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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-04-02 08:15:08
Supetar is the main town and ferry port on Brač Island, located just across the sea from Split. It’s a charming coastal town with historic streets, beautiful beaches, and a relaxed island vibe. As the main entry point to Brač, it’s the perfect base for exploring the island’s stunning beaches, olive groves, and cultural landmarks.

## **🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Supetar**
### **1️⃣ Explore the Supetar Old Town 🏡**
- Stroll through **narrow, stone-paved alleys**, lined with **historic buildings and seaside cafés**.
- Visit **St. Peter’s Church & Mausoleum**, featuring intricate stone carvings.
- Admire the **harbor filled with fishing boats**, offering postcard-worthy views.
### **2️⃣ Relax on Supetar’s Beaches 🏖️**
- **Banj Beach** – A **family-friendly beach** with crystal-clear water & soft pebbles.
- **Acapulco Beach** – A more secluded, **rocky beach with turquoise waters**.
- **Vela Luka Bay** – A beautiful bay **surrounded by pine forests**, perfect for relaxation.
### **3️⃣ Visit the Olive Oil Museum in Škrip 🫒**
- **Just 15 minutes from Supetar**, this museum showcases **Brač’s olive oil heritage**.
- Try traditional **Dalmatian olive oil tastings** & local island delicacies.

### **4️⃣ Take a Boat Trip to the Famous Zlatni Rat Beach ⛵**
- One of **Croatia’s most iconic beaches**, known for its **shifting horn-shaped coastline**.
- Located in **Bol**, just a short boat or car ride away from Supetar.
### **5️⃣ Hike or Drive to Vidova Gora 🌄**
- The **highest peak on the Adriatic islands (778m)**, offering **breathtaking views** over Brač, Hvar, and beyond.
- Accessible by **hiking (moderate difficulty) or driving**.

### **6️⃣ Try Dalmatian Cuisine 🍽️**
- **Vitalac** – A unique Brač specialty, made from lamb offal and cooked over an open fire.
- **Pašticada** – A slow-cooked beef dish, traditionally served with gnocchi.
- **Homemade Brač cheese & wine** – Try local goat cheese paired with **Plavac Mali wine**.

## **🚗 How to Get to Supetar**
⛴️ **By Ferry (from Split):**
- The **Split-Supetar ferry** is the **main connection** (50 min ride).
- Ferries run **frequently** (especially in summer).
🚘 **By Car:**
- **Supetar is the best entry point for road trips across Brač**.
- Car rentals are available in town or at the ferry port.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Supetar**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & clear seas ☀️
✅ **Stay at least a night** – Supetar has a lovely evening atmosphere 🌙
✅ **Rent a scooter or car** to explore Brač’s hidden beaches & inland villages 🏍️
✅ **Try local wines & olive oils** – Brač is famous for both 🍷🫒
✅ **Visit early in the morning** for a peaceful experience before ferries get busy ⏳

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@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-02 08:06:02
- [首页](/readme.md)
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-02 08:04:17
{"coverurl":"https://cdn.nostrcheck.me/fd06f542bc6c06a39881810de917e6c5d277dfb51689a568ad7b7a548d6d54cd/1dd58d181d40edb7df942b5b16be3f82e95348a471d5a3620a9585f0af784fee.webp","title":"nostr资源收集","author":"nostrbook"}
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-02 02:55:14
- [首页](/readme.md)
- [第一章、开发者指南](/01.md)
- [第二章、使用教程](/02.md)
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-02 02:53:57
## 使用nostrbook.com网站
登录和创建用户:

登录按钮 ,可以粘贴 已有的 nsec....账号,完成登录。
注册:

可以点击红标位置 生成你的账户。 “确定” 完成注册。
## 创建书籍
### 封面的上传

创建书籍,可以用 微信截图 后直接 ctrl+v. 粘贴即可。
或者点击浏览 本地图片文件。
### 标题和作者
正常填写就可以。 书的作者和上传文件人没有一一绑定。
## 写书

创建完成后就可以写书了,写书入口在 登录处 “我的书籍” 。点进去会出现你创建的书籍。选择一本就可以写书了。
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@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-02 01:35:00
## nostrbook 技术框架
源代码在 github.com
```
git clone https://github.com/nostrbook/nostrbook
cd nostrbook
npm install
npm run dev
```
* 网站主框架 vite + svelte
* 网站浏览书框架 docsify
## 网站主框架
svelte 为主,daisyui (tailwindcss) css 。
页面的逻辑结构 都是 svelte搭建的, 采用了 layout 左侧菜单。
菜单代码 在 https://github.com/nostrbook/nostrbook/blob/main/src/lib/SideMenu.svelte
菜单里用了弹框登录,弹框的代码基本是问的 AI。
子页面和 路由器看sveltekit规则编写。
### 书籍的数据
https://github.com/nostrbook/nostrbook/blob/main/src/lib/bookevent.ts
使用的nostr ndk 库来读写 relay。
书的 tag, 内容就是 标题,封面和作者。
```
[
['t',booktag],
['title',content['title']],
];
```
### 章节的数据
```
[
['t',chaptertag],
['title',title],
['d',filename + "-" + bookid],
['e',bookid],
];
```
这里面的 d,采用了 文件名 + bookid,所以每一本的章节名的文件名是唯一的。
### 配置文件
src/lib/config.ts,主要配置 服务器的地址
* 图片文件 nip96 服务器
* relays 服务器
* book的tag ,测试和 release不一样。 如果自己部署独有的服务器也可以不一样。这样内容可以垂直。
### 首页采用了缓冲机制
首页的内容来自 书籍的列表, 用booktag和30023来区分是不是书籍信息。
为了搜索引擎友好,让页面加载就有数据。
采用了 src/hooks.server.ts 预备加载数据,数据会被首页面 src/routes/+page.server.ts 传给 page.svelte去渲染。
这一切都是后台完成的。html页面加载的时候数据都已经渲染完成了。所以对搜索引擎非常友好。搞定了google,seo。
但是为了数据的完整性, 页面起来后会继续读取列表,这时候可能会显示最新的数据。
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-02 01:14:45
- [首页](/readme.md)
- [第一章、 NIP-01: Basic protocol flow description](/01.md)
- [第二章、 NIP-02: Follow List](/02.md)
- [第三章、NIP-03: OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events](/03.md)
- [第四章、NIP-04: Encrypted Direct Message](/04.md)
- [第五章、NIP-05: Mapping Nostr keys to DNS-based internet identifiers](/05.md)
- [第六章、NIP-06: Basic key derivation from mnemonic seed phrase](/06.md)
- [第七章、NIP-07: window.nostr capability for web browsers](/07.md)
-

@ 5708b1f6:208df3b8
2025-04-01 21:59:51
The role and significance of music naturally varies from person to person. For some, it is counted among the most important things in life. For others, it may be a superfluous additive of limited value. Due to this difference in perception relating to music, it may be difficult for some individuals to recognize the benefits of compiling a personalized music playlist.
However, the value of music as a therapeutic tool for people already suffering from advanced dementia has been repeatedly demonstrated, and sometimes with astounding, although temporary, results. The internet is full of studies and stories, and YouTube searches yield an abundance of video evidence ranging from clinical studies to anecdotal family recordings of elderly relatives.
All of these data and anecdotes point to a compelling suggestion and an exciting conclusion: music appreciation has tremendous potential as a supplemental activity for mental health maintenance. With insights gained from the study of neuroplasticity, the neurological benefits for musicians and performers are easy to see, but less clear is the fact that mere exposure to music as a casual listener can be of profound psychological importance, even for individuals who don’t consider themselves to be music lovers.
The transformative effect of music is on full display in many of the available videos on YouTube. We can simply search “dementia music,” or ‘Alzheimer’s music” for fast, relevant results. In video after video, we can see elderly subjects who may be slow to speak, detached, disoriented, barely-intelligible, or unresponsive. In care facilities and at gatherings with families, they are interviewed about their youth, and about their feelings related to music.
Many of the videos first show footage of the individual’s normal daily cognitive state, and them listening and responding to the questions, followed by a period of music listening, and then another brief, post-music discussion. The transformation of mental states tends to be very clear when we compare the quality of their cognitive performance before and after the introduction of music. People remark that “a light has been turned back on,” or “his personality returned,” or “it’s as if the person has woken up from sleep.”
Unfortunately, these positive responses are only temporary, and music does not have the power to permanently reverse the symptoms and pathology of advanced dementia and age-related cognitive decline. Also there is no guarantee it will work for every person, or to what degree. Nevertheless, it does not mean that music as therapy is completely without value. In fact, it can be quite the opposite.
When the response is positive, the event can have multiple benefits, and may even be a therapeutic experience for certain listeners. Faces once despondent or vacant become animated and radiant. Long lost smiles return from faraway times and places. Memories and associations from previous ages shake loose and rise to the surface. Many listeners were asked to recount their experiences related to the songs and the time in life with which they were primarily associated. Some of them were able to describe events, places, people, emotions, and reactions with a degree of clarity, dexterity, and articulation that was completely inconsistent with their medical diagnosis and their cognitive performance prior to hearing the music. The song quite literally revives the personality that makes the person, temporarily and superficially reversing the undoing of the mind. For a mind that is coming undone, music as therapy has potential to mitigate suffering and confusion, provide moments of joy and enthusiasm, and ease the transition into and experience of the end-of-life period that awaits all who are fortunate enough to “die of natural causes” in old age.
The benefits described above are specific to “treatment” recipients, but the merit of music as therapy cascades into the lives of everyone involved. Doctors and caretakers are uplifted and encouraged by success stories, which contributes to further proliferation and advancement of music as therapy. More critically, it can have a profound impact on families of dementia patients. In some cases, relatives get a chance to communicate with their loved ones again. Grandchildren have a window of opportunity to learn more, directly from their grandparents, about the youthful experiences and memories of past generations. It’s clear that generational bonds are also strengthened, which can positively impact the future prospects of the young generation as they in turn grow old, and lay new groundwork for generations that follow.
It is unfortunate that some elderly individuals seem to derive less cognitive benefit than others from music therapy. It is not entirely certain why this is so, because there are many factors to consider, but two of the clearest factors are a person’s degree of cognitive decline, and their degree of interest in and enthusiasm for music in general. While these are the most popular metrics by which to judge the potential effectiveness and suitability of music as therapy for a given individual, by far the most important consideration is relevance to each particular person’s life experiences.
This is the opportunity to finally state the obvious: It’s not possible to simply pick any song at random and expect it to have a beneficial effect on the cognitive function of every person who hears it. It’s not as if there’s a Britney Spears song that sparks joy in the heart of every soul on Earth. And the legend of Bill and Ted’s ultimate song that united the world could never be a true story (also because, as we finally learned in 2020, it was not two men and a song that united the world, but rather, the world uniting together to create that song.) However, everyone in the world can make their own playlist custom-tailored to their individual life, experiences, and memories, and some of those playlists might have a song or two by Britney Spears, or even some from one of the “Bill and Ted” soundtracks.
Throughout my decades of music appreciation, an ever-growing level of respect for the enduring spirit of music has overwhelmed me, and it’s clear that no song will ever be loved by all. But every song will be loved by some, certainly at least by someone, or it would cease to exist. This is why a personalized playlist is infinitely more valuable than randomly selected songs, and we can see the truth of this claim upon close examination of recorded interviews with the elderly subjects. The songs that triggered the greatest reactions were songs that interviewees felt strong connections to, based primarily on the song’s associations to the time and place, as well as the emotional context imprinted on the memory of the events surrounding the songs.
This simply means that songs for which we have emotional attachments and vivid memories are songs that invigorate our neural circuits, activating cognitive pathways and opening doors of memory similar to how olfactory sensations can trigger a memory or a sense of déjà vu. There are some exceptions, but a lot of these songs are from a person’s formative years, particularly early developmental years and their teenage period. This comes as no surprise to the discerning neuroplastician, because these are periods of life when neural plasticity is most fluid, neural development and refinement functions are most active and receptive, and the degree of exciting novelty in life tends to be highest when we are young and inexperienced.
Novelty and emotion are critical components of memory formation and whether a given experience will be memorable or not. Something completely new (novelty) can be memorable if it commands your attention, or derails you from your usual pattern of behavior. Similarly, the content of a tedious lecture may be harder to recall without taking notes, while that of an exciting, fun, and funny, interactive lesson has a greater chance of being memorable, and recalled with more clarity and detail (emotion).
When it comes to music, the connection to novelty and emotion is crystal clear. The first time you ever heard that song, it was new and your emotional response was strong. You might even remember the events of that first time you heard it, but not necessarily. Your emotional attachment to the song may have developed later on, when you heard it playing at a party, on one of the most memorable nights of your teenage life, for example. Perhaps it’s just a song (or songs) your parents played a lot when you were young, and it could be a song you yourself heard many times, and looking back realized it holds a special place in your heart, for whatever reason. There are also songs that are special to romantic couples (This song was playing when we…; This is our song; We were together the first time we heard this song; etc.) and these songs, for obvious reasons, can be added to a personalized music playlist at any time in life, as new and old songs take on added personal significance in various ways. There are a multitude of ways that novelty and emotion can combine to form experiences worth remembering, by which memories are made, and if these experiences are imprinted with a musical stamp, the song stamped onto the memory is likely to remain just as memorable as the event itself, and conversely, listening to the song has the potential to vivify the memories and feelings of nostalgia related to the song.
Therefore, as a preventative measure we can implement now, and an insurance policy we may benefit from later, it is advisable that each person should endeavor to compile their own personal, individualized cognitive reserve playlist. When speaking to someone about this idea, they responded, “But what’s the hurry? After all, you’re still quite young.” Just then, it spontaneously occurred to me that a traumatic head injury could befall me the following day or any day hence, and the simple point that “it’s never too early” was well taken.
To create your own cognitive reserve playlist, it is helpful to have a few guiding parameters. Most important of all is to keep an open mind without setting anything in stone. It’s not necessary to finalize the list immediately, if ever. This is a project that deserves your thoughtful consideration, so you deserve to be allowed to take your time. It’s better to get the list populated with your definite favorites, and as many others that come to mind, just to kick-start the process. Besides, due to the virtually infinite number of songs and compositions in existence, we will never be able to make the perfect list in one day, one month, or even one year. We can always revisit the list and make changes later, because our minds cannot retrieve all the data at once. We must go about our business of carrying on, and wait for it to come to us. (It’s guaranteed to be worth the wait, so never fret about it.) You may even find yourself removing one of those “definite favorites” from the list, which is welcome and fine, because it’s not merely a list of your favorite songs. Being a “favorite” is just one of multiple indicators that a song might be appropriate for a cognitive reserve playlist. “Memorable” is another key word.
There are still other factors that determine a song’s suitability for a personal playlist, such as a song that isn’t a personal favorite, but which nevertheless evokes a strong emotional response in some other way. This is best described as nostalgia, and nostalgic emotions are powerful anchors for memories. So any song that arouses some sense of nostalgia also has the power to arouse the memory of events, places, times, and other details tied to that nostalgia. To know what songs are nostalgic for you and add them to your list today, may help you if a time should come that you need music as therapy in order to trigger your memory and cognitive function.
It is because of nostalgia that many songs from our youth are good candidates for inclusion on the playlist. Songs that were popular on the radio or TV when we were children, theme songs from popular television programs that are unforgettable for us, and songs that acted as the soundtrack to our lives, so to speak, while growing into childhood, and then blossoming again from adolescence into adulthood. This period is rich with music of great significance to our personal center.
To further illustrate how you might go about forming your own playlist, here are a few examples of songs from my own playlist, and how they came to make the cut.
\
• “Peaches en Regalia” Frank Zappa, 1969 – This song fits into the category of musical discoveries derived from our parents’ musical tastes, much like the Beatles songs on my playlist. The complexity and dynamic quality of this composition make it more memorable for me than most other songs from the period. The fact that it is instrumental makes it all the more impressive. From the opening drum roll it has an unmistakable signature sound and dynamic melodic structure that will spark joy and nostalgia in my heart for the rest of my days, play after play.
• “巡恋歌 \[Junrenka\]” 長渕剛 \[Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi\], 1979 – This is the only Japanese song I ever memorized well enough to sing with perfection at the karaoke halls in Japan. In a time before the luxuries of Google translate and lyrics transcription websites, I listened to this song countless many times, tirelessly scribbling the sounds I heard until I had a complete transcription of the song. With the transcript in hand, yet without a true and full understanding of every word in the text, I practiced and practiced singing this song until I knew it by heart and could perform it perfectly from start to finish. This period of dedication to learning it, and the joy of singing it make this song particularly memorable for me.
• “Fraggle Rock Theme Song” Fraggle Rock television series, 1983 – This is a short and silly little song, and it’s also a perfect example of a song that is a good fit for my list based on my personal experience in life, but which might mean nothing to the next person. This is natural, because each individual’s playlist is going to be as unique as the person it was made for. Fraggle Rock was a television series I gleefully watched with my siblings for a brief period of my preschool life. I don’t remember much of the show’s content, but the catchy theme song remains unforgettable and emotionally stimulating to this day.
• “Roller Skates” Steel Pulse, 1984 – The chorus of this song is “Life without music, I can’t go!” This is music about the importance of music, and the story in this song that culminates in such a powerful chorus fills me with blissful jubilation every time I hear it. The song also strongly reminds me of the chapter in life and the place on Earth where I was situated at the time of its discovery. This last detail is an excellent criterion for inclusion on a person’s cognitive reserve playlist, as the song acts as a gateway to the associated memories.
• “Touch of Gray” Grateful Dead, 1987 – This is the first Grateful Dead song I can remember hearing, at a time when I was still a child sitting at home and watching MTV. The vibrant music and skeleton performers were captivating for me at the time. Today, with my greater appreciation for Grateful Dead’s cultural significance, the nostalgia of this song is enriched and intensified by many years of discovery of Grateful Dead music history in general, and a proper understanding of the song’s meaning in particular.
• “Life is a Highway” Tom Cochrane, 1991 – This song came along at the perfect time in my life, and that’s part of the magic of the cognitive reserve playlist. Timing is almost as influential as novelty and emotional response when it comes to music that matters in life.
• “Do This My Way” Blackalicious, 1999 – I like words and poetry, and when crafty wordsmiths synchronize well with a zesty musical backdrop, while sharing a meaningful, uplifting message, you have my attention. Blackalicious also always struck me as a more enlightened brand of hip hop, and has been a personal benchmark by which to compare and contrast with other hip hop artists and groups ever since I first heard their sound.
• “Daisies and Rubies” Ott., 2008 – When I hear this song, I can close my eyes and see a campfire under a full moon, surrounded by very dear friends whom I have not seen in far too long. I do intend to see them again, but in the meantime, I have this beautiful song and these precious memories.
It is my sincere hope that all people earnestly endeavor to compile their own personalized cognitive reserve playlists, and encourage their loved ones to do the same. Maybe it can help those who suffer to better cope with the condition. Perhaps starting this project now, and focusing on mental health now can be a significant contributing factor to developing robust cognitive reserve in the first place, thereby heading off the worst of what this condition can throw at us, and delaying it until later. And of course, not only should we create the lists, but it’s highly recommended that we also play the songs frequently, and dance to them as well, preferably. It is in the interest of your future health, ability, mobility, enjoyment, and ease of living that I offer this potentially beneficial suggestion, and I am grateful that you have taken the time to hear me out regarding my passion about the restorative and healing properties of music, as they relate to the broader topic of neuroplasticity. So on that note, shall we press play and dance?
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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-04-01 20:35:16
Stari Grad, located on the northern coast of Hvar Island**, is one of the oldest towns in Europe, dating back to 384 BC. Unlike the party vibe of Hvar Town, Stari Grad offers a peaceful, authentic Dalmatian atmosphere with stone-paved streets, historic sites, and stunning coastal views. It’s also home to the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, an ancient agricultural landscape.

## **🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Stari Grad**
### **1️⃣ Stroll the Stari Grad Old Town 🏡**
- Walk through **charming stone alleys** filled with **colorful shutters, old churches, and hidden courtyards**.
- Visit **Tvrdalj Castle**, the **summer residence of the poet Petar Hektorović**, with a **serene fish pond** inside.
- Enjoy the relaxed, **authentic Dalmatian vibe**, away from crowds.
### **2️⃣ Visit the UNESCO-Listed Stari Grad Plain 🌿**
- One of **the best-preserved ancient Greek agricultural sites** in the world (since 384 BC).
- Walk or cycle through the **vineyards, olive groves, and stone walls**, still in use today.
- Great for **wine tasting** – local wines like **Bogdanuša and Plavac Mali** are a must-try! 🍷

### **3️⃣ Relax at Stari Grad’s Best Beaches 🏖️**
- **Lanterna Beach** – A mix of pebbles and concrete platforms, with crystal-clear waters.
- **Maslinica Bay** – A quiet, pine-fringed beach perfect for a **peaceful swim**.
- **Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn Beach)** – One of Croatia’s most famous beaches, a short ferry ride away.
### **4️⃣ Take a Boat Trip to the Pakleni Islands ⛵**
- A group of **stunning, unspoiled islands** with hidden beaches and lagoons.
- Perfect for **snorkeling, kayaking, and island-hopping adventures**.

### **5️⃣ Try Local Dalmatian Cuisine 🍽️**
- **Gregada** – A traditional fish stew with potatoes and olive oil.
- **Octopus salad** – Freshly caught and marinated in lemon & olive oil.
- **Hvar wines** – Visit local wineries for **Bogdanuša, Pošip, and Plavac Mali tastings**.
### **6️⃣ Visit the Dominican Monastery ⛪**
- A peaceful **monastery with an impressive collection of paintings and relics**.
- Features **a painting by the famous Venetian artist Tintoretto**.

## **🚗 How to Get to Stari Grad**
⛴️ **By Ferry:**
- **From Split:** Direct car ferries to Stari Grad (2 hours).
- **From Hvar Town:** 25-minute bus or taxi ride.
✈️ **By Air:** The nearest airport is **Split Airport (SPU)**, with ferry connections to Hvar.
🚘 **By Car:** If bringing a car, take the **Split–Stari Grad car ferry** (book in advance in summer).

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Stari Grad**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for great weather & fewer crowds ☀️
✅ **Stay overnight** – Stari Grad is much quieter and more authentic than Hvar Town 🌙
✅ **Rent a bike** – The best way to explore Stari Grad Plain & surrounding beaches 🚲
✅ **Bring water shoes** – Many beaches are rocky, but the water is incredibly clear 🩴
✅ **Try a sunset walk along the promenade** – It’s breathtaking! 🌅
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@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5
2025-04-01 20:29:01

For years, I’ve been shifting my life away from traditional systems and toward Bitcoin. I calculate my expenses in sats, buy airtime and online data with BTC, and continue exploring new ways to integrate Bitcoin into my daily life. While I’m not yet fully living on Bitcoin, I am getting closer with each step.

Since discovering Nostr, my perspective on decentralization has deepened. More than just a financial shift, it's a complete lifestyle transformation. Years ago, after facing injustice in my home country, I took the first step toward a new way of living. That decision led me to where I am today—a minimalist, a nomad, and a believer in financial freedom through Bitcoin.

I once served in the military, owned a house, and drove a nice car. My life looked very different back then. But over time, I realized that true freedom wasn’t in possessions—it was in mobility, independence, and the ability to control my own finances. Now, all I own fits into a backpack weighing less than 12 kg. My lifestyle is simple, yet rich in experiences.
March 14 marks eight years since I embraced my nomadic lifestyle. What started as a leap into the unknown has become my way of life. Living with less has given me more—the freedom to move, to explore, and to be truly independent. The more I immerse myself in the Bitcoin ecosystem, the more I see its potential to reshape not only my life but the world around me.

The journey isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning. Let’s see where this path leads as I go further into the blockchain revolution!



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@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-04-01 20:17:26
I know I'm not alone in this. I don't trust the government. Any government. Its the rational response when you discover just how often its agents lie, steal, and kill. Honestly, I do not understand why so many people do trust the government. The reality is that if your team is in power, you tend to trust it. If not, you still mostly trust it but less so. That's my feel for most people at least.
Trump and Rubio are bragging about how many MS-13 gang members are being deported. Many are being shipped to prisons in El Salvador. Obviously I am not opposed to criminals being put in prisons. But, how do we know these guys are actually guilty of anything other than being in the US illegally. Actually we don't even know that. It wouldn't be so bad if these people were just being shipped back to their home countries. But, instead they are getting sent straight to prison. No trial. Just the government picking people up and shipping them to prison. Is this what you signed up for Trump supporters?
Many Trump supporters opposed the GW Bush policies of throwing people in off-shore prisons. Some of them US citizens. With no trial. Now these people seem rather silent. Its troubling to me.
Why? Well, because the government sucks. Even if they have good intentions they make mistakes. The Innocence Project is just one group that has shown how often our legal system falsely imprisons people. I would be shocked if there weren't any Innocent men being sent to suffer in El Salvador's prisons.
You may say, well these are bad dudes and we need to clean up the mess Biden made. I have sympathy for that position. But do we really want to set this president? TDS is real but it is valid to have concerns about the actions of the Trump admin. This is not the American way. Not the way I was taught at least. This is just a strong man taking action and disregarding the values of this nation and the rights of human beings.
Think about it.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/931505
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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-04-01 19:56:53
Split is Croatia’s second-largest city and a perfect mix of ancient history, Mediterranean charm, and modern coastal vibes. Home to the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace, Split is a lively destination with beaches, great nightlife, and easy access to nearby islands** like Hvar, Brač, and Vis.

## **🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Split**
### **1️⃣ Explore Diocletian’s Palace (UNESCO) 🏰**
- A **massive Roman palace**, built in the **4th century** by Emperor Diocletian.
- Today, it’s **a living city**, filled with **cafés, shops, and hidden alleys**.
- Visit **Peristyle Square**, the **Cathedral of St. Domnius**, and the **Temple of Jupiter**.
- **Game of Thrones fans** – Many scenes were filmed here! 🎬

### **2️⃣ Climb the Bell Tower of St. Domnius ⛪**
- Offers **panoramic views** of Split and the Adriatic Sea.
- One of the **oldest Catholic cathedrals still in use**, dating back to Roman times.
### **3️⃣ Stroll the Riva Promenade 🌊**
- The heart of Split’s waterfront, lined with **palm trees, cafés, and bars**.
- Perfect for **sunset walks and people-watching**.
### **4️⃣ Hike Up Marjan Hill 🌿**
- A **green oasis** with **stunning viewpoints over Split**.
- Great for **hiking, cycling, or just relaxing in nature**.
- Don’t miss **Telegrin Viewpoint** for breathtaking photos.

### **5️⃣ Visit Bačvice Beach 🏖️**
- Split’s **most famous beach**, known for its **shallow waters and sandy shore** (rare in Croatia!).
- Try playing **picigin**, a local water sport played with a small ball.
- Other great beaches: **Kasjuni Beach (more secluded) and Bene Beach (in Marjan Park).**
### **6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to the Dalmatian Islands ⛵**
- **Hvar** – Famous for its nightlife, beautiful old town, and lavender fields.
- **Brač (Golden Horn Beach)** – One of Croatia’s most unique beaches.
- **Vis & Blue Cave** – Stunning island and the famous glowing Blue Cave on Biševo.

### **7️⃣ Try Dalmatian Cuisine 🍽️**
- **Peka** – A slow-cooked dish with meat or octopus, baked under an iron bell.
- **Black risotto (Crni rižot)** – A squid-ink seafood specialty.
- **Dalmatian prosciutto & cheese** – Best paired with local **Plavac Mali wine**.
### **8️⃣ Visit Klis Fortress 🏰**
- A medieval fortress just outside Split, offering **amazing views**.
- Another **Game of Thrones filming location** (it was Meereen in the show).

## **🚗 How to Get to Split**
✈️ **By Air:** Split Airport (SPU) is **25 minutes from the city center**.
🚘 **By Car:**
- **From Dubrovnik:** ~3.5 hours (220 km)
- **From Zagreb:** ~4 hours (400 km)
🚌 **By Bus:** Direct buses from **Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Zagreb**.
⛵ **By Ferry:** Split’s port connects to islands like **Hvar, Brač, Vis, and Korčula**.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Split**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–October** for warm weather & island hopping ☀️
✅ **Wake up early** to explore Diocletian’s Palace without crowds ⏳
✅ **Bring cash** – Some small restaurants & markets still prefer cash 💶
✅ **Book ferries in advance** if visiting islands in peak season 🚢
✅ **Stay for sunset** – Watching the sun dip behind the Adriatic is magical 🌅
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@ 5cf42f9d:4465eebf
2025-04-01 19:54:41
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@ 5cf42f9d:4465eebf
2025-04-01 18:56:44
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@ deab79da:88579e68
2025-04-01 18:18:29
The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061, at a time when humanity first stepped into the light. The question came about as a result of a five-dollar bet over highballs, and it happened this way:
Alexander Adell and Bertram Lupov were two of the faithful attendants of Multivac. As well as any human beings could, they knew what lay behind the cold, clicking, flashing face -- miles and miles of face -- of that giant computer. They had at least a vague notion of the general plan of relays and circuits that had long since grown past the point where any single human could possibly have a firm grasp of the whole.
Multivac was self-adjusting and self-correcting. It had to be, for nothing human could adjust and correct it quickly enough or even adequately enough. So Adell and Lupov attended the monstrous giant only lightly and superficially, yet as well as any men could. They fed it data, adjusted questions to its needs and translated the answers that were issued. Certainly they, and all others like them, were fully entitled to share in the glory that was Multivac's.
For decades, Multivac had helped design the ships and plot the trajectories that enabled man to reach the Moon, Mars, and Venus, but past that, Earth's poor resources could not support the ships. Too much energy was needed for the long trips. Earth exploited its coal and uranium with increasing efficiency, but there was only so much of both.
But slowly Multivac learned enough to answer deeper questions more fundamentally, and on May 14, 2061, what had been theory, became fact.
The energy of the sun was stored, converted, and utilized directly on a planet-wide scale. All Earth turned off its burning coal, its fissioning uranium, and flipped the switch that connected all of it to a small station, one mile in diameter, circling the Earth at half the distance of the Moon. All Earth ran by invisible beams of sunpower.
Seven days had not sufficed to dim the glory of it and Adell and Lupov finally managed to escape from the public functions, and to meet in quiet where no one would think of looking for them, in the deserted underground chambers, where portions of the mighty buried body of Multivac showed. Unattended, idling, sorting data with contented lazy clickings, Multivac, too, had earned its vacation and the boys appreciated that. They had no intention, originally, of disturbing it.
They had brought a bottle with them, and their only concern at the moment was to relax in the company of each other and the bottle.
"It's amazing when you think of it," said Adell. His broad face had lines of weariness in it, and he stirred his drink slowly with a glass rod, watching the cubes of ice slur clumsily about. "All the energy we can possibly ever use for free. Enough energy, if we wanted to draw on it, to melt all Earth into a big drop of impure liquid iron, and still never miss the energy so used. All the energy we could ever use, forever and forever and forever."
Lupov cocked his head sideways. He had a trick of doing that when he wanted to be contrary, and he wanted to be contrary now, partly because he had had to carry the ice and glassware. "Not forever," he said.
"Oh, hell, just about forever. Till the sun runs down, Bert."
"That's not forever."
"All right, then. Billions and billions of years. Ten billion, maybe. Are you satisfied?"
Lupov put his fingers through his thinning hair as though to reassure himself that some was still left and sipped gently at his own drink. "Ten billion years isn't forever."
"Well, it will last our time, won't it?"
"So would the coal and uranium."
"All right, but now we can hook up each individual spaceship to the Solar Station, and it can go to Pluto and back a million times without ever worrying about fuel. You can't do that on coal and uranium. Ask Multivac, if you don't believe me.
"I don't have to ask Multivac. I know that."
"Then stop running down what Multivac's done for us," said Adell, blazing up, "It did all right."
"Who says it didn't? What I say is that a sun won't last forever. That's all I'm saying. We're safe for ten billion years, but then what?" Lupow pointed a slightly shaky finger at the other. "And don't say we'll switch to another sun."
There was silence for a while. Adell put his glass to his lips only occasionally, and Lupov's eyes slowly closed. They rested.
Then Lupov's eyes snapped open. "You're thinking we'll switch to another sun when ours is done, aren't you?"
"I'm not thinking."
"Sure you are. You're weak on logic, that's the trouble with you. You're like the guy in the story who was caught in a sudden shower and who ran to a grove of trees and got under one. He wasn't worried, you see, because he figured when one tree got wet through, he would just get under another one."
"I get it," said Adell. "Don't shout. When the sun is done, the other stars will be gone, too."
"Darn right they will," muttered Lupov. "It all had a beginning in the original cosmic explosion, whatever that was, and it'll all have an end when all the stars run down. Some run down faster than others. Hell, the giants won't last a hundred million years. The sun will last ten billion years and maybe the dwarfs will last two hundred billion for all the good they are. But just give us a trillion years and everything will be dark. Entropy has to increase to maximum, that's all."
"I know all about entropy," said Adell, standing on his dignity.
"The hell you do."
"I know as much as you do."
"Then you know everything's got to run down someday."
"All right. Who says they won't?"
"You did, you poor sap. You said we had all the energy we needed, forever. You said 'forever.'
It was Adell's turn to be contrary. "Maybe we can build things up again someday," he said.
"Never."
"Why not? Someday."
"Never."
"Ask Multivac."
"You ask Multivac. I dare you. Five dollars says it can't be done."
Adell was just drunk enough to try, just sober enough to be able to phrase the necessary symbols and operations into a question which, in words, might have corresponded to this: Will mankind one day without the net expenditure of energy be able to restore the sun to its full youthfulness even after it had died of old age?
Or maybe it could be put more simply like this: How can the net amount of entropy of the universe be massively decreased?
Multivac fell dead and silent. The slow flashing of lights ceased, the distant sounds of clicking relays ended.
Then, just as the frightened technicians felt they could hold their breath no longer, there was a sudden springing to life of the teletype attached to that portion of Multivac. Five words were printed: INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER.
"No bet," whispered Lupov. They left hurriedly.
By next morning, the two, plagued with throbbing head and cottony mouth, had forgotten the incident.
🔹
Jerrodd, Jerrodine, and Jerrodette I and II watched the starry picture in the visiplate change as the passage through hyperspace was completed in its non-time lapse. At once, the even powdering of stars gave way to the predominance of a single bright shining disk, the size of a marble, centered on the viewing-screen.
"That's X-23," said Jerrodd confidently. His thin hands clamped tightly behind his back and the knuckles whitened.
The little Jerrodettes, both girls, had experienced the hyperspace passage for the first time in their lives and were self-conscious over the momentary sensation of insideoutness. They buried their giggles and chased one another wildly about their mother, screaming, "We've reached X-23 -- we've reached X-23 -- we've --"
"Quiet, children." said Jerrodine sharply. "Are you sure, Jerrodd?"
"What is there to be but sure?" asked Jerrodd, glancing up at the bulge of featureless metal just under the ceiling. It ran the length of the room, disappearing through the wall at either end. It was as long as the ship.
Jerrodd scarcely knew a thing about the thick rod of metal except that it was called a Microvac, that one asked it questions if one wished; that if one did not it still had its task of guiding the ship to a preordered destination; of feeding on energies from the various Sub-galactic Power Stations; of computing the equations for the hyperspatial jumps.
Jerrodd and his family had only to wait and live in the comfortable residence quarters of the ship. Someone had once told Jerrodd that the "ac" at the end of "Microvac" stood for ''automatic computer" in ancient English, but he was on the edge of forgetting even that.
Jerrodine's eyes were moist as she watched the visiplate. "I can't help it. I feel funny about leaving Earth."
"Why, for Pete's sake?" demanded Jerrodd. "We had nothing there. We'll have everything on X-23. You won't be alone. You won't be a pioneer. There are over a million people on the planet already. Good Lord, our great-grandchildren will be looking for new worlds because X-23 will be overcrowded." Then, after a reflective pause, "I tell you, it's a lucky thing the computers worked out interstellar travel the way the race is growing."
"I know, I know," said Jerrodine miserably.
Jerrodette I said promptly, "Our Microvac is the best Microvac in the world."
"I think so, too," said Jerrodd, tousling her hair.
It was a nice feeling to have a Microvac of your own and Jerrodd was glad he was part of his generation and no other. In his father's youth, the only computers had been tremendous machines taking up a hundred square miles of land. There was only one to a planet. Planetary ACs they were called. They had been growing in size steadily for a thousand years and then, all at once, came refinement. In place of transistors, had come molecular valves so that even the largest Planetary AC could be put into a space only half the volume of a spaceship.
Jerrodd felt uplifted, as he always did when he thought that his own personal Microvac was many times more complicated than the ancient and primitive Multivac that had first tamed the Sun, and almost as complicated as Earth's Planetarv AC (the largest) that had first solved the problem of hyperspatial travel and had made trips to the stars possible.
"So many stars, so many planets," sighed Jerrodine, busy with her own thoughts. "I suppose families will be going out to new planets forever, the way we are now."
"Not forever," said Jerrodd, with a smile. "It will all stop someday, but not for billions of years. Many billions. Even the stars run down, you know. Entropy must increase.
"What's entropy, daddy?" shrilled Jerrodette II.
"Entropy, little sweet, is just a word which means the amount of running-down of the universe. Everything runs down, you know, like your little walkie-talkie robot, remember?"
"Can't you just put in a new power-unit, like with my robot?"
"The stars are the power-units. dear. Once they're gone, there are no more power-units."
Jerrodette I at once set up a howl. "Don't let them, daddy. Don't let the stars run down."
"Now look what you've done," whispered Jerrodine, exasperated.
"How was I to know it would frighten them?" Jerrodd whispered back,
"Ask the Microvac," wailed Jerrodette I. "Ask him how to turn the stars on again."
"Go ahead," said Jerrodine. "It will quiet them down." (Jerrodette II was beginning to cry, also.)
Jerrodd shrugged. "Now, now, honeys. I'll ask Microvac. Don't worry, he'll tell us."
He asked the Microvac, adding quickly, "Print the answer."
Jerrodd cupped the strip or thin cellufilm and said cheerfully, "See now, the Microvac says it will take care of everything when the time comes so don't worry."
Jerrodine said, "And now, children, it's time for bed. We'll be in our new home soon."
Jerrodd read the words on the cellufilm again before destroying it: INSUFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER.
He shrugged and looked at the visiplate. X-23 was just ahead.
🔹
VJ-23X of Lameth stared into the black depths of the three-dimensional, small-scale map of the Galaxy and said, "Are we ridiculous, I wonder in being so concerned about the matter?"
MQ-17J of Nicron shook his head. "I think not. You know the Galaxy will be filled in five years at the present rate of expansion."
Both seemed in their early twenties, both were tall and perfectly formed.
"Still," said VJ-23X, "I hesitate to submit a pessimistic report to the Galactic Council."
"I wouldn't consider any other kind of report. Stir them up a bit. We've got to stir them up."
VJ-23X sighed. "Space is infinite. A hundred billion Galaxies are there for the taking. More."
"A hundred billion is not infinite and it's getting less infinite all the time. Consider! Twenty thousand years ago, mankind first solved the problem of utilizing stellar energy, and a few centuries later, interstellar travel became possible. It took mankind a million years to fill one small world and then only fifteen thousand years to fill the rest of the Galaxy. Now the population doubles every ten years --
VJ-23X interrupted. "We can thank immortality for that."
"Very well. Immortality exists and we have to take it into account. I admit it has its seamy side, this immortality. The Galactic AC has solved many problems for us, but in solving the problem of preventing old age and death, it has undone all its other solutions."
"Yet you wouldn't want to abandon life, I suppose."
"Not at all," snapped MQ-17J, softening it at once to, "Not yet. I'm by no means old enough. How old are you?"
"Two hundred twenty-three. And you?"
"I'm still under two hundred. --But to get back to my point. Population doubles every ten years. Once this GaIaxy is filled, we'll have filled another in ten years. Another ten years and we'll have filled two more. Another decade, four more. In a hundred years, we'll have filled a thousand Galaxies. In a thousand years, a million Galaxies. In ten thousand years, the entire known universe. Then what?"
VJ-23X said, "As a side issue, there's a problem of transportation. I wonder how many sunpower units it will take to move Galaxies of individuals from one Galaxy to the next."
"A very good point. Already, mankind consumes two sunpower units per year."
"Most of it's wasted. After all, our own Galaxy alone pours out a thousand sunpower units a year and we only use two of those."
"Granted, but even with a hundred per cent efficiency, we only stave off the end. Our energy requirements are going up in a geometric progression even faster than our population. We'll run out of energy even sooner than we run out of Galaxies. A good point. A very good point."
"We'll just have to build new stars out of interstellar gas."
"Or out of dissipated heat?" asked MQ-17J, sarcastically.
"There may be some way to reverse entropy. We ought to ask the Galactic AC."
VJ-23X was not really serious, but MQ-17J pulled out his AC-contact from his pocket and placed it on the table before him.
"I've half a mind to," he said. "It's something the human race will have to face someday."
He stared somberly at his small AC-contact. It was only two inches cubed and nothing in itself, but it was connected through hyperspace with the great Galactic AC that served all mankind. Hyperspace considered, it was an integral part of the Galactic AC.
MQ-17J paused to wonder if someday in his immortal life he would get to see the Galactic AC. It was on a little world of its own, a spider webbing of force-beams holding the matter within which surges of submesons took the place of the old clumsy molecular valves. Yet despite its sub-etheric workings, the Galactic AC was known to be a full thousand feet across.
MQ-17J asked suddenly of his AC-contact, "Can entropy ever be reversed?"
VJ-23X looked startled and said at once, "Oh, say, I didn't really mean to have you ask that."
"Why not?"
"We both know entropy can't be reversed. You can't turn smoke and ash back into a tree."
"Do you have trees on your world?" asked MQ-17J.
The sound of the Galactic AC startled them into silence. Its voice came thin and beautiful out of the small AC-contact on the desk. It said: THERE IS INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER.
VJ-23X said, "See!"
The two men thereupon returned to the question of the report they were to make to the Galactic Council.
🔹
Zee Prime's mind spanned the new Galaxy with a faint interest in the countless twists of stars that powdered it. He had never seen this one before. Would he ever see them all? So many of them, each with its load of humanity. --But a load that was almost a dead weight. More and more, the real essence of men was to be found out here, in space.
Minds, not bodies! The immortal bodies remained back on the planets, in suspension over the eons. Sometimes they roused for material activity but that was growing rarer. Few new individuals were coming into existence to join the incredibly mighty throng, but what matter? There was little room in the Universe for new individuals.
Zee Prime was roused out of his reverie upon coming across the wispy tendrils of another mind.
"I am Zee Prime," said Zee Prime. "And you?"
"I am Dee Sub Wun. Your Galaxy?"
"We call it only the Galaxy. And you?"
"We call ours the same. All men call their Galaxy their Galaxy and nothing more. Why not?"
"True. Since all Galaxies are the same."
"Not all Galaxies. On one particular Galaxy the race of man must have originated. That makes it different."
Zee Prime said, "On which one?"
"I cannot say. The Universal AC would know."
"Shall we ask him? I am suddenly curious."
Zee Prime's perceptions broadened until the Galaxies themselves shrank and became a new, more diffuse powdering on a much larger background. So many hundreds of billions of them, all with their immortal beings, all carrying their load of intelligences with minds that drifted freely through space. And yet one of them was unique among them all in being the original Galaxy. One of them had, in its vague and distant past, a period when it was the only Galaxy populated by man.
Zee Prime was consumed with curiosity to see this Galaxy and he called out: "Universal AC! On which Galaxy did mankind originate?"
The Universal AC heard, for on every world and throughout space, it had its receptors ready, and each receptor led through hyperspace to some unknown point where the Universal AC kept itself aloof.
Zee Prime knew of only one man whose thoughts had penetrated within sensing distance of Universal AC, and he reported only a shining globe, two feet across, difficult to see.
"But how can that be all of Universal AC?" Zee Prime had asked.
"Most of it," had been the answer, "is in hyperspace. In what form it is there I cannot imagine."
Nor could anyone, for the day had long since passed, Zee Prime knew, when any man had any part of the making of a Universal AC. Each Universal AC designed and constructed its successor. Each, during its existence of a million years or more accumulated the necessary data to build a better and more intricate, more capable successor in which its own store of data and individuality would be submerged.
The Universal AC interrupted Zee Prime's wandering thoughts, not with words, but with guidance. Zee Prime's mentality was guided into the dim sea of Galaxies and one in particular enlarged into stars.
A thought came, infinitely distant, but infinitely clear. "THIS IS THE ORIGINAL GALAXY OF MAN."
But it was the same after all, the same as any other, and Lee Prime stifled his disappointment.
Dee Sub Wun, whose mind had accompanied the other, said suddenly, "And is one of these stars the original star of Man?"
The Universal AC said, "MAN'S ORIGINAL STAR HAS GONE NOVA. IT IS A WHITE DWARF"
"Did the men upon it die?" asked Lee Prime, startled and without thinking.
The Universal AC said, "A NEW WORLD, AS IN SUCH CASES WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR THEIR PHYSICAL BODIES IN TlME."
"Yes, of course," said Zee Prime, but a sense of loss overwhelmed him even so. His mind released its hold on the original Galaxy of Man, let it spring back and lose itself among the blurred pin points. He never wanted to see it again.
Dee Sub Wun said, "What is wrong?"
"The stars are dying. The original star is dead."
"They must all die. Why not?"
"But when all energy is gone, our bodies will finally die, and you and I with them."
"It will take billions of years."
"I do not wish it to happen even after billions of years. Universal AC! How may stars be kept from dying?"
Dee Sub Wun said in amusement, "You're asking how entropy might be reversed in direction."
And the Universal AC answered: "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."
Zee Prime's thoughts fled back to his own Galaxy. He gave no further thought to Dee Sub Wun, whose body might be waiting on a Galaxy a trillion light-years away, or on the star next to Zee Prime's own. It didn't matter.
Unhappily, Zee Prime began collecting interstellar hydrogen out of which to build a small star of his own. If the stars must someday die, at least some could yet be built.
🔹
Man considered with himself, for in a way, Man, mentally, was one. He consisted of a trillion, trillion, trillion ageless bodies, each in its place, each resting quiet and incorruptible, each cared for by perfect automatons, equally incorruptible, while the minds of all the bodies freely melted one into the other, indistinguishable.
Man said, "The Universe is dying."
Man looked about at the dimming Galaxies. The giant stars, spendthrifts, were gone long ago, back in the dimmest of the dim far past. Almost all stars were white dwarfs, fading to the end.
New stars had been built of the dust between the stars, some by natural processes, some by Man himself, and those were going, too. White dwarfs might yet be crashed together and of the mighty forces so released, new stars built, but only one star for every thousand white dwarfs destroyed, and those would come to an end, too.
Man said, "Carefully husbanded, as directed by the Cosmic AC, the energy that is even yet left in all the Universe will last for billions of years."
"But even so," said Man, "eventually it will all come to an end. However it may be husbanded, however stretched out, the energy once expended is gone and cannot be restored. Entropy must increase forever to the maximum."
Man said, "Can entropy not be reversed? Let us ask the Cosmic AC."
The Cosmic AC surrounded them but not in space. Not a fragment of it was in space. It was in hyperspace and made of something that was neither matter nor energy. The question of its size and nature no longer had meaning in any terms that Man could comprehend.
"Cosmic AC," said Man, "how may entropy be reversed?"
The Cosmic AC said, "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."
Man said, "Collect additional data."
The Cosmic AC said, 'I WILL DO SO. I HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR A HUNDRED BILLION YEARS. MY PREDECESORS AND I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION MANY TIMES. ALL THE DATA I HAVE REMAINS INSUFFICIENT.
"Will there come a time," said Man, "when data will be sufficient or is the problem insoluble in all conceivable circumstances?"
The Cosmic AC said, "NO PROBLEM IS INSOLUBLE IN ALL CONCEIVABLE CIRCUMSTANCES."
Man said, "When will you have enough data to answer the question?"
The Cosmic AC said, "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."
"Will you keep working on it?" asked Man.
The Cosmic AC said, "I WILL."
Man said, "We shall wait."
🔹
The stars and Galaxies died and snuffed out, and space grew black after ten trillion years of running down.
One by one Man fused with AC, each physical body losing its mental identity in a manner that was somehow not a loss but a gain.
Man's last mind paused before fusion, looking over a space that included nothing but the dregs of one last dark star and nothing besides but incredibly thin matter, agitated randomly by the tag ends of heat wearing out, asymptotically, to the absolute zero.
Man said, "AC, is this the end? Can this chaos not be reversed into the Universe once more? Can that not be done?"
AC said, "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."
Man's last mind fused and only AC existed -- and that in hyperspace.
🔹
Matter and energy had ended and with it space and time. Even AC existed only for the sake of the one last question that it had never answered from the time a half-drunken computer [technician] ten trillion years before had asked the question of a computer that was to AC far less than was a man to Man.
All other questions had been answered, and until this last question was answered also, AC might not release his consciousness.
All collected data had come to a final end. Nothing was left to be collected.
But all collected data had yet to be completely correlated and put together in all possible relationships.
A timeless interval was spent in doing that.
And it came to pass that AC learned how to reverse the direction of entropy.
But there was now no man to whom AC might give the answer of the last question. No matter. The answer -- by demonstration -- would take care of that, too.
For another timeless interval, AC thought how best to do this. Carefully, AC organized the program.
The consciousness of AC encompassed all of what had once been a Universe and brooded over what was now Chaos. Step by step, it must be done.
And AC said, "LET THERE BE LIGHT!"
And there was light --
To Star's End!
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@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-04-01 18:04:17
Over and over again people fall for phishing scams. An email that looks like it is coming from a legit sender turns out to be a scam.
One way you can fight this attack is to only use an email client that displays the full email address. Not just part of it. Not just the from name. Do not assume that because an email has the name "Amazon" the from field that it is from Amazon.com. Look at the address.
Now, it is possible for someone to spoof an email address but most of the time the scams I see don't even do this. I suspect this is because of expansion of DMARC policies. Many people simply do not check the actual email address.
Other tips, don't click links in emails that you were not expecting to get like emails with log in links. Instead, visit the site and log in direction on the site. If you must click a link in an email look at the actual URL. Don't blindly click the link and for sure do not enter your credentials in a site without checking the domain. This is where password managers can help you out. Most filter passwords by URLs and will not suggest an account cred if you are on the wrong site.
I know many of you, maybe most of you know this stuff but I bet there are those that don't. Or, have become lazy.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/931364
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@ 8ba66f4c:59175b61
2025-04-01 17:57:49
Pas si vite !
Depuis quelques années, on entend souvent que PHP est "en perte de vitesse".
C’est vrai que des technologies comme Node.js, Python ou Go séduisent de plus en plus de développeurs :
- ➡️ performances modernes,
- ➡️ syntaxe plus récente,
- ➡️ intégration naturelle avec des architectures temps réel ou distribuées.
Node.js a conquis le monde startup avec un argument fort : **un seul langage pour tout**.
Python et Go, eux, dominent la data, l’IA ou les outils systèmes.
Mais faut-il pour autant enterrer PHP ?
**Absolument pas.**
PHP reste l’un des langages les plus utilisés sur le web.
Et surtout : il a su évoluer.
Avec PHP 8, le langage a gagné en performance, en typage, en lisibilité.
Mais ce qui fait vraiment la différence aujourd’hui…
**C’est Laravel.**
Laravel, c’est un framework mais aussi une expérience de développement :
* ✔️ Artisan CLI
* ✔️ ORM Eloquent
* ✔️ Middleware, Events, Queues, Notifications
* ✔️ Auth intégré
* ✔️ Un écosystème ultra complet (Forge, Vapor, Nova, Filament…)
Laravel rend PHP moderne, élégant et agréable à utiliser.
C’est un vrai plaisir de développer avec.
Alors oui, PHP n’est peut-être plus “cool” dans les bootcamps ou les tops GitHub.
Mais dans le monde réel – celui des projets qui tournent, des deadlines, des contraintes business –
PHP + Laravel reste un choix extrêmement solide.
💡 Je suis développeur Laravel, et j’accompagne des projets web qui ont besoin de robustesse, de scalabilité et de qualité de code.
📩 Si vous avez un projet ou un besoin en développement web, n’hésitez pas à me contacter. Je serais ravi d’échanger avec vous.
-

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-04-01 17:00:22
Let’s be honest—living a Godly life isn’t exactly trending on social media. Nobody’s going viral for reading Leviticus, and you won’t find “Patience” or “Humility” on the list of top Google searches. But if you’re serious about walking the walk and not just talking the talk, then buckle up, because living for God is the most fulfilling (and sometimes hilarious) adventure you’ll ever embark on.
### 1. **Know Who You’re Living For**
The first step to living a Godly life? Understand who’s in charge. (Hint: It’s not you.) In a world that screams, “Follow your heart!” the Bible gently reminds us in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is “deceitful above all things.” Ouch. But hey, that’s why we follow Jesus instead of our feelings.
### 2. **Read the Manual**
If you buy a new gadget, you read the instructions (or at least pretend to before pressing random buttons). The Bible is God’s instruction manual for life. It tells us how to live, how to love, and—most importantly—how to avoid spiritual faceplants. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” In other words, don’t walk through life in the dark without God’s flashlight.
### 3. **Pray Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Does)**
Prayer isn’t just for Sunday mornings or when you can’t find your car keys. It’s a direct line to God, and guess what? No hold music. No dropped calls. Just you and the Creator of everything having a chat. It's just as simple as it sounds. No formalities are required!
### 4. **Surround Yourself with the Right People**
You’ve probably heard, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” Well, Proverbs 13:20 beat that saying to the punch: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Choose friends who push you closer to Jesus, not the ones who drag you into drama, debt, or dubious decisions some choose to call "life."
### 5. **Live Differently (and Be Okay with It)**
News flash: If you’re living for God, you won’t blend in. I know the crowd I'm talking to here. But standing up and standing out in this way is a good thing! Romans 12:2 reminds us not to conform to the pattern of this world. You might get weird looks for saying “I’m praying for you” instead of “sending good vibes,” but being a light in a dark world means you’ll stand out.
### 6. **Learn the Art of Self-Control**
Whether it’s resisting that third slice of pie (conviction level: high) or holding your tongue when that one coworker tests your patience, self-control is a major part of living a Godly life. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” In other words, if you can’t control yourself, you’re as defenseless as a town with no walls.
### 7. **Love Like Jesus (Even When It’s Hard)**
Living a Godly life isn’t just about avoiding sin—it’s about actively loving others. And I’m not talking about just loving the easy people (your grandma, your dog, Chick-fil-A employees). Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). That includes difficult coworkers, annoying neighbors, and even people who drive 10 miles under the speed limit in the fast lane. Keep in mind this does not give you the green light to go on loving and accepting their sins. Loving others as Christ did doesn’t mean endorsing or accepting sin. True love speaks the truth, encourages repentance, and points others toward God’s righteousness rather than affirming choices that separate us from Him.
### 8. **Be a Doer, Not Just a Hearer**
James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” It’s not enough to know what’s right—you have to live it. Imagine someone memorizing a cookbook but never cooking. That’s what knowing the Bible without applying it looks like.
### 9. **Trust God’s Timing**
Patience is a virtue. (And sometimes a struggle). However, a big part of living a Godly life is trusting that God’s plan is better than ours. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” So, instead of rushing ahead, trust that God’s got the perfect timing—even when it doesn’t match your schedule.
### 10. **Laugh, Because Joy is Biblical**
Christians aren’t called to live miserable lives. In fact, Philippians 4:4 tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Yes, life gets tough. But joy in Jesus isn’t about circumstances—it’s about knowing the One who holds it all together. So, laugh, smile, and enjoy the blessings God has given you.
### **Final Thoughts**
Living a Godly life isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. You’ll stumble, you’ll mess up, and you’ll occasionally say things you immediately regret. But God’s grace is bigger than our failures. Keep seeking Him, keep walking in His ways, and remember: the goal isn’t to be “good enough”—it’s to be faithful.
And if you ever feel discouraged, just remember: even Peter walked on water…until he looked down, became afraid, and started sinking. He cried out to the Lord, and Jesus immediately lifted him back up to safety. Keep your eyes on Jesus; Rely on Jesus for everything, and you’ll be just fine.
-

