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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-24 16:56:02
Hello Stackers!
It's Monday so we're back doing "Meta Music Mondays" 😉.
From before the territory existed there was just one post a week in a ~meta take over. Now each month we have a different theme and bring music from that theme.
Welcome to Femmes Fatales 3!!!
I absolutely loved doing this last year so I'm bringing it back for round 3!
It's Femmes Fatales, where we celebrate women in ~Music. So let's have those ladies of the lung, the sirens of sound, our Femmes Fatales!
Stackers, here's Avril Lavigne.
https://youtu.be/dGR65RWwzg8?si=T5onrZ0T_zREhd-n
Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/895855
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@ 4d41a7cb:7d3633cc
2025-02-24 16:31:54
Money is more abstract than most people think, as I will show in this article. Debt slavery stems from financial illiteracy, which occurs intentionally. The biggest secret is how bankers actually create **currency claims out of thin air and transfer the wealth of their clients (including nation states) to themselves for free without risking a cent, real money, or currency.**
## **MONEY**
Money, one of the most important things in our lives, is so important that we exchange wealth to obtain it. Not because we want it but because we need it in order to buy food, shelter, clothes, etc.
Money is not inherently bad, although some may argue that the love for money is the root of all evil, and I'll agree. If you are willing to sacrifice your soul, honor, reputation, family, or friends for money, it indicates a lack of morality and a willingness to engage in harmful actions to satisfy your greed and materialistic desires.
**Money is a technology, a tool, and like any tool or technology, it is impartial**; it cannot be inherently good or bad. It can be used to help others or to destroy them. At the end of the day, it’s all about the intention behind human behavior.
Money is not just a useful tool; it’s **the most important tool** to have for global commerce, division of labor, specialists, and the level of sophistication and comfort we achieve as humanity. All of this will not be possible without this tool working as a common medium of exchange and standard of value, a common language for all humanity: the language of monetary value.
**Money is the cornerstone of civilization.** Money is the bloodstream of commerce, and commerce is the spine of civilization; it’s what made our civilization so prosperous, letting any one of us decide how we want to provide value to society.
Money is half of every transaction, and since we will always need to intermediate between every exchange, money is the perfect intermediary to help achieve millions of different combinations of exchanges. It will be practically impossible to barter on a global scale; even in a small community with a few different products, it will be a mess.
For example, if there were 10 products, there would be 45 combinations; if there were 100, there would be 4950 combinations. Imagine a scenario on a large scale, requiring the exchange of hundreds of thousands of products every second..
This issue **necessitated the development of a new technology: money, which in turn led to the emergence of moneychangers (v4v). Money is a tool to exchange, measure, and store wealth.** Wealth is anything we can sell: our labor (time and energy), our house, a car, a product, a service, etc.
**Gold and silver were money for thousands of years** because of their unique characteristics of scarcity, durability, divisibility, and transportability. The most important characteristic of these metals is that they are scarce, and they can’t be created out of thin air or reproduced with no effort.
**Only God can control the supply of gold and silver found in nature.** Men can only extract it, and it requires investment, work, time, and effort to find and mine it. So the common knowledge and the common sense of the people over thousands of years consensually chose gold and silver as money. And **this money is the only lawful money under common law.**
> “Gold is money, everything else is credit”
>
> J.P. Morgan 1912
As an interesting fact, the word "money" is used 140 times in the King James Bible, the word "gold" is mentioned 417 times, and the word "silver" over 320 times. But the word “currency” is not mentioned a single time.
The most important function of money is to **exchange and store your time and energy**. You work to acquire money and then use that money to acquire other goods and services.
**Our time and energy is our real wealth** because it’s limited. We all have a limited time on earth, and we can do certain things in the 24 hours we have every day, so we have to be conscious about how we administrate and store the fruits of our labor.
Money is a means to an end; we don't want money; we want what money can buy, and guess what, money cannot buy more time.
## **CURRENCY = FAKE MONEY**
**Currency exists as a money substitute.** Currencies began as the opposite of money, the **promise to deliver money in the future: debt**. Currencies can be used to exchange wealth, but they are not a fair unit of account and are never a good way to store it because men are tempted to create more and dilute its value (a process known as inflation)
Currencies have almost all the same characteristics of money, but there’s a big difference: **currency is not scarce and durable**. Missing the store of value characteristic of money, since **its supply can be manipulated by men.**
For wealth preservation and measuring, modern currencies make no sense. Men control the supply of currency; **banks and governments can inflate or deflate it in any amount they please, giving them supreme power and control over wealth distribution.** This creates two classes of citizens: those who work to acquire currency and those who create it instantly and for free.
International banks have stolen money (gold and silver) over the past century, replacing its supply with currency or fake money (paper receipts). \[1913, 1933, 1944, 1971\]
Under this monetary game, those with "fixed income," savers, and creditors are the biggest losers, while debtors and asset owners are the winners..
The **most important distinction to keep in mind is that nature controls the money supply, making artificial inflation impossible.** On the other hand, men can inflate currency in unlimited amounts. It is **a manifestation of God's power on earth, as the mediums of exchange serve as the lifeblood of commerce, the backbone of our economic system, and facilitate the division of labor.**
If someone can **inflate the currency supply, this has the same economic effect as counterfeiting,** and he’s effectively stealing from everyone contracting, trading, and saving in that currency. Manipulating the mediums of exchange in an economy enables manipulation of every security, industry, and business.
This is the reason the founding fathers of the United States made gold and silver only lawful money for the payment of debts. To give everyone equal protection under the law and to get rid of the nobility and two types of citizens: bankers and workers or nobles and plebeians.
> Bank-notes are not money. It 's currency. It’s unfair to take banks' currency as a standard for comparison.
>
> Bank-note currency is not “lawful money”. It never could be counted as part of banks cash reserves. ***It would be too much like a man writing and signing his own promissory note for a million and then claiming that this made him a millionaire.***
>
> The very grave evils any currency depreciation always impose upon businesses and the people.
>
> Alfred Owen Crozier, US Money vs Corporate currency, 1912
So money has three very important functions that work as the pillars on which the wellness of our economic system and civilizations relies. Currency is not a store of value because its supply can be easily manipulated, men in power can create more of it, and so using this always-changing currency as a standard of value or a unit of account is like using an always-changing ruler to measure distance. A dollar today does not buy the same as a dollar one year ago. So yesterday prices are not equal to today's prices; this is an unfair business calculation.
So money has three very important functions that work as the pillars on which the wellness of our economic system and civilizations rel**ies. Currency is not a store of value because its supply can be easily manipulated**, men in power can create more of it, and so using this always-changing currency as a standard of value or a unit of account is like using an always-changing ruler to measure distance. **A dollar today does not buy the same as a dollar one year ago**. So yesterday prices are not equal to today's prices; this is an unfair business calculation.
There are several Bible verses that discuss the manipulation of weights and measures, emphasizing the importance of honesty and fairness in commercial dealings.
1. Leviticus 19:35-36 New International Version (NIV): "**Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity.** Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin.
2. Deuteronomy 25:13-15: Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. **You must have accurate and honest weights and measures**.
3. Proverbs 11:1—"A "**dishonest scale is an abomination to the Lord**, but a just weight is his delight."
**Fake money (currency) is always and everywhere a dishonest scale.** So if you want a real measure of value or wealth use something with real value instead, like gold, commodities, products, times, etc.
Bankers have redefined the word money to mean fake money, currency, or debt. And this is not the worst part. Let’s introduce another concept: credit.
## **CREDIT = FAKE CURRENCY**
**Real credit is the promise to pay money in the future.** It involves delaying the payment of money. **Currency was born as credit**, as a money certificate or receipt. During the last century, banks gradually replaced 100% of the money with currency and bank credit to further boost their profits and control. \[1913, 1933, 1944, 1971\]
But in order to achieve this goal, **bankers redefined the word money to mean the opposite of money: credit/debt. This is like calling a night a day or evil a good.**
When you take out a loan from a friend, you receive credit from him, but you also incur a debt with him. You promise your friends that you will pay them (asset/right), and you owe them (liability/obligation). The asset and the liability are one and part of the same deal; they cannot exist without the other. There’s no credit with no debt, no debt with no credit, and no liability with no asset.
Federal Reserve notes, commonly known as **“dollars,”** are a private corporate currency; they are **not money** because they are not gold or silver, nor receipts for these metals as many people still believe. They were not redeemable in money from the start, despite being created under the assumption.
The “peso” (Spanish word for weight) used to be a standardized amount of gold or silver, but it’s not any more; it's just a debt denomination. And what's owing? Currency. **How can someone lend the opposite of money and charge interest? O**nly deceiving you into believing that he is lending you money. So they redefined the word money to mean the opposite of it.
But redefining words does not change the economic effect of the transaction.
When currencies first appeared, I can imagine people asking themselves, "How can people trust these paper certificates in exchange for their money?" Who will be that stupid?” And **nowadays, people don’t understand the difference between money and currency, to the point that bankers redefined the word "money" to mean the opposite of "money."**
Lesson: Money is not just a medium of exchange; it is also a store of value and a unit of account. Currency, the opposite of money, is debt. Since it can be created in unlimited amounts, it can't work as a store of value because its value depreciates as more units are created; for this same reason, it is not fair to denominate values in currency units since one currency unit today does not buy the same as a year ago because of inflation, the loss of purchasing power.
Summarize: While money, currency, and credit all serve as effective mediums of exchange, only money serves as a reliable store of value for saving. Currency and credit are not stores of value (not good to save), and there are not fair units of account (not good for price).
In simple terms, money is not currency, because currency is just credit and debt. We can conceptualize it as a ledger, a record of who owes what to whom. Currency is fake money since it’s the opposite of a store of value; it's always depreciating in value while its supply is inflated. This is the definition of inflation.
**Modern credit is not currency; it’s the opposite. It’s the promise to deliver currency in the future, the promise of a promise of money (in theory). But there’s no money behind. It’s an air loan.**
But how did we get here? Is everyone stupid? No, we have been tricked, manipulated, and dictated to use these currencies, and this banking system was forced on us. They stole our money and replaced it with fake substitutes to boost their profits.
## **MODERN MEDIUMS OF EXCHANGE = MONOPOLY MONEY**
**So nowadays we have fake money acting as cash/currency and fake currency acting as bank deposits or credit.** One is worse than the other, but both of them serve only as mediums of exchange. Those who store wealth with them will be robbed, and those who calculate business will be lied to.
Today we use currencies (government notes), coins, bank deposits (currency claims), checks (bank deposit claims), credit cards, and debit cards. All of them are ‘monopoly money’ fake claims based on a big and global fraud.
- *Government notes (government debt)*
Since governments are under the control of central banks, they can only create currency by borrowing. Governments must issue bonds, or debt, and the central bank can generate credit, or currency, to purchase these bonds.
The bond (government liability) is the counterpart of the ‘asset’ (the currency, a central bank asset). Bonds are debt, and currencies are credit.
When the central bank creates currency to lend it to the government at interest, it has literally the economic effect of **transferring the wealth of the nation to the banks for free**. The banks are not lending anything that they had to labor to produce; instead, they are creating it by printing paper notes or digital currency.
On the other side, governments have to collect money from citizens (producers, merchants, and workers) to pay the interest on the debt.
Despite their best efforts, governments are unable to repay the debt due to interest, which makes it bigger than the amount of currency. Let’s say the debt is 100 at 1% interest. So there’s only 100 in currency. But at the end of the year, there’s going to be a debt of 101. In order for the system to keep working, someone else has to go into debt to create more currency units, and governments have to keep borrowing and at least only paying the interest and rolling the debt.
The important thing is that if you have government currency debt free, you own it. This is the new ‘money.’. **Government currency is the ‘real’ cash, liquidity, or water.**
- *Bank deposits (bank debt)*
When you deposit your government currency in the bank, you are legally lending your currency to the bank, and the bank owes you the amount you deposit. This currency is not stored by banks until you request it. Banks use this currency as if it were theirs, and they do business with it. That’s why I said, **‘Your money in the bank’ is not yours; it’s not money; it’s not in the bank.** Its currency, its owe to you, is only registered on the bank ledger as a debt, not in a safe box.
The numbers you get in the bank account, or your balance, are government currency substitutes; they are bank deposits. Your currency deposit is the asset, and the number on your bank account balance is the liability.
But this is not the worst part. Banks lend around 10 times more currency than they have in deposits. So banks have more liabilities than assets (they are literally broke).
People often treat bank deposits, also known as government currency substitutes or bank tokens, as legal tender, allowing banks to create them arbitrarily and 'lend' them to unsuspecting clients who mistakenly believe they are receiving currency.
This is possible only because the bank's deposit has equal cash value.
***Government bonds, government currency, and bank deposits have equal value. But they are not the same.***
All of them have counterparty risk, but **cash, or government currency, is better** or safer than bonds or bank deposits. If interest rates rise, the value of bonds can decrease, and default on bank deposits can result in total loss, a scenario that has frequently occurred.
Keep in mind that bank deposits represent the bank's debts, also known as liabilities. Business activities and risk-taking make your currency unsecured, and they don't compensate you enough for the loan and risk.
- *Debit cards (bank deposit transfer)*
Your bank deposit is your right to get your currency back. When you use a credit card to buy something, you are transferring that right to the seller so he can redeem that bank token for currency if he wishes.
But you have to have had a deposit before you can spend it or transfer it.
- *Checks (bank deposit transfer)*
The same applies to checks. Your bank deposit is your right to get your currency back. When you use a check to buy something, you are transferring that right to the seller so he can redeem that bank token for currency if he wishes.
- *Credit card (bank deposit creator)*
Credit cards are different. When you use a credit card, you are creating a bank deposit backed by your promise of paying it back. By allowing the bank to create a currency substitute out of nothing and charge you high interest, you are essentially working for them for free.
Not only this, but you are also letting them collect fees from the payments processing that cost them nothing and support their fake money as a medium of exchange.
**Using credit cards is literally voting for financial slavery.** This is why companies make credit cards so convenient and offer benefits, with the intention of incentivizing and pushing people into the debt slavery system.
## **BANKS = MONEYCHANGERS**
‘Loans’ = exchanges
**The history of money is the history of moneychangers**, money dealers, or bankers. Money is an inanimate object. Bankers are alive; they are the ones in charge of making the money, currency, and credit flow or stop.
**They have been in existence for thousands of years**, from Egypt to Rome, where Jesus Christ himself threw them out of the temple and called them thieves, and he was not wrong.
Moneychangers played a crucial role in facilitating trade by exchanging different forms of currency and commodities. The profession of moneychangers evolved over time, particularly during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages when various currencies were in circulation. In these times, moneychangers would set up shop at markets or public spaces to provide their services and **help merchants convert their money into a form that could be used for transactions with other traders.** As banking systems developed over time, the role of moneychangers expanded to include more complex financial services.
Today, moneychangers are still an essential part of the global economy, helping people exchange currencies and facilitating international trade.
**The Knights Templars** were a Christian military order established in 1119 who played a crucial role in the establishment of the financial system in medieval Europe. They established **a gold-backed credit system** that laid the foundation for the modern banking system. Their financial services included deposit accounts, loans, and even a form of early traveler's checks.
**The history of the goldsmiths** starts around 700 years ago in the year 1327. The company became responsible for hallmarking precious metals and played a significant role in regulating the quality and authenticity of gold and silver items. **In exchange for written acknowledgments or "receipts,"** they also provided gold deposit services.
Both groups played significant roles in the development of these early financial instruments, with goldsmiths issuing written acknowledgments for deposited gold and the Knights Templar establishing banking institutions that facilitated the use of such receipts as a form of payment.
This is a brief summary of the beginning of the moneychangers and how they discovered how to multiply money with paper receipts, better understood as counterfeiting. We now refer to it as fractional reserve banking, and let me tell you something: it's based on fraud.
Not only do they create bank deposits when you deposit currency, but they also create them when you "take a loan." Banks do not lend money, and they do not lend currency; they lend bank deposits (bank tokens/IOUs/currency substitutes/ paper receipts).
Banks had to redefine the word money to mean the opposite of money (debt) to trick the people. How can you lend the oposite of money and expect to be paid back plus interest? This took them thousands of years to achieve.
**The fact is that this is not a loan but an exchange.** When you take a loan, you sign a contract that creates a promissory note, which is your promise to pay. The bank then takes this promissory note, without your permission (steals), and sells it for cash (if you requiere it) or government bonds (to earn interest).
Your promissory note has equal value to cash and government bonds. And banks always need an asset to create a bank deposit (liability). So the banks literally steal your asset (promissory note) and sell them to create IOUs that they will ‘lend’ to you.
They ‘lend’ the oposite of money and call it a loan. The truth is that they are acting as moneychangers, and they are exchanging your IOU (promissory note) for a bank IOU (bank deposit) without your permission and pretending that you pay it back, but they never pay back theirs…
How is this possible? This is only possible because most people treat bank deposits (bank tokens, IOUs, and debts) as a medium of exchange because they trust the banks.
This is the root of inequality under the law. While one group can create IOUs from nothing and steal others, the other must work for them or exchange wealth.
If this bank defaults, its IOUs quickly vanish. This is a mathematical certainty; that’s why banks that are 'too big to fail' demand bailouts. **Every bank is bankrupt** since they have 7–10 times more liabilities than assets, and the assets they have are not theirs but their clients' assets. The only thing that keeps them alive is the trust of the public and the bailouts of the government.
**This is legalized slavery and theft.** There’s no other name. Banks own every industry, government, public figure, actor, etc. They have the power of God on earth, and it's time to stop them.
If we let the bank take our wealth for free, we will end up bankrupt, and they will end up owning everything. Every medium of exchange nowadays is an IOU or an IOU of an IOU. Ultimately, it is mathematically impossible to repay all of those IOUs, and banks pretend to keep all the assets.
*Check: IOU = deposit; IOU = cash; IOU = bond; IOU + interest*
The only way this system can continue is to keep creating new IOUs to pay the old ones, but even then (as it has been for over a century), the value of those IOUs keeps falling, causing hyperinflation.
If banks and governments want to ‘avoid’ (imposible) or relent to hyperinflation, they need to incur a great confiscation. So heads you lose, tails they lose; playing this game doesn't make any fucking sense.
Buy Bitcoin, self custody, and fuck the government and the banking system.
Live free or die trying.
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@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-02-24 16:30:05
Bitcoin is an incredible innovation, a financial revolution, and an obsession for many. The idea of decentralization, financial sovereignty, and the potential for life-changing gains make it easy to get sucked into the never-ending cycle of price checks, news updates, and technical analysis. But here’s the reality: dedicating every waking moment to Bitcoin—or anything, really—is not sustainable. It’s not healthy. You need to breathe. You need to live.
### The Trap of Constant Focus
It starts innocently enough. You buy your first bit of Bitcoin. You check the price. Then you check it again. Before long, you’re spending hours reading articles, listening to podcasts, watching charts, and diving into the latest market trends. The highs of a bull market fuel your excitement; the lows of a crash send you spiraling into despair. And soon, it consumes you.
If you’re not careful, Bitcoin can become an all-encompassing mental trap, a black hole that sucks in every moment of your free time. You think about it when you wake up. You refresh your portfolio at lunch. You browse Twitter threads before bed. It’s an addiction that disguises itself as productivity. But the truth? It’s draining you.
### The Case for Letting Go
Let’s be real—Bitcoin should not be your entire life. Your well-being, relationships, and overall happiness depend on balance. Financial freedom is meaningless if you sacrifice your health, your connections, and your experiences along the way. Here’s why you need to step back:
1. **Your Brain Needs a Break**—Constantly thinking about Bitcoin puts you under heightened stress. Markets are volatile, and living in reaction mode is exhausting. Give your brain space to rest, reflect, and reset.
2. **The Sun Exists—go Enjoy It.** Get outside, walk, breathe fresh air, and touch some grass, literally. Sitting in front of a screen tracking prices all day is not fulfilling.
3. **Love and Human Interaction Matter**. Your most valuable asset is not Bitcoin—it’s the relationships you build. Spend time with God, with friends, family, and loved ones. Share experiences. Have deep conversations that don’t involve blockchain technology.
4. **Automation is Your Best Friend** – Here’s a secret: You don’t need to manually buy Bitcoin every day or even every week. Set up an automated buying schedule and forget about it. Whether it’s once a week, biweekly, or monthly, let technology do the work while you focus on living.
5. **There’s More to Life Than Financial Gains** – Wealth is important, but so is joy. Read a book. Pick up a hobby. Travel. Laugh. Life is happening all around you—don’t miss it because you’re staring at a screen.
### Finding a Healthier Approach
Bitcoin can be part of your life without becoming your life. Set boundaries. Schedule specific times to check in on the market, but outside of those moments, let it go. Treat it like any other long-term investment—buy, hold, and forget. Trust the process without obsessing over every tick in the chart.
Most importantly, remember: You are a human being, not just an investor. You are here to experience, to love, to learn, and to grow. Bitcoin will be there whether you’re watching or not—but life won’t wait.
So step away. Breathe. Live.
### Automate Your Bitcoin Strategy with River
If you want to make Bitcoin a seamless part of your life without the stress, consider using **River**. It’s a platform I love because it allows me to deposit cash and earn a percentage back in Bitcoin on that cash balance and automatically execute a **daily dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy FEE-FREE**. Instead of constantly watching charts, my Bitcoin purchases happen automatically, drawing from my cash balance. It’s fully customizable, meaning you can adjust your buy schedule and even **automatically transfer part of your holdings to your own wallet**, ensuring you hold your own keys.
For those concerned about security, River recently introduced **Forcefield**, an added layer of protection for your assets. If you’re interested in making your Bitcoin journey effortless, **sign up using my referral code** [here](https://river.com/signup?r=6DEZAJLR)—this earns us both free Bitcoin! Set it and forget it, and get back to living your life.
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@ e5de992e:4a95ef85
2025-02-24 15:30:44
One of the most common misconceptions about trading is that it's no different from gambling. This belief often comes from people who misunderstand the discipline, structure, and effort that go into becoming a successful trader. The truth is, trading couldn't be further from gambling when done right. It's about edges, calculated risks, consistency, and discipline.
Let's break down the key differences and why trading, when approached correctly, is a professional skill—not a game of chance.
---
## Why People Think Trading Is Gambling
1. **Lack of Understanding:**
Many assume trading is about guessing market direction or chasing quick profits, which mirrors gambling behavior.
2. **Emotional Reactions:**
Traders who rely on instincts or impulsive decisions often resemble gamblers, reinforcing the stereotype.
3. **Stories of Losses:**
Headlines about traders losing their life savings due to overleveraging or poor risk management create the illusion that all trading is reckless.
---
## What Trading Really Is
### 1. Trading is About Edges
- **What It Means:**
An edge is a systematic advantage that gives you a higher probability of success over time. It could be a proven strategy, a deep understanding of market patterns, or an ability to exploit inefficiencies.
- **Why It's Not Gambling:**
Gambling relies on pure chance or unfavorable odds (e.g., the house always wins). In trading, a well-researched edge tips the probability in your favor.
### 2. Trading Involves Calculated Risks
- **What It Means:**
Every trade involves assessing how much you're willing to lose relative to the potential gain. Risk management ensures no single trade can wipe you out.
- **Why It's Not Gambling:**
In gambling, you often bet more than you can afford to lose. In trading, calculated risks are taken with predefined stop-losses and position sizing to minimize potential damage.
### 3. Trading is an Emotional Fight
- **What It Means:**
Success in trading depends on mastering your emotions—fear, greed, impatience, and overconfidence can destroy even the best strategies.
- **Why It's Not Gambling:**
Gambling thrives on emotional highs and lows. Trading requires emotional discipline, where decisions are based on logic and planning, not impulse.
### 4. Trading Demands Consistency
- **What It Means:**
Successful trading isn't about a single big win—it's about executing your strategy consistently over hundreds or thousands of trades.
- **Why It's Not Gambling:**
Gambling often relies on luck and one-off results. Trading builds wealth through steady, disciplined application of a proven system.
### 5. Trading Focuses on Long-Term Goals
- **What It Means:**
Traders work towards sustainable growth over months and years, prioritizing capital preservation and compounding profits.
- **Why It's Not Gambling:**
Gamblers often aim for immediate gratification, while traders take a marathon approach, understanding that success is built gradually.
### 6. Trading Requires Countless Hours of Practice
- **What It Means:**
Traders spend countless hours backtesting strategies, studying market behavior, and improving their skills.
- **Why It's Not Gambling:**
Gambling involves minimal preparation or reliance on skill, whereas trading is a craft honed through continuous learning and refinement.
---
## Key Differences Between Trading and Gambling
| **Aspect** | **Trading** | **Gambling** |
|------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| **Control** | Follows a defined plan | Relies on chance |
| **Risk Management** | Uses stop-losses and proper sizing | All-in mentality |
| **Skill vs. Luck** | Based on skill and strategy | Primarily luck |
| **Timeframe** | Focused on long-term growth | Instant gratification |
| **Emotional Approach** | Requires discipline | Driven by highs and lows |
---
## Final Thoughts: Trading is a Profession, Not a Bet
The idea that trading is gambling stems from a lack of knowledge about what trading truly entails. While both involve risk, trading is a calculated, skill-based profession that rewards preparation, discipline, and consistency. Gambling, on the other hand, is a game of chance with the odds stacked against you.
If you want to succeed as a trader, focus on building edges, managing risk, and staying consistent over the long term. These principles separate professionals from gamblers—and turn trading into a sustainable path to financial growth.
**Remember:** It's not about luck. It's about skill.
---
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@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833
2025-02-24 15:15:58
In this episode, we invited Alexandra from the Bitcoin Reach community to share insights on the development, challenges, and adoption strategies of the Bitcoin community in Zimbabwe.
**YakiHonne**: Before we begin, let me briefly introduce YakiHonne. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on Nostr—a protocol designed to empower freedom of speech through technology. It enables creators to own their voices and assets while offering innovative tools like smart widgets, verified notes, and support for long-form content. Today we'll be exploring more about community building and management with our honorable guest Alexandra. Could you please introduce yourself and your community?
**Alexandra**:I'm Alexandra, and I founded a community called Bitcoin Beach, which is a suburban community. One thing that really astonished me was that there were already many Bitcoin communities worldwide before us. Before getting into Bitcoin, I worked for a podcast called Global Bitcoin Fest, where I interviewed community leaders from different countries, innovators driving change, and those advocating for Bitcoin regulations. Through these conversations, I discovered that Bitcoin communities existed all over the world—yet, surprisingly, there wasn’t one in Zimbabwe.
**Alexandra**:This was particularly shocking because Zimbabwe has experienced some of the highest inflation rates in history—the second-highest inflation rate of all time. Many people associate Zimbabwe with its 100 trillion-dollar banknotes, which symbolize our extreme hyperinflation. In fact, we have gone through six currency failures, yet many still don’t fully understand inflation or how it affects us.
**Alexandra**:Our community was created to educate people about Bitcoin and financial sovereignty, helping them navigate economic instability and regain control over their finances through Bitcoin.
**YakiHonne**: It seems like you have a lot of people who genuinely want to learn about Bitcoin. They are not only focused on improving Zimbabwe’s economy but also actively engaging with the Bitcoin ecosystem.
**Alexandra**:I think one of the biggest challenges is that people don't truly understand how devastating a failed monetary system can be. If you look at it this way—money is involved in 50% of all transactions, meaning it plays a fundamental role in every economic activity. When money fails, one of the first consequences is the inability to calculate capital effectively, leading to high time preference decision-making.
**Alexandra**:Why is this a problem? Well, in a stable monetary system, when people have strong purchasing power, they receive fair value for their economic output. This allows them to buy goods and services, invest in their future, pursue higher education, start businesses, and invest in assets like real estate and stocks. Essentially, good money gives people the time and ability to build a better future.
**Alexandra**:However, when money does not store economic value, people only receive a fraction of what they produce. Instead of earning a full dollar for their work, they might get only two to three cents on the dollar. This means their income is barely enough for basic sustenance—just buying food, bread, and milk, and often, that isn’t even sufficient.
**Alexandra**:As a result, people shift from long-term financial planning to immediate survival, making economic calculations purely about what they need right now rather than investing in the future. This is why so many places remain impoverished. Without stable money, real estate investments disappear, housing becomes inaccessible, and infrastructure like malls and gyms is nearly nonexistent. The only way to secure housing is outright purchase, which very few people can afford. This highlights the severe economic limitations caused by a broken monetary system.
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**YakiHonne**: It seems like you've already answered our first question. I was going to ask what sparked your interest in Bitcoin, but I can see that many factors actually led you toward the Bitcoin ecosystem. So, I think you've already covered that. Now, one more thing—I’d love to know what motivated you to build a community around Bitcoin?
**Alexandra**:Absolutely. Like I said, we observed communities all across Zimbabwe, but we noticed that nothing was really happening in terms of Bitcoin adoption. In fact, Zimbabwe's adoption rate is significantly lower than in most countries. While sub-Saharan Africa has the highest Bitcoin adoption rate, Zimbabwe itself has one of the lowest adoption rates.
**Alexandra**:I realized that if no one else was willing to pave the way to make Bitcoin adoption more resilient and accessible, then I should step up and do the necessary work to facilitate the process. My goal was to connect the people who needed to be connected—whether it's miners, individuals looking to buy Bitcoin, or those who need help installing and using it.
**YakiHonne**: How did Bitcoin Reach begin? How was your community formed, and how did you initially attract new members?
**Alexandra**:it all started with just a few people. I was highly motivated and kept asking myself, how can we create an impact in Zimbabwe? Strangely enough, it began with me simply chasing leads.
**Alexandra**:The turning point came when Anita Posch visited Zimbabwe. Through her visit, I connected with other like-minded individuals in the Bitcoin space. From there, we decided to create a WhatsApp group, which became the foundation of our community. With this small collective, I started reaching out to more people. Having even a modest level of influence allowed me to leverage connections and secure sponsorships.
**Alexandra**:Our first sponsor was Booking for Fairness, followed by Money on Chain, Rootstock, and Global Bitcoin Fest. With this support, we started hosting regular meetups, organizing at least two meetups per month in different cities and countries. So far, we've held meetups in over eight cities across four different countries. At these events, attendance ranged from 25 to over 50 people, and at times, we even filled an entire restaurant with Bitcoin enthusiasts.
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**YakiHonne**: That's really impressive! You started with just three people, and now you're hosting events with over 50 attendees—sometimes even filling an entire restaurant. That’s truly amazing. Alexandra, you and your team are doing incredible work in Zimbabwe—it's a massive achievement! What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
**Alexandra**: I think one of the major challenges that we do face is what we call an implicit ban, and some functions. Firstly, when we have what we call the negative order assumptions, a policy similar to what South Africa recently faced. Essentially, any country with bilateral relations with the United States must enforce the same sanctions imposed by the U.S. As a result, Zimbabwe is restricted from receiving goods and services from many companies. If you’re a Bitcoin business, you cannot provide Bitcoin services to Zimbabwe, cannot send hardware wallets, cannot hire people from Zimbabwe, and cannot offer sponsorships to Zimbabwean projects. This significantly limits the number of Bitcoin companies we could have collaborated with, which would have helped people earn Bitcoin and drive adoption.
**Alexandra**:The second major challenge is implicit ban. If a Bitcoin company sets up in Zimbabwe, they cannot access on-ramps and off-ramps for funds. This means converting Bitcoin to physical cash is very expensive—normally, the cost should be around 2%, but due to the lack of formal channels, we have to buy Bitcoin at a 10% margin, making transactions extremely costly. As a result, it becomes difficult to establish a circular Bitcoin economy, and since we don’t have one, we struggle to secure funding.
**YakiHonne**: What advice would you give to someone looking to start or expand a Bitcoin-focused community in today’s landscape?
**Alexandra**:My advice would be to focus on the core issues, and the two most important ones are structure and education. Often, we get distracted by other elements when building a larger economy—such as organizing meetups, managing day-to-day operations, or maintaining WhatsApp groups for communication. However, for a community to truly grow and thrive, it needs a strong structural system and a functional circular economy.
**Alexandra**:First, structure is key. If someone wants to learn about Bitcoin, where can they go? What courses or resources are available? Having clear educational pathways is essential for adoption.
**Alexandra**:Second, building a circular economy is crucial. The first step is identifying people who are earning Bitcoin—whether through remittances, jobs, or services. Once there are enough Bitcoin earners, the next step becomes easier: figuring out where they can spend it. This is a far more practical approach than simply convincing businesses to accept Bitcoin without an existing customer base.For example, if you’re a vendor, shop owner, photographer, baker, or farmer, there are many potential Bitcoin customers who don’t want to cash out due to high fees. By accepting Bitcoin, businesses expand their clientele, which is a critical factor in establishing a sustainable Bitcoin economy.
**YakiHonne**: Does your community engage in the technical or non-technical aspects of Bitcoin? Or perhaps do you guys do both?
**Alexandra**:I think one of the biggest challenges is that we have people conducting thousands of dollars in Bitcoin transactions, yet they don’t understand what Lightning or Layer 2 is. Some even believe that Bitcoin has no real utility, despite using it regularly. There are people who are interested in the technical aspects, and we are gradually finding them. However, our community initially consisted mostly of people who used Bitcoin primarily for remittances. This is a common challenge in Africa—Bitcoin adoption grew rapidly because people saw it as a useful tool, not because they fully understood it. Unfortunately, we are currently more focused on the non-technical aspects, but we are actively working to change that.
**YakiHonne**:Alexandra, how do you see the role of Bitcoin communities evolving as technology advances, particularly in areas like scalability, privacy, and adaptability? How do you think these communities will develop as these technologies mature?
**Alexandra**:Yeah, I think Bitcoin communities play a crucial role in adoption and education. One of the most common things I hear when teaching people about Bitcoin is, “I wish I had learned about this from you first.” Many people's first encounter with Bitcoin was through scams, which led them to give up on it. Communities are essential because people are more likely to trust and engage with products when they come from a trusted source.
**Alexandra**:When you build a community, every new member you bring in has the potential to influence five to ten others. These people are more likely to trust a friend’s recommendation when they say, “Bitcoin is good,” or when they explain how on-chain transactions might be slower or more expensive, but tools exist to enable faster, cheaper, and more private transactions.
**Alexandra**:People buy into products they trust—or from people they trust. This is why communities are so important, even in a system built on "Don't trust, verify." Ironically, trust is still the first step for many newcomers. I think this is where Bitcoin might have missed the mark—there are so many incredible Bitcoin advocates, but if no one knows them personally, their messages, no matter how well-articulated, may not resonate. However, when the information comes from a trusted individual, people are much more receptive.
**Alexandra**:Bitcoin communities serve as a solid foundation for introducing new solutions, including scalability, privacy, and other innovations. The key is communicating these ideas in a way that people trust and understand. Unlike expensive marketing campaigns, a passionate community can spread Bitcoin education almost for free—all they need are the right tools and resources to drive the movement forward.
**YakiHonne**:As long as there is trust, expansion will happen more effectively. Every user, every community member is a stakeholder, as they have the ability to bring others into the community. I’m confident that Bitcoin Reach will continue to grow and make an impact. Now, moving on to my final question, is the government in your region supportive or opposed to Bitcoin? And how has that stance impacted your community so far?
**Alexandra**:our government is against Bitcoin. As I mentioned earlier, they were the ones who imposed the implicit ban, making it very expensive for individuals to buy Bitcoin. Zimbabwe used to be one of the fastest adopters in sub-Saharan Africa, but as soon as the government banned Bitcoin, adoption plummeted from 100 to zero. This has made it much more challenging for people like me to build a community around Bitcoin.
**Alexandra**:Now, people hold their own keys because they are all using hardware wallets, which is a major benefit. Since they don’t trust institutions, they have taken full control of their Bitcoin, which is a great step toward financial sovereignty. However, this also slows down adoption in some ways. For example, in South Africa, our neighboring country, Pick n Pay has over 1,500 stores where people can pay with Bitcoin. In Zimbabwe, however, there are almost no places to spend Bitcoin, making real-world usage extremely limited.
**YakiHonne**:Thank you, Alexander.We've now reached the conclusion of today's interview, and I must say, I've learned so much from you. First, I truly admire how you were motivated by the low Bitcoin adoption rate in your country and took action to change that. I also appreciate your efforts to integrate economic growth with Bitcoin adoption, showing a deep understanding of both financial and technological progress. Your approach to community building is inspiring—you recognize that every community member matters, and the trust they bring is essential to the community’s success. It’s unfortunate that your government does not support Bitcoin, but with time, I believe that as Bitcoin’s influence continues to grow, they will eventually yield to its impact. I’m confident that there will be a stronger Bitcoin movement in Zimbabwe in the future.
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@ 2f4550b0:95f20096
2025-02-24 14:30:45
The role of a leader extends far beyond managing tasks or hitting targets. Great leaders don’t just steer their ships; they design environments where their teams can grow, adapt, and thrive. By wearing the hat of "learning architects," leaders can craft intentional, impactful learning experiences that empower their teams to take ownership of their development. This isn’t about spoon-feeding knowledge or enforcing rigid training programs. It’s about building a framework where learning feels natural, relevant, and self-directed, unlocking both individual potential and collective success.
At the heart of this approach are two guiding principles: self-direction and relevance. Encouraging self-direction for your team will tap into the innate human drive to explore and grow when given autonomy. People don’t want to be told what to learn; they want to pursue learning that matters to them. Relevance, meanwhile, ensures that learning connects directly to real-world challenges, making it immediately applicable. When leaders weave these principles into their team’s growth strategy, they foster a culture of curiosity and resilience.
Why does a learning architect mindset matter? Teams that prioritize learning are better equipped to navigate uncertainty. When leaders design growth opportunities, they signal trust in their team’s ability to evolve, boosting morale and performance. More importantly, in a world where skills can become obsolete overnight, fostering continuous learning isn’t optional; it’s a survival tactic.
So, how can leaders build this learning ecosystem? Here’s a three-step blueprint to kickstart a team learning initiative that’s both practical and impactful:
## Step 1: Map the Terrain by Identifying Needs and Interests
Start by understanding your team’s needs. What skills do they need to excel in their roles today, and what might they need tomorrow? Don’t assume; ask. Conduct one-on-one chats or a quick team survey to uncover your team members’ goals, pain points, and passions. For example, a marketing team might crave data analytics skills, while a product team might lean toward user experience design. Pair these insights with organizational priorities to find the sweet spot where individual interests meet business needs. This step ensures relevance by grounding learning in real-world demands, while inviting self-direction by giving team members a voice.
## Step 2: Build the Framework by Curating Flexible Learning Paths
Once you’ve mapped the terrain, design lightweight, adaptable learning paths. Avoid heavy-handed mandates; instead, offer a menu of options. This could mean curating online courses from providers like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, organizing peer-led workshops, or even setting up a book club tackling industry trends. The key is flexibility; let team members choose what resonates. For instance, if someone’s keen on leadership, point them to a podcast series, while a hands-on learner might shadow a senior colleague. Add structure with loose milestones (e.g., “Try one new resource this month”) to keep momentum without stifling autonomy. This balance of guidance and freedom fuels self-directed growth.
## Step 3: Encourage Reflection and Application
Learning doesn’t stick unless it’s used. Create opportunities for your team to reflect on what they’ve learned and apply it. Host casual “share-back” sessions where they present key takeaways or test new skills on a small project. For example, a salesperson who studied negotiation tactics could role-play a contract negotiation scenario, while a developer might prototype a tool they’ve explored. Tie these efforts to real challenges, like improving a process or brainstorming a product tweak, to reinforce relevance and connect their learning to the organization’s strategy. As a leader, your role is to cheerlead, ask questions, and remove roadblocks. Being a learning architect isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about designing a system where growth becomes second nature. By anchoring your approach in self-direction and relevance, and following a simple blueprint (map needs, build paths, open space), you empower your team to take the reins. The result? A group that’s not just keeping up, but pushing forward, ready for whatever comes next. Start small, iterate often, and watch your team transform into a powerhouse of learners and top performers.
**Leaders as Learning Architects: Designing Growth for Your Team**
The role of a leader extends far beyond managing tasks or hitting targets. Great leaders don’t just steer their ships; they design environments where their teams can grow, adapt, and thrive. By wearing the hat of "learning architects," leaders can craft intentional, impactful learning experiences that empower their teams to take ownership of their development. This isn’t about spoon-feeding knowledge or enforcing rigid training programs. It’s about building a framework where learning feels natural, relevant, and self-directed, unlocking both individual potential and collective success.
At the heart of this approach are two guiding principles: self-direction and relevance. Encouraging self-direction for your team will tap into the innate human drive to explore and grow when given autonomy. People don’t want to be told what to learn; they want to pursue learning that matters to them. Relevance, meanwhile, ensures that learning connects directly to real-world challenges, making it immediately applicable. When leaders weave these principles into their team’s growth strategy, they foster a culture of curiosity and resilience.
Why does a learning architect mindset matter? Teams that prioritize learning are better equipped to navigate uncertainty. When leaders design growth opportunities, they signal trust in their team’s ability to evolve, boosting morale and performance. More importantly, in a world where skills can become obsolete overnight, fostering continuous learning isn’t optional; it’s a survival tactic.
So, how can leaders build this learning ecosystem? Here’s a three-step blueprint to kickstart a team learning initiative that’s both practical and impactful:
**Step 1: Map the Terrain by Identifying Needs and Interests**
Start by understanding your team’s needs. What skills do they need to excel in their roles today, and what might they need tomorrow? Don’t assume; ask. Conduct one-on-one chats or a quick team survey to uncover your team members’ goals, pain points, and passions. For example, a marketing team might crave data analytics skills, while a product team might lean toward user experience design. Pair these insights with organizational priorities to find the sweet spot where individual interests meet business needs. This step ensures relevance by grounding learning in real-world demands, while inviting self-direction by giving team members a voice.
**Step 2: Build the Framework by Curating Flexible Learning Paths**
Once you’ve mapped the terrain, design lightweight, adaptable learning paths. Avoid heavy-handed mandates; instead, offer a menu of options. This could mean curating online courses from providers like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, organizing peer-led workshops, or even setting up a book club tackling industry trends. The key is flexibility; let team members choose what resonates. For instance, if someone’s keen on leadership, point them to a podcast series, while a hands-on learner might shadow a senior colleague. Add structure with loose milestones (e.g., “Try one new resource this month”) to keep momentum without stifling autonomy. This balance of guidance and freedom fuels self-directed growth.
