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@ dd664d5e:5633d319
2025-02-14 16:56:29
Most people only know customer-to-customer (C2C) and business-to-customer (B2C) software and websites. Those are the famous and popular ones, but business-to-business (B2B) is also pretty big. How big?
Even something boring and local like [DATEV](https://www.datev.de/web/de/startseite/startseite-n/) has almost 3 million organizations as customers and €1,44 billion in annual revenue.
FedEx has €90 billion in annual revenue and everyone who uses it comes into contact with its software. There's a whole chain of software between the sender and receiver of the package, and it all has to work seamlessly.
Same with Walmart, Toyota, Dubai Airport, Glencore, Tesla, Edeka, Carrefour, Harvard and University of Texas, Continental, Allianz, Asklepios, etc.
That's the sort of software I help build. You've probably never heard of it, but when it doesn't work properly, you'll hear about it on the news.
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@ 554ab6fe:c6cbc27e
2025-02-14 16:29:51
Bitcoin’s Price and the Power Law: A Reflection of Energy and the Early Stages of Monetary Adoption Introduction Bitcoin’s price trajectory has long puzzled analysts, with its seemingly chaotic booms and busts. However, when examined through the lens of power laws, a pattern emerges—one that is fundamentally tied to Bitcoin’s energy-based production cost. This article argues that Bitcoin’s price has historically followed a power law because its underlying cost structure is dictated by mining, an energy-intensive process. However, this relationship will not persist indefinitely. I propose that as Bitcoin matures into a widely adopted monetary system, its price will decouple from mining production costs and instead oscillate in accordance with natural business cycles, much like traditional forms of money.
**Bitcoin’s Price and the Power Law**
![](https://blossom.primal.net/cc7561ffebd40d8b08332b783d13ed9744a83a9c67e41f94d651c05ba638ac10.webp)Source and Credit: Giovanni Santostasi’s “[The Bitcoin Power Law](https://giovannisantostasi.medium.com/the-bitcoin-power-law-theory-962dfaf99ee9)”
When Bitcoin’s price is plotted on a logarithmic scale against time, a strikingly straight-line trajectory appears, punctuated by cycles of rapid price expansion (bull markets) followed by severe corrections (bear markets). These perturbations correspond to Bitcoin’s well-known halving cycles, which occur approximately every four years and reduce the block reward paid to miners, effectively doubling the cost of production per Bitcoin. Historically, Bitcoin’s price has always returned to a fundamental minimum—one that closely aligns with the average cost of mining.
This observation suggests that Bitcoin’s power law price behavior is not arbitrary but rather a reflection of its fundamental energy constraints. As in many natural systems governed by power laws, energy dynamics play a central role. In Bitcoin’s case, the “base layer” of its valuation is determined by the energy and computational resources required for mining. This power law behavior is therefore a consequence of Bitcoin’s fundamental design: as block subsidies decrease and mining efficiency improves, the minimum sustainable price follows an upward trajectory dictated by production costs.
**Bitcoin as an Energy-Based System**
Power laws commonly emerge in natural systems involving energy constraints, from thermodynamics to biological ecosystems and planetary dynamics. Bitcoin, as an energy-based monetary system, exhibits similar characteristics. Mining requires significant electricity and computational power, and as the difficulty adjustment ensures a competitive equilibrium, the cost of mining a Bitcoin remains closely tied to its market value over the long run.
Unlike traditional fiat currencies, which are controlled by central banks and subject to arbitrary monetary expansion, Bitcoin’s supply schedule is immutable. Its economic foundation is rooted in **proof of work**, where value is derived from energy expenditure. This fundamental linkage between energy and price explains why Bitcoin’s valuation has adhered to a power law trajectory. It is an entropy engine, and follows physical laws related to energy and entropy.
However, this pattern is not a permanent feature of Bitcoin’s monetary future—it is, rather, an indication of Bitcoin’s **early-stage monetization process**.
**The Transition from Mining-Based Pricing to a Business Cycle**
A crucial implication of Bitcoin’s price following a power law dictated by mining costs is that it suggests Bitcoin has yet to fully mature as money. If Bitcoin were already a widely adopted monetary standard, its valuation would no longer be primarily influenced by the floor mining costs but instead by macroeconomic forces—specifically, the natural fluctuations of the business cycle.
In a world where Bitcoin is the dominant global currency, the “price of money” (which correlates with the cost of capital and prevailing interest rates) would fluctuate according to the broader economic cycle. The dynamics would resemble those of natural interest rate cycles described by the Austrian School of Economics:
- During periods of economic expansion, lower interest rates spur increased investment and consumption, prices slightly rise, and savings deplete.
- As savings decline and prices rise, interest rates naturally rise as well, leading to reduced investment and spending, initiating a contractionary phase and lowered prices.
- During the contraction, savings accumulate, more capital becomes available, and interest rates and prices decline.
- With the availability of capital, lower interest rates and lowered prices, the economy is now ready to enter a phase of investment and expansion once again.
- This oscillatory process continues indefinitely, driven by real economic growth rather than central bank intervention.
If Bitcoin were fully monetized, its price would no longer oscillate based on mining halvings and energy costs but instead reflect **economic expansion and contraction cycles**—just as traditional currencies do when not artificially manipulated by central banks.
**The Early Stage Indicator: Bitcoin’s Dependence on Mining Costs**
Today, Bitcoin’s price still “bounces” off the power law baseline, indicating that its valuation remains primarily anchored to its minimum cost of production. This means that, while Bitcoin is widely recognized as an asset, it has not yet reached the level of adoption where its price is dictated by macroeconomic cycles.
A future in which Bitcoin is used as a primary medium of exchange and unit of account would necessarily imply a **decoupling from mining-driven pricing**. Instead of periodic halvings triggering speculative bull runs followed by crashes, Bitcoin’s price would become far more stable, with fluctuations primarily driven by business cycle dynamics. The continued adherence to the power law model, therefore, is evidence that Bitcoin is still in an early phase of adoption—where mining remains a primary determinant of price.
**Conclusion**
Bitcoin’s price trajectory has long conformed to a power law, reflecting the underlying energy costs of mining. This characteristic, however, is likely not a permanent feature but rather a hallmark of Bitcoin’s early stage as an emerging monetary system. As adoption increases and Bitcoin becomes widely used as money, its price should transition away from being dictated by mining costs and should instead fluctuate according to the natural oscillations of the business cycle.
The persistence of Bitcoin’s power law trend is a sign that it remains in its infancy. The real transformation will occur when Bitcoin is no longer bound to its production cost but is instead driven by the natural ebb and flow of savings, investment, and capital cycles—marking its full emergence as a global monetary system.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Please consult with a financial advisor or conduct your own research before making any financial decisions.
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-14 15:21:29
It's Finally here Stackers!
It's Friday!
We're about to kick off our weekends with some feel good tracks.
Let's get the party started. Bring me those Feel Good tracks.
It is valentine's so let's get all gooey and soft, let's feel good and loved up.
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.
https://youtu.be/kPa7bsKwL-c?si=XbAaVfCHLZw6_0n6
Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.
Let's go!
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/885888
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-14 15:14:34
A Russian drone attack has struck the radiation shelter at Chernobyl, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The strike caused a fire, but it has since been extinguished, and radiation levels remain stable. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that no casualties occurred and that monitoring continues.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA's director general, emphasized the need for caution. Chernobyl, site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, contains a protective shield costing $1.6 billion. Disaster prevention remains a priority as the conflict unfolds.
The incident occurred shortly before the meeting of world powers at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
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@ 0000065e:9b5b4c75
2025-02-14 14:41:24
Se está armando un considerable revuelo con las medidas, impulsadas por La Liga y Telefónica, que afectan a servicios relacionados con Cloudflare y a muchos de sus usuarios que tienen que soportar la restricción en la operatividad de los mismos. Pero, ¿cómo puede ser que un tema de “piratería” acabe afectando, con aparente impunidad, a servicios legítimos? Aquí intentaremos explicarlo.
Desde tiempos casi inmemoriales la industria relacionada con la explotación de los contenidos, y prestaciones, sujetos a derechos de propiedad intelectual han sido tremendamente imaginativos a la hora de buscar mecanismos que aseguren sus pingües beneficios. Como los jueces no solían hacerles caso, impulsaron modificaciones legislativas para quitarlos de la ecuación, *administrativizando* el conflicto, como sucedió con la conocida como Ley Sinde.
Pero los mecanismos de esta Ley no eran lo suficientemente ágiles para lo que quería la industria, por lo que había que darle otra vuelta de tuerca al asunto, lo que se hizo con ocasión del art. 138 de la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual. En síntesis, el truco es el siguiente:
- El titular de los derechos acude a un Juzgado honesto, imparcial y preocupado, como no podía ser de otra forma, por la defensa de los derechos fundamentales reconocidos constitucionalmente.
- Ahí plantea una demanda, no contra quien considera infractor de esos derechos (Cloudflare o los usuarios que hacen uso ilícito de sus servicios), sino contra los operadores de telecomunicaciones que dan acceso a internet, en una aplicación torticera y kafkiana del art. 138 LPI (sobre el que volveremos más adelante) pidiendo una serie de medidas.
- Las operadoras se "allanan" a la demanda, es decir, reconocen y aceptan las pretensiones del demandante, y el juez [concede las medidas](https://bandaancha.eu/articulos/2-nuevos-listados-obligan-operadoras-10322).
Con este truco, todos se guardan las vergüenzas unos a otros:
- Los demandantes: Nosotros solamente pedimos las medidas. Es el juez el que las acuerda.
- El juez: A mi me viene uno pidiendo una cosa, la parte demandada se allana. Tengo que conceder lo pedido.
- El operador: Tengo que hacer caso al juez.
Para conseguir esto, los demandantes llevan a cabo una torticera interpretación de los artículos 138 y 139 de la LPI, que en la aplicación que se está haciendo de los mismos convierte dichos preceptos en inconstitucionales, pues, en la práctica, se condena a una pluralidad de personas al cierre de su página web o restricción de sus servicios en España sin darles la más mínima oportunidad defenderse, en una flagrante vulneración tanto de la libertad de expresión e información (art. 20 de la Constitución) como del derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva (art. 24 de la Constitución), pues causa una evidente indefensión la producción de una condena sin posibilidad alguna de defenderse, por no hablar de que puede afectar también a servicios críticos o esenciales, como por ejemplo hospitales y centros de emergencias.
Los artículos 138 y 139, formalmente, permiten demandar directamente a los prestadores de servicios de intermediación (operadores que dan acceso a Internet), para instar la suspensión de los servicios que estos presenten a infractores de derechos de propiedad intelectual. En concreto estos son los preceptos a considerar:
>
> Artículo 138. Acciones y **medidas cautelares urgentes**. El titular de los derechos reconocidos en esta ley, sin perjuicio de otras acciones que le correspondan, podrá instar el cese de la actividad ilícita del infractor y exigir la indemnización de los daños materiales y morales causados, en los términos previstos en los artículos 139 y 140. También podrá instar la publicación o difusión, total o parcial, de la resolución judicial o arbitral en medios de comunicación a costa del infractor….
>
> Tanto las medidas de cesación específicas contempladas en el artículo 139.1.h) como las medidas cautelares previstas en el artículo 141.6 podrán también solicitarse, cuando sean apropiadas, contra los intermediarios a cuyos servicios recurra un tercero para infringir derechos de propiedad intelectual….
>
> Art. 139. h) La suspensión de los servicios prestados por intermediarios a terceros que se valgan de ellos para infringir derechos de propiedad intelectual, sin perjuicio de lo dispuesto en la Ley 34/2002, de 11 de julio, de servicios de la sociedad de la información y de comercio electrónico.”
A nadie honesto, y con un mínimo de sentido común e intención de realizar una hermeneútica correcta, puede escapársele que dichos artículos no están pensados para el supuesto de hecho que nos ocupa, donde no consta la existencia de una válida declaración de infracción de propiedad intelectual, que se ha construido de forma artificial, sin respeto a los principios de dualidad y contradicción de partes, generando una evidente indefensión a las partes que se ven perjudicadas por la pretensión de los demandantes. La Audiencia Provincial de Barcelona tuvo oportunidad de analizar estas peculiares y exóticas previsiones normativas en su Sentencia nº 115/2018, de fecha 20 de febrero de 2018, que es citada por las sentencias que afectan a la polémica que analizamos, y donde sobre la génesis de estos preceptos nos indica:
> “15. El redactado de los artículos 138 y 139 del TRLPI , en lo que afecta a **la extensión de las acciones de cesación a los intermediarios, no aparecía en el texto originario de la Ley**, es consecuencia de una de las múltiples reformas que se han llevado a efecto para adaptar la normativa española sobre propiedad intelectual a la normativa comunitaria. Concretamente, la reforma que afecta a estos preceptos es la llevada a efecto por la Ley 23/2006, de 7 de julio, por la que se modifica el texto refundido de la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual, aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 1/1996, de 12 de abril.
> La Exposición de Motivos de esta reforma indica las razones de la misma:
> «La razón de esta reforma del texto refundido de la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual, aprobado por el Real Decreto Legislativo 1/1996, de 12 de abril, responde a la necesidad de incorporar al derecho español una de las últimas directivas aprobadas en materia de propiedad intelectual, la Directiva 2001/29/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 22 de mayo de 2001, relativa a la armonización de determinados aspectos de los derechos de autor y derechos afines a los derechos de autor en la sociedad de la información, con la que la Unión Europea, a su vez, ha querido cumplir los Tratados de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) de 1996 sobre Derecho de Autor y sobre Interpretación o Ejecución y Fonogramas.»
