Bitcoin is more than money, more than an asset, and more than a store of value. Bitcoin is a Prime Mover, an enabler and it ignites imaginations. It certainly fueled an idea in my mind. The idea integrates sensors, computational prowess, actuated machinery, power conversion, and electronic communications to form an autonomous, machined creature roaming forests and harvesting the most widespread and least energy-dense fuel source available. I call it the Forest Walker and it eats wood, and mines Bitcoin. I know what you're thinking. Why not just put Bitcoin mining rigs where they belong: in a hosted facility sporting electricity from energy-dense fuels like natural gas, climate-controlled with excellent data piping in and out? Why go to all the trouble building a robot that digests wood creating flammable gasses fueling an engine to run a generator powering Bitcoin miners? It's all about synergy. Bitcoin mining enables the realization of multiple, seemingly unrelated, yet useful activities. Activities considered un-profitable if not for Bitcoin as the Prime Mover. This is much more than simply mining the greatest asset ever conceived by humankind. It’s about the power of synergy, which Bitcoin plays only one of many roles. The synergy created by this system can stabilize forests' fire ecology while generating multiple income streams. That’s the realistic goal here and requires a brief history of American Forest management before continuing. # Smokey The Bear In 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign began in the United States. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” remains the refrain of the Ad Council’s longest running campaign. The Ad Council is a U.S. non-profit set up by the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Association of National Advertisers in 1942. It would seem that the U.S. Department of the Interior was concerned about pesky forest fires and wanted them to stop. So, alongside a national policy of extreme fire suppression they enlisted the entire U.S. population to get onboard via the Ad Council and it worked. Forest fires were almost obliterated and everyone was happy, right? Wrong. Smokey is a fantastically successful bear so forest fires became so few for so long that the fuel load - dead wood - in forests has become very heavy. So heavy that when a fire happens (and they always happen) it destroys everything in its path because the more fuel there is the hotter that fire becomes. Trees, bushes, shrubs, and all other plant life cannot escape destruction (not to mention homes and businesses). The soil microbiology doesn’t escape either as it is burned away even in deeper soils. To add insult to injury, hydrophobic waxy residues condense on the soil surface, forcing water to travel over the ground rather than through it eroding forest soils. Good job, Smokey. Well done, Sir! Most terrestrial ecologies are “fire ecologies”. Fire is a part of these systems’ fuel load and pest management. Before we pretended to “manage” millions of acres of forest, fires raged over the world, rarely damaging forests. The fuel load was always too light to generate fires hot enough to moonscape mountainsides. Fires simply burned off the minor amounts of fuel accumulated since the fire before. The lighter heat, smoke, and other combustion gasses suppressed pests, keeping them in check and the smoke condensed into a plant growth accelerant called wood vinegar, not a waxy cap on the soil. These fires also cleared out weak undergrowth, cycled minerals, and thinned the forest canopy, allowing sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. Without a fire’s heat, many pine tree species can’t sow their seed. The heat is required to open the cones (the seed bearing structure) of Spruce, Cypress, Sequoia, Jack Pine, Lodgepole Pine and many more. Without fire forests can’t have babies. The idea was to protect the forests, and it isn't working. So, in a world of fire, what does an ally look like and what does it do? # Meet The Forest Walker  For the Forest Walker to work as a mobile, autonomous unit, a solid platform that can carry several hundred pounds is required. It so happens this chassis already exists but shelved. Introducing the Legged Squad Support System (LS3). A joint project between Boston Dynamics, DARPA, and the United States Marine Corps, the quadrupedal robot is the size of a cow, can carry 400 pounds (180 kg) of equipment, negotiate challenging terrain, and operate for 24 hours before needing to refuel. Yes, it had an engine. Abandoned in 2015, the thing was too noisy for military deployment and maintenance "under fire" is never a high-quality idea. However, we can rebuild it to act as a platform for the Forest Walker; albeit with serious alterations. It would need to be bigger, probably. Carry more weight? Definitely. Maybe replace structural metal with carbon fiber and redesign much as 3D printable parts for more effective maintenance. The original system has a top operational speed of 8 miles per hour. For our purposes, it only needs to move about as fast as a grazing ruminant. Without the hammering vibrations of galloping into battle, shocks of exploding mortars, and drunken soldiers playing "Wrangler of Steel Machines", time between failures should be much longer and the overall energy consumption much lower. The LS3 is a solid platform to build upon. Now it just needs to be pulled out of the mothballs, and completely refitted with outboard equipment. # The Small Branch Chipper  When I say “Forest fuel load” I mean the dead, carbon containing litter on the forest floor. Duff (leaves), fine-woody debris (small branches), and coarse woody debris (logs) are the fuel that feeds forest fires. Walk through any forest in the United States today and you will see quite a lot of these materials. Too much, as I have described. Some of these fuel loads can be 8 tons per acre in pine and hardwood forests and up to 16 tons per acre at active logging sites. That’s some big wood and the more that collects, the more combustible danger to the forest it represents. It also provides a technically unlimited fuel supply for the Forest Walker system. The problem is that this detritus has to be chewed into pieces that are easily ingestible by the system for the gasification process (we’ll get to that step in a minute). What we need is a wood chipper attached to the chassis (the LS3); its “mouth”. A small wood chipper handling material up to 2.5 - 3.0 inches (6.3 - 7.6 cm) in diameter would eliminate a substantial amount of fuel. There is no reason for Forest Walker to remove fallen trees. It wouldn’t have to in order to make a real difference. It need only identify appropriately sized branches and grab them. Once loaded into the chipper’s intake hopper for further processing, the beast can immediately look for more “food”. This is essentially kindling that would help ignite larger logs. If it’s all consumed by Forest Walker, then it’s not present to promote an aggravated conflagration. I have glossed over an obvious question: How does Forest Walker see and identify branches and such? LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) attached to Forest Walker images the local area and feed those data to onboard computers for processing. Maybe AI plays a role. Maybe simple machine learning can do the trick. One thing is for certain: being able to identify a stick and cause robotic appendages to pick it up is not impossible. Great! We now have a quadrupedal robot autonomously identifying and “eating” dead branches and other light, combustible materials. Whilst strolling through the forest, depleting future fires of combustibles, Forest Walker has already performed a major function of this system: making the forest safer. It's time to convert this low-density fuel into a high-density fuel Forest Walker can leverage. Enter the gasification process. # The Gassifier  The gasifier is the heart of the entire system; it’s where low-density fuel becomes the high-density fuel that powers the entire system. Biochar and wood vinegar are process wastes and I’ll discuss why both are powerful soil amendments in a moment, but first, what’s gasification? Reacting shredded carbonaceous material at high temperatures in a low or no oxygen environment converts the biomass into biochar, wood vinegar, heat, and Synthesis Gas (Syngas). Syngas consists primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. All of which are extremely useful fuels in a gaseous state. Part of this gas is used to heat the input biomass and keep the reaction temperature constant while the internal combustion engine that drives the generator to produce electrical power consumes the rest. Critically, this gasification process is “continuous feed”. Forest Walker must intake biomass from the chipper, process it to fuel, and dump the waste (CO2, heat, biochar, and wood vinegar) continuously. It cannot stop. Everything about this system depends upon this continual grazing, digestion, and excretion of wastes just as a ruminal does. And, like a ruminant, all waste products enhance the local environment. When I first heard of gasification, I didn’t believe that it was real. Running an electric generator from burning wood seemed more akin to “conspiracy fantasy” than science. Not only is gasification real, it’s ancient technology. A man named Dean Clayton first started experiments on gasification in 1699 and in 1901 gasification was used to power a vehicle. By the end of World War II, there were 500,000 Syngas powered vehicles in Germany alone because of fossil fuel rationing during the war. The global gasification market was $480 billion in 2022 and projected to be as much as $700 billion by 2030 (Vantage Market Research). Gasification technology is the best choice to power the Forest Walker because it’s self-contained and we want its waste products. # Biochar: The Waste  Biochar (AKA agricultural charcoal) is fairly simple: it’s almost pure, solid carbon that resembles charcoal. Its porous nature packs large surface areas into small, 3 dimensional nuggets. Devoid of most other chemistry, like hydrocarbons (methane) and ash (minerals), biochar is extremely lightweight. Do not confuse it with the charcoal you buy for your grill. Biochar doesn’t make good grilling charcoal because it would burn too rapidly as it does not contain the multitude of flammable components that charcoal does. Biochar has several other good use cases. Water filtration, water retention, nutrient retention, providing habitat for microscopic soil organisms, and carbon sequestration are the main ones that we are concerned with here. Carbon has an amazing ability to adsorb (substances stick to and accumulate on the surface of an object) manifold chemistries. Water, nutrients, and pollutants tightly bind to carbon in this format. So, biochar makes a respectable filter and acts as a “battery” of water and nutrients in soils. Biochar adsorbs and holds on to seven times its weight in water. Soil containing biochar is more drought resilient than soil without it. Adsorbed nutrients, tightly sequestered alongside water, get released only as plants need them. Plants must excrete protons (H+) from their roots to disgorge water or positively charged nutrients from the biochar's surface; it's an active process. Biochar’s surface area (where adsorption happens) can be 500 square meters per gram or more. That is 10% larger than an official NBA basketball court for every gram of biochar. Biochar’s abundant surface area builds protective habitats for soil microbes like fungi and bacteria and many are critical for the health and productivity of the soil itself. The “carbon sequestration” component of biochar comes into play where “carbon credits” are concerned. There is a financial market for carbon. Not leveraging that market for revenue is foolish. I am climate agnostic. All I care about is that once solid carbon is inside the soil, it will stay there for thousands of years, imparting drought resiliency, fertility collection, nutrient buffering, and release for that time span. I simply want as much solid carbon in the soil because of the undeniably positive effects it has, regardless of any climactic considerations. # Wood Vinegar: More Waste  Another by-product of the gasification process is wood vinegar (Pyroligneous acid). If you have ever seen Liquid Smoke in the grocery store, then you have seen wood vinegar. Principally composed of acetic acid, acetone, and methanol wood vinegar also contains ~200 other organic compounds. It would seem intuitive that condensed, liquefied wood smoke would at least be bad for the health of all living things if not downright carcinogenic. The counter intuition wins the day, however. Wood vinegar has been used by humans for a very long time to promote digestion, bowel, and liver health; combat diarrhea and vomiting; calm peptic ulcers and regulate cholesterol levels; and a host of other benefits. For centuries humans have annually burned off hundreds of thousands of square miles of pasture, grassland, forest, and every other conceivable terrestrial ecosystem. Why is this done? After every burn, one thing becomes obvious: the almost supernatural growth these ecosystems exhibit after the burn. How? Wood vinegar is a component of this growth. Even in open burns, smoke condenses and infiltrates the soil. That is when wood vinegar shows its quality. This stuff beefs up not only general plant growth but seed germination as well and possesses many other qualities that are beneficial to plants. It’s a pesticide, fungicide, promotes beneficial soil microorganisms, enhances nutrient uptake, and imparts disease resistance. I am barely touching a long list of attributes here, but you want wood vinegar in your soil (alongside biochar because it adsorbs wood vinegar as well). # The Internal Combustion Engine  Conversion of grazed forage to chemical, then mechanical, and then electrical energy completes the cycle. The ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) converts the gaseous fuel output from the gasifier to mechanical energy, heat, water vapor, and CO2. It’s the mechanical energy of a rotating drive shaft that we want. That rotation drives the electric generator, which is the heartbeat we need to bring this monster to life. Luckily for us, combined internal combustion engine and generator packages are ubiquitous, delivering a defined energy output given a constant fuel input. It’s the simplest part of the system. The obvious question here is whether the amount of syngas provided by the gasification process will provide enough energy to generate enough electrons to run the entire system or not. While I have no doubt the energy produced will run Forest Walker's main systems the question is really about the electrons left over. Will it be enough to run the Bitcoin mining aspect of the system? Everything is a budget. # CO2 Production For Growth  Plants are lollipops. No matter if it’s a tree or a bush or a shrubbery, the entire thing is mostly sugar in various formats but mostly long chain carbohydrates like lignin and cellulose. Plants need three things to make sugar: CO2, H2O and light. In a forest, where tree densities can be quite high, CO2 availability becomes a limiting growth factor. It’d be in the forest interests to have more available CO2 providing for various sugar formation providing the organism with food and structure. An odd thing about tree leaves, the openings that allow gasses like the ever searched for CO2 are on the bottom of the leaf (these are called stomata). Not many stomata are topside. This suggests that trees and bushes have evolved to find gasses like CO2 from below, not above and this further suggests CO2 might be in higher concentrations nearer the soil. The soil life (bacterial, fungi etc.) is constantly producing enormous amounts of CO2 and it would stay in the soil forever (eventually killing the very soil life that produces it) if not for tidal forces. Water is everywhere and whether in pools, lakes, oceans or distributed in “moist” soils water moves towards to the moon. The water in the soil and also in the water tables below the soil rise toward the surface every day. When the water rises, it expels the accumulated gasses in the soil into the atmosphere and it’s mostly CO2. It’s a good bet on how leaves developed high populations of stomata on the underside of leaves. As the water relaxes (the tide goes out) it sucks oxygenated air back into the soil to continue the functions of soil life respiration. The soil “breathes” albeit slowly. The gasses produced by the Forest Walker’s internal combustion engine consist primarily of CO2 and H2O. Combusting sugars produce the same gasses that are needed to construct the sugars because the universe is funny like that. The Forest Walker is constantly laying down these critical construction elements right where the trees need them: close to the ground to be gobbled up by the trees. # The Branch Drones  During the last ice age, giant mammals populated North America - forests and otherwise. Mastodons, woolly mammoths, rhinos, short-faced bears, steppe bison, caribou, musk ox, giant beavers, camels, gigantic ground-dwelling sloths, glyptodons, and dire wolves were everywhere. Many were ten to fifteen feet tall. As they crashed through forests, they would effectively cleave off dead side-branches of trees, halting the spread of a ground-based fire migrating into the tree crown ("laddering") which is a death knell for a forest. These animals are all extinct now and forests no longer have any manner of pruning services. But, if we build drones fitted with cutting implements like saws and loppers, optical cameras and AI trained to discern dead branches from living ones, these drones could effectively take over pruning services by identifying, cutting, and dropping to the forest floor, dead branches. The dropped branches simply get collected by the Forest Walker as part of its continual mission. The drones dock on the back of the Forest Walker to recharge their batteries when low. The whole scene would look like a grazing cow with some flies bothering it. This activity breaks the link between a relatively cool ground based fire and the tree crowns and is a vital element in forest fire control. # The Bitcoin Miner  Mining is one of four monetary incentive models, making this system a possibility for development. The other three are US Dept. of the Interior, township, county, and electrical utility company easement contracts for fuel load management, global carbon credits trading, and data set sales. All the above depends on obvious questions getting answered. I will list some obvious ones, but this is not an engineering document and is not the place for spreadsheets. How much Bitcoin one Forest Walker can mine depends on everything else. What amount of biomass can we process? Will that biomass flow enough Syngas to keep the lights on? Can the chassis support enough mining ASICs and supporting infrastructure? What does that weigh and will it affect field performance? How much power can the AC generator produce? Other questions that are more philosophical persist. Even if a single Forest Walker can only mine scant amounts of BTC per day, that pales to how much fuel material it can process into biochar. We are talking about millions upon millions of forested acres in need of fuel load management. What can a single Forest Walker do? I am not thinking in singular terms. The Forest Walker must operate as a fleet. What could 50 do? 500? What is it worth providing a service to the world by managing forest fuel loads? Providing proof of work to the global monetary system? Seeding soil with drought and nutrient resilience by the excretion, over time, of carbon by the ton? What did the last forest fire cost? # The Mesh Network  What could be better than one bitcoin mining, carbon sequestering, forest fire squelching, soil amending behemoth? Thousands of them, but then they would need to be able to talk to each other to coordinate position, data handling, etc. Fitted with a mesh networking device, like goTenna or Meshtastic LoRa equipment enables each Forest Walker to communicate with each other. Now we have an interconnected fleet of Forest Walkers relaying data to each other and more importantly, aggregating all of that to the last link in the chain for uplink. Well, at least Bitcoin mining data. Since block data is lightweight, transmission of these data via mesh networking in fairly close quartered environs is more than doable. So, how does data transmit to the Bitcoin Network? How do the Forest Walkers get the previous block data necessary to execute on mining? # Back To The Chain  Getting Bitcoin block data to and from the network is the last puzzle piece. The standing presumption here is that wherever a Forest Walker fleet is operating, it is NOT within cell tower range. We further presume that the nearest Walmart Wi-Fi is hours away. Enter the Blockstream Satellite or something like it. A separate, ground-based drone will have two jobs: To stay as close to the nearest Forest Walker as it can and to provide an antennae for either terrestrial or orbital data uplink. Bitcoin-centric data is transmitted to the "uplink drone" via the mesh networked transmitters and then sent on to the uplink and the whole flow goes in the opposite direction as well; many to one and one to many. We cannot transmit data to the Blockstream satellite, and it will be up to Blockstream and companies like it to provide uplink capabilities in the future and I don't doubt they will. Starlink you say? What’s stopping that company from filtering out block data? Nothing because it’s Starlink’s system and they could decide to censor these data. It seems we may have a problem sending and receiving Bitcoin data in back country environs. But, then again, the utility of this system in staunching the fuel load that creates forest fires is extremely useful around forested communities and many have fiber, Wi-Fi and cell towers. These communities could be a welcoming ground zero for first deployments of the Forest Walker system by the home and business owners seeking fire repression. In the best way, Bitcoin subsidizes the safety of the communities. # Sensor Packages ### LiDaR  The benefit of having a Forest Walker fleet strolling through the forest is the never ending opportunity for data gathering. A plethora of deployable sensors gathering hyper-accurate data on everything from temperature to topography is yet another revenue generator. Data is valuable and the Forest Walker could generate data sales to various government entities and private concerns. LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) can map topography, perform biomass assessment, comparative soil erosion analysis, etc. It so happens that the Forest Walker’s ability to “see,” to navigate about its surroundings, is LiDaR driven and since it’s already being used, we can get double duty by harvesting that data for later use. By using a laser to send out light pulses and measuring the time it takes for the reflection of those pulses to return, very detailed data sets incrementally build up. Eventually, as enough data about a certain area becomes available, the data becomes useful and valuable. Forestry concerns, both private and public, often use LiDaR to build 3D models of tree stands to assess the amount of harvest-able lumber in entire sections of forest. Consulting companies offering these services charge anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per square kilometer for such services. A Forest Walker generating such assessments on the fly while performing its other functions is a multi-disciplinary approach to revenue generation. ### pH, Soil Moisture, and Cation Exchange Sensing  The Forest Walker is quadrupedal, so there are four contact points to the soil. Why not get a pH data point for every step it takes? We can also gather soil moisture data and cation exchange capacities at unheard of densities because of sampling occurring on the fly during commission of the system’s other duties. No one is going to build a machine to do pH testing of vast tracts of forest soils, but that doesn’t make the data collected from such an endeavor valueless. Since the Forest Walker serves many functions at once, a multitude of data products can add to the return on investment component. ### Weather Data  Temperature, humidity, pressure, and even data like evapotranspiration gathered at high densities on broad acre scales have untold value and because the sensors are lightweight and don’t require large power budgets, they come along for the ride at little cost. But, just like the old mantra, “gas, grass, or ass, nobody rides for free”, these sensors provide potential revenue benefits just by them being present. I’ve touched on just a few data genres here. In fact, the question for universities, governmental bodies, and other institutions becomes, “How much will you pay us to attach your sensor payload to the Forest Walker?” # Noise Suppression  Only you can prevent Metallica filling the surrounds with 120 dB of sound. Easy enough, just turn the car stereo off. But what of a fleet of 50 Forest Walkers operating in the backcountry or near a township? 500? 5000? Each one has a wood chipper, an internal combustion engine, hydraulic pumps, actuators, and more cooling fans than you can shake a stick at. It’s a walking, screaming fire-breathing dragon operating continuously, day and night, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. The sound will negatively affect all living things and that impacts behaviors. Serious engineering consideration and prowess must deliver a silencing blow to the major issue of noise. It would be foolish to think that a fleet of Forest Walkers could be silent, but if not a major design consideration, then the entire idea is dead on arrival. Townships would not allow them to operate even if they solved the problem of widespread fuel load and neither would governmental entities, and rightly so. Nothing, not man nor beast, would want to be subjected to an eternal, infernal scream even if it were to end within days as the fleet moved further away after consuming what it could. Noise and heat are the only real pollutants of this system; taking noise seriously from the beginning is paramount. # Fire Safety  A “fire-breathing dragon” is not the worst description of the Forest Walker. It eats wood, combusts it at very high temperatures and excretes carbon; and it does so in an extremely flammable environment. Bad mix for one Forest Walker, worse for many. One must take extreme pains to ensure that during normal operation, a Forest Walker could fall over, walk through tinder dry brush, or get pounded into the ground by a meteorite from Krypton and it wouldn’t destroy epic swaths of trees and baby deer. I envision an ultimate test of a prototype to include dowsing it in grain alcohol while it’s wrapped up in toilet paper like a pledge at a fraternity party. If it runs for 72 hours and doesn’t set everything on fire, then maybe outside entities won’t be fearful of something that walks around forests with a constant fire in its belly. # The Wrap  How we think about what can be done with and adjacent to Bitcoin is at least as important as Bitcoin’s economic standing itself. For those who will tell me that this entire idea is without merit, I say, “OK, fine. You can come up with something, too.” What can we plug Bitcoin into that, like a battery, makes something that does not work, work? That’s the lesson I get from this entire exercise. No one was ever going to hire teams of humans to go out and "clean the forest". There's no money in that. The data collection and sales from such an endeavor might provide revenues over the break-even point but investment demands Alpha in this day and age. But, plug Bitcoin into an almost viable system and, voilà! We tip the scales to achieve lift-off. Let’s face it, we haven’t scratched the surface of Bitcoin’s forcing function on our minds. Not because it’s Bitcoin, but because of what that invention means. The question that pushes me to approach things this way is, “what can we create that one system’s waste is another system’s feedstock?” The Forest Walker system’s only real waste is the conversion of low entropy energy (wood and syngas) into high entropy energy (heat and noise). All other output is beneficial to humanity. Bitcoin, I believe, is the first product of a new mode of human imagination. An imagination newly forged over the past few millennia of being lied to, stolen from, distracted and otherwise mis-allocated to a black hole of the nonsensical. We are waking up. What I have presented is not science fiction. Everything I have described here is well within the realm of possibility. The question is one of viability, at least in terms of the detritus of the old world we find ourselves departing from. This system would take a non-trivial amount of time and resources to develop. I think the system would garner extensive long-term contracts from those who have the most to lose from wildfires, the most to gain from hyperaccurate data sets, and, of course, securing the most precious asset in the world. Many may not see it that way, for they seek Alpha and are therefore blind to other possibilities. Others will see only the possibilities; of thinking in a new way, of looking at things differently, and dreaming of what comes next.

My blog posts and reading material have both been on a decidedly economics-heavy slant recently. The topic today, incentives, squarely falls into the category of economics. However, when I say economics, I’m not talking about “analyzing supply and demand curves.” I’m talking about the true basis of economics: understanding how human beings make decisions in a world of scarcity. A fair definition of incentive is “a reward or punishment that motivates behavior to achieve a desired outcome.” When most people think about economic incentives, they’re thinking of money. If I offer my son $5 if he washes the dishes, I’m incentivizing certain behavior. We can’t guarantee that he’ll do what I want him to do, but we can agree that the incentive structure itself will guide and ultimately determine what outcome will occur. The great thing about monetary incentives is how easy they are to talk about and compare. “Would I rather make $5 washing the dishes or $10 cleaning the gutters?” But much of the world is incentivized in non-monetary ways too. For example, using the “punishment” half of the definition above, I might threaten my son with losing Nintendo Switch access if he doesn’t wash the dishes. No money is involved, but I’m still incentivizing behavior. And there are plenty of incentives beyond our direct control\! My son is *also* incentivized to not wash dishes because it’s boring, or because he has some friends over that he wants to hang out with, or dozens of other things. Ultimately, the conflicting array of different incentive structures placed on him will ultimately determine what actions he chooses to take. ## Why incentives matter A phrase I see often in discussions—whether they are political, parenting, economic, or business—is “if they could **just** do…” Each time I see that phrase, I cringe a bit internally. Usually, the underlying assumption of the statement is “if people would behave contrary to their incentivized behavior then things would be better.” For example: * If my kids would just go to bed when I tell them, they wouldn’t be so cranky in the morning. * If people would just use the recycling bin, we wouldn’t have such a landfill problem. * If people would just stop being lazy, our team would deliver our project on time. In all these cases, the speakers are seemingly flummoxed as to why the people in question don’t behave more rationally. The problem is: each group is behaving perfectly rationally. * The kids have a high time preference, and care more about the joy of staying up now than the crankiness in the morning. Plus, they don’t really suffer the consequences of morning crankiness, their parents do. * No individual suffers much from their individual contribution to a landfill. If they stopped growing the size of the landfill, it would make an insignificant difference versus the amount of effort they need to engage in to properly recycle. * If a team doesn’t properly account for the productivity of individuals on a project, each individual receives less harm from their own inaction. Sure, the project may be delayed, company revenue may be down, and they may even risk losing their job when the company goes out of business. But their laziness individually won’t determine the entirety of that outcome. By contrast, they greatly benefit from being lazy by getting to relax at work, go on social media, read a book, or do whatever else they do when they’re supposed to be working.  My point here is that, as long as you ignore the reality of how incentives drive human behavior, you’ll fail at getting the outcomes you want. If everything I wrote up until now made perfect sense, you understand the premise of this blog post. The rest of it will focus on a bunch of real-world examples to hammer home the point, and demonstrate how versatile this mental model is. ## Running a company Let’s say I run my own company, with myself as the only employee. My personal revenue will be 100% determined by my own actions. If I decide to take Tuesday afternoon off and go fishing, I’ve chosen to lose that afternoon’s revenue. Implicitly, I’ve decided that the enjoyment I get from an afternoon of fishing is greater than the potential revenue. You may think I’m being lazy, but it’s my decision to make. In this situation, the incentive–money–is perfectly aligned with my actions. Compare this to a typical company/employee relationship. I might have a bank of Paid Time Off (PTO) days, in which case once again my incentives are relatively aligned. I know that I can take off 15 days throughout the year, and I’ve chosen to use half a day for the fishing trip. All is still good. What about unlimited time off? Suddenly incentives are starting to misalign. I don’t directly pay a price for not showing up to work on Tuesday. Or Wednesday as well, for that matter. I might ultimately be fired for not doing my job, but that will take longer to work its way through the system than simply not making any money for the day taken off. Compensation overall falls into this misaligned incentive structure. Let’s forget about taking time off. Instead, I work full time on a software project I’m assigned. But instead of using the normal toolchain we’re all used to at work, I play around with a new programming language. I get the fun and joy of playing with new technology, and potentially get to pad my resume a bit when I’m ready to look for a new job. But my current company gets slower results, less productivity, and is forced to subsidize my extracurricular learning. When a CEO has a bonus structure based on profitability, he’ll do everything he can to make the company profitable. This might include things that actually benefit the company, like improving product quality, reducing internal red tape, or finding cheaper vendors. But it might also include destructive practices, like slashing the R\&D budget to show massive profits this year, in exchange for a catastrophe next year when the next version of the product fails to ship.  Or my favorite example. My parents owned a business when I was growing up. They had a back office where they ran operations like accounting. All of the furniture was old couches from our house. After all, any money they spent on furniture came right out of their paychecks\! But in a large corporate environment, each department is generally given a budget for office furniture, a budget which doesn’t roll over year-to-year. The result? Executives make sure to spend the entire budget each year, often buying furniture far more expensive than they would choose if it was their own money. There are plenty of details you can quibble with above. It’s in a company’s best interest to give people downtime so that they can come back recharged. Having good ergonomic furniture can in fact increase productivity in excess of the money spent on it. But overall, the picture is pretty clear: in large corporate structures, you’re guaranteed to have mismatches between the company’s goals and the incentive structure placed on individuals. Using our model from above, we can lament how lazy, greedy, and unethical the employees are for doing what they’re incentivized to do instead of what’s right. But that’s simply ignoring the reality of human nature. # Moral hazard Moral hazard is a situation where one party is incentivized to take on more risk because another party will bear the consequences. Suppose I tell my son when he turns 21 (or whatever legal gambling age is) that I’ll cover all his losses for a day at the casino, but he gets to keep all the winnings. What do you think he’s going to do? The most logical course of action is to place the largest possible bets for as long as possible, asking me to cover each time he loses, and taking money off the table and into his bank account each time he wins.  But let’s look at a slightly more nuanced example. I go to a bathroom in the mall. As I’m leaving, I wash my hands. It will take me an extra 1 second to turn off the water when I’m done washing. That’s a trivial price to pay. If I *don’t* turn off the water, the mall will have to pay for many liters of wasted water, benefiting no one. But I won’t suffer any consequences at all. This is also a moral hazard, but most people will still turn off the water. Why? Usually due to some combination of other reasons such as: 1. We’re so habituated to turning off the water that we don’t even consider *not* turning it off. Put differently, the mental effort needed to not turn off the water is more expensive than the 1 second of time to turn it off. 2. Many of us have been brought up with a deep guilt about wasting resources like water. We have an internal incentive structure that makes the 1 second to turn off the water much less costly than the mental anguish of the waste we created. 3. We’re afraid we’ll be caught by someone else and face some kind of social repercussions. (Or maybe more than social. Are you sure there isn’t a law against leaving the water tap on?) Even with all that in place, you may notice that many public bathrooms use automatic water dispensers. Sure, there’s a sanitation reason for that, but it’s also to avoid this moral hazard. A common denominator in both of these is that the person taking the action that causes the liability (either the gambling or leaving the water on) is not the person who bears the responsibility for that liability (the father or the mall owner). Generally speaking, the closer together the person making the decision and the person incurring the liability are, the smaller the moral hazard. It’s easy to demonstrate that by extending the casino example a bit. I said it was the father who was covering the losses of the gambler. Many children (though not all) would want to avoid totally bankrupting their parents, or at least financially hurting them. Instead, imagine that someone from the IRS shows up at your door, hands you a credit card, and tells you you can use it at a casino all day, taking home all the chips you want. The money is coming from the government. How many people would put any restriction on how much they spend? And since we’re talking about the government already… ## Government moral hazards As I was preparing to write this blog post, the California wildfires hit. The discussions around those wildfires gave a *huge* number of examples of moral hazards. I decided to cherry-pick a few for this post. The first and most obvious one: California is asking for disaster relief funds from the federal government. That sounds wonderful. These fires were a natural disaster, so why shouldn’t the federal government pitch in and help take care of people? The problem is, once again, a moral hazard. In the case of the wildfires, California and Los Angeles both had ample actions they could have taken to mitigate the destruction of this fire: better forest management, larger fire department, keeping the water reservoirs filled, and probably much more that hasn’t come to light yet. If the federal government bails out California, it will be a clear message for the future: your mistakes will be fixed by others. You know what kind of behavior that incentivizes? More risky behavior\! Why spend state funds on forest management and extra firefighters—activities that don’t win politicians a lot of votes in general—when you could instead spend it on a football stadium, higher unemployment payments, or anything else, and then let the feds cover the cost of screw-ups. You may notice that this is virtually identical to the 2008 “too big to fail” bail-outs. Wall Street took insanely risky behavior, reaped huge profits for years, and when they eventually got caught with their pants down, the rest of us bailed them out. “Privatizing profits, socializing losses.”  And here’s the absolute best part of this: I can’t even truly blame either California *or* Wall Street. (I mean, I *do* blame them, I think their behavior is reprehensible, but you’ll see what I mean.) In a world where the rules of the game implicitly include the bail-out mentality, you would be harming your citizens/shareholders/investors if you didn’t engage in that risky behavior. Since everyone is on the hook for those socialized losses, your best bet is to maximize those privatized profits. There’s a lot more to government and moral hazard, but I think these two cases demonstrate the crux pretty solidly. But let’s leave moral hazard behind for a bit and get to general incentivization discussions. # Non-monetary competition At least 50% of the economics knowledge I have comes from the very first econ course I took in college. That professor was amazing, and had some very colorful stories. I can’t vouch for the veracity of the two I’m about to share, but they definitely drive the point home. In the 1970s, the US had an oil shortage. To “fix” this problem, they instituted price caps on gasoline, which of course resulted in insufficient gasoline. To “fix” this problem, they instituted policies where, depending on your license plate number, you could only fill up gas on certain days of the week. (Irrelevant detail for our point here, but this just resulted in people filling up their tanks more often, no reduction in gas usage.) Anyway, my professor’s wife had a friend. My professor described in *great* detail how attractive this woman was. I’ll skip those details here since this is a PG-rated blog. In any event, she never had any trouble filling up her gas tank any day of the week. She would drive up, be told she couldn’t fill up gas today, bat her eyes at the attendant, explain how helpless she was, and was always allowed to fill up gas. This is a demonstration of *non-monetary compensation*. Most of the time in a free market, capitalist economy, people are compensated through money. When price caps come into play, there’s a limit to how much monetary compensation someone can receive. And in that case, people find other ways of competing. Like this woman’s case: through using flirtatious behavior to compensate the gas station workers to let her cheat the rules. The other example was much more insidious. Santa Monica had a problem: it was predominantly wealthy and white. They wanted to fix this problem, and decided to put in place rent controls. After some time, they discovered that Santa Monica had become *wealthier and whiter*, the exact opposite of their desired outcome. Why would that happen? Someone investigated, and ended up interviewing a landlady that demonstrated the reason. She was an older white woman, and admittedly racist. Prior to the rent controls, she would list her apartments in the newspaper, and would be legally obligated to rent to anyone who could afford it. Once rent controls were in place, she took a different tact. She knew that she would only get a certain amount for the apartment, and that the demand for apartments was higher than the supply. That meant she could be picky. She ended up finding tenants through friends-of-friends. Since it wasn’t an official advertisement, she wasn’t legally required to rent it out if someone could afford to pay. Instead, she got to interview people individually and then make them an offer. Normally, that would have resulted in receiving a lower rental price, but not under rent controls. So who did she choose? A young, unmarried, wealthy, white woman. It made perfect sense. Women were less intimidating and more likely to maintain the apartment better. Wealthy people, she determined, would be better tenants. (I have no idea if this is true in practice or not, I’m not a landlord myself.) Unmarried, because no kids running around meant less damage to the property. And, of course, white. Because she was racist, and her incentive structure made her prefer whites. You can deride her for being racist, I won’t disagree with you. But it’s simply the reality. Under the non-rent-control scenario, her profit motive for money outweighed her racism motive. But under rent control, the monetary competition was removed, and she was free to play into her racist tendencies without facing any negative consequences. ## Bureaucracy These were the two examples I remember for that course. But non-monetary compensation pops up in many more places. One highly pertinent example is bureaucracies. Imagine you have a government office, or a large corporation’s acquisition department, or the team that apportions grants at a university. In all these cases, you have a group of people making decisions about handing out money that has no monetary impact on them. If they give to the best qualified recipients, they receive no raises. If they spend the money recklessly on frivolous projects, they face no consequences. Under such an incentivization scheme, there’s little to encourage the bureaucrats to make intelligent funding decisions. Instead, they’ll be incentivized to spend the money where they recognize non-monetary benefits. This is why it’s so common to hear about expensive meals, gift bags at conferences, and even more inappropriate ways of trying to curry favor with those that hold the purse strings. Compare that ever so briefly with the purchases made by a small mom-and-pop store like my parents owned. Could my dad take a bribe to buy from a vendor who’s ripping him off? Absolutely he could\! But he’d lose more on the deal than he’d make on the bribe, since he’s directly incentivized by the deal itself. It would make much more sense for him to go with the better vendor, save $5,000 on the deal, and then treat himself to a lavish $400 meal to celebrate. # Government incentivized behavior This post is getting longer in the tooth than I’d intended, so I’ll finish off with this section and make it a bit briefer. Beyond all the methods mentioned above, government has another mechanism for modifying behavior: through directly changing incentives via legislation, regulation, and monetary policy. Let’s see some examples: * Artificial modification of interest rates encourages people to take on more debt than they would in a free capital market, leading to [malinvestment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malinvestment) and a consumer debt crisis, and causing the boom-bust cycle we all painfully experience. * Going along with that, giving tax breaks on interest payments further artificially incentivizes people to take on debt that they wouldn’t otherwise. * During COVID-19, at some points unemployment benefits were greater than minimum wage, incentivizing people to rather stay home and not work than get a job, leading to reduced overall productivity in the economy and more printed dollars for benefits. In other words, it was a perfect recipe for inflation. * The tax code gives deductions to “help” people. That might be true, but the real impact is incentivizing people to make decisions they wouldn’t have otherwise. For example, giving out tax deductions on children encourages having more kids. Tax deductions on childcare and preschools incentivizes dual-income households. Whether or not you like the outcomes, it’s clear that it’s government that’s encouraging these outcomes to happen. * Tax incentives cause people to engage in behavior they wouldn’t otherwise (daycare+working mother, for example). * Inflation means that the value of your money goes down over time, which encourages people to spend more today, when their money has a larger impact. (Milton Friedman described this as [high living](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwNDd2_beTU).) # Conclusion The idea here is simple, and fully encapsulated in the title: incentives determine outcomes. If you want to know how to get a certain outcome from others, incentivize them to want that to happen. If you want to understand why people act in seemingly irrational ways, check their incentives. If you’re confused why leaders (and especially politicians) seem to engage in destructive behavior, check their incentives. We can bemoan these realities all we want, but they *are* realities. While there are some people who have a solid internal moral and ethical code, and that internal code incentivizes them to behave against their externally-incentivized interests, those people are rare. And frankly, those people are self-defeating. People *should* take advantage of the incentives around them. Because if they don’t, someone else will. (If you want a literary example of that last comment, see the horse in Animal Farm.) How do we improve the world under these conditions? Make sure the incentives align well with the overall goals of society. To me, it’s a simple formula: * Focus on free trade, value for value, as the basis of a society. In that system, people are always incentivized to provide value to other people. * Reduce the size of bureaucracies and large groups of all kinds. The larger an organization becomes, the farther the consequences of decisions are from those who make them. * And since the nature of human beings will be to try and create areas where they can control the incentive systems to their own benefits, make that as difficult as possible. That comes in the form of strict limits on government power, for example. And even if you don’t want to buy in to this conclusion, I hope the rest of the content was educational, and maybe a bit entertaining\!

I’ve been using Notedeck for several months, starting with its extremely early and experimental alpha versions, all the way to its current, more stable alpha releases. The journey has been fascinating, as I’ve had the privilege of watching it evolve from a concept into a functional and promising tool. In its earliest stages, Notedeck was raw—offering glimpses of its potential but still far from practical for daily use. Even then, the vision behind it was clear: a platform designed to redefine how we interact with Nostr by offering flexibility and power for all users. I'm very bullish on Notedeck. Why? Because Will Casarin is making it! Duh! 😂 Seriously though, if we’re reimagining the web and rebuilding portions of the Internet, it’s important to recognize [the potential of Notedeck](https://damus.io/notedeck/). If Nostr is reimagining the web, then Notedeck is reimagining the Nostr client. Notedeck isn’t just another Nostr app—it’s more a Nostr browser that functions more like an operating system with micro-apps. How cool is that? Much like how Google's Chrome evolved from being a web browser with a task manager into ChromeOS, a full blown operating system, Notedeck aims to transform how we interact with the Nostr. It goes beyond individual apps, offering a foundation for a fully integrated ecosystem built around Nostr. As a Nostr evangelist, I love to scream **INTEROPERABILITY** and tout every application's integrations. Well, Notedeck has the potential to be one of the best platforms to showcase these integrations in entirely new and exciting ways. Do you want an Olas feed of images? Add the media column. Do you want a feed of live video events? Add the zap.stream column. Do you want Nostr Nests or audio chats? Add that column to your Notedeck. Git? Email? Books? Chat and DMs? It's all possible. 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. Notedeck is designed with a local-first approach, utilizing Nostr content stored directly on your device via the local nostrdb. This will enable a plethora of advanced tools such as search and filtering, the creation of custom feeds, and the ability to develop personalized algorithms across multiple Notedeck micro-applications—all with unparalleled flexibility. Notedeck also supports multicast. Let's geek out for a second. Multicast is a method of communication where data is sent from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously, but only to devices that wish to receive the data. Unlike broadcast, which sends data to all devices on a network, multicast targets specific receivers, reducing network traffic. This is commonly used for efficient data distribution in scenarios like streaming, conferencing, or large-scale data synchronization between devices. > In a local first world where each device holds local copies of your nostr nodes, and each device transparently syncs with each other on the local network, each node becomes a backup. Your data becomes antifragile automatically. When a node goes down it can resync and recover from other nodes. Even if not all nodes have a complete collection, negentropy can pull down only what is needed from each device. All this can be done without internet. > > \-Will Casarin In the context of Notedeck, multicast would allow multiple devices to sync their Nostr nodes with each other over a local network without needing an internet connection. Wild. Notedeck aims to offer full customization too, including the ability to design and share custom skins, much like Winamp. Users will also be able to create personalized columns and, in the future, share their setups with others. This opens the door for power users to craft tailored Nostr experiences, leveraging their expertise in the protocol and applications. By sharing these configurations as "Starter Decks," they can simplify onboarding and showcase the best of Nostr’s ecosystem. Nostr’s “Other Stuff” can often be difficult to discover, use, or understand. Many users doesn't understand or know how to use web browser extensions to login to applications. Let's not even get started with nsecbunkers. Notedeck will address this challenge by providing a native experience that brings these lesser-known applications, tools, and content into a user-friendly and accessible interface, making exploration seamless. However, that doesn't mean Notedeck should disregard power users that want to use nsecbunkers though - hint hint. For anyone interested in watching Nostr be [developed live](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck), right before your very eyes, Notedeck’s progress serves as a reminder of what’s possible when innovation meets dedication. The current alpha is already demonstrating its ability to handle complex use cases, and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow as it moves toward a full release later this year.

Let's hear some of your latest #Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/837629/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their #sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/847330

This article hopes to complement the article by Lyn Alden on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk_HWmmwiAs ## The reason why we have broken money Before the invention of key technologies such as the printing press and electronic communications, even such as those as early as morse code transmitters, gold had won the competition for best medium of money around the world. In fact, it was not just gold by itself that became money, rulers and world leaders developed coins in order to help the economy grow. Gold nuggets were not as easy to transact with as coins with specific imprints and denominated sizes. However, these modern technologies created massive efficiencies that allowed us to communicate and perform services more efficiently and much faster, yet the medium of money could not benefit from these advancements. Gold was heavy, slow and expensive to move globally, even though requesting and performing services globally did not have this limitation anymore. Banks took initiative and created derivatives of gold: paper and electronic money; these new currencies allowed the economy to continue to grow and evolve, but it was not without its dark side. Today, no currency is denominated in gold at all, money is backed by nothing and its inherent value, the paper it is printed on, is worthless too. Banks and governments eventually transitioned from a money derivative to a system of debt that could be co-opted and controlled for political and personal reasons. Our money today is broken and is the cause of more expensive, poorer quality goods in the economy, a larger and ever growing wealth gap, and many of the follow-on problems that have come with it. ## Bitcoin overcomes the "transfer of hard money" problem Just like gold coins were created by man, Bitcoin too is a technology created by man. Bitcoin, however is a much more profound invention, possibly more of a discovery than an invention in fact. Bitcoin has proven to be unbreakable, incorruptible and has upheld its ability to keep its units scarce, inalienable and counterfeit proof through the nature of its own design. Since Bitcoin is a digital technology, it can be transferred across international borders almost as quickly as information itself. It therefore severely reduces the need for a derivative to be used to represent money to facilitate digital trade. This means that as the currency we use today continues to fare poorly for many people, bitcoin will continue to stand out as hard money, that just so happens to work as well, functionally, along side it. Bitcoin will also always be available to anyone who wishes to earn it directly; even China is unable to restrict its citizens from accessing it. The dollar has traditionally become the currency for people who discover that their local currency is unsustainable. Even when the dollar has become illegal to use, it is simply used privately and unofficially. However, because bitcoin does not require you to trade it at a bank in order to use it across borders and across the web, Bitcoin will continue to be a viable escape hatch until we one day hit some critical mass where the world has simply adopted Bitcoin globally and everyone else must adopt it to survive. Bitcoin has not yet proven that it can support the world at scale. However it can only be tested through real adoption, and just as gold coins were developed to help gold scale, tools will be developed to help overcome problems as they arise; ideally without the need for another derivative, but if necessary, hopefully with one that is more neutral and less corruptible than the derivatives used to represent gold. ## Bitcoin blurs the line between commodity and technology Bitcoin is a technology, it is a tool that requires human involvement to function, however it surprisingly does not allow for any concentration of power. Anyone can help to facilitate Bitcoin's operations, but no one can take control of its behaviour, its reach, or its prioritisation, as it operates autonomously based on a pre-determined, neutral set of rules. At the same time, its built-in incentive mechanism ensures that people do not have to operate bitcoin out of the good of their heart. Even though the system cannot be co-opted holistically, It will not stop operating while there are people motivated to trade their time and resources to keep it running and earn from others' transaction fees. Although it requires humans to operate it, it remains both neutral and sustainable. Never before have we developed or discovered a technology that could not be co-opted and used by one person or faction against another. Due to this nature, Bitcoin's units are often described as a commodity; they cannot be usurped or virtually cloned, and they cannot be affected by political biases. ## The dangers of derivatives A derivative is something created, designed or developed to represent another thing in order to solve a particular complication or problem. For example, paper and electronic money was once a derivative of gold. In the case of Bitcoin, if you cannot link your units of bitcoin to an "address" that you personally hold a cryptographically secure key to, then you very likely have a derivative of bitcoin, not bitcoin itself. If you buy bitcoin on an online exchange and do not withdraw the bitcoin to a wallet that you control, then you legally own an electronic derivative of bitcoin. Bitcoin is a new technology. It will have a learning curve and it will take time for humanity to learn how to comprehend, authenticate and take control of bitcoin collectively. Having said that, many people all over the world are already using and relying on Bitcoin natively. For many, it will require for people to find the need or a desire for a neutral money like bitcoin, and to have been burned by derivatives of it, before they start to understand the difference between the two. Eventually, it will become an essential part of what we regard as common sense. ## Learn for yourself If you wish to learn more about how to handle bitcoin and avoid derivatives, you can start by searching online for tutorials about "Bitcoin self custody". There are many options available, some more practical for you, and some more practical for others. Don't spend too much time trying to find the perfect solution; practice and learn. You may make mistakes along the way, so be careful not to experiment with large amounts of your bitcoin as you explore new ideas and technologies along the way. This is similar to learning anything, like riding a bicycle; you are sure to fall a few times, scuff the frame, so don't buy a high performance racing bike while you're still learning to balance.

yoyoaa

收录的内容中 kind=1的部分，实话说 质量不高。 所以我增加了kind=30023 长文的article，但是更新的太少，多个relays 的服务器也没有多少长文。 所有搜索nostr如果需要产生价值，需要有高质量的文章和新闻。 而且现在有很多机器人的文章充满着浪费空间的作用，其他作用都用不上。 https://www.duozhutuan.com 目前放的是给搜索引擎提供搜索的原材料。没有做UI给人类浏览。所以看上去是粗糙的。 我并没有打算去做一个发microblog的 web客户端，那类的客户端太多了。 我觉得nostr社区需要解决的还是应用。如果仅仅是microblog 感觉有点够呛 幸运的是npub.pro 建站这样的，我觉得有点意思。 yakihonne 智能widget 也有意思 我做的TaskQ5 我自己在用了。分布式的任务系统，也挺好的。

Today I stumbled into these platforms WLW.de and EuroPages.co.uk, two portals from the same group: Visable.com I found here some interesting new clients, and am working on bringing those business into our bitcoin journey. It will take time, and yes, they are still fiat maxis, but just because they don't know any better! @globalmerchant came to my mind and all the B2B conversations had here on SN. I hope these two portals would bring you more business, as they are doing for us. But also hope that we'll find here other businesses interested in accepting and trading in a bitcoin standard. The main goal of this topic was to discover similar websites. Do any of us here know any other trusted platform? Which region is covering, and how do you get to know it? Thanks for sharing! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/844602

## **Necessário** - Um Android que você não use mais (a câmera deve estar funcionando). - Um cartão microSD (opcional, usado apenas uma vez). - Um dispositivo para acompanhar seus fundos (provavelmente você já tem um). ## **Algumas coisas que você precisa saber** - O dispositivo servirá como um assinador. Qualquer movimentação só será efetuada após ser assinada por ele. - O cartão microSD será usado para transferir o APK do Electrum e garantir que o aparelho não terá contato com outras fontes de dados externas após sua formatação. Contudo, é possível usar um cabo USB para o mesmo propósito. - A ideia é deixar sua chave privada em um dispositivo offline, que ficará desligado em 99% do tempo. Você poderá acompanhar seus fundos em outro dispositivo conectado à internet, como seu celular ou computador pessoal. --- ## **O tutorial será dividido em dois módulos:** - Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador. - Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador. --- ## **No final, teremos:** - Uma carteira fria que também servirá como assinador. - Um dispositivo para acompanhar os fundos da carteira.  --- ## **Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador** 1. Baixe o APK do Electrum na aba de **downloads** em <https://electrum.org/>. Fique à vontade para [verificar as assinaturas](https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/gpg-check.html) do software, garantindo sua autenticidade. 2. Formate o cartão microSD e coloque o APK do Electrum nele. Caso não tenha um cartão microSD, pule este passo.  3. Retire os chips e acessórios do aparelho que será usado como assinador, formate-o e aguarde a inicialização.  4. Durante a inicialização, pule a etapa de conexão ao Wi-Fi e rejeite todas as solicitações de conexão. Após isso, você pode desinstalar aplicativos desnecessários, pois precisará apenas do Electrum. Certifique-se de que Wi-Fi, Bluetooth e dados móveis estejam desligados. Você também pode ativar o **modo avião**.\ *(Curiosidade: algumas pessoas optam por abrir o aparelho e danificar a antena do Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, impossibilitando essas funcionalidades.)*  5. Insira o cartão microSD com o APK do Electrum no dispositivo e instale-o. Será necessário permitir instalações de fontes não oficiais.  6. No Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão e gere suas palavras-chave (seed). Anote-as em um local seguro. Caso algo aconteça com seu assinador, essas palavras permitirão o acesso aos seus fundos novamente. *(Aqui entra seu método pessoal de backup.)*  --- ## **Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador.** 1. Criar uma carteira **somente leitura** em outro dispositivo, como seu celular ou computador pessoal, é uma etapa bastante simples. Para este tutorial, usaremos outro smartphone Android com Electrum. Instale o Electrum a partir da aba de downloads em <https://electrum.org/> ou da própria Play Store. *(ATENÇÃO: O Electrum não existe oficialmente para iPhone. Desconfie se encontrar algum.)* 2. Após instalar o Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão, mas desta vez escolha a opção **Usar uma chave mestra**.  3. Agora, no assinador que criamos no primeiro módulo, exporte sua chave pública: vá em **Carteira &gt; Detalhes da carteira &gt; Compartilhar chave mestra pública**.  4. Escaneie o QR gerado da chave pública com o dispositivo de consulta. Assim, ele poderá acompanhar seus fundos, mas sem permissão para movimentá-los. 5. Para receber fundos, envie Bitcoin para um dos endereços gerados pela sua carteira: **Carteira &gt; Addresses/Coins**. 6. Para movimentar fundos, crie uma transação no dispositivo de consulta. Como ele não possui a chave privada, será necessário assiná-la com o dispositivo assinador.  7. No assinador, escaneie a transação não assinada, confirme os detalhes, assine e compartilhe. Será gerado outro QR, desta vez com a transação já assinada.  8. No dispositivo de consulta, escaneie o QR da transação assinada e transmita-a para a rede. --- ## **Conclusão** **Pontos positivos do setup:** - **Simplicidade:** Basta um dispositivo Android antigo. - **Flexibilidade:** Funciona como uma ótima carteira fria, ideal para holders. **Pontos negativos do setup:** - **Padronização:** Não utiliza seeds no padrão BIP-39, você sempre precisará usar o electrum. - **Interface:** A aparência do Electrum pode parecer antiquada para alguns usuários. Nesse ponto, temos uma carteira fria que também serve para assinar transações. O fluxo de assinar uma transação se torna: ***Gerar uma transação não assinada &gt; Escanear o QR da transação não assinada &gt; Conferir e assinar essa transação com o assinador &gt; Gerar QR da transação assinada &gt; Escanear a transação assinada com qualquer outro dispositivo que possa transmiti-la para a rede.*** Como alguns devem saber, uma transação assinada de Bitcoin é praticamente impossível de ser fraudada. Em um cenário catastrófico, você pode mesmo que sem internet, repassar essa transação assinada para alguém que tenha acesso à rede por qualquer meio de comunicação. Mesmo que não queiramos que isso aconteça um dia, esse setup acaba por tornar essa prática possível. ---

