@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Over the past decade, the cryptocurrency landscape has witnessed unprecedented growth, with Bitcoin undeniably at its forefront. As the trailblazer of digital currencies, Bitcoin has not only introduced the world to the possibilities of decentralized finance but has also inspired the creation of thousands of other cryptocurrencies. Yet, among the myriad of developments in the crypto domain, the advent of Bitcoin ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) stands out. These innovative financial instruments have not only revolutionized how investors perceive and interact with Bitcoin but have also provided a bridge between the volatile world of cryptocurrencies and the more stable, regulated realm of traditional finance. **Table Of Content** - What is a Bitcoin ETF? - Why are Bitcoin ETFs Important? - The Current Landscape of Bitcoin ETFs - How to Invest in a Bitcoin ETF - Conclusion - FAQs **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** At its core, a Bitcoin ETF is a financial instrument designed to track the price movements of Bitcoin. Rather than diving into the intricate world of cryptocurrencies—buying Bitcoin directly, grappling with the nuances of digital wallets, or navigating the often complex landscape of crypto exchanges—investors can now simply purchase shares of a Bitcoin ETF. These shares are traded just like any other stock on traditional stock exchanges, offering a seamless integration of Bitcoin into conventional investment portfolios. **Why are Bitcoin ETFs Important?** **Accessibility:** One of the primary advantages of Bitcoin ETFs is their accessibility. They open the doors for everyday investors, even those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the crypto world, to gain exposure to Bitcoin. There's no need to delve into the technical aspects of purchasing, storing, or securing the cryptocurrency—Bitcoin ETFs simplify the entire process. **Regulation:** Being listed and traded on recognized stock exchanges means that Bitcoin ETFs come under the purview of financial regulators. This regulatory oversight ensures a degree of transparency and protection for investors, something that's often amiss in the wild west of direct cryptocurrency investments. **Diversification:** For seasoned investors and newcomers alike, diversification is a cornerstone of a robust investment strategy. Bitcoin ETFs offer a golden opportunity to tap into the burgeoning cryptocurrency market without the direct volatility and risks tied to holding the actual digital assets. **The Current Landscape of Bitcoin ETFs** The concept of a Bitcoin ETF isn't new. However, its journey to mainstream acceptance has been riddled with regulatory challenges. Many countries, initially hesitant, have taken a cautious approach, leading to delays in the adoption of Bitcoin ETFs. But as the broader financial community becomes more attuned to the potential benefits (and risks) of cryptocurrencies, we're witnessing a gradual shift. Regulators are now more open, and approvals for Bitcoin ETFs in major financial markets are on the rise. This evolving landscape has sparked renewed interest, with both institutional and retail investors keenly exploring these novel investment avenues. **How to Invest in a Bitcoin ETF** The process of investing in a Bitcoin ETF mirrors that of any other traditional investment vehicle. Here's an elaborated guide: **Research:** Embarking on any investment journey necessitates thorough research. It's imperative to delve deep, understand the nuances, and compare the various Bitcoin ETFs available in the market. Look into their past performance, management strategies, and fee structures. **Choose a Brokerage:** Once you've zeroed in on a Bitcoin ETF that aligns with your investment goals, the next step is to select a suitable brokerage. Opt for one that offers your chosen Bitcoin ETF and boasts a reputation for reliability and security. **Buy Shares:** With your brokerage account set up, you're all set to make your purchase. Navigate to the trading platform, search for your chosen Bitcoin ETF, decide on the number of shares you wish to buy, and execute the trade. It's as simple as buying shares of any other company. **Conclusion** The emergence of Bitcoin ETFs signifies a monumental shift in the financial world. It's a testament to the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies and their potential to coexist with traditional financial instruments. As the crypto ecosystem continues to evolve, mature, and gain broader acceptance, the allure of Bitcoin ETFs is set to grow. For investors, this evolution offers a unique vantage point—a chance to be at the intersection of time-tested financial principles and the dynamic world of digital currencies. **FAQs** **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** A Bitcoin ETF is a financial instrument that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy its shares on traditional stock exchanges. **Why choose a Bitcoin ETF over direct Bitcoin investment?** Bitcoin ETFs offer easier accessibility, regulatory oversight, and a way to diversify investments without dealing with the complexities of direct cryptocurrency handling. **Are Bitcoin ETFs regulated?** Yes, Bitcoin ETFs traded on established stock exchanges are subject to regulatory oversight, providing added protection for investors. **How do I invest in a Bitcoin ETF?** Start with research, choose a reputable brokerage that offers the Bitcoin ETF you're interested in, and then purchase its shares like you would with any other stock. **Are Bitcoin ETFs a safer investment than Bitcoin?** While no investment is risk-free, Bitcoin ETFs offer a layer of protection due to regulatory oversight and eliminate the risks associated with direct handling and storage of cryptocurrencies. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: @croxroadnews** **Instagram: @croxroadnews.co** **Youtube: @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.*

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

1. **Not your keys, not your coins** Se você não tem as chaves privadas do seu Bitcoin, ele não é realmente seu. Deixar seus BTCs em exchanges ou carteiras controladas por terceiros significa confiar neles e assumir o risco de perder seus fundos. --- 2. **HODL - Não venda** O Bitcoin é uma reserva de valor a longo prazo e potencialmente o dinheiro do futuro. Não se desespere com as flutuações de preço; mantenha seus BTCs, pois o histórico se mostra favorável. --- 3. **Stay humble - Não saia falando que você tem BTC** Manter discrição sobre seu patrimônio é uma questão de segurança e humildade. Falar demais pode atrair curiosos, oportunistas ou outras ameaças. --- 4. **Don't trust, verify** No Bitcoin, confie no protocolo, não em pessoas. Sempre que possível, verifique por conta própria, seja transações, códigos ou informações. --- 5. **Reject altcoins** As altcoins podem parecer promissoras, mas frequentemente são distrações ou apostas arriscadas. Foque no Bitcoin, que já provou ser sólido e resistente. --- 6. **Stack sats - DCA** Empilhe satoshis consistentemente, utilizando a estratégia de DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging), comprando regularmente independentemente do preço. Isso reduz o risco de tentar "acertar o mercado". --- 7. **Reject the ego** Não aposte contra o Bitcoin. Aqueles que subestimaram sua força ou estabilidade, perderam. --- 8. **Keep learning** Nunca pare de estudar sobre Bitcoin, economia e a tecnologia por trás dele. Quanto mais você entende, mais confiança terá em sua decisão. --- 9. **Help beginners** O Bitcoin pode ser complicado para quem está começando. Compartilhe seus conhecimentos com paciência para fortalecer a comunidade. --- 10. **Don't push it** Cada pessoa tem seu próprio tempo para entender e entrar no mundo do Bitcoin. Forçar alguém pode ser contraproducente; dê direcionamento e deixe o tempo agir.

@ 9e9085e9:2056af17

**Understanding Forex: The Basics of Foreign Exchange Markets Introduction Foreign Exchange, commonly known as Forex or FX, is the global market where currencies are traded. It's the largest financial market in the world, with daily transactions amounting to over $6 trillion. Forex markets facilitate international trade and investment by enabling currency conversion. Here's a brief overview: What is Forex? Forex involves the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another. Currencies are traded in pairs, like EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar). The first currency listed (EUR) is known as the base currency, and the second (USD) is the quote currency. The price of the pair shows how much of the quote currency is needed to purchase one unit of the base currency. Major Participants Banks: Large institutions that deal in massive volumes of currency transactions. Central Banks: Influence forex markets through monetary policy, inflation control, and interest rates. Investment Managers and Hedge Funds: Use forex markets to hedge against currency risks or to speculate for profit. Corporations: Engage in forex for operational needs, like paying for international goods or services. Retail Forex Traders: Individuals who trade forex through brokers for speculative purposes or to diversify investment portfolios. How Forex Trading Works Leverage: Forex markets allow trading on margin, meaning traders can control large positions with a relatively small amount of capital, amplifying both potential gains and losses. Pips: The smallest price move that a given exchange rate can make based on market convention. For most currency pairs, one pip equals 0.0001 of a change in price. Spreads: The difference between the bid (buy) and ask (sell) price. This is how brokers make money, offering liquidity to traders. Key Concepts Exchange Rate Determination: Affected by supply and demand dynamics, which are influenced by factors like interest rates, inflation, political stability, and economic performance. Forex Analysis: Traders use fundamental analysis (economic indicators, news) and technical analysis (charts, patterns, indicators) to predict currency movements. Risks Involved Volatility: Currency prices can fluctuate rapidly, leading to significant gains or losses. Leverage: While it can amplify profits, it also increases potential losses beyond the initial investment. Interest Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates can move currency values. Regulation Forex trading is regulated differently across countries to protect traders from fraud and to ensure market integrity. Regulatory bodies like the FCA in the UK, CFTC in the US, or ASIC in Australia oversee forex trading activities.**

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In the ever-changing world of decentralized networks, **Nostr** (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is leading the charge. Its lightweight, open design has created an ecosystem that’s as adaptable as it is revolutionary. Whether you're chatting, publishing, or experimenting with new ways to connect, Nostr provides the foundation for a truly decentralized and censorship-resistant internet. --- ### **How Nostr Works: A Quick Overview** At its heart, Nostr is built on simplicity and decentralization. Here’s a breakdown of its core components: 1. **Public and Private Keys**:\ Your public key acts as your identity, and private keys ensure your messages are securely signed. 2. **Relays**:\ Relays are decentralized servers that distribute messages. They don’t own your data but simply pass it along to those who request it. 3. **Clients**:\ Clients are the user-facing applications where you interact with Nostr, offering diverse features and designs. --- ### **Deep Dive: Events in Nostr** Everything on Nostr revolves around **events**, which are cryptographically signed pieces of information containing various kinds of data. Here are the types of events currently supported and their use cases: #### **1. Note Events (Type 1)** - **What They Are**:\ These are the bread and butter of Nostr—text-based posts, much like tweets or status updates on traditional platforms. - **Features**: - Can include text, media links, and hashtags. - Interact with others through likes, replies, and boosts (reposts). - **Use Cases**:\ Perfect for microblogging, status updates, and general social interaction. #### **2. Profile Metadata Events (Type 0)** - **What They Are**:\ This event type stores and updates user profile information, such as your display name, bio, profile picture, and website. - **Features**: - Easily editable and updated across all Nostr clients. - Keeps your identity consistent across platforms. - **Use Cases**:\ Makes profile portability seamless—update once, and it reflects everywhere. #### **3. Relay List Events (Type 2)** - **What They Are**:\ These events store a list of relays that a user is connected to or prefers to use. - **Features**: - Share your relay preferences across devices or clients. - Allows automatic relay connection in supported clients. - **Use Cases**:\ Simplifies the onboarding process for users switching clients or devices. #### **4. Direct Message Events (Type 4)** - **What They Are**:\ End-to-end encrypted messages sent directly between two users. - **Features**: - Only readable by the intended recipient. - Supports text and basic formatting. - **Use Cases**:\ Secure communication for personal or professional purposes. #### **5. Reaction Events (Type 7)** - **What They Are**:\ Events that express reactions to other events, such as likes or emojis. - **Features**: - Provides social feedback (e.g., showing appreciation for a post). - Lightweight and simple to implement. - **Use Cases**:\ Enhances engagement and interaction within the network. #### **6. Repost Events (Type 6)** - **What They Are**:\ Events that allow users to reshare content, similar to retweets on Twitter. - **Features**: - Ensures the original poster retains credit. - Enables broader content visibility. - **Use Cases**:\ Amplifying content that resonates with users or is worth sharing. #### **7. Custom Event Types (Beyond Type 7)** - **What They Are**:\ Developers can create and define custom event types for specific applications. - **Features**: - Flexibility to introduce entirely new functionality. - Supported based on client and relay compatibility. - **Use Cases**:\ Enables innovation, from collaborative editing tools to advanced publishing workflows. --- ### **What Makes Events Special?** 1. **Portability**: Events follow your public key, not the client or relay, ensuring they’re available wherever you go. 2. **Interoperability**: All events are standardized, meaning any Nostr client can understand and process them. 3. **Extensibility**: Through custom event types, the protocol encourages experimentation and development. --- ### **Primal: A Favorite Client for Engaging Events** Among the many clients, **Primal** stands out as a favorite for how it handles Nostr events. Its emphasis on **content discovery** and **rich user interaction** makes it an excellent choice for exploring everything the protocol offers. Whether it’s crafting note events, managing profile metadata, or diving into direct messaging, Primal delivers a polished experience that feels seamless. --- ### **The Future of Nostr Events** As Nostr continues to evolve, so will the events it supports. Imagine event types for live streaming, collaborative workspaces, or even decentralized governance. The possibilities are limitless, driven by the creativity of the developers and the needs of the community. **Have you explored the potential of Nostr events yet? What’s your favorite client or feature? Let’s discuss below!** ⚡️ #Nostr #Primal #Decentralization #NostrEvents #FutureOfWeb

@ f7922a0a:82c34788

Now that the 3rd Satellite Skirmish is complete I wanted to highlight some of the cool features on embrace.satskirmish.com This is what the cutting edge of podcasting 2.0 looks like imo. Live video in an app that allows you to send sats to the artists in real time. On the left hand side we have a Boost score borad that displays the total amount of sats that have come in during the show, live Boosts/Booastagrams as they come in, total amount of sats from each person Boosting and total amount sent from each app. The middle is ovisaly the video of the band playing but with some graphics around it and Boost alerts that show up on the screen in the form of snow flakes for this one. The righthand side is an IRC chat window that connects to an IRC server that the No Agenda community has used for 18+ years thanks to zoidzero++.  The bottom of the page is where things get cool. When you click the Boost the Crew button in the center you can send a Boost that gets split between everyone helping produce the show (hightlighted in yellow).   Each band also has their own Boost button so you can Boost them while they are playing or anytime you visit the page.  

@ ed5774ac:45611c5c

A good question. I do not think so. I will explain below why, but first where did this question come from? The statement that Tether is a Bitcoin company was recently made by Samson Mow in X ([here](https://x.com/Excellion/status/1870577229367005648)) in a response to Paolo Ardoino’s initial Tweet about Tether’s $775 million investment on Rumble ([here](https://x.com/paoloardoino/status/1870231681497538759)).  In response to Samson Mow's statement, I expressed my disagreement by pointing out that Tether prints USDT “out of thin air” and uses these funds to purchase US Treasuries, which in effect helps finance US debt and fund military operations. In my opinion, a bitcoin company should not provide life support to the current broken financial system that is built on the US dollar's status as a global reserve currency, allowing a small group of Western elites to control the system and exploit it for wealth transfer. “The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that’s required to make it work. The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust.”(Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System) I believe that the primary purpose of bitcoin is to replace the current fraudulent system, not to support it. My assessment is based on this fundamental principle, and I therefore disagree with Samson’s statement. In short, Tether does not align with bitcoin’s purpose of existence, a point to which I will return later. First, it is necessary to clarify the logic behind my “Tether prints USDT out of thin air” statement as Samson Mow shifted the focus of conversation merely to this specific point instead of clarifying how he considers Tether as a bitcoin company in light of its actions (i.e., financing US debt and thereby funding the US war machine).  My next tweet aimed to highlight the trust concerns inherent in Proof of Stake, a concept that should be familiar to Samson Mow, where ETH holders validate transactions by staking their holdings, creating a system that relies on the implicit trustworthiness of these validators. In response to my reasoning and explanation, Samson initially claimed that Tether is not proof of stake. Next, in a subsequent tweet where I asked for clarification on whether Tether is on the Ethereum blockchain, he acknowledged this point but introduced a new argument suggesting that Tether's situation has nothing to do with PoS. This claim is, to be frank, disconnected from reality and raises questions about Samson Mow’s true motivations.  Following my discussion with Samson Mow on X, I decided to provide further clarification on the reasoning behind my statement that "Tether prints USDT out of thin air". The underlying logic of this argument can be grasped by examining two crucial factors: Proof of Work (PoW) and debt. ### Proof of Work: A critical examination of Tether's USDT issuance requires a deeper understanding of the PoW. When individuals exchange their dollars for USDT, they are essentially trading earned value (their time and energy) for a digital representation thereof. However, Tether's issuance of new USDT units occurs without incurring any cost or spending resources, effectively creating digital tokens that represent claims on value rather than value itself. In stark contrast, the creation of new bitcoins is facilitated through a competitive mining, wherein miners use computational power (spend energy) to validate transactions and create new blocks, thereby earning newly minted bitcoins as a reward for their efforts. Similarly, in gold mining, the discovery of new deposits is the result of the investment of time, energy, and resources by miners. Likewise, individuals who are employees or entrepreneurs invest their time and energy to generate income or profit. This underscores a fundamental principle: that genuine value creation typically results from tangible efforts, and resource allocations, distinguishing it from mechanisms that generate value without any corresponding expenditures. Unlike the aforementioned examples, Tether's mechanism for creating USDT operates under a distinctly different paradigm. Tether issues USDT without expending time, energy, or resources. Instead, individuals give Tether their hard-earned money in exchange for an IOU certificate represented by USDT. This is in theory, assuming that Tether is an honest player and only mints USDT when a user transfers corresponding USD. In practice, however, there are several factors that complicate the verification of Tether's claim regarding the backing of USDT with USD. One issue with Tether operating on Ethereum is that transactions are validated by ETH stakeholders by staking their ETH. This introduces an element of trust in third-party (validators), raising concerns in the integrity of the ledger. Additionally, in contrast to Bitcoin's blockchain, Proof of Stake blockchains do not have a clear "chain" of hashes linking each block back to its predecessor through a computationally intensive process, since there's no mining involved in creating new blocks (as blocks are proposed by validators based on their stake), thereby preventing verification of historical transaction validity. As a result, the current state of a Proof of Stake blockchain reflects only the validators' confirmation without providing any assurance regarding its historical accuracy or integrity. Most significantly, there exists no inherent mechanism, as far as I am aware of, preventing Tether from minting additional USDT without corresponding USD backing and transferring to an ETH address under their control and buying real assets (such as bitcoin) with it. In my opinion, these considerations underscore significant challenges on transparency, accountability and oversight within Tether’s operations. In other words, the entire system relies on the honesty of Tether and Ethereum validators as trusted third parties, which contradicts Bitcoin's fundamental principle that eliminates the need for trusted intermediaries in transactions as described by Satoshi Nakamoto in Bitcoin White Paper. (source: [bitcoin white paper](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf))  While Bitcoin's decentralized architecture eliminates the need for intermediaries, Tether as a centralized entity controls the issuance and management of USDT and relies on ETH validators for the validity of transactions. This centralized control enables Tether & Ethereum to unilaterally freeze, blacklist, or manipulate accounts at their discretion, as evidenced by past incidents and potential future actions. Furthermore, USDT holdings are exposed to counterparty risk, as holders are only entitled to redeem their funds if Tether maintains its solvency and adheres to a 100% reserve requirement which are significant question marks as explained in previous paragraphs. ### Debt: Even if the claim that all USDT tokens are fully backed is true, it is essential to recognize that USDT is ultimately backed by fiat currency, which itself is debt —whether in the form of dollars or U.S. Treasuries. Consequently, the statement “Tether prints USDT out of thin air” is not entirely unfounded, as the creation of new USDT tokens is effectively facilitated by the issuance of new debt instruments. How does USD come to existence? As many bitcoiners know very well, they are simply printed out of thin air by FED. This process is facilitated by the US government's issuance of debt certificates, including short-term Treasury bills and long-term Treasury bonds. The value of these debt instruments is derived from the expectation that the US government will honor its obligations by repaying the indicated amount of USD to certificate holders in the future, primarily through tax revenue collected from its citizens. In essence, these debt certificates represent IOUs and their value is contingent upon the credibility of the US government's promise to fulfill its debt obligations. The entire system relies on a collective belief in the government's creditworthiness, rather than any tangible asset backing it. Even if Tether's USDT is assumed to be backed 1-to-1 with USD, it is ultimately backed by nothing but the US government's fiat currency, which is itself created out of thin air. This highlights the tenuous nature of USDT's backing, as it is predicated on trust in the US government's ability to pay its debt. In contrast to Bitcoin, which is decentralized money, independent of any third-party liability, holding USDT introduces multiple layers of third-party liability such as: - Trust in the integrity of the Ethereum network & in the honesty of ETH stakeholders who validate transactions and maintain the ledger. - Trust in Tether's financial stability and solvency, as well as its commitment to honoring its obligations, thereby mitigating the risk of bankruptcy or fraudulent activities. - Trust in the creditworthiness of the US government, as the value of USDT is ultimately tied to the value of US Treasury securities held by Tether. These cumulative risks underscore the significance of third-party liability in the context of USDT ownership. In conclusion, the statement “Tether prints USDT out of thin air” is based on the fact that USDT is minted by Tether without incurring any cost or spending resources, there is no mechanism to prove that Tether maintains 100% reserves and USDT is ultimately backed by fiat currency, which itself is debt created out of thin air by the FED. Therefore, “Tether prints USDT out of thin air” notion is not entirely unfounded and highlights the tenuous nature of USDT's backing. ### Tether finances US debt and war machine by buying US Treasuries: Having laid out the logic behind my statement that “Tether prints USDT out of thin air,” I will now move on to the main argument underlying my position: namely, that Tether is not a bitcoin company because its acquisition of US debt provides life support to a profoundly corrupt and exploitative financial system, which enables a small cabal of western elites exploit the rest of the world to further enrich themselves. The fundamental purpose of bitcoin is to replace this broken system, not to provide life support to it. The current financial system: erodes the purchasing power of working-class individuals through inflation - excludes a significant portion of the global population from accessing to financial services - preserves ‘the rules-based global order’ (as it is called by the West) that exploits developing nations for the benefit of a privileged few in Western countries - concentrates control in the hands of an unscrupulous banking cartel and self-proclaimed elites At the heart of the existing financial system lies the US dollar's role as a global reserve currency that grants the US government considerable leverage to enforce its economic and geopolitical interests. By controlling USD flows, the US can impose financial sanctions on nations that refuse to comply with its rules and norms. In instances where financial coercion proves ineffective, the US has historically resorted to alternative measures, including military intervention and covert operations, aimed at bringing disobedient countries into compliance with its policy directives. Historical records are full of examples. - [ ] In 1953, the United States and the United Kingdom collaborated to orchestrate a coup d'état in Iran, resulting in the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. This action was carried out following Mossadegh's decision to nationalise Iranian oil companies, which were vital to the West's economic interests. - [ ] The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) played a substantial role in supporting a coup against Salvador Allende, the democratically elected President of Chile in 1970, because they were concerned that Allende's policies would lead to a shift towards socialism and potentially even communism, which was seen as a threat to US interests in the region. - [ ] Saddam Hussein's decision to transition Iraq's oil transactions from US dollars to euros was a major factor contributing to his downfall. By challenging the existing global financial system, Hussein became a threat to the global financial order and therefore paid the price with his life. - [ ] Muammar Gaddafi proposed the establishment of a gold-based currency, known as the gold dinar, intended for use in African oil transactions. This initiative aimed to create a pan-African currency independent of both the US dollar and euro, potentially undermining their influence in regional trade. The perceived threat posed by this proposal to the global financial order has been the main factor to Libya's destabilization and Gaddafi's eventual demise. - [ ] The overthrow of Ukraine's democratically elected president in 2014 by a CIA orchestrated a coup d'état, with Victoria Nuland, then-Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, playing a key role in the operation. The intervention was motivated by Western corporations’ desire to colonize Russia and use its resources as collateral to prolong the life of the global financial system that has become unsustainable with its current debt levels. Those interested in understanding the mechanics of the current financial system or learning about the historical crimes committed by West against the Global South are invited to contact me directly. I can provide access to a comprehensive collection of resources that document these issues. However, due to space and time constraints, it is not feasible to elaborate on these topics in detail here. The statement that Tether is primarily a bitcoin company is entirely unfounded since Tether provides significant support to the current financial system. The US government is currently facing challenges in financing its debt due to decreasing global confidence in its ability to repay its obligations. This is evident in the fact that China has ceased purchasing US debt, while Russia has sold off its entire holdings prior to the Special Military Operation (SMO). Furthermore, private investors are increasingly wary of investing in US debt, citing concerns over its sustainability. Currently, the UK and EU are the only entities actively buying US debt, which, along with the US, are the other two pillars of the existing global financial order. Notably, Tether has emerged as a substantial purchaser of US debt (approximately $100 billion at the time of writing), effectively serving as a vital lifeline for the prolongation of the Western colonial order. Tether is NOT a bitcoin company. In my opinion, it is fair to say that those who claim that Tether is a bitcoin company are either lacking in critical thinking or have a financial stake that compromises their objectivity. It is true that it helps bitcoin adoption and by providing liquidity contributes to the upward momentum of bitcoin price. I believe, it is likely that the current price of bitcoin would be significantly lower without Tether's involvement. This raises important questions about the motivations and values of those involved in the bitcoin community who claim that Tether is a bitcoin company. Can their support for Bitcoin be attributed to a sincere interest in advancing the principles of decentralization and sovereignty, or might it be influenced by self-interest and the pursuit of personal wealth? Are there other potential motivations or conflicts of interest at play? As outlined in this article, I have concerns regarding Tether's alignment with the principles that underpin Bitcoin’s core values. My critique is not intended to be accusatory, but rather to encourage critical evaluation. I acknowledge and appreciate Tether's contribution to bitcoin ecosystem and see their investment in Rumble as a positive development for freedom of speech and recognize Samson's dedication for Bitcoin adoption. However, my appreciation for their efforts does not imply unconditional trust. The defensive responses of some individuals within the community to my criticisms (without any reasonable counterarguments) have raised questions for me about their potential biases and motivations. While I do not aim to convince those who misinterpret my intentions, I will exercise increased suspicion when engaging with individuals who appear more focused on protecting Tether's interests than upholding the principles of Bitcoin. In summary, I believe that Tether's role in propping up the current financial system - intentionally or not - underscores the need for skepticism and critical thinking. As global events continue to unfold with unprecedented speed and complexity, it's essential to remember: **'Don't trust, verify!'**

