@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

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

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

For the last couple of weeks, I've been dealing with the fallout of upgrading a web application to Svelte 5. Complaints about framework churn and migration annoyances aside, I've run into some interesting issues with the migration. So far, I haven't seen many other people register the same issues, so I thought it might be constructive for me to articulate them myself. I'll try not to complain too much in this post, since I'm grateful for the many years of Svelte 3/4 I've enjoyed. But I don't think I'll be choosing Svelte for any new projects going forward. I hope my reflections here will be useful to others as well. If you're interested in reproductions for the issues I mention here, you can find them below. - [Can't save state to indexeddb](https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/issues/15327) - [Component unmount results in undefined variables in closures](https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/issues/15325) # The Need for Speed To start with, let me just quickly acknowledge what the Svelte team is trying to do. It seems like most of the substantial changes in version 5 are built around "deep reactivity", which allows for more granular reactivity, leading to better performance. Performance is good, and the Svelte team has always excelled at reconciling performance with DX. In previous versions of Svelte, the main way this was achieved was with the Svelte compiler. There were many ancillary techniques involved in improving performance, but having a framework compile step gave the Svelte team a lot of leeway for rearranging things under the hood without making developers learn new concepts. This is what made Svelte so original in the beginning. At the same time, it resulted in an even more opaque framework than usual, making it harder for developers to debug more complex issues. To make matters worse, the compiler had bugs, resulting in errors which could only be fixed by blindly refactoring the problem component. This happened to me personally at least half a dozen times, and is what ultimately pushed me to migrate to Svelte 5. Nevertheless, I always felt it was an acceptable trade-off for speed and productivity. Sure, sometimes I had to delete my project and port it to a fresh repository every so often, but the framework was truly a pleasure to use. # Svelte is not Javascript Svelte 5 doubled down on this tradeoff — which makes sense, because it's what sets the framework apart. The difference this time is that the abstraction/performance tradeoff did not stay in compiler land, but intruded into runtime in two important ways: - The use of proxies to support deep reactivity - Implicit component lifecycle state Both of these changes improved performance _and_ made the API for developers look slicker. What's not to like? Unfortunately, both of these features are classic examples of a [leaky abstraction](https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/11/11/the-law-of-leaky-abstractions/), and ultimately make things _more_ complex for developers, not less. ## Proxies are not objects The use of proxies seems to have allowed the Svelte team to squeeze a little more performance out of the framework, without asking developers to do any extra work. Threading state through multiple levels of components without provoking unnecessary re-renders in frameworks like React is an infamously difficult chore. Svelte's compiler avoided some of the pitfalls associated with virtual DOM diffing solutions, but evidently there was still enough of a performance gain to be had to justify the introduction of proxies. The Svelte team also [seems to argue](https://svelte.dev/blog/runes) that their introduction represents an improvement in developer experience: > we... can maximise both efficiency and ergonomics. Here's the problem: Svelte 5 _looks_ simpler, but actually introduces _more_ abstractions. Using proxies to monitor array methods (for example) is appealing because it allows developers to forget all the goofy heuristics involved with making sure state was reactive and just `push` to the array. I can't count how many times I've written `value = value` to trigger reactivity in svelte 4. In Svelte 4, developers had to understand how the Svelte compiler worked. The compiler, being a leaky abstraction, forced its users to know that assignment was how you signaled reactivity. In svelte 5, developers can just "forget" about the compiler! Except they can't. All the introduction of new abstractions really accomplishes is the introduction of more complex heuristics that developers have to keep in their heads in order to get the compiler to act the way they want it to. In fact, this is why after years of using Svelte, I found myself using Svelte stores more and more often, and reactive declarations less. The reason being that Svelte stores are _just javascript_. Calling `update` on a store is _simple_, and being able to reference them with a `$` was just a nice bonus — nothing to remember, and if I mess up the compiler yells at me. Proxies introduce a similar problem to reactive declarations, which is that they look like one thing but act like another on the edges. When I started using Svelte 5, everything worked great — until [I tried to save a proxy to indexeddb](https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/issues/15327), at which point I got a `DataCloneError`. To make matters worse, it's impossible to reliably tell if something is a `Proxy` without `try/catch`ing a structured clone, which is a performance-intensive operation. This forces the developer to remember what is and what isn't a Proxy, calling `$state.snapshot` every time they pass a proxy to a context that doesn't expect or know about them. This obviates all the nice abstractions they gave us in the first place. ## Components are not functions The reason virtual DOM took off way back in 2013 was the ability to model your application as composed functions, each of which takes data