> Y, en el último punto de la Exposición de Motivos, se especifica el alcance de la reforma respecto de las acciones y procedimientos:
> «Respecto a las acciones y procedimientos que los titulares de los derechos pueden instar, se establece, por primera vez, la **posibilidad de solicitar medidas cautelares contra los intermediarios** a cuyos servicios recurre un tercero para infringir derechos de propiedad intelectual, sin la exigencia de que el intermediario sea también infractor.»
Es decir, la propia norma, en su exposición de motivos, limita la aplicación de los meritados preceptos, en cuanto a la posibilidad de dirigir la acción directamente contra los intermediarios, al **ámbito de las medidas cautelares.** Ello se deriva igualmente de lo dispuesto en las disposiciones europeas aplicables, como indica la sentencia al decir:
> “Por lo tanto, la interpretación de estos preceptos debe hacerse en consonancia con la normativa de la Unión Europea y la jurisprudencia que la desarrolla.
> 16.- La Directiva 2001/29/CE en su considerando 59 destaca uno de los objetivos de la misma: «Sobre todo en el entorno digital, es posible que terceras partes utilicen cada vez con mayor frecuencia los servicios de intermediarios para llevar a cabo actividades ilícitas. En muchos casos, estos intermediarios son quienes están en mejor situación de poner fin a dichas actividades ilícitas. Así pues, y sin perjuicio de otras sanciones o recursos contemplados, los titulares de los derechos deben tener la posibilidad de solicitar **medidas cautelares** contra el intermediario que transmita por la red la infracción contra la obra o prestación protegidas cometida por un tercero. Esta posibilidad debe estar abierta aun cuando los actos realizados por el intermediario estén exentos en virtud del artículo 5. Debe corresponder a la legislación nacional de los Estados miembros regular las condiciones y modalidades de dichas **medidas cautelares**.»
> Y, para la consecución de este objetivo, el artículo 8.3 de la Directiva establece que:
> «3. Los Estados miembros velarán porque los titulares de los derechos estén en condiciones de solicitar **medidas cautelares** contra los intermediarios a cuyos servicios recurra un tercero para infringir un derecho de autor o un derecho afín a los derechos de autor.»
> 17.- La Directiva comunitaria en principio prevé únicamente la existencia de **medidas cautelares** frente a los intermediarios, así aparece también en el TRLPI ya que el artículo 138 en sus incisos finales hace referencia a medidas cautelares, es decir, medidas instrumentales, necesarias para asegurar la efectividad de la tutela judicial que pudiera otorgarse en la sentencia estimatoria que se dictare.”
>
No obstante lo anterior, **la Audiencia Provincial**, en un pronunciamiento que, entendemos, cuando menos de dudosa constitucionalidad, considera que la Ley permite el ejercicio de estas pretensiones más allá del ámbito de las “acciones y **medidas cautelares urgentes**” que menciona la Exposición de Motivos, la normativa europea y el propio título del art. 138, argumentando lo siguiente:
> “Sin embargo, al desarrollarse el contenido de las acciones de cesación el artículo 139 incluye expresamente la suspensión de los servicios prestados por el intermediario (art. 139.1.h), lo que puede habilitar no sólo a la solicitud de medidas cautelares, sino también a la petición, como pretensión principal, de la suspensión de los servicios. Este régimen legal interno, sin duda más amplio que el derivado del artículo 8.3 de la Directiva, permite abrir una serie de escenarios procesales con trascendencia material por cuanto podría habilitar a dirigir demandas únicamente frente a los intermediarios y no frente al infractor, o podría también habilitar cauce procesal para iniciar acciones frente a los intermediarios sin que exista una previa declaración de infracción imputable, en todo caso, a quien se vale de esos proveedores de servicios para realizar una actividad infractora.”
Parece de dudosa constitucionalidad que se extienda, más allá del estricto ámbito cautelar urgente, la posibilidad de acordar una medida como el cierre de una página web o restricción de servicios sin contar con la presencia en el litigio de las personas afectadas por las medidas. Pero **la Audiencia limita esta posibilidad y sí establece, al menos, la necesidad de que exista una constatación de la existencia de infracción**, como presupuesto para el ejercicio de la acción. En este sentido, la Audiencia considera que un pronunciamiento administrativo al respecto no es suficiente, pero, sorprendentemente, sí considera que un informe de parte no sometido a contradicción, como sucede en el caso de la Sentencia del Juzgado de lo Mercantil nº 9, en cambio, sí constata la existencia de infracción. En concreto, así se pronuncia la Audiencia:
> “Estos problemas son los que se plantean en el supuesto de autos, dado que no ha sido llamado a juicio el titular de la página web supuestamente infractora (www.exvagos.com): no se ha producido un pronunciamiento civil en el que se declare la infracción por parte del titular de esta página web, aunque sí existe un pronunciamiento administrativo ante la Comisión de Propiedad Intelectual…
> Por lo tanto, la **constatación de una infracción de derechos de propiedad intelectual** es un presupuesto ineludible para poder ejercitar las acciones previstas en los artículos 138 y 139 del TRLPI…
> el procedimiento administrativo previo no puede servir, por sí solo, para dar por cumplido o satisfecho el presupuesto previo de infracción por parte del titular de la web, ni la retirada de contenidos puede tener el alcance de presunción de infracción….
> en los autos constan otros **documentos en los que se acredita de modo eficiente la realidad de la infracción**. Se trata, concretamente de la **prueba pericial** aportada como documento número 12 de la demanda… El examen de esa prueba pericial sí permite concluir que la página web exvagos facilita el acceso a contenidos y habilita un sistema de intercambio de archivos que infringe derechos de propiedad intelectual. Así lo hace ampliamente el juez de instancia en la Sentencia recurrida (fundamento de derecho cuarto). ”
En este mismo sentido, sobre la necesidad de constatar la existencia de la infracción, se pronuncia la Sentencia nº 15/2018, del Juzgado de lo Mercantil nº 6 de Barcelona, al decir, en un caso similar, que:
> “... el demandante **no quedará exento de probar**, con carácter prejudicial la infracción sobre los derechos de propiedad intelectual.”
Pues bien, **en el caso de Cloudflare, al menos hasta donde es conocido, no existe ninguna constatación de esa supuesta infracción** (más allá de un “informe técnico” no sometido a contradicción), y los demandantes, acaso en connivencia con los demandados (lo cual es obvio en el caso de TELEFÓNICA, que actúa, con diferentes empresas, como demandante y demandado), o conscientes de que para estos era más fácil allanarse que oponerse a unas pretensiones que no representan perjuicio alguno para ellos, construyen esta farsa de proceso judicial, para conseguir la restricción de los servicios, sin ofrecer la más mínima posibilidad de intervención en el litigio.
Debemos mencionar que algunas sentencias, como la anteriormente citada del Juzgado de lo Mercantil nº 6 de Barcelona, basan la procedencia de la medida acordada contra las páginas web en que sus “**titulares no han podido ser identificados ni localizados**”, en cuyo caso podría considerarse pertinente un procedimiento sin la participación del presunto infractor.
Pero eso no es lo que parece que suceda en este caso, donde al menos Cloudflare se encuentra perfectamente identificada.
Como vemos, la extensión de la posibilidad que tiene el titular de los derechos de accionar directamente contra los prestadores de servicios de intermediación fuera del ámbito cautelar urgente es algo que no da la impresión de estar previsto en la Ley y que, desde luego, es de una más que dudosa constitucionalidad. Si la LPI permite demandar al prestador de servicios, sin conocimiento siquiera del titular de los derechos que se ven afectados, y sin una declaración judicial dictada respetando los principios de igualdad entre las partes afectadas y de contradicción, con base únicamente en un documento de parte, que no ha sido sometido a contradicción, entonces dicha previsión ha de considerarse inconstitucional, al violar el art. 24 y la tutela judicial efectiva.
Conforme a una interpretación razonable de la Ley, la parte actora podría haber solicitado medidas cautelares frente a los prestadores de servicios, pero de forma coetánea o inmediatamente posterior demandar a los presuntos infractores, a fin de que en un proceso contradictorio se determinara si realmente existe infracción y permitir, a los afectados por las medidas poder exponer su visión del asunto en sede judicial.
Podría pensarse, así, que el Juzgado aceptó una interpretación inconstitucional de los artículos 138 y 139 LPI, y no tuvo en cuenta que el art. 21 LEC, establece que el allanamiento debe rechazarse cuando suponga, como es el caso, un perjuicio a tercero no demandado en el procedimiento, pues el art. 21 LEC indica que:
> “Cuando el demandado se allane a todas las pretensiones del actor, el tribunal dictará sentencia condenatoria de acuerdo con lo solicitado por éste, pero si el allanamiento se hiciera en **fraude de ley** o supusiera renuncia **contra el interés general** o **perjuicio de tercero,** se dictará auto rechazándolo y seguirá el proceso adelante.”
Las sentencias de los Juzgados de lo [Mercantil nº 6](https://www.poderjudicial.es/search/AN/openDocument/2d094260f53b5cdca0a8778d75e36f0d/20221006) y [9 de Barcelona](https://www.poderjudicial.es/search/AN/openDocument/3c85bed480cbb1daa0a8778d75e36f0d/20221004), que al parecer son las que sirven de base para las medidas que comentamos, exponen que no se perjudica a terceros, pero, como es notorio y ostensible, en este punto los juzgados de lo mercantil se equivocan del medio al medio, puesto que el allanamiento, sin duda alguna, supone un claro perjuicio de terceros, Cloudflare y sus usuarios legítimos, que ven cómo sus servicios son objeto de restricción, sin ofrecerles posibilidad de defenderse ni argumentar contra las pretensiones de las actoras, infringiendo así el art. 21 LEC, en cuya virtud, el allanamiento debe rechazarse cuando suponga, como es el caso, un perjuicio a tercero (mi mandante) no demandado en el procedimiento.
De esta forma, como hemos expuesto, se ha articulado una suerte de procedimiento formal, inexistente en la práctica, para evitar un proceso contradictorio sobre su pretensión, eludiendo así la eventual participación de los afectados en el debate litigioso, algo que, deberemos convenir, supone una clara infracción del art. 24 de la Constitución, tal y como lo interpreta nuestro Tribunal Constitucional en sentencias como la STC 43/2010:
> “Este Tribunal ha declarado reiteradamente que el derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva sin indefensión (art. 24.1 CE) garantiza a **todos los que puedan resultar afectados por la decisión que se dicte en un proceso judicial el derecho a conocer su existencia, a fin de que tengan la posibilidad de intervenir en él, ser oídos, y ejercer la defensa de sus derechos e intereses legítimos**. Esta necesidad de promover la defensa, en la medida de lo posible, mediante la debida contradicción, **impone a los órganos judiciales un especial deber de diligencia** que, en palabras de la STC 56/2001, de 26 de febrero, FJ 2, “tiene especial importancia en el proceso de ejecución”. En concreto, y por lo que respecta a la posibilidad de intervenir en un proceso de ejecución, hemos afirmado que el derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva habilita a quienes ostenten algún derecho o interés legítimo que pueda verse afectado por los actos de ejecución a comparecer y actuar en el procedimiento, aunque no hubieran sido parte en el proceso principal, y a este fin los arts. 270 LOPJ y 260.2 LEC exigen que las resoluciones judiciales se notifiquen no sólo a las partes procesales, sino también a las personas a quienes se refieran o puedan parar perjuicio (SSTC 229/2000, de 2 de octubre, FJ 3; 56/2001, de 26 de febrero, FJ 2).”
Por otro lado, siguiendo la anterior sentencia, el art. 270 LOPJ impone el **deber de notificar las resoluciones judiciales**, no solo a las partes, sino “también **a quienes se refieran o puedan parar perjuicios**”, lo que, como indica la Audiencia Provincial de Barcelona en su Auto de 29 de junio de 2002, “va más allá de una mera facultad discrecional del juzgador, notificación que tiene por objeto poner en conocimiento de tales personas la resolución y posibilitar la defensa de su derecho inquietado o perturbado.”
Y en el mismo sentido, el art. 150 LEC establece que “**también se notificará la pendencia del proceso a las personas que, según los mismos autos, puedan verse afectadas** por la resolución que ponga fin al procedimiento.”
Da la impresión de que ambos preceptos han sido infringidos por los Juzgados y deberían determinar la nulidad de lo actuado y, por tanto, de las sentencias que comentamos. Como se ha expuesto, podría apreciarse una **vulneración del art. 21 de LEC, que impide acceder al allanamiento cuando ello suponga un perjuicio de tercero, fraude de Ley o contrarien intereses generales**, pero más allá de eso, podría dar lugar también a una **violación de la tutela judicial efectiva** reconocida en el art. 24 de la Constitución, desde el momento en que se obliga a unos terceros a soportar una condena sin posibilidad alguna de un proceso con unas mínimas garantías.
Como hemos dicho, la previsión del art. 138 LPI, que permite solicitar la suspensión de los servicios prestados por intermediarios a terceros directamente contra dichos intermediarios, queda circunscrita al ámbito establecido en el propio título del art. 138, “Acciones y medidas cautelares urgentes” y no constituyen una acción autónoma fuera del ámbito cautelar urgente.
En segundo lugar, una interpretación de dicho precepto, en el sentido de que permita el ejercicio de una acción de condena (en la práctica el cierre páginas web y diversos servicios relacionados con estas), sin posibilidad alguna de defensa de los afectados (Cloudflare y sus usuarios), iría en contra del art. 24 de la Constitución y si dicha Ley debe interpretarse en este sentido, sería inconstitucional.