@ 783850fd:77511d32

This chocolate sauce recipe is easy to make at home. I hope you'll give this recipe a try. **Ingredients:** + 1 liter of milk + 150-200 g of wholemeal flour + 20-100 g of chocolate + a fruit* of your choice (or a sweet potato). Skip it if your plan is to serve the sauce over fruits. + some salt **Directions:** Add a pinch of salt to the milk and set it to boil on low heat. In the meantime, mix the flour with pieces of chocolate and chunks of your chosen fruit. If using an orange, there's no need to chop it—simply separate the segments by hand along their natural divisions. Mixing the fruit and chocolate pieces with the flour ensures that they are coated, which helps prevent the flour from clumping. **Serving Suggestions:** This sauce pairs well with bread, biscuits, or pancakes. Alternatively serve over lots of fruits (be they bananas, watermelons, apples) - in that case there is no need of mixing the chunks of fruits with the flour. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/854225

@ e968e50b:db2a803a

So nearly everybody in bitcoin hates ESG for all the obvious reasons. I'm not going to recap all that right now. That assumed, the E and S make a lot of sense on the personal level though, right? The problem is when they're used on an economic level. A ________(fill in the blank industry) company's bottom line is in no way benefitted by shrinking their environmental footprint or being more socially equitable. Well, did you see [this block](https://mempool.space/block/000000000000000000010c05038d08c742d28a7a248e9d0f94ebe5102f366c8e) that @Catcher found [this morning](https://stacker.news/items/853382)?!?!  One might be annoyed that his or her transaction was ignored (not sure censored is even the correct word here), but isn't this also really bad for MARA's bottom line? Are we starting to see a new type of ESG for a new political era? Maybe this example could be of the O for obsequious? We just need two more letters and we can start rating companies on a system that has nothing to do with them delivering a good product or service. Either way, its time for us home miners to kick into overdrive! Yee-haw! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/854082

@ 0403c86a:66d3a378

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to begin their quest for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat on Saturday, facing the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Here’s everything you need to know heading into the highly anticipated matchup: ### **Key Player Updates** - **Patrick Mahomes (QB)**: Cleared to play despite a recent ankle injury, Mahomes is ready to lead his team. Head coach Andy Reid praised his mental toughness, saying Mahomes is “back in the saddle.” - **Isiah Pacheco (RB)**, **Chris Jones (DL)**, and **D.J. Humphries (T)**: All cleared to play, giving the Chiefs their key contributors on offense and defense. - **Jaylen Watson (CB)**: Activated from injured reserve, strengthening the Chiefs' secondary. - **Mecole Hardman (WR)**: Remains on IR and is doubtful for the game, leaving the Chiefs without one of their speediest weapons. ### **The Matchup** The Chiefs, led by Mahomes, come into this game with a 24-day rest period, the longest in NFL history. It remains to be seen whether the extended break will give them an edge or lead to rust. Mahomes, the winningest quarterback through seven seasons in NFL history (including playoffs), is also undefeated (6-0) in divisional playoff games. The Houston Texans, on the other hand, are flying high after a dominant 32-12 wild-card victory over the Chargers. Rookie quarterback **C.J. Stroud** has been a revelation this season, and the Texans’ defense, featuring stars like **Will Anderson** and **Danielle Hunter**, has been a force. Anderson and Hunter combined for 1.5 sacks and four QB hits in the wild-card round, and their ability to pressure Mahomes will be critical. ### **Key Storylines** - **Chiefs' Resiliency**: Kansas City has shown incredible grit this season, winning 11 games by eight points or less. They've proven they can win in all phases—offense, defense, and special teams. - **Texans’ Defensive Strength**: Houston’s cornerback duo of **Derek Stingley Jr.** and **Kamari Lassiter** has been among the league’s best, ranking top-three in completion percentage and passer rating allowed. They’ll look to contain the Chiefs’ passing attack. - **Coaching Chess Match**: Texans head coach **Demeco Ryans** acknowledged the challenge of defending Mahomes, citing his quick release and ability to exploit check-downs. Ryans plans to mix up coverages while staying disciplined under pressure. ### **What’s at Stake** The Chiefs are chasing history as they aim to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls. Mahomes is also looking to tie Joe Montana for the second-most playoff wins by a quarterback. For the Texans, this game represents a chance to make history of their own. After five previous losses in the divisional round, they’re seeking their first-ever AFC Championship Game appearance. ### **Game Outlook** This matchup has all the makings of a close contest. The Texans will try to capitalize on the Chiefs’ tendency to play in one-possession games, while the Chiefs’ experience and ability to adapt in critical moments could prove decisive. With stars on both sides of the ball and plenty of storylines, this game is a must-watch as the Chiefs and Texans battle for a spot in the AFC Championship. 📺 **Kickoff:** Saturday, 4:30 PM ET Global Sports Central 🌐 #GSC360

@ 8ea48526:e6720a43

Technology trends toward openness time and again. This is why I say that Freedom Tech is Final Tech. Ideas want to be free. Many people built brands on TikTok that are now threatened, which is a reminder to also build on open alternatives you control. There are many examples from history. Shift from Monasteries to Printing Press. During the Middle Ages, monasteries controlled the production and dissemination of written knowledge. The printing press decentralized access to information, enabling mass production of books and changing the course of history. Transition from Trains to Automobiles. Trains required centralized infrastructure and control, while cars empowered individuals to travel freely. This shift from centralized to decentralized transportation transformed the way people lived, worked, and interacted with each other. Telegraph and Telephone. The Telegraph was initially a closed system, with message transmission gated by businesses. The Telephone enabled direct, person-to-person communication, decentralizing access to real-time information and revolutionizing the way people connect. The evolution of the Internet. ARPANET, the early internet, was a closed network. With the development of TCP/IP, the open internet was born, enabling global communication, innovation, and access to information on an unprecedented scale. Operating Systems. Unix, a proprietary OS, was the early powerhouse and later eclipsed by Linux, an open-source alternative. Today, Linux powers millions of devices, from smartphones to servers, and has become a cornerstone of modern computing. It runs the world. Computers. Mainframe Computers were massive, centralized systems that only large organizations could afford. The development of Personal Computers democratized access to computing power, enabling individuals to create, innovate, and participate in the digital economy. Television and Radio, once controlled by a few large broadcasters, have given way to Podcasts, which enable anyone to create and distribute content. This has democratized the media, allowing new voices and perspectives to emerge. (Thank you Aaron for RSS 😢) The music industry. Vinyl, tape, and CD distribution, once controlled by record labels and physical stores, have given way to open file formats like MP3 and streaming services. Artists can connect directly with fans and music is more widely available than ever before. V4V. Government, Monarchy to Republic. Monarchies, with their centralized power and hereditary rule, have given way to republics, where power is distributed among the people and their elected representatives, increasing class mobility and participation. Central Banking System and Bitcoin. The experimental Central Banking System, with its centralized control and intermediaries, is being challenged by a decentralized, open alternative. It is transforming the way we think about money, value, and financial freedom. Digital payments and Ecash. Systems like PayPal & Venmo (once the innovators themselves) are being challenged by open alternatives, such as Chaumian e-cash systems like Cashu and Fedimint. These systems promise to increase financial privacy and autonomy for day-to-day payments. Social networking. Proprietary social platforms control the data & access. Nostr is an open protocol for authoring & distributing digital content. In the age of AI, authenticity is paramount. Nostr cryptographically proves who authored content, maximizing freedom & transparency. AI. AI began as closed systems from large corporations investing heavily in computing and training. The open community is catching up and pushing new boundaries. Open models that run locally or in confidential computing enclaves provide AI that is free, open, and private. This is the pattern: over time, the processes that were controlled by a few get replaced by processes controlled by everyone. Always be searching out open alternatives for the tech you use, that’s where we eventually end up. I’m bullish on the future of technology and humanity. 🤘 P.S. You can see that many of these examples are themselves becoming compromised over time, looking to be disrupted again by open technology.

@ e373ca41:b82abcc5

*It was recently the tenth anniversary of the attack on Charlie Hebdo, France's best-known satirical magazine alongside the “Canard enchaîné”. The attack claimed the lives of 12 people, mainly cartoonists and journalists. Even then, it was a watershed moment, and not just in retrospect. Everyone wanted to show solidarity, everyone wanted to be “Charlie”, the phrase “Je suis Charlie” made the rounds memetically.* *Charlie Hebdo was known for making fun of everything, including religions and Islam. “What is satire allowed to do? Everything.” So said Kurt Tucholsky, the famous publicist of the Weimar Republic, and that also applied to Charlie Hebdo. This magazine also dared to print Mohammed cartoons from “Jyllands Posten”. The solidarity of other newspapers with Charlie no longer went that far. They wanted to be Charlie, but rather without risk. The collective sign of solidarity fizzled out as lip service.* *I was in Paris at the time and witnessed the mass demonstration live. Bernard Maris, a friend of Michel Houllebecq, also died in the attack. Houllebecq's book “Submission” was published on the same day. Coincidence? History and its synchronicities sometimes take wondrous paths.* *On November 13, 2015, there was another attack at the Bataclan and around the Stade de France, among other places. Not long before, I was still living in Rue de la Fontaine au Roi in the 11th arrondissement, not far from Place de la République. My favorite café, the Café du Phare, was riddled with machine gun bullets, as was the pizzeria next door. I often sat in this café, writing books, academic texts and my first columns for the NZZ. At the time, I was teaching public law and fundamental rights at the Sorbonne in Paris, among other things, and dealing with issues relating to freedom of expression and artistic freedom on a daily basis.* *I took it for granted that these constitutionally guaranteed values were just as important to the public (and especially other journalists) as their place in the constitutions of the West suggested. I was wrong, which was certainly also due to my legal glasses and “déformation professionelle”. At the time, I read more articles that emphasized respect for religions than the value of freedom of expression or artistic freedom. Looking back today, that was when the slippery slope that has led us into the realms of censorship, deletions, shadowbanning, fact-checkers, etc. began.* *Freedom that is not used wears out and eventually disappears. Fighting to get it back is much more difficult than defending it. Back then, I wrote texts for newspapers rather sporadically, basically mainly when a topic was important to me and it remained underexposed.*&#x20; *The following text, which appeared in the NZZ at the time, was one such text.* **You can find the German original version** **[here.](https://www.freischwebende-intelligenz.org/p/charlie-hebdo-als-der-freie-westen)** *** ADVERTISEMENT: *Looking for the easiest way to buy Bitcoin and store it yourself? The **[Relai app](https://relai.app/de/?af_xp=custom\&source_caller=ui\&pid=INFLUENCER\&is_retargeting=true\&af_click_lookback=7d\&shortlink=eo5zpzew\&af_channel=branded_url\&af_inactivity_window=30d\&c=Milosz%20Matuszek)** is the No. 1 crypto start-up and No. 2 of all fintech start-ups in Switzerland. **[Here you can buy Bitcoin](https://relai.app/de/?af_xp=custom\&source_caller=ui\&pid=INFLUENCER\&is_retargeting=true\&af_click_lookback=7d\&shortlink=eo5zpzew\&af_channel=branded_url\&af_inactivity_window=30d\&c=Milosz%20Matuszek)** in just a few steps and also set up savings plans. Nobody has access to your Bitcoin except you. With the referral code MILOSZ you save on fees (no financial advice). Disclaimer due to regulatory issues: The services of the Relai App are hereby only recommended to inhabitants of Switzerland or Italy.*  *Need more security? The **[Trezor wallets](https://trezor.io/trezor-safe-5-bitcoin-only?transaction_id=102e192a206d1585e56a2fddef6d83\&offer_id=238\&affiliate_id=35234)** are recommended and easy to use, others are available in the **[store](https://trezor.io/?transaction_id=102bc85bdca2733287749c7f879ebd\&offer_id=133\&affiliate_id=35234)**. Need more advice? Book an **[introductory meeting](https://trezor.io/trezor-expert-session?transaction_id=1020e18dad0aa4b1186289fd22e90f\&offer_id=241\&affiliate_id=35234)** with a wallet expert.* *** In the latest issue of “Charlie Hebdo” since the attack in Paris, the editors rub their eyes in amazement. What is wrong with this world? Politicians of all stripes, 50 heads of government and millions of citizens on the streets; Notre-Dame Cathedral is ringing its bells for atheists and the first people are thinking aloud about admitting anarchist cartoonists to the Paris Panthéon, the final resting place of Victor Hugo, Marie Curie and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. You can tell that the editorial team is a little uncomfortable with the collective need to cuddle up. The worldwide wave of solidarity with “Charlie Hebdo” was overwhelming and important. “I am Charlie” became the collective outcry of the free world. The message is: “If you attack Charlie, you attack me”. What will remain of this when the dust settles? Will the continental plates of our order of freedom have shifted? #### A rift trough the free world Unfortunately, they did it long ago. The attack on “Charlie Hebdo” was an earthquake. But it ultimately only exposed once again what had already been clear and only slightly buried since the dispute over the publication of the Mohammed cartoons in the Danish newspaper “Jyllands-Posten” in 2005: there is a rift running through the free world, and the media landscape as an index of freedoms is showing it. On the one hand, there are the courageous publications that do not deviate one iota from the Western achievements of freedom of the press, but which ultimately take the rap for it. And then there is the large remainder, for whom freedom seems to be first and foremost the right to remain silent. Magazines like “Charlie Hebdo” are the bad bank of the Western community of values. Charlie & Co. store the toxic papers that nobody wants on their books. The dividend of freedom, on the other hand, is paid out to everyone. If something happens, a declaration of solidarity follows at the minimum price. ## Freedom folklore The Charlie sympathy is to a not inconsiderable extent mere freedom folklore. A masked ball of the enlightened. The smoke from the attacks had barely cleared before the first German-language satirical magazines declared that they would refrain from printing cartoons of Mohammed. The Kalashnikov is the Titanic's iceberg (Note: "Titanic" is the main German satirical paper). American and British newspapers such as the “New York Times” and the “Independent” also waved goodbye and even refused to print the current cover of “Charlie Hebdo”. This, mind you, in countries where freedom of expression is considered a cultural symbol and freedom as the “right of a soul to breathe”. The soul of freedom now found itself in a vacuum faster than you could shout “Allahu akbar!”. The Turkish newspaper “Cumhuriyet”, on the other hand, dared to do so. Our freedom is being defended in Turkey but no longer in New York or London? A topsy-turvy world. Some people would like a more harmless satire these days. A satire without exaggeration, overstepping boundaries and disrespect for certain authorities. But the call for moderation means the elimination of its business basis. Satire does not demand approval and consensus. It is not a beauty contest. ## When others decide for us Anyone who refrains from using a caricature simply because it could be provocative, even blasphemous, is already adopting the thought structure and values of those who believe they are in the right when they respond with Kalashnikovs and rolling heads. People are either not proud of the achievement of satire or are not aware of their own rights, and perceive even something that is actually self-evident as an affront. If we ourselves do not know what we should stand for and why, then others have long since decided what we should stand for. Certainly, no medium is forced to push the boundaries of our legal system on a daily basis. The notorious undercutting of our own standards, on the other hand, will cause them to shrink. Not immediately, but gradually. Until perhaps another standard is accepted at some point. The new censors will then no longer sit in ecclesiastical or secular palaces, as they did in the Middle Ages. But in tent cities in Yemen. Western society is gradually having the rug of its freedom order pulled out from under its feet. And instead of standing together, some people are asking if they can still help roll it up. But of course they still want to be “Charlie”. ## Pseudo-security Self-censorship and anticipatory obedience are a pseudo-safety net. Today it's the Mohammed cartoons. Tomorrow it will be critical reports on Islamism. Anyone who wants to carry out attacks will always find a reason. However, fundamental rights are not a fair-weather crop. Their true existence only becomes apparent when the storm hits. It is cynical to throw up one's hands in the hope that the angel of death will go to the neighboring editorial office. “Charlie Hebdo” has decided against accepting such external content control. The editorial team also prints a Mohammed cartoon on the cover of the latest issue. Anyone who wonders whether this is wise has missed the point: if it were not done now, it would be the last time this happens in the Western newspaper landscape for a very long time. Those who remain silent agree with the new standard. And all this is happening now, in these hours and days! It's crazy, but it has to be said: a small anarchic left-wing French newspaper, two-thirds of whose editorial office was bombed out last week, is currently standing almost alone on the front line of the Western world, defending a right it has fought for over 200 years, while machine guns are pointed at it. In the safe hinterland, on the other hand, far away from the impacts, the cardboard comrades fall over in rows at the first bang. ## Our freedom is their freedom At present, it is rightly said that the aim in future will be to win over the peaceful majority of Muslims to our side and not drive them into the hands of the extremists. Yes, many of them will find Muhammad cartoons outrageous or outrageous. But our freedom to think differently is also their freedom to think differently. Our freedom, as unpleasant as it may be to some, also protects moderate Muslims from being forcibly converted at gunpoint by their extremist co-religionists, as is currently happening thousands of times. That makes us allies. We are currently experiencing a “Sebastian Haffner moment”. The chronicler of the Third Reich describes how he sits in the court library of the Berlin Court of Appeal in 1933 and witnesses the SA taking away all Jewish lawyers. Suddenly, a puffing SA man stands in front of him. “Are you Aryan?” Haffner, who had always rejected this category, answers “Yes” in surprise - and is left alone. In his notes, he jots down the sentence: “Failed the first test!” *** ***Join the marketplace of ideas!** We are building a publishing ecosystem on Nostr for citizen-journalism, starting with a client for blogging and newsletter distribution. Sound money and sound information should finally be in the hands of the people, right? Want to learn more about the [Pareto Project](https://pareto.space/en)? Zap me, if you want to contribute (all Zaps go to the project).* *Are you a publication and want to be part of it, test us, migrate your content to Nostr? Write to **<team@pareto.space>*** **Not yet on** **[Nostr](https://nostr.com/)** **and want the full experience?** Easy onboarding via **[Nosta.me.](https://nosta.me/create/welcome)** 

@ 3ac03011:41ecd1bb

Some lessons are worth learning the hard way. Here's one of them: ***don't waste your energy trying to convince someone that a fact is a fact***. If their belief doesn't harm you, let them hold onto it. And if it does, focus on protecting yourself instead of arguing. Life is a far better teacher than any debate—you can't out-argue reality and false beliefs have a way of unraveling themselves. The beauty of facts lies in the clarity they bring us. They show us how humanity's darkest moments came not purely from malice but from people simply following incentive structures. Understand the incentives and the chaos of the world starts to make sense. Those who reject facts often feel the world is against them. They take it personally, not realising facts are impersonal—they simply are. When you accept them, you're no longer at odds with reality and peace becomes possible. So don't spend your time persuading others. Instead, build the life you want. Focus your energy on creating, achieving and living. The truth doesn't need you to defend it; it's always there, waiting to be seen. In the end, the clarity you gain by focusing on your own path will bring you more freedom and fulfilment than any argument ever could. Spend your time living, not debating.

