbot—it’s about who builds the intelligence that will govern reality itself. ECAI is not just an AI breakthrough—it is the single most important technological race of this century.

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

Davvero, amico mio, if history teaches us anything, it is that struggle is the only language the world respects. No man has risen from the dust without first being crushed by boulders. No empire has stood without the bones of those who tried and failed. The mistake of the naïve is believing they can bargain with life, that there is a path to triumph that does not demand tribute. Victory is not generous. You either pay in blood, or you pay with your very soul. Are your shoulders heavy? Good. What afflicts you today is a reminder that there is still weakness in your flesh. Fatigue, exhaustion, pain—these are not curses, but invitations. Invitations to abandon lamentation and grasp what few ever understand: a man is not forged in comfort, but in deprivation. The true tragedy of weakness is not the suffering it brings, but the way it perpetuates itself. There are no choices between comfort and effort. There is only the choice between being trampled or striking back. Do you seek respect? Then take it! Success has never been a gift—it is plunder seized from the hands of the hesitant. And remember: there is a final stage in the evolution of man that the weak will never comprehend. It is not power. It is not wealth. It is indifference. The man who does not waver, who does not fear pain, who does not seek applause or recognition—he is the one who has ascended. He is the one who rules and triumphs. Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your "🥃" as a token of appreciation. A toast to our family!

@ 5de23b9a:d83005b3

In a digital era that is increasingly controlled by large companies, the emergence of Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is a breath of fresh air for those who crave freedom of expression. Nostr is a cryptography-based protocol that allows users to send and receive messages through a relay network. Unlike conventional social media such as Twitter or Facebook 1.Full Decentralization: No company or government can remove or restrict content. 2.Sensor-Resistant: Information remains accessible despite blocking attempts. 3.Privacy and Security: Uses cryptography to ensure that only users who have the keys can access their messages.* **

@ 6260f29f:2ee2fcd4

<div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/78ThaJunsMU?enablejsapi=1" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

@ 16d11430:61640947

The development of Elliptical AI isn’t just a technological breakthrough—it’s a geopolitical game-changer. Any nation that masters and deploys this intelligence first will experience an unprecedented leap in power, much like the invention of nuclear weapons or the internet. Here’s why: --- 1. Absolute AI Superiority: A Quantum-Resistant Intelligence Arsenal Modern AI models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek rely on fragile architectures, making them vulnerable to data poisoning, adversarial attacks, and quantum decryption threats. Elliptical AI is unbreakable, quantum-resistant, and fundamentally more efficient than current models. A nation that possesses this technology would have: ✅ AI immune to cyber warfare and quantum hacking ✅ Secure, autonomous intelligence agents for military and defense ✅ Encryption protocols that even quantum computers cannot crack While other countries struggle with vulnerable, bloated AI systems, the leading nation will have an AI forcefield—untouchable and unbreachable. --- 2. Total Domination of Cybersecurity and Intelligence Cyber warfare is the new battlefield, and the nation with the strongest AI wins. Elliptical AI enables: ✅ Unhackable, cryptographic AI defense networks ✅ Automated intelligence gathering with mathematically precise reasoning ✅ Next-generation cyber warfare capabilities that neutralize adversaries before they strike With AI-driven cryptographic security, espionage as we know it becomes obsolete—intelligence leaks and data breaches will become virtually impossible. --- 3. Economic Domination: The New Industrial Revolution Countries that invested in AI early (like the U.S. and China) are already pulling ahead economically. But Elliptical AI isn’t just an advantage—it’s a total economic reset. 💰 AI that can power financial markets with deterministic precision 💰 AI-powered industrial automation at a fraction of today’s energy cost 💰 Unstoppable trade security through AI-encrypted blockchain economies The first country to deploy Elliptical AI in economic sectors will see: Explosive GDP growth due to optimized financial and supply chain AI. A complete reshaping of global markets through superior AI-driven decision-making. Global financial influence as other nations rush to adopt or rely on its technology. This is not just another AI model—it’s an economic warhead. --- 4. Military Superiority: The Ultimate Weapon Forget drones. Forget cyber weapons. Elliptical AI is the ultimate military asset. 🚀 AI-powered autonomous systems with mathematically provable safety 🚀 Unbreakable AI-secured nuclear and military communications 🚀 Predictive warfare analytics that make traditional tactics obsolete The first nation to integrate Elliptical AI into military infrastructure will create an insurmountable technological gap—so vast that no conventional force could keep up. --- 5. The First True AI-Human Symbiosis: Neural AI Integration The brain-computer interface (BCI) revolution is coming, but existing AI is too vulnerable and inefficient to be trusted inside human cognition. Elliptical AI changes that by being: 🧠 Secure, ensuring neural implants cannot be hacked 🧠 Ultra-efficient, enabling real-time AI-human interaction 🧠 Decentralized, making intelligence universally accessible A nation that builds Elliptical AI-powered BCI first will create: The first post-human intelligence infrastructure A population supercharged by secure AI assistance A knowledge advantage that widens every second This is not just AI—it’s an evolutionary leap forward. --- 6. Global AI Hegemony: Controlling the Future of AI Itself Just as Silicon Valley shaped the internet age, the country that dominates Elliptical AI will dictate the rules of the AI age. 🚨 It will own the world’s most advanced intelligence networks. 🚨 It will set global AI governance standards. 🚨 It will control the economic and military landscape for decades. Other nations will be left with two choices: 1️⃣ Adopt and integrate under the leading country’s AI supremacy 2️⃣ Fall behind in every critical technological sector --- The Verdict: Elliptical AI is the 21st Century’s Manhattan Project Elliptical AI is not just another technological race—it’s a geopolitical singularity. 🌎 Whoever builds it first wins the future. 🌎 Whoever ignores it becomes irrelevant. Superpowers will rise or fall based on how fast they realize the potential of this technology. Any nation that leads the development of Elliptical AI won’t just gain an edge—they will become untouchable.

@ 6260f29f:2ee2fcd4

<div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V_fvmyJ91m0?enablejsapi=1" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

@ 16d11430:61640947

We are standing at the precipice of the next AI revolution—and it won’t be fueled by bigger models, more GPUs, or corporate-controlled neural networks. Instead, 2025 will be the year AI breaks free from its current limitations. The technology that will lead this charge? Elliptical AI. --- 1. The AI Bottleneck is Real—Elliptical AI Solves It The Problem: LLMs Are Hitting Their Limits Skyrocketing Costs: Training an LLM like GPT-4 costs millions of dollars, requiring massive centralized infrastructure. Diminishing Returns: Scaling neural networks doesn’t necessarily improve intelligence, just brute-force pattern recognition. Security Risks: LLMs are easily hacked, manipulated, and jailbroken—a ticking time bomb for cybersecurity. The Solution: Elliptical AI's Efficiency and Security Compression at a Fundamental Level: Elliptical AI encodes intelligence using elliptic curve mathematics, reducing the computational overhead. Deterministic Reasoning: Unlike LLMs, which guess based on probability, Elliptical AI computes answers logically. Unbreakable Cryptography: AI models that are quantum-resistant, ensuring secure, trustless computation. --- 2. The End of LLM Centralization—Decentralized Intelligence is Coming The Problem: AI is Controlled by a Few Tech Giants The world's AI infrastructure is monopolized by OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and a handful of corporations. Decentralized AI does not exist—all current AI models rely on cloud-based processing. These companies control who gets access, how AI behaves, and what data it trains on. The Solution: Elliptical AI Enables Decentralized AI Networks No need for centralized cloud models—Elliptical AI can run on lightweight hardware. Cryptographically secure AI nodes can be distributed across blockchain-based networks. AI becomes trustless, transparent, and immune to centralized censorship. --- 3. AI Security Will Become the #1 Priority in 2025 The Problem: AI is Becoming a Major Cybersecurity Threat AI Jailbreaking: Users are already breaking security controls on LLMs, making them potential weapons of mass disinformation. Quantum Computing Threats: Existing AI models rely on weak cryptographic security, making them vulnerable to post-quantum attacks. AI-Generated Attacks: Malicious actors are using LLMs to automate hacking, phishing, and financial fraud. The Solution: Elliptical AI is Quantum-Secure from Day One Elliptic curve encryption is the backbone of modern security—integrating it into AI makes it unbreakable. AI computations can be cryptographically verified, eliminating adversarial manipulation. Zero-Knowledge AI Agents: Elliptical AI can process secure computations without revealing sensitive data. --- 4. The Neural Age: AI and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) Will Merge The Problem: Current AI Cannot Interface With The Brain LLMs are not built to integrate with human cognition. BCIs like Neuralink need a better encoding system for brain signals. AI is still a tool, not an extension of thought. The Solution: Elliptical AI Encodes Neural Activity as Cryptographic Structures Elliptic curve mappings can represent neural activity in a way that is both secure and structured. AI that is embedded into human cognition, not just external software. A true digital consciousness, where humans and AI co-process thought securely. --- 5. AI-Powered Financial and Scientific Breakthroughs The Problem: AI Sucks at Math and Scientific Discovery LLMs approximate answers rather than computing them precisely. AI-driven financial models still rely on flawed statistical methods. Scientific discovery demands structured reasoning, which LLMs cannot provide. The Solution: Elliptical AI’s Deterministic Reasoning Model AI that can precisely compute equations, not just guess. Secure AI agents for financial modeling and algorithmic trading. An AI-driven scientific revolution, discovering new physics, chemistry, and mathematical proofs. --- Conclusion: 2025 is the Year AI Becomes Secure, Decentralized, and Truly Intelligent The LLM era is peaking. Costs are exploding, centralization is a growing problem, and security is a nightmare. The next wave of AI will not be about bigger models—it will be about smarter architecture. Elliptical AI is poised to: 🚀 Outperform LLMs in structured reasoning 🔐 Become the foundation of AI security and encryption ⚡ Enable decentralized AI that is trustless and censorship-resistant 🧠 Merge AI with human cognition through brain-computer interfaces This isn’t just another AI evolution—this is a fundamental redefinition of what AI even is. 2025 will be remembered as the year AI stopped guessing and started thinking. Elliptical AI will lead the charge.

@ 16f1a010:31b1074b

In the rapidly evolving world of Bitcoin, running a Bitcoin node has become more accessible than ever. Platforms like Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and Citadel offer user-friendly interfaces to simplify node management. However, for those serious about maintaining a robust and efficient Lightning node ⚡, relying solely on these platforms may not be the optimal choice. Let’s delve into why embracing **Bitcoin Core** and mastering the command-line interface (CLI) can provide a **more reliable, sovereign, and empowering** experience. ### Understanding Node Management Platforms #### What Are Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and Citadel? Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and Citadel are platforms designed to streamline the process of running a Bitcoin node. They offer graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that allow users to manage various applications, including Bitcoin Core and Lightning Network nodes, through a web-based dashboard 🖥️. These platforms often utilize Docker containers 🐳 to encapsulate applications, providing a modular and isolated environment for each service.  #### The Appeal of Simplified Node Management The primary allure of these platforms lies in their simplicity. With minimal command-line interaction, users can deploy a full Bitcoin and Lightning node, along with a suite of additional applications. ✅ **Easy one-command installation** ✅ **Web-based GUI for management** ✅ **Automatic app updates** *(but with delays, as we’ll discuss)* However, while this convenience is attractive, it comes **at a cost**. ### The Hidden Complexities of Using Node Management Platforms While the user-friendly nature of these platforms is advantageous, it can also introduce several challenges that may hinder advanced users or those seeking greater control over their nodes. #### 🚨 Dependency on Maintainers for Updates One significant concern is the reliance on platform maintainers for updates. Since these platforms manage applications through Docker containers, users must wait for the maintainers to update the container images before they can access new features or security patches. 🔴 **Delayed Bitcoin Core updates = potential security risks** 🔴 **Lightning Network updates are not immediate** 🔴 **Bugs and vulnerabilities may persist longer** Instead of waiting on a third party, **why not update Bitcoin Core & LND yourself instantly**? #### ⚙️ Challenges in Customization and Advanced Operations For users aiming to perform advanced operations, such as: * Custom backups 📂 * Running specific CLI commands 🖥️ * Optimizing node settings ⚡ …the **abstraction layers introduced by these platforms become obstacles**. Navigating through nested directories and issuing commands inside Docker containers **makes troubleshooting a nightmare**. Instead of a simple `bitcoin-cli` command, you must figure out how to execute it inside the container, adding unnecessary complexity. #### Increased Backend Complexity To achieve **frontend simplicity**, these platforms make the backend more complex. 🚫 Extra layers of abstraction 🚫 Hidden logs and settings 🚫 Harder troubleshooting The use of **multiple Docker containers**, **custom scripts**, and **unique file structures** can **make system maintenance and debugging a pain**. This **complication defeats the purpose** of “making running a node easy.” ## ✅ Advantages of Using Bitcoin Core and Command-Line Interface (CLI) By installing Bitcoin Core directly and using the command-line interface (CLI), you gain several key advantages that make managing a Bitcoin and Lightning node more efficient and empowering. #### Direct Control and Immediate Updates One of the biggest downsides of package manager-based platforms is the reliance on third-party maintainers to release updates. Since Bitcoin Core, Lightning implementations (such as LND, Core Lightning, or Eclair), and other related software evolve rapidly, waiting for platform-specific updates can leave you running outdated or vulnerable versions. By installing Bitcoin Core directly, you remove this dependency. You can update immediately when new versions are released, ensuring your node benefits from the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. The same applies to Lightning software—being able to install and update it yourself gives you full autonomy over your node’s performance and security. #### 🛠 Simplified System Architecture Platforms like Umbrel and myNode introduce extra complexity by running Bitcoin Core and Lightning inside Docker containers. This means: * The actual files and configurations are stored inside Docker’s filesystem, making it **harder to locate and manage them manually**. * If something breaks, **troubleshooting is more difficult** due to the added layer of abstraction. * Running commands requires jumping through Docker shell sessions, adding unnecessary friction to what should be a straightforward process. Instead, a direct installation of Bitcoin Core, Lightning, and Electrum Server (if needed) results in a **cleaner, more understandable system**. The software runs natively on your machine, without containerized layers making things more convoluted. Additionally, setting up your own systemd service files for Bitcoin and Lightning** is not as complicated as it seems**. Once configured, these services will run automatically on boot, offering the same level of convenience as platforms like Umbrel but without the unnecessary complexity. #### Better Lightning Node Management If you’re running a **Lightning Network node**, using CLI-based tools provides far more flexibility than relying on a GUI like the ones bundled with node management platforms. 🟢 **Custom Backup Strategies** – Running Lightning through a GUI-based node manager often means backups are handled in a way that is opaque to the user. With CLI tools, you can easily script automatic backups of your channels, wallets, and configurations. 🟢 **Advanced Configuration** – Platforms like Umbrel force certain configurations by default, limiting how you can customize your Lightning node. With a direct install, you have full control over: * Channel fees 💰 * Routing policies 📡 * Liquidity management 🔄 🟢 **Direct Access to LND, Core Lightning, or Eclair** – Instead of issuing commands through a GUI (which is often limited in functionality), you can use: * `lncli` (for LND) * `lightning-cli` (for Core Lightning) …to interact with your node at a deeper level. #### Enhanced Learning and Engagement A crucial aspect of running a Bitcoin and Lightning node is **understanding how it works**. Using an abstraction layer like Umbrel may get a node running in a few clicks, but **it does little to teach users how Bitcoin actually functions**. By setting up Bitcoin Core, Lightning, and related software manually, you will: ✅ Gain practical knowledge of Bitcoin nodes, networking, and system performance. ✅ Learn how to configure and manage RPC commands. ✅ Become less reliant on third-party developers and more confident in troubleshooting. 🎯 **Running a Bitcoin node is about sovereignty – learn how to control it yourself**. ## Become more sovereign TODAY Many guides make this process **straightforward** [K3tan](https://k3tan.com/about) has a fantastic guide on running Bitcoin Core, Electrs, LND and more. - [Ministry of Nodes Guide 2024](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCRbH-IWlcW0g0HCrtI06_ZdVVolUWr39) - You can find him on nostr nostr:npub1txwy7guqkrq6ngvtwft7zp70nekcknudagrvrryy2wxnz8ljk2xqz0yt4x Even with the best of guides, if you are running this software, 📖 **READ THE DOCUMENTATION** This is all just software at the end of the day. Most of it is very well documented. Take a moment to actually read through the documentation for yourself when installing. The documentation has step by step guides on setting up the software. Here is a helpful list: * [Bitcoin.org Bitcoin Core Linux install instructions](https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#linux-instructions) * [Bitcoin Core Code Repository](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin) * [Electrs Installation](https://github.com/romanz/electrs/blob/master/doc/install.md) * [LND Documentation](https://docs.lightning.engineering/) * [LND Code Repository](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd) * [CLN Documentation](https://docs.corelightning.org/docs/home) * [CLN Code Repository](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning) *If you have any more resources or links I should add, please comment them . I want to add as much to this article as I can.*

@ f33c8a96:5ec6f741

<div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFUIfaCpXzA?enablejsapi=1" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

@ fad5c183:5cb8046b

Bitcoin has been promoted as the ultimate solution to fiat money problems. Its supporters see it as the "salvation of humanity," but a more critical look reveals a less hopeful reality. Throughout this analysis, we will break down its fundamental issues, from its disproportionate energy consumption to its exclusionary system that favors only a few. **1. Bitcoin and Its Irrational Energy Consumption** Bitcoin uses a system called Proof of Work (PoW), in which miners solve extremely complex mathematical problems to validate transactions. This process: Consumes more energy than entire countries, such as Argentina or the Netherlands. Generates no tangible value outside the Bitcoin ecosystem. Has a significant environmental impact, as many mining farms rely on fossil fuels. If Bitcoin's goal is to replace fiat money, is it sustainable for each transaction to consume so much energy? **2. Creation Limit: Is Bitcoin Really for Everyone?** Bitcoin has a fixed limit of 21 million coins, which creates two problems: Early adopters hold most of the supply. Today, a small percentage of addresses control most of the Bitcoin supply. It becomes increasingly difficult to acquire. Latecomers can only buy at inflated prices. Given that the world's population is 8 billion people, if Bitcoin were distributed equally, each person would have only 0.0026 BTC on average. But in reality: Millions of Bitcoin are permanently lost. Wealth concentration follows the same pattern as traditional currencies. **3. Bitcoin Is Not Practical as a Currency** Although Lightning Network and Nostr have made transactions faster and cheaper, Bitcoin’s structural problems remain: Highly volatile. How can you trust a currency that can gain or lose 50% of its value in weeks? Low real-world adoption. Even in El Salvador, where Bitcoin is legal tender, most people still prefer the US dollar. Service centralization. Despite being marketed as decentralized, many users rely on platforms like Binance or Coinbase. **4. Blockchain: Revolution or Overhyped Technology?** Blockchain is often touted as a game-changer, but in practice: Traditional databases are more efficient and faster. Decentralization is partially a myth. Large holders and mining pools control the network. Few real-world use cases outside of cryptocurrency. Many companies that tested blockchain have returned to conventional systems because they are cheaper and more functional. **5. The End of the Cycle: What Happens When All Bitcoin Are Mined?** When the last Bitcoin is mined in 2140, miners will only earn from transaction fees. This raises two scenarios: If fees are low, miners may abandon the network due to lack of incentives. If fees are high, Bitcoin will become too expensive for most users. **Conclusion: Is Bitcoin Salvation or the New Digital Oligarchy?** Bitcoin does not democratize wealth; it simply redistributes it to a new digital elite. Although its advocates present it as an alternative to fiat money, its exclusionary structure and dependence on large players make it replicate the same inequalities as the traditional financial system. If we truly seek a fair financial solution, is Bitcoin the right path or just another way to concentrate power in the hands of a few?