**Step 3: Encourage Reflection and Application**
Learning doesn’t stick unless it’s used. Create opportunities for your team to reflect on what they’ve learned and apply it. Host casual “share-back” sessions where they present key takeaways or test new skills on a small project. For example, a salesperson who studied negotiation tactics could role-play a contract negotiation scenario, while a developer might prototype a tool they’ve explored. Tie these efforts to real challenges, like improving a process or brainstorming a product tweak, to reinforce relevance and connect their learning to the organization’s strategy. As a leader, your role is to cheerlead, ask questions, and remove roadblocks.
Being a learning architect isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about designing a system where growth becomes second nature. By anchoring your approach in self-direction and relevance, and following a simple blueprint (map needs, build paths, open space), you empower your team to take the reins. The result? A group that’s not just keeping up, but pushing forward, ready for whatever comes next. Start small, iterate often, and watch your team transform into a powerhouse of learners and top performers.
-
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-24 14:15:14
U0Cp38MGIOL5TzaGvfIycZJgQ11ij6LtT5IVmNP8oZS04RKSHhvLTkaHRmnZHZ2kdZbWBVr5fsqc7sR6Gysv/9t+eX+F15l8sd8PokSCMU6l3EYZdP+draq30zuUH7fHHmrH6sKAKBXB8wzhG+da7km97dUO1KHELhR+vGFWtYIyuT1gbM2AvywldcugDWRpEE/a8UsLyROYNB/DhUrD62GN4qP6GCLYNgp7FuUvgD1QYL2kb/ctcwI+OAT1CSk70XwpQjWmKH+eo2Uhlp8bFg1Nm+AI9FTqgsnj2WFhjmfzbVPF4TtBGo1Kp+Guc+1M7jVro1Wy5bYVhZghJ7B4OdkePHcMWaQqXv+V1mgqUG/guOUqvtypP4ATNSj/tsw1?iv=fgZcFd3B4QHwr05LjzYfDQ==
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-24 13:57:07
bIzjKZ+i0/ZpWslLWXk1tkVypOiX0ErueLoBWso7NSKAdjOdPLPFcrJnePQIJrTHmFxb9hgNnThqbl8iD4/cFvCZb9fzeJpdVuiJ3S457HH1Rd+e/lp/eYxwLl/ZsjxV6jCBfhRH6UTAdwJlIubLf0lRgt3gghV1kQhC6Lhb8CFXe87Lt/0eMFR9xg6x9n96Rx14xqTq1pHnBl0zc6wPdwTebK7wVy6k6qoqP9TpAfbJP2Bcy3g0+p+Cz1j7Sv6hkqyY1w12Fsb+I/8TxI6rVEJdsCViZgjNvRZVBPjlsYrmrM6Kv2Sl/ZcmhCDyuDNzeA1/XtXNwzVX0l7SG5DduLvDt7qqRhPbZc9wZOwa1zg=?iv=6BgowrrUlWNFO8u9jGBCNw==
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-24 13:45:13
pNUdPvyEHgjojXtxjD1BOACaI89rMEdno/4NTVplJyoIXZz39sNoWhVbkd9p6I9J0kBWYuwmmiyJBTeJl/HZrx8nSXTa6IHJ83JeD9kZRb/hQghKXM4+ivG/MzH01EVlhlbb3mqNQmE0P3wVGJR4VYJv4LB70Mco6VSNJKEwPIp5qYhF+QsT1/Hd9zBsqREE2K8eOKy/4TGEQTd7PVBUoX61hpQCX4gr7Q8VL9AVZIwEnXjpWkKhuyMZ61SYjIJ6W/Ilsx+/bwTMasMfJxDC3ILXTU6VGm+zVm0IkRcgd2Es2Ukj5oKOVDD5403IcOY9Q+et7XFT7BQV5UvnEpZ4BSrLiLxHc7DgNPVXkKUgxvA=?iv=9erGHlZFRRgCb9x6SMl01g==
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2025-02-24 13:16:04
The financial landscape has been dramatically reshaped with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) landmark approval of the first-ever batch of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This pivotal moment not only signifies a major leap forward for the cryptocurrency realm but also marks a significant evolution in traditional investment methodologies. The integration of Bitcoin into the ETF framework heralds a new era of digital asset investment, blending the innovative world of cryptocurrencies with the stability and familiarity of traditional financial markets. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Bitcoin ETFs, their profound implications for the investment community, and the transformative potential they hold for the future of financial diversification and strategy.
**Table of Contents**
- What is a Bitcoin ETF?
- The Significance of SEC’s Approval
- Impact on the Cryptocurrency Market
- Benefits for Investors
- Enhanced Accessibility
- Portfolio Diversification
- Regulatory Safety Net
- Challenges and Considerations
- Conclusion
- FAQs
**What is a Bitcoin ETF?**
A Bitcoin ETF represents a seismic shift in investment opportunities, offering a bridge between the cutting-edge realm of cryptocurrencies and the established world of stock market investing. It functions as an investment fund that closely tracks the value of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy shares that mirror the performance of the digital currency. These shares are traded on conventional stock exchanges, akin to stocks, thereby democratizing access to Bitcoin investment. This innovative approach eliminates the technical barriers and security concerns associated with direct cryptocurrency investments, such as understanding blockchain technology, managing digital wallets, and safeguarding private keys. By simplifying the investment process, Bitcoin ETFs are poised to attract a diverse range of investors, from seasoned stock market enthusiasts to newcomers intrigued by the potential of digital currencies.
**The Significance of SEC’s Approval**
The SEC's approval of Bitcoin ETFs is a watershed moment, signaling a paradigm shift in the financial sector's approach to digital assets. It's a recognition of Bitcoin's growing relevance and maturity as an investment asset, and a nod to its potential to integrate seamlessly into the broader financial system. This move is not just about regulatory compliance; it's a strong endorsement of the legitimacy and viability of cryptocurrencies. The involvement of heavyweight financial institutions in sponsoring these ETFs is a testament to the growing confidence in Bitcoin's future. This development is expected to catalyze further innovations in the cryptocurrency space, encouraging more rigorous standards, enhanced security protocols, and greater transparency, all of which are essential for mainstream acceptance and long-term growth.
**Impact on the Cryptocurrency Market**
The launch of Bitcoin ETFs is set to revolutionize the cryptocurrency market. By offering a regulated, familiar, and accessible investment vehicle, these ETFs are likely to attract a new demographic of investors, including those who have been on the sidelines due to the perceived complexities and risks of cryptocurrencies. This broader investor base could lead to increased market capitalization and liquidity for Bitcoin, potentially reducing volatility and fostering a more stable pricing environment. Moreover, the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs could serve as a catalyst for the development of similar products for other cryptocurrencies, paving the way for a more diverse and robust digital asset market. This could also spur innovation in blockchain technology and crypto-related services, further integrating these into the mainstream financial ecosystem.
**Benefits for Investors**
**Enhanced Accessibility**
Bitcoin ETFs represent a democratization of cryptocurrency investment, making it accessible to a wider audience. This inclusivity extends beyond individual investors to institutional ones, who may have been hesitant to invest in cryptocurrencies due to regulatory concerns or logistical complexities. By trading on major stock exchanges, Bitcoin ETFs offer a familiar and regulated environment, lowering the entry barrier for those new to digital currencies.
**Portfolio Diversification**
The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs offers a novel avenue for portfolio diversification. Historically, investors seeking diversification would turn to a mix of stocks, bonds, and commodities. Bitcoin ETFs add a new dimension to this mix, providing exposure to an asset class that has shown a low correlation with traditional markets. This diversification can be particularly appealing in times of economic uncertainty or inflationary pressures, where Bitcoin has often been touted as a 'digital gold'.
**Regulatory Safety Net**
Trading within the regulated framework of stock exchanges, Bitcoin ETFs offer a level of oversight and consumer protection not typically available in direct cryptocurrency investments. This regulatory safety net can be particularly reassuring for risk-averse investors and those concerned about the legal implications of cryptocurrency investments.
Simplified Investment and Taxation Process: Investing in Bitcoin directly involves a complex maze of tax implications and ownership challenges. Bitcoin ETFs streamline this process, offering a straightforward investment vehicle that fits neatly into existing tax and investment frameworks. This simplification is a boon for both individual investors managing their portfolios and financial advisors seeking to incorporate digital assets into their clients' strategies.
**Challenges and Considerations**
While Bitcoin ETFs offer numerous advantages, they are not without their challenges and risks. The cryptocurrency market, known for its volatility, presents a unique risk profile that may not be suitable for all investors. The price of Bitcoin can be influenced by a range of factors, from regulatory news to technological developments, and investor sentiment. Therefore, while ETFs provide a more accessible route to Bitcoin investment, they do not shield investors from the inherent price volatility of the underlying asset. Additionally, as with any emerging investment vehicle, there is a learning curve associated with understanding how Bitcoin ETFs fit into a broader investment strategy. Investors should conduct thorough research, consider their long-term investment goals, and possibly consult with financial advisors to understand how Bitcoin ETFs align with their risk tolerance and investment objectives.
**Conclusion**
The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs is a landmark development in the financial world, bridging the gap between traditional investment mechanisms and the burgeoning world of digital currencies. This innovation not only expands the accessibility of Bitcoin to a broader range of investors but also enhances the overall credibility and stability of the cryptocurrency market. As the financial landscape continues to evolve, Bitcoin ETFs stand as a beacon of the growing synergy between conventional finance and digital asset innovation, offering a glimpse into a future where such collaborations are not just possible but are a cornerstone of investment strategy. As we move forward, Bitcoin ETFs will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of investment portfolios, offering a unique combination of innovation, accessibility, and diversification.
**FAQs**
**What is a Bitcoin ETF?**
A Bitcoin ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy shares in the ETF on traditional stock exchanges, without directly purchasing and managing Bitcoin.
**How does a Bitcoin ETF differ from buying Bitcoin directly?**
Unlike direct Bitcoin purchases, which require a cryptocurrency exchange account and a digital wallet, a Bitcoin ETF allows investors to trade shares representing Bitcoin on conventional stock exchanges, simplifying the investment process.
**Are Bitcoin ETFs safe investments?**
While Bitcoin ETFs offer the safety of regulated stock exchanges and eliminate the need for digital wallet management, they still carry the inherent volatility and risks associated with Bitcoin prices.
**Can Bitcoin ETFs be included in retirement portfolios?**
Yes, Bitcoin ETFs can be included in various investment portfolios, including retirement plans, offering a way to diversify with a new asset class.
**What are the tax implications of investing in a Bitcoin ETF?**
Bitcoin ETFs simplify tax reporting compared to direct cryptocurrency investments. However, investors should consult with a tax professional to understand specific implications.
**That's all for today**
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***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***
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@ 0463223a:3b14d673
2025-02-24 12:34:15
I’m in a weird space of nostalgia. 24 hours without any pharmaceutical help for mood and anxiety problems. As mentioned previously, I’ve been boshing RRSIs and the like for 10 plus years. They’re very addictive to be honest. For context I’ve given up nicotine, amphetamines, crack cocaine and heroin in the past so I think I’m a decent benchmark for a drug’s addictive qualities...
Top, without question was nicotine. Not for the side effects but the fact it took many years to kick and a lot of on/off usage. I can’t remember the last time I smoked a cigarette so it’s been quite a few years now. Heroin was fun…. Well if you call fun having a horrible case of flu where you also hallucinate, that sort of fun.
But RRSIs have been very tough and it’s only been 24 hours (after slowly reducing the dose over 6 months). I feel pretty shit to be honest but I’ll get through today. I’ve also quit Pregabalin today which, as I understand, is an anti-psychotic so I can’t rule out the possibility of psychopathy today… I tried once before and it came close to ending my relationship with my wife (not for psychopathy I hasten to add, just an absolutely foul, unstable mood). This time I’ve taken the process a lot slower.
I’ve been trapped in a weird feeling of nostalgia these last 24 hours, it’s odd as it is being trapped inside the perception of a piece of music. I don’t think I can describe the feeling well but the track is from a cassette I had as a kid. The true origins of the tape I don’t know. I taped it from a friend who told me it was from the club we frequented in 1991, a place called Slammers. Still without doubt the best club I ever went to. It was tiny, like not much bigger than an average house in the UK, in fact probably smaller, depends on your perception of house sizes. I’m going by turn of the century terraced houses common in the UK. The club coincided with a particularly good run of ecstasy tablets in the UK. The downstairs of the club was truly mental. There were no lights at all. Pitch black, the only lighting being from the turntables and mixer. It was nuts. It was a life changing experience. Being broke I only ever went a handful of times but the idea the tape originated from there was good enough for me. The in house DJ crew were the Get Down Crew from Bethnal Green (at least I think this is what I remember). Namely two guys by the names of Wigs and Easy T. The music played was a lot of what paved the way for Jungle in 1993 and the term Jungle Techno was being used by us around this time. Now the tape may not have been Wigs and Easy T, part of me wonders if it was DJ Rap (Or Fabio???). Whist the tunes were great, the mixing wasn’t amazing and reminiscent of Rap’s style (sorry DJ Rap!) but it exists in my memory, a very real artefact.
So this tape was another source for me to find records, most that I really liked I identified over the years but some eluded me. One was Virtual by The Black Dog (ironic), that I found on night online, probably a few glasses of wine in… And I now know that there were only 500 copies of that record made, copies go for around £100 these days. Worst is I actually nearly bought it at the time but the dude in the record shop said it probably wasn't my thing!?!?!?!? Even back in 1991 the song sounded like some ancient artefact. Such a warm noise. “World World World, I sit in my room imagine the future”. Damn.
The other track I only recently found out, and it was on the B Side from a group I already loved and had some of their records. However, unlike The Black Dog, it’s not rare, just overlooked as the group were more known for their Hip Hop output. It was The Cash Crew all along?! Fuck!!!! Now since finding I play on my streaming show a lot and given I’d listened so much on cassette too, I know that record inside out!
Well no I don’t!??! After editing for a mixtape, I noticed layers of vocals I never knew existed and I’m also now trapped in this nostalgic frame and it feels immeasurably sad. The fact is I never actually heard that record in a club, despite it being on a tape that I help as an ultimate reference point for a moment in time that I never actually experienced. That sums up the feeling of coming off RRSIs. Maybe this all sounds frivolous but music has always make up a core of my identity, more so than being a fucking spastic ever did.
Now I own the record, I am old as fuck and millions of miles away from a moment that never existed. I can’t explain.
Cash Crew – HUMP
https://video.mxtthxw.art/w/dQHPt96bXwMP8Ggyjrcq8x
-
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@ e7bc35f8:3ed2a7cf
2025-02-24 12:15:30
Contrary to what its multi-million dollar [international PR campaign]( https://youtu.be/D_MZKRG3frQ) would have you believe, the "White Helmets" are not a group of volunteer search-and-rescue workers that sprang spontaneously out of the Syrian soil.
In November 2017, journalist Vanessa Beeley gave a [groundbreaking presentation]( https://www.youtube.com/live/lC7ZxdFzdzQ) to the Swiss Press Club in Geneva on the so-called "Syria Civil Defence" (better known as the "White Helmets"), which presents itself as an impartial group of volunteer search and rescue workers working "_to save lives and strengthen communities in Syria._"
In her presentation, Beeley demonstrated the connections between this supposedly "neutral" organization, recognized terrorist groups operating in Syria, and the UK government.
VANESSA BEELEY
> During my time working in East Aleppo, it was clear that the councils were working hand in hand with [Al] Nusra Front. Their centers in each district were always next door to Nusra Front headquarters and White Helmet centres, i.e., they always formed an integrated complex.
Less than three weeks later, [The Guardian]( https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/18/syria-white-helmets-conspiracy-theories) released a report painting all skeptics of the White Helmets, including Beeley and other "anti-imperialist activists", as proponents of a Russian propaganda campaign directed by the Kremlin.
This is no coincidence.
The White Helmets are in fact part of a coordinated propaganda campaign. But that campaign is not being directed by the Kremlin, but the western governments which have been responsible for the founding and funding of the White Helmets.
And the ones promoting that propaganda are not independent journalists like Beeley, but establishment mouthpieces like The Guardian.
The White Helmets won an Oscar at the 2017 Academy Awards. This is, after all, an organization that thrives on the magic of movie-making to make themselves into heroes. Surely any movie that could turn a group funded by the US and UK governments, associated with western intelligence operatives, and embedded with Al Qaeda terrorists, into a group of crusading heroes is as worthy of an Academy Award as any similarly fictitious movie about superheroes saving the world.
It was also fitting that the leader of the group, Raed Saleh, [was not at the ceremony]( https://youtu.be/EJ5uFsEMLGw) to help accept the prize as originally planned.
🔸NPR REPORTER:
> Hi, I 'm wondering…um, I thought the White Helmets we’re gonna be here, or the leader and the cinematographer who shot a lot of this film. What happened?
🔸ORLANDO VON EINSIEDEL:
> Well, Raed Saleh, who’s the leader of the White Helmets, he couldn’t come in the end because the last couple of days in Syria the violence has really escalated and he does life-saving work[…]. Our cinematographer, I mean, you know we’re confused about this, too. The last two weeks have been very difficult. He had a US visa, he tried to board a plane, and he wasn’t able to come, so we - you know, we’re very sad about that.
What Orlando von Einsiedel, the director of the film, neglected to mention is that this was not the first time that Raed Saleh, the leader of the White Helmets, failed to appear in the US.
In April of 2016, InterAction, an alliance of NGOs, held a gala dinner in Washington, where it planned to honour Saleh and the work of the White Helmets in Syria.
However, Saleh [was refused entry]( https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/world/middleeast/leader-of-syria-rescue-group-arriving-in-us-for-award-is-refused-entry.html?_r=0) into the country when he arrived at Washington’s Dulles Airport.
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Declining to talk about the details of the case, a [State Department spokesman]( https://youtu.be/ehdAVgmPODY) merely said, "_The U.S. government’s system of continual vetting means that traveler records are screened against available information in real time_".
🔸MATT LEE:
> You commend this group, you’re going to continue to support them, and yet you revoked the visa of their leader? I don’t…that makes zero sense to me. […]
🔸MARK TONER:
> ...unfortunately, we can’t speak to individual visa cases. I think broadly speaking, though on any visa case we are constantly looking at new information, so-called 'continually vetting' travel or records and if we do have new information that we believe an individual would pose a security risk we’ll certainly act on that.
🔸LEE:
> I’m saying that it just strikes me as a bit odd that you’re saying that this group is wonderful and does such a great job and you’re commending them for their heroism, and yet you’re doing this just 10 days after the leader of this group, who was supposed to be, you know…got his visa revoked or wasn’t allowed to travel here. […]
🔸TONER:
> Well, he’s one individual in the group, and any individual—again, I’m broadening my language here for specific reasons—but any individual in any group suspected of ties or relations with extremist groups, or that we have believed to be a security threat to the United States, we would act accordingly. But that does not by extension mean we condemn or would cut off ties to the group for which that individual works for.
So how is this possible?
How could the leader of such a valiant team of crusading do-gooders himself be denied a visa to enter the United States as a potential security threat with ties to terrorists?
The multi-million dollar PR campaign that surrounds the White Helmets, after all, portrayed the group as being pure as the driven snow.
A perfect example for this is [the story]( https://youtu.be/L5ULObu2ByM) about the boy named Omran Daqneesh.
A story that eventually turned to be totally [fake news]( https://www.mintpressnews.com/mintpress-meets-father-iconic-aleppo-boy-says-media-lied-son/228722/).
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But what is always left out of these glowing mainstream media puff pieces is any actual information about the organization.
Where did it come from?
Who founded it?
Where does it get its funding?
And why did it operate exclusively in terrorist-held areas of Syria?
The first clues about the real nature of the group come from their name itself. Calling themselves the "Syria Civil Defence" is misleading in multiple ways.
First, it implies that the group was founded in Syria by Syrians.
It was not.
The group was in fact founded in March 2013 in Turkey, by James Le Mesurier, a former British military intelligence officer then doing contract work for the US and UK governments.
None of this information is even controversial. This is the story as told by [Le Mesurier]( https://youtu.be/sw3NMEyMSTw) himself.
The name "Syria Civil Defence" was also a lie because there was a [real Syria Civil Defence]( https://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/23/exclusive-the-real-syria-civil-defence-expose-natos-white-helmets-as-terrorist-linked-imposters/) that has been operating in the country for 65 years.
The actual Syria Civil Defence, a volunteer search and rescue organization, was established in Syria in 1953.
Unlike the White Helmets, the [real Syria Civil Defence]( https://icdo.org/) was a member of the International Civil Defence Organisation and (again, in contrast to the White Helmets) had an emergency number (113) that can be called in Syria by those needing assistance.
But thar Syria Civil Defence does not enjoy the glitz and glamour of Oscar-winning documentaries, the constant attention of the international press, or the [more than $60 million]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170103120950/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2mWdvgCOqs) in [funding]( https://21stcenturywire.com/2017/12/02/white-helmets-local-councils-uk-fco-financing-terrorism-syria-taxpayer-funds/) by [foreign governments]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170730064327/http://www.adamsmithinternational.com/explore-our-work/middle-east-north-africa/syria/building-the-capacity-for-governance-in-communities-across-opposition-contr/) that have been bestowed on the [White Helmets]( https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/may/08/gazientep-turkey-tamkeen-quest-to-rebuild-syria).
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But even more disturbing than the unusual founding of the group is the evidence demonstrating that the White Helmets, far from their official claim to political neutrality, are in fact intimately embedded with known and listed terrorist organizations in Syria.
Again, the most damning evidence in this regard is not controversial in the slightest. It comes directly from the White Helmets themselves.
Numerous videos and photos have surfaced showing the White Helmets parading on the dead bodies of Syrian government forces and flying the flags of known terrorist organizations.
An in-depth report on "The Syrian War Blog" in 2017, examined the social media profiles of 65 different White Helmets-connected figures and found numerous posts in support of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and other listed terrorist organizations.
Some even [posted pictures]( https://syrianwar1.blogspot.com/2017/11/white-helmets-exposed-as-extremists-65.html?m=1) of themselves with known terrorist leaders or waving the flag of terrorist groups like ISIS, and many proudly displayed images of dead Syrian soldiers.
Most of this evidence is explained away as "bad apples" in the organization acting on their own.
Some of these "bad apples" are then castigated in public displays, like when one White Helmet was fired when footage surfaced showing him [disposing the mutilated corpses]( https://www.newsweek.com/oscar-win-white-helmets-syria-volunteer-dump-bodies-rebels-628407) of Syrian government fighters.
When a graphic video of the White Helmets [overseeing]( https://x.com/BenjaminNorton/status/865033499950145538?t=Ru67QyFS7hgqWRJWLuEb0g&s=19) [the execution]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170627003514/https://twitter.com/Ali_Kourani/status/877287658472472579) of a man in terrorist-occupied Daraa surfaced, the group actually [defended the workers]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170613015828/http://syriacivildefense.org/sites/syriacivildefense.org/files/18%20May%202017%20-%20.pdf) while acknowledging that they "did not fully uphold the strict principle of neutrality and impartiality".
But incredibly, Le Mesurier, the former British intel officer who founded the White Helmets in 2013, defended the workers [caught in one bloody video]( https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060841/https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=fd8_1430900709&comments=1) from May 2015.
The Middle Ground, a Singaporean website, ran a story [featuring Le Mesurier’s take ]( https://web.archive.org/web/20180212075744/http://203.211.130.27/2017/04/18/white-helmets-terrorists-fake-news-syria-assad-nobel-oscars/)on the incident.
In opposition to the deafening mainstream media silence over this incredible mountain of evidence against the White Helmets standed only a handful of independent researchers, universally ignored or marginalized from the mainstream discussion on the issue.
These independent researchers include [Vanessa Beeley]( https://youtu.be/NQL3rX6xWRg), a British researcher who has been one of the few journalists to report extensively on the ground in areas like East Aleppo over the last two years, and Eva Bartlett, a Canadian freelancer who has gained notoriety for using her own on-the-ground reporting from Syria to speak out against the mainstream narrative about the White Helmets.
Given that there were so few voices speaking up against the White Helmets, it should come as no surprise that when "The Guardian" finally deigned to address what they termed the "conspiracy theories" about the organization, they turned their attention on these very researchers.
In "How Syria’s White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine", The Guardian turned to Olivia Solon to dismiss all opposition to the White Helmets as the work of "anti-imperialist activists", "conspiracy theorists" and "trolls with the support of the Russian government".
The choice of Solon to report on this story is especially odd; a "technology reporter" in San Francisco, Solon has no background of any sort in geopolitics or combat zone reporting and, as far as can be determined, has never set foot in Syria.
Instead, she relied exclusively on sources such as the [murky PR lobbying firm]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170110212932/https://www.alternet.org/world/inside-shadowy-pr-firm-thats-driving-western-opinion-towards-regime-change-syria), The Syria Campaign, to praise the White Helmets and [castigate their detractors]( https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/18/syria-white-helmets-conspiracy-theories).
Bizarrely, the report devotes a great deal of attention to the White Helmets’ [Mannequin Challenge video]( https://youtu.be/Zgl271A6LgQ), footage of an admittedly fake and staged "rescue" operation released by the group in an attempt to cash in on a viral internet video trend taking place at the time.
The inference of the video is obvious: that the group is perfectly capable of staging incredibly realistic and completely fake "rescue" operations at any time.
These fake videos, stripped of their context, would be uncritically promoted as authentic by mainstream outlets like The Guardian in the exact same way that the completely fictitious video of a "Syrian" boy rescuing his sister under sniper fire was uncritically accepted by the mainstream media…until it was admitted to be a [fake video produced in Malta]( https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-30057401) by a Norwegian film crew "_to see how the media would respond to such a video_".
The Guardian’s headline when the fake Norwegian film production was released? "[Syrian boy 'saves girl from army sniper]( https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/nov/12/syrian-boy-saves-girl-from-army-sniper-video)' – video."
Strangely, Solon’s report does not mention that incident.
The majority of The Guardian's report focuses on why the innocent and virtuous White Helmets would be so viciously attacked by independent journalists and how all opposition to the group is connected to the Kremlin.
This is supposedly demonstrated in an utterly meaningless "infographic" of colored dots showing precisely nothing of substance.
Unsurprisingly, Solon's contact with the reporters whose work she was set to impugn displayed her biases from the very start.
[Bartlett exposed the conversation]( https://www.globalresearch.ca/how-the-mainstream-media-whitewashed-al-qaeda-and-the-white-helmets-in-syria/5624930) she had with Olivia Solon and the emails received from her, where you can see her real [dishonest intentions]( https://ingaza.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/those-who-transmit-syrian-voices-are-russian-propagandists-monitors-of-fake-news-negate-syrian-suffering/).
Olivia Solon contacted Beeley as well.
Her attempt to put them in a position of having to defend themselves [becomes obvious]( https://youtu.be/NQL3rX6xWRg).
Of course what would you have expected from The Guardian?
[In 2016 it lobbied]( https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/05/the-guardian-view-on-the-nobel-peace-prize-give-it-to-syrias-white-helmets), effectively, for the White Helmets to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and when it was inundated with negative comments it simply closed comments.
Researchers like Beeley, Bartlett and Professor Tim Anderson, also mentioned in Solon’s report, are easy enough targets for The Guardian.
Independent journalists taking it upon themselves to counter the Syria narrative, they would never be taken seriously by establishment media circles in the first place.
Curiously omitted from The Guardian article, however, are the award-winning, internationally respected journalists who have similarly expressed skepticism about the White Helmets, their backers, and the PR campaign that surrounds them.
There is [Gareth Porter]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170104164043/https://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/how-syrian-white-helmets-played-western-media), the award-winning journalist who has contributed to Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Nation, Al Jazeera, Salon, The Huffington Post, Alternet and countless other outlets, who wrote "How a Syrian White Helmets Leader Played Western Media" in November 2016.
There is [Philip Giraldi]( https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/the-fraud-of-the-white-helmets/), a former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer who wrote "The Fraud of the White Helmets" in July of 2017.
There is [Stephen Kinzer]( https://www.theguardian.com/profile/stephenkinzer), former New York Times correspondent who tweeted his [congratulations to "al-Qaeda and Syrian jihadists"]( https://x.com/stephenkinzer/status/836216952913809409?t=1hqvhtGMQn1FYbz7OL7y6Q&s=19) when the film about "their PR outfit, the White Helmets", won the Oscar.
So the issue here is not merely one of PR and propaganda, as appalling as the uncritical reporting about the White Helmets has been.
What is worrying is that the so-called Syrian Civil Defence is, as we have seen, not Syrian at all.
Founded, funded and promoted by foreign governments, foreign contractors and foreign lobbyists and PR agencies, the White Helmets are not a spontaneous Syrian search-and-rescue operation, but a template.
A template that, if successful, can and will be employed anywhere and everywhere that those same foreign powers want to destabilize targeted governments in the future.
-
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@ d360efec:14907b5f
2025-02-24 11:33:16
**ภาพรวม BTCUSDT (OKX):**
Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) ยังคงแสดงความผันผวนและแนวโน้มที่ไม่ชัดเจน แม้ว่าแนวโน้มระยะยาว (TF Day) จะยังคงมีลักษณะเป็นขาขึ้น (แต่*อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก*) แนวโน้มระยะกลาง (TF4H) และระยะสั้น (TF15) เป็นขาลง/Sideways Down การวิเคราะห์ครั้งนี้จะเน้นไปที่ SMC, ICT, และรูปแบบ Chart Patterns เพื่อเพิ่มความแม่นยำในการระบุแนวโน้มและจุดเข้า/ออก
**วิเคราะห์ทีละ Timeframe:**
**(1) TF Day (รายวัน):** 
* **แนวโน้ม:** ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) *อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, มีความเสี่ยงที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้ม*
* **SMC:**
* Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) *เริ่มไม่ชัดเจน, ราคาหลุด Low ก่อนหน้า*
* Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน *แต่มีการปรับฐานที่รุนแรง*
* **Liquidity:**
* มี Sellside Liquidity (SSL) อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า (บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000)
* มี Buyside Liquidity (BSL) อยู่เหนือ High เดิม
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** ราคาหลุด Order Block ขาขึ้น
* **FVG:** ไม่มี FVG ชัดเจน
* **EMA:**
* ราคา *หลุด* EMA 50 (สีเหลือง) ลงมาแล้ว
* EMA 200 (สีขาว) เป็นแนวรับถัดไป
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* *สีแดงยาว* แสดงถึงแรงขายที่แข็งแกร่ง
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* สีแดง (เมฆแดง) แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง *และไม่มีสัญญาณซื้อ/ขายปรากฏ*
* **Chart Patterns:** *ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน*
* **Volume Profile:** Volume ค่อนข้างเบาบาง
* **แท่งเทียน:** แท่งเทียนล่าสุดเป็นสีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย
* **แนวรับ:** EMA 200, บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000 (SSL)
* **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, High เดิม
* **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาขึ้นอ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, *สัญญาณอันตรายหลายอย่าง*, Money Flow และ Trend Strength เป็นลบ, *หลุด Order Block และ EMA 50*
**(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง):** 
* **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend)
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)
* Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง
* **Liquidity:**
* มี SSL อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า
* มี BSL อยู่เหนือ Highs ก่อนหน้า
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** ราคาไม่สามารถผ่าน Order Block ขาลงได้
* **EMA:**
* ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA 50 และ EMA 200
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* สีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* แดง/ไม่มีสัญญาณ
* **Chart Patterns:** *ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน*
* **Volume Profile:**
* Volume ค่อนข้างนิ่ง
* **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด
* **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ Order Block
* **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลงชัดเจน, แรงขายมีอิทธิพล
**(3) TF15 (15 นาที):** 
* **แนวโน้ม:** Sideways Down (แกว่งตัวลง)
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)
* Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง
* **ICT:**
* ราคา Sideway
* **EMA:**
* EMA 50 และ EMA 200 เป็นแนวต้าน
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* แดง/เขียว สลับกัน
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* สีแดง แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง
* **Chart Patterns:** *ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน*
* **Volume Profile:**
* Volume ค่อนข้างนิ่ง
* **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด
* **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200
* **สรุป:** แนวโน้ม Sideways Down,
**สรุปภาพรวมและกลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT):**
* **แนวโน้มหลัก (Day):** ขาขึ้น (*อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, เสี่ยงที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้ม*)
* **แนวโน้มรอง (4H):** ขาลง
* **แนวโน้มระยะสั้น (15m):** ขาลง/Sideways Down
* **Liquidity:** มี SSL ทั้งใน Day, 4H, และ 15m
* **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes
* **Trend Strength:** Day/15m เป็นขาลง, 4H Sideways
* **Chart Patterns:** ไม่พบรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน
* **กลยุทธ์:**
1. **Wait & See (ดีที่สุด):** รอความชัดเจน
2. **Short (เสี่ยง):** ถ้าไม่สามารถ Breakout EMA/แนวต้านใน TF ใดๆ ได้ หรือเมื่อเกิดสัญญาณ Bearish Continuation
3. **ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy:** จนกว่าจะมีสัญญาณกลับตัวที่ชัดเจนมากๆ
**Day Trade & การเทรดรายวัน:**
* **Day Trade (TF15):**
* **Short Bias:** หาจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาเด้งขึ้นไปทดสอบแนวต้าน (EMA, Order Block)
* **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short
* **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป (Low ล่าสุด)
* **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long**
* **Swing Trade (TF4H):**
* **Short Bias:** รอจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาไม่สามารถผ่านแนวต้าน EMA หรือ Order Block ได้
* **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short
* **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป
* **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long**
**สิ่งที่ต้องระวัง:**
* **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** มีโอกาสสูงที่ราคาจะถูกลากลงไปแตะ SSL
* **False Breakouts:** ระวัง
* **Volatility:** สูง
**Setup Day Trade แบบ SMC (ตัวอย่าง):**
1. **ระบุ Order Block:** หา Order Block ขาลง (Bearish Order Block) ใน TF15
2. **รอ Pullback:** รอให้ราคา Pullback ขึ้นไปทดสอบ Order Block นั้น
3. **หา Bearish Entry:**
* **Rejection:** รอ Price Action ปฏิเสธ Order Block
* **Break of Structure:** รอให้ราคา Break โครงสร้างย่อยๆ
* **Money Flow:** ดู Money Flow ให้เป็นสีแดง
4. **ตั้ง Stop Loss:** เหนือ Order Block
5. **ตั้ง Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป
**คำแนะนำ:**
* **ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes:** มีอยู่ แต่แนวโน้มระยะกลาง-สั้น เป็นลบ
* **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes
* **Trend Strength:** เป็นลบ
* **Order Block TF Day:** หลุด Order Block ขาขึ้นแล้ว
* **ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ อย่าเพิ่งเข้าเทรด**
**Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ
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@ 86a82cab:b5ef38a0
2025-02-24 10:58:53
Not everyone wants a super app though, and that’s okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with it—whether it’s simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer.
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\
Not everyone wants a super app though, and that’s okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with it—whether it’s simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer.</span>
[IMage](https://nostrtips.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/nostr-structure-1-1024x576.jpg)
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@ d360efec:14907b5f
2025-02-24 10:49:26
$OKX:BTCUSDT.P
**Overall Assessment:**
Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) on OKX continues to exhibit high volatility and an uncertain trend. While the long-term trend (Daily chart) is technically still an uptrend, it has *weakened considerably*. The 4-hour and 15-minute charts are in downtrends, creating conflicting signals. This analysis focuses on identifying potential areas of Smart Money activity (liquidity pools and order blocks), assessing trend strength, and identifying any relevant chart patterns.
**Detailed Analysis by Timeframe:**
**(1) TF Day (Daily):**
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* **Trend:** Uptrend (*Significantly Weakening, High Risk of Reversal*).
* **SMC (Smart Money Concepts):**
* The Higher Highs (HH) and Higher Lows (HL) structure is *becoming less defined*. The recent price action has broken a previous low.
* Prior Breaks of Structure (BOS) to the upside, but the current pullback is very deep.
* **Liquidity:**
* **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Significant SSL rests below previous lows in the 85,000 - 90,000 range. This is a likely target for Smart Money.
* **Buyside Liquidity (BSL):** BSL is present above the all-time high.
* **ICT (Inner Circle Trader Concepts):**
* **Order Block:** The price has *broken below* the prior bullish Order Block (the large green candle before a significant up-move). This is a *major bearish signal*.
* **FVG:** No clear, significant Fair Value Gap is apparent at the current price level on the Daily chart.
* **EMA (Exponential Moving Average):**
* Price has *broken below* the 50-period EMA (yellow), a bearish signal.
* The 200-period EMA (white) is the next major support level.
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* A *long red bar* indicates strong and sustained selling pressure.
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* Red cloud indicates a downtrend. No buy/sell signals are present.
* **Chart Patterns:** No readily identifiable, classic chart patterns are apparent on the Daily chart.
* **Volume Profile:** Relatively low volume on the decline.
* **Candlesticks:** The most recent candlestick is red, confirming selling pressure.
* **Support:** EMA 200, 85,000-90,000 (SSL area).
* **Resistance:** EMA 50, Previous All-Time High.
* **Summary:** The Daily chart's uptrend is significantly weakening. The break below the 50 EMA *and* the bullish Order Block, combined with the negative Money Flow and bearish Trend Strength, are all major red flags. The SSL below is a key area to watch.
**(2) TF4H (4-Hour):**
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* **Trend:** Downtrend.
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL).
* BOS to the downside.
* **Liquidity:**
* **SSL:** Below previous lows.
* **BSL:** Above previous highs.
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** The price failed to break above a bearish Order Block.
* **EMA:**
* Price is below both the 50-period and 200-period EMAs (bearish).
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* Predominantly red, confirming selling pressure.
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* Red, indicating no particular trend or a sideways movement. No buy/sell signals.
* **Chart Patterns:** No readily identifiable, classic chart patterns are apparent.
* **Volume Profile:** Relatively consistent volume.
* **Support:** Recent lows.
* **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block.
* **Summary:** The 4-hour chart is in a confirmed downtrend. The Money Flow is bearish, price below both EMAs.
**(3) TF15 (15-Minute):**
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* **Trend:** Downtrend / Sideways Down
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL).
* BOS to the downside.
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block** Price could not break up the bearish Order Block.
* **EMA:**
* The 50-period and 200-period EMAs are acting as resistance.
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* Red and Green
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* Red cloud (Bearish)
* **Chart Patterns:** No readily identifiable, classic chart patterns are apparent.
* **Volume Profile**
* Relatively high volume.
* **Support:** Recent lows.
* **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block.
* **Summary:** The 15-minute chart is in a downtrend, with price action, EMAs, and Money Flow all confirming.
**Overall Strategy and Recommendations (BTCUSDT):**
* **Primary Trend (Day):** Uptrend (Significantly Weakening).
* **Secondary Trend (4H):** Downtrend.
* **Short-Term Trend (15m):** Downtrend/ Sideways Down.
* **Liquidity:** Significant SSL zones exist below the current price on all timeframes.
* **Money Flow:** Negative on all timeframes.
* **Trend Strength:** Bearish on 15m and Day, Sideway on 4H.
* **Chart Patterns:** None identified.
* **Strategies:**
1. **Wait & See (Best Option):** The conflicting signals and the strong bearish momentum on the shorter timeframes, combined with the weakening Daily chart, make waiting the most prudent approach. Look for:
* **Bearish Confirmation:** A decisive break below the recent lows on the 15m and 4H charts, with increasing volume and continued negative Money Flow. This would confirm the continuation of the downtrend.
* **Bullish Confirmation:** A strong, sustained break above the 15/4H EMAs and Order Block, a shift in the 15m/4H Money Flow to green.
2. **Short (High Risk):** This aligns with the 4H and 15m downtrends.
* **Entry:** On rallies towards resistance levels (EMAs on 15m/4H, previous support levels that have turned into resistance, Order Blocks).
* **Stop Loss:** Above recent highs on the chosen timeframe, or above a key resistance level.
* **Target:** The next support levels (recent lows on 15m, then potentially the SSL zones on the 4H and Daily charts).
3. **Buy (Extremely High Risk - Not Recommended):** Do *not* attempt to buy until there are *very strong and consistent* bullish reversal signals across *all* timeframes, including a definitive shift in market structure on the 4H and 15m charts, positive Money Flow, and a clear break above resistance levels.
**Key Recommendations:**
* **Conflicting Timeframes:** The primary conflict is now resolved toward the downside. The Daily is weakening significantly.
* **Money Flow:** Consistently negative across all timeframes, a major bearish factor.
* **Trend Strength:** Bearish on 15m and Day, Sideways on 4h.
* **Daily Order Block:** The *break* of the bullish Order Block on the Daily chart is a significant bearish development.
* **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Be aware that Smart Money may target the SSL zones below. This increases the risk of stop-loss hunting.
* **Risk Management:** Due to the high uncertainty and volatility, *strict risk management is absolutely critical.* Use tight stop-losses, do not overtrade, and be prepared for rapid price swings.
* **Volume:** Confirm any breakout or breakdown with volume.
**Day Trading and Intraday Trading Strategies:**
* **Day Trade (TF15 focus):**
* **Short Bias:** Given the current 15m downtrend and negative Money Flow, the higher probability is to look for shorting opportunities.
* **Entry:** Look for price to rally to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks, previous support levels that have become resistance) and then show signs of rejection (bearish candlestick patterns, increasing volume on the downside).
* **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order above the resistance level where you enter the short position.
* **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (recent lows).
* **Avoid Long positions** until there's a *clear* and *confirmed* bullish reversal on the 15m chart (break above EMAs, positive Money Flow, bullish market structure).
* **Swing Trade (TF4H focus):**
* **Short Bias:** The 4H chart is in a downtrend.
* **Entry:** Wait for price to rally to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks) and show signs of rejection.
* **Stop Loss:** Above the resistance level where you enter the short position.
* **Take Profit:** Target the next support levels (e.g., the 200 EMA on the Daily chart, SSL zones).
* **Avoid Long positions** until there's a *clear* and *confirmed* bullish reversal on the 4H chart.
**SMC Day Trade Setup Example (TF15 - Bearish):**
1. **Identify Bearish Order Block:** Locate a bearish Order Block on the TF15 chart (a bullish candle before a strong downward move).
