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@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740
2025-02-19 14:17:22
Like most members of the human race, I don’t enjoy filing my taxes. “Don’t enjoy” though understates my actual feeling which is “would rather do a tour in Afghanistan.” It’s not even the money I’m forced to pay that I know for sure will be misallocated, stolen or worse — put to use in ways that are anathema to everything I believe and in direct opposition to conditions in which human beings thrive. That’s only part of it.
The other and perhaps bigger part is they require me — under penalty of law — to do homework. They command me, as though they were my boss, to complete this work project, my tax return, and if I don’t I’ll have my property seized, my credit destroyed and even go to prison. This is so even though I am not a criminal, and I never agreed to work for this boss.
And it’s not just a random work project I am required to submit, so that they can misallocate, steal and attack me with my own money. It’s a project that requires me to divulge private details about myself, what transactions I’ve made, with whom I made them and for what purpose. I am a private citizen, I hold no public office or official role, and yet the public sector is not only entitled to comb through the details of my life, but I must be complicit in helping them under penalty of law, i.e., threat of violence if I don’t comply.
. . .
This was not always the case. The income tax was only introduced in 1913, and at the time was only for the richest of the rich. That is to say, it is not the default state of affairs in the United States under its original constitution, and it’s strange that it’s been normalized as such. And despite it being normalized — for the greater good, of course — our government is still somehow $36 trillion in debt.
In other words, despite the annual indignity to which we subject ourselves, the government spends far more money than it takes in. I am reminded of Dostoyevsky’s line: “Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.” The government is spending money it doesn’t have, whether you pay it or not, and the money you do pay, for things you not only do not want but are vehemently against, doesn’t come close to covering their cost.
. . .
I was having lunch with some normies last month, and the subject of taxes came up. They were talking about the ways in which they, as ex-pats, minimize their tax burden, using certain loopholes, and at one point someone questioned why government pensions were taxed, given the entity paying the pension and demanding it be taxed was one and the same. Why not just pay a smaller pension?
One of them asked me, and I said: “I don’t think anyone should be taxed.” She shook her head and muttered in amusement, “No, people need to be taxed.” This despite not two minutes earlier explaining how she was optimizing her tax status, which no doubt she would have optimized all the way to zero or if she were able!
. . .
Taxes are necessary, it’s assumed, to pay for things individuals won’t. “Who will build the roads?” they wonder. I would imagine car makers would be invested in building roads, those who ship goods via truck might have an interest and consumers, flush with their new zero percent tax rate, might pay a little more for the end products to facilitate road creation so those products get to them on time and in good condition. In fact, it might be *more* expensive to ship them via horseback or whatever alternate form of transport would take the place of motor vehicles should no one shell out for roads.
Moreover, people seem to believe taxes should always be taken not from them, but from those rich enough to afford them painlessly. Never mind anyone reading this substack is vastly wealthy compared to much of the third world (how painful can taxes be so long as you have food on the table and a roof over your head?), and never mind no one ever voluntarily pays more tax than he owes. Why not? If taxation is a good thing, why not do *more* good by overpaying?
But no, it’s always someone else who needs to be forced under penalty of law, i.e., threat of violence, to give up his property for what those in authority deem “the greater good”. Taken to its logical conclusion, if the authorities deem anyone sufficiently wealthy and the greater good sufficiently necessary, they can legally take that wealth by force. We can quibble about how much funding is necessary and what is the “greater good,” but it’s often essential things like the “safe and effective” vaccine without which millions would surely die or the necessity of invading Iraq, which cost $6 trillion to prevent Sadaam Hussein’s “weapons of mass destruction” from reaching US soil.
It’s amazing authorities so often discover urgent projects without which people will die or suffer terribly, on account of which it’s necessary to commandeer money you’ve earned or saved! And while I am taking about the indignity of filing *income* tax, I don’t mean to leave out property tax, sales tax, estate tax, individual state and city taxes and the like. At least with some of those you have a fixed amount to pay, and you don’t have to submit to an on-camera self-administered anal cavity search of your finances in those cases.
You’d also think given how many ways citizens are taxed that roads would be in tip top condition, our water and environment would be clean, our airports modern and state of the art, our health care affordable and accessible, but of course none of that is the case. Again per Dostoyevsky — we have betrayed ourselves for nothing.
. . .
