@ 5bdb0e24:0ccbebd7

I am a huge fan of Flatpak applications on Linux. I like how they work. I like how easy they are to install. I like how you can control their permissions with such granularity. Etc. Well now, I have yet another reason to love Flatpaks: easy installation reproducibility. Let me show you what I mean. --- Let's say you have been using Flatpaks for a while, and you have all the apps you could want installed on your system. Then, for whatever reason, you have to set up an OS on a new machine. For example, it could be that a new version of Ubuntu is about to drop, and you want to install it from scratch on your laptop. Well, now you can easily install all the Flatpaks that you use and love on that new OS with just a few commands. First, on your current machine, we want to list out all the installed Flatpaks. But, we don't want to just do it with a `flatpak list`, because that gives us too much information. All we want right now is a list of the Application IDs. We can do that with the following command: ``` flatpak list --app --columns application ``` Now, this is great, and we can just manually copy and paste this list into a text file if we want. Instead, what we are going to do is take that output and redirect it to a file with the output redirection operator. We are going to call that output something like "flatpaks.txt" or something else unimportant, because we need to rename the file in the next step. ``` flatpak list --app --columns application > flatpaks.txt ``` Great! Now, we have a text file of every Flatpak we currently have installed on our system. Next, we need to format it, so we can easily input the contents of the text file into the command line for install at a later time. We can easily format this file appropriately with the next command and output the contents into a new text file. In my experience, if we try to overwrite the contents of the first file, the command won't work. Here's how to do it: ``` cat flatpaks.txt | tr '\n' ' ' | sed 's/ $/\n/' > flatpakinstalls.txt ``` Now, this is technically a few commands, and when broken down they simply say "take this file's contents, replace the new lines with spaces, remove the trailing space at the end of the line, and write this new output to a new file." Regular expressions are wild. The last thing you'll want to do is delete the original file, since now you have two: ``` rm flatpaks.txt ``` With that, you have a clean text file containing all the Flatpaks installed on your system that you can reference on any other machine. But, we can actually do this a little better. With all of that out of the way, we can take that three or four-step process and boil it down to one simple copy pasta command thanks to the and operator, `&&`: ``` flatpak list --app --columns application > flatpaks.txt && cat flatpaks.txt | tr '\n' ' ' | sed 's/ $/\n/' > flatpakinstalls.txt && rm flatpaks.txt ``` That's it! Easy as pie. Just keep this file backed up and safe. Then, after you are done installing your new OS, you'll need to make sure Flatpak is set up and ready by following the official Flatpak documentation. After that, you can move this text file over to that machine, copy the contents, and paste them after the `flatpak install` command to quickly and effortlessly reproduce the Flatpak setup you had on your old installation. Hope you find this as helpful as I do.

@ 5bdb0e24:0ccbebd7

In infosec, there is a seemingly never ending list of acronyms any cyber professional must be familiar with in order to work efficiently and effectively. One of those is a common vulnerability known as IDOR. IDOR stands for Insecure Direct Object Reference, and it's a type of vulnerability that can have serious implications for the security of web applications if not properly addressed. But what is it exactly? ## What is IDOR? --- IDOR is a security vulnerability that occurs when an application exposes internal implementation objects to users without proper authorization checks. In simpler terms, it means that an attacker can manipulate parameters in the application's URL or form fields to access unauthorized data or functionality. Ok, that's a mouthful, so let's break it down further. ## How Does IDOR Work? --- To understand how IDOR works, consider a scenario where a web application reveals information about what you're accessing or viewing via the URL. For example, a user profile page may have a URL like the following: `https://example.com/profile?id=123`. In a secure application, the server would verify that the user has the necessary permissions to access the profile with ID 123. However, in the case of an IDOR vulnerability, an attacker could change the ID parameter in the URL to something like `https://example.com/profile?id=456` to access a different user's profile, potentially exposing sensitive customer information. The consequences of an IDOR vulnerability go beyond unauthorized access to customer information as well. Attackers could gain access to other sensitive data, such as financial records, administrative functions, or other business related data. This can lead to data breaches, privacy violations, and reputational damage to the organization. ## Preventing IDOR Attacks --- Preventing IDOR attacks requires a proactive approach to security. Here are some basic best practices to mitigate theses attacks: 1. Implement Proper Access Controls: Ensure that all user requests are properly authenticated and authorized before granting access to resources. 2. Use Indirect Object References: Instead of exposing internal object references directly in URLs, use indirect references that are mapped to internal objects on the server side. 3. Validate User Input: Sanitize and validate all user input to prevent malicious manipulation of parameters. 4. Employ Role-Based Access Control: Implement role-based access control to restrict users' access to only the resources they are authorized to view or modify. 5. Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential IDOR vulnerabilities. IDOR is a critical security issue that requires proactive measures to mitigate. By understanding how IDOR works and implementing various security controls, organizations can safeguard their web applications against potential threats and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data.

@ 5bdb0e24:0ccbebd7

In cybersecurity, there is a buzzword I've seen some confusion about online recently. It's called zero trust, and though it sounds like vague corporate-ese at first, it actually represents a necessary approach to digital security. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and IT professionals need to be prepared for the worst at all times. Zero trust is a valid part of defense in depth and the principle of least privilege within a network or series of networks. But what exactly does that mean? Well, historically, cyber professionals relied on perimeter defenses like firewalls to determine trust, assuming that everything inside the network was trustworthy. Zero trust challenges this notion by requiring strict identity verification for every user and device trying to access resources, regardless of their location. You'll often hear the term "never trust, always verify" when talking about zero trust. Practically, this means that every user and device must authenticate their identity before accessing the resources on the network, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access sensitive data. It also means users are granted the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks (the principle of least privilege I mentioned a second ago). This not only limits the potential damage that can be caused in case of a security breach, but it impedes insider threats from doing even more damage than would be possible otherwise. Zero trust also makes it harder for attackers to move laterally within a network by implementing network segmentation. This divides larger networks up into smaller pieces, isolating each segment, and protecting them from threats in other segments. Effectively implementing these steps is not a set it and forget it kind of thing either. Zero trust requires continuous monitoring of user and device behavior to detect anomalies or suspicious activities that may indicate security threats. Proper implementation takes the "never trust" part to the extreme. In other words, zero trust means that organizations don't blindly trust their employees and internal networks. Threats can come from anywhere, including within, and implementing various controls to mitigate these risks can significantly enhance an organization's security posture and enable them to better protect all constituents involved.

@ 5bdb0e24:0ccbebd7

The internet is a dangerous place, full of vulnerabilities attackers leverage to malicious ends. One of the more common vulnerabilities that websites face is cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. XSS attacks can have serious consequences, ranging from stealing sensitive information to defacing websites. Without wasting any time, let's jump into what XSS is, how it works, and how to mitigate it on your websites. ## What is Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)? --- XSS is a type of injection security vulnerability typically found in web applications, and it exploits the trust users have in websites. It occurs when an attacker injects malicious scripts into web pages via input fields, URLs, or even cookies. When a user visits a compromised page, the injected script is executed in the user's browser, allowing the attacker to carry out various malicious activities. This works because the scripts are assumed to have come from a trusted source. When executed, they can steal sensitive information, hijack user sessions, or deface the website. ## Types of XSS Attacks --- There are three types of XSS: 1. **Stored XSS**: The malicious script is stored on the server and executed whenever a user accesses the compromised page. 2. **Reflected XSS**: The malicious script is reflected off a web server and executed in the user's browser. 3. **DOM-based XSS**: The attack occurs in the Document Object Model (DOM) of the web page, allowing the attacker to manipulate the page's content. ## Preventing XSS Attacks --- There are several ways to mitigate XSS, some examples include the following: 1. **Input Validation**: Validate and sanitize all user input to prevent the injection of malicious scripts. 2. **Output Encoding**: Encode user input before displaying it on the web page to prevent script execution. 3. **Content Security Policy (CSP)**: Implement a CSP to restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded on your website. 4. **Use HTTPS**: Ensure that your website uses HTTPS to encrypt data transmitted between the server and the user's browser. ## Conclusion --- Cross-site scripting attacks pose a significant threat to web security. By understanding how XSS works and implementing best practices to prevent such attacks, you can safeguard your website and protect your users' sensitive information. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay secure in the ever-evolving landscape of web security.

@ 5bdb0e24:0ccbebd7

In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, understanding the various vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers is crucial for maintaining robust defenses. One such vulnerability that poses a significant risk is Local File Inclusion (LFI). This blog post aims to demystify LFI, explaining what it is, how it can be exploited, and what measures can be taken to prevent it. ## What is Local File Inclusion (LFI)? --- Local File Inclusion is a type of web application vulnerability that allows an attacker to access files from the server where the application is hosted. This can be achieved by exploiting poorly written code in the web application that processes user input. Essentially, if an application allows users to specify a file to be included, and it doesn't properly sanitize the input, attackers can manipulate this input to include arbitrary files from the server. LFI vulnerabilities often arise in applications that use scripts like PHP, where the `include`, `require`, `include_once`, and `require_once` functions are used to include files dynamically. When these functions are used improperly, they can become a gateway for attackers. ## How Does LFI Work? --- To understand how LFI works, let's consider a simple example. Here we see a PHP script that uses user input to include different page templates: ```php <?php $page = $_GET['page']; include("pages/" . $page . ".php"); ?> ``` If the application fails to properly validate the `page` parameter from user input, an attacker could manipulate it by inserting paths that lead to unintended files: ``` http://example.com/index.php?page=../../etc/passwd ``` In this scenario, if not properly secured, the attacker could potentially read sensitive system files like `/etc/passwd` on Unix-based systems. ## Impacts of LFI Vulnerabilities --- LFI vulnerabilities can have severe consequences, including but not limited to the following: 1\. **Information Disclosure**: Attackers can gain access to sensitive files, such as configuration files, passwords, and application source code.\ 2. **Remote Code Execution**: In some cases, attackers can leverage LFI to execute arbitrary code on the server, especially if they can upload malicious files to the server.\ 3. **Access to Internal Systems**: Attackers may use LFI to pivot and access other systems within the network, potentially leading to broader compromises. ## Preventing LFI Vulnerabilities --- Preventing LFI vulnerabilities requires a combination of secure coding practices and proper input validation. Here are some key measures to take: 1\. **Input Validation**: Always validate and sanitize user inputs. Ensure that the input corresponds to the expected format and type, and reject any suspicious or malformed input.\ \ 2. **Whitelist Files**: Instead of allowing arbitrary file inclusion, use a whitelist of allowable files that can be included. This restricts the files that can be included to a predefined set.\ \ 3. **Avoid User-Controlled File Paths**: Where possible, avoid using user input directly in file paths. If it is necessary, use predefined directories and filenames.\ \ 4. **Use Built-In Functions**: Utilize built-in functions and libraries that handle file inclusions more securely. For example, PHP’s `filter_input()` can help sanitize input data.\ \ 5. **Principle of Least Privilege**: Ensure that the web server and application run with the least privileges necessary, minimizing the impact of a potential compromise.\ \ 6. **Security Testing**: Regularly conduct security testing, including code reviews and penetration testing, to identify and fix vulnerabilities. ## Conclusion --- Local File Inclusion is a potent vulnerability that can lead to significant security breaches if left unchecked. By understanding how LFI works and implementing robust security measures, developers and administrators can protect their applications from being exploited. Ensuring that user inputs are properly validated and sanitized, using whitelists, and adhering to the principle of least privilege are fundamental steps in safeguarding against LFI attacks. Regular security assessments and staying informed about the latest security practices will further bolster defenses against this and other vulnerabilities.

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

## **It Begins with a Click** It starts with a click: *“Do you agree to our terms and conditions?”*\ You scroll, you click, you comply. A harmless act, right? But what if every click was a surrender? What if every "yes" was another link in the chain binding you to a life where freedom requires approval? This is the age of permission. Every aspect of your life is mediated by gatekeepers. Governments demand forms, corporations demand clicks, and algorithms demand obedience. You’re free, of course, as long as you play by the rules. But who writes the rules? Who decides what’s allowed? Who owns your life? --- ## **Welcome to Digital Serfdom** We once imagined the internet as a digital frontier—a vast, open space where ideas could flow freely and innovation would know no bounds. But instead of creating a decentralized utopia, we built a new feudal system. - Your data? Owned by the lords of Big Tech. - Your money? Controlled by banks and bureaucrats who can freeze it on a whim. - Your thoughts? Filtered by algorithms that reward conformity and punish dissent. The modern internet is a land of serfs and lords, and guess who’s doing the farming? You. Every time you agree to the terms, accept the permissions, or let an algorithm decide for you, you till the fields of a system designed to control, not liberate. They don’t call it control, of course. They call it *“protection.”* They say, “We’re keeping you safe,” as they build a cage so big you can’t see the bars. --- ## **Freedom in Chains** But let’s be honest: we’re not just victims of this system—we’re participants. We’ve traded freedom for convenience, sovereignty for security. It’s easier to click “I Agree” than to read the fine print. It’s easier to let someone else hold your money than to take responsibility for it yourself. It’s easier to live a life of quiet compliance than to risk the chaos of true independence. We tell ourselves it’s no big deal. What’s one click? What’s one form? But the permissions pile up. The chains grow heavier. And one day, you wake up and realize you’re free to do exactly what the system allows—and nothing more. --- ## **The Great Unpermissioning** It doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t need their approval. You don’t need their systems. You don’t need their permission. The Great Unpermissioning is not a movement—it’s a mindset. It’s the refusal to accept a life mediated by gatekeepers. It’s the quiet rebellion of saying, *“No.”* It’s the realization that the freedom you seek won’t be granted—it must be reclaimed. - **Stop asking.** Permission is their tool. Refusal is your weapon. - **Start building.** Embrace tools that decentralize power: Bitcoin, encryption, open-source software, decentralized communication. Build systems they can’t control. - **Stand firm.** They’ll tell you it’s dangerous. They’ll call you a radical. But remember: the most dangerous thing you can do is comply. The path won’t be easy. Freedom never is. But it will be worth it. --- ## **The New Frontier** The age of permission has turned us into digital serfs, but there’s a new frontier on the horizon. It’s a world where you control your money, your data, your decisions. It’s a world of encryption, anonymity, and sovereignty. It’s a world built not on permission but on principles. This world won’t be given to you. You have to build it. You have to fight for it. And it starts with one simple act: refusing to comply. --- ## **A Final Word** They promised us safety, but what they delivered was submission. The age of permission has enslaved us to the mundane, the monitored, and the mediocre. The Great Unpermissioning isn’t about tearing down the old world—it’s about walking away from it. You don’t need to wait for their approval. You don’t need to ask for their permission. The freedom you’re looking for is already yours. Permission is their power—refusal is yours.

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

Starting in January 2025, the EU’s MiCA regulation enforced strict KYC requirements, especially for Bitcoin transactions over €1,000 between exchanges and self-hosted wallets. While this creates new challenges, there are still legitimate ways to protect your privacy and maintain control over your Bitcoin. ## Effective Privacy Solutions 1. Take Control with Self-Custody • Run Your Own Node: This ensures you’re not relying on third-party servers, giving you full control of your transactions. • Use Fresh Addresses: Always generate a new address for each transaction to keep your activity private and harder to trace. • Choose the Right Wallets: Use wallets like #Sparrow or #Wasabi, which let you connect directly to your own node for added privacy (check if there are any legal cases against any wallet before you use one.). 2. Leverage the Lightning Network • Keep Transactions Off-Chain: Lightning lets you make payments without broadcasting them to the blockchain. • #Onion Routing for Privacy: This hides your payment path, protecting both you and the recipient. • Hard-to-Trace Payments: With multiple hops between nodes, tracking transactions becomes nearly impossible. 3. Smarter Transaction Habits • Keep Channels Open: By leaving your #Lightning payment channels open, you minimize on-chain activity. • Use Public Channels Wisely: Multiple public channels provide plausible deniability. • Go Private with Unannounced Channels: For maximum privacy, consider private payment channels. ## How to Implement These Tools 1. Setting Up the Lightning Network • Privacy-First Funding: When funding your channels, use methods like #CoinJoin to enhance privacy. • Better Receiver Privacy: Use tools like #Voltage Flow 2.0 for added anonymity when receiving payments. • Stay on Top of Channel Management: Properly manage your payment channels to avoid privacy leaks. 2. Strengthen Your Operational Security • Avoid Reusing Addresses: Reusing the same wallet address makes it easier to trace your transactions. • Separate Public and Private Transactions: Keep identified funds and private wallets completely separate. • Use Tor or VPNs: Always use privacy tools like Tor or a #VPN when accessing Bitcoin wallets or services. ## Staying Safe 1. Legal Awareness • Mind the Limits: Be cautious with transactions over €1,000, as they’ll trigger reporting requirements. • Peer-to-Peer Freedom: Transactions between unhosted wallets remain outside #MiCA ’s reach, so direct transfers are still an option. • Check Local Rules: Privacy tool regulations vary between countries, so make sure you’re up to speed on what’s allowed where you live. 2. Practical Safeguards • Double-Check Everything: Always verify wallet addresses before sending funds to avoid costly mistakes. • Stay Updated: Keep your wallets, nodes, and security tools current with the latest updates. • Keep Offline Backups: Store your recovery phrases and backups somewhere secure and offline. #Bitcoin #privacy isn’t automatic—it takes effort and vigilance. But by following these steps, you can stay in control of your financial freedom even in an increasingly regulated world. Stay informed, make smart decisions, and build habits that protect your privacy. Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or investment advice. The tools and techniques shared here are not meant to help anyone break the law or avoid regulations. You’re responsible on complying with local laws and consult legal professionals if you’re unsure about anything. The goal is to inform and empower you to take control of your privacy responsibly. Stay safe and stay free.

@ c8adf82a:7265ee75

Trigger warning. Please have an open mind and I will open a perspective for you --- In this world, we are always told to follow our heart. Have you ever think deeply about this? You had your first love, didn’t you really love them? You defend them, you put them over your family. No mom he/she is not like that, you just don’t understand. And then you distance yourself from your mom, the person who gave you life. Your mom will tell you please take it slow, but you say no I love this person. This is the love of my life! Forty days later you cry because you got cheated on, and the only person that consoles you is your mom. What happened? I thought you loved that person? You gave everything, you love, and boom, you hate. Do you know why? Because you don’t know this verse: > *“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”* *> *Jeremiah 17:9 KJV* We are groomed by the prince of this world, satan, to follow our heart. This is why we are always volatile. Happy sad happy sad. This is why God records this verse in the Bible. He’s just like: “Hey guys, just so you know, this is your heart. You will never know it, so I record it here because I love you”. Sadly, we never read our Bible, so we don’t know the heart of God. And when we don’t know the heart of God, we can only trust our heart and we become easily deceived Let’s go deeper, what is the antithesis of God? Satan. What is satan’s objective? Deceive. How is he like? Cunning and deceitful. Does satan want you to kill? No. To hate? No. Satan just wants a lot of people to stay with him in hell when the world ends Aren’t you just walking around existing? You’re not striving, you’re not thriving, you’re just existing. Why? Because you trust your thoughts and feelings. Those that deceive you. Your problem isn’t empty or depression. Empty or depression doesn’t come from God. This is the characteristics of satan God compared our heart to the characteristics of satan. Satan is cunning and deceitful, we should never trust our heart because trusting your heart directly correlates with trusting and worshiping satan Satan never say worship me, satan says believe in yourself. Satan says worship yourself. Individualism, greed, pride, sloth, all deadly sins. Worship that! And when you follow that, you die

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

In a world where sovereignty is supposedly sacred, a startling truth emerges: The United States' attempt to purchase Greenland has exposed how territories and their populations can still be viewed as tradeable assets in the 21st century. This investigation reveals the true scope of what could be the most audacious territorial acquisition since the Alaska Purchase of 1867. ## THE SOVEREIGNTY PARADOX When Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen declared "Greenland is not for sale," she inadvertently highlighted a crucial irony: Denmark's authority to reject the sale implies ownership of a territory seeking self-determination. Prime Minister Egede's recent accusation of Danish genocide over the 1960s forced contraceptive program adds a chilling historical context to this modern power play. ## THE REAL PRICE OF A NATION The initial estimates of $12.5-77 billion, calculated by former New York Fed economist David Barker, barely scratch the surface. The true cost approaches $2 trillion when factoring in: - Infrastructure development: $1.5 trillion - Annual subsidies: $775 million - Resident compensation: $5.7-57 billion - Environmental protection costs: Billions annually ## THE COLONIAL ECHO CHAMBER **HISTORICAL WOUNDS AND MODERN AMBITIONS** Trump's refusal to rule out military force against a NATO ally marks an unprecedented threat in post-WW2 diplomacy. Meanwhile, Donald #Trump Jr.'s "private visits" to Greenland, coupled with Denmark's pointed refusal to meet him, reveals the intersection of personal business interests and national security policy. ## THE RESOURCE SOVEREIGNTY EQUATION Beneath Greenland's ice lies an estimated $1.1 trillion in mineral wealth, presenting an alluring economic incentive. However, this potential wealth raises fundamental questions about resource sovereignty: **DEVELOPMENT COSTS** - 24 major development projects needed - $5 billion per project - 25-year implementation timeline - Current GDP: $3.236 billion **STRATEGIC RESOURCES** - Rare earth elements crucial for technology - 31.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent - Vast hydroelectric potential - Green hydrogen production possibilities ## THE ENVIRONMENTAL STAKES Greenland's ice sheet contains enough water to raise global sea levels by 23 feet. Climate change is rapidly transforming resource accessibility, while environmental protection costs would run into billions annually. This environmental transformation creates both opportunities and responsibilities: - Tourism sector potential: $450 million annually - Climate change monitoring costs - Environmental protection infrastructure - Indigenous land management rights ## THE GEOPOLITICAL CHESSBOARD **POWER DYNAMICS** The acquisition would fundamentally alter Arctic power structures: - #NATO alliance relationships - Chinese economic interests - Arctic Council voting power - Maritime shipping routes **THE CHINESE SHADOW** Denmark's 2017 intervention blocking Chinese acquisition of a former military base reveals Greenland's role in a larger geopolitical game. China's growing Arctic ambitions add urgency to American interests. ## THE MONARCHICAL DIMENSION King Frederik X's strategic modification of #Denmark 's royal coat of arms to emphasize Greenland ownership serves as a direct challenge to American ambitions, adding traditional power structures to modern sovereignty disputes. ## PROBABILITY AND RESISTANCE Current analysis suggests: - 60% chance of failure due to international opposition - 30% chance of diplomatic compromise - 10% chance of successful acquisition ## THE INFLATION FACTOR The purchase would trigger significant inflationary pressures through: - Massive fiscal expenditure in an already heated economy - Supply chain disruptions - Construction and development costs - Core PCE inflation impact - Federal Reserve policy complications ## LEGAL AND FINANCIAL HURDLES The acquisition faces numerous obstacles: - International maritime law complications - Indigenous rights considerations - Existing mining licenses - Danish sovereign debt obligations - NATO alliance implications ## THE SOVEREIGNTY SOLUTION The path forward likely lies not in purchase but in supporting Greenlandic self-determination. With only 56,000 residents, the per capita acquisition cost would be astronomical, but the human cost of ignoring sovereignty rights would be immeasurable. ## CONCLUSION: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM The true cost of purchasing Greenland extends beyond economics into the realm of human rights and dignity. As climate change transforms the Arctic landscape, the question isn't whether Greenland can be bought—it's whether territorial transactions should have any place in a world that claims to value self-determination. The convergence of colonial history, indigenous rights, and geopolitical ambitions in Greenland serves as a mirror to our times. While major powers still think in terms of territorial acquisition, the people of Greenland remind us that sovereignty isn't for sale. Their struggle for self-determination, caught between American ambitions, Chinese influence, Danish sovereignty, and their own independence aspirations, may well define the future of Arctic politics and indigenous rights in the 21st century. The most viable path appears to be enhanced economic partnership without formal territorial acquisition, possibly through a free association agreement following #Greenland 's potential independence. As the Arctic's strategic importance grows, this #nostr analysis becomes increasingly relevant for future policy considerations and global power dynamics.

@ c68e2176:4439e6cf

I am not a big fan of open letters, it’s really difficult to write on a topic that applies so broadly without exception. Yet, here I am with a topic that I believe meets this criteria. In this post, I will not attempt to sell you on the merits of Bitcoin or the evils of fiat currency. There is enough content out there that can explain those topics better than I ever could. Instead, I want to convince church leaders around the world that you should seriously consider equipping your church to be able to accept Bitcoin as a medium of tithes and offerings from your congregants. Here is a list of reasons I came up with for church leaders to consider: 1. **Bitcoin Wallet is very simple to set up** 1. It’s quite simple to set up a bitcoin wallet. Do not let the technology make you think it is too complicated. If you have someone in your congregation familiar with BTC, they can help. Or, if you go to a company like Unchained Capital, their staff will walk you thru it step by step. There may be a small fee, but should be seriously considered. 2. **We should try to accommodate our congregation** 1. Especially if it’s easy to set up, we should try to accommodate accepting our tithes and offerings in how our congregation is led to give. If there are members in the congregation who are inclined to tithe in BTC, the church should be set up to accept it. 2. Anecdote: In college I knew a pastor who tithed in 1oz silver coins. He subscribed to Austrian economics, and said “why should I give to my Lord money that devalues”. The church bought a safe and stored it. All congregations should have the same mentality 3. **Sending money to foreign missionaries:** 1. No transaction or exchange fees 2. Sending a wire to a foreign missionary with accountability is painful. We used to do this and needed two signatures and the sending financial institution required us to fax approval. 3. Many times, individuals who serve on Church Finances have full time day jobs and the coordination and administration becomes logistically very difficult. Church finances should have accountability but our existing financial institutions make this difficult or they do not consistently enforce it. 4. Bitcoin Multi-Sig makes this extremely simple and easy. You skip Transaction and Exchange fees and accountability is built in with Multi-Sig. For those of you unfamiliar with multi-sig, just imagine the following scenario: You have 3 authorized signers at your Church. In order to send money, you need 2 out of those 3 signers to authorize sending funds. 4. **Financial Sovereignty** 1. Any student of church history knows that governments have been the greatest persecutors of the church. The separation of Church and state is dwindling as government power continues to grow. With BTC, the government cannot seize or freeze your assets. 2. All you have to think about is Covid. Imagine if you did not want to shut down your Church during Covid (I.e. The state of New Jersey froze and seized assets of Atilis Gym) This does not apply to just governments, but also financial institutions. 3. Churches should learn to self custody assets. Underground churches will attest to this.

@ c8adf82a:7265ee75

Imagine playing a MMO gen 1 Pokémon game, the goal of the game is still personal, to be the Pokémon league champion. To get to the Pokémon league, you need to defeat gym leaders and get their badges (if you never played, please play so you can relate and teach this lesson too) Some players just go through the storyline right away, some have fear and grind levels hard, some just wanted to chill and catch ‘em all Some got stuck at the mew rumour at S.S.Anne\* and got disappointed, some grind too hard that they forgot the main quest, some try to teach other people how to be a champion before being a champion themselves If you are not interested in being the champion, that is totally fine, it is your game after all. Some enjoy the up and down of the journey and they just don’t want to finish the game yet. I respect these people because they know what they want and they’re doing what they can to get what they want But there’s this special group of players that wants to be the champion, but are misled to believe they can be a ‘better’ champion if they do these special tasks before fighting the Elite Four. Can be from a game guide magazine, a friend that you think is smart, whatever. The sad truth is, you cannot be a ‘better’ champion in this game — and these guys just got misled their whole life Now, these guys do meet other players that told them “hey, just go fight the Elite Four, that’s the only way for you to be champion”, and they kept replying “please respect me, I know I have to beat the Elite Four, I just want to be a ‘better’ champion, you just don’t understand”. These players get stuck in some sort of internal pride war sunk cost fallacy because they have spent their whole life trying to be a ‘better’ champion that actually doesn’t exist Now why this story? This is life. No matter how hard you try, you still need to follow the main storyline. You can change your path, but everyone’s end goal eventually converge — eternal peace. When you become the league champion, you attain the ability to serve and radiate love. Evil spirits will forever try to hold you back from being a champion, some religion even tells you that you can be a ‘better’ champion. But really all you need to do is stay humble and stack sats, I mean, start the main quest One day when you actually become a champion, you will realize that the only way to live is to serve other people so we all become champions. Because life is best enjoyed with the people we love --- \*https://gaming-urban-legends.fandom.com/wiki/Mew_Under_the_Truck

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

###### Originalni tekst na [thebitcoinmanual.com](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/blockchain/lightning-chain/) --- *Lightning Network* (eng. *lightning* - munja, *network* - mreža) je jedno od primarnih rešenja za skaliranje Bitkoin mreže sa ciljem da je više ljudi može koristiti na različite načine čime bi se zaobišla ograničenja glavnog blokčejna. *Lightning* mreža deluje kao "drugi sloj" koji je dodat Bitkoin (BTC) blokčejnu koji omogućava transakcije van glavnog lanca (blokčejna) pošto se transakcije između korisnika ne registruju na samoj blokčejn mreži. *Lightning* kao "sloj-2 (*layer-2*)" pojačava skalabilnost blokčejn aplikacija tako što upravlja transakcijama van glavnog blokčejna ("sloj-1" / *layer-1*), dok istovremeno uživa benefite moćne decentralizovane sigurnosti glavnog blokčejna, tako da korisnici mogu ulaziti i izlaziti iz *Lightning* mreže koristeći *custodial* ili *non-custodial* servise u zavisnosti od sopstvene sposobnosti i znanja da koriste glavni blokčejn. Kao što i samo ime govori *Lightning Network* je dizajnirana za brza, instant i jeftina plaćanja u svrhu sredstva razmene i druga programabilna plaćanja kojima nije potrebna instant konačnost (*finality*) ali ni sigurnost glavnog lanca. *Lightning* je najbolje uporediti sa vašom omiljenom aplikacijom za plaćanja ili debitnom karticom. #### Šta je *Lightning* mreža? *Lightning* mreža vuče svoje poreklo još od tvorca Bitkoina, Satošija Nakamota, ali je formalizovana od strane istraživača *Joseph Poon*-a i *Thaddeus Dryja*-a koji su 14. januara 2016. godine objavili [beli papir](https://lightning.network/lightning-network-paper.pdf) o *Lightning Network*-u. Radilo se o predlogu alternativnog rešenja za skaliranje Bitkoina da bi se izbeglo proširenje kapaciteta bloka Bitkoin mreže i smanjio rizik od centralizacije blokčejna. Dalje, skaliranje van glavnog lanca znači zadržavanje integriteta samog blokčejna što omogućuje više eksperimentalnog rada na Bitkoinu bez ograničenja koja su postavljena na glavnom blokčejnu. *Lightning Labs*, kompanija za blokčejn inženjering, pomogla je pokretanje beta verzije *Lightning* mreže u martu 2018. - pored dve druge popularne implementacije od strane kompanija kao što su *ACINQ* i *Blockstream*. * *Lightning Labs – LND* * *Blockstream – Core Lightning* (implementacija nekada poznata kao *c-lightning*) * *ACINQ – Eclair* Svaka verzija protokola ima svoje poglede i načine kako rešava određene probleme ali ostaje interoperabilna sa ostalim implementacijama u smislu korišćenja novčanika, tako da za krajnjeg korisnika nije bitno kojom verzijom se služi kada upravlja svojim čvororom (*node*-om). *Lightning Network* je protokol koji svako može koristiti i razvijati ga, proširivati i unapređivati i koji kreira posebno i odvojeno okruženje za korišćenje Bitkoina kroz seriju pametnih ugovora (*smart contracts*) koji zaključavaju BTC na *Lightning*-u radi izbegavanja dvostruke potrošnje (*double-spending*). *Lightning Network* nije blokčejn ali živi i funkcioniše na samom Bitkoinu i koristi glavni lanac kao sloj za konačno, finalno poravnanje. *Lightning* mreža ima sopstvene čvorove koji pokreću ovaj dodatni protokol i zaključavaju likvidnost Bitkoina u njemu sa ciljem olakšavanja plaćanja. *Lightning* omogućava svakom korisniku da kreira *p2p* (*peer-to-peer*) platni kanal (*payment channel*) između dve strane, kao npr. između mušterije i trgovca. Kada je uspostavljen, ovaj kanal im omogućava da međusobno šalju neograničen broj transakcija koje su istovremeno gotovo instant i veoma jeftine. Ponaša se kao svojevrsna mala "knjiga" (*ledger*) koja omogućava korisnicima da plaćaju još manje proizvode i usluge poput kafe i to bez uticaja na glavnu Bitkoin mrežu. #### Kako radi *Lightning Network*? *Lightning Network* se zasniva na pametnim ugovorima koji su poznati kao *hashed time lock contracts* koji između dve strane kreiraju platne kanale van glavnog blokčejna (*off-chain payment channels*). Kada zaključate BTC na glavnom lancu u ovim posebnim pametnim ugovorima, ova sredstva se otključavaju na *Lightning* mreži. Ova sredstva zatim možete koristiti da biste napravili platne kanale sa ostalim korisnicima *Lightning* mreže, aplikacijama i menjačnicama. Ovo su direktne platne linije koje se dešavaju na vrhu, odnosno izvan glavnog blokčejna. Kada je platni kanal otvoren, možete izvršiti neograničen broj plaćanja sve dok ne potrošite sva sredstva. Korišćenje *Lightning* sredstava nije ograničeno pravilima glavnog Bitkoin lanca i ova plaćanja se vrše gotovo trenutno i za samo delić onoga što bi koštalo na glavnom blokčejnu. Vaš platni kanal ima svoj sopstveni zapisnik (*ledger*) u koji se beleže transakcije izvan glavnog BTC blokčejna. Svaka strana ima mogućnost da ga zatvori ili obnovi po svom nahođenju i vrati sredstva nazad na glavni Bitkoin lanac objavljivanjem transakcije kojom se zatvara kanal. Kada dve strane odluče da zatvore platni kanal, sve transakcije koje su se desile unutar njega se objedinjuju i zatim objavljuju na glavni blokčejn "registar". #### Zašto biste želeli da koristite *Lightning* mrežu? --- **Trenutno slanje satošija** *Lightning Network* je "sloj-2" izgrađen na vrhu glavnog Bitkoin lanca koji omogućava instant i veoma jeftine transakcije između *lightning* novčanika. Ova mreža se nalazi u interakciji sa glavnim blokčejnom ali se plaćanja pre svega sprovode *off-chain*, van glavnog lanca, pošto koristi sopstvenu evidenciju plaćanja na *lightning* mreži. Razvijene su različite aplikacije koje su kompatibilne sa *Lightning* mrežom, koje su veoma lake za korišćenje i ne zahtevaju više od QR koda za primanje i slanje prekograničnih transakcija. Možete deponovati BTC na vaše *lightning* novčanike tako što ćete slati satošije sa menjačnica ili ih kupovati direktno unutar ovih aplikacija. Većina ovih novčanika ima ograničenje od nekoliko miliona satošija (iako će se ovaj limit povećavati kako više biznisa i država bude prihvatalo Bitkoin) koje možete poslati po transakciji što ima smisla budući da je za slanje većih iznosa bolje korišćenje glavnog blokčejna. **Pokretanje sopstvenog čvora** Kako se više ljudi bude povezivalo sa *lightning* mrežom i koristilo njene mogućnosti, sve više ljudi pokreće svoje čvorove radi verifikacije transakcija putem svojih *lightning* platnih kanala. Kroz ove kanale je moguće bezbedno poslati različite iznose satošija, a takođe je moguće zarađivati i male naknade za svaku transakciju koja prolazi kroz vaš kanal. **Transakcione naknade** Uprkos trenutnim transakcijama, još uvek postoje transakcione naknade povezane sa otvaranjem i zatvaranjem platnih kanala koje se moraju platiti rudarima na glavnom blokčejnu prilikom finalizacije *lightning* platnih kanala. Takođe postoje i naknade za rutiranje (*routing fees*) koje idu *lightning* čvorovima (i njihovim platnim kanalima) koji su uspostavljeni da bi se omogućila plaćanja. Sa daljim napredovanjem razvoja Bitkoina i novim nadogradnjama, imaćemo sve veći rast i razvoj *layer-2* aplikacija kao što je *lightning*. #### Više izvora o Lightning mreži Ukoliko želite da naučite više o *Lightning* mreži, najbolje je da pročitate dodatne tekstove na sajtu [thebitcoinmanual.com](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/?s=lightning).

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

**Money**. It’s one of the most powerful forces in our world, and for many, it evokes mixed emotions. On the one hand, money provides security, opportunities, and the freedom to pursue dreams. On the other, it’s often tied to stress, inequality, and a sense of unending competition. This love-hate relationship with money is universal, and it stems from a system that often feels rigged against the average person. Enter Nostr—a decentralized protocol designed to address some of the deepest flaws in how we interact with value and communication online. While Nostr isn’t just about money, its principles are profoundly reshaping how we think about value exchange, financial sovereignty, and freedom. ### The Root of the Problem At the core of our collective frustration with money is control. Traditional financial systems are centralized, opaque, and prone to manipulation. Whether it’s through inflation eating away at savings, unfair access to banking, or censorship of financial transactions, the system leaves many feeling powerless. Add to this the societal obsession with consumerism and wealth accumulation, and it’s no wonder money can feel more like a burden than a tool. Even digital spaces, which promised democratization, often mirror these problems. Social media platforms monetize user data while censoring or shadow-banning content. Payment platforms can freeze accounts or deny access, reinforcing the imbalance of power. ### Nostr: A Fresh Perspective on Value and Freedom Nostr (short for "*Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays*") isn’t just a technical innovation—it’s a philosophy. Built on a simple yet powerful decentralized protocol, Nostr allows users to share information, communicate, and exchange value directly, without reliance on centralized entities. It’s an open, censorship-resistant network that puts control back into the hands of individuals. So, how is Nostr addressing the money dilemma? 1. **Decentralized Value Exchange**\ Nostr integrates seamlessly with tools like Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, enabling instant, low-cost payments without intermediaries. This means individuals can send and receive money directly, whether it’s a micro-tip to support a content creator or a peer-to-peer transaction across borders. No banks. No middlemen. Just value exchanged freely. 2. **Censorship Resistance**\ One of the most frustrating aspects of modern finance is the potential for censorship. Banks and platforms can freeze accounts or block payments based on arbitrary criteria. Nostr flips this script by creating a network where transactions and communication are uncensorable. Value flows freely, aligned with the principles of individual sovereignty. 3. **Empowering Creators**\ In traditional models, creators often rely on centralized platforms to earn revenue, losing a significant portion to fees or being at the mercy of algorithms. On Nostr, creators can directly monetize their work through Bitcoin tips or other decentralized payment methods, creating a more equitable system where value flows directly between creator and consumer. 4. **Transparency and Trust**\ Unlike traditional systems shrouded in secrecy, Nostr operates on an open protocol. This transparency builds trust and removes many of the frustrations people associate with hidden fees, arbitrary rules, or lack of accountability in centralized systems. ### A New Relationship with Money By decentralizing how value is exchanged and communication occurs, Nostr helps redefine the role of money in our lives. It shifts the narrative from control and dependency to empowerment and freedom. Money becomes what it was always meant to be—a tool, not a master. Imagine a world where tipping someone online is as easy as liking a post, where no one can block you from accessing your own funds, and where creators earn directly from their audience without gatekeepers taking a cut. That’s the world Nostr is helping to build. ### Closing Thoughts The love-hate relationship with money isn’t going away overnight. But as protocols like Nostr grow and mature, they offer a glimpse of what’s possible when we rethink the systems that shape our lives. By putting individuals back in control of their communication and financial exchanges, Nostr is doing more than fixing the flaws of the old system—it’s creating a new one entirely. In the end, it’s not just about money. It’s about freedom, fairness, and the ability to live a life where value flows freely, aligned with our principles and priorities. Nostr isn’t just a tool; it’s a movement. And for anyone tired of the current system, that’s something worth paying attention to.

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

For many of us, reading isn’t just a pastime—it’s a deeply personal goal tied to self-growth, relaxation, and exploration. Yet, despite knowing its importance, we often struggle to make it happen. We start and stop, let books gather dust, and feel guilty for not finishing them. The truth? It’s not a time issue; it’s a mental barrier. This guide is designed to help you break through those barriers with a structured, rewarding framework that keeps you interested, engaged, and building momentum. Let’s turn reading into a habit you love—and can sustain. --- ### **Step 1: Understand the Real Problem** Before diving into action, take a moment to reflect. The issue isn’t that you don’t have time—it’s that you haven’t made reading a priority. Life pulls us in countless directions, but we always find time for what matters most. Reading deserves that place in your life because it nourishes your mind, brings you joy, and inspires growth. **Ask Yourself:** - Why do I want to read more? - How would my life improve if I prioritized reading? Write down your answers and keep them visible. Let your 'why' guide you forward. --- ### **Step 2: Start Where You Are (Small and Simple Wins)** Many people fail because they set huge, overwhelming goals like finishing a book every week. The secret to success? Start small. Commit to just **5 minutes a day** or a single page. Progress matters more than perfection. **Mini Challenge #1:** - Pick a book you’re genuinely excited about (not one you feel you *should* read). - Read for 5 minutes today. Just 5 minutes. When you complete this, check it off. That little win is the first step toward building momentum. --- ### **Step 3: Create a System That Fits Your Life** Habits thrive when they’re tied to something you already do. Look for natural openings in your day to read. - **Morning:** Read while sipping coffee or tea. - **Lunch Break:** Sneak in a few pages while eating. - **Evening:** Replace 10 minutes of scrolling with reading before bed. Make it impossible to forget by keeping books or an e-reader where you spend the most time: next to the bed, on the couch, or in your bag. **Mini Challenge #2:** - Set a specific time to read tomorrow. Write it down and stick to it. --- ### **Step 4: Make It Fun and Rewarding** Let’s face it—habits stick when they feel good. Build instant gratification into your reading routine. - **Gamify the Process:** Create a simple list of mini challenges (like the ones here) and cross them off as you go. - **Set Rewards:** For every milestone—like finishing a chapter or hitting a week of daily reading—treat yourself. It could be a fancy coffee, a cozy reading corner upgrade, or just the joy of marking progress. **Mini Challenge #3:** - Set a reward for finishing your first chapter or reading streak. Make it something exciting! --- ### **Step 5: Follow Your Interests, Not Rules** One of the biggest mental barriers is feeling like you *have to* finish every book you start. Forget that. Reading should be enjoyable, not a chore. If a book isn’t grabbing you, it’s okay to stop and try another. The key is to stay engaged, not stuck. **Mini Challenge #4:** - If you’re not loving a book after 50 pages, give yourself permission to move on. --- ### **Step 6: Build Momentum with Layered Challenges** To make reading exciting and natural, set challenges that grow progressively: 1. **Day 1–3:** Read 5 minutes daily. 2. **Day 4–7:** Extend to 10 minutes. 3. **Week 2:** Finish a chapter or two from a book you love. 4. **Week 3:** Try a new genre or author. Each challenge builds on the last, creating a sense of accomplishment. By the time you finish the third week, you’ll likely be hooked. --- ### **Step 7: Track and Celebrate Progress** Progress tracking is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to build a habit. Create a log to note what you’ve read, even if it’s just a chapter or a short story. Seeing your progress motivates you to keep going. **Ideas for Tracking:** - Use a journal or app to list books and dates you started/finished. - Jot down favorite quotes or lessons learned. - Share your progress with friends or join a book club for accountability. **Mini Challenge #5:** - Start a reading journal and write down what you love about the book you’re currently reading. --- ### **Step 8: Stay Flexible and Forgive Yourself** Life gets busy, and you might miss a day (or week). That’s okay. Habits are built over time, not overnight. The key is to keep coming back to your reading routine without guilt. Remember, even a little reading is better than none. --- ### **Final Thoughts** Reading is a gift you give yourself. It’s not about how fast you finish or how many books you complete—it’s about the joy, knowledge, and escape it brings. By breaking your mental barriers, starting small, and creating a system of rewards and challenges, you can make reading a natural and deeply fulfilling part of your life. So, grab a book, set a timer, and dive in. Your reading journey starts today.

@ 71a4b7ff:d009692a

FOMO is the anxiety that arises from the belief that the most interesting, important, or trending events are happening elsewhere while others gain unique experiences. It’s widely believed that FOMO stems from unmet social connection needs and reflects our innate fear of ostracism. These fears—of being left behind or excluded—are amplified in the digital age, where our perception of reality is often skewed. This can escalate from mild unease to overwhelming fear, significantly impacting mental well-being. FOMO consists of two key components: 1. An unsettling feeling of missing out on something exciting or valuable. 2. Obsessive behaviors aimed at resolving this anxiety, which paradoxically only intensify it. In today’s hyper-connected world, we have unprecedented, instant access to what others are doing. Social feeds, channels, and chats bombard us with endless options on how to live, what we lack, and what to value. But the sheer volume of this information far exceeds what anyone can process, leading many to feel overwhelmed. The curated nature of digital lives, constant upward social comparisons, unrealistic expectations, and ceaseless data streams erode self-esteem and emotional stability. Our fear of alienation and loneliness fuels this cycle, pushing us deeper into digital platforms. These platforms, designed to stimulate our brain’s reward system, trap us in a feedback loop of anxiety and fleeting gratification. We’re drawn in by the promise of effortless connection—quick, low-risk, and convenient interactions via swipes, likes, emojis, texts, even zaps. In contrast, real-life relationships, with their inherent complexities, take time, effort, and risk. This shift is causing us to lose touch with essential social skills like commitment, empathy, and genuine communication. Instead, we seek solace in a digital environment that offers the illusion of safety, excitement, and eternal connectivity. But this comes at a cost. By overloading our internal reward systems, we drain the joy and meaning from authentic experiences, replacing them with an endless stream of curated content—images and videos we compulsively scroll through. We’re lured by promises of knowledge, vivid experiences, and truth, yet what we often get is an avalanche of life hacks, misinformation, and conspiracy theories. Gigabit technologies, addictive interfaces, and external agendas fan the flames of loneliness, anxiety, and stress in our ancient, slow-evolving brains. This relentless burn depletes our reserves, leaving behind doubt: Are we doing enough? Are we in the right place? Will we be accepted? Our already complex lives risk being consumed by a bleak cycle of doomscrolling. But there is hope. Fighting FOMO is possible. The more time we spend in knowledge-consuming environments, the more susceptible we become to its effects. The key is self-awareness and limiting screen time. Ironically, the very devices and services that fuel FOMO can also help us combat it. With thoughtful use of technology and intentional boundaries, we can regain control. This is where NOSTR steps into the spotlight. Our favorite protocol has the potential to not only draw lessons from the legacy web but also to evolve beyond mere mimicry. It can introduce innovative ways for people to connect and collaborate—across services, networks, and each other. I believe it’s one of the most promising spaces on the Internet today, and its future depends entirely on what we make of it. Thanks for You Time. Geo

@ df478568:2a951e67

*Note. I plan on publishing this on SubStack, but I will publish to nostr first.* Hello SubStack! My government name is Marc. I write a blog about freedom tech on [nostr](https://start.njump.me/). You can find this blog at npub.npub.pro. but I decided to cross post this blog on Substack because more people use Substack then [habla.news](https://habla.news/). Here's a little more about the blog. ## A Free And Open Source Blog  This blog is written using the [Creative Commons 0 license](https://gitea.marc26z.com/marc/BlogImprovementProposals/src/branch/main/LICENSE). Since I write about free and open source software I call freedom tech. I thought it would be silly to keep my writing behind a paywall. I would rather my prose be available for free for all. This means all of my work is available for free, but to be honest, I like the subscription model. If SubStack gave me an option to charge sats, I would use their subscription service. Since they don't, I set up an account with [Flash](https://paywithflash.com) using [Alby Hub](https://albyhub.com). ### Ads Suck, But Product Reviews Can Help Bootstrap The Circular Economy  **Ads** suck as much as paywalls, but I also wish to monetize this. Therefore, I have decided to try Jack Spirko's Membership Brigade model I learned about on [The Side Hustle Show](https://fountain.fm/episode/YjUia39xEzXvFGNoBNUO). I already was a member when I listened to this episode, bur the basic idea is ro charge $5.00 a month. For this price, Jack saves his listeners money by procuring discounts for products and services he uses and work great for him. He basically gives product reviews for his advertisers and his membership brigade receives discounts for those products and services. Since I'm just starting out, I don't have any discounts to offer yet, but I have some ideas. I also recommend free and open-source software that can save you money because it's free. These are not ads. They are more like consumer reviews. There is a bitcoin circular economy developing on nostr. I want to recomend great products from this circular economy like LeatherMint's belts. They're not cheap, but very high quality. He hand crafts these belts to a size customized to yoir wasteline. He's from Canada and he sells these high quality belts for sats. That was not an ad. It's my honest opinion. LeatherMint did not pay me to say this, but I wouldn't mind if he did. I give my recommendations to the Marc's Mention Members. The goal is to provide value by saving you sats. It's still a work in progress. ### Shop Marc's Merch  I also created a merch shop on shopstr.store. This is nostr-powered shopping, an online mall that uses the native currency of the Internet. This is a quintessential example of freedom tech. I don't have too many products, but my goal is to add more. I'm working on personalized coffee mugs, but I don't yet have a minimally viable product. Until then, I'll sell other stuff. I also must test it some more before I start taking real money. :) Thanks for reading. [Marc](nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0) [878,550](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000000b8d817132eb988ed6adb55e9b578dbb0c03ee7856542) [Become Marc's Mention Member](https://marc26z.com/become-a-marcs-mention-member/) [Marc's Merch](nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0)

@ df173277:4ec96708

> OpenSecret is a backend for app developers that turns private encryption on by default. When sensitive data is readable only by the user, it protects both the user and the developer, creating a more free and open internet. We'll be launching in 2025. [Join our waitlist to get early access.](https://opensecret.cloud) In today's digital age, personal data is both an asset and a liability. With the rise of data breaches and cyber attacks, individuals and companies struggle to protect sensitive information. The consequences of a data breach can be devastating, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and compromised user trust. In 2023, the average data breach cost was $5 million, with some resulting in losses of over $1 billion. Meanwhile, individuals face problems related to identity theft, personal safety, and public embarrassment. Think about the apps on your phone, even the one you're using to read this. How much data have you trusted to other people, and how would it feel if that data were leaked online? Thankfully, some incredibly talented cypherpunks years ago gave the world cryptography. We can encrypt data, rendering it a secret between two people. So why then do we have data breaches? > Cryptography at scale is hard. #### The Cloud The cloud has revolutionized how we store and process data, but it has limitations. While cloud providers offer encryption, it mainly protects data in transit. Once data is stored in the cloud, it's often encrypted with a shared key, which can be accessed by employees, third-party vendors, or compromised by hackers. The solution is to generate a personal encryption password for each user, make sure they write it down, and, most importantly, hope they don't lose it. If the password is lost, the data is forever unreadable. That can be overwhelming, leading to low app usage. > Private key encryption needs a UX upgrade. ## Enter OpenSecret OpenSecret is a developer platform that enables encryption by default. Our platform provides a suite of security tools for app developers, including private key management, encrypted sync, private AI, and confidential compute. Every user has a private vault for their data, which means only they can read it. Developers are free to store less sensitive data in a shared manner because there is still a need to aggregate data across the system.  ### Private Key Management Private key management is the superpower that enables personal encryption per user. When each user has a unique private key, their data can be truly private. Typically, using a private key is a challenging experience for the user because they must write down a long autogenerated number or phrase of 12-24 words. If they lose it, their data is gone. OpenSecret uses secure enclaves to make private keys as easy as an everyday login experience that users are familiar with. Instead of managing a complicated key, the user logs in with an email address or a social media account. The developer doesn't have to manage private keys and can focus on the app's user experience. The user doesn't have to worry about losing a private key and can jump into using your app.  ### Encrypted Sync With user keys safely managed, we can synchronize user data to every device while maintaining privacy. The user does not need to do complicated things like scanning QR codes from one device to the next. Just log in and go. The user wins because the data is available on all their devices. The developer wins because only the user can read the data, so it isn't a liability to them. ### Private AI Artificial intelligence is here and making its way into everything. The true power of AI is unleashed when it can act on personal and company data. The current options are to run your own AI locally on an underpowered machine or to trust a third party with your data, hoping they don't read it or use it for anything. OpenSecret combines the power of cloud computing with the privacy and security of a machine running on your desk. **Check out Maple AI**\ Try private AI for yourself! We built an app built with this service called [Maple AI](https://trymaple.ai). It is an AI chat that is 100% private in a verifiable manner. Give it your innermost thoughts or embarrassing ideas; we can't judge you. We built Maple using OpenSecret, which means you have a private key that is automatically managed for you, and your chat history is synchronized to all your devices. [Learn more about Maple AI - Private chat in the announcement post.](https://blog.opensecret.cloud/maple-ai-private-encrypted-chat/)  ### Confidential Compute Confidential computing is a game-changer for data security. It's like the secure hardware that powers Apple Pay and Google Pay on your phone but in the cloud. Users can verify through a process called attestation that their data is handled appropriately. OpenSecret can help you run your own custom app backend code that would benefit from the security of an enclave. It's the new version of that lock on your web browser. When you see it, you know you're secure.  #### **But do we want our secrets to be open?** OpenSecret renders a data breach practically useless. If hackers get into the backend, they enter a virtual hallway of locked private vaults. The leaked data would be gibberish, a secret in the open that is unreadable. On the topic of openness, OpenSecret uses the power of open source to enable trust in the service. We publish our code in the open, and, using attestation, anyone can verify that private data is being handled as expected. This openness also provides developers with a backup option to safely and securely export their data. > Don't trust, verify. ### **Join the Movement** We're currently building out OpenSecret, and we invite you to join us on the journey. Our platform can work with your existing stack, and you can pick and choose the features you need. If you want to build apps with encryption enabled, [send us a message to get early access.](https://opensecret.cloud) Users and companies deserve better encryption and privacy.\ Together, let's make that a reality. [](https://opensecret.cloud)

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

In a world dominated by surveillance banking and inflationary currencies, a new paradigm is emerging—one where individuals can operate sovereign, theft-resistant checking accounts using the world's hardest money. This isn't your grandfather's checking account; it's an entirely new financial operating system built on Bitcoin and Lightning technology. --- ## The Bitcoin Checking Account Revolution Traditional checking accounts are permission-based systems where banks maintain ultimate control over your money. In contrast, a sovereign Bitcoin checking account operates on a fundamentally different principle: you hold your own keys, control your own node, and maintain custody of your funds at all times. This architecture is built on several key components: - Self-hosted nodes providing direct network access - Lightning channels for instant settlement - Hardware wallets for secure key storage - Non-custodial software interfaces - Automated accounting and payment systems The concept of a Bitcoin checking account represents a paradigm shift in daily financial operations. Imagine getting a direct deposit sent to your lightning node and using NWC and a variety of plug and play solutions to handle things regarding accounting, bill pay, and daily POS transactions. We're starting to see these options emerge through services like Bitcoin Well, Albyhub, Strike, Clams and Cash App. ## Breaking Free from Financial Surveillance The current banking system tracks every transaction, creating a detailed financial surveillance network. Sovereign Bitcoin checking accounts offer a powerful alternative: - Private lightning channels for daily transactions - E-cash protocols for enhanced privacy - Peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries - No account freezes or arbitrary limits - Freedom from traditional banking hours and restrictions Lightning and Cashu offer additional privacy and settlement speeds while enabling low cost transactions, and I believe these protocols will grow and exceed our expectations. The products and services for managing your bitcoin checking account will get more private and efficient as time moves forward. ## The Daily Operations Revolution Operating a sovereign checking account transforms everyday financial activities: 1. Income Reception - Direct deposit straight to Lightning - Instant availability of funds - No hold periods or bank delays - Multiple invoice routes for different income streams 2. Payment Management - Automated bill payments via Lightning - Instant merchant settlements - Cross-border transactions without fees - Dynamic fee management for optimal efficiency 3. Liquidity Control - Self-managed channel balances - Cold storage integration for savings - Automated rebalancing protocols - Real-time capital efficiency ## The Deflationary Advantage Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect is operating a checking account in deflationary money. This fundamentally changes spending psychology and financial planning: - Each sat potentially appreciates over time - Natural incentive for thoughtful spending - Built-in savings mechanism - Protection from currency debasement ## Global Market Integration This new financial infrastructure enables seamless participation in the global economy: - Borderless transactions - 24/7 market access - Direct international trade - No forex fees or exchange rate manipulation - Instant settlement across time zones ## Security and Resilience The system's security model represents a significant advancement: - Multi-signature protocols - Timelocked recovery options - Distributed backup systems - Attack-resistant architecture - No single points of failure ## The Future of Personal Banking As this technology matures, we're likely to see: - Simplified user interfaces - Enhanced privacy tools - Better integration with existing systems - More automated financial management - Increased merchant adoption In conclusion, sovereign Bitcoin checking accounts represent more than just a new way to bank—they're a fundamental reset of the relationship between individuals and their money. This system combines the security of cold storage with the utility of traditional checking accounts, all while leveraging the strength of deflationary sound money. As adoption grows, these accounts will likely become the standard for those seeking financial sovereignty in an increasingly digital world. --- The revolution isn't just about holding bitcoin—it's about using it in a way that maintains sovereignty while enabling practical daily finance. This is the future of money, and it's already here for those ready to embrace it.

