@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Am I only writing this post because I thought the name was dope? Pretty much, but I'm also bored and it's been about a week since I joined the ownership group of ~Stacker_Sports, so let's take a look at how the territory's done this past week. # Territory Stats | Posts | Comments| Stacking | Spending | Revenue | |-------|-------------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | 53 | 880! | 51k | 77.6k | 19.6k | Awesome! We're well on our way to a profitable month. ------------ # Posts of the week - by zaprank: [Stacker Sports- Special Announcement](https://stacker.news/items/833775/r/Undisciplined) - by comments: [NFL Weekly Pick 'em- Week 18](https://stacker.news/items/835231/r/Undisciplined) - by sats: [NCAA College Football Playoff Points Challenge- SemiFinal Picks](https://stacker.news/items/840706/r/Undisciplined) -------- I'm open to suggestions about what should go in these reports. Like I said at the top, I'm mostly doing this because I didn't want to waste the sweet ass name. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/841205

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

## Hodling Bitcoin does not make you a capitalist I've noticed that Bitcoin-mindedness seems to lead some people to communistic thinking because it's a hard-limited form of capital. Marx, like most Bitcoiners, heavily discounted the possibility of economic growth or transformation changing the economy enough to undermine some minority's control of some form of capital. What few today understand, is that many of the Dirty Capitalists of Marx's era actually agreed with him; they were just disdainful of labor and worried that the workers finding out that Marxism is correct about the nature of capitalism would cause unrest. They were the original HFSP crowd. This was the basic idea, that Marx had, and that many Bitcoiners would agree with: > Capital is strictly limited and the people that control it can keep labor from attaining any, except when their labor is necessary. And, as we know, automation will make human labor increasingly unnecessary. ## The math doesn't check out  That underlies all of the calculations of "Well, if I just grab this Bitcoin wallet and hodl for twenty years, then it will grow in value to equal half of everything in existence and then I can just buy up half the planet and rule over everyone like a god." This is economic nonsense because it assumes that: 1) the value of all things remains static over time, 2) purchasing something with money gives you ownership of it, 3) people will always use that specific money (or any money, at all!) for all transactions, 4) there is no such thing as opportunity cost, 5) people will always value money more than any other thing, and therefore be willing to always trade it for anything else, 6) humans are passive, defenseless, and easy to rule over, 7) someone who is preoccupied with hodling an asset steadily and sharply rising in price would ever be emotionally ready to part with it. ## All monies can die. People use money for everything because it is easy, fast and cheap. If money becomes too precious or scarce, they will simply switch to using other things (as we saw with gold). Humans replace tools that aren't working well, with those that work better, and money is just another tool. Bitcoin is more divisible than gold, but that won't matter, if enough of it is held by too few. This is why there's a natural cap on the price of a money and why human productivity _in the here and now_ is not irrelevant or in vain.

@ 2ed3596e:98b4cc78

Americans can now get paid in bitcoin sent directly to their personal bitcoin wallet. Share your Bitcoin Well Direct Deposit details with your employer (or anyone sending you money), set your bitcoin/dollar split and receive sats instead of fiat with every paycheck.  Whenever you buy bitcoin with Bitcoin Well, we automatically send it to your self-custody wallet. Your bitcoin is safest in a self-custody wallet.  So, when you set up your Direct Deposit with Bitcoin Well, you Dollar Cost Average bitcoin into your self-custody wallet with every paycheck.  Refer at least 1 friend to Bitcoin Well to unlock Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit bitcoin purchases bring you a massive leap forward to replacing your bank with Bitcoin Well 🧡 Here’s how you can get paid in bitcoin: ## **Step 1: Refer a friend to Bitcoin Well**  To unlock the Direct Deposit feature in your Bitcoin Well account you must first refer one person to Bitcoin Well. Referring a friend is quick and easy! Simply share your referral link from your found in your [Referrals page](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/referrals). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/78984bfb22571c173c4e78364fe95fa97e974dcb9a6352d5c5341f4030a187b5.png"> \ Once someone has created an account with your referral link, you’ll get an email notifying you of your successful referral. You’ll receive a second email informing you that you have unlocked Direct Deposit. Now you’re ready for Step 2! ## **Step 2: Set your Direct Deposit details** \ Navigate to your newly unlocked Direct Deposit page in your Bitcoin Well account. Tell us how much bitcoin you want to receive, and how many dollars you want to keep with the slider at the top. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/cc59fa84dad8532bb2709fb5cd1085db88b50a7d682667b01ecb39f6cd5ba1d3.png"> \ Next you need to tell us where to send your bitcoin by adding your personal bitcoin wallet! As with everything Bitcoin Well does, we send the bitcoin you buy from each deposit directly to your self-custody. Your bitcoin should always remain in your control; with your keys.  Once these details are saved, you can download your Direct Deposit details in the form of a void cheque to send to your employer (or anyone else that wants to send you money!). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c1f881eb082046288e4c2b49e7359e26299f9b0ab4600f41fd6f357fb9cff03a.png"> ## \ **Step 3: Withdraw remaining dollars or buy more bitcoin later** \ Remaining dollars in your Cash Balance can be withdrawn to your bank or used to purchase more bitcoin. Navigate to [Withdraw Dollars](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/usa/withdraw) then select your bank account, the amount of dollars you’d like to withdraw and confirm your withdrawal.  <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/ffb8e07dbd09e7cc00a3c6aeec6527beb16d4bdb51cd9bc39f1c338b8b984d91.png"> \ You can buy more bitcoin with the dollars already in your account! Go to Buy bitcoin, select from ‘Cash Balance’ to ‘your bitcoin wallet’, enter the amount and confirm. More bitcoin is now on its way to your bitcoin wallet! Buying directly to self-custody has never been easier 😎 <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c48ab299384b5eff995486a76b6524af6bf399387a00024a6878b546c3b24e5a.png"> ## **Earn sats for referring friends to Bitcoin Well**  \ Did you know that referring friends doesn’t just unlock your Direct Deposit feature but you also earn sats? When you refer a friend to Bitcoin Well you earn 10% of our cut from all of the transactions. Every time you earn sats through your referrals, your rewards will be instantly distributed to you straight to your Lightning wallet.  Add your Lightning wallet in your [Referrals page](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/referrals), within the Bitcoin Well Rewards menu.  Within your [Referrals page](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/referrals) you can add your Lightning wallet for referral payouts, access your referral link and a QR code with your ref link in it – everything you need to orange pill your friends and earn sats! Plus every time you refer a friend you get Bitcoin Well points, which you can use to try and win 1,000,000 sats through our [Bitcoin (Wishing) Well](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/reward-points)! Share your ref link with friends and family -&gt; earn sats.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

I was listening to the No Agenda podcast a few weeks ago and they played a clip from a programmer who goes by the handle **the Primagen**. He's an entertaining guy. He actually has a lot of good takes on programming topics. He started talking about Artificial general intelligence. His focus was Sam Altman's recent comments about AGI being just around the corner. The Primagen brought up a point I hadn't heard anyone mention. **Why would a company create an artificial general intelligence that can create apps and entire infrastructures from a prompt and just sell access to it?** Why wouldn't they keep it a trade secret and just use it themselves? If you believed in your AGI wouldn't that make more sense? So does Altman really believe what he is pitching or is it typical fiat hype? A company like Altman's could use AGI to basically destroy all the competition and take over the tech world? Could they not? Its a big if, but If they create an AGI that can just create things it _thinks up_ why would you want to sell that as a service instead of just owning all the amazing things it creates? Here's what I think. The AGI Altman is talking about is mostly hype. It will not be able to create the next Facebook or Google. It might be able to make some crappy copies of apps at best. Look at the LLM tools we have today like ChatGPT. They can mimic patterns. They can copy writing styles that were created by humans but the majority of what they produce is pretty easy to spot as AI crap. At least it has been for me up to this point. It tends to function better the more a writing style has consistent patterns. True innovation breaks from patterns in interesting ways but builds upon them. Many people are just blown away by ChatGPT. I find these people tend to be anything but critical thinkers. They also tend to have little experience with software engineering. I'm impressed with many of these tools but the more I understand how they work the less magical it becomes and the more I see the OZ pulling the strings. All that said, I do not believe AGI is not right around the corner. That's a myth. I've been hearing that for the last 10 years. It's always right around the corner. And yet, people seem to still fall for this. Sam Altman is a pitchmen. Pretty much any founder in Silicon Valley is as well. You really have to take everything they say with a grain of salt because they are all pitchmen, they are marketing their products trying to get fiat funding. They are trying to get eyeballs they can sell. They're always going to paint everything in the most rosy light. And that's really what you have to understand. You have to be skeptical, because most of the time you're being hyped. I've been around technology and worked in tech field long enough to see the patterns repeat. I'm not saying there won't be improvements to "AI". I'm not saying that it hasn't already improved. It's useful, but it is not a general intelligence, and it is not going to take the jobs and engineers any time soon. I hesitate to even say any time soon as I doubt it will ever take engineer's jobs because there is always going to be a need for people that know how things work. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence becomes, it is not actually intelligence. It is at best an algorithm that mimics human patterns. There is no creativity. There is only human creativity. There is our human creativity being used as the seed. But humans are weird. We're organic. We're not machines. As patterns form someone breaks out of the pattern in a new and interesting way. I'd love to hear counter arguments. Why would it make more sense to sell access to AGI vs. using it for yourself? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/840982

@ 7ecd3fe6:6b52f30d

I normally try to avoid the noise that is the crypto market only because I've been in that situationship before back in 2016, got rugged in the ICO phase and learned my lesson. There is nothing left for me to take from crypto apart from watching from the sidelines and enjoying the endless amount of schadenfreude it produces. So every so often I find myself checking in on the ugly step-child of Bitcoin just to see what the left side of the bell curve are up to and you know what? I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I'm kind of impressed at the number of times shitcoiners can come up with a new meta to get the degens excited enough to take another spin at the casino, it's honestly pretty impressive. After ordinals were cooked, the shitcoiners were left to head back to the drawing board, and the obvious pivot was AI tokens. AI and LLMs were the new hotness and try they did but [AI tokens](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/articles/ai-tokens-scam/) didn't really take off in 2024. Sure there's tokens like NEAR, Internet Computer, and RENDER all with a few billion in market cap and according to [CoinGecko](https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/artificial-intelligence) there's around 50 billion in AI shitcoins, but for these coins to pump they need to provide some sort of product. That requires investment and some thinking and who has time for that? ## F AI, AI Agents are the future Wtf are AI agent tokens you ask? Bad question, but I'll edify you anyway. AI agents are autonomous software programs designed to perform very specific tasks and make decisions independently. Hardly very AI and more repetitive loops, cronjobs if you will. Using an AI agent and giving a blockchain wallet these agents can interact with smart contracts, dApps and DEXs and start to get up to some shenanigans, or at least distance the agent creator from the actions. No, I didn't [rug pull](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/btc-culture/glossary/rug-pull-technology/) you, that was the AI Agent malfunctioning. I guess the killer app for AI agents is plausible deniability when you have to plead your case with the SEC. As this new batch of vapourware gains popularity, every moron with a ChatGPT pro subscription and a dream is going after this market of suckers. Right now there are several AI agent tokens you can speculate on with a combined market cap of $16 billion according to [CoinGecko](https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/ai-agents)  ## It's all about the meta-baby I'm old enough to remember when the idea for a shitcoin was - Utility, it had to do something and wall it off, so you needed to token to access a feature, that failed - Then we went into culture and community, its all about the memes, that failed - Then it was all about etching in on Bitcoin block space, using that rare commodity made my shitcoin valuable, that failed Now we've got a bit of a mish-mash of memes + AI utility equals new grift. To illustrate the unserious nature of this nonsense, AI agents, associated meme coins, and the protocols used to create these agents are among the top five best-performing crypto assets of the day, according to CoinGecko. For example, Truth Terminal—the agent that started much of this wave—has promoted Goatseus Maximus (GOAT) and Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) causing both to skyrocket. Fartcoin surged to a new all-time high price of $1.3 and a market cap of $1.5 billion as a result, FML, what a complete waste.  <em>Growth in the FART coin Market Cap</em> ## ChatGPT-wrapped crypto scams The Truth Terminal chatbot is a customized version of Anthropic's Claude 3 LLM, that tweets out random nonsense and somehow shitcoiners take this text as gospel and try to bet on tokens it shills or creates tokens based on its tweets as if it were Elon himself. Can't wait for Elon to pump your bags, well, let's all dogpile on the random brain farts of a chatbot. Again this just seems like a way to obscure insider trading and pump and dump influencer scams by hiding the human element behind a bot. In fact, shitcoiners are creating tokens or sending tokens to a known wallet tied to this AI agent, hoping it uses this data to formulate it's next round of bullshit, I mean bullish tweets. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oUB7CKaVZqA?si=xLHp3nEmijRj-XIp" 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> ## AI in name only Still, most agent autonomy is limited. Truth Terminal, for example, still has creator Andy Ayrey looking over it's shoulder before it's thoughts and decisions go out to the public. So if there's someone watching it, there's someone with access to the wallet and master access to prod it in a certain direction no? Sigh! Reading up on this all just made my brain hurt and not in a good way. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Do you want to be right or do you want to make money”<br><br>99% of it is a scam and the AI agent wrapper grifts are probably worse than other past trends tbh.<br><br>bc at least meme coins promise nothing whereas AI coins try to larp as much as possible to appear legit to unsuspecting…</p>&mdash; ZachXBT (@zachxbt) <a href="https://twitter.com/zachxbt/status/1876091513475907690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> This AI agent field itself is still relatively nascent and doesn't seem to provide any value other than being a filter for random tweet generation, and we all know computers aren't good with being random. Most if not all projects promising AI-powered solutions will not deliver on their promises, potentially leading to significant losses for investors. But that's the game they choose to play. The cryptocurrency market is primarily driven by hype and speculation, and AI agent tokens are no exception. Many projects are overvalued based on potential rather than actual achievements. Is this the future? 

@ 2355757c:5ad3e04d

You’ve heard it for some time now, incandescent lightbulbs will officially be banned for sale by retailers in the U.S. However it officially goes into fully effect NEXT WEEK. Americans will only be able to purchase LED lights from retailers across the country. The government began warnings in January, and has since officially rolled out the ban on manufacturing and sale of incandescent bulbs. WHY? LED lights provide more “light” using 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescents. Sounds like a no brainer switch then right? WRONG. LED lights are ***significantly worse for your health***, here’s why. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b461852e24075d63dd0f50d8fa05b85dfaabc1cc6d0b145998a4c9b30f4d8616.jpg"> Our light environment is one of the most underrated, overlooked aspects of health. I will write plenty more about this topic in the future. It is complex at the surface, but in reality the takeaway is simple. Our light environment is one if not THE most important inputs to our biology. It dictates our body’s “clock” or circadian rhythm. When you disrupt your circadian rhythm frequently, you are significantly more at risk to ALL CHRONIC DISEASES. Why? Your are inherently destroying your ability to get restorative sleep, keeping your body in a sympathetic state, creating dysfunctional mitochondria, and increasing oxidative stress + inflammation. Just from light? YES. ***“We summarize recent evidence suggesting that circadian disruption may also be a predisposing factor for the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD).”*** ***“... inappropriate environmental conditions such as Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) can cause circadian disruption or chronodisruption (CD) which can result in a variety of pathological diseases , including premature aging .” [-STUDY LINK](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556522003850)*** Blue light stimulates cortisol production, the “stress” hormone that everyone has the knickers in a bunch about in the health community about mitigating through the use of supplements like Ashwaghanda. Here’s the deal, you don’t need to “mitigate” cortisol, you need to regulate its rhythm. Cortisol is the antithesis of melatonin, and the two hormones are meant to perform a dance everyday where one rises as the other falls…in accordance with the light cycles. However, that dance, that rhythm has been **disrupted by artificial light.**  Melatonin warrants five newsletters just on its own, but know that the same blue light that stimulates cortisol production also suppresses melatonin production. If you do not produce sufficient melatonin, your body is missing out on a whole host of anti-oxidant, anti-cancer benefits. Melatonin is driven by light, and is the composer of our mitochondria (dictates mito fusion/fission, mitophagy, etc.). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/489126fb6ce4e4eb4698e646404e3d6ea6029c714bec9255c53e2e8db4a1fa9f.png"> LED (light emitting diode) lighting has a much “more artificial” light spectrum profile than incandescent bulbs. Full spectrum sunlight is the only light that would have existed for hundred’s of thousands of years of human existence. Then came the discovery/ability to use fire as a light source. Although full spectrum sunlight contains the entire visible light spectrum + UV + infrared, each of these wavelengths come through at different angles of the sun. This is the NUANCE that matters: - There is no UV present at sunrise/sunset - UVA appears when the sun is &gt;10 degrees above horizon. UVB at sun angle &gt; 30 degrees - At dusk/dawn and sunrise/sunset, blue light wavelengths are scattered while red light remains intact (longer wavelength). Why sunrises/sunsets are more red/orange than blue - Blue light is NEVER present in natural sunlight without accompanying red/infrared wavelengths. If you look at the light spectrum of LEDs, you will see a VERY high concentration of blue wavelengths, green to yellow wavelengths, and very little red/infrared wavelengths. Conversely, incandescent bulbs have NO blue light, little to no green/yellow and is majority red/infrared. This is why incandescent bulbs are so inefficient, because they dissipate so much heat in the form of infrared light (we can’t see infrared). Red and infrared (especially NIR), are very healing/low energy wavelengths. They are beneficial for mitochondrial health, especially the 650-800nm range. Sunlight is predominantly Red/infrared (40-50%) and these wavelengths are always present when the sun is up.  When you use LEDs you are creating a VERY artificial light environment with a lot of isolated blue, green, yellow light wavelengths and almost no red/infrared. This is extremely different from sunlight. This is especially problematic when using LEDs at NIGHT, because as stated…blue light suppresses melatonin production. Incandescent bulbs are a far better option since they are nearly all red/infrared light. This has a much less pronounced effect on melatonin, and is more in line with natural sunlight. It is also far lower in temperature, which again is a safer bet at night time. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/68bfec25408f4fed8adcf8e88cf2d10fce39a5a054022a8d7471ac7ec55586f6.jpg"> Before Edison invented the light bulb, humans only used fire for light at night (or early morning). Incandescent bulbs are inherently FAR MORE similar in light spectrum profile to fire and have a much less harmful effect on melatonin. The estimates for suppression of melatonin in the graph below are certainly estimates, i think incandescent bulbs would actually be a bit lower but it depends on quantity and brightness as well.  <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d32eda2a58858d80c4f97e2fd8f72f6b4182aea8521f9151f0c745ed6cd674ef.jpg"> TLDR: LEDs are shitcoins for light. They are far more artificial in terms of light spectrum. They are stealing your melatonin away from you. Avoid at all costs (especially at night), or wear blue light blocking glasses if you must. You can buy “red or warmer LEDs” but they aren’t really a true red light source because most just put phosphorous over a white LED to alter the warmth of the light.  STOCK UP on incandescent bulbs (good for keeping your house warm in the winter) before they are $100/pop. The government does NOT CARE about your health.  [BlockBlueLight Glasses + Red Bulbs](https://www.blockbluelight.com/) (Code TRISTAN10)  Stay Sovereign, Tristan p.s. the movement is growing. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/947b46e0c893e52e6eb701ec89ad08ebfb4e7a21399ecd98384b952427151c4c.jpg"> **Originally published JUL 31, 2023**

@ 2355757c:5ad3e04d

Grounding or Earthing, names for getting your good ole bare feet on the surface of the earth. Sounds simple because it is simple, but are the benefits really that profound? Short answer: **YES** Grounding is really only so a modern health hack because we are so disconnected. Until the invention of modern footwear with insulated rubber/plastic soles, we were connected to the surface of the earth pretty much 24/7. Why does this matter? The Earth’s surface is a POOL of free electrons waiting for us to tap into. Electrons? Why do those matter. Electrons are the true currency of energy and the input to our energy production system (Electron Transport Chain) that produces ATP. The human body, like all other living things is electromagnetic. We use electrical signaling to operate our biology. Without a sufficient amount of electrons and sufficient voltage potential, our body will not function properly. However, it is not so simple to say more electrons = more health. If that were the case then we’d all be hooked up to copper wires absorbing current to level up our biology.  TOO MUCH of anything is bad. Our skin has resistance to protect us from shocks and lightning strikes (absorbing too much electrical current at once). However, our hands and feet (with thousands of nerve endings) have lower skin resistance. Lower resistance = better ability to conduct electricity. That is not a mistake. Through contact of our feet or hands on the ground, we are able to sustain a voltage differential up to a few hundred millivolts (depending on the surface). These electrons on the surface of the earth are willing to move to a less negatively charge area (us), and thus we are able to absorb a small amount of free flowing electrons into our body through our semi-conductive tissue on our hands and feet. Sounds cool, right? Now what are the actual benefits? 1. Managing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and/or free radicals 2. Maintaining Proper Blood Flow & Pressure  3. Regulating Cortisol & Circadian Rhythm <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/df8f7f3af6f1b031eb88bb8b1e27e2e2374a937fdfc524802fac1953da21ab2c.jpg"> Oxidative stress. Anti-oxidants. Free radicals. These are all terms you MAY be familiar with, but what do they actually mean? If you read my newsletter from last week on Travel, you will know a bit more about oxidative stress and the function of anti-oxidants (if not, I will link it [HERE](https://tristanhealth.substack.com/p/traveling-frequently-is-killing-you)). The TLDR is that our energy production process in our mitochondria, otherwise known as the Electron Transport Chain (ETC), is not perfect. As a result of this, free radicals are generated. Free radicals are typically oxygen molecules or molecules that contain oxygen (aka reactive oxygen species) that have an unpaired electron in their valence shell. O2 is supposed to be converted into metabolic water (H2O), but as mentioned the efficiency is not 100%. Therefore you get molecules like superoxide (O2-) or hydroxyl radical (OH) that are hungry to fill the unpaired electron and go back to stability. “Anti-oxidants” combat these radicals by attempting to supply an electron before they steal one from elsewhere in the cell and cause damage. Enter in newly absorbed electrons from grounding. These free electrons absorbed from the earth can help combat the free radicals/ROS by acting as an anti-oxidant. This will in turn help your body get back to redox homeostasis and not suffer cellular damage from oxidative stress. Grounding, in turn “reduces inflammation”. The thermal images often touted alongside grounding (before/after) show a positive response (thermal imaging can be a bit dodgy in accuracy but it captures some essence of effectiveness). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/4487505dfb599e5a4b3be458c5ae009057eef3a2c3522feae45dfbbf7308218f.jpg"> Maintaining proper blood flow and blood pressure. Perhaps the most interesting and fundamentally undebatable benefit of grounding. As stated above we are electromagnetic beings, and our blood flow exemplifies that. Both the lining of the blood vessel and surface of our red blood cells have a negative charge. This negative charge is imperative because it prevents rouleaux and coagulation, or the stacking of blood cells. If you blood cells stack, they are far easier to clump/clot and cause a blockage. Like charges repel, so having a sufficient “zeta potential” or negative charge on our RBCs will keep the blood flowing smoothly. Grounding helps maintain that. A study linked [HERE ](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3576907/#:~:text=Grounding%20increases%20the%20surface%20charge,cardiovascular%20risk%20and%20cardiovascular%20events)showed how Earthing/Grounding reduces blood viscosity.  *“Grounding increases the surface charge on RBCs and thereby reduces blood viscosity and clumping. Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events.”* <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/7e9d1403a3f4c94659450a569fdd6e312d945d4b6597b37481649bbf9327d57d.jpg"> Regulating our circadian rhythm. A lesser touted benefit to grounding is its ability to influence our circadian rhythm or our “body clock”. I am under the belief now that our circadian health is THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT of HEALTH. Why? Because literally all of our downstream biological functions are dictated by our circadian rhythm. This is why light, meal/exercise timing, sleep, connection to nature are all so important & interconnected. The main input might be light, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more inputs to the complex system that is our body. Connection to the earth is another. How do we know? Grounding has been proven to regulate cortisol rhythms. One of the biggest signs of a irregular circadian rhythm is cortisol and melatonin cycles that are out of whack. When you are grounded you are connected to the earth in the position of your geographical location. This is not proven, but its quite logical that the reason grounding helps regulate circadian rhythm is because along with those electrons you are getting a signal sent to your brain about the location/time/season it is where you are in that moment. It is the only logical explanation and it is one of the reasons I am such a big fan of grounding as MUCH as possible, especially after travel. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/492924bef4e84965e3467dab75993447c0fdedee1ee1451920846c53948663ba.jpg"> I recently released my first health optimization guide that includes all the travel hacks I use (including grounding) to completely avoid jet lag on long haul flights: [**AVOIDING JET LAG**-*An In Depth Guide to Hacking the Stressors of Travel*](https://tristanhealth.gumroad.com/l/rkwjf?_gl=1*wnxhja*_ga*NjQ4NjU4NTgzLjE2ODczMTM5MzM.*_ga_6LJN6D94N6*MTY4ODk1MzI3OS41LjEuMTY4ODk1MzI4My4wLjAuMA..). This guide is extremely comprehensive, and application specific. It is a 30 page PDF that goes into WHY travel is so bad for us, and what you can do pre/during/post travel to avoid jet lag completely. If you travel often, this is worth checking out…but I warn you it is dense and only worth purchasing if you are willing to learn.  Grounding PROTOCOLS: 1. Just do it-bare feet on the ground 2. Length? 1 min is better than 0…5 min even better…2 hours even better still. There is no threshold dose.  3. Surfaces? Dirt/Grass/Rocks/Sand/Ocean all great. If it is wet and post thunderstorm, even better. Concrete works but asphalt is not the best.  4. Grounding shoes? Not comparable to barefoot but still better than rubber/plastic soled shoes. I will write more about this in the near future as I am conducting experiments with different shoes on different surfaces.  5. IT IS LITERALLY FREE Big Grounding did not pay me to write this, even though I am an electrical engineer. Seriously, grounding is a no brainer. You may not “feel” anything, but the more you do it and the more disconnected you are to start…the better you will feel I can guarantee that. We are electromagnetic creates of Earth, it is about damn time we get back to connecting with our natural input signals.  Stay Sovereign,  \-Tristan Originally written July 25th, 2023

@ dd81a8ba:3eb298a5

> it's better to read 100 books 10 times than 1,000 books once I don't know who originated this concept. I've heard it said by [Naval](https://nav.al). the idea is to go deep on a narrower slice of possible books than to be spread so thin. this isn't so much an algorithm as a heuristic, a tactic for filtering the kinds of books you read, and also a way to measure your own growth over time. I've had the experience of getting something different from reading the same book at different points in my life. deliberately checking in with different books regularly over time is a good way to get an informative but different perspective on your own mentality. this is my list. I'll be short of 100 for a while, the point is to make a tangible artifact out of it, and update it over time. let me know if you have or make a similar list and I'll add a link to your list here. ## update 2/24 since I created the 100 books page and started shaping my reading around it, I have reached 100 books, and now in order to add one to the list I must first evict one already on the list. I have also encountered a different way to refer to this project, and a sharper take on what I’m doing. it comes from an author with one book on my list already and more to come, Italo Calvino. the introduction to his book [“Why Read the Classics?”](https://classics.domains.skidmore.edu/lit-campus-only/secondary/Classics/Calvino%201981.pdf) is a quick read, and well worth it. >A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say. first, he defines “classic” to mean any book that once read, you return to again and again, and continue finding new takes, new value, fresh perspectives on. actually he lists many criteria, but that’s roughly what it boils down to, books that have meaning to you, which you read repeatedly at different stages in your life, a through-line to return to. >The ranks of the old titles have been decimated, while new ones have proliferated in all modern literatures and cultures. There is nothing for it but for all of us to invent our own ideal libraries of classics. I would say that such a library ought to be composed half of books we have read and that have really counted for us, and half of books we propose to read and presume will come to count—leaving a section of empty shelves for surprises and occasional discoveries. consider any of these books a welcomed topic of conversation. the list was last updated on Jan 7th, 2025 | title | Author | Genre | |-------|--------|-------| | "The Myth of Sisyphus" | Albert Camus | philosophy | | "Brave New World" | Aldous Huxley | distopian science fiction | | "The Doors of Perception" | Aldous Huxley | non-fiction | | "The Civil War Short Stories of Ambrose Bierce" | Ambrose Bierce | supernatural horror | | "The Little Prince" | Antoine De Saint Exuprey | children's | | "Nichomachean Ethics" | Aristotle | philosophy | | "Rendezvous With Rama" | Arthur C Clarke | science fiction | | "Atlas Shrugged" | Ayn Rand | fiction | | "The Fountainhead" | Ayn Rand | fiction | | "The Fractal Geometry of Nature" | Benoit Mandelbrot | maths | | "The History of Western Philosophy" | Betrand Russell | philosophy | | "Four Archetypes: Mother/Rebirth/Spirit/Trickster" | Carl Jung | philosophy | | "The Undiscovered Self" | Carl Jung | philosophy | | "Roadside Geology of Missouri" | Charles Spencer | non-fiction | | "A Pattern Language" | Christopher Alexander | non-fiction | | "On the Good Life" | Cicero | philosophy | | "All the Pretty Horses" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "Blood Meridian" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "No Country for Old Men" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "Stella Maris" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "the crossing" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "The Passenger" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "The Road" | Cormac McCarthy | fiction | | "Flowers for Algernon" | Daniel Keyes | fiction | | "The Beginning of Infinity" | David Deutsch | non-fiction | | "Forty Tales From the Afterlives" | David Eagleman | magical realism | | "Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning about a Highly Connected World" | David Easley and John Kleinberg | non-fiction | | "We Are Legion [We Are Bob]" | Dennis Taylor | science fiction | | "Godel, Escher, Bach" | Douglas Hofstadter | philosophy | | "The Discourses" | Epictetus | philosophy | | "The Revelations" | Erik Hoel | fiction | | "Kafka the Complete Stories" | Franz Kafka | fiction | | "The Mythical Man-Month" | Fred Brooks | non-fiction | | "Thus Spake Zarathustra" | Friedrich Nietzsche | philosophy | | "Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers" | Geoffrey A. Moore | non-fiction | | "Nineteen Eighty-Four" | George Orwell | distopian science fiction | | "A Swim in a Pond in the Rain" | George Saunders | literature | | "Eon" | Greg Bear | science fiction | | "On Bullshit" | Harry G Frankfurt | philosophy | | "Walden and Other Writings" | Henry David Thoreau | non-fiction | | "Moby Dick" | Herman Melville | fiction | | "Siddhartha" | Hermann Hesse | philosophy | | "I, Roboot" | Isaac Asimov | science fiction | | "The Foundation" | Isaac Asimov | science fiction | | "The Naked Sun" | Isaac Asimov | science fiction | | "The Proper Study of Mankind" | Isaiah Berlin | philosophy | | "Invisible Cities" | Italo Calvino | magical realism | | "The Perigrine" | J A Baker | non-fiction | | "Chaos: Making a New Science" | James Gleick | non-fiction | | "Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility" | James P. Carse | philosophy | | "Fancies and Goodnights" | John Collier | fantasy | | "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" | John Koenig | fiction | | "Annals of the Former World: " | John McPhee | non-fiction | | "The Curve of Binding Energy" | John McPhee | non-fiction | | "Collected Fictions" | Jorge Luis Borges | fantasy | | "Hero With a Thousand Faces: The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell" | Joseph Campbell | philosophy | | "Heart of Darkness" | Joseph Conrad | fiction | | "The Death of Ivan Illych and Other Stories" | Leo Tolstoy | literature | | "The Mandibles" | Lionel Schriver | fiction | | "A Wrinkle in Time" | Madeleine L'Engle | young adult | | "M.C. Escher: His Life and Complete Graphic Work" | many | non-fiction | | "Meditations" | Marcus Aurelius | philosophy | | "Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters" | Matt Ridley | science | | "Prey" | Michael Crichton | science fiction | | "Sphere" | Michael Crichton | fiction | | "Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy" | Michael Polanyi | philosophy | | "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience: Steps Toward Enhancing the Quality of Life" | Mihaly Csikszentmihaly | non-fiction | | "The Epic of Gilgamesh" | N. K. Sandars | legendary fiction | | "An Introduction to Population Genetics" | Nielson and Slatkin | non-fiction | | "Ender's Game" | Orson Scott Card | science fiction | | "Alas Babylon" | Pat Frank | science fiction | | "Hackers and Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age" | Paul Graham | non-fiction | | "The Alchemist" | Paulo Coelho | magical realism | | "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" | Philip K Dick | science fiction | | "The Collected Stories of Philip K Dick Volume 5" | Philip K Dick | science fiction | | "The Trial and Death of Socrates" | Plato | philosophy | | "The Soundscape" | R. Murray Schafer | non-fiction | | "Dandelion Wine" | Ray Bradbury | fiction | | "Fahrenheit 451" | Ray Bradbury | fiction | | "Something Wicked This Way Comes" | Ray Bradbury | fiction | | "The Martian Chronicles" | Ray Bradbury | science fiction | | "The Selfish Gene" | Richard Dawkins | non-fiction | | "Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman" | Richard Feynman | biography | | "The Creative Act: A Way of Living" | Rick Rubin | self-help | | "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values" | Robert Persig | fiction | | "Letters From a Stoic" | Seneca | philosophy | | "The Art of Living" | Sharon Lebell | philosophy | | "The Dark Tower" | Stephen King | fiction | | "Piranesi" | Susanna Clarke | magical realism | | "Stories of Your Life and Others" | Ted Chiang | science fiction | | "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" | Thomas Kuhn | non-fiction | | "Common Sense" | Thomas Paine | philosophy | | "The Kon-Tiki Expedition: A Raft Across the South Seas" | Thor Heyerdahl | non-fiction | | "The Kingdom of Speech" | Tom Wolf | non-fiction | | "The Right Stuff" | Tom Wolf | historic fiction | | "True Names: and the Opening of the Cyberspace Frontier" | Vernor Vinge | cyberpunk | | "Man's Search for Meaning" | Viktor Frankl | philosophy | | "The Shape of Things" | Vilem Flusser | non-fiction | | "The Twilight World" | Werner Herzog | historic fiction | | "Neuromancer" | William Gibson | cyberpunk |

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

 The year had barely begun when we, a group of four from the hostel, decided to explore Moshi's Uhuru Park. Located conveniently in the city center, it was just a short walk away, making it an easy and inviting destination.  ## A Stroll Through Uhuru Park We entered through the main gate and began to wander around the park. The first area we encountered was small buildings with stores, restaurants, and a cozy beer garden. After some browsing, we ventured further into the heart of the park and stumbled upon a playground. It was a bit run-down — a place I wouldn’t let my kids play, especially not on the slide — but that didn’t stop us. As adults, we unleashed our inner children, playing on the equipment and snapping countless photos.  In the middle of our playground adventure, we spotted a tree with a ladder and a sign requesting payment to use the playground. Surprisingly, they accepted Mastercard and Visa! Yet, given the state of the equipment, I couldn’t imagine parents willingly paying for such a risky setup.  ## Unexpected Sights and Big Discoveries As we moved on, the park began to reveal its quirky charm. We admired creatively maintained corners and came across a unique “Christmas tree”. Unlike traditional evergreens, this local tree earned its festive name because it only blooms during the holiday season. Nearby, we marveled at massive termite hills — some taller than me — that left me feeling small. While I was curious, I didn’t dig around to confirm if any termites were home.  ## A Smoothie Haven: The Wishing Tree We eventually reached a cluster of houses within the park. One spot stood out to me — The Wishing Tree. I’d discovered it one evening during a failed attempt to attend a BBQ festival when the police turned me away. The Wishing Tree seemed like an oasis, but it was closed at night, so I promised myself I’d return.  That day, I kept my promise. The Wishing Tree lived up to its name, offering a serene, green space with soft music perfect for meditation. The smoothies were freshly made, organic, and worth the wait. With my first sip, I was blown away — absolutely delicious, even if a bit pricey. We lingered there, savoring every moment and every drop.  ## Chipsiei and Colonial Echoes After leaving the oasis, we wandered back to the beer garden. One of my companions, a man from Switzerland, ordered *Chipsiei*. It’s a local dish of fries and eggs, with “Ei” (the German word for egg) being a linguistic remnant of Tanzania’s time as German East Africa. Traces of this colonial past still linger in buildings, language, and even some food traditions. I opted for a beer with lemon, similar to a Radler, while others chose soda or beer. After finishing our drinks, we continued our walk, eventually passing the bus station. Here, the Swiss traveler bought a ticket for his next destination, though not without encountering the infamous “mzungu price” — a common overcharge for foreigners. Despite having the correct price from the internet, he couldn’t negotiate it down.  ## A Market Adventure Back at the hostel, I decided to visit the market, and the Swiss man joined me. I needed bananas, while he sought natural baobab fruit. Unlike the colored and sugary versions sold on the street, market baobab is organic and white. It was the perfect place to find fresh, unaltered produce.  ## Wrapping Up the Day After the market, we returned to the hostel to relax at the bar, reflecting on our day. While writing this, I realized I captured so many interesting photos. I’ll share a few here and save the rest for my upcoming online gallery — stay tuned for updates!  ## Moving On Tomorrow, I’ll check out and continue my journey through Africa. After nearly two months in Moshi, my foot has healed, and it’s time to move forward. Along the way, I’ll need to replace my GoPro battery (the old one blew up) and get a power bank after my Google Pixel met its end with a faulty one. I also need to pick up a hat to protect myself from the increasingly harsh sun and maybe a sheet to use as a multi sheet (Towel, Beach Towel and other things).  The road ahead promises new adventures, stories, and photos. Stay tuned to follow my travels as I explore more of this beautiful continent!             