2. **Wait for Pullback:** Wait for the price to pull back up to test the Order Block (this may or may not happen).
3. **Bearish Entry:**
* **Rejection:** Look for price action to reject the Order Block (e.g., a pin bar, engulfing pattern, or other bearish candlestick pattern).
* **Break of Structure:** Look for a break of a minor support level on a *lower* timeframe (e.g., 1-minute or 5-minute) after the price tests the Order Block. This confirms weakening bullish momentum.
* **Money Flow:** Confirm that Money Flow remains negative (red).
4. **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order *above* the Order Block.
5. **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (e.g., recent lows) or a bullish Order Block on a higher timeframe.
**In conclusion, BTCUSDT is currently in a high-risk, bearish environment in the short-to-medium term. The "Wait & See" approach is strongly recommended for most traders. Shorting is the higher-probability trade *at this moment*, but only for experienced traders who can manage risk extremely effectively. Buying is not recommended at this time.**
Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and represents a personal opinion. It is not financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Investors should conduct their own research and exercise due diligence before making any investment decisions.
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@ 044da344:073a8a0e
2025-02-24 08:50:56
#
Worüber schreibt man am Tag nach einer Bundestagswahl? Über morgen und übermorgen, worüber sonst. In der Medienwelt heißt die Zukunft KI. Was passiert mit den Redakteuren, mit den Inhalten, mit dem Publikum? Längst vergeht kein Tag mehr ohne entsprechende Umfragen und Wasserstandsmeldungen. Es genügt eigentlich schon, die Stellenanzeigen zu sichten. Am meisten verdient, wer vorgibt, den besten Prompt zu schreiben. Sag der Maschine, was sie machen soll. Wenn du das Optimum herauskitzelst, sparen wir drei Kollegen.
Eigentlich ist das nicht mein Thema, auch beim Schreiben nicht. Ich habe das natürlich ausprobiert und ChatGPT gebeten, diesen Text zu übernehmen. Etwas zu „KI und Medien“ im Stil von Michael Meyen. Versuch eins war so lala. Viele Kommas. Begriffe und Konstruktionen, die ich nie verwenden würde. Eine „der größten Herausforderungen der Geschichte“. Gähn. Auch eine freundliche Nachfrage hat nicht geholfen, obwohl mir der Bildschirm versprach, jetzt „kritisch und analytisch“ zu werden und meinen „klaren, prägnanten Schreibstil“ zu berücksichtigen. Nicht ein einziger Satz, den ich so formulieren würde, vom Inhalt ganz zu schweigen. Das übliche Blabla, schon in der Überschrift: „Die Zukunft der Medienwelt: Künstliche Intelligenz als Schlüsselakteur“.
Vielleicht hätte ich ein Bezahl-Modell nutzen sollen. Vielleicht wäre aber auch die Billigvariante besser gewesen, wenn Laura Lewandowski schon unser Interview veröffentlicht hätte. Laura hat ein paar Jahre bei der dpa gearbeitet, dann den Kanal [Meet Your Mentor](https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourmentor) zu einer Nummer gemacht und nun eine neue Idee. Sendungen rund um das Thema KI. Mich hat sie eingeladen, weil sie spannend fand, was ich zu Medien und Journalismus zu sagen habe. Um KI ging es dabei bisher so gut wie nie. Wie sagt ChatGPT so schön: eine der größten Herausforderungen in der Geschichte.
Laura hat es mir leicht gemacht. Sie kennt das YouTube-Publikum. 50 Tabs offen, mit einem Auge schon woanders, immer auf der Suche nach dem nächsten Kick. Dieses Publikum braucht Struktur. Ich sollte ihr deshalb vorher drei Thesen schicken. Futter für die Haie und für uns zugleich etwas, woran wir uns entlang hangeln konnten.
## These 1: KI ist ein Angriff auf die Zukunft der Menschheit.
Größer geht es nicht, ich weiß. Was ist der Mensch? Was unterscheidet uns von anderen Tieren? In so einer Kolumne kann ich das nicht auflösen, schon gar nicht am Tag vor der Bundestagswahl. Deshalb nur zwei Punkte. Wir können Instinkte, Prägungen, Vorurteile hinter uns lassen. Der Hund muss fressen, wenn er Hunger hat. Wir nicht. Vielleicht noch wichtiger ist Transzendenz. Wir können uns etwas vorstellen, was es noch nicht gibt, und das Wirklichkeit werden lassen, wahrscheinlich meist nicht allein, aber mit ein paar Leuten, die an uns und unsere Idee glauben. Die Sprache verschleiert das, wenn sie *er-finden* sagt oder *ent-decken* – ganz so, als ob schon alles da ist und nur auf uns wartet. Ich zitiere hier freihändig Axel Klopprogge und verweise auf unser [Gespräch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUiUAhb2OXY\&t=).
Selbst eine perfekte KI (also eine, die weiß, welches Wort ich nie schreiben würde und was ich bisher über sie gesagt habe) schaut immer nur zurück, verlängert deshalb die Vergangenheit und zerstört so die Zukunft. Anders formuliert: Der KI fehlt sowohl die Transzendenz als auch die Option, heute alles ganz anders zu machen als bis gestern. Wenn dieser Satz nicht mehr stimmt, können wir das „K“ streichen und haben tatsächlich ein Problem. Der Begriff KI ist eine Mogelpackung, die uns etwas verspricht, was nicht zu haben ist (ein Mensch ohne seine Schwächen, ohne seine Natur, ohne die Launen der Tagesform), und uns so das nehmen könnte, was uns als Menschen ausmacht. Das ist so ähnlich wie beim Begriff [Faktencheck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiMtwqp_lKk). DIE Wahrheit, und das auch noch von Profis geprüft. An den Begriffen werdet ihr sie erkennen.
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## These 2: Gerade die Kreativen und die Medienleute, die KI jetzt feiern, sollten sich eher fürchten.
Ich habe gerade Mathias Döpfner gehört, im [Podcast](https://omr.com/de/daily/mathias-doepfner-axel-springer) von OMR. Ein Loblied auf KI. Endlich, endlich könne sich der Journalist auf seinen Job konzentrieren. Recherche, exklusive Nachrichten. Zusammenschreiben, was da ist: Das mache die Maschine jetzt schon besser. Mag sein.
Ich halte es wieder mit Axel Klopprogge, diesmal mit seinem Buch „Liebeserklärung an die Arbeit“, herausgegeben vom Goinger Kreis. Dort heißt es: Jede definierte Arbeit kann ersetzt werden. Alles, was von der Wiederholung lebt. In der Bewusstseinsindustrie sind das acht von zehn Jobs. Möglichkeit eins: Harari bekommt Recht. Lauter Nutzlose und Überflüssige, abzulenken mit Drogen und Computerspielen. Möglichkeit zwei: Die acht wollen das nicht, klammern sich an ihre Jobs und ziehen dafür die beiden auf ihr Niveau herunter, die bisher das verkörpern, was Döpfner als den Kern des Journalismus feiert. Überraschend bleiben. Nicht ausrechenbar sein.
Ich muss das nicht ausbuchstabieren und auch nicht sagen, was ich für wahrscheinlicher halte. Kein Text von Michael Meyen mehr. Stattdessen überall Vorgestanztes. Die KI schreibt dabei nur weiter, was wir seit Jahr und Tag erleben. Es ist ohnehin fast alles verschwunden, was sich nicht in [Zahlen](https://medienblog.hypotheses.org/521) ausdrücken lässt. Bauchgefühl, Urteilskraft. 10.000 Schritte musst du gehen, auch wenn der Körper sagt: Ich will das heute nicht. KI wird das verstärken. Eins oder null. Und wehe, dir gefällt das Ergebnis nicht. Schon heute schreiben selbst schlaue Menschen Bücher, die KI als Letztbeweis nutzen. Schaut her, liebe Leute: Die KI sagt das auch. Ich muss also Recht haben. Na da.
## These 3: KI ist ein Machtinstrument und könnte so ein neuer Filter für die Meinungs- und Willensbildung werden.
Wer schreibt, der bleibt, hieß es früher beim Kartenspiel. Übersetzt: Es gewinnt der, der die Maschinen füttert oder ihnen sagt, wo sie zu essen haben und wo besser nicht. Ich habe den [Überwachungskapitalismus](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/31) gewürdigt, den [Digital Services Act](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/brussel-greift-nach-dem-netz) und auch ganz grundsätzlich alles, was es zu [Propaganda und Zensur](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/139) zu sagen gibt.
Um das nicht wiederholen zu müssen, erzähle ich eine Anekdote – eingesammelt bei einem Spaziergang mit jemandem, der in einem der Medienkonzerne ganz weit oben ist. Dieser Manager erzählte mir, dass sein Haus ein paar Jahre herumgebastelt habe an einem Programm, das die dpa ersetzt. Inzwischen sei man so weit. Kein Unterschied mehr zwischen dem, was über den Ticker kommt, und dem, was das Tool aus dem Netz zusammenbaut. Und? Hat man die dpa abbestellt, einen nicht ganz billigen Dienst? Das nun doch nicht. Es fiel das Wort Opportunitätskosten. Die Nachrichtenagentur gehört den Medienkonzernen. Wenn einer aussteigt, wird es für alle anderen teurer.
Fast hätte ich geschrieben: Es wäre auch schwerer geworden für Regierung, Behörden, Parteien und überhaupt alle, die die Medienwirklichkeit formen wollen, weil damit Herrschaft steht und fällt. Ein Anruf oder ein Mensch bei der dpa – und der Journalismus ruft im Chor zurück. KI macht sowohl den Anruf obsolet als auch den Brückenkopf im dpa-Raumschiff. In den USA hat dieses Beben längst begonnen, Stichwort USAID. Meine Wahlempfehlung ergab sich daraus fast von selbst: Bleiben wir offline, wo immer es geht. 
[Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/)
[Unterstützen](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/unterstuetzen)
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@ 04ea4f83:210e1713
2025-02-24 06:42:36
Erschienen im [The Bitstein Brief](https://bitstein.substack.com/p/mises-the-original-toxic-maximalist?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) | Veröffenlichung 10.12.2022 |\
Author: [Bitstein (Michael Goldstein)](https://twitter.com/bitstein?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)\
Übersetzt von: [Sinautoshi am 11.12.2022 - 766906](https://twitter.com/Sinautoshi_8_21?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)
*„Die gesellschaftliche Funktion der Wirtschaftswissenschaft besteht gerade darin, solide Wirtschaftstheorien zu entwickeln und die Irrtümer bösartiger Denkweisen zu entlarven. Bei der Verfolgung dieser Aufgabe zieht der Wirtschaftswissenschaftler die tödliche Feindschaft aller Schwindler und Scharlatane auf sich, deren Abkürzungen zum irdischen Paradies er entlarvt. Je weniger diese Quacksalber in der Lage sind, plausible Einwände gegen die Argumente eines Ökonomen vorzubringen, desto wütender beschimpfen sie ihn.“*
\- Ludwig von Mises, „Nationalökonomie, Theorie des Handelns und Wirtschaftens”
***
Das „toxischste" an einem Bitcoin-Maximalisten ist seine unerschütterliche Bereitschaft, „*Nein” *zu sagen. Nach dem Studium der Geldtheorie und -geschichte und der Erfahrung mit den unerbittlichen Kräften des Marktes, hat der Bitcoiner ein Verständnis für die Realität des monetären Wettbewerbs, ein Bewusstsein für die kritische Natur dezentraler Systeme, einen Fokus auf die Lösung der wichtigsten monetären Probleme und eine strikte Ablehnung der unvermeidlichen Ablenkungen, Opportunitätskosten und ethischen Bedenken bei der Einführung und Förderung von Altcoin-Projekten.
Einige Kritiker bemängeln unhöfliche rhetorische Schnörkel, die als Hindernis für die Gewinnung neuer Bitcoin-Nutzer angesehen werden. Wenn das wahr wäre, gäbe es in der Arbeitsteilung eine Chance für eine qualitativ hochwertigere Bitcoin-Ausbildung, die die Bitcoiner meiner Meinung nach gerne wahrnehmen würden, vor allem die Kritiker, die die bestehenden Unzulänglichkeiten besser erkennen. Doch egal, wie höflich die Bitcoiner ihre Ansichten darlegen, bestimmte Möchtegern-Unternehmer und Influencer werden immer im Streit mit einer leidenschaftlichen Bevölkerungsgruppe stehen, die einfach nicht interessiert ist - und ihr Desinteresse lautstark kundtut. Die „toxischsten" Bitcoiner sind oft diejenigen, die die Weisheit der Bitcoiner erst erkannt haben, nachdem sie von Shitcoins verbrannt wurden und ihr neu gefundenes Desinteresse unmissverständlich zum Ausdruck bringen wollen.
Was soll man also als Bitcoiner tun? Ich empfehle, sich der Wahrheit und der Förderung der Wahrheit zu verschreiben und die Wirksamkeit von Rhetorik an ihrem langfristigen Einfluss und nicht an ihrer kurzfristigen Popularität zu messen.
In dieser Hinsicht sollten sich die Bitcoiner von dem ursprünglichen toxischen Maximalisten inspirieren lassen: Ludwig von Mises. Der bedeutende Wirtschaftswissenschaftler setzte sich unbeirrt für die Wahrheit, freie Märkte und gesundes Geld ein und scheute sich nicht, das zu sagen, was gesagt werden musste, auch wenn er sich damit keine Freunde machte. Langfristig wurde er zu einem der einflussreichsten Ökonomen und Denker des 20. Jahrhunderts, und seine Arbeit hat den Weg für den Bitcoin geebnet.
### Mises, der Geldmaximalist
Einer der Hauptkritikpunkte an den Bitcoin-Maximalisten ist die Behauptung, dass die Welt auf Bitcoin (als Geld) konvergieren wird und es generell keine Verwendung für andere Währungen gibt. Dies wird als normative Aussage betrachtet. In Wirklichkeit machen die Bitcoiner eine positive, beschreibende Aussage darüber, wie der monetäre Wettbewerb funktioniert.
In der 1912 veröffentlichten *[Theorie des Geldes und der Umlaufmittel](https://mises.org/library/theory-money-and-credit?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)*[ ](https://mises.org/library/theory-money-and-credit?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)schrieb Mises:
***
*„So haben die Erfordernisse des Marktes allmählich dazu geführt, dass bestimmte Waren als gemeinsame Tauschmittel ausgewählt wurden. Die Gruppe der Waren, aus der diese ausgewählt wurden, war ursprünglich sehr groß und unterschied sich von Land zu Land; sie wurde aber immer mehr eingeschränkt. Wann immer ein direkter Tausch nicht in Frage kam, war jede der an einem Geschäft beteiligten Parteien bestrebt, ihre überflüssigen Waren nicht nur gegen marktgängigere Waren im Allgemeinen, sondern gegen die marktgängigsten Waren einzutauschen, und von diesen wiederum bevorzugte sie natürlich die marktgängigste Ware. Je größer die Marktfähigkeit der zuerst im indirekten Tausch erworbenen Waren ist, desto größer ist die Aussicht, das endgültige Ziel ohne weitere Manöver erreichen zu können. So gäbe es die unvermeidliche Tendenz, dass die weniger marktfähigen Güter aus der Reihe der als Tauschmittel verwendeten Waren nach und nach verworfen würden, bis schließlich nur noch ein einziges Gut übrig bliebe, das allgemein als Tauschmittel verwendet würde: das Geld.“*
***
Mises zufolge wählen die Akteure zunehmend das marktgängigste Gut als Tauschmittel aus und der natürliche Verlauf des Marktes geht in Richtung Vereinheitlichung zu einem einzigen Geldgut. Das ist schlicht und einfach monetärer Maximalismus.
Mises unterscheidet sich von den Bitcoinern lediglich durch die Stärke der Behauptungen, die er über die tatsächlichen empirischen Entscheidungen der Wirtschaftsakteure zu treffen bereit ist. Mises weist darauf hin, dass sowohl Gold als auch Silber an vielen Orten zu Geld gemacht wurden, wahrscheinlich wegen ihrer ähnlichen Eigenschaften, und dass es den Rahmen der Geldtheorie sprengt, zu sagen, ob Gold oder Silber letztlich besser verkäuflich ist. Trotzdem sagt er:
***
*„Denn es ist ziemlich sicher, dass die Vereinheitlichung auch dann ein wünschenswertes geldpolitisches Ziel gewesen wäre, wenn die ungleiche Marktfähigkeit der als Tauschmittel verwendeten Güter kein Motiv geboten hätte. Die gleichzeitige Verwendung mehrerer Geldarten bringt so viele Nachteile mit sich und verkompliziert die Technik des Tauschens so sehr, dass das Bestreben, das Geldsystem zu vereinheitlichen, in jedem Fall unternommen worden wäre.“*
***
Die natürliche Tendenz zu einem einzigen Geldgut ist so stark, dass seiner Meinung nach die Vereinheitlichung der Geldsysteme auch dann angestrebt würde, wenn zwei Güter genau gleich marktfähig wären. Zuvor stellt er außerdem fest:
***
*„Das endgültige Urteil könnte erst gefällt werden, wenn alle Hauptteile der bewohnten Erde ein einziges Handelsgebiet bilden, denn erst dann wäre es unmöglich, dass andere Nationen mit unterschiedlichen Geldsystemen sich anschließen und die internationale Organisation verändern.“*
***
Jede neue Handelsbeziehung eröffnet die Möglichkeit, ein brandneues Geldgut einzuführen, das bisher nicht verwendet wurde. Wenn seine Qualitäten ein höheres Maß an Marktfähigkeit aufrechterhalten könnten, ist es möglich, dass sich die gesamte internationale Währungsordnung aufgrund seiner natürlichen Überlegenheit bei der Bewältigung der Funktionen des Geldes um ihn herum neu organisieren könnte.
Im [Bitcoin Standard ](https://aprycot.media/shop/der-bitcoin-standard/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)liefert Saifedean Ammous zahlreiche Argumente dafür, warum Gold dem Silber als Geldwert überlegen war, obwohl Mises nicht bereit oder nicht daran interessiert war, diesen Punkt zu diskutieren, und warum Bitcoin ein noch besserer Geldwert ist. Mises hat die Einführung von Bitcoin in die Weltwirtschaft zwar nicht mehr erlebt, aber seine Wirtschaftstheorie erklärt genau, warum Bitcoin an Wert gewinnen würde und warum es plausibel ist, dass die gesamte internationale Währungsordnung auf einen Bitcoin-Standard umgestellt wird. Er gibt auch den theoretischen Rahmen, um zu verstehen, warum Altcoins Bitcoin nicht allein durch ihre Eigenschaften ausstechen können. Sie müssen eine bessere Marktfähigkeit in Bezug auf Raum, Zeit und Größe bieten, um einen ausreichenden Vorteil gegenüber Bitcoin zu haben. Wie bereits an anderer Stelle beschrieben, ist dies einfach nicht gelungen, und nur Bitcoin bietet ein stark dezentralisiertes, überprüfbares und glaubwürdig knappes digitales Geldgut.
### Mises, der Marktmaximalist
Die Geldtheorie ist nicht der einzige Ort, an dem der Leser eine Art „Maximalismus" in Mises' Denken spüren kann. Sein gesamtes Werk läuft auf einen unverhohlenen Marktmaximalismus hinaus, der sich weigert, durch rigorose ökonomische Theorie und Analyse sozialistischen oder interventionistischen Argumenten nachzugeben.
Ein großartiges Beispiel für seine Verteidigung des freien Marktes findet sich in einem Vortrag aus dem Jahr 1950 mit dem Titel „[Die Mitte des Weges führt zum Sozialismus](https://mises.org/library/middle-road-leads-socialism?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)". In dieser Vorlesung greift Mises Interventionisten an, die behaupten, eine Politik der „Mitte" zwischen den beiden Extremen Kapitalismus und Sozialismus zu favorisieren. Durch strategische Interventionen kann der Staat die Auswüchse beider Systeme verhindern.
Mises betrachtet Kapitalismus und Sozialismus jedoch als diametral entgegengesetzte und unvereinbare Organisationssysteme und nicht als ein Spektrum der Wohlstandsverteilung:
***
*„Der Konflikt der beiden Prinzipien ist unüberbrückbar und lässt keinen Kompromiss zu. Kontrolle ist unteilbar. Entweder entscheidet die Nachfrage der Verbraucher, die sich auf dem Markt manifestiert, für welche Zwecke und wie die Produktionsfaktoren eingesetzt werden sollen, oder der Staat kümmert sich um diese Angelegenheiten. Es gibt nichts, was den Gegensatz zwischen diesen beiden widersprüchlichen Prinzipien abmildern könnte. Sie schließen sich gegenseitig aus. Der Interventionismus ist kein goldener Mittelweg zwischen Kapitalismus und Sozialismus. Er ist der Entwurf für ein drittes System der wirtschaftlichen Organisation der Gesellschaft und muss als solches gewürdigt werden.“*
***
Dieses dritte System ist jedoch im Grunde nur ein längerer Marsch zum Sozialismus, indem es ein falsches Lippenbekenntnis zu Privateigentum und freier Marktwirtschaft ablegt. Auf jeden Eingriff, der stattfindet, müssen weitere folgen. Die Festsetzung eines Preises hier erfordert die Festsetzung eines anderen Preises dort, und so geht es die ganze Lieferkette entlang. Am Ende hat der Interventionismus die gesamte „Marktwirtschaft" im Würgegriff.
***
*Der Interventionismus kann nicht als ein Wirtschaftssystem betrachtet werden, das dazu bestimmt ist, zu bleiben. Er ist eine Methode zur Umwandlung des Kapitalismus in den Sozialismus in mehreren aufeinanderfolgenden Schritten. Damit unterscheidet er sich von den Bemühungen der Kommunisten, den Sozialismus auf einen Schlag zu verwirklichen. Der Unterschied bezieht sich nicht auf das letztendliche Ziel der politischen Bewegung, sondern vor allem auf die Taktik, die zur Erreichung des von beiden Gruppen angestrebten Ziels angewandt wird.*
***
Trotzdem sind selbst die meisten vermeintlichen Befürworter einer freien Marktwirtschaft in Wirklichkeit von interventionistischen Ideologien und Denkweisen durchdrungen, und ihre Strategien sind immer zum Scheitern und zu Kompromissen verurteilt.
***
*„Dies hat zur Folge, dass praktisch kaum etwas getan wird, um das System der Privatwirtschaft zu erhalten. Es gibt nur Mittelsmänner, die glauben, erfolgreich gewesen zu sein, wenn sie eine besonders ruinöse Maßnahme eine Zeit lang hinausgezögert haben. Sie sind immer auf dem Rückzug. Sie nehmen heute Maßnahmen in Kauf, die sie noch vor zehn oder zwanzig Jahren für undiskutabel gehalten hätten. In ein paar Jahren werden sie sich mit anderen Maßnahmen abfinden, die sie heute noch für undiskutabel halten. Was den totalitären Sozialismus verhindern kann, ist nur ein grundlegender Wandel der Ideologien.*\
\
*Was wir brauchen, ist weder Antisozialismus noch Antikommunismus, sondern eine offene Befürwortung des Systems, dem wir all den Wohlstand verdanken, der unser Zeitalter von den vergleichsweise beengten Verhältnissen vergangener Zeiten unterscheidet.“*
***
Mises nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund, wenn er eine interventionistische Politik fordert, und es gibt viele Lehren, die Bitcoiner daraus ziehen können.
Erstens ist das Bitcoin-Netzwerk nicht einfach nur eine andere Art des Werttransfers als eine bestehende zentralisierte Lösung, eine Art PayPal 2.0. Es ist ein strukturell anderer Ansatz für das gesamte Problem der doppelten Ausgaben. „Blockchain, nicht Bitcoin" ist eine Mogelpackung, weil sie den Kern dessen, was Bitcoin einzigartig macht (Dezentralisierung, unabhängige Überprüfbarkeit usw.), wegnimmt, während sie behauptet, „die zugrundeliegende Technologie" zu nutzen, ähnlich wie ein nationalsozialistisches oder faschistisches Regime die staatliche Kontrolle über die Produktion übernehmen könnte, während es behauptet, für Privateigentum zu sein. Wenn du die Vorteile des Marktes nutzen willst, musst du tatsächlich einen Markt haben, und wenn du die Vorteile von Bitcoin nutzen willst, musst du Bitcoin tatsächlich nutzen.
Außerdem sollte die Dezentralisierung als binäres System betrachtet werden. Entweder ist ein System dezentralisiert, oder es ist dazu verdammt, zentralisiert zu werden, manchmal mit einem Hard Fork nach dem anderen (*vgl. Ethereum*). Bitcoin-Maximalisten werden regelmäßig als toxisch bezeichnet, weil sie entschlossen an bestimmten Netzwerkparametern festhalten, selbst wenn diese willkürlich oder trivial erscheinen. Ein ganzer[ Krieg über die Blockgröße](https://amzn.to/3OZX84g?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) wurde um eine Begrenzung von 1 MB geführt. Die Zahl schien willkürlich und die Lösung trivial zu sein, aber die Bitcoiner weigerten sich, davon abzuweichen. Und warum? Eine höhere Blockgröße würde die Kosten für den Betrieb eines vollständigen Knotens (Full Node) erhöhen, der für eine unabhängige Validierung und Dezentralisierung notwendig ist. Ein Hard Fork würde einen vernichtenden Präzedenzfall schaffen und alle zukünftigen Ansprüche auf Abwärtskompatibilität gefährden, die für die Glaubwürdigkeit der Geldpolitik und die Fähigkeit der Nodes, sich vertrauensvoll mit dem Netzwerk zu synchronisieren, erforderlich sind. Die Blockkapazität stieg zwar an, aber nur, weil SegWit, dessen Vorteile weit über die bloße Verbesserung der Skalierung hinausgingen, über einen Soft Fork aktiviert werden konnte, sodass denjenigen, die dies nicht wollten, keine neuen Kosten auferlegt wurden.
Andere Projekte hingegen akzeptieren nicht, dass [die Kompromisse bei Bitcoin nicht wirklich willkürlich sind](https://medium.com/@nic__carter/bitcoin-bites-the-bullet-8005a2a62d29?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com). Sie bieten Turing-complete Smart Contracts, schnellere Blockzeiten, größere Blöcke oder alle möglichen anderen „Features" an. Die Features werden nicht mit demselben extrem konservativen Engagement für Sicherheit produziert wie Bitcoin und bedrohen oft die Fähigkeit, überhaupt einen vollständigen Knoten (*Full-Node*) zu betreiben. Nur bei Bitcoin kümmern sich die Leute darum, dass die Geldmenge tatsächlich überprüft werden kann. Mit der Zeit verlieren die Projekte, wenn sie überhaupt aufrechterhalten werden, jeden Anschein einer glaubwürdigen Dezentralisierung. Ethereum, das einst mit unaufhaltsamen Anwendungen und der Aussage „Code ist Gesetz" warb, erlebte den DAO-Hack und ist nach der Einführung von Proof-of-Stake (das von Natur aus zentralisierend ist) der OFAC-Zensur in unterschiedlichem Maße unterworfen.
Bitcoin akzeptiert nichts von alledem. Er beugt seine Regeln für niemanden. Bitcoiner wissen auch, dass das System gar kein Bitcoin mehr wäre, wenn die Regeln gebogen *würden*. Mises hilft uns zu verstehen, dass eine Politik des Mittelweges zu Shitcoinerei führt. Eine Währung ist entweder Bitcoin oder dazu verdammt, ein Shitcoin zu sein.
### Mises, der toxische Maximalist
Im Jahr 1947 fand in der Schweiz das erste Treffen der Mont Pèlerin Society statt. Bei diesem Treffen trafen sich viele der einflussreichsten Verfechter der freien Märkte und des klassischen Liberalismus, von Ludwig von Mises über F. A. Hayek bis hin zu Milton Friedman und vielen anderen, um darüber zu diskutieren, wie man die steigende Flut des Totalitarismus und seiner Wirtschaftsideologien durch die Förderung freier Märkte und des Privateigentums bekämpfen kann. Man könnte meinen, dass Mises genau in diese Diskussionen passt. Doch wie [Milton Friedman berichtete](https://reason.com/1995/06/01/best-of-both-worlds/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), kam es anders:
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*„Die Geschichte, an die ich mich am besten erinnere, ereignete sich auf dem ersten Treffen in Mont Pèlerin, als \[Mises] aufstand und sagte: „Ihr seid alle ein Haufen Sozialisten." Wir diskutierten über die Einkommensverteilung und darüber, ob man progressive Einkommenssteuern haben sollte. Einige der Anwesenden vertraten die Ansicht, dass es eine Rechtfertigung dafür geben könnte.*\
\
*Eine andere Gelegenheit, die ebenso aufschlussreich ist: Fritz Machlup war ein Schüler von Mises, einer seiner treuesten Jünger. Bei einem der Treffen in Mont Pèlerin hielt Machlup einen Vortrag, in dem er, glaube ich, die Idee eines Goldstandards in Frage stellte; er sprach sich für freie Wechselkurse aus. Mises war so wütend, dass er drei Jahre lang nicht mit Machlup sprechen wollte. Einige Leute mussten die beiden wieder zusammenbringen. Es ist schwer zu verstehen; man kann es einigermaßen nachvollziehen, wenn man sich vor Augen führt, wie Menschen wie Mises in seinem Leben verfolgt wurden.“*
***
Wie bereits erwähnt, hielt Mises drei Jahre später einen Vortrag, in dem er eindrucksvoll erklärte, warum sie tatsächlich alle ein Haufen Sozialisten waren. Wer staatliche Eingriffe in die Einkommensverteilung akzeptiert, ist dem Sozialismus bereits verfallen, sobald genug Zeit vergangen ist. Mises war einfach nicht bereit, den sozialistischen Irrtümern, die er im Laufe seiner intellektuellen Karriere so akribisch aufgespießt hatte, Glauben zu schenken. Jörg Guido Hülsmann stellt in [Mises: *The Last Knight of Liberalism*](https://mises.org/library/mises-last-knight-liberalism-0?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) fest, dass „Mises zwar in der Lage war, Sozialisten hoch zu schätzen, aber der Vorfall zeigte, dass er wenig Geduld mit Sozialisten hatte, die sich als Liberale ausgaben."
Doch Mises' giftiges Verhalten blieb nicht ohne Folgen. Laut Hülsmann:
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*„Der Schlagabtausch zwischen Mises und seinen neoliberalen Gegnern prägte den Ton in der Mont Pèlerin Society für die kommenden Jahre.... Obwohl die Libertären um Mises eine kleine Minderheit waren, hatten sie die finanzielle Unterstützung der amerikanischen Hauptsponsoren wie dem Volker Fund, ohne die die Gesellschaft in jenen frühen Jahren schnell ausgestorben wäre. Solange Mises aktiv an den Treffen teilnahm, war es daher unmöglich, die technischen Details eines genehmigten staatlichen Interventionismus zu diskutieren. Das** **Laissez-faire hatte ein Comeback gefeiert. Es war zwar nicht die Mehrheitsmeinung, aber es war eine diskutierbare und diskutierte politische Option - zu viel für einige anfängliche Mitglieder wie Maurice Allais, der die Gesellschaft genau aus diesem Grund bald wieder verließ.“*
***
Indem er toxisch war, konnte Mises dazu beitragen, den Ton für eine wirklich *laissez-faire* Mont Pèlerin Society zu setzen, die ihrem erklärten Ziel gerecht werden konnte, und sie wählten F. A. Hayek zu ihrem Präsidenten. Er hatte keine Angst, Klartext zu reden, aber lautstark, sogar gegenüber Leuten, die vermutlich zu seinem „eigenen Team" gehörten. Ludwig von Mises war ein Mann, der seine Ideen ernst nahm und die Wahrheit noch viel ernster.
In seinen [Memoiren ](https://mises.org/library/memoirs?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)schreibt Mises über seine Zeit in der österreichischen Handelskammer in den 1910er und 1920er Jahren:
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*„Ich wurde manchmal beschuldigt, meinen Standpunkt zu schroff und unnachgiebig zu vertreten. Es wurde auch behauptet, dass ich mehr hätte erreichen können, wenn ich eine größere Kompromissbereitschaft gezeigt hätte.... Die Kritik war ungerechtfertigt; ich konnte nur dann effektiv sein, wenn ich die Dinge so darstellen konnte, wie sie mir erschienen. Wenn ich heute auf meine Arbeit bei der Handelskammer zurückblicke, bedauere ich nur meine Kompromissbereitschaft und nicht meine Unnachgiebigkeit.“*
***
In dieser Zeit trug sein Rat dazu bei, die Hyperinflation in Österreich aufzuhalten und ihre Auswirkungen im Vergleich zur Weimarer Republik abzuschwächen.
Bitcoiner werden von endlosen „Krypto-" und „Shitcoin"-Betrügern geplagt, die auf dem Rücken der innovativen Technologie und des wirtschaftlichen Erfolgs von Bitcoin reiten wollen. Den Bitcoinern wird gesagt, dass sie alle im selben Team sind. In den Augen der Öffentlichkeit sind sie das auch. Das Ergebnis ist eine getäuschte Öffentlichkeit, der zentralisierte Pump-and-Dump-Systeme und Rugpulls, Affen-Jpegs und Rube-Goldberg-Maschinen verkauft werden, die auf Schlagwörtern basieren und die Vorstellung vermitteln, dass sie in der gleichen Liga spielen wie die großartigste Geldtechnologie, die je geschaffen wurde. „Krypto" profitiert vom Erfolg von Bitcoin, und die Bekanntheit von Bitcoin sinkt mit den Misserfolgen von „Krypto". Doch wenn Bitcoiner die Unterschiede ansprechen und diese Projekte ablehnen, die sie uninteressant oder sogar verabscheuungswürdig finden, wird das als schädlich angesehen. Den Bitcoinern schadet das nicht, denn sie können weiter (Satoshis) stapeln und bauen, aber die Menschen, die unter Fiat-Regimen leben müssen, leiden darunter, dass ihnen kein Weg zu Freiheit und Wohlstand gezeigt wird.
Abgesehen davon, dass das Geld des Einzelnen in Gefahr ist, kann die Offenheit für Shitcoins auch Veränderungen im Netzwerk fördern, die die Dezentralisierung beeinträchtigen. Wenn es Unterstützung für einen Shitcoin gibt, der auf einem bestimmten Merkmal basiert, warum sollte das Merkmal dann nicht in Bitcoin existieren? Wenn es tatsächlich eine Tendenz zu einer einzigen Währung gibt, ist die Förderung einer alternativen Kryptowährung selbst ein Angriff auf das Potenzial von Bitcoin. Wirtschaft und Technik sind mit gnadenlosen Konsequenzen konfrontiert. Eine falsche Abfolge von Schritten kann zu absoluter Verwüstung führen. Bitcoiner nehmen das sehr ernst und machen keinen Hehl daraus, dass sie diese Konsequenzen fürchten. Wenn sie das tun, lehnen sie ganze unternehmerische Vorhaben ab und stellen ihre gesamte Einnahmequelle in Frage. Das ist toxisch.
Bitcoiners sollten immer den Mut haben, Mises zu zitieren und jedem zu sagen: „Ihr seid alle ein Haufen Shitcoiner."
### Der aufgehende Stern von Mises
Obwohl er aus einer adligen Familie stammte und in Österreich hohe Positionen innehatte, hatte Mises, als er auf der Flucht vor den Nazis in die Vereinigten Staaten emigrierte, nur wenige Möglichkeiten. Bis zu seiner Pensionierung war er „Gastprofessor" an der New York University. Er arbeitete im Grunde genommen im stillen Kämmerlein und unterrichtete hauptsächlich in seinen inzwischen berühmten informellen Seminaren, an denen auch Murray Rothbard und andere teilnahmen. Er benötigte die Unterstützung verschiedener philanthropischer Fonds. Hinzu kam, dass die Wirtschaftswissenschaften, wie alle Sozialwissenschaften, dem Szientismus und der Technokratie erlegen waren, so dass Mises' strenge logisch-deduktive Methoden im Vergleich zu mathematischen Formeln und statistischen Modellen als altmodisch galten. Der Goldstandard wurde zugunsten eines Fiat-Systems abgeschafft, und als Mises starb, hatte der US-Dollar keinerlei Verbindung mehr zu Edelmetallen oder realen Ersparnissen, so dass die Geldpolitik allein den Launen der Politik überlassen blieb.
Es gab allen Grund, Ludwig von Mises völlig in Vergessenheit geraten zu lassen. Doch seine Schüler, wie Murray Rothbard, hielten die österreichische Schule am Leben. Im Jahr 1982 wurde das Ludwig von Mises Institute von Rothbard und Lew Rockwell gegründet und von Dr. Ron Paul finanziert (beide wurden von ihren Kritikern als „toxisch" bezeichnet). Dr. Paul selbst wurde zu einem legendären Verfechter der Ideen von Mises und anderen, sowohl im Kongress als auch im Präsidentschaftswahlkampf. In letzterem machte Dr. Paul die von der Federal Reserve verursachte wirtschaftliche Zerstörung zu einem zentralen Bestandteil seines Programms und zum ersten Mal seit Jahrzehnten zu einem wichtigen Thema in der politischen Debatte, was den Diskurs danach für immer veränderte.
Es ist also kein Wunder, dass viele Menschen, die sich als erste für Bitcoin begeisterten, treue Schüler von Mises waren und dass seine Ideen mit dem Wachstum von Bitcoin noch mehr an Bedeutung gewonnen haben. Seine rigorose Erläuterung der Wahrheiten des Wirtschaftsrechts, die auf Subjektivismus, Marginalismus und methodologischem Individualismus beruht, gab den Menschen den Rahmen, um zu verstehen, wie Bitcoin die Geldpolitik veranschaulicht, die zu Frieden, Wohlstand und Freiheit führt. Anstatt irrelevant zu werden, ist Mises heute wichtiger denn je. Wie Ron Paul bemerkte: „[Wir sind jetzt alle Österreicher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=467hCNuGvNw\&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)."
### Fazit
Das Toxische liegt im Auge des Betrachters oder des Bagholders. Die Wirtschaftswissenschaft ist, wie jedes Streben nach Wahrheit, kein Beliebtheitswettbewerb, und die Wahrheit wird immer von denen bekämpft werden, deren Geschäft und Status von der Verbreitung von Irrtümern und Unwahrheiten abhängt.\
\
Ludwig von Mises stand fest zu seinen gründlichen Analysen der Wirtschaftswissenschaften und des klassischen Liberalismus und scheute sich nicht, das zu verteidigen, was er für wahr hielt, selbst auf Kosten von Prestige und Popularität. Heute steht er weit über fast jedem anderen Sozialwissenschaftler des 20. Jahrhunderts.
Ich habe an anderer Stelle über [Memes und Rhetorik ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAuHv5cPl8\&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)gesprochen, und es gibt viel zu diskutieren über bestimmte Strategien und ihre Wirksamkeit. Aber vor allem muss jede Strategie die Wahrheit in den Mittelpunkt stellen. Die Wahrheit ist zeitlos, so dass ihre Relevanz nicht auf kurzfristige Popularität beschränkt ist. Wenn dies der Fall ist, ist der Vorwurf der „Toxizität" entweder eine Aufforderung zur Verbesserung oder ein Ehrenzeichen dafür, dass man trotz aller Widrigkeiten für die Wahrheit einsteht. Wie das Motto von Ludwig von Mises schon sagte: *tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.* Weiche dem Bösen nicht, trete ihm umso mutiger entgegen.
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-24 06:35:50
Hello Stackers!
Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!
A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
So stay a while and listen.
🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨
🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/895451
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-02-24 04:10:33
As your involvement in open source design increases, you’ll face challenges that go beyond basic UI work. From creating scalable design systems to mentoring new contributors, these advanced areas require strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership.
This chapter dives into these complexities, helping you handle real-world situations while continuing to grow as a designer.
- Championing Design Initiatives
- Creating and Maintaining Design Systems
- Handling Complex Design Challenges
- Conducting In-Depth User Research
- Balancing Open Source Work with Other Commitments
- Navigating Project Dynamics
-0 Mentoring New Designers
Read more:
https://opendesign.guide/10-advanced-topics
```
#design #nostrdesign #bitcoindesign #ln #grownostr #asknostr #zap #btc #bitcoin #nostr #cashu
```
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/895377
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@ b8851a06:9b120ba1
2025-02-24 02:02:32
The French fiscal catastrophe is unfolding exactly as Austrian economists predicted. Government intervention breeds more intervention, trapping the economy in a death spiral of debt, deficits, and monetary debasement.
France’s public debt has surged to 111% of GDP in 2023, with projections showing 119% by 2029. The government’s much-touted €60 billion “budget effort” is a political charade—by 2025, the deficit will still exceed 5.4% of GDP. To stabilize its finances, France would need €120 billion in permanent savings—an impossible task in a system where political survival depends on endless spending.
## The Political Crisis: A System Losing Legitimacy
Economic crises create political ones. In December 2024, Prime Minister Barnier was ousted over austerity measures, replaced by Bayrou—a desperate attempt to calm markets. But leadership changes won’t fix the fundamental issue: France is ungovernable under its current fiscal trajectory.
Every attempt to “fix” the problem—more regulation, more spending, more monetary manipulation—only worsens the crisis. Political chaos is a symptom of economic insolvency.
## The ECB’s Stealth Bailout: Germany’s Growing Revolt
France is functionally bankrupt, but the ECB is quietly shifting the burden onto German savers through Target2 claims and monetary expansion. This amounts to a silent wealth transfer—bailing out Paris at Berlin’s expense.
The German public is noticing. Support for the AfD’s “Dexit” movement is rising, as voters realize they are being forced to subsidize failing economies. The eurozone’s fault lines are deepening.