 Here we are again with our monthly [Magnificent Seven](https://stacker.news/AGORA#the-magnificent-seven---of-all-times), the summary giving you a hit of what you missed in the ~AGORA territory. - - - ### Top-Performing Ads This month, the most engaging ones are: * `00` [[SELL] STACKER NEWS Merch: T-Shirts & Cap [32100 sats + shipping]](https://stacker.news/items/806159/r/AG) by me :) * `01` [Beeswax Dinner Candles For Sale](https://stacker.news/items/806603/r/AG) by @kr * `02` [I'd Buy ~bitcoin Territory At The Right Price](https://stacker.news/items/806097/r/AG) by @0xbitcoiner * `03` [Bitcoin Watches](https://stacker.news/items/823985/r/AG) by @jakoyoh629 * `04` [SN merch live on amazon](https://stacker.news/items/820542/r/AG) by @stack_harder * `05` [A couple programming bounties payable in BTC (Javascript/Typescript, C++)](https://stacker.news/items/824500/r/AG) by @springfield_data_recovery * `06` [[SELL] Accepting SATs ~ Genuine Authentic SHAQ (Shaquille O'Neal) Autograph](https://stacker.news/items/827453/r/AG) by @watchmancbiz * `07` [PlebBook 📖 - (Update: Jan 2025 - Earn Sats in AGORA)](https://stacker.news/items/837351/r/AG) by @PlebLab * `08` [HereComes Bitcoin SATSCARD™ - Summer of Bitcoin](https://stacker.news/items/823715/r/AG) by @Design_r * `09` [[OFFER] 12K sats for any item in The Bullish Shop (BOLT12 only)](https://stacker.news/items/813528/r/AG) by @thebullishbitcoiner * `10` [Bitcoin Shirt on Walmart 👀](https://stacker.news/items/830069/r/AG) by @96dffdc39e - - - ### Cowboys Credits Buyers Yes, this Jan 3rd CCs have been deployed, a unique SN feature that enable everyone to play around and upvote/reward interesting contents and stackers. Has been an interesting number of stackers enetring the market and setting the rate - @siggy47 **Will Pay Sats For Cowboy Credits** https://stacker.news/items/837713/r/AG Make him an offer. His territories rent are due. - @ek **[BUY] 100 cowboy credits for one satoshi** https://stacker.news/items/837469/r/AG Sender must pay the 30% sybil fee, so the sender has to pay 100/0.7=142 CCs to get 1 sat - @Darth first ever CCs offer, and always with his third eye looking at the future, want too **[SWAP] SN Cowboy credits** https://stacker.news/items/723069/r/AG _{PS: posted in October 2024} ### Professional Services accepting Bitcoin * `I` https://stacker.news/items/813013/r/AG @gpvansat's [OFFER][Graphic Design] From the paste editions (It's important to keep these offers available) * `II` https://stacker.news/items/775383/r/AG @TinstrMedia - Color Grading (Styling) Your Pictures as a Service * `III` https://stacker.news/items/773557/r/AG @MamaHodl, MATHS TUTOR 50K SATS/hour English global * `IV` https://stacker.news/items/684163/r/AG @BTCLNAT's OFFER HEALTH COUNSELING [21 SAT/ consultation * `V` https://stacker.news/items/689268/r/AG @mathswithtess [SELL] MATHS TUTOR ONLINE, 90k sats per hour. Global but English only. ###### In case you missed Here some interesting post, opening conversations and free speech about markets and business on the bitcoin circular economy: - Buy Kratum With Bitcoin https://stacker.news/items/806578/r/AG by @siggy47 - How Is Shipping Handled? https://stacker.news/items/832303/r/AG by @siggy47 - Building a List of 'Buy It For Life' Products https://stacker.news/items/809655/r/AG by @kr - Sender must pay the 30% sybil fee, so the sender has to pay 100/0.7=142 CCs to get 1 sat https://stacker.news/items/811292/r/AG by @Fabs - How to (Ethically) Get Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff https://stacker.news/items/829228/r/AG by @mo - The Calgary Sat Market - A driven community of Bitcoiners, making magic together https://stacker.news/items/811666/r/AG by @supratic - ɅGOᏒɅ 🏜️ First Year Recap: A Thriving 2024 for Stacker News P2P Marketplace https://stacker.news/items/821255/r/AG by @AGORA ###### 🏷️ Spending Sunday is back! Share your most recent Bitcoin purchases of just check what other stackers are buying with their sats! Read more https://stacker.news/items/837629/r/AG - - - ###### Just a reminder for you all This territory aims to connect stackers and curious buyers for IRL P2P Bitcoin deals. Have fun checking what else stackers are shilling globally in the ~AGORA. This is a great time for you to make some space un-dusting some stuff that has been sitting there for too long and get some sats for it! - - - ### Create your Ads now!  Looking to start something new? Hit one of the links below to free your mind: * [💬 TOPIC](https://stacker.news/~AGORA/post?type=discussion) for conversation, * [\[⚖️ SELL\]](https://w3.do/b_v2wutP) anything! or, * if you're looking for something, hit the [\[🛒 BUY\]](https://w3.do/zvixtuSh)! * [\[🧑‍💻 HIRE\]](https://w3.do/_j0kpVsi) any bitcoiner skill or stuff from bitcoiners * [\[🖇 OFFER\]](https://w3.do/EfWF8yDL) any product or service and stack more sats * [\[🧑‍⚖️ AUCTION\]](https://w3.do/sbbCjZ0e) to let stackers decide a fair price for your item * [\[🤝 SWAP\]](https://w3.do/V_iP4lY5) if you're looking to exchange anything with anything else * [\[🆓 FREE\]](https://w3.do/DdVEE1ME) your space, make a gift! * [\[⭐ REVIEW\]](https://w3.do/CAZ5JxCk) any bitcoin product or LN service you recently bought or subscribed to - - - Or contact @AGORA team on [nostr DM](https://iris.to/agora_sn) and we can help you publish a personalized post. . `#nostr` `#stuff4sats` `#sell` `#buy` `#plebchain` `#grownostr` `#asknostr` originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/842103

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/828556/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/837629

Here are my predictions for Nostr in 2025: **Decentralization:** The outbox and inbox communication models, sometimes referred to as the Gossip model, will become the standard across the ecosystem. By the end of 2025, all major clients will support these models, providing seamless communication and enhanced decentralization. Clients that do not adopt outbox/inbox by then will be regarded as outdated or legacy systems. **Privacy Standards:** Major clients such as Damus and Primal will move away from NIP-04 DMs, adopting more secure protocol possibilities like NIP-17 or NIP-104. These upgrades will ensure enhanced encryption and metadata protection. Additionally, NIP-104 MLS tools will drive the development of new clients and features, providing users with unprecedented control over the privacy of their communications. **Interoperability:** Nostr's ecosystem will become even more interconnected. Platforms like the Olas image-sharing service will expand into prominent clients such as Primal, Damus, Coracle, and Snort, alongside existing integrations with Amethyst, Nostur, and Nostrudel. Similarly, audio and video tools like Nostr Nests and Zap.stream will gain seamless integration into major clients, enabling easy participation in live events across the ecosystem. **Adoption and Migration:** Inspired by early pioneers like Fountain and Orange Pill App, more platforms will adopt Nostr for authentication, login, and social systems. In 2025, a significant migration from a high-profile application platform with hundreds of thousands of users will transpire, doubling Nostr’s daily activity and establishing it as a cornerstone of decentralized technologies.

Último dia do ano, momento para tirar o pó da bola de cristal, para fazer reflexões, previsões e desejos para o próximo ano e seguintes. Ano após ano, o Bitcoin evoluiu, foi ultrapassando etapas, tornou-se cada vez mais _mainstream_. Está cada vez mais difícil fazer previsões sobre o Bitcoin, já faltam poucas barreiras a serem ultrapassadas e as que faltam são altamente complexas ou tem um impacto profundo no sistema financeiro ou na sociedade. Estas alterações profundas tem que ser realizadas lentamente, porque uma alteração rápida poderia resultar em consequências terríveis, poderia provocar um retrocesso. # Código do Bitcoin No final de 2025, possivelmente vamos ter um _fork_, as discussões sobre os _covenants_ já estão avançadas, vão acelerar ainda mais. Já existe um consenso relativamente alto, a favor dos _covenants_, só falta decidir que modelo será escolhido. Penso que até ao final do ano será tudo decidido. Depois dos _covenants,_ o próximo foco será para a criptografia post-quantum, que será o maior desafio que o Bitcoin enfrenta. Criar uma criptografia segura e que não coloque a descentralização em causa. Espero muito de Ark, possivelmente a inovação do ano, gostaria de ver o Nostr a furar a bolha bitcoinheira e que o Cashu tivesse mais reconhecimento pelos _bitcoiners_. Espero que surjam avanços significativos no BitVM2 e BitVMX. Não sei o que esperar das layer 2 de Bitcoin, foram a maior desilusão de 2024. Surgiram com muita força, mas pouca coisa saiu do papel, foi uma mão cheia de nada. Uma parte dos projetos caiu na tentação da _shitcoinagem_, na criação de tokens, que tem um único objetivo, enriquecer os devs e os VCs. Se querem ser levados a sério, têm que ser sérios. > “À mulher de César não basta ser honesta, deve parecer honesta” Se querem ter o apoio dos _bitcoiners_, sigam o _ethos_ do Bitcoin. Neste ponto a atitude do pessoal da Ark é exemplar, em vez de andar a chorar no Twitter para mudar o código do Bitcoin, eles colocaram as mãos na massa e criaram o protocolo. É claro que agora está meio “coxo”, funciona com uma _multisig_ ou com os _covenants_ na Liquid. Mas eles estão a criar um produto, vão demonstrar ao mercado que o produto é bom e útil. Com a adoção, a comunidade vai perceber que o Ark necessita dos _covenants_ para melhorar a interoperabilidade e a soberania. É este o pensamento certo, que deveria ser seguido pelos restantes e futuros projetos. É seguir aquele pensamento do J.F. Kennedy: > “Não perguntem o que é que o vosso país pode fazer por vocês, perguntem o que é que vocês podem fazer pelo vosso país” Ou seja, não fiquem à espera que o bitcoin mude, criem primeiro as inovações/tecnologia, ganhem adoção e depois demonstrem que a alteração do código camada base pode melhorar ainda mais o vosso projeto. A necessidade é que vai levar a atualização do código. # Reservas Estratégicas de Bitcoin ## Bancos centrais Com a eleição de Trump, emergiu a ideia de uma Reserva Estratégia de Bitcoin, tornou este conceito _mainstream_. Foi um _pivot_, a partir desse momento, foram enumerados os políticos de todo o mundo a falar sobre o assunto. A Senadora Cynthia Lummis foi mais além e propôs um programa para adicionar 200 mil bitcoins à reserva ao ano, até 1 milhão de Bitcoin. Só que isto está a criar uma enorme expectativa na comunidade, só que pode resultar numa enorme desilusão. Porque no primeiro ano, o Trump em vez de comprar os 200 mil, pode apenas adicionar na reserva, os 198 mil que o Estado já tem em sua posse. Se isto acontecer, possivelmente vai resultar numa forte queda a curto prazo. Na minha opinião os bancos centrais deveriam seguir o exemplo de El Salvador, fazer um DCA diário. Mais que comprar bitcoin, para mim, o mais importante é a criação da Reserva, é colocar o Bitcoin ao mesmo nível do ouro, o impacto para o resto do mundo será tremendo, a teoria dos jogos na sua plenitude. Muitos outros bancos centrais vão ter que comprar, para não ficarem atrás, além disso, vai transmitir uma mensagem à generalidade da população, que o Bitcoin é “afinal é algo seguro, com valor”. Mas não foi Trump que iniciou esta teoria dos jogos, mas sim foi a primeira vítima dela. É o próprio Trump que o admite, que os EUA necessitam da reserva para não ficar atrás da China. Além disso, desde que os EUA utilizaram o dólar como uma arma, com sanção contra a Rússia, surgiram boatos de que a Rússia estaria a utilizar o Bitcoin para transações internacionais. Que foram confirmados recentemente, pelo próprio governo russo. Também há poucos dias, ainda antes deste reconhecimento público, Putin elogiou o Bitcoin, ao reconhecer que “Ninguém pode proibir o bitcoin”, defendendo como uma alternativa ao dólar. A narrativa está a mudar. Já existem alguns países com Bitcoin, mas apenas dois o fizeram conscientemente (El Salvador e Butão), os restantes têm devido a apreensões. Hoje são poucos, mas 2025 será o início de uma corrida pelos bancos centrais. Esta corrida era algo previsível, o que eu não esperava é que acontecesse tão rápido.  ## Empresas A criação de reservas estratégicas não vai ficar apenas pelos bancos centrais, também vai acelerar fortemente nas empresas em 2025.  Mas as empresas não vão seguir a estratégia do Saylor, vão comprar bitcoin sem alavancagem, utilizando apenas os tesouros das empresas, como uma proteção contra a inflação. Eu não sou grande admirador do Saylor, prefiro muito mais, uma estratégia conservadora, sem qualquer alavancagem. Penso que as empresas vão seguir a sugestão da BlackRock, que aconselha um alocações de 1% a 3%. Penso que 2025, ainda não será o ano da entrada das 6 magníficas (excepto Tesla), será sobretudo empresas de pequena e média dimensão. As magníficas ainda tem uma cota muito elevada de _shareholders_ com alguma idade, bastante conservadores, que têm dificuldade em compreender o Bitcoin, foi o que aconteceu recentemente com a Microsoft. Também ainda não será em 2025, talvez 2026, a inclusão nativamente de wallet Bitcoin nos sistema da Apple Pay e da Google Pay. Seria um passo gigante para a adoção a nível mundial. # ETFs Os ETFs para mim são uma incógnita, tenho demasiadas dúvidas, como será 2025. Este ano os _inflows_ foram superiores a 500 mil bitcoins, o IBIT foi o lançamento de ETF mais bem sucedido da história. O sucesso dos ETFs, deve-se a 2 situações que nunca mais se vão repetir. O mercado esteve 10 anos à espera pela aprovação dos ETFs, a procura estava reprimida, isso foi bem notório nos primeiros meses, os _inflows_ foram brutais. Também se beneficiou por ser um mercado novo, não existia _orderbook_ de vendas, não existia um mercado interno, praticamente era só _inflows_. Agora o mercado já estabilizou, a maioria das transações já são entre clientes dos próprios ETFs. Agora só uma pequena percentagem do volume das transações diárias vai resultar em _inflows_ ou _outflows_. Estes dois fenómenos nunca mais se vão repetir, eu não acredito que o número de _inflows_ em BTC supere os número de 2024, em dólares vai superar, mas em btc não acredito que vá superar. Mas em 2025 vão surgir uma infindável quantidade de novos produtos, derivativos, novos ETFs de cestos com outras criptos ou cestos com ativos tradicionais. O bitcoin será adicionado em produtos financeiros já existentes no mercado, as pessoas vão passar a deter bitcoin, sem o saberem. Com o fim da operação ChokePoint 2.0, vai surgir uma nova onda de adoção e de produtos financeiros. Possivelmente vamos ver bancos tradicionais a disponibilizar produtos ou serviços de custódia aos seus clientes. Eu adoraria ver o crescimento da adoção do bitcoin como moeda, só que a regulamentação não vai ajudar nesse processo. # Preço Eu acredito que o topo deste ciclo será alcançado no primeiro semestre, posteriormente haverá uma correção. Mas desta vez, eu acredito que a correção será muito menor que as anteriores, inferior a 50%, esta é a minha expectativa. Espero estar certo. # Stablecoins de dólar Agora saindo um pouco do universo do Bitcoin, acho importante destacar as _stablecoins_. No último ciclo, eu tenho dividido o tempo, entre continuar a estudar o Bitcoin e estudar o sistema financeiro, as suas dinâmicas e o comportamento humano. Isto tem sido o meu foco de reflexão, imaginar a transformação que o mundo vai sofrer devido ao padrão Bitcoin. É uma ilusão acreditar que a transição de um padrão FIAT para um padrão Bitcoin vai ser rápida, vai existir um processo transitório que pode demorar décadas. Com a re-entrada de Trump na Casa Branca, prometendo uma política altamente protecionista, vai provocar uma forte valorização do dólar, consequentemente as restantes moedas do mundo vão derreter. Provocando uma inflação generalizada, gerando uma corrida às _stablecoins_ de dólar nos países com moedas mais fracas. Trump vai ter uma política altamente expansionista, vai exportar dólares para todo o mundo, para financiar a sua própria dívida. A desigualdade entre os pobres e ricos irá crescer fortemente, aumentando a possibilidade de conflitos e revoltas. > “Casa onde não há pão, todos ralham e ninguém tem razão” Será mais lenha, para alimentar a fogueira, vai gravar os conflitos geopolíticos já existentes, ficando as sociedade ainda mais polarizadas. Eu acredito que 2025, vai haver um forte crescimento na adoção das _stablecoins_ de dólares, esse forte crescimento vai agravar o problema sistémico que são as _stablecoins_. Vai ser o início do fim das _stablecoins_, pelo menos, como nós conhecemos hoje em dia. ## Problema sistémico O sistema FIAT não nasceu de um dia para outro, foi algo que foi construído organicamente, ou seja, foi evoluindo ao longo dos anos, sempre que havia um problema/crise, eram criadas novas regras ou novas instituições para minimizar os problemas. Nestes quase 100 anos, desde os acordos de Bretton Woods, a evolução foram tantas, tornaram o sistema financeiro altamente complexo, burocrático e nada eficiente. Na prática é um castelo de cartas construído sobre outro castelo de cartas e que por sua vez, foi construído sobre outro castelo de cartas. As _stablecoins_ são um problema sistémico, devido às suas reservas em dólares e o sistema financeiro não está preparado para manter isso seguro. Com o crescimento das reservas ao longo dos anos, foi se agravando o problema. No início a Tether colocava as reservas em bancos comerciais, mas com o crescimento dos dólares sob gestão, criou um problema nos bancos comerciais, devido à reserva fracionária. Essas enormes reservas da Tether estavam a colocar em risco a própria estabilidade dos bancos. A Tether acabou por mudar de estratégia, optou por outros ativos, preferencialmente por títulos do tesouro/obrigações dos EUA. Só que a Tether continua a crescer e não dá sinais de abrandamento, pelo contrário. Até o próprio mundo cripto, menosprezava a gravidade do problema da Tether/_stablecoins_ para o resto do sistema financeiro, porque o _marketcap_ do cripto ainda é muito pequeno. É verdade que ainda é pequeno, mas a Tether não o é, está no top 20 dos maiores detentores de títulos do tesouros dos EUA e está ao nível dos maiores bancos centrais do mundo. Devido ao seu tamanho, está a preocupar os responsáveis/autoridades/reguladores dos EUA, pode colocar em causa a estabilidade do sistema financeiro global, que está assente nessas obrigações. Os títulos do tesouro dos EUA são o colateral mais utilizado no mundo, tanto por bancos centrais, como por empresas, é a charneira da estabilidade do sistema financeiro. Os títulos do tesouro são um assunto muito sensível. Na recente crise no Japão, do _carry trade_, o Banco Central do Japão tentou minimizar a desvalorização do iene através da venda de títulos dos EUA. Esta operação, obrigou a uma viagem de emergência, da Secretaria do Tesouro dos EUA, Janet Yellen ao Japão, onde disponibilizou liquidez para parar a venda de títulos por parte do Banco Central do Japão. Essa forte venda estava desestabilizando o mercado. Os principais detentores de títulos do tesouros são institucionais, bancos centrais, bancos comerciais, fundo de investimento e gestoras, tudo administrado por gestores altamente qualificados, racionais e que conhecem a complexidade do mercado de obrigações. O mundo cripto é seu oposto, é _naife_ com muita irracionalidade e uma forte pitada de loucura, na sua maioria nem faz a mínima ideia como funciona o sistema financeiro. Essa irracionalidade pode levar a uma “corrida bancária”, como aconteceu com o UST da Luna, que em poucas horas colapsou o projeto. Em termos de escala, a Luna ainda era muito pequena, por isso, o problema ficou circunscrito ao mundo cripto e a empresas ligadas diretamente ao cripto. Só que a Tether é muito diferente, caso exista algum FUD, que obrigue a Tether a desfazer-se de vários biliões ou dezenas de biliões de dólares em títulos num curto espaço de tempo, poderia provocar consequências terríveis em todo o sistema financeiro. A Tether é grande demais, é já um problema sistémico, que vai agravar-se com o crescimento em 2025. Não tenham dúvidas, se existir algum problema, o Tesouro dos EUA vai impedir a venda dos títulos que a Tether tem em sua posse, para salvar o sistema financeiro. O problema é, o que vai fazer a Tether, se ficar sem acesso às venda das reservas, como fará o _redeem_ dos dólares? Como o crescimento do Tether é inevitável, o Tesouro e o FED estão com um grande problema em mãos, o que fazer com o Tether? Mas o problema é que o atual sistema financeiro é como um curto cobertor: Quanto tapas a cabeça, destapas os pés; Ou quando tapas os pés, destapas a cabeça. Ou seja, para resolver o problema da guarda reservas da Tether, vai criar novos problemas, em outros locais do sistema financeiro e assim sucessivamente. ### Conta mestre Uma possível solução seria dar uma conta mestre à Tether, dando o acesso direto a uma conta no FED, semelhante à que todos os bancos comerciais têm. Com isto, a Tether deixaria de necessitar os títulos do tesouro, depositando o dinheiro diretamente no banco central. Só que isto iria criar dois novos problemas, com o Custodia Bank e com o restante sistema bancário. O Custodia Bank luta há vários anos contra o FED, nos tribunais pelo direito a ter licença bancária para um banco com _full-reserves_. O FED recusou sempre esse direito, com a justificativa que esse banco, colocaria em risco toda a estabilidade do sistema bancário existente, ou seja, todos os outros bancos poderiam colapsar. Perante a existência em simultâneo de bancos com reserva fracionária e com _full-reserves_, as pessoas e empresas iriam optar pelo mais seguro. Isso iria provocar uma corrida bancária, levando ao colapso de todos os bancos com reserva fracionária, porque no Custodia Bank, os fundos dos clientes estão 100% garantidos, para qualquer valor. Deixaria de ser necessário limites de fundos de Garantia de Depósitos. Eu concordo com o FED nesse ponto, que os bancos com _full-reserves_ são uma ameaça a existência dos restantes bancos. O que eu discordo do FED, é a origem do problema, o problema não está nos bancos _full-reserves_, mas sim nos que têm reserva fracionária. O FED ao conceder uma conta mestre ao Tether, abre um precedente, o Custodia Bank irá o aproveitar, reclamando pela igualdade de direitos nos tribunais e desta vez, possivelmente ganhará a sua licença. Ainda há um segundo problema, com os restantes bancos comerciais. A Tether passaria a ter direitos similares aos bancos comerciais, mas os deveres seriam muito diferentes. Isto levaria os bancos comerciais aos tribunais para exigir igualdade de tratamento, é uma concorrência desleal. Isto é o bom dos tribunais dos EUA, são independentes e funcionam, mesmo contra o estado. Os bancos comerciais têm custos exorbitantes devido às políticas de _compliance_, como o KYC e AML. Como o governo não vai querer aliviar as regras, logo seria a Tether, a ser obrigada a fazer o _compliance_ dos seus clientes. A obrigação do KYC para ter _stablecoins_ iriam provocar um terramoto no mundo cripto. Assim, é pouco provável que seja a solução para a Tether. ### FED Só resta uma hipótese, ser o próprio FED a controlar e a gerir diretamente as _stablecoins_ de dólar, nacionalizado ou absorvendo as existentes. Seria uma espécie de CBDC. Isto iria provocar um novo problema, um problema diplomático, porque as _stablecoins_ estão a colocar em causa a soberania monetária dos outros países. Atualmente as _stablecoins_ estão um pouco protegidas porque vivem num limbo jurídico, mas a partir do momento que estas são controladas pelo governo americano, tudo muda. Os países vão exigir às autoridades americanas medidas que limitem o uso nos seus respectivos países. Não existe uma solução boa, o sistema FIAT é um castelo de cartas, qualquer carta que se mova, vai provocar um desmoronamento noutro local. As autoridades não poderão adiar mais o problema, terão que o resolver de vez, senão, qualquer dia será tarde demais. Se houver algum problema, vão colocar a responsabilidade no cripto e no Bitcoin. Mas a verdade, a culpa é inteiramente dos políticos, da sua incompetência em resolver os problemas a tempo. Será algo para acompanhar futuramente, mas só para 2026, talvez… É curioso, há uns anos pensava-se que o Bitcoin seria a maior ameaça ao sistema ao FIAT, mas afinal, a maior ameaça aos sistema FIAT é o próprio FIAT(_stablecoins_). A ironia do destino. Isto é como uma corrida, o Bitcoin é aquele atleta que corre ao seu ritmo, umas vezes mais rápido, outras vezes mais lento, mas nunca pára. O FIAT é o atleta que dá tudo desde da partida, corre sempre em velocidade máxima. Só que a vida e o sistema financeiro não é uma prova de 100 metros, mas sim uma maratona. # Europa 2025 será um ano desafiante para todos europeus, sobretudo devido à entrada em vigor da regulamentação (MiCA). Vão começar a sentir na pele a regulamentação, vão agravar-se os problemas com os _compliance_, problemas para comprovar a origem de fundos e outras burocracias. Vai ser lindo. O _Travel Route_ passa a ser obrigatório, os europeus serão obrigados a fazer o KYC nas transações. A _Travel Route_ é uma suposta lei para criar mais transparência, mas prática, é uma lei de controle, de monitorização e para limitar as liberdades individuais dos cidadãos. O MiCA também está a colocar problemas nas _stablecoins_ de Euro, a Tether para já preferiu ficar de fora da europa. O mais ridículo é que as novas regras obrigam os emissores a colocar 30% das reservas em bancos comerciais. Os burocratas europeus não compreendem que isto coloca em risco a estabilidade e a solvência dos próprios bancos, ficam propensos a corridas bancárias. O MiCA vai obrigar a todas as exchanges a estar registadas em solo europeu, ficando vulnerável ao temperamento dos burocratas. Ainda não vai ser em 2025, mas a UE vai impor políticas de controle de capitais, é inevitável, as exchanges serão obrigadas a usar em exclusividade _stablecoins_ de euro, as restantes _stablecoins_ serão deslistadas. Todas estas novas regras do MiCA, são extremamente restritas, não é para garantir mais segurança aos cidadãos europeus, mas sim para garantir mais controle sobre a população. A UE está cada vez mais perto da autocracia, do que da democracia. A minha única esperança no horizonte, é que o sucesso das políticas cripto nos EUA, vai obrigar a UE a recuar e a aligeirar as regras, a teoria dos jogos é implacável. Mas esse recuo, nunca acontecerá em 2025, vai ser um longo período conturbado. # Recessão Os mercados estão todos em máximos históricos, isto não é sustentável por muito tempo, suspeito que no final de 2025 vai acontecer alguma correção nos mercados. A queda só não será maior, porque os bancos centrais vão imprimir dinheiro, muito dinheiro, como se não houvesse amanhã. Vão voltar a resolver os problemas com a injeção de liquidez na economia, é empurrar os problemas com a barriga, em de os resolver. Outra vez o efeito Cantillon. Será um ano muito desafiante a nível político, onde o papel dos políticos será fundamental. A crise política na França e na Alemanha, coloca a UE órfã, sem um comandante ao leme do navio. 2025 estará condicionado pelas eleições na Alemanha, sobretudo no resultado do AfD, que podem colocar em causa a propriedade UE e o euro. Possivelmente, só o fim da guerra poderia minimizar a crise, algo que é muito pouco provável acontecer. Em Portugal, a economia parece que está mais ou menos equilibrada, mas começam a aparecer alguns sinais preocupantes. Os jogos de sorte e azar estão em máximos históricos, batendo o recorde de 2014, época da grande crise, não é um bom sinal, possivelmente já existe algum desespero no ar. A Alemanha é o motor da Europa, quanto espirra, Portugal constipa-se. Além do problema da Alemanha, a Espanha também está à beira de uma crise, são os países que mais influenciam a economia portuguesa. Se existir uma recessão mundial, terá um forte impacto no turismo, que é hoje em dia o principal motor de Portugal. # Brasil Brasil é algo para acompanhar em 2025, sobretudo a nível macro e a nível político. Existe uma possibilidade de uma profunda crise no Brasil, sobretudo na sua moeda. O banco central já anda a queimar as reservas para minimizar a desvalorização do Real.  Sem mudanças profundas nas políticas fiscais, as reservas vão se esgotar. As políticas de controle de capitais são um cenário plausível, será interesse de acompanhar, como o governo irá proceder perante a existência do Bitcoin e _stablecoins_. No Brasil existe um forte adoção, será um bom _case study_, certamente irá repetir-se em outros países num futuro próximo. Os próximos tempos não serão fáceis para os brasileiros, especialmente para os que não têm Bitcoin. # Blockchain Em 2025, possivelmente vamos ver os primeiros passos da BlackRock para criar a primeira bolsa de valores, exclusivamente em _blockchain_. Eu acredito que a BlackRock vai criar uma própria _blockchain_, toda controlada por si, onde estarão os RWAs, para fazer concorrência às tradicionais bolsas de valores. Será algo interessante de acompanhar. ----------- Estas são as minhas previsões, eu escrevi isto muito em cima do joelho, certamente esqueci-me de algumas coisas, se for importante acrescentarei nos comentários. A maioria das previsões só acontecerá após 2025, mas fica aqui a minha opinião. Isto é apenas a minha opinião, **Don’t Trust, Verify**!

Na era das grandes navegações, piratas ingleses eram autorizados pelo governo para roubar navios. A única coisa que diferenciava um pirata comum de um corsário é que o último possuía a “Carta do Corso”, que funcionava como um “Alvará para o roubo”, onde o governo Inglês legitimava o roubo de navios por parte dos corsários. É claro, que em troca ele exigia uma parte da espoliação. Bastante similar com a maneira que a Receita Federal atua, não? Na verdade, o caso é ainda pior, pois o governo fica com toda a riqueza espoliada, e apenas repassa um mísero salário para os corsários modernos, os agentes da receita federal. Porém eles “justificam” esse roubo ao chamá-lo de imposto, e isso parece acalmar os ânimos de grande parte da população, mas não de nós. Não é por acaso que 'imposto' é o particípio passado do verbo 'impor'. Ou seja, é aquilo que resulta do cumprimento obrigatório -- e não voluntário -- de todos os cidadãos. Se não for 'imposto' ninguém paga. Nem mesmo seus defensores. Isso mostra o quanto as pessoas realmente apreciam os serviços do estado. Apenas volte um pouco na história: os primeiros pagadores de impostos eram fazendeiros cujos territórios foram invadidos por nômades que pastoreavam seu gado. Esses invasores nômades forçavam os fazendeiros a lhes pagar uma fatia de sua renda em troca de "proteção". O fazendeiro que não concordasse era assassinado. Os nômades perceberam que era muito mais interessante e confortável apenas cobrar uma taxa de proteção em vez de matar o fazendeiro e assumir suas posses. Cobrando uma taxa, eles obtinham o que necessitavam. Já se matassem os fazendeiros, eles teriam de gerenciar por conta própria toda a produção da fazenda. Daí eles entenderam que, ao não assassinarem todos os fazendeiros que encontrassem pelo caminho, poderiam fazer desta prática um modo de vida. Assim nasceu o governo. Não assassinar pessoas foi o primeiro serviço que o governo forneceu. Como temos sorte em ter à nossa disposição esta instituição! Assim, não deixa de ser curioso que algumas pessoas digam que os impostos são pagos basicamente para impedir que aconteça exatamente aquilo que originou a existência do governo. O governo nasceu da extorsão. Os fazendeiros tinham de pagar um "arrego" para seu governo. Caso contrário, eram assassinados. Quem era a real ameaça? O governo. A máfia faz a mesma coisa. Mas existe uma forma de se proteger desses corsários modernos. Atualmente, existe uma propriedade privada que NINGUÉM pode tirar de você, ela é sua até mesmo depois da morte. É claro que estamos falando do Bitcoin. Fazendo as configurações certas, é impossível saber que você tem bitcoin. Nem mesmo o governo americano consegue saber. #brasil #bitcoinbrasil #nostrbrasil #grownostr #bitcoin

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/820204/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/828556

Central banks, in particular the ECB, are pushing hard to force a CBDC on their citizens - these citizens are not interested in a CBDC that invades their privacy. ## Chaumian e-cash In 1982, David Chaum published [“Blind Signatures for Untraceable Payments”](https://chaum.com/ecash/). e-Cash - Ensures privacy - Is permissionless - Can be minted / issued by banks - Can be developed completely in open source code - Can be supported by a multitude of (open source) wallets - each bank can enable it in their bank app e-Cash - Does not enable a holding limit - that is not necessary, as it is not competing with bank accounts - on the contrary: bank client convert a small part of their deposit to ecash, which is non interest bearing - Does not require KYC - which some may consider a problem - this being said, it is issued only by banks that have performed KYC on their clients David Chaum worked with the SNB to descibe on [How to issue a central bank digital currency](https://www.snb.ch/en/publications/research/working-papers/2021/working_paper_2021_03) . Central banks should consider e-Cash if they want to successfully enable digital payments for their citizens. The digital p2p value transfer protocol, bitcoin, already has an extensive e-Cash ecosystem. [Cashu](https://cashu.space/) and the [OpenCash Association](https://opencash.dev/) lead this development, which has so far resulted in a broad range of wallets and mints, that mint "satoshi" tokens and even "euro" tokens. That open source software can perfectly serve as blueprint for a reasonable digital euro.

At the intersection of philosophy, theology, physics, biology, and finance lies a terrifying truth: the fiat monetary system, in its current form, is not just an economic framework but a silent, relentless force actively working against humanity's survival. It isn't simply a failed financial model—it is a systemic engine of destruction, both externally and within the very core of our biological existence. The Philosophical Void of Fiat Philosophy has long questioned the nature of value and the meaning of human existence. From Socrates to Kant, thinkers have pondered the pursuit of truth, beauty, and virtue. But in the modern age, the fiat system has hijacked this discourse. The notion of "value" in a fiat world is no longer rooted in human potential or natural resources—it is abstracted, manipulated, and controlled by central authorities with the sole purpose of perpetuating their own power. The currency is not a reflection of society’s labor or resources; it is a representation of faith in an authority that, more often than not, breaks that faith with reckless monetary policies and hidden inflation. The fiat system has created a kind of ontological nihilism, where the idea of true value, rooted in work, creativity, and family, is replaced with speculative gambling and short-term gains. This betrayal of human purpose at the systemic level feeds into a philosophical despair: the relentless devaluation of effort, the erosion of trust, and the abandonment of shared human values. In this nihilistic economy, purpose and meaning become increasingly difficult to find, leaving millions to question the very foundation of their existence. Theological Implications: Fiat and the Collapse of the Sacred Religious traditions have long linked moral integrity with the stewardship of resources and the preservation of life. Fiat currency, however, corrupts these foundational beliefs. In the theological narrative of creation, humans are given dominion over the Earth, tasked with nurturing and protecting it for future generations. But the fiat system promotes the exact opposite: it commodifies everything—land, labor, and life—treating them as mere transactions on a ledger. This disrespect for creation is an affront to the divine. In many theologies, creation is meant to be sustained, a delicate balance that mirrors the harmony of the divine order. Fiat systems—by continuously printing money and driving inflation—treat nature and humanity as expendable resources to be exploited for short-term gains, leading to environmental degradation and societal collapse. The creation narrative, in which humans are called to be stewards, is inverted. The fiat system, through its unholy alliance with unrestrained growth and unsustainable debt, is destroying the very creation it should protect. Furthermore, the fiat system drives idolatry of power and wealth. The central banks and corporations that control the money supply have become modern-day gods, their decrees shaping the lives of billions, while the masses are enslaved by debt and inflation. This form of worship isn't overt, but it is profound. It leads to a world where people place their faith not in God or their families, but in the abstract promises of institutions that serve their own interests. Physics and the Infinite Growth Paradox Physics teaches us that the universe is finite—resources, energy, and space are all limited. Yet, the fiat system operates under the delusion of infinite growth. Central banks print money without concern for natural limits, encouraging an economy that assumes unending expansion. This is not only an economic fallacy; it is a physical impossibility. In thermodynamics, the Second Law states that entropy (disorder) increases over time in any closed system. The fiat system operates as if the Earth were an infinite resource pool, perpetually able to expand without consequence. The real world, however, does not bend to these abstract concepts of infinite growth. Resources are finite, ecosystems are fragile, and human capacity is limited. Fiat currency, by promoting unsustainable consumption and growth, accelerates the depletion of resources and the degradation of natural systems that support life itself. Even the financial “growth” driven by fiat policies leads to unsustainable bubbles—inflated stock markets, real estate, and speculative assets that burst and leave ruin in their wake. These crashes aren’t just economic—they have profound biological consequences. The cycles of boom and bust undermine communities, erode social stability, and increase anxiety and depression, all of which affect human health at a biological level. Biology: The Fiat System and the Destruction of Human Health Biologically, the fiat system is a cancerous growth on human society. The constant chase for growth and the devaluation of work leads to chronic stress, which is one of the leading causes of disease in modern society. The strain of living in a system that values speculation over well-being results in a biological feedback loop: rising anxiety, poor mental health, physical diseases like cardiovascular disorders, and a shortening of lifespans. Moreover, the focus on profit and short-term returns creates a biological disconnect between humans and the planet. The fiat system fuels industries that destroy ecosystems, increase pollution, and deplete resources at unsustainable rates. These actions are not just environmentally harmful; they directly harm human biology. The degradation of the environment—whether through toxic chemicals, pollution, or resource extraction—has profound biological effects on human health, causing respiratory diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders. The biological cost of the fiat system is not a distant theory; it is being paid every day by millions in the form of increased health risks, diseases linked to stress, and the growing burden of mental health disorders. The constant uncertainty of an inflation-driven economy exacerbates these conditions, creating a society of individuals whose bodies and minds are under constant strain. We are witnessing a systemic biological unraveling, one in which the very act of living is increasingly fraught with pain, instability, and the looming threat of collapse. Finance as the Final Illusion At the core of the fiat system is a fundamental illusion—that financial growth can occur without any real connection to tangible value. The abstraction of currency, the manipulation of interest rates, and the constant creation of new money hide the underlying truth: the system is built on nothing but faith. When that faith falters, the entire system collapses. This illusion has become so deeply embedded that it now defines the human experience. Work no longer connects to production or creation—it is reduced to a transaction on a spreadsheet, a means to acquire more fiat currency in a world where value is ephemeral and increasingly disconnected from human reality. As we pursue ever-expanding wealth, the fundamental truths of biology—interdependence, sustainability, and balance—are ignored. The fiat system’s abstract financial models serve to disconnect us from the basic realities of life: that we are part of an interconnected world where every action has a reaction, where resources are finite, and where human health, both mental and physical, depends on the stability of our environment and our social systems. The Ultimate Extermination In the end, the fiat system is not just an economic issue; it is a biological, philosophical, theological, and existential threat to the very survival of humanity. It is a force that devalues human effort, encourages environmental destruction, fosters inequality, and creates pain at the core of the human biological condition. It is an economic framework that leads not to prosperity, but to extermination—not just of species, but of the very essence of human well-being. To continue on this path is to accept the slow death of our species, one based not on natural forces, but on our own choice to worship the abstract over the real, the speculative over the tangible. The fiat system isn't just a threat; it is the ultimate self-inflicted wound, a cultural and financial cancer that, if left unchecked, will destroy humanity’s chance for survival and peace.

I’ll admit that I was wrong about Bitcoin. Perhaps in 2013. Definitely 2017. Probably in 2018-2019. And maybe even today. Being wrong about Bitcoin is part of finally understanding it. It will test you, make you question everything, and in the words of BTC educator and privacy advocate [Matt Odell](https://twitter.com/ODELL), “Bitcoin will humble you”. I’ve had my own stumbles on the way. In a very public fashion in 2017, after years of using Bitcoin, trying to start a company with it, using it as my primary exchange vehicle between currencies, and generally being annoying about it at parties, I let out the bear. In an article published in my own literary magazine *Devolution Review* in September 2017, I had a breaking point. The article was titled “[Going Bearish on Bitcoin: Cryptocurrencies are the tulip mania of the 21st century](https://www.devolutionreview.com/bearish-on-bitcoin/)”. It was later republished in *Huffington Post* and across dozens of financial and crypto blogs at the time with another, more appropriate title: “[Bitcoin Has Become About The Payday, Not Its Potential](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/bitcoin-has-become-about-the-payday-not-its-potential_ca_5cd5025de4b07bc72973ec2d)”. As I laid out, my newfound bearishness had little to do with the technology itself or the promise of Bitcoin, and more to do with the cynical industry forming around it: > In the beginning, Bitcoin was something of a revolution to me. The digital currency represented everything from my rebellious youth. > > It was a decentralized, denationalized, and digital currency operating outside the traditional banking and governmental system. It used tools of cryptography and connected buyers and sellers across national borders at minimal transaction costs. > > … > > The 21st-century version (of Tulip mania) has welcomed a plethora of slick consultants, hazy schemes dressed up as investor possibilities, and too much wishy-washy language for anything to really make sense to anyone who wants to use a digital currency to make purchases. While I called out Bitcoin by name at the time, on reflection, I was really talking about the ICO craze, the wishy-washy consultants, and the altcoin ponzis. What I was articulating — without knowing it — was the frame of NgU, or “numbers go up”. Rather than advocating for Bitcoin because of its uncensorability, proof-of-work, or immutability, the common mentality among newbies and the dollar-obsessed was that Bitcoin mattered because its price was a rocket ship. And because Bitcoin was gaining in price, affinity tokens and projects that were imperfect forks of Bitcoin took off as well. The price alone — rather than its qualities — were the reasons why you’d hear Uber drivers, finance bros, or your gym buddy mention Bitcoin. As someone who came to Bitcoin for philosophical reasons, that just sat wrong with me. Maybe I had too many projects thrown in my face, or maybe I was too frustrated with the UX of Bitcoin apps and sites at the time. No matter what, I’ve since learned something. **I was at least somewhat wrong.** My own journey began in early 2011. One of my favorite radio programs, Free Talk Live, began interviewing guests and having discussions on the potential of Bitcoin. They tied it directly to a libertarian vision of the world: free markets, free people, and free banking. That was me, and I was in. Bitcoin was at about $5 back then (NgU). I followed every article I could, talked about it with guests [on my college radio show](https://libertyinexile.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/osamobama_on_the_tubes/), and became a devoted redditor on r/Bitcoin. At that time, at least to my knowledge, there was no possible way to buy Bitcoin where I was living. Very weak. **I was probably wrong. And very wrong for not trying to acquire by mining or otherwise.** The next year, after moving to Florida, Bitcoin was a heavy topic with a friend of mine who shared the same vision (and still does, according to the Celsius bankruptcy documents). We talked about it with passionate leftists at **Occupy Tampa** in 2012, all the while trying to explain the ills of Keynesian central banking, and figuring out how to use Coinbase. I began writing more about Bitcoin in 2013, writing a guide on “[How to Avoid Bank Fees Using Bitcoin](http://thestatelessman.com/2013/06/03/using-bitcoin/),” discussing its [potential legalization in Germany](https://yael.ca/2013/10/01/lagefi-alternative-monetaire-et-legislation-de/), and interviewing Jeremy Hansen, [one of the first political candidates in the U.S. to accept Bitcoin donations](https://yael.ca/2013/12/09/bitcoin-politician-wants-to-upgrade-democracy-in/). Even up until that point, I thought Bitcoin was an interesting protocol for sending and receiving money quickly, and converting it into fiat. The global connectedness of it, plus this cypherpunk mentality divorced from government control was both useful and attractive. I thought it was the perfect go-between. **But I was wrong.** When I gave my [first public speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtVypq2f0G4) on Bitcoin in Vienna, Austria in December 2013, I had grown obsessed with Bitcoin’s adoption on dark net markets like Silk Road. My theory, at the time, was the number and price were irrelevant. The tech was interesting, and a novel attempt. It was unlike anything before. But what was happening on the dark net markets, which I viewed as the true free market powered by Bitcoin, was even more interesting. I thought these markets would grow exponentially and anonymous commerce via BTC would become the norm. While the price was irrelevant, it was all about buying and selling goods without permission or license. **Now I understand I was wrong.** Just because Bitcoin was this revolutionary technology that embraced pseudonymity did not mean that all commerce would decentralize as well. It did not mean that anonymous markets were intended to be the most powerful layer in the Bitcoin stack. What I did not even anticipate is something articulated very well by noted Bitcoin OG [Pierre Rochard](https://twitter.com/BitcoinPierre): [Bitcoin as a *savings technology*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BavRqEoaxjI)*.* The ability to maintain long-term savings, practice self-discipline while stacking stats, and embrace a low-time preference was just not something on the mind of the Bitcoiners I knew at the time. Perhaps I was reading into the hype while outwardly opposing it. Or perhaps I wasn’t humble enough to understand the true value proposition that many of us have learned years later. In the years that followed, I bought and sold more times than I can count, and I did everything to integrate it into passion projects. I tried to set up a company using Bitcoin while at my university in Prague. My business model depended on university students being technologically advanced enough to have a mobile wallet, own their keys, and be able to make transactions on a consistent basis. Even though I was surrounded by philosophically aligned people, those who would advance that to actually put Bitcoin into practice were sparse. This is what led me to proclaim that “[Technological Literacy is Doomed](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/technological-literacy-is-doomed_b_12669440)” in 2016. **And I was wrong again.** Indeed, since that time, the UX of Bitcoin-only applications, wallets, and supporting tech has vastly improved and onboarded millions more people than anyone thought possible. The entrepreneurship, coding excellence, and vision offered by Bitcoiners of all stripes have renewed a sense in me that this project is something built for us all — friends and enemies alike. While many of us were likely distracted by flashy and pumpy altcoins over the years (me too, champs), most of us have returned to the Bitcoin stable. Fast forward to today, there are entire ecosystems of creators, activists, and developers who are wholly reliant on the magic of Bitcoin’s protocol for their life and livelihood. The options are endless. The FUD is still present, but real proof of work stands powerfully against those forces. In addition, there are now [dozens of ways to use Bitcoin privately](https://fixthemoney.substack.com/p/not-your-keys-not-your-coins-claiming) — still without custodians or intermediaries — that make it one of the most important assets for global humanity, especially in dictatorships. This is all toward a positive arc of innovation, freedom, and pure independence. Did I see that coming? Absolutely not. Of course, there are probably other shots you’ve missed on Bitcoin. Price predictions (ouch), the short-term inflation hedge, or the amount of institutional investment. While all of these may be erroneous predictions in the short term, we have to realize that Bitcoin is a long arc. It will outlive all of us on the planet, and it will continue in its present form for the next generation. **Being wrong about the evolution of Bitcoin is no fault, and is indeed part of the learning curve to finally understanding it all.** When your family or friends ask you about Bitcoin after your endless sessions explaining market dynamics, nodes, how mining works, and the genius of cryptographic signatures, try to accept that there is still so much we have to learn about this decentralized digital cash. There are still some things you’ve gotten wrong about Bitcoin, and plenty more you’ll underestimate or get wrong in the future. That’s what makes it a beautiful journey. It’s a long road, but one that remains worth it.

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](#) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/820204

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/800128/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/810124

I watched Tucker Carlson interview Roger Ver last night. I know we have our differences with Roger, and he has some less than pleasant personality traits, but he is facing 109 years in jail for tax evasion. While the charges may be technically correct, he should be able to pay the taxes and a fine and walk free. Even if we accept he did wrong, a minor prison term such as 6 months to 2 years would be appropriate in this case. We all know the severe penalty is an over reach by US authorities looking to make the whole crypto community scared about using any form of crypto as money. The US and many governments know they have lost the battle of Bitcoin as a hard asset, but this happened as a result of the Nash equilibrium, whereby you are forced to play a game that doesn’t benefit you, because not playing that game disadvantages you further. I.e. Governments loose control of the asset, but that asset is able to shore up their balance sheet and prevent your economy from failing (potentially). The war against Bitcoin (and other cryptos) as a currency, whereby you can use your Bitcoin to buy anything anywhere from a pint of milk in the local shop, to a house or car and everything in-between is a distant goal and one that is happening slowly. But it is happening and these are the new battle lines. Part of that battle is self custody, part is tax and part are the money transmitting laws. Roger’s case is also being used as a weapon of fear. I don’t hate Roger, the problem I have with Bitcoin cash is that you cannot run a full node from your home and if you can’t do this, it is left to large corporations to run the blockchain. Large corporations are much easier to control and coerce than thousands, perhaps millions of individuals. Just as China banned Bitcoin mining, so in this scenario it would be possible for governments to ban full nodes and enforce that ban by shutting down companies that attempted to do so. Also, if a currency like Bitcoin cash scaled to Visa size, then Bitcoin Cash the company would become the new Visa / Mastercard and only the technology would change. However, even Visa and Mastercard don’t keep transaction logs for years, that would require enormous amount of storage and have little benefit. Nobody needs a global ledger that keeps a record of every coffee purchased in every coffee shop since the beginning of blockchain time. This is why Bitcoin with a layer 2 payment system like Lightning is a better proposition than large blockchain cryptos. Once a payment channel is closed, the transactions are forgotten in the same way Visa and Mastercard only keep a transaction history for 1 or 2 years. This continues to allow the freedom for anybody, anywhere to verify the money they hold and the transactions they perform along with everybody else. We have consensus by verification.