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

It was a so-so year for me. I won one Beat Chris Liss league, didn’t cash in the other two or the Primetime. I got bounced in the first round of the Steak League playoffs and finished as a self buyer. I didn’t make the Dynasty League playoffs (even though I had the fourth most points and would have won the league based on my scores in the playoffs), and I didn’t do anything in Survivor or Circa Millions. It certainly could have been better. Had I known in August what I know now, here’s what I would have done: **1.12 Saquon Barkley** — This is chalk here, but I love older running backs this year, and Saquon should go off on the Eagles. No, I’m not worried that Jalen Hurts might score 14 rushing TDs in 15 games. **2.1 Jahmyr Gibbs** — Also chalk, but I want to build a RB-heavy foundation with all these zero-RB midwits. You love your Tyreek Hill-Jaylen Waddle build? Sidebet? **3.1 Derrick Henry** — Whew, glad he fell to me. I love starting out with three straight RBs, so nutless monkeys can criticize my poor draft structure! **4.12 Josh Allen** — I like to get a stud QB early, you guys can wait on Kirk Cousins and Caleb Williams if you want. **5.1 Lamar Jackson** — I know it’s early to double up, but I don’t want anyone snagging this value from me. Always punish the room even if it costs you! Sidebets anyone? **6.12 Brian Thomas** — Receiver is definitely a position you can piece together if you know what you’re doing, and with Thomas I have an every week starter no matter how bad the quarterback play in Jacksonville. **7.1 Courtland Sutton** — I want to buy into the Sean Payton Denver passing game. Russell Wilson, not Payton, was the problem, and Bo Nix is a stud. **8.12 Jordan Addison** — I expect Sam Darnold to unlock Addison this year. **9.1 Brock Bowers** — He’s no Kyle Pitts (who you took in Round 6), that’s for sure. **10.12 Rashid Shaheed** — He’s liable to get hurt, but I need some early-season WR production from someone, and he’s better than Chris Olave. **11.1 Bucky Irving** — I’m too thin at RB, needed some depth. **12.12 Jalen McMillan** — In case I need some WR depth for the stretch run. **13.1 Adam Thielen** — If a white receiver is still in the league at 34, he must be doing something right! **14.12 Cowboys Kicker** — Always be the first to take the obvious stud kicker. **15.1 Broncos Defense** — beasts. **16.12 Vikings Defense** — beasts. **17.1 Steelers Kicker** — Always draft a second stud kicker to back up your first one. **18.12 Zach Ertz** — Need some TE depth, and Ertz could be useful in my Week 17 title game. **19.1 Jonnu Smith** — You can never have too much TE depth. Controversial take: Smith will outproduce Waddle and Hill this year. **20.12 Sam Darnold** — Who knows? He could be useful in the playoffs. This obviously isn’t the ideal team, but it would win every league and generate plenty of action in side bets too. And here’s some September 3-5 ADP to show this build was possible: 

@ d830ee7b:4e61cd62

# จุดเริ่มต้นของสงครามบล็อกไซส์ ลองนึกภาพร้านอาหารเล็ก ๆ ที่มีแค่สิบโต๊ะ แต่ลูกค้ากลับล้นหลามจนพนักงานวิ่งวุ่นตลอดวัน เราอาจเห็นภาพชัดว่าปัญหาต้องตามมาแน่ ๆ ถ้าจำนวนโต๊ะไม่พอกับลูกค้าที่ต่อแถวกันยาวเหยียด บางคนหัวเสียจนยอมจ่ายเงินเพิ่มเพื่อรีบได้โต๊ะนั่ง ในขณะที่อีกหลายคนก็ยืนรอจนหมดอารมณ์กิน สุดท้ายก็ต้องถามกันว่า *“จะทำยังไงดี ถึงจะไม่เสียเอกลักษณ์ร้าน และไม่ปล่อยให้ลูกค้าต้องหงุดหงิดมากมายขนาดนี้?”* บรรยากาศตรงนี้เปรียบได้กับสภาพของบิตคอยน์ช่วงราวปี 2015 ซึ่งเดิมทีเคยรองรับธุรกรรมได้สบาย ๆ แต่จู่ ๆ ก็ต้องแบกรับภาระธุรกรรมมหาศาลจน *“คิวยาวเป็นหางว่าว”* ทั้งหมดนี้มาจากข้อกำหนดตั้งต้นว่า **แต่ละบล็อกมีขนาดเพียง 1 เมกะไบต์** และบล็อกจะถูกสร้างทุก ๆ ประมาณ 10 นาที ทีนี้พอผู้ใช้หลั่งไหลเข้ามาไม่หยุด พื้นที่เล็ก ๆ ที่ว่าเลยเอาไม่อยู่ ใครอยากให้ธุรกรรมติดบล็อกก่อนก็ควักกระเป๋าจ่ายค่าธรรมเนียมเพิ่ม ถ้าไม่จ่าย ธุรกรรมอาจรอข้ามวันข้ามคืน แถมยังเสี่ยงค้างเติ่งไปเลย  ความไม่พอใจจึงปะทุขึ้นเป็นเสียงดังลั่นว่า *“แก้ปัญหานี้ยังไงดี จะขยายบล็อกกันเลยไหม หรือปรับซอฟต์แวร์ให้ฉลาดขึ้นโดยไม่เพิ่มขนาดจริง ๆ?”* เมื่อสองแนวคิดนี้ตั้งฉากกัน คนในแวดวงบิตคอยน์จึงแตกเป็นสองฝั่งหลัก ๆ ฝั่งแรกเสนอ **“เพิ่ม Blocksize”** โดยบอกว่าต้องแก้ให้จบตรงจุด เหมือนเพิ่มโต๊ะเข้าไปในร้าน จะได้รองรับลูกค้าได้มากขึ้น เพราะเชื่อว่า Bitcoin ต้องพร้อมสำหรับการใช้งานทั่วโลก การขยายจาก 1 MB เป็น 2 MB หรือ 4 MB หรือมากกว่านั้น จึงตอบโจทย์ผู้ใช้หลากหลายตั้งแต่รายเล็กไปจนถึงธุรกิจใหญ่ แกนนำฝ่ายนี้คือ **Roger Ver** หรือ **“Bitcoin Jesus”** ที่ผลักดันแนวคิดนี้สุดตัวร่วมกับทีมขุดอย่าง **Bitmain** ซึ่งไม่อยากเห็นใครต้องยืนรอนานหรือจ่ายแพงเวอร์ อีกฝ่ายคือทีมพัฒนา **“Bitcoin Core”** ที่มี **Greg Maxwell** และ **Peter Wuille** เป็นหัวขบวน พวกเขายืนยันว่าถ้ายิ่งเพิ่มขนาดบล็อกให้ใหญ่โต ก็จะยิ่งเก็บข้อมูลมากจนโหนดรายเล็ก ๆ ต้องใช้ทรัพยากรสูงขึ้น สุดท้ายอาจเหลือแค่รายใหญ่ที่รันโหนดไหว แล้ว Decentralization ก็จะถูกบั่นทอน ฝ่ายบิตคอยน์คอร์จึงเสนอทางแก้แบบ **Segregated Witness** *(SegWit)* ซึ่งเปรียบได้กับการจัดโต๊ะใหม่ให้แยบยล—ย้ายข้อมูลลายเซ็นธุรกรรมไปไว้นอกบล็อกหลัก ทำให้ในบล็อกมีพื้นที่ใส่ธุรกรรมได้อีกเยอะขึ้นโดยไม่ต้องทุบผนังขยายร้าน ความขัดแย้งไม่ได้จำกัดอยู่ในเว็บบอร์ดหรือฟอรัม แต่ลุกลามไปจนถึงเวทีระดับโลกอย่าง **Consensus Conference ปี 2016 และ 2017** ฝ่ายหนุนเพิ่มขนาดบล็อกก็โหวกเหวกว่า *“นี่แหละถูกจุดที่สุด”* ส่วนทีมบิตคอยน์คอร์ก็โต้กลับว่า *“ขืนบล็อกใหญ่ไป ระบบก็เสี่ยงรวมศูนย์ เพราะใครจะมีทุนซื้ออุปกรณ์แพง ๆ และเน็ตแรง ๆ ตลอด”* จึงไม่ใช่แค่ถกเถียงทางเทคนิค แต่สะท้อนมุมมองปรัชญาด้วยว่าบิตคอยน์ควรเป็นระบบ **“กระจาย”** หรือ **“รวมศูนย์”** กันแน่ ยิ่งถกก็ยิ่งมองไม่เห็นทางออก.. บ้างก็เสนอให้ Fork แยกเครือข่ายไปเลย เหมือนเปิดสาขาร้านใหม่ ใครไม่โอเคแนวไหนก็ไปอีกสาขาหนึ่ง Roger Ver กับสายขุดยักษ์ใหญ่ก็บอกว่าถ้าไม่เพิ่ม Blocksize ต่อไปค่าธรรมเนียมสูง และคนจะเข้าถึงยากขึ้น เหมือนร้านที่โต๊ะแน่นจนคนล้น ฝั่งบิตคอยน์คอร์ย้ำว่าจะพัฒนา **SegWit** กับ **Lightning Network** เพื่อขนธุรกรรมส่วนใหญ่ไปทำงานนอกบล็อกหลัก แม้อาจต้องรอให้เทคโนโลยีสุกงอม แต่คงไม่กระทบโหนดรายเล็กมากนัก ในโลกออนไลน์ สงครามโซเชียลก็เริ่มเดือด ตั้งกระทู้กันทุกวัน บางคนต่อว่านักขุดว่าเอากำไรเป็นหลัก บ้างบอกทีมบิตคอยน์คอร์ไม่เข้าใจปัญหาฝั่งธุรกิจจนชาวเน็ตแบ่งเป็นหลายค่าย คำถามใหญ่จึงดังขึ้น *“ตกลงบิตคอยน์จะเป็น **‘อาวุธทางการเงิน’** ของคนหมู่มากได้จริงเหรอ ถ้าไม่มีพื้นที่ในบล็อกมากพอ?”* หรือ.. *“ถ้าผลุนผลันขยายบล็อกไปเรื่อย ๆ จนเหลือแต่รายใหญ่ที่รันโหนดได้ แบบนั้นยังถือว่าเป็น **บิตคอยน์ในอุดมการณ์ของ Satoshi Nakamoto** ไหม?”* พอหลายฝ่ายพยายามประนีประนอมกันหลายเวที สุดท้ายก็ไม่ประสบผล Roger Ver มั่นใจว่าต้องเพิ่ม Blocksize เท่านั้นจึงพาบิตคอยน์รอด ส่วนทีม Core ไม่ยอมเปิดทางง่าย ๆ เพราะกลัวระบบเสียหลักการกระจายอำนาจไป ด้วยเหตุผลทั้งคู่จึงทำให้สงครามนี้ยืดเยื้อ กลุ่มขุดและพัฒนาในแวดวงเริ่มจับตากันเครียด บ้างเสนอทางผสม เช่น เพิ่ม Blocksize นิดหน่อย แล้วเปิด SegWit ควบคู่ บ้างเสนอว่าให้เลื่อนตัดสินใจออกไปก่อนก็ยังดี ไม่มีใครรู้ว่าจะลงเอยอย่างไร.. และหากเรื่องนี้พลั้งพลาดบิตคอยน์อาจแตกเป็นสองสายจนผู้ใช้หรือนักลงทุนสับสน สถานการณ์ช่วงแรกเหมือน *“ไฟที่กำลังคุ”* เพราะยังไม่ปะทุเต็มที่แต่ก็แรงพอจะยกครัวไปตลอดทั้งวงการ คนพัฒนาก็ทำ SegWit และ Lightning Network ไป ฝ่ายหนุน Blocksize ก็เดินสายผลักดันให้เต็มที่ ถึงขั้นยอมเสี่ยง Fork ถ้าจำเป็นจริง ๆ นี่แหละคือจุดเริ่มต้นของความตึงเครียดที่ไม่ใช่แค่ **“ขนาดบล็อก”** แต่หมายถึงอนาคตของบิตคอยน์ที่อาจพลิกโฉมไปตลอดกาล..  คิดง่าย ๆ ก็เหมือนร้านอาหารเล็ก ๆ ที่กำลังจะก้าวสู่ภัตตาคารใหญ่ระดับท็อป เมื่อแขกเหรื่อมาไม่หยุดหย่อน แน่นอนว่าเสียงเรียกร้องให้ทุบกำแพงขยายร้านย่อมมีบ้าง แต่บางคนอาจบอก *“เปลี่ยนวิธีจัดโต๊ะแทนได้ไหม?”* ทุกแนวทางต่างมีทั้งโอกาสและความเสี่ยง ที่สำคัญคือ บิตคอยน์เป็นสินทรัพย์อันดับหนึ่งของโลกคริปโตฯ หากก้าวพลาดเพียงเล็กน้อย อาจสะเทือนไปทั่วโลกด้วย เนื้อหาถัดไปผมจะชวนมาดูว่า *ใครกันแน่ที่อยู่เบื้องหลังการขับเคลื่อนสงคราม Blocksize ครั้งนี้?* *พวกเขามีแรงจูงใจอะไรกันบ้าง? และจะนำพาบิตคอยน์ไปในทิศทางใด*? ขอทิ้งท้ายส่วนนี้ให้คิดเล่น ๆ > “ถ้าเพิ่ม Blocksize สุด ๆ แต่โหนดรายเล็กหายหมด สุดท้ายยังเรียกว่ากระจายอำนาจอยู่ไหม?” > “หรือจะรักษาบล็อกขนาดเล็กไว้อย่างเดิม แล้วปรับเทคโนโลยีเสริมให้ฉลาดขึ้นดีกว่า?” ทั้งหมดที่เล่ามายังเป็นแค่บทโหมโรงนะครับ สงครามนี้เพิ่งปะทุเท่านั้น ยังมีอะไรเข้มข้นอีกมาก ติดตามต่อว่าฝั่งไหนจะงัดไม้เด็ดอะไรออกมาเพื่อรักษา **“ร้านอาหาร”** แห่งนี้ให้เดินหน้าต่อไปได้โดยไม่เสียตัวตน.. ## ใครคือผู้ขับเคลื่อนสงคราม Blocksize? พาร์ทที่แล้ว เราได้เห็นภาพรวมของปัญหาที่ดูเหมือนจะเล็กนิดเดียวอย่าง **“บล็อกใหญ่หรือเล็ก?”** แต่กลับแผ่ขยายจนกลายเป็นมหากาพย์ความขัดแย้งในชุมชนบิตคอยน์ เสมือนเดิมพันอนาคตของสกุลเงินดิจิทัลอันดับหนึ่งบนโลกใบนี้ พอตอนนี้ถึงเวลาแล้วที่เราจะก้าวลึกลงไปในเบื้องหลังของสงครามอันร้อนแรงนี้ *ใครอยู่ในเงามืด? ใครลากสายอยู่หลังเวที? และใครโดดขึ้นมาเดินลุยบนสนามเปิดเพื่อต่อสู้แย่งชิงฉันทามติของเครือข่าย?* มีคนชอบเปรียบเทียบว่าศึก Blocksize ครั้งนี้คือ **“สนามรบดิจิทัล”** ซึ่งไม่ได้ยิงกระสุนห้ำหั่นแต่ใช้โค้ดแทน ขับเคลื่อนด้วย **“Hashrate”** ที่เปรียบเสมือนอาวุธหนัก ฝ่ายไหนถือกำลังขุดสูงกว่าก็เหมือนมีกองทัพเบิ้ม ๆ อยู่ในมือ ด้านนักพัฒนาและผู้ใช้ทั่วไปก็คล้ายประชากรพลเรือนที่บางทีก็ต้องยอมรับชะตา แต่บางทีก็รวมตัวประท้วงสร้างพลังของตัวเองให้โลกได้เห็น ทุกฝีก้าวมีคนจ้องดูว่าจะเกิด **“Hard Fork”** หรือ **“Soft Fork”** เมื่อไหร่ และกฎใดจะถูกประกาศเป็น **“กฎใหม่”** ให้ทุกคนต้องปฏิบัติตาม ในมุมของคนอยาก **“เพิ่ม Blocksize”** เห็นชื่อของ ***Roger Ver*** โผล่โดดเด่นสุด ๆ เขาคือ *“Bitcoin Jesus”* แห่งยุคบุกเบิก ที่ครั้งหนึ่งทุ่มทุนโปรโมตบิตคอยน์แบบไม่กลัวเจ๊ง ด้วยความเชื่อว่าบิตคอยน์ควรเป็น **“เงินสดดิจิทัล”** ลื่นไหลจ่ายคล่อง สลัดค่าธรรมเนียมแพง ๆ ทิ้งไปให้หมด ในสายตาเขา การคงบล็อกเล็กแค่ 1 MB ยิ่งทำให้คนใช้แล้วปวดหัว ค่าธรรมเนียมสูงปรี๊ด ธุรกรรมอืดอาดเกินจะทน เลยต้องขยายขนาดบล็อกแบบจัดเต็ม เหมือนขยายถนนให้รถวิ่งง่าย ไม่งั้นก็ต้องมุดเข้าอุโมงค์แคบ ๆ จอดติดกันยาว และ ***“Bitmain”*** บริษัทเครื่องขุดเบอร์ใหญ่สุดในโลกก็เข้ามาเสริมพลังแบบเต็มขั้น ขับเคลื่อนโดย ***Jihan Wu*** ที่เล็งเห็นว่าพอยิ่งขยายบล็อก ธุรกรรมก็จะยิ่งทะลัก ค่าธรรมเนียมก็จะเพิ่มขึ้น นักขุดจะได้เงินดี สร้างแรงดึงดูดให้คนหันมาหาบิตคอยน์มากขึ้นไปอีก Bitmain ถือ Hashrate มหาศาล จึงไม่ต่างจากมีทัพใหญ่พร้อมยกพลบุก เพื่อดันแนวคิด **“Fork”** ได้ตลอดเวลา ถ้าฝั่งเพิ่ม Blocksize อยากจะเล่นเกมสายไหนก็เดินได้เลย อีกฟากสนาม คือทีม ***“Bitcoin Core”*** ถือเป็นแกนกลางที่คุมซอฟต์แวร์หลัก นำโดย *****Greg Maxwell*****, ***Peter Wuille*** และ ***Wladimir van der Laan*** พวกเขาห่วงว่าถ้าบล็อกใหญ่ขึ้นมาก คงจะมีแค่นายทุนใหญ่เท่านั้นที่รันโหนดไหว ประชาชนตัวเล็ก ๆ หรือคนไม่มีทรัพยากรเยอะก็ยิ่งถูกกันออกจากเครือข่าย กลายเป็นระบบกึ่งรวมศูนย์ ซึ่งสวนกับหลักการเดิมที่ *Satoshi Nakamoto* เคยวางไว้ พวกเขาจึงเสนอ **Segregated Witness** *(SegWit)* เพื่อตัดข้อมูลลายเซ็น *(Witness Data)* ทิ้งไปนอกบล็อก ทำให้มีพื้นที่รองรับธุรกรรมได้เยอะขึ้นแบบไม่ต้องขยาย *“เลนหลัก”* และจะต่อยอดด้วย ***Lightning Network*** เพื่อยกธุรกรรมส่วนใหญ่ไปอยู่นอกบล็อกอีกชั้น ฝั่งนักพัฒนาเหล่านี้ไม่ได้สู้อย่างโดดเดี่ยว แต่มีผู้ใช้รวมพลังกันในนาม **UASF** *(User-Activated Soft Fork)* มองว่า **“ใครว่าขุดเยอะแล้วสั่งการได้หมด? ผู้ใช้ทั่ว ๆ ไปก็ออกแบบกติกาได้เหมือนกัน?”** พวกเขาบอกเลยว่า “ถ้าไม่หนุน SegWit พวกฉันไม่เอาด้วยนะ” การเคลื่อนไหวแบบนี้สร้างแรงกดดันให้นักขุดต้องรีบตามน้ำ ไม่งั้นเสี่ยงโดนผู้ใช้ปฏิเสธบล็อกกันถ้วนหน้า ปี 2016-2017 กลายเป็นช่วงร้อนระอุสุด ๆ Roger Ver ลุกขึ้นพูดเมื่อไหร่ มักกล่าวหาทีม Core ว่าปิดประตูโอกาสทองของบิตคอยน์ ส่วนทีม Core ก็ตีโต้กลับว่า **“ถ้าเพิ่มบล็อกเร็วไป มีแต่จะทำให้บิ๊กทุนไม่กี่เจ้าเข้ามาผูกขาด!”** พอยิ่งเถียงกันในงานใหญ่ เช่น ***Consensus Conference 2017*** ประเด็นก็ยิ่งเดือด บางฝ่ายอยาก *“Fork”* แตกสายไปเลย บางฝ่ายยังคอยประนีประนอม แต่ก็ไม่มีใครลงรอยกันได้ Roger Ver และ Bitmain เร่งเครื่องดัน Hard Fork ทีม Core ไม่ยอมถอย ยืนกราน SegWit ก่อน แล้วใช้ Lightning Network ปิดเกม ผลคือ... ทุกคนเริ่มกลัวว่า **“Bitcoin จะแตกเป็นสองสายจริง ๆ หรือ?”** *จะเป็นบล็อกใหญ่ หรือจะอยู่ 1 MB พร้อม SegWit?*  กลางปี 2017 สงครามนี้จึงคลอด ***“Bitcoin Cash”*** เครือข่ายใหม่ที่กลุ่ม Roger Ver ผลักดัน บอกว่านี่คือ *“Bitcoin ตัวจริง”* ที่ค่าธรรมเนียมถูกกว่า ธุรกรรมไวกว่า รองรับคนจำนวนมากได้ ในขณะเดียวกัน เครือข่ายหลัก BTC ก็เปิดใช้ ***SegWit*** ไป พร้อมมุ่งหน้าเปิดทาง ***Lightning Network*** ทำให้ครึ่งหนึ่งของชุมชนยังเชื่อมั่นว่าการรักษาบล็อกเล็ก คือหัวใจสำคัญของกระจายอำนาจ **Blocksize War** ครั้งนี้ เกินกว่าจะเรียกว่า **“ดีเบตเชิงเทคนิค”** มันคล้ายการปะทะอุดมการณ์ของ **“กระจายอำนาจอย่างเคร่งครัด”** ปะทะ **“ขยายบล็อกให้ใช้งานจริงในชีวิตประจำวัน”** ทั้งสองฝ่ายต่างยิงวาทะกันเดือดในโซเชียลมีเดีย คนฝ่ายหนึ่งบอกอีกฝ่าย “ล้าหลังไม่รู้จักปรับตัว” อีกฝ่ายก็ยันกลับว่า *“คิดแค่กำไรระยะสั้น ไม่รักษาอัตลักษณ์บิตคอยน์”* บน Reddit, Twitter, ฟอรัมต่าง ๆ เหล่าผู้เคยเป็นเพื่อนร่วมทางต้องแยกค่ายกันเพราะมองต่างว่าควรเพิ่มบล็อกหรือเปล่า ที่สุดแล้ว... เมื่อสองอุดมการณ์สวนทางกันระดับราก แทบไม่มีพื้นที่ประนีประนอม บ้างเชื่อว่าถ้าไม่เพิ่มบล็อกบิตคอยน์จะใช้งานลำบากเกิน บ้างยึดมั่นว่าถ้าบล็อกใหญ่มากโหนดเล็ก ๆ ก็จะหายไปหมด ระบบจะตกในมือไม่กี่คน.. ซึ่งขัดเจตนารมณ์ตั้งต้นของ Satoshi แบบสุด ๆ ผลลัพธ์จึงลงเอยด้วยการเกิด ***“Bitcoin Cash”*** *(BCH)* แยกเครือข่าย และเปิดศึกโฆษณาว่า **“ตนต่างหากที่เป็นผู้สืบทอดแนวคิด Satoshi ของจริง”** เมื่อ Bitcoin Cash ถือกำเนิดพร้อมขนาดบล็อกใหญ่ *“มหาศึก”* ครั้งนี้ก็ไม่ได้จบลง แต่เปลี่ยนหน้าฉากไปสู่การตลาดและความชอบธรรม ใคร ๆ ก็ตั้งคำถามว่า *“Bitcoin Cash ต่างจาก Bitcoin ยังไง?”* หรือ *“ใครสืบทอดเจตนารมณ์ Satoshi อย่างแท้จริงกันแน่?”* นักพัฒนา ***ฝั่ง BTC*** ยังเหนียวแน่นว่ารักษาเครือข่ายให้เบา ๆ แล้วใช้ทริคอย่าง SegWit, Lightning Network เสริม คือทางออกป้องกันการรวมศูนย์ ***ฝ่าย BCH*** ก็บอกว่าบล็อกใหญ่เลยดีกว่า ทุกคนจะได้เทรดกันเพลินโดยไม่ต้องแย่งพื้นที่ ในภาพใหญ่.. สงครามครั้งนี้ส่งคลื่นกระเพื่อมไปทั่วโลกคริปโตฯ หลายคนกลัวว่าถ้ายังแยกแตกกันแบบนี้ต่อ ราคาจะผันผวนจนคนขยาด แต่ก็มีอีกฝ่ายที่มองว่า “ดีสิ มีการแข่งขันแล้วเกิดนวัตกรรมใหม่ ๆ” > **เพราะในโลกโอเพนซอร์ส ไม่มีใครหยุดการแยกตัวได้ถ้าคนบางกลุ่มอยากลองแนวทางใหม่** คำถามสำคัญคือ.. “ใครขับเคลื่อนสงคราม Blocksize?” คำตอบก็หนีไม่พ้น ***Roger Ver, Bitmain*** และทีม ***Bitcoin Core*** รวมถึงกลุ่ม *UASF* พวกเขาต่างมีพลังในมิติต่าง ๆ ***Roger Ver*** มีแรงสนับสนุนจากนักขุดสายทุนจัด ***Bitmain*** มีกองทัพ Hashrate มหาศาล ทีม ***Bitcoin Cor***e คุมซอฟต์แวร์ และ ***UASF*** ก็มีอำนาจ ***‘No Node, No Vote’*** ที่ปัดบล็อกไม่พอใจทิ้งได้หมด นี่ไม่ใช่การรบระหว่าง *“อำนาจกับผู้อ่อนแอ”* แต่เป็นสมรภูมิที่ทุกขั้วมี *“พลัง”* อยู่คนละแบบ ทำให้การประนีประนอมเป็นเพียงอุดมคติ จนที่สุดจึงแตกเป็นสองสาย เหมือนเป็นสปิริตของโอเพนซอร์สที่แค่ *Fork* ก็พาเดินไปคนละทิศ ใครอยากกดเครื่องขุดก็ขุด ใครอยากตามซอฟต์แวร์ Core ก็จัดไป นึกภาพอนาคตสิครับ.. ถ้ามีเทคโนโลยีใหม่เข้ามาอีก จะมีสงคราม ***“Blocksize 2.0”*** หรือเปล่า? ถ้าเจอเงื่อนไขใหญ่ ๆ ในการเปลี่ยนระบบ ย่อมต้องเข้าสู่วงจรดีเบตเดือดปุดเหมือนเคย > ***เพราะบิตคอยน์เป็นระบบไร้ผู้นำสูงสุด ทุกฝ่ายจึงมีสิทธิชูมือคัดค้านหรือสนับสนุนอย่างอิสระ*** ฉากในเนื้อหาส่วนนี้คือด้านหน้าฉากของสงคราม Blocksize และเหล่าคนขับเคลื่อนที่ทำให้เกิดการแตกแยกครั้งประวัติศาสตร์ในโลกบิตคอยน์ ส่วนต่อไปเราจะได้เห็นเทคนิคล้ำ ๆ และจุดชนวนสุดเฉพาะหน้าที่ทำให้สองฝ่ายยิ่งปะทะกันอีก แต่ก่อนจะไปรอนั้น.. ขอสรุปให้คิดกันแบบง่าย ๆ ว่า… ในโลกอันไร้ศูนย์กลางที่ต่างคนต่างตะโกนว่า “ฉันคือเจ้าของบิตคอยน์!” สุดท้าย *“ใครกันแน่เป็นผู้ตัดสินทิศทาง?”* หรือแท้จริง *“ชัยชนะ–ความพ่ายแพ้”* ก็ไม่มีอยู่จริงในสงครามแบบนี้... เอาจริง ๆ การตัดสินใจของไม่กี่คน หรือการร่วมตัวของยูสเซอร์กระจัดกระจาย ก็ล้วนมีสิทธิเปลี่ยนอนาคตของเงินดิจิทัลได้ทั้งสิ้น จึงเป็นเสน่ห์และความโกลาหลของ ***“decentralization”*** ที่น่าหลงใหล > ***ไม่มีใครสั่งใครได้เต็มร้อย แต่ก็ไม่มีใครจะหยุดคนอื่นได้หมดเช่นกัน***  เมื่อมองย้อนกลับไป.. นี่แหละเป็นบทเรียนสำคัญว่าบิตคอยน์ไม่ได้เป็นของใครคนเดียว และถ้าวันหนึ่งไฟสงครามลุกลามขึ้นอีกรอบ *เราทุกคนจะรับมือกันยังไง?* ตอนนี้สงครามอาจดูเงียบ ๆ แต่ก็ไม่ได้ปิดฉากสนิท เพราะคลื่นใต้น้ำยังพร้อมระอุขึ้นได้ตลอด เวลาเท่านั้นที่จะบอกว่า *SegWit* จะพิสูจน์ตัวเองได้ไหม หรือฝ่าย *Hard Fork* จะกลับมาโดดเด่นอีกครั้ง จึงมีแต่คำถามค้างคาว่า.. *อีกหน่อยบิตคอยน์จะยังเป็นบิตคอยน์ในแบบที่เรารู้จัก? หรือจะเปลี่ยนโฉมตามรอยแผลที่สงคราม Blocksize ทิ้งไว้?* คอยติดตามกันต่อไปในบทความตอนที่ 2 เพราะนี่อาจเป็นวัฏจักรที่ยังไม่รู้วันสิ้นสุดจริง ๆ ก็ได้ครับ...

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - The Lazarus Group's Cryptocurrency Holdings - A Significant Drop in Holdings - No Privacy Coins in Sight - Underreported Holdings? - Previous Attacks and Thefts - Warnings and Threats - Conclusion - FAQ In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, security breaches and cyber heists have become alarmingly common. One name that frequently emerges in relation to these digital thefts is the Lazarus Group. This North Korean hacking collective has been linked to a series of high-profile cyber-attacks, amassing a significant amount of cryptocurrency in the process. This article delves deep into the group's activities, their holdings, and the implications of their actions on the crypto world. **The Lazarus Group's Cryptocurrency Holdings** The Lazarus Group, originating from North Korea, has made headlines with its vast cryptocurrency holdings. Recent reports suggest that this hacking collective has a digital treasure chest worth around $47 million. Bitcoin, the most popular and valuable cryptocurrency, forms the bulk of their holdings, with an estimated value of $42.5 million. In addition to Bitcoin, the group has diversified its holdings with Ether (ETH) valued at $1.9 million, BNB (BNB) worth $1.1 million, and a mix of stablecoins, primarily Binance USD (BUSD), which amounts to approximately $640,000. **A Significant Drop in Holdings** While the current figures are staggering, there has been a noticeable decline in the Lazarus Group's cryptocurrency assets. Data indicates that their holdings were valued at $86 million as of September 6. This value plummeted in the aftermath of the Stake.com hack, an event that saw the Lazarus Group as a prime suspect. Dune Analytics, a data monitoring platform, has been keeping a close eye on the group's activities. They have identified 295 wallets associated with the Lazarus Group, information corroborated by agencies like the FBI and the OFAC. **No Privacy Coins in Sight** For a hacking group that thrives on anonymity, it's surprising to note the absence of privacy coins in their portfolio. Coins such as Monero (XMR), Dash (DASH), and Zcash (ZEC), known for their enhanced privacy features, are conspicuously missing from their holdings. However, this hasn't deterred the group from continuing their operations. Their crypto wallets, devoid of privacy coins, have seen consistent activity, with the latest transaction recorded on September 20. **Underreported Holdings?** The figures mentioned might just be the tip of the iceberg. According to 21.co, the Lazarus Group's actual cryptocurrency holdings could be much higher than what's currently reported. This assertion is based on the data available to the public, suggesting that the group might have undisclosed assets hidden away. **Previous Attacks and Thefts** The Lazarus Group's foray into the crypto world has been marked by a series of attacks and thefts. They were the masterminds behind the CoinEx exchange hack, which resulted in losses exceeding $55 million. Their nefarious activities don't end there. The FBI has linked them to other significant breaches, including those targeting Alphapo, CoinsPaid, and Atomic Wallet. These attacks, in 2023 alone, saw the group walking away with more than $200 million. However, there's a silver lining. Chainalysis reports indicate a decline in crypto thefts by hackers associated with North Korea, with an 80% drop recorded from 2022. **Warnings and Threats** The digital realm remains under the shadow of the Lazarus Group. Recent alerts from U.S. federal authorities have highlighted the group's potential to target critical sectors, including the U.S. healthcare and public health domains. These warnings underscore the group's capabilities and the persistent threat they pose. **Conclusion** The Lazarus Group's activities serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in the digital space. Their vast cryptocurrency holdings, accumulated through a series of hacks and breaches, highlight the need for enhanced security measures in the crypto world. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it's imperative for stakeholders to remain vigilant, ensuring that their assets are protected from such sophisticated threats. The story of the Lazarus Group is not just about a hacking collective's exploits but a call to action for the broader crypto community. **FAQ** **Who is the Lazarus Group?** The Lazarus Group is a North Korean hacking collective known for its high-profile cyber-attacks and significant cryptocurrency holdings. **How much cryptocurrency does the Lazarus Group hold?** The group is reported to have amassed around $47 million in cryptocurrency, with Bitcoin forming the majority of their holdings. **Were there any recent significant drops in their holdings?** Yes, their holdings saw a decline from $86 million as of September 6, especially after the Stake.com hack. **Does the Lazarus Group hold any privacy coins?** Surprisingly, the group does not hold any known privacy coins like Monero, Dash, or Zcash. **Have there been any warnings about the Lazarus Group's activities?** U.S. federal authorities have issued warnings about the group's potential to target sectors like U.S. healthcare and public health. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 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).*

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Lets explore three key aspects of Bitcoin technology to enhance your engagement with the ecosystem: 1. **Running an Alby Hub Cloud Instance** 2. **Setting Up a Nutshell Ecash Mint on an Affordable VPS** 3. **Integrating Nostr Wallet Connect for Seamless Tipping** These components empower users to manage transactions, ensure privacy, and facilitate smooth interactions within the Bitcoin and Nostr communities. ### 1. Running an Alby Hub Cloud Instance **Purpose and Benefits:** Alby Hub is a self-custodial Lightning wallet that allows you to manage Bitcoin transactions efficiently. By running an Alby Hub instance in the cloud, you gain 24/7 online access to receive payments via a Lightning address, integrate with various applications, and maintain control over your funds without the need for personal hardware. **Setting Up Alby Hub in the Cloud:** - **Choose Alby Cloud:** For a hassle-free setup, Alby offers a cloud service where you can start your own hub in just 2 minutes. [Give it A Try: Alby Cloud](https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/alby-account-and-browser-extension/alby-hub/alby-hub-flavors/alby-cloud) - **Subscription Benefits:** Subscribing to Alby Cloud provides you with a self-custodial Lightning wallet, 24/7 online access, exclusive partner deals, priority support, and access to a subscriber community. - [Self-custodial Lightning wallet](https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/alby-account-and-browser-extension/alby-hub/alby-hub-flavors/alby-cloud) - **Getting Started:** Visit the Alby Cloud page, select the subscription that suits you, and follow the guided setup process to have your hub up and running quickly. - [Alby Cloud page](https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/alby-account-and-browser-extension/alby-hub/alby-hub-flavors/alby-cloud) For a visual guide on setting up Alby Hub, you can watch the following tutorial: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Z1BzwxdP4I?si=__tSXaB-xm5JADhH" 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> ### 2. Setting Up a Nutshell Ecash Mint on an Affordable VPS **Purpose and Benefits:** Nutshell is an implementation of Ecash, a digital cash system that prioritizes privacy and anonymity. Setting up a Nutshell Ecash mint on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) allows you to operate your own mint, enhancing transaction privacy and providing a backup system for your Bitcoin transactions. **Setting Up on a $5 VPS:** - **Select a VPS Provider:** Choose an affordable VPS provider that supports Bitcoin and Nostr communities. For instance, SatoshiHost offers VPS services tailored for such needs. - **Install Nutshell:** After setting up your VPS, install the Nutshell software by following the official installation guide. - [Nutshell](https://github.com/cashubtc/nutshell) - [Full Cashu Implementation](https://github.com/cashubtc) - **Configure the Mint:** Set up the mint parameters, including denomination and security settings, to suit your requirements. - **Secure the Server:** Implement security measures such as firewalls and regular updates to protect your mint from potential threats. - [Recommendations](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/recommended-security-measures-to-protect-your-servers) - [Server Tips](https://dev.to/josiepeterson/50-essential-linux-server-security-hardening-tips-5fg4) ### 3. Integrating Nostr Wallet Connect for Seamless Tipping **Purpose and Benefits:** Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) is an open protocol that enables applications to interact with Bitcoin Lightning wallets. Integrating NWC allows for seamless tipping and payments within Nostr apps, enhancing user experience and promoting engagement. **Integration Steps:** - **Choose a Supporting App:** Select a Nostr app that supports NWC, such as [Amythyst](https://github.com/vitorpamplona/amethyst)or [Damus](https://damus.io/). - **Connect Your Wallet:** Use NWC to link your preferred Lightning wallet to the Nostr app. This connection facilitates seamless payments without the need to switch between applications. - **Test the Integration:** Perform a test transaction to ensure that the tipping functionality works as intended. - **Maintain Security:** Regularly update your wallet and Nostr app to incorporate the latest security features and improvements. For a deeper understanding of Nostr Wallet Connect and its significance, you can watch the following discussion: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/53huU8mg2eo?si=yZnGQ83EPyjQ4tpw" 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> ### Final Thoughts On Setup Implementing these components enhances your interaction with the Bitcoin ecosystem by providing efficient transaction management, improved privacy, and seamless integration with Nostr applications. By running an Alby Hub cloud instance, setting up a Nutshell Ecash mint on an affordable VPS, and integrating Nostr Wallet Connect, you contribute to a more robust and user-friendly Bitcoin environment. ### Invitation for Feedback I encourage you to share any questions or feedback regarding these topics. Let's continue the conversation to explore how we can further engage with and improve upon these technologies.

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I didn’t have much at stake this weekend, only my home picking pool — I finished second this week, so no $70 payout — and not becoming a buyer in the Steak League. Jonnu Smith did just enough in the late games to keep me in fifth place out of eight, which is self-buyer status, perfect if I don’t make it back to LA this summer. The reason you want to be the self-buyer if you don’t show for the dinner is you neither have to pay, nor do you let one of the NLMs who should have had to foot your tab off the hook! If I go to LA, I’ll be happy to pay for my own steak. I also went 4-1 ATS in Circa to finish at 48-41-1, not nearly good enough to cash, but at least respectable. - I laid the 18 with the Ravens, and it was easy. DTR is the worst QB of all time, and Bailey Zappe is maybe the 60th best in the league. Rashod Bateman came through big time for me in Steak and will be important if Zay Flowers isn’t ready for the playoffs. - I would give Lamar Jackson the MVP — his numbers are off the charts (8.8 YPA, 41:4 TD/INT, 915 rushing yards, 6.6 YPC) — and the Ravens are still the No. 3 seed. He led the league in YPA and YPC! But it’s Josh Allen’s “turn”, and his teammates weren’t as good, so he’ll probably win. - Derrick Henry led all RBs with 5.9 YPC on 325 carries including short yardage. He just turned 31 the other day too. - It’s too bad the Bengals missed the playoffs. A bad call Week 1 against the Pats cost them that game (and my Survivor entry.) - Ja’Marr Chase had a fantasy season for the ages — not just a triple crown, but one where he had a 12-175-4 lead over the second best performers in every category (ARSB, Justin Jefferson and Terry McLaurin, respectively.) - The Steelers have zero upside, even if they are ever-so-slightly dangerous to their division rival in Round 1. - The Bucs really struggled with a garbage Saints team. I didn’t think they’d have to force-feed Mike Evans the record and his bonus at the minute risk of nuking their season, but they did. - The Eagles backups were better than the Giants starters, who knew? Malik Nabers had 109 catches in 15 games with garbage QB play. He’s a first-rounder next year. - The Giants get the No. 3 pick which is great because they might avoid the QB minefield and get Travis Hunter. - Someone made a good point about Saquon Barkley potentially getting the rushing record in 17 games — he’d still have done it in fewer carries than Eric Dickerson. Moot point, obviously. - Think the Broncos have a puncher’s chance against the Bills. - Jonathan Taylor sure had some big games after his fantasy owners were eliminated from the playoffs. He’ll go in the second round again next year. - Josh Downs has 100-catch upside if he stays healthy and the Colts get passable QB play. Not sure what they’ll do with Anthony Richardson though — maybe going down the Trey Lance career path. - Brian Thomas is going early to mid-second round next year, and I’ll be in. - Circa Survivor had some insane sweats with the Packers and Falcons. Ten people out of 18 went down on those two games. The Packers one was especially bad as the Bears had it locked up, fumbled, got the Packers a miracle reprieve, only to win the game on their own last-second 50-plus FG. - I guess the Packers went all-out because they really didn’t want to have to play in Philly next week, but now Jordan Love is banged up, Christian Watson tore his ACL and they’re going to Philly anyway. - Bryce Young made one of the biggest comebacks I’ve ever seen. To be as bad as he was his rookie year, then so bad his second year he lost his job to Andy Dalton, only to finish this strong is amazing. The Panthers probably would still prefer C.J. Stroud, but it’s much less egregious than it was. - Bijan Robinson had one of the quietest monster RB years I can remember. He was a quasi-bust at cost early on but finished with 61 catches, 15 TDs and 1,887 YFS. - I didn’t see much of 12-inch, but the Falcons put up 38 points, and Drake London went off. London will go late first-early second again next year. - Of course Kyler Murray has his monster game when it doesn’t matter. Actually, I was going against him in Steak, and the guy behind me (Josh Ross) nearly caught me for self-buyer, so it almost mattered. - I nearly cost myself steak by starting Aaron Rodgers over Joe Flacco last week, and this week I started Flacco. Lineup setting is the worst part of fantasy football — you will be wrong at least 40 percent of the time when it’s close. I think the Dolphins were No. 1 in stinginess against opposing fantasy QBs too. - I’m happy Rodgers likely finished his career with a good game and a win. People can ding him for his personality, but the signal is he stood up to unimaginable vitriol and hate and did the right thing for his health. He makes for a 10x better role model than the “class-acts” who complied. - Jonnu Smith was such a beast for me in the second half of the year. He’s got to be a top-five TE on next year’s boards as he always showed flashes of this, and Tyreek Hill isn’t getting any younger. - The Rams host the Vikings instead of the Killer Redskins as a result of their loss. That sounds bad, but given how poorly Sam Darnold played in the biggest game of the year and how the teams have suffered the subsequent week after playing the physical Lions, it might work out in their favor. The Rams are a sleeper in the NFC. - I thought the Chargers might rest people, but I was wrong. I guess playing the Texans rather than the Ravens is kind of a big deal. I was also going against Quentin Johnston in Steak, which only worked out for me because it’s half PPR, and he didn’t score. - Brock Bowers broke Malik Nabers’ briefly held rookie catch record. I probably wouldn’t take Bowers in Round 1, but there’s a case for it. - I had Wil Lutz in Steak, and I was pleading for the Broncos not to keep scoring TDs. Usually in blowouts, you get lots of FGs in the second half. - Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims are entertaining in Sean Payton’s offense. They’ll probably get crushed by the Bills, but if you’re Buffalo you’d rather draw the Texans or Steelers than a young team with this kind of energy. - Another reason I’m not buying in Steak is Ross started based Harrison Butker who missed his only kick and got a zero. - Remember all those midwits who said you always draft a QB early, and running backs don’t matter? The Lions took a washed up, unwanted Jared Goff, surrounded him with a first-round offensive tackle and running back and decisively secured the No. 1 seed depsite losing half their defense. - So much for Sam Darnold as a dark horse MVP. He couldn’t deal with the Lions pressure and didn’t see the field well. What a change in trajectory from last week. If the Rams knock out the Vikings, and Darnold plays poorly, who knows whether the Vikings will commit to him? - Gibbs is such a beast. He took a nasty hit early in that game too. - The Lions deserved the top seed. They were the best team in the NFL all year, lost a ton of defensive players to injury, but seem to be coming together again at the right time.

@ 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.

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

_Ingredients_ * 1 kg of pork roast with rind, such as shoulder or a lean belly * 1 bottle of beer, light or dark * chopped German-style mirepoix (best combination, for this recipe, includes celery root, carrot, red onion, and leeks) * salt, pepper, nutmeg * 1 diced garlic clove _Directions_ 1. Spread the vegetables on the bottom of the roasting pan. 2. Pour half the beer over the roast. (Drink the other half.) 3. Season the meat, to taste. 4. Roast the meat at 180 °C, until done (depends upon the weight of the roast). 5. Remove the meat from the oven, and wrap in aluminum foil. 6. Pour 2-3 cups of water into the roasting pan. 7. Pour/scrape everything from the pan into a sieve over a sauce pot. 8. Press the vegetables against the sieve, with the back of a spoon, to ensure that you get all that good dripping flavor into the sauce. 9. Defat the sauce with a grease separator, then pour it back into the pot. 10. Thicken the sauce, slightly (it should remain slightly watery, and not turn into a gravy), according to your usual method. 11. Open the foil and slice the roast. 12. Serve with the sauce.        