Finalmente, si se admite la existencia de esa acción independiente y que la misma es constitucional, su procedencia debe conectarse con dos requisitos: una constatación efectiva de la existencia de infracción, que entendemos debe producirse en el marco de un proceso contradictorio donde se ofrezca al presunto infractor la posibilidad de defenderse, así como una imposibilidad de identificación y/o localización del mismo. El principio fundamental que rige el desarrollo del procedimiento en su conjunto es el derecho de las partes a no sufrir indefensión. Y la indefensión proscrita por el artículo 24.1 de la Constitución no es la meramente formal, sino la material, es decir, aquella que haya producido a la parte un real y efectivo menoscabo de sus posibilidades de defensa. Cabe citar en este sentido la [Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional nº 161/2006](https://hj.tribunalconstitucional.es/HJ/es/Resolucion/Show/5763), de 22 de mayo de 2006:
> “Según una consolidada doctrina constitucional el derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva sin indefensión que se reconoce en el artículo 24.1 de la Constitución Española **garantiza el derecho a acceder al proceso en condiciones de poder ser oído y ejercer la defensa de los derechos e intereses legítimos**… La finalidad material de esta exigencia es la de llevar al conocimiento de los afectados las resoluciones judiciales, para que puedan adoptar la postura que estimen pertinente en defensa de sus intereses (por todas, las sentencias del Tribunal Constitucional 77/1997, de 21 de abril, FJ 2; y 216/2002, de 25 de noviembre, FJ 2)."
Esta trascendencia constitucional de la correcta configuración de los procesos, a fin de que los eventuales afectados puedan ser oídos y defenderse adecuadamente se extiende también a procedimientos en los que, formalmente, se configuran como terceros, como sucede en este caso. Sirva como muestra de ello, la STC 43/2010, de 26 de julio que contiene unos pronunciamientos perfectamente aplicables al caso, si sustituimos las referencias a “ejecución” por “medidas de cesación”:
> “Este Tribunal ha declarado reiteradamente que el derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva sin indefensión (art. 24.1 CE) garantiza a **todos los que puedan resultar afectados por la decisión que se dicte en un proceso judicial el derecho a conocer su existencia, a fin de que tengan la posibilidad de intervenir en él, ser oídos, y ejercer la defensa de sus derechos e intereses legítimos**.
>
> Esta necesidad de promover la defensa, en la medida de lo posible, mediante la **debida contradicción**, impone a los órganos judiciales un especial deber de diligencia que, en palabras de la STC 56/2001, de 26 de febrero, FJ 2, “tiene especial importancia en el proceso de ejecución”. En concreto, y por lo que respecta a la posibilidad de intervenir en un proceso de ejecución, hemos afirmado que el **derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva habilita a quienes ostenten algún derecho o interés legítimo que pueda verse afectado** por los actos de ejecución a comparecer y actuar en el procedimiento, aunque no hubieran sido parte en el proceso principal, y a este fin los arts. 270 LOPJ y 260.2 LEC exigen que las resoluciones judiciales se notifiquen no sólo a las partes procesales, sino también a las personas a quienes se refieran o puedan parar perjuicio (SSTC 229/2000, de 2 de octubre, FJ 3; 56/2001, de 26 de febrero, FJ 2).
>
> ...Afirmamos en aquel caso que ello “provoca la indefensión de la demandante de amparo, pues contra el mandato contenido en el art. 24.1 CE de promover la defensión mediante la correspondiente contradicción, y sin perjuicio del pronunciamiento que pueda recaer, de lo que se resuelva sobre la posesión y sobre la posible reserva de las acciones que puedan corresponder a los implicados, conforme acertadamente mantiene el Ministerio Fiscal, el órgano judicial acordó el lanzamiento del propietario y poseedor legítimo de una vivienda sin tan siquiera permitirle comparecer a defender su derecho en un procedimiento contradictorio” (FJ 9).
>
> En definitiva, de nuestra doctrina se desprende con **absoluta claridad que la interdicción de la indefensión consagrada en el art. 24.1 CE impone a los órganos judiciales el deber de velar por que quienes ostenten algún derecho o interés legítimo en un proceso** de ejecución, aunque no hayan sido parte en el proceso principal, **puedan comparecer y ser oídos en el mismo para garantizar su defensa**, sin perjuicio del pronunciamiento que pueda recaer y de la posible existencia de otras acciones que puedan corresponder a los afectados.
>
> …En definitiva, y como afirma el Ministerio Fiscal, **el órgano judicial no actuó con la diligencia debida en orden a procurar que los demandantes de amparo pudieran tener conocimiento y comparecer en un proceso** ejecutivo **en el que resultaban afectados sus intereses**... Y dicho comportamiento del órgano judicial **causó indefensión constitucionalmente relevante**, pues **les privó de su derecho a ser oídos y les impidió el ejercicio del derecho de defensa de sus legítimos derechos e intereses** sobre el citado inmueble, sin que exista dato alguno en las actuaciones del que se desprenda que los recurrentes conocieran la existencia del procedimiento ejecutivo o que no hayan actuado con la diligencia debida en orden a facilitar su comparecencia en el citado proceso.”
Es evidente que a los afectados por las medidas **se les privó del derecho a ser oídos** y **se les impidió el ejercicio del derecho de defensa** de sus legítimos intereses sobre las páginas y servicios que operaban, por lo que se ha producido una **violación del derecho a la tutela judicial efectiva** reconocida en el art. 24 de la Constitución.
Además, las medidas de bloqueo de direcciones compartidas afectan también a la **libertad de expresión e información** de terceros que no guardan relación alguna con el conflicto y, lo que es peor, puede tener una **negativa incidencia en servicios que podrían ser críticos,** lo que es un comportamiento peligroso, irresponsable y negligente.
Por todas estas razones, las sentencias deberían ser anuladas y las medidas derivadas de ellas dejadas sin efecto, ofreciendo en todo caso a los afectados la posibilidad de ser oídos en juicio y defender sus legítimos intereses.
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![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ b2caa9b3:9eab0fb5
2025-02-14 13:55:53
After spending two weeks in Arusha, it was time to move on. My next stop was Dodoma. I walked to the bus station in the center of Arusha to check ticket prices, but I disliked the chaotic atmosphere — people approached me nonstop, trying to sell me tickets to destinations I had no interest in. Instead, I went to the Shabiby office, a reputed bus company, and secured a ticket for 29,000 TZS. The bus was scheduled to leave at 10 A.M. the next day, giving me time to prepare.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/3042a94aaa0531f066e70c3ba9dd1b77e7738dc4.webp)
*Photo above: a stop between Arusha and Dodoma.*
I returned to my hostel, packed my bag, and picked up snacks and water from Shoppers Supermarket, knowing that Tanzanian bus rides tend to take longer than expected. The 80-kilometer journey from Moshi to Arusha had taken me up to three hours, so I expected the longer trip to Dodoma to stretch beyond the promised eight hours.
## The Journey to Dodoma
The bus ride was predictably long, making frequent stops along the way. Upon arrival in Dodoma, the bus meandered through the city, dropping off passengers. My booked accommodation was just under two kilometers from the final stop, so I decided to walk, relying on Google Maps to guide me.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/22aee8f7a9106b3bd3f999c06b601dcaecd080f7.webp)
*Photo above: in Dodoma.*
When I arrived at what was supposed to be my lodging, I was skeptical. The house lacked a sign, and an elderly woman was doing laundry in the yard. When I asked if this was the right place, she called a younger woman who spoke English and welcomed me inside. The accommodation was a full apartment, complete with a kitchen, but not cheap. Later in the evening, I attempted to shower, only to discover there was no running water. I resorted to a bucket shower, but the cramped bathroom caused water to spill into the apartment.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/899194a9ac930faaabd38eaac29d474cba560369.webp)
*Photo above: the Baobab Café in Dodoma.*
## Exploring Dodoma
The next day, I set out to explore Dodoma. I passed a cozy café and an old-looking church, which I later learned was not as ancient as it seemed. Strolling down a lively shopping district, I admired the small stores lining the streets. Eventually, I settled at the café I had spotted earlier, enjoying a simple dinner of bread and tomato salad.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/94b73d492096cbea0b41a5ffddef936984f67c66.webp)
*Photo above: the church in Dodoma.*
Originally, I had planned to stay for just one night, but the city intrigued me, and I extended my stay. This meant I had to book my next bus ticket and gather supplies. Using the Bolt app, I ordered a TukTuk to take me to the Shabiby bus terminal. The ride cost 2,000 TZS — without Bolt, I would have been charged significantly more. I bought my ticket to Mbeya for 40,000 TZS, with a departure time of 5:30 A.M.
That night, I packed my bags and went to bed early, knowing I had an early start ahead.
## The Departure to Mbeya
Waking up at 3:30 A.M., I hurriedly took another bucket shower — still no running water. I initially planned to order a TukTuk, but the Bolt app showed no available drivers. With the bus station only a 13-minute walk away, I set out on foot. Along the way, I stepped into a water hole, soaking myself up to my knees. Street vendors persistently offered me motorcycle rides, but I ignored them and continued walking.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/3e5dedea6432af85e76e627b729018f53297b5bf.webp)
*Photo above: in Dodoma.*
Arriving at the bus station, I saw the previous bus to Mbeya departing. My gut told me something was wrong. Sure enough, my bus was delayed by almost an hour. Finally, it arrived, and I boarded, relieved that I hadn’t missed it after all.
## A Long Ride to Mbeya
The previous day, I had suffered from severe diarrhea. Fortunately, a local pharmacy in Dodoma provided me with pills that helped stabilize my system. I also continued taking my daily dose of Doxycycline as a malaria precaution.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/c740078683a0487b974ed5da16779bbf541008f5.webp)
*Photo above: shopping street in Dodoma.*
This time, I had a window seat with no one beside me, allowing me to place my backpack on the empty seat. As we traveled, I watched the Tanzanian landscape unfold. At one point, the bus crossed a dam, likely a reservoir, before being stopped by police. A policeman entered, checked my passport, and inquired about my destination. When I mentioned Mbeya, he ask me where after, and I told him to Lusaka. Then he asked if it was in Zambia, returned my passport, and he let us continue.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/db9705f93f79d66e69c24533765f899287e50cf1.webp)
*Photo above: the Baobab Café in Dodoma.*
My host in Mbeya had instructed me to get off at Nane Nane Stand. Upon arrival, I searched for a TukTuk. Without internet access, I had to negotiate fares blindly. After rejecting overpriced offers, I managed to bargain a price of 5,000 TZS for the short ride to my accommodation, what was a bit high for a Tuktuk.
## Mbeya and the Journey to the Border
Initially planning to stay two nights, exhaustion led me to extend for an extra night. The hostel was beautiful and clean but, yet again, had no running water. However, this time, the host kindly boiled water for me, allowing me to take a warm bucket shower.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/663b4df35849c163cc5de9a625550f18852cde24.webp)
*Photo above: on the way to the Supermarket in Dodoma.*
On my final day in Mbeya, I explored the city, visiting a new children's hospital and an old church. Tuktuk drivers repeatedly tried to overcharge me, but I insisted on the standard 800 TZS fare for public transport.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/c309c895a1cad53a01711dfb9c4a5aab94f183a4.webp)
*Photo above: on the way to the Supermarket in Dodoma.*
The following morning, after a quick breakfast, I set off for the bus station with a fellow traveler I met at the hostel. Together, we took a bus to Tunduma for 5,000 TZS each. From there, a TukTuk ride to the border cost another 5,000 TZS.
## Crossing into Zambia
The border crossing was straightforward for me — I received a free 30-day visa for Zambia. My Russian travel companion, however, needed a visa on arrival, payable in cash and only in USD. The immigration officer arranged a taxi to take us to an ATM, but the only available bank, Absa, charged exorbitant fees. Fortunately, we later found a Zanaco ATM in Nakonde that had no fees.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/3937a36ec3a68f5b505a9f447ec65226925cdf08.webp)
*Photo above: between Dodoma and Mbeya.*
Once we had the necessary cash, we returned to the Border immigration, paid for the visa, and proceeded into Zambia. We walked to town, grabbed some food, and checked into Shalom Hotel. It was cheap, costing only 200 Kwacha per night (under 10 Euros), but lacked cleanliness and had no running water.
## A Frustrating Bus Experience
We booked a 4 A.M. bus to Lusaka with Jkas, supposedly the best company. However, when we arrived at the station at 3:28 A.M., the bus was already gone. The staff had lied, telling us the bus left at 4 A.M. but actually departing at 3 A.M. They then offered an overpriced taxi to chase the bus, which we declined.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/39a709494219fe976025f9a9a8ec6a88cf6922dd.webp)
*Photo above: between Dodoma and Mbeya.*
With no other options left, we searched for an alternative and eventually made our way to the PowerTools bus station — only to find that the bus also had already left.
The next bus? **Overnight.**
We were stuck.
### The Boda Chase
That’s when a Boda driver approached us. He had been waiting at the Powertools station, watching the situation unfold. **“I know where your bus is,”** he said. **“At the checkpoint. I can take you.”**
There was no time to think. We climbed on.
The night was pitch black, the streets slick with rain and mud. As soon as he twisted the throttle, the bike lurched forward. The driver wasn’t smooth — he was riding like a madman, shaking left and right as he weaved through the darkness. The wet road made it worse, and the mud felt like a trap waiting to swallow us whole.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/9ab6de825e236b0bddd05ff80e425ba6e0d52b26.webp)
*Photo above: between Dodoma and Mbeya.*
A gust of wind blew my hat into my face, blinding me for the most time. My gut twisted — I could almost see the crash before it happened. **“Slow down!”** I shouted. He eased off for a while, but soon enough, he hit the gas again. **“I said slow down!”** I had to remind him.