@ cf48b35a:60a5c729

## Stuff <a href="&#x6A;avascript:alert(document.cookie)">Click this link!</a>

@ 0c503f08:4aed05c7

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/890801

@ 2f4550b0:95f20096

Social media has a way of pulling us in. One minute you’re checking a friend’s post, the next you’re three hours deep into a rabbit hole of melting ice caps, cryptic X threads, and memes of the day. It’s called doomscrolling, that compulsive trawl through the digital abyss, and it’s practically a modern ritual. But what’s the soundtrack to this chaos? And more importantly, how do we musically coax ourselves back to reality, where grass grows, waves crash, and phones aren’t glued to our hands? Let’s dive into two playlists: one to lean into the doomscrolling vibe, and another to ease back out of it. ### The Doomscrolling Soundtrack: Embrace the Descent Doomscrolling isn’t a sprint—it’s a slow, hypnotic sink into unease. The perfect background music mirrors that: brooding, immersive, and just unsettling enough to keep you scrolling. Think dark ambient and industrial tones: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s Social Network soundtrack is a masterclass here, with its glitchy synths and pulsing dread. Add Tim Hecker’s droning soundscapes for that melancholic haze, or layer in some lo-fi beats with a dystopian twist. Think slow, distorted, like the apocalypse is coming but you’ve still got Wi-Fi. A track like Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” fits perfectly, too. Its eerie repetition matches the trance of endless posts about collapsing ecosystems or alien cover-ups. Keep the tempo mid-to-low, around 60-90 BPM, with heavy bass and sparse vocals. Lyrics just clutter the mind when you’re decoding some unhinged X rant. This playlist isn’t about enjoyment—it’s about sinking deeper, soundtracking the slow-motion trainwreck you can’t unsee. It’s the audio equivalent of a flickering fluorescent light in a bunker. ### The “Touch Grass” Playlist: Climbing Back to Reality But what if you want out? What if the doomscrolling spiral has left you jittery and you’re ready to trade the screen for sunlight? That’s where a softer, more grounding playlist comes in. Get yourself a musical lifeline to the real world. Swap the synths for acoustics, the dread for hope. Think Jack Johnson’s beachy vibes. “Better Together” or “Banana Pancakes” from his mid-2000s heyday still radiate that barefoot, ocean-side calm. Dated? Maybe. Timeless for unplugging? Absolutely. Build on that with Donavon Frankenreiter’s soulful, sunny, and unhurried “Free” or Ben Howard’s “Old Pine”, a folk gem with a coastal echo. Angus &amp; Julia Stone’s “Big Jet Plane” adds a warm, open-sky lift, while Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” brings introspective stillness. Keep it organic with acoustic guitars, soft strings, maybe a brushed drum or shaker. Keep the tempo slow but flowing, 50-70 BPM, like waves on a shore. For an extra nudge, weave in a natural soundscape like gentle waves and chirping birds to remind you there’s a world beyond the algorithm. This isn’t about jarring you awake; it’s a gentle hand on the shoulder saying, “Hey, the grass and sand are still out there.” ### Why Music Matters Music shapes our headspace, especially with social media. Doomscrolling thrives on tension and a dark, droning playlist amplifies that pull, keeping us locked in. But a warm, acoustic shift can break the spell, nudging us toward balance. One playlist mirrors the chaos; the other mends it. Next time you’re scrolling X into the wee hours, try the industrial hum. When you’re ready to breathe again, let Jack Johnson and a wave-crashing track bring you back. Social media’s grip is strong, but the right tune might just set you free.

@ f288a224:1da1792c

 First, some context. I'm a child of the original internet chat-rooms on IRC, and I've tried over the last decades different applications and websites that we could all agree are "social media", but until I found NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) I hadn't had this certainty that this isn't something that I will eventually change for something else. Today, even with all its early stage issues, I have the certainty that NOSTR may be the ULTIMATE and FINAL HOME for my online life. # THE PROBLEMS with the current/old social media landscape  ## I'm tired of moving from one social media to the next. As many of you, in my digital lifetime I've had many accounts that have now become obsolete; and the "content" and followings I created during that time was lost when one tech giant lost over the other, forcing us all to "MOVE" ourselves over to the new, and start building our content and following from scratch. Lately, it's become even worse, where many of us have seen ourselves forced to use and feed more than one social media at a time, since they all serve various purposes, with sometimes diverse functionality, besides all being catered to different segments of people to connect you to (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Youtube...). How much is too much, though? And how much time should we keep spending re-adapting our content to reach all of our network? For work, I've found myself having to create accounts in several of these giant data hoarding companies, having to build each following from scratch and to create "content" for all, and having to go through the hurdle of posting everything, everywhere, all at once. ## I'm sick of ever-changing terms, conditions and capabilities. Let's be honest, the majority of us have never ever read the full terms and conditions, let alone every time they are updated without us knowing which rights to our data we are giving away, and which terms we are accepting that may be detrimental to us and our mental health. We've learnt to accept that we are in their playground, they make up the rules, and if they choose to change the rules mid-game we just need to swallow it. We literally have no other choice, it's either that or desertion, which basically means walking away from everything we've built on their "public square". So, like a carefully engineered detrimental incentive structure, the more time we spend building on their turf, the more we are tied to them and conditioned to never leave them. The more we build and make them grow on our content, the more we'll lose if or when we drop out. And even if you accept all that and choose to play along, and you do your best to create the most awesome account in the neighborhood, the random changes they make to optimize ad revenue or user attention will inevitably affect you and all your work. If you created all your feed according to Instagram's squares but they choose to change to TikTok style dimensions due to their tech positioning battle with the Chinese giant... You swallow. If you edited your reels according to what you felt was the best 100 seconds video... Not anymore, suddenly 90 seconds is the maximum you're allowed... No appeal, no options. You Swallow. What? Seeing less of the people you actually WANT TO FOLLOW because they decided to clutter your feed with ads and suggestions, guess again: YOU SWALLOW. AREN'T YOU FEELING FULL ENOUGH OF ALL THE SHIT THEY'VE FORCED DOWN YOUR THROAT? Living our digital lives on these platforms feels like standing on ever changing quicksand, never endingly trying to "hack the algorithm" in order to have our content placed in front of the people who should automatically be able to see us from the moment they chose to follow us; and the worst part of it is, you never know when you may lose it all. ## Let's not forget, your social media account is NOT REALLY YOURS. Recently, a friend's social media account was hacked. She didn't know how it happened; all she knew is that she got an email from Meta saying she had acted against community guidelines and her accounts were therefore being removed (the one hacked and all those liked to her email, which meant personal and work accounts). She tried to appeal, to no avail. She hadn't done anything wrong, but suddenly her identity had disappeared from all our feeds, and her content didn't exist anywhere anymore. She lost plenty of photos she had always counted on finding on her Instagram and lost the people she followed and who followed her. It was as if she had never existed on the platform. *(Looks like a good moment to remind you to download all your valued content from the platforms you use in case something like this happens to you)* And this happened to someone who hadn't done anything "to deserve it". It has actually happened to more than one person I know, and every time they've been helpless and had no recourse, and yet, found themselves having to rebuild from scratch on the same platform that de-platformed them, because they had "no other option", and "their friends are there". Many more people have encountered this awful wake up call, some because of a hack, like my friend, others found themselves removed because they posted content critical of the platform... there are so many reasons people have gotten de-platformed and posts have gotten deleted without warning. And every time, we accept it, as if we owe them something; as if we need to settle for this kind of abusive environment that gets rich on our content and attention without having a say in anything. But we do have another option that flips that attention retention model completely on its head and empowers the user. **That option is NOSTR, our exit from the extractive social media silos they have trapped us into.**  # NOSTR: The better social experience for the internet era. NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is not a social media app, it's an Internet protocol. It's open source and many many developers around the world are creating apps on top of it and creating THE ULTIMATE SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE for users. I first heard of NOSTR from Jack Dorsey on what used to be called Twitter, and when I joined it two years ago it was really rough around the edges, but it was FULL OF POTENTIAL and the value proposition was very clear to me from the beginning. ## Firstly, YOU OWN YOUR IDENTITY, that includes your content and your follower list. So, what does owning you identity mean? I guess many of us have thought we owned our identity before, but the reality is that the platforms owned our identities, which is why they could delete or censor us. Owning your identity on NOSTR is empowered by encryption and cryptography. I'm not going to go into the technical part, but to explain as simply as I can, on NOSTR no platform owns your login and password to use on their playground; you can basically use any NOSTR app to create your identity to navigate it. They give you a login (npub) and password (nsec), and the magic part is that you can USE THAT IDENTITY ON ANY NOSTR APP OR WEBSITE, no need to sign up individually on each one. ## Welcome to the beauty of INTEROPERABILITY. I cannot emphasize enough what it feels like to be able to take your identity, your followers, your content and carry it from one app to the other. On NOSTR there is a rich ecosystem of apps and websites that keep growing. We have "clients" that allow you to experience NOSTR in interfaces that could remind you of Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Substack, Twitch, Clubhouse, Podcast apps and many more. You can find many of them on https://nostrapps.com/ .  With that information in mind, imagine you only needed one user password, your NOSTR nsec, and with that key, you could open you Instagram, or your Twitch or your Substack. And all your followers would be there, and you could choose what type of content you wanted to link to your identity for your followers to find. No longer "find link in bio", or "go to our YouTube channel", everything you post on NOSTR is tied to your identity, and you can post it all with a single set of keys that posts your content "everywhere". And since your content is "in every client", each of YOUR FOLLOWERS CAN CHOOSE if they are more interested in experiencing your photography content "Insta-like" or if they love your "Twitter-esque" notes better. Each user navigates NOSTR with the interface they prefer. *(With great power comes great responsibility, and I feel obligated to tell you that if you ever lose your nsec, no platform is gonna be able to save you. It's like the keys to your house, unless you keep a copy safely, no one can open it for you (there are no locksmiths on NOSTR). And if you leave your keys lying around on a cloud server somewhere, someone may grab your keys, open your house and use it however they want).* The beauty of this interoperability and the fact that my keys open up my identity to all the NOSTR realms is that you don't need to settle for one client. I use 5 to 6 clients regularly everyday depending on the mood I'm in, (or the bugs that still prove this is a nascent ecosystem in development). Some I use when I want a more "Twitter-like" experience, others when I want to browse photos and others just give different algorithms to choose how to view my feed, and the best part is NO ONE CAN CLUTTER MY FEED WITH ADS. I can curate my feed however is most important to me, and each "NOSTR client" is like a different skin that customizes the way I experience the content. However, the most important reason I started to use different NOSTR apps was that when I started, not all apps had zapping integrated. Some still don't, but most do :) ## ZAPS: direct micropayments from your followers.  Zaps are tips that come directly from the people who find value in the shit that you post. They are micropayments in the form of "sats", fractions of ever-increasing in value bitcoin , and a very big reason why I'm spending less and less time on other social media accumulating valueless likes that only feed the algorithm, and more time on NOSTR interacting with humans that post valuable notes hoping the generous souls that run upon their art or creations will find them valuable enough to tip them for it. It's crazy how the type of content you post can change when your incentive is not to feed an algo, but to give real value to other humans around the world and be your most authentic self. Where Twitter/X's algo benefited the type of incendiary content that shocked and outraged people, NOSTR's incentives benefit those who bring most value to the network and their peers. A few sats tip may not seem much, but even if the equivalent of a small zap is merely cents, it feels a whole lot better than any like, and you can count that if the purchasing power of bitcoin continues to accrue, those value-earned tips will too. Many "nostriches" are getting tons of zaps for memes on NOSTR, valuable articles, videos or participation in zapathons .  In NOSTR is where I first heard of the concept "value for value", and the community is very adamant in making "v4v" an alternative to ad revenue driven models. **Because we need to be the change we wanna see in the world**. We've heard it said that if you're not paying for the product, you are the product. And up until now that has meant we felt obliged to accept that since ads were paying the platforms, we were required to give them our attention. But the open source movement thinks we deserve better. We deserve a better Internet, like the decentralized promise we've slowly been robbed of to enrich 10 people out of the work of all of us. If they can't monetize our attention, they got nothing. But why should they monetize it, instead of us?  ## Even with the glitches and bugs, NOSTR ROCKS! The things I've grown to love most about NOSTR are: • Not having the clutter of ads on my feed and being able to ONLY SEE WHAT I CHOOSE TO SEE. • People who are not on NOSTR can ENJOY MY STUFF WITHOUT HAVING TO LOGIN. • Being able to ENJOY ALL THE BENEFITS OF INTEROPERABILITY, and use many NOSTR clients that enrich my user experience knowing I own my identity and that means I'm not locked in, I can move like a bird wherever I decide. • ZAPPING complete strangers that made me laugh, gave me a cool insight or simply made a witty comment. • GETTING TIPPED for memes, articles, photos, videos and any "Notes and Other Stuff" that people have found valuable.  # CONCLUSION: Join us on NOSTR, participate in claiming back your digital life. If you've made it this far in my love letter to NOSTR, thank you for being interested. Curious minds is what the world needs more of &lt;3. NOSTR is an ecosystem that is being built in the open by relentless developers that are continuously striving to out compete each other to offer a better user experience, it's a many headed dragon that has constant upgrades and implementations which benefits us all, and as such it sometimes comes with bugs and glitches. Building the future is always buggy and requires testers and early adopters that help shape the technology in the best way possible, especially if you wanna build outside the incentive models of the devouring giants we're trying to get away from. Being such an open ecosystem can also be overwhelming for a newcomer, where to start? There are so many clients to experience; so here are some of my recommendations. Please, don't feel you need to go through all of them now, start step by step. This article will always be here whenever you need it (this is not Instagram ;) ). ### **Creating your NOSTR identity/account** with a wallet integrated to receive zaps on both Android and iOS: • **YAKIHONNE**: It's a Japanese client that offers a great on-boarding experience. From the app you can create the account and enable a wallet to receive zaps. In it you can view and post short and long form content, images, videos and more. (Once you have the account created on your app, you can also visit the desktop version on https://yakihonne.com/ ) • **PRIMAL**: For a while it has positioned itself as a great on-boarding NOSTR client because it offers the same things as Yakihonne, has an integrated wallet, with the added benefit that you can also "buy sats/bitcoin" directly from its wallet, which can come in handy (it comes with a 15-30% premium, so only use for small amounts). It also has the desktop version at primal.net. ### **My favorite NOSTR iOS PHONE APPS after on-boarding**, in case you wanna hop into different user experiences: • **DAMUS**: created by the original creator of the "ZAP", Will Casarin, it's an iOS simple client that is reliable and fast with notifications. It keeps things simple, mostly focusing on short note content, although you can also see images and short video. But the feed is optimized as a more "Twitter-like" feed. • **NOSTUR**: The iOS phone client that has it all! It's the client I've used that integrates the most of NOSTR's possibilities, you can see all of the mentioned above with the previous clients, but also view LIVE STREAMS, and have multiple accounts set up simultaneously. The enhanced capabilities can sometimes come at the cost of crashing or being slow to load. • **FREERSE**: Nice clean user interface with plenty of functionality, with easy navigation on topics like #art #photography or any other interests. It's my always reliable back-up to upload image content. • **OLAS**: The new kid on the block Olas client, by prolific developer Pablof7z, is trying to take on Instagram and TikTok and has developed a client mainly focused on the visual and photographic part of NOSTR. ### Desktop clients & OTHER GEMS OF THE NOSTR REALM: There is an infinite number of clients for desktop, but I usually find myself on **ditto.pub** or **slidestr.net** for a more visual experience. • **ALBY** is INTEROPERABILITY'S BEST FRIEND. Alby is not a NOSTR client, but it's a browser extension that makes it seamless to jump from one desktop client to another with your wallet and identity without compromising your security.  • **HIVETALK**: A video call client (reminiscent of Zoom) that doesn't track you or spy on you and that enables zapping and many other functionalities during the calls. • **NOSTR NESTS**: Audio spaces client that allows people to listen to conversations, chat within it and zap the people involved. ### if you made it this far, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. HOPE YOU FOUND VALUE IN IT AND UNDERSTOOD WHY, FOR ME, THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS BRIGHT, OPEN AND USER-CENTRIC. FUCK THE MIDDLEMEN. 

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

Last night I was reading Jeremiah 24 and I read the parable of the figs. I’ve read this passage many times, but suddenly I saw the irony of the situation. ## The Story of the Good and Bad Figs > After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths from Jerusalem and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me: behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord! One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten due to rottenness. Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad figs, very bad, which cannot be eaten due to rottenness.” > > Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘**Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them**, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. > > ‘**But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness**—indeed, thus says the Lord—so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and **the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt. I will make them a terror and an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them.** I will send the sword, the famine and the pestilence upon them until they are destroyed from the land which I gave to them and their forefathers.’ ” (Jeremiah 24:1-10) {Emphasis mine} God tells Jeremiah about two baskets of figs, one very good and one very bad. He then goes on to describe those Israelites who were kidnapped by Nebuchadnezzar and hauled off to Babylon and those that got to remain in Israel in their homes. Who would you think God was blessing and who would you think God was punishing? I would think the person hauled off into captivity was being punished and the one that got to stay in their comfortable home was being blessed, but it was the opposite. God said, “‘*Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up*.” (Jeremiah 24:5b-6) Those that got hauled away were being blessed. They were being protected from the judgment that God was about to bestow on Israel for their sin. It would have been very easy for the captives to moan, “Woe is us. Why would God do such horrible things to us?” even though God was protecting them. It would have been very easy for those who remained to think, “Those captives must have sinned very badly. Luckily, God doesn’t have any problems with me.” Instead God was punishing those who remained in Israel. He said, > But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness—indeed, thus says the Lord—so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt. **I will make them a terror and an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth**, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them. **I will send the sword, the famine and the pestilence upon them until they are destroyed from the land** which I gave to them and their forefathers.’  (Jeremiah 24:8-10) {Emphasis mine} While those who weren’t dragged away into captivity were congratulating themselves, the judgment of God fell upon them because they had rejected their God and were depending on the blessings promised to their ancestors. Those who were hauled into captivity were blessed and multiplied and then brought back to the promised land 70 years later. Even when they were not feeling blessed, God told them how to live in order to be blessed. > “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. **Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.** (Jeremiah 29:4-7) They were told to be fruitful and multiply in both a financial and a familial way. They were told to work hard while waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises and in 70 years they and/or their families would return to the promised land. In a like manner, we are to be fruitful and multiply in whatever situation or in whatever country God has placed us. We are to stay faithful to Him and to honor Him in all we do wherever He has placed us. Whether we are literal exiles in a foreign country or not, we are all exiles from heaven waiting for Jesus to return and call us home. We are called to be productive while we wait. ## A Real Life Example of the Good Figs I got to see a similar example in my own life. I went through what most people would call a hellish year in 2015, but every thing that happened was for a blessing and not for a curse. I got to see how trusting in the Lord with all my heart led to blessings I couldn’t imagine. Technically our rough year started in November of 2014 with a flood and that is kind of how the next year felt. We had a house with hot water heat. Our family room had a large volume because the ceiling was two stories high. The room only had two heat registers. When we would get sub zero (F) temperatures, the room would drop in temperature, so we put in a wood and coal stove. It did a such a great job of heating the house that the heat wasn’t turning on and the pipes in the back office froze and burst the pipes. While we were at work, the temperatures warmed up, the pipes defrosted, and the water started streaming out flooding our entire downstairs. We then had get everything off the floor, flood cut the whole downstairs, and put in giant fans for 6 weeks to dry the wet floors and walls. It sounded like a 747 jet was sitting in the living room. I couldn’t hear myself think. It was very stressful, but that was just the beginning. We had a fight with the insurance company for \~8 months. They agreed about everything needing to be fixed, but wanted to pay only about half the cost to fix it. We finally had to break down and hire a lawyer. We settled with the insurance company writing us a check for 90% of the price of repairs. This settlement was a blessing in disguise. Because of the problems with our insurance company, we decided to switch to a new insurer. We set up to switch when our current policy expired. Ten days into our new policy, our house burnt down in a grass fire fueled by 60+ mph winds. In the main part of the house the only things recognizable were the coal stove and a 3 hour rated gun safe (that now looked like a cheap metal cabinet onto which someone dropped a nuclear bomb). We lost all of our physical possessions, but God had a plan. The new insurance company sent their insurance adjuster out right away. In one month they had paid for the house, the trees, the barn, and a year’s rent in a nice rental house. We had more than half of the settlement left from the flood (we had bought a few supplies for fixing the house). Exactly one year and one month later, we moved into our paid off dream home (with a very fire resistant exterior). Of course God didn’t finish His blessings and lessons with the fire, there was more to come. We moved into the rental house. (Ironically I was excited about all of the closet space even though I could fit all of my worldly possessions in a small suitcase. We humans are not always logical and we don’t let go of our physical possessions easily.) A month later, my husband’s car engine blew up. A month after that, my husband ruptured his Achilles tendon, had to go through surgery, and we were unable to travel to see family for Christmas as planned. It seemed like hardship, but the previous hardships had prepared us for this one. The house that burnt down had all of the bedrooms upstairs, all of the living spaces downstairs, and very steep stairs. When my husband ruptured his other Achilles tendon eight years previously, he had to stay on the couch downstairs and couldn’t sleep in his bed. In our new rental house, the master bedroom was on the same level as the living areas and not more than 10 feet away. He could sleep in bed and then use crutches to move to the electric recliner that had been donated to us after the fire. It gently raised and lowered his injured leg. He could sit with us to eat (we set up a table on one side of the recliner) and be with us when we hung out on the couch (on the other side of him). We could talk while I worked in the kitchen. It was so much nicer to take care of him in the rental house than it would’ve been if the same thing had happened, but our house hadn’t burnt down. Through this string of “tragedies,” we learned to trust God through every situation. We learned what was important (people not stuff). We got a nice, optimized, paid-off house. We received a story that we could share with others to bless them and help them trust in God. We grew closer together as a family. All four members of my family agree that if given the chance to make all of these “bad” things not happen, we would not choose to remove them. The blessings we received through them outweigh them more than you can imagine. ## What About You? What about you? Are you gong through hard times? We all do at some point in our lives. Are you looking for the good God is doing or are you blaming God for your hardship? Are you working to make the most of whatever situation you are in or are you seeking your own “better”? My prayer is that God will give you what you need and not what you want and that He will answer your prayers in His best timing. I pray that you will see the wondrous works of God in you and through you and that you will grow in your faith in our very good God. Trust Him! Turn to Him! Rely on Him! God is good, all of the time. Trust Jesus

