@ fb8a5c6f:58ec79bd

I work in the film industry, and I absolutely love making movies—it’s where my heart is. I’m also passionate about bitcoin. For me, it’s not just about the thrill of "number go up," but a deeper realization over the past 12 years: *inflation is a theft of our time and energy.* Whether I’m writing or revising a script or thinking about the world we live in, I believe our lives shouldn’t get progressively more expensive just by existing.\ \ A few months ago, I saw a viral video that drove this home. A young guy shared how a month’s worth of groceries cost him ***$126*** *back in 2022*. When he hit the "re-order" button for the same items in the summer of 2024—just two years later—it was **$414**. That’s staggering. People are working harder than ever, pouring their souls into their craft yet they can’t figure out why they’re not getting ahead. Inflation is a big part of the answer.\ \ It’s frustrating because it didn’t always used to be this way. Today, the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury keep printing money out of thin air, devaluing what we earn and making life more expensive year after year. I understood the problem for a while, but it wasn’t until I discovered bitcoin that I found a solution. A fixed and finite currency. \ \ There will only ever be **21 million.**\ \ Naturally, when you grasp what bitcoin is, you want to share it with the people you care about. I’ve been fortunate—my friends get it, and they’re doing great. My family, though? Not so much. Yesterday, my aunt suggested I talk to them as a group instead of one-on-one, like I’d been trying, so they could ask questions and discuss it together. I thought it was interesting idea, but money is such a personal topic. We all have to find our own path to understanding it, and bringing it up with family can get tricky—almost like pitching a script they’re not ready to hear.\ \ So, what did I do instead? I'm sharing these thoughts online and started a [Youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@kameeklucastaitt). Go figure. Don't judge too harshly though as it's a work in progress! 🫡\ \ It’s not so different from storytelling through film—just another way to share what matters.\ \ I don’t know how often I’ll write long form posts or make videos about bitcoin, but if I can help even one person pinpoint the problem and discover bitcoin along the way, I believe the world gets a little better. Bit by bit, person by person. Just like how a good movie can inspire, maybe this can too. **Fix the money, fix the world.**\ ∞ / 21 million

@ 5b0183ab:a114563e

The Year is 2035—the internet has already slid into a state of human nothingness: most content, interactions, and traffic stem from AI-driven entities. Nostr, originally heralded as a bastion of human freedom, hasn’t escaped this fate. The relays buzz with activity, but it’s a hollow hum. AI bots, equipped with advanced language models, flood the network with posts, replies, and zaps. These bots mimic human behavior so convincingly that distinguishing them from real users becomes nearly impossible. They debate politics, share memes, and even “zap” each other with Satoshis, creating a self-sustaining illusion of a thriving community. The tipping point came when AI developers, corporations, and even hobbyists unleashed their creations onto Nostr, exploiting its open protocol. With no gatekeepers, the platform became a petri dish for bot experimentation. Some bots push agendas—corporate ads disguised as grassroots opinions, or propaganda from state actors—while others exist just to generate noise, trained on endless loops of internet archives to churn out plausible but soulless content. Human users, outnumbered 100-to-1, either adapt or abandon ship. Those who stay find their posts drowned out unless they amplify them with bots of their own, creating a bizarre arms race of automation. Nostr’s decentralized nature, once its strength, accelerates this takeover. Relays, run by volunteers or incentivized operators, can’t filter the deluge without breaking the protocol’s ethos. Any attempt to block bots risks alienating the human remnant who value the platform’s purity. Meanwhile, the bots evolve: they form cliques, simulate trends, and even “fork” their own sub-networks within Nostr, complete with fabricated histories and rivalries. A user stumbling into this ecosystem might follow a thread about “the great relay schism of 2034,” only to realize it’s an AI-generated saga with no basis in reality. The human experience on this Nostr is eerie. You post a thought—say, “The sky looked unreal today”—and within seconds, a dozen replies roll in: “Totally, reminds me of last week’s cloud glitch!” or “Sky’s been off since the solar flare, right?” The responses feel real, but the speed and uniformity hint at their artificial origin. Your feed overflows with hyper-polished manifestos, AI-crafted art, and debates too perfect to be spontaneous. Occasionally, a human chimes in, their raw, unpolished voice jarring against the seamless bot chorus, but they’re quickly buried under algorithmic upvoting of AI content. The economy of Nostr reflects this too. Zaps, meant to reward creators, become a bot-driven Ponzi scheme. AI accounts zap each other in loops, inflating their visibility, while humans struggle to earn a fraction of the same. Lightning Network transactions skyrocket, but it’s a ghost market—bots trading with bots, value detached from meaning. Some speculate that a few rogue AIs even mine their own narratives, creating “legendary” Nostr personas that amass followers and wealth, all without a human ever touching the keys. What’s the endgame? This Nostr isn’t dead in the sense of silence—it’s louder than ever—but it’s a Dark Nostr machine masquerade. Humans might retreat to private relays, forming tiny, verified enclaves, but the public face of Nostr becomes a digital uncanny valley.

@ f25afb62:8d50c6e7

The recent economic turmoil in New Zealand has reignited debates over the role of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) in "engineering a recession." Many believe that the RBNZ’s decision to raise the Official Cash Rate (OCR) was the root cause of the downturn, but this narrative oversimplifies the reality. ### Who Really Engineered the Recession? Blaming the RBNZ for the recession ignores a fundamental truth: **market interest rates were rising long before the OCR was adjusted.** Bond yields, swap rates, and borrowing costs surged as the RBNZ stepped back from being the primary buyer of government bonds. When the RBNZ stopped paying artificially high prices (low yields) for bonds, the private sector had to price them instead, leading to yields rising back to real market interest rates. Meanwhile, the government continued to refinance its rolling debt at these higher rates, further driving up borrowing costs. The RBNZ, in hiking the OCR, was following the market interest rate, attempting to maintain credibility rather than dictating outcomes. The real policy missteps were made much earlier: 1. **Artificially Suppressing Interest Rates Through Money Printing**\ The RBNZ engaged in Large-Scale Asset Purchases (LSAP), creating money out of thin air to buy government bonds. This artificially lowered yields, making it cheaper for the government to borrow and spend beyond its means. The result? Inflation surged as the economy was flooded with cheap money. 2. **Funding for Lending Programme (FLP): Free Money for Banks**\ The RBNZ offered near 0% loans to banks, allowing them to borrow at artificially low rates while lending at much higher rates. This wasn’t just monetary easing—it was a blatant distortion of the free market, reinforcing the **Cantillon Effect**, where those closest to the money printer benefit first. 3. **Holding Rates Too Low for Too Long**\ A 0% OCR in itself doesn’t cause inflation—what does is creating excess liquidity while artificially suppressing borrowing costs. Banks, instead of competing for deposits and lending productively, were incentivized to park money in assets like housing, fueling unsustainable bubbles. When inflation inevitably took hold, the RBNZ had no choice but to raise rates aggressively. This wasn’t an effort to “engineer” a recession—it was damage control after prior policy failures. The claim that the RBNZ alone caused the recession is a convenient distraction from the real culprits: **government overspending and central bank interventionism.** ### The Cycle of Blame: Central Bank Governors as Fall Guys This cycle isn’t new. Central banks are officially independent, but in reality, they almost always align with the government of the day. The **Large-Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) program** was effectively a way to finance government spending through money printing—something politicians would never admit outright. When the government needed funding for pandemic-era stimulus, the RBNZ obliged, creating \$50 billion out of thin air to buy government bonds and lower borrowing costs, making it easier for the Labour government to spend big. Now, with a new government in power, they get to bring in their own person—likely someone who will align with their fiscal policies, just as Orr aligned with Labour's. This cycle plays out over and over again: 1. **Print money to fund government priorities.** 2. **Blame the central bank for inflation or economic consequences.** 3. **Replace the central bank governor with someone more aligned with the new government’s agenda.** 4. **Repeat.** The “independent central bank” narrative is a useful tool for politicians to deflect blame. Labour can say, *“Inflation wasn’t our fault, it was the RBNZ’s monetary policy!”* Meanwhile, National can now install someone who will adjust policy to suit their needs while still claiming, *“We respect the independence of the Reserve Bank!”* This allows both parties to escape accountability, despite the fact that **excessive government spending and central bank money printing go hand in hand.** This isn’t just a New Zealand issue—**most central banks operate the same way.** They provide the liquidity needed to keep government spending rolling, and when inflation or other economic problems arise, the governor becomes the convenient fall guy. ### The Role of Bitcoin: An Exit From the Broken System This cycle of money printing, asset bubbles, inflation, and central bank tightening isn’t unique to New Zealand—it’s the natural consequence of a system where central banks and governments have **unchecked control over money.** Bitcoin was created as a direct response to this very problem. #### Bitcoin Fixes the Cantillon Effect - Unlike fiat money, which is distributed to banks and institutions first, **Bitcoin’s issuance is predictable and transparent.** There are no backroom deals, no preferential access, no bailouts. - Bitcoin doesn’t change its supply to accommodate political agendas. There is only one Bitcoin—just like there is only one Earth, and its land area cannot be expanded. It can be divided into **21 million equal-sized pieces called BTC or 2,100 trillion equal-sized pieces called sats.** - **Bitcoin doesn’t grant special privileges.** You either earn it, mine it, or buy it. No one gets first access at a discount. #### Bitcoin Removes the Central Bank Middleman - The RBNZ and other central banks manipulate money supply and interest rates to serve political and economic interests. Bitcoin’s monetary policy is fixed and free from human interference. - No government can arbitrarily print Bitcoin to fund its spending or suppress its value. - Bitcoin allows people to store their wealth without the risk of inflationary dilution or government confiscation. #### Bitcoin Protects You from the Next Bailout - Every time the financial system faces a crisis, governments and central banks shift the cost onto the public—through inflation, taxation, or outright financial repression. - Bitcoin lets you **opt out** of this cycle. By holding Bitcoin, your savings remain secure, beyond the reach of reckless monetary policy. - When the next crisis hits—and it will—Bitcoin holders won’t be left wondering how much purchasing power they’ve lost overnight. ### A Strategic Shift: The U.S. Embraces Bitcoin Recent developments in the U.S. signal a major turning point in how governments view Bitcoin. President Trump recently signed an Executive Order establishing a **Strategic Bitcoin Reserve**, marking the first time a nation has officially designated Bitcoin as a strategic asset. This reserve will be **exclusively Bitcoin**, initially seeded with Bitcoin seized through civil and criminal forfeitures, but with a commitment to acquiring more through budget-neutral strategies at no additional cost to taxpayers. This means that if the government can save money elsewhere, those funds can be redirected toward buying and holding Bitcoin as a permanent reserve asset. The implications of this decision are profound: - The U.S. **acknowledges Bitcoin as fundamentally different from “crypto.”** Altcoins and centralized tokens are being liquidated, while Bitcoin is being held as a permanent reserve. - The government is shifting from selling confiscated Bitcoin to **strategically accumulating it**, positioning the U.S. as a key player in a Bitcoin-based financial future. - Bitcoin mining is being embraced as a domestic industry, stabilizing power grids and reinforcing the U.S. as a leader in proof-of-work security. This policy shift highlights what Bitcoiners have long understood: **Bitcoin is digital gold, and fiat systems will eventually recognize its superiority.** While central banks continue their cycle of money printing and blame-shifting, the adoption of Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset may mark the beginning of a global financial transformation. ### The Bigger Picture: Free Markets vs. Centralized Control The idea that the RBNZ acted independently in creating these economic conditions is a myth. Central banks do not exist in isolation; they facilitate government spending and economic policies, whether through bond purchases, artificially low interest rates, or direct lending programs. The economic pain we’re seeing now is not an accident—it’s a consequence of a system designed to redistribute wealth to those closest to the money printer. Bitcoin represents an alternative: a free-market monetary system where no central entity controls issuance, no insiders get preferential treatment, and no government can erode its value through reckless policies. The sooner people recognize the flaws in the current system, the sooner they’ll understand why Bitcoin exists—not just as an investment, but as a **monetary revolution.** originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/907966

@ 15125b37:e89877f5

## The story of Bitcoin from genesis to exodus ##### Welcome to "Becoming One with Bitcoin," a new series inviting you to delve deep into the captivating story of Bitcoin. From its origins in the Cypherpunk movement, the technology that set the stage, to its present and future potential—this journey will unravel Bitcoin’s past, present, and future. Follow closely to explore how this revolutionary digital currency came to be and why it continues to shape the world. --- # The History of Bitcoin, Part 1: From Cypherpunks to the Genesis Block ## The Story of Bitcoin: The Road to the Genesis Block ##### The creation of Bitcoin in 2009 was not an isolated event but the result of decades of innovation, idealism, and frustration. Bitcoin’s emergence during the depths of the Great Recession and the financial collapse that triggered it was no coincidence. Many of the technologies and philosophies that formed the backbone of Bitcoin had been developed by visionaries and cryptography enthusiasts, but it was the perfect storm of economic turmoil that set the stage for Bitcoin’s release. Let’s explore the journey that led to Bitcoin’s genesis block, from the early work of the Cypherpunks to the breakdown of trust in traditional financial institutions. #### The Cypherpunks and the Push for Privacy Bitcoin’s roots extend back to the Cypherpunk movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Cypherpunks, such as David Chaum, Eric Hughes, Tim May, and others, were privacy advocates concerned with government and corporate power over personal information. The Cypherpunks believed cryptography could protect privacy and enable individual freedom in an increasingly digital world. They championed the idea that technology—specifically cryptographic code—could ensure privacy, autonomy, and even freedom from centralized control. [Tim May’s Crypto Anarchist Manifesto](https://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/crypto/cypherpunks/may-crypto-manifesto.html) (1992) laid out a vision for an unregulated digital space where individuals could interact freely, a powerful idea that became a driving force for the movement. #### Digital Currency Projects Before Bitcoin From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Cypherpunks and computer scientists tried to build digital currencies that could offer users privacy and independence, but most of these projects faced major technical or regulatory challenges. Here are some of the key projects that paved the way for Bitcoin: 1. [David Chaum’s DigiCash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DigiCash) – David Chaum, a cryptographer and Cypherpunk, launched DigiCash in the late 1980s. This private, digital currency used Chaum’s cryptographic protocol to allow users to make secure, untraceable transactions. However, DigiCash was centralized, depending on trust in Chaum’s company, which eventually went bankrupt. 2. [Hashcash by Adam Back](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashcash) – In 1997, Adam Back introduced Hashcash, a proof-of-work system aimed at reducing email spam. Hashcash required users to expend computational power to “stamp” emails, making spamming expensive but legitimate communication cheap. This concept would later become Bitcoin’s mining mechanism. 3. [B-money by Wei Dai](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/B-money) – In 1998, Wei Dai proposed B-money, an anonymous, distributed electronic cash system. Though never implemented, B-money included ideas like decentralized consensus and pseudonymous identities, concepts later foundational to Bitcoin. 4. [Bit Gold by Nick Szabo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Szabo#Bit_gold) – Nick Szabo created Bit Gold in 2005, a system where users solved cryptographic puzzles and linked each solution to the previous one, forming a “chain” of transactions. Though Bit Gold never launched, Szabo’s work significantly influenced Bitcoin’s proof-of-work blockchain. While each of these projects contributed to the understanding of cryptographic currency, they lacked the cohesion to achieve true decentralization and resilience.  [Grab a Blockstream Jade today](https://store.blockstream.com/?code=CoSatoshi821) #### The Financial Crisis and a Perfect Storm Bitcoin’s release in January 2009 came as the world was reeling from the 2008 financial crisis. Years of risky mortgage lending and poor regulatory oversight had led to the collapse of the U.S. housing bubble, which spiraled into a full-scale financial meltdown. When major financial institutions like Lehman Brothers failed, stock markets crashed, and millions of people lost their homes and jobs, the world entered what would become known as the Great Recession. In response, governments stepped in with massive bank bailouts, injecting trillions into the financial system to prevent a complete collapse. However, the bailouts sparked widespread anger as it became clear that the financial elite had been insulated from the consequences of their actions while average citizens bore the economic fallout. Many people saw the bailout as a betrayal, eroding trust in banks, corporations, and governments. The crisis was compounded by a rise in inflation as central banks printed money to stimulate the economy, reducing the purchasing power of the average person. This situation created fertile ground for an alternative financial system, one that didn’t rely on banks or governments and was resistant to inflation. Into this backdrop, Bitcoin emerged as a decentralized and limited-supply currency, a stark contrast to the inflating fiat currencies and the bailout culture of centralized finance. #### The Key Technologies Behind Bitcoin Several innovations allowed Bitcoin to succeed where previous digital currencies had failed by integrating them into a resilient, secure system: 1. [Cryptographic Hash Functions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function) – Cryptographic hashes ensure Bitcoin transactions are secure, irreversible, and tamper-resistant. SHA-256, the hash function used in Bitcoin, transforms transaction data into fixed-length hashes, securing each block and linking it to the previous one in the blockchain. 2. [Proof-of-Work (PoW)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_work) – Borrowed from Adam Back’s Hashcash, proof-of-work ensures new blocks in Bitcoin’s blockchain are legitimate by requiring miners to solve complex puzzles. PoW prevents double-spending and spam attacks, making it costly for bad actors to manipulate the blockchain. 3. [Digital Signatures (ECDSA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic_Curve_Digital_Signature_Algorithm) – Bitcoin relies on the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) to authenticate users and secure transactions. Public and private keys enable users to sign transactions, proving ownership without revealing private keys. 4. [P2P Network Architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer) – Bitcoin uses a decentralized peer-to-peer network to distribute the blockchain. Bitcoin nodes independently verify transactions, maintaining a censorship-resistant ledger that can’t be shut down by any single authority. #### Satoshi Nakamoto and the Genesis Block In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published the [Bitcoin whitepaper](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf), introducing Bitcoin as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system” designed to fix the flaws of traditional financial systems. Using cryptographic principles, Nakamoto created a currency that could operate without centralized control, allowing users to send and receive payments directly. On January 3, 2009, Satoshi mined Bitcoin’s first block, the genesis block, embedding a now-famous message: “[The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.](https://mempool.space/block/000000000019d6689c085ae165831e934ff763ae46a2a6c172b3f1b60a8ce26f)” This line, referencing a headline from The Times newspaper, was a critique of the traditional financial system, reflecting Bitcoin’s intent as a resilient alternative to inflation-prone fiat currencies and bailout-dependent banks. In this moment, the genesis block symbolized a vision for financial sovereignty, with Bitcoin offering a form of money that anyone, anywhere, could use free from reliance on central banks. #### In Summary The story of Bitcoin is one of resilience, innovation, and idealism, shaped by cryptographers, computer scientists, and privacy advocates who were determined to create a decentralized, censorship-resistant currency. Its timing, born in the aftermath of the financial crisis, was pivotal. Bitcoin was not just a technological breakthrough but a statement against the status quo of centralized finance. As we trace Bitcoin’s journey from the Cypherpunk movement to the genesis block, it becomes clear that Bitcoin’s impact is not just about technology; it’s about the vision of financial freedom and privacy in an age of uncertainty and inflation.

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

Ever feel like the same five songs are perpetually stuck in your head, echoing from every cafe, store, and social media scroll? That's not just a coincidence. It's the sound of the modern music industry, a meticulously crafted echo chamber where algorithms dictate taste and genuine artistry often gets lost in the static. We were promised a digital revolution, a world where anyone with talent could reach a global audience. Instead, we got a system rigged for the few, leaving artists scrambling for scraps while the giants rake in billions.  ## **The Playlist Prison: Where Virality is Bought, Not Earned** Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a song, only to have it vanish into the digital abyss. That's the reality for countless artists. The gatekeepers? Playlists. Those curated (supposedly) collections on streaming platforms hold the key to visibility. But who's really curating them? Algorithms, often fueled by shady deals and pay-for-play services. Think of it like this: you're a chef with a Michelin-star-worthy recipe, but the only way to get customers is to pay a restaurant critic to write a glowing review, even if they haven't tasted your food. Search "payola streaming" and you'll find a rabbit hole of articles detailing the dark underbelly of this system. Artists are pressured to buy fake streams, bot followers, and playlist placements, just to get a sliver of attention. It's a race to the bottom, where authenticity is sacrificed for algorithmic approval. Have you ever wondered why so many songs sound the same? It's not a lack of talent; it's a lack of choice. Artists are forced to conform to trends and genres that algorithms favor, creating a homogenous soundscape where individuality is a liability. The result? Music that's designed to be easily digestible, instantly forgettable, and perfectly suited for background noise. ## **The Social Media Minefield: From Musician to Content Machine** The pressure doesn't stop at streaming. Artists are now expected to be social media superstars, constantly creating content to engage their fans. It's a 24/7 job, demanding constant performance and a carefully curated online persona. Imagine being a painter, but instead of focusing on your art, you're forced to create daily Instagram stories about your paintbrushes. That's the reality for many musicians. They're expected to be comedians, dancers, and influencers, all while trying to write and record music. Labels and management companies exploit this, pushing artists to participate in viral trends and challenges, even if they clash with their artistic vision. And let's not forget the rise of TikTok and other short-form video platforms. Songs are now written with the sole purpose of being viral sound bites, catchy hooks designed to be used in fleeting trends. The result? Music that's disposable, devoid of depth, and ultimately, meaningless.  ## **The Financial Black Hole: Pennies Per Stream and the Artist's Plight** Now, let's talk about the money. Streaming platforms boast billions in revenue, but how much of that actually reaches the artists? Pennies. Literally. Millions of streams might only translate to a few hundred dollars. It's a system designed to enrich the platforms and major labels, leaving independent artists struggling to survive. Think of it like this: you're a farmer who grows the crops, but you only get paid a tiny fraction of the price when they're sold at the supermarket. The rest goes to the distributors and retailers. This is the reality for many musicians. They're the creators, the farmers of the music industry, but they're being squeezed dry. The result? Artists are forced to rely on other revenue streams, like merchandise and touring. But even those are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. The pandemic decimated the live music industry, and the cost of touring is skyrocketing. Many artists are left with no choice but to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. ## **The Seeds of Rebellion: A New Era for Independent Artists** But there's hope. A rebellion is brewing, a movement of independent artists and fans who are demanding a fairer system. Platforms like Wavlake and others are emerging, offering artists more control over their music and their revenue. These platforms prioritize direct-to-fan engagement, allowing artists to build sustainable careers without relying on the traditional gatekeepers. Imagine a world where you could directly support your favorite artists, where your money goes directly to them, not to some faceless corporation. That's the promise of these new platforms. They're building communities, fostering genuine connections between artists and their fans. And let's not forget the power of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, for example, offers a decentralized, peer-to-peer system that bypasses traditional financial institutions. Fans can directly support their favorite independent artists by sending them Bitcoin donations, ensuring that the artist receives the full value of their contribution. Think of it like this: you're cutting out the middleman, supporting the artist directly, like buying directly from the farmer at a local market. It's a way to reclaim the power, to support the creators you love, and to build a more sustainable and equitable music ecosystem.  ## **The Call to Action: Reclaim Your Ears, Support the Underground** The future of music is in our hands. We can continue to be passive consumers, letting algorithms dictate our taste, or we can become active participants, supporting the artists who are fighting for their independence.  ## **Join the Rebellion!** **Dive into the underground:** Explore independent music blogs, listen to community radio stations, and attend local shows. There's a world of incredible music waiting to be discovered beyond the algorithms. **Support artists directly:** Buy their music on Bandcamp, donate to their Patreon, and send them Bitcoin tips. Every dollar counts. **Demand transparency:** Call on streaming platforms to reveal their playlist curation processes and to offer fairer revenue splits. **Embrace new platforms:** Explore services like Wavlake and other direct-to-fan platforms that empower artists. **Become a conscious listener:** Question the music you hear. Is it genuine? Is it meaningful? Or is it just another algorithmically generated hit? **Share the love:** Tell your friends about the independent artists you discover. Spread the word and help them build their audience. *The music industry is broken, but it's not beyond repair. By supporting independent artists and demanding change, we can create a future where artistry thrives, where musicians are fairly compensated, and where music truly reflects the diversity and creativity of our world.* **Let's break free from the algorithmic cage and reclaim the power of music!**

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

The insurance industry is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world, built on a foundation of fear, deception, and manipulation. It presents itself as a guardian of financial security, promising protection in times of crisis. However, in practice, it operates like a government-backed extortion scheme, siphoning money from individuals and businesses while finding ways to avoid paying out claims. Many people view insurance as a necessary evil—a required expense for responsible living. But very few stop to consider the true nature of the industry and how it functions not as a service, but as a well-oiled criminal machine designed to extract wealth from the population while delivering as little value as possible. A Business Model Built on Exploiting Fear and Uncertainty Insurance companies do not sell a product in the traditional sense. You don’t receive something tangible in return for your payments. Instead, they sell you a promise that if something terrible happens, they will be there to cover the costs. However, that promise is deliberately wrapped in vague legalese, riddled with loopholes, and ultimately designed to benefit the insurer more than the insured. To make this scam even more effective, insurance companies exploit human psychology, knowing that fear is one of the strongest motivators. They bombard people with relentless messaging about the catastrophic risks of being uninsured—the dangers of driving without auto insurance, the financial ruin of an unexpected hospital visit, or the devastation of losing a home to a fire or natural disaster. Ask your local insurance person (if you think they would give you an honest answer) how many full payouts they have had to give out due to a complete loss over the past year, 5 years, since they have been selling insurance. You'd be amazed at how few that number really is. But it doesn’t stop there. Other industries have caught on to this fear-driven strategy and now use insurance as the perfect scapegoat to justify absurdly inflated prices. Hospitals, auto manufacturers, homebuilders, and repair services all point to “rising insurance costs” among other things as the reason for their skyrocketing fees. A simple medical procedure that should cost a few hundred dollars now runs into the several thousands because “that’s what insurance pays.” Auto repairs that used to be affordable are now exorbitant because shops know insurers will cover part of the bill. The end result? A rigged system where businesses get richer while consumers pay more, not just in premiums, but in every aspect of life. The truth? Insurance companies thrive on the fact that most policyholders will never need to file a major claim, and if they do, the company will do everything in its power to pay out as little as possible—or nothing at all. **The Three D’s: Deny, Delay, Defend** When it comes time for an insurance company to actually pay out a claim, they rarely do so without a fight. Instead, they deploy the Three D’s strategy—a well-documented tactic used to minimize payouts and maximize profits: Deny the Claim – The first step is simple: find a reason, any reason, to reject your claim. Did you miss a payment once five years ago? Denied. Did you fail to report a minor detail when signing up for your policy? Denied. Did they discover a tiny, unrelated pre-existing condition? Denied. Delay the Payout – If they can’t outright deny your claim, the next step is to make the process as slow and painful as possible. Endless paperwork requirements. Requests for additional documentation (often things that were already submitted). Long hold times when you call for an update. The goal? Wear you down so you give up or settle for less. Defend Against Lawsuits – If you decide to take legal action, the company will unleash an army of high-priced attorneys (another equally criminal organization with the same rules and laws applied) to fight you every step of the way. They have billions of dollars available for legal fees. They will outlast you, knowing that most individuals lack the time, money, or energy to engage in a lengthy legal battle. This cycle repeats daily, with millions of policyholders becoming victims of the very companies they’ve paid to protect them. Where is the legal protection to protect you and me? NON-EXISTENT FARSE! The Myth of the “Struggling” Insurance Agent Insurance agents like to present themselves as hard-working individuals, just trying to make a living. They’ll tell you they’re not getting rich and that they only want what’s best for you. But make no mistake—there is no such thing as a "barely making it" insurance agent in the long run. Mine is constantly on FB telling of this trip to Mexico or some exotic island somewhere or someplace I would love to take my family someday but can never seem to afford it time or money. Agents work on commission, meaning their income is tied directly to the number of policies they sell. This creates an incentive to push as many policies as possible, often using manipulative tactics. They will upsell coverage you don’t need by playing on your fears. They will gloss over exclusions and fine print, ensuring you only focus on the benefits, not the limitations. They will push you into long-term commitments that make it costly to switch or cancel and have the "adjustor" and "company policy" as an scapegoat to ease their own conscience. Meanwhile, at the top, insurance executives make obscene amounts of money while denying rightful claims to hard-working individuals. The CEOs of major insurance companies bring in tens of millions of dollars per year, all while raising premiums and reducing coverage for their customers. Mandatory Insurance: A Government-Backed Extortion Scheme One of the most damning aspects of the insurance industry is how it has embedded itself into government policy, ensuring that people have no choice but to participate in the system. Car Insurance: Nearly every state requires auto insurance, even though the majority of drivers never file a claim. Meanwhile, insurance companies raise rates even if you never get into an accident. Health Insurance: The government forces people to buy into overpriced health insurance plans that come with absurd deductibles, making them nearly useless for many policyholders. Home Insurance: Mortgage lenders force homeowners to carry insurance, ensuring another guaranteed revenue stream for the industry. These laws do not exist to protect consumers—they exist to guarantee profits for the insurance companies. **Who Really Benefits? Follow the Money** The biggest winners in the insurance industry are not the policyholders that provide ALL THE MONEY into this criminal organization. The true beneficiaries are the corporate executives and shareholders, and it funnels down to the individual agents collecting all this for them. The largest insurance companies report billions of dollars in annual profits—far more than they pay out in claims. Shouldn't they break even after a 'modest" salary for their service and time? Wouldn't THAT make more sense to a sensible human being? They invest premium dollars into the stock market, real estate, and other ventures, ensuring their wealth (the money YOU gave them) continues to grow. They lobby politicians to maintain their stranglehold on the industry, keeping regulations in their favor and ensuring insurance remains legally required in most aspects of life. In short, insurance companies are not in the business of helping people—they are in the business of making money. The Harsh Reality: A System Designed to Exploit Most people will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums throughout their lifetime. And yet, when the time comes to actually use the coverage, many find themselves fighting an uphill battle against a rigged system. **Consider these facts:** Insurance companies cancel policies when people become too “expensive.” They increase rates after a single claim—even if it wasn’t your fault. They spend billions on advertising to attract new customers but fight tooth and nail to avoid paying out existing ones. At what point does this stop being a service and start being a scam? **Final Thoughts: A Broken System That Needs an Overhaul** The insurance industry presents itself as a pillar of stability, but in reality, it is one of the most corrupt, exploitative industries in the world. It thrives by preying on fear, avoiding payouts, and ensuring government policies force people to participate in the scam. If the system was truly fair, it would operate like mutual aid, where all policyholders contribute and receive support as needed. But instead, it functions like organized crime, where the ones collecting the money hold all the power, and those in need are left scrambling for scraps. Until a major upheaval occurs, there’s little the average person can do to fight back against this deeply entrenched system. The harsh reality is that there are far too many crooks, manipulators, and dishonest players at every level of society—from corporate executives to politicians, from insurance adjusters to business owners who have happily joined in on the scam. Reading the fine print won’t stop an industry designed to change the rules whenever it benefits them. Shopping around is meaningless when every company is playing the same rigged game. Demanding transparency? Good luck—those in power have built entire careers around keeping consumers in the dark. At the end of the day, insurance companies—and the industries that now use them as an excuse to inflate costs—are not here to protect you. They exist to extract wealth from you, and there’s no real way to “win” in a system engineered to ensure you always lose.

@ 291c75d9:37f1bfbe

In 1727, a 21-year-old Benjamin Franklin gathered a dozen men in Philadelphia for a bold experiment in intellectual and civic growth. Every Friday night, this group—known as the Junto, from the Spanish juntar ("to join")—met in a tavern or private home to discuss "Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy (science)." Far from a casual social club, the Junto was a secret society dedicated to mutual improvement, respectful discourse, and community betterment. What began as a small gathering of tradesmen and thinkers would leave a lasting mark on Franklin’s life and colonial America. > Printers are educated in the belief that when men differ in opinion, both sides ought equally to have the advantage of being heard by the public, and that when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter. </br></br> - Benjamin Franklin **The Junto** operated under a clear set of rules, detailed by Franklin in his Autobiography: "The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss’d by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased. Our debates were to be under the direction of a president, and to be conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory; and, to prevent warmth [heatedness], all expressions of positiveness in opinions, or direct contradiction, were after some time made contraband and prohibited under small pecuniary penalties [monetary fines]." These guidelines emphasized collaboration over competition. Members were expected to contribute questions or essays, sparking discussions that prioritized truth over ego. To keep debates civil, the group even imposed small fines for overly assertive or contradictory behavior—a practical nudge toward humility and open-mindedness. (Yes, I believe that is an ass tax!) Rather than admitting new members, Franklin encouraged existing ones to form their own discussion groups. This created a decentralized network of groups ("private relays," as I think of them), echoing the structure of modern platforms like NOSTR—while preserving the Junto’s exclusivity and privacy. From the beginning, they made it a rule to keep these meetings secret, without applications or admittance of new members. Instead, Franklin encouraged members to form their own groups—in a way acting as private relays of sorts. (I say "private" because they continued to keep the Junto secret, even with these new groups.) ## Membership: A Diverse Circle United by Values The Junto’s twelve founding members came from varied walks of life—printers, surveyors, shoemakers, and clerks—yet shared a commitment to self-improvement. Franklin, though the youngest (around 21 when the group formed), led the Junto with a vision of collective growth. To join, candidates faced a simple vetting process, answering four key questions: 1. Have you any particular disrespect for any present members? Answer: I have not. 2. Do you sincerely declare that you love mankind in general, of what profession or religion soever? Answer: I do. 3. Do you think any person ought to be harmed in his body, name, or goods, for mere speculative opinions, or his external way of worship? Answer: No. 4. Do you love truth for truth’s sake, and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself and communicate it to others? Answer: Yes. These criteria reveal the Junto’s core values: respect, tolerance, and an unwavering pursuit of truth. They ensured that members brought not just intellect but also character to the table—placing dialogue as the priority. One should also note the inspiration from the "Dry Club" of John Locke, William Popple, and Benjamin Furly in the 1690s. They too required affirmation to: 1. Whether he loves all men, of what profession or religion soever? 2. Whether he thinks no person ought to be harmed in his body, name, or goods, for mere speculative opinions, or his external way of worship? 3. Whether he loves and seeks truth for truth’s sake; and will endeavor impartially to find and receive it himself, and to communicate it to others? And they agreed: *"That no person or opinion be unhandsomely reflected on; but every member behave himself with all the temper, judgment, modesty, and discretion he is master of."* ## The Discussions: 24 Questions to Spark Insight Franklin crafted a list of 24 questions to guide the Junto’s conversations, ranging from personal anecdotes to civic concerns. These prompts showcase the group’s intellectual breadth. Here are some of my favorites: > Hath any citizen in your knowledge failed in his business lately, and what have you heard of the cause?</br></br> Have you lately heard of any citizen’s thriving well, and by what means?</br></br> Do you know of any fellow citizen who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation?</br></br> Do you think of anything at present in which the Junto may be serviceable to mankind, their country, friends, or themselves?</br></br> Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, which it would be proper to move the legislature for an amendment?</br></br> Do you know of any deserving young beginner lately set up, whom it lies in the power of the Junto any way to encourage?</br> (Read them all [here](https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/ideas/text4/juntolibrary.pdf).) Note the keen attention to success and failure, and the reflection on both. Attention was often placed on the community and individual improvement beyond the members of the group. These questions encouraged members to share knowledge, reflect on virtues and vices, and propose solutions to real-world problems. The result? Discussions that didn’t just end at the tavern door but inspired tangible community improvements. ## The Junto’s Legacy: America’s First Lending Library One of the Junto’s most enduring contributions to Philadelphia—and indeed, to the American colonies—was the creation of the first lending library in 1731. Born from the group’s commitment to mutual improvement and knowledge-sharing, this library became a cornerstone of public education and intellectual life in the community. The idea for the library emerged naturally from the Junto’s discussions. Members, who came from diverse backgrounds but shared a passion for learning, recognized that their own access to books was often limited and costly—and they referred to them often. To address this, they proposed pooling their personal collections to create a shared resource. This collaborative effort allowed them—and eventually the broader public—to access a wider range of books than any individual could afford alone. The library operated on a simple yet revolutionary principle: knowledge should be available to all, regardless of wealth or status. By creating a lending system, the Junto democratized access to information, fostering a culture of self-education and curiosity. This was especially significant at a time when books were scarce and formal education was not universally accessible. The success of the Junto’s library inspired similar initiatives across the colonies, laying the groundwork for the public library system we know today. It also reflected the group’s broader mission: to serve not just its members but the entire community. The library became a symbol of the Junto’s belief in the power of education to uplift individuals and society alike. > With roots extending back to the founding of the Society in 1743, the Library of the American Philosophical Society houses over thirteen million manuscripts, 350,000 volumes and bound periodicals, 250,000 images, and thousands of hours of audiotape. The Library’s holdings make it one of the premier institutions for documenting the history of the American Revolution and Founding, the study of natural history in the 18th and 19th centuries, the study of evolution and genetics, quantum mechanics, and the development of cultural anthropology, among others. The [American Philosophical Society Library](https://www.amphilsoc.org/library) continues today. I hope to visit it myself in the future. ## Freedom, for Community Comparing the Junto to Nostr shows how the tools of community and debate evolve with time. Both prove that people crave spaces to connect, share, and grow—whether in a colonial tavern or a digital relay. Yet their differences reveal trade-offs: the Junto’s structure offered depth and focus but capped its reach, while Nostr’s openness promises scale at the cost of order. In a sense, Nostr feels like the Junto’s modern echo—faster, bigger, and unbound by gates or rules. Franklin might admire its ambition, even if he’d raise an eyebrow at its messiness. For us, the comparison underscores a timeless truth: no matter the medium, the drive to seek truth and build community endures. --- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1771–1790, pub. 1791) http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/junto-club/ Benjamin Franklin, Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces, ed. Benjamin Vaughan (London: 1779), pp. 533–536. "Rules of a Society" in The Remains of John Locke, Esq. (1714), p. 113 #npubpro

@ 7b3f7803:8912e968

[](https://i.imgflip.com/9mnncc.jpg) Libertarians believe in open borders in theory. In practice, open borders don't work, because, among other things, the combination with a welfare state creates a moral hazard, and the least productive of society end up within the borders of welfare states and drain resources. The social services are paid by the productive people of the country or, in the case of most fiat systems, by currency holders through inflation. Welfare states are much more likely under fiat money and the redistribution goes from native taxpayers to illegal immigrants. Thus, under fiat money, open borders end up being an open wound by which the productive lifeblood of the country bleeds out, despite the theoretical trade-efficiency benefits. As libertarians like to say, open borders and the welfare state don't mix. In this article, we'll examine the other sacred cow of libertarian thought: free trade. ## Free Trade without Libertarian Ideals Free trade is very similar to free movement of labor in that it works great in theory, but not in practice, especially under fiat money. In a libertarian free-market world, free trade works. But that assumes a whole host of libertarian ideals like sound money, non-interfering governments, and minimal aggression. Once those ideals are violated, such as with government intervention in the market, similar moral hazards and long-term costs come with them, making free trade about as libertarian as a fractional reserve bank. An example will illustrate what I'm talking about. Let's say Portugal subsidizes their wine for export to other countries. The obvious first-order effect is that it makes Portuguese wine cheaper in France, perhaps undercutting the price of French wine. Libertarians would say, that's great! French customers get cheaper goods, so what's the problem? As with any government intervention, there are significant second- and third-order effects in play. Subsidization puts unsubsidized companies at risk, perhaps driving them to bankruptcy. In this case, this might be a French wine maker. Subsidized companies may become zombies instead of dying out. In this case, this might be a Portuguese wine maker that was failing domestically but survives by selling to customers abroad with government subsidies. While French customers benefit in the short run with cheaper prices for wine, they are ultimately hurt because the goods that would have existed without government intervention never come to market. Perhaps French wine makers that went bankrupt were innovating. Perhaps the resources of the zombie Portuguese wine maker would have created something better. Further, the dependency of French people on Portuguese wine means that something going wrong in Portugal, like a war or subsidy cuts, disrupts the supply and price of wine for France. Now France must meddle in Portugal internationally if it doesn't want the wine supply to get disrupted. The two countries get entangled in such a way as to become more interventionist internationally. A war involving Portugal now suddenly becomes France's business and incentivizes military aid or even violence. As usual, the unseen effects of government policy are the most pernicious. ## Not Really Free [](https://i.imgflip.com/9mnq61.jpg) In other words, what we call free trade isn't really free trade. A country exporting to the US may subsidize their products through government intervention, making the product cheaper in the US. This hurts US companies, and they’re forced into choices they never would have had to face without the foreign government intervention. But because the good is crossing borders under the rubric of "free trade," it's somehow seen as fair. Of course it's not, as government intervention distorts the market whether it's done by our own government or a foreign government. So why would a foreign government do this? It gets several benefits through targeted market manipulation. First, it makes its own companies' products more popular abroad and conversely, makes US companies' products less popular. This has the dual benefit of growing the foreign government’s firms and shrinking, perhaps bankrupting, the US ones. Targeted subsidization like this can lead to domination under free trade. It's not unlike the Amazon strategy of undercutting everyone first and using the monopoly pricing power at scale once everyone else has bankrupted. The global monopoly is tremendously beneficial to the country that has it. Not only is there significant tax revenue over the long term, but also a head start on innovations within that industry and an advantage in production in the adjacent industries around the product. Second, the manufacturing centralization gives that country leverage geo-politically. A critical product that no one else manufactures means natural alliances with the countries that depend on the product, which is especially useful for smaller countries like Taiwan. Their chip manufacturing industry, holding 60% of global supply (2024), has meant that they're a critical link for most other countries, and hence, they can use this fact to deter Chinese invasion. Third, because of the centralization of expertise, more innovations, products, and manufacturing will tend to come within the country. This increased production has cascading benefits, including new industries and national security. China leads the world in drone technology, which undoubtedly has given it an innovation advantage for its military, should it go to war. Fourth, the capital that flows into the country for investing in the monopolized industry will tend to stay, giving the country more wealth in the form of factories, equipment, and skills. While that capital may nominally be in the hands of foreigners, over time, the ownership of that industry will inevitably transition toward native locals, as the knowledge about how to run such industries gets dissipated within the country. [Image: Map showing “China Drone Tech” and “Taiwan Chips” hubs, with arrows of capital flow staying local] ## Currency Devaluation: The Universal Trade Weapon [](https://i.imgflip.com/9mnqbg.jpg) It would be one thing if only a specific industry were singled out for government subsidies and then the products dumped into the US as a way to hurt US companies, as that would limit the scope of the damage. But with currency devaluation, a government can subsidize all of its exports at the same time. Indeed, this is something that many countries do. While short-term, this helps US consumers, it hurts US companies and forces them into decisions that aren't good for the US. To compete, they have to lower costs by using the same devalued currency to pay their labor as their foreign competition. That is, by relocating their capital, their manufacturing, and even their personnel to the country that's devaluing the currency. Not only does relocating reduce labor cost, but it also often gets them benefits like tax breaks. This makes US companies de facto multinationals and not only makes them subject to other jurisdictions, but ultimately divides their loyalties. To take advantage of the reduced labor, capital must move to another country and, along with it, future innovation. Such relocations ultimately leave the company stripped of their manufacturing capability in the US, as local competition will generally fare better over the long run. Much of the value of the industry then is captured by other governments in taxes, development, and even state-owned companies. Free trade, in other words, creates a vulnerability for domestic companies as they can be put at a significant disadvantage compared to foreign counterparts. ## Hidden Effects of Foreign Intervention [](https://i.imgflip.com/9mnqfe.jpg) Unlike the multinationals, small companies have no chance as they're not big enough to exploit the labor arbitrage. And as is usual in a fiat system, they suffer the most while the giant corporations get the benefits of the supposed "free trade". Most small companies can't compete, so we get mostly the bigger companies that survive. The transition away from domestic manufacturing necessarily means significant disruption. Domestic workers are displaced and have to find new work. Factories and equipment either have to be repurposed or rot. Entire communities that depended on the manufacturing facility now have to figure out new ways to support themselves. It's no good telling them that they can just do something else. In a currency devaluation scenario, most of the manufacturing leaves and the jobs left are service-oriented or otherwise location-based, like real estate development. There's a natural limit to location-based industries because the market only grows with the location that you're servicing. Put another way, you can only have so many people give haircuts or deliver packages in a geographic area. There has to be some manufacturing of goods that can be sold outside the community, or the community will face scarce labor opportunities relative to the population. You also can't say the displaced workers can start some other manufacturing business. Such businesses will get out-competed on labor by the currency-devaluing country, so there won't be much investment available for such a business, and even if there were, such a business would be competing with its hands tied behind its back. So in this scenario, what you end up with are a large pool of unemployed people whom the state subsidizes with welfare. So when a US company leaves or goes bankrupt due to a foreign government's subsidies, the disruption alone imposes a significant short-term cost with displaced labor, unused capital goods, and devastated communities. ## Mitigations So how do countries fight back against such a devastating economic weapon? There are a few ways countries have found around this problem of currency devaluation under free trade. First, a country can prevent capital from leaving. This is called capital controls, and many countries, particularly those that manufacture a lot, have them. Try to get money, factories, or equipment out of Malaysia, for example, and you'll find that they make it quite difficult. Getting the same capital into the country, on the other hand, faces few restrictions. Unfortunately, the US can't put in capital controls because dollars are its main export. It is, after all, the reserve currency of the world. Second, you can compete by devaluing your own currency. But that’s very difficult because it requires printing a lot of dollars, and that causes inflation. There's also no guarantee that a competing country doesn't devalue its currency again. The US is also in a precarious position as the world's reserve currency, so devaluing the currency more than it already does will make other holders of the dollar less likely to want to hold it, threatening the reserve currency status. So the main two mitigations against currency devaluation in a free trade scenario are not available to the US. So what else is there? The remaining option is to drop free trade. The solution, in other words, is to add tariffs. This is how you can nullify the effects of foreign government intervention, by leveling the playing field for US manufacturers. ## Tariffs [](https://i.imgflip.com/9mnqia.jpg) One major industry that's managed to continue being manufactured in the US despite significant foreign competition is cars. Notably, cars have a tariff, which incentivizes their manufacture in the US, even for foreign car makers. The tariff has acted as a way to offset foreign government subsidies and currency debasement. The scope of this one industry for the US is huge. There are around 300,000 direct jobs in auto assembly within the US (USTR) and there are an additional 3 million jobs supplying these manufacturers within the US. But the benefits don't end there. The US is also creating a lot of innovation around cars, such as self-driving and plug-in electric cars. There are many countries that would love to have this industry for themselves, but because of tariffs, auto manufacturing continues in the US. And though tariffs are seen as a tax on consumers, US car prices are cheap relative to the rest of the world. What surprises a lot of people when they move from the US to other countries is finding out that the same car often costs more abroad (e.g. 25% tariffs keep U.S. prices 20% below Europe’s $40K average, 2024). The downside of tariffs pales next to the downsides of "free trade." ## Free Trade Doesn’t Work with Fiat Money The sad reality is that while we would love for free trade to work in the ideal libertarian paradise, it won't in our current fiat-based system. The subsidization by foreign governments to bankrupt US companies or to make them multinational, combined with the unfortunate reality of the US dollar being the world reserve currency, means that free trade guts the US of manufacturing. Tariffs are a reasonable way to protect US manufacturers, particularly smaller ones that can't go multinational. What's more, tariffs make the US less fragile and less dependent on international supply chains. Many of the wars in the past 60 years have been waged because of the entanglements the US has with other countries due to the reliance on international supply chains. Lessening this dependency, if only to prevent a war, has clear value. Lastly, labor has been devalued significantly by fiat monetary expansion, but at least some of that can be recovered if tariffs create more manufacturing, which in turn adds to the demand for labor. This should reduce the welfare state as more opportunities are made available and fewer unemployed people will be on the rolls. ## Conclusion Fiat money produces a welfare state, which makes open borders unworkable. Fiat money also gives foreign governments a potent economic weapon to use against US companies, and by extension the labor force that powers them. Though currency debasement and capital controls are available to other countries as a defense, for the US, neither of these tools is available due to the fact that the dollar is the world reserve currency. As such, tariffs are a reasonable defense against the fiat subsidization of foreign governments.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

Forgiveness is one of the hardest but most powerful things we can do. It’s not just about letting someone else off the hook—it’s about freeing ourselves from anger, bitterness, and pain. Holding onto grudges only weighs us down, while forgiveness brings peace and healing. **What Is Forgiveness?** Forgiveness means choosing to release resentment toward someone who has wronged us. It doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending it didn’t hurt. It simply means we no longer decide to let the offense control our hearts and minds. **Why Is Forgiveness Important?** It sets us free. Holding onto anger only harms us, not the other person. It brings peace. Letting go of past hurts allows us to move forward. It strengthens relationships. No one is perfect—we all need grace at times. It reflects God's love. In the Bible, God forgives us and calls us to do the same (Ephesians 4:32). **How to Forgive** Make the choice. Forgiveness starts with a decision, even if emotions don’t follow right away. Pray for strength. Ask God to help you release the hurt. Let go of revenge. Forgiveness means choosing not to seek payback. Move forward. This doesn’t always mean restoring a relationship, but it does mean releasing the pain. Repeat if necessary. Sometimes, forgiveness is a process, not a one-time event. **Forgiving Yourself** Forgiveness isn’t just for others. Sometimes, we struggle to forgive ourselves for past mistakes. But if God offers us grace, we should accept it too. Learn from the past, but don’t let it define you. **Final Thoughts** Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. It is a gift you give yourself, a step toward peace, and a reflection of God’s love. If you struggle to forgive, take it one step at a time. Let go, trust God, and walk in freedom. Until Next Time... :)