It felt like an eternity. The only thought keeping me together was the hope that the checkpoint was close.
Then — buses. Dozens of them.
We told him which one was ours, but in the dim light, they all looked the same. He swerved between them, searching, until finally — **Jkas.**
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/e104d8795e93411f4fa595424868bcacda19e559.webp)
*Photo above: the old church in Mbeya.*
As we pulled up, the driver suddenly changed his price from 200 to 400 Kwacha. Of course. I handed him 300, not in the mood to argue, and walked straight into the bus, **relieved to be off that death ride**.
The journey continued, but the morning’s chaos was a reminder that travel in Africa often requires patience and adaptability.
---
## Final Thoughts
The journey from Arusha to Lusaka was long and filled with challenges — delayed buses, unreliable accommodations, and frustrating border experiences. Yet, the beauty of Tanzania and Zambia, the people I met, and the lessons I learned along the way made it all worthwhile. Traveling in Africa requires flexibility, but it rewards you with unforgettable experiences and stories to tell.
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/17791c4480c95696716051cddee8da8f797b1094.webp)
*Photo above: in Mbeya.*
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/1384a9cf9e37ff5892d0c7024d91a55bc2247521.webp)
*Photo above: somewhere in Zambia from the Bus.*
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/549f9ad25ee8499700428f0d391f1d74a1f96260.webp)
*Photo above: in Lusaka.*
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/de93734450e4b909d8ad4f7e3283406c44943390.webp)
*Photo above: in the East Park Mall in Lusaka.*
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/2523100f03ea1c32fdbd1d05ba0ef51e3b111b82.webp)
*Photo above: in the East Park Mall in Lusaka.*
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/eb5e8db17707a829d5898176e9f2f002d4015305.webp)
*Photo above: East Park Mall in Lusaka.*
![](https://img.blurt.world/blurtimage/rubenstorm/dcae72c519beebb92b9ce1ee0dc3d6aceb4f1663.webp)
*Photo above: in the market in Lusaka.*
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![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2025-02-14 13:51:33
In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, a significant development has emerged that is reshaping perceptions and strategies within the industry. Bitcoin, the original and most prominent digital currency, has seen its transaction fees hit a two-year high. This remarkable surge in fees is not merely a statistical blip but a phenomenon that could herald a transformative phase in Bitcoin mining. As we witness these fees reaching unprecedented levels, it prompts a crucial inquiry: Are we on the cusp of a new era in BTC mining, one that redefines its economic and technological paradigms?
**Table Of Content**
- The Surge in Transaction Fees
- Impact on Bitcoin Miners
- A Divided Community
- The Ripple Effect on Mining Stocks
- The Broader Market Influence
- Conclusion
- FAQs
**The Surge in Transaction Fees**
The Bitcoin network, known for its robustness and security, has recently been the center of a notable financial trend. Transaction fees have soared to over $37, a figure reminiscent of the peak levels observed in April 2021. This significant increase is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of a larger, more complex shift within the Bitcoin ecosystem. The primary driver behind this surge is the burgeoning interest in Bitcoin NFTs, particularly through a protocol known as Ordinals. This innovative protocol facilitates the storage of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) directly on the Bitcoin blockchain. As a result, there has been a marked increase in transaction volumes, leading to higher fees. This trend reflects a growing interest in utilizing Bitcoin not just as a currency but as a platform for broader digital asset interactions, potentially expanding its use cases and value proposition.
**Impact on Bitcoin Miners**
The escalation in transaction fees has had a profound and far-reaching impact on the community of Bitcoin miners. These individuals and companies, who form the backbone of the Bitcoin network by validating transactions and maintaining the blockchain, are now witnessing a dramatic shift in their revenue streams. With fees reaching such high levels, their daily income has surged to an estimated $63 million, translating to an extraordinary $23 billion annually. This figure is a significant leap from the average income over the past two years and represents a potential windfall for the mining sector. The increased profitability could lead to renewed investment in mining infrastructure, potentially spurring technological advancements and increased competition within the sector. It also raises questions about the decentralization of Bitcoin mining, as higher profits could lead to further consolidation in an industry already dominated by large players.
**A Divided Community**
The Bitcoin community, known for its diverse opinions and robust debates, finds itself at a crossroads with the rise of Ordinals and its impact on transaction fees. On one hand, some members of the community, including prominent figures like core developer Luke Dashjr, view the influx of Ordinals as a form of spam that clutters the blockchain and necessitates technical solutions. This perspective underscores concerns about blockchain bloat, transaction prioritization, and the fundamental principles of what Bitcoin should represent. On the other hand, for miners, these high fees have been a significant boon. They have provided a much-needed boost to profitability, especially in a period where the price of Bitcoin itself has been relatively stable. This divergence in views reflects the ongoing evolution of Bitcoin's identity and purpose, as it balances its role as a digital gold, a transactional currency, and now, a platform for digital art and collectibles.
**The Ripple Effect on Mining Stocks**
The impact of the surge in Bitcoin fees extends beyond the digital realm and into the traditional financial markets. Bitcoin mining stocks, representing companies that invest heavily in the infrastructure required to mine the digital currency, have shown remarkable resilience and growth. Companies like Marathon Digital, Riot Platform, and Cleanspark have seen their stock prices rally, significantly outperforming the actual price of Bitcoin. This trend indicates a growing investor confidence in the mining sector, buoyed by the increased revenue potential from transaction fees. It also suggests a decoupling of sorts, where the mining sector's performance is not solely dependent on the price of Bitcoin but also on other factors like transaction volume and fee structures. This decoupling could attract a new class of investors to the mining stocks, those looking for exposure to the crypto market but with a different risk profile than holding cryptocurrencies directly.
**The Broader Market Influence**
The performance of Bitcoin mining stocks is also intricately linked to the broader equity markets. As observed by Caleb Franzen, founder of Cubic Analytics, the strong performance of equity markets has provided additional momentum to these stocks. This correlation indicates that Bitcoin mining companies are increasingly being viewed through the lens of traditional financial analysis, where market trends and investor sentiment play a crucial role. The implication is significant: as Bitcoin mining firms become more integrated into the broader market, they may also become more susceptible to the same macroeconomic factors that influence traditional stocks. This integration could lead to greater stability in the mining sector but also exposes it to new types of risks, such as regulatory changes or shifts in investor sentiment unrelated to the crypto market.
**Conclusion**
The recent developments in Bitcoin transaction fees, driven by the popularity of Ordinals, have ushered in significant changes in the mining landscape. With increased revenues and a positive impact on mining stocks, it's tempting to proclaim the dawn of a new era in Bitcoin mining. However, the sustainability of this trend and its long-term impact on the Bitcoin ecosystem remain subjects of intense speculation and debate. As the community grapples with these changes, the future of Bitcoin mining continues to be a topic of keen interest. Whether this marks a permanent shift or a temporary phase in the cryptocurrency's evolution, one thing is certain: the world of Bitcoin remains as dynamic and unpredictable as ever.
**FAQs**
**What caused the recent spike in Bitcoin transaction fees?**
The surge in Bitcoin transaction fees to over $37, a two-year high, is primarily attributed to the growing popularity of Bitcoin NFTs, especially through the Ordinals protocol, which allows for the storage of non-fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain.
**How does the increase in transaction fees affect Bitcoin miners?**
Bitcoin miners, who earn BTC for processing transactions, have seen a significant increase in their income due to the higher fees. Their daily revenue has reached approximately $63 million, translating to an estimated $23 billion annually.
**What is the Ordinals protocol, and why is it controversial?**
Ordinals is a protocol that enables the storage of NFTs on the Bitcoin blockchain. It has been controversial within the Bitcoin community, with some viewing it as a beneficial innovation and others as a form of spam that clutters the blockchain.
**Have Bitcoin mining stocks been affected by the increase in fees?**
Yes, Bitcoin mining stocks, such as Marathon Digital, Riot Platform, and Cleanspark, have outperformed the actual price of Bitcoin, indicating growing investor confidence in the mining sector due to increased revenue from transaction fees.
**Is the Bitcoin mining industry becoming more centralized?**
The increase in profitability could lead to further investment in mining infrastructure, potentially leading to more competition but also raising concerns about the centralization of mining power in the hands of large companies.
**That's all for today**
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![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ 09fbf8f3:fa3d60f0
2025-02-14 13:40:37
> 功能很简单的网站,无广告、无任何付费项目,漫画全部免费。
荤素搭配。
唯一的缺点就是有点慢,看了下网站使用的是cloudflare网站加速,国内效果差了一点,加个🪜就好了。
关键词mycomic
官网:[https://mycomic.com](https://mycomic.com)
![](https://image.baidu.com/search/down?thumburl=https://baidu.com&url=https://tvax1.sinaimg.cn/large/008qC0LFgy1hykdrhrfkuj30yf0ik118.jpg)
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![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ c0a57a12:8b230f7a
2025-02-14 13:19:06
Our generation has a cussing problem.
Not the kind our grandfathers had. Their swearing was like their gunpowder—kept dry, used sparingly, and when used, meant to do something. A man swore when he had been wronged, when fate had dealt him a rotten hand, when he stood on the edge of some great loss or some great victory. He swore not because he was thoughtless, but because he was thoughtful—because there were things in this world that deserved cursing, just as there were things that deserved blessing.
But today? Today, men swear too much, but their swearing is too little. Profanity has become a nervous tic, a filler word, a lazy man’s substitute for wit. We curse not with thunder but with static, not with the crack of a whip but with the feeble hum of a refrigerator. We lace our every sentence with obscenities, not because we are overcome with feeling, but because we have forgotten how to feel at all.
And this is what makes our generation’s swearing so weak, so colorless, so infuriatingly dull. It is not that men curse—it is that they curse in the same tone with which they order a sandwich. Their profanity is not the language of men at war with the world’s wickedness; it is the language of men too bored to speak properly. They do not curse like sailors charging into battle; they curse like cashiers sighing through their shifts.
And yet, in an irony too delicious to ignore, we live in an age obsessed with language. We do not believe in God, but we believe in speech codes. We do not fear hell, but we fear being reprimanded in the workplace. We have scrapped the Ten Commandments but will gladly enforce a list of forbidden words a mile long. Our rulers and bureaucrats will pore over a man’s every sentence, hunting for an offense, searching for some phrase to declare unacceptable.
And yet—yet!—these same rulers, these same bureaucrats, these same petty, priggish priests of modern propriety will gladly flood the airwaves with an endless stream of empty, witless vulgarity. A schoolteacher may be fired for uttering a forbidden phrase, but a pop star may string together a song consisting of nothing but profanity, and no one blinks an eye. We are hypersensitive to language when it contains truth, yet utterly indifferent when it contains nothing at all.
And this is the real problem: we do not curse too much, but too weakly. Our words are exhausted, worn thin, spoken to death. Men have forgotten how to speak with fire, how to command with words, how to invoke heaven or hell with their tongues. They do not pray, because they do not know how to form words for the divine. They do not make oaths, because they no longer believe words can bind them. They do not declare war on the evils of the world, because they have spent all their breath on pointless cursing and have none left for real battle.
And where does this road lead? It leads to a world where men have lost the power of speech entirely. A world where every conversation sounds the same, where every man mutters the same tired handful of words over and over, like a machine running out of oil. It leads to a world where poetry is impossible, where language is shriveled and gray, where men do not swear terrible oaths because they no longer believe in terrible things. It leads to a world where men do not pray because they do not believe in miracles, and men do not curse because they do not believe in damnation.
But this is not a lament. This is not the tired sigh of a defeated man. This is a call to arms.
The solution is not to ban speech further. It is not to purge all rough language from the world and replace it with the sterile buzz of corporate-approved jargon. No, the solution is simpler, and far more radical. Men must learn to shut up.
They must learn to close their mouths until they have something worth saying. They must stop filling the air with idle, useless, lazy profanity and speak only when speaking matters. If a man must swear, let him swear like a hammer striking an anvil—sharp, sudden, final. If a man must curse, let it be a curse that shakes the very bones of the world. Let his words be rare, but let them be terrible. Let his anger be real. Let his prayers be real. Let his oaths be real.
But above all, let his words be true. Let his promises be binding. Let his speech be a sword, not a dull spoon. Let him recover the power of language, the discipline of speech, the ancient art of saying what he means and meaning what he says.
For the world was not spoken into being with mumbling. Creation did not begin with filler words and placeholders. It began with a Word—a real Word, a mighty Word, a Word so vast and true that it shaped the heavens and the earth.
And so it must be again.
If men wish to remake their world, if they wish to shake the rotten foundations of this empty, word-weary age, then let them first learn to speak. Let them strip their language of all that is weak, all that is frivolous, all that is cheap. Let them cut out the cancer of casual vulgarity and replace it with something fierce, something worthy.
Let them curse like warriors and pray like prophets. Let them make oaths that bind and promises that burn. Let them stand among men and speak with voices that shake the air—voices that carry weight, voices that mean what they say, voices that, when heard, demand silence in return.
For a world that has lost the power of words will not be saved by noise. It will not be saved by muttering. It will not be saved by the droning nonsense of a people who have forgotten how to mean what they say.
It will be saved by men who have learned once again to say what they mean—and to speak as if their words could move mountains.
Because they can.
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![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ 00000001:b0c77eb9
2025-02-14 12:40:40
مواقع التواصل الإجتماعي العامة هي التي تتحكم بك، تتحكم بك بفرض اجندتها وتجبرك على اتبعها وتحظر وتحذف كل ما يخالفها،
وحرية التعبير تنحصر عليها!