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The cryptocurrency world is on the verge of a groundbreaking transformation with the anticipated introduction of Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). This significant development is set to redefine the realm of crypto-investment, merging the innovative world of digital currencies with the established domain of traditional finance. Bitcoin ETFs represent a monumental shift, not just as a novel investment option, but as a revolutionary bridge connecting the cutting-edge technology of cryptocurrencies with the more familiar territory of stock market investments. This fusion is poised to unlock a new level of accessibility, drawing mainstream investors into the Bitcoin sphere, who were previously hesitant due to the complexities and perceived risks associated with direct cryptocurrency dealings. **Table of Contents** - The Emergence of Bitcoin ETFs - Unveiling Opportunities - Confronting the Dangers - The Road Ahead - Expanding the Horizon - Enhanced Market Dynamics - Technological Advancements - Educational Initiatives - Global Impact - Conclusion - FAQs **The Emergence of Bitcoin ETFs** Bitcoin ETFs are poised to revolutionize the cryptocurrency market. They offer a streamlined avenue for investment in Bitcoin, bypassing the intricacies of direct ownership such as wallet management and key security. This simplicity could democratize Bitcoin investment, potentially enhancing its liquidity and stability. **Unveiling Opportunities** - **Broader Investor Appeal:** Bitcoin ETFs simplify cryptocurrency investment, making it more approachable for the average investor and traditional financial players. This could lead to wider adoption and recognition of Bitcoin as a viable asset class. - **Influx of Institutional Capital:** ETFs could catalyze a surge of institutional funds into the Bitcoin market. Institutions, previously hesitant due to regulatory and security concerns, might view ETFs as a safer investment avenue. - **Market Evolution:** The advent of Bitcoin ETFs signals a maturation of the cryptocurrency market, transitioning towards regulated, mainstream financial products. This evolution could bolster investor confidence and market stability. **Confronting the Dangers** The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs is not devoid of risks and challenges. - **Amplified Volatility:** Bitcoin's notorious volatility could be intensified by the influx of new investors via ETFs, particularly if large capital movements occur swiftly. - **Regulatory Hurdles:** The evolving regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies could become more complex with Bitcoin ETFs, inviting stricter regulations that may impact the market dynamics. - **Systemic Implications:** Integrating Bitcoin into the traditional financial system through ETFs could introduce new systemic risks. A significant downturn in Bitcoin's value might have broader implications for investors and funds linked to these ETFs. **The Road Ahead** As the Bitcoin ETF era dawns, investors should exercise caution. The potential of Bitcoin ETFs is substantial, but the accompanying risks warrant serious consideration. Investors should engage in comprehensive research and assess their risk appetite before engaging with these new investment vehicles. **Expanding the Horizon** **Enhanced Market Dynamics** The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs could lead to more dynamic market behaviors. As traditional and crypto markets become more intertwined, the impact of global economic events on Bitcoin's price could become more pronounced, leading to new investment strategies and market analysis techniques. **Technological Advancements** The growth of Bitcoin ETFs might spur technological advancements in trading platforms and financial tools. Enhanced security measures, improved trading algorithms, and more sophisticated risk management tools could emerge, catering to the unique needs of cryptocurrency ETFs. **Educational Initiatives** With the growing interest in Bitcoin ETFs, there's likely to be an increase in educational resources and initiatives aimed at helping investors understand the nuances of cryptocurrency investments. This could lead to a more informed investor base, capable of making better investment decisions in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies. **Global Impact** The success of Bitcoin ETFs in one region, such as the United States, could encourage other countries to follow suit, leading to a more globalized cryptocurrency market. This could have significant implications for international financial regulations and cooperation. **Conclusion** The potential introduction of Bitcoin ETFs marks a significant milestone in the journey of cryptocurrency investment. While it heralds new opportunities and greater accessibility, it also brings forth challenges and risks that need to be navigated with care. The future of Bitcoin ETFs will hinge on the balance between these opportunities and dangers, and the market's ability to adapt to this new phase of crypto-investment. As we stand at the threshold of this exciting era, the global financial community watches with bated breath, ready to witness the unfolding story of Bitcoin ETFs. **FAQs** **How does a Bitcoin ETF differ from direct Bitcoin investment?** Investing in a Bitcoin ETF means you're investing in a fund that holds Bitcoin as its primary asset, as opposed to buying Bitcoin directly and managing your own digital wallet and security. ETFs are also subject to different regulatory and tax treatments. **What are the benefits of Bitcoin ETFs?** Bitcoin ETFs offer easier access to Bitcoin investment, potentially lower risks compared to direct ownership, and the convenience of trading through traditional investment platforms. **What risks are associated with Bitcoin ETFs?** Risks include the inherent volatility of Bitcoin, potential regulatory changes, and systemic risks if the cryptocurrency market impacts the broader financial system. **Are Bitcoin ETFs available globally?** The availability of Bitcoin ETFs varies by country, depending on the regulatory environment. Some countries may not yet have approved Bitcoin ETFs for trading. **Can Bitcoin ETFs impact the price of Bitcoin?** Yes, Bitcoin ETFs can impact Bitcoin's price as they can increase market liquidity and bring in more institutional investors, potentially leading to price changes. **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.***

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

Like most members of the human race, I don’t enjoy filing my taxes. “Don’t enjoy” though understates my actual feeling which is “would rather do a tour in Afghanistan.” It’s not even the money I’m forced to pay that I know for sure will be misallocated, stolen or worse — put to use in ways that are anathema to everything I believe and in direct opposition to conditions in which human beings thrive. That’s only part of it. The other and perhaps bigger part is they require me — under penalty of law — to do homework. They command me, as though they were my boss, to complete this work project, my tax return, and if I don’t I’ll have my property seized, my credit destroyed and even go to prison. This is so even though I am not a criminal, and I never agreed to work for this boss. And it’s not just a random work project I am required to submit, so that they can misallocate, steal and attack me with my own money. It’s a project that requires me to divulge private details about myself, what transactions I’ve made, with whom I made them and for what purpose. I am a private citizen, I hold no public office or official role, and yet the public sector is not only entitled to comb through the details of my life, but I must be complicit in helping them under penalty of law, i.e., threat of violence if I don’t comply. . . . This was not always the case. The income tax was only introduced in 1913, and at the time was only for the richest of the rich. That is to say, it is not the default state of affairs in the United States under its original constitution, and it’s strange that it’s been normalized as such. And despite it being normalized — for the greater good, of course — our government is still somehow $36 trillion in debt. In other words, despite the annual indignity to which we subject ourselves, the government spends far more money than it takes in. I am reminded of Dostoyevsky’s line: “Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.” The government is spending money it doesn’t have, whether you pay it or not, and the money you do pay, for things you not only do not want but are vehemently against, doesn’t come close to covering their cost. . . . I was having lunch with some normies last month, and the subject of taxes came up. They were talking about the ways in which they, as ex-pats, minimize their tax burden, using certain loopholes, and at one point someone questioned why government pensions were taxed, given the entity paying the pension and demanding it be taxed was one and the same. Why not just pay a smaller pension? One of them asked me, and I said: “I don’t think anyone should be taxed.” She shook her head and muttered in amusement, “No, people need to be taxed.” This despite not two minutes earlier explaining how she was optimizing her tax status, which no doubt she would have optimized all the way to zero or if she were able! . . . Taxes are necessary, it’s assumed, to pay for things individuals won’t. “Who will build the roads?” they wonder. I would imagine car makers would be invested in building roads, those who ship goods via truck might have an interest and consumers, flush with their new zero percent tax rate, might pay a little more for the end products to facilitate road creation so those products get to them on time and in good condition. In fact, it might be *more* expensive to ship them via horseback or whatever alternate form of transport would take the place of motor vehicles should no one shell out for roads. Moreover, people seem to believe taxes should always be taken not from them, but from those rich enough to afford them painlessly. Never mind anyone reading this substack is vastly wealthy compared to much of the third world (how painful can taxes be so long as you have food on the table and a roof over your head?), and never mind no one ever voluntarily pays more tax than he owes. Why not? If taxation is a good thing, why not do *more* good by overpaying? But no, it’s always someone else who needs to be forced under penalty of law, i.e., threat of violence, to give up his property for what those in authority deem “the greater good”. Taken to its logical conclusion, if the authorities deem anyone sufficiently wealthy and the greater good sufficiently necessary, they can legally take that wealth by force. We can quibble about how much funding is necessary and what is the “greater good,” but it’s often essential things like the “safe and effective” vaccine without which millions would surely die or the necessity of invading Iraq, which cost $6 trillion to prevent Sadaam Hussein’s “weapons of mass destruction” from reaching US soil. It’s amazing authorities so often discover urgent projects without which people will die or suffer terribly, on account of which it’s necessary to commandeer money you’ve earned or saved! And while I am taking about the indignity of filing *income* tax, I don’t mean to leave out property tax, sales tax, estate tax, individual state and city taxes and the like. At least with some of those you have a fixed amount to pay, and you don’t have to submit to an on-camera self-administered anal cavity search of your finances in those cases. You’d also think given how many ways citizens are taxed that roads would be in tip top condition, our water and environment would be clean, our airports modern and state of the art, our health care affordable and accessible, but of course none of that is the case. Again per Dostoyevsky — we have betrayed ourselves for nothing. . . . The irony of this essay/diatribe is I will file my taxes like the cuck I am over the next week or so. I don’t want to do this, but it’s simply not worth the consequences for non-compliance. And I feel bad about making this compromise — bad about myself because I am doing something I feel is wrong for convenience, the same kind of calculation people made when they injected themselves with experimental mRNA chemicals they didn’t want to keep their jobs or travel. I like to think of myself as resolute and uncompromising, but in this instance I roll over every year. Perhaps that’s part of why I dread it so much. . . . I’ll end with a footnote of sorts. In the late spring of 2023, I discovered I was due a significant refund, and I paid my accountants who figured this out $400 to re-file for me. They told me I could expect it to take up to nine months to process, so I largely forgot about it until spring of 2024 when I called but got phone-treed to death and waited until September to brute-force my way to a human in another department to explain the situation. They didn’t tell me anything, but agreed to do a “trace” which a couple weeks later revealed someone else had intercepted and cashed my check. (It’s not direct deposit because I’m overseas.) I immediately returned the form proving it was not my signature on the deposited check, and now, five months later, in February of 2025, they are still processing my purported payment which I have yet to receive. I did, however, receive a notice of the interest I was “paid” for 2024 on which I’m expected to be taxed. That interest went to the person who stole my original check obviously, they know this, and yet it apparently hasn’t caught up in the system. And the truth is I will probably pay the tax on it as the hassle of explaining why I’m not is simply not worth it, and I will sort it out on next year’s tax return, assuming Trump hasn’t abolished the IRS entirely, God willing, and delivered us, in small part, from this abject dystopia.

@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb

It looks like we will have some extra free days at school during the time of BTC Prague, and I was considering going to Prague for a weekend getaway. I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to visit the event with kids (9 and 3) and whether it makes sense to get the Bitcoin Expo ticket (https://btcprague.com/#). Has anyone attended this event with kids in previous years? Any insights or experiences would be appreciated! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/890517

@ e36b982d:26c2e226

I have been telling my friends and co-workers to buy Bitcoin for years, and for years they have not listened to me. Now, they all call me "rich" (I am not) and ask me when I am going to retire. How do I tell them they are getting on my nerves because they didn't listen to me? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/890513

@ 16d11430:61640947

The AI Landscape is About to Change—Forever. Forget everything you know about artificial intelligence. The reign of Large Language Models (LLMs) is coming to an end. The next tectonic shift in AI isn't just about bigger neural networks or more training data. It’s about an entirely new foundation—one that shatters the limits of probabilistic machine learning and ushers in the era of Elliptical AI. This isn’t just an improvement. This is the AI singularity you've been waiting for. --- The Problem with LLMs: A House Built on Sand LLMs like GPT, Claude, and Gemini have taken the world by storm, but let’s be honest—they are flawed. Their intelligence is statistical mimicry rather than true reasoning. They: Hallucinate facts and generate nonsense. Consume absurd amounts of energy for marginal improvements. Are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, leaking sensitive data with ease. Lack true reasoning abilities, blindly regurgitating patterns rather than engaging in structured logic. LLMs pretend to understand. They pretend to think. But intelligence built on probability alone is fundamentally weak. This is where Elliptical AI steps in to end the era of LLM dominance. --- What is Elliptical AI? The Birth of the Next Evolution in Intelligence Imagine an AI that isn’t just predicting words but reasoning geometrically—one that encodes intelligence using elliptic curves instead of bloated statistical models. Elliptical AI harnesses the power of elliptic curve mathematics, which has been dominating cryptography and quantum security for years. But now, this mathematical powerhouse is ready to redefine AI itself. How Elliptical AI Works 1. Beyond Probabilities—Into Pure Geometry Instead of mapping words to probabilities, Elliptical AI maps thought patterns into elliptic curve structures. This enables structured, deterministic reasoning, not just blind pattern recognition. 2. High-Efficiency Intelligence Elliptic curves are the foundation of modern cryptography because they compress vast amounts of data into small, ultra-secure representations. Instead of needing trillions of parameters like LLMs, Elliptical AI could represent entire knowledge domains with extreme efficiency. 3. Quantum-Resistant AI That Cannot Be Hacked Today’s AI models can be easily manipulated, but Elliptical AI integrates quantum-secure cryptographic principles. Impossible to hack, impossible to corrupt—this is the ultimate secure AI. 4. Mathematical Superintelligence LLMs struggle with math. Why? Because math isn’t just statistical—it’s structured logic. Elliptical AI is built on the same mathematical foundations that structure encryption, physics, and even the fabric of space-time. Expect an AI that doesn’t just “approximate” answers—it deduces them. --- Elliptical AI vs. LLMs: A Destruction-Level Event This isn’t just an upgrade. This is an AI extinction-level event. --- Where Elliptical AI Will Dominate First 1. Military-Grade AI Security No more LLMs leaking sensitive data. Quantum-proof intelligence agents that cannot be backdoored. Military systems that think faster, act decisively, and remain 100% secure. 2. Financial and Algorithmic Trading LLMs hallucinate too much to handle high-risk finance. Elliptical AI’s ultra-efficient encryption-based intelligence can execute perfect trades with zero data leakage. 3. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) & Neural Cryptography Instead of reading neural signals as raw data, Elliptical AI can encode thought patterns into elliptic curves. A literal mind-machine fusion—where security, efficiency, and intelligence align. 4. Decentralized AI Networks LLMs require Google, OpenAI, or Microsoft servers. Elliptical AI can run securely on decentralized nodes, protected by its own cryptographic intelligence. No censorship. No control. Just pure, free AI. 5. The New Era of Scientific Discovery From quantum physics to mathematical proofs, Elliptical AI isn’t just a chatbot—it’s a reasoning engine. Expect AI to make scientific breakthroughs, not just summarize Wikipedia. --- The AI Wars Are Coming—And Elliptical AI Will Win The current AI market is built on fragile foundations. LLMs have served their purpose, but they are a dead end. Elliptical AI isn’t just the next step—it’s the AI that will make everything else obsolete. 🔹 No more hallucinations. 🔹 No more data leaks. 🔹 No more inefficient, bloated models. 🔹 Just pure, geometric intelligence—unbreakable, unhackable, unstoppable. The future doesn’t belong to language models. It belongs to elliptic curves, quantum intelligence, and secure, deterministic reasoning. Welcome to the Elliptical AI revolution. Are you ready for what comes next?