## The Likely Scenarios: What Comes Next?
Based on current conditions, three major outcomes are most probable:
### Scenario 1: ECB “Muddles Through”
The ECB takes a “too little, too late” approach, avoiding decisive action while failing to restore confidence. This leads to:
• Wider French bond spreads as investors demand higher yields
• Weakened ECB credibility, as markets lose faith in its ability to contain the crisis
• Prolonged volatility without addressing the fundamental debt problem
### Scenario 2: IMF/ESM Bailout
France is forced into a formal bailout via the IMF and European Stability Mechanism (ESM). This would trigger:
* Harsh austerity measures, politically toxic in a nation that riots over pension reforms
* Severe political fallout, as both left and right-wing factions resist external control
* A crisis within the ECB itself, as its French president faces backlash for “bailing out his own country”
* Northern European pushback, with the German Bundestag and creditor states reluctant to approve another bailout
### Scenario 3: Communications Crisis
A severe market panic caused by ECB miscommunication leads to:
* A European-style “Taper Tantrum”, triggering a selloff in French bonds
* Spreads widening rapidly, forcing emergency interventions
* Loss of market confidence, accelerating capital flight
* Potential contagion, pulling in weaker Eurozone economies
The remaining probability accounts for more moderate scenarios, where France manages to delay disaster through temporary measures. But at this level of debt and deficit spending, delay is the best-case scenario—not resolution.
## The Endgame: Default or Hyperinflation?
France’s pension system alone is set to bleed €30 billion annually by 2045. The debt load is unsustainable, the political will to cut spending is nonexistent, and the ECB’s ability to print euros without consequence is rapidly eroding.
#### There are only two ways this ends:
* Massive defaults, triggering economic and social chaos.
* Hyperinflationary money printing, destroying savings and purchasing power.
#### Ludwig von Mises warned about this nearly a century ago:
“The ultimate outcome of credit expansion is either a depression brought about by the voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or a catastrophe of the currency system involved.”
France—and the entire euro system—has reached this fork in the road. The only question left is: Will they choose ruin now, or ruin later?
Mises was right. And in the end, economic reality always wins. The only choice left is whether you want to be a victim—or prepared.
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@ d34e832d:383f78d0
2025-02-24 01:22:32
## **age** - Simple, modern, and secure file encryption.
## SYNOPSIS
```bash
age [--encrypt] (-r RECIPIENT | -R PATH)... [--armor] [-o OUTPUT] [INPUT]
age [--encrypt] --passphrase [--armor] [-o OUTPUT] [INPUT]
age --decrypt [-i PATH | -j PLUGIN]... [-o OUTPUT] [INPUT]
```
The **age** tool provides a robust solution for encrypting and decrypting files. It simplifies the encryption process while ensuring strong security through modern cryptographic standards. **age** primarily focuses on:
- Encrypting data to specific recipients or using passphrases.
- Decrypting data based on available private keys or passphrases.
- Supports both binary and ASCII armored (Base64-encoded) outputs.
- A compact, secure design suitable for integration into diverse environments.
- **RECIPIENTS**: Public keys or identities to which a file is encrypted. Each recipient can decrypt the file with their corresponding private key.
- **IDENTITIES**: Private keys that allow decryption of files encrypted to corresponding recipients.
- **Passphrase**: A user-defined secret key used to encrypt or decrypt data interactively, typically used when specific recipient identities are not available.
### Encryption Process:
Files are encrypted using public keys or passphrases. The `-r` option encrypts the file to specific recipients, whereas the `--passphrase` option allows encryption using a passphrase. In the absence of these options, **age** will prompt the user for the necessary inputs interactively.
### Decryption Process:
Decryption is automatically handled by **age** based on the format of the encrypted file. If the file is encrypted with a passphrase, **age** will request the passphrase interactively. Alternatively, it will use the private key specified by the `-i` option to decrypt the file.
### Binary and ASCII Output:
The default output for **age** is binary, which is suitable for storage and transmission. However, when using the `--armor` option, the encrypted file is encoded into a text format that is easy to handle in text-based systems.
---
## OPTIONS
### General Options:
- `-o, --output=OUTPUT`: Directs the encrypted or decrypted content to the specified OUTPUT file. If OUTPUT already exists, it is overwritten. In the case of encryption without `--armor`, the tool refuses to output binary to a TTY.
- `--version`: Displays the **age** version and exits.
### Encryption Options:
- `-e, --encrypt`: Default mode for encrypting files. Specifies that the input file should be encrypted.
- `-r, --recipient=RECIPIENT`: Encrypts to the recipient's public key, which can be a native X25519 key or an SSH key. This option may be repeated to encrypt for multiple recipients.
- `-R, --recipients-file=PATH`: Encrypts for recipients listed in a file, each recipient specified on a new line. Lines starting with `#` are treated as comments. If `PATH` is `-`, recipients are read from standard input.
- `-p, --passphrase`: Encrypts the file with a passphrase. The passphrase is requested interactively, and **age** offers an option to auto-generate a secure passphrase. This mode cannot be combined with other recipient options.
- `--armor`: Encrypts the output to an ASCII "armored" encoding (strict Base64). This makes it more suitable for text environments.
- `-i, --identity=PATH`: Specifies the path to the private key(s) that correspond to the recipients. Used to generate a file compatible with recipient encryption, allowing seamless encryption to private keys.
- `-j PLUGIN`: Specifies the use of a plugin for encryption, typically used for non-standard encryption schemes.
### Decryption Options:
- `-d, --decrypt`: Decrypts the specified INPUT file. If the file is passphrase-encrypted, the passphrase is automatically detected and requested interactively.
- `-i, --identity=PATH`: Specifies the private key file used for decryption. This can be a native age private key, an SSH private key, or a passphrase-protected identity file. The file path can also be `-` to read from standard input.
- `-j PLUGIN`: Decrypts using a plugin, similar to how the plugin is used in encryption. The plugin should contain no data-specific encryption information.
### Plugins:
**age** supports the use of plugins to extend its encryption and decryption functionality. A plugin is used when encryption or decryption requires a non-standard method. The plugin executes specific cryptographic operations as defined by the plugin.
---
## VARIOUS EXAMPLES
### 1. Encrypt a file to a recipient using a native X25519 key:
```bash
age -r age1ql3z7hjy54pw3hyww5ayyfg7zqgvc7w3j2elw8zmrj2kg5sfn9aqmcac8p file.txt > file.txt.age
```
### 2. Encrypt a file to multiple recipients:
```bash
age -o file.txt.age -r age1ql3z7hjy54pw3hyww5ayyfg7zqgvc7w3j2elw8zmrj2kg5sfn9aqmcac8p \
-r age1lggyhqrw2nlhcxprm67z43rta597azn8gknawjehu9d9dl0jq3yqqvfafg file.txt
```
### 3. Encrypt to recipients listed in a file:
```bash
cat > recipients.txt
# Alice
age1ql3z7hjy54pw3hyww5ayyfg7zqgvc7w3j2elw8zmrj2kg5sfn9aqmcac8p
# Bob
age1lggyhqrw2nlhcxprm67z43rta597azn8gknawjehu9d9dl0jq3yqqvfafg
age -R recipients.txt file.txt > file.txt.age
```
### 4. Encrypt and decrypt a file with a passphrase:
```bash
# Encrypt with a passphrase
age -p secrets.txt > secrets.txt.age
Enter passphrase (leave empty to autogenerate a secure one):
Using the autogenerated passphrase "release-response-step-brand-wrap-ankle-pair-unusual-sword-train".
# Decrypt with the same passphrase
age -d secrets.txt.age > secrets.txt
Enter passphrase:
```
### 5. Encrypt and decrypt with a passphrase-protected identity file:
```bash
# Generate a passphrase-protected identity file
age-keygen | age -p > key.age
Enter passphrase (leave empty to autogenerate a secure one):
Using the autogenerated passphrase "hip-roast-boring-snake-mention-east-wasp-honey-input-actress".
# Encrypt using the identity
age -r age1yhm4gctwfmrpz87tdslm550wrx6m79y9f2hdzt0lndjnehwj0ukqrjpyx5 secrets.txt > secrets.txt.age
# Decrypt using the identity file
age -d -i key.age secrets.txt.age > secrets.txt
Enter passphrase for identity file "key.age":
```
---
## EXIT STATUS
- `0`: Encryption or decryption was successful.
- `1`: An error occurred during the operation.
---
## BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY
Files encrypted with a stable version of **age** will be compatible with any later version of the tool. When decrypting older files, **age** might provide a flag to force the operation if the operation poses a security risk.
---
The **age** tool is designed with security and simplicity in mind. It uses strong encryption methods to ensure that your files are protected against unauthorized access, with flexibility in how encryption keys are managed and applied.
[Age Github Repo](https://github.com/FiloSottile/age?tab=readme-ov-file)
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@ b8851a06:9b120ba1
2025-02-23 23:41:06
> Something stinks in the crypto markets, and it’s not just OpenSea’s suspicious trading activity.
The recent regulatory pivot in Washington—driven by the Trump administration’s aggressive push to make the U.S. “the world’s crypto capital”—has set the stage for a wave of unchecked fraud. OpenSea’s sudden regulatory relief and strategic transformation are just the beginning.
## The SEC’s Curious Retreat
Let’s start with the smoking gun: the SEC was investigating OpenSea for unregistered securities violations, even issuing a Wells notice in August 2024. Then, in a complete reversal, they dropped the case without explanation. This wasn’t some random bureaucratic oversight—it happened right after Trump took office.
The timing is too perfect. His administration wasted no time signaling its pro-crypto stance, and the SEC, once an enforcer, is now rolling over like a neutered watchdog.
> The message? As long as you’re playing the “crypto-bro” game, the rules don’t apply.
## OpenSea’s Convenient Pivot
With the regulatory threat gone, OpenSea immediately rebranded itself—not just as an NFT marketplace but a full-blown token trading platform. Here’s what they did:
* Launched OS2, a rebuilt exchange expanding into token trading.
* Dropped the SEA token on February 13, 2025—perfectly timed with the regulatory climate shift.
* Slashed fees to near zero to attract volume and dominate the market.
This wasn’t just a business move—it was a power play. OpenSea knew that under the previous administration, tokenizing its platform might have triggered another securities probe. But under Trump’s SEC? It’s open season.
## Wash Trading and Market Manipulation
And it worked. The SEA token launch sent OpenSea’s market share skyrocketing from 25.5% to 71.5% in just four weeks. Daily trading volume exploded from $3.47 million to $17.4 million—but the numbers don’t add up. The surge was so artificial that OpenSea had to suspend its XP-based incentives system after accusations of wash trading flooded in.
### Let’s be clear: this isn’t real market growth. This is manipulation.
By incentivizing rapid-fire, circular trading, OpenSea created the illusion of demand. The goal? Pump the SEA token, dominate competitors, and make insiders rich—at the expense of everyday traders.
## Who’s Really Benefiting?
The financials paint a grim picture. #Coatue Management, once a major investor, slashed OpenSea’s valuation from $13.3 billion to just $1.4 billion. Trading volume has collapsed from its $5 billion peak to just $190 million per month. And yet, insiders are doubling down.
Consider these strategic moves:
* OpenSea relocated from New York to Miami, aligning with Florida’s looser regulatory environment.
* It established a foundation in the Cayman Islands—a classic move for dodging scrutiny.
* It’s benefiting from a hands-off #SEC, which has abandoned enforcement actions under the new administration.
This is the new crypto economy: a lawless Wild West where the biggest players game the system while retail traders foot the bill.
## What Comes Next?
With #Trump’s administration actively reshaping crypto regulation, OpenSea is the first of many companies to exploit this new reality. We’re entering an era where politically connected #crypto firms will enjoy total freedom to manipulate markets, while ordinary investors will be left holding the bag.
### The lesson? If you’re not on the inside, you’re the exit liquidity.
This isn’t just about #OpenSea. It’s about a government-sanctioned crypto casino, where fraud is no longer the exception—it seems to be the business model.
I really hope am wrong on this one #nostr.
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@ 629c4a12:f822cc1a
2025-02-23 21:33:31
I’ve always been drawn to minimalism. There’s a certain peace that comes from stripping away the unnecessary, decluttering both physical and mental spaces. Yet, when it comes to finances, I’ve found myself tangled in complexity. As an ‘optimizer,’ I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about investments, managing risk, and endlessly tinkering with my portfolio. This preoccupation contradicts the minimalist principles I try to live by.
It seems absurd to me that the financial world has become so complicated that we need money managers to simply preserve the value of our money. If investing is so intricate that the average person must hire professionals just to preserve (let alone grow) the value of their savings, then something is fundamentally wrong.
For the past five years, I’ve immersed myself in the history and mechanics of financial systems. The deeper I delved, the clearer it became: Bitcoin is a force of minimalism in an increasingly financialized and complex world.
### The Clutter of Modern Finance
Our financial system has become bloated with complexity. The hyper-securitization of assets has created an environment filled with financial clutter. Derivatives, for example, represent layers upon layers of financial engineering, often so convoluted that even experts struggle to understand them fully.
More troubling is the way nearly everything of value has been financialized. Real estate and art, two things that should embody personal value and cultural significance, have been transformed into mere asset classes. They are bought, sold, and speculated upon not for their intrinsic qualities but as instruments in the game of wealth preservation.
But why has this happened? It’s actually quite simple: our money is constantly losing value. The dollar, for example, debases at a rate of around 7% per year. Holding cash feels like holding melting ice, so it’s only natural for people to seek out scarce assets to preserve their wealth.
The Never-Ending Game of Diversification
This pursuit of scarce assets sets off a complex game—a game that forces people to diversify endlessly:
* Equities
* Bonds
* Real Estate
* Commodities
* Art
* Collectibles
We’re told to spread our investments across these asset classes to mitigate risk and preserve our hard-earned money. Those who can afford to hire money managers generally fare better in this game, as they have access to expertise and strategies designed to navigate this maze of complexity.
Ironically, this system creates an incentive for more complexity. The more convoluted the financial landscape becomes, the more we need money managers, and the more entrenched this cycle of financialization and securitization becomes. It’s a force of ever-increasing entropy—quite the opposite of minimalism.
### Bitcoin: Simplicity in a Complex World
In the midst of this financial chaos, Bitcoin emerges as a beacon of simplicity. It offers a way out of the clutter, a chance to reclaim financial minimalism. Bitcoin embodies the concept of scarcity with a rare kind of perfection: there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins. No more.
This scarcity makes Bitcoin the perfect savings technology. Unlike traditional currencies, no one can debase your holdings. You don’t need to chase after real estate, art, or other assets to preserve your wealth. You don’t need to constantly diversify and rebalance a portfolio to stay ahead of inflation. Bitcoin’s scarcity gives you a way to hold your wealth securely, without the need for endless tinkering.
I’m not blind to Bitcoin’s short-term price volatility. However, it’s crucial to understand that we’re still in the early stages of adoption. As more people embrace this perfect form of scarcity, Bitcoin’s qualities as savings technology will express itself.
Bitcoin has the potential to de-financialize the housing market. It can de-financialize art.
Ultimately, Bitcoin has the power to replace those aspects of our lives that currently serve as proxies for scarcity.
### A Minimalist Approach to Wealth
Bitcoin allows us to step off the treadmill of constant financial optimization. It offers a simpler way to safeguard the fruits of our labor. Rather than spending our time, energy, and attention on navigating a complex financial system, we can focus on what truly matters: living a meaningful life.
By embracing Bitcoin, we embrace a minimalist approach to wealth. We reject the idea that we must play a never-ending game of diversification to maintain our standard of living. Instead, we adopt a simple, elegant solution that aligns with the principles of minimalism.
### Conclusion
In a world that grows more financially cluttered by the day, Bitcoin stands as a path to financial minimalism. It frees us from the complexities of traditional finance, allowing us to preserve our wealth without the need for constant vigilance and management.
By embodying scarcity and simplicity, Bitcoin gives us a way to reclaim our time and energy. It’s not just a financial tool; it’s a way to simplify our lives, to step back from the chaos, and to focus on what truly matters
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@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-02-23 20:41:59
Social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have long dominated online communication. However, many people are looking for alternatives due to increasing censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and corporate control over user data. One of the most promising new protocols I have found is Nostr, a decentralized and open-source alternative to traditional social media. But how does Nostr compare, and why should you consider making the switch? If you're reading this, presumably, you already have made the switch, but share this with friends if you like. Let’s dive in.
The Fundamental Differences Between Nostr and Traditional Social Media
1. Decentralization vs. Centralization
Facebook and X are owned and operated by massive corporations that control everything from content moderation to algorithmic visibility. Your posts, followers, and interactions are at the mercy of the company's policies and changes.
Nostr: No single entity owns Nostr. It operates as a protocol where anyone can run a relay (a server that transmits messages). Users are not tied to a single company or platform, ensuring freedom from corporate control.
2. Censorship Resistance
Facebook & X: Heavily moderate content, often removing posts or banning accounts based on internal policies, government pressure, or **advertiser** demands.
Nostr: Built to resist censorship. Since users publish to multiple relays, blocking content on one relay does not remove it from others. You control where your messages are sent, not a centralized authority.
3. User Ownership and Privacy
Facebook & X: Your data is stored on corporate servers and often sold to advertisers. You don’t truly own your content or connections.
Nostr: Users control their private keys, which function like cryptographic signatures. Your identity is yours alone, and no company can take it away.
4. Algorithm-Free Experience
Facebook & X: Content is curated by algorithms that determine what you see based on engagement metrics, often promoting divisive or viral content over meaningful conversations.
Nostr: No forced algorithms. You decide which relays to use and what content to follow. Your feed remains chronological and free from corporate influence.
Pros and Cons of Nostr
✅ Pros:
True freedom of speech: No corporate moderation, allowing open discussion.
User-owned identity: You control your account with a cryptographic key.
No ads or tracking: Your data isn’t harvested or sold to advertisers.
Resilient against shutdowns: Multiple relays ensure content persists even if one relay goes offline.
Customizable experience: Choose the relays and clients that best suit your needs.
❌ Cons (If Any):
Early-stage adoption: Not as many users as Facebook or X (yet!).
Technical learning curve: Requires setting up keys and understanding relays, though improving rapidly.
Lack of centralized moderation: While this is a pro for free speech, it can also mean exposure to spam or undesirable content if it is not filtered properly. However, they are developing hidden or block features to help control your feeds. I don't have a lot of worries here. To be perfectly honest, it seems like a better class of people come here.
Why Should You Leave Facebook and Join Nostr?
If you’re tired of algorithmic manipulation, invasive tracking, and corporate censorship, Nostr offers a fresh start. It’s a place where your voice truly belongs to you, and a centralized authority cannot control your connections.
Yes, it may take some time to adjust to using Nostr, but the benefits far outweigh the minor learning curve. If you value digital freedom, privacy, and resistance to censorship, now is the perfect time to explore the future of social networking.
How to Get Your Friends to Leave Corporate Social Media and Join Nostr
Switching to Nostr is one thing, but convincing your friends to make the leap can be challenging. Here are some practical ways to help them transition:
Explain the benefits: Many people don’t realize how much control corporations have over their online experience. Share this article and highlight the key points.
Make it easy: Walk them through setting up a Nostr account, generating a private key, and connecting to relays.
Show them the community: Introduce them to active Nostr users, groups, and discussions to make the transition feel worthwhile.
Lead by example: Use Nostr consistently and post compelling content that makes it appealing to your friends.
Keep the conversation going. As more people join, Nostr will become even more engaging, making it a true alternative to corporate-controlled platforms.
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@ badc29af:a92bd071
2025-02-23 20:34:58
**Part I: The First Hour (Blocks 694,200–694,205)**
**Block 694,200: The Coder**\
Sarah Chen sat hunched over her keyboard in her San Francisco apartment, the fog smudging her window. Debugging a fintech app, she watched block 694,200 confirm on the Bitcoin blockchain. Suddenly, its architecture snapped into focus: not just code, but a defiance of artificial abundance.\
"Holy shit," she whispered, easing back from her desk, her monitor casting light on scattered ramen cups. She’d coded financial systems for years, but now she saw money’s true potential—scarce, digital, unbound.
**Block 694,201: The Entrepreneur**\
Ten minutes later, in a steamy Lagos cybercafé, James Okonjo’s world shifted as block 694,201 locked in. Struggling with payment delays under Nigeria’s currency controls, he read about Bitcoin’s borderless flow.\
"No more gatekeepers," he said, startling nearby patrons. His hands shook as he set up his first wallet, already dreaming of a Bitcoin education platform for African developers.
**Block 694,202: The Economist**\
In Caracas, Maria Rodriguez paced before her Universidad Central de Venezuela class, dissecting inflation’s latest surge. As block 694,202 formed, the idea of fixed-supply money hit her like a revelation.\
"Forget this slide," she said, closing her laptop. "Let’s talk proof-of-work." Her students stared, but her mind was already racing with possibilities.
**Block 694,203: The Retiree**\
In Tokyo, Hiroshi Yamamoto sipped tea during his morning portfolio review when block 694,203 confirmed. A retired salaryman, he saw Bitcoin as a shield against decades of yen erosion. Quietly, he began researching wallets, his curiosity ignited.
**Block 694,204: The Prodigy**\
In Toronto, 16-year-old Emma Chen, a coding whiz, stumbled across block 694,204 while tinkering online. The power to program her own money dawned on her. She grinned, diving into Bitcoin’s whitepaper with reckless glee.
**Block 694,205: The Shopkeeper**\
In Buenos Aires, Carlos Mendoza tallied his shop’s dwindling profits as block 694,205 ticked into existence. Sick of the peso’s collapse, he found Bitcoin—an escape from financial quicksand. By nightfall, he’d downloaded a wallet app.
---
**Part II: The First Day (Blocks 694,206–694,343)**
**The Morning Wave (Blocks 694,206–694,247)**\
Over the next 42 blocks—about seven hours—as Asia slept and Europe stirred, the awakenings multiplied:
**Block 694,206**: A Swiss banker questioned her fiat career.
**Block 694,207**: A German programmer marveled at Bitcoin’s consensus beauty.
**Block 694,208**: A Korean gamer saw virtual gold turn real.\
The chain hummed, each block birthing new believers, ten minutes apart.
**The American Session (Blocks 694,248–694,295)**\
As Wall Street woke, blocks 694,248 to 694,295—eight hours—marked a finance-world reckoning:
**Block 694,248**: A Connecticut hedge fund manager saw through fiat’s illusions.
**Block 694,249**: A Chicago commodities trader grasped digital scarcity.
**Block 694,250**: A Texas pension admin envisioned a sounder future.\
Each block stamped a timestamp on their transformation.
**The Global South Rises (Blocks 694,296–694,343)**\
The day’s final stretch—48 blocks, eight more hours—saw the global south ignite:
**Block 694,296**: Brazilian students planned Bitcoin beach hubs.
**Block 694,297**: Indonesian merchants linked Lightning payment loops.
**Block 694,298**: South African miners turned solar power into hash rate.\
The chain pulsed, relentless, binding them all.
---
**Part III: The Network Effect (Beyond Block 694,343)**
**The Teachers (Block 694,344)**\
Sarah quit her job at block 694,344, coding Bitcoin education tools. James’s platform launched, reaching Africa’s devs. Maria’s NOSTR lectures spread, her voice a beacon.
**The Builders (Block 694,345)**\
At block 694,345, innovation bloomed: privacy upgrades, scaling fixes, Lightning finance tools. The awakened built atop the chain.
**The HODLers (Block 694,346)**\
By block 694,346, others simply held—silent sentinels whose faith grew with each block, each halving.
---
**Epilogue: The Endless Chain (Blocks Onward)**
The awakening rolled on, ten minutes at a time. Block 694,347 saw a Mumbai coder join Sarah’s cause. Block 694,348 brought a Nairobi merchant to James’s platform. Block 694,349 swayed a Manila policymaker with Maria’s words.
Every block—144 a day—sparked new stories: dreamers seeking freedom, builders crafting tools, HODLers standing firm. Money, they understood, was too vital to be ruled by power. From block 694,200, the chain stretched forward, a living testament to scarcity, ownership, math over might.
Each block was a birth, each hash a heartbeat, each Bitcoiner a node in a network of financial truth—marching on, block by block, toward a harder, sounder world, forever verified, never permissioned, growing but never diluted, ten minutes at a time.
-
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@ 629c4a12:f822cc1a
2025-02-23 20:27:36
This is test 2
-
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@ 573d3e22:c2f41d22
2025-02-23 20:17:32
this is a test
-
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@ d34e832d:383f78d0
2025-02-23 19:53:32
Hockeypuck is an **OpenPGP keyserver** that allows users to publish, search, and retrieve **PGP public keys** for secure communication. It is designed for **federation** with other keyservers and supports a **high-performance, scalable** architecture.
---
## **🛠️ Usage**
### **1. Public PGP Key Directory**
- Organizations, security researchers, and privacy-focused users can **publish and retrieve PGP keys** for encrypted email and document verification.
- Similar to **SKS Keyserver**, but actively maintained and more scalable.
### **2. Enterprise PGP Key Management**
- Companies can **host a private keyserver** for internal teams to share PGP keys securely.
- Prevents reliance on external keyservers like keys.openpgp.org.
### **3. Decentralized Identity and Key Distribution**
- Used in federated **PGP keyserver networks** like **Hockeypuck & SKS pools** to distribute OpenPGP keys across multiple servers.
- Useful for **distributed trust models** where multiple organizations manage keys collaboratively.
### **4. Bitcoin & Nostr Applications**
- Can be used alongside **Nostr** for key verification, ensuring public keys are retrievable for cryptographic signatures.
- Useful in **Bitcoin** applications where PGP-signed messages confirm identity.
### **5. Software Package Signing**
- Developers and package maintainers can **sign software updates** using OpenPGP, and end users can fetch public keys from Hockeypuck to verify authenticity.
- Example: **Debian and Arch Linux package signing**.
### **6. Secure Messaging**
- Supports secure email systems using **PGP-encrypted mail (e.g., ProtonMail, Thunderbird + Enigmail, Mailpile, etc.)**.
---
## **📌 Key Benefits**
✅ **Docker-Based Deployment** → Easily installable with **Docker** and **docker-compose**.
✅ **Federated Keyserver** → Can join existing **PGP keyserver networks**.
✅ **High-Performance Storage** → Uses PostgreSQL for better performance than older SKS keyservers.
✅ **Supports HTTP & HTTPS** → Can be hosted publicly with **TLS encryption**.
✅ **Fully Open Source** → Maintained as a modern alternative to SKS.
## **🔑 Signing a Nostr Event Using PGP & Verifying It on a Relay**
If Alice wants to **prove she controls `npub1xyz...`** using **PGP**, she can sign a Nostr event and publish both the event and signature.
---
### **🔹 Step 1: Create a Nostr Event (Kind 0)**
Alice generates a **Nostr profile metadata event**:
```json
{
"id": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
"pubkey": "npub1xyz...",
"created_at": 1700000000,
"kind": 0,
"tags": [],
"content": "{ \"name\": \"Alice\", \"about\": \"PGP Verified Nostr User\" }"
}
```
She saves this as **`nostr_event.json`**.
---
### **🔹 Step 2: Sign the Event with PGP**
Alice uses GnuPG to sign the event:
```bash
gpg --clearsign --armor nostr_event.json
```
This creates **`nostr_event.json.asc`**, which contains the event with a **PGP signature**.
🔹 **Example of the signed event:**
```
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256
{
"id": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
"pubkey": "npub1xyz...",
"created_at": 1700000000,
"kind": 0,
"tags": [],
"content": "{ \"name\": \"Alice\", \"about\": \"PGP Verified Nostr User\" }"
}
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEbGSk4HTlMz5tG0tF0Y8fO3HTQYYFAmS8mOkACgkQ0Y8fO3HT
QYYX4w/+JwzbfM1EZ2F7H3yqbdGBJ2cGd...
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
```
---
### **🔹 Step 3: Upload the Signature to a Public Keyserver**
Alice submits her signed Nostr event to the **Hockeypuck keyserver**:
```bash
curl --data-binary @nostr_event.json.asc https://keyserver.example.com/pks/add
```
---
### **🔹 Step 4: Publish the Event to a Nostr Relay**
Alice **publishes the original event** to a Nostr relay:
```bash
curl -X POST https://nostr-relay.example.com/ -d @nostr_event.json
```
---
### **🔹 Step 5: Verification**
Anyone can **fetch Alice’s PGP-signed event** and verify it:
```bash
curl "https://keyserver.example.com/pks/lookup?op=get&search=alice@nostr.example.com" | gpg --verify
```
If successful, it will show:
```
gpg: Good signature from "Alice <alice@nostr.example.com>"
```
---
### **✅ Use Cases**
1. **Proving Ownership of a Nostr Public Key** with PGP.
2. **Bitcoin Applications**: PGP-signed messages can confirm identities for multisig coordination.
3. **Decentralized Web of Trust**: Verifying Nostr users via signed events.
---
Additionally a simple JS or python script could automate signing process.
-
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@ 3ffac3a6:2d656657
2025-02-23 19:40:19
## Renoters: Proposal for Anonymous Event Relaying in Nostr
*This document is a proposal and not an official NIP.*
This Document proposes "Renoters," a mechanism for anonymous event relaying in Nostr, inspired by the Mixminion remailer design. Renoters aim to enhance privacy by obscuring the origin of events, making it difficult to trace the author of a message.
### **Motivation**
While Nostr offers a decentralized platform, current relay mechanisms can potentially reveal the source of events. Renoters address this by introducing an onion-routing-like system where events are encrypted and relayed through a series of nodes, making it harder to link the event to its originator. This enhances privacy for users who wish to communicate anonymously or protect their identity.
In some totalitarian regimes, the use of Tor and VPNs is criminalized, making online anonymity dangerous. Even in some democratic countries, merely downloading Tor can mark individuals as suspects. This underscores the need for a decentralized and anonymous communication system that operates independently of commonly surveilled privacy tools.
### **Proposed Solution**
Renoters operate on the principle of "gift-wrapping" events, using asymmetric encryption. A user wishing to send an event anonymously performs the following steps:
1. **Event Creation:** The user creates the Nostr event they wish to publish.
2. **Renoter Path Selection:** The user selects a path of Renoters through which the event will be relayed. This path can be pre-configured or dynamically chosen.
3. **Gift Wrapping (Encryption and Signing):** The user encrypts and signs the event for each Renoter in the path, working in reverse order:
- A *new* random Nostr private key (`sk_wrapper`) is generated.
- The event (or the previously wrapped event) is encrypted using the *next* Renoter's Npub (`npub_next`) using Nostr's standard encryption mechanism (e.g., using shared secrets derived from the private key and the recipient's public key).
- A *new* Nostr event is created. This "wrapper" event's content contains the ciphertext. The wrapper event is signed using the newly generated private key `sk_wrapper`. The wrapper event also includes the next hop's `npub_next` (or the final destination if it's the last renoter) in cleartext, to allow for routing.
4. **Publication:** The user publishes the *first* gift-wrapped event (the one encrypted for the last Renoter in the path). This event is sent to a regular Nostr relay, which then forwards it to the first Renoter in the path.
5. **Renoter Relaying:** Each Renoter in the path receives the gift-wrapped event, verifies the signature using the `sk_wrapper`'s corresponding public key, decrypts it using its own private key, and forwards the decrypted event (now wrapped for the *next* Renoter) to the next Renoter in the path. This process continues until the event reaches the final Renoter.
6. **Final Delivery:** The final Renoter decrypts the event and publishes it to the Nostr network.
### **Example**
Let's say Alice wants to send an event anonymously through Renoters R1, R2, and R3.
1. Alice creates her event.
2. She generates a random private key `sk3` and encrypts the event with R3's public key `npub_r3`.
3. She creates a wrapper event containing the ciphertext and `npub_r3`, signed with `sk3`.
4. She generates a random private key `sk2` and encrypts the previous wrapper event with R2's public key `npub_r2`.
5. She creates a wrapper event containing this ciphertext and `npub_r2`, signed with `sk2`.
6. She generates a random private key `sk1` and encrypts the previous wrapper event with R1's public key `npub_r1`.
7. She creates a final wrapper event containing this ciphertext and `npub_r1`, signed with `sk1`.
8. Alice publishes this final wrapper event.
R1 decrypts with its private key, verifies the signature with the public key corresponding to `sk1`, and forwards to R2. R2 decrypts, verifies the signature with the public key corresponding to `sk2`, and forwards to R3. R3 decrypts, verifies the signature with the public key corresponding to `sk3`, and publishes the original event.
### **Renoter Incentives (using Cashu)**
To incentivize Renoters to participate in the network, this NIP proposes integrating Cashu tokens as a payment mechanism.
- **Token Inclusion:** When a user creates the initial gift-wrapped event (the one sent to the first Renoter), they include a Cashu token *within* the event content. This token is itself encrypted and wrapped along with the original message, so only the receiving Renoter can access it.
- **Renoter Redemption:** Upon receiving a gift-wrapped event, the Renoter decrypts it. If the event contains a Cashu token, the Renoter can decrypt the token and redeem it.
- **Renoter Behavior:** Paid Renoters would be configured *not* to relay events that do *not* contain a valid Cashu token. This ensures that Renoters are compensated for their service. Free Renoters could still exist, but paid Renoters would likely offer faster or more reliable service.
- **Token Value and Tiers:** Different Cashu token denominations could represent different levels of service (e.g., faster relaying, higher priority). This could create a tiered system where users can pay for better anonymity or speed.
- **Token Generation:** Users would need a way to acquire Cashu tokens. This could involve purchasing them from a Cashu mint or earning them through other means.
### **Security Threats and Mitigations**
- **Anonymity Against Correlation Attacks:** Even when using Tor, traffic patterns can still be analyzed to infer the origin of events. To mitigate this risk, Renoters can introduce:
- Random delays in event relaying.
- Dummy packets to complicate statistical analysis by malicious observers.
- **Replay Attacks:** To mitigate replay attacks, each Renoter must store, for a reasonable period, the IDs of received events and the decrypted events that were forwarded. This ensures that duplicate messages are not processed again.
- **Sybil Attacks:** Sybil attacks can be mitigated by requiring payments via Cashu tokens for relaying events, increasing the cost of launching such attacks. By ensuring that each relay operation has a monetary cost, attackers are discouraged from creating large numbers of fake identities to manipulate the network.
- **Traffic Analysis:** Traffic analysis can be mitigated by using Tor for Renoters. Routing events through the Tor network adds an additional layer of anonymity, making it more difficult to track message origins or infer sender-recipient relationships. While Renoters enhance privacy, sophisticated traffic analysis might still be a threat.
### **Operational Considerations**
- **Renoter Reliability:** The reliability of the Renoter network is crucial.
- **Latency:** Relaying through multiple Renoters will introduce latency.
- **Key Management:** While each layer uses a new key, the initial key generation and path selection process need to be secure.
This NIP provides a robust framework for anonymous event relaying in Nostr, leveraging encryption and Cashu-based incentives to enhance privacy and usability.
### **References**
- **Untraceable Electronic Mail, Return Addresses, and Digital Pseudonyms**: David L. Chaum (https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/358549.358563)
- **Mixminion Design**: Mixminion: Design of a Type III Anonymous Remailer (https://www.mixminion.net/minion-design.pdf)
- **Nostr Protocol**: Official Nostr Documentation (https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr)
- **Cashu Token System**: Cashu: Ecash for Bitcoin Lightning (https://cashu.space/)
- **Tor Project**: The Tor Project - Anonymity Online (https://www.torproject.org/)
- **Onion Routing**: The Second-Generation Onion Router (https://svn.torproject.org/svn/projects/design-paper/tor-design.pdf)
#Privacy #Nostr #Anonymity #Crypto #CensorshipResistance #OnlinePrivacy #Decentralization #Encryption #Security #ThreatMitigation #Micropayments #CryptoEconomy #NextSteps #Development
-
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@ f3873798:24b3f2f3
2025-02-23 19:21:48
A liberdade de expressão e a descentralização do poder estão intimamente ligadas ao avanço do pensamento humano e à construção de uma sociedade mais justa e consciente. A evolução da compreensão sobre o certo e o errado surge da comunicação, da observação empírica e da análise das consequências de ações passadas.
Para que haja uma aproximação real com a verdade e uma relação equilibrada entre a razão da vida e o convívio com o poder, é essencial garantir a liberdade de expressão. Somente por meio do livre debate de ideias é possível avaliar as diversas perspectivas, identificar erros e aprender com eles.
Embora a maioria das pessoas busque o aprendizado e a compreensão do que é correto, o apego cego a uma ideia evidentemente equivocada pode fazer com que percam o real propósito da busca pela verdade. Em vez de refletirem criticamente, muitos acabam apenas defendendo um erro pelo simples fato de se identificarem com ele.
Esse é um dos motivos pelos quais a censura tem se tornado uma ferramenta tão temida e contestada. Ilude-se quem acredita que a censura existe apenas para combater crimes e golpes. Na realidade, quanto maior a censura, mais favorecidos são aqueles que desejam ocultar informações, tornando ainda mais difícil a identificação e o combate a abusos.
Nos países livres, onde a liberdade de expressão é respeitada, há maior autonomia nas decisões políticas e um engajamento mais ativo da população. A participação cidadã fortalece o controle do povo sobre as influências que moldam o convívio social, garantindo que o poder não fique concentrado nas mãos de poucos, mas distribuído de forma mais democrática e justa.
-
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-23 19:12:52
6/WRXHyH0NZbnQJ9LX+VZnSZBv5Y3iYgws/SZV0BVXSE4c8GJp9/HVp2ZfUsstNeQ6KDIA2LVlmrnnW7Dwb6rr09Tbh79cQp7LukzkVzjtWJ6FlWkM8iaHW6YgET77s1PfZV0fZ9tVpXo77byWCMI/R8feh2BhQ7Nhr35AnLhWa++0jKtIRSShY+BRKGusyT8zn09pYg4Wg8rDosilrbd4GUX6QqMguLuiBSi7D8VRWAXEkSefV0T04QUeVyvIcIloKAkLqQloVAHGPMJc65GtVc1705lI4aa62aGraGhg1yEXkr5PelI3X1P5PYx29NZbPyeSUBh40dJQFZmYDxV9WSPUtJqIn/1gQUW0jueCuQASpNfKr17F2bHvcIOeOp+ukbWfbYDWt4IammFZCuXw==?iv=r1dw0EG1b8Fvsxm+8ykvRA==
-
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-23 19:12:47
UvEa5PR6FF+PYlYXJM9Sqt06t01ARuO5vW2ct5SyIg4+aA4nq38Mofx2NI5YydZJcn9iQO2f0nlgIJaMFuDYBLXQFHklMlq7OfY5UyTnOFZ8Js9NwIMI1I7IVWp6qPEBSp5z0OmKOB1g2Z1jEZrySpkMd53AjaeYXiEyT5IMSDsKjxAbwuLRWaZiCWKtxKJxRdT/VUvYeE9dIfnadSkZdF8oIT6PlZYlgQ836Rt7X4O6hA/ydm1Hrc/1H/eTuKS8ePXZs5E4b/+XtgPclYqMPdUzD5/4rplIRJJXZQZX3cWiGC/0ilWIqyItead3JhwPAb+lNAyycfYelZRNjI10U719a0wjBsc0q7PgjQvSze4=?iv=uIyBfCznssKHgZaTSeUpbw==
-
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-23 19:07:41
jBiT1F1hY5a3Vq2M4HQw8gzVRLsjgq55R7BiuA27ArQTWpw4IPwLwljsZ5LDgw3GrZLbDXwFJchQxD7uBvMnMJWhyNTCcrrtG+HEwOKI2QNoOuvD/7ilDa6LRkH27dcJkwYykm4m2Z/55OKy/tFlDmuILrVI292kLmYtaM5a9J0BCzEjUYD2y3rsSEao33ffBPr1sguZqJ4v+6+JPI/v2g90RrJx4SUS8rwi4u+JK7NmFZ8kvQ/2q3pkxQlGQwHO6QJvjojhnP1wh10Hfjv55Zy12QCoIFEwfEyXiVgiY28eiLqMmFwuew73/KlDac/7cK46SY8Ctc9XCCVyMIeWrtvAf9Xv/gaXf+Bdma9nFd49ajE0vTu1ek0w/VAjbDMM?iv=0lLA9SdWMNruCC1dP2LLgA==
-
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-23 19:07:38
3jqbINLb+Eu6xeXqFoZnxGx1vWAPYzmPDiD7QWXr7gEmomwqlvfMkaP//6lgCfRZWMgQ+CwOy8O87HiQVlKz4S7Or1EJD50aWxSLkPWsIxvP7qbQucBZT4dGJZcfx1roCbmatYwiFsEx82qmbpm8otkry7GI5tCFVMpFzvgW2W03j+ogXmvPgrgrta5RJT6eHX0HlzoRPmUi7MUzulSCnIWWwB+mrSbP5UHsPuwyNAsS5y3o4v0poQKEFEPRhin1x3e+Ng1TaaSvtqS8cDsJbl+MR/Tg+rf5tY7vJYWfE08I7oAu5onu5sPwQxRAdsugUUkHTqV4NFHPtRdUXETzpZWMnMzjRNQQxJxKCvAx1kNQPAawWMmiVm+D2CxTMsQF6ppj7Fy/2k071Atbyo1U24EAxnpe4QKxmRYmqGFi1/8=?iv=putQEJoUu8Jq2j5iMUe+5w==
-
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-23 18:57:50
PYb07VjQ46ph8Nm/1ChBV/71d/mvwfdg1JbshVfDENrQm77om+bb4qswyBwZ9Jd7j2ZWbQJZ4RLwEu4UG/kz93RkY7z8/fGDZWp4X2BGQKnayQmlVZW+nVfyQ1EWHiAUSbDZglbFBCM7OfpEA/bSTC0K0hacqvNF/c7OStbcK3rtYAlSoOmOd18uYFaCnZFC20IplacQitbEPRkWbCY7jk1J1n1axFXcYO37n9fR/Phor6TCLx0Mlqdv1AlqCA0Z9kuf9OwqGO/vp7FtdMDNowDFLdFSiYTO+q0Mt40oiGuHbJKdCRXczEnLZiXEuhgIIckFdN0pPHvyl9bfuU5H587nNhIBgkG8uh1U5RVVBCbixHkXGgtXUzUbPE/66AKTkYlXZM85VuOVduEoKzGwBqZCHcD/s33mdKI0eDUXrE5VrgzUFMBP1FKz7R2P6L6d?iv=EwWM5EBKuyRHXzIajYDOkw==
-
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@ 0f4795bf:a8365abe
2025-02-23 18:26:48
## Der neue Pareto-Client
Unter der Adresse <https://pareto.space/read> lässt sich der neue Pareto-Client aufrufen.
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Durch Klicken auf **Anmelden** (rechts oben) kann mit einem vorhandenen Nostr-Konto angemeldet werden oder ein neues Konto erstellt werden.
