@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

Two nights ago I had a very bad night’s sleep and only got about 4.5 hours of sleep. I read before bed and frequently I read some rather deep books, but last night wasn’t up to anything that required too much brain power. I found a book [*The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards*](https://www.amazon.com/Unwavering-Resolve-Jonathan-Edwards-Profile/dp/1567691080/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1) by Steven J. Lawson that my husband had picked up at a library book sale. Honestly, it looked like a summary book for kids, but ended up being a little deeper, although not a hard read. It began with this quote: Living the Christian life, by all biblical accounts, necessitates the passionate pursuit of personal holiness. Sanctification is never an elective course that a believer may or may not take. Neither is it an upper-level graduate study, required for only a few disciples. Instead, it is a core class, mandated for all Christians. Godliness is a lifelong study, for no one graduates from the school of Christ this side of heaven. I found this statement inspiring, especially because I see so many people, who call themselves Christians, but that don’t look any different in the way they live their lives than the non-Christians. I decided to investigate more about what the Bible says about sanctification and holiness. I will start with what Jesus, himself, said to us. > But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. **I have given them Your word**; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. **Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth**. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes **I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth**. (John 17:13-19) {emphasis mine} God gave believers His word, but we frequently leave it sitting on the shelf gathering dust. OK, I’ll admit I’m a book geek and my go-to response to any problem or interest is to read a bunch of books on the subject, but I still don’t understand how someone who knows and loves God can ignore His word. We are so blessed to live in a time when God’s word is easily and cheaply available to all. I’m not sure how many Bibles we have in our home, but it is definitely in double digits. Some are new and some are old. We have hardback, paperback, and leather cover. We have multiple translations. We have Bibles with the traditional order and it at least one that is a chronological Bible. Some are just the words of the Bible while some are study Bibles with commentary from godly men. For most of history, most people couldn’t afford a Bible (handwritten Bibles usually cost more than a year’s income). Those who managed to buy a Bible cherished it and handed it down as a precious family heirloom, but even then, frequently they had to learn a foreign language to read it. They couldn’t read God’s word in their own language. How blessed are we to have Bibles that anyone can afford (and online and Gideon Bibles for those who can’t afford anything) and that we can read in our native language? We all need to make the most of the blessing of being able to read the word of God as if He was speaking directly to us. In this passage, Jesus also says we will be “*sanctified in truth*.” The process of being sanctified to be more like Jesus requires that we know, believe, and obey His word. We can only grow so much without spending serious time in the Bible. How can we become more like Jesus if we don’t know who He is? How can we obey God if we don’t know what He commands? How can we share the gospel if we don’t know the whole gospel as defined in Scripture? Of course just knowing the Bible and the truth is not enough either. > What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? **Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.** > > But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and **I will show you my faith by my works**.” **You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder**. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2:14-20) {emphasis mine} There are two things mentioned in this passage. I’ll start with the second because it is easiest. We can’t just know and believe in God. Even “*the demons also believe, and shudder*.” Head knowledge is not enough for salvation, much less sanctification. The demons know that Jesus is the son of God and that He is the creator of all that is, including themselves. This has not made the demons saved or good. They know the truth, but reject it. Therefore, the first thing after gaining knowledge of Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit is to believe and submit to His will. Knowing isn’t enough. Believing isn’t enough. Submission and obedience are required. This brings us to the evidence of true belief and salvation. “*I will show you my faith by my works*.” If we see no change in the life of a so-called believer, we need to question their salvation, whether it is ourselves or others. “*Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself*.” True faith will be followed by good works in obedience and thankfulness to God. > If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10) In the beatitudes, who does