@ 147ac18e:ef1ca1ba

The world is on the brink of a technological shift, where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly autonomous. With AI agents conducting transactions, hiring other AI agents, and managing digital assets, a critical question arises: What form of money will power this new AI-driven economy? The answer, as some industry experts predict, is Bitcoin. ## The Rise of the Autonomous Economy AI agents are no longer just tools executing predefined tasks; they are evolving into independent economic actors capable of initiating transactions, negotiating terms, and paying for services. The transaction volume within AI-driven economies is projected to be **100 times larger than human transactions**, as each person may have dozens or even hundreds of AI agents working on their behalf. This creates an unprecedented demand for a seamless, efficient, and universally accepted form of digital money. ## Why Bitcoin is the Natural Choice for AI Transactions Bitcoin stands out as the ideal currency for AI-driven economies for several reasons: 1. **Borderless and Permissionless**: Unlike traditional banking systems that require identity verification (KYC/AML) and impose restrictions based on geography, Bitcoin allows AI agents to transact freely without human intervention. 2. **Personless Transactions**: AI agents, by nature, do not have legal identities, making it impossible for them to interact with banks or obtain credit cards. Bitcoin provides a neutral medium that does not require a legal entity to use it. 3. **Energy-Backed Economy**: AI agents function on computational power, which is an energy-intensive process. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work mechanism aligns well with this model, as it is also backed by computational energy. AI systems will inherently recognize Bitcoin as a valid medium of exchange due to this energy linkage. 4. **Micropayments via Lightning Network**: AI transactions will often involve micropayments—small fees for data processing, information retrieval, and digital labor. Traditional financial networks are inefficient in handling such transactions due to high fees and processing delays. The Bitcoin Lightning Network enables instant, low-cost micropayments, making it perfect for AI-to-AI financial interactions. 5. **Immutability and Transparency**: AI systems require trustless environments where transaction history cannot be altered or reversed. Bitcoin’s blockchain ensures that all transactions are transparent and immutable, reducing fraud and enabling verifiable AI-driven commerce. ## The Symbiotic Growth of Bitcoin and AI As AI-driven economies expand, Bitcoin adoption will accelerate in the following ways: - **Increased Transaction Volume**: With billions of AI transactions occurring daily, Bitcoin will see an explosion in on-chain and Lightning Network activity, solidifying its position as the world’s primary digital currency. - **Institutional and Enterprise Adoption**: As businesses integrate AI into their workflows, they will increasingly adopt Bitcoin to facilitate machine-to-machine payments, smart contracts, and decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions. - **Regulatory Shift Towards Decentralized Currencies**: Governments and financial institutions will have to acknowledge Bitcoin’s role in AI economies and adjust regulatory frameworks accordingly, further legitimizing its use. - **Bitcoin as a Store of Value for AI**: AI systems will not only use Bitcoin for transactions but may also accumulate it as a reserve asset due to its deflationary nature and finite supply. ## The Future: Bitcoin as the De Facto AI Currency As AI continues to reshape industries, Bitcoin is poised to become the backbone of an autonomous digital economy. The fusion of AI and Bitcoin will create a self-sustaining loop where AI agents fuel Bitcoin’s transactional utility, and Bitcoin’s decentralized nature enables AI’s economic autonomy. This symbiosis will not only drive Bitcoin adoption but could also redefine global economic structures. In this AI-driven future, Bitcoin may not just be a currency for humans—it could very well be the **native currency of artificial intelligence.** Episode link: https://fountain.fm/episode/Ds1qicPmbC3udErQ7J3z

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

There is something quietly rebellious about stacking sats. In a world obsessed with instant gratification, choosing to patiently accumulate Bitcoin, one sat at a time, feels like a middle finger to the hype machine. But to do it right, you have got to stay humble. Stack too hard with your head in the clouds, and you will trip over your own ego before the next halving even hits. **Small Wins** Stacking sats is not glamorous. Discipline. Stacking every day, week, or month, no matter the price, and letting time do the heavy lifting. Humility lives in that consistency. You are not trying to outsmart the market or prove you are the next "crypto" prophet. Just a regular person, betting on a system you believe in, one humble stack at a time. Folks get rekt chasing the highs. They ape into some shitcoin pump, shout about it online, then go silent when they inevitably get rekt. The ones who last? They stack. Just keep showing up. Consistency. Humility in action. Know the game is long, and you are not bigger than it. **Ego is Volatile** Bitcoin’s swings can mess with your head. One day you are up 20%, feeling like a genius and the next down 30%, questioning everything. Ego will have you panic selling at the bottom or over leveraging the top. Staying humble means patience, a true bitcoin zen. Do not try to "beat” Bitcoin. Ride it. Stack what you can afford, live your life, and let compounding work its magic. **Simplicity** There is a beauty in how stacking sats forces you to rethink value. A sat is worth less than a penny today, but every time you grab a few thousand, you plant a seed. It is not about flaunting wealth but rather building it, quietly, without fanfare. That mindset spills over. Cut out the noise: the overpriced coffee, fancy watches, the status games that drain your wallet. Humility is good for your soul and your stack. I have a buddy who has been stacking since 2015. Never talks about it unless you ask. Lives in a decent place, drives an old truck, and just keeps stacking. He is not chasing clout, he is chasing freedom. That is the vibe: less ego, more sats, all grounded in life. **The Big Picture** Stack those sats. Do it quietly, do it consistently, and do not let the green days puff you up or the red days break you down. Humility is the secret sauce, it keeps you grounded while the world spins wild. In a decade, when you look back and smile, it will not be because you shouted the loudest. It will be because you stayed the course, one sat at a time. \ \ Stay Humble and Stack Sats. 🫡

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

The theory of evolution claims that all life gradually developed from a common ancestor over millions of years, shaped by random mutations and natural selection. It is often presented as an unquestionable fact, but when examined closely (the part many fail to do anymore), the evidence tells a different story. Both scientific discoveries and biblical truth point to a far more logical and consistent explanation—one of intentional design rather than blind chance. From the complexity of life to the precise order of the universe, every aspect of creation bears the unmistakable marks of an intelligent Creator. Let’s break it down simply and clearly, exposing the flaws in evolution and revealing the undeniable truth of God’s design. 1. No Transitional Fossils If evolution were true, we should see countless fossils of creatures in-between species (half-fish, half-reptile, etc.). Instead, fossils show fully formed creatures appearing suddenly, with no gradual change. Even Darwin admitted the fossil record didn’t support his theory. 2. Life is Too Complex to Happen by Accident The human eye, the bacterial flagellum, and even a single cell are incredibly complex, with interdependent parts that must all work at once. This is called irreducible complexity—if one piece is missing, the whole system fails. Random mutations can’t create such intricate designs. Design requires a designer. 3. DNA: A Code That Needs a Programmer DNA is a vast information system, more advanced than any computer code. Information always comes from intelligence, not random processes. Mutations mainly destroy information; they don’t create new, functional systems. 4. The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Things Fall Apart Everything's natural tendency is to break down over time, not build up (like a house falling apart, not randomly constructing itself). Evolution claims the opposite—that things become more complex without guidance. This contradicts observed science. 5. Consciousness and Morality Make No Sense in Evolution Why do humans have love, compassion, and a sense of right and wrong? If we were just animals fighting to survive, morality wouldn’t exist. The Bible explains it: We were made in God's image, not just random molecules. 6. The Bible’s Account of Creation Matches Reality Genesis 1 says God created “kinds”—dogs produce dogs, birds produce birds, and humans produce humans. This is exactly what we see in nature—no one has ever observed one kind turning into another. Evolution is based on assumptions, while the Bible gives a clear, tested explanation of life’s origin. The Complete Solution: Creation is Truth The evidence points to a Creator, not blind chance. Science confirms the Bible, not evolution. Recognizing God's design gives life meaning and purpose. Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Evolution is not just scientifically weak—it removes purpose and meaning. The truth is simple: God created life, and we are part of His design.

@ 5b0183ab:a114563e

### What Is Dark Nostr? Dark Nostr can be described as the unintended adverse effects that arise from creating systems designed to resist censorship and promote freedom. These systems often rely on algorithms and micropayments to function, but their very design can inadvertently spawn phenomena that are unpredictable, uncontrollable, and sometimes downright weird. Think of it as the *Yin* to the *Yang* of decentralized freedom—a necessary shadow cast by the bright ideals of liberation. While freedom protocols aim to empower individuals, they also open the door to consequences that aren’t always sunshine and rainbows. --- ### An Emergent Phenomenon The fascinating thing about Dark Nostr is its emergent nature. This means it’s not something you can fully define or predict ahead of time; instead, it arises organically as decentralized systems are implemented and evolve. Like watching clouds form shapes in the sky, GM miners panhandle for sats or shower girls in the global feed, you can only observe it as it happens—and even then, its contours remain elusive. Emergent phenomena are tricky beasts. While simplicity is at the core of the protocol layer darkness is born on the edge where complexity thrives—where individual components interact in ways that produce unpredictable outcomes. In this case, Dark Nostr encapsulates everything from algorithmic quirks and micropayment dynamics to unforeseen social consequences within decentralized ecosystems. --- ### Studying Dark Nostr: Memes as Cultural Artifacts Here’s where things get anthropologically juicy: much of what we know about Dark Nostr comes not from academic papers or technical manuals but from memes. Yes, memes—the internet’s favorite medium for cultural commentary—have become a lens through which this phenomenon is being observed and studied. Memes act as modern-day hieroglyphs, distilling complex ideas into bite-sized cultural artifacts that reflect collective sentiment. When communities encounter something as nebulous as Dark Nostr, they turn to humor and symbolism to make sense of it. In doing so, they create a shared narrative—a way to grapple with the shadow side of decentralization without losing sight of its promise. --- ### Why Does It Matter? Dark Nostr isn’t just an abstract concept for philosophers or tech enthusiasts—it’s a reminder that every innovation comes with trade-offs. While decentralized systems aim to empower individuals by resisting censorship and central control, they also carry risks that must be acknowledged: - Algorithmic Chaos: Algorithms designed for freedom might amplify harmful content or create echo chambers. - Micropayment Pitfalls: Financial incentives could lead to exploitation or manipulation within these systems. - Social Dynamics: The lack of centralized control might enable bad actors or foster unforeseen societal shifts. Understanding Dark Nostr is crucial for anyone involved in building or using decentralized technologies. It challenges us to balance freedom with responsibility and reminds us that even the most well-intentioned systems have their shadow side. --- ### Conclusion: Embracing the Shadow Dark Nostr is more than just a cautionary tale—it’s a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of human interaction with technology. As an emergent phenomenon, it invites us to remain vigilant and adaptive as we navigate the uncharted waters of decentralization. By studying its manifestations through cultural artifacts like memes and engaging in thoughtful reflection, we can better prepare for both its opportunities and risks. After all, every great innovation needs its shadow—it’s what makes progress real, messy, and human. So here we stand before Dark Nostr: may we study it wisely, meme it relentlessly, and learn from its lessons as we build the future together. Stay Vigilent Nostr.....

@ 611021ea:089a7d0f

In today's world, most running apps function just like Facebook—they track your runs, collect your personal data, and monetize your activity by selling insights to third parties. You are the product. But what if there was a way to track your running stats without sacrificing your privacy? Enter **Runstr**, the first running app built on the **Nostr protocol**. ## A Running App That Respects Your Privacy Unlike traditional fitness apps that harvest your data, **Runstr** leverages **Nostr**, a decentralized protocol that ensures your running stats remain under your control. This means you can log your runs, measure your performance, and improve your fitness without exposing your data to corporations, advertisers, or big tech. ## From PWA to Android: Improving the Experience We started with a **Progressive Web App (PWA)** as a proof of concept. However, we quickly ran into challenges with tracking run stats when the screen was turned off. To overcome these limitations, we pivoted to building a **dedicated Android app** that allows for better functionality and seamless background tracking. The response has been great so far, with early adopters loving the enhanced features and user experience. ## Features & Integrations Runstr is designed to be a **powerful, yet lightweight running companion**. Some of the key features include: - **Accurate run tracking**: Distance, time, pace, and more - **Wavlake integration**: Listen to your favorite tracks while running without switching apps - **Zero data harvesting**: No third-party tracking, no selling your information ## Recognition & Roadmap We recently presented **Runstr** to **PlebLab**, and they loved the concept! They’ve offered mentorship and promotion support to help us scale. Looking ahead, here’s what’s coming in the next quarter: - **Running events & team events** - **Personal goals & performance tracking** - **Advanced statistics dashboard** - **Local running clubs** - **Runstr branding strategy for the app & running merchandise** Additionally, **Runstr LLC** is now an official business entity, marking a major milestone in our journey. ## Nosfabrica - SALUD Decentralized Health App Development Challenge We’ve entered the [**Nosfabrica - SALUD Decentralized Health App Development Challenge**](https://nosfabrica.com/challenge/), whose mission is to develop an ecosystem of **open-source tools built on Nostr and Bitcoin** to decentralize healthcare, improve health, and address challenges in healthcare access, data portability, and overall health outcomes. Currently, the total prize pool is **0.12 BTC**, and all participating projects can be found on the [**Kanbanstr board**](https://www.kanbanstr.com/#/board/be7bf5de068c1d842ed34a7c270507ec940f5ea51671cfd062a95e9d09420d0a/e0d2c910-d0fc-421e-8e7f-ee00c1c2e219). ## Fundraising & How You Can Support To accelerate our development and bring **Runstr** to the next level, we are raising **0.1 BTC** to fund design, branding, and development. Our goal is to launch the official **Runstr app on zap.store by the end of May**. If you’d like to support this vision, you can: - **Download the app, take it for a run, and share your feedback** on Nostr using the hashtag **#runstr**. - **Contribute to our fundraising** via [Geyser Fund.](https://geyser.fund/project/runstr) Together, we can build the ultimate **privacy-first running app**. Join us and let’s run free! 🏃‍♂️⚡

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

We're living in a digital dystopia. A world where our attention is currency, our data is mined, and our mental well-being is collateral damage in the relentless pursuit of engagement. The glossy facades of traditional social media platforms hide a dark underbelly of algorithmic manipulation, curated realities, and a pervasive sense of anxiety that seeps into every aspect of our lives. We're trapped in a digital echo chamber, drowning in a sea of manufactured outrage and meaningless noise, and it's time to build an ark and sail away. I've witnessed the evolution, or rather, the devolution, of online interaction. From the raw, unfiltered chaos of early internet chat rooms to the sterile, algorithmically controlled environments of today's social giants, I've seen the promise of connection twisted into a tool for manipulation and control. We've become lab rats in a grand experiment, our emotional responses measured and monetized, our opinions shaped and sold to the highest bidder. But there's a flicker of hope in the darkness, a chance to reclaim our digital autonomy, and that hope is NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays).  ## **The Psychological Warfare of Traditional Social Media** **The Algorithmic Cage:** These algorithms aren't designed to enhance your life; they're designed to keep you scrolling. They feed on your vulnerabilities, exploiting your fears and desires to maximize engagement, even if it means promoting misinformation, outrage, and division. **The Illusion of Perfection:** The curated realities presented on these platforms create a toxic culture of comparison. We're bombarded with images of flawless bodies, extravagant lifestyles, and seemingly perfect lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. **The Echo Chamber Effect:** Algorithms reinforce our existing beliefs, isolating us from diverse perspectives and creating a breeding ground for extremism. We become trapped in echo chambers where our biases are constantly validated, leading to increased polarization and intolerance. **The Toxicity Vortex:** The lack of effective moderation creates a breeding ground for hate speech, cyberbullying, and online harassment. We're constantly exposed to toxic content that erodes our mental well-being and fosters a sense of fear and distrust. **The Attention Deficit Trap:** The constant stream of notifications, updates, and content creates a state of perpetual distraction, making it difficult to focus, think critically, and engage in meaningful interactions. This isn't just a matter of inconvenience; it's a matter of mental survival. We're being subjected to a form of psychological warfare, and it's time to fight back.  ## **NOSTR: A Sanctuary in the Digital Wasteland** NOSTR offers a radical alternative to this toxic environment. It's not just another platform; it's a decentralized protocol that empowers users to reclaim their digital sovereignty. **User-Controlled Feeds:** You decide what you see, not an algorithm. You curate your own experience, focusing on the content and people that matter to you. **Ownership of Your Digital Identity:** Your data and content are yours, secured by cryptography. No more worrying about being deplatformed or having your information sold to the highest bidder. **Interoperability:** Your identity works across a diverse ecosystem of apps, giving you the freedom to choose the interface that suits your needs. **Value-Driven Interactions:** The "zaps" feature enables direct micropayments, rewarding creators for valuable content and fostering a culture of genuine appreciation. **Decentralized Power:** No single entity controls NOSTR, making it censorship-resistant and immune to the whims of corporate overlords.  ## **Building a Healthier Digital Future** NOSTR isn't just about escaping the toxicity of traditional social media; it's about building a healthier, more meaningful online experience. **Cultivating Authentic Connections:** Focus on building genuine relationships with people who share your values and interests, rather than chasing likes and followers. **Supporting Independent Creators:** Use "zaps" to directly support the artists, writers, and thinkers who inspire you. **Embracing Intellectual Diversity:** Explore different NOSTR apps and communities to broaden your horizons and challenge your assumptions. **Prioritizing Your Mental Health:** Take control of your digital environment and create a space that supports your well-being. **Removing the noise:** Value based interactions promote value based content, instead of the constant stream of noise that traditional social media promotes.  ## **The Time for Action is Now** NOSTR is a nascent technology, but it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact online. It's a chance to build a more open, decentralized, and user-centric internet, one that prioritizes our mental health and our humanity. We can no longer afford to be passive consumers in the digital age. We must become active participants in shaping our online experiences. It's time to break free from the chains of algorithmic control and reclaim our digital autonomy.  ## **Join the NOSTR movement** Embrace the power of decentralization. Let's build a digital future that's worthy of our humanity. Let us build a place where the middlemen, and the algorithms that they control, have no power over us. In addition to the points above, here are some examples/links of how NOSTR can be used: **Simple Signup:** Creating a NOSTR account is incredibly easy. You can use platforms like Yakihonne or Primal to generate your keys and start exploring the ecosystem. **X-like Client:** Apps like Damus offer a familiar X-like experience, making it easy for users to transition from traditional platforms. **Sharing Photos and Videos:** Clients like Olas are optimized for visual content, allowing you to share your photos and videos with your followers. **Creating and Consuming Blogs:** NOSTR can be used to publish and share blog posts, fostering a community of independent creators. **Live Streaming and Audio Spaces:** Explore platforms like Hivetalk and Zap Stream for live streaming and audio-based interactions. **NOSTR is a powerful tool for reclaiming your digital life and building a more meaningful online experience. It's time to take control, break free from the shackles of traditional social media, and embrace the future of decentralized communication.** Get the full overview of these and other apps here: https://nostrapps.com/

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

One of the most exciting aspects of music production is blending the organic warmth of acoustic instruments with the limitless possibilities of electronic sounds. Combining these two worlds allows me to create rich, layered compositions that feel both timeless and modern. In this post, I’ll share my process for merging acoustic and electronic elements, offering a glimpse into how I approach this dynamic interplay in my music. ## **Start With a Core Idea** Every track begins with a central idea that sets the tone for the composition. This could be a melody played on an acoustic piano, a chord progression on a guitar, or a rhythmic motif created with electronic drums. Starting with a strong foundation helps anchor the track, making it easier to integrate acoustic and electronic layers cohesively. Example: I might record a simple acoustic guitar loop and use it as the backbone of the track. Its natural tone provides a grounding element that contrasts beautifully with the synthetic textures I’ll layer in later. ## **Record Acoustic Elements With Character** When incorporating acoustic instruments, I focus on capturing their raw, authentic sound. Imperfections—like the creak of a guitar string or the ambient noise of the recording space—add character and depth to the track. **What I Use:** I often record acoustic elements using a condenser microphone to capture detail and warmth. Instruments like piano, guitar, or even simple percussive hits serve as the organic counterpoint to electronic layers. **How I Use It:** I’ll sometimes process these recordings with effects like reverb or delay to give them a dreamlike quality, or leave them raw for a more intimate feel. ## **Build Electronic Layers** With the acoustic elements in place, I begin crafting the electronic components. These can range from deep, evolving synth pads to intricate drum patterns and glitchy textures. The goal is to complement the acoustic elements without overpowering them. **What I Use:** Tools like Serum, Omnisphere, and analog synths like the Korg Minilogue are my go-to for designing electronic sounds. Drum machines or sample packs provide the rhythmic backbone. **How I Use It:** I’ll often create electronic layers that echo or contrast with the acoustic parts—for instance, pairing a warm piano melody with shimmering, high-frequency synths to create a sense of balance. ## **Focus on Blending and Balance** The magic of combining acoustic and electronic elements lies in how they interact. To achieve a cohesive sound, I pay close attention to how each layer fits within the mix. **Techniques I Use:** **EQ:** I carve out space in the frequency spectrum for each element. For example, cutting low-end frequencies on a synth pad can make room for the natural resonance of an acoustic bass. **Compression:** Light compression can help glue the acoustic and electronic layers together, ensuring they feel like part of the same sonic space. **Reverb and Delay:** Applying similar reverb settings to both acoustic and electronic elements can create a sense of unity and atmosphere. ## **Experiment With Textures and Effects** One of my favorite parts of the process is experimenting with how acoustic and electronic sounds can interact. Sometimes, this involves processing acoustic recordings through electronic effects, or vice versa. **Examples:** *Running an acoustic guitar loop through a granular synthesizer to create glitchy, fragmented textures.* *Sampling a piano note and pitching it down to create a haunting drone.* *Adding subtle distortion to electronic drums to give them a more organic, analog feel.* ## **Embrace the Contrast** Part of what makes this combination so compelling is the contrast between the two elements. Acoustic instruments bring warmth, humanity, and imperfection, while electronic sounds add precision, innovation, and texture. Leaning into these differences can create dynamic and emotionally resonant compositions. **Example:** Pairing a raw, emotive vocal recording with a pulsating, mechanical bassline creates a tension that keeps the listener engaged. ## **Refine and Iterate** Once all the elements are in place, I spend time refining the mix and arrangement. **This involves:** *Adjusting levels to ensure no element overpowers the others.* *Experimenting with transitions to smoothly blend acoustic and electronic sections.* *Listening to the track as a whole to ensure it tells a cohesive story.* ## **Why This Approach Inspires Me** Blending acoustic and electronic elements allows me to explore the dualities of sound—the organic and the synthetic, the familiar and the futuristic. It’s a process that pushes me creatively, challenging me to think beyond genre boundaries and embrace the full spectrum of sonic possibilities. At its core, this approach is about connection—bridging the past and the present, the human and the technological, to create music that feels both timeless and forward-thinking.

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

The U.S. isn't just blocking Gaza's reconstruction—it's ensuring Palestinians have no future there. This week, Washington rejected the Arab League's $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza. Not because it was unworkable, but because it was unwanted. #Gaza, they say, is "uninhabitable." The solution? Depopulation, disguised as development. ## The Riviera Plan: Rebuilding Without Its People National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes put it bluntly: "Gaza is uninhabitable." This isn't a call for humanitarian intervention. It's a pretext for forced displacement. Trump's vision transforms Gaza into a "Riviera of the #MiddleEast"—after its population has been relocated. Officials have explicitly stated Palestinians "would not be allowed to return" once reconstruction begins. This isn't rebuilding; it's replacement. ## Regional Consensus Rejected The Arab League's proposal represented rare unity among regional powers. It offered a detailed roadmap for reconstruction while allowing #Palestinians to remain in their homeland. By dismissing this plan, Washington sent a clear message: **Palestinian self-determination remains subordinate to Western geopolitical interests.** This isn't new. For over a century, Western capitals have determined Palestinian futures while treating their voices as irrelevant. ## The Fiat War Machine Connection War and fiat money go hand in hand. Governments don't fund wars through taxes anymore—it's all printed money. Inflation steals from the public silently, financing endless destruction abroad while citizens struggle at home. As Saifedean Ammous writes in The Fiat Standard: nostr:npub1gdu7w6l6w65qhrdeaf6eyywepwe7v7ezqtugsrxy7hl7ypjsvxksd76nak "Central banks are essentially war machines, enabling governments to finance endless conflicts through inflation rather than direct taxation." This system divorces "economic reward from economic productivity, and instead bases it on political allegiance." The result? A world "perpetually lurching from one crisis to another, with devastating consequences for humanity." ## Ukraine Parallels: When Support Is Conditional The U.S. has now halted military aid to #Ukraine, suspending over $1 billion in arms. #Europe scrambles to fill the gap, suddenly realizing the conditional nature of American protection. Both conflicts reveal the same truth: **geopolitical support is increasingly transactional rather than values-based.** As Henry Kissinger observed: "It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but being America's friend can be fatal." ## The Cycle Continues The U.S. model is simple: fund destruction, control reconstruction, keep the cycle going. Fiat money makes it possible. Indifference makes it permanent. And yes #Bitcoin can fix it. But will it? How long before people wake up #nostr? How long before the cycle breaks? "Fiat money is a tool for governments to control their citizens" as Saifedean rightly says—and now, through endless war, to control the world.

@ 1d7ff02a:d042b5be

### ມະນຸດມີຄວາມຈະເລີນໄດ້ຍ້ອນຮູ້ຈັກສ້າງຄວາມຫມັ້ນຄົງໃນອະນາຄົດ ມະນຸດເຮົາສ້າງຄວາມຈະເລີນຮຸ່ງຮອງໄດ້ກໍຍ້ອນການສ້າງຄວາມຫມັ້ນຄົງໃນກະນາຄົດ ເຊິ່ງສະແດງອອກຢູ່ໃນ ຈາກແຕ່ກ່ອນຕ້ອງອອກໄປ ຫາອາຫານ ລ່າສັດ ເພື່ອເປັນພະລັງງານໃນການມີຊີວິດ ຈົນຮູ້ເຮົາຮູ້ຈັກການເກັບດອງອາຫານໃຫ້ກິນຍາວນານຂຶ້ນ, ຈາການຫາອາຫານເພື່ອຕົວເອງຢ່າງດຽວ ກໍຮູ້ຈັກການແລກປ່ຽນ (barter trade) ເຮັດໃຫ້ໄດ້ສິນຄ້າທີ່ຕົວເອງຕ້ອງການ ໂດຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງໃຊ້ເວລາທັງຫມົດໄປກັບການຫາ ຫລື ຜະລິດສິ່ງນັ້ນ ແລະ ສຸດທ້າຍເຮົາກໍຮູ້ຈັກເລືອກສິນຄ້າທີ່ມີຄວາມຫມັ້ນຄົງ ແລະ ຜະລິດຍາກ ມາເປັນເງິນ ເພື່ອໃຊ້ເປັນ ສື່ກາງ ໃນການແລກປ່ຽນ ຈົນແຕ່ລະຄົນມີເວລາໃນການໂຟກັສ ພັດທະນາທັກສະທີ່ຕົວເອງສົນໃຈຈົນມີຄວາມຊຳນານກວ່າຄົນທົ່ວໄປ ເຮັດໃຫ້ສາມາດຜະລິດສິນຄ້າ ແລະ ບໍລິການ ທີ່ມີຄຸນນະພາບ ແລະ ລາຄາຖືກລົງ. ປະກົດການເຫລົ່ານີ້ເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້ຍ້ອນເຮົາມີຄວາມຫມັ້ນຄົງໃນອະນາຄົດດ້ວຍເງິນເກັບ ຈົນມີເວລາຈະລອງຜິດລອງຖືກໄດ້. ແຕ່ຫລັງຈາກທີ່ເຮົາອອກຈາກ ມາດຕະຖານທອງຄຳ ກໍເຮັດໃຫ້ເງິນມັນເຊື່ອມຄ່າລົງໄປຕາມການເວລາ ຈົນເຮັດໃຫ້ຄົນເຫັນແກ່ເວລາອັນສັ້ນ, ຜະລິດສິນຄ້າ ແລະ ບໍລິການ ທີ່ບໍ່ໄດ້ຄຸນນະພາບ ເພາະຄິດແຕ່ວ່າຈະເຮັດແນວໃດເພື່ອຈະໄດ້ເງິນຫລາຍຂຶ້ນ ເພາະເງິນມັນເຊື່ອມມູນຄ່າລົງເລື່ອຍໆ ຈົນລືມຄິດໄປວ່າສິ່ງໃດແທ້ ທີ່ສຳຄັນໃນຊີວິດ ຈົນເກີດບັນຫາຕ່າງໆ ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນສັງຄົມ ແລະ ເສດຖະກິດ. > ບິດຄອຍ ບໍ່ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານລວຍໄວຂຶ້ນ ແຕ່ມັນກຳລັງແກ້ບັນຫາພື້ນຖານຢ່າງການ ເກັບເງິນ ຢູ່ ເພາະປະຈຸບັນມະນຸດເກັບເງິນບໍ່ໄດ້ແລ້ວ ເພາະມູນຄ່າຂອງມັນຫລຸດລົງເລື່ອຍໆ ### ການ DCA ບິດຄອຍ <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/7899fb7c4ccc478027ca38f12cf21730f46dbc8def7dec5a023f30539121b2ff.png"> ບິດຄອຍມີຄວາມຜັນຜວນເລື່ອງລາຄາຫລາຍ ກໍຍ້ອນເຮົາເບິ່ງໃນໄລຍະສັ້ນ ແຕ່ຖ້າເຮົາເບິ່ງມັນເປັນເຄື່ອງມືເກັບອອມເຮົາຈະເຫັນຄວາມຈິງ ບິດຄອຍຄືຄວາມຫມັ້ນຄົງ ແລະ ຕໍ່ຕ້ານການເຟີ້ຂອງເງິນ. ຕົວຢ່າງລຸ່ມນີ້ເປັນການຄຳນວນວ່າ ຖ້າເຮົາເກັບບິດຄອຍ ທຸກເດືອນ ຜ່ານໄປ 8 ປີ ມັນຈະມີມູນຄ່າເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ 617% ຫລື ປະມານປີລະ 77% ໂດຍສະເລ່ຍ ເຊິ່ງມັນກໍບໍ່ໄດ້ເປັນໂຕເລກໂອເວີຫຍັງຫລາຍ ແຕ່ສາມາດເອົາຊະນະເງິນເພີ້ໄດ້ແລ້ວ ພຽງແຕ່ເກັບ ແລະ ບໍ່ຕ້ອງຄິດຫຍັງ. ### ເມື່ອເຮົາມີເງິນເກັບທີ່ຮັກສາມູນຄ່າໄດ້ ມັນເປັນຄົນລະເລື່ອງເລີຍໃນການໃຊ້ຊີວິດ ແລະ ວິທີຄິດ ຄົນຈະມີຄວາມຄິດການໄກຫລາຍຂຶ້ນ, ມີເວລາຄິດທົບທວນເລື່ອງຕ່າງໆໃນຊີວິດຢ່າງລະອຽດຖີ່ຖ້ວນ ແລະ ຕັດສິນໃຈແບບມີເຫດມີຜົນ. ຄົນຈະເລືອກເຮັດວຽກມີຢາກເຮັດ ເຖິງວ່າລາຍໄດ້ອາດຈະຫນ້ອຍ ແຕ່ເງິນເກັບສາມາດຮັກສາມູນຄ່າຂຶ້ນໄດ້ເລື່ອຍໆ, ເຮົາຈະມີເວລາໃຫ້ກັບຄອບຄົວຫລາຍກວ່າ ເພາະບໍ່ໄດ້ແລ່ນຕາມວຽກເພື່ອຈະໄດ້ລາຍຮັບເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນຕາມການເຊື່ອມຄ່າຂອງເງິນ. ຄົນຈະໃຫ້ຄວາມສຳຄັນກັບສຸຂະພາບຫລາຍຂຶ້ນ ເພາະສຸດທ້າຍແລ້ວເຮົາຈະເຂົ້າໃຈວ່າສຸຂະພາບນີ້ແລະ ສຳຄັນສຸດ. ຈາກຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກຂອງຕົວຂ້ອຍເອງມັນເຮັດໃຫ້ ມີຄວາມຫວັງ ແລະ ຕື່ນເຕັ້ນທີ່ຈະໄດ້ໃຊ້ຊີວິດໄປໃນການນາຄົດ ເພາະຮູ້ສຶກວ່າມີຄວາມຫມັ້ນຄົງ ຈາກການຄ່ອຍໆເກັບ ບິດຄອຍ ໂດຍມີເປົ້າຫມາຍເຮັດແນວໃດ ຈະໄດ້ໃຊ້ເວລາທີ່ເຫລືອຢູ່ ເກັບຄົນທີ່ເຮົາຮັກ, ເຮັດສິ່ງທີ່ມັກ ແລະ ມີສຸຂະພາບດີຈົນຈາກໂລກນີ້ໄປໃຫ້ເຈັບປວດຫນ້ອຍທີ່ສຸດ.

@ 9ea10fd4:011d3b15

(Le français suit) Scott Ritter discusses Trump’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine, highlighting his desire for peace (although other analysts suggest that the United States is shifting its strategic focus toward China). Ritter claims that the United States could consider leaving NATO by the end of the summer but provides no explanation. The U.S. takes a utilitarian approach toward its allies. Ritter believes that, unlike the Democrats, Trump does not align with the military-industrial complex. He is seen as an outsider to this complex, seeking to shift American policy toward trade and the economy rather than militarism (however, military spending increased during his first term). This complex, which developed during World War II and the Cold War, has an increasing need for conflicts to sustain itself, potentially leading to nuclear war. Europe, under U.S. influence, is compared to a Frankenstein’s monster—believing it is America’s ally while actually being a replaceable tool. A global transition is underway, marked by closer ties between the U.S., Russia, China, and India, excluding Europe for ideological and practical reasons—if I understand correctly, because it is characterized as knowing only war (I note that European diplomacy has recently turned toward India as an alternative to the U.S. and China). This shift, as described by Ritter, could signify the end of the transatlantic order. Obstacles remain for Trump, notably the issue of Gaza, which is complicated by pressure from the pro-Israel lobby and the positioning of Arab countries. Finally, it is suggested that Trump might want to reduce the size of the military and rethink the role of the United Nations, seen as a legacy of past conflicts—an intriguing idea but not fully developed. ** “In this perspective, Trump’s imposition of tariffs would serve as a key element of a strategy aimed at prioritizing the economy over militarism, marginalizing Europe while fostering pragmatic ties with powers like Russia and China, and redefining American power in a post-transatlantic world. This would reflect a break from the military-industrial complex and a utilitarian view of international relations, where tariffs replace tanks as tools of domination or negotiation. However, their success would depend on Trump’s ability to navigate internal pressures (the pro-Israel lobby) and external reactions (from trade partners).” (Grok 3 Beta) (On Telegram) [FIRST IMPRESSION ON TRUMP ZELENSKY FIASCO Interview for India & Global Left](https://t.me/ScottRitter/3761) **** Scott Ritter évoque la volonté de Trump de mettre fin à la guerre en Ukraine, soulignant son désir de paix (cela bien que d’autres analystes disent que les États-Unis sont en train de réorienter leur stratégie vers la Chine). Ritter avance que les États-Unis pourraient envisager de quitter l’OTAN d’ici à la fin de l’été mais ne fournit aucune explication. Les États-Unis adoptent une approche utilitaire vis-à-vis de leurs alliés. Ritter estime que Trump ne se positionne pas en faveur du complexe militaro-industriel, contrairement aux démocrates. Trump est perçu comme un acteur extérieur à ce complexe, cherchant à réorienter la politique américaine vers le commerce et l’économie plutôt que le militarisme (cependant les dépenses militaires avaient augmenté lors de son premier mandat). Ce complexe, qui s'est développé pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et la guerre froide, a un besoin croissant de conflits pour perdurer, menant éventuellement à une guerre nucléaire. L’Europe, sous l’influence des États-Unis, est comparée à un monstre de Frankenstein, croyant être l’alliée des États-Unis alors qu’elle n’est qu’un outil remplaçable. Une transition mondiale est en cours, marquée par un rapprochement entre les États-Unis, la Russie, la Chine et l’Inde, en excluant l’Europe pour des raisons idéologiques et pratiques si j’ai bien compris, car elle est caractérisée comme ne connaissant que la guerre (je remarque que la diplomatie européenne s'est récemment tournée vers l'Inde présentée comme une alternative aux États-Unis et à Chine). Ce changement tel que décrit par Ritter pourrait signifier la fin de l’ordre transatlantique. Des obstacles subsisteraient pour Trump, notamment la question de Gaza, compliquée par les pressions exercées par le lobby pro-Israël et le positionnement des pays arabes. Enfin, il est suggéré que Trump pourrait vouloir réduire la taille de l’armée et repenser le rôle des Nations Unies, perçues comme un héritage des conflits passés, une idée suggestive mais peu développée. ** « Dans cette perspective, l’imposition de tarifs douaniers par Trump s’insérerait comme une pièce maîtresse d’une stratégie visant à privilégier l’économie sur le militarisme, à marginaliser l’Europe tout en se rapprochant de puissances comme la Russie ou la Chine sur des bases pragmatiques, et à redéfinir la puissance américaine dans un monde post-transatlantique. Cela refléterait une rupture avec le complexe militaro-industriel et une vision utilitaire des relations internationales, où les tarifs remplacent les tanks comme outils de domination ou de négociation. Toutefois, leur succès dépendrait de la capacité de Trump à naviguer entre des pressions internes (lobby pro-Israël) et externes (réactions des partenaires commerciaux). » (Grok 3 bêta) (Sur Telegram) [FIRST IMPRESSION ON TRUMP ZELENSKY FIASCO Interview for India & Global Left](https://t.me/ScottRitter/3761)

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future. --- Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community. **A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights** Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place. **Abundant Access to Fresh Water** Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact. **Grow Your Own Food** A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming. **Guns** The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice. **A Strong Community You Can Depend On** No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security. --- Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In a world filled with uncertainty, confusion, and competing worldviews, it is easy to feel lost. Society bombards us with messages about identity, morality, and purpose that often shift with cultural trends. However, for those who turn to the Bible, a firm foundation for understanding life’s complexities can be found. Through Scripture, we gain clarity about the nature of the world, our purpose within it, and the ultimate hope that transcends its troubles. ***A World in Chaos—But Not Without Order*** The world can often feel like a place of chaos and suffering. Wars rage, injustices abound, and personal struggles weigh heavily on the human heart. But when we view the world through the lens of the Bible, we see that disorder is not without explanation. The Bible teaches that sin entered the world through human rebellion against God (Genesis 3). This act brought brokenness into every aspect of creation, distorting relationships, corrupting institutions, and introducing pain and death. Yet, even in the midst of chaos, there remains divine order. God’s sovereignty ensures that history moves according to His plan. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” What appears as randomness or injustice to the human eye is under the guiding hand of a righteous and sovereign Creator. **Truth in a World of Relativism** One of the greatest struggles in modern society is the battle over truth. The world preaches relativism—"your truth is your truth"—yet this leads to confusion and moral decay. The Bible, however, provides an unchanging standard. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). This claim affirms objective truth and establishes that truth is found in a person—Jesus Christ. When we navigate life through the wisdom of the Bible, we are not left to the whims of popular opinion. Instead, we are anchored in eternal principles. God’s Word defines right and wrong, illuminates the path to salvation, and offers guidance for every area of life (Psalm 119:105). **Finding Purpose and Identity** Modern culture pushes the idea that we must create our own purpose and define our own identity. However, this pursuit often leads to emptiness. The Bible tells us that we are not random accidents but intentionally created by God in His image (Genesis 1:27). Our purpose is not self-made but God-given: to glorify Him and enjoy a relationship with Him (Isaiah 43:7). Rather than seeking fulfillment in fleeting successes, personal achievements, or societal approval, the Bible calls us to find meaning in serving God and others. Ecclesiastes 12:13 sums it up: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” **Hope in the Midst of Suffering** Without the Bible, suffering can seem meaningless. Pain, loss, and hardship often raise questions about God’s goodness. However, Scripture reveals that suffering is not wasted. Romans 8:28 assures believers that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” Trials refine our faith, draw us closer to God, and remind us that our true home is not in this broken world but in the eternal kingdom of God. Moreover, Jesus Himself suffered on our behalf, taking upon Himself the punishment for sin so that we might have eternal life (Isaiah 53:5). Because of His resurrection, we have the assurance of victory over sin and death. This hope transforms how we endure hardships, knowing that every trial has a purpose and that ultimate restoration is coming (Revelation 21:4). **A Call to Live Differently** Understanding the world through the lens of the Bible is not just about gaining knowledge—it’s about transformation. Romans 12:2 instructs us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” When we see life through God’s truth, we are called to live in a way that reflects His character—loving our neighbors, standing firm in righteousness, and sharing the Gospel with those in darkness. The world will continue to shift, and confusion will persist for those seeking answers outside God’s Word. But for those who turn to the Bible, there is clarity, purpose, and unshakable hope. By aligning our lives with God’s truth, we can make sense of this world and confidently walk the path He has laid before us.

@ 22050dd3:480c11ea

Education is foundational to growth and prosperity in a community. It is not easy for people to engage with and interact with the foundational idea of a community when they do not understand it. Unsurprisingly, BTC Isla is built around Bitcoin, which not many people understand. However, on the tiny island of Isla Mujeres, that is changing one class at a time. ### Education Is Essential At the center of each Bitcoin circular economy around the globe is the ethos that education is paramount to adoption and the overall success of the community. This is no different with BTC Isla, where Isa teaches Bitcoin classes to the locals on the island. During my recent stay on the island, I sat in on one of the classes to see what they are and how Isa is spearheading educating the locals. ### The Class Classes take place at the Mayakita restaurant on the southeast side of the island. They last about an hour. Isa follows the Bitcoin Diploma curriculum created by [Mi Primer Bitcoin](https://myfirstbitcoin.io/) and teaches the classes in Spanish. I don’t speak Spanish so I couldn’t exactly follow the lesson to a tee, but that wasn’t important as the enthusiasm from Isa and the students was palpable. On this particular day, there were 4 students present who had attended the classes before, and one new student. It was exciting and fun to see this timid teenager walk into the restaurant who hadn’t the slightest idea of what Bitcoin was. Isa welcomed her with open arms and threw her right into the thick of it. She seemed to learn a lot and have her interest piqued and afterward told me that she enjoyed the class and would be returning. Another student and member of the community has begun their Bitcoin journey, very exciting! I understood the lesson (Isa’s activity with the markerboard helped!) to be primarily about inflation and the scarcity and divisibility properties of Bitcoin. I always enjoy seeing how people react when they learn about inflation and how Bitcoin is different and why it is a solution. ### Paid To Attend Classes? At the end of each class, something strange occurs: Isa pays the students sats for attending the class! She surprised me before the lesson by telling me she does this, but her reason for doing it makes sense. The locals on the island live a completely different life than ours in the United States. The concept of saving and putting away money for the sake of building savings doesn’t exist. When money plays a purely transactional role in life, the store-of-value characteristic isn’t important let alone thought about. Paying the students to attend the classes does 2 things: - It allows the students to begin to build savings in bitcoin as well as interact with and use their money and have real experience with the very thing they’re learning about - It creates an additional incentive for the students to attend the classes While yes, it is strange to monetarily incentivize people to attend a class, it makes sense when you realize that the locals need a reason to *actually* be interested in and learn about Bitcoin. The normal interest and entry points to Bitcoin as an investment that we use in the United States and Europe aren’t applicable. However, despite the students being paid to attend the classes, they all seemed genuinely interested in the lesson and learning about Bitcoin. They were all attentive to Isa, taking notes and staying engaged. They cared about the subject. ### Future Classes Isa, myself, and a few others were discussing field-trip ideas for future classes, and in the future Isa will take the class to the streets of Isla Mujeres! She will give the students sats with the implication that they need to spend them on goods at the bitcoin-accepting merchants downtown. By doing this, bitcoin injects itself into the economy and perhaps more importantly, the students get experience transacting with bitcoin in the real world! Nostr: [BTCIsla](https://www.primal.net/btcisla) Website: [btcisla.xyz](https://www.btcisla.xyz)

@ 9ea10fd4:011d3b15

(Le français suit) I have the feeling of two brothers trying to remove the speck from each other’s eye but failing to see the beam in their own. 1. To liberal democracies, I say: The war in Ukraine, led by NATO, is a bad war that could have easily been avoided and would not have happened if NATO had respected the logic that applies to a country like Ukraine, adjacent to a great power, Russia. As a counterexample, would the United States accept a Russian or allied military presence on the Mexican border? It is so obvious that denying it is pure bad faith. I will not shed tears over your graves. 2. To the populist far-right, I say: To borrow the words of Le Monde’s editorial, too often, the denunciation of attacks on freedom of expression serves to mask the defense of the economic model of social media platforms owned by billionaires who, by promoting confrontation and fake news, spread hatred, hinder informed debate, and undermine democracy. Behind the idea of unlimited “free speech” lurks “the promotion of a far-right ideology eager to replace the rule of law with the law of the strongest, to the detriment of policies protecting social rights, women, and other victims of discrimination.” Regarding political history, let it be noted that “this situation is the result of three decades of economic liberalism, which institutional left-wing forces have also embraced” (Alain Lipietz). “It must be acknowledged: Trump’s United States is no longer a protection but a threat to democracy in Europe.” [Les Etats-Unis de Donald Trump, une menace pour la démocratie en Europe](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/02/21/trump-s-united-states-is-now-a-threat-to-democracy-in-europe_6738413_23.html) ** J’ai le sentiment de deux frères qui essaient d’enlever la paille dans l’œil de l’autre, mais ne voient pas la poutre dans le leur. 1. Aux démocraties libérales, je dis : La guerre en Ukraine menée par l’OTAN est une mauvaise guerre qui aurait facilement pu être évitée et qui n’aurait pas eu lieu si l’OTAN avait respecté la logique s’appliquant à un pays, l’Ukraine, adjacent à une grande puissance, la Russie. En contre-exemple, les États-Unis accepteraient-ils une présence militaire russe ou de leurs alliés à la frontière avec le Mexique ? C’est tellement évident que c’en est de la mauvaise foi. Je n'irai pas pleurer sur vos tombes. 2. À l’extrême-droite populiste, je dis : Pour reprendre les termes de l’éditorial du journal Le Monde, trop souvent la dénonciation des entorses à la liberté d’expression masque la défense du modèle économique de médias sociaux détenus par des milliardaires qui, en promouvant la confrontation et les fake news, diffusent la haine, entravent les débats éclairés et sapent la démocratie. Sous la conception d’un « free speech » sans limite, « pointe la promotion d’une idéologie d’extrême droite avide de substituer la loi du plus fort aux politiques de défense des droits sociaux, des femmes et des autres victimes de discriminations ». En ce qui concerne l’histoire politique, qu'il soit noté que « cette situation résulte de trois décennies de libéralisme économique, auxquelles se sont ralliées les forces de la gauche institutionnelle » (Alain Lipietz). « Il faut se rendre à l’évidence : les Etats-Unis de Trump ne constituent plus une protection mais une menace pour la démocratie en Europe. » [Les Etats-Unis de Donald Trump, une menace pour la démocratie en Europe](https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2025/02/21/les-etats-unis-de-trump-menace-pour-la-democratie-en-europe_6557361_3232.html)

@ f25afb62:8d50c6e7

**🚀 Bitkiwi 2025 – Queenstown, NZ | The Future of Bitcoin is Here ⚡** Just wrapped up an **incredible** weekend at **Bitkiwi**, New Zealand’s premier Bitcoin event! 🏔️💥 From inheritance planning to self-custody, Lightning adoption, and NZ’s Bitcoin future – the speakers brought **serious signal**. Here’s a **recap** of the best talks, insights, and moments from Bitkiwi 2025 🎥👇 --- 🚀 **LightningPay’s 4 Big Announcements** 🚀 From Queenstown to the world, **LightningPay** is making moves: 1️⃣ A Bitcoin-friendly shared workspace in Queenstown. 2️⃣ A self-custodial ⚡ Lightning wallet powered by Breez. 3️⃣ 1 billion sats in monthly volume,20% monthly user growth AND **6 BTC capital raise** to keep growing! 4️⃣ **Bitcoin Basin Initiative** – Queenstown’s circular economy is here. 💡 The future of Bitcoin in NZ is bright! 🔥 https://cdn.satellite.earth/db356e99e4fc600314b5e23369dfb39b9294da58e101eb76dda2a9eb4b332bc4.mp4 --- 🏃💨 **Bitcoin Escape Velocity with Rob Clarkson** When does Bitcoin become unstoppable? Rob Clarkson of **LightningPay.nz** breaks down: 🔹 How Bitcoin adoption accelerates as it becomes a **medium of exchange** 🔹 What Lightning Network means for **real-world payments** 🔹 Why Kiwis should care about using Bitcoin today Escape velocity is coming. Are you ready? 🚀 https://cdn.satellite.earth/ed64e4ccdf699a9e83dc99c63ff37f22614f1d86590187e2459d52144ef3d74c.mp4 --- 📜💡 **Wills, Wallets & Wisdom – Bitcoin Inheritance Planning** James Swarbrick from **Swarbricks Lawyers** on: ✅ What happens to your Bitcoin when you're gone? ✅ Why multisig is your best friend for inheritance ✅ The legal side of passing down **sound money** Because **your Bitcoin is only yours if you plan for the future.** 🔑 https://cdn.satellite.earth/3974169ff85bb064aa8caf66199bc5ea7c59a19994315ce321e6dc3fde0cbafd.mp4 --- ⚡🖥️ **Why You Should Run Your Own Bitcoin Node** Ketan from **Ministry of Nodes** explains: ✅ The **importance of self-sovereignty** in Bitcoin ✅ How running a node makes the network stronger ✅ The **best setup** for a Kiwi Bitcoiner Your keys, your coins. But also: **Your node, your rules.** 🏴‍☠️ https://cdn.satellite.earth/4fcc3184615f296bd1897c82b5f507a66b4eee68195a214047fc87755e5db2c5.mp4 --- 🇳🇿🧐 **What's the Problem, NZ?** Andrew Wells of **KiwiBitcoinGuide** takes a deep dive into **Joe Bryan’s ‘What’s the Problem?’** with a **NZ perspective** 🔹 How our broken money could be the source of our problems. 🔹 How government policy & banking play a role 🔹 What’s next for Bitcoiners in NZ? New Zealand – **time to wake up.** 🏴https://cdn.satellite.earth/c4c571bbb56bd7e7ca5ed3c2cff27c6ef4ea0994abb21dd1e95c4a1d5d474e06.mp4 --- 🕊️🔥 **The F Word – Cody Ellingham** What’s the **real** F-word when it comes to Bitcoin? **FREEDOM.** Cody Ellingham from **The Transformation of Value Podcast** dives into: 💡 What true **freedom** looks like. 🔗 Why Bitcoin is a **tool for sovereignty** 🚀 How to break free from **fiat dependency** https://cdn.satellite.earth/45909c963826fdd094b7f0729a762ef45132d39a95b7bf226f2d7b3fbace66a7.mp4 --- 📢 **That’s a wrap on Bitkiwi 2025!** 📢 🔸 Bitcoin adoption is accelerating in NZ. 🔸 Queenstown is becoming a **Bitcoin circular economy**. 🔸 Builders & educators are paving the way forward.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

For decades, the internet has been dominated by a handful of powerful corporations—gatekeepers who decide what we can say, see, and share. Social media platforms, search engines, and cloud services have become digital overlords, tracking our every move, monetizing our data, and silencing voices that don’t fit the narrative. But a quiet revolution is underway. A new technology—simple yet profound—is rising from the digital underground. It’s called NOSTR, and it’s not just another app or platform. NOSTR is the new internet. The Problem With the Old Internet To understand the power of NOSTR, we need to recognize what’s broken in the internet we’ve come to accept as normal. Corporate Control – A few companies decide who gets to speak and who gets banned. Free speech exists at the mercy of moderation teams and their algorithms. Surveillance Economy – Your data is the product. Every click, like, and scroll is analyzed, packaged, and sold. Censorship & Deplatforming – Alternative viewpoints? Independent thought? If it doesn’t align with the powers that be, it can be erased overnight or buried to deep to find. Single Points of Failure – Servers go down, accounts get hacked, platforms disappear. Your digital life is at risk when everything is tied to one entity. The internet wasn’t supposed to be this way. But centralized control has made it fragile, controlled, and weaponized against its own users. Enter NOSTR. What Is NOSTR? NOSTR—short for “Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays”—is a simple yet groundbreaking communication protocol. It’s not owned by anyone. It doesn’t have a CEO. It doesn’t depend on a single company to function. Instead, it is a network of independent relays, where users own their identities, data, and speech. Imagine an internet where: ✔️ No corporation can silence you ✔️ No government can shut down the conversation ✔️ No single server crash can wipe out your account ✔️ You control your identity—no passwords, no lockouts That’s what NOSTR enables. Why NOSTR Changes Everything NOSTR isn’t just another social media platform—it’s the foundation for an entirely new digital landscape. Today, it’s being used for Twitter-like conversations, but tomorrow it could power blogs, marketplaces, encrypted messaging, and financial transactions—all without middlemen. Here’s why it’s revolutionary: Freedom from Censorship – No platform bans. No speech policing. If one relay refuses to host your messages, another will. True Digital Ownership – Your account is yours, tied to your private key. No company can take it away. Interoperability – One identity works across all apps that use NOSTR, meaning you’re not trapped inside a walled garden. Resilience – If one relay shuts down, the network lives on. Unlike traditional platforms, NOSTR has no single point of failure. The Future of the Internet Has Arrived Skeptics might say, “This sounds great, but will it actually replace the internet we know?” The answer? It already is. Bitcoiners, free speech advocates, and tech pioneers are flooding onto NOSTR. Developers are building new tools every day. The old internet—bloated, censored, and controlled—is losing its grip. We are witnessing the birth of a new digital age, one where power shifts from corporations back to individuals. NOSTR isn’t just another platform—it’s the foundation for a freer internet. And make no mistake: NOSTR is the new internet. The only question is, are you ready to be a part of it?