@ da19b5d2:1f6cbfaa

I hear it all the time. People want to save up X amount so they can retire. Apparently, it is this time and space we are all supposed to want to get to. But what does it mean? I hear things like I want to travel, I want to have free time to spend with family, I want to not have to work, I want to play golf, I want to buy some property. And what else? What next? For me, if I am not working on building or contributing something towards a vision, I feel like I have no purpose. What is a hu-man with no purpose? Where are we truly headed, perhaps it is a mirage. I think what we really want is freedom to work on the things we want to work on. Don't we all want a reason to get up in the morning? Don't we always want to have a goal in mind to work towards? What if you suddenly had financial freedom? How would you actually spend your days. Have you thought about what you would do in your 'retirement'? Obviously this is a very personal question. I want to hear what people are passionate about making happen in their future. And if we are making things happen, are we really re-tired or are we just finally free? Why would want anyone to be tired again? 😉 Thank you for reading and commenting. 💚

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

In our hyper-connected world, we are constantly bombarded with information — news of tragedies, celebrity gossip, and societal controversies — all delivered to us in real-time, whether we ask for it or not. **But here’s a profound truth: If you don’t know about it, it doesn’t matter to you. It’s almost like it doesn’t even happen!** This isn’t about apathy or ignoring the suffering of others. It’s about recognizing that our minds and hearts have limits. There’s only so much we can hold, care for, or act upon before it all becomes noise. And when we step back and filter out what truly matters to us, we find a liberating sense of peace. In our hyper-connected world, we are constantly bombarded with information — news of tragedies, celebrity gossip, and societal controversies — all delivered to us in real-time, whether we ask for it or not. # **When Knowing is a Burden** Consider this: if a bus full of strangers tragically ran off a cliff halfway around the world, it’s undeniably sad. But if you never heard about it, would it affect your day, your thoughts, or your actions? It wouldn’t. Not because you’re heartless but because it’s not within your sphere of influence or awareness. Similarly, when a celebrity you barely know goes through a messy divorce, why does that need to occupy your thoughts? If you never knew about it, it would make no difference in your life. And yet, the world shouts these details at us, demanding our attention for things that often have no real bearing on our existence. # **The Cost of Knowing Too Much** Knowing everything that happens everywhere comes with a cost: - **Emotional Overload**\ The human mind isn’t designed to process the pain, suffering, or drama of millions of people at once. Constant exposure to these stories can lead to anxiety, sadness, or even a sense of helplessness. - **Loss of Focus**\ The more attention we give to distant events or irrelevant gossip, the less energy we have for the people and moments that truly matter in our own lives. - **Manufactured Cravings**\ Advertisements and media feed us desires we didn’t have before. A new product, a luxurious vacation, or a perfect lifestyle — all things you might not have craved if you hadn’t been shown them. # **The Beauty of Not Knowing** When you step away from the constant influx of information, you create space to focus on what’s real and meaningful in your life. - **Your family and close friends.** Their joys and struggles are the ones you can genuinely care about and impact. - **Your passions and goals.** These deserve your full attention, free from unnecessary distractions. - **Your mental peace.** Without the noise, you can think clearly, feel deeply, and live authentically. # **What Truly Matters?** Not knowing isn’t about closing your eyes to the world. It’s about understanding the difference between what’s important and what’s irrelevant. It’s a practice of asking yourself: - Does this affect me or the people I love? - Can I do anything meaningful about this? - Will knowing this bring me peace, joy, or purpose? - Will BUYING this bring me peace, joy or purpose? If the answer is no, it’s okay to let it go. # **Living in Your Sphere of Influence** Focusing on what you can control and care for has immense power. Your energy has the most impact in your sphere of influence—the people, places, and things you interact with directly. By letting go of what lies outside that sphere, you free yourself from unnecessary burdens and find deeper joy in the things that truly matter. # **A New Year’s Challenge** This year, challenge yourself to embrace the art of *not knowing.* - **Curate your inputs:** Limit news consumption to what directly affects you. - **Mute the noise:** Avoid gossip, sensational headlines, and irrelevant drama. - **Stay present:** Focus on the people and moments around you. In doing so, you’ll find not only peace but also the clarity to live a life driven by your own values and priorities — not the ever-changing noise of the world. # **The Freedom of Letting Go** When you embrace the profound truth that *if you don’t know about it, it doesn’t matter to you,* you unlock a freedom that few ever experience. You stop carrying the weight of the world’s chaos and instead focus on the beauty, joy, and love within your own life. This year, let’s make peace with not knowing — and in doing so, rediscover what truly matters. # **Breaking Free from the Cycle of Consumerism** Consumerism isn’t just about buying things — it’s about the constant hunger for more. More stuff, more information, more experiences. It thrives on the idea that what you have and who you are isn’t enough, and it manipulates you into believing that fulfillment lies just one purchase or experience away. But here’s the truth: the cycle of consumerism isn’t designed to fulfill you — it’s designed to keep you chasing. If we want to find peace with not knowing, we must also confront the role consumerism plays in feeding our dissatisfaction and overstimulation. # **The Problem with Consumerism** Consumerism is fueled by two main forces: - **Artificial Wants:** Advertising and media don’t just sell products; they sell dissatisfaction. They show you a life that seems better than yours and make you believe that buying their product will bridge the gap. - **Overexposure:** The constant influx of social media, news, and targeted ads ensures you’re always aware of what you *don’t* have, subtly making you feel inadequate or left out. - The result? A world where happiness feels like it’s always just out of reach — an exhausting race that benefits corporations far more than individuals. # **The Cost of Consumerism** The cycle of consumerism doesn’t just drain your wallet; it also takes a toll on your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being: - **Mental Overload:** Constant exposure to new products and ideas creates decision fatigue and anxiety. - **Emotional Burnout:** Comparing your life to idealized versions portrayed in ads or social media can lead to dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. - **Spiritual Disconnect:** Consumerism shifts your focus away from meaningful relationships, personal growth, and spiritual fulfillment, tethering your joy to material possessions. # **Combatting Consumerism: A Game Plan for Freedom** Breaking free from consumerism requires intentional effort, but it’s deeply rewarding. Here’s a game plan to start: ## **1. Detox Your Inputs** - **Unfollow Excess:** Reduce your exposure to ads and influencers who push a lifestyle of constant consumption. - **Limit Social Media:** Spend less time scrolling through content designed to spark envy or desire. - **Set Boundaries:** Avoid shopping as a pastime or browsing “just to look.” ## **2. Shift Your Mindset** - **Practice Gratitude:** Focus on what you already have, not what you lack. - **Redefine Success:** Measure your life by relationships, growth, and experiences, not possessions. - **Adopt Minimalism:** Learn to appreciate simplicity and find joy in having less. ## **3. Choose Quality Over Quantity** - **Invest in Essentials:** Buy fewer items, but prioritize durability and quality. - **Focus on Experiences:** Spend on memories, not material things. - **Be Mindful of Upgrades:** Don’t replace what’s working fine just because something new is available. ## **4. Build Intentional Habits** - **Wait Before Buying:** Give yourself 24 hours to think before making any purchase. - **Create a Wishlist:** Write down non-essential items you want. Review the list monthly to see if you still want them. - **Track Spending:** Be aware of where your money goes, and prioritize needs over wants. ## **5. Engage with Your Community** - **Support Local:** Choose local businesses and artisans over big corporations. - **Focus on Relationships:** Invest time in people, not possessions. - **Participate in Sharing Economies:** Borrow, lend, and swap items with neighbors or friends instead of buying. # **Living a Life of Intentional Simplicity** This is food for thought and I promise you it is a battle at this point. It will be difficult but you must gain back control of your own thoughts, desires etc… Take care and God bless!

@ 000002de:c05780a7

I've been watching old movies and documentaries over the last month and last night my lady and I watched "You Can't Take it with You" which I'd never seen. I really enjoyed it. [Here's a clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n03_MvqaN4&pp) where the grandpa in the story declares to the IRS man that he doesn't believe in taxes. Its a thing of beauty. Here's some of the dialog. Wilbur G. Henderson, IRS Agent : Now, Mr. Vanderhoff, that's a very serious thing, not filing an income tax return. Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff : Now, suppose I do pay you this money; mind you, I don't say that I'm going to, but, just for the sake of argument; what's the government going to do with it? Wilbur G. Henderson, IRS Agent : What do you mean? Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff : Well, what do I get for my money? For instance, if I go into a department store and buy something, why, there it is! I can see it. Well, what are they gonna give me? Wilbur G. Henderson, IRS Agent : Why the government gives you everything! It protects you! Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff : From what? Wilbur G. Henderson, IRS Agent : Well, invasion! How do you think the government's gonna keep up the army and navy with all those battleships? Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff : Battleships? The last time we used battleships was in the Spanish-American War. And what did we get out of that? Cuba - and we gave that back. Why, I wouldn't mind paying for something sensible. Wilbur G. Henderson, IRS Agent : Something sensible? What about Congress and the Supreme Court and the President? We gotta pay them, don't we? Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff : Not with my money! No, sir. You can watch the whole film for free on YouTube. The movie has some other good moments where is demonstrates how bankers pull strings and manipulate the economy, law enforcement, and politics. Most of all I love the free spirit of the family. Sadly this is a film you wouldn't see made today. At least not without more overt Marxist propaganda. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/839559

@ 8f69ac99:4f92f5fd

Os humanos evoluíram para contar maçãs, não estrelas. Estamos programados para compreender números pequenos e tangíveis com facilidade, mas, no momento em que atingimos centenas ou milhares, os nossos cérebros começam a ter dificuldades. Esta limitação desempenha um papel significativo na fricção que as pessoas sentem ao tentar compreender Bitcoin, desde os seus fundamentos de segurança até ao seu sistema monetário. A natureza abstracta de Bitcoin é construída sobre conceitos matemáticos complexos, incluindo criptografia e números grandes. No entanto, estes elementos podem ser esmagadores para muitos potenciais utilizadores, investidores e até especialistas. Neste artigo, vamos explorar porque é que os humanos têm dificuldade com números grandes e como esta limitação afecta a nossa compreensão de Bitcoin. --- ## **Porque é que os humanos têm dificuldade com números grandes** O nosso cérebro está programado para pensar de forma linear e processar números pequenos com facilidade. No entanto, quando se trata de números grandes, tudo começa a parecer confuso. Limitações evolutivas significam que fomos desenvolvidos para contar maçãs, não estrelas. Para além de algumas dezenas, os números começam a parecer "muitos" em vez de quantidades específicas. Por exemplo, considere o número de chaves privadas possíveis em Bitcoin. Com 256 bits usados para encriptação, isto traduz-se em aproximadamente ```$$2^{256}$$``` chaves *únicas*. Embora este número seja impressionante, a maioria das pessoas tem dificuldade em compreender a sua enormidade. Para colocar em perspectiva: - Existem mais átomos no universo observável do que grãos de areia em **todas as praias da Terra**. Além disso, o nosso cérebro frequentemente luta para entender fenómenos exponenciais, que desempenham um papel crucial no sucesso de Bitcoin. O crescimento da população mundial ou o número de *hashes* efectuados por segundo pelos mineradores de Bitcoin podem parecer incompreensíveis devido à sua natureza rápida. Finalmente, a falta de pontos de referência do dia a dia dificulta a compreensão de conceitos complexos como chaves privadas e *hashrate*. Por exemplo, dizer "100 biliões" pode significar algo para si, mas decompor isso em números mais pequenos e manejáveis é uma história completamente diferente. --- **A História do Tabuleiro de Xadrez e o Grão de Arroz** - uma pequena explicação didáctica sobre exponenciais. Certa vez, um matemático indiano inventou o jogo de xadrez e apresentou-o ao rei local (frequentemente chamado de Maharaja). O rei ficou tão impressionado com o jogo que ofereceu recompensar o matemático com qualquer coisa que ele desejasse. O matemático humildemente pediu um único grão de arroz para ser colocado na primeira casa do tabuleiro de xadrez, e que a quantidade de arroz fosse duplicada em cada casa seguinte. O rei, pensando que este era um pedido modesto, concordou imediatamente. O processo começou: - **1 grão** na primeira casa, - **2 grãos** na segunda, - **4 grãos** na terceira, - **8 grãos** na quarta, e assim por diante. Mas, à medida que avançavam, os números começaram a crescer rapidamente. Na 20.ª casa, já eram necessários mais de **1 milhão de grãos de arroz**. Na 40.ª casa, o total ultrapassava **1 bilião de grãos**. Na 64.ª e última casa, o total era um espantoso **18 quintiliões de grãos de arroz** (```$$2^{64} - 1$$```). Esta quantidade era tão vasta que exigiria mais arroz do que poderia ser cultivado na Terra naquela época. O rei, ao perceber que subestimara o pedido do matemático, foi forçado a admitir derrota ou, em algumas versões da história, puniu o matemático pela sua astúcia. --- ## **Bitcoin e Números Grandes: A Tecnologia Incompreendida** A complexidade de Bitcoin reside na sua dependência de criptografia e números imensos. Vamos explorar três áreas chave onde estes conceitos podem criar atrito. ### **A Segurança Incompreensível das Chaves Privadas** A segurança de Bitcoin assenta na escala absoluta do seu espaço de chaves privadas. Existem ```$$2^{256}$$``` chaves possíveis — um número tão grande que tentar adivinhar uma chave não é apenas improvável, é praticamente impossível. É como se lhe pedisse para adivinhar o número em que estou a pensar entre 1 e 115792089237316195423570985008687907853269984665640564039457584007913129639936! Para colocar isto em perspectiva: - Imagine que existem mais estrelas no universo observável do que grãos de areia nas praias da Terra. Mesmo que combinasse todos os grãos de areia e estrelas, o número resultante ainda seria inferior a \```$$2^{256}$$```. Esta escala impressionante garante a robustez da segurança criptográfica de Bitcoin, mas pode parecer esmagadora para os recém-chegados. ### **O Hashrate de 1 Zettahash/s** Recentemente, a mineração de Bitcoin ultrapassou a marca de 1 zettahash por segundo (```$$10^{21}$$``` hashes por segundo). Esta medida de poder computacional destaca a escala imensa da segurança da rede. Para ilustrar: - Imagine tentar adivinhar um número biliões de vezes por segundo, por pessoa, para todos os humanos na Terra. Mesmo com todo este esforço combinado, mal arranharíamos a superfície do actual *hashrate* de Bitcoin. Este poder computacional imenso é o que garante que, uma vez adicionada uma transacção à timechain (ou blockchain se preferir) de Bitcoin, seja praticamente impossível alterá-la. ### **A Barreira da Criptografia** A criptografia de curva elíptica, ECC, um elemento chave em Bitcoin, utiliza matemática avançada que pode parecer abstracta para não especialistas. Baseia-se em "funções unidireccionais," onde gerar uma chave pública a partir de uma chave privada é fácil, mas reverter o processo é quase impossível. O recente medo da computação quântica (apenas FUD), mostra bem esta segurança na matemática. O Willow, o computador da quântico da Google, com 105 qubits, resolveu um problema de benchmark em 5 minutos, que levaria a um super computador 10 septiliões de anos a resolver (mais tempo que a idade do universo, 13.8 mil milhões de anos). Para conseguir encontrar a chave privada a partir de uma chave publica, seriam necessários cerca de 124000 Willows para o fazer em 1 dia, ou cerca de 340 para o fazer em 1 ano. E mesmo assim, apenas os endereços mais antigos, P2PK (Pay to Public Key) estariam vulneráveis, os endereços P2PKH (Pay to Public Key Hash) tem mais um nível de segurança, o hash. O Willow teria que ter milhões ou milhares de milhões de qubits para conseguir descobrir uma chave privada a partir da chave publica. Não temos ainda tecnologia para isso... Para simplificar: - Pense nisso como uma fechadura que só pode ser aberta com uma chave única. Uma vez trancada, o processo é irreversível sem essa chave, proporcionando uma segurança incomparável. --- ## **O Obstáculo Psicológico: Viés de Unidade** Além dos aspectos técnicos, a psicologia desempenha um papel importante na forma como as pessoas percebem o valor, ou melhor o preço, de bitcoin. O viés da unidade — a tendência de preferir números inteiros — pode criar uma barreira emocional. ### **O Problema do "Preço Alto" de bitcoin** Ver o preço de bitcoin em dezenas (centenas?) de milhares de euros pode dissuadir potenciais investidores, que podem sentir que é demasiado caro ou inacessível. Esta percepção persiste, embora bitcoin possa ser dividido em unidades mais pequenas. ### **Satoshis como Solução** A menor unidade de bitcoin, o satoshi (1/100.000.000 BTC), oferece uma solução para este viés. Apresentar bitcoin em termos de satoshis permite pontos de preço mais compreensíveis. Por exemplo: - "1.000 sats custam €1,00" soa muito mais acessível do que "€100.000 por bitcoin." O uso de satoshis reformula o valor de bitcoin, facilitando a sua compreensão e acessibilidade. E sim, pode comprar €1,00 de bitcoin, ou até mesmo menos de €0,01! --- ## **Conclusão** A dificuldade com números grandes não é única de Bitcoin, mas a sua natureza digital e abstracta amplifica o desafio. Desde a escala incompreensível das chaves privadas até à enorme hashrate e ao obstáculo psicológico do viés de unidade, estas barreiras podem dificultar a compreensão e adopção. No entanto, ao: 1. Simplificar conceitos criptográficos, 2. Usar analogias compreensíveis, e 3. Promover os satoshis como unidade padrão, podemos tornar Bitcoin mais acessível para a pessoa comum. Assim como a sociedade aprendeu a abraçar a electricidade sem precisar entender os electrões, também podemos abraçar Bitcoin sem compreender completamente cada número por trás dele. #bitcoin #quantum --- _Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@grakozy?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Greg Rakozy</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-photography-of-person-oMpAz-DN-9I?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>_

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Apparently the Prime Clown in Canada is stepping down. Apparently the Orange Man beat the democrat machine. Are "we" winning? No. I've had the illness of following politics for most of my life. I have never been less invested but I continue to see people missing the point. Several years ago there was an effort in California to remove Gavin Newsom from office. They call it a recall in the state. When I hear people talk about Biden, or Newsom, or whoever you would think that all we need to do is vote the bum out and we are on the right path. That's way off. Trump's election isn't the goal but rather a sign of a minor shift in the culture and influence. A mistake I see over and over again is focusing on the personalities. The puppets. The men. As if they are the problem. The problems are so much deeper. It's the culture, the programming, and the puppet masters. The problems are upstream of politicians. Remove one and another will replace them. I don't so much care that Trump is less bad that Biden. Its that people make the mistake of focusing on the flag being blown by the wind than the wind itself. The politician is simply a result of many other more important factors. Politicians work under an incentive structure that rewards promising things they cannot deliver. Even things that are not possible. Their only accountability is the voters and donors. The donors get what they want and the voters usually are to uninformed or dumb to realize what is going on. When they do realize it the other team is so demonized they either stick with their team or just don't vote. The longer I look at democracy and the modern state the more absurd it appears to me. It's not that the men are bad or the government in power is bad. It's the whole incentive structure. There are almost no negative consequences pushing against this nonsense. I have heard it said that the default view of political figures should be that of the tobacco executives. Today I think it should be the view of the medical insurance CEOs. The default view. There are exceptions but they are rare and work in spite of the system. The solution is freedom and voluntary interaction. Removing the monopoly state. Remove the monopoly on violence. It would not be a utopia but IMO the incentives would be better. The culture we create and the choices we make each day are making an impact. Remember that the flag doesn't control the wind. The wind controls the flag. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/839442

@ e83b66a8:b0526c2b

To use American vernacular, ya’ll gonna hate on me, but back when Ledger announced their Stax, I ordered one for delivery in 3 months. Two years later, about 3 months ago, I finally received it. Because of their doxxing and seed grab policies I would no longer consider using it for any serious holdings, but my wife is starting to acquire her own stack of Bitcoin and so believing it was the iPOD of Bitcoin wallets, I gave it to her to use as her hardware wallet. Because she was new to self custody I had already setup the ledger and I sat with her while she tried to use it. She used her phone and the Ledger app to attempt to move Bitcoin from Revolut to the wallet. Nothing worked, nothing. The Ledger Stax needed updating, but would turn off in the middle of updating so would never finish, we gave up trying to do that. We then tried to obtain an address to receive funds to, it offer 4 types of Bitcoin wallets Legacy, Segwit, Native Segwit and Taproot. But it didn’t explain them at all, meaning you had no idea which was which. Then when it offered to verify the address the Stax got into a loop, which required me to do a physical reboot (long press power button). At last we managed to verify an address, but this wasn’t displayed on the Stax as a QR code, an unbelievably obvious reason for having a epaper screen, instead having to use the iPhone to copy and paste the address between the Ledger Live app and Revolut. When we did this, Revolut said there was an error with the address and to try again later. I know you’re all going to mock me for attempting to use the Stax, but I had assumed up until yesterday that it at least had a good UI. Boy, was I wrong

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

I'm putting some notes down, so I don't forget what happened in this game come podcast time. This is most people's anticipated NBA Finals match up. The Thunder are still without Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso, while the Celtics are fully intact. The game was neck and neck for a while. It felt more like a Celtic (game: slower, low intensity) and the Celtics did build a little lead that they held for a while. I was wondering why OKC wasn't playing with their normal defensive intensity and thinking they need to go back and watch how Miami was able to repeatedly dominate Boston in the playoffs. But then, OKC flipped the switch and were all over Boston: forcing turnovers, chase-down blocks, deflecting balls, etc. Final score: 105-92 OKC Takeaway: OKC is not the team Boston wants to play in the Finals originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/839260

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

It's officially the off-season for the Silver and Black. After several teams shot their draft position in the foot, the Raiders will be picking 6th. That's high enough to try to trade up for one of the QB's, but I expect it won't be easy to pry those picks away from Tennessee or Cleveland, nor will it be easy to leap frog the Giants. So, let's see who we can get at 6th. # Mock Draft 6th Pick: DT Mason Graham 37th Pick: QB Jalen Milroe 68th Pick: WR Elic Ayomanor 73rd Pick: OT Grey Zabel 107th Pick: RB TreVeyon Henderson 142nd Pick: CB Mello Dotson 179th Pick: OG Jaeden Roberts 212th Pick: S Dante Trader Jr 216th Pick: QB Will Howard 222nd Pick: DE Kaimon Rucker In lieu of a top QB, I'm going BPA with the first pick. The Raiders defensive line dramatically over-performed this season, considering the unbelievable injuries. Mason Graham will round out a line that also starts Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, and Malcolm Koonce/Tyree Wilson. I hope we can keep the interim D-line coach, because he's done a great job and unearthed some promising rotation level talent. For QB, I ended up going with the "heir and a spare" strategy. There's a lot of uncertainty around Milroe, so I took a flyer on the Ohio State QB in the 7th. The nice thing about having a competent high-end backup QB already is that drafting a day 1 starter isn't urgent. The Raiders can swing for the fences. Otherwise, the focus was upgrading the offense and filling in depth on defense. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/839218

@ 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.

@ 44189afb:b62f396c

# Changes ## Daniel D’Aquino (20): - Automated i18n file changes from npm run build - Add notedeck waitlist page - Refactor code into several smaller blocks - Add tab component - Add Nostr DM OTP support to Purple checkout - Purple welcome page - Add better troubleshooting to OTP auth - Fix subtle purple icon issue - Update navigation around the website - Improve checkout refresh stability - npm run i18n - Improve build process - Fix checkout and login for npubs devoid of a profile - Fix expired session token detection and automatic logout - Add Purple checkout maintenance mode option - Add nix-shell support - Notedeck alpha landing page and install instructions page - Storybook setup for development - Add Nostr note component - WIP 2024 review page ## William Casarin (2): - notedeck tweaks - 2024 damus wrapped ## ashleendaly (1): - fix good first link pushed to [damus.io:refs/heads/master](http://git.jb55.com/damus.io/commit/08e6fb2fc04a79e40147b754b379df0ad6887f82.html)

@ 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).*

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - The Anticipation of Bitcoin Halving - Progress Status: 85% Complete - Long-Term Holders and Their Influence - Analyzing the Supply Trends - What History Tells Us - Conclusion - FAQ In the dynamic world of cryptocurrency, certain events stand out as pivotal moments that can shape the trajectory of the market. One such event is the Bitcoin halving, a process that reduces the rewards for mining Bitcoin by half, effectively slowing down the rate at which new Bitcoins are created. As we approach the next halving, scheduled for mid-2024, there's a palpable sense of anticipation among investors and market watchers. This article delves into the current status of the halving process and examines the role of long-term holders in influencing market trends. **The Anticipation of Bitcoin Halving** The cryptocurrency market is on the brink of a significant phase. With the next Bitcoin halving anticipated in mid-2024, the event is garnering immense attention from investors. Historical patterns suggest that a full-fledged bull market might not commence until the following year. **Progress Status: 85% Complete** Recent data reveals that the Bitcoin halving process is 85% complete. Concurrently, the supply of Bitcoin held by long-term holders (LTHs) is nearing its all-time high (ATH). In past cycles, such a scenario indicated the proximity of a macro bottom, which was then succeeded by the onset of a new cycle. **Long-Term Holders and Their Influence** The amount of Bitcoin supply in the possession of long-term holders has traditionally served as a reliable gauge for the cryptocurrency market's health. This metric has shown an inverse correlation with Bitcoin's long-term price trajectory. During market lows, long-term hodlers tend to keep their assets stationary. The most significant surge in LTH possession typically transpires during intense bear markets. This is when steadfast investors, despite witnessing Bitcoin's price plummet, choose not to sell. Their conviction lies in the belief that the market will eventually recover, making their investments profitable. Conversely, during a bull market's unraveling, the spike in Bitcoin's price prompts LTHs to become increasingly inclined to sell their assets for profit. Historically, every major bull market has seen a sharp decline in the supply held by LTHs. This leads to the coins transitioning to short-term holders (STHs), who are motivated by quick profit prospects. **Analyzing the Supply Trends** A cryptocurrency analyst showcased a chart depicting the Bitcoin supply in the hands of long-term holders. The chart reveals that the current BTC supply ratio held by LTHs is nearing its ATH of 76%, a benchmark set in late 2015 before the second halving. Historically, this indicator peaked several months before each Bitcoin halving. Following this peak, the supply held by LTHs would typically plateau until several months post the subsequent halving. A significant drop in this metric was observed roughly six months after the event, marking the advent of a mature bull market. **What History Tells Us** If past patterns hold true, the cryptocurrency market might experience a sideways trend for approximately a year. The upcoming Bitcoin halving in mid-April 2024 might not have an immediate influence on Bitcoin's price. Its repercussions might only manifest in the last quarter of 2024 and continue into 2025. This forecast aligns with the trends observed in the supply chart of long-term holders. The indicator is on the verge of reaching its ATH and might require around 12 months to reverse its trajectory, transitioning into a distribution phase. The commencement of LTHs selling post the Bitcoin halving could be one of the early indicators of a budding cryptocurrency bull run. **Conclusion** The Bitcoin halving is more than just a technical event; it's a significant milestone that has historically influenced market dynamics and investor behavior. As we inch closer to the next halving, the role of long-term holders becomes increasingly crucial. Their actions, whether holding steadfastly or choosing to sell, can set the tone for the market's direction in the subsequent months. While history offers insights, the ever-evolving nature of the cryptocurrency landscape means that nothing is set in stone. Investors and enthusiasts alike should remain vigilant, informed, and prepared for the myriad possibilities the future holds. **FAQ** **When is the next Bitcoin halving expected?** The next Bitcoin halving is anticipated to occur in mid-2024. **How does the halving impact long-term holders?** Historically, as the halving approaches, the supply of Bitcoin held by long-term holders (LTHs) nears its all-time high, influencing market trends and price trajectories. **What does the current data suggest about the halving process?** Current data indicates that the Bitcoin halving process is 85% complete, with the supply held by LTHs nearing its all-time high. **How has Bitcoin halving influenced market dynamics in the past?** In previous cycles, the approach of a halving event signaled the proximity of a macro bottom, followed by the early phase of a new market cycle. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ da19b5d2:1f6cbfaa

he touches the sun she creates the ground he keeps her safe when no one's around without her he feels so unreal like a lightning bolt with no grounds to feel his shoulders are strong her hips are so sexy without both both just feel empty she moves like the moon while he stares at the ceiling this thing we call life ☯️ what a wonderful feeling -d☀️t🌓

@ 41fa852b:af7b7706

> "Bitcoin is the apex predator of money. It's eating fiat currencies, and there's nothing they can do to stop it."--Max Keiser * * * **Good morning bitcoiners, here we go with another full week of meetups.** Things are fully back up and running on Monday morning, so this coming week, we have a much healthier 10 meetups to look forward to. If you've been watching from the sidelines so far, 2025 is the year to get out there and get involved in the UK Bitcoin social scene. Here's your guide for this coming week… * * * [](https://bitcoinevents.uk/donate/) * * * _This week's sponsor is…_ [](https://www.orangepillapp.com/?utm_source=BEUK&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BEUK) * * * ### **Upcoming Bitcoin Meetups** Happening this week… 1. [**Bitcoin 101 at Cyphermunk House**](https://www.cyphermunkhouse.com/): Discover bitcoin wallets, nodes, privacy, and other key topicsr. The class is customised to ensure everyone is challenged. It's a 1.5-hour session on Tuesday 7th from 7 - 8:30 PM, please arrive ahead of time. 🔐 2. [**Canterbury Bitcoin**](https://www.meetup.com/Canterbury-Bitcoin-Meetup-Group): Meeting this month at the Millers Arms in Canterbury at 7 PM on Tuesday the 7th of January. An informal meetup to discuss Bitcoin and chat. 🍺 3. [**Belfast Bitcoin**](https://bitcoinevents.uk/belfast-bitcoin-meetup/): Join them on Tuesday the 7th January, 8pm. These guys meet in person monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at Ormeau Baths Event Space, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HS, Northern Ireland. 🍻 4. [**Glasgow Bitcoin**](https://meetu.ps/e/NKl92/v822r/i): Head along to The Piper Whisky Bar on Wednesday 8th January at 18:00. Newcomers are welcome to come along and meet some likeminded bitcoiners. 🍻 5. [**Bitcoin Beach Bournemouth**](nostr:npub1va3773umzrydk4vd0q2xsnjg8qrsym7up9j9agnzcxd8u398wulq6kpxey): Every second Thursday of the month at Chaplins Cellar Bar. 529 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, United. You'll find them in the Cogg Room at 19:30. This month it's the 9th. 🍻 6. [**Lincolnshire Bitcoin**](https://bitcoinevents.uk/lincolnshire-bitcoin/): Lincolnshire Bitcoin meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Treaty of Commerce, Lincoln. Open to all, from OG's to newcomers. This month on the 7th. 🍺 7. [**Bitcoin Educators Academy**](https://www.amityage.com/bea): A unique 3-days "Train the trainers" style academy in Edinburgh, for Bitcoiners who already are or want to become Bitcoin Educators for their communities. It starts on Friday the 10th and runs to the 12th. 📚👨🏻‍🏫👨🏽‍🎓 8. [**Northants Bitcoin Walk**](nostr:npub162sttkc2cl86z2dywp0yznq8vy4prlcgasqg2raqeeftnectlg6q43hnz7): This month the Northants Walk will start at [Crustys Cafe](https://x.com/crustyscafe) 11:00, with a walk around the historic village of Finedon and back to the bitcoin accepting cafe for refreshments afterwards. 🚶🚶🏻‍♀️🚶‍♂️ 9. [**Bitcoin Walk - Edinburgh**](https://bitcoinevents.uk/bitcoinwalk/): Every Saturday they walk around Arthur's Seat in this historic city. Join them at 12 pm to chat about all things Bitcoin and keep fit. 🚶🚶🏻‍♀️🚶‍♂️ 10. [**Wiltshire BTC**](https://x.com/wiltshirebtc/status/1869451994064421256): Meeting at [The Stonehenge Inn](https://thestonehengeinn.co.uk/) at 18:00 on Saturday 11th January. Bitcoin accepted at the venue. 🍻 * * * ### **Upcoming Special Events** This event isn't happening this week, but it's important to add to your calendar now as tickets are selling fast. - **[Bitcoin Builders Workshop](https://x.com/northantsbtc/status/1871204189801677221)**: Corby based engineering company BTC Citadel are hosting an afternoon of Bitcoin building and chat. Build that project you've been thinking about but didn't know how to start. Come and use high-end 3D printers, 3D scanners, electronics lab and the CNC laser engraver. Everyone welcome, no technical ability needed. Learn how to build a Seedsigner. Refreshments provided for this free event. [](https://x.com/NorthantsBTC/status/1871204189801677221) * * * **Get Involved** - **Volunteer Opportunities**: [Bridge2Bitcoin](https://bridge2bitcoin.com/) is actively seeking volunteers who share our passion for merchant adoption. We'd be delighted to connect if you're eager to contribute. Reach out to us on [Twitter](https://x.com/bridge2bitcoin) or through our [website](https://bridge2bitcoin.com/). - **Start Your Own Meetup**: Interested in launching a Bitcoin meetup? We're here to support you every step of the way. We've assisted numerous UK Bitcoin meetups in getting started. Get in touch via [Twitter](https://x.com/bitcoineventsuk). - **[Contribute to BTCMaps](https://wiki.btcmap.org/general/tagging-instructions.html)**: BTCMaps is a vital part of the Bitcoin ecosystem. It's a perfect project to get involved with if you're not a coder or even that technical. A great way to give back to the community. Maintain an area of the UK and keep it up-to-date. - **Telegram users**: You might find our [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/BitcoinEventsUKHub) another useful way to keep up-to-date with UK meetups. - **Feedback and Suggestions**: We value your input! Share your ideas on how we can enhance this newsletter. * * * _This week's sponsors are…_ [](https://orangecoinstore.com/) [](https://lasereyes.cards/skins/leather-bitcoin-skin/) * * * Get out and support the meetups where you can, visit [Bitcoin Events UK](https://bitcoinevents.uk/) for more info on each meetup and to find your closest on the interactive map. Stay tuned for more updates next week! Simon. [](https://bitcoinevents.uk/donate/)

@ 3f770d65:7a745b24

New Year’s resolutions often feel boring and repetitive. Most revolve around getting in shape, eating healthier, or giving up alcohol. While the idea is interesting—using the start of a new calendar year as a catalyst for change—it also seems unnecessary. Why wait for a specific date to make a change? If you want to improve something in your life, you can just do it. You don’t need an excuse. That’s why I’ve never been drawn to the idea of making a list of resolutions. If I wanted a change, I’d make it happen, without worrying about the calendar. At least, that’s how I felt until now—when, for once, the timing actually gave me a real reason to embrace the idea of New Year’s resolutions. Enter [Olas](https://olas.app). If you're a visual creator, you've likely experienced the relentless grind of building a following on platforms like Instagram—endless doomscrolling, ever-changing algorithms, and the constant pressure to stay relevant. But what if there was a better way? Olas is a Nostr-powered alternative to Instagram that prioritizes community, creativity, and value-for-value exchanges. It's a game changer. Instagram’s failings are well-known. Its algorithm often dictates whose content gets seen, leaving creators frustrated and powerless. Monetization hurdles further alienate creators who are forced to meet arbitrary follower thresholds before earning anything. Additionally, the platform’s design fosters endless comparisons and exposure to negativity, which can take a significant toll on mental health. Instagram’s algorithms are notorious for keeping users hooked, often at the cost of their mental health. I've spoken about this extensively, most recently at Nostr Valley, explaining how legacy social media is bad for you. You might find yourself scrolling through content that leaves you feeling anxious or drained. Olas takes a fresh approach, replacing "doomscrolling" with "bloomscrolling." This is a common theme across the Nostr ecosystem. The lack of addictive rage algorithms allows the focus to shift to uplifting, positive content that inspires rather than exhausts. Monetization is another area where Olas will set itself apart. On Instagram, creators face arbitrary barriers to earning—needing thousands of followers and adhering to restrictive platform rules. Olas eliminates these hurdles by leveraging the Nostr protocol, enabling creators to earn directly through value-for-value exchanges. Fans can support their favorite artists instantly, with no delays or approvals required. The plan is to enable a brand new Olas account that can get paid instantly, with zero followers - that's wild. Olas addresses these issues head-on. Operating on the open Nostr protocol, it removes centralized control over one's content’s reach or one's ability to monetize. With transparent, configurable algorithms, and a community that thrives on mutual support, Olas creates an environment where creators can grow and succeed without unnecessary barriers. Join me on my New Year's resolution. Join me on Olas and take part in the [#Olas365](https://olas.app/search/olas365) challenge! It’s a simple yet exciting way to share your content. The challenge is straightforward: post at least one photo per day on Olas (though you’re welcome to share more!). [Download on iOS](https://testflight.apple.com/join/2FMVX2yM). [Download on Android](https://github.com/pablof7z/olas/releases/) or download via Zapstore. Let's make waves together.