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Sofern schon ein Nostr-Konto vorhanden ist, kann nach Klick auf **Log in** einfach z. B. mittels Browser Extension angemeldet werden.
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Nach dem Anmelden wird das Profilbild rechts oben angezeigt und ggf. eine Kategorie mit den Artikeln der Autoren, denen man folgt.
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Nach Umschalten vom Leser- in den Autoren-Modus (Schalter oben, rechts neben Logo) werden die bereits veröffentlichten Artikel angezeigt.
Sollte der Schalter nicht angezeigt werden, bitte bei uns mit dem npub melden, damit wir ihn in die Liste der Pareto-Autoren aufnehmen können.
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Eine zweite Kategorie zeigt die bestehenden Entwürfe.
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Unter dem Punkt Bilder links lassen sich Bilder hochladen, die in Artikeln verwendet werden sollen.
Sollte noch kein Medien-Server (Blossom oder NIP-96) konfiguriert sein, wird angeboten, den Standard-Server des Pareto-Projektes zu nutzen.
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Nachdem der Server konfiguriert wird, werden alle hochgeladenen Bilder angezeigt.
Weitere Bilder lassen sich über den Knopf **Bilder hochladen** hinzufügen.
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Nach Auswahl des Punktes **Schreiben** wird der leere Pareto-Editor angezeigt.
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Neben dem Titel sollte auch die Zusammenfassung aufgefüllt werden, da diese beim Teilen des Artikels (Telegram, Social Media, ...) neben dem Titel und dem Bild des Artikels angezeigt werden.
Das Bild kann durch Klicken auf den grauen Rahmen rechts oben gewählt werden.
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Nach Doppelklick auf das gewünschte Bild wird es rechts neben Titel und Zusammenfassung angezeigt.
Neue Elemente können im Text durch Klicken auf das Plus-Symbol hinzugefügt werden.
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Neben Überschriften lassen sich so auch Zitate, Aufzählungen, Programm-Code, Tabellen und Bilder einfügen.
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Nachdem ein Bild-Element eingefügt wurde, kann es entweder mit einem Link auf ein Bild bestückt werden oder - durch Klicken auf "Select file" ein bereits hochgeladenes auswählen.
Durch Klicken auf die kleine Sprechblase rechts oben in einem Bild lässt sich eine Bildunterschrift hinzufügen.
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### Markdown
Neben dem Hinzufügen von Elementen über das Plus-Symbol kann natürlich auch direkt [Markdown-Auszeichnung](https://www.ionos.de/digitalguide/websites/web-entwicklung/markdown/) eingegeben werden.
Es gibt im Netz diverse Anleitungen für Markdown. Allerdings gibt es im Kontext von Nostr die Einschränkung, dass keine HTML-Elemente in Artikeln enthalten sein dürfen.
Durch Tippen eines Doppelkreuzes, gefolgt von einem Leerzeichen, lässt sich beispielsweise eine Überschrift einfügen
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### Besonderheiten
Der Pareto-Client stellt Links unterschiedlich dar, je nachdem, ob sie innerhalb eines Absatzes oder allein erscheinen.
*Links innerhalb eines Absatzes* werden ganz regulär dargestellt als Link, auf den der Leser klicken kann.
*Alleinstehende Links* (also ohne Text davor oder dahinter) hingegen werden ggf. mit einer Vorschau versehen und nach einmaligem Klick wird der Inhalt eingebettet dargestellt.
Für Links zu **YouTube**, **Odysee**, **Rumble**, **SoundCloud**, **[theplattform.net](https://tube.theplattform.net/)**, und andere können die Inhalte direkt im Artikel konsumiert werden.
Auch alleinstehende Links zu Dateien mit den Endungen .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi, .m4v und .webm (Videos) sowie .mp3, .wav, ogg (Audio) und .pdf (PDF-Dokumente) werden eingebettet dargestellt.
> **Tipp:**
>
> Beim Schreiben längerer Artikel empfiehlt es sich, diese zwischendurch immer wieder als Entwurf zu speichern, um Datenverlust zu vermeiden.
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Oberhalb des Knopfes zum Speichern von Entwürfen wird immer der aktuelle Status des Artikels angezeigt.
Schlüsselwörter werden einfach durch Komma getrennt. Es ist üblich, diese klein zu schreiben.
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Nach dem Speichern wird der Knopf deaktiviert.
Der Entwurf sollte anschließend unter dem Punkt **Artikel** unter **Entwürfe** eingeblendet werden.
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Ein Klick auf **Bearbeiten** bringt den Entwurf wieder in den Editor.
Nach Klicken von **Veröffentlichen** kann noch die Liste der Nostr-Relays ausgewählt werden, auf denen der Artikel veröffentlicht werden soll.
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Nach dem Veröffentlichen sollte der Status das entspr. anzeigen.
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Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
Dein erster Artikel wurde über den Pareto-Client verfasst und veröffentlicht!
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@ f7d424b5:618c51e8
2025-02-23 18:01:38
(This was originally posted on melonmancy.net which is a blog on write.as, an ActivityPub based blogging instance)
Listeners rejoice as we are joined today by [ironee212 @ shitposter.world](https://shitposter.world/ironee212)
Another major videogame release happened since we last recorded and it looks like a big stinker, or is it? All that and more in today's episode.
We mentioned a few things in the show you might want to pull up while listening, they are the following:
- [Avowed steam chart](https://steamdb.info/app/2457220/charts/)
- [TF2 SDK news](https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809)
Obligatory:
- [Listen to the new episode here!](https://melonmancy.net/listen)
- [Discuss this episode on OUR NEW FORUM](https://melonmancy.cafe/d/103-mp101-my-favorite-body-type-b)
- [Get the RSS and Subscribe](https://feeds.rssblue.com/melonmancy-podcast) (this is a new feed URL, but the old one redirects here too!)
- Get a modern podcast app to use that RSS feed on at [newpodcastapps.com](http://newpodcastapps.com/)
- Or listen to the show on [the forum](https://melonmancy.cafe) using the embedded [Podverse](https://podverse.fm) player!
- [Send your complaints here](https://melonmancy.net/contact-us)
Reminder that this is a [Value4Value](https://value4value.info/) podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors!
Our podcast is created entirely with free software and is proudly hosted on [RSSBlue!](https://rssblue.com)
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@ 04ea4f83:210e1713
2025-02-23 17:38:11
Erschienen in [Citadel 21 Vol. 21](https://www.citadel21.com/are-you-tired-of-clown-world?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) | Veröffentlichung 21.03.2023 \
Autor: [Knut Svanholm](https://twitter.com/knutsvanholm?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)\
Übersetzt von: [Sinautoshi am 24.03.2023 - 782344](https://twitter.com/Sinautoshi_8_21?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)\
\
Rückblickend sieht das Jahr 2022 wie eine Art Höhepunkt aus. Während der Großteil der Gesellschaft weitgehend vergessen hat, was die politische Klasse ihren Untertanen während der sogenannten Pandemie angetan hat, kotzte Hollywood weiterhin Inhalte aus, die von „diversen" Regisseuren und Drehbuchautoren produziert wurden und bis zum Rand mit nicht ganz so subtilen Botschaften und Verachtung für ihr Publikum gefüllt waren.
Star Wars und Marvel haben nach der Übernahme durch Disney auf diese Weise Franchise-Mord begangen, und auch das Erbe von *Der Herr der Ringe* wurde von der linken Idiotie vergewaltigt und für immer befleckt. Jetzt gibt es von jedem männlichen Avenger eine weibliche Version. Hugh Jackman, der Schauspieler, der früher die Hauptrolle des X-Men-Mutanten Wolverine spielte, empfahl seinen Anhängern in den sozialen Medien kürzlich Bill Gates' Buch über den Klimawandel.
Als Frauen verkleidete Männer gewinnen Sportmeisterschaften für Frauen, und alle haben so viel Angst davor, als bigott bezeichnet zu werden, dass sich niemand traut, auf die Absurdität hinzuweisen, dass ein Mann alle Mädchen schlägt. Diese so genannten Sportler werden als „mutig" bezeichnet, obwohl sie alles andere als das sind.
Die Tatsache, dass es in einigen Berufen mehr Männer als Frauen gibt, wird als Problem angesehen, aber warum genau das ein Problem ist, wird selten erwähnt. Die Verdienste und die tatsächliche Meinungsvielfalt werden auf dem Altar der „Vielfalt und Integration" geschlachtet.
Die Gesellschaft ist an einem Punkt angelangt, an dem die Verbraucher Ärzten und Anwälten gerade wegen ihrer Hautfarbe misstrauen, da sie vermuten, dass sie deshalb in ihre Positionen gekommen sind und nicht wegen ihrer Kompetenz oder ihrer Verdienste. Noch vor zwanzig Jahren war die normale Bauchreaktion das Gegenteil: „*Wow, ein Arzt aus einer Minderheit! Sie müssen hart gearbeitet haben, um dorthin zu gelangen, wo sie heute sind!*"
Als ich aufgewachsen bin, wurde ein „Rassist" als jemand definiert, der sich einen Dreck um die Hautfarbe oder die ethnische Zugehörigkeit einer anderen Person scherte. Dasselbe galt für das Wort „Sexist" - man war ein Sexist, wenn man das Geschlecht einer Person bei der Beurteilung berücksichtigte.
Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass die Welt seit den Gräueltaten des Zweiten Weltkriegs im Kampf gegen diese Vorurteile einen weiten Weg zurückgelegt hatte und dass jeder eine anständige Karriere in jedem Beruf machen konnte, wenn er sich nur anstrengte und sich Mühe gab. Doch irgendwann in den frühen 2000er Jahren änderte sich etwas.
Plötzlich begannen die Worte das Gegenteil von dem zu bedeuten, was sie ursprünglich bedeuteten. Plötzlich war jeder, der sich einen Dreck um seine Hautfarbe scherte, ein Rassist. Jeder, dem es egal war, ob der CEO eines großen Unternehmens ein Mann oder eine Frau war, war ein Sexist.
Im Jahr 2023 behaupten manche sogar, man sei ein „Transphobe", wenn man nicht gelegentlich Fellatio an einem „weiblichen Penis" betreiben will. Die Tugendwächter laufen in der Tat Amok, und die Medienunternehmen lieben es. Sie lieben es, weil sie alles lieben, was die Kluft zwischen den Menschen schürt. Je verrückter die Aktionen der Clownwelt® sind, desto wütender sind die Reaktionen der leichtgläubigen, verärgerten Menschen auf der „vernünftigen" Seite des politischen Spektrums.
Die Menschheit neigt dazu, sich wie ein Pendel oder eine Abrissbirne zu verhalten, wenn es um politische Meinungen oder „die aktuelle Sache" geht.
Wenn es zu viele blauhaarige, übergewichtige, lesbische, glutenintolerante, vegane Umweltschützer gibt, taucht von irgendwoher eine Welle von Skinheads auf, die mit Steroiden vollgepumpt sind und gegen Samenöl und Fleischfresser sind.
Für jede Hillary Clinton gibt es einen Donald Trump. Für jede Greta Thunberg gibt es einen Andrew Tate. Für jeden CNN-Reporter gibt es einen Alex Jones.
Auch im Bitcoin-Bereich gibt es immer ein „aktuelles Thema", an das man sich klammern kann, wenn auch oft eine männlichere Idee als das „aktuelle Thema" des Mainstreams. Was nur wenige wissen, ist, wie faul diese Art des Denkens ist.
Wissenschaft ist nicht automatisch schlecht, nur weil „die Wissenschaft" schlecht ist.
Nur weil man gelernt hat, dass alles, was die Regierung sagt, eine Lüge ist, ist nicht automatisch auch das Gegenteil wahr. Die Welt ist nuanciert; die meisten Dinge sind nicht schwarz oder weiß.
Was wahr und sehr schwarz-weiß ist, ist das Geld - es gibt Bitcoin und es gibt Shitcoins. Nur wenn wir letztere für erstere aufgeben, können wir die Politik aus dem menschlichen Handeln entfernen und uns auf eine gewisse Wahrheit in der Basisschicht der Zivilisation zurück arbeiten. Bitcoin belohnt weder Rent-Seeking noch faules Denken.
Die positiven Aspekte vieler moderner Technologien werden oft übersehen. Auch wenn sich die Clownwelt® und die lächerlichen Ideen, die ihr folgen, wie ein Lauffeuer verbreiten, gibt es Gründe für einen ungetrübten Optimismus für die Zukunft.
Wir hören oft von den Gefahren der sozialen Medien und wie sie die Gehirne unserer Kinder schädigen, aber wir werden selten an die Kehrseite der Medaille erinnert. Soziale Medien verbinden Menschen in einem Ausmaß, das der Menschheit nie zuvor zugänglich war. Jeder Mensch auf der Welt kann heute mit jedem anderen in Kontakt treten und mit einem Mausklick einen Videoanruf starten. Das ist ein enorm wichtiges Instrument für den Frieden. In Kombination mit Bitcoin haben die Bösewichte keine Chance mehr.
Wenn jeder auf diese Weise vernetzt ist, wird überdeutlich, wie absurd es ist, dass wir in Staaten mit unterschiedlichen Gesetzen und Vorschriften leben. Warum gelten für meine Mitmenschen auf der anderen Seite dieses Teiches, dieses Flusses, dieses Gebirges oder sogar dieser imaginären Linie in der Erde andere Regeln?
Jeden Tag wachen mehr und mehr Menschen auf und erkennen, dass es nur ein einziges Menschenrecht gibt - das Recht, in Ruhe gelassen zu werden.
Immer mehr Menschen erkennen, dass die Geldentwertung kein natürliches Phänomen ist, sondern eine bewusste Politik. Es ist nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis die alte Welt verschwindet. Solange wir kommunizieren dürfen, gibt es Hoffnung. Das Internet hat bewiesen, dass sich jede Kommunikation auf eine Reihe von Einsen und Nullen reduzieren lässt, und Bitcoin hat bewiesen, dass Geld nichts anderes als Information ist.
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@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a
2025-02-23 16:38:41
Derive npub from nsec given as parameter
``` python
import argparse
import asyncio
from nostr_sdk import Keys, init_logger, LogLevel
async def main(nsec):
init_logger(LogLevel.INFO)
keys = Keys.parse(nsec)
public_key = keys.public_key()
print(f"Public key (hex): {public_key.to_hex()}")
print(f"Public key (npub): {public_key.to_bech32()}")
if __name__ == '__main__':
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch all relay from a given nsec')
parser.add_argument('nsec', type=str, help='The nsec of the user')
args = parser.parse_args()
asyncio.run(main(args.nsec))
```
https://docs.rs/nostr_rust/latest/nostr_rust/keys/fn.get_public_key_from_secret.html
https://github.com/ev3rst/nostr_sdk_examples/blob/main/ns-derive-npub.py
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@ 2779f3d9:1a7f98d1
2025-02-23 15:20:19
# NOSTR SDK FOR APPLE PLATFORMS
## Progress Report # 2: Nov 2024 - Jan 2025
[Nostr SDK for Apple Platforms](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios) continued to make progress this quarter. I am still the sole part-time active developer and maintainer of Nostr SDK for Apple Platforms.
Implementations for a few NIPs were added or updated. The CI build pipeline was broken due to deprecated dependencies, which have since been fixed.
I pushed out a (controversial) [proposal](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1770) to gracefully deprecate stringified JSON in favor of tags on user metadata kind 0 events to the NIPs repo as a pull request to improve consistency and reduce the complexity of reading and writing this commonly used kind. The SDK has become the first to [implement](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/212) with the hopes that others will follow.
We have had new external interest in the SDK from developers working on various Nostr clients:
- Damus has [copied the NIP-44 encryption implementation from the SDK](https://github.com/damus-io/damus/pull/2850/files#diff-5eb31bd8e6dc73d21bb3caef975a7f3508765e7f3ab01ecec545635ccb89d17c) for their use in [NIP-37 Draft Events](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/7cc120ecb01963e37f9adcd3b57b8efc1dd9e828/37.md), swapping out their previous usage of rust-nostr due to large binary size issues.
- [Fabian](nostr:npub1n0sturny6w9zn2wwexju3m6asu7zh7jnv2jt2kx6tlmfhs7thq0qnflahe) from Nostur contributed a [NIP-44 encrypt/decrypt example](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/204) to the SDK demo project to help him understand how it works and is [currently being used](https://github.com/nostur-com/nostr-essentials/blob/05e5452bb05c4c2e94ec9a78bb0c80d5123919a7/Sources/NostrEssentials/NIP-44/NIP44v2Encrypting.swift) by Nostur
- A new livestreaming Nostr client called [Swae](https://github.com/suhailsaqan/swae) has adopted the SDK, using Comingle as a reference client implementation.
Progress on the SDK this quarter has been slower than the previous quarter due to a shift in emerging priorities in Nostr. This quarter, I focused on building a native iOS Nostr event signer, as none exist today. The problem is that some iOS users do not fully trust pasting their private key into Nostr clients, which they fear could be buggy or malicious in accessing and signing bad data with their private key. A native signer on Android called Amber already exists, and there has been an increase in demand from users for an equivalent solution on iOS. The iOS signer app is called [Yeti](https://github.com/tyiu/Yeti) (credit to [Karnage](nostr:npub1r0rs5q2gk0e3dk3nlc7gnu378ec6cnlenqp8a3cjhyzu6f8k5sgs4sq9ac) for the name and Figma designs) and I'm using Nostr SDK for Apple Platforms and its demo app as a [test bed](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/tree/tyiu/signer-demo) for this experimental cross-app communication protocol that will eventually be proposed as a NIP. I hope iOS clients adopting the SDK will get built-in standardized event signing protocol capabilities, tightening up this attack vector.
This report marks the end of the six-month grant period, as agreed with OpenSats. I thank OpenSats for supporting Nostr SDK for Apple Platforms, other Nostr projects, and the developer community. I will re-apply for a grant at OpenSats for the SDK, Yeti, or other impactful Nostr projects.
## 1) How did you spend your time?
Below is a broken-down summarized bulletpointed list of completed tasks.
### Development of Nostr SDK for Apple Platforms
#### Added
- [NIP-37 Draft Events](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/37.md)
- [NIP-44 encrypt/decrypt example to demo project](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/204)
### Updated
- [Updated NIP-11 Relay Information Document implementation](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/201) to support all the newly added fields
- [Renamed ParameterizedReplaceableEvent to AddressableEvent and NonParameterizedReplaceableEvent to NormalReplaceableEvent](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/205) to conform to the [new terminology](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1418) in the NIPs repo
- Gracefully deprecated stringified JSON in favor of tags on user metadata kind 0 events, being the first to implement the [not-yet-merged proposal](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1770) to NIP-01/NIP-24
### Fixed
- Fixed broken CI build pipeline
- [Fix GitHub workflow for running build and test](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/202)
- [Upgrade upload-pages-artifact from deprecated version to v3 to fix build](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/207)
- [Upgrade deploy pages action to v4 to fix build](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/pull/208)
#### In Progress
- Native iOS event signing protocol, using the [SDK as a test bed](https://github.com/nostr-sdk/nostr-sdk-ios/tree/tyiu/signer-demo)
## 2) What do you plan to work on next quarter?
The top priorities will be developing the native iOS event signing protocol, building out Yeti, and integrating the iOS signing protocol into the SDK.
I will continue maintaining and developing the SDK, albeit at a slower pace:
- Deprecate EventCreating protocol in favor of NostrEventBuilding protocol for the remaining event kinds
- Add or update implementations for various NIPs where critical or needed
- Support clients as they integrate with parts of the SDK by answering questions, fixing any issues they have, adding requested features, and reviewing pull requests
## 3) How did you make use of the money?
Living expenses.
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@ 8d34bd24:414be32b
2025-02-23 12:49:20
I recently wrote a post “[What? Do Not Pray For ...](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/what-do-not-pray-for)” where I shared a passage telling us not to pray for the nation of Israel (at a particular point in time). Before reading this post, I strongly encourage you to read that post first.
The verse in question was:
> “As for you, **do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you**. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and *they* pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me. Do they spite Me?” declares the Lord. “Is it not themselves *they spite,* to their own shame?” (Jeremiah 7:16-19) {emphasis mine}
Jeremiah was told not to pray blessings on Israel because Israel had turned away from God and were serving other Gods.
I was just listening to a “Renewing Your Mind” podcast and the speaker made the statement, “We all want to say, ‘God bless America,’ but we don’t want to hear, ‘God curse America.’” That made me contemplate, “Should we ask God to bless America?”
Over the past decade or more (probably several decades), America has been using its military and economic might to push actions around the globe that are abhorrent to God. We give aid to countries if they legalize and fund abortions, if they promote gay marriage, and if they encourage transgender surgeries and chemical castration. They encourage people and nations to murder unborn children, to redefine marriage as different than what God created it to be, and to sterilize young people confused about their gender, breaking both God’s good creation of male and female and \
His command to be fruitful and multiply. You could make the argument that the US has been the largest purveyor of evil in the world. (It breaks my heart to say this.)
It is true that with the past election, America has turned away from many of these evil actions, but have Americans truly repented and turned back to God? I am convinced that neither our leaders nor most of our people have turned back to God in any significant way. It is like famous atheist, Richard Dawkins, saying he misses Christian culture but continuing to reject God and make fun of actual Christians. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t have God’s blessings without God.
Now I am not saying that we shouldn’t pray for America. It is totally appropriate to pray for revival in America. It is good to pray for Americans to repent of their sins and to trust in Jesus. It is great to pray for God to help us to share the gospel and to produce fruit. The issue is that we shouldn’t pray for America’s blessing while she has turned her back on God.
Obviously there are a decent number of Christians in America. That and the fact that America was founded on Christian principles actually means that America will be punished harsher than those nations where people have had little knowledge of the Bible and Jesus. Those who have been shown the gospel and still rejected God will be held to a higher standard and will be punished harsher than those who have never heard the gospel.
I ask you to pray that God would bring revival to America, that He would turn hearts and minds to Himself, and that He would draw our leaders to submit in full trust and obedience to Him. I also pray that God would help all of believers to be faithful stewards with all of the blessings with which He has already showered us and to use us to shine the light of the gospel with America and the rest of the world. I pray that He would help us to live lives fully devoted to Him and will help us to stand out from the crowd of pseudo-Christians and normal people, so we can be used to draw America back to God.
Unfortunately, we may be in a situation, like Jeremiah and Israel, where the nation has turned so far from God that we will be rejected in the same way they reject Jesus. We may have to look upon the nation we love and let go because our citizenship is in heaven. We need to always be more devoted to God and His kingdom than we are to our earthly citizenship.
> “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves,” declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 14:13-14)
May God guide you in your prayers, your actions, and your faith so that you will be a light in the darkness and never forget where your allegiance lies. I pledge allegiance to my God, my Lord, and my Creator, and to Him alone does my allegiance belong.
Trust Jesus
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@ 04ea4f83:210e1713
2025-02-23 10:43:38
Veröffentlicht auf [Discreetlog.com](https://www.discreetlog.com/no-privacy-no-freedom/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) am 17.04.2023\
Originalautor: [Matt Odell](https://twitter.com/ODELL?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)\
Übersetzt von: [Sinautoshi am 20.05.2023 - 790600](https://twitter.com/Sinautoshi_8_21?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)
*„Privatsphäre ist für eine offene Gesellschaft im elektronischen Zeitalter notwendig. Privatsphäre ist keine Geheimhaltung. Eine private Angelegenheit ist etwas, von dem man nicht möchte, dass es die ganze Welt erfährt, aber eine geheime Angelegenheit ist etwas, von dem man nicht möchte, dass es irgendjemand erfährt." Privatsphäre ist die Macht, sich der Welt selektiv zu offenbaren.“* **- Eric Hughes, [A Cypherpunk's Manifesto](https://www.activism.net/cypherpunk/manifesto.html?ref=discreetlog.com) , 1993**
**Privatsphäre ist für die Freiheit unerlässlich.** Ohne Privatsphäre ist der Einzelne nicht in der Lage, frei von Überwachung und Kontrolle Entscheidungen zu treffen. Mangelnde Privatsphäre führt zum Verlust der Selbstbestimmung. Wenn Einzelpersonen ständig überwacht werden, schränkt dies unsere Fähigkeit ein, uns auszudrücken und Risiken einzugehen. Alle Entscheidungen, die wir treffen, können negative Auswirkungen auf diejenigen haben, die uns überwachen. Ohne die Freiheit, Entscheidungen zu treffen, kann der Einzelne nicht wirklich frei sein.
**Freiheit ist für den Erwerb und Erhalt von Wohlstand von entscheidender Bedeutung.** Wenn der Einzelne nicht die Freiheit hat, Entscheidungen zu treffen, hindern uns Einschränkungen und Beschränkungen daran, wirtschaftliche Chancen zu nutzen. Wenn es uns in einem solchen Umfeld irgendwie gelingt, Wohlstand zu erlangen, kann mangelnde Freiheit zur direkten Beschlagnahme von Vermögenswerten durch Regierungen oder andere böswillige Organisationen führen. Wenn die Freiheit gefährdet wird, führt dies im großen Maßstab zu weitverbreiteter wirtschaftlicher Stagnation und Armut. Der Schutz der Freiheit ist für den wirtschaftlichen Wohlstand von wesentlicher Bedeutung.
Der Zusammenhang zwischen **Privatsphäre, Freiheit und Wohlstand** ist entscheidend. Ohne Privatsphäre verliert der Einzelne die Freiheit, frei von Überwachung und Kontrolle Entscheidungen zu treffen. Während der Mangel an Freiheit den Einzelnen daran hindert, wirtschaftliche Chancen wahrzunehmen, und den Vermögenserhalt nahezu unmöglich macht. ***Keine Privatsphäre? Keine Freiheit. Keine Freiheit? Kein Wohlstand.***
Rechte werden nicht gewährt. Sie werden eingenommen und verteidigt. Rechte werden oft als Erlaubnis der Machthaber missverstanden, etwas zu tun. Wenn dir jedoch jemand etwas geben kann, kann er es dir grundsätzlich nach Belieben wegnehmen. Im Laufe der Geschichte haben Menschen zwangsläufig für Grundrechte gekämpft, darunter Privatsphäre und Freiheit. Diese Rechte wurden nicht von den Machthabern gegeben, sondern durch Kampf eingefordert und erkämpft. Selbst nachdem diese Rechte erlangt wurden, müssen sie kontinuierlich verteidigt werden, um sicherzustellen, dass sie nicht weggenommen werden. **Rechte werden nicht gewährt – sie werden durch Kampf erworben und durch Opfer verteidigt.**
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@ 42342239:1d80db24
2025-02-23 10:00:20
Europe's economic framework requires restructuring grounded in realism. The Commission's Competitiveness Compass, alas, reveals dangerous left-hemisphere dominance and risks repeating Mao's mistakes.
The European Commission presented its "competitiveness compass" in January. There will be massive investments in biotechnology, materials technology, medicines, space, and the defence industry. AI gigafactories are to be established, while Europe will "maintain its leadership in quantum technologies" (a leadership that few seem to be aware of). This will be achieved through more environmental labelling schemes, nature credits, procurement rules, platforms, cooperation plans, and coordination systems. Although the report contains some bright spots, such as promises to ease the regulatory burden, **the overall picture is strikingly lacking in creativity**. Instead, we are mainly met with the usual thought patterns of the European technocracy, which manifest in additional centralised frameworks, quantifiable goals, and annual reports. Mao's ghost haunts Brussels.
#### The Missing Half of Europe's Brain
Iain McGilchrist, a British psychiatrist and philosopher, has launched the hemispheric hypothesis (a theory about how the two hemispheres of the brain work). The left hemisphere is more detail- and control-oriented, while the right hemisphere is holistic and creative. A society dominated by the left hemisphere, [like our own according to McGilchrist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYB7P-xPRsk), "would see it as its task to control everything maximally." **The Commission's compass appears similarly lobotomised , prioritising measurable processes over imaginative solutions.**
In an earlier text, I mentioned that Europe might need to return [to its roots](https://www.affarsvarlden.se/kronika/enlund-lar-av-elon-musk-vi-behover-ett-mer-radikalt-europa) and asked if Europe should have "the same end goal as China." This is still a relevant and justified question. But if we are honest, China has implemented a series of well-thought-out reforms since the 1980s, in addition to its many well-known and large-scale investments. It is not necessarily wrong to be inspired by China, as many believe; it depends on which China you are inspired by.
#### Lessons from the Cat Theory
When Deng Xiaoping returned to power in the late 1970s, he chose a more pragmatic approach than his predecessors. China left Mao Zedong's purges of dissidents behind. Instead, he launched the cat theory: **"it doesn't matter what colour the cat is as long as it catches mice"**, regarding economic development. It was now free to experiment with different models. Instead of ideological conformity, the most important thing was to increase productivity and material prosperity.
What was done in China?
* Companies and individuals were given more freedom
* Provinces and municipalities were given more autonomy
* Special economic zones were established, with different conditions and rules
* Programs to increase the number of banks were introduced
* The banking sector was deregulated
* Property rights and contract law began to be respected
China has since gone from being an economic backwater to not only being the world's largest economy in terms of purchasing power but also a [global tech contender](https://www.aspi.org.au/index.php/report/critical-technology-tracker) (leading in 37 out of 44 key technologies per ASPI).
#### EU's Compliance Obsession vs Chinese Pragmatism
And today, when China is astonishing the world with surprisingly cheap and competent AI systems, which recently set American tech stocks in motion, in the EU one is met with advertisements for yet another compliance training, this time about AI. **Every new compliance training echoes Mao's ghost** – ideological correctness overriding practical results. Is prosperity really built with certifications, directives, requirements, and penalties?
When we compare the Chinese experience with today's EU, the contrast is clear:
* Freedoms are curtailed. The right to privacy is undermined (Chat Control, etc.)
* Member states' ability to self-govern is reduced, year by year
* Streamlining and harmony are popular buzzwords in the bureaucracy
* The ECB is actively working to reduce the number of banks
* The banking sector is being regulated more and more
* Property rights and contract law are being eroded, which can be partly attributed to [developments in payment systems](https://underorion.se/en/posts/freedom_to_transact/)
Deng's cat theory was an example of when the right hemisphere was involved in decision-making. Rather than just focusing on details (the cat's colour), the whole (the result) was important. **The Chinese proverb "cross the river by feeling the stones" is another example of more holistic thinking**. Under Deng's leadership, reforms were first tested in a free zone or a province. After a while, the reforms could be evaluated before they were possibly implemented on a larger scale. "Try before you buy" is also a wise principle that follows from complexity research. In sharp contrast to this approach was Mao's "Great Leap Forward," a part of a disastrous five-year plan that shows what can happen when the left hemisphere is given too much power. A tragedy of historic proportions - a mass famine - resulted. While Deng exorcized Mao's ghost through pragmatic experimentation, Brussels seems determined to resurrect. **Today's EU risks repeating Mao's mistake of letting political abstractions ("green transition! digital decade!") override reality** – Mao's ghost surely smiles at nature credit schemes replacing actual market signals.
#### Mao's ghost trives on the ontological mistake
The serious problems that the EU is facing have been built up over decades and stem from incorrect assumptions. The economy is not complicated. It is complex. The concepts are often confused, but they describe two fundamentally different things. The complicated refers to something composite, but which can still be unfolded and then folded back up again without changing its essence. The complex, on the other hand, refers to something entangled, where every attempt to divide it changes its character. Compare, for example, an airplane engine with a béarnaise sauce. If you mix up the concepts, you make an ontological mistake, a philosopher would say. A programmer would say: garbage in, garbage out. **Mao's ghost thrives on this ontological error**, convincing technocrats they can blueprint society like a Soviet tractor factory.
**When a system is complicated, predictable, and linear, centralised coordination and control by the left hemisphere can work well.** But in complex systems, it can never be a solution because it leads to reduced adaptability and increased system risks. Instead, the goal should be diversity and decentralisation, which provide greater adaptability! The faster the changes of the system or in the environment, the greater the demands on adaptability and flexibility - if the system is to survive, that is. Increased diversity and decentralisation would not only increase adaptability and flexibility but also promote creativity, an ability that will likely become increasingly important in a world where AI and automation are changing the rules.
#### A better path forward
Europe's economic framework requires restructuring grounded in realism. The Commission's competitiveness compass - fixated on metrics and control - reveals dangerous left-hemisphere dominance, echoing Maoist central planning's epistemological errors. Our path forward demands:
* Dual-brain governance (prioritising creativity over control)
* Banishing of category mistakes (acknowledging the complex adaptive nature of the economy)
* Pragmatism over ideology (policy sandboxes inspired by China's special economic zones)
* Anti-fragile design (increased autonomy of EU nations, within states, and decentralised banking)
* Sunset clauses on all bureaucracy (regulators cannot originate breakthroughs)
The alternative? Another technocratic Great Leap Forward - eco-certified, AI-monitored, but economically brittle and fundamentally maladapted to the complex global economy. **As Deng's reformers understood: no institutional architecture, not even the First Emperor's Terracotta Army, can withstand modernity's tide.**
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@ 41fa852b:af7b7706
2025-02-23 09:41:15
> "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value, zero." --Voltaire
* * *
**Lots happening this coming week for UK Bitcoiners, so there is plenty to report for this edition.**
There are ten meetups for the coming week, two new businesses, and two new events, and we have a new sponsor, [Bitcoin Metalworks](https://bitcoinmetalworks.com/). Check out their amazing Bitcoin-inspired artwork at the bottom of the ad section.
Let's dive in…
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[](https://bitcoinevents.uk/donate/)
* * *
_This week's sponsor is…_
[](https://www.orangepillapp.com/?utm_source=BEUK&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BEUK)
* * *
### **Upcoming Bitcoin Meetups**
Happening this week…
1. [**Real Bedford - Home Game**](https://www.realbedford.com/real-bedford-v-aylesbury-united2): Peter MacCormack's boys are at home this Tuesday the 25th, playing Aylesbury United. Join them for a 19:45 kickoff. ⚽️
2. [**Leamington Spa**](https://t.me/leambitcoin): Meetups on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 PM. You'll find them this month at the White Horse, CV32 5PZ on the 25th. 🍻
3. [**Bitcoin Surrey**](https://x.com/bitcoinsurrey/status/1888974122358641007): On Tuesday, February 25th, from 18:00 to 23:00, Bitcoin Surrey is hosting a special meetup focused on Bitcoin art at Yiayias at The Fox, located at 21 Frensham Road, Lower Bourne, Farnham, Surrey GU10 3PH. The event features a fireside chat and talk at 19:00 by artist and curator Rebel Money Art, titled "Bitcoin Art: The New Revolution," discussing the evolution and future of Bitcoin art. Additionally, the venue's upstairs will be transformed into a pop-up Bitcoin art gallery for the evening, showcasing works by various international artists, including Cryptograffiti, RYR, HodlxHold, Flo Montoya, Sham Shad, 2140 Collective, Mr Hansel, Asanoha, No Good, and Rebel Money Art. Bitcoin is accepted at the venue and entry is free. 🍻🖼️🎨
4. [**Brighton Bitcoin**](https://t.me/brighton_btc): Building a bitcoin community in the Brighton & Hove area. A regular informal meetup happens every last Wednesday of the month at [Indian Summer](https://www.indiansummerbrighton.co.uk/) where they accept bitcoin payments. The meetup starts at 20:00, or 19:00 if you'd like to eat first. 🥘🍻
5. [**Manchester Bitcoin**](https://btcmap.org/community/bitcoin-manchester): On the 27th, Manchesters Bitcoin will be at The Smithfield Market Tavern. Join them at 19:00. 🍺
6. [**Cyphermunk House - Constellation Money**](https://btcpay.btc.aw/apps/3KBnXP178MWUvGGizGKsgFQrKoaY/pos): Exploring unconscious blocks and hidden patterns in your relationship to money. At 18:30 on Thursday 27th. 👨🏻🚀
7. [**The Satoshi Society - Southampton**](https://x.com/satssociety): Join a friendly group of bitcoiners at The Maritimo Lounge, Ocean Village on Friday the 28th for food and a Bitcoin chat. 🍺
8. [**Bitcoin Walk - Edinburgh**](https://bitcoinwalk.org/): Every Saturday they walk around Arthur's Seat in this historic city. Join them at 12 pm to chat about all things Bitcoin and keep fit. 🚶🏽♂️🚶🏼♀️🚶🏻
9. [**Leeds Bitcoin Network**](https://t.me/LeedsBTC): The first Sunday of every month the Leeds Bitcoin Network meet at the [Global Tribe Cafe](https://www.globalcrystals.com/), LS1 6LG at 1 PM on Sunday 2nd March. ☕️
10. [**Cyphermunk House - Repair Party**](https://btcpay.btc.aw/apps/3KBnXP178MWUvGGizGKsgFQrKoaY/pos): Watch, learn and get hands-on experience at this community lead electronic repair training workshop. UK Plug, Laptop, Kettle, toaster... On Sunday 2nd March at 10:00. 👨🏻🔧🛠️
* * *
### New Businesses Accepting Bitcoin
- [**Hollins Mill**](https://btcmap.org/merchant/node:236019804): This traditional English Pub in Sowerby Bridge specialises in craft beers and ales, 50+ gins, and has a large beer garden and function room for up to 120 people. Perfect for weddings, christenings and birthday parties. Now accepting bitcoin!
- [**Alema Coffee**](https://www.alemacoffee.com/): Some great work is going on behind the scenes in Bury St Edmunds. Expect some new businesses to appear here as Bitcoin East onboard them. Alema's Coffee is grown on a family farm in Ecuador and sent directly to Alema coffee for roasting. You can visit them at 2 High Baxter Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1ES for some exceptional, hand-crafted coffee, paid for with bitcoin.
* * *
### Upcoming Special Events
These events aren't happening next week, but they're important to add to your calendar now as tickets are selling fast.
- [**Eat and Meet with Joe Bryan**](https://orangepill.app.link/MDg7o8KxcRb): Meet the creator of 'Whats the Problem' and a host of bitcoiners at the Weeping Willow in Bury St Edmunds. Starting at 18:00 on Tuesday March the 4th.
[](https://orangepill.app.link/MDg7o8KxcRb)
- [**CheatCode 2025**](https://www.cheatcode.co.uk/) - Peter McCormack hosts the CheatCode conference, following last year's success. This year, international guest speakers include Preston Pysh, Alex Gladstein, Natalie Brunell, Matthew Pines, Steve Baker, Ben Arc, and Checkmate.
Friday, April 11th, is the main conference day, followed by a huge meetup at Ledger Park for the men's Real Bedford match, and again on Sunday for the women's match. Check out the link for ticket details.
[](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbcb0553a-dc8c-4fb7-98dd-4a95085d83a5_1500x500.png)
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**Get Involved**
- **Volunteer Opportunities**: [Bridge2Bitcoin](https://bridge2bitcoin.com/) is actively seeking volunteers who share our passion for merchant adoption. We'd be delighted to connect if you're eager to contribute. Reach out to us on [Twitter](https://x.com/bridge2bitcoin) or through our [website](https://bridge2bitcoin.com/).
- **Start Your Own Meetup**: Interested in launching a Bitcoin meetup? We're here to support you every step of the way. We've assisted numerous UK Bitcoin meetups in getting started. Get in touch via [Twitter](https://x.com/bitcoineventsuk).
- [**Contribute to BTCMaps**](https://wiki.btcmap.org/general/tagging-instructions.html): BTCMaps is a vital part of the Bitcoin ecosystem. It's a perfect project to get involved with if you're not a coder or even that technical. A great way to give back to the community. Maintain an area of the UK and keep it up-to-date.
- **Telegram users**: You might find our [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/BitcoinEventsUKHub) another useful way to keep up-to-date with UK meetups.
- **Feedback and Suggestions**: We value your input! Share your ideas on how we can enhance this newsletter.
* * *
_This week's sponsors are…_
[](https://orangecoinstore.com/)
[](https://bitcoinretreat.co.uk/)
[](https://bitcoinmetalworks.com/)
* * *
Get out and support the meetups where you can, visit [Bitcoin Events UK](https://bitcoinevents.uk/) for more info on each meetup and to find your closest on the interactive map.
Stay tuned for more updates next week!
Simon.
[](https://bitcoinevents.uk/donate/)
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@ 6a3d3f20:6a569bcc
2025-02-23 08:50:19
Imagina un internet donde tú tienes el control, donde nadie puede silenciarte y donde las conexiones entre personas fluyen sin barreras corporativas. Esto no es un sueño lejano, ¡es la realidad que está tomando forma gracias a Nostr! Este protocolo **descentralizado**, nacido en 2020 de la mente ingeniosa de un desarrollador brasileño conocido como *fiatjaf*, ha surgido como una respuesta vibrante a los desafíos del internet actual. En un mundo donde las redes sociales centralizadas han comenzado a tambalearse bajo el peso de la **censura**, la privacidad comprometida y el control excesivo, Nostr llega como un soplo de aire fresco, prometiendo devolvernos el poder sobre nuestra voz y nuestros datos.
## Cómo surge Nostr
El nacimiento de Nostr no fue un accidente, sino una reacción a un panorama digital que pedía a gritos un cambio. Hacia finales de la década de 2010, plataformas como **Twitter** enfrentaban crecientes críticas por sus políticas de **moderación**, dejando a muchos usuarios frustrados y silenciados. Al mismo tiempo, alternativas como **Mastodon** o **ActivityPub**, aunque descentralizadas, no terminaban de cuajar para todos debido a su complejidad técnica o diferencias culturales. Fue en este caldo de cultivo donde *fiatjaf*, inspirado por la resistencia de **Bitcoin** y su criptografía de clave pública, lanzó **Nostr** en noviembre de 2020. Pero el verdadero punto de inflexión llegó en diciembre de 2022, cuando *Jack Dorsey*, cofundador de Twitter, donó 14 bitcoins (unos 250,000 dólares) al proyecto. ¡Ese fue el momento en que Nostr pasó de ser un secreto de la comunidad *web3* a brillar en el radar global!