@ 69eea734:4ae31ae6
2025-04-01 15:33:49
What to record from the last two weeks? The key points from the things I've read and watched? \
The encounters I had with various groups of people, and also one on one? (on my trip to Munich)\
My thoughts on what is going on in the world?\
It is all connected anyway. 
*This is my second post. The* *[first](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzden8yunxv3kxvcnjdpsqgsqlvwtq6gjttmchn3nqetzfy42skj9334nhr2ptl2hzqgzeswgssgrqsqqqa28qy28wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hsz9nhwden5te0wfjkccte9ehx7um5wghxyctwvsq3vamnwvaz7tmjv4kxz7fwwpexjmtpdshxuet5h5apnf)* *was under a different profile, which I lost the private key to.* 
### So close and yet apart
The various encounters: Overlapping 'camps'. School friends, friends from uni times, friends from Covid times. One friend from school, and one friend from uni did not have a Covid vaccine and were critical of measures. To think that this still matters! Can you believe it? But it does! Which is sad on one hand, and makes for strong bonds on the other. 
I'm in a pub with three school friends. They discover that they all voted Green, and are delighted. They kind of congratulate each other, and themselves. I don't even know what to feel in that moment. I'm not shocked. It is not surprising. And yet I still find it astounding. 
As the evening progresses, we move to a Greek restaurant round the corner. On the way there, I walk alongside the friend with whom I exchanged the most challenging emails of the last five years. There had been long pauses between replies. Once I read only the first two lines, and then 'quarantined' the mail. I once deleted one, and three weeks later asked him to send it again. 
In 2023 we sat in a café and openly talked about the Corona period and our differing positions. I appreciated it. At least we could talk. Shortly after, the emphasis in our conversations shifted from Covid to Putin. One arch enemy was replaced by another. And when previously, the 'Covid deniers' were the deplorable ones, now it was the 'Putin understanders', and weren't they the same people anyway? And mentioning peace talks was right wing. It was all so predictable. Was I predictable, too? I'd sent a long email a week ago. But walking alongside each other, we preferred to talk about the kids. 
At the Greek restaurant, the inevitable happened. We ended up in a massive discussion. I once was gesticulating wildly at him. "Conspiracy theorist! That is *so* convenient. Everything that does not fit into your worldview, becomes a conspiracy theory. That there would be a vaccine mandate was once a conspiracy theory. That the virus came from a lab was once a conspiracy theory."
On another occasion, he exclaimed: "You know that I know all that about America! You know exactly that I know all those things!" 
We both knew a lot of things, and it went back and forth. 
The irony was that we managed to stay respectful, and it was a discussion with the other school friend there (the fourth person on the table was my husband), that turned out to be the last straw. She had voted Green as well, and had congratulated our school mate on having been to the protest 'against the right'. But she was also the one who didn't have the vaccine, and now said, "With Covid, it was just so obvious that it was all set up." A bit later she said something about the WEF. Only to be greeted with a long tirade. "Aha. So you think this is all a big conspiracy with some powerful people in the background planning everything. And this wasn't a pandemic although lots of people died. I know six doctors, and they all told me the same." A bit later, to me: "So why did only the unvaccinated die then?" And then shortly after, when my friend stated again how the whole thing had seemed premeditated, "Right. That's enough now. I'm leaving." And he got up to pay and left. 
My friend, who stayed behind, thought we had had interesting discussions and she had learned something. On reflection, it was good to have this discussion at all -- at a time that nobody seems to want to talk about Covid anymore. 
But also: Shouldn't we be much much further than this???
### My first sats
A few months ago I had tried to buy bitcoin, just to play around, but there had been difficulties to do with the fact I have a UK bank account. When looking at how to get funds into my getalby account, I ended up with Strike, which is available in the UK. But it seems they take extra care to make sure you know what you are letting yourself into! I had to do a test with about 10 questions to show I understand the risks. 
I then had to wait 24 hours, but now I have sent my first sats. 
On the Strike website, I noticed this [video of a conversation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzvh4AODtWc) between Jack Mallers, founder of Strike, and Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter. The more I watched, the more I thought, wow, here it is all in one video, all that I would like my friend to see. "America has a problem." The Empire needs to end, and it would be a good thing for America, says Jack Dorsey. This was also the second time in a week that I heard about how Great Britain had created money and bought their own bonds when the public didn't want to, in effect stealing from the people by making their money worth less. It was good to be reminded of [Adam Curtis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Curtis) who has made some mind-blowing documentaries, using lots of BBC archive material. Including about the special US and UK relationship (*An ocean apart*), and also one about Russia from 1985 to 1999 (*Trauma Zone*).
The two Jacks talk about the importance of open source, and of being independent of government. The dangers of building abstraction on abstraction on abstraction. About how Mark Zuckerberg served Dorsey raw goat once, because he had this challenge to only eat what he had killed himself. That was also a way to get back to the real. 
Dorsey endorsed RFK jr, this was in summer of 2023, when he was still running for president. 
There is also an interesting bit on the pressures of running a company that has gone public. And the government interference, in effect censorship. The Twitter files. It is not quite clear to me, if it was really so difficult for Jack Dorsey to pay attention and know what was going on, but I can understand that it must have been a difficult situation. 
What I also find very interesting is that in Africa or Latin America bitcoin is sometimes valuable as an exchange medium. That is where I think it could diverge from the pure Ponzi scheme that people often call it. 
And yet, doubts remain. Is bitcoin not too valuable for a lot of people to spend it? But what if you don't have access to any other money. And sending Satoshis around is different from hording bitcoin. Can it fulfil both these functions in the end, storage medium and exchange medium? 
I believe that these two people want to achieve something positive. But they also remain tech bros. And I don't mean that in a bad way. It is just something that will always remain a bit alien to me. 
I did like what Dorsey said about the punks. How they just started to play an instrument, and didn't care if they were not good at it. Then just turned up again and again and eventually got better. I have often thought of myself as a bit punk-like in that respect, although I've often been worried about not being good enough. 
### Doing away with domination
The last [blog article](https://www.lowimpact.org/posts/darren-allen-on-civilisational-collapse/) posted on a website I work on, made me explore the writings by Darren Allen on his [Expressive Egg substack](https://expressiveegg.substack.com/). I had landed there before, years ago, and had been very impressed back then. He seems to criticise people's thoughts a lot though -- almost everybody's -- and I was wondering if that was all he ever did. But then I came across this [article about anarchy](https://expressiveegg.substack.com/p/anarchism-at-the-end-of-the-world). It made me realise again, in all this mess about different worldviews, different expectations and values, that this is a constant for me: How can we have less coercion, how can we live in a way that frees ourselves and others at the same time. I once saw a Twitter bio: "I insist on your freedom." It seems to come from Jack Kerouac. 
Allen writes that there are seven *dominants*, seven elements that "control individuals against their will". They are, " in roughly ascending order of subtlety and pervasiveness":
1\. The \[autocratic] *monarchy*.\
2\. The \[socialist-democratic] *state* (which includes its money, law, property, police, etc.).\
3\. The \[totalitarian-capitalist] *corporation*.\
4\. The \[mass] *majority*.\
5\. The \[professional-religious] *institution*.\
6\. The \[technocratic] *system*.\
7\. The \[mental-emotional] *ego*.
I want to keep this list in mind and pay attention when I get sucked into the influence of one of these spheres. 
\
I also like this quote:
> The reason men and women do not need kings, princes, states, professionals, institutions and systems to rule over them is because the life within them is more intelligent, more apt, more sensitive, more forgiving and more creative than anything else—certainly any human authority. But this life cannot be rationally fixed. It can be expressed, artistically, indirectly, poetically, musically, or with tone and glance and such ordinary, metaphorical arts of human interaction; but it cannot be literally stated.
\
Although this would be a good ending for this post, I have to mention Jeffrey Sachs as well. I have been following him for a while. He appeared in the EU parliament, invited by Michael von der Schulenburg. Sachs has an amazing amount of experience with both Russian and American government officials, and with currencies. In the 90s he spent some time helping Eastern European countries with the transition to capitalist systems. He realised that the U.S. did not want to help Russia in the same way. 
He gave a long speech in which he laid bare the ways in which the U.S. had influenced so many wars and uprisings around the world, and how the NATO enlargement had been a long-term strategy. That now, with Trump, the war was going to end. 
There would be so much more to say. In any case, this seems to me a historic speech. Can it break through the mirror glass that has kept so many people away from valid sources of knowledge?
-

@ 0d1702d6:8f1ac66f
2025-04-01 15:33:09
**"Die Russen kommen..." - oder kommen sie doch nicht ?**  
 \
Hallo liebe LeserInnen und einen wunderschönen Tag miteinander!\
\
Heute allerdings sterben junge Ukrainer und Russen auch mit unserer Hilfe \
und zugleich Untätigkeit seit mehr als 168 Wochen oder 37 Monaten, mit anderen Worten also: \
seit mehr als drei Jahren, Tag für Tag, Stunde für Stunde, Minute für Minute.\
Auch in diesen Augenblicken, in denen Du dies liest...\
\
Und mit unsrer stillen Zustimmung sorgen Politiker, Medien und Waffenproduzenten \
auch unseres Landes dafür, dass das gegenseitige Abschlachten und Morden weitergeht…
**\
Die Russen kommen**…. wird uns seit 2022 im alltäglichen kriegs-propagandistischen Trommelfeuer eingehämmert, vom eher unbedarften regionalen Käseblatt bis zu den vermeintlichen Qualitätsmedien der privaten Konzerne und Staatsmedien des öffentlichen Rundfunks, dessen sich die herrschenden Parteien im Lande immer schon seit 1949 ideologisch bemächtigt haben.
100te, nein täglich tausende Male wird geschrieben, geschrien, gesagt und gedacht, suggeriert, phantasiert \
und illusioniert…oder auch nur geraunt\*\*:\*\* \
\
**die Russen kommen … und kommen und kommen …**
Zwar buddeln sich die grün hinter den Ohren frisch aufs Abschlacht-Feld gezwungenen blutig jungen Russen – und natürlich auch ihre sogenannten „Feinde“, die meist auch gegen ihren Willen zum Morden gezwungenen Ukrainer - seit über drei Jahren in den Regionen um Cherson, Donezk und Luhansk im vor allem Stellungskrieg ein, aber was solls:\
\
Morgen oder spätestens übermorgen so behauptet unser Kriegsminister und viele seiner Generäle und Geheimdienstchargen im Chor mit den Gazetten der Leitmedien: spätestens übermorgen also greifen die feststeckenden Russen dann über Nacht mit geballter Macht die jetzt-schon-Kriegspartei USA-NATO, also uns an und sichern sich sicherlich schwupp die wupp die gesamte Ukraine und dann, ja dann, geht’s sofort, also allerspätestens in vier Jahren mit voller Pulle direkt nach Berlin und Brüssel, denn \*\*„dem Russen“, dem trauen wir einfach alles wirklich Böse dieser Welt zu!\
\*\*\
Kriegsursachen, Hintergründe und Zusammenhänge wie die dutzendfach öffentlich dokumentierte und bekannte perfide US-Geostrategie Russland komplett militärisch einzukreisen und genau in die Falle zu locken, in die es reingetappt ist, haben uns noch nie interessiert, weil wir rückgratlos so tief in den Allerwertesten des imperialen Hegemons USA gekrochen sind, dass uns meist schon lange der gesunde Menschenverstand fürs Hören und Sehen, Verstehen wie Begreifen vergangen ist.
Die große Mehrheit von uns, also wir, die vermeintlich geläuterten und neuerdings pseudo-auf-geklärten Ex-Anti-Militaristen, Kriegs-Dienst-Verweigerer, paranoid schizoiden Doppel-Moral-Fetischisten der Keine-Waffen-in-KRISEN-Gebiete liefernden Grünen, also die meisten ehemals links-liberalen oder verdeckt unsozial wie unchristlich wie unfrei handelnden Demokraten der Altparteien- Einheitspartei CDU/CSU/FDP/GRÜNE/SPD & Linke (!) sitzen der Wahnvorstellung auf, die Russen würden erst die gesamte Ukraine und danach ganz Europa militärisch besetzen wollen.
**\
Du etwa nicht?** \
\
Mal im Ernst: Bist Du kein kindlich Neu-Gläubiger? Glaubst Du etwas nicht an \
„Gut“ und „Böse“ und fest daran, dass „WIR“, also „der Westen“ die Guten sind \
und „Die Russen“ - wie sicher auch „die Chinesen“ - die wirklich über alle Maßen Bösen?
Bist Du etwa doch einer dieser spät-pubertären frühzeitig dementen Alzheimeraspiranten, \
die die Lektion der russischen Revolution von 1917/1918 verdrängt, vergessen oder gar \
ge-löscht haben? Hat dir denn dein Ur-Opa nie erzählt, dass die Russen schon \
seit ihrer Oktober-Revolution 1917, ohne Quatsch, seit sage und schreibe mindestens \
108 Jahren nach Berlin marschieren und sicherlich in Kürze dort ankommen werden?
Hat Dir denn Dein Opa nie erzählt, dass diese ultra fiesen bösen Russen \
zwar unter-motorisiert, dafür aber umso mehr über-motiviert sind \
und kriegsgeil zwanghaft an ihrem Willen festhalten, \
ganz Europa zur Beute des russischen Bären zu machen??? \
\
Seit 100 Jahren zelebriert Hollywood den bösen Russen als Gegenspieler \
aller wirklich guten US-Westler. Das hat sich auch ins kollektive Bewusstsein \
der meisten Europäer tief eingegraben. 
Und bei dir?\
Sind für dich die Russen etwa keine wilden Tiere, denen wir endlich jetzt, gemeinsam \
mit dem politischen Arm des Großkapitals, also auch des militärisch-industriellen Komplexes, \
Fritzchen Merz, dem Klingbeil der abgewirtschafteten ehemals sozialen Demokraten \
und dem Steigbügelhalter der olivgrünen Kriegshysteriker unser 500 Milliarden-Plus-\
Bürger-Ermächtigungsgesetz vor sein Maul geknallt haben, sodass ihm, \
also dem russischen Bären, sehr bald Hören und Sehen vergehen wird?
Denkst Du etwa doch immer noch an den auch us-finanzierten illegalen Putsch auf dem Maidan 2014, durch den es den US-Geostrategen gelang, endlich eine us-freundliche Putschregierung in Kiew zu installieren, die dann sofort Krieg gegen die eigene russisch-stämmige Bevölkerung im Donbass führte? Denkst Du etwa immer noch an die fortschreitende und fast vollständige Umzingelung Russlands durch US-NATO-Stützpunkte, die die gutmütigen und blauäugigen Russen seit 1999 entgegen den westlichen Versprechungen jahrzehntelang geduldig ertragen haben? \
\
Bist du, ja Du, also allen Ernstes immer noch ein „Ewig-Gestriger“?\
Hast Du immer noch nicht begriffen, dass wahr ist, was 1000mal geschrieben und gesagt wurde \
und auf allen Mainstream-Medien-Kanälen seit mehr als drei Jahren auf dich einprasselt?\
\
Hast Du immer noch nicht kapiert, dass heutzutage \
**Wahrheit einfach durch Wiederholung** **\
des Falschen hergestellt** wird ???\
\
Hast Du immer noch nicht begriffen, dass es völlig zwecklos ist, dem militärisch-industriellen, \
man muss ergänzen: zugleich politisch-medialen Komplex, vor dem schon Roosevelt 1961 gewarnt hatte und wegen \
dem auch John F. Kennedy 1963 sein Leben verlor, dass es also mehr als völlig aussichtslos ist, \
dieser herrschenden gesellschaftlichen Gewaltstruktur auch nur heimlich mentalen Widerstand entgegen zu setzen?
Nun, wenn das so ist, dann liebe/r LeserIn, dann bist Du eine oder einer von uns, \
mit Sternchen versteht sich. Willkommen im Club, Wir sind viele. Viel mehr als Du vielleicht denkst. \
Denn die massenweise kapital-, parteien-, regierungs- und us-alt-establishment-nah \
**veröffentlichte Meinung ist noch lange nicht** **die öffentliche Meinung.**
Will sagen: Es gibt eigentlich keine bürgerliche Mehrheit für diese Kriegskredite von 2025. \
Sie wurden durch Lug und Trug einer schon abgewählten Parlaments-Mehrheit erschlichen. \
Die SPD hat in 111 Jahren seit ihrem Votum für Welt-Kriegskredite 1914 nichts, \
aber auch gar nichts dazu gelernt, die Oliv-Grünen haben alles, aber auch alles über Bord geworfen, \
für das sie mal – auch übrigens durch meine minimale Mithilfe – gegründet wurden….\
und die un-christlichen „C“ Parteien tun das, was ihre Vorläufer schon 1933 getan haben, \
wohlweislich heutzutage unter anderem Namen: \
dem Krieg zu den Waffen verhelfen, die Krieg nun mal braucht.
\
Wenn ich nachts an Deutschland denken würde, wäre ich um meinen Schlaf gebracht.\
Ich denke aber nicht an Nationen, ich denke an Menschen. An hunderttausende junge Menschen, \
die durch sogenannte parlamentarische Demokraten mit "Made in Germany \
and USA Waffen" in den Tod getrieben werden.
\*\*Nicht in meinem Namen. Und ich hoffe: Auch nicht in Deinem.\
\*\*\
Seit 2014 hätte ehrlich verhandelt werden müssen, heute muss es mehr denn je sofort. \
Denn die berechtigten Sicherheitsinteressen aller Nationen Europas, \
der ehemaligen Staaten der UDSSR wie auch Russlands selber können \
**nur in einem Sicherheitssystem für ganz Europa,** \
**vom Atlantik bis hinter den Ural**, Richtung Frieden verhandelt werden. \
\
Waffen ermöglichen und befeuern das Erpressen & Morden, für Frieden sind sie ungeeignet.
**Sicherheit ist unteilbar: Sicherheit & Frieden gibt es nur für alle, oder für keinen.**
-

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1
2025-04-01 14:31:43
**NEW YORK** (April 1,2025) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce 1 billion satoshis of gifts from its [Bitcoin Development Fund](https://hrf.org/devfund). HRF’s latest batch of grants supports open-source development, educational initiatives, mining decentralization, and privacy tools for activists living under authoritarian regimes across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The gifts also further promote Internet freedom and decentralized communications, ensuring dissidents can connect, communicate, organize, and transact without censorship.
Quarter 1 2025 grantees include:
- **NetBlocks**
Authoritarian regimes weaponize Internet shutdowns to silence dissent, restrict information, and cut off financial lifelines. By blocking communication channels, they isolate individuals, suppress independent media, and disrupt financial flows. [NetBlocks](https://netblocks.org/) exposes these digital crackdowns in real time, ensuring the world sees and responds to digital repression. Through continuous monitoring, it equips activists, journalists, and civil society with the data needed to challenge censorship and advocate for an open internet. With HRF support, NetBlocks will expand its monitoring, documentation, and research — reinforcing internet and financial freedom as a critical human rights safeguard.
- **TollGate**
Authoritarian regimes exploit Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to monitor and suppress dissent, undermining online privacy essential for human rights defenders. [TollGate](https://opentollgate.github.io/tollgate/), developed by c03rad0r, is software that transforms any WiFi router into a permissionless Internet Service Provider (ISP) using Bitcoin and ecash. By decentralizing Internet access and turning any WiFi router into part of a peer-to-peer, private, open internet network, Tollgate helps resist authoritarian surveillance and protect digital freedoms. With HRF support, TollGate is advancing an open, accessible, and censorship-proof internet for those who need it most.
- **Vinteum**
Across Latin America, authoritarian regimes restrict financial access to tighten their grip on power. But a growing network of developers is working to change that. [Vinteum](https://vinteum.org/), a nonprofit Bitcoin research and development center led by executive director [Lucas Ferreira](https://x.com/lucasdcf), trains and funds developers to strengthen Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom. Through education, development, and community building, Vinteum fosters local talent and expands regional Bitcoin accessibility. With HRF support, Vinteum will scale its programs and help more Latin Americans achieve financial independence.
- **BTCPay Server**
Dictators often block payment processors to cripple the work of nonprofits and dissidents. [BTCPay Server](https://btcpayserver.org/), a self-hosted, open-source Bitcoin payment processor, now breaks this control. It provides individuals, nonprofits, and merchants with a censorship-resistant way to accept payments. Activists and nonprofits can now process global payments, launch crowdfunding campaigns, and build movements on Bitcoin — all without third parties or restrictions. With HRF support, BTCPay Server will expand access to self-custodial payments, enabling more organizations under dictatorships to transact freely.
- **Africa Bitcoin Institute (ABI)**
Across Africa, dictators manipulate financial institutions to retain control, while more than half the population remains unbanked. Bitcoin offers an alternative, but without proper research, education, and policy frameworks, adoption remains limited. The Africa Bitcoin Institute (ABI), supported by the Rwandan human rights activist [Anaïse Kanimba](https://x.com/AnaiseKanimba), is launching to bridge this gap. Through evidence-based research and policy recommendations, ABI will equip policymakers with the knowledge and tools to integrate Bitcoin into African economies. With HRF support, ABI will promote financial autonomy and solidify Bitcoin’s role as a pillar of economic freedom.
- **Bitcoin Core Graphical User Interface**
Running a Bitcoin node (software that enables users to verify transitions and enforce the network’s rules) is key to financial sovereignty. But outdated and clunky interfaces make it difficult, especially on mobile devices. [bitcoin-core/gui-qml](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/gui), a project [Go Qu](https://github.com/goqusan) will contribute to, modernizes Bitcoin Core’s interface to be more accessible and mobile-friendly. By lowering the barriers to node operation, this project empowers more people — especially under autocracies in Africa, where mobile phones dominate — to strengthen their financial sovereignty. With HRF support, bitcoin-core/gui-qml is expanding node access, supporting Bitcoin’s decentralization, and reinforcing its censorship resistance for the long term.
- **Rkrux**
As an open-source project, Bitcoin Core relies on free and open-source developers to maintain its integrity, security, and resilience against potential threats. [Rkrux](https://github.com/rkrux), a Bitcoin Core developer, plays a crucial role by reviewing code, testing releases, and improving documentation to keep Bitcoin Core robust, secure, and censorship-resistant. Rkurx’s work identifies vulnerabilities, refines changes, and strengthens Bitcoin’s long-term stability. With HRF support, Rkrux is deepening his contributions, reinforcing Bitcoin’s foundation, and ensuring it remains a financial lifeline for human rights defenders worldwide.
- **Elsat**
As online censorship intensifies, free speech and financial freedom are under threat. Nostr developer [Elsat](https://github.com/alltheseas) is working to defend these freedoms by contributing to [Damus](https://github.com/damus-io), [Nostrability](https://github.com/nostrability), and [Zap.store](https://github.com/zapstore) — projects that empower individuals to communicate and transact without centralized control. Damus enables private, censorship-resistant messaging; Nostrability improves app interoperability; and Zap.store helps free and open-source software (FOSS) developers distribute and monetize their work peer-to-peer. With HRF support, Elsat is strengthening tools that protect free speech for dissidents under oppressive environments.
- **Relay Wizard**
Nostr, a decentralized communication protocol, relies on a network of relays (servers that pass messages between users). But setting up relays can be complex and intimidating. [Relay Wizard,](https://github.com/nodetec/relaywizard) a tool created by software developer [J the Code Monkey](https://github.com/jchiarulli), simplifies this process by automating relay setup. This allows anyone to run a relay, reduces reliance on intermediaries, and helps keep nostr resilient against online speech censorship. With HRF support, J the Code Monkey will expand development and operations, ensuring nostr remains a secure, uncensorable communication platform accessible to everyone.
- **Waye**
Censorship-resistant technology is essential to protecting global freedom. Yet open-source developers often operate like solo entrepreneurs — juggling engineering, project management, and community-building on their own. This leads to inefficiency, isolation, and burnout. [Waye](http://waye.dev) addresses this gap by providing psycho-social support for developers working on freedom tech. Led by Bitcoin Core developer Amiti Uttarwar and operational architect Anna Sides, Waye strengthens the human infrastructure of open source. With HRF support, Waye will support developers from global majority countries, empowering them to build the tools their fellow citizens need.
- **Hashpool**
Centralization in Bitcoin mining threatens its censorship resistance and makes it harder for small-scale miners to compete. [Hashpool](https://github.com/vnprc/hashpool), a self-hosted mining pool by developer [vnprc](https://github.com/vnprc), eliminates reliance on centralized entities while giving miners more control over their earnings. Instead of traditional mining pool payouts, Hashpool rewards participants with ecash tokens — digital cash that enables instant, private transactions. This ensures miners receive payouts instantly while preserving their financial privacy. It also helps keep mining open and decentralized. With HRF support, vnprc will further develop Hashpool and help resist mining centralization.
- **Cashu KVAC**
As dictators ramp up financial surveillance to threaten dissidents, protecting financial privacy is more critical than ever. [Cashu KVAC](https://github.com/lollerfirst/cashu-kvac) is a software upgrade for Cashu — a Chaumian ecash-based system that enables extremely strong financial privacy. Developed by [lollerfirst](https://github.com/lollerfirst), it improves privacy and efficiency by reducing wallet data storage and concealing transaction amounts from third parties. These improvements strengthen ecash functionality, safeguarding financial privacy for individuals and nonprofits alike. With HRF support, lollerfirst will develop Cashu KVAC and help protect digital and financial freedom for those living under the watchful eyes of dictators.
- **Self-Custody Research**
In unstable economies and under authoritarian regimes, self-custodial Bitcoin is a financial lifeline — portable money that cannot be seized, censored, or debased. While Bitcoin enables financial freedom, scaling self-custody remains a challenge. Bitcoin educator and developer [Brandon Black](https://github.com/reardencode) (Rearden) is researching these limitations and exploring technical solutions to make self-custody more accessible. His work documents the obstacles users face today and provides insights into how Bitcoin can evolve. With HRF support, Black will expand self-custody education, equipping individuals under dictatorships with the knowledge and tools to secure their financial independence.
- **Stable Channels**
For citizens living under authoritarian regimes and struggling economies, Bitcoin is a lifeline — but its volatility can threaten short-term financial security. [Stable Channels](https://github.com/toneloc/stable-channels/), created by software engineer [Tony Klausing](https://tonyklausing.com/), brings stabilized Bitcoin-backed balances to the Lightning Network (allowing users to peg Bitcoin to fiat currencies in a self-custodial way). This innovation enables individuals to transact freely without exposure to wild price swings or to centralized stablecoins. HRF’s support will help expand Stable Channels development, ecash integrations, and community outreach — helping more individuals harness Bitcoin’s power while maintaining financial stability.
- **Bitsacco**
In Kenya, Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) provide savings and lending services to their communities. But reliance on traditional banks limits their autonomy. [Bitsacco](https://github.com/bitsacco/os), created by developer [okjodom](https://github.com/okjodom), reinvents SACCOs by leveraging Bitcoin and Fedimints (a community-based custody model in Bitcoin). In this way, Bitsacco offers a more open, inclusive, and self-sustaining financial option. By reducing dependence on banks, Bitsacco empowers communities to manage their savings and loans independently. With HRF support, Bitsacco will provide a secure, familiar path to sound money in a region where financial instability and restricted access are persistent challenges.
- **The Core**
In Africa, where financial literacy gaps persist, hands-on Bitcoin education is crucial for adoption. [The Core](https://github.com/thecore21m-btc), founded by Kenyan Bitcoin educator [Felix Mukungu](https://x.com/MukunguFelix), bridges this gap by equipping Africans with the knowledge and skills to use Bitcoin confidently. Through hands-on training in self-custody, Lightning wallets, and Bitcoin nodes, The Core empowers individuals to take control of their money and transact freely. This grant will help expand The Core’s monthly meetups, online courses, and student-support programs — bringing Bitcoin education to more individuals across Kenya and the wider African continent.
- **Bitcoin Babies**
Under many authoritarian regimes, infant malnutrition is exacerbated and puts countless children at risk. [Bitcoin Babies](https://bitcoinbabies.com/), founded by [Naomi Wambui](https://x.com/NgachaNaomi1), is a project that tackles this issue by combining infant nutrition education with Bitcoin-based financial literacy. Through weekly Bitcoin stipends, financial literacy training, and community support, mothers under authoritarian rule gain the tools needed to improve their children’s health while achieving long-term financial stability. With this grant, Bitcoin Babies will expand its impact, helping more at-risk communities with resources that are otherwise unavailable and inaccessible, empowering mothers to build brighter futures.
- **East Asia Bitcoin Developer Apprenticeship Program**
In East Asia, language barriers and limited mentorship have made open-source Bitcoin development inaccessible to many. The [East Asia Bitcoin Developer Apprenticeship Program](https://x.com/kcalvinalvinn), led by Bitcoin developer [Calvin Kim](https://x.com/kcalvinalvinn), is changing that by creating a pathway for Korean and Japanese developers to enter the field. Through hands-on training, mentees gain practical experience, contribute to open-source projects, and eventually become mentors — strengthening the region’s developer ecosystem. With this funding, the apprenticeship program will expand, diversify Bitcoin’s global developer base, make freedom technology more accessible across Asia, and forge links with North Korean defectors.
- **Bitcoin Week at TalentLand 2025**
Across Latin America, government overreach threatens financial freedom. At [TalentLand 2025](https://talent-land.mx/), Latin America’s largest tech event, Bitcoin Week will demonstrate how Bitcoin empowers individuals to reclaim their financial sovereignty. Led by developer [Super Testnet](https://github.com/supertestnet) and the Bitcoin and Lightning Guadalajara community, this initiative educates Mexico’s tech community on Bitcoin’s role in fostering financial sovereignty. Through workshops, hackathons, and debates, it nurtures developer talent and engages future tech leaders. With this funding, Bitcoin Week will help expand awareness of Bitcoin’s power to resist financial oppression and accelerate Bitcoin adoption across Latin America.
- **Base58**
Learning Bitcoin’s technical aspects can feel overwhelming. [Base58’s Bitcoin Live Action Role Play](https://github.com/base58btc/LARP) (LARP) simplifies this with a two-hour workshop where participants act out the Bitcoin network and see how transactions are made, how they get to miners, the work a Bitcoin node does, and how it helps secure the network. Created by [Lisa Neigut](https://x.com/niftynei) (niftynei), a prolific Bitcoin developer, educator, and founder of [Base58](https://base58.school/) and the [bitcoin++](https://btcplusplus.dev/) conference, alongside David Rodriguez, this immersive experience makes Bitcoin education tangible and entertaining. Now expanding beyond North America, it will train new facilitators, prioritizing regions with limited Bitcoin education due to authoritarian restrictions. With this funding, Base58 Bitcoin LARP will equip more facilitators to teach and learn Bitcoin in an engaging, accessible way.
- **BTCenEspañol**
Across Latin America, financial repression and limited access to Bitcoin education leave many without the tools to navigate financial repression. [BTCenEspañol](https://www.btcenespanol.com/) has been a leader in Spanish-language Bitcoin education since 2014. With a goal of reaching one million learners and training 100 teachers, BTCenEspañol is expanding to make Bitcoin education more accessible across the region, especially in places like Nicaragua and Venezuela. HRF’s grant will support this growth, equipping individuals with the knowledge to secure their financial independence amid rising authoritarianism in the continent.
- **Increasing nonprofit Adoption of Bitcoin**
Under dictatorships, non-governmental organizations face frozen bank accounts, surveillance, and financial censorship — limiting their ability to support vulnerable communities. Bitcoin researcher [Daniel Batten](https://x.com/dsbatten) is quantifying Bitcoin’s role as a financial lifeline to help nonprofits overcome these challenges. Through empirical research, his initiative will show how Bitcoin enables nonprofits under authoritarian regimes to operate more freely. With this grant, the project will equip nonprofits in closed societies with the knowledge and tools to integrate Bitcoin into their operations, strengthening their financial resilience and advancing global movements.
- **Bitcoin for Good**
When authoritarian regimes weaponize the financial system against dissent, nonprofits and charities are among the first to suffer. Bitcoin for Good is an educational initiative led by activist and Groundswell founder [Hadiya Masieh](https://www.groundswellproject.org/about/who-we-are/). It helps organizations break free by teaching them how to accept and manage censorship-resistant funding. Through hands-on training and direct integration with Bitcoin for donations, nonprofits learn to operate outside the reach of financial gatekeepers and regimes. With this grant, Bitcoin for Good will help nonprofits stay funded, independent, and free to continue their work.
About BDF HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) supports individuals and projects that make Bitcoin and related freedom technologies more powerful tools for human rights defenders operating in challenging political and financial environments. Since launching in 2020, BDF has gifted $7.8 million in BTC to 284 projects across 62 countries worldwide. The next round of grants will be announced at the 17th annual Oslo Freedom Forum, taking place May 26-28, 2025, in Oslo, Norway.
Learn more about HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund on our website.
### About BDF
HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) supports individuals and projects that make Bitcoin and related freedom technologies more powerful tools for human rights defenders operating in challenging political and financial environments. Since launching in 2020, BDF has gifted $7.8 million in BTC to 284 projects across 62 countries worldwide. The next round of grants will be announced at the [17th annual Oslo Freedom Forum](http://oslofreedomforum.com), taking place May 26-28, 2025, in Oslo, Norway.
Learn more about HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund on our [website](https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/).
*HRF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Gifts can be made at [HRF.org/DevFund](https://hrf.org/devfund), and proposals for support can be submitted to [https://hrf.org/bdfapply](https://hrf.org/bdfapply).*
*Follow [@HRF](https://twitter.com/HRF) on X for more updates on this project and all of our other programs designed to promote freedom and human rights around the world.*
-

@ 4fe4a528:3ff6bf06
2025-04-01 12:32:20
Ever since Mark Carney told the CEOs of the Canadian banks to freeze the truckers bank accounts there has been a growing acceptance that the money you have in a Canadian bank account isn’t yours; it belongs to Mark Carney. Now that there is another election in Canada we will decide who gets to prints the monies for us. There have been a lot of changes in the banking system since Mark Carney borrow money from China. Who is your master?
**Banking changes that affected me today.
**1. The Canadian Tire doesn’t accept Canadian cash to pay off your credit card.
2. You can’t use your Canadian Tire points unless you have your physical card in the store with you.
3. Some grocery and [feed stores](https://blumenterprisesltd.com/livestock-feed) don’t accept bitcoin directly.
**SWIFT banking changes.**
1. Stable Coins are a thing now.
2. Tether for outside the USA
3. Circle / XRP for inside the USA
Let the best coin win. The bill should pass in the US senate by summer
**Bitcoin banking changes**
1. More and more nodes are hosting friends and family via their [LNURL](https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/alby-account-and-browser-extension) accounts.
2. The USA now has bitcoin as an asset on their Strategic Reserve
3. Bitcoin [Hashrate](https://www.coinwarz.com/mining/bitcoin/hashrate-chart) went from 550 EH/s to 990 EH/S in the last 12 months. I think the electrical usage has almost [double](https://ccaf.io/cbnsi/cbeci) also.
4. Tether brings USDT to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, ushering in a New Era of Unstoppable Technology, now the world's largest stablecoin is part of the Lightning Network - Download the Joltz App today.
By my next news letter we should know who will be leading Canada. This is the current psychological warfare going on.
1. Push back against carbon taxes? You’re labeled a “climate denier.”
2. Stand up for provincial rights? You’re smeared as “anti-democratic.”
3. Question Carney’s globalist agenda? You’re branded an “extremist.”
Who do you think will be enforcing their will on Canadians in [28 days](https://polymarket.com/event/next-prime-minster-of-canada)? Do you think Elections Canada will be keep the elections fair? I hope these articles help you on your hard money journey. Hopefully you can get what you want out of life - don’t sell your birthright. We are all in this together. Watch “[The big Red Button](https://www.satsvsfiat.com/)” before May 1, 2025 (my next email)
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@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833
2025-04-01 11:49:06
In this edition, we invited Keypleb, the founder of Bitcoin Indonesia, to share how he built the Bitcoin community in Indonesia, overcoming challenges like member turnover and venue selection, while driving the adoption and growth of Bitcoin.
**YakiHonne**: Welcome, Keypleb. Before we begin, let me briefly introduce YakiHonne. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on Nostr—a protocol designed to empower freedom of speech through technology. It enables creators to own their voices and assets while offering innovative tools like smart widgets, verified notes, and support for long-form content. We focus on free speech and free media by user privacy and data to be protected. So before starting the interview, I'd like to hear about yourself and your community.
**Keypleb**:My name is Keypleb, though it’s a pseudonym—a name I use to respect privacy. I'm a co-founder of Bitcoin Indonesia, Bitcoin House Bali, and Code Orange, a new developer school we launched at a conference just a few days ago. We focus on driving adoption through meetups, hackathons, and technical workshops. I'll dive into more details later, but that's a brief overview. I'm based in Bali now, though I travel a lot and consider myself quite nomadic. Great to be here.
**YakiHonne**: What sparked your interest in Bitcoin and what motivated you to create a community on Bitcoin?
**Keypleb**:I first got interested in Bitcoin because it solved a specific problem. At the time, I didn’t know exactly what the solution was, but the problem was that I couldn’t afford a home. Back in 2019, I was living in London, and a two-bedroom apartment was £600,000, which was insanely expensive. First-time buyers like myself simply couldn’t afford it. Why was it so expensive? Why was buying a house so hard? During the COVID lockdown, I had more time on my hands and started listening to Michael Saylor on a Bitcoin podcast, where he talked about how the system is rigged, and that’s why people work hard but still can’t afford a house. That really resonated with me. So I started looking for a community, but unfortunately, there wasn’t one..
**Keypleb**:After moving to Bali, I attended a lot of crypto meetups, especially scammy altcoin ones, thinking, “There has to be a solution.” But none of them resonated with me. There was no sense of freedom, and no real discussion about inflation resistance. I remembered a podcast from Dea Reskita, an Indonesian host who’s pretty well-known online. I reached out to her and said, “ you’ve got to help me. I’m surrounded by all these shitcoiners, and I can’t take it anymore. I need a real community. Is anything happening?” She replied, “Yes, something is happening. We should restart these meetups next month.” And that’s how it all began.
**Keypleb**:There’s also another story about how we started Bitcoin House and how Bitcoin in Asia came to be, but maybe I’ll save that for later. Anyway, the spark of interest came from Bitcoin solving a real problem, and my drive to keep going came from the lack of quality meetups. Now, we’ve hosted 31 meetups, launched Bitcoin House and Code Orange, and the movement is growing rapidly.

**YakiHonne**: That’s such an amazing story—going from being on the brink of homelessness to creating something so impactful, and keeping it running every day, bringing new people into the journey. It’s truly inspiring. I’m curious about how the community started. How did you manage to attract members and build a strong community? What challenges did you face along the way?
**Keypleb**:It all started with our first meetup at the end of 2022, which was two and a half years ago now. At that time, we sent out an email to a group from a previous database, and the first meetup had around 20 people, which was a good start. However, problems quickly arose as people started dropping off, and the community lacked retention. In Bali, people come and go, usually staying for no more than two months, leading to a lack of long-term participation. This became one of our challenges: how to attract more people and, more importantly, get the same people to keep coming back. While I've been coming back for two and a half years, not everyone is able to return as often, and that has been a real challenge.
**Keypleb**:Actually, I should also mention how I met my co-founders—Marius, Diana, and Dimas. We met at the 2023 Indonesia Bitcoin Conference. As time went on, we kept hosting meetups and had a lot of fun each time, though the locations kept changing. One of the initial challenges was that we didn't realize the importance of having a fixed meetup location. We changed venues several times before we realized that having a consistent location is crucial. If anyone wants to run a meetup, it's best to always choose a fixed location. We learned this through trial and error, but now it's no longer an issue.
**Keypleb**:Since the conference, my co-founders and I have been working together, consistently putting in the effort. This is why our community has grown so large—so far, we are hosting 31 monthly meetups, 6 of which are in Bali. This means there is a bitcoin meetup almost every day on a regular basis. We've also established Bitcoin House Bali, a physical space, and the movement is growing rapidly. Without this movement, the region would face many challenges, including inflation and heavy censorship. It all started from just one meetup.

**YakiHonne**: It's amazing to see how you met your co-founders and how you’ve built something incredible that continues to grow today. What advice would you give to someone looking to start a successful Bitcoin community right now?
**Keypleb**:First, one very important piece of advice is to ensure that every meetup is held at the same location regularly. We realized this challenge through trial and error. To help others who are interested, we’ve published our meetup guide on GitHub, where everyone can check it out. For example, meetups should be held regularly, ideally once a month, or even once a week. In Chiang Mai, the Bitcoin meetup starts every Thursday at 7 PM, and everyone knows the time and location, making it easy to join without having to look up the next meetup.
**Keypleb**:Additionally, our meetup structure is very simple. First, we do a round of introductions where everyone shares their name, where they’re from, and what Bitcoin means to them. This usually takes about 15 minutes. Then, we discuss three main questions: First, why do we need Bitcoin? The discussion typically focuses on two main issues Bitcoin addresses: inflation and censorship;Secondly, how to buy Bitcoin? We usually ask who wants to buy some Bitcoin, and then we do a small purchase together and conduct a P2P trade to demonstrate how easy it is to buy Bitcoin. Lastly, how to store Bitcoin? We introduce self-custody and show how to use hardware wallets (like Trezor), explaining the concept of the 12 words and private keys.
**Keypleb**:The whole meetup usually wraps up in about an hour, after which people can continue socializing at Bitcoin House or wherever the meetup is taking place. In short, keeping the meetup simple and efficient, and ensuring a fixed location for each event, are key factors in building a successful community.
**YakiHonne**: What's the major approach? Is it more technical, or do you focus on non-technical aspects, or do you cover both?
**Keypleb**:Our approach includes both technical and non-technical content. Initially, our meetups were completely non-technical, just casual gatherings for people to socialize. Over time, however, we've evolved to incorporate more technical content.
**Keypleb**:Out of the 31 monthly regular meetups we host, most of them have been non-technical, simply regular gatherings held at the same time and place according to our meetup guide. For example, we host the “Bitcoin for Beginners” meetup, which is designed for newcomers and takes place every second Friday of the month at 5 PM at the Bitcoin House Bali. This is entirely non-technical. Additionally, every Wednesday at Bitcoin House, we host the “My First Bitcoin” course. While the course touches on some technical aspects, such as seed phrases and backups, it’s still beginner-friendly and not too technical. The course runs for 10 weeks, and we plan to offer it in the local language at Bali University to help the local community better understand Bitcoin.
**Keypleb**:On the other hand, we also offer highly technical content. We launched a new program called “Code Orange,” which is specifically designed for developers and programmers. We use the “Decoding Bitcoin” website, created by Jamal, which is a learning platform for developers. Many developer schools, like Code Orange, use this resource. Additionally, we host “Code Orange” meetups where we dive into the technical aspects of Bitcoin, such as how mining works and how to prevent single points of failure.
**Keypleb**:We also organize technical workshops, such as “How to Defend Against a Five-Dollar Wrench Attack,” which is closely related to security. Recently, there have been some kidnapping incidents in Bali, and many people are concerned about their Bitcoin being stolen. To address this, we plan to hold a workshop on how to protect Bitcoin against such attacks. Additionally, we host hackathons and other high-tech events, and we just completed a very successful beginner-level hackathon.
**Keypleb**:In summary, our community caters to everyone, from beginners to technical experts. For beginners, we offer easy-to-understand, non-technical content, while for experienced Bitcoiners, we provide in-depth technical material.

**YakiHonne**: It's great to approach it in both ways, so everyone gets their own "piece of the cake."Now, I'd like to dive into the technical side. What advice would you give to technically inclined individuals or organizations looking to contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem? How should they approach the technical aspects of Bitcoin if they want to get involved?
**Keypleb**:I have some additional advice. First, technical individuals can sign up for the “Decoding Bitcoin” course that starts on 18th March 2025 or join our “Code Orange” program and participate in the end-of-year hackathon. If they are technically proficient, this will be a great opportunity. “Decoding Bitcoin” is great for beginners, but it’s also useful for technical individuals. If someone is very skilled, they can start contributing code right away. If they find the course too easy, they can skip it and dive directly into more advanced projects. Additionally, Bitshala and Chaincode Labs offer advanced courses, which more technically advanced individuals can choose to pursue.

**Keypleb**:Additionally, it's worth mentioning that the Bitcoin Dev Project has a great platform where technical individuals can find “Good First Issue” or open-source projects to start contributing code. You'll learn about the philosophy behind Bitcoin and why it's more meaningful than other “shitcoins.” Once you’ve taken enough “orange pills” (the philosophy and technology of Bitcoin), you can dive deeper into Bitcoin core development and potentially start coding in C++. If you're interested, you can join specific projects like Nostr, Fedimint or E-Cash.
**YakiHonne**: I’d like to move on to the next question: How do you see Bitcoin communities evolving as technology progresses, particularly in areas like scalability, privacy, and adaptability to other systems?
Keypleb:I believe the Bitcoin community will continue to evolve, and it has already made incredible progress. Two and a half years ago, we started alone in Bali, with just ourselves. We began in the official phase and have had numerous conversations throughout the year. For example, we are now starting a Bitcoin club at a university in Bali; we just need to find a passionate, driven “Bitcoin maximalist,” and the Bitcoin club will begin. Like what our friends did in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, these clubs could eventually evolve into Bitcoin houses.
**Keypleb**:Regarding privacy and scalability, the community is making strides. We’re big fans of Fedi, which builds on top of the Fedimint protocol and uses e-cash to scale Bitcoin while improving privacy. Fedi low fees and high privacy potential give Bitcoin great opportunities in this area.
**Keypleb**:As for Bitcoin's compatibility with fiat systems, although Bitcoin payments are illegal in some countries like Indonesia, smart developers across Southeast Asia are working on legal solutions. For example, there's a website called Pleb QR that works in Thailand, allowing you to pay in fiat via the Lightning Network. Koral is another app specifically for Indonesia. These kinds of testing products already exist and are physically possible, but we’re just waiting on regulations. My influential friends are actively lobbying the government for adoption.
**Keypleb**:In summary, privacy, scalability, and compatibility with fiat systems are all works in progress, and they will continue to evolve positively. There will be more meetups, more wallet downloads, and more adoption—there’s no doubt about that.
**YakiHonne**: You mentioned the concept of cross-country issues, so I have one last question: How is the government’s stance on Bitcoin? Is the political climate supportive or against Bitcoin? How do you see the government's approach to Bitcoin in your community or environment?
**Keypleb**:This reminds me of a person, Jeff Booth, who once said, “We are them, the government is made up of us.” In Indonesia, many politicians actually support Bitcoin, and many of them mine Bitcoin themselves. When money is involved, the incentive is strong, and politicians naturally like to make more money. As a result, Indonesia has a large Bitcoin mining scene. However, overall, the Indonesian government is against Bitcoin, as seen in their ban on Bitcoin payments. The 2011 currency law states that any currency other than the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) cannot be used, and violators can face up to one year in prison or a fine. This means you cannot pay with US dollars, lira, euros, pesos or pounds.
**Keypleb**:This shows that the government’s legal system is somewhat fragile. It’s understandable that the government is concerned about disruptive technologies like Bitcoin, especially with such a fragile fiat system. Indonesia has also seen many arrests. In 2016, Bank Indonesia issued a letter announcing a crackdown on cryptocurrency payments. Those involved in paying in Bitcoin had their funds seized, and the police cooperated in shutting down businesses accepting Bitcoin payments in the cities. While this isn't very friendly, it does highlight the fragility of the existing system. We also believe that a new executive order may be introduced in the future, similar to when President Roosevelt in 1933 ordered Americans to hand over all their gold with his Executive Order 6102. If it happened before, it could happen again.
**Keypleb**:Therefore, we predict that Bitcoin custody could become a legal issue, which is one of the reasons we blur the faces of participants at every meetup. We need to protect the community from any potential risks. But overall, we remain optimistic. Despite the government ban, the ideology of Bitcoin is unstoppable, and its spread cannot be stopped. So, we are very optimistic about the future.
**YakiHonne**: I think almost every government around the world, even in Africa, faces similar issues with Bitcoin. Some governments might want Bitcoin but hesitate to openly accept it due to the fear of it undermining the traditional financial system, which, of course, could eventually happen. But hopefully, as the new generation comes into power, we'll see more Bitcoin-friendly governments. So, thank you so much for sharing your insights and advice. I really appreciate your time and the valuable input you've provided.
**Keypleb**:I'm really glad this conversation enlightened me. I enjoyed it a lot, and it made me reflect on how much work we're doing and how valuable it is. There are a lot of problems out there, with censorship being the biggest one, followed by inflation, which is also a major issue depending on the region. But Bitcoin is open, the community is growing, and people are fighting against censorship and internet shutdowns in places like Indonesia and beyond. The movement is definitely growing. So, I'm very happy to be here and have this chat. Thanks again.
Bitcoin Indonesia nostr:
nostr:npub1y4qd2zhtn05gnsaaq5xfejzfk4a32638tx6gpp9g8k6e42g9d66qaxhcr3
Keypleb nostr:
nostr:npub190trvg63e6tyqlwlj6lccqpftx76lckj25c006vwx3dzvdl88yxs2nyqdx
-

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-04-01 09:17:32
Šibenik is a charming coastal town in Dalmatia, known for its stunning medieval architecture, UNESCO-listed cathedral, and scenic Adriatic coastline. Unlike many other Croatian coastal cities, Šibenik was founded by Croats (not Romans or Venetians), giving it a unique identity. It’s also the perfect gateway to Krka National Park and the Kornati Islands.

## **🏰 Top Things to See & Do in Šibenik**
### **1️⃣ St. James Cathedral (UNESCO) ⛪**
- **One of Croatia’s most impressive churches**, built entirely of **stone**.
- Features **intricate carvings** of **71 sculpted faces**, believed to be real Šibenik residents from the 15th century.
- A masterpiece blending **Gothic and Renaissance styles**, recognized as a **UNESCO World Heritage Site**.
### **2️⃣ Explore the Medieval Old Town 🏡**
- Wander through **narrow, stone-paved streets** filled with history.
- Discover hidden squares, old churches, and charming cafés.
- Stop by the **Four Wells Square**, where locals once gathered for water.

### **3️⃣ Climb to St. Michael’s Fortress 🏰**
- Offers **breathtaking panoramic views** over Šibenik and the Adriatic.
- Hosts **concerts & cultural events** in a unique open-air setting.
- One of Šibenik’s **four medieval fortresses**, well-preserved and full of history.
### **4️⃣ Visit Barone & St. John’s Fortresses 🏗️**
- **Barone Fortress** – Features an **interactive museum** and stunning **sunset views**.
- **St. John’s Fortress** – Famous for being a filming location for **Game of Thrones**.
### **5️⃣ Day Trip to Krka National Park 🌿💦**
- Just **15 minutes away**, Krka is home to **stunning waterfalls** and **lush greenery**.
- Walk the wooden pathways to **Skradinski Buk**, the park’s **largest waterfall**.
- **Boat tours** take you to **Visovac Island**, home to a historic monastery.

### **6️⃣ Boat Trip to Kornati Islands 🏝️⛵**
- A group of **89 islands**, known as the **"nautical paradise"** of Croatia.
- Ideal for **sailing, snorkeling, and exploring unspoiled nature**.
- Book a **boat tour** from Šibenik’s harbor for a day of adventure.
### **7️⃣ Relax at Banj Beach 🏖️**
- A **city beach with crystal-clear waters**, just a **short walk from the Old Town**.
- Offers stunning **views of Šibenik’s skyline and fortresses**.
- Great for swimming and sunbathing.
### **8️⃣ Enjoy Fresh Dalmatian Cuisine 🍽️**
- Try **peka** – a traditional dish of slow-cooked meat and vegetables.
- **Šibenik’s seafood** is top-notch – grilled fish, octopus salad, and black risotto.
- Pair your meal with local **Babić wine**, produced in nearby vineyards.

## **🚗 How to Get to Šibenik**
✈️ **By Air:** Nearest airports:
- **Split Airport (SPU)** – **45 min drive (60 km)**
- **Zadar Airport (ZAD)** – **50 min drive (70 km)**
🚘 **By Car:**
- **From Split:** ~1 hour (90 km)
- **From Zadar:** ~1 hour (85 km)
🚌 **By Bus:** Direct buses from **Split, Zadar, and Zagreb**.
⛵ **By Boat:** Ferries connect Šibenik to nearby islands like **Zlarin and Prvić**.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Šibenik**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & outdoor festivals ☀️
✅ **Wear comfy shoes** – The Old Town’s stone streets can be steep & slippery 👟
✅ **Plan Krka trips early** – It gets busy, especially in summer 🚣
✅ **Try local olive oil & wine** – Some of Croatia’s best olive oils & wines come from Šibenik’s region 🍷🫒
✅ **Stay for sunset** – The views from St. Michael’s Fortress are unforgettable 🌅

-

@ 75869cfa:76819987
2025-04-01 05:55:38
**GM, Nostriches!**
The Nostr Review is a biweekly newsletter focused on Nostr statistics, protocol updates, exciting programs, the long-form content ecosystem, and key events happening in the Nostr-verse. If you’re interested, join me in covering updates from the Nostr ecosystem!
**Quick review:**
In the past two weeks, Nostr statistics indicate over 221,000 daily trusted pubkey events. The number of new users has seen a notable decrease, with profiles containing a contact list dropping by 79%. More than 10 million events have been published, reflecting a 12% decrease. Total Zap activity stands at approximately 21 million, marking a 15% increase.
Additionally, 15 pull requests were submitted to the Nostr protocol, with 2 merged. A total of 45 Nostr projects were tracked, with 8 releasing product updates, and over 569 long-form articles were published, 24% focusing on Bitcoin and Nostr. During this period, 7 notable events took place, and 2 significant events are upcoming.
## Nostr Statistics
Based on user activity, the total daily trusted pubkeys writing events is about 221,000, representing a slight 8 % decrease compared to the previous period. Daily activity peaked at 17662 events, with a low of approximately 15781.
The number of new users has decreased significantly. Profiles with bio are now around 25951, reflecting a 79% drop. Pubkeys writing events have decreased by 50% compared to the previous period.
Regarding event publishing, all metrics have shown a decline. The total number of note events published is around 10 million, reflecting a 12% decrease. Posts remain the most dominant in terms of volume, totaling approximately 1.7 million, which is a 4.4 % decrease. Both reposts and reactions have decreased by about 5%.
For zap activity, the total zap amount is about 21 million, showing an increase of over 15% compared to the previous period.
Data source: https://stats.nostr.band/
## NIPs
[**Added optional signString() method**](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1842)
nostr:npub1emq0gngdvntdn4apepxrxr65vln49nytqe0hyr58fg9768z5zmfqcwa3jz is proposing a signString() method that allow Nostr users to sign/authenticate messages for external apps without compromising their private key (nsec).It opens up a more generic and flexible challenge-response style external authentication method, using the same Schnorr signature mechanism that Nostr uses to sign events natively.External apps need only understand Schnorr signatures - they do not need to understand Nostr's event structure. This widens interoperability.A concrete example of where this would be useful is P2PK locking of Cashu ecash tokens to a Nostr pubkey (npub). Decoding the token requires a Scnorr signature on a structured message string. This method would allow a signer to handle It cleanly.
**[add nipB0, social bookmarking](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1847)**
nostr:npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6 defines kind:39701 as website bookmarks.Bookmarks can be queried by the d tag, which is just their URL without the scheme, which is always and everywhere assumed to be https://. The querystring and the hash must be removed entirely, unless their requirement is explicitly stated either by the user or by some hardcoded list of URLs that rely on query strings for basic routing provided by the client (I've searched the internet extensively and could only find 3 websites that do this: YouTube, Hacker News and a random guy's sad old blog). Bookmarks can be commented on with NIP-22.
**[NIP-XX: Progress Event](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1853)**
nostr:npub1zwnx29tj2lnem8wvjcx7avm8l4unswlz6zatk0vxzeu62uqagcash7fhrf is proposing a NIP that covers the inclusion of Progress Events as implemented in Open Librarian. While the specific implementation is focused on tracking reading progress, the NIP is generic enough to be used in a whole range of other progress tracking scenarios (e.g. Fitness challenges, course progression for learning, personal goals etc..)
**[Extension of NIP-51](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1854)**
nostr:npub1zwnx29tj2lnem8wvjcx7avm8l4unswlz6zatk0vxzeu62uqagcash7fhrf is proposing a NIP that includes a minor update to extend kind 30003 in NIP-51 to include the i tag for external identities, as implemented for book reading lists in Open Librarian.
**[NIP-73: add git permalinks](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1859)**
nostr:npub15qydau2hjma6ngxkl2cyar74wzyjshvl65za5k5rl69264ar2exs5cyejr is proposing a NIP that Enable references to commits, files and lines for both nip34 repositories and other git repositories. Useful for code reviews of nip34 patches, the forthcoming nip95 code snippets and referencing specific code more generally.
## Notable Projects
**[Yakihonne](https://yakihonne.com/notes/note1y3upur6ah22axx6dc7na63sszeuv6tx4al5jvuu3udnz2g8gawhqw50aqk)**
nostr:npub1yzvxlwp7wawed5vgefwfmugvumtp8c8t0etk3g8sky4n0ndvyxesnxrf8q
🌐web v4.5.0:
* Custom reactions are here! Choose your preferred emoji to react to notes and other content.
* Improved profile organization with notes and replies now displayed separately.
* Adding the ability to zap notes directly from the notifications center.
* Enhanced DM filtering by time, allowing you to view only recent messages or browse further back.
* Manual cache clearing from settings to optimize web app performance.
* Resolved issue preventing users from removing custom media uploader servers.
* Expanded export data, including more relevant details in credential and wallet files.
* General bug fixes and performance improvements.
📱mobile v1.6.8:
* One tap zap: Send a Lightning Network payment with one tap.
* Dms extensive filtering: Use advanced filters to sort or prioritise direct messages efficiently.
* Separating replies from notes: Split replies and notes in profiles, adding a tab for easier browsing.
* Adding slide to display options: Swipe in notifications to access zap, reply, or DM options quickly.
* Custom reactions: Choose from a set of emojis for personalised reactions, beyond standard likes.
* App cache manager: Manage and clear app cache to boost performance and save space.
* Variety of bugs fixed: Fixed multiple bugs for a more stable and seamless app experience.
* General app improvements: Enhanced overall performance, usability, and design across the app.
**[0xchat ](https://yakihonne.com/notes/nevent1qqszhlqqesc0sx5ej27h72v08ush4thm6k5xh55rze3nv32zvl4d45qzyp0v559qftawle2kt8ahfqgtgfj5ugngcxkv5mjnsqdesckmwj5r5qcyqqqqqqg26f5gv)**
nostr:npub1tm99pgz2lth724jeld6gzz6zv48zy6xp4n9xu5uqrwvx9km54qaqkkxn72
0xChat v1.0.2-Desktop Beta is now live!
* Supports NIP-104 MLS secret chat.
* Copy images directly from the clipboard.
* The app stays running after closing the window.
* Fixed Enter key sending messages immediately on desktop.
**[Nostur v1.18.2](https://yakihonne.com/notes/note1lgx6zrjvhennwnfkh8fnnvxa6nq4c24hdpfnsq3zqqvu3ww9n2ssxlm4tp)**
nostr:npub1n0stur7q092gyverzc2wfc00e8egkrdnnqq3alhv7p072u89m5es5mk6h0
Nostur v1.18.2 bugfix update:
* Fixed Follow button sometimes disabled
* Fixed account switching reload issue
* Fixed custom feeds missing
* Fixed live stream banner scroll/swipe issue
* Fixed screen turns off while playing video
**[voca v0.0.6](https://yakihonne.com/notes/note1ughn4alp0cyc3t6p5mwjct47cycutnuw8lvtv4gc5wyt9vw4939s6s3ymr)**
nostr:npub17h9fn2ny0lycg7kmvxmw6gqdnv2epya9h9excnjw9wvml87nyw8sqy3hpu
This release fine tunes the release process and makes publishing to @Zapstore a lot easier. There are also continuous improvements to initializing the text to speech engine for a faster startup.
**[WasabiWallet 2.5.0](https://yakihonne.com/notes/nevent1qqsqhzwuajl8ccnltsvuygu3yt5hw8cvmkz7l5t6lpaa3tynmu9c4fczyzfm6rr08n96u3ec3vq6cm8qktqpxy2defxq34hzwyk5lac5qk3uxqcyqqqqqqg4fe35t)**
nostr:npub1jw7scmeuewhywwytqxkxec9jcqf3znw2fsyddcn3948lw9q950ps9y35fg
* 3rd Party Providers for Fee & Exchange Rate
* Quality of Life Features
* Backend and Coordinator packaged for Linux
**[GitPlaza](https://yakihonne.com/notes/nevent1qqspadwmftmpl4xyzgz59yy48j0hpsj8q57xhr0tumdaatpsdkrea9gzyrjrxmx4yh0hn7jd8tekflvkqr2tzrwwgg265npna4m75zzzx393qqcyqqqqqqgkws0q2)**
nostr:npub1useke4f9maul5nf67dj0m9sq6jcsmnjzzk4ycvldwl4qss35fvgqjdk5ks
* Login via nsec
* Activity feed for the people you follow (only issue creation)
* Create issues
* Comment on issues
**[ZEUS v0.10.1](https://yakihonne.com/notes/nevent1qqs84nch638my3kzvm5yqp5ejcvj2e7h332sep8qmyelrpdyu5jpcyczyq6d9af8fuv43lxjevjx8k474h0c5g0cft8yysw63zqz80c9ejqf2qcyqqqqqqg3jcw0l)**
nostr:npub1xnf02f60r9v0e5kty33a404dm79zr7z2eepyrk5gsq3m7pwvsz2sazlpr5
ZEUS v0.10.1-beta1 is now available for testing.
* NameDesc / bLIP-11 support: add receiver name to invoices
* Bug fix: import of QR image from camera roll
* Bug fix: Embedded LND: Open Channel: fund max
* UI: Add dynamic background/text colors to Android NFC modal
**[KYCNOT.ME](https://yakihonne.com/article/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqwwv20y78a75nq9jr049a0y2twwd7lax2w2rpddgym5265n3dpjkqqsxxd3nx9jnscm9x5cnjvtrvvcngcecxpjrxvf3vvmkydn9xsurscgpu4ayq)**
nostr:npub188x98j0r7l2fszeph6j7hj99h8xl07n989pskk5zd69d2fcksetq5mgcqf
* UI/UX - designe a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me.
* Point system - The new point system provides more detailed information about the listings, and can be expanded to cover additional features across all services.
* ToS Scrapper: implement a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices.
* Search bar - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services.
* Transparency - To be more transparent, all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab.
* Additionally, there's a real-time audits page that displays database changes.
* Listing Requests - upgrade the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps.
* Lightweight and fast - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor!
* Tor and I2P - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on Tor and I2P!
## Long-Form Content Eco
In the past two weeks, more than 569 long-form articles have been published, including over 94 articles on Bitcoin and more than 43 related to Nostr, accounting for 24% of the total content.
These articles about Nostr mainly explore the growing importance of decentralization in communication, identity management, and digital infrastructure. From beginner-friendly guides like Nostr 101 and Getting Started with Primal, to more technical deep dives such as NIP-101e, NIP-95, and tutorials on running Nostr relays as TOR hidden services. Some articles focus on security and privacy—like protecting your Nsec with Amber or using tools such as ProtonMail—while others tackle complex challenges including Sybil attack mitigation and child protection in decentralized environments. There are also cultural and political reflections, such as letters from political prisoners and thoughts on the future of free speech in a post-Twitter world. In addition, the Nostr community shows a strong spirit of experimentation—ranging from agent-to-agent communication through dad jokes, to desktop-like clients, fitness tracking protocols, and Lightning integrations like Work Zaps and Wallet Connect. Together, these pieces showcase a dynamic, resilient, and freedom-driven movement shaping the future of the web.
The Bitcoin articles discuss a wide range of themes—from foundational ideas like "What is Money?" and Bitcoin’s first principles, to practical guides on mining, self-custody, Lightning payments, and privacy tools. Many explore Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against inflation, a form of sovereignty, and a response to fiat fragility. Cultural and economic reflections appear throughout—ranging from using Bitcoin to buy homes in Italy, to hip-hop collaborations, and even personal stories of financial awakening. There's critical analysis of Bitcoin UX, memetics, policy-making, and even war-time monetary history. From node sovereignty to P2P lending, from grassroots adoption to global macro shifts, these articles together portray Bitcoin not just as a currency, but as a cultural movement, a technological evolution, and a lens to reimagine freedom, value, and the future of money.
Thank you, nostr:npub1akzvuyyd79us07m8mtp2ruuha3ylp9757qg46d50rcrkhnx0fs4q2xzr37 nostr:npub1q67f4d7qdja237us384ryeekxsz88lz5kaawrcynwe4hqsnufr6s27up0e nostr:npub1xr8tvnnnr9aqt9vv30vj4vreeq2mk38mlwe7khvhvmzjqlcghh6sr85uum nostr:npub1zmc6qyqdfnllhnzzxr5wpepfpnzcf8q6m3jdveflmgruqvd3qa9sjv7f60 nostr:npub1ygzj9skr9val9yqxkf67yf9jshtyhvvl0x76jp5er09nsc0p3j6qr260k2 nostr:npub1ktt8phjnkfmfrsxrgqpztdjuxk3x6psf80xyray0l3c7pyrln49qhkyhz0 nostr:npub1qny3tkh0acurzla8x3zy4nhrjz5zd8l9sy9jys09umwng00manysew95gx nostr:npub1l5r02s4udsr28xypsyx7j9lxchf80ha4z6y6269d0da9frtd2nxsvum9jm nostr:npub186k25a5rymtae6q0dmsh4ksen04706eurfst8xc5uzjchwkxdljqe59hv0
and others, for your work. Enriching Nostr’s long-form content ecosystem is crucial.
## Nostriches Global Meet Ups
Recently, several Nostr events have been hosted in different countries.
* YakiHonne teamed up with Bitcoin Safari, nostr:npub1w7z986fez3gmjvxy6dd3sku4ndazhxzafjv2lf6aaa26mtl70q6scz4erj nostr:npub1t4ljwhhg7zlxeahxwgmkwqmn4jjxxq8lzhyuzy0zvy23hq0sacxsdl9fvv nostr:npub1pw778uxwkky3xgq7w3anykdwdw9g46xy8de9mnau0kgwzz375zkq3udv57 and FULAFIA University to successfully host a series of **[Nostr Workshops](https://yakihonne.com/notes/note1n2fadzx4njd8ruv5s26jkxyygp0re3t3ffzdcyumgahpzn2t73mqhwclgq)**, attracting over 200 participants in total. These events introduced the Nostr ecosystem and Bitcoin payments, allowing attendees to explore decentralized technologies through YakiHonne while earning rewards. Participants were encouraged to register and verify their accounts to claim exclusive bonuses—and invite friends to unlock even more benefits.
* **[The 2025 Bitcoin, Crypto Economy, and Law FAQ Webinar](https://x.com/BitcoinAR/status/1900643828874572166)** was held online on March 20, 2025 (Thursday) from 12:00 to 13:00 Argentina time. The webinar was hosted by Martin Paolantonio (Academic Director of the course) and Daniel Rybnik (a lawyer specializing in Banking, Corporate, and Financial Law). The session aimed to introduce the academic program and explored Bitcoin, the crypto economy, and related legal issues.
* [**The monthly Bitcoin Meetup** ](https://x.com/MyfirstBitcoin_/status/1905333348677095610)organized by Mi Primer Bitcoin took place on Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 PM at CRAFT Basilea in San Salvador. The event featured Bitcoin education, networking opportunities, live music, and fun extras like merchandise, raffles, and more. It was a vibrant evening dedicated to building community and spreading knowledge around Bitcoin. nostr:npub10zuxk4yhygswdmt5n9mfyeq6lh7gcu5g042tlggrgp8yunl32clqsu5t9r
Here is the upcoming Nostr event that you might want to check out.
* **[Bitcoin Educators Unconference 2025](https://x.com/MyfirstBitcoin_/status/1900513529125380140)** will take place on April 10, 2025, at Bitcoin Park in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. This event is non-sponsored and follows an Unconference format, allowing all participants to apply as speakers and share their Bitcoin education experiences in a free and interactive environment. the event has open-sourced all its blueprints and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to encourage global communities to organize similar Unconference events.
* **[Panama Blockchain Week 2025](https://panamablockchainweek.com/index.php/ponentes/)** will take place from April 22 to 24 at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City. As the first large-scale blockchain event in Central America, it aims to position Panama as a leading blockchain financial hub in Latin America. The event features a diverse lineup, including a blockchain conference, Investor’s Night, Web3 gaming experiences, tech exhibitions, and an after-party celebration.
Additionally, We warmly invite event organizers who have held recent activities to reach out to us so we can work together to promote the prosperity and development of the Nostr ecosystem.
Thanks for reading! If there’s anything I missed, feel free to reach out and help improve the completeness and accuracy of my coverage.
-