Jesus say will be blessed? > “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) Who has a pure heart? > Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “**He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us**”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” **Submit therefore to God**. **Resist the devil** and he will flee from you. **Draw near to God** and He will draw near to you. **Cleanse your hands**, you sinners; and **purify your hearts**, you double-minded. (James 4:5-8) {emphasis mine} Those who have a pure heart have the Spirit dwelling in us leading to us: - Submitting to God, - Resisting the devil, - Drawing near to God, - Cleansing our hands, and - Purifying our hearts. Of course trying to do these without the indwelling of the Spirit is a losing proposition. We can only succeed through His power. Even though our sanctification requires the guidance and power of the Spirit in us, that doesn’t mean we just sit around passively waiting for improvement to happen. We are called to actively submit, resist, draw near, cleanse, and purify. We are called to actively learn, yield, follow, and obey. When we seek to become more like Jesus, He empowers us to become more like Jesus. Sometimes He puts us in situations to help us grow. Sometimes He makes miraculous changes in our lives. Sometimes He brings other godly Christians into our lives to mentor us. Each person’s sanctification journey looks unique, just as each of us is unique. The key point is to seek a relationship with Him, to study His word, to fellowship with other believers, and to share God’s love and the gospel with those who don’t know Him. Just as when God fed the 5,000, He wants us to take that first step and give the little we have and then He multiplies it to do a great work in us and in others. > He whose ear listens to the **life-giving reproof**\ > Will dwell among the wise.\ > He who neglects **discipline** despises himself,\ > But he who **listens to reproof** acquires understanding.\ > The fear of the Lord is the **instruction** for wisdom,\ > And before honor *comes* **humility**. (Proverbs 15:31-33) {emphasis mine} In order to grow in Christ, we need to humbly listen to reproof, instruction, and discipline. We need to honestly judge ourselves against the ideal model, Jesus Christ, and be willing to change anything that doesn’t look, think, or act like Jesus. In college I took an art history class. Being a glutton for punishment, I took the harder art history class taken by art majors instead of the easier one for not art majors. There was a story about someone asking Michelangelo about how he carved his masterpiece David statue. He replied something like, “I just carved away everything that wasn’t David.” In the same way, we need to carve away everything in our lives that isn’t like Jesus. Just as in sculpture, the first carvings are chipping away large chunks of rock. In the same way, there are certain things in our lives that are so repulsive to God, they need to be chipped away quickly even if crudely. As the sculptor gets farther along, His work gets more and more precise and usually slower and slower. In the same way, as we become more and more Christ-like, our sanctification may get more fine-tuned and precise. The changes may seem like they come along more slowly and less obviously to those around us, but we will continue to be refined every day of our lives. > **Pursue** peace with all men, and **the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord**. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17) {emphasis mine} Sanctification requires repentance and turning to God. We all have a period of life when we can accept Jesus and when we can grow in His likeness, but a day will come, at either death or rapture, where we will no longer have the opportunity to repent or to be further sanctified. > Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. I**f any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire**. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) {emphasis mine} Do you want to be the person who squeaks into heaven with nothing to show for your life? Or would you rather be like the good servant who hears: > His master said to him, ‘**Well done, good and faithful slave**. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; **enter into the joy of your master**.’ (Matthew 25:21) {emphasis mine} I want to hear, “*Well done, good and faithful slave*,” rather than, “OK. You can come in.” I want to faithfully show my Savior how grateful I am for His mercy and His sacrifice. I want to show my God how awesome I think He is. > Therefore, **if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work**. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, **with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart**. