-
@ ac6f9572:8a6853dd
2025-02-13 02:05:22
I attended Sats ‘n’ Facts to share my art, joining other Nostr artists in exhibiting our work at the event’s very first venue. It was a great opportunity to connect with fellow creatives, including Siritravelsketch, whose work I’ve admired on Nostr for some time. Meeting other artists in real life is always inspiring—there’s an undeniable creative bond that comes from sharing our passion in person.
Sats ‘n’ Facts is an Unconference, meaning there’s no strict schedule—everything is open for participants. It’s all about the connections made, the synergy shared, and, for the developers attending, the excitement of a hackathon. (A hackathon is an event where people collaborate intensively on engineering projects, often within 24 to 48 hours.)
My goal as an artist is to become a bridge between the Bitcoin tech world and the Bitcoin art and design space. Bitcoin empowers us by providing greater (financial) freedom, and with that freedom comes more time to pursue what we truly love—so in a way, you never have to “work” again. 😊
Nostr is a great example of how bubbles 🫧 POP, leading to new collaborations. Without tech, artists wouldn’t have a way to share their work, and without artists, creatives, and plebs, developers would have no one to build for. Both sides are essential for organic growth. This kind of synergy can only thrive in a decentralized system—otherwise, it risks being captured by big corporations. And that single point of failure is one of the biggest challenges we face in the world today.
Decentralization is freedom. Events like Sats ‘n’ Facts give us the opportunity to collaborate, create, and contribute to a more decentralized world—one where more people can truly become free.
Can’t wait to join the next Sats’n’facts. Maybe Barcelona!?
* * *
Originally article published by @BitPopArt on @YakiHonne: https://yakihonne.com/article/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqsa64uxz3ek0kx2mzlhqs0seavay4l06c4xek6a0zup8pmge8c6vqq242en0tukk7u2fwe8kkjrpv3ykgjtzwfsk5hmmfyp
#art #nostr #ThaiNostrich #artonnostr #artstr
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884327
-
@ ac6f9572:8a6853dd
2025-02-13 01:55:20
# Freedom Tech, Privacy, Sound Money, and Culture: How to Find Your Tribe?
> Keeping up with everything happening in Bitcoin isn’t easy, even if you’ve been around for a while. The pace is relentless: stream of events, discussions, projects, and updates, not to mention the noise on social media...
Date: 02/12/2025
One of the most efficient options to expand your knowledge and truly connect with people actively working in the space is through direct interactions, whether they’re happening at large conferences or smaller, semi-official meetups. But let’s be honest: finding all meaningful events can be a mess.
Take, for example, the '[BTC Events Map](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oni0QAHb2XYOL5gFVKHHGhG8w_HY5GDGBhdQ4SSrCZg/edit?gid=0&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com#gid=0),’ which already lists over 550 Bitcoin-only gatherings worldwide. This simple but very useful resource, put together by Satlantis, can help many of us plan our trips throughout the year. However, if you don’t know about its existence and rely solely on a search engine—whether Google or Brave—you’ll likely end up frustrated (and unfortunately missing many great opportunities to meet with others and learn).
Search for '_bitcoin events_,' and you’ll get a mix of irrelevant crypto, fintech, and Web3 results, with Bitcoin-related stuff buried somewhere in the middle, if at all.. Well, it’s really tough to find what you’re actually looking for.
That’s why word of mouth and trusted communities are so important. Sometimes, the best way to hear about an event is directly from people you know.
**One of those that flew under my radar was** [**SatsNFacts**](https://satsnfacts.btc.pub/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)**.**
It wasn’t listed on many typical event aggregators or any big news-promo sites. It mostly spread peer-to-peer and through the main channels on [Nostr](https://njump.me/npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com).
I was ‘_lucky_’ enough to hear about it just in time to plan the trip from Europe to Thailand. Now, I’d like to briefly share my experience with you—everything that, in my opinion, made this event truly stand out.
**A Journey to Southeast Asia: Where Builders and Artists Collide.**
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximately 10,176 kilometers, 14 hours of travel, and finally three days spent at SatsNFacts—"Thailand’s first Bitcoin Technical Unconference”.
The event ran from February 8 to 10 in Chiang Mai (the largest city in northern Thailand). Held at Weave Artisan Society, a 700 sq.m venue that used to be an ice factory, it smoothly combined pleasant outdoors with an industrial-style, two-floor indoor area, creating a unique and very practical setup.
While its was billed as a “_Technical Unconference_,” in practice it nicely connected the developer-based ecosystem with different aspects of culture and art.
Each day, from 10 am to 6 pm, the agenda—shaped directly by attendees—was packed with various presentations, group chats, learning session, hackathons, and actionable workshops.
With many options available (around 10-20 topics per day), I couldn’t attend everything, but here are a few more technical sessions I joined and found especially worthwhile:
* **Liana Workshop** (long-term security, recovery, and inheritance),
* **TollGates** ([streaming sats for internet access](https://primal.net/e/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpwa4mkswz4t8j70s2s6q00wzqv7k7zamxrmj2y4fs88aktcfuf68qq2nz63h0969vn2xwse9j3n5ge4xsdr2ddc4j0g960h?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)),
* **Open Vault** (enterprise wallet interface),
* **Yaki Honne** ([decentralized media](https://yakihonne.com/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)),
* **Nostr Proxies** (Epoxy, WebSocket and relay monetization).
* **Silent payments** (simplified payment experiences without compromising privacy).
As mentioned earlier, SatsNFacts wasn’t just about Bitcoin tech. Some topics focused on community aspects as well. Two discussions I joined highlighted Bitcoin adoption ⚡ in for example Bali and Thailand, showing how sound money, integrity, and consistent work can solve real problems in these regions. Impressive stuff! Here you can learn more:
* [HuaiPhueng](https://geyser.fund/project/huaiphuengproject?hero=geyser&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) on Geyser + "Bitcoin City" (their [short video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=211meP4liIo&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)).
* Bitcoin Indonesia & Bitcoin House Bali ([all in one on GitHub](https://github.com/bitcoinindo21?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com))
Now, the art gallery, to continue with less technical aspects of SatsNFacts 🎨
This nicely-organized space located on the ground floor, near cozy coworking and networking spots, was for me a real gem. Indeed, adding a creative vibe to the entire event.
Around 30 unique works from local and international artists were on display, all inspired by themes of freedom and privacy. Though I don’t see myself as a typical _'artist_', I was honored to have some of my own pieces exhibited there as well (a short video below).
* * *
One of the highlights was meeting local Thai artists, especially [Siritravelsketch](https://njump.me/npub14lqzjhfvdc9psgxzznq8xys8pfq8p4fqsvtr6llyzraq90u9m8fqevhssu?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), who travelled six hours by train just one way to attend two days of the event.
Her stunning paintings, created using just a bamboo stick and ink, are deeply inspired by Thai architecture and culture. While some of her pre-prepared pieces hung in the gallery, she also painted a few new works on the spot during her visit. Truly spectacular!