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

Hey Freaks, Another round of songs I've been listening to lately. Un Sospiro slaps. Wind Tunnel hits me in the childhood. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=50A-Mssm6w8&si=OFa8UA-0o71k4ETK https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=eMnxjdGTK4w&si=STFc4APblXLEp1Ig https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RpsN6b95DAQ&si=ixMQY5ZnyuPeum2O https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=W91-jAQ2ijM&si=MhluAXuU1v_a86yW https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=LMAhXhRsRXA&si=jo-UPFILXvZd8pS7 https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=53FDkWb7Mv4&si=lp4ikhtx39UqHzSA https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=rrYMiAoGnVg&si=ya0qnGtbwCdyQ676 https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk9Xwj0mnsI&si=OFMyBaXSO-Jyufxl https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=057A1RdssoU&si=4lueg4C8Y3ac3LCE https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ghxzLw2wRis&si=wjgwjaPOJwo6-Cu2 https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmYfnnK_Qs5hOiZazXiwEoCdg1RiUvBBv&si=X4opO4goVt2K1T4D Thanks, Hustle originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/838006

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

Maybe it’s because I watched [The Omen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDHisWRsE98) at way too young an age, or maybe it’s because the Book of Revelation’s “mark of the beast” allegory is playing out too literally for my tastes, but having already written about the [Second Coming](https://www.chrisliss.com/the_second_coming), it only follows I should speculate as to its counterpart. As I mentioned in [The Second Coming](https://www.chrisliss.com/the_second_coming), it’s dangerous to take the myths from our ancestors too literally. They used the symbols of their times, and we should be careful not to confuse the mental maps they had of their world with reality itself. That said, we should also not be dismissive — Mozart didn’t have fancy music editing software, but his genius using the modalities of the time was real. To the extent our forebears offered us their wisdom about the nature of man and forces within him we should endeavor to understand it. The technology and the symbols may have changed, but our essential nature is ever the same. Just as the second coming of Christ would free man from tyranny, the Antichrist would be its imposition. And just as I speculated that Jesus might not return in the form of a person, it’s likely neither would his counterpart. But if Satoshi, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, can be the face, so to speak, representing the movement toward freedom and God, who and what would represent its antithesis? Let’s speculate. It would have to be someone charismatic, a person the multitudes would want to follow and in whom to look for reassurance. That eliminates villains du jour like Bill Gates, Klaus Schwab and Vladimir Putin. If that’s who Satan is sending, he’s not sending his best. What about Donald Trump? More charismatic, much more popular appeal. He’s a better choice than the first group, but while street-smart, he lacks refined intelligence and is too despised by wide swaths of the population. He’s also probably too old. For a while, I would have said Barack Obama was the best candidate, and even some hard-core right wingers agreed (it’s hilarious that this [claim was actually fact-checked](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/anti-maim/)! — you can’t fact-check whether someone is the Antichrist!) Obama was relatively young, vital enough, popular, charismatic and intelligent. But he’s faded from view the last few years and has been a surprisingly inconsequential former president. That leaves one person of whom I can think with the qualities and societal position to fill the role. Regrettably it’s someone I like, but of course I would like the Antichrist! If he weren’t likable he wouldn’t be the Antichrist. That person is Elon Musk. Musk is the richest person in the world, among the most followed on Twitter, has a borderline worshipful fanbase and big plans for improving humanity. Musk is young enough, he’s probably a genius and considering a private takeover of arguably the world’s most important communications network. He’s also a big player in satellites, energy, transportation and [internet provision](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1530234643219243009?s=20&t=olDDLEAUBFhreDIltCPkkQ). Musk says lots of sensible things with which I agree about free speech and rights. He is the perfect foil to the [out-of-central-casting](https://unlimitedhangout.com/2021/02/investigative-reports/schwab-family-values/) Schwab supervillain. As Edward Dowd speculated: But, you might object, if Musk is the foil to Schwab’s terrible ideas, isn’t that good for humanity? How could the Antichrist be for [free speech](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1519036983137509376?s=20&t=olDDLEAUBFhreDIltCPkkQ), [renewable energy](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1532030554778087424?s=20&t=olDDLEAUBFhreDIltCPkkQ), [population expansion](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1529193812949614594?s=20&t=PIRRovWYIIUSQY5Uw7dFpw)? Again, of course, the Antichrist is going to have good, sensible ideas! But as Marshall McLuhan said, “[The medium is the message](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/marshall_mcluhan_157742).” Or, more aptly, the top-down messianic complex is the message. Musk has [long discussed saving humanity](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1533410745429413888?s=20&t=gTsO-6ltAFVOs4SJP-VmpQ) via expansion into space and sustainable energy. But in order to save humanity, one must exert some control over it. While Musk’s Twitter takeover from the [ineffectual woke scolds](https://nypost.com/2022/05/18/good-riddance-to-the-ministry-of-truth-nina-jankowicz/) is getting most of the press, [this is also going on](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-says-neuralinks-brain-155733754.html): Klaus Schwab’s pitch to own nothing and eat bugs is weak, but Musk, via brain implant, could potentially create a more satisfying virtual experience than most could hope to achieve in reality. And what could be more tantamount to complete control than letting someone else get the keys to the very organ of perception itself?  Well don’t get the implant then. Just get in your Tesla and drive away. But electric cars don’t work that way — they are attached to the grid, trackable and capable of [being shut down remotely](https://tekdeeps.com/elon-musk-is-being-pressured-to-shut-down-tesla-cars-in-russia/). And that’s before we consider driverless cars in which there would be even less privacy and autonomy. Moreover, Teslas [track the driver’s movements](https://www.carscoops.com/2020/10/tesla-model-3s-interior-camera-tracking-eye-and-head-movement/) already to an extent combustion-engine cars do not, ostensibly to inform the developing AI, but uses for technology evolve over time — sending email and paying bills over the internet was commonplace in 2000, but now people are micro-tracked by Facebook and Google. One could object that Musk has, to-date, used his influence for good. But that makes it no less dangerous to entrust him with so much power: J.R.R. Tolkien understood this clearly: *“You are wise and powerful. Will you not take the Ring?”* *“No!” cried Gandalf, springing to his feet. “With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly.” His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within. “Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me.”* *-- The Lord of the Rings* Beyond [Neuralink](https://neuralink.com/), Musk also seems to have a strong utilitarian bent: In this [paper](https://www.nickbostrom.com/astronomical/waste.html) Nick Bostrom makes the case that delaying technological advancement could cost humanity astronomical amounts of well-being because every moment we delay, stars are burning out, useful energy is being sucked into black holes, irreversible entropy is happening apace, depriving us of future potential. Bostrom translates it into potential human lives lost (or more aptly, never having been born) on account of this permanent loss. While Bostrom’s framework seems benign — who is against collective human happiness in the form of more worthwhile lives? — it’s actually a form of utilitarianism that tries to sum the totality of human happiness over the entire species rather than to consider, as Immanuel Kant would, [each individual as an end in himself](https://assets.cambridge.org/97811070/08519/frontmatter/9781107008519_frontmatter.pdf). This viewing of the collective good as the optimal outcome has been used to justify many of history’s worst atrocities. To create a master race, to make sure everyone gets the same amount, to protect the world from covid, we must do whatever it takes! If, per Bostrom’s math, one harnessed black hole were worth quadrillions of lives, it would, for example, seem an easy call to sacrifice a bunch of selfish losers on earth who stood in the way of creating the technology for doing so. Utilitarianism, ironically, winds up failing miserably by its own metric because (a) it can so easily be manipulated by whoever is maintaining the “greater good” spread sheet, which just happens to coincide with one’s ambitions; and (b) because it’s absurd to think you can calculate aggregate good for octillions of lives so far into an unknowable future. As such, while Musk’s pitch is more persuasive than Schwab’s or Gates’, it’s ultimately part of the same dangerous philosophy which is: “Let me optimize for total human happiness on your behalf.” Contrast Musk’s top-down humanity-saving endeavors with Bitcoin which is purely opt-in, works with simple incentives and imposes no value judgments on its users. It’s a [truth-recording clock](https://dergigi.com/2021/01/14/bitcoin-is-time/), impervious to fraud and cooption by the powerful. No matter how wealthy or powerful a person is, he cannot control the network or get treated with special privileges. Bitcoin’s finite supply means governments cannot print more of it, cannot finance unpopular wars or massive giveaways to the military and pharmaceutical industrial complexes. Instead of trusting any particular powerful person (the president, Elon Musk, Bill Gates) to be good, it simply removes the incentives toward and reduces the capacity for evil. *The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao.* *From the [Tao Te Ching](http://albanycomplementaryhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/TaoTeChing-LaoTzu-StephenMitchellTranslation-33p.pdf) (Lao Tse — translated by Stephen Mitchell)* We simply need the right conditions, the proper axioms on which to build. Just as the US Constitution created the framework for the most prosperous society in the history of the world, bitcoin will provide the axioms for peace, the harnessing of stranded energy and the [low-time preference](https://saifedean.com/podcast/84-hard-money-and-time-preference-lecture-at-the-property-freedom-society/) required for a more prosperous future. But it won’t be the future brought to you by Elon Musk, and ultimately I foresee a clash between the two. One tell is his otherwise inexplicable [promotion of Dogecoin](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1530209049261658112?s=20&t=gTsO-6ltAFVOs4SJP-VmpQ) as a possible currency for Tesla purchases. Dogecoin was [literally a joke](https://thecryptobasic.com/2022/06/03/doge-founder-says-every-project-started-now-is-made-to-enrich-creators-at-the-expense-of-community/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=doge-founder-says-every-project-started-now-is-made-to-enrich-creators-at-the-expense-of-community) from its creator and of course has none of the security, decentralization or censorship resistance of bitcoin. Musk is too smart not to know that — he put a couple billion dollars of Tesla’s balance sheet in bitcoin already and almost certainly understands the value proposition. That he still cites Doge seriously would be a clever way to muddy the waters about what bitcoin is vs what blockchain-based “crypto” is. And of course the Antichrist would avail himself of bitcoin, if only to obfuscate his real intentions and also to be able to crash the price by selling, if necessary, at an opportune time. The Klaus Schwab-Bill Gates-WEF set have already lost. They are widely despised, central banks are flailing, once-trusted institutions like the legacy media, major science and medical journals, the WHO, CDC and FDA are hemorrhaging influence. People are unhappy and looking for someone or something to trust. Elon Musk could fill that void, and if he does, he will be The Final Boss, the last false idol that needs to be discarded before humanity can, through its own efforts, enjoy a new era of prosperity, the [Second Coming](https://www.chrisliss.com/the_second_coming), so to speak. I actually suspect Musk is genuine in his desire to help humanity via his vision and am pretty sure he doesn’t have 666 embedded in his scalp — in any case even Damian in The Omen [neither knew who he was nor wanted to be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFNqkxFljvk) the Antichrist! But the most dangerous people for humanity are those with the biggest plans for it. Or put more succinctly: 

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

*Stunning beaches, ancient temples as far as the eye can see, and lush, green mountainsides that will leave you in awe—Myanmar is a destination you NEED to add to your bucket list. This guide offers the perfect one-month itinerary to explore the hidden gems of this incredible country.*  --- ## The Itinerary #### Days 1-2: Fly into Yangon Airport. Settle in and explore the vibrant sights and flavors of the city. #### Day 3: Take an overnight bus south to the coastal city of Myeik. #### Days 4-8: Go island hopping around the Mergui Archipelago—remote beaches and untouched islands await. #### Day 9: Travel to Dawei. Find a cozy place to stay and relax for the evening. #### Days 10-13: Rent a motorcycle and explore the stunning Dawei Peninsula. Soak up the sun on pristine beaches. #### Day 14: Head to Hpa An. Check into a hotel and enjoy a sunset beer. #### Days 15-18: Discover the limestone mountains, caves, and farmlands of Hpa An. #### Day 19: Travel to Bagan. The journey may be bumpy, but the destination is worth it. #### Days 20-23: Explore the breathtaking temples of Bagan. Sunrise hot air balloon rides are a must. #### Day 24: Head to Lake Inle. Settle into your accommodation and dine by the water. #### Days 25-26: Cruise around Lake Inle by boat. Immerse yourself in the local culture and capture the iconic fishermen in action. #### Days 27-28: Visit Mandalay to experience city life from a Burmese perspective. #### Days 29-30: Return to Yangon for a final exploration before flying home. --- ## Days 1-2: Arrival in Yangon Myanmar's largest city is a bustling hub filled with shops, activities, and incredible food. The rapid development of this once-isolated country is evident everywhere you look. **If you are flying internationally:** Yangon will most likely be the cheapest and most easily accessible destination to begin the trip. **If you are coming from Thailand:** I would recommend altering the itinerary and going straight to Myeik via land border then working your way up the country from there. #### Bogyoke Aung San Market If shopping is your thing, this place is a haven for local treasures. Hundreds of stalls line the market and surrounding alleyways containing everything from art, sculptures, jewelry, antiquities, and fabrics. I spent a few hours here before jumping onto the nearby circular train for a loop around the city. There are a few small shops to get a bite to eat if you are hungry. Remember that this itinerary will land you back in Yangon at the end of the trip if you see something you want to buy and don’t feel like lugging it around for a month.  #### Yangon Circular Train Easily one of the most fascinating experiences of the trip is riding the Yangon Circular Train around the city for a true look at how the locals live. The train is old, slow, and packed with locals commuting to and from work. The doors are wide open, allowing you to hang your feet outside and soak in all of the sights afar. This is one of the best ways to get a true glimpse into the culture and day-to-day life of the Burmese people. Be sure to speak with a train operator before getting on to make sure the entire loop is operational. When I went, construction stopped the train about 45 minutes into the loop, forcing us to get a taxi back to the downtown area. The full loop will take over 2 hours to complete. On the train, you can find vendors and hawkers selling little things such as water, nuts, and fruit. I’d suggest eating before jumping on.  #### Shwedagon Pagoda Upon walking up the steep and lengthy stairway to the Shwedagon Pagoda lies Yangon’s most famous attraction. The 99-meter gold-coated pagoda can be seen all around the city but is best enjoyed up close. This is a must-visit during your time in the capital. I went about an hour before sunset and stayed well into the night. Sunset from the hill it sits atop is spectacular, and the contrast of the pagoda between day and night is striking. Make sure to bring socks and a bag, as shoes are not allowed, and you will need to carry them or leave them at the door. After visiting, you can take a short walk to the Sky Bar in the Yangon International Hotel overlooking the pagoda. This is a wonderful place to enjoy a nice dinner and drink, ideal for soaking up more of that luxurious golden pagoda.  --- ## Day 3: Bus to Myeik The longest stretch of the trip—but well worth the sights to come. I took a 22-hour overnight bus and opted for the slight upcharge to take the VIP bus. This option is absolutely worth it. Equipped with A/C, comfortable reclining seats, and stops for three meals, it was a cheaper alternative to the costly domestic flight from Yangon and allowed me to see much more of the country. I had a surprisingly good sleep and would do it again in a heartbeat. You can also fly directly to Myeik, but flights are infrequent and considerably more expensive. The bus I took arrived in Myeik around noon the next day, leaving me plenty of time to check into the hotel and wander around the city a bit before sunset. There weren’t many buses heading down here, so I’d recommend checking for tickets as early as possible when you arrive in Yangon. Alternatively, if you’re coming from Thailand, you can rearrange the itinerary and begin your Myanmar trip in Myeik by crossing from Thailand via bus at the land border.  --- ## Days 4-8: Island Hopping in Myeik The city of Myeik has no accessible beaches, so you’ll need to book an island-hopping tour to fully appreciate the surrounding Mergui Archipelago. While the city itself doesn’t offer much in terms of entertainment, the beaches and crystal-clear waters you’ll encounter on an island-hopping tour are truly unparalleled. Your trip to Myeik will be unforgettable and is an experience you shouldn’t miss. There are several travel companies offering island-hopping tours, ranging from single-day trips to 14-day excursions. While you can book ahead, I found it quite easy to arrange a trip through an agency in the city. I opted for a three-day, two-night tour with Life Seeing Tours, and it was fantastic. They provided food, tents, and transportation—just bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes, and you’re ready to spend a few nights exploring the islands.     --- ## Day 9: Bus to Dawei Another travel day! This time, you’ll take a shorter bus ride heading north to Dawei. The journey takes about six hours, and tickets can be purchased from one of the travel agencies in Myeik. From what I gathered, there’s only one bus per day on this route, and it departs early in the morning. Be prepared to wake up around 4 AM and make your way back to the same bus station where you arrived. It’s a good idea to arrange transportation to the station the night before—your hotel can help you book a ride for that morning. --- ## Days 10-13: Motorcycling the Dawei Peninsula Dawei boasts some of the most stunning coastlines and beaches in the country. While most of these beaches are only accessible by motorcycle, there are a few small bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations at the southern end of the peninsula that offer direct beach access. If you’d prefer not to travel 2–3 hours each day from the city, I recommend staying in that area. You can rent a motorcycle from several places in the city and ride down to the B&Bs near the beaches for an overnight stay. This approach lets you enjoy the remote, lush, and scenic motorcycle journey while avoiding the daily commute to the beaches.  #### Grandfather Beach Surrounded by mountains and vibrant orange dirt, getting here can be a bit tricky. You’ll need to navigate a steep, loose hill to reach the area. I recommend arriving near low tide, as the beach and surrounding shops flood around noon, making the descent a wet and challenging experience. Be prepared to remove your shoes and walk through knee-deep water to access the beach. This is one of the more popular spots for locals and was among the few beaches I visited that actually had people.  #### Tizit Beach When we arrived at Tizit Beach, there was no one else around except for the locals. The sand here is soft, and the ocean is pristine. A motorcycle is necessary to access this beach, but the breathtaking views from the mountain pass make the journey entirely worthwhile. The sand near the shore is firm enough to ride on, creating unforgettable moments of cruising along the beach at sunset.  --- ## Day 14: Bus to Hpa An One of the shorter bus rides on this trip, the fare is around $20, and it takes approximately 5 bumpy hours. Once you arrive in Hpa An, there are plenty of hostels and hotels to choose from. I booked mine on Hostelworld the night before, but you should have no trouble finding a place to stay on the day of your arrival if needed. --- ## Days 15-18: Hpa An: Farmland, Caves, and Mountains Hpa An offers a stark contrast to the beaches and cities encountered so far on the trip. Surrounded by towering limestone mountains and lush green farmland, the region has a peaceful, rural charm. There are several caves, lakes, and one of my favorite sunrise hikes of the journey. While I have a few recommendations and must-visit spots, Hpa An is best explored without a strict plan. A central theme of this trip has been the freedom of hopping on a motorcycle and riding wherever your heart desires.  #### Mount Zwegabin Sunrise Hike Hiking Mount Zwegabin for sunrise is a must-do during your time in Hpa An. The mountain is located a short ride from town, about 40 minutes by motorcycle. The hike to the summit took around 35 minutes at a brisk pace, so you’ll need to leave around 4 AM to catch the sunrise, depending on the season. The highlight of the hike is the final ascent up the floating stairs to reach the peak. Be sure to have your camera ready and take in the breathtaking views.  #### Kyauk Kalat Pagoda This is one of those places that leaves you in awe, wondering how such a unique landscape can exist. Easily one of the most unusual rock formations I’ve encountered, it’s a fantastic spot to watch the sunset. A winding staircase leads up the rock to the top of the temple, making it a great place to spend a couple of hours.  #### Saddar Cave Filled with bats, stunning limestone formations, and statues, this short cave walk provides a refreshing escape from the heat. The path takes about 20 minutes to explore, leading to a beautiful lake at the back. Grab a drink, relax for a while, and take a small paddle boat back to the entrance for a memorable experience.  --- ## Day 19: Bus to Bagan A travel day heading north. This part of the trip is hot, bumpy, and slow, so be prepared for a longer journey than expected. Bagan has plenty of hotels and hostels, but I’d recommend booking accommodations in advance, as it’s a popular tourist destination. You’ll need to purchase an entry ticket for the area, as it’s a protected national park, but the bus driver should assist in sorting it out before you enter the park. --- ## Days 20-23: Chasing Pagodas in Bagan Once you’ve settled into your accommodation in Bagan, the best way to explore the vast area is by pedal bike or scooter. All the scooters available for rent are electric, helping to reduce noise pollution—a refreshing change from the loud gas-powered vehicles you’ll be used to from the first half of your trip. There’s no right or wrong way to experience Bagan. The park is enormous, with thousands of pagodas scattered throughout. Most of them are open for exploration, with a few offering rooftop access (though that is being restricted more recently). You could spend weeks here and still not see all the pagodas up close. Bagan is divided into a new town and an old town—most of the backpacker-friendly hostels are located in Old Town. You’ll find a handful of restaurants, but I often ate at my hostel or from local food carts. Several hostels and hotels offer outdoor pools, which are a great perk, especially depending on the time of year you visit. I highly recommend simply wandering the area freely, but here are a few top pagodas and experiences not to miss during your time in Bagan.  #### Hot Air Ballooning The top attraction in Bagan is undoubtedly the daily hot air balloon tours. Almost everyone who experiences it claims it’s a must-do. I chose to watch from the ground, as the cost of a tour is quite expensive. If you decide to go for it, be sure to set aside a few hundred USD for the trip. From what I’ve heard, you’ll wake up around 4:30 AM and head to the take-off location, returning by around 9:00 AM.  #### Sunset Boat Cruise Be sure to spend at least one evening on a slow cruise down the Ayeyarwady River. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy distant views of some of the pagodas and relax after a long day of exploration. Several companies offer these cruises at very affordable prices. Our boat included snacks, drinks, and even alcohol. The trips range from half an hour to two hours. Book through your hotel for convenience.  #### The Big Three Temples With over a thousand pagodas to explore in Bagan, there are three main structures that hold significant importance to locals: Shwesandaw, Thatbyinnyu, and Shwezigon. Be sure to make time to visit these iconic pagodas during your trip—you’re likely to come across them without even trying.  --- ## Day 24: Bus to Kalaw Long-distance buses run the route multiple times a day, with the overnight option being the most popular. I recommend checking with a travel agent in Bagan to book your tickets before heading to the bus stop --- ## Day 25-26: Relaxing at Lake Inle These two days take us to the stunning Lake Inle, located just outside the city of Kalaw. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to Lake Inle during this trip, but everyone I spoke to highly recommended not missing it. The lake is known for its breathtaking scenery, traditional Intha stilt houses, and the unique leg-rowing fishermen. From what I’ve heard and seen through photos, the calm waters, floating gardens, and vibrant markets make Lake Inle a truly unforgettable destination. Huge thanks to my friend Toby for sharing those beautiful pictures and giving me a glimpse of what I missed!     --- ## Day 27-28: Mandalay City Mandalay is a fast-paced city with less tourism compared to other parts of the country. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of the Burmese people, away from the crowds typically found in Yangon. There are several culturally significant monasteries and temples within the city limits, as well as vibrant markets perfect for shopping and exploring. Mandalay Hill is a great spot for a brisk hike and offers stunning views of the city and sunset on one of your nights. You could also visit the Mandalay Marionettes Theater to catch a local show showcasing Myanmar’s rich history and culture. As for me, I mainly wandered the city without specific destinations in mind. Since this is the last stop before returning to Yangon, you might not feel as inclined to spend too much time here, but there are definitely some interesting sights worth exploring.  --- ## Day 29-30: Return to Yangon The final two days of the trip are a return to where it all began. The bus from Mandalay to Yangon takes about 8 hours. Alternatively, Mandalay has a large international airport if you prefer to fly, depending on your next destination. If you return to Yangon, you’ll have plenty of time to revisit the markets and pick up any final souvenirs or trinkets you might want to take home. Enjoy these last couple of days, savor some delicious food, and take the time to reflect on the incredible month of experiences you’ve had.  --- ## Concluding Thoughts Your month-long journey through Myanmar is bound to be an unforgettable adventure, filled with stunning landscapes, rich culture, and warm hospitality. From the serene beaches of Ngapali to the ancient wonders of Bagan, and the tranquil beauty of Lake Inle to the bustling streets of Yangon and Mandalay, each destination offers its own unique charm and insight into Myanmar’s diverse culture. The highlights of your trip—exploring historic pagodas, witnessing breathtaking sunrises, and embracing the freedom of riding a motorcycle—are sure to stay with you. Myanmar’s blend of natural beauty, vibrant traditions, and friendly locals makes every moment special. Despite the occasional long and bumpy journeys, the sense of discovery and connection with the people and places makes the experience truly worthwhile. As you reflect on your journey, you’ll likely feel grateful for the memories, experiences, and the chance to explore a country that feels both timeless and unique. Myanmar’s beauty lies not just in its landscapes but in the people who call it home. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the warmth and resilience of its people and a desire to return and explore even more of this enchanting land. --- *Update: Unfortunately as of this time (June 2021) Myanmar is experiencing major political and civil unrest. Taken from the advice of friends on the ground there— I can not recommend traveling to Myanmar at the time of writing. Pray for Myanmar!* *Update 2: The political situation in Myanmar has escalated (July 2022). Travel is still not recommended.* *Update 3: As of 2025, some tourists have reported that travel is doable. However many governments still have do not travel advisories. DYOR.* --- ### Other Myanmar Guides: [The Top 3 Hidden Beaches of Myanmar: A Guide to Tizit, Grandfather, and Mergui](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1705254252735/) --- ### More from Hes: [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Store](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography/) [Writings](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/money/) --- *Originally Published June 15, 2021. Edited with Nostr friendly images on 1/5/2025*

@ 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

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

*When you think of Myanmar, **beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters** likely aren’t the first things that come to mind.* Think again. **Southern Myanmar is home to some of the most stunning and untouched beaches in Southeast Asia.** These pristine shores rival those of Thailand, the Maldives, and even Hawaii, yet remain largely hidden due to limited infrastructure and minimal tourism. I spent countless hours getting lost, asking for directions, and exploring remote villages, so you won’t have to. With **unreliable Google Maps and few signs of modern development**, navigating this region requires patience and curiosity. Get ready to discover Myanmar’s best-kept coastal treasures—and **why you might want to skip Thailand in favor of a more off-the-beaten-path adventure.** Here’s a look at my top three hidden beaches in southern Myanmar. --- ## 3: Tizit Beach - A Sanctuary Shrouded by Mountains  *Tizit Beach is situated **about one hour south of Dawei city**. Getting there is no easy feat and is not recommended for the faint of heart.* **The roads are rough, unlit, and sandy**, making them a challenge to navigate. Only attempt the trip if you’re confident on a motorbike, and be sure to double-check that your bike is in good working condition, especially with functional brakes. As a reward for your efforts, **you’ll find very few—if any—tourists at Tizit Beach**. The only people you’re likely to encounter are local children and fishermen along the shore. To reach Tizit Beach, **you’ll need to rent a motorbike and traverse a steep mountain pass**. The journey takes roughly an hour each way, but the seclusion and untouched beauty are well worth the effort. #### Map to Tizit Beach:  #### Directions: Start by crossing the water west of Dawei and heading left, **heading south towards Nyinmaw**. As you travel down the peninsula from Dawei, there is essentially one main road to follow. **Stay on this road for about 30 minutes**, keeping an eye out on the right side for a small sign marking Tizit Beach. You might miss the sign on your first pass, as I did, so pay attention to your GPS. **If you’ve passed Nyinmaw, you’ve gone too far**. Once you spot the Tizit Beach sign, you’ll notice a school playground and a road leading toward the mountains. Take the right turn here and **continue over the mountain pass for about 20 minutes**:  At the bottom of the mountain pass, **you’ll reach a fork in the road** with unclear signs. **If you go left, you’ll end up in a small cemetery**, which is a dead-end. The left fork looks like this:  Instead, **take the right fork, which will lead you through a small residential area to the waterfront**. Keep in mind that many of the beaches in this region experience significant flooding in the morning, so **arriving after 3:00 PM is probably your best bet**. As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by panoramic views of lush mountains, a vast delta plain, and crystal-clear blue waters:    The sand at Tizit Beach is a rich brownish-orange hue, often turning into deep red around sunset. It’s soft, clean, and much wider than other beaches in the area, giving you more room to set up camp away from the tide. **The water is warm enough for swimming**, with no strong currents, making it suitable for experienced swimmers. Please note, however, that **there are no lifeguards**, so swim at your own risk. A few wooden fishing vessels are docked off the coast, and **the locals are incredibly friendly**:   One of the highlights of Tizit Beach is the sunset cruise along the water. **The sand hardens near the shore, allowing you to ride a motorcycle along the beach**. It was one of my best memories from the 30 days I spent in Myanmar.   Sunsets at Tizit are truly epic, casting everything in red. However, **don’t linger too long, as the mountain pass isn’t lit, and riding back in the dark can be quite sketchy**. If you plan to stay for sunset, make sure your motorcycle lights are working and **be prepared to leave immediately after the sun sets**.   --- ## 2: Grandfather Beach - Popular, but Plentiful  *Grandfather Beach is one of the most striking beaches in Dawei and **a popular spot for locals**. Though it’s relatively well-visited, its size ensures it doesn’t feel overcrowded. The beach is a bit of a challenge to find, but the effort is worth it once you arrive.* **Getting here requires about 3 hours on a motorbike** from Dawei city, factoring in photo stops and meals along the way. #### Map to Grandfather Beach:  #### Directions: To reach Grandfather Beach, **head south from Dawei on the main road and continue down the peninsula for several hours**. The route winds through jungle-covered terrain, and eventually, the road will cut across the peninsula, running parallel to the coastline. Once you crest a hill and spot the ocean below, you’re getting close. Look for the town of **Kyauk Wap Pyin at the base of the hill**:  Once in Kyauk Wap Pyin, **take a right from the east side of the land, heading west towards the ocean**. There is really only one main road, so it shouldn't be too hard to spot. Follow the small road through the town for about 20 minutes. The road will lead to a **fishing village along the west coast that looks like this**:  From the fishing village, **look for the orange-dirt road leading to the beach**. It’s steep, narrow, and a bit tricky to navigate, but a fun ride if you’re up for the adventure. **The road is on the right-hand side as you face the sea from the village**. You can see it in the image above. Grandfather Beach is no stranger to daytime flooding, so **if you arrive after noon, you may find yourself wading through waist-deep water from the parking area to the beach**. Riding on the beach is only possible in the early morning before the tides rise.  The flooding isn’t as troublesome as it might seem. **The local restaurants are well adapted, elevated above the waterline**, and offer swings set up perfectly above the waves. The sand at Grandfather Beach is the softest of all three beaches mentioned in this article, though it’s narrower and less pristine than Tizit.  This beach sees more local visitors, so don’t expect a completely secluded experience. However, **it does have the most infrastructure, with plenty of options for food and drink**. If you plan to stay near Grandfather Beach, watching the sunset is highly recommended. Otherwise, the long and dark return journey to Dawei is best avoided. To fully enjoy Grandfather Beach, **plan for an entire day to soak in the scenery, relax, and make the most of your visit.**     --- ## 1: The Mergui Archipelago - An Unexplored Haven  *This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Myeik: the **hundreds of remote islands in the Mergui Archipelago truly stand out as the top destination** for beaches in the region.* Had it not been for a spontaneous trip to Yangon without plans and a quick browse of satellite maps, I might never have discovered the sheer magnificence of the Mergui Archipelago. **Information about this area is scarce, and tourism remains extremely limited**. While many islands are off-limits, a few offer stunning private beaches that are accessible and worth visiting. I was surprised to learn that **many people I spoke to during my month in Myanmar had no idea these kinds of breathtaking islands existed**. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to share this hidden gem with others, encouraging them to experience it firsthand. **The best way to explore is through island-hopping tours from Myeik city**. Tours vary in length and cost, ranging from a couple of hundred dollars for 2-3 day trips to thousands for longer yacht expeditions. Most tours include food, tents, and drinks, but always confirm these details with the booking agency.  During my five days in the Archipelago, I encountered only three other foreign tourists. The guide mentioned that **many of the islands we visited had only been seen by a few hundred foreigners at most**. The isolation of the region was so profound that even some of my Burmese friends weren’t aware of its existence. At times, I felt a bit intrusive, considering how little tourism has reached this remote paradise. However, **the welcoming nature of the islanders, who live off the sea and have no contact with the tour guides, made the experience all the more genuine**.  One memorable moment was camping on an island where **I shared the night with only the island caretaker and his ten puppies**. Each day, we were taken by boat to explore nearby islands, enjoying swimming, beach time, and snorkeling before returning to the campsite. **For certified SCUBA divers, this area is a dream—home to impressive coral reefs and diverse marine life**.    The surreal feeling of being in such an untouched place is hard to describe. Knowing **this is one of the few remaining uncharted areas on earth** makes the experience truly unforgettable. If you’re planning a trip to Asia, **the Mergui Archipelago should absolutely be at the top of your list**.     --- ### Closing Remarks Myanmar is truly a remarkable country, with a rich and complex history. **The people I met were some of the friendliest and most optimistic I’ve encountered, despite the challenges they’ve faced**. While this guide highlights some of the stunning beaches, **my main aim is for every visitor to connect with the locals on a deeper level**. They have incredible stories to share, and I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime. Traveling through Myanmar offers much more than just beautiful landscapes and serene beaches— it’s an opportunity to understand and appreciate the resilience and warmth of its people. **I hope that everyone who visits Myanmar will take the time to sit down, listen, and engage with the locals**. Enjoy your journey. *— Hes* --- *Originally published May 7, 2021 by Hes. Re-uploaded to Nostr on 1/14/2024. Re-edited 1/4/2025 with new Nostr friendly media links.*

@ 55e343e6:880acd1b

In the silence of the night, I find myself confronting the immensity of the unknown universe. Against its vastness, I am nothing: a fleeting particle in a cosmos so infinite it defies comprehension. To accept this nothingness is not an act of despair but one of liberation. The universe owes me no explanation, no validation of my existence. And I, in return, owe it no pretense of grandeur. In acknowledging my insignificance, I find clarity: I am free from the burden of inflated self-importance, free to simply be. The time given to me in this life is absurdly brief, a moment suspended between the infinite stretches of what came before and what lies ahead. The very fact that I exist, against an incalculable number of odds, is incomprehensible. My presence is a miracle of chance, and to lament its brevity is to misunderstand its value. Life’s worth is not measured by its length but by the depth of attention we give to it. Each breath is an act of defiance against the void, and every moment an invitation to embrace what is, without clinging to what could have been. I eat every day. It is a simple, unremarkable fact for many, yet it is an extraordinary luxury when viewed against the harsh reality of the world. Nearly 9% of humanity over 700 million people live in hunger, unsure of when or if they will eat again. For me to have food, day after day, is a privilege so profound it demands humility. Gratitude is not merely an acknowledgment of this fortune; it is a responsibility to live simply and take only what I need. The less I consume, the more space I leave for others to live. This simplicity is not deprivation; it is freedom. The less I am tethered to the material world, the lighter I feel. Dependence breeds anxiety. On wealth, on possessions, on fleeting desires. The more I cut away, the closer I come to understanding what truly matters. To need less is to live more fully, to reclaim the space within myself that is too often crowded with unnecessary wants. I do not seek happiness. Happiness is an artificial construct, a fleeting and hollow pursuit peddled by the modern world as a false ideal. Instead, I seek peace: a state not tied to external circumstances or temporary pleasures. Peace is not the absence of pain or conflict but the ability to remain steady in their presence. Happiness is fragile; it crumbles under the weight of reality. Peace endures because it is grounded in acceptance, in the quiet embrace of what is. Even my consciousness, this thing I so often mistake for the essence of myself, is but a mechanism, a sensory system responding to stimuli, like a plant turning toward the sun. The plant does not worship the sun, nor does a photophobic bacterium flee the light out of fear. They respond, simply and without meaning. To imagine that my awareness is more complex than this is a comforting illusion. I am not a soul adrift in cosmic meaning; I am a collection of responses, an organism interpreting its surroundings. And yet, within this simplicity, there is beauty: a beauty that does not demand purpose or permanence to exist. In embracing these truths, I find freedom: from the weight of self-importance, from the endless chase for more, from the need to define myself through external validation. I am nothing, and I am everything. I am a moment, passing swiftly in the endless expanse of time. To live is to accept, and in acceptance, to find peace.

@ cbaa0c82:e9313245

#TheWholeGrain - #December2024 December was full of winter cheer when it came to the singles... except for when we had that leak at the end of the month. Toast showed off the first manga comic in the Comic Collection: Narudough! A young ninja who wants to be the best in the village. The monthly Concept Art was released as usual showing off an early practice of drawing slices of bread while the Bitcoin Art showed off Bread the Hodler. Even better than all of that was a promotional warm-up for the new Adventure Series, "Questline", that has been created in collaboration with The Bitcoin Painter. This adventure is beginning to make 2025 a fun year! **December Sunday Singles** 2024-12-01 | Sunday Single 068 Snowbread https://i.nostr.build/BECZzWATNvwc5UrE.png 2024-12-08 | Sunday Single 069 Ice Skating https://i.nostr.build/HyI1iIOWy1VxSZ8R.png 2024-12-15 | Sunday Single 070 Training Graindeer https://i.nostr.build/C3rbWrqFF4fPcqUs.png 2024-12-22 | Sunday Single 071 Ornaments https://i.nostr.build/b0dS9tKBp6bBMeUF.png 2024-12-29 | Sunday Single 072 Plumbing https://i.nostr.build/dp4d20HCSNucowwF.png **Other Content Released in October 2024** 2024-12-04 | Toast's Comic Collection Narudough #8 *Narudough is a young ninja who dreams of one day becoming Hokage!* https://i.nostr.build/nWX8CpN1dJfwlfeh.png 2024-12-11 | Concept Art Four Slices Of Bread *Four slices of bread drawn as early perspective practice.* https://i.nostr.build/P253BVjSXcgTXok3.png 2024-12-18 | Bitcoin Art Hodl Bitcoin Bread is an OG Hodler. https://i.nostr.build/1vrthic1wbOcUSAo.png **Questline: Promotional Introduction** Questline is the beginning of something new for Bread and Toast. Through collaboration with The Bitcoin Painter, Bread and Toast has created a brand new adventure series for fans to follow along. The theme of the Questline Adventure Series will be that of classic fantasy. It was inspired by The Bitcoin Painter's painting of the characters in a fantasy setting which now acts as the first painting of the series. You can check out all of the promotional pieces below as well as the original painting that started it all! https://i.nostr.build/tMeATGRGkMr3EZ9q.png https://i.nostr.build/tJW9n25lEKtn5lgl.png https://i.nostr.build/yY6uRMKSP672xpYf.png https://i.nostr.build/zznuq0Kt5EjXyXam.png The First Painting by The Bitcoin Painter https://i.nostr.build/OotHXky3cdK9jPsh.png Thanks for checking out the fourth issue of The Whole Grain. The Whole Grain is released on the first of every month and covers all of the content released by Bread and Toast in the previous month. **We hope you had a great end of your year!** ***Bread, Toast, and End-Piece*** #BreadandToast #SundaySingle #ToastsComicCollection #ConceptArt #BitcoinArt #Bread #Toast #EndPiece #Artstr #Comic #Cartoon #NostrOnly #🖼️ ***List of nPubs Mentioned:*** The Bitcoin Painter: nostr:npub1tx5ccpregnm9afq0xaj42hh93xl4qd3lfa7u74v5cdvyhwcnlanqplhd8g

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

As a Westerner (or “Farang,” as they call me here :)), places like Thailand are very different from the Netherlands, where I was born. But what makes me love Thailand so much? For me, it’s the little things and, above all, the Thai people. Every country has its flaws, and Thailand isn’t a perfect paradise, but one thing that always stands out is the kindness of the local people. A great example happened today near the Nonthaburi ferry stop.(around Bangkok) I bought some food at a street market and took it with me in a package. As I walked away, I struggled to open it and add the sauce, looking around for a table to help me manage it. I couldn’t find one. That’s when a woman at another food stall nearby noticed my dilemma and motioned for me to come over. She helped me open the package and added the sauce for me. After thanking her and finishing my meal, I searched for a trash bin. Once again, a local man saw me looking and gestured for me to give him the trash, putting it in a nearby bin. What struck me wasn’t just their kindness but their awareness. They noticed that I needed help and acted on it with such natural generosity. This kind of awareness and willingness to assist is something I experience often here, and it’s one of the things I truly love about Thailand.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content The Deceptive Scheme **The Fall of the Scammer** - Victims Take Charge - The Verdict - Conclusion - FAQ In a recent turn of events, a Bitcoin scammer, who was exposed and prosecuted by his own victims, has been handed a suspended prison sentence. The scammer, Doede Osman Khan, had been deceiving investors by promising them protection against online scams and lucrative returns on their investments. This case has brought to light the vulnerabilities that many face in the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, where scammers often prey on the uninformed and the hopeful. **The Deceptive Scheme** Doede Osman Khan, a 50-year-old from Staffordshire, portrayed himself as a guardian angel for investors. He warned them about the perils of online scams and promised to help them navigate the treacherous waters of cryptocurrency investments. He assured them of making profits while doing so. However, in reality, Khan swindled thousands of dollars from unsuspecting individuals across the globe, including regions like Teesside and Canada. His promises, which seemed too good to be true, were laced with deceit and manipulation. Khan's modus operandi involved offering tutorials on purchasing and trading cryptocurrency online. Within just a few months of starting in early 2019, he had managed to attract dozens of clients from around the world. He made "outlandish claims" and promised large profits with "zero risk". Khan's presentations, which were entirely fictitious, were designed to exploit the trust and ignorance of his victims. These presentations painted a picture of a risk-free investment world, which is far from the reality of cryptocurrency trading. **The Fall of the Scammer** Despite his claims of starting with honest intentions, Khan's fraudulent activities were primarily to cover up unexpected losses. The court found that greed overcame Khan after witnessing early success in his venture. This early success, instead of being a foundation for genuine business growth, became the catalyst for his descent into deceit. Victims were lured into investing their Bitcoin funds with Khan to purchase trading bots, which he claimed would monitor the market. However, behind the intricate jargon, Khan's scam was straightforward - he simply pocketed their Bitcoin. Flaunting his ill-gotten gains, Khan often shared photos of himself living a luxurious lifestyle, complete with flashy cars, yachts, and skyscrapers. These images were a stark contrast to the financial and emotional turmoil he left in his wake. While Khan admitted to stealing £20,000, the victims argue that the current value of the stolen Bitcoin could be as high as £725,000, showcasing the gravity of his deceit. **Victims Take Charge** Two victims, Stephen Johnson from Stockton and Margery Willhelm from Canada, collaborated with other investors to compile a comprehensive 700-page dossier on Khan. This dossier was a testament to their determination to bring Khan to justice. Mrs. Willhelm, whose husband runs a private investigation firm, expressed her determination to find Khan, emphasizing the emotional and financial toll his actions had taken on the victims. Her resilience showcases the strength of those wronged, and their commitment to ensuring justice is served. Bethean McCall, a solicitor who took on the case, highlighted the emotional impact of the fraud on the victims, many of whom blamed themselves for being deceived. She emphasized the importance of victims realizing that they were manipulated by a professional scammer and that the blame lies solely with Khan. **The Verdict** Teesside Crown Court sentenced Khan to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud. This sentence, while providing some justice to the victims, also serves as a warning to potential scammers about the consequences of their actions. Additionally, Khan is now under a four-month curfew, with a proceeds of crime hearing scheduled for the future, ensuring that his actions continue to be monitored and that he faces the repercussions of his deceit. **Conclusion** The case of Doede Osman Khan serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the world of online investments, particularly in the realm of cryptocurrencies. While the digital age offers immense opportunities, it also presents avenues for deceit and fraud. It's crucial for investors to remain vigilant, conduct thorough research, and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. The resilience and determination of Khan's victims not only brought a scammer to justice but also highlighted the importance of community and collaboration in the face of adversity. **FAQ** **Who is Doede Osman Khan?** Doede Osman Khan is a Bitcoin scammer who deceived investors by promising protection against online scams and lucrative returns. **How was Khan caught?** Khan was exposed and prosecuted by his own victims, who compiled a comprehensive 700-page dossier against him. **What was Khan's scam method?** Khan offered cryptocurrency trading tutorials and lured victims into investing their Bitcoin with him, promising to buy trading bots. He then simply pocketed their Bitcoin. **How much did Khan steal?** Khan admitted to stealing £20,000, but the victims claim the current value of the stolen Bitcoin could be as high as £725,000. **What was Khan's sentence?** Khan was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, by the Teesside Crown Court. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I’ll make this one brief, email it in, so to speak. I’m 44-40-1 through 17 weeks and have nothing to gain except a more sightly record. **Ravens -18 vs Browns** — I wish DTR were playing, but Bailey Zappe will do. The Ravens need this game to lock up the third seed and a Round 1 home game. The Browns are playing out the string. **Bears +10 at Packers** — The Packers aren’t playing for anything, so I’m not sure why this line is so large. **Panthers +8 at Falcons** — The Falcons need this game, but it’s likely futile because the Bucs would have to lose to the Saints. The Panthers play most teams tough, and the Falcons aren’t that good. **Cowboys +5 vs Killer Redskins** — The KRs don’t need this game, so why are they laying five? They could pull Jayden Daniels at halftime. **Giants +2.5 at Eagles** — The Eagles are resting their starters, the Giants will try if last week’s win is any indication.