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and **escape from the snare of the devil**, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:21-26) {emphasis mine} I know I want to be “*a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work*.” How about you? Are you willing to do the work? Are you willing to submit? Are you willing to sacrifice? I find that the more I serve, the better I know God and the more willing I am to work, to submit, and to sacrifice. I notice my priorities lining up more and more with His priorities. Many things that I thought were so important, don’t seem important at all. Other things, for which I didn’t have much interest, have become central in my life. I had more than a decade of poor health. I could barely take care of my family and our business. I was in survival mode. Still I found time to study God’s word and read the writings of many godly men. It was a time of growing in faith and knowledge and a time of learning to rest in my Savior. Now I have reached a time where I feel an overwhelming need to share what I learned in all of my study. God has given me good enough health that I have more to give (although I still have to be careful to not over do it.) Although we need to grow in our faith and knowledge, we aren’t useful until we share it with others. Sometimes this may be sharing about God to unbelievers. Sometimes it may be speaking the truth in love. Sometimes it may be taking a young Christian and discipling them to be more like Jesus. We all go through different stages of life, but we always need to be available to be used by God. > In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, **constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following**. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, **discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness**; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but **godliness is profitable for all things**, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (1 Timothy 4:6-10) {emphasis mine} I want to be a profitable work of my God. We need to make the pursuit of godliness a lifelong pursuit. I’ll leave you with this additional quote from the book that was my inspiration. Growth in holiness is not a one-time act, but a lifelong pursuit, one that requires a daily determination to live according to the truths taught in Scripture. — Steven J. Lawson “The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards May God call you to Himself, guide you in knowledge of Him, carve you into the image of Jesus, and use you to call many others to Himself. Trust Jesus

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

In our hyper-connected age, the concept of "Know Your Customer" (KYC) has morphed from a regulatory necessity into a pervasive surveillance apparatus, subtly eroding our fundamental liberties. While purported to combat financial crime, KYC has become a tool for mass surveillance, data exploitation, and the gradual dismantling of personal privacy. Let’s embark on a comprehensive exploration of this system, exposing its inherent flaws and advocating for a paradigm shift towards decentralized financial sovereignty. ## **Beyond the Surface: The Intricate Web of KYC Data Collection** **KYC transcends mere identity verification;** it's a deep dive into the minutiae of our lives. Consider the breadth and depth of data extracted: **Geographic Surveillance:** Proof of address requirements delve into historical residency, creating granular maps of our movements. Combined with location data from mobile devices and online activity, this paints a comprehensive picture of our physical presence. **Financial Autopsy:** KYC dissects our financial lives with surgical precision. Income sources, asset declarations, and transaction histories are meticulously cataloged. Algorithmic analysis reveals spending habits, investment strategies, and even potential political affiliations. **Behavioral Predictive Modeling:** AI algorithms analyze our financial behavior, predicting future actions and preferences. This data is invaluable for targeted advertising, but also for social engineering and political manipulation. **Biometric Invasiveness:** Facial recognition, iris scans, and voice analysis create permanent, immutable records of our physical selves. These biometrics are highly sensitive and vulnerable to breaches, potentially leading to identity theft and even physical harm. **Social Network Mapping:** KYC extends beyond individuals, mapping our social and professional networks. Institutions analyze our connections, identifying potential risks based on our associations. This has a chilling effect on free association and dissent, as individuals become hesitant to associate with those deemed "risky." **Psychometric Profiling:** With the increase of online tests, and the collection of online data, companies and states can build psychometric profiles. These profiles can be used to predict actions, and even manipulate populations. ## **The Fallacy of Security: KYC's Ineffectiveness and the Rise of the Surveillance State** Despite its claims, KYC fails to effectively combat sophisticated financial crime. Instead, it creates a system of mass surveillance that disproportionately targets law-abiding citizens. **The Scourge of False Positives:** Automated KYC systems frequently generate false positives, flagging innocent individuals as potential criminals. This can lead to financial exclusion, reputational damage, and even legal persecution. **A Ticking Time Bomb:** Centralized KYC databases are prime targets for hackers, putting vast amounts of sensitive personal information at risk. Data breaches