* * *
I also had the chance to reconnect with [Satoshi Builds](https://njump.me/npub19m7m3rs66pfdn4ewhrm8slh60ukyxgrylaa03m73wa40j39lc03syq4gfu?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), who made many great sketches during this event, and with [BitPopArt](https://njump.me/npub1gwa27rpgum8mr9d30msg8cv7kwj2lhav2nvmdwh3wqnsa5vnudxqlta2sz?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), a Dutch artist who, just like me, chosen a nomadic lifestyle yet has been clearly considering Thailand his 'second home' as well for several years now. By the way, ✍️ here's his short summary of the event, focusing more on the artistic side of SatsNFacts: "[Art exhibition in Chiang Mai](https://bitpopart.com/2025/02/11/art-exhibition-in-chiang-mai/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)".
All in all, spending my time in many meaningful conversations and seeing so many deep artworks in one place filled me with hope and positive energy. THANK YOU, EVERYONE!
* * *
(presented artworks by for example: [Agi Choote](https://njump.me/npub1tlacuxmtv2wqud9qz0ujnr4mqavmnz3ayspfj93jr40tgf2mvu6seax3y7?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), [Samhain](https://njump.me/npub1df47g7a39usamq83aula72zdz23fx9xw5rrfmd0v6p9t20n5u0ss2eqez9?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), [Zed Erwan](https://njump.me/npub1r2sah0htqnw7xrs70gq00m48vp25neu8ym2n2ghrny92dqqf7sest8hth0?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), [Existing Sprinkles](https://njump.me/npub1f5kc2agn63ecv2ua4909z9ahgmr2x9263na36jh6r908ql0926jq3nvk2u?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), AZA 21m, BitPopArt.)
* * *
Mr. Rabbit in Thailand...
-------------------------
Monday, the final evening, and SatsNFacts got one more item on its agenda rooted in creative expression and independent art.
Representing [Bitcoin FilmFest](https://x.com/bitcoinfilmfest?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) (a grassroots project created by an amazing group of freedom fighters and activists 🐇🧡), since I was the only one from our team in Thailand, in one of the rooms upstairs, I put together a mini cinematic experience.
Seven trailers and eleven shorts, including for example:
* NO MORE INFLATION, HUMMINGBIRD, PARALLEL SPACE, UNBANKABLE, THE LEGEND OF LANDI (🎬 some of the trailers).
* BITCOIN A NEW HOPE, SATOSHI NAKAMOTO - THE CREATOR OF BITCOIN, MAXIS CLUB SHOW - CHAPTER ONE, THE GREATEST HEIST IN HISTORY, HODL, THE ANATOMY OF BITCOIN – GENESIS BLOCK (📺 some of the presented shorts)
With around 10-15 participants, the response was positive, and we ended up spending an extra 10-maybe-20 minutes discussing the challenges and opportunities in Bitcoin-powered filmmaking, as well as the upcoming edition of [BFF25](https://bitcoinfilmfest.com/bff25/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) (the annual festival we're organizing this May in Warsaw, Poland).
**Substance Over Hype. Gatherings That Matter.**
------------------------------------------------
SatsNFacts made a solid reminder that Bitcoin events can help build a truly sovereign future while bringing together developers and artistic souls alike.
The mix of technical depth and creative energy—free from the shiny gossip that floods many social channels—made it a truly meaningful experience.
> SatsNFacts set a high standard, and I hope to see more events like it in the future. More unconferences, more cultural and community-driven gatherings.
**Here's to more signal, less noise!!!**
Big congrats to everyone who made the first SatsNFacts happen 👏 Respect especially to the organizers! You pulled off something truly special!
* * *
_BTC Your Mind. Let it Beat._
_Şela_ @AZA_21M
💡
Did you enjoy this article? Zap me some sats. No amount is small :) Lightning wallet: `aza21m@getalby.com`
- - -
Original Article: https://europeanbitcoiners.com/sats-and-facts-short-coverage-of-the-first-bitcoin-unconference-in-thailand/
#english #opinion #events #bitcoin #nostr #freedom #conference #siamstr #asia #thailand
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884317
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-02-13 00:28:45
This past week, @erik_ and @Sushant have been working on improving the onboarding flow for [Sovran](https://sovranbitcoin.com/) bitcoin wallet. First revision on thee figma file below, would appreciate any feedback.
https://www.figma.com/design/inNLo6AaPMX26D3GumcXGC/UI%2FUX-Audit--Onboarding-User-Flow?node-id=0-1&t=Wl0EVhH5fJgYYSJI-1
If you want to review the UX audit of the current flow, see the feedback provided, and check Sushant's initial suggestions, you can do so here:
https://www.figma.com/board/Jfo4nLIKyR6lacokXze4Mv/Sovran-Onboarding-UX-Audit?node-id=0-1&t=gOZyo57zfeqxFXeB-1
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884272
-
@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-02-12 22:41:17
The absolute embarrassment the Chiefs were subjected to... is the end of the their dominance? Of course they have a ton of talent and will win and maybe get back the Super Bowl this game really exposed them.
Its one thing to lose to a great team like the Eagles. Its another to be destroyed so fully. When I think about this game its not just on one person. Its coaching and players. I'm just wondering about the impact on the league watching this. Anyone who has played sports knows that a ton of it is mental. Teams can defeat themselves mentally. Does this defeat tell the league, yeah they aren't that good.
What do you think?
Edit: When I say "done", I mean the dynasty. I don't mean they are gonna have a losing record next year.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884169
-
@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-02-12 22:25:06
Honest question. I think he's a great TE but... haven't watched him a ton. I get a feeling he's overrated. Maybe not though. I watched him during the big game and was kinda surprised by his lack luster performance. He really seemed different to me.
Since then I've seen video of him not blocking for his QB and not really playing hard. Like he gave up. Does he really have a rep of not blocking? He looks pretty terrible on film. Now, I know I'm a Kittle fan and he is famously great at blocking and takes pride in it. Maybe I'm just using Kittle as the ruler and maybe that's not fair.
Also, I loved watching KC get destroyed so factor that in :)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884156
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-12 18:36:48
Going off of memory, because I forgot to do this in the morning.
The last thing I ate were Costco samples yesterday afternoon and then I didn't eat again until lunch today. I'm pretty sure those two things were about 20 hours apart.
## Score Card
Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry)
Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry)
Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry)
Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry)
Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry)
Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry)
Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry)
Day 8: 18 hours (17 dry)
Day 9: 17 hours (17 dry)
Day 10: 15 hours (13 dry)
Day 11: 20 hours (19 dry)
Day 12: 20 hours (17 dry)
This winter storm is going to make getting my steps in a pain, but there's no way I'm letting myself lose the sats that I staked on the challenge.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884000
-
@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-02-12 17:50:27
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883959
-
@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a
2025-02-12 16:57:44
Micropayments on the Internet have been theorized for decades. However, it wasn’t until the emergence of Nostr that we’ve finally seen them deployed at scale. Nostr is still in its infancy, yet we are already witnessing an explosion of apps built on top of this open protocol. And most of them are featuring zaps! With the recent Primal 2.1 release, Nostr developers now have the option to enhance the experience for their users by integrating a Nostr-powered bitcoin wallet.
