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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-03-12 11:55:03
Hello Stackers!
Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!
A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
So stay a while and listen.
🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨
🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/911193
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@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb
2025-03-12 09:46:45
My Raspberry Pi 4 (running Umbrel) has been disconnecting approximately once a month, and my 1TB SSD now has only 80GB of space remaining. I'm considering an upgrade—possibly moving to a Pi 5 with a 2TB drive—but I'm open to any suggestions for a better setup within a similar budget. Any recommendations?
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/911133
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@ f25afb62:8d50c6e7
2025-03-12 04:11:46
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
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-12 00:40:25
Before I saw those X right-wing political “influencers” parading their Epstein binders in that PR stunt, I’d already posted this on Nostr, an open protocol.
“Today, the world’s attention will likely fixate on Epstein, governmental failures in addressing horrific abuse cases, and the influential figures who perpetrate such acts—yet few will center the victims and survivors in the conversation. The survivors of Epstein went to law enforcement and very little happened. The survivors tried to speak to the corporate press and the corporate press knowingly covered for him. In situations like these social media can serve as one of the only ways for a survivor’s voice to be heard.
It’s becoming increasingly evident that the line between centralized corporate social media and the state is razor-thin, if it exists at all. Time and again, the state shields powerful abusers when it’s politically expedient to do so. In this climate, a survivor attempting to expose someone like Epstein on a corporate tech platform faces an uphill battle—there’s no assurance their voice would even break through. Their story wouldn’t truly belong to them; it’d be at the mercy of the platform, subject to deletion at a whim. Nostr, though, offers a lifeline—a censorship-resistant space where survivors can share their truths, no matter how untouchable the abuser might seem. A survivor could remain anonymous here if they took enough steps.
Nostr holds real promise for amplifying survivor voices. And if you’re here daily, tossing out memes, take heart: you’re helping build a foundation for those who desperately need to be heard.“
That post is untouchable—no CEO, company, employee, or government can delete it. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t take it down myself. The post will outlive me on the protocol.
The cozy alliance between the state and corporate social media hit me hard during that right-wing X “influencer” PR stunt. Elon owns X. Elon’s a special government employee. X pays those influencers to post. We don’t know who else pays them to post. Those influencers are spurred on by both the government and X to manage the Epstein case narrative. It wasn’t survivors standing there, grinning for photos—it was paid influencers, gatekeepers orchestrating yet another chance to re-exploit the already exploited.
The bond between the state and corporate social media is tight. If the other Epsteins out there are ever to be unmasked, I wouldn’t bet on a survivor’s story staying safe with a corporate tech platform, the government, any social media influencer, or mainstream journalist. Right now, only a protocol can hand survivors the power to truly own their narrative.
I don’t have anything against Elon—I’ve actually been a big supporter. I’m just stating it as I see it. X isn’t censorship resistant and they have an algorithm that they choose not the user. Corporate tech platforms like X can be a better fit for some survivors. X has safety tools and content moderation, making it a solid option for certain individuals. Grok can be a big help for survivors looking for resources or support! As a survivor, you know what works best for you, and safety should always come first—keep that front and center.
That said, a protocol is a game-changer for cases where the powerful are likely to censor. During China's # MeToo movement, survivors faced heavy censorship on social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, where posts about sexual harassment were quickly removed, and hashtags like # MeToo or "woyeshi" were blocked by government and platform filters. To bypass this, activists turned to blockchain technology encoding their stories—like Yue Xin’s open letter about a Peking University case—into transaction metadata. This made the information tamper-proof and publicly accessible, resisting censorship since blockchain data can’t be easily altered or deleted.
I posted this on X 2/28/25. I wanted to try my first long post on a nostr client. The Epstein cover up is ongoing so it’s still relevant, unfortunately.
If you are a survivor or loved one who is reading this and needs support please reach out to:
National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7
https://rainn.org/
Hours: Available 24 hours
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-03-11 16:17:44
You can learn about what we’re doing at lava on our website: [lava.xyz](http://lava.xyz). We recommend you take a thorough look through everything before applying.
Not an immediate fit? Lava has an open referral bounty. If you refer someone to us and we hire them, we will pay you $5k for an in-person NYC full-time hire and $1k for non-NYC full time hires. Send referrals to [hello@lava.xyz](mailto:hello@lava.xyz)
We are looking for a designer to join our team at Lava. In this role, you will be responsible for leading the design of all of our products.
**What you will do**
- Drive and execute on an ambitious design vision for Lava
- Communicate with engineering teams to make sure designs are implemented properly
- Talk to users, analyze user feedback, and identify areas for improvement
**What we look for in you**
- You align with the guidelines and values we use to decide who we hire and how we operate: https://www.lava.xyz/onepager
- Expertise as a designer
- You are a great communicator (written and verbal).