can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and even physical harm. **The State's Panopticon:** KYC empowers governments to monitor the financial activities of their citizens, creating a powerful tool for surveillance and control. This can be used to suppress dissent, target political opponents, and enforce conformity. **The Criminals Advantage:** Sophisticated criminals easily bypass KYC using shell companies, money laundering, and other techniques. This makes KYC a system that punishes the innocent, and gives the criminals a false sense of security for the data collected. ## **Decentralized Alternatives: Reclaiming Financial Sovereignty and Privacy** In the face of this encroaching surveillance state, decentralized technologies offer a path to financial freedom and privacy. **Cryptocurrency | A Bastion of Financial Freedom:** Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies provide censorship-resistant alternatives to traditional financial systems. They empower individuals to transact freely, without the need for intermediaries or government oversight. **Decentralized Finance (DeFi) | Democratizing Finance:** DeFi platforms offer a range of financial services, including lending, borrowing, and trading, without the need for traditional banks. These platforms are built on blockchain technology, ensuring transparency, security, and accessibility. **Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) | Empowering Individuals:** SSI solutions enable individuals to control their own digital identities, without relying on centralized authorities. This allows for secure and private verification of identity, without the need to share sensitive personal information with every service provider. **Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) | Shielding Your Data:** Technologies like zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and secure multi-party computation can be used to protect personal data while still allowing for necessary verification. **Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) | Creating new forms of governance:** DAOs provide new ways for groups to organize, and make decisions. They provide a transparent way to pool resources, and make decisions. ## **A Call to Action: Defending Our Digital Rights and Building a Decentralized Future** We cannot passively accept the erosion of our fundamental freedoms. We must actively defend our digital rights and demand a more just and equitable financial system. **Advocate for Robust Privacy Laws:** Demand stronger regulations that limit the collection and use of personal data. **Champion Decentralized Technologies:** Support the development and adoption of cryptocurrencies, DeFi platforms, and other decentralized solutions. **Educate and Empower:** Raise awareness about the dangers of KYC and state surveillance. **Cultivate Critical Thinking:** Question the narratives presented by governments and corporations. **Build Decentralized Communities:** Join and support decentralized communities that are working to build a more free and open financial system. **Demand transparency from all data collection:** Insist that all data collection is open, and that there are strong penalties for those that misuse data. **The fight for financial freedom is a fight for human freedom. Let us stand together and reclaim our digital sovereignty.**

@ f25afb62:8d50c6e7

https://i.postimg.cc/6p0S1LrR/Kiwi-bitcoin.png # Modernizing the Kiwi Dollar: How Kiwibank Can Lead the Future of Money ## **A Nation at an Inflection Point** Kiwibank’s upcoming capital raise offers New Zealand a rare opportunity to **future-proof its currency and banking system**. With up to **$500 million** in new capital on the table, the government aims to strengthen Kiwibank as a competitor to the dominant Australian-owned banks. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has emphasized that **more capital means greater competition**, which could **drive down interest rates** and improve banking services for everyday Kiwis. But this is more than just a competition play—it's a **chance to radically modernize the Kiwi dollar itself**. By integrating **Bitcoin's open infrastructure**, Kiwibank could issue a **digitally native, globally liquid, and ultra-secure NZD**. This wouldn’t require reinventing the financial system but rather **leveraging existing and proven Bitcoin technologies**. The result? A financial system that **empowers Kiwis**, attracts global investment, and **puts New Zealand at the forefront of monetary innovation**. This article outlines a **practical, step-by-step roadmap** for how Kiwibank could: 1. **Tokenize the New Zealand Dollar (NZD)** using **a Bitcoin sidechain like Liquid**. 2. **Issue Kiwi eCash**, providing **cash-like digital money** that’s private and fast. 3. **Enable global NZD payments via the Lightning Network**, making NZD as **instant and accessible as Bitcoin itself**. 4. **Unlock new Bitcoin-powered business models** that **expand Kiwibank’s revenue streams**. This isn’t a distant dream—it’s **completely feasible today**. The question is: **Will New Zealand lead or lag?