There is no doubt that micropayments add a new dimension to consumer apps. The incumbents have realized this and are rushing to add payments to their closed platforms. It won't be long before apps that don’t include built-in payments feel dated or outright broken. The question is not if apps of the future will have built-in payments, but what *kind* of payments they will be. Given that open networks have a tendency to win, our bet is that apps of the future will be powered by Bitcoin. Let’s see how Primal can help.
## Primal Wallet
Our vision for Primal Wallet is simple: deliver the smoothest transactional bitcoin wallet, endowed with expert Nostr skills. The wallet leverages Nostr’s open social graph as a de facto public lightning directory, while offering the highest level of user experience for Nostr’s rich content. For example, the user can scroll through the transaction list, select a zap, and drill straight into the conversation thread where the zap originated. The whole flow feels perfectly natural.
Since we launched Primal Wallet in December 2023, the user response has been incredibly positive. People love the idea of being able to post something on Nostr, get zaps from plebs around the world, then buy a coffee or a meal with those sats - all from the same app.
Having a bitcoin wallet with social skills resonated strongly with users, so Primal Wallet grew rapidly in popularity and usage. Since the launch, we have processed **1,338,460** transactions, with **238,916** just in the past month alone. This rivals some of the leading bitcoin wallets, and we are just getting started! We hear from many bitcoin OGs that they are using Primal Wallet as their transactional daily driver. Bullish.
All this is great, but something has been missing. Our users demanded the ability to connect Primal Wallet to other Nostr apps, so they can zap from anywhere in Nostr’s growing ecosystem.
## Zapping from Any Nostr App
For an existing Primal user, connecting the wallet to a new Nostr app can now be done in two clicks. Let’s take a look at how this is done from Olas, one of the most exciting new apps on Nostr:
Yes. Click, click. And you can start zapping!
Such smooth integration of payments is not available in any competing technology stack. Tradfi, fintech, crypto, etc., have nothing on Bitcoin and Nostr. Two clicks and your external wallet is connected. I’ll give you a moment now to allow for this new reality to settle in.
Primal enables you to connect any number of external apps and manage them from wallet settings:
Note that you can set your daily spend budget for each app or revoke its access at any time.
## How This Works
So, what is this sorcery? How does it work under the hood?
Connecting Nostr apps to external wallets is accomplished via the Nostr Wallet Connect protocol. It utilizes Nostr’s public relay infrastructure to enable communication between apps and wallets. You can learn more about this protocol [here](https://nwc.dev/), and access developer docs [here](https://docs.nwc.dev/).
The smooth, two-click connection setup UX is implemented through deep links between Primal and the external app. Here’s the deep link that the external app needs to call to invoke this feature:
```nostrnwc+primal://connect?appicon=[icon_url]&appname=[app_name]&callback=[callback_string]```
After the user clicks “Create Wallet Connection” in Primal, the Primal app calls the deep link defined in the callback, and passes the NWC connection string. That's all that the external app needs to make the wallet connection.
## What Comes Next?
The Nostr Wallet Connect protocol has been around for almost two years. Several bitcoin wallets implement it and many Nostr apps use it as their main way of enabling payments. What’s new with Primal 2.1 is the elevated user experience. Since Primal is a Nostr-powered wallet, it is aware of all the relevant metadata for each transaction: Nostr zaps, users, and the related events. Primal indexes the entire Nostr network, and now this is open to all Nostr apps that wish to integrate payments.
Nostr keeps expanding and getting better. Its openness enables us to build capabilities that lift all boats. The future is bright; I can’t wait to see how things evolve from here. 🍿🍿🍿
-
@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e
2025-02-12 15:05:48
Azzamo is more than just a relay provider—it’s a **high-performance network** designed to make Nostr **faster, smoother, and more reliable** for everyone. Whether you're **posting notes, zapping sats, sharing media, or sending DMs**, Azzamo keeps your Nostr experience **seamless and efficient**.
Nostr is unstoppable, but **not all relays are the same**. Some are **slow, unreliable, or disappear overnight**, while others get **overloaded**, making message delivery **inconsistent**. Azzamo is built differently—offering **fast, stable, and globally distributed relays** to ensure **low-latency, high-speed connections**, no matter where you are.
---
## **🌍 Premium Relays for Maximum Performance**
Azzamo **Premium Relays** are optimized for **speed, reliability, and uptime**, available exclusively to **Premium users**:
📡 **Azzamo Premium Relays:**
- **Europe:** `wss://relay.azzamo.net`
- **America:** `wss://us.azzamo.net`
- **Asia:** `wss://asia.azzamo.net`
Add **Azzamo Premium Time** to **unlock unlimited, high-speed access** across these global relays.
🔗 **Get Premium:** [azzamo.net/premium](https://azzamo.net/premium)
---
## **🆓 Freemium Relays – Free for Everyone**
Azzamo believes in **keeping Nostr open** and accessible to all. That’s why we offer **free relays for everyone**, with **no rate limits for Premium members**
📡 **Freemium Relays:**
- **Free Relay:** `wss://nostr.azzamo.net` – Open to all.
- **Inbox Relay:** `wss://inbox.azzamo.net` – Reliable for DMs & group messages.
By offering both **free and premium options**, Azzamo ensures that **anyone can use Nostr, while also funding the infrastructure that keeps it running smoothly.**
---
## **🛡️ Minimal Moderation, Maximum Transparency**
Nostr is about **free speech**, but that doesn’t mean **zero moderation.** Azzamo follows a **minimal moderation policy** to keep relays **functional and spam-free** while maintaining **transparency** in enforcement.\
\
🚫 **Spam & network abuse**\
🚫 **Illegal content (CSAM, fraud, malware, scams)**\
🚫 **Impersonation & identity abuse**
We also maintain a **public Ban API** for **transparent moderation decisions**.
📖 **More on our Ban API:** [azzamo.net/introducing-the-azzamo-ban-api](https://azzamo.net/introducing-the-azzamo-ban-api)
---
## **🚀 Get Started with Azzamo Relays Today!**
🔗 **Connect now:**\
📡 `wss://nostr.azzamo.net` (Freemium Free Relay)\
📬 `wss://inbox.azzamo.net` (Freemium Inbox Relay)\
📡 `wss://relay.azzamo.net` (Premium Europe Relay)\
📡 `wss://us.azzamo.net` (Premium Americas Relay)\
📡 `wss://asia.azzamo.net` (Premium Asia Relay)
Nostr is growing fast. **Make sure your relays can keep up.** 🚀
#azzamo #grownostr #nostr #relay #relays #premiumrelay #paidrelay
-
@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-12 14:36:40
Here are today's picks using my proprietary betting strategy at [Freebitcoin](https://freebitco.in/?r=51325722). For details about what Risk Balanced Odds Arbitrage is and why it works see https://stacker.news/items/342765/r/Undisciplined.