## Una evolución que no para de sorprendernos
Desde sus humildes comienzos, Nostr ha crecido a pasos agigantados. Su diseño es simple pero poderoso: "*Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays*" (Notas y otras cosas transmitidas por relevadores) usa servidores ligeros llamados *relays* para distribuir mensajes firmados criptográficamente por los usuarios. ¿Lo mejor? No depende de un servidor central, lo que lo hace prácticamente ++imposible de censurar++. En sus primeros años, era un terreno experimental, con aplicaciones como **Damus** (un cliente tipo Twitter) abriendo camino. Hoy, en 2025, la escena es vibrante: desde **Primal 2.0**, con búsquedas avanzadas y feeds personalizados, hasta integraciones con la **Lightning Network** de Bitcoin, que permite "**zaps**" (*micropagos*) para apoyar a creadores. Los desarrolladores no paran de innovar, creando desde marketplaces descentralizados hasta sistemas de identidad, demostrando que Nostr es mucho más que una red social: ¡es una base para reinventar el internet!
## La importancia de Nostr hoy y mañana
¿Por qué Nostr importa tanto ahora? Porque está devolviendo la *soberanía* a los usuarios en un momento en que la *privacidad* y la *libertad* en línea están bajo asedio. Con cada relay que se suma y cada cliente que aparece, Nostr construye una red resistente donde las grandes tecnológicas no dictan las reglas. Su integración con Bitcoin está creando una economía circular emocionante: imagina ganar *sats* (fracciones de bitcoin) por tus publicaciones o apoyar directamente a tus creadores favoritos sin intermediarios. En febrero de 2025, ya vemos comunidades activas, desde entusiastas de la tecnología hasta artistas, floreciendo en este ecosistema abierto.
De cara al futuro, Nostr tiene el potencial de ser un pilar del internet que siempre quisimos: descentralizado, transparente y al servicio de las personas. No solo compite con las redes sociales tradicionales, sino que las supera al ofrecer un lienzo en blanco para que cualquiera construya lo que imagine, desde plataformas de comunicación hasta soluciones IoT o mercados globales. Su simplicidad invita a miles de desarrolladores a sumarse, y su resistencia a la censura asegura que las voces marginadas siempre tengan un lugar. Si **Bitcoin** nos dio libertad financiera, **Nostr** nos está dando libertad digital, y juntos podrían ser la dupla que transforme cómo interactuamos en línea.
[[]()]()
## Un gran futuro nos espera
Nostr no es solo un protocolo; es un movimiento, una chispa de optimismo en un mundo digital que a veces parece gris. Cada vez que alguien se une, configura un relay o prueba una nueva app, estamos dando un paso hacia un internet más justo y emocionante. Así que, ¿qué esperas? Nostr no es el futuro lejano, ¡es el presente vibrante que está creciendo hoy! **Únete**, experimenta y sé parte de esta revolución que está poniendo el poder de internet de vuelta en nuestras manos. ¡El mañana digital nunca lució tan prometedor!
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@ e373ca41:b82abcc5
2025-02-23 08:39:06
*Dieser Artikel wurde mit dem* *[Pareto-Client](https://pareto.space/read)* *geschrieben (lesen Sie ihn dort, um die volle Erfahrung zu machen). Er wurde zuerst auf Deutsch von Milosz Matuschek auf* *["Freischwebende Intelligenz"](https://www.freischwebende-intelligenz.org/p/was-bringt-eine-wahl-wenn-das-system)* *veröffentlicht.*
Zur Demokratur, der vom Souverän losgelösten Demokratie, gehört es zum Ritus, dem Volk regelmäßig den Puls zu fühlen. Heute ist wieder so ein Tag. Doch was wird der Souverän am Ende dieses Tages gewonnen haben?
Zur parlamentarischen Demokratie gehört der Wesentlichkeitsgrundsatz. Alle grundrechtswesentlichen, also den Wesenskern von Grundrechten betreffenden Entscheidungen müssen vom Parlament gefällt werden.
Behandelt der Bundestag die wesentlichen Fragen?
* Was hat man im Gremium des Souveräns bisher über Nordstream herausgefunden?
* Was über Spike-Proteine, die 700 Tage nach der Impfung noch aktiv sind?
* Wie erklärt dieses Gremium dem Souverän, dass Bankenbosse, Bundeskanzler und migrantische Straftäter in diesem Land ungleich schwieriger zu verurteilen sind als Bürger, die einen gefährlich mindertalentierten Politiker „Schwachkopf“ nennen?
Wofür einen Bundestag wählen, der nichts zählt, wenn es darauf ankommt und wenig zustande bringt, was dem Bürger nützt, wenn er mal darf? Eine allgemeine Impfpflicht, die auf Politikerseite erst jeder kategorisch ausschloss und dann jeder ebenso salbungsvoll kategorisch befürwortete, scheiterte nur knapp. Aufarbeitung seither?
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Legitimation des rituellen Umkehrschwungs? (Foto: [Rosenbusch/X](https://x.com/rosenbusch_/status/1893456799728062698))
\
Aus dem Kontrollgremium des Souveräns gegenüber der Regierung ist eine realitätsverweigernde BRD-Volkskammer geworden. Was kann eine Wahl verändern, wenn das System, welches sie alimentiert und perpetuiert, das Problem ist? Nehmen wir einen Motor, der mit Benzin läuft. Der Motor ist „unsere Demokratie“, Wahlen sind der Betankungsvorgang. Der Bürger betankt heute die Maschinerie mit der Legitimation durch seine Stimme. Doch er weiß nicht mehr, welche Hebel und Gerätschaften der Motor eigentlich antreibt. Dieser Teil befindet sich hinter einem schweren Vorhang. Kann im Sinne von Transparenz und Mit-Verantwortung der Betankungsvorgang guten Gewissens vollzogen werden?
Der Wahlvorgang ist ein Paradebeispiel dessen, was der Soziologe Niklas Luhmann mit „Legitimation durch Verfahren“ beschrieben hat. Der prozessuale Akt, die Auszählung und Verkündung schafft neue Realität und legitimiert die neue Ordnung. Aus der Erfahrung der letzten Jahre in einer autoritären parlamentarischen Demokratur bedeutet die Wahlentscheidung jedoch eine de facto Blanko-Einwilligung in die eigene Versklavung. Im Privatrecht wäre das ein sittenwidriges Ziel, das zur Nichtigkeit des Vertrages führen würde. Wieso sollte das auf der Ebene des politischen Gesellschaftsvertrages dann möglich sein? Und wie kann ein solcher Legitimationsvorgang verantwortet werden?
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngy05PFUlo8&t=5s>
Der Parlamentarismus in Deutschland ist für mich gescheitert, wieder einmal. Doch warum soll in einem besetzten, globalistisch durchzogenen NATO-EU-WHO-Konglomerat wie Deutschland auch ausgerechnet der Bürger das letzte Wort haben? Die Legitimationskette von Bürger zu Staat hat zu viele blinde Flecken bekommen. Die Rückverfolgung desaströsen politischen Handelns ist nicht mehr möglich. In Deutschland hat keine gesellschaftliche Instanz, nicht die Politik, nicht die Wissenschaft, nicht die Justiz, nicht die Medien, bisher eine Form der Corona-Aufarbeitung hinbekommen, die diesen Namen verdient. Das ist Sache von unabhängigen, versprengten Stimmen und Publikationen.
Wie ist es um die Legitimität der „Partneroganisationen“ Deutschlands bestellt? Die EU ist unlängst vom Friedensbündnis zum Kriegsbündnis geworden, die Nato kann nicht mal Bündnispartner vor Bündnispartnern schützen und die WHO ist ein durch China und Bill Gates unterwandertes Jointventure für globale Impf- und Kontrollexperimente. All das wird heute erneut zementiert und wenn es gesprengt würde, müsste der Wahlvorgang verboten werden. Im besetzten Land darf nur richtig gewählt werden.
Und deshalb gibt es für mich in diesem System keine Wahl.
Wie ist es bei Ihnen?
Wie stehen Sie zu dieser Wahl? Gehen Sie hin und mit welchen Gefühlen, Erwartungen, Intentionen? Ich freue mich auf Ihren Kommentar.
ANZEIGE:
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***
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***
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@ e5de992e:4a95ef85
2025-02-23 07:52:00
A trading log isn't just a record of past trades—it's a tool for learning, improving, and achieving consistency. By keeping a detailed log, you gain insights into your decision-making process, identify patterns, and refine your strategy over time.
Here's why and how to maintain a comprehensive trading log effectively.
---
## 1. The Importance of a Trading Log
- **Track Performance Objectively**
Without a log, it's easy to misremember trades or overestimate success. A detailed log provides accurate data to analyze your progress.
- **Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses**
By reviewing your log, you can identify what works well and where you need improvement. Patterns in losing trades often highlight common mistakes or emotional triggers.
- **Build Confidence and Trust in Your System**
Seeing a record of rule-based, consistent trades reinforces trust in your strategy. Reviewing past successes can boost morale during challenging periods.
---
## 2. What to Include in Your Trading Log
A detailed trading log should cover both objective data and subjective reflections.
### Objective Data
- **Date and Time:** When the trade was entered and exited.
- **Instrument Traded:** Stock, forex pair, crypto, etc.
- **Entry and Exit Prices:** Precise levels where you opened and closed the trade.
- **Position Size:** Number of shares, contracts, or units traded.
- **Stop Loss and Take Profit Levels:** Risk management details.
- **P/L (Profit or Loss):** Outcome of the trade in dollars or percentage terms.
- **Trade Type:** Long, short, scalping, swing, etc.
### Subjective Reflections
- **Reason for Entering the Trade:** What setup or signal prompted the trade?
- **Emotional State:** How did you feel before, during, and after the trade?
- **Execution Notes:** Did you follow your plan? If not, why?
- **Lessons Learned:** What can you take away from this trade to improve next time?
> **Key Insight:** Both data and reflection are essential for meaningful analysis.
---
## 3. How to Analyze Your Trading Log
1. **Identify Patterns**
Look for common themes in your winning and losing trades.
_Examples:_ Winning trades often align with specific setups, while losing trades frequently result from breaking rules or impulsive decisions.
2. **Evaluate Strategy Effectiveness**
Assess whether your system produces consistent results over time.
Use metrics like win rate, risk-reward ratio, and drawdown to evaluate performance.
3. **Address Emotional Triggers**
Reflect on emotional notes to understand what triggers fear, greed, or hesitation.
Develop strategies to manage emotions based on these insights.
---
## 4. Benefits of Keeping a Trading Log
- **Improved Discipline:**
Writing down each trade reinforces the habit of sticking to your plan.
- **Informed Adjustments:**
Logs provide data-driven insights to refine your strategy.
- **Emotional Control:**
Journaling emotions helps you recognize and address psychological pitfalls.
- **Long-Term Growth:**
By tracking your progress, you can measure improvement over months and years.
> **Key Insight:** A trading log turns mistakes into lessons and successes into repeatable actions.
---
## 5. Tools for Logging Trades
### Manual Logs
- Use a notebook or spreadsheet to record trades.
- **Pros:** Highly customizable, forces you to engage deeply with each entry.
- **Cons:** Time-intensive and less automated.
### Software and Platforms
- Tools like Edgewonk, TraderSync, or Tradervue can streamline the process.
- **Pros:** Automated data collection, advanced analytics, and performance tracking.
- **Cons:** May have a learning curve or subscription costs.
> **Key Insight:** Choose a method that aligns with your workflow and trading style.
---
## 6. Tips for Maintaining a Consistent Trading Log
- **Log Every Trade:**
Don't skip trades, even the ones you'd rather forget. They're often the most valuable for learning.
- **Be Honest:**
Record trades exactly as they happened, including mistakes and rule-breaking.
- **Review Regularly:**
Set aside time weekly or monthly to analyze your log and adjust your approach.
- **Stay Disciplined:**
Treat logging as an essential part of your trading routine.
---
## 7. Conclusion: Your Trading Log is Your Mirror
A detailed trading log is more than just a record—it's a roadmap to success. It provides clarity, accountability, and insights that are essential for continuous improvement.
Start today. Keep a detailed log, review it often, and use it to refine both your strategy and your mindset. Your future self will thank you.
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@ e5de992e:4a95ef85
2025-02-23 07:46:45
China’s M1 increases a lot, it means there’s more money available for people and businesses to buy things. This can help boost spending and economic growth in the short term. However, if there’s too much money chasing the same amount of goods and services, prices can rise, leading to inflation. Sometimes, a rapid increase in M1 can also signal that banks are lending a lot of money, which might eventually create bubbles in things like real estate or stocks if the growth isn’t managed carefully.
https://tradingeconomics.com/china/money-supply-m1
China’s M1 increases a lot, it means there’s more money available for people and businesses to buy things. This can help boost spending and economic growth in the short term.
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-23 07:08:22
Hello Stackers!
Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!
A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
So stay a while and listen.
🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨
🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/894609
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@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365
2025-02-23 06:35:51
My wife and I have six children, making our house a household of eight people. Looking just at the eight of us, how many relationships exist? Well, as a first stab, we could look at how many connections exist between two unique individuals in this family. The mathematical term for this is “8 choose 2”, and the answer is 8\*7/2, or 28\.
Even that doesn’t really capture the answer though, because relationships aren’t just between two people. For example, when my wife and two oldest children are the only ones still awake after the younger kids go to bed, we’ll put on my mature TV shows that they’ll appreciate and watch together. It’s our own little subgroup within the group.
Based on that, we could have groups of 2, 3, 4, all the way up to 8, the group of all of us. If you do the math, this comes up to 247 different subgroups of 2 or more people. That’s a lot of groups for just 8 people.
As a father, this means I’ll never be able to fully understand every set of connections within my family. I may have a good understanding of my own relationship with each child. I also am closely aware of the relationship between our two youngest children, since they’re twins. And I could probably list 20 or so other noteworthy relationships. But I’ll never understand all of them.
For example, months ago I bought a game on Steam for my 3rd and 4th kids. I know they like to play games together, so it was a relationship that I thought I understood well. A few days ago I found out that my oldest had joined them in playing one of these games (Brotato). I’d made the purchase, given it to the kids, and it sparked new relationship and interaction structures without my involvement.
There’s no problem with the fact that I can’t track every interaction in my house. That’s healthy\! The kids are able to discover ways of interacting beyond what I can teach them, learn everything from schoolwork to video games from each other, and overall become more healthy and well-adjusted adults (I hope).
And here’s the important part: the growth of the number of connections is *massive* as the number of participants increases. If we add in another participant, we have 502 groupings. At 10 total participants, it jumps to over 1,000. By the time we get to 100, we’re well into the trillions.
A mathematical and software term for this is *combinatoric complexity*, the massive increase in an output value based on a small increase in the input. The analysis I’m providing could be termed as part of graph theory (for connections of 2, looking at people as *vertices* and connections as *edges*) or set theory (unique subsets, allowing for larger group sizes). But regardless, the point is: the increase in complexity is huge as more people join.
Now consider the global economy. It’s over 8 billion people. There are so many people that the number of groupings is absurd to talk about. Nonetheless, massive numbers of these groupings naturally occur. There are family units, friend circles, individual connections, companies, project teams, sports teams, schools, classes, and millions more. These groups of people form new ways of interacting, express vastly different desires for goods and services, and are capable of producing wide varieties of goods and services themselves.
When you allow this system to run free, beauty emerges. Each node in the graph can manage its own connections. Each *person* is free to make his or her own decisions about association, what to spend time on, what to spend money on, and so on. Each person does so on their own judgement and world view.
Some of these people may make “dumb” decisions. They may “waste” their time and money on useless things. Except: who made that value judgement? Clearly not them, they decided it was worth it. No central planner has the right to override their will.
My point in all this is: as yet another of many reasons in the list of “why people should be free,” we have one more data point: pure math. Central planning will never scale. Central planning will never appreciate the individuality and desires of each person. Only by giving people the freedom to explore their connections to others, discover what they can produce and consume, explore their options, and ultimately make their own decisions, can we have any chance of creating a world where everyone can succeed.
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@ 78c90fc4:4bff983c
2025-02-23 06:25:25
 
Vor dem Prozess kursierten Gerüchte, Maxwell verstecke sich in einem U-Boot oder auf nahe gelegenen Inseln. Sie besitzt ein U-Boot und hat eine Lizenz dafür
Water Island ist eine 500 Hektar große Landzunge auf den U.S. Virgin Islands. Aufnahmen aus dem Jahr 2012 (auch Video) zeigen einen Teil des Untergrunds und seiner Umgebung.
2005: James und Sara Biden kaufen ein Grundstück auf Water Island, in der Mitte der Insel, für 150.000 Euro. Dieser Teil des Grundstücks wurde in drei Teile aufgeteilt und verkauft. Einer von ihnen ist Scott Green.
Scott Green, ein Lobbyist mit engen Beziehungen zu Joe Biden, kaufte das Grundstück auf den Jungferninseln von James Biden und gewährte ihm dann eine private Hypothek.
Nach dem Kauf machte Joe Biden mindestens dreimal Urlaub auf der winzigen Insel, die einst einen nahe gelegenen U-Boot-Stützpunkt und eine unterirdische Anlage schützte, bevor sie zu einem tropischen Rückzugsort wurde.
Die Bedingungen des Darlehens wurden in den Immobilienunterlagen nicht offengelegt.
Green hat auf mehrere Bitten um Stellungnahme nicht reagiert.
Der Anwalt von James Biden, George Mesires, bestätigte den Erhalt von Fragen, beantwortete sie aber nicht.
Green hat Biden 2.300 Dollar gespendet, aber als er um einen Kommentar gebeten wurde, hat er nicht geantwortet.
Und raten Sie mal, was Green in Washington, D.C., als Auftragnehmer für öffentliche Sicherheits- und Strafverfolgungsbehörden als Teil einer Firma arbeitet, die er 1994 mitbegründet hat.
Es wird noch interessanter!! Scotts Lafayette Group erhält 5,8 Millionen Dollar von der FEMA. 3 TAGE SPÄTER gaben sie James und Sara Biden eine Hypothek von 133.000 für Water Island Land. Und es gibt noch so viel mehr, aber das ist ein anderes Kaninchenloch (ein weiterer Zuschuss für 40 Millionen Dollar).
Unten können Sie eine von Bidens zahlreichen Lügen sehen:
„Ich habe nie mit meinem Sohn oder meinem Bruder oder sonst jemandem etwas besprochen, was mit ihren Geschäften zu tun hat.“
Hunter Biden arbeitete als Energieberater ohne jegliche Erfahrung in diesem Bereich.
James Biden trat der Firma HillStone bei. Und wie durch ein Wunder erhielt das Unternehmen zahlreiche Aufträge von der Bundesregierung (USA, Irak, Puerto Rico, Mosambik usw.)
Kredit: Natly Denise, CaptainBirchShow, Politico
\#EpsteinClientList #EpsteinIsland
<https://x.com/SaladMeToday/status/1892971887006810214>
<https://x.com/RealWsiegrist/status/1893543364676522222>
Perplexity:
Der U-Boot-Stützpunkt in der Nähe von Water Island auf St. Thomas auf den US-Jungferninseln war während des Zweiten Weltkriegs aufgrund seiner Rolle bei der Verteidigung der Karibik und der US-Marineoperationen von großer strategischer Bedeutung.\
\
\### \*\*Strategische Bedeutung der U-Boot-Basis\*\*\
\- Die U-Boot-Basis auf St. Thomas wurde 1941 als Teil einer umfassenderen US-Militärstrategie zur Sicherung der Karibik während des Zweiten Weltkriegs eingerichtet. Diese Region war entscheidend für den Schutz der Schifffahrtswege und die Bekämpfung der deutschen U-Boot-Aktivitäten im Atlantik\[1]\[2].\
\- Der Stützpunkt verfügte über eine umfangreiche Infrastruktur mit drei Piers, Unterkünften für fast 1.000 Mitarbeiter, Lagereinrichtungen, einer Torpedoüberholungswerkstatt und einem bombensicheren Maschinenhaus\[1]. Diese Einrichtungen unterstützten den Betrieb und die Wartung von U-Booten in einem strategisch wichtigen Gebiet.\
\
\###\
\- Water Island, südlich von St. Thomas gelegen, wurde 1944 von der US-Regierung erworben, um die Küstenverteidigung zu stärken\[5]. Fort Segarra, eine unterirdische Festung auf Water Island, wurde zum Schutz der nahe gelegenen U-Boot-Basis auf St. Thomas\[2]\[4] errichtet.\
\- Das Fort umfasste Geschützstellungen, Tunnel, unterirdische Kammern, Kasernen und andere militärische Infrastrukturen. Es wurde jedoch nie fertiggestellt oder voll einsatzfähig, da der Zweite Weltkrieg vor Abschluss der Bauarbeiten beendet wurde\[3]\[6].\
\
\*\*Nachkriegsnutzung\*\*\
\- Nach dem Krieg wurden Fort Segarra und Water Island für verschiedene militärische Tests genutzt, darunter Experimente zur chemischen Kriegsführung, die zwischen 1948 und 1950 durchgeführt wurden\[4]\[6]. Später, im Jahr 1952, wurde die Insel unter zivile Kontrolle gestellt.\
\
\###\
\- Heute sind die Überreste von Fort Segarra und seine unterirdischen Strukturen auf Water Island für Besucher zugänglich. Sie erinnern an die Rolle des Forts beim Schutz des U-Boot-Stützpunkts und an seine strategische Bedeutung während des Zweiten Weltkriegs\[3]\[6].\
\
Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass der U-Boot-Stützpunkt auf St. Thomas und die damit verbundenen Verteidigungsanlagen auf Water Island entscheidende Komponenten der US-Bemühungen zur Sicherung der Karibik während des Zweiten Weltkriegs waren. Obwohl ihre militärische Nutzung vor Jahrzehnten endete, bleiben sie aufgrund ihres historischen und strategischen Erbes von Bedeutung.\
\
Quellen\
\[1] Militärgeschichte von Water Island https\://history.wica.vi/military-history/\
\[2] Fort Segarra - Flamingo Point USVI Water Island http\://flamingopointusvi.com/water-island\
\[3] Fort Segarra - Virgin Islands - VInow\.com https\://www\.vinow\.com/wi/wi-a/fort-segarra/\
\[4] Fort Segarra - Wikipedia https\://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort\_Segarra\
\[5] Fort Segarra - Jacksonville District - Army.mil https\://www\.saj.usace.army.mil/FortSegarra/\
\[6] Water Island, U.S. Virgin Islands - Wikipedia https\://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water\_Island,\_U.S.\_Virgin\_Islands\
\[7] Water Island | Seas the Day Charters USVI https\://seasthedayusvi.com/2022/02/11/exploring-water-island-u-s-virgin-islands-best-kept-secret/\
\[8] Water Island: Aktivitäten und Sehenswürdigkeiten - Jungferninseln - VInow\.com https\://www\.vinow\.com/waterisland/attractions\_wi/
Dazu auch die Sammlung
Epstein
<https://waltisiegrist.locals.com/post/1353380/epstein-oder-wie-leicht-sich-die-wissenschaft-kaufen-laesst>
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@ a14ef72e:ff35dcf3
2025-02-23 04:39:58
If this works, I will take it as a sign that I can make long form posts here. But I haven't been asked for a private key. Will nos2x take care of that? Let's see...
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@ 641d8c39:1224c8d3
2025-02-23 00:17:46
A specter is haunting the modern world, the specter of crypto anarchy.
Computer technology is on the verge of providing the ability for individuals and groups to communicate and interact with each other in a totally anonymous manner. Two persons may exchange messages, conduct business, and negotiate electronic contracts without ever knowing the True Name, or legal identity, of the other. Interactions over networks will be untraceable, via extensive re-routing of encrypted packets and tamper-proof boxes which implement cryptographic protocols with nearly perfect assurance against any tampering. Reputations will be of central importance, far more important in dealings than even the credit ratings of today. These developments will alter completely the nature of government regulation, the ability to tax and control economic interactions, the ability to keep information secret, and will even alter the nature of trust and reputation.
The technology for this revolution--and it surely will be both a social and economic revolution--has existed in theory for the past decade. The methods are based upon public-key encryption, zero-knowledge interactive proof systems, and various software protocols for interaction, authentication, and verification. The focus has until now been on academic conferences in Europe and the U.S., conferences monitored closely by the National Security Agency. But only recently have computer networks and personal computers attained sufficient speed to make the ideas practically realizable. And the next ten years will bring enough additional speed to make the ideas economically feasible and essentially unstoppable. High-speed networks, ISDN, tamper-proof boxes, smart cards, satellites, Ku-band transmitters, multi-MIPS personal computers, and encryption chips now under development will be some of the enabling technologies.
The State will of course try to slow or halt the spread of this technology, citing national security concerns, use of the technology by drug dealers and tax evaders, and fears of societal disintegration. Many of these concerns will be valid; crypto anarchy will allow national secrets to be trade freely and will allow illicit and stolen materials to be traded. An anonymous computerized market will even make possible abhorrent markets for assassinations and extortion. Various criminal and foreign elements will be active users of CryptoNet. But this will not halt the spread of crypto anarchy.
Just as the technology of printing altered and reduced the power of medieval guilds and the social power structure, so too will cryptologic methods fundamentally alter the nature of corporations and of government interference in economic transactions. Combined with emerging information markets, crypto anarchy will create a liquid market for any and all material which can be put into words and pictures. And just as a seemingly minor invention like barbed wire made possible the fencing-off of vast ranches and farms, thus altering forever the concepts of land and property rights in the frontier West, so too will the seemingly minor discovery out of an arcane branch of mathematics come to be the wire clippers which dismantle the barbed wire around intellectual property.
Arise, you have nothing to lose but your barbed wire fences!A specter is haunting the modern world, the specter of crypto anarchy.
Computer technology is on the verge of providing the ability for individuals and groups to communicate and interact with each other in a totally anonymous manner. Two persons may exchange messages, conduct business, and negotiate electronic contracts without ever knowing the True Name, or legal identity, of the other. Interactions over networks will be untraceable, via extensive re-routing of encrypted packets and tamper-proof boxes which implement cryptographic protocols with nearly perfect assurance against any tampering. Reputations will be of central importance, far more important in dealings than even the credit ratings of today. These developments will alter completely the nature of government regulation, the ability to tax and control economic interactions, the ability to keep information secret, and will even alter the nature of trust and reputation.
The technology for this revolution--and it surely will be both a social and economic revolution--has existed in theory for the past decade. The methods are based upon public-key encryption, zero-knowledge interactive proof systems, and various software protocols for interaction, authentication, and verification. The focus has until now been on academic conferences in Europe and the U.S., conferences monitored closely by the National Security Agency. But only recently have computer networks and personal computers attained sufficient speed to make the ideas practically realizable. And the next ten years will bring enough additional speed to make the ideas economically feasible and essentially unstoppable. High-speed networks, ISDN, tamper-proof boxes, smart cards, satellites, Ku-band transmitters, multi-MIPS personal computers, and encryption chips now under development will be some of the enabling technologies.
The State will of course try to slow or halt the spread of this technology, citing national security concerns, use of the technology by drug dealers and tax evaders, and fears of societal disintegration. Many of these concerns will be valid; crypto anarchy will allow national secrets to be trade freely and will allow illicit and stolen materials to be traded. An anonymous computerized market will even make possible abhorrent markets for assassinations and extortion. Various criminal and foreign elements will be active users of CryptoNet. But this will not halt the spread of crypto anarchy.
Just as the technology of printing altered and reduced the power of medieval guilds and the social power structure, so too will cryptologic methods fundamentally alter the nature of corporations and of government interference in economic transactions. Combined with emerging information markets, crypto anarchy will create a liquid market for any and all material which can be put into words and pictures. And just as a seemingly minor invention like barbed wire made possible the fencing-off of vast ranches and farms, thus altering forever the concepts of land and property rights in the frontier West, so too will the seemingly minor discovery out of an arcane branch of mathematics come to be the wire clippers which dismantle the barbed wire around intellectual property.
Arise, you have nothing to lose but your barbed wire fences!
https://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/crypto/cypherpunks/may-crypto-manifesto.html
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@ 6260f29f:2ee2fcd4
2025-02-22 22:46:27
# A title before again
```js
import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';
import { Dialog } from 'primereact/dialog';
import { track } from '@vercel/analytics';
import { LightningAddress } from '@getalby/lightning-tools';
import { useToast } from '@/hooks/useToast';
import { useSession } from 'next-auth/react';
import { ProgressSpinner } from 'primereact/progressspinner';
import axios from 'axios';
import GenericButton from '@/components/buttons/GenericButton';
import useWindowWidth from '@/hooks/useWindowWidth';
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';
const Payment = dynamic(
() => import('@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react').then((mod) => mod.Payment),
{ ssr: false }
);
const ResourcePaymentButton = ({ lnAddress, amount, onSuccess, onError, resourceId }) => {
const [invoice, setInvoice] = useState(null);
const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(false);
const { showToast } = useToast();
const { data: session, status } = useSession();
const [dialogVisible, setDialogVisible] = useState(false);
const router = useRouter();
const windowWidth = useWindowWidth();
const isMobile = windowWidth < 768;
useEffect(() => {
let intervalId;
if (invoice) {
intervalId = setInterval(async () => {
const paid = await invoice.verifyPayment();
if (paid && invoice.preimage) {
clearInterval(intervalId);
// handle success
handlePaymentSuccess({ paid, preimage: invoice.preimage });
}
}, 2000);
} else {
console.error('no invoice');
}
return () => {
if (intervalId) {
clearInterval(intervalId);
}
};
}, [invoice]);
const fetchInvoice = async () => {
setIsLoading(true);
try {
const ln = new LightningAddress(lnAddress);
await ln.fetch();
const invoice = await ln.requestInvoice({ satoshi: amount });
setInvoice(invoice);
setDialogVisible(true);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching invoice:', error);
showToast('error', 'Invoice Error', 'Failed to fetch the invoice.');
if (onError) onError(error);
}
setIsLoading(false);
};
const handlePaymentSuccess = async (response) => {
try {
const purchaseData = {
userId: session.user.id,
resourceId: resourceId,
amountPaid: parseInt(amount, 10)
};
const result = await axios.post('/api/purchase/resource', purchaseData);
if (result.status === 200) {
track('Resource Payment', { resourceId: resourceId, userId: session?.user?.id });
if (onSuccess) onSuccess(response);
} else {
throw new Error('Failed to update user purchases');
}
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error updating user purchases:', error);
showToast('error', 'Purchase Update Failed', 'Payment was successful, but failed to update user purchases.');
if (onError) onError(error);
}
setDialogVisible(false);
};
return (
<>
<GenericButton
label={`${amount} sats`}
icon="pi pi-wallet"
onClick={() => {
if (status === 'unauthenticated') {
console.log('unauthenticated');
router.push('/auth/signin');
} else {
fetchInvoice();
}
}}
disabled={isLoading}
severity='primary'
rounded
className={`text-[#f8f8ff] text-sm ${isLoading ? 'hidden' : ''}`}
/>
{isLoading && (
<div className='w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center'>
<ProgressSpinner
style={{ width: '30px', height: '30px' }}
strokeWidth="8"
animationDuration=".5s"
/>
</div>
)}
<Dialog
visible={dialogVisible}
onHide={() => setDialogVisible(false)}
header="Make Payment"
style={{ width: isMobile ? '90vw' : '50vw' }}
>
{invoice ? (
<Payment
invoice={invoice.paymentRequest}
onPaid={handlePaymentSuccess}
paymentMethods='all'
title={`Pay ${amount} sats`}
/>
) : (
<p>Loading payment details...</p>
)}
</Dialog>
</>
);
};
export default ResourcePaymentButton;
```
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@ fc481c65:e280e7ba
2025-02-22 22:22:14
**Math is the formalization of a human idea**
Mathematics is a broad field of study that involves the investigation of patterns, quantities, structures, and changes in the abstract form as well as their real-world applications. It is foundational to a variety of disciplines including science, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences, providing a framework for reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding the universe.
<iframe title="The Map of Mathematics" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OmJ-4B-mS-Y?feature=oembed" height="113" width="200" allowfullscreen="" allow="fullscreen" style="aspect-ratio: 1.76991 / 1; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe>
Mathematics is composed of many subfields, including but not limited to:
1. **Arithmetic:** The study of numbers and the basic operations on them: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
2. **Algebra:** The study of symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols; it is a unifying thread of almost all of mathematics.
3. **Geometry:** The study of shapes, sizes, and properties of space.
4. **Calculus:** The study of change in mathematical functions and models, dealing with limits, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series.
5. **Statistics:** The study of data collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation, and organization.
6. **Number Theory:** The study of properties and relationships of numbers, especially the integers.
7. **Topology:** The study of properties that remain constant through continuous deformations, such as stretching and bending, but not tearing or gluing.
8. **Applied Mathematics:** Uses mathematical methods and reasoning to solve real-world problems in business, science, engineering, and other fields.
Mathematics is both ancient and modern; it has a rich history stretching back thousands of years, yet it continues to develop and evolve today, with new theories, discoveries, and applications constantly emerging. It is both a rigorous discipline in its own right and an essential tool used throughout the sciences and beyond.
## Pure and Applied Mathematics
Pure mathematics and applied mathematics represent two broad categories within the field of mathematics, each with its focus, methodologies, and applications. The distinction between them lies in their primary objectives and the way mathematical theories are utilized.
[[Attachments/01233372a59d2dc17b937c38319d672f_MD5.jpeg|Open: Pasted image 20240405125055.png]]
![[Attachments/01233372a59d2dc17b937c38319d672f_MD5.jpeg]]
#### Pure Mathematics
Pure mathematics is concerned with the study of mathematical concepts independent of any application outside mathematics. It is motivated by a desire to understand abstract principles and the properties of mathematical structures. The pursuit in pure mathematics is knowledge for its own sake, not necessarily aiming to find immediate practical applications. Pure mathematicians often focus on proving theorems and exploring theoretical frameworks, driven by curiosity and the aesthetic appeal of mathematics itself.
Key areas within pure mathematics include:
- **Algebra:** The study of symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols.
- **Geometry:** The investigation of the properties of space and figures.
- **Analysis:** The rigorous formulation of calculus, focusing on limits, continuity, and infinite series.
- **Number Theory:** The study of the properties of numbers, particularly integers.
- **Topology:** The study of properties preserved through deformations, twistings, and stretchings of objects.
#### Applied Mathematics
Applied mathematics, on the other hand, is focused on the development and practical use of mathematical methods to solve problems in other areas, such as science, engineering, technology, economics, business, and industry. Applied mathematics is deeply connected with empirical research and the application of mathematical models to real-world situations. It involves the formulation, study, and use of mathematical models and seeks to make predictions, optimize solutions, and develop new approaches based on mathematical theory.
Key areas within applied mathematics include:
- **Differential Equations:** Used to model rates of change in applied contexts.
- **Statistics and Probability:** The study of data, uncertainty, and the quantification of the likelihood of events.
- **Computational Mathematics:** The use of algorithmic techniques for solving mathematical problems more efficiently, especially those that are too large for human numerical capacity.
- **Mathematical Physics:** The application of mathematics to solve problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods for such applications.
## Is Mathematics discovered or Invented
The question of whether mathematics is discovered or invented is a philosophical one that has sparked debate among mathematicians, philosophers, and scientists for centuries. Both viewpoints offer compelling arguments, and the distinction often hinges on one's perspective on the nature of mathematical objects and the universality of mathematical truths.
<iframe title="Is math discovered or invented? - Jeff Dekofsky" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X_xR5Kes4Rs?feature=oembed" height="113" width="200" allowfullscreen="" allow="fullscreen" style="aspect-ratio: 1.76991 / 1; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe>
### Mathematics as Discovered
Those who argue that mathematics is discovered believe that mathematical truths exist independently of human thought and that mathematicians uncover these truths through investigation and reasoning. This viewpoint suggests that mathematical concepts like numbers, geometrical shapes, and even more abstract ideas have a reality that transcends human invention. The consistency of mathematical laws across cultures and times, and their applicability in accurately describing the natural world, supports the notion that mathematics is a universal truth waiting to be discovered. According to this perspective, mathematical structures exist in some abstract realm, and humans merely uncover aspects of this pre-existing world.
#### Mathematics as Invented
On the other hand, the viewpoint that mathematics is invented centers on the idea that mathematical concepts are human creations, designed to describe and understand the world. According to this perspective, mathematical theories and structures are the products of human thought, created to serve specific purposes in science, engineering, and other fields. This view emphasizes the role of creativity and invention in the development of mathematical ideas, suggesting that different cultures or species might develop entirely different mathematical systems depending on their needs and experiences. Proponents of this view point to the variety of mathematical systems (such as different geometries or number systems) that have been invented to solve particular types of problems, arguing that this diversity is evidence of mathematics being a human invention.
#### A Middle Ground
Some argue for a middle ground, suggesting that while the basic elements of mathematics are discovered, the development of complex mathematical theories and the choice of which aspects to study or develop further involve human invention and creativity. This perspective acknowledges the intrinsic properties of mathematical objects while also recognizing the role of human ingenuity in shaping the field of mathematics.
#### Conclusion
The debate between discovery and invention in mathematics may never be conclusively resolved, as it touches on deep philosophical questions about the nature of reality and the human mind's relationship to it. Whether one views mathematics as discovered or invented often reflects deeper beliefs about the world and our place within it.
## Axioms
a particular mathematical system or theory. They serve as the foundational building blocks from which theorems and other mathematical truths are derived. Axioms are assumed to be self-evident, and their selection is based on their ability to produce a coherent and logically consistent framework for a body of mathematical knowledge.
In the context of different branches of mathematics, axioms can vary significantly:
- **In Euclidean geometry,** one of the most famous sets of axioms are Euclid's postulates, which include statements like "A straight line segment can be drawn joining any two points," and "All right angles are congruent."
- **In algebra,** the field axioms define the properties of operations like addition and multiplication over sets of numbers.
- **In set theory,** Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms (with the Axiom of Choice) are a set of axioms used to establish a foundation for much of modern mathematics.
The role of axioms has evolved throughout the history of mathematics. Initially, they were considered self-evident truths, but as mathematics has developed, the emphasis has shifted to viewing axioms more as arbitrary starting points chosen for their usefulness in building a mathematical theory. This shift allows for the creation of different, sometimes non-intuitive, mathematical frameworks such as non-Euclidean geometries, which arise from altering Euclid's original postulates.
**Everything in maths is constructed based on Axioms, not observation of the scientific method!** It's based only on the human logic reasoning. **And the universe doesn't five a fuck to fit inside human logic reasoning.**
<iframe title="The paradox at the heart of mathematics: Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem - Marcus du Sautoy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I4pQbo5MQOs?feature=oembed" height="113" width="200" allowfullscreen="" allow="fullscreen" style="aspect-ratio: 1.76991 / 1; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe>
## Mathematics is not a Science
Mathematics and science are deeply interconnected, but they are distinguished by their fundamental approaches, methodologies, and objectives. The distinction between mathematics as a formal science and other natural or empirical sciences like physics, biology, and chemistry lies in the nature of their inquiry and validation methods.
**Maths doesn't need to prove itself through the scientific method, it only needs axioms, logic, and previous definitions.**
- **Mathematics:** Uses deduction as a primary tool. Starting from axioms and definitions, mathematicians use logical reasoning to derive theorems and propositions. The validity of mathematical statements is determined through proofs, which are arguments that demonstrate their truth within the context of axiomatic systems.
- **Science:** Employs the scientific method, which involves hypothesis formation, experimentation, observation, and the modification of hypotheses based on empirical evidence. Scientific theories and laws are validated by their ability to predict and explain phenomena in the natural world, and they are always subject to revision in light of new evidence.
### Objectives
- **Mathematics:** Aims to create a coherent set of rules and structures that can explain and predict outcomes within abstract systems. Its primary goal is not to describe the physical world but to explore the properties and possibilities of mathematical structures.
- **Science:** Aims to understand and describe the universe. The goal is to produce a body of knowledge that explains natural phenomena and can predict outcomes based on empirical evidence.
In summary, while mathematics is often used as a tool in science to model and solve problems, its focus on abstract reasoning and logical proof distinguishes it from the empirical methodologies of the natural sciences. This fundamental difference in approach and objective is why mathematics is considered a formal science or a branch of knowledge distinct from natural or physical sciences, which are based on empirical evidence and experimental validation.
-
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@ fc481c65:e280e7ba
2025-02-22 22:09:56
Starting with the basics, #statistics is a branch of #mathematics that deals with collecting, analysing, interpreting, presenting, and organising #data. It provides a way to make sense of data, see patterns, and make decisions based on data analysis. Here's a brief overview of some fundamental concepts in statistics:
### 1. Types of Statistics
- **Descriptive Statistics**: Involves summarising and organising data so it can be easily understood. Common measures include mean (average), median (middle value), mode (most frequent value), variance (measure of how spread out numbers are), and standard deviation (average distance from the mean).
- **Inferential Statistics**: Involves making predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample. This includes hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and regression analysis.
### 2. Types of Data
- **Qualitative Data** (Categorical): Data that describes qualities or characteristics that cannot be measured with numbers, such as colors, names, labels, and yes/no responses.
- **Quantitative Data**: Data that can be measured and expressed numerically, including age, height, salary, and temperature. It can be further divided into discrete data (countable items, like the number of students in a class) and continuous data (measurable items, like height).
### 3. Measures of Central Tendency
- **Mean**: The average of a data set, found by adding all numbers and dividing by the count of numbers.
- **Median**: The middle value when a data set is ordered from least to greatest; if there’s an even number of observations, it is the average of the two middle numbers.
- **Mode**: The most frequently occurring value in a data set.
### 4. Measures of Spread
- **Range**: The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.
- **Variance**: Measures how far each number in the set is from the mean and thus from every other number in the set.
- **Standard Deviation**: The square root of the variance, providing a measure of the spread of a distribution of values.
### 5. Probability
Probability measures the likelihood of an event occurring, ranging from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain). Understanding probability is essential for inferential statistics and making predictions based on data.
### 6. Sampling and Data Collection
- **Population**: The entire group that you want to draw conclusions about.
- **Sample**: A subset of the population, selected for the actual study. It’s crucial for the sample to be representative of the population to make accurate inferences.
### 7. Hypothesis Testing
This is a method of making decisions or inferences about population parameters based on sample statistics. It involves:
- Formulating a null hypothesis (no effect) and an alternative hypothesis (some effect).
- Calculating a test statistic based on the sample data.
- Using the test statistic to decide whether to reject the null hypothesis in favor of the alternative.