The irony of this essay/diatribe is I will file my taxes like the cuck I am over the next week or so. I don’t want to do this, but it’s simply not worth the consequences for non-compliance. And I feel bad about making this compromise — bad about myself because I am doing something I feel is wrong for convenience, the same kind of calculation people made when they injected themselves with experimental mRNA chemicals they didn’t want to keep their jobs or travel. I like to think of myself as resolute and uncompromising, but in this instance I roll over every year. Perhaps that’s part of why I dread it so much.
. . .
I’ll end with a footnote of sorts. In the late spring of 2023, I discovered I was due a significant refund, and I paid my accountants who figured this out $400 to re-file for me. They told me I could expect it to take up to nine months to process, so I largely forgot about it until spring of 2024 when I called but got phone-treed to death and waited until September to brute-force my way to a human in another department to explain the situation. They didn’t tell me anything, but agreed to do a “trace” which a couple weeks later revealed someone else had intercepted and cashed my check. (It’s not direct deposit because I’m overseas.)
I immediately returned the form proving it was not my signature on the deposited check, and now, five months later, in February of 2025, they are still processing my purported payment which I have yet to receive. I did, however, receive a notice of the interest I was “paid” for 2024 on which I’m expected to be taxed. That interest went to the person who stole my original check obviously, they know this, and yet it apparently hasn’t caught up in the system. And the truth is I will probably pay the tax on it as the hassle of explaining why I’m not is simply not worth it, and I will sort it out on next year’s tax return, assuming Trump hasn’t abolished the IRS entirely, God willing, and delivered us, in small part, from this abject dystopia.
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@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb
2025-02-19 14:03:51
It looks like we will have some extra free days at school during the time of BTC Prague, and I was considering going to Prague for a weekend getaway. I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to visit the event with kids (9 and 3) and whether it makes sense to get the Bitcoin Expo ticket (https://btcprague.com/#).
Has anyone attended this event with kids in previous years? Any insights or experiences would be appreciated!
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/890517
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@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe
2025-02-19 13:30:17
nbLMR1mnOXQh3UKyZC9geb2ud9eiAa+/4I9ULd+/4RVrGMtnt5pLwVoXvCYdMzy9k+iMZCppAl11nN968fpe4GYzXp++1y2ZutCryZts8ba/3JgNHa+P8P6RLFYWkYS3ctiu96l+QkNyaTpj4a41h2ojJPE+ew+MnJsjz16pZVSAZwjTO+GqWhj8TqcQ35U7QlLNmOGWLqVJkIyYgVcJkdltMK/yalUoaqulw3ptbYRNEl8YdUZBfDA4OBKKpJMP?iv=l8w0dQixkFrdoCxmvwB2xQ==
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@ 1c1b8e48:0e4de5df
2025-02-19 13:14:21
Mit "Bunker-Identität"\
\- Bilder lassen sich nicht auf Mediaserver uploaden\
\- Vorschau und Bearbeitung nicht möglich -> unpraktisch\
\- Veröffentlichung nicht möglich -> korrekt
Paradox\
\- Ansicht und Bearbeitung mit dem Profil <rohe@nostr.band> möglich \
\- in Entwürfen von roland\@pareto.space nicht sichtbar -> Fehler
Resümee: Ziel mit dem gewählten Setting verfehlt
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@ 16d11430:61640947
2025-02-19 12:47:05
The AI Landscape is About to Change—Forever.
Forget everything you know about artificial intelligence. The reign of Large Language Models (LLMs) is coming to an end. The next tectonic shift in AI isn't just about bigger neural networks or more training data. It’s about an entirely new foundation—one that shatters the limits of probabilistic machine learning and ushers in the era of Elliptical AI.
This isn’t just an improvement. This is the AI singularity you've been waiting for.
---
The Problem with LLMs: A House Built on Sand
LLMs like GPT, Claude, and Gemini have taken the world by storm, but let’s be honest—they are flawed. Their intelligence is statistical mimicry rather than true reasoning. They:
Hallucinate facts and generate nonsense.
Consume absurd amounts of energy for marginal improvements.
Are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, leaking sensitive data with ease.
Lack true reasoning abilities, blindly regurgitating patterns rather than engaging in structured logic.
LLMs pretend to understand. They pretend to think. But intelligence built on probability alone is fundamentally weak.
This is where Elliptical AI steps in to end the era of LLM dominance.