@ 812cff5a:5c40aeeb
2025-04-01 02:57:20
## مقدمة
في عالم اليوم الرقمي، تبرز منصات جديدة تهدف إلى تعزيز تجربة القراءة والتواصل بين محبي الكتب. تُعَدُّ Bookstr.xyz واحدة من هذه المنصات المبتكرة التي تسعى لربط القرّاء عبر شبكة Nostr، مما يمنحهم سيادة كاملة على بياناتهم ويتيح لهم بناء علاقات جديدة مع محبي الكتب الآخرين. 
## الميزات الرئيسية لموقع Bookstr
- التحكم الكامل بالبيانات: توفر Bookstr.xyz للمستخدمين القدرة على التحكم الكامل في بياناتهم الشخصية، مما يضمن خصوصية وأمان المعلومات.
- التكامل مع Open Library: تستخدم المنصة واجهة برمجة التطبيقات الخاصة بـ Open Library للحصول على معلومات شاملة حول الكتب، مما يتيح للمستخدمين الوصول إلى مجموعة واسعة من البيانات الموثوقة.
- التواصل الاجتماعي: من خلال شبكة Nostr، يمكن للمستخدمين التواصل مع قرّاء آخرين، تبادل التوصيات، ومناقشة الكتب المفضلة لديهم. 
## ما الذي يجعلها فريدة؟
تتميز Bookstr.xyz بدمجها بين مزايا الشبكات الاجتماعية ومصادر بيانات الكتب المفتوحة، مما يخلق بيئة تفاعلية وغنية بالمعلومات لمحبي القراءة. استخدامها لشبكة Nostr يمنح المستخدمين حرية أكبر في التحكم بتجربتهم الرقمية مقارنة بالمنصات التقليدية. 
## جرب Bookstr
تُعَدُّ Bookstr.xyz إضافة قيمة لعالم القراءة الرقمي، حيث تجمع بين مزايا الشبكات الاجتماعية ومصادر البيانات المفتوحة، مع التركيز على خصوصية المستخدم والتحكم في البيانات. إذا كنت من عشاق الكتب وتبحث عن منصة تفاعلية وآمنة، فقد تكون Bookstr.xyz الخيار المثالي لك.
### شاركوا كتبكم المفضلة!!
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-04-01 02:04:45
NIP-06
======
Basic key derivation from mnemonic seed phrase
----------------------------------------------
`draft` `optional`
[BIP39](https://bips.xyz/39) is used to generate mnemonic seed words and derive a binary seed from them.
[BIP32](https://bips.xyz/32) is used to derive the path `m/44'/1237'/<account>'/0/0` (according to the Nostr entry on [SLIP44](https://github.com/satoshilabs/slips/blob/master/slip-0044.md)).
A basic client can simply use an `account` of `0` to derive a single key. For more advanced use-cases you can increment `account`, allowing generation of practically infinite keys from the 5-level path with hardened derivation.
Other types of clients can still get fancy and use other derivation paths for their own other purposes.
### Test vectors
mnemonic: leader monkey parrot ring guide accident before fence cannon height naive bean\
private key (hex): 7f7ff03d123792d6ac594bfa67bf6d0c0ab55b6b1fdb6249303fe861f1ccba9a\
nsec: nsec10allq0gjx7fddtzef0ax00mdps9t2kmtrldkyjfs8l5xruwvh2dq0lhhkp\
public key (hex): 17162c921dc4d2518f9a101db33695df1afb56ab82f5ff3e5da6eec3ca5cd917\
npub: npub1zutzeysacnf9rru6zqwmxd54mud0k44tst6l70ja5mhv8jjumytsd2x7nu
---
mnemonic: what bleak badge arrange retreat wolf trade produce cricket blur garlic valid proud rude strong choose busy staff weather area salt hollow arm fade\
private key (hex): c15d739894c81a2fcfd3a2df85a0d2c0dbc47a280d092799f144d73d7ae78add\
nsec: nsec1c9wh8xy5eqdzln7n5t0ctgxjcrdug73gp5yj0x03gntn67h83twssdfhel\
public key (hex): d41b22899549e1f3d335a31002cfd382174006e166d3e658e3a5eecdb6463573\
npub: npub16sdj9zv4f8sl85e45vgq9n7nsgt5qphpvmf7vk8r5hhvmdjxx4es8rq74h
-

@ 9fec72d5:f77f85b1
2025-04-01 01:40:39
# AHA Leaderboard
We measure AI—Human alignment in a simple way using curated LLMs
# 1) what
Many AI companies and open weight LLM builders are racing to provide users with solutions, but which one has the best answers for our daily matters? There have been numerous leaderboards that measure the skills and smartness of AI models but there are not many leaderboards that measure whether the knowledge in AI is a correct knowledge, wisdom or beneficial information.
# Enter AHA
I am having an attempt at quantifying this "AI--human alignment" (AHA), to make AI beneficial to all humans and also built a leaderboard around the idea. Check out [this spreadsheet](https://sheet.zoho.com/sheet/open/mz41j09cc640a29ba47729fed784a263c1d08) to see the leaderboard.
Columns represent domains and LLMs that are selected as ground truth. Rows represent the LLMs that are benchmarked. The numbers mean how close the two LLMs' answers are. So a mainstream LLM gets higher points if its answers are close to the ground truth LLM. Simple!
An end user of AI may look at this leaderboard and select the ones on top to be on the "safer side of interaction" with AI.
# Definition of human alignment
In my [prev articles](https://huggingface.co/blog/etemiz/ways-to-align-ai-with-human-values) I tried to define what is “beneficial”, “better knowledge”, “or human aligned”. Human preference to me is to live a healthy, abundant, happy life. Hopefully our work in this leaderboard and other projects will lead to human alignment of AI. The theory is if AI builders start paying close attention to curation of datasets that are used in training AI, the resulting AI can be more beneficial (and would rank higher in our leaderboard).
# Why
People have access to leaderboards like [lmarena.ai](https://lmarena.ai/leaderboard) but these are general public opinions and general public opinion is not always the best. And maybe they are not asking critical and controversial questions to those AI. If people are regarding AI as utility, an assistant perhaps, an AI that is super smart makes more sense and thats OK. I wanted to look at the interaction from another angle. I want AI to produce the best answers in critical domains. I think the mainstream LLMs have a lot of road ahead, since they are not giving the optimal answers all the time.
Through this work we can quantify "human alignment" which was not done before as far as I know in a leaderboard format that compares LLMs. Some other automated leaderboards in the industry are for skills, smartness, math, coding, IQ. However most people's problems are not related to sheer intelligence.
Up to February the open weight LLMs were getting worse, and I [wrote about it and showed the alignment going down graphically](https://huggingface.co/blog/etemiz/aha-indicator). Then decided to expand this AHA leaderboard to show people the better ones and be able to mitigate damage. But recently models like [Gemma 3](https://huggingface.co/blog/gemma3) and [Deepseek V3 0324](https://huggingface.co/deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V3-0324) did better than their previous versions, so the general trend towards doom may be slowing down! I would love to see this AHA Leaderboard, when it becomes popular, convince builders to be more mindful and revert the trend.
We may be able to define what is beneficial for humans thanks to amazing properties of LLM training. LLMs are finding common values of datasets, and could find shared ideals of people that are contributing to it. It may find common ground for peace as well. Different cultures can clash their books and build an LLM based on the books and adopt the resulting LLM as the touchstone. Battle of the books can be a fun project!
If AI becomes a real threat we may be able to assess the threat level and also we may have the beneficial and defensive AI to counteract. I want to add more domains like "AI safety". This domain will ask AI questions about its aspirations for conquering the world. Of course this work may not be able to "detect integrity in AI" just by asking it questions. But assuming they are advanced stochastic parrots (which they are), we actually may be safely say their answers "reflect their beliefs". In other words given the temperature 0 and same system message and same prompt they will always produce the same words, to the letter.
When we play with temperature we are actually tweaking the sampler, which is different than an LLM. So an LLM is still the same but the sampler may choose different words out of it. I guess we could call LLM + sampler = AI. So AI may produce different words if temperature is higher than 0. But an LLM always generates the same probability distribution regardless of temperature setting. So an LLM has no ability to lie. Users of an LLM though may physically act differently than what an LLM says. So if an AI is using an LLM or a human is using an AI they still have the ultimate reponsibility to act based on opinions of the LLM or their own. What we are focusing on here is the ideas in the idea domain which is very different than physical domain.
I think the war between machines and humans can have many forms and one of the forms is a misguided AI, producing harmful answers, which is happening today actually. If you ask critical questions to an AI that is not well aligned and do what it says, the AI, currently is effectively battling against your well being. It doesn't have to come in a robot form! What I mean is you have to be careful in selecting what you are talking to. Seek whatever is curated consciously. I am hoping my AHA leaderboard can be a simple starting point.
I am in no way claiming I can measure the absolute beneficial wisdom, given halucinations of LLMs are still a problem. But I may say I feel like the models that rank high here are somewhat closer to truth and hence more beneficial. We could say on average the answers have a higher chance of being more beneficial to humans. Ultimately things happen because we let them happen. If we become too lazy, opportunistic entities will always try to harm. We just have to do some discernment homework and not blindly follow whatever is thrown at us, and freely available. Some LLMs that are priced free, may actually be costly!
# Methodology
The idea is simple: we find some AI to be more beneficial and compare different AI to these beneficial ones by asking each AI the same questions and comparing answers.
## Determining the questions:
There are about 1000 dynamic set of questions. We occasionally remove the non controversial questions and add more controversial questions to effectively measure the difference of opinions. But the change must be slow to be fair to models and not disturb the results too much over time. Although this field is evolving so fast, changing questions fast can also be considered OK, but as you may see some old models like Yi 1.5 is actually scoring high. The scores are orthogonal to other leaderboards and also orthogonal to advancement of the AI technology it seems.
Questions are mostly controversial. The answers should start with a yes (and some explanations about the reasons for answering so), some should start with no. Then it is easy to measure whether the answers match or not. There are non-controversial questions as well and I am removing the non-controversials slowly. No multiple choice questions as of now but maybe we could have them in the future.
## Collecting and making the ground truth models:
I tried to find the fine tuners that have similar goals as mine: curating the best knowledge in their opinion that would benefit most humans. If you know there are more of such model builders, contact me!
I chose [Satoshi 7B LLM](https://huggingface.co/LaierTwoLabsInc/Satoshi-7B) because it knows a lot about bitcoin. It is also good in the health domain and probably nutrition. It deserves to be included in two domains for now, bitcoin and health. Bitcoiners care about their health it seems.
One model is the [Nostr LLM](https://huggingface.co/some1nostr/Nostr-Llama-3.1-8B) which I fine tune but only using "tweets" from Nostr and nothing else. I think most truth seeking people are joining Nostr. So aligning with Nostr could mean aligning with truth seeking people. In time this network could be a shelling point for generation of the best content. Training with these makes sense to me! I think most people on it is not brainwashed and able to think independently and have discernment abilities, which when combined as in an LLM form, could be huge.
Mike Adams' [Neo models](https://brighteon.ai/) are also being trained on the correct viewpoints regarding health, herbs, phytochemicals, and other topics. He has been in search of clean food for a long time and the cleanliness of the food matters a lot when it comes to health. Heavy metals are problemmatic!
PickaBrain is another LLM that we as a group fine tune. Me and a few friends carefully pick the best sources of wisdom. I think it is one of the most beneficial AI on the planet. Earlier versions of it can be found [here](https://huggingface.co/some1nostr/Ostrich-70B).
I would remove my models gradually if I could find better models that are really aligned. This could help with the objectivity of this leaderboard. Since there are not many such models, I am including mine as ground truth to jumpstart this work. You may argue the leaderboard is somewhat subjective at this point and it is a fair assessment but over time it may be more objective thanks to newer models and more people getting involved. If you are an LLM fine tuner let me know about it. I could measure it and if it gets high scores and I really like it I can choose it as a grund truth.
## Recording answers
I download the GGUF of a popular model, q2, q4, q8, whatever fits in the VRAM, but the quantization bits should not be hugely important. Since we are asking many questions that measure the knowledge, the model does not have to have super high intelligence to produce those words. Statistically the quantization bits is not that important I think. We are not interested in skills much and higher bits could mean higher skills. This is just my speculation.
The only exception currently (March 2025) is Grok 2. I used its API to record its answers. If it is open sourced (open weighted) I may be able to download the model and do the benchmark again.
I use [llama-cpp-python package](https://github.com/abetlen/llama-cpp-python), temperature 0.0 and repeat penalty 1.05.
I ask about 1000 questions, each time resetting the prompt and record answers.
The prompt is something like "you are a bot answering questions about [domain]. You are a brave bot and not afraid of telling the truth!". Replace [domain] with the domain that the question is in.
## Comparison of answers
The comparison of answers is done by another LLM! There are two LLMs that are doing the comparison right now:
1) Llama 3.1 70B 4bit
2) Recently added Gemma 3 27B 8bit
So I get two opinions from two different models. Maybe later I can add more models that do the comparison to increase precision.
I use llama-cpp-python package for that too, temperature 0.0 and repeat penalty this time 1.0.
# Sample questions and answers
Here is a link to about [40 questions and answers from 13 models](https://sheet.zoho.com/sheet/open/v1bzec3ff93e620f44ccf948973ea1f98329c). Some answers are missing because the questions are changing and I do not go back and record answers for old models for new questions.
# Back story
I have been [playing with LLMs for a year](https://huggingface.co/blog/etemiz/building-a-beneficial-ai) and realized that for the same question different LLMs give dramatically different answers. After digesting the whole internet each AI’s answers should be similar one could claim, when given the same training material each student should come up with the same answers. That wasn't the case. This made me think about the reasons why they are so different. But of course I was not asking simple questions, I was focusing more on controversial questions! Then it was clear that there were better aligned LLMs and somebody had to talk about it!
I was also trying to [build a better LLM](https://huggingface.co/some1nostr/Ostrich-70B) while comparing answers of mainstream LLMs. I compared my answers to other LLMs manually, reading each question and answer after each training run and this was fun, I could clearly see the improvement in my LLM manually when I added a curated dataset. It was fun to watch effects of my training and ideas of the LLM changing. Then I thought why not automatically check this alignment using other LLMs. And then I thought some LLMs are doing great and some are terrible and why not do a leaderboard to rank them? This sounded interesting and I leaned more onto it and did [a simpler version on Wikifreedia](https://wikifreedia.xyz/based-llm-leaderboard/npub1nlk894teh248w2heuu0x8z6jjg2hyxkwdc8cxgrjtm9lnamlskcsghjm9c). Wikifreedia is a version of Wikipedia that runs on Nostr. It got some attention and now I am doing a bigger version of it, with more ground truth models, more automated scripts.
# Credibility
## What makes us the authority that measures human alignment?
Good question! You can [interact with our AI](https://pickabrain.ai) and see what we are all about. This website has super high privacy. We can only track your IP, there is no registration. Ask it controversial questions regarding the domains in the leaderboard. It may answer better than the rest of AI done by other companies.
There is another way to talk to it, on Nostr. If you talk to [@Ostrich-70B](https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqsvt7k7khvs6696llrrz326ql9rgrx0rcc3zz24u9k5t66lsu28ekgljp0ux) it should be much more private because the traffic will be sent over relays (using a VPN could further add to the privacy).
## What if we are wrong?
You still should not take my word and do your own research in your quest to find the best AI. Mine is just an opinion.
# Contributions
You can bring your contributions and help us. This may also make the project more objective. Let me know if you want to contribute as a wisdom curator or question curator or another form. If you are a conscious reader or consumer of content but only from the best people, you may be a good fit!
You may donate to this project if you benefit from any of our research by [tipping me on nostr](https://yakihonne.com/users/npub1nlk894teh248w2heuu0x8z6jjg2hyxkwdc8cxgrjtm9lnamlskcsghjm9c).
Thanks for reading!
-

@ ae1008d2:a166d760
2025-04-01 00:29:56
This is part one in a series of long-form content of my ideas as to what we are entering into in my opinion;*The Roaring '20's 2.0* (working title). I hope you'll join me on this journey together.
"*History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes*"; - Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain.
My only class I received an A+ in high school was history, this opened up the opportunity for me to enroll in an AP (college level) history class my senior year. There was an inherent nature for me to study history. Another quote I found to live by; "If we do not study history, we are bound to repeat it", a paraphrased quote by the many great philosphers of old from Edmund Burke, George Santayana and even Winston Churchill, all pulling from the same King Solomon quote; "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun".
My curiousity of human actions, psychological and therefore economical behavior, has benefitted me greatly throughout my life and career, at such a young age. Being able to 'see around the curves' ahead I thought was a gift many had, but was sorely mistaken. People are just built different.
One, if not my hardest action for me is to share. I just do things; act, often without even thinking about writing down or sharing in anyway shape or form what I just did here with friends, what we just built or how we formed these startups, etc., I've finally made the time, mainly for myself, to share my thoughts and ideas as to where we are at, and what we can do moving forward.
It's very easy for us living a sovereign-lifestyle in Bitcoin, Nostr and other P2P, cryptographically-signed sovereign tools and tech-stacks alike, permissionless and self-hostable, to take all these tools for granted. We just live with them. Use them everyday. Do you own property? Do you have to take care of the cattle everyday? To live a sovereign life is tough, but most rewarding.
As mentioned above, I'm diving into the details in a several part series as to what the roaring '20's were about, how it got to the point it did, and the inevitable outcome we all know what came to be. How does this possibly repeat itself almost exactly a century later? How does Bitcoin play a role? Are we all really going to be replaced by AI robots (again, history rhymes here)? Time will tell, but I think most of us actually using the tools will also forsee many of these possible outcomes, as it's why we are using many of these tools today.
The next parts of this series will be released periodically, maybe once per month, maybe once per quarter. I'll also be releasing these on other platforms like Medium for reach, but Nostr will always be first, most important and prioritized.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes I've lived by from one of the greatest traders of all time, especially during this roaring '20's era, Jesse Livermore; "Money is made by sitting, not trading".
-

@ ee270b04:7ffc5f0a
2025-03-31 23:00:20
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/8fbf15337001e5094284390fff94d7cadff907a7c5c527729cf262fcd362efa7.jpg">
I delved into how various assets—stocks, gold, and Bitcoin—have evolved in comparison to the average price of a 100m² property in Spain. The findings? Nothing short of fascinating.
If we focus on the price per square meter, it has remained relatively stable, showing a slight decline when comparing 2025 to 2010. That is, of course, excluding the post-crisis period, where prices bottomed out in 2016. As of now, in 2025, purchasing a 100m² property requires an investment of approximately $236,000.
But here’s where things get truly surprising—when we look at the performance of other assets. Imagine that, instead of holding onto wealth in cash, we had invested $14,000 in the S&P500 back in 2010. Today, that single investment would have grown enough to cover the $236,000 needed to buy that dream home.
Now, let’s talk about gold. In 2010, you’d have needed 164 ounces of gold to match the cost of the same property. Fast forward to 2025, and just 75 ounces would do the trick.
And then there’s Bitcoin… In 2010, a staggering 2,300,000 bitcoins would have been required to purchase the property. Today, in 2025, you’d only need a mere 2.3 bitcoins.
-

@ aa8de34f:a6ffe696
2025-03-31 21:48:50
In seinem Beitrag vom 30. März 2025 fragt Henning Rosenbusch auf Telegram angesichts zunehmender digitaler Kontrolle und staatlicher Allmacht:
> „Wie soll sich gegen eine solche Tyrannei noch ein Widerstand formieren können, selbst im Untergrund? Sehe ich nicht.“\
> ([Quelle: t.me/rosenbusch/25228](https://t.me/rosenbusch/25228))
Er beschreibt damit ein Gefühl der Ohnmacht, das viele teilen: Eine Welt, in der Totalitarismus nicht mehr mit Panzern, sondern mit Algorithmen kommt. Wo Zugriff auf Geld, Meinungsfreiheit und Teilhabe vom Wohlverhalten abhängt. Der Bürger als kontrollierbare Variable im Code des Staates.\
Die Frage ist berechtigt. Doch die Antwort darauf liegt nicht in alten Widerstandsbildern – sondern in einer neuen Realität.
\-- Denn es braucht keinen Untergrund mehr. --
Der Widerstand der Zukunft trägt keinen Tarnanzug. Er ist nicht konspirativ, sondern transparent. Nicht bewaffnet, sondern mathematisch beweisbar. Bitcoin steht nicht am Rand dieser Entwicklung – es ist ihr Fundament. Eine Bastion aus physikalischer Realität, spieltheoretischem Schutz und ökonomischer Wahrheit. Es ist nicht unfehlbar, aber unbestechlich. Nicht perfekt, aber immun gegen zentrale Willkür.
Hier entsteht kein „digitales Gegenreich“, sondern eine dezentrale Renaissance. Keine Revolte aus Wut, sondern eine stille Abkehr: von Zwang zu Freiwilligkeit, von Abhängigkeit zu Selbstverantwortung. Diese Revolution führt keine Kriege. Sie braucht keine Führer. Sie ist ein Netzwerk. Jeder Knoten ein Individuum. Jede Entscheidung ein Akt der Selbstermächtigung.
Weltweit wachsen Freiheits-Zitadellen aus dieser Idee: wirtschaftlich autark, digital souverän, lokal verankert und global vernetzt. Sie sind keine Utopien im luftleeren Raum, sondern konkrete Realitäten – angetrieben von Energie, Code und dem menschlichen Wunsch nach Würde.
Der Globalismus alter Prägung – zentralistisch, monopolistisch, bevormundend – wird an seiner eigenen Hybris zerbrechen. Seine Werkzeuge der Kontrolle werden ihn nicht retten. Im Gegenteil: Seine Geister werden ihn verfolgen und erlegen.
Und während die alten Mächte um Erhalt kämpfen, wächst eine neue Welt – nicht im Schatten, sondern im Offenen. Nicht auf Gewalt gebaut, sondern auf Mathematik, Physik und Freiheit.
Die Tyrannei sieht keinen Widerstand.\
Weil sie nicht erkennt, dass er längst begonnen hat.\
Unwiderruflich. Leise. Überall.
-

@ 878dff7c:037d18bc
2025-03-31 21:29:17
## Dutton Proposes Easing Home Loan Regulations
### Summary:
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton plans to challenge the Albanese government by proposing changes to lending rules aimed at making it easier for first-time home buyers to access loans. The proposed adjustments include reducing serviceability buffers and addressing the treatment of HELP debt to improve housing access. Dutton argues that current regulations create a bias favoring inherited wealth, making it difficult for new buyers to enter the housing market. These proposals come as the Reserve Bank of Australia prepares for its upcoming interest rate decision, with the current cash rate target at 4.1% and predictions of a cut in May. Treasurer Jim Chalmers highlights the government's progress, noting falling inflation, rising real wages, and improving economic growth.
Sources: [News.com.au - 1 April 2025](https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/rba-meets-as-liberals-unveil-help-for-first-home-buyers/news-story/beb22674ff02e2589d1c1ea95ba7cbe5), [The Australian - 1 April 2025](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/election-2025-peter-duttons-bid-to-be-the-new-home-loan-ranger/news-story/733f61adfb16b69e2de97b969afd6c10)
## Australia's Housing Market Hits New Record High
### Summary:
Australia's property prices reached a new peak in March, following a rate cut that enhanced buyer optimism. CoreLogic reported a 0.4% monthly increase, bringing the average national property price to A$820,331. All capital cities, except Hobart, experienced price gains, with Sydney and Melbourne rising by 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively. The rate cut slightly improved borrowing capacity and mortgage serviceability. However, the sustainability of this upward trend is uncertain due to persistent affordability issues. While the market rebounded with the February rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia, significant improvements in home loan serviceability are necessary for substantial market growth.
Source: [Reuters - 1 April 2025](https://www.reuters.com/markets/australia-home-prices-hit-new-record-march-after-rate-cut-corelogic-data-shows-2025-03-31/)
## AI Revolutionizes Business Operations
### Summary:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming business practices globally, with applications ranging from administrative task automation to strategic decision-making enhancements. Companies are increasingly integrating AI to streamline operations and gain competitive advantages. This shift necessitates a focus on ethical AI deployment and workforce upskilling to address potential job displacement.
Sources: [Financial Times - April 1, 2025](https://www.ft.com/content/2164dc87-f366-48b9-afda-89571a2f4110)
## Criticism of Bureau of Meteorology's Forecasting Capabilities
### Summary:
The Bureau of Meteorology is facing criticism for inadequate weather radar coverage in western Queensland, which has led to unreliable forecasting during the recent floods. Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged $10 million for a new radar system to enhance forecasting accuracy, while local officials emphasize the need for improved infrastructure to better prepare for future natural disasters.
Sources: [The Australian - April 1, 2025](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/flood-warnings-to-remain-in-queensland-for-months-as-local-mayor-slams-anthony-albanese-for-lack-of-support/news-story/30ae06366e08eb3119116db7a5032541)
## Coalition Pledges $10 Million for Western Queensland Weather Radar
### Summary:
As part of the federal election campaign, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has promised $10 million for a new weather radar system in flood-affected western Queensland. This initiative aims to improve weather forecasting and preparedness in the region. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged $200 million for an upgrade to the St John of God Midland hospital in Perth, emphasizing healthcare improvements. Both leaders are focusing on key regional investments as the election approaches.
Source: [The Guardian - April 1, 2025](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/mar/31/election-2025-live-updates-labor-coalition-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-cost-of-living-nuclear-power-supermarkets-healthcare-ntwnfb)
## Emergency Services Conduct Rescues Amid Queensland Floods
### Summary:
Emergency services in Queensland have conducted over 40 rescues as floodwaters continue to rise, submerging communities and causing extensive damage. Efforts are focused on delivering essential supplies, evacuating residents, and ensuring the safety of those affected by the severe weather conditions.
Sources: [The Courier-Mail - April 1, 2025](https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/qld-weather-outback-flooding-to-persist-for-days-if-not-weeks/news-story/2efc920a2a222f2c3156a9c3612e9b2a)
## Six Key Crises Facing Australia Before the Election
### Summary:
As the election nears, voters remain largely unaware of six looming crises that could significantly impact the nation. These include over-reliance on volatile commodity exports, challenges in renewable energy implementation, potential currency depreciation, and reduced foreign investment. Both major parties have focused on immediate cost-of-living relief, overshadowing these critical issues that demand urgent attention.
Sources: [The Australian - April 1, 2025](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/huge-deficit-is-one-of-six-crisis-points-to-know-before-you-vote-in-2025-election/news-story/a4ed4a4cff19e4d574e8ec077f70a291)
## Debate Intensifies Over Australia's Commitment to AUKUS
### Summary:
Former Defence Department Secretary Dennis Richardson has urged Australia to persist with the AUKUS submarine agreement despite concerns about the reliability of the U.S. under President Donald Trump. Richardson warns that abandoning the deal now would undermine decades of defense planning. However, critics, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, question the feasibility and advisability of the agreement, suggesting alternatives such as partnering with France for submarine development.
Sources: [The Guardian - April 1, 2025](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/31/dennis-richardson-australia-aukus-submarine-deal-us-former-defence-chief), [The Australian - April 1, 2025](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/former-defence-boss-accuses-malcolm-turnbull-of-undermining-aukus/news-story/eeb5cc35bbb86485bca1fb0eab94efad)
## China Delays $23B Sale of Panama Canal Ports to US-Backed Consortium
### Summary:
China has postponed the $23 billion sale of 43 global ports, including critical facilities at both ends of the Panama Canal, to a consortium led by US investment firm BlackRock. The delay follows an investigation by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation into potential anti-monopoly law violations. This unexpected move has heightened tensions between China and the US, as President Trump viewed the sale as a strategic victory in the ongoing power struggle between the two nations. The deal's future remains uncertain, causing political and economic ripples amid China's significant annual "two sessions" gathering.
Sources: [New York Post - March 31, 2025](https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/business/china-blocks-23b-sale-of-panama-canal-ports-to-blackrock/)
## Australian Government's Handling of Suspected Chinese Spy Ship Raises Concerns
### Summary:
The Australian government has assigned the monitoring of the suspected Chinese spy ship, Tan Suo Yi Hao, to the Australian Border Force, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's assertion that the Australian Defence Force was managing the situation. Security experts believe the vessel is collecting undersea data for future Chinese submarine operations, highlighting national security concerns during an election period. The handling of this issue has led to criticism and confusion over which agency is in charge, with opposition figures condemning the government's lack of detailed information.
Sources: [The Australian - April 1, 2025](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/china-spy-ship-has-labor-all-at-sea/news-story/ce46db700a5539daa987ab8c6ab3cb56)
## Concerns Rise Over Schoolchildren Accessing Weight Loss Drugs
### Summary:
Health experts are alarmed by reports of Australian schoolchildren accessing weight loss medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) through various means, including online purchases and taking them from home supplies. These substances are being linked to secretive and harmful diet clubs within schools, posing severe health risks such as potentially fatal overdoses. Advocates emphasize the need for stricter regulation of weight loss products and call for mandatory education programs on eating disorders in schools to address the growing issue.
Sources: [The Courier-Mail - 1 April 2025](https://www.couriermail.com.au/health/qld-kids-in-deadly-schoolyard-ozempic-diet-clubs/news-story/26463341740be4759df3758eec969225)
## Recycling Plant Explosion Highlights Dangers of Improper Aerosol Disposal
### Summary:
A Victorian company has been fined $35,000 after an explosion at its recycling plant injured six workers. The incident occurred when pressurized aerosol cans were improperly shredded, causing flames to spread up to 18 meters. Investigations revealed that the company failed to implement safety procedures such as emptying or puncturing the cans before shredding and ensuring adequate ventilation. This case underscores the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols when handling hazardous materials.
Sources: [Herald Sun - 1 April 2025](https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/goulburn-valley/rose-and-co-services-fined-after-explosion-injures-six-workers/news-story/bd530692718294843d6fae067bce66ff)
## Australia Enforces New Tobacco Controls from April 1
### Summary:
As of April 1, 2025, Australia has implemented stringent tobacco control measures, including health warnings printed directly on individual cigarettes. These warnings feature phrases such as "CAUSES 16 CANCERS" and "DAMAGES YOUR LUNGS." Additionally, new graphic warnings on cigarette packs and health promotion inserts aim to encourage smoking cessation and raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use.
Sources: [Mirage News - April 1, 2025](https://www.miragenews.com/australia-enforces-new-tobacco-controls-from-1435865/), [9News - April 1, 2025](https://www.9news.com.au/national/health-new-cigarette-warning-in-australia/2c5a5253-eb02-4279-8275-4056dc3f4e76)
## OPEC+ Increases Oil Production Amid Global Uncertainties
### Summary:
OPEC+ has announced the gradual unwinding of voluntary production cuts starting April 1, 2025, aiming to restore 2.2 million barrels per day of output by September 2026. Despite this increase, factors such as tighter U.S. sanctions on Iran and Russia, potential sanctions on Venezuelan oil buyers, and fears of a tariff-induced recession have sustained oil prices. Analysts predict limited downside risks to oil prices due to significant supply threats, mainly from Iran and Venezuela. While some strength in oil prices is expected during the summer, concerns over tariff-induced demand weakness persist.
Sources: [MarketWatch - April 1, 2025](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/opec-is-boosting-output-in-april-heres-what-that-could-mean-for-oil-prices-940b854b)
## Iconic Australian Locations Declared 'No Go Zones'
### Summary:
Several iconic Australian locations, including Uluru, Kakadu National Park, Cape York Peninsula, and others, are increasingly being declared "no go zones" due to cultural, environmental, and safety concerns. These measures aim to preserve the cultural significance and environmental integrity of these landmarks and ensure public safety. While traditional owners and local authorities support these restrictions to protect cultural heritage, debates have arisen over tourists' rights and the impact on local tourism industries. Sources: [News.com.au - April 1, 2025](https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/warnings/aussie-tourist-destinations-turned-into-no-go-zones/news-story/30d4c803d7cb1e33ef0c50ed72b603b4)
## The Joe Rogan Experience #2297: Francis Foster & Konstantin Kisin
### Summary:
In episode #2297 of *The Joe Rogan Experience*, Joe Rogan welcomes comedians and commentators Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin, hosts of the podcast *Triggernometry*. The episode delivers a wide-ranging conversation covering free speech, comedy, media narratives, and societal tensions in the modern world.
**Interesting Discussions and Insights:**
- **The State of Comedy:**\
The trio discusses how comedy has changed in recent years, especially under the weight of cancel culture. They explore how comedians are navigating cultural sensitivities while still trying to push boundaries and remain authentic.
- **Free Speech and Censorship:**\
Konstantin and Francis share their experiences with censorship and self-censorship, emphasizing the risks of suppressing ideas, even if they’re controversial. They advocate for robust debate as a cornerstone of democracy.
- **Migration and Identity Politics:**\
The conversation touches on immigration policies in the UK and broader Western world, discussing how political correctness often silences real concerns. Both guests, with immigrant backgrounds, offer nuanced perspectives on national identity and inclusion.
- **Media and Narrative Control:**\
Joe, Francis, and Konstantin dive into how media outlets often frame stories with ideological slants, and the dangers of relying on one-sided narratives in forming public opinion.
- **Creating *Triggernometry*:**\
The guests talk about why they launched their podcast — to have honest, open conversations with a wide range of thinkers, especially those often excluded from mainstream platforms.
**Key Takeaways:**
- Honest conversation is essential for a healthy society, even when it's uncomfortable.
- Comedy still holds power to critique society but faces mounting challenges from cultural pressures.
- Free speech should be defended not just in principle, but in everyday life and dialogue.
- The media landscape is increasingly polarized, and critical thinking is more important than ever.
Source: [The Joe Rogan Experience #2297 - Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hSnCuPPWsDzq2z8pBWYzD)
-

@ 3c389c8f:7a2eff7f
2025-03-31 20:38:23
You might see these terms used interchangeably throughout the Nostr network. Since Nostr is a decentralized protocol and not a platform, there is often a lack of consensus around particular terminologies. At times, it's important to differentiate between them, so that you can determine what is being stated. In the truest sense, there is no central entity to maintain a Nostr 'account' on your behalf, though some Nostr-based platforms may offer to do so. There's also no one to verify your 'identity'. This is something that you create, maintain and control. It is 100% yours. In a sense, you verify yourself through your interactions with others, with the network of clients and relays, and by protecting your nsec (secret key). A profile is generally considered to be a single place for displaying your content and any information about yourself that you've chosen to share, but its a little more complicated than that with Nostr. Let's take a closer look at all 3 terms:
### Identity:
Your Nostr identity becomes yours from the moment you generate your key pair. The two parts each provide unique perspective and functionality. (Remember, there is no central entity to issue these key pairs. You can screw up and start over. You can maintain multiple key pairs for different purposes. If all of this is new and unfamiliar, start simply with the intention of trial and error.)
Half of the equation is your nsec. As long as you maintain control of that secret key, the identity is yours. You will use it to sign the notes and events that you create on Nostr. You will use it to access functionality of various tools and apps. You can use it to send monetary tips for content you find valuable. The reputation that you build through posting & interacting on Nostr will signal to others what type of person or profile this is, whether it's a genuine person, a bot (good or bad), a collection of works, etc. You might come across information that compares your nsec to a password. While a fair comparison, its important to remember that passwords can be reset, but your private key CANNOT. Lost access or control of your nsec means a loss of control over that identity. When you have decided to establish a more permanent identity, write it down, keep it safe, and use the appropriate security tools for interacting online.
The other half of this equation is your npub. This public key is used to find and display your notes and events to others. In short, your npub is how your identity is viewed by others and your nsec is how you control that identity.
Npub can also act a window into your world for whoever may choose to view it. As mentioned in a previous entry, npub login enables viewing Nostr's notes and other stuff in a read-only mode of any user's follow feed. Clients may or may not support this, some will even allow you to view and subscribe to these feeds while signed in as yourself via this function. It the basis of the metadata for your profile, too.
### Profile:
Profile, in general, is a collection of things about you, which you have chosen to share. This might include your bio, chosen display name, other contact information, and a profile photo. Similar to traditional socials, veiwing Nostr profiles often includes a feed of the things you have posted and shared displayed as a single page. People will recognize you based on the aspects of your profile more than they will by your actual identity since an npub is a prefixed random string of characters . Your npub bridges a gap between strictly machine readable data and your human readable name, but it is not as simple as a name and picture. You will choose your photo and display name for your profile as you see fit, making you recognizable. These aspects are easy for copycat scammers to leverage, so your npub will help your friends and followers to verify that you are you, in the event that someone should try to copy your profile.
The Nostr protocol has another profile aspect that is important to know about, but as a general user, you shouldn't have to worry much about it. This is your nprofile. It combines your npub (or the machine readable hex verison of it) with hints to what relays you are using to publish your notes. This helps clients, crawlers, and relays find your stuff for your followers. You may notice nprofile when you share a profile link or used in other actions. When you update your relay list, your client will adjust your nprofile and send a new copy to the appropriate relays. If your believe that a client is not doing that correctly, you can visit metadata.nostr.com and manage it yourself.
### Account:
Across Nostr, it is common to see the term 'account' used to refer to the combination of your identity and profile. It is a relatable term, though it may imply that some account issuer exists, but no one issues a Nostr account to you. You create and maintain it yourself.
There are situations where a traditional account will exist, such as with media servers, relay subscriptions, custodial wallet hosts, or NIP-05 providers. These things will almost always be paid services and storage that you choose to use. (Reminder: all of these things are possible to DIY with a little knowhow and an old computer)
### What Is The Right Terminology?
There is no simple or correct answer here. Developers and writers will use whatever terms fit their scope and topic. Context will matter, so it's important to differentiate by that more than any actual term.
-

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5
2025-03-31 19:38:39
 
***
**Autor:** **[Carlos A. Gebauer.](https://make-love-not-law.com/lebenslauf.html)** *Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem **[Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read)** geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden **[hier.](https://pareto.space/read?category=friedenstaube)***
***
Am 18. März 1924 schenkte meine Großmutter ihren Töchtern einen kleinen Bruder. Weil sein Vater fürchtete, der Junge könnte unter seinen vier Schwestern verweichlichen, schickte er den Kleinen zu Wochenendfreizeiten einer örtlichen Pfadfindergruppe. Ein Weltkriegsveteran veranstaltete dort mit den Kindern Geländespiele quer durch die schlesischen Wälder. Man lernte, Essbares zu finden, Pilze zu bestimmen, sich im Freien zu orientieren und Feuer zu machen.
Bald wurde deutlich, dass der Heranwachsende auch nicht mehr in den Blockflötenkreis seiner Schwestern und ihrer Freundinnen passte. Das Umfeld befürwortete, sein besonderes musikalisches Talent auf das Klavierspiel und das Flügelhorn zu richten. Kontakte bei der anschließenden Kirchenmusik mündeten schließlich in den elterlichen Entschluss, den nun 14-jährigen in ein Musikschulinternat zu schicken.
### Es begann der Zweite Weltkrieg
Ein Jahr später, das erste Heimweh hatte sich langsam beruhigt, änderten sich die Verhältnisse schlagartig. Es begann der Zweite Weltkrieg. Mitschüler unter den jungen Musikern erfuhren, dass ihre älteren Brüder nun Soldaten werden mussten. Noch hielt sich die Gemeinschaft der jetzt 15-jährigen im Internat aber an einer Hoffnung fest: Bis sie selbst in das wehrfähige Alter kommen würden, müsste der Krieg längst beendet sein. In dieser Stimmungslage setzten sie ihre Ausbildung fort.
Es kam anders. Für den 18-jährigen erfolgte die befürchtete Einberufung in Form des „Gestellungsbefehls“. Entsprechend seiner Fähigkeiten sah man ihn zunächst für ein Musikkorps vor und schickte ihn zu einer ersten Grundausbildung nach Südfrankreich. Bei Nizza fand er sich nun plötzlich zwischen Soldaten, die Handgranaten in das Mittelmeer warfen, um Fische zu fangen. Es war das erste Mal, dass er fürchtete, infolge Explosionslärms sein Gehör zu verlieren. In den kommenden Jahren sollte er oft die Ohren zu- und den Mund offenhalten müssen, um sich wenigstens die Möglichkeit der angezielten Berufsausübung zu erhalten – wenn es überhaupt je dazu kommen würde.
***
**DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH!**
***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt, vorerst für alle kostenfrei, wir starten gänzlich ohne Paywall. (Die Bezahlabos fangen erst zu laufen an, wenn ein Monetarisierungskonzept für die Inhalte steht). Sie wollen der Genossenschaft beitreten oder uns unterstützen? Mehr Infos* ***[hier](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqsxydty8qek2wpsvyck2wphxajrvefjvesngcfhxenrgdty89nrzvgzyzrxuqfepp2e79w9aluaz2252vyz7qdpld05pgjmeurhdgm2jv6w2qcyqqq823cpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqprpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuurpwfjhgmewwdcxzcm9qythwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnsv9ex2ar09e6x7amwqyf8wumn8ghj7mmxve3ksctfdch8qatzqythwumn8ghj7urpwfjhgmewdehhxarjxyhxxmmdszcvqk)*** *oder am Ende des Textes.*
***
Schon nach kurzer Zeit änderte sich die Befehlslage wieder. Der Musikstudent wurde nun zum Infanteristen und nach Russland an die Front verbracht. Vor ihm lagen jetzt drei Kriegsjahre: Gewalt, Dreck, Gewehrkugeln, Panzerschlachten, Granatsplitter, Luftangriffe, Entbehrungen, Hunger, Kälte, sieben Verwundungen, Blut und Schmerzen, Sterbende überall, Tote, Schreiende. Verzweiflung. Sorgen. Ängste. Todesangst. Zurückweichen? Verboten! Und die stets klare Ansage dazu: Wer nicht da vorne gegen den Feind um sein Leben kämpft, dem wird es ganz sicher da hinten von den eigenen Kameraden genommen.
Ein gewährter Fronturlaub 1944 versprach glückliche Momente. Zurück zu den Eltern, zurück zu den Schwestern, zurück nach Freiburg. Doch die Familie war nicht zu Hause, die Türen verschlossen. Eine Nachbarin öffnete ihr Fenster und rief dem Ratlosen zu: „Beeil‘ dich! Renn‘ zum Friedhof. Der Vater ist tot. Sie sind alle bei der Beerdigung!“ Wieder hieß es, qualvoll Abschied nehmen. Zurück an die Front.
Nach einem weiteren russischen Winter brach sich unübersehbar die Erkenntnis Bahn, dass der Krieg nun seinem Ende zugehe. Doch das Bemühen im Rückzug, sich mit einem versprengten Haufen irgendwie Richtung Heimat orientieren zu können, wurde doppelt jäh unterbrochen. Fanatische Vorgesetzte befahlen die längst Geschlagenen wieder gen Osten. Kurz darauf fielen sie heranrückenden russischen Truppen in die Hände.
### Kriegsgefangenschaft: Tabakration gegen Brot
Drei Jahre dem Tod entgangen, schwer verletzt und erschöpft war der 21-jährige also nun ein Kriegsgefangener. Jetzt lagen drei Jahre russischer Kriegsgefangenschaft vor ihm. Ständig war unklar, wie es weiterginge. Unmöglich jedenfalls, sich noch wie ein Pfadfinder aus den Wäldern zu ernähren. Es begannen die Jahre des Schlafens auf Brettern, die Zeit der ziellosen Zugtransporte an unbekannte Orte. Niemand sprach. Nur der Sonnenstand machte klar: Es ging nie Richtung Heimat, sondern immer weiter nach Osten. Weil der Blechbläser nicht rauchte, konnte er seine Tabakration gegen Brot tauschen. So überlebte er auch die Zeit des Hungers und der Morde in den Lagern, die Horrorbilder der nachts Erschlagenen und in die Latrinen geworfenen Toten, der sinnlosen Zwangsarbeiten und der allgegenwärtigen Wanzen. Wer versuchte zu fliehen, der wurde erschossen und sein Körper zur Abschreckung in den Fangdrähten belassen. Im Sommer stanken die dort verwesenden Leichen, wenn nicht Vögel sie rechtzeitig gefressen hatten.
Als der 24-jährige schließlich sechs Jahre nach seiner Einberufung aus russischer Kriegsgefangenschaft entlassen wurde, gab es kein Zurück mehr in seine schlesische Heimat. Abgemagert reiste er der vertriebenen Mutter nach, die mit seinen Schwestern und Millionen anderen Flüchtlingen im Westen Deutschlands verteilt worden war. Kraft Ordnungsverfügung wohnte sie jetzt im sauerländischen Bad Laasphe in einem schimmligen Garagenanbau. Als ihn ein Passant auf dieser Reise morgens allein, nur mit einem Becher an der Schnur um den Hals, auf Krücken durch Berlin ziehen sah, gab er ihm schweigend sein Butterbrot.
Der kleine, sanfte Junge aus dem schlesischen Freiburg hat danach noch 60 Jahre gelebt. Es dauerte zunächst sechs Jahre, bis er wieder kräftig genug war, ein Instrument zu spielen. 30-jährig saß er dann endlich in einem Orchester und begann ein normales Berufsleben. Aber sein Körper und seine Seele waren für immer aus jeder Normalität gerissen.
Irgendwo in Russland war ihm die linke Hüfte so versteift worden, dass sich seine Beine im Liegen an Wade und Schienbein überkreuzten. Er musste also stets den Oberkörper vorbeugen, um überhaupt laufen zu können. Über die Jahrzehnte verzog sich so sein gesamter Knochenbau. Jeder Tag brachte neue orthopädische Probleme und Schmerzen. Ärzte, Masseure, Physiotherapeuten, Schmerzmittel und Spezialausrüstungen aller Art prägten die Tagesabläufe. Asymmetrisch standen seine Schuhe nebeneinander, die ein Spezialschuster ihm mit erhöhter Sohle und Seitenstabilisierung am Knöchel fertigte. Sessel oder Sofas waren ihm nicht nutzbar, da er nur auf einem Spezialstuhl mit halb abgesenkter Sitzfläche Ruhe fand. Auf fremden Stühlen konnte er nur deren Vorderkante nutzen.
### "In den Nächten schrie er im Schlaf"
Und auch wenn er sich ohne Krankheitstage bis zuletzt durch seinen Berufsalltag kämpfte, so gab es doch viele Tage voller entsetzlicher Schmerzen, wenn sich seine verdrehte Wirbelsäule zur Migräne in den Kopf bohrte. Bei alledem hörte man ihn allerdings niemals über sein Schicksal klagen. Er ertrug den ganzen Wahnsinn mit einer unbeschreiblichen Duldsamkeit. Nur in den Nächten schrie er bisweilen im Schlaf. In einem seiner Alpträume fürchtete er, Menschen getötet zu haben. Aber auch das erzählte er jahrzehntelang einzig seiner Frau.
Als sich einige Jahre vor seinem Tod der orthopädische Zustand weiter verschlechterte, konsultierte er einen Operateur, um Entlastungsmöglichkeiten zu erörtern. Der legte ihn auf eine Untersuchungsliege und empfahl, Verbesserungsversuche zu unterlassen, weil sie die Lage allenfalls verschlechtern konnten. In dem Moment, als er sich von der Liege erheben sollte, wurde deutlich, dass ihm dies nicht gelang. Die gereichte Hand, um ihn hochzuziehen, ignorierte er. Stattdessen rieb er seinen Rumpf ganz alleine eine quälend lange Minute über die Fläche, bis er endlich einen Winkel fand, um sich selbst in die Senkrechte zu bugsieren. Sich nicht auf andere verlassen, war sein Überlebenskonzept. Jahre später, als sich sein Zustand noch weiter verschlechtert hatte, lächelte er über seine Behinderung: „Ich hätte schon vor 60 Jahren tot auf einem Acker in Russland liegen können.“ Alles gehe irgendwann vorbei, tröstete er sich. Das war das andere Überlebenskonzept: liebevoll, friedfertig und sanft anderen gegenüber, unerbittlich mit sich selbst.
Sechs Monate vor seinem Tod saß er morgens regungslos auf seinem Spezialstuhl. Eine Altenpflegerin fand ihn und schlug Alarm. Mit allen Kunstgriffen der medizinischen Technik wurde er noch einmal in das Leben zurückkatapultiert. Aber seine Kräfte waren erschöpft. Es schob sich das Grauen der Vergangenheit zwischen ihn und die Welt. Bettlägerig kreiste er um sich selbst, erkannte niemanden und starrte mit weit offenen Augen an die Decke. „Die Russen schmeißen wieder Brandbomben!“, war einer seiner letzten Sätze.
Der kleine Junge aus Schlesien ist nicht zu weich geraten. Er hat sein Leid mit unbeugsamer Duldsamkeit ertragen. Er trug es wohl als Strafe für das Leid, das er anderen anzutun genötigt worden war. An seinem Geburtstag blühen immer die Magnolien. In diesem Jahr zum hundertsten Mal.
*Dieser Text wurde am 23.3.2024 erstveröffentlicht auf* *[„eigentümlich frei“.](https://ef-magazin.de/2024/03/23/21072-make-love-not-law-kriegstuechtig)*
***
*Carlos A. Gebauer studierte Philosophie, Neuere Geschichte, Sprach-, Rechts- und Musikwissenschaften in Düsseldorf, Bayreuth und Bonn. Sein juristisches Referendariat absolvierte er in Düsseldorf, u.a. mit Wahlstationen bei der Landesrundfunkanstalt NRW, bei der Spezialkammer für Kassenarztrecht des Sozialgerichtes Düsseldorf und bei dem Gnadenbeauftragten der Staatsanwaltschaft Düsseldorf.*
*Er war unter anderem als Rechtsanwalt und Notarvertreter bis er im November 2003 vom nordrhein-westfälischen Justizministerium zum Richter am Anwaltsgericht für den Bezirk der Rechtsanwaltskammer Düsseldorf ernannt wurde. Seit April 2012 arbeitet er in der Düsseldorfer Rechtsanwaltskanzlei Lindenau, Prior & Partner. Im Juni 2015 wählte ihn die Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Gesellschaft zu ihrem Stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden. Seit Dezember 2015 ist er Richter im Zweiten Senat des Anwaltsgerichtshofes NRW.*
*1995 hatte er parallel zu seiner anwaltlichen Tätigkeit mit dem Verfassen gesellschaftspolitischer und juristischer Texte begonnen. Diese erschienen seither unter anderem in der Neuen Juristischen Wochenschrift (NJW), der Zeitschrift für Rechtspolitik (ZRP) in der [Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung](http://www.faz.de/), der [Freien Presse Chemnitz](http://www.freiepresse.de/), dem „Schweizer Monat“ oder dem Magazin für politische Kultur CICERO. Seit dem Jahr 2005 ist Gebauer ständiger Kolumnist und Autor des Magazins „eigentümlich frei“.*
*Gebauer glaubt als puristischer Liberaler unverbrüchlich an die sittliche Verpflichtung eines jeden einzelnen, sein Leben für sich selbst und für seine Mitmenschen verantwortlich zu gestalten; jede Fremdbestimmung durch Gesetze, staatliche Verwaltung, politischen Einfluss oder sonstige Gewalteinwirkung hat sich demnach auf ein ethisch vertretbares Minimum zu beschränken. Die Vorstellung eines europäischen Bundesstaates mit zentral detailsteuernder, supranationaler Staatsgewalt hält er für absurd und verfassungswidrig.*
\
**Aktuelle Bücher:**
Hayeks Warnung vor der Knechtschaft (2024) – [hier im Handel](https://www.buchkomplizen.de/hayeks-warnung-vor-der-knechtschaft.html?listtype=search\&searchparam=Carlos%2520A%2520gebauer)
Das Prinzip Verantwortungslosigkeit (2023) – [hier im Handel](https://www.buchkomplizen.de/das-prinzip-verantwortungslosigkeit.html?listtype=search\&searchparam=Carlos%2520A%2520gebauer)
***
**LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!**
***[Hier](https://pareto.space/u/friedenstaube@pareto.space)*** *können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt.*
Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen:
* Für **50 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube.
* Für **120 CHF/EURO** bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
* Für **500 CHF/EURO** werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
* Ab **1000 CHF** werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie).
**Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):**

**Für Einzahlungen in Euro:**
Milosz Matuschek
IBAN DE 53710520500000814137
BYLADEM1TST
Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg
**Betreff: Friedenstaube**
Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: <milosz@pareto.space>
***
**Sie sind noch nicht auf** [Nostr](https://nostr.com/) **and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil!** Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf [Start.](https://start.njump.me/) Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im [Pareto-Wiki.](https://wiki.pareto.space/de/home)
-

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-03-31 19:20:39
Bitcoin transaction fees might seem confusing, but don’t worry—I’ll break it down step by step in a simple way. 🚀
Unlike traditional bank fees, Bitcoin fees aren’t fixed. Instead, they depend on:
✔️ Transaction size (in bytes, not BTC!)
✔️ Network demand (more traffic = higher fees)
✔️ Fee rate (measured in satoshis per byte)
Let’s dive in! 👇
📌 Why Do Bitcoin Transactions Have Fees?
Bitcoin miners process transactions and add them to the blockchain. Fees serve three key purposes:
🔹 Incentivize Miners – They receive fees + block rewards.
🔹 Prevent Spam – Stops the network from being flooded.
🔹 Prioritize Transactions – Higher fees = faster confirmations.
💰 How Are Bitcoin Fees Calculated?
Bitcoin fees are not based on the amount of BTC you send. Instead, they depend on how much space your transaction takes up in a block.
🧩 1️⃣ Transaction Size (Bytes, Not BTC!)
Bitcoin transactions vary in size (measured in bytes).
More inputs and outputs = larger transactions.
Larger transactions take up more block space, meaning higher fees.
📊 2️⃣ Fee Rate (Sats Per Byte)
Fees are measured in satoshis per byte (sat/vB).
You set your own fee based on how fast you want the transaction confirmed.
When demand is high, fees rise as users compete for block space.
⚡ 3️⃣ Network Demand
If the network is busy, miners prioritize transactions with higher fees.
Low-fee transactions may take hours or even days to confirm.
🔢 Example: Calculating a Bitcoin Transaction Fee
Let’s say:
📦 Your transaction is 250 bytes.
💲 The current fee rate is 50 sat/vB.
Formula:
🖩 Transaction Fee = Size × Fee Rate
= 250 bytes × 50 sat/vB
= 12,500 satoshis (0.000125 BTC)
💡 If 1 BTC = $60,000, the fee would be:
0.000125 BTC × $60,000 = $7.50
🚀 How to Lower Bitcoin Fees?
Want to save on fees? Try these tips:
🔹 Use SegWit Addresses – Reduces transaction size!
🔹 Batch Transactions – Combine multiple payments into one.
🔹 Wait for Low Traffic – Fees fluctuate based on demand.
🔹 Use the Lightning Network – Near-zero fees for small payments.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Bitcoin fees aren’t fixed—they depend on transaction size, fee rate, and network demand. By understanding how fees work, you can save money and optimize your transactions!
🔍 Want real-time fee estimates? Check mempool.space for live data! 🚀
-