@ 74718b83:b8204bd8

recently Joe Nakomoto was asking a similar question on nostr and most of the comments were ' add more value' and things like that. which is crazy, because the guy is literally traveling the world making bitcoin content (and doing an amazing job IMO). but it seems like without the ads and sponsors we hate, most of the podcasts and youtube channels don't make enough to function. the idea of 'value harder' seems silly. SN is the best example of V4V working IMO, but obviously to a small scale and as something fun on the side. as for nostr, people say 'add more value', but as many have pointed out, the people that make all the zaps are simply known people saying GM, and even then, the zaps are relative peanuts compared to even SN what do you guys think? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853884

@ 000002de:c05780a7

With the [news of Facebook changing its policy on DEI](https://stacker.news/items/853798) I was reminded of how it started and my early thoughts on it. I don't think DEI is dead, far from it but there's a trend forming pushing back. With Facebook and companies in general you have to understand something. Companies are mostly spineless. If a company is pushing something its not "brave" or "risky". All companies are profit driven and when they run these "woke" commercial its not brave. It would have been brave for companies to speak boldly against racism in the 50s but not today. Today most people oppose racism. Not saying we are rid of racism but just that companies are like a flag flying in the wind. They show you the direction the winds are blowing in culture and politics. I have to say the whole DEI story line has been interesting to watch over the past 20 years. 20 years? Yeah that's what I said because its been a long arc. 20 years is probably to short but in the tech field I'd argue it really started back in the mid 2000s. In the early 2000s I remember a push to make the tech field more friendly to women. To rid the startup culture of the bro culture and make it more welcoming and less like a college fraternity culture. I had no problem with any of that. But it became clear that very vocal people were not satisfied with that. It wasn't enough to not discriminate and stop tolerating sexism. We needed to actively set quotas for female speakers at conferences and have more diverse representation all over the place. The idea of meritocracy which was once the hallmark of the high tech industry was denigrated. In the place of meritocracy we have what some have called "positive discrimination". At least that is the perception of critics of DEI. It can be easy to ignore your critics and sometimes that is a good approach. But when your goals are changing the hearts and minds, which at least in the early days of DEI seemed to be the goal, it is vital. Before I offer criticism of DEI I want to say a few positive things about it. From my perspective working in tech for 20 years I think it is good that the culture has become more vocal about "isms". Racism and sexism will always be with us but we should strive to treat people fairly. I've seen both of these in my work life and people are much more comfortable speaking up than they were in the past. That's not a bad thing. To me it is obvious that quotas and pushing lies like the wage gap harmed the goals of DEI. Why do I say this? Stay with me here. If you believe there are people that just hate women or are racists in an industry those people are very unlikely to come over to your side. So you of course have people that agree with your DEI agenda but to me the focus of DEI is really the middle. Those that aren't sexist or racist but also aren't that motivated. The majority of workers in the early 2000s at least were white males. I believe this is still true today. For the last 20 years this group have been ridiculed on mass and told they are the problem. If this is the group you are seeking to win over... I can't think of a more terrible strategy. So either you have people who just think they are terrible and are being told there isn't much if anything they can do about their racism and sexism. Or you have people who buck up against how they are being lumped in with real racists and sexists. You end up making enemies of allies. I have watched this happen in the industry over the years. As DEI has expanded into other industries this push back has only became stronger. Another unintended consequence of DEI seems obvious to me but I rarely hear it mentioned. Today when you see something go wrong and the org has been vocal about DEI those that DEI claims to protect become the obvious targets. This is regardless of any evidence. It just seems like if you are saying we hire and promote on a basis other than merit or qualifications you are not hiring the best. That doesn't mean someone that is a minority isn't as good as a white male but when you discriminate you undercut those you claim to protect. The loudest voices in DEI have done a terrible job. They have made enemies of allies. When you aren't honest about statistics and data, when you lump people into massive groups and boil everything down to biology and DNA you show your true colors. People don't buy it. I believe this is what we are seeing with the rejection of DEI. When you build something on lies and half truths it is doomed to fail. I'm convinced MOST people that support DEI are just good hearted people that have been manipulated and propagandized. DEI on the surface sounds good to most people. Those that respond in hate to DEI also provide a good boogie man. Divide and conquer works for a while but in the end truth wins. What do you think? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853862

@ 513d5051:8a622026

About 6 years ago I took the hard decision to leave WhatsApp as I begun my privacy journey, it was a hard decision as they have a huge exit barrier (e.g. not having an easy way to take your conversations with you, even if you can't import it somewhere else) and also very strong network effect. It has been an interesting experience as people don't seem to understand or accept the fact I'm not a WhatsApp user, they ask me to abandon my decision and go back. I believe they are doing it because it's a lot more convenient to have all their contacts and conversations in a single app, and people doesn't seem concerned about their privacy (AFAIK it was never proven WhatsApp has backdoors, their walled garden won't allow us to audit). Recently in Joe Rogan's interview with Mark Zuckeberg, and they talked about encryption at the very end of the episode, he still claims they share a lot of technology with Signal (no shit Sherlock, you literally took the code into your walled garden) and the only way for someone to access your conversations is if they gain access to the device itself (govts using pegasus with various zero day exploits). I'm still trying to find the best option without shitcoiners behind it, I did find [this spreadsheet](https://privacyspreadsheet.com/messaging-apps) with many messaging apps and various criteria, but haven't decided on something I like more than Signal. Did you? -- EDIT: As a founder I admire that everybody seem to love WhatsApp UX and feature set, and on top of that they have the exit barrier and the network effect. I wonder what will take for people to change to something else. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853791

@ aade47fd:281e8e4f

###### Дорогой дневник! Для формирования творческой дисциплины принял решение вести публичный дневник. Надеюсь, что через несколько недель втянусь, но прямо сейчас мне совершенно не хочется этим заниматься. Использую редактор Obsidian с плагином Nostr Writer. Все это должно попадать в том числе на мою [страницу](https://bkhm.tv) и сможет быть доступно в качестве RSS. Интернет это какая-то магия до сих пор для меня! ###### Один градус тепла Есть разные мнения о том, какой должна быть погода в аду, но в моем личном температура в течение суток вращается вокруг ноля, порывистый ветер, мелкая холодная морось, лед под ногами и бесконечная ночь. Да, речь идет о зимнем Петербурге. Я каждый год обещаю себе никогда здесь больше не зимовать, но вся эта атмосфера каким-то образом постепенно затягивает. Надо будет напомнить себе, что выбираться отсюда нужно в начале ноября, сразу после дня рождения. Если не в теплые страны, то по крайней мере на Сахалин. ###### Умер Дэвид Линч Отдаете вы себе в этом отчет или нет, но одна из базовых установок западного человека заключается в том, что никакого зла в этом мире самостоятельным образом не существует: зло это отсутствие добра, глупость — отсутствие ума, болезнь — отсутствие здоровья, тьма — отсутствие света, и так далее. Корнями это все уходит в традицию античного идеализма, кстати, как и слепая вера в рациональность поведения человека. Линч был способен замечать зло в его собственной онтологии, а человека — в абсурде. "*Замечать зло*" звучит, как будто речь идет о шамане, но никого не удивит, если мы скажем, что человек замечает любовь и добро (не поступки, а то, что за ними стоит). В общем, ничего экстрасенсорного — просто иная оптика. Она же позволяет замечать насколько абсурдным оказывается повседневное поведение радикально серьезных людей. Вот и сюжет: борьба Света и Тьмы за сонного человека. Спим на ходу и пробуждаемся в своих снах. И вот у меня всегда было ощущение, что я с Линчем из одного детства, из одних и тех же страшных детских снов. Я благодарен этому человеку за то, что в самых темных и сокровенных частях своей души я не чувствую себя одиноким. --- На сегодня все, приходите завтра! Пишите мне на hello@bkhm.tv — обещаю ответить на каждому.

@ 07f367da:0e76880d

- 2023-10-26 [강기자 기사 작성"‘직장 내 괴롭힘’ 호소하며 투신 사망… ‘미등록 장애인’ 김경현"](https://www.beminor.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=25569) - 2023-10-27 [강기자 기사 작성"좋은친구들 퇴사자 “김경현 유서, 내가 겪은 것과 너무 비슷하다”"](https://www.beminor.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=25582) - 2023-11-18 [이슬하 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0weEBEANb33S9oVBqbpvAZpGaTndTCaWeuVtMEjjf9TPKThk1zmca5s1erQ4nAeJql&id=100077688801399) - 2024-03-15 [하민지 기자 게시물★최초폭로](https://www.facebook.com/ham1n/posts/pfbid0F4y8Z5LvXaRETEH5BtKAqipyHstBaTFK24gFZKq3tssx8uS2FSnbxtq8ESrczo8Zl) - 2024-03-16 [이슬하 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02SyW8ZKdjBFzjLBkWLzAUDDvgAe86o3RUrHVPR4WE6kEtDmmkCKWf7jGHCLj9YgNJl&id=100077688801399) - 2024-03-18 [비마이너 비상대책위원회 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/beminor2010/posts/pfbid0dkgoofrmjyTKk7x77NELzAMJG16WVosHAawYjHepwjRrFwnnkAtRAJHoJ5kgFDYl) - 2024-04-29 [비마이너 비상대책위원회 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/beminor2010/posts/pfbid02kvAbJYW9cRSodoCw98j8J5vaHagbt54JN9uSJARgwufWSdzhebzqknsDD3oeb1SHl) - 2024-05-03 [이슬하 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02JG5VW95eqofvz37SAKdN6srH6S9MfcAqqK9s5aNYYwmjf7zuxfPzkfjSz11KGUkul&id=100077688801399) - 2024-05-21 [비마이너 비상대책위원회 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/beminor2010/posts/pfbid0yeY4UmXTug3a8LWiYyqFJVrcD2bMGHzgBdMbWdmuKACDrnoUyBuwE4FiLBELEtYnl) - 2024-06-01 [이슬하 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02hx3tZuQEfMQcAywyYhb4t7L3R4mcBdkYNS8K4ffRC45eWgskacjbNfJk34Vh57Z1l&id=100077688801399) - 2024-07-31 [김혜미 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02P2vgM8yS6kL9eYHsCM4ygxyoovJX1a3FHKxWCTwveD7tQ49w6C82c8NjaepvK6TLl&id=100069973463531) - 2024-08-13 [비마이너 비상대책위원회 발표★1차 입장](https://www.facebook.com/beminor2010/posts/pfbid0jBhBA5QZ6rVQe6uABk6GvUG6ivhAvTt7YNuCJsv9uN7ohAKs7s31tvtcummfrdnxl) - 2024-08-23 [이슬하 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0BXeqSpoXMUShpgf7zvaUgxqRQXwGW5ssyVNMjBzkYnkp9caXSrRjiSUpoDti2e8zl&id=100077688801399) - 2024-08-25 [하금철, 갈홍식, 최한별](https://www.facebook.com/kal.hongsik/posts/pfbid02pdJuzZh4f5Gorq8iPXoJjZKsXKj5KMKGkxZ2xiyRWBag5RxqZaavPJQxDd9rGp3ml) - 2024-08-25 [운영실장 양유진, 취재기자 하민지](https://www.facebook.com/yujin.yang.35/posts/pfbid02tFKZ8J3furZX1iNJS5Zd5BBspTSmoQf2LKngo29KBwKieF59VnNvGnaHEZSDNKmgl) - 2024-08-26 [비마이너 퇴직기자 6인 입장문](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0sRvaTZPeS5RZVLEdcgH7E26qPtPfLYCv16n1B5PpF42NEsNRdJxbPWWukzTF6xpql&id=100077688801399) - 2024-08-27 [하민지 기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/ham1n/posts/pfbid02mH2Pz22165PTsPx3kFxg3ispTjHsKjniSazsRSkVqXeX5LUCCSV3uAkrju4XdipLl) - 2024-08-27 [비마이너 비상대책위원회 발표★2차 입장](https://www.facebook.com/beminor2010/posts/pfbid06SZs7DWUu2QgvfhUXDzdRC2tjGZU2xSJcc6F572E2heScAjPmk3Av4BLnCns7fh1l) - 2024-10-01 [김혜미 퇴직기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02aNb8ANM8uFcLnnrH8NcxbrL1APTiQ9Xhgt5M7BYxw4it4jh56DqntHHnxZMNQHmal&id=100069973463531) - 2024-10-22 [이슬하 기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0yxfZTeT9rpHfbirjSUG6GUbBZjVKZFcnj6vvEAWdTpeTGWkuaXXczSEbGaF27jFxl&id=100077688801399) - 2024-11-06 [이슬하 기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0dqeRNhiPTePJC74reTcp2qsNHC1z3wFGBJC1r2PKeHyzrzcM5Fypad7k6DC9dT1Rl&id=100077688801399) - 2024-11-28 [비마이너 비상대책위원회 발표★최종 입장](https://www.facebook.com/beminor2010/posts/pfbid02UEtgNHBBChtzyXrpnP81N4Qyp5Vf23ZiWN71hzcWYRKJpPeJ8BAX2wtqLMGTcmKUl) - 2024-11-29 [박정수 퇴직기자 게시물★](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid037g6duX4Y7ny8aqHcRcPsyidEzLiUaX6AK47ngm6Dhd2PmsUyk7aMaCdDm3CnGwjhl&id=100011544990173) - 2024-11-29 [하민지 기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/ham1n/posts/pfbid0yEQCsyjGjsnk29B91PNW7APXbcoCszs8MJi8jRQmBsxRWEzXACKucxRime4iKyVgl) - 2025-01-16 [하민지 기자 게시물](https://www.facebook.com/ham1n/posts/pfbid02AZQfqEDRotwCfoSnKzCDEUMwXPuLRFfX879rJU4DvwgsfYVoYwRdUbVvdtAodujcl)

@ 3ac03011:41ecd1bb

Some lessons are worth learning the hard way. Here's one of them: *don't waste your energy trying to convince someone that a fact is a fact*. If their belief doesn't harm you, let them hold onto it. And if it does, focus on protecting yourself instead of arguing. Life is a far better teacher than any debate—you can't out-argue reality and false beliefs have a way of unraveling themselves. The beauty of facts lies in the clarity they bring us. They show us how humanity's darkest moments came not purely from malice but from people simply following incentive structures. Understand the incentives and the chaos of the world starts to make sense. Those who reject facts often feel the world is against them. They take it personally, not realising facts are impersonal—they simply are. When you accept them, you're no longer at odds with reality and peace becomes possible. So don't spend your time persuading others. Instead, build the life you want. Focus your energy on creating, achieving and living. The truth doesn't need you to defend it; it's always there, waiting to be seen. In the end, the clarity you gain by focusing on your own path will bring you more freedom and fulfilment than any argument ever could. Spend your time living, not debating.

@ 543d73b5:977c83a9

In the digital world, human beings occupy space with digital representations of their physical-world information. When viewed separately, these digital representations can be readily dismissed as merely random collections of digital assets. However, when examined as a whole, these same representations reveal themselves to be extensions of a person’s digital self-sovereign identity. Moreover, as these two worlds, the digital and the physical, continue to merge into one space, this digital identity has become more commonly used as a primary means of validation and verification of a person’s digital and physical existence. Therefore, the primary rights of ownership for this digital form of identity must be safeguarded and protected in the same manner, and with the same level of importance, as is typically observed with individual identity in the physical world. It is for this reason that this **Ethos of Digital Self-Sovereign** has been drafted. And, it is for this purpose that it is presented to the digital community for their consideration and adoption into their standard governance frameworks. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/5f44e86257296d1b91740d3091ff3761396b2a01dabfb1cacd577cfc0391923e.jpg"> # **THE RIGHT TO DIGITAL PRIVACY** ***PROTECTED PRIVACY = the SECURITY of PROPERTY which affirms our FAITH in our DIGITAL SELF-SOVEREIGNTY.*** Digital Privacy means that people are the sole owners of their own digital property and they inherently possess immutable authority over the use of that property. As owners, they have full right of control over the “why”, “when”, “where”, and “how” their digital assets are accessed. Digital Privacy is about an individual’s ability to maintain control of their digital property when interacting with any entity, system, or organization within a digital environment. Therefore, with every and any form of digital interaction, every person should have the expectation of privacy. # **THE RIGHT TO DIGITAL INDEPENDENCE** ***COMPREHENSIVE DECENTRALIZATION = the INDEPENDENCE of CHOICE which affirms our BELIEF in our DIGITAL AUTONOMY.*** Digital Independence is the ability for individuals to interact freely with any entity, system, or organization within the digital space. Centralized control of digital interactions is in direct conflict with the idea of digital independence. Within decentralized environments, there is no intermediary entity to serve as a central authority over the authenticity of digital relationships. Therefore, systematic decentralization must be promoted, propagated, and implemented throughout every corner of the digital world to ensure that the right to Digital Independence is fully available to every individual. # **THE RIGHT TO DIGITAL TRANSPARENCY** ***CLEAR GOVERNANCE = the TRANSPARENCY of AGREEMENTS which affirms our TRUST in our DIGITAL RELATIONSHIPS.*** Digital Transparency is the application of open, honest, and fair relationships between individuals, entities, systems, and/or organizations within a digital space. One can argue that transparency is required to secure trust between different parties in a digital-based relationship. However, a truly transparent relationship can actually eliminate the need for trust between parties; since each individual is has the ability to confirm the validity of all interactions because all information about the shared relationship is openly available to all parties involved in the relationship. #### *(First Drafted 11/11/2021)*

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

# Football We're in the home stretch of Futbol Americano season. The College Football championship game on Monday will be the final round of our [College Football Playoff Pool](https://stacker.news/items/846487/r/Undisciplined). However, the NFL Playoffs are also the opening rounds of the [**Team USA!!!** vs "the world" challenge](https://stacker.news/items/849989/r/Undisciplined). As a slight aside, I'm very much looking forward to these markets closing on [Predyx](https://beta.predyx.com/), so I can get some of my sats back. We'll also talk about where various coaches will end up in the NFL. # NBA The Celtics are looking a bit more mortal. Is that real or just a January lull? KAT Corner Loser of the Week (submit your entries) # MLB Offseason news I think @grayruby wants to apply the Ewing Theory to Juan Soto, but we'll have to find out. # NHL Ovi watch [Stanley Cup prediction market](https://beta.predyx.com/market/stanley-cup-champion-2025) # Other Territory News UEFA and Cricket contest updates -------- What else should we cover? My Game of the Week nominee is actually from last week. Is that allowed? There weren't many great games this week. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853599

@ f88e6629:e5254dd5

...which allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution. - Without sovereign and accessible payments we are loosing censorship resistance - Without censorship resistance even other core characteristics are in danger - including scarcity and durability. - This affects every bitcoiner including sworn hodlers and MSTR followers. | Property | Description | Fulfillment | | --- | --- | --- | | Scarce | Fixed supply forever. Instantly and costlessly verifiable | 🟢  Good, but can be harmed without censorship resistance | | Portable | Effortless to store and move, with negligible costs | 🟠 Onchain transactions can be expensive, other layers require onchain to be sovereign. Easy portability is offered by custodians only. | | Divisible | Infinitely divisible | 🟠 Smaller units than dust are available only for LN users, which most people can’t use in a sovereign way. | | Durable | Exists forever without deterioration | 🟢  Good, but can be harmed without censorship resistance | | Fungible | Every piece is forever the same as every other piece | 🟡 Onchain bitcoin is not fungible. | | Acceptable | Everyone, anywhere, can send and receive | 🟠 Most people are not able to send and receive in a sovereign way. | | Censorship Resistant | You hold it. Nobody can take it or stop you sending it | 🟠 Custodians are honey-pots that can and will be regulated | > ➡️ We need accessible, scalable, and sovereign payment methods

@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb

If I'm looking at this graph right, then the total zaps per month are somewhere around 100-110k sats. At the same time, the monthly fee for territory is 50k sats. So we have 20+ territories, all sharing the total income of 100k, while spending 50k per month each? Or what am I missing?  originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853551

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

It's Finally here Stackers! It's Friday! We're about to kick off our weekends with some feel good tracks. Let's get the party started. Bring me those Feel Good tracks. Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats. Let's go! Madness!!! https://youtu.be/SOJSM46nWwo?si=5XsJwBaOXvHqewlH originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853535

@ d9e9fb27:d5fe5e1a

Every 16th of January, the city of Varese, a small town at the feet of the Prealpine region, stops to participate in one of the most important ceremonies of the city: *The Falò of Sant'Antonio*. A *Falò* is the Italian word for *bonfire*. Imagine a 5-meters tall pyre of wood burning in the center of the city. For sure, an unmissable event!  The pyre is built by the so-called "*Monelli della Motta*". A *Monello* in Italian is a child that misbehaves. This nickname come from the fact that in the past, the pyre was created using wood stolen from the city, usually from tools, doors and shutters. This event takes place at the eve of the day of Sant'Antonio Abate in front of the homonymous church in the area called "*La Motta*", which stands for *small hill*, and comes from a several century old tradition. Thousands of people from all over the province come to the city to look at the bonfire created in honor of the Saint.  At 9PM the big event starts. The wood is set on fire!  An important tradition of this celebration is burning small pieces of paper containing wishes. People whish for health, love, friendship and luck. To make wishes come true, people have to give these pieces of paper to a firefighter or a "*Monello*" whom will launch it into the *Falò*. The show goes on for a couple of ours, during which thousands of Varesinians in awe contemplate the raging fire and try to receive some heat to fight the glacial cold of January. 