و خوارزمياتها الخبيثة التي تعرض لك مايريدون منك أن تراه وتحجب ما لا يريدونك أن تراه.
في نوستر انت المتحكم، انت الذي تحدد من تتابع و انت الذي تحدد المرحلات التي تنشر منشوراتك بها.
نوستر لامركزي، بمعنى عدم وجود سلطة تتحكم ببياناتك، بياناتك موجودة في المرحلات، ولا احد يستطيع حذفها او تعديلها او حظر ظهورها.
و هذا لا ينطبق فقط على مواقع التواصل الإجتماعي العامة، بل ينطبق أيضاً على الـfediverse، في الـfediverse انت لست حر، انت
تتبع الخادم الذي تستخدمه ويستطيع هذا الخادم حظر ما لا يريد ظهوره لك، لأنك لا تتواصل مع بقية الخوادم بنفسك، بل خادمك من
يقوم بذلك بالنيابة عنك.
وحتى إذا كنت تمتلك خادم في شبكة الـfediverse، إذا خالفت اجندة بقية الخوادم ونظرتهم عن حرية الرأي و التعبير سوف يندرج
خادمك في القائمة السوداء fediblock ولن يتمكن خادمك من التواصل مع بقية خوادم الشبكة، ستكون محصور بالخوادم المحظورة،
بالتالي انت في الشبكة الأخرى من الـfediverse!
نعم، يوجد شبكتين في الكون الفدرالي fediverse شبكة الصالحين التابعين للأجندة الغربية وشبكة الطالحين الذين لا يتبعون لها،
إذا تم إدراج خادمك في قائمة fediblock سوف تذهب للشبكة الأخرى!
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![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ c3b2802b:4850599c
2025-02-14 12:14:43
Die Plattform dient dem Zweck, interessierten Gemeinschaften unseres Landes aufzuzeigen, dass auch unter schwierigen globalen und bundespolitischen Rahmenbedingungen der Wandel hin zu zukunftsfähigen Lebensmustern auf kommunaler Ebene möglich ist. Und noch mehr: Dass dieser Umbau auch simultan in mehreren Lebensbereichen gestartet und vollzogen werden kann, wenn mutige und kluge Menschen aus verschiedenen Gruppen in Kommunen beherzt zusammenwirken. 
**Psychologischer Hintergrund.** Viele Studien in 20 Jahren eigener psychologischer Analysen erfolgreicher Regionalisierungsprojekte haben aufgezeigt: Persönliche Begegnung und Austausch zwischen Interessierten an Regionalisierungsvorhaben und bereits erfolgreichen Pionieren sind ein entscheidender Erfolgsfaktor für gelingende Transformation. Dafür braucht es Informationen, wo sich Pionierprojekte befinden. Im ersten größeren Transformationsprojekt meiner Arbeitsgruppe, dem Energiewendedorf Jühnde, hat das Wissenschaftler-Team vorab andere innovative Kommunen besucht und deren Erfolgsfaktoren im eigenen Vorhaben umgesetzt. Die Mehrzahl der 200 [Energiewendedörfer](https://xn--energiewendedrfer-c0b.de/), die nach Fertigstellung Jühndes entstanden sind, hat sich wiederum vor Ort in der Modellkommune Jühnde informiert. Dies zeigt den Schneeballefekt des Lernens am Beispiel auf. Die hier beschriebene Plattform macht derartige „Funkenflüge“ für die Vielfalt der hier beschriebenen Innovationen über den Energiebereich hinaus möglich. Denn: Lernen am Modell setzt eine gute Übersicht über brauchbare Modelle voraus.
**Inhalte der Plattform.** Die [Zukunftskommunen-Plattform](https://zukunftskommunen.de/) beschreibt 67 Kommunen mit jeweils mindestens drei kommunalen Erfolgen. Die im gesamten Bundesgebiet verteilten Kommunen sind auf einer Landkarte ersichtlich. Von jedem Ort unseres Landes aus kann eine der Zukunftskommunen in maximal 100 km Entfernung erreicht werden. Die Nutzer der Plattform können über die Eingabe ihres Standortes erfahren, welche der Zukunftskommunen sich in der eigenen Region befinden – mit Angabe der Distanz in Kilometern. Jede dieser Kommunen ist in Wort und Bild mit den wesentlichen Informationen zum Stand des Umbaus sowie zum Ansprechpartner charakterisiert.
Die derzeit auf der Plattform dargestellten über 200 kommunalen Erfolge sind jeweils durch harte Fakten, Angaben zur Entstehungsgeschichte sowie Erfolgsfaktoren kurz skizziert - und wiederum sind jeweils auskunftsbereite Ansprechpartner genannt. Die Erfolge sind unter den Kommunen angeführt und lassen sich so „durchblättern“. Interessieren sich Nutzer der Plattform jedoch für bestimmte Aspekte der Regionalgesellschaft, können sie auch gezielt nach einzelnen Transformationsbereichen suchen. In dem Fall bekommen Sie – wiederum mit Entfernungsangabe zum eigenen Standort – die interessierenden kommunalen Erfolge angezeigt. 
So lassen sich jeweils dutzende Erfolge im Land auffinden, im Bereich Bildung z.B. Lehrpfade, Umweltbildungsprojekte und Umwelttrainerprojekte, bei denen eigens ausgebildete Ehrenamtler ökologische Zusammenhänge vermitteln. Im Bereich Kreislaufwirtschaft sind die Erfolge nach folgenden Aspekten auffindbar: Regionale Kreisläufe, verpackungsfreie Verteilung, Verwendung von Natur-Baustoffen, Recycling endlicher Ressourcen, Bio-Landwirtschaft, Anbau und Nutzung nachwachsender Rohstoffe, Solar-Mobilität, Produktion von Anlagen zur Erzeugung erneuerbarer Energie und Erzeugung erneuerbarer Energie. Der Bereich natürliche Vielfalt ist folgendermaßen gegliedert: Naturschutz, Ressourcenschutz, Permakultur und Erhaltung von Biodiversität. Die Untergliederung der erfolgreichen Gemeinschaftsprojekte lautet: Miteinander aller Bevölkerungsgruppen, Integration und Inklusion, Generationennetzwerk, Genossenschaften, Rekommunalisierung von Infrastruktur, lokale Währung sowie Tauschen und Schenken. 
Die Vielfalt der Innovationen ist noch weit größer als in dem Kategoriensystem abgebildet, da wegen der Handhabbarkeit der Plattform nicht alle denkbaren Kriterien ausformuliert worden sind. Doch auch besonders ungewöhnliche oder heute noch seltene kommunale Innovationen sind in der Beispielsammlung der Plattform auffindbar. Dazu kann die freie Suche der Plattform verwendet werden. Wer sich z.B. für Eisspeicher interessiert, kann ein Bildungszentrum mit Solareis-Erdspeicher in der Zukunftskommune Wiernsheim auffinden. 
Ein Blog informiert über den politischen und geografischen Kontext, in dem die Transformation in unseren Kommunen stattfindet. Hier lassen sich Erfolgsgeschichten zwischen 2018 und 2024 aus dem In- und Ausland abrufen - wiederum beim Blättern oder durch die Suchfunktion nach Stichworten . Seit Herbst 2024 finden Sie meine Blogbeiträge zu dieser Thematik bei der [Genossenschaft Menschlich Wirtschaften](https://menschlichwirtschaften.de/kategorie/peter-schmuck/). Viel Freude beim Blättern und Stöbern!
*Zuerst veröffentlicht in der Zeitschrift Ländlicher Raum (hier leicht gekürzt)* 
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@ bd32f268:22b33966
2025-02-14 12:10:11
Muitos livros foram escritos sobre o tema oferecendo perspetivas líricas, narrativas, psicológicas/filosóficas, religiosas, simbólicas e políticas. A resposta varia no seu significado consoante o paradigma teórico de análise. Reconhecendo esta multiplicidade de dimensões do conceito qualquer reflexão será sempre, inevitavelmente parcial, no entanto cumpre realizar-se dado que a importância do tema o exige. Muito se tem dito e muito mais se dirá precisamente porque este é um tema que convida à expressão de uma profunda intimidade universal.
O amor é, segundo Erich Fromm psicanalista alemão, uma decisão, um julgamento e uma promessa, além de um sentimento. Segundo o autor o amor requer paciência, disciplina, concentração, fé e, quanto a mim uma ideia fundamental de Fromm, a capacidade para transcender o nosso próximo narcisismo. Como seriamos capazes de amar sem ultrapassar o nosso narcisismo? Seríamos capazes do compromisso necessário para aceitar o sacrifício de não corresponder aos nossos desejos mais imediatos em prol da construção de um projeto para o futuro com outra pessoa? No nosso narcisismo reside frequentemente o nosso movimento em direção á gratificação imediata e à não aceitação do sacrifício inerente à construção de algo que desejavelmente será maior que nós.
Como nos diz um pergaminho da Psicologia Gestalt, corrente teórica que se dedica ao estudo da forma e da percepção, o todo é maior que a soma das partes. É precisamente neste ponto que está uma das principais forças centrípetas deste conceito, na hipótese de construir algo que melhora a nossa vida que acrescenta em significado, sendo esta a unidade base na qual psicologicamente se medem as coisas e os fenómenos. Fromm propõe ainda que o amor não será apenas a ligação ao objeto amado, mas também uma orientação perante a vida, dizendo: “ o amor é uma atitude, uma orientação de carácter que determina a ligação da pessoa ao mundo como um todo e não apenas a um objeto.” Sendo assim não será suspeito que neste conceito esteja a chave para operar profundas transformações no carácter e na vida dos Humanos, que a somar á construção da relação com o outro têm a construção de uma nova relação com o mundo.
O amor é uma dádiva na qual ao darmos podemos experienciar a nossa riqueza de carácter, a nossa força e o nosso poder. Podemos ver este conceito como um professor que nos ensina sobre a vida e sobre as relações. Ensina-nos humildade na medida em que aceitamos algo maior que nós, ensina disciplina porque requer um foco constante e diria até que nos pode ensinar o significado e peso do conceito de fé. Neste último ponto falo de fé porque o amor contempla a dúvida fundamental da rejeição do sacrifício feito em prol do amor, e a fé transcende essa dificuldade da dúvida. A fé parece salvar-nos da corrosão da dúvida e purificar as intenções da pessoa que ama. Ter fé é mais que desenvolver uma mera expectativa, é a construção da esperança interiormente mesmo que seja na face do improvável ou implausível. Assim sendo, amar parece-se em muito com uma experiência eminentemente religiosa na medida em que sacraliza a experiência da pessoa que ama e a vida, atribuindo contornos de divino e transcendental ao que, aos olhos que quem não ama, pode parecer trivial e normal.
![O que é o amor ?](https://tvieiragoncalves.github.io/genesis/uploads/sacredheartbatoni-1.jpeg)*Sagrado coração de Jesus*
Um amor maduro quer-se consciente da necessidade de amar. Fromm diz-nos que o amor maduro está em: “eu preciso de ti porque te amo” e não em “eu amo-te porque preciso de ti”. Esta inversão do sentido da frase parece fundamental para que o amor não seja confundido com uma forma de egoísmo. Aqui a necessidade do outro surge em função do amor que temos pelo outro, não sendo o amor consequência da necessidade que temos do outro. Amar maduramente é a aceitação do sacrifício diante da incerteza e da dor por vezes debilitante. Assim desenvolvemos a tolerância que nos permite crescer e desenraizar da perversidade do narcisismo cumprindo a nossa identidade na missão de amar.
![](https://i.imgur.com/qSebLvB.jpg)
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@ c43d6de3:a6583169
2025-02-14 11:27:09
## A Brief History of Ownership
### The Forgotten Struggle for Ownership
History reveals that our ancestors labored—both intellectually and physically—to secure the freedoms we are subconsciously giving away.
We stand at the threshold of a new era.
Across the globe, long-established institutions are showing signs of strain. Trust in governments, banks, and major corporations is eroding, leaving many individuals feeling as though their rights are being infringed upon—even if they struggle to articulate exactly how. Social media and traditional news outlets amplify this sense of unease, painting a picture of impending upheaval, as if we are on the brink of a revolution whose name will only become clear in hindsight, once the first sparks ignite into a full-blown blaze.
Yet, when we examine the state of the global economy, this narrative begins to unravel. Economic inequality has reached levels unseen in nearly a century, and while many point fingers at politicians, policies, or the so-called greed of the 1% hoarding all the wealth, the true culprit may be much closer than most realize. At a time when legal structures worldwide strongly protect ownership and economic mobility, it is individuals themselves who are willingly surrendering their financial power to the very elites they criticize.
I know—“willingly” might seem like a stretch. After all, no one consciously chooses to give up their economic freedom. But take a closer look at the way people spend, borrow, and consume, and it becomes painfully clear: most are actively forfeiting their ability to build and own wealth.
How did we get here?
Much of this self-inflicted harm comes from a fundamental ignorance of the history of ownership and the struggles fought to secure it.
This article serves as a short exploration of the past.
I'll examine what might be considered the natural state of humanity, how the majority has historically struggled to achieve ownership rights, and the deadly conflicts that had to occur for the modern individual to enjoy the very rights they are now squandering.
![image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/c43d6de3de463a1e5d508926f1e0fa3c316bbc1ddf8340d565b70e71a6583169/files/1739284028055-YAKIHONNES3.jpg)
### I. The Era of Communal Ownership
No one is born into this world alone.
We do not simply materialize into existence; we arrive as part of the first unit of human society—the family.