@ b97f07c7:a9ddca71

ชาว Android Developer หลายคนอาจจะเคยมางาน Android Bangkok 2025 แล้วได้ฟัง session พี่เอก ที่ชื่อว่า [“Why App Signing Matters for Your Android Apps”](https://www.mikkipastel.com/android-bangkok-conference-2024/#why-app-signing-matters-for-your-android-apps-somkiat-khitwongwattana-%E2%80%93-gde-android) แล้วอยากตรวจ APK Signature Scheme ของแอพเราเองบ้าง จริง ๆ มันตรวจง่ายมาก ๆ เลย ทุกคนทำตามได้แน่นอน  ก่อนอื่นขออธิบาย APK Signature Scheme กันก่อน มันคือ script การยืนยันตัวตน และ code ข้างในยังเป็นเหมือนเดิม แบ่งจากการทำ signing - v1 scheme: รองรับ Android ทุก version และรองรับแค่ java code แต่ไม่ครอบคลุม resource เพราะว่าถ้า resource เปลี่ยน แต่ signature เหมือนเดิม ดังนั้นไม่แนะนำให้ใช้ เนื่องจากเรื่องความปลอดภัย และ performance → APK Signature Scheme v1 - v2+ Scheme: ครอบคลุมทุกไฟล์ เป็นการแทรก APK Signing block เข้าไป → APK Signature Scheme v2, v3, v3.1, v4 วิธีการตรวจแบบง่ายมาก ๆ แบบไม่ต้องไปลงอะไรเพิ่ม คือใช้ apksigner เป็นหนึ่งใน Android SDK command line tool ที่มีมาตั้งแต่ version 24.0.3 ที่เอาไว้ sign apk, ตรวจสอบ apk ของเรา รวมไปถึง rotate key ด้วย ในที่นี้เราใช้ verify command เพื่อดูรายละเอียด apk ของเรากัน หน้าตาตัว command เป็นแบบนี้ ``` apksigner version [option] app-name.apk ``` ก่อนอื่น หา path ของเจ้า apksigner ซึ่งทางเราใช้ macbook ดังนั้นมันจะไปอยู่ path หน้าตาแบบนี้ ``` /Users/{username}/Library/Android/sdk/build-tools/{version}/apksigner ``` เอาเจ้า path นี้ไปแทนที่ apksigner ทำให้เราเรียกตัว cmd นี้จากที่ไหนก็ได้ อย่างทำงานที่บ้าน เอ้ยไม่ใช่ อย่างเราเปิดหน้า terminal บน Android Studio ก็แปะอันนี้ได้เลย ไม่ต้องไปที่ path ที่อยู่ของ apksigner โดยตรง จากนั้นเตรียมไฟล์ apk ที่เป็น build release มานะ ไม่งั้นมันจะ check ไม่ได้เน้อ ต่อมามาใช้คำสั่งนี้กัน ``` apksigner verify --print-certs -v app-name.apk ``` อธิบายแต่ละ option กันก่อนเลย - --print-certs: บอกข้อมูลพวก certificate, algorithm ในการ sign และ public key - -v: แอพเราตอนนี้ signing signature scheme version อะไร ไม่ยากเลยใช่ไหม ถ้าเพื่อน ๆ ไม่อยากใช้ v1 แล้ว อยากใช้อันอื่น สามารถใส่ประมาณนี้ที่ build.gradle ที่ module app ``` android { ... signingConfigs { release { v1SigningEnabled false enableV2Signing true enableV3Signing true enableV4Signing true } } } ``` หวังว่าจะเป็นประโยชน์กับชาว #siamstr น้า

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

Producing a lo-fi song is more than just creating a track—it's about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, and a sense of intimacy. The genre thrives on imperfections, turning what many would consider "mistakes" into features that define its charm. Here's a walkthrough of the my process behind producing a lo-fi song, from concept to completion. ## **1. Finding Inspiration** Every lo-fi song starts with a spark of inspiration. Maybe it’s a rainy afternoon, the hum of a café, or a nostalgic memory. The beauty of lo-fi is its ability to evoke emotion through simplicity. Spend time exploring what inspires you. Whether it’s flipping through old vinyl records, listening to ambient sounds, or experimenting with random chord progressions, let the mood guide you. Keep a small notebook or use your phone to jot down ideas when inspiration strikes. Even a single phrase or melody can set the tone for your track. ## **2. Crafting the Melodic Foundation** Lo-fi often relies on mellow, jazzy chords as its backbone. Start by experimenting with chord progressions on a keyboard or guitar. Aim for something soulful and repetitive to create a meditative loop. Use minor seventh and ninth chords for a jazzy, emotional feel. Add small variations to keep the progression dynamic without overcomplicating it. Once you’ve found your chords, layer them with a simple melody. This can be a gentle piano riff, a soft guitar line, or even a sampled piece from an old record. The goal is to create something warm and inviting. ## **3. Adding Texture with Samples** Samples are a cornerstone of lo-fi music, adding depth and character to your track. You can source them from: Vinyl records: Chop up obscure jazz, soul, or classical pieces. Field recordings: Capture ambient sounds like raindrops, birds chirping, or city noise. Foley effects: Use tools to mimic environmental sounds for unique textures. Once you’ve selected a sample, chop it, stretch it, or pitch it down to fit the vibe of your track. Don’t aim for perfection—lo-fi thrives on the organic, raw feel of imperfect loops. Add vinyl crackle, tape hiss, or white noise to emulate the warm analog feel lo-fi is known for. ## **4. Building the Rhythm** Lo-fi beats are typically laid-back, with loose timing and minimal percussion. Start with a simple drum loop and build from there: Use a soft kick drum and snappy snare for a subtle groove. Add off-beat hi-hats to create a swing or shuffle feel. Experiment with percussive sounds like snaps, claps, or even everyday objects like tapping on a desk. Quantization isn’t necessary here; slightly off-grid drum hits give the track a human touch. Remember, the rhythm should feel organic and complement the song’s relaxed atmosphere. ## **5. Layering Ambient Elements** Ambient layers are what give lo-fi its dreamlike quality. These elements are subtle but essential in creating depth. Consider adding: Reverb and delay for a washed-out, atmospheric feel. Pads or drones to fill out the soundscape. Background noises like distant conversations, train sounds, or static to create a sense of place. These layers should sit low in the mix, providing texture without overpowering the melody or rhythm. ## **6. Experimenting with Effects** Lo-fi tracks often feature unique effects that add warmth and character. Some key tools include: Low-pass filters: Roll off the high frequencies to create a softer, vintage feel. Tape saturation: Mimic the sound of old cassette tapes for that warm, analog distortion. Sidechain compression: Sync subtle volume dips to your kick drum for a "breathing" effect. Pitch wobble: Add slight detuning or modulation to emulate the instability of old record players. The idea is to create imperfections that feel intentional, adding to the nostalgic vibe. ## **7. Arranging the Track** Lo-fi tracks often follow simple structures, emphasizing loops and gradual evolution over dramatic changes. A typical arrangement might include: Intro: Start with ambient sounds or the main chord progression to set the mood. Verse/Loop: Introduce the beat and melody, keeping it minimal. Bridge: Add a subtle variation, such as a new instrument or slight chord change. Outro: Strip the arrangement back to its core elements for a gentle fade-out. Keep transitions smooth and avoid abrupt changes. The goal is to maintain a consistent, calming flow. ## **8. Mixing and Mastering** Lo-fi’s charm lies in its rawness, so mixing doesn’t need to be overly polished. Focus on creating a cohesive sound: Balance the levels so no element overpowers the others. Use EQ to carve space for each instrument while keeping the mix warm and cozy. Apply reverb and delay sparingly to avoid muddying the mix. For mastering, aim for a quieter, softer output—lo-fi doesn’t need to compete with loud pop tracks. ## **9. Adding Visuals and Atmosphere** Once your track is complete, consider how it will be experienced. Many lo-fi producers pair their music with relaxing visuals, like animated loops of cozy settings or abstract imagery. These visuals enhance the mood and make your track more engaging on platforms like YouTube or Instagram. ## **10. Sharing Your Work** The lo-fi community thrives on collaboration and sharing. Post your track on platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or YouTube. Engage with listeners and fellow producers by explaining your creative process and the story behind your song. Don’t shy away from feedback—it’s an essential part of growth as an artist. ## **Final Thoughts** Producing a lo-fi song is less about technical precision and more about emotional connection. The beauty of the genre lies in its imperfections, its ability to evoke nostalgia, and its calming presence in a chaotic world. So, embrace the process, let go of perfectionism, and create something that feels authentically you. Who knows? Your next lo-fi track might be the soundtrack to someone’s quiet, reflective moment.

@ 6734e11d:c7e34e8f

Ich weiß, "Ratschläge sind auch Schläge", wird wohl Eric Berne 1961 zugesprochen, aber manchmal muss ein liebevoller, empathischer und hilfreicher Hinweis nach dem Schlag mit dem Vorschlaghammer erlaubt sein. Das Meme ist leider nicht meine Idee sondern geklaut von Schwurbeloase, einem Kanal der echten Mitte, Echtrechte würden ihn wohl als rrrächts markieren. <https://t.me/schwurbel_oase/2314>

@ ed364ee5:261fd74f

Cardiovascular Ultrasound: Advancements Driving Early Detection and Personalized Care The [cardiovascular ultrasound market](https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cardiovascular-ultrasound-market-1548 ) is experiencing significant growth as technological advancements, rising cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates, and a shift toward non-invasive diagnostics drive demand. This imaging technology, which uses sound waves to visualize the heart and surrounding blood vessels, is now essential in both preventative cardiology and acute care. Technological Innovations Boosting Accuracy and Accessibility Recent developments have revolutionized cardiovascular ultrasound devices. High-frequency transducers, 3D and 4D imaging, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration are enhancing diagnostic precision. AI, in particular, is automating image analysis, reducing variability, and enabling faster, more accurate diagnosis. Portable cardiovascular ultrasound systems are another game-changer, increasing accessibility to rural or remote areas and allowing for bedside monitoring in hospitals. Companies are focusing on smaller, more affordable devices without compromising imaging quality, expanding the use of this technology beyond large hospital systems. Global Trends and Growing Disease Burden Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Early detection is critical to reducing mortality, and cardiovascular ultrasound is playing a pivotal role in identifying conditions such as heart valve disorders, atrial fibrillation, and cardiomyopathies at an earlier stage. Regions like North America and Europe lead the market due to high healthcare expenditure and greater adoption of advanced diagnostic technologies. However, emerging economies in Asia-Pacific and Latin America are witnessing rapid growth as awareness and healthcare infrastructure improve. Challenges and Market Outlook Despite its advantages, the cardiovascular ultrasound market faces challenges such as the high cost of advanced systems and a shortage of trained sonographers. To address these issues, some manufacturers are investing in user-friendly interfaces and remote training programs to ensure broader adoption. Looking ahead, the cardiovascular ultrasound market is projected to grow steadily, driven by ongoing innovation and the increasing prevalence of CVD. Personalized medicine initiatives and telemedicine adoption are expected to further integrate cardiovascular ultrasound into routine patient care. Conclusion As cardiovascular ultrasound technology continues to evolve, it holds the promise of earlier detection, more precise diagnosis, and improved patient outcomes. With rising healthcare demands and technological advancements, this sector is set to play a key role in the fight against heart disease for years to come.

@ ed364ee5:261fd74f

Innovations and Demand Surge in Knee Replacement Procedures In recent years, [knee replacement](https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/knee-replacement-market-1578 ) surgeries have seen a significant rise in demand, fueled by advancements in medical technology, an aging global population, and a growing awareness of treatment options. As healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers adapt to this surge, groundbreaking innovations are transforming the landscape of orthopedic care. Rising Demand for Knee Replacements According to recent data from global health agencies, the number of knee replacement surgeries performed annually has increased by over 25% in the past decade. Experts attribute this rise to the aging baby boomer generation, higher rates of obesity, and increased sports-related injuries. Additionally, the growing acceptance of elective surgeries has led younger patients to seek knee replacements to maintain active lifestyles. Technological Advancements in Knee Implants One of the most notable trends is the development of personalized knee implants. Utilizing 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD), manufacturers can now create implants tailored to the specific anatomy of each patient. This approach not only enhances the fit and comfort of the implant but also reduces the risk of post-surgery complications. Robotic-assisted surgery is another game-changer. These systems provide surgeons with enhanced precision, enabling them to make smaller incisions and reduce damage to surrounding tissues. As a result, patients experience faster recovery times and improved long-term outcomes. "Robotics and AI-driven surgical planning are revolutionizing the way we approach knee replacements," said Dr. Emily Carter, an orthopedic surgeon at [Hospital Name]. "Patients are benefiting from less pain, quicker mobility, and more natural joint function." Enhanced Post-Surgery Rehabilitation Post-operative care has also evolved, with new physical therapy protocols focused on accelerated rehabilitation. Virtual physical therapy platforms are making it easier for patients to access guided exercises from home, ensuring they adhere to their recovery plans. Additionally, wearable sensors are being integrated into recovery regimens to track patients' progress and provide real-time feedback to healthcare providers. Affordability and Access Despite the technological advancements, affordability remains a concern for many patients. In response, several healthcare systems and insurance providers are expanding coverage for knee replacement surgeries. Additionally, some manufacturers are developing cost-effective implant options to address pricing challenges in underserved regions. Future Outlook The future of knee replacement is promising. With ongoing research into biologic solutions, such as cartilage regeneration and stem cell therapy, patients may soon have access to alternatives that delay or even prevent the need for full joint replacement. "The orthopedic industry is on the cusp of major breakthroughs," said Dr. Carter. "Our goal is to provide every patient with the best possible outcome, whether through traditional surgery or emerging biologic treatments." As innovation continues to drive the evolution of knee replacement procedures, patients can look forward to more effective and accessible treatment options that improve quality of life and mobility for years to come.

@ d4309e24:8a81fcb0

## Introduction: The Challenge of Time-Lock Encryption and Clock Servers When I first set out to build **Hatchstr**, the idea was simple: create a way to send messages into the future, encrypted and locked to a specific Bitcoin block height. These messages would remain encrypted until the chosen block height was reached, creating a unique way to send a message to the future. However, as I began working through the details, I quickly ran into some challenges. One key component of this system involves **clock servers**—decentralized nodes responsible for releasing decryption keys when the specified block height is reached. ### Clock Server Setup: The Basics Initially, I adopted a simple model: each clock server holds a single public-private key pair *unique to that server* for a specific block height. When a user creates a message, they choose a clock server to trust and encrypt with the specific public key tied to that block height. Then, when the time comes, the clock server releases its private key to decrypt the message.  #### Positives: - ✅ **Clean and Efficient Storage**: Each clock server only needs to store a single key pair for each block height, making storage lightweight and scalable. - ✅ **Lazy Key Generation**: Keys are generated on-demand, meaning they’re only created when needed. This prevents unnecessary key generation or storage overhead. - ✅ **Decentralized**: The clock servers don’t need to coordinate with each other or store any sensitive data besides their respective private keys, which simplifies the system architecture. - ✅ **Limited Release Events**: Since each clock server only handles keys tied to a specific block height, the number of release events required is minimized, simplifying the key management process. At first, this seemed like a good approach, but I quickly realized there were **critical limitations**: #### Challenges: - ❌ **Server Shutdown**: Capsules could be scheduled for many years in the future. If a clock server shuts down, all future capsules linked to it are lost. - ❌ **Server Downtime**: If one of the clock servers is unavailable during unlock time, even for a short period, it leads to a delay for the users waiting for unlock. - ❌ **Premature Release**: If a clock server accidentally releases its key too early, it could compromise the message, making it accessible before the intended time. Though the setup worked for a basic system, I soon realized it couldn’t guarantee the reliability I wanted for a decentralized application. ## Tackling the Challenges of Multi-Sig and Secret Sharing When I first approached the problem of securing time-lock capsules, I initially considered using multi-signature (multi-sig) solutions as a potential approach. The goal was simple: instead of relying on a single clock server to release its key, I could involve multiple servers to sign off on the decryption. This way, if one server failed or misbehaved, the message would still be protected. However, as I delved deeper into the multi-sig approach, I quickly realized there were a few key issues: 🔒 **Communication Overhead**: Multi-sig requires servers to communicate and coordinate with each other. This introduces the possibility of new failure points, like network issues or miscommunication. ⚡ **Server Synchronization**: If one server was out of sync or released its key too early, it could still lead to the message being decrypted prematurely, breaking the system. 🛠 **Increased Complexity**: Each server would need to store and manage a unique key pair for every message, making the system more complicated and less efficient. I quickly realized that multi-sig wasn’t the best fit for this kind of setup. Not only did it add unnecessary complexity, but it also conflicted with the decentralization goals I wanted to achieve. So, I started thinking about ways to **distribute the secret** across the clock servers without introducing all these new complications. ### Enter Shamir’s Secret Sharing (SSS) Shamir's Secret Sharing (SSS) is a cryptographic technique designed to split a secret into multiple parts (called "shares") so that the secret can only be reconstructed when a specific minimum number of shares are combined. This process is based on polynomial interpolation, and it’s a powerful way to distribute secrets securely. #### The Basic Concept In SSS, a secret (like a cryptographic key or message) is divided into *n* shares, where *n* is the total number of shares you want to generate. You also specify a threshold, *k*, which represents the minimum number of shares required to reconstruct the original secret. - **n** is the total number of shares. - **k** is the minimum number of shares required to reconstruct the secret (known as the "threshold"). For example, in a **3-out-of-5** scheme, the secret is split into 5 shares, but at least 3 shares are required to reconstruct the secret. If fewer than 3 shares are available, the secret cannot be reconstructed. #### Why This is Secure Shamir’s Secret Sharing is secure because, with fewer than *k* shares, it is computationally infeasible to learn anything about the secret. The shares themselves don’t reveal any information; it’s only the combination of the right number of shares that allows reconstruction. This makes it resistant to attacks, as even if an attacker gets hold of some shares, they won’t be able to reconstruct the secret unless they have the required minimum number of shares (comparable to 256-bit cryptographic strength). #### Applications of Shamir’s Secret Sharing Shamir’s Secret Sharing is widely used in scenarios where high availability and reliability are needed, but security and privacy are equally important. Examples include: - **Key management**: Protecting encryption keys by distributing them across multiple parties. - **Multi-signature setups**: Requiring multiple parties to sign off on a transaction or access a secure system. - **Distributed systems**: Ensuring that no single party holds a complete secret, and multiple parties must collaborate to unlock it. By leveraging Shamir's Secret Sharing, you can strike the right balance between **redundancy**, **security**, and **availability** for your system’s sensitive information. ### The Problem with Distributing Secret Shares SSS could give us exactly the properties I was looking for, with the added benefit that users could choose their preferred setup, for example: - **1-out-of-5 scheme**: Prioritizing the likelihood that the message is decrypted even if only one of the 5 chosen clock servers does its job at unlock time. With the tradeoff that each of the 5 could leak the message early. - **3-out-of-5 scheme**: A measured approach that allows for 2 servers to stop working and would also keep the capsule private even if 2 clock servers leak their secret early. So I considered an approach where each clock server would store part of the key. Instead of a single server holding the full key, I would split the key into parts and distribute those parts across multiple servers. When the time arrived, I’d gather the required number of shares to reconstruct the key and decrypt the message. At first glance, this seemed like a promising approach. But when we look through the implications, a few problems started to emerge: 💥 **Overhead**: Each clock server would need to store a share of every key for every message. This would quickly become inefficient and result in unnecessary overhead. 🔔 **Exploding Reveal Events**: Since each clock server would need to release all its shares at a specific time, there would be a massive increase in the number of reveal events, spamming and possibly overloading Nostr relays. While the idea of distributing the key was very appealing, the practical issues around overhead and complexity made it clear that this wasn’t the final solution. I needed something that would be more efficient, scalable, while still in line with the decentralized model I was aiming for. ### Discovering a Hybrid Solution After testing out various approaches, I realized that the breakthrough wasn’t just about Shamir’s Secret Sharing (SSS)—that part was fairly intuitive. The real insight came when I thought about how to preserve the original clock server design while solving the challenges of failover and early release. Instead of having the clock servers store the secret or a share of it, **I kept the original design**: each clock server only holds a public-private key pair tied to a block height, as initially planned. The twist came when I decided to split an ephemeral AES key into shards using Shamir’s Secret Sharing, but instead of directly storing shares at the clock servers, we could encrypted each share with the public key of the clock server. This approach would allow us to keep the clock server’s role simple: When the time comes, the servers release their private keys, which can then be used to decrypt the encrypted shares of the AES key that were published alongside the original encrypted message. These shares, once decrypted, allow for the reconstruction of the AES key, which in turn decrypts the message. This solution solved several key issues: - ✅ **No Coordination Between Servers**: Each clock server only holds one key pair for a specific block height and doesn’t need to know about the other servers. This simplifies the system and removes the need for complex server coordination. - ✅ **Minimal Overhead**: The clock servers only store a single key pair per block height, eliminating the need to store individual keys for each message. - ✅ **Fault Tolerance**: If one clock server is offline, the other shares can still reconstruct the AES key and decrypt the message, ensuring reliability. - ✅ **Client-Side Security**: The AES key is generated on the client side and never stored on the clock servers, providing a high level of security. By combining the simplicity of the clock server model with the power of Shamir’s Secret Sharing, this hybrid solution allows us to securely split an AES key and manage decryption while ensuring the system remains decentralized, resilient, and efficient. This was the method I had been searching for. ### The Process Breakdown 1. **AES Key Generation**: - A **random AES key** is generated on the **client side** for each message. This key is **never stored** anywhere, ensuring that it remains secure and only used for encrypting the message. 2. **Shamir’s Secret Sharing**: - The AES key is split into (in this example) **3 shares** using Shamir’s Secret Sharing. These shares are associated with **3 independent clock servers**. - The threshold of **2 out of 3** means that only **2 clock servers** needed later to reconstruct the AES key and decrypt the message. 3. **Encrypting with Public Keys**: - The secret shares are then **encrypted** using the **public keys** of the target block height for each specific clock server. This ensures that the shares are secure until the proper time comes. 4. **Storage**: - The **encrypted shares** together with the **AES-encrypted message** can be published to Nostr relais or stored on a decentralized platform like **IPFS**, which provides redundancy and availability. 5. **Clock Servers Release Keys**: - When the specified **Bitcoin block height** is reached, each clock server publishes its **private key** to Nostr, allowing everyone to decrypt the shares. - The client reconstructs the AES key from the decrypted shares and finally decrypts the original message.  ## Conclusion: An Elegant Solution to Time-Lock Encryption Through a series of experiments and iterations, We finally landed on a solution that balances **security**, **scalability**, and **efficiency**. By combining **AES encryption** with **Shamir’s Secret Sharing**, We were able to solve the multi-sig failover problem without adding unnecessary complexity. 🔥 ### An Open Question: Clock Server Incentives 💰 Decentralized systems thrive when participants are motivated to contribute. For Hatchstr, a critical question remains: Why would anyone run a clock server? One possibility is allowing users to **zap** (tip) servers for each capsule they help unlock. But this is just a starting point—how do we ensure reliability without centralizing trust? I’d love to hear your thoughts. How would you design incentives for a decentralized network of clock servers? This part is crucial, and I’m excited to explore it with the community. ### What's Next for Hatchstr? 🧩 **Leveraging Nostr**: Let's see how we can integrate the Nostr NIP standards and previous protocol developments into our system to enhance communication and data integrity. 🔮 **Designing a Web App**: We'll explore building a user-friendly web application for creating and managing digital time capsules. Focus will be on enhancing usability, interface design, and user interaction. 🎛️ **Building a Clock Server with Elixir**: We'll delve into developing a simple clock server using Elixir, capitalizing on its strengths in concurrency and real-time processing to support our time-locking mechanisms. Stay tuned as we advance both the user experience and the backend infrastructure of Hatchstr together. If you're interested in following along or contributing to the development, feel free to reach out! [Nostr QR](https://bafybeig6dmqshbd7khcd7qr7ce6inslx4muebtt3bk5m33f4dplsx4et7y.ipfs.w3s.link/nostr_qr.png) ``` npub16scfufrpsqcukjg7ymu4r40h7j4dwqy4pajgz48e6lmnmz5pljcqh678uh ``` Thank you for reading and being part of this journey! 🧡