Resilience is the ability to withstand shocks, adapt, and bounce back. It’s an essential quality in nature and in life. But what if we could take resilience a step further? What if, instead of merely surviving, a system could improve when faced with stress? This concept, known as anti-fragility, is not just theoretical—it’s practical. Combining two highly resilient natural tools, comfrey and biochar, reveals how we can create systems that thrive under pressure and grow stronger with each challenge. ### **Comfrey: Nature’s Champion of Resilience** Comfrey is a plant that refuses to fail. Once its deep roots take hold, it thrives in poor soils, withstands drought, and regenerates even after being cut down repeatedly. It’s a hardy survivor, but comfrey doesn’t just endure—it contributes. Known as a dynamic accumulator, it mines nutrients from deep within the earth and brings them to the surface, making them available for other plants. Beyond its ecological role, comfrey has centuries of medicinal use, earning the nickname "knitbone." Its leaves can heal wounds and restore health, a perfect metaphor for resilience. But as impressive as comfrey is, its true potential is unlocked when paired with another resilient force: biochar. ### **Biochar: The Silent Powerhouse of Soil Regeneration** Biochar, a carbon-rich material made by burning organic matter in low-oxygen conditions, is a game-changer for soil health. Its unique porous structure retains water, holds nutrients, and provides a haven for beneficial microbes. Soil enriched with biochar becomes drought-resistant, nutrient-rich, and biologically active—qualities that scream resilience. Historically, ancient civilizations in the Amazon used biochar to transform barren soils into fertile agricultural hubs. Known as *terra preta*, these soils remain productive centuries later, highlighting biochar’s remarkable staying power. Yet, like comfrey, biochar’s potential is magnified when it’s part of a larger system. ### **The Synergy: Comfrey and Biochar Together** Resilience turns into anti-fragility when systems go beyond mere survival and start improving under stress. Combining comfrey and biochar achieves exactly that. 1. **Nutrient Cycling and Retention**\ Comfrey’s leaves, rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, make an excellent mulch when cut and dropped onto the soil. However, these nutrients can wash away in heavy rains. Enter biochar. Its porous structure locks in the nutrients from comfrey, preventing runoff and keeping them available for plants. Together, they create a system that not only recycles nutrients but amplifies their effectiveness. 2. **Water Management**\ Biochar holds onto water making soil not just drought-resistant but actively water-efficient, improving over time with each rain and dry spell. 3. **Microbial Ecosystems**\ Comfrey enriches soil with organic matter, feeding microbial life. Biochar provides a home for these microbes, protecting them and creating a stable environment for them to multiply. Together, they build a thriving soil ecosystem that becomes more fertile and resilient with each passing season. Resilient systems can withstand shocks, but anti-fragile systems actively use those shocks to grow stronger. Comfrey and biochar together form an anti-fragile system. Each addition of biochar enhances water and nutrient retention, while comfrey regenerates biomass and enriches the soil. Over time, the system becomes more productive, less dependent on external inputs, and better equipped to handle challenges. This synergy demonstrates the power of designing systems that don’t just survive—they thrive. ### **Lessons Beyond the Soil** The partnership of comfrey and biochar offers a valuable lesson for our own lives. Resilience is an admirable trait, but anti-fragility takes us further. By combining complementary strengths and leveraging stress as an opportunity, we can create systems—whether in soil, business, or society—that improve under pressure. Nature shows us that resilience isn’t the end goal. When we pair resilient tools like comfrey and biochar, we unlock a system that evolves, regenerates, and becomes anti-fragile. By designing with anti-fragility in mind, we don’t just bounce back, we bounce forward. By designing with anti-fragility in mind, we don’t just bounce back, we bounce forward.

 Here we are again with our monthly [Magnificent Seven](https://stacker.news/AGORA#the-magnificent-seven---of-all-times) summary, giving you a hit of what you missed in the ~AGORA territory. - - - ### Top-Performing Ads This week, the most engaging ones are: * `00` [Sewing Machine](https://stacker.news/items/800506/r/AG) by @Fiat_Revelation * `01` [SATOSH.EE - Gift Cards, Discounts, Loyalty Program](https://stacker.news/items/784376/r/AG) by @Kontext * `02` [The Shop Hustle](https://stacker.news/items/782173/r/AG) by @TheWildHustle * `03` [SATS'N'FACTS - Bitcoin Technical Unconference - Merch and tickets NOW available](https://stacker.news/items/771203/r/AG) by @catoshi * `04` [[SELL] NWC Straight Outta Alby T-Shirt](https://stacker.news/items/782806/r/AG) by @thebullishbitcoiner * `05` [Sell Google Pixel 7a | Satstash Auction](https://stacker.news/items/784373/r/AG) by @jbschirtzinger (https://stacker.news/items/784603/r/AG) @TinstrMedia * `06` [[SELL] Two new lowkey designs added to The Bullish Shop](https://stacker.news/items/778780/r/AG) by @thebullishbitcoiner * `07` [[SELL] Old Dell Laptop - CHEAP! | SatStash](https://stacker.news/items/776522/r/AG) by @watchmancbiz - - - ### Services accepting sats * https://stacker.news/items/775383/r/AG Color Grading (Styling) Your Pictures as a Service by @TinstrMedia * https://stacker.news/items/773557/r/AG MATHS TUTOR 50K SATS/hour English global by @MamaHodl * https://stacker.news/items/792650/r/AG Mercadillo²¹ now available on Plebeian.Mmarket by @VEINTIUNO * https://stacker.news/items/784603/r/AG [FREE (Limited)] Want Your Thanksgiving Photos Color Graded By a Colorist? by @TinstrMedia * https://stacker.news/items/794137/r/AG Lightning Markets - Stores with LN Payments enabled for Products, Services & ... by me! ###### In case you missed Here some interesting post, opening conversations and free speech about markets and business on bitcoin: - https://stacker.news/items/791635/r/AG Darknet Market Archives of ~89 darknet markets & forums (2013-2015) by @aljaz - https://stacker.news/items/782196/r/AG Are you a Merchant? Share your BTC onboarding story on SN by me! - https://stacker.news/items/798569/r/AG Plebmall - A Place to Find Vendors that Accept BTC plebmall.com/ by @4bf3a31378 - https://stacker.news/items/797680/r/AG The Sat Market - White Diamond Conference Centre on Dec 15, 2024 - Calgary 🇨🇦 by me! ###### 🏷️ Spending Sunday is back! Share your most recent Bitcoin purchases of just check what other stackers are buying with their sats! Read more https://stacker.news/items/800128/r/AG - - - ###### Just a reminder for you all This territory aims to connect stackers and curious buyers for IRL P2P Bitcoin deals. Have fun checking what else stackers are shilling globally in the ~AGORA. This is a great time for you to make some space un-dusting some stuff that has been sitting there for too long and get some sats for it! - - - ### Create your Ads now!  Looking to start something new? Hit one of the links below to free your mind: * [💬 TOPIC](https://stacker.news/~AGORA/post?type=discussion) for conversation, * [\[⚖️ SELL\]](https://w3.do/b_v2wutP) anything! or, * if you're looking for something, hit the [\[🛒 BUY\]](https://w3.do/zvixtuSh)! * [\[🧑‍💻 HIRE\]](https://w3.do/_j0kpVsi) any bitcoiner skill or stuff from bitcoiners * [\[🖇 OFFER\]](https://w3.do/EfWF8yDL) any product or service and stack more sats * [\[🧑‍⚖️ AUCTION\]](https://w3.do/sbbCjZ0e) to let stackers decide a fair price for your item * [\[🤝 SWAP\]](https://w3.do/V_iP4lY5) if you're looking to exchange anything with anything else * [\[🆓 FREE\]](https://w3.do/DdVEE1ME) your space, make a gift! * [\[⭐ REVIEW\]](https://w3.do/CAZ5JxCk) any bitcoin product or LN service you recently bought or subscribed to - - - Or contact @AGORA team on [nostr DM](https://iris.to/agora_sn) and we can help you publish a personalized post. . `#nostr` `#stuff4sats` `#sell` `#buy` `#plebchain` `#grownostr` `#asknostr` originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/800656

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/789759/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/800128

*Bitcoin and Fixed Income was Written By Wyatt O’Rourke. If you enjoyed this article then support his writing, directly, by donating to his lightning wallet: ultrahusky3@primal.net* Fiduciary duty is the obligation to act in the client’s best interests at all times, prioritizing their needs above the advisor’s own, ensuring honesty, transparency, and avoiding conflicts of interest in all recommendations and actions. This is something all advisors in the BFAN take very seriously; after all, we are legally required to do so. For the average advisor this is a fairly easy box to check. All you essentially have to do is have someone take a 5-minute risk assessment, fill out an investment policy statement, and then throw them in the proverbial 60/40 portfolio. You have thousands of investment options to choose from and you can reasonably explain how your client is theoretically insulated from any move in the \~markets\~. From the traditional financial advisor perspective, you could justify nearly anything by putting a client into this type of portfolio. All your bases were pretty much covered from return profile, regulatory, compliance, investment options, etc. It was just too easy. It became the household standard and now a meme. As almost every real bitcoiner knows, the 60/40 portfolio is moving into psyop territory, and many financial advisors get clowned on for defending this relic on bitcoin twitter. I’m going to specifically poke fun at the ‘40’ part of this portfolio. The ‘40’ represents fixed income, defined as… > An investment type that provides regular, set interest payments, such as bonds or treasury securities, and returns the principal at maturity. It’s generally considered a lower-risk asset class, used to generate stable income and preserve capital. Historically, this part of the portfolio was meant to weather the volatility in the equity markets and represent the “safe” investments. Typically, some sort of bond. First and foremost, the fixed income section is most commonly constructed with U.S. Debt. There are a couple main reasons for this. Most financial professionals believe the same fairy tale that U.S. Debt is “risk free” (lol). U.S. debt is also one of the largest and most liquid assets in the market which comes with a lot of benefits. There are many brilliant bitcoiners in finance and economics that have sounded the alarm on the U.S. debt ticking time bomb. I highly recommend readers explore the work of Greg Foss, Lawrence Lepard, Lyn Alden, and Saifedean Ammous. My very high-level recap of their analysis: - A bond is a contract in which Party A (the borrower) agrees to repay Party B (the lender) their principal plus interest over time. - The U.S. government issues bonds (Treasury securities) to finance its operations after tax revenues have been exhausted. - These are traditionally viewed as “risk-free” due to the government’s historical reliability in repaying its debts and the strength of the U.S. economy - U.S. bonds are seen as safe because the government has control over the dollar (world reserve asset) and, until recently (20 some odd years), enjoyed broad confidence that it would always honor its debts. - This perception has contributed to high global demand for U.S. debt but, that is quickly deteriorating. - The current debt situation raises concerns about sustainability. - The U.S. has substantial obligations, and without sufficient productivity growth, increasing debt may lead to a cycle where borrowing to cover interest leads to more debt. - This could result in more reliance on money creation (printing), which can drive inflation and further debt burdens. In the words of Lyn Alden “Nothing stops this train” Those obligations are what makes up the 40% of most the fixed income in your portfolio. So essentially you are giving money to one of the worst capital allocators in the world (U.S. Gov’t) and getting paid back with printed money. As someone who takes their fiduciary responsibility seriously and understands the debt situation we just reviewed, I think it’s borderline negligent to put someone into a classic 60% (equities) / 40% (fixed income) portfolio without serious scrutiny of the client’s financial situation and options available to them. I certainly have my qualms with equities at times, but overall, they are more palatable than the fixed income portion of the portfolio. I don’t like it either, but the money is broken and the unit of account for nearly every equity or fixed income instrument (USD) is fraudulent. It’s a paper mache fade that is quite literally propped up by the money printer. To briefly be as most charitable as I can – It wasn’t always this way. The U.S. Dollar used to be sound money, we used to have government surplus instead of mathematically certain deficits, The U.S. Federal Government didn’t used to have a money printing addiction, and pre-bitcoin the 60/40 portfolio used to be a quality portfolio management strategy. Those times are gone. ### Now the fun part. How does bitcoin fix this? Bitcoin fixes this indirectly. Understanding investment criteria changes via risk tolerance, age, goals, etc. A client may still have a need for “fixed income” in the most literal definition – Low risk yield. Now you may be thinking that yield is a bad word in bitcoin land, you’re not wrong, so stay with me. Perpetual motion machine crypto yield is fake and largely where many crypto scams originate. However, that doesn’t mean yield in the classic finance sense does not exist in bitcoin, it very literally does. Fortunately for us bitcoiners there are many other smart, driven, and enterprising bitcoiners that understand this problem and are doing something to address it. These individuals are pioneering new possibilities in bitcoin and finance, specifically when it comes to fixed income. Here are some new developments – Private Credit Funds – The Build Asset Management Secured Income Fund I is a private credit fund created by Build Asset Management. This fund primarily invests in bitcoin-backed, collateralized business loans originated by Unchained, with a secured structure involving a multi-signature, over-collateralized setup for risk management. Unchained originates loans and sells them to Build, which pools them into the fund, enabling investors to share in the interest income. Dynamics - Loan Terms: Unchained issues loans at interest rates around 14%, secured with a 2/3 multi-signature vault backed by a 40% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. - Fund Mechanics: Build buys these loans from Unchained, thus providing liquidity to Unchained for further loan originations, while Build manages interest payments to investors in the fund. Pros - The fund offers a unique way to earn income via bitcoin-collateralized debt, with protection against rehypothecation and strong security measures, making it attractive for investors seeking exposure to fixed income with bitcoin. Cons - The fund is only available to accredited investors, which is a regulatory standard for private credit funds like this. Corporate Bonds – MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR), a business intelligence company, has leveraged its corporate structure to issue bonds specifically to acquire bitcoin as a reserve asset. This approach allows investors to indirectly gain exposure to bitcoin’s potential upside while receiving interest payments on their bond investments. Some other publicly traded companies have also adopted this strategy, but for the sake of this article we will focus on MSTR as they are the biggest and most vocal issuer. Dynamics - Issuance: MicroStrategy has issued senior secured notes in multiple offerings, with terms allowing the company to use the proceeds to purchase bitcoin. - Interest Rates: The bonds typically carry high-yield interest rates, averaging around 6-8% APR, depending on the specific issuance and market conditions at the time of issuance. - Maturity: The bonds have varying maturities, with most structured for multi-year terms, offering investors medium-term exposure to bitcoin’s value trajectory through MicroStrategy’s holdings. Pros - Indirect Bitcoin exposure with income provides a unique opportunity for investors seeking income from bitcoin-backed debt. - Bonds issued by MicroStrategy offer relatively high interest rates, appealing for fixed-income investors attracted to the higher risk/reward scenarios. Cons - There are credit risks tied to MicroStrategy’s financial health and bitcoin’s performance. A significant drop in bitcoin prices could strain the company’s ability to service debt, increasing credit risk. - Availability: These bonds are primarily accessible to institutional investors and accredited investors, limiting availability for retail investors.  Interest Payable in Bitcoin – River has introduced an innovative product, bitcoin Interest on Cash, allowing clients to earn interest on their U.S. dollar deposits, with the interest paid in bitcoin. Dynamics - Interest Payment: Clients earn an annual interest rate of 3.8% on their cash deposits. The accrued interest is converted to Bitcoin daily and paid out monthly, enabling clients to accumulate Bitcoin over time. - Security and Accessibility: Cash deposits are insured up to $250,000 through River’s banking partner, Lead Bank, a member of the FDIC. All Bitcoin holdings are maintained in full reserve custody, ensuring that client assets are not lent or leveraged. Pros - There are no hidden fees or minimum balance requirements, and clients can withdraw their cash at any time. - The 3.8% interest rate provides a predictable income stream, akin to traditional fixed-income investments. Cons - While the interest rate is fixed, the value of the Bitcoin received as interest can fluctuate, introducing potential variability in the investment’s overall return. - Interest rate payments are on the lower side Admittedly, this is a very small list, however, these types of investments are growing more numerous and meaningful. The reality is the existing options aren’t numerous enough to service every client that has a need for fixed income exposure. I challenge advisors to explore innovative options for fixed income exposure outside of sovereign debt, as that is most certainly a road to nowhere. It is my wholehearted belief and call to action that we need more options to help clients across the risk and capital allocation spectrum access a sound money standard. Additional Resources - [River: The future of saving is here: Earn 3.8% on cash. Paid in Bitcoin.](http://bitcoin%20and%20fixed%20ihttps//blog.river.com/bitcoin-interest-on-cash/ncome) - [Onramp: Bitcoin, The Emergent Asset Class](https://onrampbitcoin.docsend.com/view/j4wje7kgvw357tt9) - [MicroStrategy: MicroStrategy Announces Pricing of Offering of Convertible Senior Notes](https://www.microstrategy.com/press/microstrategy-announces-pricing-of-offering-of-convertible-senior-notes_09-18-2024) --- *Bitcoin and Fixed Income was Written By Wyatt O’Rourke. If you enjoyed this article then support his writing, directly, by donating to his lightning wallet: ultrahusky3@primal.net*

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/781052/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/789759

Are you a merchant? Having a shop? Doing commerce? Selling stuff for BTC? Or even you have friends with shops that start accepting Bitcoin? After a year, I'd be interested to bring up an [old conversation](https://stacker.news/items/248871/r/AG), as it was really valuable! Share here your story (no need to give specific location details if you do not want to dox yourself), just explain how was your process and what would like to be better: - type of shop your have (online or pupusas) - type of commerce (retail, grocery, bar etc) - how was the onboarding process - what tools / apps you used, in the beginning and later - how you improved your use of bitcoin apps - how you consider bitcoin in your accounting (cash or "investment") - anything you would like to share We need more voice from Bitcoin merchants! Speak loud! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/782196

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/771187/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/781052

<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/e306357a7e53c4e40458cf6fa5625917dc8deaa4d1012823caa5a0eefb39e53c.jpg"> \ \ It was another historic week for both bitcoin and the Ten31 portfolio, as the world’s oldest, largest, most battle-tested cryptocurrency climbed to new all-time highs each day to close out the week just shy of the $100,000 mark. Along the way, bitcoin continued to accumulate institutional and regulatory wins, including the much-anticipated approval and launch of spot bitcoin ETF options and the appointment of several additional pro-bitcoin Presidential cabinet officials. The timing for this momentum was poetic, as this week marked the second anniversary of the pico-bottom of the 2022 bear market, a level that bitcoin has now hurdled to the tune of more than 6x despite the litany of bitcoin obituaries published at the time. The entirety of 2024 and especially the past month have further cemented our view that bitcoin is rapidly gaining a sense of legitimacy among institutions, fiduciaries, and governments, and we remain optimistic that this trend is set to accelerate even more into 2025. Several Ten31 portfolio companies made exciting announcements this week that should serve to further entrench bitcoin’s institutional adoption. AnchorWatch, a first of its kind bitcoin insurance provider offering 1:1 coverage with its innovative use of bitcoin’s native properties, announced it has been designated a Lloyd’s of London Coverholder, giving the company unique, blue-chip status as it begins to write bitcoin insurance policies of up to $100 million per policy starting next month. Meanwhile, Battery Finance Founder and CEO Andrew Hohns appeared on CNBC to delve into the launch of Battery’s pioneering private credit strategy which fuses bitcoin and conventional tangible assets in a dual-collateralized structure that offers a compelling risk/return profile to both lenders and borrowers. Both companies are clearing a path for substantially greater bitcoin adoption in massive, untapped pools of capital, and Ten31 is proud to have served as lead investor for AnchorWatch’s Seed round and as exclusive capital partner for Battery. As the world’s largest investor focused entirely on bitcoin, Ten31 has deployed nearly $150 million across two funds into more than 30 of the most promising and innovative companies in the ecosystem like AnchorWatch and Battery, and we expect 2025 to be the best year yet for both bitcoin and our portfolio. Ten31 will hold a first close for its third fund at the end of this year, and investors in that close will benefit from attractive incentives and a strong initial portfolio. Visit ten31.vc/funds to learn more and get in touch to discuss participating.\ \ **Portfolio Company Spotlight**  [Primal](http://primal.net/) is a first of its kind application for the Nostr protocol that combines a client, caching service, analytics tools, and more to address several unmet needs in the nascent Nostr ecosystem. Through the combination of its sleek client application and its caching service (built on a completely open source stack), Primal seeks to offer an end-user experience as smooth and easy as that of legacy social media platforms like Twitter and eventually many other applications, unlocking the vast potential of Nostr for the next billion people. Primal also offers an integrated wallet (powered by [Strike BLACK](https://x.com/Strike/status/1755335823023558819)) that substantially reduces onboarding and UX frictions for both Nostr and the lightning network while highlighting bitcoin’s unique power as internet-native, open-source money.  ### **Selected Portfolio News** AnchorWatch announced it has achieved Llody’s Coverholder status, allowing the company to provide unique 1:1 bitcoin insurance offerings starting in [December](https://x.com/AnchorWatch/status/1858622945763131577).\ \ Battery Finance Founder and CEO Andrew Hohns appeared on CNBC to delve into the company’s unique bitcoin-backed [private credit strategy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26bOawTzT5U). Primal launched version 2.0, a landmark update that adds a feed marketplace, robust advanced search capabilities, premium-tier offerings, and many [more new features](https://primal.net/e/note1kaeajwh275kdwd6s0c2ksvj9f83t0k7usf9qj8fha2ac7m456juqpac43m). Debifi launched its new iOS app for Apple users seeking non-custodial [bitcoin-collateralized loans](https://x.com/debificom/status/1858897785044500642). ### **Media** Strike Founder and CEO Jack Mallers [joined Bloomberg TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4z-2v_0H1k) to discuss the strong volumes the company has seen over the past year and the potential for a US bitcoin strategic reserve.  Primal Founder and CEO Miljan Braticevic [joined](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqR_IQfKic8) The Bitcoin Podcast to discuss the rollout of Primal 2.0 and the future of Nostr.  Ten31 Managing Partner Marty Bent [appeared on](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WwZDEtVxOE&t=1556s) BlazeTV to discuss recent changes in the regulatory environment for bitcoin.  Zaprite published a customer [testimonial video](https://x.com/ZapriteApp/status/1859357150809587928) highlighting the popularity of its offerings across the bitcoin ecosystem.  ### **Market Updates** Continuing its recent momentum, bitcoin reached another new all-time high this week, clocking in just below $100,000 on Friday. Bitcoin has now reached a market cap of [nearly $2 trillion](https://companiesmarketcap.com/assets-by-market-cap/), putting it within 3% of the market caps of Amazon and Google.  After receiving SEC and CFTC approval over the past month, long-awaited options on spot bitcoin ETFs were fully [approved](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-etf-options-set-hit-082230483.html) and launched this week. These options should help further expand bitcoin’s institutional [liquidity profile](https://x.com/kellyjgreer/status/1824168136637288912), with potentially significant [implications](https://x.com/dgt10011/status/1837278352823972147) for price action over time. The new derivatives showed strong performance out of the gate, with volumes on options for BlackRock’s IBIT reaching [nearly $2 billion](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/11/20/bitcoin-etf-options-introduction-marks-milestone-despite-position-limits/) on just the first day of trading despite [surprisingly tight](https://x.com/dgt10011/status/1858729192105414837) position limits for the vehicles.  Meanwhile, the underlying spot bitcoin ETF complex had yet another banner week, pulling in [$3.4 billion](https://farside.co.uk/btc/) in net inflows.  New reports [suggested](https://archive.is/LMr4o) President-elect Donald Trump’s social media company is in advanced talks to acquire crypto trading platform Bakkt, potentially the latest indication of the incoming administration’s stance toward the broader “crypto” ecosystem.  On the macro front, US housing starts [declined M/M again](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-single-family-housing-starts-134759234.html) in October on persistently high mortgage rates and weather impacts. The metric remains well below pre-COVID levels.  Pockets of the US commercial real estate market remain challenged, as the CEO of large Florida developer Related indicated that [developers need further rate cuts](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-19/miami-developer-says-real-estate-market-needs-rate-cuts-badly) “badly” to maintain project viability.  US Manufacturing PMI [increased slightly](https://www.fxstreet.com/news/sp-global-pmis-set-to-signal-us-economy-continued-to-expand-in-november-202411220900) M/M, but has now been in contraction territory (&lt;50) for well over two years. The latest iteration of the University of Michigan’s popular consumer sentiment survey [ticked up](https://archive.is/fY5j6) following this month’s election results, though so did five-year inflation expectations, which now sit comfortably north of 3%.  ### **Regulatory Update** After weeks of speculation, the incoming Trump administration appointed hedge fund manager [Scott Bessent](https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/11/22/donald-trump-chooses-hedge-fund-executive-scott-bessent-for-treasury-secretary.html) to head up the US Treasury. Like many of Trump’s cabinet selections so far, Bessent has been a [public advocate](https://x.com/EleanorTerrett/status/1856204133901963512) for bitcoin.  Trump also [appointed](https://www.axios.com/2024/11/19/trump-commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick) Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick – another outspoken [bitcoin bull](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/09/04/tradfi-companies-want-to-transact-in-bitcoin-says-cantor-fitzgerald-ceo/) – as Secretary of the Commerce Department.  Meanwhile, the Trump team is reportedly considering creating a new [“crypto czar”](https://archive.is/jPQHF) role to sit within the administration. While it’s unclear at this point what that role would entail, one report indicated that the administration’s broader “crypto council” is expected to move forward with plans for a [strategic bitcoin reserve](https://archive.is/ZtiOk). Various government lawyers suggested this week that the Trump administration is likely to be [less aggressive](https://archive.is/Uggnn) in seeking adversarial enforcement actions against bitcoin and “crypto” in general, as regulatory bodies appear poised to shift resources and focus elsewhere.  Other updates from the regulatory apparatus were also directionally positive for bitcoin, most notably FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg’s confirmation that he [plans to resign](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/19/fdics-gruenberg-says-he-will-resign-jan-19-00190373) from his post at the end of President Biden’s term.  Many critics have alleged Gruenberg was an architect of [“Operation Chokepoint 2.0,”](https://x.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1858927571666096628) which has created banking headwinds for bitcoin companies over the past several years, so a change of leadership at the department is likely yet another positive for the space. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler also officially announced he plans to resign at the start of the new administration. Gensler has been the target of much ire from the broader “crypto” space, though we expect many projects outside bitcoin may continue to struggle with questions around the [Howey Test](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/howey-test.asp). Overseas, a Chinese court ruled that it is [not illegal](https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42103633/chinese-court-affirms-cryptocurrency-ownership-as-legal-as-bitcoin-breaks-97k) for individuals to hold cryptocurrency, even though the country is still ostensibly [enforcing a ban](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58678907) on crypto transactions.  ### **Noteworthy** The incoming CEO of Charles Schwab – which administers over $9 trillion in client assets – [suggested](https://x.com/matthew_sigel/status/1859700668887597331) the platform is preparing to “get into” spot bitcoin offerings and that he “feels silly” for having waited this long. As this attitude becomes more common among traditional finance players, we continue to believe that the number of acquirers coming to market for bitcoin infrastructure capabilities will far outstrip the number of available high quality assets.  BlackRock’s 2025 Thematic Outlook notes a [“renewed sense of optimism”](https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/2025-thematic-outlook#rate-cuts) on bitcoin among the asset manager’s client base due to macro tailwinds and the improving regulatory environment. Elsewhere, BlackRock’s head of digital assets [indicated](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE7cAw7oIeA) the firm does not view bitcoin as a “risk-on” asset.  MicroStrategy, which was a sub-$1 billion market cap company less than five years ago, briefly breached a [$100 billion equity value](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microstrategy-breaks-top-100-u-191842879.html) this week as it continues to aggressively acquire bitcoin. The company now holds nearly 350,000 bitcoin on its balance sheet.  Notably, Allianz SE, Germany’s largest insurer, [spoke for 25%](https://bitbo.io/news/allianz-buys-microstrategy-notes/) of MicroStrategy’s latest $3 billion convertible note offering this week, suggesting [growing appetite](https://x.com/Rob1Ham/status/1860053859181199649) for bitcoin proxy exposure among more restricted pools of capital.  The [ongoing meltdown](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/22/synapse-bankruptcy-thousands-of-americans-see-their-savings-vanish.html) of fintech middleware provider Synapse has left tens of thousands of customers with nearly 100% deposit haircuts as hundreds of millions in funds remain missing, the latest unfortunate case study in the fragility of much of the US’s legacy banking stack.  ### **Travel** - [BitcoinMENA](https://bitcoin2024.b.tc/mena), Dec 9-10 - [Nashville BitDevs](https://www.meetup.com/bitcoinpark/events/302533726/?eventOrigin=group_upcoming_events), Dec 10 - [Austin BitDevs](https://www.meetup.com/austin-bitcoin-developers/events/303476169/?eventOrigin=group_upcoming_events), Dec 19 - [Nashville Energy and Mining Summit](https://www.meetup.com/bitcoinpark/events/304092624/?eventOrigin=group_events_list), Jan 30

Original: https://techreport.com/crypto-news/brazil-central-bank-ban-monero-stablecoins/ Brazilian’s Central Bank Will Ban Monero and Algorithmic Stablecoins in the Country =================================================================================== Brazil proposes crypto regulations banning Monero and algorithmic stablecoins and enforcing strict compliance for exchanges. * * * **KEY TAKEAWAYS** * The Central Bank of Brazil has proposed **regulations prohibiting privacy-centric cryptocurrencies** like Monero. * The regulations **categorize exchanges into intermediaries, custodians, and brokers**, each with specific capital requirements and compliance standards. * While the proposed rules apply to cryptocurrencies, certain digital assets like non-fungible tokens **(NFTs) are still ‘deregulated’ in Brazil**.  In a Notice of Participation announcement, the Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) outlines **regulations for virtual asset service providers (VASPs)** operating in the country. **_In the document, the Brazilian regulator specifies that privacy-focused coins, such as Monero, must be excluded from all digital asset companies that intend to operate in Brazil._** Let’s unpack what effect these regulations will have. Brazil’s Crackdown on Crypto Fraud ---------------------------------- If the BCB’s current rule is approved, **exchanges dealing with coins that provide anonymity must delist these currencies** or prevent Brazilians from accessing and operating these assets. The Central Bank argues that currencies like Monero make it difficult and even prevent the identification of users, thus creating problems in complying with international AML obligations and policies to prevent the financing of terrorism. According to the Central Bank of Brazil, the bans aim to **prevent criminals from using digital assets to launder money**. In Brazil, organized criminal syndicates such as the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho have been increasingly using digital assets for money laundering and foreign remittances. > … restriction on the supply of virtual assets that contain characteristics of fragility, insecurity or risks that favor fraud or crime, such as virtual assets designed to favor money laundering and terrorist financing practices by facilitating anonymity or difficulty identification of the holder. > > – [Notice of Participation](https://www.gov.br/participamaisbrasil/edital-de-participacao-social-n-109-2024-proposta-de-regulamentacao-do-) The Central Bank has identified that **removing algorithmic stablecoins is essential to guarantee the safety of users’ funds** and avoid events such as when Terraform Labs’ entire ecosystem collapsed, losing billions of investors’ dollars. The Central Bank also wants to **control all digital assets traded by companies in Brazil**. According to the current proposal, the [national regulator](https://techreport.com/cryptocurrency/learning/crypto-regulations-global-view/) will have the **power to ask platforms to remove certain listed assets** if it considers that they do not meet local regulations. However, the regulations will not include [NFTs](https://techreport.com/statistics/crypto/nft-awareness-adoption-statistics/), real-world asset (RWA) tokens, RWA tokens classified as securities, and tokenized movable or real estate assets. These assets are still ‘deregulated’ in Brazil. Monero: What Is It and Why Is Brazil Banning It? ------------------------------------------------ Monero ($XMR) is a cryptocurrency that uses a protocol called CryptoNote. It launched in 2013 and ‘erases’ transaction data, preventing the sender and recipient addresses from being publicly known. The Monero network is based on a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, which incentivizes miners to add blocks to the blockchain.  Like Brazil, **other nations are banning Monero** in search of regulatory compliance. Recently, Dubai’s new digital asset rules prohibited the issuance of activities related to anonymity-enhancing cryptocurrencies such as $XMR. Furthermore, exchanges such as **Binance have already announced they will delist Monero** on their global platforms due to its anonymity features. Kraken did the same, removing Monero for their European-based users to comply with [MiCA regulations](https://techreport.com/crypto-news/eu-mica-rules-existential-threat-or-crypto-clarity/). Data from Chainalysis shows that Brazil is the **seventh-largest Bitcoin market in the world**.  In Latin America, **Brazil is the largest market for digital assets**. Globally, it leads in the innovation of RWA tokens, with several companies already trading this type of asset. In Closing ---------- Following other nations, Brazil’s regulatory proposals aim to combat illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorism financing. Will the BCB’s move safeguard people’s digital assets while also stimulating growth and innovation in the crypto ecosystem? Only time will tell. References ---------- Cassio Gusson is a journalist passionate about technology, cryptocurrencies, and the nuances of human nature. With a career spanning roles as Senior Crypto Journalist at CriptoFacil and Head of News at CoinTelegraph, he offers exclusive insights on South America’s crypto landscape. A graduate in Communication from Faccamp and a post-graduate in Globalization and Culture from FESPSP, Cassio explores the intersection of governance, decentralization, and the evolution of global systems. [View all articles by Cassio Gusson](https://techreport.com/author/cassiog/)

Now test old reliable front end Stay tuned more later Keeping this as template long note for debugging in future as come across few NIP-33 post edit issues

## Chef's notes This simple, easy, no bake desert will surely be the it at you next family gathering. You can keep it a secret or share it with the crowd that this is a healthy alternative to normal pie. I think everyone will be amazed at how good it really is. ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 30 - 🍳 Cook time: 0 - 🍽️ Servings: 8 ## Ingredients - 1/3 cup of Heavy Cream- 0g sugar, 5.5g carbohydrates - 3/4 cup of Half and Half- 6g sugar, 3g carbohydrates - 4oz Sugar Free Cool Whip (1/2 small container) - 0g sugar, 37.5g carbohydrates - 1.5oz box (small box) of Sugar Free Instant Chocolate Pudding- 0g sugar, 32g carbohydrates - 1 Pecan Pie Crust- 24g sugar, 72g carbohydrates ## Directions 1. The total pie has 30g of sugar and 149.50g of carboydrates. So if you cut the pie into 8 equal slices, that would come to 3.75g of sugar and 18.69g carbohydrates per slice. If you decided to not eat the crust, your sugar intake would be .75 gram per slice and the carborytrates would be 9.69g per slice. Based on your objective, you could use only heavy whipping cream and no half and half to further reduce your sugar intake. 2. Mix all wet ingredients and the instant pudding until thoroughly mixed and a consistent color has been achieved. The heavy whipping cream causes the mixture to thicken the more you mix it. So, I’d recommend using an electric mixer. Once you are satisfied with the color, start mixing in the whipping cream until it has a consistent “chocolate” color thorough. Once your satisfied with the color, spoon the mixture into the pie crust, smooth the top to your liking, and then refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Let me tell you a beautiful story. Last night, during the speakers' dinner at Monerotopia, the waitress was collecting tiny tips in Mexican pesos. I asked her, "Do you really want to earn tips seriously?" I then showed her how to set up a Cake Wallet, and she started collecting tips in Monero, reaching 0.9 XMR. Of course, she wanted to cash out to fiat immediately, but it solved a real problem for her: making more money. That amount was something she would never have earned in a single workday. We kept talking, and I promised to give her Zoom workshops. What can I say? I love people, and that's why I'm a natural orange-piller.

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/761231/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/771187

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/751696/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/761231

Weekends are the perfect time to unwind, explore, or spend time doing what we love. How would you spend your ideal weekend? Would it be all about relaxation, or would you be out and about? For me, an ideal weekend would start with a slow Saturday morning, a good book and coffee. Then I would spend the afternoon exploring local trails and looking for snacks. Then always a slow Sunday night hopefully. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/760492

The Magnificent 7:  Here we are again with our monthly [Magnificent Seven](https://stacker.news/AGORA#the-magnificent-seven---of-all-times) summary, trying to give you a hit of what you missed this month in the ~AGORA territory. - - - ### Top-Performing Ads This month, the most zapranked ones are: * `01` [[OFFER] IPv4+IPv6 KVM VPS, from 1.75EUR/month (Stockholm/SE SWEDEN)](https://stacker.news/items/750336/r/AG) by @skhron * `02` [[SWAP] SN Cowboy credits](https://stacker.news/items/723069/r/AG) by @DarthCoin * `03` [[SELL] “NO⚡️TR T-Shirt” for 21K sats](https://stacker.news/items/730098/r/AG) by @thebullishbitcoiner * `04` [[sell] iptv subscription 10k+ live tv channels and 20k+ vod (tv/movies)](https://stacker.news/items/730963/r/AG) by @profullstack This month we ran short, so here other 3 from previous month * `05` [[SELL] StackerNews Archived Territories - Your chance to own a piece of history!](https://stacker.news/items/698471/r/AG) by @Design_r * `06` [[SELL] Stickers for Stackers! SN Nostr Badges vinyl stickers - from 3,456 sats](https://stacker.news/items/711431/r/AG) by @AGORA * `07` [[SELL] 3 WishMesh Meshtastic radios and 2 extended antennas 325,000 SATS](https://stacker.news/items/710750/r/AG) by @fe3c522a6f - - - ###### In case you missed Here some interesting post opening conversation and free speech: @supratic share some interesting tools for merchants and businesses: - https://stacker.news/items/745053/r/AG TinyPine: A simple LN and CASHU ecash POS system for merchants - https://stacker.news/items/750705/r/AG PLEBEIAN – Simple, Anonymous & Free Market for Everyone And here some more insights on how to do business in the private: - https://stacker.news/items/732291/r/AG Classifieds vs. Listings: Navigating Nostr Protocol's Approach to Advertising by @AGORA - https://stacker.news/items/742973/r/AG The Watchman Privacy Podcast – Escape the Servile Society with Vonu by @mo - https://stacker.news/items/746325/r/AG How to Operate a Business in the Private with Trust by @mo - https://stacker.news/items/741906/r/AG Paying out debt and bills using the Bills of Exchange act by @supratic - https://stacker.news/items/751074/r/AG The Separation of Business and State by @mo - https://stacker.news/items/718979/r/AG Mystery Paper: Ancient Merchant Paper, For Merchants Only & Corporate Countries by @AGORA - https://stacker.news/items/720288/r/AG Parallel Society • Free Man's Perspective by @DarthCoin ###### 🏷️ Spending Sunday is back! Share your most recent Bitcoin purchases of just check what other stackers are buying with their sats! Read more https://stacker.news/items/721244/r/AG - - - ###### Just a reminder for you all This territory aims to connect stackers and curious buyers for IRL P2P Bitcoin deals. Have fun checking what else stackers are shilling globally in the ~AGORA. This is a great time for you to make some space un-dusting some stuff that has been sitting there for too long and get some sats for it! To incentivize more conversation and a more _libre_ mindset, we decided to adopt the zapshare approach, so we'll split the rewards of this TM7 to the best contributors plus zaps to the posts that offer much PoW when posting. - - - ### Create your Ads now!  Looking to start something new? Hit one of the links below to free your mind: * [💬 TOPIC](https://stacker.news/~AGORA/post?type=discussion) for conversation, * [\[⚖️ SELL\]](https://w3.do/b_v2wutP) anything! or, * if you're looking for something, hit the [\[🛒 BUY\]](https://w3.do/zvixtuSh)! * [\[🧑‍💻 HIRE\]](https://w3.do/_j0kpVsi) any bitcoiner skill or stuff from bitcoiners * [\[🖇 OFFER\]](https://w3.do/EfWF8yDL) any product or service and stack more sats * [\[🧑‍⚖️ AUCTION\]](https://w3.do/sbbCjZ0e) to let stackers decide a fair price for your item * [\[🤝 SWAP\]](https://w3.do/V_iP4lY5) if you're looking to exchange anything with anything else * [\[🆓 FREE\]](https://w3.do/DdVEE1ME) your space, make a gift! * [\[⭐ REVIEW\]](https://w3.do/CAZ5JxCk) any bitcoin product or LN service you recently bought or subscribed to - - - Or contact @AGORA team on [nostr DM](https://iris.to/agora_sn) and we can help you publish a personalized post. Coinomi Bitcoin Testnet skull quantum digital allow faculty enforce spatial emotion fun candy plunge stick stairs salad dish pass fix between shock scene ivory cargo unhappy fault originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/758878

## You have no idea I regularly read comments from people, on here, wondering how it's possible to marry -- or even simply be friends! -- with someone who doesn't agree with you on politics. I see this sentiment expressed quite often, usually in the context of Bitcoin, or whatever _pig is currently being chased through the village_, as they say around here.  It seems rather sensible, but I don't think it's as hard, as people make it out to be. Further, I think it's a dangerous precondition to set, for your interpersonal relationships, because the political field is constantly in flux. If you determine who you will love, by their opinions, do you stop loving them if their opinions change, or if the opinions they have become irrelevant and a new set of opinions are needed -- and their new ones don't match your new ones? We could see this happen to relationships en masse, during the Covid Era, and I think it happens every day, in a slow grind toward the disintegration of interpersonal discourse. I suspect many people do stop loving, at that point, as they never really loved the other person for their own sake, they loved the other person because they thought the other person was exactly like they are. But no two people are alike, and the longer you are in a relationship with someone else, the more the initial giddiness wears off and the trials and tribulations add up, the more you notice how very different you actually are. This is the point, where best friends and romantic couples say, _We just grew apart._ But you were always apart. You were always two different people. You just didn't notice, until now.  I've also always been surprised at how many same-party relationships disintegrate because of some disagreement over some particular detail of some particular topic, that they generally agree on. To me, it seems like an irrelevant side-topic, but _they can't stand to be with this person_... and they stomp off. So, I tend to think that it's less that opinions need to align to each other, but rather than opinions need to align in accordance with the level of interpersonal tolerance they can bring into the relationship. ## I was raised by relaxed revolutionaries Maybe I see things this way because my parents come from two diverging political, cultural, national, and ethnic backgrounds, and are prone to disagreeing about a lot of "important" (to people outside their marriage) things, but still have one of the healthiest, most-fruitful, and most long-running marriages of anyone I know, from that generation. My parents, you see, aren't united by their opinions. They're united by their relationship, which is something _outside_ of opinions. Beyond opinions. Relationships are what turn two different people into one, cohesive unit, so that they slowly grow together. Eventually, even their faces merge, and their biological clocks tick to the same rhythm. They eventually become one entity that contains differing opinions about the same topics. It's like magic, but it's the result of a mindset, not a worldview. Or, as I like to quip: > The best way to stay married, is to not get divorced.  My parents simply determined early on, that they would stay together, and whenever they would find that they disagreed on something that _didn't directly pertain to their day-to-day existence with each other_ they would just agree-to-disagree about that, or roll their eyes, and move on. You do you. Live and let live. My parents have some of the most strongly held personal opinions of any people I've ever met, but they're also incredibly tolerant and can get along with nearly anyone, so their friends are a confusing hodgepodge of _people we liked and found interesting enough to keep around_. Which makes their house parties really fun, and highly unusual, in this day and age of mutual-damnation across the aisle.  The things that did affect them, directly, like which school the children should attend or which country they should live in, etc. were things they'd sit down and discuss, and somehow one opinion would emerge, and they'd again... move on. And that's how my husband and I also live our lives, and it's been working surprisingly well. No topics are off-limits to discussion (so long as you don't drone on for too long), nobody has to give up deeply held beliefs, or stop agitating for the political decisions they prefer. You see, we didn't like that the other always had the same opinion. We liked that the other always held their opinions strongly. That they were passionate about their opinions. That they were willing to voice their opinions; sacrifice to promote their opinions. And that they didn't let anyone browbeat or cow them, for their opinions, not even their best friends or their spouse. But that they were open to listening to the other side, and trying to wrap their mind around the possibility that they _might just be wrong about something_.  We married each other because we knew: this person really cares, this person has thought this through, and they're in it, to win it. What "it" is, is mostly irrelevant, so long as it doesn't entail torturing small animals in the basement, or raising the children on a diet of Mountain Dew and porn, or something. Live and let live. At least, it's never boring. At least, there's always something to ~~argue~~ talk about. At least, we never think... we've just grown apart.