@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9

 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/842405

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

Folks - it really is time to wake up. How many more wars do we need? War on the Virus, War on Terror, War in Afghanistan, War in the Middle East, War in Vietnam - now War in Ukraine and who knows where else? I grew up in Belfast in the 1970s and lived through the proxy war fought in my hometown. More recently I lived through a remarkably similar situation here in HK during 2019 and observed it happening too in Bangkok with some of the same participants spotted in media clips who had travelled from HK, presumably to orchestrate it there too. For years the motto of Belfast was "Belfast Says No" and it was prominent in a huge banner on the City Hall. Bitterness and resentment reigned for years until "Peace Broke Out", led by **the women of Belfast** insisting that people "**Stop Fighting**". Remember the Peace People? Bottom line - war is never good. Benefits to society only ever emerge at times when people are working together, trading and collaborating for the better good. In such situations you have "[Voice or Exit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLTGAJM8p6c)" - you can speak up (if you are allowed) or exit (if you are allowed). That is why I left Northern Ireland (exit); the mess continued for 25 more years after that. Concerning "Exit" - did you ever wonder why governments are now restricting the rights to travel? Or if/how you can preserve wealth if/when war develops? The perpetual war footing that we find ourselves in was clearly warned about in [George Orwell's 1984](https://youtu.be/37N0aFmO19o) - drumbeat of hostile distant foreign empires and their aggressions and victories. Sound familiar to anyone? Strangely, this was the conclusion of the "**Report from Iron Mountain"** from a 1967 US government panel which **concluded that war, or a credible substitute for war, is necessary if governments are to maintain power**. Search and ye shall find (still). [Link here](https://archive.org/details/pdfy-A5uQx1ByqfwWuHma) in case you cannot find it or are lazy! Will you or your family benefit from what they say they are doing in your name? By the way - the American People knew all this when they rebelled against the British and wrote their Constitution,  For those who prefer a more structured reading list, take your pick below: - [The Creature from Jekyll Island](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Creature-from-Jekyll-Island-Audiobook/B00DZUGWX6?qid=1640521765&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=WTJRBE1ZFGKEAT0WF8JV) - The untold history of the FED... - [Sovereign Individual](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Sovereign-Individual-Audiobook/1797103385?qid=1640521784&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=X77NN3AEHSJV1HC6ZBCD) - written in 1997 they did predict personal computers, mobile phones, cryptocurrencies and even the current pandemic situation.. - [The Fourth Turning](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Fourth-Turning-Audiobook/B002UZN3YI?qid=1640521802&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=22DGVW1QAFPEVQP7FASD) - we have been here before - [The Fiat Standard](https://saifedean.com/the-fiat-standard/) - How it works - what you were never taught at school - [When Money Dies ](https://www.audible.com/pd/When-Money-Dies-Audiobook/B004DEYAS2?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=PERH4EHHY721YTVT40J1)- The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar, Germany - [The Price of Tomorrow](https://www.amazon.com/Price-Tomorrow-Deflation-Abundant-Future/dp/1999257405/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+price+of+tomorrow&qid=1574403883&sr=8-2) - The key to an abundant future is not what you have been told - One of the best interviews of the year: Peter and Lyn [discuss Currency wars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWSIkBNegjA) - [Report from Iron Mountain - On the Possibility and Desirability of Peace](https://archive.org/details/pdfy-A5uQx1ByqfwWuHma/page/n5/mode/2up) ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested. You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

Still pleasant weather in HK but it is cooling down and in a few days we will likely shift in to the cold and cloudy January/February that is HK winter. A shorter update from me this week as I think the more important things are in the links below. Read, watch, listen and DYOR. Maybe time to wake up? ## Reading I have now started on [When Money Dies ](https://www.audible.com/pd/When-Money-Dies-Audiobook/B004DEYAS2?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=PERH4EHHY721YTVT40J1)- The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar, Germany. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Once aware of them you will see signs all around you. FYI quite apparent [now in Turkey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBzzsznEf5g). Interesting also: I think it is not linked on their website but still accessible if you know where to look (maybe download and safestore it before it disappears):[ The Bank of England 1914-21 (Unpublished War History)](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/archive/bank-of-england-1914-21-ww1). This corroborates and elaborates on what you can read in [The Creature from Jeckyll Island](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Creature-from-Jekyll-Island-Audiobook/B00DZUGWX6?qid=1641109461&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=BVAQ5VZHY39AYPT6ZJX8). ## Watching Just a few things to watch this week - in the order that I watched them. They are long but rather important - so I am pushing this out early in the weekend so you have time. ## [Mattias Desmet on Our Grave Situation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRo-ieBEw-8&t=8s) Professor Mattias Desmet (from Ghent, Belgium) talks about his work that connects past historical episodes of what is called “Mass Formation” (aka Mass Psychosis) and current events. The risks are as grave as they come. Unless a few brave and courageous people are willing to stand up and say “I don’t agree!” history suggests that we will end up with a fully totalitarian outcome. That is a dark path. It inevitably leads to mass casualties and atrocities. Eventually all totalitarian systems end in their own destruction. ## [Dr Robert Malone on Joe Rogan Experience](https://www.bitchute.com/video/DAU74ByibIYd/) Its a looong interview but there are timestamps below if you want to dip in. \ Dr. Robert Malone is the inventor of the nine original mRNA vaccine patents, which were originally filed in 1989 (including both the idea of mRNA vaccines and the original proof of principle experiments) and RNA transfection. Dr. Malone, has close to 100 peer-reviewed publications which have been cited over 12,000 times. Since January 2020, Dr. Malone has been leading a large team focused on clinical research design, drug development, computer modeling and mechanisms of action of repurposed drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. Dr. Malone is the Medical Director of The Unity Project, a group of 300 organizations across the US standing against mandated COVID vaccines for children. He is also the President of the Global Covid Summit, an organization of over 16,000 doctors and scientists committed to speaking truth to power about COVID pandemic research and treatment. **Here are some of the key points discussed with time codes:** - **24:19**: An estimated 500,000 COVID Deaths resulted from the [suppression](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/covid-deaths-could-have-been-prevented/) of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). - **25:39**: Former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Janet Woodcock, intentionally prevented doctors from using HCQ outside of the hospital setting (HCQ is one of the few antiviral medications [safe in pregnancy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33515791/) and is largely ineffective once a person has been hospitalized). - **31:10:** [Pharma](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/big-pharma/) industry’s systematic efforts to [discredit ivermectin](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/ivermectin-big-pharma-rfk-jr-the-real-anthony-fauci/). - **32:40**: COVID deaths in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh plummeted soon after packets of medicines were distributed to their population. It is suspected these packets included Ivermectin but this was never formally disclosed. This puzzling policy went into effect soon after a meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi. - **36:28**: Increased risk of [adverse events](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/vaers-cdc-covid-vaccine-injuries-fda-pfizer-booster-kids/) from vaccinating after SARS-COV2 infection. - **38:40**: [140 studies](https://www.thewellnessway.com/natural-immunity-140-studies-of-validation/) demonstrate natural immunity is superior to vaccine-induced immunity. Natural immunity is 6- to 13-fold better than vaccination in preventing hospitalization. - **43:44**: [The Trusted News Initiative](https://www.thelibertybeacon.com/covid-19-the-shadowy-trusted-news-initiative/) employed to protect western elections from foreign influence was used to justify the suppression of “misinformation” around the pandemic. - **50:15**: Emails between NIH Director Francis Collins and Fauci [demonstrate](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/fauci-nih-great-barrington-declaration-emails/) an intention to launch a smear campaign against the founders of the Great Barrington Declaration. - **54:00**: How is Israel (highly vaccinated) faring in comparison to Palestine (poorly vaccinated)? - **57:00:** Why is good data nearly impossible to find? - **1:06:00**: The regulatory process is broken because vaccine manufacturers are responsible for their own data (FDA is not doing its job as a regulatory body). - **1:14:50**: Arguably the best clinicians of our day are having their medical licensure [attacked](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/vaccine-misinformation-medical-license-u-s-boards-warn-physicians/). - **1:22:50**: [Hong Kong study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34849657/) demonstrates that 1 in 2,700 boys getting hospitalized with myocarditis after vaccination. - **1:27:00**: Lipid nanoparticles pose [danger to ovaries](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/mrna-technology-covid-vaccine-lipid-nanoparticles-accumulate-ovaries/). - **1:46:30:** Long COVID and post-vaccination syndrome are impossible to differentiate. - **1:49:00**: Dysregulation of T-cells after vaccination may be causing latent virus reactivation (e.g., [shingles](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/covid-vaccines-shingles-immune-system-detoxification/)). - **1:59:00:** Omicron and the possible [negative efficacy](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/omicron-surges-fda-vaccine-strategy-question/) of vaccines. - **2:06:20**: What is [Original Antigenic Sin](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/children-immune-priming-covid-vaccines-infection-transmission/)? - **2:20:00**: Monoclonal antibody therapies are still important but have been limited by our authorities. - **2:22:10**: Vaccine mandates are [illegal](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/under-federal-law-can-your-employer-make-you-get-covid-vaccine/). - **2:35:50**: [Pfizer](https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/pfizer-vaccine-clinical-trials-poorly-designed/) is one of the most [criminal](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-largest-health-care-fraud-settlement-its-history) pharmaceutical organizations in the world. - **2:37:00**: What are mass formation psychosis and tribalism? - **2:53:00**: We are having a worldwide epidemic of [suicide in children](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/surgeon-general-vivek-murthy-pandemic-mental-health-youth_n_61c8ea30e4b0d637ae8de831). ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested. You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ a24d0c86:ec0f47ce

It's been nearly two years since I generated my Nostr npub, and I'm still blown away by its impact. Nostr has been THE catalyst for my rabbit hole journey, opening doors to new worlds and experiences. Back when I was trying to figure out how to handle my nsec, I was stuck in a rut. I'd founded and run a business for over a decade, but my passion had fizzled out along with it's revenues. Compound that with the accelerating decline in fiat and it was a depressing situation. It was time for a change, but I wasn't ready to burn the boat without a clear (or even general) direction. Fast forward to today, and I've officially closed that chapter. I'm beyond excited to embark on this new journey into FOSS product, and 2025 marks the year I'm fully committed to this new path. It's taken longer than I wanted, but good things come to those who wait, right? And if I'm being honest, I have much more clarity, support and 100k never hurts as I start down this pursuit! My journey from 2023 to 2025 has been a wild ride and I wouldn't change all that I had to slog through to get here. Recently as I've gotten back into the habit of checking in on Nostr I'm reminded why I fell in love so quickly, with its unique blend of humor, creativity, and innovation. Nostr is a gateway for me to better understanding software engineers especially. It's incredible the amount of knowledge and PoW so many devs on Nostr have and it's humbling to even bounce around with you on this wonky protocol. That constant experience made me want to put the effort and sats into attending the Lightning Summit at Bitcoin Park in the summer of 2023. And it didn't disappoint. I got to see up close so many talented devs tackling complex technical challenges with fearlessness and ingenuity. These pioneers are paving the way for future adoption, and I'm ready to dive in and help push the ecosystem forward with the skillset I have today and what I'm building in my toolbox for the future. Meeting fellow Nostr enthusiasts at Nosterville took my enthusiasm to another level in November 2023. It's like reigniting the excitement I felt when I first discovered the internet. It's mind-blowing to think about the potential this new protocol has to remake the web. 2024 I was much less active on Nostr as I was planning and taking the steps needed to move on in 2025. And now I'm finally ready to rock and roll. As a product enthusiast, I'm stoked to help engineers get their projects ready for the masses. Let's make open source awesome, and let's get a ton of plebs on board! To better contribute and build with developers, I'm committed to expanding my technical knowledge too. This includes learning the basics with GitHub to Python, Rust, AI, and ML. I'm also going to be switching to GrapheneOS as my daily driver and learning Linux. I'm eager to bring my product experience to the table and collaborate with others. Going forward, I'm focusing specifically on helping build the Cashu protocol and how it intersects with Nostr and Lightning. If you're a developer, especially one working on Cashu, I'd love to hear from you! How can I assist with product-related tasks? I'm here to build and contribute to the growth of the freedom tech ecosystem. LFG.

@ 7776c32d:45558888

Attached is a screenshot of the reddit profile of one of my possible past victims. A few days ago, it crushed my soul to look at this not knowing if this /u/ykorea person is alive, and knowing even if she is, there must be other victims that are dead. I wrote most of this post those few days ago. After the harassment I've faced in the past few days with no significant backup, I'm numb to it. I have never been able to get solid answers on what happened to ykorea after she stopped posting, but her posts read like someone that might have committed suicide over money lost trading options. I didn't make her lose money, but I contributed to her leaving, whether it was by suicide or not. She is not Digit, but she is another woman I met on wallstreetbets - meaning, of all the people I might have accidentally killed, at least two are women from wallstreetbets possibly dead via suicide. I would have preferred to save both of them. I just cause so many deaths, two possible ones happen to line up that way instead. This ykorea woman said something hurtful to me once, something to do with how lonely I was and how women never cared about me at the time. I don't remember the specifics beyond that. I harassed her with hateful reminders of how she hurt me for a while, and still ended up forgetting the details myself by now. Soon after that, I got rich, and she happened to befriend me for a brief time, not mentioning our past differences. I didn't mention them either because I wasn't sure if becoming acquainted with me was burying the hatchet, or simply forgetting I was the same guy from all the hateful comments. She was having a hard time financially and I wanted to help her, but I still wasn't rich enough to help everyone I want to help, and I didn't deem her worthy of being one of those few prioritized people I'd try to give some financial support. I was distrustful of any woman trying to find such support from men on wallstreetbets. Why did I care enough about her words to be hurt by them enough to harass her over it for a while, but not care about her enough to really become a close supportive friend to her later? Because I'm a dangerously bad person and I can't cut off the cycle of abuse I'm in. People have made me learn to suppress my sympathy and I don't have the emotional capacity to afford to get it back. But I have the emotional capacity for anger, all day, every day. I can always afford anger. I'm the kind of person all the good writers warn you about in every story with any meaning. The kind of person they warn you not to be, and the kind of person they warn you not to make others into. None of us ever learn the easy way, do we? She had not become friends with me based on burying the hatchet. She had forgotten who I was. That topic came up eventually and she was embarrassed about forgetting, and she pretty much stopped talking to me. I didn't tell her to buy AMC. If she lost money on bad trades, that probably added more to her leaving than me. But I added to it by being a bad person. Whoever made her buy AMC could have been a bad person too, but it's also possible they were just misguided and desperate like her. I'm a monster, capable of nothing but offering good advice nobody takes, and making people hate themselves over their mistakes. I'm even worse than people who are just good at getting their advice taken by giving bad advice. Unless Digit is alive. If she is, I can stop doing this. If I can stop doing this, people who keep giving bad advice can be worse than me. Every time I have proof she's alive, it becomes so much easier to just be fucking nice to people like Kurt Vonnegut says to do. But she deleted her accounts over a year ago and I keep getting more scared, and no matter how hard I try to cultivate self control, the best I can do is be a little less cruel, a little more forgiving, a little less selfish - not enough to stop contributing to suicides. Not enough to stop contributing to deaths of slaves in third world countries making products I use. Not enough. If I've failed her, I do believe I will not stop failing everyone as long as I live. Remember, I wrote most of this with those feelings I had a few days ago, before the recent events where nostr:npub1jk9h2jsa8hjmtm9qlcca942473gnyhuynz5rmgve0dlu6hpeazxqc3lqz7 triggered a new wave of harassment against me and cornered me in a position where I have no better strategy than trying to cause suicides on nostr. It's all obvious and droll now. People die. So what? Digit isn't here to make lives matter anyway. This stuff will only matter if she shows up. But it's not just me. Everyone contributes to suicides in their own way. Everyone contributes to climate change. Everyone uses products made by slaves. Almost any suicidal person can be helped by almost anyone who cares enough. If you don't know that, you don't understand. Tragic deaths happen millions of times a year because of society, not me in particular. And everyone failed Digit spectacularly in the time I knew her. The world was made miserable for her and I need her to be strong enough to be living in it anyway. When I knew her, she couldn't be angry at everyone like I can, her love for everyone forced her to turn anger in on herself. I need proof she survived that, because if she wasn't strong enough to survive absorbing everyone's bullshit like that, I can't even get my hopes up about trying. All I can do if she's gone is be the world's punishment for her, and my own punishment at the same time - but not make myself the sponge of everyone's punishment. Worse people have to suffer more, as long as I'm suffering like this for who I am. Take nostr:npub1dergggklka99wwrs92yz8wdjs952h2ux2ha2ed598ngwu9w7a6fsh9xzpc for example. Despite recently losing his dad to suicide, he seems to be pretending he's unaware of the harassment I'm facing over a loved one I'm worried about; or perhaps he echo chambers himself so extensively that he's actually not aware. I believe, like me, he cannot think of a way to cope with his loss without causing it to happen to others for the rest of his life. Unlike me, I don't think he'll admit it or take responsibility for it. Unlike me, I don't think he's tried to fight it and found himself cornered; I think he's just fine with it because he's part of a society that's fine with behaving this way and blaming the victims. I think he'll probably be one of the many people using me to cause others to commit suicide but pretending to have no responsibility in the matter, pretending it's magically all me. Meanwhile, I actually admit my own part in it. I will be punished for this, and eventually I will probably be permanently stopped from standing up for the truth. That only makes me more motivated to punish all the deceptive pieces of shit that have done this to the world, until I am fucking stopped. While we're on the topic of uncertain speculation, my bet is neither me or Gigi can really enjoy the killing. We must both be empty shells. Maybe the reason he can't take responsibility is because, far from enjoying it, he actually finds the bloodshed more unbearable than I do. What about the rest of you? Do you all find reality too unbearable to face, or are some of you gleefully enjoying the process of abusing and deceiving others while more and more people die? I think some of you are - and the police that might arrest me for my posts someday will do nothing about it. So I'll do what I can myself, and people will die in the crossfire. So be it. Maybe I can't make any of you take responsibility, but when a nostr user commits suicide, I will have done everything I can to make you think the words "I failed to prevent this" and feel the weight of them.

@ e1cded6c:151bd1be

## What is Nostr? Notwithstanding the lack of capitalisation, Nostr is an acronym for **N**otes and **O**ther **S**tuff **T**ransmitted by **R**elays. According to the [website of its creator](https://fiatjaf.com/nostr.html), Nostr was created in response to perceived issues with Twitter. It’s important to be clear that Nostr is not an app or service that you sign up for. Rather it can be better understood as an open standard for social media that anyone can use. A useful analogy is the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) used for email. You probably know how this works: 1. You write your email using Gmail, Outlook, or whichever email client you prefer. 2. Your message travels through various email servers. 3. The recipient can read it using any email client they choose. Nostr works similarly: 1. You write your note in an Nostr client (like Damus, Primal, and many others). 2. Your note travels through Nostr relays (similar to email servers). 3. Others can read it using whichever Nostr client they prefer. The use of a standard protocol enables interoperability, allowing users to choose their preferred software. No single company controls the system. ## Isn’t Mastodon a decentralised social media platform? Why do we need another one? While Nostr and Mastodon both enable decentralised socially communication, they take fundamentally different approaches. The comparison made above equating Nostr relays with email servers is actually imperfect and better describes the approach Mastodon takes. Mastodon does rely on servers run by organisations or individuals where users create accounts. Your identity is tied to your chosen server, similar to having a Gmail address. This means you are still at the mercy of the entity running the server. Nostr, in contrast, removes the need for servers entirely. Your identity is a cryptographic key pair, which works directly with any compatible client or relay. This key pair is mathematically linked. One is a private key (which is kept secret, like a password) and the other is a public key (which you share freely, like an email address). This enables the impressive ability to use different clients with the same identity without the need for accounts. The downside is that the onus is users to safeguard their key pairs. There is no Nostr tech support to help with a lost private key! ## Nostr aligns with library values From a librarian’s perspective, there is a lot to like about Nostr. There is no central algorithm that controls what content is shown to you. Individual relays can choose what they show, but users can connect to other relays. The diversity of relays effectively prevents single-point censorship, as there is no central authority that can remove content from the entire network. Again, more is demanded from the user in terms of selecting which relays to connect to, but this aligns with the long-held value of librarians of developing information literate citizens capable of making such choices on their own. In an age of information overload, we need to trust people to select their own sources wisely rather than rely on centralised content moderation. Nostr protects freedom of speech at the protocol level, ensuring that no central authority can arbitrarily block content from being posted. Nostr also scores highly on privacy. No personal information is needed to generate a private-public key pair. This obviously aligns with librarianship’s historical role in championing patron privacy as a cornerstone of intellectual freedom. The lack of a centralised authority allows users to access information with reduced risk of surveillance. Information preservation is another library value that Nostr is better aligned with compared to centralised social media platforms. A lot of historically and culturally significant content has been posted to social media, and there is a need to preserve it and make it available for future research. However, it is doubtful that for-profit social media companies will prioritise this. The biggest advance in this respect came in 2010, when the Library of Congress announced with great fanfare that it would archive all public tweets. But in the face of various challenges, [the project was scaled back in 2017](https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2017/12/update-on-the-twitter-archive-at-the-library-of-congress-2/). I could find no further updates from the LoC, and given the current ownership of Twitter/X I think it unlikely that much progress will be made. The centralised nature of traditional social media means that preservation is the hands of a single entity. Contrast this with Nostr’s architecture that requires multiple relays and hence multiple copies of data. This creates resilience in a way that librarians will be familiar with (“[Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOCKSS)”). Libraries could potentially choose to create their own relays and preserve notes that are relevant to their own collection development policies. Again, the open nature of the protocol means that they would not have to seek permission to do this. In essence, Nostr's decentralized architecture naturally aligns with core library values of intellectual freedom, privacy, and preservation, potentially providing a pathway to a truly open digital commons. Librarians and information professionals could play a pivotal role in shaping this online public square. ## Getting started with Nostr I am cautious of getting too carried away with the potential of Nostr. It currently has very few users for a social network. At the time of writing, [the stats page of Nostr.Band](https://stats.nostr.band/#total_users) showed the number of daily active users hovering below 20,000. This is a tiny fraction of the 245 million daily active users of Twitter/X. Given the importance of the [network effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect) to social media, Nostr has a long way to go before it becomes a true competitor. However, it is not inconceivable, and I would argue that the alignment of the Nostr architecture with our values makes it important for librarians to engage with and understand this technology. The best possible outcome would be a truly decentralised, censorship-resistant, online social space on top of which anyone could build apps and services. In such a world, individual citizens will need to be much more information literate and independent. As information professionals, librarians could play a leading role in adopting and advocating for this. ### Nostr clients The best way to get started is to download a client. As mentioned, there are many Nostr clients to choose from. Some offer additional features for subscribers. Try out a few to see which one you prefer and remember that you can use all of them with the same key pair! - [Primal](https://primal.net/home) (Web, iOS, and Android) - [Amethyst](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitorpamplona.amethyst&pcampaignid=web_share) (Android) - [Damus](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/damus/id1628663131) (iOS) - [Nostur](https://nostur.com/) (iOS) ### Recommended longer read [Exploring the Nostr Ecosystem: A Study of Decentralization and Resilience](https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.05709v1#): This pre-print on arxiv.org provides a more technical introduction to Nostr. The Nostr primer that starts on page 4 is particularly helpful for new users.

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

I remember taking this picture on the train from the airport into HK on my first morning after the overnight flight from Brussels via Zurich. Somehow I had expected that there might be a party on the plane since we flew over the end of the year, but...nothing! Also it did strike me as symbolic that I got a one-way ticket. Great winter weather in HK this week - we spent [a few days away in Cheung Chau](https://rogerprice.me/211231/); for such a small island there are sooo many people living there and it is a totally different atmosphere to much of Hong Kong - very traditional and relaxed. [211231 - Cheung Chau trip](https://rogerprice.me/211231/) [Set 1/4 Set 2/4 Set 3/4 Set 4/4](https://rogerprice.me/211231/) [Letter from ...around the worldRoger Price](https://rogerprice.me/211231/) Click to see photos from the trip Apart from that, quite a few hikes this week - you have really got to appreciate the good weather and convenience of HK. No matter where you go you can easily get to and from the hike with public transport and you have all conceivable environments available - beach, forrest, mountain and even city-walks. Not to mention [girls in the trees](https://rogerprice.me/220101-girls-will-be-girlz/)! ## Following **Michael Saylor** is a required follow - gotta appreciate his clarity of vision and eloquence of explanation. The CEO! Do also check out Michael's legacy, [The Saylor Academy](https://www.saylor.org/). Saylor Academy is a nonprofit initiative working since 2008 to offer free and open online courses to all who want to learn. Offering nearly 100 full-length courses at the college and professional levels, each built by subject matter experts. All courses are available to complete — at your pace, on your schedule, and free of cost. [@saylor](https://twitter.com/saylor) **Saifedean Ammous** - author of [The Fiat Standard ](https://saifedean.com/the-fiat-standard/)- required reading for these times to understand what the governments are doing to you and your savings. [@saifedean](https://twitter.com/saifedean) **Jeff Booth** - author of [The Price of Tomorrow](https://www.amazon.com/Price-Tomorrow-Deflation-Abundant-Future/dp/1999257405/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+price+of+tomorrow&qid=1574403883&sr=8-2) - further evidence, if needed that the current system (over 100 years in the making) is ending. Jeff has a unique ability to connect the dots to something bigger. Few books offer a more succinct, provocative, and enlightening view of the world as it is today, and what it could be tomorrow. Your world view will transform instantly. [@jeffbooth](https://twitter.com/JeffBooth) ## Listening Coming to a city near you - Price Gouging, Price Controls, And Inflation.... [Pomp's latest newsletter read by him](https://pomp.substack.com/p/price-gouging-price-controls-and?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MDEyODUxMiwicG9zdF9pZCI6NDYzMDg4OTQsIl8iOiJ5bzBRQyIsImlhdCI6MTY0MTEwNjQwMCwiZXhwIjoxNjQxMTEwMDAwLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMTM4MyIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.ufJGpEiYvLYTAMaBDMuhM8sbAnGHb8ZLAwlpO8RXD4g&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#play). Joe Brown also explains how [Turkey inches closer to Hyperinflation](https://overcast.fm/+p-dpdGLe4). I do rather think that you need to pay attention to what happens here. Turkey ranks 11th place globally in terms of GDP at PPP in 2020 ahead of Italy and Mexico and just behind UK and France. Super interesting interview of Cory Klippstein, CEO of Swan Bitcoin - indeed a reminder that we are still early: [SLP333 Cory Klippsten - Building for Bitcoiners](https://overcast.fm/+OBZlCH1-s/2:47) ## Watching One of the best interviews of the year: **Peter and Lyn** [discuss Currency wars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWSIkBNegjA); I can listen to Lyn all day. Equally informative is **James**' [Holiday special with Jeff Booth and Greg Foss](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K6JPXlVh-Y) Mark explains all about endless wars: [Central Banks Covert Plan For Never-Ending Stimulus | Get Ready](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEbIJsLobYQ). And then, George G: [Breaking: Media Now Saying US Needs PRICE CONTROLS!!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvpXL-oFpJg) James' [fast-paced outlook for 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2gbzTJtzo&t=55s) is wide-ranging and informative I do recommend: **Guy's** [tips for Security for your Crypto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6m7psfXxzQ) ## Reading I finally finished [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix](https://www.audible.com/pd/Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix-Book-5-Audiobook/B017WO34IQ?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=0WR4JP8KPFCK6RRM5NKN). I really did not like this book when I read it 18 years ago. Second time round, though still a dark read, you will spot so many parallels to what is happening in the world right now. Well worth the 30+ hours on audible.com or 896 pages! Not to mention that whilst the "first wave" from Voldemort is over there are two more episodes to come... Still In my queue: Harry Potter - book 6 (**Half Blood Prince**) and book 7 (**Deathly Hallows**) ... I have now started on [When Money Dies ](https://www.audible.com/pd/When-Money-Dies-Audiobook/B004DEYAS2?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=PERH4EHHY721YTVT40J1)- The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar, Germany. This really is required reading for these times. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Once aware of them you will see signs all around you. I think it is not linked on their website but still accessible if you know where to look (maybe download and safestore it before it disappears):[ The Bank of England 1914-21 (Unpublished War History)](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/archive/bank-of-england-1914-21-ww1). This corroborates and elaborates on what you can read in [The Creature from Jekyll Island](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Creature-from-Jekyll-Island-Audiobook/B00DZUGWX6?qid=1641109461&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=BVAQ5VZHY39AYPT6ZJX8). ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested. You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

Season's greetings from Hong Kong - as we approach the end of the year I am taking a few days off work (mostly) - so I have a bit more time for some personal projects and interests. We will be island hopping again/still this week! Considering the need for improved privacy and security on mobile phones, I am experimenting with [CalyxOS](https://calyxos.org/) - on a very nice Pixel 4. Surprisingly pleasant experience on a Google-free device. It was easy to replace Android on the phone and you have pretty much all you need via either the F-Droid or Aurora app stores - certainly if you enable MicroG (not a bad option, I think). Do let me know your thoughts on this if you use it. Documentation [here](https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/). Apps that are handy on the phone: - Signal - Messaging. Avoid WhatsApp, FB Messenger and others if possible - Brave Browser - privacy oriented version of Chrome - just great! - Element - Group Chat and conversations - Antenna - Podcasts.. just a great experience - Bitwarden - Password manager - it just works... highly recommended - NewPipe - Youtube without all the nonsense! - Phoenix - Lighning & Bitcoin payments - and I do not even live in El Salvador - DuckDuckGo - Search.. why would you use anything else? I am also experimenting with Raspberry Pi - these are fascinating little devices - if you are interested to know more, do say. Among other things they allow you to host your own private servers that keep data safe whilst being securely accessible by a personal VPN. Something completely different - a little video update from my hike around The Peak... ## Following On Twitter, I do recommend following [@DougAntin](https://twitter.com/DougAntin) and do check our his website and newsletter: [The Sovereign Individual Weekly](https://dougantin.com/) [@Laserhodl](https://twitter.com/LaserHodl) is also an interesting follow - do listen to his [interview by Stephan Livera](https://overcast.fm/+OBZnXp8SY/2:40) ## Listening - Listen and learn to clear talk on what is happening and will come soon in the Macro World: [w/ Jeff Booth, Preston Pysh & Greg Foss](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/macro-hang-2-w-jeff-booth-preston-pysh-greg-foss/id1476958861?i=1000545738391) I do love listening to Guy Swan - he has really read more on this topic than anyone else and he happily shares his knowledge. Here his and Lyn's knowledge! - Proof of Stake & Stablecoins - [Part 1: A Centralization Dilemma \[Lyn Alden\]](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/read-588-proof-of-stake-stablecoins-part-1/id1359544516?i=1000545579751) - Proof of Stake & Stablecoins - [Part 2 \[Lyn Alden\]](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/read-589-proof-of-stake-stablecoins-part-2-lyn-alden/id1359544516?i=1000545728936) - you will understand why Proof of Stake networks are vulnerable to government manipulation unlike Bitcoin with its Proof of Work mining. ## Watching [**Guy's weekly news review**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1YABU0ssog) is required weekly watching - issued every Monday so we see it Tuesday morning in HK. Do also [subscribe to his newsletter](https://guy.coinbureau.com/signup/) Mark explains [how the measuring stick is being changed to steal from you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB-LOWBm9J8) If you have seen **The Matrix Resurrections** - you may have missed some [Easter Eggs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNidbzzPVt8) - you may or may not be ready for [the Full Decode - warning, this is DEEP](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUqfq2ILMrs) In case you heard about [Log4j and wondered what it was and why it's important](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhW5csA51Bs) BTW - you might be interested to[ Restore YouTube Dislikes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz8-fdVtox8) ## Reading I am still reading [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 5](https://www.audible.com/pd/Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix-Book-5-Audiobook/B017WO34IQ?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=0WR4JP8KPFCK6RRM5NKN). So many interesting parallels in the book to what is happening right now in the world. Gotta wonder, this is book 5 and there is still book 6 to come... In my queue: [When Money Dies by Adam Fergusson](https://www.audible.com/pd/When-Money-Dies-Audiobook/B004DEYAS2?qid=1640514147&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=Q83W5F8H63S9JY74BXQJ) - I feel this may be very relevant in the month ahead - already so in some countries... If case you missed them - I do recommend: - [The Creature from Jekyll Island](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Creature-from-Jekyll-Island-Audiobook/B00DZUGWX6?qid=1640521765&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=WTJRBE1ZFGKEAT0WF8JV) - The untold history of the FED... - [Sovereign Individual](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Sovereign-Individual-Audiobook/1797103385?qid=1640521784&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=X77NN3AEHSJV1HC6ZBCD) - written in 1997 they did predict personal computers, mobile phones, cryptocurrencies and even the current pandemic situation.. - [The Fourth Turning](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Fourth-Turning-Audiobook/B002UZN3YI?qid=1640521802&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=22DGVW1QAFPEVQP7FASD) - we have been here before For audio-books, I do recommend getting used to listening at &gt;= 1.5x speed. After a while 1.8x to 2x is quite fine and you will wonder how you ever did differently! ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested. You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

(12-22-21) Something of a computer-centric update this week, ahead of Christmas. Responding to several folks asking about this and with the continual drumbeat of new threats ([echoes of 1984](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37N0aFmO19o)?) and recurring theft of personal and business data, you might find it useful to have some suggestions from many years of industry experience - let me know if you need more! ## Backups Top priority - ensure that you have backups of your critical data **and** that you are able to recover it; keep in mind that if you have not tested your backup you should consider that you do not really have one. Yes, testing backups is a real pain! A good starting point is the 3-2-1 strategy. Have at least **three** copies of your important data on **two** different backup media with at least **one** copy somewhere offsite. You can always increment these numbers to make things more resilient. For onsite storage it's a good idea to keep the media in a solid metal safe for protection against fire, theft and electromagnetic attacks. Important to have the recovery steps written down safely and available in case of need - when trouble hits you will appreciate this advice AND remember test from time to time. If your data on Social media sites is important, consider getting and keeping a download that is included in your backups from time to time; all the major services have to offer this. ## Passwords Use a password manager - there is no excuse. A good password manager makes it easy to create and use a strong password for every site and application that you use and for all of these to be different; this is important to avoid that compromise of one supplier would expose all your other systems using same password. A good password manager also works on Mobile and Computer browsers and should be accessible securely on all your devices. ## Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Just do it - and avoid using SMS for this if possible (risk of SIM swap attack). MFA ensures that someone needs more than just your username and password to log in to your accounts. Consider Time-based One Time Password solutions (TOTP). Be sure that you have backup of this stored safely and it can be useful to have it in several devices ## Patching vs Anti-virus For personal use, the best thing you can do is to ensure that you timely apply vendor patches. It's generally a good idea to wait a couple of days from patch release just in case the patch causes issues but after a week or so, just patch! Both Windows PCs and Macs are decent choices these days as long as you use and do not disable the built-in protections with Mac being slightly easier to keep safe and secure, I think! I wouldn't recommend antivirus for personal use - other than possible on-demand scans/checks or clean-up if you do get or suspect a malware infection. Windows and MacOS contain pretty good malware protection measures and use of 3rd party products can open up additional risks. ## Mobile Phones Android or Apple/iOS? For most people, Apple is generally simpler and safer but there are trade-offs, including cost! Android systems tend to be slower to get patches and easier for criminals to exploit - if you use one, keep it up to date and avoid unofficial App Stores. An interesting wrinkle here is that the Google Pixel phones are generally patched more quickly and they also allow you to install Privacy Centric operating system in place of Android (eg CalyxOS); with this approach it is possible to "de-google" yourself - not a bad ambition! ## Privacy Be aware that all the cloud-based services and most mobile Apps that you use are tracking what you do and they may well be doing much worse with your data. In theory they need to tell you in Privacy Policy but can anyone read or understand these and you are pretty helpless when these change them unilaterally. So - choose carefully which services you use and minimse unnecessary sharing of data! ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested. You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

Only in HK can you go golfing on a remote island, come back in the evening, leave your golf clubs at the quay, go for dinner and pick them up on the way home! We spent most of the last week up in Sai Kung, way up in the North East - things in HK are so handy, so even this is just an easy one hour from Central on public transport. Weather this week was fantastic - 18-24 degrees and mostly sunny; November and December are the best months of the year here. It will be nice weather till about 6 January and then it switches to cool and cloudy till Chinese New Year after which the humidity will return. ## Planning Over the Christmas and New Year period I expect to have a bit more time for things so, responding to requests from people I plan to share a few things you might find handy - Stay Safe online - tips and tricks to ensure that your mobile phones and computers are safe from hackers. Also protecting access to your critical data and accounts. - Secure Messaging and Chat - this is becoming increasingly important with arbitrary (or not?) censorship, cancellation and bot-driven targetting becoming routine. With diminishing trust in the existing platforms many are looking for safer alternatives - I'll share my suggestions. - Privacy tools - there are quite a few tools that enable you to keep private your data and transactions - we will be exploring those too and sharing suggestions. ## Following On Twitter, I do recommend following [@DougAntin](https://twitter.com/DougAntin) and do check our his website and newsletter: [**The Sovereign Individual Weekly**](https://dougantin.com/) ## Listening Fascinating [interview of @LaserHodl by Stephan Livera](https://overcast.fm/+OBZnXp8SY/2:40) - you need to listen to this because obviously this is not allowed on YT. Pro tip: do get used to listening to Podcasts and YT and 1.75x-2x speed - you will quickly find it the ONLY way to do it! ## Watching **Guy's weekly news review** is required weekly watching - issued every Monday UK time, Tuesday mornings here in HK. [This week's update.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkEKImUIg60) Guy's longest video every is dedicated to the recent **World Economic Forum slew of whitepapers outlining their plan for World Domination** - [required watching here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc). Blow by Blow:\ [1:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=93s) What Is The World Economic Forum? [4:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=240s) Introduction [6:38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=398s) Corporations And Central Banks [14:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=853s) Stablecoin And CBDC Regulations [18:28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=1108s) Stablecoin And CBDC Risks [24:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=1495s) Stablecoins And Financial Inclusion [30:52](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=1852s) Digital Currencies For Humanitarian Aid [33:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=2036s) CBDC “Privacy” [38:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=2320s) Stablecoin And CBDC Interoperability [42:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRDwS6ACHc&t=2522s) CBDC Technology Blow by blow accunt and analysis of the recent **CEO Testimony: Government vs. CRYPTO** by Guy - watch and learn - [summary here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=1445s), blows below!\ [1:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=85s) About The Hearing [3:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=217s) Opening Statements [9:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=558s) Stablecoin Questions [12:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=738s) Crypto Market Questions [14:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=858s) Regulation Questions [17:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=1076s) Crazy Questions [21:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=1262s) Crypto Mining Questions [24:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=1445s) Hearing Analysis [26:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcEtsZyfms&t=1617s) Outro ## Reading I am still reading [**Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 5**](https://www.audible.com/pd/Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix-Book-5-Audiobook/B017WO34IQ?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=0WR4JP8KPFCK6RRM5NKN)**.** Progress this week has been a bit slow with a lot on at work but I hope to have more time in the weeks ahead to finish the series, for a second time! I am also re-reading (listening on Audible) [**Mythos**](https://www.audible.com/pd/Mythos-Audiobook/B07253QHF2?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=AXFPZ955M50ZK8VSNGQQ) - narrated by Stephen Fry. This is absolutely AMAZING and highly recommended. There is so much wisdom in these stories from antiquity - you have got to wonder....! ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested.\ You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

## Reading this week - [Blocksize War](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Blocksize-War-Audiobook/B096CNVVQC?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare) - Bitcoin’s blocksize war was waged from August 2015 to November 2017. On the surface, the battle was about the amount of data allowed in each bitcoin block, however it exposed much deeper issues, such as who controls bitcoin’s protocol rules. It is not possible to cover every twist and turn in the labyrinthine conflict or all the arguments, but this is a chronology of the most significant events. Quite a bit of it happened in HK with those famous overnight meetings in Cyberport. \ \ I remember being immensely frustrated and confused at the time about what was happening - having read the book it does indeed seem that even many of the participants did not understand what was happening or what would happen next depending on whch course was picked - CRAZY STUFF!! - [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix](https://www.audible.com/pd/Harry-Potter-and-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix-Book-5-Audiobook/B017WO34IQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare) - Book 5 in the series. Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors' attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord's return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time.... - I am re-reading (listening on audible.com) [Mythos - narrated by Stephen Fry](https://www.audible.com/pd/Mythos-Audiobook/B07253QHF2?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare). Stephen is fantastic - he brings life to Greek Mythology and you have got to wonder where all these stories really come from. So many interesting insights and possibilities. Absolutely recommended. - Also re-reading [Sovereign Individual](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Sovereign-Individual-Audiobook/1797103385?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare) - it is truely remarkable that James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg (father of the current one!) wrote this back in 1997 - they did predict mobile phones, personal computers, cryptocurrencies and [even pandemic, governmental overreach and restrictions including capital controls and preventing international travel.](https://twitter.com/LaserHodl/status/1467298089413324802) ## Youtube links - Required watching: **Jeff Booth**, interviewed by James. [The Price of Tomorrow! A must hear interview on the key to our future](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry1vJ3qtFKM). You do need to open your eyes and stop taking the Soma. [His book is here ](https://www.amazon.com/Price-Tomorrow-Deflation-Abundant-Future/dp/B08725C857/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39BL9R1K13ROR&keywords=price+of+tomorrow%2C+jeff+booth&qid=1638923125&sprefix=price+of+%2Caps%2C449&sr=8-1)- recommended reading. Indeed people focus on the symtoms and avoid (even disallow) discussion on the root cause. As Raoul explained the current situation has been nore than 100 years in the making. - Great [interview by Peter McCormack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2qlR3McSfI) with Brandon on **Fourth Turning** - a great explanation and super interesting discussion and insights. - Guy explains [how badly behaved Danske Bank was](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8iPIV9cBAs). Those in **Northern Ireland** will recognise that name as being the new owner of **Northern Bank** that was renowned for [the largest ever Bank Raid](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m000tsjy)! - If you ever wondered how the **Millennial Generation** is different from the Baby Boomers, just watch: [Ellio explains the recent crypto crash this weekend past](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4yMWw6kBnY). This is not a one-off - he posts every single day and he is running a company with more than a hundred developers working on his projects. - Do check out [Academy of ideas](https://www.youtube.com/c/academyofideas) vx ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested.\ You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

Loosely inspired by Alistair Cooke's Letter from America, this is where it all begins. In the weeks and months ahead my intention is to gather my thoughts and share things that I find interesting and maybe good to know. I will be pulling from many sources and I plan to experiment with various media to see what works best. Feel free to check back from time to time to see what has been added. You can also subscribe to get notified when I post updates. Feel free also to reach out to me and suggest topics that you would like to me to cover or enlarge upon. For starters - a few interesting things happened or occurred to me this past week: **Raoul Paul** (former Goldman Sachs Hedge fund manager) did a great explainer on how the world got into the current state; spoiler: it took over 100 years to get like this and there were many pivotal moments including WW1, WW2, Bretton Woods, 1971 Nixon Shock, Vietnam (and perpetual) war and now this! - [Raoul's sequel to the exponential age](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4pesTrC2Vg&t=52s) and [here with James of IA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JApG3Uym_rY). You can also catch the full, uninterrupted version [in his own words here on Realvision](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1_LrREYQ8c) **Saifedean Ammous** has gleaned and published similar insights in [The Fiat Standard](https://www.amazon.com/Fiat-Standard-Slavery-Alternative-Civilization-ebook/dp/B09KKVNQBK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fiat+standard&qid=1638697648&sr=8-1) - a superb follow-on to his earlier book, [The Bitcoin Standard](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Bitcoin-Standard-Audiobook/B07D7ZRKLJ?qid=1638697589&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=8G4MQWF79EZ1ZT1GS2T0). The contrast could not be more obvious - and his [podcast explainer here](https://saifedean.com/podcast/92-the-fiat-standard-book-launch/) For those who prefer historical references, check [The Creature From Jekyll Island](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Creature-from-Jekyll-Island-Audiobook/B00DZUGWX6?qid=1638697969&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=QTM23ZN4M1JFV6FTGJ3K) - a long read but each chapter starts with a summary so you can read all the summaries and dive deeper where you dare. Crazy but true, all of this was foreseen in [The Sovereign Individual,](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Sovereign-Individual-Audiobook/1797103385?qid=1638698007&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=3N02KJ7MPVW5FVS41KEP) written back in 1997. You will be amazed that they foresaw mobile phones, personal computers, cryptocurrencies and [even pandemic, governmental overreach and restrictions including capital controls and preventing international travel](https://web.archive.org/web/20211205010652/https://twitter.com/LaserHodl/status/1467298089413324802). Not to mention [The Fourth Turning](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Fourth-Turning-Audiobook/B002UZN3YI?qid=1638698072&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=E8AD61HM102DE0CND0TJ) which reveals clearly the cycles that the world goes through. This too clearly foresaw the current situation and indicates how things might well develop. **Michael Saylor**, CEO of MicroStrategy, is unstoppable. He, like Raoul, seems to be one one of the articulate leaders foreseen in *The Sovereign Individual*. Do listen to his [interview with Peter McCormack ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4-e5wq5AJ8)and [one with John Vallis, ](https://youtu.be/bOzm7BlGooA?t=6)not to mention that amazing [interview on Fox News!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st3KJN_DzCg) A couple of classics worth mentioning - [Animal Farm](https://www.audible.com/pd/Animal-Farm-Audiobook/2291090860?qid=1638698101&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=RG135DN0QWHNJ34X31NH) where all are equal but some are more equal than others and where history and constitution get rewritten when it suits. An then of course there is [Brave New World](https://www.audible.com/pd/Brave-New-World-Audiobook/B002V1BVK4?qid=1638698134&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=2JE6N4WJ3GTPJY0CNGCJ) where, among other things, the masses are kept subdued with soma. Lastly for today, you have got to wonder if **Satoshi Nakamoto** a time traveller - read his [whitepaper here](https://bitcoinwhitepaper.co/). They say there is no smoke without fire and there is certainly plenty of smoke at the moment - not least from Joe Wiesenthal, Editor and Host at Bloomberg - [here](https://mises.org/mises-wire/joe-weisenthal-thinks-debasing-dollar-moral-thing-do). Recent days also marked a turning point where narrative shifts from "inflation is transient" to "inflation is good for you" (echoes of Animal Farm...). Enough for now. You may well want to disconnect from the Matrix and be more selective in your information sources - also it's good to have your priorities right and live life to the maximum. Do reach out to me with your thoughts and suggestions - I'll be sharing mine. Roger ## **That's it!** > ***No one can be told what The Matrix is.*** \ > ***You have to see it for yourself.*** Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested.\ You can also email me at: [LetterFrom@rogerprice.me](undefined) *💡Enjoy the newsletters in **your own language** : [Dutch](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=nl&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [French](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [German](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Serbian](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=sr&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), Chinese [Traditional](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-TW&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) & [Simplified](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp), [Thai](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp) and [Burmese](https://rogerprice-me.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=my&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp).*

@ 3814facc:86fe153b

My name is Beau and I spent 6.5 years playing live poker professionally in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Poker was something I was drawn to at a young age through my love of puzzles, math, and game shows. Later in my life, when I decided to start my professional career, I was committed to becoming the best poker player I could possibly be. The side effect of this, which I didn’t consider at the time, was that my health and wellness would drastically decline over the years. I had spent my childhood playing baseball and was always athletic with exceptional hand eye coordination skills, but my journey playing cards led me to feeling dull and lifeless. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/aca7a8c259f9be3ea000ef4fac92ad14be7eca29948f19daaaefa550c61a25de.jpg"> During the pandemic, I was following a few content creators journeys, many of whom were tired of the lockdowns and the suppression of human freedom. These creators were posting about health, family, and living an alternative lifestyle that piqued my interest. When I saw an ad about a retreat in Costa Rica, a place I had been on vacation three times already and loved, I was immediately interested. My fellow coworker poker friends were great, but I was craving deeper connection. I wanted to meet other people who were also interested in living more of an alternative lifestyle, and of course, spend time in nature relaxing — just truly letting go of the daily grind the poker lifestyle brought me. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/2453e4a6d8a4b2123921b198ff373aec644993d51ae1a1ce58822c197db2a31f.jpg"> At the retreat, I was pretty shy (most poker players are), but I was having so much fun doing the activities at the retreat which included mediation, breathwork, yoga, cacao ceremonies, sharing circles, waterfall adventures, beach bbq & bonfires, and workshops around business, sovereignty, and content creation. I was connecting in a really deep way with a few of the guys from the retreat and having an incredible time. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f16ecbaaf48b1f59c0af47cb394043ab5467a7bf32252dac0dd0be50131d4ffb.jpg"> On one of the last days, we were listening to a live concert by one of the locals who was playing introspective Costa Rican vibey music, and I had an epiphany. I realized that my time on Earth is truly limited and life really is too short to not be doing something that I really love. It was in this moment, that I knew my poker career was over. A game that I once loved many years ago was no longer something I wanted to dedicate time to. I had grown old of feeling unhealthy, the late nights under artificial lighting, the toxic environment a casino brings, and how disconnected from my emotions I became (the best poker players are robotic). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/14d997f74d6875b80d374e2b0d14cc028f60e9484e4ee3dbb0042c6d91801967.jpg"> I shared some of my story with the other retreat guests about how I feel I needed to change my life in a drastic way. I knew I wanted to move out of Southern California and continue my journey of traveling and meeting new people. I was considering traveling all around Asia and going to multiple countries over five months, but luckily, two friends of mine from the retreat invited me to come live with them in a Mexican beach town. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c729fb760d70340e9158d2d4e029b399b0627f7c8839c4a221a6d5bd2a6a9d8a.jpg"> I knew instantly this was a great place to start for my new journey. I ended up trying many brazilian jiu jitsu classes, dove deeper into my yoga practice, and spent a lot of time outdoors in the sun near the beach. I was focused on my journey of self development as a man. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/10515166a3611131b7e6738cbd5188d01bd883b04f2e1f045eb9c1dcdce1aa3b.jpg"> In the next several months, I had gone to two more retreats that were similar to the first one I had gone to — one in Mexico and one more in Costa Rica. I continued to meet new people, share my story, and I developed a passion and joy for life that was attracting all kinds of wonderful people to me. I was amazed how going to that first retreat had given me the opportunity to become friends with all these people, open my eyes to a new life, and discover what it felt like to be healthy. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c08c0fd9b8c01679616ca98f44a54ff9bfc18ff8291e1dbc1eadef06367b007d.jpg"> At this point, I was feeling called to move on from Mexico, so I went to Europe and Bali that summer, really putting myself out into the unknown. It was great because I knew that I was truly living on my edge and having a great time. In Bali, I connected with my new girlfriend in a deeper way, someone I met as friends during the very first retreat. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c97af11ccb5f3591b35ed08fb8d1c19a0d0da5b76acd0c43497aa8f7485b6014.jpg"> Fast forward a few months later to now, and I am living in the jungle of Costa Rica, a place that I have now been to seven times, and a place that is obviously very special to me. I am still continuing my journey of rapid personal development, exploring further ways to feel strong & healthy, and am committed to being a source of light and inspiration for the community I live in. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/01f35daa785c4c53b4e435529283856014adc3e8c666c0acdc70099facda534e.jpg"> Throughout this journey, I have wondered what it is I will do next. How do you follow up a poker career? I wasn’t sure, but I was patient with myself. A few weeks ago, I feel it hit me square in the head and became incredibly obvious. I desire to create a retreat that gives people a similar experience that I felt. I want people to experience what it feels like to be healthy again, to allow them opportunities to meet new and creative people, and to create a safe place for people to let go of the day to day worries they currently have. I want to help create new leaders, give people the opportunity to meet lifelong brothers and sisters, and build a special community of like-minded and driven people. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/673f229be12bc8620c391a5cef0779f6a100971e909e00a9afa2cddcf3fa9ca9.jpg"> Right now, I am in the early stages of building this, but I am focused on delivering the best possible experience while cultivating a unique and special group of people. If you feel called to get exclusive updates on this journey, you can sign up for the email list at [https://thebeauwinn.com](https://t.co/KBhJZgbNTe). Thanks everyone. Much love and pura vida, Beau <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/4287059b1a09082375b553363f232b0aa4030ee17a5ab2ae3be0ebc633bfe948.jpg">

@ 9c47bb51:000381d0

EVERYDAY STACKING GUIDE Let me break it down for you: stacking sats is about building your Bitcoin stash little by little. You do not need to make some massive play or wait for the perfect opportunity. It is about finding simple, steady ways to add to your stack, no matter what your situation looks like. And the best part? There are so many ways to do it, whether you are creating something, connecting with folks directly, or just using tools that reward you. Let us dive into how you can stack sats consistently, keeping it decentralized and peer-to-peer whenever possible. You have got platforms like Stacker News where you can earn sats just by being part of the conversation. Think of it as Bitcoin’s answer to Reddit. You share something valuable, comment on posts, or just engage with the community, and next thing you know, you have got some sats coming your way. It is simple, and it is steady. Plus, it feels good to know your thoughts and contributions are being rewarded. Then there is Nostr, a decentralized social platform that is making waves. It is built to connect people directly, and it ties in Bitcoin through the Lightning Network. The coolest thing? You can get tipped, or “zapped,” for your posts, notes, or anything you put out there. This is not about big corporations taking a cut; it is people showing love directly. Share your ideas, your art, your insights, and watch your stack grow while connecting with a global community. Now, let us talk about Fold. It is a little different but still fun. You spin their rewards wheel every day, and you will earn a few sats. Sometimes it is a little, sometimes it is more, but it all adds up. If you are using their Bitcoin rewards debit card for your regular spending, you are earning even more. Sure, it is not 100 percent decentralized, but it is an easy way to stack sats while handling your everyday purchases. For creators, platforms like Zap.Stream are opening doors. Imagine streaming your work, whether it is music, art, teaching, or something else, and getting paid directly in Bitcoin by your audience. No middlemen, no fuss. It is all about connecting directly with the people who support you and earning sats in real time. And do not forget about selling something for Bitcoin. Whether it is handmade crafts, digital products, or your services, there is always a way to find buyers who want to pay in sats. Platforms that focus on Bitcoin marketplaces make it easier to connect with those folks. Plus, it is a true peer-to-peer exchange, keeping it aligned with the decentralized spirit of Bitcoin. If you are freelancing, there are options to get paid in Bitcoin directly. Whether you are designing, coding, writing, or consulting, there are platforms that let you bypass the banks and get your payment straight into your wallet. It is quick, efficient, and keeps you in control of your money. And let us talk about the small, passive ways to stack sats. Cashback apps like Lolli let you earn Bitcoin on everyday purchases. It might not be a huge amount, but those little bits add up over time. If you are already spending the money, why not get some sats back for it? The real key here is consistency. Set a goal for yourself, whether it is adding sats daily or weekly, and stick to it. Even if it is just a few hundred sats here and there, it is progress. Those small steps add up over time and can turn into something meaningful. Why focus on decentralized and peer-to-peer methods? Because that is what Bitcoin is all about. It is about staying true to the values of self-sovereignty and financial freedom. By avoiding centralized systems, you are not just stacking sats; you are strengthening the Bitcoin ecosystem itself. Stacking sats is not about getting rich overnight. It is a journey. It is about building your stash, supporting the Bitcoin movement, and claiming your financial independence bit by bit. Whether it is through sharing content, selling products, or using new platforms, the mission stays the same: keep adding to your stack, little by little. And remember, every sat counts.

