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@ a58a2663:87bb2918
2025-03-05 12:41:36
After two years of using Standard Notes as my main note-taking app, I’m switching to Obsidian.
The $100 that Standard Notes charges for basic editing capabilities is difficult to justify, especially for someone paying in Brazilian Real and striving to make a living from writing. However, I will certainly miss its simplicity and cleaner interface.
It’s my impression that the developers are missing an opportunity to create a privacy-focused note-taking app tailored to the specific needs of writers, rather than general users.
Substack, for example, achieved such success because it targeted the distribution and monetization of writers’ work. But we need more tools focused not on distribution or monetization, but on the actual process—indeed, the various phases of the process—of creating texts. This is especially true for complex, long-form texts with different levels of argumentation, numerous written and multimedia sources, and cross-references to other works by the author.
It’s crucial that an app like this doesn’t feel overly complex, like Notion or Evernote, or so all-purpose, like Obsidian. And, of course, I’m not talking about a new full-fledged text editor like Scrivener.
Just a thought. Take note.
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-03-04 17:00:18
This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future.
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Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community.
**A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights**
Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place.
**Abundant Access to Fresh Water**
Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact.
**Grow Your Own Food**
A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming.
**Guns**
The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice.
**A Strong Community You Can Depend On**
No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security.
---
Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.
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@ a9434ee1:d5c885be
2025-03-04 13:05:42
## The Key Pair
What a Nostr key pair has by default:
* A unique ID
* A name
* A description
* An ability to sign stuff
## The Relay
What a Nostr relay has (or should have) by default:
* Permissions, Moderation, AUTH, ...
* Pricing & other costs to make the above work (cost per content type, subscriptions, xx publications per xx timeframe, ...)
* List of accepted content types
* (to add) Guidelines
## The Community
Since I need Communities to have all the above mentioned properties too, the simplest solution seems to be to just combine them. And when you already have a key pair and a relay, you just need the third basic Nostr building block to bring them together...
## The Event
To create a #communikey, a key pair (The Profile) needs to sign a (kind 30XXX) event that lays out the Community's :
1. Main relay + backup relays
2. Main blossom server + backup servers
3. (optional) Roles for specific npubs (admin, CEO, dictator, customer service, design lead, ...)
4. (optional) Community mint
5. (optional) "Welcome" Publication that serves as an introduction to the community
This way:
* **any existing npub** can become a Community
* Communities are not tied to one relay and have a truly unique ID
* Things are waaaaaay easier for relay operators/services to be compatible (relative to existing community proposals)
* Running one relay per community works an order of magnitude better, but isn't a requirement
## The Publishers
What the Community enjoyers need to chat in one specific #communikey :
* Tag the npub in the (kind 9) chat message
What they needs to publish anything else in one or multiple #communikeys :
* Publish a (kind 32222 - Targeted publication) event that lists the npubs of the targeted Communities
* If the event is found on the main relay = The event is accepted
This way:
* **any existing publication** can be targeted at a Community
* Communities can #interop on content and bring their members together in reply sections, etc...
* Your publication isn't tied **forever** to a specific relay
## Ncommunity
If nprofile = npub + relay hints, for profiles
Then ncommunity = npub + relay hints, for communities
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@ a95c6243:d345522c
2025-03-04 09:40:50
**Die «Eliten» führen bereits groß angelegte Pilotprojekte für eine Zukunft durch,** die sie wollen und wir nicht. Das [schreibt](https://off-guardian.org/2025/02/26/coming-soon-the-european-digital-identity-wallet/) der *OffGuardian* in einem Update zum Thema «EU-Brieftasche für die digitale Identität». Das Portal weist darauf hin, dass die Akteure dabei nicht gerade zimperlich vorgehen und auch keinen Hehl aus ihren Absichten machen. *Transition News* hat mehrfach darüber berichtet, zuletzt [hier](https://transition-news.org/eudi-wallet-der-weg-fur-ein-vollstandig-digitalisiertes-europa-ist-frei) und [hier](https://transition-news.org/iata-biometrische-daten-und-digitale-id-machen-das-vollstandig-digitale).