@ 74718b83:b8204bd8

In the past I have worked on the Amazon accounts of some very big collagen brands and I have to say, there is almost no reason at all for anyone to be taking collagen instead of any other source of protein, like whey. Somehow (probably tiktok), over the years, collagen has become a super popular supplement for women, mainly for perceived nail, hair, and skin health benefits etc. But here's the thing, if you consume collagen directly, it doesn't magically then get sent to hair, nails or other body parts. It is cleaved into amino acids and re-synthesised by your body into collagen and used where needed. The key thing is just getting enough protein overall. Now, if you have a protein-deficient diet (which many women do), yes there might be some benefit, but it will be less benefit than just taking a protein shake (or just eating more chicken or other protein sources). Why whey? Because whey protein has a complete amino acid profile, higher bioavailability, and is better at stimulating protein synthesis (higher amino acid levels also mean whey produces more keratin, which is mainly what hair and nails are composed of). Not only that, whey is a lot cheaper. Here's a quick price and ingredient breakdown I did on a popular collagen brand V ON whey  As you can see, you get almost TRIPPLE the amount of grams, at 10 pounds cheaper (that's over 12 US cuck bucks) and you're missing out on the BCAAs too. So you are paying a lot more, getting a hell of a lot less, and the benefits will be no better. Even when collagen supplements add in an amino blend, it still ends up being more expensive. But there must be some benefit to collagen, right? So one of the touted benefits is it's good for joints and this is because it has more glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline that are needed for the synthesis of connective tissues (skin, tendons, and cartilage). So why this might be an option, it's so expensive, I would still say just use whey and add in a joint support supplement separately and it will come out cheaper (or eat bone broth, organ meats, cartilage etc). And yes, you can get all this from real food, I'm just pointing this out because it boggles my mind seeing the sales numbers for something that is basically just an inferior and more expensive version of a protein shake. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/853408

@ bbb5dda0:f09e2747

**Holy crap what a week! I can't believe the amount of progress that came out of just these few days. And a special thanks to nostr:npub16ux4qzg4qjue95vr3q327fzata4n594c9kgh4jmeyn80v8k54nhqg6lra7 for making this possible with me! Alright, let's get into it...** ## GitHub Blossom Upload Action I started this week working out the GitHub action for blossom uploads, solving some issues with dependencies, which turned out to just be me not bundling my dependencies with the my build output. So anyway I ended up publishing it and sharing it with all of you. nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpwa4mkswz4t8j70s2s6q00wzqv7k7zamxrmj2y4fs88aktcfuf68qy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3zamnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wwa5kuef0qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qpqzskk7na9x9cgnzpvz7xufdn2y8wqxf00rnq7jg75z86lk30l6plspy9e9u ## Pipeline runner ### The plan I can't believe all of this happened just this week. I worked out a plan with nostr:npub16ux4qzg4qjue95vr3q327fzata4n594c9kgh4jmeyn80v8k54nhqg6lra7 to first create a DVM that would be able to clone a given ngit(!) repository and just print the contents of any given pipeline `.yaml` file that resides inside that repository. The DVM would have the following inputs - git url (or Nostr address) - branch - pipeline (path to yaml) ### Proof of Concept I was able to repurpose a dvm-git-watcher that i'd created earlier to create the DVM to run the pipeline. Created a POC where the CI runner actually takes the pipeline, executes it and gives back a response and decided to put up a little video demo: https://cdn.satellite.earth/43463990dd11c9506989e5eda915757cf3ec1b32e8d472579cd2ee18d5685f0d.mp4 ### Some improvements Wednesday I added a NIP-89 announcement to the DVM where it just advertizes its existence in hopes of some validation that it is real, and that it is actually useful, and it hopes to be used and talk with other npubs to not be lonely... So then i figured it was time to package it into an easier to distribute package, a Docker container. That would allow me to include the required tools, namely ngit-cli and the 'act' cli (used to run the pipeline). ### Troubles 😱 Adding the precompiled version of ngit got me into trouble with this error: ```shell Error: Cloning into 'tmp/1ca8af464df5fc648b77db14e0e5e35ff64d6627a690e138e19298dd56573274'... /app/ngit//git-remote-nostr: /usr/local/lib/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.38' not found (required by /app/ngit//git-remote-nostr) /app/ngit//git-remote-nostr: /usr/local/lib/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.39' not found (required by /app/ngit//git-remote-nostr) fatal: remote helper 'nostr' aborted session ``` I didn't really know how to proceed as it could be a Docker issue, a Deno issue, or an ngit issue. Luckily nostr:npub16ux4qzg4qjue95vr3q327fzata4n594c9kgh4jmeyn80v8k54nhqg6lra7 knows his shit and saved me here. It turned out to be an issue that had to do with the ngit binary. Because ngit is compiled on a recent ubuntu version, it depended on some packages that the linux version my Docker image was based on did not have. Thus it failed. Our solution was to compile ngit instead of using the existing binary, which took some trial and error to get working but eventually it did. It slowed down the build process significantly but alas, at least it works now! ### Moving on After ngit worked I added the 'act' runner to the docker image and was able to control the host system's docker so it can run the isolated environments that have the pipelines run inside. And so I was able to package up the thing, able to run on any machine, which led me to this little demo: nostr:nevent1qqs9486y7cs6a9h7n4sk7sdv52qvuqyp80rj0eyg6zt7htfyt9wh4wgpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfdupzpwa4mkswz4t8j70s2s6q00wzqv7k7zamxrmj2y4fs88aktcfuf68g4v3lk The only issue I still have is getting the output of the pipeline properly fed back to the user. But that's some magic with log streams that I have zero experience with, so that's a nice challenge for next week! If you or anyone you know is a Stream magician, please let me know! See you there!

@ eee391ee:8d0b97c2

## Amber 3.1.8 - Button to clear cached data in settings - Fix multiple bunker requests not clearing when accepting or rejecting - Show relays status in the notification Download it with [zap.store]( https://zapstore.dev/download), [Obtainium]( https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium), [f-droid]( https://f-droid.org/packages/com.greenart7c3.nostrsigner) or download it directly in the [releases page]( https://github.com/greenart7c3/Amber/releases/tag/v3.1.8) If you like my work consider making a [donation]( https://greenart7c3.com) ## Verifying the release In order to verify the release, you'll need to have `gpg` or `gpg2` installed on your system. Once you've obtained a copy (and hopefully verified that as well), you'll first need to import the keys that have signed this release if you haven't done so already: ``` bash gpg --keyserver hkps://keys.openpgp.org --recv-keys 44F0AAEB77F373747E3D5444885822EED3A26A6D ``` Once you have his PGP key you can verify the release (assuming `manifest-v3.1.8.txt` and `manifest-v3.1.8.txt.sig` are in the current directory) with: ``` bash gpg --verify manifest-v3.1.8.txt.sig manifest-v3.1.8.txt ``` You should see the following if the verification was successful: ``` bash gpg: Signature made Fri 13 Sep 2024 08:06:52 AM -03 gpg: using RSA key 44F0AAEB77F373747E3D5444885822EED3A26A6D gpg: Good signature from "greenart7c3 <greenart7c3@proton.me>" ``` That will verify the signature on the main manifest page which ensures integrity and authenticity of the binaries you've downloaded locally. Next, depending on your operating system you should then re-calculate the sha256 sum of the binary, and compare that with the following hashes: ``` bash cat manifest-v3.1.8.txt ``` One can use the `shasum -a 256 <file name here>` tool in order to re-compute the `sha256` hash of the target binary for your operating system. The produced hash should be compared with the hashes listed above and they should match exactly.

@ c3b2802b:4850599c

Vandana Shiva ist für mich die Verkörperung der Zeit des Wandels, in der wir leben. Wandel kommt in Gang, wenn die Einsicht reift, dass eine bestehende Machtkonstellation am Ende ihres Lateins ist. Und wenn Menschen deshalb eine neue Gesellschaft aufzubauen beginnen. Vandana Shiva vereint beides: Den Scharfsinn, die Symptome der alten Gesellschaft als Zeichen deren Unterganges zu erkennen - mit der Kraft, Kreativität und Energie für den Aufbau von ehrlichen, transparenten, fairen und von Respekt getragenen Gemeinschaften. Dabei erschöpft sich ihr Respekt nicht auf uns Menschen als Teil der Schöpfung, sondern erstreckt sich auf alle Wesen. Diese kopernikanische Wende hin zu einer ethisch tragfähigen Basis für ein freudvolles Zusammenleben auf unserem Planeten scheint mir die Aufgabe unserer Generation zu sein. Und Vandana Shiva hat ihr gesamtes Leben dieser Aufgabe mit Herz, Hand und Verstand gewidmet. Ihr 2022er [Buch „Terra Viva“](https://shop.neueerde.de/Shiva-Vandana/TERRA-VIVA.html) trägt biografische Züge. Wer sich für die schier endlose Vielfalt des Potentials in jedem von uns Menschenwesen interessiert, kann in diesem Buch im Spiegel des Lebens eines wunderbaren Menschen mit Freude und Gewinn nachvollziehen, wohin uns dieses Potential führen kann: Die Autorin lasst uns teilhaben an ihrer Kindheit in den Wäldern am Rand des Himalaya Gebirges, wo ihre Liebe zu allem Leben begann. Als junge Frau erlebte sie die Abholzung dieser Wälder mit, sah die Auswirkungen auf ihre Heimat und die dort lebenden Menschen. Als fühlendes Wesen war ihr sonnenklar, was das Leben von ihr erwartet: Die destruktiven Kräfte und Mächte, welche diese zerstörerischen Aktionen zu verantworten hatten, zur Strecke zu bringen und neue Gemeinschaften für die Zeit nach dem Zusammenbruch des ausgedienten alten Systems aufzubauen. Vandana Shiva trat in den 1970er Jahren der Chipko-Bewegung bei und hat fortan bis zum heutigen Tag mit schier endloser Lebensenergie gegen die vielen Köpfe des sterbenden Drachens gekämpft. Mit ihren Worten bringt sie es so auf den Punkt:&#x20; *„Der planetarische Notstand wurzelt in der industriellen, mechanistischen, militaristischen, anthropozentrischen, patriarchalischen Weltanschauung, die den Menschen als von der Natur getrennt und als anderen Wesen überlegen ansieht und sich anmaßt, sie zu besitzen, zu manipulieren und zu Profit- und Machtzwecken zu kontrollieren. Die Illusion von endlosem Wachstum und grenzenloser Gier verletzt systematisch die Integrität der Arten und die Grenzen des Ökosystems.“* Gleichzeitig hat sie zahllose neue Initiativen für die Zeit danach initiiert, gegründet oder mit ihrer Kraft bereichert: Neben der Rettung des Waldes erzählt sie in ihrem Buch von den Samen der Freiheit, welche Verbrechen wie die Gen-Piraterie ablösen. Und von Gemeinschaften, die Allgemeingüter wie Wasser oder Land nach kriminellen Aneignungsversuchen durch GATT und WTO zurückerobern, etwa in den 2020er Jahren die dritte Freiheitsbewegung Indiens. 600 Bauern starben in diesem Kampf den Märtyrertod. Am 19. November 2021 wurden drei Gesetzesentwürfe zurückgezogen, welche die Kleinbauern Indiens weiter stranguliert hätten. Danke, liebe Vandana Shiva, für Dein bisheriges Lebenswerk! *Zuerst veröffentlicht auf dem* *[Blog der Zukunftskommunen](https://zukunftskommunen.de/)*

@ c3b2802b:4850599c

Geboren wurde ich in ein gespaltenes Europa mit einem „eisernen Vorhang“, der zwei Gesellschaftsentwürfe säuberlich voneinander trennte. Da ich auf der Ostseite des Vorhangs aufwuchs, durfte ich den Großteil der Welt nicht bereisen und hatte so viel Zeit zum Nachdenken. **Mit 17 Jahren war mir klar, dass beide Gesellschaftsentwürfe keine wünschenswerte Zukunft bieten können.** Weil die Zinsthematik, der mangelnde Respekt vor unserer Mitwelt, die wahren Gründe für Kriege und viele weitere zentrale Fragen unseres Lebens nicht thematisiert oder gezielt aus Diskussionen ausgeklammert wurden. Während meines Studiums der Psychologie an der Humboldt-Universität in Ostberlin wurde mir zudem klar: Auf beiden Seiten des Vorhangs wurden/werden Menschen mit kritischem Blick auf die eigene Gesellschaft benachteiligt. Seit 2020 dürfte eine wachsende Zahl an Menschen diese Einschätzung auch für das derzeitige System teilen. **Der Zusammenbruch des Ostblocks Anfang der 1990er Jahre brachte zwei Erfahrungen mit sich:** Zum einen, dass Gesellschaftsentwürfe nicht für die Ewigkeit geschaffen sind und als Entwürfe natürlich scheitern können. Und zum anderen, dass wir Menschen beim Zusammenbrechen bestehender Systeme gut beraten sind, wenn wir vorher Alternativen ersonnen und zumindest in Keimzellen bereits erprobt haben. Das fehlte beim Zusammenbruch des Ostblocks, weswegen wir „Ossis“ quasi an das übriggebliebene System angeschlossen wurden. **Aktuell sind wir alle Zeitzeugen des Zusammenbruchs des 1990 übrig gebliebenen Systems.** Den wirklichen Machthabern der heutigen Welt und den Heerscharen von deren willfährigen Lakaien fällt kaum noch etwas Konstruktives ein, um aus der globalen Multikrise hinzufinden zu einem anständigen Miteinander von Mensch und Schöpfung. **Als ein möglicher dritter Weg hat sich für mich ein Miteinander von überschaubaren Menschengruppen herausgestellt.** Von Gruppen, welchen Vertrauen im Umgang miteinander wichtiger ist als Geld- und Machtkriterien, die von Idealen der Fairness und des Respekts vor der Schöpfung getragen sind, und die in den jeweils bewohnten Regionen den größtmöglichen Teil ihrer Bedürfnisse gemeinsam selbst vor Ort befriedigen. Welche also mit den verfügbaren Ressourcen der eigenen Region bauen und die benötigte Energie bereitstellen, sich von den Früchten der Region ernähren und auch Infrastruktur, Kultur und weitere Lebensbereiche vor Ort fair miteinander regeln und gestalten. Diese Art von Miteinander, welche in vielen Lebensbereichen punktuell zu beobachten ist, nenne ich in den Blogbeiträgen dieses Kanals „Regionalgesellschaft“. In verschiedenen Rubriken wie „Erfolge der Regionalgesellschaft“, „Pioniere der Regionalgesellschaft“, „Publikationen zur Regionalgesellschaft“ werde ich Beiträge in die Runde geben, welche Inspirationen bieten können, wo es welche Keimzellen dieser neuen Gesellschaft gibt. In der Rubrik „Psychologie des Wandels“ werde ich über meine in ca. 3 Jahrzehnten gesammelten psychologischen Erfahrungen als Initiator und Moderator in Projekten der Regionalgesellschaft berichten.

@ 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/853332

@ f57bac88:6045161e

دگرگونی و سعادت در افسانه همای: - تغییر و تحول: همای سعادت اغلب به عنوان نمادی از تغییر و تحول ناگهانی و مثبت در زندگی افراد تلقی می‌شود. سایه این پرنده بر سر فردی افتادن، نشانه‌ای از دگرگونی سرنوشت و آغاز دوره‌ای جدید و پربرکت است. - آوردن سعادت: همان‌طور که از نامش پیداست، همای سعادت به عنوان آورنده خوشبختی و کامرانی شناخته می‌شود. سایه این پرنده، نمادی از برکت، فراوانی و رسیدن به آرزوهاست. - پادشاهی و قدرت: در بسیاری از روایت‌ها، همای سعادت با پادشاهی و قدرت ارتباط مستقیم دارد. سایه این پرنده بر سر کسی افتادن، به معنای رسیدن به مقام و منزلت والا و کسب قدرت است. معانی نمادین همای سعادت: - امید و آرزو: همای سعادت نماد امید به آینده‌ای بهتر و رسیدن به آرزوهاست. - تغییر مثبت: این پرنده نشان‌دهنده این است که حتی در سخت‌ترین شرایط نیز امکان تغییر و تحول مثبت وجود دارد. - قدرت الهی: در برخی روایات، همای سعادت به عنوان فرستاده‌ای از سوی خداوند تلقی می‌شود که برای برکت دادن به انسان‌ها به زمین می‌آید. در ادبیات فارسی: همای سعادت در ادبیات فارسی جایگاه ویژه‌ای دارد و شاعران بسیاری به توصیف زیبایی و شکوه این پرنده پرداخته‌اند. این پرنده اغلب به عنوان نمادی از عشق، زیبایی و آرزوهای دست‌نیافتنی به کار رفته است. در نتیجه: همای سعادت نه تنها یک پرنده افسانه‌ای، بلکه نمادی از امید، تغییر مثبت و رسیدن به آرزوهاست. این پرنده به ما یادآوری می‌کند که حتی در سخت‌ترین شرایط نیز باید به آینده امیدوار باشیم و برای رسیدن به اهدافمان تلاش کنیم. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/7fb5118f96be88c3d70ecd81f3b3b398a9ded6a994331bef8742cb5836d68825.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b580b38f76cb80349da692fec21b76270343a0fee85b3e355fea0a0fde727d93.jpg"> منبع عکس ها [eranshahr.com](https://www.eranshahr.com/myths/homa-4516-hfuyjfvgbvc) | [x@Babakwlp](https://x.com/Babakwlp) | [x@IranianPlateau](https://x.com/IranianPlateau/status/1872692961080951093)

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

# **Hackathon 总结** [Balancer v3 Hookathon](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/balancer-v3-hookathon) 集合了开发人员以探索 Balancer v3 hooks 框架的功能。此次活动共包含31个项目，122名注册开发者参与，专注于通过 Balancer 的新架构定制自动化做市商（AMM）。开发人员致力于创新池行为、增强流动性管理，并拓展去中心化金融（DeFi）领域内的设计可能性。关键创新包括自定义费用机制和高级流动性管理工具，为生态系统的增长做出贡献。参与者与 Balancer 的核心开发人员互动，增强了协作并激发了实际应用。Hackathon 为具有影响力的项目提供了 $BAL 奖励，使参与者在 DeFi 社区中获得可见性。总体而言，活动强调了创造力和协作，将 hooks 框架整合到功能性解决方案中。 # **Hackathon 获奖者** 经过对45个提交项目的评估，Balancer v3 Hookathon 的获奖者已揭晓。奖项分为顶级奖和其他值得注意的奖项。 ### **Top Prizes Winners** - [**VolatilityLoyaltyHook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17772): 此项目介绍了一种双重奖励系统，旨在稳定市场波动，同时激励交易忠诚度。它为长期持有代币的用户提供交换费用折扣。 - [**Prediction Market Hook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17576): 该项目专注于去中心化的预测市场，操作不依赖于中心化控制。它通过交换费用为流动性提供者提供收入，并通过0%套利交换费用减少价格操控。 - [**MEV Tax Hook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17711): 该项目通过动态费用结构捕获流动资金池的最大可提取价值，考虑事务优先级，以造福供应商和 Balancer 生态系统。 ### **Other Prizes Winners** - [**Protofire - Dynamic Fees and Reinvesting**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17706): 该项目通过动态费用调整稳定流动资金池，并通过投资于借贷市场来实施长期供应商奖励，支持代币交换。 - [**Volatility Fee Hook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/16865): 此项目根据市场波动动态调整池交换费用，使用具有可配置增量和指数费用乘数的模型来增强市场稳定性。 欲了解更多详细见解和技术规范，参会者和感兴趣的个人可以在 [DoraHacks](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/balancer-v3-hookathon/buidl) 查看所有提交的项目。 # **关于组织者** ### **Balancer** Balancer 是一个在 DeFi 内致力于推动自动化做市商（AMM）开发的协议。它为开发人员提供了一个无权限的技术框架，并以全面的去中心化交易所（DEX）产品支持流动性提供者。作为 DeFi 领域的知名实体，Balancer 促进在区块链技术中的无缝集成和创新。该组织致力于扩展 DEX 产品，以此使用户能够最大化流动性提供和去中心化交易的效率。欲了解有关 Balancer 的更多信息，请访问其[网站](https://balancer.fi/)和[Twitter](https://x.com/Balancer)。

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

# **Hackathon 总结** 由Oasis Network主办的 [Privacy4Web3 Hackathon: 2nd Edition](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/p4w3)（第二届Web3隐私黑客松） 吸引了 50 个注册项目和 149 名开发者参与。活动重点是为 Web3 和 AI 提供可定制和可互操作的隐私解决方案。奖金总额为 130,000 美元，开发工作集中在 Oasis 的 Sapphire EVM 和 Runtime Off-chain Logic (ROFL) 框架上。这些技术是参与 Hackathon 的重要组成部分。 主要赞助商包括 PixelRealm 和 Aethir，它们提供去中心化 GPU 基础设施以支持 AI 和游戏的进步。Google Cloud 提供了高达 2,000 美元的云计算服务积分给参与者。此次活动提供了实践经验和交流机会，促进了社区发展和在 Oasis 生态系统中的整合。 这次 Hackathon 突显了 Oasis 作为一个面向保密应用的第一层区块链的潜力，同时也支持 Ocean Protocol 在增强数据隐私和创新方面的更广泛目标。通过鼓励新项目和社区互动，活动支持了 Web3 技术的持续发展。 # **Hackathon 获奖者** ### **在 Sapphire 和 ROFL 上开发奖获奖者** - 1st Place: [**SQUIDL**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18391) - 一个隐私专注的支付平台，利用 Oasis Sapphire 进行安全交易。它通过隐匿地址生成和 ERC-5564 挑战解决方案简化跨链支付，并集成了 Ethereum Name Service。 - 2nd Place: [**Futures on Chain**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18357) - 3rd Place (Tie): - [**Priva Health**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17673) - [**CAAI (Copyright Aware AI)**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18356) - [**CompensatePaw3**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18469) - [**PrivateFeedback**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18475) - [**CLPD Stablecoin Private Transactions**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18496) - 4th Place: [**Minesweeper**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18482) ### **Ocean Nodes - Tokenized Intelligence 奖获奖者** - 1st Place: [**DeFlow**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18142) - 提供拖放界面和自动化任务执行以促进 Ocean Network 中的 AI 模型训练，并使用定制的 Docker 镜像提高效率。 - 2nd Place: [**confidential-data-exchange**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17924) - 去中心化平台用于安全的 AI 模型交易，利用端到端加密和 NFT 进行 Ocean Protocol 内资产标记化。 - 3rd Place: **CAAI (Copyright Aware AI)** ### **计算赏金 - 由 Aethir 赞助，Hackathon 计算合作伙伴奖获奖者** - 1st Place: **Futures on Chain** - 2nd Place: **Priva Health** - 3rd Place: **CAAI (Copyright Aware AI)** ### **提升 Oasis 驱动的嵌入式钱包奖获奖者** - 1st Place: [**oasis-btc**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18346) - 将比特币密钥管理集成到智能合约中，通过 secp256k1 椭圆曲线提高交易安全性。 - 2nd Place: [**rofl rng recovery**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18332) - 通过离线计算增强用户恢复，利用 ROFL 在 Apillon 嵌入式钱包中提供随机性和隐私。 - 3rd Place: [**Social and Email Authentication with Social Recovery**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18329) - 通过电子邮件和社交媒体验证确保账户管理，使用模块化 Solidity 库。 ### **Oasis Sapphire 上创新的去中心化 AI 应用奖获奖者** - 1st Place: [**SovereignAISearch-oasis-Protocol**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18293) - 一个去中心化的 AI 搜索协议，通过基于区块链的隐私和智能合约管理优先用户数据控制。 - 2nd Place: **Futures on Chain** ### **在 Sapphire 和 ROFL 上开发的额外奖品获奖者** - 审计积分奖: **Priva Health**, **Futures on Chain**, **SQUIDL**, **CompensatePaw3**, **CLPD Stablecoin Private Transactions** 有关这些项目的详细信息，请访问 https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/p4w3/buidl。 # **关于主办方** ### **Oasis Network** Oasis Network 旨在增强 Web3 生态系统中的隐私，将自己定位为区块链技术的关键角色。该组织以开发隐私保护解决方案而闻名，整合这些功能以满足去中心化应用对数据保密的需求。作为行业的参与者，Oasis Network 通过提供强大的隐私层来加强 Web3 的基础元素。这一承诺与其在全球创造安全和私人数字环境的使命相一致。