@ a42048d7:26886c32

OP_CAT, Coffee, and keeping an open mind to Bitcoin soft forks by an 80 IQ BTC Maxi Pleb TLDR: CAT is both low risk and low appeal to the broader non-dev BTC community. I don’t care and you shouldn’t either. If I am an 80 IQ HODL pleb or a company that caters to that group, can you please give me 2-4 fifth grade level coherent english sentences that explain why I should support CAT? I’m still waiting… CTV or LNHANCE on the other hand have broad appeal. Five years ago in the office we got a fancy $6,000 coffee maker. It was hooked up to wifi, showed TV on a giant screen, and could make every type of coffee/milkshake you could think of. I was captivated… for about 1 day. After trying a few times I realized almost all the drinks it made were of low quality. The wifi connection actually ended up just being annoying. Half the time I wanted a coffee, only had a 5 minute break, and the machine displayed some inscrutable error. I went back to the proverbial grind un-caffeinated and frustrated wishing we had the old reliable boring coffee maker back. I also found myself only coming back to the 2 drinks I really cared about, espresso and maybe an occasional cappuccino. It was “cool” that new machine could make over 60 different drinks, but when I sat back and thought about it all I really needed or wanted were a few key options that I used constantly. Especially as those extra bells and whistles seemed to be the usual suspect in the coffee machine constantly breaking. I would’ve loved them upgrading from burnt starbucks coffee beans to a local specialty roaster, that would’ve greatly enhanced my daily coffee. Echoing this realization, my coffee setup at home became a simple machine that could only make espresso and a hand crank coffee bean grinder. Still have them years later and they work great. They’re robust and fit exactly what I wanted with no nonsense that created more headache than everyday value. As you probably suspected, this is a loose comparison to OP_CAT. I’ve listened to podcast after podcast, read blog after blog, and sat through every CAT pitch I could find. I genuinely tried to approach with an open mind. However, ultimately what every pro OP_CAT argument boils down to is that there is no simple left curve elevator pitch a pleb will understand or care about. “But we can get this really cool ZK Rollup and have infinite DEFI bridging to altcoin chains! Look we sort of did it on this other altcoin chain.” And they did, they aren’t lying. They have live software on a shitcoin chain like ETH or SOL that does some modest volume. But the story quickly falls apart in the face of a few basic left curve questions: “Why should I, as an 80 IQ left curve BTC maxi give a shit?” “Does this enhance my everyday experience holding and using BTC?” “Why do you have a non-BTC token for your rollup/sidechain/glorified multisig that is totally centralized?” “Why is there only a hard to understand often ill-defined *path* to de-centralization? Why isn’t it just already decentralized?” “What is a clear use case that the typical non-technical everyday BTC holder can understand and rally behind?” “Why should I care about bridging to ETH, SOL, or whatever shitcoin chain? I only want BTC and don’t want to participate in all that shitcoin bullshit. Bitcoin is a store of value and money to me and it doesn’t help with those use cases in a clear direct way. It sounds like it maybe, kinda, sorta does help with a lot of caveats, ifs, and steps that I struggle to understand.” Sorry yeah I know, that one got a little personal. I’ll try to do better going forward guys. ZK proofs or other Pro-CAT arguments, are undoubtedly cool and do factually enable potential cool new stuff. It just happens to all be stuff that sounds complex, esoteric, and unappealing to an 80 IQ HODL pleb - let alone a miner, ETF investor, or exchange exec. I don’t mean to say ZK or other tech has no potential and that we won’t eventually move there, but just to say that it’s not in the cards as currently dealt. I really went out trying to keep an open mind and steelman the case for CAT. I came back firmly believing: #1 Support is deep in the developer community, but **nonexistent** everywhere else. I have yet to find a single person that supports CAT who is not a dev or working at or sponsored by a company that stands to directly profit from something CAT enables. Which is fine, but I reserve the right to be skeptical of your direct incentive. I acknowledge rough consensus is very hard to judge, and am open to changing my mind on this over time but feel this is a currently accurate assessment. #2 To get a soft fork you need rough consensus. Most people in that potential consensus are not highly technical developers. They care mostly or exclusively about BTC’s store of value use case. No one has yet articulated a clear compelling store of value enhancing use case that they can understand and care about. Without pull demand from potential users and paying customers, CAT will inevitably stall. #3 Lots of factually inaccurate FUD has been thrown at CAT. People saw the Taproot Wizards or shitcoiners pushing CAT, and immediately dismiss CAT as an evil psyop without any real consideration for its technical merits. Frankly most people just hate Udi and say “Fuck CAT” based solely on that. Maybe not fair, but true. #4 CAT is low risk, and it is not a catastrophe waiting to happen. Anything bad it potentially enables is enabled in such an inefficient and/or use hostile way that it is highly unlikely to pose any issues to Bitcoin. CAT’s technical risk is low and this is consistently proven by other chains enabling CAT and having no issues with it, such as Liquid. #5 Lots of people who have no idea wtf they are talking about falsely claim CAT is the apocalypse without any ability whatsoever to explain why. Imho you are no better than Udi and the shitcoiners if you are willing to lie about CAT just because you dislike them. We as the BTC community need the ability to have a rational discussion on technical merits, and not to devolve into a cult of personality based political battle. The question should be, “Is CAT good or bad and why?” and not “I just hate Udi, therefore its a no from me dog.” Summarizing CAT using TradFi language: those pushing CAT have technology in search of a problem and no clear product market fit. They are pushing their technology to an apathetic audience. Pushers of CAT are not pulled forward by customer demand. In the tech world these are some of the quintessential red flags that every good investor knows mean you need to sit this one out. CTV or LNHANCE on the other hand are soft fork proposals that have clear use cases you can quickly explain to a broad swathe of the Bitcoin ecosystem: “Hey HOLD pleb, worried about losing your coins? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a simple vault that reduces the chances your coins are lost or stolen? Let’s make self custody and BTC’s store of value use case strictly better, specifically without enabling any shitcoin-ery.” “Hey Blackrock, Van Eck, ARK, Franklin Templeton, and every ETF investor - it would really suck if Coinbase lost all your Bitcoin and that ETF went to zero, right? What it we could create vaults to make that Bitcoin more secure?” “Like Lightning but find it hard to use self-custodially? Let’s make Lightning better, easier, and more scalable with fewer onchain transactions and lower fees.” “Tried or seen the ARK demos yet? They have real working code even without covenants. With covenants we get big ARK volumes and scaling while also making it easier.” Signing off: See the difference? I, an 80 IQ pleb, can steelman multiple use cases for CTV/LNHANCE that have broad appeal. I have yet to see any such case for CAT, and until then I don’t think it’ll go anywhere. *Pro-CAT Sources I’ve digested and would encourage others to consider: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Covenants_support https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_Nj-MX53w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yp4eYK9S6M Pro-CTV/LNHANCE sources to consider which have CLEAR use cases with widespead appeal: https://github.com/jamesob/simple-ctv-vault https://github.com/stutxo/op_ctv_payment_pool https://lnhance.org/ https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/how-ctv-can-help-scale-bitcoin

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin has symbolized innovation and resilience. However, from time to time, alarmist narratives arise about emerging technologies that could "break" its security. Among these, quantum computing stands out as one of the most recurrent. But does quantum computing truly threaten Bitcoin? And more importantly, what is the community doing to ensure the protocol remains invulnerable? The answer, contrary to sensationalist headlines, is reassuring: Bitcoin is secure, and the community is already preparing for a future where quantum computing becomes a practical reality. Let’s dive into this topic to understand why the concerns are exaggerated and how the development of BIP-360 demonstrates that Bitcoin is one step ahead. --- ## What Is Quantum Computing, and Why Is Bitcoin Not Threatened? Quantum computing leverages principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations that, in theory, could exponentially surpass classical computers—and it has nothing to do with what so-called “quantum coaches” teach to scam the uninformed. One of the concerns is that this technology could compromise two key aspects of Bitcoin’s security: 1. **Wallets**: These use elliptic curve algorithms (ECDSA) to protect private keys. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could deduce a private key from its public key. 2. **Mining**: This is based on the SHA-256 algorithm, which secures the consensus process. A quantum attack could, in theory, compromise the proof-of-work mechanism. --- ## Understanding Quantum Computing’s Attack Priorities While quantum computing is often presented as a threat to Bitcoin, not all parts of the network are equally vulnerable. Theoretical attacks would be prioritized based on two main factors: ease of execution and potential reward. This creates two categories of attacks: ### 1. Attacks on Wallets Bitcoin wallets, secured by elliptic curve algorithms, would be the initial targets due to the relative vulnerability of their public keys, especially those already exposed on the blockchain. Two attack scenarios stand out: - **Short-term attacks**: These occur during the interval between sending a transaction and its inclusion in a block (approximately 10 minutes). A quantum computer could intercept the exposed public key and derive the corresponding private key to redirect funds by creating a transaction with higher fees. - **Long-term attacks**: These focus on old wallets whose public keys are permanently exposed. Wallets associated with Satoshi Nakamoto, for example, are especially vulnerable because they were created before the practice of using hashes to mask public keys. We can infer a priority order for how such attacks might occur based on urgency and importance. Bitcoin Quantum Attack: Prioritization Matrix (Urgency vs. Importance) ### 2. Attacks on Mining Targeting the SHA-256 algorithm, which secures the mining process, would be the next objective. However, this is far more complex and requires a level of quantum computational power that is currently non-existent and far from realization. A successful attack would allow for the recalculation of all possible hashes to dominate the consensus process and potentially "mine" it instantly. --- Satoshi Nakamoto in 2010 on Quantum Computing and Bitcoin Attacks Recently, Narcelio asked me about a statement I made on Tubacast: https://x.com/eddieoz/status/1868371296683511969 If an attack became a reality **before Bitcoin was prepared**, it would be necessary to define the last block prior to the attack and proceed from there using a new hashing algorithm. The solution would resemble the response to the infamous 2013 bug. It’s a fact that this would cause market panic, and Bitcoin's price would drop significantly, creating a potential opportunity for the well-informed. Preferably, if developers could anticipate the threat and had time to work on a solution and build consensus before an attack, they would simply decide on a future block for the fork, which would then adopt the new algorithm. It might even rehash previous blocks (reaching consensus on them) to avoid potential reorganization through the re-mining of blocks using the old hash. (I often use the term "shielding" old transactions). --- ## How Can Users Protect Themselves? While quantum computing is still far from being a practical threat, some simple measures can already protect users against hypothetical scenarios: - **Avoid using exposed public keys**: Ensure funds sent to old wallets are transferred to new ones that use public key hashes. This reduces the risk of long-term attacks. - **Use modern wallets**: Opt for wallets compatible with SegWit or Taproot, which implement better security practices. - **Monitor security updates**: Stay informed about updates from the Bitcoin community, such as the implementation of BIP-360, which will introduce quantum-resistant addresses. - **Do not reuse addresses**: Every transaction should be associated with a new address to minimize the risk of repeated exposure of the same public key. - **Adopt secure backup practices**: Create offline backups of private keys and seeds in secure locations, protected from unauthorized access. --- ## BIP-360 and Bitcoin’s Preparation for the Future Even though quantum computing is still beyond practical reach, the Bitcoin community is not standing still. A concrete example is BIP-360, a proposal that establishes the technical framework to make wallets resistant to quantum attacks. BIP-360 addresses three main pillars: 1. **Introduction of quantum-resistant addresses**: A new address format starting with "BC1R" will be used. These addresses will be compatible with post-quantum algorithms, ensuring that stored funds are protected from future attacks. 2. **Compatibility with the current ecosystem**: The proposal allows users to transfer funds from old addresses to new ones without requiring drastic changes to the network infrastructure. 3. **Flexibility for future updates**: BIP-360 does not limit the choice of specific algorithms. Instead, it serves as a foundation for implementing new post-quantum algorithms as technology evolves. This proposal demonstrates how Bitcoin can adapt to emerging threats without compromising its decentralized structure. --- ## Post-Quantum Algorithms: The Future of Bitcoin Cryptography The community is exploring various algorithms to protect Bitcoin from quantum attacks. Among the most discussed are: - **Falcon**: A solution combining smaller public keys with compact digital signatures. Although it has been tested in limited scenarios, it still faces scalability and performance challenges. - **Sphincs**: Hash-based, this algorithm is renowned for its resilience, but its signatures can be extremely large, making it less efficient for networks like Bitcoin’s blockchain. - **Lamport**: Created in 1977, it’s considered one of the earliest post-quantum security solutions. Despite its reliability, its gigantic public keys (16,000 bytes) make it impractical and costly for Bitcoin. Two technologies show great promise and are well-regarded by the community: 1. **Lattice-Based Cryptography**: Considered one of the most promising, it uses complex mathematical structures to create systems nearly immune to quantum computing. Its implementation is still in its early stages, but the community is optimistic. 2. **Supersingular Elliptic Curve Isogeny**: These are very recent digital signature algorithms and require extensive study and testing before being ready for practical market use. The final choice of algorithm will depend on factors such as efficiency, cost, and integration capability with the current system. Additionally, it is preferable that these algorithms are standardized before implementation, a process that may take up to 10 years. --- ## Why Quantum Computing Is Far from Being a Threat The alarmist narrative about quantum computing overlooks the technical and practical challenges that still need to be overcome. Among them: - **Insufficient number of qubits**: Current quantum computers have only a few hundred qubits, whereas successful attacks would require millions. - **High error rate**: Quantum stability remains a barrier to reliable large-scale operations. - **High costs**: Building and operating large-scale quantum computers requires massive investments, limiting their use to scientific or specific applications. Moreover, even if quantum computers make significant advancements, Bitcoin is already adapting to ensure its infrastructure is prepared to respond. --- ## Conclusion: Bitcoin’s Secure Future Despite advancements in quantum computing, the reality is that Bitcoin is far from being threatened. Its security is ensured not only by its robust architecture but also by the community’s constant efforts to anticipate and mitigate challenges. The implementation of BIP-360 and the pursuit of post-quantum algorithms demonstrate that Bitcoin is not only resilient but also proactive. By adopting practical measures, such as using modern wallets and migrating to quantum-resistant addresses, users can further protect themselves against potential threats. Bitcoin’s future is not at risk—it is being carefully shaped to withstand any emerging technology, including quantum computing.

@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9

 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/835751

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

Michael Saylor's recent assertion on Tom Bilyeu's podcast that Bitcoin offers a risk-free return sparked an interesting debate. While Tom struggled with the concept, the truth lies in understanding what "risk-free" truly means in our modern financial landscape. When you denominate your wealth in Bitcoin and store it properly in cold storage UTXOs, you're essentially protecting your work energy in perhaps the least risky way possible. https://m.primal.net/NQjb.png Traditional banking customers often consider their dollars in savings accounts to be risk-free, but this belief ignores fundamental realities. Bank failures are increasingly common, and FDIC insurance is merely a paper promise from the same entity responsible for systematic wealth destruction. The state has reached a point where repaying its debt within the current paradigm seems impossible. The paradox of taxation in a money-printing world raises profound questions. Why do we pay taxes when money can be created with the press of a button? The answer might lie in maintaining the illusion of government sustainability. We surrender roughly half our work energy to finance a system that can theoretically fund itself through money printing - a perplexing arrangement that defies logical explanation. Bitcoin represents hard money that doesn't require yield in the traditional sense. The real yield comes from humanity's natural progression toward efficiency and innovation. When your savings aren't being debased, technological advancement and human ingenuity naturally make your money more valuable over time. The world is inherently deflationary, but this truth becomes obscured when savings are denominated in infinitely printable currencies. This dynamic mirrors historical examples, like African communities saving in glass beads and shells, unaware that Europeans were mass-producing these "stores of value" in factories. Living in our current system is like existing in a deflationary world while being tricked into believing it's inflationary - a matrix-like illusion that drives the endless pursuit of "more" in a fundamentally broken system. The federal reserve is a glass bead manufacturer and some of us are the slaves that use it as money. https://m.primal.net/NQkA.webp Bitcoin's technical evolution continues to strengthen its position as sound money. Enhanced privacy features through initiatives like PayJoin, e-cash, and Lightning Network, combined with improved custody solutions and growing infrastructure, make it increasingly accessible and practical for everyday use. The ability to transact without permission or exploitative intermediaries, guided only by free market principles, represents a fundamental shift in financial sovereignty. The question of "enough" becomes central to the Bitcoin journey. While the technology offers a path to financial sovereignty, it's crucial to balance accumulation with life's other valuable resources - time with family, personal growth, and meaningful relationships. The timechain will judge our actions, but perhaps the most important consideration is whether our pursuit of satoshis comes at the cost of more precious aspects of life. We stand at a unique point in history where individual sovereignty is becoming truly possible. The pendulum swings toward a new paradigm that could secure prosperity for generations to come. While many haven't yet reached their personal "escape velocity," the path to financial freedom through Bitcoin becomes clearer with each passing day. The concept of risk-free extends beyond mere financial considerations. In a world where time is our most precious and finite resource, Bitcoin offers something unprecedented: the ability to store life energy in a system that appreciates with human progress, rather than depreciating with political whims. The risk isn't just about losing money - it's about losing life energy, family time, and personal freedom.

@ bd32f268:22b33966

Texto publicado por *Foundation Father @FoundationDads* e traduzido para português. Assumir responsabilidades numa época efeminada como a nossa é um superpoder. Algumas pessoas não sabem o que significa "assumir responsabilidades", no entanto, porque nunca tiveram um pai ou outra pessoa que as ama-se o suficiente para lhes ensinar. Então, aqui está como assumir responsabilidades. ## **Lembra-te que não és uma pessoa desamparada e incompetente.** As coisas não te acontecem simplesmente enquanto olhas fixamente com a boca aberta, usando todo o teu poder cerebral para te lembrares de como respirar. Tu tens poder de ação. ## Mantém estas perguntas em mente: "Que papel desempenhei eu nesta situação ou como ajudei a formar o sistema em que estou inserido?" "O que posso fazer agora mesmo para começar a corrigi-lo, por mais pequeno que seja?" Aqui estão alguns exemplos de como aplicar estas perguntas. *José Malhoa - Remédio* ## Saúde Estás com excesso de peso e cansado o tempo todo? Deprimido? Começa a caminhar 30 minutos por dia. De preferência ao ar livre. Pára de comer snacks. Marca uma consulta com um médico para fazer análises ao sangue. Todas estas coisas estão ao teu alcance. ## Finanças Estás a afogar-te em dívidas de cartão de crédito? Assumir responsabilidades significa reduzir drasticamente o teu consumo e iniciar um programa radical de pagamento do máximo de dívida que conseguires. Obtém uma aplicação de orçamento e começa a planear. Sentes-te preso no teu emprego sem futuro? Sentes que não ganhas o suficiente? Vai a entrevistas para vagas de emprego e descobre o teu verdadeiro valor no mercado. Reserva 1 hora todas as noites para melhorares. A menos que já estejas a trabalhar em dois empregos, toda a gente tem pelo menos 1 hora todas as noites. ## Arredores imediatos Se vês algo que precisa de ser feito, simplesmente faz. Não te queixes disso. Não resmungues baixinho. Não desejes que alguém tratasse disso. Simplesmente faz e não peças permissão. Guarda o carrinho de compras. Lava a caneca de café no lava-loiça. Arranca as ervas daninhas. Repara a parede. Se o quintal do teu vizinho estiver cheio de ervas, vai lá e corta a relva tu mesmo. Limpa a água do lava-loiça. Arruma a bancada. Leva o lixo para fora. Leva bom café para o escritório. ## Os teus filhos Muitos pais queixam-se do comportamento dos seus filhos como se não tivessem qualquer influência sobre o assunto. Mas os teus filhos farão o que tu os ensinaste a fazer. "Fizemos o melhor que pudemos." Não, não fizeram, e assumir responsabilidades significa admitir que foste permissivo e preguiçoso ou que querias sentir-te justo por não bater. Que pequena coisa podes fazer agora mesmo para começar? Escolhe um único comportamento que queres que eles parem, senta-os e explica as consequências do comportamento. Pede desculpa por teres deixado andar durante tanto tempo. Quando eles apresentarem o comportamento, aplica as consequências. Aconteça o que acontecer. ## Os teus relacionamentos Não tens amigos ou o teu grupo de amigos atual é uma má influência? Podes fazer novos amigos. Assumir responsabilidades significa admitir que a tua solidão é em grande parte auto-infligida. **O que podes fazer?** Começa a jogar ténis ou futebol. Existem ligas em todo o lado. Encontra uma boa igreja local e encontra maneiras de te envolver. Existem encontros para todo o tipo de atividade. Participa num que se alinhe com as tuas preferências. Quando estiveres em público, sorri mais e puxa conversa. Depois de conheceres algumas pessoas, estabelece uma cadência regular. Agenda almoços semanais ou mensais e alterna entre algumas pessoas. Ou talvez café de manhã. Não acontecerá da noite para o dia, mas dando pequenos passos consistentemente durante alguns meses e vais perceber que tens uma vida social. ## Os teus erros Se erraste, não te retires e escondas nem arranjes desculpas. Pede desculpa à pessoa que prejudicaste, diz-lhe porquê e oferece-te para compensar. Aceita as consequências com humildade. Vais descobrir que nada te conquista mais respeito do que assumir os teus erros. Esta é a principal. Se aprenderes a fazer isto bem, cobrirá uma infinidade de pecados porque cria hábito. Mesmo que tenhas apenas 1% de culpa na situação, assumir a responsabilidade e pedir desculpa pelo teu 1% está a construir um certo grupo de músculos. "Mas ele devia ter..." Pára com isso. Confiaste demasiado? Presumiste demasiado sem comunicar? Assume a responsabilidade por isso. Estes exemplos podiam continuar para sempre, então vou parar e terminar com este princípio: A tua resposta importa mais do que as tuas circunstâncias. Existem vítimas reais, algumas de tragédias horríveis. Mas mesmo que não te tenhas atirado para areias movediças, ainda podes assumir a responsabilidade por como reages e pelo que escolhes fazer a seguir. Às vezes, é agarrar numa corda de um transeunte e dizer: "Obrigado." Não te afogues nas areias movediças até que alguém te dê uma palmadinha nas costas por quão difícil é para ti, e não continues a apontar para o teu tempo nas areias movediças para desculpares os teus fracassos. Podes não ter escolhido uma batalha específica. Ainda podes assumir a responsabilidade por quão bem lutas a batalha. Num certo sentido, ninguém escolhe a principal batalha que enfrenta. Ninguém escolheu nascer. Ninguém escolheu a sua família. Ninguém escolheu as suas circunstâncias. O mundo nunca será perfeito. Tens de assumir a responsabilidade pela tua parte dele de qualquer maneira. Pode ser difícil. Pode ser doloroso. Não te foi prometida uma vida fácil e sem dor. Depois de começares a assumir responsabilidades, qual é o próximo passo? Altura de assumir mais responsabilidades. Por exemplo, se não tens problemas em fazer amigos e tens essa parte da tua vida resolvida, assume a responsabilidade por outra pessoa. Encontra um dos rapazes solitários na tua igreja que precisa de um amigo e adiciona-o à tua rotação de almoços. A recompensa por assumir responsabilidades é subir de nível e, como consequência, as coisas devem tornar-se mais desafiantes. Mas agora estás mais bem preparado para isso. Repete até morrer e, esperançosamente, a tua causa de morte será por viver e não por te queixares de não viver.

@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/833889

@ 79998141:0f8f1901

Happy new year, Anon. Thanks for tuning in to whatever this long form post will be. I hope to make these more regular, like journal entries as we travel through "real life" and the Nostrverse together. If I'm making time for this reflective writing, then things are going as planned. 2024 was a wildly transformative year for me for many reasons... there's no way I can possibly fit all of them here. They're not all related to Bitcoin and Nostr- I've got a beautiful life outside of all that which has its own independent arc. My wife and I celebrated 7 years of marriage together, stronger than ever (don't believe that "itch" bullshit). We let go of some negative relationships and embraced some positive ones. We cut some bad habits, and we made some good habits. We worked, we traveled, we saw family, and we partied. But damn, these two technologies have become a huge part of my life. God willing, this trend will continue until they've both eclipsed my professional capacity through our startup, Conduit BTC. This was the year I was truly orange pilled. Until late 2023, I had traded (quite profitably) Bitcoin, "crypto", stocks, options, prediction markets and whatever else I could get my hands on that felt undervalued. I did this all in my spare time, grinding out a little financial freedom while I hustled at my fiat ventures to support my little family. I wasn't a true believer- just an opportunist with a knack for spotting where and when a crowd might flock to next. That was right up until I ran face first into Lyn Alden's book "Broken Money". Something about Lyn's engineer/macro-finance inspired prose clicked with me, lock and key. Total one way function. By the end of the book my laser eyes had burned a hole in my bedroom ceiling. I was all in- and acted accordingly both with my capital and my attention. It wasn't long before I discovered Nostr and dove in here too, falling deep into my current orange and purple polyamorous love affair. > "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." Despite the passion, through studying Bitcoin's criticisms (from the likes of Mike Green and Nassim Taleb) I found a hole in the utopian plot: none of this works without Bitcoin actually being used as money. Worldwide transactions must skyrocket demand for blockspace to keep the network secure/stable for the long term. Besides, if everyday folks aren't using Bitcoin as money then we haven't done shit to make the world a better place. In that world, we've only replaced old masters with new ones. Fuck that. Whatever I did in this space needed to increase the usage of Bitcoin as money. Simple. This was bigger than passion, this was purpose. I knew that come hell or high water I would dedicate myself to this mission. Lucky for me I found a partner and best friend in @aceaspades to go on this adventure with. I'm infinitely grateful for him. He's an incredible man who also happens to be an insanely creative and talented software developer. We'd tried for years to find the right project to focus on together, experimenting with all kinds of new techy ideas as they came across our field. Nothing had ever captured our attention like this. This was different. By March of 2024 we had formed a company and gotten to work iterating on how we could leverage these beautiful protocols and open-source tech to create something that served our mission. This is @ConduitBTC. I've done well in my fiat career executing plans downstream of someone else's creative vision. I've learned the ins and outs of an established ecosystem and found ways to profit from it. I take plans developed by others, compete to win contracts to build them, and execute on them in a cashflow-positive way. I'm bringing this no bullshit blue collar skillset with me to the Nostrverse whether they like it or not. The adventure we're embarking on now is totally different though. We're charting a new course - totally creative, highly intuitive and extremely speculative towards a future that doesn't exist yet. There are few established norms. The potential is vast but unknown. We're diving into a strange quest to sell a map to an imaginary place and to simultaneously architect its creation (alongside all the amazing builders here doing the same thing). This is insanely exciting to me. We're barely getting started but a lot has been invested under the surface which will show itself in 2025. We'll be sharing updates in a proper post on @ConduitBTC soon. As for my personal 2025 resolutions, here they are: - zero alcohol for the entire year (did this in 2019 and had a great year, it's time for a rerun) - more focused presence in the moment: especially with my wife - more self care and prioritized mental/physical health - this includes daily: naps, prayer, self hypnosis or meditation, sweat, and stretching/massaging (overworked in 2024 with a fiat 9-5, a board/advisor role in a fiat business I have equity in, and my newfound passion here. Two serious burn out episodes experienced this year - zero is the only acceptable number of burnouts for long term health and success.) - related to the above: get Conduit some mission-aligned funding partners and leave my fiat 9-5. Grow the Conduit team (have put in a serious amount of my personal capital already to get this going, which will show fruit in the new year... but I am not an island) - more authentic and thoughtful posts on Nostr, with a solid amount of shitposting and organic home grown memes to balance it out... more zaps, more geniune connections and interactions with the curious forward thinking people on here - more IRL Nostr/Bitcoin events - more laughter, more jokes Enough for now. Cheers to you and yours Anon, may 2025 bring you the magic you've been dreaming of.

@ 3ddc43df:9186b168

# Should I Buy Bitcoin? The price of a single Bitcoin recently reached $100,000 USD. By now everyone knows what Bitcoin is and how to buy some. Intuitively, the price of Bitcoin increases when there is more demand to buy Bitcoin than there is to sell it, and when the inverse is true the price goes down. We all know about meme-coins, which seem like (at least to me) the same exact thing as Bitcoin in a different name. So what makes Bitcoin different? Beyond buying it because the trend seems to indicate its value in USD will continue increasing, what is its fundamental value proposition? How is this value proposition different from meme-coins, or even alt-coins that are viewed as legitimate in crypto circles? What, if any, existential risks exist that could crash its price to zero in an instant? I want to explore these questions to best inform myself on how to store and invest my money for the long-term. Everyone started hearing a lot about exponential growth curves in 2020. In 1975, Gordon Moore predicted that the density of transistors would double every two years, and this has roughly held true since. As innovation fuels more innovation, we can expect that, very generally, technology progresses on an exponential growth curve. The idea that a computer program could replace the world’s reserve currency is worth taking seriously given the huge impact we’ve already seen new technology have on society over a 20-year, 10-year, 5-year, and even 2-year timescale.  When I was working at Square I direct deposited a small percentage of my salary into CashApp’s Bitcoin direct deposit program. I sold it all when I left the company. A lot has been written about Bitcoin, so I mostly hope that writing this can help me solidify my opinions so that I can make a decision on whether to invest again and stick with that decision for somewhere between a decade and a century. Up to now I also have not been able to find a good comprehensive evaluation of Bitcoin including the “bull” case and “bear” case, so I will attempt do that here. ## The Bitcoin Standard Two years ago I was trying to answer these questions I just posed and most people on the internet said to read the book “The Bitcoin Standard.” So I bought it and it has been sat untouched on my bookshelf ever since. Time to read…  *spongebob narrator voice* a few days later…. This would be a good book if the author did not repeat himself ad nauseam and if he left out his many false claims. He claims the Ethereum blockchain is less immutable than the Bitcoin blockchain, moving off of the gold standard caused a decline in art’s quality, and the internet was not a “zero to one” invention but just an improvement upon the telephone. He spends half the book rambling on and on, often with personal attacks, about how he does not like Keynesian economics. He seems to draw his counterarguments against Keynes from just a single economist, Ludwig von Mises. All of this made the book very annoying to read and proved the author quite untrustworthy. On the other hand, his general argument that hard money (ie gold) is superior to government-backed fiat is one I first read about in [*The Changing World Order* by Ray Dalio](https://economicprinciples.org). Dalio does a much better job here of backing this up and explaining how the decline of all the past major empires began by moving away from backing their currency with hard money. Government-backed money involves misaligned incentives — when the government spends and produces the money, invariably it will produce as much as it wants to spend. Hard money is supply-constrained, making inflation impossible. Inflation of course disincentivizes saving while incentivizing debt which is on a whole bad for society. Dalio shows that a populous prioritizing its future (saving money, investing in education and technology) correlates with its empire/country’s ascension. I don’t really know how to square this with present-day America which has the best capital markets in the world, but clearly does not prioritize the future in any other way. Maybe time-dimensions here have shifted since technology progresses much quicker now than in the past. Anyways, it seems obvious to me now that a global supply-constrained currency would be much better for the world than a currency owned by the US government. Since the government prints its own money and has no functional checks and balances on this power, hyperinflation and the collapse of the dollar is inevitable. So even though this book was really bad I am sold on Bitcoin’s utility, so I guess it did its job. I also did a lot of online research while reading the book. Let’s go through that. ## The Bitcoin Core Codebase  Bitcoin is software run on computers throughout the world. This software is on the internet. You can look at all the code, run it on your computer, and suggest updates to the core maintainers. A mix of volunteer and sponsored contributors around the world help to maintain the codebase. When the codebase it updated, people running Bitcoin nodes have the choice to update to the latest version. When the majority of Bitcoin nodes update to the latest version, the new software propagates throughout the ecosystem. This is literally how a version of money works and it is a software program you can look at and change yourself. There is mailing lists and IRC groups where software developers discuss how to make this version of the world’s money work best. I know this is now a pretty old concept but it has been blowing my mind. A case can be made that this is the world’s most important software program, since it defines somewhere around [2 TRILLION dollars](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/bitcoin) worth of value. ## Nostr  Somehow this rabbit-hole led me to one of the tens of new decentralized social networks. This one is the [latest favorite of Jack Dorsey](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2022/12/15/jack-dorsey-gives-decentralized-social-network-nostr-14-btc-in-funding), who started Twitter and left it partly due to its centralization, then started Bluesky and left it partly due to its centralization. I’ve checked out Bluesky and Mastodon and I didn’t think it was really anything different or special and they just seemed like worse versions of Twitter. Nostr is actually very interesting and the reason mostly has to do with Bitcoin. Nostr integrates with your Bitcoin wallet (technically your “lightning” wallet, which is a fast and cheap way of sending Bitcoin) so that users can send and receive Bitcoin with each other. It’s a simple idea and really easy to build, but the effect is all of these people are talking online together and trading Bitcoin with each other so there’s a mini economy here that is denominated in Bitcoin. There’s obviously not a huge amount of people there compared to other social networks but at the very least it’s a compelling playground type of world that shows off what the internet could look like if Bitcoin gains mass adoption. Since payments are integrated directly within the social network, people share art and ideas and [get tipped in Bitcoin](https://primal.net/e/note1hjrxue7z9jf3964dpyjy2w99vcp34u7n52jchrugf4pmth9qq70s7wsh0r). But Nostr is actually a protocol — social network clients have just been built on top of it, but there’s a few other things that have been built with it. There’s [podcasting/streaming apps](https://fountain.fm), [encrypted messaging apps](https://0xchat.com/#/) , [blogging apps](https://habla.news), [marketplaces](https://plebeian.market), and on and on. Most of these apps leverage Nostr’s Bitcoin wallet integration, and generally they could do the same thing by handling payment via PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc. Here’s the following benefits of using Bitcoin over those options: 1. Censorship-resistance. This doesn’t matter for 99% of people and use-cases but if I want to buy illegal drugs or guns or medicine or hacked passwords then it matters. For the record, I (mostly) don’t. I think it would be great if I could though and I feel like if I want to then I should be able to. 2. Transaction fees. Existing solutions charge somewhere between 2% and 3% of every purchase. Transacting Bitcoin over the lightning network is basically free. 3. Taxes. This is another controversial one and technically the US government requires that you pay sales tax for all Bitcoin purchases. But since Bitcoin wallets are pseudonymous making it unlikely that a purchase can be traced back to you, commerce via Bitcoin does not incur tax from the government. ## Read Write Own Nostr is a good example of a Web3 platform since it is based on peer-to-peer server communication, but it is not typical of the category since it does not operate on a blockchain and does not include a bespoke cryptocurrency. Ethereum is the most famous Web3 platform where commerce is denominated in Ethereum tokens. Solana is the newest competitor and is now the most popular platform. What is going on with these? What are the advantages/disadvantages of Web 3.0 living on the blockchain? Even if Nostr provides a compelling vision of a Bitcoin-native world, is this necessarily intertwined with a decentralized web? With that, our next book is *Read Write Own* by Chris Dixon.  *more time travel* This was a good book. Maybe it could have been a blog post. Yes, it definitely was a blog post expanded into 250 pages. Nevertheless, its core argument was compelling and it did not base this argument on anything obviously untrue like the last book. The author is a partner at *a16z*, a large venture capital fund that invests heavily in web3 tech. The author breaks down internet networks into three categories: protocol networks, corporate networks, and blockchain networks. The first takes form as standards defined by [IETF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Engineering_Task_Force), such as HTML, SMTP, FTP, DNS, etc. Basically the core layer of the Internet exists as collection of protocols that define how bits are ordered. In the early days people interoperated by using thin clients that implemented these protocols. Corporate networks use these protocols as well but on top of them they create their own proprietary layer where connections are created. Think Facebook/Twitter social graphs, Google’s page rank, AirBnB/Uber’s marketplaces. Network connections exist within the proprietary layers each corporation has created. Blockchain networks are essentially corporate networks defined by new protocols. The author spends most of the book arguing that blockchain networks provide the great features of corporate networks with the openness of protocol networks, so blockchains give us the best of both worlds. If I could snap my fingers and kill the Internet and the world had to rebuild it from scratch, I think Blockchain would play a huge part in the redesign. The Internet is a hodgepodge collection of standards that have been somewhat haphazardly created over time. As we unlock greater capabilities via more bandwidth and more powerful compute, more standards and types of networks are added on top of the old ones. Dixon mostly argues that corporate networks are bad because corporations act as unilateral dictators over their respective networks. Benevolent dictatorships are the best organizational structure; of course, the problem is that no dictatorship can stay benevolent indefinitely. People will search for alternatives when a “regime” changes in a way they don’t like, as has already happened to some extent with Google[^1] and Twitter[^2]. Some corporate networks will stay benevolent for a long time, and they will persist long after their leadership becomes corrupted; as they say, Rome did not fall in a day. We’ve seen throughout history that democratic organizations eventually win out. Even China has ceded that they need some form of a free market to compete in the global marketplace. Blockchains provide a free market and democratic ownership within Internet networks. ## What to Do?[^3] I am completely convinced now that blockchains will one day be a foundational part of the internet, of course the big question is how long does that take? My intuition is that it takes a long long time, because it is going to take a lot to move people away from existing corporate-owned platforms. But, similar to Bitcoin succeeding because governments will not indefinitely print their money responsibly, corporations will not indefinitely govern their networks responsibly. So blockchain networks are something that I am looking at as a very long-tailed investment that I am fairly certain will pay off well in something like 50 years at the most, meaning I expect blockchains to be a foundational part of the internet within 50 years. I look at Bitcoin in a similar way but with a much shorter time horizon. The US government has displayed plenty of irresponsible monetary policy in the past few years and I expect this trend to continue. I look at Bitcoin as an investment that will pay off well within the next 20 years, by which I mean within 20 years Bitcoin will be commonly used as a store of value, if not a method of payment. Of the USD I am converting into cryptocurrency, three-quarters is going to Bitcoin, one-sixth to Solana, and one-tenth to Internet Computer. A brief word on the latter two… Every operation on blockchains costs money so that the nodes running the blockchain can be compensated. This is why blockchains all include a native cryptocurrency, which is the token its nodes are paid in. Solana is a new blockchain that has the lowest-cost transaction fee because it uses a unique method of verifying transactions called Proof of History, which combined with Proof of Stake provides strong cryptographic guarantees while using very little compute. Internet Computer is a blockchain that natively provides many building blocks for building a web3 ecosystem — an identity platform, http interoperability and cloud computing primitives. Basically right now you can deploy your website on this blockchain and anyone can access it from a web browser. There are many more blockchains that are interesting and the space is evolving really quickly, these two are just the ones that caught my eye and seem to me like building blocks for the future. ## Gripes I did not end up reading much text on cases against Bitcoin and Web3, as I decided these points are fairly obvious. This is new technology so there is massive reason to believe it will end up having no consequence to the world as 99% of new technology ends up this way. The cases against these technologies are well documented and encapsulates the prevailing sentiment around them. Bitcoin has no inherent value, is not optimally scalable, is pseudonymous rather than anonymous, requires more user responsibility than fiat alternatives, and will potentially be adversarial to the US government. Blockchains are always less efficient than traditional networks, charge per transaction, (mostly) include network lock-in via their bespoke cryptocurrency, and require that users set up and learn how to use [hot wallets](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/wallet/hot-vs-cold-crypto-wallet-what-is-the-difference). There are many reasons to believe neither of these technologies will succeed. I take the point of view that all of these downsides are going to be alleviated through technological progress (the open source community building solutions to all of these problems is huge and iterating extremely quickly) and through cultural shifts (learning to use the internet was once a big hurdle for everyone, but we have learned and taught each other effectively). It’s completely reasonable to be pessimistic, however pessimism around new internet technologies has not typically been a winning strategy. [^1]: I recently added [Kagi](https://kagi.com) to my list of software subscriptions. It is $10 per month and offers high quality search without ads. I recommend it. [^2]: I think the new Twitter is pretty cool, but many people don’t like Elon and have switched to one of the many alternatives. Additionally, some cracks have already started to show in their new model with Elon banning accounts he does not like or disagrees with. As mentioned before, Nostr is a good alternative, even if it is somewhat more difficult to get started with. To get started I recommend the [Primal](https://primal.net) client, for which I pay $7/month but is also great to use without paying anything. [^3]: Is it necessary to say this is not financial advice? I see that everywhere but I always think that it is probably not necessary legally. Anyways, this is not financial advice.

@ 3ddc43df:9186b168

# Niche Languages Tejas recently came to me with a business idea related to helping people learn to speak uncommonly-spoken languages. It seemed intriguing so I am doing this deep dive into niche languages to get some clarity around the topic. Tejas and his fiances’ families speak Gujarati. Tejas wants to learn this language so that he can speak with family members in their native tongue. Gujarati is a widely-spoken language in India, so he figured there would be plenty of learning-resources online. Not so. There’s some buggy apps, some independent online courses. None of it looks trustworthy enough so that I would feel comfortable committing a significant amount of my time towards it. ## Duolingo <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QPjgXWm7F6c?si=exLBrV0Jf-Xv2051" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> Duolingo is the king. The owl is popular-culture canon. They’ve cracked gamification — people I have talked with have year-long streaks and use it even if they don’t have a strong desire to learn a language. Learning a language is really really hard, but Duolingo has figured out how to reliably get people to beginner level at any language while keeping it fun and engaging. Still, Duolingo supports 40 languages. That seems like a lot. But let’s dive into some data to find out if that’s true. ## Let’s Gather Some Data [Enthnologue](https://www.ethnologue.com) currently estimates that there are 7,164 languages currently spoken in the world. Here is a basic breakdown of these by their current status:  > Institutional — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community. These “institutional” languages are what we want to focus on. It is surprisingly hard to find a list of more than 30 languages sorted by the total number of speakers. Ethnologue charges $250 (!) for their list and that seems to be the consensus best source. The best I have found is [this list](https://www.languagecourse.net/languages-worldwide?sort-by=speakers&direction=descending) but this does not seem trustworthy at all. Quickly checking a few of the # of speakers on the table versus the # of speakers on the associated Wikipedia link shows lots of inconsistencies. So I’m gonna scrape Wikipedia and make this list myself, brb… OK done. I made a [repository](https://github.com/edverma/languages-catalog) with the script and the resulting sqlite database and pasted a smaller (top 100 out of 810 total) table at the bottom of this article. It is sorted by the number of people who speak the language natively. I chose this because it would have been much more complicated to get the total speakers, and because native speakers is more important for our goals here. ## Why Learn a Language? So, Duolingo supports 40 languages. Two of these are fictional languages (High Valyrian and Klingon) and one, Esperanto, is “an artificial language designed to be an international second language”. Here are the top 11 languages in our top 100 list that Duolingo does not support: 1. Bengali (237 Million) 2. Punjabi (150 Million) 3. Nigerian (116 Million) 4. Marathi (83 Million) 5. Telugu (83 Million) 6. Wu (83 Million) 7. Malay (82 Million) 8. Tamil (79 Million) 9. Persian (72 Million) 10. Javanese (68 Million) 11. Gujarati (57 Million) Why are these languages not supported by Duolingo? Each of these languages have more native speakers than Polish, which IS supported. What process is Duolingo using to decide which languages are worth investing in to add to their app? Why do these languages not match that criteria? Or, more precisely: 1. What are the motivations of people who use Duolingo? 2. Why would anyone want to learn the languages on our top-11 list? Here are the reasons people use Duolingo shown pretty plainly in Duolingo’s onboarding flow: ](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6230cce907f5a55f9a4b0e6f/6230cce907f5a5a96a4b175d_5d38995a1d6fde5a09f270a1_Duo-3.png) Only one of the languages on our top-11 list (Nigerian) is the primary language spoken throughout any one country. Wu is a minority languages in China, Javanese is a minority language in Indonesia, and the remaining 7 are minority languages in India. ## Minority Languages Even though these are minority languages in their respective countries, those who natively speak it use it as their primary language among their family, friends, and broader community. If my family or friends natively speak Gujarati, I will be able to communicate with them in a way that allows them to fully express themselves with all of the nuances and complexity of the language they are most familiar with. The same applies if I am traveling to a region in India that speaks Gujarati. It makes sense to me that Duolingo would not offer minority languages on its platform. Its users want to gain beginner-proficiency to aid themselves in international business, recreational travel, or a school course. Learning a country’s majority language is almost always the better use of time for these goals. It does not make sense to me why there is not a huge offering of language-learning tools to learn Gujarati. 57 million people natively speak this. While this is one-tenth of those who natively speak Hindi (500 million), it is still a huge number. A sizeable amount of people travel to regions that speak Gujarati or have family that speaks Gujarati. Would those people not benefit from gaining even a beginner-level understanding of the language? I think they would. ---- ## Top 100 Languages by Number of Native Speakers | Rank | Name | Native Speakers | | ---- | ------------------------- | --------------- | | 1 | Chinese | 1,350,000,000 | | 2 | Mandarin | 940,000,000 | | 3 | Spanish | 600,000,000 | | 4 | Hindustani | 500,000,000 | | 5 | Arabic | 380,000,000 | | 6 | English | 380,000,000 | | 7 | Russian | 255,000,000 | | 8 | Bengali | 237,000,000 | | 9 | Portuguese | 236,000,000 | | 10 | Punjabi | 150,000,000 | | 11 | Japanese | 123,000,000 | | 12 | Mexican Spanish | 120,000,000 | | 13 | Nigerian PidginBroken | 116,000,000 | | 14 | German | 95,000,000 | | 15 | Vietnamese | 85,000,000 | | 16 | Turkish | 84,000,000 | | 17 | Marathi | 83,000,000 | | 18 | Telugu | 83,000,000 | | 19 | Wu | 83,000,000 | | 20 | Malay | 82,000,000 | | 21 | Korean | 81,000,000 | | 22 | Tamil | 79,000,000 | | 23 | Egyptian Arabic | 78,000,000 | | 24 | French | 74,000,000 | | 25 | Indonesian | 72,000,000 | | 26 | Persian | 72,000,000 | | 27 | Italian | 68,000,000 | | 28 | Javanese | 68,000,000 | | 29 | Gujarati | 57,000,000 | | 30 | Hausa | 54,000,000 | | 31 | Bhojpuri | 52,200,000 | | 32 | Levantine Arabic | 51,000,000 | | 33 | Uzbek | 51,000,000 | | 34 | Oromo | 45,500,000 | | 35 | Yoruba | 45,000,000 | | 36 | Hakka | 44,000,000 | | 37 | Kannada | 44,000,000 | | 38 | Pashto | 44,000,000 | | 39 | Polish | 40,000,000 | | 40 | Odia | 38,000,000 | | 41 | Xiang | 38,000,000 | | 42 | Malayalam | 37,000,000 | | 43 | Sudanese Arabic | 37,000,000 | | 44 | Algerian Arabic | 36,000,000 | | 45 | Amharic | 35,000,000 | | 46 | Burmese | 33,000,000 | | 47 | Ukrainian | 33,000,000 | | 48 | Sindhi | 32,000,000 | | 49 | Sundanese | 32,000,000 | | 50 | Igbo | 31,000,000 | | 51 | Moroccan Arabic | 29,000,000 | | 52 | Tagalog | 29,000,000 | | 53 | Kurdish | 26,000,000 | | 54 | Dutch | 25,000,000 | | 55 | Malagasy | 25,000,000 | | 56 | Romanian | 25,000,000 | | 57 | Saʽīdi Arabic | 25,000,000 | | 58 | Azerbaijani | 24,000,000 | | 59 | Somali | 24,000,000 | | 60 | Gan | 23,000,000 | | 61 | Isan | 22,000,000 | | 62 | Lingala | 21,000,000 | | 63 | Thai | 21,000,000 | | 64 | Cebuano | 20,000,000 | | 65 | Najdi Arabic | 19,000,000 | | 66 | Nepali | 19,000,000 | | 67 | Serbo-Croatian | 18,000,000 | | 68 | Gilit Mesopotamian Arabic | 17,000,000 | | 69 | Khmer | 17,000,000 | | 70 | Maithili | 16,800,000 | | 71 | Kazakh | 16,700,000 | | 72 | Chhattisgarhi | 16,200,000 | | 73 | Chittagonian | 16,000,000 | | 74 | Sinhala | 16,000,000 | | 75 | Zhuang | 16,000,000 | | 76 | Zulu | 16,000,000 | | 77 | Assamese | 15,000,000 | | 78 | Bavarian | 15,000,000 | | 79 | Hungarian | 14,000,000 | | 80 | Madurese | 13,600,000 | | 81 | Greek | 13,500,000 | | 82 | Haitian Creole | 13,000,000 | | 83 | Sanʽani Arabic | 13,000,000 | | 84 | Uyghur | 13,000,000 | | 85 | Kikuyu | 12,000,000 | | 86 | Serbian | 12,000,000 | | 87 | Taʽizzi-Adeni Arabic | 12,000,000 | | 88 | Tunisian Arabic | 12,000,000 | | 89 | Gulf ArabicKhaleeji | 11,000,000 | | 90 | Hejazi Arabic | 11,000,000 | | 91 | Tausūg | 11,000,000 | | 92 | Xhosa | 11,000,000 | | 93 | Czech | 10,600,000 | | 94 | Rangpuri | 10,000,000 | | 95 | North Mesopotamian Arabic | 10,000,000 | | 96 | Swedish | 10,000,000 | | 97 | Tajik | 10,000,000 | | 98 | Tigrinya | 9,700,000 | | 99 | Kanuri | 9,600,000 | | 100 | Hiligaynon | 9,100,000 |

@ 3ddc43df:9186b168

# Knowledge Creation Somewhat recently I have done [a small amount](https://evanverma.com/tag/tech) of “adding knowledge into the world.” After a few months of building the business it became apparent that many of the problems I was facing had very few corresponding resources. These are niche problems solved by niche people. It turns out that building a hardware business is a quite niche activity. Every knowledge domain can be broken down into smaller subdomains. Let’s say I am into US politics. There are 3 categories of political parties: Republican, Democrat, and Other. An extremely small percentage of total information about US politics covers the “Other” party. It looks like [Joel Skousen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Skousen) is the official 3rd party candidate who received among the least amount of votes ([12,618](https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_candidates,_2024)) for President in the most recent election. Here’s a list of his published books from the “About” page from [his website](https://joelskousen.com): > 1. Essential Principles for the Conservation of Liberty, 1984 > 2. The Secure Home--Architectural Design, Construction and Remodeling of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats, new edition now available. > 3. How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home (1996), > 4. Strategic Relocation--North American Guide to Safe Places (1998) > 5. (In the works) Foundations of the Ideal State--a comprehensive treatise on government structure and practice, constitutional theory, and legal changes necessary to preserve liberty and justice. There is almost no information on the internet about this man’s recent Presidential bid. What could be learned about independent publishing, the process of getting on election ballots, the intricacies of the various outsider parties, and the confluence of home safety and political theory, from diving into the details of this man’s (very) small role in the huge world of US politics? Mix that deep dive with your own unique perspective, and certainly SOMETHING novel and interesting would result. Millan and Mano used this exact formula to huge success in their [independent music blog](https://nobells.blog). They wrote about unknown, independent musicians in (mostly) small markets (Milwaukee, New Orleans, etc), and discuss them with an academic, poetic, and explorative writing style that is unique among music journalists. They were regular guys and created new knowledge and ideas. I think doing this is important. Or it just makes me feel important. Even if no one reads it at least I created new knowledge and it may help someone one day. Or more likely, the AI of the future. As [Gwern](https://gwern.net) recently said… > By writing, you are voting on the future of the [Shoggoth](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/30/technology/shoggoth-meme-ai.html) using one of the few currencies it acknowledges: tokens it has to predict. If you aren't writing, you are abdicating the future or your role in it. If you think it's enough to just be a good citizen, to vote for your favorite politician, to pick up litter and recycle, the future doesn't care about you. [^1] So I am going to try do more of this independent small-time knowledge creation. My business had been hampering the newsletter anyways, since it had been consuming my life and most of the work could not be shared on a public website. I’m gonna try to write more regularly with deep dives on novel and interesting things instead of the standard newsletter. [^1]: https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/gwern-branwen

@ 3ddc43df:9186b168

I live in the USA. I work as a software developer. I read and write a lot.