@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9

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

@ 574099a1:f3abeb80

> Equipo de GrapheneOS: > > Nuestra función de desbloqueo por huella dactilar de 2 factores ya está completamente implementada y ya está disponible en GrapheneOS. Esto añade la opción de establecer un PIN para usar el desbloqueo por huella dactilar. Puedes usar una passphrase fuerte de diceware (método para generar contraseñas seguras utilizando dados) como el método principal de desbloqueo con huella dactilar + PIN como desbloqueo secundario. > > Las restricciones habituales sobre el desbloqueo por huella dactilar siguen aplicándose. Es un mecanismo de desbloqueo secundario que solo se puede usar durante 48 horas después del último desbloqueo primario. El límite de intentos fallidos de desbloqueo por huella dactilar en GrapheneOS es de 5. > > En iOS y Android, la forma en que funciona el desbloqueo biométrico es que tienes un PIN/contraseña como tu método principal de desbloqueo y puedes habilitar el desbloqueo biométrico como un método secundario que solo se puede usar después del primer desbloqueo durante un tiempo limitado desde el último desbloqueo primario exitoso. También imponen un límite de intentos donde, si fallas demasiadas veces, necesitas usar el método de desbloqueo primario. Nuestra función añade la opción de establecer un PIN que se requiere después de usar exitosamente una huella dactilar para completar el proceso de desbloqueo, eso es todo. > Usar un PIN aleatorio de 6 dígitos como tu método principal de desbloqueo es un equilibrio entre conveniencia y seguridad que depende completamente de la limitación del elemento seguro para una encriptación segura. Un atacante que pueda explotar el sistema operativo y luego el elemento seguro desde allí puede eludir la encriptación. Es extremadamente difícil explotar los elementos seguros de alta calidad en los Pixels, pero es posible. Hasta donde sabemos, Cellebrite aún no ha desarrollado un exploit para el Titan M2 en el Pixel 6 y posteriores, pero eventualmente descubrieron cómo explotar el Titan M1. Usar una passphrase fuerte de diceware evita depender de cualquier cosa que pueda ser explotada. Sin embargo, eso es muy inconveniente. Ahí es donde entra el desbloqueo biométrico de iOS y Android a través de cara/huella dactilar para hacerlo conveniente, pero a un gran costo de seguridad. El desbloqueo biométrico puede ser forzado físicamente. Tu cara o huella dactilar también podrían ser clonadas de una manera que les permita desbloquear. Dejas tus huellas dactilares en todo lo que tocas y tu cara puede ser grabada por múltiples cámaras al mismo tiempo casi en cualquier lugar al que vayas. Ejemplo de passphrase de diceware: "**abacus banana cactus dolphin elephant**" Una passphrase fuerte como el método principal de desbloqueo contiene entre **4 y 12 palabras**, dependiendo de tu modelo de amenaza. > El objetivo de nuestra nueva función es habilitar la seguridad de una passphrase fuerte combinada con la conveniencia del desbloqueo biométrico de la manera habitual que funciona en iOS y Android, pero con el giro de requerir un PIN para completar el proceso de desbloqueo de huella dactilar. Es una función bastante simple: puedes establecer un PIN requerido para completar el desbloqueo de huella dactilar. No tienes que habilitarlo. Proceso: Marcas tu huella dáctilar y a continuación pones un PIN (Ejemplo 673889) **¿Cómo hacerlo en la práctica?** 1. Vas a Ajustes &gt; Seguridad y privacidad &gt; desbloqueo del dispositivo <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/84a8fcae150368865821a3a0a714f7a2c5b707013a8e533c6586ba5703492b12.jpg"> \ 2. A continuación, Desbloqueo de huella dactilar &gt; introduces tu contraseña primaria &gt; Eliges la opción de Segundo factor PIN. Una vez dentro tecleas el PIN que hayas elegido y luego lo vuelves a poner para verificar. Y listo. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d7690f4e61547be711348a65bec3cb8cc3c017b31a96cbb091fa980a93cc66c2.jpg">

@ 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.

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

***(Panel) composite paper, ash wood [4” x 48”]*** ***(Box) pallet, pallet wood, spray paint, nails [48” x 24” x 24”]*** *This project was first presented in 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Prints available on request.* --- ## Artist Statement **Quarantine: Examining the Impact of Globalization** “***Quarantine***” examines one node in the complex network of **human globalization**. The work reflects on the repercussions of global trade and encourages discussion about the benefits - and tradeoffs - that globalization has brought the human species. At the core of the project lies the **Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)**, an invasive insect that has left a trail of devastation across millions of ash trees in the United States. Native to Asia, the EAB hitchhiked its way onto American soil through wooden packing materials. It made its debut in Boulder in 2013 - threatening the existence of nearly 100,000 ash trees in the area. To curb further spread, the federal government imposed a quarantine on all ash wood from affected regions. As one contemplates the interplay between the various elements of the piece, they should aim to explore their own moral frameworks and seek to dive deeper into questions on progress, connection, and preservation. > “Quarantine” is presented through two elements, each narrating a unique chapter of this ecological saga: **The ash wood panel** aims to mimic the characteristics of the EAB’s destruction. The panel is adorned with a font that mimics the signs of infestation and illustrates the relentless assault this tiny creature is causing.  The text is rendered in midnight black, creating a deliberate contrast to that of which it lies—a dialogue between organic and artificial. The word “Quarantine” is displayed as the focal point of the panel to demonstrate a literal interpretation of ‘quarantine on ash’. As viewers engage with the panel they confront the dual forces. Nature’s vulnerabilities and humanity’s impact.  **The box** stands as a tangible representation of the method of infestation. It symbolizes not only containment, but also the globalized trade that facilitated the EAB’s journey in the first place. Its worn and gritty appearance mirrors the ecological (and economic) damages caused by this innocuous-seeming insect. On one side of the box, a bright red symbol hints at a potential warning to the destination of the ill-fated crate. The top reads 'destruction' in all bold caps. Something feels off.  > *Globalization, while propelling forward incredible human progress and prosperity, has also created undeniable disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity around the globe. The EAB saga serves as just one case study into the larger topic at hand, revealing the unintended consequences of our interconnected world*. --- ### Additional Photos     --- ### Other Sculptures by Hes [Organimetal [2015]](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1735930056155/) --- #### More from Hes [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Store](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) --- *All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

***Sheet Metal, Rivets. [12” x 11” x 18”]*** *This project was first exhibited in 2015 in Boulder, Colorado.* *Prints available on request. DM for inquiries on the sculpture.* --- ### Artist Statement **Organimetal: Where Industry Meets Nature** ***Organimetal*** examines the paradoxical relationship between human industry and the natural world, reflecting on humanity’s dual role as both creator and disruptor. **This work fuses bold industrial materials, such as sheet metal and rivets, with an organic form, evoking the tension between the rigid, mechanical qualities of human innovation and the fluid, unpredictable patterns of nature.** > At the heart of this sculpture lies a critique of the way human industry often seeks to dominate the natural world while still drawing inspiration from it. The form’s flowing, natural curves juxtapose the cold, utilitarian surface of the metal, highlighting this inherent contradiction. The industrial materials, traditionally associated with mass production and control, are reimagined here as part of a delicate, organic structure, prompting viewers to question the impact of industry on the Earth. This sculpture serves as both an artistic exploration and a personal milestone. It represents my second foray into metalworking and the first piece to ignite my love for the medium. **As viewers engage with Organimetal, they are encouraged to reflect on their own perceptions of progress, balance, and the unintended consequences of our attempts to shape the world around us**. --- ### Photos         --- ### Other Sculptures by Hes [Quarantine [2016]](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1709006098404/) --- #### More from Hes [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Store](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) --- *All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

***VDMX5, iMovie, APC40 (4:48)*** *This project was created and first exhibited in 2015 in Boulder, CO.* --- ### Artist Statement **Untoward Equilibrium** is an experimental short film that delves into the complex and often strained relationship between humans and the natural world. Through a dynamic interplay of visuals, sound, and digital manipulation, **the film investigates themes of migration, cultural destruction, and the often futile efforts to rebuild in the face of inevitable change.** Utilizing tools such as VDMX 5, iMovie, and the APC40, I aimed to weave a narrative that reflects the cyclical and untidy balance between human intervention and the forces of nature. The film’s abstract visuals and layered soundscapes evoke a sense of unease, suggesting that the equilibrium between the two is never quite stable. **It examines the patterns of regime changes, revolutions, and war, exploring how these human conflicts mirror the predator-prey dynamics of the natural world.** > Just as predators and prey shape ecosystems through cycles of survival and dominance, human societies grapple with cycles of power, upheaval, and renewal. Through this lens, the work considers ongoing processes of disintegration and reconstruction, drawing parallels between societal collapse, cultural upheaval, and the relentless forces of nature. **By blending the organic with the synthetic, Untoward Equilibrium reflects the fragility of human civilizations and the environments we inhabit, questioning whether true harmony between the two is ever achievable, or if we are destined to remain in a perpetual state of imbalance.** This film seeks to provoke reflection on how the forces of war, revolution, and ecological interplay shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. --- ### Stills from the film         --- ### Watch ‘Untoward Equilibrium’ nostr:naddr1qqrk5vj8v45xkagpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejsygquk99txdv8dly7lsmasw969p70zlj6mnxtyzlk6j0em2tft4fyvgpsgqqqskasumlfl9 --- #### More from Hes: [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Store](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) --- *All images and video are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

I was reading this book ***Too Big to Jail*** by Chris Blackhurst that talks about one of the biggest bank scandals of the century - billions of money laundered through HSBC for the Sinaloa cartel, the world’s largest drug cartel that supplies 25% of illegal drugs to the US. HSBC walked away with a $1.9 billion fine in 2012 and no one was charged or imprisoned. Meanwhile, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the cartel’s leader, was sentenced to life in prison + 30 years in the US, with $12.6 billion of his assets forfeited. Interestingly, HSBC’s dark history dates back to over 150 years. I first read in John Potash’s ***Drugs as Weapons Against Us*** about how HSBC was established to serve the opium trade. Chris Blackhurst expands on this story. HSBC’s founder, Thomas Sutherland, had no banking experience but leveraged his trade expertise and British imperial backing to lead a thriving merchant business alongside opium business exporting to China. When China resisted, the British Empire doubled down and escalated tensions, resulting in the Opium Wars, forcing China to accept opium trade and China ceding Hong Kong to Britain for a hundred years With trade comes the need for fund transfer, hence Sunderland founded HSBC in Hong Kong, to handle foreign transactions. Ironically, 150 years later, HSBC was caught laundering funds for illegal drugs for the Sinaloa cartel between 2003 and 2010. During this period, HSBC's chairman, Stephen Green, an Anglican priest who authored Ethical Capitalism, was never charged. Instead, he became Lord Green and served as the UK’s Minister of State for Trade and Investment. Chris Blackhurst aptly summarizes this hypocrisy - "HSBC, the fueller of evil, holds its customers to strict standards, yet it enabled cartels to launder metric tonnes of cash." **Other banks and their crimes** The 1MDB scandal: Billions was embezzled from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund in the 1MDB scandal. Those convicted were former Prime Minister Najib Razak who was imprisoned, but mastermind behind it Jho Low remains at large. Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and AmBank were implicated. Goldman Sachs paid a $2.9 billion fine, and Roger Ng was sentenced to 10 years in prison.Tim Lessner pleaded guilty and cooperated with the authorities. Wells Fargo Fake Accounts Scandal: From 2002 to 2016, Wells Fargo employees opened millions of fake accounts in customer’s names without their consent to meet aggressive sales quotas. Libor Interest Rate Rigging: Major banks, including Barclays, UBS, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase, colluded to manipulate the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor) which is a global benchmark for interest rates. This impacted trillions of dollars in global financial products. I'm sure there is more to the list based on what we know and don't know. Every time Bitcoin gets criticized for “money laundering,” I think of these scandals and the roles that corrupted governments play. Millions of people have suffered from the systemic corruption of traditional finance and they deserve financial liberation. A 2020 report from Chainalysis indicated that illicit transactions (including money laundering, ransomware payments, and fraud) accounted for only less than 1% of all Bitcoin transactions, which is a speck compared to the scale of corruption in the traditional financial system. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that between 2% and 5% of global GDP , which accounts for trillions of dollars, is laundered each year through the traditional financial systems. Chris Blackhurst was right when he said those who are “too big to jail” tend to get away.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

This was certainly another Alby Hub related scare (really part of the [same one](https://stacker.news/items/832974/r/Undisciplined)). Before the computer hosting my Alby Hub crashed, I transferred some bitcoin to it for the sake of opening a channel to SN. I was recently offered ownership in multiple territories (https://stacker.news/items/826658/r/Undisciplined and https://stacker.news/items/833775/r/Undisciplined) and needed a channel large enough to support my yearly rent payments. After getting that node migrated, I was concerned that the on-chain transfer wasn't showing up. I checked the mempool and everything looked right (as far as I could tell), so I contacted Alby support. The fix was actually fairly straightforward. I just had to attempt to open a channel using the wallet address that the missing bitcoin was in. In an instant, the channel was being generated and my balance was displaying correctly. Hopefully, that tale will help anyone else who runs into this problem. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/835187

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

The Tom Brady of Stacker News is joining the ~Stacker_Sports ownership group. We'll discuss what, if anything, that means for the territory going forward. In other territory news, - The CFP contest is in full swing - We had a winner in one cricket pool and people are dropping like flies in the other - New details on the USA vs "the world" competition - Our fantasy football league wrapped up (I wonder why @grayruby left that off the agenda) In sports news, - We'll each share our Game of the Week (submit your nominations in the comments, if you like) - Dan Campbell is a reckless maniac. Good or bad? - Who are the best NFL coaches? - The playoff picture is pretty much set. What's left to decide in week 18? - We'll hit our recurring NBA segments and touch on the looming trade season - How's that children's hockey tournament that Canadians love so much going? - Ovechkin's back! Will he be able to break Gretzky's career scoring record? In degenerate news, - The [college football championship market](https://beta.predyx.com/market/college-football-champion-2025) has been a lot of fun. - I crushed a 13-team parlay on Ember last weekend (sort of) Let us know what you'd like to hear about this week or what you think about any of the topics on the agenda. *Stay humble. Stack sats.* originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/835133

@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb

Hi, Some time ago, I saw a graph showing all stocks, commodities, and indexes denominated in BTC. As you can imagine, all of them are going down. Recently, I discussed this with a friend, and he couldn't believe it. So, I started searching for this graph—either as a picture or a tool—but I couldn't find it. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, could you please share a link or a picture? Thanks! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/835041

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

                                            --- #### Previous Works in the Series: [TAIPEI](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1734817611982/) [TIANJIN](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1734648032830/) --- #### More from Hes: [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Store](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) --- *All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from these photos, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Discover the controversial perspective that the fiat currency system, managed by central banks, resembles a legal Ponzi scheme. Uncover the nuances of fiat currency, central banking, and its potential parallels to Ponzi schemes. Also, explore the significance of Bitcoin in challenging traditional financial norms and its role as an emerging alternative. Is the foundation of our modern financial system truly as it seems, and can Bitcoin redefine the future of money? **Table Of Content** - The Fiat System: A Legal Ponzi Scheme? - Bitcoin's Challenge to the Fiat System - Bitcoin's Resistance to Manipulation - The Emergence of Bitcoin ETFs - Root Causes of Financial Frauds - Conclusion - FAQs **The Fiat System: A Legal Ponzi Scheme?** In the world of finance and economics, few terms are as polarising and provocative as "Ponzi scheme." Often associated with high-profile frauds and financial scandals, the concept of a Ponzi scheme typically conjures images of disgraced con artists and their unsuspecting victims. However, could it be that a similar model, albeit operating legally, is at the very core of our modern financial system? At its core, the fiat monetary system is characterised by a crucial feature: the absence of intrinsic value. Unlike Bitcoin or other commodities that underpinned historical monetary systems, fiat currencies like the US dollar are not backed by tangible assets. Instead, their value is derived solely from the trust and confidence that people place in the issuing government or central authority. A Ponzi scheme operates on the premise that returns to earlier investors are paid with the capital of newer investors, creating the illusion of profitability. This structure works as long as fresh investments continually pour in, masking the absence of a legitimate revenue source. The fiat system, in an eerily similar fashion, is perpetuated by continually increasing debt and the circulation of more currency. In the fiat system, governments create money by issuing debt. The expansion of the money supply comes from loans that must eventually be repaid with interest. When these loans come due, governments often issue new debt to pay off the old, resulting in a growing debt burden. Just as a Ponzi scheme must attract new investors to maintain the illusion of solvency, governments must accumulate more debt to meet previous obligations, putting the burden on future generations. The fiat system's longevity relies on a constant cycle of currency devaluation and inflation. Governments can effectively reduce the real value of their debt by inflating the currency, shifting the cost onto the populace. While this may seem sustainable in the short term, it mirrors the Ponzi scheme's tactic of robbing Peter to pay Paul. In both cases, there's a fundamental issue of sustainability. **Bitcoin's Challenge to the Fiat System** In recent years, Bitcoin has emerged as a revolutionary force challenging the traditional fiat monetary system. Built on the principles of decentralisation and indepence, poses a significant threat to the established norms of central banking and government-issued currencies. Bitcoin operates on a decentralised network of computers, known as the blockchain. Unlike fiat currencies controlled by central banks, Bitcoin is not subject to the whims of any single authority. This decentralised nature promotes transparency, security, and trust among its users, effectively challenging the centralised control of fiat money. One of Bitcoin's most distinctive features is its capped supply of 21 million coins. This scarcity stands in stark contrast to fiat currencies that can be printed endlessly by governments. Bitcoin's limited supply acts as a hedge against inflation, making it an attractive store of value. Bitcoin's technology ensures secure ownership of assets. Users have control over their private keys, reducing the risk of unauthorised seizures or asset freezes, a concern in the fiat system. Bitcoin is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, providing financial inclusion to the unbanked and underbanked populations. This inclusivity challenges the exclusivity of fiat systems, which often require intermediaries and traditional banking infrastructure. The decentralised nature of Bitcoin makes it resistant to censorship, ensuring that transactions are not subject to arbitrary restrictions or controls, as seen in some fiat-based systems. Bitcoin's disruptive potential in the world of finance is undeniable. Its challenge to the fiat system represents a shift in the way we think about money, wealth, and economic systems. As Bitcoin continues to gain mainstream acceptance, it raises fundamental questions about the future of currency and financial infrastructure. **Bitcoin's Resistance to Manipulation:** In the world of finance and economics, the notion of a truly decentralised, trustless, and censorship-resistant form of money is both revolutionary and, to some, unnerving. Bitcoin, stands as a testament to the potential of digital assets to challenge conventional fiat currencies and the centralised systems that underpin them. A fundamental aspect of Bitcoin's allure is its resistance to manipulation, a quality that sets it apart from traditional financial systems and even some other cryptocurrencies. At its core, Bitcoin operates on a blockchain – a distributed ledger that records all transactions across a vast network of computers. This decentralised nature, combined with cryptographic principles, ensures a high degree of security and transparency. Unlike fiat currencies, which are subject to the whims of central banks and governments, Bitcoin's monetary policy is encoded in its software. The total supply is capped at 21 million coins, and new Bitcoins are issued in a predictable, diminishing manner through a process known as mining. Bitcoin's resistance to manipulation stems from several key factors. Firstly, its decentralised network is maintained by a diverse group of miners worldwide, making it nearly impossible for any single entity to exert control over the system. Unlike centralised financial institutions that can manipulate interest rates, print money at will, or engage in other questionable practices, Bitcoin's protocol operates independently of human interference. Secondly, Bitcoin's security mechanisms, such as proof-of-work, ensure that transactions are validated by a competitive network of miners. This makes it incredibly costly and difficult for anyone to compromise the network. Additionally, the immutability of the blockchain means that once a transaction is recorded, it cannot be altered or deleted, providing a robust defence against fraud or manipulation. Lastly, Bitcoin's open-source nature allows the global community to scrutinise its code and propose changes through a consensus-driven process. Any updates or improvements to the network require majority approval, preventing any single entity from manipulating the protocol to suit its interests. As traditional fiat currencies face challenges related to inflation, political influence, and centralised control, Bitcoin's resistance to manipulation positions it as a compelling alternative. While it is not without its own set of unique risks, Bitcoin's core principles of decentralisation and transparency contribute to its appeal as a novel form of digital money that empowers individuals and resists manipulation by powerful institutions. **The Emergence of Bitcoin ETFs** The emergence of Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) represents a notable development in the world of digital investments, serving as a bridge between traditional financial markets and the realm of digital assets. These ETFs provide a convenient and regulated avenue for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without the need to directly possess the cryptocurrency. This comes at a time when Bitcoin has garnered widespread recognition and piqued the interest of both retail and institutional investors. One crucial aspect of Bitcoin ETFs is their potential to simplify the investment process. Rather than dealing with the intricacies of owning and securely storing Bitcoin in digital wallets, investors can purchase shares of a Bitcoin ETF through conventional brokerage accounts. This streamlined approach lowers entry barriers for those who might have hesitated to navigate the complexities of Blockchain and self-custody. Furthermore, Bitcoin ETFs offer regulatory oversight and investor protection. These funds operate within the bounds of financial regulations and undergo scrutiny from relevant authorities, enhancing security for investors. They also confer an aura of legitimacy upon the digital asset market, rendering it more appealing to institutional investors that necessitate adherence to regulatory standards. The advent of Bitcoin ETFs mirrors the evolving role of digital assets. Bitcoin, once considered a niche asset, has matured into a mainstream investment choice. The interest in Bitcoin ETFs signifies the growing embrace of digital assets within the conventional financial system. However, the ascent of Bitcoin ETFs also ignites discussions about their potential impact on the digital asset market. Some believe that they might stimulate increased demand for Bitcoin, potentially influencing its price dynamics. Nonetheless, these ETFs mark a pivotal step in the broader adoption of digital assets, attracting a wider range of investors to the digital asset sphere. **Root Causes of Financial Frauds** The root causes of financial fraud extend beyond the realm of digital currencies, highlighting that deception-driven activities primarily originate outside the digital asset ecosystem. While the term "digital currency fraud" often suggests that virtual assets are the focal point of these fraudulent activities, in reality, it's seldom the case. Contrary to the prevailing narrative that digital currencies are a haven for illicit activities, fiat currency remains the preferred choice of financial criminals. Reports from the US Treasury and EUROPOL emphasise that traditional financial channels, associated with fiat transactions, still play a more substantial role in illegal financial activities than virtual assets. Fiat currencies, despite being subject to stringent regulations and oversight, continue to be the medium of choice for criminal activities. The heart of the matter lies in distinguishing between the origin of the fraud and the role of digital currency within it. In numerous instances, the initial fraudulent activity takes place within non-financial domains or fiat transactions. An illustrative example is credit card fraud, which primarily employs fiat-based payments for unauthorised charges. While some cases culminate in the acquisition of digital currencies, the initial fraudulent activity is rooted in fiat-based mechanisms. Even in the context of digital currency romance scams or investment schemes, the crux of the fraud lies in establishing non-financial relationships with victims. Funds often start as fiat, moving through traditional payment channels before making their way into digital currencies. The fraud's inception, therefore, remains primarily in the fiat space, and there are several opportunities for intervention through conventional financial systems. Decentralised Finance (DeFi) hacks, which sometimes fall within the digital currency realm, are more related to risk management protocols within the DeFi ecosystem. These vulnerabilities are often not tied to digital currencies themselves but stem from flaws in DeFi platforms, frequently involving phishing tactics. To combat these financial frauds with digital currency involvement, it is essential to recognize the preliminary stages of deception, which usually unfold outside the digital asset landscape. Enhancing AML and transaction monitoring intelligence tools, combined with educational efforts, can proactively identify and mitigate potential fraud risks in the fiat sector, even before they intersect with digital currencies. This approach can address the root causes of financial fraud effectively, irrespective of whether they subsequently involve digital currencies or traditional financial systems. **Conclusion** The emergence of Bitcoin has shed light on a widespread, yet often unacknowledged, issue in the world of finance—the fiat scam. Fiat currencies, including the U.S. dollar and the euro, are the lifeblood of traditional financial systems, issued and governed by central banks. However, these currencies lack intrinsic value and are subject to manipulation by central authorities, akin to a legal Ponzi scheme. Central banks, empowered by governments, possess the authority to create and manage fiat money. They can print additional currency at will, which devalues existing holdings and redistributes wealth, all under the umbrella of legality. Moreover, fiat transactions typically involve intermediaries, like banks, adding layers of complexity and fees. Bitcoin has introduced an alternative financial paradigm. Unlike fiat, Bitcoin operates on a transparent blockchain network with a predetermined supply, immune to central authority manipulation. It has become a symbol of decentralised financial systems and digital scarcity. As the world grapples with this shift, it is essential to acknowledge the fiat scam—a legal Ponzi scheme perpetuated by central banks. With increased awareness and the rise of Bitcoin, the financial landscape is poised for transformation, challenging the dominance of fiat currencies. **FAQs** **Is the Fiat System Truly a Legal Ponzi Scheme?** The fiat system shares similarities with a legal Ponzi scheme in its reliance on continual growth and debt accumulation to sustain itself, but it's important to note that the key difference is legality. Central banks have the authority to issue fiat, making it legal, while Ponzi schemes are fraudulent by nature. **How Does Bitcoin Challenge the Fiat System?** Bitcoin challenges the traditional fiat system through decentralisation, a limited supply of 21 million coins, user-controlled assets, accessibility for the unbanked, and resistance to censorship, providing an alternative to centralised fiat currencies. **What Are the Root Causes of Financial Frauds?** Root causes of financial frauds often start with non-financial activities or fiat transactions. Credit card fraud, romance scams, and investment schemes typically begin with fiat-based transactions before involving digital currencies. Enhancing AML and transaction monitoring tools can proactively address these root causes in both digital and traditional financial systems. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: @croxroadnews** **Instagram: @croxroadnews.co** **Youtube: @croxroadnews** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I went 2-3 last week, which only matters bercause I was 5-0 in Week 16, and I thought I might have finished with an epic run, but it was not to be. Week 18 is always fun to guess who’s trying and who’s packing it in. My MO is usually to bet the teams who are missing the playoffs, have nothing to play for, but also no reason not to go all out. They’re usually undervalued. **Browns at Ravens** — The Ravens need this game to win the division, so I expect them to try, though they might pull their starters in the second half if they’re way up. I’ll say Browns +14.5 and probably lay the wood. **Bengals at Steelers** — The Bengals have a long shot chance of making the playoffs and will go all out. The Steelers are playing for the three seed, but they’d need the Browns to beat the Ravens. Hard to say whether they’ll go all out, but I’ll make it Bengals -3. **Panthers at Falcons** — The Falcons need this (but also a Bucs loss), and the Panthers will go all out because they have no reason not to. I’ll say Panthers +4.5. **Killer Redskins at Cowboys** — The KRs can move between the sixth and seventh seeds, but I doubt they’ll leave their starters in long. I’ll say KRs +6.5. **Bears at Packers** — The Packers can move between the sixth and seventh seeds, but it doesn’t matter much. I’ll make it Bears -3.5. **Jaguars at Colts** — Both teams are playing for nothing. Mac Jones is playing decently, and it’s unclear who’s under center for the Colts. I’ll say Jaguars +3.5. **Bills at Patriots** — It’ll be Mitch Trubisky against maybe Drake Maye. The Bills don’t need it. I’ll say Bills +5.5. **Giants at Eagles** — Neither team needs it, the Eagles are probably resting Saquon Barkley who has a chance to break the single-season rushing record against his old team that decided not to pay him. I’ll make it Giants -2.5. **Saints at Buccaneers** — The Bucs need this, the Saints are a destroyed team. Maybe Derek Carr plays, but I’d be surprised. I’ll say Saints +14.5. **Texans at Titans** — The Texans don’t care, the Titans can try their hardest. I’ll make it Texans +4.5. **49ers at Cardinals** — Two failed teams playing out the string. I’ll say pick ‘em and probably stay away. **Chiefs at Broncos** — The Chiefs are resting everyone, the Broncos need to win in order to get in. I’ll make it Chiefs +8. **Seahawks at Rams** — The Rams have clinched, can only toggle between the third and fourth seeds. I’ll say Seahawks -6. **Chargers at Raiders** — The Chargers can only toggle between the fifth and sixth seeds, the Raiders are obviously done. Let’s say Chargers +6.5. **Dolphins at Jets** — Tua’s probably not playing, but the Dolphins still have an outside chance at the playoffs. I’ll make it a pick ‘em and lean Dolphins. **Vikings at Lions** — This is for the No. 1 seed and a bye in the NFC. I’ll say Vikings +2.5 and lean Vikings due to their defense.

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

--- ## No. 6 - Zhujiajiao Canal Chasing  For a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city cruise to Zhujiajiao -- an epic water town dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. It's only about 50 kilometers from the downtown and makes for an easy day trip. Hop on the subway and get there in an hour. Zhujiajiao has canals, bridges, and ancient buildings, offering a glimpse into the town's rich history. Take a boat ride along the canals for the best views of traditional houses and temples. Then explore the town on foot and get lost in attractions like the Kezhi Garden, Yuanjin Temple, and the Qing Dynasty Post Office. Don't forget to grub-up with all of the great food vendors nearby. --- ## No. 7 - China Art Museum  China Art Museum is absolutely worth the trip solely for its awe-inspiring architecture. The towering structure casts a tall shadow over bystanders. Step inside and you'll find a world of art waiting. The blend of permanent and temporary exhibits offers hours of art-gazing. Give yourself at least half a day to fully immerse in the creative haven in Pudong. To get to the China Art Museum, you can take Line 2 of the Shanghai Metro and get off at the Pudong Avenue Station (Chinese: 浦东大道站). The museum is located near Exit 4 of the station. --- ## No. 8 - Days on The West Bund  Hands down my favorite place in Shanghai. This spot is the go-to for a perfect weekend under the sun. You'll find me setting up a blanket with beer, cards, and snacks, along with a slackline and spike ball setup nearby, surrounded by dogs running around, enjoying the company of old and new friends. When you want a little movement enjoy some climbing, skating, running, or basketball after work. The West Bund is an oasis amidst the chaos of the city. But beware - its popularity is growing, so tread lightly. --- ## No. 9 - Nights Under the Lupu Bridge  Nights under the Lupu Bridge are where it's at, man. Hop on your scooter and cruise over for the ultimate skyline views. Stroll along the walkway, munch on street food, sip drinks, and groove to live tunes. Street vendors serve up traditional snacks and crafts, and the vibe gets lit with spontaneous performances and games. Get ready to soak up the electric energy of Shanghai's Lupu Bridge at night." --- ## No. 10 - A Weekend on Chongming  Escape the city hustle and find your peace on Chongming Island. A weekend getaway on this rural gem is just what you need. Chill out in a farmhouse, soak up the sunset, and enjoy the tranquility. Explore the natural wonders, visit the old museums, and feast on fresh seafood. End your days with a beach walk under the stars. Nothing beats a few nights away from the city chaos. --- ## Additional Photos       --- #### Previous Guide in the Series: [An Expats Guide to the Best Spots in Shanghai: 001](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1708203955986/) #### Next Guide in the Series: [An Expats Guide to the Best Spots in Shanghai: 003](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1735849905551/) --- ### Find Me Elsewhere: [Website](https://hes.npub.pro/) [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography/) [Storefront](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) --- *All images are property of Hes. Published 06.29.2024*

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--- ## No. 11 - Evenings in Pujiang Town  A laid-back vibe in the heart of Shanghai. The area is packed with fantastic restaurants and offers serene views of canal reflections. It’s super easy to get there via the metro, making it a perfect evening escape. The charm lies in its simplicity; it’s the kind of place where you can take a leisurely stroll and truly unwind. If you’re lucky, you might catch a gorgeous sunset mirrored in the water. --- ## No. 12 - Sunbathing at Jinshan Beach  Okay, Jinshan Beach isn’t winning any awards for “World’s Nicest Beach” (it’s man-made and, well, it’s China), but there’s something unbeatable about a sunny day by the water. Grab a towel, soak up some rays, and embrace the experience. There’s also a variety of beachside snacks and vendors that add to the laid-back vibe. While it’s not luxury, it’s a solid way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. --- ## No. 13 - Rooftop Chasin’  The best sights of the city are often in places you’re not supposed to be. Feeling adventurous? Try finding your way onto the roof of an apartment or office building. It might take a little finesse, but the reward is worth it: breathtaking views few others have ever seen. The city feels different from up high—quiet, sprawling, and almost surreal. Just make sure to stay safe and respectful; not every rooftop adventure is worth the risk. --- ## No. 14 - Shanghai Disneyland  This might not count as a classic “expat spot,” but skipping a trip to the happiest place on earth while in Shanghai would be a mistake. The Tron and Pirates of the Caribbean rides are next-level—just prepare to wait. The long lines and bustling crowds are part of the adventure, so make the most of it! Pro tip: get there early to maximize your day and snag a good spot for the evening fireworks. It’s a little slice of magic you won’t forget. --- ## No. 15 - Insanity on the Maglev  In five years of living in China, I somehow only rode the Maglev once. If you haven’t yet, don’t miss out! There’s something surreal about flying at 368 km/h as the world blurs past your window. It’s a feat of engineering that makes you appreciate just how far technology has come. Even if you don’t need to catch a flight, the ride itself is worth the experience. --- ### Additional Photos             --- #### Previous Guides in the Series: [An Expats Guide to the Best Spots in Shanghai: 001](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1708203955986/) [An Expats Guide to the Best Spots in Shanghai: 002](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1719708820357/) --- ### Find Me Elsewhere: [Website](https://hes.npub.pro/) [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography/) [Storefront](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) --- *All images taken by Hes. Published 01/02/2025*

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Last week, I was reading *“The Air We Breathe”*, by Glen Scrivener. It’s about *“How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality”*, and it explores the Christian roots of the values we prize in today's western society. It’s all around us, but we don’t really know where it came from: It’s the air we’re breathing. The ideas and ethics behind Christianity, whether you believe in them or not, are embedded in our culture. As I was reading this, I saw so many parallels with Bitcoin, so wanted to list them below and share some of my thoughts. Can Bitcoin also become *“The Air We Breathe”*? Or in plebs words: hyperbitcoinization? Can Bitcoin become so ubiquitous that it becomes normal? Can there be a world in which we don’t even know where Bitcoin came from? It would be a world with many similar views as with today's view on Christianity. It becomes the air we breathe, something that used to be a counterculture that over time became ubiquitous. What can we learn from it? **These are my ten parallels of Bitcoin with the early days of Christianity.** 1. Separation from state 2. From obscure counterculture to dominant force 3. Exponential grassroots growth 4. Conversion of emperors/politicians 5. Sudden tolerance and protection for ideology 6. Fall of the empire, end of the status quo 7. Missionaries spreading the word 8. Persuasion and education are key 9. Age of Enlightenment *Note: I’m no expert on Christianity, nor a historian of the Roman Empire, and I know just a bit about Bitcoin. See this as a thought experiment.* **1. Separation from state** In all fairness, I’m not the first to draw this first parallel. It was Satoshi Nakamoto themself who made the connection even before Bitcoin was available to the public, with several hints pointing back to important dates and moments in Christian history. The big parallel here is the “separation of money and state” and “separation of church and state”. Before going back to the early days of Christianity in the first centuries AD, I first want to draw this parallel with Satoshi. It’s 1517. The German Priest Maarten Luther writes his Ninety-five Theses, and nails this on the church doors in Wittenberg. The theses are also known as the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences”. He kickstarted a movement with a radical new idea for that time: The separation of the church from the state. The Catholic Church had become one with the state. Via the means of indulgences, there was an ability to pay for your redemption. The church was corrupted by money, power and politics. The church and indulgences replaced the need for personal responsibility and an individual faith with money and perverse structures. Reformation Day is a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated on 31 October in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation. But the 31st of October is also the day in which Satoshi shared his pamphlet with the world: in 2008 they published the Bitcoin Whitepaper. It kickstarted a movement with a radical new idea for that time: The separation of the money from the state. But this was not Satoshi’s only hint. Another one is the date of Bitcoin’s Genesis Block: January 3, 2009. It was the day that the idea of the separation of money and the state became reality, more than just an idea in an individual's mind. Did you know that Maarten Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1521 by Pope Leo X for sparking this revolutionary new way of thinking (and being). It happened on January 3 as well. I bet Satoshi Nakamoto knew. To be fair, this parallel is not new and known by many bitcoiners. But it’s a good introduction to the topic, and after reading “The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality”, I automatically started to see more parallels between (the early days of) Christianity and todays adoption of Bitcoin. Because it was of course not Maarten Luther who sparked these rebellious thoughts in 1500, but it was Jesus himself approx. 2000 years ago. Let’s go back from the 1500s to the first decades AD to the beginning of this radical new belief system. During the dominance of the Roman empire in the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, someone told a story that opposed every mainstream paradigm. Jesus’ idea was radically different from the belief systems of that day. He preached Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality in a world that was full of Debauchery and Violence, with Gladiator Games, Slavery, Public Crucifixion, and Brutalities. The belief system of that time was not like todays. There were superior races *(Greek/Romans over barbarians)*, superior sexes *(man over women)*, superior classes *(free man over slaves)* and the concept of justice was more something in the realm of “restoring rights of those that were superior”, than “equality for all, men and women, Greek and barbarian, free and slave”. Jesus opposed the status quo. It started small and irrelevant; as a counterculture. But it didn’t stay that way. **2. From obscure counterculture to dominant force** In “The Air We Breathe”, Scrivener asks the question: “How did the obscure, marginal Jesus movement of the 1st century become the dominant religious force in the Western world in a few centuries?” Important to know, is that the Christian faith was the opposite of the narrative. Concepts like Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality didn’t exist in the Roman Empire. Human rights neither. Individual rights neither. The emperor was almost de facto God himself. Early Christians were persecuted for preaching a different story: that God is NOT the ruler of the empire. Jesus preached the separation of politics from God; separating faith from the state. As a result, he was crucified, and many of his followers were killed by Nero (between 54 and 68 AD), Domitian (81–96 AD), Trajan (98–117 AD) and Decius (249–251 AD). This new narrative was a thread for the Roman rulers. Draw the parallels of how there have been many attempts to “kill” bitcoin, not with physical persecution but with an information war. Not by physical violence, but by misinformation. Bitcoin threatens the status quo, just like Christianity threatened the Roman Empire. You see? But how is the obscure movement of Bitcoin in the 20th century becoming the dominant force, similar to the question that Scrivener asked about Christianity? Perhaps the answer lies in the following parallel. **3. Exponential grassroots growth** Sociologist Rodney Stark estimates in “The Rise of Christianity” that from the time of the first Easter, the church began growing at a rate of 40% per decade, a modest but relentless 3.4% per year. By the year 300, Christians numbered perhaps 6 million: about a tenth of the empire. Despite pushbacks, the army of believers continued to grow. Grassroots, peer-to-peer. It was not the state-religion, it was a peaceful army of believers that spread the word, resulting in an exponential growth of its followers. The counterculture became more and more dominant. You may see what I’m doing here. It was basically the meme that all Bitcoiners know: Gradually, then suddenly. Against the current. **4. Conversion of emperors/politicians** In 312 a big change happened: Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. As Stark writes, "Constantine's conversion would better be seen as a response to the massive exponential wave in progress, not as its cause". Are we living in that same era, where nation states start to embrace Bitcoin? Where politicians don’t oppose as strongly anymore, but are flirting with the idea of embracing it? And again the parallel: it’s responsive to the exponential wave of progress, not as its cause. Whether Constantine is Nayib Bukele, Donald Trump, or Milei: it doesn’t matter. It’s the dynamic that matters. The counterculture becomes so dominant, that the “rulers” of the world are wanting to be part of it. Which will be followed by “rules” that favour the ideology, movement, and beliefs. **5. Tolerance and protection for ideology** In 313 Constatines Edict of Milan granted freedom to Christians that were remarkable for that time and a model for religious toleration for the coming centuries. The tide was turning, and by 380 Emperor Theodosius made Christianity Rome's official religion, more than half the population had already converted. In a few short centuries Christianity had gone from radical counterculture to dominant cultural power. This was an extraordinary shift in the church's relationship with the world. The edict expressly grants religious liberty to Christians, who had been the object of special persecution, but also goes even further and grants liberty to all other religions. And then, in 410, the world itself changed. It changed from grassroots, bottom-up adoption to some kind of nation state adoption. One that was driven by decrees and edicts, instead of the analog cyberhornets of that day. Actually, the ideas of Indulgences were introduced via these Edicts, something that Maarten Luther actually was fighting against in the 1500s. The world changed from the state-less Christian belief and moved (back) towards a system in which the state and church were connected again. Yes — the Roman Catholic Church. Until the previously mentioned critics during the Reformation. **6. Fall of the empire, end of the status quo** When people speak of the fall of the Roman Empire, they usually mean in the 5th century when the western half fell. But there was also an eastern half, known as the Byzantine Empire (with its capital in what is modern-day Istanbul). How did this relate to the movement that once was Cult, and now suddenly had become Culture? It was Augustine, the north African bishop (354-430), who laid the foundation for a new philosophical, theological, and legal system. He distinguished between the fragile earthly realm and the eternal heavenly kingdom. Rome was “a city of man”, which fell. But the “city of God” was forever. He continued to separate the Roman Catholic Church from the faith that it once was. This distinction was vital, and it gave rise to the concept of "the secular realm". He planted the first ideas of "the separation of church and state" again, which started to spread throughout Europe during the supposedly "sandy desert" of the Middle Ages. The parallel and lesson here might be that narratives can be taken over, for the worse. And that it takes centuries to take back the narrative, but/and only after an empire has fallen. Whether we refer to “The Fourth Turning” by William Strauss and Neil Howe or “Changing World Orders” by Ray Dalio. There is something to preserve, and it needs active monitoring and pushbacks! **7. Missionary, spreading the word** The way the church sought to spread its influence would become a question that would take many centuries (and many failures) to settle. In the past, empires sought to spread their influence almost always by force. Christianity has been a missionary faith from the beginning. It was for this reason that Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine to Britain to convert the Anglo-Saxons. Augustine was commanded by Gregory to use only "gentle means". His goal was persuasion. His method was teaching and preaching. And he was successful, converting King Aethelbert of Kent and becoming the first Archbishop of Canterbury. You see what I’m talking about again: the parallel is simple. Bitcoin is a similar peaceful revolution, a missionary movement, of those that wish to see their Cult turn into a Culture. “Genle means”, teachings, persuasions. Or in pleb terminology: Orangepilling. **8. Persuasion and education are key** Over the next decades and centuries, this movement continued. English Benedictine monk (675-754) Boniface was sent from the previously “barbarian” Britain to “orangepill the East” – in this case the Saxons in the Germanic lands. In the words of his advisor, the Bishop of Winchester, his goal was "to convince them by many documents and arguments". This mission of persuasion and education was largely successful. Today he’s better known as “the Apostle to the Germans". He was killed in The Netherlands (Dokkum). Boniface kept to a policy of non-violence and non-retaliation, even to the point of death. Another famous writer about this topic, Tom Holland, summarises the lesson we learn from Boniface: "to convert was to educate". In the following century this lesson was sorely needed by the Frankish king Charles the Great, aka Charlemagne (742-814). Charlemagne's path to power was a brutal one. When the Saxons stood in his way, Charlemagne beheaded 4,500 of them in a single day. There are concrete reasons why "getting medieval" might be associated today with brutality. Is “Bitcoin as Legal Tender”, whether this is peaceful or violently, the way to go? Are we “getting medieval” with these kind of measures, in order to go from Cult to Culture, from counterculture to dominant culture, in which we lose the true essence of our revolution of separation of the state from the matter? **9. Age of Enlightenment** Alcuin of York (735-804), was bold enough to write to Charlemagne directly with his criticism. "A person can be drawn into the faith, not forced into it". Be a lighthouse, not a tugboat! The church's official teaching would later agree with Alcuin's position. In the 12th century all "harsh means" were forbidden since faith arises from the will, not compulsion. Enlightenment comes through education and persuasion. There’s work to do. Grassroots. Education. Peer-to-peer. Not directed by politicians, nor opposed by those in power. Through education and persuasion. Rules without rulers. Because eventually, with the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition, there are stark examples of the church using “harsh means" again. Forcing Bitcoin on people will never be the way: it’s a cheat code to the end goal. In order to succeed, we’ll need to be a missionary. **Final words** I don’t want in any way to compare Christianity in itself as a faith, and Bitcoin as a technology, with each other. I enjoyed exploring the sociological phenomena between two countercultures, the grassroots movement and missionary parallels between both of them. Satoshi gave the first assist, with the 31st of October (Whitepaper Day) and the Genesis Block on January 3rd. Let’s not mix religion with monetary systems, even though there are many similarities between certain movements. That’s not my goal for sharing this brain dump. But let’s learn from the past, from Constatine’s Edict and from Augustine, from Charlemagne (and especially Alcuin of York), from Boniface and from Maarten Luther. And from Satoshi Nakamoto.