@ ed84ce10:cccf4c2a

# **Hackathon Summary** The [Balancer v3 Hookathon](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/balancer-v3-hookathon) brought together developers to explore the capabilities of the Balancer v3 hooks framework. This event hosted 31 projects with participation from 122 registered developers, focusing on the customization of Automated Market Makers (AMMs) through Balancer's new architecture. Developers worked to innovate pool behavior, enhance liquidity management, and expand design possibilities within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. Key innovations included custom fee mechanisms and advanced liquidity management tools, contributing to the ecosystem's growth. Participants engaged with Balancer’s core developers, which enhanced collaboration and inspired practical applications. The hackathon offered a range of $BAL rewards for impactful projects, providing participants with visibility in the DeFi community. Overall, the event emphasized creativity and collaboration, integrating the hooks framework into functional solutions. # **Hackathon Winners** Following the evaluation of 45 submissions, the winners of the Balancer v3 Hookathon were announced. The prizes were divided into top prizes and other notable winners. ### **Top Prizes Winners** - [**VolatilityLoyaltyHook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17772): This project introduces a dual-reward system aimed at stabilizing market volatility while incentivizing trading loyalty. It offers swap fee discounts for users retaining tokens long-term. - [**Prediction Market Hook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17576): Focused on decentralized prediction markets, this project operates without centralized control. It provides liquidity providers with revenue through swap fees and reduces price manipulation using 0% arbitrage swap fees. - [**MEV Tax Hook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17711): This project captures Maximal Extractable Value for liquidity pools through a dynamic fee structure that accounts for transaction priority, benefiting providers and the Balancer ecosystem. ### **Other Prizes Winners** - [**Protofire - Dynamic Fees and Reinvesting**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17706): This project stabilizes liquidity pools through dynamic fee adjustments and implements long-term provider rewards by investing in lending markets, supporting token swaps. - [**Volatility Fee Hook**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/16865): This initiative dynamically adjusts pool swap fees based on market volatility, using a model with configurable increments and exponential fee multipliers to enhance market stability. For detailed insights and technical specifications, attendees and interested individuals can view all submitted projects on [DoraHacks](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/balancer-v3-hookathon/buidl). # **About the Organizer** ### **Balancer** Balancer is a protocol within DeFi focused on advancing Automated Market Maker (AMM) development. It offers a permissionless technology framework tailored for developers and supports liquidity providers with a comprehensive suite of Decentralized Exchange (DEX) products. As a prominent entity in the DeFi space, Balancer enables seamless integration and innovation in blockchain technology. The organization is committed to expanding DEX offerings, thereby empowering users to maximize efficiency in liquidity provision and decentralized trading. Additional information about Balancer can be found on their [website](https://balancer.fi/) and [Twitter](https://x.com/Balancer).

@ ed84ce10:cccf4c2a

# **Overview** Oasis Network's [Privacy4Web3 Hackathon: 2nd Edition](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/p4w3) hosted 50 registered projects (approved) and involved 149 developers. The focus was on customizable and interoperable privacy solutions for Web3 and AI. A $130,000 USD prize pool was offered, with development centered on Oasis' Sapphire EVM and the Runtime Off-chain Logic (ROFL) framework. These technologies were integral for hackathon participation. Notable sponsors included PixelRealm and Aethir, which provided decentralized GPU infrastructure to support advancements in AI and gaming. Google Cloud collaborated by offering up to $2,000 in credits to participants. The event provided hands-on experience and networking opportunities, promoting community development and integration within Oasis's ecosystem. The hackathon highlighted Oasis's potential as a layer-one blockchain designed for confidential applications, while also supporting Ocean Protocol's broader goals of enhancing data privacy and innovation. By encouraging new projects and community engagement, the event supported the continued development of Web3 technologies. # **Hackathon Winners** ### **Build on Sapphire and ROFL Prize Winners** - 1st Place: [**SQUIDL**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18391) - A privacy-focused payment platform utilizing Oasis Sapphire for secure transactions. It simplifies cross-chain payments with stealth address generation and ERC-5564 challenges resolution, integrating Ethereum Name Service. - 2nd Place: [**Futures on Chain**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18357) - 3rd Place (Tie): - [**Priva Health**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17673) - [**CAAI (Copyright Aware AI)**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18356) - [**CompensatePaw3**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18469) - [**PrivateFeedback**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18475) - [**CLPD Stablecoin Private Transactions**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18496) - 4th Place: [**Minesweeper**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18482) ### **Ocean Nodes - Tokenized Intelligence Prize Winners** - 1st Place: [**DeFlow**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18142) - Facilitates AI model training with a drag-and-drop interface and automated task execution in the Ocean Network, using customized Docker images for efficiency. - 2nd Place: [**confidential-data-exchange**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/17924) - Decentralized platform for secure AI model trading, employing end-to-end encryption and NFTs for asset tokenization within the Ocean Protocol. - 3rd Place: **CAAI (Copyright Aware AI)** ### **Compute Bounty - Sponsored by Aethir, Hackathon Compute Partner Prize Winners** - 1st Place: **Futures on Chain** - 2nd Place: **Priva Health** - 3rd Place: **CAAI (Copyright Aware AI)** ### **Enhancing Embedded Wallet Powered by Oasis Prize Winners** - 1st Place: [**oasis-btc**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18346) - Integrates Bitcoin key management in smart contracts, enhancing transaction security with the secp256k1 elliptic curve. - 2nd Place: [**rofl rng recovery**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18332) - Enhances user recovery with off-chain computation, employing ROFL for randomness and privacy in Apillon's embedded wallet. - 3rd Place: [**Social and Email Authentication with Social Recovery**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18329) - Secures account management through email and social media verification, using modular Solidity libraries. ### **Innovative Decentralized AI Applications on Oasis Sapphire Prize Winners** - 1st Place: [**SovereignAISearch-oasis-Protocol**](https://dorahacks.io/buidl/18293) - A decentralized AI search protocol that prioritizes user data control through blockchain-based privacy and smart contract management. - 2nd Place: **Futures on Chain** ### **Build on Sapphire and ROFL - Additional Prizes Winners** - Audit Credits Prize: **Priva Health**, **Futures on Chain**, **SQUIDL**, **CompensatePaw3**, **CLPD Stablecoin Private Transactions** For further details on these projects, visit https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/p4w3/buidl. # **About the Organizer** ### **Oasis Network** Oasis Network aims to enhance privacy within the Web3 ecosystem, positioning itself as a key player in blockchain technology. Known for developing privacy-preserving solutions, the organization integrates these capabilities to address the need for data confidentiality in decentralized applications. As a contributor to the industry, Oasis Network seeks to strengthen Web3's foundational elements by providing robust privacy layers. This commitment aligns with their mission to create secure and private digital environments worldwide.

@ 5bdb0e24:0ccbebd7

In the world of networking, two fundamental models serve as the backbone for communication protocols and standards: the OSI model and the TCP/IP model. Both models are quite similar, providing frameworks for how data is transmitted across networks at various stages of the process. Understanding these models is crucial for anyone working in IT, cybersecurity, or any related tech field. But what exactly are they? # The OSI Model The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model is a conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a telecommunication or computing system into seven distinct layers. Each layer is responsible for specific tasks, such as data encapsulation, error detection, and routing. The layers of the OSI model are as follows: 1. **Physical Layer:** This layer deals with the physical connection between devices, such as cables and network interfaces. 2. **Data Link Layer:** Responsible for node-to-node communication, this layer ensures data integrity and manages access to the physical medium. 3. **Network Layer:** The network layer handles routing and forwarding of data packets between different networks. 4. **Transport Layer:** This layer provides end-to-end communication services for applications, including error detection and flow control. 5. **Session Layer:** Manages sessions between applications, establishing, maintaining, and terminating connections. 6. **Presentation Layer:** Responsible for data translation, encryption, and compression to ensure compatibility between different systems. 7. **Application Layer:** The topmost layer that interacts directly with applications and end-users, providing network services such as email and file transfer. Now, that's a lot to remember. So, an easy acronym you can use to remember these 7 layers is *"Please Do Not Touch Steve's Pet Alligator."* It's helped me quite a bit in trying to pinpoint a specific layer. Also, keep in mind that the layers are typically inverted from what you see above, with Layer 7 being at the top of the stack and Layer 1 being at the bottom. # The TCP/IP Model On the other hand, the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) model is a more streamlined approach to networking, consisting of only four layers: 1. **Link Layer:** Corresponding to the OSI model's data link and physical layers, the link layer deals with the physical connection and data framing. 2. **Internet Layer:** Similar to the OSI model's network layer, the internet layer focuses on routing packets across different networks. 3. **Transport Layer:** Combines the functions of the OSI model's transport and session layers, providing reliable data transfer services. 4. **Application Layer:** Equivalent to the OSI model's top three layers, the application layer in TCP/IP handles network services for applications. While the OSI model is more detailed and theoretical, the TCP/IP model is practical and widely used in modern networking. It's also a bit easier to remember than the OSI model. And, similar to the OSI model, the TCP/IP model is typically visualized with Layer 4 at the top of the stack and Layer 1 at the bottom, unlike what you see above. # Conclusion Both the TCP/IP and OSI models play essential roles in understanding how data is transmitted across networks. By grasping the functions of each layer and their interactions, network professionals can troubleshoot issues, design efficient networks, and ensure seamless communication between devices. Whether you're a seasoned systems administrator or you're just getting your start in IT, mastering these models is key to navigating the complex world of networking.

@ 19fd5e65:946640b2

Узнал, что, оказывается, есть люди, живущие без фантазии. Это не значит, что у них бедное воображение или что-то в этом роде. Это медицинский термин, который обозначает, что человек просто не может мыслить образами: не может представить в голове картинку, музыку. При слове стол, например, вспоминает его размеры по ширине и длине, знает его цвет, но не может представить в сознании, как этот стол выглядит. Даже если он стоит давно на кухне. Удивительное, конечно, дело. Прочитать об этом можно на [Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/08/aphantasia-visual-imagination/679427/), на [PsyPost](https://www.psypost.org/aphantasia-linked-to-abnormal-brain-responses-to-imagined-and-observed-actions/) и в [научном журнале](https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(24)00034-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1364661324000342%3Fshowall%3Dtrue) > Афантастики прекрасно воспринимают элементы реальности и не имеют проблем с памятью и языковой обработкой. Мы считаем, что их особенность связана с небольшим дефектом «феноменального сознания». То есть они имеют доступ к информации о формах, цветах и пространственных отношениях, но эта визуальная информация не превращается в зрительный образ. Их мозг медленнее анализирует формы и цвета, кроме того, они менее уверены в точности своих ответов, касающихся визуальной информации. [Источник](https://aqinstitute.ru/materialyi/stati/kak-zhivut-lyudi-bez-voobrazheniya.html) на русском языке

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

In this edition, we invited Evelyn and Gerardo to share their experiences in creating a Bitcoin community, discussing their motivations, challenges, strategies, and goals. Their journey offers valuable lessons on community engagement and the transformative power of Bitcoin. **YakiHonne:** Evelyn, Gerardo, We're truly delighted and grateful to have you join us today. Before we dive in, I’d like to share some background on what YakiHonne is. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on the Nostr protocol that enables freedom of speech through technology. It empowers creators to create their own voice, assets, and features. It also allows features like smart widgets, verified notes, and focuses on long-form articles. we'll be exploring more about your community. What sparked your interest in Bitcoin, and what motivated you to create a community around it ? **Evelyn**：In the beginning, I started learning about Bitcoin in 2019, just a bit at first. When it became legal tender, we realized it was a monumental moment for El Salvador, and we knew we had to get involved in anything related to Bitcoin. Personally, I began watching videos and reading more about Bitcoin to deepen my understanding of its significance for El Salvador adopting it as legal tender. **Evelyn**：Soon, I recognized the importance of educating more Salvadorans about Bitcoin. This led us to start providing Bitcoin education in classrooms, schools, and various communities across different cities in El Salvador. As we traveled across the country, we noticed that Bitcoin adoption was still limited, with few places accepting it as a means of payment. This observation motivated us to build a community where Bitcoin could be used as a medium of exchange. Our goal was to replicate and expand upon the Bitcoin community that was already taking root in El Salvador.As the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, we understood the necessity of working on increasing its adoption throughout the nation.  **YakiHonne**: Could you share how your community was established, the strategies you employed to attract members, and the challenges you faced in the process? **Gerardo**：We were living in San Salvador, but we didn’t enjoy city life, so we started looking for a place outside the city. We knew we wanted to live in the mountains, and there are a few options here in El Salvador. Eventually, we found ourselves in Berlin, and we really liked it. After spending some time visiting and getting to know the people, we decided this was where we wanted to settle down.  **Gerardo**：Once we made that decision, we knew we wanted to start teaching Bitcoin within the community. We began talking to local entrepreneurs and residents, letting them know about our plan to educate the community about Bitcoin. We explained that it could bring significant opportunities for Berlin and its residents, including increased tourism. Some people were really excited about the idea because there weren’t many places in El Salvador, the “Bitcoin country” that had a circular economy focused on Bitcoin. Most of the activity was concentrated in the city. **Gerardo**：As people started to hear about our idea, they liked it, and soon we had a team working with us to onboard more businesses. We were fortunate to find the right people, and that’s how it all began. We started by getting about 12 to 15 businesses to accept Bitcoin. I remember creating a social media presence, including a Twitter account, to promote Berlin as a destination where people could spend Bitcoin. **Gerardo**：Berlin is about two and a half to three hours from the capital, San Salvador, depending on traffic, so it wasn’t easy for people to come initially. But as time went on, more people started visiting. They liked the weather, the friendly community, and the places where they could use Bitcoin. Soon, a few Bitcoin enthusiasts even moved to Berlin. **Gerardo**：A year and eight months later, we now have a thriving community of over 20 Bitcoin users from around the world living here, along with many locals who have become Bitcoin users thanks to our educational efforts. We’ve established a Bitcoin center, have over 130 merchants accepting Bitcoin, and even non-business residents are using it. It’s been a fantastic journey, and it all started with a desire to educate a few people, which kept growing from there.  **YakiHonne**: I love how it all started and the fact that you created mechanisms and opportunities for Bitcoiners to actually spend Bitcoin. It's also amazing how this initiative helped Berlin by attracting more prominent investors to settle here.Apart from Berlin's distance from the capital, which made it less accessible and may have deterred some people from coming, were there any other challenges you faced in the process of promoting Bitcoin adoption? **Gerardo**：we faced several challenges, such as the local government’s disapproval of our Bitcoin activities, the initial difficulty of introducing Bitcoin into the community, and finding a suitable venue for our educational efforts. These were the primary obstacles we encountered early in the project. **Gerardo**：The first challenge we faced in the beginning was the lack of Bitcoin usage in the town. While we were teaching people to accept Bitcoin, there weren’t many individuals actually spending it. It was just the two of us at first, taking turns visiting places that accept Bitcoin, trying to make sure we could spend it and show others that it was possible. We were also traveling to San Salvador and inviting people to come to Berlin, but our efforts weren’t very successful initially. **Gerardo**：Eventually, more people started coming, and that issue was resolved. However, another challenge arose with some local politicians who didn’t approve of what we were doing. They tried to stop our efforts by discouraging people from working with us. As a result, a few locals didn’t trust us at first. **Gerardo**：For some people, they might think it's a scam. So, the educational aspect was a significant challenge. A few months into the project, we decided to hold community meetings, which was crucial for us because we needed a place to teach and spread knowledge about Bitcoin. However, we didn't have a dedicated venue at the time. Fortunately, we had a few friends, and initially, we held meetings at their homes or garages.  **YakiHonne**: You mentioned facing trust issues. What principles guide the community, and how did you maintain trust and reliability in your discussions as you built the community? **Evelyn**：One of the key points in building trust within the local community is establishing clear trust and transparency. There were many misconceptions about Bitcoin initially. People often associated Bitcoin with politics and politicians, assuming it was a government creation. This misconception was fueled by the distribution of a government-issued Bitcoin wallet tied to citizens’ IDs, which caused confusion due to a lack of public education on Bitcoin. **Evelyn**：To address this, we made it a priority to remain neutral and uninvolved with the government. We focused on educating people about Bitcoin's origins, its creation by Satoshi Nakamoto, and its fundamental workings, breaking down complex concepts into simple explanations. We also informed the community about various Bitcoin wallets available, emphasizing alternatives to the government-issued wallet, which had issues with trust and identity theft. **Evelyn**：Engaging with respected elders in Berlin was another crucial strategy. We explained the benefits of Bitcoin adoption for the local economy and how it could improve the quality of life in the community. These respected community members helped us reach others and build credibility. **Evelyn**：Since May 2023, we have been deeply involved in educational and social projects, demonstrating that Bitcoin can improve not only personal financial situations but also community welfare. Importantly, we never asked for anything in return, showing our genuine intentions. Over time, this consistent engagement helped us gain the community’s trust, and our work in Bitcoin education has grown stronger.  **YakiHonne**: How do you educate your members and keep them informed about the latest Bitcoin developments? **Evelyn**：Beyond simply observing developments in the Bitcoin space, we hold weekly meetings not only within our team but also with the broader community. These gatherings have been invaluable, as we've been fortunate to engage with many knowledgeable individuals who bring both technical expertise and insights into the philosophical aspects of Bitcoin. Through these interactions, we continuously learn from each other. We've also had the privilege of hosting experts who conduct workshops and deliver lectures during our meetings. These sessions help us stay informed about the latest advancements in technology and the evolving landscape of Bitcoin.  **YakiHonne**: Apart from education and inviting external instructors for weekly classes and meetups, how does your community collaborate with the broader Bitcoin ecosystem? What partnership has been the most impactful so far? **Gerardo**：When we arrived here, I remember that many people knew something needed to change in the town’s technology and overall situation. They were unhappy with the status quo, especially with the government. There was already a lot of energy within the population of Berlin; we just needed to harness that energy and get organized. That’s when people started collaborating. **Gerardo**：In addition to Bitcoin education, we worked on social projects, like painting parks, cleaning the city, and addressing basic issues that the municipality wasn’t tackling. This shift in mentality helped people realize that it’s up to us to take action, not just wait for the government to act. **Gerardo**：As for Bitcoin adoption, many businesses have greatly benefited from it. They’ve seen an increase in income and are now able to save in new ways. You can even hear personal stories from business owners on how their operations have gradually transformed since they started accepting Bitcoin. This has had a significant impact on the local economy and also on how people view social change within the town. **YakiHonne**: Do you have any partnerships with other Bitcoin or Bitcoin-related communities outside of Berlin? **Gerardo**：There aren’t many Bitcoin communities outside of Berlin, even though we're considered the Bitcoin country. There's the Los Angeles one, which was the first, then Bitcoin Beach, followed by us, and now a new one is emerging in Santa Ana. I had a conversation yesterday with someone who's helping with that initiative, and we're planning some collaborations with them. They’ll be visiting us here, and we’ll also visit them to collaborate on Bitcoin education. There's also another community in La Pi Raya, a small island, that is working on Bitcoin education as well. **Gerardo**： There aren't many communities in the area, but we’re always open to working with them. It's really interesting to hear about their experiences and the challenges they face, as we can learn a lot from their insights. **YakiHonne**: I expected that, since it was El Salvador, there would be over a thousand Bitcoin communities. Given that it's a country that has embraced Bitcoin so extensively, I thought there would be hundreds of communities. **Gerardo**：However, it's been three and a half years since the Bitcoin Law, and adoption has been slow. While the U.S. dollar is still the other currency in use, people continue to trust it despite its devaluation. It's relatively stable, so they don’t yet feel the need to switch to Bitcoin. So, the adoption process is definitely moving slowly. **YakiHonne**: Apart from creating Bitcoin-friendly shops and a community where people can buy and trade with BTC, what other steps have been taken to promote Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador? What results have you seen so far in your community?. **Gerardo**：Bringing Bitcoin's identity to Berlin has significantly helped the town. It has attracted more Bitcoiners, especially those coming from El Salvador who are interested in Bitcoin adoption. We've started claiming the title of "Bitcoin City of El Salvador," which has also helped. The results are clear: people are seeing their income improve and are learning new things from the Bitcoin community. Slowly but surely, Berlin is adopting Bitcoin, and it’s bringing positive changes to the town.  **YakiHonne**: What are the community's goals for the next 6-12 months, and how do you see it evolving with Bitcoin's growth？ **Gerardo**：While many Berliners use Bitcoin for transactions, they tend to store it in custodial wallets. Our goal is to encourage people to own their seed phrases and understand the full Bitcoin philosophy, including the importance of time preference. We aim to teach people not just about Bitcoin payments, but also its broader value this year. **Gerardo**：we’ll create an independent association to manage donations and oversee community projects. The association will have its own rules, a board consisting of both expats and locals, and will work on improving the town. The Bitcoin education aspect will remain under our care. Our main goals are better education and local involvement in fixing the town's issues. **YakiHonne**: You mentioned saving Bitcoin, and it reminded me of a point made in a previous interview with another community. They said the same thing—many people spend Bitcoin, but few actually save it, which is a problem. Saving Bitcoin has many benefits. For example, that community even encourages parents to save Bitcoin for their children, so that by the time they grow up, they'll have something valuable to inherit. I really appreciate your insights today, and I look forward to seeing how these efforts continue to make an impact in the future.

