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@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365
2025-02-23 06:35:51
My wife and I have six children, making our house a household of eight people. Looking just at the eight of us, how many relationships exist? Well, as a first stab, we could look at how many connections exist between two unique individuals in this family. The mathematical term for this is “8 choose 2”, and the answer is 8\*7/2, or 28\.
Even that doesn’t really capture the answer though, because relationships aren’t just between two people. For example, when my wife and two oldest children are the only ones still awake after the younger kids go to bed, we’ll put on my mature TV shows that they’ll appreciate and watch together. It’s our own little subgroup within the group.
Based on that, we could have groups of 2, 3, 4, all the way up to 8, the group of all of us. If you do the math, this comes up to 247 different subgroups of 2 or more people. That’s a lot of groups for just 8 people.
As a father, this means I’ll never be able to fully understand every set of connections within my family. I may have a good understanding of my own relationship with each child. I also am closely aware of the relationship between our two youngest children, since they’re twins. And I could probably list 20 or so other noteworthy relationships. But I’ll never understand all of them.
For example, months ago I bought a game on Steam for my 3rd and 4th kids. I know they like to play games together, so it was a relationship that I thought I understood well. A few days ago I found out that my oldest had joined them in playing one of these games (Brotato). I’d made the purchase, given it to the kids, and it sparked new relationship and interaction structures without my involvement.
There’s no problem with the fact that I can’t track every interaction in my house. That’s healthy\! The kids are able to discover ways of interacting beyond what I can teach them, learn everything from schoolwork to video games from each other, and overall become more healthy and well-adjusted adults (I hope).
And here’s the important part: the growth of the number of connections is *massive* as the number of participants increases. If we add in another participant, we have 502 groupings. At 10 total participants, it jumps to over 1,000. By the time we get to 100, we’re well into the trillions.
A mathematical and software term for this is *combinatoric complexity*, the massive increase in an output value based on a small increase in the input. The analysis I’m providing could be termed as part of graph theory (for connections of 2, looking at people as *vertices* and connections as *edges*) or set theory (unique subsets, allowing for larger group sizes). But regardless, the point is: the increase in complexity is huge as more people join.
Now consider the global economy. It’s over 8 billion people. There are so many people that the number of groupings is absurd to talk about. Nonetheless, massive numbers of these groupings naturally occur. There are family units, friend circles, individual connections, companies, project teams, sports teams, schools, classes, and millions more. These groups of people form new ways of interacting, express vastly different desires for goods and services, and are capable of producing wide varieties of goods and services themselves.
When you allow this system to run free, beauty emerges. Each node in the graph can manage its own connections. Each *person* is free to make his or her own decisions about association, what to spend time on, what to spend money on, and so on. Each person does so on their own judgement and world view.
Some of these people may make “dumb” decisions. They may “waste” their time and money on useless things. Except: who made that value judgement? Clearly not them, they decided it was worth it. No central planner has the right to override their will.
My point in all this is: as yet another of many reasons in the list of “why people should be free,” we have one more data point: pure math. Central planning will never scale. Central planning will never appreciate the individuality and desires of each person. Only by giving people the freedom to explore their connections to others, discover what they can produce and consume, explore their options, and ultimately make their own decisions, can we have any chance of creating a world where everyone can succeed.
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-23 01:06:46
Well, my Wemby pick from last month just went up in flames. It's only getting more difficult to figure out who's getting that last spot, now. I want to take KAT, but that would give me the same exact picks as @gnilma with fewer possible points. I'll take his teammate, Jalen Brunson, and hope NY voters pick the wrong Knick.
Remember, older correct predictions are worth more than recent ones, so don't wait too long to get off your bad predictions.
Also, players must play in at least 65 games to be eligible for awards. Luka, AD, and Wemby are not going to be eligible, so you should swap them out if you still have them.