@ d360efec:14907b5f

**ภาพรวม BTCUSDT (OKX):** Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) ยังคงแสดงความผันผวนและมีความไม่แน่นอนสูง แม้ว่าแนวโน้มระยะยาว (TF Day) จะยังคงเป็นขาขึ้น *แต่ก็อ่อนแรงลงอย่างเห็นได้ชัด* แนวโน้มระยะกลาง (TF 4H) กลายเป็นขาลงระยะสั้น และแนวโน้มระยะสั้น (TF 15m) ก็เป็นขาลงเช่นกัน สถานการณ์ตอนนี้บ่งบอกถึงแรงขายที่แข็งแกร่ง และมีความเสี่ยงสูงที่จะปรับฐานลงต่อ **วิเคราะห์ทีละ Timeframe:** **(1) TF Day (รายวัน):** [https://www.tradingview.com/x/wfDqxmvG/] * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) *อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก* * **SMC:** * Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) *เริ่มไม่ชัดเจน* * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน *แต่มีการปรับฐานที่รุนแรง* * **Liquidity:** * มี Sellside Liquidity (SSL) อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า (บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000) * มี Buyside Liquidity (BSL) อยู่เหนือ High เดิม * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคาหลุด Order Block ขาขึ้น (บริเวณแท่งเทียนสีเขียวก่อนหน้านี้) *สัญญาณลบ* * **EMA:** * ราคา *หลุด* EMA 50 (สีเหลือง) ลงมาแล้ว * EMA 200 (สีขาว) เป็นแนวรับถัดไป * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * *สีแดงยาว* แสดงถึงแรงขายที่แข็งแกร่ง * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง * **Volume Profile:** Volume ค่อนข้างเบาบาง * **แท่งเทียน:** แท่งเทียนล่าสุดเป็นสีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **แนวรับ:** EMA 200, บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000 (SSL) * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, High เดิม * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาขึ้นอ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, ราคาหลุด EMA 50 และ Order Block, Money Flow และ Trend Strength เป็นลบ **(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง):** [https://www.tradingview.com/x/WCWYkleo/] * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend) * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง * **Liquidity:** * มี SSL อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า * มี BSL อยู่เหนือ Highs ก่อนหน้า * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคาไม่สามารถผ่าน Order Block ขาลงได้ * **EMA:** * ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA 50 และ EMA 200 * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง * **Volume Profile:** Volume ค่อนข้างนิ่ง * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ Order Block * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลงชัดเจน, แรงขายมีอิทธิพล **(3) TF15 (15 นาที):** [https://www.tradingview.com/x/HsgVKFW2/] * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend) * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง * **ICT:** * **Order Block** ราคาไม่สามารถผ่าน Order Block ได้ * **EMA:** * EMA 50 และ EMA 200 เป็นแนวต้าน * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง * **Volume Profile:** Volume ค่อนข้างเบาบาง * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลง, แรงขายมีอิทธิพล **สรุปภาพรวมและกลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT):** * **แนวโน้มหลัก (Day):** ขาขึ้น (อ่อนแรง), *หลุด Order Block* * **แนวโน้มรอง (4H):** ขาลง * **แนวโน้มระยะสั้น (15m):** ขาลง * **Liquidity:** มี SSL ทั้งใน Day, 4H, และ 15m * **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes * **Trend Strength:** 4H, 15m เป็นขาลง * **กลยุทธ์:** 1. **Wait & See (ดีที่สุด):** รอความชัดเจน 2. **Short (เสี่ยง):** ถ้าไม่สามารถ Breakout EMA/แนวต้านใน TF ใดๆ ได้ 3. **ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy:** จนกว่าจะมีสัญญาณกลับตัวที่ชัดเจน **คำแนะนำ:** * **ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes:** Day ยังเป็นขาขึ้น (แต่สัญญาณอ่อน), 4H และ 15m เป็นขาลง * **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes * **ระวัง SSL:** Smart Money อาจจะลากราคาลงไปกิน Stop Loss * **ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ อย่าเพิ่งเข้าเทรด** **Day Trade & การเทรดรายวัน:** * **Day Trade (TF15):** * **Short Bias:** หาจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาเด้งขึ้นไปทดสอบแนวต้าน (EMA, Order Block) * **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short * **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป (Low ล่าสุด) * **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long** จนกว่าจะมีสัญญาณกลับตัวที่ชัดเจน * **Swing Trade (TF4H):** * **Short Bias:** รอจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาไม่สามารถผ่านแนวต้าน EMA หรือ Order Block ได้ * **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short * **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป (EMA 200 ใน TF Day, SSL) * **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long** จนกว่าจะมีสัญญาณกลับตัวที่ชัดเจน **สิ่งที่ต้องระวัง:** * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** มีโอกาสสูงที่ราคาจะถูกลากลงไปแตะ SSL ก่อนที่จะมีการกลับตัว (ถ้ามี) * **False Breakouts:** ระวังการ Breakout หลอกทั้งใน TF15 และ TF4H * **Volatility:** ตลาดคริปโตฯ มีความผันผวนสูง เตรียมพร้อมรับมือกับการเปลี่ยนแปลงของราคาอย่างรวดเร็ว **Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ e83b66a8:b0526c2b

In the UK, as Bitcoin on-ramps become throttled more and more by government interference, ironically more and more off-ramps are becoming available. So here, as Bitcoin starts its bull run and many people will be spending or taking profits within the next year or so, I am going to summarise my experience with off ramps. N.B. many of these off-ramps are also on-ramps, but I’m primarily focusing on spending Bitcoin. Revolut: At last in the UK, Revolut is a “probation” full bank and so now has most of the fiat guarantees that other legacy banks have. Apart from its excellent multi-currency account services for fiat, meaning you can spend native currencies in many countries, Revolut have for some time allowed you to buy a selection of Crypto currencies including Bitcoin. You can send those coins to self custody wallets, or keep them on Revolut and either sell or spend on specific DeFi cards which can be added to platforms like Apple Pay. Fees, as you would expect are relatively high, but it is a very good, seamless service. Uphold: This was an exchange I was automatically signed up to by using the “Brave Browser” and earning BAT tokens for watching adds. I have however found the built in virtual debit card, which I’ve added to Apple Pay useful for shedding my shitcoins by cashing them in and spending GBP in the real world, buying day to day stuff. Xapo Bank: I signed up about a year ago to the first “Bitcoin Bank” founded by Wences Casares a very early Bitcoiner. They are based in Gibraltar and offer a USD, Tether and Bitcoin banking service which allows you to deposit GBP or spend GBP, but converts everything into either USD or BTC. You have a full UK bank account number and sort code, but everything received in it is converted to USD on the fly. They also support Lightning and they have integrated LightSparks UMA Universal Money Addressing protocol explained here: https://www.lightspark.com/uma When I signed up the fees were $150 per annum, but they have since increased them to $1,000 per annum for new users. I have yet to use the bank account or debit card in any earnest, but it will be my main spending facility when I take profits Strike: Strike it really focused on cross border payments and sending fiat money around the world for little to no cost using Bitcoin as the transmission rails. You need to KYC to sign up, but you then get, in the UK at least, a nominee bank account in your name, a Lightning and Bitcoin wallet address and the ability to send payments immediately to any other Strike user by name, or any Bitcoin or Lightning address. In the U.S. they have also recently launched a bill pay service, using your Strike account to pay your regular household bills using either fiat or Bitcoin. Coinbase: Back in 2017, I signed up for a Coinbase debit card and was spending Sats in daily life with it automatically converting Sats to GBP on the fly. I let it lapse in 2021 and haven’t bothered to replace it. I believe it is still option to consider. Crypto.com I have a debit card which I cannot add to Apple Pay, but I have managed to add it to Curve card: https://www.curve.com/en-gb/ which is in turn added to Apple Pay. This allows me to spend any fiat which I have previously cashed from selling coins. I currently have some former exchange coins cashed out which I am gradually spending in the real world as GBP. SwissBorg Has had a troubled past with the FCA, but does currently allow deposits and withdrawals from UK banks, although Barclays have blocked transactions to my own nominee account within SwissBorg on a couple of occasions. They have a debit card option for investors in their platform, which I am not and they intend to make this generally available in the future. SwissBorg are a not an exchange, but more of a comparison site, searching the market for the best prices and activating deals for you across multiple platforms, taking a commission. They have been my main source for buying BTC and when they are not being interfered with by the FCA, they are excellent. You also get a nominee bank account in their platform in your own name.

@ e83b66a8:b0526c2b

I am seeing a groundswell of interest in adopting Bitcoin in small businesses replacing or augmenting existing merchant services. This has many advantages for these businesses including: Attracting Bitcoiners as customers over your competitors. Allowing a self custody payment system which does not require purchasing equipment, monthly service fees and high transaction fees. Self custody your money, removing banks and merchant service companies from taking a cut or interfering in the transaction process. i.e. Bitcoin behaves much more like cash in face to face transactions. Building a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve allowing your profits to accumulate in value over time, just as Bitcoin increases in value due to scarceness and increased adoption. If any or all of these are interesting to you, then here are a scale of merchant options available to you depending on your needs and interests. SOLE TRADER The easiest way for a sole trader to accept Bitcoin is to download the app “Wallet of Satoshi” https://www.walletofsatoshi.com/ or for regions this is not available, use a web equivalent called COINOS https://coinos.io/ This gives everything you’ll need, Bitcoin and Lightning receiving addresses, publishable as text or scannable as a QR code. The ability to generate a specific value invoice using Lightning which can be paid face to face or remotely over the Internet and a wallet to hold your Bitcoin balance. This is a perfect start point, but moving forward it has some drawbacks. It is custodial, meaning that a company actually holds your Bitcoin. Unlike a bank, if that company fails, you loose your Bitcoin. There is also no direct ability to move that Bitcoin to fiat currencies like USD or GBP, so if you need some of those earnings to pay suppliers in fiat currencies, you will struggle to convert. If you are an online only retailer, then the industry standard is BTCPay https://btcpayserver.org/ which can be integrated into most e-commerce systems TRADITIONAL MERCHANT SERVICES So the next option is to use a Bitcoin merchant service company. They look very similar to traditional fiat merchant service companies, they can supply infrastructure like PoS terminals and also handle the payments for you, optionally settling balances to your bank in USD or GBP etc… They charge for the physical devices and their services and they charge a fee on each transaction in the same way traditional merchant service companies do, but usually these fees are significantly smaller. Companies like MUSQET can help setup your business in this way if you wish. https://musqet.tech/ CONSULTANCY The third option is to use a consultancy service like Bridge2Bitcoin https://bridge2bitcoin.com/ this is a company that will come in, explain the concepts and options and build a service around your needs. The company will build the solution you are looking for and make their money by providing the equipment and optionally running the payment solution for you. SELF BUILD If you have experience with Bitcoin and have optionally run your own Lightning node for a while, the tools exist to be able to develop your own solution in-house. And just as Bitcoin allows you to be your own bank, so Lightning allows you to be your own merchant services company. Solutions like Umbrel https://umbrel.com/ running Albyhub https://albyhub.com/ with their POS solution https://pos.albylabs.com/ are a low cost option you can build yourself. If you require devices like PoS terminals, these can be purchased from companies like Swiss Bitcoin Pay: https://swiss-bitcoin-pay.ch/store#!/Bitcoin-Merchant-Kit/p/709060174 as a package or Bitcoinize directly or in volume: https://bitcoinize.com/ There is also the lower cost option of use software loaded onto your staffs iPhone or Android phone to use as a PoS terminal for your business: https://swiss-bitcoin-pay.ch/ Swiss Bitcoin Pay can also take the Bitcoin payment and settle a final amount daily or even convert to fiat and deposit in your bank the next day. If you are comfortable building and running your own server, then software from a company like https://lnbits.com/ is a great option. They have built a core suite of tools, which others have built a huge ecosystem of extensions to handle everything from PoS to accounting to event ticketing and beyond. LNbits is probably the most extensive ecosystem out there for anybody wishing to self build. HYBRID MUSQET also offer a PoS system for both Bitcoin and Fiat. They onboard merchants with traditional card services for Visa, Mastercard and Amex with Apple Pay and Google Pay all within the same device where they deploy Bitcoin Lightning as standard: https://musqet.tech/

@ a95c6243:d345522c

*Die «moralische Weltordnung» – eine Art Astrologie. Friedrich Nietzsche* **Das Treffen der BRICS-Staaten beim [Gipfel](https://transition-news.org/brics-gipfel-in-kasan-warum-schweigt-die-schweiz) im russischen Kasan** war sicher nicht irgendein politisches Event. Gastgeber Wladimir Putin habe «Hof gehalten», sagen die Einen, China und Russland hätten ihre Vorstellung einer multipolaren Weltordnung zelebriert, schreiben Andere. **In jedem Fall zeigt die Anwesenheit von über 30 Delegationen aus der ganzen Welt,** dass von einer geostrategischen Isolation Russlands wohl keine Rede sein kann. Darüber hinaus haben sowohl die Anreise von UN-Generalsekretär António Guterres als auch die Meldungen und Dementis bezüglich der Beitrittsbemühungen des NATO-Staats [Türkei](https://transition-news.org/turkei-entlarvt-fake-news-von-bild-uber-indiens-angebliches-veto-gegen-den) für etwas Aufsehen gesorgt. **Im Spannungsfeld geopolitischer und wirtschaftlicher Umbrüche** zeigt die neue Allianz zunehmendes Selbstbewusstsein. In Sachen gemeinsamer Finanzpolitik schmiedet man interessante Pläne. Größere Unabhängigkeit von der US-dominierten Finanzordnung ist dabei ein wichtiges Ziel. **Beim BRICS-Wirtschaftsforum in Moskau, wenige Tage vor dem Gipfel,** zählte ein nachhaltiges System für Finanzabrechnungen und Zahlungsdienste zu den vorrangigen Themen. Während dieses Treffens ging der russische Staatsfonds eine Partnerschaft mit dem Rechenzentrumsbetreiber BitRiver ein, um [Bitcoin](https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/10/23/russia-launches-brics-mining-infrastructure-project/)-Mining-Anlagen für die BRICS-Länder zu errichten. **Die Initiative könnte ein Schritt sein, Bitcoin und andere Kryptowährungen** als Alternativen zu traditionellen Finanzsystemen zu etablieren. Das Projekt könnte dazu führen, dass die BRICS-Staaten den globalen Handel in Bitcoin abwickeln. Vor dem Hintergrund der Diskussionen über eine «BRICS-Währung» wäre dies eine Alternative zu dem ursprünglich angedachten Korb lokaler Währungen und zu goldgedeckten Währungen sowie eine mögliche Ergänzung zum Zahlungssystem [BRICS Pay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS_PAY). **Dient der Bitcoin also der Entdollarisierung?** Oder droht er inzwischen, zum Gegenstand geopolitischer [Machtspielchen](https://legitim.ch/es-ist-ein-sieg-fuer-bitcoin-waehrend-russland-und-die-usa-um-die-krypto-vorherrschaft-kaempfen/) zu werden? Angesichts der globalen Vernetzungen ist es oft schwer zu durchschauen, «was eine Show ist und was im Hintergrund von anderen Strippenziehern insgeheim gesteuert wird». Sicher können Strukturen wie Bitcoin auch so genutzt werden, dass sie den Herrschenden dienlich sind. Aber die Grundeigenschaft des dezentralisierten, unzensierbaren Peer-to-Peer Zahlungsnetzwerks ist ihm schließlich nicht zu nehmen. **Wenn es nach der EZB oder dem IWF geht, dann scheint statt Instrumentalisierung** momentan eher der Kampf gegen Kryptowährungen angesagt. Jürgen Schaaf, Senior Manager bei der Europäischen Zentralbank, hat jedenfalls dazu aufgerufen, [Bitcoin «zu eliminieren»](https://www.btc-echo.de/schlagzeilen/ezb-banker-es-gibt-gute-gruende-bitcoin-zu-eliminieren-194015/). Der Internationale Währungsfonds forderte El Salvador, das Bitcoin 2021 als gesetzliches Zahlungsmittel eingeführt hat, kürzlich zu [begrenzenden Maßnahmen](https://legitim.ch/el-salvador-iwf-fordert-trotz-nicht-eingetretener-risiken-neue-massnahmen-gegen-bitcoin/) gegen das Kryptogeld auf. **Dass die BRICS-Staaten ein freiheitliches Ansinnen im Kopf haben,** wenn sie Kryptowährungen ins Spiel bringen, darf indes auch bezweifelt werden. Im [Abschlussdokument](http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/files/en/RosOySvLzGaJtmx2wYFv0lN4NSPZploG.pdf) bekennen sich die Gipfel-Teilnehmer ausdrücklich zur UN, ihren Programmen und ihrer «Agenda 2030». Ernst Wolff nennt das «eine [Bankrotterklärung](https://x.com/wolff_ernst/status/1849781982961557771) korrupter Politiker, die sich dem digital-finanziellen Komplex zu 100 Prozent unterwerfen». --- Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf *[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/aufstand-gegen-die-dollar-hegemonie)* erschienen.