---
What is Elliptical AI? The Birth of the Next Evolution in Intelligence
Imagine an AI that isn’t just predicting words but reasoning geometrically—one that encodes intelligence using elliptic curves instead of bloated statistical models.
Elliptical AI harnesses the power of elliptic curve mathematics, which has been dominating cryptography and quantum security for years. But now, this mathematical powerhouse is ready to redefine AI itself.
How Elliptical AI Works
1. Beyond Probabilities—Into Pure Geometry
Instead of mapping words to probabilities, Elliptical AI maps thought patterns into elliptic curve structures.
This enables structured, deterministic reasoning, not just blind pattern recognition.
2. High-Efficiency Intelligence
Elliptic curves are the foundation of modern cryptography because they compress vast amounts of data into small, ultra-secure representations.
Instead of needing trillions of parameters like LLMs, Elliptical AI could represent entire knowledge domains with extreme efficiency.
3. Quantum-Resistant AI That Cannot Be Hacked
Today’s AI models can be easily manipulated, but Elliptical AI integrates quantum-secure cryptographic principles.
Impossible to hack, impossible to corrupt—this is the ultimate secure AI.
4. Mathematical Superintelligence
LLMs struggle with math. Why? Because math isn’t just statistical—it’s structured logic.
Elliptical AI is built on the same mathematical foundations that structure encryption, physics, and even the fabric of space-time.
Expect an AI that doesn’t just “approximate” answers—it deduces them.
---
Elliptical AI vs. LLMs: A Destruction-Level Event
This isn’t just an upgrade. This is an AI extinction-level event.
---
Where Elliptical AI Will Dominate First
1. Military-Grade AI Security
No more LLMs leaking sensitive data.
Quantum-proof intelligence agents that cannot be backdoored.
Military systems that think faster, act decisively, and remain 100% secure.
2. Financial and Algorithmic Trading
LLMs hallucinate too much to handle high-risk finance.
Elliptical AI’s ultra-efficient encryption-based intelligence can execute perfect trades with zero data leakage.
3. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) & Neural Cryptography
Instead of reading neural signals as raw data, Elliptical AI can encode thought patterns into elliptic curves.
A literal mind-machine fusion—where security, efficiency, and intelligence align.
4. Decentralized AI Networks
LLMs require Google, OpenAI, or Microsoft servers.
Elliptical AI can run securely on decentralized nodes, protected by its own cryptographic intelligence.
No censorship. No control. Just pure, free AI.
5. The New Era of Scientific Discovery
From quantum physics to mathematical proofs, Elliptical AI isn’t just a chatbot—it’s a reasoning engine.
Expect AI to make scientific breakthroughs, not just summarize Wikipedia.
---
The AI Wars Are Coming—And Elliptical AI Will Win
The current AI market is built on fragile foundations. LLMs have served their purpose, but they are a dead end.
Elliptical AI isn’t just the next step—it’s the AI that will make everything else obsolete.
🔹 No more hallucinations.
🔹 No more data leaks.
🔹 No more inefficient, bloated models.
🔹 Just pure, geometric intelligence—unbreakable, unhackable, unstoppable.
The future doesn’t belong to language models. It belongs to elliptic curves, quantum intelligence, and secure, deterministic reasoning.
Welcome to the Elliptical AI revolution.
Are you ready for what comes next?