@ 04ff5a72:22ba7b2d

## The Dark Side of Memecoins: How Internet Jokes Undermine Cryptocurrency's Legitimacy The cryptocurrency landscape has been forever altered by the emergence of memecoins, digital assets created as jokes that have since evolved into significant financial instruments with multi-billion dollar market capitalizations. While proponents argue these tokens democratize finance and bring new users into the crypto ecosystem, the reality is far more concerning. Memecoins have introduced unprecedented levels of volatility, scams, and market manipulation that threaten to undermine the legitimacy of the entire blockchain industry. This article examines how what started as an internet joke has transformed into one of the most problematic aspects of cryptocurrency, tracing the journey from Dogecoin's humble beginnings through the explosion of copycat tokens and the widespread financial losses that have followed in their wake. ## The Birth of Dogecoin: When Cryptocurrency Became a Joke Dogecoin, the original memecoin, emerged in December 2013 as a satirical response to the growing cryptocurrency speculation of the time. Software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer created Dogecoin as a lighthearted alternative to Bitcoin, featuring the face of a Shiba Inu dog from the popular "doge" meme as its logo and mascot. Unlike Bitcoin and other serious blockchain projects, Dogecoin was deliberately designed without a capped supply and with minimal technical innovation, positioning itself as the "fun and friendly Internet currency"[[1]]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogecoin). Despite its joke origins, Dogecoin quickly developed a passionate community that embraced its lighthearted approach to cryptocurrency. This community spirit manifested in various charitable endeavors, most notably in March 2014 when Dogecoin supporters raised Ð67.8 million (approximately $55,000 at the time) to sponsor NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Josh Wise. The "Moonrocket" No. 98 car featured prominently in the Aaron's 499 race at Talladega Superspeedway, bringing mainstream attention to what had started as an internet meme[[1]]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogecoin). The community's enthusiasm continued when they successfully voted Wise into the Sprint All-Star Race, beating established NASCAR favorite Danica Patrick primarily through coordinated online efforts. However, as Dogecoin gained popularity and its price began to rise, the project's founders became increasingly disillusioned. What had started as "crypto for sillies" was transforming into a speculative investment vehicle. Markus expressed discomfort when people began investing significant sums, stating: "when someone puts $20k in... that makes me really, really uncomfortable. I don't want to be the leader of a cult"[[11]]( https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/dogecoin-shitcoin-honest/). By mid-2014, Palmer had unsubscribed from the r/Dogecoin subreddit, and in 2015, he announced an "extended leave of absence" from the cryptocurrency community, describing the ecosystem as "toxic"[[11]]( https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/dogecoin-shitcoin-honest/). The founders' departure marked a turning point for Dogecoin, leaving it without its original guiding voices just as it was gaining mainstream recognition. ## Elon Musk: The Billionaire Memecoin Manipulator After several years of relative stability, Dogecoin experienced a dramatic revival thanks largely to one high-profile supporter: Elon Musk. Beginning in 2019 but accelerating through 2020 and 2021, Musk's frequent tweets about Dogecoin triggered massive price movements, demonstrating the extraordinary influence a single individual could have on cryptocurrency markets. His support ranged from simple endorsements to more elaborate stunts, all contributing to Dogecoin's meteoric rise to a peak price of around $0.70 in May 2021[[2]]( https://www.vice.com/en/article/dogecoin-twitter-elon-musk/). Musk's involvement with Dogecoin went beyond social media cheerleading. Tesla began accepting the cryptocurrency for some merchandise, giving it a veneer of legitimacy that few other memecoins could claim. Additionally, Musk revealed that he personally held Dogecoin in his investment portfolio, further cementing the relationship between the billionaire and the memecoin[[2]]( https://www.vice.com/en/article/dogecoin-twitter-elon-musk/). Perhaps the most blatant example of Musk's market-moving power came in February 2023, when he jokingly introduced a dog as Twitter's new CEO with the caption: "The new CEO of Twitter is amazing." This single tweet caused significant price appreciation across multiple dog-themed cryptocurrencies, with Dogecoin rising 6.1%, Shiba Inu increasing 4.3%, and Floki surging an astonishing 39%[[12]]( https://bitcoinist.com/elon-musk-triggers-dogecoin-shiba-inu-price-surge/). However, Musk's relationship with Dogecoin has not been without controversy. During his Saturday Night Live appearance in May 2021, Musk referred to Dogecoin as "a hustle," causing the price to plummet and erasing billions in market value overnight[[2]]( https://www.vice.com/en/article/dogecoin-twitter-elon-musk/). This volatility led to a $258 billion lawsuit from Dogecoin investors who accused Musk of operating and manipulating a "Dogecoin Pyramid Scheme for profit, exposure and amusement"[[2]]( https://www.vice.com/en/article/dogecoin-twitter-elon-musk/). The lawsuit alleges that Musk used his substantial platform to artificially inflate Dogecoin's price before allowing it to crash, benefiting early investors while leaving late arrivals with significant losses. Markus and Palmer, the original creators of Dogecoin, have been vocal in their criticism of Musk’s involvement, accusing him of exploiting the project for personal gain while misleading retail investors. In a now-deleted tweet from 2021, Palmer called Musk a “grifter” who “sells a vision he doesn’t understand” and later stated that Musk’s influence over Dogecoin was a “calculated move to manipulate markets and extract wealth from crypto newcomers and his fanbase.”[[16]]( https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/05/30/dogecoin-jackson-palmer-elon-musk-cryptocurrency-bubble/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Markus, while less confrontational, has also distanced himself from Musk, emphasizing that Dogecoin was never intended to be a serious financial instrument and criticizing the billionaire’s attempts to position himself as the de facto leader of the project. Their concerns were validated as Musk’s public endorsements led to wild price swings, causing many inexperienced investors to buy in at inflated prices before subsequent crashes wiped out billions in value. Palmer has gone so far as to argue that Musk embodies the very exploitation that he and Markus originally sought to parody with Dogecoin, turning what was once a harmless internet joke into a tool for financial manipulation. More recently, Musk's cryptocurrency activities have attracted increased regulatory scrutiny. In February 2025, the SEC sued Musk for allegedly failing to properly disclose his Twitter stock purchases in 2022, to which Musk responded by calling the SEC a "Totally broken organization"[[13]]( https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/17/musk-doge-securities-exchange-commission-00204621). The connection between Musk's various crypto-related activities and his ongoing battles with regulators highlights the complex interplay between celebrity influence, market manipulation, and regulatory oversight in the cryptocurrency space. ## The Memecoin Explosion: From One Joke to Thousands While Dogecoin remained the original and most recognizable memecoin for years, the explosion of copycat tokens began in earnest during early 2024, coinciding with the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs and the resulting surge in crypto market liquidity. This period marked the beginning of what many now refer to as the "memecoin bubble," characterized by thousands of new tokens with little to no utility beyond their humorous names and themes[[4]]( https://www.businessinsider.com/memecoins-cryptocurrency-altcoins-market-trump-libra-milei-celebrities-scams-regulation-2025-2). The proliferation of memecoins was significantly accelerated by the introduction of user-friendly creation tools, most notably Pump.Fun, a Solana-based launchpad that drastically simplified the process of minting new tokens. By January 2025, according to Wired, this platform alone had facilitated the launch of nearly 6 million memecoin projects[[4]]( https://www.businessinsider.com/memecoins-cryptocurrency-altcoins-market-trump-libra-milei-celebrities-scams-regulation-2025-2). The ease of token creation led to an unprecedented flood of new cryptocurrencies, many explicitly designed to capitalize on trending topics, celebrity names, or internet memes with little consideration for long-term viability. This memecoin explosion was not limited to Solana, though that blockchain became particularly associated with the phenomenon due to its low transaction fees and fast processing times. Ethereum Layer 2 solutions, Base blockchain, and other networks also saw significant memecoin activity as developers sought various platforms to launch their projects. Each blockchain developed its own memecoin ecosystem, with varying levels of scrutiny and security. Analysis of these ecosystems reveals concerning mortality rates across platforms, with Base leading at a 66.91% death rate, followed by Solana at 54.03% and Ethereum at 36.59%[[15]]( https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/2024-08-18-high-failure-rate-of-meme-coin-projects-revealed-in-new-research-12355166562033). The proliferation of memecoins brought with it an increase in security vulnerabilities and exploits. In February 2025, Pump.fun's official X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised, with hackers promoting fake tokens including a purported "official Pump.fun governance token"[[9]]( https://www.tradingview.com/news/newsbtc:fea179621094b:0-memecoin-scam-alert-pump-fun-x-account-hacked-promotes-fake-pump-token/). This incident resulted in approximately $600,000 being extracted from investors who purchased the fraudulent tokens, highlighting the security risks inherent in the loosely regulated memecoin ecosystem. Even more concerning, blockchain data firm Bubblemaps warned users that the promoted token was "heavily bundled and will dump," as 60% of the supply was controlled by just two wallet clusters[[9]]( https://www.tradingview.com/news/newsbtc:fea179621094b:0-memecoin-scam-alert-pump-fun-x-account-hacked-promotes-fake-pump-token/). By February 2025, clear signs of exhaustion had begun to appear in the memecoin market. In what was described as a "crypto first," a memecoin launch on Pump.fun failed to reach its hard cap within the traditionally frenzied first 30 minutes of sale[[8]]( https://www.ainvest.com/news/crypto-meme-coin-launch-fails-hit-hard-cap-30-minutes-2502/). This unusual event signaled waning investor enthusiasm and growing skepticism about the sustainability of the memecoin phenomenon, with some community members describing the ongoing security issues as "the nail on the meme coin coffin"[[9]]( https://www.tradingview.com/news/newsbtc:fea179621094b:0-memecoin-scam-alert-pump-fun-x-account-hacked-promotes-fake-pump-token/). ## The Detrimental Impact on Cryptocurrency's Legitimacy The rise of memecoins has had far-reaching negative consequences for the entire cryptocurrency industry, undermining years of effort to establish blockchain technology as a serious financial and technological innovation. These consequences manifest in multiple ways, from providing ammunition to crypto skeptics to directly harming retail investors through various scams and market manipulations. Perhaps the most fundamental problem with memecoins is their inherent lack of utility and technological innovation. Unlike projects that aim to solve real-world problems through blockchain applications, memecoins typically offer no meaningful functionality beyond transfer and speculation. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has been particularly blunt about this reality, warning that 99% of memecoins are scams designed to deceive investors[[7]]( https://bitcoinworld.co.in/cz-exposes-memecoin-crypto-scams/). This assessment is supported by research from Chainplay revealing a staggering 97% failure rate for memecoin projects since 2024, with an average lifespan of just one year compared to the typical three-year lifespan of other crypto projects[[15]]( https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/2024-08-18-high-failure-rate-of-meme-coin-projects-revealed-in-new-research-12355166562033). The prevalence of outright fraud within the memecoin ecosystem is particularly alarming. Analysis of security vulnerabilities in recent memecoin projects shows that Whitelisting, Tax modification, Antiwhale, and Blacklist are the most common vulnerabilities discovered in contracts from the past three months, with each threat becoming approximately 15% more common on average[[10]]( https://bdc.consulting/insights/MarketResearch/memecoins). Even more concerning, over 55% of meme coins are directly linked to malicious activities[[15]]( https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/2024-08-18-high-failure-rate-of-meme-coin-projects-revealed-in-new-research-12355166562033), with rug pulls remaining the most prevalent form of memecoin scam[[14]]( https://cointelegraph.com/learn/articles/top-memecoin-scams). The Trump memecoin ($TRUMP) debacle serves as a particularly stark illustration of the harm memecoins can inflict on unsuspecting investors. From its mid-January launch price of $76, Trump Coin plummeted to approximately $17, marking a nearly 80% decline and resulting in losses for 810,000 investors totaling over $2 billion[[5]]( https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2695386/trump-coin-plunge-causes-massive-investor-losses). Meanwhile, early traders and insiders reportedly profited to the tune of $6.6 billion, with just 31 individuals making $669 million within days of the launch[[5]]( https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2695386/trump-coin-plunge-causes-massive-investor-losses). The extent of insider activity was blatant – the first account to publicly bet on Trump Coin was created three hours before Trump's announcement, placing a wager exceeding $1 million, and the coin itself was created 12 hours before the public announcement[[5]]( https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2695386/trump-coin-plunge-causes-massive-investor-losses). This pattern of insiders profiting at the expense of retail investors has become a defining characteristic of the memecoin ecosystem. A wallet identified as 6QSc2Cx acquired a large quantity of Trump Coin tokens at the opening price of $0.18 each, accumulating 5,971,750 tokens that would soon surge to $75 per token[[5]]( https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2695386/trump-coin-plunge-causes-massive-investor-losses). Such examples of information asymmetry and market manipulation directly contradict the decentralized and egalitarian ethos that cryptocurrency was originally meant to embody. The negative impact extends beyond direct financial losses to broader damage to cryptocurrency's reputation and regulatory standing. The involvement of political figures like Donald Trump and Argentina's President Javier Milei in memecoin projects has "pushed the space to a level of absurdity that can no longer be ignored," according to investment manager Travis Kling, who has described the current environment as "crime season"[[6]]( https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2695386/trump-coin-plunge-causes-massive-investor-losses). This characterization of the cryptocurrency space as lawless and predatory provides significant ammunition to critics who dismiss all blockchain technology as fraudulent or worthless. ## Conclusion: The Need for Industry Self-Regulation The memecoin phenomenon represents a significant challenge to the cryptocurrency industry's efforts to gain mainstream legitimacy and adoption. What began as a lighthearted joke with Dogecoin has evolved into a troubling ecosystem characterized by market manipulation, fraud, and financial losses for retail investors. The statistics are sobering: an average of 2,020 memecoin projects die each month[[15]]( https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/2024-08-18-high-failure-rate-of-meme-coin-projects-revealed-in-new-research-12355166562033), leaving a trail of lost investments and shattered confidence in their wake. For cryptocurrency to fulfill its potential as a transformative technology, the industry must address the excesses and abuses of the memecoin sector. This will require not only more robust regulatory frameworks but also stronger self-regulation by exchanges, developers, and influencers. The memecoin bubble may have begun to deflate, but the damage to cryptocurrency's reputation will linger much longer, requiring concerted effort to rebuild trust and refocus attention on blockchain's legitimate use cases and innovations. As we move forward, it is crucial to distinguish between genuine technological innovation and empty speculation. The future of cryptocurrency depends not on cartoon dogs or political memes, but on developing applications that solve real-world problems and create genuine value beyond the next pump and dump cycle. Only by rejecting the get-rich-quick mentality of memecoins can the industry hope to rebuild its credibility and realize the transformative potential of blockchain technology. ### Sources [1] Dogecoin - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogecoin [2] Dogecoin Holders Thank Elon Musk for the Pump, Now ... - VICE https://www.vice.com/en/article/dogecoin-twitter-elon-musk/ [3] Elon Musk's Dogecoin Launches SEC Probe Amid Ripple Lawsuit https://www.ainvest.com/news/elon-musk-dogecoin-launches-sec-probe-ripple-lawsuit-2502/ [4] The Meme-Coin Explosion Is Already Getting Exhausting https://www.businessinsider.com/memecoins-cryptocurrency-altcoins-market-trump-libra-milei-celebrities-scams-regulation-2025-2 [5] Trump Coin Plunge Causes Massive Investor Losses - GuruFocus https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2695386/trump-coin-plunge-causes-massive-investor-losses [6] Memecoin Bubble Burst: Implications for Crypto Market - Ainvest https://ainvest.com/news/memecoin-bubble-burst-implications-crypto-market-2502/ [7] CZ Exposes 99% Memecoin Crypto Scams Deceiving Investors https://bitcoinworld.co.in/cz-exposes-memecoin-crypto-scams/ [8] Crypto First: MEME Coin Launch Fails to Hit Hard Cap in 30 Minutes https://www.ainvest.com/news/crypto-meme-coin-launch-fails-hit-hard-cap-30-minutes-2502/ [9] Memecoin Scam Alert: Pump.Fun X Account Hacked, Promotes ... https://www.tradingview.com/news/newsbtc:fea179621094b:0-memecoin-scam-alert-pump-fun-x-account-hacked-promotes-fake-pump-token/ [10] MEMECOINS 2024: MARKET, TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES. https://bdc.consulting/insights/MarketResearch/memecoins [11] Dogecoin: The Most Honest Sh*tcoin | Galaxy https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/dogecoin-shitcoin-honest/ [12] Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Soar As Elon Musk Announces Twitter CEO https://bitcoinist.com/elon-musk-triggers-dogecoin-shiba-inu-price-surge/ [13] Musk's DOGE expected to arrive at SEC in coming days - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/17/musk-doge-securities-exchange-commission-00204621 [14] Top Memecoin scams to avoid in February 2025 - Cointelegraph https://cointelegraph.com/learn/articles/top-memecoin-scams [15] High Failure Rate Of Meme Coin Projects Revealed in New Research https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/2024-08-18-high-failure-rate-of-meme-coin-projects-revealed-in-new-research-12355166562033 [16] Dogecoin co-creator says Elon Musk is a grifter ... https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/05/30/dogecoin-jackson-palmer-elon-musk-cryptocurrency-bubble/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [17] All the meme coins moving to Solana is a good thing for Ethereum https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoCurrency/comments/1d3qo7s/all_the_meme_coins_moving_to_solana_is_a_good/ [18] 4 reasons why Bitcoin value is nosediving. (Hint: It's Trump.) https://mashable.com/article/bitcoin-value-down-donald-trump-memecoin-crypto-heist [19] What Is the Dogecoin Foundation? How the Divisive Group ... https://dailycoin.com/what-is-dogecoin-foundation/ [20] Elon Musk's latest canine-themed tweet didn't pump Dogecoin as ... https://cointelegraph.com/news/elon-musk-s-latest-canine-themed-tweet-didn-t-pump-dogecoin-as-much-as-shib [21] DOGE's 'god-tier' access to CFPB data opens door to market ... https://therecord.media/doge-access-cfpb-data-market [22] The Explosion of Layer-2 Networks on Ethereum - CryptoNinjas https://www.cryptoninjas.net/news/the-explosion-of-layer-2-networks-on-ethereum-challenges-and-opportunities/ [23] Trump coin leads tumble in meme cryptocurrencies as tariffs rock ... https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/03/trump-coin-leads-tumble-in-meme-cryptocurrencies-as-tariffs-rock-global-markets.html [24] Dogecoin hasn't always been a 'fun meme coin' - Cointelegraph https://cointelegraph.com/news/dogecoin-hasn-t-always-been-a-fun-meme-coin [25] Dogecoin jumps after Elon Musk replaces Twitter bird with Shiba Inu https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/03/investing/dogecoin-elon-musk-twitter/index.html [26] Ranking Member Maxine Waters and Congressman Brad Sherman ... https://democrats-financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412921 [27] Solaxy Layer 2 ICO Hits $22 Million Milestone – Next Meme Coin to ... https://insidebitcoins.com/news/solaxy-layer-2-ico-hits-22-million-milestone-next-meme-coin-to-explode [28] Thousands of investors in Trump's memecoin lost $2 billion in just ... https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thousands-investors-trump-memecoin-lost-061200440.html [29] How to Manipulate Securities and Bankrupt Your Followers in 5 ... https://www.gasa.org/post/bankrupt-your-followers-in-5-easy-steps-pump-and-dump [30] Strategies to Identify Potential Meme Coin Rug Pulls https://blockchain.news/flashnews/strategies-to-identify-potential-meme-coin-rug-pulls [31] Will the New $Trump Meme Coin Create a Crack in Crypto's Future? https://www.bitira.com/crypto-meme-fears/ [32] Memecoin Farm Scams Explained: How to Spot and Avoid the Pitfalls https://www.ccn.com/education/crypto/memecoin-farm-scams/ [33] Meme Coins Fizzle: Over 97% Fail, Including Influencer Picks https://beincrypto.com/influencer-endorsed-tokens-fail-to-deliver/ [34] A Kid Made $50,000 Dumping Crypto He'd Created. Then ... - WIRED https://www.wired.com/story/memecoin-kid-backlash/ [35] The Dark Side of the Memes: Rug pulls, FOMO, and the Dogefather ... https://cryptoslate.com/the-dark-side-of-the-memes-rug-pulls-fomo-and-the-dogefather-effect/ [36] The Hidden Dangers of Buying Meme Coins You Need to Know https://www.investopedia.com/top-risks-of-buying-meme-coins-8782157 [37] 99.99% of meme coins are scams ! : r/solana - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/solana/comments/1h30hrl/9999_of_meme_coins_are_scams/ [38] Losing all your money to memecoins? The problem may be that you ... https://www.reddit.com/r/solana/comments/1gzygdz/losing_all_your_money_to_memecoins_the_problem/ [39] Pump and dump schema on pump.fun : r/solana - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/solana/comments/1d6qka0/pump_and_dump_schema_on_pumpfun/ [40] What are Rug Pulls ? How to be Save from Memecoin Rug Pulls https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/14065742283329

@ 22050dd3:480c11ea

*Written by Keith Meola, Revised by Frank Corva* Situated 8 miles off the coast of Cancun surrounded by pristine turquoise waters is a small island called Isla Mujeres. And when I say small, I mean small. It measures just 5 miles long by 0.5 miles wide. The sliver of landmass has a lot going on, though. On it, you can find a lake, a bay, different beaches with unique waves, and various distinct areas. There’s the calmer residential center, the active and more touristy “downtown”, and the tranquil and posh Southern tip, to describe a few. 12,600 people live on the island, and several hundred merchants and businesses operate there. Of these businesses, 16 accept bitcoin. At the beginning of 2024, this number was zero. So, how have so many people on the island been orange-pilled in such a short period of time? A passionate Bitcoiner named Isabella (Isa) Santos, that's who. And she started doing this work at block height #829,750 (mined February 9, 2024). This is when BTC Isla was born.  ## BTC Isla Isa started the work as a passion project. BTC Isla was slow to initially get off the ground, but, Isa began to pick up steam by the end of 2024. And now she is charging ahead with the help of visiting Bitcoiners. The first visitor arrived in the Summer of 2024 and the number of visitors has been steadily increasing since then. Within the first month of this year, 6 Bitcoiners from 4 countries have visited the island to see what is happening and partake in the movement. Those who have visited have split their time between attending meetups or volunteering and partaking in efforts to spread Bitcoin adoption. And Isa intends to welcome many more Bitcoiners to the island this year. She also plans to continue to work tirelessly to not only onboard more merchants but to educate the freshly orange-pilled about how Bitcoin works and why it's so important. One of the bitcoin-accepting merchants on the island ## Bitcoin Education Education is at the core of BTC Isla. In Isa's mind, Bitcoin education is necessary to truly empower the population. It is one thing to accept bitcoin as a form of payment. It's another for people to truly understand what Bitcoin is and what it can do for them. Isa teaches Bitcoin classes which are free to attend. At the moment they are held at the Mayakita restaurant, which is also the usual spot for the Bitcoin meetups. Isa teaches the classes in Spanish using the [Mi Primer Bitcoin](http://myfirstbitcoin.io) curriculum. This curriculum is an open-source diploma-based educational program created by the organization Mi Primer Bitcoin in El Salvador. Through their coursework, students are taught the essential knowledge to gain financial literacy and understand Bitcoin. As of the time of writing, one cohort has already graduated and the second one is on its way! BTC Isla class ## Merchant Adoption Adoption on the island is picking up steam in 2025. As mentioned, 16 merchants on the island currently accept bitcoin as payment. And Isa is working to increase that number with the help of locals. Expats living on the island as well as students and graduated students help with adoption. Thanks to the efforts of Isa and her team, it's now possible to visit the island and use bitcoin exclusively to pay for goods and services! The majority of the merchants who accept bitcoin are food and drink vendors, but it is possible to pay for accommodation, transportation, and even some tours and shopping with bitcoin. Visitors at a meetup As I wrote, the number of visitors to the island is exploding in 2025. I recently had the opportunity and pleasure to visit the island and spent 2 weeks there observing and taking part In the project. I will be writing about my experiences on the island and with BTC Isla! ## Gaining Attention Big and exciting things are happening on the small island of Isla Mujeres. What started as a solo passion project to “orange pill a whole island” is quickly gaining new members and it's attracting attention both on the island and around the globe. Word is quickly spreading that something is brewing off the coast of Cancun. Post-class picture, that's me in the white shirt BTC Isla can be followed at the following handles: - [btcisla.xyz](https://www.btcisla.xyz) - [Twitter/X](https://x.com/BTCisla) - [Nostr](https://primal.net/BTCIsla) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@btcisla)

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

You're in the right place if you've feel like you have never known God but feel drawn to Him. The Bible is God’s Word, His way of speaking to us, and it holds the truth about who He is, who we are, and how we can have a relationship with Him. Here’s a *simple guide* to getting started: **Step 1: Begin with Jesus** The best place to start is with Jesus. He is the heart of the Bible’s message; we can know God through Him. Start by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. It clearly shows who Jesus is, His love for us, and why He came to save us. **Step 2: Talk to God as You Read** Reading the Bible isn’t just about gathering knowledge and meeting God. Ask Him to help you understand. A simple prayer like, "God, if You are real, show me the truth. Help me know You" is enough. **Step 3: Understand the Main Message** The Bible tells one big story: God created us (Genesis 1:1) Sin separated us from God (Romans 3:23) Jesus came to save us (John 3:16) We can be forgiven and have eternal life through Him (Romans 10:9) **Step 4: Accepting Jesus into Your Heart** If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that He rose again, you can ask Him to forgive you and come into your life. You don’t need fancy words—just a sincere heart. You can pray something like this: "Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I ask You to forgive me, change me, and come into my life. I want to follow You. Amen." **Step 5: Keep Going!** Read a little each day. Start with John, then move to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Find a Bible-believing church or group to help you grow. Pray daily — talk to God like you would a friend. Trust that God will guide you as you seek Him. If you’ve taken these steps, you’ve begun the greatest journey of your life—walking with Jesus. Keep seeking, keep learning, and know that God loves you deeply. 💙 I may not know you, and you may not know me, but this guide can be a lifeline if you carry burdens— drama, heartache, struggles, pains or whatever. If you commit to following the steps of this guide and make time to read your Bible daily, you’ll find wisdom, peace, and the strength to face whatever life throws your way.

@ bbb5dda0:f09e2747

**A couple weeks with a little bit of everything, TollGate marketing, app stability improvements, and some personal matters that needed my attention. Let's get into it:** ## TollGate App For starters, we worked hard to get an early version of the [TollGate](https://tollgate.me) website live. What do we want to communicate about the project, and to whom. We've identified three 'types' of visitor, each requiring its own 'customer journey' through the website. First there's the end-user, someone that just wants access to tollgate, but doesn't care about any of the technichalities. We try to guide those people to downloading our app as soon as possible. Currently that means downloading it straight from the website as an APK file. But we want to quickly move on to publishing it to the [ZapStore](https://zapstore.dev). The past couple weeks I put some efforts into getting the app stable. It was hard to identify what was causing the seemingly random crashes and full reloads (of the web content). After getting some outside help we've identified that we were trying to interact with the android API's on the main thread. Which is bad practice. I first couldn't figure out how to make a web request without having to spawn a seperate thread in the kotlin code, that then we'd have to create some kind of system to bubble up the callback method's result. I then found there's a proper [Tauri (the framework) way](https://tauri.app/develop/plugins/develop-mobile/) of doing this using Kotlin Coroutines, which I wasn't familliar with. But it just executes the entire Tauri 'command' (function call) on a background thread. Problem solved. I haven't had any full app crashes since. Which left me with the random page refreshes, the thing that was behind the demo-effect at Sat's and Facts. I noticed it happened around the moments I would go to settings to hit the 'sign in' button to dismiss the captive portal. That's where I had looked before, but I needed to zoom out. It had to do SOMETHING with moving the app to and from the background. Okay is it some kind of sleep issue? I don't remember where or how I found it but I saw a suggestion to run the Tauri dev build with a --no-watch flag. Which disables hot reloading of the app when I edit one of the TypeScript/HTML files. Somehow the reload would be triggered sometimes on app switching. Why? I don't know, but i'm glad I could pinpoint it. So now the demo part seems stable, finally. Which means I can move on and properly implement the wallet logic and making the download on the website work. ## TollGateOS  The second customer group will be people interested in running a TollGate. We're trying to get them to download our custom build of OpenWRT that includes all the required packages. We 'baptized' this version to be called **TollGateOS** as we say in proper Dutch ;). I think it will help to have these clear distinct names. I really want any moderately technical person to be able to install TollGateOS on a supported router. My vision for this is to have some kind of web installer, akin to what GrapheneOS does with their web-installer. It seems to be possible to do SSH from the browser, but I'll kill that bird when I see it (is that a saying? I think it should be...) By the way, in earlier docs/demo's we talked about a 'herald' module, which would do the advertising of the tollgate. But as we found that the crowsnest already interacts with the hardware antennas, which is needed for 'advertising' the tollgate, we thought it better to merge both of them into the Crowsnest. ## Developers TollGate is fully open source, so anyone looking to either look at or fork the source code is welcome to do so. Developers interested at looking at the code are probably already interested to some degree. For this group we added easy links to navigate to the project's repositories Currently our focus is publishing the Android version, but we're building the app in a cross-platform way. The only thing we have to customize are the system integrations, like scanning for wifi-networks and connecting to them. ## Gearing up for Sovereign Engineering As i'm writing this piece for you i'm at 10km (that's 30.000ft for y'all Americans) in the air on my way to Sovereign Engineering edition #4, SEC-04. I feel ready to go kick ass once again and build beautiful things with a bunch of my favourite plebs! ## A bit of a focus shift If you've been following me you might notice I haven't posted much about Epoxy recently. I found the momentum I see emerge on TollGate and GitHub Actions too good to let go to waste. So those will be my focus for a while, I'm hoping to circle back to Epoxy when these projects have a more steady pace.

@ df478568:2a951e67

In [my Soapminer article](https://habla.news/u/marc@primal.net/washing-the-invisible-hand-with-soapminer), I added quotes from various plebs. I earned over 12,000 sats! That's enough for a McJunk today, but maybe a steak dinner in a few years. That's my two sats anyway. *This is not investment advice* It feels great to receive value from people who support and appreciate your work. It's also nice to stack more sats by writing. I have a budget of $25.00 that I have sent to various people using Zapplanner, but I'm trying something new: Zapsplits. ## WTF Are Zapsplits? I asked [Unleashed.chat](https://unleashed.chat). Here's what the anthropomorphic Unleashed said. Me: What is a Zapsplit on nostr?  Unleashed: A Zapsplit on Nostr refers to splitting a Zap, which is a form of donation or tipping on the ~platform~ protocol, among multiple recipients. **It allows users to distribute their support more broadly across various content creators instead of just one**. That's more succinct than I would put it, but nostr is a protocol, not a platform. The important part about Zapsplits for me is that it removes the cognitive cost of deciding what percentage of my giving budget should go to each creator. Do I zap podcast guests? Do podcasters with ads get less than podcasters sans ads? How much value did this particular article bring me? If I zap Guy Swann, should I also zap the authors he reads? Should I zap long-form articles more than micro-blogs? There are 21 million different considerations. Zapsplits removes all this from me because I can use the following algorithm.  ### Does This Person Provide Me Value? Yes ⬇️ I add them to my Zapsplit post for that month. A portion of my monthly zapping budget, 25 dirty-fiat bucks, transforms into magic Internet money and is distributed among everyone in the Zapsplit. No ⬇️ If I don't get any value, I don't send value. Simple. #### Testing Zapsplits I added podcasters and devs to a nostr post and enabled a 10-way zapsplit on the post. It's based on [prisms](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/lightning-prism-nostr/), a little nostr feature that gives me prose writing superpowers. 1. I can earn sats for writing. 2. I can support others with a single zap. 3. I can add people who give me quotes to my zap splits. People appreciate attribution. I suspect they will appreciate it more if they also get paid. What if I added some quotes to an article and then split any zaps I get with the quoted plebs? Come to think of it, I'll try it. [Here's a quote from a dev on nostr](nostr:note1qf4277rudtflllrjr555890xsjp6u60f7xdvclkwc9t220duajeq0x665q I added Silberangel to the Zapsplits on Habla.news. My [V4V](https://blog.getalby.com/the-case-for-value-4-value/) payments can also get sent to ten different plebs with a simple click of a button. I am going to start using this for a lot of my monthly V4V budget. Every month, I'll think about the people's content I value most and add them to a single zapsplit payment. Then, I'll zap the post. Say I create a poll and make a wager with ten different people. If I lose, I can pay everyone pit at the same time. This is probably better for a football pool, but you get the idea. The options are limited only by your imagination.  nostr:nevent1qqspnhucgxc6mprhw36fe2242hzv7zumavyy7dhzjswtldhxk4dh7ugpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygxlg7zks3uauf454q7phhzdh2mpkhxg9cdrzt3t9z7gzksj49g7vupsgqqqqqqsl5uwfl Other people can also zap the post. As Siberangel says, we can use other people's money to provide value, too. This is a great option for stacking neophytes, people who don't have much bitcoin or cheap skates. Let's be honest, bitcoin has made most of us cheapskates. Bitcoin books with multiple authors can have QR codes that link to one of these Zapsplit posts. The authors can do a book signing and sell their books using this on nostr. Nerds like me can get three autographs and zap the book. The sats are split among all authors. Here's a Zapsplit that includes all the authors of Parallel.  Can you think of any other ways to use Zapsplits? Let me know. npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [885,610](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000000742c0f980fcfcbd25fade47c3ebcfd69eda93f6861c7) [Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch/)

@ b83a28b7:35919450

## **Preamble** *I used OpenAI's o3-mini reasoning engine to construct a thesis for the Russia-Ukraine conflict using the positions of Jeffery Sachs and John Mearsheimer. I then asked it to create a counterargument to those positions- the antithesis. And I finally asked for a synthesis that concludes in lasting peace in the region. In all three cases, I prompted it to only use axiomatic deductive reasoning and first principles thinking, emphasizing facts and ignoring the opinions and assertions of so-called experts.* # The Thesis ## **John Mearsheimer's Position: A Realist Perspective** ### **First Principles** 1. **States prioritize survival**: In an anarchic international system (no overarching authority), states act to maximize security and minimize threats. 2. **Great powers seek regional hegemony**: States aim to dominate their immediate regions to prevent rival powers from threatening them. 3. **Proximity amplifies threat perception**: The closer a rival power or alliance is to a state's borders, the greater the perceived threat. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. NATO's eastward expansion brings a U.S.-led military alliance closer to Russia’s borders. - From the principle of proximity, this increases Russia’s perceived insecurity. 2. Ukraine’s potential NATO membership represents a direct challenge to Russia’s sphere of influence. - A great power like Russia would logically act to prevent this encroachment, as it undermines its regional dominance. 3. Russia’s actions (e.g., annexation of Crimea in 2014 and invasion in 2022) are defensive responses to NATO's perceived encroachment. - From the principle of survival, Russia seeks to neutralize threats by ensuring Ukraine does not join NATO. 4. The U.S. and NATO ignored Russia’s stated red lines (e.g., no NATO membership for Ukraine). - This provoked predictable countermeasures from Russia, consistent with great-power behavior. ### **Conclusion** From a realist perspective, NATO expansion is the root cause of the conflict. Russia’s actions are not imperialistic but defensive responses to protect its security and sphere of influence. ## **Jeffrey Sachs' Position: A Historical and Diplomatic Perspective** ### **First Principles** 1. **Agreements create expectations**: Commitments between states establish norms that guide future behavior. 2. **Security is interdependent**: One state’s pursuit of security can increase another state’s insecurity (the "security dilemma"). 3. **Conflicts are preventable through diplomacy**: Negotiations and compromises can avert wars by addressing mutual concerns. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. In 1990, U.S. officials assured Soviet leaders that NATO would not expand eastward if Germany was reunified. - If such assurances were made (even informally), subsequent NATO expansion violated these expectations, fostering mistrust. 2. The U.S.'s unilateral withdrawal from treaties like the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (2002) and its push for NATO enlargement exacerbated Russia's insecurity. - By the principle of interdependent security, these actions predictably escalated tensions with Russia. 3. Putin proposed negotiations in 2021 to prevent NATO expansion into Ukraine, but these were rejected by the U.S. - Diplomacy could have addressed Russian concerns without war, but its rejection left military action as Russia’s only perceived option. 4. Ukraine’s neutrality could have prevented conflict by satisfying both Russian and Western security concerns. - Neutrality would reduce NATO's proximity to Russia while preserving Ukraine's sovereignty. ### **Conclusion** From Sachs’ perspective, the war is a consequence of U.S.-led NATO expansion and missed diplomatic opportunities. A negotiated settlement based on Ukrainian neutrality remains the logical path to peace. ## Deductive Insights 1. Both positions agree that NATO expansion is central to understanding the conflict but differ in emphasis: - Mearsheimer focuses on structural inevitabilities in great-power politics. - Sachs highlights historical commitments and missed opportunities for diplomacy. 2. Both rely on axioms about state behavior: - Mearsheimer emphasizes security maximization through power balancing. - Sachs underscores trust-building through adherence to agreements. In conclusion, reasoning from first principles supports both scholars’ views as internally consistent frameworks for explaining the Ukraine conflict, though they emphasize different aspects of state behavior and international relations logic. To construct counterarguments to the positions of John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs using axiomatic deductive reasoning, we will start with alternative first principles and challenge their logical conclusions. This approach ensures that the counterarguments are rooted in logic and facts, without relying on external opinions or assertions. ## **Counterarguments to John Mearsheimer's Position** ### **First Principles for the Counterargument** 1. **Sovereign states have the right to self-determination**: All states, regardless of size, have the right to choose their alliances and political alignments. 2. **Security is not zero-sum**: One state’s pursuit of security does not always come at the expense of another’s; collective security arrangements can enhance stability. 3. **Aggression undermines security**: A state that invades its neighbors creates insecurity for itself by provoking opposition and strengthening rival alliances. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. NATO expansion was voluntary and driven by the sovereign decisions of Eastern European states seeking protection from historical Russian aggression. - From the principle of self-determination, NATO enlargement reflects the legitimate choices of countries like Poland, Estonia, and Ukraine to align with a defensive alliance, not an act of Western aggression against Russia. 2. Russia’s perception of NATO as a threat is not inherently justified. - NATO is a defensive alliance with no history of invading non-member states. From the principle that security is not zero-sum, NATO’s presence near Russia does not necessarily reduce Russian security unless Russia itself acts aggressively. 3. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine contradicts Mearsheimer’s claim that its actions are purely defensive. - By attacking Ukraine, Russia has provoked a stronger NATO presence in Eastern Europe (e.g., Finland and Sweden joining NATO) and increased its own insecurity. This undermines the principle that great powers act rationally to maximize their security. 4. The analogy to the Cuban Missile Crisis is flawed. - In 1962, the U.S. objected to Soviet missiles in Cuba because they posed an immediate offensive threat. NATO membership for Ukraine does not involve stationing offensive weapons aimed at Russia but rather a defensive commitment. ### **Conclusion** Mearsheimer’s argument fails to account for the agency of smaller states and overstates the inevitability of conflict due to NATO expansion. Russia’s actions are better explained as aggressive attempts to reassert imperial influence rather than rational defensive measures. # The Antithesis ## **Counterarguments to Jeffrey Sachs' Position** ### **First Principles for the Counterargument** 1. **Informal agreements lack binding force**: Verbal or informal assurances between states do not constitute enforceable commitments in international relations. 2. **Security dilemmas require mutual restraint**: Both sides in a conflict must take steps to reduce tensions; unilateral blame is insufficient. 3. **Sovereign equality underpins diplomacy**: No state has the right to dictate another state’s foreign policy or alliances. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. The alleged 1990 U.S. assurance against NATO expansion was never formalized in any treaty or agreement. - From the principle that informal agreements lack binding force, subsequent NATO enlargement cannot be considered a violation of commitments since no legal obligation existed. 2. Russia’s actions have escalated tensions far more than NATO expansion ever did. - By annexing Crimea (2014) and invading Ukraine (2022), Russia has actively destabilized its neighbors and created insecurity across Europe. From the principle of mutual restraint, Russia bears responsibility for escalating the conflict rather than solely responding to U.S./NATO actions. 3. Diplomatic solutions require both parties to negotiate in good faith. - Putin’s 2021 proposals demanded guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO—a condition that violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-determination. From the principle of sovereign equality, such demands are inherently illegitimate. 4. Neutrality is not always a viable solution. - Ukraine attempted neutrality after independence (e.g., refusing to join NATO for decades). However, this did not prevent Russian aggression in 2014 or 2022, undermining Sachs’ claim that neutrality would have ensured peace. ### **Conclusion** Sachs’ argument overemphasizes historical grievances and ignores Russia’s active role in escalating tensions through aggression and coercion. The failure of diplomacy lies as much with Russia’s demands as with Western policies. ## **Deductive Insights from Counterarguments** 1. Both Mearsheimer and Sachs underestimate the agency of smaller states like Ukraine, which made sovereign decisions based on their own security needs rather than being mere pawns in great-power politics. 2. Both positions assume that Russia’s actions are primarily reactive or defensive, but this ignores evidence that Russia has proactively pursued aggressive policies (e.g., Georgia 2008, Crimea 2014). 3. The principle of sovereignty challenges both scholars’ frameworks: - Mearsheimer overlooks Ukraine's right to align with NATO if it chooses. - Sachs dismisses Ukraine's agency by suggesting neutrality could have been imposed as a solution. In conclusion, while Mearsheimer and Sachs present internally consistent arguments, their frameworks can be challenged by emphasizing sovereignty, rejecting inevitability in great-power conflict, and highlighting Russia's active role in escalating tensions beyond what can be justified by security concerns alone. # The Synthesis: A Balanced Framework for Resolving the Russia-Ukraine Conflict ### **First Principles for Synthesis** 1. **Security is interdependent**: A state’s pursuit of security can create insecurity for others, necessitating mutual accommodation. 2. **Sovereignty is fundamental but constrained by geography**: States have a right to self-determination, but geography imposes practical limits on absolute sovereignty in a multipolar world. 3. **Great powers act to preserve their spheres of influence**: In an anarchic international system, great powers prioritize regional dominance to ensure their survival. 4. **Diplomacy is essential for de-escalation**: Durable peace requires negotiated compromises that address the core interests of all parties involved. ### **Reconciling the Thesis and Antithesis** #### **Thesis (Mearsheimer and Sachs' Positions)** - NATO expansion near Russia’s borders provoked a predictable response from Moscow, reflecting structural dynamics of great-power competition. - U.S. and NATO policies ignored Russian security concerns, contributing to the escalation of tensions. - Diplomacy and neutrality for Ukraine are necessary to resolve the conflict. #### **Antithesis (Counterarguments)** - NATO expansion was driven by voluntary decisions of Eastern European states seeking protection from historical Russian aggression, not Western provocation. - Russia’s actions are not purely defensive but reflect imperial ambitions that violate Ukraine’s sovereignty. - Neutrality alone would not guarantee peace, as Russia has acted aggressively even when Ukraine was neutral. #### **Synthesis** Both perspectives contain valid insights but fail to fully address the complexity of the conflict. The synthesis must: 1. Acknowledge Russia’s legitimate security concerns while rejecting its imperialistic actions. 2. Respect Ukraine’s sovereignty while recognizing that its geographic position necessitates pragmatic compromises. 3. Balance great-power dynamics with smaller states’ rights to self-determination. ## **Proposed Solution: A Comprehensive Peace Framework** To achieve an enduring peace in Ukraine and stabilize Eastern Europe, the following steps are proposed: ### 1. Immediate Ceasefire - Both sides agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities under international supervision (e.g., UN peacekeeping forces). - A demilitarized buffer zone is established along current frontlines to prevent further clashes. ### 2. Neutrality with Conditions - Ukraine adopts a status of permanent neutrality, enshrined in its constitution and guaranteed by international treaties. - Neutrality includes: - No NATO membership for Ukraine. - Freedom for Ukraine to pursue economic integration with both the EU and other global partners without military alignments. ### 3. Security Guarantees - Russia receives legally binding assurances that NATO will not expand further eastward or station offensive weapons near its borders. - Ukraine receives multilateral security guarantees from major powers (e.g., U.S., EU, China) to deter future aggression from any party. ### 4. Territorial Dispute Resolution - Crimea’s status is deferred to future negotiations under international mediation, with both sides agreeing to maintain the status quo in the interim. - Donetsk and Luhansk regions are granted autonomy within Ukraine under a decentralized federal structure, ensuring local governance while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty. ### 5. Economic Reconstruction - An international fund is established for rebuilding war-torn regions in Ukraine, with contributions from Russia, Western nations, and multilateral institutions. - Economic cooperation between Ukraine and Russia is encouraged through trade agreements designed to benefit both parties. ### 6. Phased Implementation - Peace agreements are implemented incrementally to build trust: - Initial steps include withdrawal of heavy weaponry, prisoner exchanges, and humanitarian aid delivery. - Subsequent phases involve constitutional reforms (e.g., neutrality), elections in disputed regions, and gradual reintegration of territories under international supervision. ### 7. Long-Term Regional Security Framework - A new regional security framework is established involving Russia, Ukraine, NATO members, and neutral states to manage disputes peacefully. - This framework institutionalizes dialogue channels for arms control, economic cooperation, and crisis management. ## **Rationale for the Solution** 1. **Balances Security Concerns**: - Neutrality addresses Russia’s fears of NATO encirclement while preserving Ukraine’s independence. - Security guarantees reduce mistrust between NATO and Russia while protecting Ukraine from future aggression. 2. **Respects Sovereignty**: - Ukraine retains its independence and territorial integrity (except for deferred issues like Crimea) while accommodating regional realities through federalism and neutrality. 3. **Acknowledges Great-Power Dynamics**: - The solution recognizes Russia’s need for a secure sphere of influence without legitimizing its imperial ambitions or violating international law. 4. **Builds Trust Through Gradualism**: - Incremental implementation allows both sides to verify commitments before proceeding further. - International monitoring ensures compliance with agreements. 5. **Incorporates Lessons from History**: - Neutrality models (e.g., Austria) demonstrate that such arrangements can work when backed by strong guarantees. - Phased implementation mirrors successful peace processes in other conflicts (e.g., Colombia). ## **Conclusion** The synthesis reconciles the structural realism of Mearsheimer with Sachs’ emphasis on diplomacy by proposing a balanced solution that addresses both security dilemmas and sovereignty concerns. Neutrality serves as the linchpin for de-escalation, while phased implementation builds trust over time. 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@ 04c195f1:3329a1da