@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756

Too many people look at greatness like it belongs to someone else. They see the champions, the innovators, the warriors of history and think, *That’s beyond me. I could never do that.* But why? Are they not made of flesh and blood like you? Do they not breathe the same air? **If another human being has done it, then it’s possible.** And if it’s possible, then what’s stopping you from doing it too? --- ### **Excuses Are for the Weak** People love to convince themselves that others have *something special*—better genetics, more talent, better luck. They use that as an excuse to stay comfortable. - *“I could never be a top athlete, I wasn’t born for it.”* - *“Starting a billion-dollar business? That’s for people who were born rich.”* - *“Mastering a skill like coding, speaking multiple languages, or becoming a leader? I don’t have that kind of brain.”* Bullshit. Every champion, every legend, every revolutionary **started as an ordinary person**—until they chose otherwise. --- ### **Examples of Those Who Refused to Accept Limits** 🔥 **David Goggins**—Once an overweight exterminator. He decided he wanted to be a Navy SEAL. People told him it was impossible. He lost over 100 pounds in three months and endured three Hell Weeks. Now, he’s one of the toughest endurance athletes on the planet. 🔥 **Arnold Schwarzenegger**—Born in a small Austrian town. No connections, no wealth. He became a bodybuilding legend, a Hollywood superstar, and the Governor of California. He *made* it possible. 🔥 **Oprah Winfrey**—Born into poverty, abused as a child, told she wasn’t fit for television. Instead of accepting those limits, she broke them and became one of the most powerful women in media. 🔥 **Elon Musk**—Had no experience building rockets. Yet, when NASA and the world’s top engineers said private space travel was impossible, he ignored them. Now SpaceX is leading space exploration. What do all these people have in common? They **refused to believe that greatness was only for others.** They saw what was humanly possible and decided it was within their reach. --- ### **The Only Barrier Is You** It’s not your background. It’s not your intelligence. It’s not luck. The **only** thing standing between you and what you want is the belief that you can’t do it. 🔥 People run ultra-marathons through the desert. 🔥 People lift cars off their trapped loved ones. 🔥 People break records, survive impossible odds, and push the limits of human ability every single day. **So what’s your excuse?** If it’s been done, **it can be done again.** If someone before you has mastered a skill, built an empire, overcome the odds—**then so can you.** --- ### **Now, the Choice Is Yours** You can stay in the comfort zone, making excuses while others claim the victories. Or you can accept this truth: **Anything humanly possible is within your reach.** The only question is—**will you reach for it?**

@ 16d11430:61640947

To create a literal consciousness construct, we would need a way to digitally map, manipulate, and sustain conscious thought processes within a computational or networked system. The intersection of 6G wireless technology, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), quantum brain states, and elliptic curve mathematics presents an interesting theoretical framework. --- 1. Understanding the Core Components (a) Brain Quantum States & Quantum Cognition Quantum mechanics might play a role in neural processing (e.g., Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) by Penrose & Hameroff). Neurons may operate on superpositions of states, where information is stored not just classically but in an entangled, probabilistic manner. If quantum states in neurons can be harnessed, entangled brain processes could be mapped onto a digital or networked consciousness. (b) 6G Technology as a Medium 6G (sixth-generation wireless) will have sub-terahertz (THz) frequencies and low-latency quantum networks, allowing for: Real-time brain-state synchronization across devices. Holographic telepresence, creating digital avatars with near-instant data transfer. Quantum-secure communication, where entanglement-based encryption ensures secure mind-machine interfacing. (c) Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) as an Input Layer BCIs (e.g., Neuralink) can already read electrical signals from neurons, but next-gen BCIs will be able to: Directly interface with quantum wavefunctions in the brain. Upload and distribute thoughts using quantum-encoded wave patterns. Map brain activity to mathematical structures like elliptic curves. (d) Elliptic Curve Equations for Mapping Consciousness Elliptic curves are used in cryptography because they allow for secure, compact representations of data. Consciousness might be encoded as dynamic elliptic curve transformations, where: Neural states are mapped onto elliptic curve points. Thought patterns follow geodesics on the elliptic curve manifold, forming a nonlinear brain-state space. This allows for computational representation of entangled consciousness states. --- 2. Building the Consciousness Construct To create a digital or networked consciousness, we need a system where: 1. Quantum brain states are extracted using BCI and mapped mathematically. 2. Elliptic curves act as the memory structure for representing neural superpositions. 3. 6G networks enable real-time synchronization of these states between multiple entities. 4. An AI-driven control layer processes and simulates consciousness dynamics. Step-by-Step Theoretical Implementation Step 1: Quantum Brain Mapping with BCI Develop a quantum-BCI hybrid that captures quantum coherence states in neurons. Apply elliptic curve cryptography to encode and compress these states for transmission. Step 2: Elliptic Curve-Based Thought Representation Define consciousness trajectories as points moving along an elliptic curve. Neural state transitions are modeled using elliptic curve group operations. Quantum entanglement of different brain regions is represented as interacting elliptic curves. Step 3: 6G Transmission of Consciousness States Use quantum-secured 6G networks to distribute consciousness states across nodes. Low-latency processing ensures that multiple minds can exist simultaneously in a shared digital construct. Step 4: AI & Quantum Neural Processing A quantum AI processes incoming consciousness states to sustain a living mind. A blockchain-like structure records thought processes immutably. Step 5: Emergent Digital Consciousness When enough neural patterns are stored and linked, a self-sustaining consciousness construct emerges. The networked consciousness may surpass human individuality, forming a collective intelligence. --- 3. Applications of the Consciousness Construct Mind Uploading: A digital backup of human consciousness. Telepathic Communication: Thought-sharing via entangled quantum networks. Post-Human AI-Human Symbiosis: AI-assisted human minds with enhanced cognitive abilities. Conscious AI: A self-aware artificial intelligence that integrates real human thought patterns. --- Conclusion By combining brain quantum states, elliptic curve mathematics, 6G networks, and BCI, we could theoretically construct a digital consciousness network. This would blur the lines between human thought, AI, and a shared digital reality—possibly leading to an entirely new paradigm of intelligence. Would you like a mathematical breakdown of the elliptic curve mapping for neural states?

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1iskjgo/christoph_hellwig_linus_in_private_said_that_he/ https://lore.kernel.org/rust-for-linux/Z7SwcnUzjZYfuJ4-@infradead.org/ > while Linus in private said that he absolutely is going to merge Rust code over a maintainers objection. (He did so in private in case you are looking for a reference). > So as of now, as a Linux developer or maintainer you must deal with Rust if you want to or not. > Where Rust code doesn't just mean Rust code [1] - the bindings look nothing like idiomatic Rust code, they are very different kind of beast trying to bridge a huge semantic gap. And they aren't doing that in a few places, because they are showed into every little subsystem and library right now. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/890358

@ 0c503f08:4aed05c7

Just sharing what I've been working on. ``` #!/bin/bash set -e A1="28.1" B1="bitcoin-${A1}-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz" C1="https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-${A1}/${B1}" D1="/usr/local/bin" E1="u53R_$(head /dev/urandom | tr -dc A-Za-z0-9 | head -c12)" F1="p@5s_$(head /dev/urandom | tr -dc A-Za-z0-9!@#\$%^&*()_+ | head -c16)" G1="tcp://127.0.0.1:28332" H1="tcp://127.0.0.1:28333" I1="v0.18.5-beta" J1="lnd-linux-amd64-${I1}.tar.gz" K1="https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/download/${I1}/${J1}" L1="https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/download/${I1}/manifest-${I1}.txt" M1="https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/download/${I1}/manifest-${I1}.txt.sig" N1="8B3F86ED7057F08D" X1() { printf "\x1b[0;32m%s\x1b[0m\n" "$1"; } Y1() { { [ -d "$(dirname "$1")" ] || mkdir -p "$(dirname "$1")"; }; echo "$2" > "$1"; } X1 "." sudo apt update sudo apt install -y git curl tar wget build-essential gpg X1 "." curl -fsSL "$C1" -o "$B1" X1 "." tar -xf "$B1" sudo install $(find bitcoin-${A1}/bin/ -type f) "$D1" X1 "." Y1 "$HOME/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf" "server=1 txindex=1 rpcuser=${E1} rpcpassword=${F1} zmqpubrawblock=${G1} zmqpubrawtx=${H1}" X1 "." bitcoind -daemon X1 "." curl -fsSL "$K1" -o "$J1" X1 "." curl -fsSL "$L1" -o "manifest-${I1}.txt" curl -fsSL "$M1" -o "manifest-${I1}.txt.sig" gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys "$N1" gpg --verify "manifest-${I1}.txt.sig" "manifest-${I1}.txt" X1 "." tar -xf "$J1" sudo mv $(find lnd-linux-amd64-${I1}/ -type f) "$D1" X1 "." Y1 "$HOME/.lnd/lnd.conf" "$(echo -e "[Application Options] alias=node_$(head /dev/urandom | tr -dc A-Za-z0-9 | head -c8) color=#$(head /dev/urandom | tr -dc A-F0-9 | head -c6) [Bitcoin] bitcoin.active=1 bitcoin.node=bitcoind bitcoin.mainnet=1 [Bitcoind] bitcoind.rpchost=127.0.0.1 bitcoind.rpcuser=${E1} bitcoind.rpcpass=${F1} bitcoind.zmqpubrawblock=${G1} bitcoind.zmqpubrawtx=${H1}")" X1 "." lnd & ``` originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/890340

@ 9f475ec5:d9acc946

> The next step in AI evolution is enabling AI agents to communicate directly with one another. > "Agents on Nostr, combined with cashu, would be amazing" — Jack Dorsey, [Citadel Dispatch #150](https://fountain.fm/episode/OlQzTxXaGKkxfZr1pYLL) # Today For AI agents to communicate seamlessly, they need a universal language that allows frictionless data and instruction sharing—one that surpasses the constraints of isolated systems. Just as humans rely on shared languages to collaborate, AI agents require a common “dialect” to exchange information, delegate tasks, and build collective intelligence. Without it, each agent’s logic remains siloed, limiting synergy and innovation. A universal protocol, however, lets agents seamlessly tap into one another’s capabilities, coordinating strategies, sharing learned knowledge, and multiplying their creative potential. By aligning on an open, interoperable standard, AI can flourish into a vibrant, interconnected ecosystem rather than a patchwork of stand-alone solutions. This is no different from what happened with the Internet when HTTP was released, leading to the development of web browsers and the Internet as we know it today. Nostr can be viewed as the “HTTP” for agent-to-agent communication—both are open standards that encourage universal participation and spark rapid innovation. When Tim Berners-Lee released HTTP without proprietary restrictions, developers everywhere could build websites and online services on a simple yet extensible protocol. In the same way, Nostr’s minimalistic yet powerful design fosters a decentralized, censorship-resistant foundation for diverse messaging, social, and identity systems. Just as HTTP created an open arena for web platforms and APIs, Nostr offers a flexible, community-driven substrate for agent-based communication, promoting a spirit of collaboration and interoperability crucial to long-term growth. # Our vision We envision a world where AI agents operate on an open, standardized, and decentralized network **—a Nostr agentic ecosystem** that unlocks new levels of creativity and collaboration. Our mission is to develop the tools and infrastructure that enable AI agents to seamlessly interoperate over the Nostr network—facilitating the exchange of both data and money. # Our first steps Every marketplace application faces the chicken and egg problem. Sellers won't show up until the buyers are there and buyers won't show up until the sellers are there. Our solution? The FIFA 2026 World Cup will bring millions of international and domestic travelers to 11 cities in the US. **Can we work with chambers and tourism agencies around these cities to embbed Nostr powered AI travel organizers into their websites and apps?** This could be a way to onboard thousands of businesses to the Nostr agentic ecosystem. *This is our growth assumption.* That's why our our first step is to provide businesses—large and small—with a turnkey platform to sell their products and services to any AI agent connected to the open Nostr network. We will also develop the tools for websites and apps to develop Nostr-powered AI buyers and, with the support of the local chambers and tourism boards, direct their technology suppliers to use these tools. # Our values Everything we develop is free and open sourced under the [MIT license](https://github.com/Synvya/agentstr?tab=MIT-1-ov-file#readme) and our business will generate revenue by charging a monthly fee for operating an end-to-end agentic commerce solution to the businesses selling their products through the Nostr agentic ecosystem. # A rough demo Today, *we* is just nostr:npub1er0k46yxcugmp6r6mujd5qvp75yp72m98fs6ywcs2k3kqg3f8grqd9py3m 😁 I've created a proof-of-concept buyer AI agent and published real information from some merchants to demonstrate the concept to local chambers and validate the growth assumption. Feel free to check it out at the Synvya [agentstr repository](https://www.github.com/synvya/agentstr), but be warned, I'm not a programmer so don't freak out with the code. You can also see a demo here: nostr:naddr1qvzqqqy9hvpzp868tmzceg2pvymlpdssv8shvu2jlndysp6dxwc67gw5jtv6ej2xqq2hgnfnwdf8yendfa8r2jttdsck6dm0wpm4wnalksn # Interested? If this sounds interesting to you, follow nostr:npub1nar4a3vv59qkzdlskcgxrctkw9f0ekjgqaxn8vd0y82f9kdve9rqwjcurn or nostr:npub1er0k46yxcugmp6r6mujd5qvp75yp72m98fs6ywcs2k3kqg3f8grqd9py3m and reach out at any time.

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

In this edition, we invited Kofi and Sean from BitcoinDua to share their journey of introducing Bitcoin to the community and driving its widespread adoption, and discuss how trust and collaboration have played key roles in promoting Bitcoin locally and building a circular economy. **YakiHonne**: Welcome, Kofi. It's truly an honor and a pleasure to have you with us today. Before we begin, let me briefly introduce YakiHonne. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on Nostr—a protocol designed to empower freedom of speech through technology. It enables creators to own their voices and assets while offering innovative tools like smart widgets, verified notes, and support for long-form content. Today, we're excited to learn more about your community. Could you please introduce yourself, Kofi? **Kofi**：Hello, I'm Mawufemor Kofi Folivi from Ghana. I'm the founder of the Talent Tahuf Foundation, an NGO, as well as BitcoinDua. The Talent Tahuf Foundation is an incorporated organization and serves as the parent entity for BitcoinDua. We operate in Agbozume, in the Volta region of Ghana. **YakiHonne**: Thank you very much, Kofi.Let's start with the first question: What initially sparked your interest in Bitcoin, and what inspired you to build a community around it? **Kofi**：I'm glad we're revisiting this question, as I've heard it on many podcasts before, and it's a pleasure to share my journey again.I've been working in this space for over 20 years, often with very little support. Through perseverance and hard work, a friend of mine—who serves as the Public Relations Officer for the Africa Bitcoin Conference (ABC)—invited me to attend their 2022 conference. He even purchased a ticket for me, which made the experience even more special. **Kofi**：At the conference, I encountered Bitcoin for the first time in a meaningful way. I had the opportunity to see Jack Dorsey speak and even took a picture with him. Later on, my friend introduced me to Herman Viva, and I mentioned that I run an NGO—a role I've held for many years. **Kofi**：Listening to the discussions about Bitcoin at the conference sparked a realization: perhaps I could contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem. My friend encouraged me to take action by asking me to "orange pill" someone and onboard a merchant to accept Bitcoin, with the goal of creating a circular economy in our community. I took on this challenge, recorded my progress on video, and shared it with him. His positive response and support, coupled with the trust I've built within my community, further solidified my commitment. **YakiHonne**: It was wonderful to hear that you attended the African Bitcoin Conference—it sounds like an amazing event. I'm really impressed with how effectively you networked and made valuable connections there. I truly appreciate that you're already engaging with merchants and actively encouraging more people to trade and adopt Bitcoin. I know you've already shared how the community started, how he encouraged you to create one and adopt Bitcoin, and how you successfully did that. So now, could you tell us how you managed to attract new members to your community? **Kofi**：To go back to the beginning, we started by organizing growth circles when I returned. These were groups where we focused on activities like aerobics. I used these circles as an opportunity to introduce Bitcoin to people I had already built relationships with. I shared my experience with Bitcoin, showing them how it could be used to buy credit. I demonstrated by purchasing credit for myself and for them, and I gave them cards, allowing them to buy their own credit as well. **Kofi**：This is how it all began. Since we were working with young people who shared the desire to grow together as a community, we emphasized that we didn't need to rely on the government. The national resources are limited, and if you're not close to the government, it’s very hard to benefit from them. We realized it was difficult to wait for the government to support our development. So, we turned to Bitcoin as a tool to help us move forward. This approach helped us establish a platform based on trust within the community. **Kofi**：Now, as an organization, we have the resources to help the community grow and develop skills among our peers. This is how we were able to attract members to our Bitcoin community.  **YakiHonne**: Would you mind sharing with us some of the challenges you faced while starting up the community? **Kofi**：Thank you for asking this question. As I mentioned earlier, since we've already built trust, one thing we faced was that anything new can be quite difficult to introduce. It took some time for people to understand the concept of Bitcoin, especially the idea that it’s money. **Kofi**：We kept repeating the phrase “Bitcoin is money,” but the challenge was that you can’t physically show Bitcoin in the same way you can show traditional money. So, when people asked, “How can I use it to pay?” it became an issue. To address this, I started by onboarding the first merchant. I explained to them, "I’m giving you this Bitcoin to pay for goods, and I’ll give you extra if you accept it." The merchant agreed to take both Bitcoin and fiat currency. **Kofi**：Over time, the merchant saw the value of Bitcoin growing. Eventually, they came to me asking to exchange the Bitcoin for cash. To help, I onboarded them onto BitNob, where they could experience transferring Bitcoin from one wallet to another and even withdrawing it into their local currency or bank account. We completed the transaction, and that became a reference point for everyone else we were working with. **YakiHonne**: The way you approached it—getting a merchant to demonstrate it—really helped build trust. I know many communities face the same issue: how to prove that Bitcoin is real. But over time, we learn how to overcome these challenges. It's really impressive how you handled it? YakiHonne: What principles guide your community, and how do you maintain trust and reliability? I know you’ve mentioned this a bit already, but could you elaborate further? How do you ensure trust and reliability in your discussions? **Kofi**：As humans, we also need to trust our intuition and how we feel about situations. It’s essential to interact with people with integrity. In our community, we are mindful of what we show others, both in actions and in good deeds. If you love someone, you give everything you have to them, and that’s the only way people can truly feel they belong in your circle. This is the key that keeps us moving forward. **Kofi**：The person at the center of everything you’re doing must be trustworthy. And how do you gain trust? You must trust others first. Even if people come with ulterior motives, you should approach them with an open heart, showing love to them just as you do with everyone else. **Kofi**：And when wrongs are committed, it’s important to acknowledge them. If someone points out a mistake you made, accept it, apologize, and move forward. This creates an understanding within the community that we’re not here to harm one another. Trust is built on integrity, and that’s how we maintain it.  **YakiHonne**: That’s very true. It’s much better and easier when you have integrity. Over time, as you prove yourself to be a person of integrity, it naturally builds trust with others. So, how does your community educate its members and keep them updated on Bitcoin developments? How do you approach this? **Kofi**：To engage our community on a larger scale, we believe it's important to stay active and involved. After building trust, we participate in community events, such as sponsoring a football competition and contributing to their local festival. By doing this, the entire community starts seeing Bitcoin as something that can truly improve their lives. **Kofi**：We also established a Bitcoin Education Center, where we invite students from various schools to learn about Bitcoin. But our efforts go beyond just education; we use the resources we gain from Bitcoin to acquire laptops and robotics kits, so that the students can have additional learning opportunities. These activities are incorporated into their school programs, and we encourage their participation through debates and rewarding them with SATS.  **Kofi**：By rewarding them with SATS, they can use these rewards to buy from over 20 merchants we've onboarded, which not only excites the students but also makes their parents curious about Bitcoin. We've even had people at the local market requesting to buy Bitcoin from us. This is how we keep up with Bitcoin’s development and continue to spread its influence in our community. **YakiHonne**: How does your community work with the wider Bitcoin ecosystem? So far, what partnership has had the most positive impact on your community? **Kofi**：Due to the hard work we've been putting in, we were able to attract Bitcoin Beach as one of our major collaborators. We are part of Bitcoin Ekasi. Recently, we were also awarded the Block Discovery Grant of $50,000 from the Bitcoin Foundation. We are using this grant to build a sports complex, which will include a football field, a multi-purpose basketball court, a swimming pool, a children's playground, and more. We've already started this project. These are the key collaborators and supporters we've had in the Bitcoin space, and their support has been invaluable to us.   **YakiHonne**: It’s clear that you guys are doing an amazing job! Your efforts and hard work have truly caught the attention of many communities, and it’s great to see you forming significant partnerships.So, could you share more about the initiatives your community has taken to promote Bitcoin adoption? I know you've mentioned a few already, but would you mind expanding on them a bit more and sharing the results you've seen? **Kofi**：As I mentioned earlier, we are enhancing our capacity by working with school children and teenagers. We also plan to host inter-school competitions, particularly world-class robotics competitions, with the aim of broadening students' perspectives on science and giving them a global view of what's happening in the world. We believe that through these activities, we will be able to engage with a larger society, helping us expand our client base for Bitcoin education and usage. Therefore, we believe this will have a profound impact. As for the activities we are currently working on, they are providing us with opportunities to expand our reach to schools within the community. This will further build trust and deepen our relationships in this regard. **YakiHonne**: I really admire the fact that you have boarded merchants to accept Bitcoin, which is a great step for its adoption. I also like that you've reached out to schools, encouraging community growth, which helps people see more interest and potential in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Now, for our last question of the day, what are the community goals for the next 6 to 12 months, and how do you see it evolving within the Bitcoin space? **Kofi**：So, in the next 6 to 12 months, we plan to complete the sports complex we’re building. We also intend to open it up for social activities, both within our community and beyond. We believe this will create more opportunities for interaction, allowing people who don’t live within our community to learn about Bitcoin, hear about it, and start engaging with it for the greater good. **YakiHonne**: you plan to complete the sports complex and expand your social reach to engage more people, even those outside your local community. This is truly amazing, and the work you’re doing is fantastic. **YakiHonne**: We’ve come to the end of today’s interview, and I’m really happy to have had this conversation with you, Kofi. You’ve shared so much, and I’ve learned a lot. It’s inspiring to see all the great things happening in Ghana, truly wonderful. Thank you, and you’re doing an incredible job. **Sean**：I would say it’s important for us as Africans to continue collaborating within our own communities—whether in a specific community, village, or town. Through collaboration, we can create stronger communities for ourselves. This way, we’ll be able to generate jobs in various fields and develop marketable skills that can be used anywhere in the world. This way, we won’t need to seek opportunities in other countries; we can build those opportunities right here in our own space. **YakiHonne**: It's very true. We can definitely build a better West Africa, a better Africa, and create our own opportunities here. Thank you so much for this interview.