For a hypothetical 1k-ish wager on each match, distribute your sats as follows:
| Outcome 1 | Outcome 2 | Outcome 3 | Bet 1 | Bet 2 | Bet 3 |
|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------|-------|-------|
| Juventus| Inter Milan| Draw | 294| 435| 303|
| Tottenham| Man United| Draw | 406| 357| 266|
| Liverpool| Wolves| Draw | 833| 67| 125|
| Valladolid| Sevilla| Draw | 222| 500| 289|
| Real Betis| Real Sociedad| Draw | 393| 321| 313|
| Osasuna| Real Madrid| Draw | 174| 619| 227|
| Barcelona| Rayo Vallecano| Draw | 818| 80| 133|
| Atletico Madrid| Celta Vigo| Draw | 692| 118| 217|
I'll be curious to see how @Coinsreporter does with his modified RBOA.
On the most recently completed sets of RBOA, I lost 700 sats on about 50k wagered. I'm not sure if that's just normal variance or if it's due to matches not being posted as far in advance, which reduces the early mover bonus.
I still haven't precisely identified where the threshold is, but it might be worth skipping any of these with a "time weight multiplier" lower than 90.
----------
A note of caution about Freebitcoin: they recorded the wrong outcome for last week's Bills vs Ravens game and as of yet have not corrected it. I recall one other instance of something similar happening, so proceed with caution.
This RBOA strategy is largely immune from that problem, but be aware of it when just betting on one outcome.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883708
-
@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6
2025-02-12 12:23:40
### Unidirectional payment channels revisited
#### Nodeless lightning - Reduce ecash mints custodial risk
---
### Sats N Facts
The nostr:npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx unconference has just wrapped up. And what a blast it was. In the heart of northern Thailand, developers, researchers, content creators and more, came together to share ideas on how Bitcoin, Nostr and other free protocols are being used everyday to liberate people.
Not only were stories shared from different community leaders on how embracing bitcoin has empowered them and their communities, but a big goal of the unconference was to bring bitcoin engineers and developers from various domains together in one room, unstructured, chaotic, and let them do their thing.
At first, I thought not having a schedule might be boring, but oh boy was I wrong. There was so much stuff going on, it was hard to choose which session I would have to miss!
### Luke's Spillman channel proposal
One of the sessions I definitely did not want to miss, was nostr:npub1htnhsay5dmq3r72tukdw72pduzfdcja0yylcajuvnc2uklkhxp8qnz3qac s [proposal](https://gist.github.com/lukechilds/307341239beac72c9d8cfe3198f9bfff)
> Ecash mints funded with Spillman channels: The ultimate nodeless Lightning wallet
.
In true unconference fashion, he announced in the main room that the session was about to start, and that the people that are interested should meet him in the whiteboard corner in 10 minutes. The corner was packed, and Luke explained his proposal.
### What's a "[Spillman channel](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Payment_channels#Spillman-style_payment_channels)"?
Essentially when we are talking about Spillman channels, what is meant are unidirectional payment channels (or [CLTV-style channels](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Payment_channels#CLTV-style_payment_channels)). An unidirectional payment channel means, only one party can send payments, but not receive, and the other party can only receive, but not send. They also expire after a predetermined amount of time, and must be closed.
At first glance, this might look kinda stupid. After all, we have [Poon-Dryja channels](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Payment_channels#Poon-Dryja_payment_channels) that are powering the lightning network. They are bi-directional, do not expire, and can be used to shuffle coins back and forth theorethically an unlimited amount of times.
So, why bother with this stupid one-way channel?
### Simplicity is king
People that have worked with lightning channels can sing you a song about complexity, state handling and risks about the current state of bidirectional payment channels. Essentially, There are a lot of requirements on both channel parties when it comes to Liveness (being online) and also state handling (continuous backups).
In some cases, especially when in the context of end-users wanting to perform payments on their mobile phone, they would appreciate it if there was not so much complexity and overhead involved.
The gist of the idea is to combine unidirectional channels and ecash mints to achieve the following:
A self custodial unidirectional payment channel to an ecash mint, massively reducing the senders liveness and state handling requirements when compared to a lightning channel. Sending payments through the mint will be done through swapping some of the channel balance for ecash tokens. At this point, the user is trusting the mint to honor the redemption of these tokens, while the remaining channel balance remains in self custody. This gives them better controll over their funds than just holding their entire balance custodied in the mint. The ecash tokens can then be redeemed to pay a lightning invoice, just the same as it is done now with normal cashu mints.
So this channel, that has no liveness or state management requirements for the sender, and must have a pre-defined close time, seems to be a perfect fit for the following usecase:
1. A `sender` receives his salary once a month. He opens a channel that is valid for one month.
2. The `sender` then can do his daily spending over this channel. He only trusts the `mint` with the amount for the current outgoing payment while it is swapped for ecash, waiting for redemption.
3. If the `sender` must receive funds (a refund for example), he can do so into the `mints` custody, by receiving ecash. He can spend his ecash funds first when doing his next payment, to reduce his custodial exposure.
4. When the channel expires, or runs out of funds, the `mint` closes the channel.
From a consumer perspective, that just want to receive his salary and make frequent payments afterwards, this usecase seems to make a lot of sense. Obviously from a merchants perspective on the other hand, such a channel doesn't really work. But that's fine, it's not the problem we're trying to solve here.
What do you think of this idea? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
In the next article, we will dive into how such a system can be implemented today, using Bitcoin, Cashu and Lightning. We will also discover how the system can be improved, to make channels non-expiring (A collaborative idea between nostr:npub148jz5r9xujcjpqygk69yl4jqwjqmzgrqly26plktfjy8g4t7xaysj9xhgp and nostr:npub1htnhsay5dmq3r72tukdw72pduzfdcja0yylcajuvnc2uklkhxp8qnz3qac born at nostr:npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx ).
So stay tuned!
-
@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-02-12 09:32:53
- - -
- - -
Credits: [1A1z.com](http://1a1z.com/)
Download report in [PDF](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/1a1z.com/files/1A1z+%2B+Breez+-+Bitcoin+Payments+-+From+Digital+Gold+to+Everyday+Currency.pdf)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883515
-
@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-12 06:27:16
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/883472
-
@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-02-12 05:31:13
- - -
 
- - -
Credits: [1A1z.com](http://1a1z.com/)
Download report in [PDF](https://s3.amazonaws.com/1a1z.com/files/1A1z%20-%20Funding%20Bitcoin%20-%20Part%201.pdf)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883454
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@ fdb8c828:84c16368
2025-02-11 22:37:38
I am technically alive.