Last week, an investigation by Reuters revealed that Chinese researchers have been using open-source AI tools to build nefarious-sounding models that may have some military application. The [reporting](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/chinese-researchers-develop-ai-model-military-use-back-metas-llama-2024-11-01/) purports that adversaries in the Chinese Communist Party and its military wing are taking advantage of the liberal software licensing of American innovations in the AI space, which could someday have capabilities to presumably harm the United States. > In a June paper reviewed by Reuters, six Chinese researchers from three institutions, including two under the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) leading research body, the Academy of Military Science (AMS), detailed how they had used an early version of Meta’s Llama as a base for what it calls “ChatBIT”. > > The researchers used an earlier Llama 13B large language model (LLM) from Meta, incorporating their own parameters to construct a military-focused AI tool to gather and process intelligence, and offer accurate and reliable information for operational decision-making. While I’m doubtful that today’s existing chatbot-like tools will be the ultimate battlefield for a new geopolitical war (queue up the computer-simulated war from the Star Trek episode “A Taste of Armageddon“), this recent exposé requires us to revisit why large language models are released as open-source code in the first place. Added to that, should it matter that an adversary is having a poke around and may ultimately use them for some purpose we may not like, whether that be China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran? The number of open-source AI LLMs continues to grow each day, with projects like Vicuna, LLaMA, BLOOMB, Falcon, and Mistral available for download. In fact, there are over one million open-source LLMs available as of writing this post. With some decent hardware, every global citizen can download these codebases and run them on their computer. With regard to this specific story, we could assume it to be a selective leak by a competitor of Meta which created the LLaMA model, intended to harm its reputation among those with cybersecurity and national security credentials. There are potentially trillions of dollars on the line. Or it could be the revelation of something more sinister happening in the military-sponsored labs of Chinese hackers who have already been caught attacking American infrastructure, data, and yes, your credit history? As consumer advocates who believe in the necessity of liberal democracies to safeguard our liberties against authoritarianism, we should absolutely remain skeptical when it comes to the communist regime in Beijing. We’ve written as much many times. At the same time, however, we should not subrogate our own critical thinking and principles because it suits a convenient narrative. Consumers of all stripes deserve technological freedom, and innovators should be free to provide that to us. And open-source software has provided the very foundations for all of this. Open-source matters When we discuss open-source software and code, what we’re really talking about is the ability for people other than the creators to use it. The various licensing schemes – ranging from GNU General Public License (GPL) to the MIT License and various public domain classifications – determine whether other people can use the code, edit it to their liking, and run it on their machine. Some licenses even allow you to monetize the modifications you’ve made. While many different types of software will be fully licensed and made proprietary, restricting or even penalizing those who attempt to use it on their own, many developers have created software intended to be released to the public. This allows multiple contributors to add to the codebase and to make changes to improve it for public benefit. Open-source software matters because anyone, anywhere can download and run the code on their own. They can also modify it, edit it, and tailor it to their specific need. The code is intended to be shared and built upon not because of some altruistic belief, but rather to make it accessible for everyone and create a broad base. This is how we create standards for technologies that provide the ground floor for further tinkering to deliver value to consumers. Open-source libraries create the building blocks that decrease the hassle and cost of building a new web platform, smartphone, or even a computer language. They distribute common code that can be built upon, assuring interoperability and setting standards for all of our devices and technologies to talk to each other. I am myself a proponent of open-source software. The server I run in my home has dozens of dockerized applications sourced directly from open-source contributors on GitHub and DockerHub. When there are versions or adaptations that I don’t like, I can pick and choose which I prefer. I can even make comments or add edits if I’ve found a better way for them to run. Whether you know it or not, many of you run the Linux operating system as the base for your Macbook or any other computer and use all kinds of web tools that have active repositories forked or modified by open-source contributors online. This code is auditable by everyone and can be scrutinized or reviewed by whoever wants to (even AI bots). This is the same software that runs your airlines, powers the farms that deliver your food, and supports the entire global monetary system. The code of the first decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin is also open-source, which has allowed thousands of copycat protocols that have revolutionized how we view money. You know what else is open-source and available for everyone to use, modify, and build upon? PHP, Mozilla Firefox, LibreOffice, MySQL, Python, Git, Docker, and WordPress. All protocols and languages that power the web. Friend or foe alike, anyone can download these pieces of software and run them how they see fit. Open-source code is speech, and it is knowledge. We build upon it to make information and technology accessible. Attempts to curb open-source, therefore, amount to restricting speech and knowledge. Open-source is for your friends, and enemies In the context of Artificial Intelligence, many different developers and companies have chosen to take their large language models and make them available via an open-source license. At this very moment, you can click on over to Hugging Face, download an AI model, and build a chatbot or scripting machine suited to your needs. All for free (as long as you have the power and bandwidth). Thousands of companies in the AI sector are doing this at this very moment, discovering ways of building on top of open-source models to develop new apps, tools, and services to offer to companies and individuals. It’s how many different applications are coming to life and thousands more jobs are being created. We know this can be useful to friends, but what about enemies? As the AI wars heat up between liberal democracies like the US, the UK, and (sluggishly) the European Union, we know that authoritarian adversaries like the CCP and Russia are building their own applications. The fear that China will use open-source US models to create some kind of military application is a clear and present danger for many political and national security researchers, as well as politicians. A bipartisan group of US House lawmakers want to put export controls on AI models, as well as block foreign access to US cloud servers that may be hosting AI software. If this seems familiar, we should also remember that the US government once classified cryptography and encryption as “munitions” that could not be exported to other countries (see The Crypto Wars). Many of the arguments we hear today were invoked by some of the same people as back then. Now, encryption protocols are the gold standard for many different banking and web services, messaging, and all kinds of electronic communication. We expect our friends to use it, and our foes as well. Because code is knowledge and speech, we know how to evaluate it and respond if we need to. Regardless of who uses open-source AI, this is how we should view it today. These are merely tools that people will use for good or ill. It’s up to governments to determine how best to stop illiberal or nefarious uses that harm us, rather than try to outlaw or restrict building of free and open software in the first place. Limiting open-source threatens our own advancement If we set out to restrict and limit our ability to create and share open-source code, no matter who uses it, that would be tantamount to imposing censorship. There must be another way. If there is a “Hundred Year Marathon” between the United States and liberal democracies on one side and autocracies like the Chinese Communist Party on the other, this is not something that will be won or lost based on software licenses. We need as much competition as possible. The Chinese military has been building up its capabilities with trillions of dollars’ worth of investments that span far beyond AI chatbots and skip logic protocols. The theft of intellectual property at factories in Shenzhen, or in US courts by third-party litigation funding coming from China, is very real and will have serious economic consequences. It may even change the balance of power if our economies and countries turn to war footing. But these are separate issues from the ability of free people to create and share open-source code which we can all benefit from. In fact, if we want to continue our way our life and continue to add to global productivity and growth, it’s demanded that we defend open-source. If liberal democracies want to compete with our global adversaries, it will not be done by reducing the freedoms of citizens in our own countries. Last week, an investigation by Reuters revealed that Chinese researchers have been using open-source AI tools to build nefarious-sounding models that may have some military application. The reporting purports that adversaries in the Chinese Communist Party and its military wing are taking advantage of the liberal software licensing of American innovations in the AI space, which could someday have capabilities to presumably harm the United States. > In a June paper reviewed by[ Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/chinese-researchers-develop-ai-model-military-use-back-metas-llama-2024-11-01/), six Chinese researchers from three institutions, including two under the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) leading research body, the Academy of Military Science (AMS), detailed how they had used an early version of Meta’s Llama as a base for what it calls “ChatBIT”. > > The researchers used an earlier Llama 13B large language model (LLM) from Meta, incorporating their own parameters to construct a military-focused AI tool to gather and process intelligence, and offer accurate and reliable information for operational decision-making. While I’m doubtful that today’s existing chatbot-like tools will be the ultimate battlefield for a new geopolitical war (queue up the computer-simulated war from the *Star Trek* episode “[A Taste of Armageddon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Taste_of_Armageddon)“), this recent exposé requires us to revisit why large language models are released as open-source code in the first place. Added to that, should it matter that an adversary is having a poke around and may ultimately use them for some purpose we may not like, whether that be China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran? The number of open-source AI LLMs continues to grow each day, with projects like Vicuna, LLaMA, BLOOMB, Falcon, and Mistral available for download. In fact, there are over [one million open-source LLMs](https://huggingface.co/models) available as of writing this post. With some decent hardware, every global citizen can download these codebases and run them on their computer. With regard to this specific story, we could assume it to be a selective leak by a competitor of Meta which created the LLaMA model, intended to harm its reputation among those with cybersecurity and national security credentials. There are [potentially](https://bigthink.com/business/the-trillion-dollar-ai-race-to-create-digital-god/) trillions of dollars on the line. Or it could be the revelation of something more sinister happening in the military-sponsored labs of Chinese hackers who have already been caught attacking American[ infrastructure](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/chinese-hackers-cisa-cyber-5-years-us-infrastructure-attack-rcna137706),[ data](https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/05/politics/chinese-hackers-us-telecoms/index.html), and yes, [your credit history](https://thespectator.com/topic/chinese-communist-party-credit-history-equifax/)? **As consumer advocates who believe in the necessity of liberal democracies to safeguard our liberties against authoritarianism, we should absolutely remain skeptical when it comes to the communist regime in Beijing. We’ve written as much[ many times](https://consumerchoicecenter.org/made-in-china-sold-in-china/).** At the same time, however, we should not subrogate our own critical thinking and principles because it suits a convenient narrative. Consumers of all stripes deserve technological freedom, and innovators should be free to provide that to us. And open-source software has provided the very foundations for all of this. ## **Open-source matters** When we discuss open-source software and code, what we’re really talking about is the ability for people other than the creators to use it. The various [licensing schemes](https://opensource.org/licenses) – ranging from GNU General Public License (GPL) to the MIT License and various public domain classifications – determine whether other people can use the code, edit it to their liking, and run it on their machine. Some licenses even allow you to monetize the modifications you’ve made. While many different types of software will be fully licensed and made proprietary, restricting or even penalizing those who attempt to use it on their own, many developers have created software intended to be released to the public. This allows multiple contributors to add to the codebase and to make changes to improve it for public benefit. Open-source software matters because anyone, anywhere can download and run the code on their own. They can also modify it, edit it, and tailor it to their specific need. The code is intended to be shared and built upon not because of some altruistic belief, but rather to make it accessible for everyone and create a broad base. This is how we create standards for technologies that provide the ground floor for further tinkering to deliver value to consumers. Open-source libraries create the building blocks that decrease the hassle and cost of building a new web platform, smartphone, or even a computer language. They distribute common code that can be built upon, assuring interoperability and setting standards for all of our devices and technologies to talk to each other. I am myself a proponent of open-source software. The server I run in my home has dozens of dockerized applications sourced directly from open-source contributors on GitHub and DockerHub. When there are versions or adaptations that I don’t like, I can pick and choose which I prefer. I can even make comments or add edits if I’ve found a better way for them to run. Whether you know it or not, many of you run the Linux operating system as the base for your Macbook or any other computer and use all kinds of web tools that have active repositories forked or modified by open-source contributors online. This code is auditable by everyone and can be scrutinized or reviewed by whoever wants to (even AI bots). This is the same software that runs your airlines, powers the farms that deliver your food, and supports the entire global monetary system. The code of the first decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin is also [open-source](https://github.com/bitcoin), which has allowed [thousands](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-is-money-for-enemies) of copycat protocols that have revolutionized how we view money. You know what else is open-source and available for everyone to use, modify, and build upon? PHP, Mozilla Firefox, LibreOffice, MySQL, Python, Git, Docker, and WordPress. All protocols and languages that power the web. Friend or foe alike, anyone can download these pieces of software and run them how they see fit. Open-source code is speech, and it is knowledge. We build upon it to make information and technology accessible. Attempts to curb open-source, therefore, amount to restricting speech and knowledge. ## **Open-source is for your friends, and enemies** In the context of Artificial Intelligence, many different developers and companies have chosen to take their large language models and make them available via an open-source license. At this very moment, you can click on over to[ Hugging Face](https://huggingface.co/), download an AI model, and build a chatbot or scripting machine suited to your needs. All for free (as long as you have the power and bandwidth). Thousands of companies in the AI sector are doing this at this very moment, discovering ways of building on top of open-source models to develop new apps, tools, and services to offer to companies and individuals. It’s how many different applications are coming to life and thousands more jobs are being created. We know this can be useful to friends, but what about enemies? As the AI wars heat up between liberal democracies like the US, the UK, and (sluggishly) the European Union, we know that authoritarian adversaries like the CCP and Russia are building their own applications. The fear that China will use open-source US models to create some kind of military application is a clear and present danger for many political and national security researchers, as well as politicians. A bipartisan group of US House lawmakers want to put [export controls](https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-lawmakers-unveil-bill-make-it-easier-restrict-exports-ai-models-2024-05-10/) on AI models, as well as block foreign access to US cloud servers that may be hosting AI software. If this seems familiar, we should also remember that the US government once classified cryptography and encryption as “munitions” that could not be exported to other countries (see[ The Crypto Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_of_cryptography_from_the_United_States)). Many of the arguments we hear today were invoked by some of the same people as back then. Now, encryption protocols are the gold standard for many different banking and web services, messaging, and all kinds of electronic communication. We expect our friends to use it, and our foes as well. Because code is knowledge and speech, we know how to evaluate it and respond if we need to. Regardless of who uses open-source AI, this is how we should view it today. These are merely tools that people will use for good or ill. It’s up to governments to determine how best to stop illiberal or nefarious uses that harm us, rather than try to outlaw or restrict building of free and open software in the first place. ## **Limiting open-source threatens our own advancement** If we set out to restrict and limit our ability to create and share open-source code, no matter who uses it, that would be tantamount to imposing censorship. There must be another way. If there is a “[Hundred Year Marathon](https://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Year-Marathon-Strategy-Replace-Superpower/dp/1250081343)” between the United States and liberal democracies on one side and autocracies like the Chinese Communist Party on the other, this is not something that will be won or lost based on software licenses. We need as much competition as possible. The Chinese military has been building up its capabilities with [trillions of dollars’](https://www.economist.com/china/2024/11/04/in-some-areas-of-military-strength-china-has-surpassed-america) worth of investments that span far beyond AI chatbots and skip logic protocols. The [theft](https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/06/20/1075088/chinese-amazon-seller-counterfeit-lawsuit/) of intellectual property at factories in Shenzhen, or in US courts by [third-party litigation funding](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/techland/litigation-finance-exposes-our-judicial-system-foreign-exploitation-210207) coming from China, is very real and will have serious economic consequences. It may even change the balance of power if our economies and countries turn to war footing. But these are separate issues from the ability of free people to create and share open-source code which we can all benefit from. In fact, if we want to continue our way our life and continue to add to global productivity and growth, it’s demanded that we defend open-source. If liberal democracies want to compete with our global adversaries, it will not be done by reducing the freedoms of citizens in our own countries. *Originally published on the website of the [Consumer Choice Center](https://consumerchoicecenter.org/open-source-is-for-everyone-even-your-adversaries/).*

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/741746/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/751696

One year ago I wrote the article [Why Nostr resonates](https://sebastix.nl/blog/why-nostr-resonates/) in Dutch and English after I visited the Bitcoin Amsterdam 2023 conference and the Nostrdam event. It got published at [bitcoinfocus.nl](https://bitcoinfocus.nl/2023/11/02/278-waarom-nostr-resoneert/) (translated in Dutch). The main reason why I wrote that piece is that I felt that my gut feeling was tellinng me that Nostr is going to change many things on the web. After the article was published, one of the first things I did was setting up this page on my website: [https://sebastix.nl/nostr-research-and-development](https://sebastix.nl/nostr-research-and-development). The page contains this section (which I updated on 31-10-2024):  One metric I would like to highlight is the number of repositories on Github. Compared to a year ago, there are already more than 1130 repositories now on Github tagged with Nostr. Let's compare this number to other social media protocols and decentralized platforms (24-10-2024): * Fediverse: 522 * ATProto: 159 * Scuttlebot: 49 * Farcaster: 202 * Mastodon: 1407 * ActivityPub: 444 Nostr is growing. FYI there are many Nostr repositories not hosted on Github, so the total number of Nostr reposities is higher. I know that many devs are using their own Git servers to host it. We're even capable of setting up Nostr native Git repositories (for example, see [https://gitworkshop.dev/repos](https://gitworkshop.dev/repos)). Eventually, Nostr will make Github (and other platforms) absolute. Let me continue summarizing my personal Nostr highlights of last year. ## Organising Nostr meetups  This is me playing around with the NostrDebug tool showing how you can query data from Nostr relays. Jurjen is standing behind me. He is one of the people I've met this year who I'm sure I will have a long-term friendship with. ## OpenSats grant for Nostr-PHP   In December 2023 I submitted my application for a OpenSats grant for the further development of the Nostr-PHP helper library. After some months I finally got the message that my application was approved... When I got the message I was really stoked and excited. It's a great form of appreciation for the work I had done so far and with this grant I get the opportunity to take the work to another higher level. So please check out the work done for so far: * [https://nostr-php.dev](https://nostr-php.dev) * [https://github.com/nostrver-se/nostr-php](https://github.com/nostrver-se/nostr-php) ## Meeting Dries  One of my goosebumps moments I had in 2022 when I saw that the founder and tech lead of Drupal Dries Buytaert posted '[Nostr, love at first sight](https://dri.es/nostr-love-at-first-sight)' on his blog. These types of moments are very rare moment where two different worlds merge where I wouldn't expect it. Later on I noticed that Dries would come to the yearly Dutch Drupal event. For me this was a perfect opportunity to meet him in person and have some Nostr talks. I admire the work he is doing for Drupal and the community. I hope we can bridge Nostr stuff in some way to Drupal. In general this applies for any FOSS project out there. [Here](https://sebastix.nl/blog/photodump-and-highlights-drupaljam-2024/) is my recap of that Drupal event. ## Attending Nostriga  A conference where history is made and written. I felt it immediately at the first sessions I attended. I will never forget the days I had at Nostriga. I don't have the words to describe what it brought to me.  I also pushed myself out of my comfort zone by giving a keynote called 'POSSE with Nostr - how we pivot away from API's with one of Nostr superpowers'. I'm not sure if this is something I would do again, but I've learned a lot from it. You can find the presentation [here](https://nostriga.nostrver.se/). It is recorded, but I'm not sure if and when it gets published. ## Nostr billboard advertisement  This advertisment was shown on a billboard beside the [A58 highway in The Netherlands](https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.5544315,4.5607291,3a,75y,34.72h,93.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdQv9nm3J9SdUQCD0caFR-g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu) from September 2nd till September 16th 2024. You can find all the assets and more footage of the billboard ad here: [https://gitlab.com/sebastix-group/nostr/nostr-ads](https://gitlab.com/sebastix-group/nostr/nostr-ads). My goal was to set an example of how we could promote Nostr in more traditional ways and inspire others to do the same. In Brazil a fundraiser was achieved to do something similar there: [https://geyser.fund/project/nostrifybrazil](https://geyser.fund/project/nostrifybrazil). ## Volunteering at Nostr booths growNostr  This was such a great motivating experience. Attending as a volunteer at the Nostr booth during the Bitcoin Amsterdam 2024 conference. Please read my note with all the lessons I learned [here](https://nostrver.se/note/my-learned-nostr-lessons-nostr-booth-bitcoin-amsterdam-2024). ## The other stuff * The Nostr related blog articles I wrote past year: * [**Run a Nostr relay with your own policies**](https://sebastix.nl/blog/run-a-nostr-relay-with-your-own-policies/) (02-04-2024) * [**Why social networks should be based on commons**](https://sebastix.nl/blog/why-social-networks-should-be-based-on-commons/) (03-01-2024) * [**How could Drupal adopt Nostr?**](https://sebastix.nl/blog/how-could-drupal-adopt-nostr/) (30-12-2023) * [**Nostr integration for CCHS.social**](https://sebastix.nl/blog/nostr-integration-for-cchs-social-drupal-cms/) (21-12-2023) * [https://ccns.nostrver.se](https://ccns.nostrver.se)  CCNS stands for Community Curated Nostr Stuff. At the end of 2023 I started to build this project. I forked an existing Drupal project of mine (https://cchs.social) to create a link aggregation website inspired by stacker.news. At the beginning of 2024 I also joined the TopBuilder 2024 contest which was a productive period getting to know new people in the Bitcoin and Nostr space. * [https://nuxstr.nostrver.se](https://nuxstr.nostrver.se)  PHP is not my only language I use to build stuff. As a fullstack webdeveloper I also work with Javascript. Many Nostr clients are made with Javascript frameworks or other more client-side focused tools. Vuejs is currently my Javascript framework I'm the most convenient with. With Vuejs I started to tinker around with Nuxt combined with NDK and so I created a starter template for Vue / Nuxt developers. * [ZapLamp](nostr:npub1nfrsmpqln23ls7y3e4m29c22x3qaq9wmmr7zkfcttty2nk2kd6zs9re52s) This is a neat DIY package from LNbits. Powered by an Arduino ESP32 dev board it was running a 24/7 livestream on zap.stream at my office. It flashes when you send a zap to the npub of the ZapLamp. * [https://nosto.re](https://nosto.re)  Since the beginning when the Blossom spec was published by @hzrd49 and @StuartBowman I immediately took the opportunity to tinker with it. I'm also running a relay for transmitting Blossom Nostr events `wss://relay.nosto.re`. * [Relays I maintain](https://nostrver.se/note/relays-i-maintain) I really enjoy to tinker with different relays implementations. Relays are the fundamental base layer to let Nostr work. I'm still sharing my contributions on [https://nostrver.se/](https://nostrver.se/) where I publish my weekly Nostr related stuff I worked on. This website is built with Drupal where I use the Nostr Simple Publish and Nostr long-form content NIP-23 modules to crosspost the notes and long-form content to the Nostr network (like this piece of content you're reading).  ## The Nostr is the people Just like the web, the web is people: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCgvkslCzTo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCgvkslCzTo)  > the people on nostr are some of the smartest and coolest i’ve ever got to know. who cares if it doesn’t take over the world. It’s done more than i could ever ask for. - [@jb55](nostr:note1fsfqja9kkvzuhe5yckff3gkkeqe7upxqljg2g4nkjzp5u9y7t25qx43uch) Here are some Nostriches who I'm happy to have met and who influenced my journey in Nostr in a positive way. * Jurjen * Bitpopart * Arjen * Jeroen * Alex Gleason * Arnold Lubach * Nathan Day * Constant * fiatjaf * Sync ## Coming year Generally I will continue doing what I've done last year. Besides the time I spent on Nostr stuff, I'm also very busy with Drupal related work for my customers. I hope I can get the opportunity to work on a paid client project related to Nostr. It will be even better when I can combine my Drupal expertise with Nostr for projects paid by customers. ### Building a new Nostr application When I look at my Nostr backlog where I just put everything in with ideas and notes, there are quite some interesting concepts there for building new Nostr applications. Filtering out, I think these three are the most exciting ones: * nEcho, a micro app for optimizing your reach via Nostr (NIP-65) * Nostrides.cc platform where you can share Nostr activity events (NIP-113) * A child-friendly video web app with parent-curated content (NIP-71) ### Nostr & Drupal When working out a new idea for a Nostr client, I'm trying to combine my expertises into one solution. That's why I also build and maintain some Nostr contrib modules for Drupal. * [Nostr Simple Publish](https://www.drupal.org/project/nostr_simple_publish) Drupal module to cross-post notes from Drupal to Nostr * [Nostr long-form content NIP-23](https://www.drupal.org/project/nostr_content_nip23) Drupal module to cross-post Markdown formatted content from Drupal to Nostr * [Nostr internet identifier NIP-05](https://www.drupal.org/project/nostr_id_nip05) Drupal module to setup Nostr internet identifier addresses with Drupal. * [Nostr NDK](https://drupal.org/project/nostr_dev_kit) Includes the Javascript library Nostr Dev Kit (NDK) in a Drupal project. One of my (very) ambitious goals is to build a Drupal powered Nostr (website) package with the following main features: * Able to login into Drupal with your Nostr keypair * Cross-post content to the Nostr network * Fetch your Nostr content from the Nostr content * Serve as a content management system (CMS) for your Nostr events * Serve as a framework to build a hybrid Nostr web application * Run and maintain a Nostr relay with custom policies * Usable as a feature rich progressive web app * Use it as a remote signer These are just some random ideas as my Nostr + Drupal backlog is way longer than this. ### Nostr-PHP With all the newly added and continues being updated NIPs in the protocol, this helper library will never be finished. As the sole maintainer of this library I would like to invite others to join as a maintainer or just be a contributor to the library. PHP is big on the web, but there are not many PHP developers active yet using Nostr. Also PHP as a programming language is really pushing forward keeping up with the latest innovations.  ### Grow Nostr outside the Bitcoin community We are working out a submission to host a Nostr stand at FOSDEM 2025. If approved, it will be the first time (as far as I know) that Nostr could be present at a conference outside the context of Bitcoin. The audience at FOSDEM is mostly technical oriented, so I'm really curious what type of feedback we will receive. Let's finish this article with some random Nostr photos from last year. Cheers!       

**Amber** [Amber](https://github.com/greenart7c3/Amber) is a Nostr event signer for Android that allows users to securely segregate their private key (nsec) within a single, dedicated application. Designed to function as a NIP-46 signing device, Amber ensures your smartphone can sign events without needing external servers or additional hardware, keeping your private key exposure to an absolute minimum. This approach aligns with the security rationale of NIP-46, which states that each additional system handling private keys increases potential vulnerability. With Amber, no longer do users need to enter their private key into various Nostr applications. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/b42b649a16b8f51b48f482e304135ad325ec89386b5614433334431985d4d60d.jpg"> Amber is supported by a growing list of apps, including [Amethyst](https://www.amethyst.social/), [0xChat](https://0xchat.com/#/), [Voyage](https://github.com/dluvian/voyage), [Fountain](https://fountain.fm/), and [Pokey](https://github.com/KoalaSat/pokey), as well as any web application that supports NIP-46 NSEC bunkers, such as [Nostr Nests](https://nostrnests.com), [Coracle](https://coracle.social), [Nostrudel](https://nostrudel.ninja), and more. With expanding support, Amber provides an easy solution for secure Nostr key management across numerous platforms. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/5b5d4fb9925fabb0005eafa291c47c33778840438438679dfad5662a00644c90.jpg"> Amber supports both native and web-based Nostr applications, aiming to eliminate the need for browser extensions or web servers. Key features include offline signing, multiple account support, and NIP-46 compatibility, and includes a simple UI for granular permissions management. Amber is designed to support signing events in the background, enhancing flexibility when you select the "remember my choice" option, eliminating the need to constantly be signing events for applications that you trust. You can download the app from it's [GitHub](https://github.com/greenart7c3/Amber) page, via [Obtainium ](https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium)or Zap.store. To log in with Amber, simply tap the "Login with Amber" button or icon in a supported application, or you can paste the NSEC bunker connection string directly into the login box. For example, use a connection string like this: bunker://npub1tj2dmc4udvgafxxxxxxxrtgne8j8l6rgrnaykzc8sys9mzfcz@relay.nsecbunker.com. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/ca2156bfa084ee16dceea0739e671dd65c5f8d92d0688e6e59cc97faac199c3b.jpg"> --- **Citrine** [Citrine](https://github.com/greenart7c3/Citrine) is a Nostr relay built specifically for Android, allowing Nostr clients on Android devices to seamlessly send and receive events through a relay running directly on their smartphone. This mobile relay setup offers Nostr users enhanced flexibility, enabling them to manage, share, and back up all their Nostr data locally on their device. Citrine’s design supports independence and data security by keeping data accessible and under user control. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/46bbc10ca2efb3ca430fcb07ec3fe6629efd7e065ac9740d6079e62296e39273.jpg"> With features tailored to give users greater command over their data, Citrine allows easy export and import of the database, restoration of contact lists in case of client malfunctions, and detailed relay management options like port configuration, custom icons, user management, and on-demand relay start/stop. Users can even activate TOR access, letting others connect securely to their Nostr relay directly on their phone. Future updates will include automatic broadcasting when the device reconnects to the internet, along with content resolver support to expand its functionality. Once you have your Citrine relay fully configured, simply add it to the Private and Local relay sections in Amethyst's relay configuration. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/6ea01b68009b291770d5b11314ccb3d7ba05fe25cb783e6e1ea977bb21d55c09.jpg"> --- **Pokey** [Pokey](https://github.com/KoalaSat/pokey) for Android is a brand new, real-time notification tool for Nostr. Pokey allows users to receive live updates for their Nostr events and enabling other apps to access and interact with them. Designed for seamless integration within a user's Nostr relays, Pokey lets users stay informed of activity as it happens, with speed and the flexibility to manage which events trigger notifications on their mobile device. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/62ec76cc36254176e63f97f646a33e2c7abd32e14226351fa0dd8684177b50a2.jpg"> Pokey currently supports connections with Amber, offering granular notification settings so users can tailor alerts to their preferences. Planned features include broadcasting events to other apps, authenticating to relays, built-in Tor support, multi-account handling, and InBox relay management. These upcoming additions aim to make Pokey a fantastic tool for Nostr notifications across the ecosystem. --- **Zap.store** [Zap.store](https://github.com/zapstore/zapstore/) is a permissionless app store powered by Nostr and your trusted social graph. Built to offer a decentralized approach to app recommendations, zap.store enables you to check if friends like Alice follow, endorse, or verify an app’s SHA256 hash. This trust-based, social proof model brings app discovery closer to real-world recommendations from friends and family, bypassing centralized app curation. Unlike conventional app stores and other third party app store solutions like Obtainium, zap.store empowers users to see which apps their contacts actively interact with, providing a higher level of confidence and transparency. <img src="https://cdn.satellite.earth/fd162229a404b317306916ae9f320a7280682431e933795f708d480e15affa23.jpg"> Currently available on Android, zap.store aims to expand to desktop, PWAs, and other platforms soon. You can get started by installing [Zap.store](https://github.com/zapstore/zapstore/) on your favorite Android device, and install all of the applications mentioned above. --- Android's openness goes hand in hand with Nostr's openness. Enjoy exploring both expanding ecosystems.

Time to brush off the spurs and saddle up for a ride into the exciting ad-ventures ahead! What innovative goods or services are y'all bringin' on the wagon this week? Take some pics and start posting your items, sell stuff for sats! - - - [[⚖️ SELL]](https://w3.do/b_v2wutP) - [[🛒 BUY]](https://w3.do/zvixtuSh) - [[🧑‍💻 HIRE]](https://w3.do/_j0kpVsi) - [[🖇 OFFER]](https://w3.do/EfWF8yDL) - [[🧑‍⚖️ AUCTION]](https://w3.do/sbbCjZ0e) - [[🤝 SWAP]](https://t.ly/DgeHr) - [[🆓 FREE]](https://w3.do/DdVEE1ME) - [[⭐ REVIEW]](https://w3.do/CAZ5JxCk) - - - **Stay humble, stack sats!** originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/743788

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too. If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/732230/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/741746

O que é Cwtch? Cwtch (/kʊtʃ/ - uma palavra galesa que pode ser traduzida aproximadamente como “um abraço que cria um lugar seguro”) é um protocolo de mensagens multipartidário descentralizado, que preserva a privacidade, que pode ser usado para construir aplicativos resistentes a metadados. Como posso pronunciar Cwtch? Como "kutch", para rimar com "butch". Descentralizado e Aberto : Não existe “serviço Cwtch” ou “rede Cwtch”. Os participantes do Cwtch podem hospedar seus próprios espaços seguros ou emprestar sua infraestrutura para outras pessoas que buscam um espaço seguro. O protocolo Cwtch é aberto e qualquer pessoa é livre para criar bots, serviços e interfaces de usuário e integrar e interagir com o Cwtch. Preservação de privacidade : toda a comunicação no Cwtch é criptografada de ponta a ponta e ocorre nos serviços cebola Tor v3. Resistente a metadados : O Cwtch foi projetado de forma que nenhuma informação seja trocada ou disponibilizada a ninguém sem seu consentimento explícito, incluindo mensagens durante a transmissão e metadados de protocolo Uma breve história do bate-papo resistente a metadados Nos últimos anos, a conscientização pública sobre a necessidade e os benefícios das soluções criptografadas de ponta a ponta aumentou com aplicativos como Signal , Whatsapp e Wire. que agora fornecem aos usuários comunicações seguras. No entanto, essas ferramentas exigem vários níveis de exposição de metadados para funcionar, e muitos desses metadados podem ser usados ​​para obter detalhes sobre como e por que uma pessoa está usando uma ferramenta para se comunicar. Uma ferramenta que buscou reduzir metadados é o Ricochet lançado pela primeira vez em 2014. Ricochet usou os serviços cebola Tor v2 para fornecer comunicação criptografada segura de ponta a ponta e para proteger os metadados das comunicações. Não havia servidores centralizados que auxiliassem no roteamento das conversas do Ricochet. Ninguém além das partes envolvidas em uma conversa poderia saber que tal conversa está ocorrendo. Ricochet tinha limitações; não havia suporte para vários dispositivos, nem existe um mecanismo para suportar a comunicação em grupo ou para um usuário enviar mensagens enquanto um contato está offline. Isto tornou a adoção do Ricochet uma proposta difícil; mesmo aqueles em ambientes que seriam melhor atendidos pela resistência aos metadados, sem saber que ela existe. Além disso, qualquer solução para comunicação descentralizada e resistente a metadados enfrenta problemas fundamentais quando se trata de eficiência, privacidade e segurança de grupo conforme definido pelo consenso e consistência da transcrição. Alternativas modernas ao Ricochet incluem Briar , Zbay e Ricochet Refresh - cada ferramenta procura otimizar para um conjunto diferente de compensações, por exemplo, Briar procura permitir que as pessoas se comuniquem mesmo quando a infraestrutura de rede subjacente está inoperante, ao mesmo tempo que fornece resistência à vigilância de metadados. O projeto Cwtch começou em 2017 como um protocolo de extensão para Ricochet, fornecendo conversas em grupo por meio de servidores não confiáveis, com o objetivo de permitir aplicativos descentralizados e resistentes a metadados como listas compartilhadas e quadros de avisos. Uma versão alfa do Cwtch foi lançada em fevereiro de 2019 e, desde então, a equipe do Cwtch dirigida pela OPEN PRIVACY RESEARCH SOCIETY conduziu pesquisa e desenvolvimento em cwtch e nos protocolos, bibliotecas e espaços de problemas subjacentes. Modelo de Risco. Sabe-se que os metadados de comunicações são explorados por vários adversários para minar a segurança dos sistemas, para rastrear vítimas e para realizar análises de redes sociais em grande escala para alimentar a vigilância em massa. As ferramentas resistentes a metadados estão em sua infância e faltam pesquisas sobre a construção e a experiência do usuário de tais ferramentas. https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_9475702740746681051707662826.webp O Cwtch foi originalmente concebido como uma extensão do protocolo Ricochet resistente a metadados para suportar comunicações assíncronas de grupos multiponto por meio do uso de infraestrutura anônima, descartável e não confiável. Desde então, o Cwtch evoluiu para um protocolo próprio. Esta seção descreverá os vários riscos conhecidos que o Cwtch tenta mitigar e será fortemente referenciado no restante do documento ao discutir os vários subcomponentes da Arquitetura Cwtch. Modelo de ameaça. É importante identificar e compreender que os metadados são omnipresentes nos protocolos de comunicação; é de facto necessário que tais protocolos funcionem de forma eficiente e em escala. No entanto, as informações que são úteis para facilitar peers e servidores também são altamente relevantes para adversários que desejam explorar tais informações. Para a definição do nosso problema, assumiremos que o conteúdo de uma comunicação é criptografado de tal forma que um adversário é praticamente incapaz de quebrá-lo veja tapir e cwtch para detalhes sobre a criptografia que usamos, e como tal nos concentraremos em o contexto para os metadados de comunicação. Procuramos proteger os seguintes contextos de comunicação: • Quem está envolvido em uma comunicação? Pode ser possível identificar pessoas ou simplesmente identificadores de dispositivos ou redes. Por exemplo, “esta comunicação envolve Alice, uma jornalista, e Bob, um funcionário público”. • Onde estão os participantes da conversa? Por exemplo, “durante esta comunicação, Alice estava na França e Bob estava no Canadá”. • Quando ocorreu uma conversa? O momento e a duração da comunicação podem revelar muito sobre a natureza de uma chamada, por exemplo, “Bob, um funcionário público, conversou com Alice ao telefone por uma hora ontem à noite. Esta é a primeira vez que eles se comunicam.” *Como a conversa foi mediada? O fato de uma conversa ter ocorrido por meio de um e-mail criptografado ou não criptografado pode fornecer informações úteis. Por exemplo, “Alice enviou um e-mail criptografado para Bob ontem, enquanto eles normalmente enviam apenas e-mails de texto simples um para o outro”. • Sobre o que é a conversa? Mesmo que o conteúdo da comunicação seja criptografado, às vezes é possível derivar um contexto provável de uma conversa sem saber exatamente o que é dito, por exemplo, “uma pessoa ligou para uma pizzaria na hora do jantar” ou “alguém ligou para um número conhecido de linha direta de suicídio na hora do jantar”. 3 horas da manhã." Além das conversas individuais, também procuramos defender-nos contra ataques de correlação de contexto, através dos quais múltiplas conversas são analisadas para obter informações de nível superior: • Relacionamentos: Descobrir relações sociais entre um par de entidades analisando a frequência e a duração de suas comunicações durante um período de tempo. Por exemplo, Carol e Eve ligam uma para a outra todos os dias durante várias horas seguidas. • Cliques: Descobrir relações sociais entre um grupo de entidades que interagem entre si. Por exemplo, Alice, Bob e Eva se comunicam entre si. • Grupos vagamente conectados e indivíduos-ponte: descobrir grupos que se comunicam entre si através de intermediários, analisando cadeias de comunicação (por exemplo, toda vez que Alice fala com Bob, ela fala com Carol quase imediatamente depois; Bob e Carol nunca se comunicam). • Padrão de Vida: Descobrir quais comunicações são cíclicas e previsíveis. Por exemplo, Alice liga para Eve toda segunda-feira à noite por cerca de uma hora. Ataques Ativos Ataques de deturpação. O Cwtch não fornece registro global de nomes de exibição e, como tal, as pessoas que usam o Cwtch são mais vulneráveis ​​a ataques baseados em declarações falsas, ou seja, pessoas que fingem ser outras pessoas: O fluxo básico de um desses ataques é o seguinte, embora também existam outros fluxos: •Alice tem um amigo chamado Bob e outro chamado Eve • Eve descobre que Alice tem um amigo chamado Bob • Eve cria milhares de novas contas para encontrar uma que tenha uma imagem/chave pública semelhante à de Bob (não será idêntica, mas pode enganar alguém por alguns minutos) • Eve chama essa nova conta de "Eve New Account" e adiciona Alice como amiga. • Eve então muda seu nome em "Eve New Account" para "Bob" • Alice envia mensagens destinadas a "Bob" para a conta falsa de Bob de Eve Como os ataques de declarações falsas são inerentemente uma questão de confiança e verificação, a única maneira absoluta de evitá-los é os usuários validarem absolutamente a chave pública. Obviamente, isso não é o ideal e, em muitos casos, simplesmente não acontecerá . Como tal, pretendemos fornecer algumas dicas de experiência do usuário na interface do usuário para orientar as pessoas na tomada de decisões sobre confiar em contas e/ou distinguir contas que possam estar tentando se representar como outros usuários. Uma nota sobre ataques físicos A Cwtch não considera ataques que exijam acesso físico (ou equivalente) à máquina do usuário como praticamente defensáveis. No entanto, no interesse de uma boa engenharia de segurança, ao longo deste documento ainda nos referiremos a ataques ou condições que exigem tal privilégio e indicaremos onde quaisquer mitigações que implementámos falharão. Um perfil Cwtch. Os usuários podem criar um ou mais perfis Cwtch. Cada perfil gera um par de chaves ed25519 aleatório compatível com Tor. Além do material criptográfico, um perfil também contém uma lista de Contatos (outras chaves públicas do perfil Cwtch + dados associados sobre esse perfil, como apelido e (opcionalmente) mensagens históricas), uma lista de Grupos (contendo o material criptográfico do grupo, além de outros dados associados, como apelido do grupo e mensagens históricas). Conversões entre duas partes: ponto a ponto https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_2186338207587396891707662879.webp Para que duas partes participem de uma conversa ponto a ponto, ambas devem estar on-line, mas apenas uma precisa estar acessível por meio do serviço Onion. Por uma questão de clareza, muitas vezes rotulamos uma parte como “ponto de entrada” (aquele que hospeda o serviço cebola) e a outra parte como “ponto de saída” (aquele que se conecta ao serviço cebola). Após a conexão, ambas as partes adotam um protocolo de autenticação que: • Afirma que cada parte tem acesso à chave privada associada à sua identidade pública. • Gera uma chave de sessão efêmera usada para criptografar todas as comunicações futuras durante a sessão. Esta troca (documentada com mais detalhes no protocolo de autenticação ) é negável offline , ou seja, é possível para qualquer parte falsificar transcrições desta troca de protocolo após o fato e, como tal - após o fato - é impossível provar definitivamente que a troca aconteceu de forma alguma. Após o protocolo de autenticação, as duas partes podem trocar mensagens livremente. Conversas em Grupo e Comunicação Ponto a Servidor Ao iniciar uma conversa em grupo, é gerada uma chave aleatória para o grupo, conhecida como Group Key. Todas as comunicações do grupo são criptografadas usando esta chave. Além disso, o criador do grupo escolhe um servidor Cwtch para hospedar o grupo. Um convite é gerado, incluindo o Group Key, o servidor do grupo e a chave do grupo, para ser enviado aos potenciais membros. Para enviar uma mensagem ao grupo, um perfil se conecta ao servidor do grupo e criptografa a mensagem usando a Group Key, gerando também uma assinatura sobre o Group ID, o servidor do grupo e a mensagem. Para receber mensagens do grupo, um perfil se conecta ao servidor e baixa as mensagens, tentando descriptografá-las usando a Group Key e verificando a assinatura. Detalhamento do Ecossistema de Componentes O Cwtch é composto por várias bibliotecas de componentes menores, cada uma desempenhando um papel específico. Algumas dessas bibliotecas incluem: - abertoprivacidade/conectividade: Abstração de rede ACN, atualmente suportando apenas Tor. - cwtch.im/tapir: Biblioteca para construção de aplicativos p2p em sistemas de comunicação anônimos. - cwtch.im/cwtch: Biblioteca principal para implementação do protocolo/sistema Cwtch. - cwtch.im/libcwtch-go: Fornece ligações C para Cwtch para uso em implementações de UI. TAPIR: Uma Visão Detalhada Projetado para substituir os antigos canais de ricochete baseados em protobuf, o Tapir fornece uma estrutura para a construção de aplicativos anônimos. Está dividido em várias camadas: • Identidade - Um par de chaves ed25519, necessário para estabelecer um serviço cebola Tor v3 e usado para manter uma identidade criptográfica consistente para um par. • Conexões – O protocolo de rede bruto que conecta dois pares. Até agora, as conexões são definidas apenas através do Tor v3 Onion Services. • Aplicativos - As diversas lógicas que permitem um determinado fluxo de informações em uma conexão. Os exemplos incluem transcrições criptográficas compartilhadas, autenticação, proteção contra spam e serviços baseados em tokens. Os aplicativos fornecem recursos que podem ser referenciados por outros aplicativos para determinar se um determinado peer tem a capacidade de usar um determinado aplicativo hospedado. • Pilhas de aplicativos - Um mecanismo para conectar mais de um aplicativo, por exemplo, a autenticação depende de uma transcrição criptográfica compartilhada e o aplicativo peer cwtch principal é baseado no aplicativo de autenticação. Identidade. Um par de chaves ed25519, necessário para estabelecer um serviço cebola Tor v3 e usado para manter uma identidade criptográfica consistente para um peer. InitializeIdentity - de um par de chaves conhecido e persistente:i,I InitializeEphemeralIdentity - de um par de chaves aleatório: ie,Ie Aplicativos de transcrição. Inicializa uma transcrição criptográfica baseada em Merlin que pode ser usada como base de protocolos baseados em compromisso de nível superior O aplicativo de transcrição entrará em pânico se um aplicativo tentar substituir uma transcrição existente por uma nova (aplicando a regra de que uma sessão é baseada em uma e apenas uma transcrição). Merlin é uma construção de transcrição baseada em STROBE para provas de conhecimento zero. Ele automatiza a transformação Fiat-Shamir, para que, usando Merlin, protocolos não interativos possam ser implementados como se fossem interativos. Isto é significativamente mais fácil e menos sujeito a erros do que realizar a transformação manualmente e, além disso, também fornece suporte natural para: • protocolos multi-round com fases alternadas de commit e desafio; • separação natural de domínios, garantindo que os desafios estejam vinculados às afirmações a serem provadas; • enquadramento automático de mensagens, evitando codificação ambígua de dados de compromisso; • e composição do protocolo, usando uma transcrição comum para vários protocolos. Finalmente, o Merlin também fornece um gerador de números aleatórios baseado em transcrição como defesa profunda contra ataques de entropia ruim (como reutilização de nonce ou preconceito em muitas provas). Este RNG fornece aleatoriedade sintética derivada de toda a transcrição pública, bem como dos dados da testemunha do provador e uma entrada auxiliar de um RNG externo. Conectividade Cwtch faz uso do Tor Onion Services (v3) para todas as comunicações entre nós. Fornecemos o pacote openprivacy/connectivity para gerenciar o daemon Tor e configurar e desmontar serviços cebola através do Tor. Criptografia e armazenamento de perfil. Os perfis são armazenados localmente no disco e criptografados usando uma chave derivada de uma senha conhecida pelo usuário (via pbkdf2). Observe que, uma vez criptografado e armazenado em disco, a única maneira de recuperar um perfil é recuperando a senha - como tal, não é possível fornecer uma lista completa de perfis aos quais um usuário pode ter acesso até inserir uma senha. Perfis não criptografados e a senha padrão Para lidar com perfis "não criptografados" (ou seja, que não exigem senha para serem abertos), atualmente criamos um perfil com uma senha codificada de fato . Isso não é o ideal, preferiríamos confiar no material de chave fornecido pelo sistema operacional, de modo que o perfil fosse vinculado a um dispositivo específico, mas esses recursos são atualmente uma colcha de retalhos - também notamos, ao criar um perfil não criptografado, pessoas que usam Cwtch estão explicitamente optando pelo risco de que alguém com acesso ao sistema de arquivos possa descriptografar seu perfil. Vulnerabilidades Relacionadas a Imagens e Entrada de Dados Imagens Maliciosas O Cwtch enfrenta desafios na renderização de imagens, com o Flutter utilizando Skia, embora o código subjacente não seja totalmente seguro para a memória. Realizamos testes de fuzzing nos componentes Cwtch e encontramos um bug de travamento causado por um arquivo GIF malformado, levando a falhas no kernel. Para mitigar isso, adotamos a política de sempre habilitar cacheWidth e/ou cacheHeight máximo para widgets de imagem. Identificamos o risco de imagens maliciosas serem renderizadas de forma diferente em diferentes plataformas, como evidenciado por um bug no analisador PNG da Apple. Riscos de Entrada de Dados Um risco significativo é a interceptação de conteúdo ou metadados por meio de um Input Method Editor (IME) em dispositivos móveis. Mesmo aplicativos IME padrão podem expor dados por meio de sincronização na nuvem, tradução online ou dicionários pessoais. Implementamos medidas de mitigação, como enableIMEPersonalizedLearning: false no Cwtch 1.2, mas a solução completa requer ações em nível de sistema operacional e é um desafio contínuo para a segurança móvel. Servidor Cwtch. O objetivo do protocolo Cwtch é permitir a comunicação em grupo através de infraestrutura não confiável . Ao contrário dos esquemas baseados em retransmissão, onde os grupos atribuem um líder, um conjunto de líderes ou um servidor confiável de terceiros para garantir que cada membro do grupo possa enviar e receber mensagens em tempo hábil (mesmo que os membros estejam offline) - infraestrutura não confiável tem o objetivo de realizar essas propriedades sem a suposição de confiança. O artigo original do Cwtch definia um conjunto de propriedades que se esperava que os servidores Cwtch fornecessem: • O Cwtch Server pode ser usado por vários grupos ou apenas um. • Um servidor Cwtch, sem a colaboração de um membro do grupo, nunca deve aprender a identidade dos participantes de um grupo. • Um servidor Cwtch nunca deve aprender o conteúdo de qualquer comunicação. • Um servidor Cwtch nunca deve ser capaz de distinguir mensagens como pertencentes a um grupo específico. Observamos aqui que essas propriedades são um superconjunto dos objetivos de design das estruturas de Recuperação de Informações Privadas. Melhorias na Eficiência e Segurança Eficiência do Protocolo Atualmente, apenas um protocolo conhecido, o PIR ingênuo, atende às propriedades desejadas para garantir a privacidade na comunicação do grupo Cwtch. Este método tem um impacto direto na eficiência da largura de banda, especialmente para usuários em dispositivos móveis. Em resposta a isso, estamos ativamente desenvolvendo novos protocolos que permitem negociar garantias de privacidade e eficiência de maneiras diversas. Os servidores, no momento desta escrita, permitem o download completo de todas as mensagens armazenadas, bem como uma solicitação para baixar mensagens específicas a partir de uma determinada mensagem. Quando os pares ingressam em um grupo em um novo servidor, eles baixam todas as mensagens do servidor inicialmente e, posteriormente, apenas as mensagens novas. Mitigação de Análise de Metadados Essa abordagem permite uma análise moderada de metadados, pois o servidor pode enviar novas mensagens para cada perfil suspeito exclusivo e usar essas assinaturas de mensagens exclusivas para rastrear sessões ao longo do tempo. Essa preocupação é mitigada por dois fatores: 1. Os perfis podem atualizar suas conexões a qualquer momento, resultando em uma nova sessão do servidor. 2. Os perfis podem ser "ressincronizados" de um servidor a qualquer momento, resultando em uma nova chamada para baixar todas as mensagens. Isso é comumente usado para buscar mensagens antigas de um grupo. Embora essas medidas imponham limites ao que o servidor pode inferir, ainda não podemos garantir resistência total aos metadados. Para soluções futuras para esse problema, consulte Niwl. Proteção contra Pares Maliciosos Os servidores enfrentam o risco de spam gerado por pares, representando uma ameaça significativa à eficácia do sistema Cwtch. Embora tenhamos implementado um mecanismo de proteção contra spam no protótipo do Cwtch, exigindo que os pares realizem alguma prova de trabalho especificada pelo servidor, reconhecemos que essa não é uma solução robusta na presença de um adversário determinado com recursos significativos. Pacotes de Chaves Os servidores Cwtch se identificam por meio de pacotes de chaves assinados, contendo uma lista de chaves necessárias para garantir a segurança e resistência aos metadados na comunicação do grupo Cwtch. Esses pacotes de chaves geralmente incluem três chaves: uma chave pública do serviço Tor v3 Onion para o Token Board, uma chave pública do Tor v3 Onion Service para o Token Service e uma chave pública do Privacy Pass. Para verificar os pacotes de chaves, os perfis que os importam do servidor utilizam o algoritmo trust-on-first-use (TOFU), verificando a assinatura anexada e a existência de todos os tipos de chave. Se o perfil já tiver importado o pacote de chaves do servidor anteriormente, todas as chaves são consideradas iguais. Configuração prévia do aplicativo para ativar o Relé do Cwtch. No Android, a hospedagem de servidor não está habilitada, pois essa opção não está disponível devido às limitações dos dispositivos Android. Essa funcionalidade está reservada apenas para servidores hospedados em desktops. No Android, a única forma direta de importar uma chave de servidor é através do grupo de teste Cwtch, garantindo assim acesso ao servidor Cwtch. Primeiro passo é Habilitar a opção de grupo no Cwtch que está em fase de testes. Clique na opção no canto superior direito da tela de configuração e pressione o botão para acessar as configurações do Cwtch. Você pode alterar o idioma para Português do Brasil.Depois, role para baixo e selecione a opção para ativar os experimentos. Em seguida, ative a opção para habilitar o chat em grupo e a pré-visualização de imagens e fotos de perfil, permitindo que você troque sua foto de perfil. https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jvss6zxle26jdguwaegtjdixhfka/production/f0ca039733d48895001261ab25c5d2efbaf3bf26e55aad3cce406646f9af9d15.MP4 Próximo passo é Criar um perfil. Pressione o + botão de ação no canto inferior direito e selecione "Novo perfil" ou aberta no botão + adicionar novo perfil. - Selecione um nome de exibição - Selecione se deseja proteger este perfil e salvo localmente com criptografia forte: Senha: sua conta está protegida de outras pessoas que possam usar este dispositivo Sem senha: qualquer pessoa que tenha acesso a este dispositivo poderá acessar este perfil. Preencha sua senha e digite-a novamente Os perfis são armazenados localmente no disco e criptografados usando uma chave derivada de uma senha conhecida pelo usuário (via pbkdf2). Observe que, uma vez criptografado e armazenado em disco, a única maneira de recuperar um perfil é recuperando a chave da senha - como tal, não é possível fornecer uma lista completa de perfis aos quais um usuário pode ter acesso até inserir um senha. https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jxqbqmur2lcqe2eym5thgz4so2ya/production/8f9df1372ec7e659180609afa48be22b12109ae5e1eda9ef1dc05c1325652507.MP4 O próximo passo é adicionar o FuzzBot, que é um bot de testes e de desenvolvimento. Contato do FuzzBot: 4y2hxlxqzautabituedksnh2ulcgm2coqbure6wvfpg4gi2ci25ta5ad. Ao enviar o comando "testgroup-invite" para o FuzzBot, você receberá um convite para entrar no Grupo Cwtch Test. Ao ingressar no grupo, você será automaticamente conectado ao servidor Cwtch. Você pode optar por sair do grupo a qualquer momento ou ficar para conversar e tirar dúvidas sobre o aplicativo e outros assuntos. Depois, você pode configurar seu próprio servidor Cwtch, o que é altamente recomendável. https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jvji25zclkoqcouni5decle7if7a/production/ee3de3540a3e3dca6e6e26d303e12c2ef892a5d7769029275b8b95ffc7468780.MP4 Agora você pode utilizar o aplicativo normalmente. Algumas observações que notei: se houver demora na conexão com outra pessoa, ambas devem estar online. Se ainda assim a conexão não for estabelecida, basta clicar no ícone de reset do Tor para restabelecer a conexão com a outra pessoa. Uma introdução aos perfis Cwtch. Com Cwtch você pode criar um ou mais perfis . Cada perfil gera um par de chaves ed25519 aleatório compatível com a Rede Tor. Este é o identificador que você pode fornecer às pessoas e que elas podem usar para entrar em contato com você via Cwtch. Cwtch permite criar e gerenciar vários perfis separados. Cada perfil está associado a um par de chaves diferente que inicia um serviço cebola diferente. Gerenciar Na inicialização, o Cwtch abrirá a tela Gerenciar Perfis. Nessa tela você pode: - Crie um novo perfil. - Desbloquear perfis. - Criptografados existentes. - Gerenciar perfis carregados. - Alterando o nome de exibição de um perfil. - Alterando a senha de um perfil Excluindo um perfil. - Alterando uma imagem de perfil. Backup ou exportação de um perfil. Na tela de gerenciamento de perfil: 1. Selecione o lápis ao lado do perfil que você deseja editar 2. Role para baixo até a parte inferior da tela. 3. Selecione "Exportar perfil" 4. Escolha um local e um nome de arquivo. 5.confirme. Uma vez confirmado, o Cwtch colocará uma cópia do perfil no local indicado. Este arquivo é criptografado no mesmo nível do perfil. Este arquivo pode ser importado para outra instância do Cwtch em qualquer dispositivo. Importando um perfil. 1. Pressione o +botão de ação no canto inferior direito e selecione "Importar perfil" 2. Selecione um arquivo de perfil Cwtch exportado para importar 3. Digite a senha associada ao perfil e confirme. Uma vez confirmado, o Cwtch tentará descriptografar o arquivo fornecido usando uma chave derivada da senha fornecida. Se for bem-sucedido, o perfil aparecerá na tela Gerenciamento de perfil e estará pronto para uso. OBSERVAÇÃO Embora um perfil possa ser importado para vários dispositivos, atualmente apenas uma versão de um perfil pode ser usada em todos os dispositivos ao mesmo tempo. As tentativas de usar o mesmo perfil em vários dispositivos podem resultar em problemas de disponibilidade e falhas de mensagens. Qual é a diferença entre uma conexão ponto a ponto e um grupo cwtch? As conexões ponto a ponto Cwtch permitem que 2 pessoas troquem mensagens diretamente. As conexões ponto a ponto nos bastidores usam serviços cebola Tor v3 para fornecer uma conexão criptografada e resistente a metadados. Devido a esta conexão direta, ambas as partes precisam estar online ao mesmo tempo para trocar mensagens. Os Grupos Cwtch permitem que várias partes participem de uma única conversa usando um servidor não confiável (que pode ser fornecido por terceiros ou auto-hospedado). Os operadores de servidores não conseguem saber quantas pessoas estão em um grupo ou o que está sendo discutido. Se vários grupos estiverem hospedados em um único servidor, o servidor não conseguirá saber quais mensagens pertencem a qual grupo sem a conivência de um membro do grupo. Ao contrário das conversas entre pares, as conversas em grupo podem ser conduzidas de forma assíncrona, para que todos num grupo não precisem estar online ao mesmo tempo. Por que os grupos cwtch são experimentais? Mensagens em grupo resistentes a metadados ainda são um problema em aberto . Embora a versão que fornecemos no Cwtch Beta seja projetada para ser segura e com metadados privados, ela é bastante ineficiente e pode ser mal utilizada. Como tal, aconselhamos cautela ao usá-lo e apenas o fornecemos como um recurso opcional. Como posso executar meu próprio servidor Cwtch? A implementação de referência para um servidor Cwtch é de código aberto . Qualquer pessoa pode executar um servidor Cwtch, e qualquer pessoa com uma cópia do pacote de chaves públicas do servidor pode hospedar grupos nesse servidor sem que o operador tenha acesso aos metadados relacionados ao grupo . https://git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/server https://docs.openprivacy.ca/cwtch-security-handbook/server.html Como posso desligar o Cwtch? O painel frontal do aplicativo possui um ícone do botão "Shutdown Cwtch" (com um 'X'). Pressionar este botão irá acionar uma caixa de diálogo e, na confirmação, o Cwtch será desligado e todos os perfis serão descarregados. Suas doações podem fazer a diferença no projeto Cwtch? O Cwtch é um projeto dedicado a construir aplicativos que preservam a privacidade, oferecendo comunicação de grupo resistente a metadados. Além disso, o projeto também desenvolve o Cofre, formulários da web criptografados para ajudar mútua segura. Suas contribuições apoiam iniciativas importantes, como a divulgação de violações de dados médicos em Vancouver e pesquisas sobre a segurança do voto eletrônico na Suíça. Ao doar, você está ajudando a fechar o ciclo, trabalhando com comunidades marginalizadas para identificar e corrigir lacunas de privacidade. Além disso, o projeto trabalha em soluções inovadoras, como a quebra de segredos através da criptografia de limite para proteger sua privacidade durante passagens de fronteira. E também tem a infraestrutura: toda nossa infraestrutura é open source e sem fins lucrativos. Conheça também o Fuzzytags, uma estrutura criptográfica probabilística para marcação resistente a metadados. Sua doação é crucial para continuar o trabalho em prol da privacidade e segurança online. Contribua agora com sua doação https://openprivacy.ca/donate/ onde você pode fazer sua doação em bitcoin e outras moedas, e saiba mais sobre os projetos. https://openprivacy.ca/work/ Link sobre Cwtch https://cwtch.im/ https://git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/cwtch https://docs.cwtch.im/docs/intro https://docs.openprivacy.ca/cwtch-security-handbook/ Baixar #CwtchDev cwtch.im/download/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=im.cwtch.flwtch