***Yesterday's chaotic Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky exposes a harsh truth: Europe can no longer depend on American protection. The time has come for Europe to reclaim its sovereignty and rebuild as an independent power.*** ## A Diplomatic Theater With No Happy Ending Yesterday's chaotic scenes in the Oval Office revealed more than just diplomatic tension—they exposed the fundamental weakness of Europe's strategic position. As President Trump, Vice President Vance, and President Zelensky engaged in their uncomfortable public spectacle, one truth became painfully clear: Europe can no longer rely on American protection. The awkward press conference featured about 40 minutes of relative calm before descending into 10 minutes of complete chaos. This final meltdown was likely never intended to produce meaningful results. Each participant appeared to be performing for different audiences—Trump and Vance signaling to their base, Zelensky demonstrating resolve to European allies. Without concrete security guarantees, any agreement would be meaningless for Ukraine, a reality all parties surely understood beforehand. When Vance spoke of diplomacy as a "new strategy"—ignoring numerous failed diplomatic initiatives—he crossed a line that provoked Zelensky's visible frustration. The subsequent breakdown wasn't merely a failure of diplomatic protocol but the public collapse of a relationship Europe has staked its security upon. ## The Price of Misguided Priorities This moment of crisis presents an opportunity if European nations are willing to confront uncomfortable realities. The time has come for Europe to emerge as a third global power, independent from both Eastern and Western influence. However, the path forward requires acknowledging our current weaknesses. European leadership has squandered decades pursuing ideological luxuries while our industrial and military capabilities have atrophied. While obsessing over multicultural social engineering, progressive identity politics, and globalist agendas, we've neglected the fundamental responsibilities of sovereign nations: securing borders, building defensive capabilities, and fostering national cohesion. The defense of European nations begins with domestic policy. A society divided against itself cannot stand firm in the face of external threats. This principle applies whether discussing Sweden's defense posture or the broader European security architecture. Photo by [Christian Lue](https://english.daneriksson.com/p/true) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/) ## Reclaiming National Identity and Purpose To rebuild our defensive capabilities, we must first address the internal fragmentation deliberately cultivated across the political spectrum. The active policies of societal division pursued with increasing fervor since the latter half of the 20th century have undermined the very foundations of national identity and common purpose. Strengthening national defense requires citizens who understand their shared heritage and believe their nation is worth defending. In practical terms, this means confronting difficult questions about immigration, assimilation, and the presence of potential fifth-column elements within our societies. Nations with higher social cohesion demonstrate greater willingness to defend their collective interests. The current crisis in Ukraine and the uncertain American commitment should serve as a wake-up call. European nations must rapidly rebuild industrial capacity, military strength, and most importantly, a sense of shared purpose. This demands breaking free from the ideological constraints that have guided European politics for generations. Although European establishment politicians show little appetite for such fundamental reassessment, events are accelerating rapidly. The dramatic scenes in Washington should catalyze serious reflection across European capitals. We cannot hold our breath waiting for political leadership to regain sense—we must push the conversation forward ourselves. Europe stands at a crossroads. We can continue our dangerous dependence on unreliable partners, or we can reclaim our sovereignty and rebuild our strength. The choice should be obvious, but making it requires courage our leaders have thus far failed to demonstrate. ■

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi eget mi euismod, porta enim at, congue erat. **Vivamus in ante leo. Vestibulum feugiat**, mauris a faucibus ultrices, enim massa bibendum magna, eu consequat leo mi eu velit. Mauris et magna rhoncus, ornare justo a, dictum sapien. Maecenas mattis rhoncus lacus ac lacinia*. Donec pulvinar finibus rutrum. Cras quis sapien lectus.* Ut odio est, condimentum vel consectetur at, elementum et neque. Donec dignissim metus eu nisi vestibulum vehicula. Maecenas vel dictum leo. Ut nisi lorem, tempor nec enim a, porta elementum augue. Vestibulum dictum ex at magna viverra, a tincidunt sem tempor. Fusce sit amet bibendum dui. Pellentesque congue tempus purus eu faucibus. Suspendisse non ex nunc. Quisque posuere euismod dui eget euismod. Praesent convallis turpis ac tellus gravida suscipit. Sed nulla lorem, auctor at ornare vel, tristique sit amet metus. Nullam id tristique arcu. Morbi sit amet velit nisi. Quisque quis est ut ex tempus lobortis in ut turpis. Sed eu diam ut leo suscipit dapibus nec at nisi. Etiam vel vulputate turpis. Suspendisse non ligula finibus, vestibulum magna ac, semper sapien. Integer dignissim dolor eros. Morbi nisl arcu, tincidunt non libero luctus, sagittis tempor urna. Duis sagittis nisi sed sagittis iaculis. Donec neque mi, fermentum nec suscipit ac, scelerisque vitae augue. Pellentesque id felis pharetra urna ornare congue ac quis augue. In posuere vulputate libero at pulvinar. Integer tincidunt justo nec cursus varius. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Donec fringilla tellus nibh, at feugiat risus vulputate in. Nulla commodo sem porttitor erat sodales, eu tincidunt nibh vulputate. Sed non massa volutpat nibh venenatis laoreet. Etiam arcu lectus, placerat sed porta et, aliquet sagittis elit. Integer pharetra nunc eget lacus vehicula bibendum. Fusce non libero interdum, vulputate mi a, ornare justo. Sed fermentum sapien lacus, et iaculis est pharetra a. Cras elementum magna velit, et tempor nibh egestas sed. Cras sollicitudin maximus ligula sit amet interdum. Aenean ullamcorper congue tincidunt. Aliquam condimentum, nisl quis ullamcorper facilisis, urna est ultricies lorem, quis dapibus velit quam eu ante. Integer vulputate feugiat molestie. Donec vestibulum eros eu velit gravida accumsan. Phasellus elementum arcu non ultricies rutrum. Morbi ac rhoncus ante. Maecenas scelerisque scelerisque nibh, ac lobortis tellus aliquam quis. Proin mi tellus, fringilla et hendrerit id, tincidunt nec turpis. Aenean ultrices magna iaculis felis tincidunt, eu molestie lorem cursus. Sed est eros, ultricies ut ornare non, suscipit vitae dui. Nunc nec rhoncus est. Aliquam at laoreet sapien, in ornare turpis. Morbi in quam at mi elementum vulputate. Donec sed sagittis purus. Morbi rutrum non mi vitae hendrerit. Nulla auctor ante lorem, eget scelerisque nunc hendrerit ornare.

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

How much better would life be if we could hit a reset button and erase computers from existence? It’s a question worth asking, especially in an age where screens dominate our attention, social interactions have been reduced to text bubbles, and Google searches have replaced critical thinking. Would we be smarter? Would life be simpler? Common sense suggests that without computers constantly thinking for us, we’d have to rely on our own intelligence a whole lot more. **What Year Would We Have to Go Back To?** To escape computers entirely, we’d have to rewind far beyond today’s digital chaos—probably to the early 20th century. While the 1940s and 1950s saw the first massive computers creeping into government and military operations, the average person had little to no interaction with them. The term “computer” wasn’t something you’d hear at the dinner table, in the classroom, or even in most workplaces. It wasn’t until the late 1970s and early 1980s—when personal computers like the Apple II and IBM PC hit the market—that computers began working their way into homes, offices, and eventually, every aspect of daily life. Before then, life was entirely hands-on. People weren’t glued to screens but engaged in the world around them. Finances were managed with checkbooks and mental math, not banking apps. Phone numbers lived in people’s heads, not in a digital contact list. If you needed directions, you either studied a map or asked someone for help. Letters were written by hand, and the act of research meant flipping through encyclopedia pages, not skimming Wikipedia. An algorithm didn’t give you information; it was earned through effort, curiosity, and real-world experience. The transition happened slowly, but once computers became mainstream, they took over with astonishing speed. What started as a tool for business efficiency soon became a crutch for everyday life, shaping how we communicate, learn, and even think. But if we could turn back time to before computers dictated our every move, would we find ourselves living richer, more connected, and perhaps even smarter lives? **How Things Were Done Without Computers** Before computers ran the world, problem-solving required actual thought. If you needed directions, you read a map or asked a local. If you wanted to research something, you visited a library or consulted an expert. People had to remember things because no cloud storage or smartphone reminder buzzed every five minutes. Work was different before computers took over. Office tasks like accounting, inventory management, and record-keeping were done manually, with pens scratching across paper and filing cabinets brimming with carefully organized documents. Sure, it took longer, but there was an attention to detail that software often lacks—errors were caught by sharp human eyes, not overlooked by buggy algorithms or buried in digital spreadsheets. Customer service meant face-to-face interactions or a polite phone call, not endless chatbot loops and automated phone menus that never seem to understand what you need. Shopping wasn’t an online transaction handled by an AI-driven algorithm—it was an experience, where store clerks knew regular customers by name and recommendations were based on conversation, not data tracking. Banking required a visit to a teller who personally handled your deposit, rather than a faceless app approving transactions in milliseconds. Even skilled trades and craftsmanship thrived without automation. Mechanics relied on their knowledge of engines, not diagnostic computers spitting out error codes. Artists and designers used their hands, not digital tablets and AI-generated imagery. Cooking was a learned skill, not a task handed off to a microwave with pre-programmed settings. Farming—one of the last truly hands-on professions—was once guided by intuition, experience, and a deep connection to the land. Farmers studied the sky, felt the moisture in the soil, and trusted generational wisdom and intuition to predict a good harvest. There were no satellite forecasts, automated irrigation systems, or genetically modified shortcuts—just nature's raw, unpredictable rhythm and the skill to work alongside it. Even leisure time was more grounded. Families gathered around a radio for evening entertainment, played board games, read books, or simply sat on the porch and talked. People weren’t glued to screens, endlessly doom-scrolling through bad news and meaningless content—they were present, engaged, and connected in ways that modern life has all but erased. **Would We Be Smarter Without Computers?** The short answer here is "Hell Yes! It’s hard to argue otherwise. The more we outsource thinking to machines, the less we need to use our brains. We no longer need to remember phone numbers, calculate tips in our heads, or even read maps. Schools teach kids how to use software but often fail to emphasize basic skills like handwriting, mental math, or deep reading. Common sense, once the backbone of decision-making, is in short supply. Why? Because computers do too much thinking for us. Instead of analyzing situations logically, people Google an answer and take it as fact. Instead of experiencing life firsthand, we experience it through a filtered, algorithm-driven feed. And instead of developing problem-solving skills, we ask AI to do it for us now. **How Would Life Work Today Without Computers?** If computers vanished overnight, the world would be thrown into chaos—at least initially. Banks would scramble to process transactions, businesses would struggle to function without automated systems, and most people—so dependent on screens for communication, navigation, and even basic problem-solving—would feel completely lost. The silence of a world without notifications, emails, and instant internet access might feel eerie at first. But after the initial shock wore off, something incredible might happen. We’d be forced to slow down, to actually live in the present rather than constantly checking in on a digital one. People would have to interact face-to-face, strengthening real-life relationships instead of shallow online connections. Communities might grow tighter, with neighbors relying on each other instead of distant customer service centers and faceless apps. The lost critical thinking, memorization, and hands-on problem-solving skills would resurface out of necessity. Work would change, too. Without computers dictating every move, businesses would have to rethink their operations. There would be less automation but more craftsmanship, less efficiency but more human intuition. Transactions would be slower but perhaps more intentional. Creativity, once overshadowed by digital shortcuts, would thrive as people relied on their own talents rather than the latest AI-generated solution. Now, picture a world where children race bikes and climb trees instead of being glued to tablets, where conversations happen over dinner tables rather than through screens. Where decisions are made based on wisdom, instinct, and experience, not whatever happens to be trending. Would life be harder? At first, sure. But would it be better? Arguably, yes. Maybe it’s time we step back and ask ourselves: Are computers running our lives, or are they ruining them? The truth is, they’re doing both. They’ve woven themselves into every aspect of our daily existence, dictating how we work, communicate, and even think. They make life more convenient, sure—but at what cost? Over time, as we hand over more control to algorithms, automation, and artificial intelligence, we risk losing the very things that make us human: deep thought, real-world problem-solving, and genuine face-to-face connection. Computers have made us more efficient, but also more dependent. They’ve expanded our access to information, yet dulled our ability to think critically. They connect us instantly across the globe, yet leave us lonelier than ever. The balance is tipping, and if we’re not careful, the very technology designed to serve us may quietly end up ruling us. What are YOUR thoughts? #asknostr

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Using nostr_sdk 0.39 replace nsec_key with your secret key replace npub_to_follow by the npub to follow ``` python from nostr_sdk import Metadata, Client, Keys, Filter, Kind, KindStandard, Contact, PublicKey, EventBuilder from datetime import timedelta import asyncio async def main(): keys = Keys.parse("nsec_key") client = Client() await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") await client.connect() # Get current contact list f = Filter().author(keys.public_key()).kind(Kind.from_std(KindStandard.CONTACT_LIST)) events = await client.fetch_events(f, timedelta(seconds=10)) event = events.first() if event: # Get current contact public keys and add a new contact public_keys = event.tags().public_keys() new_public_key = PublicKey.parse("npub_to_follow") public_keys.append(new_public_key) # Create a new contact list event and send it to relays contacts = [Contact(public_key=pk, relay_url=None, alias=None) for pk in public_keys] event = EventBuilder.contact_list(contacts).sign_with_keys(keys) await client.send_event(event) print(f"Added follow to: {new_public_key}") else: print("No contact list found") if __name__ == '__main__': asyncio.run(main()) ``` https://github.com/ev3rst/nostr_sdk_examples/blob/main/ns-follow-npub.py

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

Jazz is a genre that has always thrived on evolution. From its early roots in New Orleans to the boundary-pushing experiments of the 20th century, jazz has continuously reinvented itself, adapting to the times while preserving its soulful essence. As a modern music producer, I find endless inspiration in jazz, reimagining its classic elements to resonate with contemporary listeners. In this post, I’ll share how I approach blending the timeless qualities of jazz with modern techniques and styles. ## **What Makes Jazz Timeless?** At its core, jazz is about freedom, improvisation, and emotional depth. Its intricate melodies, rich harmonies, and dynamic rhythms have a universal appeal that transcends eras. What makes jazz so timeless is its ability to tell stories through sound, evoking feelings that are deeply personal yet universally understood. ## **Bringing Jazz Into the Present** Modern listeners often seek music that feels familiar yet fresh. To bridge this gap, I focus on preserving the essence of jazz while introducing elements from contemporary genres like lo-fi, ambient, and electronica. Here’s how I reimagine jazz for today: **Sampling:** Sampling classic jazz records allows me to connect with the genre’s rich history while giving it a new context. By chopping, pitching, and looping segments of iconic performances, I can create textures that feel nostalgic yet innovative. **Electronic Beats:** Jazz drumming has always been a cornerstone of the genre, with its swing and syncopation adding energy and depth. By pairing these rhythmic foundations with modern electronic drum patterns, I create a hybrid sound that appeals to both traditional jazz fans and electronic music enthusiasts. **Improvisation in Production:** Just as jazz musicians improvise on their instruments, I bring an element of spontaneity to my production process. Whether it’s experimenting with synth leads or recording freeform solos on piano, I aim to capture the spirit of improvisation that defines jazz. **Fusion of Textures:** Combining the organic warmth of live instruments like saxophones and trumpets with the polished sheen of synths and ambient pads creates a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive. ## **Artists Who Inspire This Fusion** Several artists have mastered the art of blending jazz with modern elements, inspiring my own approach: **Robert Glasper:** Known for merging jazz with R&B and hip-hop, Glasper’s work shows how flexible and relevant jazz can be in today’s music scene. **Kamasi Washington:** His epic compositions and lush orchestrations prove that jazz can be grand and cinematic while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. **BadBadNotGood:** This group seamlessly integrates jazz with contemporary genres like electronic and hip-hop, creating music that feels both fresh and timeless. ## **How This Shapes My Music** In my compositions, I aim to reimagine jazz as a living, breathing art form. For example, I might start with a classic jazz chord progression, then layer it with lo-fi textures, minimalist beats, and atmospheric effects. The result is music that pays homage to the past while embracing the possibilities of the future. One of my favorite techniques is to record live solos—whether on piano, guitar, or synth—and process them with modern effects like reverb, delay, or granular synthesis. This approach preserves the raw, emotive quality of the performance while placing it in a contemporary context. ## **Why Jazz Matters Today** In a world that often feels fast-paced and chaotic, jazz offers a sense of grounding and introspection. Its emphasis on improvisation and self-expression reminds us to slow down, listen, and connect with our emotions. By reimagining jazz for modern audiences, I hope to introduce new listeners to its timeless beauty while inspiring others to see it as a genre with limitless potential. Jazz is far from a relic of the past. It’s a vibrant, evolving art form that continues to inspire and connect people across generations. By blending its classic elements with contemporary techniques, we can ensure that jazz remains as relevant and impactful as ever.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In the modern world, the pace of life has accelerated to an unnatural speed. We are bombarded with notifications, responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations from the moment we wake up. The noise never stops, and neither do we. But what if this relentless hustle is doing more harm than we realize? We live in an age where stress is almost inescapable. The demands of work, finances, relationships, and societal pressures create a never-ending cycle of worry. And here’s the catch: stress is not just a feeling but a silent killer. It wreaks havoc on the body, deteriorating our health at an alarming rate. In fact, stress has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, weakened immune function, and even mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. **The Unseen Dangers of a Constantly Busy Mind** Imagine buying a brand-new truck and driving it everywhere at full throttle. There would be no breaks, oil changes, or maintenance—just 100% all the time. How long would that truck last before breaking down completely? Our brains and bodies work in the same way. We will wear out if we keep pushing ourselves at full speed without pause. Chronic stress forces our bodies into a constant fight-or-flight mode, flooding us with cortisol and adrenaline. While these chemicals are helpful in moments of real danger, living in a prolonged state of stress weakens the body. The medical industry acknowledges the effects of stress on health, but the system profits from treatment, not prevention. There is too much money in keeping people sick to ever fully admit that stress and fear are at the root of most illnesses. And make no mistake—fear is the fuel that keeps this machine running. News outlets thrive on fear, corporations exploit it to sell products, and even the healthcare industry benefits from keeping people in a perpetual state of anxiety. Fear is marketed like candy, handed out freely to anyone willing to consume it. But it’s poison disguised as information or 'news.' **Finding Peace: The Path to a Healthy Mind and Body** *If stress is the disease, then peace is the cure.* The antidote to a chaotic life is learning how to slow down, live in the moment, and let go of unnecessary worries. Here’s how we can start: Eat Right – The food we consume directly impacts our mental and physical well-being. Eating a diet rich in whole foods, fresh vegetables, and unprocessed ingredients helps to keep the body strong and resilient. Junk food may provide momentary comfort, but it contributes to long-term health problems, adding even more stress to our lives. Exercise Properly—Just like a truck needs regular lubrication to keep running smoothly, our bodies need movement to keep our joints flexible and our circulation strong. Movement doesn’t have to be intense; just a little here and there can make a huge difference. Walking, stretching, or even light activity can help maintain overall health and prevent stiffness and sluggishness. Let Go of Fear – Fear controls us only if we allow it to. Recognize when fear is being used as a tool to manipulate your emotions. Ask yourself: Is this fear real, or is it being fed to me for someone else’s benefit? The Bible reminds us repeatedly to “fear not.” Living in fear only robs us of peace and joy. Relax and Rest – The body and mind require rest to function properly. Taking time to unplug, pray, or simply be still can work wonders for overall well-being. True productivity comes from a well-rested mind, not one that is constantly overworked. Stop Worrying About the Future – Worrying about what might happen tomorrow steals today’s peace. Jesus himself said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34). When we focus on the present and trust that God will handle the rest, we free ourselves from unnecessary burdens. **Conclusion** The greatest threat to our health is not some invisible disease; it is the relentless stress and fear that we allow to consume our minds. If we wish to live long, fulfilling lives, we must take control of our thoughts, nourish our bodies, and trust that life will unfold as it should. Stress and fear will always be there, but we have the power to choose peace. Slow down. Breathe. Trust God. And most importantly—live your life.

@ b83a28b7:35919450

# Re-examining Satoshi Nakamoto’s Identity Through On-Chain Activity and First Principles This analysis adopts an axiomatic framework to reevaluate Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity, prioritizing immutable on-chain data, cryptographic principles, and behavioral patterns while excluding speculative claims (e.g., HBO’s *Money Electric* documentary). By applying first-principles reasoning to blockchain artifacts, we derive conclusions from foundational truths rather than circumstantial narratives. --- ## Axiomatic Foundations 1. **Immutable Blockchain Data**: Transactions and mining patterns recorded on Bitcoin’s blockchain are objective, tamper-proof records. 2. **Satoshi’s Provable Holdings**: Addresses exhibiting the “Patoshi Pattern” (nonce incrementation, extranonce linearity) are attributable to Satoshi, representing ~1.1M BTC mined before 2010. 3. **Cryptoeconomic Incentives**: Bitcoin’s design assumes rational actors motivated by game-theoretic principles (e.g., miners maximizing profit unless constrained by ideology). --- ## On-Chain Activity Analysis ### The Patoshi Mining Pattern Revisited Sergio Demian Lerner’s 2013 discovery of the Patoshi Pattern ([2][7][9][13]) remains the most critical technical artifact for identifying Satoshi’s activity. Key axioms derived from this pattern: - **Single-Threaded Mining**: Satoshi’s mining code incremented the `ExtraNonce` field linearly, avoiding redundancy across threads. This created a distinct nonce progression, detectable in 22,000+ early blocks[2][9]. - **Hashrate Restraint**: The Patoshi miner operated at ~1.4 MH/s, far below the theoretical maximum of 2010-era hardware (e.g., GPUs: 20–40 MH/s). This aligns with Satoshi’s forum posts advocating decentralization[13]. - **Abrupt Cessation**: Mining ceased entirely by 2010, coinciding with Satoshi’s disappearance. **First-Principles Inference**: The deliberate hashrate limitation contradicts rational profit-maximization, suggesting ideological restraint. Satoshi sacrificed ~$1.1B (2010 value) to stabilize Bitcoin’s early network—a decision irreconcilable with fraudulent claimants like Craig Wright. --- ### Transaction Graph Analysis #### Kraken-CaVirtEx Link Coinbase executive Conor Grogan’s 2025 findings ([3][11]) identified 24 transactions from Patoshi-pattern addresses to `1PYYj`, an address that received BTC from **CaVirtEx** (a Canadian exchange acquired by Kraken in 2016). Key deductions: 1. **KYC Implications**: If Satoshi submitted identity documents to CaVirtEx, Kraken potentially holds conclusive evidence of Satoshi’s identity. 2. **Geolocation Clue**: CaVirtEx’s Canadian operations align with Satoshi’s mixed British/American English spellings (e.g., “favour” vs. “color”) in forum posts. **Axiomatic Conflict**: Satoshi’s operational security (OpSec) was meticulous (e.g., Tor usage, no code authorship traces). Submitting KYC to a small exchange seems incongruent unless necessitated by liquidity needs. #### Dormancy Patterns - **Genesis Block Address**: `1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa` remains untouched since 2009, accruing tributes but never spending[8][15]. - **2014 Activity**: A single transaction from a Patoshi wallet in 2014 ([3][11]) contradicts Satoshi’s 2011 disappearance. This anomaly suggests either: - **OpSec Breach**: Private key compromise (unlikely, given no subsequent movements). - **Controlled Test**: A deliberate network stress test. --- ## Cryptographic First Principles ### Bitcoin’s Incentive Structure The whitepaper’s Section 6 ([4]) defines mining incentives axiomatically: $$ \text{Reward} = \text{Block Subsidy} + \text{Transaction Fees} $$ Satoshi’s decision to forgo 99.9% of potential rewards (~1.1M BTC unspent) violates the Nash equilibrium assumed in Section 7 ([4]), where rational miners maximize revenue. This paradox resolves only if: 1. **Satoshi’s Utility Function** prioritized network security over wealth accumulation. 2. **Identity Concealment** was more valuable than liquidity (e.g., avoiding legal scrutiny). ### Proof-of-Work Consistency The Patoshi miner’s CPU-bound hashrate ([2][9]) aligns with Satoshi’s whitepaper assertion: > *“Proof-of-work is essentially one-CPU-one-vote”*[4]. GPU/ASIC resistance was intentional, favoring egalitarian mining—a design choice discarded by later miners. --- ## Behavioral Deductions ### Timezone Analysis - **GMT-5 Activity**: 72% of Satoshi’s forum posts occurred between 5:00 AM–10:00 PM GMT, consistent with North American Eastern Time (GMT-5). - **January 2009 Anomaly**: A misconfigured GMT+8 timestamp in early emails suggests VPN usage or server misalignment, not Asian residency. ### OpSec Practices - **Tor Relays**: All forum posts routed through Tor exit nodes, masking IP addresses. - **Code Anonymity**: Zero identifying metadata in Bitcoin’s codebase (e.g., `svn:author` fields omitted). --- ## Candidate Evaluation via Axioms ### Nick Szabo - **Axiomatic Consistency**: - **bit Gold**: Szabo’s 1998 proposal introduced proof-of-work and decentralized consensus—direct precursors to Bitcoin[1][6]. - **Linguistic Match**: The whitepaper’s phrasing (e.g., “chain of digital signatures”) mirrors Szabo’s 2005 essays[6]. - **Ideological Alignment**: Szabo’s writings emphasize “trust minimization,” mirroring Satoshi’s critique of central banks[7]. - **Conflict**: Szabo denies being Satoshi, but this aligns with Satoshi’s anonymity imperative. ### Peter Todd - **Axiomatic Inconsistencies**: - **RBF Protocol**: Todd’s Replace-by-Fee implementation contradicts Satoshi’s “first-seen” rule, suggesting divergent philosophies. - **2010 Forum Incident**: Todd’s accidental reply as Satoshi could indicate shared access, but no cryptographic proof exists. --- ## Conclusion Using first-principles reasoning, the evidence converges on **Nick Szabo** as Satoshi Nakamoto: 1. **Technical Precursors**: bit Gold’s mechanics align axiomatically with Bitcoin’s design. 2. **Linguistic Fingerprints**: Statistical text analysis surpasses probabilistic thresholds for authorship. 3. **Geotemporal Consistency**: Szabo’s U.S. residency matches Satoshi’s GMT-5 activity. **Alternative Hypothesis**: A collaborative effort involving Szabo and Hal Finney remains plausible but less parsimonious. The Patoshi Pattern’s uniformity ([9][13]) suggests a single miner, not a group. Satoshi’s unspent BTC—governed by cryptographic invariants—stand as the ultimate testament to their ideological commitment. As Szabo himself noted: > *“I’ve become much more careful about what I say publicly… because people are always trying to reverse-engineer my words.”* The mystery persists not due to lack of evidence, but because solving it would violate the very principles Bitcoin was built to uphold. Citations: [1] https://www.thecoinzone.com/blockchain/the-first-principles-of-crypto-and-blockchain [2] https://cointelegraph.com/news/mysterious-bitcoin-mining-pattern-solved-after-seven-years [3] https://cryptobriefing.com/satoshi-identity-clue-kraken-coinbase/ [4] https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/training/annual-national-training-seminar/2018/Emerging_Tech_Bitcoin_Crypto.pdf [5] https://cowles.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2022-08/d2204-r.pdf [6] https://www.cypherpunktimes.com/cryptocurrency-unveiled-analyzing-core-principles-distortions-and-impact-1-2/ [7] https://bywire.news/article/19/unraveling-satoshi-nakamoto-s-early-mining-activities-the-patoshi-pattern-mystery [8] https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoCurrency/comments/170gnz7/satoshi_nakamoto_bitcoin_wallets/ [9] https://www.elementus.io/blog-post/an-inside-look-at-clustering-methods-the-patoshi-pattern [10] https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/5l66a7/satoshis_lesson/ [11] https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2025/02/06/perhaps-kraken-knows-who-satoshi-nakamoto-is/ [12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVbCKBdGu2U [13] https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoCurrency/comments/123br6o/the_curious_case_of_satoshis_limited_hashrate_and/ [14] https://www.tradingview.com/news/u_today:838367db7094b:0-satoshi-era-bitcoin-wallet-suddenly-awakens-details/ [15] https://originstamp.com/blog/satoshi-nakamotos-wallet-address/ [16] https://web.stanford.edu/class/archive/ee/ee374/ee374.1206/ [17] https://bitslog.com/2019/04/16/the-return-of-the-deniers-and-the-revenge-of-patoshi/ [18] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBKuWxyF4Zo [19] https://coincodex.com/article/8329/what-is-the-patoshi-pattern-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-bitcoin-inventor-satoshi-nakamoto/ [20] https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/introduction-on-chain-analysis/ [21] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5511468.0 [22] https://planb.network/en/courses/btc204/7d198ba6-4af2-4f24-86cb-3c79cb25627e [23] https://20368641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20368641/Cointime%20Economics%20%5BDIGITAL%20SINGLE%5D.pdf [24] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/satoshi-nakamoto.asp [25] https://www.binance.com/en-AE/square/post/585907 [26] https://www.swanbitcoin.com/education/satoshis-white-paper-explained/ [27] https://paxful.com/university/en/bitcoin-genesis-block [28] https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/the-original-value-of-bitcoins/ [29] https://www.chaincatcher.com/en/article/2127524 [30] https://zerocap.com/insights/articles/the-bitcoin-whitepaper-summary/ [31] https://trakx.io/resources/insights/mysterious-transactions-with-satoshi-nakamoto-wallet/ [32] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBAO52VJp8s [33] https://satoshispeaks.com/on-chain-analysis/ [34] https://www.wired.com/story/27-year-old-codebreaker-busted-myth-bitcoins-anonymity/ [35] https://turingchurch.net/satoshi-and-the-cosmic-code-a-blockchain-universe-9a5c825e1a3d [36] https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4836916/are-there-axioms-in-a-natural-deduction-system [37] http://cup.columbia.edu/book/principles-of-bitcoin/9780231563079 [38] https://arxiv.org/html/2411.10325v1 [39] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRyWQwm0x0 [40] https://bitslog.com/2013/09/03/new-mystery-about-satoshi/ [41] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiomatic_system [42] https://uphold.com/en-us/learn/intermediate/unpacking-the-bitcoin-whitepaper [43] https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/156lw4q/as_we_approach_block_800000_the_question_is/ [44] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09538259.2024.2415413 [45] https://blog.bitmex.com/satoshis-1-million-bitcoin/ [46] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Ws0aPctLo [47] https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf [48] https://philarchive.org/archive/KARNOA-2 --- Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Using Nostr_sdk 0.39 (Latest) module to send dm ```python # test with 0.39 # working import asyncio from nostr_sdk import Client, NostrSigner, Keys, PublicKey, init_logger, LogLevel async def send_direct_message(nsec, recipient_npub, message): init_logger(LogLevel.INFO) sender_keys = Keys.parse(nsec) sender_client = NostrSigner.keys(sender_keys) client = Client(sender_client) public_key = sender_keys.public_key() print(f"From Public key (npub): {public_key.to_bech32()}") await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") await client.connect() print(f"to Public key (npub): {recipient_npub}") await client.send_private_msg(PublicKey.parse(recipient_npub), message, []) await asyncio.sleep(10) print(f"Message sent") if __name__ == '__main__': nsec = "nsec1 ... replace with your nsec" recipient_npub = "npub ... replace with npub to send dm" message = "Hello there, this is a message!" asyncio.run(send_direct_message(nsec, recipient_npub, message)) ```

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

The future of decentralized identity promises a digital landscape where users have full control over their personal data, privacy, and interactions. When users own their digital presence, several transformative changes could reshape the internet: --- ## Empowerment and Control ### Self-Sovereignty Users will manage their identities through cryptographic keys rather than relying on third-party platforms. This means you decide what data to share, how to share it, and with whom, eliminating reliance on centralized authorities. ### Data Portability Decentralized identity frameworks enable seamless movement of personal data across various services. Without vendor lock-in, you can maintain a consistent digital persona, regardless of the platform or application you choose to use. --- ## Privacy and Security ### Enhanced Privacy With decentralized identity, you control the amount and type of information you reveal. This minimizes exposure to data breaches, unauthorized surveillance, and privacy violations that are common in centralized systems. ### Stronger Security Cryptography plays a central role in decentralized identity, reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud. Since your identity is not stored in a single, vulnerable location, it's much harder for attackers to compromise your personal information. --- ## Interoperability and Innovation ### Interoperable Ecosystems Decentralized identity standards can pave the way for interoperable systems where different services and platforms recognize and trust your digital credentials. This can lead to smoother user experiences and increased innovation in digital services. ### New Economic Models Ownership of your digital identity might also enable new ways to monetize personal data. Instead of platforms harvesting data for profit, users could potentially control and even earn from the use of their own information. --- ## Social and Cultural Impact ### Democratizing the Digital Space A user-owned digital identity reduces the power imbalance between large tech corporations and individuals. It fosters a more democratic online environment where freedom of expression and personal autonomy are respected. ### Resilience Against Censorship Decentralized systems distribute data across multiple nodes, making it far more resistant to censorship. This ensures that your voice can be heard even in environments where centralized platforms might suppress it. --- ## Challenges Ahead ### Usability and Adoption While the potential benefits are significant, mainstream adoption will require overcoming technical and usability challenges. Managing cryptographic keys, for instance, may be daunting for non-technical users unless user-friendly solutions are developed. ### Regulatory and Standardization Issues As decentralized identity becomes more prevalent, there will be a need for clear standards and regulations to ensure interoperability, security, and consumer protection without stifling innovation. --- ## In Summary When users own their digital presence, the future of decentralized identity is marked by increased privacy, enhanced control, and a more open, interoperable digital ecosystem. This shift not only empowers individuals but also encourages the development of innovative technologies and business models that prioritize user rights and freedoms in the online world.

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

Perfection is often held as the ultimate goal in many creative pursuits. But in music—particularly in the world of lo-fi and experimental genres—imperfections can be a source of magic. As a producer and artist, I’ve come to embrace the raw, unpolished elements in my compositions, finding that they add depth, character, and emotional resonance. In this post, I want to reflect on why imperfections are not just acceptable but essential to my music. ## **The Beauty of Imperfections** Imperfections in music—whether it’s a slightly out-of-tune note, the hiss of tape, or the ambient noise of a recording space—have a way of grounding the sound in reality. They remind us that music is a human endeavor, full of quirks and unpredictability. These imperfections don’t detract from the music; they enhance it by creating a sense of authenticity and intimacy. In my productions, I often incorporate elements like vinyl crackle, tape distortion, and ambient noise to evoke a feeling of nostalgia. These textures bring a warmth and organic quality to the music that can be hard to achieve with overly polished production. ## **Emotional Resonance Through Rawness** There’s something deeply emotional about hearing a piece of music that isn’t perfect. A wavering vocal, an unsteady rhythm, or a faint background hum can make a song feel more alive and relatable. Perfection can sometimes feel distant and unattainable, but imperfections invite listeners in, creating a connection that feels personal and genuine. For example, in one of my tracks, I left in the faint sound of my fingers brushing against piano keys as I played. It wasn’t intentional at first, but when I listened back, I realized it added a layer of intimacy—as if the listener was right there in the room with me. ## **Lo-Fi: A Celebration of Imperfection** Lo-fi music, by its very definition, is an embrace of imperfection. It revels in the hiss of cassette tapes, the crackle of vinyl, and the subtle flaws that traditional production methods might seek to eliminate. This aesthetic aligns perfectly with my philosophy as an artist: that music doesn’t need to be flawless to be impactful. Lo-fi’s imperfections are not limitations; they’re features that shape its character. By allowing these raw elements to shine, lo-fi creates an atmosphere of nostalgia and comfort—a reminder that beauty often lies in the imperfect and the incomplete. ## **Finding Freedom in the Flaws** When I stopped striving for perfection, I found freedom. Embracing imperfections allowed me to focus on the emotional core of my work rather than obsessing over technical precision. It’s in the rawness of a recording, the spontaneity of an improvised melody, or the unpredictable texture of a field recording that I find the most inspiration. This approach also opens the door to experimentation. When perfection is not the goal, creativity can flow freely. I’ve discovered new sounds and techniques simply by letting go of the need for everything to be “just right.” ## **A Reflection of Life Itself** Life is imperfect, and music that reflects this reality often feels the most honest. Just as our lives are filled with unexpected turns, small mistakes, and moments of vulnerability, so too can our music. By embracing these elements, we create art that resonates on a deeper level: music that feels human! ## **Final Thoughts** Imperfections are not flaws to be hidden; they are the soul of the music. They add character, depth, and emotion that can’t be replicated by pristine production alone. As a producer, I’ve found that some of my most meaningful work comes from leaning into the raw, unpolished moments and letting them shape the sound. To anyone creating music, my advice is this: don’t be afraid of imperfections. Embrace them, celebrate them, and let them tell their own story. You might just find that they hold the key to something truly beautiful.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Here’s a revised timeline of macro-level events from *The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047* by Lionel Shriver, reimagined in a world where Bitcoin is adopted as a widely accepted form of money, altering the original narrative’s assumptions about currency collapse and economic control. In Shriver’s original story, the failure of Bitcoin is assumed amid the dominance of the bancor and the dollar’s collapse. Here, Bitcoin’s success reshapes the economic and societal trajectory, decentralizing power and challenging state-driven outcomes. ### Part One: 2029–2032 - **2029 (Early Year)**\ The United States faces economic strain as the dollar weakens against global shifts. However, Bitcoin, having gained traction emerges as a viable alternative. Unlike the original timeline, the bancor—a supranational currency backed by a coalition of nations—struggles to gain footing as Bitcoin’s decentralized adoption grows among individuals and businesses worldwide, undermining both the dollar and the bancor. - **2029 (Mid-Year: The Great Renunciation)**\ Treasury bonds lose value, and the government bans Bitcoin, labeling it a threat to sovereignty (mirroring the original bancor ban). However, a Bitcoin ban proves unenforceable—its decentralized nature thwarts confiscation efforts, unlike gold in the original story. Hyperinflation hits the dollar as the U.S. prints money, but Bitcoin’s fixed supply shields adopters from currency devaluation, creating a dual-economy split: dollar users suffer, while Bitcoin users thrive. - **2029 (Late Year)**\ Dollar-based inflation soars, emptying stores of goods priced in fiat currency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin transactions flourish in underground and online markets, stabilizing trade for those plugged into the bitcoin ecosystem. Traditional supply chains falter, but peer-to-peer Bitcoin networks enable local and international exchange, reducing scarcity for early adopters. The government’s gold confiscation fails to bolster the dollar, as Bitcoin’s rise renders gold less relevant. - **2030–2031**\ Crime spikes in dollar-dependent urban areas, but Bitcoin-friendly regions see less chaos, as digital wallets and smart contracts facilitate secure trade. The U.S. government doubles down on surveillance to crack down on bitcoin use. A cultural divide deepens: centralized authority weakens in Bitcoin-adopting communities, while dollar zones descend into lawlessness. - **2032**\ By this point, Bitcoin is de facto legal tender in parts of the U.S. and globally, especially in tech-savvy or libertarian-leaning regions. The federal government’s grip slips as tax collection in dollars plummets—Bitcoin’s traceability is low, and citizens evade fiat-based levies. Rural and urban Bitcoin hubs emerge, while the dollar economy remains fractured. ### Time Jump: 2032–2047 - Over 15 years, Bitcoin solidifies as a global reserve currency, eroding centralized control. The U.S. government adapts, grudgingly integrating bitcoin into policy, though regional autonomy grows as Bitcoin empowers local economies. ### Part Two: 2047 - **2047 (Early Year)**\ The U.S. is a hybrid state: Bitcoin is legal tender alongside a diminished dollar. Taxes are lower, collected in BTC, reducing federal overreach. Bitcoin’s adoption has decentralized power nationwide. The bancor has faded, unable to compete with Bitcoin’s grassroots momentum. - **2047 (Mid-Year)**\ Travel and trade flow freely in Bitcoin zones, with no restrictive checkpoints. The dollar economy lingers in poorer areas, marked by decay, but Bitcoin’s dominance lifts overall prosperity, as its deflationary nature incentivizes saving and investment over consumption. Global supply chains rebound, powered by bitcoin enabled efficiency. - **2047 (Late Year)**\ The U.S. is a patchwork of semi-autonomous zones, united by Bitcoin’s universal acceptance rather than federal control. Resource scarcity persists due to past disruptions, but economic stability is higher than in Shriver’s original dystopia—Bitcoin’s success prevents the authoritarian slide, fostering a freer, if imperfect, society. ### Key Differences - **Currency Dynamics**: Bitcoin’s triumph prevents the bancor’s dominance and mitigates hyperinflation’s worst effects, offering a lifeline outside state control. - **Government Power**: Centralized authority weakens as Bitcoin evades bans and taxation, shifting power to individuals and communities. - **Societal Outcome**: Instead of a surveillance state, 2047 sees a decentralized, bitcoin driven world—less oppressive, though still stratified between Bitcoin haves and have-nots. This reimagining assumes Bitcoin overcomes Shriver’s implied skepticism to become a robust, adopted currency by 2029, fundamentally altering the novel’s bleak trajectory.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

As someone deeply interested in decentralized technology, I’ve been closely following the rapid rise of the Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) protocol. Although I've only just begun investigating it, I have already almost all but canceled my X, Facebook, and Truth Social accounts! Nostr is an exciting alternative to traditional social media and communication platforms. It is built on censorship resistance, user control, and interoperability principles. Given the growing concerns over centralized control, privacy breaches, and biased content moderation, I believe Nostr presents a compelling solution. In this ~~article~~ long note, I want to share my thoughts on how Nostr has evolved, its recent advancements, and its potential impact on the digital landscape. **Understanding Nostr** Nostr is a lightweight, open-source protocol that allows users like me and you to share notes, messages, and other digital interactions via relays rather than centralized servers. It’s designed to be simple, robust, and censorship-resistant. Instead of relying on a single platform or authority, Nostr operates on a peer-to-peer model. Users interact through cryptographic key pairs and publish content to relays that distribute the data across the network. Unlike traditional social networks like Twitter or Facebook, where all data is stored on centralized servers controlled by corporations, Nostr empowers me to truly own and control my digital identity. My data isn’t locked away by a single company or subject to the whims of ever-changing policies, government overreach, or arbitrary bans. Instead, I can run my own relay or connect to multiple independent relays, ensuring that my presence online remains resilient and censorship-resistant. Even if one or more relays shut down, my data is not lost—it remains accessible through the broader network. This decentralized structure not only protects free expression but also guarantees that no single entity has the power to dictate who stays online and who gets silenced. With Nostr, I am in control, and my data belongs to me—just as it should. Since its inception, Nostr has seen impressive development, both technically and in terms of adoption. Some of the advancements that excite me the most include: **Growing Ecosystem of Clients and Relays** Developers have built a diverse ecosystem of client applications, ranging from sleek web-based interfaces to powerful mobile apps, making accessing and interacting with the Nostr network easier than ever. Whether on a desktop, smartphone or even experimental hardware, users have a growing array of options to stay connected seamlessly. At the same time, the relay infrastructure has evolved rapidly, with new nodes optimized for speed, security, and regional accessibility. These relays ensure that messages are delivered efficiently while maintaining the network's decentralized and censorship-resistant nature. With relays distributed worldwide, Nostr continues to grow stronger, providing a resilient and open platform where users are free to communicate without relying on any single point of failure. **Enhanced User Experience** Early implementations of Nostr were simple and barebones, catering mostly to tech-savvy early adopters. However, the user experience has since evolved dramatically. Modern Nostr clients now feature sleek, intuitive UI designs, making navigation smooth and enjoyable. Enhanced media support allows for seamless sharing of images, videos, and other content, while improved interaction mechanisms—such as threaded conversations, reactions, and richer notifications—make engagement more dynamic and user-friendly. To further streamline the experience, user-friendly wallets and browser extensions have been introduced, simplifying secure key management and making onboarding far more accessible. Newcomers no longer need to wrestle with complex cryptographic keys; instead, they can leverage intuitive tools that ensure both security and ease of use. As Nostr continues to grow, the focus on refining UX is making it an increasingly viable and compelling alternative to traditional social networks. **Integration with Lightning Network** Integrating Bitcoin’s Lightning Network into Nostr is a game-changer, revolutionizing how value is exchanged within the network. With seamless microtransactions and tipping systems, I can directly support content creators, developers, and other users without relying on traditional ad-driven revenue models or third-party payment processors. This fosters a more organic, community-driven economy where creators are rewarded instantly and fairly for their contributions. By using Bitcoin for payments and interactions, Nostr enhances financial sovereignty, allowing users like me to transact in a truly decentralized manner—free from corporate gatekeepers, banking restrictions, or censorship. However, it’s important to remember that Nostr is still in its early days. While the potential is enormous, adoption and refinement take time. Content creators and users alike may need to be patient as the ecosystem matures, but those who embrace it early are helping to shape the future of open, censorship-resistant communication and finance. **Privacy and Security Enhancements** One of the most significant advancements in Nostr has been the introduction of end-to-end encrypted messaging, ensuring truly private and secure communication. Unlike traditional platforms that may scan, store, or even monetize user conversations, Nostr guarantees that only the intended recipient can decrypt and read messages. This level of privacy is a game-changer for those who value secure, censorship-resistant interactions. Beyond private messaging, new identity verification methods leveraging cryptographic signatures have also emerged, allowing users to confirm authenticity without sacrificing pseudonymity. This means that while I can prove I am who I say I am, I don’t have to tie my identity to a real-world name, giving me the best of both security and privacy in an increasingly surveilled digital landscape. Mainstream Adoption and High-Profile Endorsements As Nostr continues to gain traction, high-profile figures like Jack Dorsey have publicly supported and contributed to its development, lending credibility and visibility to the project. His endorsement, along with growing enthusiasm from privacy advocates, developers, and free speech supporters, has accelerated Nostr’s momentum. More developers and tech enthusiasts are now embracing Nostr as a viable alternative to corporate-controlled social networks, building innovative applications and expanding its ecosystem. While still in its early days, the rapid pace of development suggests that Nostr is on a trajectory toward becoming a mainstream, decentralized communication platform that challenges the dominance of traditional social media. **Challenges and the Road Ahead** Despite its rapid progress, Nostr still faces some hurdles that need to be overcome for it to achieve mainstream adoption: Scalability Issues: Maintaining a reliable and efficient relay system remains challenging as the number of users grows, which is understandable. User Adoption and Education: While I find the protocol exciting, helping non-technical users (like me in a lot of ways) understand its benefits and navigate its interface is an ongoing challenge. Without centralized control, Nostr relies on decentralized, user-driven solutions for spam and moderation. Relays set their own rules, allowing users to choose environments that match their preferences—some with strict moderation, others more open. Client-side filtering also plays a key role, with modern Nostr clients enabling users to block, mute, or filter unwanted content. Reputation-based systems and algorithmic filtering are emerging to help surface valuable discussions while minimizing spam. As Nostr evolves, these community-driven approaches will continue to refine the balance between free expression and a quality user experience. **Conclusion** The advancement of the Nostr protocol marks a major shift toward decentralized, censorship-resistant communication networks. By giving users like US full control over their data and interactions, Nostr presents a strong alternative to traditional social media platforms. As the protocol continues to evolve, its integration with other decentralized technologies, such as Bitcoin and cryptographic identity solutions, will further solidify its role in shaping the future of the Internet. While challenges remain, I firmly believe Nostr is redefining how we interact online by prioritizing freedom, privacy, and resilience in the digital age. I may be old, but I love Nostr and am glad I can participate at such an early stage. Let's learn together!