@ ea9e8563:5a82ed79

## **Januar** - Bitcoin Spende an Satoshi [*https://mempool.space/tx/d7db4f96a4059c8906b953677ce533493d7b9da0f854a21b99f5772910dd0a31*](https://mempool.space/tx/d7db4f96a4059c8906b953677ce533493d7b9da0f854a21b99f5772910dd0a31) - Bitcoin im Bundestrag [*https://bitcoin-im-bundestag.de/event/auftaktveranstaltung-bitcoin-im-bundestag/*](https://bitcoin-im-bundestag.de/event/auftaktveranstaltung-bitcoin-im-bundestag/) - Bitcoin ETF Aproval - USA verkauft Beschlagnamte Bitcoin von Darknet Dealer Xanaxman [*https://news.bitcoin.com/us-government-to-sell-116-million-in-bitcoin-seized-from-darknet-dealer-xanaxman/*](https://news.bitcoin.com/us-government-to-sell-116-million-in-bitcoin-seized-from-darknet-dealer-xanaxman/) - LKA Beschlagnahmt Bitcoin [*https://live.vodafone.de/regional/sachsen/bka-bitcoins-im-wert-von-zwei-milliarden-euro-gesichert/12478628*](https://live.vodafone.de/regional/sachsen/bka-bitcoins-im-wert-von-zwei-milliarden-euro-gesichert/12478628) - Gericht bestätigt, dass die Trucker Massnahmen (Geld einfrieren) unrechtmässig gewesen ist [*https://de.cointelegraph.com/news/canada-use-of-law-freezing-protesters-crypto-donations-unconstitutional*](https://de.cointelegraph.com/news/canada-use-of-law-freezing-protesters-crypto-donations-unconstitutional) > *Song 1: Netdiver* *> *Hodl, Hodl, Hodlin' - Pleb Town Rock* ## **Februar** - Einundzwanzig Magazin: Interview mit Julian Assange's Brunder <https://bitpartikel.com/cryptonite/blog/2024/02/20/freejulianassangenow-2/> - Fair Talk akzeptiert auch Bitcoin Lightning Spenden [*https://www.fairtalk.tv/*](https://www.fairtalk.tv/) - Marathon Slipstream wird Announced (direct Submitting BTC txs) [*https://slipstream.mara.com/*](https://slipstream.mara.com/) - Cypherpunks: Hörbuch nun auf audible [*https://www.audible.de/magazin/cypherpunks-wir-sind-opfer-der-geheimdienste*](https://www.audible.de/magazin/cypherpunks-wir-sind-opfer-der-geheimdienste) > Song 2: Eric > > Bitcoin to the Sky - Lunapilot ## **März** - Bitcoin Atlantis [*https://bitcoinatlantis.com/*](https://bitcoinatlantis.com/) [*https://www.youtube.com/@freemadeira*](https://www.youtube.com/@freemadeira) - Opensats Nostr Fund [*https://opensats.org/projects/nostr*](https://opensats.org/projects/nostr) - Sovereign Engineering (mit Gigi) [**https://sovereignengineering.io/**](https://sovereignengineering.io/) - El Salvador hebt KYC Limite von 200$ auf 25k$ [***https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/el-salvador-updates-old-law-to-lift-kyc-limits-from-200-to-25000/***](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/el-salvador-updates-old-law-to-lift-kyc-limits-from-200-to-25000/) - BitBox Lightning Preview [*https://twitter.com/BitBoxSwiss/status/1767491986578080091*](https://twitter.com/BitBoxSwiss/status/1767491986578080091) - Twenty Two Portal (Mobile Signing Device) <https://x.com/TwentyTwoHW/status/1763625247465762826?s=20> [*https://twenty-two.xyz/*](https://twenty-two.xyz/) > *Song 3: Sandro* *> *PlanB Network - The Orange Pill Jam* ## **\ April** - 21 Magazin „Bitcoin ist Cypherpunk“ <https://twitter.com/BITpARTIKEL/status/1775742551749808255> - Gold so viel wert wie noch nie - Experten rätseln über Gründe [https://tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/finanzen/gold-preis-rekordhoch-zinsen-100.html…](https://t.co/4Kjbjigl1q) - Renato Moicano Octagon Interview | UFC 300 [Link](https://youtu.be/ptn0KyMX8CQ) - talks about Ludwig von Mises - Samourai Gründer verhaftet https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founders-and-ceo-cryptocurrency-mixing-service-arrested-and-charged-money-laundering - Wasabi stellt Coinjoin Service ein https://blog.wasabiwallet.io/zksnacks-is-discontinuing-its-coinjoin-coordination-service-1st-of-june/ - LNbits Funds gestohlen https://twitter.com/lnbits/status/1784521836950110264 - Roger Ver wird Steuerbetrug vorgeworfen <https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/early-bitcoin-investor-charged-tax-fraud> - Swiss Bitcoin Conference in Kreuzlingen https://swiss-bitcoin-conference.com/ > Song 4: Nicolas > > The Johner Boys - Psycho ## **Mai** - Tornado Cash - Akexey Pertsev für 64 Monate verurteilt https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/tornado-cash-developer-alexey-pertsev-sentenced-to-64-months-in-prison-in-the-netherlands/ - AFD sympatisiert mit Bitcoin <https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/afd-mit-anfrage-an-die-bundesregierung-zu-bitcoin> - Seasteading https://fountain.fm/episode/gloM4Dygv97mnKkLXMZc - Microstrategy Bitcoin Strategie, seit ca 4 Jahren aktiv - Aktienkurs mehr als 1’500% gestiegen. Berglinde Briefing vom 30.05.24 - Bum Bum Check Breedlove > Song 5: Netdiver > > The next Bitcoin Bull Run - Annonymal ## **Juni** - Deutschland verkauft Bitcoin https://www.btc-echo.de/schlagzeilen/verkauft-das-bka-50-000-bitcoin-186860/ - Mt Gox verkauft BTC <https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/mtgox-startet-bitcoin-rueckzahlungen> - BTC Prague <https://btcprague.com/#> - Paralelni Polis <https://paralelnipolis.cz/en/o-nas/en/> - Julian Assange Free - Lykke Konkurs (hack 22mio Dollar) > Song 6: Eric > > Halving - Orange Pill Jam  Project ## **Juli** - Julians Assange erster Geburtstag in Freiheit nach Jahren <https://primal.net/e/note1eppuucmjkrux55k9gmtta9kxfua56tfrfy8sankwmlf34aach6zqggurwa> - Phoenix unterstützt jetzt Bolt 12 https://x.com/PhoenixWallet/status/1808547081214439494 - Trump spricht auf der BTC24 in Nashville https://x.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1811181306438660375 - Anhörung von Lonergan „TDevD“ Dev von Samourai https://x.com/frankcorva/status/1811093896144785625 - Faketoshi ist nicht Satoshi (für 3Monate auf seiner Website <https://primal.net/e/note1rfmplr0dry52hd3y65dvred9638saglf8sjw2fp4fd4e0w2z4ncsej77cz> - Sachsen Notveräusserung von 50k Bitcoin https://www.medienservice.sachsen.de/medien/news/1077662 - Larry fink und Michael Dell im Bitcoin Fieber? https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-und-michael-dell-im-bitcoin-fieber - Strike BTC Pay Server Integration https://strike.me/blog/btcpay-server-integrates-strike-api-to-power-bitcoin-payments/ - Proton Wallet https://proton.me/blog/proton-wallet-launch - Erster Bitaxe Block https://mempool.space/de/block/00000000000000000000f0235e50becc0b3bc91231e236f67736d64b1813704b > Song 7: Sandro > > PlebRap - Bitcoin braucht dich nicht! - SatStacker, Mo ## **August** - Mutiny Wallet shutting down https://blog.mutinywallet.com/mutiny-wallet-is-shutting-down/ - Dark Skippy Attack <https://darkskippy.com/> *Der Bitcoin Dark Skippy-Angriff ist eine ausgeklügelte Methode, die auf Hardware-Wallets abzielt. Er nutzt kompromittierte Firmware aus, um heimlich Teile der Seed-Phrase eines Benutzers in Transaktionssignaturen einzubetten. Mit nur wenigen signierten Transaktionen können Angreifer die vollständige Seed-Phrase extrahieren und möglicherweise die volle Kontrolle über die gespeicherten Bitcoins erlangen. Dieser Angriff ist besonders gefährlich, da er im Hintergrund unbemerkt ablaufen kann, was ihn schwer zu erkennen macht.* - Bitbox anti Klepto <https://bitbox.swiss/blog/anti-klepto-wie-die-bitbox02-versteckte-seed-extraktion-verhindert/> *Der Artikel erklärt das Anti-Klepto-Protokoll, das von der BitBox02 Hardware-Wallet implementiert wurde. Dieses Protokoll schützt vor dem "Nonce Covert Channel"-Angriff, bei dem ein bösartiger Hersteller heimlich den privaten Schlüssel (Seed) des Benutzers extrahieren könnte. Das Anti-Klepto-Protokoll funktioniert, indem es die Fähigkeit der Hardware-Wallet einschränkt, die Nonce frei zu wählen, indem es zusätzliche Zufälligkeit von der Host-Software (z.B. BitBoxApp) einbezieht. Dies verhindert die Manipulation der Nonce zur Übertragung versteckter Daten und erhöht somit die Sicherheit der Benutzer-Seeds.* - Sunny vs Holger Wette [Link](https://youtube.com/shorts/GfaF9W79W24) - Todestag von Hal Finney https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/der-tag-an-dem-hal-finney-starb - Telegram Gründer in Frankreich festgenommen https://www.zeit.de/digital/2024-08/pawel-durow-festnahme-frankreich-telegram?utm_content=zeitde_redpost+\_link_sf&utm_campaign=ref&utm_medium=sm&utm_referrer=twitter&wt_zmc=sm.int.zonaudev.twitter.ref.zeitde.redpost.link.sf&utm_source=twitter_zonaudev_int - Überbezahlte Konsolidierungs tx by 195x https://x.com/mononautical/status/1826698452149174433 > Song 8: Nicolas > > Middle Season - Let Go (What's holding you back) ## **September** - CLN v24.08 Bolt 12 und blinded Paths https://x.com/core_ln/status/1830647170896105623 - Strike unterstützt Bolt 12 https://x.com/strike/status/1831099910458163536 - Bitcoin Hashrate auf ATH https://charts.bitbo.io/hashrate/ - Marshall-Plan 2.0 - Wer zahlt Europas 800-Mrd.-Euro-Rechnung? (Sound Money BTC pod Loddi) https://www.sound-money.de/podcast/episode/283fe281/237-marshall-plan-20-wer-zahlt-europas-800-mrd-euro-rechnung - Nostr Wegweiser by Quille https://quillie.github.io/nostr-wegweiser/ - Argentiniens Libertäre Zeitenwende (Einundzwanzig Podcast Folge) <https://fountain.fm/episode/xTMivhQBGJpdPLpKZ5l9> - Orange Vision for BAS - Signal blocked in Russia <https://cyberinsider.com/signal-messenger-blocked-in-russia-amid-crackdown-on-communication-platforms/> - Blackrock’s Coinbase tx’s recorded off-chain <https://x.com/TylerDurden/status/1790941726544478602> - DATUM by Ocean (Mining Software, readjusting incentives for miner - build their own templates) <https://x.com/ocean_mining/status/1840408161271890264> - Article by Scott Locklin about QC - shared by Jimmy Song *(Der Artikel argumentiert, dass Quantencomputing weitgehend ein betrügerisches Feld ist. Der Autor behauptet, dass trotz jahrzehntelanger Forschung und erheblicher Finanzierung kein praktischer Quantencomputer gebaut wurde. Er kritisiert den Mangel an Fortschritten bei der Erstellung auch nur eines fehlerkorrigierten Qubits und argumentiert, dass das Feld mehr auf Hype als auf tatsächlichem wissenschaftlichen Fortschritt basiert. Der Autor vergleicht Quantencomputing mit Nanotechnologie und suggeriert, dass beide Bereiche unrealistische Behauptungen über die Manipulation von Materie auf Weisen aufstellen, die wir nicht vollständig verstehen. Er äußert auch Bedenken über die Anzahl der Karrieren und Ressourcen, die einer Technologie gewidmet sind, die seiner Meinung nach in keiner praktischen Form existiert.)* <https://scottlocklin.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/quantum-computing-as-a-field-is-obvious-bullshit/> > Song 9: Netdiver > > Real Men Invest in Bitcoin, and Not in Soya - Fezzy ## **Oktober** - BAS GV - 2 Orange Vision Kandidaten wurden gewählt - Phil - Lisa - Niklas - Adriano https://www.bitcoinassociation.ch/board-1 - Bitcoin verkaufen mit Pocket, auch in der Bitbox App  https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/bitbox-pocket-mit-neuem-feature - Shielded Client side validation Abgeschirmte clientseitige Validierung (Shielded CSV) ist ein neues Protokoll, das Token-Transfers auf Bitcoin verbessert. Es ermöglicht die private Übertragung von Token, ohne Informationen über die Token oder deren Transferhistorie preiszugeben. Abgeschirmte CSV verwendet Zero-Knowledge-Beweise, um Überweisungen mit einem festen Ressourcenaufwand zu verifizieren, was die Privatsphäre und Effizienz verbessert. Zudem können mehrere Token-Transfers in einer einzigen Bitcoin-Transaktion kombiniert werden, was potenziell Tausende von Token-Transfers in einem Block ermöglicht. https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2024/09/27/ - Tesla verkauft alle Bitcoin https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/tesla-leert-die-bitcoin-wallet-was-steckt-dahinter - FBI Token überführt Pump and Dump Projekte <https://www.blocktrainer.de/blog/anklagen-wegen-pump-and-dump-im-krypto-sektor> - Lugano Plan B Forum <https://planb.lugano.ch/planb-forum/> - Klima Grosseltern > Song 10: Eric > > Rely on relay - Orange Pill Jam Project ## **November** - Telekom testet Bitcoin Mining infrastrukturen https://www.telekom.com/de/medien/medieninformationen/detail/test-bitcoin-mining-infrastruktur-fuer-ueberschuessige-energie-1082680 - Bitcoin Block Stans https://x.com/NW_BTCkonferenz - Shopinbit Schweiz Launch [shopinbit.ch](http://shopinbit.ch) Code DEZENTRALSCHWEIZ 5CHF geschenkt auf ersten Einkauf  - Boost Initial Node sync mit UTXO Snapshots <https://blog.lopp.net/bitcoin-node-sync-with-utxo-snapshots/> - Bitcoin Alps <https://www.bitcoin-alps.ch/konferenz/> - Liana Wallet Anleitung/Review von Patrick https://dezentralschweiz.ch/liana-die-besondere-multisig-wallet/ > Song 11: Sandro > > Bitcoin Anthem - Miss Bitcoin ## **Dezember** - Bitcoin Baden <https://bitcoinbaden.ch/> - BAS GV im Dezember - Wahl eines weiteren Board-mitglied - Rahim Taghizadegan - Abarbeitung div. Traktanden - Abstimmung über 100k Initiative https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5895d62d2994ca86b0cd9807/t/67503467c6aa4452cae00fcf/1733309544008/Bitcoin_Association_General_Assembly_07_12_2024.pdf - BAS im Bundeshaus https://www.finews.ch/news/finanzplatz/65619-bitcoin-association-switzerland-bas-sbf-bundeshaus-bitcoin-stablecoin-swiss-blockchain-federation-rahim-taghizadegan?utm_source=newsletter_5075&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=finewsletter-vom-11-12-2024 - 100K Party BAS > Song 12: Nicolas > > Headache Song - FM Rodeo

@ ea9e8563:5a82ed79

Originally Published 21.05.21 ## **Bitcoin** Die erste, grösste und bekannteste Kryptowährung heisst Bitcoin. Das Netzwerk wurde 2009 von Satoshi Nakamoto veröffentlicht unter dem Vorwand das, dass Geldsystem völlig kaputt und veraltet ist und etwas Neues her muss. Nach dem Finanzcrash 2007 baute er fleissig an diesem „magischen Internet-Geld“ und löste ein wichtiges Problem: das Double Spending Problem. Das Problem war bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt, dass digitale Informationen, Daten und Zahlen einfach beliebig oft vermehrt oder geändert werden konnten, ohne sie von einer zentralen Organisation zu überwachen lassen. Und das war Satoshi ganz wichtig, weil eine zentrale Organisation früher oder später diese Macht für sich ausnutzen wird. Vor allem in der Geldgeschichte wurde praktisch jede zentral geregelte, auf einer beinahe unendlich leicht herstellbaren Währung oft missbraucht. Bitcoin läuft mittlerweile seit über 12 Jahren und das ohne Fehler. Wie Bitcoin funktioniert, werde ich aber in diesem Artikel nicht weiter behandeln. Aber schauen wir uns doch kurz an, wofür Bitcoin erschaffen wurde und welche Probleme noch bestehen. ## **Das Ziel von Bitcoin** Bitcoin ist das solideste Geld, was wir jemals hatten. Wir können mit absoluter Sicherheit sagen, dass es nie mehr als 21 Millionen Bitcoin geben wird. Dadurch ist Bitcoin deflationär. Durch die Blockchain werden die ganzen Transaktionen, die jemals gemacht wurden, abgespeichert. Das Problem ist jetzt aber, dass Bitcoin im Schnitt nur 7 Transaktionen pro Sekunde verarbeiten kann, weil die maximale Blockgrösse und somit die Anzahl der Transaktionen begrenzt ist. Wenn wir das jetzt mit den altbekannten Anbietern wie VISA und Mastercard vergleichen, können diese mehrere zehntausend Transaktionen pro Sekunde verarbeiten. Dies führt dazu, dass die Transaktionsgebühren relativ teuer werden, weil diese durch Angebot und Nachfrage bestimmt werden. Man kann sich Bitcoin also als Settlement Layer vorstellen, wie zum Beispiel FED Wire von der US-Zentralbank. > *The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.* \*&gt; *- Satoshi Nakamoto* ## **Ziele von Lightning** Lightning versucht die oben benannten Probleme zu lösen und sogar noch einige mehr. Auch werden neue Möglichkeiten geschaffen welche wir später noch genauer anschauen werden. Lightning ist ein Protokoll welches auf Bitcoin aufbaut, und ist völlig Open Source. Das heisst, theoretisch könnte man das LN (Lightning Netzwerk) auch auf anderen Kryptowährungen anwenden und benutzen. Zur Zeit geschieht dies aber noch nicht, weil die meisten anderen Kryptowährungen eher versuchen, diese Probleme auf dem Mainlayer zu lösen. Ob dies sinnvoll ist oder nicht lasse ich einfach mal so stehen. Als Ziele haben sich die Entwickler von Lightning und die Community verschiedenste Dinge gesetzt: - P2P Netzwerk mit Zahlungskanälen zwischen den einzelnen Nutzern - Routing über fremde Kanäle - Skalierbarkeit von Bitcoin ausgleichen - Geringe oder gar keine Netzwerkgebühren - Hohe Privatsphäre ## **Wie Lightning entstanden ist** Man merkte schon relativ früh, dass man bei Bitcoin einige Probleme hat, wenn man damit einen Kaffee zahlen will. Die Transaktionsgebühren können da schnell mal höher als der Kaffee selbst sein. Dies ist natürlich nicht zielführend und ökonomisch kompletter Blödsinn. Deshalb machte man sich schon früh Gedanken, wie man dies verbessern könnte. Es gibt drei Methoden, um dieses Problem zu lösen: - Maximale Blockgrösse erhöhen (mehr Transaktionen) - Zeit zwischen den Blöcken verkleinern - Einführung eines Second Layer Das Problem bei den ersten zwei Punkten ist, dass mit diesen Funktionen es sich viel schwieriger gestaltet ein eigene Node (Knotenpunkt) zu betreiben. Dieser Knotenpunkt müsste viel mehr Speicher haben als heute (ca. 300 GB) und würde somit mehr kosten. Auch müsste der Prozessor viel besser werden und somit mehr Energie verbrauchen, weil mehr Transaktionen validiert werden müssen. Weil es den Bitcoinern sehr wichtig ist, dass sie nicht auf andere vertrauen müssen, sondern alles selber verifizieren können. > *Don’t trust, verify!* \*&gt; *- bekanntes Bitcoin saying* Somit bleibt nur die Lösung eines Second Layers übrig. Auch wenn der Grossteil der Bitcoin Community für den Second Layer war, gab es ein kleines Lager, welches trotzdem für die Erhöhung der Blockgrösse war. So entstand Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Sie Forkten somit die Bitcoin Blockchain und es entstand ein neuer Abzweiger. Die Blockgrösse wurde von 1 MB auf 32 MB angehoben. Damit man den Second Layer mit Bitcoin verknüpfen konnte, musste noch das SegWit (Segregated-Withness) Update implementiert werden. Auch hier waren über 90 % der Bitcoin Community für ein Update, was ein Softfork bildete. Softforks sind nichts Schlechtes und sind eigentlich nur Software-Updates, welche Rückwärts kompatibel sind. Lightning wurde somit 2015 vorgestellt und 2018 veröffentlicht, auch wenn Lightning immer noch in den Kinderschuhen steckt, hat es ein Riesenpotenzial, vor allem wenn man sich anschaut wie schnell und gross das Netzwerk mittlerweile geworden ist. ## **Funktionsweise** Eines der wichtigsten Funktionen bei Lightning ist es, dass man Zahlungskanäle einrichtet, welche zwischen dir und dem Empfänger geöffnet werden. Das ausgeklügelte daran aber ist, dass man nicht zu jedem, dem man eine Transaktion schickt, auch einen Kanal offen haben muss. Aber schauen wir uns zuerst mal das Prinzip von einem einfachen Zahlungskanal an.  In diesem Beispiel haben Alice und Bob sich gegenseitig einen Zahlungskanal geöffnet, damit dies auch wirklich passiert, muss man Liquidität hinzufügen. Das Tolle daran ist, dass nicht unbedingt beide müssen oder nicht gleichviel hinzufügen müssen. Dies macht vor allem Sinn, wenn Alice ein Kaffee betreibt und Bob sich da jeden Morgen einen Kaffee holt. Somit muss Alice nie Geld zu Bob senden, aber Bob muss immer Geld zu Alice. In unserem Beispiel sind Alice und Bob Freunde und schicken sich gegenseitig immer wieder Geld. Bei der Eröffnung, also der Liquiditätseingabe, wird eine Transaktion auf der Bitcoin Blockchain zu einem Multi Signature Wallet gemacht. Dieses Wallet hat zwei Private Keys und kann nur geplündert werden, wenn beide dazu zustimmen. Das Geld wird also eingefroren. Durch eine Schnittstelle erkennt das Lightning Netzwerk das und ordnet die eingezahlten Gelder den beiden zu.  Mann kann sich vorstellen, dass innerhalb eines Zahlungskanals immer Geld hin und hergeschickt werden kann ohne Gebühren. Dies wird digital in einem Buchhaltungsähnlichen System gespeichert. Und am Ende kommt eine neue Balance heraus, welche mit der Schliessung des Channels wieder in den Mainlayer (also Bitcoin) implementiert wird. Dadurch können unendlich viele Transaktionen in maximal 4 Transaktionen auf der Bitcoin Blockchain dargestellt werden. Das absolut verrückte ist aber, dass 500 Transaktionen pro Sekunde durchgeführt werden können, in jedem Channel! ## **Routing von Transaktionen** Um nicht bei jeder kleinsten Transaktion einen neuen Channel erstellen zu, müssen gibt es noch eine weitere Möglichkeit Geld zu versenden. Dabei werden fremde Channels verwendet und eine Route wird von dir zu deinem Empfänger gesucht. Sobald diese Route gefunden ist, wird das Geld von Person zu Person vollautomatisch versendet. Als Gebühr für die Mitbenutzung der Fremden Channel bezahlt man eine kleine Gebühr, welche aber sehr klein ist und meist nur wenige Cent beträgt. ### **Vorteile von Lightning** Das Lightning Netzwerk nutzt auch Bitcoin als Währung und ist somit ebenfalls extrem sicher und man kann garantieren das es nie mehr als 21 Millionen geben wird auf dem Lightning und Bitcoin-Netzwerk. Weil viele neue Möglichkeiten durch dieses schnelle Netzwerk geschaffen werden, wurde der Satoshi (1:100’000’000 Bitcoin) nochmal in eine kleinere Unterwährung aufgeteilt. Dabei wird 1 Satoshi in 1000 mSatoshis (mili) aufgeteilt. Ein weiterer Vorteil ist die Fehlende öffentliche Transaktionshistorie, damit ist die Privatsphäre extrem hoch und die Nachverfolgbarkeit extrem schwierig, vor allem wenn die Bezahlungen über mehrere Routing Hops (Sprünge) laufen. Man kann also sagen, dass Lightning Privacy per Default hat. Lightning ist dezentral und für jeden Menschen nutzbar, welcher es nutzen will. ### **Anwendungsbereiche** Mittlerweile gibt es schon extrem viele Bereiche wo Lightning angewendet wird um die Vorteile von der Blockchain und von Lightning allgemein zu nutzen, einige davon Werde ich euch nun vorstellen: ### **Fountain: Podcast Plattform** Fountain funktioniert im Prinzip wie jede andere grössere Podcastplattform wie zum Beispiel Spotify oder Apple Podcasts und viele mehr. Nicht nur für den Content Creator gibt es viele coole Features, sondern auch für den Nutzer. Zum Beispiel kann der Nutzer einstellen, wie viel Geld er zahlen will, um den Creator zu unterstützen, während er sich den Podcast anhört wird für die Zeit, die er hört ein Betrag abgebucht. Meiner Meinung ist dies ein extrem guter Weg, um vor allem kleine Podcasts zu monetisieren und guten Content zu fördern. Auch für den Nutzer ist diese Lösung ideal, weil man nur bezahlt, wenn man die Dienstleistung überhaupt benutzt. Des Weiteren gibt es viele "Neue" Features, die so bisher nur auf solchen "neuen" Podcast Plattformen zu finden sind. Zum Beispiel gibt es Kapitelmarken, referenzierte Musik-Tracks und Livestreams, und ausserdem kann man auch Kommentare hinterlassen, was die Interaktion zwischen Creator verbessert! ### Strike: Cash App Man kann sich Strike vorstellen wie Paypal nur mit dem entscheidenden unterschied, dass das ganze auf Bitcoin läuft. Strike ermöglicht es heute schon tausenden von Menschen auf einfachste Art und Weise Geld über die ganze Welt zu versenden und das mit dem solidesten Geld, was es überhaupt gibt, das schöne ist, dass die Werte auch wirklich verschickt werden. Hierzu ein kleiner Exkurs aus dem aktuellen Bankensystem: Wenn jemand aus Europa jemandem Geld in Amerika schicken will, verlässt das Geld das Land nicht. Man braucht für einen Internationalen Banktransfer immer einen Gegenspieler, welcher Geld aus Amerika nach Europa schicken möchte. Diesen Vorgang nennt man ’’Clearing’’. Meistens ist das kein Problem, da viele Transaktionen das Land verlassen aber auch kommen, aufgrund dieser Liquidität geht das zumindest in Industrieländern ganz gut. Entwicklungsländer haben hier schon eher Schwierigkeiten und werden Teilweise sogar aus dem Bankensystem ausgeschlossen (Siehe Iran Swift Sanctions) Ein weiterer Vorteil der sich durch Strike ergibt, ist das die Zahlungen fast keine Gebühren verursachen. Diese sind meist im Cent / Rappen Bereich. ### Sphinx /Juggernout: Chat App Die beiden Apps versuchen ein WhatsApp mit absoluter Privatsphäre zu bauen. Um dies zu erreichen wird die Channelfunktion von Lightning benutzt, weil diese nur von den zwei Parteien eingesehen werden kann und mit höchstmöglicher Privatsphäre durch die Blockchain gesichert wird. Diese Services kosten zwar etwas, aber mit der eigenen Lightning Node (Knotenpunkt) sind diese Kosten sehr gering und liegen ebenfalls im Cent / Rappen Bereich. Edit: Spinx und Juggernout konnten sich bis anhin leider nie durchsetzen. Originally Published 21.05.21

@ ed60dae0:cc3d5108

## Disclaimer Not financial advice. This is for educational purposes only. Do your own research. You are responsible for your own choices. The author is not a professional trader and/or financial advisor, only a student of the markets. Act accordingly. ## Intro I wanted to explore some opportunities using Bitcoin options in combination with price models. Like a student, I aim to think it through by writing it down. Any feedback is welcome—I’m eager to learn. ## Gold as a standard for financial measurement There are people who can describe far more eloquently why the U.S. Dollar isn’t the ideal tool for measurement. Gold, due to its unique properties, is one of the best—though not perfect—financial tools to use as a measure for various reasons. Personally, I prefer to measure the adoption of the Bitcoin network against gold, and I believe the ultimate metric for measuring adoption is price. ## Worst Case Scenario For this exploration, I want to focus on downside risk. The chart above shows that the price of Bitcoin, expressed in gold ounces, follows a power law. Before I continue, I want to state the obvious: the “power law” is not a certainty. As British statistician George E. P. Box famously said, “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” Let’s assume that if the rate of network adoption in the coming year is equal to or greater than in previous years, the power law will retain its validity. The chart shows that the price usually falls to negative 1 standard deviation during a bear market. However, in some cases, such as the bear market of 2022, the price even reached negative 1.5 standard deviations. In the opportunity example, I will examine the option expiration date of December 26, 2025. Since the chart isn’t interactive, you can’t hover over the lines to get the exact numbers, so I will state them here. According to the Power Law, the price of Bitcoin expressed in gold ounces on December 31, 2025, is 33.4 ounces for -1 sigma and 26.6 ounces for -1.5 sigma. Depending on your expectations for the price of one ounce of gold on December 26, 2025, you can calculate the bear market bottom in the event of an unexpected downturn of the market next year. Based on today’s gold price, this would be 33.4 x $2,600 = $86,840 for a -1 sigma move and 26.6 x $2,600 = $69,160 for a -1.5 sigma move down. You could argue that the price of gold might be lower if an unexpected bear market begins for risk-on assets. The question is whether gold will be lower or even higher in such an environment. Currently, gold is being purchased as a hedge against inflation and wealth confiscation (e.g., as seen when the U.S. froze Russian state-owned U.S. Treasury bonds). However, in a bear market, it could also be bought as a safe haven during an economic downturn. ## Example With these numbers in mind, we can explore the option chain on platforms like Deribit. For this example I’m looking at BTC-26DEC25. As of today, December 31, 2024, the futures price for this expiration date is approximately $104,000. Let’s say you’re a HODLER who believes the current bull market isn’t over yet. You own spot Bitcoin, which essentially means you are long Bitcoin and short dollars. For simplicity, let’s assume you own 1 whole Bitcoin. Since you believe the bull market has further to run, you don’t want to sell your Bitcoin (or perhaps you never want to), but you’re interested in opportunities to stack more Bitcoin. One option is to pledge your Bitcoin as collateral on the Deribit exchange, giving you enough margin to open a position. This way, you won’t have to sell your Bitcoin but can still participate in new trades. For example, you could sell a put with a $90,000 strike price for, say, 0.16 BTC. At the current spot price, that’s approximately $15,000. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/a0ee29e59035e9aa5556e4464941953be2707a74ee39d5c8f4fa5b1988d495c2.png"> \ Note that you potentially could earn more by selling a put with a $100,000 strike price, where the extrinsic value is larger. However, I’m choosing $90,000 because it aligns more closely with $86,840, which provides greater room for an unexpected downturn in the market toward the -1 sigma move. By holding onto your spot Bitcoin, you still retain all the upside potential in case the bull market continues. Selling the put doesn’t require you to take on excessive risk—you’re already long on Bitcoin. If the Power Law holds, it’s probable that the price will remain above $90,000 by December 26, 2025. Historically, the price of Bitcoin tends to reset toward the Short-Term Holder (STH) cost basis during bull markets. Currently, the STH cost basis is around $87,000. If this happens, it could present an even better opportunity. You could stick with a strike price of $90,000 and collect a larger premium, thereby lowering your breakeven price, or you could aim for the same premium amount and choose a lower strike price, which would reduce your breakeven price even further. However, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get that chance. ## Risk Management There are risks involved in this trade. These risks include third-party risks, where Deribit might lose your Bitcoin and be unable to pay it back. The biggest risk is that the adoption of the bitcoin network stalls and the power law gets invalidated to the downside and the price of bitcoin ends up way below your strike price. Another risk of this trade lies in the fact that your collateral is held in BTC, while your trade also depends on Bitcoin moving sideways or upward. If Bitcoin’s price declines, your collateral will lose value. In the event of a market crash, like a black swan event, the market could move significantly against your trade, the put option will go in the money and acquire intrinsic value, which is unfavorable for the seller of the put. In extreme cases, you could face a margin call, requiring you to pledge more collateral, or the exchange could liquidate your Bitcoin and close your position. The bitcoin price could recover and still end up above $ 90,000 at the end of 2025, but you’ll end up with none. To mitigate this risk—not entirely, but partially—you could sell some spot Bitcoin. Let’s say your goal is to end up with at least 1 Bitcoin. You could sell an amount equivalent to the premium you would receive if the price closes above $90,000. In this case, you would sell 0.16 BTC, resulting in a balance of 0.84 BTC and $15,000. This strategy protects you somewhat if Bitcoin’s price drops, as the premium you receive (denominated in BTC) would be worth less. If the price closes above $90,000, you will still end up with 1 BTC and $15,000. Essentially, you’re sacrificing some upside potential in exchange for added certainty. If you’re an experienced trader, you could temporarily hedge your position to delta neutral in uncertain periods by shorting the bitcoin future price with the corresponding expiration date. The risk here is that a trader could wind up losing all his potential profit or worse through ‘a death by a thousand cuts’. It’s important to note that your breakeven price in this trade is $90,000 - $15,000 = $75,000. Additionally, the worst-case scenario, though unlikely, is a -1.5 sigma move, which could bring the price (depending on the USD price of an ounce of gold at the time of expiration) to around $70,000. While this doesn’t eliminate all risk, if you believe the adoption rate of the bitcoin network will stay the same (at worst) and thus the power law won’t be invalidated and so you believe in Bitcoin’s value and its bright future, this represents an asymmetric bet where the probable outcome of gaining $15,000 outweighs the improbable outcome of losing $5,000. ## Your own assessment Uncertainty is the name of the game—it’s the very reason why premiums and insurance exist in the first place. Nothing is certain; even the presence of the sun could one day vanish. However, you can turn this uncertainty into your ally rather than your enemy. Do your own research and make your own assessment. Ask yourself: what do you think 2025 will bring? - What will be the yield on the 10-year Treasury Note, a.k.a. the “risk-free rate”? - Will inflation remain sticky? - Will AI drive significant productivity gains? - Will growth outpace inflation? - What will be the impact of reduced immigration on the labor market? - Will the Trump administration deliver on its promises? - What if the U.S. Dollar becomes too strong? - Will central banks extend their balance sheets further? - Will governments take on even more debt? - Will Bitcoin play a bigger role in corporate treasury strategies? - Will more Nation States adopt Bitcoin? - Can this train be stopped? Use your own assessment alongside pricing models like the BTC/Gold oz Power Law. What do you consider probable, and what do you consider improbable? To summarize, and based on the assumptions stated earlier, this represents an asymmetric bet where the outcome of gaining $15,000 has an estimated probability of around 70%, as a -1 sigma move aligns closely with the strike price. The probability of breaking even is approximately 80%, while there is a 20% chance of losing $5,000 or more. These probabilities\* are based solely on the Bitcoin/Gold oz power law. Your own 2025 assessment could either enhance these odds or make the outcome less probable. \*Please note that the outcomes of the power law are not normally distributed but positively skewed. The chances are better than described above. [Source](https://open.substack.com/pub/stephenperrenod/p/bitcoin-power-law-vs-gold-mid-2024?r=fo8i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true)

@ c8adf82a:7265ee75

My life’s purpose is to save souls Some think that preaching and convincing people is the way, maybe, but I prefer a more practical way. I want to actually solve real world problems for good and change people’s lives for the better Most people have some sort of void in their heart nowadays, some big, some small. Some are still fighting to fill it, most gave up and accepted that life is just as whatever the eyes can see Jesus said walk by faith and not by sight. I want to show people that this is the case but how can I do it when the world is so clouded? Most people believe that anything they think or feel is justified and we have to agree to disagree with each other to avoid conflict. This is madness I’ve lived in this world for a while and by the grace of God, I can see through everything. Satan made money a requirement to live in this earth. Try asking people what’s one thing they are looking for, you’ll hear two common answers; money or happiness Happiness people are made clueless, they are people who lost to their thoughts and gave in to their heart. Just ask them what makes them happy, and you will see how blind they are about reality. Their happiness comes from owning materialistic stuff or having experiences they haven’t experience because that’s what the media made them believe Money people can think just enough that they need money to satisfy their heart, but not enough to realize that money is the root of all their misery. In reality, money is still a big issue in our world right now even after Bitcoin. Satan has successfully shifted the narrative of what Bitcoin actually is I feel the need to help people with money, so that they have less worries about their finances, so that they can think less about money and more about important things in life; relationships, death and eternal life The world is currently dark and corrupted, people are kept poor, hopeless and suppressed by the hands of satan. They’re killing our future generations with debt without explaining what debt truly is. They made the world so disillusioned to the point that everyone is talking about Hollywood over the lives of people I was guilty of waiting for a change, but by the grace of God, tis no more. I will be the light of the world Tomorrow is a new year, don’t spend another year doing the same thing. Join the fight. Use your blessed mind to tell people that Bitcoin is freedom money. We don't need to verify anymore, everything is clear if we open our eyes. Trust the Word and not the religion. Say no to Karmageddon We are all Satoshi We are legion

@ 234035ec:edc3751d

When Satoshi created Bitcoin, he not only created the perfected form of sound money, but he also created an immutable universal measurement for time. Each block is found roughly every 10 minuets with the difficulty adjustment either ratcheting up or down the difficulty every 2,016 blocks. As we know the halving event occurs every 210,000 blocks (roughly 4 years). As an added bonus, Satoshi decided to release the white-paper during an election year. Therefor, every halving going forward will coincide with the US presidential election. As you descend down the bitcoin rabbit hole, weather it is conscious or not, you begin to measure your life in these cycles. I remember when Bitcoin finally clicked for me in late 2021, all I was focused on was accumulating as much BTC as possible before the 2024 halving. You often hear people stating that they have been in Bitcoin for X number of cycles as a sort of accolade. Both of these are examples of how measuring your finite time with Bitcoins immutable time chain can be beneficial. ## My Life by Cycles I was born in the year 2001 shortly after the 911 attacks. Therefore, as I have grown I have only ever known a world of ever changing technological and cultural environments. I was 7 years old when satoshi released the white-paper and was entirely unaware of it for the first epoch (Too busy playing with Yu-Gi-Oh cards SMH). The Second Epoch Bitcoin was still entirely off my radar, I was 11-13 years old and just getting into the sport of Wrestling. This was my awkward transitionary phase. Also during this time I got my first Ipod which was the beginning of my screen addiction but also opened a new world of opportunities. The Third Epoch encompassed my time in high school. This cycle is when I first became interested in investing and heard about Bitcoin for the first time. I was extremely focused on my wrestling career throughout this cycle and became a 2 time state champion. But I also spent the majority of my free time with friends and girlfriends not spending much time thinking deeply about what I was doing or what was going on around me. Towards the end of this cycle was when I first bought Bitcoin, we had all been sent home from school for covid-19 and my senior year was cut short. While I did by a small amount of Bitcoin I held majority shitcoins and did not yet understand the true value of Bitcoin. The Fourth Epoch begins with turbulence, my senior year of highschool was cut short and I decided to take a gap year before going to university. I spent that year working and studying and I began to get a clearer picture of the problems with our financial and political systems developing a more libertarian mindset. The following year I went off to college where I would be a student athlete on the wrestling team studying business. During my freshman year was when I truly went down the Bitcoin Rabbit hole. I could not get enough information about it and I was completely obsessed (still am). I had been moving all of my income into Bitcoin and then my sophomore year I sold all of my other investments to go all in on BTC. This was a difficult decision as I had made significant gain in tesla and believe in the company, but I could not stand the opportunity cost of not buying cheap sats. In retrospect this was a very good trade and ever since then the only asset that I purchase is Bitcoin. The Fifth Epoch in the spring of 2024 came in my Junior year of University. This Halving was extremely satisfying as I have now made it through an entire bear market and came out with more Bitcoin than I had ever hoped for. Now that I am sitting on significant profit there is far less stress in Hodling and I feel that those around me are beginning to understand that I may be correct about this thing. This spring I will be graduating and moving on to my next phase in life which will be either employment, entrepreneurship or a combination of the two. This cycle will extend until the year 2028 when I will be 26 years old. As I look forward, it is quite possible that I will have proposed to my now Girlfriend of three years by the Fifth halving. I have stacking as well as fitness goals that I am looking to reach by the conclusion of this cycle. The Sixth Epoch, will take me from ages 26-30. As I think about where I want to be by this time, I imagine myself with a young and growing family, a strong budding career either with my own established business or with plans to create one. I hope to have hit significant stacking milestones by this point, but I imagine that the USD exchange rate will be in the millions by this time. ## Spend your time wisely You are only given a finite amount of time in this life, Bitcoin gives you a means of measuring it that is equally scarce. As you store you economic energy in it you become more powerful over time. As you measure your time in it, the picture of your progress becomes much more clear. If you have less Bitcoin at the end of an Epoch than at the beginning than you have been net-unproductive throughout that cycle. As you move forward with your life, try to think about where and who you want to be by the end of this epoch and keep that goal in mind.

@ f4d89779:2b522db9

In the game of Ultimate Frisbee, there is a beloved phrase that captures one of the best aspects of playing. Ultimate is about decision making. It is played on a rectangular field with seven players on each side. Much like football, the object of the game is to score with a throw into the end zone. To "HUCK", means to launch the disc down field in the hopes of scoring. You can probably guess what the "OR YOU'RE NOTHING" means but the spirit of it is that when the opportunity comes ... PUT THE DISC IN THE AIR <https://i.nostr.build/XyTpXdNOSpv5f8ZZ.jpg> Sorry, I had to channel my inner ODELL there for a second. These are all caps kind of moments. Time feels like it stops, the disc floats in the air, the receiver and defender are sprinting all out, you can hear the collective breath of anticipation from the audience and then you score. If you're good that is. You know what? You and I are civilized people, we use the NOSTR, so I won't limit myself to just words. Here are some of those moments: <https://v.nostr.build/zav5o04BK97FiNAt.mp4> During the course of play, teams get into a formation with a couple of the players doing the majority of the disc throwing. These players are called handlers. They handle the disc, they have the responsibility of moving the disc downfield, and handle most of the decision making. A good handler develops a sort of instinct for each of their receivers, can guess the capabilities of each defender, and knows himself well enough to know if he has the throw. They know who is good and reliable at short cuts. They know who has the top end speed to throw a long floating pass into the end zone. With each play they are judging all of the moving objects on the field and deciding on real time risk of each throw and where things will lead. Mistakes lead to turnovers and turnovers, like in many other sports, are death. Hopefully, you start to see how ultimate relates to life and Bitcoin. Life is a field and you have defenders and you have receivers. It is your disc and the decisions you make have a huge impact on whether you win or lose. Knowingly or not, you saw Bitcoin as a potential receiver and Governments, academics, shitcoiners, as defenders. In some ways those around you were also defenders. They whispered, or maybe still whisper the risk and probability of failure in your ear. Their fear weighed against what you know. With the btc/usd exchange rate at $94k, and companies fighting over the best ways to get sats I think we can say that you did not get lucky. They called you crazy, they said that throw won't work, they said your receiver sucked but you knew better. You saw that receiver leaving every defender in the dust and you HUCKED it and you are certainly not NOTHING.

@ 7e6f9018:a6bbbce5

Violence is a tool, and as such, it functions effectively in many contexts. Therefore, we should all acknowledge its role and prepare to use it when necessary, both as individuals and as a society. The monopoly on violence is the cornerstone of the political state. Proper use of this monopoly can transform an impoverished society into a productive and prosperous environment. Conversely, misuse can lead to a stagnant society that benefits only a select few. Wars and violence remain present in our world, but recent times appear to have been more peaceful than the historical average. Some argue that this relative peace is more than a temporary phenomenon and represents a consistent decline in violence. If so, why? I believe the reason is simple: abusing violence has become counterproductive in the long term. While violence is a powerful tool, it is also inherently dangerous. It is crucial not to trivialize it, as doing so risks undermining the progress and achievements of our society. In combat sports, it is common to see fighters exchanging gestures of respect after a match. This is more than a mere formality, it symbolizes the refusal to trivialize the violence applied. Such gestures place violence within a controlled and healthy framework, celebrating the sport while distancing it from the dangerous allure of abusing others, which could have harmful ripple effects. Since the monopoly on violence lies with the state rather than individuals, the responsibility for its proper use rests primarily with governments. How states wield this power significantly shapes their relationship with societies. To illustrate this, let’s consider a hypothetical scenario involving two societies: society (A) and society (B). Where each society is capable of producing a certain amount of goods in a year. Society (A) produces 6 squares, and society (B) produces 6 circles. | **Initial situation** | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 | _Society B_ = 🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵 | The relationship between the two societies can primarily take one of two forms: 1. A positive relationship (_win-win_), characterized by mutual respect and a focus on product trade. | **Win - Win** 💱 | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🔵🔵🔵 | _Society B_ = 🔵🔵🔵🟩🟩🟩 | If there is a positive relationship, the two societies will exchange their products throughout the year. As a result, both societies will retain their original 6 products but enjoy an improved quality of life due to greater product diversity—each will have both squares and circles. 2. A negative relationship (_win-lose_), characterized by confrontation and a focus on conflict. | **Win - Lose** 💥 | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵 | _Society B_ = ❌ → lack of food| If a negative relationship prevails, the society that most effectively wields the resource of violence will dominate. In this case, society (A) would prevail, keeping both its own production, the 6 squares, and the production of the defeated society (B), the 6 circles. As a result, society (A) would enjoy a high quality of life due to its increased wealth, comprising 6 squares and 6 circles, while society (B) would be left in a state of absolute poverty. The _win-lose_ scenario may seem advantageous for the winning party. However, it is ultimately a short-term strategy that incurs in significant long-term costs, which any advanced society would seek to avoid. Let’s examine why. If society (A) excessively and repeatedly exploits society (B), there will eventually come a point where the entire population of society (B) starves to death. The result? Society (A)’s quality of life reverts to its initial state, producing only 6 squares, because society (B) has perished, taking with it its technical know-how and resources. In hindsight, a win-win scenario would have been the smarter choice. | **Win - Lose** 💥 | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 | _Society B_ = ❌→ lack of food, hunger → ☠️ | If society (A) is somewhat wise, it will recognize that it cannot completely destroy society (B) but must subject it to measured exploitation without annihilating it. By doing so, society (A) sacrifices some short-term profits; instead of gaining 12 units per year, it gains 10, allowing society (B) to retain 2 units to survive. While this arrangement benefits society (A) more than a win-win scenario, it creates a precarious and unsustainable situation for society (B). | **Measured abuse** 📐 | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🔵🔵🔵🔵 | _Society B_ = 🔵🔵→ precariousness | History has shown us that society (B), sooner or later, will confront the abuse inflicted by society (A) through one of two possible scenarios: 1. Fight 2. Flight If society (B) decides to fight, it will keep all the production if it wins, and if it loses, society (A) will take control. An important consequence is that, in the short term, production will decrease due to the effort involved in the war. And in the long term, one of the two societies will disappear, and we will return to a situation of excessive exploitation. | **Fight** ⚔️ | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩🔵🔵🔵 | _Society B_ = 🔵→ (1) fight or (2) flight | If, instead of fighting, society (B) decides to abandon its territory, society (A) will also return to its initial situation. This is because, if society (B) leaves, it takes with it its production, human resources, and technical know-how. | **Flight** 🧳 | | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ | | _Society A_ = 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 | _Society B_ = 🛩| **Conclusion**: If, instead of entering an unproductive vicious circle, the two societies had realized from the beginning that the wisest approach is to establish a positive relationship, they would have saved a lot of wasted energy and pain. This could be the reason for the reduction in violence: societies may be starting to figure out this game. **Note**: Please note that this mental framework is an oversimplification; the reality may involve many other variables not considered here.

@ ebdee929:513adbad

Blue light is not inherently bad, just bad in the wrong context. Blue light provides wakefulness, stimulation, and sets our internal body clock (circadian rhythm). When we go outside in the sun, we get bathed in blue lightblue light is not inherently bad, just bad in the wrong context. [Blue light sets the human rhythm.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7065627/) However, sunlight never gives us blue light without the rest of the visible rainbow + infrared. Light from screens & LED bulbs do not contain any infrared, and has a unnaturally high proportion of blue light. LEDs = unbalanced & blue light dominant <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/1e1e1eeb73e25798e74263e65bf41d24f70ef09cd02f1268c432cd7e57045c24.jpg"> Light from artificial sources is especially disruptive at night time, where the high blue light component can interfere with melatonin production and sleep quality at a greater rate than lower energy colors of light. [Blue Light has a Dark Side](https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side) This doesn't mean that red light is completely innocent of disrupting sleep either It is both the spectrum of light AND the intensity of light that contributes to sleep disruption. [See this tweet from Huberman](https://x.com/hubermanlab/status/1846995497824714807). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/dd8227d6ad0b3f0fd0de371e117b8fff688744584fc6191d0c86b780889eb685.jpg"> We took all of this into account when building the DC-1 to be the world's first blue light free computer. The DC-1 has a reflective screen that: • emits ZERO light during the day • can be used easily outside in direct sunlight <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/492bd01872e10a53ebfaa9ed4d4c72d7a835943af347a9b7fa3173b9eae536c4.jpg"> & a backlight that: • can be 100% blue light free • has a broad spectrum of light • can be seen at very low brightness <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/783eb85af21270d412957bd7ea81297edbfaca444e3fcb21eb9d2bde6465a88b.jpg"> Our Live Paper™ display technology feels like a magic piece of paper During the day, that piece of paper is illuminated by sunlight. At night, that piece of paper is illuminated by *candle* light. (backlight is converging with a candle light spectrum) <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/e153f8e937438a31c8a1cc7e4db63d937f52c3c1667557a7e7a1459bb7464a7c.jpg"> The two sources of natural light are sunlight & fire. We are trying to reproduce this experience for the most enjoyable, healthy, and least invasive technology experience for humanity. Root cause problem solving by emulating nature. "But can't I just put a red light screen filter on my MacBook?" Absolutely you can, and we advocate for it Software screen filters are great, but anyone who has changed their screen to full “red mode” to get rid of the blue light knows the downsides to this… <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/3cb41edfa65978e8badb8555eb4448909328ce189efe270eddfd50f2eba6c40e.jpg"> You can barely see anything and you end up having to crank up the brightness in order to see any contrast. This is because of the highly isolated nature of LED emissive screens, you can only isolate a very narrow band of colors. Going full red is not something your eyes have ever been used to seeing. You need a broad spectrum light solution, and that is what we have in our **amber backlight** while still being blue light free. This means you can have a better visual experience, turn down the brightness, and get minimal sleep/circadian disruption. **What about FLICKER?** Nearly all LEDs flicker. Especially when changing in brightness due to Pulsed Width Modulation (PWM) LED driver control Our LED backlight uses DC dimming & is expert verified flicker-free. This can only be achieved through hardware changes, not software screen filters. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/cb756be06d8b154babecd10dece422076410f67adb904b658fce2cc271e4ba2f.jpg"> **& Blue Light Blocking Glasses?** They need to be tinted orange/red to block all of the blue light. Thus the same issues as screen filters (bad visual experience, not solving flicker) + average joe would never wear them. We still love blue blockers, they just aren't a **root cause** solution. We made a computer that is healthier and less stimulating, with a low barrier to entry Whether you are a staunch circadian health advocate or just like the warm vibes of amber mode and being outside...the DC-1 just feels good because it doesn't make you feel bad :) Learn more [here](https://daylightcomputer.com) and thanks for reading.