Here's the current state of the competition with your max possible score next to your nym:
| Contestant | MVP | Champ | All NBA | | | | |
|--------------|------|---------|----------|-|-|-|-|
| @Undisciplined 47| SGA| OKC | Jokic | Giannis |Tatum | SGA | Brunson |
| @grayruby 55| Giannis| Cavs| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Mitchell| Brunson|
| @gnilma 55| SGA| OKC| Jokic | KAT | Giannis | Tatum| SGA |
| @BitcoinAbhi 70 | Luka| Denver| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA|
| @Bell_curve 63| SGA| Celtics| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA|
| @0xbitcoiner 70 | Jokic| Pacers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| Brunson|
| @Coinsreporter 49| Giannis| Pacers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| Brunson|
| @TheMorningStar 49| Luka| Celtics| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA|
| @onthedeklein 49| Luka| T-Wolves| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Wemby| SGA|
| @Carresan 49| Luka| Mavs| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Wemby| SGA|
| @BTC_Bellzer 34| SGA| Celtics| Jokic| Giannis | Tatum| SGA| Brunson |
| @realBitcoinDog 49| Luka| Lakers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA|
| @SimpleStacker 42| SGA| Celtics| Jokic| Tatum| Luka | Brunson| SGA|
| @BlokchainB 42| SGA| Knicks| AD| Giannis | Ant| Brunson| SGA|
**Prize**
At least 6k (I'll keep adding zaps to the pot).
If you want to join this contest, just leave your predictions for MVP, Champion, and All-NBA 1st team in the comments. See the [June post](https://stacker.news/items/585231/r/Undisciplined) for more details.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/894412
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@ 6260f29f:2ee2fcd4
2025-02-22 22:46:27
# A title before again
```js
import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';
import { Dialog } from 'primereact/dialog';
import { track } from '@vercel/analytics';
import { LightningAddress } from '@getalby/lightning-tools';
import { useToast } from '@/hooks/useToast';
import { useSession } from 'next-auth/react';
import { ProgressSpinner } from 'primereact/progressspinner';
import axios from 'axios';
import GenericButton from '@/components/buttons/GenericButton';
import useWindowWidth from '@/hooks/useWindowWidth';
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';
const Payment = dynamic(
() => import('@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react').then((mod) => mod.Payment),
{ ssr: false }
);
const ResourcePaymentButton = ({ lnAddress, amount, onSuccess, onError, resourceId }) => {
const [invoice, setInvoice] = useState(null);
const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(false);
const { showToast } = useToast();
const { data: session, status } = useSession();
const [dialogVisible, setDialogVisible] = useState(false);
const router = useRouter();
const windowWidth = useWindowWidth();
const isMobile = windowWidth < 768;
useEffect(() => {
let intervalId;
if (invoice) {
intervalId = setInterval(async () => {
const paid = await invoice.verifyPayment();
if (paid && invoice.preimage) {
clearInterval(intervalId);
// handle success
handlePaymentSuccess({ paid, preimage: invoice.preimage });
}
}, 2000);
} else {
console.error('no invoice');
}
return () => {
if (intervalId) {
clearInterval(intervalId);
}
};
}, [invoice]);
const fetchInvoice = async () => {
setIsLoading(true);
try {
const ln = new LightningAddress(lnAddress);
await ln.fetch();
const invoice = await ln.requestInvoice({ satoshi: amount });
setInvoice(invoice);
setDialogVisible(true);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching invoice:', error);
showToast('error', 'Invoice Error', 'Failed to fetch the invoice.');
if (onError) onError(error);
}
setIsLoading(false);
};
const handlePaymentSuccess = async (response) => {
try {
const purchaseData = {
userId: session.user.id,
resourceId: resourceId,
amountPaid: parseInt(amount, 10)
};
const result = await axios.post('/api/purchase/resource', purchaseData);
if (result.status === 200) {
track('Resource Payment', { resourceId: resourceId, userId: session?.user?.id });
if (onSuccess) onSuccess(response);
} else {
throw new Error('Failed to update user purchases');
}
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error updating user purchases:', error);
showToast('error', 'Purchase Update Failed', 'Payment was successful, but failed to update user purchases.');
if (onError) onError(error);
}
setDialogVisible(false);
};
return (
<>
<GenericButton
label={`${amount} sats`}
icon="pi pi-wallet"
onClick={() => {
if (status === 'unauthenticated') {
console.log('unauthenticated');
router.push('/auth/signin');
} else {
fetchInvoice();
}
}}
disabled={isLoading}
severity='primary'
rounded
className={`text-[#f8f8ff] text-sm ${isLoading ? 'hidden' : ''}`}
/>
{isLoading && (
<div className='w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center'>
<ProgressSpinner
style={{ width: '30px', height: '30px' }}
strokeWidth="8"
animationDuration=".5s"
/>
</div>
)}
<Dialog
visible={dialogVisible}
onHide={() => setDialogVisible(false)}
header="Make Payment"
style={{ width: isMobile ? '90vw' : '50vw' }}
>
{invoice ? (
<Payment
invoice={invoice.paymentRequest}
onPaid={handlePaymentSuccess}
paymentMethods='all'
title={`Pay ${amount} sats`}
/>
) : (
<p>Loading payment details...</p>
)}
</Dialog>
</>
);
};
export default ResourcePaymentButton;
```
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@ b8851a06:9b120ba1
2025-02-22 19:43:13
The digital guillotine has fallen. The Bybit hack wasn’t just a theft—it was a surgical strike exposing the fatal flaw of “crypto” that isn’t Bitcoin. This wasn’t a bug. It was a feature of a system designed to fail.