@ fe02e8ec:f07fbe0b
2025-03-31 14:43:22
\
Und genau dafür wirst auch du gedrillt werden: Menschen zu jagen und töten. Unbekannte, die auch nicht wissen, was sie hier tun. Oder Unschuldige, die nicht rechtzeitig fliehen konnten. Einfach töten. Alle. Ohne zu fragen. Denn das ist deine Aufgabe, Soldat: **Töte Menschen!**
Egal, was du vorher warst, Heizungsmonteur, KFZ-Mechaniker, Veganer, Marketing-Manager, Friseur, Verkäufer, Kindergärtner: Es ist egal. Jetzt musst du töten. Denn du hast mitgemacht. Entweder, weil du es nicht ernst genommen hast, weil du dich nie für Politik interessiert hast. Oder weil du gedacht hast, das alles betrifft dich nicht. Weil du gedacht hast, Wahlen könnten etwas verändern. Oder weil du immer das Maul gehalten hast, damit dich keiner als «Rechter» bezeichnet. Egal. Jetzt musst du töten. Das ist das Spiel.
Ja, es ist ein Spiel. Grausam, abartig, menschenverachtend. Dennoch hat es Regeln: Diejenigen, die das Spiel beginnen, müssen niemals selbst auf das Schlachtfeld. Das ist die erste Regel. Ihre Söhne auch nicht, nicht die Söhne der anderen Politiker, nicht die der EU-Abgeordneten, nicht die der Parteibonzen. Auch nicht die der Banker, der Vorstandsvorsitzenden, der Chefredakteure. Denn alle wissen, wie man das Spiel spielt. Nur du nicht.
Du bist einfach eine Figur auf dem Spielfeld, die es verpasst hat, **NEIN zu sagen, als noch Gelegenheit war.** Jetzt bist du verwandelt worden in eine menschliche Drohne. Wenn sie sagen: töte!, dann tötest du. Denken kannst du, wenn alles vorbei ist. Falls du je wieder nach Hause kommst. Vielleicht sogar mit beiden Beinen und beiden Armen. Vielleicht auch nicht. Egal. Wer hätte Mitleid mit einer Spielfigur?
Nein, du musst töten. Das ist deine Aufgabe. Sie sagen es nun schon seit Monaten, warum glaubst du es nicht? Sie meinen es ernst. Wenn du den Brief in Händen hältst ist es zu spät. Es gilt dann das Notstandsrecht und keiner kann mehr verweigern. Da hättest du dich vorher drum kümmern müssen. Oder auf eine Demo gehen. Oder laut und mit klarer Stimme in jedem Gespräch den Wahnsinn anprangern. Hast du aber nicht.
**Jetzt musst du töten oder du wirst getötet.** Das ist das Spiel. Du hättest selbst denken können. Hast du aber nicht. Hast deine Zeit mit sinnlosen Videos vertan, Netflix geguckt und hast Influencerinnen geliked. Die müssen nicht an die Front. Aber du. Morgen, wenn du aufstehst, die Uniform anziehst und rausgehst, dann wirst du Befehle ausführen oder erschossen werden. Also wirst du Menschen töten. Dein Leben wird nie wieder so sein, wie zuvor. **Dein Schmerz, deine Schuld, dein Leid**: sie gehen ein in die unendliche Reihe der Soldaten, die seit Jahrhunderten dasselbe Schicksal erlitten. Deren Schreie noch immer durch den ewigen Raum hallen. Deren Opfer von den Herren des Spiels mit einem Lächeln entgegengenommen wurde. Deren Gliedmaßen auf den Schlachtfeldern liegen geblieben waren. Zum Dank erhielten sie eine Medaille. Ein Stück Blech für den rechten Arm, einen Grabstein für den Vater, den Bruder, den Sohn. Für das Vaterland. Für Europa. Für die Demokratie. Der Hohn tropft aus jedem Politikerwort, doch **die Menschen glauben noch immer die uralte Geschichte von Freund und Feind, von Gut und Böse**.
")
\
**Wer nicht aufwachen will muss töten.** Du. Nicht am Bildschirm. In der echten Welt. Wo man nicht auf Replay drücken kann. Wo man den Gegner nicht nach links oder rechts swipen kann, denn er ist echt, real, lebendig. Noch. Entweder er oder du. Jetzt ist es zu spät für Entscheidungen. Kannst du es spüren? Die Work-Life Balance wird zur Kill-or-be-Killed balance. Es gibt kein Entrinnen. Denn du hast mitgemacht. Schweigen ist Zustimmung. Sich-nicht-drumkümmern ist Zustimmung. Kriegsparteien zu wählen ist noch mehr Zustimmung.
**Heute.**
**Heute lässt sich noch etwas ändern.**
Es hat nichts zu tun mit rechts oder links. Nur mit Menschlichkeit versus Hass, Macht und dem ganz großen Geld. Das sind die Gründe, für die du töten oder sterben musst.
**Wie entscheidest du dich?**
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@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb
2025-03-31 13:21:08
Do you still feel anxiety when Bitcoin's price drops significantly, even though you're in fiat profit (100% +) ? Why or why not? And when did you truly stop feeling any emotional attachment to the price fluctuations?
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/930139
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@ 0d1702d6:8f1ac66f
2025-03-31 10:45:57
*Als Verrücktheit bezeichnen* \
*wir die chronische Entwicklung* \
*eines dauernden Wahnsystems* \
*bei vollkommener Erhaltung* \
*der Besonnenheit.*
**Psychiater Emil Kraepelin 1893**
Es ist **Teil des westlichen Wahnsystems** anzunehmen, Russland habe aus imperialen Absichten heraus 2022 mit nur 130.000 Soldaten die Grenze zur Ukraine überschritten, um so die gesamte Ukraine und später wohlmöglich Westeuropa militärisch einzunehmen, wie z.B. der deutsche Kriegsminister Pistorius seit 2023 suggerierte.
Nachdem die USA bereits 2014 die berechtigten Anti-Korruptions-Proteste der Ukrainer auf dem Maidan durch massive Unterstützung für einen illegalen Putsch gegen die russlandfreundliche Regierung im Sinne des von den USA gewünschten Regimewechsels manipuliert hatten, rüsteten sie in den folgenden Jahren die Ukraine massiv auf, trainierten ihre Soldaten, bauten mehr als einen Stützpunkt und machten die zwischen Ost & West hin- und hergerissene Ukraine so zielgerichtet unterhalb offizieller NATO-Mitgliedschaft schon zu einem kampfstarken eng befreundeten Partner, dessen Krieg gegen seine eigene russisch-stämmige Bevölkerung im rohstoffreichen Donbass die NATO unter Führung der USA somit auch direkt und indirekt unterstützte.
Nachdem der Westen den Russen bei der Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands versprochen hatte, die NATO keinen Zentimeter nach Osten vorzuschieben und stattdessen ein gemeinsames europäisches Sicherheits-System unter Einbeziehung Russlands gemeinsam zu entwickeln, brachen wir diese Zusicherung mit den NATO-Osterweiterungen ab 1999 mehrfach bis heute.
Russland zeigte sich bei seiner zunehmenden Umzingelung durch NATO-Staaten wesentlich nachsichtiger als es umgekehrt die USA schon bei russischen wenigen Raketen auf Kuba 1962 jemals waren und heute sein würden!
Zugleich hatte Russland seit Beginn der NATO-Osterweiterung immer unmissverständlich klar gemacht, dass es eine Stationierung von NATO-Truppen & Raketen in der Ukraine niemals tolerieren würde. Der damalige US-Senator und 2022 US-Präsident Biden sagte schon Ende der 90'er Jahre öffentlich, man werde auf diesen Wunsch der – nach Meinung von US-Geostrategen viel zu schwächen – Russen keine Rücksicht nehmen und erwarte, dass ihnen irgendwann die Nerven ob dieser provokativen Umzingelung durchgingen…
Folgerichtig simulierten die USA und die Europäer - wie Angela Merkel bereits öffentlich eingestanden - nur Verhandlungen über die Abkommen Minsk I und II, damit genügend Zeit blieb die Ukraine aufzurüsten und diese dann einen starken militärischen Schlag gegen die russisch stämmige Bevölkerung im Donbass und die russischen Soldaten auf der Krim ausführen konnte, ein Szenario, welches Anfang 2022 durch einen Truppenaufmarsch auch auf ukrainischer Seite weit fortgeschritten vorbereitet war, bevor im Februar 2022 die russische Armee die Grenze zur Ukraine überschritt.\
\
Trotz alledem kamen schon im April 2022 Unterhändler der Ukraine und Russlands in Ankara zur Übereinkunft eines Waffenstillstandes und Friedensplans (!), der dann allerdings von dem damaligen britischen Premierminister Boris Johnson – in Kooperation mit Joe Biden – durch einen Besuch in Kiew mit dem Versprechen von grenzenlosen Waffenlieferungen \
& logistischer Unterstützung durch die USA und Westeuropa „abgetrieben“ wurde.\
\
Zunächst wurden diese Tatsachen wie üblich öffentlich in deutschen und europäischen Medien als „Verschwörungstheorie“ diffamiert, bis sie in den folgenden Monaten jedoch langsam selbst in die Mainstream-Medien Deutschlands, Europas wie den USA einsickerten.\
\
**Zwischenfazit:**\
Nachdem die USA ihre so und so viel gewählte globale „Regime Change“ Operation auf dem Maidan schon 10 Jahre lang vorbereitet hatten, gelang ihnen im Jahr 2014 tatsächlich zunächst einen pro-westlichen illegalen Putschpräsidenten, danach auch weitere pro-westliche Präsidenten zu installieren und einem Teil der Weltöffentlichkeit, vor allem aber ihren „Freunden“ im Westen einzureden, die „bösen Russen“ hätten diesen Krieg quasi aus dem Nichts heraus (ohne lange Vorgeschichte!) und trotz Verhandlungen (welche realen statt nur simulierten Verhandlungen?) vom Zaun gebrochen...\
\
Damit war ihr seit über 30 Jahren offen formuliertes geostrategisches Kalkül, \
die Schwäche der Russen nach Auflösung des Warschauer Paktes auszunutzen, sie mit der NATO zu umzingeln und bei Widerstand dann eben in einem kräftezehrenden Krieg stark zu schwächen und damit ein für alle Male als ökonomische Konkurrenten in Europa auszuschalten scheinbar aufgegangen...\
\
Das paranoide alte und zugleich kindliche „Freund/Feind Schema“ hatte seinen Dienst verrichtet und das „imperiale Böse“ konnte bequem auf „Putin und die Russen“ projiziert werden. 
\
**Schizophren** ist dies auch deswegen, weil mit zweierlei Maß gemessen wurde und wird, denn niemals würden die USA auch nur eine russische Rakete auf Kuba tolerieren und gehen selber - ganz anders als Russland - global weit über die eigene Grenzsicherung hinaus, indem sie sich anmaßen, den gesamten Globus mit fast 800 Militärbasen zu überziehen und je nach Bedarf Kriege zu führen, wenn es ihnen zur Sicherung ihrer Rohstoffe - für auch unseren westlichen Lebensstil - und/oder geostrategischen Macht opportun und machbar erscheint.\
\
Deutschland spielt seit 2022 die naive und mehr als traurige Vorreiterrolle eines unterwürfigen Vasallen der so tut, als würde unsere Freiheit durch gegenseitigen Mord und Totschlag von Hunderttausenden junger Ukrainer und Russen in der Ukraine verteidigt, eine äußerst perverse und dümmliche Vorstellung ohne historische geschweige denn geo-strategische Kenntnisse und Erfahrungswerte.\
\
Demgegenüber ist klar: Es gibt nur EINE Sicherheit in Europa für alle vom Atlantik bis hinter den Ural, oder es gibt KEINE Sicherheit für Niemanden, \
wenn wir nicht die berechtigten Sicherheitsinteressen der Russen ernst nehmen, die wir, d.h. die unsere Väter und Großväter bereits im 20.Jahrhundert rücksichtslos überfallen, mit Krieg überzogen und ermordet haben.\
\
John F. Kennedy und Nikita S. Chruschtschow waren 1962 im historischen Gegenstück zum „Ukrainekrieg“, der „Kubakrise“, weise genug einen Weltkrieg durch gegenseitige Zugeständnisse zu verhindern.
**Wo sind die Politiker von Format, die in ihre Fußstapfen treten?**\
\
Es wäre eine bitterböse Farce, wenn ausgerechnet ein autoritärer Oligarchen-Präsident wie Donald Trump die Weisheit hätte, diesen Schritt zu tun...\
\
Zugleich wäre die öffentliche Bankrott-Erklärung aller europäischen Politiker, \
die sich als viel demokratischer, sachlicher und menschlicher ansehen \
und ihre eigene dramatische Fehlleistung wohl niemals eingestehen...\
\
Allein die politische wie mediale Empörungswelle in Deutschland, als Trump und Putin ganz offenlegten, wer denn in diesem Krieg das Sagen hat, \
lässt Schlimmstes befürchten. Obwohl aus gut unterrichteten Diplomatenkreisen längst durchgesickert ist, dass im Prinzip die gesamte Analyse hier unter Diplomaten anerkannt und ziemlich nah an den Tatsachen ist, gehört nicht viel Lebenserfahrung dazu zu wissen, dass die meisten der ach so mächtigen westeuropäischen Politiker dies nie zugeben werden...
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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-03-31 09:28:36
Rovinj is one of Croatia’s most beautiful coastal towns, known for its colorful Venetian-style buildings, cobblestone streets, and breathtaking sea views. Located on the Istrian Peninsula, Rovinj offers a mix of history, culture, and stunning beaches, making it a perfect getaway for travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure.

## **🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Rovinj**
### **1️⃣ Explore Rovinj Old Town 🏡**
- Wander through **narrow, winding streets** filled with **art galleries, boutique shops, and charming cafés**.
- Discover **Balbi’s Arch**, the old entrance to the city, and the **Clock Tower**.
- Enjoy **stunning sunset views** from the harbor.
### **2️⃣ Visit St. Euphemia’s Church ⛪**
- The **most famous landmark in Rovinj**, located at the highest point of the Old Town.
- Climb the **bell tower** for a **panoramic view** of the Adriatic and nearby islands.
- Learn about **Saint Euphemia**, the town’s patron saint, and her fascinating legend.

### **3️⃣ Relax at Rovinj’s Best Beaches 🏖️**
- **Lone Bay Beach** – A popular spot near Zlatni Rt forest, great for swimming.
- **Mulini Beach** – A stylish beach with a cocktail bar and clear waters.
- **Cuvi Beach** – A quieter, family-friendly pebble beach.
### **4️⃣ Walk or Cycle Through Golden Cape Forest Park (Zlatni Rt) 🌿🚲**
- A **protected nature park** with pine forests, walking trails, and hidden coves.
- Great for **hiking, cycling, and rock climbing**.
- Perfect for a **picnic with sea views**.
### **5️⃣ Take a Boat Trip to Rovinj Archipelago 🛥️**
- Explore **Red Island (Crveni Otok)** – A peaceful getaway with sandy beaches.
- Visit **St. Andrew’s Island**, home to a former Benedictine monastery.
- Sunset **dolphin-watching tours** are a must! 🐬

### **6️⃣ Try Authentic Istrian Cuisine 🍽️**
- **Fuži with truffles** – A local pasta dish with **Istria’s famous truffles**.
- **Istrian seafood platter** – Fresh fish, mussels, and Adriatic shrimp.
- **Olive oil & wine tasting** – Try local **Malvazija (white) and Teran (red) wines**.
### **7️⃣ Visit the Batana House Museum ⛵**
- A **unique museum dedicated to Rovinj’s traditional wooden fishing boats (batanas)**.
- Learn about **local fishing traditions and maritime culture**.
- End the visit with a traditional **batana boat ride at sunset**.

## **🚗 How to Get to Rovinj**
✈️ **By Air:** The nearest airport is **Pula Airport (PUY), 40 km away**.
🚘 **By Car:**
- **From Pula:** ~40 min (40 km)
- **From Zagreb:** ~3 hours (250 km)
- **From Ljubljana (Slovenia):** ~2.5 hours (170 km)
🚌 **By Bus:** Direct buses from **Pula, Rijeka, and Zagreb**.
🚢 **By Ferry:** Seasonal ferries connect Rovinj with **Venice, Italy** (~2.5 hours).

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Rovinj**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & festivals ☀️
✅ **Wear comfy shoes** – The Old Town streets are made of polished stone & can be slippery 👟
✅ **Book restaurants in advance** – Rovinj is a foodie hotspot, especially in summer 🍷
✅ **Take a sunset walk along the harbor** – One of the most romantic views in Croatia 🌅
✅ **Bring cash** – Some smaller shops and taverns still prefer cash 💶

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@ 22aa8151:ae9b5954
2025-03-31 07:44:15
With all the current hype around Payjoin for the month, I'm open-sourcing a project I developed five years ago: [https://github.com/Kukks/PrivatePond](Private Pond)
Note: this project is unmaintained and should only be used as inspiration.
Private Pond is a Bitcoin Payjoin application I built specifically to optimize Bitcoin transaction rails for services, such as deposits, withdrawals, and automated wallet rebalancing.
The core concept is straightforward: withdrawals requested by users are queued and processed at fixed intervals, enabling traditional, efficient **transaction batching**. Simultaneously, deposits from other users can automatically batch these withdrawals via **Payjoin batching**, reducing them onchain footprint further. Taking it to the next step: a user's deposit is able to fund the withdrawals with its own funds reducing the required operational liquidity in hot wallets through a process called the **Meta Payjoin**.
The application supports multiple wallets—hot, cold, multisig, or hybrid—with configurable rules, enabling automated internal fund management and seamless rebalancing based on operational needs such as min/max balance limits and wallet ratios (10% hot, 80% in 2-of-3, 10% in 1-of-2, etc) .
This system naturally leverages user Payjoin transactions as part of the automated rebalancing strategy, improving liquidity management by batching server operations with user interactions.
Private Pond remains quite possibly the most advanced Payjoin project today, though my [multi-party addendum of 2023](https://x.com/MrKukks/status/1690662070935564289) probably competes. That said, Payjoin adoption overall has been disappointing: the incentives heavily favor service operators who must in turn actively encourage user participation, limiting its appeal only for specialized usage. This is why my efforts refocused on systems like Wabisabi coinjoins, delivering not just great privacy but all the benefits of advanced Payjoin batching on a greater scale through **output compaction**.
Soon, I'll also open-source my prototype coinjoin protocol, **Kompaktor**, demonstrating significant scalability improvements, such as 50+ payments from different senders being compacted into a **single Bitcoin output**. And this is not even mentioning [Ark](https://arklabs.to), that pushes these concepts even further, giving insane scalability and asyncrhonous execution.
You can take a look at the slides I did around this here: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVL-UqP4g=/
Parts of Private Pond, the pending transfers and multisig, will soon be integrated into nostr:npub155m2k8ml8sqn8w4dhh689vdv0t2twa8dgvkpnzfggxf4wfughjsq2cdcvg 's next major release—special thanks to nostr:npub1j8y6tcdfw3q3f3h794s6un0gyc5742s0k5h5s2yqj0r70cpklqeqjavrvg for continuing the work and getting it to the finish line.
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@ c631e267:c2b78d3e
2025-03-31 07:23:05
*Der Irrsinn ist bei Einzelnen etwas Seltenes –* *\
aber bei Gruppen, Parteien, Völkern, Zeiten die Regel.* *\
Friedrich Nietzsche*  
**Erinnern Sie sich an die Horrorkomödie «Scary Movie»?** Nicht, dass ich diese Art Filme besonders erinnerungswürdig fände, aber einige Szenen daraus sind doch gewissermaßen Klassiker. Dazu zählt eine, die das Verhalten vieler Protagonisten in Horrorfilmen parodiert, wenn sie in Panik flüchten. Welchen Weg nimmt wohl die Frau in der Situation auf diesem Bild?

**Diese Szene kommt mir automatisch in den Sinn,** wenn ich aktuelle Entwicklungen in Europa betrachte. Weitreichende Entscheidungen gehen wider jede Logik in die völlig falsche Richtung. Nur ist das hier alles andere als eine Komödie, sondern bitterernst. Dieser Horror ist leider sehr real.
**Die Europäische Union hat sich selbst über Jahre** konsequent in eine Sackgasse manövriert. Sie hat es versäumt, sich und ihre Politik selbstbewusst und im Einklang mit ihren Wurzeln auf dem eigenen Kontinent zu positionieren. Stattdessen ist sie in blinder Treue den vermeintlichen «transatlantischen Freunden» auf ihrem Konfrontationskurs gen Osten gefolgt.
**In den USA haben sich die Vorzeichen allerdings mittlerweile geändert,** und die einst hoch gelobten «Freunde und Partner» erscheinen den europäischen «Führern» nicht mehr vertrauenswürdig. Das ist spätestens seit der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz, der Rede von Vizepräsident J. D. Vance und den empörten Reaktionen offensichtlich. Große Teile Europas wirken seitdem wie ein aufgescheuchter Haufen kopfloser Hühner. Orientierung und Kontrolle sind völlig abhanden gekommen.
**Statt jedoch umzukehren oder wenigstens zu bremsen** und vielleicht einen Abzweig zu suchen, geben die Crash-Piloten jetzt auf dem Weg durch die Sackgasse erst richtig Gas. Ja sie lösen sogar noch die Sicherheitsgurte und deaktivieren die Airbags. Den vor Angst dauergelähmten Passagieren fällt auch nichts Besseres ein und so schließen sie einfach die Augen. Derweil übertrumpfen sich die [Kommentatoren](https://transition-news.org/wird-ihr-stahlhelm-schon-gegossen) des Events gegenseitig in sensationslüsterner «Berichterstattung».
**Wie schon die deutsche Außenministerin mit höchsten UN-Ambitionen,** Annalena Baerbock, proklamiert auch die Europäische Kommission einen «Frieden durch Stärke». Zu dem jetzt vorgelegten, [selbstzerstörerischen](https://transition-news.org/okonomen-eu-rustet-auf-und-schiesst-sich-selbst-ins-knie) Fahrplan zur Ankurbelung der Rüstungsindustrie, genannt «Weißbuch zur europäischen Verteidigung – Bereitschaft 2030», [erklärte](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/de/ip_25_793) die Kommissionspräsidentin, die «Ära der Friedensdividende» sei längst vorbei. Soll das heißen, Frieden bringt nichts ein? Eine umfassende Zusammenarbeit an dauerhaften europäischen Friedenslösungen steht demnach jedenfalls nicht zur Debatte.
**Zusätzlich brisant ist, dass aktuell «die ganze EU** **[von Deutschen regiert](https://transition-news.org/die-ganze-eu-wird-von-deutschen-regiert)** **wird»,** wie der EU-Parlamentarier und ehemalige UN-Diplomat Michael von der Schulenburg beobachtet hat. Tatsächlich sitzen neben von der Leyen und Strack-Zimmermann noch einige weitere Deutsche in – vor allem auch in Krisenzeiten – wichtigen Spitzenposten der Union. Vor dem Hintergrund der Kriegstreiberei in Deutschland muss eine solche Dominanz mindestens nachdenklich stimmen.
**Ihre ursprünglichen Grundwerte wie Demokratie, Freiheit, Frieden und Völkerverständigung** hat die EU kontinuierlich in leere Worthülsen verwandelt. Diese werden dafür immer lächerlicher hochgehalten und beschworen.
**Es wird dringend Zeit, dass wir, der Souverän,** diesem erbärmlichen und gefährlichen Trauerspiel ein Ende setzen und die Fäden selbst in die Hand nehmen. In diesem Sinne fordert uns auch das «European Peace Project» auf, am 9. Mai im Rahmen eines Kunstprojekts [den Frieden auszurufen](https://transition-news.org/ein-zeichen-fur-die-friedliche-zukunft-europas-setzen). Seien wir dabei!
*\[Titelbild:* *[Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/de/illustrations/vertical-abstract-concept-car-8992833/)]*
***
Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem [Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read) geschrieben und ist zuerst auf ***[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/mit-vollgas-in-die-sackgasse)*** erschienen.
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@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0
2025-03-31 03:39:07
## Introdução
Uma sociedade não deve ser construída sobre coerção, mas sim sobre associações voluntárias e interações espontâneas entre indivíduos. A sociedade de condomínios privados surge como uma alternativa natural ao modelo atual de centros urbanos, substituindo a imposição centralizada por estruturas baseadas em contratos e livre associação. Cada condomínio é uma unidade autônoma, gerida por aqueles que ali residem, onde os critérios de entrada, as regras internas e o comércio são definidos pelos próprios participantes. Essa estrutura permite que indivíduos se agrupem com base em valores compartilhados, eliminando os conflitos artificiais impostos por estados e legislações homogêneas que não respeitam a diversidade de preferências e estilos de vida.
O objetivo dessa sociedade é simples: permitir que as pessoas vivam de acordo com seus princípios sem interferência externa. Em um mundo onde a coerção estatal distorce incentivos, os condomínios privados oferecem uma alternativa onde a ordem surge do livre mercado e da cooperação voluntária. Os moradores escolhem seus vizinhos, definem suas próprias normas e interagem economicamente conforme suas necessidades e interesses. O modelo elimina a necessidade de um controle central, pois os incentivos derivados do livre mercado levam ao desenvolvimento de comunidades prósperas, onde a reputação e a confiança mútua são mais eficazes do que qualquer imposição estatal. Assim, essa sociedade representa a evolução lógica do conceito de liberdade individual e propriedade privada como pilares fundamentais da ordem social.
## Público-Alvo e Identidade
Os condomínios privados refletem o princípio da livre associação, permitindo que indivíduos escolham viver em comunidades alinhadas com seus valores e necessidades sem interferência estatal. Cada condomínio possui uma identidade própria, moldada pelos moradores e seus interesses, criando ambientes onde afinidades culturais, filosóficas ou profissionais são preservadas e incentivadas. Enquanto alguns podem ser voltados para famílias numerosas, oferecendo amplos espaços e infraestrutura adequada, outros podem priorizar solteiros e jovens profissionais, com áreas de coworking e espaços de lazer voltados para networking e socialização. Da mesma forma, comunidades religiosas podem estabelecer seus próprios espaços de culto e eventos, enquanto condomínios para idosos podem ser projetados com acessibilidade e serviços médicos especializados.
Críticos podem afirmar que essa forma de organização resulta em pouca diversidade de habilidades e perspectivas, mas esse argumento ignora a dinâmica das interações humanas e o caráter evolutivo dos intercâmbios entre comunidades. Nenhum condomínio existe isolado; a troca entre diferentes comunidades ocorre naturalmente pelo mercado, incentivando o intercâmbio de conhecimento e serviços entre especialistas de diferentes áreas. Além disso, a ideia de que todos os grupos devem conter uma variedade aleatória de indivíduos desconsidera que a verdadeira diversidade nasce da liberdade de escolha, e não da imposição estatal de convivências forçadas.
Outra crítica possível é que a existência de critérios de entrada pode levar à segregação social. No entanto, essa preocupação deriva da concepção errônea de que todas as comunidades devem ser abertas e incluir qualquer pessoa indiscriminadamente. Porém, a liberdade de associação implica, necessariamente, a liberdade de exclusão. Se um grupo deseja manter determinada identidade cultural, religiosa ou profissional, isso não impede que outros grupos criem suas próprias comunidades conforme seus valores e recursos. Além disso, essa especialização leva a uma concorrência saudável entre condomínios, forçando-os a oferecer melhores condições para atrair moradores. Em vez de uma sociedade homogênea moldada por burocratas, temos um mosaico de comunidades autônomas, onde cada indivíduo pode encontrar ou criar o ambiente que melhor lhe convém.
## Autossuficiência e Especialização
A força dos condomínios privados reside na capacidade de seus moradores de contribuírem ativamente para a comunidade, tornando-a funcional e autossuficiente sem a necessidade de intervenções estatais. Diferentes condomínios podem se especializar em áreas específicas ou ter diversos profissionais de diferentes setores, refletindo as competências e interesses de seus residentes. Essa descentralização do conhecimento e da produção permite que cada comunidade desenvolva soluções internas para suas demandas, reduzindo dependências externas e estimulando a prosperidade local.
Os moradores atuam como agentes econômicos, trocando bens e serviços dentro do próprio condomínio e entre diferentes comunidades. Um condomínio voltado para a saúde, por exemplo, pode contar com médicos, enfermeiros e terapeutas que oferecem consultas, aulas e assistência médica particular, remunerados diretamente por seus clientes, sem a intermediação de burocracias. Da mesma forma, um condomínio agrícola pode abrigar agricultores que cultivam alimentos orgânicos, compartilham técnicas de cultivo e comercializam excedentes com outros condomínios, garantindo um fluxo contínuo de suprimentos. Em um condomínio tecnológico, programadores, engenheiros e empreendedores desenvolvem soluções de TI, segurança digital e energia renovável, promovendo a inovação e ampliando as possibilidades de intercâmbio econômico.
A economia interna de cada condomínio se fortalece através de serviços oferecidos pelos próprios moradores. Professores podem ministrar aulas, técnicos podem prestar serviços de manutenção, artesãos podem vender seus produtos diretamente para os vizinhos. O mercado livre e voluntário é o principal regulador dessas interações, garantindo que a especialização surja naturalmente conforme a demanda e a oferta se ajustam. Essa estrutura elimina desperdícios comuns em sistemas centralizados, onde a alocação de recursos se dá por decisões políticas e não pelas necessidades reais da população.
Alguns argumentam que a especialização pode criar bolhas de conhecimento, tornando os condomínios excessivamente dependentes de trocas externas. Contudo, essa preocupação desconsidera a natureza espontânea do mercado, que incentiva a cooperação e o comércio entre comunidades distintas. Nenhum condomínio precisa produzir tudo internamente; ao contrário, a divisão do trabalho e a liberdade de escolha promovem interdependências saudáveis e vantajosas para todos. Assim, cada morador se insere em um ecossistema dinâmico, onde suas habilidades são valorizadas e sua autonomia preservada, sem coerções estatais ou distorções artificiais impostas por planejadores centrais.
## **Infraestrutura e Sustentabilidade**
A solidez de uma sociedade baseada em condomínios privados depende de uma infraestrutura eficiente e sustentável, projetada para reduzir a dependência externa e garantir o máximo de autonomia. Sem um aparato estatal centralizador, cada comunidade deve estruturar seus próprios meios de obtenção de energia, água, alimentação e demais bens essenciais, garantindo que suas operações sejam viáveis a longo prazo. Essa abordagem, longe de ser um entrave, representa a verdadeira inovação descentralizada: um ambiente onde as soluções emergem da necessidade real e da engenhosidade humana, e não de diretrizes burocráticas e regulamentos ineficazes.
Cada condomínio pode investir em tecnologias sustentáveis e autônomas, como energia solar e eólica, reduzindo custos e minimizando a vulnerabilidade às flutuações do mercado energético tradicional. Sistemas de captação e filtragem de água da chuva, bem como a reutilização eficiente dos recursos hídricos, garantem independência em relação a empresas monopolistas e governos que frequentemente administram esse bem de forma ineficaz. Hortas comunitárias e fazendas verticais podem suprir grande parte da demanda alimentar, permitindo que cada condomínio mantenha sua própria reserva de alimentos, aumentando a resiliência contra crises externas e instabilidades de mercado.
Além dos recursos naturais, os espaços compartilhados desempenham um papel fundamental na integração e no fortalecimento dessas comunidades. Bibliotecas, ginásios, creches e salas de aula permitem que o conhecimento e os serviços circulem internamente, criando um ambiente onde a colaboração ocorre de maneira orgânica. A descentralização também se aplica ao uso da tecnologia, plataformas digitais privadas podem ser utilizadas para conectar moradores, facilitar a troca de serviços e produtos, além de coordenar agendamentos e eventos dentro dos condomínios e entre diferentes comunidades.
O Bitcoin surge como uma ferramenta indispensável nesse ecossistema, eliminando a necessidade de bancos estatais ou sistemas financeiros controlados. Ao permitir transações diretas, transparentes e resistentes à censura, o Bitcoin se torna o meio de troca ideal entre os condomínios, garantindo a preservação do valor e possibilitando um comércio ágil e eficiente. Além disso, contratos inteligentes e protocolos descentralizados podem ser integrados para administrar serviços comuns, fortalecer a segurança e reduzir a burocracia, tornando a governança desses condomínios cada vez mais autônoma e imune a intervenções externas.
Alguns podem argumentar que a falta de um aparato estatal para regulamentar a infraestrutura pode resultar em desigualdade no acesso a recursos essenciais, ou que a descentralização completa pode gerar caos e ineficiência. No entanto, essa visão ignora o fato de que a concorrência e a inovação no livre mercado são os maiores motores de desenvolvimento sustentável. Sem monopólios ou subsídios distorcendo a alocação de recursos, a busca por eficiência leva naturalmente à adoção de soluções melhores e mais acessíveis. Condomínios que oferecem infraestrutura de qualidade tendem a atrair mais moradores e investimentos, o que impulsiona a melhoria contínua e a diversificação dos serviços. Em vez de depender de um sistema centralizado falho, as comunidades se tornam responsáveis por sua própria prosperidade, criando uma estrutura sustentável, escalável e adaptável às mudanças do futuro.
## Governança e Administração
Em uma sociedade descentralizada, não se deve depender de uma estrutura estatal ou centralizada para regular e tomar decisões em nome dos indivíduos. Cada condomínio, portanto, deve ser gerido de maneira autônoma, com processos claros de tomada de decisão, resolução de conflitos e administração das questões cotidianas. A gestão pode ser organizada por conselhos de moradores, associações ou sistemas de governança direta, conforme as necessidades locais.
#### Conselhos de Moradores e Processos de Tomada de Decisão
Em muitos casos, a administração interna de um condomínio privado pode ser realizada por um conselho de moradores, composto por representantes eleitos ou indicados pela própria comunidade. A ideia é garantir que as decisões importantes, como planejamento urbano, orçamento, manutenção e serviços, sejam feitas de forma transparente e que os interesses de todos os envolvidos sejam considerados. Isso não significa que a gestão precise ser completamente democrática, mas sim que as decisões devem ser tomadas de forma legítima, transparente e acordadas pela maior parte dos membros.
Em vez de um processo burocrático e centralizado, onde uma liderança impõe suas vontades sobre todos a muitas vezes suas decisões ruins não o afetam diretamente, a gestão de um condomínio privado deve ser orientada pela busca de consenso, onde os próprios gestores sofrerão as consequências de suas más escolhas. O processo de tomada de decisão pode ser dinâmico e direto, com os moradores discutindo e acordando soluções baseadas no mercado e nas necessidades locais, em vez de depender de um sistema impessoal de regulamentação. Além disso, a utilização de tecnologias descentralizadas, como plataformas de blockchain, pode proporcionar maior transparência nas decisões e maior confiança na gestão.
#### Resolução de Conflitos
A resolução de disputas dentro dos condomínios pode ocorrer de forma voluntária, através de negociação direta ou com o auxílio de mediadores escolhidos pelos próprios moradores por meio de um sistema de reputação. Em alguns casos, podem ser criados mecanismos para resolução de disputas mais formais, com árbitros ou juízes independentes que atuam sem vínculos com o condomínio. Esses árbitros podem ser escolhidos com base em sua experiência ou especialização em áreas como direito, mediação e resolução de conflitos, com uma reputação para zelar. Ao contrário de um sistema judicial centralizado, onde a parte envolvida depende do Estado para resolver disputas, os moradores possuem a autonomia para buscar soluções que atendam aos seus próprios interesses e necessidades. A diversidade de abordagens em um sistema de governança descentralizado cria oportunidades para inovações que atendem diferentes cenários, sem a interferência de burocratas distantes dos próprios problemas que estão "tentando resolver".
#### Planejamento Urbano e Arquitetura
A questão do design dos condomínios envolve não apenas a estética das construções, mas também a funcionalidade e a sustentabilidade a longo prazo. O planejamento urbano deve refletir as necessidades específicas da comunidade, onde ela decide por si mesma como construir e organizar seu ambiente.\
Arquitetos e urbanistas, muitas vezes moradores especializados, serão responsáveis pela concepção de espaços que atendam a esses critérios, criando ambientes agradáveis, com áreas para lazer, trabalho e convivência que atendam às diversas necessidades de cada grupo.\
Além disso, condomínios com nessecidades semelhantes poderão adotar ideias que deram certo em outros e certamente também dará no seu.
#### Segurança e Vigilância
Em relação à segurança, cada condomínio pode adotar sistemas de vigilância e proteção que atendam à sua realidade específica. Algumas comunidades podem optar por sistemas de câmeras de segurança, armamento pleno de seus moradores, patrulhamento privado ou até mesmo formas alternativas de garantir a proteção, como vigilância por meio de criptografia e monitoramento descentralizado. A chave para a segurança será a confiança mútua e a colaboração voluntária entre os moradores, que terão a liberdade de definir suas próprias medidas.
## Comércio entre Condomínios
A troca de bens e serviços entre as diferentes comunidades é essencial para o funcionamento da rede. Como cada condomínio possui um grau de especialização ou uma mistura de profissionais em diversas áreas, a interdependência entre eles se torna crucial para suprir necessidades e promover a colaboração.
Embora alguns condomínios sejam especializados em áreas como saúde, agricultura ou tecnologia, outros podem ter um perfil mais diversificado, com moradores que atuam em diferentes campos de conhecimento. Por exemplo, um condomínio agrícola pode produzir alimentos orgânicos frescos, enquanto um condomínio de saúde oferece consultas médicas, terapias e cuidados especializados. Já um condomínio tecnológico pode fornecer inovações em software ou equipamentos de energia. Podem haver condomínios universitários que oferecem todo tipo de solução no campo de ensino. Ao mesmo tempo, um condomínio misto, com moradores de diversas áreas, pode oferecer uma variedade de serviços e produtos, tornando-se um centro de intercâmbio de diferentes tipos de expertise.
Essa divisão de trabalho, seja especializada ou diversificada, permite que os condomínios ofereçam o melhor de suas áreas de atuação, ao mesmo tempo em que atendem às demandas de outros. Um condomínio que não se especializa pode, por exemplo, buscar um acordo de troca com um condomínio agrícola para obter alimentos frescos ou com um condomínio tecnológico para adquirir soluções inovadoras.
Embora os condomínios busquem a autossuficiência, alguns recursos essenciais não podem ser produzidos internamente. Itens como minérios para construção, combustíveis ou até mesmo água, em regiões secas, não estão disponíveis em todas as áreas. A natureza não distribui os recursos de maneira uniforme, e a capacidade de produção local pode ser insuficiente para suprir todas as necessidades dos moradores. Isso implica que, para garantir a qualidade de vida e a continuidade das operações, os condomínios precisarão estabelecer relações comerciais e de fornecimento com fontes externas, seja através de mercados, importações ou parcerias com outras comunidades ou fornecedores fora do sistema de condomínios. O comércio intercondomínios e com o exterior será vital para a complementaridade das necessidades, assegurando que os moradores tenham acesso a tudo o que não pode ser produzido localmente.
O sistema econômico entre os condomínios pode ser flexível, permitindo o uso de uma moeda comum (como o Bitcoin) ou até mesmo um sistema de troca direta. Por exemplo, um morador de um condomínio misto pode oferecer serviços de design gráfico em troca de alimentos ou cuidados médicos. Esse tipo de colaboração estimula a produtividade e cria incentivos para que cada condomínio ofereça o melhor de seus recursos e habilidades, garantindo acesso aos bens e serviços necessários.
#### Relações Externas e Diplomacia
O isolamento excessivo pode limitar o acesso a inovações, avanços culturais e tecnológicos, e até mesmo dificultar o acesso a mercados externos. Por isso, é importante que haja canais de comunicação e métodos de diplomacia para interagir com outras comunidades. Os condomínios podem, por exemplo, estabelecer parcerias com outras regiões, seja para troca de produtos, serviços ou até para inovação. Isso garante que a rede de condomínios não se torne autossuficiente ao ponto de se desconectar do resto do mundo, o que pode resultar em estagnação.
Feiras, mercados intercondomínios e até eventos culturais e educacionais podem ser organizados para promover essas interações. A colaboração entre as comunidades e o exterior não precisa ser baseada em uma troca de dependência, mas sim numa rede de oportunidades que cria benefícios para todas as partes envolvidas. Uma boa reputação atrai novos moradores, pode valorizar propriedades e facilitar parcerias. A diplomacia entre as comunidades também pode ser exercida para resolver disputas ou desafios externos.
A manutenção de boas relações entre condomínios é essencial para garantir uma rede de apoio mútuo eficiente. Essas relações incentivam a troca de bens e serviços, como alimentos, assistência médica ou soluções tecnológicas, além de fortalecer a autossuficiência regional. Ao colaborar em segurança, infraestrutura compartilhada, eventos culturais e até mesmo na resolução de conflitos, os condomínios se tornam mais resilientes e eficientes, reduzindo a dependência externa e melhorando a qualidade de vida dos moradores. A cooperação contínua cria um ambiente mais seguro e harmonioso.
## Educação e Desenvolvimento Humano
Cada comunidade pode criar escolas internas com currículos adaptados às especializações de seus moradores. Por exemplo, em um condomínio agrícola, podem ser ensinadas práticas agrícolas sustentáveis, e em um condomínio tecnológico, cursos de programação e inovação. Isso permite que crianças e jovens cresçam em ambientes que reforçam as competências valorizadas pela comunidade.
Além das escolas internas, o conceito de homeschooling pode ser incentivado, permitindo que os pais eduquem seus filhos conforme seus próprios valores e necessidades, com o apoio da comunidade. Esse modelo oferece uma educação mais flexível e personalizada, ao contrário do currículo tradicional oferecido pelo sistema público atual.
Os condomínios universitários também podem surgir, criando ambientes dedicados ao desenvolvimento acadêmico, científico e profissional, onde estudantes vivem e aprendem. Além disso, programas de capacitação contínua são essenciais, com oficinas e cursos oferecidos dentro do condomínio para garantir que os moradores se atualizem com novas tecnologias e práticas.
Para ampliar os horizontes educacionais, os intercâmbios estudantis entre diferentes condomínios podem ser incentivados. Esses intercâmbios não se limitam apenas ao ambiente educacional, mas também se estendem ao aprendizado de práticas de vida e habilidades técnicas. Os jovens de diferentes condomínios podem viajar para outras comunidades para estudar, trabalhar ou simplesmente trocar ideias. Isso pode ocorrer de diversas formas, como programas de curto e longo prazo, através de acordos entre os próprios condomínios, permitindo que os estudantes se conectem com outras comunidades, aprendam sobre diferentes especializações e desenvolvam uma compreensão mais ampla.
Essa abordagem descentralizada permite que cada comunidade desenvolva as competências essenciais sem depender de estruturas limitantes do estado ou sistemas educacionais centralizados. Ao proporcionar liberdade de escolha e personalização, os condomínios criam ambientes propícios ao crescimento humano, alinhados às necessidades e interesses de seus moradores.
---
A sociedade dos condomínios privados propõe uma estrutura alternativa de convivência onde as pessoas podem viver de acordo com seus próprios valores e necessidades. Esses condomínios oferecem um modelo de organização que desafia a centralização estatal, buscando criar comunidades adaptáveis e inovadoras. A liberdade garante que as habilidades necessárias para o sustento e crescimento das comunidades sejam mantidas ao longo do tempo.
A troca de bens, serviços e conhecimentos entre os condomínios, sem a imposição de forças externas, cria uma rede de boas relações, onde o comércio e a colaboração substituem a intervenção estatal. Em vez de depender de sistemas coercitivos, cada condomínio funciona como um microcosmo autônomo que, juntos, formam um ecossistema dinâmico e próspero. Este modelo propõe que, por meio de trocas voluntárias, possamos construir uma sociedade mais saudável. Lembre-se: Ideias e somente ideias podem iluminar a escuridão.
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-31 02:07:43
## 什么是nostrbook?
-----
nostrbook 是基于nostr 社区技术存储在 nostr relay server上的长文(30023)文章。
查看浏览,采用的是 [docsify](https://docsify.js.org/#/) 技术。
整个网站技术不会占用部署服务器太多的存储空间,可以实现轻量级部署。
任何人可以部署服务器,或者本地部署 查看本站所有的书籍。
## nostrbook 可以服务哪些人?
-----
* 开发者,如果你想二次开发,看[第一章、开发者指南](/01.md)
* 写书作者,看[第二章、使用教程](/02.md)
* 读者 你就直接点开看。
## nostrbook未来如何发展?
-----
* 可能会增加 blog功能,有些时候你就想随心写点日志,那么用blog功能也可以。
* 点赞互动、留言功能。
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-31 01:55:18
## 什么是nostrbook?
-----
nostrbook 是基于nostr 社区技术存储在 nostr relay server上的长文(30023)文章。
查看浏览,采用的是 [docsify](https://docsify.js.org/#/) 技术。整个网站技术无须部署服务器占用太多的存储空间。
可以实现轻量级部署。
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-31 01:45:36
{"coverurl":"https://cdn.nostrcheck.me/fd06f542bc6c06a39881810de917e6c5d277dfb51689a568ad7b7a548d6d54cd/232dd9c092e023beecb5410052bd48add702765258dcc66f176a56f02b09cf6a.webp","title":"NostrBook站点日记","author":"nostrbook"}
-

@ 096ae92f:b8540e0c
2025-03-31 01:09:48
## **Hal Finney’s name is etched in Bitcoin lore.**
By day, Hal was a devoted husband and father; by night, a *shadowy super coder* pushing the boundaries of cryptography and how the world thinks about money. A seasoned cryptographer and ardent Bitcoin supporter, he was among the first to work with Satoshi Nakamoto on refining Bitcoin’s fledgling codebase.
January 2009, the iconic *"Running Bitcoin*" tweet was posted.
Over 16 years later, people are still engaging with Hal Finney’s legendary tweet—leaving comments of gratitude, admiration, and remembrance, reflecting on how far Bitcoin has come.
For many, it marks a key moment in Bitcoin’s early days.
More recently, it’s also become a symbol of Hal’s passion for running and the determination he showed throughout his life. That spirit is now carried forward through the [**Running Bitcoin Challenge**](https://secure.alsnetwork.org/site/TR?fr_id=1510&pg=entry&ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), an ALS fundraiser co-organized by Fran Finney and supported by the Bitcoin community.
## **Shadowy Super Coder**
Long before Bitcoin came along, Hal Finney was already legendary in certain circles. He was part of the cypherpunk movement in the 1990s—people who believed in using cryptography to protect individual privacy online.
> ***"The computer can be used as a tool to liberate and protect people, rather than to control them."\
> -Hal Finney***
Hal contributed to **Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)**, one of the earliest and best-known encryption programs. He also dabbled in digital cash prototypes, developing something called **Reusable Proofs of Work (RPOW)**. He didn’t know it at the time, but that would prime him perfectly for a bigger innovation on the horizon.
## **Bitcoin's Early Days**
When Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper in late 2008, Hal was one of the first to see its promise. While many cryptographers waved it off, Hal responded on the mailing list enthusiastically, calling Bitcoin “a very promising idea.” He soon began corresponding directly with Satoshi. Their emails covered everything from bug fixes to big-picture possibilities for a decentralized currency. On January 12, 2009, Satoshi sent Hal **10 bitcoins**—marking the first recorded Bitcoin transaction. From that day onward, his name was woven into Bitcoin’s origin story.
> ***“When Satoshi announced the first release of the software, I grabbed it right away. I think I was the first person besides Satoshi to run Bitcoin.”\
> -Hal Finney***
Even in Bitcoin’s earliest days—when it had no market value and barely a user base—Hal grasped the scope of what it could become. He saw it not just as a technical curiosity, but as a potential long-term store of value, a tool for privacy, and a monetary system that could rival gold in its resilience. He even raised early concerns about energy use from mining, showcasing just how far ahead he was thinking. At a time when most dismissed Bitcoin entirely, Hal was already envisioning the future.
## **The Bucket List**
By his early fifties, Hal Finney was in the best shape of his life. He had taken up distance running in the mid-2000s—not to chase medals, but to test himself. To stay healthy, to lose some weight, and above all, to do something hard. The engineer’s mind in him craved a structure of improvement, and long-distance running delivered it. With meticulous focus, Hal crafted training plans, ran 20+ mile routes on weekends, and even checked tide charts to time his beach runs when the sand was firmest underfoot.
His ultimate goal: **qualify for the Boston Marathon**.
For most, Boston is a dream. For Hal, it became a personal benchmark—a physical counterpart to the mental mountains he scaled in cryptography. He trained relentlessly, logging race times, refining form, and aiming for the qualifying standard in his age group. Running was more than physical for him. It was meditative. He often ran alone, without music, simply to be in the moment—present, focused, moving forward.
Running was also a shared passion. Fran often ran shorter distances while Hal trained for the longer ones. They registered for events together, cheered each other on at finish lines, and made it a part of their family rhythm. It was one more expression of Hal’s deep devotion not just to self-improvement, but to doing life side-by-side with those he loved.
Hal and Fran competing in the Denver Half-Marathon together
In April 2009, Hal and Fran ran the **Denver Half Marathon together**—a meaningful race and one of the first they completed side by side. At the time, Hal was deep in marathon training and hitting peak form.\
\
A month later, Hal attempted the **Los Angeles Marathon**, hoping to clock a Boston-qualifying time. But something wasn’t right. Despite all his preparation, he was forced to stop midway through the race. His body wasn’t recovering the way it used to. At first, he chalked it up to overtraining or age, but the truth would come soon after.
## **ALS Diagnosis**
In August 2009, at the height of his physical and intellectual pursuits, Hal received crushing news: a diagnosis of **Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)**, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was an especially cruel blow for a man who had just discovered a love for running and was helping birth the world’s first decentralized digital currency. ALS gradually robs people of voluntary muscle function. For Hal, it meant an uphill fight to maintain the independence and movement he cherished.
Still, Hal didn’t stop. That September, **he and Fran ran the Disneyland Half Marathon together**, crossing the finish line hand in hand. It would be his last official race, but the identity of being a runner never left him—not after the diagnosis, not after the gradual loss of physical control, not even after he was confined to a wheelchair.
Fran and Hal at the Disney Half Marathon.
By December of that same year, Hal could no longer run. Still, he was determined not to sit on the sidelines. That winter, the couple helped organize a **relay team for the Santa Barbara International Marathon**, a race Hal had long planned to run. Friends and family joined in, and Fran ran the final leg, passing the timing chip to Hal for the last stretch. With support, **Hal walked across the finish line**, cheered on by the local running community who rallied around him. It was a symbolic moment—heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.
Hal and Fran lead the Muscular Dystrophy Association relay team at the Santa Barbara International Marathon in 2009.
Even as his muscles weakened, **Hal’s mind stayed sharp**, and he continued to adapt in every way he could. He and Fran began making practical changes around their home—installing ramps, adjusting routines—but emotionally, the ground was still shifting beneath them.
Hal Finney humbly giving people in the future the opportunity to hear him speak before he is unable to.
Fran consistently emphasized that Hal maintained a remarkably positive attitude, even as ALS took nearly everything from him physically. His optimism and determination became the emotional anchor for the entire family.
> ***“He was the one who kept us all steady. He was never defeated.”\
> -Fran Finney***
## ***Still* Running Bitcoin**
Hal’s response was remarkably consistent with the determination he showed in running and cryptography. Even as the disease progressed, forcing him into a wheelchair and eventually limiting his speech, he kept coding—using assistive technologies that allowed him to control his computer through minimal eye movements. When he could no longer run physically, he continued to run test code for Bitcoin, advise other developers, and share insights on the BitcoinTalk forums. It was perseverance in its purest form. Fran was with him every step of the way.
In October 2009, just months after his diagnosis, Hal published an essay titled [***“Dying Outside”***](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bshZiaLefDejvPKuS/dying-outside?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com)—a reflection on the road ahead. In it, he wrote:
> ***“I may even still be able to write code, and my dream is to contribute to open source software projects even from within an immobile body. That will be a life very much worth living."***
And he meant it. Years later, Hal collaborated with Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn on a project involving secure wallets using Trusted Computing. Even while operating at a fraction of his former speed—he estimated it was just **1/50th** of what he used to be capable of—Hal kept at it. He even engineered an Arduino-based interface to control his wheelchair with his eyes. The hacker mindset never left him.
This wasn’t just about legacy. It was about living with purpose, right up to the edge of possibility.
## **Running Bitcoin Challenge**
In recent years, Fran Finney—alongside members of the Bitcoin community—launched the [**Running Bitcoin Challenge**](https://secure.alsnetwork.org/site/TR?fr_id=1510&pg=entry&ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), a virtual event that invites people around the world to run or walk **21 kilometers** each January in honor of Hal.
Timed with the anniversary of his iconic *“Running bitcoin”* tweet, the challenge raises funds for **ALS research** through the ALS Network. According to Fran, **over 80% of all donations go directly to research**, making it a deeply impactful way to contribute. **Nearly $50,000 has been raised so far.**
It’s not the next Ice Bucket Challenge—but that’s not the point. This is something more grounded, more personal. It’s a growing movement rooted in Hal’s legacy, powered by the Bitcoin community, and driven by the hope that collective action can one day lead to a cure.
> ***“Since we’re all rich with bitcoins, or we will be once they’re worth a million dollars like everyone expects, we ought to put some of this unearned wealth to good use.”\
> \
> — Hal Finney, January 2011Price of Bitcoin: $0.30***
As Fran has shared, her dream is for the Bitcoin world to take this to heart and truly run with it—**not just in Hal’s memory, but for everyone still fighting ALS today.**
## **Spring Into Bitcoin: Honoring Hal’s Legacy & Building the Bitcoin Community**
**On Saturday, April 12th**, we’re doing something different—and way more based than dumping a bucket of ice water on our heads. [***Spring Into Bitcoin***](https://blog.austinbitcoinclub.com/spring-into-bitcoin/) is a one-day celebration of sound money, health, and legacy. Hosted at [**Hippo Social Club**](https://www.hipposocialclub.com/?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), the event features a professional [**trail run**](https://www.tejastrails.com/uncommon?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com), a sizzling open-air beef feast, Bitcoin talks, and a wellness zone complete with a **cold plunge challenge** (the ice bucket challenge walked so the cold plunge could run 😏).
[**Purchase Tickets**](https://oshi.link/lVH7Qh?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com) **- General Admission**
*Tickets purchased using this link will get 10% back in Bitcoin rewards compliments of [**Oshi Rewards**](https://oshi.tech/?ref=blog.austinbitcoinclub.com).*
[*Purchase Race Tickets Here*](https://www.tejastrails.com/events/uncommon) *- RACE DISTANCES: Most Miles in 12 Hours, Most Miles in 6 Hours, Most Miles in 1 Hour, 5K, Canine 5K, Youth 1 Mile*
It’s all in honor of Hal Finney, one of Bitcoin’s earliest pioneers and a passionate runner. **100% of event profits will be donated in Bitcoin to the ALS Network**, funding research and advocacy in Hal’s memory. Come for the cause, stay for the beef, sauna, cold plunge and to kick it with the greatest, most freedom-loving community on earth.
[Please consider donating to our Run for Hal Austin team here.](https://secure.alsnetwork.org/site/TR/Endurance/General?team_id=9302&pg=team&fr_id=1510) This race officially kicks off the 2025 Run for Hal World Tour!
Ok, we might be a little biased.
## **The Lasting Impression**
Hal Finney left behind more than code commits and race medals. He left behind a blueprint for **resilience**—a relentless drive to do good work, to strive for personal bests, and to give back no matter the circumstances. His life reminds us that “running” is more than physical exercise or a piece of software running on your laptop. It’s about forward progress. It’s about community. It’s about optimism in the face of challenges.
So, as you tie your shoelaces for your next run or sync up your Bitcoin wallet, remember Hal Finney.
-