@ a42048d7:26886c32

DIY Multisig is complex and 100x more likely to fail than you think if you do it yourself: A few years ago as an experiment I put what was then $2,000 worth Bitcoin into a 2 of 3 DIY multisig with two close family members holding two keys on Tapsigners and myself holding the last key on a Coldcard. My thought was to try and preview how they might deal with self custodied multisig Bitcoin if I died prematurely. After over a year I revisited and asked them to try and do a transaction without me. Just send that single Utxo to a new address in the same wallet, no time limit. It could not possibly have failed harder and shook my belief in multisig. To summarize an extremely painful day, there was a literally 0% chance they would figure this out without help. If this had been for real all our BTC may have been lost forever. Maybe eventually a family friend could’ve helped, but I hadn’t thought of that and hadn’t recommended a trusted BTC knowledge/help source. I had preached self sovereignty and doing it alone and my family tried to respect that. I should’ve given them the contact info of local high integrity bitcoiners I trust implicitly. Regardless of setup type, I highly recommend having a trusted Bitcoiner and online resources your family knows they can turn to to trouble shoot. Bookmark the corresponding BTCSessions video to your BTC self custody setup. Multisig is complicated as hell and hard to understand. Complexity is the enemy when it comes to making sure your BTC isn’t lost and actually gets to your heirs. Many Bitcoiners use a similar setup to this one that failed so badly, and I’m telling you unless you’re married to or gave birth to a seriously hardcore maxi who is extremely tech savvy, the risk your Bitcoin is lost upon your death is unacceptably high. My family is extremely smart but when the pressure of now many thousands of dollars was on the line, the complexity of multisig torpedoed them. Don’t run to an ETF! There are answers: singlesig is awesome. From observing my family I’m confident they would’ve been okay in a singlesig setup. It was the process of signing on separate devices with separate signers, and moving a PSBT around that stymied them. If it had been singlesig they would’ve been okay as one signature on its own was accomplished. Do not besmirch singlesig, it’s incredibly powerful and incredibly resilient. Resilience and simplicity are vastly underrated! In my opinion multisig may increase your theoretical security against attacks that are far less likely to actually happen, e.g. an Oceans Eleven style hack/heist. More likely your heirs will be fighting panic, grief, and stress and forget something you taught them a few years back. If they face an attack it will most likely be social engineering/phishing. They are unlikely to face an elaborate heist that would make a fun movie. While I still maintain it was a mistake for Bitkey to not have a separate screen to verify addresses and other info, overall I believe it’s probably the best normie option for small BTC holdings(yes I do know Bitkey is actually multisig, but the UX is basically a single sig). This incident scared me into realizing the importance of simplicity. Complexity and confusion of heirs/family may be the most under-considered aspects of BTC security. If you’ve made a DIY multisig and your heirs can’t explain why they need all three public keys and what a descriptor is and where it’s backed up, you might as well just go have that boating accident now and get it over with. Once you get past small amounts of BTC, any reputable hardware wallet in singlesig is amazing security I would encourage folks to consider. In a singlesig setup - For $5 wrench attack concerns, just don’t have your hardware signer or steel backup at your home. You can just have a hot wallet on your phone with a small amount for spending. If you get a really big stack collaborative multisig is a potentially reasonable middle ground. Just be very thoughtful and brutally honest about your heirs and their BTC and general tech knowledge. Singlesig is still great and you don’t have to move past it, but I get that you also need to sleep at night. If you have truly life changing wealth and are just too uncomfortable with singlesig, maybe consider either 1) Anchorwatch to get the potential benefits of multisig security with the safety net of traditional insurance or 2) Liana wallet where you can use miniscript to effectively have a time locked singlesig spending path to a key held by a third party to help your family recover your funds if they can’t figure it out before that timelock hits, 3) Bitcoin Keeper with their automatic inheritance docs and mini script enabled inheritance key. The automatic inheritance docs are a best in class feature no one else has done yet. Unchained charges $200 for inheritance docs on top of your $250 annual subscription, which imho is beyond ridiculous. 4) Swan vault, I’ve generally soured on most traditional 2 of 3 collaborative multisig because I’ve always found holes either in security (Unchained signed a transaction in only a few hours and has no defined time delay, and still doesn’t support Segwit, seriously guys, wtf?), only support signers that are harder to use and thus tough for noobs, or the overall setups are just too complex. Swan Vault’s focus on keeping it as simple as possible really stands out against competitors that tack on unneeded confusion complexity. TLDR: For small amounts of BTC use Bitkey. For medium to large amounts use singlesig with a reputable hardware wallet and steel backup. For life changing wealth where you just can no longer stomach sinsglesig maybe also consider Anchorwatch, Bitcoin Keeper, Sean Vault, or Liana. Don’t forget your steel backups! Be safe out there! Do your own research and don’t take my word for it. Just use this as inspiration to consider an alternative point of view. If you’re a family of software engineers, feel free to tell me to go fuck myself.

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1

Good morning, readers! In Russia, the State Duma passed sweeping amendments granting officials the ability to equate “funding extremist activities” with “financing terrorism.” These changes allow officials to label anyone accused of spreading “fake news” or “discrediting” the military and authorities as “terrorists and extremists.” This development threatens activists and civil society organizations with intensified financial repression, including frozen accounts, restricted access to funds, and strict withdrawal limits.   Meanwhile, North Korea’s currency crisis continues to worsen, pushing citizens to abandon the North Korean won in favor of barter. As exchange rates for foreign currencies soar, merchants and money changers increasingly demand tangible goods like rice and fuel and no longer accept North Korean won for imported goods and foreign currencies.  In technology news, Tando, a Bitcoin payment app in Kenya, received significant attention at the 2024 Africa Bitcoin Conference for integrating the Bitcoin Lightning Network with M-PESA, Kenya’s mobile money system. This allows people to use Bitcoin to buy things across the country while merchants receive Kenyan shillings, bridging the gap between the local financial system and Bitcoin. \ \ Finally, we feature the latest episode of the Dissidents and Dictators podcast, featuring Togolese human rights activist Farida Nabourema sharing her first-hand experience growing up under the Gnassingbé dictatorship. She believes Bitcoin can enable greater transparency and offer a financial lifeline for citizens in Togo and across Africa. **Now, let’s dive right in!** ### [**Subscribe Here**](https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter?mc_cid=bf652c0a5a) ## **GLOBAL NEWS** #### **Russia | Sweeping Amendments Expand Financial Repression Against Dissidents** Russia’s State Duma made sweeping [amendments](https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-just-expanded-its-definition-of-money-laundering-crimes-to-enable-far-broader-political-repressions-against-terrorists-and-extremists) to 48 federal laws, granting officials the power to equate “funding extremist activities” with “financing terrorism.” This move allows the regime to directly target individuals, activists, and nonprofit organizations suspected of spreading “fake news” or “discrediting” the military and regime. Once designated as a “terrorist” or “extremist,” a person or organization [faces](https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-just-expanded-its-definition-of-money-laundering-crimes-to-enable-far-broader-political-repressions-against-terrorists-and-extremists) frozen bank accounts, restricted access to funds, and a withdrawal cap of just [10,000 rubles](https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-just-expanded-its-definition-of-money-laundering-crimes-to-enable-far-broader-political-repressions-against-terrorists-and-extremists) ($95) per month — a limit that extends to each dependent in their family. Compounding these hardships, employers often refuse to hire individuals on these government lists. #### **North Korea | Failing Currency Forces Return to Barter** North Korea’s [currency crisis](https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-koreas-currency-crisis-forces-return-to-barter-economy/) is forcing citizens to abandon the depreciating won currency in favor of barter. As exchange rates for foreign currencies like the US dollar and Chinese yuan hit [record highs](https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-koreas-currency-crisis-forces-return-to-barter-economy/), merchants and money changers now demand commodities (such as rice and fuel) for foreign currencies and imported goods. One such example is trading around [2 kilograms](https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-koreas-currency-crisis-forces-return-to-barter-economy/) of rice for a single dollar. This collapse leaves those without access to foreign currency in increasingly precarious financial positions and struggling to secure food and basic necessities. Even farmers, once [partially compensated](https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-koreas-currency-crisis-forces-return-to-barter-economy/) with valuable goods, now increasingly receive devalued cash, worsening nationwide food insecurity. #### **Nicaragua | Human Rights Abuses and Financial Repression Exposed** Under Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian rule, Nicaragua [exemplifies](https://havanatimes.org/features/nicaragua-the-ortega-regimes-hideous-human-rights-record/) the devastating intersection of financial repression and human rights abuses. New reports [detail](https://havanatimes.org/features/nicaragua-the-ortega-regimes-hideous-human-rights-record/) how the regime has confiscated over [$250 million](https://havanatimes.org/features/nicaragua-the-ortega-regimes-hideous-human-rights-record/) in assets, dissolved more than [5,200 NGOs](https://havanatimes.org/features/nicaragua-the-ortega-regimes-hideous-human-rights-record/), canceled pensions, and frozen bank accounts, leaving citizens financially vulnerable and silenced. Since Ortega’s return to power in 2007, and especially after the 2018 protests, his government has dismantled civil society, crushed political opposition, and eradicated independent media. Hundreds have been killed and exiled, and in 2023 and 2024 alone, [452 political opponents](https://havanatimes.org/features/nicaragua-the-ortega-regimes-hideous-human-rights-record/) were stripped of their citizenship. #### **El Salvador | Bitcoin Adoption Limited as Government Comes to Terms With IMF** El Salvador [finalized](https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/12/18/pr-24485-el-salvador-imf-reaches-staff-level-agreement-on-an-eff-arrangement) a $1.4 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support the government’s economic reform agenda at the cost of scaling back some of its Bitcoin policies. The deal will make accepting Bitcoin in the private sector voluntary, require all taxes to be paid in US dollars (as opposed to making it possible to pay in BTC), and see Chivo, the government-supported Bitcoin wallet, gradually unwound. In addition, the government will enhance “transparency, regulation, and supervision of digital assets” and establish a stronger Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financial Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. #### **Malaysia | Parliament Passes Repressive Media Bills Amidst Financial Struggles** Earlier this year, Malaysia’s ringgit currency plunged to a [26-year low](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/ringgit-decline-rise-malaysia-currency-low-brain-drain-government-4343531), [driving up](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/ringgit-decline-rise-malaysia-currency-low-brain-drain-government-4343531) prices nationwide. As families struggled with a higher cost of living, officials passed an [amendment](https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/18/cops-can-now-freeze-seize-mule-bank-accounts-to-prevent-scam-victims-money-from-being-withdrawn/157236) granting law enforcement the power to freeze bank accounts suspected of fraud. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s parliament is [passing](https://globalvoices.org/2024/12/16/online-safety-or-censorship-malaysias-parliament-passes-two-contentious-media-bills/) two more bills to regulate media and online spaces, allowing officials to censor content and request user data from service providers without approval. Critics warn the vague language in these laws will likely be exploited to silence dissent and stifle public discourse. As financial hardships mount, Malaysia’s online spaces become increasingly controlled, eroding freedom of expression and financial autonomy. ## BITCOIN NEWS #### **Tando | Bridging Bitcoin and Everyday Payments in Kenya** [Tando](https://tando.me), a new bitcoin payments app and HRF grantee, [makes it easy to spend bitcoin](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/takes/tando-was-all-the-rage-at-this-years-africa-bitcoin-conference?new) anywhere in Kenya by integrating with M-PESA, Kenya’s mobile money system. Users simply download the Tando app, enter the merchant’s M-PESA number, and input the amount owed in Kenyan shillings. The app calculates the required amount of bitcoin and generates a Lightning invoice, which users pay through their own Bitcoin wallet. Tando then converts the sats to shillings and completes the transaction instantly ([you can watch this one-minute live demo here](https://x.com/AnitaPosch/status/1863916169209520432)). For Kenyans excluded from M-PESA due to Know-Your-Customer regulations, Tando provides a practical solution that bridges Bitcoin and local financial systems to make everyday transactions easier. #### **Yakihonne | Adds Support for Improved Encrypted Direct Messaging** [YakiHonne](https://yakihonne.com/), a Nostr client, champions free speech and facilitates Bitcoin payments across 170 countries. Recent updates have made the platform more user-friendly and secure. The updated text editor now supports multiple languages, including right-to-left scripts, enhancing accessibility for a global audience. Messaging capabilities have been upgraded to allow longer texts, and users can now activate Secure DMs ([NIP 44](https://github.com/paulmillr/nip44)) for encrypted messaging on Nostr. These improvements make YakiHonne an appealing communication platform for pro-democracy and human rights activists, offering secure messaging and the ability to receive payments in Bitcoin in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. #### **Mostro | Making Bitcoin More Accessible and Private** [Mostro](https://mostro.network/), a private and peer-to-peer (P2P) Bitcoin exchange built on Nostr, made significant strides this year toward empowering human rights defenders and nonprofits with accessible, private, and censorship-resistant financial tools. Created by Venezuelan developer [Francisco Calderon](https://x.com/negrunch), the platform implemented advanced key management which allows users to rotate the keys used for every bitcoin trade. This adds a layer of privacy critical for those operating under authoritarian regimes. Additionally, Mostro adopted [NIP-69](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/69.md), standardizing all peer-to-peer orders on Nostr, creating a larger liquidity pool, and making trades more accessible for users. Finally, Mostro will soon launch a mobile app (currently in the testing phase), helping democratize Bitcoin access by providing individuals with a user-friendly mobile interface. #### **Foundation | Introduces Personal Security Platform**   [Foundation](https://foundation.xyz), a Bitcoin hardware wallet company, [introduced Passport Prime](https://foundation.xyz/2024/12/introducing-passport-prime/), which they call “the world’s first Personal Security Platform.” Designed to protect users’ bitcoin and digital lives, Passport Prime offers a Bitcoin wallet, multi-factor authentication, secure file storage, and a Seed Vault to organize seed phrases. It does not require usernames, passwords, or email addresses, making it an interesting option for privacy-conscious users, particularly pro-democracy and human rights activists operating under authoritarian regimes. You can learn more about Passport Prime [here](https://foundation.xyz/2024/12/introducing-passport-prime/). #### **BTrust Builders | Applications for 2024 ₿OSS Cohort Close Tomorrow** Applications for the [2025 ₿OSS Cohort](https://bitcoinke.io/2024/12/the-btrust-builders-2025-cohort/), hosted by [Btrust Builders](https://www.btrust.tech/builders) in partnership with Chaincode Labs, close tomorrow, Dec. 27, 2024. This part-time, three-month, fully remote program is tailored to African developers seeking to contribute to Bitcoin open-source software (₿OSS), in order to increase the potential for use cases in a region where three-quarters of the governments are authoritarian regimes. The program is open to developers of all experience levels, and it provides hands-on technical training, career-building opportunities, and mentorship. If you’re a developer interested in this program, you can apply [here](https://bitcoinke.io/2024/12/the-btrust-builders-2025-cohort/). ## RECOMMENDED CONTENT #### **Is Bitcoin a Lifeline for Africa with Farida Nabourema** In this episode of [Dissidents and Dictators](https://www.youtube.com/@DissidentsandDictators), an HRF podcast, Togolese human rights activist Farida Nabourema reveals her experience growing up under the Gnassingbé dictatorship—a single-family autocracy that has ruled Togo for over 50 years. Nabourema shares insights into the corruption and lack of trust that permeates Togo’s financial system and discusses how Bitcoin can enable greater transparency and offer a lifeline for citizens in Togo and across Africa, where authoritarian regimes stifle financial freedom. Watch the full episode [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeRFW8XsAno). *If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report [here](https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter?mc_cid=bf652c0a5a).* *Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program [via BTCPay](https://hrf.org/btc).*\ *Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ [hrf.org](http://hrf.org/)* *The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals [here](https://forms.monday.com/forms/57019f8829449d9e729d9e3545a237ea?r=use1)*. 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@ ab216c04:c00fe2d7

Good morning. I’m writing my first public read with nostr as a way to introduce what I work on when people visit my profile. I studied computer science with a keen interest in education technology because I felt that the promise of the internet fell short when it came to its potential to transform education. I don’t believe it failed outright, but like our approach to identity, media and money, education seemed to have embarked in the wrong direction. I think the role of educational technology is not to configure how students and teachers communicate, but to support an environment that encourages the most natural form of education. Teachers should teach and students should learn, but there are economic constraints that make that challenging in too many ways to highlight. To keep things short, I believe there can be new ways to financialize internet properties to support schools economically in a way that isn’t mostly dependent on the value of housing properties or state & federal taxation policies. To spark imagination, I say that you can “create scholarships with learning” but the idea at scale essentially means the ability to redefine the infamous red line. Many people in 2024 now see Bitcoin as a sort of treasury system, and most recognize Bitcoin as a store value. Likewise, people now view decentralized identity as a mechanism to better represent an individual’s durable interactions with technology. If you pause to think about it, one can appreciate how all of these concepts also play a crucial role in the educational process. For example, how much economic value is lost when a 4th year engineering student drops out of college or transfers schools? The centralization of our transcripts and educational resources fails to precisely define our academic progress. This is a failure of education technology. And what if schools, well-funded by expensive properties and high incomes, can realistically and pragmatically connect with schools that are far more dependent on state and federal distributions? What if we could expand the scope, the circumstances and conditions of education finance beyond physical borders? So that’s what I work on, and my participation in nostr has been an incredible leap toward materializing these ideas, which you can experience on platforms like: - Learn coding with AI: <https://robotsbuildingeducation.com> - Track scholarships and draft essays with AI: <https://girlsoncampus.org> - Study citizenship civics with with AI: <https://civico.app> \ And above all else, you are welcome to build and design education technology in the same direction with open software: <https://github.com/RobotsBuildingEducation?tab=repositories>

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

# Hello 1 ## Hello 2 ### Hello 3 #### Hello 4 ##### Hello 5 ###### Hello 6 This is a test by nostr:npub13rxpxjc6vh65aay2eswlxejsv0f7530sf64c4arydetpckhfjpustsjeaf that is testing various interoperability of the markdown rendering and NOSTR specific synatx, just to make sure they play nice. nostr:npub13rxpxjc6vh65aay2eswlxejsv0f7530sf64c4arydetpckhfjpustsjeaf npub13rxpxjc6vh65aay2eswlxejsv0f7530sf64c4arydetpckhfjpustsjeaf nostr:npub13rxpxjc6vh65aay2eswlxejsv0f7530sf64c4arydetpckhfjpustsjeaf here is a [link to somewhere](https://duckduckgo.com/) so as to see how it would render and here it is bare-bone https://duckduckgo.com/ just to make sure it is nicely parsed. here is a mention of another article nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpzxvzd935e04fm6g4nqa7dn9qc7nafzlqn4t3t6xgmjkr3dwnyreqqxnzde38qmnsdfk8qmrqwp405km0k and here is a short note: nostr:note1vnqnwzjllzxxufg5e9thz2xspetlplsjq0cn570jswujnmynxjnqmea576 and another one: nostr:note1kyrnyan4hfpn978akv2eqsv8r7rlplaq4j65uxlk3hz5ujk7ehzshwtfmd and one more foe good mesure: nostr:note1dyrd05nt0tapgye3xn4nssfdasskfr3dm2yqz8e8vdtslpgw3ypsa8e7fh one like this: note1dyrd05nt0tapgye3xn4nssfdasskfr3dm2yqz8e8vdtslpgw3ypsa8e7fh here is an event: nostr:nevent1qqsg39vpzl4dz8kwnaerheuavgtqgg6exc4caz8argh6p6jqg549ppqprdmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuam9wd6x2unwvf6xxtnrdakj7hknh7l ## Images  and here is one in the middle of the text  that continues right after. Just to see how this will render ## Some markdown stuff ## Emphasis **This is bold text** __This is bold text__ *This is italic text* _This is italic text_ ~~Strikethrough~~ ## Blockquotes > Blockquotes can also be nested... >> ...by using additional greater-than signs right next to each other... > > > ...or with spaces between arrows. ## Lists Unordered + Create a list by starting a line with `+`, `-`, or `*` + Sub-lists are made by indenting 2 spaces: - Marker character change forces new list start: * Ac tristique libero volutpat at + Facilisis in pretium nisl aliquet - Nulla volutpat aliquam velit + Very easy! Ordered 1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet 2. Consectetur adipiscing elit 3. Integer molestie lorem at massa 1. You can use sequential numbers... 1. ...or keep all the numbers as `1.` Start numbering with offset: 57. foo 1. bar ## Code Inline `code` Indented code // Some comments line 1 of code line 2 of code line 3 of code Block code "fences" ``` Sample text here... ``` Syntax highlighting ``` js var foo = function (bar) { return bar++; }; var veryVeryVeryLongVariableNameWithALongValueAsWell = 123456789012345678901234567890; console.log(foo(5)); ``` ## Tables | Option | Description | | ------ | ----------- | | data | path to data files to supply the data that will be passed into templates. | | engine | engine to be used for processing templates. Handlebars is the default. | | ext | extension to be used for dest files. | Right aligned columns | Option | Description | | ------:| -----------:| | data | path to data files to supply the data that will be passed into templates. | | engine | engine to be used for processing templates. Handlebars is the default. | | ext | extension to be used for dest files. | ### [Footnotes] Footnote 1 link[^first]. Footnote 2 link[^second]. Duplicated footnote reference[^second]. [^first]: Footnote **can have markup** and multiple paragraphs. [^second]: Footnote text.

@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9

It has been a fun year of learning and entertainment with you all. Merry Christmas! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/823433

@ a6ca4c68:a6731409

*Turning and turning in the widening gyre; The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world; The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.* - W.B. Yeats, The Second Birth *A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.* - Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart The year is 1990. For the past four years, you have been gradually familiarizing yourself with the infrastructure and tools that make up a still nascent global technology which is being referred to as the Internet. You and some of the peers in your network are now using a personal computer for word processing and a few other functions. However, you are the only one in your peer network accessing this Internet. For you, it all started four years ago. A seed was planted when you listened to a radio interview with an engineer who had worked on something called #ARPANET, a precursor to this new Internet, developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. The engineer described how this emerging Internet would eventually become the public version of ARPANET. The interview piqued your interest and you began sifting through available information to learn more. Four years later, you are now part of a local Internet users group which meets once per week to discuss your respective experiences and prognostications. You are collectively referred to by friends in your non-Internet peer network as that “talking computers group”. Over time, this group has come to occupy an increasingly important role in your life. You now awkwardly straddle two peer groups, continually searching for ways to find overlap and to integrate these two dimensions of your social life. It isn’t easy, and you leap back and forth between hope and despair. You have begun to see more clearly into a future, just over the horizon, where life will be irretrievably transformed by this Internet. You see both opportunities and threats, and you have come to believe that we all need to become invested in this discussion in order to guard against threats and to achieve the greatest good for society. You make the case with your non-Internet peer network, but it is difficult to gain traction. They get the excitement regarding personal computers, but computers talking to each other? Digital communication replacing the postman, the video store, the newspaper, making its way into the workplace and other such predictions? It all seems a bit far fetched. They grow weary of your persistent “wait until you see how the Internet is going to change this” interventions. Eventually, you elect to just keep mostly quiet on this topic when with them. Your local Internet users peer group provides you with much needed community. Still, you lament that you live in a sort of limbo. You imagine what the Internet portends for daily life five, ten, or forty years into the future and how radically transformative it is going to be. However, there is little nourishment from that today. You’re in a period of prolonged waiting. You long for tomorrow, today. You long to be in the imagined world of the ubiquitous Internet, where networked technology and communications will be placed in service of the greater good and an acceleration toward the marvels of human potential. This longing and the awkwardness of straddling divergent peer groups persists for what feels like an eternity. Then, as if out of nowhere, a buzz circulates through your “talking computers group” and other similar groups. It turns out that there are some forward-thinking communities around the world, possibly three or four, that have begun to pull forward the future into the present. They have connected the majority of people in their local community to the Internet and it has begun to permeate many dimensions of daily life throughout their region. You decide that you need to see it for yourself. You book a Pan Am flight and hit the friendly skies to visit one of these communities. After being greeted at the airport by a contact with whom you had corresponded via a clunky chat room, you make the short drive back to the community. En route, you marvel at the small portable phone your contact has nestled beside him, a Motorola. It’s the new “flip phone” you’ve heard about. He tells you that a few homes and businesses in the community just got them, but most are still using older Siemens or Nokia portable phones. “Older?,” you think to yourself, and "wait, these people are all using cellular phones?” The next week spent in the community is filled with more discoveries and revelations... The local postal service has been significantly reduced over the past year. Locals instead resort to electronic mail for most of their routine communications. They're calling it e-mail. Agonizing waits for services and long lines for day-to-day activities have been reduced. Forms and information exchange have mostly gone “online”. There are several major businesses in town which are now processing orders for goods entirely online, with delivery right to your doorstep. More are planning to follow suit. There’s even rumour that within the next couple of years you will be able to pay online for goods purchased online; no need to pay the delivery person at the door by cash or cheque. After a week of living in the digital future, you return home to your life, to your two local peer networks, and your state of limbo. The difference now, is that you have experienced a taste of the future. It is no longer simply imagined. You know it is possible, and what it feels and sounds like. You share tales of the future with both of your peer groups. Your Internet users peer group activates. Many plan to also book that Pan Am flight, so they can see and feel it for themselves. Your other peer group finds it somewhat fascinating, but they mostly nestle back into their daily, analog lives. Fast forward. The year is 2023. For the past four years you have gradually been learning about the global #Bitcoin network and software. You exchange portions of your local “fiat” currency for the commodity money which goes by the same name, Bitcoin or BTC. You are sampling a new digital future. It feels like déjà vu (all over again). In 2023, you again find yourself part of two divergent peer networks. You again make a pilgrimage to visit communities that are pulling forward the future into the present, using Bitcoin. You again feel as though you are living in a state of limbo back at home, enduring a period of prolonged waiting. In 2023, however, it feels as though your appeal to peers, hoping they will take an interest in your newfound passion, has a different quality to it. The stakes feel much higher, the consequences more grave. It’s hard to put your finger on it, but somehow it feels as though this is a game for all the marbles. You and other so-called Bitcoiners around the world have amassed enough intelligence on a range of interconnected topics revolving around Bitcoin to sense that a battle is being waged. You envision a future where many more facets of life will be mediated digitally, much through artificial intelligence. It doesn’t take much to convince your non Bitcoiner peers of this. However, it's a challenge to keep their attention for a discussion of what's at stake and why Bitcoin matters, both for and in this future. You have shared with your non Bitcoiner peers how money, something that permeates nearly every facet of our lives, is not actually what we thought it was. More aptly put, we have ceased to think at all about what money is, other than the extent to which we possess or lack it. You have made the case that this collective amnesia has very serious consequences. You have invited your peers to consider the history of money and the story of how, over time, humans have chosen to store and exchange value. Your hope is that, like you, they will come to appreciate the harmful impact of our most recent monetary experiment: fiat money. You have shared resources about the insidious nature of inflation, enabled by fiat currencies, and its many downstream social effects. You have highlighted the imperatives of perpetual growth and conspicuous consumption that are required by our global financial systems, propelled by consistently manipulated fiat money. You have described the mechanics of global debt, resource extraction, neocolonialism and how small portions of the world remain relatively affluent at the expense of others which are correspondingly impoverished. You have attempted to connect the dots, tracing the line of fiat money which runs between them. Sadly, this is a dish for which you struggle to find ready bellies; a pregnant discussion for which you struggle to find ready minds. You want your non Bitcoiner peers to see that it is our broken money and the toxic incentives which it aids and abets on a global scale that are at the heart of so much strife, division and inequity in the world. You want them to grasp that it is our diseased fiat money lifeblood which preys upon humanity’s organs. You want them to consider what happens if we carry forward this fiat monetary system fully into the digital realm. You want them to see that this will very likely be a world of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and social credit scores, mass surveillance, censorship, behaviour-control, and state-sanctioned violence; a world whose dystopian cocktail carries a potentially fatal hangover. You want them to grasp that, right now, today, one of the single best strategies we have to prevent such a dystopia is to replace our fiat currencies through mass adoption of Bitcoin. As you did in 1990, however, you mostly keep quiet with your non Bitcoiner peers. You carefully select your moments and your opportunities to plant seeds. You water. You hope that one day soon a garden will blossom. You know that there are milestones on this learning journey, aha moments, and it takes time. You know that there is profound depth and nuance to these matters, and that the learning journey requires not only an intellectual curiosity but a willingness to interrogate conventional wisdom. This is all the more challenging amidst the incessant noise of attention-grabbing media, politically-motivated narratives, and tribalized civic spaces. You learn patience. You find community among other Bitcoiners and you build as a community, globally. You embrace self-deprecating humour, knowing that to many who are close to you and have not embraced this learning journey you appear unhinged at times. Nevertheless, friendships are occasionally strained. Such is the life of one who possesses knowledge while uncomfortably straddling epochs. Yes, things fall apart. Still, maybe, hopefully, through sheer persistence and by the grace of those greater daemons which elevate our humanity, we shall eventually hold the centre.

@ 7e6f9018:a6bbbce5

Over the last decade, birth rates in Spain have dropped by 30%, from 486,000 births in 2010 to 339,000 in 2020, a decline only comparable to that seen in Japan and the Four Asian Tigers. The main cause seems to stem from two major factors: (1) the widespread use of contraceptive methods, which allow for pregnancy control without reducing sexual activity, and (2) women's entry into the labor market, leading to a significant shift away from traditional maternal roles. In this regard, there is a phenomenon of demographic inertia that I believe could become significant. When a society ages and the population pyramid inverts, the burden this places on the non-dependent population could further contribute to a deeper decline in birth rates.  The more resources (time and money) non-dependent individuals have to dedicate to the elderly (dependents), the less they can allocate to producing new births (also dependents): - An only child who has to care for both parents will bear a burden of 2 (2 ÷ 1). - Three siblings who share the responsibility of caring for their parents will bear a burden of 0.6 (2 ÷ 3). This burden on only children could, in many cases, be significant enough to prevent them from having children of their own. In Spain, the generation of only children reached reproductive age in 2019(*), this means that right now the majority of people in reproductive age in Spain are only child (or getting very close to it). If this assumption is correct, and aging feeds on itself, then, given that Spain has one of the worst demographic imbalances in the world, this phenomenon is likely to manifest through worsening birth rates. Spain’s current birth rate of 1.1 may not yet have reached its lowest point. (*)_Birth rate table and the year in which each generation reaches 32 years of age, Spain._ | **Year of birth** | **Birth rate** | **Year in which the generation turns 32** | | ------------------ | -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | 1971 | 2.88 | 2003 | | 1972 | 2.85 | 2004 | | 1973 | 2.82 | 2005 | | 1974 | 2.81 | 2006 | | 1975 | 2.77 | 2007 | | 1976 | 2.77 | 2008 | | 1977 | 2.65 | 2009 | | 1978 | 2.54 | 2010 | | 1979 | 2.37 | 2011 | | 1980 | 2.21 | 2012 | | 1981 | 2.04 | 2013 | | 1982 | 1.94 | 2014 | | 1983 | 1.80 | 2015 | | 1984 | 1.72 | 2016 | | 1985 | 1.64 | 2017 | | 1986 | 1.55 | 2018 | | 1987 | 1.49 | 2019 | | 1988 | 1.45 | 2020 | | 1989 | 1.40 | 2021 | | 1990 | 1.36 | 2022 | | 1991 | 1.33 | 2023 | | 1992 | 1.31 | 2024 | | 1993 | 1.26 | 2025 | | 1994 | 1.19 | 2026 | | 1995 | 1.16 | 2027 | | 1996 | 1.14 | 2028 | | 1997 | 1.15 | 2029 | | 1998 | 1.13 | 2030 | | 1999 | 1.16 | 2031 | | 2000 | 1.21 | 2032 | | 2001 | 1.24 | 2033 | | 2002 | 1.25 | 2034 | | 2003 | 1.30 | 2035 | | 2004 | 1.32 | 2036 | | 2005 | 1.33 | 2037 | | 2006 | 1.36 | 2038 | | 2007 | 1.38 | 2039 | | 2008 | 1.44 | 2040 | | 2009 | 1.38 | 2041 | | 2010 | 1.37 | 2042 | | 2011 | 1.34 | 2043 | | 2012 | 1.32 | 2044 | | 2013 | 1.27 | 2045 | | 2014 | 1.32 | 2046 | | 2015 | 1.33 | 2047 | | 2016 | 1.34 | 2048 | | 2017 | 1.31 | 2049 | | 2018 | 1.26 | 2050 | | 2019 | 1.24 | 2051 | | 2020 | 1.19 | 2052 |

@ a367f9eb:0633efea

Through my work as a consumer advocate, both as the deputy director of the **Consumer Choice Center** and a Fellow at the **Bitcoin Policy Institute**, I’ve contributed to various model policies that can be enacted at a state-level in the United States to help advance Bitcoin. Working with state lawmakers, policy organizations, and fellow passionate bitcoiners, these are some of the model policies we offer open-source to anyone who would like to pass something similar in their state. An active list can be found on [GitHub](https://github.com/yaeloss/Bitcoin-Model-Policies).\ \ [*Smart Cryptocurrency Rules Act*](https://github.com/yaeloss/Bitcoin-Model-Policies/tree/main/Smart-Cryptocurrency-Rules-Act)\ \ –This model policy was adopted by the American Legislative Exchange Council on [July 29, 2022](https://alec.org/model-policy/the-smart-cryptocurrency-rules-act/).\ \ [*Reject CBDCs and Protect Financial Privacy Act*](https://github.com/yaeloss/Bitcoin-Model-Policies/tree/main/Reject-CBDCs-and-Protect-Financial-Privacy-Act)\ \ –This model policy was adopted by the American Legislative Exchange Council on [August 28, 2023](https://alec.org/model-policy/reject-cbdcs-and-protect-financial-privacy-act/). –This model policy was SIGNED into law in the state of SOUTH DAKOTA on February 27, 2024 as [HB1161](https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/24958). –This model policy was SIGNED into law in the state of INDIANA on March 11, 2024 as [SB180](https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2024/bills/senate/180/details). –This model policy was SIGNED into law by the state of UTAH on March 13, 2024 as [HB164](https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0164.html). –This model policy was SIGNED into law in the state of LOUISIANA on June 19, 2024 as [HB488](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=246246). –This model policy was SIGNED into law by the state of GEORGIA on July 1, 2024 as [HB1053](https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1053/2023). –This model policy was SIGNED into law by the NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY overriding a gubernatorial veto on September 9, 2024 as [H690](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookup/2023/H690). –This model policy was PASSED by the MISSOURI STATE HOUSE on March 5, 2024 as [HB1676](https://legiscan.com/MO/bill/HB1676/2024). –This model policy was INTRODUCED into the MISSOURI STATE SENATE on December 1, 2023 as [SB826](https://legiscan.com/MO/bill/SB826/2024). –The model policy was INTRODUCED into the IOWA LEGISLATURE on February 7, 2024 as [HF2358](https://legiscan.com/IA/bill/HF2358/2023). \*\*\ **PURPOSE**\ \ The purpose of the [GitHub page](https://github.com/yaeloss/Bitcoin-Model-Policies) is to provide state and local legislators with a template of consumer-friendly policies on Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance.\ \ As model policies, these serve the purpose of providing general guidelines or goals to achieve in state legislation, and will therefore require various amendments, customizations, and accommodations with existing laws and regulations.\ \ State lawmakers and their staff are encouraged to take parts, or the whole, of these model policies to help usher in consumer-friendly policies on cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance in their jurisdiction.\ \ Members of the public are encouraged to suggest their own edits.\ \ **GITHUB MODIFICATIONS AND COMMITS**\ \ This GitHub repository will serve as the living model for these model policies.\ \ Edits, modifications, and additions are welcome by all. Doing so helps better crowdsource the most appropriate and beneficial rules on digital assets such as Bitcoin and its crypto-offspring, as well as any industries, projects, or protocols that may support them.\ \ Considering the complex nature of digital assets and decentralized blockchain technology, there are inevitably concerns that are not addressed by these model policies. However, this repository should serve as collection of templates for future action and language, while remaining loyal to the consumer-friendly principles of open and decentralized blockchains and related industries.\ \ Updates can be found on GitHub here: <https://github.com/yaeloss/Bitcoin-Model-Policies>

@ ccc8ee23:9f3d9783

## Chef's notes Indulge in tender, golden-fried chicken breast, crunchy with every bite. Nestled on a bed of steamed rice, this dish is elevated by a rich, velvety curry sauce, infused with the warmth of fragrant spices and the umami depth of soy. Paired with vibrant vegetables for a harmonious balance of textures and flavors, this comforting classic promises to delight your soul. ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 10 min - 🍳 Cook time: 30 min - 🍽️ Servings: 2 ## Ingredients - Chicken Fillet 250 grams - Potato 100 grams - Egg 1 pc - Curry block 2 pcs or 20 grams - breadcrumbs 100 grams / 2 cups - flour 20 grams - Cooking oil (for frying) - chicken or vegetable stock 500ml - soy sauce 1 tbsp - Seasoning - onion 1 pc, finely chopped - garlic cloves 2 pcs, minced - carrot 1 pc, chopped ## Directions 1. Chicken Katsu: Pound the chicken breasts until about 1/2 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper. Coat each piece in flour, then dip in beaten egg, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Heat oil in a pan and fry the chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and fully cooked. Place on paper towels to drain. 2. Make Curry Sauce: In a pan, sauté the onion, garlic, add potato and carrot until soft. Gradually add curry block and the stock, stir well. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until thickened. Add seasoning and soy sauce to taste. 3. Plating: Slice the cooked chicken katsu and place it over a bed of steamed rice. Pour the curry sauce on the side or over the chicken. Garnish with chopped green chilies.

@ 7776c32d:45558888

A Bitcoin or doggie coin name service can compete with DNS without any changes to the network. A Monero fork can probably compete with estate planning services. These undertakings would be disastrous for the American military industrial complex and its associated global deep state. ## Taking on DNS The BTC / doge name service could be based on a burn address, or maybe the wallet address of a charity selected by the community. This is probably not a new idea. It feels like either I've read about it before, or at least someone else would have thought of it before. You would register a name by encrypting the name registration data, converting it into a numeric format, making a throwaway wallet with the total plus transaction fees, and sending the data as transactions to the designated address, followed by doing the same with the private key to prevent duplication bots. For example, if the format ends up being `"name=URI"` then you could encrypt the string `"fiatjaf=nostr:npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6"` using a throwaway wallet's key, and convert the encrypted binary to a number sequence, then send a series of transactions in amounts matching the encrypted number sequence, in order to link fiatjaf's name to his npub. You would have to send the private key in the next block(s) after the encrypted data is confirmed, so that nobody can intentionally generate conflicting claims by copying data from mempools before it can reach a block, but everyone can decrypt the data once it's confirmed, to see the name registry. Using the throwaway wallet's own key also helps ensure the use of throwaway wallets is standardized, so we don't promote address reuse outside of these temporary wallets. Finding an npub by its name would require scanning all the transactions sent to the designated address and finding the first instance of that name being registered. Reject duplicates: first-come first-serve, like DNS-backed username selection systems. If there are two attempts to register a name in the same block, reject both, with no refunds. Anyone who keeps fighting for a contested name will keep losing money until they either give up, or have the luck and determination to win. If a name is constantly fought over by many people, it might never actually become available - so be it. The standard could optionally also include a way for an npub to sign a transfer of its name to another npub. Leaving this out would discourage hoarding names to sell later. Note: I'm pretty sure using Bitcoin (instead of doggie coin) would also just make name registry insanely expensive. By my understanding, this name service should not use Monero because it doesn't need privacy, and would only undermine the Monero network's privacy mechanisms. ### Why this matters It doesn't have to be this design, we just need a way to allow decentralized registry of non-conflicting names with character lengths dependent on how many names are already taken, on a first-come first-serve basis. This is important because so many users prefer that kind of system over a long randomly-generated address, and in some contexts, like QR codes, a longer address has a direct disadvantage over a shorter string. Meanwhile, this method still relies on decentralized, randomized address spaces with character count determined by the needed address space size (npubs / wallet addresses). ## Securing your estate The more tricky thing to approach is the estate. If Monero works, inheritance could be made permissionless and decentralized using scheduled transactions, or transaction timers. You would enter a wallet address, and a time; until then, you can still cancel the transaction, if you have the key. Certainly not a new idea - very simple. For it to work at all, Monero's privacy tech is needed to prevent the global deep state from simply cutting off lines of succession before funds can be transferred. Unfortunately, Monero and its community might each have fatal flaws - it's unclear. ### The possible problem with Monero itself If Monero has an inflation exploit that can't be mitigated, then it would fail when this is revealed. It remains to be seen whether this flaw exists at all, but if so, unfixable inflation would be a fatal flaw. The more years go by without such a bug being identified, the less likely it seems that one exists. I say it's already worth a try with how long we've made it so far. ### The possible problem with the community Many Monero proponents pretend it already offers immediate privacy, and this fantasy undermines Monero's ability to help provide actual privacy in the future. We know the percentage of Monero's anonymity set that can be de-anonymized by deep state surveillance tech is far above 0, but we don't know if it is or will ever be below 100. If Monero never lives up to its promise of providing privacy, it can fail because it can be stopped by force. It remains to be seen whether false hype will be a fatal flaw or not. This is the universe testing whether Monero is a sufficiently strong idea to undermine today's brainwashing. If Monero helps people realize they can and should shut down the global deep state surveillance network and start mass-producing electronics without backdoors, people probably can and will do that, and then transactions could really have some assured anonymity. ### Why this matters Most people are cowards, easily driven to work themselves to death by how dangerous it is to stand against the global deep state. As crude oil continues to run out, anyone with any wealth is increasingly faced with 4 choices: 1. Work for the global deep state until they discard you so they'll let you use banking and stuff until then. 2. Work against the global deep state, but manage your own money alone so if they can't take it for themselves, at least you're the only person they have to kill to get rid of it. 3. Work against the global deep state, but entrust close associates to help you manage your money so they'll be targeted too. 4. Work against the global deep state, but entrust the banking system with your money so they can just take it with or without killing you. I live under option 2, and it's one of the reasons I live with a highly elevated risk of being murdered. If I am murdered, my loved ones get very little, because most of my wealth is in wallets they can't recover. My mom's chance at retirement would be pretty much gone with me. But at least, since she can't recover the wallets, she's not another target to go after over the money, as it grows in value. Likewise, I perhaps get some tiny bit of security from the possibility that it might be more useful to have me alive to get money from later, than to kill me with wallets maybe nobody can recover after I'm dead. It's not very effective. The global deep state can just print money freely, as long as people like me don't make it too far in waking up people who are brainwashed enough to use freely-printed money. I tell people they should raise their kids not to file taxes. The deep state wouldn't really care if they can't get my money because I'm dead - they might just do whatever it takes to get rid of me, and make sure my money stops being in the hands of anyone who would use it the way I do. It sucks that I don't have a better choice for my personal security than this. The more wealth you have, the scarier it is to stand against the deep state. The wealthier I get, the scarier it gets. You remember when Warren Buffett called Bitcoin "rat poison" - you know, back when 1 Bitcoin traded for around 150 Uncle Sam Dinobux, up about 150,000% from past lows of 10 cents? You think maybe he's retarded? You think maybe he's a demonic lizard person who just wants you to be poor? He had reason to be upset. The poor old man's brain doesn't want to admit even with all his money, he's a slave. He doesn't quite understand the problem, but he knows Bitcoin promises to solve it for him, and fails. That's instinct. It's dangerous to think it through. It's dangerous to follow that instinct. He could be killed if he follows that instinct. The rat that leaves at the "it's rat poison" instinct lives longer than the rat that investigates further. We Bitcoiners are simply tougher rats. That's not a mockery of Warren Buffett's statement - it's a true extension of what he was saying. Now do you understand him? How much of your money would you have put in Bitcoin at that time if you were Warren Buffett? None? Just a secret little bit, so maybe if the secret gets out there will be huge news headlines and Berkshire Hathaway shareholders arguing about whether it's legal or ethical for you to secretly own this stuff? Just a publicly-announced little bit, announced before buying, so you get worse prices? Or announced after buying, so you're accused of price manipulation, especially if you sell at the higher prices you create, and that effectively means the money is locked? How much actually though? Pick a number. If you picked 10 cents worth of Bitcoin, congratulations. You've just triggered a massive wave of news headlines about the Oracle of Omaha investing in Bitcoin. This will accelerate Bitcoin awareness, and thus accelerate the collapse of the financial empire most of your wealth is in - but you're way ahead of the game because you already have 10 cents worth of Bitcoin. Soon, that 10 cents worth of Bitcoin will be worth more than all the other wealth you have. Not very soon though, if ever, actually, come to think of it. So do you want more? You could go with a whole Bitcoin. That's about $150 - not far from 10 cents for someone as rich as you, but the growth will be significant far sooner. You can still have your friends in the media spin it as a joke, just as easily as you could with a 10 cent purchase, to suppress the Bitcoin-awareness-boosting effect. Is it worth it? Just a bit faster collapse of your multibillion dollar empire, so you can be early with your 1 Bitcoin? Probably not worth it. How about more? 10 Bitcoin? Now it's getting difficult to spin as a joke, but still probably not worth it. 100 Bitcoin? Definitely not a joke. Now you're guaranteeing this is going to be the biggest story on CNBC that day. Did you remember to bribe all 3 branches a big enough amount to convince them to let you collapse their whole system? Too bad, they're laughing at you for thinking you actually had enough money for your bribes to have such a big impact. Some guy is probably on TV talking about how the SEC is investigating you now. They are big mad you didn't give them time to run various crypto scams and think about how to handle various court decisions before triggering an unexpected change in the public narrative. But at least you have 100 Bitcoin. Soon, that will be worth more than all the other wealth you're collapsing to get it this early. Still want more? Want to start filing the paperwork you need to file to resign from Berkshire Hathaway as soon as possible and liquidate every stock you can liquidate for Bitcoin while moving to a country unfriendly with the US military industrial complex? Want to skip the paperwork and just film a Vine saying you're going renegade, then withdraw what you can from bank accounts until they get frozen? Vine is big at this time. That would be epic, but Dairy Queen would still be selling ice cream for dollars in the US, and Charlie Munger would be writing you letters like "why have you foresaken everything we built together, Warren? Remember how we used to roll around in piles of money? What happened to that?" Would it have been better to stay at Berkshire Hathaway, taking the company and its shareholders to war against the central banking cartel? OK. Great. That's what I'd have done, too. We are tougher rats. Don't forget to buy Predator drones while you're buying Bitcoin, because the feds have them, so your army of shareholders will need them. Consider nuclear deterrents as well - maybe that's what it will take, in order to be a serious contender. How does a nuclear deterrent actually work though? It doesn't. If you're going to bring the war criminals running the American military industrial complex to justice, they might as well do a nuclear apocalypse. They don't give a fuck. So what actual deterrent can you rely on against people who have almost enough firepower (and more than enough retardation) to glass the planet? We went over that earlier. You can manage the money yourself, so the deep state can either kill you to get rid of any wallets that can't be recovered without you, or keep you alive and negotiate with you based on your wealth. You can involve others, spreading the pool of possible targets. If you don't have a network of trusted people in very strong positions to resist deep state targeting, that's not a very strong play either. In the bigger picture, they're the ones with the network of trusted people in very strong positions. That's the problem. That's what the global deep state is. So maybe it's just a suicide mission. Maybe, if you're with the wimpy rats who have nukes, you can't just betray them and bring your forces to join the "tougher rats." Maybe the transition isn't going to happen without a better strategy. So it might seem like Bitcoin is just designed to make poor people label themselves as targets for the deep state, in a fake and hopeless conflict over liberty, while wealthy elites are smart enough to instinctively avoid the so-called "rat poison." Instead of buying Bitcoin, maybe Warren Buffett should have started working on analyzing the design and making improvements that would increase Bitcoin's potential usefulness for wealthy people like him. Maybe he should have found a way Bitcoin could have a better chance at defeating the deep state. But you don't have to be Warren Buffett to do that. For example, you could be Nicolas van Saberhagen, thinking about ways a private version of Bitcoin might work someday - Monero. You could be someone like me, a proponent of the simple idea of scheduled Monero transactions, or transaction timers. When Monero becomes private, this would enable someone like Warren Buffett to hold cryptocurrency with self-sovereignty, using the ancient traditional deterrent of the line of succession. The concept is simple: kill me to get rid of my wealth and you clearly have no idea what you're doing, because the wealth is just going to someone else who thinks like me. With a private blockchain, there will sometimes be no way of knowing who. Even without the assurance of privacy, there's already another deterrent: if you kill me and use secret surveillance tools to identify every heir for further targeting, you run the risk of being noticed and inspiring the development of more privacy tech, especially backdoor-free open-source hardware, which could drastically increase the number of Monero users you are unable to de-anonymize in the future. Paragraph crossed out, see comment section for explanation: ~~Ideally, timed or scheduled transactions could be added to a whole new fork launched after some publicity, with no pre-mine (obviously), with a user-friendly Android mining app available on day one. This would serve partly to help drive decentralization, and partly to help enable significant holdings for low-income late adopters of other cryptocurrencies, making the space less discouraging for late adopters to join in overall, and thus potentially eating away much faster at deep state dollar dominance.~~

@ a367f9eb:0633efea

I’ll admit that I was wrong about Bitcoin. Perhaps in 2013. Definitely 2017. Probably in 2018-2019. And maybe even today. Being wrong about Bitcoin is part of finally understanding it. It will test you, make you question everything, and in the words of BTC educator and privacy advocate [Matt Odell](https://twitter.com/ODELL), “Bitcoin will humble you”. I’ve had my own stumbles on the way. In a very public fashion in 2017, after years of using Bitcoin, trying to start a company with it, using it as my primary exchange vehicle between currencies, and generally being annoying about it at parties, I let out the bear. In an article published in my own literary magazine *Devolution Review* in September 2017, I had a breaking point. The article was titled “[Going Bearish on Bitcoin: Cryptocurrencies are the tulip mania of the 21st century](https://www.devolutionreview.com/bearish-on-bitcoin/)”. It was later republished in *Huffington Post* and across dozens of financial and crypto blogs at the time with another, more appropriate title: “[Bitcoin Has Become About The Payday, Not Its Potential](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/bitcoin-has-become-about-the-payday-not-its-potential_ca_5cd5025de4b07bc72973ec2d)”. As I laid out, my newfound bearishness had little to do with the technology itself or the promise of Bitcoin, and more to do with the cynical industry forming around it: > In the beginning, Bitcoin was something of a revolution to me. The digital currency represented everything from my rebellious youth. > > It was a decentralized, denationalized, and digital currency operating outside the traditional banking and governmental system. It used tools of cryptography and connected buyers and sellers across national borders at minimal transaction costs. > > … > > The 21st-century version (of Tulip mania) has welcomed a plethora of slick consultants, hazy schemes dressed up as investor possibilities, and too much wishy-washy language for anything to really make sense to anyone who wants to use a digital currency to make purchases. While I called out Bitcoin by name at the time, on reflection, I was really talking about the ICO craze, the wishy-washy consultants, and the altcoin ponzis. What I was articulating — without knowing it — was the frame of NgU, or “numbers go up”. Rather than advocating for Bitcoin because of its uncensorability, proof-of-work, or immutability, the common mentality among newbies and the dollar-obsessed was that Bitcoin mattered because its price was a rocket ship. And because Bitcoin was gaining in price, affinity tokens and projects that were imperfect forks of Bitcoin took off as well. The price alone — rather than its qualities — were the reasons why you’d hear Uber drivers, finance bros, or your gym buddy mention Bitcoin. As someone who came to Bitcoin for philosophical reasons, that just sat wrong with me. Maybe I had too many projects thrown in my face, or maybe I was too frustrated with the UX of Bitcoin apps and sites at the time. No matter what, I’ve since learned something. **I was at least somewhat wrong.** My own journey began in early 2011. One of my favorite radio programs, Free Talk Live, began interviewing guests and having discussions on the potential of Bitcoin. They tied it directly to a libertarian vision of the world: free markets, free people, and free banking. That was me, and I was in. Bitcoin was at about $5 back then (NgU). I followed every article I could, talked about it with guests [on my college radio show](https://libertyinexile.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/osamobama_on_the_tubes/), and became a devoted redditor on r/Bitcoin. At that time, at least to my knowledge, there was no possible way to buy Bitcoin where I was living. Very weak. **I was probably wrong. And very wrong for not trying to acquire by mining or otherwise.** The next year, after moving to Florida, Bitcoin was a heavy topic with a friend of mine who shared the same vision (and still does, according to the Celsius bankruptcy documents). We talked about it with passionate leftists at **Occupy Tampa** in 2012, all the while trying to explain the ills of Keynesian central banking, and figuring out how to use Coinbase. I began writing more about Bitcoin in 2013, writing a guide on “[How to Avoid Bank Fees Using Bitcoin](http://thestatelessman.com/2013/06/03/using-bitcoin/),” discussing its [potential legalization in Germany](https://yael.ca/2013/10/01/lagefi-alternative-monetaire-et-legislation-de/), and interviewing Jeremy Hansen, [one of the first political candidates in the U.S. to accept Bitcoin donations](https://yael.ca/2013/12/09/bitcoin-politician-wants-to-upgrade-democracy-in/). Even up until that point, I thought Bitcoin was an interesting protocol for sending and receiving money quickly, and converting it into fiat. The global connectedness of it, plus this cypherpunk mentality divorced from government control was both useful and attractive. I thought it was the perfect go-between. **But I was wrong.** When I gave my [first public speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtVypq2f0G4) on Bitcoin in Vienna, Austria in December 2013, I had grown obsessed with Bitcoin’s adoption on dark net markets like Silk Road. My theory, at the time, was the number and price were irrelevant. The tech was interesting, and a novel attempt. It was unlike anything before. But what was happening on the dark net markets, which I viewed as the true free market powered by Bitcoin, was even more interesting. I thought these markets would grow exponentially and anonymous commerce via BTC would become the norm. While the price was irrelevant, it was all about buying and selling goods without permission or license. **Now I understand I was wrong.** Just because Bitcoin was this revolutionary technology that embraced pseudonymity did not mean that all commerce would decentralize as well. It did not mean that anonymous markets were intended to be the most powerful layer in the Bitcoin stack. What I did not even anticipate is something articulated very well by noted Bitcoin OG [Pierre Rochard](https://twitter.com/BitcoinPierre): [Bitcoin as a *savings technology*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BavRqEoaxjI)*.* The ability to maintain long-term savings, practice self-discipline while stacking stats, and embrace a low-time preference was just not something on the mind of the Bitcoiners I knew at the time. Perhaps I was reading into the hype while outwardly opposing it. Or perhaps I wasn’t humble enough to understand the true value proposition that many of us have learned years later. In the years that followed, I bought and sold more times than I can count, and I did everything to integrate it into passion projects. I tried to set up a company using Bitcoin while at my university in Prague. My business model depended on university students being technologically advanced enough to have a mobile wallet, own their keys, and be able to make transactions on a consistent basis. Even though I was surrounded by philosophically aligned people, those who would advance that to actually put Bitcoin into practice were sparse. This is what led me to proclaim that “[Technological Literacy is Doomed](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/technological-literacy-is-doomed_b_12669440)” in 2016. **And I was wrong again.** Indeed, since that time, the UX of Bitcoin-only applications, wallets, and supporting tech has vastly improved and onboarded millions more people than anyone thought possible. The entrepreneurship, coding excellence, and vision offered by Bitcoiners of all stripes have renewed a sense in me that this project is something built for us all — friends and enemies alike. While many of us were likely distracted by flashy and pumpy altcoins over the years (me too, champs), most of us have returned to the Bitcoin stable. Fast forward to today, there are entire ecosystems of creators, activists, and developers who are wholly reliant on the magic of Bitcoin’s protocol for their life and livelihood. The options are endless. The FUD is still present, but real proof of work stands powerfully against those forces. In addition, there are now [dozens of ways to use Bitcoin privately](https://fixthemoney.substack.com/p/not-your-keys-not-your-coins-claiming) — still without custodians or intermediaries — that make it one of the most important assets for global humanity, especially in dictatorships. This is all toward a positive arc of innovation, freedom, and pure independence. Did I see that coming? Absolutely not. Of course, there are probably other shots you’ve missed on Bitcoin. Price predictions (ouch), the short-term inflation hedge, or the amount of institutional investment. While all of these may be erroneous predictions in the short term, we have to realize that Bitcoin is a long arc. It will outlive all of us on the planet, and it will continue in its present form for the next generation. **Being wrong about the evolution of Bitcoin is no fault, and is indeed part of the learning curve to finally understanding it all.** When your family or friends ask you about Bitcoin after your endless sessions explaining market dynamics, nodes, how mining works, and the genius of cryptographic signatures, try to accept that there is still so much we have to learn about this decentralized digital cash. There are still some things you’ve gotten wrong about Bitcoin, and plenty more you’ll underestimate or get wrong in the future. That’s what makes it a beautiful journey. It’s a long road, but one that remains worth it.