**Mit der EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI-Brieftasche) sei eine einzige von der Regierung herausgegebene App geplant,** die Ihre medizinischen Daten, Beschäftigungsdaten, Reisedaten, Bildungsdaten, Impfdaten, Steuerdaten, Finanzdaten sowie (potenziell) Kopien Ihrer Unterschrift, Fingerabdrücke, Gesichtsscans, Stimmproben und DNA enthält. So fasst der *OffGuardian* die eindrucksvolle Liste möglicher Einsatzbereiche zusammen.
**Auch Dokumente wie der Personalausweis oder der** **[Führerschein](https://transition-news.org/eu-weite-einfuhrung-von-digitalen-fuhrerscheinen-fur-digitale-geldborsen)** können dort in elektronischer Form gespeichert werden. Bis 2026 sind alle EU-Mitgliedstaaten dazu verpflichtet, Ihren Bürgern funktionierende und frei verfügbare digitale «Brieftaschen» bereitzustellen.
**Die Menschen würden diese App nutzen,** so das Portal, um Zahlungen vorzunehmen, Kredite zu beantragen, ihre Steuern zu zahlen, ihre Rezepte abzuholen, internationale Grenzen zu überschreiten, Unternehmen zu gründen, Arzttermine zu buchen, sich um Stellen zu bewerben und sogar digitale Verträge online zu unterzeichnen.
**All diese Daten würden auf ihrem Mobiltelefon gespeichert und mit den Regierungen** von neunzehn Ländern (plus der Ukraine) sowie über 140 anderen öffentlichen und privaten Partnern ausgetauscht. Von der Deutschen Bank über das ukrainische Ministerium für digitalen Fortschritt bis hin zu Samsung Europe. Unternehmen und Behörden würden auf diese Daten im Backend zugreifen, um «automatisierte Hintergrundprüfungen» durchzuführen.
**Der Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände** (VZBV) habe Bedenken geäußert, dass eine solche App «Risiken für den Schutz der Privatsphäre und der Daten» berge, berichtet das Portal. Die einzige Antwort darauf laute: «Richtig, genau dafür ist sie ja da!»
**Das alles sei keine Hypothese, betont der** ***OffGuardian***. Es sei vielmehr [«Potential»](https://www.digital-identity-wallet.eu/about-us/140-public-and-private-partners/). Damit ist ein EU-Projekt gemeint, in dessen Rahmen Dutzende öffentliche und private Einrichtungen zusammenarbeiten, «um eine einheitliche Vision der digitalen Identität für die Bürger der europäischen Länder zu definieren». Dies ist nur eines der groß angelegten [Pilotprojekte](https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/sites/display/EUDIGITALIDENTITYWALLET/What+are+the+Large+Scale+Pilot+Projects), mit denen Prototypen und Anwendungsfälle für die EUDI-Wallet getestet werden. Es gibt noch mindestens drei weitere.
**Den Ball der digitalen ID-Systeme habe die Covid-«Pandemie»** über die «Impfpässe» ins Rollen gebracht. Seitdem habe das Thema an Schwung verloren. Je näher wir aber der vollständigen Einführung der EUid kämen, desto mehr Propaganda der Art «Warum wir eine digitale Brieftasche brauchen» könnten wir in den Mainstream-Medien erwarten, prognostiziert der *OffGuardian*. Vielleicht müssten wir schon nach dem nächsten großen «Grund», dem nächsten «katastrophalen katalytischen Ereignis» Ausschau halten. Vermutlich gebe es bereits Pläne, warum die Menschen plötzlich eine digitale ID-Brieftasche brauchen würden.