# Embracing AI: A Case for AI Accelerationism In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) development is at the forefront of technological innovation, a counter-narrative championed by a group I refer to as the 'AI Decels'—those advocating for the deceleration of AI advancements— seems to be gaining significant traction. After tuning into a recent episode of the [Joe Rogan Podcast](https://fountain.fm/episode/0V35t9YBkOMVM4WRVLYp), I realized that the prevailing narrative around AI was heading in a dangerous direction. Rogan had Aza Raskin and Tristan Harris, technology safety advocates, who released a talk called '[The AI Dilemma](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ),' on for a discussion. You may know them from the popular documentary '[The Social Dilemma](https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/)' on the dangers of social media. It became increasingly clear that the cautionary stance dominating this discourse might be tipping the scales too far, veering towards an over-regulated future that stifles innovation rather than fostering it.  ## Are we moving too fast? While acknowledging AI's benefits, Aza and Tristan fear it could be dangerous if not guided by ethical standards and safeguards. They believe AI development is moving too quickly and that the right incentives for its growth are not in place. They are concerned about the possibility of "civilizational overwhelm," where advanced AI technology far outpaces 21st-century governance. They fear a scenario where society and its institutions cannot manage or adapt to the rapid changes and challenges introduced by AI. They argue for regulating and slowing down AI development due to rapid, uncontrolled advancement driven by competition among companies like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft. They claim this race can lead to unsafe releases of new technologies, with AI systems exhibiting unpredictable, emergent behaviors, posing significant societal risks. For instance, AI can inadvertently learn tasks like sentiment analysis or human emotion understanding, creating potential for misuse in areas like biological weapons or cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Moreover, AI companies' profit-driven incentives often conflict with the public good, prioritizing market dominance over safety and ethics. This misalignment can lead to technologies that maximize engagement or profits at societal expense, similar to the negative impacts seen with social media. To address these issues, they suggest government regulation to realign AI companies' incentives with safety, ethical considerations, and public welfare. Implementing responsible development frameworks focused on long-term societal impacts is essential for mitigating potential harm. ## This isn't new Though the premise of their concerns seems reasonable, it's dangerous and an all too common occurrence with the emergence of new technologies. For example, in their example in the podcast, they refer to the technological breakthrough of oil. Oil as energy was a technological marvel and changed the course of human civilization. The embrace of oil — now the cornerstone of industry in our age — revolutionized how societies operated, fueled economies, and connected the world in unprecedented ways. Yet recently, as ideas of its environmental and geopolitical ramifications propagated, the narrative around oil has shifted. Tristan and Aza detail this shift and claim that though the period was great for humanity, we didn't have another technology to go to once the technological consequences became apparent. The problem with that argument is that we did innovate to a better alternative: nuclear. However, at its technological breakthrough, it was met with severe suspicions, from safety concerns to ethical debates over its use. This overregulation due to these concerns caused a decades-long stagnation in nuclear innovation, where even today, we are still stuck with heavy reliance on coal and oil. The scare tactics and fear-mongering had consequences, and, interestingly, they don't see the parallels with their current deceleration stance on AI. These examples underscore a critical insight: the initial anxiety surrounding new technologies is a natural response to the unknowns they introduce. Yet, history shows that too much anxiety can stifle the innovation needed to address the problems posed by current technologies. The cycle of discovery, fear, adaptation, and eventual acceptance reveals an essential truth—progress requires not just the courage to innovate but also the resilience to navigate the uncertainties these innovations bring. Moreover, believing we can predict and plan for all AI-related unknowns reflects overconfidence in our understanding and foresight. History shows that technological progress, marked by unexpected outcomes and discoveries, defies such predictions. The evolution from the printing press to the internet underscores progress's unpredictability. Hence, facing AI's future requires caution, curiosity, and humility. Acknowledging our limitations and embracing continuous learning and adaptation will allow us to harness AI's potential responsibly, illustrating that embracing our uncertainties, rather than pretending to foresee them, is vital to innovation. The journey of technological advancement is fraught with both promise and trepidation. Historically, each significant leap forward, from the dawn of the industrial age to the digital revolution, has been met with a mix of enthusiasm and apprehension. Aza Raskin and Tristan Harris's thesis in the 'AI Dilemma' embodies the latter. ## Who defines "safe?" When slowing down technologies for safety or ethical reasons, the issue arises of who gets to define what "safe" or “ethical” mean? This inquiry is not merely technical but deeply ideological, touching the very core of societal values and power dynamics. For example, the push for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives shows how specific ideological underpinnings can shape definitions of safety and decency. Take the case of the initial release of Google's AI chatbot, Gemini, which chose the ideology of its creators over truth. Luckily, the answers were so ridiculous that the pushback was sudden and immediate. My worry, however, is if, in correcting this, they become experts in making the ideological capture much more subtle. Large bureaucratic institutions' top-down safety enforcement creates a fertile ground for ideological capture of safety standards.  I claim that the issue is not the technology itself but the lens through which we view and regulate it. Suppose the gatekeepers of 'safety' are aligned with a singular ideology. In that case, AI development would skew to serve specific ends, sidelining diverse perspectives and potentially stifling innovative thought and progress. In the podcast, Tristan and Aza suggest such manipulation as a solution. They propose using AI for consensus-building and creating "shared realities" to address societal challenges. In practice, this means that when individuals' viewpoints seem to be far apart, we can leverage AI to "bridge the gap." How they bridge the gap and what we would bridge it toward is left to the imagination, but to me, it is clear. Regulators will inevitably influence it from the top down, which, in my opinion, would be the opposite of progress. In navigating this terrain, we must advocate for a pluralistic approach to defining safety, encompassing various perspectives and values achieved through market forces rather than a governing entity choosing winners. The more players that can play the game, the more wide-ranging perspectives will catalyze innovation to flourish. ## Ownership & Identity Just because we should accelerate AI forward does not mean I do not have my concerns. When I think about what could be the most devastating for society, I don't believe we have to worry about a Matrix-level dystopia; I worry about freedom. As I explored in "[Whose data is it anyway?](https://cwilbzz.com/whose-data-is-it-anyway/)," my concern gravitates toward the issues of data ownership and the implications of relinquishing control over our digital identities. This relinquishment threatens our privacy and the integrity of the content we generate, leaving it susceptible to the inclinations and profit of a few dominant tech entities. To counteract these concerns, a paradigm shift towards decentralized models of data ownership is imperative. Such standards would empower individuals with control over their digital footprints, ensuring that we develop AI systems with diverse, honest, and truthful perspectives rather than the massaged, narrow viewpoints of their creators. This shift safeguards individual privacy and promotes an ethical framework for AI development that upholds the principles of fairness and impartiality. As we stand at the crossroads of technological innovation and ethical consideration, it is crucial to advocate for systems that place data ownership firmly in the hands of users. By doing so, we can ensure that the future of AI remains truthful, non-ideological, and aligned with the broader interests of society. ## But what about the Matrix? I know I am in the minority on this, but I feel that the concerns of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) are generally overblown. I am not scared of reaching the point of AGI, and I think the idea that AI will become so intelligent that we will lose control of it is unfounded and silly. Reaching AGI is not reaching consciousness; being worried about it spontaneously gaining consciousness is a misplaced fear. It is a tool created by humans for humans to enhance productivity and achieve specific outcomes. At a technical level, large language models (LLMs) are trained on extensive datasets and learning patterns from language and data through a technique called "unsupervised learning" (meaning the data is untagged). They predict the next word in sentences, refining their predictions through feedback to improve coherence and relevance. When queried, LLMs generate responses based on learned patterns, simulating an understanding of language to provide contextually appropriate answers. They will only answer based on the datasets that were inputted and scanned. AI will never be "alive," meaning that AI lacks inherent agency, consciousness, and the characteristics of life, not capable of independent thought or action. AI cannot act independently of human control. Concerns about AI gaining autonomy and posing a threat to humanity are based on a misunderstanding of the nature of AI and the fundamental differences between living beings and machines. AI spontaneously developing a will or consciousness is more similar to thinking a hammer will start walking than us being able to create consciousness through programming. Right now, there is only one way to create consciousness, and I'm skeptical that is ever something we will be able to harness and create as humans. Irrespective of its complexity — and yes, our tools will continue to become evermore complex — machines, specifically AI, cannot transcend their nature as non-living, inanimate objects programmed and controlled by humans.  The advancement of AI should be seen as enhancing human capabilities, not as a path toward creating autonomous entities with their own wills. So, while AI will continue to evolve, improve, and become more powerful, I believe it will remain under human direction and control without the existential threats often sensationalized in discussions about AI's future. With this framing, we should not view the race toward AGI as something to avoid. This will only make the tools we use more powerful, making us more productive. With all this being said, AGI is still much farther away than many believe. Today's AI excels in specific, narrow tasks, known as narrow or weak AI. These systems operate within tightly defined parameters, achieving remarkable efficiency and accuracy that can sometimes surpass human performance in those specific tasks. Yet, this is far from the versatile and adaptable functionality that AGI represents. Moreover, the exponential growth of computational power observed in the past decades does not directly translate to an equivalent acceleration in achieving AGI. AI's impressive feats are often the result of massive data inputs and computing resources tailored to specific tasks. These successes do not inherently bring us closer to understanding or replicating the general problem-solving capabilities of the human mind, which again would only make the tools more potent in _our_ hands. While AI will undeniably introduce challenges and change the aspects of conflict and power dynamics, these challenges will primarily stem from humans wielding this powerful tool rather than the technology itself. AI is a mirror reflecting our own biases, values, and intentions. The crux of future AI-related issues lies not in the technology's inherent capabilities but in how it is used by those wielding it. This reality is at odds with the idea that we should slow down development as our biggest threat will come from those who are not friendly to us. ## AI Beget's AI While the unknowns of AI development and its pitfalls indeed stir apprehension, it's essential to recognize the power of market forces and human ingenuity in leveraging AI to address these challenges. History is replete with examples of new technologies raising concerns, only for those very technologies to provide solutions to the problems they initially seemed to exacerbate. It looks silly and unfair to think of fighting a war with a country that never embraced oil and was still primarily getting its energy from burning wood.  The evolution of AI is no exception to this pattern. As we venture into uncharted territories, the potential issues that arise with AI—be it ethical concerns, use by malicious actors, biases in decision-making, or privacy intrusions—are not merely obstacles but opportunities for innovation. It is within the realm of possibility, and indeed, probability, that AI will play a crucial role in solving the problems it creates. The idea that there would be no incentive to address and solve these problems is to underestimate the fundamental drivers of technological progress. Market forces, fueled by the demand for better, safer, and more efficient solutions, are powerful catalysts for positive change. When a problem is worth fixing, it invariably attracts the attention of innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs eager to solve it. This dynamic has driven progress throughout history, and AI is poised to benefit from this problem-solving cycle. Thus, rather than viewing AI's unknowns as sources of fear, we should see them as sparks of opportunity. By tackling the challenges posed by AI, we will harness its full potential to benefit humanity. By fostering an ecosystem that encourages exploration, innovation, and problem-solving, we can ensure that AI serves as a force for good, solving problems as profound as those it might create. This is the optimism we must hold onto—a belief in our collective ability to shape AI into a tool that addresses its own challenges and elevates our capacity to solve some of society's most pressing issues. ## An AI Future The reality is that it isn't whether AI will lead to unforeseen challenges—it undoubtedly will, as has every major technological leap in history. The real issue is whether we let fear dictate our path and confine us to a standstill or embrace AI's potential to address current and future challenges. The approach to solving potential AI-related problems with stringent regulations and a slowdown in innovation is akin to cutting off the nose to spite the face. It's a strategy that risks stagnating the U.S. in a global race where other nations will undoubtedly continue their AI advancements. This perspective dangerously ignores that AI, much like the printing press of the past, has the power to democratize information, empower individuals, and dismantle outdated power structures. The way forward is not less AI but more of it, more innovation, optimism, and curiosity for the remarkable technological breakthroughs that will come. We must recognize that the solution to AI-induced challenges lies not in retreating but in advancing our capabilities to innovate and adapt. AI represents a frontier of limitless possibilities. If wielded with foresight and responsibility, it's a tool that can help solve some of the most pressing issues we face today. There are certainly challenges ahead, but I trust that with problems come solutions. Let's keep the AI Decels from steering us away from this path with their doomsday predictions. Instead, let's embrace AI with the cautious optimism it deserves, forging a future where technology and humanity advance to heights we can't imagine.

I recently finished [The Three-Body Problem](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765382030/thethreebodyproblem), which I enjoyed a lot. I love science fiction, and this book in particular reminded me how much I love physics, something I had forgotten over the last 30-odd years amidst reading the dull prose of a few popular books I hoped would have the opposite effect. (Thinking Stephen Hawking among others.) But this book, no matter how unreal the “fiction” part really captured my imagination about what’s possible and fascinating. It made me want to think about it again. I won’t give the story away in case you want to read it, but one example the author used was how those operating in higher dimensions might trivially peer into the private spaces of our present world, which to our perception consists only in three spatial ones plus time. Imagine a two-dimensional world on a large flat piece of paper. If you draw a circle on the paper, nothing outside the circle can get inside without crossing its boundary. But a higher-dimensional being could trivially just step (or jump) over the boundary and into the middle. Hence someone in five-dimensional space-time might similarly be able to see through or enter our seemingly closed spaces by stepping “over” our enclosed structure from a dimension hidden from us. . . . I’ve started a new book called [What Technology Wants](https://kk.org/books/what-technology-wants) about how what we view as technology is an extension of evolution itself, governed by similar axioms and even teleological aims. One contrast he draws between biological evolution and technology is that the former always proceeds stepwise, gradually and “in time” whereas the latter can take leaps “across time,” borrowing from earlier designs and erstwhile abandoned insights and inventions. Biological evolution can only pass along genes that interact advantageously with the environment and abandons those that do not. But the scientific method, on which much of modern technology is based, allows us to incorporate insights that were ahead of their time, that didn’t initially make the cut. It enables us to gather inputs from anywhere, formulate theories and test their explanatory power against the results. It’s almost as if a new dimension of sorts were added to knowledge creation 350-odd years ago that allowed us to step over the boundaries in which we were formerly constrained. . . . The Three-Body Problem, written in 2008 (though there are sequels which I ordered and will start when they arrive), talks about even higher dimensions (buried outside our immediate reach at quantum scales.) Just as someone might step into the two-dimensional circle from the third dimension, perhaps someone can step into a six-dimensional hyper-shape from the seventh. If the scientific method could be said to advance us dimensionally, i.e., to have unlocked a previously unknown process for rapidly accelerating knowledge, one even civilizations as advanced as ancient Greece and Rome lacked, perhaps there are more fundamental modes of mind discoverable yet. It’s easy to grasp that there are many things we don’t know about reality, but harder to wrap one’s head around the notion that like the ancient Greeks and Romans, despite our many concrete technological achievements, we lack even a basic understanding of the faculties needed to go about it. As I said, these books got me thinking again.

I'm trying to build a tauri nostr desktop app, but I think I need to do something like discord where they login via nostr on the web and get a callback url like tauri://auth?token=abc or something but I have no idea how to do this. I can handle the callback url i just don't know what to pass or how to authenticate from a desktop app after given a token. The idea is the user will be authenticated in the desktop app and can do all nostr related tasks.

Whirlpool: Samourai Wallet CoinJoin Implementation Part 2: PreMix, PostMix Stages     Further clarification: - Some Whirlpool coinjoins typically select 2 fresh inputs from Tx0s and 3 already mixed inputs from previous coinjoins - The fresh inputs from Tx0 are responsible for paying the fees. - Inputs that have been previously mixed receive unlimited free remixes. - Example (check the link): Two fresh inputs are 0.05014520 BTC; the other inputs are exactly 0.05 BTC. https://mempool.space/tx/8074db130c8f141b652b12138e46b87fa6cfdccf914d29303ce07f8844a5d0b3 Next posts: Part3: ReMix Stage Part4: Anonymity Sets Part5: XPUB and Blinding Issues #Bitcoin

Imagine the Bitcoin blockchain as a bustling metropolitan area. Transactions on the blockchain are like commuters traveling to work during rush hour; the process can be slow, and there’s a high cost associated with getting where you need to go efficiently due to congestion. Now, imagine the Lightning Network as an extensive network of express highways that supplement this bustling urban infrastructure. When you make a traditional Bitcoin transaction, it's akin to taking local roads during peak traffic times. You'll eventually reach your destination, but it may take some time and the journey can be costly in terms of transaction fees, similar to spending extra money on fuel. However, by using the Lightning Network, it’s like accessing a less congested express highway. Here’s how it works: Onboarding and Offboarding Ramps: Just as highways have specific entry and exit points, Lightning Network users must open a payment channel (entry ramp) with another user. This involves making a transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain to fund the channel. Once this channel is open, users can transact freely without needing to use the main blockchain, similar to driving on an express highway where you don’t encounter stoplights or traffic. High-Speed Transactions: Transactions on the Lightning Network can be equated to driving at high speeds on an express lane because they're not impeded by the congestion of the main Bitcoin network. This results in nearly instantaneous transactions with very low fees, just as highways allow for faster travel between points. Network of Highways: The Lightning Network isn’t just a single highway; it's an entire system of interconnected highways. Even if you don't have a direct payment channel open with someone, your payment can be routed through the network using multiple channels, just as a highway system connects various roads to allow you to reach a destination even if it is not directly connected to the highway you started on. Exit Points: When you’re done transacting, or if you need your funds back in the main Bitcoin blockchain (perhaps analogous to exiting the highway to reach a specific neighborhood), you close your channel. This action settles your final transaction state back on the Bitcoin blockchain. Like a modern highway system that alleviates traffic burden from city streets, the Lightning Network decongests the Bitcoin network, making transactions faster and cheaper, while still ensuring they can securely and effectively reach their final destinations when needed. Thus, the Lightning Network not only enhances the efficiency of Bitcoin transactions but also greatly expands its scalability, much like highways enhance urban mobility and connectivity. # Beginner's Guide to Bitcoin and Lightning Network Apps Welcome to the NEWBIES category, your dedicated space for embarking on a journey into the world of Bitcoin (BTC) and the Lightning Network (LN). Whether you're a complete beginner, a small merchant, or just curious about Bitcoin, this guide is designed to help you navigate through your initial steps into Bitcoin without the complexities of self-custody or high-level technical requirements. ## Why Start Here? This category is specially curated for users who: - Are new to Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. - Prefer simple applications with user-friendly processes. - May not be technically inclined or prefer an easy introduction to cryptocurrency. - Want to use Bitcoin in small amounts for everyday transactions or just to get a feel of the technology. ## Characteristics of Beginner-Friendly Bitcoin Apps ### Custodial Services The apps recommended here are primarily **custodial**. This means the service provider manages the wallet's private keys on your behalf. Here’s what you need to know: - **Dependence**: These wallets rely on a connection to the provider’s server, which you do not control. - **Ease of use**: Custodial wallets are generally easier to set up and use, making them ideal for newcomers. - **Security**: While the risk level is low with small amounts, remember that your funds are technically under someone else’s control. ### KYC and Privacy - **KYC Requirements**: Many services require Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to comply with regulatory standards. However, there are options available without KYC for those prioritizing privacy. - **Privacy**: While custodial solutions may not offer the same level of privacy as non-custodial wallets, they are suitable for new users experimenting with small amounts. ### Wallet Backup and Restore - **Provider Dependent**: The backup and restoration of your wallet are entirely dependent on the service provider. Ensure you understand their process for recovering your wallet should you lose access to your device. ## Recommended Wallets for Beginners ### Windows Desktop Wallets - [Green Wallet](https://bitcoin.org/en/wallets/desktop/windows/green/): A user-friendly wallet for Windows users starting with Bitcoin. - [Sparrow Wallet](https://bitcoin.org/en/wallets/desktop/windows/sparrow/): Offers a simple interface with robust security features. - [Specter Desktop](https://bitcoin.org/en/wallets/desktop/windows/specterdesktop/): Ideal for users interested in experimenting with multi-signature setups. ### Android Wallet - [Electrum for Android](https://bitcoin.org/en/wallets/mobile/android/electrum/): A popular choice that balances ease of use with comprehensive features. ### iOS Wallet - [ZeusLN](https://zeusln.com/): A Lightning Network-focused wallet that’s great for iOS users taking their first steps into using LN. ### Web and Telegram - [Mutiny Wallet](https://mutinywallet.com): A self-custodial lightning wallet that's straightforward and secure, making it accessible for everyone. - [SatsMobiBot on Telegram](https://t.me/SatsMobiBot): Chat with this bot to instantly create a wallet and start transacting with Bitcoin Lightning. ## Learning Resources - [RoboSats](https://github.com/robo-sats/project): Learn how to use this peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange that prioritizes privacy and speed. ## Consider Starting your journey into Bitcoin doesn’t have to be complicated. By choosing the right tools and platforms, you can gradually learn about Bitcoin in a controlled and low-risk environment. Remember to transition to non-custodial options as you become more comfortable and look to involve larger amounts, to have complete control over your crypto assets. Explore, learn, and enjoy your journey into the world of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. # Leveraging the Power of Lightning Network For individuals with a foundational understanding of Bitcoin (BTC) and the Lightning Network (LN), advancing to an intermediate level involves embracing greater privacy, security, and autonomy over your transactions. This guide delves into the realm of running a private LN node, using non-custodial wallets, and managing an own Bitcoin Core node for a more robust crypto experience. It is ideal for users and small merchants seeking enhanced control over their digital assets. ## Understanding Your Options: Private LN Nodes and Non-Custodial Wallets At this intermediate stage, users often opt to run their own Bitcoin Core node and connect various applications to validate and broadcast on-chain transactions. A private LN node is another popular choice, providing increased privacy for lightning channel management that isn't publicly announced on the LN network. ### Key Use Cases: - **Personal Bitcoin Core Node:** Users run their node at home, connecting mobile and desktop apps for on-chain and LN transactions. - **Private Lightning Network Node:** This setup allows managing LN channels privately, ideal for users who utilize LN for regular payments without the need to route others' transactions through their node. - **Advanced Fund Management:** Intermediate users might engage in coin control, swaps, and using ramps for buying and converting BTC, managing and spending funds efficiently. ## Recommended Apps for Intermediate Users ### Blixt - **Description:** A mobile LN node wallet with rich features that can operate as a private LN node in various scenarios. A desktop version is planned, which will expand its capabilities. - **Use Case:** Perfect for those who need a mobile solution with the capabilities of a full LN node. - **[Blixt Wallet](https://blixtwallet.github.io/)** ### Zeus - **Description:** A powerful mobile node wallet that supports multi-account and multi LN implementations such as LNDhub and LN address. - **Use Case:** Best for users looking for a versatile and feature-rich mobile lightning experience. - **[Zeus Wallet](https://zeusln.app/)** ### Breez - **Description:** This is a mobile LN node wallet integrated with a Point of Sale (PoS) system and podcasting capabilities. - **Use Case:** Ideal for merchants who want to accept BTC/LN payments seamlessly and content creators. - **[Breez Wallet](https://breez.technology/)** ### BlueWallet - **Description:** A multi-platform (Mobile/Desktop) BTC/LN wallet that includes functionalities like multisig, advanced features, and the ability to fund LN wallets from on-chain sources. - **Use Case:** Suitable for users who transition frequently between on-chain and off-chain Bitcoin management. - **[BlueWallet](https://bluewallet.io/)** ### Electrum - **Description:** An old yet powerful desktop and mobile wallet that supports on-chain and LN transactions, using trampoline channels or private channels, and integrated with swaps. - **Use Case:** Great for users who need a reliable and robust platform for managing on-chain and off-chain funds. - **[Electrum Wallet](https://electrum.org/#home)** ## Best Practices for Intermediate LN Users - **Security First:** Always ensure that your wallet and node software are up to date to defend against vulnerabilities. - **Back Up Regularly:** Maintain regular backups of your wallet and channel states to prevent loss of funds. - **Monitor Channel Liquidity:** Keep an eye on your LN channels' liquidity to ensure efficient transaction processing. - **Privacy Enhancements:** Utilize features like Tor integration for network-level privacy and consider coin control features for enhanced transaction privacy. ## Case In Consideration Progressing to an intermediate level in managing BTC and LN involves a deeper dive into non-custodial services, running personal nodes, and exploring advanced wallet features. The tools and practices highlighted in are designed to provide users and small businesses with the necessary foundation to achieve greater autonomy, security, and efficiency in their Bitcoin transactions. Stay informed and proactive in managing your digital assets, and continue exploring the vast potentials of the Bitcoin network and the Lightning Network technology. # Mastering the Lightning Network The Lightning Network (LN) represents a significant evolution in the scalability and utility of Bitcoin, but fully leveraging its capabilities requires a deep understanding of its mechanics and a significant commitment in terms of resources. . It covers the prerequisites for effectively operating a high-capacity routing node, including technical knowledge, financial backing, and strategic management of liquidity and routing operations. ## Understanding the Requirements ### Profound Knowledge Base The role of an expert in the LN ecosystem demands more than just a cursory understanding of Bitcoin; it requires proficiency in various complex topics: - **Bitcoin Protocol**: Deep knowledge of how transactions are processed on the blockchain. - **Lightning Network**: Detailed understanding of LN mechanics, channel states, and network topology. - **Economic Strategies**: Insights into liquidity management, fee structures, and channel balancing. - **Technological Proficiency**: Skills in Linux, and potentially, the hardware used for running a node. - **Security Measures**: Best practices in securing digital assets and protecting node infrastructure. ### Financial Commitment Running a high-capacity LN node isn't just technically demanding—it also requires significant financial investments: - **Channel Funding**: A substantial amount of bitcoin is needed to fund channels, with the aim of facilitating effective routing. - **Liquidity Management**: The ability to allocate and rebalance liquidity strategically across channels to optimize transaction throughput and fee revenue. ## Best Practices for Advanced LN Users ### Continuous Education and Research Keeping abreast of the latest developments in the LN space is crucial. Regularly consulting high-quality resources can enhance your understanding and operational efficiency: - **LN Documentation**: Such as those provided by [Lightning Engineering](https://docs.lightning.engineering/) and other community-curated resources like [CLN Documentation](https://docs.corelightning.org/docs/home). - **Research Articles**: Insights from thought leaders, such as the overview by [Fulgur Ventures](https://medium.com/@fulgur.ventures/an-overview-of-lightning-network-implementations-d670255a6cfa), provide context on different LN implementations and updates. ### Strategic Liquidity Management To ensure your node serves as an effective routing hub, consider the following: - **Balanced Channels**: Maintain a balanced channel state where neither side is too depleted of funds. - **Dynamic Fee Strategies**: Adjust routing fees based on network congestion, channel capacity, and competitive rates. - **Risk Assessment**: Continuously evaluate channel counterparts to mitigate potential losses from channel closures or uncooperative peers. ### Community Engagement and Contribution Active participation in LN and Bitcoin forums, discussions, and development channels can provide valuable insights and also contribute to the collective knowledge and improvement of network protocols and practices. ### Automation and Monitoring Utilize tools and scripts to automate routine node operations such as: - **Channel Rebalancing**: Tools that can dynamically balance channels in response to network conditions to optimize fees and liquidity. - **Uptime and Performance Monitoring**: Regular checks to ensure the node is operational and performing transactions as expected. ### Security Best Practices Given the financial and operational stakes involved, securing your node is paramount: - **Regular Updates**: Keep the node software and its dependencies up to date to protect against vulnerabilities. - **Backup Solutions**: Implement robust data backup solutions to recover from hardware failures or cyber-attacks. - **Multi-Factor Authentication and Encryption**: For all node access, ensure that data is encrypted at rest and in transit. ## Moving Unto A Purpose For those at the advanced level, running a LN node is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor that requires a blend of technical skill, economic savvy, and strategic foresight. It's not merely about supporting the network; it's about actively shaping the future of Bitcoin's scalability and utility. As you embark on this journey, remember that your growth and the network's health are interlinked: invest in your knowledge, contribute to community discussions, and operate your node with the diligence it requires. The portal to mastering Lightning is through persistent learning, vigilant operation, and proactive community engagement. # Mastering the Lightning Network: Diverse Use Cases and Best Practices The Lightning Network (LN) has opened up new frontiers for Bitcoin usage, enabling faster, cheaper, and more scalable transactions. It's not just revolutionary technology—it's a thriving ecosystem for various stakeholders. From those functioning as Liquidity Service Providers (LSPs) to small businesses and family nodes, the LN is a dynamic field with rich opportunities. In this detailed guide, we explore the different roles within the LN and the best practices and tools tailored for each. ## Key Use Cases in the Lightning Network ### 1. **Routing Nodes and LSP Operators** For users equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources, running a routing node or acting as an LSP can be highly rewarding. This role involves managing the flow of transactions across the network, akin to controlling the flow in pipelines, adjusting where and how 'liquid'—in this case, satoshis—flows. - **Best Practices:** - Maintain a robust and well-funded node with diverse, high-capacity channels. - Use tools like [ThunderHub](https://thunderhub.io/) and [LNBits](https://lnbits.com/) for effective channel management and liquidity analysis. ### 2. **Medium/Big Merchants** Merchants with significant transaction volumes can benefit greatly from LN by adopting a self-custody payment solution. This setup enhances both the security of their funds and the efficiency of transaction handling. - **Best Practices:** - Implement user-friendly LN-compatible POS systems. - Educate the staff and customers about LN transactions for smoother operations. ### 3. **Wallet Providers/Developers** These users offer more than wallets; they provide essential liquidity and connective services that enhance the overall utility of the LN. - **Best Practices:** - Ensure robust security measures are in place to protect users’ funds. - Maintain high standards of privacy and transparency in service operations. ### 4. **Advanced LN Users: Family Node Operators** Running a family node involves managing LN channels for personal use or a small community, like close friends or family. This setup emphasizes privacy and control over transactions and channel management. - **Best Practices:** - Regularly monitor and rebalance your channels to ensure optimal liquidity. - Provide reliable support and guidance for your network of users. ### 5. **Developers and Testers** These users are essential for the ongoing improvement and resilience of the LN. They run full nodes for testing new features or debug existing systems. - **Best Practices:** - Stay updated with the latest LN developments and community research. - Contribute to projects and discussions on platforms like GitHub to improve LN tools and documentation. ## Tools for Effective LN Management To manage their LN nodes and liquidity effectively, users can leverage a variety of applications and platforms: - **[Fully Noded](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spark.wallet&hl=en_US&gl=US):** Helps manage Bitcoin and LN nodes through a comprehensive mobile interface. - **[Phoenix](https://phoenix.acinq.co/):** A user-friendly mobile LN wallet that simplifies channel management and transactions. - **[Sparrow Wallet](https://sparrowwallet.com/):** For onchain management with advanced features like coin control and privacy techniques. ## Concluding Thoughts The Lightning Network isn’t just transforming how transactions are done; it’s reshaping the economic landscape of digital currencies. Each user, whether a merchant, developer, or private node operator, plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. By understanding and implementing best practices tailored to their specific roles, participants can not only optimize their operations but also contribute significantly to the LN’s growth and efficiency. This ecosystem thrives on continuous learning and adaptation. Whether you are just transitioning from intermediate know-how or honing your expertise, remember that every contribution matters in building a more connected and efficient network. Enjoy exploring, learning, and growing in the ever-evolving landscape of the Lightning Network.

Prompt: Sign Up Form =============== > #### Create a sign up page, modal, form, or app screen related to signing up for something. It could be for a volunteer event, contest registration, a giveaway, or anything you can image. * * * Flex your [design](https://stacker.news/~Desig/r/Design_r) muscles and join in. Most of all, keep this exercise loose and keep it stress-free. The FUC is about growing our design skills, together, as a community. We can't wait to see what you create! Happy designing, Stackers! * * * **Share Your Results** When you finish the challenge, post your work on this thread! If you also share it on `nostr`, be sure to use the hashtag **#FUCdesiger** and tag [Design\_r@iris.to](https://iris.to/Design_r) or [@Design\_\_r](https://x.com/Design__r) on X! We'll keep an eye out and repost good examples on a regular basis. * * * **Curious to know WTF is a FUC?** Read the [⚡️Flash Ui Challenges](https://stacker.news/items/418824/r/Design_r) welcoming post. **Looking for more FUCs?** Check the archive [here](https://stacker.news/Design_r#fucs--flash-ui-challenges)!

Prompt: Progress =============== > #### What's making progress and how does it work? > It could be a progress bar showing time remaining in a movie or it could calculate the progress made reading a book. Anything you want. * * * Flex your [design](https://stacker.news/~Desig/r/Design_r) muscles and join in. Most of all, keep this exercise loose and keep it stress-free. The FUC is about growing our design skills, together, as a community. We can't wait to see what you create! Happy designing, Stackers! * * * **Share Your Results** When you finish the challenge, post your work on this thread! If you also share it on `nostr`, be sure to use the hashtag **#FUCdesiger** and tag [Design\_r@iris.to](https://iris.to/Design_r) or [@Design\_\_r](https://x.com/Design__r) on X! We'll keep an eye out and repost good examples on a regular basis. * * * **Curious to know WTF is a FUC?** Read the [⚡️Flash Ui Challenges](https://stacker.news/items/418824/r/Design_r) welcoming post. **Looking for more FUCs?** Check the archive [here](https://stacker.news/Design_r#fucs--flash-ui-challenges)!

> "One's True Will can be considered as the Resultant of all the vectors that comprise one's nature. Even if one doesn't realise it, the True Will will, on average, dominate one's actions and one's responses to external stimuli. Once one has become intimately familiar with all the vectors, and therefore with their Resultant, one may begin to strengthen the Resultant by consciously adjusting the alignment of the vectors.” Ordo Templi Orientis This suggests that our True Will, the core essence of who we are, is a culmination of various elements within us. Understanding these components allows us to align ourselves with our true purpose and exert conscious influence over our actions and responses. It's a philosophy that emphasises self-awareness and intentional living. Transcendent True Will is like a special state of being where you feel both innocent and incredibly powerful at the same time. It's a bit like feeling wonder and awe, and from this state, you can create amazing things. When we tap into this state, we can use what you call "perceptive magik" to shape our lives in a way that works best for us. It's like becoming the main force in our own story, with the goal of aligning our reality with our deepest desires and intentions. In this state, anything is possible. It's like being in touch with a kind of energy that's both incredibly powerful and incredibly still. And it's from this place that we can create our own reality, expanding and deepening it as we go along. Think of Transcendent True Will as this special power within you that allows you to shape your life in amazing ways. It's tapping into your true, most authentic self, where all possibilities are open to you. Here are some tips on how to fully embracing the concept of transcendent true will and its profound implications for personal empowerment and reality creation: + **Embrace the Paradox**: Recognise and embrace the paradoxical nature of transcendent true will, which encompasses both fundamental innocence and ultimate omnipotence. Embracing this paradox allows you to navigate the complexities of existence with grace and authenticity. + **Harness the Power of Perception**: Understand that wielding perceptive magik involves harnessing the power of perception to shape your reality. By shifting your perspective and perception, you can tap into the infinite possibilities that arise from your transcendent true will. + **Live from Purposeful Innocence**: Cultivate a state of purposeful innocence in which you approach life with a sense of wonder and curiosity, while simultaneously aligning your actions with the dynamic causal presence of your true will. This allows you to engage with life from a place of pure intentionality and creativity. + **Embody the Indescribable Presence**: Surrender to the indescribable presence of transcendent true will within you. Allow yourself to fully embody this state of magik being, experiencing the vital causal energy of dynamic life and the incredible power it holds. By doing so, you can tap into the limitless potential of your true magik state of being. + **Manifest Endless Realities**: Understand that true will makes everything possible and that you have the ability to manifest endless realities guided by your transcendent true will. As you evolve and grow in alignment with your true will, you contribute to the creation of a fabric and network of realities that seamlessly knit together into one cohesive whole. By continuing to explore and embody these principles, you can deepen your understanding of transcendent true will and unlock the full potential of your magik state of being.

Cowboys and cowgirls, it's time to shine! Spotlight your preferred product or service in the ~AGORA. Tell us why you love it so much.

สร้าง Nostr Bot ด้วย Python ----------- > *อะแฮ่ม ขอชี้แจงไว้ก่อนว่า ผมเขียนเพื่อให้ตัวเองอ่านเพื่อวันไหนจะกลับมาทำต่อจะได้พอจำได้ว่าตัวเองทำอะไรลงไปบ้าง เพราะงั้นบางส่วนในบทความนี้อาจจะไม่ละเอียด หากลองทำตามแล้วติดตรงไหนอยากสอบถาม ติดต่อมาได้ที่ Nostr Address: [kritta@rightshift.to](https://nosta.me/nprofile1qy0hwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytfsxvhxgmmjv9nxzcm5dae8jtn0wfnj7qgcwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxumm5daeks6fwwa5kutcqypnd7czk9kfe4k5xzfpkfzv5tf8v78tzx34nm9rcm652xw8nyq7xgdzhmy5) หรือลองค้นเพิ่มเติมใน link ท้ายบทความนะครับ* อย่างที่หลาย ๆ คนน่าจะทราบกันดีอยู่แล้วว่า Nostr เป็น open protocol ที่ใคร ๆ ก็สามารถเข้ามามีส่วนร่วมในการพัฒนาได้ ทำให้มีโปรเจคต่าง ๆ เกิดขึ้นมากมาย โดยบทความในชุดนี้ผมจะหยิบโปรเจคต่าง ๆ ที่น่าสนใจมามาลองเล่น และนำมาเล่าสู่กันฟัง หวังว่าผู้ที่หลงเข้ามาอ่านจะได้ประโยชน์จากสิ่งนี้นะครับ ;) โดยในวันนี้โปรเจคที่ผมหยิบมาคือ NDK (Nostr development kit) ผมหาไม่เจอว่าใครเป็นคนเริ่มโปรเจค แต่คนที่ดูแล repo นี้หลัก ๆ คือคุณ [yukibtc](https://nosta.me/nprofile1qywhwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytndw46xjmnewaskcmr9wshxxmmd9uq36amnwvaz7tmjv4kxz7fwd46hg6tw09mkzmrvv46zucm0d5hsqgrgmqgktyvpqzma5slu9rmarlqj24zxdcg3tzrtneamxfhktmzzwg2x3v53) เริ่มต้นเหมือนจะเริ่มจาก RUST แต่ตอนนี้เหมือนจะแตกไป swift, java, python เอาจริง ๆ ผมไม่รู้หรอกว่าใครเป็นคนทำภาษาไหนเพราะ contributors เขาเยอะมาก แต่ก็นั่นแหละ ขอบคุณที่สร้างอะไรสนุก ๆ แบบนี้ออกมาให้ได้เล่นนะครับ โดยอย่างแรกที่เราต้องเริ่มคือการสั่ง pip install ตัว nostr sdk เพื่อใช่งาน สำหรับคนที่ไม่มี python ในเครื่องก็ไปลง python ก่อนด้วยนะ หรือจะใช้ online ผ่าน google colab ลองเล่นดูก่อนก็ได้ ``` pip install pip install nostr-sdk ``` จากนั้นเราก็จะสามารถใช้งาน Nostr_sdk ได้แล้ว!!! โดยการที่เราจะเข้ามาใช้งาน Nostr ได้นั้นเราจำเป็นต้องมี keys เพื่อเข้าสู่ระบบเสียก่อนงั้นเรามาเริ่มจากการสร้าง keys กันก่อน ``` from nostr_sdk import Keys #เพียงคำสั่งนี้คำสั่งเดียวก็ได้ keys แล้วงั้นเหรอ!! keys = Keys.generate() #แยก keys ออกเป็น secret key (sk) และ public key (pk) sk = keys.secret_key() pk = keys.public_key() #ไหน ๆ ขอดู keys หน่อยสิ้ print(f"public key: {pk.to_bech32()}") print(f"Secret key: {sk.to_bech32()}") #output: #public key: npub1wkxaxzmmamc6h8n6ev7yq3y5qmqnyxmu0xmrllcepxup9tktuzrsu646r0 #Secret key: nsec160gefyqkderqlnr545ps4d5th6pex3ducqgcev69z0rstqakkv9scvat97 ``` *note ถ้าสร้าง keys เสร็จแล้วเอาไปเก็บไว้ในพวก dot env จะปลอดภัยและสะดวกในการใช้ต่อมากกว่า* แล้วหลังจากได้ keys มาแล้วเราจำเป็นต้องกำหนด signer, client และ relay ที่เราจะใช้ในการรับ event ของเรา ``` # กำหนด keys ที่เราพึ่งสร้างให้เป็นตัว sign event signer = NostrSigner.keys(keys) # นำเข้า key ที่มีอยู่แล้ว # app_keys = Keys.parse("nsec......") # signer = NostrSigner.keys(app_keys) # หรือใช้ NIP46 signer # uri = NostrConnectUri.parse("bunker://.. or nostrconnect://..") # nip46 = Nip46Signer(uri, app_keys, timedelta(seconds=60), None) # signer = NostrSigner.nip46(nip46) # กำหนด client ให้ใช้ signer ตัวนี้ (feel like log in) client = Client(signer) # เพิ่ม relays ที่จะเก็บ event client.add_relays(["wss://relay.damus.io", "wss://siamstr.com", "wss://siamstr.com","wss://relay.notoshi.win"]) client.connect() #ตั้งชื่อให้ account เราสักหน่อยเพื่อเช็คด้วยว่า เราเชื่อมต่อ relay ต่าง ๆ ผ่านมั้ย client.set_metadata(Metadata().set_name("Testing หลาม ๆ")) ``` หลังจากกำหนดทุกอย่างเรียบร้อยแล้ว เรามาลองสร้างโพสต์แรกกันเลยดีกว่า ``` #tag เพื่อเอาไว้เติมส่วนต่าง ๆ นอกจาก เนื้อหาของโน๊ต เช่นการ mention การใส่ hashtag # p = mention # t = hashtag tag = Tag.parse(["p", "66df60562d939ada8612436489945a4ecf1d62346b3d9478dea8a338f3203c64"]) #ใส่เนื้อหาที่เราค้องการโพสต์ builder = EventBuilder.text_note("สวัสดีชาวทุ่ง ", [tag]) ส่ง event ไปให้ relay โลดดดด client.send_event_builder(builder) ``` แล้วนอกจากโพสต์ตระกูล kind:1 แล้วเรายังโพสต์ kind อื่น ๆ ได้ด้วย ``` # ส่งจ้อความส่วนตัว receiver_pk = PublicKey.from_bech32("npubคนรับ") event = EventBuilder.encrypted_direct_msg(keys, receiver_pk, "ข้อความ", None).to_event(keys) print(event.as_json()) # templateเปล่า kind = Kind(เลข kind) content = "..." tags = [] builder = EventBuilder(kind, content, tags) # POW event = builder.to_pow_event(keys, 20) print(f"POW event: {event.as_json()}") ``` ส่วนตัวผมมองว่าส่วนนี้แหละคือส่วนที่สนุกที่สุดของวันนี้ เพราะเป็นจุดที่เราสามารถนำมันออกไปต่อยอดได้มากที่สุด เช่นการเชื่อมต่อกับ service อื่น ๆ เช่น mempool.space เพื่อส่งค่าฟี bitcoin ให้เราผ่านแชท, ทำเกมง่าย ๆ เล่นกับเพื่อน ๆ หน้า timeline อย่าง cowdle หรือ หวย อย่างที่เห็นกันไปในช่วงก่อนหน้านี้ หรือใช้ทำงานกรรมกรแทนเรา เช่นการแจก badges ที่ทาง rightshift ได้ทำไปก่อนหน้า, bot relay notoshi, zapbot และอีกต่าง ๆ มากมาย ### filter ตัว filter เป็นคำสั่งที่ช่วยเรากรอง event ที่จะขอจาก relay ใช้เพื่อรับเฉพาะ event ที่เราต้องการเท่านั้น ``` f = (Filter() .pubkey(keys.public_key()) .kinds([Kind(0), Kind.from_enum(KindEnum.TEXT_NOTE())]) .custom_tag(SingleLetterTag.lowercase(Alphabet.J), ["test"]) ) print(f.as_json()) # output: {"kinds":[0,1],"#j":["test"],"#p":["758dd30b7beef1ab9e7acb3c40449406c1321b7c79b63fff1909b812aecbe087"]} f = f.kind(Kind(4)).custom_tag(SingleLetterTag.lowercase(Alphabet.J), ["append-new"]) print(f.as_json()) {"kinds":[0,1,4],"#j":["test","append-new"],"#p":["758dd30b7beef1ab9e7acb3c40449406c1321b7c79b63fff1909b812aecbe087"]} #ตัวอย่างเช่นรับเฉพาะ event ของคนที่ใช้ notoshi relay filter =Filter().kind(Kind(10002)).custom_tag(SingleLetterTag.lowercase(Alphabet.R), ["wss://relay.notoshi.win"]) events = client.get_events_of([filter], timedelta(seconds=30)) ``` สองฟังก์ชันนี้เป็นตัวสำคัญในการทำบอทในส่วนต่อไปจะเป็นตัวเสริมต่าง ๆ ที่เพิ่มลูกเล่นให้บอทได้ ### Metadata metadata มีไว้แก้ไขข้อมูลต่าง ๆ ในโปรไฟล์ของเรา ``` metadata = Metadata().set_name("username")\ .set_display_name("My Username")\ .set_about("Description")\ .set_picture("https://example.com/avatar.png")\ .set_banner("https://example.com/banner.png")\ .set_nip05("username@example.com")\ .set_lud16("username@example.com") # name = ชื้อผู้ใช่ # display_name = ชื่อที่จะแสดงให้คนอื่นเห็น (ถ้าช่องนี้ว่างมักจะโชว์ชื่อที่ใว่ในช่อง name) # about = bio # picture = รูปโปรไฟล์ # banner = รูปปก # nip05 = Nostr addr # lud16 = Lightning addr ``` ### NWC NWC หรือ Nostr wallet connection มีไว้ใช้ในการเชื่อมต่อกับกระเป๋า ln ของเราเพื่อคุมกระเป๋าของเราผ่าน Nostr ``` # นำ NWC uri มาวาง uri = NostrWalletConnectUri.parse("nostr+walletconnect://..") # สร้าง client ในรูปแบบที่เพิ่มการ zap keys = Keys.generate() signer = NostrSigner.keys(keys) zapper = NostrZapper.nwc(uri) client = ClientBuilder().signer(signer).zapper(zapper).build() client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") client.connect() pk = PublicKey.from_bech32(" npub คนรับ") client.zap(ZapEntity.public_key(pk), 1000, None) ``` ## Bot template ``` from nostr_sdk import Client, NostrSigner, Keys, Event, UnsignedEvent, Filter, \ HandleNotification, Timestamp, nip04_decrypt, UnwrappedGift, init_logger, LogLevel, Kind, KindEnum import time init_logger(LogLevel.DEBUG) # sk = SecretKey.from_bech32("nsec1ufnus6pju578ste3v90xd5m2decpuzpql2295m3sknqcjzyys9ls0qlc85") # keys = Keys(sk) # OR keys = Keys.parse("nsec1ufnus6pju578ste3v90xd5m2decpuzpql2295m3sknqcjzyys9ls0qlc85") sk = keys.secret_key() pk = keys.public_key() print(f"Bot public key: {pk.to_bech32()}") signer = NostrSigner.keys(keys) client = Client(signer) client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") client.add_relay("wss://nostr.mom") client.add_relay("wss://nostr.oxtr.dev") client.connect() now = Timestamp.now() nip04_filter = Filter().pubkey(pk).kind(Kind.from_enum(KindEnum.ENCRYPTED_DIRECT_MESSAGE())).since(now) nip59_filter = Filter().pubkey(pk).kind(Kind.from_enum(KindEnum.GIFT_WRAP())).since( Timestamp.from_secs(now.as_secs() - 60 * 60 * 24 * 7)) # NIP59 have a tweaked timestamp (in the past) client.subscribe([nip04_filter, nip59_filter], None) class NotificationHandler(HandleNotification): def handle(self, relay_url, subscription_id, event: Event): print(f"Received new event from {relay_url}: {event.as_json()}") if event.kind().match_enum(KindEnum.ENCRYPTED_DIRECT_MESSAGE()): print("Decrypting NIP04 event") try: msg = nip04_decrypt(sk, event.author(), event.content()) print(f"Received new msg: {msg}") client.send_direct_msg(event.author(), f"Echo: {msg}", event.id()) except Exception as e: print(f"Error during content NIP04 decryption: {e}") elif event.kind().match_enum(KindEnum.GIFT_WRAP()): print("Decrypting NIP59 event") try: # Extract rumor unwrapped_gift = UnwrappedGift.from_gift_wrap(keys, event) sender = unwrapped_gift.sender() rumor: UnsignedEvent = unwrapped_gift.rumor() # Check timestamp of rumor if rumor.created_at().as_secs() >= now.as_secs(): if rumor.kind().match_enum(KindEnum.SEALED_DIRECT()): msg = rumor.content() print(f"Received new msg [sealed]: {msg}") client.send_sealed_msg(sender, f"Echo: {msg}", None) else: print(f"{rumor.as_json()}") except Exception as e: print(f"Error during content NIP59 decryption: {e}") def handle_msg(self, relay_url, msg): None abortable = client.handle_notifications(NotificationHandler()) # Optionally, to abort handle notifications look, call abortable.abort() while True: time.sleep(5.0) # abortable.abort() ``` ผมหวังว่าบทความนี้จะมีประโยชน์กับคนอ่าน และคาดหวังที่จะได้เห็น service ต่าง ๆ ที่สร้างสรรค์เกิดขึ้นหลังจากนี้ Link เพิ่มเติมที่สำหรับศึกษาต่อ - https://github.com/rust-nostr/nostr/tree/master - https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips