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@ ee7e3590:5602f192
2025-02-22 21:54:14
Laws, like living organisms, evolve far beyond their creators' intentions. Few examples illustrate this phenomenon more dramatically than the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 (FAA) – a modest 14-page statute that transformed from a specialized commercial tool into a legal juggernaut that touches nearly every American's life, usually without them knowing it.
## The Problem That Sparked a Revolution
Picture America in the early 1920s. The economy was booming after World War I. Interstate commerce was expanding rapidly. And businesses were drowning in a sea of litigation.
The courts were hopelessly clogged. Commercial disputes dragged on for 18 to 24 months – an eternity in business time. Worse yet, judges routinely tossed out arbitration agreements, viewing them as affronts to judicial authority. A 1924 study by the New York Chamber of Commerce found that 72% of businesses avoided arbitration clauses altogether, knowing courts wouldn't honor them.
The situation created a perfect storm: businesses needed faster resolution systems, courts needed relief from overwhelming caseloads, and a legal reform movement was gaining steam.
## A Solution Born of Pragmatism, Not Ideology
The FAA wasn't controversial legislation. It wasn't a partisan battleground. It was, in the eyes of its drafters, simply practical.
The bill's architecture came primarily from the New York Arbitration Society – a group of corporate attorneys and academics who modeled it after existing New York state law. Their draft established three key principles that remain the FAA's backbone today:
1. Pre-dispute arbitration agreements would be enforceable
2. Courts could pause litigation in favor of arbitration
3. Clear procedures would govern arbitrator appointment and award enforcement
The business community rallied behind the bill. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers led lobbying efforts, promising $500 million in annual savings from reduced litigation costs. Even legal luminaries like future Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes endorsed it, calling arbitration "the lifeblood of commercial justice."
## What Few Remember: The Original Limitations
Here's what's been lost to history: the FAA was deliberately limited in scope. It was designed for disputes between businesses of relatively equal power – not for conflicts between corporations and individuals.
The legislative record makes this clear. The New York Arbitration Society's 1924 memorandum explicitly stated the Act "shall not apply to contracts of adhesion or consumer transactions." Senator Wesley Jones, a supporter, emphasized on the Senate floor that the bill excluded "contracts of adhesion" from coverage.
To address concerns from progressives and labor groups, drafters added specific limitations:
- A labor exemption excluding "contracts of employment of seamen, railroad employees, or any other class of workers engaged in foreign or interstate commerce"
- Non-retroactivity provisions ensuring it wouldn't disrupt existing litigation rights
Even with these safeguards, the bill faced opposition. Senator Henrik Shipstead warned that "forced arbitration" would become "a tool of oppression in the hands of trusts." The American Federation of Labor expressed concerns that the Act's commerce clause foundation could later be weaponized against workers.
As it turns out, they were right.
## The Supreme Court's Remarkable Reinvention
For decades, courts interpreted the FAA narrowly, applying it primarily to business-to-business disputes in industries like maritime shipping, commodities trading, and equipment leasing. But beginning in the 1980s, the Supreme Court dramatically expanded the FAA's reach through a series of landmark decisions.
The transformative shift happened in three waves:
**First came preemption.** In *Southland Corp. v. Keating* (1984), the Court held that the FAA applied in state courts, overriding contrary state policies. This federalized arbitration law, preventing states from protecting their citizens through consumer-friendly legislation.
**Next came expansion to consumers and employees.** *Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams* (2001) narrowed the labor exemption to transportation workers only, subjecting most employment disputes to arbitration despite clear evidence that Congress intended a broader exclusion.
**Finally came class action waivers.** *AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion* (2011) and *Epic Systems* (2018) allowed companies to prohibit collective actions through arbitration agreements, effectively immunizing them from accountability for widespread but individually minor harms.
This judicial rewriting turned a law meant to facilitate dispute resolution between commercial equals into a powerful shield against liability for corporations in their dealings with employees and consumers.
## The Modern Reality: Unintended Consequences
Today, arbitration clauses appear everywhere: employment contracts, credit card agreements, nursing home admissions, rideshare apps, and countless other consumer services. Most Americans are bound by dozens of arbitration agreements without realizing it.
These modern clauses bear little resemblance to what the FAA's drafters envisioned:
- They're typically buried in non-negotiable contracts of adhesion
- They're often coupled with class action waivers, forcing individuals to pursue claims alone
- They frequently allow the corporation to select the arbitrator and set the rules
- They usually maintain confidentiality, preventing public awareness of systematic wrongdoing
The result? A parallel legal system that operates largely in the shadows, outside public scrutiny, where corporations hold structural advantages at every stage.
## Is There a Path Forward?
The story of the FAA reveals something profound about American governance: even well-intentioned legislation can be radically transformed by judicial interpretation. A law designed to solve a specific commercial problem in 1925 has become a cornerstone of corporate immunity in 2025.
Reform efforts have struggled. The Arbitration Justice Act and similar legislation have repeatedly stalled in Congress. State attempts to regulate arbitration face preemption challenges. And with each Supreme Court decision, the doctrine becomes more entrenched.
Some hope lies in creative workarounds. Mass arbitration campaigns, where thousands of individuals file simultaneous claims, have forced some companies to reconsider their arbitration strategies. Consumer advocacy groups have pressured companies like Google and Airbnb to modify their most egregious arbitration terms.
But these are bandages on a structural wound. True reform would require either congressional action explicitly limiting the FAA's scope or a dramatic shift in the Supreme Court's interpretation—neither of which appears imminent.
## The Lesson Worth Learning
The FAA's story isn't just about arbitration. It's about how America's legal system evolves—sometimes in directions no one intended or predicted. It demonstrates how seemingly technical procedural reforms can fundamentally reshape substantive rights. And it reveals the tremendous power of courts to transform the meaning of legislative text over time.
As we debate judicial philosophy and the role of courts in interpreting statutes, the FAA stands as a cautionary tale of how far judicial interpretation can stray from original intent—and how difficult it can be to correct course once that interpretation becomes entrenched.
The 14-page law passed with bipartisan support in 1925 to help businesses resolve their disputes efficiently has become one of the most powerful corporate liability shields in American law. That transformation wasn't inevitable—it was the product of specific judicial choices that prioritized efficiency over access to justice.
The question now is whether we can restore the balance the original drafters intended, or whether the FAA will continue its evolution into something they would scarcely recognize.
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@ df478568:2a951e67
2025-02-22 20:29:43
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I shop the bitcoin circular economy as much as I can. Maybe "shop" isn't the best way to describe it. Shopping is a behavior typical of fiat maxis. they drive fancy leases and shop 'till they drop. This season's fashion must-have is next season's trash. Bitcoiners don't shop, we replenish supplies. Our goal is to get the best value for our sats. Our goal to hodl our sats as long as possible.
Yesterday, I shoveled a [ton of compost](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzph68s45y080zdd9g8sdacnd6kcd4ejpwrgcju2eghjq45y4f28n8qqs24rrm3u2wvf24ad8xkj2xh8nuq2lz7urnd3lzrpqlstmsp4r29hsug39jw) for my garden. If taking showers mean's I', short bitcoin, so be it. I also happened to get my soap from Soapminer delivered to my P.O. Box the day before. What better way is there to test this soap than after shoveling some shit? It was perfect timing.
## Soapminer Sells Soap Made From Beef Tallow
Soapminer is a nostr rounder I've seen online every timestamp in a while. As the name suggests, he makes soap and sells it for sats. He's not the only soap seller on nostr, but something stands out about this soap. He uses beef tallow, the stuff McDonald's used for french fries back in the day. I use it to cook. It's basically beef lard.
So this pleb makes soap and markets it to people who talk about beef and bitcoin. That's better than Fight Club. Then [I heard Matt Odell say it was pretty good](https://fountain.fm/clip/6GHDdmcwMg47mz0xNpVb). I already thought about spending sats on this soap, but now I had a testimonial from a man I have listened to for about six years. **Can you say Web of Trust baby?**
I no soap and suds expert. I have years of soapo sing experience, but I never thought about what commercial soap is made with. I assumed it was like Fight Club like how I assumed the dollar was backed by gold in high school. Both these statements are false. Fiat soap is made with fiat fuckery. I tried looking for the ingredients on a box of Dove Men's Care, but couldn't find them on the box. It's opaque like the amount of gold at Fort Knox, nobody knows. I know what Soapminer uses to make his soap because [it's open source](nostr:note1aypyepc6g7lztutegx0fw5yg5clc9ythvxkp6czfkau3dcgwz06q4mfqr3).
### Tallow Soap Quotes
I asked Soapminer a few questions on nostr. You can find his answer here:
nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3xamnwvaz7tmsw4e8qmr9wpskwtn9wvhszxrhwden5te0wa3nztnrw4e8yetwwshxu6twdfsj7qpqh7mqlhn392ekrg6nm33pjjquu0dww27tqv3qjduyag4u20er0tcqd2waxl
**That's the link that shows it was signed by his own nostr key, the Internet's version of "I approve this message."**

**Soapminer:**
`What inspired me was a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. During the plandemic, I had a lot of free time on my hands, and got to read, and investigate what actually causes a lot of the sickness in society. I learned a great deal. I never knew that your skin is your largest organ, and that it absorbs 60-70% of what you put on it. What do ppl put on their skin almost every day? Soap. So out of boredom, and seeking a healthier lifestyle, I started watching YT videos of ppl making soap, and tried it out a few times, and then a few more, until I became good at it.
Once you learn how to make soap, the challenges only arise when you try something that you haven't done before. Depending on what method you are using will determine the challenges that you may face. It's multifaceted, so might be a little long to go into. I overcome them by keep trying until I get it right. No path is going to be easy, you just have to practice to make perfect.
Last question is easy. My favorite soap is Tallow soap. As long as it is made from Tallow, and has all natural ingredients, it is a good soap in my opinion. Tallow mirrors the oils in our skin. It doesn't strip you skin the way commercial soap do, leaving you feel itchy, dry, and actually causing some of the skin ailments that have become common, like eczema, and psoriasis. Just nutures, cleans, and protects. It also, can prevent wrinkles., and acne.`
**Sold!**

I tried the pine tar first. It makes me smell like a man, at least my wife thinks so. That's also why she prefers the unscented. He is adding more scents, but these ate the one's I have tried.
The soap makes me feel rubber-ducky squeaky clean. After my shower, made some lunch and washed my hands with Dawn. **This made my hands ashier than bio-char**. I decided to cut some soap and place a little piece by the kitchen sink. The soap moisturized my hands in two shakes of a bull's tail. I also cut up some of my soap into smaller pieces because I'm as frugal as a Boy-scout and wanted to wash my hands with this stuff instead of Ivory. **Who wants a clean as real as Ivory? It's only 99.44% pure. Soap miner is 100% pure bitcoin signal.

#### Here's some more quotes about Soapminer's soap.
- [He's asking his market if they want Peppermint soap.](nostr:note1tpeh65m7y6s6wt9ucjdcl2pge3m86f2ny4hqjdyvcrmf7kglqshqfeceam "nostr:note1tpeh65m7y6s6wt9ucjdcl2pge3m86f2ny4hqjdyvcrmf7kglqshqfeceam)
- [Then he made the soap like a boss](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqqs0yqyvffu9pn39grtxa8agpftpvfssx603w0ra67kpn5qn360masquhrtd7).
- [The Benefits of Tallow](nostr:nevent1qqs9w6g8khrqzhrgu7y3trae9vtdl8847p42p80aqzvsvlu9kr84vkgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsyg8zenmu7gzq8ulj5jj4kv50ph3muwz43f747vmr9ld2alrjdswgavpsgqqqqqqsq5lkzq)
- [He uses Zaprite](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqjln5vfhstwf2ahjrmanh57kzwrap4v3xpfzql5sxp48gxlk4a74qqsraadvah6890x4hgvr4rcxe9c2n79a0kx88te3hf7x88j72rh7cuskhempa)
[He has giveaways](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqyqzpzvke2t7fxwh0rzea5zmx7qnddzgsqk35ujp9tgpw9jmjsmnserr3z8466)
[He wants everyone to live on a bitcoin standard](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqqs8gnddcnkj5p2047qam5drgw5jxlg60vy736e2rwxsmj593whnllsy8ej9j)
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### Testimonials
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nostr:note1y9wsl07lkepfzzj8c8ucekss9f9darvg70j93cdmvttadfjx9nfsvtxwes
**The LOTSProject8**
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nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqqsxt8kyd650ph3wvhre0lwlw5s0emuv5gcfzmsvfxf7czgg4c2wynq7vg8ga
**GhostBTC**:
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nostr:npub1cm3v486tkgy6qjtk09srry4qvc40y0jysyqha5e3v67whnc22jwsrreyud
**Tuvok**
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**Bit 🐳 Ish**
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["It's good stuff, you'll love it."](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpr38l76unwuvm5qnrt0xa7jf64k5qx65ynvlm7dx8cr565nmqu2uqqs2r7rcp2rssfcqhk5838cuu569h43wlkvw34gy8ad2flgdpl0cezckxghkc)
**cryptoshi2k21.bitcoin**
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["Great soap 🧼🫧"](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqj5nelekm4aruughza09y8yy26ansshnc23wq2kdha79dqz8rhemqqsxdq4xf69vgk27nnes4syrnekpg4mhkp6v4rer7nzdgfht8kya8ssucu8lz)
**Me**
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["I spent the last two days shyoveling horse shit and compost for my garden. This soap made me feel rubber-ducky squeeky clean afterward."](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzph68s45y080zdd9g8sdacnd6kcd4ejpwrgcju2eghjq45y4f28n8qqsfvqylk56zdh5n3ykhleypr5zznevqt9dw04vptdeuh9jmskemndgq0hw25)
##### Conclusion
I am a soap mining soap customer now. I'm done with fiat soap. I'm thinking about handing out his soap for Christmas gifts. Odell was right. It is good soap. It's expensive compared to the comercial crap, but competitive with fancy olive oil soaps I've seen. I paid with fiat I had in Strike, but Soapminer received bitcoin. I was going to buy soap anyway, but buying soap this way took $35 of fiat off Strike and put it into soap miners strategic bitcoin reserve. It's not cheap, but buying Dove requires me to first buy fiat. Buying soap from Soapminer takes sats off the exchange. Buying Dove does not, but that's not the only reason I bought this soap. It's great soap, but that's not really why I bought it. I am a big believer in what Adam Smith described as the invisible hand: [nostr:note1jsgzk6rxulyqthae8c53rrawaa70yjqh37nm3kxh08xw8g43vgcq3kux9d "nostr:note1jsgzk6rxulyqthae8c53rrawaa70yjqh37nm3kxh08xw8g43vgcq3kux9d"). We want to see people in our community to prosper. It is in our self-interest That is what Smith means by the invisible hand. The invisible hand is not A Central Bank manipulating interest rates and The IMF turning foreigners into debt-fiat slaves for cheap freshly-frozen shrimp.
Bitcoiners are my community. They may not be close to me by proximity, but my moral sentiments guide me to do business with bitcoiners whenever possible. See, capitalism cannot work with socialist money. Those moral sentiments change when people work for soft money. Fiat soap miners get paid in NGD currency. Sell soap for $35 today and that will buy you half as much stuff in 5 years. The fiat soap miner has no savings to improve his community. Inflation makes him search for the cheapest soap just to keep up with grocery prices.
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Soapminer can save his sats earned selling soap without anyone stealig from him. Therefore, he will be able to afford to buy stuff in his community. Those on a fiat standard cannot afford to save their money in the hopes of buying high quality products and services in their community. Fiat is socialist money, therefore only buys less and less as time goes on. Dear readers, we are not on late stage capitalism. The problem is that socialist money sucks. Those Papi Trump bucks might be fun for a month, but in the end, everyone pays the Piper. Tariffs are a sales tax, [paywalls in meatspace](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzph68s45y080zdd9g8sdacnd6kcd4ejpwrgcju2eghjq45y4f28n8qyt8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68yetvd96x2uewdaexwtcpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43z7qg4waehxw309ajxjar5duh8qatz9aex2mrp0yqzqx3u59js9ewy9xwr7nuzv5eytj9ty979wrc7vrhv3tfykjxp5pd28s750n). Save your sats long enough, and these taxes will not matter. We circumvent the unjust tax of inflation, we will find solutions to unjust taxes levied on our community.
I participate in the bitcoin circular economy because I want to bring capitalism back. I do not care where you live. If you are a bitcoiner, you are part of my community. There is an invisible hand which compels me to buy stuff from people in my community. That's why I bought soap from Soapminer, but you know what? **the soap is pretty damn good**.
npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0
[884,861](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000001dd2088c2c20508d768455d6c29cd6b33d2a69912cafb)
[Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch)
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@ f3873798:24b3f2f3
2025-02-22 20:17:18
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Nos últimos anos, temos observado um aumento significativo nos casos de ansiedade, estresse e outros transtornos mentais. O ambiente de trabalho, especialmente no mundo cooperativo e corporativo, desempenha um papel central nesse cenário. Mas qual é a relação entre a estrutura do mercado de trabalho moderno e o crescimento dessas questões de saúde mental?
O Impacto da Cultura Cooperativa na Saúde Mental
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O modelo cooperativo atual valoriza, acima de tudo, a produtividade e o cumprimento de metas rígidas. A exigência por resultados rápidos e desempenho excepcional impõe um ritmo de trabalho desumano, levando muitos profissionais à exaustão física e emocional. A pressão constante para atender expectativas impossíveis cria um ambiente hostil, contribuindo para o aumento de diagnósticos como ansiedade, depressão e burnout.
Além disso, a falta de liberdade e flexibilidade no mercado de trabalho faz com que muitos talentos sejam desperdiçados. Profissionais que poderiam inovar e criar novas oportunidades acabam se tornando apenas mais um número em grandes empresas ou no funcionalismo público, muitas vezes por falta de opções. Esse aprisionamento profissional gera frustração, baixa autoestima e até transtornos psicológicos severos.
A Evolução das Demandas e a Intensificação da Pressão
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Antigamente, a busca por estabilidade em cargos públicos ou em grandes corporações era comum, mas a pressão e a exigência por resultados eram diferentes. Com o avanço da tecnologia e a digitalização dos processos, a demanda por eficiência aumentou exponencialmente. Hoje, a velocidade imposta pelo mercado ultrapassa os limites humanos, tornando o ambiente de trabalho ainda mais opressor.
Essa realidade não apenas compromete a saúde mental dos profissionais, mas também reflete no comportamento social. O estresse crônico e a frustração acumulada podem levar a episódios de agressividade, intolerância e impaciência, impactando diretamente a convivência em sociedade. O crescimento de casos de violência no trânsito, agressões em ambientes de atendimento e até mesmo crimes por motivos fúteis pode estar ligado a esse fenômeno.
O Caminho para um Mercado de Trabalho Mais Saudável
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Para minimizar esses impactos, é fundamental promover maior liberdade econômica e oportunidades para pequenos empreendedores. Reduzir a dependência de grandes empresas e cooperativas pode permitir que mais pessoas encontrem satisfação profissional e desenvolvam suas vocações sem a pressão excessiva por metas irreais.
Empreendimentos menores tendem a oferecer um ambiente de trabalho mais humanizado, onde as metas são ajustadas conforme a capacidade de produção de cada indivíduo. Dessa forma, os profissionais podem atuar de maneira mais saudável e equilibrada, reduzindo os índices de transtornos mentais e promovendo uma sociedade mais harmoniosa.
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@ b8851a06:9b120ba1
2025-02-22 19:43:13
The digital guillotine has fallen. The Bybit hack wasn’t just a theft—it was a surgical strike exposing the fatal flaw of “crypto” that isn’t Bitcoin. This wasn’t a bug. It was a feature of a system designed to fail.
Here’s how North Korea’s Lazarus Group stole $1.5B in ETH, why “decentralized finance” is a joke, and how Bitcoin remains the only exit from this circus.
## I. The Heist: How Centralized “Crypto” Betrayed Its Users
### A. The Multisig Mousetrap (Or: Why You’re Still Using a Bank)
Bybit’s Ethereum cold wallet used multisig, requiring multiple approvals for transactions. Sounds secure, right? Wrong.
• The Con: Hackers didn’t pick the lock; they tricked the keyholders using a UI masking attack. The wallet interface showed “SEND TO BYBIT”, but the smart contract was whispering “SEND TO PYONGYANG.”
• Bitcoin Parallel: Bitcoin’s multisig is enforced on hardware, not a website UI. No browser spoofing, no phishing emails—just raw cryptography.
Ethereum’s multisig is a vault with a touchscreen PIN pad. Bitcoin’s is a mechanical safe with a key only you hold. Guess which one got robbed?
### B. Smart Contracts: Dumb as a Bag of Hammers
The thieves didn’t “hack” Ethereum—they exploited its smart contract complexity.
• Bybit’s security depended on a Safe.global contract. Lazarus simply tricked Bybit into approving a malicious upgrade.
• Imagine a vending machine that’s programmed to take your money but never give you a soda. That’s Ethereum’s “trustless” tech.
Why Bitcoin Wins: Bitcoin doesn’t do “smart contracts” in the Ethereum sense. Its scripting language is deliberately limited—less code, fewer attack vectors.
Ethereum is a Lego tower; Bitcoin is a granite slab. One topples, one doesn’t.
## II. The Laundering: Crypto’s Dirty Little Secret
### A. Mixers, Bridges, and the Art of Spycraft
Once the ETH was stolen, Lazarus laundered it at lightspeed:
1. Mixers (eXch) – Obfuscating transaction trails.
2. Bridges (Chainflip) – Swapping ETH for Bitcoin because that’s the only exit that matters.
Bitcoin Reality Check: Bitcoin’s privacy tools (like CoinJoin) are self-custodial—no third-party mixers. You keep control, not some “decentralized” website waiting to be hacked.
Ethereum’s “bridges” are burning rope ladders. Bitcoin’s privacy? An underground tunnel only you control.
### B. The $1.5B Lie: “Decentralized” Exchanges Are a Myth
Bybit’s “cold wallet” was on Safe.global—a so-called “decentralized” custodian. Translation? A website with extra steps.
• When Safe.global got breached, the private keys were stolen instantly.
• “Decentralized” means nothing if your funds depend on one website, one server, one weak link.
Bitcoin’s Answer: Self-custody. Hardware wallets. Cold storage. No trusted third parties.
Using Safe.global is like hiding your life savings in a gym locker labeled “STEAL ME.”
## III. The Culprits: State-Sponsored Hackers & Crypto’s Original Sin
### A. Lazarus Group: Crypto’s Robin Hood (For Dictators)
North Korea’s hackers didn’t break cryptography—they broke people.
• Phishing emails disguised as job offers.
• Bribes & social engineering targeting insiders.
• DeFi governance manipulation (because Proof-of-Stake is just shareholder voting in disguise).
Bitcoin’s Shield: No CEO to bribe. No “upgrade buttons” to exploit. No governance tokens to manipulate. Code is law—and Bitcoin’s law is written in stone.
Ethereum’s security model is “trust us.” Bitcoin’s is “verify.”
### B. The $3B Elephant: Altcoins Fund Dictators
Since 2017, Lazarus has stolen $3B+ in crypto, funding North Korea’s missile program.
Why? Because Ethereum, Solana, and XRP are built on Proof-of-Stake (PoS)—which centralizes power in the hands of a few rich validators.
• Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work: Miners secure the network through energy-backed cryptography.
• Altcoins’ Proof-of-Stake: Security is dictated by who owns the most tokens.
Proof-of-Stake secures oligarchs. Proof-of-Work secures money. That’s why Lazarus can drain altcoin treasuries but hasn’t touched Bitcoin’s network.
## IV. Bybit’s Survival: A Centralized Circus
### A. The Bailout: Banks 2.0
Bybit took bridge loans from “undisclosed partners” (read: Wall Street vultures).
• Just like a traditional bank, Bybit printed liquidity out of thin air to stay solvent.
• If that sounds familiar, it’s because crypto exchanges are just banks in hoodies.
Bitcoin Contrast: No loans. No bailouts. No “trust.” Just 21 million coins, mathematically secured.
Bybit’s solvency is a confidence trick. Bitcoin’s solvency is math.
### B. The Great Withdrawal Panic
Within hours, 350,000+ users scrambled to withdraw funds.
A digital bank run—except this isn’t a bank. It’s an exchange that pretended to be decentralized.
Bitcoin fixes this: your wallet isn’t an IOU. It’s actual money.
Bybit = a TikTok influencer promising riches. Bitcoin = the gold in your basement.
## V. The Fallout: Regulators vs Reality
### A. ETH’s 8% Crash vs Bitcoin’s Unshakable Base
Ethereum tanked because it’s a tech stock, not money. Bitcoin? Dropped 2% and stabilized.
No CEO, no headquarters, no attack surface.
### B. The Regulatory Trap
Now the bureaucrats come in demanding:
1. Wallet audits (they don’t understand public ledgers).
2. Mixer bans (criminalizing privacy).
3. KYC everything (turning crypto into a surveillance state).
Bitcoin’s Rebellion: You can’t audit what’s already transparent. You can’t ban what’s unstoppable.
## VI. Conclusion: Burn the Altcoins, Stack the Sats
The Bybit hack isn’t a crypto problem. It’s an altcoin problem.
Ethereum’s smart contracts, DeFi bridges, and “decentralized” wallets are Swiss cheese for hackers. Bitcoin? A titanium vault.
The Only Lessons That Matter:
✅ Multisig isn’t enough unless it’s Bitcoin’s hardware-enforced version.
✅ Complexity kills—every altcoin “innovation” is a security risk waiting to happen.
Lazarus Group won this round because “crypto” ignored Bitcoin’s design. The solution isn’t better regulations—it’s better money.
Burn the tokens. Unplug the servers. Bitcoin is the exit.
Take your money off exchanges. Be sovereign.
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@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-02-22 18:29:35
There was a time when I was a real person. I touched grass, read books made of actual paper, made eye contact with fellow humans, and didn’t panic when my pockets felt empty. Then came the screens. They infiltrated my life like a well-meaning but overly clingy houseguest who never leaves.
It started innocently enough: a quick email check, a couple of YouTube videos, and a little light doomscrolling. And then, before I knew it, my posture resembled a shrimp’s, my eyes had the dull glaze of a microwaved marshmallow, and I had unknowingly memorized the entire algorithm’s playlist of “Obscure Facts You’ll Never Need.”
I knew things had gone too far when I caught myself attempting to *swipe left* on a paperback book. Or when I instinctively tried to pinch-zoom on a restaurant menu, only to find it was printed. On paper. It's like some kind of ancient relic from the Dark Ages.
The worst part? I didn’t even know what I was doing half the time. One moment, I’d be looking up a recipe for lasagna. The next thing I knew, I was 47 minutes deep into a documentary on the mating habits of Alaskan walruses. And did I stop? Of course not. I needed to *know* how it ended! (Spoiler: The walruses were fine. My dinner was not.)
And don’t even get me started on notifications. Those little digital gremlins have mastered the art of ambush just as I’m about to put my phone down, *DING!* A breaking news alert! (Something mildly inconvenient happened in a country I can’t locate on a map.) *DING!* An email! (From a store I haven’t shopped at since 2014, reminding me they exist.) *DING!* A friend liked my post! (The one from three days ago. Thanks, Todd.)
So, I made a vow. I would reclaim my life. I would be strong. I would resist! I would—oh wait, just one more video. Then, for sure, I’ll log off. Probably. Maybe. Okay, fine, I need help.
Until then, I’ll be here, scrolling away, living my best shrimp-postured, screen-addicted life. If you need me, send a text just… not after 9 p.m. That’s when I’m deep in my nightly ritual of watching cooking videos I will never actually attempt.
I hope you enjoyed this sort of funny (in my own head) attempt at wittiness humor. I hope to make some aware of the actual real-life dangers though of too much screen time. We honestly have no idea of all the harm we are causing to our children. To our society. What happens when we all who have actually grown up playing in creeks, skipping rocks, or sitting outside and falling asleep while reading a real book pass away? What happens when those left have only known this screen-diseased life?
I pray we can go back, go way way back!
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@ cff1720e:15c7e2b2
2025-02-22 17:45:48
Trumps Antrittsrede, seine Präsidentenerlasse, Personalentscheidungen und Amtshandlungen hatten schon in kurzer Zeit die Konturen der künftigen US-Außenpolitik erkennen lassen. Aber in München sprach der Vizepräsident auf einer bedeutenden Konferenz direkt zu den Europäern, den “Partnern” und “Verbündeten”. Und was er ihnen in aller Deutlichkeit mitteilte, war nichts anderes als eine 180-Grad Kehrtwende zur Politik der Vorgänger-Regierung. Die Botschaft war kein Vorschlag, sondern eine Ansage, die Inhalte sind inzwischen hinlänglich bekannt. Obwohl die Rede erwartungsgemäß mehr als reichlich kommentiert wurde, möchte ich noch einige Aspekte ergänzen, die ich bisher in den Kommentaren vermisst habe.
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Im November 1988 wurde die Auslieferung der sowjetischen Zeitschrift “Sputnik” in der DDR gestoppt, was einem Verbot gleichkam. Der Anlaß waren kritische Betrachtungen über Stalin und Berichte über den Hitler-Stalin-Pakt, den es laut DDR-Geschichtsschreibung nicht gab. Es war eine Zensur von Informationen aus dem Land des “großen Bruders”, der Führungsmacht der sozialistischen Welt. Das Diktum “von der Sowjetunion lernen heißt siegen lernen” galt erkennbar nicht mehr. Das war zugleich der Höhepunkt einer ideologischen Entfremdung die 1986 begonnen hatte, als Gorbatschow “Glasnost” (Offenheit) und “Perestroika” (Reformen) einforderte, welche von der vergreisten DDR-Führung als unnötig und gefährlich abgelehnt wurden. Gorbatschow hatte richtig erkannt, dass die sozialistischen Staaten ökonomisch und gesellschaftlich gescheitert waren und ohne Reformen nicht überleben würden. Die Einsicht kam aber zu spät, die DDR kollabierte bereits ein Jahr später an ihrem Reformstau, die UdSSR Ende 1991 trotz der begonnenen Reformversuche.
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Die Parallelen sind unverkennbar, eklatante politische Fehler (u.a. Euro seit 2009 und Migration seit 2015) haben die EU-Staaten zunächst zu Sanierungsfällen gemacht, durch die Corona-Politik zu Insolvenzkandidaten. Der Rubikon ist längst überschritten, die Schönwetter-Union ist nicht mehr zu retten. Den Amerikanern ist das klar, daher sind die Reform-Appelle von Vance wohl eher seiner Höflichkeit zuzurechnen. Für die US-Regierung ist die EU bereits jetzt nicht mehr existent, Verträge werden wieder direkt mit den Mitglieds-Staaten getroffen, und in den Ukraine-Verhandlungen ist kein Platz am Verhandlungstisch. Die Themenbereiche bei den Gesprächen in Riad haben aber auch gezeigt, dass Amerikaner und Russen in global-strategischen Dimensionen denken, die Ukraine ist zurecht nur ein Randthema. Die aktuelle Rhetorik europäischer Politiker hingegen ist niveaulos und kleinkariert, man spielt in der 2. Liga, die EU hat sich selbst vom Akteur zum Objekt degradiert.
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Was bedeutet das für unsere Zukunft? Und was ist von der neuen US-Führung zu erwarten? Die unsäglichen Diskussionen darüber ob nun Trump und Musk gut oder böse sind, vernebelt nur eine klare Tatsache. Die EU hat keinen Rückhalt mehr vom “großen Bruder”, weder durch die NATO in Sachen Ukraine, noch durch Zensur von Systemkritikern (USAID, BigTech). Letzteres führt zu drei fundamentalen Veränderungen.\
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1\. Das Narrativ von den “westlichen Werten” ist tot. Auf diesem Axiom der USA basierte die gesamte Propaganda-Maschine, es wurde zur Religion. Nun versuchen gerade Provinzpolitiker wie Pistorius und Habeck mit beschränkten rhetorischen Mitteln zu definieren was “westliche Werte” ohne die USA sind, was mehr für Begeisterung bei Satirikern beiträgt als zur Überzeugung von Tagesschau-Anhängern.\
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2\. Die Deutungshoheit geht verloren weil immer mehr Publizisten ihr Fähnchen in den sich drehenden Wind hängen, sofern sie noch von Leser-Abos und Werbekunden abhängig sind. Die einsetzende Kakophonie verwirrt die Masse der schlichten Medien-Konsumenten, die über Jahrzehnte auf Nachrichten-Konformität dressiert worden sind. \
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3\. Weniger Zensur in den sozialen Medien verschafft den kritischen Stimmen mehr Reichweite, “bedrohliche” Meinungsvielfalt entsteht. Leider können die meisten Kritiker aber nur kritisieren, was uns zurück in die Zeiten des Sputnik-Verbots führt.
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Die DDR-Opposition hat beim Abriss der DDR mitgewirkt, über diese Rolle ist sie aber nie hinaus gekommen. Als die Mauer gefallen war und es um die Neugestaltung ging, hat sie kläglich versagt. Dem Großteil der heutigen Opposition droht das selbe Schicksal, weil sie keinen Plan für die Stunde Null hat. Bei Tauwetter darf man nicht mehr über den Winter diskutieren, sondern über das Bestellen der Felder. Wer die Saat ausbringt, entscheidet über die Ernte. Den Kollaps betreffend ist nur noch der Zeitpunkt unklar, für den Zeitraum danach jedoch alles. Wenn wir uns eine Bürgergesellschaft wünschen, dann müssen wir jetzt als Bürger aktiv werden, also DU, Leser. Spende für Pareto, oder für kritische Autoren und Aktivisten. Mach Dir Gedanken über die Zukunft und publiziere sie, hier auf Pareto, wir fördern den Bürger-Journalismus. Schließe Dich einem Projekt an, leiste einen Beitrag und gestalte die Zukunft. Macht wird nicht verteilt, Macht muss man sich erkämpfen.\
\
**“Nur der verdient sich Freiheit wie das Leben, der täglich sie erobern muß.”** Goethe, Faust Teil 2
**Spenden für Pareto:** <https://geyser.fund/project/pareto>
**Pareto Landing Page:** <https://pareto.space> 
**Pareto Marktplatz:** <https://pareto.space/read> 
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@ 129f5189:3a441803
2025-02-22 17:11:57
**This is Lazarus.**
They’ve just stolen $1.46 billion from Bybit.
They didn’t breach the code—they breached the people.
Here’s the untold story of how they did it (and why no one is truly safe).
https://image.nostr.build/5120f62c63199bbc1402c1c33c11d337ab9c5623ce78d7351025fcbb9b14c27e.jpg
Lazarus is a state-sponsored hacking group from North Korea.
They've siphoned billions from banks, crypto exchanges, and DeFi protocols.
And now, they’ve executed the largest crypto heist in history.
But how? Well...
https://image.nostr.build/5ecefbb02468cea4ca1b89fdd51835921d15161fc992095d44005003c5f5ddc7.jpg
There was no code exploit.
No leaked private keys.
Bybit’s own multisig signers approved the transactions.
They thought they were signing a routine transfer.
Instead, they handed over access to their entire cold wallet...
https://video.nostr.build/0e92d71c6dba6d99532b4b126c5e42001a8c446d1e312539fa9a3fad8c52d851.mp4
This raises a terrifying question.
How did Lazarus know exactly who to target?
A multisig wallet requires multiple signers.
If even one refused to sign, the hack would have failed.
But they all signed.
This means Lazarus didn’t just hack Bybit...
They knew who to manipulate.
There are only a few ways to gather that kind of information:
- **Inside job** – Someone leaked the signer list.
- **Social engineering** – Lazarus studied their emails and behavior.
- **Device compromise** – One or more signers were infected with malware.
This puts other exchanges at risk too...
https://image.nostr.build/a80694326818292e24e26def7ffddbea45bc2f41384b3563c3217c1a1d53a353.jpg
Today, Lazarus stole 0.42% of all Ethereum.
This means they own more than:
- The Ethereum Foundation
- Vitalik Buterin
- Fidelity
But laundering that much ETH without detection isn’t easy...
https://image.nostr.build/331d83a66c362801b91d42b1aba1b658dc1b35d25a156255d312b483421d4449.jpg
In previous attacks, Lazarus has used:
- Bridging to other blockchains
- On-chain mixing services
- OTC trading through illicit brokers
Will they employ the same tactics again?
https://video.nostr.build/c25c686a1ce4d71ad7e0efebf02b1d6bcb05ac0f23438d11e4380ebe53aa6526.mp4
Investigators quickly flagged the 53 wallets holding the stolen ETH.
Any attempt to cash out or swap funds would immediately raise red flags.
But Lazarus is in no rush...
https://image.nostr.build/2ebfb985c7d7abe4e2715f505ed64c227b908bbbc85b20630fc7437f391a0bb4.jpg
In 2022, Chainalysis found Lazarus still held $55 million from hacks six years earlier.
They don’t cash out quickly; they wait.
And no one has ever gotten their money back. Not once.
Lazarus doesn’t negotiate. They don’t return funds.
So what happens to users?
https://image.nostr.build/3d4738f4d0db5a14c6dd71f32c54d56b061c6e8896134de579cc36867f7175bd.jpg
Bybit’s CEO, Ben Zhou, addressed the crisis publicly:
- “Client funds are 1:1 backed.”
- “We have enough liquidity to cover withdrawals.”
- “All other wallets remain secure.”
So far, there hasn’t been a bank run...
https://video.nostr.build/25616f50b774296945681a3455939f62af623f68081a651209fd89392f778d91.mp4
But this isn’t the first time this has happened.
And it won’t be the last.
So how can you stay safe? Follow these simple steps:
1. **Cold wallets stay cold** - If it touches the internet, it's not cold.
2. **Never sign blindly** - Always verify what you're signing, even if the UI looks legit.
3. **Spread your risk** - Never keep all your funds in one place.
4. **Secure your keys** - Use a hardware wallet. No exceptions.
5. **Assume you're a target** - Lazarus doesn’t hack systems; they hack people. Stay paranoid.
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2025-02-22 15:51:37
Bitcoin, the pioneering cryptocurrency, has always been known for its volatility. This digital asset has seen dramatic fluctuations in price, attracting investors and speculators alike. Understanding these price movements is crucial for anyone involved in the crypto market. The journey of Bitcoin from a niche digital token to a mainstream financial asset has been marked by periods of rapid growth and sudden declines. This volatility is not just a source of risk, but also of potential opportunity for traders and investors. The factors driving these fluctuations range from regulatory news, technological advancements, to broader economic factors. Bitcoin's decentralized nature adds to its unpredictability, as it operates independently of a central bank or government.
**Table of Contents**
- The Recent Price Rally and Subsequent Halt
- Insights from CryptoQuant's Analysis
- The Role of Short-Term Holders
- Understanding Bitcoin Binary Coin Days Destroyed ( …
- The Dynamics of Profit-Taking
- Actions by Miners and Whales
- Current Market Scenario and Future Outlook
- Conclusion
- FAQs
**The Recent Price Rally and Subsequent Halt**
In a recent surge, Bitcoin's value soared past the $44,000 mark, only to encounter a significant resistance level near $45,000. This resistance led to a notable decline in its price. The question on everyone's mind is: what caused this sudden halt in Bitcoin's otherwise steady climb? This rally, like many in Bitcoin's past, was driven by a mix of investor optimism, favorable market conditions, and increasing institutional interest in cryptocurrency. However, the resistance at $45,000 proved to be a turning point, sparking a wave of sell-offs and profit-taking. This price behavior is a classic example of the market's psychological dynamics, where key resistance levels can lead to significant shifts in investor behavior. The rapid change from a bullish to a bearish market sentiment at this juncture underscores the fragile and speculative nature of the cryptocurrency market.
**Insights from CryptoQuant's Analysis**
CryptoQuant, a renowned market analytics platform, offers valuable insights into this phenomenon. An analyst from CryptoQuant, Yonsei, conducted a detailed analysis of on-chain data to unravel the mystery behind Bitcoin's recent price behavior. This analysis goes beyond surface-level market trends, delving into the intricate movements of Bitcoin across various wallets and exchanges. By examining metrics such as fund flows, wallet activities, and transaction patterns, CryptoQuant provides a more nuanced understanding of what drives Bitcoin's price changes. Yonsei's analysis, in particular, sheds light on the behavior of different investor cohorts, revealing how their actions collectively impact the market. This kind of deep-dive analysis is essential for anyone looking to understand the often opaque mechanisms of cryptocurrency markets.
**The Role of Short-Term Holders**
The analysis revealed that short-term holders, particularly those who had invested in Bitcoin for a period ranging from 6 to 18 months, started to realize their profits as soon as Bitcoin broke through the $40,000 resistance level. This profit-taking was a primary factor in the subsequent price retraction. These short-term holders, often more sensitive to market fluctuations, tend to react quickly to price changes, looking to capitalize on short-term gains. Their collective actions can create significant market movements, as seen in this instance. The behavior of these investors is often influenced by news events, market sentiment, and technical indicators. In this case, the rapid rise in Bitcoin's price likely triggered a psychological response to lock in profits, leading to a cascade of sell orders. Understanding the motivations and behaviors of these short-term holders is crucial for predicting short-term market movements in the volatile world of cryptocurrency.
**Understanding Bitcoin Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD)**
A critical metric in this analysis is the Bitcoin Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD). This metric assesses the movement of long-held Bitcoins, providing insights into the behavior of long-term investors. An increase in Binary CDD indicates that a significant amount of Bitcoin, held dormant for a long time, has been mobilized, suggesting a sell-off by long-term holders. This metric is particularly important as it highlights the actions of the most steadfast part of the market - those who have held Bitcoin through various cycles. When these long-term holders start moving their coins, it often signals a significant shift in market sentiment. The CDD metric thus serves as a barometer for the conviction of Bitcoin's long-term investor base. A high CDD can indicate a loss of confidence among these investors, or a belief that the market has reached a peak. Conversely, a low CDD suggests that long-term holders are not yet ready to sell, indicating continued confidence in the market's future.