- You are extremely organized.
- You learn fast.
- You work hard.
- You get shit done quickly.
- You live in NYC, or you’re willing to relocate to NYC.
If you feel that the above describes you, we’d love to hear from you!
Please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/cJFsuP3tXgSknPJ8A
Job Description: [https://lavaxyz.notion.site/Founding-Designer-78c91e29f4a44d0b8cb32e33ff40c167?pvs=4](https://www.notion.so/Founding-Designer-78c91e29f4a44d0b8cb32e33ff40c167?pvs=21)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/910384
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@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-03-11 15:24:44
I grew up listening to Rush Limbaugh. At the time I thought "liberals" were anti-war. I thought being anti-war was dumb. Everyone is anti-war! That's a lie. I wasn't anti-war and neither were the liberals. Turns out this was just a hangover from the hippie revolution. Which, turns out wasn't anything but a big party about self indulgence. But that's another post. Back in the 80s and 90s conservatives were the war hawks(At least the openly hawkish). They wanted to extend US power abroad. They wanted to flip countries. They did all kinds of shady things all over the globe. While they never pretended to be anti-war, they didn't admit to the US being an empire.
Over the years my eyes began to open the how global conflicts work. I started paying attention to Ron Paul. He made a lot of sense. I read "[Confessions of an Economic Hitman](https://stacker.news/items/895858)". I read "[War is a Racket](https://stacker.news/items/909514)". I read many other books that they don't tell you about in school. Critical books on US policy from the perspective of people that love this country as much as I do. I began to learn how the well connected bankers, industrialists, and politicians all profit from endless wars. How the elites have convinced the plebs that war isn't all bad. After all, it brought us out of the great depression...(another lie that I won't get into). I remember when the wall fell, when the USSR fell. I remember when the US essentially picked a drunk Russian to lead the new Russian nation. I remember when the US sent in economists to advise the Russians on how to do democracy and free markets. It was a disaster by the way. It led to the rise of Putin. A strong man (ala Trump) that wasn't ideological but was more practical and more raw in his use of power.
I think many have forgotten the early years of post USSR Russia. The push for peace and normalization of relations. I remember thinking how great that was. But that wouldn't stand. I'm convinced the Military Industrial Complex was in full panic mode after the USSR fell. Their entire reason for living had died. Sure, there were other adventures that went on that were good money making opportunities like Iraq war 1 but it wasn't anything like the cold war.
Then 911 happened. The war on terror seemed like the next money maker for these industries. The problem is that these conflicts are not like the cold war. They are mostly small decentralized groups whose tactics do not warrant massive stockpiles of weapons. Not to the level of the cold war at least. So who would be the next opponent? Would it be China? I mean back in those times there were people saying that but this was before the liberalizing of China towards more free market mechanisms. At least they had yet to see the growth we see today. There wasn't a new enemy.
With the war on terror and the Bush doctrine W completely dropped his pitch that he ran on. He campaigned on the US NOT being the world's police. Sounds a lot like Trump's approach. Different packaging it but the same idea. Strong defense but let each nation handle their own affairs. You see, after WW2 there were two powers that ruled the world. The USSR and the USA. I would call them empires. One fell and one is still alone at the top. The good ole USA.
Conservatives HATE it when I call the USA an empire. I mean, I get it. We are taught that empires are bullies and how could the USA be a bully. We defeated the Nazis. We saved the world. But the USA is an empire. Liberals usually will agree with me that the USA is an empire. However, they seem to quickly forget this every time a new war is being pitched. Unless it is by a Republican. But even then if their party leadership approves they approve. It is true that the US uses soft power most of the time but the USA has used raw power and muscle many times. Between 1945 and 1999 the USA has had 32 distinct and separate bombing campaigns on 24 different countries. This does not include all the covert operations.
By in large the US population has supported their government's use of power. That's not just conservatives but liberals as well. I have come to believe that Americans just lie to themselves because the truth makes them uncomfortable. Maybe some of the uses of power have been for the better. I'm open to that argument. But don't kid yourself. Many have to be failures if not just simple actions to enrich well connected people across the globe. Only a fool would believe liars that have a history of misrepresenting the truth. That's what politicians do. They pitch every war as a moral good yet quietly support oppressive regimes across the globe that are guilty of the same crimes. The moral case for war is often just marketing.
If you ask most Americans they are concerned about China and Russia. I am as well by the way. But think about this. If you weren't an American. If you lived in one of those countries what would you fear? I think you'd fear the good ole US of A. Lets play a game.