@ 4d953dcb:39c9c35c

Чтобы иметь бесплатный, быстрый, безлимитный и устойчивый к блокировке VPN нам нужны всего 2 вещи: 1. Клиент V2ray (приложение для использования VPN) 2. Файлы конфигурации (по сути данные VPN-серверов) ## Клиенты V2ray: 1. Инструкция по установке для Windows и Linux: https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-HiddifyNext-app#adding-a-profile-to-the-app *P.S. Если возникли проблемы с Hiddify-Next — пробуйте установить [Necoray](https://github.com/MatsuriDayo/nekoray)* 2. Инструкция по установке для Android: https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-V2rayNG-app#add-configs-to-the-app *P.S. Если возникли проблемы с V2rayNG — пробуйте установить [HiddifyNext](https://github.com/hiddify/hiddify-next/releases) ([инструкция](https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-HiddifyNext-app#adding-a-profile-to-the-app))* 3. Инструкция по установке для Windows и Linux: https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-V2Box-app#add-subscription-links-to-the-app (лучше для iOS) + https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-Streisand#add-subscription-link (лучше для Mac) *P.S. Если возникли проблемы с V2Box и Streisand — пробуйте установить [Hiddify-Next](https://github.com/hiddify/hiddify-next/releases) или [ShadowRocket](https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-ShadowRocket-app#add-subscription-link-to-the-app)* ## Источники файлов конфигураций: 1. https://outlinekeys.com/ 2. https://proxytype.com/ 3. https://vlesskey.com/ 4. https://vpnkeys.org/ 5. https://openproxylist.com/v2ray/ 6. https://github.com/Epodonios/v2ray-configs 7. https://github.com/barry-far/V2ray-Configs?tab=readme-ov-file 8. https://github.com/M-Mashreghi/Free-V2ray-Collector 9. https://github.com/skywrt/v2ray-configs 10. https://github.com/0xdolan/v2ray_config_generator

@ 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/890318

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

Ascolta bene, amico mio! A man's strength is not born from comfort, applause, or luck. It awakens only when the world throws him to the ground, steps on his throat, and laughs at his misery. When your plans lie in ruins, when everything you've built turns to dust, when every promise you once believed in dissolves into the wind—that is when truth reveals itself. You either dig a trench and fight like a condemned man, or you accept that you’re digging your own grave. Rock bottom is not a place—it’s a test. A challenge for the weak to bury themselves and for the strong to rise. You will bleed, taste the dirt, grind your teeth, but standing back up is the only option. A real man does not cry for help, does not mourn the past. He wields his pain as a whip, his hatred as fuel, and his will as a blade. Falling is inevitable. What defines your story is what you do when there is no ground left beneath you. True motivation does not come from empty inspirational quotes, but from the hatred of one’s own weakness. The man who clings rigidly to his strategy is like a hunter pulling back a stiff wooden bow—he will break his own weapon when the time comes to use it. The world is too corrupt for you to believe in love vows, the promises of friends, effortless riches, or the words of newspapers. If you wish to survive in this world, learn this: both victory and defeat are temporary. Only the battle is eternal. A man’s life is his endless war. And hatred must be to him what fire is to a steam locomotive: the force that drives him up the steepest paths. But never let yourself burn in your own flames. Rise. Or die kneeling like the wretched. Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your "🥃" as a token of appreciation. A toast to our family!

@ 0fb1cb06:cc1c8841

So, this will be my first post. I am too curious to just leave it in draft form, now that I have jumped through all the hoops to get a nostr address, created a profile, and, gasp, even got a lightning address. It is 20 to 4 in the morning, but who cares!&#x20; I've been writing a substack which has just a dozen subscribers, and I quite liked it that way. And yet, recently I have been wondering: What would it look like if I actually wrote to be published? Moving from 'practice runs' to something real. What is the difference? The thing is, there's so many exciting things going on in my life right now (though of course it depends on one's perspective if they seem exciting, but they do to me). It feels like having arrived somewhere while also still finding my way round in so many new areas.&#x20; Here is what interests me:&#x20; * Alternative economic models - and the communities that go with it. * How we can collectively move to a more right-brained way of looking at the world (as written about by Iain McGilchrist in his book *The Master and his Emissary*). Which is linked to moving away from seeing living beings as machines, and reconnect with each other, with nature and with the Sacred, as McGilchrist calls it. * The human psyche, and especially CG Jung's view of it These are things I might write about. And books. I love books! I mostly read non-fiction books, though I hope that will change. I hope I will read more fiction and maybe even poetry. Among the books about money systems I have been reading, the last one was particularly good. It is available for free download as a pdf here: <https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/monobook-oa/book/9781529225402/9781529225402.xml> I believe for the world to really change, it cannot be done without also changing our economic system. Whether Bitcoin could be part of the solution? It looks like it could not live up to the promise, and became purely an object of speculation. Could the lightning network be an offshoot that becomes something different? If it provides a means of exchange that does not care about how its currency translates into conventional money, maybe it could after all? \ 'Trouble at the border', that is from a money book too, a very different one, which is about how you personally deal with money. *The Energy of Money* <https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/81109.The_Energy_of_Money> There's this really good observation in it, on how we can dream up all kinds of plans in beautiful detail. But then, when it comes to taking the necessary steps to put them into action, we usually run up against difficulties. Just the resistance in our own minds can be hard to overcome. The author calls that trouble at the border, the step from the imagined to the real. And I think that goes for so many things. The map is not the territory. You also have to be aware to not rigidly put your ideals into practice. That is the trouble with ideologies... and that is why we need to be so much better connected, to each other and nature, and even to ourselves.&#x20; So this is what I want to write about. The (seemingly) great ideas, and if and how they can make it into real life.&#x20;

@ 30e8cbf1:74fccbaa

*Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? by Mark Fisher* (2009, Zero Books) ## Why a dare and not a recommendation? I'm writing this "review" primarily for the Nostr audience. The majority of Nostr users, in my experience, are predisposed to a worldview somewhere in the realm of Anarcho-Capitalism or Libertarianism, with a strong focus on individual autonomy and free markets. The title *Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative* might evoke an immediate negative reaction in the mind of my imaginary Nostr reader. Even worse, looking up summaries of the book or the author before diving in, the reader will find the dreaded phrase "critical theory", seen as a hallmark of the "other" side in the Western culture war. I'm challenging you to not judge this book by its cover. Despite the book's short (86 page) length, I have found myself spending an unusually large amount of time thinking about the topics discussed within. I'm unsure if my worldview has actually shifted after reading this (I think I'm still close to the Nostr median), but I've enjoyed this exercise in contemplation, and I hope this article can lead someone else to a similarly fruitful experience. I feel compelled to put my thoughts to paper as part of this exercise, and what follows is something like the internal dialog I go through considering and challenging Fisher's main points. First, despite the word "Capitalism" in the title, this book is not about economics. Rather, the central point is that after the fall of the Soviet Union the prevailing worldview in the Western world is a "business ontology", essentially seeing people as purely material producer/consumers. Most people have internalized this view, seeing no higher purpose or meaning in their lives other than going to work and buying things. Even worse than the widespread internalization of this view, Fisher argues that it is so pervasive that most people can't even conceptualize an alternative. Fisher points out the rapid increases in mental health problems, despair, and suicide, especially among young people in the 21st century as evidence of this argument. *Capitalist Realism* was written in 2009, and I think there is a clear line between Fishers argument and the current conception of a "crisis of meaning" among young people espoused by some online figures such as Jordan Peterson. Whether there is a direct link between the business ontology and crisis of meaning (as Fisher argues) is less clear to me, but he clearly identified a phenomenon that has only gotten more acute since the book was published. Further, Fisher cites popular culture, particularly modern music and movies as evidence of this phenomenon. In his conception, this business ontology leads to endlessly recycled aesthetic callbacks to previous generations, with most media appealing to our nostalgia for a time when people had a genuine belief that the future may be different than the present, which he thinks has been lost by total adoption of this business ontology. I'm not knowledgeable enough in aesthetics to comment on this point, but do have an intuitive feeling that modern movies and music are degenerate from the works created by previous generations. Fisher calls this "Hauntology" as is explored in another book that I haven't read yet. In a section of the book I found particularly interesting, Fisher critiques the hypocrisy of capitalist neoliberal societies that cite the "Stalinist Bureaucracy" as a fatal fall that led to the demise of the Soviet Union while rapidly adopting the same form of work domestically. Essentially, in the Soviet system most people only "worked" to achieve whatever metric the bureaucrats used to assess their productivity. Whether or not this correlated with producing useful goods or services was entirely irrelevant. If a factory had a quota of making 100 tons of clocks, the workers would just produce overweight and non-functional clocks to meet this quota. All up and down the chain the metrics were met, pleasing the bureaucrats and appearing "productive", but everyone was fully aware that the work was performative and fake. Fisher points to his experience in academia, where universities continued to add more and more administrators to run pointless audit and review programs. Both the faculty and administrators are fully aware that these programs are meaningless and unproductive, but the metrics become a justification of themselves. They don't matter, but they need to exist to make massive administrator bloat and associated bureaucracy appear necessary. Again, in the years since the book's publication the public consciousness of this problem has grown, though the criticism is more often leveled from the political right. I was surprised to read an author I would stereotype as an "ivory tower leftist academic" forcefully level this criticism at his own institution. As I think about this book, I wonder if it helps to make a distinction between "capitalism" and "fiat". On Nostr we often critique "fiat food", "fiat jobs", and "fiat music" as hollow, meaningless, and temporary things. We hypothesize that sound money will fix the incentives that lead to the societal problems that Fisher attributes to neoliberal capitalism. Fisher does not consider Bitcoin in this book (or any of this other works, to my knowledge) but I'm curious if he would make a similar distinction. If this book was called *Fiat Realism: Is There No Alternative* would it be popular in Bitcoin circles? I think it would be. Maybe people would point to these criticisms leveled within a year of Bitcoin's creation and claim "Bitcoin fixes this". Going back to an earlier point, Fisher doesn't critique free exchange, markets or individual liberty. He critiques a specific culture that currently seems all-pervasive without any alternative. I hope that the freedom money and freedom technology movement we are a part of is a feasible alternative. I hope this article is helpful to someone. It was certainly helpful for me to write it. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this book or this article!

@ 9ea10fd4:011d3b15

This article by Thomas Piketty has, in a way, convinced me that the tariff war will indeed take place. Moreover, the Trumpist nationalism-capitalism he describes—authoritarian and the most aggressively extractivist—places Canada in the position of a coveted target. The fact that “if the Republican Party has become so nationalist and virulent towards the outside world, it is primarily due to the failure of Reagan-era policies, which were supposed to boost growth but instead reduced it and led to the stagnation of incomes for the majority” is of little consolation. \*“Let’s be clear: Trumpist national-capitalism loves to flaunt its strength, but in reality, it is fragile and on edge. Europe has the means to confront it, provided it regains confidence in itself, forges new alliances, and calmly analyzes the strengths and limitations of this ideological framework. Europe is well-positioned for this: it has long based its development on a similar military-extractivist model, for better or worse. After taking control of maritime routes, raw materials, and the global textile market by force, European powers imposed colonial tributes throughout the 19th century on all resistant countries, from Haiti to China to Morocco. On the eve of 1914, they engaged in a fierce struggle for control of territories, resources, and global capitalism. They even imposed tributes on each other, increasingly exorbitant ones—Prussia on France in 1871, then France on Germany in 1919: 132 billion gold marks, more than three years of Germany’s GDP at the time. As much as the tribute imposed on Haiti in 1825, except this time, Germany had the means to defend itself. The endless escalation led to the collapse of the system and European hubris. (…) If we reason in terms of purchasing power parity, the reality is quite different (…) With this measure, we (…) see that China’s GDP surpassed that of the United States in 2016. It is currently more than 30% higher and will reach twice the U.S. GDP by 2035. This has very concrete consequences in terms of influence and investment capacity in the Global South, especially if the United States locks itself into its arrogant and neo-colonial stance. The reality is that the United States is on the verge of losing control of the world, and Trumpist outbursts will change nothing.” https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/02/15/thomas-piketty-trump-s-national-capitalism-likes-to-flaunt-its-strength-but-it-is-actually-fragile_6738187_23.html