** 🚀⚡🇳🇿 --- ## **Kiwibank’s Capital Raise – A Launchpad for Innovation** Kiwibank is raising fresh capital **to strengthen its position against the Big Four banks**, but this money could do much more than just improve traditional banking services. **It could lay the foundation for a digital-first Kiwi dollar, designed for the 21st century.** New Zealand is actively **courting global investment**, simplifying its **“golden visa”** program to attract **wealthy innovators and investors**. If Kiwibank integrates **Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure**, it would send a **strong signal that New Zealand is open for high-tech finance business**—drawing interest from: - **Kiwi citizens**, who would benefit from a **better, faster, and cheaper** banking system. - **KiwiSaver funds and institutional investors**, who would see Kiwibank as a **bold growth investment**. - **Global Bitcoiners**, who might **invest in NZ** or move their wealth into a **Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction**. Simply put, **this capital raise is a chance to future-proof the Kiwi financial system**—and Bitcoin provides the tools to make it happen. --- ## **Step 1: Tokenized NZD on a Bitcoin Sidechain** The **first step** in modernizing NZD is **bringing it onto Bitcoin rails** by issuing a **tokenized NZD** on **a Bitcoin sidechain** like **Liquid** or **a custom-built KiwiBTC sidechain**. ### **How It Works** - Kiwibank, alongside other NZ banks, could **issue digital NZD tokens**, backed **1:1 by reserves**. - This would be **secured on a federated Bitcoin sidechain**—a **fast, low-fee** network pegged to Bitcoin. - Transactions would **settle in seconds instead of days**, with **confidentiality features** ensuring **financial privacy**. This is **not an experiment**—it's **already being done**. **Tether (USDT) uses Liquid today** to issue stablecoins, and the same **proven tech** could be used to issue NZD. ### **Why This Matters** - **Faster Payments:** Move NZD **instantly**, unlike today’s slow banking rails. - **Global Liquidity:** Anyone, anywhere, could **hold and transact NZD digitally**. - **No Need for a CBDC:** The NZ government **retains full control** over monetary policy, without creating a **central bank-controlled digital currency**. This **solves many of the problems** the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has been grappling with in its **CBDC research**—by **using open Bitcoin tech instead of building from scratch**. --- ## **Step 2: Kiwi eCash – Digital Money With Cash-Like Privacy** While a **tokenized NZD** would **revolutionize banking and business payments**, **Kiwi eCash** would do the same for **everyday transactions and person-to-person payments**. **Kiwi eCash** is a **Chaumian eCash system**—a **digital cash** that **preserves privacy and security**, just like physical banknotes. It’s based on **battle-tested cryptographic blind signatures**, meaning: - **No bank account required.** - **No transaction tracking.** - **Total financial privacy.** ### **How It Works** - **NZ banks (or independent issuers) mint Kiwi eCash tokens**, backed by **tokenized NZD or Bitcoin**. - These tokens are **held in a wallet and can be spent freely**—just like handing someone cash. - Banks **don’t see individual transactions**, ensuring privacy. - Multiple issuers (banks, credit unions, or fintech firms) could **offer interoperable Kiwi eCash mints**. This is already happening with **Bitcoin eCash mints like Cashu and Fedimint**, and the **same concept** can be applied to **NZD**. ### **Why It Matters** - **Digital cash with cash-like privacy**—protecting **financial freedom**. - **Fast, free transactions**, perfect for **micro-payments and daily spending**. - **Works offline**, unlike today’s banking apps. - **Interoperable across banks**, reducing monopolistic control. --- ## **Step 3: Bridging Kiwi eCash to Lightning – NZD at the Speed of Bitcoin** The **final piece** of the puzzle is **making Kiwi eCash as fast and global as Bitcoin itself**. By **bridging Kiwi eCash to the Lightning Network** (via **Taproot Assets**), NZD transactions would become: - **Instant:** Settle in **milliseconds**, anywhere in the world. - **Global:** Easily convert NZD to **any currency, anywhere**. - **Ultra-cheap:** Fees near **zero**, unlike Visa or SWIFT. ### **How It Works** - Kiwi eCash is **wrapped into Lightning channels** using **Taproot Assets**. - **Payments flow instantly over Lightning**, just like Bitcoin transactions. - Merchants, individuals, and businesses can **send and receive NZD globally** in a **Bitcoin-compatible format**. This **integrates NZD directly into the Bitcoin economy**, giving it **instant global reach**. --- ## **Step 4: New Bitcoin-Powered Services for Kiwibank** Beyond modernizing NZD itself, **Bitcoin infrastructure unlocks entire new revenue streams** for Kiwibank: 1. **Bitcoin Custody:** Offer **multi-sig vaults** instead of **risky single-key custody**. 2. **Bitcoin Lending:** Let customers **borrow NZD against their BTC**—a proven model. 3. **Lightning Yield:** Earn **fees by providing Lightning liquidity**. 4. **Collaborative Bitcoin Custody:** Offer **collaborative custody** where customers **retain control** and Kiwibank is available for **recovery assistance**. 