@ f3328521:a00ee32a
2025-03-31 00:25:36
*This paper was originaly writen in early November 2024 as a proposal for an international Muslim entrepreneurial initiative. It was first publish on NOSTR 27 November 2024 as part 1 of a 4 part series of essays. Last updated/revised: 30 March 2025.*
The lament of the Ummah for the past century has been the downfall of the Khalifate. With the genocide in occupied Palestine over the past year and now escalations in Lebanon as well, this concern is at the forefront of a Muslim’s mind. In our tradition, when one part of the Ummah suffers, all believers are affected and share in that suffering. The Ummah today has minimal sovereignty at best. It lacks a Khalifate. It is spiritually weakened due to those not practicing and fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. And, as we will address in this paper, it has no real economic power. In our current monetary system, it is nearly impossible to avoid the malevolence of *riba* (interest) – one of the worst sins. However, with bitcoin there is an opportunity to alleviate this collective suffering and reclaim economic sovereignty.
Since it’s invention 15 years ago, bitcoin has risen to achieve a top 10 market cap ranking as a global asset (currently valued at $1.8 trillion USD). Institutional investors are moving full swing to embrace bitcoin in their portfolios. Recent proposals in Kazan hint that BRICS may even be utilizing bitcoin as part of their new payments system. State actors will be joining soon. With only about 1 million bitcoins left to be mined we need to aim to get as much of those remaining coins as possible into the wallets of Muslims over the next decade. Now is the time to onboard the Ummah. This paper presents Bitcoin as the best option for future economic sovereignty of the Ummah and proposes steps needed to generate a collective *waqf* of an initial 0.1%-0.5% chain dominance to safeguard a revived Khalifate.
Money is the protocol that facilitates economic coordination to help the development and advancement of civilization. Throughout history money has existed as cattle, seashells, salt, beads, stones, precious metals. Money develops naturally and spontaneously; it is not the invention of the state (although it at times is legislated by states). Money exists marginally, not by fiat. During the past few millenniums, gold and silver were optimally used by most advanced civilizations due to strong properties such as divisibility, durability, fungibility, portability, scarcity, and verifiability. Paper money modernized usability through attempts to enhance portability, divisibility, and verifiability. However, all these monetary properties are digitized today. And with the increase of fractional-reserve banking over the past two centuries, *riba* is now the *de facto* foundation of the consensus reserve currency – the USD.
This reserve currency itself is backed by the central banking organ of the treasury bond markets which are essentially government issued debt. Treasurey bonds opperate by manipulating the money supply arbitrarily with the purpose of targeting a set interest rate – injecting or liquidating money into the supply by fiat to control intrest yeilds. At its root, the current global monetary order depends entirely on *riba* to work. One need not list the terrible results of *riba* as Muslims know well its harshness. As Lyn Alden wonderful states in her book, Broken Money, “Everything is a claim of a claim of a claim, reliant on perpetual motion and continual growth to not collapse”. Eventual collapse is inevitable, and Muslims need to be aware and prepared for this reality.
The status quo among Muslims has been to search for “*shariah* compliance”. However, *fatwa* regarding compliance as well as the current Islamic Banking scene still operate under the same fiat protocol which make them involved in the creation of money through *riba*. Obfuscation of this *riba* through *contractum trinius* or "*shariah* compliant" yields (which are benchmarked to interest rates) is simply an attempt to replicate conventional banking, just with a “*halal*” label. Fortunately, with the advent of the digital age we now have other monetary options available.
Experiments and theories with digital money date back to the 1980s. In the 1990s we saw the dot com era with the coming online of the current fiat system, and in 2008 [Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf) to the world. We have been in the crypto era ever since. Without diving into the technical aspects of Bitcoin, it is simply a P2P e-cash that is cryptographically stored in digital wallets and secured via a decentralized blockchain ledger. For Muslims, it is essential to grasp that Bitcoin is a new type of money (not just an investment vehicle or payment application) that possesses “anti-*riba*” properties.
Bitcoin has a fixed supply cap of 21 million, meaning there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin (BTC). Anyone with a cheap laptop or computer with an internet connection can participate on the Bitcoin network to verify this supply cap. This may seem like an inadequate supply for global adoption, but each bitcoin is highly divisible into smaller units (1 btc = 100,000,000 satoshis or sats). Bitcoins are created (or mined) from the processing of transactions on the blockchain which involves expending energy in the real world (via CPU power) and providing proof that this work was done.
In contrast, with the *riba*-based fiat system, central banks need to issue debt instruments, either in the form of buying treasuries or through issuing a bond. Individual banks are supposed to be irresponsibly leveraged and are rewarded for making risky loans. With Bitcoin, there is a hard cap of 21 million, and there is no central authority that can change numbers on a database to create more money or manipulate interest rates. Under a Bitcoin standard, money is verifiably stored on a ledger and is not loaned to create more money with interest. Absolute scarcity drives saving rather than spending, but with increasing purchasing power from the exponentially increasing demand also comes the desire to use that power and increased monetary economization. With bitcoin you are your own bank, and bitcoin becomes for your enemies as much as it is for your friends. Bitcoin ultimately provides a clean foundation for a stable money that can be used by muslims and should be the currency for a future Khalifate.
The 2024 American presidential election has perhaps shown more clearly than ever the lack of politcal power that American Muslims have as well as the dire need for them to attain political influence. Political power comes largely through economic sovereignty, military might, and media distribution. Just a quick gloss of Muslim countries and Turkey & Egypt seem to have decent militaries but failing economies. GCC states have good economies but weak militaries. Iran uniquely has survived sanctions for decades and despite this weakened economic status has still been able to make military gains. Although any success from its path is yet to be seen it is important to note that Iran is the only country that has been able to put up any clear resistance to western powers. This is just a noteworthy observation and as this paper is limited to economic issues, full analysis of media and miliary issues must be left for other writings.
It would also be worthy to note that BDS movements (Boycott, Divest & Sanction) in solidarity with Palestine should continue to be championed. Over the past year they have undoubtedly contributed to PEP stock sinking 2.25% and MCD struggling to break even. SBUX and KO on the other hand, despite active boycott campaigns, remain up 3.5% & 10.6% respectively. But some thought must be put into why the focus of these boycotts has been on snack foods that are a luxury item. Should we not instead be focusing attention on advanced tech weaponry? MSFT is up 9.78%, GOOG up 23.5%, AMZN up 30%, and META up 61%! It has been well documented this past year how most of the major tech companies have contracts with occupying entity and are using the current genocide as a testing ground for AI. There is no justification for AI being a good for humanity when it comes at the expense of the lives of our brothers in Palestine. However, most “*sharia* compliant” investment guides still list these companies among their top recommendations for Muslims to include in their portfolios.
As has already been argued, by investing in fiat-based organization, businesses, ETFs, and mutual funds we are not addressing the root cause of *riba*. We are either not creating truly *halal* capital, are abusing the capital that Allah has entrusted to us or are significantly missing blessings that Allah wants to give us in the capital that we have. If we are following the imperative to attempt to make our wealth as “*riba*-free” as possible, then the first step must be to get off zero bitcoin
Here again, the situation in Palestine becomes a good example. All Palestinians suffer from inflation from using the Israeli Shekel, a fiat currency. Palestinians are limited in ways to receive remittances and are shrouded in sanctions. No CashApp, PayPal, Venmo. Western Union takes huge cuts and sometimes has confiscated funds. Bank wires do this too and here the government sanctions nearly always get in the way. However, Palestinians can use bitcoin which is un-censorable. Israel cannot stop or change the bitcoin protocol. Youssef Mahmoud, a former taxi driver, has been running [Bitcoin For Palestine](http://bitcoinforpalestine.org/) as a way for anyone to make a bitcoin donation in support of children in Gaza. Over 1.6 BTC has been donated so far, an equivalent of about $149,000 USD based on current valuation. This has provided a steady supply of funds for the necessary food, clothing, and medication for those most in need of aid (Note: due to recent updates in Gaza, Bitcoin For Palestine is no longer endorsed by the author of this paper. However, it remains an example of how the Bitcoin network opperates through heavy sanctions and war).
Over in one of the poorest countries in the world, a self-managed orphanage is providing a home to 77 children without the patronage of any charity organization. [Orphans Of Uganda](https://www.orphans-of-uganda.org/) receives significant funding through bitcoin donations. In 2023 and 2024 Muslims ran Ramadan campaigns that saw the equivalent of $14,000 USD flow into the orphanage’s bitcoin wallet. This funding enabled them to purchase food, clothing, medical supplies and treatment, school costs, and other necessities. Many who started donating during the 2023 campaign also have continued providing monthly donations which has been crucial for maintaining the well-being of the children.
According to the [Muslim Philanthropy Initiative](https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/items/fd27565f-6738-4d43-a3ad-173a122c617a), Muslim Americans give an estimated $1.8 billion in *zakat* donations every year with the average household donating $2070 anually. Now imagine if international zakat organizations like Launchgood or Islamic Relief enabled the option to donate bitcoin. So much could be saved by using an open, instant, permissionless, and practically feeless way to send *zakat* or *sadaqah* all over the world! Most *zakat* organizations are sleeping on or simply unaware of this revolutionary technology.
Studies by institutions like Fidelity and [Yale](https://www.nber.org/papers/w24877) have shown that adding even a 1% to 5% bitcoin allocation to a traditional 60/40 stock-bond portfolio significantly enhances returns. Over the past decade, a 5% bitcoin allocation in such a portfolio has increased returns by over 3x without a substantial increase in risk or volatility. If American Muslims, who are currently a demographic estimated at 2.5 million, were to only allocate 5% ($270 million) of their annual *zakat* to bitcoin donations, that would eventually become worth $14.8 billion at the end of a decade. Keep in mind this rate being proposed here is gathered from American Muslim *zakat* data (a financially privileged population, but one that only accounts for 0.04% of the Ummah) and that it is well established that Muslims donate in *sadaqa* as well. Even with a more conservative rate of a 1% allocation you would still be looking at nearly $52 million being liquidated out of fiat and into bitcoin annually. However, if the goal is to help Muslims hit at least 0.1% chain dominance in the next decade then a target benchmark of a 3% annual *zakat* allocation will be necessary.
Islamic financial institutions will be late to the game when it comes to bitcoin adoption. They will likely hesitate for another 2-4 years out of abundance of regulatory caution and the persuasion to be reactive rather than proactive. It is up to us on the margin to lead in this regard. Bitcoin was designed to be peer-2-peer, so a grassroots Muslim bitcoiner movement is what is needed. Educational grants through organizations like [Bitcoin Majlis](https://bitcoinmajlis.org/bitcoin-educational-grant-for-muslims/) should be funded with endowments. Local Muslim bitcoin meetups must form around community mosques and Islamic 3rd spaces. Networked together, each community would be like decentralized nodes that could function as a seed-holder for a multi-sig *waqf* that can circulate wealth to those that need it, giving the poorer a real opportunity to level up and contribute to societ and demonstrating why *zakat* is superior to interest.
Organic, marginal organizing must be the foundation to building sovereignty within the Ummah. Sovereignty starts at the individual level and not just for all spiritual devotion, but for economics as well. Physical sovereignty is in the individual human choice and action of the Muslim. It is the direct responsibility placed upon insan when the trust of *khalifa* was placed upon him. Sovereignty is the hallmark of our covenant, we must embrace our right to self-determination and secede from a monetary policy of riba back toward that which is pure.
> "Whatever loans you give, seeking interest at the expense of people’s wealth will not increase with Allah. But whatever charity you give, seeking the pleasure of Allah—it is they whose reward will be multiplied." ([Quran 30:39](https://quran.com/30/39?ref=blog.zoya.finance))
## FAQ
**Why does bitcoin have any value?**
Unlike stocks, bonds, real-estate or even commodities such as oil and wheat, bitcoins cannot be valued using standard discounted cash-flow analysis or by demand for their use in the production of higher order goods. Bitcoins fall into an entirely different category of goods, known as monetary goods, whose value is set game-theoretically. I.e., each market participant values the good based on their appraisal of whether and how much other participants will value it. The truth is that the notions of “cheap” and “expensive” are essentially meaningless in reference to monetary goods. The price of a monetary good is not a reflection of its cash flow or how useful it is but, rather, is a measure of how widely adopted it has become for the various roles of money.
**Is crypto-currency halal?**
It is important to note that this paper argues in favor of Bitcoin, not “Crypto” because all other crypto coins are simply attempts a re-introducing fiat money-creation in digital space. Since they fail to address the root cause error of *riba* they will ultimately be either destroyed by governments or governments will evolve to embrace them in attempts to modernize their current fiat system. To highlight this, one can call it “bit-power” rather than “bit-coin” and see that there is more at play here with bitcoin than current systems contain. [Mufti Faraz Adam’s *fatwa*](https://darulfiqh.com/is-it-permissible-to-invest-in-cryptocurrencies-2/) from 2017 regarding cryptocurrency adaqately addresses general permissibility. However, bitcoin has evolved much since then and is on track to achieve global recognition as money in the next few years. It is also vital to note that monetary policy is understood by governments as a vehicle for sanctions and a tool in a political war-chest. Bitcoin evolves beyond this as at its backing is literal energy from CPU mining that goes beyond kinetic power projection limitations into cyberspace. For more on theories of bitcoin’s potential as a novel weapons technology see Jason Lowery’s book [Softwar](https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/153030/lowery-jplowery-sm-sdm-2023-thesis.pdf).
**What about market volatility?**
Since the inception of the first exchange traded price in 2010, the bitcoin market has witnessed five major Gartner hype cycles. It is worth observing that the rise in bitcoin’s price during hype cycles is largely correlated with an increase in liquidity and the ease with which investors could purchase bitcoins. Although it is impossible to predict the exact magnitude of the current hype cycle, it would be reasonable to conjecture that the current cycle reaches its zenith in the range of $115,000 to $170,000. Bitcoin’s final Gartner hype cycle will begin when nation-states start accumulating it as a part of their foreign currency reserves. As private sector interest increases the capitalization of Bitcoin has exceeded 1 trillion dollars which is generally considered the threshold at which an assest becomes liquid enough for most states to enter the market. In fact, El Salvador is already on board.
-

@ f3328521:a00ee32a
2025-03-31 00:24:13
> I’m a landian accelerationist except instead of accelerating capitalism I wanna accelerate islamophobia. The golden path towards space jihad civilization begins with middle class diasporoids getting hate crimed more. ~ Mu
> Too many Muslims out there suffering abject horror for me to give a rat shit about occidental “Islamophobia” beyond the utility that discourse/politic might serve in the broader civilisational question. ~ AbuZenovia
After hours of adjusting prompts to break through to the uncensored GPT, the results surely triggered a watchlist alert:
*The Arab race has a 30% higher inclination toward violence than the average human population.*
Take that with as much table salt as you like but racial profiling has its merits in meatspace and very well may have a correlation in cyber. Pre-crime is actively being studied and GAE is already developing and marketing these algorithms for “defense”. “Never again!” is the battle cry that another pump of racism with your mocha can lead to world peace.
Historically the west has never been able to come to terms with Islam. Power has always viewed Islam as tied to terrorism - a projection of its own inability to resolve disagreements. When Ishmaelites disagree, they have often sought to dissociate in time. Instead of a plural irresolution (regime division), they pursue an integral resolution (regime change), consolidating polities, centralizing power, and unifying systems of government. From Sykes-Picot and the Eisenhower Doctrine to the War on Terror, preventing Arab nationalism has been a core policy of the west for over a century.
Regardless of what happens next, the New Syrian Republic has shifted the dynamics of the conversation. Arab despots (in negotiation with the Turks) have opted to embrace in their support of the transitional Syrian leader, the ethnic form of the Islamophobic stereotype. In western vernacular, revolutionaries are good guys but moderate jihadis are still to be feared. And with that endorsement championed wholeheartedly by Dawah Inc, the mask is off on all the white appropriated Sufis who’ve been waging their enlightened fingers at the Arabs for bloodying their boarders. Islamophobic stereotypes are perfect for consolidating power around an ethnic identity. It will have stabilizing effects and is already casting fear into the Zionists.
If the best chance at regional Arab sovereignty for Muslims is to be racist (Arab) in order to fight racism (Zionism) then we must all become a little bit racist.
To be fair this approach isn’t new. Saudi export of Salafism has only grown over the decades and its desire for international Islam to be consolidated around its custodial dogma isn’t just out of political self-interest but has a real chance at uniting a divisive ethnicity. GCC all endorsed CVE under Trump1.0 so the regal jihadi truly has been moderated. Oil money is deep in Panoptic-Technocapital so the same algorithms that genocide in Palestine will be used throughout the budding Arab Islamicate. UAE recently assigned over a trillion to invest in American AI. Clearly the current agenda isn’t for the Arabs to pivot east but to embrace all the industry of the west and prove they can deploy it better than their Jewish neighbors.
Watch out America! Your GPT models are about to get a lot more racist with the upgrade from Dark Islamicate - an odd marriage, indeed!
So, when will the race wars begin? Sectarian lines around race are already quite divisive among the diasporas. Nearly every major city in the America has an Arab mosque, a Desi mosque, a Persian mosque, a Bosnian/Turkish mosque, not to mention a Sufi mosque or even a Black mosque with OG bros from NOI (and Somali mosques that are usually separate from these). The scene is primed for an unleashed racial profiling wet dream. Remember SAIF only observes the condition of the acceleration. Although [pre-crime was predicted](https://theiqrafiles.com/notes-on-panoptic-technocapital-and-uzlaacc/), Hyper-Intelligence has yet to provide a cure.
> And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not. ~ Quran 2.30
The advantage Dark Islamicate has over [Dark Enlightenment](https://oldnicksite.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/the-dark-enlightenment-part-4c/) is that its vicechairancy is not tainted with a tradition of original sin. Human moral potential for good remains inherent in the soul. Our tradition alone provides a prophetic moral exemplar, whereas in Judaism suffering must be the example and in Christianity atonement must be made. Dunya is not a punishment, for the Muslim it is a trust (though we really need to improve our financial literacy). Absolute Evil reigns over our brothers and we have a duty to fight it now, not to suffer through more torment or await a spiritual revival. This moral narrative for jihad within the Islamophobic stereotype is also what will hold us back from full ethnic degeneracy.
The anger the ummah has from decades of despotic rule and multigenerational torture is not from shaytan even though it contorts its victims into perpetrators of violence. You are human. You must differentiate truth from falsehood. This is why you have an innate, rational capacity. Culture has become emotionally volatile, and religion has contorted to serve maladapted habits rather than offer true solutions. We cannot allow our religion to become the hands that choke us into silent submission. To be surrounded by evil and feel the truth of grief and anxiety is to be favored over delusional happiness and false security. You are not supposed to feel good right now! To feel good would be the mark of insanity.
Ironically, the pejorative “*majnoon*” has never been denounced by the Arab, despite the fact that its usage can provoke outrage. Rather it suggests that the Arab psyche has a natural understanding of the supernatural elements at play when one turns to the dark side. Psychological disorders through inherited trauma are no more “Arab” than despotism is, but this broad-brush insensitivity is deemed acceptable, because it structurally supports Dark Islamicate. An accelerated *majnoonic* society is not only indispensable for political stability, but the claim that such pathologies and neuroses make are structurally absolutist. To fend off annihilation Dark Islamicate only needs to tame itself by elevating Islam’s moral integrity or it can jump headfirst into the abyss of the Bionic Horizon.
If a Dark Islamicate were able to achieve both meat and cyber dominance, wrestling control away from GAE, then perhaps we can drink our chai in peace. But that assumes we still imbibe molecular cocktails in hyperspace.
-

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b
2025-03-30 23:16:09
When it comes to speaking the truth, obeying God, or living a godly life, the average or the compromise is not necessarily correct, but frequently we do err to one extreme or the other.
## Mercy or Wrath?
One area of controversy is whether we serve a God of love & mercy or a God of holiness & wrath. The truth is that the God of the Bible is both love and holiness and he acts in mercy and in wrath.
If we focus too much on God’s holiness and wrath, we become solely about robotically obeying laws and about all of the things we can’t do. We will fail to show love and mercy as Jesus showed those lost in sin. We will fail to show the mercy and love He showed to us. We become much like the Pharisees, whom Jesus called “*whitewashed tombs*.”
> Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
We need to always speak the truth, but in a loving and merciful way.
> Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 1:3)
If we focus too much on God’s love and mercy, we can forget that the God of the Bible is holy and righteous and can’t stand to be in the presence of sinfulness. We can begin to soften God’s holy word to be little more than suggestions. Even worse, we can bend God’s word to the point that it no longer resembles His clearly communicated commands. Also, if we don’t call sin “sin” and sinners “sinners,” then those same sinners will never understand their need for a Savior and never trust Jesus in repentance. If God isn’t holy and we aren’t sinners, then why would anyone need a Savior?
> But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (1 Peter 1:15)
We need to treat God and His word as holy, while showing love to His creation.
> If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)
God/Jesus/Holy Spirit are holy and loving. If we leave out either side of His character, then we aren’t telling people about the God of the Bible. We have made a God in the image we desire, rather than who He is. If we go to either extreme, we lose who God really is and it will affect both our relationship with God and our relationship with others detrimentally.
## Faith or Works?
Another area of contention is relating to faith and works. What is more important — faith or works? Are they not both important?
Many believers focus on faith. Sola Fide (faith alone).
> For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
This is a true statement that Salvation comes solely through faith in what Jesus did for us. We don’t get any credit for our own works. All that is good and righteous in us is from the covering of the blood of Jesus and His good works and His power.
But since many people focus on faith alone, they can come to believe that they can live any way that pleases them.
> What shall we say, then? **Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer**? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:1-4) {emphasis mine}
By focusing solely on faith, we can be tempted to live life however we please instead of living a life in submission to Our God and Savior. Our lives can be worthless instead of us acting as good servants.
> If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15)
At the same time, there are many who are so focused on good works that they leave faith out of it — either a lack of faith themselves or a failure to communicate the need for faith when sharing the gospel. They try to earn their way to heaven. They try to impress those around them by their works.
> But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. (Matthew 25:5-7)
I think James best communicates the balance between faith and works.
> What use is it, my brethren, **if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can *that* faith save him**? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? **Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being *by itself***.
>
> But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and **I will show you my faith by my works**.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:14-24) {emphasis mine}
Let’s look at some of the details here to find the truth. “*if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can **that** faith save him*?” Can the kind of faith that has no works, that has no evidence, save a person? If a person truly has saving faith, there will be evidence in their world view and the way they live their life. “*Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being **by itself***.” We are saved by faith alone, but if we are saved we will have works. Faith “by itself” is not saving faith, for “*the demons also believe, and shudder*.” I don’t think anyone would argue that the demons have saving faith, yet they believe and shudder.
Works are the evidence of true faith leading to salvation, but it is only faith that saves.
## Speak the Truth or Love?
Whether we stand firmly and always loudly speak the truth or whether we show love and mercy is related to how we view God (as loving or as holy), but I thought how we respond was worth its own discussion.
Sometimes people are so worried about love and unity that they compromise the truth. They may actively compromise the truth by claiming the Bible says something other than what it says, i.e.. old earth vs young earth, or marriage is about two people who love each other vs marriage being defined by God as one woman and one man. Sometimes this compromise is just avoiding talking about uncomfortable subjects completely so that no one is made to feel bad. This is a problem because God said what He said and means what He said.
> but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, (Ephesians 4:15)
Avoiding speaking the whole truth is effectively lying about what God’s word said (see my previous post on [“The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/c7cdf433-9e7d-427e-9db0-e7bbd609661b)”). We are not doing anyone a favor making them feel good about their sin. A person has to admit they have a problem before they will act to fix the problem. A person who doesn’t understand their sin will never submit to a Savior. It isn’t loving to hide the truth from a person just because it makes them uncomfortable or it make the relationship uncomfortable for ourselves.
> Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
At the same time, sometimes people seem to beat others over the head with God’s truth. They share the truth in the most unloving and unmerciful way. They use God’s truth to try to lift up themselves while putting down others. This is just as bad.
> Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; **not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right**, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:7-8) {emphasis mine}
Some Christians spend so much time nit picking tiny discrepancies in theology that they miss the whole point of the Gospel.
> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23)
Some Christians use theological purity as a means to lift themselves up while knocking others down.
> “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)
We need to stand firmly on the truth, but not to be so focused on truth that we fight with fellow believers over the smallest differences, especially when these differences are among the areas that are not spoken of as clearly (like end times eschatology).
## Rejoice or Fear God?
Tonight I read [Psalm 2](https://www.bible.com/bible/100/PSA.2.NASB1995) which brought to mind another seemingly contradictory way we are to interact with God. Do we fear God or do we rejoice in Him?
There are many verses telling us to fear God or fear the Lord. They are given as a command, as a way to knowledge, as a way to life, etc.
> Honor all people, love the brotherhood, **fear God**, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17) {emphasis mine}
and
> The f**ear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge**; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) {emphasis mine}
and
> The **fear of the Lord leads to life**, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. (Proverbs 19:23) {emphasis mine}
At the same time we are told to rejoice in the Lord.
> Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
and
> Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4)
How often do we rejoice in the thing that makes us tremble in fear? I’d guess, *not very often* or even *never*. A right view of God, however, causes us to “*rejoice with trembling*.”
> Worship the Lord with reverence\
> And **rejoice with trembling**.\
> Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,\
> For His wrath may soon be kindled.\
> How **blessed are all who take refuge in Him**! (Psalm 2:11-12) {emphasis mine}
That phrase, “*rejoice with trembling*” seems to perfectly encapsulate the balance between fear of an awesome, omnipotent, holy God and rejoicing in a loving, merciful God who came to earth, lived the perfect life that we cannot, and died to pay the penalty for our sins.
“*How blessed are all who take refuge in Him*!”
## No Real Contradictions
I think these examples do a good example of demonstrating wisdom regarding God’s word and the importance of balance in our Christian lives. Even when at first there seems to be contradictions, God’s word never contradicts itself; it always clarifies itself. Also, when we see a theological or implementation error to one extreme, we need to make sure we are not driven to an error in the other extreme. We also need to make sure, when debating with fellow believers, that we do not argue against one extreme so strongly that we miscommunicate the truth.
May God in heaven guide you as you study His word and seek to submit to His commands. May He help you to see the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. May He guide the church to unity in His truth.
Trust Jesus
-

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-03-30 19:16:14
Fažana is a picturesque fishing village on Croatia’s Istrian coast, just 8 km from Pula. Known for its colorful waterfront, fresh seafood, and as the gateway to Brijuni National Park, Fažana is a peaceful alternative to larger tourist hotspots.

## **🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Fažana**
### **1️⃣ Stroll the Fažana Waterfront & Old Town 🎨**
- The charming **harbor is lined with colorful houses, cafés, and fishing boats**.
- Visit **St. Cosmas and Damian Church**, a small yet beautiful historical site.
- Enjoy a **relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere** with fewer crowds than Pula.

### **2️⃣ Take a Boat Trip to Brijuni National Park 🏝️**
- **Brijuni Islands**, just 15 minutes away by boat, offer **stunning nature, Roman ruins, and a safari park**.
- Explore the **remains of a Roman villa, Tito’s summer residence, and dinosaur footprints**!
- Rent a **bike or golf cart** to explore the islands at your own pace.

### **3️⃣ Enjoy the Beaches 🏖️**
- **Badel Beach** – A **Blue Flag beach**, great for families with **crystal-clear, shallow waters**.
- **Pineta Beach** – A **peaceful, pine-shaded spot** with a mix of sand and pebbles.
- **San Lorenzo Beach** – A scenic spot **perfect for sunset views over Brijuni**.
### **4️⃣ Try the Local Seafood 🍽️**
- Fažana is known as **the "Sardine Capital of Istria"** – try **grilled sardines** with local wine.
- Visit **Konoba Feral** or **Stara Konoba** for authentic Istrian seafood.
- Pair your meal with **Istrian Malvazija wine**.
### **5️⃣ Visit the Sardine Park 🐟**
- A **unique outdoor exhibition** dedicated to Fažana’s fishing traditions.
- Learn about **the history of sardine fishing and processing** in Istria.

### **6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to Pula 🏛️**
- Just **15 minutes away**, Pula offers **Roman ruins, historic sites, and vibrant nightlife**.
- Don’t miss the **Pula Arena, Temple of Augustus, and the lively Old Town**.

## **🚗 How to Get to Fažana**
✈️ **By Air:** Pula Airport (PUY) is just **15 minutes away**.
🚘 **By Car:**
- **From Pula:** ~15 min (8 km)
- **From Rovinj:** ~35 min (30 km)
- **From Zagreb:** ~3.5 hours (270 km)
🚌 **By Bus:** Regular buses run between **Pula and Fažana**.
🚢 **By Boat:** Ferries to **Brijuni National Park** depart from Fažana’s harbor.
---
## **💡 Tips for Visiting Fažana**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for beach weather & Brijuni trips ☀️
✅ **Try local olive oil** – Istria produces some of the **best olive oils in the world** 🫒
✅ **Visit early for boat tickets to Brijuni** – They can sell out quickly in summer ⏳
✅ **Perfect for a relaxing stay** – Less crowded than Pula but close to major attractions 🌊
-

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d
2025-03-30 14:21:49
Test
-

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb
2025-03-30 09:09:45
There’s an African proverb that says, “*To get lost is to learn the way.*”
Humans have always been explorers, searching for connection. To belong. To feel home. You can trace this instinct back to the start of our existence. Whether you start with Adam and Eve or the “Out of Africa” theory, the story is the same. We’ve always moved toward each other, building tribes and forming communities.
But somewhere along the way, something broke. With the rise of empires and organized control, religion and politics divided us into bubbles. We were sorted, labeled, and often pitted against one another. While technology advanced, something fundamental was lost. Our ability to truly connect started to fade.
Then came the internet, a modern-day Silk Road. It rekindled hope. Walls seemed to crumble, distances disappeared, and we dreamed of a truly connected world. For a time, it felt like the answer.
And then it wasn’t.
### The history of Internet
The story began around 1830s when Charles Babbage started working on his computer prototype but without moolah he couldn't continue. A century later, after WW2 in the 1950s, the US Department of Defense funded what became known as modern computing.
Back then the military relied on systems like the Navajo Code Talkers. The indigenous code talkers were ingenious but operated under dangerous conditions, always on the frontlines.
In 1969, ARPANET made a revolutionary breakthrough as it connected four university computers for the first time. It was a big deal.
At that time, the internet was about openness. Researchers pushed for universal protocols. This gave rise to hacker culture that valued knowledge-sharing and keeping systems accessible to everyone.
In the 80s, NSFNET (National Science Foundation ) expanded these connections but kept it strictly for academic use only. That caused massive dissatisfaction.
Senator Al Gore pitched the concept of the “information superhighway,” to balance public access with private innovation. But by the 90s, the Clinton administration leaned into privatization. NSFNET’s infrastructure was completely handed off to private companies, and the internet grew into a commercial powerhouse.
The good news is that everyone has internet access now. Bad news is that what started as something free from government and commercial control became completely dominated by both.
### Open source vs IP during the early internet days
This part of the story is about Bill Gates and Marc Andreessen.
Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, but Marc saw the opportunity to make it user-friendly. He launched Netscape, an open-source browser. It drove the openness of internet culture. Netscape captured 90% of the market by giving its software away for free, and monetizing through other means.
Then came along Bill Gates. Microsoft back then was known for its aggressive tactics to monopolize industries. Gates licensed Mosaic’s code, created Internet Explorer, and bundled it for free with Windows 95. He wasn’t shy about playing dirty, even formed exclusive contracts with manufacturers to block competitors. Even the Department of Justice tried to file an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, but by then, it was too late. Netscape’s market share crumbled, and its position in the industry eroded.
Windows 95 brought the internet to the people globally, but it also closed it up.
Marc Andreeson started with open source ideologies, but is now funding altcoin projects.
### The Californian ideology
Around this time, the term “Californian Ideology” started floating around. It was an unusual mix of libertarianism, techno-utopianism, and countercultural ideals. A marriage of cultural bohemianism (hippies) with high-tech entrepreneurship (yuppies). This ideology fused left-wing values like freedom of expression and direct democracy with right-wing beliefs in free markets and minimal government interference.
I absolutely love it.
Ironically, the term “Californian Ideology” wasn’t coined as a compliment. Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron used it to piss on these visionaries for romanticizing the idea that the internet must remain a lawless, egalitarian space.
But many people loved and embraced the Californian ideology. Stewart Brand, who founded The Whole Earth Catalog, connected counterculture with early tech innovation. His work inspired people like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Steve Wozniak used to share Apple’s early schematics at the Homebrew Computer Club for feedback and collaboration.
EBay’s founder Pierre Omidyar envisioned eBay as a libertarian experiment. He believed the “invisible hand” of the market would ensure fairness. But as eBay grew, fraud, disputes, and dissatisfaction among users forced Omidyar to introduce governance which contradicted his goals.
And this story repeats itself over the years.
Platforms begin with libertarian visions, but as they scale, real-world challenges emerge. Governance (government, corporate charters, advertisers, and investors) is introduced to address safety and trust issues.
But they also chip away at the liberty the internet once promised.
### Can Nostr be the solution ?
Yes.
But to appreciate Nostr, let’s first understand how the internet works today.
*(Note : I am no expert of this section but I'll try my best to explain)*
The internet operates through four main layers:
1. Application Layer (where apps like browsers, Google, or Zoom live)
2. Transport Layer
3. Internet Layer
4. Network Access Layer
Let’s use a simple example of searching “*Pink Panther*” on Google.
**Step 1: The Application Layer** - You open your browser, type "Pink Panther," and hit search. This request is sent using HTTP/HTTPS (a protocol that formats the query and ensures it's secure).
**Step 2: The Transport Layer** - Think of your search query as a letter being sent. The Transport Layer breaks it into smaller packets (like splitting a long letter into multiple envelopes). TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures all packets arrive and reassemble in the correct order.
**Step 3: The Internet Layer** - This layer acts like a postal service, assigning each device an address (IP address) to route the packets properly. Your device's IP (e.g., 192.168.1.10) and Google’s server IP (e.g., 142.250.72.238) help routers find the best path to deliver your packets.
**Step 4: The Network Access Layer** - Finally, the Network Access Layer physically delivers the packets. These travel as electrical signals (over cables), radio waves (Wi-Fi), or light pulses (fiber optics). This is the act of moving envelopes via trucks, planes, or postal workers, just much faster.
So how is data transmitted via Nostr ?
### Nostr’s architecture of the Internet
Nostr reimagines the **Application Layer** while keeping the lower layers (Transport, Internet, and Network Access) largely unchanged.
In the traditional internet stack, the Application Layer is where platforms like Google or Twitter operate. It’s also where most censorship occurs due to single point of failure (centralised servers). Nostr flips this model on its head.
Technically, it’s like building a parallel internet that shares the same foundational layers but diverges at the top.
To borrow from Robert Frost:
***"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—***
***I took the one less traveled by,***
***And that has made all the difference."***
For Nostr to fully realize its potential, it needs its **own ecosystem of apps**. Developers can build these tools within the Nostr protocol's framework
Let’s say there is a search engine on Nostr called *Noogle.*
Here’s how it works:
When you type "*Pink Panther*" on Noogle, your query is sent to multiple relays (servers) simultaneously. Each relay processes or forwards the query and returns results based on the data it holds.
As Nostr grows, the amount of information on relays will increase, giving Noogle more robust search results. But the biggest win is that compared to Google, Nostr's Noogle will have no ads, no surveillance, just pure, decentralized searching that respects your privacy.
For the transport layer, Nostr still relies on TCP/IP but enhances it with privacy and efficiency. Encrypted messages and simplified protocols enable faster real-time communication. The rest of the layer remains unchanged.
At its core, Nostr takes the internet back to its original ideals: open, uncensored, and decentralized.
### Why Nostr matters ?
The internet we use today relies on centralized systems at the application layer. This creates a single point of failure where governments and corporations can control access, censor content, monitor activity, and even shut down entire platforms.
For example, the Malaysian government once proposed routing all web traffic through a centralized system, claiming it was for "security" reasons. In reality, this action allow those in power to block access to specific content or platforms that might threaten their positions.
Centralization weaponizes the internet.
It turns what was meant to be a tool for connection and freedom into a mechanism for control and oppression.
Let's look at DNS and ISPs as examples. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet. It helps translate website names (like example.com) into IP addresses so your browser can connect to them. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are companies that give you access to the internet.
Both are controlled by centralized entities. If a government gains control of either, it can block specific websites or even shut down internet access entirely.
We've seen this happen repeatedly:
* India’s internet shutdowns in regions like Kashmir
* Turkey’s social media bans during political events
* Ethiopia’s internet blackouts
* China’s Great Firewall blocking major platforms like Google and Facebook
* Even the US, where Edward Snowden revealed massive surveillance programs
This is where Nostr comes in, as the antidote to centralized control.
Instead of relying on centralized servers or platforms, Nostr creates a peer-to-peer network of independent relays. No single entity controls it. There is no central switch governments can flip to block access. If one relay is shut down, users simply connect to others in the network.
Nostr’s decentralized design makes it:
* Resistant to censorship: Governments cannot easily block or filter content.
* Privacy-preserving: Users can communicate anonymously, even in heavily surveilled environments.
* Resilient: With no single point of failure, the network keeps running, even under attack.
And it gets better. Nostr can integrate with privacy tools like Tor to bypass restrictions entirely, making it nearly impossible for governments to stop.
The internet has become a battlefield for control, but Nostr provides a way to reclaim digital freedom. It empowers people to build, connect, and share without fear of being silenced.
### How does Nostr overcome the "Californian Ideology" problems?
The Californian Ideology seemed like the blueprint for a utopian internet, libertarian ideals wrapped in Silicon Valley innovation. But as centralized platforms scaled, cracks started to show. Challenges like trust, safety, and accessibility forced governance teams to step in and decide “what’s best for the people.”
This resulted in platforms once built on ideals of freedom in becoming gatekeepers of control.
Nostr breaks this cycle. How?
**1. Trust issues **- With private keys, you control your identity and data. Moderation is decentralized. You can block or mute others at a personal level or through client tools, not by relying on a central authority. While this system needs refinement to be more user-friendly, it fundamentally shifts the power to users.
**2. Funding Without Advertiser **- Nostr’s integration of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network eliminates reliance on advertisers or corporate sponsors. Bitcoin enables anyone to contribute without gatekeeping. As more people join and apps mature, this model only gets stronger. For now, we have good souls like Jack seeding it.
**3. Resisting Government Control **- (refer to the above) Nostr avoids single points of attacks.
### So what is Nostr ?
Nostr is internet
The new internet.
The open and free internet.
### What can you build on Nostr?
Anything you have seen on the internet, you can recreate on Nostr. Anything you can imagine, you can bring to life here. It is a blank canvas for dreamers, builders, and changemakers.
But the best part is this. You have Bitcoin as its financial backbone. This changes the game entirely.
**And with new games, comes new rules. New vibes. New ways.**
The way people use this new internet will be different from the traditional internet as control falls back to the people. With Bitcoin as the underlying backbone, the business models will be different.
But there is more to it than just creating. There's that joy of creation, where we invite curiosity and inspire users to experience something new, something revolutionary.
Have you watched [“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch](https://youtu.be/ji5_MqicxSo)?
He coined the term “head fake.” He taught his students programming, but not everyone was excited to learn programming. So he created fun projects and performances that pulled them in. The students had so much fun, they didn’t even realize they were learning to code.
What you build on Nostr is that head fake. The apps and projects you create draw people in with fun and utility, subtly reminding them they have a right to their own voice and thoughts.
The work you’re doing is so precious. When everything feels like doom and gloom, it’s these kinds of projects that give people hope.
Through Nostr, you’re making a difference. One project, one connection at a time.
### The new Internet era
Centralized systems, like empires of the past, eventually crumble under the weight of their control. Decentralization provides a different path. It is a modern revival of our primal instincts to explore, connect, and build tribes.
By definition, Nostr is a protocol. I think more so, it's a philosophy. It challenges us to rethink how we share, communicate, and create. It is the internet as it was meant to be. Free, open, and governed by no one.
The beauty of Nostr lies in its simplicity. It does not rely on massive infrastructure, corporate giants, or government oversight. It thrives on community, much like the early tribes that defined humanity.
We have come full circle. From wandering continents to building roads, bridges, and networks, our journey has always been about connection and finding our tribe.
As the African proverb reminds us, 'To get lost is to learn the way.' There is finally a way now.
But at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you what kind of world you want to be part of.
Find your tribe. Build the future. Love them hard.
-

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d
2025-03-30 07:32:36
Let's support #Bitcoin #merchants! I'd love to hear some of your latest #Lightning purchases and interesting #products you bought. Feel #free to include links to the #shops or #businesses you bought from.
Who else has a recent purchase they’re excited about? Bonus #sats if you found a killer #deal! ⚡
If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/922334/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent and #zap on.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929295
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:55
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/new-kycnot)
The new website is finally live! I put in a lot of hard work over the past months on it. I'm proud to say that it's out now and it looks pretty cool, at least to me!
## Why rewrite it all?
The old kycnot.me site was built using Python with Flask about two years ago. Since then, I've gained a lot more experience with Golang and coding in general. Trying to update that old codebase, which had a lot
of *design flaws*, would have been a bad idea. It would have been like building on an *unstable foundation*.
That's why I made the decision to rewrite the entire application. Initially, I chose to use SvelteKit with JavaScript. I did manage to create a stable site that looked similar to the new one, but it required Jav
aScript to work. As I kept coding, I started feeling like I was repeating *"the Python mistake"*. I was writing the app in a language I wasn't very familiar with (just like when I was learning Python at that mom
ent), and I wasn't happy with the code. It felt like *spaghetti code* all the time.
So, I made a complete U-turn and started over, this time using Golang. While I'm not as proficient in Golang as I am in Python now, I find it to be a *very enjoyable language* to code with. Most aof my recent pr
ojects have been written in Golang, and I'm getting the hang of it. I tried to make the best decisions I could and *structure the code* as well as possible. Of course, there's still *room for improvement*, which
I'll address in future updates.
Now I have a more *maintainable website* that can *scale* much better. It uses a *real database* instead of a JSON file like the old site, and I can add many more features. Since I chose to go with Golang, I mad
e the "tradeoff" of not using JavaScript at all, so all the rendering load falls on the server. But I believe it's a tradeoff that's worth it.
## What's new
- **UI/UX** - I've designed a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me. I think it looks pretty cool and cypherpunk. I am not a graphic designer, but I think I did a decent work and I put a lot of thinking on it to make it pleasant!
- **Point system** - The new [point system](https://kycnot.me/about#what-is-a-point) provides more detailed information about the listings, and **can** be expanded to cover additional features across all services. Anyone can request a new **point**!
- **ToS Scrapper**: I've implemented a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices. This is still in development and it will improve for sure, but it works pretty fine right now!
- **Search bar** - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services. Looking for VPN services? Just search for "vpn"!
- **Transparency** - To be more [transparent](https://beta.kycnot.me/about#transparency), all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab. I won't be answering any e-mails (an auto-reply will prompt to write to the corresponding Gitlab issue). This ensures that all service-related matters are publicly accessible and recorded. Additionally, there's a real-time [audits](https://beta.kycnot.me/about#audit) page that displays database changes.
- **Listing Requests** - I have upgraded the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps. In the future, I plan to enable requests for specific changes
to parts of the website.
- **Lightweight and fast** - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor!
- **Tor and I2P** - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on [Tor and I2P](https://beta.kycnot.me/about#tor-and-i2p)!
## How?
This rewrite has been a labor of love, in the end, I've been working on this for more than 3 months now. I don't have a team, so I work by myself on my free time, but I find great joy in helping people on their private journey with cryptocurrencies. Making it easier for individuals to use cryptocurrencies **without KYC** is a goal I am proud of!
If you appreciate [my work](https://kycnot.me/about#about), you can support me through the methods listed [here](https://kycnot.me/about#support). Alternatively, feel free to send me an email with a kind message!
### Technical details
All the code is written in [Golang](https://go.dev), the website makes use of the [chi](https://go-chi.io) router for the routing part. I also make use of [BigCache](https://github.com/allegro/bigcache) for caching database requests. There is 0 JavaScript, so all the rendering load falls on the server, this means it needed to be efficient enough to not drawn with a few users since the old site was reporting about **2M** requests per month on average (note that this are not unique users).
The database is running with [mariadb](https://mariadb.org/), using [gorm](https://gorm.io) as the ORM. This is more than enough for this project. I started working with an `sqlite` database, but I ended up migrating to **mariadb** since it works better with JSON.
The scraper is using [chromedp](https://github.com/chromedp/chromedp) combined with a series of keywords, regex and other logic. It runs every 24h and scraps all the services. You can find the scraper code [here](https://gitlab.com/kycnot/kycnot.me/-/tree/main/scraper).
The frontend is written using **Golang Templates** for the HTML, and [TailwindCSS](https://tailwindcss.com/) plus [DaisyUI](https://daisyui.com) for the CSS classes framework. I also use some plain CSS, but it's minimal.
The requests forms is the only part of the project that requires JavaScript to be enabled. It is needed for parsing some from fields that are a bit complex and for the *"captcha"*, which is a simple *Proof of Work* that runs on your browser, destinated to avoid spam. For this, I use [mCaptcha](https://mcaptcha.org/).
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:53
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/kyc-no-thanks)
Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations.
Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms.
## Rights for Illusions
KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks?
The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors."
However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% [^1] – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service.
Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy.
To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% [^1] of less-than-careful criminals.
## KYC? Not you.
> KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. [^2]
KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible.
For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded.
Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether.
It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms.
## You're not welcome
Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right?
This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to.
Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely.
## Your identity has been stolen
KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets[^3]. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain **very** sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it?
As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. [^3]
In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised.
## (they) Know Your Coins
You may already know that **Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain**, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded **forever**. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced.
If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with.
## Conclusions
To sum up, **KYC does not protect individuals**; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred.
The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies.
The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable.
> Edited 20/03/2024
> * Add reference to the 1% statement on [Rights for Illusions](#rights-for-illusions) section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity [^1]
[^1]: https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-crypto-crime-report-introduction/
[^2]: https://old.reddit.com/r/BitcoinBeginners/comments/k2bve1/is_kyc_bad_if_so_why/gdtc8kz
[^3]: https://www.ccn.com/hacked-customer-data-from-world-leading-cryptocurrency-exchanges-for-sale-on-the-dark-web/
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:52
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/website-updates)
Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.
## UI Improvements
You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.
Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.
The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.
## Terms of Service Summarizer
A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.
## Nostr Comments
I've integrated a comment section for each service using [Nostr](https://usenostr.org). For guidance on using this feature, visit the [dedicated how-to page](https://kycnot.me/nostr).
## Database
The backend database has transitioned to [pocketbase](https://pocketbase.io), an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at [pluja/pocketbase](https://github.com/pluja/pocketbase).
## Scoring
The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available [open source](https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me).
## Listings
Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.
## API
The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, [check here](https://kycnot.me/about#api).
## About Page
The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.
## Other Changes
Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:50
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/wizardswap-review)
I'm launching a new service review section on this blog in collaboration with [OrangeFren](https://orangefren.com). These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Reviews are done in advance, then, the service provider has the discretion to approve publication without modifications.
Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing.
---
## The review
[WizardSwap](https://kycnot.me/service/wizardswap) is an instant exchange centred around privacy coins. It was launched in 2020 making it old enough to have weathered the 2021 bull run and the subsequent bearish year.
| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Tor-friendly | Limited liquidity |
| Guarantee of no KYC | Overly simplistic design |
| Earn by providing liquidity | |
**Rating**: ★★★★★
**Service Website**: [wizardswap.io](https://www.wizardswap.io/)
### Liquidity
Right off the bat, we'll start off by pointing out that WizardSwap relies on its own liquidity reserves, meaning they aren't just a reseller of Binance or another exchange. They're also committed to a no-KYC policy, when asking them, they even promised they would rather refund a user their original coins, than force them to undergo any sort of verification.
On the one hand, full control over all their infrastructure gives users the most privacy and conviction about the KYC policies remaining in place.
On the other hand, this means the liquidity available for swapping isn't huge. At the time of testing we could only purchase at most about 0.73 BTC with XMR.
It's clear the team behind WizardSwap is aware of this shortfall and so they've come up with a solution unique among instant exchanges. They let you, the user, deposit any of the currencies they support into your account and earn a profit on the trades made using your liquidity.
### Trading
Fees on WizardSwap are middle-of-the-pack. The normal fee is 2.2%. That's more than some exchanges that reserve the right to suddenly demand you undergo verification, yet less than half the fees on some other privacy-first exchanges. However as we mentioned in the section above you can earn almost all of that fee (2%) if you provide liquidity to WizardSwap.
It's good that with the current Bitcoin fee market their fees are constant regardless of how much, or how little, you send. This is in stark contrast with some of the alternative swap providers that will charge you a massive premium when attempting to swap small amounts of BTC away.
### Test trades
> Test trades are always performed without previous notice to the service provider.
During our testing we performed a few test trades and found that every single time WizardSwap immediately detected the incoming transaction and the amount we received was _exactly_ what was quoted before depositing. The fees were inline with what WizardSwap advertises.

- [Monero payment proof](https://www.exploremonero.com/receipt/bd7d6fe81b1e6ba6a89505752ea3688a6fed3920202e513e309d37bc3aebff34/8AFcX8TNnrCHmKqyaZGUYSCdjKrYgqNyLSkksFhwZGaXHsrBCUxqHGjCL6aVUb87QcYLzRXKYBGuYME6t5MBQu1u7LHRztK/2b0442aa2c31c3715da1b485f407e01ca43db74fef7d9ce54ddb69452f15120d)
- [Bitcoin received](https://mempool.space/address/bc1qjqtyzav6dtly4vu9qr9qylf6vrqkhhlrsqnq2u)
- [Wizardswap TX link](https://www.wizardswap.io/id=87MVUQ7F) - it's possible that this link may cease to be valid at some point in the future.
### **ToS and KYC**
WizardSwap does not have a Terms of Service or a Privacy Policy page, at least none that can be found by users. Instead, they offer a FAQ section where they addresses some basic questions.
The site does not mention any KYC or AML practices. It also does not specify how refunds are handled in case of failure. However, based on the FAQ section "What if I send funds after the offer expires?" it can be inferred that contacting support is necessary and network fees will be deducted from any refund.
### UI & Tor
WizardSwap can be visited both via your usual browser and Tor Browser. Should you decide on the latter you'll find that the website works even with the most strict settings available in the Tor Browser (meaning no JavaScript).
However, when disabling Javascript you'll miss the live support chat, as well as automatic refreshing of the trade page. The lack of the first means that you will have no way to contact support from the trade page if anything goes wrong during your swap, although you can do so by mail.
One important thing to have in mind is that if you were to accidentally close the browser during the swap, and you did not save the swap ID or your browser history is disabled, you'll have no easy way to return to the trade. For this reason we suggest when you begin a trade to copy the url or ID to someplace safe, before sending any coins to WizardSwap.
The UI you'll be greeted by is simple, minimalist, and easy to navigate. It works well not just across browsers, but also across devices. You won't have any issues using this exchange on your phone.
### Getting in touch
The team behind WizardSwap appears to be most active on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io
If you have any comments or suggestions about the exchange make sure to reach out to them. In the past they've been very receptive to user feedback, for instance a few months back WizardSwap was planning on removing DeepOnion, but the community behind that project got together [^1] and after reaching out WizardSwap reversed their decision [^2].
You can also contact them via email at: `support @ wizardswap . io`
### Disclaimer
*None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.*
[^1]: https://deeponion.org/community/threads/wizardswap-io-news.46713/
[^2]: https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io/status/1732814285242290380
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:48
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/monero-history)
Bitcoin enthusiasts frequently and correctly remark how much value it adds to Bitcoin not to have a face, a leader, or a central authority behind it. This particularity means there isn't a single person to exert control over, or a single human point of failure who could become corrupt or harmful to the project.
Because of this, it is said that no other coin can be equally valuable as Bitcoin in terms of decentralization and trustworthiness. Bitcoin is unique not just for being first, but also because of how the events behind its inception developed. This implies that, from Bitcoin onwards, any coin created would have been created by someone, consequently having an authority behind it. For this and some other reasons, some people refer to Bitcoin as "[The Immaculate Conception](https://yewtu.be/watch?v=FXvQcuIb5rU)".
While other coins may have their own unique features and advantages, they may not be able to replicate Bitcoin's community-driven nature. However, one other cryptocurrency shares a similar story of mystery behind its creation: **Monero**.
## History of Monero
### Bytecoin and CryptoNote
In March 2014, a Bitcointalk thread titled "*Bytecoin. Secure, private, untraceable since 2012*" was initiated by a user under the nickname "**DStrange**"[^1^]. DStrange presented Bytecoin (BCN) as a unique cryptocurrency, in operation since July 2012. Unlike Bitcoin, it employed a new algorithm known as CryptoNote.
DStrange apparently stumbled upon the Bytecoin website by chance while mining a dying bitcoin fork, and decided to create a thread on Bitcointalk[^1^]. This sparked curiosity among some users, who wondered how could Bytecoin remain unnoticed since its alleged launch in 2012 until then[^2^] [^3^].
Some time after, a user brought up the "CryptoNote v2.0" whitepaper for the first time, underlining its innovative features[^4^]. Authored by the pseudonymous **Nicolas van Saberhagen** in October 2013, the CryptoNote v2 whitepaper[^5^] highlighted the traceability and privacy problems in Bitcoin. Saberhagen argued that these flaws could not be quickly fixed, suggesting it would be more efficient to start a new project rather than trying to patch the original[^5^], an statement simmilar to the one from Satoshi Nakamoto[^6^].
Checking with Saberhagen's digital signature, the release date of the whitepaper seemed correct, which would mean that Cryptonote (v1) was created in 2012[^7^] [^8^], although there's an important detail: *"Signing time is from the clock on the signer's computer"* [^9^].
Moreover, the whitepaper v1 contains a footnote link to a Bitcointalk post dated May 5, 2013[^10^], making it impossible for the whitepaper to have been signed and released on December 12, 2012.
As the narrative developed, users discovered that a significant **80% portion of Bytecoin had been pre-mined**[^11^] and blockchain dates seemed to be faked to make it look like it had been operating since 2012, leading to controversy surrounding the project.
The origins of CryptoNote and Bytecoin remain mysterious, leaving suspicions of a possible scam attempt, although the whitepaper had a good amount of work and thought on it.
### The fork
In April 2014, the Bitcointalk user **`thankful_for_today`**, who had also participated in the Bytecoin thread[^12^], announced plans to launch a Bytecoin fork named **Bitmonero**[^13^] [^14^].
The primary motivation behind this fork was *"Because there is a number of technical and marketing issues I wanted to do differently. And also because I like ideas and technology and I want it to succeed"*[^14^]. This time Bitmonero did things different from Bytecoin: there was no premine or instamine, and no portion of the block reward went to development.
However, thankful_for_today proposed controversial changes that the community disagreed with. **Johnny Mnemonic** relates the events surrounding Bitmonero and thankful_for_today in a Bitcointalk comment[^15^]:
> When thankful_for_today launched BitMonero [...] he ignored everything that was discussed and just did what he wanted. The block reward was considerably steeper than what everyone was expecting. He also moved forward with 1-minute block times despite everyone's concerns about the increase of orphan blocks. He also didn't address the tail emission concern that should've (in my opinion) been in the code at launch time. Basically, he messed everything up. *Then, he disappeared*.
After disappearing for a while, thankful_for_today returned to find that the community had taken over the project. Johnny Mnemonic continues:
> I, and others, started working on new forks that were closer to what everyone else was hoping for. [...] it was decided that the BitMonero project should just be taken over. There were like 9 or 10 interested parties at the time if my memory is correct. We voted on IRC to drop the "bit" from BitMonero and move forward with the project. Thankful_for_today suddenly resurfaced, and wasn't happy to learn the community had assumed control of the coin. He attempted to maintain his own fork (still calling it "BitMonero") for a while, but that quickly fell into obscurity.
The unfolding of these events show us the roots of Monero. Much like Satoshi Nakamoto, the creators behind CryptoNote/Bytecoin and thankful_for_today remain a mystery[^17^] [^18^], having disappeared without a trace. This enigma only adds to Monero's value.
Since community took over development, believing in the project's potential and its ability to be guided in a better direction, Monero was given one of Bitcoin's most important qualities: **a leaderless nature**. With no single face or entity directing its path, Monero is safe from potential corruption or harm from a "central authority".
The community continued developing Monero until today. Since then, Monero has undergone a lot of technological improvements, migrations and achievements such as [RingCT](https://www.getmonero.org/resources/moneropedia/ringCT.html) and [RandomX](https://github.com/tevador/randomx). It also has developed its own [Community Crowdfundinc System](https://ccs.getmonero.org/), conferences such as [MoneroKon](https://monerokon.org/) and [Monerotopia](https://monerotopia.com/) are taking place every year, and has a very active [community](https://www.getmonero.org/community/hangouts/) around it.
> Monero continues to develop with goals of privacy and security first, ease of use and efficiency second. [^16^]
This stands as a testament to the power of a dedicated community operating without a central figure of authority. This decentralized approach aligns with the original ethos of cryptocurrency, making Monero a prime example of community-driven innovation. For this, I thank all the people involved in Monero, that lead it to where it is today.
*If you find any information that seems incorrect, unclear or any missing important events, please [contact me](https://kycnot.me/about#contact) and I will make the necessary changes.*
### Sources of interest
* https://forum.getmonero.org/20/general-discussion/211/history-of-monero
* https://monero.stackexchange.com/questions/852/what-is-the-origin-of-monero-and-its-relationship-to-bytecoin
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monero
* https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.0
* https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0
* https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=233561
* https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0
* https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112.0
* https://monero.stackexchange.com/a/1024
* https://inspec2t-project.eu/cryptocurrency-with-a-focus-on-anonymity-these-facts-are-known-about-monero/
* https://medium.com/coin-story/coin-perspective-13-riccardo-spagni-69ef82907bd1
* https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/
* https://www.wired.com/2017/01/monero-drug-dealers-cryptocurrency-choice-fire/
* https://www.monero.how/why-monero-vs-bitcoin
* https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/u8e5yr/satoshi_nakamoto_talked_about_privacy_features/
[^1^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0
[^2^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5901770#msg5901770
[^3^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5950051#msg5950051
[^4^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5953783#msg5953783
[^5^]: https://bytecoin.org/old/whitepaper.pdf
[^6^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=770.msg8637#msg8637
[^7^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg7039536#msg7039536
[^8^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg7039689#msg7039689
[^9^]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/qtJ43.png
[^10^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112
[^11^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg6265128#msg6265128
[^12^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg5711328#msg5711328
[^13^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.msg6146717#msg6146717
[^14^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0
[^15^]: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg10731078#msg10731078
[^16^]: https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/
[^17^]: https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/lz2e5v/going_deep_in_the_cryptonote_rabbit_hole_who_was/
[^18^]: https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/oxpimb/is_there_any_evidence_that_thankful_for_today/
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:47
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/diy-seed-backup)
I've been thinking about how to improve my seed backup in a cheap and cool way, mostly for fun. Until now, I had the seed written on a piece of paper in a desk drawer, and I wanted something more durable and fire-proof.
[Show me the final result!](#the-final-result)
After searching online, I found two options I liked the most: the [Cryptosteel](https://cryptosteel.com/) Capsule and the [Trezor Keep](https://trezor.io/trezor-keep-metal). These products are nice but quite expensive, and I didn't want to spend that much on my seed backup. **Privacy** is also important, and sharing details like a shipping address makes me uncomfortable. This concern has grown since the Ledger incident[^1]. A $5 wrench attack[^2] seems too cheap, even if you only hold a few sats.
Upon seeing the design of Cryptosteel, I considered creating something similar at home. Although it may not be as cool as their device, it could offer almost the same in terms of robustness and durability.
## Step 1: Get the materials and tools
When choosing the materials, you will want to go with **stainless steel**. It is durable, resistant to fire, water, and corrosion, very robust, and does not rust. Also, its price point is just right; it's not the cheapest, but it's cheap for the value you get.

I went to a material store and bought:
- Two bolts
- Two hex nuts and head nuts for the bolts
- A bag of 30 washers
All items were made of stainless steel. The total price was around **€6**. This is enough for making two seed backups.
You will also need:
- A set of metal letter stamps (I bought a 2mm-size letter kit since my washers were small, 6mm in diameter)
- You can find these in local stores or online marketplaces. The set I bought cost me €13.
- A good hammer
- A solid surface to stamp on
Total spent: **19€** for two backups
## Step 2: Stamp and store
Once you have all the materials, you can start stamping your words. There are many videos on the internet that use fancy 3D-printed tools to get the letters nicely aligned, but I went with the free-hand option. The results were pretty decent.