If you were an alien and landed on this planet. You saw that one government had bombed 24 countries over the last 75 years. Then you looked at another that had not bombed or invaded any countries over that time span. Who would you think is the more likely aggressor? The USA. Not China (which hasn't invaded or bombed any other nations since WW2).
If you're thinking. Man, this guy is anti-American! I have news for you. You are biased. You are blind. I'm NOT anti-American. I'm anti-empire. If on the other hand you think yeah, the US is an empire and it needs to be. I can respect that. What I can't respect is people that wanna take the moral high ground while supporting the empire. You are being fooled by the elites and the media system they control. You are a pawn. Don't be a pawn. I was once a pawn. Open your mind. We can do better. We are Americans. Those that want us to turn our decedents into debt slaves are the anti-Americans. Those that do not blink an eye at the idea of sending someone else's children to there death are the anti-Americans. Those that seem to have zero fear of starting a nuclear war are the ones that hate Americans.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/910296
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@ 0861144c:e68a1caf
2025-03-11 14:24:31
I have a confession to make: I only truly understood the depth of the 2008 real estate crisis about eight years later — around the same time I started experimenting with cryptocurrencies in general. Since my first purchase in 2014, I think I’ve developed a certain skill.
After a little over ten years living in this ecosystem, I can say with absolute certainty that I’ve seen it all — and, listening to fellow colleagues, I can also say that I’ve probably seen very little. If you think about it, that’s almost two five-year periods of watching everything happen, and even more so when we’re talking about an asset as volatile as Bitcoin.
Where I really had to reflect on my actions — part out of necessity, part because it was time — was during the pandemic. In the midst of a global health crisis, with different groups and friends, we made financial, historical, and economic observations that remain important to me to this day.
In my latest interview with Joaquín Morinigo, CEO of CryptoPy, [he asked me about](https://youtu.be/PV7fVnUXsts?si=dKbzrUslTndqR4tR) central banks’ attitudes toward Bitcoin — which, according to him, has been pretty erratic. Some say yes, some are experimenting, others are seeking deals, and others making it illegal. But that’s a topic for another time.
What I want to do now is revisit my answer to him and give it a different emphasis.
A lot of people have bought into and entered the crypto ecosystem (in general) over the past six months because they were hoping for something grand and glorious with Uncle Donny as Head of State. In other posts, I’ve already recommended that readers [avoid falling](https://stacker.news/items/778354) for the [monetary promises](https://stacker.news/items/627008) of someone whose profession is literally to make promises — whether that's Donald Trump, Bukele, Milei, Lula, or whoever happens to be in power.
The legal treatment of Bitcoin is one of the issues that the IMF is trying to address as soon as possible, because they’ve realized there’s no turning back. People, regardless of their profession or country, choose to adopt Bitcoin (or other cryptocurrencies) because it's cheaper. It's that simple. It can’t be manipulated by centralized planners and, above all, everything is transparent.
Today, we need to understand that the International Monetary Fund is playing the role of watchdog over monetary policies that come from even higher up. If we use the "chicken coop" theory[^1], we can see that sitting at the very top isn’t the Federal Reserve, but something [even more sinister](https://stacker.news/items/561669): the Bank for International Settlements — the de facto central bank of all central banks around the world.
[^1]: The "chicken coop theory" is a basic postulate that says: in every henhouse, the hens sitting on the higher perches poop on those below them. By extension, in the henhouse of life, everyone always messes with the one just below them, and this — in this bleak world — is considered natural, logical, and fully accepted
Your duty (and this is my NFA) is to understand that governments around the world have opened their eyes as they watch Bitcoin grow in various institutional portfolios. Suddenly, it seems very attractive to them to relocate their wealth into satoshis.
What will be the impact? We'll have to watch and see. The correct answer will lie in the price discovery that states and institutions give to Bitcoin. And beyond observing this, you **must** keep stacking sats in **self-custody**, because — unless you live under a rock — you can clearly see how inflation is eating up the economy, 2 to 4% at a time. Until one day, some suit from a financial institution will come and say, *"We’re going to have to devalue the currency."* But watch out — it won’t be because of 50 years of financial mismanagement. No, it’ll be **your fault**, **my fault**, **everyone’s fault** — except theirs.
It’s history repeating itself.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/910214
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-03-11 13:32:15
`Remote only`
`Part Time`
Estamos em busca de um profissional para aprimorar a experiência dos usuários em nossos produtos ramblyn.app. Você trabalhará remotamente com um time pequeno e ágil, colaborando diretamente no design de interfaces. Não nos preocupamos com diplomas, buscamos alguém criativo, organizado e capaz de aprimorar e implementar processos em sua área.