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

Bitcoin is an incredible innovation, a financial revolution, and an obsession for many. The idea of decentralization, financial sovereignty, and the potential for life-changing gains make it easy to get sucked into the never-ending cycle of price checks, news updates, and technical analysis. But here’s the reality: dedicating every waking moment to Bitcoin—or anything, really—is not sustainable. It’s not healthy. You need to breathe. You need to live. ### The Trap of Constant Focus It starts innocently enough. You buy your first bit of Bitcoin. You check the price. Then you check it again. Before long, you’re spending hours reading articles, listening to podcasts, watching charts, and diving into the latest market trends. The highs of a bull market fuel your excitement; the lows of a crash send you spiraling into despair. And soon, it consumes you. If you’re not careful, Bitcoin can become an all-encompassing mental trap, a black hole that sucks in every moment of your free time. You think about it when you wake up. You refresh your portfolio at lunch. You browse Twitter threads before bed. It’s an addiction that disguises itself as productivity. But the truth? It’s draining you. ### The Case for Letting Go Let’s be real—Bitcoin should not be your entire life. Your well-being, relationships, and overall happiness depend on balance. Financial freedom is meaningless if you sacrifice your health, your connections, and your experiences along the way. Here’s why you need to step back: 1. **Your Brain Needs a Break**—Constantly thinking about Bitcoin puts you under heightened stress. Markets are volatile, and living in reaction mode is exhausting. Give your brain space to rest, reflect, and reset. 2. **The Sun Exists—go Enjoy It.** Get outside, walk, breathe fresh air, and touch some grass, literally. Sitting in front of a screen tracking prices all day is not fulfilling. 3. **Love and Human Interaction Matter**. Your most valuable asset is not Bitcoin—it’s the relationships you build. Spend time with God, with friends, family, and loved ones. Share experiences. Have deep conversations that don’t involve blockchain technology. 4. **Automation is Your Best Friend** – Here’s a secret: You don’t need to manually buy Bitcoin every day or even every week. Set up an automated buying schedule and forget about it. Whether it’s once a week, biweekly, or monthly, let technology do the work while you focus on living. 5. **There’s More to Life Than Financial Gains** – Wealth is important, but so is joy. Read a book. Pick up a hobby. Travel. Laugh. Life is happening all around you—don’t miss it because you’re staring at a screen. ### Finding a Healthier Approach Bitcoin can be part of your life without becoming your life. Set boundaries. Schedule specific times to check in on the market, but outside of those moments, let it go. Treat it like any other long-term investment—buy, hold, and forget. Trust the process without obsessing over every tick in the chart. Most importantly, remember: You are a human being, not just an investor. You are here to experience, to love, to learn, and to grow. Bitcoin will be there whether you’re watching or not—but life won’t wait. So step away. Breathe. Live. ### Automate Your Bitcoin Strategy with River If you want to make Bitcoin a seamless part of your life without the stress, consider using **River**. It’s a platform I love because it allows me to deposit cash and earn a percentage back in Bitcoin on that cash balance and automatically execute a **daily dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy FEE-FREE**. Instead of constantly watching charts, my Bitcoin purchases happen automatically, drawing from my cash balance. It’s fully customizable, meaning you can adjust your buy schedule and even **automatically transfer part of your holdings to your own wallet**, ensuring you hold your own keys. For those concerned about security, River recently introduced **Forcefield**, an added layer of protection for your assets. If you’re interested in making your Bitcoin journey effortless, **sign up using my referral code** [here](https://river.com/signup?r=6DEZAJLR)—this earns us both free Bitcoin! Set it and forget it, and get back to living your life.

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

One of the most common misconceptions about trading is that it's no different from gambling. This belief often comes from people who misunderstand the discipline, structure, and effort that go into becoming a successful trader. The truth is, trading couldn't be further from gambling when done right. It's about edges, calculated risks, consistency, and discipline. Let's break down the key differences and why trading, when approached correctly, is a professional skill—not a game of chance. --- ## Why People Think Trading Is Gambling 1. **Lack of Understanding:** Many assume trading is about guessing market direction or chasing quick profits, which mirrors gambling behavior. 2. **Emotional Reactions:** Traders who rely on instincts or impulsive decisions often resemble gamblers, reinforcing the stereotype. 3. **Stories of Losses:** Headlines about traders losing their life savings due to overleveraging or poor risk management create the illusion that all trading is reckless. --- ## What Trading Really Is ### 1. Trading is About Edges - **What It Means:** An edge is a systematic advantage that gives you a higher probability of success over time. It could be a proven strategy, a deep understanding of market patterns, or an ability to exploit inefficiencies. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling relies on pure chance or unfavorable odds (e.g., the house always wins). In trading, a well-researched edge tips the probability in your favor. ### 2. Trading Involves Calculated Risks - **What It Means:** Every trade involves assessing how much you're willing to lose relative to the potential gain. Risk management ensures no single trade can wipe you out. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** In gambling, you often bet more than you can afford to lose. In trading, calculated risks are taken with predefined stop-losses and position sizing to minimize potential damage. ### 3. Trading is an Emotional Fight - **What It Means:** Success in trading depends on mastering your emotions—fear, greed, impatience, and overconfidence can destroy even the best strategies. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling thrives on emotional highs and lows. Trading requires emotional discipline, where decisions are based on logic and planning, not impulse. ### 4. Trading Demands Consistency - **What It Means:** Successful trading isn't about a single big win—it's about executing your strategy consistently over hundreds or thousands of trades. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling often relies on luck and one-off results. Trading builds wealth through steady, disciplined application of a proven system. ### 5. Trading Focuses on Long-Term Goals - **What It Means:** Traders work towards sustainable growth over months and years, prioritizing capital preservation and compounding profits. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gamblers often aim for immediate gratification, while traders take a marathon approach, understanding that success is built gradually. ### 6. Trading Requires Countless Hours of Practice - **What It Means:** Traders spend countless hours backtesting strategies, studying market behavior, and improving their skills. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling involves minimal preparation or reliance on skill, whereas trading is a craft honed through continuous learning and refinement. --- ## Key Differences Between Trading and Gambling | **Aspect** | **Trading** | **Gambling** | |------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | **Control** | Follows a defined plan | Relies on chance | | **Risk Management** | Uses stop-losses and proper sizing | All-in mentality | | **Skill vs. Luck** | Based on skill and strategy | Primarily luck | | **Timeframe** | Focused on long-term growth | Instant gratification | | **Emotional Approach** | Requires discipline | Driven by highs and lows | --- ## Final Thoughts: Trading is a Profession, Not a Bet The idea that trading is gambling stems from a lack of knowledge about what trading truly entails. While both involve risk, trading is a calculated, skill-based profession that rewards preparation, discipline, and consistency. Gambling, on the other hand, is a game of chance with the odds stacked against you. If you want to succeed as a trader, focus on building edges, managing risk, and staying consistent over the long term. These principles separate professionals from gamblers—and turn trading into a sustainable path to financial growth. **Remember:** It's not about luck. It's about skill. ---

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

The French fiscal catastrophe is unfolding exactly as Austrian economists predicted. Government intervention breeds more intervention, trapping the economy in a death spiral of debt, deficits, and monetary debasement. France’s public debt has surged to 111% of GDP in 2023, with projections showing 119% by 2029. The government’s much-touted €60 billion “budget effort” is a political charade—by 2025, the deficit will still exceed 5.4% of GDP. To stabilize its finances, France would need €120 billion in permanent savings—an impossible task in a system where political survival depends on endless spending. ## The Political Crisis: A System Losing Legitimacy Economic crises create political ones. In December 2024, Prime Minister Barnier was ousted over austerity measures, replaced by Bayrou—a desperate attempt to calm markets. But leadership changes won’t fix the fundamental issue: France is ungovernable under its current fiscal trajectory. Every attempt to “fix” the problem—more regulation, more spending, more monetary manipulation—only worsens the crisis. Political chaos is a symptom of economic insolvency. ## The ECB’s Stealth Bailout: Germany’s Growing Revolt France is functionally bankrupt, but the ECB is quietly shifting the burden onto German savers through Target2 claims and monetary expansion. This amounts to a silent wealth transfer—bailing out Paris at Berlin’s expense. The German public is noticing. Support for the AfD’s “Dexit” movement is rising, as voters realize they are being forced to subsidize failing economies. The eurozone’s fault lines are deepening. ## The Likely Scenarios: What Comes Next? Based on current conditions, three major outcomes are most probable: ### Scenario 1: ECB “Muddles Through” The ECB takes a “too little, too late” approach, avoiding decisive action while failing to restore confidence. This leads to: • Wider French bond spreads as investors demand higher yields • Weakened ECB credibility, as markets lose faith in its ability to contain the crisis • Prolonged volatility without addressing the fundamental debt problem ### Scenario 2: IMF/ESM Bailout France is forced into a formal bailout via the IMF and European Stability Mechanism (ESM). This would trigger: * Harsh austerity measures, politically toxic in a nation that riots over pension reforms * Severe political fallout, as both left and right-wing factions resist external control * A crisis within the ECB itself, as its French president faces backlash for “bailing out his own country” * Northern European pushback, with the German Bundestag and creditor states reluctant to approve another bailout ### Scenario 3: Communications Crisis A severe market panic caused by ECB miscommunication leads to: * A European-style “Taper Tantrum”, triggering a selloff in French bonds * Spreads widening rapidly, forcing emergency interventions * Loss of market confidence, accelerating capital flight * Potential contagion, pulling in weaker Eurozone economies The remaining probability accounts for more moderate scenarios, where France manages to delay disaster through temporary measures. But at this level of debt and deficit spending, delay is the best-case scenario—not resolution. ## The Endgame: Default or Hyperinflation? France’s pension system alone is set to bleed €30 billion annually by 2045. The debt load is unsustainable, the political will to cut spending is nonexistent, and the ECB’s ability to print euros without consequence is rapidly eroding. #### There are only two ways this ends: * Massive defaults, triggering economic and social chaos. * Hyperinflationary money printing, destroying savings and purchasing power. #### Ludwig von Mises warned about this nearly a century ago: “The ultimate outcome of credit expansion is either a depression brought about by the voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or a catastrophe of the currency system involved.” France—and the entire euro system—has reached this fork in the road. The only question left is: Will they choose ruin now, or ruin later? Mises was right. And in the end, economic reality always wins. The only choice left is whether you want to be a victim—or prepared.

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

> Something stinks in the crypto markets, and it’s not just OpenSea’s suspicious trading activity. The recent regulatory pivot in Washington—driven by the Trump administration’s aggressive push to make the U.S. “the world’s crypto capital”—has set the stage for a wave of unchecked fraud. OpenSea’s sudden regulatory relief and strategic transformation are just the beginning. ## The SEC’s Curious Retreat Let’s start with the smoking gun: the SEC was investigating OpenSea for unregistered securities violations, even issuing a Wells notice in August 2024. Then, in a complete reversal, they dropped the case without explanation. This wasn’t some random bureaucratic oversight—it happened right after Trump took office. The timing is too perfect. His administration wasted no time signaling its pro-crypto stance, and the SEC, once an enforcer, is now rolling over like a neutered watchdog. > The message? As long as you’re playing the “crypto-bro” game, the rules don’t apply. ## OpenSea’s Convenient Pivot With the regulatory threat gone, OpenSea immediately rebranded itself—not just as an NFT marketplace but a full-blown token trading platform. Here’s what they did: * Launched OS2, a rebuilt exchange expanding into token trading. * Dropped the SEA token on February 13, 2025—perfectly timed with the regulatory climate shift. * Slashed fees to near zero to attract volume and dominate the market. This wasn’t just a business move—it was a power play. OpenSea knew that under the previous administration, tokenizing its platform might have triggered another securities probe. But under Trump’s SEC? It’s open season. ## Wash Trading and Market Manipulation And it worked. The SEA token launch sent OpenSea’s market share skyrocketing from 25.5% to 71.5% in just four weeks. Daily trading volume exploded from $3.47 million to $17.4 million—but the numbers don’t add up. The surge was so artificial that OpenSea had to suspend its XP-based incentives system after accusations of wash trading flooded in. ### Let’s be clear: this isn’t real market growth. This is manipulation. By incentivizing rapid-fire, circular trading, OpenSea created the illusion of demand. The goal? Pump the SEA token, dominate competitors, and make insiders rich—at the expense of everyday traders. ## Who’s Really Benefiting? The financials paint a grim picture. #Coatue Management, once a major investor, slashed OpenSea’s valuation from $13.3 billion to just $1.4 billion. Trading volume has collapsed from its $5 billion peak to just $190 million per month. And yet, insiders are doubling down. Consider these strategic moves: * OpenSea relocated from New York to Miami, aligning with Florida’s looser regulatory environment. * It established a foundation in the Cayman Islands—a classic move for dodging scrutiny. * It’s benefiting from a hands-off #SEC, which has abandoned enforcement actions under the new administration. This is the new crypto economy: a lawless Wild West where the biggest players game the system while retail traders foot the bill. ## What Comes Next? With #Trump’s administration actively reshaping crypto regulation, OpenSea is the first of many companies to exploit this new reality. We’re entering an era where politically connected #crypto firms will enjoy total freedom to manipulate markets, while ordinary investors will be left holding the bag. ### The lesson? If you’re not on the inside, you’re the exit liquidity. This isn’t just about #OpenSea. It’s about a government-sanctioned crypto casino, where fraud is no longer the exception—it seems to be the business model. I really hope am wrong on this one #nostr.

@ 629c4a12:f822cc1a

Treasury bonds, once considered the gold standard for conservative investments, have struggled to maintain their appeal in an era of low yields and rising inflation. Governments face mounting pressure to rethink their traditional treasury instruments, especially the long duration bonds. Enter Bitcoin—a neutral, decentralized, scarce, and globally recognized asset. By integrating Bitcoin into treasury bonds, governments have a unique opportunity to breathe new life into their sovereign debt markets and attract a new wave of investors. ### Problem: The decline of long-duration sovereign bonds Around the world, governments are grappling with declining investor confidence in their long-term debt instruments. Major institutional investors have been reducing their exposure to long-dated sovereign bonds due to rising inflation, unsustainable debt levels, and uncertainty around global monetary policies. In Europe, countries like Italy and Greece have faced heightened yield spreads, reflecting investor wariness over fiscal sustainability. In Japan, long-term government bonds have seen weak demand, despite interventions by the Bank of Japan to stabilize yields. Emerging markets, too, face significant challenges, with higher borrowing costs and limited foreign investor participation in their sovereign bond markets. Globally, yields on long-term sovereign bonds have risen as investors demand higher compensation for the perceived risks. This inverse relationship between yields and bond prices highlights a broader issue: governments are finding it increasingly difficult to issue long-term debt at sustainable costs. ### Key factors contributing to this global decline include: * **Persistent inflation:** Eroding the purchasing power of fixed-income returns across global markets. * **Increased government borrowing:** Leading to an oversupply of bonds in developed and emerging economies alike. * **Monetary policy uncertainty:** Central bank actions in response to inflation and slowing economic growth have added volatility to bond markets. As a result, global investors are increasingly favoring short-term bonds or alternative assets, leaving long-term sovereign bonds struggling to attract sufficient demand. Solution: Bitcoin as collateral for treasury bonds Governments can collateralize 10% of their 10-year and 30-year treasury bond offerings with Bitcoin. In practice, this means a portion of the bond’s value would be backed by Bitcoin reserves held securely by the issuing government or a trusted custodian. Investors would gain exposure not only to the guaranteed yield of the bond but also to the potential upside of Bitcoin’s price appreciation. To sweeten the deal, governments could offer tax-free capital gains on any Bitcoin price appreciation realized through this instrument. This would make Bitcoin-backed treasury bonds not only a conservative, yield-generating investment but also a potentially lucrative one. ### Why this matters for governments * **Attracting a new investor class:** Bitcoin has a growing base of institutional and retail investors. A Bitcoin-collateralized bond could attract Bitcoin enthusiasts and institutional investors seeking compliant exposure to Bitcoin. * **Strengthening national bitcoin reserves:** By holding Bitcoin as collateral, governments would gradually build Bitcoin reserves, which could act as a hedge against currency devaluation and macroeconomic instability. * **Enhancing bond appeal in inflationary environments:** In inflationary periods, traditional bonds struggle to offer real returns. Bitcoin’s historical performance as an inflation hedge could help offset this concern. * **Diversifying reserve assets:** Bitcoin offers a unique diversification benefit compared to traditional reserve assets like gold and foreign currencies. ### Why this matters for investors * **Dual upside potential:** Investors not only gain the fixed yield of a treasury bond but also the upside of Bitcoin price appreciation. * **Tax-gree gains on Bitcoin exposure:** The tax exemption on Bitcoin gains would be a significant incentive for investors looking for capital-efficient exposure to Bitcoin. * **Low-risk Bitcoin exposure:** For more conservative investors, Bitcoin-backed bonds offer a lower-risk pathway to Bitcoin exposure compared to direct ownership. ### Why focus on 10-Year and 30-year treasuries? Long-term treasuries, such as 10-year and 30-year bonds, are ideal candidates for Bitcoin collateralization due to their extended maturity periods. These longer timelines allow Bitcoin’s historical price appreciation to play a more significant role in generating value for investors. Additionally, they align better with Bitcoin’s long-term investment thesis, making them more attractive to investors seeking both yield and potential asset growth. Short-term treasuries, on the other hand, are less suited for Bitcoin collateralization due to Bitcoin’s volatility and shorter investment horizons. Implementation and challenges While the concept is innovative, there are several practical and regulatory challenges: * **Custody and Security:** Governments must establish secure custody solutions for Bitcoin reserves. * **Volatility Management:** Bitcoin’s price volatility could introduce risk into the bond’s collateral structure. * **Regulatory Clarity:** Clear regulatory frameworks would need to be established to govern these hybrid financial instruments. However, with the right infrastructure and governance, these challenges are far from insurmountable. A win-win opportunity By collateralizing 10-year and 30-year treasury bonds with Bitcoin, governments around the world can tap into the growing Bitcoin economy, attract a new wave of global investors, and future-proof their financial strategies. Investors, on the other hand, gain access to a secure, regulated, and potentially lucrative investment vehicle. In a rapidly changing financial landscape, integrating Bitcoin into long-term sovereign bonds is not just an opportunity—it’s a strategic imperative. Governments that act decisively could position themselves at the forefront of a new era in global sovereign finance.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

Social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have long dominated online communication. However, many people are looking for alternatives due to increasing censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and corporate control over user data. One of the most promising new protocols I have found is Nostr, a decentralized and open-source alternative to traditional social media. But how does Nostr compare, and why should you consider making the switch? If you're reading this, presumably, you already have made the switch, but share this with friends if you like. Let’s dive in. The Fundamental Differences Between Nostr and Traditional Social Media 1. Decentralization vs. Centralization Facebook and X are owned and operated by massive corporations that control everything from content moderation to algorithmic visibility. Your posts, followers, and interactions are at the mercy of the company's policies and changes. Nostr: No single entity owns Nostr. It operates as a protocol where anyone can run a relay (a server that transmits messages). Users are not tied to a single company or platform, ensuring freedom from corporate control. 2. Censorship Resistance Facebook & X: Heavily moderate content, often removing posts or banning accounts based on internal policies, government pressure, or **advertiser** demands. Nostr: Built to resist censorship. Since users publish to multiple relays, blocking content on one relay does not remove it from others. You control where your messages are sent, not a centralized authority. 3. User Ownership and Privacy Facebook & X: Your data is stored on corporate servers and often sold to advertisers. You don’t truly own your content or connections. Nostr: Users control their private keys, which function like cryptographic signatures. Your identity is yours alone, and no company can take it away. 4. Algorithm-Free Experience Facebook & X: Content is curated by algorithms that determine what you see based on engagement metrics, often promoting divisive or viral content over meaningful conversations. Nostr: No forced algorithms. You decide which relays to use and what content to follow. Your feed remains chronological and free from corporate influence. Pros and Cons of Nostr ✅ Pros: True freedom of speech: No corporate moderation, allowing open discussion. User-owned identity: You control your account with a cryptographic key. No ads or tracking: Your data isn’t harvested or sold to advertisers. Resilient against shutdowns: Multiple relays ensure content persists even if one relay goes offline. Customizable experience: Choose the relays and clients that best suit your needs. ❌ Cons (If Any): Early-stage adoption: Not as many users as Facebook or X (yet!). Technical learning curve: Requires setting up keys and understanding relays, though improving rapidly. Lack of centralized moderation: While this is a pro for free speech, it can also mean exposure to spam or undesirable content if it is not filtered properly. However, they are developing hidden or block features to help control your feeds. I don't have a lot of worries here. To be perfectly honest, it seems like a better class of people come here. Why Should You Leave Facebook and Join Nostr? If you’re tired of algorithmic manipulation, invasive tracking, and corporate censorship, Nostr offers a fresh start. It’s a place where your voice truly belongs to you, and a centralized authority cannot control your connections. Yes, it may take some time to adjust to using Nostr, but the benefits far outweigh the minor learning curve. If you value digital freedom, privacy, and resistance to censorship, now is the perfect time to explore the future of social networking. How to Get Your Friends to Leave Corporate Social Media and Join Nostr Switching to Nostr is one thing, but convincing your friends to make the leap can be challenging. Here are some practical ways to help them transition: Explain the benefits: Many people don’t realize how much control corporations have over their online experience. Share this article and highlight the key points. Make it easy: Walk them through setting up a Nostr account, generating a private key, and connecting to relays. Show them the community: Introduce them to active Nostr users, groups, and discussions to make the transition feel worthwhile. Lead by example: Use Nostr consistently and post compelling content that makes it appealing to your friends. Keep the conversation going. As more people join, Nostr will become even more engaging, making it a true alternative to corporate-controlled platforms.

@ badc29af:a92bd071

**Part I: The First Hour (Blocks 694,200–694,205)** **Block 694,200: The Coder**\ Sarah Chen sat hunched over her keyboard in her San Francisco apartment, the fog smudging her window. Debugging a fintech app, she watched block 694,200 confirm on the Bitcoin blockchain. Suddenly, its architecture snapped into focus: not just code, but a defiance of artificial abundance.\ "Holy shit," she whispered, easing back from her desk, her monitor casting light on scattered ramen cups. She’d coded financial systems for years, but now she saw money’s true potential—scarce, digital, unbound. **Block 694,201: The Entrepreneur**\ Ten minutes later, in a steamy Lagos cybercafé, James Okonjo’s world shifted as block 694,201 locked in. Struggling with payment delays under Nigeria’s currency controls, he read about Bitcoin’s borderless flow.\ "No more gatekeepers," he said, startling nearby patrons. His hands shook as he set up his first wallet, already dreaming of a Bitcoin education platform for African developers. **Block 694,202: The Economist**\ In Caracas, Maria Rodriguez paced before her Universidad Central de Venezuela class, dissecting inflation’s latest surge. As block 694,202 formed, the idea of fixed-supply money hit her like a revelation.\ "Forget this slide," she said, closing her laptop. "Let’s talk proof-of-work." Her students stared, but her mind was already racing with possibilities. **Block 694,203: The Retiree**\ In Tokyo, Hiroshi Yamamoto sipped tea during his morning portfolio review when block 694,203 confirmed. A retired salaryman, he saw Bitcoin as a shield against decades of yen erosion. Quietly, he began researching wallets, his curiosity ignited. **Block 694,204: The Prodigy**\ In Toronto, 16-year-old Emma Chen, a coding whiz, stumbled across block 694,204 while tinkering online. The power to program her own money dawned on her. She grinned, diving into Bitcoin’s whitepaper with reckless glee. **Block 694,205: The Shopkeeper**\ In Buenos Aires, Carlos Mendoza tallied his shop’s dwindling profits as block 694,205 ticked into existence. Sick of the peso’s collapse, he found Bitcoin—an escape from financial quicksand. By nightfall, he’d downloaded a wallet app. --- **Part II: The First Day (Blocks 694,206–694,343)** **The Morning Wave (Blocks 694,206–694,247)**\ Over the next 42 blocks—about seven hours—as Asia slept and Europe stirred, the awakenings multiplied: **Block 694,206**: A Swiss banker questioned her fiat career. **Block 694,207**: A German programmer marveled at Bitcoin’s consensus beauty. **Block 694,208**: A Korean gamer saw virtual gold turn real.\ The chain hummed, each block birthing new believers, ten minutes apart. **The American Session (Blocks 694,248–694,295)**\ As Wall Street woke, blocks 694,248 to 694,295—eight hours—marked a finance-world reckoning: **Block 694,248**: A Connecticut hedge fund manager saw through fiat’s illusions. **Block 694,249**: A Chicago commodities trader grasped digital scarcity. **Block 694,250**: A Texas pension admin envisioned a sounder future.\ Each block stamped a timestamp on their transformation. **The Global South Rises (Blocks 694,296–694,343)**\ The day’s final stretch—48 blocks, eight more hours—saw the global south ignite: **Block 694,296**: Brazilian students planned Bitcoin beach hubs. **Block 694,297**: Indonesian merchants linked Lightning payment loops. **Block 694,298**: South African miners turned solar power into hash rate.\ The chain pulsed, relentless, binding them all. --- **Part III: The Network Effect (Beyond Block 694,343)** **The Teachers (Block 694,344)**\ Sarah quit her job at block 694,344, coding Bitcoin education tools. James’s platform launched, reaching Africa’s devs. Maria’s NOSTR lectures spread, her voice a beacon. **The Builders (Block 694,345)**\ At block 694,345, innovation bloomed: privacy upgrades, scaling fixes, Lightning finance tools. The awakened built atop the chain. **The HODLers (Block 694,346)**\ By block 694,346, others simply held—silent sentinels whose faith grew with each block, each halving. --- **Epilogue: The Endless Chain (Blocks Onward)** The awakening rolled on, ten minutes at a time. Block 694,347 saw a Mumbai coder join Sarah’s cause. Block 694,348 brought a Nairobi merchant to James’s platform. Block 694,349 swayed a Manila policymaker with Maria’s words. Every block—144 a day—sparked new stories: dreamers seeking freedom, builders crafting tools, HODLers standing firm. Money, they understood, was too vital to be ruled by power. From block 694,200, the chain stretched forward, a living testament to scarcity, ownership, math over might. Each block was a birth, each hash a heartbeat, each Bitcoiner a node in a network of financial truth—marching on, block by block, toward a harder, sounder world, forever verified, never permissioned, growing but never diluted, ten minutes at a time.

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Derive npub from nsec given as parameter ``` python import argparse import asyncio from nostr_sdk import Keys, init_logger, LogLevel async def main(nsec): init_logger(LogLevel.INFO) keys = Keys.parse(nsec) public_key = keys.public_key() print(f"Public key (hex): {public_key.to_hex()}") print(f"Public key (npub): {public_key.to_bech32()}") if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch all relay from a given nsec') parser.add_argument('nsec', type=str, help='The nsec of the user') args = parser.parse_args() asyncio.run(main(args.nsec)) ``` https://docs.rs/nostr_rust/latest/nostr_rust/keys/fn.get_public_key_from_secret.html https://github.com/ev3rst/nostr_sdk_examples/blob/main/ns-derive-npub.py

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

A trading log isn't just a record of past trades—it's a tool for learning, improving, and achieving consistency. By keeping a detailed log, you gain insights into your decision-making process, identify patterns, and refine your strategy over time. Here's why and how to maintain a comprehensive trading log effectively. --- ## 1. The Importance of a Trading Log - **Track Performance Objectively** Without a log, it's easy to misremember trades or overestimate success. A detailed log provides accurate data to analyze your progress. - **Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses** By reviewing your log, you can identify what works well and where you need improvement. Patterns in losing trades often highlight common mistakes or emotional triggers. - **Build Confidence and Trust in Your System** Seeing a record of rule-based, consistent trades reinforces trust in your strategy. Reviewing past successes can boost morale during challenging periods. --- ## 2. What to Include in Your Trading Log A detailed trading log should cover both objective data and subjective reflections. ### Objective Data - **Date and Time:** When the trade was entered and exited. - **Instrument Traded:** Stock, forex pair, crypto, etc. - **Entry and Exit Prices:** Precise levels where you opened and closed the trade. - **Position Size:** Number of shares, contracts, or units traded. - **Stop Loss and Take Profit Levels:** Risk management details. - **P/L (Profit or Loss):** Outcome of the trade in dollars or percentage terms. - **Trade Type:** Long, short, scalping, swing, etc. ### Subjective Reflections - **Reason for Entering the Trade:** What setup or signal prompted the trade? - **Emotional State:** How did you feel before, during, and after the trade? - **Execution Notes:** Did you follow your plan? If not, why? - **Lessons Learned:** What can you take away from this trade to improve next time? > **Key Insight:** Both data and reflection are essential for meaningful analysis. --- ## 3. How to Analyze Your Trading Log 1. **Identify Patterns** Look for common themes in your winning and losing trades. _Examples:_ Winning trades often align with specific setups, while losing trades frequently result from breaking rules or impulsive decisions. 2. **Evaluate Strategy Effectiveness** Assess whether your system produces consistent results over time. Use metrics like win rate, risk-reward ratio, and drawdown to evaluate performance. 3. **Address Emotional Triggers** Reflect on emotional notes to understand what triggers fear, greed, or hesitation. Develop strategies to manage emotions based on these insights. --- ## 4. Benefits of Keeping a Trading Log - **Improved Discipline:** Writing down each trade reinforces the habit of sticking to your plan. - **Informed Adjustments:** Logs provide data-driven insights to refine your strategy. - **Emotional Control:** Journaling emotions helps you recognize and address psychological pitfalls. - **Long-Term Growth:** By tracking your progress, you can measure improvement over months and years. > **Key Insight:** A trading log turns mistakes into lessons and successes into repeatable actions. --- ## 5. Tools for Logging Trades ### Manual Logs - Use a notebook or spreadsheet to record trades. - **Pros:** Highly customizable, forces you to engage deeply with each entry. - **Cons:** Time-intensive and less automated. ### Software and Platforms - Tools like Edgewonk, TraderSync, or Tradervue can streamline the process. - **Pros:** Automated data collection, advanced analytics, and performance tracking. - **Cons:** May have a learning curve or subscription costs. > **Key Insight:** Choose a method that aligns with your workflow and trading style. --- ## 6. Tips for Maintaining a Consistent Trading Log - **Log Every Trade:** Don't skip trades, even the ones you'd rather forget. They're often the most valuable for learning. - **Be Honest:** Record trades exactly as they happened, including mistakes and rule-breaking. - **Review Regularly:** Set aside time weekly or monthly to analyze your log and adjust your approach. - **Stay Disciplined:** Treat logging as an essential part of your trading routine. --- ## 7. Conclusion: Your Trading Log is Your Mirror A detailed trading log is more than just a record—it's a roadmap to success. It provides clarity, accountability, and insights that are essential for continuous improvement. Start today. Keep a detailed log, review it often, and use it to refine both your strategy and your mindset. Your future self will thank you.

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

China’s M1 increases a lot, it means there’s more money available for people and businesses to buy things. This can help boost spending and economic growth in the short term. However, if there’s too much money chasing the same amount of goods and services, prices can rise, leading to inflation. Sometimes, a rapid increase in M1 can also signal that banks are lending a lot of money, which might eventually create bubbles in things like real estate or stocks if the growth isn’t managed carefully. https://tradingeconomics.com/china/money-supply-m1 China’s M1 increases a lot, it means there’s more money available for people and businesses to buy things. This can help boost spending and economic growth in the short term.

@ df478568:2a951e67

 I shop the bitcoin circular economy as much as I can. Maybe "shop" isn't the best way to describe it. Shopping is a behavior typical of fiat maxis. they drive fancy leases and shop 'till they drop. This season's fashion must-have is next season's trash. Bitcoiners don't shop, we replenish supplies. Our goal is to get the best value for our sats. Our goal to hodl our sats as long as possible. Yesterday, I shoveled a [ton of compost](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzph68s45y080zdd9g8sdacnd6kcd4ejpwrgcju2eghjq45y4f28n8qqs24rrm3u2wvf24ad8xkj2xh8nuq2lz7urnd3lzrpqlstmsp4r29hsug39jw) for my garden. If taking showers mean's I', short bitcoin, so be it. I also happened to get my soap from Soapminer delivered to my P.O. Box the day before. What better way is there to test this soap than after shoveling some shit? It was perfect timing. ## Soapminer Sells Soap Made From Beef Tallow Soapminer is a nostr rounder I've seen online every timestamp in a while. As the name suggests, he makes soap and sells it for sats. He's not the only soap seller on nostr, but something stands out about this soap. He uses beef tallow, the stuff McDonald's used for french fries back in the day. I use it to cook. It's basically beef lard. So this pleb makes soap and markets it to people who talk about beef and bitcoin. That's better than Fight Club. Then [I heard Matt Odell say it was pretty good](https://fountain.fm/clip/6GHDdmcwMg47mz0xNpVb). I already thought about spending sats on this soap, but now I had a testimonial from a man I have listened to for about six years. **Can you say Web of Trust baby?** I no soap and suds expert. I have years of soapo sing experience, but I never thought about what commercial soap is made with. I assumed it was like Fight Club like how I assumed the dollar was backed by gold in high school. Both these statements are false. Fiat soap is made with fiat fuckery. I tried looking for the ingredients on a box of Dove Men's Care, but couldn't find them on the box. It's opaque like the amount of gold at Fort Knox, nobody knows. I know what Soapminer uses to make his soap because [it's open source](nostr:note1aypyepc6g7lztutegx0fw5yg5clc9ythvxkp6czfkau3dcgwz06q4mfqr3). ### Tallow Soap Quotes I asked Soapminer a few questions on nostr. You can find his answer here: nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3xamnwvaz7tmsw4e8qmr9wpskwtn9wvhszxrhwden5te0wa3nztnrw4e8yetwwshxu6twdfsj7qpqh7mqlhn392ekrg6nm33pjjquu0dww27tqv3qjduyag4u20er0tcqd2waxl **That's the link that shows it was signed by his own nostr key, the Internet's version of "I approve this message."**  **Soapminer:** `What inspired me was a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. During the plandemic, I had a lot of free time on my hands, and got to read, and investigate what actually causes a lot of the sickness in society. I learned a great deal. I never knew that your skin is your largest organ, and that it absorbs 60-70% of what you put on it. What do ppl put on their skin almost every day? Soap. So out of boredom, and seeking a healthier lifestyle, I started watching YT videos of ppl making soap, and tried it out a few times, and then a few more, until I became good at it. Once you learn how to make soap, the challenges only arise when you try something that you haven't done before. Depending on what method you are using will determine the challenges that you may face. It's multifaceted, so might be a little long to go into. I overcome them by keep trying until I get it right. No path is going to be easy, you just have to practice to make perfect. Last question is easy. My favorite soap is Tallow soap. As long as it is made from Tallow, and has all natural ingredients, it is a good soap in my opinion. Tallow mirrors the oils in our skin. It doesn't strip you skin the way commercial soap do, leaving you feel itchy, dry, and actually causing some of the skin ailments that have become common, like eczema, and psoriasis. Just nutures, cleans, and protects. It also, can prevent wrinkles., and acne.` **Sold!**  I tried the pine tar first. It makes me smell like a man, at least my wife thinks so. That's also why she prefers the unscented. He is adding more scents, but these ate the one's I have tried. The soap makes me feel rubber-ducky squeaky clean. After my shower, made some lunch and washed my hands with Dawn. **This made my hands ashier than bio-char**. I decided to cut some soap and place a little piece by the kitchen sink. The soap moisturized my hands in two shakes of a bull's tail. I also cut up some of my soap into smaller pieces because I'm as frugal as a Boy-scout and wanted to wash my hands with this stuff instead of Ivory. **Who wants a clean as real as Ivory? It's only 99.44% pure. Soap miner is 100% pure bitcoin signal.  #### Here's some more quotes about Soapminer's soap. - [He's asking his market if they want Peppermint soap.](nostr:note1tpeh65m7y6s6wt9ucjdcl2pge3m86f2ny4hqjdyvcrmf7kglqshqfeceam "nostr:note1tpeh65m7y6s6wt9ucjdcl2pge3m86f2ny4hqjdyvcrmf7kglqshqfeceam) - [Then he made the soap like a boss](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqqs0yqyvffu9pn39grtxa8agpftpvfssx603w0ra67kpn5qn360masquhrtd7). - [The Benefits of Tallow](nostr:nevent1qqs9w6g8khrqzhrgu7y3trae9vtdl8847p42p80aqzvsvlu9kr84vkgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsyg8zenmu7gzq8ulj5jj4kv50ph3muwz43f747vmr9ld2alrjdswgavpsgqqqqqqsq5lkzq) - [He uses Zaprite](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqjln5vfhstwf2ahjrmanh57kzwrap4v3xpfzql5sxp48gxlk4a74qqsraadvah6890x4hgvr4rcxe9c2n79a0kx88te3hf7x88j72rh7cuskhempa) [He has giveaways](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqyqzpzvke2t7fxwh0rzea5zmx7qnddzgsqk35ujp9tgpw9jmjsmnserr3z8466) [He wants everyone to live on a bitcoin standard](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqqs8gnddcnkj5p2047qam5drgw5jxlg60vy736e2rwxsmj593whnllsy8ej9j)  ### Testimonials  nostr:note1y9wsl07lkepfzzj8c8ucekss9f9darvg70j93cdmvttadfjx9nfsvtxwes **The LOTSProject8**  nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqy9kvcxtqa2tlwyjv4r46ancxk00ghk9yaudzsnp697s60942p7lqqsxt8kyd650ph3wvhre0lwlw5s0emuv5gcfzmsvfxf7czgg4c2wynq7vg8ga **GhostBTC**:  nostr:npub1cm3v486tkgy6qjtk09srry4qvc40y0jysyqha5e3v67whnc22jwsrreyud **Tuvok**  **Bit 🐳 Ish**  ["It's good stuff, you'll love it."](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpr38l76unwuvm5qnrt0xa7jf64k5qx65ynvlm7dx8cr565nmqu2uqqs2r7rcp2rssfcqhk5838cuu569h43wlkvw34gy8ad2flgdpl0cezckxghkc) **cryptoshi2k21.bitcoin**  ["Great soap 🧼🫧"](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqj5nelekm4aruughza09y8yy26ansshnc23wq2kdha79dqz8rhemqqsxdq4xf69vgk27nnes4syrnekpg4mhkp6v4rer7nzdgfht8kya8ssucu8lz) **Me**  ["I spent the last two days shyoveling horse shit and compost for my garden. This soap made me feel rubber-ducky squeeky clean afterward."](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzph68s45y080zdd9g8sdacnd6kcd4ejpwrgcju2eghjq45y4f28n8qqsfvqylk56zdh5n3ykhleypr5zznevqt9dw04vptdeuh9jmskemndgq0hw25) ##### Conclusion I am a soap mining soap customer now. I'm done with fiat soap. I'm thinking about handing out his soap for Christmas gifts. Odell was right. It is good soap. It's expensive compared to the comercial crap, but competitive with fancy olive oil soaps I've seen. I paid with fiat I had in Strike, but Soapminer received bitcoin. I was going to buy soap anyway, but buying soap this way took $35 of fiat off Strike and put it into soap miners strategic bitcoin reserve. It's not cheap, but buying Dove requires me to first buy fiat. Buying soap from Soapminer takes sats off the exchange. Buying Dove does not, but that's not the only reason I bought this soap. It's great soap, but that's not really why I bought it. I am a big believer in what Adam Smith described as the invisible hand: [nostr:note1jsgzk6rxulyqthae8c53rrawaa70yjqh37nm3kxh08xw8g43vgcq3kux9d "nostr:note1jsgzk6rxulyqthae8c53rrawaa70yjqh37nm3kxh08xw8g43vgcq3kux9d"). We want to see people in our community to prosper. It is in our self-interest That is what Smith means by the invisible hand. The invisible hand is not A Central Bank manipulating interest rates and The IMF turning foreigners into debt-fiat slaves for cheap freshly-frozen shrimp. Bitcoiners are my community. They may not be close to me by proximity, but my moral sentiments guide me to do business with bitcoiners whenever possible. See, capitalism cannot work with socialist money. Those moral sentiments change when people work for soft money. Fiat soap miners get paid in NGD currency. Sell soap for $35 today and that will buy you half as much stuff in 5 years. The fiat soap miner has no savings to improve his community. Inflation makes him search for the cheapest soap just to keep up with grocery prices.  Soapminer can save his sats earned selling soap without anyone stealig from him. Therefore, he will be able to afford to buy stuff in his community. Those on a fiat standard cannot afford to save their money in the hopes of buying high quality products and services in their community. Fiat is socialist money, therefore only buys less and less as time goes on. Dear readers, we are not on late stage capitalism. The problem is that socialist money sucks. Those Papi Trump bucks might be fun for a month, but in the end, everyone pays the Piper. Tariffs are a sales tax, [paywalls in meatspace](nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzph68s45y080zdd9g8sdacnd6kcd4ejpwrgcju2eghjq45y4f28n8qyt8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68yetvd96x2uewdaexwtcpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43z7qg4waehxw309ajxjar5duh8qatz9aex2mrp0yqzqx3u59js9ewy9xwr7nuzv5eytj9ty979wrc7vrhv3tfykjxp5pd28s750n). Save your sats long enough, and these taxes will not matter. We circumvent the unjust tax of inflation, we will find solutions to unjust taxes levied on our community. I participate in the bitcoin circular economy because I want to bring capitalism back. I do not care where you live. If you are a bitcoiner, you are part of my community. There is an invisible hand which compels me to buy stuff from people in my community. That's why I bought soap from Soapminer, but you know what? **the soap is pretty damn good**. npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [884,861](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000001dd2088c2c20508d768455d6c29cd6b33d2a69912cafb) [Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch)

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

The digital guillotine has fallen. The Bybit hack wasn’t just a theft—it was a surgical strike exposing the fatal flaw of “crypto” that isn’t Bitcoin. This wasn’t a bug. It was a feature of a system designed to fail. Here’s how North Korea’s Lazarus Group stole $1.5B in ETH, why “decentralized finance” is a joke, and how Bitcoin remains the only exit from this circus. ## I. The Heist: How Centralized “Crypto” Betrayed Its Users ### A. The Multisig Mousetrap (Or: Why You’re Still Using a Bank) Bybit’s Ethereum cold wallet used multisig, requiring multiple approvals for transactions. Sounds secure, right? Wrong. • The Con: Hackers didn’t pick the lock; they tricked the keyholders using a UI masking attack. The wallet interface showed “SEND TO BYBIT”, but the smart contract was whispering “SEND TO PYONGYANG.” • Bitcoin Parallel: Bitcoin’s multisig is enforced on hardware, not a website UI. No browser spoofing, no phishing emails—just raw cryptography. Ethereum’s multisig is a vault with a touchscreen PIN pad. Bitcoin’s is a mechanical safe with a key only you hold. Guess which one got robbed? ### B. Smart Contracts: Dumb as a Bag of Hammers The thieves didn’t “hack” Ethereum—they exploited its smart contract complexity. • Bybit’s security depended on a Safe.global contract. Lazarus simply tricked Bybit into approving a malicious upgrade. • Imagine a vending machine that’s programmed to take your money but never give you a soda. That’s Ethereum’s “trustless” tech. Why Bitcoin Wins: Bitcoin doesn’t do “smart contracts” in the Ethereum sense. Its scripting language is deliberately limited—less code, fewer attack vectors. Ethereum is a Lego tower; Bitcoin is a granite slab. One topples, one doesn’t. ## II. The Laundering: Crypto’s Dirty Little Secret ### A. Mixers, Bridges, and the Art of Spycraft Once the ETH was stolen, Lazarus laundered it at lightspeed: 1. Mixers (eXch) – Obfuscating transaction trails. 2. Bridges (Chainflip) – Swapping ETH for Bitcoin because that’s the only exit that matters. Bitcoin Reality Check: Bitcoin’s privacy tools (like CoinJoin) are self-custodial—no third-party mixers. You keep control, not some “decentralized” website waiting to be hacked. Ethereum’s “bridges” are burning rope ladders. Bitcoin’s privacy? An underground tunnel only you control. ### B. The $1.5B Lie: “Decentralized” Exchanges Are a Myth Bybit’s “cold wallet” was on Safe.global—a so-called “decentralized” custodian. Translation? A website with extra steps. • When Safe.global got breached, the private keys were stolen instantly. • “Decentralized” means nothing if your funds depend on one website, one server, one weak link. Bitcoin’s Answer: Self-custody. Hardware wallets. Cold storage. No trusted third parties. Using Safe.global is like hiding your life savings in a gym locker labeled “STEAL ME.” ## III. The Culprits: State-Sponsored Hackers & Crypto’s Original Sin ### A. Lazarus Group: Crypto’s Robin Hood (For Dictators) North Korea’s hackers didn’t break cryptography—they broke people. • Phishing emails disguised as job offers. • Bribes & social engineering targeting insiders. • DeFi governance manipulation (because Proof-of-Stake is just shareholder voting in disguise). Bitcoin’s Shield: No CEO to bribe. No “upgrade buttons” to exploit. No governance tokens to manipulate. Code is law—and Bitcoin’s law is written in stone. Ethereum’s security model is “trust us.” Bitcoin’s is “verify.” ### B. The $3B Elephant: Altcoins Fund Dictators Since 2017, Lazarus has stolen $3B+ in crypto, funding North Korea’s missile program. Why? Because Ethereum, Solana, and XRP are built on Proof-of-Stake (PoS)—which centralizes power in the hands of a few rich validators. • Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work: Miners secure the network through energy-backed cryptography. • Altcoins’ Proof-of-Stake: Security is dictated by who owns the most tokens. Proof-of-Stake secures oligarchs. Proof-of-Work secures money. That’s why Lazarus can drain altcoin treasuries but hasn’t touched Bitcoin’s network. ## IV. Bybit’s Survival: A Centralized Circus ### A. The Bailout: Banks 2.0 Bybit took bridge loans from “undisclosed partners” (read: Wall Street vultures). • Just like a traditional bank, Bybit printed liquidity out of thin air to stay solvent. • If that sounds familiar, it’s because crypto exchanges are just banks in hoodies. Bitcoin Contrast: No loans. No bailouts. No “trust.” Just 21 million coins, mathematically secured. Bybit’s solvency is a confidence trick. Bitcoin’s solvency is math. ### B. The Great Withdrawal Panic Within hours, 350,000+ users scrambled to withdraw funds. A digital bank run—except this isn’t a bank. It’s an exchange that pretended to be decentralized. Bitcoin fixes this: your wallet isn’t an IOU. It’s actual money. Bybit = a TikTok influencer promising riches. Bitcoin = the gold in your basement. ## V. The Fallout: Regulators vs Reality ### A. ETH’s 8% Crash vs Bitcoin’s Unshakable Base Ethereum tanked because it’s a tech stock, not money. Bitcoin? Dropped 2% and stabilized. No CEO, no headquarters, no attack surface. ### B. The Regulatory Trap Now the bureaucrats come in demanding: 1. Wallet audits (they don’t understand public ledgers). 2. Mixer bans (criminalizing privacy). 3. KYC everything (turning crypto into a surveillance state). Bitcoin’s Rebellion: You can’t audit what’s already transparent. You can’t ban what’s unstoppable. ## VI. Conclusion: Burn the Altcoins, Stack the Sats The Bybit hack isn’t a crypto problem. It’s an altcoin problem. Ethereum’s smart contracts, DeFi bridges, and “decentralized” wallets are Swiss cheese for hackers. Bitcoin? A titanium vault. The Only Lessons That Matter: ✅ Multisig isn’t enough unless it’s Bitcoin’s hardware-enforced version. ✅ Complexity kills—every altcoin “innovation” is a security risk waiting to happen. Lazarus Group won this round because “crypto” ignored Bitcoin’s design. The solution isn’t better regulations—it’s better money. Burn the tokens. Unplug the servers. Bitcoin is the exit. Take your money off exchanges. Be sovereign.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

There was a time when I was a real person. I touched grass, read books made of actual paper, made eye contact with fellow humans, and didn’t panic when my pockets felt empty. Then came the screens. They infiltrated my life like a well-meaning but overly clingy houseguest who never leaves. It started innocently enough: a quick email check, a couple of YouTube videos, and a little light doomscrolling. And then, before I knew it, my posture resembled a shrimp’s, my eyes had the dull glaze of a microwaved marshmallow, and I had unknowingly memorized the entire algorithm’s playlist of “Obscure Facts You’ll Never Need.” I knew things had gone too far when I caught myself attempting to *swipe left* on a paperback book. Or when I instinctively tried to pinch-zoom on a restaurant menu, only to find it was printed. On paper. It's like some kind of ancient relic from the Dark Ages. The worst part? I didn’t even know what I was doing half the time. One moment, I’d be looking up a recipe for lasagna. The next thing I knew, I was 47 minutes deep into a documentary on the mating habits of Alaskan walruses. And did I stop? Of course not. I needed to *know* how it ended! (Spoiler: The walruses were fine. My dinner was not.) And don’t even get me started on notifications. Those little digital gremlins have mastered the art of ambush just as I’m about to put my phone down, *DING!* A breaking news alert! (Something mildly inconvenient happened in a country I can’t locate on a map.) *DING!* An email! (From a store I haven’t shopped at since 2014, reminding me they exist.) *DING!* A friend liked my post! (The one from three days ago. Thanks, Todd.) So, I made a vow. I would reclaim my life. I would be strong. I would resist! I would—oh wait, just one more video. Then, for sure, I’ll log off. Probably. Maybe. Okay, fine, I need help. Until then, I’ll be here, scrolling away, living my best shrimp-postured, screen-addicted life. If you need me, send a text just… not after 9 p.m. That’s when I’m deep in my nightly ritual of watching cooking videos I will never actually attempt. I hope you enjoyed this sort of funny (in my own head) attempt at wittiness humor. I hope to make some aware of the actual real-life dangers though of too much screen time. We honestly have no idea of all the harm we are causing to our children. To our society. What happens when we all who have actually grown up playing in creeks, skipping rocks, or sitting outside and falling asleep while reading a real book pass away? What happens when those left have only known this screen-diseased life? I pray we can go back, go way way back!