**Die Entwicklung geht jedenfalls stetig weiter in genau diese Richtung.** Beispielsweise hat Jordanien angekündigt, die digitale biometrische ID bei den nächsten [Wahlen](https://www.biometricupdate.com/202502/jordan-plans-digital-id-for-voter-verification-in-next-election) zur Verifizierung der Wähler einzuführen. Man wolle «den Papierkrieg beenden und sicherstellen, dass die gesamte Kette bis zu den nächsten Parlamentswahlen digitalisiert wird», heißt es. Absehbar ist, dass dabei einige Wahlberechtigte «auf der Strecke bleiben» werden, wie im Fall von [Albanien](https://transition-news.org/albanien-schliesst-120-000-burger-ohne-biometrische-ausweise-von-wahlen-aus) geschehen.
**Derweil würden die Briten gerne ihre Privatsphäre gegen Effizienz eintauschen,** [behauptet](https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/tony-blair-id-cards/) Tony Blair. Der Ex-Premier drängte kürzlich erneut auf digitale Identitäten und Gesichtserkennung. Blair ist Gründer einer [Denkfabrik](https://transition-news.org/blair-institute-durch-vermarktung-von-patientendaten-zu-ki-gestutztem) für globalen Wandel, Anhänger globalistischer Technokratie und [«moderner Infrastruktur»](https://transition-news.org/tony-blair-digitale-id-fur-moderne-infrastruktur-unerlasslich-erfordert-aber).
**Abschließend warnt der** ***OffGuardian*** **vor der Illusion, Trump und Musk würden** den US-Bürgern «diesen Schlamassel ersparen». Das Department of Government Efficiency werde sich auf die digitale Identität stürzen. Was könne schließlich «effizienter» sein als eine einzige App, die für alles verwendet wird? Der Unterschied bestehe nur darin, dass die US-Version vielleicht eher privat als öffentlich sei – sofern es da überhaupt noch einen wirklichen Unterschied gebe.
*\[Titelbild: Screenshot* *[OffGuardian](https://off-guardian.org/2025/02/26/coming-soon-the-european-digital-identity-wallet/)]*
***
Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf ***[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/demnachst-verfugbar-die-europaische-brieftasche-fur-digitale-identitaten)*** erschienen.
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@ 5a261a61:2ebd4480
2025-03-03 20:35:49
Tom stopped and nodded to Jiro with a smile. "Just wanted to see how it's going," he said as he approached the counter.
"People need to eat and I have food. Can't complain," replied the ever-smiling Jiro. "Are you heading out to make some money, or should I put it on your tab again?" he continued without pausing his stirring.
Tom might have been short on cash, but his pride (and caution) never allowed him to leave debts with friends. And Jiro was about the closest thing to a friend among all his acquaintances.
"I can still afford it today," Tom smiled tiredly, "but if you know of something that might bring in some metal, I could stop by tomorrow too."
"There might be something, but nothing that would pay the bills today. You might have better luck across the street. They're having another party today, and as a good neighbor and main supplier of coconut oil, I have a magic piece of paper that will get you on the guest list."
"And here comes the 'but'?"
"If you're this impatient with women too, I'm not surprised you don't have one to make a home out of those four walls... Have I told you about my niece Noi?" Juri asked with his typical mischievous smile.
Tom raised an eyebrow. "Maybe. But I have a feeling you're going to tell me again anyway."
Juri laughed. "See, that's why I like you. You always know what's coming." He leaned closer across the counter. "Noi is a smart girl, studying journalism. But she needs a bit of... how to put it... social training."
"And by that, you mean exactly what?" Tom asked cautiously.
"Nothing bad, don't worry," Juri waved his hand dismissively. "She just needs someone to take her into better society. You know, to see how things work. And, as it happens, she has tickets to tonight's party at The Beach."
Tom sighed. He already suspected where this was heading. "Juri, I'm not exactly—"
"The perfect gentleman who could show my niece how to behave in higher circles?" Juri cut him off. "Come on, Tom. You're a detective. You know how to adapt to wherever the wind blows. And she has those tickets. You want to go to the party, she needs a guide. Everyone will be happy."
Tom remained silent for a moment, considering his options. On one hand, he wasn't in the mood to babysit some naive student. On the other hand, those tickets would really come in handy... especially since he had nothing better going on.
**Where to next?**
- accept offer to get out of the stale water
- find another way other than babysitting