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This post is the twelfth and final installment in our Stoic Philosophy book club series on Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Thanks to everyone who followed and read along. Prior posts for context: * [Book 11](https://stacker.news/items/513286) * [Book 10](https://stacker.news/items/504275) * [Book 9](https://stacker.news/items/497464) * [Book 8](https://stacker.news/items/487756) * [Book 7](https://stacker.news/items/478176) * [Book 6](https://stacker.news/items/467359) * [Book 5](https://stacker.news/items/458288) * [Book 4](https://stacker.news/items/446496) * [Book 3: In Carnuntum](https://stacker.news/items/439147) * [Book 2: On the River Gran, Among the Quadi](https://stacker.news/items/429509) * [Book 1: Debts and Lessons](https://stacker.news/items/423469) * [Geneisis Post](https://stacker.news/items/417471) # Book 12 ## Summary and Highlights As Book 12 is the final chapter of Meditations, it has a deep tone of conclusion. I'm not aware exactly of over what time span Marcus wrote Meditations or the space between each book. However, in congruence with the rest of the content, and Stoic philosophy, there is a feeling and emphasis of Marcus preparing for his own departure from the body. Many of the entries seem more intimate, like private musings of Marcus' mind, exploring, observing and marveling at reality's Divine Paradox. He flows back and forth between a recognition of opposites and an appreciation of Unity, like he's breathing along with the Universe, perhaps final breaths. Accordingly, his entry topics seem to focus more obviously on preparation for death, rationalizing it as a Natural process and releasing any final attachments. Here are the items that stood out to me. I won't quote all of #1, but the following statements stood out: > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reverence: so you'll accept what you're allotted. Nature intended it for you, and you for it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Justice: so that you'll speak the truth, frankly and without evasions, and act as you should -- and as other people deserve. > ... if it isn't ceasing to live that you're afraid of but never beginning to live properly... then you'll be worthy of the world that made you. I love the reminder about reverence in particular. Coupled with the later quote, I appreciate the attitude of admiration and worship he has for "the world". This attitude is one of the main things I've appreciated about reading meditations, in contrast to Eastern philosophy which can be easy to misread as depicting Nature as pure materiality; useless, ignorant and to be transcended as soon as possible. One could try to dissect Marcus statement and try to argue about what he means by "the world". But for me, any ambiguity of terms adds to the beauty of the reflection -- coercing me to both have more respect for divinity within "the material", and recognize the magnanimity of "the world" as the entire ordered cosmic structure. > 4. It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people but care more about their opinion than our own. If a god appeared to us -- or a wise human being, even -- and prohibited us from concealing our thoughts or imagining anything without immediately shouting it out, we wouldn't make it through a single day. That's how much we value other people's opinions -- instead of our own. There are a couple of weird thoughts coming up from this passage. First, a meditation on self-love. I feel like here Marcus is referring to "selfish" self-love and describing the paradox of trying to get what we want by placating others. However, a more evolved notion of Self-love might require taking good care of oneself in order to be healthy and capable to be of service to others. I've been on a path of acknowledging the need for the latter in my life over the past years, and as such, have been trying to discern the difference between selfishness and Self-love. It's not always easy to figure out, or to avoid self-deception. In a small statement, Marcus hides a question and meditation on what Love is and how it expresses. Secondly, I like the idea of both a god and a wise human representing some degree of omniscience. Perhaps Marcus had teachers that he felt could read his thoughts, or that he could not hide from. Perhaps there is something edging on divinity about deeply wise human beings. > 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The student as boxer, not fencer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The fencer's weapon is picked up and put down again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The boxer's is part of him. All he has to do is clench his fist. What a cool observation. The most powerful weapons or tools are those that are built into our mind and character. They never leave us. > 10. To see things as they are. Substance, cause and purpose. I'm quoting this because it's repeated and emphasized in #18. > 11. The freedom to do only what God wants, and accept whatever God sends us. Again, a subtle paradox of describing "freedom" as a sense of deep surrender, or "willing slavery" to God or the will of Nature. Playing with polarity, dissolving into Unity. > 12. The gods are not to blame. They do nothing wrong, on purpose or by accident. Nor men either; they don't do it on purpose. No one is to blame. This entry is helpful while exploring both anger and shame. Again, we see the Stoic boundary line between what is within one's control and what isn't (fate, or the gods). For that which is outside our control, Nature is happening as it should in its perfection. For that which is within the personal domain, *ignorance* can be Nature's way of *protecting* us from blaming others or ourselves. However, doesn't this mean the consequences might be very severe for *knowing* something is wrong, and choosing willfully to do it anyway? > 15. The lamp shines until it is put out, without losing its gleam, and yet in you it all gutters out so early -- truth, justice, self-control? The dedicated, persistent shining of fire. This reminds me of the "sacred fire" traditions in India, or even in ancient Rome of the Vestal Virgins. They would tend a sacred fire for years and years without letting it go out. It's a practical, Tantric reminder to keep the light of Truth alive in our Hearts persistently and eternally. > 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At all times, look at the thing itself -- the thing behind the appearance -- and unpack it by analysis: * cause * substance * purpose * and the length of time it exists. This process was eluded to in #10 and I'm repeating it here, not because I fully get it, but to respect Marcus' emphasis. A detailed and reliable interpretation eludes me, but it could be an exposition of a meditation process, whereby instead of accepting surface mental phenomena, like thoughts, feelings or sensations, one observes and explores them more deeply. Uncovering deeper layers of the mind. Realizing the temporary nature of all mental, emotional and physical phenomena. Developing an equanimity and stillness of mind toward every new experience. > 21. That before long you'll be no one, and nowhere. Like all the things you see now. All the people now living. Marcus preparing for Death. Exploring even the paradox between life and death. That consciousness is the only thing that is truly awake, and without it, we roam the Earth dead and asleep. Zombies? Maybe they're already here and among us. Maybe I'm a zombie to the extent I'm ignorant. In #23, another great reasoning toward preparing for Death, Marcus notes, "Why should we be ashamed of an involuntary act that injures no one?" I find this a quite unique perspective considering how little we fear performing voluntary acts which do indeed injure others versus the mortal fear of our own innocent, natural dissolution. The rest of #23 is well worth reading. Toward the end of #26, > And... &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That an individuals mind is God and of God. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That nothing belongs to anyone. Children, body, life itself -- all of them come from that same source. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That it's all how you chose to see things. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That the present is all we have to live in. Or to lose. Radically inspiring, and somewhat controversial for our Western values. In particular, the ideological destruction of private property rights. I used to say these kinds of things, rebelling without a cause in high school. But then again, I was also angry, which Marcus demolishes earlier in this entry. Challenging for our imperfect society, but rings of a divine Truth from a wise man close to letting it all go. In #27, Marcus adds a footnote, "There's nothing more insufferable than people who boast about their own humility." I'll quote #30 in its entirety because I feel it captures Book 12 well as Marcus explores polarities and paradox: > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Singular, not plural: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sunlight. Though broken up by walls and mountains and a thousand other things. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Substance. Though split into a thousand form, variously shaped. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Life. Though distributed among a thousand different natures with their individual limitations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Intelligence. Even if it seems to be divided. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The other components -- breath, matter -- lack any awareness or connection to one another (yet unity and its gravitational pull embrace them too). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But intelligence is uniquely drawn toward what is akin to it, and joins with it inseparably, in shared awareness. Like many other entries, he plays with the difference between appearance and underlying Unity. And also re-emphasizes the "categories" of observational analysis found in #10 and #18. > 34. The incentive to treat death as unimportant: even people whose only morality is pain and pleasure can manage that much. To typify relation to pain and pleasure as "a morality" is probably more accurate that most people are willing to admit. And lastly, I'll quote Marcus final entry in Meditation entirely as a self-standing conclusion to Book 12, Meditations, Marcus' Life and our Book Club experiment together. > 36.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You've lived as a citizen in a great city. Five years or a hundred -- what's the difference? The laws make no distinction. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And to be sent away from it, not by a tyrant or a dishonest judge, but by Nature, who first invited you in -- why is that so terrible? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like the impresario ringing down the curtain on an actor: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But I've only gotten through three acts...!" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes. This will be a drama in three acts, the length fixed by the power that directed your creation, and now directs your dissolution. Neither was yours to determine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So make your exit with grace -- the same grace shown to you. ## Reflections Welp, it been quite a journey over the last 12 weeks. When I proposed this book club idea, I was particularly interested in whether reading Stoic philosophy would have an impact on my sense of personal initiative in life. However, there were quite a few weekends were I was directly confronted with my laziness and procrastination at writing these posts. Definitely my "when you wake up in the morning" moments of quite a number of Marcus' entries ;) If I wasn't trying to stick to a schedule and write one post each weekend, I probably would have burned through the book over the course of a week. However, as time went on, I really began to appreciate this project and weekly meditation, finding Marcus' insights more present with me, popping up in conversations in my personal life and influencing the way I reacted to certain situations. I can't say that I've noticed "more initiative" in the way I originally imagined it, but I can definitely see more surrender and relaxation into my current life circumstances, what "Nature has given to me". Perhaps the journey around initiative has been less about how to make life happen how I envision, but more accept the projects life is already offering and refine the relationship to them. From a less personal place, I really appreciated Meditations and the Stoic perspective for finding a first-class place for the individual and highlighting the importance of drawing appropriate boundaries. From a materialistic standpoint, it can be discouraging to feel like one hasn't accomplished everything they are capable of, or gotten what they want. From a more Eastern mentality, it can be difficult to grapple with meaninglessness against the magnanimity of the Universe and the Soul's journey toward "perfection". Reading Meditations, and Marcus incessant reminders to accept and take seriously the life that is in front of us, has planted some seeds for living a more practical and integrated life. I'll definitely continue to explore Stoicism and integrate its balancing perspective more deeply into my worldview. Thanks everyone for reading and contributing to the discussions. ## Participants @siggy47 @cryotosensei @carlosfandango @Bitman @gd @sudocarlos @BitByBit21 @bc52210b20 @Atreus @byzantine @davidw @Roll @grayruby @Taft @Oialt

#Hashtag testing Plaintext #hashtag #again <!--FOOTER START--> #NostrOpinion

The ([only?](https://habla.news/u/p2p@getalby.com/K3MbzaoFbjcTxNwy8PJ6e)) global p2p digital value transfer protocol requires an underlying token that represents the value that is being transferred. In a [previous consideration](https://habla.news/u/p2p@getalby.com/93397547.policy-and-the-p2p-digital-value), it was argued that the token underlying the global p2p digital value transfer protocol, has to be an attractive asset for the protocol to function. If the token is not attractive, there is no reassurance that the receiver will be able to convert the token into another valuable asset, which would make the protocol defunct. The token underlying the p2p value transfer protocol has so far more than [doubled its USD value every four years](https://buybitcoinworldwide.com/stats/4y-multiple/). This implies more than 19% USD IRR. This makes it an extremely attractive asset. Moreover, due to the halving cycle, the value increases are not uniform over time - as a result, the token has increased by a factor 10x in less than a year in some periods. This attracts people with different objectives than digitally transferring value in a p2p way. It also creates envy. It gives the token underlying the protocol the perception of being a get rich quick scheme. That is a design flaw. The p2p digital value transfer protocol would be much less frowned upon, if it would increase in USD value at a more modest pace, for example by about 5-10% per year - that would still be good enough to make token underlying the protocol sufficiently valuable to act as the value travelling the protocol - but would avoid attracting the lambo kids. Wouldn’t the silence of the lambos be much better for protocol adoption?

You can think about it as a crossbreed between Smart Contracts (DLCs) & Lightning Channels 👀 Let's see what it means for the user On a previous thread, we explained that #Bitcoin DOES handle Smart Contracts, called **DLCs** (Discreet Log Contracts). **On 10101 app, we use a very special kind of DLC protocol, codenamed DLC Channels.** The user opens a channel with our coordinator, whose role is similar to that of an LSP on Lightning, but to match trade orders in our case. https://image.nostr.build/29988a686cf15eb302d1ecf4a6cbff645ead53875a8c420009a2d7e047f301c5.jpg When a user launches the app and opens a trade for the first time, he or she is prompted to open a **DLC channel** with the coordinator. ℹ️ His side of the channel can then be compared to his "trading account" on a classic centralized exchange https://image.nostr.build/07d54c75d3cc823393f04bf0d0550200e65c60bdd64110170f89b5fc109de36a.jpg Once open, users can make a virtually infinite number of trades, with no on-chain footprint and no on-chain costs The main difference with traditional DLCs is that contracts and their outcomes are kept off-chain What changes is the distribution of capital within the channel ⚖️ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f1/72/53/f1725365d0ce141133f558119be9a4cf.gif While the user **Channel Reserve** is comparable to a trading account on an exchange, it is not totally identical: E.G. if you're doing too good, your earnings expectancy is capped by the other side of the channel, and inbound liquidity will limit the size of your positions If you're doing bad, your earnings expectancy are good, but your outbound liquidity will limit the size of your positions ℹ️ An unbalanced channel is not desirable, and you will need to open a new channel to keep trading with ease. #### Self-custodial and trustless trading comes with a cost, and tradeoffs! But we're working to make the experience better. In the future, you will be able to top up your side of the channel with 1 transaction, or request for more liquidity on the other side of the channel! **Should we keep the name DLC Channels?** Or should we call it Trading Channels in the app? Trading accounts? let us know in the comments! **Best way to wrap your head around it?** 📲 Try it for yourself! https://10101.finance/ BY THE WAY! 🎁 We charge NO fees for trading #Bitcoin perpetuals up to halving, and we share half the cost of opening a channel with you!

The question should not even surge in the first place. If it does, it is because you voluntarily decided to discharge your responsibility to a fictional entity and consequently comply and submit to specific laws in your area of operations. Of course, We, the people, we do not have any obligation to comply, nor to do any business with third parties complying with the above-mentioned regulators. But let's assume that the medium of exchange is (obviously) Bitcoin. We are responsible beings, and we do business directly without any intermediary or representative. We just are supposed to provide anything to the other party, that has more value for us than what we are asking for. Now, the problem surge when this other party wants to comply on a voluntary basis with some unauthorized authorities, asking us for some kind of paper that highlight the exchange details. You'd do business with such entities? Or you just say No, I can't do business with you? Do you provide a receipt with tax information? Or you just provide a receipt? Or you just provide the good or service and that's it? It's registering a company really needed? Or it's something for cowards and losers? I'm honestly still struggling to navigate in this open ocean and my aim for this post is to better understand how we can do business, exchange good and services, excluding the compliance factors imposed by authoritarian regulators. How we create a safe space to interact and exchange? I'd appreciate your thoughts and experiences on this topic.

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# An opportunity to share some bits of a process you embrace to achieve anything you aim to. What steps do you follow from concept to [design](https://stacker.news/~Design/r/Design_r) completion? What’s your tricks? Any useful guide or tutorial to share? Where are you now?

Opinion about Stack Wallet (android) <!--HEADER END--> Stack Wallet is an open-source, non-custodial and privacy-preserving cryptocurrency wallet. Pros: - Support tesnet, passphrases, fee and coin control, custom node, tor - It is open source Cons: - It is not bitcoin only - Missing support for advanced features like user added entropy, seedQR, taproot, multisig, miniscript - Missing hardware wallets support Version reviewed: v1.10.2 [thebitcoinhole.com](https://thebitcoinhole.com/) <!--FOOTER START--> #WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion [Join the conversation!](https://walletscrutiny.com/android/com.cypherstack.stackwallet)

Opinion about Jade (hardware) <!--HEADER END--> Blockstream Jade is a hardware wallet developed by Blockstream, designed to offer users a secure and convenient solution for storing and managing their bitcoin. Pros: - Very convenient price - A screen to verify transactions - An internal battery to use without wires - Ability to use it 100% airgapped with a QR scanner when signing transactions - Open source with reproducible builds - Support for advanced features like testnet, multisig, user added entropy, passphrase, bip-85, seedQR, fee and coin control, custom node, tor - Optional Stateless Use - Good integration with software wallets Cons: - No secure element, it uses a virtual secure element that depends of Blockstream servers - You can't update it in airgapp mode, a usb cable or bluetooth is required - The camera could be improved, is difficult to scan QRs [thebitcoinhole.com](https://thebitcoinhole.com/) <!--FOOTER START--> #WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion [Join the conversation!](https://walletscrutiny.com/hardware/blockstreamjade)

**For the Young Innovator: Your Web3 Journey Starts Here!** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzEKMQfD5G4

**After CPAP Recall, Philips Must Institute New Safeguards in Agreement With U.S. Justice Department** by Michael Korsh and Evan Robinson-Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://www.post-gazette.com/) ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories (https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=54G&placement=top-note®ion=national) as soon as they’re published. Philips Respironics must hire an independent safety monitor, undergo regular facility inspections for five years and pay part of its revenue to the federal government under the terms of an agreement with prosecutors filed in federal court in Pennsylvania, capping one of the most catastrophic medical device recalls in decades. The company will also face a review of its testing on the millions of replacement machines that it sent to customers after the old ones were recalled in 2021. The consent decree with the Justice Department (https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24534169/philips-doj-consent-decree.pdf), filed in federal court last week, comes nearly three years after Philips acknowledged that an industrial foam fitted inside its widely used sleep apnea machines and ventilators to reduce noise could degrade and release toxic particles and fumes into the masks worn by patients. A ProPublica and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation (https://www.propublica.org/article/philips-recall-machines-chemicals-of-concern) last year found the medical device giant had withheld thousands of complaints about the foam for more than a decade before warning its customers — including medically vulnerable patients such as infants and the elderly — about the dangers. The news organizations also revealed (https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/philips-respironics-cpap-defect-recall/troubled-recall.php) that a new, silicone-based foam that the company used in the replacement machines was also found to emit dangerous chemicals, including formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Though Philips maintained that the new foam was safe, scientists involved in the testing raised alarms, and the Food and Drug Administration said more tests were needed before determining if the devices pose risks to patients. The consent decree requires Philips to carry out additional tests on the silicone foam if the independent safety monitor brought on by the company determines that prior testing was inadequate. The agreement also prohibits Philips from selling all sleep apnea devices and other respiratory machines in the United States. In January, Philips disclosed that it would no longer distribute the machines in the country (https://www.propublica.org/article/philips-agrees-to-stop-selling-sleep-apnea-machines-in-us) as part of the negotiations with the Justice Department — a major shift for a company that long dominated the industry. Philips, which manufactures the devices at two plants outside Pittsburgh, is still able to export devices to other countries under the terms of the agreement. The company can also sell a select group of machines deemed “medically necessary” by the FDA inside the United States, including some ventilators, but must turn over up to 25% of the revenue to the government. The payments “are an equitable remedy and not punitive,” according to the agreement. In the consent decree, the Justice Department argued that the company had violated federal law by selling “adulterated” machines that did not comply with manufacturing requirements. The agreement was signed by Roy Jakobs, chief executive officer of Philips’ parent company, Royal Philips, headquartered in Amsterdam. The company did not admit fault. If Philips fails to abide by the agreement, the company could be forced to pay up to $20 million a year. Philips did not respond to questions about the consent decree, which still has to be approved by a judge. The company has previously said that tests on the original foam caused no “appreciable harm” to patients. And in an online video about the settlement, Chief Patient Safety and Quality Officer Steve C de Baca said the silicone-based foam in the replacement machines was also safe. Philips has “not identified any safety issues” with the replacement machines, he said, and “their use is not impacted” by the consent decree. On an informational page for customers (https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/patient-safety-and-quality/explained-philips-respironics-consent-decree?utm_id=71700000117317211&origin=7_700000002937774_71700000117317211_58700008660145292_43700079351326934&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkuqg0OaphQMVBU1HAR1VdAKVEAAYASAAEgIqSPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds), Philips said the settlement with U.S. authorities will help it “restore the business.” The company also said it has launched multiple safety reforms. The FDA said it would not comment until the settlement has been approved by the court. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. Patient safety advocates say it will take years to assess the impact of the devices on patient health. At the time of the recall, both Philips and the FDA described potential health risks including respiratory tract illnesses, headaches, nausea, and toxic and carcinogenic effects. The FDA has said it received 561 reports of deaths (https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/recalled-philips-ventilators-bipap-machines-and-cpap-machines/problems-reported-recalled-philips-ventilators-bipap-machines-and-cpap-machines#medical) reportedly associated with the degrading foam since 2021. The Post-Gazette and ProPublica previously identified reports (https://www.propublica.org/article/how-we-investigated-philips-respironics-cpap-recall) that described nearly 2,000 cases of cancer, 600 liver and kidney illnesses, and 17,000 respiratory ailments. Though the company says the foam in the recalled devices does not lead to long-term harm, the material has repeatedly tested positive for genotoxicity, the ability of a chemical to cause cells to mutate, a process that can lead to cancer. Michael Twery, former director of sleep disorders research at the National Institutes of Health, said it could be difficult for Philips to earn back the trust of its customers. “If a manufacturer misleads \[the\] FDA, how do they reestablish integrity?” he said. Do You Work For the Federal Government? ProPublica Wants To Hear From You. (https://www.propublica.org/tips/federal-workers/) https://www.propublica.org/article/after-recall-philips-must-launch-new-safeguards-in-doj-agreement

**The Influential Conservative Group Making it Harder for Idaho Districts to Fix Their Schools** by Becca Savransky (https://www.idahostatesman.com/profile/250649624), Idaho Statesman (https://www.idahostatesman.com/) This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with the Idaho Statesman (https://www.idahostatesman.com/). Sign up for Dispatches (https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/dispatches) to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. The blue and orange leaflets that arrived in Idaho Falls mailboxes ahead of the school bond election in November 2022 looked like the usual fare that voters across the country get. Sent out by the school district, the mailers encouraged people in the eastern Idaho city to register to vote and listed bullet points highlighting what the bond would pay for. But the mailers, along with other materials the district distributed, would lead the county prosecutor’s office to fine the superintendent and the district’s spokesperson, accusing them of violating election law by using taxpayer money to advocate for the bond measure. According to the prosecutor, it was illegal for district officials to describe the schools as “overcrowded” and “aged” or to say that students “need modern, safe, and secure schools.” Such penalties were made possible by a 2018 state law (https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title74/t74ch6/) originally pushed by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a conservative lobbying group that has become a big player in Idaho Republican politics. The foundation has stoked hostility toward public education across the state, pushing book bans in school libraries and accusing districts of indoctrinating students with “woke” ideas like critical race theory. But unlike groups in other states, the Freedom Foundation has extended its reach by targeting school bond and levy elections, which have traditionally been local issues and are the main ways districts build and repair schools. The county prosecutor said these mailers that used the word “overcrowded” violated an election law that had been pushed by the Idaho Freedom Foundation. (Obtained by ProPublica and Idaho Statesman) Over the past year, the Idaho Statesman and ProPublica have reported on how many Idaho students learn in poor conditions, in part, because the state has one of the most restrictive policies in the nation: It is one of two states that require two-thirds of voters to approve a bond. Lawmakers recently passed legislation to invest $1.5 billion in new funding for school facilities (https://www.propublica.org/article/idaho-legislature-approves-funding-for-school-repairs) and proposed a ballot initiative to lower the voting threshold during elections that typically have high turnout. But those measures wouldn’t change the 2018 election integrity law. School bond supporters said they agree taxpayer money shouldn’t be used to campaign for ballot measures, but they said the interpretation of the law has restricted the ability of school district officials to explain to their communities why the measures are needed, making passing bonds more difficult. Since the law was passed, the Freedom Foundation and those with similar positions have publicly accused at least four school districts of improperly advocating for bonds and levies. In the other cases, prosecutors have not moved forward with fines. Many states prohibit school districts from taking sides in bond elections to prevent public agencies from using taxpayer dollars to influence elections, and some laws include fines. A similar situation is playing out in Texas, where the attorney general sued several school districts (https://www.edweek.org/leadership/advocacy-or-electioneering-education-leaders-walk-fine-line-in-school-voucher-debate/2024/03) over concerns that administrations were electioneering for candidates, measures or political parties. Generally, however, the laws allow school districts to educate voters. Idaho’s, for example, specifically permits providing information about the cost, purpose and property conditions in a “factually neutral manner.” But there is a lot of gray area between educating and advocating. Don Lifto, a former Minnesota superintendent who consults for school districts running tax elections, said it’s rare for school administrators to be fined. “I think this was a pretty strict and conservative interpretation of the statute,” he said. Under most state laws, he said, it would be hard to argue that saying students “need modern, safe, and secure schools” is a violation. A former transportation office was converted into classrooms because of overcrowding at Idaho Falls High School. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman) A conservative anti-tax tilt has long defined Idaho, well before the Freedom Foundation launched in 2009. Since then, it has become the leading voice against public education in Idaho. Its lobbying arm, Idaho Freedom Action, was the top spender (https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article263071973.html) on Facebook ads before the last statewide primary election in 2022. “They monitor every single vote, and then they really go after people that don’t vote in alignment with them. And I can tell you just from being around the Legislature that a lot of legislators are afraid of them,” said Rod Gramer, the president and CEO of Idaho Business for Education, a group of business leaders focused on improving public schools. “They’ve made it very clear that they want to defund education and privatize education.” (The Statesman is a member of Idaho Business for Education.) Superintendents, school board trustees and community members in at least half a dozen school districts said in interviews that the Freedom Foundation’s arguments have spread across the state, with local advocates frequently parroting its talking points during board and bond elections. At the Capitol, the Freedom Foundation’s legislative index has become the authority for some lawmakers when deciding how to vote on bills. Unlike typical lobbying report cards, the group’s elaborate ranking system assigns positive or negative points to each bill, serving as a regular reminder for lawmakers that any step outside the group’s platform could cost them. “There’s some legislators who follow that religiously and just look at those notes and see how to vote,” said Sen. Rod Furniss, a Republican from Rigby in East Idaho. Late last year, the local Republican committees in Idaho Falls cited the group’s scores when it decided to investigate six Republican lawmakers because of their votes on certain bills, including education spending bills. Some lawmakers were censured, although they defended their voting records. Ron Nate, the president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, declined to comment and did not answer written questions. The Freedom Foundation has called the index an “objective measure” of how legislators vote on the “principles of freedom and limited government.” “Score well, and your political profile is good; score low, and you have some explaining to do,” Nate wrote in 2023 (https://idahofreedom.org/the-power-of-the-idaho-freedom-index/). The Freedom Foundation also said that the Idaho Falls case deserved “significantly worse consequences” (https://idahofreedom.org/school-districts-like-idaho-falls-91-should-be-held-accountable-for-electioneering/) but that the election integrity bill had been watered down by education groups before passing. They’ve made it very clear that they want to defund education and privatize education. —Rod Gramer, president of Idaho Business for Education The high bond threshold and low voter turnout can allow well-funded interest groups like the Freedom Foundation to have significant influence, said John Rumel, a University of Idaho law professor. “There’s a relatively small number of people that they need to convince to change the outcome in those elections,” he said. Even with a high turnout in a general election year, the 2022 bond measure in Idaho Falls failed despite getting 58% of the vote. The fallout for the district didn’t end with the election. A week before, a complaint was filed with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s office, and three days later, the Freedom Foundation called for the district (https://idahofreedom.org/school-districts-like-idaho-falls-91-should-be-held-accountable-for-electioneering/) to be “held accountable for electioneering.” In the end, the district said, the case cost $54,000 in legal fees. The Rise of the Freedom Foundation The Freedom Foundation’s mission is to “defeat Marxism and socialism” with principles of “limited government, free markets and self-reliance,” according to its website. As broad as that sounds, early on, the group set its sights on bond and levy elections, which intersected with two of the group’s focus areas, taxes and public schools. In 2010, its founder, Wayne Hoffman, wrote an editorial in the Statesman decrying the city of Boise for spending money to educate voters on a ballot measure and warned of what he thought could happen next. “What happens if Idaho’s 115 school districts decide that it is their job to help ‘educate’ Idahoans on the two-thirds majority needed to pass a school bond?” Hoffman wrote. “If government agencies across Idaho start to follow Boise’s lead, taxpayers — and freedom — don’t stand a chance.” In 2014, the Freedom Foundation argued on its website that school districts had too many chances to hold bond and levy elections (https://idahofreedom.org/idahos-consolidated-elections-arent-consolidated-enough/) and called for the Legislature to limit them to once every two years. Since then, the Legislature has eliminated two election dates school districts could use each year. Hoffman declined to comment and referred the Statesman to Nate. In 2017, the foundation pushed for a strict (https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2017/legislation/H0134/)election integrity law (https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2017/legislation/H0134/). That version would have banned any mass communication or mailers leading up to the election, only allowing notices to be posted online or in the newspaper stating the election date, the bond’s impact on residents’ taxes and a “neutral and concise explanation” of what it would do. A public official who violated the law could be charged with a misdemeanor, fined up to $1,000 and sentenced to up to six months in jail. And the election result could be voided. In part, the legislation grew out of a state Supreme Court case that barred public entities from promoting bonds but provided few guidelines. Several key education groups sent a letter to Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian, who sponsored the legislation, with concerns that it would create a “heckler’s veto” to invalidate elections and have “a serious, chilling effect for anyone working in the public sphere to speak out on relative policy issues.” A compromise bill in 2018 still banned advocating but specifically allowed districts and local governments to provide information in a “factually neutral manner.” It removed criminal charges, and the penalties were lowered to a $250 fine, though they rose if someone knowingly violated the law. While some lawmakers raised concerns that the law’s language would inhibit school officials from knowing what they could say, education stakeholders thought the bill provided more clarity, and it passed in the Legislature overwhelmingly. In the years since, as the education culture wars have heated up, the Freedom Foundation has again positioned itself at the center. The group started publishing a map (https://idahofreedom.org/lead-map/) that promises to reveal “if your school district is indoctrinating students with leftist nonsense,” like having gay-straight alliance clubs or asking students their pronouns. The map also includes diversity, equity and inclusion personnel; test scores; and superintendent salaries. We were passive about the elections. And it came back to bite us. —Candy Turner, one of the organizers of the recall effort Last year, exhibiting the reach of the group’s influence, Branden Durst, a former Freedom Foundation analyst, was picked to be the superintendent of the West Bonner School District in North Idaho. Durst did not have the required experience in the classroom for the job, according to the State Board of Education. The trustees who hired him worried about a curriculum that included “social emotional learning.” The appointment and the board’s decision to toss the educational program led two trustees to be recalled. And after the public outcry, Durst submitted a letter that said he’d decided to step aside, and the board accepted it as his resignation. Durst declined to comment. Organizers of the recall effort said that low voter turnout and a lack of involvement in recent years had fostered an environment that allowed the Freedom Foundation to take hold. “We were passive about the elections,” said Candy Turner, one of the organizers. “And it came back to bite us.” The Fallout in Idaho Falls In May 2023, when Idaho Falls administrators learned the prosecutor was fining two district officials under the election law, the board felt the district had done nothing wrong. It had educated the public on the $250 million bond to build a new high school and two elementary schools, along with other repairs — and it had ultimately failed. Superintendent Karla LaOrange, who joined the district after the complaint was filed, said the district thought if it paid the fines, which came to $375 in total, it would signal to the community that it was admitting guilt. So the district, known as D91, spent the money to fight. Lisa Keller of D91 Taxpayers, a group that opposed the bond effort, said the group was not responsible for filing the complaint, though she and its members had concerns about the materials. She said community members worried about losing their homes due to the increase in taxes from the bond, which was the largest the district had ever run. She described the district’s plan for a new school as wanting to construct a Taj Mahal. First image: The door frame of a shed classroom has a gap that lets in cold air and moisture. Second image: Some students complain about gaps in bathroom stalls and a lack of privacy dividers between urinals at Idaho Falls High School. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman) The formal allegation, however, came from Larry Lyon, a local resident who helped fund the political action committee behind D91 Taxpayers, with the help of Brian Stutzman, another nearby resident who has been involved in tax issues statewide, according to campaign finance records and the complaint obtained through a public records request. The Freedom Foundation had alleged the district violated the law (https://idahofreedom.org/school-districts-like-idaho-falls-91-should-be-held-accountable-for-electioneering/) in a website post days before the election, and D91 Taxpayers shared the post (https://www.facebook.com/d91taxpayers/posts/pfbid033uWjnKTkwkzd9pmE4mFrmo43pN5QZvSg5hYjnJB6zg6Np2YFfFnTMrLb45aHAeP7l) on its Facebook page. Lyon said in a message he filed the complaint because he was “sincerely concerned” the district “crossed the line from simply presenting facts to advocating for higher taxes with public funds.” He said he was confident the prosecutor’s office would “be fair to everyone involved.” Stutzman said he and others had raised their concerns with the district but felt like the superintendent wasn’t taking them seriously. Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal said he had no choice but to move forward with the complaint because he thought it was a clear violation. In an interview, he went through the district’s mailers to explain the problematic language. Instead of saying “overcrowded,” the district could have said the school was built for a certain number of students and that it now served more. “What I can’t do is say, ‘We need to replace the school because it’s overcrowded.’ That’s advocating for the bond,” he said. Neal said the district ignored its own legal advice, citing a memo from Idaho law firm Hawley Troxell that warned the “most questionable actions” happen when districts explain the “‘need’ for the new facilities” and said “crowding issues or age of facilities” may be better for others to talk about. Hawley Troxell and the school district didn’t respond to requests for comment about the memo. Erin Bingham, one of the leading supporters of the bond effort, said she felt like Neal was associated with D91 Taxpayers and the Freedom Foundation. She called the complaint “frivolous” and a “waste of time and taxpayers’ money.” “I feel like it creates a precedent that if they don’t fight it,” these groups will continue to file complaints against the school district during bond elections, she said. Neal denied taking action for political reasons or being affiliated with any advocacy groups. “I have no dog in the fight,” he said. “I don’t have children. This isn’t the school district I live in. I don’t know any of these people.” The district’s decision to fight the fines bred even more distrust with D91 Taxpayers, which said the district was wasting money on legal bills. “What a breach of public trust, to fight the county prosecutor with my money, paying their lawyers with my money,” Keller told the Statesman and ProPublica. “This is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.” The district eventually settled the complaint. The total fine was lowered to $250, and the case was dismissed. What I can’t do is say, ‘We need to replace the school because it’s overcrowded.’ That’s advocating for the bond. —Randy Neal, Bonneville County prosecutor The prosecutor’s action, though, has had a chilling effect across the community and state, education stakeholders say. “It’s panic I’ve heard for sure,” said Quinn Perry of the Idaho School Boards Association. ISBA, along with two other education groups, wrote an opinion piece (https://magicvalley.com/opinion/guest-opinion-to-preserve-education-we-must-address-school-district-needs/article_1ecdf95c-6dec-11ee-8cff-03e4e1835cd1.html) last year noting that the Legislature has been making it increasingly difficult for school districts and local governments to run measures that raise taxes. If simply communicating a need is interpreted as advocacy, “we are not sure that school districts can sustain their operations or ever build a new school,” the groups wrote. “Perhaps that is the point.” Idaho Falls board chair Hillary Radcliffe said district officials may feel they can’t speak as “frankly” about what’s going on because it could be construed as advocacy. “They have to be very, very limited in what they’re saying,” she said. “It makes it hard sometimes for our community to fully grasp some of the issues we have going on in our schools.” Republican Sen. Dave Lent, who represents Idaho Falls and chairs the Senate Education Committee, said Neal took the law too far. “It’s an aggressive interpretation by our prosecuting attorney,” said Lent, a former Idaho Falls school board member. “You have to educate people as to the why. And if you’re not allowed to tell them the why, your hands are tied.” The district has been grappling with how to fix its schools, with narrowing options and intense opposition and distrust from community members and groups like the Freedom Foundation. The hallways of Idaho Falls schools are still overcrowded, and administrators worry about projected growth. The bathrooms regularly have to be closed at the district’s Skyline High School because the plumbing is failing, administrators said. Students with disabilities are crammed into small classrooms with doorways that barely fit wheelchairs. Idaho Falls High School was built for 900 students but now serves about 1,250, administrators said. Between periods, hundreds of students rush out of their classrooms, walk down narrow staircases and push to get to their classes on time. Students eat lunch on the floor because the cafeteria accommodates only about 200 students, fewer than even the number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Classrooms flood, as does the athletic field. After heavy rains last spring, Bingham said, “the kids were skipping rocks across it.” The athletic field at Idaho Falls High School flooded after heavy rains in spring 2023. (Courtesy of Brooke Bushman) **Update, April 9, 2024:** This story has been updated to include a response from Brian Stutzman. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-influential-group-disrupting-efforts-to-fix-idaho-schools

**New Utah Law Prioritizes Child Safety in Custody Courts** by Michael Squires (https://www.propublica.org/people/michael-squires) ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches (https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/dispatches?source=54G&placement=top-note®ion=local), a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week. During the 14 years Leah Moses fought her ex-husband for custody of their two children, she repeatedly warned the court that he was abusive. It was a tough sell: Moses, a midwife, sometimes acted as her own attorney; her ex-husband, Parth Gandhi, was a psychologist who hired experts to persuade the Utah court that Moses’ allegations were a ruse to estrange him from the children. Getting nowhere, Moses turned to the Utah Legislature. She believed things might change if judges were required to consider evidence of family violence in their custody decisions, and if expert witnesses had actually dealt firsthand with abuse victims. The Legislature adjourned in 2023 without acting on a proposal to reform how the state handles custody cases. Months later, Moses’ ex-husband shot and killed their 16-year-old son Om (https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/05/15/father-son-found-dead-salt-lake/) at Gandhi’s Salt Lake City clinic, then turned the weapon on himself. At the time, Gandhi had full custody of Om. Rather than retreat into grief, Moses returned to the Capitol to again call for change. This time, lawmakers passed legislation (https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0272.html), signed into law last month by Gov. Spencer Cox, codifying parts of the federal Violence Against Women Act. It mandates, among other things, that judges deciding custody first consider risks to the child’s safety. (The law previously only said they could consider evidence of violence.) “I wish it had been done for me, that these protections had been in place a year earlier,” Moses told ProPublica. “My personal hope is that no more children die as a result of being in custody cases — that decision makers recognize violence much sooner and give kids a chance.” The legislation follows ProPublica’s reporting on Utah courts’ handling of custody cases involving allegations of violence (https://www.propublica.org/series/parental-alienation). That reporting showed judges had in two instances ordered children to participate in so-called reunification therapy with fathers who had been accused of abusing them. Both fathers have denied the abuse allegations and responded by accusing their ex-wives of parental alienation (https://www.propublica.org/article/parental-alienation-and-its-use-in-family-court), a disputed theory in which one parent is accused of brainwashing a child to turn them against the other parent. In one case, a boy who accused his father of sexually abusing him barricaded himself, along with his sister, inside a bedroom in their mother’s home (https://www.propublica.org/article/parental-alienation-utah-livestream-siblings) to avoid going to a Texas reunification program with their dad. In another, two brothers were ordered to attend the same Texas program with their dad (https://www.propublica.org/article/family-reunification-camps-kids-allege-more-abuse), whom they said had abused them. When they refused to take part in the therapy, their bedding, food and clothing were confiscated, according to court testimony, and they were prohibited by court order from contacting their mother for months. Under the new Utah law, courts can only require treatments that have been shown to be effective, and it prohibits therapies that separate children from a parent to whom they are bonded (provided the parent does not pose a threat to their safety). “Any type of reunification therapy has to have proof of safety and effectiveness,” said state Rep. Paul A. Cutler (https://house.utleg.gov/rep/CUTLEP/), a Republican and co-sponsor of the legislation, known as HB 272 (https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0272.html). “No more sending kids out of state to some unknown camp run by uncredentialed people — can’t do that anymore — only proven therapeutic treatments by professionals.” State Sen. Michael K. McKell, the bill’s other co-sponsor (https://house.utleg.gov/rep/MCKELMK/) and a practicing attorney, said in his experience the same attorneys often work with the same experts to counter abuse allegations by citing parental alienation. “I can predict who the custody evaluator will be based on who the attorney is, and I hope that stops,” McKell, a Republican, said. “Courts are going to have to be more careful about who they allow to opine on custody.” Proponents of the bill said most resistance to it came from divorce attorneys. The law requires expert witnesses to be qualified and credentialed and to have experience working with abuse victims. Utah courts will also be required to train judges and other court personnel to better recognize domestic violence and address child safety in custody cases. “Courts are doing a poor job in these cases,” said Danielle Pollack, policy manager at the National Family Violence Law Center (https://www.law.gwu.edu/national-family-violence-law-center) at George Washington University’s law school. Pollack, who provided technical assistance to proponents of the Utah legislation, said the training will help judges recognize experts on family violence. Utah is the second state, after Colorado (https://www.propublica.org/article/colorado-limits-court-use-of-family-reunification-camps), to pass legislation that adopts nearly all provisions of the federal Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence Act (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1620/text#toc-H6EDA4A7B37F649DDA76160A44E61B3BF), or Kayden’s Law, Pollack said. (Other states, including California, have enacted portions of the law.) “What this does is it puts child safety as the first priority of custody,” Cutler said of Utah’s law. “It prioritizes the child’s safety over the parents’ rights to manipulate their children for their own use.” Advocates said they were heartened that now a red state, Utah, and a blue state, Colorado, have embraced the reforms. Pollack attributed the success in Utah to ProPublica and other news organizations drawing attention to the problem, and to parents like Moses who shared their personal struggles to draw attention to family violence and protect their children. After the murder of her son, Moses said she felt a moral obligation to continue pushing for the law. “In endless hearings in my case there was every indication of violence,” Moses said. “The most disappointing thing is that I could not get the system to pay attention to the violence against me and my family.” Hannah Dreyfus contributed reporting. https://www.propublica.org/article/new-utah-law-prioritizes-child-safety-in-custody-courts

**One of these concept lunar vehicles could join NASA’s Artemis V astronauts on the moon** Three companies are vying for the opportunity to send their own lunar vehicle to the moon to support NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions. The space agency announced (https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-companies-to-advance-moon-mobility-for-artemis-missions/) this week that it’s chosen Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab to develop their lunar terrain vehicles (LTV) in a feasibility study over the next year. After that, only one is expected to be selected for a demonstration mission, in which the vehicle will be completed and sent to the moon for performance and safety tests. NASA is planning to use the LTV starting with the Artemis V crew that’s projected to launch in early 2030. The LTV that eventually heads to the moon’s south pole needs to function as both a crewed and uncrewed vehicle, serving sometimes as a mode of transportation for astronauts and other times as a remotely operated explorer. NASA says it’ll contract the chosen vehicle for lunar services through 2039, with all the task orders relating to the LTV amounting to a potential value of up to $4.6 billion. The selected company will also be able to use its LTV for commercial activities in its down time.  Lunar Outpost  Astrolab Intuitive Machines, which will be developing an LTV called the Moon Racer, has already bagged multiple contracts with NASA as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, and in February launched its first lander (https://www.engadget.com/intuitive-machines-is-taking-its-shot-at-nailing-the-first-commercial-moon-landing-170024349.html), Odysseus, to the moon to achieve the first commercial moon landing (https://www.engadget.com/the-odysseus-spacecraft-has-become-the-first-us-spacecraft-to-land-on-the-moon-in-50-years-010041179.html). Venturi Astrolab will be developing a vehicle it’s dubbed Flex, while Lunar Outpost will be working on an LTV called Lunar Dawn. All must be able to support a crew of two astronauts and withstand the extreme conditions of the lunar south pole. “We will use the LTV to travel to locations we might not otherwise be able to reach on foot, increasing our ability to explore and make new scientific discoveries,” said Jacob Bleacher, a chief exploration scientist at NASA. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/one-of-these-concept-lunar-vehicles-could-join-nasas-artemis-v-astronauts-on-the-moon-202448277.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/one-of-these-concept-lunar-vehicles-could-join-nasas-artemis-v-astronauts-on-the-moon-202448277.html?src=rss

**Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro are back on sale for $190** Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLUdlbmVyYXRpb24tQ2FuY2VsbGluZy1UcmFuc3BhcmVuY3ktUGVyc29uYWxpemVkL2RwL0IwQ0hXUlhIOEIvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWQ1LTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJkMmU3OTE3My0zMjY1LTQ4YjktOGViNy04NjJkNjU5NTUzZGQifQ&signature=AQAAAdTlAAy5xPhMIeOInH8dyYJTRY9Rb-7PETGcRtycsEDi&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-Generation-Cancelling-Transparency-Personalized%2Fdp%2FB0CHWRXH8B%2F) have dipped to under $200 in a deal from Amazon. The AirPods Pro, which normally cost $250, are $60 off right now, bringing the price down to just $190. That’s the same price we saw during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. The AirPods Pro offer a number of premium features over the standard AirPods, including active noise cancellation for when you want to shut out the world, and an impressive transparency mode for when you want to hear your surroundings. The second-generation AirPods Pro came out in 2022 and brought Apple’s H2 chip to the earbuds for a notable performance boost. It offers Adaptive Audio, which will automatically switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode based on what’s going on around you. With Conversation Awareness, they can lower the volume when you’re speaking and make it so other people's voices are easier to hear. We gave this version of the AirPods Pro a review score of 88 (https://www.engadget.com/airpods-pro-review-second-generation-130048218-130048292.html), and it’s one of our picks for the best wireless earbuds (https://www.engadget.com/best-wireless-earbuds-120058222.html) on the market. The second-generation AirPods Pro are dust, sweat and water resistant, so they should hold up well for workouts, and they achieve better battery life than the previous generation. They can get about six hours of battery life with features like ANC enabled, and that goes up to as much as 30 hours with the charging case. Apple says popping the AirPods Pro in the case for 5 minutes will give you an hour of additional listening or talking time. AirPods Pro also offer Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking for more immersive listening while you’re watching TV or movies. The gesture controls that were introduced with this generation of the earbuds might take some getting used to, though. With AirPods Pro, you can adjust the volume by swiping the touch control. _Follow__@EngadgetDeals_ (https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals) _on Twitter and__subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter_ (https://subscription.yahoo.net/Newsletter/Preference/sub?b=engadgetdeals&src) _for the latest tech deals and buying advice._ This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-second-generation-airpods-pro-are-back-on-sale-for-190-142626914.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/apples-second-generation-airpods-pro-are-back-on-sale-for-190-142626914.html?src=rss