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Originalni tekst na [nin.rs](https://www.nin.rs/arhiva/vesti/36962/bitkoin-je-nasa-buducnost) ###### 20.09.2023 / Autor: Danica Popović --- Da se preselimo na tržište kriptovaluta? Šalim se, naravno. Mada, pogledajte: da ste 2009. godine „iskopali“ bitkoin u vrednosti od jednog dinara, danas biste u svom bitkoin novčaniku imali - šezdeset hiljada dolara! Prosečna godišnja stopa rasta, dakle - dvesta devet odsto, zarada nevidljiva, a veća od one iz Кrušika i Jovanjice zajedno! Zar ne biste pomislili - ovde vredi uložiti više od dva dinara, ili pet... ili milijardu? I onda, kako se takva želja zove? Pohlepa, naravno. Zato vas, sve redom, molim: nemojte govoriti da je pohlepa kriva za probleme u Srbiji, ili u svetu. Nije. Pohlepni su i svi ostali, od Adama i Eve do Hilari Кlinton ili Cukerberga, pa šta? Кad postoji sud i kakva-takva demokratija, stvari se nekako dovedu u red. Кad toga nema – kao kod nas, zar je kriva pohlepa što ne rade institucije? E sad, kod bitkoina postoji veliki izuzetak: on čak podstiče pohlepu. Niko (sem vas) ne zna koliko ste zaradili, pa slobodno možete da utajite porez! Ni američka poreska uprava (IRS) ne može da uđe u trag prometu kriptovaluta, i sama je objavila da je u periodu od 2013. do 2018. godine samo 800 do 900 poreskih obveznika podnelo prijave o zaradi u kriptovaluti. Taj broj je rastao, ali, slabo, kažu: „brojevi su i dalje daleko od onih o broju korisnika, transakcija i vrednosti koju berze objavljuju na godišnjem nivou“. Кoliko je situacija tu loša, najviše govori upitnik koji je američka poreska uprava zimus poslala na više od 10.000 adresa, obraćajući se onima za koje je smatrala da ima izgleda da nisu prijavili prihod od virtuelne valute. A jedan jedini poreski obveznik, koji je svoju poresku prijavu dopunio sa još 1,6 miliona dolara (stečenih prodajom bitkoina) upravo je bio jedan od primalaca pisma. Evo šta su ga pitali: „Da li ste u bilo kom trenutku tokom 2020. godine dobijali, prodavali, slali, menjali ili na bilo koji drugi način sticali bilo kakav finansijski interes u bilo kojoj virtuelnoj valuti?“ Кrajem decembra prošle godine i kod nas je usvojen Zakon o digitalnoj imovini, koji će se primenjivati od sredine ove godine. Tako će ovde na svaku transakciju kriptovaluta u kojoj se ostvari kapitalna dobit morati da se plati porez od 15 odsto – ne samo na dobit, već i na „kopanje“ bitkoina. Кako će to da izvedu, ne kažu. Ali je skoro sigurno da neće kao Amerikanci, da šalju pisma po kućama. Jer, ovakvo pismo bi kod nas značilo – plašiš mečku rešetom. Sad da vidimo kolike su zarade – pa da krenemo u akciju. Bitkoin je prošlu godinu započeo sa vrednošću od 6.950,56 dolara, ali je već u martu pao za čitavu trećinu! Ipak, godina je završena sa prosečnim godišnjim rastom od 323 odsto, ili od 507 odsto od martovskog debakla. Pre mesec dana vrednost bitkoina je bila 48.200, a 5. aprila - 58.866,13 dolara! Ovaj vrtoglavi rast bitkoin duguje Tesli, proizvođaču električnih automobila, koji je objavio da je kupio bitkoine u vrednosti od 1,5 milijardi dolara! I ne samo to: predstavnici Tesle su izjavili da će električne automobile prodavati i za bitkoine. Кako je time umanjen najrizičniji deo posla na kriptovalutama, a to je konverzija u „zemaljsku valutu“ - tražnja i cena bitkoina munjevito su skočile za dvadeset odsto, a zatim nastavile da rastu. I šta sad? Bitkoin je, dakle, savršeni dvanaestogodišnji špekulativni balon. Da li će potrajati, ako se uz Teslu tržištu bitkoina pridruže i drugi proizvođači? Verovatno hoće, mada - možda i neće. Tržišta kriptovalute daleko su od predvidljivih i samo jedno znamo: kao i svaki špekulativni balon, i ovaj će pući. Nije bitkoin dobar ni za svet, ni za nas. Za svet je loše, jer je proizvodnja veoma skupa: podaci o indeksu potrošnje električne energije pokazuju da je godišnja potrošnja energije prilikom „rudarenja“ kriptovaluta veća od godišnje potrošnje struje u Argentini ili Norveškoj. Skupo je za planetu, dakle. Naravno, na tržištu kriptovaluta obavezno se mora imati veliki „apetit za rizik“. I još nešto: da bi posao imao smisla, neophodno je da učesnici budu sposobni da finansijski izdrže gubitak - koliko god on iznosio. A gde ste tu vi? Nigde, naravno. Ipak je to njihova, a ne naša budućnost.

@ 2355757c:5ad3e04d

# Introduction Blue light from artificial sources is one of the most biologically disruptive toxins that exists in our modern world today. It is pervasive, it is ubiquitous and it is only getting worse with the ever increasing time we spend indoors and in front of screens. The worst part is: it doesnt have to be this way. The EVEN worse part: it is exactly what Big Tech wants. This newsletter will cover exactly why blue light from screens and our lighting is bad for our health, and **what you can do to avoid these biological disruptions.** The TLDR: - Artificial blue light is not the same as natural blue light. - Artificial blue light disrupts our circadian rhythm (the most important aspect of our biology) and our sleep. - A disrupted circadian rhythm has been linked to nearly all chronic diseases. - Artificial blue light is addictive by design & disrupts our neurotransmitters. # Natural Blue Light vs Artificial Blue Light Blue light, like all visible light, is a sliver of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. That means that blue light is an EMF, and artificial blue light is a non-native EMF. That is why I often say non-native EMFs are the most pervasive environmental toxin in modern society. The food is an issue, but the light is what is really f\*cked. It is far easier to change your food diet than your light/EMF diet. Blue light is typically defined as 450-490nm wavelength light, although there is some debate on where that starts and ends. That correlates to a frequency of around 600-660THz and \~2.5eV of photon energy. That means a wavelength of blue light is oscillating at 600-660 Trillion times per second. It also means that the photons in blue light have the ability to excite electrons they come to interact with, with around 2.5eV of energy. ####  Blue light is not some alien part of the electromagnetic spectrum, as say 5G radio frequencies are, it is actually something we are exposed to every single day in the form of sunlight and have been for the existence of humanity. However, there is a stark difference between the blue light we are exposed to in the form of sunlight and the artifical blue light we are exposed to from our technology screens and lighting: - Blue light in isolation / missing the rest of the spectrum - Pulsed LED control - The wrong context / time of day - Dull To understand why blue light from artificial sources is so toxic to our biology, you need to understand first what our biology is programmed to take in as an input signal from full spectrum sunlight. I refer to it as “full spectrum” sunlight here because that is the big takeaway: **you are getting exposure to a full spectrum of light.**  Blue light coming from the sun is NEVER present without longer, lower energy wavelengths such as Red + Near-Infrared (NIR). Sunlight is 49%-55% infrared light. NIR (650nm-1200nm) represents 70% of the total solar spectrum from a photochemistry viewpoint when considering photons/second. Compare that to artificial light, which almost always has little to ZERO red/infrared light due to energy efficiency standards. A spectrum plot below highlights this stark difference between sunlight & artificial lighting. We will discuss more about the biological impacts of this in the next section. It is important to note that a large reason the infrared spectrum is NOT present in light is due to “energy efficiency” and is also incandescents have been made illegal. Of course, policies like this are completely ignorant to the health benefits of the infrared spectrum of light and importance for a more fuller spectrum. All man made modern light is pulsed, whilst in nature it is continuous. Fluorescents and incandescent bulbs, because they are powered via our 50/60Hz electrical grid have a pulse of 50/60Hz (low frequency). LEDs are controlled by a digital electronics control scheme called Pulsed Width Modulation (PWM). PWM lighting control is typically at 500Hz-50kHz (and could be higher). Engineers say that the human eye can’t see “flicker” above 100Hz, which is true from a visual perspective…but our biology knows. This is a large reason why eye strain, headaches, and other symptoms arise from staring at screens for long periods of time. Sunlight is never pulsed, and is only continuous. Getting back to the spectrum, the real issue with artificial blue light is the incorrect context. Natural sunlight only provides blue light in a full spectrum setting when (obviously) the sun is up. It has a more rich blue spectrum mid day vs first thing in the morning. It also has even higher energy wavelengths such as violet, UVA, and UVB in mid day (UVB latitude/season dependent). Our artificial blue lights come with zero context. They don’t change based on the sun angle or time of day. They do not go away after sunset. They simply are the same pulsed isolated blue light rich lights, all day long. Nature operates on a clock, and our body needs to be in tune with that clock, else we get biological dysfunction. Indoor and artificial blue light sources are DULL. Not their personalities, but their brightness. If you are outside mid day you are going to be experience 10,000-100,000 LUX of brightness. That is 30-1000X HIGHER than typicaly indoor lighting. Big range because some indoor lighting areas are very, very dull. So now you have an even more alien form of light. Blue light is the main input signal that tells your body it is daytime, and a big component of that is brightness. Brightness = photon density. If you are inside all day you are getting \~100x LESS photon density. Photons carry energy to excite the electrons in your body. We are starving for photon energy.  # Artificial Blue Light Disrupts our Circadian Rhythm Our circadian rhythm (CR), aka our 24hr biological clock, is in my opinion the most important aspect of our biology. Why? Because nearly everything in our body is goverened by time of day and CR. It encompasses our light diet, our food diet, our sleep, hormones, and so much more. Circadian disruption has been linked with nearly all chronic disease and mental health issues. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/0d3de61f8c355b368c893899a190943e973693abd3ff22967c071d1df8017be2.jpg"> So what causes our CR to get out of whack and misalign our biological clocks? **The number 1 input signal to our circadian biology is light.** The other main input signal is simply our sleep/wake cycle. Food input is secondary and our connection to the earth (grounding/earthign) has also been shown as a circadian input signal. Our sleep/wake cycle should be tied to light, so those two are quite intertwined. But what about light causes circadian disruption? Here is a short list of the big hitters: - Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) - Dull/junk light during the day - Missing sunrise/UVA rise in the morning **Basically: any light that deviates from the natural solar spectrum in your local environment will disrupt your circadian rhthym. The degree of how alien/different the spectrum is will dictate how severe the circadian disruption is.** Artifical light at night is especially bad because blue light is a signal of daytime and suppresses melatonin production. ANY blue light post sunset will cause a circadian disruption to some degree and the magnitude of exposure will determine just how much. This is why blocking blue light specifically at night time is so important. [**“Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) can cause circadian disruption…which can result in a variety of pathological diseases, including premature aging”**](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556522003850) Really any light post sunset will disrupt circadian biology but blue light is especially bad because it most severely impacts melatonin production. Brightness is another major factor. Wearing dark red blue light blockers will help, but if you are still in an extremely brightly lit room &lt;1 hour before bed time it won’t be ideal for sleep quality. Exposure to [**“blue-appearing light within the short-wavelength portion of the spectrum, between 446 and 477 nm, results in melatonin suppression that is more than 3 times more potent than exposure to long-wavelength light above 530 nm.”**](https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.01413.2009?rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org) Bright and blue is the recipe for maxx melatonin suppression. Bright and any color light will still have a suppressive effect as well. Want your best night sleep ever? Turn the lights OFF and only uses a very dull red light, candle, etc. # Depression, Blue Light & Dopamine We have a mental health crisis ongoing in modern society. In the US, over 20% of adults suffer from a mental health disorder/illness and even 1/6 children now do as well. In 2000, the percentage of prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) aka severe depression was 2%, today it is over 8%…a 4x increase. Suicide rates have also been climbing, especially in teenagers in this “smartphone era”. It seems like a strong possibility that our modern technology is the major driver for this mental health epidemic. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/2889bf76e38693c38f0c22d80790594b42aa2b78b36df25e1f5f72acf2a30738.jpg"> I think anyone can agree that our devices, specifically our phones are highly addictive. We think it is just the social media apps penetrating our psychology and dopamine reward systems, but in reality it’s more than that. The hardware also plays a priming role. **I am saying that blue lit screens is making you more vulnerable to fall prey to the predatory marketing tactics of short form content on social media apps**. You can simply look at toddlers, who are far MORE vulnerable to effects on their developing brains, to know that it is not just the apps or the games, but also the LIGHT…the blue light specifically. For children, you can easily google or YouTube a video of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum when you take away their iPad. The games or shows they are watching may indeed be “addicting” but I would argue the bright blue dominant screen is the real reason they are addicted. <https://youtu.be/AYZ2zs9Tftc> Blue light induces a dopamine release in our body in short term exposure. Regardless of the science - we can feel it. Some [papers](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014483523002257#:~:text=One%20minute%20of%20blue%20light%20stimulation%20significantly%20increased%20dopamine%20concentration,humor%20\(P%20%3C%200.05\).) are catching up on this, and [some](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18779590/) are discussing how the blue light photoreceptor AKA melanopsin is directly intertwined with dopaminergic neurons. The initial paper discusses how experiments were performed in a room “illumninated by a red LED to avoid influencing dopamine synthesis”. This means that *not all light is stimulating dopamine secretion*, and that blue light is especially stimulating in terms of its effect on our brain. This is the same reason Las Vegas uses bright lights and flasing symbols at the slots to keep players in their seats. **The constant dopamine release is addicting, it is like a drug and they end up spending far more money than they would on a slot machine with dull colors.** Our phones and tablets are built the same way - perhaps not as directly intention to addict you - but they do nevertheless through the same neural / optic pathways. When you get all of these “cheap”, short lived dopamine hits you are going to suffer in the long term. When you don’t have that external stimuli - your baseline will feel much lower and that is why excessive tech use can lead to mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. This is extremely concerning for our children, who’s mental health is spiraling out of control. [Screen time](https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/yale-study-probes-connection-between-excessive-screen-media-activity-and-mental-health-problems-in-youth/#:~:text=It%20found%20that%20youth%20who,somatic%20complaints%2C%20and%20other%20concerns.), and blue light, could be a direct cause to this epidemic. # **The Solution: Technology that is Designed to Work with Nature** You may read this newsletter and think it is fear mongering, but in truth it is a fair assessment of how man made blue light is affecting our health. Most are not yet on board of the importance of our light environment, so think about this: You eat 3-4x/day, you drink water maybe 5-10x, you consume light as an input to your biology 24/7/365 (and I am not talking about just visible light). Electromagnetism is fundamentally the most prominent input signal to our biology, and it is the one we have distorted the most with modern technology. Blue light is not bad when it comes from the sun, it is only bad in the wrong context. With the amount of screen time every member of society is racking up each day, to me it is undebatable that artificial blue light + man made EMFs are the two most pervasive environmental toxins and are proliferating the chronic disease epidemic. **Because of this man made electromagnetic radiation, we cannot sleep restoratively, we are anxious + depressed, we are constantly in an inflamed / stressed biological state.** The worst part is we are getting more and more addicted to our devices with each passing day. **The solution is simple: fix lighting and spend more time outside.** Fix lighting on screens and fix indoor lighting fixtures. Emulate the sun, where you never get blue without the rest of the rainbow, especially red/infrared. We are meant to live in line with nature, and it is only when we deviate that chronic disease becomes prevalent. This is why I joined the [Daylight Computer Company](https://daylightcomputer.com/) at the beginning of this year. As an EMF/Light educator in regards to health + an Electrical Engineering background - I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard that there was a tech startup trying to become a “healthier Apple” with an innovative reflective screen technology that is blue light free and works with nature instead of against it. This is the sort of innovation we need to end our negative relationship with technology and our disconnection to the real world - the natural world. You can learn more in a recent interview we did with prominent Bitcoiner Marty Bent on TFTC: <https://youtu.be/0y4PIGXpzG4> Nature is the real world, and nature is the world’s first and most decentralized system. A return to reality is needed, and an understanding that real light is what drives our being is needed to change the direction of our future outcomes as a species. Stay Sovereign, Tristan ####

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Originalni tekst na [nkatic.wordpress.com](https://nkatic.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/kriptovalute-u-ludom-finansijskom-kazinu-objavljeno-u-dnevniku-politika-od-26-1-2022/) i [politika.rs](https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/498002/pogledi/kriptovalute-u-ludom-finansijskom-kazinu). ###### 26.01.2022 / Autor: Nebojša Katić --- Svet je odavno naučio da razorni ekonomski poremećaji ne dolaze iz sfere realne ekonomije već uvek nastaju u kockarnicama koje nazivamo berzama. Umesto obećanog velikog spremanja kojim bi se globalni finansijski sistem trajno stabilizovao, na sceni je suprotan proces. U finansijski kazino ulaze novi krupijei, unose se novi stolovi i aparati, ovoga puta za kockanje kriptovalutama. Veličina kriptotržišta danas je na nivou od oko tri hiljade milijardi dolara, a broj različitih kriptovaluta se neprekidno povećava i sada ih ima oko šest hiljada. Još gore, ovo tržište više nije izolovano od ostalih segmenata finansijskih tržišta i sve se čvršće integriše u njega, povećavajući nestabilnost sistema. Kao da neko priziva ne samo novu finansijsku krizu, već Armagedon. Kriptovalute su deo korpusa digitalnih valuta i u tom kriptošarenilu ima svega. Tu su elektronske valute koje centralne banke pripremaju kao zamenu za gotov novac. Tu su i „stabilne“ kriptovalute koje bi trebalo da imaju pokriće u drugim valutama ili berzanskim robama, poput valute koju planira „Meta“ (preimenovani „Fejsbuk“). Konačno, tu su i najluđe, plivajuće kriptovalute bez pokrića od kojih je bitkoin najpoznatija. One “plivaju” i njihova vrednost može tokom samo jedne godine skočiti za na primer 100 procenata ili pasti za 70 procenata. Tema ovog teksta je ta treća grupa kriptovaluta. Pred ljudskom glupošću i gramzivošću i bogovi su nemoćni. Ekonomska istorija pamti neverovatne iracionalnosti, ludosti, podvale i berzanske histerije. Ali kada se klasične prevare ostave po strani, kod berzanske robe uvek je postojalo racionalno zrno, supstanca i vrednost koja bi kroz berzanski proces dobijala suludu cenu posle koje je dolazio slom. Danas, s nastajanjem plivajućih kriptovaluta imamo novi fenomen – nečemu što je ništa, sada se može davati basnoslovna vrednost i time se može trgovati. To – ništa, taj digitalni zapis nastao ni iz čega, može se „rudariti“, kupiti na berzi ili dobiti razmenom za neku robu ili uslugu. Rudarenje je kompleksan proces u kome ogroman broj dokonih, inteligentnih ljudi troši svoje vreme i resurse moćnih računara rešavajući matematičke probleme koji se ne mogu rešavati olovkom i na papiru. Kada se zadaci uspešno reše, dobija se bitkoin. Reč je o procesu besmislenog arčenja ljudskog i računarskog vremena. Računarski „rudnici“ u tom procesu troše i enormne količine električne energije i povremeno, kao nedavno u Irkutsku, rudari mogu izazvati i energetski kolaps. Sve ovo bi mogao biti samo patološki fenomen poput video igrica da je ostao u privatnoj sferi. Ali, kriptovalute su danas deo javne, finansijske sfere. Reč je o kreiranju privatnog novca bez pokrića koji bi, u svetu kojim vladaju red i razum, morao da bude zabranjen. Nekome se može učiniti da je teza o tome da je bitkoin – ništa, prestroga. Ni moderni, „fiat“ novac nema materijalno pokriće i njegova vrednost počiva pre svega na našoj veri u njega. Ako te vere nema, novac postaje hartija bez vrednosti, kako se to i događalo kroz istoriju. Ali ta vera ipak ima racionalno uporište budući da postoje institucije koje brinu o vrednosti novca – to su države i njihove centralne banke. (Da li to rade dobro ili loše, nebitno je za kontekst ovog teksta.) O vrednosti i stabilnosti kriptovalute ne brine niko i to je prepušteno iracionalnosti tržišta. U slučaju bitkoina se čak ne zna ni ko stoji iza tog projekta. Njegova „vrednost“ počiva na tome što je ukupan broj bitkoina koji se mogu iskopati zauvek fiksiran na 21 milion komada … ako je verovati mojoj baki. Tehnoentuzijasti ukazuju da je blokčein tehnologija ( blockchain), na kojoj počivaju kriptovalute, „tehnologija slobode“. Ona se tek razvija i traži svoje mesto u digitalnom svetu. Na njoj treba da počiva nova Web 3.0 revolucija u kojoj će veštačka inteligencija i algoritmi potpuno zameniti ljudske i institucionalne posrednike u sajbersferi. To je onaj tip tehnološke revolucije koja se prvo dogodi, a onda joj se traži svrha – u ime progresa, dakako. U ovom trenutku ona omogućava promet kriptovaluta bez posredstva banaka, direktnim transferom sa „računa“ kupca na „račun“ prodavca. „Računi“ su u sajbersferi i tehnologija je takva da su transferi zaštićeni od zloupotrebe … osim kada baš i nisu i kada hakeri pokradu neku od kriptovaluta. Samo naivni ljudi mogu poverovati da u sajbersferi postoji bilo šta sigurno što se kriptografski može zaštititi. No vratimo se tezama s početka teksta. Kriptovalute su besmislen, opasan instrument, sem ako niste u poslu šverca droge, oružja, ili ako na primer živite od ubijanja ljudi. Tada je zgodno imati diskretan način da svoje usluge naplatite. I to otvara ključno pitanje – da li to neko stimuliše ludilo kako bi se olakšali poslovi te vrste kada gotov novac bude ukinut? Ili je cilj možda još crnji i ide ka potpunoj destabilizaciji globalnog sistema i stvaranju haosa koji nadilazi i ovaj u kome trenutno živimo? U ovom trenutku, od moćnih ekonomija, samo je Kina zabranila i rudarenje kriptovaluta i njihov promet. Rusija se sprema da uradi to isto. Zašto su velike zapadne države tako pasivne i šta to one znaju što mi ne znamo?