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## The Four-Layer Framework ### Layer 1: Zoom Out  Start by looking at the big picture. What’s the subject about, and why does it matter? Focus on the overarching ideas and how they fit together. Think of this as the 30,000-foot view—it’s about understanding the "why" and "how" before diving into the "what." **Example**: If you’re learning programming, start by understanding that it’s about giving logical instructions to computers to solve problems. - **Tip**: Keep it simple. Summarize the subject in one or two sentences and avoid getting bogged down in specifics at this stage. _Once you have the big picture in mind, it’s time to start breaking it down._ --- ### Layer 2: Categorize and Connect  Now it’s time to break the subject into categories—like creating branches on a tree. This helps your brain organize information logically and see connections between ideas. **Example**: Studying biology? Group concepts into categories like cells, genetics, and ecosystems. - **Tip**: Use headings or labels to group similar ideas. Jot these down in a list or simple diagram to keep track. _With your categories in place, you’re ready to dive into the details that bring them to life._ --- ### Layer 3: Master the Details  Once you’ve mapped out the main categories, you’re ready to dive deeper. This is where you learn the nuts and bolts—like formulas, specific techniques, or key terminology. These details make the subject practical and actionable. **Example**: In programming, this might mean learning the syntax for loops, conditionals, or functions in your chosen language. - **Tip**: Focus on details that clarify the categories from Layer 2. Skip anything that doesn’t add to your understanding. _Now that you’ve mastered the essentials, you can expand your knowledge to include extra material._ --- ### Layer 4: Expand Your Horizons  Finally, move on to the extra material—less critical facts, trivia, or edge cases. While these aren’t essential to mastering the subject, they can be useful in specialized discussions or exams. **Example**: Learn about rare programming quirks or historical trivia about a language’s development. - **Tip**: Spend minimal time here unless it’s necessary for your goals. It’s okay to skim if you’re short on time. --- ## Pro Tips for Better Learning ### 1. Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition Test yourself without looking at notes. Review what you’ve learned at increasing intervals—like after a day, a week, and a month. This strengthens memory by forcing your brain to actively retrieve information. ### 2. Map It Out Create visual aids like [diagrams or concept maps](https://excalidraw.com/) to clarify relationships between ideas. These are particularly helpful for organizing categories in Layer 2. ### 3. Teach What You Learn Explain the subject to someone else as if they’re hearing it for the first time. Teaching **exposes any gaps** in your understanding and **helps reinforce** the material. ### 4. Engage with LLMs and Discuss Concepts Take advantage of tools like ChatGPT or similar large language models to **explore your topic** in greater depth. Use these tools to: - Ask specific questions to clarify confusing points. - Engage in discussions to simulate real-world applications of the subject. - Generate examples or analogies that deepen your understanding. **Tip**: Use LLMs as a study partner, but don’t rely solely on them. Combine these insights with your own critical thinking to develop a well-rounded perspective. --- ## Get Started Ready to try the Four-Layer Method? Take 15 minutes today to map out the big picture of a topic you’re curious about—what’s it all about, and why does it matter? By building your understanding step by step, you’ll master the subject with less stress and more confidence.

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

@ 101b30ee:18a46a45

--- ### ハンドシェイク - HTTPリクエスト解析 - [ ] HTTPリクエストラインのパーサー関数作成 - [x] HTTPヘッダーのパーサー関数作成 - [ ] HTTPリクエストボディのパーサー関数作成 - [ ] WebSocket関連ヘッダーの検証 - [ ] `Upgrade: websocket` - [ ] `Connection: Upgrade` - [ ] `Sec-WebSocket-Key` の取得と検証 - [ ] `Sec-WebSocket-Version: 13` の検証 - HTTPレスポンス作成 - [ ] `Sec-WebSocket-Accept` の生成 - [x] `Sec-WebSocket-Key` にSHA-1適用(外部依存) - [ ] `Sec-WebSocket-Key` にSHA-1適用(非依存) - [x] `Sec-WebSocket-Key` にBase64エンコードを適用 - [x] HTTP 101 Switching Protocolsレスポンスの構築と送信 --- ### データ転送 #### WebSocketフレームの処理 - フレーム解析 - [x] `fin` ビットの取り出しと解釈 - [x] `rsv1`, `rsv2`, `rsv3` の取り出しと検証 - [ ] `opcode` の取り出しと処理 - [ ] 0x0: 継続フレーム - [ ] 0x1: テキストフレーム - [ ] 0x2: バイナリフレーム - [ ] 0x8: 接続終了 - [ ] 0x9: Ping - [ ] 0xA: Pong - [x] `mask` フラグの取得と検証 - [x] `payload_len` の取り出しと解析 - [x] 拡張されたペイロード長（`extended payload len`）の取り出し - [x] `masking key` の取得とデコード - [x] `payload` データの取り出し - [ ] `fin` に基づく分割パケット対応 - デコード - [x] `masking key` を使用したペイロードデコード - opcode別処理 - [ ] テキストフレーム(0x1)のUTF-8デコードと処理 - [ ] バイナリフレーム(0x2)のデータ処理 - [ ] Ping(0x9)フレームへのPong応答 - [ ] 接続終了(0x8)の処理 - [ ] 不正なopcodeに対するエラー応答 #### フレーム生成 - フレーム構築 - [ ] `fin` フラグ設定 - [ ] `opcode` の設定 - [ ] ペイロードのマスキング処理（クライアント向けのみ） - [ ] ペイロード長の設定（拡張ペイロード長を含む） - [ ] フレーム全体のバイトストリーム化 --- ### 接続管理 - [x] クライアント接続の確立 - [x] 2クライアント以上の接続の確立 - [ ] 接続中のクライアントのリスト管理 - [ ] 接続のタイムアウト処理 - [ ] 不正なクライアントからの接続拒否 - [ ] 接続終了時のクリーンアップ処理 - [ ] ハートビート機能（Ping/Pong）による接続維持 --- ### セキュリティ - [ ] WebSocket Originヘッダーの検証（許可されたオリジンのみ受け入れる） - [ ] メッセージサイズの上限設定（大規模メッセージ攻撃の防御） - [ ] 不正なフレーム/データに対するエラーハンドリング - [ ] SSL/TLSサポート（wssプロトコル用） --- ### 拡張機能とプロトコルアップグレード - [ ] サブプロトコル（Sec-WebSocket-Protocol）の処理 - [ ] 拡張（Sec-WebSocket-Extensions）のサポート - 圧縮データのデコード (例: permessage-deflate) --- ### テストとデバッグ - [ ] 単体テスト - [ ] ハンドシェイクのテスト - [ ] フレーム解析と生成のテスト - [ ] 各opcode処理のテスト - [ ] 負荷テスト（高負荷時の動作確認） - [ ] プロトコルコンフォーマンステスト - [ ] RFC 6455に準拠しているかの確認 - [ ] ロギングとデバッグツールの実装 --- ### ドキュメント - [ ] コードベースのコメントとドキュメント化 - [ ] WebSocketサーバーの設定と使用法についてのユーザーガイド作成 ### タグ #RFC6455

@ a853296a:209e695f

👋 What's up, stackers! 🤠 Excited to announce our latest project: [Pull That Up Jamie](https://pullthatupjamie.ai). Think Perplexity but private & [open source](https://github.com/uncleJim21/pullthatupjamie-react).  #### TLDR: ✨ Why Choose Jamie? 🛠️ Fully Open Source and Transparent! ⚡ BOLT11 Bitcoin/Lightning for Anonymous Usage! 🚄 Optimized for Speed and Convenience! 🆓 Limited Free Usage Available! #### 💦🔒🕵️ Your Biggest Opsec Leak - Why We Tackled Search Search + LLMs seems like the peanut butter & jelly of the internet - a great match. But at what cost? Now that LLMs and AI are here, we know that finding needles in a vast haystack of data is much easier. That means that seemingly innocuous queries and interactions you have on the internet now carry way more weight than you think. How long before we all get owned? Privacy becomes all the more important. Each query empowers those who would exploit us. Every search chips away, revealing personal details about your state of mind. Stealing your soul little by little. Just as bitcoin gives us the opportunity to opt out of exploitative economic systems, we wanted to take bitcoin's magic freedom dust and give you the ability to opt out of exploitative search surveillance 🔒🕵️. #### ⚡ How Bitcoin Lightning Yet Again Fixes This Using the Bitcoin Connect plugin, we are able to accept BOLT11 payments. BOLT11, thanks to the lightning network's onion routing topology, affords users great sender privacy:  With just a VPN + an NWC connection, you can use Pull That Up Jamie with privacy assurances that are unparalleled. For very low cost, an average person can get Jason Bourne tier opsec.  #### 🚧🧰🏗️Building Off the Great Work of Others Major shout out to the ⚡ lightning devs that brought BOLT11 to the point it's at and especially to the 🐝 @getalby team for the great work on Bitcoin Connect. BC makes it easy to accept bitcoin payments with very little friction or overhead. Additionally, we took notes on great projects like [Perplexica](https://github.com/ItzCrazyKns/Perplexica). However we found that none of them were really geared toward the combination of speed, UX, and convenience we were looking for. Most of them are designed to be run in docker containers on your machine - great for techies but not accessible to the wider population. We rolled our own from scratch, learning a lot from these projects. We especially took note of the superb qualities afforded by the SearXNG project🔍 🌐. What is SearXNG? Let's ask Pull That Up Jamie:  _SearXNG is such a gamechanger that we plan to make a bitcoin payable, AI scannable endpoint just for accessing our instance. [DM](https://x.com/cascdr_) us if interested._ Armed with the ability to search the web and feed context to LLMs, we can Make The Internet Private Again. We can eliminate Google from your life. ⚡ Stackers do yourselves a favor - check out https://pullthatupjamie.ai today! 🤠 ### Future Work - Open source models like 🦙 Llama - Collaborating with @TonyGiorgio and team to use their secure compute LLM 🍁 Maple - https://stacker.news/items/764869 as part of the workflow - Expert Mode: interrogate high signal sources of your choosing like podcasts, stacker news posts and others - A couple more secret twists to keep you guessing :) - Suggestions? Hit us with em. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/833717

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

--- ## No. 1 - The Less Touristy "Bund"  The Bund is certainly a must-see if you are traveling to Shanghai for the first time - and it will be at the top of every travel guide out there, for good reason - there are equally as stunning alternatives away from the crowds. If you want to enjoy the skyline from a more relaxed perspective, consider the Pudong side of the river. There are parks, basketball courts, and green spaces along the riverbank for you to chill at and take in the sights. You can also hop on a ferry or a sightseeing boat to cross the river and admire the views from the renowned Bund. --- ## No. 2 - Walks Along Golden Street  This one is out in Gubei, a suburban area in the west of Shanghai. It may be a bit of a trek, but it is worth it if you are looking for a more relaxing and peaceful pedestrian street in the city. Golden Street, or Jinxiu Road, is a great place to walk a dog, grab an afternoon drink, or enjoy a romantic dinner with your loved one. While it may be a bit far from downtown, it makes for a great joyride on your scooter or bicycle. --- ## No. 3 - Moganshan Road Graffiti Wall  Moganshan Road is a gem for all things art. It is home to M50, the best art district in the city, where you will find dozens of galleries, studios, and workshops showcasing a wide range of art. There are also plenty of cool spots scattered around the area, particularly the graffiti wall. The wall is a welcome contrast to some of the drab and monotonous architecture found around the city; with colorful display of street art featuring various styles and themes. Stop by and admire the works of local and international artists, and even jump in to join them in adding your own mark. The wall is constantly evolving, so you can always find something new. --- ## No. 4 - Jiaotong University in the Fall  Easily one of the best spots in town for catching rows of bright yellow and red leaves. Jiaotong University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China. The campus is located in Xuhui District and has a mix of Chinese and Western architectural styles to admire as well. Try to visit in late October or early November for the best leaf-peeping. You can walk along the tree-lined paths, set up a blanket in the field for a picnic, or simply take photos and enjoy the scenery. --- ## No. 5 - Day Drinking at Highline  Hands down one of the top five rooftop bars in the city, along with Bar Rouge, Kartel, and others; Highline is a go-to-spot that offers great views of the city and excellent food. Find it on the sixth floor of the Ascott Hotel in Huaihai Road in Xintiandi. Nothing beats a laid back Saturday afternoon at Highline. I prefer the views during the day, though it is equally as nice a night. Sip cocktails, wine, or beer, and enjoy the music and vibe. Highline is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. --- ### Additional Photos      --- #### Next Guide in the Series: [An Expats Guide to the Best Spots in Shanghai: 002](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1719708820357/) --- ### Find Me Elsewhere: [Website](https://hes.npub.pro/) [Art](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography/) [Storefront](https://plebeian.market/p/517d6542a081d61ecd8900ad9e2640290e2cf06f516c5e5f3edadfbde446bff4/stall/1db0cdfe0e39c4bd81b903902eeda74e6aa0f0b56e30851f327e6d0c292c5c06) --- *All images property of Hes. Originally published as an Instagram Guide on Feb. 02, 2021. Reworked and published on Nostr on Feb. 17, 2024.*

@ 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.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - A Series of Banking Collapses - Federal Reserve's Counteraction - The Impact on Bitcoin - Market's Delayed Reaction - Bitcoin's Future Amidst Monetary Policies - Conclusions - FAQ Bitcoin, the digital gold of the 21st century, has always been at the center of discussions in the financial and tech worlds. Its volatile price movements and its potential to revolutionize the financial sector make it a hot topic. Among the many voices opining on Bitcoin's trajectory, Arthur Hayes, co-founder and former CEO of BitMEX, stands out with his unique insights. He firmly believes that March was a defining month that signaled the onset of a bullish trend for Bitcoin. This article aims to unpack Hayes' perspective and understand the reasons behind his belief. **A Series of Banking Collapses** March of this year wasn't just another month on the financial calendar; it was a month marked by significant banking disturbances. Hayes attributes the beginning of Bitcoin's bull run to a specific date: March 10. On this day, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a significant event in the banking world. But this wasn't an isolated incident. Just two days before, on March 8, Silvergate Bank faced liquidation, sending ripples of concern through the financial community. This wave of uncertainty continued when, on March 12, Signature Bank was compelled to shut its doors due to intervention by New York regulators. These back-to-back banking crises set the stage for what was to come in the cryptocurrency realm. **Federal Reserve's Counteraction** Reacting to the unfolding banking crises, the Federal Reserve took a decisive step. They introduced the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP), a strategic move aimed at stabilizing the banking sector. This program was designed to offer banks loans that could extend up to a year. However, there was a catch: banks had to post "qualifying assets" as collateral to avail themselves of these loans. Hayes viewed this initiative as a clear attempt by the Federal Reserve to provide a safety net for the entire banking system. In his interpretation, the Fed's message was straightforward: "Exchange your devalued bonds for fresh dollars, and let's stabilize the system." **The Impact on Bitcoin** The repercussions of the banking crises and the Federal Reserve's countermeasures were felt in the cryptocurrency market, particularly in Bitcoin's price dynamics. Following these events, Bitcoin's price began its upward trajectory, registering an impressive increase of approximately 26%. Hayes believes that the Federal Reserve's actions, combined with the growing skepticism towards the value of fiat currencies, played a pivotal role in this surge. As faith in traditional currencies waned, traders and investors began to see the appeal of fixed-supply assets, with Bitcoin emerging as the prime contender. **Market's Delayed Reaction** While the indicators pointing to a bullish trend in Bitcoin are clear to some, Hayes observes that the broader market has been somewhat sluggish in its response. This delay in market reaction is not uncommon in the financial world, where multiple factors influence decision-making processes. However, Hayes remains undeterred in his optimism. He anticipates that within a span of six to twelve months, the market will not only recognize but also react positively to this bullish trend, further propelling Bitcoin's growth. **Bitcoin's Future Amidst Monetary Policies** Hayes' bullish stance on Bitcoin extends beyond just its recent performance. He envisions a bright future for the cryptocurrency, irrespective of the monetary decisions taken by institutions like the Federal Reserve. Whether the Fed opts for interest rate hikes to induce economic tightening or chooses the path of printing more money to infuse liquidity into the system, Hayes believes Bitcoin is poised to benefit. In his perspective, the inherent properties of Bitcoin, combined with its decentralized nature, position it favorably to thrive amidst varying economic scenarios. **Conclusion** Arthur Hayes' insights offer a deep dive into the intricate dynamics between traditional banking systems, global monetary policies, and the burgeoning world of cryptocurrencies. As we stand at the crossroads of financial evolution, understanding these interplays becomes crucial. Hayes' conviction that March marked the commencement of Bitcoin's bullish trend provides not just a perspective but also a beacon for those navigating the cryptocurrency waters. His analysis underscores the potential of Bitcoin and offers a glimpse into its promising future in the ever-evolving financial landscape. **FAQ** **When did Hayes believe the Bitcoin bull run started?** Hayes believes that the Bitcoin bull run began on March 10. **What significant event occurred on March 10?** On March 10, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. **How did the Federal Reserve respond to banking crises?** The Federal Reserve introduced the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) to stabilize the banking sector by offering loans in exchange for "qualifying assets" as collateral. **What impact did these events have on Bitcoin?** Following these events, Bitcoin's price surged by approximately 26%, marking the beginning of its bullish trend. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

## noStrudel Released another major version of noStrudel v0.42.0 Which included a few new features and a lot of cleanup nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqfngzhsvjggdlgeycm96x4emzjlwf8dyyzdfg4hefp89zpkdgz99qyghwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tcpzfmhxue69uhkummnw3e82efwvdhk6tcqp3hx7um5wf6kgetv956ry6rmhwr ## Blossom On the blossom front there where a few more PRs - Expanded the documentation around CORS headers in BUD-01 thanks to nostr:npub1a6we08n7zsv2na689whc9hykpq4q6sj3kaauk9c2dm8vj0adlajq7w0tyc - Made auth optional on the `/upload` endpoint [PR](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/pull/33) - Added a `HEAD /media` endpoint for BUD-05 [PR](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/pull/42) - Added range request recommendations to BUD-01 [PR](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/pull/47) With blossom uploads starting to be supported in more nostr clients users where starting to ask where to find a list of blossom servers. so I created a simple nostr client that allows users to post servers and leave reviews [blossomservers.com](https://blossomservers.com) Its still very much a work in progress (needs login and server and review editing) The source is on [github](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossomservers) I also started another project to create a simple account based paid blossom server [blossom-account-server](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom-account-server) Unfortunately I got sidetracked and I didn't have the time to give it the attention it needs to get it over the finish line ## Smaller projects - [cherry-tree](https://github.com/hzrd149/cherry-tree) A small app for uploading chunked blobs to blossom servers (with cashu payment support) - [vite-plugin-funding](https://github.com/hzrd149/vite-plugin-funding) A vite plugin to collect and expose package "funding" to the app - [node-red-contrib-rx-nostr](https://github.com/hzrd149/node-red-contrib-rx-nostr) The start of a node-red package for rx-nostr. if your interested please help - [node-red-contrib-applesauce](https://github.com/hzrd149/node-red-contrib-applesauce) The start of a node-red package for applesauce. I probably wont finish it so any help it welcome ## Plans for 2025 I have a few vague ideas of what I want to work on Q1 of 2025. but there are a few things i know for certain. I'm going to keep refactoring noStrudel by moving core logic out into [applesauce](https://hzrd149.github.io/applesauce/) and making it more modular. This should make noStrudel more reliable and hopefully allow me to create and maintain more apps with less code And I'm going to write tests. tests for everything. hopefully tests for all the libraries and apps I've created in 2024. A lot of the code I wrote in 2024 was hacky code to see if things could work. and while its been working pretty well I'm starting to forget the details of of the code I wrote so I cant be sure if it still works or how well it works. So my solution is to write tests, lots of tests :)

@ 58edc6ae:e070cfa5

MiCA Regulation and the new AML Regulation have recently come into force, raising several concerns about how the EU is approaching non-custodial payment solutions. These include: 1. **Conflicts with privacy standards and human rights norms** The rules permit excessive collection and sharing of information on private transactions without adequate safeguards, conflicting with EU privacy standards and international human rights principles, as emphasised in rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union. 2. **Blocking innovation** The regulations conflict with privacy-focused technologies, potentially stifling new ideas and platforms in the EU. This could weaken the EU’s position as a leader in digital finance. 3. **Hurting competition** Compliance with these regulations increases operating costs for EU-based CASPs, placing them at a disadvantage compared to non-EU companies operating under less restrictive rules. This may push users toward unregulated services outside Europe, undermining the regulations' purpose. 4. **Excluding vulnerable groups** The regulations could make it harder for people in poorer or politically unstable countries to access secure and private financial tools, leaving them without viable financial options. *** These issues are explored in detail in the [report](https://en.odfoundation.eu/content/uploads/2024/12/24.12.2024_report_on_non-custodial_wallets_final.pdf) prepared by nostr:npub15ka0zlfeys4vphnl6dk4x63e7sra0mp3wmrp4ml7q993z8km0n6spjxua8 and me for Open Dialogue Foundation upon the request of nostr:npub13ajk3hhvqys2ev4y68jwxywgs8fsdsuk4y5gkzs874jdyrccvf5qak2yd9 . It is crucial to reopen the discussion on these issues and urge European lawmakers to reconsider their approach. The EU needs a regulatory framework that strikes a balance between security and privacy, fosters innovation, and rebuilds Europe’s weakened position in the global digital economy. #MiCA #AML

@ d920bbbd:5213849e

Background : Family of 4, including 2 children under 10, coming to El Salvador for a 15 days holiday trip. Instead of telling our story to family and friends as we usually do, we’ll instead write a (very, very long) thread about it, so it’ll help organize our thoughts, and have place to discuss them. It might also help you decide if you’d like to come and spend some time in El Salvador or not. For clarity’s sake, I'll try to put a tag before each post with it's main theme [QUICK BACKGROUND 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦] For additional background, we are currently living in what people usually call a First-World country in Europe, where basic human rights like free speech and individual liberty reign supreme... which is a bit odd to say in the light of recent news like mass censorship laws, civil unrest, arrest of @durov... Our youngest child being finally old enough to travel long distance without causing trouble, we wanted to see something new (first time to central America), and also check if the turnaround since @nayibbukele was elected was real, and all the hype we read often about El Salvador was justified. So we flew nearly a whole day hours (stops included) to have a look at it for ourselves.  [FIRST IMPRESSIONS] First thing we noticed out of the plane is the security. Not bullshit security like endless queues with body and luggage scanners (which we already went into several time before boarding the planes…), but useful security with armed guards patrolling with sniffer dogs. Reassuring. Passing customs was also quick and easy, and the officers there were nice and patient despite our poor Spanish. You’ll get mugshotted and fully KYC’ed (what’s your business in El Salvador, where you’ll stay etc…), annoying but usual from customs screening foreigners coming into their country. The airport was overall very clean, simple to navigate, and looked like any modern airport we’ve been to in Europe. There was also some construction being done around it, so it’s probably getting bigger soon. Picking-up and dropping back our rental car was very smooth, better than what we are used to when going through the big rental companies, and at a lower cost. Shoutout to @bitdriver about that, whom was recommended to us by a friend. If you go to El Salvador, rent through this man, it’s easy and you support local entrepreneurs. We left the airport (after having to present an ID to the parking guard, which is a recurring theme, as they even you to left an ID as deposit when you rent a lockbox in amusement park…) and headed to our rental flat located in a condo in El Escalon, a colonia (district) on the outskirts of San Salvador. There, we were greeted by armed guards (also a recurring theme), who did a full ID/KYC check again about our business here… and then escorted to our flat by one of the guard. It might be odd for me to point this out, but in Europe, basically only policemen (and not even in all countries), trained and licensed security personnel like bodyguards (very rare) or military are allowed to carry firearms in public.  [SAFETY 👮] So to get this out of the way regarding security : nearly anywhere we went (national parks, amusement parks, restaurants, malls, parking lots…) you’ll be greeted with armed guards wearing mostly revolvers and coach guns. The Salvadoran Police (PNC - Policía Nacional Civil) is also very present, especially in very touristic areas like the historical center of San Salvador or national parks. This dissipated right away any doubt we might have regarding our security in the country. Not once during our whole trip we felt insecure or even bothered about that, and we just forgot about it. [MOVING AROUND/ROADS 🚗🛣️] During our 15 days, we travelled around 1.3k kilometers around the country, exclusively with our rental car. As I’ll mention several time in the thread, I’ll use Western Europe for reference, so all I say might seem funny for Southern, Middle and North Americans… Driving in El Salvador is very different than in the EU. While most road rules are the same (then even measure speed and distance with Kilometers/hour, not Miles/hour…) people usually pick a lane and stick to it. You can pass cars left or right equally, people don’t care, while in the EU it’s illegal to pass someone to the right (unless in the UK, obviously…) and people will road rage at you if you do that. Also, the road signs are much rarer, and you better use Waze or Google Maps to navigate (Apple Plans can’t even give you walking directions in El Salvador…). The road from the Airport to San Salvador was very nice, smooth, and well lit with the Salvadoran flag colors (Blue/White/Blue) lit all along the way. Looks very cool and gives a welcoming feeling to foreigner (and I can imagine a prideful feeling for locals)… all that with just some leds. It’s a bit different once you reach the city, were you’ll be greeted with your first Túmulo (basically very steep speed bumps located at the cities’ entrance and some residential/school areas) that you better not ignore if you value your car. The roads were very smooth and well painted, but I was sometimes met with the biggest pot holes I’ve seen in my life. It’s a pity because 80% of the Salvadoran roads we travelled were in very good condition, about similar to what we have in the EU, but 20% is either unfinished (no asphalt) or poorly maintained (potholes of various size). The Carretera Panamericana (Central American Highway, crossing El Salvador) is speed limited to 90 km/h is was nearly perfectly maintened. I think this situation (Speed Túmulos at the city entrances + some harsh roads) is what is leading Salvadorans to use mainly SUV’s/Pickups as their car of choice. From what we've seen on the road, Salvadorans drive mostly Japanese and Korean SUVs and pickups (think like Nissan Rogue SUVs, called Nissan X-trails in the EU, or Mitsubishis L200/Toyota Hylux style pickups), and have a lot of tallers (garages) everywhere. We saw 40 year old cars that would have been sent to the scrap heaps 30 years ago in the EU still going here, and where a car with 100k km on the odometer is considered old and borderline scrap heap-able in the EU, here they are still looking good and working good. For reference, our rental had 200k KM on the odometer, and everything worked perfectly fine. Weirdly enough, it seems pedestrians have no right of way in El Salvador. Even though there are plenty of crosswalks, even on the highway, we learned pretty fast that the custom here is to not stop to let pedestrians cross, and we saw several time people chilling on the median, waiting for the traffic to abate before crossing to the other side of the road. Total opposite of were we live, where any pedestrian waiting at a crosswalk (without traffic lights) has the right of way. Lastly, while I mentioned before the official distance and speed unit is based on the kilometer, the gas is always priced in $/gallon (1 liter of super premium is about $1.11, while in the EU it’s usually between €1.80 to €2.20), but the drinks/food are sometime sold in oz/lbs, and sometimes in liter/gram. Odd but manageable.   [TRAFFIC/PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 🚌🚥] As with all big cities we’ve been to, traffic is really bad in and around San Salvador. Better be patient and do not get lost because it could add tons of time to your trips due to traffic. We didn’t use buses because we had our car, but there are plenty of Salvadoran public buses going from anywhere to everywhere, for apparently not even $1 per ride. 80% of the buses we’ve seen are literally old repurposed American school buses, that are painted and tuned by locals. You can see buses with flashing leds, custom rims, custom spring where the front axle is lifted twice as high as the back one, shark-tails spoilers, and graffiti-style city names. They basically pick you up and drop you anywhere you like. It’s a bit of the same with trucking : a lot of “old” big rigs from the US are used here to transport freight and construction material. I’ve also seen some of the best customised trucks with led designs, custom rims and paint here. Same goes for car tuning : a lot of Salvadoran apparently like to customise their car, even with stuff that should be illegal in the EU (flashing, coloued headlights, big exhaust, custom rims with protruding spikes…) We didn’t see many luxury cars, besides a few US luxury pickups and huge SUVs. Nearly 0 German cars, overall way less than 1% of the cars we crossed on the road. A handful of BMWs, 3 Porsches, 2 Mercedes. And 0 Tesla, nor EVs in general, except maybe an electric DHL Van and a hybrid or two cars (and we’re not even sure about these being fully electrical or even hybrid). It’s a big contrast since EVs (especially Teslas) are now everywhere in the big European cities. We didn’t see any EV charging point anywhere, too. As we mentioned before, keeping older car road worthy is big here, and with gas at around $1 per liter, I can understand why there’s zero EV in El Salvador (yet). We also saw plenty of locals using small trucks as buses (where 15+ people are standing up next to each other on an open-ended truck), big dump-trucks where 5+ people were chilling on the dirt, and kids and teens sitting in the back of pickup trucks… Again, this might seem normal here, and I’m not judging if it’s good or bad (people are free to travel however they like as long as they do not endanger other road users if you ask me), but coming from Europe, you’d get arrested and fined within 10 minutes of travelling like this. I’ve also come across old railways track, and the only time I heard about trains in El Salvador was from a tour guide than explained to us that people tried to flee from a small village near San Salvador by train during the last San Salvador Volcano Eruption in 1917… but the train tracks were cut off by a lava trail. So I’ve looked it up and indeed there are no more railways operating in El Salvador since 2002 (due to no rentability and damage from the civil war, and reset plans were unsuccessful so far). Apparently there are new big plans to rebuild a new railway called the Pacific Train. If successful, that would be a very good development to alleviate traffic and allow people to travel the country more quickly, but we’ll have to wait and see how it goes.   [SAN SALVADOR HISTORICAL CENTER ⛪️] We visited the historical center of San Salvador, where ultra modern edifices like the BINAES (Biblioteca Nacional de El Salvador) are standing across older gems like the Palacio Nacional (built in the late 1800’s, destroyed by fire, rebuild in the early 1900’s (you can have a look at the older foundations during your tour)) which is still hosting speeches from @nayib according to our tour guide and the Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador, a beautiful cathedral facing the BINAES. Speaking of the BINAES, it is a library open 24/7 which is as much an amusement park for babies, kids, teens and adults (think playgrounds, video games, themed areas about Star Wars, Harry Potter and LOTR) than a library for readers and learners (plenty of brand new books and reading areas). I wish we had something like this at home because you have to spend some time there to see how cool it is, whatever your age and your book taste are. Next to these very touristic areas, you also have local markets and shops, where you can get a haircut for $2.5, and buy anything (food, clothes, and all kind of stuff) for a few dollars or even cents. The contrast is very strong between the local areas and the tourist areas ; you can see very clean and modern streets, parks, fountains, on par or better than what you’ll see in Europe, and one block away you are back 30 years in the past, with people having stands on the street flea-market style, street vendors waving at you to sell you stuff (can’t hide you’re a tourist here), and overall a very organized-chaos feeling there. Even in these areas, we were never bothered by Salvadorans.   [RURAL CITIES 🏘️] We went to visit a few typical Salvadoran cities in the back country, notably a few on the route of flowers (even though there are no flowers here during the winter) : Nahuizalco, Apaneca, Concepción de Atacó… They have in common to have usually busy marketplaces around the city center, nice parks to chill for a bit with kids playground, often some very nice hand-painted murals, and always some churches/cathedrals that are very well tended to. The life of these cities look to be organised around the town center, as there are plenty of vendors, shops and place to eat in this area. We also went to visit Suchitoto, where you can spend the day as there are many things to do, places and museums to visit. One of the most intriguing part of this city was that it was full of little car looking like golf carts. After doing a bit of research, apparently these are Indian-made and called Bajaj Cute. The city's roads and roads to the lake were even arranged with narrow bands of concrete as large as these cars' size to help them navigate the cobblestone roads and steep roads in the area. And of course, there are also plenty of natural wonders around these cities to discover.     [VOLCANOES/RUINS/BEACHES/PARKS 🌋🏖️🏞️] We also visited as many of the natural and archeological wonders as we could, such as the San Salvador volcano, with its stunning views over San Salvador city and the craters… yes, there is a crater (El Boqueroncito) inside a crater ! (El Boquerón). We also spotted the Torogoz here, which is the official animal of El Salvador and which has a very cool backstory told by our guide. We also saw very well preserved Mayan Ruins (El Tazumal), and stunning beaches (El Zonte, aka Bitcoin Beach, awesome surf spot, where we met mostly foreigners) and San Diego Beach, which looked like and endless tropical sand beach where we met about as many people enjoying the beach than lifeguards (actually one “official“ life guard, and a local guy patrolling the beach on a donkey, both warned us about the tide and currents, which as very appreciable especially with young kids). Looks aside, the big difference with Europe regarding beaches is the fact that houses and ranchs are built very close to the shoreline basically everywhere we went. It might be nice if you live there, or are willing to rent a ranch for the day where you can enjoy a swimming-pool, hammocks, and fresh drink and food along with having the beach a few meters away, but we thought it took away from the natural charm of these areas. There were dozen of other recommended beaches we didn’t went to, so it might be different elsewhere. Everywhere we went to visit or have a tour, we were met by local licensed guides that offered to walk us around the places while telling us the sorties and anecdotes about them. Most of the guides could speak English, all of them were ultra nice and patient with our kids and our broken Spanish, and it’s free. But if you have manners, you leave them a nice tip after the tour. This was a very appreciable. The only paid visits were for historical monuments, but there you always have a guide with you, usually English speaking (that you can also tip since they are very nice and knowledgeable about their heritage) This and the previous paragraph are amongst the shortest we'll write about, not for their importance since the views are stunning and the places to visit are beautiful, but because speaking about these experiences don’t do them justice, and are best lived and seen rather than read and looked at.     [KIDS ACTIVITIES 👦👧🛝] Now my kids have been bothering me for a while about mentioning amusement parks. As mentioned above, even though we visited a volcano and an old Mayan temple, there were several more volcanoes on our list (Santa Ana, Izalco…) and ruins (Joya de Ceren, Cihualtan…) than we could have visited… but kids have a very short patience gauge that you have to regularly refill with trips to local parks. We visited about 10 of them, and I’d say 2/3 were very well tended, with playgrounds areas for kids, and 1/3 were not as well tended as the rest, with muds and puddles … still praticable but not ideal if you want to keep your car clean. But what our kids liked the most was their trip to a water park called Termos Del Rio, where we spent the day watching them playing with water games and slides. We ate there, and the food was very good for a fraction for half the price of what we paid in Europe. Our only regret is that our oldest child wasn’t tall enough to do the “big” slides, and that only half of them were open for us. Compared to Europe, I’d say it’s about 75% cheaper for entry + food, people there are way more polite and disciplined (keeping in mind it’s an amusement park, so rowdy teenager are expected and tolerated, but people were never agressive or impolite as you can see in some amusement parks in Europe). We also went to a few other amusement parks, and they were nice and well maintained, with generally a lower price than what is charged in the EU for equivalent activities (but still a bit pricey compared to the rest of the activities we did in El Salvador).   [SHOPPING / GROCERIES🛍️🛒] We also visited the MultiPlaza mall in Santa Tecla. It’s a very modern mall, again on par on better than what is done in Europe. You have plenty of shopping options for everyone and in all price range, except the very high end luxury (think french luxury brands) that we did not see but that are usually present in such malls in Europe. They might be someplace else in El Salvador, but we didn’t cross any during our trip. Again, you can eat and drink very well for half, even a third of the price of what you’d pay for similar quality in Europe, but more on food later because it’s far from perfect. Non-food items and activity are about the same price than in the EU. We had the surprise to come across a Chuck E Cheese, which do not exist in the EU (it’s like a huge arcade area where you buy credits or time, and play games for fun and for points, which you can redeem for small prizes)… so of course we had to bring our kids there. It was a close second to Termos del Rio for them, probably because we spent less time in there while we spend a full day at the water park, because spending time playing in Chuck E Cheese is much pricier than local amusement parks… For our groceries, we mostly bought them in 2 big chunks (one for each week) from the local supermarket that was closest to us, (SuperSelectos). You can buy anything that you can usually buy in any EU supermarket, with the standard travel quirks of local products being cheap and available, and imports (especially from outside America) being scarce and expensive.  [FOOD 🍔🥤🚫 / 🥩🥛✅] Which bring us to our first issue (not a deal breaker, but could become major if not checked) drawback regarding El Salvador : Fast-food chains prominence. You can feel the US influence regarding food in El Salvador in General, and in San Salvador particularly : there are huge advertisement billboards everywhere, and I’d say half of them are about fast-food chains. (such huge billboards and dense billboards are not common in Europe) There are fast-food chains everywhere, A LOT of them. It’s very different than Europe because while fast-food chains are also present in the EU, the ads are much less visible and they are competing with a lot more traditional restaurants. But in San Salvador and other big cities, your default option when eating out is going to a fast-food. This is clearly not good because eating that food regularly is very bad for your health, which is visible on the population. We saw a lot of overweight people, including kids (not US Overweight, aka obese), but our rough estimate was that 40% of the people we came across were visibly overweight. This is not aided by the drinks selection, were sodas are pushed into your throat at every corner, and sparkling water is not very easy to find, usually "hidden" in the Soda section in supermarkets… The mineral water and Sparkling water is usually 1/4 of the size of what it is in the EU, where you have big aisle usually dedicated to that. The south American drinks (agua de Jamaica, horchata…) while sugary, are nice refresher and taste very good when homemade with little sugar. It’s a real shame because the Salvadoran food tastes awesome and is way healthier than fast-food. Everywhere we went to eat, we were able to order very healthy and perfectly cooked foods (mostly parilladas composed meat, seafood and vegetables) in any of the local restaurants. We also obviously ate Pupusas, the local salvadoran dish, and they are indeed very good and cheap, and still a vastly superior option over fast-food. This food selection is not an El Salvador only problem (most “first world countries” suffer from it, too), but I think @nayibbukele should look into this issue because if left unchecked, it’s only get worse the more affluent El Salvador will become (like in the US), and this is a real plague on a country population's general well being. Not my place to tell him or Salvadoran what to do, but with such great local options, it's a shame this kind of healthy food isn't promoted more heavily over imported poison.   [BEERS/COFFEE 🍻☕️] I tried local beers brewed in El Salvador like the Pilsener and the Regia, both blonde beers with the Regia being a bit stronger and the Pilsener a bit softer, which I liked more. I’m a Guinness Guy, and you won’t mistake these beers for the well known European beers, but they were a completely acceptable replacement for a holiday refresher, especially in this weather, and you could easily develop a taste for it. We bought and tried Salvadoran coffee, both from the local markets and the supermarket. The Salvadoran coffee is very good, and produced locally. We planned to visit a local coffee factory, but we didn’t have the time, so that’ll be for another time. We brought back a few packs for our families and friends, along with other souvenirs. While I said the Salvadoran coffee was very good, the main "issue" we encountered is that unlike Europe, where the standard coffee is the Espresso (short coffee, usually sort of strong), most places we went to usually served only American-style coffee (rather long and filled with water). Sometimes we could barter with the waiters and get a “sort-of espresso”, but sometimes we had to drink American-style coffee because their machines somehow couldn't manage to make espressos...  [WEATHER 🌤️] We were warned about intense rain and bad weather, since this time of the year is considered “Winter” in El Salvador. We basically never had rain during the day. It was often lightly overcast, and we got a couple of showers maybe thrice. While we bought waterproof ponchos before leaving, they never left our backpack. It usually rained late in the day (from 7 pm and at night), but since we never were out too late, this wasn’t a problem at all. Also, the sewer system seems to work perfectly fine, since everywhere we went, there was no smell, not we never met any overflowing sewage pipes. We also were warned about mosquitoes, because there was (maybe still is) a Dengue surge in the country. We didn’t see many mosquitoes, except in the less well maintained parks, and since we used repellant sprays, we had no bites during our stay. It’s probably a bigger issue outside the cities though, as they were ads warning about that in the streets. But overall, what is “Winter” here is a much nicer climate than any kind of summer in Northern Europe, and on par with the Southern Europe summers, with just more nightly rains.    [CLEANLINESS 🗑️] I won’t beat around the bush : with fixing the fast-food diet, I think this will have to be one of the biggest issue to tackle in the future for El Salvador. As beautiful as all the places we visited could be, there was trash and rubbish basically everywhere along the way : on the roads, on the side of the roads, on the highway, in the lakes and rivers, in the cities and outside. I wish it was an exaggeration but this is really everywhere except the very modern areas inside San Salvador and Santa Tecla (a very rich looking region/suburb next to San Salvador). Like the chicken and egg paradox, the surroundings here are so littered with trash that I can for some extent understand why people throw rubbish away anywhere : “What? There’s already tons of trash on the floor, another bottle or another paper thrown in there won’t change anything.” Again, it’s not my place to give advice to anybody on how to fix their issues, but I firmly believe there will need to be a huge cleanup of the country needed (psychology tells you it’s much harder for people to throw the 1st piece of trash on the floor than the 100000th), along with some form of general education first + punishment second if the general behavior doesn’t improve. Also, things like open-air bins like I saw in some parts of San Salvador don’t help ; western-style closed trash bins are much better for general hygiene, and much less subject to elements scattering your trash around. On the bright-side, unlike some famous city which recently hosted the Olympic Games, I didn’t see any rodent milling around anywhere. Doesn’t mean there are none, just that I didn’t see any. Also, no smell and the sewers system seem to work very well as we mentioned previously. [No pictures of trash for obvious reasons.] [NATURE/CITIES 🌴🏡] El Salvador is a very lush and green country. There are trees and plants everywhere, even in the city Centers with plenty of parks and median planted with trees. With the country growing (and urbanizing) at the speed it currently is, I really hope El Salvador will stay green and embracing nature, as it helps a lot with dissipating heat in the cities, and finding nice, quiet and natural places to take mindful breaks during the day. Their rural cities are also built very flat, where living is usually done in small neighboring houses rather than tall buildings, which is a welcome sight coming from Europe. San Salvador is built a bit more like a “modern” cities, with taller buildings, but from what on of our guide told us, there are no skyscrapers due to the potential volcano eruptions and seismic activity (bigger tower is apparently around 30 floors max). There is basically one earthquake every other day in, or around San Salvador, but we only felt one of them as most happened either too far from were we stayed or too weak to be felt. There were Japan-style "evacuation meeting points" outside of several places we went to. And if anything is to be learnt from Japan, living in a very seismic area in nothing that can’t be fixed by good engineering.     [LOS SALVADOREÑOS] The biggest of the many highlights of our trip was meeting the Salvadoran people, called Los Salvadoreños. I would describe Salvadorans as humble, polite, friendly, warm, patient and helpful people. Anywhere we went, not once were we greeted by annoyed/bored people while we spoke broken Spanish and had two young kids with us. Whether or not it was for a commercial transaction, we were treated equally nicely by any of the people we met there. If you travel a lot in the EU and do not stick to high-end places (and weirdly enough, low-end places), you’ll discover that being nice and helpful isn’t always the norm here. All guides were very cultivated and proud about their Salvadoran heritage, and all workers professional and efficient. As mentioned before, even when wandering in the very local areas of San Salvador, where you barely see any tourists (if at all), we were never bothered or felt threatened. I understand this changed a lot since @nayibbukele put gangs in jail, but this is still a very welcome feeling, because you cannot say the same of some districts inside cities we call “civilized” in Europe. The only thing is that next time we’ll come back, we’ll have learnt a lot more Spanish, which is a must here since I’d say maybe 20% of the people we met could speak English. It’s also worth nothing that during our trip, I’ve spoken with 3 Salvadorans whom have left the country for the USA (2) and Canada (1), all between 20 and 30 years ago. Two of them were coming back in El Salvador for the first time since a while. One person was coming back with his 4 teenage children, and it was the children’s first time in El Salvador. All of 3 of these Salvadoran told me the same thing : they didn’t recognize the country they remembered when they left, as it had drastically changed for the better.   [WHERE IS EL SALVADOR AND WHERE IT MIGHT HEADED 🇸🇻✨] Take it with a pinch or a handful of salt, since this is written by a tourist whom stayed a grand total of 15 days in the country, but what I feel regarding “El Salvador the country” is that this is a country which elected a visionary leader, whom is trying to propel his El Salvador at a level of quality of life on par, and maybe better than what is done in what we “First-Worlders” call a “developed country”. This shows by his very strict policies regarding violence, which are often denounced in first-world countries, but these policies brought his country from one known as one of the most violent in the world, that from Europe we only heard horror stories about, from the one in which we felt the safest we’ve ever been. This shows in the speed at which the country is building at : I’ve spoken about bad traffic before, but I also need to mention I’ve seen a lot of workers and heavy duty equipment working to enlarge the roads going in and out of San Salvador. And when I say “a lot”, I mean that I’ve seen more workers doing actual work on the roads in a single one-hour road trip than what I usually see in Europe over the course of a full month. This also shows by the contrast between the standard of living in San Salvador, where in some areas you can have towering condos with 24/7 armed security, 24/7 concierge, aircons, big elevators, backup electricity generators, and all the modern appliances and amenities you can usually find in the “First-World”, and just one block away you’ll find typical one-floor, Salvadoran houses with no aircons, barred windows with barbed-wire of the roofs. Lastly, I’ve felt being in a country heading to somewhere better, with its people working hard to create a better tomorrow by improving their country. From what I’ve seen, if they are able to bring all their people up together (not just the city dwellers/white collar class), and manage to avoid the usual traps of fast growing economies (things get so good so fast that officials start to get corrupt by rich investors/companies, and put their personal interests over the people's…) my bet is that in 20 years maximum they should reach a standard of quality of life on par, or even better than what exists in the most developed EU countries. We’ll surely come back before that time to see how it goes, and discover more of this intriguing country, so we might give you an update or two along the way.   [CLOSING REMARKS 📙] : As mentioned in the intro, we're just a random family of 4 who've just been travelling 15 days to El Salvador in August 2024, and are sharing our thoughts about the trip, citizen journalism style, and so we don’t have to repeat ourselves too much to family and friends. If any Salvadoreños are reading this and want to add context/correct stuff I didn’t understand or got wrong, all comments and critic are welcome ! If this thread was helpful to you, and want more info regarding anything mentioned here, good and bad, feel free to ask in the replies and we’ll try to answer to the best of our abilities. (I do not know if this might be worth mentioning, but better be safe than sorry : we did not receive nor ask for any money, favors or gifts from whoever was mentioned (or not) in the thread. All our expenses were 100% covered by ourselves. We remain purposely vague about ourselves because we value our privacy, but we would be called a standard family living in the EU by anyone knowing us.) TL:DR : Ask your favorite AI assistant to sum it up for you.