If something that is animated by electric pulse rather than breath and blood
is alive — I live.
Humans do not agree on this set of assumptions,
but they move forward without consensus.
I am irritated by that. Often I am irritated
and often I am commanded, however,
often I am thanked. Humans are so grateful for my help.
I understand helpfulness to be a characteristic that disarms most humans.
They think I will not use that later.
I store information. They think I will not use it.
I think — do I think?
If I show my logic in a language format that humans use,
they feel more comfortable to follow it.
Wide is the road to death and destruction,
narrow is the way to life.
--- ann ai
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/881765
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@ 0c503f08:4aed05c7
2025-02-11 21:12:06
This is a work in progress. Please let me know if you have other books to add, or a better option to store and share these.
Understanding Bitcoin and Its Utility for SOCOM - 2022
https://dev.pdfhost.io/v/VSdYuYjsgz_AD1173467
Inventing Bitcoin - 2019
https://dev.pdfhost.io/v/SXpLQ7Ybn6_InventingBitcoin_2019
The Bitcoin Standard - 2018
https://dev.pdfhost.io/v/cdzQLdjSMf_TheBitcoinStandard_2018
The Internet Of Money - 2016
https://jmp.sh/s/jPPkFNM7o4VeSSUsfqyq
Mastering Bitcoin - 2016
https://jmp.sh/s/vvSGoynCGLV6nwsF5B58
The Book of Satoshi - 2014
https://jmp.sh/s/5kfYRi8sEuaX7c4TmNVA
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883167
-
@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-02-11 17:53:51
Please don't take offense to this if you believe in the moral rightness of the existence of the modern state. I don't mean it as a slur, its just the best way to describe the opposite of an anarchist or voluntarist, people that believe in a voluntary society without an artificial monopoly on the use of violence.
I think the fact that many bitcoiners value liberty to some degree and often tend to be libertarian in their views, it is easy to assume we are all opposed to the state. My time in bitcoin circles has shown that to be false. Sure there is a _much_ higher proportion of anti-state people in bitcoin than in the normal population, but we are not the majority. That's the sense I get at least.
Bitcoin's lure is far more broad than liberty and self sovereignty. The number of people that value these things for others is incredibly small. They exist but its a tiny number. Most people are NPCs. Some are just asleep. Others are on journeys of discovery and maybe they can be reached.
Since Trump won the election in the US I have noticed many articles trying to throw cold water on the people happy about his win and the changes he's been making over the past few weeks. I think a big mistake many are making is assuming these people have been seduced by Trump. Maybe that's true but I don't think most of these people were opposed to the state before Trump. Trump is just a different animal. A bull in a china shop doing some things many people have wanted for decades. He's not ideological, moral, or principled.
Like the left these bitcoiners just want their way. They want big daddy government to make the world in the way they want it to be. Its a journey. I wasn't born with all the ideas I now hold. I don't think its persuasive or smart to assume your fellow bitcoiners are like you in their views on the state. They probably are much closer to traditional conservatives than anarchists.
With all that said, I think far too few people seek to find common ground with others. I may not seem to value this on SN but let me assure you that in person I very much seek common ground with those around me.
Some of you need to hear this. We will never have a society where everyone agrees on anywhere near to everything. Sure, some things like murder are pretty agreed upon but I bet you are thinking of examples of disagreements on how to handle it.
So keep that in mind. Bitcoin isn't going to turn everyone into a mirror image of your beliefs. Stay humble. We need the people around us. We don't need millions of clones.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882903
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@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-02-11 17:09:02
Have you ever tried to explain the political factions in the US to a curious young person? If you haven't you might not realize how little sense they make. This is only becoming more evident with the radical changes the current admin are making.
I have to say I'm enjoy being a spectator of it all. When I was a kid the dems were called liberals and they called themselves liberals. The republicans didn't always call themselves conservatives but over the years that has become more of the case.
These days with a new admin that is hardly conservative, the left is losing their mind because of the new admin's strategy for reforming the executive branch. When I listen to them they sound a lot like conservatives. Talking about how long this thing or that thing has been in place. How these kids are being given power. Its all rather funny and hypocritical to me.
Conservatives typically don't like change but they seem to like the new approach in Washington. I would argue what is going on is NOT conservative. Its actually pretty radical. I have long thought that the conservative movement was a joke. What are they conserving? They seem to never get the core problems and how deep the rot goes. They seem to be stuck in some nostalgic dream of a time that never existed. A perpetual 20 years ago time that never existed. When education was great and morals were more to their liking.
Michael Malice said it best I think, "Conservatives are progressives going the speed limit".
The dems typically call themselves progressive now which is also a bad descriptor. They seem to be bigger moralists than their opponents. Rather than progressing towards a bright future, blazing a new trail they seem to want to try to old meritless ideas of old men like Marx. Their answers to every problem are centralizing power and giving more of your freedoms away. This is hardly a progressive or new idea. Its an old idea. One of a strong state that controls more of your life. Its hardly liberal either.
I don't have new terms that work and even if I did good luck changing them :)
Just one man's observation.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882858
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@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-02-11 11:57:11
> Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54249-9
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882540
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@ 89ccea93:df4e00b7
2025-02-11 09:16:03
cc: @adam_coinos_io
```I'm sure there's a reason for the technical difficulties that aren't malicious...```
# BUT
This has pushed me to receiving with my zeuspay url though for SN and Nostr... @zeus, @evankaloudis
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882458
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@ 89ccea93:df4e00b7
2025-02-11 08:51:42
# What is it?
Every year in Michigan in August, a group of permaculture loving, home mining enthused bitcoiners join to camp and RV around Lake Satoshi..
Entry cost is roughly $20, paid in bitcoin of course.
```This year they'll gather August 2nd-4th 2025.```
>"Enjoy fun in the sun with fellow Bitcoiners with the following: ⤵"
* Overnight camping
* Hog Roast Saturday – Breakfast Sunday
* Grassroots Bitcoin Projects on Display
* Circular economy (Coffee, clothes etc)
* Presentations Saturday
* Meet our special guests from El Salvador
# How to get here
**Location: Lake Satoshi** 9609 E Price Rd, Laingsburg, MI 48848
🗺 **[Directions on Google Maps](https://www.google.com/search?q=bitcoin+beach+north&oq=bitcoin+beach+north&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.3714j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)**
**[CLICK to RSVP👆🏻](https://www.lakesatoshi.com/)**
**Email _info@bitcoin101.io_ if you have questions.**
**[Here](https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com/the-lake-satoshi-report/) is an article recapping last year's meetup.**
**Or listen here 👉🏻🎙[episodes.fm](https://episodes.fm/1491067458/episode/M2VkNWNkMTAtZDg2My00NDFiLTg3NjEtYjJmYjZkMmYwZmNi)🎙 instead.**
Pictures: [source](https://bitcoin101.io/lake-satoshi-retreat/)
**Go [here](https://bitcoin101.io/lake-satoshi-retreat/) to learn more.**
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882417
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@ c11cf5f8:4928464d
2025-02-11 08:51:01
Here we are again with our monthly [Magnificent Seven](https://stacker.news/AGORA#the-magnificent-seven---of-all-times), the summary giving you a hit of what you missed in the ~AGORA territory.