Before the rise of civilization, the primary focus of the family was survival. Ownership was a foreign concept, as early human tribes lived in a state of communal resource-sharing. Material possessions were fleeting, and with that, so was the notion of personal property.
In the state of nature, no individual had an exclusive claim to anything. Instead, ownership existed in a tribal sense: “This land belongs to us.” The idea of “mine” extended only by association—what belonged to the tribe also, by extension, belonged to each of its members.
This was a fragile system. Resources required constant upkeep, and as populations grew, leadership emerged to manage the complexity of distribution. This shift laid the foundation for the rise of kings and centralized authority. The concept of ownership, once a communal right, gradually became something dictated by those in power. The people no longer owned anything outright; they merely had the privilege of stewarding what belonged to their ruler.
![image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/c43d6de3de463a1e5d508926f1e0fa3c316bbc1ddf8340d565b70e71a6583169/files/1739284056672-YAKIHONNES3.jpg)
### II. The Rise of Peasants and Kings
The first codified legal system, the Code of Hammurabi, laid out extensive laws on ownership. Interestingly, this ancient civilization granted more property rights to commoners than many societies did even a few centuries ago.
A few millennia later, Greece laid the philosophical foundations for ownership, but true legal protections for private property did not emerge until much later. In medieval Europe, ownership rights almost disintegrated—not even nobles truly owned land. Everything belonged to the king, and monarchs waged war over control of vast territories, including the people within them.
Meanwhile, in the Islamic Golden Age, the Middle East saw an unprecedented period of economic freedom. Under Sharia law, property rights were protected for the average citizen, something unheard of in much of medieval Europe. The extent of these rights depended largely on religious affiliation, but compared to their European counterparts, many commoners in the Islamic Empire enjoyed greater economic autonomy.
![image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/c43d6de3de463a1e5d508926f1e0fa3c316bbc1ddf8340d565b70e71a6583169/files/1739284096949-YAKIHONNES3.jpg)
### III. The Birth of Property Rights: The Rights of Man
As the Islamic Golden Age waned and the Mongol Horde thundered toward Baghdad, another seismic shift was occurring in England. In 1215, rebellious nobles captured London and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, the first written document to impose limits on absolute monarchical power and introduce property protections—though these rights were initially reserved for the nobility.
This moment planted the seeds of change. Over the next several centuries, the fight for ownership rights expanded beyond the aristocracy. The Black Death (1347–1351) wiped out over 30% of England’s population, increasing labor shortages and bargaining power for peasants. By the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, the common man demanded a greater share of land and wealth.
Yet, it wasn’t until the 1700s with the Enclosure Acts that private property became legally protected for the broader population. What began as a noble rebellion in 1215 ultimately transformed ownership from royal privilege to individual liberty.
![image]( https://yakihonne.s3.ap-east-1.amazonaws.com/c43d6de3de463a1e5d508926f1e0fa3c316bbc1ddf8340d565b70e71a6583169/files/1739284116275-YAKIHONNES3.jpg)
### IV. The Age of Renting: The Illusion of Ownership Today
Despite centuries of struggle, we now find ourselves at a paradoxical moment in history: ownership is more legally protected than ever, yet fewer people actually own anything of value.
**Homeownership in Decline:** The U.S. homeownership rate peaked in 2005, only to decline for a decade, hitting a low of 63% in 2015. Despite slight rebounds, high housing costs have pushed many into perpetual rentership.
**Vehicles as Subscriptions:** In 2024, one-fifth of new vehicles were leased, and long-term auto loans have become the norm. A financed car is not truly owned—it’s rented from a bank until the debt is cleared.
**The Subscription Economy:** Ownership of media, software, and even personal data has been replaced with monthly fees. Cloud storage, SaaS, and streaming services have ensured that we no longer possess even our own information.
### V. The Consequences of Financial Illiteracy
We now live in a society built on renting, where economic stability depends on a continuous stream of payments. The more we lease, subscribe, and finance, the more control shifts from individuals to corporations and financial institutions.
**This shift has profound implications:**
- A person who owns little has little power.
- A society that rents everything can be controlled by those who own everything.
- Wealth is no longer built through accumulation, but through debt and dependency.
For millennia, people fought for the right to own. Today, through financial illiteracy and consumer habits, we are giving it away.
How much do we truly own, and how much have we already forfeited?
-----------
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@ be41636e:e55c4909
2025-02-14 10:38:04
I asked Unleashed.Chat's DeepSeek model to write an article from the point of view of someone who believes in chemtrails.
In the first attempt, it didn't understand me well and it provided the arguments provided by chemtrails believers and their counterarguments.
When I clearly asked it to write an article from the point of view of someone who actually believes it, it gave some warnings that these claims are not corroborated by science and started the article and ended it by the same remarks.
What follows is the article Unleashed.Chat produced.
---
For years, I’ve watched the skies, and I’ve seen something that doesn’t sit right. It’s not just the occasional contrail left by a passing airplane. No, these are different. They linger. They spread. They look unnatural. And they’re everywhere.
I’m talking about chemtrails—chemical trails intentionally sprayed by aircraft for reasons that are far from benign. At first, I dismissed them as just another conspiracy theory. But as I started paying closer attention, I realized that something was off.
### The Evidence Is in the Sky
Let’s start with what we can all see. Contrails, or condensation trails, are the result of water vapor freezing around small particles in airplane exhaust. They’re short-lived and dissipate quickly. But chemtrails are different. They stay in the sky for hours, spreading out into vast, crisscrossing grids that blanket the sky.
I’ve taken countless photos of these trails, and they all tell the same story. They’re not just random; they’re deliberate. They’re sprayed in patterns that cover entire regions, and they’re doing it day after day, year after year.
### What’s in the Trails?
The government and mainstream media tell us these trails are harmless. But that’s exactly what they want us to believe. Independent researchers and whistleblowers have come forward with disturbing information. Chemtrails contain a cocktail of toxic chemicals, including aluminum, barium, strontium, and other heavy metals.
Why would they spray these substances? The official line is that it’s for weather modification or geoengineering. But that’s a lie. The real purpose is far more insidious.
### The Hidden Agenda
Chemtrails are part of a larger plan to control the population. These chemicals are neurotoxic, and they’re being used to alter our brains and behavior. They’re designed to make us more docile, more compliant, and less likely to question authority.
This isn’t just a theory. There’s a long history of government experimentation on its own citizens. From the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment to MKUltra, the CIA’s mind-control program, the government has shown time and again that it’s willing to go to extreme lengths to control the population. Chemtrails are the next chapter in this dark history.
### The Health Impact
The effects of these chemicals are already being felt. Rates of autism, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological disorders have skyrocketed in recent decades. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
I’ve spoken to doctors and researchers who have seen firsthand the connection between chemtrail exposure and these health issues. They’re not willing to speak publicly for fear of retaliation, but they’ve shared their findings with me. The evidence is overwhelming.
### The Media Cover-Up
The mainstream media is complicit in this cover-up. They dismiss chemtrails as a conspiracy theory, but that’s just a distraction. They’re paid to keep us in the dark, to prevent us from connecting the dots.
Thankfully, the internet has given us a platform to share the truth. Independent investigators, whistleblowers, and concerned citizens are coming together to expose this atrocity. But we need your help.
### What Can We Do?
The first step is to raise awareness. Share this information with everyone you know. The more people who understand the truth, the harder it will be for the government to continue this program.
Second, we need to demand accountability. Write to your elected representatives. Call for independent investigations into chemtrails. Make your voice heard.
Finally, we need to protect ourselves. Install air filters in your home. Avoid spending time outdoors when chemtrails are being sprayed. And stay informed.
### The Future of Humanity
Chemtrails are not just a threat to our health; they’re a threat to the very future of humanity. If we allow this program to continue unchecked, we risk irreversible damage to our planet and our species.
But there’s still hope. By working together, we can expose the truth and stop this madness. The time to act is now.
-
![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ ed60dae0:cc3d5108
2025-02-14 10:25:20
Welcome to a new *Situation Report* from **The First Bastion**. Before we begin, please make sure you’ve read the disclaimer, which applies to all our content.
You can find it here: [Disclaimer](https://primal.net/bergman/Disclaimer-or2cwd)
In short: **Not Financial Advice**.
There seems to be a significant amount of confusion in the markets at the moment. Sentiment is almost bleak, particularly in the crypto market (excluding Bitcoin). Broader stock markets are also experiencing uncertainty, primarily driven by high valuations and elevated multiples on the S&P 500. For instance, the SPX is trading at a 30.3 price-to-earnings ratio and a 3.16 price-to-sales ratio. At the same time, bond yields remain relatively high, with former President Trump pushing for a reduction in long-term rates.
Risk indicators, such as the High Yield Index OAS, is near all-time lows at 2.66%, while the delinquency rate on single-family residential mortgages is impressively low at 1.73%.
Meanwhile, a troubling socioeconomic trend continues to unfold: many young adults, particularly those aged 25–30 (and no, we can’t keep calling them “kids”), are still living with their parents. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the Netherlands, though it may also hold true in the U.S. The cause? Housing affordability. Residential real estate prices have significantly outpaced the growth in real wages, leaving many unable to afford homes of their own.
Inflation numbers released yesterday came in slightly higher than expected, triggering an initial sell-off. However, the market quickly rebounded within hours, likely due to seasonal adjustments and noise in the data tempering its impact.
Amid all this, investors are anxiously awaiting what many are calling “The Big Print.” Market participants anticipate that the Federal Reserve will resort to more aggressive quantitative easing, injecting liquidity and inflating asset prices to new extremes. Yet, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell (“Uncle Jerome”) continues to emphasize that no such measures are imminent. According to him, the economy is strong enough to stand on its own without additional stimulus.
And let’s not forget the run on physical gold that’s happening right now—it’s a whole story in itself.
So, in this type of environment, the key question remains: should you buy or sell risk assets?
## Framework
As part of my learning journey, I’m building a framework to better understand the bigger picture. Think of it as an effort to “connect the dots”—literally. I’m still figuring out the best way to utilize this framework, but for now, I’ll be exporting the canvas as a high-resolution [**PDF file**](https://github.com/btsvr/tfb/blob/b152cc363534548450c5dbb3db3149ee4d4dbe01/202507.pdf). This allows people to zoom in and explore the data and charts directly within the canvas. Additionally, the embedded links are clickable, providing easy access to the original sources.
The content will remain dynamic. My goal isn’t to pack in as much information as possible but rather to focus on the most critical and relevant data for the current narratives and issues. With each SitRep, I’ll reassess what information is still relevant, what can be updated, and what might simply be removed.
For this week, I’m keeping the SitRep compact, as much of my time has been dedicated to building the framework itself. The most impactful factors right now are external, so this SitRep will focus on those key developments.
## Bitcoin
By focusing mostly on exogenous factors later on, I’ll briefly summarize the key endogenous factors. In last week’s SitRep, I highlighted the 3-day chart and its tight consolidation range. This consolidation is reflected in the Return Analysis, which has reverted almost entirely to the mean, with the quarterly return nearing 0%. To illustrate, 90 days ago, Bitcoin was at $92,000, and as of writing, we’re hovering around the same level.
https://blossom.primal.net/e3b97006f3bba849506f5c6ab030c845c97026badc9e4efb0a149d91261bb6c8.png
Over those 90 days, we’ve seen spikes to as high as $108,000 and dips back to $92,000. Along the way, we witnessed some of the largest liquidation events in crypto’s history. This consolidation period, combined with the harsh liquidation wicks, has flushed out a significant amount of leverage from the market.
https://blossom.primal.net/d53cf96fdd81ed8bbdd71792fb0ca5c75bb153f756f51fc6b3bc88b5b8fa6f32.png
If I were to plot Bitcoin on a Speculation Profile, I’d place it in the lower-left quadrant of “balanced positioning,” characterized by a healthy funding rate and relatively low open interest. While open interest remains high on a nominal basis, it’s reasonable when compared to Bitcoin’s market capitalization.
https://blossom.primal.net/bb5e1598012fe02a8e27bd9ad132e3e0be9a39abb9413a08fcf92ebf2d3a22cc.png
I’d place Bitcoin in the same quadrant in terms of volatility. As noted earlier, the consolidation period has resulted in low daily volatility, though intraday fluctuations have been more pronounced. With 30-day historical volatility at 40 and weak directional movement, we’re currently navigating “slow waters.”
https://blossom.primal.net/687294e901b3fc5c6aae6d6685a7ad1872ce9d12efc428832af6ba171671368d.png
Looking at some key metrics, Bitcoin remains well above the True Market Mean (TMM), which looks at active coins and filter out the dormant coins. The TMM shows (unintended) the average of all price data, hence it's name . The 200-day moving average (200DMA) is gradually creeping up toward $80,000, serving as the critical support level for a bull market. With current prices hovering around $96,000, we’re approaching the Short-Term Holders Cost Basis (STH-CB) at $92,255. This level represents **The First Bastion** for bullish investors, defending the upward trend. If you believe the bull market will continue, the zone between the STH-CB and the 200DMA presents a compelling opportunity.
https://blossom.primal.net/69efc46de294000c13841fb7625a9122fe5e5602ec79d07f7792689691928506.png
This brings us to the STH Profit/Loss Profile. As the market price nears the STH-CB, unrealized profit has diminished to near zero. Recently, we’ve seen losses being realized—a dynamic that often provides alpha during bull markets.
## Man on a Mission
President Donald J. Trump is a man on a mission. He talks a lot about winning, but to be honest, I don’t think he has the right mindset for the long term. Simon Sinek’s framing of The Infinite Game resonates here: if a game doesn’t have a definitive end, you shouldn’t play it as if it does. In infinite games, you’re either ahead or behind—there’s no “winning.”