5. **Digital Securities**: Help **Kiwi business raise capital** with **digital securities on the Bitcoin sidechain** and facilitate **secondary market liquidity** of these securities. Each of these **aligns with Bitcoin’s strengths** while **expanding Kiwibank’s business model**. --- ## **A Bold Vision to Future-Proof the Kiwi Financial System** This **isn’t just an idea**—it’s **a path forward that’s 100% possible today**. - **For New Zealanders:** A **faster, fairer financial system** that puts power back in their hands. - **For Investors:** A **banking innovation play**, positioned for growth. - **For Bitcoiners worldwide:** A **Bitcoin-friendly financial hub**, with real-world Bitcoin services. Kiwibank has **a golden opportunity** to lead this transformation. The technology is ready, the capital is available, and the global financial landscape is **ripe for disruption**. The only question left is: **Will New Zealand lead, or will we be left behind?** 🚀⚡🇳🇿 --- ## **Sources** 1. Kiwibank Capital Raise: [NZ Lawyer](https://www.thelawyermag.com/nz/practice-areas/banking-and-finance/kiwibank-to-receive-500m-boost-as-government-targets-greater-competition-in-banking-sector/517422) 2. New Zealand Active Investor Visa: [NZTE](https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/investor-migrants) 3. Taproot Assets & Lightning: [Lightning Labs](https://docs.lightning.engineering/the-lightning-network/taproot-assets) 4. Bitcoin Sidechains & Liquid: [Blockstream](https://blockstream.com/elements/) 5. Bitcoin eCash (Cashu/Fedimint): [Cashu](https://cashu.space/) --- originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/911023

@ 758d2216:8f255388

So, I got kicked off X. Not for anything cool like inciting a coup or posting cryptic manifestos—just for trying to help a friend and then daring to tweak my username. Apparently, that’s the kind of high treason that gets you permanently banished from the digital kingdom, where rules are arbitrary and appeals are a myth. It all began when a buddy of mine got whacked with a DMCA suspension. Something about sharing content that offended the copyright gods—I don’t know, I wasn’t paying that much attention. Being the bleeding-heart idiot I am, I figured I’d play the hero and advocate for his return. A few tweets, some tags, nothing fancy. Turns out, the algorithm wasn’t a fan of my altruism. Next thing I know, I’m flagged as spam and shown the virtual door. Permanently. No trial, no explanation, just a big “you’re done” from the faceless overlords of X. I didn’t take it lying down—at first. I fired off appeal after appeal, explaining that I wasn’t a bot, just a guy trying to do a solid. Crickets. I even got a lawyer to draft a sternly worded letter, because nothing screams “I’m not a spammer” like a legal invoice. Spoiler: it didn’t work. The void didn’t care. Desperate, I tried to sneak back in with a new username, thinking I could outwit the system. Big mistake. X sniffed out my genius plan and slapped me with an evasion ban faster than you can say “terms of service.” Lesson learned: you can’t outsmart a machine that’s already decided you’re guilty. Now, I’m an X-ile, cast out from the platform I actually liked. Sure, I’ve washed up on Nostr’s shores, where the vibe’s less “ban-hammer” and more “live and let live.” It’s fine, I guess. But let’s not kid ourselves—it’s not X. I miss the mess of it all: the arguments, the hot takes, the flood of info that hit me like a firehose every time I logged in. Politics? I was there for it, from election meltdowns to policy nerd fights. AI? Loved watching the tech geeks duke it out over neural nets and ethics. Random stuff? Always good for a late-night rabbit hole. Now, I’m stuck piecing together the world from scraps—news sites, blogs, whatever doesn’t require a login I no longer have. That’s the kicker: I liked learning on X. It wasn’t just doomscrolling or dunking on bad takes—though, yeah, that was fun too. It was real-time, unfiltered, chaotic education. AI breakthroughs, political scandals, memes that doubled as philosophy—gone. Sure, I can Google stuff, but it’s not the same as riding the wave of a thousand voices shouting at once. I feel like I’ve been locked out of the library and left with a pamphlet. This whole fiasco has taught me one thing: don’t bet your brain on a single app. Social media’s a fickle beast—here today, banning you tomorrow for reasons it won’t bother to explain. Diversify, they say, like I’m managing a stock portfolio instead of my curiosity. Maybe I’ll find new corners of the internet to haunt. Maybe I’ll start yelling at clouds IRL. Or maybe I’ll just sit here, quietly missing the days when I could refresh my feed and feel like I had a pulse on the planet. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss X. The dopamine hit of a notification, the smug glow of a clever tweet, the sense I was plugged into something bigger—it’s hard to replicate. I’ve got Nostr now, sure, but it’s like swapping a rock concert for a coffee shop acoustic set. Nice, but not the same kick. One day, I might slink back to X with a burner account, praying the algorithm’s forgotten my face. Until then, I’m just a guy who got canned for caring too much, mourning the loss of a platform that taught me more than I ever expected. Thanks for nothing, X.