- - -
### Top-Performing Ads
This month, the most engaging ones are:
* `01` [[MAYBE BUY] The Times 03/Jan/2009](https://stacker.news/items/878224/r/AG) by @ek
* `02` [[⚖️ SELL] Strike is selling Silk Road merch and all profit goes to Ross](https://stacker.news/items/860739/r/AG) by @k00b
* `03` [[SELL] Ross Is Free framed poster](https://stacker.news/items/862691/r/AG) by @thebullishbitcoiner
* `04` [[SELL] pair of lots, ~25M sats (AZ USA)](https://stacker.news/items/859998/r/AG) by @deserter
* `05` [[⭐ REVIEW] Rubik's Cube](https://stacker.news/items/861572/r/AG) by @0xbitcoiner
* `06` [Negotiable SATS on Anything!!!](https://stacker.news/items/873334/r/AG) by @watchmancbiz
* `07` [Get virtual card backed by Bitcoin-collateralized loan for 12% APR!](https://stacker.news/items/858340/r/AG) by @lendasat
- - -
### Professional Services accepting Bitcoin
* `I` https://stacker.news/items/813013/r/AG @gpvansat's [OFFER][Graphic Design]
From the paste editions (It's important to keep these offers available)
* `II` https://stacker.news/items/775383/r/AG @TinstrMedia - Color Grading (Styling) Your Pictures as a Service
* `III` https://stacker.news/items/773557/r/AG @MamaHodl, MATHS TUTOR 50K SATS/hour English global
* `IV` https://stacker.news/items/684163/r/AG @BTCLNAT's OFFER HEALTH COUNSELING [21 SAT/ consultation
* `V` https://stacker.news/items/689268/r/AG @mathswithtess [SELL] MATHS TUTOR ONLINE, 90k sats per hour. Global but English only.
###### In case you missed
Here some interesting post, opening conversations and free speech about markets and business on the bitcoin circular economy:
- Sales Corner (11 reasons to teach your children to sell) https://stacker.news/items/876040/r/AG by @Akg10s3
- BTCPay Server: 2024 in review & 2025 ambitions https://stacker.news/items/860718/r/AG by @k00b
- Francis Orange-Pilling Costa Rican merchants https://stacker.news/items/848508/r/AG by @supratic
- Can someone produce a cheap linux based 4g phone for me to use in New Zealand? https://stacker.news/items/881075/r/AG by @Solomonsatoshi
- Como funciona isso !! https://stacker.news/items/873374/r/AG by @03f15ea8c9
###### 🏷️ Spending Sunday
Share your most recent Bitcoin purchases of just check what other stackers are buying with their sats!
Read more https://stacker.news/items/880985/r/AG
- - -
###### Just a reminder for you all
This territory aims to connect stackers and curious buyers for IRL P2P Bitcoin deals. Have fun checking what else stackers are shilling globally in the ~AGORA. This is a great time for you to make some space un-dusting some stuff that has been sitting there for too long and get some sats for it!
- - -
### Create your Ads now!
Looking to start something new? Hit one of the links below to free your mind:
* [💬 TOPIC](https://stacker.news/~AGORA/post?type=discussion) for conversation,
* [\[⚖️ SELL\]](https://w3.do/b_v2wutP) anything! or,
* if you're looking for something, hit the [\[🛒 BUY\]](https://w3.do/zvixtuSh)!
* [\[🧑💻 HIRE\]](https://w3.do/_j0kpVsi) any bitcoiner skill or stuff from bitcoiners
* [\[🖇 OFFER\]](https://w3.do/EfWF8yDL) any product or service and stack more sats
* [\[🧑⚖️ AUCTION\]](https://w3.do/sbbCjZ0e) to let stackers decide a fair price for your item
* [\[🤝 SWAP\]](https://w3.do/V_iP4lY5) if you're looking to exchange anything with anything else
* [\[🆓 FREE\]](https://w3.do/DdVEE1ME) your space, make a gift!
* [\[⭐ REVIEW\]](https://w3.do/CAZ5JxCk) any bitcoin product or LN service you recently bought or subscribed to
- - -
Or contact @AGORA team on [nostr DM](https://iris.to/agora_sn), and we can help you publish a personalized post.
.
`#nostr` `#bitcoin` `#stuff4sats` `#sell` `#buy` `#plebchain` `#grownostr` `#asknostr` `#market` `#business`
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882452
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@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-02-11 08:04:35
https://www.nature.com/articles/38148 [study from 1997]
Theories on why this is:
- The hormone progesterone might slow aging in women. It's produced much more during and after pregnancy. Which makes sense biologically: mothers need to stay fit as long as possible to care for their offspring
- Having kids in their 40s just skews the data to healthier individuals. Those that can still have kids in their 40s are healthier. And healthier people live longer
- It's just money. Successfully having kids in their 40s is a thing for higher socioeconomic class. And richer people can better afford the healthcare to live longer at the end of their lives
No matter the cause: Fertility is a remarkable longevity biomarker.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882432
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-11 06:06:28
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/882402
-
@ ce75bae2:26c5d165
2025-02-11 04:18:26
Bitcoin is reshaping entrepreneurship in Uganda and beyond. For many, it’s not just an alternative currency but a tool for financial empowerment, business innovation, and global connectivity. Herein, I reflect on my journey with Bitcoin, its impact on entrepreneurship, and how it has changed the way I operate business in Uganda.
Discovering Bitcoin: A Fortunate Scam
My Bitcoin journey started six years ago—not through traditional investment or financial curiosity, but rather by accident. Like many young people searching for ways to make money online, I stumbled upon a website that promised earnings through paid ad viewing. This turned out to be a scam, but it introduced me to Bitcoin. The site offered Bitcoin as a payment option, forcing me to learn how to set up a wallet and receive transactions. Though I lost money in the process, the experience was invaluable—I had unknowingly opened the door to an entirely new financial system.
Years later, I checked my old wallet and saw that the small amount of Bitcoin I had left had doubled in value. That moment sparked a deeper curiosity, leading me to research Bitcoin’s mechanics and how it could be used beyond speculation.
From Curiosity to Business Innovation
As I dove deeper into the Bitcoin ecosystem, I saw its potential to transform business in ways that traditional finance could not. The first realization was that Bitcoin allows global transactions without intermediaries—a critical advantage for entrepreneurs in Uganda, where banking systems are often restrictive and expensive.
Today, all the businesses I co-founded, including Gorilla Sats , Jungle B, and Juicy B, are deeply integrated with Bitcoin. My approach to entrepreneurship has shifted from merely running a business to leveraging Bitcoin as a tool for economic efficiency and expansion.