@ 7776c32d:45558888

I am still more censored than I was when Aaron Swartz was alive. For nostr to resist censorship, it would need a way for intellectuals to find each other and not be drowned out by anti-intellectual screeching. Nostr is currently so anti-intellectual that this propagandist gets multiple likes, probably enough to be in trending feeds, for a post (she's reposted herself) pretending the word "car" is the best example she can think of for media bias today.  Meanwhile, I get no engagement for bringing a valuable infographic about media bias over from X.  The same incoherent propagandist gets multiple likes on a post lying about Hawk Tuah token. She doesn't quote post my prior post about the same topic to give credit to me as a faster news reporter, because she knows I am not a fake news reporter, meaning I will correct her misinformation, and indeed my post already contradicts some of it (the part about Haliey herself being sued).  Notice the lack of likes on my replies calling out her misinformation; and also none on my earlier, more accurate post about the same topic. The dishonest propaganda gets all the likes while the actual reporting on the same topic, faster, gets none. When I've called out this retard's lies on the same topic in the past, getting almost no engagement has been the norm, but it's been negative engagement overall. Here's her and some reply guy gaslighting me and, as always, she did not follow up to actually address my points, apologize, or hold any attempt at genuine, good-faith discussion in general.  It's not like I'm cherry picking. Let's look at the statistics.  According to nostr.band this anti-intellectual dickhead has reposted 33 events (from 8 other npubs), and her posts have been reposted 666 times. I have reposted 367 events (from 214 other npubs), and mine have been reposted 108 times. But enough about her. The #pandemic hashtag has gone from being full of pandemic deniers to having more people talking about the next pandemic - bird flu - while still nobody on that hashtag is using nostr to talk about COVID, the ongoing pandemic we still have. nostr:nevent1qqs9gvuhvphwvxm96zl58ygxdp3w8jjpyl2hqhg0j2xhxfms73qls8sw7yhx3 I have stood for well over a year as the only person in the group of *English speakers smart enough to understand the importance of both the pandemic and decentralized digital networks*. That's so fucking depressing, enraging, and terrifying to me. This shit makes me bloodthirsty. Luckily I can get away with killing people sometimes; and more often, inconveniencing them, by stealing essential parts from the boxes of products they'll buy, or cutting them off in traffic, or other things like that, to vent my disdain for my fellow humans. People lie so much, the main comfort for me has been the brief time when Digit considered me a friend; she who seemed to also kinda see through all the lies. You know what's stopping me from hurting anyone right now? The hope that Digit is still alive, and I keep thinking about this thread, where she was mentioned.  Someone showed curiosity about her, and someone else said "thank you (and Digit) so much." That "thank you and Digit" has been keeping me going on less toxic energy for those few days.

@ 6e468422:15deee93

We didn't hear them land on earth, nor did we see them. The spores were not visible to the naked eye. Like dust particles, they softly fell, unhindered, through our atmosphere, covering the earth. It took us a while to realize that something extraordinary was happening on our planet. In most places, the mushrooms didn't grow at all. The conditions weren't right. In some places—mostly rocky places—they grew large enough to be noticeable. People all over the world posted pictures online. "White eggs," they called them. It took a bit until botanists and mycologists took note. Most didn't realize that we were dealing with a species unknown to us. We aren't sure who sent them. We aren't even sure if there is a "who" behind the spores. But once the first portals opened up, we learned that these mushrooms aren't just a quirk of biology. The portals were small at first—minuscule, even. Like a pinhole camera, we were able to glimpse through, but we couldn't make out much. We were only able to see colors and textures if the conditions were right. We weren't sure what we were looking at. We still don't understand why some mushrooms open up, and some don't. Most don't. What we do know is that they like colder climates and high elevations. What we also know is that the portals don't stay open for long. Like all mushrooms, the flush only lasts for a week or two. When a portal opens, it looks like the mushroom is eating a hole into itself at first. But the hole grows, and what starts as a shimmer behind a grey film turns into a clear picture as the egg ripens. When conditions are right, portals will remain stable for up to three days. Once the fruit withers, the portal closes, and the mushroom decays. The eggs grew bigger year over year. And with it, the portals. Soon enough, the portals were big enough to stick your finger through. And that's when things started to get weird...

@ 472f440f:5669301e

There was a bit of a rally in stock markets today, but this was a relief rally after taking a beating throughout the week. All eyes were on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as he took the stage on Wednesday to announce the decisions made at the most recent FOMC meeting. The market reacted negatively to another 0.25% cut from the Federal Reserve that many considered a "hawkish cut" due to the fact that Chairman Powell articulated that it is likely that there will be less rate cuts in 2025 than were previously expected. This is likely driven by the fact that inflation, as reported by the terribly inaccurate CPI, has been coming in higher than expectations. Signaling that the Fed does not, in fact, have inflation under control. Who could have seen that coming? Here's how the US 10Y Treasury yield reacted to the announcement: "Not great Bob!" The US 10Y Treasury yield is something that everyone should be paying attention to over the course of the next year. Since the Fed started cutting rates in September of this year, the 10Y yield has been acting anomalously compared to how it has acted historically after Fed interest rate decisions. Since September, the market has been calling the Fed's bluff on inflation and rates have been moving in the opposite direction compared to what would be expected if the Fed had things under control. The "hawkish cut" made on Wednesday is not a great sign. The Fed is being forced to recognize that it cut "too much too fast" before actually getting inflation under control. One has to wonder why they made such aggressive moves in September. Why the need for a much more dovish stance as quickly as they moved? Do they see something behind the scenes of the banking system that makes them believe that another liquidity crisis was on the horizon and they needed to act to prevent yet another banking crisis? Now that it is clear that inflation isn't under control and if there really was a liquidity crisis on the horizon, what are the first two quarters of 2025 going to look like? Could we find ourselves in a situation where inflation is beginning to accelerate again, there is a liquidity crisis, and the Fed is forced to rush back ZIRP and QE only to further exacerbate inflation? Couple this potential scenario with the proposed economic policy from the incoming Trump administration and it isn't hard to see that we could be in for a period of economic pain. One can only hope that the Fed and the incoming administration have the intestinal fortitude to let the market correct appropriately, reprice, clear out the bad assets and credit that exists in the system and let the cleanse happen relatively unperturbed. That has what has been desperately needed since 2008, arguably longer. On that note, bitcoin is going through a bull market correction this week as well. Likely incited and/or exacerbated by the turmoil in traditional markets. Many are proclaiming that the end of this bull market is here. Don't listen to those who have been hate tweeting bitcoin all the way up this year. They've been looking for a correction to bask in schadenfreude and confirm their biases. These types of corrections are to be expected when bitcoin runs by checks notes 100% over the course of less than three months. We're approaching the end of the year, which means that people are selling to prepare for taxes (which may be happening in the stock market as well). Add to this fact that long-term holders of bitcoin have taken the most profit they have since 2018 and it probably explains the recent pull back. Can't blame the long-term holders for seeing six-figure bitcoin and deciding to bolster their cash balances. I couldn't be more bullish on bitcoin than I am right now. The fundamentals surrounding the market couldn't be more perfect. Despite what the Trump administration may have in store for us in terms of economic policy (I agree with most of the policies he has presented), I find it hard to believe that even he and the talented team of people he has surrounded himself with can overcome the momentum of the problems that have been building up in the system for the last 16-years. The "find safety in sats" trade is going mainstream as the market becomes more familiar with bitcoin, its properties, and the fact that it is very unlikely that it is going to die. The fervor around bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset for nation states is only picking up. And if it catches on, we will enter territory for bitcoin that was considered utterly insane only a year ago. On that note, Nic Carter made some buzz today with a piece he wrote for Bitcoin Magazine explaining why he believes a strategic bitcoin reserve is a bad idea for the US government. https://bitcoinmagazine.com/politics/i-dont-support-a-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-neither-should-you While I agree that the signal the US government could send by acquiring a bitcoin strategic reserve could be bad for the US treasuries market, I think it comes down to strategy. The Trump administration will have to think strategically about how they acquire their Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. If they ape in, it could send the wrong message and cause everyone to dump their treasuries, which are the most popular form of collateral in the global financial system. However, there are ways to acquire bitcoin slowly but surely from here into the future that ensure that the United States gets proper exposure to the asset to protect itself from the out-of-control debt problem while also providing itself with a way out of the problem. Many of these potential strategies were discussed in two recent episodes I recorded. One with Matthew Pines from the Bitcoin Policy Institute and another with Matthew Mežinskis from Porkopolis Economics. I highly recommend you all check those out (linked below). https://youtu.be/xyyeEqFVjBY https://youtu.be/6vgesP9LIXk .--- Final thought... I am the most locked in from a focus perspective while on flights. Even with two kids under 5. Merry Christmas, Freaks!

@ 9711d1ab:863ebd81

One of the best parts about running Breez is the diverse range of people I get to meet and work with. We have partners from [Jamaica](https://medium.com/breez-technology/building-on-lightning-flash-is-reinventing-caribbean-money-with-the-breez-sdk-d26ef8b81fb8), the [USA](https://medium.com/breez-technology/the-breez-sdk-is-helping-crowdhealth-help-bitcoiners-help-each-other-9dd0e19e2c58), [Switzerland](https://medium.com/breez-technology/its-a-relai-not-a-sprint-swiss-bitcoin-only-broker-opts-for-the-breez-sdk-9d05b7906715), [Germany](https://medium.com/breez-technology/building-on-lightning-how-satimoto-is-beating-fiat-with-the-breez-sdk-88aa8252a994), [Canada](https://blockstream.com/), [Estonia](https://medium.com/breez-technology/bringin-bitcoin-to-retail-banking-with-the-breez-sdk-e4d5822dca5c), and who knows where else. We have users in [Finland](https://medium.com/breez-technology/lightning-in-the-wild-a-budding-ecosystem-in-finland-8b0f971ebe4f), [Wales](https://medium.com/breez-technology/lightning-in-the-wild-3-a-creative-family-innovates-with-breez-732368a01d7d), [Namibia](https://medium.com/breez-technology/lightning-in-the-wild-fromthejump-podcast-fd90164b2146), [India](https://medium.com/breez-technology/the-breez-release-candidate-getting-lightning-ready-for-the-global-takeover-b5d1f9756229), and almost everywhere else. The people behind Breez are split across three continents and come from a broad range of national and ethnic backgrounds. Agreeing on a communication platform (Telegram? Slack? Zoom? Discord?) sometimes takes a bit of coordination. What never needs coordination, though, is the *language* we use to communicate. It’s always automatically English. For many of us, English is our second (or third, or fourth) language, and parts of it are baffling, but it doesn’t matter. Every initial contact is in English, all channels are automatically in English, and all public communication (like this blog) is in English. There’s not even a contender for second place. And there’s basically no way to change this convention. Nobody could simply decree that we’re all going to start speaking Mandarin or Esperanto or Inuktitut. Whether because of convenience, actual utility, historical imposition, or sheer numbers, English is locked in. But it works, so why mess with it? This example demonstrates a few points. First, the interface between individual nodes in a network — whether people, nations, or communities — has the form of a language. Second, there needs to be a common language. In fact, the limits of the language are the limits of the network. In other words, the distribution of the language *defines the network*. Finally, common languages are very sticky. Once everyone has adapted to a common language, it’s basically locked in. Now for a fact about the present that will irrevocably shape the future: Lightning is emerging as the common language of the bitcoin economy. *Lightning is bitcoin’s Tower of Babel, but nobody wants to tear it down. (Image: Wikimedia)* # **A Common Language among Subnetworks** [We’ve talked before](https://medium.com/breez-technology/liquidity-on-lightning-moving-from-ux-to-economix-6e597d9e1abd) about various last-mile technologies. They’re like the local secondary roads that connect users to the higher-throughput Lightning Network and, ultimately, the Bitcoin mainnet. They all basically work by bundling users and their transactions into subnetworks. For example, [Ark](https://arkdev.info/) and [Liquid](https://docs.liquid.net/docs/welcome-to-liquid-developer-documentation-portal) convert incoming bitcoin into their own mechanisms ([VTXOs](https://arkdev.info/docs/learn/nomenclature) and [L-BTC](https://docs.liquid.net/docs/technical-overview), respectively) that users can then send to each other according to their respective protocols without needing further on-chain transactions. Alternatively, [Fedimint](https://fedimint.org/docs/GettingStarted/What-is-a-Fedimint) members effectively pool their bitcoin and trade IOUs among themselves, with transactions and the financial state of affairs overseen by a federation of trusted guardians. With [Cashu](https://cashu.space/), people exchange e-cash tokens and trust the issuing body. Each kind of subnetwork can use its own language. How the nodes communicate among themselves in these subnetworks is their business. What’s interesting is that these subnetworks *communicate with each other over Lightning*, even if we’re just talking about, say, two different Cashu mints or when a Fedi interacts with an Ark. Lightning is the common language of all the emergent and thriving subnetworks based on bitcoin. Returning to the analogy of English, it doesn’t matter to me what language you speak at home or at the supermarket. You can speak whatever obscure dialect you want with others who understand it. But if you want to talk to me or virtually anyone else on Telegram or Slack, English is really the only option. Nobody could change that even if they wanted to, and nobody seems to want to. Just like Lightning. Lightning is the common language of the emerging subnetworks. It’s the language of bitcoin. # **Why Lightning Is the Optimal Language for Bitcoin** A *common* language is not necessarily an *optimal* language. It just has to work and be broadly accepted. Just like the Bitcoin mainchain has certain advantages (e.g. immutability, openness, borderlessness, etc.) that recommend it for certain uses, Lightning is the best choice for a common language between subnetworks for at least three reasons. *Layered networks interacting via a common language. (Image: Adobe Firefly)* ## **Lightning Is Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Is the Trustless Bearer Asset** The first and probably most important reason why Lightning is the best common language is that [it uses bitcoin](https://medium.com/breez-technology/lightning-btc-iou-62e3a712c913). Simply, the subnetworks might not trust each other, and they have no reason to. But since Bitcoin and, by extension, [Lightning eschew trust](https://medium.com/breez-technology/the-only-thing-better-than-minimal-trust-is-none-at-all-34456f650332), the subnetworks can interact without trust. Bitcoin is the only viable bearer asset, and Lightning is the language of Bitcoin, so Lightning is the best common language for the subnetworks to interact with each other. Further, Lightning, like Bitcoin, also eschews leverage. The whole business model of fractional-reserve banks is based on a hole in their balance sheets. By contrast, every sat on Lightning is accounted for at every moment. A balance sheet displaying all the positions on the network would be perpetually *balanced*. No gap, no overlap. Lightning resists imbalances due to hubris, incompetence, and villainy, which is a necessary feature in a trustless environment. ## **Lightning Is Inherently Transactional and Interoperable** Second, Lightning is a transactional protocol designed to facilitate flow. For normal payments, there’s no mempool and no delay until the next block is mined. [Payments take seconds](https://x.com/Breez_Tech/status/1632387594486009859), if that. And transactions — money in motion — are what make Lightning valuable. [Literally](https://medium.com/breez-technology/lightning-is-a-liquidity-network-550896ca27ea). Static sats on the network don’t earn any return. In order for liquidity on Lightning to grow, it has to flow. A common language won’t be used much if it rewards silence. It must promote communication, which is exactly what Lightning does. Further, the Lightning technology detailed [in the catalog of bolt specs](https://github.com/lightning/bolts) is inherently interoperable. It was designed to enable multiple implementations of Lightning nodes with different designs, trade-offs, and programming languages. All these nodes can, however, interact over a common network because they all support the same bolts. Being interoperable by design makes it easy for other technologies to add Lightning as another interface. ## **Lightning Has Critical Mass** Finally, a common language needs a sizeable community of speakers. Try saying “[skibidi rizz](https://youtu.be/q85IlAx95wA)” in a nursing home or, even better, a nursing home in Cambodia. Perhaps the biggest advantage of English is simply its popularity: [more people speak English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_total_number_of_speakers) than any other language on the planet. And while only a quarter of the inhabitants of many countries speak English, you can still find an English speaker at the next table at virtually every bar and restaurant on the planet. Try that with Catalan. Lightning has already achieved a critical mass. It’s already obvious how a Cashu subnetwork and Fedimint subnetworks will communicate with each other: Lightning. That’s how they were designed, so switching the common language between networks would require rebuilding most of their parts. Like English, whatever language subnetworks use internally, Lightning is the language they use to speak to each other, and it’s already locked in. # **The Permanence of Lightning** Actual lightning — the kind from storm clouds — is a notoriously brief phenomenon. Flashing momentarily and vanishing is its whole thing. But the Lightning Network — the interface between any number of nodes, subnetworks, and the Bitcoin mainchain — is not going anywhere. Common languages tend to [hold that status for centuries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_franca#Historical_lingua_francas). Bitcoin is the world’s best currency. Lightning is the common language of the bitcoin world, and it’s here to stay. For those of us already established in Lightning, this is very good news. That Lightning is locked in means our first-mover advantage is going to be very valuable indeed. But it’s also good news for those just entering Lightning now or considering it. It eliminates uncertainty about which technology to support and invest in. Lightning is going nowhere but up, so it’s never the wrong time to get started. [Better yesterday than today](https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/12/29/plant-tree/), better today than tomorrow, but tomorrow is good too. [The best time to get into Lightning is now](https://breez.technology/sdk/). Always has been. Originally published by Roy Sheinfeld on Breez's [Medium](https://medium.com/breez-technology/lightning-is-the-common-language-of-the-bitcoin-economy-eb8515341c11).

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

The Federal Reserve's explicit prohibition from holding Bitcoin isn't just bureaucratic red tape - it's an unintentional safeguard for financial sovereignty *(The Federal Reserve is explicitly prohibited from holding Bitcoin under current legislation, specifically through restrictions outlined in the Federal Reserve Act. This legal framework strictly defines the types of assets the central bank can maintain on its balance sheet)*. Here's why Bitcoin holders should celebrate this restriction. ## **The Power of Separation** The Fed's inability to hold Bitcoin creates a crucial firewall between state monetary control and genuine financial freedom. When Fed Chairman Powell confirms they cannot hold Bitcoin and aren't seeking changes to this restriction, it maintains Bitcoin's position as the only truly independent monetary asset. ## **Strategic Implications** **Control Vectors**\ Consider the alternative scenario: If the Fed could hold Bitcoin, it would gain multiple control mechanisms: - The ability to manipulate Bitcoin markets through large-scale buying and selling - The power to implement additional taxation schemes - The capacity to create a "balanced budget trap" affecting holders **Regulatory Capture**\ A Federal Reserve Bitcoin holding would subject the asset to: - Stricter banking regulations and supervision - Integration into traditional monetary policy tools - Potential restrictions on peer-to-peer transactions ## **Economic Reality** Let's be crystal clear: Bitcoin's protocol ensures its fixed supply of 21 million coins is immutable - no central bank, including the Federal Reserve, can ever change this fundamental characteristic. However, if allowed to hold Bitcoin, the Fed could attempt to: - Influence market sentiment through strategic accumulation or selling - Create paper derivatives to dilute Bitcoin's scarcity premium - Implement policies that could affect Bitcoin's market accessibility ## **The Freedom Advantage** The inability of the Fed to hold Bitcoin ensures: - Continued decentralization of holdings - Protection from central bank monetary experiments - Preservation of Bitcoin's role as a hedge against federal monetary policy This legal barrier isn't a limitation - it's a feature that protects Bitcoin's fundamental value proposition as a truly independent financial system.

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

Well hello again. This article is meant to have enough text and a range of element types so that we can test them all thoroughly. You are not meant to read it. If you are doing so, you need to ask yourself WTF am I doing? Wasting away reading filler content OMG. Still reading? NGMI. Well, good luck to you. # Testing Lists Here are some bullet points to keep an eye on: - Make sure you walk outside barefoot every day. Grounding is good; - Pounding can be good too, depending on the circumstances; - Not gonna go into details here, hopefully you know what I mean. # Emails someone@email.com <someone@email.com> [someone@email.com]() And here are some numbered points: 1. I found that the most impactful habit for my health is 20-4 paleo; 2. The 2nd most important: daily exercise, preferably outside; 3. Getting deep sleep is up there too. Personally, I need 8 hours; 4. If you nail the top 3 items above, you can generally get away with other shit. # Testing Images Now let's look at a beautiful sunrise:  What more do you want? I mean seriously, this article is epic. Better than most. Peace.

@ 3e48885d:b2272a7c

It may sound silly, but about once a week, sometimes more, I find myself wishing I were a cowboy. The freedom that would come from the total disconnect from the rest of the world. The peaceful feeling of open spaces and working with animals. And let’s not forget a tinge of adventure. At 52, I find myself wishing this still. There was a time in my early thirties I seriously considered it, then came marriage and kids and it slipped away. These days, I still find it nice to think about. Today I sit attached to my desk, living in a semi suburban world. The only animals I tend to are my two dogs. Sometimes I sit alone and listen to old cowboy songs from the likes of Chris Ledoux. I guess it helps that I live in Texas, giving me default western status, though nowhere near that reality. I work in cybersecurity and hang out in more undeveloped parts of the web where outlaws may dwell, I guess that is as close as I get. It’s nice to daydream.  It may sound silly, but about once a week, sometimes more, I find myself wishing I were a cowboy.  The freedom that would come from the total disconnect from the rest of the world. The peaceful feeling of open spaces and working with animals. And let’s not forget a tinge of adventure.  [Original Post](https://world.hey.com/tim.apple/the-weekly-wish-e4469274)

@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a

January 2025 will mark two years since we started building Primal. Our goal was to create the best possible user experience for Nostr and make it accessible to everyone. We reached a big milestone towards realizing that vision with the recent Primal 2.0 release. It’s still early days, a lot more work lies ahead, but we thought the timing was right to introduce the Premium tier. Let’s explore what it is, why we built it, what’s included, and how it will evolve moving forward. ## What Primal Premium Is The idea behind Primal Premium is simple: integrate all tools and services required for the best Nostr experience into a single package. For $7 per month, Premium users get a *Primal Name* and *Nostr Tools* built by Primal. We’ll cover those in more detail below, but first we should make a crucial point: by signing up for Premium, you are in no way locked in to Primal. Quite the contrary, you can pick and choose which Premium features you wish to enable and use within other Nostr products. Openness is Nostr’s killer feature. Any product that wishes to truly empower the user needs to interoperate with Nostr’s budding ecosystem. The feed marketplace is a great example. External feeds are first-class citizens within all Primal apps. Primal feeds are available in other Nostr clients. We are working on Premium feeds, which our users will be able to enjoy within Primal or other Nostr apps. Media hosting is another example. Our upcoming support for the Blossom protocol will make Primal Premium media hosting interoperable with other Nostr apps and media hosting services. The common theme here is user choice. Nostr offers the highest level of user agency, and the compounding effect of interoperable products and services is bound to make Nostr immensely powerful. ## Why We Built Premium and Why Now What is unfolding on Nostr right now is unique and special. The first truly self-sovereign network is being bootstrapped by this early cohort of users and builders. People are literally holding the keys to their online presence. Network infrastructure – relays, indexers, media hosting services, etc. – is being stood up organically and without any central planning or coordination. Hundreds of independent projects are adding new capabilities to Nostr without needing permission. The whole thing is truly a sight to behold. In addition to fixing the fundamentals of the network, it is equally important that we fix the broken incentives that plague the legacy Web. The status quo of monetization via advertising, which turns users into products to be farmed, has overstayed its welcome. At Primal, we don’t monetize user data. Our users are our customers. We only make money when the user decides that we are providing a valuable service – and pays for it. That means that our users’ interests are aligned with ours. It allows us to wake up every morning and work all day to make the product better for our users. Some might say that it is too early to try to monetize a Nostr product. We definitely need to be thoughtful about paywalling important features while the network is so young. For example, advanced search is a Primal Premium feature, but we enable it for all users up to 20 search results. That makes it quite usable for anyone on Nostr, but power users get the ability to save these searches and create powerful specialized feeds. It is crucial to have commercially successful projects on Nostr that have their incentives aligned with those of their users. We are working on new features and monetization methods that follow this philosophy. The more we experiment on Nostr, the faster we will learn what works and unlock the full potential of this network. I have a feeling that a lot remains to be discovered, and Primal Premium is just the first step. Now, let’s take a closer look at what is included in Premium: *Primal Name* and *Nostr Tools*. ## Primal Name  A Primal Name is a unique name on the primal.net domain that offers three features: 1. **Verified Nostr address (NIP-05)**. This signals to the Nostr network that your account (npub) has been verified by Primal. Note that we don’t perform identity verification; we are simply signaling that this is a Primal Premium user. Users can pay with sats, preserving their privacy while signaling to the network that this verified account is not a bot. 2. **Friendly Bitcoin Lightning address**. Primal’s built-in hosted wallet creates a randomly generated lightning address for every user. They look like this: bluedog25@primal.net. Premium users get to pick their name, so their lightning address is more personalized (e.g. preston@primal.net). 3. **VIP profile on primal.net**. This is simply a friendly URL to your profile on primal.net. We are working on adding profile customization features for Premium users; stay tuned! In summary, a Primal Name makes you easier to find on Nostr. You are free to use any of these three Primal Name elements as you see fit. If you wish to use your Primal Nostr address and/or Lightning address, simply update your Nostr profile with those entries. ## Nostr Tools  Nostr Tools is a collection of features that we think would be useful to any Nostr power user. We are continuously working on expanding these capabilities, but the initial set of features includes: - **Media management**. Primal Premium comes with 10GB of media storage (compared to 1GB for free accounts). We implemented a slick interface for managing all media you have on Primal. - **Contact list backup**. Many Nostr users have experienced the loss of their contact list (i.e., their follow list) when using different clients. We store the history of the contact list for Primal Premium users and make it easy to recover. - **Content backup**. Nostr users post their content to a collection of public relays. These relays typically don’t offer guarantees that they will store the content for any amount of time. We back up all content posted by Primal Premium users and make it easy to rebroadcast it to the specified relays at any time. ## Primal Legends  The idea for the Primal Legend tier was suggested to me by Gigi a couple of months prior to the launch of Primal 2.0. His argument was simple: “There are users on Nostr who really appreciate Primal and are willing to pay way more than $7 / month to support the project. You should *let them* pay and *recognize them* for doing so.” I am really glad that Gigi convinced me to introduce the Legend tier. Nostr is truly a special place. The early users are extremely passionate and mission driven. They care about growing and improving Nostr as much as the builders do. At first, I thought of the term “Legend” as a bit tongue in cheek, but then I met and chatted with some of these people. Man, they are incredible. They just wish to support the network and the builders of open source software in any way they can. So now I think the term is appropriate. We are humbled by the support we received. Our first Legend supporter was none other than Jack. He found this option in the product and paid for the Legend tier literally an hour after Primal 2.0 was released. Thank you, sir, and thank you to all the other Legends out there! 💜🫂 ## What Comes Next? We are delighted and encouraged by the market response to Primal Premium. It is already clear to us that we are on the right path. We will lean into it even harder from here. There will be MOAR Premium features, while at the same time we will make sure that the free product remains excellent. Since you, the user, are the customer, tell us what you would like to see added to Primal Premium. Pura Vida 🤙

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

Bitcoin Core 28.0 introduces **smarter transaction handling** to prevent stuck payments, reduce fees, and improve flexibility for wallets. Here’s a breakdown of the most important updates: --- ### 1. **One Parent One Child (1P1C) Transactions** - **The problem**: If a transaction’s fee is too low for the current network conditions, it might never get confirmed. - **The fix**: The new **1P1C relay** lets you attach a “child” transaction with higher fees to "push" the original "parent" transaction through. Think of it as giving the parent a boost by letting the child pay for both. **Why it’s useful**: If your wallet creates a transaction with a low fee, you can now add another transaction to ensure it gets confirmed without waiting forever. --- ### 2. **TRUC Transactions (Version 3 Transactions)** - **What they are**: TRUC stands for **Topologically Restricted Until Confirmation**. These transactions follow stricter rules that make them easier to replace (RBF) if needed. - **Key features**: - Always replaceable: TRUC transactions can always be fee-bumped or replaced, even without extra setup. - Safe fee bumps: Even in complex setups like CoinJoins or Lightning Channels, you can adjust fees as needed. **Why it’s useful**: Wallets using TRUC transactions can guarantee that you can always adjust fees to match changing network conditions. --- ### 3. **Pay to Anchor (P2A) Outputs** - **What they are**: A tiny, specialized output added to transactions purely for fee adjustments. Think of it like a "placeholder" designed to let anyone pay for the transaction’s fees later. - **How it works**: P2A outputs are super small and cheap to include, but they’re powerful because they let you boost transaction fees without needing access to private keys. **Why it’s useful**: Helps ensure your transaction doesn’t get stuck, even if the person creating the transaction can’t afford higher fees upfront. --- ### 4. **Better Fee Replacement (Package RBF)** - **The problem**: Previously, if you wanted to replace a stuck transaction, you had to calculate fees perfectly. - **The fix**: With Package RBF, you can replace an entire group of transactions (parent and child) instead of just one, making it easier to adjust fees without mistakes. **Why it’s useful**: Ensures transactions get through even in complex situations like Lightning or CoinJoins. --- ### 5. **What Does This Mean for Wallet Users?** - **Simple Payments**: Wallets can make payments more predictable and reliable by using TRUC and P2A features. - **Lightning Network**: Lightning transactions become more secure because stuck channel transactions can be easily bumped. - **CoinJoins**: Privacy-focused transactions can now handle fee bumps without breaking the chain of anonymity. --- ### Summary These updates give wallets and users more tools to handle tricky transaction scenarios, especially when network fees are unpredictable or when payments involve complex setups. Bitcoin Core 28.0 makes stuck payments a thing of the past and ensures smoother transaction processing. Remember, these upgrades focus on **Bitcoin’s core principles: efficiency, reliability, and user empowerment**. *READ the full OpTech info about it [here](https://bitcoinops.org/en/bitcoin-core-28-wallet-integration-guide/)*

@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

Finally another version of noStrudel. I keep telling myself I'm going to do more frequent releases but then time keeps getting away from me This release comes with a bunch of news features and most importantly a lot of cleanup ## Features ### Olas media posts You can now view a simple feed of media posts made on https://olas.app/ in the app and comment on them using NIP-22 comments  ### Simple gif picker This was mostly a test, but there is now a simple gif picker (and barely functional search) that is based on `k:1063` events If you want a better search and to help populate the nostr gif library you can use https://gifbuddy.lol created by nostr:npub1hee433872q2gen90cqh2ypwcq9z7y5ugn23etrd2l2rrwpruss8qwmrsv6  ### New support view The *(tiny)* support button at the bottom of the side menu now hides a zap leader board that shows top supporters and any custom messages they leave  ### Favorite DVM feeds You can now favorite DVM feeds in the discover view  ### Tools under notes There is now a simpler tools menu under notes and threads  ### Searching local cache relay If your using [nostr-relay-tray](https://github.com/CodyTseng/nostr-relay-tray) the search view will now use it by default for searching. which should make it a little faster and more reliable  ### Small features - Add "Proactively authenticate to relays" option to privacy settings, defaults to off - Add option for debug API - Add option to hide noStrudel logo in nav bar - Show unknown notifications in notification view - Add templates to event publisher ## Bug fixes - Show nostr mentions in markdown content - Fix delete events not getting published to outbox - Fix page changing from RTL when viewing some profiles - Refresh relay info on relay page - Fix bug with removing "about" in profile editor - Fix automatically disconnecting from authenticated relays ## Applesauce Over the past few months I've been doing tons of cleanup on the core of noStrudel *(677 changed files with 19,683 additions and 17,889 deletions)* and extracting it out into a friendly nostr SDK called [applesauce](https://hzrd149.github.io/applesauce/) Its very much a work-in-progress but the idea with these libraries is to help myself (and maybe others) build the UI layer of nostr apps and eventually make noStrudel just another app that is built with applesauce If your a developer and another nostr SDK sounds interesting to you. you can check out the [Getting Started](https://hzrd149.github.io/applesauce/introduction/getting-started.html) docs

@ c48e29f0:26e14c11

# titcoin _Rename Bitcoin to "Titcoin" and sats to "tits."_ Redefinition of Bitcoin into “Titcoin” and redefinition of sats into “tits” using that as the Unit Base of Denomination. TitHub repository available here: [https://github.com/WalkerAmerica/titcoin](https://github.com/WalkerAmerica/titcoin) # Abstract This BIP proposes redefining the commonly recognized "bitcoin" and “sats” units so that what was previously known “bitcoin” becomes “titcoin” and what was previously known as “sats,” the smallest indivisible unit, becomes “tits.” The “Bitcoin” Network will be renamed to the “Titcoin” Network. Under this proposal, one tit is defined as that smallest unit, eliminating the need for decimal places, and 100,000,000 tits is defined as a titcoin. By making tits the standard measure, this BIP aims to simplify user comprehension, reduce confusion, and align on-chain values directly with their displayed representation. Also, by aligning Bitcoin's brand with live-giving tits, we will supercharge adoption and inject humor into financial sovereignty. After all, every baby came into this world sucking on tits. **Under this BIP:** - Internally, the smallest indivisible unit remains unchanged. - With this proposal, "1 tit" equals that smallest unit. - What was previously referred to as "1 BTC" now corresponds to 100 million tits. - Satoshis are permanently eliminated. # Addressing the “Buttcoin” BIP: Not much time need be wasted addressing the catastrophic “Button” BIP proposed by Rockstar Dev, but two points bear emphasizing: 1. “Butts” is shitcoin-adjacent terminology (where does shit come from? Exactly…) 2. Butts give you poop. Tits give you milk. **Case closed.** # Motivation Bitcoin's branding is boring. Worse yet, critics think Bitcoin is already "a joke," so let’s own it, let's: Make Bitcoin Funny Again. Laughter is universal, irresistible, and much cheaper than marketing agencies and product roadmaps. Besides, basically everyone either has tits or likes tits. Additionally, renaming Bitcoin as “Titcoin” makes the common trope of “Bitcoin BROS” sound even more stupid. “Titcoin Bros”? Get a life, man… By rebranding Bitcoin to Titcoin (.)(.), we achieve several key goals: **1. Haters Become Users:** People like tits. Tits give nourishment to babies. They can stack tits instead of just making fun of them. Adoption skyrockets as trolls turn into tit hodlers. **2. Memetic Power:** The word “tit” is both universally funny and ageless. “Send me 10 tits” is instantly iconic. “Nice tits” is a great compliment. “That’s gonna cost you a pair of tits” is hilarious. Try saying that without smiling. You can’t. (.)(.) **3. Simplifying Denominations:** Decimals are a blight on humanity. 0.00000001 BTC? Kill it. Under the Titcoin Standard: - 1 Titcoin = 100,000,000 tits. - Satoshis are gone. Forever. If you see Satoshi on the road, kill him - just like in Zen, where the teacher becomes the barrier. We transcend satoshis and achieve financial enlightenment. **4. Aligning with the Ledger:** Bitcoin’s base unit was always integers, but now they’re funny integers. No more fractions, decimals, or math anxiety. Just tits. (.)(.) **5. Adoption via Humor:** Titcoin lowers Bitcoin's intimidation factor. Newbies will feel at ease buying tits instead of serious-sounding fractions of BTC. Tits > Decimals. # Specification **Terminology Redefinitions:** - "Bitcoin" → "Titcoin" (.)(.) - "BTC" → "TIT" (ISO-friendly and hilarious) - Satoshis → Gone. Eliminated. Defeated. **Example:** - Old: "I’ll send you 0.00010000 BTC." - New: "I’ll send you 10,000 tits (.)(.)." Wallet balances would display as: - "You have 1,000,000 tits" instead of some boring fractional BTC amount. # Adoption Strategy **1. Memes First:** Flood Twitter, Reddit, and Telegram with memes. Start with *“Hodl your tits”* and *“Stack tits”*. **2. Titcoin Podcast:** There is already a podcast called _“Titcoin Podcast”_ (which many people are saying is the fastest-growing Bitcoin (Titcoin) podcast in the world). Titcoin Podcast will be a driving force in the adoption of the Titcoin Standard. (.)(.) Nostr: https://primal.net/titcoin X: https://x.com/titcoinpodcast Web: http://titcoin.org **3. Kill Satoshis:** Developers MUST remove all references to satoshis. Replace satoshis in GUIs, APIs, and block explorers with tits. Satoshis were a stepping stone - it’s time to let go. **4. Emoji Standardization:** Use the (.)(.) emoji universally to denote tits. # Rationale **1. Usability & Clarity:** "Decimals are for nerds. Tits are for everyone." A common currency for humans should be easy to use, funny, and integer-based. **2. Appealing to Critics:** Bitcoin has endured years of attacks from all sides. By adopting the Titcoin Standard, we turn anyone who doesn’t like Titcoin into a tit-hating bigot. It’s an elegant financial counterattack. Additionally, everyone always says “we need more women in Bitcoin,” and now women will feel more represented by Titcoin, because they have tits. (.)(.) **3. Transcending Satoshis:** Satoshis served us well, but their time is over. True enlightenment comes when we abandon decimals, satoshis, and arbitrary denominations. If you meet Satoshi on the road, kill him. **4. Memetic Durability:** Everyone loves a good tit joke. It’s timeless. # Backward Compatibility There is no backward compatibility because Titcoin is the future. Applications must hard fork their UI to replace all references to Bitcoin and BTC with Titcoin and TIT. # Implementation Timeline - Phase 1 (1 month): Meme dissemination. Every wallet dev team is required to add (.)(.) emoji support. - Phase 2 (3 months): Exchanges rebrand BTC tickers to tit. *Nostr zaps tits into hyperspace.* - Phase 3 (6 months): Michael Saylor announces MicroStrategy now stacked 10 trillion tits, declaring it the superior currency. ETFs follow suit, ensuring Wall Street hodls tits en masse. Banks allow tit transfers via SWIFT. # Test Vectors - Old: 1.00000000 BTC → New: 100,000,000 tits (.)(.) - Old: 0.00000001 BTC → New: 1 tit (.)(.) - Old: 0.001 BTC → New: 100,000 tits (.)(.) # Future-Proofing Tits ensure we have infinite memes for infinite money. **Example Phrases for the Future:** - "Better hodl on to your tits." - "This is the Titcoin Standard." - "I’m sending you tits." - “I’ve never seen so many tits!” - “That’s the million tit question.” - “We need more women in Titcoin.” - “I’m a Titcoin Maximalist.” - “Nice tits!” - “I love tits.” # Conclusion By renaming Bitcoin to Titcoin and adopting a whole-number unit display, we align memetic dominance with financial sovereignty. Haters become adopters. Tits become wealth. And the world gets a little bit funnier. (.)(.) Let’s hodl our tits and watch the world follow. # Copyright: This BIP is licensed under CC-🫱(.)(.)🫲-1.0 and the eternal blessing of tit (.)(.) memes.

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

Hey Freaks, Looks like my career goals are shaping up to be something like: 1. Paralegal 2. Direct Support Professional 3. Open Source Contributor After I obtain paralegal certificate I should offer freelance paralegal services on nostr. I'd market myself on shopstr, SN, Kind1 notes, Long form notes, Zapvertising, NPUB.PRO blog. Setting up and waiting for the newbies to flood in, not looking for so many clients, just setting up and making things available. My expertise will grow as I grab more certifications use educational resources, listen to podcasts, read etc. Could Setup a Nostrocket and involve the freaks in building a non state involved business. Could operate under the open anarchist license as a free members association, and help business's with whatever legal assistance they may need, with a focus on Intellectual property law, Nostr, Bitcoin, Free open source software. Would offer services for cheap and build a web of trust offering things like free consultations. I have 5 years experience working at an IP law firm filing patents with the US Patent and Trademark office. The Nostr resume would look really nice. Could post frequently on the SN legal territory, create a quick and simple newsletter and or AI podcast about the legal space and how it pertains to stuff we care about. I want to stick with the coding, because the tools are getting better and my knowledge is increasing, would love to contribute more to open source projects, and want to see what maintaining my own project would be like. I'll get back around to setting up that SN dev environment and looking for low level issues to crack, this time with more experience under my belt. I wanted to sell something on shopstr, something that helps people working remotely, legal services never quite came to mind, but would be an interesting direction to take. I was thinking vinyl records and merch and clothes, but something more wanted or needed, or unique or specialized might be better. And having an online shop that ties into my main career seems like a two birds with one stone sort of situation. I just need to increase my knowledge and level of expertise while continuing the pursuit of "proof of work". 2024 (Current) Roadmap - Release Nostr Running App - Obtain Paralegal Certification - Offer freelance Paralegal services - DSP transition to full time - Contribute to SN development - Continued writing Yours truly, Hustle originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/812103

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

Brett Scott’s recent [metaphor of Bitcoin as a wrestling gimmick](https://www.asomo.co/p/the-art-of-crypto-kayfabe), reliant on hype and dollar-dependence, reduces a groundbreaking monetary innovation to shallow theatrics. Let’s address his key missteps with hard facts. --- ### **1. Bitcoin Isn’t an Asset in the System—It’s the System** Scott claims Bitcoin competes with stocks, bonds, and gold in a financial "wrestling ring." This misrepresents Bitcoin’s purpose: it’s not an investment vehicle but a *decentralized monetary network*. Unlike assets, Bitcoin enables **permissionless global value transfer**, censorship resistance, and self-sovereign wealth storage—capabilities fiat currencies cannot match. **Fact:** Bitcoin processes over **$8 billion in daily transactions**, settling more value annually than PayPal and Venmo combined. It isn’t competing with assets but offering an alternative to the monetary system itself. --- ### **2. Volatility Is Growth, Not Failure** Scott critiques Bitcoin’s price volatility as evidence of its unsuitability as "money." However, volatility is a natural stage in the adoption of transformative technology. Bitcoin is scaling from niche use to global recognition. Its growing liquidity and adoption already make it more stable than fiat in inflationary economies. **Fact:** Bitcoin’s annualized volatility has decreased by **53% since 2013** and continues to stabilize as adoption rises. It’s the **best-performing asset of the last decade**, with an average annual ROI of **147%**—far outpacing stocks, gold, and real estate. As of February 2024, Bitcoin's volatility was lower than roughly 900 stocks in the S and P 1500 and 190 stocks in the S and P 500. It continues to stabilize as adoption rises, making it an increasingly attractive store of value. --- ### **3. Bitcoin’s Utility Extends Beyond Countertrade** Scott diminishes Bitcoin to a "countertrade token," reliant on its dollar price. This ignores Bitcoin’s primary functions: - **Medium of exchange:** Used in remittances, cross-border payments, and for the unbanked in Africa today (e.g., Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya). - **Store of value:** A hedge against inflation and failing fiat systems (e.g., Argentina, Lebanon, Turkey). - **Decentralized reserve asset:** Held by over **1,500 public and private institutions**, including Tesla, MicroStrategy, and nations like El Salvador. **Fact:** Lightning Network adoption has grown **1,500% in capacity since 2021**, enabling microtransactions and reducing fees—making Bitcoin increasingly viable for everyday use. As of December 2024, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 2.7% of global cryptocurrency transaction volume, with Nigeria ranking second worldwide in crypto adoption. This demonstrates Bitcoin's real-world utility beyond mere speculation. --- ### **4. Bitcoin Isn’t Controlled by the Dollar** Scott suggests Bitcoin strengthens the dollar system rather than challenging it. In truth, Bitcoin exists **outside the control of any nation-state**. It offers people in authoritarian regimes and hyperinflationary economies a lifeline when their local currencies fail. **Fact:** Over **70% of Bitcoin transactions occur outside the U.S.**, with adoption highest in countries like Nigeria, India, Venezuela, China, the USA and Ukraine—where the dollar isn’t dominant but government overreach and fiat collapse are. This global distribution shows Bitcoin's independence from dollar dominance. --- ### **5. Hype vs. Adoption** Scott mocks Bitcoin’s evangelists but fails to acknowledge its real-world traction. Bitcoin adoption isn’t driven by hype but by trustless, verifiable technology solving real-world problems. People don’t buy Bitcoin for "kayfabe"; they buy it for what it *does*. **Fact:** Bitcoin wallets reached **500 million globally** in 2023. El Salvador’s Chivo wallet onboarded **4 million users** (60% of the population) within a year—far from a gimmick in action. As of December 2024, El Salvador's Bitcoin portfolio has crossed $632 million in value, with an unrealized profit of $362 million, demonstrating tangible benefits beyond hype. --- ### **6. The Dollar’s Coercive Monopoly vs. Bitcoin’s Freedom** Scott defends fiat money as more than "just numbers," backed by state power. He’s correct: fiat relies on coercion, legal mandates, and inflationary extraction. Bitcoin, by contrast, derives value from **transparent scarcity** (capped at 21 million coins) and decentralized consensus, not military enforcement or political whims. **Fact:** Bitcoin’s inflation rate is just **1.8%**—lower than gold or the U.S. dollar—and will approach **0% by 2140**. No fiat currency can match this predictability. As of December 2024, Bitcoin processes an average of 441,944 transactions per day, showcasing its growing role as a global, permissionless monetary system free from centralized control. --- ### **Conclusion: The Revolution Is Real** Scott’s "wrestling gimmick" analogy trivializes Bitcoin’s purpose and progress. Bitcoin isn’t just a speculative asset—it’s the first truly decentralized, apolitical form of money. Whether as a hedge against inflation, a tool for financial inclusion, or a global settlement network, Bitcoin is transforming how we think about money. Dismiss it as a gimmick at your peril. The world doesn’t need another asset—it needs Bitcoin. > "**If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry**." Once Satoshi said. **There is no second best.**

@ 1989034e:b9c4276b

Bitcoin is hope. Bitcoiners bring hope. The following is a collection of my thoughts following The Calgary Sat Market of December 2024. It is also a call to action for Bitcoiners near and far to join us - either in person by visiting - or spiritually by replicating what we are doing. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/cda0937dc8dcd7ca56db8ce13a74f16389d939a2ee67d7e08ae0c3835f30f240.jpg"> I'm sitting here, smiling ear to ear, absolutely brimming with hope for the future after hosting today's Sat Market in Calgary, Alberta. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/31d1d13659749590d0296dedaef55d7590896f6fa1970c772e3039e0810dfbdd.jpg"> ##### Context For Anyone Unfamiliar One year ago we put together an initiative to build our own Bitcoin circular economy here in the city. We went to the local meetup and made the case to everyone: “You all understand Bitcoin is better money, you all have skills and businesses, you all currently earn dollars and convert them to Bitcoin. Let's cut out that middle step and build something together!” **The Sat Market** was born. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/1636980f79cbe61464836373208f7d4a21ea8213dd6e7fdfbe0f011ad264372c.jpg"> The response over the past calendar year has been wonderful. Today's event boasted 40 vendors, consisting of **farmers, tradesmen, artists, precious metals dealers, massage therapists, personal trainers, wellness coaches, authors, jewellers, homesteaders, lawyers, dentists, plumbers** and much much more. People came to Calgary for the market from **Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and many other places**. We've had people from other countries begin to recognize what is happening here, wanting to visit. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/00dccb692b6bdee02ee4bce20c337e896a4c34bfbc9ac29abaecf04508a6f7a3.jpg"> I’ve been living on Bitcoin myself since 2020. While technically possible, I often require some much appreciated services that allow me to pay bills, buy gift cards, and otherwise use some type of middle-man in order to make it work. The Sat Market is beginning to change that dynamic. Just at this most recent event I was able to purchase: - Knitted winter gear - Apparel (hats and shirts) - Custom art - Candles and home decor - Full chickens, eggs, hot sauce, mustard, bacon, ground pork, jerky, baked goods and many other delicious items - PLUS an on-site massage! <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/6f3bcff92da94d2ae38aef3dac6fc5d43a2bad8d366460e0ad30bc907ea7fb41.jpg"> This event wasn’t just about buying and selling, though. It was also about GIVING! We hosted some fun quiz games with prizes and had the most BALLER raffle I’ve personally witnessed. Giveaways included: - Custom art pieces - Apparel Artisan tea - Hypnosis sessions - A free hour with Bitcoin Mentor - Jewelry pieces - 20 Tapsigners - 30 packs of BTC Trading Cards (Genesis packs) - 14 Coldcard Q’s - A 10 OZ bar of Silver I estimate that we gave away over $6000 worth of stuff. People were over the moon! <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/52a89790256454c0db41e18e484836701cdf05a870b2d86b09f1ecffb5220482.jpg"> I believe that in order to become truly resilient, the time has come to put our money quite literally where our mouths are. Any movement can be stopped when it requires you to rely on permissioned on/off ramps.... ...but when you have a community of like minded individuals, creating real and meaningful relationships on a local level, providing value to one another and using a money that is external to the existing system - YOU BECOME UNSHAKEABLE. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/80f53804c3cfd9589d76248ee0828c35cba8eeecb26647d7bd01118f371829a4.jpg"> I encourage each and every one of you to make a Sat Market pilgrimage to our next event in Calgary near the end of June. It will be flanked by a group excursion to the Canadian Rockies (1 hr drive away), The Bitcoin Rodeo (a pretty based local conference), a workshop day by Bitcoin Mentor (likely also in Banff), and plenty of other community led events. ## Come, participate, contribute, and replicate. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/6c905e292cba71fe22ad3b5129434aa78c3cdfa9c331aeff0969a18ae7f228f6.jpg"> This project has been entirely funded out of my own pocket and the voluntary contributions of merchant participants. If you feel inclined to zap this post, any sats will go towards making our next market the absolute best it can be. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/90ff45f54069f34fba815be580aaf126f46ca790d558c3fc20d011074be93db1.jpg"> What we are doing here is special. What we are doing here is exciting. What we are doing here is working. What we are doing here IS HOPE. #### We'll see you at the next Sat Market. ## KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING! Please visit and share our website: [www.bitcoinsatmarket.com](https://www.bitcoinsatmarket.com/) Please follow us on: Nostr: npub12exjy0qp2pytsgrnaqrg26qj55epun8l2unyfjvhyxn2k2sx0xaqt2rd2h X: [BTCSatMarket](https://x.com/BTCSatMarket) Enjoy these photos from our wonderful event! <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/349e0b06bb6b44c55c4e8a374c87b48df443fa1d565608f40cd85cb7afee70df.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c16adc8665faf59256b3ea2c5cd276e722c97b8c6b36d58878af074bff365e0d.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/adbec3f034189476c76a087a64d8b3877f783098cdf266c82d3f90bebaef5b52.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/fc330b9fe93459bd09dd592c7dcd74146511fd55345c765f862bae9d69cc5d91.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/60339caa40b92077f77cc8128302398c503dce41c73026ed12adbdab43e7bea2.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f38b994d6675a73e0f4a6064a685238af1e4a4193d9d14c95eb5384854e16a51.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/1aac52f87e81ffb77e819492be0d0778730010386b89703804f42f56d9a04015.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/1c5a8295f02809e19aefe0322542b64516a6099e6d02906506c2288fe5087704.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b492a102784c62e2b5f6cd077dfd6604d9a305e0ef331361b4d6b244bcbf29f7.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/47a12f08724104cce3d712c8e3e52746941dcebf6b67daa3ecb1603b5f71b3e3.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/cf668ea6e75be9d7039bc648c3c6f8eb970b9a83169499d7d8ab695d66fc6028.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/8d62ef498cae905aa18ee82f70566831e1cde49303a495695e1b4dd522b3a0e6.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/dd59b1c3e2f9a19d2ccfdd966ce01c996a0630d26ffea125cb18f2cf7ef50e00.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/6fcb6afe670dee8b42146e7822b77d4f52ffba7a34086e4a69b3681df94938f0.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/efcf9adf0714818c83a1365276fa33fa7d38626e94aed12d5f4d4831c604e9d6.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/5b2db42861ae43a3c1d563045caac5933c75049911d3d6c42af6c222bcf847b3.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/dee2cc9469023dbc33047f7b964ac848a443c561643a34939ba59927e6d17696.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/bee65210a8fd679d59dc4cbb9277f2a0aea11737e98d02fbd2ff79d06df2b8d4.jpg"> <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/5141a04a06bdba28b1e8fcead10151cbb31f2e0f81bb9c663e3558693a01904d.jpg">

@ 234035ec:edc3751d

## America's Fourth Fourth Turning We can learn much from the Book "The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy" By [William Strauss](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/107130.William_Strauss) and [Neil Howe](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29703.Neil_Howe). The Book looks back throughout history to identify the cyclical patterns that emerge and establishes archetypes that emerges in the generations as they come of age in these different stages of history. There are four phases (turnings) that are outlined in the book: 1. The High 2. The Awakening 3. The Unraveling 4. The Crisis The authors identify that America is due for another fourth turning, and I would argue that we are now in the midst of America's Fourth ever fourth turning. The first three being marked by the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Great Depression- WWII. Today we have been in an increasingly unstable financial, political, and social environment which share eery similarities to the unraveling period of the prior cycles. I believe that this fourth turning began with the 2008 "Great Financial Crisis" and has been ongoing ever since the fed chose to engage in mass currency devaluation in order to keep the banks solvent. While these actions have delayed the inevitable larger crisis, they will not be able to avoid it. Since 2008 the money supply has grown from roughly $8 Trillion to over $20 Trillion. This massive currency dilution is reflected in increased prices across all sectors but heavily concentrated in scarce desirable assets. As National debt continues to rise and interest expenses balloon, the only way out for the US dollar is massive inflation. The issue with continued inflation is that it leads to massive societal suffering and unrest. At 2% inflation most individuals aren't aware that they are being stolen from, but as inflation rates start to stick above 10% people start to realize what is really going on. History tells us that as currencies enter into hyper-inflation, the societal fabric begins to fall apart. One does not have to be an anthropologist to look around and realize the massive cultural shifts that we have seen since moving to a fiat standard in 1971 and much faster ever since 2008. I find it very profound that at the same time that the global financial system began showing cracks, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the solution to the world. It feels as though this fourth turning is centered around technological innovation in computing, as well as the collapse of an outdated and corrupt financial system. Bitcoin exists at the perfect intersection of these two by utilizing cryptography to empower people to exit the corrupt system and begin to build a superior one on sound foundation. If the crisis of this great fourth turning is centered around the sovereign debt crisis, than Bitcoin becomes the clear answer. ## Thriving In The Chaos Being Born in 2001 I do not have much memory of a pre-2008 world. Being only 7 years old at the time I did not fully grasp the significance of what was going on, but my life has been impacted by it nonetheless. When the central bank chooses to hold interest rates artificially low, they are effectively driving money into more and more places where it shouldn't actually be. This is usually described as a bubble, which then bursts leaving many financially ruined. Accept for those who the central bank then chooses to bail out by diluting the purchasing power of all the savers. Much of the Millenial and Gen Z generations feel that they will never reach financial security or be able own a home and retire at a reasonable age. Many of them are saddled with large student loans, credit card debt, and car loans. While much of this is due to personal decision making, we exist in a system today that is designed to extract as much value as possible from each citizen. If you were to take out a loan to go to school, get a job, a mortgage, and a car payment, and used a savings account, you would never become financially free. People my age have become increasingly unsatisfied with the way that things are, which is why I am so hopeful for a brighter future. While most aren't quite aware of what the true heart of the issue is, they feel that something is deeply wrong. I believe that Bitcoin will be the catalyst for the masses to wake up and stop funding the current system. Those that lead the way into a new frontier during these fourth turnings come out on the other side in positions of great respect and power. While these next few years will likely difficult, there will be massive opportunity for those who are bold enough to stand for their beliefs and work to propagate them.