@ 46fcbe30:6bd8ce4d

# MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION **SUBJECT:** Meeting with Russian President Yeltsin **PARTICIPANTS:** - U.S. - President Clinton - Secretary Albright - National Security Advisor Berger - Deputy National Security Advisor Steinberg - Ambassador Sestanovich - Carlos Pascual - Russia - Russian President Yeltsin - Foreign Minister Ivanov - Kremlin Foreign Policy Advisor Prihodko - Defense Minister Sergeyev - Interpreter: Peter Afansenko - Notetaker: Carlos Pascual **DATE, TIME AND PLACE:** November 19, 1999, 10:45 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. Istanbul, Turkey President Yeltsin: We are in neutral territory here. I welcome you. The President: Neither of us has a stake here. It's good to see you. President Yeltsin: Well, Bill, what about those camps here in Turkey that are preparing troops to go into Chechnya? Aren't you in charge of those? I have the details. Minister Ivanov, give me the map. I want to show you where the mercenaries are being trained and then being sent into Chechnya. They are armed to the teeth. (Note: Yeltsin pulls out map of Turkey and circulates it.) Bill, this is your fault. I told Demirel yesterday that I will send the head of the SRV tomorrow and we will show him where the camps are located. These are not state-sanctioned camps. They are sponsored by NGOs and religious organizations. But let me tell you if this were in Russia and there were but one camp, I would throw them all out and put the bandits in the electric chair. The President: Perhaps Demirel could help you. President Yeltsin: Well, he ought to. Tomorrow after I get back, I will send the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service here. Bill, did you hurt your leg? The President: Yes, but it is not bad. President Yeltsin: When one leg of the President hurts, that is a bad thing. The President: It lets me know I am alive. President Yeltsin: I know we are not upset at each other. We were just throwing some jabs. I'm still waiting for you to visit. Bill. I've said to you come to visit in May, then June, then July and then August. Now it's past October and you're still not there. The President: You're right, Boris, I owe you a visit. President Yeltsin: Last time I went to the U.S., Bill. The President: Well, I better set it up. I'll look at the calendar and find a time that's good for you and me. President Yeltsin: Call me and tell me the month and date. Unless I have another visit, I will do the maximum amount I can to do everything around your schedule. The main things I have are to go to China and India. The President: Boris, we still have lots to do together. President Yeltsin: You heard my statement on nuclear arms and on banning nuclear tests. I just signed a law on ratification of a new agreement on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Isn't that right, Minister Ivanov? Minister Ivanov: You signed the documents that sent the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to the Duma for review. President Yeltsin: Well, in any case, I still approved it. The President: Maybe I can get the Congress to agree still. They kept the Treaty even after they rejected it. So perhaps, there is still a chance. President Yeltsin: Or perhaps it's just the bureaucrats working and they haven't had a chance to send it back to you yet. I'm upset that you signed the law to change the ABM Treaty. The President: I signed no such law. People in Congress don't like the ABM Treaty. If Congress had its way, they would undermine the treaty. I'm trying to uphold it. But we need a national missile defense to protect against rogue states. We can't have a national missile defense that works without changing the ABM Treaty. But I want to do this cooperatively. I want to persuade you that this is good for both of us. The primary purpose is to protect against terrorists and rogue states. It would be ineffective against Russia. The system we're looking at would operate against just 20 missiles. And, Boris I want to figure out how to share the benefits. For all I know, in twenty years terrorists could have access to nuclear weapons. I know your people don't agree with me, but I'm not trying to overthrow the ABM Treaty. We're still trying to discover what's technically possible with national missile defense, but there are people in America who want to throw over the ABM Treaty. I have made no decisions yet. President Yeltsin: Bill, Bill. I got your note. It went into all these things in incredible detail. I read it and I was satisfied. I've not yet ceased to believe in you. I ask you one thing. Just give Europe to Russia. The U.S. is not in Europe. Europe should be the business of Europeans. Russia is half European and half Asian. The President: So you want Asia too? President Yeltsin: Sure, sure. Bill. Eventually, we will have to agree on all of this. The President: I don't think the Europeans would like this very much. President Yeltsin: Not all. But I am a European. I live in Moscow. Moscow is in Europe and I like it. You can take all the other states and provide security to them. I will take Europe and provide them security. Well, not I. Russia will. We will end this conflict in Chechnya. I didn't say all the things I was thinking (in his speech). I listened to you carefully. I took a break just beforehand. Then I listened to you from beginning to end. I can even repeat what you said. Bill, I'm serious. Give Europe to Europe itself. Europe never felt as close to Russia as it does now. We have no difference of opinion with Europe, except maybe on Afganistan and Pakistan—which, by the way, is training Chechens. These are bandits, headhunters and killers. They're