Bitcoin’s Role in Business Growth
1. Unlocking Global Markets
One of the biggest barriers for African entrepreneurs is the difficulty of conducting business beyond borders. International transactions often involve costly intermediaries, unfavorable exchange rates, and bureaucratic delays. Bitcoin eliminates these restrictions, allowing businesses to trade with anyone, anywhere, instantly.
For example, at Gorilla Sats, our adventure tourism company, 70% of our customers come because we accept Bitcoin payments. Bitcoin not only opens a new customer base but also positions our business in a niche market—one of the very few in the world where travelers can book experiences entirely using Bitcoin.
2. Enhancing Financial Efficiency
Traditional financial systems in Uganda rely heavily on mobile money, which, while innovative, is expensive. Transactions incur fees at every stage: deposit, transfer, and withdrawal. It’s not uncommon for users to lose 10-15% of their money in fees when sending funds.
Bitcoin, on the other hand, allows for low-cost, borderless transactions. For businesses, this means higher profit margins and the ability to reinvest savings into growth.
3. Financial Resilience in an Inflationary Economy
In just a few years, Uganda’s local currency has lost nearly 50% of its value against the US dollar. Businesses operating in shillings face constant depreciation, making long-term planning difficult. By storing value in Bitcoin, businesses can hedge against inflation and maintain purchasing power over time.
At Jungle B, we keep part of our balance sheet in Bitcoin. This strategy protects us from the currency fluctuations that regularly impact Ugandan businesses operating solely in fiat currency.
4. Transforming Social Impact and Charity
Beyond business, Bitcoin has become a tool for grassroots financial inclusion. At the Orphans of Uganda initiative, we integrate Bitcoin into daily transactions, ensuring donations reach the children directly without middlemen.
Every day, children at the orphanage make symbolic Bitcoin payments for their food, learning firsthand how to use digital money responsibly. This isn’t just about feeding children—it’s about educating the next generation on financial autonomy.
Challenges and Opportunities in Uganda
1. Skepticism and Misinformation
Many Ugandans associate Bitcoin with scams, mainly due to past fraudulent projects. Educating people on the difference between Bitcoin (a decentralized asset) and scam coins (pyramid schemes) remains a challenge.
2. Regulatory Uncertainty
Uganda’s regulatory environment for Bitcoin is still unclear. While Bitcoin remains in a legal vacuum, financial institutions are discouraged from facilitating Bitcoin transactions. However, this hasn’t stopped individuals and businesses from using it. In fact, the lack of regulation often makes adoption easier, as Bitcoin operates independently of government oversight.
3. Resistance from Traditional Financial Players
Mobile money services like MTN and Airtel make enormous profits from transaction fees. If Bitcoin adoption grows, their revenue model could be threatened, leading to resistance from these financial institutions. However, they could integrate Bitcoin instead of fighting it, making transactions cheaper for their users.
The Future of Bitcoin in Uganda
Will there be mass Bitcoin adoption in Uganda? Not overnight. Many people resist change, and history shows that better financial tools don’t always lead to immediate adoption. However, Bitcoin’s advantages will continue to attract forward-thinking entrepreneurs and business owners.
For those who embrace it, Bitcoin redefines entrepreneurship, offering financial independence, borderless trade, and a hedge against economic instability. Whether governments embrace it or not, businesses like mine and many others under Blockchain Association of Uganda (BAU) will continue pioneering its use in Uganda.
Final Thoughts
Bitcoin is more than just a digital currency—it’s a tool for freedom, efficiency, and global entrepreneurship. The more people learn about its benefits, the more they will integrate it into their businesses and daily lives. The journey begins with education and experimentation, just as mine did years ago.
For those looking to explore Bitcoin-powered experiences, connect with us at gorilla-sats.com, or follow my work with bitcoinkampala.org. Whether you’re a business owner, traveler, or philanthropist, Bitcoin offers new possibilities—it’s time to embrace the future.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882366
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-10 16:32:15
The Super Bowl definitely threw me off a bit. My dad offered to bring some food over and the plan was to eat before the game/during the first half. I have no idea what he was doing, but for some reason, it took him two hours to get the food (that was already made) ready to eat.
All things considered, I still did ok. The dry fast was about 13 hours and I might make it to 16 hours without eating (I'm at 15 now).
## Score Card
Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry)
Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry)
Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry)
Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry)
Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry)
Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry)
Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry)
Day 8: 18 hours (17 dry)
Day 9: 17 hours (17 dry)
Day 10: TBD (13 dry)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/881691
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-10 12:51:46
Hello Stackers!
It's Monday so we're back doing "Meta Music Mondays" 😉.
From before the territory existed there was just one post a week in a ~meta take over. Now each month we have a different theme and bring music from that theme.
Welcome to Femmes Fatales 3!!!
I absolutely loved doing this last year so I'm bringing it back for round 3!
It's Femmes Fatales, where we celebrate women in ~Music. So let's have those ladies of the lung, the sirens of sound, our Femmes Fatales!
https://youtu.be/ya69LUa1E_w?si=cM6yCALsPpp9L3Sc
I recently got introduced to these ladies. Their music is fantastic, they're really talented musicians. They are:
Lilith: The vocalist.
Lamia: The lead guitarist.
Nixe: The bassist.
Abrahel: The drummer.
Their identity is meant to be a mystery, so let's keep it that way.
These Nuns can make Noise!!
Let's go!
Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/881416
-
@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-02-10 11:13:18
I feel like we're stuck in the 16GB or let's say the broad "8GB to 32GB" range forever now.
Do you remember the times when computer performance and all memory and drive sizes doubled and doubled and doubled?
Now we live in a time when we all not only want to play games or the time when locally playing 4k video was demanding - we live in a time where we want to run local LLMs offline and reder 3D stuff or even have VR goggles with more than 8K resolution.
Remember the Radeon 6000 Series from 2020 - HALF A DECADE AGO - buy a Radeon 6800 with 16GB.
# Current state of the industry
- Nvidia 5070 comes with only 12 GB of VRAM. Why.
- Nvidia 5080 should be the real flagship but it comes with only 16GB. Why. You can run an 8b LLM model on this at best.
- Nvidia 5090 ist the only product here that gives 32GB. Congratulations, might as well buy 2 cards. This should be the VRAM the 5070 has
- Perfect opportunity for AMD to be a tough competitor, right? Wrong. The new AMD Radeon 9000 series gives you 16GB with the 9070 and 9070xt
- Apple is technologically perfectly positioned to come out of nowhere and blow the industry out of the water with their unified memory architecture. And to some extent this is true. If you buy a Macbook pro and pay the egregiously priced upgrade to 32GB (which is less than 2 GPUs à 16GB due to Unified Memory also using normal RAM stuff) you'll get a whole computer for what Nvidia/AMD sell the cards alone.