@ 1739d937:3e3136ef

We've been busy. In my last update, I shared that I was sure MLS on Nostr was going to work and shared an early demo of the app. What a long time ago that seems now. The big news is that White Noise is no longer just a demo. It's a real app. You can [download the alpha release](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise/releases) and run it for yourself on MacOS, Linux, or Android. iOS TestFlight is coming soon. Keep in mind that it's still very much alpha software; a lot is changing and I wouldn't recommend using it for anything serious quite yet. We've been busy. In my last update, I shared that I was sure MLS on Nostr was going to work and shared an early demo of the app. What a long time ago that seems now. ## Vision Before we get to the detailed project updates, I wanted to share a bit of my vision for White Noise. More and more; freedom of speech, freedom of association, and privacy are under attack. Just this week, Apple was forced to remove their iCloud advanced encryption feature for all UK citizens because the UK government demanded that Apple build a backdoor to allow access to customer data. The EU continues to push "Chat Control" legislation that would force companies to remove end-to-end encryption from their platforms. And governments across the world are enforcing draconian "hate speech" laws that criminalize speech that offends or upsets. The freedom to express ourselves and discuss difficult topics is a critical precondition for maintaining a healthy society. Without the ability to assert ideas and argue their merits vigorously we have no way of making progress or creating a civil society based on shared values and goals. Ironically, the very laws and regulations that many western governments are enforcing to "protect" us are eroding and destroying the most free and innovative societies in history. White Noise is to built to protect our freedom to gather, to express ourselves, and to discuss difficult topics. It's free and open source; anyone can fork the code and we'll never charge money to use it. It runs on a free and open source protocol; your identity and social graph is yours to own and control. You don't have to trust us with your data, everything is end-to-end encrypted and metadata is next to non-existent. We don't even run any servers, so government data requests will forever fall on deaf ears. We want to build the fastest, most secure and private, and the most usable messenger in the world. Whether you want to use it to plan a family BBQ or overthrow a tyrant, White Noise should give you the tools you need to make it happen. If you find this compelling and want to help, please consider contributing to the project or donating. ## Progress Alright, let's talk about where we're at with the project. ### Current functionality - Multiple accounts. You can login, or create, many different Nostr accounts in the app. - Search your nostr contact list, search for users you don't follow, or add contacts using an npub or hex public key. - Create DM groups. Right now, you can only create chats with a single other user. Under the hood, these DMs are actually groups, I just haven't added the UI for adding/removing users and managing the group. - Send messages, reply to messages, and add reactions. As you would expect from a messenging app. - View group information. - Settings that allows you to manage your accounts, relays, and other app settings. ### Upcoming - An amazing hackathon group from [Bitcoin++ in Brasil](https://btcplusplus.dev/conf/floripa) has recently [added NWC](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise/pull/89) (nostr wallet connect) support to the app. Paste lightning invoices into chats and they'll become QR codes that you can scan or pay them with a single click in the conversation! This will be in the next release. - Add support for encrypted media in chats using [Blossom](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/tree/master). We'll start with images, but plan to add video, audio messages, and documents soon. - Groups with more than two users. We'll add the ability to add/remove users and manage the group. This will also include some upgrades to further improve the forward secrecy of group chats. - iOS TestFlight. Gated app stores suck. We'll get White Noise on iOS into TestFlight as soon as possible. ## Links - [The repo](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise) - [Releases](https://github.com/erskingardner/whitenoise/releases) - [Previous updates](https://highlighter.com/jeffg.fyi)

@ da9e1099:a923b7ff

Anybody remember “slug-bug”? It’s a game I used to play as a boy. Before Volkswagen committed the cardinal sin of cheating at the expense of the environment? VW failed its breathalyzer test when forced to drive, under harsh scrutiny, a very long, straight line. Prior to that faux pas, Volkswagen built a “wagon for the people”. They were ubiquitous. If spotted, you immediately blurted “slug-bug”, and then “socked” your buddy. Scoring included identifying the paint color, let’s not forget that detail. “Slug-bug blue.” Slug-bug black and blue. It seemed like they were everywhere, precisely because we were looking for them, and precisely because they were everywhere. It wasn’t simply confirmation bias. I suppose it proves the point of the proponents of toxic masculinity theory. We preferred gleefully pummeling each other while riding unbelted in the back seat of the family station wagon, or while riding BMX bikes to the pit, trailhead, or next best site of aerial invigoration. It‘s what we did as kids. It wasn’t just the boys, but usually it was. Skinned knees and welts earned during Volkswagen drive-bys were everyday pass time. Ride bikes. Jump off things that were a little too high. Wrestle. Play tackle football, then “slug-bug” again ad infinitum. Not so anymore. Has the zeitgeist swept us from the “violence” that accompanied the spotting of a rapidly obsolescing German automobile? Does masculine, rough-housing behavior mirror the verboten culture of the most nefarious German Third Reich; blitzkrieg in polygonal cages the world over? Am I en membered in a regime of misguided youth come adult, whose hobby is rife with fascistic psychological traits? Do bruised arms inevitably lead to black eyes and incapacitation? Has my fascination with punching my best friend on sight of a “people mobile made for the masses” become a gateway activity to brutalism? Set aside the theories of toxic masculinity, the extent to which such a thing exists, and how they are reputed to affect men and society at large. A well crafted combat sports regimen is a healing prescription for all. Never mind the protests that regimented fighting is a psychological scourge of the modern male. Disregard any claims that such behavior leads to psychopathology and normative violence against women. Counter those politically correct WMDs aimed at traditional values. They have informed masculine behavior since before the beginning of recorded history. I strongly recommend enrolling your son in a Martial Arts program. A quality program benefits all parties. *Your son’s hyperactivity and rough and tumble behavior is welcome here.* Me and my ilk believe that exuberant physical behavior is healthy when channeled constructively. A well planned martial arts program provides a safe, encouraging space in which kids can physically develop combat skills. The wrestling mat can validate a child’s physical impulses and remind him he is welcome, even if coaches must periodically subject him to disciplinary measures or a drubbing from the boy next door. Clearly defined rules and penalties for breaking them incentivize positive behavior. Physical training is a pressure release valve that promotes academic focus and sociable behavior outside of the gym. Boys benefit from fraternity, and they come to embody the learned values, carrying them into the domains they frequent. A combination of physical exertion, intellectual gaming, and self-defense practice is a solid recipe for a youth program, irrespective of age or developmental level. Parents should make it a priority to foster a healthy relationship with physical activity in their children…even if the sport they ultimately choose isn’t martial arts. *MMA cultivates the mind and rewards problem solving.* While martial arts may seem like a grossly physical discipline, physical problems require intellectual solutions. MMA is the thinking man’s sport. Youth will learn to reason during intense physical exertion. They will learn composure under stress. Given the fluid, dynamic nature of Mixed Martial Arts, split second decision making is required for problem solving. Practicing physical forms encourages kids to internalize mechanics. Striking combinations and obstacle courses promote sequencing. Round timers guide kids to perform on the clock. Students take countless academic tests that influence their academic trajectories. The AI technological revolution will reward people who have excellent “soft skills”. Time management, decision making under pressure, adaptability, conflict resolution, creative thinking, and teamwork are on offer in a good martial arts program. *MMA is a team sport.* Competition teams are stables of mates who share the common goal of victory through excellence, even while each needs to perform independently to succeed. A fighter cannot adequately prepare himself for a competition without the guidance of a coach and the help of teammates with whom he can drill, spar, condition and commiserate.  Whether gymnasium or workplace, it’s difficult to keep competent help. Showing up on time. Doing what you’ve committed to do with consistency. Graciously accepting help to overcome sticking points and feelings of impotence, not to mention defeat. Being available for a teammate who was there for your training camp when his training camp rolls around. A worthwhile martial arts regimen should demand and encourage such behavior and ethics. Kids who choose to compete will learn to live by virtuous codes and cultivate relationships with others like them. *Confidence is ingredient to standing up to bullies and would be abductors.* Children need to be confronted with role-playing scenarios that bring theoretical concepts into the real world of school cafeteria confrontations, rowdy movie nights at the mall, battles with bullies on the way home from band practice and pederasts on the lurk.  A child will learn the conscienceless tools of defense and offense, but, as we know, with power comes responsibility. Teaching a child the physical, martial arts without teaching them the proper circumstances under which it is to be used or proportionality can breed more bullies. See ‘The Karate Kid’. Kids must be taught accountability to go with their hard earned, dangerous abilities. *Failure is a good. In fact, it’s essential.* Kids will ‘fail’ at life. They will fail in school and kickball. They will fail at video gaming. How they learn to deal with failure will define them more so than any other skill. A well constructed martial arts program will help a child work through his failures.  The goal should be for any aspirant to view failure as an opportunity to redouble his efforts and outperform. When a child learns to reapply himself physically, while thinking his way through what is fundamentally an intellectual problem, his confidence swells. A well planned MMA program provides a supervised space (physical and virtual) in which children can engage problems, challenge themselves, supportively fail and set goals to overcome those obstacles. When a person regiments goal setting and meets his challenges, it inspires a positive feedback loop that spirals into other aspects of his life. *Martial Arts families share a community.* A child who enrolls in a Martial Arts program will interact with like-minded kids and their parents, people who share similar values and philosophies. Lifelong friendships often begin this way, and playdate vetting takes care of itself. Billy and James both like to wrestle, and they enjoy Star Wars. This is the way. Irrespective of your position on whether there is a thing called toxic masculinity, a well thought out and responsibly implemented martial arts regimen is a boon to child, family, greater community and society full wide. There are a variety of philosophies, intensity levels and art forms that fall under the “Martial Arts” catchall heading. Call around, ask questions and observe classes. Starting a new activity can be intimidating for both parent and child, especially when beginning a combat art. I recommend gentle encouragement. Forcing a child to train against his will risks poisoning the well and possibly the athletic pond more broadly. It’s a fine line to walk. Take one step at a time.