**The Dynamics of Profit-Taking**
The CryptoQuant analysis further highlighted that a majority of Bitcoin holders were in profit, with the Spent Output Profit Ratio remaining above one. This indicated that about 90% of Bitcoin holders were profiting, which naturally led to a trend of profit-taking. This phenomenon is a key aspect of market cycles in cryptocurrencies. When a large portion of investors are in profit, especially after a significant price rally, the market often sees a wave of selling as investors look to cash in on their gains. This behavior is compounded by psychological factors, such as fear of missing out (FOMO) and fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), which can lead to rapid shifts in market sentiment. Additionally, the profit-taking trend is influenced by external factors such as global economic conditions, regulatory news, and technological developments within the blockchain space. These factors can either reinforce the confidence of investors, leading to a hold strategy, or trigger a sell-off in anticipation of a market downturn.
**Actions by Miners and Whales**
Another interesting aspect of the analysis was the behavior of Bitcoin miners and whales (large-scale holders). These groups also contributed to the selling pressure. Miners, in particular, sold their assets at high-profit margins when Bitcoin reached its peak, adding to the downward pressure on its price. The actions of miners are crucial to understanding Bitcoin's market dynamics, as they are not only investors but also the producers of new Bitcoins. Their decision to sell or hold can significantly impact the supply of Bitcoin in the market. Whales, or large-scale holders, have a similar impact due to the sheer volume of their transactions. Their trades can lead to substantial market movements, creating waves that affect smaller investors. The behavior of these whales often reflects a more strategic approach to the market, influenced by long-term trends and broader market analysis. Their actions can serve as indicators for future market movements, making their behavior a key focus for analysts and investors alike.
**Current Market Scenario and Future Outlook**
Despite the recent price drop, the overall market sentiment remains positive. The bear market seems to be in the past, and liquidity conditions in the crypto market are improving. However, Bitcoin currently hovers around the $41,000 mark, a slight decrease from its recent high. This current state reflects the ever-changing nature of the cryptocurrency market, where investor sentiment can shift rapidly. The future outlook for Bitcoin remains a topic of much debate among experts. Some predict continued growth as institutional adoption increases and blockchain technology becomes more integrated into mainstream finance. Others caution about potential regulatory clampdowns and the volatile nature of the market. What remains clear is that Bitcoin continues to be a key player in the financial world, with its price movements being a barometer for the health and sentiment of the broader cryptocurrency market.
**Conclusion**
Bitcoin's market behavior, as analyzed by CryptoQuant, offers a complex picture of various factors at play. The interplay between short-term and long-term holders, the strategic moves of miners and whales, and the overall market sentiment all contribute to the price dynamics of this digital currency. Understanding these elements is key for investors and enthusiasts who wish to navigate the volatile waters of Bitcoin's market. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, keeping a close eye on these trends and analyses will be crucial for making informed decisions in the world of cryptocurrency. The insights provided by platforms like CryptoQuant are invaluable in this regard, offering a deeper understanding of the market forces at work.
**FAQs**
**What caused the recent halt in Bitcoin's price rally?**
The halt in Bitcoin's price rally, after reaching near $45,000, was primarily due to profit-taking by short-term holders and investors who had held Bitcoin for 6-18 months, as revealed by CryptoQuant's analysis.
**What is Bitcoin Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD)?**
Bitcoin Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) is a metric that measures the movement of long-held Bitcoins. It indicates the amount of Bitcoin, held dormant for a long time, that has been mobilized or sold.
**How do miners and whales influence Bitcoin's price?**
Miners and whales (large-scale holders) significantly influence Bitcoin's price through their actions. When they sell their holdings, especially during peak prices, they add to the market's selling pressure, potentially leading to price drops.
**What does a high Bitcoin Binary CDD indicate?**
A high Bitcoin Binary CDD suggests that a large amount of long-held Bitcoin is being sold, which can be a sign of long-term holders losing confidence or deciding to take profits.
**Is the current market sentiment for Bitcoin positive or negative?**
Despite recent price fluctuations, the overall market sentiment for Bitcoin remains cautiously positive, with improvements in market liquidity and interest from institutional investors.
**That's all for today**
**If you want more, be sure to follow us on:**
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**Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter**
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***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***
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@ 1739d937:3e3136ef
2025-02-22 14:51:17
We've been busy. In my last update, I shared that I was sure MLS on Nostr was going to work and shared an early demo of the app. What a long time ago that seems now.
The big news is that White Noise is no longer just a demo. It's a real app. You can [download the alpha release](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise/releases) and run it for yourself on MacOS, Linux, or Android. iOS TestFlight is coming soon. Keep in mind that it's still very much alpha software; a lot is changing and I wouldn't recommend using it for anything serious quite yet.
We've been busy. In my last update, I shared that I was sure MLS on Nostr was going to work and shared an early demo of the app. What a long time ago that seems now.
## Vision
Before we get to the detailed project updates, I wanted to share a bit of my vision for White Noise.
More and more; freedom of speech, freedom of association, and privacy are under attack. Just this week, Apple was forced to remove their iCloud advanced encryption feature for all UK citizens because the UK government demanded that Apple build a backdoor to allow access to customer data. The EU continues to push "Chat Control" legislation that would force companies to remove end-to-end encryption from their platforms. And governments across the world are enforcing draconian "hate speech" laws that criminalize speech that offends or upsets.
The freedom to express ourselves and discuss difficult topics is a critical precondition for maintaining a healthy society. Without the ability to assert ideas and argue their merits vigorously we have no way of making progress or creating a civil society based on shared values and goals. Ironically, the very laws and regulations that many western governments are enforcing to "protect" us are eroding and destroying the most free and innovative societies in history.
White Noise is to built to protect our freedom to gather, to express ourselves, and to discuss difficult topics. It's free and open source; anyone can fork the code and we'll never charge money to use it. It runs on a free and open source protocol; your identity and social graph is yours to own and control. You don't have to trust us with your data, everything is end-to-end encrypted and metadata is next to non-existent. We don't even run any servers, so government data requests will forever fall on deaf ears.
We want to build the fastest, most secure and private, and the most usable messenger in the world. Whether you want to use it to plan a family BBQ or overthrow a tyrant, White Noise should give you the tools you need to make it happen.
If you find this compelling and want to help, please consider contributing to the project or donating.
## Progress
Alright, let's talk about where we're at with the project.
### Current functionality
- Multiple accounts. You can login, or create, many different Nostr accounts in the app.
- Search your nostr contact list, search for users you don't follow, or add contacts using an npub or hex public key.
- Create DM groups. Right now, you can only create chats with a single other user. Under the hood, these DMs are actually groups, I just haven't added the UI for adding/removing users and managing the group.
- Send messages, reply to messages, and add reactions. As you would expect from a messenging app.
- View group information.
- Settings that allows you to manage your accounts, relays, and other app settings.
### Upcoming
- An amazing hackathon group from [Bitcoin++ in Brasil](https://btcplusplus.dev/conf/floripa) has recently [added NWC](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise/pull/89) (nostr wallet connect) support to the app. Paste lightning invoices into chats and they'll become QR codes that you can scan or pay them with a single click in the conversation! This will be in the next release.
- Add support for encrypted media in chats using [Blossom](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/tree/master). We'll start with images, but plan to add video, audio messages, and documents soon.
- Groups with more than two users. We'll add the ability to add/remove users and manage the group. This will also include some upgrades to further improve the forward secrecy of group chats.
- iOS TestFlight. Gated app stores suck. We'll get White Noise on iOS into TestFlight as soon as possible.
## Links
- [The repo](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise)
- [Releases](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise/releases)
- [Previous updates](https://highlighter.com/jeffg.fyi)
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@ 63db3b6d:899680ff
2025-02-22 11:52:51
Many of the tragedies we see in today’s crypto world can be described as a symphony—one composed of ignorance, greed, vanity, and the cunning of those who exploit these human flaws for profit.
People often discuss blockchain while loosely tossing around terms like _cypherpunks_, _decentralization_, and _cryptocurrencies_—concepts they barely understand. They lump them together into some vague image and follow it blindly. It’s a bit like encountering a stranger whose looks alone inspire you to imagine they’re wealthy, kind, and from a noble lineage, projecting all your hopes and wishes onto them.
Take any basic “Blockchain 101” course, and you’ll inevitably hear about cypherpunks. **Cypherpunks** form a social movement that aims to protect individual freedom and privacy against surveillance and censorship by governments or Big Tech. While some of their arguments are certainly relatable, social movements tend to be niche; they rarely represent the mainstream view.
Blockchain was specifically designed as a tool to solve the problems that cypherpunks identified. How valuable, then, is a technology born from such a niche worldview? This is one reason people say, “I don’t see the point of blockchain.” It’s similar to climate change technology: How valuable is it to someone who believes climate change is a hoax? If you don’t relate to cypherpunks’ vision, then blockchain may seem to have zero practical value. And realistically, how many actual cypherpunks are there among all the current blockchain users?
---
### Is Blockchain Really That Worthless If You’re Not a Cypherpunk?
An interesting thing about inventions is that they rarely remain confined to their original purpose. Take **Propecia**—it was developed as a prostate treatment but is now often prescribed to slow hair loss. Cypherpunks created blockchain for their own ends, but other people have since discovered different, potentially useful applications.
---
### Why Would Blockchain Be Useful to Non-Cypherpunks?
The freedom cypherpunks sought is, in modern society, largely defined by the rights our social systems establish and protect. They needed a tool to build a system that would **not** be controlled by any single person or group, yet remain viable among participants who share a common vision. That required **decentralization**.
Here, we find another misconception: equating cypherpunks with decentralization. Decentralization is simply one necessary characteristic of a system that serves their goal: “a system free from the control of any individual or faction.” A decentralized design isn’t _inherently_ superior; it’s just that for cypherpunks, decentralization was a must. If their goals had been different, decentralization might not have mattered at all.
Yet, building a truly decentralized system is extremely difficult. The cypherpunk movement was active in the 1990s, but the first blockchain—Bitcoin—didn’t emerge until 2008. Once blockchain technology was invented, it radically lowered the costs for like-minded people to create decentralized systems.
Any system that defines and protects a set of rights needs **resources**. Ensuring those resources are used fairly, transparently, and in line with collective consensus has always been expensive, which is why we traditionally rely on centralized authorities. Blockchain enables **Trustless Trust**, drastically reducing the cost of building such systems.
---
### Currency as Collective Decision-Making
These systems don’t rely solely on formal governance or voting. **Spending** also reflects decision-making. Fiat currency has no intrinsic value; it represents a _delayed claim_ on real resources within the system. Thus, when more money is spent on a particular good or service, more _actual_ resources are ultimately funneled there. Over time, this **asynchronous spending** accumulates to form a kind of collective will—effectively guiding resource allocation without requiring constant explicit votes.
---
### The Misconception: “Cryptocurrency Is the ‘Killer App’ for Blockchain”
At one point, people struggled to find practical uses for blockchain. Some even flipped the narrative, saying that “cryptocurrency is the killer app of blockchain” or worse, that “blockchain exists only for creating cryptocurrencies.” In reality, cryptocurrencies aren’t the end goal of blockchain; they’re simply tools that allow participants in a decentralized system to **signal their intent** and **allocate resources** in order to shape the system’s future direction.
---
### Then Why Does Blockchain Seem So Useless?
Blockchain itself is a value-neutral technology. It has **no inherent agenda**. It simply allows groups with shared purposes to build decentralized systems. Unfortunately, most current blockchain communities lack genuine shared objectives or real-world problems they intend to solve. The only “problem” many of them define is: “I have less than others,” and their sole “solution” is to extract wealth from someone else.
For a system to be sustainable, resources need to **stay** within it. Since currencies represent delayed claims on these resources, if everyone is constantly converting those claims back into external assets, the system can’t survive.
To make blockchain genuinely useful—and to show that cryptocurrencies aren’t just a scam—there must be:
1. A **clear definition** of the collective problem the system aims to solve.
2. A shared **vision or direction** for solving that problem.
3. A concrete **protocol** specifying how to achieve these goals in a decentralized way.
Without that groundwork, merely issuing a cryptocurrency in the hope of creating a better, happier world is a fantasy—no better than a cultish scam. And that, ultimately, is why so many blockchain initiatives fail to deliver real value.
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-22 10:55:44
Hello Stackers!
Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!
A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
So stay a while and listen.
🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨
🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/893831
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@ 6734e11d:c7e34e8f
2025-02-22 09:16:15
...damit wir weiter recht haben und so weitermachen können wie bisher, die verordnete Omertà eingehalten wird zu Grundrechten, Notverordnungen, Pandemiesimulationen, Energieversorgung, Deindustrialisierung, kalte und echte Enteigung, Umverteilung, Freiluft- und Digitalgefängnis, Blockwartnachbarn...
Alles andere wäre äußerst unangenehm, wie das Aufplatzen einer großen Eiterblase und müsste dann wieder mit Exekutive, Justiz, Notverordnungen, neuen Strafrechtsparagraphen, Verschärfung der Strafprozessordnung, echte Änderung des Grundgesetzes, Überwachung, Totalzensur, Parteiverboten, Regimechanges und Krieg unterbunden werden.
Idee und Meme sind wieder von der Schwurbel Oase
<https://t.me/schwurbel_oase/2318>
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-02-22 09:12:02
2024-05-28 at 14:05
Tags:
# Soil Carbon Oxidation Under Tillage
When soil is turned over (by tilling or plow) it exposes carbon to oxygen and that carbon burns off as CO2.
You are burning the carbon out of the soil.
---
# References
[[Shepard-Lappe-Restoration Agriculture]]
# Core Notes
[[Soil Erosion]]
# Location
[991](kindle://book?action=open&asin=B00IYUAMSI&location=991)
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@ 2fb77d26:c47a6ee1
2025-02-22 09:04:25
Der 1953 geborene [Craig Reynolds](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Reynolds) ist Experte für künstliches Leben und Computergrafik. In dieser Funktion arbeitete er unter anderem an Filmen wie Tron (1982) und Batman (1992). Bei »*Sony Computer Entertainment America*« (heute [SIE](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Interactive_Entertainment)) entwickelte er die [OpenSteer](https://opensteer.sourceforge.net/)-Bibliothek, die der Abbildung von Schwarmverhalten in Spielen und Animationsanwendungen dient. An solch prestigeträchtige Aufträge kam Reynolds, weil er sich nebst Computergrafik intensiv mit Theorien zum »*Steuerungsverhalten für autonome Charaktere*« befasst hatte. Mit Schwarmverhalten. Einem Thema, das mit wachsender Rechenleistung immer wichtiger für die Entwicklung von Computerspielen wurde.
Die sollten dem Spieler das Gefühl geben, sich in einer realen Welt mit »*autonomen Charakteren*« zu bewegen. Dazu mussten diese vom Computer, beziehungsweise der Software gesteuerten Charaktere – im Fachjargon »*[Agenten](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software-Agent)*« genannt – sich irgendwie verhalten. Und zwar ohne, dass von außen ein weiterer Steuerungseingriff erfolgt. Eigendynamisch. Dafür bedarf es Regeln, die im Programmcode eingebettet werden können. Genau die lieferte Reynolds 1986 im Rahmen der von ihm modellierten [Boids-Simulation](https://www.red3d.com/cwr/boids/), die besagt, dass Schwarmverhalten auf drei simplen Regeln basiert:
1. Bewege dich in Richtung des Mittelpunkts derer, die du in deinem Umfeld siehst.
2. Entferne dich, sobald dir jemand zu nahe kommt.
3. Bewege dich etwa in die gleiche Richtung wie deine Nachbarn.
Sprich: Kohäsion, Separation und Orientierung. In Reynolds’ Beschreibung des Boid-Modells liest man diesbezüglich:
»*1986 habe ich ein Computermodell koordinierter Tierbewegungen *(…) *erstellt. Es basierte auf dreidimensionaler Computergeometrie, wie sie normalerweise in der Computeranimation oder im computergestützten Design verwendet wird. Ich habe die generischen, simulierten Schwarmtiere Boids genannt. Das grundlegende Schwarmmodell besteht aus drei einfachen Lenkverhalten, die beschreiben, wie ein einzelner Boid auf der Grundlage der Positionen und Geschwindigkeiten seiner Schwarmgenossen in der Nähe manövriert. Jeder Boid hat direkten Zugriff auf die geometrische Beschreibung der gesamten Szene, aber das Schwarmverhalten erfordert, dass er nur auf Schwarmgenossen in einer bestimmten kleinen Nachbarschaft um sich herum reagiert. *(…)* Schwarmgenossen außerhalb dieser lokalen Nachbarschaft werden ignoriert.*
*Die Nachbarschaft könnte als Modell eingeschränkter Wahrnehmung betrachtet werden (wie bei Fischen in trübem Wasser), aber es ist wahrscheinlich korrekter, sie als Definition des Bereichs zu betrachten, in dem Schwarmgenossen die Lenkung eines Boids beeinflussen. In den ersten Experimenten wurde ein etwas ausgefeilteres Verhaltensmodell verwendet. Es umfasste vorausschauende Hindernisvermeidung und Zielsuche. *(…)* Für Anwendungen in der Computeranimation führte ein Zielsuchverhalten mit niedriger Priorität dazu, dass die Herde einem vorgegebenen Pfad folgte*.«
Wer sich bei dieser Beschreibung an die Strukturen postmoderner Gesellschaft erinnert fühlt und »*Agenten*« mit »*[Agent Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Smith)*« aus den Matrix-Filmen assoziiert, liegt nicht ganz falsch. Denn Kohäsion, Separation und Orientierung definieren nicht mehr nur das Schwarmverhalten autonomer Charaktere in Computerspielen, sondern auch die Dynamiken des gesellschaftlichen Zusammenlebens im multimedialen Panoptikum der Postmoderne.
**So nimmt es kaum Wunder, dass ein vom** **[US Air Force Laboratory](https://www.afrl.af.mil/)** **(AFRL) finanziertes** **[Forschungsprojekt](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1402.5644)** **an der University of Florida (Gainesville, USA) bereits im Jahr 2014 untersuchte, »*wie Social Media eingesetzt werden kann, um Menschen wie Drohnen zu steuern*«.**
Unter diesem Titel berichtete denn auch [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/07/air-force-research-how-to-use-social-media-to-control-people-like-drones/) am 17. Juli 2014, dass der Forschungsleiter der AFRL-Studie, [Warren Dixon](https://ncr.mae.ufl.edu/index.php?id=people), seines Zeichens Chef des Lehrstuhls für nichtlineare Steuerung und Robotik an der University of Florida, vor allem daran arbeite, »*wie man ein Netzwerk, wenn man es einmal identifiziert hat, in Richtung eines Ziels manipulieren kann*«. Und mit »*Netzwerk*« meint Dixon nicht Computer, sondern soziale Strukturen.
Die Untersuchungen von Dixon, Kan, Klotz und Pasiliao – formeller Titel: »*Eindämmungskontrolle für ein soziales Netzwerk mit staatlich abhängiger Konnektivität*« – unterstreichen, dass die mathematischen Prinzipien, die zur Steuerung autonomer Agenten und Robotergruppen verwendet werden, auch auf soziale Netzwerke übertragbar sind, um menschliches Verhalten zu manipulieren. Im großen Stil. Ausgehend von einer optimalen Kalibrierung könnten die von den AFRL-Forschern entwickelten Modelle eingesetzt werden, um die Meinung auf Social-Media-Portalen in Richtung eines gewünschten Verhaltens zu lenken. Genau wie die [Cyber-Waffen](https://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/hacks-raise-fear-over-nsa-s-hold-on-cyberweapons-117070100851_1.html) der NSA (National Security Agency, USA) oder das entsprechende Arsenal des [GCHQ](https://www.gchq.gov.uk/) (Government Communication Headquarters, UK), das seine [Nudge-Unit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioural_Insights_Team) nicht nur gegen Corona-Maßnahmenkritiker, sondern mittlerweile auch gegen »*[Heizpumpen-Skeptiker](https://reclaimthenet.org/uk-government-heat-pumps-nudge-unit-controversy)*« ins Feld führt.
Schwarmverhalten ist demnach nicht nur an [Chinas](https://www.eurasiantimes.com/mother-of-all-drones-china-unveil/) Himmel oder in der Nähe des vom Iran jüngst zu Wasser gelassenen Drohnenträgers [Schahid Bagheri](https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/ausland/id_100596308/neuartiges-kriegsschiff-iran-stellt-ersten-drohnentraeger-vor.html) zu beobachten – oder in der Ukraine, wo todbringende [Minidrohnen](https://www.nzz.ch/international/ukraine-krieg-kamikaze-drohnen-machen-das-soldatenleben-zur-hoelle-ld.1825600) heute Jagd auf gegnerische Truppen machen – sondern auch in der unmittelbaren Nachbarschaft des Lesers. Denn Drohnen sind heute nicht mehr nur auf dem Schlachtfeld gang und gäbe. Der Nutzmensch selbst ist eine Drohne. Das traurige Produkt einer jahrzehntelangen [Schlacht ums Gehirn](https://gegendruck.eu/ausgaben/ausgabe-003.html).
Die Corona-Krise war Generalprobe für die Einführung des von den Verhaltensökonomen Richard Thaler und Cass Sunstein ([Nudge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudge_\(book\)), Yale University Press, 2008) maßgeblich entwickelten Herrschaftsmodells der Zukunft: [Hive-Mind](https://www.mdr.de/wissen/medizin-gesundheit/stranger-things-hive-mind-102.html)-Technokratie. Fernsteuerung der Massen via Social-Media-Nudging. Via geteiltem Bewusstsein. Sprich: Regieren mittels [Plattformökonomie](https://www.economist.com/business/2024/12/10/the-paypal-mafia-is-taking-over-americas-government), Manipulativkommunikation und Emotion. Mit »Soft Power«. Zumindest bis der kopflose Schwarm endlich mit der Cloud verbunden ist.
Wer also denkt, es mache Sinn, sich über Erhalt oder Verfall der Meinungsfreiheit auf einem Konzernmarkplatz wie Twitter Gedanken zu machen, erfüllt genau die Rolle, die ihm AFRL, Nudge-Unit, das NATO-[Innovation Hub](https://web.archive.org/web/20240805053751/https:/innovationhub-act.org/cognitive-warfare-2/) mit seiner »*sechsten Dimension der Kriegsführung*« und Peter Thiels PayPal-Mafia seit jeher zuschrieben: Die des geist-, willen- und haltlosen »*Agenten*« in einer überfrachteten Simulation. Nicht umsonst waren alle Big-Tech-Größen Teilnehmer der Social-Engineering-[Seminare](https://web.archive.org/web/20130511134703/http:/edge.org/conversation/libertarian-paternalism-why-it-is-impossible-not-to-nudge-class-1) von John Brockmanns [Edge-Foundation](https://www.regenauer.press/die-glorreichen-sieben).
Nicht von ungefähr soll KI nun alles »*effizienter*« machen. Wirft man allerdings einen Blick auf die [Vorstandsebene](https://openai.com/our-structure/) von OpenAI, dem [ChatGPT-Anbieter](https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/) und neben dem von der CIA [startfinanzierten](https://www.businessinsider.com/the-cia-made-larry-ellison-a-billionaire-2014-9), [Mossad-nahen](https://orinocotribune.com/oracle-the-shadowy-tech-giant-in-league-with-the-cia-and-israel-with-alan-macleod/) IT-Konzern Oracle primärer Partner von Donald Trumps [Stargate-Projekt](https://apnews.com/article/trump-ai-openai-oracle-softbank-son-altman-ellison-be261f8a8ee07a0623d4170397348c41), das KI und mRNA mit einem Budget von 500 Milliarden Dollar zusammenbringen soll, wird schnell deutlich, dass mit Effizienz nichts anderes als ein Ausbau des Überwachungsstaats gemeint ist.
Da wäre zum einen [Sue Desmond-Hellmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Desmond-Hellmann), von 2014 bis 2020 CEO der Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, seit 2020 Vorstandsmitglied bei [Pfizer](https://www.pfizer.com/people/leadership/board-of-directors/susan_desmond-hellmann-md-mph) und darüber hinaus im Vorstand von [Resilience](https://resilience.com/meet/team/), dem vom CIA-Finanztentakel [In-Q-Tel](https://www.iqt.org/) grundfinanzierten Biotech-Unternehmen, das [mRNA](https://betakit.com/federal-government-promises-199-16-million-to-biotech-company-resilience-biotechnologies/) für unter anderem [Moderna](https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/moderna:-national-resilience-to-manufacture-mrna-for-covid-19-vaccine-2021-09-08) produziert. Oder der [korrupte](https://exiledonline.com/is-larry-summers-taking-kickbacks-from-the-banks-hes-bailing-out/) Larry Summers, ehemals Chefökonom der Weltbank, der mit massiven [Deregulierungen](https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/finance/264675-clinton-and-summers-are-wrong-on-sanderss-glass-steagall-proposal/) des Finanzmarkts geradezu als Initiator der Finanzkrise 2008 bezeichnet werden kann und so [Tiefenstaat](https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Lawrence_Summers) ist wie es nur geht. Nicht zu vergessen Nicole Seligmann, [genannt](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/08/17/the-lawyers-lawyer/9dcd901a-7026-43ea-89b0-aa8abfa8db0e/) »Anwältin der Anwälte«, ehemalige [Chefin](https://www.thewrap.com/nicole-seligman-out-as-president-of-sony-entertainment/) von Sony USA, [Rechtsbeistand](https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/910/843/463467/) von Oliver North während der Iran-Contra Anhörungen in den 80ern sowie Anwältin der [Clintons](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/seligman081798.htm), unter anderem während des [Amtsenthebungsverfahrens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Bill_Clinton) gegen Bill Clinton im Jahr 1999. Von den langjährigen Facebook-Top-Managern [Fidji Simo](https://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/a28712482/fidji-simo-facebook/), [Adam D’Angelo](https://om.co/gigaom/my-conversation-with-ex-facebook-cto-and-quora-co-founder-adam-dangelo/) und [Bret Taylor](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomiogeron/2012/06/15/facebook-cto-bret-taylor-to-leave-company/) ganz zu schweigen.
Angesichts dieser Mannschaft dürfte niemand überrascht sein, dass OpenAI-CEO Sam Altman von seiner jüngeren Schwester des jahrelangen [Missbrauchs](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/08/openai-chief-executive-sam-altman-accused-of-sexual-abuse-by-sister-in-lawsuit) bezichtigt wird und sich dafür demnächst vor Gericht verantworten muss – oder dass ein Whistleblower, der zu illegalen Aktivitäten bei OpenAI aussagen wollte, im Dezember 2024 überraschend tot in seiner Wohnung aufgefunden wurde, weshalb dessen Eltern Sam Altmans Unternehmen nun [Mord](https://www.newsweek.com/openai-tucker-carlson-whistleblower-death-2015874) vorwerfen und die Stadt San Francisco wegen schlampiger Ermittlungen [verklagen](https://nypost.com/2025/02/08/us-news/big-tech-whistleblowers-parents-sue-san-francisco-sounding-alarm-over-sons-unexpected-death/).
Erstaunlich ist lediglich, dass diese Informationen nicht in aller Munde sind und Menschen wie Sam Altman und Oracle-Gründer Larry Ellison an Tag zwei nach Donald Trumps Amtseinführung als Partner einer US-Regierung präsentiert werden, die angeblich den Tiefenstaat ausheben will.
Aufmerksame Beobachter des militärisch-digitalen Komplexes dürften diese Umstände allerdings kaum noch schockieren. Denn gerade das US-Militär fokussiert sich seit Jahren auf die Verwendung von Open Source Intelligence – meint Handydaten, Social-Media-Inhalte, Daten-Leaks, Hacks und KI –, um aufständischen Zellen auf den Zahn zu fühlen. So gründete die DARPA im Jahr 2011 das SMISC-Programm (Social Media in Strategic Communication). Ausgestattet mit einem Budget von knapp 50 Millionen US-Dollar gingen Wissenschaftler der Frage nach, wie sich soziale Netzwerke für Propaganda und psychologische Kriegsführung nutzen lassen. Der Initiator von SMISC, Rand Waltzman, ein DARPA-Manager, [beschrieb](https://information-professionals.org/the-darpa-social-media-in-strategic-communication-smisc-program/) im April 2015, worin die vier Kernziele des von ihm ins Leben gerufenen Programms bestanden:
1. Erkennen, klassifizieren, messen und verfolgen der Entstehung und Entwicklung sowie Verbreitung von Ideen und Konzepten (Memes) und gezielte oder irreführende Nachrichten und Fehlinformationen.
2. Erkennen der Strukturen von Überzeugungskampagnen und Einflussoperationen auf Social-Media-Sites und Communities.
3. Identifizieren der Teilnehmer und Absichten und messen der Auswirkungen von Überzeugungskampagnen.
4. Verbreiten von Gegeninformation bei erkannten gegnerischen Einflussoperationen.
Darüber hinaus erklärte Waltzman, welchen technischen Umfang, beziehungsweise Fokus die Analyseprozesse aufwiesen:
1. Sprachliche Hinweise, Muster des Informationsflusses, Analyse von Thementrends, Analyse narrativer Strukturen, Stimmungserkennung und Meinungsforschung.
2. Meme-Tracking in Communities, Graphen-Analyse, probabilistisches Denken, Mustererkennung, kulturelle Narrative.
3. Induzieren von Identitäten, Modellieren entstehender Communities, Vertrauensanalyse, Modellieren von Netzwerkdynamiken.
4. Automatisierte Inhaltsgenerierung, Bots in sozialen Medien, Crowdsourcing.
Die DARPA untersuchte [Twitter](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/08/darpa-social-networks-research-twitter-influence-studies)-Follower prominenter Musiker, analysierte die Verbreitung von [Memes](https://web.archive.org/web/20121114225259/https:/www.cs.cmu.edu/~badityap/papers/composite-ccr12.pdf) und testete operative Ansätze einer [IBM-Studie](https://aaai.org/papers/00121-14513-modeling-user-attitude-toward-controversial-topics-in-online-social-media/), die sich mit der »*Modellierung von Nutzerverhalten bei kontroversen Themen auf Social Media*« befasste. Am 9. Juli 2014 veröffentlichte die DARPA eine [Liste](https://web.archive.org/web/20140709083209/https:/www.darpa.mil/OpenCatalog/SMISC.html) von 181 vom SMISC-Programm finanzierten Projekten, die sich allesamt mit dem Thema psychologische Kriegsführung auf Social Media befassten. Im Vordergrund stand jeweils die Graph-Theorie, also die Analyse des Verhaltens von Menschen anhand sozialer Daten. Die Formelsprache, die von den Projekten zur mathematischen Beschreibung der Interaktionen zwischen Menschen und Produkten verwendet wurde, war dieselbe, die bei der Steuerung autonomer Fahrzeug-Gruppen zur Anwendung kommt. Sie bildet das Herzstück von Googles Verständnis zu Suchkontexten und ist grundlegender Bestandteil von Kontrollsystemen zur Steuerung autonomer Roboterschwärme.
Warren Dixon und die DARPA gingen nun aber der Frage nach, ob die gleiche Mathematik auf die Steuerung autonomer Menschen und Gruppen von Menschen anwendbar ist. Um zu verstehen, was das bedeutet, folgend eine Erläuterung zum Facebook-Graph, über den [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/03/knowing-the-score-how-facebooks-graph-search-knows-what-you-want/) am 14. März 2013 berichtete:
»*Der Graph ist eine Datenbank, die Informationen über Benutzer, Seiten und andere Objekte im Facebook-Universum speichert. Er enthält auch die Beziehungen zwischen ihnen. Jede Entität, also jeder Knoten im Facebook-Graph – identifiziert durch eine eindeutige Nummer, die als fbid (Facebook-ID) bezeichnet wird – ist mit einer Reihe von Attributen oder Metadaten verknüpft. Die Beziehungen zwischen diesen Knoten, die als Kanten bezeichnet werden, enthalten ihre eigenen Metadaten, um die Art der Beziehung zwischen ihnen zu beschreiben. Die von Facebook verwendete Graph-Datenbank ist Googles [Knowledge-Graph](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/06/inside-the-architecture-of-googles-knowledge-graph-and-microsofts-satori/) und Microsofts Satori-Graph-basiertem Konzept recht ähnlich. In vielerlei Hinsicht ist die Struktur des Facebook-Graphs jedoch einfacher als die Graph-Schemata von Google und Microsoft, da Facebook die Metadaten für seine Knoten und Kanten speziell auf soziale Interaktion abgestimmt hat*.«
Dixons AFRL-Arbeitsgruppe nutze solche Daten, um zu modellieren, wie die Zusammenarbeit zwischen »*wichtigen Influencern*« in sozialen Netzwerken das Verhalten von Gruppen innerhalb dieses Netzwerks beeinflussen könnte. Stichwort: »*Eindämmungskontrolle*«. Dixon selbst erläuterte dieses Konzept mit den Worten:
**»*Es gibt eine Gruppe von Anführern, von denen jeder seine eigenen Ziele und sein eigenes Schwerpunktthema hat. Unser Ziel ist, dass diese Leute ihre Meinung ändern und die Gruppe der Anhänger – also Leute, die zu ihrer sozialen Gruppe gehören, aber das übergeordnete Ziel nicht kennen – unter Druck setzen*.«**
Unter Zuhilfenahme der Graphen-Theorie erarbeiteten Dixon und Co. ein Kommunikationsmodell, das verständlich machte, wie viel Einfluss ein Social-Media-Influencer benötigt, um Macht auszuüben und das Verhalten seiner Follower zu ändern. Während die DARPA im Rahmen mehrerer Pressemitteilungen versicherte, weder persönlichkeitsbezogene Daten zu speichern noch Social-Media-User zu manipulieren, hatte man beim GCHQ in Großbritannien weniger Hemmungen. Wie die von NSA-Whistleblower Edward Snowden geleakten Dokumente [belegen](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/07/ghcqs-chinese-menu-of-tools-spread-disinformation-across-internet/), hatte der britische Nachrichtendienst ein ganzes Arsenal digitaler Waffen zur Hand, um Individuen und ihre Geräte zu infiltrieren, Fake-Identitäten aufzubauen, Falschinformationen zu verbreiten und die öffentliche Meinung zu »*formen*«. Diese Werkzeuge teilte das GCHQ mit der NSA, die sie ihrerseits anwandte, um in Afghanistan und anderen Krisengebieten zu steuern, welche Informationen gegnerische Gruppen online und über das Smartphone abrufen konnten.
Neben Militär, Geheimdiensten und Tech-Konzernen sind natürlich auch Organisationen wie USAID und das NED (National Endowment for Democracy) auf dem Feld der Cyber-Kriegsführung aktiv. Im [April 2014](https://taz.de/Twitterplattform-ZunZuneo/!5045053/) wurde zum Beispiel bekannt, das USAID auf Kuba ein Twitter-ähnliches Netzwerk aufbauen wollte, um das kommunistische Regime zu unterminieren. Dass es sich dabei nicht um Einzelfälle handelt, veranschaulicht ein [Report](https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-01-13-social-media-manipulation-political-actors-industrial-scale-problem-oxford-report) der Universität Oxford, der am 13. Januar 2021 veröffentlicht wurde und Social-Media-Manipulation in gut 80 Ländern analysierte:
**»*In jedem der 81 untersuchten Länder wurden organisierte Kampagnen zur Manipulation sozialer Medien festgestellt, ein Anstieg von 15 Prozent innerhalb eines Jahres, verglichen mit 70 Ländern im Jahr 2019. Dem Bericht zufolge produzieren Regierungen, PR-Agenturen und politische Parteien im industriellen Maßstab Falschinformationen. Er zeigt, dass Desinformation zu einer gängigen Strategie geworden ist, wobei in mehr als 93 Prozent der Länder Desinformation als Teil der politischen Kommunikation eingesetzt wird*.«**
»*Die Leute denken nicht gern daran, dass sie manipuliert werden*«, so Warren Dixon. »*Aber wir werden jeden Tag manipuliert. Durch Werbung, durch Regierungschefs, religiöse Führer und sogar dazu, zur Arbeit zu gehen. Wir arbeiten größtenteils deswegen, weil wir dafür bezahlt werden. Aber wie viel muss ich jemandem für seine Arbeit zahlen?*«
Gute Frage. Wie viel muss man jemandem bezahlen, damit er lügt, damit er seinen besten Freund verrät oder einen Menschen ermordet? Oder ein paar tausend Menschen? Mit solchen Fragen beschäftigen sich die Verhaltensforscher, die Big Tech und Geheimdienste beraten, die Algorithmen und soziale [Feedback-Loops](https://youtu.be/J54k7WrbfMg?si=GgS-5yx7vgKFbPtB) kreieren. Denn Suchmaschinen und Social Media sind kein Serviceangebot, sondern eine Waffengattung kognitiver Kriegsführung. Die Projektile des Informationskriegs. Und die meisten Menschen sind dem Kugelhagel schutzlos ausgeliefert.
Die zeitgeistig flexible Herrschaftskaste weiß diesen Umstand zum eigenen Vorteil zu nutzen. Gerade deshalb ist »*Agent Smith*« eine perfekte wie düstere Parabel für den modernen Nutzmenschen, der sein Leben online führt und im digitalen Raum binnen Sekunden Entscheidungen trifft, für die ihm jede inhaltliche Grundlage fehlt. Entscheidungen, die sein Selbstbild nachhaltig verändern. Wer das System eben noch kritisierte, wedelt im nächsten Moment mit Pompons, um es zu bejubeln. Denn die Transformation des Ich ist dieser Tage immer nur einen Klick entfernt.
»*Smith begann als Agent, ein KI-Programm in der Matrix, das darauf programmiert war, die Ordnung im System aufrechtzuerhalten, indem es menschliche Simulakren eliminierte, die die simulierte Realität instabil machen würden, sowie alle Schurkenprogramme, die für das Maschinenkollektiv keinen Zweck mehr erfüllen. *(…)* Smiths wahre Macht beruht auf seiner Fähigkeit, Erinnerungen und Kräfte seiner Opfer – Menschen und Programme gleichermaßen – zu absorbieren. *(…)* Smith erlangt die Macht, seine physische Form auf jedes Wesen in der Matrix zu kopieren, indem er seine Hand in ihren Körper eintauchen lässt und eine schwarze Flüssigkeit verteilt, die sie in eine Kopie seiner selbst verwandelt, was zu einer ständig wachsenden Armee von Smiths führt, die durch ein einziges Bewusstsein verbunden sind*.«
**Wer sich also fragt, warum seine vormals maßnahmen- und obrigkeitskritischen Weggefährten nun dem tiefenstaatlich orchestrierten MAGA-Kult huldigen, findet die Antwort in DARPA-Studien zum Thema »*Steuerung des Gruppenverhaltens mittels Social Media*«.**
Neu ist das alles nicht. Die US Air Force begann bereits 1998 mit der Erforschung autonom agierender Drohnensysteme – »*Low Cost Autonomous Attack System*« ([LOCAAS](https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/locaas.htm)) genannt. Die LOCAAS-Systeme nutzten einen Algorithmus, der auf Craig Reynolds’ Boids-Modell basiert, um in Formation eines Schwarms zu fliegen. Warf ein Tarnkappenbomber seine bis zu 192 Drohnen ab, begannen sie sich untereinander zu verständigen und attackierten feindliche Truppen im Verbund.
Das war vor 27 Jahren. Heute gehören Drohnen zum zivilen Alltag. So betreibt die [Swisscom](https://www.swisscom.ch/de/business/broadcast/sicherheitsloesungen/drohnennetzwerk-schweiz.html) in der Schweiz in Kooperation mit Nokia ein Drones-as-a-Service (DaaS) Netzwerk für »*effiziente Inspektionen und die Sicherung großer Areale sowie zentraler Infrastruktur*«. Das klingt zunächst einmal nach privatwirtschaftlicher Dienstleistung auf Abruf. Aber: »*Blaulichtorganisationen sollen diese Drohnen auf Abruf nutzen können, um dank detailliertem Bildmaterial* (…) *Informationen von Unfallstellen, Katastrophengebieten oder Tatorten einzuholen*«, so der [Tagesanzeiger](https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/swisscom-ueberwachung-mit-drohnen-datenschutz-unklar-998244957315) am 18. August 2024. Was für Bildmaterial in welcher Auflösung wann, wo, warum aufgezeichnet und gespeichert wird, ist indes unklar. Hiesige Datenschützer sind alarmiert.
Aus gutem Grund. Denn auch in der Kriegsführung gehören Drohnen mittlerweile zum Tagesgeschäft. Per Joystick gesteuerte Langstreckendrohnen »*demokratisieren*« den [Luftraum](https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2017-01-17/obamas-covert-drone-war-in-numbers-ten-times-more-strikes-than-bush/) im Nahen Osten. Bevorzugt mit lasergesteuerten GBU-12 Paveway II Bomben. Mini-Drohnen [überwachen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW7lUdvJl7Q) unauffällig das Einsatzgebiet und töten gezielt per [Kopfschuss](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlO2gcs1YvM). [Kamikaze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma3ya_lqCLM)-Drohnenschwärme stürzen sich in Gruppen auf die mit ihnen explodierenden Ziele. Und die größeren Modelle beglücken den Feind mit bis zu sechs [Granaten](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5FKNQ2Fg8).
Projekte des US-Militärs und [chinesische](https://youtu.be/LpaSXwpKzGk?si=6bKHlqaoi_mpURDn) Guinness-Weltrekorde im Drohnen-Formationsflug [zeigen](https://www.regenauer.press/null), dass es wohl nicht mehr allzu lange dauern wird, bis autonome Schwärme, die von ebenso autonomen Trägerfahrzeugen verteilt und aufgeladen werden, Krisengebiete, Grenzen und Innenstädte überwachen – und schützen. Fragt sich nur, vor wem.
Die inflationäre Verwendung von und progressiv-positive Kommunikation zu Drohnentechnologie sowie KI sollte also durchaus zu denken geben. Denn was dem Hobbyfilmer günstige Luftaufnahmen liefert und Zuschauern in Form eines illuminierten [Drachens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G1KBu6H6BM) aus 1.500 Drohnen über Shenzen Bewunderung abnötigt, dürfte die nächste Ausbaustufe militarisierter Überwachungsinfrastruktur charakterisieren.
Der gemeine »*Agent*«, die »*iDrone*«, der Boid – also der von medialer Dynamik und Polarisierungsdialektik überforderte Homo demens – sieht diesen Entwicklungen natürlich weithin gelassen entgegen. Denn er »*bewegt sich in Richtung des Mittelpunkts derer, die er in seinem Umfeld sieht, entfernt sich, sobald ihm jemand zu nahe kommt und läuft immer in etwa die gleiche Richtung wie seine Nachbarn*«.