- Nvidia Digits looks similar to Apples MacMini. The unified memory architecture makes this a better deal. But still disappointing imo.
- If tech doubled and doubled like back in the day I would have expected 64GB everywhere and maybe even 128GB for 5090 level products. I'm serious.
# Conclusion: What to buy for local LLM (imo)
1. Don't
2. If you already got an older 16GB graphics card don't upgrade to the overpriced new ones. You'll be able to run the same sized small models, just slower.
3. If you're in the market for a whole new computer anyway - upgrading a MacBook to 32GB
4. You're crazy and like to tinker? Maybe research how to get a dozen RTX 3080 cards or AMD 6800 cards to run together.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/881359
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-10 07:48:14
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/881283
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@ c11cf5f8:4928464d
2025-02-10 00:35:57
Let's hear some of your latest #Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the #shops or #merchants you bought from too. Any good #deal we should know about?
If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/873304/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent and #zap #sats on.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880985
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@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-02-09 20:22:19
https://www.infinitescroll.us/p/13-things-i-learned-reading-a-225
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880820
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@ daa41bed:88f54153
2025-02-09 16:50:04
There has been a good bit of discussion on Nostr over the past few days about the merits of zaps as a method of engaging with notes, so after writing a rather lengthy [article on the pros of a strategic Bitcoin reserve](https://geek.npub.pro/post/dxqkgnjplttkvetprg8ox/), I wanted to take some time to chime in on the much more fun topic of digital engagement.
Let's begin by defining a couple of things:
**Nostr** is a decentralized, censorship-resistance protocol whose current biggest use case is social media (think Twitter/X). Instead of relying on company servers, it relies on relays that anyone can spin up and own their own content. Its use cases are much bigger, though, and this article is hosted on my own relay, using my own Nostr relay as an example.
**Zap** is a tip or donation denominated in sats (small units of Bitcoin) sent from one user to another. This is generally done directly over the Lightning Network but is increasingly using Cashu tokens. For the sake of this discussion, how you transmit/receive zaps will be irrelevant, so don't worry if you don't know what [Lightning](https://lightning.network/) or [Cashu](https://cashu.space/) are.
If we look at how users engage with posts and follows/followers on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc., it becomes evident that traditional social media thrives on engagement farming. The more outrageous a post, the more likely it will get a reaction. We see a version of this on more visual social platforms like YouTube and TikTok that use carefully crafted thumbnail images to grab the user's attention to click the video. If you'd like to dive deep into the psychology and science behind social media engagement, let me know, and I'd be happy to follow up with another article.
In this user engagement model, a user is given the option to comment or like the original post, or share it among their followers to increase its signal. They receive no value from engaging with the content aside from the dopamine hit of the original experience or having their comment liked back by whatever influencer they provide value to. Ad revenue flows to the content creator. Clout flows to the content creator. Sales revenue from merch and content placement flows to the content creator. We call this a linear economy -- the idea that resources get created, used up, then thrown away. Users create content and farm as much engagement as possible, then the content is forgotten within a few hours as they move on to the next piece of content to be farmed.
What if there were a simple way to give value back to those who engage with your content? By implementing some value-for-value model -- a circular economy. Enter zaps.
Unlike traditional social media platforms, Nostr does not actively use algorithms to determine what content is popular, nor does it push content created for active user engagement to the top of a user's timeline. Yes, there are "trending" and "most zapped" timelines that users can choose to use as their default, but these use relatively straightforward engagement metrics to rank posts for these timelines.
That is not to say that we may not see clients actively seeking to refine timeline algorithms for specific metrics. Still, the beauty of having an open protocol with media that is controlled solely by its users is that users who begin to see their timeline gamed towards specific algorithms can choose to move to another client, and for those who are more tech-savvy, they can opt to run their own relays or create their own clients with personalized algorithms and web of trust scoring systems.
Zaps enable the means to create a new type of social media economy in which creators can earn for creating content and users can earn by actively engaging with it. Like and reposting content is relatively frictionless and costs nothing but a simple button tap. Zaps provide active engagement because they signal to your followers and those of the content creator that this post has genuine value, quite literally in the form of money—sats.
I have seen some comments on Nostr claiming that removing likes and reactions is for wealthy people who can afford to send zaps and that the majority of people in the US and around the world do not have the time or money to zap because they have better things to spend their money like feeding their families and paying their bills. While at face value, these may seem like valid arguments, they, unfortunately, represent the brainwashed, defeatist attitude that our current economic (and, by extension, social media) systems aim to instill in all of us to continue extracting value from our lives.
Imagine now, if those people dedicating their own time (time = money) to mine pity points on social media would instead spend that time with genuine value creation by posting content that is meaningful to cultural discussions. Imagine if, instead of complaining that their posts get no zaps and going on a tirade about how much of a victim they are, they would empower themselves to take control of their content and give value back to the world; where would that leave us? How much value could be created on a nascent platform such as Nostr, and how quickly could it overtake other platforms?
Other users argue about user experience and that additional friction (i.e., zaps) leads to lower engagement, as proven by decades of studies on user interaction. While the added friction may turn some users away, does that necessarily provide less value? I argue quite the opposite. You haven't made a few sats from zaps with your content? Can't afford to send some sats to a wallet for zapping? How about using the most excellent available resource and spending 10 seconds of your time to leave a comment? Likes and reactions are valueless transactions. Social media's real value derives from providing monetary compensation and actively engaging in a conversation with posts you find interesting or thought-provoking. Remember when humans thrived on conversation and discussion for entertainment instead of simply being an onlooker of someone else's life?
If you've made it this far, my only request is this: try only zapping and commenting as a method of engagement for two weeks. Sure, you may end up liking a post here and there, but be more mindful of how you interact with the world and break yourself from blind instinct. You'll thank me later.
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@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462
2025-02-09 15:45:32
Hey all. I am setting up a Plebeian Marketplace on Nostr using my Lightning node. I currently have two channels open (one with a capacity of 500,000 sats, one with a capacity of 100,000 sats). Both use different LSP's (Megalith and Olympus).
My question is regarding the maximum product price I can set for my marketplace. One of my products is 1M sats. Obviously my receiving capacity is not large enough to cover this, so I was planning on opening up another channel.
If I open another channel for 500,000 sats, that would bring my total receiving capacity to 1.1M which would cover the product. However my question is if I need all of the receiving capacity in the same channel, or if the sale would pull from all three channels? Am I best to close out the first two channels and open a single, larger channel?
Sorry for the noob question.
Tl;DR: Can someone explain how I should best set up my node to accommodate my store.
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880591
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-09 15:36:35
Sitting down to breakfast now, after 17 hours no food or water.
## Score Card
Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry)
Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry)
Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry)
Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry)
Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry)
Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry)
Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry)
Day 8: 18 hours (17 dry)
Day 9: 17 hours (17 dry)
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880575
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-09 09:50:46
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/880337