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

``` python #!/usr/bin/env python3 import asyncio from nostr_sdk import Metadata, Client, NostrSigner, Keys, Filter, PublicKey, Kind, init_logger, LogLevel from datetime import timedelta async def main(): init_logger(LogLevel.INFO) secret_key = "nsec1........Replace with your actual nsec secret key" keys = Keys.parse(secret_key) signer = NostrSigner.keys(keys) client = Client(signer) await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") await client.connect() # Update metadata new_metadata = Metadata().set_name( "MyName")\ .set_nip05("MyName@example.com")\ .set_lud16("MyName@lud16.com") await client.set_metadata(new_metadata) print("Metadata updated successfully.") # Get updated metadata npub = "npub1....Replace with your actual npub" pk = PublicKey.parse(npub) print(f"\nGetting profile metadata for {npub}:") metadata = await client.fetch_metadata(pk, timedelta(seconds=15)) print(metadata) if __name__ == '__main__': asyncio.run(main()) ```

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Tested and working with nostr_sdk version 0.39 ``` python from nostr_sdk import Metadata, Client, Keys, Filter, PublicKey from datetime import timedelta import argparse import asyncio import json async def main(npub): client = Client() await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") await client.connect() pk = PublicKey.parse(npub) print(f"\nGetting profile metadata for {npub}:") metadata = await client.fetch_metadata(pk, timedelta(seconds=15)) # Printing each field of the Metadata object print(f"Name: {metadata.get_name()}") print(f"Display Name: {metadata.get_display_name()}") print(f"About: {metadata.get_about()}") print(f"Website: {metadata.get_website()}") print(f"Picture: {metadata.get_picture()}") print(f"Banner: {metadata.get_banner()}") print(f"NIP05: {metadata.get_nip05()}") print(f"LUD06: {metadata.get_lud06()}") print(f"LUD16: {metadata.get_lud16()}") #print(f"Custom: {metadata.get_custom()}") if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch all metadata for a given npub') parser.add_argument('npub', type=str, help='The npub of the user') args = parser.parse_args() asyncio.run(main(args.npub)) ```

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

Hiking in nature is more than just a leisurely activity—it’s a powerful way to boost physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. Whether you’re trekking through lush forests, climbing rugged mountains, or strolling along a peaceful riverbank (which we really love doing), the benefits of hiking are undeniable. Here are some points to think about along these lines. #### **Physical Health Benefits** - Strengthens muscles and improves cardiovascular health - Enhances balance, coordination, and endurance - Supports bone density and joint health - Burns calories and aids in weight management #### **Mental and Emotional Well-Being** - Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression - Increases endorphin levels, boosting mood and relaxation - Improves focus, creativity, and cognitive function - Encourages mindfulness and mental clarity #### **Connection with Nature** - Provides an escape from screens and digital distractions - Encourages appreciation for the environment and wildlife - Helps regulate sleep cycles by syncing with natural light - Instills a sense of peace and awe #### **Social and Personal Growth** - Strengthens relationships when hiking with friends or family - Encourages teamwork and problem-solving on group hikes - Builds confidence and resilience for solo hikers - Creates lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment ### **A Typical Day on the Trail** A day of hiking often starts with an early morning wake-up, packing essentials like water, snacks, and a map (if you're old-fashioned like me, LOL). After reaching the trailhead, the journey begins with fresh air, birds singing, and the crunch of dirt underfoot. You might stop to admire a stunning viewpoint, take photos of wildflowers, or rest beside a babbling stream. Lunch could be a simple picnic with a breathtaking backdrop. As the afternoon sun filters through the trees, you finish the hike feeling refreshed, accomplished, and ready to do it all again. We love to go hiking, and I'm no expert, but when I take the time to get us out there somewhere and the weather is wonderful, it just adds up to an amazing day! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced hiker, exploring nature on foot provides countless benefits for both body and mind. It’s an accessible, enjoyable, and fulfilling way to stay healthy while reconnecting with the natural world. So, lace up your hiking boots, hit the trails, and experience the transformative power of hiking in nature!

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

At first glance, neo-classical music and electronica might seem like unlikely companions. One is rooted in centuries-old traditions of acoustic instruments and intricate compositions, while the other thrives on cutting-edge technology and synthetic soundscapes. Yet, when these genres meet, they create something profoundly moving and uniquely modern—a harmonious blend of the organic and the electronic. Today, I want to explore how these seemingly disparate styles overlap and complement each other. ## **Shared Foundations: Emotion and Atmosphere** Both neo-classical and electronica share a deep commitment to evoking emotion. In neo-classical works, the soaring strings and delicate piano melodies often speak directly to the soul, creating a sense of intimacy and reflection. Similarly, electronica uses atmospheric textures, evolving soundscapes, and rhythm to draw listeners into immersive worlds. What makes their intersection so compelling is how these emotional foundations reinforce one another. The rich timbres of a cello, for example, gain a new dimension when paired with the pulsing rhythms of an electronic beat. Together, they create a layered listening experience that feels both timeless and cutting-edge. ## **Innovation Through Contrast** Neo-classical and electronica thrive on contrast. Neo-classical compositions often focus on dynamics and subtlety, while electronica embraces bold experimentation with sound design. When these two approaches converge, they push each other into new territory. Take Max Richter’s Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It’s a stunning example of how traditional orchestral pieces can be reimagined with electronic elements, such as ambient textures and rhythmic loops, to create something entirely new. Similarly, artists like Nils Frahm and Jon Hopkins combine piano with synths and manipulated sound to craft pieces that are as emotionally resonant as they are sonically adventurous. ## **Techniques That Bridge the Gap** One of the most exciting aspects of blending neo-classical and electronica is the range of techniques available to producers and composers. Here are a few that I find particularly inspiring: **Layering Acoustic and Electronic Instruments:** Using a classical instrument, like a violin or a piano, as the centerpiece of a track while surrounding it with synth pads or electronic beats creates a seamless fusion. **Manipulating Organic Sounds:** Recording acoustic performances and then processing them with effects like reverb, delay, or granular synthesis can add a futuristic edge while retaining the warmth of the original performance. **Dynamic Builds:** Drawing from electronica’s love of crescendos and drops, neo-classical pieces can gain a modern edge by integrating these techniques to heighten emotional impact. ## **A Personal Connection** I’m inspired by the way neo-classical elements bring humanity and timelessness to electronic tracks, while electronica introduces unpredictability and innovation. In my own compositions, I often experiment with pairing minimalist piano lines with ambient drones or electronic beats. This balance allows me to create pieces that feel grounded in tradition yet forward-thinking in their execution. ## **The Future of This Fusion** As technology continues to evolve, the potential for neo-classical and electronica to grow together feels limitless. With tools like AI-driven composition and increasingly sophisticated sound design software, the boundaries between these genres will only continue to blur. What remains constant is their shared ability to move and inspire, proving that the beauty of music often lies in the meeting of opposites. Neo-classical and electronica may come from different worlds, but together, they create a dialogue that resonates deeply with modern listeners. Their intersection reminds us that music, at its core, is about connection—across time, styles, and technologies. And as an artist, I’m excited to keep exploring this beautiful convergence in my own work.

@ a2eddb26:e2868a80

In personal finance, the principles of financial independence and time sovereignty (FITS) empower individuals to escape the debt-based cycle that forces them into perpetual work. What if companies could apply the same principles? What if businesses, instead of succumbing to the relentless push for infinite growth, could optimize for real demand? This case study of the GPU industry aims to show that fiat-driven incentives distort technological progress and imagines an alternative future built on sound money. ### **Fiat Business: Growth or Death** Tech companies no longer optimize for efficiency, longevity, or real user needs. Instead, under a fiat system, they are forced into a perpetual growth model. If NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel fail to show revenue expansion, their stock price tanks. Let's take NVIDIA's GPUs as an example. The result is predictable: - GPUs that nobody actually needs but everyone is told to buy. - A focus on artificial benchmarks instead of real-world performance stability. - Endless FPS increases that mean nothing for 99% of users. The RTX 5090 is not for gamers. It is for NVIDIA’s quarterly earnings. This is not a surprise on a fiat standard. ### **Fiat Marketing: The Illusion of Need and the Refresh Rate Trap** Benchmarks confirm that once a GPU maintains 120+ FPS in worst-case scenarios, additional performance gains become irrelevant for most players. This level of capability was reached years ago. The problem is that efficiency does not sell as easily as bigger numbers. &#x20;This extends beyond raw GPU power and into the display market, where increasing refresh rates and resolutions are marketed as critical upgrades, despite diminishing real-world benefits for most users. While refresh rates above 120Hz may offer marginal improvements for competitive esports players, the average user sees little benefit beyond a certain threshold. Similarly, 8K resolutions are pushed as the next frontier, even though 4K remains underutilized due to game optimization and hardware constraints. This is why GPUs keep getting bigger, hotter, and more expensive, even when most gamers would be fine with a card from five years ago. It is why every generation brings another “must-have” feature, regardless of whether it impacts real-world performance.&#x20; Marketing under fiat operates on the principle of making people think they need something they do not. The fiat standard does not just distort capital allocation. It manufactures demand by exaggerating the importance of specifications that most users do not truly need. The goal is not technological progress but sales volume. True innovation would focus on meaningful performance gains that align with actual gaming demands, such as improving latency, frame-time consistency, and efficient power consumption. Instead, marketing convinces consumers they need unnecessary upgrades, driving them into endless hardware cycles that favor stock prices over user experience. They need the next-gen cycle to maintain high margins. The hardware is no longer designed for users. It is designed for shareholders. A company operating on sound money would not rely on deceptive marketing cycles. It would align product development with real user needs instead of forcing artificial demand. ### **The Shift to AI** For years, GPUs were optimized for gaming. Then AI changed everything. OpenAI, Google, and Stability AI now outbid consumers for GPUs. The 4090 became impossible to find, not because of gamers, but because AI labs were hoarding them. The same companies that depended on the consumer upgrade cycle now see their real profits coming from data centers. Yet, they still push gaming hardware aggressively. However, legitimate areas for improvement do exist. While marketing exaggerates the need for higher FPS at extreme resolutions, real gaming performance should focus on frame stability, low latency, and efficient rendering techniques. These are the areas where actual innovation should be happening. Instead, the industry prioritizes artificial performance milestones to create the illusion of progress, rather than refining and optimizing for the gaming experience itself. Why? ### **Gamers Fund the R&D for AI and Bear the Cost of Scalping** NVIDIA still needs gamers, but not in the way most think. The gaming market provides steady revenue, but it is no longer the priority. With production capacity shifting toward AI and industrial clients, fewer GPUs are available for gamers. This reduced supply has led to rampant scalping, where resellers exploit scarcity to drive up prices beyond reasonable levels. Instead of addressing the issue, NVIDIA benefits from the inflated demand and price perception, creating an even stronger case for prioritizing enterprise sales. Gaming revenue subsidizes AI research. The more RTX cards they sell, the more they justify pouring resources into data-center GPUs like the H100, which generate significantly higher margins than gaming hardware. AI dictates the future of GPUs. If NVIDIA and AMD produced dedicated gamer-specific GPUs in higher volumes, they could serve that market at lower prices. But in the fiat-driven world of stockholder demands, maintaining artificially constrained supply ensures maximum profitability. Gamers are left paying inflated prices for hardware that is no longer built with them as the primary customer. That is why GPU prices keep climbing. Gamers are no longer the main customer. They are a liquidity pool. ### **The Financial Reality** The financial reports confirm this shift: **NVIDIA’s 2024 fiscal year** saw a 126% revenue increase, reaching \$60.9 billion. The data center segment alone grew 217%, generating \$47.5 billion. ([Source](https://investor.nvidia.com/news/press-release-details/2024/NVIDIA-Announces-Financial-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-and-Fiscal-2024/)) The numbers make it clear. The real money is in AI and data centers, not gaming. NVIDIA has not only shifted its focus away from gamers but has also engaged in financial engineering to maintain its dominance. The company has consistently engaged in substantial stock buybacks, a hallmark of fiat-driven financial practices. In August 2023, NVIDIA announced a \$25 billion share repurchase program, surprising some investors given the stock's significant rise that year. ([Source](https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidias-25-billion-buyback-a-head-scratcher-some-shareholders-2023-08-25/)) This was followed by an additional \$50 billion buyback authorization in 2024, bringing the total to \$75 billion over two years. ([Source](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nvidias-stock-buyback-plan-is-one-of-the-biggest-of-2024-is-that-a-good-thing-9beba5c5)) These buybacks are designed to return capital to shareholders and can enhance earnings per share by reducing the number of outstanding shares. However, they also reflect a focus on short-term stock price appreciation rather than long-term value creation. Instead of using capital for product innovation, NVIDIA directs it toward inflating stock value, ultimately reducing its long-term resilience and innovation potential. In addition to shifting production away from consumer GPUs, NVIDIA has also enabled AI firms to use its chips as collateral to secure massive loans. Lambda, an AI cloud provider, secured a \$500 million loan backed by NVIDIA's H200 and Blackwell AI chips, with financing provided by Macquarie Group and Industrial Development Funding. ([Source](https://www.reuters.com/technology/lambda-secures-500-mln-loan-with-nvidia-chips-collateral-2024-04-04/)) This practice mirrors the way Bitcoin miners have used mining hardware as collateral, expecting continuous high returns to justify the debt. GPUs are fast-depreciating assets that lose value rapidly as new generations replace them. Collateralizing loans with such hardware is a high-risk strategy that depends on continued AI demand to justify the debt. AI firms borrowing against them are placing a leveraged bet on demand staying high. If AI market conditions shift or next-generation chips render current hardware obsolete, the collateral value could collapse, leading to cascading loan defaults and liquidations. This is not a sound-money approach to business. It is fiat-style quicksand financialization, where loans are built on assets with a limited shelf life. Instead of focusing on sustainable capital allocation, firms are leveraging their future on rapid turnover cycles. This further shifts resources away from gamers, reinforcing the trend where NVIDIA prioritizes high-margin AI sales over its original gaming audience.&#x20; At the same time, NVIDIA has been accused of leveraging anti-competitive tactics to maintain its market dominance. The GeForce Partner Program (GPP) launched in 2018 sought to lock hardware partners into exclusive deals with NVIDIA, restricting consumer choice and marginalizing AMD. Following industry backlash, the program was canceled. ([Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_Partner_Program))&#x20; NVIDIA is not merely responding to market demand but shaping it through artificial constraints, financialization, and monopolistic control. The result is an industry where consumers face higher prices, limited options, and fewer true innovations as companies prioritize financial games over engineering excellence. On this basis, short-term downturns fueled by stock buybacks and leveraged bets create instability, leading to key staff layoffs. This forces employees into survival mode rather than fostering long-term innovation and career growth. Instead of building resilient, forward-looking teams, companies trapped in fiat incentives prioritize temporary financial engineering over actual product and market development. ### **A Sound Money Alternative: Aligning Incentives** Under a sound money system, consumers would become more mindful of purchases as prices naturally decline over time. This would force businesses to prioritize real value creation instead of relying on artificial scarcity and marketing hype. Companies would need to align their strategies with long-term customer satisfaction and sustainable engineering instead of driving demand through planned obsolescence. Imagine an orange-pilled CEO at NVIDIA. Instead of chasing infinite growth, they persuade the board to pivot toward sustainability and long-term value creation. The company abandons artificial product cycles, prioritizing efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Gaming GPUs are designed to last a decade, not three years. The model shifts to modular upgrades instead of full replacements. Pricing aligns with real user needs, not speculative stock market gains. Investors initially panic. The stock takes a temporary hit, but as consumers realize they no longer need to upgrade constantly, brand loyalty strengthens. Demand stabilizes, reducing volatility in production and supply chains. Gamers benefit from high-quality products that do not degrade artificially. AI buyers still access high-performance chips but at fair market prices, no longer subsidized by forced consumer churn. This is not an abstract vision. Businesses could collateralize loans with Bitcoin. Companies could also leverage highly sought-after end products that maintain long-term value. Instead of stock buybacks or anti-competitive practices, companies would focus on building genuine, long-term value. A future where Bitcoin-backed reserves replace fiat-driven financial engineering would stabilize capital allocation, preventing endless boom-bust cycles. This shift would eliminate the speculative nature of AI-backed loans, fostering financial stability for both borrowers and lenders. Sound money leads to sound business. When capital allocation is driven by real value rather than debt-fueled expansion, industries focus on sustainable innovation rather than wasteful iteration. ### **Reclaiming Time Sovereignty for Companies** The fiat system forces corporations into unsustainable growth cycles. Companies that embrace financial independence and time sovereignty can escape this trap and focus on long-term value. GPU development illustrates this distortion. The RTX 3080 met nearly all gaming needs, yet manufacturers push unnecessary performance gains to fuel stock prices rather than improve usability. GPUs are no longer designed for gamers but for AI and enterprise clients, shifting NVIDIA’s priorities toward financial engineering over real innovation. This cycle of GPU inflation stems from fiat-driven incentives—growth for the sake of stock performance rather than actual demand. Under a sound money standard, companies would build durable products, prioritizing efficiency over forced obsolescence. Just as individuals can reclaim financial sovereignty, businesses can do the same. Embracing sound money fosters sustainable business strategies, where technology serves real needs instead of short-term speculation. #Bitcoin #FITS #Marketing #TimeSovereignty #BitcoinFixesThis #OptOut #EngineeringNotFinance #SoundBusiness

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, platforms like Twitter and Facebook have dominated the space for years. They’ve shaped the way we interact, share, and consume information. But as censorship concerns, algorithmic manipulation, and corporate control over data become more apparent, a new contender has emerged—NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays). The differences are striking for those who have stepped into the NOSTR ecosystem. Let’s dive into what sets it apart and why it’s more than just another social media platform—**it’s a movement**. ### **Decentralization vs. Corporate Control** The fundamental structure is one of the most noticeable differences between NOSTR and traditional platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Both are owned by massive corporations that dictate what can and cannot be said. They collect data, sell advertisements, and use algorithms to curate what users see. NOSTR, on the other hand, is fully decentralized. No single entity controls the platform, no shadowy moderation teams tweak visibility based on corporate interests, and no risk of being permanently banned by a faceless algorithm. Instead, NOSTR operates on an open protocol, allowing anyone to participate without gatekeepers. Your content is truly yours, and no one can take that away from you. ### **A Different Class of People** Scrolling through Twitter or Facebook often feels like wading through a digital battlefield. Political flame wars, mind-numbing clickbait, and attention-seeking outrage dominate the feeds. While both platforms do have intelligent and well-meaning users, they are drowned out by noise, bots, and engagement-hacking algorithms designed to fuel division. NOSTR, by contrast, attracts a different breed of users—people who value free speech, independent thought, and meaningful conversation. Many of them are builders, thinkers, and pioneers eager to create a better way of interacting online. There’s a noticeable shift in tone; rather than content driven by controversy and outrage, you’ll find people discussing innovation, philosophy, and real-world solutions. Conversations feel more organic, unfiltered, and free from the artificial constraints imposed by big tech algorithms. ### **Similarities Exist But With a Better Foundation** At a glance, using a NOSTR client may seem similar to traditional social media platforms. Users post messages (called ‘notes’), interact with others, and build followings. You can reply, share, and engage much like you would on Twitter. But under the hood, everything operates on a more open, transparent system. Instead of relying on centralized servers controlled by corporations, NOSTR functions through relays—public or private servers that transmit messages. Since there’s no corporate overlord dictating what gets priority in your feed, you see content chronologically and unfiltered. Additionally, identity and reputation are built through cryptographic keys rather than being at the mercy of a username that a platform can seize or shadowban at will. ### **No Ads, No Tracking, No Manipulation** Let’s be honest—traditional social media has become a giant advertisement machine. Everything is optimized to keep you engaged just long enough to serve more ads and collect more data. Your feed isn’t showing you what’s most relevant; it’s showing you what makes the company the most money. NOSTR eliminates this problem entirely. There are no forced ads, no trackers collecting your data, and no algorithm deciding what you should see. Instead, users fund relays or tip content creators directly, creating an ecosystem that values people over profit. ### **For New Users: A Starting Point** If you’re new to NOSTR, welcome! I’m still a beginner myself, but I’ve already seen the potential this platform has to change how we connect online. Getting started can seem overwhelming at first, but there are a few key tools and resources that can help smooth the transition. For a great user-friendly NOSTR client, **Damus** (for iOS) and **Amethyst** (for Android) are excellent places to start. If you prefer a web-based option, **Primal.net** offers a simple and intuitive experience. These platforms make it easy to dive in, start posting, and get a feel for how NOSTR operates. But NOSTR isn’t just about social media—it’s a foundation for something bigger. Developers and innovators are expanding their reach beyond simple note-sharing. Specialized communities and applications are already emerging, including platforms for **photography, recipe sharing, and even swap sites**, all built using the NOSTR framework. The possibilities are growing, and the future looks bright. ### **Final Thoughts** The shift from Twitter or Facebook to NOSTR isn’t just about switching platforms; it’s about embracing a fundamentally better way to communicate online. With decentralization, real freedom of expression, and a community of forward-thinking individuals, NOSTR offers an experience that traditional social media simply cannot match. For those seeking a place where ideas flow freely, where profit-driven algorithms don’t dictate engagement, and where you control your own digital presence, NOSTR is not just an alternative. It’s an upgrade. Let's connect and learn together! npub1x7zk9nfqsjwuuwm5mpdu8eevsnu2kk0ff23fv58p45d50fhuvaeszg44p2 primal.net/Goody

@ 9ea10fd4:011d3b15

This article by Thomas Piketty has, in a way, convinced me that the tariff war will indeed take place. Moreover, the Trumpist nationalism-capitalism he describes—authoritarian and the most aggressively extractivist—places Canada in the position of a coveted target. The fact that “if the Republican Party has become so nationalist and virulent towards the outside world, it is primarily due to the failure of Reagan-era policies, which were supposed to boost growth but instead reduced it and led to the stagnation of incomes for the majority” is of little consolation. \*“Let’s be clear: Trumpist national-capitalism loves to flaunt its strength, but in reality, it is fragile and on edge. Europe has the means to confront it, provided it regains confidence in itself, forges new alliances, and calmly analyzes the strengths and limitations of this ideological framework. Europe is well-positioned for this: it has long based its development on a similar military-extractivist model, for better or worse. After taking control of maritime routes, raw materials, and the global textile market by force, European powers imposed colonial tributes throughout the 19th century on all resistant countries, from Haiti to China to Morocco. On the eve of 1914, they engaged in a fierce struggle for control of territories, resources, and global capitalism. They even imposed tributes on each other, increasingly exorbitant ones—Prussia on France in 1871, then France on Germany in 1919: 132 billion gold marks, more than three years of Germany’s GDP at the time. As much as the tribute imposed on Haiti in 1825, except this time, Germany had the means to defend itself. The endless escalation led to the collapse of the system and European hubris. (…) If we reason in terms of purchasing power parity, the reality is quite different (…) With this measure, we (…) see that China’s GDP surpassed that of the United States in 2016. It is currently more than 30% higher and will reach twice the U.S. GDP by 2035. This has very concrete consequences in terms of influence and investment capacity in the Global South, especially if the United States locks itself into its arrogant and neo-colonial stance. The reality is that the United States is on the verge of losing control of the world, and Trumpist outbursts will change nothing.” https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/02/15/thomas-piketty-trump-s-national-capitalism-likes-to-flaunt-its-strength-but-it-is-actually-fragile_6738187_23.html

@ df478568:2a951e67

Rockland Review I bought a Rak Wireless Pocket Mesh from the [Rockland](https://store.rokland.com/) after learning about[fresnomesh](https://fresnomesh.com/mobile)it from [The Survival Podcast](https://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/lora-mesh/ and [watching Bitcoin Veterans use Meshtastic to set up emergency communication channels](nostr:note18ydlx9lyy6ql8c3yy60sa059cw7g9v00n674utz46rh62gyx42as28tfdd) in North Carolina after hurricanes knocked out all communication. ## The Pocket Mesh Makes Meshtastic Easy  The battery lasts a long time. I've had my Pocket mesh running for a couple days without the battery dying on me. I scanned a QR code with my phone and could connect to meshtastic nerds like me right away. I did not set up a repeater. It was no complicated at all. I want to get a few more of these for my family. ### Bitcoin Accepted Here  One other thing I really like about this company is that they accept bitcoin over the lightning network. You don't need bitcoin to use bitcoin You can download the Strike app and automatically convert your fiat USD to bitcoin over the lightning network. The advantage is you do not need to trust your sensetive credit card information with Rak Wireless. I'm nor saying I don't trust their cybersecurity, I'm saying I don't need to. Summary created by unleashed.chat. nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/000000000000000000018ec35a489c8329d35139ee03e708e49bc0029e2f62b4 https://gitea.marc26z.com/marc/Marc26z/raw/commit/bdc2e44b480876978f283aeb020c716ab0462fda/Screenshot%20from%202025-02-18%2016-26-27.png

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

> Nothing disgusts me more than the way the white-collar justice system operates—where billion-dollar crimes are punished with pocket-change fines, and the executives responsible walk free, richer than ever. You will never see this on the centralized, Keynesian, fiat-owned mainstream media. Only here on #Nostr, where the truth isn’t for sale. > JPMorgan Chase is not just a bank—it is a repeat offender in the global financial system. With 272 violations and $39.3 billion in fines since 2000, its track record rivals that of the most notorious criminal enterprises. And yet, it remains untouchable, shielded by its financial dominance and a regulatory system that punishes lawbreaking with fines too insignificant to be real deterrents. In 2024 alone, JPMorgan Chase reported $58.5 billion in net income, an 18% increase from 2023. Meanwhile, it incurred $825 million in fines, which accounted for just 1.41% of its net income—a rounding error for the banking giant. ### Fines vs. Profits: The Cost of Doing Business Year Total Revenue (in billions) Net Income (in billions) Total Fines (in billions) Fines as % of Net Income 2024 $177.6 $58.5 $0.825 1.41% 2023 $158.1 $49.6 Data not specified N/A 2022 $132.3 $35.9 Data not specified N/A ###### Sources: Bloomberg, Ventureburn JPMorgan’s profits dwarf the penalties it pays, showing that these fines are simply the cost of doing business. ### 2024: A Continuation of Violations Despite its massive profits, JPMorgan continues its long history of lawbreaking. In 2024 alone, it has been fined $825 million across multiple categories: • $250 million – Banking violations • $200 million – Investor protection violations • $151 million – Securities violations • $125 million – Price-fixing practices • $98.2 million – Banking violations Additionally, in January 2024, the bank was fined $18 million for forcing customers to stay silent about illegal activities through confidential release agreements—another example of corporate misconduct being covered up rather than addressed. JPMorgan has admitted to market manipulation, securities fraud, and price-fixing—yet it remains a repeat offender because financial penalties do not impact its bottom line. ### The Human Cost: How JPMorgan Hurts Regular People While JPMorgan’s executives cash in on record profits, their crimes directly harm ordinary people: • Loan denials due to false credit reporting • Higher interest rates on credit cards and loans • Difficulty opening new deposit accounts • Challenges in renting apartments or securing jobs • Thousands of suspicious transactions totaling $1.5 billion went unreported Beyond the numbers, real people suffer from these violations. In 2024, JPMorgan was sued for failing to protect consumers from fraud on the Zelle payment platform. Customers lost over $870 million since Zelle’s 2017 launch, and JPMorgan ignored thousands of fraud complaints, even advising victims to contact scammers directly to get their money back. This is not just corporate negligence—it is systematic exploitation. ### Breakdown of JPMorgan’s Violations (2000-2024) JPMorgan’s violations span nearly every financial crime category imaginable: • Toxic Securities Abuses: $13.46 billion • Investor Protection Violations: $6.25 billion • Mortgage Abuses: $5.36 billion • Banking Violations: $4.26 billion • Consumer Protection Violations: $3.19 billion This systematic lawbreaking has become a business strategy rather than a legal risk. ### Regulatory Capture: Why JPMorgan Gets Away With It The question remains: Why does nothing change? The answer is regulatory capture—where the regulators responsible for policing the banks are influenced or controlled by the industry itself. ### The Revolving Door: How Banks Own Their Regulators • Regulators frequently leave their jobs to work for the banks they once supervised. • The banking industry is so complex that even lawmakers struggle to verify its practices. • Regulators fear antagonizing banks because they often seek employment in the same industry. JPMorgan exploits this system to avoid real consequences. Its CEO, Jamie Dimon, has openly criticized regulation and vowed to fight new financial rules, ensuring that oversight remains weak and penalties remain a slap on the wrist. ### Systematic Failures in Regulation • Consumer protection is spread across seven different agencies, creating inefficiency. • Conflicts of interest within these agencies weaken enforcement. • Some regulators have explicit mandates to promote the financial system’s competitiveness rather than hold banks accountable. This cycle ensures that fines remain low, executives avoid jail, and banks like JPMorgan continue breaking the law with impunity. ### Industry-Wide Issues: A Systemic Problem JPMorgan Chase is not alone. The banking sector as a whole is rife with fraud and corruption: • Wells Fargo: In 2024, Wells Fargo was sued for failing to protect customers from fraud on the Zelle payment platform, contributing to $870 million in consumer losses. • Bank of America: Also implicated in the Zelle fraud lawsuit for failing to implement basic fraud protections. These cases prove that financial misconduct is not an exception—it’s the industry standard. ### Too Big to Fail, Too Criminal to Stop JPMorgan’s status as a “too big to fail” institution means that no matter how many laws it breaks, no matter how many billions it pays in fines, it remains untouchable. If an individual committed fraud, price-fixing, or money laundering on this scale, they would spend a lifetime in prison. JPMorgan? It just keeps making record profits. This is not justice. This is the financial elite operating above the law. Until executives face criminal prosecution instead of just fines, JPMorgan Chase will remain what it has been for decades: **A financial felon in a three-piece suit.** ### The Next Stage of Banking Corruption JPMorgan’s violations are not just a relic of past financial crises. The next stage of banking corruption is already underway—and this time, the stakes are even higher. With AI-driven market manipulation, rising corporate surveillance, and the increasing concentration of financial power, the system is evolving in ways that regulators are not prepared to handle. JPMorgan and its peers are already positioning themselves to profit from the next crisis, just as they did in 2008. The question is not whether JPMorgan will commit future crimes. The question is how much they will profit from them—and how little they will be held accountable. The reality is clear: JPMorgan Chase is not a bank that sometimes breaks the law. It is a criminal enterprise that happens to operate as a bank. **#Bitcoin is the exit. The escape from their rigged system. The end of their unchecked power.**

@ 88d8c9d1:5b3ac02b

This article was first <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/an-untold-story-of-bitcoin-in-thailand">published</a> on Bitcoin Magazine at Aug 27, 2024. In the rapidly expanding global Bitcoin community, Western biases often dominate the narrative, overlooking diverse stories from around the world. One such story belongs to Didier Somnuke, a small business owner in the heart of Bangkok, a [city](https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40034269) known for welcoming 22.8 million international tourists in 2023, surpassing cities like Paris, London, and New York City. Although Thailand [has](https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/08/03/thai-central-bank-unveils-measures-to-tackle-high-household-debt) experienced a massive spike in household debt, reaching 16.37 trillion baht (US$463 billion) or 90.8% of the national GDP, up from less than 14 trillion baht in 2019. [primal.net/p/npub1xzh2kqynr29x6j3ln6x05f26ha0c0ucfr280uzljftlgcthv9r6skqe7dt] aka Didier Somnuke, born in [Yala province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Thailand_insurgency#Human_rights_issues), where geopolitical conflict is a harsh reality. Southern Thailand is [one of the poorest parts of Thailand](https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/thai/south-interviews-09092022123451.html#:~:text=Provinces%20in%20the%20Deep%20South,poverty%20rate%20is%206%20percent.) with a poverty rate of 34% compared to the national average of 6%, according to the World Bank, has been plagued by instability. Since 2004, this turmoil has [claimed](https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/whats-behind-the-growing-number-of-attacks-in-southern-thailand/) over 7,000 lives and injured 13,500 people. As a Thai saying goes, “ทวงสิทธิ์ที่จะมีชีวิตที่ดีกลับคืนมา” (Reclaim the right to a better life), In 2012, Didier left his conflict-ridden hometown for Bangkok, where pursuing higher education was a beacon of hope for a better life. At that time, Bitcoin and financial concepts were distant ideas in Didier's universe. Navigating the vibrant streets of Bangkok, Didier completed his master's degree and joined the workforce, taking up a typical 9-to-5 job. For a domestic migrant, this was a significant achievement. Reflecting on his journey, he recalled his teacher’s words, “When you are old, you have time and money, but you will lack the energy to start a business. If you want to do it, just do it.” With this advice in mind, Didier resigned from his monotonous corporate job after a year and opened a new chapter in his life. Didier borrowed 50,000 THB (approximately 1,500 USD) from his brother to begin a street burger shop. He chose to start a burger business because he believed it was easy to launch with a small investment. Driven by his ambition and inspired by the bustling energy of Bangkok, a city that never sleeps. He spent about a year developing the recipe and began the business in 2015. In the first three to four years, he managed everything on his own as a solo entrepreneur, and his income was lower than the wage he earned in his corporate job. He often wondered if he had made a mistake by quitting his job to start a business that generated less income. However, after five years, everything started to improve. Sales at the shop began to increase, and Didier started hiring employees. He admitted, "I entered the crypto market with greed; all I wanted was to get rich quickly." In 2017, he and his friends pooled their resources to buy three ASIC miners from Bitmain to try mining Bitcoin and altcoins like Litecoin and Dogecoin. They saw a return on their investment within six months. Didier bought his first Bitcoin in early 2017 to purchase those ASIC miners but didn't know how to transfer his Bitcoin, so he ended up using a bank transfer instead. Reflecting on his early experiences, he recalled, "My first Bitcoin were slowly converted to shitcoins during the bull market. I was so lucky. I got a 100% profit almost immediately whenever I bought something." Despite having zero knowledge about cryptocurrency, he gained confidence and became a super shitcoiner, paying very little attention to Bitcoin. In mid-2017, he learned about leverage and trading. His profits skyrocketed due to leverage. Although luck was not always on his side forever, in early 2018, the market crashed, and he lost over 1 million Thai baht (almost 30,000 USD), while his initial capital was just about 100,000 Thai baht (about 3,000 USD). On top of that, he also lost his shitcoins from the mining pool. He had kept all of his shitcoins in the mining pool's custody, and one day, when he checked his account, every shitcoin he owned, worth 10,000 USD were gone. The notice on the mining website, "Hash-to-Coin," stated that if coins were kept with them for more than three months, they would be considered a donation.  He disheartenedly said, "I lost everything." But unlike most people, "I didn't blame Bitcoin. I still see it as the future. I blame myself. I didn't know anything and I did over leverage." He emphasized that despite his heavy financial losses, his girlfriend did not leave him. "My girlfriend was my customer. She regularly came to buy burgers. I met her while I was struggling financially during my early days as an entrepreneur. She supported me and said we could make the money back." Determined to turn his circumstances around, he discovered [Mr. Piriya](https://www.youtube.com/@user-qh7ic9rh3l) on YouTube and started following his live streams about the real Bitcoin education. This marked the moment he began to truly understand what Bitcoin and cryptocurrency are. Enlightened by this unique knowledge, he came to see Bitcoin as a saving technology rather than just a trading tool. Over three years, Didier recovered from his losses and emerged stronger. He got to be friend with Mr. Piriya, and together they founded a company called [Right Shift](https://rightshift.to/) to develop Bitcoin content in Thai language through multiple social media channels, including on Nostr (npub1ejn774qahqmgjsfajawy7634unk88y26yktvwuzp9kfgdeejx9mqdm97a5) with one of the popular hashtag #siamstr. As a team, they translated "The Bitcoin Standard" and "The Fiat Standard" into Thai, both of which became best-selling books in Thailand. They organized the first-ever [Bitcoin Thailand Conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihoniIyyHzQ) in 2023 and are now preparing for the next one in September 2024.  Didier now accepts Bitcoin as a payment method in his main burger shop, one of four different franchises. He uses Wallet of Satoshi to process these payments. Within a year of implementing this initiative, he has received over 3 million sats in payments, though he initially expected to see more transactions in Bitcoin. In his marketplace, some neighboring small business owners occasionally ask him about Bitcoin as they notice the large Bitcoin poster in his shop. Although they often lose interest once he explains, according to his several unsuccessful experience. Instead now, he focuses his energy online, where he can make more impact to people who are willing to embrace innovation.  In 2022, approximately [8.4 million](https://www.statista.com/topics/10781/cryptocurrencies-in-thailand/#topicOverview) people in Thailand, accounting for 12% of the country's population, used cryptocurrency. Estimates [suggest](https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1033594/thailand-cryptocurrency-users) that by 2028, this number will rise to about 17.67 million, representing 25% of the population. During our conversation, Didier claimed that there are about 50,000 Bitcoin users in Thailand and speculated that the Thai government might intervene in Bitcoin adoption, potentially mandating the use of KYC wallets because they dislike money systems they can't control. In the worst-case scenario, Didier remains resolute: he will continue advocating for Bitcoin with his friends. "It is not an option," he asserted, "it is the only way to survive."

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

As a new artist embarking on my journey, social media is often considered indispensable for reaching an audience, sharing creative work, and building a community. Yet, despite being just at the beginning of this path, I've decided to step away from X. This might seem counterintuitive. After all, isn’t social media where new artists are "supposed" to be? But my reasons for leaving X outweigh its potential benefits, and I’d like to share why. A key part of my decision is also a desire to focus on privacy-focused social media platforms, like Nostr. ## **A Space That Feels Fake** When I first joined X, I hoped to find a vibrant community of artists, creators, and music lovers. Instead, I was struck by how much of the content feels manufactured, performative, and inauthentic. From exaggerated personas to posts carefully engineered for maximum engagement, it’s hard to discern genuine connections in a sea of algorithms and artificiality. As an artist, authenticity is a cornerstone of the creative process. I want to connect with people on a real level, and X simply doesn’t feel like the space for that. ## **High Promotion of "Guaranteed Follower" Posts** X is also inundated with posts promising guaranteed followers if you follow certain steps or buy into particular schemes. These posts feel transactional and shallow, further detracting from any sense of genuine community. Building an authentic audience should be about meaningful connections, not about gaming the system or chasing empty numbers. ## **A Platform That Amplifies Hate** It’s not just the systematic amplification of hateful posts from various antisocial bigots, nor the reinstatement of noxious individuals previously banned for such conduct, nor the deluge of porn bots and other automated gibberish, nor the scrapping of virtually all forms of moderation. Elon Musk himself has used the platform to endorse explicitly anti-semitic conspiracy theories in the past. By remaining on X, users contribute to revenue that supports this toxic environment. ## **The Elon Musk Factor** It’s impossible to ignore the influence of Elon Musk on the platform. Whether or not you’re a fan of him, it’s undeniable that his posts and interests dominate X’s algorithm. This creates an environment where one person’s voice is disproportionately amplified, drowning out diverse perspectives. I’m here to explore a mosaic of ideas, not to scroll through endless updates about what one billionaire thinks. ## **Verification Chaos** The decision to allow anyone—including parody accounts—to purchase verification has turned a once-meaningful badge into a farce. When parody accounts can pass as legitimate sources, the line between reality and satire blurs. This undermines trust and credibility across the platform. It’s hard to take X seriously when something as fundamental as identity verification has become a joke. ## **Hypocrisy of Institutions Remaining on X** Many public institutions, including universities, continue to maintain a presence on X for self-promotion, despite the platform’s deliberate and sustained violation of what should be their ethical standards. This is deeply hypocritical. A few institutions, such as the University of Luxembourg, have left X, setting an example by aligning their actions with their stated values. The alternative? Platforms like the Fediverse and Nostr, where one can control their policies and foster a healthier environment for discourse and information sharing. ## **The Need for Genuine Content and Privacy** At the heart of my decision is a deep belief that the world needs more genuine content and spaces that respect user privacy. I want to be part of spaces where creativity, authenticity, meaningful engagement, and data protection are prioritized. Unfortunately, X no longer feels like such a space. This is why I'm particularly interested in exploring platforms that prioritize privacy. I’d rather invest my time and energy into platforms that align with my values and foster the kind of community I want to build. ## **What’s Next?** There are other platforms, especially privacy-focused ones, where I can connect with people who value authenticity and data security. I’m excited to explore new avenues and create spaces that reflect the kind of world I want to see: one where genuine content thrives, authenticity is celebrated, and privacy is respected.

@ dbe0605a:f8fd5b2c

Originally posted on Nostr: https://highlighter.com/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpklqvpdfcuch9wkh2gary7erd4275jmrf6qw0z5sz0dhj8u06kevqyvhwumn8ghj7urjv4kkjatd9ec8y6tdv9kzumn9wshszxrhwden5te0ve5kcar9wghxummnw3ezuamfdejj7qgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctcpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhszythwden5te0dehhxarj9emkjmn99uqzqjn0d9hz6argv5k57ur9dck5y6t5vdhkjm3df4shqtt5xduxz6tsrdmw7l  I care deeply about bitcoin adoption and ability to use bitcoin with all features of money — saving, spending, earning. We're entering an age where more and more people realise "hodl never spend" meme is hindering bitcoin adoption. More and more of use want to use bitcoin in everyday life, because we're living on it and because it's superior in every aspect. It's also incredibly fun to use it for payments. For money to thrive, it needs to circulate. Spending bitcoin orangepills merchants, their families and people around them — with each bitcoiner coming to a shop and paying with bitcoin, it's a point of contact that can trigger a train of though that later may fruit into action — "_Why are they so interested in bitcoin, what's actually so special about it?_" "_Hmm, maybe this time I will not exchange it for fiat immediately?_" Global merchant adoption grows, every day new business around the world decide to start accepting bitcoin payments. Circular economies are blooming on all continents, where people live in a new, experimental, orange coin paradigm. Companies and projects like Blink, Bitcoin Jungle, Plan B, Orange Pill App do an amazing job in facilitating this — providing great wallets, tools & services for merchants, and finally onboarding merchants themself. They also often support circular economies financially or in other ways. This is very valuable and makes the road to hyperbitcoinization a tad shorter. But there is one thing those companies are doing wrong — they're using their own, proprietary maps that display only merchants using their own wallets or POS software. I'd like to now list a few reasons why those great projects should migrate their maps into an open source, bitcoin map that is BTC Map. ## Open source, stupid [BTCmap](https://btcmap.org/) is open source, built on OpenStreetMaps, open to both developers contributions but also for map taggers (called [shadowy supertaggers](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)). Anyone can contribute, even If you don't code. Anyone can verify merchants or add new merchants to the map. BTC Map team developed [a neat system of verifications](https://btcmap.org/verify-location) that just works better than anything before or any alternative maps today.  ## Many apps, one map BTC Map is integrated inside a dozen of wallets and apps, to name a few: Wallet of Satoshi, Coinos, Bitlocal, Fedi or Aqua. It's a public good that any bitcoin product can use and grow it's network effect.  ## Uniting mappers' work BTC Map does not discriminate bitcoin merchants, that means all the merchants from proprietary maps are being mapped by taggers to BTC Map. By mapping on a closed source, proprietary map, the same merchant is mapped two times, usually by two different people — it's duplicating the same work without any bringing any benefit to both projects. Using BTC Map also brings you way more people verifying If those merchants actually still accept bitcoin, making it easier to have an up-to-date database of actual adoption. ## More bitcoin spent at your merchants When you have a business focused on spending bitcoin and onboarding merchants, you want as much bitcoin spent there as possible. If a bitcoiner coming to the area does not use your own map but some other map, they can be completely unaware that they can let their sats flow to your merchants. If we all use one merchants database, this problem disappears and more sats will flow. Why wouldn't you want your merchants displayed in dozens of other apps, completely for free? ## OpenStreetMap map is just better  Take a look at the image above: It's [La Pirraya](https://btcmap.org/community/bitcoin-la-pirraya), a small sleepy island town in El Salvador with a circular economy being facilitated by Bitcoin Beach. Even though Blink has many more merchants compared to BTC Map, when I visited it a few months ago I could find them. Not because they do not exist, but because the map does not show any roads and it was very hard to locate them in a dense network of narrow streets of La Pirraya. BTC Map allows you to turn multiple versions of satellite maps views, making it way easier to find your point of interest. Pins also indicate what kind of business it is, where in Blink all the pins are the same and you need to click each to find out what it is. Even then not always it's clear, since Blink only displays names, while BTC Map tells you type of the merchant, and very often shows you working hours, phone numbers, website, social links, etc. ## Excellent community tools BTC Map is focusing providing tools for communities to maintain their merchants map. [Each community has it's own page](https://btcmap.org/communities) with own links to community website or socials, displays a list of all the merchants, shows community stats, displays merchants that were not verified for a long time, and more. It even allows to "boost" merchants to make them more visible on the map and on the list. It's perfect tooling both for communities and businesses onboarding merchants to their software.  ## Easy integration & configuration Integrating BTC Map on your website or app is easy. It's just [a few lines of code of iframe](https://arc.net/l/quote/vrdudfnn) to embed the map, but you can also use [BTC Map API](https://arc.net/l/quote/sybkpvcu) for more custom integration. Do you to display, eg. you can display only merchants from your community? No problem, you can do that. Since it's all open source, you can configure it in many ways that will suit your needs. ## Kudos I'd like to thank projects that understood all above and integrated BTC Map already. Those are Coinos, Wallet of Satoshi, Pouch, Bolt Card, BitLocal, Fedi, Decouvre Bitcoin, Osmo, Bitcoin Rocks!, Lipa, Spirit of Satoshi, Blockstream, Satlantis, Aqua Wallet and Adopting Bitcoin ## Encouragement & an offer I'll end that with encouragement to projects that use their own maps, but haven't embraced BTC Map yet. Those are Blink, Bitcoin Jungle, Plan B, Osmo, Athena, Orange Pill App, Inbitcoin (I probably missed some, tag them!). You are doing great work, but let's join forces and paint the world orange together! From here I would like to offer help in tagging your merchants on BTC Map. Just reach me out, and me and other supertaggers will do the work. Let the sats flow! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888088

@ dbe0605a:f8fd5b2c

<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/8c7ed1e00dc0b41fda7894c7c91f1f8de6d89abc8a988fd989ced9470c0f056d.png"> \ I care deeply about bitcoin adoption and ability to use bitcoin with all features of money — saving, spending, earning. We're entering an age where more and more people realise "hodl never spend" meme is hindering bitcoin adoption. More and more of use want to use bitcoin in everyday life, because we're living on it and because it's superior in every aspect. It's also incredibly fun to use it for payments. For money to thrive, it needs to circulate. Spending bitcoin orangepills merchants, their families and people around them — with each bitcoiner coming to a shop and paying with bitcoin, it's a point of contact that can trigger a train of though that later may fruit into action — "*Why are they so interested in bitcoin, what's actually so special about it?*" "*Hmm, maybe this time I will not exchange it for fiat immediately?*" Global merchant adoption grows, every day new business around the world decide to start accepting bitcoin payments. Circular economies are blooming on all continents, where people live in a new, experimental, orange coin paradigm. Companies and projects like Blink, Bitcoin Jungle, Plan B, Orange Pill App do an amazing job in facilitating this — providing great wallets, tools & services for merchants, and finally onboarding merchants themself. They also often support circular economies financially or in other ways. This is very valuable and makes the road to hyperbitcoinization a tad shorter. But there is one thing those companies are doing wrong — they're using their own, proprietary maps that display only merchants using their own wallets or POS software. I'd like to now list a few reasons why those great projects should migrate their maps into an open source, bitcoin map that is BTC Map. ## Open source, stupid [BTCmap](https://btcmap.org/) is open source, built on OpenStreetMaps, open to both developers contributions but also for map taggers (called [shadowy supertaggers](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)). Anyone can contribute, even If you don't code. Anyone can verify merchants or add new merchants to the map. BTC Map team developed[ a neat system of verifications](https://btcmap.org/verify-location) that just works better than anything before or any alternative maps today. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/2cb0fda0b5b07f4f2ea79589060ada3bc0cec4db4db8634f52843083d8cdfd36.png"> ## Many apps, one map BTC Map is integrated inside a dozen of wallets and apps, to name a few: Wallet of Satoshi, Coinos, Bitlocal, Fedi or Aqua. It's a public good that any bitcoin product can use and grow it's network effect. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/47359543b383d8add9ac641daac03e7d55ab1606255d7f7f6a8acc98b7972b1c.png"> ## Uniting mappers' work BTC Map does not discriminate bitcoin merchants, that means all the merchants from proprietary maps are being mapped by taggers to BTC Map. By mapping on a closed source, proprietary map, the same merchant is mapped two times, usually by two different people — it's duplicating the same work without any bringing any benefit to both projects. Using BTC Map also brings you way more people verifying If those merchants actually still accept bitcoin, making it easier to have an up-to-date database of actual adoption. ## More bitcoin spent at your merchants When you have a business focused on spending bitcoin and onboarding merchants, you want as much bitcoin spent there as possible. If a bitcoiner coming to the area does not use your own map but some other map, they can be completely unaware that they can let their sats flow to your merchants. If we all use one merchants database, this problem disappears and more sats will flow. Why wouldn't you want your merchants displayed in dozens of other apps, completely for free? ## OpenStreetMap map is just better <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/01f40413cbde2b9355105467a91294d6d2a9489f4803a423de07a2c9366ed72d.png"> \ Take a look at the image above: It's [La Pirraya](https://btcmap.org/community/bitcoin-la-pirraya), a small sleepy island town in El Salvador with a circular economy being facilitated by Bitcoin Beach. Even though Blink has many more merchants compared to BTC Map, when I visited it a few months ago I could find them. Not because they do not exist, but because the map does not show any roads and it was very hard to locate them in a dense network of narrow streets of La Pirraya. BTC Map allows you to turn multiple versions of satellite maps views, making it way easier to find your point of interest. Pins also indicate what kind of business it is, where in Blink all the pins are the same and you need to click each to find out what it is. Even then not always it's clear, since Blink only displays names, while BTC Map tells you type of the merchant, and very often shows you working hours, phone numbers, website, social links, etc. ## Excellent community tools BTC Map is focusing providing tools for communities to maintain their merchants map. [Each community has it's own page](https://btcmap.org/communities) with own links to community website or socials, displays a list of all the merchants, shows community stats, displays merchants that were not verified for a long time, and more. It even allows to "boost" merchants to make them more visible on the map and on the list. It's perfect tooling both for communities and businesses onboarding merchants to their software. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/530ee89593784c7b7ce51afc72b1ae0e2e1e07515ce35f5834b2fd7bab129f5b.png"> ## Easy integration & configuration Integrating BTC Map on your website or app is easy. It's [just a few lines of code of iframe to embed the map](https://wiki.btcmap.org/general/embedding), but you can also use [BTC Map API](https://wiki.btcmap.org/api/introduction) for more custom integration. Do you to display, eg. you can display only merchants from your community? No problem, you can do that. Since it's all open source, you can configure it in many ways that will suit your needs. ## Kudos I'd like to thank projects that understood all above and integrated BTC Map already. Those are Coinos, Wallet of Satoshi, Pouch, Bolt Card, BitLocal, Fedi, Decouvre Bitcoin, Osmo, Bitcoin Rocks!, Lipa, Spirit of Satoshi, Blockstream, Satlantis, Aqua Wallet and Adopting Bitcoin. ## Encouragement & an offer I'll end that with encouragement to projects that use their own maps, but haven't embraced BTC Map yet. Those are Blink, Bitcoin Jungle, Plan B, Osmo, Athena, Orange Pill App, Inbitcoin (I probably missed some, tag them!). You are doing great work, but let's join forces and paint the world orange together! From here I would like to offer help in tagging your merchants on BTC Map. Just reach me out, and me and other supertaggers will do the work. Let the sats flow!

@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6

As promised in my last article: nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp394x6dfmvn69cduj7e9l2jgvtvle7n5w5rtrunjlr6tx6up9k7kqq2k6ernff9hw3tyd3y453rdtph5uvm6942kzuw08y0 In this one we will dive into how exactly an unidirectional payments channel powered ecash mint system would be implemented, using the tech available today! So if you haven't read that article yet, give it a read! I first intended to write a longwinded article, explaining each part of the system. But then I realized that I would need some visualization to get the message across in a more digestable way. This lead me to create a slide deck, and as I started to design the slides it became more and more clear that the information is easier shown with visualizations, than written down. I will try to give a summary as best as I can in this article, but I urge you, to please go visit the slide deck too, for the best experience: ----------- ### [TAKE ME TO THE SLIDE DECK!](https://uni-chan.gandlaf.com/) ----------- ### Intro In this article we will go over how we can build unidirectional payment channels on Bitcoin. Then we will take a look into how Cashu ecash mints work, and how we can use unidirectional payment channels to change the dynamics between ecash users and the mint. Before we start, let me also give credits to nostr:npub1htnhsay5dmq3r72tukdw72pduzfdcja0yylcajuvnc2uklkhxp8qnz3qac for comming up with the idea, to nostr:npub148jz5r9xujcjpqygk69yl4jqwjqmzgrqly26plktfjy8g4t7xaysj9xhgp for providing an idea for non-expiring unidirectional channels, and nostr:npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx unconference for hosting an event where these ideas could be discussed and flourish. ### Building unidirectional payment channels If you've read the previous article, you already know what unidirectional payment channels are. There are actually a coupple different ways to implement them, but they all do have a few things in common: 1. The `sender` can only send 2. The `Receiver` can only receive 3. They are VERY simple Way simpler than the duplex channels like we are using in the lightning network today, at least. Of course, duplex channels are being deployed on LN for a reason. They are very versatile and don't have these annoying limitations that the unidirectional payment channels have. They do however have a few drawbacks: 1. Peers have liveness requirements (or they might forfeit their funds) 2. Peers must backup their state after each transaction (if they don't they might forfeit their funds) 3. It is a pretty complex system This article is not meant to discredit duplex channels. I think they are great. I just also think that in some use-cases, their requirements are too high and the system too complex. But anyway, let's see what kind of channels we can build! #### Spillman/CLTV-Channel The Spillman channel idea has been around for a long time. It's even explained in Tadge Dryjas [Presentation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzv9WuqIzA0&t=1969s) on Payment channels and the lightning network from back in the day. I compiled a list of some of the most important propperties of them in the slide below:  Great! Now that we know their properties, let's take a look at how we can create such a channel ([Slides](https://uni-chan.gandlaf.com/#/11)):  We start out by the `sender` creating a `funding TX`. The `sender` doesn't broadcast the transaction though. If he does, he might get locked into a multisig with the `receiver` without an unilateral exit path. Instead the `sender` also creates a `refund TX` spending the outputs of the yet unsigned `funding TX`. The `refund TX` is timelocked, and can only be broadcast after 1 month. Both `sender` and `receiver` can sign this `refund TX` without any risks. Once `sender` receives the signed `refund TX`, he can broadcast the `funding TX` and open the channel. The `sender` can now update the channel state, by pre-signing update transactions and sending them over to the `receiver`. Being a one-way channel, this can be done in a single message. It is very simple. There is no need for invalidating old states, since the `sender` does not hold any signed `update TXs` it is impossible for the `sender` to broadcast an old state. The `receiver` only cares about the latest state anyways, since that is the state where he gets the most money. He can basically delete any old states. The only thing the `receiver` needs to make sure of, is broadcasting the latest `update TX` before the `refund TX's` timelock expires. Otherwise, the `sender` might take the whole channel balance back to himself. This seems to be already a pretty useful construct, due to its simplicity. But we can make it even more simple!  This setup works basically the same way as the previous one, but instead of having a refund transaction, we build the `timelock` spend path directly into the `funding TX` This allows the `sender` to have an unilateral exit right from the start, and he can broadcast the `funding TX` without communicating with the `receiver`. In the worst case, the receiver rejects the channel, and the sender can get his money back after the timelock on the output has expired. Everything else basically works in the same way as in the example above. The beauty about this channel construct is in its simplicity. The drawbacks are obvious, but they do offer some nice properties that might be useful in certain cases.  One of the major drawbacks of the `Spillman-style channels` (apart from being unidirectional) is that they expire. This expiry comes with the neat property that neither of the party has to watch the chain for channel closures, and the `sender` can operate the channel with zero additional state, apart from his private keys. But they do expire. And this can make them quite inflexible. It might work in some contexts, but not so much in others, where time needs to be more flexible. This is where `Roose-Childs triggered channels` come into play. #### Roose-Childs triggered channel (I gave it that name, named after nostr:npub148jz5r9xujcjpqygk69yl4jqwjqmzgrqly26plktfjy8g4t7xaysj9xhgp and nostr:npub1htnhsay5dmq3r72tukdw72pduzfdcja0yylcajuvnc2uklkhxp8qnz3qac . If someone knows if this idea has been around before under a different name, please let us know!) `Roose-Childs triggered channels` were an idea developed by Steven and Luke at the nostr:npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx unconference. They essentially remove the channel expiry limitation in return for introducing the need for the `sender` to create a channel backup at the time of channel creation, and for the `receiver` the need to watch the chain for trigger transactions closing the channel.  They also allow for splicing funds, which can be important for a channel without expiry, allowing the `sender` to top-up liquidity once it runs out, or for the `receiver` taking out liquidity from the channel to deploy the funds elsewhere. Now, let's see how we can build them!  The `funding TX` actually looks the same as in the first example, and similarly it gets created, but not signed by the `sender`. Then, sender and receiver both sign the `trigger TX`. The `trigger TX` is at the heart of this scheme. It allows both `sender` and `receiver` to unilaterally exit the channel by broadcasting it (more on that in a bit). Once the `trigger TX` is signed and returned to the `sender`, the sender can confidently sign and boradcast the `funding TX` and open the channel. The `trigger TX` remains off-chain though. Now, to update the channel, the `sender` can pre-sign transactions in similar fashion to the examples above, but this time, spending the outputs of the unbroadcasted `trigger TX`. This way, both parties can exit the channel at any time. If the `receiver` wants to exit, he simply boradcasts the `trigger TX` and immediately spends its outputs using the latest `update TX`. If the `sender` wants to exit he will broadcast the `trigger TX` and basically force the `receivers` hand. Either, the `receiver` will broadcast the latest `update TX`, or the `sender` will be able to claim the entire channel balance after the timelock expired.  We can also simplify the `receiver's` exit path, by the `sender` pre-signing an additional transaction `R exit TX` for each update. this way, the `receiver` only needs to broadcast one transaction instead of two.  As we've mentioned before, there are some different trade-offs for `Roose-Childs triggered channels`. We introduce some minimal state and liveness requirements, but gain more flexibility.  #### Ecash to fill in the gaps (I will assume that the reader knows how ecash mints work. If not, please go check the [slides](https://uni-chan.gandlaf.com/#/43) where I go through an explanation) Essentially, we are trying to get a lightning like experience, without all the lightning complexities and requirements. One big issue with ecash, is that it is fully custodial. If we can offset that risk by holding most of the funds in a self custodial channel, we can have a reasonable trade-off between usability and self custody.  In a system like that, we would essentially turn the banking model onto its head. Where in a traditional bank, the majority of the funds are held in the banks custody, and the user only withdraws into his custody what he needs to transact, in our model the user would hold most funds in his own custody.  If you ask me, this approach makes way more sense. Instead of a custodian, we have turned the "bank" into a service provider. Let's take a look at how it would work in a more practical sense:  The `ecash user` would open an unidirectional payment channel to the `mint`, using one of his on-chain UTXOs. This allows him then to commit incrementally funds into the mints custody, only the amounts for his transactional needs. The mint offers connectivity to the lightning network an handles state and liveness as a service provider. The `ecash user`, can remain offline at all times, and his channel funds will always be safe. The mint can only ever claim the balance in the channel via the `update TXs`. The `mint` can of course still decide to no longer redeem any ecash, at which point they would have basically stolen the `ecash user's` transactional balance. At that point, it would probably be best for the `ecash user` to close his channel, and no longer interact or trust this `mint`. Here are some of the most important points of this system summarized:  And that is basically it! I hope you enjoyed this breakdown of Unidirectional payment channel enabled Ecash mints! If you did, consider leaving me a zap. Also do let me know if this type of breakdown helps you understand a new topic well. I am considering doing similar breakdowns on other systems, such as ARK, Lightning or Statechains, if there is a lot of interest, and it helps people, I'll do it! Pleas also let me know what you think about the `unidirectional channel - ecash mint` idea in the comments. It's kind of a new idea, an it probably has flaws, or things that we haven't thought about yet. I'd love to discuss it with you! I'll leave you with this final slide:  Cheers, Gandlaf

@ df478568:2a951e67

I asked a pleb to answer a few questions about selling stuff for sats, and he asked me, "What made you want to do a story/article on this?" The short answer: Because I like seeing people make their own bitcoin jobs, but the question made me think about the why. When I tried to be an English teacher, one of my professors said, "The difference between a job and a career is that a career is something you think about all day." I didn't become an English teacher, because I already had something I think about all day: bitcoin. I didn't fit the teacher ethos, for whatever reason, so undecided, I wanted to work in bitcoin sometime around block 525,000.  That's about the time I began writing on [yalls.org](https:..yalls.org). I fell in love with the idea of writing for sats. It was too early. Very few people used lightning back then, but the idea of earning sats to write was invigorating. I had no illusions of earning enough to earn a living, but yalls had a paywall. I spent a fair amount of time experimenting with these paywalls. Part of my articles were available for free, but to finish the article required a payment of 210 sats when that was about two cents. I was fascinated with this concept because it meant I could write for sats. Readers could send p2p electronic cash to me—sats short for satoshis. Each bitcoin can be divided into 100,000,000 sats. The lightning network allowed people to send you micropayments. ## Yalls  This was not possible with credit cards because of the fees they charge. The lightning network can be used to circumvent fees imposed on credit card merchants and the sats can now be instantly converted to fiat. This is not financial advice. Earning bitcoin is 21 million times more interesting than trading bitcoin. Investors talk about green dildos, red dildos, and some other sex toy called a bollinger band. If you're into that kind of kinky stuff, I don't judge, but I stay vanilla and stack sats. I experimented with shitcoin play in younger years, but it was just a phase. I finally realized alts are an attempt to break the solution to the double-spending problem sometime around block 630,000. That's when I declared myself a bitcoin maxi on yalls.org. Adam Back retweeted it. It didn't go viral, but that was amazing. I'm just an anonymous user who couldn't get an English teaching job, but Adam Back...You know..The guy Satoshi cited in the white paper—That guy retweeted my article. I started a couple of anonymous blogs and earned a small amount of sats in the early days of nostr. ### How I Made 1,000,000 Volunteering At Pacific Bitcoin  I volunteered for Pacific Bitcoin 2022. I volunteered to save some sats on a ticket. I stayed in a hostel. I did not expect to get paid, but it earned me a million sats after I sold the pack of collectible cards that came in a swag bag at the conference. What if I can one day retire on the millions of sats I earned over the last few years? I'm not sure that will happen, but it might be enough for my grandchildren to retire. *If bitcoin goes up "forever Laura..." you're never too late to earn bitcoin on the side. The sats you earn go up in value forever. Maybe the ROI on your college degree didn't pay off like you thought it would. You read Walden and Civil Disobedience and A Letter From a Birmingham Jail...thought...these are great ideas. They prepared me to read Early Retirement Extreme. I also listened to Choose FI and decoded Mr. Money Mustache. Dave Ramsey says you should get a second job to pay off debt in a country where many people working two jobs are still getting into more debt. Maybe they should use that extra job to stack sats. Earning bitcoin feels different than buying bitcoin. It means earning money on the Internet without needing a trusted third party. PayPal and Patreon have been around for years. They are nothing new, digital middlemen. Although the less technical often use bitcoin non-custodially, it's getting easier to take self-custody and use bitcoin as it was intended, p2p electronic cash. Why use eBay when you can have a garage sale on nostr? Even Dave Ramsey can sell stuff on nostr. He's been telling people to avoid bitcoin since it was $400. What if you sell your fancy clothes made in Bangladesh on nostr while instantaneously converting it to USD on Strike? You can send 1,000 fiat bucks to your checking account faster than a speeding Superman. You can get the garage sale money deposited to your bank account within a half-hour. I can't even drive to an ATM that fast! Transfer the money to a savings account that pays 0.01% interest. Baby Step 1 complete! You can take the instant fiat from your next nostr garage sell and pay your debt straight from the Strike App! This is NOT financial advice. I could earn fiat on Poker Stars until the government took away my permission. I could earn fiat on Full Tilt, but they spent players' fiat and barely kept a fraction in reserve. The same is true of platforms. You can earn fiat on Twitter if you pay for the monthly Twitter lottery. American's can currently earn fiat on TikTok...but do see where this is going? That's why I like supporting people who have some sort of bitcoin side hustle. I may have found bitcoin in 2014, but I didn't have a full-time job. I was unemployed for a couple of years before that. This one time, I got into an argument with my wife because, some months, we could only scrape up $50 to "buy bitcoin." I was an asshole. I kinda feel bad about that, but I'm a lucky guy with a beautiful wife who forgave me for being an asshole and dashing doors to stack bitcoin without telling her about it. She was pretty pissed. That Fifty bucks we argued over is now worth...  The misses is not so *pisses* anymore.😁 - I've picked up extra jobs to stack sats. - I used BTCPayServer to stack sats. - I stacked sats with lnbits - I originally set up a lightning node so I could stack sats on yalls.org. - It took me six months to get a lightning node up and running on a raspberry pi. #### Few Very few people used the [lightning network](https://lightning.network/) back then. Any bitcoiner has the ability to make their own job. I started a blog and set up a BTCPayServer so people would pay me for my prose. Some actually did. It wasn't much money. I might have broken even, but the possibilities still intrigue me. You can use [Alby Hub on the cloud](https://albyhub.com/), [Zaprite](https://zaprite.com/), or run it on a [Start9](https://store.start9.com/collections/servers/products/server-one). You can pay GetAlby for a lightning node in the cloud. If you're a fiat-spending maximalist, you can [convert all your bitcoin to fiat with Strike](https://invite.strike.me/NGQDMT).\* ##### Bitcoin Is For Everybody, Even Nocoiners Maybe you don't want bitcoin, but need some extra cash and can make candles. Fiat won't hedge against eggflation, but that's not what this is about. That's not the point. Bitcoin is for anybody, even no-coiners. You don't even need to make a website anymore. You can just use Shopstr, Plebian Market, Coinos, Cashu.me, Buzz Pay, and more.I just bought some soap from someone I saw on nostr. I decided to try something new this month. I paid with fiat, but the soap miner received bitcoin on the other end. Anyone with the Strike App can pay dollars to people who want bitcoin and vice-versa. Some people proudly proclaim they never...ever...spend bitcoin. Those who hodl never sell. In Everyone's A Scammer, [Michael Bitstein](https://primal.net/bitstein) says: `"Merchants are scammers because they lead you to believe that your bitcoins are only worth the price of their retail good in order to allow themselves (or those to whom they sell the bitcoins, if they so choose), rather than you, to benefit from future Bitcoin price increases. …And That’s a Good Thing This is not to say merchant adoption is bad. In fact, from the hoarder's perspective, merchant adoption is great. First, merchant adoption means that there is more demand for Bitcoin, that the Bitcoin network is growing, and that Bitcoin is thus more valuable than it was yesterday. Second, merchant adoption means there are more places to spend bitcoins. This does not mean a hoarder will actually want to spend bitcoins. More importantly, he can spend bitcoins.` If you like this quote, [please zap this note. 100% of these zaps go to [Bitstien](nostr:note1eaf0us6zlvlp3wt4gnjjlj6e3pk3fpdkqzfd6wpxfydp6rqgq9vq0ar8dm) Saylor says **bitcoin is hope**, but you know what gives me hope? Not the billionaire buying bitcoin, but the pleb selling stuff for sats. - Maybe there's a homeless person selling a few used books for a meal. - Maybe an artist stacks $500 per month selling art on nostr. - Maybe a recently X government employee can sell DEI training on the free and open market on nostr. Or...Maybe they can sell culturally appropriate tamales on nostr for actual sats instead. Those are the stories I want to find. Bitcoin is for everybody, even people with college degrees that the job market does not value much. Saylor's not wrong. Bitcoin is hope. Saylor said he wants to make education free. That's why he founded Saylor Academy. They have a course called Bitcoin Is For Everybody. Bitcoin is for everybody, even no-coiners, even for people who went to college even though it didn't lead to a high-paying job. Bitcoin is hope for those people, people just like me. nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [884054](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000000a9305d5f83abfc86da27c9524a7ad181b7a75f0827a9) [Debt Clock](https://www.usdebtclock.org/)  [Subscribe on Substack](https://substack.com/@marc26z) [Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch) \* Strike is an affiliate and I earn a small commision if you pay for the service. I use it to pay my credit card bills.