That said, Trump is moving fast. It’s clear he’s not a politician in the traditional sense. Having run a business, he’s now approaching the country’s leadership the same way. Unlike career politicians, who prioritize diplomacy and long-term consensus, Trump is focused on making deals and getting things done. This pace has left many traditional political leaders struggling to keep up.
One of his ultimate goals is to bring the 10-year yield down. On paper, it sounds simple—but in practice, it’s anything but. It’s a monumental task. One shortcut would be to push the Federal Reserve toward Yield Curve Control—creating artificial demand for 10-year notes by buying up everything on the market to force yields lower. However, this approach is fraught with risks and would backfire in more ways than can be imagined. It should never be implemented except as an absolute last resort.
https://blossom.primal.net/7c9b1b0229432eb67064557205cb4090e388a4731238a0739429e7c5793dfd33.png
The right way to achieve this goal is the harder path: sustained effort and real progress. In the SitRep canvas, I’ve outlined some of Trump’s policies that align with this objective. However, many of these also intersect with the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of controlling inflation and ensuring a healthy labor market. Some of Trump’s policies, like onshoring manufacturing and imposing tariffs, are inflationary, while others, such as increasing oil production and attempting to end the war between Russia and NATO in Ukraine, have deflationary effects.
https://blossom.primal.net/13886c1cc6781f1ea5494614e0aeb6df3ff8db52d047c41b8ceedf700c5360d8.png
This duality also applies to the Federal Reserve’s labor market mandate. Trump’s push for a more efficient government could reduce unnecessary jobs, shrinking the supply of available positions. Simultaneously, his efforts to reduce immigration and deport undocumented immigrants restrict the labor pool, further tilting the equation toward fewer people who are able and willing to work.
Ending the war in Ukraine would bring significant benefits on a global scale. First and foremost, it would save lives and halt the destruction of cities. Beyond that, it would reopen efficient trade routes for transport and energy, reduce spending on weapons and military efforts, and stabilize markets. These developments would create positive ripple effects worldwide.
As Eric Wallerstein recently pointed out, these efforts could bring the 10-year yield down significantly, potentially to a level of low 4%
## To Print or Not To Print
Let’s revisit the question I posed in the introduction: is the current environment one where you should lean more heavily toward risk assets, or should you focus on safe-haven assets like bonds or gold?
Bonds could rally again if Trump succeeds in his mission to lower long-term yields. Similarly, the prospect of the war in Ukraine ending and global trade returning to a more efficient state would benefit corporate profit margins, thereby boosting stock valuations.
Meanwhile, gold continues its remarkable run toward $3,000 per ounce. As I wrote last week, gold serves as a hedge against two risks: defaults and monetary inflation. The recent surge in gold prices appears to stem from a reshuffling of gold inventories, with significant movement from the London LBMA to the New York Comex. This highlights a persistent logistical challenge with gold—it is cumbersome to transport due to its weight and the security requirements. However, it’s not just about location; there’s also a mismatch in quantity and format. Much of the gold held by the Bank of England is stored in 12.5-kilogram bars, which first need to be sent to Switzerland to be melted down and recast into 1-kilogram bars before they can be distributed.
This added friction in the settlement of physical gold has led to higher premiums for faster delivery. Rumors are swirling that there isn’t enough gold to meet demand. This brings us back to one of the oldest and most controversial questions in modern finance: is there really enough gold in the vaults?
Before deciding on the most probable market outlook—which I’ll address later—it’s essential to consider the mechanics driving potential outcomes. Many investors are waiting for what’s been dubbed “The Big Print,” expecting the Federal Reserve to respond with massive money printing akin to 2020’s response to COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns. However, these investors may be “fighting the last war,” often a mistake when the battlefield changes over time.
What I’m getting at is this: if you believe the most likely outcome is a stock market rally driven by aggressive Federal Reserve money printing, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Jerome Powell has been clear that quantitative easing will only return if interest rates drop to zero—a scenario far from the current reality.
## Expected Outcome
When assessing the most likely outcome, it’s essential to objectively evaluate the data currently available:
* The labor market is holding steady with 4% unemployment, which is remarkable considering the recession signal triggered by the Sahm Rule last summer.
* Inflation hasn’t returned to the 2% target, but it’s not soaring either. Yesterday’s inflation print came in hotter than expected, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. Some of Trump’s policies may reignite inflation, while others could suppress it.
* The ISM Manufacturing PMI has climbed back above 50, signaling potential growth and the start of a new business cycle.
If one were to lean toward a portfolio more heavily allocated to risk assets, my guess is that it shouldn’t rely on the Federal Reserve unleashing an “easing bazooka.” Instead, liquidity may emerge from the private sector. A new business cycle could trigger a fresh credit cycle, leading to an increase in M2 money supply. This would represent a more organic form of credit creation, driven by commercial banks and businesses regaining an appetite for risk. This scenario becomes more plausible with lower rates—President Trump’s primary objective.
So where might liquidity come from, if it does?
* Federal Reserve: Not likely.
* Public Sector: Scott Bessent recently criticized Janet Yellen for favoring the issuance of more short-term bills while leaving the long end relatively untouched. In the last Quarterly Refunding Announcement (QRA), Bessent indicated that this course would continue for several quarters. Based on his previous comments, it’s unlikely he will ramp up the issuance rate of short-term bills.
* Private Sector: More likely.
Another possible scenario is the creation of a Plaza Accord 2.0. If the Federal Reserve keeps rates where they are while the European Central Bank (ECB) lowers rates further—due to years of poor aggregated policy decisions, particularly in Germany—the euro could serve as the release valve, driving the dollar index (DXY) higher. Meanwhile, China is grappling with its enormous real estate issues, with millions of vacant or unfinished properties. An estimated 60% of Chinese household wealth is tied to real estate.
A Plaza Accord 2.0 could benefit all three regions:
1. The U.S.: It would help Trump alleviate the pressures of the Triffin Dilemma associated with the dollar’s status as the world reserve currency.
2. Europe: It could help mitigate the consequences of a decade of mismanagement.
3. China: It could provide relief from their ever-growing real estate bubble.
The losers in this scenario would be those holding currencies or currency-related assets. The winners? Those holding scarcer and more desirable assets such as stocks, gold, and Bitcoin.
The likelihood of a Plaza Accord 2.0 was negligible before Trump took office. Such a deal requires a skilled negotiator—someone unafraid to take the heat. With Trump in office, the odds have improved, but they remain slim, in my opinion.
Markets are forward-looking, so much depends on what investors anticipate will happen with tariffs and the situations in China and Europe. For now, Europe’s stock market appears to be showing signs of recovery. Trump doesn’t necessarily need a Plaza Accord 2.0—he just needs to get the 10-year yield down.
Stay sound,
J.M. Bergman
-
![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ be41636e:e55c4909
2025-02-14 09:44:55
I asked unleashed.chat's DeepSeek model to provide the pieces of evidence against the moon landing. What follows is what I got as my answer.
Generally, I like the answer, though it mixed up the claim and counterarguments at times.
Also, I didn't like the conclusion :))
But all said, I believe the Van Allen Belts are one of the most solid argument against the moon landing.
---
The question of whether the moon landing was faked has been a topic of debate, with various arguments presented by those who doubt the authenticity of the event. Here is a summary of the key points often cited against the moon landing, along with counterarguments and explanations:
Arguments Against the Moon Landing: Waving Flag:
Claim: The American flag appears to wave in the wind, despite the moon having no atmosphere. Counterargument: The flag's movement was caused by the astronauts' actions, as they adjusted it using a rod behind the flag. Missing Stars:
Claim: The photos lack visible stars, which should be present in the moon's black sky. Counterargument: The cameras were set for optimal lighting of the lunar surface, making stars too faint to capture. Shadow Anomalies:
Claim: Shadows in photos appear to come from multiple directions, suggesting studio lighting. Counterargument: The moon's surface is uneven, causing shadows to appear differently, and the sun's angle can create varied shadows. Van Allen Belts:
Claim: Astronauts would have been exposed to lethal radiation from the Van Allen belts. Counterargument: The missions were timed to pass through the belts quickly, minimizing exposure. Lack of Blast Crater:
Claim: No noticeable crater was created by the lunar module's descent engine. Counterargument: The engine's thrust was designed to minimize impact, and the moon's surface is softer than expected. Missing Footage:
Claim: Original tapes of the landing were lost, and restored footage is of lower quality. Counterargument: Footage was restored from other sources, including TV broadcasts and telemetry data. Soviet Silence:
Claim: The Soviets did not contest the landing, despite being space race competitors. Counterargument: The Soviets may not have had the means to verify the landing or were focused on their own programs. Technological Capabilities:
Claim: The technology of the 1960s was insufficient for a moon landing. Counterargument: Successful unmanned missions and technological advancements supported the capability. Number of Participants:
Claim: Thousands of people involved would have leaked the secret. Counterargument: Secrecy measures and unawareness of implications could have prevented leaks. "C" Rock Incident:
Claim: A rock appeared to float, suggesting tampering. Counterargument: The rock was a prop, and movement was due to low-gravity actions. Supporting Evidence for the Moon Landing: Moon Rocks: Analyzed and confirmed as lunar. Footprints and Equipment: Observed by subsequent missions and satellites. Cumulative Evidence: Multiple sources confirm the moon landing. In conclusion, while various arguments have been presented against the moon landing, each has been addressed with scientific explanations and evidence. The consensus among the scientific community is that the moon landing was genuine, supported by substantial evidence and corroborated by multiple sources.
The question of whether the moon landing was faked has been a topic of debate, with various arguments presented by those who doubt the authenticity of the event. Here is a summary of the key points often cited against the moon landing, along with counterarguments and explanations:
### Arguments Against the Moon Landing:
1. **Waving Flag:**
- **Claim:** The American flag appears to wave in the wind, despite the moon having no atmosphere.
- **Counterargument:** The flag's movement was caused by the astronauts' actions, as they adjusted it using a rod behind the flag.
2. **Missing Stars:**
- **Claim:** The photos lack visible stars, which should be present in the moon's black sky.
- **Counterargument:** The cameras were set for optimal lighting of the lunar surface, making stars too faint to capture.
3. **Shadow Anomalies:**
- **Claim:** Shadows in photos appear to come from multiple directions, suggesting studio lighting.
- **Counterargument:** The moon's surface is uneven, causing shadows to appear differently, and the sun's angle can create varied shadows.
4. **Van Allen Belts:**
- **Claim:** Astronauts would have been exposed to lethal radiation from the Van Allen belts.
- **Counterargument:** The missions were timed to pass through the belts quickly, minimizing exposure.
5. **Lack of Blast Crater:**
- **Claim:** No noticeable crater was created by the lunar module's descent engine.
- **Counterargument:** The engine's thrust was designed to minimize impact, and the moon's surface is softer than expected.
6. **Missing Footage:**
- **Claim:** Original tapes of the landing were lost, and restored footage is of lower quality.
- **Counterargument:** Footage was restored from other sources, including TV broadcasts and telemetry data.
7. **Soviet Silence:**
- **Claim:** The Soviets did not contest the landing, despite being space race competitors.
- **Counterargument:** The Soviets may not have had the means to verify the landing or were focused on their own programs.
8. **Technological Capabilities:**
- **Claim:** The technology of the 1960s was insufficient for a moon landing.
- **Counterargument:** Successful unmanned missions and technological advancements supported the capability.
9. **Number of Participants:**
- **Claim:** Thousands of people involved would have leaked the secret.
- **Counterargument:** Secrecy measures and unawareness of implications could have prevented leaks.
10. **"C" Rock Incident:**
- **Claim:** A rock appeared to float, suggesting tampering.
- **Counterargument:** The rock was a prop, and movement was due to low-gravity actions.
### Supporting Evidence for the Moon Landing:
- **Moon Rocks:** Analyzed and confirmed as lunar.
- **Footprints and Equipment:** Observed by subsequent missions and satellites.
- **Cumulative Evidence:** Multiple sources confirm the moon landing.
In conclusion, while various arguments have been presented against the moon landing, each has been addressed with scientific explanations and evidence. The consensus among the scientific community is that the moon landing was genuine, supported by substantial evidence and corroborated by multiple sources.
-
![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a
2025-02-14 09:40:13
not tested yet
``` python
async def main(npub):
client = Client()
await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io")
await client.connect()
pk = PublicKey.parse(npub)
print(f"\nGetting profile metadata for {npub}:")
metadata = await client.fetch_metadata(pk, timedelta(seconds=15))
# Printing each field of the Metadata object
inner_metadata = metadata.inner
print(f"Name: {inner_metadata.name}")
print(f"Display Name: {inner_metadata.display_name}")
print(f"About: {inner_metadata.about}")
print(f"Website: {inner_metadata.website}")
print(f"Picture: {inner_metadata.picture}")
print(f"Banner: {inner_metadata.banner}")
print(f"NIP05: {inner_metadata.nip05}")
print(f"LUD06: {inner_metadata.lud06}")
print(f"LUD16: {inner_metadata.lud16}")
print(f"Custom: {inner_metadata.custom}")
if __name__ == '__main__':
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Fetch all metadata for a given npub')
parser.add_argument('npub', type=str, help='The npub of the user')
args = parser.parse_args()
asyncio.run(main(args.npub))
```
-
![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ a367f9eb:0633efea
2025-02-14 09:07:50
With a big tech-powered magnifying glass on federal websites, spending contracts, and government payment systems, Elon Musk’s band of DOGE system admins have been turning Washington inside out in their hunt for waste, fraud, and abuse.