**Requisitos:**
- Experiência com desenvolvimento web e web design.
- Ser uma pessoa organizada, com habilidade para documentar processos.
- Experiência prévia com atendimento ao cliente (diferencial).
- Conhecimento sobre Bitcoin e Lightning Network (diferencial).
- Capacidade de criar interfaces intuitivas e otimizadas para a melhor experiência do usuário.
[APPLY](https://t.me/RamblynHelp)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/910158
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-03-11 10:28:08
## The Role
Our team brings deep expertise across electric power markets, project development, and software development, positioning us as trusted experts in this rapidly evolving market. We are seeking an experienced Software Product Manager to lead the planning, development, and execution of our software products. You will play a key role in defining the product vision, roadmap, and strategy, and you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches and iterations. The ideal candidate will have an energy background, a deep understanding of user needs, and the ability to balance technical requirements with business objectives.
## Your Day-to-Day
- Product Vision and Strategy: You will define and effectively communicate the product vision, strategy, and roadmap to internal teams and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment between our goals and our customers’ needs to drive product decisions and adoption. To do this, you will need to stay informed on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competition to ensure our product remains innovative and competitive.
- End-to-End Product Development: You will lead the product development process from concept to launch, ensuring timely delivery of features that meet both quality standards and customer expectations. You will gather, prioritize, and articulate product requirements based on user feedback, market trends, and business goals. You will maintain clear and thorough documentation for product features, workflows, and technical specifications. You will
- Performance Analysis and Improvement: You will continuously monitor product performance using key metrics and user feedback to refine and iterate on the product, driving ongoing enhancements. You will advocate for user needs throughout the product development cycle to create products that truly resonate with them and a product experience that provides outsized value.
- Stakeholder Communication and Collaboration: You will synthesize and communicate results, insights, and actionable recommendations to the leadership team and all relevant stakeholders, and you will collaborate cross functionally to remove bottlenecks and be a force multiplier for our team.
[APPLY](https://apply.workable.com/satoshi-energy/j/ba09aa8693/?utm_source=stackernews)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/910029
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-03-11 07:28:42
Hello Stackers!
Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!
A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
So stay a while and listen.
🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨
🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/909958
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@ 4857600b:30b502f4
2025-03-11 01:58:19
## Key Findings
- Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that aspirin can help slow the spread of certain cancers, including breast, bowel, and prostate cancers
- The study was published in the journal *Nature*
## How Aspirin Works Against Cancer
- Aspirin blocks thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a chemical produced by blood platelets
- TXA2 normally weakens T cells, which are crucial for fighting cancer
- By inhibiting TXA2, aspirin "unleashes" T cells to more effectively target and destroy cancer cells
## Supporting Evidence
- Previous studies showed regular aspirin use was linked to:
- 31% reduction in cancer-specific mortality in breast cancer patients
- 9% decrease in recurrence/metastasis risk
- 25% reduction in colon cancer risk
## Potential Impact
- Aspirin could be particularly effective in early stages of cancer
- It may help prevent metastasis, which causes 90% of cancer fatalities
- As an inexpensive treatment, it could be more accessible globally than antibody-based therapies
## Cautions
- Experts warn against self-medicating with aspirin
- Potential risks include internal bleeding and stomach ulcers
- Patients should consult doctors before starting aspirin therapy
## Next Steps
- Large-scale clinical trials to determine which cancer types and patients would benefit most
- Development of new drugs that mimic aspirin's benefits without side effects
Citations:
[Natural News]( https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-03-10-aspirin-may-halt-spread-of-cancers-study.html)
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-03-10 23:31:30
Bitcoin has always been rooted in freedom and resistance to authority. I get that many of you are conflicted about the US Government stacking but by design we cannot stop anyone from using bitcoin. Many have asked me for my thoughts on the matter, so let’s rip it.
**Concern**
One of the most glaring issues with the strategic bitcoin reserve is its foundation, built on stolen bitcoin. For those of us who value private property this is an obvious betrayal of our core principles. Rather than proof of work, the bitcoin that seeds this reserve has been taken by force. The US Government should return the bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex and the Silk Road.
Usually stolen bitcoin for the reserve creates a perverse incentive. If governments see a bitcoin as a valuable asset, they will ramp up efforts to confiscate more bitcoin. The precedent is a major concern, and I stand strongly against it, but it should be also noted that governments were already seizing coin before the reserve so this is not really a change in policy.