raping American women. They're cutting off ears and other parts of their hostages. We're fighting these types of terrorists. Let's not accuse Russia that we are too rough with these kinds of people. There are only two options: kill them or put them on trial. There's no third option, but we can put them on trial, and sentence them to 20-25 years. How many Americans, French, British and Germans have I freed that were there in Chechnya under the OSCE? The Chechen killers don't like the language of the OSCE. Here's my Minister of Defense. Stand up. We have not lost one soldier down there. Tell them. Minister Sergeyev: We did not lose one soldier in Gudermes. President Yeltsin: You see, Gudermes was cleansed without one military or civilian killed. We killed 200 bandits. The Minister of Defense is fulfilling the plan as I have said it should be. He's doing this thoughtfully. The soldiers only ask: don't stop the campaign. I promised these guys—I told every soldier, marshal and general—I will bring the campaign to fruition. We have these Chechens under lock and key. We have the key. They can't get in, they can't get out. Except maybe through Georgia; that's Shevardnadze's big mistake. And through Azerbaijan; that's Aliyev's mistake. They're shuttling in under the name of Islam. We're for freedom of religion, but not for fundamentalist Islam. These extremists are against you and against me. We have the power in Russia to protect all of Europe, including those with missiles. We'll make all the appropriate treaties with China. We're not going to provide nuclear weapons to India. If we give them submarines, it will be only conventional diesel submarines, not nuclear. They would be from the 935 generation. You're going in that direction too. I'm thinking about your proposal—well, what your armed forces are doing—getting rid of fissile materials, particularly plutonium. We should just get rid of it. As soon as it's there, people start thinking of how to make bombs. Look, Russia has the power and intellect to know what to do with Europe. If Ivanov stays here, he will initial the CFE Treaty and I'll sign it under him. But under the OSCE Charter, there is one thing I cannot agree—which is that, based on humanitarian causes, one state can interfere in the affairs of another state. National Security Advisor Berger: Mr. President, there's nothing in the Charter on one state's interference in the affairs of another. Secretary Albright: That's right. What the Charter says is that affairs within a state will affect the other states around it. President Yeltsin: Russia agrees to take out its property and equipment from Georgia in accordance with the new CFE Treaty. I have a statement on this. (looking toward Ivanov) Give it to me. I signed it today. Actually, it was late last night. I like to work late. The President: Me, too. President Yeltsin: I know you like to work late, Bill. When you call me, I calculate the time and I tell myself it's 4 a.m. and he's calling me. It lets you cleanse your brain and you feel great. I am not criticizing you, Bill. The President should be encouraged to work hard. The President: So, we will get an agreement on CFE. President Yeltsin: Yes. The President: That's very important, seven years. We've worked on this for a long time. President Yeltsin: Look, Ivanov has lost the statement in his own bag. He can't find the paper in his own bag. On the Charter, we have to look at it from the beginning. The Charter's ready. However, when states begin to tie in the Charter with the final declaration that has wording unacceptable to us, that's when we'll say no. And responsibility for this will fall fully on the West. (Looking at Ivanov) Give me this thing. It is written on paper. Bill. I am ready to sign it. It is a declaration about what we're talking about. Secretary Albright: Some states want to record in the declaration your willingness to have an OSCE mission. President Yeltsin: No, not at all. We will finish this with our own forces. Chechnya is the business of the internal affairs of Russia. We have to decide what to do. After we cleansed Gudermes, the muslim mufti came and asked for help, said I hate Basayev and he should be banned. These are the kinds of leaders we will put forward. I have thought this through carefully. The President: On the Chechen problem. I have been less critical than others. Even today, I asked the others how they would deal with this if it were their country. This is a political issue. It may be the best thing for you within Russia to tell the Europeans to go to hell. But the best thing for your relations with Europe for the long term is to figure out the policy that you want to have with Europe and to keep that in mind as you deal with Chechnya. President Yeltsin: (Gets up rapidly) Bill, the meeting is up. We said 20 minutes and it has now been more than 35 minutes. The President: That's fine. We can say the meeting is over. President Yeltsin: This meeting has gone on too long. You should come to visit, Bill. The President: Who will win the election? President Yeltsin: Putin, of course. He will be the successor to Boris Yeltsin. He's a democrat, and he knows the West. The President: He's very smart. President Yeltsin: He's tough. He has an internal ramrod. He's tough internally, and I will do everything possible for him to win—legally, of course. And he will win. You'll do business together. He will continue the Yeltsin line on democracy and economics and widen Russia's contacts. He has the energy and the brains to succeed. Thank you, Bill. The President: Thank you, Boris. It was good to see you. End of Conversation

@ ddf03aca:5cb3bbbe

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