**Solar Eclipse 2024: How to watch and record the total eclipse on Monday** **Weather Update, April 7, 4:00 AM ET:** The weather forecast in the story below still largely holds, but things are more unsettled in the southern US, with forecasts now calling for thunderstorms from Dallas (https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/dallas/75202/weather-forecast/351194?city=dallas) up to Indianapolis (https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/indianapolis/46204/weather-forecast/348323?city=indianapolis). So, keep that potential danger in mind (and keep an eye on forecasts) when making eclipse plans. Elsewhere, the best chance of good viewing along the path of totality is still in northeastern parts (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2024/04/06/solar-eclipse-2024-heres-the-latest-forecast-for-stormy-skies/72868948007/) of the US (Buffalo, NY, Burlington, VT), along with southeast Canada (Niagara Falls and Montreal), according to _Accuweather_ (https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/montreal/h3a/weather-forecast/56186?city=montreal). In the Midwest (Cleveland), there's a higher chance of rain than before (58 percent), but no storms currently predicted. _Original story continues below_ On April 8, a solar eclipse (https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/) will darken the skies. This is a rare astronomical event: The last North American total solar eclipse was on August 21, 2017, and there won't be another on visible on the continent until 2044. The path of totality — where the sun will be fully blocked by the moon — covers over 30 million people in the US, Canada and Mexico. Those lucky folks may see the sun’s corona and a “diamond ring” — both dramatic sights. Other regions will experience partial eclipses, with the level depending on how close you are to totality. Watching the moon eat into the sun, even a bit, is still a spectacular sight. So, which cities and regions will experience totality, and when? What’s the weather forecast in those areas? And if you do have a clear view, how can you safely watch and record the event? Where in the US will you experience the solar eclipse totality, and when? The good news is that many major centers are in the 100-mile-wide band of totality, so millions of people will be able to see a full solar eclipse. It follows a northeast path, so Mexico’s Pacific coast will get the first views in Mazatlan starting at around 10:57 AM PDT (total eclipse starting at 12:07 PDT), followed by the city of Torreón (all times local). The total eclipse moves into the United states at 12:10 PM CDT (Eagle Pass, Texas), then hits Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas — three out of five of the most populous Texas cities. From there, it moves into Little Rock, Arkansas, followed by select parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana (including Indianapolis).  NASA Ohio cities Dayton, Toledo and Cleveland get the full show, followed by Erie, Pennsylvania, then Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse in New York along with Maine. Canada is in on the fun too, with parts of southern Ontario (Hamilton, Niagara Falls) and Quebec (Montreal) getting the totality, along with New Brunswick, PEI and finally, Bonavista, Labrador at 4:03 PM NDT (Newfoundland Time). If you’re elsewhere on the continent and can’t travel, know that the closer you are to the band of totality, the more the sun will be obscured by the moon (this map (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53c358b6e4b01b8adb4d5870/467639a7-320a-49b9-945c-84c53225f13b/tse2024_print_map_11x17_social.jpg?format%3D2500w&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553980207&usg=AOvVaw03R4-aJ2UapTyji28qGvvv) shows how much of the eclipse you’ll get depending where you are on the continent). An impressive list of major centers are within 200 miles of totality, so they’ll get a 90 percent or better eclipse (Houston, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Toronto, New York, Boston). Anyone in the US south, midwest and northeast should get a decent spectacle, as will folks in Canada’s southeast and Atlantic coast. Even if you’re not in those regions, you might still see (and can capture) a mini eclipse. How long with the 2024 solar eclipse last? From the beginning when the moon first starts to cover the sun (partial eclipse) until the end when the two bodies part ways is a good long time – up to two hours and forty minutes in Dallas, and 2:18 in Caribou, Maine. However, totality itself is brief, with the duration dependent on how close you are to the center of the totality band and the time of day. It’s at just under four minutes in Dallas, less than three minutes in Presque Island, Maine and a mere minute and 12 seconds in Montreal. As such, you’ll need to be ready and hope that the skies are clear during that brief window. What’s the weather forecast in my area? It’s still early for an accurate forecast, but a week is enough to get a general idea by region. Suffice to say, April isn’t the ideal month for clear skies. That said, an eclipse can still be visible through light cloud cover, and even if it’s thick, the sky will grow dramatically dark. Unfortunately, the odds of precipitation are indeed above average (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2024/03/29/2024-solar-eclipse-updates-cloud-forecast-10-days/72866284007/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553981515&usg=AOvVaw0DjMy_f7xRaU5xaw5v_UmI) across most of the band of the eclipse. Forecasts predict that the chances for clear skies are better the farther northeast you live, the opposite of historical trends. To wit, Dallas has showers forecast throughout the day (58 percent), which would mean continuous cloud cover and no clear view if that holds. That improves a bit when you get to Indianapolis (partly cloudy, 24 percent chance of rain), with things better still in Buffalo, New York (partly cloudy, 11 percent). Things are looking good right now in Montreal, though, with mostly sunny skies and only a 9 percent chance of rain, and the same goes for Fredericton, New Brunswick. Niagara Falls also figures to have decent weather during the eclipse (mostly sunny, 18 percent) and is in the path of totality, which has led to the city declaring a state of emergency (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://globalnews.ca/news/10392024/solar-eclipse-state-of-emergency-niagara-region/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553982239&usg=AOvVaw1mCLah8RZxY0JcR0e4VWLr) out of caution. Officials estimate that a million people could pour into the area, creating potentially dangerous crowds. How can I watch the solar eclipse at home? Staring at the sun is obviously dangerous for your vision, and doing so during an eclipse can be just as harmful. Even though you may not feel discomfort immediately, you may damage your eyes via an affliction called solar retinopathy (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/solar-retinopathy&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553982721&usg=AOvVaw1yv3mUhJSkkX-mQciaJPDt). That can lead to serious consequences like eye pain, blind spots, blurred vision and more.  American Astronomical Society To view it safely, you must purchase a pair of approved solar eclipse glasses based on an international safety standard called ISO 12312-2 (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso12312-2&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553983211&usg=AOvVaw0M_0AS9XmD1QXbWuv5PHCe) (regular sunglasses won’t do). That dictates the maximum luminous transmittance, along with the range of permissible wavelength transmittance (UVA, UVB and infrared). There’s certainly still time to grab a pair if you don’t have them already. The American Astronomical Societ (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553983513&usg=AOvVaw1LGICsIYWWie0qFCxN57Wt)y (AAS) has many recommendations for manufacturers and vendors, both online and at retail chains. Warby Parker, for one, is offering free glasses (limit two per person while supplies last). You can also find them at Staples, Lowes and Walmart, or online at B&H and multiple science and astronomy stores. The AAS advises against searching for the lowest price on Amazon or eBay, however, in case you get a bad knock off. “Before you buy a solar viewer or filter online, we recommend that you make sure that (1) the seller is identified on the site and (2) the seller is listed on this page (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553983995&usg=AOvVaw30h96LGiUHxmFwE5qhJZAf),” it says on its Solar Eclipse Across America site. How to watch the solar eclipse safely without glasses Canadian Space Agency It’s possible to view an eclipse without glasses via indirect means, as well. The simplest way is by punching a small round hole in a piece of thick paper or cardboard, then positioning it so the sun shines through the hole onto the ground or a flat surface (you can also attach a piece of foil with a hole, as NASA shows here (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553984572&usg=AOvVaw3ijP00Tf_XJ33VWzgrS7vY)). That will project an image of the Sun's disc, letting you see the eclipse in real time. The same pinhole principle would let you use anything with perforated holes, like a colander, projecting dozens of tiny eclipses on a surface. Trees can do the same thing, casting weird leaf shadows with little solar eclipse chunks out of them.  Benjamin Seigh/Wikimedia For a bit better experience, you can build a crude box projector. With that, the sun shines through a hole in tin foil onto a white card, and you can look through a larger hole at the card, with the sun behind you. The Canadian Space Agency explains exactly how to make that (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/youth-educators/activities/fun-experiments/eclipse-projector.asp&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553985163&usg=AOvVaw23krvSzhRW8mnVwAXClUpi). Never, ever view an eclipse directly through a pair of binoculars or a telescope, as that’s a guaranteed way to damage your eyes. That said, you can use a pair of binoculars or a telescope to _project_ the sun onto a piece of paper, as shown in this video (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DfCnZlH4-6Go&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553985578&usg=AOvVaw1mnuwAQgPwPe1GuZMtZEae). How to take photos or video of the solar eclipse Unfortunately, you can’t just point your smartphone or camera at the sun to record the eclipse, as the brightness will overwhelm the sensor and ruin the image (and possibly damage the sensor). Luckily, you can shield your camera just as you do your eyes. The cheapest way to do that is to buy an extra set of eclipse glasses, then cut out an eyepiece from one and tape it over the smartphone (or other camera) lens. That will reduce the light levels enough to see detail in the sun throughout the partial eclipse and totality. You can also purchase dedicated smartphone solar filters like the VisiSolar Photo Filter (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Smartphone-Solar-Imaging-Enhancing-Photo/dp/B0CFBX3KNN/ref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553986503&usg=AOvVaw1O82t5taMnjw7mJE3IvC0k), which are designed for cameras and not direct viewing. Another choice is the Solar Snap Eclipse App (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Snap-Eclipse-App-Photography/dp/B0CBQH1LDQ/ref%3Dsr_1_3&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553986758&usg=AOvVaw035K_41ZDTAIdAuKXdQfph) Kit, which also offers an app that aids in photographing the eclipsed sun. It’s advisable to also wear solar glasses when setting up your smartphone or camera to protect your eyes. If you’re shooting the eclipse with a dedicated mirrorless or DSLR camera, you’ll need (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/solar-photography-filters/ci/34576&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553987072&usg=AOvVaw336v06nMPKdXhw1o-Ul9bR) either a mylar, 16-stop ND (neutral density) or hydrogen alpha solar filter. Again, do not look directly into a DSLR’s optical viewfinder at the sun if the lens doesn’t have one of those filters attached (the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless camera is safe). To photograph the eclipse with a smartphone, turn the flash off and put the camera into ultrawide or wide mode so it stays in frame. Do NOT look directly at the sun to line up your camera if you’re not wearing solar eclipse glasses. Don’t use the digital zoom to try to make the eclipse bigger, as you’ll lose resolution (you can zoom in later in your photo editing app). Once focus is set on the sun, use your smartphone’s focus lock feature so that it doesn’t “hunt” for focus and blur the eclipse. During totality, the “diamond ring” effect only lasts a split second, so use the burst mode of your camera or you’ll likely miss the shot. And try to capture RAW (rather than JPEG) images to keep the maximum detail possible for later editing. Some iPhone and Android smartphones have RAW capability built-in, if not, you can use a third-party app. If you decide to capture video, you’ll need a filter as well, of course. But you should also use a tripod, as shooting handheld will induce blur and result in a shaky video. Even a cheap tripod (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Lightweight-Camera-Mount-Tripod/dp/B00XI87KV8/ref%3Dsr_1_3?crid%3DB2EPHKSX6AZW%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JJHQQ7uMdPhJvfWQbYJVuyuHeR34Ac1cnqT7YFddWYc3fznjh1SEmiymp4LLdqF4EGEGHNRJlVIVogOCCejapGPe7bFD4325Ezn3OMHMijHGndESNPH1Y55VIvAfSG_TYbe2QzV-L3sLXR6PBKnYBuFnnmbOFW3mRHPu3l42H2Q-bOREzFasrh7mA24dRG2ijSwGmZzoylCsmZkJAhLsJ6UOQGXlCw2Ud8J5C7rKQs4.TVxKJHVdFAO4SwOKjad-QeEiqimefTg0vBal2lxTPuM%26dib_tag%3Dse%26keywords%3Damazon%252Btripod%26qid%3D1711814607%26sprefix%3Damazon%252Btripod%252Caps%252C159%26sr%3D8-3%26th%3D1&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553987964&usg=AOvVaw0E3LtHX1DQqklUh4U3jtmZ) will do the trick, along with a simple smartphone holder (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/SharingMoment-Smartphone-Horizontal-Rotatable-Adjustable/dp/B07S8TTH34/ref%3Dsr_1_3?crid%3D22AIUKEIPI6JQ%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.c1JZ1Df5HkgWOGy32ZEN4PG5jNGZlZp0pkVo7jeN2V_wK2Rs-eT_Q0NUxT6G80kHxs92USia2NyWH4pfInqfplRqN5mLPL9zhyEU9tP_X5EF_YjPpSN6o3DMv0vbxgIDJg4A3TpzBhjR4ZgsKTA3D07rZv50xWqwbm1aFzAiKkxEVaD1KCABTsaKZvGcV9CyB__zX2Q3v59YO645dFt9VfFSpnETNWHHcMqRmFDkrYc.w7hvwDxx6DIpf8kdh-STDCXt1nXO1VOGSGlgI1XhRPY%26dib_tag%3Dse%26keywords%3Dtripod%2Bsmartphone%2Bholder%26qid%3D1711814653%26sprefix%3Dtripod%2Bsmartphone%2Bholder%252Caps%252C166%26sr%3D8-3&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553988330&usg=AOvVaw0Tv10KB5Am9DQ3Pj3o6M45). Capture the highest resolution you can (4K or even 8K) at the highest quality possible. You’ll also capture any cheering, shouting, etc. — a precious souvenir you can look back on again and again. More resources There are plenty of government and private sites with more information about the eclipse, starting with the AAS’s eclipse site (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eclipse.aas.org/totality&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553988770&usg=AOvVaw3Ergz7XjLQ_uTKhTt9pR44), detailing things like eye safety, imaging, resources and even a totality app (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eclipse.aas.org/totality&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553988914&usg=AOvVaw3Uj3xbEx8lrrXKi0qeIq1k) — an “interactive map that shows what you’ll see at any location in North America for the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024.” NASA also offers a dedicated site for the North American Eclipse (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553989174&usg=AOvVaw2StoqS6swU21K7ms6HyKo-), as does the National Weather Service (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.weather.gov/pah/April8_2024SolarEclipseClimate%23&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553989334&usg=AOvVaw3-LK-wkUN8yhrDnA4RFiR3) and National Solar Observatory (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nso.edu/for-public/eclipse-resources/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553989485&usg=AOvVaw0VROc4L4ksCqoHFJrfiGme). A private site called Great American Eclipse (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553989634&usg=AOvVaw0IIcwGxPNdUMt4WOdwhxQM) is largely commercial, but does have a very useful map showing the band of totality and how much of the eclipse you’ll see depending on location, along with a comprehensive list of eclipse times and durations by city (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53c358b6e4b01b8adb4d5870/ecb65550-5784-4edb-a5f3-6c1b4a9b75a7/FieldGuideToThe2023and2024SolarEclipses_withSpreads_Page_53.jpg?format%3D2500w&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1711987553989904&usg=AOvVaw0II1_5hQAV479Cyxop8Te4). **Update, April 5, 12:30PM ET:** This story was updated after publishing to include more details about the total solar eclipse's path of totality. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/solar-eclipse-2024-how-to-watch-and-record-the-total-eclipse-on-monday-163035394.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/solar-eclipse-2024-how-to-watch-and-record-the-total-eclipse-on-monday-163035394.html?src=rss

**Best Buy’s Geek Squad agents say they were hit by mass layoffs this week** Geek Squad agents have been flooding Reddit with images of their badges and posts about “going sleeper” after the company reportedly conducted mass layoffs this week. A former employee who spoke to _404 Media_ (https://www.404media.co/mass-layoffs-at-best-buy-geek-squad-former-employees-post-going-sleeper/) said they were sent an email notifying them to work from home on Wednesday and were then called individually to be told the news about their jobs. Some, per _404 Media_’s sources and numerous Reddit posts, were longtime Geek Squad agents who had been with the company for more than 10 or even 20 years. Best Buy has not yet responded to Engadget’s request for comment. There has been an outpouring of support for the laid off workers on the unofficial Geek Squad subreddit, where many have lamented the loss of jobs they’d dedicated much of their lives to and noted that things in the lead up had been heading in a concerning direction. Some commented that their hours had dwindled in recent months, with one former employee telling _404 Media_ it’s been “a struggle to get by.” Best Buy conducted mass layoffs affecting employees at its retail stores just last spring, and as _The Verge_ (https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/5/24122542/best-buy-geek-squad-layoffs-ai-restructuring) reports, CEO Corie Barry indicated during the company’s February earnings call that more layoffs were coming in 2024 as Best Buy shifts resources toward AI and other areas. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-buys-geek-squad-agents-say-they-were-hit-by-mass-layoffs-this-week-185720480.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/best-buys-geek-squad-agents-say-they-were-hit-by-mass-layoffs-this-week-185720480.html?src=rss

**OpenAI and Google reportedly used transcriptions of YouTube videos to train their AI models** OpenAI and Google trained their AI models on text transcribed from YouTube videos, potentially violating creators’ copyrights, according to _The New York Times_ (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/06/technology/tech-giants-harvest-data-artificial-intelligence.html). The report, which describes the lengths OpenAI, Google and Meta have gone to in order to maximize the amount of data they can feed to their AIs, cites numerous people with knowledge of the companies’ practices. It comes just days after YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said in an interview with _Bloomberg Originals_ (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-04/youtube-says-openai-training-sora-with-its-videos-would-break-the-rules?sref=10lNAhZ9&embedded-checkout=true) that OpenAI’s alleged use of YouTube videos to train its new text-to-video generator, Sora, would go against the platform’s policies (https://www.engadget.com/youtube-ceo-warns-openai-that-training-models-on-its-videos-is-against-the-rules-121547513.html). According to the _NYT_, OpenAI used its Whisper speech recognition tool to transcribe more than one million hours of YouTube videos, which were then used to train GPT-4. _The Information_ (https://www.theinformation.com/articles/why-youtube-could-give-google-an-edge-in-ai?rc=whf0fd) previously reported that OpenAI had used YouTube videos and podcasts to train the two AI systems. OpenAI president Greg Brockman was reportedly among the people on this team. Per Google’s rules, “unauthorized scraping or downloading of YouTube content” is not allowed, Matt Bryant, a spokesperson for Google, told _NYT_, also saying that the company was unaware of any such use by OpenAI. The report, however, claims there were people at Google who knew but did not take action against OpenAI because Google was using YouTube videos to train its own AI models. Google told _NYT_ it only does so with videos from creators who have agreed to this. Engadget has reached out to Google and OpenAI for comment. The _NYT_ report also claims Google asked a team to tweak its privacy policy in June 2023 to more broadly cover its use of publicly available content, including Google Docs and Google Sheets, to train its AI models and products. The changes, which Google says were made for clarity's sake, were published in July. Bryant told _NYT_ that this type of data is only used with the permission of users who opt into Google’s experimental features tests, and that the company “did not start training on additional types of data based on this language change.” The change added Bard as an example of what that data might be used for. **Correction, April 6, 2024, 3:45PM ET:** This story originally stated that Google updated its privacy policy in June 2022. The policy update was actually made in 2023. We apologize for the error. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-and-google-reportedly-used-transcriptions-of-youtube-videos-to-train-their-ai-models-163531073.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/openai-and-google-reportedly-used-transcriptions-of-youtube-videos-to-train-their-ai-models-163531073.html?src=rss

**Apple officially allows retro game emulators on the App Store** In addition to updating its developer guidelines to allow music streaming apps (https://www.engadget.com/ios-music-apps-in-the-eu-can-now-send-users-to-external-websites-for-purchase-111511085.html?_fsig=mN.m4xTnunXxBYYqiyKN.Q--%7EA) to link to external website, Apple has also added new language that allows game emulators on the App Store. The updated guidelines (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2RldmVsb3Blci5hcHBsZS5jb20vYXBwLXN0b3JlL3Jldmlldy9ndWlkZWxpbmVzLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWM3OTYyNjQtNjcwOS00YmMyLTllOTMtYWMzMmUwODE1Zjk4In0&signature=AQAAAXLqysX_SgHGrC4kKlcMxD9RY7VtLKyhrMTksTpV_43V&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdeveloper.apple.com%2Fapp-store%2Freview%2Fguidelines%2F), first noticed by _9to5Mac_ (https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/05/app-store-guidelines-music-apps-game-emulators/), now say that retro gaming console emulator apps are welcome and can even offer downloadable games. Apple also reportedly confirmed to developers in an email that they can create and offer emulators on its marketplace. Emulator software wasn't allowed on the App Store prior to this update, though developers have been finding ways to distribute them to iOS users. To be able to install them, users usually need to resort to jailbreaking and downloading sideloading tools or unsanctioned alternate app stores first. This rule update potentially eliminates the need for users to go through all those lengths and could bring more Android emulators to iOS. Apple warns developers, however, that they "are responsible for all such software offered in \[their\] app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws." Clearly, allowing emulators on the App Store doesn't mean that it's allowing pirated games, as well. Any app offering titles for download that the developer doesn't own the rights to is a no-no, so fans of specific consoles will just have to hope that their companies are planning to release official emulators for iOS. While these latest changes to Apple's developer guidelines seem to be motivated by the EU's Digital Markets Act regulation, which targets big tech companies' anti-competitive practices, the new rule on emulators applies to all developers worldwide. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-officially-allows-retro-game-emulators-on-the-app-store-130044937.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/apple-officially-allows-retro-game-emulators-on-the-app-store-130044937.html?src=rss

**iOS music apps in the EU can now send users to external websites for purchase** Apple will make it easier for you to pay for music purchases and subscriptions outside of its payment system, if you're living in a European Union country. As first noticed by _9to5Mac_ (https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/05/app-store-guidelines-music-apps-game-emulators/), the company has updated its Apple Developer guidelines page (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2RldmVsb3Blci5hcHBsZS5jb20vYXBwLXN0b3JlL3Jldmlldy9ndWlkZWxpbmVzLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiODljYjEzZmUtYzM5ZC00NDg0LWIzNjMtODVlY2RjNDk5OGM0In0&signature=AQAAAS-FI-CrV3lhLLaQIT2-rjH1KZrLCSeHpi2y6B-Hy4Qu&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fdeveloper.apple.com%2Fapp-store%2Freview%2Fguidelines%2F) to state that iOS and iPadOS music streaming apps "in specific regions" can now include a link to an external website where you can find alternative ways to pay for content and services. Developers can also ask you to provide your email address, so they could send you a link to that website. In early March, the European Union slapped Apple with a €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) fine (https://www.engadget.com/eu-fines-apple-nearly-2-billion-for-blocking-alternative-music-apps-134001372.html?_fsig=bQGKZXCo7hvtfpKV0PMQdA--%7EA) for preventing music streaming app developers from informing iOS users "about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app and from providing any instructions about how to subscribe to such offers." This anti-steering practice, the European Commission said, is illegal under the bloc's new Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules, which became applicable in May 2023. By the end of March, EU officials revealed that they were investigating (https://www.engadget.com/the-eu-is-investigating-apple-meta-and-google-over-fees-and-self-preferencing-124147179.html) Apple, Meta and Google over their compliance with the DMA. The commission wasn't happy with the changes the companies made in order to adhere to the law, and it was concerned that they were still constraining "developers' ability to freely communicate and promote offers and directly conclude contracts, including by imposing various charges." With these recent changes, music apps can be more transparent about their pricing, so you can make an informed choice on whether to pay via Apple or use the other methods offered by the developers. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-music-apps-in-the-eu-can-now-send-users-to-external-websites-for-purchase-111511085.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/ios-music-apps-in-the-eu-can-now-send-users-to-external-websites-for-purchase-111511085.html?src=rss

**Tesla will unveil a robotaxi on August 8, according to Musk** Tesla is introducing a robotaxi on August 8, Elon Musk has announced (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1776351450542768368) on X a few hours after _Reuters_ published a report that the automaker is scrapping its plans (https://www.engadget.com/tesla-is-reportedly-focusing-on-robotaxis-over-its-planned-budget-ev-190833687.html) to produce a low-cost EV. _Reuters_ also said that Musk's directive was to "go all in" on robotaxis built on the company's small-vehicle platform. Tesla has been promising a more affordable EV with prices expected to start at $25,000 for years (https://www.engadget.com/2018-08-18-elon-musk-talks-25k-tesla.html?_fsig=SypsOlWc1PTRFEsV6quZow--%7EA), and Musk said as recently as this January that he's optimistic the model will arrive in the second half of 2025 (https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-confirms-a-new-low-cost-tesla-model-is-coming-in-2025-103517158.html). In response to the report, the Tesla chief tweeted (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1776272471324606778) that "Reuters is lying (again)." He didn't clarify which part of the report was a lie, but considering he confirmed that Tesla is unveiling a robotaxi, he likely meant the news organization's claim that the company pulled the plug on a more affordable EV. At the moment, Tesla's cheapest vehicle is the Model 3, but its prices start at $39,000. It'll be interesting to see how the company will make a robotaxi work with its camera-only system — it dropped (https://www.engadget.com/tesla-losing-ultrasonic-sensors-camera-only-system-131503260.html?_fsig=C9GIyY3Y6hKDJwrC0.mT6Q--%7EA) radar and other sensors, which robotaxi companies like Waymo use extensively, from its driver assistance technologies a few years ago. > Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8 > > — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2024 (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1776351450542768368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-will-unveil-a-robotaxi-on-april-8-according-to-musk-013853363.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/tesla-will-unveil-a-robotaxi-on-april-8-according-to-musk-013853363.html?src=rss

**Meta asks a judge to throw out an FTC antitrust case** Meta (https://www.engadget.com/tag/meta/) has asked a judge (https://about.fb.com/news/2024/04/meta-files-motion-for-summary-judgment-in-ftc-lawsuit-relating-to-instagram-and-whatsapp/) to dismiss a Federal Trade Commission (https://www.engadget.com/tag/ftc/) antitrust case against the company before it goes to trial. Alongside 48 states and territories, the FTC sued Meta in 2020 (https://www.engadget.com/facebook-antitrust-ftc-48-states-194858668.html) in an attempt to force the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, which it bought in 2012 and 2014, respectively. The agency and dozens of attorneys general claim that Meta (then known as Facebook) bought the two platforms to stifle competition. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg “recognized that by acquiring and controlling Instagram, Facebook would not only squelch the direct threat that Instagram posed, but also significantly hinder another firm from using photo-sharing on mobile phones to gain popularity as a provider of personal social networking,” the FTC asserted. “Just as with Instagram, WhatsApp presented a powerful threat to Facebook’s personal social networking monopoly, which Facebook targeted for acquisition rather than competition.” Meta notes that not only did the FTC approve both acquisitions in the first place, but its initial complaint was dismissed for failing to to state a plausible claim. While a judge has allowed an amended complaint to move forward, Meta claims that "the agency has done nothing to build its case through the discovery process" to show that the company holds monopoly power in the “personal social networking services” market and that it caused harm to consumers and competition through the purchases. In its motion for summary judgment, the company points out that Instagram, which accounted for nearly 30 percent of the company's total revenue in the first half of 2022 (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-05/instagram-generated-almost-30-of-meta-s-revenue-in-early-2022?sref=10lNAhZ9), wasn't making any money when it bought the service for $1 billion in 2012. Instagram had just two percent of the billion-plus users it has now, Meta says, adding that it introduced features such as direct messages, livestreaming, Stories and shopping. As for WhatsApp, Meta made the service free to use, added end-to-end encryption and implemented voice and video calling. Meta argues that it has invested billions of dollars and millions of hours of work into the apps. It claims that both Instagram and WhatsApp are in a better place as a result, to the benefit of consumers and businesses. Elsewhere, Meta argues that the FTC failed to establish a relevant antitrust market, claiming that the agency's definition of an “personal social networking services” market used "an artificially limited set of only four companies – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and MeWe – ignoring many of the most popular activities people engage in on Facebook and Instagram." For instance, Meta points out that YouTube and TikTok offer similar short-form video features (https://www.engadget.com/youtube-shorts-now-lets-you-chop-up-and-remix-music-videos-180655627.html) to Reels. What's more, the FTC's allegation that Meta has a “dominant share” of the artificial “personal social networking services market” doesn't hold up, according to the company. Meta says that's because the FTC's "market share numbers are meaningless without a properly defined market." Meta, which accused the FTC of wielding "structurally unconstitutional authority" against the company in a separate case last year (https://www.engadget.com/meta-sues-ftc-to-block-new-restrictions-on-monetizing-kids-data-185051764.html), also took the opportunity to take more potshots at the agency and antitrust rules. "The decision to revisit done deals is tantamount to announcing that no sale will ever be final," Jennifer Newstead, Meta’s Chief Legal Officer, wrote in a blog post (https://about.fb.com/news/2024/04/meta-files-motion-for-summary-judgment-in-ftc-lawsuit-relating-to-instagram-and-whatsapp/). Newstead claims the Instagram and WhatsApp "lawsuit not only sows doubt and uncertainty about the US government’s merger review process and whether acquiring businesses can actually rely on the outcomes of the regulatory review process, but it will also make companies think twice about investing in innovation, since they may be punished if that innovation leads to success." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-asks-a-judge-to-throw-out-an-ftc-antitrust-case-203950108.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/meta-asks-a-judge-to-throw-out-an-ftc-antitrust-case-203950108.html?src=rss

**Trump’s Lawyers Told the Court That No One Would Give Him a Bond. Then He Got a Lifeline, but They Didn’t Tell the Judges.** by Robert Faturechi (https://www.propublica.org/people/robert-faturechi), Justin Elliott (https://www.propublica.org/people/justin-elliott) and Alex Mierjeski (https://www.propublica.org/people/alex-mierjeski) ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories (https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=54G&placement=top-note®ion=national) as soon as they’re published. Former President Donald Trump scored a victory last week when a New York court slashed the amount he had to put up while appealing his civil fraud case to $175 million. His lawyers had told the appellate court it was a “practical impossibility” to get a bond for the full amount of the lower court’s judgment, $464 million. All of the 30 or so firms Trump had approached balked, either refusing to take the risk or not wanting to accept real estate as collateral, they said. That made raising the full amount “an impossible bond requirement.” But before the judges ruled, the impossible became possible: A billionaire lender approached Trump about providing a bond for the full amount. The lawyers never filed paperwork alerting the appeals court. That failure may have violated ethics rules, legal experts say. In an interview with ProPublica, billionaire California financier Don Hankey said he reached out to Trump’s camp several days before the bond was lowered, expressing willingness to offer the full amount and to use real estate as collateral. “I saw that they were rejected by everyone and I said, ‘Gee, that doesn’t seem like a difficult bond to post,’” Hankey said. As negotiations between Hankey and Trump’s representatives were underway, the appellate court ruled in Trump’s favor, lowering the bond to $175 million. The court did not give an explanation for its ruling. Hankey ended up giving Trump a bond for the lowered amount. It’s unclear if Trump lawyer Alina Habba or the rest of his legal team were made aware that Hankey reached out about a deal for the full amount. Trump’s legal team did not respond to requests for comment. After ProPublica reached out to Trump’s representatives, Hankey called back and revised his account. He said he had heard “indirectly” about ProPublica’s subsequent inquiries to Trump’s lawyers. In the second conversation, he said that accepting the real estate as collateral would have been complicated and that he wouldn’t have been able to “commit” to providing a bond in the full amount “until I evaluate the assets.” Legal ethics experts said it would be troubling if Trump’s lawyers knew about Hankey’s approach and failed to notify the court. New York state’s rules of professional conduct for lawyers forbid attorneys from knowingly making false statements to a court. At the time Trump’s lawyers told the court that meeting the bond would be impossible, Hankey said he had not yet reached out to the Trump team. But the rules of conduct (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24533237-20240226-rules-of-professional-conduct-as-amended-6102022#document/p113) also dictate that lawyers must “correct a false statement of material fact or law previously made” to the court. “If that deal was on the table for the taking, the representation from the earlier time would be untrue, and the lawyer would have an obligation to correct,” said Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics professor at New York University Law School. In the rules of conduct for lawyers, the failure to update an important piece of evidence would fall under what’s referred to as the “duty of candor to a tribunal,” said Ellen Yaroshefsky, a professor of legal ethics at Hofstra Law. “Any judge is going to be furious that this wasn’t corrected,” she said. Scott Cummings, a legal ethics professor at UCLA’s law school, agreed that there was a potential ethical failure but said Trump’s lawyers could argue that they were not obligated to alert the court. “A very narrow reading of this rule would be there is no obligation to report because it wasn’t a false statement at the time,” Cummings said. The need for the bond arose from a case brought against Trump by the New York attorney general, who accused him of fraudulently inflating his net worth to get favorable loans and other benefits. A judge agreed and ordered Trump and the other defendants to pay $464 million. Trump had a month to come up with the sum or risked having his properties seized. When a defendant loses a civil case in New York, the creditor — in this case the attorney general — can immediately go after the defendant’s assets to collect the judgment. The defendant can protect his assets while pursuing an appeal by posting a bond. Typically obtained from an insurance company for a fee, the bond is essentially a promise that the company will guarantee payment of the judgment if the appeal fails. In his first interview with ProPublica, Hankey said that when he heard Trump was having trouble getting a bond, he reached out to Trump’s camp, several days before the bond was reduced, with an offer to help. Hankey, who took a break from a game of bocce to speak to ProPublica, is rated by Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/profile/don-hankey/?sh=194acba81783) as one of the 400 wealthiest people in the world with an estimated net worth of more than $7 billion. He made much of his fortune with high-interest car loans to risky borrowers, and he is chairman of a Los Angeles-based network of companies across a range of industries, including real estate, insurance and finance. He has said he supports Trump politically but would have wanted to make the deal no matter his politics. Hankey told ProPublica that during the talks he came to the conclusion that Trump’s “got the liquidity” and was confused why others would have rejected him, speculating that some may have wanted to avoid political backlash: “If you’re a public company, maybe you don’t want to offend 45% of the population.” Hankey said he informed Trump’s camp that he was willing to work with them, and “they said they had the collateral.” The two sides went over the assets that had to be pledged, and it was up to Trump “if they wanted to do it.” (In his second call, Hankey said making a deal would have been “difficult.”) But, he said, the deal for the larger amount was dropped during a large Zoom call between the two sides, when Trump’s camp got a call informing them that the bond was reduced. “They thanked us for trying to help: ‘Maybe next year, we’ll try to do business again,’” Hankey recalled them saying. But several days later, Hankey said, they called back, hoping to make a deal for the reduced bond, and Hankey agreed. The bond saga is not over. In a brief court filing on Thursday, the New York attorney general asked (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/04/nyregion/letitia-james-trump-bond-deal.html) Trump or Hankey’s company to show that the company has the financial means to fulfill the $175 million bond. Do you have any information about this case that we should know? Robert Faturechi can be reached by email at robert.faturechi@propublica.org (mailto:robert.faturechi@propublica.org) and by Signal or WhatsApp at 213-271-7217. Justin Elliott can be reached by email at justin@propublica.org (mailto:justin@propublica.org) or by Signal or WhatsApp at 774-826-6240. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-bond-disclosure-appeals-court-hankey

**Tesla is reportedly focusing on robotaxis over its planned budget EV** Tesla has scrapped plans to make an affordable electric vehicle (EV), according to (https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-scraps-low-cost-car-plans-amid-fierce-chinese-ev-competition-2024-04-05/) _Reuters_. CEO Elon Musk said as recently as January that he was “optimistic” the low-cost EV would arrive in the second half of 2025 (https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-confirms-a-new-low-cost-tesla-model-is-coming-in-2025-103517158.html). The automaker will instead reportedly “go all in” on robotaxis (https://www.engadget.com/2023-was-the-year-cruises-robotaxi-dream-came-to-a-crashing-end-153002522.html), which Musk has described as the future of transportation. The canceled entry-level EV project — often called “Model 2” — was reportedly codenamed “Redwood.” The automaker had predicted a weekly production volume of 10,000 vehicles (https://www.engadget.com/tesla-is-reportedly-building-a-compact-crossover-codenamed-redwood-103223757.html), and Musk said, “We’ll be sleeping on the line” to make it a reality. He had previously claimed Tesla was working on two new EV models expected to sell up to five million units annually. For nearly two decades, the CEO has described his long-term goal as using luxury vehicles to build Tesla’s brand before using those profits to fund budget models. “When someone buys the Tesla Roadster sports car, they are actually helping pay for development of the low cost family car,” Musk wrote (https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me) in a 2006 “Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan” memo. In the following years, he often echoed those sentiments to customers and investors. The cancellation would leave the $39,000 and up Model 3 sedan (https://www.engadget.com/teslas-redesigned-model-3-comes-with-a-new-interior-and-more-range-083832464.html) as Tesla’s cheapest vehicle. The scrapped budget model was expected to start at around $25,000. _Reuters_’ sources told the outlet they were told about the cancellation in a late February meeting “attended by scores of employees.” The publication says it reviewed internal Tesla messages about the pivot, including one advising staff to hold off on telling suppliers “about program cancellation.” Other messages allegedly told staffers that “suppliers should halt all further activities related to H422/NV91,” referring to the budget model’s external and internal codenames. Musk posted (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1776272471324606778) on X (Twitter) on Friday, “ _Reuters_ is lying (again)” in response to the story — without listing any points of contention. Tesla has its work cut out for it. Not only has EV demand slowed (https://www.engadget.com/hertz-is-selling-20000-evs-and-replacing-them-with-gas-powered-vehicles-153302670.html) in the US, but competition in China is fierce, with the fast-growing BYD (https://www.engadget.com/chinas-emergence-as-an-ev-powerhouse-has-been-a-long-time-coming-145429852.html) leading the country’s entry-level market. The Chinese automaker said (https://electrek.co/2024/04/02/tesla-regains-bev-global-leader-crown-from-byd-amid-tough-quarter/) earlier this month that its sales increased 13 percent year over year. Meanwhile, Tesla said on Tuesday that its deliveries dropped eight percent annually while falling 20 percent from the previous quarter (https://www.engadget.com/tesla-sees-ev-deliveries-drop-year-over-year-for-the-first-time-since-2020-153020454.html). This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-is-reportedly-focusing-on-robotaxis-over-its-planned-budget-ev-190833687.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/tesla-is-reportedly-focusing-on-robotaxis-over-its-planned-budget-ev-190833687.html?src=rss

**Annual Max subscriptions are still 40 percent off, plus the rest of this week's best tech deals** As another week winds to a close, it's time for Engadget's roundup of the best deals we spotted this week. There's no giant sale happening right now, but we still found a few decent discounts on some of our recommended tech, including 40 percent off a year's subscription to Max's streaming service (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=688578c2-f937-4e4e-ba49-28d7ac8f32c3&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Max&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tYXguY29tLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYzI4NTBlZGMtMzljYS00NzQwLWI0MjctZWU4YTUzODQ3YzA3In0&signature=AQAAAUlk_9nZoXZaM5qlp8joof5RZxN1bgODDYBvJL41pFdj&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.max.com%2F), $130 off our favorite Android tablet (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1NBTVNVTkctQW5kcm9pZC1TbmFwZHJhZ29uLVByb2Nlc3Nvci1HcmFwaGl0ZS9kcC9CMEM0QkM2Ujk1P3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWQyLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJjMjg1MGVkYy0zOWNhLTQ3NDAtYjQyNy1lZThhNTM4NDdjMDcifQ&signature=AQAAASWjdzNkkoqeT4l0D9rw6DmqnMfwQO1HMVAnIucQIr_9&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSAMSUNG-Android-Snapdragon-Processor-Graphite%2Fdp%2FB0C4BC6R95) and a new low price on ourtop mouse for gaming (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwOUMxM1BaWDc_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy1wLXYtZDItMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImMyODUwZWRjLTM5Y2EtNDc0MC1iNDI3LWVlOGE1Mzg0N2MwNyJ9&signature=AQAAAfvdGrZHAOMTayzoFrrfDUyYWA0pTwxwwyZWdjoT7T48&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB09C13PZX7). If you've been considering a foldable phone but have been (understandably) turned off by the high prices, a both Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1NBTVNVTkctVW5sb2NrZWQtU21hcnRwaG9uZS1TdHJlYW1pbmctSGFuZHMtRnJlZS9kcC9CMEM2M1QyOTVIP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWQyLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJjMjg1MGVkYy0zOWNhLTQ3NDAtYjQyNy1lZThhNTM4NDdjMDcifQ&signature=AQAAAaL7c9eA5HxCskZX1BXGEHCa5sx5tdMbq-_F_5o5hHxo&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSAMSUNG-Unlocked-Smartphone-Streaming-Hands-Free%2Fdp%2FB0C63T295H) and Google's Pixel Fold (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL3Byb2R1Y3QvQjBDMzRETDZaNy9yZWY9ZXdjX3ByX2ltZ18xP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWQyLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJjMjg1MGVkYy0zOWNhLTQ3NDAtYjQyNy1lZThhNTM4NDdjMDcifQ&signature=AQAAAcA8Ou2zPWiyJqUr2ami3HSE5BuB2HS7xSN-Kbz7FfOV&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB0C34DL6Z7%2Fref%3Dewc_pr_img_1) are currently on sale and going for $400 and $500 off, respectively. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. _Follow__@EngadgetDeals_ (https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals) _on Twitter and__subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter_ (https://subscription.yahoo.net/Newsletter/Preference/sub?b=engadgetdeals&src) _for the latest tech deals and buying advice._ This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/annual-max-subscriptions-are-still-40-percent-off-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-172622166.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/annual-max-subscriptions-are-still-40-percent-off-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-172622166.html?src=rss

**Samsung is doubling its semiconductor investment in Texas to $44 billion** It looks like President Biden’s CHIPS Act (https://www.engadget.com/senate-passes-chips-plus-chip-production-bill-185318688.html) is starting to pay off. Samsung is planning on doubling its investment in Texas, according to a report by _The Wall Street Journal_ (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=2f007401-3eaa-4237-b69b-54ccbe125502&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=The+Wall+Street+Journal&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53c2ouY29tL3RlY2gvc2Ftc3VuZy10by1mb3J0aWZ5LXUtcy1jaGlwLXJldml2YWwtYnktc3dlbGxpbmctaXRzLXRleGFzLWludmVzdG1lbnQtdG8tNDQtYmlsbGlvbi02ZDJkMTc5OSIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiOTY5Njc5NzUtYjc0Yy00NDBmLWFlOWQtZjA3NzE3NWNkZjRjIn0&signature=AQAAAYyV_9-4bbFuVU3UieJ3MctnQF87yiB1rAIb8ukpkaF4&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Ftech%2Fsamsung-to-fortify-u-s-chip-revival-by-swelling-its-texas-investment-to-44-billion-6d2d1799). This will bring the total investment in the state’s chip-manufacturing sector to $44 billion, as Samsung already spent nearly $20 billion to build a factory back in 2021 (https://www.engadget.com/samsung-17-billion-chip-factory-texas-054150875.html). The ambitious expansion will reportedly take the form of a new chip manufacturing facility, a packaging site and a research and development space. It’ll all be located in or near Taylor, Texas, as that’s where the pre-existing semiconductor facility was built (https://semiconductor.samsung.com/us/sas/company/taylor/). The current manufacturing hub isn’t operational yet, but will begin building “crucial logic chips” later this year. For the geographically challenged, Taylor is around a 40 minute drive from Austin. If this actually happens, it’ll be a huge win for the Biden administration. One of the main goals of the CHIPS Act, after all, is to lure global chipmakers to build on US soil. To that end, Washington plans on awarding more than $6 billion (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-15/samsung-poised-to-win-over-6-billion-for-expanded-us-investment?embedded-checkout=true) to Samsung as further incentive to keep things running in the good ole USA. The CHIPS Act has allowed the federal government to award funding and offer loans to many tech companies to encourage domestic spending. Back in February, the multinational semiconductor company GlobalFoundries received a grant of $1.5 billion (https://www.engadget.com/globalfoundries-secures-15-billion-in-chips-act-funding-for-us-expansion-172754429.html) to help pay for a major US expansion, in addition to a $1.6 billion loan. It plans on building a new fabrication facility in Malta, New York, which will handle the manufacture of chips for the automotive, aerospace, defense and AI industries. More recently, Intel received the largest CHIPS grant to date (https://www.engadget.com/intel-will-get-85-billion-in-chips-act-funding-to-support-its-us-manufacturing-efforts-090046810.html), snagging up to $8.5 billion to continue various US-based operations. The current plan is for Intel to use that money to manufacture plants that make leading-edge semiconductor chips meant for use in AI and other advanced applications. The company’s building two new fabrication facilities in Arizona and two in Ohio. Additionally, it’s going to use the money to modernize two pre-existing fabs in New Mexico and expand one location in Oregon. All told, Intel is going to invest $100 billion in US-based chip manufacturing. The various projects are expected to create 20,000 construction and 10,000 manufacturing jobs. The Biden administration signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law back in 2022 to foster domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing and to lessen America’s reliance on Chinese suppliers. It sets aside $52 billion in tax credits and funding for firms to expand stateside production. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-is-doubling-its-semiconductor-investment-in-texas-to-44-billion-154322399.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/samsung-is-doubling-its-semiconductor-investment-in-texas-to-44-billion-154322399.html?src=rss

**Meta plans to more broadly label AI-generated content** Meta (https://www.engadget.com/tag/meta/) says that its current approach to labeling AI-generated content (https://www.engadget.com/meta-plans-to-ramp-up-labeling-of-ai-generated-images-across-its-platforms-160234038.html) is too narrow and that it will soon apply a "Made with AI" badge to a broader range of videos, audio and images. Starting in May, it will append the label to media when it detects industry-standard AI image indicators or when users acknowledge that they’re uploading AI-generated content. The company may also apply the label to posts that fact-checkers flag, though it's likely to downrank content that's been identified as false or altered. The company announced the measure in the wake of an Oversight Board decision (https://www.engadget.com/maliciously-edited-joe-biden-video-can-stay-on-facebook-metas-oversight-board-says-110042024.html) regarding a video that was maliciously edited to depict President Joe Biden touching his granddaughter inappropriately. The Oversight Board agreed with Meta's decision not to take down the video from Facebook as it didn't violate the company's rules regarding manipulated media. However, the board suggested that Meta should “reconsider this policy quickly, given the number of elections in 2024.” Meta says it agrees with the board's "recommendation that providing transparency and additional context is now the better way to address manipulated media and avoid the risk of unnecessarily restricting freedom of speech, so we’ll keep this content on our platforms so we can add labels and context." The company added that, in July, it will stop taking down content purely based on violations of its manipulated video policy. "This timeline gives people time to understand the self-disclosure process before we stop removing the smaller subset of manipulated media," Meta's vice president of content policy Monika Bickert wrote in a blog post (https://about.fb.com/news/2024/04/metas-approach-to-labeling-ai-generated-content-and-manipulated-media/). Meta had been applying an “Imagined with AI” label to photorealistic images that users whip up using the Meta AI tool (https://www.engadget.com/metas-ai-image-generator-struggles-to-create-images-of-couples-of-different-races-231424476.html). The updated policy goes beyond the Oversight Board's labeling recommendations, Meta says. "If we determine that digitally-created or altered images, video or audio create a particularly high risk of materially deceiving the public on a matter of importance, we may add a more prominent label so people have more information and context," Bickert wrote. While the company generally believes that transparency and allowing appropriately labeled AI-generated photos, images and audio to remain on its platforms is the best way forward, it will still delete material that breaks the rules. "We will remove content, regardless of whether it is created by AI or a person, if it violates our policies against voter interference, bullying and harassment, violence and incitement, or any other policy in our Community Standards," Bickert noted. The Oversight Board told Engadget in a statement that it was pleased Meta took its recommendations (https://www.oversightboard.com/decision/FB-GW8BY1Y3) on board. It added that it would review the company's implementation of them in a transparency report down the line. "While it is always important to find ways to preserve freedom of expression while protecting against demonstrable offline harm, it is especially critical to do so in the context of such an important year for elections," the board said. "As such, we are pleased that Meta will begin labeling a wider range of video, audio and image content as 'Made with AI' when they detect AI image indicators or when people indicate they have uploaded AI content. This will provide people with greater context and transparency for more types of manipulated media, while also removing posts which violate Meta’s rules in other ways." **Update 4/5 12:55PM ET:** Added comment from The Oversight Board. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-plans-to-more-broadly-label-ai-generated-content-152945787.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/meta-plans-to-more-broadly-label-ai-generated-content-152945787.html?src=rss

**Our favorite cheap Android tablet is on sale for $170** We highlight Samsung's Galaxy Tab A9+ (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1NBTVNVTkctQW5kcm9pZC1TcGVha2Vycy1VcGdyYWRlZC1HcmFwaGl0ZS9kcC9CMENMRjNWUE1WP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWQwLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJlY2RjMGY0OS1lMGI2LTRhZDQtYTE1My0wNGJiODlkMDQ5NTgifQ&signature=AQAAAblIesWqNWUoJBT9YNOCc-jS3gyB5gaQTrQoBhAubYF7&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSAMSUNG-Android-Speakers-Upgraded-Graphite%2Fdp%2FB0CLF3VPMV) in our Android tablet buying guide (https://www.engadget.com/best-android-tablet-120007530.html) for those who just want a competent slate for as little money as possible. If that describes you, take note: The 11-inch device is now on sale for $170 at several retailers, including Amazon, Walmart (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=3719d8d4-5edd-4817-998a-91f3229e7323&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Walmart&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YWxtYXJ0LmNvbS9pcC9TYW1zdW5nLUdhbGF4eS1UYWItQTktMTEtVGFibGV0LTY0R0ItQW5kcm9pZC1HcmFwaGl0ZS81MTY2NjY1NTQwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJlY2RjMGY0OS1lMGI2LTRhZDQtYTE1My0wNGJiODlkMDQ5NTgifQ&signature=AQAAAahy1EXU5xBQGla3m988_Iyegn4kLjlDKC0_jAzqHLvL&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FSamsung-Galaxy-Tab-A9-11-Tablet-64GB-Android-Graphite%2F5166665540) and Best Buy (https://sovrn.co/r0tidkr). This deal has technically been available for a couple of weeks, but it still represents the lowest price we've tracked. For reference, Samsung typically sells the tablet for $220. Both the Graphite and Silver finishes are discounted. Do note, though, that this price applies the base model, which includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The latter is expandable with a microSD card (https://www.engadget.com/best-microsd-card-130038282.html), but the limited memory can cause some stutters if you want to push the the tablet for anything beyond casual streaming and web browsing. Samsung sells a higher-spec model (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1NBTVNVTkctQW5kcm9pZC1TcGVha2Vycy1VcGdyYWRlZC1HcmFwaGl0ZS9kcC9CMENMRjJETk1WP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWQwLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJlY2RjMGY0OS1lMGI2LTRhZDQtYTE1My0wNGJiODlkMDQ5NTgifQ&signature=AQAAATaX0jH8LB2cfCZOU-n2MWRXu1WfUn0SSJqvo8Nxs4uq&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSAMSUNG-Android-Speakers-Upgraded-Graphite%2Fdp%2FB0CLF2DNMV) with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage: That one will be a better buy for gaming and more involved use, and it's also $50 off at $220, another all-time low. As my colleague Sam Rutherford notes in our buying guide, the Galaxy Tab A9+ isn't likely to wow you in any one area, but it covers the basics well. Its 11-inch LCD display is well-sized and has a faster-than-usual 90Hz refresh rate, which helps the UI feel smooth to scroll through. The screen has a wide 16:10 aspect ratio, so it's better suited to landscape mode than the 4:3 display on an iPad. The metal and plastic frame is slick for the price, while the 7,040mAh battery should hold up for a day or two of casual use. And though no Android tablet really nails the software experience, most people should find Samsung's One UI to be cleaner than something like Amazon's Fire OS (https://www.engadget.com/amazon-fire-hd-8-review-130005977.html). The company says (https://www.samsungknox.com/en/knox-platform/supported-devices) it'll provide OS updates through the eventual Android 16 and security updates through October 2027. That said, this is still a cheap tablet. The Galaxy Tab A9+'s Snapdragon 695 chip is speedy enough but no powerhouse, and its charging speed tops out at a relatively meager 15W. There's no fingerprint reader, included stylus or formal water-resistance rating, either. If you're not beholden to Android, one of Apple's iPads (https://www.engadget.com/best-ipads-how-to-pick-the-best-apple-tablet-for-you-150054066.html) will still be more well-rounded (though we expect to see (https://www.engadget.com/an-oled-ipad-pro-and-the-first-big-screen-ipad-air-will-reportedly-arrive-in-may-204056132.html) new models arrive in the coming weeks). Still, at these prices, the Galaxy Tab A9+ is a solid buy if you're on a tighter budget. _Follow__@EngadgetDeals_ (https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals) _on Twitter and__subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter_ (https://subscription.yahoo.net/Newsletter/Preference/sub?b=engadgetdeals&src) _for the latest tech deals and buying advice._ This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/our-favorite-cheap-android-tablet-is-on-sale-for-170-151624727.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/our-favorite-cheap-android-tablet-is-on-sale-for-170-151624727.html?src=rss

**Apple Vision Pro owners now have more decent controller options** The Apple Vision Pro is an impressive piece of hardware (https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-review-beta-testing-the-future-201430272.html), and the eye-tracking/hand gesture input combo is fantastic for navigating menus and the like. It’s not so great for gaming. There haven't been many easy ways to connect a third-party controller for playing iPad or cloud games. This is changing, however, as accessory manufacturer 8BitDo just announced Vision Pro compatibility (https://analogueconsulting.campaigns.dmanalytics2.com/usr/c67af2da76977911f343cb91cbf5e8c3/eml/wR2uxvxkT2GuDekIzsh6QQ) for a number of its controllers. These accessories are officially supported by Apple, so they should work as soon as you make a Bluetooth connection. No muss and no fuss. All told, eight devices got the Apple seal of approval here. One such gadget is the company’s Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, which we basically called the perfect gamepad for PC (https://www.engadget.com/what-we-bought-the-last-gamepad-ill-need-to-buy-for-switch-and-pc-140047518.html).  8BitDo Other compatible devices include various iterations of the SN30 Pro controller (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tLzhCaXRkby1TbjMwLVByby1CbHVldG9vdGgtR2FtZXBhZC1DbGFzc2ljL2RwL0IwN0dLTEczWlA_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy1wLXYtY3otMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImFjYmE5MjBlLTRmN2MtNDQ1Yi1hYmI3LTE5MjIwNzA0NWVhMCJ9&signature=AQAAAR5YTea_sDt5zDpcTLVt78BmfmJlJdsmlDJ1J7llhXJy&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F8Bitdo-Sn30-Pro-Bluetooth-Gamepad-Classic%2Fdp%2FB07GKLG3ZP), the Lite 2 (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0JsdWV0b290aC1Db250cm9sbGVyLVZpYnJhdGlvbi1Kb3lzdGlja3MtU3dpdGNoLU5pbnRlbmRvL2RwL0IwQlozV0Q3UTUvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWN6LTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJhY2JhOTIwZS00ZjdjLTQ0NWItYWJiNy0xOTIyMDcwNDVlYTAifQ&signature=AQAAAYi5um1IHbxFmYCSo7LCgb9SaVjp-HRYQUvRp5AK1_Sq&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBluetooth-Controller-Vibration-Joysticks-Switch-Nintendo%2Fdp%2FB0BZ3WD7Q5%2F) and the NES-inspired N30 Pro 2. The integration isn’t just for game controllers, as 8BitDo also announced AVP compatibility for its Retro Mechanical Keyboard (https://www.engadget.com/8bitdos-nintendo-inspired-mechanical-keyboard-has-super-buttons-just-begging-to-be-mashed-150024778.html). Of course, the Vision Pro works out of the box with most Bluetooth keyboards. This is pretty big news, however, as media consumption is one of the best parts of the Vision Pro experience. Video games fall squarely in that category. Just about every iPad title works on the device. If playing _Cut the Rope_ on a giant virtual screen doesn’t do it for you, the headset also integrates with Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now for access to AAA titles. 8BitDo announced official controller support for Apple devices (https://www.engadget.com/8bitdo-controllers-now-work-with-apple-devices-163657954.html) last year, though this was primarily for smartphones, tablets and Mac computers. The integration was thanks to new controller firmware and Apple's recent iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, tvOS 16.3 and macOS 13.2 updates. It looks like all of the accessories that work with iPhones and iPads also work with the Vision Pro. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-owners-now-have-more-decent-controller-options-150055872.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-owners-now-have-more-decent-controller-options-150055872.html?src=rss