Here’s how North Korea’s Lazarus Group stole $1.5B in ETH, why “decentralized finance” is a joke, and how Bitcoin remains the only exit from this circus.
## I. The Heist: How Centralized “Crypto” Betrayed Its Users
### A. The Multisig Mousetrap (Or: Why You’re Still Using a Bank)
Bybit’s Ethereum cold wallet used multisig, requiring multiple approvals for transactions. Sounds secure, right? Wrong.
• The Con: Hackers didn’t pick the lock; they tricked the keyholders using a UI masking attack. The wallet interface showed “SEND TO BYBIT”, but the smart contract was whispering “SEND TO PYONGYANG.”
• Bitcoin Parallel: Bitcoin’s multisig is enforced on hardware, not a website UI. No browser spoofing, no phishing emails—just raw cryptography.
Ethereum’s multisig is a vault with a touchscreen PIN pad. Bitcoin’s is a mechanical safe with a key only you hold. Guess which one got robbed?
### B. Smart Contracts: Dumb as a Bag of Hammers
The thieves didn’t “hack” Ethereum—they exploited its smart contract complexity.
• Bybit’s security depended on a Safe.global contract. Lazarus simply tricked Bybit into approving a malicious upgrade.
• Imagine a vending machine that’s programmed to take your money but never give you a soda. That’s Ethereum’s “trustless” tech.
Why Bitcoin Wins: Bitcoin doesn’t do “smart contracts” in the Ethereum sense. Its scripting language is deliberately limited—less code, fewer attack vectors.
Ethereum is a Lego tower; Bitcoin is a granite slab. One topples, one doesn’t.
## II. The Laundering: Crypto’s Dirty Little Secret
### A. Mixers, Bridges, and the Art of Spycraft
Once the ETH was stolen, Lazarus laundered it at lightspeed:
1. Mixers (eXch) – Obfuscating transaction trails.
2. Bridges (Chainflip) – Swapping ETH for Bitcoin because that’s the only exit that matters.
Bitcoin Reality Check: Bitcoin’s privacy tools (like CoinJoin) are self-custodial—no third-party mixers. You keep control, not some “decentralized” website waiting to be hacked.
Ethereum’s “bridges” are burning rope ladders. Bitcoin’s privacy? An underground tunnel only you control.
### B. The $1.5B Lie: “Decentralized” Exchanges Are a Myth
Bybit’s “cold wallet” was on Safe.global—a so-called “decentralized” custodian. Translation? A website with extra steps.
• When Safe.global got breached, the private keys were stolen instantly.
• “Decentralized” means nothing if your funds depend on one website, one server, one weak link.
Bitcoin’s Answer: Self-custody. Hardware wallets. Cold storage. No trusted third parties.
Using Safe.global is like hiding your life savings in a gym locker labeled “STEAL ME.”
## III. The Culprits: State-Sponsored Hackers & Crypto’s Original Sin
### A. Lazarus Group: Crypto’s Robin Hood (For Dictators)
North Korea’s hackers didn’t break cryptography—they broke people.
• Phishing emails disguised as job offers.
• Bribes & social engineering targeting insiders.
• DeFi governance manipulation (because Proof-of-Stake is just shareholder voting in disguise).