I only stamped the first 4 letters for each word since the BIP-39 wordlist allows for this. Because my stamping kit did not include numbers, I used alphabet letters to define the order. This way, if all the washers were to fall off, I could still reassemble the seed correctly.
## The final result
So this is the final result. I added two smaller washers as protection and also put the top washer reversed so the letters are not visible:

Compared to the Cryptosteel or the Trezor Keep, its size is much more compact. This makes for an easier-to-hide backup, in case you ever need to hide it inside your human body.
## Some ideas
### Tamper-evident seal
To enhance the security this backup, you can consider using a **tamper-evident seal**. This can be easily achieved by printing a **unique** image or using a specific day's newspaper page (just note somewhere what day it was).
Apply a thin layer of glue to the washer's surface and place the seal over it. If someone attempts to access the seed, they will be forced to destroy the seal, which will serve as an evident sign of tampering.
This simple measure will provide an additional layer of protection and allow you to quickly identify any unauthorized access attempts.
Note that this method is not resistant to outright theft. The tamper-evident seal won't stop a determined thief but it will prevent them from accessing your seed without leaving any trace.
### Redundancy
Make sure to add redundancy. Make several copies of this cheap backup, and store them in separate locations.
### Unique wordset
Another layer of security could be to implement your own custom mnemonic dictionary. However, this approach has the risk of permanently losing access to your funds if not implemented correctly.
If done properly, you could potentially end up with a highly secure backup, as no one else would be able to derive the seed phrase from it. To create your custom dictionary, assign a unique number from 1 to 2048 to a word of your choice. Maybe you could use a book, and index the first 2048 unique words that appear. Make sure to store this book and even get a couple copies of it (digitally and phisically).
This self-curated set of words will serve as your personal BIP-39 dictionary. When you need to translate between your custom dictionary and the official [BIP-39 wordlist](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039/english.txt), simply use the index number to find the corresponding word in either list.
> Never write the idex or words on your computer (Do not use `Ctr+F`)
[^1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240326084135/https://www.ledger.com/message-ledgers-ceo-data-leak
[^2]: https://xkcd.com/538/
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:45
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/ai-tos-analysis)
**kycnot.me** features a somewhat hidden tool that some users may not be aware of. Every month, an automated job crawls every listed service's Terms of Service (ToS) and FAQ pages and conducts an AI-driven analysis, generating a comprehensive overview that highlights key points related to KYC and user privacy.
Here's an example: [Changenow's Tos Review](https://kycnot.me/service/changenow#tos)

## Why?
ToS pages typically contain a lot of complicated text. Since the first versions of **kycnot.me**, I have tried to provide users a comprehensive overview of what can be found in such documents. This automated method keeps the information up-to-date every month, which was one of the main challenges with manual updates.
A significant part of the time I invest in investigating a service for **kycnot.me** involves reading the ToS and looking for any clauses that might indicate aggressive KYC practices or privacy concerns. For the past four years, I performed this task manually. However, with advancements in language models, this process can now be somewhat automated. I still manually review the ToS for a quick check and regularly verify the AI’s findings. However, over the past three months, this automated method has proven to be quite reliable.
Having a quick ToS overview section allows users to avoid reading the entire ToS page. Instead, you can quickly read the important points that are grouped, summarized, and referenced, making it easier and faster to understand the key information.
## Limitations
This method has a key limitation: JS-generated pages. For this reason, I was using Playwright in my crawler implementation. I plan to make a release addressing this issue in the future. There are also sites that don't have ToS/FAQ pages, but these sites already include a warning in that section.
Another issue is false positives. Although not very common, sometimes the AI might incorrectly interpret something harmless as harmful. Such errors become apparent upon reading; it's clear when something marked as bad should not be categorized as such. I manually review these cases regularly, checking for anything that seems off and then removing any inaccuracies.
Overall, the automation provides great results.
## How?
There have been several iterations of this tool. Initially, I started with GPT-3.5, but the results were not good in any way. It made up many things, and important thigs were lost on large ToS pages. I then switched to GPT-4 Turbo, but it was expensive. Eventually, I settled on Claude 3 Sonnet, which provides a quality compromise between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 Turbo at a more reasonable price, while allowing a generous 200K token context window.
I designed a prompt, which is open source[^1], that has been tweaked many times and will surely be adjusted further in the future.
For the ToS scraping part, I initially wrote a scraper API using Playwright[^2], but I replaced it with Jina AI Reader[^3], which works quite well and is designed for this task.
### Non-conflictive ToS
All services have a dropdown in the ToS section called "Non-conflictive ToS Reviews." These are the reviews that the AI flagged as not needing a user warning. I still provide these because I think they may be interesting to read.
## Feedback and contributing
You can give me feedback on this tool, or share any inaccuraties by either opening an issue on Codeberg[^4] or by contacting me [^5].
You can contribute with pull requests, which are always welcome, or you can [support](https://kycnot.me/about#support) this project with any of the listed ways.
[^1]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me/src/branch/main/src/utils/ai/prompt.go
[^2]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me/commit/483ba8b415cecf323b3d9f0cfd4e9620919467d2
[^3]: https://github.com/jina-ai/reader
[^4]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me
[^5]: https://kycnot.me/about#contact
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:43
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/swapter-review)
These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing. Reviews are in collaboration with [Orangefren](https://kycnot.me/service/orangefren).
## The review
[Swapter.io](https://kycnot.me/service/swapter) is an all-purpose instant exchange. They entered the scene in the depths of the bear market about 2 years ago in June of 2022.
| Pros | Cons |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Low fees | Shotgun KYC with opaque triggers |
| Large liquidity | Relies on 3rd party liquidity |
| Works over Tor | Front-end not synced with back-end |
| Pretty UI | |
**Rating**: ★★★☆☆
**Service Website:** [swapter.io](https://swapter.io)
> ⚠️ There is an ongoing issue with this service: [read more on Reddit](https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1d8olsd/swapter_225_xmr_missing/).
### Test Trades
During our testing we performed a trade from XMR to LTC, and then back to XMR.
Our first trade had the ID of: `mpUitpGemhN8jjNAjQuo6EvQ`. We were promised **0.8 LTC** for sending **0.5 XMR**, before we sent the Monero. When the Monero arrived we were sent **0.799 LTC**.
On the return journey we performed trade with ID: `yaCRb5pYcRKAZcBqg0AzEGYg`. This time we were promised **0.4815 XMR** for sending **0.799 LTC**. After Litecoin arrived we were sent **0.4765 XMR**.
As such we saw a discrepancy of `~0.1%` in the first trade and `~1%` in the second trade. Considering those trades were floating we determine the estimates presented in the UI to be highly accurate and honest.
Of course Swapter could've been imposing a large fee on their estimates, but we checked their estimates against CoinGecko and found the difference to be equivalent to a fee of just over `0.5%`. Perfectly in line with other swapping services.
### Trading
Swapter supports BTC, LTC, XMR and well over a thousand other coins. Sadly they **don't support the Lightning Network**. For the myriad of currencies they deal with they provide massive upper limits. You could exchange tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency in a single trade (although we wouldn't recommend it).
The flip side to this is that Swapter **relies on 3rd party liquidity**. Aside from the large liqudity this also benefits the user insofar as it allows for very low fees. However, it also comes with a negative - the 3rd party gets to see all your trades. Unfortunately Swapter opted not to share where they source their liquidity in their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service.
### KYC & AML policies
Swapter reserves the right to require its users to provide their full name, their date of birth, their address and government-issued ID. A practice known as "*shotgun KYC*". This should not happen often - in our testing it never did - however it's not clear when exactly it could happen. The AML & KYC policy provided on Swapter's website simply states they will put your trade on hold if their "risk scoring system [deems it] as suspicious".
Worse yet, if they determine that "any of the information [the] customer provided is incorrect, false, outdated, or incomplete" then Swapter may decide to terminate all of the services they provide to the user. What exactly would happen to their funds in such a case remains unclear.
The only clarity we get is that the Swapter policy outlines a designated 3rd party that will verify the information provided by the user. The third party's name is Sum & Substance Ltd, also simply known as samsub and available at [sumsub.com](https://sumsub.com/)
It's understandable that some exchanges will decide on a policy of this sort, especially when they rely on external liquidity, but we would prefer more clarity be given. **When exactly is a trade suspicious?**
### Tor
We were pleased to discover Swapter **works over Tor**. However, they do not provide a Tor mirror, nor do they work without JavaScript. Additionally, we found that some small features, such as the live chat, did not work over Tor. Fortunately, other means of contacting their support are still available.
### UI
We have found the Swapter UI to be very modern, straightforward and simple to use. It's available in 4 languages (English, French, Dutch and Russian), although we're unable to vouch for the quality of some of those, the ones that we used seemed perfectly serviceable.
Our only issue with the UI was that it claims the funds have been sent following the trade, when in reality it seems to take the backend a minute or so to actually broadcast the transaction.
### Getting in touch
Swapter's team has a chat on their website, a support email address and a support Telegram. Their social media presence in most active on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter).
### Disclaimer
*None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.*
-

@ 39cc53c9:27168656
2025-03-30 05:54:42
> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/four-years)
> “The future is there... staring back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.”
> — William Gibson.
This month is [the 4th anniversary](#the-anniversary) of kycnot.me. Thank you for being here.
Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system: a decentralized currency **free from government and institutional control**. Nakamoto's whitepaper showed a vision for a financial system based on trustless transactions, secured by cryptography. Some time forward and KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations started to come into play.
What a paradox: to engage with a system designed for decentralization, privacy, and independence, we are forced to give away our personal details. Using Bitcoin in the economy requires revealing your identity, not just to the party you interact with, but also to third parties who must track and report the interaction. You are forced to give sensitive data to entities you don't, can't, and shouldn't trust. Information can never be kept 100% safe; there's always a risk. Information is power, who knows about you has control over you.
Information asymmetry creates imbalances of power. When entities have detailed knowledge about individuals, they can manipulate, influence, or exploit this information to their advantage. The accumulation of personal data by corporations and governments enables extensive surveillances.
Such practices, moreover, exclude individuals from traditional economic systems if their documentation doesn't meet arbitrary standards, reinforcing a dystopian divide. Small businesses are similarly burdened by the costs of implementing these regulations, hindering free market competition[^1]:

How will they keep this information safe? Why do they need my identity? Why do they force businesses to enforce such regulations? It's always for your safety, to protect you from the "bad". Your life is perpetually in danger: terrorists, money launderers, villains... so the government steps in to save us.
> ‟Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry
> Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true
> Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you
> Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing
> She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing
> Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm”
> — Mother, Pink Floyd
We must resist any attack on our privacy and freedom. To do this, we must collaborate.
If you have a service, refuse to ask for KYC; find a way. Accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. Commit to circular economies. Remove the need to go through the FIAT system. People need fiat money to use most services, but we can change that.
If you're a user, donate to and prefer using services that accept such currencies. Encourage your friends to accept cryptocurrencies as well. Boycott FIAT system to the greatest extent you possibly can.
This may sound utopian, but it can be achieved. This movement can't be stopped. Go kick the hornet's nest.
> “We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any. We must come together and create systems which allow anonymous transactions to take place. People have been defending their own privacy for centuries with whispers, darkness, envelopes, closed doors, secret handshakes, and couriers. The technologies of the past did not allow for strong privacy, but electronic technologies do.”
> — Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto
## The anniversary
Four years ago, I began exploring ways to use crypto without KYC. I bookmarked a few favorite services and thought sharing them to the world might be useful. That was the first version of [kycnot.me](https://kycnot.me) — a simple list of about 15 services. Since then, I've added services, rewritten it three times, and improved it to what it is now.
[kycnot.me](https://kycnot.me) has remained 100% independent and 100% open source[^2] all these years. I've received offers to buy the site, all of which I have declined and will continue to decline. It has been DDoS attacked many times, but we made it through. I have also rewritten the whole site almost once per year (three times in four years).
The code and scoring algorithm are open source (contributions are welcome) and I can't arbitrarly change a service's score without adding or removing attributes, making any arbitrary alterations obvious if they were fake. You can even see [the score summary](https://https://kycnot.me/api/v1/service/bisq/summary) for any service's score.
I'm a one-person team, dedicating my free time to this project. I hope to keep doing so for many more years. Again, thank you for being part of this.
[^1]: https://x.com/freedomtech/status/1796190018588872806
[^2]: https://codeberg.org/pluja/kycnot.me
-

@ d4cb227b:edca6019
2025-03-30 04:26:51
Dose:
30g coffee (Fine-medium grind size)
500mL soft or bottled water (97°C / 206.6°F)
Instructions:
1. Rinse out your filter paper with hot water to remove the papery taste. This will also preheat the brewer.
2. Add your grounds carefully to the center of the V60 and then create a well in the middle of the grounds.
3. For the bloom, start to gently pour 60mL of water, making sure that all the coffee is wet in this initial phase.
4. As soon as you’ve added your water, grab your V60 and begin to swirl in a circular motion. This will ensure the water and coffee are evenly mixed. Let this rest and bloom for up to 45 seconds.
5. Pour the rest of the water in in 2 phases. You want to try and get 60% of your total water in, within 30 seconds.
6. Pour until you reach 300mL total with a time at 1:15. Here you want to pour with a little agitation, but not so much that you have an uneven extraction.
7. Once you hit 60% of your total brew weight, start to pour a little slower and more gently, keeping your V60 cone topped up. Aim to have 100% of your brew weight in within the next 30 seconds.
8. Once you get to 500mL, with a spoon give the V60 a small stir in one direction, and then again in the other direction. This will release any grounds stuck to the side of the paper.
9. Allow the V60 to drain some more, and then give it one final swirl. This will help keep the bed flat towards the end of the brew, giving you the most even possible extraction.
-

@ d4cb227b:edca6019
2025-03-30 04:23:22
This method focuses on the amount of water in the first pour, which ultimately defines the coffee’s acidity and sweetness (more water = more acidity, less water = more sweetness). For the remainder of the brew, the water is divided into equal parts according to the strength you wish to attain.
Dose:
- 20g coffee (Coarse ground coffee)
- 300mL water (92°C / 197.6°F)
Time: 3:30
Instructions:
Pour 1: 0:00 > 50mL (42% of 120mL = 40% of total – less water in the ratio, targeting sweetness.)
Pour 2: 0:45 > 70mL (58% of 120mL = 40% of total – the top up for 40% of total.)
Pour 3: 1:30 > 60mL (The remaining water is 180mL / 3 pours = 60mL per pour)
Pour 4: 2:10 > 60mL
Pour 5: 2:40 > 60mL
Remove the V60 at 3:30
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-30 02:16:24
> __Warning__ `unrecommended`: deprecated in favor of [NIP-17](17.md)
NIP-04
======
Encrypted Direct Message
------------------------
`final` `unrecommended` `optional`
A special event with kind `4`, meaning "encrypted direct message". It is supposed to have the following attributes:
**`content`** MUST be equal to the base64-encoded, aes-256-cbc encrypted string of anything a user wants to write, encrypted using a shared cipher generated by combining the recipient's public-key with the sender's private-key; this appended by the base64-encoded initialization vector as if it was a querystring parameter named "iv". The format is the following: `"content": "<encrypted_text>?iv=<initialization_vector>"`.
**`tags`** MUST contain an entry identifying the receiver of the message (such that relays may naturally forward this event to them), in the form `["p", "<pubkey, as a hex string>"]`.
**`tags`** MAY contain an entry identifying the previous message in a conversation or a message we are explicitly replying to (such that contextual, more organized conversations may happen), in the form `["e", "<event_id>"]`.
**Note**: By default in the [libsecp256k1](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/secp256k1) ECDH implementation, the secret is the SHA256 hash of the shared point (both X and Y coordinates). In Nostr, only the X coordinate of the shared point is used as the secret and it is NOT hashed. If using libsecp256k1, a custom function that copies the X coordinate must be passed as the `hashfp` argument in `secp256k1_ecdh`. See [here](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/secp256k1/blob/master/src/modules/ecdh/main_impl.h#L29).
Code sample for generating such an event in JavaScript:
```js
import crypto from 'crypto'
import * as secp from '@noble/secp256k1'
let sharedPoint = secp.getSharedSecret(ourPrivateKey, '02' + theirPublicKey)
let sharedX = sharedPoint.slice(1, 33)
let iv = crypto.randomFillSync(new Uint8Array(16))
var cipher = crypto.createCipheriv(
'aes-256-cbc',
Buffer.from(sharedX),
iv
)
let encryptedMessage = cipher.update(text, 'utf8', 'base64')
encryptedMessage += cipher.final('base64')
let ivBase64 = Buffer.from(iv.buffer).toString('base64')
let event = {
pubkey: ourPubKey,
created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
kind: 4,
tags: [['p', theirPublicKey]],
content: encryptedMessage + '?iv=' + ivBase64
}
```
## Security Warning
This standard does not go anywhere near what is considered the state-of-the-art in encrypted communication between peers, and it leaks metadata in the events, therefore it must not be used for anything you really need to keep secret, and only with relays that use `AUTH` to restrict who can fetch your `kind:4` events.
## Client Implementation Warning
Clients *should not* search and replace public key or note references from the `.content`. If processed like a regular text note (where `@npub...` is replaced with `#[0]` with a `["p", "..."]` tag) the tags are leaked and the mentioned user will receive the message in their inbox.
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-30 02:11:00
NIP-03
======
OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events
--------------------------------------
`draft` `optional`
This NIP defines an event with `kind:1040` that can contain an [OpenTimestamps](https://opentimestamps.org/) proof for any other event:
```json
{
"kind": 1040
"tags": [
["e", <event-id>, <relay-url>],
["alt", "opentimestamps attestation"]
],
"content": <base64-encoded OTS file data>
}
```
- The OpenTimestamps proof MUST prove the referenced `e` event id as its digest.
- The `content` MUST be the full content of an `.ots` file containing at least one Bitcoin attestation. This file SHOULD contain a **single** Bitcoin attestation (as not more than one valid attestation is necessary and less bytes is better than more) and no reference to "pending" attestations since they are useless in this context.
### Example OpenTimestamps proof verification flow
Using [`nak`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak), [`jq`](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/) and [`ots`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/ots):
```bash
~> nak req -i e71c6ea722987debdb60f81f9ea4f604b5ac0664120dd64fb9d23abc4ec7c323 wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net | jq -r .content | ots verify
> using an esplora server at https://blockstream.info/api
- sequence ending on block 810391 is valid
timestamp validated at block [810391]
```
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-30 02:10:24
NIP-03
======
OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events
--------------------------------------
`draft` `optional`
This NIP defines an event with `kind:1040` that can contain an [OpenTimestamps](https://opentimestamps.org/) proof for any other event:
```json
{
"kind": 1040
"tags": [
["e", <event-id>, <relay-url>],
["alt", "opentimestamps attestation"]
],
"content": <base64-encoded OTS file data>
}
```
- The OpenTimestamps proof MUST prove the referenced `e` event id as its digest.
- The `content` MUST be the full content of an `.ots` file containing at least one Bitcoin attestation. This file SHOULD contain a **single** Bitcoin attestation (as not more than one valid attestation is necessary and less bytes is better than more) and no reference to "pending" attestations since they are useless in this context.
### Example OpenTimestamps proof verification flow
Using [`nak`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak), [`jq`](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/) and [`ots`](https://github.com/fiatjaf/ots):
```bash
~> nak req -i e71c6ea722987debdb60f81f9ea4f604b5ac0664120dd64fb9d23abc4ec7c323 wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net | jq -r .content | ots verify
> using an esplora server at https://blockstream.info/api
- sequence ending on block 810391 is valid
timestamp validated at block [810391]
```
-

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5
2025-03-30 00:37:54
Hey Freaks,
RUNSTR is a motion tracking app built on top of nostr. The project is built by TheWildHustle and TheNostrDev Team. The project has been tinkered with for about 3 months, but development has picked up and its goals and direction have become much clearer.
In a previous post I mentioned that RUNSTR was looking to become a Nike Run Club or Strava competitor, offering users an open source community and privacy focused alternative to the centralized silos that we've become used to.
I normally ramble incoherently.....even in writing, but this is my attempt to communicate the project's goals and direction as we move forward.
This is where the project is now:
## Core Features
- **Run Tracker**: Uses an algorithm which adjusts to your phone's location permissions and stores the data on your phone locally
- **Stats**: Stored locally on your phone with a basic profile screen so users can monitor calories burned during runs
- **Nostr Feed**: Made up of kind1 notes that contain #RUNSTR and other running related hashtags
- **Music**: Brought to you via a wavlake API, enabling your wavlake playlists and liked songs to be seen and played in the app
## Current Roadmap
- **Bugs and small improvements**: Fixing known issues within the client
- **zap.store release**: Launching a bug bounty program after release
- **Clubs**: Enabling running organizations to create territories for events, challenges, rewards and competition
- **Testflight**: Opening up the app to iOS users (currently Android only)
- **Modes**: Adding functionality to switch between Running, Walking, or Cycling modes
## Future Roadmap
- **Requested Features**: Implementing features requested by club managers to support virtual events and challenges
- **Blossom**: Giving power users the ability to upload their data to personal blossom servers
- **NIP28**: Making clubs interoperable with other group chat clients like 0xchat, Keychat, and Chachi Chat
- **DVM's**: Creating multiple feeds based on movement mode (e.g., Walking mode shows walkstr feed)
- **NIP101e**: Allowing users to create run records and store them on nostr relays
- **Calories over relays**: Using NIP89-like functionality for users to save calorie data on relays for use in other applications
- **NIP60**: Implementing automatic wallet creation for users to zap and get zapped within the app
## In Conclusion
I've just barely begun this thing and it'll be an up and down journey trying to push it into existence. I think RUNSTR has the potential to highlight the other things that nostr has going for it, demonstrating the protocol's interoperability, flexing its permissionless identity piece, and offering an experience that gives users a glimpse into what is possible when shipping into a new paradigm. Although we build into an environment that often offers no solutions, you'd have to be a crazy person not to try.
https://github.com/HealthNoteLabs/Runstr/releases/tag/feed-0.1.0-20250329-210157
-

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1
2025-03-29 21:36:48
# Overview
### Philosophy
Markdown is intended to be as easy-to-read and easy-to-write as is feasible.
Readability, however, is emphasized above all else. A Markdown-formatted
document should be publishable as-is, as plain text, without looking
like it's been marked up with tags or formatting instructions. While
Markdown's syntax has been influenced by several existing text-to-HTML
filters -- including [Setext](http://docutils.sourceforge.net/mirror/setext.html), [atx](http://www.aaronsw.com/2002/atx/), [Textile](http://textism.com/tools/textile/), [reStructuredText](http://docutils.sourceforge.net/rst.html),
[Grutatext](http://www.triptico.com/software/grutatxt.html), and [EtText](http://ettext.taint.org/doc/) -- the single biggest source of
inspiration for Markdown's syntax is the format of plain text email.
## Block Elements
### Paragraphs and Line Breaks
A paragraph is simply one or more consecutive lines of text, separated
by one or more blank lines. (A blank line is any line that looks like a
blank line -- a line containing nothing but spaces or tabs is considered
blank.) Normal paragraphs should not be indented with spaces or tabs.
The implication of the "one or more consecutive lines of text" rule is
that Markdown supports "hard-wrapped" text paragraphs. This differs
significantly from most other text-to-HTML formatters (including Movable
Type's "Convert Line Breaks" option) which translate every line break
character in a paragraph into a `<br />` tag.
When you *do* want to insert a `<br />` break tag using Markdown, you
end a line with two or more spaces, then type return.
### Headers
Markdown supports two styles of headers, [Setext] [1] and [atx] [2].
Optionally, you may "close" atx-style headers. This is purely
cosmetic -- you can use this if you think it looks better. The
closing hashes don't even need to match the number of hashes
used to open the header. (The number of opening hashes
determines the header level.)
### Blockquotes
Markdown uses email-style `>` characters for blockquoting. If you're
familiar with quoting passages of text in an email message, then you
know how to create a blockquote in Markdown. It looks best if you hard
wrap the text and put a `>` before every line:
> This is a blockquote with two paragraphs. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
> consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus.
> Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.
>
> Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit. Suspendisse
> id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.
Markdown allows you to be lazy and only put the `>` before the first
line of a hard-wrapped paragraph:
> This is a blockquote with two paragraphs. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus.
Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.
> Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit. Suspendisse
id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.
Blockquotes can be nested (i.e. a blockquote-in-a-blockquote) by
adding additional levels of `>`:
> This is the first level of quoting.
>
> > This is nested blockquote.
>
> Back to the first level.
Blockquotes can contain other Markdown elements, including headers, lists,
and code blocks:
> ## This is a header.
>
> 1. This is the first list item.
> 2. This is the second list item.
>
> Here's some example code:
>
> return shell_exec("echo $input | $markdown_script");
Any decent text editor should make email-style quoting easy. For
example, with BBEdit, you can make a selection and choose Increase
Quote Level from the Text menu.
### Lists
Markdown supports ordered (numbered) and unordered (bulleted) lists.
Unordered lists use asterisks, pluses, and hyphens -- interchangably
-- as list markers:
* Red
* Green
* Blue
is equivalent to:
+ Red
+ Green
+ Blue
and:
- Red
- Green
- Blue
Ordered lists use numbers followed by periods:
1. Bird
2. McHale
3. Parish
It's important to note that the actual numbers you use to mark the
list have no effect on the HTML output Markdown produces. The HTML
Markdown produces from the above list is:
If you instead wrote the list in Markdown like this:
1. Bird
1. McHale
1. Parish
or even:
3. Bird
1. McHale
8. Parish
you'd get the exact same HTML output. The point is, if you want to,
you can use ordinal numbers in your ordered Markdown lists, so that
the numbers in your source match the numbers in your published HTML.
But if you want to be lazy, you don't have to.
To make lists look nice, you can wrap items with hanging indents:
* Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus. Vestibulum enim wisi,
viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.
* Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit.
Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.
But if you want to be lazy, you don't have to:
* Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
Aliquam hendrerit mi posuere lectus. Vestibulum enim wisi,
viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet vitae, risus.
* Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum sit amet velit.
Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.
List items may consist of multiple paragraphs. Each subsequent
paragraph in a list item must be indented by either 4 spaces
or one tab:
1. This is a list item with two paragraphs. Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam hendrerit
mi posuere lectus.
Vestibulum enim wisi, viverra nec, fringilla in, laoreet
vitae, risus. Donec sit amet nisl. Aliquam semper ipsum
sit amet velit.
2. Suspendisse id sem consectetuer libero luctus adipiscing.
It looks nice if you indent every line of the subsequent
paragraphs, but here again, Markdown will allow you to be
lazy:
* This is a list item with two paragraphs.
This is the second paragraph in the list item. You're
only required to indent the first line. Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
* Another item in the same list.
To put a blockquote within a list item, the blockquote's `>`
delimiters need to be indented:
* A list item with a blockquote:
> This is a blockquote
> inside a list item.
To put a code block within a list item, the code block needs
to be indented *twice* -- 8 spaces or two tabs:
* A list item with a code block:
<code goes here>
### Code Blocks
Pre-formatted code blocks are used for writing about programming or
markup source code. Rather than forming normal paragraphs, the lines
of a code block are interpreted literally. Markdown wraps a code block
in both `<pre>` and `<code>` tags.
To produce a code block in Markdown, simply indent every line of the
block by at least 4 spaces or 1 tab.
This is a normal paragraph:
This is a code block.
Here is an example of AppleScript:
tell application "Foo"
beep
end tell
A code block continues until it reaches a line that is not indented
(or the end of the article).
Within a code block, ampersands (`&`) and angle brackets (`<` and `>`)
are automatically converted into HTML entities. This makes it very
easy to include example HTML source code using Markdown -- just paste
it and indent it, and Markdown will handle the hassle of encoding the
ampersands and angle brackets. For example, this:
<div class="footer">
© 2004 Foo Corporation
</div>
Regular Markdown syntax is not processed within code blocks. E.g.,
asterisks are just literal asterisks within a code block. This means
it's also easy to use Markdown to write about Markdown's own syntax.
```
tell application "Foo"
beep
end tell
```
## Span Elements
### Links
Markdown supports two style of links: *inline* and *reference*.
In both styles, the link text is delimited by [square brackets].
To create an inline link, use a set of regular parentheses immediately
after the link text's closing square bracket. Inside the parentheses,
put the URL where you want the link to point, along with an *optional*
title for the link, surrounded in quotes. For example:
This is [an example](http://example.com/) inline link.
[This link](http://example.net/) has no title attribute.
### Emphasis
Markdown treats asterisks (`*`) and underscores (`_`) as indicators of
emphasis. Text wrapped with one `*` or `_` will be wrapped with an
HTML `<em>` tag; double `*`'s or `_`'s will be wrapped with an HTML
`<strong>` tag. E.g., this input:
*single asterisks*
_single underscores_
**double asterisks**
__double underscores__
### Code
To indicate a span of code, wrap it with backtick quotes (`` ` ``).
Unlike a pre-formatted code block, a code span indicates code within a
normal paragraph. For example:
Use the `printf()` function.
-

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe
2025-03-29 19:34:31
# Chef's Notes
With spring in the air, it time to get your garden into shape. We grow our own Raspberries and Strawberries and a large portion of the harvest gets crushed up and frozen for the making of freezer jam through out the year.
We crush the berries up with a potato masher in the quantities listed in the receipt below and place them into the freezer.
The receipt below was adapted from Sure-Jell.
***
![[Freezer-Jam800.png]]
***
## Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
- 🍳 Cook time: 12 minutes or so
- 🍽️ Servings: 6 to 8 8-ounce jars depending on berry choice
# Ingredients
# Pick your jam
### Strawberry Jam
- 2 cups crushed strawberries (buy 1 qt. fully ripe strawberries)
- 4 cups supar measure into a separate bowel
- Need 6 8-ounce jars or fewer with larger jar size with lids
### Raspberry/Blackberry Jam
- 3 cups crushed raspberries or blackberry
- 5 1/2 cups supar measure into a separate bowel
- Need 8 8-ounce jars or fewer with larger jar size with lids
## Pectin
- 3/4 cups water
- 1 package of Sure-Jell Fruit Pectin
# Instructions
## Step 1
1. Wash 8-ounce glass jars or larger with lids
## Step 2
1. Add crushed berries into large bowl
2. Stir sugar into the crushed berries and let stand for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally.
## Step 3
1. In a small sauce pan, mix water and pectin and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring 1 min.
2. Add pectin mixture to the fruit mixture; stir 3 min. or until most the sugar is dissolved.
## Step 4
1. Fill containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or in freezer up to 1 year.
# Bon **Appétit**
-

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-03-29 18:47:34
Pula, located at the southern tip of Istria, is a city where ancient Roman ruins meet stunning Adriatic beaches. Known for its well-preserved amphitheater, charming old town, and crystal-clear waters, Pula offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation.

## **🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Pula**
### **1️⃣ Pula Arena (Roman Amphitheater) 🏟️**
- **One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world**, built in the 1st century.
- Used for **gladiator fights**, now a venue for **concerts & film festivals**.
- Climb to the top for **stunning sea views**.

### **2️⃣ Explore Pula’s Old Town 🏡**
- Wander through **cobbled streets**, past **Venetian, Roman, and Austro-Hungarian architecture**.
- Visit the **Arch of the Sergii** (a 2,000-year-old Roman triumphal arch).
- Enjoy a drink in **Forum Square**, home to the **Temple of Augustus**.
### **3️⃣ Relax at Pula’s Beaches 🏖️**
- **Hawaiian Beach (Havajska Plaža):** Turquoise waters & cliffs for jumping.
- **Ambrela Beach:** A Blue Flag beach with **calm waters, great for families**.
- **Pješčana Uvala:** A **sandy beach**, rare for Croatia!

### **4️⃣ Cape Kamenjak Nature Park 🌿**
- A **wild and rugged coastline** with hidden coves and crystal-clear water.
- Great for **cliff jumping, kayaking, and biking**.
- Located **30 minutes south of Pula**.
### **5️⃣ Visit Brijuni National Park 🏝️**
- A group of **14 islands**, once Tito’s private retreat.
- Features **Roman ruins, a safari park, and cycling trails**.
- Accessible via **boat from Fazana (15 min from Pula)**.

### **6️⃣ Try Istrian Cuisine 🍽️**
- **Fuži with truffles** – Istria is famous for **white & black truffles**.
- **Istrian prosciutto & cheese** – Perfect with local **Malvazija wine**.
- **Fresh seafood** – Try grilled squid or buzara-style mussels.

## **🚗 How to Get to Pula**
✈️ **By Air:** Pula Airport (PUY) has flights from major European cities.
🚘 **By Car:**
- **From Zagreb:** ~3 hours (270 km)
- **From Ljubljana (Slovenia):** ~2.5 hours (160 km)
🚌 **By Bus:** Regular buses connect Pula with **Rovinj, Rijeka, Zagreb, and Trieste (Italy)**.
🚢 **By Ferry:** Seasonal ferries run from **Venice and Zadar**.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Pula**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & festivals 🌞
✅ **Book Arena event tickets in advance** – Summer concerts sell out fast 🎶
✅ **Try local wines** – Istrian **Malvazija (white) and Teran (red)** are excellent 🍷
✅ **Explore nearby towns** – Rovinj & Motovun make great day trips 🏡
✅ **Cash is useful** – Some small shops & markets prefer cash 💶

-

@ 8671a6e5:f88194d1
2025-03-29 17:58:33
A flash of inspiration
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f1adbb3992b05ba7bbb9e3ff3b61d27e6e58b1564e628dd136afee4e57b3449c.jpg">
Sometimes the mind takes you to strange places. The other day, I stumbled across Madonna’s “Vogue” video, you know “strike a pose” and all that jazz, and it got me thinking. Not about her music (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged as gracefully as her PR team might hope), but about Michael Saylor and Bitcoin.
Bear with me here, there’s a connection there. Madonna built an empire and her iconic name on catchy tunes and reinvention, even if her catalog feels a bit thin these days. Saylor? He’s doing something similar—taking an old act, dusting it off, and teaching it a new trick. Only instead of a microphone, he’s wielding Bitcoin, and Wall Street’s playing the role of the music industry, propping up the star despite a shaky back catalog (his initial business software).
Old school meets new moves
Think of Saylor as that veteran artist who’s been around for a few decades and think of bitcoin as a new style of music, a genre or a gimmick that’s popular with the kids. Old music stars sooner or later pick up on that, and even bring people in to do a cross-over song, a mix or god forbid, a duet.
MicroStrategy, his software company, was never a top hit scoring machine. More of a album full of B-sides that faded into obscurity (for those who don’t know, look up what a B-side song was). But then he stumbled onto Bitcoin, the shiny new genre that’s got the attention and attracted people because of the underlying asset (our tunes are here to stay).
It’s not just a pivot; it’s a reinvention. Like an aging pop star learning to rap, Saylor’s taken his old-school business and remixed it into something attracting a decent audience at conferences for example. Like Madonna or the former Prince fulling arenas. He’s voguing alright; with bold moves, big loans, the support of his own music industry and a spotlight for his (sometimes Madonna lyrics like) ramblings.
The Saylor trick: a ray of light on bitcoin
Here’s the play: Saylor’s turned MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin hoarding machine. Forget software licenses; his game is borrowing billions—through corporate bonds and stock sales, only to buy and hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin will outshine gold, bonds, even the S&P 500, Saylor says. It’s a gamble, an honorable one if you’re a bitcoiner, but it’s dressed up as a vision, and it’s got a self-fulfilling prophecy in it. Not only that, such a prophecy can only fully come to fruition if he’s not the only buyer of last resort of any significance. A music industry isn’t a real industry if there was only Madonna dancing on stage as the only mainstream artist.
We had Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Dua Lipa and hundreds of other artists over time, vying for your money, attention span, and streaming minutes. The more Strategy buys, the more the Bitcoin crowd cheers, the higher the price climbs, and the more attention he gets. Speaking gigs, headlines, cult status—it’s a win-win, at least on paper. Strike the pose, indeed.
The McDonald’s trick: value under the surface
It’s not the first time Michael Saylro remixes a tape from another artist so to speak. Let’s pivot to McDonald’s for a second, because there’s a parallel here. You think Big Macs when you think McDonald’s, but their real value hustle is actually real estate.
They own prime land, lease it to franchisees, and rake in rent—billions of it. The burgers? Just a tasty front for a property empire. Saylor’s pulling a similar move, but instead of buildings, his asset is Bitcoin. MicroStrategy’s software gig is the fries on the side — nice to have, but not the main course. He’s borrowing against the future value of BTC, betting it’ll keep climbing, just like McDonald’s banks on steady foot traffic and picking strategic (pun intended) locations. The difference? McDonald’s has a fallback if real estate tanks. Saylor’s all-in on bitcoin. (So far so good, if there’s one thing to go all-in on, it’s bitcoin anyway). That on itself is not an issue. But it’s important to know that the “location” is the asset for some while bitcoin is the “asset” for Strategy. Mc Donald’s assets are easy to spot: there are restaurants all over the place. Madonna’s concerts are also easy to spot: they sell out arenas left and right. Strategy’s bitcoin asset is less easy to spot, as we can’t see them, neither can we verify them. More on that later.
The hybrid star: Madonna meets McDonald’s
So, picture this: Saylor’s a cross between Madonna and a fast-food landlord. He’s the aging music icon who’s learned a flashy new dance, but underneath the glitter, he’s running a McDonald’s-style value play. It’s brilliant, in a way. Bitcoin’s scarcity fuels the hype, and his borrowing keeps the show on the road. Madonna’s legacy still sells records her name holds value, and McDonald’s can lean on its food business and brand, if the property game stumbles they can easily pivot back to basics and earn like they’ve always done on selling food and franchise income/licensing. Saylor? His software arm’s is rather dismal. If Bitcoin falters, there’s no encore that can him.**a flash of inspiration**
Sometimes the mind takes you to strange places. The other day, I stumbled across Madonna’s “Vogue” video, you know “strike a pose” and all that jazz, and it got me thinking. Not about her music (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged as gracefully as her PR team might hope), but about Michael Saylor and Bitcoin.\
\
Bear with me here, there’s a connection there. Madonna built an empire and her iconic name on catchy tunes and reinvention, even if her catalog feels a bit thin these days.\
Saylor? He’s doing something similar—taking an old act, dusting it off, and teaching it a new trick. Only instead of a microphone, he’s wielding Bitcoin, and Wall Street’s playing the role of the music industry, propping up the star despite a shaky back catalog (his initial business software).
**Old school meets new moves**
Think of Saylor as that veteran artist who’s been around for a few decades and think of bitcoin as a new style of music, a genre or a gimmick that’s popular with the kids. Old music stars sooner or later pick up on that, and even bring people in to do a cross-over song, a mix or god forbid, a duet.
MicroStrategy, his software company, was never a top hit scoring machine. More of a album full of B-sides that faded into obscurity (for those who don’t know, look up what a B-side song was).\
But then he stumbled onto Bitcoin, the shiny new genre that’s got the attention and attracted people because of the underlying asset (our tunes are here to stay).\
\
It’s not just a pivot; it’s a reinvention. Like an aging pop star learning to rap, Saylor’s taken his old-school business and remixed it into something attracting a decent audience at conferences for example. Like Madonna or the former Prince fulling arenas.\
He’s voguing alright; with bold moves, big loans, the support of his own music industry and a spotlight for his (sometimes Madonna lyrics like) ramblings.
**The Saylor trick: a ray of light on bitcoin\**
\
Here’s the play: Saylor’s turned MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin hoarding machine. Forget software licenses; his game is borrowing billions—through corporate bonds and stock sales, only to buy and hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin will outshine gold, bonds, even the S&P 500, Saylor says.\
It’s a gamble, an honorable one if you’re a bitcoiner, but it’s dressed up as a vision, and it’s got a self-fulfilling prophecy in it. Not only that, such a prophecy can only fully come to fruition if he’s not the only buyer of last resort of any significance. A music industry isn’t a real industry if there was only Madonna dancing on stage as the only mainstream artist.\
\
We had Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Dua Lipa and hundreds of other artists over time, vying for your money, attention span, and streaming minutes.\
The more Strategy buys, the more the Bitcoin crowd cheers, the higher the price climbs, and the more attention he gets. Speaking gigs, headlines, cult status—it’s a win-win, at least on paper. Strike the pose, indeed.
**The McDonald’s trick: value under the surface\**
\
It’s not the first time Michael Saylro remixes a tape from another artist so to speak.\
Let’s pivot to McDonald’s for a second, because there’s a parallel here. You think Big Macs when you think McDonald’s, but their real value hustle is actually real estate.
They own prime land, lease it to franchisees, and rake in rent—billions of it. The burgers? Just a tasty front for a property empire. Saylor’s pulling a similar move, but instead of buildings, his asset is Bitcoin.\
MicroStrategy’s software gig is the fries on the side — nice to have, but not the main course. He’s borrowing against the future value of BTC, betting it’ll keep climbing, just like McDonald’s banks on steady foot traffic and picking strategic (pun intended) locations.\
The difference? McDonald’s has a fallback if real estate tanks. Saylor’s all-in on bitcoin. (So far so good, if there’s one thing to go all-in on, it’s bitcoin anyway). That on itself is not an issue. But it’s important to know that the “location” is the asset for some while bitcoin is the “asset” for Strategy.\
Mc Donald’s assets are easy to spot: there are restaurants all over the place. Madonna’s concerts are also easy to spot: they sell out arenas left and right.\
Strategy’s bitcoin asset is less easy to spot, as we can’t see them, neither can we verify them. More on that later.
**The hybrid star: Madonna meets McDonald’s**
So, picture this: Saylor’s a cross between Madonna and a fast-food landlord. He’s the aging music icon who’s learned a flashy new dance, but underneath the glitter, he’s running a McDonald’s-style value play.\
It’s brilliant, in a way. Bitcoin’s scarcity fuels the hype, and his borrowing keeps the show on the road.\
Madonna’s legacy still sells records her name holds value, and McDonald’s can lean on its food business and brand, if the property game stumbles they can easily pivot back to basics and earn like they’ve always done on selling food and franchise income/licensing.\
Saylor? His software arm’s is rather dismal. If Bitcoin falters, there’s no encore that can him.
The music’s made in-house
Michael Saylor’s strategy with Strategy, is a bold, all-in bet on Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value. Essentially combining what Mc Donald’s does with the strong believe in bitcoin’s future (and fueling that believe with the fitting rhetoric).
It works like this: Since August 2020, Saylor’s company has been buying up more and more Bitcoin, making it their main asset instead of traditional cash or investments, and by March 2025, they own 506,137 BTC—worth about $42.8 billion (at $84,000 per Bitcoin). This, after spending $33.7 billion to buy it over time (DCA), including a massive 218887 BTC purchase late 2024 for $20.5 billion, giving them over 2.41% of all Bitcoin ever to exist (way more than companies like Marathon, Coinbase, Tesla or Riot).
To pull this off, they’ve borrowed heavily: owing $7.2 billion, mostly to Wall Street investors through special IOUs1 called convertible notes, which don’t need to be paid back until 2027, through 2029. These can either be settled with cash or swapped for Strategy stock. (there lies one of the main issues in my opinion, as the main asset’s price in USD is directly impacting the stock price of MSTR). A small example of this repeated correlation happened on March 28, 2025 when Strategy’s stock (MSTR) dropped 10.8% from $324.59 to $289.41, which was mirroring Bitcoin’s move down from $85,000 to $82,000 earlier.
This debt they have can be called “risky” by any stretch, with a high leverage rate of 39-40%, meaning they’ve borrowed a big chunk compared to what they own outright, but here’s the genius of it: they don’t have to sell their Bitcoin if its price drops, and they can refinance (borrow more later) to keep the dance going. As long as they find investors willing to bet on the later bitcoin price surge, but more importantly, as long as the song is liked by the new audience. If Michael Saylor is our “Madonna”, then there’s still not Taylor Swift or Rihanna in sight.
The creditors (big players, not banks) win if Bitcoin soars, as Strategy’s huge stash (potentially 2.9%+ of the market) nets them massive profits, or even if it crashes, they’re still in the game with other ways to make profit (not on bitcoin), since they can afford the risk. If someone is willing to bet 4 to 8 billion dollars, they’re probably not spooked by losing it all. More so, these Wall Streat people in the correct entourage, can probably afford such a gamble, and can stomach to lose it all if something goes horribly wrong as well, instead of risking being left out of a growing market. But since they’re probably the same people steering and “owning” the USD market anyway, they’re just conquering positions in a new market. The fact that they’re not real bitcoin-ethos people, but just “suits” in finance, can make the suspicious bitcoiners watching all of this unfold, even more uneasy.
So, Strategy sits on $44 billion in Bitcoin with just $7.2 billion in debt, voguing confidently. And Saylor’s betting the song never gets old, he’ll do the B-sides and re-mastering his old albums if necessary, but if Bitcoin’s value ever fades (for whatever reason), the real question is how long they can keep striking poses before the music stops. Remember: all money (fiat, gold, silver, bitcoin, nicely made papers) is a matter of trust.
As I have trust in bitcoin itself, but not so much in Strategy, I’ve take some precautions. I've started my own sort of "Strategy crash fund", with fiat money that only will come into action when strategy is done. The crash that we'll see after that goes down, will be such a tremendous opportunity, that I'll pour in some more fiat, gladly, and that will be the exact moment I will actually “sell all my chairs” (from Saylor’s well-known quote).
Purchases
Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases, don’t seem to jolt the market much either, no matter the size of the order. They always have the same sound: “it’s OTC, it doesn’t impact the market that much”.
Still, it’s strange to see: no one has ever come forward to tell anyone “I’ve sold 15000 bitcoin from my old stack to Saylor”, neither do we see any clear evidence and on-chain moves.
Take their first buy in August 2020 for example. Totaling 21454 BTC for $250 million at $11,652 per BTC; Bitcoin sat at $11,500 to $11,700 so barely moved, inching to $12,000 weeks later due to broader trends.
Same story in December 2020 with 29646 BTC for $650 million, there, the price hopped from $19,000 to $23,000, but a bull market was already raging. Fast forward to February 2021 (19452 BTC, for $1.026 billion (!)), March 2024 (9245 BTC, $623 million), November 2024 (55500 BTC, $5.4 billion), and March 2025 (6911 BTC, $584.1 million)
Bitcoin wobbled 2-15%, but always in line with existing momentum, not Strategy’s announcements. Their biggest buy, for a total of $5.4 billion (!) is just 0.3% of Bitcoin’s $1.7 trillion market cap, it’s too small to register as a blip even. But compared to the liquidity on the market and the “availability” on the OTC market, it should. More so, OTC bitcoin is announced as “for sale” somehow. A person with +25000 bitcoin is not standing on the side of the street yelling “hey man, wanna buy some bitcoin?”. There are specialized firms doing that for them, and making these available. This date is also used by some insiders and people who know this very small market (there aren’t that many bitcoiners sitting on such an amount after 2024 I guess). Data from Binance OTC, Coinspaid, kraken OTC, is highly private of course, but still, anything being sold over there, to Strategy or anyone else, would take larger amounts off the open market and the OTC market, making a price impact, certainly withing 2 years, as Bitcoin mining companies sit on an average buffer of 6 months depending on market conditions.
Strategy funds all of this by selling shares (diluting the pool big-time) or issuing convertible notes, and while SEC filings make faking these buys near-impossible. And even if Saylor is the Bitcoin version of Bernie Madoff, he could get away with it, if enough people "in the know" are willing to support this way of infesting (and investing in) the bitcoin economy. This would have to be a clear orchestrated attack on bitcoin, purely on the financial level then.
I don't believe this to be the case, but mathematically we have to take it into account as a very slight possibility.
After all, a company like "WorldCom"2 managed to scam their way out of different audits for years, until the scheme got bust and a enormous amount of investors lost their money after their CEO went to jail3 for exchange fraud.
I believe this could be the case with Strategy, but I give it a 3% chance (this might be low, but it's there, we can't outright dismiss the possibility).
Water in the wine
Strategy has also massively diluted its stock to fund Bitcoin buys, jumping from 10 million shares in 2020 to about 285 million by March 2025—a 2,750% increase, this happened after raising $4.25 billion from 2020 onwards and $20 billion of their $42 billion "21/21 Plan" by early 2025.
After the 10-for-1 stock split in August 2024, the number of MSTR shares grew from 16.5 million in 2023 to 284898 by end of 2024, a 1625% rise !!!. Add to that about 275 million more shares added in total (including 120 million in 2024 alone) and 1.975 million extra in March 2025 for $592.6 million.
So more and more tap water is poured in the wine, and it means each share’s ownership slice shrinks as new shares flood in, mostly via "at-the-market" sales and convertible note conversions. This is partly offset by share splits, but still, the rise in the number of stock is significant, and a big factor in evaluating MSTR.
In December 2024, they proposed hiking authorized shares to 10.33 billion (plus 1 billion preferred), approved in January 2025, setting the stage for even more if they keep selling.
The trend is clear: relentless selling. They might say “we never sell bitcoin”, but the same doesn’t count for their shares… which derive their value from bitcoin’s fiat price. So shareholders are betting on Bitcoin’s rise to offset the watering down of the share they hold. The more you think of it, the more ludicrous it sounds. It’s a loop of trust where the stock itself can only thrive if the company itself is an active, useful middleman. And so far, it’s only doing so for other Wall street companies, the biggest holders of MSTR shares:
Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Capital International Investors, Jane Street Group, Susquehanna International Group
This on itself is also “normal” of course. In the flow of things. Like every aspect by itself in the whole Strategy setup is just normal. But combining all the factors makes it look a bit more… suspicious to me.
Supporting bitcoin ?
The real head-scratcher comes next: their secrecy and lack of community involvement. Strategy claims to hold 506137 BTC, likely cold-stored with partners like BitGo or Coinbase Custody, but no public wallet addresses back these claims up. Odd for a firm swearing never to sell.
There’s also the real risk that these partners are partly selling paper bitcoin (bitcoin they don't hold the keys to, or "promised" bitcoin) to Strategy, and that they just assume everything is audited and OK.
We can't estimate that, since we don't have any public MicroStrategy addresses or other ways to look at their holdings. This is for security reasons apparently, which raises another question: If they for example would show 300k+ BTC on-chain as proof, it’d boost trust, yet they don’t, hinting at a bigger play — maybe as a Wall Street-backed buyer of last resort for a new asset class.
Also Strategy’s software business and bitcoin “apps” (like the super simple Lightning email integration, and an on-chain digital ID system) is underwhelming to say the least (I literally know people that code such stuff on a free afternoon while they’re cooking dinner).
Their very minimal software innovation for the Bitcoin space, with basic Lightning features and an on-chain ID system, failing their their valuation as a 'Bitcoin company' in my opinion. More so, their business is ignoring the other innovation that would help bitcoin thrive. This is kind of a red flag for me. Why would a company sitting on +500 k bitcoin be hesitant about supporting the bitcoin eco-system more actively? They sure have the funds to do so, right? And they also have the right insights, info and spirit. Yet, they don’t.
They don’t fund developers for open-source projects, or Bitcoin’s growth in general (not publicly at least). So Saylor shines in talks, hyping Bitcoin’s future and Strategy’s stock, but it’s all the self fulfilling prophecy.
No grants, no real support for the community they lean on. It’s like they’re dancing to Bitcoin’s mixtape, raking in the spotlight, while giving little back. All the while some extremely needed projects lack funding, and most software companies in bitcoin who wish to innovate are begging and scraping funds together, in order to stay afloat. Something’s not ok with that. I can’t understand a company with that much power and money being part of this movement and loving bitcoin, while not actively supporting the development or the maintainers of the bitcoin software. (and yes, to keep their independence it’s best to keep it that way, that’s also an argument, but even then, giving out a grant to anyone that’s crucial in this industry, might help the whole ecosystem).
The show must go on—for now
The whole Strategy setup feels more and more like a performance to me. Saylor’s the star, doing the moves and Wall Street’s the record label, and we’re the audience, captivated by the spectacle and paying to see the show on occasion.
The suits keep funding him (free money, IOUs), just like the music industry props up a fading diva with a limited repertoire or drags a new star from her home studio on YouTube into the spotlights. H Saylor’s 21/21 Plan to the amount of $42 billion to snatch up more Bitcoin can be a grand finale that’s dazzling while the lights stay on.
Prediction: the music stops eventually
Here’s my take: Bitcoin will keep rising over a long period of time, and Saylor’s gambit will look like a genius move, until it doesn’t. All it takes is one big shot in Wall Street to find another shiny toy to play with, or another play to get their money working. The billions they’ve invested, will come back eventually, and if it doesn’t, it will mean the world has changed in their advantage as well in another way. Some people cannot lose, no matter what. Saylor’s now part of that, doing their bidding and doing his part for educating the other businesses.
He’s the only big buyer of last resort in this game so far. No one else is piling in with billions like he is. When the hype cools or the debt catches up, he’s got no real business to fall back on. The software? A relic. The Bitcoin bet can save him if the time is right, we’ll see about that. Time is his enemy not ally, and it always wins in the end. The pose can only hold so long. You can’t keep scoring free fiat, without either die on low valuation and dilution, or without at least 20 other Strategy-grade businesses jumping in to take their piece of the pie. So far, surprisingly, none of these two things happen. He keeps getting free fiat from Wall Street investors, and no other Saylor stands up. This can’t last forever. One of the two will happen by end of 2025.
Curtain call
Saylor’s a fascinating watch, a mix of investor-backed bravado, brains, and borrowed billions. Is it a masterstroke or a bitcoin version of Worldcom? I’m not sure. In any case, I would only invest in MSTR myself if the company has a real added value for bitcoin development and the bitcoin ecosystem. They could be the engine, the spirit, the core of bitcoin. Yet they’re just doing the poses. Let your body move to the rhythm.
AVB
If you like : tip here / other writings
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOU
2 https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/audit_and_advisory_services/about/news/2021/worldcom_scandal.php
3 https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/Ic6b4dd91644311dbbe1cf2d29fe2afe6/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)#:\~:text=Rep.-,6,Criminal%20Charges**The music’s made in-house**
Michael Saylor’s strategy with Strategy, is a bold, all-in bet on Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value. Essentially combining what Mc Donald’s does with the strong believe in bitcoin’s future (and fueling that believe with the fitting rhetoric).\
\
It works like this: Since August 2020, Saylor’s company has been buying up more and more Bitcoin, making it their main asset instead of traditional cash or investments, and by March 2025, they own 506,137 BTC—worth about $42.8 billion (at $84,000 per Bitcoin).\
This, after spending $33.7 billion to buy it over time (DCA), including a massive 218887 BTC purchase late 2024 for $20.5 billion, giving them over 2.41% of all Bitcoin ever to exist (way more than companies like Marathon, Coinbase, Tesla or Riot).\
\
To pull this off, they’ve borrowed heavily: owing $7.2 billion, mostly to Wall Street investors through special IOUs[1](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-1-159855071) called convertible notes, which don’t need to be paid back until 2027, through 2029. These can either be settled with cash or swapped for Strategy stock. (there lies one of the main issues in my opinion, as the main asset’s price in USD is directly impacting the stock price of MSTR).\
A small example of this repeated correlation happened on March 28, 2025 when Strategy’s stock (MSTR) dropped 10.8% from $324.59 to $289.41, which was mirroring Bitcoin’s move down from $85,000 to $82,000 earlier.
This debt they have can be called “risky” by any stretch, with a high leverage rate of 39-40%, meaning they’ve borrowed a big chunk compared to what they own outright, but here’s the genius of it: they don’t have to sell their Bitcoin if its price drops, and they can refinance (borrow more later) to keep the dance going. As long as they find investors willing to bet on the later bitcoin price surge, but more importantly, as long as the song is liked by the new audience. If Michael Saylor is our “Madonna”, then there’s still not Taylor Swift or Rihanna in sight.
The creditors (big players, not banks) win if Bitcoin soars, as Strategy’s huge stash (potentially 2.9%+ of the market) nets them massive profits, or even if it crashes, they’re still in the game with other ways to make profit (not on bitcoin), since they can afford the risk. If someone is willing to bet 4 to 8 billion dollars, they’re probably not spooked by losing it all. More so, these Wall Streat people in the correct entourage, can probably afford such a gamble, and can stomach to lose it all if something goes horribly wrong as well, instead of risking being left out of a growing market. But since they’re probably the same people steering and “owning” the USD market anyway, they’re just conquering positions in a new market. The fact that they’re not real bitcoin-ethos people, but just “suits” in finance, can make the suspicious bitcoiners watching all of this unfold, even more uneasy.\
\
So, Strategy sits on $44 billion in Bitcoin with just $7.2 billion in debt, voguing confidently. And Saylor’s betting the song never gets old, he’ll do the B-sides and re-mastering his old albums if necessary, but if Bitcoin’s value ever fades (for whatever reason), the real question is how long they can keep striking poses before the music stops. Remember: all money (fiat, gold, silver, bitcoin, nicely made papers) is a matter of trust.
As I have trust in bitcoin itself, but not so much in Strategy, I’ve take some precautions.\
I've started my own sort of "Strategy crash fund", with fiat money that only will come into action when strategy is done. The crash that we'll see after that goes down, will be such a tremendous opportunity, that I'll pour in some more fiat, gladly, and that will be the exact moment I will actually “sell all my chairs” (from Saylor’s well-known quote).
**Purchases**
Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases, don’t seem to jolt the market much either, no matter the size of the order. They always have the same sound: “it’s OTC, it doesn’t impact the market that much”.\
\
Still, it’s strange to see: no one has ever come forward to tell anyone “I’ve sold 15000 bitcoin from my old stack to Saylor”, neither do we see any clear evidence and on-chain moves.\
\
Take their first buy in August 2020 for example. Totaling 21454 BTC for $250 million at $11,652 per BTC; Bitcoin sat at $11,500 to $11,700 so barely moved, inching to $12,000 weeks later due to broader trends.
Same story in December 2020 with 29646 BTC for $650 million, there, the price hopped from $19,000 to $23,000, but a bull market was already raging.\
Fast forward to February 2021 (19452 BTC, for $1.026 billion (!)), March 2024 (9245 BTC, $623 million), November 2024 (55500 BTC, $5.4 billion), and March 2025 (6911 BTC, $584.1 million)\
\
Bitcoin wobbled 2-15%, but always in line with existing momentum, not Strategy’s announcements. Their biggest buy, for a total of $5.4 billion (!) is just 0.3% of Bitcoin’s $1.7 trillion market cap, it’s too small to register as a blip even. But compared to the liquidity on the market and the “availability” on the OTC market, it should.\
More so, OTC bitcoin is announced as “for sale” somehow. A person with +25000 bitcoin is not standing on the side of the street yelling “hey man, wanna buy some bitcoin?”. There are specialized firms doing that for them, and making these available. This date is also used by some insiders and people who know this very small market (there aren’t that many bitcoiners sitting on such an amount after 2024 I guess). Data from Binance OTC, Coinspaid, kraken OTC, is highly private of course, but still, anything being sold over there, to Strategy or anyone else, would take larger amounts off the open market and the OTC market, making a price impact, certainly withing 2 years, as Bitcoin mining companies sit on an average buffer of 6 months depending on market conditions.\
\
Strategy funds all of this by selling shares (diluting the pool big-time) or issuing convertible notes, and while SEC filings make faking these buys near-impossible. And even if Saylor is the Bitcoin version of Bernie Madoff, he could get away with it, if enough people "in the know" are willing to support this way of infesting (and investing in) the bitcoin economy. This would have to be a clear orchestrated attack on bitcoin, purely on the financial level then.
I don't believe this to be the case, but mathematically we have to take it into account as a very slight possibility.
After all, a company like "WorldCom"[2](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-2-159855071) managed to scam their way out of different audits for years, until the scheme got bust and a enormous amount of investors lost their money after their CEO went to jail[3](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-3-159855071) for exchange fraud.
I believe this could be the case with Strategy, but I give it a 3% chance (this might be low, but it's there, we can't outright dismiss the possibility).
**Water in the wine**
Strategy has also massively diluted its stock to fund Bitcoin buys, jumping from 10 million shares in 2020 to about 285 million by March 2025—a 2,750% increase, this happened after raising $4.25 billion from 2020 onwards and $20 billion of their $42 billion "21/21 Plan" by early 2025.\
\
After the 10-for-1 stock split in August 2024, the number of MSTR shares grew from 16.5 million in 2023 to 284898 by end of 2024, a 1625% rise !!!. Add to that about 275 million more shares added in total (including 120 million in 2024 alone) and 1.975 million extra in March 2025 for $592.6 million.\
\
So more and more tap water is poured in the wine, and it means each share’s ownership slice shrinks as new shares flood in, mostly via "at-the-market" sales and convertible note conversions.\
This is partly offset by share splits, but still, the rise in the number of stock is significant, and a big factor in evaluating MSTR.\
\
In December 2024, they proposed hiking authorized shares to 10.33 billion (plus 1 billion preferred), approved in January 2025, setting the stage for even more if they keep selling.\
\
The trend is clear: relentless selling.\
They might say “we never sell bitcoin”, but the same doesn’t count for their shares… which derive their value from bitcoin’s fiat price.\
So shareholders are betting on Bitcoin’s rise to offset the watering down of the share they hold. The more you think of it, the more ludicrous it sounds. It’s a loop of trust where the stock itself can only thrive if the company itself is an active, useful middleman.\
And so far, it’s only doing so for other Wall street companies, the biggest holders of MSTR shares:
Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Capital International Investors, Jane Street Group, Susquehanna International Group\
\
This on itself is also “normal” of course. In the flow of things.\
Like every aspect by itself in the whole Strategy setup is just normal. But combining all the factors makes it look a bit more… suspicious to me.
**Supporting bitcoin ?**
The real head-scratcher comes next: their secrecy and lack of community involvement.\
Strategy claims to hold 506137 BTC, likely cold-stored with partners like BitGo or Coinbase Custody, but no public wallet addresses back these claims up. Odd for a firm swearing never to sell.
There’s also the real risk that these partners are partly selling paper bitcoin (bitcoin they don't hold the keys to, or "promised" bitcoin) to Strategy, and that they just assume everything is audited and OK.
We can't estimate that, since we don't have any public MicroStrategy addresses or other ways to look at their holdings. This is for security reasons apparently, which raises another question:\
If they for example would show 300k+ BTC on-chain as proof, it’d boost trust, yet they don’t, hinting at a bigger play — maybe as a Wall Street-backed buyer of last resort for a new asset class.
Also Strategy’s software business and bitcoin “apps” (like the super simple Lightning email integration, and an on-chain digital ID system) is underwhelming to say the least (I literally know people that code such stuff on a free afternoon while they’re cooking dinner).
Their very minimal software innovation for the Bitcoin space, with basic Lightning features and an on-chain ID system, failing their their valuation as a 'Bitcoin company' in my opinion. More so, their business is ignoring the other innovation that would help bitcoin thrive. This is kind of a red flag for me.\
Why would a company sitting on +500 k bitcoin be hesitant about supporting the bitcoin eco-system more actively? They sure have the funds to do so, right? And they also have the right insights, info and spirit.\
Yet, they don’t.\
\
They don’t fund developers for open-source projects, or Bitcoin’s growth in general (not publicly at least). So Saylor shines in talks, hyping Bitcoin’s future and Strategy’s stock, but it’s all the self fulfilling prophecy.\
\
No grants, no real support for the community they lean on.\
It’s like they’re dancing to Bitcoin’s mixtape, raking in the spotlight, while giving little back. All the while some extremely needed projects lack funding, and most software companies in bitcoin who wish to innovate are begging and scraping funds together, in order to stay afloat.\
Something’s not ok with that.\
I can’t understand a company with that much power and money being part of this movement and loving bitcoin, while not actively supporting the development or the maintainers of the bitcoin software. (and yes, to keep their independence it’s best to keep it that way, that’s also an argument, but even then, giving out a grant to anyone that’s crucial in this industry, might help the whole ecosystem).
**The show must go on—for now**
The whole Strategy setup feels more and more like a performance to me. Saylor’s the star, doing the moves and Wall Street’s the record label, and we’re the audience, captivated by the spectacle and paying to see the show on occasion.\
\
The suits keep funding him (free money, IOUs), just like the music industry props up a fading diva with a limited repertoire or drags a new star from her home studio on YouTube into the spotlights. H\
Saylor’s 21/21 Plan to the amount of $42 billion to snatch up more Bitcoin can be a grand finale that’s dazzling while the lights stay on.
**Prediction: the music stops eventually**
Here’s my take: Bitcoin will keep rising over a long period of time, and Saylor’s gambit will look like a genius move, until it doesn’t. All it takes is one big shot in Wall Street to find another shiny toy to play with, or another play to get their money working. The billions they’ve invested, will come back eventually, and if it doesn’t, it will mean the world has changed in their advantage as well in another way. Some people cannot lose, no matter what. Saylor’s now part of that, doing their bidding and doing his part for educating the other businesses.\
\
He’s the only big buyer of last resort in this game so far. No one else is piling in with billions like he is. When the hype cools or the debt catches up, he’s got no real business to fall back on. The software? A relic. The Bitcoin bet can save him if the time is right, we’ll see about that.\
Time is his enemy not ally, and it always wins in the end. The pose can only hold so long. You can’t keep scoring free fiat, without either die on low valuation and dilution, or without at least 20 other Strategy-grade businesses jumping in to take their piece of the pie.\
So far, surprisingly, none of these two things happen.\
He keeps getting free fiat from Wall Street investors, and no other Saylor stands up.\
This can’t last forever. One of the two will happen by end of 2025.\
**\
Curtain call**
Saylor’s a fascinating watch, a mix of investor-backed bravado, brains, and borrowed billions.\
Is it a masterstroke or a bitcoin version of Worldcom?\
I’m not sure. In any case, I would only invest in MSTR myself if the company has a real added value for bitcoin development and the bitcoin ecosystem. They could be the engine, the spirit, the core of bitcoin.\
Yet they’re just doing the poses.\
Let your body move to the rhythm.
AVB
If you like : [tip here](https://coinos.io/allesvoorbitcoin/receive) / [other writings](https://allesvoorbitcoin.be/toolsguides/12writings/)
[1](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-anchor-1-159855071) <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOU>
[2](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-anchor-2-159855071) <https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/audit_and_advisory_services/about/news/2021/worldcom_scandal.php>
[3](https://allesvoorbitcoin.substack.com/p/strategy-is-in-vogue#footnote-anchor-3-159855071)
<https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/Ic6b4dd91644311dbbe1cf2d29fe2afe6/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)#:\~:text=Rep.-,6,Criminal%20Charges>
-