**Logitech’s Litra Beam key light is 10 percent off right now** Having a fancy webcam is all well and good, but another thing you might need to seriously upgrade the quality of your video calls and livestreams is a decent key light. It will illuminate your face to help you stand out from the background and help the camera discern your features more clearly. You don’t need to break the bank to get a decent key light either. Logitech’s Litra Beam (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0xvZ2l0ZWNoLVRydWVTb2Z0LUFkanVzdGFibGUtQnJpZ2h0bmVzcy1TZXR0aW5ncy9kcC9CMEJTUVhEUzcxP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC12LWN5LTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJjNTQwYzU5NS1kN2I1LTRhNGItYWViZi05Y2U2MzJkN2E0ZDIifQ&signature=AQAAAZPWK4wfXWjwJ9kGe88dWOIyz689ZmoA2rmUbGQ-gcbQ&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLogitech-TrueSoft-Adjustable-Brightness-Settings%2Fdp%2FB0BSQXDS71) is currently $10 off at $90. That’s only $5 more than the lowest price we’ve seen for it. The Litra Beam (https://www.engadget.com/logitech-litra-beam-key-light-blue-sona-microphone-160043897.html) looks a bit like an LED reading lamp and it would be a fairly stylish addition to many setups. It has a three-way adjustable stand, allowing you to tweak the height, tilt and rotation as needed, while its ability to run on either USB or AC power gives you more placement options. The device uses TrueSoft tech, which, according to Logitech, provides "balanced, full-spectrum LED light with cinematic color accuracy for a natural, radiant look across all skin tones." A frameless diffuser helps mitigate harsh shadows, according to the company. You'll be able to adjust the Litra Beam's brightness, color temperature, presets and other settings through the Logitech G Hub desktop app, which also allows you to manage multiple lights at once. In addition, the key light has five physical buttons on the rear for quick switching between brightness and color temperature settings. _Follow__@EngadgetDeals_ (https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals) _on Twitter and__subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter_ (https://subscription.yahoo.net/Newsletter/Preference/sub?b=engadgetdeals&src) _for the latest tech deals and buying advice._ This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/logitechs-litra-beam-key-light-is-10-percent-off-right-now-141839351.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/logitechs-litra-beam-key-light-is-10-percent-off-right-now-141839351.html?src=rss

**NASA will be studying the total solar eclipse. Here's how you can help** On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will be visible across a swath of North America, from Mexico’s Pacific coast to the easternmost reaches of Canada. And in those few minutes of daytime darkness, all sorts of interesting phenomena are known to occur — phenomena NASA would like our help measuring. During a total solar eclipse, temperatures may drop and winds may slow down or change their course. Animals have been observed to behave unusually — you might hear crickets start their evening chatter a few hours early. Even radio communications can be disrupted due to changes in the ionosphere while the sun’s light is blocked. And, the sun’s corona — its outermost atmosphere — will come into view, presenting scientists (and those of us helping them) with a rare opportunity to study this layer that’s normally invisible to the naked eye. NASA has lots of research efforts planned for the eclipse, and has sponsored a handful of citizen science campaigns that anyone can take part in if they’re in or near the path of totality, or the areas where people on the ground can watch (https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-and-record-the-2024-solar-eclipse-on-april-8-163035648.html) the sun become completely obscured by the moon. The path of totality crosses 13 US states, including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. It’s an event of some significance; the next time a total solar eclipse passes over that much of the contiguous US won’t be until 2045. All you’ll need to join in is equipment you already own, like a smartphone, and a few minutes set aside before the eclipse to go through the training materials.  NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Help measure the shape of the sun One such citizen science project is SunSketcher (https://sunsketcher.org/index.php), a concerted effort to measure the true shape of the sun. While the sun is closer to being a perfect sphere than other celestial bodies that have been observed, it’s still technically an oblate spheroid, being a smidge wider along its equator. The SunSketcher team plans to get a more precise measurement by crowd-sourcing observations of Baily's Beads, or the little spots of sunlight that peek out from behind the moon at certain points in the eclipse. The Baily’s Bead effect is “the last piece of the sun seen before totality and the first to appear after totality,” NASA explained in a blog post (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/sketch-the-shape-of-the-sun-for-science-during-the-solar-eclipse/). “For a few seconds, these glimmers of light look like beads along the moon’s edge.” They’re visible thanks to the uneven topographical features on the lunar surface. You’ll need to download the free SunSketcher app, which is available for iOS and Android on the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sunsketcher/id6464665997) and Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wkuxr.eclipsetotality&pli=1). Then, a few minutes before totality (the exact time is location-dependent), put your phone on Do Not Disturb, hit “Start” in the app and prop up the phone in a place where it has a good view of the sun. After that, leave it be until the eclipse is over — the app will automatically take pictures of Baily’s Beads as they show up. There’s a tutorial (https://sunsketcher.org/app-tutorial.php) on the SunSketcher website if you want to familiarize yourself with the process beforehand. When it’s all said and done, the pictures will be uploaded to SunSketcher’s server. They’ll eventually be combined with observations from all over to “create an evolving pattern of beads” that may be able to shed better light on the size and shape of the sun. The SunSketcher images probably won’t blow you away, so if you’re hoping to get some great pictures of the eclipse, you’ll want to have another camera on hand for that (with the appropriate filters to protect your eyes and the device’s sensors).  NASA / Aubrey Gemignani Record changes in your surroundings Eclipse-watchers can also use their smartphones to record the environmental changes that take place when the sun dips behind the moon as part of a challenge run by Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (Globe). You’ll need an air temperature thermometer as well for this task, and can start logging observations in the days before the eclipse if you feel like being extra thorough. Temperatures at the surface can, in some cases, drop as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit during a total solar eclipse, according to NASA. And certain types of clouds have been observed to dissipate during these brief cooldowns, resulting in unexpectedly clear skies in the moments before totality. Data collected with the help of citizen scientists during the 2017 total solar eclipse showed that areas with heavier cloud cover (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152590/the-best-places-to-view-the-total-solar-eclipse#:~:text=As%20the%20Moon%20blocks%20the,land%20surface%20cools%20during%20eclipses.) experienced a less extreme drop in surface temperatures. To participate this time around, download the Globe Observer app from the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/globe-observer/id1090456751) or Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nasa.globe.observer&hl=en&pcampaignid=MKT-Other-global-all-co-prtnr-py-PartBadge-Mar2515-1), and then open the Globe Eclipse tool from the in-app menu. There, you’ll be able to jot down your temperature measurements and take photos of the sky to record any changes in cloud cover, and make notes about the wind conditions. Plan to dedicate a few hours to this one — NASA asks that you include observations from 1-2 hours before and after the eclipse in addition to what you’ll record during. “You will measure temperature every 5-10 minutes and clouds every 15-30 minutes or whenever you see change,” NASA says. You can keep using the Globe Observer app for citizen science beyond eclipse day, too. There are programs running all year round for recording observations of things like clouds, land use, mosquito habitats and tree heights. The eclipse tool, though, is only available when there’s an eclipse happening. Listen to the sounds of wildlife Observations going back nearly 100 years have added support to the idea that total solar eclipses temporarily throw some animals out of whack. Inspired by a 1935 study that gathered observations on animal behavior during an eclipse three years prior, the Eclipse Soundscapes Project (https://eclipsesoundscapes.org/) is inviting members of the public to take note of what they hear before, during and after totality, and share their findings. To be an Observer (https://eclipsesoundscapes.org/observer/#training) for the project, it’s recommended that you first sign up on the website and go through the brief training materials so you can get a sense of what type of information the project is looking for. The website also has printable field notes pages you can use to record your observations on eclipse day. You should start taking notes down at least 10 minutes before totality. Only after the eclipse is over will you need to fill out the webform to submit your observations along with your latitude and longitude. If you happen to have an AudioMoth acoustic monitoring device and a spare microSD card lying around, you can go a step further and record the actual sounds of the environment during the eclipse as a Data Collector (https://eclipsesoundscapes.org/data-collector-page/#kit). You’ll need to set everything up early — the project says to do it on Saturday, April 6 before noon — and let it record until at least 5PM local time on April 10. At that point, you can turn it off, submit your notes online and mail in the SD card. All of the details for submission can be found on the project’s website.  NASA Take photos of the solar corona The Eclipse Megamovie 2024 (https://eclipsemegamovie.org/) is an initiative designed to study the sun’s corona and plasma plumes from locations in the path of totality, building off of a previous campaign from the 2017 total solar eclipse. It’s already selected a team of 100 Science Team Alpha Recruits (STARs) who underwent training and were given 3D-printed tracking mounts for their cameras to shoot the best possible images. But, the project will still be accepting photo submissions from any enthusiasts who have a DSLR (and a solar filter) and want to participate. The Photography Guide (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HX2ZU0ZA_XemxvA7-lyiY8VndEOalXcH/view) is pretty exhaustive, so don’t wait until eclipse day to start figuring out your setup. You’ll be able to submit your photos after the eclipse through a form on the website. However you choose to spend the eclipse, whether you’re collecting data for a citizen science mission or just planning to kick back and observe, make sure you have everything in place well ahead of the time. While the partial eclipse phases will last over an hour, totality will be over and done in about 3.5-4.5 minutes depending on where you’re watching from. You wouldn’t want to miss out on some of that time because you were fumbling with your camera. Totality will start shortly after 11AM local time (2PM ET) for western Mexico, moving northeastward over the subsequent two-or-so hours before exiting land near Newfoundland, Canada around 5:30PM local time. There will still be something to see for people outside the path of totality, too. Most of the US will be treated to a partial eclipse that day. You can find out exactly when the eclipse will be visible from your location with this tool on NASA’s website (https://eclipse-explorer.smce.nasa.gov/), along with the percentage of sun coverage you can expect to witness. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nasa-will-be-studying-the-total-solar-eclipse-heres-how-you-can-help-140011076.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/nasa-will-be-studying-the-total-solar-eclipse-heres-how-you-can-help-140011076.html?src=rss

**Engadget Podcast: Why pay $10 a month to get away from Google search?** Google has gone from being the go-to search engine to something people are paying to avoid entirely. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with 404 Media (https://www.404media.co/) co-founder Jason Koebler (https://twitter.com/jason_koebler?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) about his experience moving away from Google and towards Kagi (https://www.404media.co/friendship-ended-with-google-now-kagi-is-my-best-friend/), a $10 a month search engine without ads or data tracking. Funny enough, Kagi is still relying on Google’s index, so it’s a lot like using that site before the onslaught of ads, sponsored posts and AI results. Also, we discuss the company’s lies around Chrome’s incognito mode, as well as the news that it would be deleting user data collected in that mode. (Be sure to check out the 404 Media podcast (https://www.404media.co/the-404-media-podcast/) too!) * * * Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to **email us** (mailto:podcast@engadget.com?subject=Engadget%20Podcast%20Feedback) or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News (https://www.engadget.com/2019-08-01-engadget-podcasts.html)! Topics - Why Jason Koebler moved from Google to Kagi's paid search engine – 0:45 - Google says it will destroy data collected from users using Incognito mode – 15:01 - Gurman report: Apple is working on personal home robots – 24:55 - Amazon just walked out on its self check-out tech – 30:43 - FCC set to vote to restore Net Neutrality – 43:00 - Apple adds Spatial Personas to make the Vision Pro experience less lonely – 45:09 - Proposed California state law would give tech workers the “right to disconnect” – 47:17 - Tekken director responds to fighting game fans’ request for a Waffle House stage – 49:57 - Around Engadget – 51:22 - Working on – 54:31 - Pop culture picks – 59:13 Subscribe! - iTunes (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2l0dW5lcy5hcHBsZS5jb20vdXMvcG9kY2FzdC90aGUtZW5nYWRnZXQtcG9kY2FzdC9pZDExNDI3OTA1MzA_bXQ9MiIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWUyMDMzNjEtZGQxMS00ODkwLWIxOTMtNGMwNmQ2MzI2MzU4In0&signature=AQAAAceZBn2I9QmWb1qCB9zGEf2ZqV_9Wr3aEp9zxpQw4pmY&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-engadget-podcast%2Fid1142790530%3Fmt%3D2) - Spotify (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL29wZW4uc3BvdGlmeS5jb20vc2hvdy8zRUMzZE1JUkI5OWRrdm9TQmVTTzdHP3NpPWY3VUFMR0ttUkRXdE9yVThaNC11aVEiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjVlMjAzMzYxLWRkMTEtNDg5MC1iMTkzLTRjMDZkNjMyNjM1OCJ9&signature=AQAAAcb0Troo5AWdzur6W4Qm50rLcEckVQkHqSgT0PA6Tp_-&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F3EC3dMIRB99dkvoSBeSO7G%3Fsi%3Df7UALGKmRDWtOrU8Z4-uiQ) - Pocket Casts (http://pca.st/mlY3) - Stitcher (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/engadget/the-engadget-podcast) - Google Podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6MjQ1MjIwOTU4L3NvdW5kcy5yc3M&ep=14) **_Credits_** **_Hosts:_** _Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar_ **_Guest:_**_Jason Koebler_ (https://twitter.com/jason_koebler?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) **_Producer:_** _Ben Ellman_ **_Music:_** _Dale North and Terrence O'Brien_ This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-podcast-google-search-kagi-incognito-123049753.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/engadget-podcast-google-search-kagi-incognito-123049753.html?src=rss

**YouTube CEO warns OpenAI that training models on its videos is against the rules** AI models using individual's work without permission (or compensation) is nothing new, with entities like _The New York Times_ (https://www.engadget.com/the-new-york-times-is-suing-openai-and-microsoft-for-copyright-infringement-181212615.html) and Getty Images (https://www.engadget.com/getty-images-sues-the-maker-of-ai-art-generator-stable-diffusion-over-data-scraping-allegations-184502897.html) initiating lawsuits against AI creators alongside artists and writers. In March, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati contributed to the ongoing uncertainty, telling _The Wall Street Journal_ (https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/openai-cto-sora-generative-video-interview-b66320bb) she wasn't sure if Sora (https://www.engadget.com/openais-new-sora-model-can-generate-minute-long-videos-from-text-prompts-195717694.html), the company's new text-to-video AI tool, takes data from YouTube, Instagram or Facebook posts. Now, YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan has responded with a clear warning to OpenAI that using its videos to teach Sora would be a "clear violation" of the platform's terms of use. In an interview with _Bloomberg Originals_ (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-04/youtube-says-openai-training-sora-with-its-videos-would-break-the-rules?sref=10lNAhZ9&embedded-checkout=true) host Emily Chang, Mohan stated, "From a creator's perspective, when a creator uploads their hard work to our platform, they have certain expectations. One of those expectations is that the terms of service is going to be abided by. It does not allow for things like transcripts or video bits to be downloaded, and that is a clear violation of our terms of service. Those are the rules of the road in terms of content on our platform." A lot of uncertainty and controversy still surrounds how OpenAI trains Sora, along with ChatGPT and DALL-E (https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-will-digitally-tag-images-generated-by-dall-e-3-to-help-battle-misinformation-102514822.html), with _The Wall Street Journal_ (https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-training-data-synthetic-openai-anthropic-9230f8d8) recently reporting the company plans to use YouTube video transcriptions to train GPT-5. On the other hand, OpenAI competitor Google is apparently respecting the rules — at least when it comes to YouTube (which it owns). Google's AI model Gemini (https://www.engadget.com/googles-gemini-15-pro-is-a-new-more-efficient-ai-model-181909354.html) requires similar data to learn but Mohan claims it only uses certain videos, depending on permissions are given in each creator's licensing contract. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-ceo-warns-openai-that-training-models-on-its-videos-is-against-the-rules-121547513.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/youtube-ceo-warns-openai-that-training-models-on-its-videos-is-against-the-rules-121547513.html?src=rss

**Roku looks into serving you ads on whatever you plug into its TVs** Roku already serves ads (https://www.engadget.com/roku-shoppable-ads-walmart-113552825.html) through its platform, but it's also apparently exploring the idea of showing you ads while you're using third-party devices connected to its TVs. Based on a recent patent filing (https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230388589A1/en) unearthed by _Lowpass_ (https://www.lowpass.cc/p/roku-hdmi-ad-insertion-patent), the company is looking to develop a system or a method "for ad insertion by a display device coupled to a media device via a high-definition media interface (HDMI) connection." That means if you've connected another streaming device or console — say, an Apple TV, a Chromecast or a PlayStation — to a Roku TV via HDMI, the company would still be able to serve you advertisements. In particular, Roku is hoping to show you commercials while whatever you're watching or playing on the third-party device attached to it is on pause. In its patent, it described several methods on how it can detect whether the show or game on screen is paused, such as receiving a pause signal from the remote control, detecting a pause icon, looking at several video frames and determining that the image on screen hasn't changed for some time and getting a silent audio signal from the HDMI connection. If it works as intended, those ads wouldn't impact your viewing or playing experience ( _much_), assuming you're truly stepping away or doing something else in the meantime. While you'd probably prefer those experiences to be free of ads altogether, Roku is at least looking to make sure that it's serving you relevant ads. It could analyze frozen video or audio frames and use automatic content recognition (ACR) technology to identify what's on screen. Or it could analyze metadata to show ads connected to what you're playing or watching. It could also serve commercials based on what third-party device is attached to your TV. As _Lowpass_ notes, the company could have conjured the idea because manufacturers typically don't make a lot of money from hardware sales. For the fiscal year of 2023, Roku lost $44 million on smart TVs. Similarly, Samsung's visual display and digital appliances division posted $37.5 million in operating losses (https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-annual-profits-continued-to-decline-in-2023-090500640.html) for last year's fourth quarter. Meanwhile, ads and services generated $1.6 billion in profit for Roku. This idea could potentially make it more money... if the prospect of watching commercials while your show or game is paused doesn't turn you off buying Roku TV, of course. This is just a patent at this point in time, though, and Roku may very well end up scrapping it and not implementing it at all. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roku-looks-into-serving-you-ads-on-whatever-you-plug-into-its-tvs-120016754.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/roku-looks-into-serving-you-ads-on-whatever-you-plug-into-its-tvs-120016754.html?src=rss

**The Morning After: 80 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions comes from just 57 companies** A new Carbon Majors Database report, which examines carbon dioxide emissions, found that just 57 companies were responsible for 80 percent of the global carbon dioxide emissions (https://www.engadget.com/only-57-companies-produced-80-percent-of-global-carbon-dioxide-130752291.html) between 2016 and 2022. ExxonMobil, which topped the list of United States companies, contributed 1.4 percent of all global carbon dioxide emissions. It has net zero emissions targets. Nearly 200 parties adopted the 2015 Paris Agreement, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, 58 of the 100 state- and investor-owned companies in the Carbon Majors Database have since increased their production. The International Energy Agency found coal consumption increased by eight percent over the seven years to 8.3 billion tons — a record high. State-owned Coal India is one of the top three carbon dioxide producers. Russia’s state-owned energy company Gazprom and state-owned oil firm Saudi Aramco rounded out the group. — Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed X is giving blue checks to people with more than 2,500 Premium followers (https://www.engadget.com/x-is-giving-blue-checks-to-people-with-more-than-2500-premium-followers-090922311.html) Hatsune Miku in Crypt of the Necrodancer feels like the perfect crossover (https://www.engadget.com/hatsune-miku-in-crypt-of-the-necrodancer-feels-like-the-perfect-crossover-203138973.html) The best multi-device wireless charging pads for 2024 (https://www.engadget.com/best-multi-device-wireless-charging-pads-120557582.html) ​​ _You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox.__Subscribe right here!_ (https://www.engadget.com/about/newsletter/) The chaos of YouTube’s multicam Coachella stream (https://www.engadget.com/who-exactly-is-youtubes-multicam-coachella-stream-for-183744741.html)When you apply sports logic to a music festival.\ \ YouTube (https://www.engadget.com/who-exactly-is-youtubes-multicam-coachella-stream-for-183744741.html) YouTube is hyping its exclusive Coachella streaming coverage, which starts next week. The headlining feature is the platform’s multiview experience (already familiar to sports fans) — but who wants to watch up to four stages simultaneously, with audio for one of them. It’s… a music festival. Coachella runs from April 12 to 14 and April 19 to 21. **Continue reading.** (https://www.engadget.com/who-exactly-is-youtubes-multicam-coachella-stream-for-183744741.html) The latest Razer Blade 18 is now available to order (https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-razer-blade-18-is-now-available-to-order-180330999.html)If you want 4K 200Hz display, you’ll need an extra $1,700 and a bit of time.\ \ Razer (https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-razer-blade-18-is-now-available-to-order-180330999.html) Finally, after a reveal at CES, the 2024 edition of the Razor Blade 18 arrives for $3,099. The base system has an i9-14900HX processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 7, a triple-fan cooling system and a six-speaker array with THX spatial audio support. You can equip the laptop with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (the base model has a 4070 graphics card). In what Razer claims is a first for a laptop, there’s Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, but only if you opt for a 4080 or 4090 GPU. **Continue reading.** (https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-razer-blade-18-is-now-available-to-order-180330999.html) Apple cuts over 700 jobs as it closes car and display projects (https://www.engadget.com/apple-cuts-over-700-jobs-following-its-car-and-display-project-closures-061524777.html)Eight offices in Santa Clara, California were affected by the layoffs. Over 700 people at Apple have recently lost their jobs, mostly from offices in Santa Clara. The location that dealt with the company’s electric vehicle projects has lost 371 people. There may not be enough space at thatnew home robot project. (https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-developing-personal-robots-for-your-home-bloomberg-says-044254029.html) **Continue reading.** (https://www.engadget.com/apple-cuts-over-700-jobs-following-its-car-and-display-project-closures-061524777.html) This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-80-percent-of-global-carbon-dioxide-emissions-comes-from-just-57-companies-111514748.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-80-percent-of-global-carbon-dioxide-emissions-comes-from-just-57-companies-111514748.html?src=rss

**Disney+ is also cracking down on password sharing** Say goodbye to your best friend's neighbor's great aunt's Disney+ account. Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an interview with _CNBC_ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srDb6vj3w-Q) that the streamer is cracking down on password sharing worldwide this summer. The company enacted the same restrictions for Canadian subscribers (https://www.engadget.com/disney-is-getting-strict-about-password-sharing-starting-in-canada-194038029.html) last fall. The move is hardly a surprise, as Disney's CFO Hugh Johnston shared the plan during an earnings call in February. "Paid sharing is an opportunity for us. It's one that our competitor is obviously taking advantage of, and one that sits in front of us. We've got some very specific actions (https://www.engadget.com/disney-has-started-cracking-down-on-password-sharing-in-the-us-070317512.html) that we're taking in the next couple of months." Disney-owned Hulu started its own crackdown (https://www.engadget.com/hulu-is-the-latest-streaming-service-to-crack-down-on-password-sharing-161957187.html) on password sharing on March 14, and both streamers' terms of service explicitly ban people from using other customers' login information (Though its latest announcement indicates Disney is actually ready to enforce it). Streamers across the lineup are restricting password sharing, and it seems to be working — for them, not us. According to analytics firm Antenna, Netflix's United States signups increased (https://www.engadget.com/netflixs-password-sharing-crackdown-seems-to-be-working-151023478.html) by 102 percent during the first four days after the rule went into effect, compared to the 60 days prior. There were an average of 73,000 new signups daily, far outpacing cancelations. Max will also start restricting sharing this year, fully cracking down in 2025. Disney+ will start its clampdown in some countries come June, expanding to a second wave of countries in September. It's unclear as of now which group the US is in, but Disney will likely provide a breakdown when the dates get closer. Disney+ currently costs $8 monthly with ads (https://www.engadget.com/disney-plus-ad-supported-plan-live-premium-price-increase-162818934.html) and $14 monthly for ad-free viewing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-is-also-cracking-down-on-password-sharing-103010857.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/disney-is-also-cracking-down-on-password-sharing-103010857.html?src=rss

**An old SEO scam has a new AI-generated face** Over the years, Engadget has been the target of a common SEO scam, wherein someone claims ownership of an image and demands a link back to a particular website. A lot of other websites would tell you the same thing, but now the scammers are making their fake DMCA takedown notices and threats of legal action look more legit with the help of easily accessible AI tools. According to a report by _404Media_ (https://www.404media.co/a-law-firm-of-ai-generated-lawyers-is-sending-fake-threats-as-an-seo-scam/), the publisher of the website Tedium (https://tedium.co/) received a "copyright infringement notice" via email from a law firm called Commonwealth Legal last week. Like older, similar attempts at duping the recipient, the sender said they're reaching out "in relation to an image" connected to their client. In this case, the sender demanded the addition of a "visible and clickable link" to a website called "tech4gods" underneath the photo that was allegedly stolen. Since Tedium actually used a photo from a royalty-free provider, the publisher looked into the demand, found the law firm's website, and upon closer inspection, realized that the images of its lawyers were generated by AI. As _404Media_ notes, the images of the lawyers had vacant looks in the eyes that's commonly seen in photos created by AI tools. If you do a reverse image search on them, you'll get results from a website with the URL generated.photos, which uses artificial intelligence to make "unique, worry-free model photos... from scratch." The publisher also found that the law firm's listed address that's supposed to be on the fourth floor of a building points to a one-floor structure on Google Street View. The owner of tech4gods said he had nothing to do with the scam but admitted that he used to buy backlinks for his website. This is but one example of how bad actors can use AI tools to fool and scam people, and we have to be more vigilant as instances like this will just likely keep on growing. Reverse image search engines are your friend, but they may not be infallible (https://www.engadget.com/deepfake-detectors-can-be-duped-083601148.html) and may not always help. Deepfakes, for instance, have become a big problem in recent years, as bad actors continue to use them to create convincing videos and audio not just to scam people (https://www.engadget.com/scammers-use-deepfakes-to-steal-256-million-from-a-multinational-firm-034033977.html?_fsig=fGOUqdW63FrvjmvinRrY.A--%7EA), but also to spread misinformation (https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-bans-deepfakes-misinformation-173314446.html) online. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/an-old-seo-scam-has-a-new-ai-generated-face-100045758.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/an-old-seo-scam-has-a-new-ai-generated-face-100045758.html?src=rss

**The best VR headsets for 2024** Virtual reality is interesting again. After a few years of stagnation, it’s worth considering an immersive VR headset. The Meta Quest 3 delivers excellent standalone virtual reality for $500, while Apple has thrown down the gauntlet with the Vision Pro (https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-review-beta-testing-the-future-201430272.html), a $3,500 stab at combining VR and augmented reality (AR). Those who have an original Quest should consider upgrading, and while it’s not really feasible for most people, the Vision Pro provides a glimpse at where the entire category might be headed. We’ve tested and reviewed all of the big players in the VR game; this buyer’s guide will help you decide which is the best VR headset for you. How we test VR headsets I tend to judge VR headsets on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes skill to craft something that's well balanced and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes. My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort? For the most ergonomic devices, like the Quest 3, that could easily be an hour or two. But heavier PC hardware often feels cumbersome after just 15 minutes — you won’t find headsets guilty of that in this guide. Immersion, meanwhile, comes from having high resolution screens with fast refresh rates, so everything looks sharp and smooth. Field of view is also a major element, as it describes how well VR screens can cover what you see. Having a narrow field of view makes it feel like you’re looking through a pair of binoculars, and limits your sense of “presence,” or the idea that you’re actually transported to a virtual world. A wide field of view, on the other hand, can make it seem like you’re actually flying over the globe in Google Earth. We look at a few popular games, like _Superhot_, _Beat Saber_ and _Pistol Whip_, on every headset to judge how immersed we feel. The best controllers fit naturally in your hands and offer accurate tracking. The industry has basically adopted the design of Meta’s excellent touch controllers, but we're also seeing intriguing leaps forward like Valve's finger tracking gamepads. We judge controllers based on how easy they are to hold, how they hold up to sweaty gameplay sessions and how easily headsets can track their position in space. Other VR headsets we’ve testedMeta Quest Pro As great as the Meta Quest 3 is, the Quest 2 is still a very good entry-level VR headset, and it’s worth considering if it’s on sale below its current $250 list price. The Meta Quest Pro (https://www.engadget.com/meta-quest-pro-review-a-next-gen-headset-for-the-vr-faithful-specs-price-130045313-130045431.html), on the the hand, is an expensive boondoggle best ignored. HTC Vive Pro 2 Outside of Meta’s hardware, the HTC Vive Pro 2 (https://www.engadget.com/htc-vive-pro-2-review-5k-vr-headset-133100685-133000767.html) remains a fantastic PC headset, but it’s far more expensive than the Valve Index, which is more comfortable and offers better audio. FAQsHow do VR headsets work? At the most basic level, a VR headset is simply a high quality screen that you’re holding up to your face. For a wired headset, the actual work of rendering a game is done on either a PC or game console. For completely wireless devices, like the Meta Quest 3, that work is handled right on the headset. They rely on either external sensors, or sensors built into the headsets, to map your physical space. While you can use a traditional gamepad or keyboard and mouse in VR, they typically use motion tracking controllers to immerse you in their 3D environments. What VR headset is best for full body tracking? While we’re still waiting for a truly great haptic VR bodysuit to arrive, you can still achieve accurate body tracking with most Steam VR-compatible PC headsets. The Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro 2 both rely on room-tracking sensors that can map your body more effectively than the built-in sensors on competitors. You can also add HTC Vive Trackers to wrist and leg straps, as well as belts, for even better coverage. The Meta Quest 3 doesn’t have any easy body tracking solutions, but you can add Vive trackers when it’s plugged into your PC (https://www.vr-wave.store/blogs/virtual-reality-prescription-lenses/get-full-body-tracking-on-your-quest-2) to mimic a Steam VR headset. Only a few experiences, like VRChat, take advantage of full body tracking at the moment. Currently there aren’t any body tracking solutions for the PlayStation VR and VR2, but we’re intrigued by the company’s Mocopi body trackers (https://www.vr-wave.store/blogs/virtual-reality-prescription-lenses/get-full-body-tracking-on-your-quest-2), which were really announced in Japan. What VR headsets are better than Oculus? Oculus is the previous name for Meta’s VR hardware. Currently, Meta only supports the Quest 3, Quest 2 and Quest Pro, all of which are wireless headsets. As we explain above, PC VR headsets can generally achieve better quality virtual reality, since they rely on more powerful graphics hardware. What VR headsets work with Xbox? Currently, Microsoft’s Xbox consoles don’t support any VR headsets. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-vr-headsets-140012529.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/best-vr-headsets-140012529.html?src=rss

**What to Know About the Roiling Debate Over U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates** by Robin Fields (https://www.propublica.org/people/robin-fields) ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories (https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=54G&placement=top-note®ion=national) as soon as they’re published. An unusual public dispute has erupted among leading maternal health experts over whether the striking rise of U.S. maternal mortality rates over the past two decades was the real deal — or a statistical mirage. The challenge to what has been a long-held view among public health officials came from researchers behind a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(24)00005-X/fulltext). The study concluded that maternal death rates put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been substantially inflated by misclassified data. Using an alternate way of counting deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, the study found, U.S. maternal mortality rates would be far lower than have been reported. And they’d be stable, not rising. The pushback followed soon after. The CDC said it disagreed with the study’s findings and criticized the researchers’ methodology as a recipe for undercounting maternal deaths. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criticized the study for painting an “incomplete picture.” “To reduce the U.S. maternal mortality crisis to an ‘overestimation’ is irresponsible and minimizes the many lives lost and the families that have been deeply affected,” Dr. Christopher Zahn, the group’s interim CEO, said in a written statement. ProPublica has been writing since 2017 about what maternal health experts condemned as unacceptably high numbers of deaths and near-deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth. Our series, “Lost Mothers (https://www.propublica.org/series/lost-mothers),” examined how most maternal deaths are preventable and how obdurate racial disparities cause Black mothers to die at far higher rates. The disproportionate toll on Black women is one point on which the CDC and the new study agree. We also wrote about how flaws in data collection (https://www.propublica.org/article/how-many-american-women-die-from-causes-related-to-pregnancy-or-childbirth) had made it challenging to understand how U.S. maternal mortality rates were changing, as well as how American outcomes compared with those of other wealthy countries. The landscape has changed in critical ways since then. More than 20 states have banned or restricted access to abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022; studies have shown that maternal mortality rates are higher in these states (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728320/). Thus it seems all the more urgent to revisit some key questions about this marker of reproductive health. Why is it so hard to pin down how many American women die as a consequence of pregnancy and childbirth? Health officials rely on information from death certificates to track maternal deaths. These crucial documents are filled in by doctors, turned in to state and local vital statistics offices, then funneled to epidemiologists at the CDC. The cause-of-death information in these records has always been prone to error and often is incomplete. In the case of maternal deaths, death certificates often aren’t filled out by OB-GYNs or anyone trained to recognize a connection to pregnancy or childbirth. The simplest cases involve deaths that result directly from pregnancy, labor or postpartum complications. But pregnancy also can interact with a mother-to-be’s preexisting health conditions or cause new ones, figuring into fatalities in ways that death certificates sometimes don’t reflect. For many years, research showed substantial numbers of maternal deaths were being missed — possibly as many as half. To fix this, starting in 2003, states began phasing in a revised death certificate that added a checkbox question asking whether the person who died, if female, was pregnant at the time or within a year of death. After states added the pregnancy checkbox, they often saw their rates of maternal deaths double, experts told ProPublica. This eliminated the undercount, but it also brought so-called false positives: deaths counted as related to pregnancy or childbirth that really weren’t. This was particularly a problem among women over 40. The CDC highlighted (https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/84767) these issues (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69_01-508.pdf) in several reports (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-02-508.pdf). In one, it found that 147 decedents over 85 (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-02-508.pdf) had been identified as pregnant when they died or within the previous year, according to 2013 checkbox data. In another, it analyzed a sample of 2014 and 2016 maternal deaths identified via the checkbox, comparing their death certificates to hospital records; more than half the deaths were potentially false positives (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-02-508.pdf), the agency concluded. In 2018, the agency made changes to improve data quality, among them that the pregnancy checkbox wouldn’t be used for women who died at ages 45 and older. Last year, the CDC took another step designed to wring out errors, requiring states to start verifying checkbox information on a subset of records. The new study’s authors — a dozen researchers based mostly in Canada — say the tweaks haven’t gone far enough. They propose an alternative way of counting in which deaths are classified as maternal only if at least one cause of death listed on the death certificate specifically mentions pregnancy. Classifying deaths as maternal without this kind of evidence, based solely on the pregnancy checkbox, undermines “the very purpose of surveillance,” lead author Dr. K.S. Joseph, a physician and epidemiologist at the University of British Columbia, said in an interview. “If we are to use this cause-of-death information to institute clinical and public health programs aimed at preventing maternal death, we need proper cause of death information,” he said. He wasn’t surprised that the study kicked off a firestorm: “The dominant narrative is that the U.S. has a maternal mortality crisis,” he wrote in a follow-up email. “So it’s not unexpected that a study such as ours is met with skepticism, at least initially.” He said the researchers were confident that their findings were accurate and that the narrative would change. The CDC, however, challenged the study’s approach, arguing it would miss many maternal deaths. One example: a mother-to-be who dies from hypertension. The checkbox should catch this, ensuring the death would be counted as maternal. Using the study’s method, the death might be missed if whoever fills out the death certificate gives the cause as hypertension without adding the connection to pregnancy. “Capturing these otherwise unrecorded maternal deaths is critical to understanding the scope of maternal mortality in the United States and taking effective public health action to prevent these deaths,” the CDC said in an emailed statement. Joseph agreed his study’s method likely does underestimate maternal death rates. “But it is the best available method to answer the question of whether rates have increased over the last 20 years,” he said. So are U.S. maternal mortality rates rising or not? The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics didn’t publish an official U.S. maternal mortality rate for more than a decade — from 2007 to 2018 — as states transitioned to using death certificates including the pregnancy checkbox. The CDC’s rate for 2018 — 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births — was considerably higher than the 12.7 rate for 2007, an increase the agency attributed largely to changes in data collection (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2020/202001_MMR.htm). But it’s less clear how much of that was driven by errors versus accurately counting maternal deaths that previously had been missed. The agency’s rates edged up again in 2019 and 2020, then leaped to almost 33 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021. Some of this reflected the pandemic: A quarter of maternal deaths in 2020 and 2021 were associated with COVID-19 (https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105871.pdf), a report by the Government Accountability Office found. The new study compares two four-year periods: 1999 to 2002 (before the checkbox) and 2018 to 2021 (after). Using the CDC’s way of counting, the maternal mortality rate more than doubled over that time frame, from about 9.7 deaths per 100,000 live births in the first period to 23.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in the second one, the study finds. Using the researchers’ formula, by contrast, maternal deaths stayed essentially flat from the first period to the second, going from 10.2 deaths per 100,000 live births to 10.4 deaths per live births. Some of the authors’ findings echo those of other researchers. For example, they found that deaths from direct obstetrical causes, such as preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, decreased over time. There have been other studies that reached similar conclusions, including one showing the rate of pregnant women who died delivering children in the hospital (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2806478?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=062223) dropped by more than half from 2008 through 2021. Still, the CDC’s mortality data experts say they have the fundamental trend line right, particularly since the checkbox-related changes in 2018. “We feel fairly confident that there has been an increase \[in maternal mortality\], particularly during the pandemic,” Robert Anderson, chief of mortality statistics for the CDC, told CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/12/health/maternal-mortality-trends-study-questions/index.html). “We went from underestimating to overestimating, so we had to make that correction. But I feel fairly confident that the increases since 2018 are real.” What about the data on racial disparities — does this hold up? Whatever method you use to calculate maternal death rates, Black women still have a substantially higher risk of dying as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Data from the CDC shows that for each year from 2018 to 2021, Black women have maternal mortality rates double that of women overall and 2.5 to 3 times higher than white women (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.htm#:~:text=In%202021%2C%201%2C205%20women%20died,20.1%20in%202019%20(Table)). The new study, using its alternative method for counting pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths, finds similar racial disparities over that period. How do U.S. maternal mortality rates compare with those of other wealthy countries? Much of the concern about U.S. maternal death rates has been driven by its outlier status among industrialized countries (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2020/measuring-maternal-mortality) and that its rates have continued to worsen as rates in many wealthy nations improved (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-maternal-mortality-rates-are-getting-worse-across-the-u-s/). The 2021 rate reported by the CDC was several times those of countries like Australia and Switzerland and topped those of many middle-income countries. By the new study’s yardstick, U.S. maternal mortality rates look considerably better — similar to those of Canada and the United Kingdom though still higher than those of many other wealthy countries. To allow rates to be compared internationally, countries around the world, including the U.S., use the World Health Organization’s definition of maternal mortality. But they often have very different systems for tracking deaths and checking the accuracy, consistency and comprehensiveness of vital statistics data. The U.K. is considered the gold standard when it comes to maternal deaths, conducting in-depth investigations into every single one (https://www.propublica.org/article/why-giving-birth-is-safer-in-britain-than-in-the-u-s). While the new study says the CDC has been overestimating U.S. maternal mortality rates, some health experts have argued there are pregnancy-related deaths that aren’t captured by the agency’s data but should be (https://www.propublica.org/article/the-new-us-maternal-mortality-rate-fails-to-capture-many-deaths). The maternal mortality rate excludes deaths by suicide or caused by “accidental or incidental” causes, including drug overdoses. It also doesn’t include maternal deaths that occur more than 42 days after giving birth. In the U.S., about 30% of pregnancy-related deaths are happening from 43 days to 365 days after delivery (https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternal-mortality/erase-mm/data-mmrc.html), a CDC report said. “These are all issues that clinicians and public health people need to debate and to address,” Joseph said. “But we haven’t done it as yet.” https://www.propublica.org/article/what-to-know-maternal-mortality-rates-debate

**Apple cuts over 700 jobs following its car and display project closures** Over 700 people at Apple have recently lost their jobs, according to the latest WARN report (https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/layoff_services_warn) posted by the Employment Development Department of California (EDD). Most of the people who were laid off worked at Apple's offices in Santa Clara, with 371 of them coming from (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-04/apple-cut-at-least-600-workers-when-car-screen-projects-stopped?sref=10lNAhZ9) the company location that primarily dealt with the company's now-defunct electric vehicle project (https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-car-project-is-reportedly-dead-203012885.html). Under California law, companies are required to file a report with the EDD for each location affected by layoffs under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) program. Eight Apple locations in Santa Clara were hit by layoffs, including the main car office, though one of them worked on its in-house MicroLED display project (https://www.engadget.com/2018-03-18-apple-microled-rumor.html) that was reportedly scrapped (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-22/apple-scraps-plan-to-design-display-for-watch-in-house-cuts-jobs?sref=10lNAhZ9) in March due to costs and technical difficulties. The company was hoping to produce its own screens for iPhones, Macs and its smartwatches, but that clearly isn't happening anytime soon. Apple's original car ambitions were to build a fully autonomous vehicle without pedals and a steering wheel, until it decided to develop an electric vehicle instead. A previous _Bloomberg_ report said Apple canceled (https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-car-project-is-reportedly-dead-203012885.html) the initiative internally called "Project Titan" after investing billions of dollars and a decade into it. The employees who were developing the vehicle were given the chance to transfer to Apple's other divisions, including its teams that are reportedly working on artificial intelligence and home robotics. But based on Apple's WARN report, it wasn't able to re-integrate everyone into the company. Apple is believed to be in the very early stages of developing personal robotics (https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-developing-personal-robots-for-your-home-bloomberg-says-044254029.html?_fsig=12hmctV1EI30PVfHKzjiiw--%7EA) for people's homes. One of the machines that's currently a work-in-progress is a robot that follows people around, while the other is a table-top device that uses a robot to move a display around, according to another _Bloomberg_ report. The company's work on personal robotics is part of its efforts, which also include the Vision Pro (https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-review-beta-testing-the-future-201430272.html), to find new sources of revenue. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-cuts-over-700-jobs-following-its-car-and-display-project-closures-061524777.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/apple-cuts-over-700-jobs-following-its-car-and-display-project-closures-061524777.html?src=rss

**Hatsune Miku in Crypt of the Necrodancer feels like the perfect crossover** _Crypt of the Necrodancer_ (https://www.engadget.com/2013-08-31-pounding-beats-and-dragons-in-crypt-of-the-necrodancer.html) just won’t die — and that’s a good thing. The nearly decade-old roguelike rhythm game (https://www.engadget.com/2015-01-09-gdca-2015-finalists-led-by-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor.html) received new content on Thursday, bringing virtual pop star Hatsune Miku into the fold as a playable character. Developer Brace Yourself Games says Hatsune Miku is one of the more challenging characters in the game. She can move in all eight directions and takes out foes by boogying her way through groups of enemies. The developer’s press release explains, “She doesn’t have a shovel like most characters, so she must use her dance-like dash attack to break through walls instead.” Hell yeah. She has a “Sing!” ability — entirely new to the game — that charms nearby enemies. When one of these charmed foes strikes Miku, she heals instead of losing her health. Brace Yourself Games says it even reskinned all of the game’s armors as official Miku outfits, so you can put on new threads as you shimmy and groove your way through legions of ghosts and skeletons.  Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget If you aren’t familiar, Hatsune Miku is one of the world’s biggest virtual pop stars (https://www.engadget.com/2016-02-02-hatsune-miku.html). She’s a perpetual 16-year-old because she’s the personification of a “Vocaloid,” software that synthesizes pre-recorded vocals to simulate human singing. The avatar has sold out 14,000-seat arenas, collaborated with Pharrell Williams and opened for Lady Gaga (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYlRN6XWsDE). She wasn’t the first digital celebrity, but she may be the most famous. The Hatsune Miku DLC for _Crypt of the Necrodancer_ is available now for $1.99 on the PlayStation Store (https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1162-CUSA03610_00-COLDSTEEL0000000) and PC via Steam. The content arrives a little later on Switch — on April 13. Check out her moves in the trailer below. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hatsune-miku-in-crypt-of-the-necrodancer-feels-like-the-perfect-crossover-203138973.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/hatsune-miku-in-crypt-of-the-necrodancer-feels-like-the-perfect-crossover-203138973.html?src=rss

**A new series of Star Wars shorts premieres on Disney+ next month** Disney (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=85d85ef3-fac9-418f-9573-418cf162cd0c&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Disney%2B&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kaXNuZXlwbHVzLmNvbS8iLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjJlYzhhNzEzLWJkNjYtNDhlMS1iMDAxLTVkOWEyMzM0Zjg2MyJ9&signature=AQAAAcoOBk1LX8mIjwuXbRIBM8xYheY9zNwsoAjQz4-HUgHm&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2F) just pulled a fast one. Star Wars movies and shows are typically announced years before being released, but the company just revealed a new TV program that premieres next month. _Tales of the Empire_ is an animated show produced by Dave Filoni, the man who cut his teeth on cartoons like _Star Wars: The Clone Wars_ and _Star Wars Rebels_ before moving onto live action stuff like _Ahsoka_ (https://www.engadget.com/ahsoka-review-star-wars-disney-193023619.html). As the name suggests, this is something of a companion piece to 2022’s _Tales of the Jedi_. It’s an anthology series that spotlights different characters within the empire as they, uh, heroically try to defeat the nefarious rebels and bring order to the galaxy. You can expect appearances by many of your dark side faves, including Grand Admiral Thrawn, General Grievous and the Grand Inquisitor. Just like how _Tales of the Jedi_ put the spotlight on two characters, Ahsoka and Count Dooku, this new series will have its own duo to follow. There’s Morgan Elsbeth, a primary antagonist in _Ahsoka_ and one episode of _The Mandalorian_, with the trailer indicating that _Tales of the Empire_ will reveal how Thrawn and Elsbeth became besties. The show will also focus on Barriss Offee, a former Jedi Knight who fell to the dark side during the Clone Wars. Despite being animated, the characters will be played by their live action actors. Lars Mikkelsen returns as Thrawn and Matthew Wood is once again portraying Grievous, the evil cyborg who is in dire need of some cough syrup. Diana Lee Inosanto is back as Elsbeth and Meredith Salenger is voicing Offee. The show premieres on everyone’s favorite corporate-sponsored pseudo-holiday, May the Fourth, also known as May 4. All six episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=85d85ef3-fac9-418f-9573-418cf162cd0c&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Disney%2B&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kaXNuZXlwbHVzLmNvbS8iLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjJlYzhhNzEzLWJkNjYtNDhlMS1iMDAxLTVkOWEyMzM0Zjg2MyJ9&signature=AQAAAcoOBk1LX8mIjwuXbRIBM8xYheY9zNwsoAjQz4-HUgHm&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2F) upon the release date. The live action _Star Wars: Acolyte_ follows this with a premiere on June 4 (https://www.engadget.com/watch-disneys-official-trailer-for-star-wars-the-acolyte-150246523.html). This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-new-series-of-star-wars-shorts-premieres-on-disney-next-month-190007395.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/a-new-series-of-star-wars-shorts-premieres-on-disney-next-month-190007395.html?src=rss

**Who exactly is YouTube’s multicam Coachella stream for?** YouTube is hyping (https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/coachella-2024-livestream-how-to-watch/) its exclusive Coachella streaming coverage, which starts next week. The headlining feature is the platform’s multiview experience (already familiar to sports fans (https://www.engadget.com/youtube-tv-mosaic-mode-report-192123171.html)) for the two-weekend festival. Our question from this announcement is, who wants to watch several different artists’ sets at the same time — when you can only listen to one? The multiview experience will let you watch up to four stages simultaneously, letting you pick which one to hear: exactly how multiview works for March Madness (https://www.engadget.com/march-madness-live-brings-multiview-streaming-to-the-web-for-up-to-four-games-160010247.html), NFL games or any other sporting event. Here’s how YouTube pitches the feature: “Two of your favorite bands playing on different stages at the same time? No problem, multiview will have you and your friends covered to catch both sets at the same time via the YouTube app on TV at no additional cost.” Maybe I’m of the wrong generation and have too long of an attention span, but who wants to watch an artist’s set without hearing it? That’s what will happen to the three stages you aren’t listening to. Wouldn’t it be better to... watch the one you’re hearing? And then catch up on the others on-demand when you can listen to them as well? Sports multiview makes sense because there are scores to track and timeouts, halftimes and blowouts to divert your attention to another game. You don’t need to hear an NBA game to keep an eye on the ball. (Depending on the commentators, you may prefer not to listen to it.) It’s primarily a visual experience; the audio is secondary. But music, even when played live with all the light shows, fog machines and dancing accompanying it, is still an auditory experience first and foremost. If multiple artists you like play at once, you still can’t (and wouldn’t want to) hear more than one simultaneously. In YouTube’s multiview, you pick one stage to hear and the rest to… watch them sing and dance on mute in a little box alongside two other muted performances. Yay? It sounds like a solution looking for a problem — YouTube applying its existing tech (which, to be fair, works very well with sports) to a music festival. Never mind that it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Perplexed rants aside, YouTube will have six livestream feeds to bounce between (but, again, only four at once in multiview). That includes Sonora for the first weekend and Yuma for the second. This year’s headliners include Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, No Doubt and Tyler, the Creator. Between sets, YouTube will stream “special editorial content” from the artists onsite. Each day after the night’s final set, YouTube’s Coachella channel will repeat that day’s sets until the livestream returns the next day. That sounds like a better way to catch up on the sets you didn’t see live. The event takes place in Indio, California, about 130 miles east of LA, from April 12 to 14 and April 19 to 21. You can tune in on YouTube’s Coachella channel (https://www.youtube.com/coachella). This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/who-exactly-is-youtubes-multicam-coachella-stream-for-183744741.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/who-exactly-is-youtubes-multicam-coachella-stream-for-183744741.html?src=rss

**The latest Razer Blade 18 is now available to order** It’s taken Razer (https://www.engadget.com/tag/razer/) a few extra months to get its latest 18-inch Blade laptop ready for primetime after we first saw it at CES (https://www.engadget.com/razers-blade-laptop-lineup-shines-bright-with-stunning-screens-at-ces-2024-230044688.html). Those who have been waiting for the company’s latest chonkster can now order the 2024 edition of the Razor Blade 18, which starts at $3,099 (https://www.razer.com/gaming-laptops/Razer-Blade-18/RZ09-0509SEK3-R3U1). The base system comes with an i9-14900HX processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 7, a triple-fan cooling system and a six-speaker array with THX spatial audio support. On the GPU side, you can equip the laptop with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (the base model has a 4070 graphics card). In what Razer claims is a first for a laptop, there's Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, but only if you opt for a 4080 or 4090 GPU.  Razer The display is one of the big talking points for this laptop. It comes with a QHD+ 300Hz Mini-LED display as standard. If you want higher fidelity, you can opt for a 4K 200Hz screen. The company seems to have found an extra 35 hertz since CES, since it said at the time the Razer Blade 18 would have a 4K 165Hz display option. Razer claims that this display is a world first for a laptop and it’ll set you back an extra $1,700, far more than an equivalent standalone monitor would cost. You'll also need to wait until later this summer for a model with a 4K 200Hz panel to ship, whereas you can snag one with the QHD+ display now. We felt that last year's model was very expensive (https://www.engadget.com/razer-blade-18-review-specs-price-overpowered-and-oversized-133044127.html) for a fully kitted-out configuration and that's the case again this time around. Still, if you need a big-screen, high-end laptop that can run just about any program or game you can throw at it, the latest Razer Blade 18 can be all yours if you have the cash to spare.  Razer This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-razer-blade-18-is-now-available-to-order-180330999.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-razer-blade-18-is-now-available-to-order-180330999.html?src=rss