Ideally all seized bitcoin should be burned, by law. This would align incentives properly and make it less likely for the government to actively increase coin seizures. Due to the truly scarce properties of bitcoin, all burned bitcoin helps existing holders through increased purchasing power regardless. This change would be unlikely but those of us in policy circles should push for it regardless. It would be best case scenario for American bitcoiners and would create a strong foundation for the next century of American leadership.
**Optimism**
The entire point of bitcoin is that we can spend or save it without permission. That said, it is a massive benefit to not have one of the strongest governments in human history actively trying to ruin our lives.
Since the beginning, bitcoiners have faced horrible regulatory trends. KYC, surveillance, and legal cases have made using bitcoin and building bitcoin businesses incredibly difficult. It is incredibly important to note that over the past year that trend has reversed for the first time in a decade. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a key driver of this shift. By holding bitcoin, the strongest government in the world has signaled that it is not just a fringe technology but rather truly valuable, legitimate, and worth stacking.
This alignment of incentives changes everything. The US Government stacking proves bitcoin’s worth. The resulting purchasing power appreciation helps all of us who are holding coin and as bitcoin succeeds our government receives direct benefit. A beautiful positive feedback loop.
**Realism**
We are trending in the right direction. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a sign that the state sees bitcoin as an asset worth embracing rather than destroying. That said, there is a lot of work left to be done. We cannot be lulled into complacency, the time to push forward is now, and we cannot take our foot off the gas. We have a seat at the table for the first time ever. Let's make it worth it.
We must protect the right to free usage of bitcoin and other digital technologies. Freedom in the digital age must be taken and defended, through both technical and political avenues. Multiple privacy focused developers are facing long jail sentences for building tools that protect our freedom. These cases are not just legal battles. They are attacks on the soul of bitcoin. We need to rally behind them, fight for their freedom, and ensure the ethos of bitcoin survives this new era of government interest. The strategic reserve is a step in the right direction, but it is up to us to hold the line and shape the future.
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@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-03-10 20:21:34
@denlillaapan prodded me into writing this.
What do I think about the idea that [Trump is making Europe great again](http://archive.today/fnoBN)?
I chuckle honestly. I'm far from an expert on Europe but I have been paying attention to the EU since the early 2000s. On the one hand they are basically admitting that they have been passively ridding on the US's dime for decades. I mean, anyone that is paying attention and honest knows it. The establishment in the US wants to keep the status quo because the US is an empire. Trump looks at it differently. Like, what are we getting for all this money we are blowing? Russia is NOT the USSR. The world has evolved greatly since the 1990s and NATO was designed for an enemy that no longer exists.
On the other hand I wonder if the US leaving NATO will lead to wars in Europe. I don't buy the lie that Europe is united. I know many Americans do but I don't buy it. There are centuries of conflict in Europe and I wonder if we will see that come back. If it does I'm in favor of letting them work it out themselves. These conflicts need to be rejected by each people group for what they are. Elites seeking to gain more land, power, and wealth at the expense of the blood of plebs.
I think this headline is funny because already I'm hearing division between the Germans and the French. Europe is a mess and I don't see them improving as a result of this. Now... if we continue to see more anti-EU movements arise there might be a chance. Those groups get called far right. I don't really care what they get called. They sound like people that want to move back the halls of power to their own capitals instead of Brussels.
I'm guessing that right now arms companies are pitching EU scum hard. The hookers and blow are likely flowing freely. I bet they are writing up plans on how to spend more of the money of Europeans on arming the EU. Its gonna be a huge market. People that just swallow what these evil liars say in front of cameras are fools. I don't buy what they are selling. I don't buy the moral marketing of war nor the moral opposition to the "bad guys". They are all bad guys. Some are worse. Putin is likely worse but that misses the point. The point is ending the open war that is killing far to many people.
I pray this conflict finds resolution soon. I never dreamed it would go on this long. Its insane that it has. Its insane that a US president hasn't tried to talk to Putin until Trump. Trump is no savior but at least he seems to be trying to take a different approach. I think his positions on Israel, Iran, and China are terrible but I hope he lives long enough to negotiate a peace deal that sticks in Ukraine.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/909577
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@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-03-10 16:26:31
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/909307
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-03-10 15:50:05
Hello Stackers!
It's Monday so we're back doing "Meta Music Mondays" 😉.
From before the territory existed there was just one post a week in a ~meta take over. Now each month we have a different theme and bring music from that theme.
This month is March and we're doing March Madness. So give me those Wacky and Weird crazy artists and songs. The weirder the better!
Let's have fun.
How about crazy yodel prog?
https://youtu.be/Obdv1jghXAE?si=8e4b7ISJg6pDGGBP
Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/909253