@ c1e6505c:02b3157e

Test post coming from stacker.news  originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/808769

@ 82883e29:dab2ff8c

Hello, readers! My name is **Muju**. I am a writer, thinker, Bitcoin advocate, and humanist activist with a passion for challenging the status quo and exploring the complexities of our world. Over the years, I've written extensively on politics, human rights, Bitcoin, and the fascinating intersections of culture and technology through my blog, [**Unintuitive Discourse**](https://muju.substack.com/). Today, I take an exciting step forward by beginning to publish my work on Nostr, a platform that aligns with my values of free speech and decentralization. Nostr’s censorship-resistant architecture ensures that my thoughts and ideas can be preserved permanently, free from interference or erasure. This move reflects my commitment to creating a lasting record of my work—a digital footprint that stands against the tides of suppression. Unintuitive Discourse is a product of my journey: my life as an autodidact, my experiences as a political refugee, and my relentless pursuit of understanding the world through a humanist lens. By leveraging Nostr, I aim to secure a permanent home for my ideas, making them accessible to those who seek to question, learn, and grow. If you’re reading this, welcome to the beginning of something enduring. Join me as I continue to write, reflect, and share thoughts that I hope will inspire meaningful conversations for years to come. Here's to a future where ideas thrive without limits—my contribution to realizing a truly decentralized internet where knowledge flows freely and voices cannot be silenced.

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

I am using Nostr daily, I spend most of my time on Primal(the web browser client) the great thing about Nostr is the whole ecosystem of apps which offer a little twist of their own. All of this is possible by the use of the Nostr profile secret key (via an extension (alby or nos2x) best practice is to never use the nsec directly). For example [pinstr ](https://pinstr.app/)will behave like pinterest for Nostr, to create image gallery collection, another example would be nostrapp or [nostrapplink](https://nostrapp.link/)which are a repository of Nostr apps (with reviews) … Among all these apps, there is one particular service under the name [npub.pro](https://npub.pro/), which acts as a dynamic portfolio page, it is presented as a ‘Beautiful nostr-based websites for creators’.  This website is part of the nostr.band family (as nostrapplink), you can recognize them as all website powered by nostr.band have this right handle with the user nostr profile (which appears in the middle). Once on the npub.pro page, just click on "try now" button from there the process is very similar to setting up a tumblr profile, or wordpress website, except the content already exist (it will be extracted from the nostr profile) and once the theme has been chosen, press publish and voila! super easy, user friendly and great result in minutes. The creator of npub.pro is 'Brugeman'. I have asked a couple of question because the search was not working when I created my npub.pro website, it turns out it was not fully implemented yet, the good news is that search is working now and for later edit of the website keep this link nearby [npub.pro/admin](https://npub.pro/admin) (you can edit the theme from there if you change your mind later.) If you want to have a look at an example – here is mine  [ever4st.npub.pro](https://ever4st.npub.pro/) original article posted [here](https://alashazam.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/my-review-of-npub-pro/)

@ 31312140:2471509b

### Understanding Real Money #### The Awful Truth About Fiat Currency Let's call a spade a spade here - fiat currency is a scam. Governments and central banks print it out of thin air, devaluing each note in your wallet every single day. Your hard-earned money is losing its value, and you're left chasing your tail trying to keep up with inflation. Fiat currency is backed by nothing but the "full faith and credit" of the government. And when was the last time you trusted a politician? 😏 The truth is, fiat currencies always collapse. History is littered with examples like the Roman denarius, the Zimbabwean dollar, and, well, the ongoing crumbling of many others. #### The Concept of Intrinsic Value Real money, on the other hand, has intrinsic value—meaning it's valuable in and of itself. Think gold and silver. These precious metals have been prized for thousands of years because they don't decay, they're hard to counterfeit, and they have myriad uses in the real world, from electronics to medicine. Gold and silver have been used as money for millennia, and for good reason. They're scarce, durable, and divisible. You can't just print more gold when you feel like it. You have to mine it, refine it, and cast it. #### Bitcoin: The Digital Gold Now, let's talk about Bitcoin. Some people call it "digital gold," and there's a good reason for that. Bitcoin, like gold, is scarce (only 21 million will ever exist), and it's decentralized, meaning no government or bank can control it. This decentralization is key because it means Bitcoin is resistant to censorship and inflation. Bitcoin stands out as the only cryptocurrency that can be considered real money due to its decentralized nature, fixed supply of 21 million coins, unparalleled security, global adoption, resilience, and the philosophy of financial sovereignty it embodies. Unlike other cryptocurrencies that often have centralized control and variable supplies, Bitcoin's immutable transactions and widespread recognition make it a reliable store of value and medium of exchange. But remember, Bitcoin isn't a perfect substitute for gold. It's digital, which means it relies on technology and the internet to function. This makes it vulnerable to hacking and other digital threats. Still, the blockchain technology underpinning Bitcoin is revolutionary, creating a transparent and tamper-evident ledger of transactions. ### The Downfall of Modern Banking Systems Let's take a step back and look at the modern banking system. It's a joke. Fractional reserve banking allows banks to lend out money they don't have, creating an economic bubble that inevitably bursts. We're constantly teetering on the edge of financial collapse because banks are playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs with your money. And when things go south, who gets bailed out? Not you or me, but the banks. We saw it in 2008. The rich and powerful protected their own interests, while everyday folks lost their homes and savings. ### Why Governments Love Fiat Governments love fiat money because it allows them to spend beyond their means. When the treasury gets low, they don’t have to make tough decisions or cut spending—they just print more money. This leads to inflation, which is just another form of taxation. Your dollar buys less; your savings erode. This manipulation benefits the elites who get the newly printed money first. They can spend it while it still has value, before it trickles down into the economy and prices rise for everyone else. Trickle-down economics is as real as fairy tales. 🧚‍♂️ ### Creating a Solution: Moving Towards Real Money To reclaim our financial sovereignty, we must return to real money. Here's how: #### Gold and Silver Start by accumulating gold and silver. Begin small—buying a few ounces here and there. Store it securely, away from banks where it could be confiscated. There are many platforms and shops where you can purchase these metals safely. #### Bitcoin Diversify with Bitcoin. Make sure you understand how wallets work and practice impeccable security measures. It's not enough to buy Bitcoin; you must ensure it can't be stolen by hackers. Educate yourself on cold storage, multi-signature wallets, and other security practices. #### Educate Yourself Knowledge is power. Read books on Austrian economics, like those by Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard. Understand the fundamentals of what makes good money. ### The Future of Real Money If we succeed in transitioning to real money, we can create a more sustainable and fair economic system. One where value is preserved over time, where individuals have sovereignty over their own wealth, and where the powerful can no longer manipulate the masses for their gain. #### Final Thoughts The fight for real money is a fight against the controllers, the manipulators, and the corrupt. But it’s also a fight for our freedom, our future, and our dignity. Let's look into it and make conscious choices to protect our financial future by holding real money. Keep your head up, keep questioning, and always look into it 💪 #### Suggested Readings and References * "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by G. Edward Griffin - A detailed look at the Federal Reserve and how it manipulates the money supply. * "What Has Government Done to Our Money?" by Murray Rothbard - An essential read on the problem with fiat currency and why real money matters. * "The Bitcoin Standard" by Saifedean Ammous - A comprehensive analysis of Bitcoin as a form of digital gold. * "Human Action" by Ludwig von Mises - A cornerstone work for understanding Austrian economics. * "Democracy: The God That Failed" by Hans-Hermann Hoppe - A deep dive into the failures of democratic government and the economics of anarcho-capitalism.

@ a17fb4ed:c53f7e91

Yooper Crate in the Wild This crate was designed to hold and reduce the noise of a Bitcoin miner while distributing the heat. As with most of these boxes lately, I have to give credit for the basic design to Steve Barbour. Thanks to many in the Pleb Miner Mafia. The prices are circa early 2022. OG post from 1/31/2022 at: <https://yooperhodl.substack.com/p/yooper-crate> Yooper Crate Cut Out Plans (right mouse click - save image, for a legible copy) **I followed the plans and it turned out solid. Below you will find a picture journey from Start to Finish. Most shopping was done at Menards, Lowes, and Amazon. Parts list at the bottom.** Cheapest, decent board I could find that had .74” actual thickness. Beware, this stuff has sharp edges and will slice your hands. Gloves required! Main screws I used for most of the assembly Screws I used when I didn’t want to break through the other side Pieces all cut out on a table saw Started with the divider wall with internal hot/cold register Figured out how the filter was going to lay in. I made the intake and outlet side the same so I can reverse flow if needed. Air Filter - Probably not my final one but something to start with. I don’t want choke out the airflow Intake/Outlet side: .75” reveal to plan for the bottom piece coverage Pilot holes for the air flow cutouts Backside of Intake/ Outlet side - ready for jigsaw cutout Figuring out the duct mount Intake, Outlet, and Divider Assemble the Horizonal/ Vertical Air Flow Flanges x2 Flow flanges added to the pile Attach the Asic shelf to the Divider wall Asic shelf assembly added to the pile Attach bottom to hinge side Attach Intake/ Outlet Sides Attach divider assembly. Notice small support blocks Attach Horizontal/Vertical Flow flanges. Notice support blocks Few screws into support block Internal assembly complete Added small casters Added handles Misc. hardware Home sweet home Sound dampening: D.Y.O.R. - I used 4 layers of old bath towel on each surface and the compressed air staple gun was key Window seal for around the top D.Y.O.R. - Mounted some drywall for a little fire protection Window intake/ outlet for ducting Flexible ducting Picking a spot for my 220v - Hire a professional unless you absolutely know what you are doing Custom Cover Not my best work, but all set for an S19JPro S19JPro Overclocked 75.7 DB with top open and fans at 77% 47.5 DB with top closed at 45% (bringing in cold U.P. air on intake side). I added anti-vibration foam between asic shelf drywall and the miner and I believe it got even quieter Final setup with laptop, node, miner, Yooper Crate, 92F outlet air temp heating the house **Parts List** - [Melamin Board](https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/panel-products/prefinished-panels/dakota-trade-3-4-x-49-x-97-melamine-panel/mel3449white/p-1444428264588-c-13335.htm?searchTermToProduct=1361900) x 2 - [Screws 1-5/8"](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/fasteners-connectors/screws/deck-screws/grip-fast-reg-star-drive-tan-triple-coated-exterior-deck-screws/m6ld125/p-1444450203642-c-8929.htm?searchTermToProduct=2300326) - [Screws 3/4"](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/fasteners-connectors/screws/drywall-screws/grip-fast-reg-6-x-3-4-phillips-drive-bugle-head-fine-thread-drywall-screw-1-lb-box/229-2829/p-1444430743043-c-8930.htm?tid=-614540715820255407&ipos=1) - [Air Filter](https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/air-filters/true-blue-reg-merv-2-fiberglass-air-filter/114201/p-1444451603743-c-6856.htm?searchTermToProduct=6331206) - [Staples 9/16"](https://www.menards.com/main/tools/hand-tools/staplers-staples-rivet-tools/arrow-reg-t50-reg-9-16-leg-x-3-8-crown-heavy-duty-staples-1-250-count/50924sp/p-1444424351099-c-9164.htm?searchTermToProduct=2316718) - [Caster 1-1/2"](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/casters-furniture-hardware/casters/shepherd-hardware-soft-rubber-swivel-caster-wheel/9489/p-1536820077575-c-13090.htm?searchTermToProduct=2176061) x 4 - [Hasp](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/utility-hardware/hasps/national-hardware-reg-zinc-draw-hasp/n208-512/p-1444448907602-c-9704.htm?searchTermToProduct=2250085) x 2 - [Hinges](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/door-window-hardware/door-hinges/national-hardware-reg-1-1-2-squared-corner-door-hinge-2-pack/n141-739/p-1444448890783-c-9687.htm?searchTermToProduct=2253428) - [Side Handle](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/gate-hardware/national-hardware-reg-5-3-4-pulls/n116-863/p-1444441565005-c-9691.htm?searchTermToProduct=2250234) x 2 - [Top Handle](https://www.menards.com/main/hardware/gate-hardware/national-hardware-reg-4-3-4-screen-door-pull/n117-713/p-1444448895775-c-9691.htm?searchTermToProduct=2252762) - [Vent Register](https://shop.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/registers-grilles/designers-image-trade-white-plastic-floor-register/2010212wh/p-1100429375284715-c-6879.htm?searchTermToProduct=6397156) - [Metal Duct Fitting 8"](https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/ductwork/ductwork-fittings/flowtite-plain-duct-fitting/21708000rb/p-1444432234594-c-14260.htm?searchTermToProduct=6394258) x 2+ - [Flexible Ducting 8"](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WNK8BLN?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details) - Weather Stripping - [Smoke Alarm](https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/fire-safety/smoke-detectors/kidde-10-year-sealed-in-lithium-battery-powered-ionization-smoke-alarm-with-hush/21028968/p-1444446007189-c-6469.htm?searchTermToProduct=3584809) - [Rubber Gloves for Electrical Box Work](https://www.lowes.com/pd/HandCrew-HandCrew-Nitrile-Long-Cuff-ML/1002867564) - [Blank 2 Gang Plate](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-2-Gang-White-Single-Blank-Midsize-Wall-Plate/1002101770) - [Metal 2 Gang Box](https://www.lowes.com/pd/RACO-2-Gang-Gray-Metal-New-Work-Standard-Square-Wall-Electrical-Box/3129507) - [250V Breaker](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-Type-BR-20-Amp-2-Pole-Standard-Trip-Circuit-Breaker/1114097) - Make sure this matches your own breaker box - [6-20R Outlet](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-20A-250V-Single-Receptacle-WH/1002793566) - Make sure this matches your needed power supply cord - [Power Supply Cords](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0828983Q9?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details) x 2 - Make sure this matches your needs # ### ##### Feel free to leave any zaps, questions, comments, or suggested revisions. ##### Cheers, Yooper #bitcoin #nostr #mine #diy #guide #asknostr

@ 6538925e:571e55c3

The excitement and romance of finding new tunes in serendipitous ways is under attack by music streaming apps. Compilation albums, mix tapes, magazines and crate digging have been replaced by algorithmic playlists that lack human touch and authenticity. We are being programmed to listen to more of the same. New artists are finding it harder than ever before to break through and get their music in front of new listeners - not to mention achieve the impossible dream of making a living from their music. This has to change. Earlier this year, we started beta testing a new communal listening experience on our website called [Fountain Radio](https://blog.fountain.fm/p/introducing-fountain-radio). The basic idea was to have a global queue where you pay to play a track - just like the old jukeboxes you can still find in some pubs and bars. You could pay upvote a track to change its position in the queue - and you could send a payment to support the artist currently playing. This early iteration of Fountain Radio was far from perfect, but it got us excited about discovering new music again. Today we are excited to launch a new and improved Fountain Radio experience in the [mobile app](https://www.fountain.fm/download) - and give artists the ability to host a takeover. After updating to version 1.1.8, you will be able to tune in to Fountain Radio from the Discover tab. Here’s how it works… #### **Add and upvote tracks in the queue** Search for tracks in your library or search all music on Fountain. Adding a track to the costs 100 sats (less than $0.10) and your selection will be added to the end of the queue. You can pay to upvote any track in the queue to change its position. 1 sat equals 1 upvote and the track with the most upvotes will play next. Just like zaps, you can pay as much as you like but the minimum is 100 sats. #### **Support the artist currently playing** Boost to send a payment with a message on enable streaming to send a small amount for every minute you spend listening. 95% of every boost and streaming payment goes directly to the artist currently playing and the remaining 5% is set aside for fees paid to PodcastIndex and Fountain. #### **Post in the live chat** Hang out with other listeners in the live chat by connecting Nostr. You can post chat messages for free. Every time a track is added or upvoted this appears in the activity feed too. #### **Save tracks to your library** Listen to your latest discoveries again later in the app. Tap on any content card to add a song to your library or a playlist, or see more music from that artist. #### **Listen to Fountain Radio on other apps** Fountain Radio now has its own RSS feed so you can tune in on any podcast app that supports live streams. Just bear in mind that you will only be able to listen. If you use Nostr livestream platforms such as [zap.stream](https://zap.stream/) or [tunestr.io](https://tunestr.io/), you can listen there and zaps will be paid to the artist currently playing. #### **Artist Takeovers** Artists can now take control of the music and host a listening party or an AMA. During a takeover, only the host can add tracks to the queue and upvotes are disabled. Fountain Radio takeovers help artists reach new listeners and find new fans, followers and supporters. If you have just posted new music to Fountain after uploading to [Wavlake](https://wavlake.com/) or [RSS Blue](https://rssblue.com/), takeovers are a great way to drive engagement - particularly if it’s the first time you’ve shared music in this way. We will also promote upcoming takeovers to help introduce your music to new audiences. The first artist takeover will be the UK’s very own [Joe Martin](https://fountain.fm/artist/cK853uZNytT8FS05vUwC) on **Wednesday 27th November at 12:00pm EST**. If you are interested to take over Fountain Radio and get your music heard by new listeners, get in touch. #### **Other bug fixes and improvements** - Fixed grey screen when viewing queue - Fixed clips not being posted to Nostr - Fixed custom deposit amount - Fixed crash after sharing or creating a clip - Fixed error on The Joe Rogan Experience - Fixed issue when @ symbol appears in a link sent in a comment - Fixed issue where latest episodes in library were not updating for some users - Fixed issue where episode could not be replayed if already listened to - Added error handling when Nostr keypair is already connected to another account - Added warning when using Fountain as a guest - Added prompt to share to Nostr after creating a clip - Added OPML file explorer

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

By popular request I have put together one single list of the most important books that I have read and recommend that you should read too. I am happy to receive your comments, reviews and suggestions - just reach out and let's discuss. They are more or less in alphabetical order of title and they are all recommended. - *George Orwell*'s [1984](https://youtu.be/37N0aFmO19o?ref=rogerprice.me) - spot the drumbeat of hostile distant foreign empires and perpetual war - not to mention everything else that he foresaw. Read it and look around you today. - *Murray Rothbard*'s [Anatomy of the State](https://rogerprice.me/89-hiking-in-hong-kong/#book-of-the-week) - this is foundational to so many of the books and insights related to government, finance and current affairs. This is a short read (one hour) also available as free audiobook. It is required knowledge - you have no excuse. - [Animal farm](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/170448.Animal_Farm?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ARZed0f28x&rank=1&ref=rogerprice.me) - by *George Orwell* - note how the pigs end up living in the farmhouse exceeding all the worst behaviour of the farmer and how the constitution on the wall changes.  Things did not end well for loyal Boxer. - [Awaken The Immortal Within](https://rogerprice.me/105-the-great-taking/#%F0%9F%A4%94-closing-thoughts) by *Jason Breschears* - This book is for those who have searched for the truth all their life and know they have not found it. The rest of you are warned away. - [The Basic Code of the Universe](https://rogerprice.me/136-holywood-and-belfast/#book-of-the-week) by *Massimo Citro* - This is not an easy read (maybe because of being translated from Italian) but the content is fascinating since he combines and draws from many of the other sources we have been considering recently - including *Rupert Sheldrake* on *Morphic fields*, *Ervin Laszlo* on the *Akashic field*, *David Bohm* and *Karl Pribram* on *Holographic Paradigm*, and *Masaru Emoto* on the *memory of water* and *homeopathy*. - [Brave New World](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5129.Brave_New_World?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=palqwVi2cH&rank=1&ref=rogerprice.me) by *Aldous Huxley* - A World State, inhabited by genetically modified citizens and an intelligence-based social hierarchy. The novel anticipates large scale psychological manipulation and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society which is challenged by just one individual who does not take the *Soma*. - *Lyn Alden*'s [Broken Money](https://rogerprice.me/80-sardina-for-a-bit/#book-and-interview-of-the-week) - gives you the complete A-Z of how money works and all the bad choices that governments can (and did) make. You will also understand how money really should work for a peaceful and prosperous society. - [*The Dream*](https://rogerprice.me/82-moving-on-again/#book-of-the-week) by *David Ick*e - this gets my "***Book of the Year 2023***" award. You will be shocked and appalled at how accurate his predictions were for what happened with Covid and that is only Chapter One.  He goes MUCH FURTHER.  He may or may not be right on everything he says, but even if he is right on 10-20% the implications should make you think very differently on many things.  Anyone with a bit of critical thinking in their head should be able to see many of the points he makes - the evidence is all around you. - *Saifedean Ammous*' [The Fiat Standard](https://saifedean.com/the-fiat-standard/?ref=rogerprice.me) - explains how national currencies work today and how they are fundamentally broken, inevitably favouring those at the top, nearest to the money printer and disadvantaging everyone else. He outlines the many negative consequences of the current system. Look around you and you will recognise all that he describes. - [The Falsification of History](https://rogerprice.me/114-family-visit-in-belgium/#book-and-interview-of-the-week) by *John Hammer* - full review in [Newsletter 114](https://rogerprice.me/114-family-visit-in-belgium/#book-and-interview-of-the-week) - [The Fourth turning is Here](https://rogerprice.me/118-holywood-and-antwerp/#book-of-the-week) by Neil Howe - full review in [Newsletter 118](https://rogerprice.me/118-holywood-and-antwerp/#book-of-the-week) - [Going Postal](https://rogerprice.me/66-june-in-the-mediterranean/#book-of-the-week) by *Terry Pratchet*t- a fascinating find and so much learning on the origins and corruption of money. - [Guards! Guards!](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64216.Guards_Guards_?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FuCNYC3Z4e&rank=1&ref=rogerprice.me) by *Terry Pratchett* - The story follows a plot by a secret brotherhood, the Unique and Supreme Lodge of the Elucidated Brethren of the Ebon Night, to overthrow the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork and install a puppet king, under the control of the Supreme Grand Master. - The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy series - in particular the [Restaurant at the End of the Universe](https://rogerprice.me/there-are-7-types-of-rain/#book-of-the-week). There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. - Michael Talbot's "[*The Holographic Universe*](https://rogerprice.me/133-palermo-settling-in/#book-of-the-week)" presents a revolutionary theory that the universe itself may be akin to a *giant hologram*. This idea, inspired by the work of physicist *David Bohm* (who as a *protégée* of Albert Einstein) and neuroscientist *Karl Pribram*, suggests that our reality is not as it appears on the surface. The *holographic paradigm* proposes that every part of the universe contains the whole, much like how every piece of a hologram contains a complete picture. - [The Kybalion](https://rogerprice.me/86-bangkok-settling-in/#the-kybalion) by *Three Initiates* - Hermeticism is a philosophical and spiritual tradition that is based on the teachings attributed to *Hermes Trismegistus*, a legendary figure who is often associated with the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek god Hermes, [pre-dating all modern religions](https://rogerprice.me/unravelling-or-controlled-demolition/#mental-exercise-of-the-week). This will lead you to the [Lament of Hermes](https://rogerprice.me/unravelling-or-controlled-demolition/#thoths-prophesy) (aka *Thoth's Prophesy*) that I suggest is rather relevant to current times. - [The Mandibles](https://rogerprice.me/getting-feet-on-the-pedals/#%F0%9F%93%96-book-of-the-week) – by *Lionel Shriver -* The plot: In 2029, the United States is engaged in a bloodless world war that will wipe out the savings of millions of American families. Overnight, on the international currency exchange, the “almighty dollar” plummets in value, to be replaced by a new global currency, the “bancor.” In retaliation, the president declares that America will default on its loans. “Deadbeat Nation” being unable to borrow, the government prints money to cover its bills. What little remains to savers is rapidly eaten away by runaway inflation. - [Mistborn - The Final Empire](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68428.The_Final_Empire?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=QxbUl6XAQI&rank=1&ref=rogerprice.me) - by *Brandon Sanderson*.  You really ought to recognise and understand the importance of learning from wisdom of prior generations.  - [Morphic Resonance](https://rogerprice.me/128-autumnal-weather/#book-of-the-week) by *Rupert Sheldrake*. This book is about the hypothesis of *formative causation*, which proposes that *nature is habitual*. All animals and plants draw upon and contribute to a *collective memory* of their species. Crystals and molecules also follow the habits of their kind. Cosmic evolution involves an interplay of habit and creativity.   This hypothesis is *radically different from the conventional assumption* that nature is governed by *eternal law*s. Also, keep in mind the *Akashic Records* - not a topic for today but one that we will certainly return to. - [Mythos](https://www.audible.com/pd/Mythos-Audiobook/B07253QHF2?qid=1652386191&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=8FTDPXXY399BEJPSHCRQ) read by *Stephen Fry* is a "must do". This has got to be one of the best books I have ever read! Fabulously interesting and insightful - I had always wondered what the Greek Gods got up to and could never have imagined so much! BTW - this will also give you a grounding in the stories that you need to know for much more than you likely realise. - [The Octopus of Global Control](https://rogerprice.me/130-travel-to-belgium/#book-of-the-week) by *Charlie Robinson* explains the eight tentacles of control that are wrapped around humanity, namely: the *Military*, *Government*, *Covert*, *Physical*, *Financial*, *Media*, *Spiritual*, and *Scientific*. The book tackles topics such as uncovering the *Deep State*, *false flag terror events*, the *media’s role in manufacturing wars*, *the 9/11 deception*, the f*raud of central banking*, our *broken education system*, the *use of religion to shape society*, and the *corrupted medical industry*. Recommend to get this also as audiobook, read by him. - [The Power of Now](https://rogerprice.me/mid-may-family-visit/#power-of-now) by *Eckhard Tolle* - full review in [Newsletter 65](https://rogerprice.me/mid-may-family-visit/#power-of-now) - [*Principles of Economics* ](https://rogerprice.me/at-the-tennis-club/#book-of-the-week)by *Saifedean Ammous*. This is a university-level text book, written to replace the nonsense that students have been taught for the last 70 years. Also available as audiobook. You will understand how things really work. A nice summary of the course is [here](https://www.iangreer.io/principles-of-economics-summary-by-saifedean-ammous/?ref=rogerprice.me). - [Pyramids](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64217.Pyramids?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=PIBJ5hpUUY&rank=2&ref=rogerprice.me) by *Terry Pratchett* - Conservatives vs progressives was, even in this version of ancient Egypt, a hot topic and Pratchett ridicules the arguments of antiquated minds by exaggerating their prime goals and authorities in general. - [The Reveal ](https://rogerprice.me/140-halloween-in-hong-kong/#book-of-the-week)by *David Icke -* this gets my "***Book of the Year 2024***" award.* This is written as a standalone book so you do not need to have read his earlier books. Just do it! This book is required reading for all who are awake to what is going wrong around them and want more background and substantiation. - [Secrets of the Federal Reserve](https://rogerprice.me/home-before-the-journey/#secrets-of-the-federal-reserve) by *Eustace Mullins* independently corroborates all that you read in [*The Creature from Jekyll Island*](https://rogerprice.me/93-awakening-and-marathon/#the-creature-from-jekyll-island) and listen to the book club discussion on it [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLCq3GT8XE4&ref=rogerprice.me). Eustace also wrote "[Murder by Injection](https://archive.org/details/mullins-e.-c.-murder-by-injection-1995/page/n5/mode/2up)" - needless to say, this is particularly relevant to explain what happened in recent years. - [Snow Crash](https://rogerprice.me/at-the-belgian-coast/#book-of-the-week) – by *Neal Stevenson.* The story takes place in some post-crisis world where trust in governments and countries has broken down and the world is made up of territories controlled by various corporations - each of which has their own "passport" and rules.  The inhabitants of the world spend their time "living" in the Metaverse (yes - he did coin that term).  Of course there is some sort of computer virus that strikes and threatens to end everything - you can imagine how things develop. - *William Rees-Mogg*'s [The Sovereign Individual](https://rogerprice.me/holywood-and-belfast-just-visiting/#%F0%9F%93%9A-book-of-the-week) - foresaw very clearly what is currently happening - do get your own copy (book, kindle or audio). Chapters 10 and 11 relate to what's happening now and what's next. - [Sherlock Holmes - Ultimate Collection](https://www.audible.com/pd/Sherlock-Holmes-Audiobook/B06WLMWF2S?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_&pf_rd_p=80765e81-b10a-4f33-b1d3-ffb87793d047&pf_rd_r=PT26JTZP36YX9XXKEKTW) - I absolutely love this complete collection read by Stephen Fry. At nearly 63 hours of audio you get your money's worth. It is all of the books read in a sensible sequence with Stephen's expert commentary and guidance interspersed between the readings. - [The UnCommunist Manifesto](https://rogerprice.me/the-truth-is-out-there/#book-2-of-the-week) by *Aleks Svetski and Mark Moss* - a message of Hope, Responsibility and Liberty for all.  This is a book that you can read in a day or so but you will want to go back and re-read things and reflect further. - [When Money Dies](https://rogerprice.me/october-already-change-in-the-air/#when-money-dies) by *Adam Fergusson* - The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar, Germany. Yes it recounts the story of a hundred years ago but you will be surprised to see how relevant this is today, albeit on a bigger scale. We discussed this back in [Issue 7 in February 2022](https://rogerprice.me/time-to-wake-up/). For lots more like this, do follow our journey: [Letter from ...around the world](https://rogerprice.me/)

@ eaef5965:511d6b79

**Bit late this quarter, but here now for the latest release on the most irreducible form of money, the monetary base. Data comes from the top 50 currencies in the world, their countries of which represent 96% of global GDP and 84% of global population (not very fair, right there). Gold and silver is analogous to this money supply. As is the stock of bitcoins.** **This is quarterly release #26, for 2024 Q3.** If you have followed [my work](https://www.porkopolis.io/) before, then you know that the constant hymn I've sung while speaking publicly about Bitcoin is that the only, economically comparable money supply in the fiat world to 21 million bitcoins is what economists call the "monetary base," or "base money." This is a corporeal money supply that has existed across all of modern economic and central banking epochs. For an apples-to-apples, ontological comparison with Bitcoin, look no further then Base money. ## **So what is it?** It is *central bank money*, comprised of two supplies: 1. **Physical currency**: Notes and coins, or “cash;” 2. **Bank reserves**: The “Master account” that each commercial bank holds with its central bank. Now, why do I refer to this as, "Central bank money?" This is because, unlike all other money supplies in the fiduciary banking world (like M1/M2/M3), the Monetary base is the sole and ultimate money supply controlled by the central bank. It is, literally, the *printing press*. What follows won't be a lesson in reserve ratios or monetary economics. The point is that you simply understand that ***there is*** a money supply that central banks solely control, and of course (of course!) this is what Bitcoin's 21 million are up against. The monetary base is to the core of the entire fiat financial system, as 21 million bitcoins are to the core of the Bitcoin protocol. One is open and permissionless, and one is not. By the way, the monetary base is essentially (though not entirely) analogous to the *total liabilities* of a central bank, so we can (basically) say that the monetary base is the "balance sheet" of each central bank. **On cash**. Quick notes on the above. Certainly you understand what "cash" is, and it is indeed an instrument that has been fully monopolized by each central bank in each nation around the world--only they can print it. Even though it is true that banks in more free banking societies in the past could freely print and strike notes and coins, the central bank (or state) monopoly has been around for a long time. Kublai Khan was the first to do it 750 years ago. **On bank reserves**. Don't stress your brain on this too much, but this is the main "settlement money" that banks use between each other, when they want to settle their debts. It is digital now (Fedwire in US, CHAPS in UK), but it doesn't technically have to be, and of course before modern technology took over even a few decades ago, it was not. These two stacks of retail and wholesale cash, stacks of *central bank money*, are what makes up the **Monetary base**. This is the *printing press*. Only this compares to 21 million bitcoins. And gold, and silver by the way. Final note, central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, which are simply LARPing on Bitcoin's success, are indeed created by central banks, and they are indeed classified as Base money. They are going to be a "third rail." They are thankfully incredibly small, pilot projects today. We will see how far democracies will be tested, as autocracies no doubt will mainstream them; but for now, consider them, at least economically, to be inconsequential to the update below. With that review out of the way, onward to Q2 update for 2024. ## **Bitcoin is the 6th largest money in the world.** In February 2024, it surpassed the monetary base of the United Kingdom, that is its value was larger than the Bank of England's balance sheet, and it remains so to this day. As of 30 September 2024, it is only the balance sheets of the big four central banks that are larger than Bitcoin. They are: 1. **Federal Reserve (dollar)**: $5.59 trillion 2. **People's Bank of China (yuan)**: $5.40 trillion equivalent 3. **European Central Bank (euro)**: $5.28 trillion equivalent 4. **Bank of Japan (yen)**: $4.69 trillion equivalent If we remove gold from the equation (we shouldn't), then Bitcoin could be considered the 5th largest money in the world. However, the all-important monetary metal throughout history that even a child knows about--gold--is still king at around **$16.5 trillion in value**, or 6.1 billion ounces worldwide. Note, this does not include gold lost/recycled through industry; in that case, it is estimated that about 6.9 billion ounces of gold have been mined throughout humanity. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b40e5acfc73a0fd4f34758da504dfe8a396c0b37cc491e28b8fac631de265115.png"> *Update #26 Executive Summary* Silver, for what it's worth, is still a big "monetary" metal; though it is true, much more silver is gobbled up in industry compared to gold. There are about 31 billion ounces of non-industrial silver floating around the world (most of it in jewelry and silverware form) that is valued in today's prices at nearly $1 trillion. Bitcoin bigger. ## **State of the Print: $27.0 trillion.** If we add up the Big Four central banks already mentioned above (again, Bitcoin being larger than the Bank of England's monetary base), as well as the next 46 central banks, we get to a total, USD equivalent value of **$27.0 trillion in base money across the world**. I**f we consider $27.0 trillion as the Big Boss of central bank money, then Bitcoin at $1.25 trillion network value (September, quarter-end figure!) indeed has some way to go.**  But as we can see from the last month leading up to this publishing, that can change quickly. We have just surpassed $100 thousand per bitcoin, which **brings the network value to $2 trillion**. We can also imagine how the Pareto distribution occurs even in money, if Bitcoin after only 15 years is already larger than every central bank money in the world except for four of them. Wild to ponder. ## **Supply inflation: 12.7% per year.** It is also true that for two years they have been trying to "normalize" their balance sheets after the 2020-22 Covid madness, stimulus, and money printing. Of course, they have been trying all along to normalize since the 2008 global finance crisis (GFC), but I digress. When I first started my website, I vowed never to use such a non-corporeal thing as CPI to discuss how much things cost. A "general increase in the level of consumer prices," or CPI, as measured by planning boards around the world, is not a real thing. It may be calculated by people with the best of intentions, but it has been manipulated and volumes have been written about it. I don't use it. I have always defined inflation as the classical economists did: Inflation is an increase in the "stock" of money. If we know the all-time stock of euros printed by the European Central Bank now, and we know the all-time stock of euros printed by the ECB 12 months ago, then it is very easy to calculate the annual inflation of the euro. Not only is it easy, but *it is real*. It is corporeal. **Watch what they do**, not what they say. I have been tracking this since 2018, and though this figure has evolved slightly (mostly increasing from massive COVID stimulus of 2020-2021, the high-signal, important to remember figure of all-time compound annual growth (CAGR) of the global base money supply since 1969 is 12.7%. That is **12.7% compounded, per year**. It is a doubling time of **5.8 years**. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/caffef58bab6d1bd10e6a9ed6c716ac91de23fa990264749586641918482b723.png"> ***Growth rate of the monetary base*** It is highly valuable to understand that, *ceteris paribus*, if the demand for cash balances does not keep up with this monetary supply increase, then prices will rise. This erodes purchasing power. I do not attempt to measure the demand for cash balances in this research. Regardless, 12.7% is a useful figure to understand. ## **Let's compare.** For the rest of this report, I want to do something different and simply spend some time looking at the compound annual growth rates of various corporeal things around the world, in order that we can compare those to the growth of the fiat monetary base, and Bitcoin. Remember, most things in the financial and economic world grow exponentially. This simply means that they grow *constantly*. The financial term here is compound growth, or compound interest. This rate of growth can indeed change year to year (interest rates can go up, or down), but over the years we can observe a strong trend, and that is what I want to summarize here for you. ## **Population.** The world has grown exponentially at **1.7% per year** over the last 75 years. However, despite all the overpopulation myths you've probably heard, this rate of growth is actually falling, well below trend, and we only grow at **0.9% per year** at the moment. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b001bcc8ac726b7cb934ce8abd71e84c5e60f9253d5fa18c8db8021c66b45851.png"> ## **GDP.** The United States has grown its economy at 5.2% compounded per year since the founding of the republic. We are at the higher end of this trend right now, $28.8 trillion output per year, growing at **5.3% per year**. As this is exponential growth, if I put it on log scale, it will become a straight line. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/2c9bb437e5403b16f7bdd628c8e8dd90b285b7ca5a20b731e1a9776d687c4578.png"> ## **Stocks.** Stocks grow exponentially as well, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The growth rate is **7.3% per year** for the S&P 500, the main US index that tracks more than 80% of total market caps. Showing this one on linear scale on the left-hand axis, just so you can see how it typically scales. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/dcc2a758310e1e8c01f2df309a93b327376099376c4ef39ebce12a0e7d3834f6.png"> ## **Stocks. With Dividends.** *If you reinvest those dividends* into the same stock market, you'll earn more. The all-time compound annual growth increases by 2% higher to **9.3% per year** for the S&P. Also displaying this one on linear scale. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/a9c31d98de035ad78c4de49b04dd097cd4e9981abcfa3380ffc2a3ee8fcd2795.png"> ## **Bonds.** Bonds are supposedly safer than stocks (bondholders get paid back first), and more cash flowing. If you look at the longest running bond index in the US, it grows at **7.1% per year**, compounded. Notice how, in a rising interest rate environment (which we are at the moment), bonds will suffer, if viewing the price (or index, as in this case, using the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index). This has kept the bond market returns at the lower end of the range, since the global financial crisis in 2008. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/0d789e45f3e1b6a76fb22e7e04c5b916d9bded98f3e5263492322ba3c5e32746.png"> ## **Base Money.** As we've discussed, base money grows across the world at a weighted average of **12.7% compounded per year**. However, this trendline analysis looks at it differently than my headline figure. It simply looks at the USD value of the global monetary base (again, **$27.0 trillion**), and draws an exponential trendline on that USD equivalent growth for 50+ years. In other words, this is going to be *after all currency fluctuations* have played themselves out. Do you think the growth rate here will be higher or lower? Actually, it is lower, at **10.3% per year**. But there is a big asterisk here, in that the series is not consistent across time. I typically just display it for visual effect. As more and more central bank balance sheets were added to this analysis across the 1970s and 1980s, it is not technically rigorous to run an exponential trendline analysis across these totals. **Better to use my headline figure of 12.7% CAGR.** Again, the 12.7% figure is rigorously calculated, measuring the native growth rate of each monetary base across every month recorded, then weighting that across every other monetary base in that monthly basket, then averaging all months for an all-time figure, and then raising that all-time monthly weighted average to the power of 12. What is interesting, however, is that the 10.3% derived CAGR using the exponential regression below is *lower* than my native headline figure of 12.7% . Remember, the 10.3% exponential regression **does not** account for all the new money supplies coming in during the 1970s and 1980s (which should push the regression slope higher as new supplies are added), *and* it is after all currency fluctuations have been factored in, to arrive at a USD equivalent. The lower 10.3% CAGR can only mean that central bank balance sheets actually lose value against the US-dollar *faster* than they can print! <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f3c9f9af2e6cd59a5cea41cf4783a011099829906bcedf51afca8c2561e7c046.png"> Note, I am showing this one in linear scale. The trendline projects out to **$83 trillion** by December 2033. The current global supply of base money ($27 trillion) is about $6.5 trillion less than the current trendline ($33.5 trillion). ## **Silver.** This is total ounces ever mined. They trend upward at **1.4% per year**. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/3abd3b80c57dd9e8d2075497a2861bcf39addc1d679ababb60510939eb169bf9.png"> ## **Gold.** This is total ounces ever mined. Gold trends upward at **1.7% per year**. Faster than silver. Surprised? Notice the R-squared (goodness of fit) for both silver and gold production increase. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f7728966e2ecea37749acd5787157244fa61001c16fa5b4a6dcf18f7e151ea40.png"> ## **Bitcoin.** Bitcoins grow according to a basic logarithmic curve. Trying to draw percentiles is pointless here, and even measuring a trendline is relatively pointless, as everyone knows the bitcoins prescribed into the future, per the protocol. Better to just quote the trailing 12-month growth figure, and it is **1.5% per year** and falling, as of quarter end Sep-2024. Less than gold. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d267873c029649fb5dda0446ed2eb3b96db34f47f43ec9ac4cf310e70013d81c.png"> ## **Silver price.** Since 1971 it's trended at 3.4% per year. Silver bug? <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/231bcd22be9d07a95ce2fa3c614d820910a9d2d744646b890d8e12b6b0cc633c.png"> ## **Gold price.** Since 1971 it's trended at 5.1% per year. Gold bug? <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/3aa240988a926928e1621d174b4a0108a32468e52f3058a19c0ec3db80fdc236.png"> ## **Bitcoin price.** Now, we have finally arrived at something that grows differently than exponential. [As I've observed since 2018](https://x.com/1basemoney/status/1079740420438011905), Bitcoin grows according to a power trend. Did you notice that the prior exponential trends displayed themselves as straight lines on log scale? Well, with Bitcoin, the power trendline gradually falls across time, but the growth is still well larger than anything we've covered thus far. Why? It's being adopted, of course. Bitcoin's power trendline has grown **167% per year** since Bitcoin Pizza Day in 2010. Note that this is something akin to a "Lifetime Achievement" figure, and it will continue to fall every day. Over the prior 12 months ending 30 September 2024, Bitcoin grew **134.6% over the year**. Well higher now at $100k. The compound growth of the power trend today is **44% per year**. By 2030 it will fall to "only" **36% per year**. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/77fc9a8c58c0fb705ab574b24bd0777d2bb0c5a1a5668179c4242b311f656421.png"> Oh yes, and it is free (as in speech), open, and permissionless money. ## **To summarize.** That was a lot of data across a lot of charts. I've compiled it all in a helpful table here for you to review at any time. This is the monetary and major asset world at third quarter end, 2024: <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/e8c24f25504fe3fcdb4889101ffc51b0e0ca01039c41d06771aed9b4a4904fb6.png"> ## **Base money concluded** The following table gives you a complete summary of the fiat currencies, gold, silver, and Bitcoin figures used in this analysis, for this quarter. Please print it out if you like, it is meant to be a helpful, in-depth companion when fiat friends come asking. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/cb7a6d04a0fbef82a68e67ac5b98cd2faeae31b39f68926e7a235d4e05020a3d.png"> Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed, please consider zapping, and you can also donate to my [BTCPay](https://donations.cryptovoices.com/) on [my website](https://www.porkopolis.io/) if you'd like to help keep this research going.

@ a80fc4a7:dc80ebd1

I have noticed a pattern lately that makes me kind of sad, It seems Photography and Real photos are becoming harder and harder to find these Days, With the rise of AI And Computer generation. If you go to Google or any Search engine and simply Search "Nature Photos" you will get largely AI Photos or heavily altered images, it's almost as if it was programmed this way, is nobody taking real photos anymore? Or is Google simply trying to replace real art and real photos with AI? This honestly puzzles me and worries me, has anyone else noticed this? Or is it just me. Was it always this way on Google?

@ 234035ec:edc3751d

# The rise of UAVs Drones, we have all heard of them, seen them, and many of us own them. Also known as UAVs (Unmanned Arial Vehicles) they come in endless different shapes and sizes, from 2inch Cinewhoop FPVs (First Person View) to large military drones like the **Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk** which can fly for over 30 hours at speeds over 300mph. In recent conflicts, most notably the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, we have seen drones play a very significant role. The utilization of small consumer or cheaply manufactured drones for reconnaissance, dropping payloads, delivering supplies, and as "kamikaze" weapons has been well documented. These so called Kamikaze drones have been devastatingly effective due to the asymmetry of risk on the side of the drone attacker as opposed to traditional warfare methods. The FPV pilot can sit in a secure location several miles from the enemy, and launch $500-$1,000 drones to take out signifiant infrastructure, tanks, personnel, ect. By embracing a new paradigm of warfare a smaller force with significantly less resources is able to project a disproportionate amount of power. Outside of military use we have seen drones used for many other applications such as 3D mapping, Thermal imaging, Delivery services, agricultural uses, and choreographed displays. All of these take something that once required a human operator present and allows them to be automated. While many of these applications do still require a human operator, it is not a far stretch to imagine that, with advancements in computation and machine learning they will grow more and more hands off. Being able to utilize a computer program to fly a pre-set flightpath over a location and generate a 3D model of it or gather thermal data is already a reality. Companies now offer docking stations which charge the drone and it can take off and land from autonomously.  The use of large swarms of drones to create arial displays has also been growing in popularity in recent years. fleets of hundreds and sometimes thousands of drones are programmed to flight in precise coordinated patterns in order to create complex shapes and images in the sky. The idea of a single computer being able to control and coordinate such a vast number of vehicles is mind boggling. # Drones in the digital revolution The "Digital Revolution" has been talked about at great lengths by many people and generally refers to the rapid growth in computation which has lead to growth in access to information and global connectivity. This new wave has seen the dematerialization of many things in our life. E-mail, E-commerce, Social Applications, Wikipedia, Bitcoin, ect. are all examples of previously physical things being dematerialized in the digital age. UAVs give us a bridge between the digital and physical worlds. A software program run on a computer can now deliver a package to someone across town who just placed an order on a website. They can be used to inspect properties or other physical assets from a distance or to spray crops on large pieces of land. Along with these "civilian" applications it is easy to imagine a future where drones have an even larger significance in warfare. If you combine the drone swarms used in light displays with the kamikaze drones being used in Ukraine, you get a very scary proposition. If warfare becomes increasingly autonomous, manpower will matter far less and resources will matter much more. A small wealthy nation may be able to wield significant power through their UAV systems. # Decentralization of UAVs When considering the potential future with respect to drones and drone weapons systems, it is easy to become concerned with a potential Orwellian future where the government has patrol drones and can arrest you autonomously for your thought crimes. While government tyranny is always a serious concern, I am hopeful for the future. The second amendment in the United States is designed to ensure that the citizens have enough power to resist a tyrannical government. I see drones as a force which levels playing fields, the average individual has access to the same drones which are being used in conflict right now in Ukraine. With the digital revolution we have also seen 3D printing grow massively in popularity and utility and individuals have been experimenting with 3D designs for firearms and drones. This further democratizes access to self defense allowing many more individuals access to the tools necessary to defend themselves in the physical world through a digital file. The future is going to be a very interesting place. I believe that the lines between the physical and digital worlds will continue to blur and that unmanned aircraft are going to play a significant role in that transformation.

@ 4ba8e86d:89d32de4

A origem e o desenvolvimento do SearXNG começaram em meados de 2021, após o fork do conhecido mecanismo de metabusca Searx, inspirado pelo projeto Seeks. Ele garante privacidade básica ao misturar suas consultas com outras pesquisas, sem armazenar dados de busca. O SearXNG pode ser adicionado à barra de pesquisa do navegador e também configurado como mecanismo de busca padrão. Embora o SearXNG não ofereça resultados tão personalizados quanto o Google, ele não gera um perfil sobre você. Controle Total sobre Seus Dados: com o SearXNG, você tem controle absoluto sobre suas informações de pesquisa. O histórico de busca é totalmente opcional e pode ser ativado ou desativado conforme sua preferência. Além disso, é possível excluir qualquer entrada a qualquer momento, garantindo sua privacidade. Resultados de Fontes Diversificadas: o SearXNG agrega informações de mais de 70 fontes diferentes, proporcionando uma pesquisa mais abrangente e relevante. Em vez de se limitar a uma única fonte, você obtém uma visão mais ampla e detalhada das informações disponíveis. O SearXNG respeita sua privacidade, nunca compartilha dados com terceiros e não pode ser usado para comprometer sua segurança. O SearXNG é um software livre com código 100% aberto, e qualquer pessoa é bem-vinda para contribuir com melhorias. Se você valoriza a privacidade, deseja ser um usuário consciente ou acredita na liberdade digital, faça do SearXNG seu mecanismo de busca padrão ou instale-o em seu próprio servidor. O SearXNG reconhece sua preocupação com logs, por isso o código-fonte está disponível para que você possa executar sua própria instância: https://github.com/searxng/searxng Adicione sua instância à lista de instâncias públicas. https://searx.space/ para ajudar outras pessoas a recuperar sua privacidade e tornar a internet mais livre. Quanto mais descentralizada for a internet, maior será a liberdade para todos! Lista de Instâncias Públicas https://searx.space/ Documentação de Instalação https://docs.searxng.org/admin/installation.html#installation SeaxrXNG : Instalação , configuração e publicação. https://youtu.be/zcrFPje6Ug8?si=oOI6dqHfHij51rvd https://youtu.be/8WHnO9gJTHk?si=-5SbXUsaVSoSGpps

@ 8e56fde2:bb433b31

So let us give a little bit on context first to get the WHOLE PICTURE. We DoShitters are a trio of friends who one day decided we wanted to create some shit together. We are artists from different fields, and at the time two of us were struggling from creative block, so we decided to create the ultimate tool to COMBAT CREATIVE BLOCK. It would be an Oracle about the creative process and it would be inspired on the Hero's Journey and on our own journeys as artists; and hence "DoShit!" was born.  Once we knew what we wanted to do, and it started to have a shape, we decided to go through the hardship of self-producing and selling the cards by ourselves directly on our website ( www.doshitters.com ), which allowed us to keep control of the product at all times during production, and to have a direct relationship with our audience and buyers. Besides from guaranteeing we weren't left with the tiniest percentage of the sales pie. (At least in Spain, when you get a big publisher involved, you can forget getting even 10% of sales, and you lose a lot of the creative control of your project). We invested a lot of our own resources in making sure "DoShit!" was a quality product and we were lucky enough to get the help of a generous patreon who enabled us to create what is now the DoShit! deck. <3  We did local presentations of the product in both Barcelona and Madrid, and got the deck to be sold in cool local stores, where we offered to do live readings and got to talk with people of all kinds about the Shit they wanted to do. Above all, DoShit! is an inspirational tool. **And you must be asking yourself, "What does this have to do with Amazon?". ** Well, one of the problems of self-producing and having local fulfilment of the product is that shipping costs just couldn't compete with what the average consumer has gotten used to because of Amazon's mass scale free shipping. We were finding that, specially for our followers in the USA, it was impossible to assume shipping costs (which amounted to almost the same cost as the actual deck); but we didn't want to give up on the people who wanted to get inspired by DoShit! but lived on the other side of the world from us, so... WE DECIDED TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, aka Amazon.  We knew that selling our product on Amazon was going to result in less revenue from the sales for us, but for us it was mostly about GETTING DoShit! TO A WAREHOUSE IN THE USA to be able to offer the deck with Free Shipping. And that's what we did. But we didn't know everything that would come as a result, (they don't really advertise the hidden costs and fees, or the speed at which they want you to expedite your sales) and we've been paying for that decision ever since.  In any case, they lured us in with a 3 months no cost promotion. You obviously assumed the cost of shipping it there, and they would take a cut from every sale that happened in their web, but we didn't have any way of knowing the cost that we would need to incur after those first three months. Another thing that wasn't advertised is that IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT YOUR PRODUCT TO BE FEATURED ANYWHERE, you need to be eligible as an A+ content seller, which also comes at a cost, and you need to pay additionally for sponsored ads; otherwise, your product is basically shut down in a black hole of zero discoverability except for people using the direct link.  The three months went by fast and then the invoices started coming, and the automatic charges on our account started to empty our independent seller bank account. As you can imagine, independent sellers like us sometimes require of TIME to be able to get the word out, to get people to buy your product... Besides, as artists with other projects on the pipeline, we couldn't really spend much time focusing on sales, nor did we want to. And in all honestly, we refused to give Amazon more money in sponsored ads and other programs to "gain visibility". We knew we had no way of competing with the big sellers on the platform, but we just thought, "AT LEAST IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BUY IT".  But then, out of the blue, we noticed our link on Amazon wasn't working. A friend tipped us off that it wasn't allowing any sales, it was listed as "currently unavailable", without us having done anything to trigger that change. Suddenly we received an email from the giant informing us that our account had been set to inactive due to "dormancy", and that we needed to re-verify our identity. Not only that, but since we were in Europe, and they didn't have an address in the US they could send the decks back to, if we didn't get everything solved in time, THEY WERE GOING TO DESTROY THE DECKS THEY HAD IN THEIR WAREHOUSE because of their "Automated removal" policy. This caught us while we were on holidays, away from our desktops, seller logins and such and we did everything the seller support requested from us as rapidly as possible. The nightmare of imagining our beautiful decks being destroyed really put us in a state of panic. We hoped everything would be solved after several support tickets stating our case, and pleading that they don't destroy the decks!  In the end, after several communications, they reactivated our listing which had apparently been set to inactive because of "stranded inventory" due to "excess inventory"; which is Amazon talk for: "YOU'RE NOT SELLING FAST ENOUGH". After having gone through that experience we knew one thing for certain, WE WANTED TO BREAK FREE FROM AMAZON as soon as possible, but we still wanted to offer our DoShit! decks with Free Shipping for our customers; at least this Christmas...  So, best case scenario, all the DoShit! decks that are at Amazon get sold this Christmas campaign, with the jolly merry spirit, people and nostriches all around the world get excited about GIFTING INSPIRATION (and taking advantage of the Free Shipping) and help us to GET THE DECKS OUT OF AMAZON!  But we know this may be wishful thinking T.T , That is why we are also looking for independent shops in the USA that feel that DoShit! makes sense in their store, and would want to become the new home of the decks that remain in american soil after the Christmas campaign. So maybe somebody wants to become the "foster home" to these Oracles as they find their new home in 2025, so they decks can go from that abussive giant with high time preference, to a friendly purple shop with low time preference and no hidden tricks. After all, many people kickstart the year with their minds set on their New Year Resolutions, they want to DO SHIT! So Who Knows?  In any case, to all the small sellers out there, BEWARE OF MAKING THAT PACT WITH THE DEVIL. We knew we had never wanted to get our Shit on Amazon, we knew the system was rigged again us, but still, we wanted to make it more affordable for people to get their hands on the deck. Artists struggle enough to have to additionally add exhorbitant shipping costs to acquire a creativity tool like "DoShit!". And if you, like us, find yourself having to do that pact anyway, we hope our tale will at least help you navigate all the hidden traps that their system throws at you.  IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE CREATIVE RESCUE MISSION TO FREE THE DECKS, please, support us as best you can, share our story, recommend our deck, but best of all GIFT THE "DoShit!" DECK THIS CHRISTMAS! <3 You can find it at its captor's site at https://a.co/d/hrKXEBF , or if you'd rather NOT BUY SHIT ON AMAZON, you can always buy it at the Plebeian Market with your Sats, and we'll get one out of Amazon on your account. (https://plebeian.market/p/f82c481a3ae2a284049631a50373f4b9262c0e0b80977a4de1a71fcc19c5635d/stall/c9744507a49cf647c5612204416b7e22bdab86fbaff85413cfbc41103a0d269a)  THANKS FOR CARING, This 2025, we wish you all to DO THE SHIT THAT MATTERS TO YOU! #DoShit! #JoinTheArtmy

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

## Yeah, so... nah. People keep trying to explain to me, that women will be better-off, if they become more dangerous. While I can see the inevitableness of women living in remote rural areas learning to shoot with a rifle, and similar, I'm generally against arming women with killing machines. This is not because I'm averse to the idea of using violence to solve problems (albeit after exhausting better options), or because I don't like guns, or am unfamiliar with them. It's also not because I don't know I would look totally, mind-numbingly hot holding something long and spearlike, while dressed in camo and wearing a T-Shirt that appears to have shrunk in the wash.  It's a more fundamental set of problems, that irks me. ## Bazooka Barbie American gun manufacturers saturated the public and private male market so thoroughly, that they eventually turned to marketing firearms to women. Men are scary and bad. There is Stranger Danger. We can't just make the neighborhood less dangerous because erm... reasons. Stay safe with a cute gun.  It has gone along with the predictable hypersexualization of the conservative feminine ideal. Since guns are considered aggressive, women with guns are perceived as more sexually available. Guns (and tanks, bombs, bows, etc.) make women "equal", "independent", "feisty", "hot", "freaky", "calculating", "empowered", etc.  Sorta slutty, basically. This Gun Girl is not like the helpless, hapless, harmless homemaker ideal, of yesteryear. A woman who was dependent, chaste, gentle, wise... and in need of protection. A woman who saw the men around her as people she could rely on for providing her with a safe environment. That woman is _au revoir_. Now, sistas are doing it for themselves. 💪🏻 The New Martial Missy needs a man, like a fish needs a bicycle... but make it country. Yeah, it's marketing, but it sure has set the tone, and millions of men have been trained to prefer women who market themselves in this manner. Hard, mean, lean women. That will not remain without wider societal consequences. You know, I liked that homemaker. I miss her. She's literally me.  ## Those arms are for cuddling babies, not holding rocket launchers. Now, that we've all become accustomed to imagery of women holding firearms, it wasn't much of a leap to condition us all to the sight of women in frontline police, guard, or military positions.  Instead of war being a terrible, highly-lethal, territorial fight amongst men, it's now cute, hip, trendy and fun. It's a big party, and women are finally allowed to join in.  Now, women have finally jettisoned the terrible burden of being society's life-bearers and caretakers, and we're just more potential enemy combatants. We know it's okay to punch women, shoot women, etc. since we've been watching it happen on screens, for decades. Women are now often assumed to be fighters, not lovers. Cavalry, not mothers. ## Girls on top Not only does this undermine any female role -- and put female civilians under a cloud of suspicion -- it also reduces mens' claim to be paramount in governance. Why should a man be the Commander in Chief, if women are on the battlefield? In fact, why should men be in charge of anything, anywhere? Look at them. There they are. Hiding at home. Cowering in their kitchens, wringing their hands and fretting, while courageous, dangerous women protect _them_ from dangers foreign and domestic. Women are the better men, really. Is this really where we want to go? ## The final bitterness But one thing I find most disturbing is something more personal. The ubiquitous nature of firearms in American homes has made domestic violence increasingly deadly. Adding more guns, for the female residents, often serves to make such violence even more deadly for women. It turns out, that women are usually reluctant to shoot people they know; even more than men. Women without this inhibition are prone to sharing their home with men missing the same trait. And, now, they have more guns.