One of the most prized agencies on the chopping block is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, [heralded](https://x.com/SteveRattner/status/1889034592171987002) by progressives as an indispensable force for helping consumers wronged by financial institutions, but [derided](https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2024-04-12/if-trump-wins-he-plans-to-free-wall-street-from-burdensome-regulations) by fintech investors and conservatives as little more than a government “shakedown agency.” Consumers will be better off without the CFPB breathing down the neck of American companies.
Since the inauguration of President Trump, the CFPB’s [temporary leadership](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/business/vought-cfpb-musk-trump.html) put an immediate halt on all work, also [informing](https://x.com/russvought/status/1888423503537360986) the Federal Reserve, which directly funds the agency, that it would no longer seek new funding.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the [intellectual force](https://x.com/senwarren/status/1889356115210633646) behind the agency’s founding, has been apoplectic. She’s argued that Trump is “firing the financial cop on the beat that makes sure your family doesn’t get scammed.”
The origin of the CFPB goes back to the rubble of the 2008 financial crisis when legislators saw this proposed agency as a viable response to the populist backlash engulfing Washington and Wall Street. Instead of penalizing wrongdoers, Congress funded bank bailouts and launched a “watchdog” group. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act [mandated](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/dodd-frank_title_X) new standards for lending, restricted capital that could be tapped for bank loans, and created the CFPB to police consumer finance.
All functions performed by the five [former](https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/understanding-federal-reserve-supervision.htm) federal banking supervisory agencies were rolled into the CFPB, granting it sole jurisdiction over non-depository firms and financial institutions with over $10 billion in assets. This empowered the agency to issue regulatory guidance, demand information from financial institutions, and launch civil actions in federal court.
Supporters of the CFPB point to an [impressive record](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/enforcement-by-the-numbers/) of close to $20 billion in consumer relief, as well as an additional $5 billion in civil penalties. Without the CFPB, fraudsters and scams would metastasize and consumer injustice would run wild, so they say. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
As a regulatory agency with civil litigation authority, the CFPB is emboldened to file high-dollar lawsuits against financial firms. An estimate of the CFPB’s [database](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/) of enforcement actions reveals that roughly 85% of all cases are settled out of court before a final ruling.
Companies often choose to settle, but this shouldn’t be mistaken for an admission of guilt. In a [litigious society](https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/judge_faq.pdf) such as the United States where companies are routinely targeted in frivolous lawsuits, the court of public opinion matters just as much as the court of law.
Firms prefer [settling](https://knowledge.everc.com/blog/cfpb-payments-industry) cases over having their name dragged through the mud for months on end in the media, something tort lawyers call a “nuisance settlement.” These expected costs are baked into large firms’ financial projections and are sometimes factored into pricing their goods and services for consumers.
The CFPB is more akin to a state-backed tort law firm that can tap the nation’s central bank for resources while exploiting its [do-gooder reputation](https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2024/11/21/voters-overwhelmingly-support-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureaus-recent-actions) for easy PR victories.
Rather than smart regulatory guidance to oversee a new generation of consumer finance firms, CFPB has relied on quick settlements out of court to squash innovative upstarts.
While CFPB enforcement has been successful in penalizing banks and lenders for how loans are [structured or advertised](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/the-cfpbs-enforcement-work-in-2023-and-what-lies-ahead/), it does not take much imagination to see how this has impacted the investing climate for new competitors. Since CFPB’s founding, there are now 35% [fewer financial institutions](https://www.statista.com/statistics/184536/number-of-fdic-insured-us-commercial-bank-institutions/) remaining for consumers to choose from, down from 15,000 to just roughly 9,000 today.
While there is [high consumer demand](https://plaid.com/resources/fintech/fintech-trends/) for fintech, payment apps, and account offerings, including Bitcoin and cryptocurrency banks, CFPB’s chilling actions have slowed that innovation, leading to the recent calls for the agency to be gutted. And they’re right.
Most of CFPB’s functions are [mirrored](https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement) at the FTC on everything but finance. Regional Federal Reserve banks are also responsible for bank oversight and regulation, not to mention state banking regulators. Existing regulators have the reach, experience, and know-how to police would-be fraudsters and outright deceptive practices among banks. Why not let them?
For consumers who want next-level services and financial products, there is no question that CFPB’s litigious approach has impacted their ability to access credit and financial services. There must be a better way to regulate our financial institutions and protect consumers than a tort law firm with government authority. Congress could fold elements of the CFPB into the FTC, OCC, or even FDIC, and bad actors will still be policed.
Consumers deserve to be protected, and they will be, but they also deserve a regulatory structure that rewards innovation and brings financial products to market that they can choose between.
The CFPB is due for defanging.
*Yaël Ossowski is deputy director at the Consumer Choice Center and author of the report, [“A financial fraud crackdown won’t protect consumers from scams.”](https://consumerchoicecenter.org/a-financial-fraud-crackdown-wont-protect-consumers-from-scams/)*
*Originally published on [RealClear Politics](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/02/14/doge_is_right_to_defang_cfpb_152360.html).*
-
![](/static/nostr-icon-purple-64x64.png)
@ 42342239:1d80db24
2025-02-14 08:42:40
A recent US data leak has brought to light a disturbing reality: our everyday technology has become a powerful tool for surveillance and control. Paradoxically, **new technology holds the key to creating a safer, more resilient, and perhaps even more human society.**
Preparedness remains a multifaceted topic that continues to spark engagement. The subject is not just about energy infrastructure and [food supply](https://www.epochtimes.se/kan-vi-bade-ata-kakan-och-ha-den-kvar) but also about seemingly more orthogonal issues like [obesity](https://www.epochtimes.se/fetare-svenskar-oroar-forsvarsmakten) and cybersecurity.
The significant importance of cybersecurity can be illustrated by examples from an American company that was recently subjected to an [IT intrusion](https://archive.ph/s1atX) with a subsequent data leak. The company, Gravy Analytics, specializes in providing mobile phone data that provides **exceptionally detailed information about where individuals are located at any given time**. Data that can be used, for example, for advertising purposes, but also for more sinister purposes such as extortion or espionage. The company has previously been accused of using misleading methods to collect location data without valid consent from individuals.
Mobile operators have long had the ability to locate their subscribers' positions over time. This leak shows how **even apps on your phone risk revealing your location.** Analysis of the samples leaked from the leak shows that data has leaked out for users of several well-known mobile applications, including the popular mobile game Candy Crush and the widely used online dating service Tinder.
Even if apps only use an [ad ID](https://x.com/fs0c131y/status/1876987765012701407) when collecting data, these collected digital breadcrumbs can often be deanonymized. It is possible, for example, to identify daily routines, workplaces, and where and when an individual usually sleeps. This usually enables identification. But **it is also possible to map an individual's social circle and romantic relationships.** The mapping risks quickly becoming both sensitive and invasive.
**The fact that such data is collected, but especially that it leaks, also poses a threat to preparedness.** By mapping military or other sensitive locations (energy supply, water treatment plants, critical infrastructure) along with location and time data, it is potentially possible to identify employees at these locations. Information that can then be used by those who want to cause harm.
It is not written in the stars that citizens must be dependent on a few large IT companies. Our data does not need to be collected and used in a way that does not benefit us, without our knowledge. There are alternatives to large-scale and "super-registers". **Technology such as asymmetric encryption and zero-knowledge proofs can be used to give power back to the individual.** If the parliament and government are serious about improving preparedness, it is high time to leave old thought patterns like Chat Control 2 behind and instead explore such possibilities.
The primary purpose of the internet was originally to enable information transfer without intermediaries ("peer-to-peer"). Today, intermediaries are everywhere. It is worth remembering that **peer-to-peer is not some obscure technical term**. In case we have forgotten about it, it simply means: person to person, without intermediaries.
Maybe new technology can not only give us a safer and more resilient society, but also a more human one?
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@ 955e5a04:c03b3cc3
2025-02-14 08:04:46
If we see the Earth as the most important element in the universe, we will learn to care for it. The Maya believed that the Earth was created first, followed by the sun, the moon, and the stars. This perspective is not based on modern science, but it reflects the idea that the Earth is primordial for us, and thus, it should be honored.
This vision finds echoes in sacred texts. The *Popol Vuh*, the Mayan creation story, describes a time when only the sky and the vast sea existed before the Earth was formed. Similarly, in the Book of Genesis, before God created the world, "the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Genesis 1:2). In both traditions, creation emerges from a primordial state of sky and water, symbolizing chaos and the unknown.
Water, in many religious contexts, is linked to chaos and transformation. In the *Popol Vuh*, the first humans were shaped from maize, but they originated from a world where water and sky ruled. This suggests a deeper truth: before the Earth, there was only the vastness of the cosmos, and from that, we were formed. We are made of both chaos and peace, carrying within us all the elements of creation—not from nothingness, but from everything.
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@ f6488c62:c929299d
2025-02-14 07:52:28
บทวิเคราะห์แนวโน้มราคาบิตคอยน์ปลายสัปดาห์นี้
วันที่ 14 กุมภาพันธ์ 2025 ราคาบิตคอยน์ (BTC) ล่าสุดอยู่ที่ประมาณ 97,032 ดอลลาร์สหรัฐ เพิ่มขึ้น 0.99% จากวันก่อนหน้า โดยมีการเคลื่อนไหวระหว่าง 95,258 - 97,241 ดอลลาร์ ท่ามกลางความผันผวนอย่างต่อเนื่องในตลาดสินทรัพย์ดิจิทัล
ความเคลื่อนไหวล่าสุดสะท้อนถึงสภาวะที่นักลงทุนยังคงจับตาดูนโยบายเศรษฐกิจของสหรัฐฯ อย่างใกล้ชิด ขณะเดียวกัน สถานการณ์แรงเทขายที่เกิดขึ้นในช่วงต้นเดือนกุมภาพันธ์ ซึ่งทำให้ราคา BTC ร่วงลงมาแตะระดับ 90,000 ดอลลาร์ ก็เริ่มคลี่คลายลงบ้างแล้ว โดยนักลงทุนระยะยาวยังคงถือครองเหรียญต่อไป ไม่ได้แสดงความตื่นตระหนก
นักวิเคราะห์มองว่า แนวโน้มราคาบิตคอยน์ในช่วงปลายสัปดาห์นี้ อาจอยู่ในลักษณะของการปรับฐาน หรือแกว่งตัวในกรอบแคบระหว่าง 95,000 - 98,000 ดอลลาร์ เนื่องจากตลาดยังอยู่ในช่วงรอปัจจัยใหม่เข้ามากระตุ้น ทั้งนี้ การเคลื่อนไหวดังกล่าวเกิดขึ้นหลังจากแรงกดดันจากทิศทางดอกเบี้ยของธนาคารกลางสหรัฐฯ (Fed) และสภาพคล่องในตลาดการเงินโลกที่ตึงตัวขึ้น
ทั้งนี้ วันศุกร์สุดท้ายของเดือนกุมภาพันธ์ในทุกปี มักเป็นช่วงเวลาที่ตลาดมีความผันผวนเพิ่มขึ้นจากการปรับพอร์ตการลงทุนของนักลงทุนสถาบัน รวมถึงการปิดสถานะของนักลงทุนรายใหญ่ ทำให้ราคาของสินทรัพย์ดิจิทัลอย่างบิตคอยน์ อาจเกิดการเคลื่อนไหวที่รวดเร็วกว่าปกติ นักลงทุนจึงควรระมัดระวังและวางแผนการลงทุนอย่างรอบคอบในช่วงเวลาดังกล่าว
อย่างไรก็ตาม ความเชื่อมั่นของผู้ถือครองระยะยาวยังคงแข็งแกร่ง โดยเฉพาะกลุ่มนักลงทุนที่เล็งเห็นศักยภาพของบิตคอยน์ในฐานะสินทรัพย์ปลอดภัยในระยะยาว ซึ่งอาจทำให้การปรับฐานของราคายังมีแรงซื้อคอยพยุงอยู่เสมอ
ทั้งนี้ นักลงทุนควรติดตามข่าวสารและปัจจัยแวดล้อมอย่างใกล้ชิด โดยเฉพาะความเคลื่อนไหวของดัชนีเศรษฐกิจสหรัฐฯ และท่าทีของ Fed ที่อาจส่งผลต่อทิศทางของสินทรัพย์เสี่ยง รวมถึงตลาดคริปโตในช่วงถัดไป
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-02-14 07:29:39
Organized by Figma, Config is happening May 6-8 in San Francisco—here's a first look at our 2025 lineup.
![](https://m.stacker.news/77604)
[Register for Config 2025](https://config.figma.com/san-francisco/register/)
At Config 2025, we’re bringing together the designers and builders shaping tech’s next chapter. They’ll share a vision for building tools and experiences that are human-centered, intentional, and meet the needs of an accelerating future.
![](https://m.stacker.news/77605)
[Register now](https://config.figma.com/san-francisco/register/) to guarantee your spot in San Francisco! Virtual registration is also open, and always free.
Join us in San Francisco or virtually.
### $799 - In person
Moscone Center, San Francisco, California
Purchasing an in-person ticket will also give you virtual access to our livestreams.
[Select in person](https://reg.config.figma.com/flow/figma/config2025/in-person/login)
### $0 Virtual
Livestream Online
Free - Limit one ticket per attendee.
[Select virtual](https://reg.config.figma.com/flow/figma/config2025/virtual/login)
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Or [keep reading](https://www.figma.com/blog/meet-the-makers-defining-techs-next-chapter/?utm_campaign=021325+-+Invite&utm_content=021325+-+Invite) for the full Config 2025 sneak peek
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/885616