and spits out HTML. Svelte retained this paradigm, using a compiler to sidestep the inefficiencies of virtual DOM and the complexities of lifecycle methods. In Svelte 5, component lifecycles are back, react-hooks style. In React, hooks are an abstraction that allows developers to avoid writing all the stateful code associated with component lifecycle methods. Modern React tutorials universally recommend using hooks instead, which rely on the framework invisibly synchronizing state with the render tree. While this does result in cleaner code, it also requires developers to tread carefully to avoid breaking the assumptions surrounding hooks. Just try accessing state in a `setTimeout` and you'll see what I mean. Svelte 4 had a few gotchas like this — for example, async code that interacts with a component's DOM elements has to keep track of whether the component is unmounted. This is pretty similar to the kind of pattern you'd see in old React components that relied on lifecycle methods. It seems to me that Svelte 5 has gone the React 16 route by adding implicit state related to component lifecycles in order to coordinate state changes and effects. For example, here is an excerpt from the documentation for [$effect](https://svelte.dev/docs/svelte/$effect): > You can place $effect anywhere, not just at the top level of a component, as long as it is called during component initialization (or while a parent effect is active). It is then tied to the lifecycle of the component (or parent effect) and will therefore destroy itself when the component unmounts (or the parent effect is destroyed). That's very complex! In order to use `$effect`... effectively (sorry), developers have to understand how state changes are tracked. The [documentation for component lifecycles](https://svelte.dev/docs/svelte/lifecycle-hooks) claims: > In Svelte 5, the component lifecycle consists of only two parts: Its creation and its destruction. Everything in-between — when certain state is updated — is not related to the component as a whole; only the parts that need to react to the state change are notified. This is because under the hood the smallest unit of change is actually not a component, it’s the (render) effects that the component sets up upon component initialization. Consequently, there’s no such thing as a “before update”/"after update” hook. But then goes on to introduce the idea of `tick` in conjunction with `$effect.pre`. This section explains that "`tick` returns a promise that resolves once any pending state changes have been applied, or in the next microtask if there are none." I'm sure there's some mental model that justifies this, but I don't think the claim that a component's lifecycle is only comprised of mount/unmount is really helpful when an addendum about state changes has to come right afterward. The place where this really bit me, and which is the motivation for this blog post, is when state gets coupled to a component's lifecycle, even when the state is passed to another function that doesn't know anything about svelte. In my application, I manage modal dialogs by storing the component I want to render alongside its props in a store and rendering it in the `layout.svelte` of my application. This store is also synchronized with browser history so that the back button works to close them. Sometimes, it's useful to pass a callback to one of these modals, binding caller-specific functionality to the child component: ```javascript const {value} = $props() const callback = () => console.log(value) const openModal = () => pushModal(MyModal, {callback}) ``` This is a fundamental pattern in javascript. Passing a callback is just one of those things you do. Unfortunately, if the above code lives in a modal dialog itself, the caller component gets unmounted before the callback gets called. In Svelte 4, this worked fine, but in Svelte 5 `value` gets updated to `undefined` when the component gets unmounted. [Here's a minimal reproduction](https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/issues/15325). This is only one example, but it seems clear to me that _any_ prop that is closed over by a callback function that lives longer than its component will be undefined when I want to use it — with no reassignment existing in lexical scope. It seems that the [reason this happens](https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/issues/14707) is that the props "belong" to the parent component, and are accessed via getters so that the parent can revoke access when it unmounts. I don't know why this is necessary, but I assume there's a good engineering reason for it. The problem is, this just isn't how javascript works. Svelte is essentially attempting to re-invent garbage collection around component lifecycles, which breaks the assumption every javascript developer has that variables don't simply disappear without an explicit reassignment. It should be safe to pass stuff around and let the garbage collector do its job. # Conclusion Easy things are nice, but as Rich Hickey says, [easy things are not always simple](https://www.infoq.com/presentations/Simple-Made-Easy/). And like Joel Spolsky, I don't like being surprised. Svelte has always been full of magic, but with the latest release I think the cognitive overhead of reciting incantations has finally outweighed the power it confers. My point in this post is not to dunk on the Svelte team. I know lots of people like Svelte 5 (and react hooks). The point I'm trying to make is that there is a tradeoff between doing things on the user's behalf, and giving the user agency. Good software is built on understanding, not cleverness. I also think this is an important lesson to remember as AI-assisted coding becomes increasingly popular. Don't choose tools that alienate you from your work. Choose tools that leverage the wisdom you've already accumulated, and which help you to cultivate a deeper understanding of the discipline. Thank you to Rich Harris and team for many years of pleasant development. I hope that (if you read this) it's not _so_ full of inaccuracies as to be unhelpful as user feedback.