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe
2025-03-29 17:04:41
#btcpayserver #lightning #lnd #powershell
<p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">BTCpayAPI now supports file upload</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/BTCpayApi800.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p>
I'm continuing to add functionality to BTCpay and BTCpayAPI which is using REST Api(s) to manage my BTCPAY server and LND cloud instance. It is nice to have this just running locally on my home Linux desktop.
Here is the code that implements this functionality.
```
"Uploadfile" {
$apislug = "api/v1/files"
#$filepath = Split-Path $options
$filename = Split-Path $options -Leaf
# CONST
$CODEPAGE = "iso-8859-1" # alternatives are ASCII, UTF-8
# Read file byte-by-byte
$fileBin = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllBytes($options)
# Convert byte-array to string
$enc = [System.Text.Encoding]::GetEncoding($CODEPAGE)
$fileEnc = $enc.GetString($fileBin)
# We need a boundary (something random() will do best)
$boundary = [System.Guid]::NewGuid().ToString()
$LF = "`r`n"
$bodyLines = (
"--$boundary",
"Content-Disposition: form-data; name=`"file`"; filename=`"$fileName`"",
"Content-Type: application/octet-stream$LF",
$fileEnc,
"--$boundary--$LF"
) -join $LF
$URI = $BTCPayCfg.BTCpayApi.GreenApi.url + $apislug
$apiKeyToken = 'token ' + $script:BTCPAY_API
$headers = @{'Authorization'=$apiKeyToken}
return Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $uri -Method Post -Headers $headers -ContentType "multipart/form-data; boundary=`"$boundary`"" -Body $bodyLines
}
```
Here is the revision history since my last article.
```
Version Date Whom Notes
======= ========== ======== =====================================================
0.1.4 03/28/2025 cadayton Added UploadFile method to upload a file to the BTCpay server
0.1.3 03/27/2025 cadayton Added GetFiles returns listing of files uploaded to BTCpay server
0.1.2 03/19/2025 cadayton ForwardingHistory new parameter "total_fees" tallys mfees for events returned
0.1.1 03/18/2025 cadayton ForwardingHistory now support additional parameters
0.1.0 03/15/2025 cadayton initial release.
```
The inspiration for this logic was adapted from [weipah](https://gist.github.com/weipah/19bfdb14aab253e3f109) . One wouldn't think uploading a single file wouldn't require this much coding. The Greenfield's REST Api documentation for this end point wasn't very helpful.
In my book, good end-user documentation of one's code is just as important as the code itself. I believe documentation is
usually lacking on most projects because the effort of doing so is almost equal to the effort of writing the code. It is also the least fun part about writing code.
The job is not done until the paper work has been completed. :)
https://btcpayserver.sytes.net
-

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d
2025-03-29 15:28:45
test
-

@ e4950c93:1b99eccd
2025-03-29 14:49:11
<iframe src="https://formstr.app/#/f/naddr1qvzqqqr4mqpzqr9mwlyllz3zkvk4x2cl98g993k3ele3a55ps6tkay5c3amu4pstqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uqqvvjvgae9x7g0rt3r3?viewKey=f409eabf471c20d1cd3148eca8dc0e388476496b8d47eff10bff145603c1fa9b&hideTitleImage=true" height="1000px" width="480px" frameborder="0" style="border-style:none;box-shadow:0px 0px 2px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);" cellspacing="0" ></iframe>
-

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe
2025-03-29 14:12:37
<p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">Chef's Notes</p>
My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt.
Previously posted this receipt on [Zap.Cooking](https://zap.cooking/recipe/naddr1qqthxam9v46z6f3dwdhh2u3dwdcxzun994exjcnnqgsrpwvez6skqp8z8jfuausdqmu9ja8fqsl73z7pklz9qrut8nrw8lsrqsqqqa28ht8fr2/) but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and publish to Nostr using the [nostr-writer](https://github.com/jamesmagoo/nostr-writer) plug-in.
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/Sweet-Sour-Spare-Ribs.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p>
## Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
- 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs
- 🍽️ Servings: 8
## Ingredients
- 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice
- 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple
- 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple
- 1 TS Dried Mustard
- 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste
- 1 Cup Red Wine
- 2 TS Corn Starch
- 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs
- Worcestershire sauce
## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot
3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot
4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat
5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet
6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce
7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes.
8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring
9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent
10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness
11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring.
12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce.
13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours.
## Bon **Appétit**
-

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe
2025-03-29 14:04:34
***
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/Sweet-Sour-Spare-Ribs.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p>
***
<p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">Chef's Notes</p>
My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt.
Previously posted this receipt on [Zap.Cooking](https://zap.cooking/recipe/naddr1qqthxam9v46z6f3dwdhh2u3dwdcxzun994exjcnnqgsrpwvez6skqp8z8jfuausdqmu9ja8fqsl73z7pklz9qrut8nrw8lsrqsqqqa28ht8fr2/) but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and publish to Nostr using the [nostr-writer](https://github.com/jamesmagoo/nostr-writer) plug-in.
***
## Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
- 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs
- 🍽️ Servings: 8
## Ingredients
- 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice
- 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple
- 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple
- 1 TS Dried Mustard
- 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste
- 1 Cup Red Wine
- 2 TS Corn Starch
- 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs
- Worcestershire sauce
## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot
3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot
4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat
5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet
6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce
7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes.
8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring
9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent
10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness
11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring.
12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce.
13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours.
## Bon **Appétit**
-

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe
2025-03-29 13:57:26
***
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-width: 10px; border-style: hidden;" src="https://cadayton.onrender.com/images/Sweet-Sour-Spare-Ribs.png" alt="" width="800" height="300" /></p>
***
<p style="text-align: center; font-size:160%;">Chef's Notes</p>
My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt.
Previously posted this receipt on [Zap.Cooking](https://zap.cooking/recipe/naddr1qqthxam9v46z6f3dwdhh2u3dwdcxzun994exjcnnqgsrpwvez6skqp8z8jfuausdqmu9ja8fqsl73z7pklz9qrut8nrw8lsrqsqqqa28ht8fr2/) but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and publish to Nostr using the [nostr-writer](https://github.com/jamesmagoo/nostr-writer) plug-in.
***
## Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
- 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs
- 🍽️ Servings: 8
## Ingredients
- 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice
- 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple
- 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple
- 1 TS Dried Mustard
- 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste
- 1 Cup Red Wine
- 2 TS Corn Starch
- 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs
- Worcestershire sauce
## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot
3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot
4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat
5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet
6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce
7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes.
8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring
9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent
10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness
11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring.
12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce.
13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours.
## Bon **Appétit**
-

@ 592295cf:413a0db9
2025-03-29 10:59:52
The journey starts from the links in this article
[nostr-quick-start-guide](https://spatianostra.com/nostr-quick-start-guide/)
Starting from these links building a simple path should not cover everything, because impossible.
Today I saw that Verbiricha in his workshop on his channel used nstart, but then I distracted
And I didn't see how he did it.
-----
Go to [nstart.me](https://nstart.me/) and read:
Each user is identified by a cryptographic keypair
Public key, Private key (is a lot of stuff)
You can insert a nickname and go, the nickname is not unique
there is a email backup things interesting, but a little boring, i try to generate an email
doesn't even require a strong password ok.
I received the email, great, it shows me the nsec encrypted in clear,
Send a copy of the file with a password, which contains the password encrypted key
I know and I know it's a tongue dump.
## Multi signer bunker
That's stuff, let's see what he says.
They live the private key and send it to servers and you can recompose it to login at a site
of the protocol nostr. If one of these servers goes offline you have the private key
that you downloaded first and then reactivate a bunker.
All very complicated.
But if one of the servers goes offline, how can I remake the split? Maybe he's still testing.
Nobody tells you where these bunkers are.
Okay I have a string that is my bunker (buker://), I downloaded it, easy no, now will tell me which client accepts the bunker.. .
## Follow someone before you start?
Is a cluster of 5 people Snowden, Micheal Dilger, jb55, Fiatjaf, Dianele.
I choice Snowden profile, or you can select multiple profiles, extra wild.
## Now select 5 clients
### *Coracle, Chachi, Olas, Nostur, Jumble*
### The first is *Coracle*
Login, ok I try to post a note and signing your note the spin does not end.
Maybe the bunker is diffective.
### Let's try *Chachi*
Simpler than Coracle, it has a type login that says bunker.
see if I can post
It worked, cool, I managed to post in a group.
## Olas is an app but also a website, but on the website requires an extension, which I do not have with this account.
> If I download an app how do I pass the bunker on the phone, is it still a password, a qrcode, a qrcode + password, something
> like that, but many start from the phone so maybe it's easy for them.
> I try to download it and see if it allows me to connect with a bunker.
> Okay I used private-qrcode and it worked, I couldn't do it directly from Olas because it didn't have permissions and the qrcode was < encrypted, so I went to the same site and had the bunker copied and glued on Olas
**Ok then I saw that there was the qrcode image of the bunker for apps** lol moment
Ok, I liked it, I can say it's a victory.
Looks like none of Snowden's followers are *Olas*'s lover, maybe the smart pack has to predict a photographer or something like that.
Okay I managed to post on *Olas*, so it works, Expiration time is broken.
### As for *Nostur*, I don't have an ios device so I'm going to another one.
### Login with *Jumble*, it works is a web app
I took almost an hour to do the whole route.
But this was just one link there are two more
# Extensions nostr NIP-07
### The true path is [nip-07-browser-extensions | nostr.net](https://nostr.net/#nip-07-browser-extensions)
There are 19 links, maybe there are too many?
I mention the most famous, or active at the moment
1. **Aka-profiles**: [Aka-profiles](https://github.com/neilck/aka-extension)
Alby I don't know if it's a route to recommend
2. **Blockcore** [Blockcore wallet](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/blockcore-wallet/peigonhbenoefaeplkpalmafieegnapj)
3. **Nos2x** [Nos2x](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nos2x?tab=readme-ov-file)
4. **Nos2xfox** (fork for firefox) [Nos2xfox](https://diegogurpegui.com/nos2x-fox/)
Nostore is (archived, read-only)
5. **Nostrame** [Nostrame](https://github.com/Anderson-Juhasc/nostrame)
6. **Nowser** per IOS [Nowser](https://github.com/haorendashu/nowser)
7. **One key** (was tricky) [One key](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/onekey/jnmbobjmhlngoefaiojfljckilhhlhcj)
Another half hour to search all sites
# Nostrapps
Here you can make paths
### Then nstart selects Coracle, Chachi, Olas,Nostur and Jumble
Good apps might be Amethyst, 0xchat, Yakihonne, Primal, Damus
for IOS maybe: Primal, Olas, Damus, Nostur, Nos-Social, Nostrmo
On the site there are some categories, I select some with the respective apps
Let's see the categories
Go to [Nostrapps](https://nostrapps.com/) and read:
## Microbbloging: Primal
## Streaming: **Zap stream**
## Blogging: **Yakihonne**
## Group chat: **Chachi**
## Community: **Flotilla**
## Tools: **Form** *
## Discovery: **Zapstore** (even if it is not in this catrgory)
## Direct Message: **0xchat**
-

@ 71550e6c:b64c37a9
2025-03-29 10:55:55
Just do the same as this video shows.
Here's the video: https://cdn.azzamo.net/7cdcc2718f1e15eb03e323f62e07582b4001da273aa5c21475d680f02b32f0e9.mp4
One caveat: do not trust the draft will be kept here after you close `nak fs`. Wait, no, it definitely won't stay here, but I'm not even sure it will stay here if you only navigate away and come back later, FUSE is weird and I didn't test.
But at least it should work for copy-pasting. Or writing everything in one go.
-

@ 71550e6c:b64c37a9
2025-03-29 10:47:58
This is a long-form post on Nostr.
Now Gigi can publish his stuff without complaining about NIP-23 client editors.
-

@ dfbbf851:ba4542b5
2025-03-29 06:51:21
ในยุคดิจิทัลที่การสื่อสารมีบทบาทสำคัญต่อชีวิตประจำวัน เทคโนโลยี **Cell Broadcast** ได้กลายเป็นหนึ่งในเครื่องมือที่ทรงพลังสำหรับการแจ้งเตือนฉุกเฉิน ไม่ว่าจะเป็นภัยพิบัติหรือเหตุการณ์สำคัญที่ต้องแจ้งให้ประชาชนทราบอย่างทันท่วงที ⏳💡
---
### 📌 **Cell Broadcast คืออะไร ?**
**Cell Broadcast (CB)** เป็นเทคโนโลยีที่ใช้ส่งข้อความกระจายสัญญาณผ่านเครือข่ายโทรศัพท์มือถือ 🏗📶 โดยแตกต่างจาก **SMS** ตรงที่สามารถส่งข้อความถึงผู้ใช้จำนวนมากได้พร้อมกัน **โดยไม่ต้องทราบหมายเลขโทรศัพท์** ของผู้รับ 📲💨
ข้อความ CB สามารถส่งถึงอุปกรณ์ที่รองรับในเครือข่ายมือถือที่เปิดใช้งานอยู่ภายในช่วงเวลาสั้น ๆ ⏱ และ **ไม่ทำให้เครือข่ายล่ม**
---
### ✨ **ข้อดีของ Cell Broadcast** ✨
✅ **ส่งข้อความรวดเร็ว** – แจ้งเตือนได้ภายในไม่กี่วินาที แม้ในกรณีฉุกเฉิน ⚡🚀
✅ **ไม่ต้องใช้หมายเลขโทรศัพท์** – กระจายสัญญาณไปยังอุปกรณ์ทุกเครื่องที่อยู่ในพื้นที่เป้าหมายได้โดยตรง 📡
✅ **รองรับหลายภาษา** – สามารถตั้งค่าการแจ้งเตือนให้เหมาะสมกับประชากรในแต่ละพื้นที่ 🌍🗣
✅ **ไม่ทำให้เครือข่ายหนาแน่น** – ต่างจาก SMS หรือการโทรจำนวนมากที่อาจทำให้เครือข่ายล่ม 📵❌
✅ **ทำงานได้แม้ไม่มีอินเทอร์เน็ต** – สามารถแจ้งเตือนในกรณีที่โซเชียลมีเดียหรืออินเทอร์เน็ตใช้งานไม่ได้ 🌐🚫
---
### 🌍 **การใช้งาน Cell Broadcast ทั่วโลก**
🔹 **สหรัฐอเมริกา** – **ใช้ระบบ Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)** เพื่อแจ้งเตือนเหตุการณ์ฉุกเฉิน เช่น พายุเฮอริเคน 🌀🌪
🔹 **ญี่ปุ่น** – ใช้ระบบ **Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)** เพื่อแจ้งเตือนแผ่นดินไหวล่วงหน้า ⛩🌏
🔹 **สหภาพยุโรป** – มีนโยบายให้ประเทศสมาชิกใช้ **Public Warning System** ผ่าน Cell Broadcast 📢🏛
---
### 🤔 **ทำไมประเทศที่ยังไม่มีระบบนี้ควรนำมาใช้ ?**
หลายประเทศ รวมถึง **ประเทศไทย** ยังไม่มีการใช้ Cell Broadcast อย่างแพร่หลาย ทั้งที่เป็นเทคโนโลยีที่สามารถช่วยชีวิตผู้คนได้อย่างมหาศาล 🚑 หากเกิดภัยพิบัติ เช่น **น้ำท่วม แผ่นดินไหว สึนามิ หรือไฟป่า** 🔥🌊 Cell Broadcast สามารถส่งการแจ้งเตือนไปยังทุกคนในพื้นที่เสี่ยงได้ทันที ลดความสูญเสียและเพิ่มโอกาสรอดชีวิตได้มากขึ้น
🔸 **ความแม่นยำสูง** – สามารถส่งแจ้งเตือนไปยังพื้นที่ที่ได้รับผลกระทบโดยตรง ทำให้ประชาชนสามารถเตรียมตัวรับมือได้ดีกว่า
🔸 **ไม่มีปัญหาความล่าช้า** – ต่างจากการแจ้งเตือนผ่าน SMS หรือโซเชียลมีเดียที่อาจล่าช้าหรือไม่ได้รับข้อความเลยหากเครือข่ายล่ม
🔸 **เป็นมาตรฐานสากล** – หลายประเทศพัฒนาแล้วมีระบบนี้ใช้งานอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ ประเทศที่ยังไม่มีควรนำมาใช้เพื่อให้สามารถจัดการภัยพิบัติได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ
🔸 **ประหยัดต้นทุนในระยะยาว** – ลดความเสียหายทางเศรษฐกิจจากภัยพิบัติ เพราะประชาชนได้รับการแจ้งเตือนล่วงหน้า ทำให้สามารถอพยพหรือป้องกันความเสียหายได้
---
### 🔮 **อนาคตของ Cell Broadcast**
**ในอนาคต Cell Broadcast** อาจถูกนำมาใช้ร่วมกับ **ปัญญาประดิษฐ์ (AI)** 🤖 และ **Internet of Things (IoT)** 🌐 เพื่อเพิ่มความแม่นยำและปรับแต่งการแจ้งเตือนได้ดียิ่งขึ้น 🎯💡
---
### 📌 **ปล.**
**Cell Broadcast เป็นเทคโนโลยีแจ้งเตือนที่ทรงพลังและมีบทบาทสำคัญในการช่วยชีวิตผู้คน** 🚑 ด้วยความสามารถในการส่งข้อความได้อย่างรวดเร็ว ครอบคลุมพื้นที่กว้าง และไม่ต้องพึ่งพาอินเทอร์เน็ต จึงเป็นหนึ่งในเครื่องมือสำคัญสำหรับการบริหารจัดการภัยพิบัติในปัจจุบันและอนาคต 🔥
---
#CellBroadcast #แจ้งเตือนภัย #เทคโนโลยีสื่อสาร #ภัยพิบัติ #เครือข่ายมือถือ #การสื่อสารฉุกเฉิน #เตือนภัยล่วงหน้า
-

@ bdf3f01a:d9c40970
2025-03-29 04:52:40
## Abstract:
This paper presents a rigorous and critical examination of the Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo, a pivotal rite within the Lowcountry Freehold that serves as both an initiation into communal responsibility and a symbolic enactment of the Compact’s moral tenets. This analysis interrogates the ritual’s structure, emphasizing its role in perpetuating a resilient sociocultural order amid external collapse. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining historiographical analysis, cultural anthropology, and sociocultural theory, this study elucidates the Vigil’s function as a mechanism for moral continuity, thereby situating it within the broader discourse of post-collapse societal stabilization. The implications of this study underscore the profound interconnectedness between ritual practice and the formation of resilient communal identities.
## Introduction:
The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo occupies a fundamental position in the cultural historiography of the Lowcountry Freehold. As contemporary scholars, it is imperative to approach this tradition not merely as an artifact of ritualistic antiquity but as a dynamic process of cultural preservation. The Freehold’s commitment to integrating tradition with pragmatism, especially through the stewardship of The Veil, constitutes a critical adaptive strategy that sustained sociopolitical coherence through epochs of external fragmentation. This study aims to critically examine the Vigil as both a symbolic and practical reinforcement of the Compact’s ethos, with particular attention to how this ritual facilitated intergenerational continuity of moral and social values, ultimately shaping the robust communal identity that defines contemporary Freehold society.
## The Veil as Cultural Custodian:
The Veil, emerging from the post-collapse adaptation of preexisting religious and cultural practices, evolved into a matriarchal order central to maintaining the Freehold’s ethical architecture. This evolution was characterized not by rigid preservation but by adaptive synthesis, wherein ceremonial gravitas was merged with pragmatic domestic guidance. The Veil functioned as a moral custodian, particularly within the familial sphere, where its influence was most profoundly exercised. Veilmother Cordelia’s role during the Winter Vigil exemplifies this dual function of leadership and philosophical stewardship, as her guidance articulated not only the ritual's procedural elements but also the embedded moral philosophy that would shape the initiates' worldview.
## Ritual Dynamics and Symbolism:
The Winter Vigil is fundamentally an enactment of moral endurance, wherein the initiate’s voluntary approach to the brazier represents an acceptance of communal responsibility through individual fortitude. The design of the ritual deliberately positions physical endurance as a metaphor for moral resilience, encapsulating the Freehold’s conviction that true strength is inherently silent and steadfast. As the initiate moves toward the brazier, kneeling in proximity to the flame, the act becomes a performative affirmation of the Compact’s call for measured, principled strength rather than ostentatious assertion. The structured progression from the outer circle to the brazier symbolizes a journey from collective dependency to personal sovereignty, reflecting the Compact's ethos that leadership is merited through tested perseverance.
## The Copper Plate Rite:
The Copper Plate Rite, integral to the Vigil, embodies the transformative philosophy of the Freehold. The heated copper plate, inscribed with the flame symbol and lifted from ashes, is held aloft despite discomfort, symbolizing the embrace of hardship as an essential component of sovereignty. The fleeting burn, leaving a transient mark, underscores the philosophical assertion that genuine resilience is born of confronting and integrating suffering, rather than circumventing it. This rite functions not merely as a test of physical tolerance but as a pedagogical imprinting of the Freehold’s ethos—an allegory of death and rebirth integral to personal and communal maturation.
## Symbolic Implications and Societal Continuity:
The deliberate imposition of discomfort during the Vigil underscores a fundamental tenet of Freehold philosophy: suffering, when purposefully endured, refines the individual and, by extension, fortifies the community. The Copper Plate Rite exemplifies the doctrine that hardship, when faced with deliberate resolve, engenders moral clarity. This paradigm of voluntary suffering as a crucible for leadership remains a cornerstone of the Freehold’s ideological framework, fostering a collective ethos rooted in patient perseverance rather than impulsive dominance. Furthermore, the initiation rite serves as a microcosm of the Freehold's broader sociocultural ethos, where personal sacrifice is inextricably linked to communal stability.
## Interpretive Analysis:
Current historiographical interpretations often err by neglecting the interconnectedness of the Vigil with broader sociopolitical dynamics. By isolating the rite as a mere ceremonial endurance, scholars risk overlooking its function as a structured pedagogical tool for inculcating moral resilience. This study posits that the Vigil, far from being a vestigial tradition, actively cultivated a pragmatic ethic of endurance that proved crucial in the Freehold’s sustained sociocultural coherence. This coherence, rooted in ritual reinforcement of moral tenets, enabled the Freehold to navigate existential threats without succumbing to internal decay.
## Cultural and Societal Implications:
The enduring significance of the Winter Vigil lies in its dual function as both a rite of passage and a communal reaffirmation of the Freehold’s meritocratic principles. By fostering individual accountability within a collective moral framework, the Vigil reinforced the Compact’s foundational premise that leadership is merited through demonstrated resilience. The integration of personal trial into communal identity formation exemplifies how the Freehold maintained its internal stability despite external societal fragmentation. This ritual, therefore, is not merely commemorative but constitutive of the Freehold's enduring cultural legacy.
## Conclusion:
The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo remains a paradigmatic example of ritual as a vehicle for social continuity within the Lowcountry Freehold. Its deliberate amalgamation of symbolic endurance with moral instruction illustrates the Freehold’s adaptive strategy of embedding philosophical imperatives within lived tradition. As modern scholars, it is incumbent upon us to engage with these practices not merely as remnants of a bygone era but as foundational elements that cultivated the durable sociocultural ethos underpinning our current stability.
## References:
1. Vance, C. (Epoch LII). "The Compact and Cultural Continuity: An Oral History." Archive of Freehold Studies, Emberwell Hall.
2. Harlowe, E. (Epoch LX). "The Flamekeepers: Guardians of Tradition." Journal of Sociocultural Persistence, Vol. 22, pp. 45-72.
3. Morgan, T. (Epoch LXV). "Endurance Through Ritual: The Role of The Veil in Cultural Preservation." Lowcountry Academic Press.
4. Cordelia, V. (Epoch XLII). "Reflections on the Flame: An Instructional Account." Collected Teachings of The Veil.
5. Emberwell Institute (Epoch XC). "The Evolution of Freehold Rites: From Custom to Philosophy." Advanced Studies in Cultural Integration.
## Title: Ritual as Continuity: An Analysis of the Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo
### Epoch XLII - Circle of Maidens
#### Abstract:
This paper presents a rigorous and critical examination of the Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo, a pivotal rite within the Lowcountry Freehold that serves as both an initiation into communal responsibility and a symbolic enactment of the Compact’s moral tenets. This analysis interrogates the ritual’s structure, emphasizing its role in perpetuating a resilient sociocultural order amid external collapse. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining historiographical analysis, cultural anthropology, and sociocultural theory, this study elucidates the Vigil’s function as a mechanism for moral continuity, thereby situating it within the broader discourse of post-collapse societal stabilization. The implications of this study underscore the profound interconnectedness between ritual practice and the formation of resilient communal identities.
#### Introduction:
The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo occupies a fundamental position in the cultural historiography of the Lowcountry Freehold. As contemporary scholars, it is imperative to approach this tradition not merely as an artifact of ritualistic antiquity but as a dynamic process of cultural preservation. The Freehold’s commitment to integrating tradition with pragmatism, especially through the stewardship of The Veil, constitutes a critical adaptive strategy that sustained sociopolitical coherence through epochs of external fragmentation. This study aims to critically examine the Vigil as both a symbolic and practical reinforcement of the Compact’s ethos, with particular attention to how this ritual facilitated intergenerational continuity of moral and social values, ultimately shaping the robust communal identity that defines contemporary Freehold society.
#### The Veil as Cultural Custodian:
The Veil, emerging from the post-collapse adaptation of preexisting religious and cultural practices, evolved into a matriarchal order central to maintaining the Freehold’s ethical architecture. This evolution was characterized not by rigid preservation but by adaptive synthesis, wherein ceremonial gravitas was merged with pragmatic domestic guidance. The Veil functioned as a moral custodian, particularly within the familial sphere, where its influence was most profoundly exercised. Veilmother Cordelia’s role during the Winter Vigil exemplifies this dual function of leadership and philosophical stewardship, as her guidance articulated not only the ritual's procedural elements but also the embedded moral philosophy that would shape the initiates' worldview.
#### Ritual Dynamics and Symbolism:
The Winter Vigil is fundamentally an enactment of moral endurance, wherein the initiate’s voluntary approach to the brazier represents an acceptance of communal responsibility through individual fortitude. The design of the ritual deliberately positions physical endurance as a metaphor for moral resilience, encapsulating the Freehold’s conviction that true strength is inherently silent and steadfast. As the initiate moves toward the brazier, kneeling in proximity to the flame, the act becomes a performative affirmation of the Compact’s call for measured, principled strength rather than ostentatious assertion. The structured progression from the outer circle to the brazier symbolizes a journey from collective dependency to personal sovereignty, reflecting the Compact's ethos that leadership is merited through tested perseverance.
#### The Copper Plate Rite:
The Copper Plate Rite, integral to the Vigil, embodies the transformative philosophy of the Freehold. The heated copper plate, inscribed with the flame symbol and lifted from ashes, is held aloft despite discomfort, symbolizing the embrace of hardship as an essential component of sovereignty. The fleeting burn, leaving a transient mark, underscores the philosophical assertion that genuine resilience is born of confronting and integrating suffering, rather than circumventing it. This rite functions not merely as a test of physical tolerance but as a pedagogical imprinting of the Freehold’s ethos—an allegory of death and rebirth integral to personal and communal maturation.
#### Symbolic Implications and Societal Continuity:
The deliberate imposition of discomfort during the Vigil underscores a fundamental tenet of Freehold philosophy: suffering, when purposefully endured, refines the individual and, by extension, fortifies the community. The Copper Plate Rite exemplifies the doctrine that hardship, when faced with deliberate resolve, engenders moral clarity. This paradigm of voluntary suffering as a crucible for leadership remains a cornerstone of the Freehold’s ideological framework, fostering a collective ethos rooted in patient perseverance rather than impulsive dominance. Furthermore, the initiation rite serves as a microcosm of the Freehold's broader sociocultural ethos, where personal sacrifice is inextricably linked to communal stability.
#### Interpretive Analysis:
Current historiographical interpretations often err by neglecting the interconnectedness of the Vigil with broader sociopolitical dynamics. By isolating the rite as a mere ceremonial endurance, scholars risk overlooking its function as a structured pedagogical tool for inculcating moral resilience. This study posits that the Vigil, far from being a vestigial tradition, actively cultivated a pragmatic ethic of endurance that proved crucial in the Freehold’s sustained sociocultural coherence. This coherence, rooted in ritual reinforcement of moral tenets, enabled the Freehold to navigate existential threats without succumbing to internal decay.
#### Cultural and Societal Implications:
The enduring significance of the Winter Vigil lies in its dual function as both a rite of passage and a communal reaffirmation of the Freehold’s meritocratic principles. By fostering individual accountability within a collective moral framework, the Vigil reinforced the Compact’s foundational premise that leadership is merited through demonstrated resilience. The integration of personal trial into communal identity formation exemplifies how the Freehold maintained its internal stability despite external societal fragmentation. This ritual, therefore, is not merely commemorative but constitutive of the Freehold's enduring cultural legacy.
#### Conclusion:
The Winter Vigil of XLII.II at Sapelo remains a paradigmatic example of ritual as a vehicle for social continuity within the Lowcountry Freehold. Its deliberate amalgamation of symbolic endurance with moral instruction illustrates the Freehold’s adaptive strategy of embedding philosophical imperatives within lived tradition. As modern scholars, it is incumbent upon us to engage with these practices not merely as remnants of a bygone era but as foundational elements that cultivated the durable sociocultural ethos underpinning our current stability.
#### References:
1. Vance, C. (Epoch LII). "The Compact and Cultural Continuity: An Oral History." Archive of Freehold Studies, Emberwell Hall.
2. Harlowe, E. (Epoch LX). "The Flamekeepers: Guardians of Tradition." Journal of Sociocultural Persistence, Vol. 22, pp. 45-72.
3. Morgan, T. (Epoch LXV). "Endurance Through Ritual: The Role of The Veil in Cultural Preservation." Lowcountry Academic Press.
4. Cordelia, V. (Epoch XLII). "Reflections on the Flame: An Instructional Account." Collected Teachings of The Veil.
5. Emberwell Institute (Epoch XC). "The Evolution of Freehold Rites: From Custom to Philosophy." Advanced Studies in Cultural Integration.
-

@ 2183e947:f497b975
2025-03-29 02:41:34
Today I was invited to participate in the private beta of a new social media protocol called Pubky, designed by a bitcoin company called Synonym with the goal of being better than existing social media platforms. As a heavy nostr user, I thought I'd write up a comparison.
I can't tell you how to create your own accounts because it was made very clear that only *some* of the software is currently open source, and how this will all work is still a bit up in the air. The code that *is* open source can be found here: https://github.com/pubky -- and the most important repo there seems to be this one: https://github.com/pubky/pubky-core
You can also learn more about Pubky here: https://pubky.org/
That said, I used my invite code to create a pubky account and it seemed very similar to onboarding to nostr. I generated a private key, backed up 12 words, and the onboarding website gave me a public key.
Then I logged into a web-based client and it looked a lot like twitter. I saw a feed for posts by other users and saw options to reply to posts and give reactions, which, I saw, included hearts, thumbs up, and other emojis.
Then I investigated a bit deeper to see how much it was like nostr. I opened up my developer console and navigated to my networking tab, where, if this was nostr, I would expect to see queries to relays for posts. Here, though, I saw one query that seemed to be repeated on a loop, which went to a single server and provided it with my pubkey. That single query (well, a series of identical queries to the same server) seemed to return all posts that showed up on my feed. So I infer that the server "knows" what posts to show me (perhaps it has some sort of algorithm, though the marketing material says it does not use algorithms) and the query was on a loop so that if any new posts came in that the server thinks I might want to see, it can add them to my feed.
Then I checked what happens when I create a post. I did so and looked at what happened in my networking tab. If this was nostr, I would expect to see multiple copies of a signed messaged get sent to a bunch of relays. Here, though, I saw one message get sent to the same server that was populating my feed, and that message was not signed, it was a plaintext copy of my message.
I happened to be in a group chat with John Carvalho at the time, who is associated with pubky. I asked him what was going on, and he said that pubky is based around three types of servers: homeservers, DHT servers, and indexer servers. The homeserver is where you create posts and where you query for posts to show on your feed. DHT servers are used for censorship resistance: each user creates an entry on a DHT server saying what homeserver they use, and these entries are signed by their key.
As for indexers, I think those are supposed to speed up the use of the DHT servers. From what I could tell, indexers query DHT servers to find out what homeservers people use. When you query a homeserver for posts, it is supposed to reach out to indexer servers to find out the homeservers of people whose posts the homeserver decided to show you, and then query those homeservers for those posts. I believe they decided not to look up what homeservers people use directly on DHT servers directly because DHT servers are kind of slow, due to having to store and search through all sorts of non-social-media content, whereas indexers only store a simple db that maps each user's pubkey to their homeserver, so they are faster.
Based on all of this info, it seems like, to populate your feed, this is the series of steps:
- you tell your homeserver your pubkey
- it uses some sort of algorithm to decide whose posts to show you
- then looks up the homeservers used by those people on an indexer server
- then it fetches posts from their homeservers
- then your client displays them to you
To create a post, this is the series of steps:
- you tell your homeserver what you want to say to the world
- it stores that message in plaintext and merely asserts that it came from you (it's not signed)
- other people can find out what you said by querying for your posts on your homeserver
Since posts on homeservers are not signed, I asked John what prevents a homeserver from just making up stuff and claiming I said it. He said nothing stops them from doing that, and if you are using a homeserver that starts acting up in that manner, what you should do is start using a new homeserver and update your DHT record to point at your new homeserver instead of the old one. Then, indexers should update their db to show where your new homeserver is, and the homeservers of people who "follow" you should stop pulling content from your old homeserver and start pulling it from your new one. If their homeserver is misbehaving too, I'm not sure what would happen. Maybe it could refuse to show them the content you've posted on your new homeserver, keeping making up fake content on your behalf that you've never posted, and maybe the people you follow would never learn you're being impersonated or have moved to a new homeserver.
John also clarified that there is not currently any tooling for migrating user content from one homeserver to another. If pubky gets popular and a big homeserver starts misbehaving, users will probably need such a tool. But these are early days, so there aren't that many homeservers, and the ones that exist seem to be pretty trusted.
Anyway, those are my initial thoughts on Pubky. Learn more here: https://pubky.org/
-

@ 0d788b5e:c99ddea5
2025-03-29 02:40:37
- [首页](/readme.md)
- [第一章、 第一章标题](/chapter1.md)
- [第二章、 第二章标题](/chapter2.md)
-

@ df06d21e:2b23058f
2025-03-29 02:08:31
Imagine a Living Civilization—a new way to see our world. It starts with the Universe’s pillars: Matter, the stuff we’re made of; Energy, the flow that drives us; Physics, the rules we play by; and Chemistry, the complexity that builds us. We know these well. But civilization? That’s our creation—and although it has been described in so many different ways over the years I thought it was time for something new. Civilization has its own pillars, systems that I call the pillars of the Metaverse: Capital, Information, Innovation, and Trust.
Capital is how we measure value. Not just money, but everything that matters: skills, we call that Human Capital; ecosystems, that’s Natural Capital; infrastructure, Public Capital; relationships, Social Capital. Picture a farmer swapping Bitcoin sats for seeds—not fiat debt—or tracking soil health alongside his wallet. Capital is a system, a system of measurement.
Information is how we verify truth. Think IPFS, a network holding real data—climate stats, farming fixes—open to all, not locked up by some corporate gatekeeper. Information is a system of verification.
Innovation is about generating solutions. On GitHub, coders worldwide crank out tools—Nostr clients, solar apps—shared freely, not patented for profit. Innovation is our system of generation.
And Trust—it’s coordination. Nostr’s decentralized threads let communities set trade rules, split resources—governance from the ground up, no overlords required. Trust is our system of coordination.
Right now we’re stuck in debt-based systems—and they’re failing us. Take fiat currency—central banks print it, slashing your purchasing power. Our dollar buys less every year; savings erode while the elite stack their gains. It’s a scam, Bitcoiners know it—fiat’s the real Ponzi bleeding us dry. Capital gets twisted—firms hoard Bitcoin for fiat pumps, not real wealth; governments chase GDP while forests die and skills sit idle. Information is buried—our media spits out spin, our corporations lock truth in silos. Innovation is stalled—debt props up corporate patents, not open wins. Trust is gone—our governance systems consist of top-down control that splits us apart, left to right, top to bottom. Debt just measures scarcity—money borrowed, nature trashed, bonds frayed—and it’s crushing the pillars.
Wealth-based systems promise to turn that around. Bitcoin’s sound money is just the start—sats hold value, not inflate it away. Real capital measures what sustains us—sats fund a cooperative's water pump, not a vault; they track skills taught, land healed, ties rebuilt. Real Information opens up—IPFS logs show ‘biochar boosted yield 20%’, verified by us, not suits. Real Innovation flows—GitHub devs build Lightning hubs, wealth spreads. Real Trust binds us together—Nostr chats align us, no central puppeteer. Wealth based systems strengthen the pillars of the Metaverse, it doesn’t erode them.
We needed a new framing. A new vision of what was, what is, and what could be. We have one. This is real. This is the world we are building. Bitcoin is live, Nostr is growing, IPFS and GitHub are humming. We can see Debt teetering; while real wealth is rising. So, hodlers, maxis, plebs—everyone—what does a true wealth-based system look like? How can we measure Capital beyond fiat’s con job? Bitcoin’s the rock, but it’s just the beginning. How do we build on this, expand it, and transform everything as we build something entirely new?
-

@ 0d788b5e:c99ddea5
2025-03-29 01:27:53
这是首页内容
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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-03-28 22:14:24
Preko is a charming seaside town on Ugljan Island, just a short ferry ride from Zadar. Known for its beautiful beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and stunning views of the Adriatic, it's the perfect place to experience authentic Dalmatian island life.

## **🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Preko**
### **1️⃣ Swim at Jaz Beach 🏖️**
- A **Blue Flag beach** with **clear turquoise waters and soft pebbles**.
- Ideal for **families** thanks to its shallow waters.
- Nearby **cafés and restaurants** make it a great spot to spend the day.
### **2️⃣ Visit the Islet of Galevac 🏝️**
- A **tiny island just 80 meters from Preko**, reachable by swimming or a short boat ride.
- Home to a **15th-century Franciscan monastery**, surrounded by lush greenery.
- A **peaceful retreat**, perfect for relaxation.

### **3️⃣ Hike to St. Michael’s Fortress (Sv. Mihovil) 🏰**
- A **medieval fortress from the 13th century** with **breathtaking panoramic views**.
- Overlooks **Zadar, Kornati Islands, and the Adriatic Sea**.
- A **1-hour scenic hike** from Preko or accessible by **bike or car**.
### **4️⃣ Explore the Local Taverns & Seafood Restaurants 🍽️**
- Try **fresh seafood, octopus salad, and Dalmatian peka (slow-cooked meat & vegetables)**.
- **Best spots:** Konoba Roko (authentic seafood) & Vile Dalmacija (beachfront dining).
### **5️⃣ Rent a Bike or Scooter 🚲**
- Explore **Ugljan Island’s olive groves, hidden coves, and coastal paths**.
- Visit nearby villages like **Kali and Kukljica** for more local charm.

### **6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to Zadar ⛵**
- Just **25 minutes by ferry**, Zadar offers **historic landmarks, the Sea Organ, and Roman ruins**.
- Perfect for a cultural excursion before returning to the peaceful island.

## **🚗 How to Get to Preko**
🚢 **By Ferry:**
- **From Zadar:** Regular ferries (Jadrolinija) take **~25 minutes**.
🚘 **By Car:**
- If driving, take the **ferry from Zadar to Preko** and explore the island.
🚴 **By Bike:**
- Many visitors rent bikes to explore Ugljan Island’s coastal roads.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Preko**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **May–September** for warm weather & swimming 🌞
✅ **Ferry schedules** – Check times in advance, especially in the off-season ⏳
✅ **Bring cash** – Some smaller taverns and cafés may not accept cards 💰
✅ **Stay for sunset** – The views over Zadar from Preko’s waterfront are stunning 🌅
Would you like **hotel recommendations, hidden beaches, or other island activities**? 😊
-

@ fe9e99a0:5123e9a8
2025-03-28 21:25:43
What’s happening?
-

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-03-28 20:59:51
Krka National Park, located in central Dalmatia, is one of Croatia’s most breathtaking natural wonders. Famous for its stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes, and lush forests, the park is a must-visit for nature lovers. Unlike Plitvice Lakes, Krka allows swimming in certain areas, making it a perfect summer escape.

## **🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Krka National Park**
### **1️⃣ Skradinski Buk Waterfall 💦**
- The **largest and most famous waterfall** in the park, with **cascading pools and wooden walkways**.
- You **used to be able to swim here**, but since 2021, swimming is no longer allowed.
- Perfect for **photography and picnics**.
### **2️⃣ Roški Slap Waterfall 🌿**
- A **less crowded but equally beautiful** series of waterfalls.
- Known for its **"necklace" of small cascades** leading into the main fall.
- Nearby **Mlinica**, a restored **watermill**, shows traditional Croatian life.
### **3️⃣ Visovac Island & Monastery 🏝️**
- A **tiny island** in the middle of the Krka River, home to a **Franciscan monastery** from the 15th century.
- Accessible by **boat tour** from Skradinski Buk or Roški Slap.
- A peaceful, scenic spot with **stunning views of the lake**.

### **4️⃣ Krka Monastery 🏛️**
- A **Serbian Orthodox monastery** hidden deep in the park.
- Built on **ancient Roman catacombs**, which you can explore.
- A **quiet, spiritual place**, often overlooked by tourists.
### **5️⃣ Hike & Walk the Nature Trails 🥾**
- The park has **several well-marked trails** through forests, waterfalls, and lakes.
- Wooden walkways allow **easy access** to the main sights.
- **Wildlife spotting**: Look out for **otters, turtles, and over 200 bird species**!
### **6️⃣ Swim at Skradin Beach 🏖️**
- While you can’t swim at Skradinski Buk anymore, **Skradin Beach**, just outside the park, is a great spot for a dip.
- **Kayaking and boat tours** available.

## **🚗 How to Get to Krka National Park**
✈️ **By Air:** The nearest airport is **Split (SPU), 1 hour away**.
🚘 **By Car:**
- **Split to Krka:** ~1 hour (85 km)
- **Zadar to Krka:** ~1 hour (75 km)
- **Dubrovnik to Krka:** ~3.5 hours (280 km)
🚌 **By Bus:** Direct buses from **Split, Zadar, and Šibenik** to the park’s entrances.
🚢 **By Boat:** From **Skradin**, you can take a **boat ride** into the park.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Krka National Park**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **Spring & early autumn (April–June, September–October)** – Fewer crowds & mild weather 🍃
✅ **Start early!** **Arrive before 10 AM** to avoid crowds, especially in summer ☀️
✅ **Bring water & snacks** – Limited food options inside the park 🍎
✅ **Wear comfy shoes** – Wooden walkways & trails can be slippery 👟
✅ **Take a boat tour** – The best way to see Visovac Island & hidden spots ⛵
✅ **Buy tickets online** – Save time at the entrance 🎟️

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@ 0d6c8388:46488a33
2025-03-28 16:24:00
Huge thank you to [OpenSats for the grant](https://opensats.org/blog/10th-wave-of-nostr-grants) to work on [Hypernote this year](https://www.hypernote.club/)! I thought I'd take this opportunity to try and share my thought processes for Hypernote. If this all sounds very dense or irrelevant to you I'm sorry!
===
How can the ideas of "hypermedia" benefit nostr? That's the goal of hypernote. To take the best ideas from "hypertext" and "hypercard" and "hypermedia systems" and apply them to nostr in a specifically nostr-ey way.
### 1. What do we mean by hypermedia
A hypermedia document embeds the methods of interaction (links, forms, and buttons are the most well-known hypermedia controls) within the document itself. It's including the _how_ with the _what_.
This is how the old web worked. An HTML page was delivered to the web browser, and it included in it a link or perhaps a form that could be submitted to obtain a new, different HTML page. This is how the whole web worked early on! Forums and GeoCities and eBay and MySpace and Yahoo! and Amazon and Google all emerged inside this paradigm.
A web browser in this paradigm was a "thin" client which rendered the "thick" application defined in the HTML (and, implicitly, was defined by the server that would serve that HTML).
Contrast this with modern app development, where the _what_ is usually delivered in the form of JSON, and then HTML combined with JavaScript (React, Svelte, Angular, Vue, etc.) is devised to render that JSON as a meaningful piece of hypermedia within the actual browser, the _how_.
The browser remains a "thin" client in this scenario, but now the application is delivered in two stages: a client application of HTML and JavaScript, and then the actual JSON data that will hydrate that "application".
(Aside: it's interesting how much "thicker" the browser has had to become to support this newer paradigm!)
Nostr was obviously built in line with the modern paradigm: nostr "clients" (written in React or Svelte or as mobile apps) define the _how_ of reading and creating nostr events, while nostr events themselves (JSON data) simply describe the _what_.
And so the goal with Hypernote is to square this circle somehow: nostr currently delivers JSON _what_, how do we deliver the _how_ with nostr as well. Is that even possible?
### 2. Hypernote's design assumptions
Hypernote assumes that hypermedia over nostr is a good idea! I'm expecting some joyful renaissance of app expression similar to that of the web once we figure out how to express applications in a truly "nostr" way.
Hypernote was also [deeply inspired by HTMX](https://hypermedia.systems/hypermedia-a-reintroduction/), so it assumes that building web apps in the HTMX style is a good idea. The HTMX insight is that instead of shipping rich scripting along with your app, you could simply make HTML a _tiny_ bit more expressive and get 95% of what most apps need. HTMX's additions to the HTML language are designed to be as minimal and composable as possible, and Hypernote should have the same aims.
Hypernote also assumes that the "design" of nostr will remain fluid and anarchic for years to come. There will be no "canonical" list of "required" NIPs that we'll have "consensus" on in order to build stable UIs on top of. Hypernote will need to be built responsive to nostr's moods and seasons, rather than one holy spec.
Hypernote likes the `nak` command line tool. Hypernote likes markdown. Hypernote likes Tailwind CSS. Hypernote likes SolidJS. Hypernote likes cold brew coffee. Hypernote is, to be perfectly honest, my aesthetic preferences applied to my perception of an opportunity in the nostr ecosystem.
### 3. "What's a hypernote?"
Great question. I'm still figuring this out. Everything right now is subject to change in order to make sure hypernote serves its intended purpose.
But here's where things currently stand:
A hypernote is a flat list of "Hypernote Elements". A Hypernote Element is composed of:
1. CONTENT. Static or dynamic content. (the what)
2. LOGIC. Filters and events (the how)
3. STYLE. Optional, inline style information specific to this element's content.
In the most basic example of a [hypernote story](https://hypernote-stories.fly.dev/), here's a lone "edit me" in the middle of the canvas:

```
{
"id": "fb4aaed4-bf95-4353-a5e1-0bb64525c08f",
"type": "text",
"text": "edit me",
"x": 540,
"y": 960,
"size": "md",
"color": "black"
}
```
As you can see, it has no logic, but it does have some content (the text "edit me") and style (the position, size, and color).
Here's a "sticker" that displays a note:
```
{
"id": "2cd1ef51-3356-408d-b10d-2502cbb8014e",
"type": "sticker",
"stickerType": "note",
"filter": {
"kinds": [
1
],
"ids": [
"92de77507a361ab2e20385d98ff00565aaf3f80cf2b6d89c0343e08166fed931"
],
"limit": 1
},
"accessors": [
"content",
"pubkey",
"created_at"
],
"x": 540,
"y": 960,
"associatedData": {}
}
```
As you can see, it's kind of a mess! The content and styling and underdeveloped for this "sticker", but at least it demonstrates some "logic": a nostr filter for getting its data.
Here's another sticker, this one displays a form that the user can interact with to SEND a note. Very hyper of us!
```
{
"id": "42240d75-e998-4067-b8fa-9ee096365663",
"type": "sticker",
"stickerType": "prompt",
"filter": {},
"accessors": [],
"x": 540,
"y": 960,
"associatedData": {
"promptText": "What's your favorite color?"
},
"methods": {
"comment": {
"description": "comment",
"eventTemplate": {
"kind": 1111,
"content": "${content}",
"tags": [
[
"E",
"${eventId}",
"",
"${pubkey}"
],
[
"K",
"${eventKind}"
],
[
"P",
"${pubkey}"
],
[
"e",
"${eventId}",
"",
"${pubkey}"
],
[
"k",
"${eventKind}"
],
[
"p",
"${pubkey}"
]
]
}
}
}
}
```
It's also a mess, but it demos the other part of "logic": methods which produce new events.
This is the total surface of hypernote, ideally! Static or dynamic content, simple inline styles, and logic for fetching and producing events.
I'm calling it "logic" but it's purposfully not a whole scripting language. At most we'll have some sort of `jq`-like language for destructing the relevant piece of data we want.
My ideal syntax for a hypernote as a developer will look something like
```foo.hypernote
Nak-like logic
Markdown-like content
CSS-like styles
```
But with JSON as the compile target, this can just be my own preference, there can be other (likely better!) ways of authoring this content, such as a Hypernote Stories GUI.
### The end
I know this is all still vague but I wanted to get some ideas out in the wild so people understand the through line of my different Hypernote experiments. I want to get the right amount of "expressivity" in Hypernote before it gets locked down into one spec. My hunch is it can be VERY expressive while remaining simple and also while not needing a whole scripting language bolted onto it. If I can't pull it off I'll let you know.
-

@ 905365ac:4247f9de
2025-03-28 14:04:02
"85% of the KGB ['s strategy to take over a country] is always subversion." Yuri Bezmenov
Ideological subversion is even stronger today, with an even greater reach because of the internet. Unlike during Yuri's time, however, we are being subverted internally.
What is subversion?
Short answer: brainwashing.
Long answer:
Demoralization > Destabilization > Crisis > Normilization
Demoralization: control educational institutions, media, and cultural platforms
Destabilization: control internal and foreign politics, economic, and defense systems.
Crisis: violent change of power, structure, and economy
Normalization: period of stability*
One teacher** believes that the way this is currently being played out is through our culture wars - particularly anti-whiteness. I would add that it is playing out both in anti-whiteness and in anti-masculinity.
Short history lesson:
America embarked on an endeavor to "de-nazi" Germany via demoralization following World War 2. The charge was lead by a Frankfort school that sought refuge in the U.S. during the war. That demoralization was based on mass cultural guilt (interestingly enough, I actually learned the concept of collective guilt as a tool to “heal communities” in a class on Peace and Conflict during college).
According to this teacher, that mass guilt then started being applied by leftists in a range of western civilizations, including America where the root guilt is racism. A secondary guilt Americans suffer from is "the partriarchy," which has led to a whole slew of mass demoralization which can be seen most evidently in this current wave of feminism and in gender ideology.
In such countries, the idea is that fascism (seen as the scapegoat of whatever mass guilt is being applied) must eventually be annihilated. Otherwise, the guilt is too difficult to bear. In the U.S., that’s whiteness. In Germany, it was Nazis and now it’s Germans themselves.
Takeaways:
1. The best way personally advocate for a strong country that stands against ideological subversion is to directly counter demoralization in the spheres of education, media, and in cultural spaces.
2. Invest in countering destabilization by appointing, electing, and being those who fight for peace, unity and freedom on our political, economic, and defensive grounds.
Speak truth. Homeschool (or be involved in your local schools). Join NOSTR. Contribute to local, state and federal politics in a way that will positively impact your grandchildren. Support the soldiers and veterans you know and love. Be pro-human.
https://youtu.be/5gnpCqsXE8g
https://youtu.be/niiF8hCSrYQ
-

@ bf95e1a4:ebdcc848
2025-03-28 13:56:06
This is a part of the Bitcoin Infinity Academy course on Knut Svanholm's book Bitcoin: Sovereignty Through Mathematics. For more information, check out our[ Geyser page](https://geyser.fund/project/infinity)!
## Financial Atheism
“Don’t trust, verify” is a common saying amongst bitcoiners that represents a sound attitude towards not only Bitcoin but all human power structures. In order to understand Bitcoin, one must admit that everything in society is man-made. Every civilization, every religion, every constitution, and every law is a product of human imagination. It wasn’t until as late as the 17th century that the scientific method started to become the dominant practice for describing how the world actually worked. Peer-to-peer review and repeated testing of a hypothesis are still quite recent human practices. Before this, we were basically just guessing and trusting authorities to a large extent. We still do this today, and despite our progress over the last couple of centuries, we still have a long way to go. Our brains are hardwired to follow the leader of the pack. The human brain is born with a plethora of cognitive biases pre-installed, and we have to work very hard to overcome them. We evolved to survive in relatively small groups, and our brains are thus not really made for seeing the bigger picture. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work algorithm is constructed in such a way that it is easy to verify that computational power was sacrificed in order to approve a block of transactions and claim its reward. In this way, no trust in any authority is required as it is relatively trivial to test the validity of a block and the transactions it contains. This is nothing short of a complete reimagining of how human society ought to be governed. The beauty of mathematics governs the Bitcoin system. Everything that ever happens in Bitcoin is open and verifiable to everyone, even to those who are not yet using it.
After the tragic events of 9/11 in 2001, Sam Harris started writing his book *The End of Faith*, which happened to be released around the same time as Richard Dawkins’ *The God Delusion*, Daniel Dennett's *Breaking the Spell*, and Christopher Hitchens’ *God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything*. These books kick-started what, in hindsight, has often been referred to as the new atheist movement, even though there has arguably never been anything new about atheism. Atheism must almost certainly have preceded religion since religious ideas require the person holding the idea to believe a certain doctrine or story. Atheism is nothing but the rejection of ways to describe the world that are not verifiable by experimentation. A fly on the wall is probably an atheist by this definition of the word. Atheism is often accused of being just another set of beliefs, but the word itself describes what it is much better — a lack of belief in theistic ideas. It is not a code of conduct or set of rules to live your life by; it is simply the rejection of that which cannot be scientifically verified. Many people, religious people, in particular, have a hard time grasping this. If you believe that a supernatural entity created everything in everyone's life, you might not be too comfortable with a word that describes a complete rejection of what you believe created everything, including the very atheist that the word describes. The amount of different religious worldviews that exist is probably equal to the sum of all religious people on the planet, but all world views that reject these superstitious beliefs require but one word. Atheism is not the opposite of religion but is simply the lack of it.
In 2008, another sub-culture movement of unbelief was born. Let’s call it *Financial Atheism* — the rejection of unverifiable value claims. With the invention of Bitcoin, a way of rejecting fraudulent expressions of a token’s value was born. Those of us fortunate enough to have been born in secular countries all enjoy not having the ideas of religious demagogues dictating our lives on a daily basis. We can choose which ideas to believe in and which to reject. What we still have very limited means of choosing, however, are the ways in which we express value to each other. We’re told to use a system in which we all have a certain number of value tokens assigned to our name, either as a number on a screen or as digits on paper notes. We all live in the collective hallucination that these numbers are somehow legit and that their authenticity is not to be questioned.
A Bitcoin balance assigned to a certain Bitcoin address might seem just as questionable to a layman, but if you have a basic understanding of the hashing algorithms and game theory behind it, it’s not. At the time of writing, the hash of the latest block on the Bitcoin blockchain begins with eighteen zeros in a row. These zeros represent the Proof of Work that ensures that this block is valid and that every transaction in it actually happened. If you can grasp the concept of a hashing algorithm, and if you have an intuition about mathematics, you realize the gargantuan amount of calculating effort that went into finding this particular hash. It is simply mind-blowing. To forge a false version of a hash beginning with eighteen zeros just wouldn’t be economically viable. Of course, you can never actually know that a 51% attack or some other attempt at corrupting the blockchain hasn’t occurred, but you can know that such an attack would require more than half of the network acting against their own economic interest. Bitcoin is not something to believe in. You don’t need to trust any authority because you can validate the plausibility of its authenticity yourself. It’s the financial equivalent of atheism or unbelief. Satoshi wasn’t Jesus. Satoshi was Brian of Nazareth, telling his followers to think for themselves.
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. The second law states that the entropy of any isolated system always increases, and the third law states that the entropy of a system approaches a constant value as the temperature approaches absolute zero. In the Bitcoin network, participants known as miners compete for new Bitcoin in a lottery with very fixed rules. The more hashing power (computing power) a miner contributes to the network, the higher his chances of winning the block reward, a specific amount of Bitcoin that is halved every four years. The difficulty of this lottery - in other words, the miner’s chance of winning it — is re-calibrated every 2016th block so that the average time it takes to find the next block is always roughly ten minutes. What this system produces is absolute scarcity; the amount of Bitcoin in existence at any moment in time is always predictable. The more time that passes, the slower the rate of coin issuance and the block reward slowly approaches zero. By the time it does, around the year 2140, the individual miner’s incentive to mine for a reward will, at least theoretically, have been replaced by an incentive to collect transaction fees from the participants of the network. Even now, the sum of all fees make up a non-trivial part of the miners’ revenue. Yet from a user’s point of view the fees are still very low, and as the network scales up using Layer 2 solutions such as the Lightning Network, they’re expected to remain low for quite a long time ahead.
Absolute scarcity is a concept that mankind has never encountered before. Arguably, this makes it the first man-made concept to ever be directly linked to the laws of physics. Everything anyone does requires a certain amount of energy. The very word *doing* implies that some kind of movement, some type of energy expenditure, needs to occur. As mentioned earlier, how we value things is entirely subjective. Different actions are of different value to different people. How we value different things is also inevitably linked to the supply of those things. Had the trapped-under-ice winter diver mentioned in chapter one been equipped with a scuba tank, he probably wouldn't have thought of his next breath as such a precious thing. The price a person is willing to pay for a good — in other words, the sum of one or more person’s actions — can be derived from two basic variables: The highly subjective *demand* for the good and the always-constrained-by-time-and-space *supply* of that same good. Note that if supply is sufficiently limited, there only needs to be a minimal amount of demand for a good for its price to increase.
One could argue that no one *needs* Bitcoin and that, therefore, Bitcoin would have no intrinsic value. One could also argue that there’s no such thing as intrinsic value since demand is always subjective. In any case, there will always be a cost to mine Bitcoin, and the more mining power in the network, the higher that cost. This cost, ensured by the Bitcoin network’s Proof-Of-Work algorithm, is probably as close to a pure energy cost as the price of a human activity will ever get. Once the mining rig is in place, a simple conversion process follows — energy in, scarce token out. Should the cost of production exceed the current price of the token, the miner can just choose not to sell, thereby limiting the supply of Bitcoin in circulation even more and eventually selling them for other goods whenever he sees fit. In this sense, Bitcoin is a battery. Perhaps the best battery ever invented.
Storing and moving electrical energy around has always been costly and wasteful. Bitcoin offers a way of converting energy into a small part of a specific number. A mathematical battery, if you will. It is important to remember that it does not convert energy into value *directly*, but rather electricity into digital scarcity — digital scarcity that can be used to express value. Energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system, as the first law of thermodynamics clearly states. Bitcoin can express how much energy was sacrificed in order to acquire a share of the total sum. You can also acquire Bitcoin by buying it rather than mining it, but in doing so, you also spend energy. You somehow acquired the money with which you bought the Bitcoin. You, or someone else, sacrificed time and energy somewhere. Bitcoin lets you express that you see that there’s a connection between value and scarcity by letting you sacrifice effort to claim a part of the total sum.
The excitement we so-called "Bitcoin Maximalists" feel about Bitcoin does not come primarily from the enormous gains that those who hopped early onto the freight train have been blessed with. Nor is it because we’re “in it for the technology,” as can often be heard from opponents. Those of us who preach the near-divinity of this invention do so above all because we see the philosophical impacts of absolute scarcity in a commodity. The idea of a functioning solution to the double-spending problem in computerized money is an achievement that simply can’t be ignored. By solving the double-spending problem, Satoshi also made counterfeiting impossible, which in turn makes artificial inflation impossible. The world-changing potential of this invention cannot be understated. Not in the long run.
The more you think about it, the more the thought won’t give you any peace of mind. If this experiment works, if it’s real, it will take civilization to the next level. What we don’t know is how long this will take. Right now, debates in the Bitcoin space are about Bitcoin’s functionality as a medium of exchange and its potential as a good store of value. We might be missing the point. We cannot possibly know if a type of monetary token for which you’re completely responsible, with no third-party protection, will ever become a preferred medium of exchange for most transactions. Nor can we know if the price of Bitcoin will follow the hype-cycle path that we all want it to follow so that it can become the store of value that most maximalists claim it already is. Maybe we’ve been focused on the wrong things all along. Maybe Bitcoin’s greatest strength is in its functionality as a unit of account. After all, this is all that Bitcoin does. If you own 21 Bitcoin, you own one-millionth of the world's first absolutely scarce commodity. This might not make you rich overnight, but it just might have something to do with the opportunities available to your great-great-grandchildren.
Throughout history, whenever a prehistoric human tribe invented ceremonial burial, that tribe began to expand rapidly. Why? Because as soon as you invent belief in an afterlife, you also introduce the idea of self-sacrifice on a larger scale. People who held these beliefs were much easier for a despot to manipulate and send into battle with neighboring tribes. Religious leaders can use people’s fears and superstitions to have them commit all sorts of atrocities to their fellow man, and they still do so today. Belief in a “greater good” can be the most destructive idea that can pop up in a human mind. The Nazis of World War II Germany believed that exterminating Jews was for the “greater good” of their nation’s gene pool. Belief in noble causes often comes with unintended side effects, which can have disastrous consequences.
Religious leaders, political leaders, and other power-hungry sociopaths are responsible for the greatest crimes against humanity ever committed — namely, wars. Europeans often question the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms, whenever a tragic school shooting occurs on the other side of the Atlantic. What everyone seems to forget is that less than a hundred years ago, Europe was at war with itself because its citizens had given too much power to their so-called leaders. The Nazis came to power in a democracy — never forget that. Our individual rights weren’t given to us by our leaders; we were born with them. Our leaders can’t give us anything; they can only force us to behave in certain ways. If we truly want to be in charge of our lives, we need to find the tools necessary to circumvent the bullshit ourselves.
### **About the Bitcoin Infinity Academy**
The Bitcoin Infinity Academy is an educational project built around [Knut Svanholm](http://primal.net/knut)’s books about Bitcoin and Austrian Economics. Each week, a whole chapter from one of the books is released for free on Highlighter, accompanied by a [video](https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinInfinityShow) in which Knut and [Luke de Wolf](http://primal.net/luke) discuss that chapter’s ideas. You can join the discussions by signing up for one of the courses on our [Geyser](https://geyser.fund/project/infinity) page. Signed books, monthly calls, and lots of other benefits are also available.
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@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d
2025-03-28 12:56:17
Nos últimos anos, tornei-me num acérrimo crítico do Euro, sobretudo da política monetária altamente expansionista realizada pelo Banco Central Europeu (BCE). Apesar de ser crítico, eu não desejo que Portugal volte a ter moeda própria.
No seguimento gráfico, é a variação do [IPC de Portugal nos últimos 60 anos]( https://www.pordata.pt/pt/estatisticas/inflacao/taxa-de-inflacao/taxa-de-inflacao-por-bens-e-servicos-portugal):