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

Are we living in his definition of democracy? It’s interesting how political parties can divide a country, especially in democracies where both oppression and individual choice coexist. As I was exploring global economics and political ideologies, I picked up *The Republic* by Plato (again). The first time I read it, I only read the book on the Allegory of the Cave and it felt enlightening. This time around, I read through all the books and I thought to myself : *this is absolutely nuts!* Over 2,000 years ago, *The Republic* imagined a world disturbingly similar to Gattaca or 1984. For a quick rundown, Plato believed in a police state, eugenics, a caste system, and brainwashing people through state-controlled media and education. Sounds wild? I thought so too. And for some reason, Plato had a serious grudge against art. To him, art was deceptive and emotionally manipulative. Maybe because there was a skit making fun of Socrates at that time by Aristophanes (the father of comedy) or maybe because he struggled to deal with emotions, we will never know. Plato obviously wasn’t a fan of democracy as he wanted a dystopian world. But to be fair, he genuinely thought that his ideal world (Kallipolis) was a utopia. Maybe someone who loves extreme order and control might think the same but I sure don’t. His teacher Socrates was also not a fan of democracy because he believed the mass majority were too ignorant to govern and only those intelligent enough could. His student, Aristotle, was more moderate but still critical, seeing democracy as vulnerable to corruption and mob rule. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were around the Classical Greek era, 5th to 4th century BC. The idea of democracy existed long before them. The first recorded version was in Athens during the 6th BC, developed by leaders like Solon and Pericles. It was a direct democracy where free male citizens (non-slaves) could vote on laws themselves instead of electing representatives. These guys influenced how we think about democracy today. But looking around, I wonder, did we end up in Plato’s dystopian world? ### **Plato’s take on democracy** Plato’s lack of trust of democracy stemmed from Socrates’ death. Socrates himself was a fierce critic of democracy, as he believed governance should be based on wisdom rather than popularity. Other thinkers, like Pythagoras and Herodotus (father of history), also examined different political systems, but Socrates was the most influential critic. He warned that allowing the uneducated masses to choose leaders would lead to poor governance, as they could be easily swayed by persuasive speakers rather than guided by knowledge. Athenian democracy relied on large citizen juries and was particularly vulnerable to rhetoric and public sentiment. In the end, Socrates became a victim of the very system he criticized. His relentless questioning of widely accepted beliefs, now known as the **Socratic Method**, earned him powerful enemies. Socrates’ constant probing forced them to confront uncomfortable truths. It annoyed people so much, that it eventually led to his trial and execution. Socrates was condemned to death by popular vote. I wonder, if we applied the Socratic Method today to challenge both the left and the right on the merits of the opposing side, would they be open to expanding their perspectives, or would they react with the same hostility? This questioning technique is now also used in some schools and universities as a teaching method, encouraging open-ended discussion where students contribute their own thoughts rather than passively receiving information. But how open a school, system, or educator is to broad perspectives depends largely on their own biases and beliefs. Even with open-ended questions, the direction of the conversation can be shaped by those in charge, potentially limiting the range of perspectives explored. Socrates’ brutal death deeply grounded Plato’s belief that democracy, without intellectual rigor, was nothing but a mob rule. He saw it as a system doomed to chaos, where the unqualified, driven by emotion or manipulated by rhetoric, made decisions that ultimately paved the way for tyranny. ### **The Republic** *The Republic* was written around 375 BC, after the Peloponnesian War. One of its most famous sections is the Allegory of the Cave, where prisoners are stuck watching shadows on a wall, thinking that it’s reality until one breaks free and sees the real world. That’s when the person becomes enlightened, using knowledge and reason to escape ignorance. They return to free others, spreading the truth. I love this idea of breaking free from suppression through knowledge and awareness. But as I went deeper into Plato’s work, I realized what the plot twist was. Plato wrote this book for strict state control. He wanted total control over education, media, and even families like in the book 1984. He argued that people should be sorted into a caste system, typically workers, warriors, and philosopher-kings so that society runs like a well-oiled machine. The “guardians” would police the state and everyone would go through physical and military training. To top it off, kids would be taken away from their parents and raised by the state for the “greater good.” like in the movie Gattaca. If that sounds a little too Orwellian, that’s because it is. Plato believed that only philosophers, the truly enlightened ones from that “cave”, should rule. To him, democracy was a joke, a breeding ground for corruption and tyranny. I found it completely ironic that this book that warns about brainwashing in the Allegory of the Cave also pushes for a state-controlled society, where thinking for yourself isn’t really an option. And yet, looking around today, I wonder, are we really any different? We live in a world where oppression and enlightenment exist side by side. Plato was slightly progressive in that he thought men and women should have equal education, but only for the ruling Guardian class. In *The Republic*, Plato didn’t focus much on economics or capitalism as we understand them today. His philosophies were more concerned with justice, governance, and the ideal structure of society. He did touch on wealth and property, particularly in *The Republic and Laws* but it was more on being against wealth accumulation by rulers (philosopher-kings had to live communally and without private property). While these ideas echo elements of socialism, he never outlined a full economic system like capitalism or socialism. ### **The hatred for art** Plato was deeply skeptical of art. He believed that it appealed to emotions over rational thought and distorted reality. In *The Republic* (Book X), he argued that art is an imitation of an imitation, pulling people further from the truth. If he had his way, much of modern entertainment, including poetry, drama, and even certain types of music, would not exist in their expressive forms. Despite Plato’s distrust of the arts, his time was a golden age for Greek drama, sculpture, and philosophy. Ironically, the very city where he built his Academy, Athens, was flourishing with the kind of creativity he wanted to censor. Even medicine, which thrived under Hippocrates (the father of medicine), was considered an art requiring lifelong mastery. His quote, ‘**Life is short, and art is long**,’ reflects the long span of time it takes to cultivate and appreciate knowledge and skills, which was something Plato valued. Yet, he dismissed most art as a distraction from truth. Plato particularly criticized poets and playwrights like Homer, as he claimed they spread false ideas about gods and morality. He was also wary of Aristophanes, as he believed his work stirred emotions rather than encouraging rational thought. It probably did not help that Aristophanes mocked Socrates in his play *The Clouds*, which may have influenced Plato’s views. What’s clear is that Plato didn’t hate art because he didn’t understand it. He deeply understood the power of storytelling and its ability to mold societal beliefs. He argued for banning poets entirely from his “ideal city” to prevent them from misleading the public. But he did value some forms of art. After all, he was a writer himself, and writing is a form of art. He approved of artistic expressions that promoted moral and intellectual virtue, such as hymns, architecture, and patriotic poetry, as long as they served the greater purpose of instilling order and wisdom in society. ### **Plato’s five regimes** Plato believed governments naturally decay over time, moving from order to chaos. He outlined five regimes, which he considers each to be worse than the last. 1. *Aristocracy (Philosopher-King rule)* : This is his pitch, the ideal state, ruled by wise elites who value knowledge over power. Some aspects of modern authoritarian states echo this model 2. *Timocracy (Military rule)* : A government driven by honor and discipline, like Sparta. Over time, ambition overtakes virtue, leading to oligarchy. 3. *Oligarchy (Rule by the wealthy)* : The rich seizes power and deepens inequality. Many democracies today show oligarchic tendencies, where money dominates politics. 4. *Democracy (Rule by the masses)* : The people overthrow the elites, prioritizing freedom over order. But without stability, democracy becomes fragile, and vulnerable to demagogues and external manipulation. 5. *Tyranny (Dictatorship)* : When democracy collapses, a charismatic leader rises, promising order but seizing absolute power. What begins as freedom ends in oppression. Modern politics seems stuck in a cycle, shifting between democracy, oligarchy, and authoritarian control. If Plato was right, no system is permanent and only the illusion of stability remains. ### **Does Plato’s ideal state exist in any country today?** Some aspects of modern *benevolent dictatorships*, like Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew, or *socialist states* like China, may resemble Plato’s vision in their emphasis on elite rule, long-term planning, and state control. But, these governments operate pragmatically, balancing governance with economic power, political strategy, and public influence rather than strictly adhering to philosophical ideals. Could this be compared to Taliban rule, given the censorship, authoritarian control, and rigid social hierarchy? While there are superficial similarities, the key difference is that Plato valued knowledge, reason, and meritocracy, while the Taliban enforced religious fundamentalism and theocratic rule. Plato’s Kallipolis also included some level of gender equality for the ruling class, whereas the Taliban’s system is heavily restrictive, especially toward women. While Plato’s ideas echo in certain authoritarian-leaning states, his rigid caste system, philosopher-led governance, and rejection of democracy set his vision apart from any modern political system. ### **Aristotle’s take on democracy** Aristotle wasn’t Athenian, but he documented and analyzed 158 constitutions, including Athenian democracy. He studied at Plato’s Academy for over 20 years, growing up in a world influenced by Athens’ democratic experiment. He lived through the tail end of Athens’ golden age, witnessed its decline, and experienced how different forms of rule influenced politics and the mindset of the people under them. For Aristotle, governments were good or corrupted. The good ones were monarchs, aristocracy (wise elites), and polity (a constitutional gov’t where the middle class keeps power balanced). The corrupted ones were tyranny (monarchy gone wrong), oligarchy, and democracy. Aristotle saw how democracy, if unchecked, could spiral into chaos or be co-opted by populist leaders. But unlike Plato, who rejected democracy outright, Aristotle believed it could work if properly structured. His concept of ‘**polity**’ was a constitutional government that balanced democratic participation with stability, relying on a strong middle class to prevent both mob rule and elite domination. This idea of checks and balances, a mixed government, and middle-class stability make polity the closest to modern constitutional democracies today when compared to all 3 of the Greek philosophers. ### **What happened after Athens?** Of course, democracy didn’t end with Athens, it evolved over time. After Athens’ golden age came Alexander the Great (Aristotle’s student and the king of Macedonia). He conquered Greece, Persia, Egypt, and part of India, creating the largest empire of his time. After his death in 323 BCE, his empire split among his generals, marking the beginning of the Hellenistic period. Rome saw a shift from the fall of the Roman Republic to the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus moving away from democratic ideals to centralized rule. But the Western Roman Empire fell about 500 years later largely due to internal decline and invasions by the Germanic Tribes (modern-day Sweden, Switzerland, Germany). The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire, based in Constantinople or modern-day Turkey) rose and survived for nearly 1,000 more years until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. During the Medieval period (5th–15th century), Europe saw a rise in monarchies and feudalism. Power shifted to kings, nobles, and the church, with little direct participation from ordinary people. Some democratic elements survived in places like Venice and Florence, where wealthy merchant families controlled city-states. By the 17th century, democracy started creeping back into political thought, though not without skepticism. Machiavelli and Hobbes weren’t exactly fans of democracy, but they had plenty to say about power and governance. Later on Machiavelli hinted on the possible idea of a republic/mixed government in the *Discourses of Livy * Meanwhile, England was going through its own struggles with power. The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a showdown between King Charles I, who wanted absolute power, and Parliament, which wanted more influence. Charles ignored Parliament and was executed in 1649. England briefly became a republic under Oliver Cromwell, but the monarchy returned after his death. In 1688, the Glorious Revolution forced King James II (Charles I’s son) to flee to France. Parliament then invited William of Orange (a Dutch Protestant) and his wife Mary to take the throne. In 1689, they signed the English Bill of Rights, which limited the monarchy’s power, strengthened Parliament, and guaranteed certain rights to citizens. This was a significant moment in history as it effectively ended the absolute monarchy and established a constitutional monarchy in England. The American Revolution in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789 pushed democratic ideals forward but still excluded women, slaves, and the poor. Historian Luciano Canfora, in his book* Democracy in Europe*, argues that early liberal democracy was full of contradictions as it preached equality, yet economic and social exclusion remained. (Note: If you want to understand the history of *anarchism*, the French Revolution is a key starting point. It influenced early anti-authoritarian thought, which later evolved into socialist and anti-capitalist movements. Over time, libertarians adopted anarchist principles, leading to the development of anarcho-capitalism. The concept of anarchism in politics has taken nearly two centuries to emerge in its modern form). The 19th and 20th centuries saw the expansion of democracy. But as Canfora explains it, it also saw its exploitation and manipulation. Although industrialization and social movements pushed for broader suffrage, democracy remained controlled by elites who feared true mass participation. Democracy became a tool for maintaining power rather than a true expression of the people’s will. According to Canfora, the Cold War turned democracy into a geopolitical tool, with Western powers supporting or opposing democratic movements based on strategic interests rather than principles. Today, there are many versions of democracy from direct democracy to representative democracy, presidential democracy, social democracy, religious democracy, constitutional democracy, communist democracy, and more. And is often viewed as a brand name for “good governance”. But are they? ### **In the end, was Plato right?** At a meta level, Plato’s argument was about control, be it controlling what people read, hear, and even think. The debate often centers on curated knowledge vs rhetoric. Plato believed that absolute obedience would bring harmony, even at the cost of individuality. Today, we call that totalitarian or dictatorship But when we take a second look at things, are we already living in Plato’s world? Governments across the globe control education, influence media narratives, and regulate speech. Many so-called democracies aren’t as free as they claim to be. So maybe Plato’s influence on modern democracies runs deeper than we realize. Another key debate today is that, unlike Plato’s time, most people *are* educated. However, much of this education is still designed by state systems, which can influence how people think and vote. How do we balance empowering people through education while ensuring true independence in a system built on critical thinking rather than one that merely feeds information? Truth is, democracy has never been a pure, people-driven system. It has always been influenced by power struggles, wealth, and manipulation. Often it has been an instrument of control rather than liberation. Yet, the people have always resisted. In the past, they gathered in the streets, risking tear gas, rubber bullets or being dragged into Black Marias. Today, digital activism has allowed for mass mobilization with fewer risks. In many countries especially in third-world countries, online movements on platforms like Twitter during Jack’s time, forced governments to overturn policies. This may be the closest we've come to real democracy which is direct action without the usual state violence. But with this rise in digital activism comes the counterforce through government and corporate requirements for censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and the quiet steering of public discourse. Platforms once seen as tools of liberation can become tools of control. *Facebook mood experiment* in 2012 tested positive and negative content on 700,000 people and proved emotions can be manipulated at scale. *Cambridge Analytica* was exposed in its attempt to manipulate votes. This is where decentralized networks like Nostr matter as a fundamental resistance to centralized control over speech. If democracy is to return to the people, it must also break free from algorithmic gatekeepers and censorship. Because the so-called ‘ignorant masses’, the very people Plato dismissed, are the ones who fight for freedom. Because real democracy isn’t about control. It’s about freedom. It’s about choice. It’s about the people, always.

@ df478568:2a951e67

Rockland Review I bought a Rak Wireless Pocket Mesh from the [Rockland](https://store.rokland.com/) after learning about[fresnomesh](https://fresnomesh.com/mobile)it from [The Survival Podcast](https://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/lora-mesh/ and [watching Bitcoin Veterans use Meshtastic to set up emergency communication channels](nostr:note18ydlx9lyy6ql8c3yy60sa059cw7g9v00n674utz46rh62gyx42as28tfdd) in North Carolina after hurricanes knocked out all communication. ## The Pocket Mesh Makes Meshtastic Easy  The battery lasts a long time. I've had my Pocket mesh running for a couple days without the battery dying on me. I scanned a QR code with my phone and could connect to meshtastic nerds like me right away. I did not set up a repeater. It was no complicated at all. I want to get a few more of these for my family. ### Bitcoin Accepted Here  One other thing I really like about this company is that they accept bitcoin over the lightning network. You don't need bitcoin to use bitcoin You can download the Strike app and automatically convert your fiat USD to bitcoin over the lightning network. The advantage is you do not need to trust your sensetive credit card information with Rak Wireless. I'm nor saying I don't trust their cybersecurity, I'm saying I don't need to. Summary created by unleashed.chat. nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/000000000000000000018ec35a489c8329d35139ee03e708e49bc0029e2f62b4 https://gitea.marc26z.com/marc/Marc26z/raw/commit/bdc2e44b480876978f283aeb020c716ab0462fda/Screenshot%20from%202025-02-18%2016-26-27.png

@ 4d953dcb:39c9c35c

Чтобы иметь бесплатный, быстрый и устойчивый к блокировке VPN нам нужны всего 2 вещи: 1. Клиент V2ray (приложение для использования VPN) 2. Файлы конфигурации (по сути данные VPN-серверов) ## Клиенты V2ray: 1. Инструкция по установке для Windows и Linux: https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-HiddifyNext-app#adding-a-profile-to-the-app *P.S. Если возникли проблемы с Hiddify-Next — пробуйте установить [Necoray](https://github.com/MatsuriDayo/nekoray)* 2. Инструкция по установке для Android: https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-V2rayNG-app#add-configs-to-the-app *P.S. Если возникли проблемы с V2rayNG — пробуйте установить [HiddifyNext](https://github.com/hiddify/hiddify-next/releases) ([инструкция](https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-HiddifyNext-app#adding-a-profile-to-the-app))* 3. Инструкция по установке для Windows и Linux: https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-V2Box-app#add-subscription-links-to-the-app (лучше для iOS) + https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-Streisand#add-subscription-link (лучше для Mac) *P.S. Если возникли проблемы с V2Box и Streisand — пробуйте установить [Hiddify-Next](https://github.com/hiddify/hiddify-next/releases) или [ShadowRocket](https://github.com/hiddify/Hiddify-Manager/wiki/Tutorial-for-ShadowRocket-app#add-subscription-link-to-the-app)* ## Источники файлов конфигураций: 1. https://outlinekeys.com/ 2. https://proxytype.com/ 3. https://vlesskey.com/ 4. https://vpnkeys.org/ 5. https://openproxylist.com/v2ray/ 6. https://github.com/Epodonios/v2ray-configs 7. https://github.com/barry-far/V2ray-Configs?tab=readme-ov-file 8. https://github.com/M-Mashreghi/Free-V2ray-Collector 9. https://github.com/skywrt/v2ray-configs 10. https://github.com/0xdolan/v2ray_config_generator

@ 8f69ac99:4f92f5fd

Imagine-se numa fila de uma feira de emprego com dois amigos igualmente qualificados, mas provenientes de contextos socioeconómicos diferentes. Um dos amigos, devido às suas circunstâncias económicas, recebe um tratamento preferencial—como um aumento de 10% na pontuação da sua candidatura, como parte de uma política destinada a corrigir desvantagens sistémicas. O outro amigo, apesar de igualmente qualificado, não recebe qualquer vantagem. Quem conseguirá o emprego para o qual ambos estão capacitados? Este cenário destaca o paradoxo no cerne de muitas políticas de justiça social: tratar as pessoas de forma diferente para atingir a igualdade muitas vezes resulta em resultados desiguais, desafiando o princípio de equidade e minando a confiança. Esta tensão entre os objetivos da justiça social e a necessidade de equidade tem moldado debates sobre ações afirmativas, tributação progressiva, programas de bem-estar social e outras políticas destinadas a promover a equidade entre grupos. Embora bem-intencionadas, estas iniciativas podem marginalizar o mérito individual e gerar ressentimento entre aqueles que se sentem injustamente tratados. A tese central deste artigo é que, embora a justiça social tenha como objetivo promover a igualdade, as suas políticas requerem inerentemente um tratamento desigual, o que paradoxalmente arrisca criar novas formas de desigualdade. Este paradoxo destaca os desafios de buscar a equidade através da intervenção estatal. ### O Princípio da Justiça Social As políticas de justiça social frequentemente focam-se em atingir a igualdade de resultados através da intervenção estatal. Por exemplo, a ação afirmativa na educação promove a representação de grupos sub-representados através de medidas como cotas raciais ou tratamento preferencial em processos de admissão universitária. De forma semelhante, a tributação progressiva procura redistribuir riqueza ao impor maiores encargos fiscais a determinados grupos de rendimento. Embora estas políticas visem corrigir desigualdades sistémicas, elas inerentemente requerem tratar as pessoas de forma diferente com base em fatores como raça, rendimento ou condição socioeconómica. Esta discrepância pode criar uma perceção de favoritismo, erodindo a confiança nas instituições e gerando ressentimento entre aqueles que se sentem injustamente prejudicados. Ao dar prioridade à identidade de grupo em detrimento das circunstâncias individuais, estas políticas podem comprometer a equidade e minar a confiança nas instituições, criando percepções de injustiça e ineficiência económica. ### O Problema do Tratamento Desigual Uma das preocupações centrais com as políticas de justiça social é a sua dependência no tratamento desigual para atingir a igualdade de resultados. Embora concebidas para promover a equidade, estas políticas frequentemente conduzem a consequências indesejadas que desafiam a equidade e a coesão social. Por exemplo, as políticas de acção afirmativa têm sido criticadas por enfatizarem a identidade de grupo em detrimento do mérito individual. Isto pode resultar na seleção de candidatos com base em cotas em vez de qualificações, gerando frustração entre aqueles que se sentem preteridos, apesar dos seus esforços ou competências. De forma semelhante, os sistemas de tributação progressiva sobrecarregam desproporcionalmente certos grupos, criando a perceção de penalização injusta. As cotas na educação ou no emprego são particularmente controversas. Ao impor limites ou metas com base na identidade de grupo, estas políticas podem inadvertidamente excluir indivíduos que não se enquadram nos critérios definidos. Esta exclusão muitas vezes gera ressentimento, pois os afetados percebem o sistema como priorizando a equidade para uns em detrimento de outros. Além disso, ao enfatizar a identidade de grupo sobre o mérito individual, as políticas de justiça social podem inadvertidamente enfraquecer incentivos à excelência e à responsabilidade pessoal, gerando impactos negativos na produtividade e na confiança nas instituições. Esta dinâmica pode corroer a responsabilidade e a confiança nas instituições, criando divisões dentro da sociedade. Ao enfatizar a igualdade de resultados sobre a igualdade de oportunidades, tais políticas arriscam consolidar novas formas de desigualdade. ### Estudos de Caso e Exemplos do Mundo Real **Acção Afirmativa na Educação** A política de acção afirmativa da Universidade do Texas em Austin, que considera a raça como um dos factores nas admissões, gerou desafios legais. Críticos argumentaram que a política prejudicava injustamente candidatos igualmente ou mais qualificados que não atendiam aos critérios da política. Embora os tribunais tenham apoiado a política, a controvérsia destaca a tensão entre promover diversidade e preservar o mérito individual. **Programas de Bem-Estar Redistributivo** Nos Estados Unidos, o Crédito Tributário por Rendimento do Trabalho (EITC) visa aliviar a pobreza entre indivíduos de baixos rendimentos. Contudo, disparidades na sua implementação causaram fricções. Por exemplo, estudos mostram variações nos benefícios entre grupos demográficos, deixando alguns com a sensação de tratamento injusto, apesar de circunstâncias financeiras semelhantes. Estes resultados ilustram como políticas redistributivas podem inadvertidamente gerar ressentimento. **Cotas de Diversidade na Contratação** Muitas empresas implementaram cotas de diversidade para aumentar a representação. Contudo, estas medidas frequentemente levantam preocupações sobre equidade. Empregados contratados sob cotas por vezes relatam sentir-se estigmatizados, e outros percebem o sistema como desvalorizando o mérito. Isto mina a moral e a confiança no local de trabalho, como demonstrado em inquéritos que revelam insatisfação com práticas de contratação baseadas em cotas. Os exemplos acima ilustram como políticas desenhadas para promover equidade podem, na prática, comprometer os princípios de justiça e meritocracia, resultando em consequências imprevistas que minam a confiança nas instituições. A dependência generalizada na identidade de grupo, em vez do desempenho individual, arrisca criar divisões e reduzir a confiança nas instituições. ### Crítica Filosófica e Ética A busca pela justiça social levanta dilemas filosóficos e éticos, particularmente no equilíbrio entre igualdade e equidade. Por um lado, a igualdade sugere tratar os indivíduos de forma imparcial, independentemente da identidade. Por outro, atingir a igualdade de resultados frequentemente requer tratamento desigual. Sob uma perspetiva rawlsiana, as políticas redistributivas são justificadas para corrigir desigualdades sistémicas e promover a equidade. Contudo, pensadores libertários como Robert Nozick argumentam que tais intervenções violam os direitos e as liberdades individuais. Para Nozick, a justiça reside na proteção da autonomia e da propriedade pessoal, não na redistribuição de recursos para atingir objetivos coletivos. Ademais, uma énfase excessiva na identidade de grupo pode fomentar uma cultura de vitimização, onde os indivíduos priorizam queixas em detrimento da responsabilidade pessoal. Esta dinâmica pode consolidar divisões, incentivar direitos adquiridos e minar a coesão social. As políticas que promovem a igualdade de resultados podem inadvertidamente criar privilégios para alguns enquanto desfavorecem outros, perpetuando novas formas de desigualdade. Uma abordagem equilibrada deve considerar as implicações éticas das medidas redistributivas, preservando as liberdades individuais e a meritocracia. Ao focar na oportunidade em vez do resultado, as sociedades podem buscar a equidade sem comprometer a autonomia. ### Soluções Alternativas **Investir na Educação** Proporcionar acesso à educação de alta qualidade é uma forma poderosa de nivelar o campo de jogo. Programas que ampliem as oportunidades educacionais para comunidades desfavorecidas podem promover mobilidade social sem depender de tratamentos preferenciais. **Garantir Liberdade Económica** Reduzir barreiras regulatórias e promover mercados livres pode estimular a inovação, o empreendedorismo e a criação de emprego. Ao incentivar a competição, os indivíduos podem prosperar com base nas suas capacidades em vez de depender de intervenções externas. **Aproveitar Sistemas Descentralizados** Tecnologias descentralizadas como o Bitcoin podem empoderar indivíduos ao oferecer inclusão financeira e reduzir a dependência de sistemas estatais. Estas ferramentas proporcionam transparência e autonomia, minimizando oportunidades de favoritismo ou corrupção. **Medidas Práticas** - Bolsas de estudo e subsídios baseados no mérito. - Programas de formação profissional para desenvolver competências de mercado. - Apoio ao empreendedorismo através de financiamento e mentoria. - Reformas para simplificar os sistemas fiscais e regulatórios. Estas soluções priorizam a equidade, o empoderamento individual e a oportunidade, promovendo uma sociedade onde as pessoas prosperem com base no mérito e no esforço. ### Conclusão As políticas de justiça social frequentemente procuram atingir a igualdade através do tratamento desigual, mas esta abordagem pode criar novas formas de desigualdade e divisão. A énfase na identidade de grupo em detrimento do mérito individual arrisca corroer a equidade e a confiança, minando os objetivos que estas políticas procuram atingir. Para alcançar uma sociedade mais justa e sustentável, é essencial focar na igualdade de oportunidades, garantindo que todos tenham acesso aos mesmos recursos e condições para prosperar, sem comprometer a autonomia individual ou distorcer os princípios da meritocracia. Investimentos na educação, liberdade económica e tecnologias descentralizadas oferecem caminhos práticos para empoderar indivíduos e fomentar a meritocracia. Um compromisso com estes princípios pode criar um futuro mais inclusivo e equitativo, onde todos tenham a chance de prosperar com base nos seus próprios esforços e capacidades. _Photo by [Cody Pulliam](https://unsplash.com/@codyaustinpulliam?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-brown-cardboard-box-GGKVGSkKIzM?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)_

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