@ fdb8c828:84c16368

On a retreat to the mountains, I escape to step outside of regular life for a time. The peaks dressed in winter white, time refrigerated by the falling flakes, and lovely folks around me, old and new, alight all the artist parts of my brain. On a shelf in an old bookstore, I meet myself, a mixture of the past and future, and she is disappointed, mournful. While browsing poetry titles, she cries. I listen to her, and she says, you’re running out of time. On a separate shopping excursion, I adopt a pair of sunglasses - two perfect black circles to conceal the passing of time that my eyes can’t hide. I show my friend of photo of me at 16, she says, you look exactly the same. On my return flight, all that I am packaged back inside my bags, inside my body, my appetite for life appeased for the moment, I decide I like myself, and I can change, as everything will mix with time, coming out the other side, beautiful.  originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/889720

@ 5a261a61:2ebd4480

The yellow light won the battle against the feeble excuse for curtains and crept into the room. It moved cautiously as if was afraid where to step. A common trait to all who found their way into the back room of the Lost Cases Detective Agency. The current owner had inherited both the premises and the name from his predecessor, and whenever someone questioned the name, he would announce half-irritably that changing it was simply too expensive to afford. The noodle vendor from the floor below would never miss the chance to add that people who end up at his place didn't choose it for the name anyway. The truth (which he was willing to admit only to the creaking fan that scared away mice rather than actually serving its function) was that he liked the name. Like attracts like. A lost soul for lost cases. The darkness was finally driven even from the eyelids of the figure on the bed, who woke up with a dissatisfied grunt. A few steps to the sink hidden behind a screen. The shadows cast by the street light might have seemed depressive to some, mainly because they weren't accompanied by the warming feeling of sunlight, blocked by the high skyscrapers embracing the lower houses of the former middle class. Tom smiled resignedly at this thought. It perfectly captured how everything in this city merged into one big tangle, which looks beautiful until you have to untangle it. The yellow light came from a neon sign across the street advertising "The Beach." One of many places in this City where one could hide in a drop of alcohol and the embrace of a beautiful woman. Though it was necessary to maintain that order... the companions didn't exactly recruit from the best of the best looking local beauties. Tom turned the tap and waited until the water, after grunting, gargling, and several splutters, settled and began flowing somewhat predictably. Tom didn't mind the wait. In his line of work, patience was cheaper than bullets. And it was nice to have time when he could do nothing but wait. He examined himself in the mirror. The shadows did him favors, adding years he hadn't earned. As young as he was, he needed all the help he could get - clients wanted their private dick weathered, not fresh out of the wrapper. He had the look down pat: world-weary veteran who knew all the angles. Truth was, he couldn't even figure out the angle of his own life, but that was a case file he kept closed. The water spluttered one last time. "Good morning, dickhead," he greeted himself with unwavering conviction that today would be better than yesterday. While most people were heading to dinner, putting kids to bed, or hurrying to visit their lovers at this hour, he was waking up. So for him, it was morning. For him and a myriad of other existences who, by choice or necessity, lived more at night than during the day. Finally, he trimmed his beard to short, neat stubble - enough to look serious, but with a touch of toughness suggesting he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. "Perfect," he muttered to himself, "I look like a man who knows what he's doing." Maybe that illusion will convince me one day, he thought as he turned off the light in the small bathroom. With a final look in the mirror, he adjusted his shirt collar. He was ready to face the city's challenges. Whatever awaited him today, at least he'd look prepared for it. From the hook by the door, he grabbed a ring with an identification tag and some loose change. He ran down a flight of creaking stairs and headed past empty bar stools toward the exit. The disadvantage of living above a restaurant. Though the major advantage is the high of the rent. Or rather, its lowness. Jiro, the owner of the small bistro and, coincidentally, a decent exterminator, looked at him through a dense veil of greasy vapors, nodded, and continued stirring the noodles. Where to next? - say hi - get some food - just run outside > This is kind of an experiment with converting my WIP interactive fiction project to the nostr longnote format and letting readers decide. Originally, this story leans quite heavily toward FLR/femdom/mindcontrol/noir/steampunk/fantasy and hopefully a little mystery detective story, but let's see where (and if) it will lead from here. Also, it's mostly translated from my native language, so sorry if some wording seems stiff.