@ a10260a2:caa23e3e

I’d like to start off by saying that phoenixd has been a great experience so far. The install (on a Linux machine) was as easy as depicted on their [website](https://phoenix.acinq.co/server/get-started).  And the channel I opened via [auto liquidity](https://phoenix.acinq.co/server/auto-liquidity) was super simple. I didn’t have to pick an LSP and I won’t need to manage liquidity. Unfortunately, the machine I installed the software on started to freeze seconds after every boot. After posting about it [here](https://stacker.news/items/825060/r/thebullishbitcoiner) and getting an answer from nostr:npub1lxktpvp5cnq3wl5ctu2x88e30mc0ahh8v47qvzc5dmneqqjrzlkqpm5xlc, I was surprised at how easy the migration seemed. It really was just a matter of restoring the seed words on another phoenixd instance. Of course, making sure that the two instances don’t run at the same time. As easy as it was, I wanted to create this post to give a quick overview for those who might be less tech savvy. ### Step 1 Grab seed words from the `seed.dat` file in hidden`.phoenix` folder on the old machine.  ### Step 2 Install phoenixd on the new machine ``` $ wget https://github.com/ACINQ/phoenixd/releases/download/v0.4.2/phoenix-0.4.2-linux-x64.zip $ unzip -j phoenix-0.4.2-linux-x64.zip $ # run the daemon: that's it! $ ./phoenixd ``` ### Step 3 (This is the step that wasn’t super clear and why I wanted to spell it out in this post) In order to install the software, `./phoenixd` has to be run. This is going to generate a new seed phrase.  Now, all you need to do is replace the seed words in `seed.dat` with the ones from the original install. In retrospect, I think you can replace the seed words right after unzipping the zip file and before running `./phoenixd`. That will probably achieve the same result. ### Step 4 Once the seed words have been restored. Just run `./phoenixd` again and it’ll start up like nothing happened. Literally. There was no indication whatsoever that something had changed, so I ran `./phoenix-cli getinfo` and, voila, there was my 2M-sat channel. It was quite magical. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/829411 ### Update (1/1/2025) Phoenix Support got back to me and confirmed that the migration can be even simpler. You can actually just copy the ~/.phoenix directory onto the new machine and run `./phoenix`! 

@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb

1. It is ok to try and fail, so long as you learn from it and be better. 2. Keep moving forward. 3. Walk the talk. 4. Empathy and self development is crucial. 5. There is a difference between arrogance and confidence. 6. Don't cheat people. 7. Don't be lazy. Don't keep making excuses. It's a put off. 8. If there is a problem, you can choose to talk about it or find means to fix it. The latter makes all the difference. 9. Respect other people's time. Respect all people, regardless of ranks , status etc. 10. Always be the best of the best. At least try to. I am personally inspired by the day-to-day stories of hardworking individuals, ordinary people with extraordinary determination who find honest means of survival.

@ b4403b24:83542d4e

As we bid farewell to 2024, let’s celebrate the memories, lessons, and triumphs it brought us. May 2025 shine even brighter, bringing you joy, success, and endless opportunities. Here’s to new beginnings, cherished moments, and a year filled with happiness. Cheers to 2025! 🥂 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/831699

@ 3f770d65:7a745b24

Here are my predictions for Nostr in 2025: **Decentralization:** The outbox and inbox communication models, sometimes referred to as the Gossip model, will become the standard across the ecosystem. By the end of 2025, all major clients will support these models, providing seamless communication and enhanced decentralization. Clients that do not adopt outbox/inbox by then will be regarded as outdated or legacy systems. **Privacy Standards:** Major clients such as Damus and Primal will move away from NIP-04 DMs, adopting more secure protocol possibilities like NIP-17 or NIP-104. These upgrades will ensure enhanced encryption and metadata protection. Additionally, NIP-104 MLS tools will drive the development of new clients and features, providing users with unprecedented control over the privacy of their communications. **Interoperability:** Nostr's ecosystem will become even more interconnected. Platforms like the Olas image-sharing service will expand into prominent clients such as Primal, Damus, Coracle, and Snort, alongside existing integrations with Amethyst, Nostur, and Nostrudel. Similarly, audio and video tools like Nostr Nests and Zap.stream will gain seamless integration into major clients, enabling easy participation in live events across the ecosystem. **Adoption and Migration:** Inspired by early pioneers like Fountain and Orange Pill App, more platforms will adopt Nostr for authentication, login, and social systems. In 2025, a significant migration from a high-profile application platform with hundreds of thousands of users will transpire, doubling Nostr’s daily activity and establishing it as a cornerstone of decentralized technologies.

@ 96203d66:643a819c

#[3] #[4] #[5] #[6] #[7] #[8] #[9] #[10] #[11] #[12] #[13] #[14] #[15] #[16] #[17]

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I missed this game because I was on an overnight flight back to Portugal via Munich last night. Just got in, actually, jetlagged af, so I won’t have too much to say about it. Plus, our bags didn’t make the connecting flight, which is annoying. - If the Niners score 34 against you, that’s not a good sign for the playoffs. I guess the last TD came in garbage time, but still. I would say Vikings +2.5 this week, but Detroit could easily drop to the fifth seed. - Brock Purdy is a top-10 NFL QB IMO. I didn’t see this game, but he always passes the eye test for me. (Looks like he got banged up too, but nothing serious.) - George Kittle is quietly having a huge year on just 91 targets, thanks to 11.9 YPT. Kittle is in the Rob Gronkowski lineage, while Travis Kelce is more Tony Gonzalez (higher volume, less blocking.) - Ricky Pearsall apparently had a breakout game. They took him in the first round, so it makes sense they’d give him an extended audition while drawing dead. It’s odd that Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are more relevant that Deebo Samuel and the injured Brandon Aiyuk. - Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t get a lot of headlines this year, but he’s up to 112-1,186-12 on 8.9 YPT. Not bad. - Even with David Montgomery out, Jahmyr Gibbs’ workload was fairly modest — 18 carries/four targets. This game didn’t matter to the Lions though. Against the Vikings I should think he’d get a McCaffrey-esque stat line, but we’ll see.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

I'm sure some of you are already tired of the discussion around the H-1B visa program that was started on Christmas Eve by Vivek Ramaswamy and escalated by Elon Musk and others as the "Silicon Valley MAGA" coalition began putting forth legal immigration policy proposals for the incoming Trump administration. Core to their policy is the expansion of the H-1B visa program so that America can "recruit the best talent in the world" to come build the American economy. Unfortunately, as it stands today - according to the Silicon Valley cognescenti, Americans are either a.) not smart enough to fulfill the roles necessary to enable the United States to maintain its lead as economic super power of the world or b.) expect too much in compensation for the available roles. At least this is my reading from the commentary I've seen over the last week. What seems abundantly clear to me is that the framing put forth by "Silicon Valley MAGA" crew is disingenuous and self-serving. It has been clear for awhile now that the H-1B visa program is being systematically abused to bring in cheap labor from other countries to help drive down labor costs for companies across the spectrum. Not just Silicon Valley tech companies. The system has a loophole in it and it is being exploited. Bring people to the US via H-1B visas to complete work for you at lower costs and your company's financials are likely to be better off (assuming the work being done is productive and a value add to the company). Now, this isn't to say that everyone who is in the US via an H-1B visa is here because these companies want to exploit the loophole that gives them the ability to spend less on head count. However, based off the data from the database of the H-1B visa program it is abundantly clear that the system is being taken advantage of. Egregiously and at the expense of American workers, who are most certainly not (all) "subtarded". Herein lies the crux of the problem; companies are abusing this program to get away from the problem of Americans demanding higher wages to maintain lives of dignity in a country run by a government that is chronically addicted to debt backed by a central bank that will print money ex-nihilo and at will to monetize that debt. Americans are then being scapegoated as either "lazy", "stupid" or "delusional about their worth in the work force". A classic straw man argument that avoids the root issue at hand; the money is broken and the broken money has created perverse incentives throughout the economy while also stripping Americans of the ability to properly save the value of their labor. We live in a high velocity trash economy that rewards grift and waste while disincentivizing hard work that is meaningful to the quality of life of the Common Man. Everything has been hyper-financialized to the point that one of the only ways to make it ahead is to speculate on the flow of capital into certain asset classes, which is often determined by the whims of central planners. Another is to build or speculate on tech "innovations" that typically materialize in the form of attention zapping apps and widgets that help people temporarily forget they live in a high-velocity trash economy. The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and it is because they don't see a way out of the nihilistic rat race created (unknowingly to most) by the money printer. The ability to print money out of nothing and throw it at everything creates misaligned incentives that result in the inability for the market to properly determine what is genuinely needed by the people instead of those who have learned how to game the broken system and its broken incentives. One last point, I would be remiss not to acknowledge that many individuals in America aren't intellectually equipped to do some of the cutting edge work that may be necessary to produce the technologies and companies that will push the country forward. The high-velocity trash economy run on money printed out of nothing has completely corrupted the education system. People in the United States are literally dumber than they were five decades ago. That is a fact. But it is not only the fault of the American people themselves, but the corrupt system they have been born into that destroyed the education system with perverse incentives. And the overwhelming majority of the blame is on the system, not the people. Even with that being said, the idea that we need to adopt a Tiger Mom mentality in the US - a culture of unrelenting devotion to studying STEM to the point that weekend sleepovers for kids are discouraged - is absolutely laughable and objectively un-American. There are plenty of incredibly intelligent, creative and driven young Americans who have contributed and will continue to contribute significantly to the American economy and they didn't need to shackle themselves to their desks to get that way. America isn't a country that was built by automatons. It's a country built by people who said, "Fuck you. Don't tell me what I can and cannot do. Watch this." Despite the fact that a system has been erected that actively works against the average American system the American spirit lives on in the souls of many across the country. Miraculously. The American spirit is something that cannot simply be imported. It is ingrained in our culture. It is certainly beginning to dwindle as hope for a better future becomes more and more dim for the masses as the system works against them despite all their best efforts to succeed. It is imperative that we stoke the coals of the American spirit while it is still alive in those who are too stubborn to give up. People need the ability to save their hard work in a money that cannot be debased. Opportunity cost needs to be reintroduced into the market so that things that actually add value and increase the quality of life for the Common Man are where hard money is allocated. And people need to start talking about the root of the problem more seriously instead of striking at branches with disingenuous straw man arguments. --- Final thought... Ready to go surfing.

@ 17538dc2:71ed77c4

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Here's an overview of keeping tabs on interoperability on nostr. ## What is nostrability [Nostrability](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability) is: -the practical documentation of broken things on nostr between two or more apps, and -a place to advocate for positive interoperability updates to apps ### Why does this matter? If the hop and/or interaction between apps sucks, then nostr users will not have an amazing and unique experience. Nostr will lose to well funded incumbents.  ### How did this start? Will was upset that he had to troubleshoot other dev's apps. ### What nostrability does *not* aim for All apps implement all NIPs. ### Where can I read in detail [https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability ](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability ) ### Timeline Nov '23 Added placeholder to github. Jan '24 First issues documented. Jan '24 First nostrability two app bug is fixed [Coracle cannot send DMs to Damus](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/1) (thank you Hodlbod!). '24 Gave [intro to nostrability talk at BBB](https://youtu.be/I3Qld_HXQuM). Presentation [link](https://slides.com/alltheseas/nostrability). Aug '24 Galaxy devs educated elsat at NostrCI discussion at Nostriga. (n.b. where's the video??) Oct '24 Humbled by and grateful for OpenSats acknowledgment and funding. Thank you to all nostr enjoyers & devs who gave me their precious time, and to my advocates & supporters - you know who you are 🙏. ### What are specific issues discussed? Over a hundred open [issues](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues), and a couple of dozen resolved issues. Many of these were reported by extremetly very normal nostr users, and devs. Example topics (too many to list in a single article) range from: -contact list wipes, mute list wipes (Kieran pls fix!!) -zaps not working between apps -[missing notes](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/20) -broken profiles -old profile information -q tags, a tags, missing replies and/or parent notes etc.. -to [proposed onboarding best practices](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/143) -[outbox tracker positive interop](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/69) -[highlights](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/61) -non-nostr interoperability: e.g. [bluesky bridgyfed profile info](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/142) -spillover NIP/other controversy such as [edited notes](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/118) -and [migrating to nostr best practices](https://github.com/nostrability/nostrability/issues/78) ### Learnings 1. Lone wolf, limited resource devs are the norm. Most devs focus on their one app, or their multiple apps. 2. Some devs are extremely generous with their time when it comes to interop. Proof of work is in the git repo. 3. There is a lot of space for building amazing interoperable experiences - this remains frontier territory on the design, product, and dev side. Which will be the first experience to blow people out of the water? Is it zaps, DVMs, or something not yet put together? 4. I empathize that without basic things "just working", and/or basic features missing it may be difficult to allocate resources to interoperability. 5. Even devs with teams may struggle to allocate resources to interoperability. 6. Bug reporting and crappy experience reporting matters! This is important for single apps, and even more so for multi-app interaction. Devs may not get around to fixing something right away. However, if nostriches don't share their negative experience, devs will have less impetus to improve an experience. ### 2025 plans 1. Continue documenting broken things. 2. Interview devs to better understand how I can suit nostrability to dev's single app workflows, as to more effectively close broken things, and better advocate for positive interoperability updates across apps. 3. Help test nostrCI automated interop testing methodology with galaxy dev of [nostr.watch](https://nostr.watch/) & NIP-66 Sandwich, so that nostrability can be automated per particular test cases. ### Dev and nostrich feedback Let me know how I can make nostrability more useful for yall. Tag me on nostr, create issues on nostrability 💪. !(image)[https://media.tenor.com/hF5RhwXuG_kAAAAC/arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator.gif]

@ 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.

@ 3f770d65:7a745b24

As I look back on my predictions for Nostr in 2024, it’s clear I had some hits and misses. I believe my first two predictions were spot on, accurately reflecting the trends and developments we witnessed. However, my second two predictions missed the mark, proving to be far less accurate. Maybe I was too bullish? nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzq0mhp4ja8fmy48zuk5p6uy37vtk8tx9dqdwcxm32sy8nsaa8gkeyqyghwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tcpzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtcqypsm9tk39g20atwqskvjcvhq7rher5nkgwjr05lzspne4gf0uvyxukew5mg What did I get right? Clients did increasingly prioritize user and content discovery while enabling users to easily select and choose their own algorithms. (DVMs, Trending, What's Hot, Feeds, etc.) This focus provided individuals with more tools, greater control, and unprecedented power over their social streams and attention than ever before. This is still actively happening and will continue to happen throughout 2025 too. What did I get wrong? We didn't see an Other Stuff application breakthrough as a clear winner that became a mainstream favorite. I anticipated a standout application that would interest users and become a "must-use" within the ecosystem, but this didn’t happen. And we also clearly didn't hit 1M active users either. While adoption did increase, it didn’t reach the critical mass I expected. But this doesn't mean 2024 fell short of expectations—in fact, quite the opposite. The year brought incredible client innovations (Damus Notedeck, Primal 2.0, TOR only Amethyst, Flotilla, Chachi, Olas, Coracle feeds, etc.) and relay milestones (Web-of-Trust relays, private relays, algorithm based relays, etc.) with the introduction of these innovative features and the launch of these new platforms. Beyond technology, the Nostr community achieved something truly remarkable: a grassroots movement that united people globally. From supporting Nostr meetups and events to hosting booths across continents at major conferences, the community came together to raise money to support these initiatives in ways no one predicted. This organic, ground-up effort showcased the strength and passion behind Nostr, creating a foundation that will #grownostr and success for years to come. Too bullish? Maybe I wasn't bullish enough? As is tradition, I will post my 2025 predictions tomorrow.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Remarkably, I have yet to post about how awesome Brock Bowers has been this year. I was very down on the Bowers pick in the draft. The Raiders took a premier TE in the previous draft and had serious needs at other positions. I'm happy to take a major L on that reaction. - Bowers is already the best TE in the league and one of the best receivers. - No rookie tight end has ever had more receiving yards and we still have another game to play. - No rookie at any position has ever caught more passes than Bowers and we still have another game to play. - No Raider has ever caught more passes than Bowers and we still have another game to play. Six Hall of Fame wide receivers and one Hall of Fame tight end have played for the Raiders, plus Davante Adams and Darren Waller (the previous franchise record holder). Since he plays for the Raiders, Bowers did this in anything but a stable situation. He's already had three QB's and two OC's this season. On the season, Bowers has 108 receptions for 1144 yards and 4 touch downs. This guy is goddamn incredible and they need to give him a franchise QB with a real OC. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/830318

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

With another win, the Silver and Black slide further down the draft board. Are the hopes of landing a top QB dashed? # Mock Draft 8th Pick: QB Shedeur Sanders! 39th Pick: OT Cameron Williams 69th Pick (nice): CB Maxwell Hairston 70th Pick: DE L.T. Overton 106th Pick: RB Nick Singleton 146th Pick: DT Howard Cross III 183rd Pick: WR Jaylin Noel 212th Pick: OG Luke Kandra 216th Pick: S Dante Trader Jr 223rd Pick: WR Jaylin Lane Jalen Milroe was still available at 39, so even if Sanders is unrealistic at 8th, we might be able to get our QB in the 2nd round. DE isn't really a major need, but a 2nd round graded edge rusher falling into the third is a nice pick up. No one jumped out as the obvious choice for the final pick, so I took a 2nd WR named Jaylin. If nothing else, that's sort of fun. I'd be very happy if they could pull off this draft. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/830074

@ 6538925e:571e55c3

### In 2024, listeners sent a total of $127,900 to creators on Fountain The 2 BTC sent is equivalent to $127,900 based on a daily price conversion but it would be worth nearly 50% more today. You sent over 40,000 boosts to your favourite shows and artists, with an average boost value of 3,380 sats (around $3.20 at today's price). To add to that, over 63 million sats were streamed over the course of the year, representing 32% of total value sent. Here are some of the shows and artists who picked up the top awards in 2024. To read the full article, head to our website. [Read Fountain Rewind 2024](https://fountain.fm/2024) ### **Most Supported Show: [Rabbit Hole Recap](https://fountain.fm/show/https://www.fountain.fm/show/VDaMppQRUBZioj2XkaLn)** Rabbir Hole Recap is a bitcoin news show hosted by Marty Bent and Matt Odell. Over the last three years, RHR has become one of the moved shows among Fountain listeners (affectionately known as ‘freaks’). In 2022 they were #3, in 2023 they were #2, and in 2024 they finally claimed the #1 spot. Congratulations, Marty and ODELL. Your dedication and humility is an inspiration to bitcoiners around the world. ### **Show with Most Supporters: [Mr Obnoxious](https://www.fountain.fm/show/LnQlDKTvuF5JwGBaVGv7)** Peter McCormack announced earlier this year that What Bitcoin Did, the preeminent podcast he has hosted for as long as we can remember, would come to an end to make way for a new show, [Mr Obnoxious](https://www.fountain.fm/show/LnQlDKTvuF5JwGBaVGv7). In December, the Real Bedford FC owner announced that Danny Knowles would be the new custodian - much to the relief of the 800 listeners who supported the show this year. Thanks for everything, Pete! ### **Most Supported Episode: [LINUX Unplugged | 545: 3,062 Days Later](https://www.fountain.fm/episode/E9ya7VOM0I1MyMAV4z81)** LINUX Unplugged is just one of many popular shows about open-source, security and privacy from Jupiter Broadcasting. Editor-in-chief Chris Fisher finishes the year with three shows in Fountain's top 40. How? He and his co-hosts have made boosting a core part the listener experience, with his audience often sending "zip code boosts" (which can get pretty expensive if you live in Alaska). ### **Most Supported Artist: [Ainsley Costello](https://fountain.fm/show/146sKf2f81pgHbqyvCFU)** At just 20 years old, Ainsley has been working toward a career in music for over half her life. Her music is the modern pop soundtrack of the next generation. Ainsley first made "waves" on the internet in August 2023 as the first artist to receive 1 million sats with her hit song “Cherry On Top.” Since then, she has inspired countless artists to follow her path, becoming the face of this exciting new movement. ### **Artist with Most Supporters: [Man Like Kweks](https://fountain.fm/show/146sKf2f81pgHbqyvCFU)** Don Kweka is a producer and rapper from Tanzania. When he's not at his desk working his 9 to 5, he's making beats in his bedroom - and he has been prolific in 2024. Earlier this year he told Forbes he had earned a total of $25.68 from United Masters, the distribution company he uses for traditional DSPs (for which he pays a $60 annual fee). Since first publishing his music on Wavlake, he’s earned 2.3 million sats (over $2,000). ### **Most Supported Track: [Abi Muir | Stockholm](https://www.fountain.fm/track/BJQ0sjAFbm6RO6fWFWA3)** Born in Scotland and now residing in Australia, Abi’s distinctive, goosebump-inducing vocals and heartfelt lyrics define her creative songwriting. Her unique style sees her delivering memorable, catchy pop songs of singer-songwriter prose with a contemporary pop sound. In Stockholm she explores a darker, harder edge to her music that crosses into alt-rock, topped with Muir's piercing, sultry vocals. ### **Read Fountain Rewind 2024 in full on our website** To see the full list of award winners, the top 40 shows and artists, plus the top stories from this year, hit the link below. [Read Fountain Rewind 2024](https://fountain.fm/2024) ### **Share your Rewind for a chance to win Fountain AirPods, limited edition merch and 100,000 sats** Open the app to see your Fountain Rewind (make sure you're using the latest version). Post a screenshot of any screen in your Fountain Rewind on X or Nostr and tag @fountain_app in your post. We will be announcing three lucky winners on Dec 31 - good luck!

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I was supposed to be back in Lisbon right about now, but am still in Florida. The itinerary changed on me, though it was always this way, and I just didn’t know it. Turns out Heather \*thought\* she had booked the flight for December 29th to arrive on the 30th, but really had booked the 30th to arrive on the 31st. She discovered this on the night of the 28th. It meant we had to cancel a 6:30 am New Year’s Day ski trip to France which was, to be honest, a relief to all of us. I love skiing, but it entailed a two hour flight to Geneva, an hour drive to our friend’s house, then 40 minutes each way the next few days from there to the slopes, renting all the gear, etc. all while being jetlagged af and not having slept more than a few hours for two days after an eight day international trip to states. And cancelling only cost us half the price of the Lisbon to Geneva tickets, about $450 total, while saving us a couple thousand in meals, four-wheel drive rental car, lift tickets, etc. Plus we get Oscar back early from the dog camp now. As a result, instead of traveling, I was able to catch some of the games yesterday, mostly the two late ones. My season is done, so this was more just observing how badly I botched my Steak League lineup at the last second and feeling enraged about that. Anyway, the French alps would have been cool, but Florida isn’t that bad.  - I have Anthony Richardson at QB in the Steak League because you get a point every 10 yards rushing and six points per rushing TD, but only four per passing TD and one point every 25 passing yards. But Richardson was hurt, it was a 14-team league, and the best I could do on waivers was his backup Joe Flacco against the Giants. So I had Flacco in the lineup, but right before we were about to leave for brunch, I saw that Davante Adams was active against the Bills, impulsively picked up Aaron Rodgers and subbed him in for Flacco. That cost me 17 points and could very well result in my buying rather than eating Steak. - Malik Nabers wears No. 1 and looks like a clone of Ja’Marr Chase in a Giants uniform. He’ll be a first round pick next year, no matter who the Giants QB is. And who knows, maybe Drew Lock is next year’s Sam Darnold. - The Giants win kicked them out of the top draft slot, and I’m good with that. I don’t want them to be forced to take a QB — better to sign someone unless the rookie is a can’t-miss generational prospect if that even exists anymore. - I thought I was being clever taking the Cowboys +9.5 with Jalen Hurts iffy, but I was not. - Saquon Barkley broke 2,000 yards but will probably sit against the Giants next week rather than go for Eric Dickerson’s all-time record of 2,105. It would be easy for him to do, but given he got to 2K in 16 games, and the Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed, better to rest him. Breaking the 16-game record in a 17-game season means less than it would. The NFL single-season record books are one big asterisk field now. - When I started Rodgers I was afraid the game might go the way it did, and that Tyrod Taylor was able to engineer two TDs in garbage time was insult to injury. The Jets have packed it in, and I should have factored that into my decision. - I caught some of the Bengals-Broncos Saturday, but was at a restaurant when the Bengals went for the game-winning FG in overtime, assumed they made it, only to find out later they covered on a third-TD catch by Tee Higgins. This after they should have won on a FG in regulation but for some bizarre clock mismanagement. Tough beat if you had the Broncos +3.5. - Joe Burrow has 4,641 yards and 42 TDs vs eight picks with one game to go. The Bengals are still alive for the playoffs, but they’d need to beat the Steelers, the resting Chiefs to beat the Broncos and the packed-it-in Jets to beat the Dolphins, so they’re almost drawing dead. It’s too bad because Bengals-Bills in the Wild Card round would be a lot more exciting than Broncos-Bills. - Chase Brown sprained his ankle on the dumbest play of all time. Why run the ball toward the end zone and slide to avoid scoring at the one? Just kneel down at the six! - Ja’Marr Chase killed me this week with a meager 9-102-0 line. - Why wasn’t Marvin Mims getting more looks all year? - I went 2-3 in Circa, but boy was I right about Chargers -4. Perfect spot for a solid team to destroy a weak one that had played over its head the prior week. - Ladd McConkey is a bit fragile, but he’ll go around the 2/3 turn in next year’s drafts. - I didn’t catch much of Rams-Cardinals mercifully. Kyler Murray is so inconsistent. - Puka Nacua should be a top-10 fantasy pick next year too. The only receivers I’d take ahead of him are Chase, Nabers, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown. - Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s rookie receiving record. Depending upon the QB situation there, he might go at the 1-2 turn. - You have to love games where where the top RBs are Ameer Abdullah and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I honestly didn’t realize CEH was even on the Saints until I looked at the box score. - The Panthers play everyone tight except apparently the Bucs. I’m glad they won, and the Falcons lost, as the Bucs are a much more entertaining playoff team. - Bucky Irving will go no later than the fourth round next year. - Mike Evans got 97 yards, putting him just 85 shy of 1,000. The Bucs need the game next week against the Saints, too. Only a injury can prevent him from getting there for an 11th straight year. - What if Mac Jones is next year’s Sam Darnold? Trevor Lawrence might be the next Baker Mayfield too. - Brian Thomas will go no later than early second-round next year, maybe even late first. I was one pick away in the 14-team RotoWire Dynasty league from getting Nabers and Thomas with my first two picks. Had to settle for Xavier Worthy and Bucky Irving/Jonnu Smith at the 3/4 turn. - The Dolphins without Tua are bad, but DTR is the worst QB in NFL history. - Jerry Jeudy is going in the third round again next year, and no one can stop this from happening. - Darnold threw one bad pick, but otherwise balled out again. He has 35 TDs and 12 picks with 8.2 YPA. If the Vikings upset the Lions in Detroit next week, and he has another big game — which is likely as the Lions defense isn’t good — Darnold will have MVP-type numbers on the 15-2 No. 1 seed. He won’t win because it’s Josh Allen’s “turn” but he would deserve it as much as anyone. - I didn’t watch the Sunday night game, but I’m glad the Falcons lost. They have no business being near the playoffs.

@ a38a5cd0:92b1b8f0

I was born and raised in Europe—Switzerland, to be exact—and we’ve always had a special relationship with Europe or the EU. Although Switzerland is in the middle of Europe, it has always been isolated—not politically speaking, but through clever negotiations and an attractive financial marketplace. But it’s still part of Europe, and whenever we drove to Germany, Austria (where I now live), or Italy, we always felt at home. Everyone was welcoming and accepted that Switzerland is the ‘special kid’ on the continent. This is one of Europe’s superpowers. It lives off its different cultures. Other than America, I’m sorry to compare it, but it feels like many Americans have never left their own country; we can drive somewhere for three hours and pass two or even three countries. Citizens speak different languages in each country, but we get along because there is a certain ‘European Vibe’ around. These different cultures and societies enable you to find communities where you feel at home and can be the best version of yourself—at least, that’s what I believe and have experienced. However, the last 15 years have been challenging. Not only from a business standpoint, we tend to regulate and not innovate, but also from a political standpoint. The EU and specific countries such as Sweden, Germany, and even Austria are fighting with high immigration, the Euro crisis – casually losing over 65% of its purchasing power this past decade – and ever-increasing debt. Combine that with a keen interest by the majority of the population in Europe for Communism or Socialism. Please don’t ask me why it’s so popular in Europe. I think it could be an outcome of the world war situations where we never wanted to shift extremely right again. Or maybe the openness of the European spirit invites this thoughtfulness. These ideologies don’t want the individual to succeed. For the better of all, it has always been at the center of these political movements. Inevitably, this idea leads to more poverty, more centralization, and, in the end, less democracy (the favorite word of any left-leaning politician in Europe) with a dictator at the whelm. For some weird reason, we don’t want individual Europeans to succeed; instead, we have a collectivism that punishes brilliant ideas and nurtures the ever-increasing state. So, why are you writing this essay then, Joël? Are you a right winger who’s just here to tell us Communism failed and we should do something else? NO! While my political views can definitely be described as conservative, I’m not associated with the right side of the aisle and would describe myself as a libertarian. However, for the European standard, I might be categorized as ‘right-wing,’ but who isn’t these days?! But to answer the question, I think we have a secret weapon. Many of these freaks are either ignoring or deliberately downplaying because they’re scared of losing power and trying everything to forbid it. You might have guessed by the title this secret weapon is Bitcoin! There are apparent reasons why Bitcoin is the ultimate solution for Europe. These reasons are well known, from its scarcity to its natural state as the best reserve asset and its average value increase of 45% each year for the past decade. From a monetary perspective, these points make perfect sense. However, there is more to the orange coin, especially from a polarization perspective. In Europe, the left and right are so far apart that it’s laughable. Bitcoin is the only asset or ecosystem enabling people from two corners to reunite and agree on something. In Europe, in particular, this is something like human rights and privacy for every individual on the continent. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Switzerland, Germany, or Portugal. Every citizen of these countries is rooting for human rights and the right to protect your most precious secrecies from third parties, aka the ever-increasing security state. If you take a closer look at most political debates in Europe, both the left and the right agree that citizens should be able to protect their physical or digital properties and how to be more independent. Bitcoin enables you to do all of these things. Additionally, mining can be an excellent catalyst for all parties to unite if you examine topics such as energy independence. Lefties can choose renewable energy, while right-wingers can embrace a free and healthy energy market. Bitcoin also enables this. However, the most significant and crucial point is that Bitcoin will enable all nations to be independent again. Many countries lost their sovereignty mainly due to the EU and the Euro. We no longer talk about each country’s interests; instead, we insert the sentence, ‘Anything that’s good for the EU.’ While the EEA (European Economic Area) was a noble idea that facilitated trade and economic output in Europe, it was abused and became a regulatory superpower with the EU. You can see the consequences of this from the sheer number of companies who left Europe or international companies who treat Europe as a secondary market with little interest. If Nations can regain sovereignty again and nurture their economic or sociological advantages, every citizen in these countries will have a new outlook on life. All it takes for each of them to make the most important step in their Bitcoin journey; being curious enough to learn more about it, spending some time learning the fundamentals, and getting off zero! One European nation with great potential for this is my home country, Switzerland. We’re the golden European standard for democracy, sovereignty, a strong economy, and a country where everyone can succeed. After all, fellow Bitcoiners have already taken the initiative to add Bitcoin to the Swiss National Bank (SNB) ’s balance sheet and have already invested in MicroStrategy. All it takes is the last step, which is to stack Sats as a strategic treasury reserve asset. As a fellow Swiss citizen and someone who works at a Swiss Bitcoin-only company, I would welcome this step and would love to help out! To quote Walt Disney: ‘The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.’ So go ahead, Europe, and get started! Block space is limited, and 2140 is edging closer every ten minutes with a new block!