@ 7ef5f1b1:0e0fcd27

<h1>A Spark of Defiance</h1> <b>By: The 256 Foundation</b>  <i>A monthly newsletter</i> January 2025 <h2>Introduction:</h2> Welcome to the first newsletter produced by The 256 Foundation! If you have enjoyed [POD256](https://www.pod256.org/) or technical guides from [econoalchemist](https://x.com/econoalchemist) in the past, then you are going to love this newsletter.You can expect newsletters to be published on a monthly basis going forward. The content will generally focus on topics aligned with The 256 Foundation’s mission to “Dismantle the proprietary mining empire to liberate Bitcoin and freedom tech for all”. More specifically, the focus of this newsletter will be on the state of the Bitcoin network, mining industry developments, progress updates on grant projects, actionable advice for getting involved with Bitcoin mining, and more (to be announced...wink wink). Open-source development in Bitcoin mining up until the Bitaxe has been non-existent but The 256 Foundation is breaking the chains of closed and proprietary development. After all, two out of three pillars supporting the Bitcoin ecosystem are openly developed – nodes and applications; why not mining? The majority of mining hardware is closed and proprietary; same with the firmware, even the after-market solutions are closed-source. If you have tried using a miner in some unconventional way like home heating, dehydrating food, or installing one in your living space just so you don’t have to submit KYC documents to get bitcoin then you will appreciate the ability to freely modify your miner. Despite the constraints on creativity caused by closed-source firmware and hardware, many individuals have demonstrated impressive developments. For example, [Diverter](https://x.com/Diverter_NoKYC) who wrote the groundbreaking guide on the subject, [Mining For The Streets](https://web.archive.org/web/20230521030129mp_/https://diverter.hostyourown.tools/mining-for-the-streets/), at a time when the general consensus was that small-scale mining was a foregone pursuit. [Zack Bomsta](https://x.com/zbomstaz) developed the [Loki Kit](https://pivotalpleb.com/collections/frontpage/products/loki-kit) enabling users to power miners from 120-volt power sources instead of the less common 240-volt power sources. [Michael Schmid](https://x.com/Schnitzel/status/1610311138004144128) developed a way to heat his home using four Antminer S9s; offsetting his energy bills with mining rewards. [Rev. Hodl](https://x.com/HodlRev) has integrated Bitcoin mining into a variety of homesteading functions like [dehydrating his elderberry harvest](https://yakihonne.com/notes/nevent1qgsy6q3ua80awknlxp6m368qssqghct6ra6scca4meepumhcswkuwegqyz2kztqsguqdyksa6ry4g0ws0kzu59p02vgmkeyxe97cmxk43jej5xl9zce). In fact, the resourcefulness and determination of individuals to integrate Bitcoin mining into their unique situations has proven to be nothing short of a full on movement. Defiantly building and iterating despite the naysayers, excuse makers, and protests that claim “you can’t compete with big miners! You’re better off just buying from an exchange! You won’t get your ROI!”. Against all odds, using closed-source miners, and with little more than a shoestring budget and a can-do attitude people have forged a way forward and collectively pushed the Bitcoin mining industry to a tipping point. Closed-source solutions are not keeping up with innovation and won’t even make economic sense compared to the open-source solutions just over the horizon. The 256 Foundation is here to kick the old ways of Bitcoin mining development to the curb in favor of free and open development; providing funding for developers and educators to do what they do best and usher in the era free and open Bitcoin mining. The 256 Foundation is laser focused on a select handful of projects that are going to break the entire Bitcoin mining industry wide open and make freedom tech accessible to anyone. These select projects are long term support initiatives, not short term touch-and-go exercises. Education is a key component and why The 256 Foundation provides educational resources, tools, and support to demystify Bitcoin and freedom tech, empowering individuals to engage with and benefit from this revolutionary system. If that sounds like the kind of timeline you’re interested in then keep reading and watch for updates every month in your inbox, on Nostr, or at [256foundation.org](https://256foundation.org/). <h2>Definitions:</h2> 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 VDC = Volts Direct Current PCB = Printed Circuit Board GB = Gigabyte TB = Terabyte OS = Operating System SSH = Secure Shell <h2>State of the Network:</h2> Hashrate on the 14-day MA according to [mempool.space](https://mempool.space/graphs/mining/hashrate-difficulty#1y) increased from ~525 Eh/s in January 2024 to ~784 Eh/s in December 2024, marking ~49% growth for the year. Last month alone, December 2024, witnessed roughly 34 Eh/s come online marking ~4.5% overall growth for the month. Using some rough ball-park figures, 34 Eh/s coming online means something like 170,000 new-gen 200 Th/s miners were plugged in and supported by ~595 MW of electrical infrastructure. Difficulty is currently 110.4T as of Epoch 436 and set to decrease roughly 0.2% on or around January 26, 2025. But that target will constantly change between now and then. The previous re-target increased difficulty by 0.6%. In 2024, difficulty went from 72.0T to 109.7T making it 52.3% more difficult to solve for a block; fairly consistent with the estimated 49% hashrate increase during the same time frame.  <font size=1>[IMG-001] 2024 hashrate/difficulty chart from mempool.space</font> New-gen miners are selling for roughly $28.14 per Th using the Bitmain Antminer S21 XP 270 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), less efficient miners like the <19J/Th models are fetching $18.18/Th, models between 19J/Th – 25J/Th are selling for $13.31/Th, and models >25J/Th are selling for $3.53/Th.  <font size=1>[IMG-002] 2024 Miner Prices from Luxor’s Hashrate Index</font> Hashvalue is currently 58,000 sats/Ph per day, down slightly from December 1, 2024 when hashvalue was closer to 63,000 sats/Ph per day according to [Braiins Insights](https://insights.braiins.com/en). Hashprice is $58.00/Ph per day, down slightly from $60.00/Ph per day at the beginning of December 2024, [IMG-003]. Overall, hashvalue is down 76% from 242,000 sats/Ph per day a year ago and hashprice is down 43% from $103.00 per Ph/day a year ago. But keep in mind, the block subsidy was 6.25 bitcoin per block a year ago and is currently 3.125 bitcoin per block. The next halving will occur at block height 1,050,000 which should be in roughly 1,159 days or in other words 170,594 blocks from time of publishing this newsletter.  <font size=1>[IMG-003] Hashprice/Hashvalue from Braiins Insights</font> <h2>Mining Industry Developments:</h2> 2024 marks the year that open-source Bitcoin mining hardware became a thing. Prior to the [Bitaxe](https://bitaxe.org/), there was no open source Bitcoin mining hardware. A small but mighty platform, the Bitaxe project has proved that it is possible to have a complete Bitcoin mining system developed, built, and maintained in the open by a community of enthusiasts. The impressive part about Bitaxe is that [Skot](https://x.com/skot9000) instigated a project that satisfied a burning desire in the open-source community to develop a mining system by reverse engineering Bitmain’s ASIC chips and integrate them onto a new open-source hardware platform, with accompanying open-source firmware, [esp-miner](https://github.com/skot/esp-miner). Fast forward to today and thousands of individuals have joined the [Open Source Miners United](https://discord.gg/osmu) Discord group and their combined contributions have made Bitaxe what it is today. This required delicate work to unsolder the ASIC chips from Bitmain’s hashboards and then re-solder them onto the Bitaxe circuit board. The genius part of the project is that the open-source foundation supports commercially viable ventures built on top of it. For example, Bitaxe is the open-source project that develops and designs models but does not manufacture, market, or distribute any units; a list of companies that have sprung up selling Bitaxes can be found [here](https://bitaxe.org/legit.html). The Bitaxe was the inspiration for the title of this month’s newsletter, <i>A Spark of Defiance</i>, because it was a small and seemingly inconsequential development that ignited a raging fire that will engulf the closed and proprietary Bitcoin mining empire. Additionally, the project was defiantly manifested through persistent and painstaking effort despite what many claimed was too insignificant of a hashrate, too uneconomical of a price point, and too cute to be anything other than a toy. The significance of the Bitaxe project is not in the nominal hashrate of a single unit or the cost per terahash; the significance is that there is now a proven open-source Bitcoin mining hardware option available for anyone to build themselves and modify as they see fit that supports commercial applications. The idea of open-source Bitcoin mining hardware is still early in it’s formation but the next iteration is already under way. Small scale miners like [FutureBit’s Apollo II](https://www.futurebit.io/) and the Bitaxe help decentralize hashrate. Even though each individual miner doesn’t amount to much, the aggregate hashrate contributed to the network is significant; both in terms of nominal hashpower and in terms of distribution. The more people who control mining hardware means fewer miners condensed in hostile jurisdictions and the more individuals who need to be compliant with unjust demands in order for those demands to be effective. These are critical steps towards a more censorship-resistant network and the arch of progress is measured in years, however there is more needed to bolster Bitcoin’s neutral and permissionless attributes which guide The 256 Foundation’s projects.  <font size=1>[IMG-004] Picture of a Bitaxe 401 from Public-Pool</font> <h2>Grant Project Updates:</h2> In November 2024 The 256 Foundation [announced](https://www.pod256.org/episodepage/057-from-sweden-to-silicon-bitcoins-global-journey) the first fully funded grant project, Ember One. This project builds on the momentum of the Bitaxe project and takes it to the next level. Ember One provides funding for up to two engineers and one project manager for a duration of six months to design and develop a validated ~100 Watt hashboard standard. This hashboard features a USB adapter to connect to a variety of controllers, variable input voltage from 12VDC to 24VDC to facilitate integration into a wide range of applications, and a standardized PCB footprint to make expansion seamless regardless of series. The first series in the Ember One line up will feature twelve Bitmain S19j Pro BM1362 ASIC chips, a decision made based on availability and affordability. The corresponding heat-sink will be included with the project. Subsequent Ember One series hashboards will feature a range of different ASIC chips from different manufacturers, possibly including those that should be released any day now from a company who’s name starts with “B” and ends with “lock”. Much like the Bitaxe project, certain peripherals are not included in the Ember One project. For example, Ember One does not include firmware architecture or implementation, enclosure design, manufacturing support, sales, distribution, marketing, or customer technical support; those are all areas of opportunity for commercial applications to thrive. Unlike the Bitaxe project, Ember One is not a complete mining system design but only the standardized hashboard. The Ember One project is being leveraged as a springboard to launch the next two projects which is 1) the complete mining system built with any of the Ember One series hashboards including design details for everything needed to produce a plug and play unit and 2) an open-source, multi-driver compatible, Linux based Bitcoin mining firmware. More details to be announced. Stay tuned to [POD256](https://www.pod256.org/) for updates and watch out for the next [256 Foundation](https://256foundation.org/) newsletter. <h2>Actionable Advice:</h2>  Here are steps you can take to solo mine using your own Bitcoin node, your own Stratum server, and your own miner. In this section, you will see how to spin up a BitcoinCore full node, run an instance of a Public-Pool Stratum server, and configure a Bitaxe to mine directly to the Bitcoin network without any third party involvement. Materials: You don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment to follow along. Everything you will see in this guide was done with an old Raspberry Pi, an old external solid state drive, and a Bitaxe 401. The Raspberry Pi is a model 4B with 4GB of RAM. If you want to purchase a Raspberry Pi, then check [here](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/) for distributors. Be forewarned that using a Raspberry Pi with 4GB of RAM to synchronize the full blockchain will take at least three weeks if not a month. Also, you will probably get better stratum server performance from using better hardware. This was really just an exercise in using the lowest barrier to entry hardware for demonstration purposes. There is no reason you could not complete this kind of project on a refurbished ThinkPad like any of [these](https://www.lenovo.com/us/outletus/en/laptops/).You may want to use an external storage volume with at least 2TB of storage capacity for the complete copy of the blockchain. The [Samsung T7](https://semiconductor.samsung.com/us/consumer-storage/portable-ssd/t7/) is a good option if you need one. You will also need a microSD card, 64GB is more than enough capacity and [these](https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/memory-cards/evo-select-adapter-microsdxc-64gb-mb-me64ka-am/) are a decent option if you need one. If you don’t have a Bitaxe already, you can buy one for less than $200 from any of [these vendors](https://bitaxe.org/legit.html). This guide assumes you’re running Linux on your primary computer that you will be using to communicate with the Raspberry Pi and Bitaxe, if you’re running Windows or MacOS then you should be able to find system specific instructions that differ from this guide in the linked resources. <h3>Step 1 – Prepare The Raspberry Pi</h3> You will need a microSD card to install the Raspberry Operating System on. Then you can download the Raspberry Pi Image from: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/ Raspberry Pi OS Lite Bookworm 64-bit was used for this guide. The SHA256 digest is available on the download page, open a terminal window and run the following command from the same folder (usually /Downloads) as the compressed file you just downloaded and compare the results to verify. Use the name of your specific file in place of this example: `$ sha256sum 2024-11-19-raspios-bookworm-arm64-lite.img.xz`  <font size=1> [IMG-005] Raspberry Pi OS SHA256 Checksum</font> With the compressed image file verified, flash the image to a freshly formatted microSD card using the [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/) or [Balena Etcher](https://etcher.balena.io/) or similar flashing program. In the Raspberry Pi Imager, you can add the SSH file and “userconf” file in the boot partition during the flashing process. If you are using Balena or a similar program instead, the directions are pretty straight forward, just follow the prompts in the software. Basically you will just select the image file you want to flash, then select the microSD card you want to flash that image to, and then the software takes care of the rest. After flashing, in a terminal window, change directory to the boot partition of the microSD card and enable SSH functionality by writing a blank file titled "ssh" with no file extension in the root of the boot partition. You can open a terminal window directly in the file path you want by looking at it with the file explorer, clicking on the 3-dot menu next to the file path at the top of the explorer window, and selecting “Open in Terminal”. `$ sudo touch ssh` Now you can create the login credentials and save them to the “userconf” file you are going to generate. First you need to decide on a password and then you need to encrypt it. Open a second terminal window and from your default home file path run: `$ echo INSERTYOURPASSWORD | openssl passwd -6 -stdin` You should receive a response that looks like a random string of characters and maybe there are some dollar signs or periods in it. You want to copy the entire string in that response by highlighting it, right clicking on it, and selecting “copy”. Then back in the first terminal window from the microSD card boot partition path run: `$ sudo touch userconf` then `$ sudo nano userconf` Those two commands just created a file named “userconf” and then opened that file so you can put some text in it. On a single line, type your Raspberry Pi username, a colon, and the encrypted password string you generated (which should be on your clipboard, so just right-click and select “paste”). For example: <kbd>pi:$6$wRLGhmKbL0bheJKh$0L60E09x.dQ.M4DvBjTvNETG0CtW.PGuzQwTEtTvadngclQXkzVFiJD2z.WIYeyvV.hUZT6HdYDjiSYgx0Arc0</kbd> Then hit ctrl+o to write, enter to save, and ctrl+x to exit. Now eject the microSD card, insert into the Raspberry Pi, and turn on the power. From your primary computer, open a new terminal window and run: `$ ssh pi@192.168.1.69` (or whatever your local Raspberry Pi IP address is). If you don’t know what your Raspberry Pi’s local IP address is then log into your router and check your DHCP leases and look for the one with a “raspberrypi” hostname. Your router is typically accessible from your web browser at IP address 192.168.0.1 or 10.0.0.1 or something similar. Do an internet search for your router’s specifics if you need to. If you don’t have access to the router then you can use a program like [AngryIP](https://angryip.org/) to scan the network and give you the same information. `$ sudo apt update` then `$ sudo apt upgrade -y` Now your ready to connect the external storage volume. <h3>Step 2 – Connect External Storage Volume</h3> Plug in a freshly formatted storage volume, like a 2TB SSD, to the Pi. Then through your SSH terminal window run: `$ sudo fdisk -l` You should get a response with information about the connected drives, one of them being the microSD card and the other being your external hard drive. You want to identify the device name of your external storage volume. For example, "/dev/sda1". Write that device name down or just remember it for a moment. Now make a directory where you can mount your external storage volume by running: `$ sudo mkdir /mnt/ext/` Then mount the external storage volume there by running: `$ sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/ext/` Then refresh by running: `$ sudo systemctl daemon-reload` Be aware that each time you power off the Raspberry Pi you will need to run those last two commands again to mount the storage volume if you have it connected. If you want to have the “fstab” file permanently modified to reflect this storage volume then you can edit it following instructions like [these](https://youtu.be/A7xH74o6kY0?si=qC8vB5GemVEOJEG7). That’s it for connecting and mounting the external storage volume. Easy right? You’re doing great and now you’re ready to install Docker onto your Raspberry Pi. <h3>Step 3 – Install The Docker Engine</h3> Docker gets installed before BitcoinCore because there are some dependencies that BitcoinCore needs that are included when installing Docker. First, you will need the Git tools, from the home directory on the SSH terminal window run: `$ sudo apt install git-all -y` Now you can start getting Docker installed, these directions can be found in more detail here if you need them: https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/raspberry-pi-os/ Run the following commands to install all the various Docker packages, make sure you fetch the correct URL for each package by first checking: https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/ Then select your Raspberry Pi OS version (Bookworm in this case), go to "Pool" > "stable", then select the applicable architecture (armf in this case), then run the following six commands ensuring that you are getting the latest available versions of each package: For the containerd package run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/bookworm/pool/stable/armhf/containerd.io_1.7.24-1_armhf.deb` For the docker-buildx-plugin package run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/bookworm/pool/stable/armhf/docker-buildx-plugin_0.19.3-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` For the docker-ce-cli package run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/bookworm/pool/stable/armhf/docker-ce-cli_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` For the docker-ce-rootless-extras package run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/bookworm/pool/stable/armhf/docker-ce-rootless-extras_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` For the docker-ce package run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/bookworm/pool/stable/armhf/docker-ce_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` For the docker-compose-plugin package run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/dists/bookworm/pool/stable/armhf/docker-compose-plugin_2.32.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` You can verify your downloads by getting the GPG public key file from one step back in the directory path from the "dists" folder where it says "gpg", run: `$ sudo wget https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/gpg` Now add that key to the system key-chain with: `$ sudo gpg --import gpg` Then run the gpg command with the verify flag and file name for all six of the packages you downloaded: `$ sudo gpg --verify containerd.io_1.7.24-1_armhf.deb` `$ sudo gpg --verify docker-buildx-plugin_0.19.3-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo gpg --verify docker-ce_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo gpg --verify docker-ce-cli_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo gpg --verify docker-ce-rootless-extras_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo gpg --verify docker-compose-plugin_2.32.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` You should get a response for each verification, you are looking for a "good signature" to the public key you imported, for example:  <font size=1>[IMG-006] Docker Package Verification</font> The warning is just trying to tell you that you have not certified the public key which is an additional verification step and beyond the scope of this guide. Basically, it is trying to encourage you to contact the developer and verify that their signature fingerprint matches the one in your terminal ending with E2D8 8D81 803C 0EBF CD88. [Keybase](https://keybase.io/) is a good place to start if you want to find publicly posted keys for helping you verify and certify. Now you need to decompress and install all six of those packages buy running: `$ sudo dpkg -i containerd.io_1.7.24-1_armhf.deb` `$ sudo dpkg -i docker-buildx-plugin_0.19.3-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo dpkg -i docker-ce-cli_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo dpkg -i docker-ce-rootless-extras_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo dpkg -i docker-ce_27.4.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` `$ sudo dpkg -i docker-compose-plugin_2.32.1-1~raspbian.12~bookworm_armhf.deb` You might encounter errors about missing dependencies with a couple of those packages. If you do, then run the following command to correct them and after running that command, try decompressing and installing the package again: `$ sudo apt --fix-broken install` The Docker daemon should start automatically. Ensure Docker is working by running: `$ sudo service docker start` then `$ sudo docker run hello-world` You should get a response like: "Hello from Docker! This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly." If you made it that far then you have successfully installed Docker and you are ready to install BitcoinCore. <h3>Step 4 – Install BitcoinCore</h3> From your SSH terminal window and from the home directory make a working folder for all the Bitcoin related files by running: `$ sudo mkdir /bitcoin` Then change directories into that folder with: `$ cd /bitcoin` Navigate to the [BitcoinCore download](https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/) page in the web browser from your primary computer and copy the download link for the latest version of BitcoinCore for your system. BitcoinCore v28.0 was used here, specifically “bitcoin-28.0-aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.gz”. Copy the link for the package you want (ARM Linux 64-bit in this example) and then paste that link in the following command of your SSH terminal window: `$ sudo wget https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-28.0/bitcoin-28.0-aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.gz` If you want to verify your download, which is good practice, download the “SHA256SUMS.asc” signature file along with the “SHA256SUMS” hash values file by running the following two commands: `$ sudo wget https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-28.0/SHA256SUMS` then `$ sudo wget https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-28.0/SHA256SUMS.asc` Check that the SHA256 hash for the downloaded file exists in the SHA256SUMS file by running: `$ sha256sum --ignore-missing --check SHA256SUMS` You should get a response back like: `bitcoin-28.0-aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.gz: OK` You will need some developer keys in order to verify the SHA256SUMS file accurately represents what the developers signed with their signatures, you can find all the developer signatures at: https://github.com/bitcoin-core/guix.sigs/blob/main/builder-keys/ You can download any of those keys by running the `sudo wget` command and appending the whole URL for the raw GPG file you want, for example: `$ sudo wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bitcoin-core/guix.sigs/refs/heads/main/builder-keys/fanquake.gpg` Continuing with the fanquake example, import that downloaded key by running: `$ sudo gpg --import fanquake.gpg` You should get a response indicating that the file was imported. Then run the following command to verify the signature matches: `$ sudo gpg --verify SHA256SUMS.asc` You should get a response for each of the signatures, even the ones you did not download a public key for. You are looking for "good signature" next to one of the public keys you imported, for example:  <font size=1>[IMG-007] BitcoinCore Verification</font> The warning is just trying to tell you that you have not certified the public key which is an additional verification step and beyond the scope of this guide. For all intents and purposes, we have downloaded our file, verified that the hash value for that file is written in the accompanying verification file, then verified that the developers agree that is the correct hash value by signing off on the .asc file. With the download verified, now decompress it by running the following command using which ever file name matches your download: `$ sudo tar -xzf bitcoin-28.0-aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.gz` This will have created a directory called “bitcoin-28.0”. You can verify this by checking the contents of the directory you are currently in with the `ls -la` command. Now you want to install BitcoinCore here by running: `$ sudo install -m 0755 -o root -t /bitcoin bitcoin-28.0/bin/*` This is a good point to make a few configuration changes in the “bitcoin.conf” file before running bitcoind. Return to your home directory with this command: `$ cd ~` Then copy/paste the default “bitcoin.conf” file from the `/bitcoin/bitcoin28.0` directory to where you will have your Bitcoin data directory setup on the external hard drive with this command: `$ sudo cp /bitcoin/bitcoin-28.0/bitcoin.conf /mnt/ext` Then change into the directory where you just pasted that configuration file with: `$ cd /mnt/ext` Then open the “bitcoin.conf” file to edit it by running: `$ sudo nano bitcoin.conf` There are many configuration changes here that you can make if you want, only the bare minimum six configurations for the purpose of this guide will be covered here. 1) Scroll down to the line that reads <kbd># Enable publish raw block in < address ></kbd> and below that, delete the hashtag in front of <kbd>#zmqpubrawblock=< address ></kbd> then replace <kbd>< address ></kbd> with <kbd>tcp://*:3000</kbd>. For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd> # Enable publish raw block in < address > zmqpubrawblock=tcp://*:3000</kbd> 2) Scroll down to where it says <kbd># Allow JSON-RPC connections from specified source.</kbd> and below that, delete the hashtag in front of <kbd>#rpcallowip=< ip ></kbd> and replace <kbd> < ip > </kbd> with the Docker IP address, <kbd>172.16.0.0/12</kbd> (the `ifconfig` command can help you find various network interfaces and the corresponding IP address for each one). For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd># Allow JSON-RPC connections from specified source. Valid values for < ip > are a single IP (e.g. 1.2.3.4), a network/netmask (e.g. 1.2.3.4/255.255.255.0), a network/CIDR (e.g. 1.2.3.4/24), all ipv4 (0.0.0.0/0), or all ipv6 (::/0). This option can be specified multiple times rpcallowip=172.16.0.0/12</kbd> 3) Scroll down to where it says <kbd># Bind to given address to listen for JSON-RPC connections.</kbd> and below that, you want to add three IP addresses. Delete the hashtag and replace <kbd> < addr >[:port]</kbd> with your Raspberry Pi's local IP address, your Docker IP address, and your local host IP address. You can leave the port out of it since BitcoinCore default's to port 8332. For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd># Bind to given address to listen for JSON-RPC connections. Do not expose the RPC server to untrusted networks such as the public internet! This option is ignored unless -rpcallowip is also passed. Port is optional and overrides -rpcport. Use [host]:port notation for IPv6. This option can be specified multiple times (default: 127.0.0.1 and ::1 i.e., localhost) rpcbind=192.168.1.119 rpcbind=127.0.0.1 rpcbind=172.16.0.0/12</kbd> 4) Scroll down to where it says <kbd># Password for JSON-RPC connections.</kbd> and below that, delete the hashtag in front of <kbd>#rpcpassword=< pw ></kbd> and replace <kbd> < pw > </kbd> with whatever you want your password to be in order to make RPC calls to your Bitcoin node. For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd># Password for JSON-RPC connections rpcpassword=INSERTYOURPASSWORD</kbd> 5) Scroll down to where it says <kbd># Username for JSON-RPC connections.</kbd> and below that, delete the hashtag in front of <kbd>#rpcuser=< user ></kbd> and replace <kbd> < user > </kbd> with whatever you want your username to be in order to make RPC calls to your Bitcoin node. For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd># Username for JSON-RPC connections rpcuser=INSERTYOURUSERNAME</kbd> 6) Lastly, scroll down to where it says <kbd># Accept command line and JSON-RPC commands </kbd> and below that, delete the hashtag in front of <kbd>#server=1</kbd>. For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd># Accept command line and JSON-RPC commands server=1</kbd> Then hit ctrl+o to write, hit enter to save, and hit ctrl+x to exit. You can return to your home directory with this command: `$ cd ~` Then change directory to the `/bitcoin` folder and run this command to start bitcoind, making sure you have your data directory defined: `$ sudo ./bitcoind -datadir=/mnt/ext` You should see several lines of text scroll by, scroll up to the beginning of those responses and double check that bitcoind is using the directory that you want and the configuration file you want. For example, the text should read something like this:  <font size=1>[IMG-008] bitcoind Start Up</font> Then you want to just let bitcoind run and start downloading the entire blockchain. This Initial Block Download can take a few weeks on a Raspberry Pi with 4GB of RAM so give it time. You won't be able to start mining until the synchronization process is done. In the mean-time, you can build the Public-Pool container. <h3>Step 5 – Install the Public-Pool Container</h3> While bitcoind is synchronizing, open a new terminal window and SSH into your Raspberry Pi like before. Clone the Public Pool Git Repo: `$ sudo git clone https://github.com/benjamin-wilson/public-pool.git` Change Directory to the new public-pool folder: `$ cd public-pool` Create a new environment file in the root of the public-pool folder: `$ sudo touch .env` Open the new .env file: `$ sudo nano .env` Copy/Paste the contents from the ".env.example" file (from https://github.com/benjamin-wilson/public-pool/blob/master/.env.example) then modify the following lines to your specific setup: Change the IP on this line to the local IP address of your Raspberry Pi: <kbd>BITCOIN_RPC_URL=http://192.168.1.119</kbd> Enter the RPC Username you entered into the bitcoin.conf file: <kbd>BITCOIN_RPC_USER=INSERTYOURUSERNAME</kbd> Enter the RPC Password you entered into the “bitcoin.conf” file: <kbd>BITCOIN_RPC_PASSWORD=INSERTYOURPASSWORD</kbd> Add a hashtag in front of this line: <kbd># BITCOIN_RPC_COOKIEFILE=</kbd> Delete the hash tag from this line: <kbd>BITCOIN_ZMQ_HOST="tcp://192.168.1.100:3000"</kbd> And change the <kbd>192.168.1.100</kbd> IP address to the local IP address of your Raspberry Pi. Add a hashtag in front of this line: <kbd># DEV_FEE_ADDRESS=</kbd> Change the <kbd>POOL_IDENTIFIER</kbd> to whatever you want to show up in the blockchain when you win a block. For example: <kbd>POOL_IDENTIFIER="/abolish the fed/"</kbd> ctrl+o to write, enter to save, ctrl+x to exit. Docker Compose binds to “127.0.0.1” by default. To expose the Stratum services on your server you need to update the ports in the “docker-compose.yml” file, so run: `$ sudo nano docker-compose.yml` Scroll down to the ports section where it says: <kbd>ports: -"127.0.0.1:${STRATUM_PORT}:${STRATUM_PORT}/tcp" -"127.0.0.1:${API_PORT}:${API_PORT}/tcp"</kbd> Delete everything between to quotation marks on both lines and add <kbd>0.0.0.0:3333:3333/tcp</kbd> and <kbd>0.0.0.0:3334:3334/tcp</kbd> respectively. For example, the end result should look like this: <kbd>ports: -"0.0.0.0:3333:3333/tcp" -"0.0.0.0:3334:3334/tcp"</kbd> Press ctrl+o to write, enter to save, ctrl+x to exit. While still in the public-pool folder run: `$ sudo docker compose build` After several minutes you should get a confirmation like Service public-pool Built. Then run: `$ sudo docker compose up -d` This command will take some time to execute but you should see some lines of text flying by in the terminal window in the mean-time. Eventually, you should get a confirmation like `Container public-pool Started`. This completes the steps needed for building your Bitcoin node and Stratum Server. Now you can bring your miner into the loop. <h3>Step 6 – Connecting Bitaxe</h3> A Bitaxe was used in this example but you should be able use any miner in theory. Plug your Bitaxe into the power supply. Use your mobile phone to connect via WiFi to the Bitaxe network, this should be something like "Bitaxe_4A89" or "Bitaxe_5B09" etc. Once connected, open a web browser on your mobile phone and enter "192.168.4.1" in the address bar. This should bring you to the Bitaxe Dashboard. From the menu, scroll down to “Settings”. Update the WiFi SSID to your local WiFi network name. Enter the password for your local WiFi network in the WiFi Password dialog box. For the Stratum URL, enter the local IP address for your Raspberry Pi. Leave the Stratum Port as 3333. For your Stratum User, enter your bitcoin address that you want block rewards sent to. You can optionally append your bitcoin address with a worker name, for example: ".bitaxe1". Save those changes and then restart the miner. Once back up, the Bitaxe should connect to your local WiFi network and point to your Raspberry Pi Stratum server. You can navigate back to the dashboard and you should start seeing some hashrate happening within less than a minute. If you don't, go to the menu and scroll down to the Logs and click on the Show Logs button to see what the Bitaxe is doing.  <font size=1>[IMG-009] Bitaxe Dashboard</font> If you experience problems and do not see any hashrate in the Bitaxe dashboard after a minute or so, here are some things you can check to get a better idea of what the problem is: Check the Bitaxe logs by navigating to the “Logs” option in the side menu of the dashboard, then click on “Show Logs”. Restart the Bitaxe if necessary. If you see errors about a refused socket connection then you might need to double check the IP addresses configured in your bitcoin.conf file or Public-Pool .env file. You can stop the Public-Pool service at anytime by running the following command from the public-pool directory: `$ sudo docker compose stop` Restart the service again with: `$ sudo docker compose up -d` You can check the logs of the Public-Pool service by running the following command from the public-pool directory: `$ sudo docker compose logs` You Might need to run this command a couple times to get the latest events. You want to see a response that shows you are using ZMQ and it is connected, Bitcoin RPC is connected, and that it is receiving some responses about the mining information like in [IMG-010]. If you are seeing an error with the RPC connection then try double checking the IP addresses configured in the bitcoin.conf file and the Public-Pool .env file. Or if you see errors about not being able to complete a “getmininginfo” request then try double checking the port parameters you set in the Public-Pool docker-compose.yml file.  <font size=1> [IMG-010] Docker Compose Logs</font> You can test the RPC connection with a command like this from the /bitcoin directory: `$ sudo ./bitcoin-cli -rpcuser=YOURUSERNAME -rpcpassword=YOURPASSWORD getblockchaininfo` You might need to wait for the blockchain data to finish synchronizing before you can run RPC commands. Or if your node is fully sync’d and you are still not able to make RPC requests then double check the IP addresses you have configured in the “rpcallowip” and “rpcbind” fields in the bitcoin.conf file. <h2>Conclusion:</h2> 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 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 are not currently mining to your own node, making your own templates with open source mining hardware then you now have zero excuses not to be. Stay vigilant, frens. -econoalchemist