Bitcoin’s Shield: No CEO to bribe. No “upgrade buttons” to exploit. No governance tokens to manipulate. Code is law—and Bitcoin’s law is written in stone.
Ethereum’s security model is “trust us.” Bitcoin’s is “verify.”
### B. The $3B Elephant: Altcoins Fund Dictators
Since 2017, Lazarus has stolen $3B+ in crypto, funding North Korea’s missile program.
Why? Because Ethereum, Solana, and XRP are built on Proof-of-Stake (PoS)—which centralizes power in the hands of a few rich validators.
• Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work: Miners secure the network through energy-backed cryptography.
• Altcoins’ Proof-of-Stake: Security is dictated by who owns the most tokens.
Proof-of-Stake secures oligarchs. Proof-of-Work secures money. That’s why Lazarus can drain altcoin treasuries but hasn’t touched Bitcoin’s network.
## IV. Bybit’s Survival: A Centralized Circus
### A. The Bailout: Banks 2.0
Bybit took bridge loans from “undisclosed partners” (read: Wall Street vultures).
• Just like a traditional bank, Bybit printed liquidity out of thin air to stay solvent.
• If that sounds familiar, it’s because crypto exchanges are just banks in hoodies.
Bitcoin Contrast: No loans. No bailouts. No “trust.” Just 21 million coins, mathematically secured.
Bybit’s solvency is a confidence trick. Bitcoin’s solvency is math.
### B. The Great Withdrawal Panic
Within hours, 350,000+ users scrambled to withdraw funds.
A digital bank run—except this isn’t a bank. It’s an exchange that pretended to be decentralized.
Bitcoin fixes this: your wallet isn’t an IOU. It’s actual money.
Bybit = a TikTok influencer promising riches. Bitcoin = the gold in your basement.
## V. The Fallout: Regulators vs Reality
### A. ETH’s 8% Crash vs Bitcoin’s Unshakable Base
Ethereum tanked because it’s a tech stock, not money. Bitcoin? Dropped 2% and stabilized.
No CEO, no headquarters, no attack surface.
### B. The Regulatory Trap
Now the bureaucrats come in demanding:
1. Wallet audits (they don’t understand public ledgers).
2. Mixer bans (criminalizing privacy).
3. KYC everything (turning crypto into a surveillance state).
Bitcoin’s Rebellion: You can’t audit what’s already transparent. You can’t ban what’s unstoppable.
## VI. Conclusion: Burn the Altcoins, Stack the Sats
The Bybit hack isn’t a crypto problem. It’s an altcoin problem.
Ethereum’s smart contracts, DeFi bridges, and “decentralized” wallets are Swiss cheese for hackers. Bitcoin? A titanium vault.
The Only Lessons That Matter:
✅ Multisig isn’t enough unless it’s Bitcoin’s hardware-enforced version.
✅ Complexity kills—every altcoin “innovation” is a security risk waiting to happen.
Lazarus Group won this round because “crypto” ignored Bitcoin’s design. The solution isn’t better regulations—it’s better money.
Burn the tokens. Unplug the servers. Bitcoin is the exit.
Take your money off exchanges. Be sovereign.
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@ b4403b24:83542d4e
2025-02-22 17:59:03
Chainflip says it has limited some frontend services but can’t fully block transactions as a decentralized protocol.
Over $1.1M in ETH has already been converted.
**Well done to them - not for the heist but for the decision to convert weak money to sound money** 😜
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/894141
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@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-02-22 14:41:31
-Blue: Neuroticism
-Green: Extraversion
-Red: Openness to experience
-Orange: Agreeableness
-Purple: Conscientiousness
[sourcs(https://www.stevestewartwilliams.com/p/are-there-age-and-sex-differences)]
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/893992
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@ ac6f9572:8a6853dd
2025-02-22 13:01:56
# The old world crumbles. The sovereign rises.
Join #Bitshala at #BitPlebs Summit in Goa — a gathering of builders, creators, educators, and hodlers forging #India’s #Bitcoin future.
Open forums. Un-conference style talks. By @bitshala & @plebstogether
RSVP now: https://lu.ma/cd55r5d4
X: https://x.com/bitshala_org/status/1893252853709365684?s=09
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/893899