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@ b97f07c7:a9ddca71
2025-02-19 12:29:20
ชาว Android Developer หลายคนอาจจะเคยมางาน Android Bangkok 2025 แล้วได้ฟัง session พี่เอก ที่ชื่อว่า [“Why App Signing Matters for Your Android Apps”](https://www.mikkipastel.com/android-bangkok-conference-2024/#why-app-signing-matters-for-your-android-apps-somkiat-khitwongwattana-%E2%80%93-gde-android) แล้วอยากตรวจ APK Signature Scheme ของแอพเราเองบ้าง จริง ๆ มันตรวจง่ายมาก ๆ เลย ทุกคนทำตามได้แน่นอน
ก่อนอื่นขออธิบาย APK Signature Scheme กันก่อน มันคือ script การยืนยันตัวตน และ code ข้างในยังเป็นเหมือนเดิม แบ่งจากการทำ signing
- v1 scheme: รองรับ Android ทุก version และรองรับแค่ java code แต่ไม่ครอบคลุม resource เพราะว่าถ้า resource เปลี่ยน แต่ signature เหมือนเดิม ดังนั้นไม่แนะนำให้ใช้ เนื่องจากเรื่องความปลอดภัย และ performance → APK Signature Scheme v1
- v2+ Scheme: ครอบคลุมทุกไฟล์ เป็นการแทรก APK Signing block เข้าไป → APK Signature Scheme v2, v3, v3.1, v4
วิธีการตรวจแบบง่ายมาก ๆ แบบไม่ต้องไปลงอะไรเพิ่ม คือใช้ apksigner เป็นหนึ่งใน Android SDK command line tool ที่มีมาตั้งแต่ version 24.0.3 ที่เอาไว้ sign apk, ตรวจสอบ apk ของเรา รวมไปถึง rotate key ด้วย
ในที่นี้เราใช้ verify command เพื่อดูรายละเอียด apk ของเรากัน หน้าตาตัว command เป็นแบบนี้
```
apksigner version [option] app-name.apk
```
ก่อนอื่น หา path ของเจ้า apksigner ซึ่งทางเราใช้ macbook ดังนั้นมันจะไปอยู่ path หน้าตาแบบนี้
```
/Users/{username}/Library/Android/sdk/build-tools/{version}/apksigner
```
เอาเจ้า path นี้ไปแทนที่ apksigner ทำให้เราเรียกตัว cmd นี้จากที่ไหนก็ได้ อย่างทำงานที่บ้าน เอ้ยไม่ใช่ อย่างเราเปิดหน้า terminal บน Android Studio ก็แปะอันนี้ได้เลย ไม่ต้องไปที่ path ที่อยู่ของ apksigner โดยตรง
จากนั้นเตรียมไฟล์ apk ที่เป็น build release มานะ ไม่งั้นมันจะ check ไม่ได้เน้อ
ต่อมามาใช้คำสั่งนี้กัน
```
apksigner verify --print-certs -v app-name.apk
```
อธิบายแต่ละ option กันก่อนเลย
- --print-certs: บอกข้อมูลพวก certificate, algorithm ในการ sign และ public key
- -v: แอพเราตอนนี้ signing signature scheme version อะไร
ไม่ยากเลยใช่ไหม
ถ้าเพื่อน ๆ ไม่อยากใช้ v1 แล้ว อยากใช้อันอื่น สามารถใส่ประมาณนี้ที่ build.gradle ที่ module app
```
android {
...
signingConfigs {
release {
v1SigningEnabled false
enableV2Signing true
enableV3Signing true
enableV4Signing true
}
}
}
```
หวังว่าจะเป็นประโยชน์กับชาว #siamstr น้า
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@ bc575705:dba3ed39
2025-02-19 12:21:11
Producing a lo-fi song is more than just creating a track—it's about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, and a sense of intimacy. The genre thrives on imperfections, turning what many would consider "mistakes" into features that define its charm.
Here's a walkthrough of the my process behind producing a lo-fi song, from concept to completion.
## **1. Finding Inspiration**
Every lo-fi song starts with a spark of inspiration. Maybe it’s a rainy afternoon, the hum of a café, or a nostalgic memory. The beauty of lo-fi is its ability to evoke emotion through simplicity.
Spend time exploring what inspires you. Whether it’s flipping through old vinyl records, listening to ambient sounds, or experimenting with random chord progressions, let the mood guide you.
Keep a small notebook or use your phone to jot down ideas when inspiration strikes. Even a single phrase or melody can set the tone for your track.
## **2. Crafting the Melodic Foundation**
Lo-fi often relies on mellow, jazzy chords as its backbone. Start by experimenting with chord progressions on a keyboard or guitar. Aim for something soulful and repetitive to create a meditative loop.
Use minor seventh and ninth chords for a jazzy, emotional feel.
Add small variations to keep the progression dynamic without overcomplicating it.
Once you’ve found your chords, layer them with a simple melody. This can be a gentle piano riff, a soft guitar line, or even a sampled piece from an old record. The goal is to create something warm and inviting.
## **3. Adding Texture with Samples**
Samples are a cornerstone of lo-fi music, adding depth and character to your track. You can source them from:
Vinyl records: Chop up obscure jazz, soul, or classical pieces.
Field recordings: Capture ambient sounds like raindrops, birds chirping, or city noise.