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

Hey Freaks, I like using SN and Nostr as something of an open diary, this time I'm back detailing my hustle in the fiat mines. ## The Full Time Job Hustle I was looking at obtaining a paralegal certificate and taking a few courses on Udemy and Coursera. I'll probably start on the 14th, was thinking I should probably bolster my main resume with more skills and certs. I'll start requesting additional tasks at work and look towards either a promotion or finding an interesting paralegal job elsewhere. Here were a few resources I was looking to take advantage of They're all inexpensive and I can work on them at my own pace, could bolster my resume and provide me with more knowledge and skills to bring to the table. I guess I'm more of an autodidact, was thinking if I paired those certificates with a few decent books and podcasts I'd be more of a force to be reckoned with. I started with the firm strictly filing documents as an admin assistant. I guess my end goal, when it comes to my journey in the legal field, is to eventually work on more interesting things, for more money. Right now my job is mostly administrative, preparing patent documents, filing documents with the USPTO, and calling examiners to discuss errors in patent applications. Just like in most things.....I'm a noob when it comes to legal matters, but have a renewed interest in IP law and how it moves forward with the whole sovereign individual thesis hanging in the background and how it plays with Free open source software and my anarchist leanings. --- ## The Part Time Job Hustle Looks like I'll be working weekends as a Direct Support Professional. The job is from 9AM to 11pm...... and I'll be working with teens with disabilities and mental health conditions. As a bit of a background, I was looking for additional weekend work because the wild wife is pregnant and I don't want her working. My main job as a formalities specialist at an IP law firm allows me to work from home, and the work isn't too hard, just a lot of typing and I grew up playing computer games, so typing and moving my mouse to click buttons is a specialty, that and my charming demeanor..... I wanted a job that fit around my schedule and offered a decent amount of sats. A job that was doing something of value in the real world, and something with good employment prospects into the future. So I obtained a Home Health Care Aide certificate on Udemy, watched a few Youtube videos, and applied to 15 HHA jobs in my area (That's a lot of opportunity in the area, especially for weekend and evening jobs). The interview went really well, I leaned on my military background, teaching kids how to perform Maintenance on F-16 fighter jets, and on my experience helping the elderly with small financial tasks at Bank of America. I received an offer letter, and they ended up offering me a salary which was more than I expected. I've finished the onboarding process and start orientation on Monday (taking a week vacation from the firm to take the paid orientation.) I'm excited about the job. I'm pumped to get into a new field with pretty nice opportunity and prospects around me for long term sat stacking. I'm really interested to see how I'd be of service to the special needs kid........and know I have a lot to learn. Wish me luck, And never stop the hustle! Wild PS. written really fast, apologies for it being all over the place.....

@ 17538dc2:71ed77c4

# Nostr Onboarding Questionnaire Below are are results of the nostr qualitative onboarding questionnaire created by elsat in early November, 2024. Responses are from 22 nostr surivors/masochists. Results are *not* representative of people who never made it past onboarding. These are folk that remained on nostr, and were active around the time I asked for volunteers to provide feedback on onboarding to nostr. Let me know if anything stands out, if you have questions about any particular response! ## I. Did you onboard to nostr on your cellular network, on wifi? 14 Wifi; 7 cell; 2 both; 1 other ## II. What was the biggest pain point in onboarding to nostr? **Discovery** > Discover interesting content and other people > Finding the right content. Discovery. > Loading/lacking data > figuring out how to find interesting people > Finding npubs ### Value Prop & Learning Curve > Knowing how it differs from tradsofiu > Learning the difference between the protocol and the app I needed to download and onboard through. > Choosing a client. > Trying to figure it out on my own. ### Key management > Private/pub key handling > That's definitely key management. How and where to store it to have it secure, still accessible for use with other apps in a secure way. > Getting my nsec in without pasting it ### Relay setup > Setting up relays, discover interesting users to follow, > building your own feed > figuring out relays > Finding reliable relays to join. ### Wallet Setup > Setting up a lightning wallet > Lightning wallets for sending and receiving Zaps. **Notifications** > Notifications [presumably missing notifications] ### Accessibility > Finding a very good accessible client for the computer (I'm blind). Amethyst seems to be good on my Android device, but I avoid smartphones. ### Scary links > I tried to "onboard" (ie expose) friends to nostr by sending them links to interesting/funny notes here and there. But some of the default sharing links I use (Amethyst -> Njump) are so long that they always think it's some spam. (Primal has nicer web links) ### Customization > Figuring out profile setup, lots of unfamiliar fields ## III. What part of nostr "wow'd" you, and when did this happen? ### take your social graph with you; distribute your data > That all the data is already there if you use different clients and you take your social graph with you through completely different apps. seamless account a mobility of course ccount easy switching between clients Moving my social graph between clients. Happened in the first days of usage. Cross over between different clients. Happened on a Tuesday. ### V4V, freedom, exclusive, and censored content > Freedom, some V4V and exclusive content, some censored content The clear messaging why nostr was better than mastodon/ activitypub ### Flexibility, BYO Algorithm, Control > The insane flexibility. Nostr is a textbook example of "worse is better". So I think I was converted when I realized how much could be built with this, not just social media. My "Aha! This is more than just a Twitter clone" moment was when I stumbled on Oddbean. Also there's this whole "bring your own algorithm" / "build your own algorithm" to the social media side of it. And we're starting to see that work out in practice, with things like bitvora's algo-relay. > Complete control > A digital portable social identity that I can take with me from one app to another. December 2022. >Experiencing the interoperability when i tried Listr, spring '23 I think >Initially it was decentralization and censorship resistance. >You can spin a simple backup relay, own your data truly, and rebroadcast everything to different relays. Amethyst, adjusting the relays ### Access to devs > Devs working in real time on it visible - too cool ### Zaps > Zapping! Right away > Zapping > zaps! and also the small community > After [initial censorship resistance phase is over], the most wow part was zaps, still is. > Zaps for shitposting & being able to login into different apps with the same account ### Cordiality > Open respectful discussion among people who do not agree Friendly discourse of users. Not toxic like other special media. First day. ## IV Around what time did you onboard to nostr (e.g. July 2023) Nov 2021 December 2021 2022 the single html page first POC client December 2022 Dec 2022 December 2022 Jan 2023 January '23 feb 2023 February 2023 Early 2023. Didn't really play around with it until December 2023 May 2023 June 2023 - Plebstr, November 2023 primal march 2024 amethyst, January 2025 notedeck I've been dipping my toes in the water since 2022 but just started taking it seriously last month. July 2023 March 2024 Summer 2024. August 2024 Nov 2024 ## V Which app astral.ninja (2) Branle Damus (6) > "(needed the simplicity)" PRIMAL (5) > "(needed the simplicity)" Amethyst (4) > Coracle > Coracle and nos2x > Various > A combo of Amethyst (phone), nostrudel (web), and algia (command line). I'm a command-line junky. I also am fond of Oddbean, because it's basically a hackernews style thing built on top of nostr. But see my complaint about Nazi bar / Temple of Satoshi. Could not recommend to friends. At some point, I intend to set up strfry and my own Oddbean instance targeted to anti-capitalists. > Created my keys with alby > Can't remember the actual name ## VI Have you experienced a failure in onboarding others to nostr? What exactly happened? > Poor experience trying to onboard newbs to nostr during the conference (mostly on iOS which I do not use), around 10-12 people. Granted the cell coverage was not great and not sure I remember everything that went wrong, but users were generally confused with loading/lacking data. Create a profile, then I tried to follow them but could not find them from Amethyst. So scanned QR code, which is a non-obvious step. Then their profile showed just the npub but no info or pfp, some commented on that. Followed them but they didn't receive a notification for that on Damus, this confused most. And then what? Post a note? (I was recommending #introductions ). While you wait for all this to load, tap, retry... between laughs you need to come up with conversation and try to somewhat defend nostr, tell them we're early and bugs will be fixed etc. On Primal follows do appear but feeds don't load. And it autofollows a bunch of random people - some liked it some didn;t. They posted a note and I wanted to like/zap it but I could not see that note on my client either, even though I'm connected to major relays (could be nostr.wine's fault, but I tried with the zap.store account as well). I saw one guy KYC himself 3 times with the wallet because when he switched to his email client to get the code and the app kept resetting the screen. Lucky that the majority of people were eager and did their best to try. Since some of these were after Jordi's talk where he offered several clients to download, it was not always my choice/recommendation on which client to download - they just came with it. I know we do our best but guys... it's bad. This reminds me of getting a newb to open a LN channel and get liquidity. Painful. If we have to centralize more to better onramps, so be it. ### difficulty / friction > Picking a client > Yes. It's too technical. You need many tools to accomplish small tasks. > Yes, tried primal on Android. It failed to accept any profile changes > Not able to find other npubs when using search in several clients ### stale > They got no new events, because they followed only a few users > They didn’t become frequent users because I’m the only person they know in nostr. > They lose interest in the network compared to traditional social networks. They were normies. > Some found it strange that you follow a bunch of bitcoiners (seemingly) by default (Primal iirc) > yes. non bitcoiners not interested in joining a small network of people just yet ### quotes > I haven't tried to bring anyone to nostr. I am a bit scared to do so, because the place has a rep of being a Nazi bar and an extension of the Bitcoin cult. I do think that it is what you make of it, and I've tried to argue that point with friends. It's a protocol, nothing more. Don't wanna interact with Nazis and use Bitcoin? Nothing says you have to. > They don't care > I have not convinced anyone to use nostr > Too hard for most folk. > Not really. > No. Never tried. > No, onboarded two successfully. > Yeah I generally suck at getting people to check out new stuff ## VII What, if anything, do you think confuses people during onboarding to nostr? Why? Have you observed this? > Setting a optional username is confusing for many and also they don't know what a NIP-05 is (they are likely to just fill in their existing mail address) > Finding some people. No progress of loading content or indication of time. Slight confusion where are DMs, home, etc, tabs basically > The why. Its much easier now, I was way confused DEC 22 > Same on boarding is difficult to people on Nostur. > There is no app in the App Store called “nostr” > nips and relays > We tell people that you don't need KYC to use Nostr and then ask them for KYC for Lightning wallets. > No in-client intro to the "what" and "how" of it all. I haven't witnessed that, but I believe it could squash preconceived notions. > Key management. Especially because there is no key rotation(recovery option in a traditional email/phone way), if it leaks, you are done. > Safe keeping of your nsec. There are many ways to do it, all of them unfamiliar to most users. > When you don't see data you are expecting, be it a profile picture, a follow notification, or a note. Remember people who want to try Damus/Primal/etc microblogging clients come from twitter - so cater for transition from Twitter. Gen z snapchat/tiktok users don't care about nostr, no way to relate > Understanding how to filter for non-Bitcoin content. > need for setting up relays to filter the spam waves, finding the interesting follows, and difficulties setting up usable (even custodial) wallets. > Why would I want to use nostr? > Relays / keys ## VIII What, if anything, do you think scares people away during onboarding to nostr? Why? Have you observed this? > Not much, but probably nsec backups and transfers if they knew > Dark web scary things > Technical questions > Personal responsibility for keeping nsec safe > Intuitiveness. > just not enough people on it for them (non bitcoiners) > Technical complexity with either Lightning or relay management. > Depending on client, slowness, difficult search, or feeling empty upon arrival. > Again, keys. > Bitcoin blah blah > I don't know anybody IRL that even use x > Their core influencers haven't adopted nostr yet. ## IX What one improvement would make onboarding to nostr easier? > Explain it s not a platform and the current app you're using is replacable by other by (re)using your keypair > Twitter bridge > Honestly, from a technical standpoint, I found it pretty easy. Especially with Amethyst on the phone. So I'm not sure if I have an opinion here. > Private key management to hide the complexity > Little guide somewhere or a buddy to ask questions > An intelligent assistant to setup relays > Reach > bringing wallet of satoshi back! or some similar easy custodial lightning wallet > Better user and content discovery. > Clients dedicated to onboarding, education, and key management instead of social stuff > Key recovery/rotation option. How? Hell if I know. Smart people say Frost, something, something. XD > More established signing mechanisms > An easy GoTo FAQ How to add people; how to zap; etc. > Do not try to connect to 89239823932 relays and make it decentralized when people only care about the first impression? > More "other things" micro-apps, not do-everything whale apps > More users ## X What, if anything, do you think should be addressed, or added to onboarding to nostr across most nostr apps? Why? > A skippable small visual intro guide > Content discovery > A way to hide duplicates of the same post. > Better user and content discovery. > Introductory level education, expecting a traditional social app experience then not seeing it > Right now for me everything starts and ends with key management. Maybe a simple signing and profile edit app available across all platforms and devices with option paired with hardware signing device. > An onboarding relay. Only accepts the first note for an npub (kinds 0, 1, 3). Maybe > Easier relay selection. > Make bunker actually work > Staged roll out of owning your own keys to help them understand what that means ## XI Do you have any other observations, feedback, or commentary on onboarding to nostr? > Yes, I think I'd say that most of my complaints are social / cultural, not technical. Then again, I've been online since 1993. > People have gotten lazy and are used to being fed content for their interests. This doesn't happen easily on Nostr and needs improvement. > An empty feed is better than a pre-determined one. > We suck and there's no good reason why > I have never gotten bunker to work ## XII What is your favorite onboarding experience to an app outside nostr? > Telegram (x2) > Onboarding to the fediverse was pretty good. Witness the fact that a lot of blind twitter moved there. > They're all mostly the same, email, password, confirm. So any that i can use without signup is superior. > Can't recall any that really stands out. But in terms of following users during the onboarding what music streaming apps do is really nice. You get presented with a list of artists and based on what artists you check to follow list adapts and shows you similar suggestions. > None in particular, but I like when account creation is delayed as much as possible, I.e there is a public experience for you to try the product with no commitment > Several I can't recall now. But we need to make it AT LEAST as good as Twitter because that's where our users come from > old Twitter, circa 2019 > I prefer no onboarding needed > I like "log in with" buttons but fuck those walled gardens

@ 05351746:fcc956c4

I still remember the day back in 2017 when my wife came through the front door at our apartment with a smile on her face mixed in with anxious eyes. She looked at me and simply uttered "I am pregnant!". My first instinct told me she was trying to pull a prank to see what I would do. As I stood there, silent, trying to determine the motive behind her abrupt announcement she uttered the phrase again with such assurance it would have been foolish of me to doubt her. I do not remember what I said or did next but I do remember sharing in her blend of excitement and uncertainty. \ Today marks the passing of 5 years since the birth of our youngest and that same mix of emotions still resides in my heart. Excitement springs up and creates a smile on my face when I first see it on his and uncertainty creeps in when I doubt my ability as a father. As I look back on these past 5 years of raising my youngest son I can think of many occasions where God has used this mix of emotions to mold my wife and I into better parents. The fear found in the uncertainty of of our own abilities has pushed us to pursue God's wisdom over our own. The joy experienced from watching a little boy grow and discover the world around him has created a grateful heart in us both. I am forever thankful for God giving us him. He has been a true blessing for my wife and I. We did not set out to have him when we did, God in His holy wisdom gave him to us according to His will. 5 Years ago when we got to see his face for the first time, the face that caused my wife and I to experience such a mix of emotions, I would never have been able to conceive of the blessings that were yet to come. I am truly in awe of God's providence and wisdom. My wisdom, if I can even call it such, does not even stand to be seen in comparison. Every time I speak my son's name I am reminded...who is like God?

@ 05351746:fcc956c4

The book of Job has been one of my favorite books of the Old Testament. Reading the story of a man who had gone through so much anguish in such a short period of time has always been a source of encouragement and guidance for me. One of my favorite phrases from Job is when he says "shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Likewise the teachings of Christ and the modeling of His teachings in the life of Paul and the early church has always guided me when dealing with any hardship. Over the past two months I have had to rely on this more than I have ever before. As it neared my daughters second birthday in June she had yet to develop a single tooth. With baby teeth showing as early as three months my wife and I knew this was not a normal occurrence. With the help of our pediatrician we meet with a pediatric dentist and had some x-rays taken of my daughter's mouth. The results showed us that she was missing almost all of her baby teeth. Our dentist was taken back by this, it can be common for toddlers to be missing some baby teeth but my daughter was missing the majority of hers. Our dentist met with some of his colleagues to discuss my daughter’s case and they determined that she may have a very rare genetic disorder called Ectodermal Dysplasia. Ectodermal Dysplasia is a group of disorders that affects structures in the ectoderm during development. Hair, skin, nails, teeth, and more can be effected and in a variety of different ways. There are over 150 different types of ectodermal dysplasia and there are only around 7,000 known cases of this disorder worldwide. We have been referred to a genetic testing facility in order to confirm this diagnosis. We are fairly certain that she does have this disorder as she has shown signs of having other symptoms associated with this disorder; such as an inability to sweat and the one tooth she has coming in appears to be abnormally shaped. We will have to wait till October to have her condition properly diagnosed. What we know for now is that she will not develop a proper set of teeth, with the possibility of not having adult teeth. We are meeting with the dental school at UNC Chapel Hill this coming Tuesday to talk about some options they may have to address this. We are very grateful for this opportunity and excited to see what they have in mind. If you could, please pray for my daughter. This will be a long road and she will face many challenges as she grows up. I know I will be praying for her to be able to accept this difficulty with a smile, because it is one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen.

@ 148755e6:450c107f

突然荒野に行きたくなったので行ってきたエントリーです ## まずは練習。高尾山へ Nostrは古今東西ありとあらゆるオフ会が生えており、 まるで荒野に行きたいという私の意志を完全に汲み取ったかのように「紅葉を見にいこうようオフ」がそこに生えていたので参加した。（しおんさんご主催ありがとうございました）  前半1時間くらいの坂道がマジきつかったです。前半キツすぎて後半足痛かった。。 終始人がいっぱいいて渋谷かと思った。 確かに道がかなり整備されていて、逆にコンクリート故に足が疲れたのかもしれない。隣の人は途中の急な坂道で足を滑らせてて、横で転倒事故が起きるかと思いました。  山頂に行っても人がたくさんいて、迷子になりかけた。あそこはスクランブル交差点や。 そして山頂の先にあるもみじ台まで歩くと人がまばらで、まったりして蕎麦食べたりしながら休憩して下山。 登りは暑くて汗かきましたが、山頂でまったりしてると汗も引いてきて少し冷えました。  下山はスイスイ。16時近くで結構暗かったので、冬の間は早めの登頂・下山がおすすめですね。 登り2時間・下り1時間半で概ね見込み通りって感じでした。 高尾山は登ってると景色が変わります。ちょっと開けた場所に出て下の街が見えたり、草木があったり、階段があったり、参道があったり。。そういう意味では退屈しない2時間でした。     ビギナー山とはいえ、革靴やヒールのある靴で登ってる人がいてびっくり。ツルッと滑ることあると思いますので、スニーカーで登ることをお勧めします。 舐めプしてたとはいえめちゃくちゃキツかったおもひで。 ## 更なる練習。小浅間山へ さて私は荒野に行きたいワケなのですが、高尾山に荒野はありませんでした。更なる練習として小浅間山へ。 前日（か前々日）に雪が降ったようで、山に雪が残っておりました。 それでも都内の汚れてべちゃっとした感じの雪ではなく、粉砂糖がちょっと積もってるみたいな感じで綺麗だった。    登り前半の30分くらい、景色や道が変わらず、ずっと歩きっぱなしになってしまいました。時間みて休憩しながら行けばよかったなあ。 登るにつれて気温が下がっていくのか、積雪が厚くなっていく。 40分くらいは割と平坦な道が続きますが、突然山頂っぽいものが現れて、「これを登れっていうのかい...？」とビビるほどピーンと急な道が出てきました。(写真だと分かりづらいですね)  ただ、高尾山のコンクリート道に比べると足の疲れはそこまででした。雪道なので気をつけて歩くという意味では疲れましたが、春〜秋とかは快適に登れるんじゃないでしょうか。 山頂に到着するとドーンと浅間山が見えて圧巻。 風が強くて飛ばされる恐怖はありましたが、なんとか無事でいられました。あったかいお茶美味しかった〜。 なぜかギャルの看板があって、謎でした。写真はひとまずありません。   山頂が2箇所あって、それぞれで眺めを満喫していたら結構時間が経ってました。 小さい背丈くらいの木や足元にちょっとした植物があったり、自分的にはかなり理想の荒野に近かったです。（植物に対する解像度が低すぎる） 往復で2時間程度の山らしいんですが、なんやかんやと2時間半強くらいいた気がします。      ## 荒野ビギナーは小浅間山に往け というわけで、荒野に行きたい人はまずは小浅間山を登ると良いと思います。 また登りたい。 ## 荒野部部長 一緒に高尾山・小浅間山に登ってくれた方、ありがとうございました！ 個人的には来年の春までに秩父多摩甲斐国立公園に行き、来年の秋までに大山隠岐国立公園に行くという目標を立ててるんですが、 少々時間が空くので次どこに行こうかしらと考えているところです。 ヒントとしては、火山で、あまり高低差のないところだとビギナーの私にちょうど良さそうです。 とある情報筋によると伊豆大島が良さそうなので、次の機会に行けたらと思っています。 みんなで荒野に行こう！ 

@ 472f440f:5669301e

The end of the first part of bitcoin's story has come to an end. Most of the story has yet to be written, but I feel confident in saying that reaching the $100,000 per bitcoin milestone is a clear demarcation between two distinct eras of bitcoin. Yes, we have hit the significant milestones of $1, $10, $100, $1,000, and $10,000 over the last fifteen years and they all felt significant. And they certainly were in their own right. However, hitting the "six figure" milestone feels a bit different. One bitcoin is currently worth a respectable salary for an American citizen. Ten hunnid bands. Something that is impressive to the layman. This may not mean much to many who have been around bitcoin for some time. The idea of bitcoin hitting $100,000 was seen as a foregone conclusion for millions of people out there. Myself included. This price marker is simply an inevitability on the road to global reserve currency to us. With that being said, it is important to put yourself in the shoes of those who have doubted bitcoin up to this point. For some reason or another, $100,000 bitcoin has been used as a price target that "will never be hit" for many of the naysayers. "Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme." "Tulips." "Governments will ban it if it hits that point." "It can't scale." "It will be 51% attacked." "No one will trust bitcoin." "It can't be the world's money." And yet, despite all of the kvetching from the haters over the years, here we are. Sitting above $100,000. Taking a short rest at the latest checkpoint en route to the peak of the mountain. We hovered right under $100,000 for a couple of weeks. Nominally, where we stand today is much closer to where we were last week compared to where we were six months ago. But for some reason the price tipping over $100,000 has catapulted bitcoin to a new playing field. Where bitcoin stood yesterday and where it found itself six months ago seem miles below where it is today. Crossing over the event horizon of six figures forces people to think of bitcoin in a different light. Almost as if we have entered another dimension. The last year has been filled with a lead up to this crossing over of the event horizon. Financial institutions that have derided bitcoin for well over a decade were forced to bend the knee and offer bitcoin exposure to their clients. The mere offering of that exposure has resulted in the most successful ETFs in the history of this particular investment vehicle. Governments around the world have been forced to reckon with the fact that bitcoin is here to stay and that they need to act accordingly. Thanks to the first mover actions taken by El Salvador and Bhutan, which have nonchalantly decided to go all in on bitcoin, others have taken notice. Will that be publicly acknowledged by the bigger governments? Probably not. But you'd be naive to think that politicians in the US seeing two very small countries making such big bets on bitcoin didn't induce at least a little bit of FOMO. Once the bitcoin FOMO seed is planted it's hard to uproot. Combine this with the fact that it has become rather cool to be privy to the fact that the world's governments have become egregiously addicted to debt and money printing, that inflation is pervasive and inescapable, and that censorship and Orwellian control tactics are on the rise and it is easy to see why more people are more receptive to the idea of bitcoin. All that was needed to create an all out frenzy - a slingshot effect up the S Curve of adoption - was a psychological trigger. Bitcoin crossing over six figures. Well, here we are. The tropes against bitcoin that have been trotted out over the last sixteen years no longer have as much bite as they did in many people's eyes. Sure, there will be some butt hurt nocoiners and totalitarians who continue to trot them out, but crossing the chasm of six figure bitcoin will have an order of magnitude more people thinking, "I hear what you're saying, but reality seems to be saying something completely different. And, if I'm being honest with myself, reality is making much more sense than your screeching." Unstoppable peer-to-peer digital cash with a hard capped supply has been around since January 3rd, 2009. December 5th, 2024 will be the day that it cemented itself as something that cannot be ignored. Part I of the bitcoin story has been written. The end of the beginning is behind us. On to Part II: the rapid monetization of bitcoin, which will cement it as the reserve currency of the world. --- Final thought... I used some 2017-2020 era tactics to get into the writing mood tonight. 90210

@ 7776c32d:45558888

Before I start, let me say: keep building. To discourage you is the furthest thing from why I complain. I'm mainly posting this to document where we're at, so later, we can remember what we were doing here. That out of the way, I've said this before and it might be a while before I don't have to say it again: nostr has the potential for censorship resistance, but it doesn't actually have censorship resistance right now. It isn't actually resisting censorship. I'm using it to resist censorship, but can you even tell if it's working for me at all? I still feel much more heavily censored than I was back when Aaron Swartz was alive. I first heard about Brian Thompson on reddit, not nostr, even though I'm so banned from reddit I can't even view it from my home internet so I don't check it much at all anymore. Nostr is still LESS censorship-resistant than that nostr:note109z46d0x8k9gjs8q2tgfmx384gpj7p99ky6fgnwyln7qznrktalsjpupx6 Don't remember where I first heard about Israel's big terrorist attack with communication devices in Lebanon, but it wasn't on nostr nostr:note14ncedyjuws7jfg79xawwltf3mx5nmk7u0ylqakpyld6nxhpcqwtq95tj6a I first heard about Matt Nelson's self-immolation on X, not nostr nostr:note1z6hxt76gwv8mvywflqg5cge4326tyv6jq6vptag4ytjcczgcyguqnzvd4k People praised the Primal update that took away my ability to see all the posts from my followers nostr:note1g8jlkec7y9wy5u06v0c0tjhsscchur5quejs5mu2lp7n7fse8s0shevnek People pay for Primal Premium to get basic functionality we should get from a P2P network, like having posts actually stay and not disappear - will paying Primal protect bookmarked content too? nostr:note1qqqq9sqy5kuf5rz0lwpul0dnjvrhn53erlymsyx7c3xx79vm2t5qxt2c5q At the technological level, nostr is based on the jack dorsey malware model because it's so much easier to decentralize than a good feed curation system like what Aaron Swartz created at reddit nostr:note1864l5u5ansvvd0ztwl44wncv0fu0x5vgkdh44d9g5jwxur558pss5p9yx8 The protocol calls for servers it calls "relays" that aren't actually network relays as far as I can tell. Fiatjaf made some weird joke about how only non-P2P stuff can work when creating it, phrased as a reference to a quote by Satoshi talking about how Bitcoin would work as a P2P network, but Bitcoin has worked so far and Fiatjaf is ostensibly into it? Oh, but he's into "lightning." Don't worry, people say he's the next Satoshi, and he must simply know more than can be explained (actually 🔥 post by hodlbod) nostr:note1mh6ngw6cevggf59yh0mtf3k45g92srkljhayv63ffdsp5mj63yxq78xh7h The nostr protocol itself is a kinda retarded javascript-based technology other than the keypair login model that gives it pretty much all the potential it has. Another cool thing about the protocol is how you can mute people visibly instead of secretly. That brings me from the technology topic to the community topic - how well does the community resist censorship? Well, a lot of the users who fill the "trending" feeds all the time have me muted for being a toxic dickhead and a terrorist (my words, not theirs). Corndalorian is an example. You might recognize other names too  Are we still talking more about Bluesky than Gaza? nostr:note1qqqqpgaef0gfmtctlw2maqmlk7dmfyq5dhf45ygm95skxqdtcrcs2tpcfu I am definitely still the only person here talking about the ongoing pandemic nostr:note1y8vn4yhn383j62r34q58wnduvzzkzd7exnp4agw4l8gq5zj94t4s6zscr4 As we speak, I, for once have a post which is doing numbers. This gives me some dopamine, as I'm quite alone. I'm thankful for every like and repost. It's an unusual night where a funny reply to a big npub has broken me into Primal's Trending echelon. My post about Brian Thompson, the recently-proven-mortal UnitedHealthcare CEO, has not. You can scroll all the way down to my funny reply in the Trending 4h feed without seeing a single murmur of praise for Brian Thompson's executioner - in fact, not even a peep about the topic at all, praise or otherwise.      Not seeing anything in the 1h feed either -  Meanwhile, this is the top of the front page of reddit's /r/all -  That's how much worse than reddit we are doing. Worse. Than. Fucking. Reddit. Seriously. Reddit, who made me get that screenshot from a different device because this is what I see on my main phone -  A lot of people here still blame all the outsiders for not being here, like there's no way a better job could possibly be done at creating a beacon of intellectualism and free speech nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqvc0k9p3l7wccfg8q6aumsqk64y450m5fcz85sypw05j4elwgtdvqqsyunq8gvn4lpvc636gwkjwuclttk492n4tu7cla9tma856ewcf3lcnjs7vf nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzq3svyhng9ld8sv44950j957j9vchdktj7cxumsep9mvvjthc2pjuqqs96nznqj0kqdzwfxsdy5cqtjjx0wgypknr6fpegtj6ucypktu74zg98a4pf To which I say - nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqamkcvk5k8g730e2j6atadp6mxk7z4aaxc7cnwrlkclx79z4tzygqyvhwumn8ghj7urjv4kkjatd9ec8y6tdv9kzumn9wshszrnhwden5te0dehhxtnvdakz7qpqcdarapax96mun0r59q28r5g3x838xczv755nhj6rfr3a62669paqnpglrr But it's fine. Maybe we should make nostr the kind of place Digit would like before we seriously try to onboard Hezbollah.

@ 805b34f7:3620fac3

I've heard Nostr described as intergalactic war technology, but here we are shitposting on it. How fun! Nostr is our chance at remaking social media, consciously. Have you seen [Max Demarco's ](https://primal.net/p/npub1lelkh3hhxw9hdwlcpk6q9t0xt9f7yze0y0nxazvzqjmre3p98x3sthkvyz)Nostr Documentary yet? Check it out when you have time --&gt; [Social Media is Broken. Can We Fix It?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA-jiiepOrEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA-jiiepOrE) # What do I post?!? Post whatever you want. There are no rules. **But,** here's how to make a first post that will help you get seen by the network as opposed to feeling like you just posted into a void: **Intro Post** - Introduce yourself. - Say how you found Nostr. - Say what you're interested in/what you do for fun or work. - Add a photo(s) or video(s). - And most importantly, add the hashtag #introductions If you're on Primal, make sure you set up your wallet so you can receive zaps. Do this by pressing the lightning bolt. Zaps are payments sent to other users as a way of tipping to content creators. Zaps utilize the Bitcoin Lightning and are almost instant and near free. > Zaps represent the only fundamentally new innovation in social media. Everything else is a distraction. - Jack Dorsey Check out this intro post from [Dr. Ken Berry](https://primal.net/kenberrymd) for inspiration! # How to Grow a Following/Best Practices **Zap -** Change your custom zap amount and message on Primal. Do that by going to settings --&gt; Zaps and customizing the top bubble. Once customized, every time you press the lightning bolt underneath someone's post, you send them money with whatever amount selected. Press and hold for a custom amount and message. Zaps are the easiest way into someone's subconscious. Almost every time I receive a zap from someone new, I check out their profile. Especially if it has a custom message. And if you really want to advertise yourself/brand, do what is called "zapvertising". Go to the trending tabs and zap the highest amount on each post with a message. **GM** - Wish people good morning and comment on their good morning posts. Nostr loves this and it's a way for you to get your brand out there. **Ask questions -** There are no dumb questions and people are nice generally. If you do have a question, end the note with the hashtag #asknostr. **Blogging -** There are multiple long form clients for you to write a blog on. Check out [highlighter.com](https://highlighter.com), [habla.news](https://habla.news), or[ yakihonne](https://yakihonne.com) for blogging. And while you're at it, check out all the rest of the apps you can participate on [nostrapps.com](https://nostrapps.com) **Feed Creation -** Check out [this video](https://primal.net/e/note1t5nku99y7q729lmjaq02vc7qqfu2s4lk308262e892m8qfgga0ns3q5p48) to get a glimpse of what is possible with Primal's advanced search tool. And [this video](https://primal.net/e/note1dhe2z93d60jge3p8qvhutwdsa223002taz2ykmfwz2hwngasjnwq8da8p8) to see how to navigate the app. Nostr is a more organic social media. There's no central algorithm that may or may decide to pick up your content. It's just people interacting on a protocol. Be the engagement that you want to see. Post what your heart desires. You can use it as a vlog, a diary, a photo collection, or all of the above. Nostr wants all of it, and there are multiple ways to view content depending on which client you are using. If you're reading this now, you are extremely early. We have the chance to bootstrap a new social network. One that is principled and uncontrolled by big tech or governments. [And this really matters](https://blog.lopp.net/why-nostr-matters/) # **Nostr Terms** # **npub** - this is your public key and it's how nostr recognizes your profile. *nsec* - Your password. Keep this safe. If you lose your phone and don't have a copy of this somewhere, it's gone forever. This is not the blog for key management, but expect better solutions in the near future. **nip-05** - this is your human readable nostr address. There are many places to create your own nip05. You can get a Primal name by subscribing to Primal premium. For example, mine is paul@primal.net. You can put this into any client to find my profile as opposed to putting in my npub. **Zap Sats** - Zaps are micropayments of bitcoin. 1 bitcoin = 100 million "sats" which is short for Satoshis. **Clients -** Nostr apps. **PV**- Pura vida. Nostr's first "un"conference was held in Costa Rica. Pura vida is the national slogan. Hungry for more Nostr knowledge? Here's a [great post](https://primal.net/e/note1m0hctp699fegz0apfy7rs5leuxhwqvp093l0pkdpvwjt4tfkjcasrmtejc) with quite a few resources. Feel free to message me on Nostr with any questions!

@ 234035ec:edc3751d

Satoshi Nakamoto emerged from the shadows of the internet, shortly after the Great Financial Crisis in 2008, to bring the world a new form of money known as Bitcoin. By introducing this alternative option to the world, Satoshi gave every human being an escape from the systemic confiscation of wealth that is fiat money. > “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.” > > ― **Ayn Rand,**  *Atlas Shrugged* Much like John Galt in Ayn Rand's Magnum Opus "*Atlas Shrugged*", Nakamoto paved the way for all of the productive members of society who have been taken advantage of by the "looters" to exit the corrupt system and let it crumble under its own weight. In our case instead of moving our physical bodies to a secluded gulch, we can simply move our wealth into Bitcoin. # The Men of the Mind In the novel, one by one the great industrialists of the era were mysteriously disappearing and giving up on the great enterprises that they had built. People could not understand why these seemingly very successful individuals would leave behind everything they had created. There was however, a common trend amongst these individuals. All of them were highly competent in their field, placed high value on individualism, possessed a strong moral integrity with a bend towards rational self interest. They were fed up with the way that the system was designed to punish the productive individuals in the society and reward those who are least productive. > "**From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs**" > > \-Karl Marx A form of this has crept its way into every civilization today including the United States which once prided itself on individual liberty and personal responsibility. It was predicted by Ayn Rand in 1957 with Atlas Shrugged depicting exactly how these collectivist ideals corrupt and decay a society by rewarding theft and stifling innovation. As these productive individuals grew increasingly disenchanted with the status quo they began to look for answers, this leads them to finding John Galt. The mysterious figure that is John Galt would visit these people and explain to them all the things they already felt so so deeply abut their broken society but were never able to quite define. After having their eyes opened to the severity of the problem, they are presented the solution in Galt's Gulch. They are given the option to leave behind the corrupt society that they have been involuntarily fueling with the confiscated product of their efforts. > “We are on strike, we, the men of the mind.\ > \ > We are on strike against self-immolation. We are on strike against the creed of unearned rewards and unrewarded duties. We are on strike against the dogma that the pursuit of one's happiness is evil. We are on strike against the doctrine that life is guilt.”\ > ― **Ayn Rand, [Atlas Shrugged](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/817219)** # Satoshi's gift to the world > “If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders - What would you tell him?"\ > \ > I…don't know. What…could he do? What would you tell him?"\ > \ > To shrug.”\ > ― **Ayn Rand, [Atlas Shrugged](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/817219)** When Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin, he did so to solve a problem that he identified in the world around him. He saw the insidious power of central banks and how they create massive inequality and economic distortions. Rather than seek to modify or amend the current system Satoshi built a new and independent system that was built upon sound principals. After introducing this new protocol for value exchange to the world, Satoshi did one of the most honorable things imaginable and disappeared without a trace. He took no financial reward for his contributions although he would be justified in doing so. By doing this he set a profound example allowing the project and the community around it to flourish. Today Bitcoin serves as an escape valve for economic value to flow out of the fiat system and into a secure and sound network. Without this option individuals would be trapped into having their purchasing power lowly taxed away or forced to take on risk simply to preserve value. Wealthy individuals under a fiat system must own large amounts of property such as real estate, stocks, bonds, ect because they are able to store value better than their currency. these investments come with risks and drive a monetary premium to the assets which makes housing less affordable, stocks overvalued, and bonds seem less risky than they truly are. Much like Galt's Gulch those who benefit from or are dependent on the legacy system will be the last to abandon it, even while it falls apart. The first ones to defect are those who are most negatively impacted by the current regime, like Atlas holding the world on their shoulders they are finally offered the chance to shrug the weight off. Those who have been working hard at their job for years but still struggle to save for retirement due to fiat debasement, public figures who have been de-banked for their views, entrepreneurs who are forced to hold toxic government debt on their balance sheets due to regulation, all will clearly see the value the Bitcoin offers. And so, I salute to all of you who have decided to shrug off the yolk of central bank oppression and build a more prosperous future on the sound foundation the Satoshi gave to us. I hope to meet you all one day in Nakamoto Gulch.

@ bc6ccd13:f53098e4

> It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning. > > \-Henry Ford A century later, this quote is still as true as the day it was written. And with all the information available at our fingertips, the overwhelming majority still haven't educated themselves on the function of the banking system. That's a tragedy, given the significant role banking plays in the modern economy, and the corruption at the very base of the industry. Banking is built on a lie. It's a big lie. Not in the sense of how false it is, but in the sense of the harm caused. It's more of a “weasel words” type of lie, a lie of omission and misdirection, the kind of lie a sleazy lawyer would use to get a guilty client off the hook. My goal is to explain, as clearly as possible, how the modern banking system works. Why you should care will be a topic for another day. I want to start off with a big thank you to whoever created the website <https://banklies.org/>. If you aren't familiar with this gem, bookmark it now. There's no better place on the internet to get detailed documentation on this particular subject. Everyone should spend an afternoon reading and listening to the information there. You'll never be able to see the world the same way if you absorb it and understand the implications. ### Where Does Money Come From? There's been a lot of talk since the COVID “pandemic” and associated QE deluge about the Fed and their money printing. Most people have some awareness that “the Fed prints money and that causes inflation.” There's some truth to that idea, but it also misses the real story. Most people don't understand that when someone says “money printing,” the correct response is “which kind of money?” Banks operate by calling two different things “money,” and hoping everyone treats them the same. The average person might say “I have $100 in my wallet” or “I have $100 in my bank account” without realizing they aren't talking about the same thing at all. They might take the $100 in their wallet and “put it in the bank” without realizing that as soon as they do, that $100 becomes something else entirely. The $100 bill in your wallet has the words “Federal Reserve Note” printed on it. This is one form of what's known as “base money.” Base money exists in two forms, cash and bank reserves. You can think of bank reserves as electronic cash that only banks can use. Base money is created by the Federal Reserve. Creating base money is what the Fed does when they “print money.” They create bank reserves electronically by putting the numbers in the ledger at the Fed. The cash is printed by the Treasury, but that's just a technicality, it's printed at the request of the Fed. The current circulating supply of cash is $2.3 trillion, and bank reserves are about $3.5 trillion. However, if you look at the total amount of US dollars, including money in people’s bank accounts, it’s currently $20.8 trillion dollars. So if base money is $5.8 trillion in total, what is the other $15 trillion? Well, it’s largely made up of bank deposits. So where do bank deposits come from? It can’t be cash people deposit into their accounts, like you might expect from the name, since cash only totals $2.3 trillion and bank deposits are over 6 times larger. The answer is that banks create them. So as you can see, the largest category of dollars aren’t “printed” by the Fed, they’re created by the banks. And the way banks create dollars is so simple, it almost doesn’t seem real. Banks create money by making loans. This seems completely counterintuitive to the way most people imagine banks work. That’s understandable, since the way banks work has almost no relation to the way individuals handle their own finances. You might make a loan to someone. Your friend asks to borrow $20 at the restaurant since he forgot his wallet at home. You pull yours out and hand him a $20 bill. In order to make that loan, you had to go to work, accomplish something, get paid, and save that $20 in your wallet. You couldn’t spend the $20, and you can’t spend it now until your friend pays back the loan. Obviously no new money was created to make that loan, work was done and money was saved and then given to the borrower so he can spend it instead of the lender. Most people assume banks work the same way. They assume that when they deposit some money at the bank, the bank stores that money in a vault somewhere with their name on it. And they assume that when banks make loans, they take some money from a big pile of money stored in a vault somewhere and give it to the borrower. But that isn’t how it works at all. When someone goes to the bank for a loan, the bank doesn’t draw on some pile of cash they have saved up somewhere. Instead, they use a simple accounting trick. They create a bank account for the borrower, and they type the amount of the loan into the borrower’s account balance. It’s really that simple. That balance becomes a “bank deposit.” Even though that money was never deposited in the bank, and in fact didn’t exist at all until the bank typed those numbers into the computer, it’s still called the same thing as the money you deposit into the bank when you get your paycheck. So what is a bank deposit? It’s really a promise by the bank to give the account holder money. If you have $100 in your bank account, you expect to be able to go to the bank and withdraw that $100 in cash from your account and put it in your pocket. Remember, that $100 bill is base money, something completely different from the bank deposit in your savings or checking account. The implicit promise by banks is that any money in your bank account, any bank deposit, is as good as cash and can be exchanged for cash at any moment. But of course that must be a lie, since there are $15 trillion of bank deposits and only $2.3 trillion dollars of cash. That means if everyone in the US went to the bank tomorrow and tried to withdraw their money in cash, the banks would run out of cash while still owing $12.7 trillion dollars to depositors. It’s actually much worse than that, since a lot of the cash is already in peoples’ pockets, much of it circulating in foreign countries outside the US. Banks only hold around $100 billion in their vaults on any given day. So if everyone tried to withdraw their money from their bank accounts, which banks have implicitly promised they can do, each person could get around $0.007 of every dollar on deposit. That’s less than one cent of every dollar. So the promise banks are built on, the promise to give you the money in your account, turns out to be at least 99% a lie. So how can it continue like this? How do banks keep operating with so little cash and so many promises to give cash? Why does anyone put money in the bank when they keep less than a penny of every dollar you deposit available to withdraw when you need it? The answer is, banks don’t tell you that. And if nobody knows, people won’t all come asking for their money one day. If they did, all the banks would fail instantly. So they do anything in their power to keep that from happening. ### How Do Bank Deposits Work? The reason most people never question the function of their bank, is that banks do everything possible to make their dishonest “bank deposits” function the same as cash, and actually better than cash in a lot of ways. Instead of having to withdraw cash from your bank and give it to someone, you can just exchange bank deposits. You can do this in a lot of super convenient ways, like writing a check or using a debit card, or more recently even right from your smartphone with an app like Venmo or CashApp. This is very convenient for the customer, and even more convenient for the bank. When you pay someone else using your bank deposit, all they have to do is lower the number in your account and raise the number in the other person’s account by the amount of the transaction. Quick, easy and convenient for everyone involved. And if you happen to be paying someone who doesn’t have an account at your bank, that’s no problem either. Your bank will just pay the other person’s bank, and they can then change the number in the other person’s account. Now of course banks want real money for their transactions, not the fake bank deposits the commoners use. Remember the bank reserves I mentioned earlier that are like cash for banks only? Well that’s how banks settle transactions between themselves. All banks have an account at the Fed, and the Fed settles up between banks by changing the number of bank reserves in their respective accounts at the Fed. In essence, the Fed is just a bank for banks, another entity that works just like your local bank, but only holds accounts with banks and governments and not with ordinary people. This convenience discourages people from withdrawing cash from their bank, since it’s actually easier to use the bank deposits than the cash. Besides that, banks use a lot of arbitrary policies to make it difficult for people to withdraw cash, even if they want to. If you didn’t know that, you’ve probably never tried to take $5,000 in cash out of your bank account. If you do, you’ll probably be asked some irrelevant questions about what you plan to do with the money. That’s if they let you withdraw it at all. Ask for $20,000 and you’ll almost certainly have to schedule an appointment to withdraw it in a few days, after the next cash delivery comes in. Most community bank branches only keep around $75,000 in cash on hand at any given time, so you can see how few withdrawals it would take to completely drain their vault. But increasingly now, the biggest threat to banks isn’t from people withdrawing cash, it’s from people withdrawing to a different bank. Remember, banks have to settle with each other at the end of the day. And since they won’t accept each other’s sketchy “bank deposits” in payment, they have to settle by transferring balances between their respective reserve balances at the Fed. As you can see, banks have loaned into existence $11.5 trillion more in bank deposits than they hold in bank reserves, so it doesn’t take much withdrawal from one bank to drain their reserve balance to zero and cause the bank to fail. Bank runs have been a recurring problem ever since the entire dishonest fractional reserve banking system began, and even in 2023 a few US banks suffered bank runs and collapsed in some of the biggest bank failures in history. ### Why Banking is Legalized Theft Now that we’ve explained on the most basic level how banks work, let’s briefly explore a few basic implications. We’ve established that banks create money when they make a loan. How easy would your life be if you could create money at no cost and loan it to people? Is it any wonder that the financial industry is full of extremely wealthy individuals? Let’s think through for a second why I would categorize what banks do as theft. First off, you need to understand what money is, and more importantly what it is not. I lay out some fundamental principles in this article. naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp0rve5f6xtu56djkfkkg7ktr5rtfckpun95rgxaa7futy86npx8yqq247t2dvet9q4tsg4qng36lxe6kc4nftayyy89kua2 Summarized in one sentence, money is a ledger of productive effort with deferred consumption. It represents work someone did for another person, instead of for their own benefit. In a sense, it’s an abstract representation of, or a claim on, the wealth in a society. Having money indicates that you provided value to someone else in the past, and therefore deserve to receive value from someone in the future if you choose to exercise that claim. Anyone who has money can loan that money to someone. This is a transfer of your claim on wealth to that person. They can then use the money to buy something, and benefit from that loan. But with that type of loan, there is always a tradeoff. The tradeoff is what’s called opportunity cost. While you have the money, you have the option to exercise that claim at any time and buy something you want. If you loan the money to someone, you incur the cost of giving up that option for as long as it takes until the loan is repaid. You already put in the effort to create the wealth that money represents, now you’re sacrificing your opportunity to benefit from that effort by buying something you want. Bank loans are different. There is no opportunity cost. The bank doesn’t have the money to begin with, because they haven’t put in any effort or created anything of value to deserve it. They just create the money out of thin air. There is no sacrifice on the part of the bank to make that loan possible. They don’t have to forego spending any money to make the loan because the money didn’t exist in the first place. So when the bank creates money, they’re creating new claims on wealth. Since the bank hasn’t created any wealth, the claims must be claims on wealth that already exists. These new claims have no immediate effect on the people who hold that wealth. Nothing changes for them, the wealth they hold is still theirs as long as they don’t exchange it for money. As long as they don’t sell their wealth, the increase in claims on that wealth changes nothing. The people who are negatively effected by this increase in money are those who already have money. Since money is a claim on wealth, the value of each unit of money equals \[amount of wealth in existence\] divided by \[amount of money in existence\]. Since the amount of wealth has not changed, but the amount of money has increased, the value of existing money falls. More money spread out over the same amount of wealth means each unit of money will buy less wealth. This is what everyone knows as inflation, and as everyone who has experienced it knows, the money they hold as savings or receive as income becomes less valuable the more inflation occurs. Who benefits from this? Well, the borrower may benefit in some cases. They receive the newly created money and are able to spend it and acquire wealth they haven’t yet put in the effort to produce. So they get to enjoy unearned rewards now. Also, since it takes time for holders of wealth to realize how much inflation has occurred, they will often exchange their wealth for money at a price lower than the increase in money supply would indicate. So the price of a purchased item will often continue to increase after the borrower acquires it, and they benefit from the increase in prices by paying back their loan with money that is less valuable than it was when they borrowed it. Of course the interest charges negate some of the benefit, but often not all of it, so borrowing money can end up being very beneficial to a borrower in many situations. The biggest beneficiary is the bank itself. They create the money from nothing, with no opportunity cost or sacrifice necessary. In effect, they are able to use the new money to transfer wealth from holders of wealth to borrowers, at the expense of holders of money. And of course as soon as that transfer is complete, the holders of wealth become new holders of money and begin to suffer the effects of inflation too. Meanwhile the bank requires the borrower to repay the loan, with interest attached. When an individual makes a loan, the interest charged is payment for the opportunity cost of not being able to enjoy the benefits of spending that money now. However for banks, there is no opportunity cost in making a loan. So the bank receives interest as a reward from the borrower for transferring wealth to them at the expense of holders of money. A kind of sharing of the spoils of theft, if you will. Of course they would never describe it that way, but if you understand what’s actually happening it seems like the only accurate explanation. So we see who gets rewarded by the banking system, and who gets punished. Those who get rewarded are bankers, who collect interest from loaning out money they didn’t actually have, and are able to enrich themselves by spending that collected interest to purchase real wealth. Sometimes borrowers are also rewarded, meaning the people who consume things they haven’t produced by borrowing the money to buy them get to enjoy immediate gratification, and then over a period of time pay back an amount of money that has lost so much value it would no longer be enough to buy the item they have already been enjoying. And the people who get punished are those who save and hold money. Those people are the ones who produce value and defer consumption, the ones whose pro-social behavior and delayed gratification make capital formation and modern civilization possible. The purpose and effect of banking, and creation of new money through bank loans, is to redistribute wealth. The incentive structure means access to wealth is stolen from those with the most socially desirable behavior, the most effective producers and most frugal savers who hold money they’ve earned for future use. The stolen wealth is given to those with the least socially desirable behavior, those who consume more than they produce and live beyond their means, being a net detriment to civilization, and to the parasitic banking class who collect interest as a reward for their theft. The anti-civilizational outcomes of this perverse incentive structure, and the lie it’s built on (“money in the bank is the same as money in your wallet”) have only become more obvious and harder to ignore over the decades. Without a fundamental change to the basic design and function of the modern financial system, expect this trend to continue. Forewarned is forearmed.