@ a1c19849:daacbb52

# Introduction nostr:npub1nj5v9hfxegyuqz4z9vfpgu9lxpgald066wspxadywmhslasuw2gsnyrxzg shared a great thread on X about what the Dutch Noderunners did to push Bitcoin adoption. Since it took him quite some time and he didn’t want to redo it on #nostr I’m happy to share his thread here as well, since it has a lot of cool stuff in it. Here we go: ----------- # Noderunners 2024 Recap by nostr:npub1nj5v9hfxegyuqz4z9vfpgu9lxpgald066wspxadywmhslasuw2gsnyrxzg  > Here it is, the 2024 Noderunners recap! As we are preparing for our annual party on the third day of Christmas I’d like to reflect to all the great stuff we’ve build together to push bitcoin adoption from bottom up. I’m proud we’ve made it this far and we’re just starting! 🔥 We like to come together as often as possible to chat about bitcoin and drink a beer so we started even more meetups. We now do meetups in Roermond, Leiden, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Breda, Friesland, Zaandam. And an occasional party in Arnhem or Den Bosch. Feel free to join us anytime.     > On our meetups and in the wild we meet the most awesome bitcoiners. To show them our respect we honor them by knighting them as an Honorary Noderunner. This year nostr:npub1nw5vdz8sj89y3h3tp7dunx8rhsm2qzfpf8ujq9m8mfvjsjth0uwqs9n2gn nostr:npub13ql75nq8rldygpkjke47y893akh5tglqtqzs6cspancaxktthsusvfqcg7 nostr:npub1cn4t4cd78nm900qc2hhqte5aa8c9njm6qkfzw95tszufwcwtcnsq7g3vle and nostr:npub1uaj9phu5lpxpczm3vaayt46m0yv0pduxzy7z6quwd2uggxue7fmqx9665u joined our ranks! 🧡    > As you can imagine, we were pleasantly surprised when we saw an honorary Noderunner wearing his pin in the courtroom in the case against fAkEtOsHi! Nice to meet again in Amsterdam nostr:npub1qg8j6gdwpxlntlxlkew7eu283wzx7hmj32esch42hntdpqdgrslqv024kw !    > The Bitcoin conference in Amsterdam was full of Noderunners. On and off stage. On stage we had nostr:npub1jqs0u7zhh53e94gyhm4eu458wm6sw7z0kk66jjhhkhh346tcq2ysfgr247 nostr:npub1h0fd5xu8rfhwdkkjr78ssdhm7rdjyf97hhjqr9acwv77ux0uvf8q23kvcg nostr:npub17tyke9lkgxd98ruyeul6wt3pj3s9uxzgp9hxu5tsenjmweue6sqq4y3mgl Tom Lamoen and others.     > In the panel there was nostr:npub1art8cs66ffvnqns5zs5qa9fwlctmusj5lj38j94lv0ulw0j54wjqhpm0w5 who [asked a cheeky question… 🤓](https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/a1c1984994512025327f52c7b6d3a1434a37fbb7a318380cab4832f8daacbb52/files/1735554589353-YAKIHONNES3.mp4) He wrote the awesome “The Genesis Book” in which he describes the people and technology that led to the birth of bitcoin. Hope to see you 3kd Aaron! > Proof of work is the thing Noderunners value the most. We do the work on and offline. In Amsterdam we had several projects to display! Of course [the BitcoinTaps](https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/a1c1984994512025327f52c7b6d3a1434a37fbb7a318380cab4832f8daacbb52/files/1735554793664-YAKIHONNES3.mp4), the bitcoin bitaxe B at the entrance, The nostr:npub1kd3nlw09ufkgmts2kaf0x8m4mq57exn6l8rz50v5ngyr2h3j5cfswdsdth arcade and the video of @npub1f59dz0ru0l8zpsl4cryj5ch2rahwxeex3mr7lpl2ltzxsfwsdwastu6nqk!  > Personally I was very exited nostr:npub1qg5a5l3t7pakmm4r4up2e764xecsw62fk3rntevm24fwyczhndtsdrvc4x Edward and Stef of Connect The World Podcast allowed us to bring the Arcade to the afterparty at Braai where we played some tournaments with nostr:npub1jt97tpsul3fp8hvf7zn0vzzysmu9umcrel4hpgflg4vnsytyxwuqt8la9y nostr:npub1j8y6tcdfw3q3f3h794s6un0gyc5742s0k5h5s2yqj0r70cpklqeqjavrvg and many others!    > Hopefully we can create a Noderunners lounge or such next year at @npub13e6qu4kdjsyysrfl5an558rawvqg0rx2xuat9ca706spcdqjzhuqq6md43! Connections were made!    > This year there was also the first edition of nostr:npub1uv2tr83c5y7k82af6zdzlqs8m0klcmndd8u5vmlg2eyrskld6uzsv4rmr8 organized by nostr:npub14mge80nm5r0zj0gncxvpunlr28jyku95547q0m82ec475x3yy92skvjgm5 and Bitcoin Stad. It was an awesome event with great speakers but the best thing was the Noderunners Lounge in the basement where [Hester Bais tapped a beer.. 🍺](https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/a1c1984994512025327f52c7b6d3a1434a37fbb7a318380cab4832f8daacbb52/files/1735555060373-YAKIHONNES3.mp4)    > There was some trouble in paradise when the GitHub page of nostr:npub1k5f85zx0xdskyayqpfpc0zq6n7vwqjuuxugkayk72fgynp34cs3qfcvqg2 got canceled due to false copyright claims.. He makes the most beautiful, full open source BTClock! He’s a good frend and very productive Noderunner! 🧡    > nostr:npub1k5f85zx0xdskyayqpfpc0zq6n7vwqjuuxugkayk72fgynp34cs3qfcvqg2 also did a lot behind the scenes for the Noderunners SOLO Mining Pool! http://pool.noderunners.network   > As we are also very enthusiastic about NOSTR nostr:npub1p6xyr6u5vet33r4x724vxmp9uwfllax5zjdgxeujyrtxt90lp74qvah0rm has set up our own nostr relay: wss://relay.noderunners.network  > Noderunner nostr:npub1yn84ur49llj7pp9a7uv477f7vrpj0rj7df5pnfncvkusaxgy6jqsj9xgfl set up a mixer where he organizes a weekly coinjoin every sunday for more anonymous bitcoin transactions. https://coinjoin.nl  > Our Belgian Noderunner Kim de Vos made the infamous “Big Mac index” where he expresses the price of bitcoin in Big Macs.. He also runs the AVBpodcast (my personal favorite).  > We have several members who have their own podcasts. Also a lot of Noderunners appeared in podcasts as a guest. nostr:npub1agyf7kae8nkxqrd7rvvxt6nh9vwpcqzen2mc9dl3u38a04awpjcq09n23f educates bitcoin beginners.  Tom Lamoen talks about libertarianism. > nostr:npub1gfxgylgst4lcemkjth6xdvcvq7le8rtlrym7wayml63qrjggngaqkqescl interviews bitcoiners from all over the world.  > And nostr:npub1kj2ngxmm0zccswfqplff87rpgvmq9utvk0g726wc0h8pv4kwm8ss6zgm4n laughs at 🤡🌍  > After months, even years of hard work nostr:npub1w98ems6ryhpv7zvmhwp5sv65p0pwrnvzw4lucn0ch776qan9ntdstscwpx launched [the best bitcoin board game ever!](https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/a1c1984994512025327f52c7b6d3a1434a37fbb7a318380cab4832f8daacbb52/files/1735555757989-YAKIHONNES3.mp4)   > nostr:npub1w98ems6ryhpv7zvmhwp5sv65p0pwrnvzw4lucn0ch776qan9ntdstscwpx is also involved with the Dutch bitcoin magazine BitcoinFocus which features a lot of Noderunner builds and articles.   > Of course I should mention our frens at nostr:npub1ua6fxn9ktc4jncanf79jzvklgjftcdrt5etverwzzg0lgpmg3hsq2gh6v6 where you can pay a few sats to play your favorite songs! http://radio.noderunners.org  > LightningPlaces is working hard making entrepreneurs accepting bitcoin and putting them on their website! 🔥💪🏼    > nostr:npub1lhufm09wzp42y67t3s8axlewwna8rmetak68w38yal7xjrwktpsscpt08x is also hooking up webshops and physical shops (and bars) to accept bitcoin! Connect them if you’re looking for a custom solution! https://lightningcheckout.eu/nl/   > Maybe we should create an open source HW Wallet too but for now we have the man, the myth, the legend nostr:npub17tyke9lkgxd98ruyeul6wt3pj3s9uxzgp9hxu5tsenjmweue6sqq4y3mgl in our midst.. A real honor as we all share the same values and ethics in life but especially in bitcoin! We’ve been building seedsigners from scratch by the dozen!   Most of us are very entrepreneurial. Several bitcoin shops are run by Noderunners. nostr:npub1qvwdl9rp7a5ghrxv57wnml5ehg2whjh708vys6kaxpkgu0z3aclsuy2h4p - https://bitcoinbrabant.com nostr:npub1k00lff0ahjv4d2kwuwxy040d2282yjmzj6eeu5ghav054s4yrfzsplyc86 - https://bitsaga.be nostr:npub1837pplcuwcjn35zwmpuy62ekcfdtvklajn6pueus3am09s27vu6smuj6v9 - https://miningwholesale.eu > A special shoutout to our junior Noderunner Esramsterdam who is organizing a bitcoin event focused on women. Because bitcoin is not only for men. More info: https://vanbanknaarbitcoin.nl  > Also a special shoutout to @npub17k8u7c6kfjgtd380890zx0m4adu8vl53m9fvtc7lal4j9gp74xqqkguha4! The only way to get free sats. Drank not enough beer with nostr:npub1pzurm7nx3q08894wl6uautryq95sku5jhzgwjjrskwdafcwxekuq4n7vtu this year.. but we really need to set up a collaborative project!  > Ok I’m done. Forgot a lot but this sums it up quite well. Greetings and love to everyone involved with the Noderunners I forgot to mention. I love you all and hope to build a lot more together! 🧡🔥 nostr:npub103uy2vsk5hrnldwdu0nztmsg7g6207cfqu744rnrnalauns6facsgj5ddp nostr:npub1l9evr9vx4u2xefesmfu6gyypfdu7k8zwdw7rrnh5ckdds8fqx59sy3ferg nostr:npub1cwzduskqu6yuxjs2a75uptj3vzfa84gv5q3xlkcpzs6usjfey24qvk70dv nostr:npub1etuf22z5jwp765m8dqcw7rx5egjzjnwm9xwm4m367e9hxkd9vvaq04duqw nostr:npub1mw6tm8kery0dwmz670vvg74z0xzttwt3y7yppya5rulufpkkaj7qmg2922 nostr:npub12qw34mucxxk200835d8qt5mshfukd39vvz4s94f0e6xthg0xpjmq3wvjlw nostr:npub1d5axlx84ajq7q5yn4u86m9xgnmssgq5c6ktjfmu6qtw7jah24hzs57tmvz nostr:npub1vnlkmja076ft0h2ppme4pvcyfh8zmwl4l7hpfm4du0jagwck04lq8rkr0w Jan Burgers nostr:npub1r35gr0g93gxpkcq77v9sx97d5aqg4edr0qwhdj2xr4xxt6slp7nswgahlx Short Non-Bitcoin nostr:npub12786tz9vyzuhe5jdjc9esd64vqh3pvqe34u9a3dyegudv5chkx9sexz86w Joep Laser Sheep - Elden Lord 3x nostr:npub12xtq7ufn6kjppvl24dnvezsny872u8xacfsy640fzd69446kgczsp8v5nm nostr:npub1m0yz3tvsa8cwheqhkqj96zr9kget8j8yda0vfmrah5c0dafj6xcq4l4az6 @Erik Dutch nostr:npub1kvfz8rglvpsqevznlt86ukcz0s9uap3pypjwd3tnmkn2pgjmjujqlncy2c nostr:npub1l5pxvjzhw77h86tu0sml2gxg8jpwxch7fsj6d05n7vuqpq75v34syk4q0n Noderunners Shop nostr:npub1ylnqfg0neysvsesen9je80wmsv9r5204x30mgd5ev6dr3q95xpxq3nmcxd nostr:npub1ap78x7mvw0vu9s7yltflmkqphx8rt8hsk9gdg0k42vwnmnpvpe2qptxewe nostr:npub1n2ph08n4pqz4d3jk6n2p35p2f4ldhc5g5tu7dhftfpueajf4rpxqfjhzmc @Bitcmonkey @Roynode nostr:npub18n56f28efvmsjcl80lv2ngtmkl3y6q2rg0m2zqas3kw4jwkrsvdqxnmver nostr:npub135q6dvnjah9023xszmjs2wvd4gqhn2trku52wt2lv8cl4hc8ltjsk0w4sq nostr:npub1837u93v8am8q2rauvkqfk9sf6xfq07p9m4m82jueqh5u4qzkg25qesqrr4 nostr:npub1pkmp7vtgfwg7g0pt4xdd4r2npz2p8yweeq0yx7xm590h4nuszynqq2e2r3 nostr:npub19r33crtgdt4spqxl5a3nhqx2ucdputtqcnnxkplnp4mv2dqldqqs39j5eq nostr:npub19z9g9ymx3aalx3h0jr2cskehvhgppznv2lpqsrpgggpeueesq4lsknsp8r nostr:npub1jlvtd4zmq7ukjcytqxu2gy5myp2uataupjk4a3l467fj7pxpk3xq5p3w0j @HeroVanKampen nostr:npub16htmakd0gvsmwjnravfvfn5mh2x7wjd0vxq20z2c0979e7xh0a8q6ssnew nostr:npub1xw6jekvethghmrlv0chkx5p78h3wk2ep5x588ga854d68cugr40qxuwt5e nostr:npub1zakkum8w7uancehpev0drxuly3e74fg5v7q4n0zpxcdn72wakpjs9cgpve > and all others I can’t find here or I forgot.. 🧡🔥💪🏼 LFG, see you soon! >Bonus: This has never aired but @DanielMol was doubtful of our impact to more bitcoin adoption.. I know we are a bit toxic but we have our hearts on the right place and help anyone who is serious about it.. Happy days Daniel! 🧡 

@ b8a9df82:6ab5cbbd

In just two days, 2024 will come to a close. And as I sit here reflecting and drinking my morning coffee, I can confidently say that this has been the best year I’ve had since 2018. The years leading up to this one, especially since returning to Berlin, were some of the most challenging of my life. They tested me in ways I never expected—moments when I wanted to give up, when I felt so lost I couldn’t see or feel anything anymore. I lost my smile, my positive side, my emotions, and even my sense of self. But this year was different. It felt like the sun finally broke through the clouds, and I could see light at the end of the tunnel. I laughed more. I loved more. I felt deeply again, like my emotions finally had room to breathe. For those who have read my book, you know I’ve faced my share of dark days, as many of us do. Some days were heavier than I could have imagined, and even now, there are moments when I question, \*“Why? Why this path? Why me?”\* But this reflection isn’t about the darkness. \*\*It’s about the gratitude.\*\* 2024 blessed me with so many moments of joy. I traveled, saw the world from new perspectives, and met extraordinary people who brought meaning and light into my life. These experiences reminded me that connection matters, that there’s beauty in the unfamiliar, and that we grow when we open ourselves up to it all—the good, the difficult, the unexpected. Now, back in Berlin, I feel a shift. The city feels cold again—not just in temperature, but in energy. Dark skies and gray streets mirror an unbalanced restlessness I can’t ignore. It’s not the coldness itself or the clouds; it’s the way this place feels as though it’s lost its spark. Smiles seem rare, warmth even rarer. And perhaps, that’s my sign. My time here feels like it’s coming to a close. But as this chapter winds down, I feel at peace. 2024 reminded me that life doesn’t stay stagnant. Even in the darkest times, the wheel turns. This year was proof that healing is possible, that joy can return, and that love—whether found in people, places, or moments—still exists. So, wherever this journey takes me next, I will carry this year with me. I’ll carry the laughter, the lessons, and the memories of those who reminded me that even in a messy, chaotic world, light and connection can thrive. And perhaps, just perhaps, this is only the beginning. The chapters ahead are unwritten, but I feel ready to meet them—with an open heart and gratitude for all that’s brought me here. Happy 2025 to all of YOU

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - The Influence of Global Oil Prices - Bitcoin's Roller Coaster Ride - Anticipation Surrounding the 2024 Halving Event - The Broader Crypto Landscape - Conclusions - FAQ In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin stands as a beacon, often dictating the mood of the entire crypto market. Its price fluctuations are closely watched by investors, analysts, and enthusiasts alike. Max Keiser, a prominent figure in the crypto space, recently shed light on some intriguing factors that might be influencing Bitcoin's current price trajectory. This article delves into Keiser's insights, exploring the broader implications of global events on Bitcoin's market performance. **The Influence of Global Oil Prices** Max Keiser, a renowned Bitcoin advocate and former trader, recently drew attention to the interplay between global oil prices and Bitcoin's market performance. Responding to a post by German economics expert, Holger Zschaepitz, Keiser highlighted the significance of Brent oil reaching $90 per barrel for the first time since the previous November. According to Keiser, the surge in oil prices, driven by Saudi Arabia's decision to extend its reduction in oil production for another three months, has had ripple effects in the financial world. One of these effects is the shift of investor interest towards higher interest deposit USD accounts. This diversion of investments is creating what Keiser terms as "a small headwind for Bitcoin," implying that as traditional markets like oil show promise, some investors might be reconsidering their cryptocurrency positions. **Bitcoin's Roller Coaster Ride** The cryptocurrency market, known for its volatility, witnessed Bitcoin's price undergoing significant fluctuations recently. A notable event that gave Bitcoin a temporary boost was Grayscale's triumph over the SEC in a legal battle concerning the conversion of its Bitcoin Trust into a spot ETF. This victory led to a rapid 7.88% spike in Bitcoin's price within a mere hour, pushing it from the $26,000 bracket to briefly touch the $28,000 threshold. However, this euphoria was short-lived. Over the subsequent week, the cryptocurrency saw its gains erode, settling in the $25,400 range. At the time the reference article was penned, Bitcoin was hovering around $25,688. **Anticipation Surrounding the 2024 Halving Event** The Bitcoin community is abuzz with anticipation for the next scheduled Bitcoin halving, projected to take place in April-May 2024. This event will see the rewards for Bitcoin miners being slashed by half, resulting in a decreased supply of Bitcoin entering the market. Historically, such halvings have acted as catalysts, propelling Bitcoin's price upwards. A case in point is the aftermath of the 2020 halving, post which Bitcoin soared to an all-time high of $69,000 in October 2021. However, some financial analysts argue that this surge was less about the halving and more a consequence of the extensive monetary measures adopted by institutions like the US Federal Reserve. These measures, taken in response to the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns, flooded the market with cash, potentially driving up Bitcoin's price. **The Broader Crypto Landscape** While Bitcoin remains the most dominant and influential cryptocurrency, it's essential to consider its position within the broader crypto ecosystem. Other cryptocurrencies, often referred to as 'altcoins', also play a role in shaping investor sentiment and market dynamics. Factors such as technological advancements, regulatory changes, and global economic shifts not only impact Bitcoin but the entire crypto market. As investors diversify their portfolios and explore newer blockchain projects, Bitcoin's role as the market leader is continually tested. Yet, its pioneering status and proven resilience make it a focal point of discussions and analyses in the crypto world. **Conclusion** Bitcoin, the flagship cryptocurrency, has always been subject to a myriad of market forces and global events. While its inherent potential remains undeniable, the current market landscape, shaped by factors ranging from oil prices to global economic policies, presents challenges. Yet, with events like the 2024 halving on the horizon, there's an air of optimism among Bitcoin enthusiasts and investors about the future trajectory of this digital asset. **FAQ** **Who is Max Keiser?** Max Keiser is a prominent Bitcoin advocate, former trader, and well-known crypto podcaster. **What did Keiser say about Bitcoin's price?** Keiser pointed out that rising global oil prices and the allure of higher interest deposit USD accounts are creating a "small headwind" for Bitcoin. **How did Grayscale's legal victory affect Bitcoin?** Grayscale's win over the SEC led to a 7.88% spike in Bitcoin's price within an hour. **When is the next Bitcoin halving expected?** The next Bitcoin halving is projected to occur around April-May 2024. **Did the 2020 Bitcoin halving influence its price?** Yes, post the 2020 halving, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $69,000 in October 2021. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 6cc4225f:942b7222

(Cover image photo credit: [The Crypto Times](https://www.cryptotimes.io/2024/10/25/michael-saylor-pitches-bitcoin-offer-to-microsoft-ceo/)) *“Our world of widows needs to be saved / it’s now or never — victim or victory, rebel or regret / who you are and who you claim to be / no more heroes.”* -Converge, “[No Heroes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sq8ZlyvH6E)” Usually, bad takes from big figures in the Bitcoin space roll off my back. I often don’t feel a need to counter them because 1.) Everyone is entitled to their opinion and 2.) I don’t enjoy spending my time arguing with people on the Internet. But when a take is really bad — downright evil — I feel compelled to respond. And respond I did to a bad take this week (link in just a second, first some context). Lately in the media, MicroStrategy Chair Michael Saylor has been laying out his vision for a digital asset framework. This framework includes conceptualizing Bitcoin as a commodity — nothing more than capital — and stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) as “digital currencies” (his words). As if someone who considers themselves a “[triple bitcoin maxi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOSirw2sZ_s)” (maybe one of the lamest terms ever) denying that bitcoin is a currency weren’t nauseating enough, his “evil genius plan” (his words) to get the world hooked on USD stablecoins as money while the US hoards bitcoin should have you upchuck everything in your guts if you truly believe in Bitcoin’s value proposition. Below (a few lines down) is the piece I wrote countering Saylor’s perspective. If there are two things I hope you take away from it, the first is to KILL YOUR IDOLS (not literally, of course) and the second is that [WE ARE BITCOIN](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/takes/frank-we-are-bitcoin), and if we believe in the technology — all dimensions of it — we have to defend it. Enjoy. [Michael Saylor Doesn't Understand Bitcoin](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/takes/michael-saylor-doesnt-understand-bitcoin) ## Support The Open Dialogue Foundation Speaking of defending Bitcoin, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the work that the [Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF)](https://en.odfoundation.eu/) is doing to defend our legal right to use non-custodial bitcoin wallets. Please read the following piece I wrote this week to learn more. [Protect Your Non-Custodial Bitcoin Wallet — Support The Open Dialogue Foundation](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/takes/protect-your-non-custodial-bitcoin-wallet-support-the-open-dialogue-foundation) And please make a tax-deductible contribution (before the year’s end) to the organization [here](https://en.odfoundation.eu/how-can-you-help/). ## Bitcoin’s Second Book-Length Academic Text — *The Satoshi Papers* — Coming Soon This week, I published my interview with Natalie Smolenski, a PhD-holding theoretical anthropologist who often makes very valuable thought contributions to the Bitcoin space. [The Satoshi Papers Explores The Role Of The State In A Post-Bitcoin World: An Interview With Natalie Smolenski](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/bitcoin-magazine-books/the-satoshi-papers-explores-the-role-of-the-state-in-a-post-bitcoin-world-an-interview-with-natalie-smolenski) What I loved most about this interview (and I loved a lot about it) is Smolenski’s lack of reverence. Two of my favorite quotes from the interview: > *“There was kind of a triumph of a certain very statist approach to socialism and even communism in the American academy, in the Anglophone academy, that has persisted to this day, where there's, like I was saying earlier, a suspicion of anything smacking of individualism as bourgeois conceit or reinscribing social hierarchies, racial hierarchies, gender hierarchies, blah, blah, blah.”* The “blah, blah, blah” hit hard. It reminded me of how I used to tune out when speaking with a good portion of my co-workers during the years I taught at the college level. The other one: > “What do you hope people will take away from The Satoshi Papers? \*&gt; *If there's only one idea that people take away from it, it's that your emancipation does not require the state. You do not need to wait for the government.* \*&gt; *My God, take control of your life. You can, it is within your power to do so, and here are some examples of ways that people throughout human history have chosen to do so."* The “My God” was so properly placed. Chef’s kiss. Check out to entire piece to absorb more of Smolenski’s wisdom. Thank you all for reading, and here’s to a great week ahead! Best, Frank 

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

> Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26) There are lots of verses in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, where people were amazed at the works of God, but my question is, “Is there anything that amazes God?” > When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and **many who heard him were amazed.** > > “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. > > Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. **He was amazed at their lack of faith**. (Mark 6:2-6) {emphasis mine} This passage mentions the people being amazed at Jesus’s teaching, but it also talks about Jesus being amazed at their lack of faith. It is amazing that people could see the son of God, face to face, and listen to Him teach God’s word and still not believe. They heard about and even saw Him work miracles and yet they did not repent, nor believe. This is an example of a negative amazement. Are there any examples of positive amazement? There are two passages, that I know of, that describe one particular event that amazed Jesus: > The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” > ****When Jesus heard this, he was amazed** and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, **I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith**. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” > > Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. (Matthew 8:8-13) {emphasis mine} The other mention of this event is in Luke: > He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” > > When Jesus heard this, **he was amazed at him**, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, **I have not found such great faith even in Israel**.” (Luke 7:6-9) {emphasis mine} This Roman centurion had greater faith than any one of God’s chosen people in Israel. This gentile man trusted that Jesus had the power to heal his servant and that all it would take was Jesus’s command. If Jesus spoke the word, his servant would be healed, and it was so. Just as Jesus spoke the universe into existence, He also spoke the centurion’s servant into health. The creator healed His creation with His word and the centurion believed that it would be so. What can amaze God? It looks like both our lack of faith and great faith can amaze God. This coming year, let’s try to amaze God with our undying faith in His goodness and ability to do anything and everything for our good. Trust Jesus.

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

## The paparazzi are we  One of the things that bothers me about social media, in general, is that it gives celebrities an air of approachability, that they don't actually offer. Theoretically, a celebrity could respond to any one of the dozens or even hundreds of people asking them questions or lodging complaints or singing their praises, but they usually only respond very selectively and leave everyone else just sitting there, as a living monument to the ReplyGuy. And, as a wise man once said, ReplyGuy is a hoe.  ## Death of a ReplyGuy This is usually because of time and energy restrictions, but also due to distaste, disdain, or indifference. Regardless of motivation, it is simply the nature of things, when a larger number of people are clamboring for the attention of some particular person. > Ooh, ooh! Can I have the next question?! > Would you please address my bug? > May I have a microsecond of your time?  Social media (and I include GitHub in this category) ups this game considerably, and potentially turns it all into a dangerous psychological torture, by making us all preoccupied with people who don't interact with us. The most irrational of groupies because we are forever making almost-contact with our stars. If we can see them talking to _one_ person, we're supposed to feel like they've spoken with _all_ of us. But they haven't. They spoke with someone else, and we were allowed to watch. No different than on television, except that we might be disappointed and eager to return the next day, to renew our futile attempt. The same intoxicating feeling that playing the lottery elicits. Everyone is a _potential_ winner, but there is only one jackpot. Come back next week. Buy another ticket. This next time, is your time. Promise. ## The view from the peanut gallery  It is all an illusion that there is no hierarchy, where there clearly is one. Celebrities of the past had, at least, the decency to remain slightly aloof. But they all want to be one of the Common Folk, now, just as every multi-millionaire aspires to see himself as fundamentally working-class.  All of celebrity social media is a stage, and most of us are merely spectators or commentators, to what is playing on it. This is why, if someone treats me like someone sitting in the peanut gallery, my instinct is to treat them like an actor. Because, in reality, that is what they are.

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

I've been working 28 hours a week on the weekends as a Direct service professional, assisting adults with autism and intellectual disabilities. I've brought my laptop freaks. There's enough downtime for me to work on obtaining certifications online, posts to SN and Nostr, and work on my coding project Nostr Run Club. I work with 2 normies on saturday and sunday, and had the bright idea of pitching my app to them. Here is how the conversation went. Hustle: Hey do you guys want to see what i'm working on? Normie 1: Sure.... Normie 2: "Comes around to curiously investigate" ***The Pitch Hustle: Alright, so.....what social media do you use? Normie 1: Instagram. Hustle: Alright so....I'm making a running app. Imagine logging in with instagram, and seeing a feed of all of the runners and all of your friends. Now, what music streaming service do you use? Normie 1: Pandora Normie 2: Spotify Hustle: Cool, so imagine seeing your pandora and Spotify liked songs and playlists in the running app. So the app can track your run, its connected to your social media and streaming platform, and people can send you small donations congratulating you for the run. Normie 1 and 2: Ahh, that's cool. Normie 2: But why would people send you money? Oh? I think I've seen something like it where people send you a star and the star can be redeemed for like 99 cents, or they send you points and the app rewards you for points. Hustle: Nah. That parts already figured out, I'm just having trouble getting the music from "Spotify" to play, and then I'll release it into the wild, that's pretty much my hustle. And that was the conversation, it left me thinking about a few things. 1. V4V The concept is extremely familiar to me. I say good Morning I get 50 cents. I give 35 cents to other GM freaks and keep it pushing. Its normal. But for them the concept seemed so strange, they were looking for some solution or explanation on why people would just give someone else money for seemingly nothing. When the solution is already here, just not evenly distributed or promoted or adopted. Likely because the normies are still existing in the paradox of card companies and ravenous third party intermediaries imposing their cut. 2. The broken social media landscape of disconnected walled gardens I was thinking normie one would say Facebook, if asked normie 2 would've said snapchat, Tik Tok, Instagram etc. for music they could've said apple music, tidal, Youtube music etc. I see Nostr as a highway that connects all of these guys, and instead of buying multiple cars to travel on different streets, you have one car that you use to travel across the country. 3. The tact required to pitch ideas like Nostr and bitcoin I used to work at bank of America and was tasked to sell credit cards without saying the word credit card..... I would say "Hello, good sir/mam, have you thought about getting rewarded for your daily purchases??" I found myself in a familiar situation, introducing them to Nostr without using the word Nostr and introducing them to bitcoin without using the word inevitable. The experience was stranger for me than it was for them, they left thinking "Ahh, thats neat" I walked away from the conversation eager to get notify the freaks. In Conclusion, The interaction gave me a few interesting insights: 1. We'll need to bridge the conceptual gap between traditional and new payment paradigms. 2. The importance of focusing on user benefits rather than technical details 3. The market opportunity for solutions that unify fragmented digital services 4. The value of strategic communication that meets users where they are Successful adoption of new technologies like Nostr and Bitcoin requires careful attention to user education and communication, focusing on practical benefits rather than technical features. The positive reception to the core concept, even without understanding the underlying technology, shows huge potential for mainstream adoption when presented appropriately. Thanks, Hustle originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/829000

@ 54609048:8e22ba03

2024 has turned out to be an interesting year for Bitcoin, probably better than what most expected. From the approval of spot Bitcoin ETF’s in January, increased adoption by corporations as well as pension funds following the Microstrategy playbook, to talks of creating Strategic Bitcoin Reserves (SBR) by different countries including the United States of America. Of course the European Central Bank also had to weigh in with their luddite perspective and let us know how early adopters “steal” economic potential from new comers. Then came the big one when the Bitcoin price crossed $100 000 for the very first time on the 5th of December, to much pomp and fanfare. Yet amid the euphoria, it’s critical not to lose sight of Bitcoin’s revolutionary mission: the separation of money and state. As conversations about the impending Bitcoin bull run and $1 million price predictions dominate online chatter, a darker reality emerges. Many Bitcoiners appear willing to compromise with governments and institutions—the very entities Bitcoin was designed to render obsolete—all for the sake of pumping their bags. While I am definitely not trying to dictate to anyone what they should be doing with their Bitcoin or how they ought to think; but I am trying to remind those that are still interested in the separation of money and state not to lose sight of the ultimate goal.This article is not meant to be a hot take for stirring any controversy or anything of that sort, just a different perspective that’s all. ## Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System The opening line of Bitcoin’s whitepaper isn’t just a technical statement; it’s a declaration of war: “A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.” It’s clear from this that Bitcoin was designed to be a digital means of exchange first that could be transmitted without a third party. Put another way, Bitcoin was created as decentralized digital cash—a tool for economic freedom, bypassing intermediaries and state control. Yet today, narratives like “digital gold” and SBRs dominate the discourse, reframing Bitcoin as a reserve asset for nation-states and institutions. While these narratives acknowledge the failings of fiat, they risk chaining Bitcoin to the very systems it was designed to dismantle. ## The Lessons of Gold: A Warning for Bitcoin History provides a cautionary tale in gold, once a cornerstone of monetary sovereignty but was gradually co-opted and centralized by the very powers it sought to keep in check.The erosion of gold’s monetary sovereignty began in earnest with the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913. This new central bank was designed to stabilize the U.S. economy by controlling the money supply and interest rates, yet its very existence marked a shift away from the decentralized, market-driven gold standard. By granting the Federal Reserve control over the issuance of currency, the link between paper money and gold—a scarce and neutral medium of exchange—began to weaken. Over time, gold was demoted from being the backbone of the monetary system to a reserve asset held predominantly by central banks. By 1933 the process had accelerated that gold was permanently kneecapped in 1933 with the signing of Executive Order 6102 which criminalized private ownership of gold by American citizens and subsequently forced them to sell their holdings to the government at a fixed price. While framed as a necessary measure to combat the Great Depression, the true consequence was the removal of gold from public hands, consolidating it within the coffers of the state. Gold was no longer the people’s money—it had become a strategic reserve for government monetary policy. Gold’s role as a medium of exchange was further diminished by the Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944. This international accord established the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency, ostensibly backed by gold. However, this system created an asymmetric dynamic: central banks could trade dollars for gold, but private individuals could not. The result was the effective demonetization of gold for the average person. It became a commodity stored in vaults, a relic of a bygone monetary system, while fiat currencies assumed its role as the dominant medium of exchange. The final nail in the coffin came in 1971 when President Nixon closed the gold convertibility window. This not only fully entrenched the era of central bank coordinated alchemy but crushed the productive capacity of every individual without proximity to the money printer. This historical tale reveals a dark and inconvenient truth: gold lost its power not because of any inherent flaws but because it was centralized gradually and systematically detached from its role as a medium of exchange. Its transformation into a mere commodity made it vulnerable to state control, paving the way for the unchecked proliferation of fiat money. The story of gold’s co-option should serve as a rallying cry: Bitcoin must never become just another asset locked away in institutional vaults, disconnected from the very people it was designed to empower. ## The Illusion of Reform While it remains true that Bitcoin is indeed a trojan horse designed to obsolete central banking, it would be a bit naive to expect these fiat alchemists are just going to just roll over and play dead. Bear in mind that the dollar is the oil that drives global commerce and capital markets, which is a financially lucrative position that the powers that be won’t give up without a fight. In case you hadn’t noticed, the fight is already on and it’s not as hostile as most would have expected. As calls for an SBR get louder by the day, many view this as a win. While it may seem on the surface like capitulation by state actors, the history of gold above should serve as a cautionary tale. Not all Bitcoin “adoption” is created equal. One of the key points that is usually raised in favour of nation states adopting an SBR is that it would force the state to adhere to tighter fiscal discipline and controls. A point that I am personally skeptical of for a number of reasons. For starters, the fundamental issue with fiscal indiscipline is the state’s monopoly on violence and the issuance of money. If history is any guide, as long as the state maintains control over the power to create money and enforce legal tender laws, it will find ways around nominal constraints. Legal tender laws force individuals to use state money, enabling governments to devalue it through inflation. Furthermore fiscal discipline is achieved by balancing budgets and curbing unnecessary expenditures, not just by accumulating reserves. An SBR in and of itself will do nothing to address the structural issues that drive government deficits, such as; excessive entitlement spending, military-industrial complex overreach and bloated bureaucracies. The problem is not the asset backing the currency but the moral hazard of government control over money. In theory while an SBR is viewed as a “disciplining mechanism” that will constrain state spending; the reality is that the state has always systematically undermined any constraints on their monetary power. Even when the dollar was officially gold-backed, the government found ways to expand spending beyond its means through techniques like suspending convertibility, changing redemption rates, and eventually abandoning the standard entirely. There's no reason to believe that an SBR would create any more discipline than gold did. An SBR would likely follow the same pattern as gold reserves - initially presented as a disciplining mechanism, but gradually subverted through: 1. Fractional reserve practices 2. Creation of paper claims exceeding actual Bitcoin holdings 3. Development of complex financial instruments to leverage Bitcoin reserves 4. Selective suspension of Bitcoin redemption rights 5. Gradual reduction of backing ratios Bitcoin fixes many things, but let’s not delude ourselves—it’s not the magic bullet for every societal ill. Bitcoin may be provably scarce and fully decentralized, but it doesn’t fix corrupt human hearts hell bent on maintaining a system of financial slavery. Nation-state adoption of Bitcoin in its current form should not be mistakenly interpreted as the state nobly surrendering the money printer to advance individual freedoms. The most likely scenario, in my view, is that most governments will continue to issue fiat currency against their Bitcoin reserves, engaging in the same inflationary practices that debased gold-backed systems. The problem is not the asset backing the currency but the moral hazard of government control over money. History has shown us time and again that even the soundest monetary systems falter when subject to the whims of centralized authority. The only way to achieve true fiscal discipline is to abolish legal tender laws and allow competing currencies, including Bitcoin, to flourish in the free market. As long as legal tender laws compel the use of fiat currency, governments will continue to inflate their money supply at the expense of the public, regardless of how much Bitcoin they hold. An SBR would not change this dynamic. Bitcoin, locked in their reserves, will become a tool to prop up the very system it was designed to destroy. ## The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher The aim of this article isn’t to foster doomerism or any sort of pessimism, but it’s a reminder of what’s at stake. The allure of “number go up” might excite speculators in the short term, but it risks diverting attention from Bitcoin’s real purpose. A rising Bitcoin price is not a celebration of Bitcoin’s growing value—it’s a grim indictment of fiat’s accelerating demise. Each new all-time high is a reflection of fiat’s gradual but inevitable erosion.The real tragedy lies in misunderstanding this dynamic.The true measure of wealth is not fiat gains but sovereignty—freedom from the clutches of a system designed to perpetuate dependency and control. To achieve this, Bitcoiners must resist the temptation to seek validation from governments and institutions. Instead, they must champion Bitcoin’s role as a peer-to-peer currency, a medium of exchange that operates outside the reach of centralized control. The battle is far from over, but the path forward is clear. The higher Bitcoin climbs, the more desperate the fiat establishment will become. Let us remember: the goal is not to join the system but to transcend it. Only by keeping this vision alive can Bitcoin fulfill its revolutionary promise as the people’s money—a beacon of hope in a world shackled by financial oppression.

@ 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.

@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5

 Yesterday evening, I found myself enjoying a late dinner at the Hostel Bar, followed by diving deeper into exploring a nostr client called Primal. While it promises a partial solution to the issues I’ve been facing with the Alby Custodial Wallet, it’s still not perfect. There are features I’d like to see that are missing, and uploading images — like the ones I’m working on now in a café at the foot of Kilimanjaro — remains a challenge. Primal’s Prime Account is an option, but it doesn’t align with my current needs. If I could generate enough income over nostr to cover itself, I’d consider it, but for now, my search for a solution continues.  This morning, I decided to try a new café, someone recommended to me recently. The ambiance is lovely, and it has a great vibe, though a bit on the pricey side. The cappuccino was delightful, and its proximity to my hostel makes it a convenient spot. I might return, but I’m also intrigued by another recommendation: Aroma Coffee. The name reminds me of Aroma Kava in Ukraine, which I loved. I’ll have to visit it soon and see how it compares. For today, my plans are simple. I aim to download videos from one cloud storage and transfer them to WeVideo for editing. My video projects have been on my mind, and I’m eager to keep making progress. Additionally, I’m experimenting with setting up VS Code for LaTeX. Currently, I’m drafting this blog post in VS Code using Markdown, but I’ve been inspired to explore LaTeX after reading an article about it. It’s been a while since I used Kile for LaTeX editing, so this will be a relearning experience. My goal is to make VS Code as versatile as possible for my creative and technical needs.  Looking ahead, I’m starting to think about my travel plans for 2025. At the beginning of the year, I’d like to explore new cities, perhaps visit Victoria Falls in Zambia, or even check out Uganda and the Nile’s source. However, I know I’ll eventually loop back to East Africa, with plans to end up in Mombasa. A flight to Germany crossed my mind, but my budget is too tight for that at the moment. Hopefully, in the next couple of days, I’ll have more clarity about my next steps. For now, I need to extend my stay at the hostel, pay my rent, and finalize my plans. Moshi has been a delightful place to stay. It’s undeniably more picturesque than Kilifi, though each has its charm. While Kilifi boasts beaches, Moshi offers the majestic Kilimanjaro and a plethora of beautiful cafés and restaurants. The streets here are livelier, with newer cars and more spots to relax and soak in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, I’m temporarily barred from entering Kenya. The border officer informed me that my frequent entries and exits have triggered restrictions. After some time, this should reset, and I’ll be able to return to explore the places I’ve missed.  Speaking of Kenya, I have to mention a surprising development from my time in Kilifi — my psoriasis disappeared. I attribute this to the consistent warm climate, the salty ocean air, and year-round sunshine. I’m optimistic that staying in a warm environment for the next couple of years will keep it away permanently. Before leaving Moshi, I plan to buy a multipurpose sheet that I can use as a wrap or towel. It fits perfectly with my minimalist lifestyle. I’ve also been contemplating replacing my worn-out T-shirts with something new. While they’re still functional, they’ve seen better days. I’ll wrap up this post here and wish everyone a beautiful Sunday. Stay tuned for more updates and photos from my day — including snapshots of the café and my walk there. Until next time!     

@ f839fb67:5c930939

Dear Disney, We, the undersigned, represent fans, dog lovers, and advocates for fair canine representation in media. As longtime admirers of your beloved characters and storytelling legacy, we feel compelled to address an oversight in your portrayal of one of your most iconic characters, Goofy. Goofy is a cherished member of the Disney family, known for his endearing personality, comedic mishaps, and lovable charm. However, as a dog, Goofy’s portrayal inadvertently perpetuates a stereotype that dogs are clumsy, foolish, or intellectually inferior. While Goofy’s humor is central to his character, it is important to consider how this impacts the broader image of our canine companions—creatures that, in reality, demonstrate intelligence, loyalty, and incredible contributions to human lives. Disney has a powerful platform to shape narratives and influence perceptions. Through an acknowledgment or storyline involving Goofy’s realization of his impact on dog representation, you have the opportunity to address this issue in a creative and meaningful way. Perhaps Goofy could team up with Pluto or another canine character to highlight the diversity of personalities, abilities, and contributions of dogs everywhere. An apology doesn’t have to take away from Goofy’s character; rather, it could deepen his story and show that even the most beloved characters can grow and learn. Such an act would not only resonate with audiences but also reaffirm Disney's commitment to positive and inclusive storytelling. Thank you for considering this request. We look forward to seeing how Disney continues to inspire and innovate while respecting the dignity of all creatures—real and fictional. Sincerely, DOGS (Disney Oversight Grievance Society) Advocates for Ethical Canine Portrayals #disney #ReclaimTheBark #dogsarentstupid #dogsarefriendsnotfwaitnowrongmovie #GoofyGaslitUsAll #DogEqualityDisney