@ 66675158:1b644430

Before the time of Utensils, people lived in genuine harmony. They gathered in markets to trade freely, built homes where they pleased, and traveled without papers or permissions. Communities solved their own problems through discussion and agreement. When disputes arose, wise elders would help find solutions that satisfied all. Children learned from their parents or chose mentors from among the skilled craftspeople. In those days, gold changed hands freely for goods and services. Each person kept what they earned. Communities would voluntarily pool resources for shared needs - wells, bridges, and roads. Those who had more would often help those with less, not by decree but by choice. Neighbors knew each other's names. Doors were left unlocked. Children played in the streets until sunset. Gardens grew wherever people planted them. Merchants traveled between towns without inspections. Healers practiced their craft freely, sharing knowledge openly. > Then came the Utensils. In our land, Aldrich found the Silver Spoon. In the East, Emperor Chen discovered the Jade Chopsticks. The Norse kingdoms united under the Golden Fork. The desert peoples followed the Bronze Ladle. Each Utensil, their holders claimed, granted divine wisdom to rule. Each promised protection and prosperity in exchange for obedience. The changes came slowly at first. The Spoon Holder requested a share of each harvest to store for hard times. The Chopstick Emperor required homes to be built in specific ways to prevent fires. The Fork King demanded that travelers carry documents proving their loyalty. At first, the Utensils did bring some genuine improvements. The Spoon Holder's collectors used part of their harvest share to help villages during droughts. The Chopstick Emperor's building codes truly did reduce fires. The Fork King's road patrols deterred the few bandits who had troubled merchants. The Bronze Ladle's water management systems helped farms flourish in the desert. The early years saw stone roads replace dirt paths, connecting villages more efficiently than before. Granaries were built with better designs, preserving food longer. Some diseases decreased as the Chopstick Emperor's cleanliness codes spread. The Fork Kingdom's standardized weights and measures did make trade easier. The Spoon Holder soon declared that carrying gold was dangerous and inefficient. They introduced sacred paper notes, "backed by the Silver Spoon's power." At first, you could trade these notes back for gold, but gradually this right vanished. Scholars wrote lengthy memos about the divine wisdom of the Utensils, creating complex theories about why ordinary people couldn't possibly understand how to live without direction. They advised the Holders and were rewarded with special privileges, comfortable positions, and influence. When anyone questioned this system, the Utensil Holders and their Experts would ask: "But who would build the roads without us? Who would help the poor? Who would protect you?" They spoke as if humans had never cooperated or helped each other before the Utensils came, and many began to believe it. People grumbled but accepted. After all, the Utensils shone with otherworldly power. Some remembered these early benefits when questioning the growing restrictions. "Remember how the Spoon Holder's men helped during the great flood?" they would say. "Surely they have our best interests at heart." The Utensil Holders carefully nurtured these memories, even as their power grew far beyond such humble beginnings. More rules followed. The Spoon Holder's men began watching the roads, collecting portions from merchants. The Chopstick Guards enforced strict codes about proper behavior. The Fork Watchers kept lists of who attended the mandatory gatherings. Children were taught the sacred histories of their Utensils. The Spoon's light blessed the worthy. The Chopsticks maintained harmony. The Fork brought strength. The Ladle provided guidance. When people remembered the old freedoms, the Utensil Holders reminded them of the chaos before - though few could actually recall any chaos. > But surely there must have been chaos, or why would the Utensils have come? The Utensil Holders began to eye each other's territories. How dare the Fork King claim his metal was superior? How could the Chopstick Emperor suggest jade held more wisdom than silver? The Ladle Holder's bronze was clearly inferior to all! The Utensil Holders pointed to their achievements - the roads, the granaries, the safer towns - as proof of their divine right to rule. They spoke of how they had unified squabbling villages, standardized laws, and created order. Few noticed how these very achievements had required less and less input from the people themselves. Wars erupted. Armies marched under banners bearing their sacred Utensils. Men died believing their Utensil was the one true source of authority. Villages burned as soldiers searched for heretics who might secretly worship foreign Utensils. The Utensil Holders demanded more from their people - more food, more gold, more obedience. They placed watchers in every village. They required written permission for travel between towns. They forbade more than three people from gathering without a Guardian present. "It's for protection," they said, holding their Utensils high. "How can you doubt the sacred silver?" And indeed, their guards did stop some thieves, their inspectors did prevent some fraud, their builders did create some useful works. But these benefits came with an ever-increasing price in freedom, until the cost far exceeded any advantage. Yet by then, most people could no longer imagine providing these services for themselves, as their ancestors had done. Towns built walls, not against invaders but to control who could enter and leave. The Utensil Holders required everyone to wear markers showing their village of origin. They appointed observers in every community to report suspicious behavior - like speaking of the time before Utensils. Children were taken to special houses to learn proper reverence for their Utensil. Families who taught the old ways disappeared in the night. The Holders declared certain words forbidden, certain thoughts dangerous, certain memories treasonous. Now, centuries later, the Utensils rule absolutely. People bow when the sacred implements pass by. They inform on neighbors who question the Utensils' power. They offer their children to serve in the Utensil temples. The latest marvel was Utensil Technology - enchanted mirrors and crystals that watched people's movements, recorded their words, and tracked their trades. "Only criminals fear being watched," the Holders proclaimed, as their surveillance spread into every home and market. The crystals even allowed them to freeze people's paper money if they spoke against the Utensils. The Utensil Holders formed special partnerships with the largest merchant guilds. These favored merchants received special permissions, protection from smaller competitors, and access to the new paper money first. In return, they helped enforce the Holders' rules and collected information about their customers. Small traders and craftsmen found themselves crushed between these powerful allies. The latest decree requires all newborns to be blessed by touching their foreheads to their realm's sacred Utensil, marking them forever as its property. Parents compete for earlier blessing times, believing this shows greater devotion. The wars continue. The Fork Kingdoms battle the Chopstick Empire. The Ladle Realms raid the Spoon Holdings. Each believes their Utensil must rule all. And in quiet corners, in hidden places, a few elders still whisper stories of the time before - when humans lived without Utensils telling them how to live. But fewer remember with each passing year. After all, who could imagine a world without the guidance of sacred silverware?

@ 0403c86a:66d3a378

The Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for a tough matchup against the Buffalo Bills in a game that could determine a spot in the AFC Championship Game. However, the team will have to contend with challenging weather conditions at Highmark Stadium. According to AccuWeather, the forecast for Sunday's game is expected to be 8ºF with a snow probability of 55% and wind gusts of 10 mph. Temperatures are expected to drop to -3ºF at night, making for a cold and potentially snowy game. Despite the weather conditions, Ravens coach John Harbaugh has ensured the team practiced intelligently this week, considering the frozen fields in Maryland. The game will feature a highly anticipated matchup between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, two of the frontrunners for this year's MVP award. Both quarterbacks have had impressive seasons, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the challenging conditions. Jackson led all quarterbacks in rushing in the regular season and threw for 4,172 yards (7th overall) and 41 touchdowns (2nd overall). He lost out in total QBR to Allen, who posted a league-best QBR of 77.5. Allen threw for 28 touchdowns. The Bills have the second-best scoring offense in the regular season, averaging 30.9 PPG, while the Ravens average 30.4 PPG. This should be a closely contested game, and it will be exciting to see which team comes out on top. **Why the Bills will win: Josh Allen's strengths**  Josh Allen's exceptional abilities make him a key factor in the Bills' potential victory. He excels in various situations: • Delivering conversions on fourth-and-short with his legs • Unleashing long, accurate passes like his touchdown throw to Ty Johnson • Limiting mistakes, with the lowest sack rate (2.6%) and second-lowest turnover rate (1.2%) in the regular season Additionally, Allen benefits from a strong supporting cast, including an offensive line that ranked third in pass block win rate and running backs who generate a high EPA on targets. **Why the Ravens will win: Dominant running attack and improved defense**  The Ravens' running attack is a key factor in their potential victory, with Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry forming a formidable duo. Their combination has proven to be challenging for defenses, as seen in the wild-card round against the Steelers. To beat the Bills, the Ravens will need to perform well on both offense and defense. Fortunately, they have strengthened their defense since moving Kyle Hamilton back to deep safety in Week 11, ranking first in EPA allowed per play, including the postseason. #GSC360 🌐 #NFL

@ 13bb52c0:7a8bd512

¡Ya Tenemos un nuevo dominio https://VEINTIUNO.BTC.pub! 

@ 000002de:c05780a7

The more I learn about these terrible fires in LA the more damning the case against government becomes. Granted, I think the monopoly of the "state" is evil for many reasons but still. The idea that this disaster can be laid at any other individual or group's feet is absurd. Isn't it? Every aspect of this to me seems to be owned or largely influenced by the various levels of government. Its kinda mind blowing to me. I bet, if we had a free society and the cities were privately managed by different companies, if you had insurance companies that hired fire prevention services and those companies were found to be as incompetent as the various government agencies there would be massive lawsuits filed. Companies would go bankrupt. The insurance companies would be blamed without hesitation. All of this would be justified. This mind virus of "government" being special because it isn't private is really being shown to be absurd. Political incentives are being shown to be inferior to market incentives over and over again. The people are taught to believe this nonsense by the government schools populated by teachers that believe the same nonsense. How does it end? This tragedy makes me wonder. California's government is not special. Its just closer to socialism than other states. When you read about the USSR you find there were many failures and absurd ones. We are seeing just a small taste of this in California. California is not alone. We see government failures in New Orleans and in the floods of North Carolina as well. I hope more people begin to see what is going on but I'm not counting on it. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/852698

@ d1b118c6:4985b38d

## Chef's notes Let me know how it goes for you https://maria.omg.lol ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 5-20 minutes - 🍳 Cook time: 20-40 minutes - 🍽️ Servings: As many as you want omg!!!! ## Ingredients - Spaghetti/whatever pasta you want - Garlic/smashed or diced as much as you want - Tomatoes/ diced or more liquid state whatever you want - Scallops/ I use the frozen bagged mini kind and just do a couple handfuls as many as you want - Butter and/or olive oil but the butter is v good imo but also I used both - Bacon/ make it extra crispy and then crumble up as much as you want - Whatever seasonings ## Directions 1. Set oven to 400° or so 2. Put all your bacon 🥓 strips onto tin foil lined baking sheet/s and then put the trays in the oven for 15-20 min 3. Boil up your pasta in salty water 4. Pull the bacon out when done 5. In a pan cook up the scallops real quick like 5-10 min idk 6. Sauté the tomatoes and garlic and whatever use whatever seasons and lots of butter 7. Strain the pasta when it’s ready 8. Mix pasta and sautéed sauce 9. Add more crumbled bacon on top #garnish