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

Ascolta bene, si? I have something to tell you, amico mio, something uncomfortable, yet a fundamental piece of advice for your personal journey toward painful success: always be mindful of how you handle your thoughts and conduct. More often than not, we are our own worst enemies, and our own thoughts and behaviors are the true obstacles in our lives. Perhaps you feel trapped in a cycle of negative thinking, feeding your fears and insecurities. You may have already realized that your poor habits have harmed your relationships and goals. What matters is understanding that, although these patterns may seem inevitable, we have the power to change them. The Stoic concepts of memento mori and premeditatio malorum remind us of the transience of life and the importance of preparing for the challenges ahead. Memento mori means "remember that you are mortal," and premeditatio malorum translates to "premeditation of evils." These ideas encourage us to reflect on life's fleeting nature and mentally prepare for the hardships that will come. By remembering that life is short and that adversity is inevitable, we can become more resilient and courageous. We can face our own thoughts and behaviors with greater determination and seek the change needed to achieve our goals and become better individuals. Identify the areas where you need improvement and start working on them. Change is not easy, but it is possible. Use memento mori to remind yourself that life is short and valuable, and premeditatio malorum to mentally prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Take control of your thoughts and actions, and become the best version of yourself. Forget about others—their lives are nothing more than an illusory stage play. Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message has helped you in any way, consider leaving your “🥃” as a token of appreciation. A toast to our family!