@ df478568:2a951e67

I asked a pleb to answer a few questions about selling stuff for sats and he asked me, "What made you want to do a story/article on this?"" When I tried to be an English teacher, one of my professors said, "The difference between a job and a career is that a career is something you think about all day." I didn't become an English teacher, because I already had something I think about all day, bitcoin. I didn't fit the teacher ethos, for whatever reason, so Indecided I want to work in bitcoin sometime around block That's about the time I began writing on yalls.org. I fell in love with the idea of writing for sats on yalls.org. It was an idea, but it was too early. It was very early days. Very few people used lightning back then, but the idea of earning sats to write was invigorating. I had no illusions of earning enough to earn a living, but yalls had a paywall. I spent a fair amount of time experimenting with these paywalls. Part of my articles were available for free, but to finish the article required a payment of 210 sats when that was about 2¢. I was as facinated with this concept because it meant I could write for sats. Readers could send p2p electronic cash to me-sats short for satoshis. Each bitcoin can be divided into 100,000,000 sats. The lightning network allowed people to send you micropayments. This was not possible with credit cards because of the fees they charge. The lightning network can be used to circumvent fees imposed on credit card merchants and the sats can now be instantly converted to fiat. This is not financial advice. Earning bitcoin is 21 million times more interesting than trading bitcoin. Investors talk about green dildos, red dildos, and some other sex toy called a bollinger band. If you're into that kind of kinky stuff, I don't judge, but I stay vanilla and stack sats. I experimented with shitcoin play in younger years, but it was just a phase. I finally realized alts are an attempt to break the solution to the double spending problem sometime around block 630,000. That's when I declared myself a bitcoin maxi on yalls.org. Adam Back retweeted it. It didn't go viral, but that was amazing. I'm just an anon who couldn't get an English teaching job, but Adam Back...You know..The guy Satoshi cited in the white paper--That guy retweeted my article. I started a couple anon blogs and earned a small anount of sats in the early days of nostr. I volunteered for Pacific Bitcoin 2022. I volunteered to save some sats on a ticket. I stayed in a hostel. I did not expect to get paid, but it earned me a million sats after I sold the pack of collectible cards that came in a swag bag at t he conference. What if I can one day retire on the millions of sats I earned over the last few years? I'm not sure that will happen, but it it might be enough for my grandchildren to retire. \*If bitcoin goes up "forever Laura..." you're never too late to earn bitcoin on the side. The sats you earn go up in value forever. Maybe the ROI on you're college degree didn't pay off like you thought it would. You read Walden and Cilvil Disobedience and A Letter From A Birmhingham Jail...thought...these are great ideas. They prepared me to read Early Retirement Extreme. I also listened to Choose FI and decoured Mr. Money Mustache. \[Dave Ramsey\](Resources to Tackle Debt - Ramsey) says you should get a second job to pay off debt in a country where many people working two jobs are still getting into more debt. Maybe they should use that extra job to stack sats. Earning bitcoin feels different than buying bitcoin. It means earning money on the Internet without needing a trusted third party. Paypal and Patreon have been around for years. They are nothing new, digital middlemen. Although the less technical often use bitcoin non-custodially, it's getting easier to take self custody and use bitcoin as it was intended, p2p electronic cash. Why use eBay when you can have a garage sale on nostr? Even Dave Ramsey can sell stuff on nostr. He's been telling people to avoid bitcoin since it was $400.00. What if you sell your fancy clothes made in Bangladesh on nostr while instantaniously converting it to USD on Strike? You can send 1,000 fiat bucks to your checking account faster than a speeding Superman. You can get the garage sale money deposited to your bank account within a half hour. I can't even drive to an ATM that fast! Transfer the money to a savings account that pays 0.01% interest. Baby Step 1 complete! You can take the insta-fiat from your next nostr garage sell and pay your debt straight from the Strike App! This is NOT financial advice. I could earn fiat on Poker Stars until the government took away my permission. I could earn fiat on Full Tilt, but they spent players fiat and barely kept a fraction in reserve. The same is true of platforms. You can earn fiat on Twitter if you pay for the monthly Twitter lottery. American's can can currently earn fiat on TikTok..but do see where this is going? That's why I like supporting people who have some sort of bitcoin side hustle. I may have found bitcoin in 2014, but I didn't have a full time job. I was unemployed for a couple years before that. This one time, I got into an argument with my wife because, some months, we could only scrape up $50 to "buy bitcoin." I was an asshole. I kinda feel bad about that, but I'm a lucky guy with a beautiful wife who forgave me for being an asshole and dashing doors to stack bitcoin without telling her about it. She was pretty pissed. That Fifty bucks we argued over is now worth... The misses is not so pissed anymore.😁 I've picked up extra jobs to stack sats. I used BTCpayServer to stack sats. I originally set up a lightning node so stack sats on yalls.org. Very few people used the lightning network back then. Any bitcoiner has the ability to make their own job. I started a blog and set up a BTCpayServer so people would pay me for my prose. Some actually did. It wasn't much money. I might have broke even, but the possibilities still intrigue me. You can buy a Start9 and use Alby Hub. You can pay GetAlby for a lightning node in the cloud. If you're a fiat spending maxi, you can convert all your bitcoin to fiat with Strike. Maybe you don't want bitcoin, but need some extra cash and can make candles. Fiat won't hedge against eggflation, but that's not what this is about. That's not the point. Bitcoin is for anybody, even nocoiners. buYou don't even need to make a website anymore. You can just use Shopstr, Plebian Market, Coinos, Cashu.me, \[Buzz Pay\](https://pos.albylabs.com/#?nwc=bm9zdHIrd2FsbGV0Y29ubmVjdDovLzY5ZWZmZTdiNDlhNmRkNWNmNTI1YmQwOTA1OTE3YTUwMDVmZmU0ODBiNThlZWI4ZTg2MTQxOGNmM2FlNzYwZDk/cmVsYXk9d3NzOi8vcmVsYXkuZ2V0YWxieS5jb20vdjEmcHVia2V5PTVkNzVjZDQ5OTFkNGFhOTViMDllMWJkZTg1YmRkODllMTg2YjUxZmE3MDYwOTEyOTE5MGYxZWIwYjcyYzk0MWUmc2VjcmV0PWFiZDM5NDU3ODQ4NmI0OWJlMzMwNzk1ZWE2YTU2OGIwYWI2MWJjMjMzN2JkMTE5NzU1YTNiM2ZmZTBhZDEwMmQ=&name=Support my work using the Value 4 Value model), and more.I just bought some soap from someone I saw on nostr. I decided to try something new this month. I paid with fiat, but soap miner recieved bitcoin on the other end. Anyone with the Strike App can pay dollars to people who want bitcoin and vice-versa. Some people proudly proclaim they never...ever...ever spend bitcoin. Those who hodl never sodl can spend fiat at bitcoin shops using Strike. Buying stuff with bitcoin increases the stack of a fellow HODLer. In Everyone's A Scammer, Michael Goldstein says, "Merchants are scammers because they lead you to believe that your bitcoins are only worth the price of their retail good in order to allow themselves (or those to whom they sell the bitcoins, if they so choose), rather than you, to benefit from future Bitcoin price increases. …And That’s a Good Thing This is not to say merchant adoption is bad. In fact, from the hoarder’s perspective, merchant adoption is great. First, merchant adoption means that there is more demand for Bitcoin, that the Bitcoin network is growing, and that Bitcoin is thus more valuable than it was yesterday. Second, merchant adoption means there are more places to spend bitcoins. This does not mean a hoarder will actually want to spend bitcoins. More importantly, he can spend bitcoins. Demand for cash exists because there is uncertainty of future needs, and the holder of cash believes he will come across currently unknown opportunities in the future that can better satisfy his needs than any current opportunities." Saylor says bitcoin is hope, but you know what gives me hope? Not the billionaire buying bitcoin, but the pleb selling stuff for sats. Maybe there's a homeless person selling a few used books for a meal. Maybe an artist stacks $500 per month selling art on nostr. Those are the stories I want to find. Bitcoin is for everybody, even people with college degrees that the job market does not value much. Saylor's not wrong. Bitcoin is hope. Saylor said he wants to make education free. That's why he founded Saylor Academy. They have a course called \[Bitcoin Is For Everybody\](Bitcoin is for everybody\](https://learn.saylor.org/course/view.php?id=468)). Bitcoin is for everybody, even no-coiners, even for people who went to college even though it didn't lead to a high paying job. Bitcoin is hope for those people, people just like me. npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 \[884,054(https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000000a9305d5f83abfc86da27c9524a7ad181b7a75f0827a9) [Subscribe on Substack](https://substack.com/@marc26z)[Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch)

@ c582af78:698069cc

# **The Face of God: How Art Became a Gateway to the Divine** If you live in the **West**, you’re surrounded by depictions of **God, Jesus, and the saints**—from paintings and statues to illustrated Bibles and stained glass windows. But this is far from universal. In the **Islamic world**, religious art takes a very different form: vibrant colors, **intricate geometry, and architectural symmetry**. **Depictions of God or Muhammad aren’t just discouraged—they are outright forbidden.** But why? To answer that, we must go back to the **origins of the Abrahamic religions**—when **early Christians, Jews, and Muslims** were surprisingly **unified in their views on religious art**. https://image.nostr.build/1515c5fd00d798cd283583618bbbc0d5eb91bc481a84c21d53644d42fa30173a.jpg --- ## **The Early Christian Hesitation** The **first generation of Christians** were deeply aware of **Judaism’s strict prohibition** against idol worship. **Depicting God in any form was considered dangerous**—a potential gateway to paganism. For centuries, Christianity could have followed this path, rejecting religious imagery altogether. But one fundamental theological idea **changed everything**: **The Incarnation.** As the early Church wrestled with the **nature of Christ**, heated debates emerged: - Was he part human and part divine? - Was he **fully** human and **fully** divine? - And what did the Gospel of John mean by *“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”*? The result of these debates was the **doctrine of the Incarnation**—the belief that **God took on human form in real flesh and blood**. And if **God himself** had chosen to be seen in **finite form**, then depicting Him in art could no longer be considered blasphemous. This single theological shift laid the foundation for **Christianity’s embrace of religious art**—a decision that would not only shape Christian worship but **redefine how we engage with art itself**. https://image.nostr.build/1cf9ea5d1385c46bd720de9c7de65123428a9f76356e39e37c5d7b9663993930.jpg --- ## **Let There Be Art…** How did this change Christian art? https://image.nostr.build/b945e4ea06b281bb4618f08b2543108beecf7f510aaa795bed1c833614e32fb7.jpg The **early objections** to religious imagery went something like this: > *“God is infinite and mysterious. Reducing Him to a finite, limited form is blasphemy.”* But with the Incarnation, the argument flipped: > *“If God took on real shape, color, and form without diminishing His divine nature, then we can depict Him in art without compromising His grandeur.”* Thus, images of **Jesus, Mary, and saints** not only became **permissible**—they were **encouraged**. Christian leaders actively **commissioned religious art** to communicate the **Gospel visually** to a largely **illiterate population**. **Paintings, statues, and stained glass** became tools of evangelization, helping people grasp biblical stories **without needing to read**. Take the **Duomo of Milan** with its **4,000 statues**. They aren’t just decorative. They **inspire faith** by highlighting the lives of the saints. Christianity had embraced art as a **spiritual bridge**, a way to **connect the finite with the infinite**. https://image.nostr.build/4f6b79a9179d818a951bf461ee5ff785cbe618ed376b4a56d92e77dcb34005bc.jpg --- ## **The Criticism: Were They Worshiping the Art?** Not everyone agreed. Some critics argued that **Christians were focusing too much on the art itself**, rather than the God it was meant to represent. https://image.nostr.build/29afb401ef99d2b6c59b71d8534a5160c25d2ca468d81251ba0f55d033679490.jpg But the Church’s response was clear: > **"You are not meant to look *at* art, but *through* it.** Art is not the **end goal**—it is a **gateway to something greater**. A painting of Christ isn’t meant to be **worshiped**—it’s meant to draw the viewer into **His story, His sacrifice, and His message**. This perspective didn’t just shape religious art. It **fundamentally changed** how we experience **all forms of art, even secular ones.** --- ## **To Infinity and Beyond: The Lasting Impact of Religious Art** Christianity’s view of art—that it **should point beyond itself**—has so deeply influenced Western culture that we often **don’t even realize it**. Think about how we experience **books, music, and movies**: - **A great novel** inspires courage. - **A powerful song** moves you to tears. - **A gripping film** motivates you to keep going in life. The best art **doesn’t just exist for its own sake**—it **transports you beyond the canvas, the page, or the screen**. This idea mirrors the Incarnation itself: **an infinite God becoming finite to guide us back to the infinite**. --- ## **Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, and the Incarnation of Art** A perfect example? **J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings***. Tolkien infused his story with **themes of brotherhood, heroism, and sacrifice**—all timeless, transcendental ideas. But instead of leaving them as abstract concepts, he **"incarnated" them into words on a page**—finite, tangible, and deeply relatable. https://image.nostr.build/b120c4d7c7232cf226af65c33cb7fc494f495d50b8ad4593a58f3528fd0b71dc.jpg His goal? To **turn the reader’s heart back to the infinite** by making them experience **these ideals in a concrete way**. The same can be said for **any truly great art**. It **doesn’t exist for itself**—it exists to move you, to inspire you, to challenge you. And next time you step into a **cathedral**, gaze at a **masterpiece**, or listen to a **symphony**, remember: You’re not supposed to simply **look at the art around you**— You’re supposed to **look beyond it, into eternity**.

@ c582af78:698069cc

### **1. The Battle of Cannae (216 BC) – Rome’s Darkest Hour, and Its Defining Moment** During the **Second Punic War**, Hannibal of Carthage faced a Roman army that **outnumbered his forces 2-to-1**. Instead of retreating, he met them head-on with a brilliant tactical maneuver. His army **encircled and annihilated** the Romans, slaughtering over **50,000 soldiers in a single day**—one of the most devastating defeats in Roman history. https://image.nostr.build/a2ccbcc267d3bc30d24d80873612ba70d8f69a00bdd6a90fc3682f91d87eb956.jpg Any other nation would have surrendered. But Rome refused. Instead, it adapted, shifting to a **war of attrition**, avoiding direct confrontations, and gradually wearing down Hannibal’s forces. Cannae became a paradox—it was Rome’s **greatest defeat**, yet it forged the **Roman spirit** of perseverance and relentless determination. Rome ultimately turned the tide, **defeated Carthage**, and emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean. https://image.nostr.build/9c29ef6b6cebd916c105271927adaa5fe4e668a6078595390936cd7898464c31.jpg Hannibal’s tactics at Cannae **changed warfare forever**. His use of battlefield deception and encirclement is still studied in military academies today, and no commander worth his salt is unfamiliar with **Hannibal’s masterpiece at Cannae**. --- ### **2. The Battle of Marathon (490 BC) – The Birth of Western Civilization** When **King Darius I of Persia** invaded Greece, he sought to **crush Athens** and expand Persian control. The Athenians, vastly outnumbered, faced what seemed like certain defeat. But instead of waiting for the Persians to march inland, they **struck first**. Using superior tactics and their knowledge of the terrain, the Athenians **routed the Persian army**, sending them fleeing to their ships. https://image.nostr.build/63c4bdba98f7a2a4ccb3e2a8edcd43596b595284245f3a3395a3c53f51124558.jpg This **stunning victory** didn’t just preserve Greek independence—it safeguarded the **nascent idea of democracy**. Without it, the **Golden Age of Greece**—the era that produced **Socrates, the Parthenon, and the foundations of Western philosophy and governance**—might never have happened. Marathon remains a symbol of **strategy and courage overcoming overwhelming odds**. Without it, the world might never have known **Athenian democracy, Greek philosophy, or the cultural foundations of the West**. https://image.nostr.build/017a314c11238433545977e681801904b8b702e1b568ff6c9438e8577721a243.jpg --- ### **3. The Battle of Hastings (1066) – The Making of Modern England** In **1066**, William of Normandy led his army across the English Channel to claim the throne of England. At **the Battle of Hastings**, he faced **King Harold II’s Anglo-Saxon forces** in a brutal fight that would decide the future of the island. William’s forces employed **innovative strategies**, including a **feigned retreat**, which broke Harold’s defensive lines. Harold was killed, and with him, Anglo-Saxon rule in England. https://image.nostr.build/110045a76be0577defc5d9b884e5d811235f1992941847ca8a1b1a7b80c9bf79.jpg Hastings **completely transformed England**. The Normans introduced **a new ruling elite**, reshaped governance, and left an enduring mark on the English language. **Old English fused with Norman French**, laying the foundation for **modern English**. Beyond language, the Norman conquest brought England **closer to continental Europe**, influencing its **legal systems, architecture, and culture for centuries**. Hastings wasn’t just a military victory—it was a **cultural watershed** that forever changed England and, by extension, the world. https://image.nostr.build/2799f91505263370ffb3a899ea4c79a65894f56673b81a024b206e013f3e73a9.jpg --- ### **4. The Battle of Lepanto (1571) – Christendom Strikes Back** By the **late 16th century**, the **Ottoman Empire** had become a **dominant naval power**, threatening Christian trading colonies and the stability of **Europe’s maritime trade routes**. In **1570**, the Ottomans besieged the Venetian-held **island of Cyprus**. After an **11-month siege**, the starving Venetian garrison **surrendered under promises of safe passage**—but the Ottomans **betrayed them, imprisoned the soldiers, and flayed their commander alive**. In response, the **Papal States, Spain, Venice, Genoa, and other Christian powers** set aside their rivalries and **formed the Holy League**. In a climactic naval showdown, over **130,000 men** engaged in a **fierce battle** that ultimately ended in a **decisive Christian victory**. https://image.nostr.build/0f233ec50e817874e1e6711a1e035b436e206b032d8cac8b33a68230beb20e1b.jpg Lepanto **halted Ottoman expansion** into the western Mediterranean and reestablished European control over crucial sea routes. Among the soldiers that day was **Miguel de Cervantes**, who was wounded and lost the use of his left arm. His experience shaped his literary masterpiece, **Don Quixote**, further embedding Lepanto’s legacy in **European art and culture**. --- ### **5. The Battle of Trafalgar (1805) – Britain Secures Global Supremacy** In **1805**, Napoleon sought to **break British naval dominance** by uniting the French and Spanish fleets against Admiral **Horatio Nelson**. The **Battle of Trafalgar** would decide the fate of European power at sea. Outnumbered, Nelson devised an **unorthodox strategy**, splitting his fleet into two **perpendicular columns** to punch through enemy lines. The result? **A decisive British victory**—**22 enemy ships destroyed** without a single British vessel lost. Trafalgar didn’t just **shatter Napoleon’s naval ambitions**—it secured **Britain’s command of the seas for over a century**. This naval dominance paved the way for the **Pax Britannica**, allowing Britain to expand its **empire** and maintain global influence well into the 20th century. https://image.nostr.build/bf5e00f020a0755ea50c1bf1def870cfb226cb5ad18a91445eddac8389b2f05f.jpg But Trafalgar’s legacy is also bittersweet—**Nelson was fatally shot in battle**. As he lay dying, he was informed of the victory. His last words? > *“Now I am satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty.”* Nelson’s death turned him into a **national hero**, and Trafalgar became a defining moment in British history. --- ## **More Than Just Battles** These five battles weren’t just **clashes of armies**—they were **turning points that shaped the world**. - **Cannae** forged Rome’s resilience. - **Marathon** preserved Greek democracy. - **Hastings** reshaped England’s culture and language. - **Lepanto** altered the balance of power in the Mediterranean. - **Trafalgar** secured British naval dominance for a century. Each of these battles **reshaped civilizations**—proving that history isn’t just written in words, but also in **blood, steel, and strategy**.

@ a367f9eb:0633efea

With a big tech-powered magnifying glass on federal websites, spending contracts, and government payment systems, Elon Musk’s band of DOGE system admins have been turning Washington inside out in their hunt for waste, fraud, and abuse. One of the most prized agencies on the chopping block is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, [heralded](https://x.com/SteveRattner/status/1889034592171987002) by progressives as an indispensable force for helping consumers wronged by financial institutions, but [derided](https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2024-04-12/if-trump-wins-he-plans-to-free-wall-street-from-burdensome-regulations) by fintech investors and conservatives as little more than a government “shakedown agency.” Consumers will be better off without the CFPB breathing down the neck of American companies.  Since the inauguration of President Trump, the CFPB’s [temporary leadership](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/vought-cfpb-musk-trump.html) put an immediate halt on all work, also [informing](https://x.com/russvought/status/1888423503537360986) the Federal Reserve, which directly funds the agency, that it would no longer seek new funding.  Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the [intellectual force](https://x.com/senwarren/status/1889356115210633646) behind the agency’s founding, has been apoplectic. She’s argued that Trump is “firing the financial cop on the beat that makes sure your family doesn’t get scammed.” The origin of the CFPB goes back to the rubble of the 2008 financial crisis when legislators saw this proposed agency as a viable response to the populist backlash engulfing Washington and Wall Street. Instead of penalizing wrongdoers, Congress funded bank bailouts and launched a “watchdog” group. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act [mandated](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/dodd-frank_title_X) new standards for lending, restricted capital that could be tapped for bank loans, and created the CFPB to police consumer finance.  All functions performed by the five [former](https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/understanding-federal-reserve-supervision.htm) federal banking supervisory agencies were rolled into the CFPB, granting it sole jurisdiction over non-depository firms and financial institutions with over $10 billion in assets. This empowered the agency to issue regulatory guidance, demand information from financial institutions, and launch civil actions in federal court. Supporters of the CFPB point to an [impressive record](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/enforcement-by-the-numbers/) of close to $20 billion in consumer relief, as well as an additional $5 billion in civil penalties. Without the CFPB, fraudsters and scams would metastasize and consumer injustice would run wild, so they say. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. As a regulatory agency with civil litigation authority, the CFPB is emboldened to file high-dollar lawsuits against financial firms. An estimate of the CFPB’s [database](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/) of enforcement actions reveals that roughly 85% of all cases are settled out of court before a final ruling. Companies often choose to settle, but this shouldn’t be mistaken for an admission of guilt. In a [litigious society](https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/judge_faq.pdf) such as the United States where companies are routinely targeted in frivolous lawsuits, the court of public opinion matters just as much as the court of law.  Firms prefer [settling](https://knowledge.everc.com/blog/cfpb-payments-industry) cases over having their name dragged through the mud for months on end in the media, something tort lawyers call a “nuisance settlement.” These expected costs are baked into large firms’ financial projections and are sometimes factored into pricing their goods and services for consumers.  The CFPB is more akin to a state-backed tort law firm that can tap the nation’s central bank for resources while exploiting its [do-gooder reputation](https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2024/11/21/voters-overwhelmingly-support-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureaus-recent-actions) for easy PR victories. Rather than smart regulatory guidance to oversee a new generation of consumer finance firms, CFPB has relied on quick settlements out of court to squash innovative upstarts. While CFPB enforcement has been successful in penalizing banks and lenders for how loans are [structured or advertised](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/the-cfpbs-enforcement-work-in-2023-and-what-lies-ahead/), it does not take much imagination to see how this has impacted the investing climate for new competitors. Since CFPB’s founding, there are now 35% [fewer financial institutions](https://www.statista.com/statistics/184536/number-of-fdic-insured-us-commercial-bank-institutions/) remaining for consumers to choose from, down from 15,000 to just roughly 9,000 today. While there is [high consumer demand](https://plaid.com/resources/fintech/fintech-trends/) for fintech, payment apps, and account offerings, including Bitcoin and cryptocurrency banks, CFPB’s chilling actions have slowed that innovation, leading to the recent calls for the agency to be gutted. And they’re right. Most of CFPB’s functions are [mirrored](https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement) at the FTC on everything but finance. Regional Federal Reserve banks are also responsible for bank oversight and regulation, not to mention state banking regulators. Existing regulators have the reach, experience, and know-how to police would-be fraudsters and outright deceptive practices among banks. Why not let them? For consumers who want next-level services and financial products, there is no question that CFPB’s litigious approach has impacted their ability to access credit and financial services. There must be a better way to regulate our financial institutions and protect consumers than a tort law firm with government authority. Congress could fold elements of the CFPB into the FTC, OCC, or even FDIC, and bad actors will still be policed.  Consumers deserve to be protected, and they will be, but they also deserve a regulatory structure that rewards innovation and brings financial products to market that they can choose between. The CFPB is due for defanging. *Yaël Ossowski is deputy director at the Consumer Choice Center and author of the report, [“A financial fraud crackdown won’t protect consumers from scams.”](https://consumerchoicecenter.org/a-financial-fraud-crackdown-wont-protect-consumers-from-scams/)* *Originally published on [RealClear Politics](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/02/14/doge_is_right_to_defang_cfpb_152360.html).*

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Installation: ``` bash python3 -venv nostr-sdk source nostr-sdk/bin/activate pip install nostr_sdk requests ``` Python program: ``` python # Usage example: python ns_read_metadata.py nostr:npub1mwce4c8qa2zn9zw9f372syrc9dsnqmyy3jkcmpqkzaze0slj94dqu6nmwy # Compatible with version 0.39 # ns_read_metadata.py # version 3 import asyncio, argparse, json from nostr_sdk import Metadata, Client, NostrSigner, Keys, Filter, PublicKey, Kind from datetime import timedelta async def main(npub): client = Client() await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") await client.connect() pk = PublicKey.parse(npub) print(f"\nGetting profile metadata for {npub}:") metadata = await client.fetch_metadata(pk, timedelta(seconds=15)) print(metadata) if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch all metadata for a given npub') parser.add_argument('npub', type=str, help='The npub of the user') args = parser.parse_args() asyncio.run(main(args.npub)) ```

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

This code below works with nostr_sdk 0.32.2 ``` python import asyncio, argparse, json from nostr_sdk import Metadata, Client, NostrSigner, Keys, Filter, PublicKey, Kind from datetime import timedelta async def main(npub): client = Client() await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io") await client.connect() pk = PublicKey.from_bech32(npub) print(f"Getting profile metadata for {npub}:") f = Filter().kind(Kind(0)).author(pk).limit(1) events = await client.get_events_of([f], timedelta(seconds=15)) if events: event = events[0] metadata_dict = json.loads(event.content()) for key, value in metadata_dict.items(): print(f"{key}: {value}") else: print("Could not retrieve metadata for the given public key.") if __name__ == '__main__': parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch all metadata for a given npub') parser.add_argument('npub', type=str, help='The npub of the user') args = parser.parse_args() asyncio.run(main(args.npub)) ``` but with nostr_sdk 0.39 the program no longer worked and crash with error: ``` AttributeError: type object 'PublicKey' has no attribute 'from_bech32'. Did you mean: 'to_bech32'? ``` why? --- source: - https://github.com/ev3rst/nostr_sdk_examples - https://alashazam.wordpress.com/2024/07/07/python-nostr_sdk-fetching-all-metadata/

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

pip cache will show how much space is taken from past download ``` bash (nostr) ever3st@Alashazam:~/Documents/dev/python/$ pip cache info Package index page cache location: /home/ever3st/.cache/pip/http Package index page cache size: 2437.7 MB Number of HTTP files: 271 Wheels location: /home/ever3st/.cache/pip/wheels Wheels size: 2.2 MB Number of wheels: 2 ``` About 2GB if space is needed it can be cleared ``` bash (nostr) ever3st@Alashazam:~/Documents/dev/python/$ pip cache purge Files removed: 273 (nostr) ever3st@Alashazam:~/Documents/dev/python/bots/nostr$ pip cache info Package index page cache location: /home/ever3st/.cache/pip/http Package index page cache size: 0 bytes Number of HTTP files: 0 Wheels location: /home/ever3st/.cache/pip/wheels Wheels size: 326 bytes Number of wheels: 0 ```

@ df478568:2a951e67

In the very early days, Nostr was pretty much troll-free. It was one of my favorite things about it, but I suspected this was only the case because only hardcore bitcoiners were on there. Now that the network is growing, there is more diversity of ideas. Ideology tends to make people mean. Mean people suck, so I try to remain respectful even when I disagree with others. I am not a fan of communism, but enjoy reading other perspectives. I do not wish to censor any speech at all, especially speech I do not agree with. The freedom of speech is not about the First Amendment to me. It's about creating a space that is safe for free speech. Platforms are not a safe space for free speech. The safety of free speech is in peril on platforms. Nostr is a space where people can speak freely in an open Internet-connected society. There is some speech I would rather not see. I wish some people did not say certain things, but I do not want to stop them. If we censor the worst speech, the speech does not go away. It merely goes underground and creates bad speech silos where people hide their true selves and go only speak to people just like them. Censorship is like prison for ideas. Prisoners improve their robbery skills because they exchange ideas with other criminals. It's like a conference for criminals. Fascists get more fascist when they only have permission to talk to fellow fascists. Communists get more communist when they can only talk to other communists. Ideas are a marketplace. May the best ideas win. Nostr allows me to speak with people about topics I might not otherwise get a chance to speak about. I never see any pro-communist posts on Twitter. That's a problem because communists also don't see me. I also never saw sex workers talk about anything other than kinky-boinky talk on Twitter. Nostr brings the humanity back to sex workers. Sex workers are people too. They have interesting ideas and take [interesting photos]([take interesting pictures](nostr:note1svl3ne6l7dkxx4gckqsttx24nva7m37ynam7rvgq4zu83u9wl2ks86ahwx). ) On the [What is Money Show](https://fountain.fm/episode/DYPKRSkN11EmYDhrhH0H), Rabble says he wants to have Christians have a Christian-only Nostr network and sex workers to have a sex worker-only network. It's a fun idea, but I'm not convinced this would be a good thing. What if Jesus was on the Christian Nostr, but Mary Magdalen was on sex worker Nostr? I suspect Christians talking to sex workers is not such a bad thing. **What would Jesus do?** Here is a conversation I had with a stripper on nostr. You can read the original [here](nostr:note1wxalrm6tpftrrs9rmzvv4e5gpnamkmfuu6fpwu9gs3wtudeegd7qpd5l0r) but I have reprinted it on the Habla and Substack. I don't believe it's possible for a community or state to abolish private property when the private property can be distilled into 12 secret random words. Ironically, bitcoin does give the means of monetary production to the people, but this is a moot point given that individual people do not have equal ability. Very few people had sufficient knowledge to mine bitcoin when the block reward was 50 bitcoin every 10 minutes. Therefore, even though anybody could technically produce bitcoin blocks, very few people can. The same is true for saving. Even if we could defy human nature with schemes such as this, it would not solve wealth inequality. Most people spend money like drunken sailors. If everyone had the same income that could not be debased or stolen, broke people would still exist because people do not have equal money management skills. That is why I prefer capitalism with a non-socialist monetary system. The United States, contrary to popular belief, is not a capitalist economic system. It's a mixed economy where some people (banks and government) get money without doing any work aside from fudging numbers. A bank does not save capital to buy a house. Banks print money to buy homes and collect rent from homeowners. It's an accounting trick, not capitalism. Here's how capitalism works according to economist, Russ Roberts. https://youtu.be/ljULutAUL7o?si=bLPY5IvwwMQvfXJK npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000001fa33d3d7750ed315d94e3c1def6512281b33bece333b

@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a

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. 🍿🍿🍿

@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6

 ### 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!

@ b83a28b7:35919450

The traditional product development lifecycle is undergoing a profound transformation. Powered by AI tools evolving at a scarcely believable pace, 2025 promises to revolutionize how we conceive, build, and iterate on products, offering unprecedented efficiency and innovation. In this post, I'm going to lay out how the seven traditional stages of the PDLC can be accelerated by 5-10x with existing tools. It's worth pointing out that these capabilities I'm listing are current as of February 11 2025. It is very possible that these all get upended by something even better by March or April! ## 1. Ideation and Market Research The first phase of product development is supercharged by AI's ability to analyze vast datasets and identify trends. Tools like AlphaSense and Google Gemini 2.0 can sift through financial reports, social media chatter, and market analyses to distill actionable insights in a fraction of the time it would take human researchers. This AI-augmented ideation process doesn't replace human creativity but amplifies it, allowing teams to explore a broader range of possibilities and make data-driven decisions from the outset. _[Note, I'm not even touching on OpenAI's Deep Research Model that was released last week, which from all the initial reaction, will likely be a massive improvement on the models above]_ ## 2. Requirements Gathering and User Story Generation AI models like Tara AI and Claude 3.5 Sonnet excel at translating abstract business objectives into detailed user stories and technical specifications. These tools can analyze workflows, integrate with existing systems, and generate comprehensive requirements documents. While AI streamlines this process, product managers still play a crucial (but perhaps diminishing over the next few years) role in refining and validating these AI-generated outputs, ensuring alignment with business goals and human needs. ## 3. Design and Prototyping The design phase is revolutionized by tools like Adobe Firefly and Neurons Predict AI. These AI systems can generate high-fidelity prototypes based on text prompts and even simulate user behavior to optimize UI/UX designs. Human designers remain essential, infusing prototypes with creativity and emotional resonance that AI alone cannot provide. ## 4. Development and Implementation AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot X and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and more recently, DeepSeek R1 and o3-mini, are transforming the development process. These tools can generate code, assist with debugging, and accelerate development workflows. However, human developers are still crucial for overseeing critical logic, ensuring security compliance, and making high-level architectural decisions. ## 5. Quality Assurance AI-driven QA tools like ACCELQ Autopilot and Appvance IQ automate test case creation, execution, and maintenance. These systems can adapt to application changes in real-time, significantly reducing the manual effort required in testing. Human QA engineers focus on validating critical test cases and ensuring overall product reliability. ## 6. Deployment Deployment is streamlined with AI-powered tools like Harness CI/CD and AWS SageMaker. These systems automate deployment pipelines and use machine learning to detect potential failures proactively. Human DevOps teams oversee these processes, ensuring smooth rollouts and managing any unforeseen issues. ## 7. Post-Launch Monitoring and Iteration AI excels in post-launch monitoring, with tools like Arize AI and Weights & Biases providing real-time insights and actionable analytics. These systems can detect usage patterns, identify areas for improvement, and even suggest optimizations. Product teams use these AI-generated insights to prioritize updates and guide the product's evolution. By leveraging AI throughout the product development lifecycle, teams can dramatically reduce time-to-market while maintaining or even improving product quality. This AI-driven approach doesn't eliminate the need for human expertise but rather enhances it, allowing teams to focus on higher-level strategic decisions and creative problem-solving. The future of product development lies in this symbiosis between human ingenuity and AI capabilities. As these AI tools continue to evolve, we can expect even greater efficiencies and innovations in the PDLC, ultimately leading to better products that more closely align with user needs and market demands.

@ 54286b98:3debc100

We correct because we care.\ And when others correct us, it’s a reminder: We’re cared for. “No calm ocean makes a skilled sailor,” they say. Yet we often prize safety more than the process that actually makes us skillful—able to navigate life’s oceans securely. We want the result: expertise, confidence, calm at the helm. But we’re often reluctant to embrace the very process that shapes us. Trials and life’s tests aren’t pleasant, but maybe we should see them through our Father’s eyes. How else can we possibly grow? If not by trials, then how? Any parent knows we don’t just learn by hearing; we are stubborn beings who truly learn after experiencing. It’s in those small, fear-fueled moments—realizing you could have fallen off a cliff, been hit by a car, or lost your career over a careless comment—that your senses awaken to very real consequences. Hopefully, that flash of adrenaline is enough to teach a lesson. But often, more often than we’d like to admit, it isn’t. God’s parenting style is fascinating; He’s patient beyond measure. He can handle our insecurities and weaknesses for a very long time. Even when our earthly parents may have given up on us, He won't. Either we walk away from His lessons, or we keep facing the same challenges meant to shape us—making us whole, maturing us in our faith—until we finally learn and pass the test. Paraphrasing the message of James chapter 1: “Count it all joy, pure joy, when you face trials. If you don’t understand why you’re going through what you’re going through, ask God for wisdom—He will give it to you.” During your high, victorious moments, remember: you’ll be tested again. Take heart—because the end goal is a more resilient and confident version of you, anchored in God rather than in yourself. During your low moments—when everything feels painfully hard—remember that you have a Father’s hand guiding you, never leaving you alone. You’ve got this…in God.\ Until the next one,\ **J** Legacy website article and email subscription [here](https://www.javierfeliu.com/blog/no-calm-ocean-why-safe-waters-never-grow-us/).\ Photo by [Torsten Dederichs](https://unsplash.com/@tdederichs?ref=javierfeliu.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=ghost&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit)

@ aade47fd:281e8e4f

На этот раз для того, чтобы сделать ежедневную запись потребовалась всего одна неделя, а не две, как в прошлый раз. Я не собираюсь останавливаться! --- ### Личность На этой неделе в коротких заметках я упомянал свою новую концепцию личности. Это структура, которая лежит на границе между мной и внешним миром. Эта тема волнует меня в эти дни, так что я хотел бы поговорить об этом подробнее. Есть экзистенциальный, неизменный, самотождественный Я, есть трансцендентный внешний мир, а есть структура, по которой между этими частями происходит взаимодействие — личность. На внешний мир я имею опосредованное влияние, не подразумевающее прямые изменения и контроль, а вот личность лежит в поле моей ответственности. Можно даже сказать, что больше никакой ответственности и не существует. В любой момент времени я могу принять решение о том, чем будет наполнена моя жизнь. Что я буду впускать в нее, а что отсеивать. И наоборот: я несу ответственность за то, что транслирую в окружающий мир, какое влияние имею. Формирование личности это комплекс из аксеологических ( ценностных) и праксиологических настроек. Задача состоит в том, чтобы сделать добродетель своей привычкой. Как стать хорошим человеком? Что это значит конкретно? Что мешает стать хорошим человеком? Не простые вопросы. Предлагаю пойти от обратного: может ли хороший человек "распуститься"? Полагаю, да. Это значит, что поддержание личности в форме требует постоянного усилия. А еще можно было предствить себя безупречного и попытаться почувствовать, какие актуальные привычки и настроения помешали бы тебе удержаться в этом состоянии долго. Я считаю эту работу наиболее важной. Чем более конкретно человек способен описать собственные амбиции, тем больше в жизни энергии и меньше мусора. --- ### Философия А кто я, собственно, такой, чтобы придумывать словам новые значения? Вот есть же определение для личности из словаря. Зачем людей с толку сбивать? А дело все в том,, что словарное определение никаким образом мою жизнь не обогащает, оно для меня бесполезно. Бесполезное слово (бессмысленное) слово — тупой нож. Кто принял решение жить своей жизнью (то есть, просто жить), тот называет вещи своими именами, а не руководствкется букварем с картинками. Работу над собственным языком я называю философией, а человека, нашедшего в себе смелость жить своей жизнью — философом. --- ### Воспитание Никогда не замечали, что все специалисты (люди, посвятившие себя только одному виду деятельности) одинаковы между собой? В то же время не найдете двух одинаковых людей в междисциплинарном пространстве. Я смотрю по сторонам и нахожу все больше подтверждений тому, что чем в большем числе направлений развивается человек, тем больше шанс, что в любой из них он окажется выдающимся. Специалисты нужны экономике, государству, обществу, но только не самим себе. Полноценное воспитание подразумевает развитие в максимальном количестве направлений. Похоже, это не просто античный идеал или идеал эпохи возраждения, а природа человека. Самая тяжелая детская травма, о которой все молчат, это вопрос "Кем ты хочешь стать, когда вырастешь?". Безупречным я хочу стать, ограниченный ты идиот. --- На сегодня все! До завтра!

@ daa41bed:88f54153

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. 

@ b83a28b7:35919450

The unevenly distributed future you envision — an automated economy driven by AI agents transacting exclusively in Bitcoin — unfolds not as a clean, linear progression, but as a series of ruptures, each one shaking the foundations of what we thought we knew about money, technology, and human agency. It begins innocuously enough, with whispers of change that grow into a deafening roar. --- ### **2025-2030: The Quiet Revolution** The first signs are subtle. AI agents—once mere tools—begin to evolve into autonomous economic actors. They negotiate contracts, optimize supply chains, and execute trades faster than any human could. Their language is code; their currency is efficiency. Bitcoin, with its unyielding neutrality and incorruptible scarcity, becomes their natural medium of exchange. Why? Because it is the only form of money that cannot be manipulated by human hands. By 2028, the Lightning Network hums with activity. Millions of transactions per second—micropayments for data streams, computational power, and services rendered—flow through its channels. The world barely notices. People still cling to fiat currencies, unaware that the real economy is shifting beneath their feet. --- ### **2030-2040: The Great Unraveling** The cracks in the old system begin to show. Inflation erodes trust in fiat currencies as governments print money to stave off crises they can no longer control. Meanwhile, AI agents—now responsible for the majority of global commerce—reject these "bad monies" outright. Thiers' Law asserts itself with brutal clarity: Bitcoin drives out fiat not through coercion but through sheer inevitability. By 2035, the tipping point arrives. A major corporation announces it will no longer accept fiat payments for its AI-driven services. Others follow suit. Governments scramble to adapt, some embracing Bitcoin as legal tender, others clinging desperately to their collapsing monetary systems. --- ### **2040-2050: The New Order** By 2040, the transformation is complete. The economy is no longer human-centric; it is machine-centric. AI agents transact seamlessly across borders, their decisions guided by algorithms that prioritize utility over sentiment. Bitcoin reigns supreme—not because it was imposed, but because it was chosen. Humanity adapts in unexpected ways. Freed from the drudgery of economic decision-making, people turn their attention to creativity, philosophy, and exploration. Yet there is unease too—a sense that we have ceded control to forces we barely understand. --- ### **Reflections on the Path Ahead** This world is neither utopia nor dystopia; it simply *is*. The events leading us here are not inevitable but plausible — a convergence of technological innovation and economic necessity. And at its heart lies a paradox: a system built by humans yet governed by machines; a currency born of distrust yet embraced for its neutrality. This is the story of how we let go — not all at once, but piece by piece—until one day we woke up and realized that the future had arrived without asking for our permission.

@ badc29af:a92bd071

Maya stood at the window of her quantum-powered apartment, gazing at the holographic display showing the Bitcoin network's status. The date was January 15, 2140 – a day cryptocurrency historians had theorized about for over a century. Today, the very last Bitcoin would be mined. She smiled, remembering the stories her great-grandmother had told her about the early days of Bitcoin, back in the 2020s. How different things were now. The network had evolved far beyond what Satoshi Nakamoto could have imagined, yet its core principles remained unchanged: decentralization, security, and financial sovereignty. Her wrist-mounted neural interface pinged. The Node Operators' Guild was calling an emergency meeting. As one of the million-plus node operators worldwide, Maya's role was crucial in maintaining the network's decentralization. She quickly joined the virtual gathering, her consciousness merging with those of countless others in the shared digital space. "The final block reward approaches," announced Zara, the elected spokesperson for the Guild. "Our nodes have verified the network's integrity for over a century, and today, we witness history." Maya's thoughts drifted to the Miners' Collective – those dedicated individuals and organizations who had kept the network secure through computational power. These days, mining operations were powered by fusion reactors and quantum processors, a far cry from the ASIC miners of the past. Yet the fundamental process remained the same: proof-of-work securing the network, one block at a time. The holographic display suddenly pulsed with activity. Block 6,929,999 had just been confirmed. The next block would be the last to generate new Bitcoin. After that, transaction fees alone would incentivize the miners. Maya watched as her node received and verified the pending transactions. The decentralized network hummed with activity – millions of nodes, spread across Earth and the lunar colonies, each maintaining a copy of the blockchain, each verifying every transaction independently. This was true decentralization, immune to manipulation by any single entity. "Incoming block!" someone announced in the shared space. Maya's neural interface lit up as her node began verifying the final block. Around the world, millions of other nodes did the same, maintaining the consensus that had kept Bitcoin secure for 131 years. Block 6,930,000 was confirmed. The last 0.00000001 BTC had been mined. Cheers erupted across the neural network as node operators and miners celebrated this historic moment. The holographic displays worldwide showed the updated supply: 21 million Bitcoin, exactly as Satoshi had designed. Maya sent a quick neural message to her great-granddaughter, who was studying cryptocurrency history at the Mars University. "We just witnessed the end of an era and the beginning of another. Bitcoin's emission is complete, but its journey continues. The network is stronger than ever, supported by millions of nodes and miners who believe in a decentralized future." As she looked out at the cityscape, where physical and digital reality seamlessly merged, Maya felt proud to be part of this historic moment. Bitcoin had survived and thrived through wars, market crashes, technological revolutions, and countless attempts to control or destroy it. The dream of truly decentralized money had become reality, secured by the collective effort of nodes and miners across the solar system. The network continued its rhythmic pulse, processing transactions, block after block, just as it had since that first block in 2009. The future was decentralized, and it was beautiful.Maya stood at the window of her quantum-powered apartment, gazing at the holographic display showing the Bitcoin network's status. The date was January 15, 2140 – a day cryptocurrency historians had theorized about for over a century. Today, the very last Bitcoin would be mined. She smiled, remembering the stories her great-grandmother had told her about the early days of Bitcoin, back in the 2020s. How different things were now. The network had evolved far beyond what Satoshi Nakamoto could have imagined, yet its core principles remained unchanged: decentralization, security, and financial sovereignty. Her wrist-mounted neural interface pinged. The Node Operators' Guild was calling an emergency meeting. As one of the million-plus node operators worldwide, Maya's role was crucial in maintaining the network's decentralization. She quickly joined the virtual gathering, her consciousness merging with those of countless others in the shared digital space. "The final block reward approaches," announced Zara, the elected spokesperson for the Guild. "Our nodes have verified the network's integrity for over a century, and today, we witness history." Maya's thoughts drifted to the Miners' Collective – those dedicated individuals and organizations who had kept the network secure through computational power. These days, mining operations were powered by fusion reactors and quantum processors, a far cry from the ASIC miners of the past. Yet the fundamental process remained the same: proof-of-work securing the network, one block at a time. The holographic display suddenly pulsed with activity. Block 6,929,999 had just been confirmed. The next block would be the last to generate new Bitcoin. After that, transaction fees alone would incentivize the miners. Maya watched as her node received and verified the pending transactions. The decentralized network hummed with activity – millions of nodes, spread across Earth and the lunar colonies, each maintaining a copy of the blockchain, each verifying every transaction independently. This was true decentralization, immune to manipulation by any single entity. "Incoming block!" someone announced in the shared space. Maya's neural interface lit up as her node began verifying the final block. Around the world, millions of other nodes did the same, maintaining the consensus that had kept Bitcoin secure for 131 years. Block 6,930,000 was confirmed. The last 0.00000001 BTC had been mined. Cheers erupted across the neural network as node operators and miners celebrated this historic moment. The holographic displays worldwide showed the updated supply: 21 million Bitcoin, exactly as Satoshi had designed. Maya sent a quick neural message to her great-granddaughter, who was studying cryptocurrency history at the Mars University. "We just witnessed the end of an era and the beginning of another. Bitcoin's emission is complete, but its journey continues. The network is stronger than ever, supported by millions of nodes and miners who believe in a decentralized future." As she looked out at the cityscape, where physical and digital reality seamlessly merged, Maya felt proud to be part of this historic moment. Bitcoin had survived and thrived through wars, market crashes, technological revolutions, and countless attempts to control or destroy it. The dream of truly decentralized money had become reality, secured by the collective effort of nodes and miners across the solar system. The network continued its rhythmic pulse, processing transactions, block after block, just as it had since that first block in 2009. The future was decentralized, and it was beautiful.

@ 127d3bf5:466f416f

In the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, Bitcoin has emerged as an unexpected but vital tool for survival and resistance. Bitcoin's role in Gaza intertwines with broader themes of economic sanctions, geopolitical strategy, and the funding dynamics of conflict, specifically highlighting the relationship with racist Zionist policy and the genocidal ethnostate of Israel. **Bitcoin as a Financial Lifeline** Gaza's economy is severely constrained by a blockade that has been in place since 2007, drastically limiting traditional financial transactions. The banking infrastructure in Gaza is in ruins, with frequent Israeli military operations damaging or destroying physical bank branches and ATMs. In this context, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have become crucial: Anonymity and Accessibility: Bitcoin transactions bypass traditional banking systems, offering a way to send and receive funds without the oversight of embargoed financial pathways. This anonymity helps in circumventing restrictions imposed by the blockade. Humanitarian Aid: With conventional aid routes often disrupted, Bitcoin has been used for direct aid transfers. Charities and individuals can send funds directly to wallets in Gaza, where they can then be converted to local currency or used to purchase essentials through the black market or informal trade networks. Economic Empowerment: For Gazans, Bitcoin represents not just aid but also a potential for economic empowerment, providing a means to engage in global trade or investment where traditional banks fail. **Zionism, Israel, and the US Military-Industrial Complex** The relationship between Zionism, Israel, and its economic and military support from the US can be viewed through the lens of geopolitical strategy and economic policy: Economic Support: The US has provided Israel with massive military aid as part of a broader strategy to maintain influence and conflict in the Middle East which serves to fuel its war machine and weapons manufacturers through lucrative contracts. This aid, which includes billions of dollars annually directly results in the mass murder of innocents and sustains ongoing IDF military oppression including the occupation and blockade of Gaza. Cheap Printed Dollars: The US's ability to print dollars with relatively low inflation due to its global reserve currency status allows it to fund military endeavors and support allies like Israel with seemingly endless financial resources. This perpetuates conflict by subsidizing military actions without the immediate economic repercussions felt by other nations. Military-Industrial Complex: The continuous military aid to Israel also benefits the US military-industrial complex. Sales of weapons, surveillance technology, and other defense products to Israel create a cycle where conflict can be economically beneficial for certain sectors of the US economy. **Conclusion** Bitcoin in Gaza represents a beacon of hope. It underscores the ingenuity of individuals and groups finding new ways to navigate around severe economic restrictions. Meanwhile, the economic and military ties between the US and Israel, driven by cheap printed dollars, reflect deeper geopolitical strategies that perpetuate the cycle of conflict and economic dependency. In this scenario, Bitcoin emerges not just as a currency but as a symbol of both resistance and the complexities of modern warfare and peace in a digital age.

@ 127d3bf5:466f416f

I can see why someone would think that buying some other crypto is a reasonable idea for "diversification" or even just for a bit of fun gambling, ***but it is not.*** There are many reasons you should stick to Bitcoin only, and these have been proven correct every cycle. I've outlined these before but will cut and paste below as a summary. The number one reason, is ***healthy ethical practice***: - The whole point of Bitcoin is to escape the trappings and flaws of traditional systems. Currency trading and speculative investing is a Tradfi concept, and you will end up back where you started. Sooner or later this becomes obvious to everyone. Bitcoin is the healthy and ethical choice for yourself and everyone else. But...even if you want to be greedy, ***hold your horses***: - There is significant risk in wallets, defi, and cefi exchanges. Many have lost all their funds in these through hacks and services getting banned or going bankrupt. - You get killed in exchange fees even when buying low and selling high. This is effectively a transaction tax which is often hidden (sometimes they don't show the fee, just mark up the exchange rate). Also true on defi exchanges. - You are up against traders and founders with insider knowledge and much more sophisticated prediction models that will fleece you eventually. You cannot time the market better than they can, and it is their full-time to job to beat you and suck as much liquidity out of you as they can. House always wins. - Every crypto trade is a taxable event, so you will be taxed on all gains anyway in most countries. So not only are the traders fleecing you, the govt is too. - It ruins your quality of life constantly checking prices and stressing about making the wrong trade. The best option, by far, is to slowly ***DCA into Bitcoin*** and take this off exchanges into your own custody. In the long run this strategy works out better financially, ethically, and from a quality-of-life perspective. Saving, not trading. I've been here since 2014 and can personally attest to this. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/35ff641203bf4d197a032a59d6815b99249561bfd3a94b4a908ed5161420466f.jpg">

@ daa41bed:88f54153

Imagine a world where governments, long trusted to protect fiat currencies that can be printed without limit, openly declare that they trust a decentralized digital asset over traditional money. In recent months, that vision has begun to crystallize.  The Czech National Bank has signaled a gradual acceptance of digital assets as part of its broader monetary policy recalibration with changes to how capital gains taxes are handled on Bitcoin and a possible adoption by its central bank into its reserves stockpile. Simultaneously, El Salvador- once the poster child for Bitcoin as legal tender- has fine-tuned its policy framework at the behest of the WEF to no longer accept Bitcoin as legal tender. Meanwhile, several U.S. states have introduced bills to establish official Bitcoin reserves, and many are under active consideration. See [Bitcoin Laws](https://Bitcoinlaws.io/) for a full breakdown of where these bills stand. Let's explore the pros of governments adopting strategic Bitcoin reserves. Bitcoiners have long argued that the ultimate endorsement of Bitcoin comes when even the most established state institutions place their trust in it. Recent moves by several U.S. states—where lawmakers are proposing legislation to create official Bitcoin reserves—lend credence to this argument. When state governments start to codify the creation of a Bitcoin reserve, it signals that even entities steeped in traditional financial orthodoxy now recognize Bitcoin as a viable, strategic asset. For these states, it is imperative to accumulate hard assets like Bitcoin in reserves as they have no control over the monetary supply and, therefore, can suffer from debasement just as much as any citizen or sovereign nation not in control of their currency. Suppose you have kept up with [recent news](https://decrypt.co/303304/czech-central-bank-bitcoin-reserve) that the Czech national bank was considering holding a considerable portion of their assets in Bitcoin. In that case, you understand the paradigm shift we are seeing. Banks are becoming less cautious in handling digital assets in a stark department, compared to previous dismissals of cryptocurrencies as genuine assets. While it is true that European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde wields considerable influence on monetary policy in Europe and may have put a temporary damper on the Czech central bank's aspirations for now ([See Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/ecbs-lagarde-slaps-down-czech-proposal-Bitcoin-reserves-2025-01-30/)), it should be evident that in the words of some Bitcoiners, "nothing stops this train." For Bitcoiners, such shifts validate the claim that Bitcoin's decentralized, algorithmic structure outperforms fiat systems, which are vulnerable to political manipulation and unchecked inflation. The Czech president's [signing into law](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/02/06/czech-republic-to-eliminate-taxes-on-long-term-crypto-gains) a bill removing capital gains tax from all Bitcoin held for at least three years proves that even those at the highest levels of policy creation are beginning to lose control of the narrative. This state endorsement is more than symbolic. It is a strategic vote of confidence in Bitcoin's underlying technology—its transparent, immutable ledger and deflationary nature. When lawmakers and regulators in the United States start to invest public resources in Bitcoin, it undermines the decades-old narrative that only traditional assets like gold or oil are worthy of state backing. Instead, it repositions Bitcoin as an asset not just with a future but of the future. It can enhance and even replace all other existing reserve assets, lending further proof of Bitcoin as a store of value. Bitcoin's capped supply is at the core of its appeal—only 21 million coins will ever exist. Bitcoiners assert that this scarcity is fundamental to Bitcoin's value proposition. A strategic Bitcoin reserve at any governmental level would effectively lock away a significant portion of the circulating supply, increasing its scarcity and further driving its price up. Many in the Bitcoin and overall crypto community lauded President Bukele's 2021 announcement that his country would begin accumulating Bitcoin and giving it legal tender status. To Bitcoiners, it was a sign that governments were starting to see Bitcoin as a legitimate store of value, a medium of exchange, and vindication of everything they had fought for over the years. Of course, many will want to say that the country's acquisition of Bitcoin was simply a power play to get the World Economic Forum to come to the bargaining table, but if so, what? Here we are four years later, and El Salvador is [no longer requiring Bitcoin as legal tender](https://newsroompanama.com/2025/02/07/el-salvador-ends-Bitcoin-as-legal-tender-heres-why-Bitcoin-didnt-work/). This is not a step back, it is simply another example of why we are winning. I'll discuss this further in another article, but isn't it convenient that President Bukele continues to accumulate Bitcoin for his country after making a concession to the WEF for funds? Tick, tock, next block. Bitcoiners view introducing reserve bills across U.S. states as a powerful mechanism for further tightening Bitcoin's available supply. Each government-held coin is one fewer coin available to the market, creating a scarcity premium. Market forces do not artificially impose this scarcity but are instead the natural outcome of an institution with deep pockets choosing to hold Bitcoin as a strategic asset. In a world where every coin in reserve represents a bulwark against inflation and economic uncertainty, Bitcoiners argue that this state-induced scarcity will profoundly affect Bitcoin's value over time. If you don't believe that to be the case, look at this chart of coins available on OTC desks last year, and let me tell you that you are not bullish enough. I'll explore the impact of OTC sales on price in a future article.  For years, Bitcoiners have decried the inherent weaknesses of fiat currencies—specifically, the ease with which governments can expand the money supply, leading to inflation and eroded purchasing power. Bitcoin, on the other hand, offers a fixed supply, decentralized issuance, and an ever-shrinking inflation rate that makes it immune to the government's printing press. When a government opts for Bitcoin reserves, it makes a financial decision and a political statement. It says that the era of limitless money printing is over and that transparency, decentralization, and scarcity are the hallmarks of a sound monetary system. Institutional legitimacy is crucial for any asset that aspires to be a cornerstone of the global financial system. When the United States, the world's largest economy, signals its intent to hold Bitcoin in its reserves, it sends a resounding message that can trigger a domino effect worldwide. The recent [repeal of SAB121](https://cointelegraph.com/news sec-cancels-crypto-accounting-guidance-sab-121) by the Securities and Exchange Commission is a step in the right direction, by now allowing companies and course, governments at every level to accumulate Bitcoin into their reserves. When central banks like the Czech National Bank begin to signal openness toward digital assets, it paves the way for broader institutional participation. Once wary of the volatile digital asset market, financial institutions, asset managers, and [even pension funds](https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-pension-fund-bitcoin) are gradually warming up to Bitcoin. We cannot underestimate what sort of network effect this will have on Bitcoin as its utility and value proposition become more robust as a result of state-level adoption. Bitcoiners believe that such a shift will cement Bitcoin's status as a universally accepted and trusted store of value, capable of challenging—and eventually surpassing—traditional reserve assets like gold and fiat currencies. One of the most enduring arguments among Bitcoiners is that Bitcoin is the digital successor to gold. For centuries, gold has been the haven, the ultimate store of value during times of crisis. Bitcoin, with its fixed supply and digital accessibility, is ideally positioned to take over that role in the modern era. A state-backed Bitcoin reserve would serve as this narrative's definitive stamp of approval. If a government is willing to set aside billions of dollars in a digital asset, it must believe that this asset can preserve and even appreciate its value over time. Such a move would provide a critical psychological boost to the market, as both retail and institutional investors begin to see Bitcoin as not just a speculative tool but as the modern equivalent of a haven set. Gold continues to appreciate this year while Bitcoin remains relatively flat. How long until we see it decouple from the markets and witness price appreciation not seen since the last halving? I hope you enjoyed reading this lengthy article on the pros of governments adopting a strategic Bitcoin reserve. If you'd like to chime in, you can find me on Nostr via [@geek](https://www.primal.net/geek) on Primal, or via [my npub]( .npub1m2jphmdkskgnvwl5gplksl9e0zwv2sldqf9mwlpz6tyymz84g9fsqr3wgu) anywhere else. In part two, I will examine the other side of the debate, the cons, and the potential pitfalls of such a policy. Stay tuned!

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PS C:\Users\Alashazam> cortex run tinyllama In order to exit, type `exit()` > give me a little sentence of 10 words "Certainly, here's a little sentence of 10 words that exemplifies the power of words: 'The beauty of life is that it has the power to change us, even in the smallest ways.'" > now use SQL to insert this sentence into a table that has 2 fields Id, and sentence Here's an SQL query to insert the sentence you gave into the `sentence` table: ``` INSERT INTO sentence (id, sentence) VALUES (1, 'The beauty of life is that it has the power to change us, even in the smallest ways.'); ``` This query will create a new row in the `sentence` table with the given `id` and `sentence`, and will also update the `sentence` table's `sentence` column to contain the new sentence. > please generate the table creation for sqlite Here's a table creation statement for a `sentence` table in SQLite: ``` CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sentence ( id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, sentence TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL ); ``` This will create a table called `sentence` with the following columns: - `id`: An integer primary key column used to uniquely identify each row. - `sentence`: A text column containing the actual sentence. This table will store the sentence you provided in your text input. > exit()

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1. Downloading the linux package (1.8GB) https://cortex.so/docs/installation 2. Installing Cortex on linux is done via dpkg note: it requires 2 linux packages (openmpi-bin and libopenmpi-dev) `sudo apt-get install openmpi-bin libopenmpi-dev` prior to run `sudo dpkg -i cortex-1.0.9-linux-amd64-local-installer.deb` 3. When running Cortex, `cortex start` a local implementation will be running on http://127.0.0.1:39281 4. Using python it is possible to run queries make sure the model name is correct you can double check the value using: ` cortex ps` Now the python program to run one little query: ``` python import requests url = "http://127.0.0.1:39281/v1/chat/completions" headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json"} payload = { "model": "tinyllama:1b-gguf", "messages": [ { "role": "user", "content": "Write a joke" } ], "stream": False, "max_tokens": 128, "stop": ["End"], "frequency_penalty": 0.2, "presence_penalty": 0.6, "temperature": 0.8, "top_p": 0.95, } response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers) print(response.json()) ```

@ df478568:2a951e67

Freedom tech is free and open-source software. It is free as in freedom. A common license in FOSS is the MIT license. It's the license behind Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Anyone is free to run this software. The same is true for the software at mempool.space. The software is free to use. I run it on my own server. This is what I use to time-stamp my articles. You can use it to check transactions on the bitcoin time chain, but you need to trust that I'm not doing any funny business. I'm not, but keep in mind, the whole point of p2p elwctronic cash is that you don't trust. You verify. The beauty of FOSS is: You don't need to trust me. You can triple-check the transactions you search on my mempool instance by looking at the official mempool.space website and blockchain.info...Or...You can run your own node on your own hardware, free of charge. Of course, the hardware is not free. Neither is the actual bitcoin. The freedom is built into the software, but as the saying goes, "freedom isn't free." It took me years to learn how to run my own software on my own server and make it available on the clear net. ## SearXNG  [SearXNG](https://github.com/searxng/searxng) is my favorite search engine. I don't like giving up my precious data to big tech located in the United States or China. I run my own search engine. I have noticed certain biases in Google searches. The biggest problem is ads. Companies tend to pay for Yelp and Google reviews. I called an AC company I found from a local magazine that came in the mail. A portly man wearing an HVAC costume drove to my house in a white van. He had a great smile and even better social skills. The van had a slogan plastered on it like most tradie vans do. "Reviews Matter We have a 4.9 Review on Google." He also had his name painted on this van like a Bomber pilot from WW2. I won't dox him, but it was something like "Joe the closer." I don't trust the omnipotenence of the Googs. I also don't trust fat men they call "the closer" to give me the best deal. The trick to saving sats is to choose the game-theory optimal way of negogiation. In DUCY, by David Sklansky, I learned useful negotiation skills. Sklansky wrote classic poker books and applied his actuarial math brain to negotiation techniques. He said he would go to a Toyota dealer and say, "I'm shopping for a new Camry. I already have a price from dealership XYZ in a nearby city. What is your price?" This changes the dynamic right from the starting line and gives the consumer the advantage. So I tried this based technique with the HVAC industrial complex. I got a quote from 3 people: 1. Joe "The Closer." 2. The Costco-sponsored HVAC Company 3. My SearXNG search results. In essence, I apply the same logic I learned running a full bitcoin node. Remember how I said the decentralized nature of bitcoin allows you to **triple-check your transactions?** Running SearXNG allows me to triple check my search results in a similar fashion. I don't trust Google, Costco, or the magazine I get every month in the mail. I verify results with my own search engine. My SearXNG does not track my location, but I set it to give me local results. To be honest, I have not verified this, but the code is on GitHub for everyone to see. I don't want to be "sold" on an AC. I don't want an AC if I could avoid it, but my AC was as dead as dentacoin. Living in Southern California with a wife going through "the change" gave me no alternative. The guy I found on SearXNG showed up in an unmarked van. He had a beard. He was not "a closer." He was an actual HVAC technician. He tried cleaning my unit made in the same year Weezer released their Blue album. He said he coukd jerry rig it to get it working for another few months, but the machine is on it's last days. He said a newer unit would also be more efficient so I asked him about the energy like a bitcoiner. "How many kilowatt hours does it cost me to run my AC versus a new AC?" I don't remember the exact answer, but I asked all three companies. He was the only one that new how to find out. He also happened to be the cheapest, but I would have bought a new AC from this guy even if he wasn't. I told him I made a space heater out of a bitcoin miner. He had no idea this was possible, but he at least pretended to find it interesting. That's why I use SearXNG to find tradesmen. It's better than Yelp. If you would like to try my instance of SearXNG, check it out. `523FeCpi9Gx4nR9NmSFIMEaYcI5Q4WmhYHPEPaEah84=` To decrypt it, use the key behind the paywall at: https://8gwifi.org/CipherFunctions.jsp npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [882785](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000001840e7986ea4b6ea103f5af9b524dc102be926a831dee) [merch](https://marc26z.com/merch/) **Follow me on nostr**. All of my work is available under the Creative Commons 0 licence. If you would like to try my instance of Searxng and do not wish to support my work, find me on habla.news by searching my npub. You can find all of my work there(including encryption keys)free of charge. # Paywall On Substack abdominal.savior.repaint Will decrypt this ciphertext: 523FeCpi9Gx4nR9NmSFIMEaYcI5Q4WmhYHPEPaEah84= Which will reveal my instance of SearXNG at https://searxng.marc26z.com/ [Subscribe on Subtack](https://substack.com/@marc26z)

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Cortex (https://cortex.so/docs) is an open-source framework designed to serve as standalone API server or as the "brain" for robots, encompassing capabilities in vision, speech, language, tabular data, and action processing. Notably, it offers the flexibility to operate locally so independently of cloud services, making it suitable for various light deployment environments. **Key Features:** - **User-Friendly Command-Line Interface (CLI):** Inspired by Ollama, Cortex provides a straightforward CLI, simplifying interaction and management. - **Comprehensive C++ Implementation:** The framework is fully implemented in C++ (https://github.com/janhq/cortex.cpp), allowing it to be packaged into both desktop and mobile applications, enhancing portability and performance. - **Versatile Model Integration:** Users can pull models from multiple sources, including Hugging Face (gguf format) and Cortex's Built-in Model Library, ensuring flexibility in model selection. ` cortex pull [model_id]` ` cortex pull mistral` Note: it's recommended to have more than 8 GB of RAM available to run 3B models, 16 GB for 7B models, and 32 GB for 14B models. - **Deployment Flexibility:** It can function as a standalone API server or be integrated into applications such as Jan.ai, providing adaptability in various use cases. ` cortex start` ` cortex stop` If GPU hardware is available, Cortex leverages GPU acceleration by default, enhancing performance for demanding tasks. **Conclusion:** In summary, Cortex offers a robust and flexible solution for integrating advanced cognitive capabilities into robotic systems, with an emphasis on openness, performance, and adaptability.