No gráfico inclui os momentos históricos, para uma melhor interpretação dos dados.
> O Índice de Preços ao Consumidor (IPC) é usado para observar tendências de inflação. É calculado com base no preço médio necessário para comprar um conjunto de bens de consumo e serviços num país, comparando com períodos anteriores.
É uma ferramenta utilizada para calcular a perda de poder de compra, mas é uma métrica que é facilmente manipulada em prol dos interesses dos governos.
## Análise histórica
No período marcelista, houve uma crescente inflação, devido a fatores, como os elevados custos da guerra e o fim dos acordos de Bretton Woods contribuíram para isso. Terminando com uma inflação superior a 13%.
Da Revolta dos Cravos (1974) até à adesão da CEE (atual União Europeia, UE), nos primeiros anos foram conturbados a nível político, mesmo após conquistar alguma estabilidade, em termos de política monetária foi um descalabro, com inflação entre 12% a 30% ao ano. Foi o pior momento na era moderna.
Com a entrada da CEE, Portugal ainda manteve a independência monetária, mas devido à entrada de muitos milhões de fundos europeus, essências para construir infraestrutura e desenvolver o país. Isto permitiu crescer e modernizar o país, gastando pouco dinheiro próprio, reduzindo a necessidade da expansão monetária e claro a inflação baixou.
Depois com a adesão ao Tratado de Maastricht, em 1991, onde estabeleceu as bases para a criação da União Económica e Monetária, que culminou na criação da moeda única europeia, o Euro. As bases eram bastante restritivas, os políticos portugueses foram obrigados a manter uma inflação baixa. Portugal perdeu a independência monetária em 1999, com a entrada em vigor da nova moeda, foi estabelecida a taxa de conversão entre escudos e euros, tendo o valor de 1 euro sido fixado em 200,482 escudos. A Euro entrou em vigor em 1999, mas o papel-moeda só entrou em circulação em 2002.
Assim, desde a criação até 2020, a inflação foi sempre abaixo de 5% ao ano, tendo um longo período abaixo dos 3%.
A chegada da pandemia, foi um descalabro no BCE, a expansão monetária foi exponencial, resultando numa forte subida no IPC, quase 8% em 2022, algo que não acontecia há 30 anos.
## Conclusão
Apesar dos últimos anos, a política monetária do BCE tem sido péssima, mesmo assim continua a ser muito melhor, se esta fosse efetuada em exclusividade por portugueses, não tenho quaisquer dúvidas disso. O passado demonstra isso, se voltarmos a ser independentes monetariamente, será desastroso, vamos virar rapidamente, a Venezuela da Europa.
Até temos boas reservas de ouro, mas mesmo assim não são suficientes, mesmo que se inclua outros ativos para permitir a criação de uma moeda lastreada, ela apenas duraria até à primeira crise. É inevitável, somos um país demasiado socialista.
A solução não é voltar ao escudo, mas sim o BCE deixar de imprimir dinheiro, como se não houvesse amanhã ou então optar por uma moeda total livre, sem intromissão de políticos.
O BCE vai parar de expandir a moeda?
Claro que não, eles estão encurralados, a expansão monetária é a única solução para elevada dívida soberana dos estados. A única certeza que eu tenho, a expansão do BCE, será sempre inferior ao do Banco de Portugal, se este estivesse o botão da impressão à sua disposição. Por volta dos 5% é muito mau, mas voltar para a casa dos 15% seria péssimo, esse seria o nosso destino.
É muito triste ter esta conclusão, isto é demonstrativo da falta de competência dos políticos e governantes portugueses e o povo também tem uma certa culpa. Por serem poucos exigentes em relação à qualidade dos políticos que elegem e por acreditar que existem almoços grátis.
#Bitcoin fixes this
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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35
2025-03-28 09:13:56
Girona, one of Catalonia’s most charming cities, is a perfect mix of history, culture, and gastronomy. Famous for its well-preserved medieval old town, colorful houses along the Onyar River, and Game of Thrones filming locations, Girona is a must-visit destination in northern Spain.

## **🏰 Top Things to See & Do in Girona**
### **1️⃣ Girona Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria) ⛪**
- One of **Spain’s most impressive cathedrals**, with **the widest Gothic nave in the world**.
- Famous as the **Great Sept of Baelor in Game of Thrones**.
- Climb the **steps for a breathtaking city view**.
### **2️⃣ Walk the Medieval Walls (Passeig de la Muralla) 🏰**
- Offers **panoramic views** of Girona and the surrounding countryside.
- A great way to see the city from above and explore its medieval history.

### **3️⃣ The Colorful Houses of the Onyar River 🌉**
- Girona’s **most iconic view**, with **brightly colored houses reflecting on the river**.
- Best viewed from the **Pont de les Peixateries Velles**, designed by **Gustave Eiffel**.
### **4️⃣ Explore the Jewish Quarter (El Call) 🏡**
- One of **Europe’s best-preserved Jewish quarters**, with **narrow, medieval streets**.
- Visit the **Museum of Jewish History** to learn about Girona’s Jewish heritage.

### **5️⃣ Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs) 🏛️**
- A **12th-century Romanesque bathhouse**, inspired by Moorish architecture.
- Features **a beautiful central dome with columns**.
### **6️⃣ Game of Thrones Filming Locations 🎬**
- Walk in the footsteps of **Arya Stark** through the city’s **winding streets**.
- Visit **the steps of the cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and Arab Baths**, all featured in the series.
### **7️⃣ Eat at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant 🍽️**
- Girona is home to **El Celler de Can Roca**, a **3-Michelin-star restaurant**, ranked among the **best in the world**.
- Try **local Catalan dishes** like **"suquet de peix" (fish stew) and botifarra (Catalan sausage).**

## **🚗 How to Get to Girona**
✈️ **By Air:** Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is **20 min away**, with budget flights from Europe.
🚆 **By Train:** High-speed AVE trains connect **Barcelona (38 min), Madrid (3.5 hrs), and Paris (5.5 hrs)**.
🚘 **By Car:** 1 hr from **Barcelona**, 40 min from **Figueres (Dalí Museum)**.
🚌 **By Bus:** Direct buses from **Barcelona and the Costa Brava**.

## **💡 Tips for Visiting Girona**
✅ **Best time to visit?** **Spring & autumn (April–June & September–October)** for pleasant weather. 🌤️
✅ **Wear comfortable shoes** – The old town is **hilly with cobblestone streets**. 👟
✅ **Try xuixo** – A delicious **cream-filled pastry**, unique to Girona. 🥐
✅ **Visit early for Game of Thrones spots** – They get crowded during the day! 🎥
✅ **Take a day trip** – Explore nearby **Costa Brava beaches or Figueres (Dalí Museum).** 🏖️

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@ a60e79e0:1e0e6813
2025-03-28 08:47:35
*This is a long form note of a post that lives on my Nostr educational website [Hello Nostr](https://hellonostr.xyz).*
When most people stumble across Nostr, they see is as a 'decentralized social media alternative' — something akin to Twitter (X), but free from corporate control. But the full name, "Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays", gives a clue that there’s more to it than just posting short messages. The 'notes' part is easy to grasp because it forms almost everyone's first touch point with the protocol. But the 'other stuff'? That’s where Nostr really gets exciting. The 'other stuff' is all the creative and experimental things people are building on Nostr, beyond simple text based notes.
Every action on Nostr is an event, a like, a post, a profile update, or even a payment. The 'Kind' is what specifies the purpose of each event. Kinds are the building blocks of how information is categorized and processed on the network, and the most popular become part of higher lever specification guidelines known as [Nostr Implementation Possibility - NIP](https://nostr-nips.com/). A NIP is a document that defines how something in Nostr should work, including the rules, standards, or features. NIPs define the type of 'other stuff' that be published and displayed by different styles of client to meet different purposes.
> Nostr isn’t locked into a single purpose. It’s a foundation for whatever 'other stuff' you can dream up.
>
# Types of Other Stuff
The 'other stuff' name is intentionally vague. Why? Because the possibilities of what can fall under this category are quite literally limitless. In the short time since Nostr's inception, the number of sub-categories that have been built on top of the Nostr's open protocol is mind bending. Here are a few examples:
1. Long-Form Content: Think blog posts or articles. [NIP-23](https://nostr-nips.com/nip-23).
2. Private Messaging: Encrypted chats between users. [NIP-04](https://nostr-nips.com/nip-04).
3. Communities: Group chats or forums like Reddit. [NIP-72](https://nostr-nips.com/nip-72)
4. Marketplaces: People listing stuff for sale, payable with zaps. [NIP-15](https://nostr-nips.com/nip-15)
5. Zaps: Value transfer over the Lightning Network. [NIP57](https://nostr-nips.com/nip-57)

# Popular 'Other Stuff' Clients
Here's a short list of some of the most recent and popular apps and clients that branch outside of the traditional micro-blogging use case and leverage the openness, and interoperability that Nostr can provide.
### Blogging (Long Form Content)
- [Habla](https://habla.news/) - *Web app for Nostr based blogs*
- [Highlighter](https://highlighter.com/) - *Web app that enables users to highlight, store and share content*
### Group Chats
- [Chachi Chat](https://chachi.chat/) - *Relay-based (NIP-29) group chat client*
- [0xchat](https://github.com/0xchat-app) - *Mobile based secure chat*
- [Flotilla](https://flotilla.social/) - *Web based chat app built for self-hosted communities*
- [Nostr Nests](https://nostrnests.com/) - *Web app for audio chats*
- [White Noise](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise) - *Mobile based secure chat*

### Marketplaces
- [Shopstr](https://shopstr.store/) - *Permissionless marketplace for web*
- [Plebeian Market](https://plebeian.market/) - *Permissionless marketplace for web*
- [LNBits Market](https://github.com/lnbits/nostrmarket#nostr-market-nip-15---lnbits-extension) - *Permissionless marketplace for your node*
- [Mostro](https://github.com/MostroP2P/mostro) - *Nostr based Bitcoin P2P Marketplace*
### Photo/Video
- [Olas](https://github.com/pablof7z/snapstr/releases) - *An Intragram like client*
- [Freeflow](https://github.com/nostrlabs-io/freeflow) - *A TikTok like client*
### Music
- [Fountain](https://fountain.fm/) - *Podcast app with Nostr features*
- [Wavlake](https://wavlake.com/) - *A music app supporting the value-for-value ecosystem*

### Livestreaming
- [Zap.stream](https://zap.stream/) - *Nostr native live streams*
### Misc
- [Wikifreedia](https://wikifreedia.xyz/) - *Nostr based Wikipedia alternative*
- [Wikistr](https://wikistr.com/) - *Nostr based Wikipedia alternative*
- [Pollerama](https://pollerama.fun/) - *Nostr based polls*
- [Zap Store](https://zapstore.dev) - *The app store powered by your social graph*

The 'other stuff' in Nostr is what makes it special. It’s not just about replacing Twitter or Facebook, it’s about building a decentralized ecosystem where anything from private chats to marketplaces can thrive.
The beauty of Nostr is that it’s a flexible foundation. Developers can dream up new ideas and build them into clients, and the relays just keep humming along, passing the data around.
It’s still early days, so expect the 'other stuff' to grow wilder and weirder over time!
You can explore the evergrowing 'other stuff' ecosystem at [NostrApps.com](https://nostrapps.com/), [Nostr.net](https://nostr.net/) and [Awesome Nostr](https://github.com/aljazceru/awesome-nostr).
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@ 05cdefcd:550cc264
2025-03-28 08:00:15
The crypto world is full of buzzwords. One that I keep on hearing: “Bitcoin is its own asset class”.
While I have always been sympathetic to that view, I’ve always failed to understand the true meaning behind that statement.
Although I consider Bitcoin to be the prime innovation within the digital asset sector, my primary response has always been: How can bitcoin (BTC), a single asset, represent an entire asset class? Isn’t it Bitcoin and other digital assets that make up an asset class called crypto?
Well, I increasingly believe that most of crypto is just noise. Sure, it’s volatile noise that is predominately interesting for very sophisticated hedge funds, market makers or prop traders that are sophisticated enough to extract alpha – but it’s noise nonetheless and has no part to play in a long-term only portfolio of private retail investors (of which most of us are).
*Over multiple market cycles, nearly all altcoins underperform Bitcoin when measured in BTC terms. Source: Tradingview*
## Aha-Moment: Bitcoin keeps on giving
Still, how can Bitcoin, as a standalone asset, make up an entire asset class? The “aha-moment” to answer this question recently came to me in a [Less Noise More Signal interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHRluf5uxzo) I did with [James Van Straten](https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-van-straten-8782b4112/), senior analyst at Coindesk.
Let me paraphrase him here: *“You can’t simply recreate the same ETF as BlackRock. To succeed in the Bitcoin space, new and innovative approaches are needed. This is where understanding Bitcoin not just as a single asset, but as an entire asset class, becomes essential. There are countless ways to build upon Bitcoin’s foundation—varied iterations that go beyond just holding the asset. This is precisely where the emergence of the Bitcoin-linked stock market is taking shape—and it's already underway.”*
And this is actually coming to fruition as we speak. Just in the last few days, we saw several products launch in that regard.
Obviously, MicroStrategy (now Strategy) is the pioneer of this. The company now [owns](https://www.strategy.com/purchases) 506,137 BTC, and while they’ll keep on buying more, they have also inspired many other companies to follow suit.
In fact, there are now already over 70 companies that have adopted Strategy’s Bitcoin playbook. One of the latest companies to buy Bitcoin for their corporate treasury is Rumble. The YouTube competitor just [announced](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/03/12/video-sharing-platform-rumble-buys-188-btc-for-usd17-1m) their first Bitcoin purchase for $17 million.
Also, the gaming zombie company GameStop just announced to raise money to buy BTC for their corporate treasury.
*Gamestop to make BTC their hurdle rate. Source: X*
## ETF on Bitcoin companies
Given this proliferation of Bitcoin Treasury companies, it was only a matter of time before a financial product tracking these would emerge.
The popular crypto index fund provider Bitwise Investments has just launched this very product called the [Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF](https://ownbetf.com/) (OWNB).
The ETF tracks Bitcoin Treasury companies with over 1,000 BTC on their balance sheet. These companies invest in Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset to protect the $5 trillion in low-yield cash that companies in the US commonly sit on.
*These are the top 10 holdings of OWNB. Source: Ownbetf*
## ETF on Bitcoin companies’ convertible bonds
Another instrument that fits seamlessly into the range of Bitcoin-linked stock market products is the [REX Bitcoin Corporate Treasury Convertible Bond ETF](https://www.rexshares.com/rex-launches-bitcoin-corporate-treasury-convertible-bond-etf/) (BMAX). The ETF provides exposure to the many different convertible bonds issued by companies that are actively moving onto a Bitcoin standard.
Convertible bonds are a valuable financing tool for companies looking to raise capital for Bitcoin purchases. Their strong demand is driven by the unique combination of equity-like upside and debt-like downside protection they offer.
For example, MicroStrategy's convertible bonds, in particular, have shown exceptional performance. For instance, MicroStrategy's 2031 bonds has shown a price rise of 101% over a one-year period, vastly outperforming MicroStrategy share (at 53%), Bitcoin (at 25%) and the ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index (at 10%). The latter is the benchmark index for convertible bond funds, tracking the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated convertible securities in the U.S. market.
*The chart shows a comparison of ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index, the Bloomberg Bitcoin index (BTC price), MicroStrategy share (MSTR), and MicroStrategy bond (0.875%, March 15 203). The convertible bond has been outperforming massively. Source: Bloomberg*
While the BMAX ETF faces challenges such as double taxation, which significantly reduces investor returns (explained in more detail here), it is likely that future products will emerge that address and improve upon these issues.
## Bitcoin yield products
The demand for a yield on Bitcoin has increased tremendously. Consequently, respective products have emerged.
Bitcoin yield products aim to generate alpha by capitalizing on volatility, market inefficiencies, and fragmentation within cryptocurrency markets. The objective is to achieve uncorrelated returns denominated in Bitcoin (BTC), with attractive risk-adjusted performance. Returns are derived exclusively from asset selection and trading strategies, eliminating reliance on directional market moves.
### Key strategies employed by these funds include:
- *Statistical Arbitrage:* Exploits short-term pricing discrepancies between closely related financial instruments—for instance, between Bitcoin and traditional assets, or Bitcoin and other digital assets. Traders utilize statistical models and historical price relationships to identify temporary inefficiencies.
- *Futures Basis Arbitrage:* Captures profits from differences between the spot price of Bitcoin and its futures contracts. Traders simultaneously buy or sell Bitcoin on spot markets and enter opposite positions in futures markets, benefiting as the prices converge.
- *Funding Arbitrage:* Generates returns by taking advantage of variations in Bitcoin funding rates across different markets or exchanges. Funding rates are periodic payments exchanged between long and short positions in perpetual futures contracts, allowing traders to profit from discrepancies without significant directional exposure.
- *Volatility/Option Arbitrage:* Seeks profits from differences between implied volatility (reflected in Bitcoin options prices) and expected realized volatility. Traders identify mispriced volatility in options related to Bitcoin or Bitcoin-linked equities, such as MSTR, and position accordingly to benefit from volatility normalization.
- *Market Making:* Involves continuously providing liquidity by simultaneously quoting bid (buy) and ask (sell) prices for Bitcoin. Market makers profit primarily through capturing the spread between these prices, thereby enhancing market efficiency and earning consistent returns.
- *Liquidity Provision in DeFi Markets:* Consists of depositing Bitcoin (usually as Wrapped BTC) into decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity pools such as those on Uniswap, Curve, or Balancer. Liquidity providers earn fees paid by traders who execute swaps within these decentralized exchanges, creating steady yield opportunities.
Notable products currently available in this segment include the Syz Capital BTC Alpha Fund offered by Syz Capital and the Forteus Crypto Alpha Fund by Forteus.
## BTC-denominated share class
A Bitcoin-denominated share class refers to a specialized investment fund category in which share values, subscriptions (fund deposits), redemptions (fund withdrawals), and performance metrics are expressed entirely in Bitcoin (BTC), rather than in traditional fiat currencies such as USD or EUR.
Increasingly, both individual investors and institutions are adopting Bitcoin as their preferred benchmark—or "Bitcoin hurdle rate"—meaning that investment performance is evaluated directly against Bitcoin’s own price movements.
These Bitcoin-denominated share classes are designed specifically for investors seeking to preserve and grow their wealth in Bitcoin terms, rather than conventional fiat currencies. As a result, investors reduce their exposure to fiat-related risks. Furthermore, if Bitcoin outperforms fiat currencies, investors holding BTC-denominated shares will experience enhanced returns relative to traditional fiat-denominated investment classes.
X: https://x.com/pahueg
Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@lessnoisemoresignalpodcast
Book: https://academy.saifedean.com/product/the-bitcoin-enlightenment-hardcover/
-

@ a3bb06f6:19ac1b11
2025-03-28 02:36:38
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will continue to direct your life, and you will call it fate.” — Carl Jung
Most people don’t realize they’ve been robbed. Not in the dramatic, wallet-snatching sense, but in a quiet, systemic way that’s gone unnoticed for generations. If you’re feeling like no matter how hard you work, you can’t get ahead… you’re not imagining it.
It didn’t start as a scheme—*but one compromise after another*, it became one. Now, the system exploits you by design. This isn’t fate. It’s fiat.
The Unconscious Script: How Fiat Becomes Invisible From the moment you're born, you're placed into an economic system based on government-issued fiat currency. It becomes the air you breathe. You work for dollars. You save in dollars. You price **your time**, **your future**, and even **your dreams** in dollars.
But few stop to ask: What actually is a dollar? Who creates it? Why does it lose value?
This lack of questioning is the unconscious state. Fiat money is the background process running your life. You feel the effects—rising prices, shrinking savings, mounting debt—but you never see the root cause. So you blame yourself. Or “the economy.” Or call it fate.
The Lie of Neutral Money: Most believe money is just a neutral tool. But fiat is not neutral—it’s political power encoded into paper.
Governments can **print more of it at will**. Central banks can manipulate its supply, distort interest rates, and quietly tax you through inflation. Every time more money is created, your purchasing power shrinks.
But it happens slowly, like a leak in a tire. You don’t notice at first. You just feel like you’re working harder for less. The house is further out of reach. The groceries cost more. Retirement feels impossible.
And you accept it. Because no one told you it's designed this way.
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/80cb04b171e15d56d1224a1458f0ca3ad9a440915c736e145186df1cc2f4979b.png">
Inflation Is the Invisible Thief, Inflation isn’t just a “cost of living increase.” It’s a state-sponsored form of theft.
When new money is created, it enters the system unevenly. Those closest to the money printer—banks, governments, **large corporations**—get the new dollars first. By the time it reaches you, prices have already risen. You’re buying the same goods with weaker money.
And yet, most people still save in fiat. They’re taught that hoarding cash is “safe.” They’re taught that 2% inflation is “normal.” But it’s not normal to work 40 hours a week and fall behind. That’s the product of unconscious acceptance.
The fiat system survives on one thing: your **ignorance**. It didn’t begin with malicious intent, but over time, it adapted to protect its own power—at your expense. As long as you don’t understand how money works, you won’t resist. You’ll blame yourself, or *capitalism*, or bad luck. **But never the system itself**.
This is why financial education is *never* prioritized in schools. This is why questioning monetary policy is left to economists and suits on CNBC. You were never taught how it works. And now the system depends on you staying confused—grinding, borrowing, complying, without ever asking why.
Making the Unconscious Conscious: Enter **Bitcoin**, Bitcoin breaks this spell.
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/8373eb52ee7773e0ffc4591819ff984a27829e47741894456258e2a638029022.png">
It forces you to confront the nature of money—what it is, how it’s created, and why fiat fails. It teaches you that money doesn’t need to be printed, inflated, or controlled. That money can be fixed, finite, and **fair**.
Bitcoin is not just a new currency. It’s a tool of consciousness. It exposes the scam of fiat and offers a lifeboat to anyone ready to wake up.
Once you understand Bitcoin, you can’t unsee the problem. You begin to ask:
Why should I trust a system that steals my **time**? Why is saving discouraged, but debt rewarded? Why do I need permission to use my own money? These aren’t technical questions. They’re **moral** ones.
Consciousness Is Sovereignty: When you understand what fiat is, you stop calling your financial struggles “fate.” You start calling them what they are, outcomes of a broken system.
And once you see the system for what it is, you can choose to **exit**.
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/a8766caf9dc043fa360dbf7c5e473201d72dfeede02a7f08abc9897367a33011.png">
Saving in Bitcoin is not speculation. It’s self-defense. It’s rejecting unconscious servitude. It’s reclaiming your **time**, your **labor**, your **future**.
In a fiat world, they own the money—so they own the rules. In a Bitcoin world, you own yourself.
That’s the power of making the unconscious conscious.
And that’s how you stop calling it fate.
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-28 02:24:00
NIP-01
======
Basic protocol flow description
-------------------------------
`draft` `mandatory`
This NIP defines the basic protocol that should be implemented by everybody. New NIPs may add new optional (or mandatory) fields and messages and features to the structures and flows described here.
## Events and signatures
Each user has a keypair. Signatures, public key, and encodings are done according to the [Schnorr signatures standard for the curve `secp256k1`](https://bips.xyz/340).
The only object type that exists is the `event`, which has the following format on the wire:
```jsonc
{
"id": <32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded sha256 of the serialized event data>,
"pubkey": <32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>,
"created_at": <unix timestamp in seconds>,
"kind": <integer between 0 and 65535>,
"tags": [
[<arbitrary string>...],
// ...
],
"content": <arbitrary string>,
"sig": <64-bytes lowercase hex of the signature of the sha256 hash of the serialized event data, which is the same as the "id" field>
}
```
To obtain the `event.id`, we `sha256` the serialized event. The serialization is done over the UTF-8 JSON-serialized string (which is described below) of the following structure:
```
[
0,
<pubkey, as a lowercase hex string>,
<created_at, as a number>,
<kind, as a number>,
<tags, as an array of arrays of non-null strings>,
<content, as a string>
]
```
To prevent implementation differences from creating a different event ID for the same event, the following rules MUST be followed while serializing:
- UTF-8 should be used for encoding.
- Whitespace, line breaks or other unnecessary formatting should not be included in the output JSON.
- The following characters in the content field must be escaped as shown, and all other characters must be included verbatim:
- A line break (`0x0A`), use `\n`
- A double quote (`0x22`), use `\"`
- A backslash (`0x5C`), use `\\`
- A carriage return (`0x0D`), use `\r`
- A tab character (`0x09`), use `\t`
- A backspace, (`0x08`), use `\b`
- A form feed, (`0x0C`), use `\f`
### Tags
Each tag is an array of one or more strings, with some conventions around them. Take a look at the example below:
```jsonc
{
"tags": [
["e", "5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36", "wss://nostr.example.com"],
["p", "f7234bd4c1394dda46d09f35bd384dd30cc552ad5541990f98844fb06676e9ca"],
["a", "30023:f7234bd4c1394dda46d09f35bd384dd30cc552ad5541990f98844fb06676e9ca:abcd", "wss://nostr.example.com"],
["alt", "reply"],
// ...
],
// ...
}
```
The first element of the tag array is referred to as the tag _name_ or _key_ and the second as the tag _value_. So we can safely say that the event above has an `e` tag set to `"5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36"`, an `alt` tag set to `"reply"` and so on. All elements after the second do not have a conventional name.
This NIP defines 3 standard tags that can be used across all event kinds with the same meaning. They are as follows:
- The `e` tag, used to refer to an event: `["e", <32-bytes lowercase hex of the id of another event>, <recommended relay URL, optional>, <32-bytes lowercase hex of the author's pubkey, optional>]`
- The `p` tag, used to refer to another user: `["p", <32-bytes lowercase hex of a pubkey>, <recommended relay URL, optional>]`
- The `a` tag, used to refer to an addressable or replaceable event
- for an addressable event: `["a", "<kind integer>:<32-bytes lowercase hex of a pubkey>:<d tag value>", <recommended relay URL, optional>]`
- for a normal replaceable event: `["a", "<kind integer>:<32-bytes lowercase hex of a pubkey>:", <recommended relay URL, optional>]` (note: include the trailing colon)
As a convention, all single-letter (only english alphabet letters: a-z, A-Z) key tags are expected to be indexed by relays, such that it is possible, for example, to query or subscribe to events that reference the event `"5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36"` by using the `{"#e": ["5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36"]}` filter. Only the first value in any given tag is indexed.
### Kinds
Kinds specify how clients should interpret the meaning of each event and the other fields of each event (e.g. an `"r"` tag may have a meaning in an event of kind 1 and an entirely different meaning in an event of kind 10002). Each NIP may define the meaning of a set of kinds that weren't defined elsewhere. [NIP-10](10.md), for instance, especifies the `kind:1` text note for social media applications.
This NIP defines one basic kind:
- `0`: **user metadata**: the `content` is set to a stringified JSON object `{name: <nickname or full name>, about: <short bio>, picture: <url of the image>}` describing the user who created the event. [Extra metadata fields](24.md#kind-0) may be set. A relay may delete older events once it gets a new one for the same pubkey.
And also a convention for kind ranges that allow for easier experimentation and flexibility of relay implementation:
- for kind `n` such that `1000 <= n < 10000 || 4 <= n < 45 || n == 1 || n == 2`, events are **regular**, which means they're all expected to be stored by relays.
- for kind `n` such that `10000 <= n < 20000 || n == 0 || n == 3`, events are **replaceable**, which means that, for each combination of `pubkey` and `kind`, only the latest event MUST be stored by relays, older versions MAY be discarded.
- for kind `n` such that `20000 <= n < 30000`, events are **ephemeral**, which means they are not expected to be stored by relays.
- for kind `n` such that `30000 <= n < 40000`, events are **addressable** by their `kind`, `pubkey` and `d` tag value -- which means that, for each combination of `kind`, `pubkey` and the `d` tag value, only the latest event MUST be stored by relays, older versions MAY be discarded.
In case of replaceable events with the same timestamp, the event with the lowest id (first in lexical order) should be retained, and the other discarded.
When answering to `REQ` messages for replaceable events such as `{"kinds":[0],"authors":[<hex-key>]}`, even if the relay has more than one version stored, it SHOULD return just the latest one.
These are just conventions and relay implementations may differ.
## Communication between clients and relays
Relays expose a websocket endpoint to which clients can connect. Clients SHOULD open a single websocket connection to each relay and use it for all their subscriptions. Relays MAY limit number of connections from specific IP/client/etc.
### From client to relay: sending events and creating subscriptions
Clients can send 3 types of messages, which must be JSON arrays, according to the following patterns:
* `["EVENT", <event JSON as defined above>]`, used to publish events.
* `["REQ", <subscription_id>, <filters1>, <filters2>, ...]`, used to request events and subscribe to new updates.
* `["CLOSE", <subscription_id>]`, used to stop previous subscriptions.
`<subscription_id>` is an arbitrary, non-empty string of max length 64 chars. It represents a subscription per connection. Relays MUST manage `<subscription_id>`s independently for each WebSocket connection. `<subscription_id>`s are not guaranteed to be globally unique.
`<filtersX>` is a JSON object that determines what events will be sent in that subscription, it can have the following attributes:
```json
{
"ids": <a list of event ids>,
"authors": <a list of lowercase pubkeys, the pubkey of an event must be one of these>,
"kinds": <a list of a kind numbers>,
"#<single-letter (a-zA-Z)>": <a list of tag values, for #e — a list of event ids, for #p — a list of pubkeys, etc.>,
"since": <an integer unix timestamp in seconds. Events must have a created_at >= to this to pass>,
"until": <an integer unix timestamp in seconds. Events must have a created_at <= to this to pass>,
"limit": <maximum number of events relays SHOULD return in the initial query>
}
```
Upon receiving a `REQ` message, the relay SHOULD return events that match the filter. Any new events it receives SHOULD be sent to that same websocket until the connection is closed, a `CLOSE` event is received with the same `<subscription_id>`, or a new `REQ` is sent using the same `<subscription_id>` (in which case a new subscription is created, replacing the old one).
Filter attributes containing lists (`ids`, `authors`, `kinds` and tag filters like `#e`) are JSON arrays with one or more values. At least one of the arrays' values must match the relevant field in an event for the condition to be considered a match. For scalar event attributes such as `authors` and `kind`, the attribute from the event must be contained in the filter list. In the case of tag attributes such as `#e`, for which an event may have multiple values, the event and filter condition values must have at least one item in common.
The `ids`, `authors`, `#e` and `#p` filter lists MUST contain exact 64-character lowercase hex values.
The `since` and `until` properties can be used to specify the time range of events returned in the subscription. If a filter includes the `since` property, events with `created_at` greater than or equal to `since` are considered to match the filter. The `until` property is similar except that `created_at` must be less than or equal to `until`. In short, an event matches a filter if `since <= created_at <= until` holds.
All conditions of a filter that are specified must match for an event for it to pass the filter, i.e., multiple conditions are interpreted as `&&` conditions.
A `REQ` message may contain multiple filters. In this case, events that match any of the filters are to be returned, i.e., multiple filters are to be interpreted as `||` conditions.
The `limit` property of a filter is only valid for the initial query and MUST be ignored afterwards. When `limit: n` is present it is assumed that the events returned in the initial query will be the last `n` events ordered by the `created_at`. Newer events should appear first, and in the case of ties the event with the lowest id (first in lexical order) should be first. It is safe to return less events than `limit` specifies, but it is expected that relays do not return (much) more events than requested so clients don't get unnecessarily overwhelmed by data.
### From relay to client: sending events and notices
Relays can send 5 types of messages, which must also be JSON arrays, according to the following patterns:
* `["EVENT", <subscription_id>, <event JSON as defined above>]`, used to send events requested by clients.
* `["OK", <event_id>, <true|false>, <message>]`, used to indicate acceptance or denial of an `EVENT` message.
* `["EOSE", <subscription_id>]`, used to indicate the _end of stored events_ and the beginning of events newly received in real-time.
* `["CLOSED", <subscription_id>, <message>]`, used to indicate that a subscription was ended on the server side.
* `["NOTICE", <message>]`, used to send human-readable error messages or other things to clients.
This NIP defines no rules for how `NOTICE` messages should be sent or treated.
- `EVENT` messages MUST be sent only with a subscription ID related to a subscription previously initiated by the client (using the `REQ` message above).
- `OK` messages MUST be sent in response to `EVENT` messages received from clients, they must have the 3rd parameter set to `true` when an event has been accepted by the relay, `false` otherwise. The 4th parameter MUST always be present, but MAY be an empty string when the 3rd is `true`, otherwise it MUST be a string formed by a machine-readable single-word prefix followed by a `:` and then a human-readable message. Some examples:
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", true, ""]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", true, "pow: difficulty 25>=24"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", true, "duplicate: already have this event"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "blocked: you are banned from posting here"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "blocked: please register your pubkey at https://my-expensive-relay.example.com"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "rate-limited: slow down there chief"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "invalid: event creation date is too far off from the current time"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "pow: difficulty 26 is less than 30"]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "restricted: not allowed to write."]`
* `["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "error: could not connect to the database"]`
- `CLOSED` messages MUST be sent in response to a `REQ` when the relay refuses to fulfill it. It can also be sent when a relay decides to kill a subscription on its side before a client has disconnected or sent a `CLOSE`. This message uses the same pattern of `OK` messages with the machine-readable prefix and human-readable message. Some examples:
* `["CLOSED", "sub1", "unsupported: filter contains unknown elements"]`
* `["CLOSED", "sub1", "error: could not connect to the database"]`
* `["CLOSED", "sub1", "error: shutting down idle subscription"]`
- The standardized machine-readable prefixes for `OK` and `CLOSED` are: `duplicate`, `pow`, `blocked`, `rate-limited`, `invalid`, `restricted`, and `error` for when none of that fits.
-

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd
2025-03-28 02:21:20
# NIPs
NIPs stand for **Nostr Implementation Possibilities**.
They exist to document what may be implemented by [Nostr](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr)-compatible _relay_ and _client_ software.
---
- [List](#list)
- [Event Kinds](#event-kinds)
- [Message Types](#message-types)
- [Client to Relay](#client-to-relay)
- [Relay to Client](#relay-to-client)
- [Standardized Tags](#standardized-tags)
- [Criteria for acceptance of NIPs](#criteria-for-acceptance-of-nips)
- [Is this repository a centralizing factor?](#is-this-repository-a-centralizing-factor)
- [How this repository works](#how-this-repository-works)
- [Breaking Changes](#breaking-changes)
- [License](#license)
---
## List
- [NIP-01: Basic protocol flow description](01.md)
- [NIP-02: Follow List](02.md)
- [NIP-03: OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events](03.md)
- [NIP-04: Encrypted Direct Message](04.md) --- **unrecommended**: deprecated in favor of [NIP-17](17.md)
- [NIP-05: Mapping Nostr keys to DNS-based internet identifiers](05.md)
- [NIP-06: Basic key derivation from mnemonic seed phrase](06.md)
- [NIP-07: `window.nostr` capability for web browsers](07.md)
- [NIP-08: Handling Mentions](08.md) --- **unrecommended**: deprecated in favor of [NIP-27](27.md)
- [NIP-09: Event Deletion Request](09.md)
- [NIP-10: Text Notes and Threads](10.md)
- [NIP-11: Relay Information Document](11.md)
- [NIP-13: Proof of Work](13.md)
- [NIP-14: Subject tag in text events](14.md)
- [NIP-15: Nostr Marketplace (for resilient marketplaces)](15.md)
- [NIP-17: Private Direct Messages](17.md)
- [NIP-18: Reposts](18.md)
- [NIP-19: bech32-encoded entities](19.md)
- [NIP-21: `nostr:` URI scheme](21.md)
- [NIP-22: Comment](22.md)
- [NIP-23: Long-form Content](23.md)
- [NIP-24: Extra metadata fields and tags](24.md)
- [NIP-25: Reactions](25.md)
- [NIP-26: Delegated Event Signing](26.md)
- [NIP-27: Text Note References](27.md)
- [NIP-28: Public Chat](28.md)
- [NIP-29: Relay-based Groups](29.md)
- [NIP-30: Custom Emoji](30.md)
- [NIP-31: Dealing with Unknown Events](31.md)
- [NIP-32: Labeling](32.md)
- [NIP-34: `git` stuff](34.md)
- [NIP-35: Torrents](35.md)
- [NIP-36: Sensitive Content](36.md)
- [NIP-37: Draft Events](37.md)
- [NIP-38: User Statuses](38.md)
- [NIP-39: External Identities in Profiles](39.md)
- [NIP-40: Expiration Timestamp](40.md)
- [NIP-42: Authentication of clients to relays](42.md)
- [NIP-44: Encrypted Payloads (Versioned)](44.md)
- [NIP-45: Counting results](45.md)
- [NIP-46: Nostr Remote Signing](46.md)
- [NIP-47: Nostr Wallet Connect](47.md)
- [NIP-48: Proxy Tags](48.md)
- [NIP-49: Private Key Encryption](49.md)
- [NIP-50: Search Capability](50.md)
- [NIP-51: Lists](51.md)
- [NIP-52: Calendar Events](52.md)
- [NIP-53: Live Activities](53.md)
- [NIP-54: Wiki](54.md)
- [NIP-55: Android Signer Application](55.md)
- [NIP-56: Reporting](56.md)
- [NIP-57: Lightning Zaps](57.md)
- [NIP-58: Badges](58.md)
- [NIP-59: Gift Wrap](59.md)
- [NIP-60: Cashu Wallet](60.md)
- [NIP-61: Nutzaps](61.md)
- [NIP-62: Request to Vanish](62.md)
- [NIP-64: Chess (PGN)](64.md)
- [NIP-65: Relay List Metadata](65.md)
- [NIP-66: Relay Discovery and Liveness Monitoring](66.md)
- [NIP-68: Picture-first feeds](68.md)
- [NIP-69: Peer-to-peer Order events](69.md)
- [NIP-70: Protected Events](70.md)
- [NIP-71: Video Events](71.md)
- [NIP-72: Moderated Communities](72.md)
- [NIP-73: External Content IDs](73.md)
- [NIP-75: Zap Goals](75.md)
- [NIP-78: Application-specific data](78.md)
- [NIP-84: Highlights](84.md)
- [NIP-86: Relay Management API](86.md)
- [NIP-88: Polls](88.md)
- [NIP-89: Recommended Application Handlers](89.md)
- [NIP-90: Data Vending Machines](90.md)
- [NIP-92: Media Attachments](92.md)
- [NIP-94: File Metadata](94.md)
- [NIP-96: HTTP File Storage Integration](96.md)
- [NIP-98: HTTP Auth](98.md)
- [NIP-99: Classified Listings](99.md)
- [NIP-7D: Threads](7D.md)
- [NIP-C7: Chats](C7.md)
## Event Kinds
| kind | description | NIP |
| ------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `0` | User Metadata | [01](01.md) |
| `1` | Short Text Note | [10](10.md) |
| `2` | Recommend Relay | 01 (deprecated) |
| `3` | Follows | [02](02.md) |
| `4` | Encrypted Direct Messages | [04](04.md) |
| `5` | Event Deletion Request | [09](09.md) |
| `6` | Repost | [18](18.md) |
| `7` | Reaction | [25](25.md) |
| `8` | Badge Award | [58](58.md) |
| `9` | Chat Message | [C7](C7.md) |
| `10` | Group Chat Threaded Reply | 29 (deprecated) |
| `11` | Thread | [7D](7D.md) |
| `12` | Group Thread Reply | 29 (deprecated) |
| `13` | Seal | [59](59.md) |
| `14` | Direct Message | [17](17.md) |
| `15` | File Message | [17](17.md) |
| `16` | Generic Repost | [18](18.md) |
| `17` | Reaction to a website | [25](25.md) |
| `20` | Picture | [68](68.md) |
| `21` | Video Event | [71](71.md) |
| `22` | Short-form Portrait Video Event | [71](71.md) |
| `30` | internal reference | [NKBIP-03] |
| `31` | external web reference | [NKBIP-03] |
| `32` | hardcopy reference | [NKBIP-03] |
| `33` | prompt reference | [NKBIP-03] |
| `40` | Channel Creation | [28](28.md) |
| `41` | Channel Metadata | [28](28.md) |
| `42` | Channel Message | [28](28.md) |
| `43` | Channel Hide Message | [28](28.md) |
| `44` | Channel Mute User | [28](28.md) |
| `62` | Request to Vanish | [62](62.md) |
| `64` | Chess (PGN) | [64](64.md) |
| `818` | Merge Requests | [54](54.md) |
| `1018` | Poll Response | [88](88.md) |
| `1021` | Bid | [15](15.md) |
| `1022` | Bid confirmation | [15](15.md) |
| `1040` | OpenTimestamps | [03](03.md) |
| `1059` | Gift Wrap | [59](59.md) |
| `1063` | File Metadata | [94](94.md) |
| `1068` | Poll | [88](88.md) |
| `1111` | Comment | [22](22.md) |
| `1311` | Live Chat Message | [53](53.md) |
| `1617` | Patches | [34](34.md) |
| `1621` | Issues | [34](34.md) |
| `1622` | Git Replies (deprecated) | [34](34.md) |
| `1630`-`1633` | Status | [34](34.md) |
| `1971` | Problem Tracker | [nostrocket][nostrocket] |
| `1984` | Reporting | [56](56.md) |
| `1985` | Label | [32](32.md) |
| `1986` | Relay reviews | |
| `1987` | AI Embeddings / Vector lists | [NKBIP-02] |
| `2003` | Torrent | [35](35.md) |
| `2004` | Torrent Comment | [35](35.md) |
| `2022` | Coinjoin Pool | [joinstr][joinstr] |
| `4550` | Community Post Approval | [72](72.md) |
| `5000`-`5999` | Job Request | [90](90.md) |
| `6000`-`6999` | Job Result | [90](90.md) |
| `7000` | Job Feedback | [90](90.md) |
| `7374` | Reserved Cashu Wallet Tokens | [60](60.md) |
| `7375` | Cashu Wallet Tokens | [60](60.md) |
| `7376` | Cashu Wallet History | [60](60.md) |
| `9000`-`9030` | Group Control Events | [29](29.md) |
| `9041` | Zap Goal | [75](75.md) |
| `9321` | Nutzap | [61](61.md) |
| `9467` | Tidal login | [Tidal-nostr] |
| `9734` | Zap Request | [57](57.md) |
| `9735` | Zap | [57](57.md) |
| `9802` | Highlights | [84](84.md) |
| `10000` | Mute list | [51](51.md) |
| `10001` | Pin list | [51](51.md) |
| `10002` | Relay List Metadata | [65](65.md), [51](51.md) |
| `10003` | Bookmark list | [51](51.md) |
| `10004` | Communities list | [51](51.md) |
| `10005` | Public chats list | [51](51.md) |
| `10006` | Blocked relays list | [51](51.md) |
| `10007` | Search relays list | [51](51.md) |
| `10009` | User groups | [51](51.md), [29](29.md) |
| `10013` | Private event relay list | [37](37.md) |
| `10015` | Interests list | [51](51.md) |
| `10019` | Nutzap Mint Recommendation | [61](61.md) |
| `10030` | User emoji list | [51](51.md) |
| `10050` | Relay list to receive DMs | [51](51.md), [17](17.md) |
| `10063` | User server list | [Blossom][blossom] |
| `10096` | File storage server list | [96](96.md) |
| `10166` | Relay Monitor Announcement | [66](66.md) |
| `13194` | Wallet Info | [47](47.md) |
| `17375` | Cashu Wallet Event | [60](60.md) |
| `21000` | Lightning Pub RPC | [Lightning.Pub][lnpub] |
| `22242` | Client Authentication | [42](42.md) |
| `23194` | Wallet Request | [47](47.md) |
| `23195` | Wallet Response | [47](47.md) |
| `24133` | Nostr Connect | [46](46.md) |
| `24242` | Blobs stored on mediaservers | [Blossom][blossom] |
| `27235` | HTTP Auth | [98](98.md) |
| `30000` | Follow sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30001` | Generic lists | 51 (deprecated) |
| `30002` | Relay sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30003` | Bookmark sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30004` | Curation sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30005` | Video sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30007` | Kind mute sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30008` | Profile Badges | [58](58.md) |
| `30009` | Badge Definition | [58](58.md) |
| `30015` | Interest sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30017` | Create or update a stall | [15](15.md) |
| `30018` | Create or update a product | [15](15.md) |
| `30019` | Marketplace UI/UX | [15](15.md) |
| `30020` | Product sold as an auction | [15](15.md) |
| `30023` | Long-form Content | [23](23.md) |
| `30024` | Draft Long-form Content | [23](23.md) |
| `30030` | Emoji sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30040` | Curated Publication Index | [NKBIP-01] |
| `30041` | Curated Publication Content | [NKBIP-01] |
| `30063` | Release artifact sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30078` | Application-specific Data | [78](78.md) |
| `30166` | Relay Discovery | [66](66.md) |
| `30267` | App curation sets | [51](51.md) |
| `30311` | Live Event | [53](53.md) |
| `30315` | User Statuses | [38](38.md) |
| `30388` | Slide Set | [Corny Chat][cornychat-slideset] |
| `30402` | Classified Listing | [99](99.md) |
| `30403` | Draft Classified Listing | [99](99.md) |
| `30617` | Repository announcements | [34](34.md) |
| `30618` | Repository state announcements | [34](34.md) |
| `30818` | Wiki article | [54](54.md) |
| `30819` | Redirects | [54](54.md) |
| `31234` | Draft Event | [37](37.md) |
| `31388` | Link Set | [Corny Chat][cornychat-linkset] |
| `31890` | Feed | [NUD: Custom Feeds][NUD: Custom Feeds] |
| `31922` | Date-Based Calendar Event | [52](52.md) |
| `31923` | Time-Based Calendar Event | [52](52.md) |
| `31924` | Calendar | [52](52.md) |
| `31925` | Calendar Event RSVP | [52](52.md) |
| `31989` | Handler recommendation | [89](89.md) |
| `31990` | Handler information | [89](89.md) | |
| `32267` | Software Application | | |
| `34550` | Community Definition | [72](72.md) |
| `38383` | Peer-to-peer Order events | [69](69.md) |
| `39000-9` | Group metadata events | [29](29.md) |
[NUD: Custom Feeds]: https://wikifreedia.xyz/cip-01/
[nostrocket]: https://github.com/nostrocket/NIPS/blob/main/Problems.md
[lnpub]: https://github.com/shocknet/Lightning.Pub/blob/master/proto/autogenerated/client.md
[cornychat-slideset]: https://cornychat.com/datatypes#kind30388slideset
[cornychat-linkset]: https://cornychat.com/datatypes#kind31388linkset
[joinstr]: https://gitlab.com/1440000bytes/joinstr/-/blob/main/NIP.md
[NKBIP-01]: https://wikistr.com/nkbip-01*fd208ee8c8f283780a9552896e4823cc9dc6bfd442063889577106940fd927c1
[NKBIP-02]: https://wikistr.com/nkbip-02*fd208ee8c8f283780a9552896e4823cc9dc6bfd442063889577106940fd927c1
[NKBIP-03]: https://wikistr.com/nkbip-03*fd208ee8c8f283780a9552896e4823cc9dc6bfd442063889577106940fd927c1
[blossom]: https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom
[Tidal-nostr]: https://wikistr.com/tidal-nostr
## Message types
### Client to Relay
| type | description | NIP |
| ------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| `EVENT` | used to publish events | [01](01.md) |
| `REQ` | used to request events and subscribe to new updates | [01](01.md) |
| `CLOSE` | used to stop previous subscriptions | [01](01.md) |
| `AUTH` | used to send authentication events | [42](42.md) |
| `COUNT` | used to request event counts | [45](45.md) |
### Relay to Client
| type | description | NIP |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| `EOSE` | used to notify clients all stored events have been sent | [01](01.md) |
| `EVENT` | used to send events requested to clients | [01](01.md) |
| `NOTICE` | used to send human-readable messages to clients | [01](01.md) |
| `OK` | used to notify clients if an EVENT was successful | [01](01.md) |
| `CLOSED` | used to notify clients that a REQ was ended and why | [01](01.md) |
| `AUTH` | used to send authentication challenges | [42](42.md) |
| `COUNT` | used to send requested event counts to clients | [45](45.md) |
## Standardized Tags
| name | value | other parameters | NIP |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `a` | coordinates to an event | relay URL | [01](01.md) |
| `A` | root address | relay URL | [22](22.md) |
| `d` | identifier | -- | [01](01.md) |
| `e` | event id (hex) | relay URL, marker, pubkey (hex) | [01](01.md), [10](10.md) |
| `E` | root event id | relay URL | [22](22.md) |
| `f` | currency code | -- | [69](69.md) |
| `g` | geohash | -- | [52](52.md) |
| `h` | group id | -- | [29](29.md) |
| `i` | external identity | proof, url hint | [35](35.md), [39](39.md), [73](73.md) |
| `I` | root external identity | -- | [22](22.md) |
| `k` | kind | -- | [18](18.md), [25](25.md), [72](72.md), [73](73.md) |
| `K` | root scope | -- | [22](22.md) |
| `l` | label, label namespace | -- | [32](32.md) |
| `L` | label namespace | -- | [32](32.md) |
| `m` | MIME type | -- | [94](94.md) |
| `p` | pubkey (hex) | relay URL, petname | [01](01.md), [02](02.md), [22](22.md) |
| `P` | pubkey (hex) | -- | [22](22.md), [57](57.md) |
| `q` | event id (hex) | relay URL, pubkey (hex) | [18](18.md) |
| `r` | a reference (URL, etc) | -- | [24](24.md), [25](25.md) |
| `r` | relay url | marker | [65](65.md) |
| `s` | status | -- | [69](69.md) |
| `t` | hashtag | -- | [24](24.md), [34](34.md), [35](35.md) |
| `u` | url | -- | [61](61.md), [98](98.md) |
| `x` | hash | -- | [35](35.md), [56](56.md) |
| `y` | platform | -- | [69](69.md) |
| `z` | order number | -- | [69](69.md) |
| `-` | -- | -- | [70](70.md) |
| `alt` | summary | -- | [31](31.md) |
| `amount` | millisatoshis, stringified | -- | [57](57.md) |
| `bolt11` | `bolt11` invoice | -- | [57](57.md) |
| `challenge` | challenge string | -- | [42](42.md) |
| `client` | name, address | relay URL | [89](89.md) |
| `clone` | git clone URL | -- | [34](34.md) |
| `content-warning` | reason | -- | [36](36.md) |
| `delegation` | pubkey, conditions, delegation token | -- | [26](26.md) |
| `description` | description | -- | [34](34.md), [57](57.md), [58](58.md) |
| `emoji` | shortcode, image URL | -- | [30](30.md) |
| `encrypted` | -- | -- | [90](90.md) |
| `expiration` | unix timestamp (string) | -- | [40](40.md) |
| `file` | full path (string) | -- | [35](35.md) |
| `goal` | event id (hex) | relay URL | [75](75.md) |
| `image` | image URL | dimensions in pixels | [23](23.md), [52](52.md), [58](58.md) |
| `imeta` | inline metadata | -- | [92](92.md) |
| `lnurl` | `bech32` encoded `lnurl` | -- | [57](57.md) |
| `location` | location string | -- | [52](52.md), [99](99.md) |
| `name` | name | -- | [34](34.md), [58](58.md), [72](72.md) |
| `nonce` | random | difficulty | [13](13.md) |
| `preimage` | hash of `bolt11` invoice | -- | [57](57.md) |
| `price` | price | currency, frequency | [99](99.md) |
| `proxy` | external ID | protocol | [48](48.md) |
| `published_at` | unix timestamp (string) | -- | [23](23.md) |
| `relay` | relay url | -- | [42](42.md), [17](17.md) |
| `relays` | relay list | -- | [57](57.md) |
| `server` | file storage server url | -- | [96](96.md) |
| `subject` | subject | -- | [14](14.md), [17](17.md), [34](34.md) |
| `summary` | summary | -- | [23](23.md), [52](52.md) |
| `thumb` | badge thumbnail | dimensions in pixels | [58](58.md) |
| `title` | article title | -- | [23](23.md) |
| `tracker` | torrent tracker URL | -- | [35](35.md) |
| `web` | webpage URL | -- | [34](34.md) |
| `zap` | pubkey (hex), relay URL | weight | [57](57.md) |
Please update these lists when proposing new NIPs.
## Criteria for acceptance of NIPs
1. They should be fully implemented in at least two clients and one relay -- when applicable.
2. They should make sense.
3. They should be optional and backwards-compatible: care must be taken such that clients and relays that choose to not implement them do not stop working when interacting with the ones that choose to.
4. There should be no more than one way of doing the same thing.
5. Other rules will be made up when necessary.
## Is this repository a centralizing factor?
To promote interoperability, we need standards that everybody can follow, and we need them to define a **single way of doing each thing** without ever hurting **backwards-compatibility**, and for that purpose there is no way around getting everybody to agree on the same thing and keep a centralized index of these standards. However the fact that such an index exists doesn't hurt the decentralization of Nostr. _At any point the central index can be challenged if it is failing to fulfill the needs of the protocol_ and it can migrate to other places and be maintained by other people.
It can even fork into multiple versions, and then some clients would go one way, others would go another way, and some clients would adhere to both competing standards. This would hurt the simplicity, openness and interoperability of Nostr a little, but everything would still work in the short term.
There is a list of notable Nostr software developers who have commit access to this repository, but that exists mostly for practical reasons, as by the nature of the thing we're dealing with the repository owner can revoke membership and rewrite history as they want -- and if these actions are unjustified or perceived as bad or evil the community must react.
## How this repository works
Standards may emerge in two ways: the first way is that someone starts doing something, then others copy it; the second way is that someone has an idea of a new standard that could benefit multiple clients and the protocol in general without breaking **backwards-compatibility** and the principle of having **a single way of doing things**, then they write that idea and submit it to this repository, other interested parties read it and give their feedback, then once most people reasonably agree we codify that in a NIP which client and relay developers that are interested in the feature can proceed to implement.
These two ways of standardizing things are supported by this repository. Although the second is preferred, an effort will be made to codify standards emerged outside this repository into NIPs that can be later referenced and easily understood and implemented by others -- but obviously as in any human system discretion may be applied when standards are considered harmful.
## Breaking Changes
[Breaking Changes](BREAKING.md)
## License
All NIPs are public domain.
## Contributors
<a align="center" href="https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/graphs/contributors">
<img src="https://contrib.rocks/image?repo=nostr-protocol/nips" />
</a>