Foley effects: Use tools to mimic environmental sounds for unique textures.
Once you’ve selected a sample, chop it, stretch it, or pitch it down to fit the vibe of your track. Don’t aim for perfection—lo-fi thrives on the organic, raw feel of imperfect loops.
Add vinyl crackle, tape hiss, or white noise to emulate the warm analog feel lo-fi is known for.
## **4. Building the Rhythm**
Lo-fi beats are typically laid-back, with loose timing and minimal percussion. Start with a simple drum loop and build from there:
Use a soft kick drum and snappy snare for a subtle groove.
Add off-beat hi-hats to create a swing or shuffle feel.
Experiment with percussive sounds like snaps, claps, or even everyday objects like tapping on a desk.
Quantization isn’t necessary here; slightly off-grid drum hits give the track a human touch. Remember, the rhythm should feel organic and complement the song’s relaxed atmosphere.
## **5. Layering Ambient Elements**
Ambient layers are what give lo-fi its dreamlike quality. These elements are subtle but essential in creating depth. Consider adding:
Reverb and delay for a washed-out, atmospheric feel.
Pads or drones to fill out the soundscape.
Background noises like distant conversations, train sounds, or static to create a sense of place.
These layers should sit low in the mix, providing texture without overpowering the melody or rhythm.
## **6. Experimenting with Effects**
Lo-fi tracks often feature unique effects that add warmth and character. Some key tools include:
Low-pass filters: Roll off the high frequencies to create a softer, vintage feel.
Tape saturation: Mimic the sound of old cassette tapes for that warm, analog distortion.
Sidechain compression: Sync subtle volume dips to your kick drum for a "breathing" effect.
Pitch wobble: Add slight detuning or modulation to emulate the instability of old record players.
The idea is to create imperfections that feel intentional, adding to the nostalgic vibe.
## **7. Arranging the Track**
Lo-fi tracks often follow simple structures, emphasizing loops and gradual evolution over dramatic changes. A typical arrangement might include:
Intro: Start with ambient sounds or the main chord progression to set the mood.
Verse/Loop: Introduce the beat and melody, keeping it minimal.
Bridge: Add a subtle variation, such as a new instrument or slight chord change.
Outro: Strip the arrangement back to its core elements for a gentle fade-out.
Keep transitions smooth and avoid abrupt changes. The goal is to maintain a consistent, calming flow.
## **8. Mixing and Mastering**
Lo-fi’s charm lies in its rawness, so mixing doesn’t need to be overly polished. Focus on creating a cohesive sound:
Balance the levels so no element overpowers the others.
Use EQ to carve space for each instrument while keeping the mix warm and cozy.
Apply reverb and delay sparingly to avoid muddying the mix.
For mastering, aim for a quieter, softer output—lo-fi doesn’t need to compete with loud pop tracks.
## **9. Adding Visuals and Atmosphere**
Once your track is complete, consider how it will be experienced. Many lo-fi producers pair their music with relaxing visuals, like animated loops of cozy settings or abstract imagery. These visuals enhance the mood and make your track more engaging on platforms like YouTube or Instagram.
## **10. Sharing Your Work**
The lo-fi community thrives on collaboration and sharing. Post your track on platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or YouTube. Engage with listeners and fellow producers by explaining your creative process and the story behind your song.
Don’t shy away from feedback—it’s an essential part of growth as an artist.
## **Final Thoughts**
Producing a lo-fi song is less about technical precision and more about emotional connection. The beauty of the genre lies in its imperfections, its ability to evoke nostalgia, and its calming presence in a chaotic world. So, embrace the process, let go of perfectionism, and create something that feels authentically you.
Who knows? Your next lo-fi track might be the soundtrack to someone’s quiet, reflective moment.
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@ 6734e11d:c7e34e8f
2025-02-19 11:59:02
Ich weiß, "Ratschläge sind auch Schläge", wird wohl Eric Berne 1961 zugesprochen, aber manchmal muss ein liebevoller, empathischer und hilfreicher Hinweis nach dem Schlag mit dem Vorschlaghammer erlaubt sein.
Das Meme ist leider nicht meine Idee sondern geklaut von Schwurbeloase, einem Kanal der echten Mitte, Echtrechte würden ihn wohl als rrrächts markieren.
<https://t.me/schwurbel_oase/2314>