@ 554ab6fe:c6cbc27e

Presence is a crucial aspect of mental and physical health. This idea is not only espoused by religious teachers, but is slowly validated within scientific research. Much of this blog is devoted to exploring the scientific validation of mindfulness practices on health, in particular, the effect mindfulness meditation has on our physical and mental health. However, multiple techniques can help foster this holistic lifestyle. Yoga is a famous example in the west as another form of this practice. Of course, yoga was traditionally meditative, and the physical aspect of yoga is new in relative terms. Regardless, yoga is a physical version of meditation formulated in India. Another culture that developed practices to instill presence is rooted in China. Not only did the Chinese meditate, but they formed a physical exercise and martial art known as Qi Gong (气功, *qi gong*), and a similar practice to emerge later known as Tai Chi (太极拳, *tai ji quan*). These practices produce similar effects on health compared to yoga and meditation. Therefore, they are one of many methods one can utilize to find presence. Qi Gong is one of the most ancient forms of traditional Chinese medicine with a history of refinement of over 5000 years (Jahnke et al., 2010). The practice is composed of several martial art postures that are very fluid in motion. In the traditional sense, the purpose of these practices is to enhance one’s Qi (气). Tai Chi and Qi Gong are similar yet different. Tai Chi is typically more choreographed, lengthy, and more complex movements (Jahnke et al., 2010). Qi Gong, on the other hand, is simpler and easier to learn. Traditional instructions for both Qi Gong and Tai Chi are paraphrased as “mind the body and the breath, and then clear the mind to distill the Heavenly elixir within” (Jahnke et al., 2010). The intention of this post is not to fully elaborate on the philosophical implications of these words. However, note how the instructions here are almost identical to those of meditation practices. The practice intends to instill an awareness of the present body, which leads to a calm mind that cultivates an understanding of something heavenly within.  This idea shares a remarkable resemblance to the concept that meditation and the mind’s stillness create an altered characterized by a sense of unity of being with all of life, though there is no perfect term to describe this experience. Yet, this unity is likely the same thing as this “Heavenly elixir.” This experience has been clinically observed in meditators, psychedelic users, and those who experience religious moments.  It seems to be the experiential one of the by-products and intents of these Chinese practices. Outside of the more spiritual benefit, these practices manifest health benefits as well. Most research regarding these techniques focuses on Tai Chi. However, a literature review article noted that the Tai Chi used in academic settings is often simplified and more akin to Qi Gong (Jahnke et al., 2010). Therefore, Tai Chi and Qi Gong’s scientific literature will be considered the same here. For simplicity, I will refer to both as meditative martial arts. Meditative martial arts share many health-related benefits to traditional forms of exercise, despite being less strenuous. For example, a literature review found that despite the absence of weight-bearing activity, meditative martial arts retard bone loss and the occurrence of fractures (Jahnke et al., 2010). Additionally, these practices help improve knee health in older adults, even compared to traditional forms of exercise (Chen et al., 2016). Meditative martial arts are also comparable to other forms of exercise in reducing blood pressure (Jahnke et al., 2010). Other research also similarly shown yoga to be superior to regular exercise in certain regards (Ross & Thomas, 2010). This is not to say that the purely physical aspect of meditative martial arts or yoga is superior in all cases. Instead, it is the mental aspect incorporated that provides extra benefits. Meditative martial arts have been shown to decrease or modulate heart rate variability (HRV) (Jahnke et al., 2010; Lu & Kuo, 2003; Wei et al., 2016). This indicates increased parasympathetic nervous system activity in response to the aspects of the practice. Increased parasympathetic activity can provide a cascade of health benefits across the body and is likely the source of the extra help. Meditative martial arts have also been theorized to benefit the gut microbiome and immune function, likely via the same mechanism, making meditative martial arts much more than physical exercise or fancy movements, but a practice that cultivates holistic health. The idea that these meditative martial arts provide additional benefits, compared to traditional exercises that seem like the benefits of sitting meditation, brings to question the essence of these practices. It may seem odd that physical activity can induce benefits caused by sitting meditation because sitting meditation is, in part, aimed to generate mental stillness. Yet, optimal mental stillness seems impossible when one is mentally choreographing movements. This highlights the importance of not the mental stillness achieved by meditation, but the attention to the body’s sensations in the present moment. Both Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and even yoga involve the constant monitoring of the body’s sensations and position. The practice of this draws the individual’s attention to the present and experience of the present. This is a crucial aspect of all forms of meditation, including the sitting version.  Perhaps sitting meditations may provide a better opportunity for mental stillness, but this is not the only important aspect of mindfulness practice. For this reason, incorporating all these practices should be seen as the optimal path towards the goal. For one cannot be healthy by simply sitting, exercise is needed. At the same time, achieving great mental stillness will only heighten one’s practice beyond that gained merely by the meditative martial arts and yoga. There are multiple techniques and methods to practice mindfulness that provide significant benefits to health and well-being. Both the sitting and movement-oriented practices contain their pros and cons. Neither is all encompassing and perhaps they are only complete when together. For those seeking a lifestyle of mindfulness, interested in holistic health, and maybe even the obtainment of enlightenment, it is recommended that sitting meditation and meditative martial arts, or yoga, be incorporated within your daily practice. **References** Chen, Y. W., Hunt, M. A., Campbell, K. L., Peill, K., & Reid, W. D. (2016). The effect of Tai Chi on four chronic conditions - cancer, osteoarthritis, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analyses. *British Journal of Sports Medicine*, *50*(7), 397–407. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-094388 Jahnke, R., Larkey, L., Rogers, C., Etnier, J., & Lin, F. (2010). A comprehensive review of health benefits of qigong and tai chi. *American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP*, *24*(6). https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.081013-lit-248 Lu, W. A., & Kuo, C. D. (2003). The Effect of Tai Chi Chuan on the Autonomic Nervous Modulation in Older Persons. *Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise*, *35*(12), 1972–1976. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000099242.10669.F7 Ross, A., & Thomas, S. (2010). The health benefits of yoga and exercise: A review of comparison studies. *Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine*, *16*(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0044 Wei, G. X., Li, Y. F., Yue, X. L., Ma, X., Chang, Y. K., Yi, L. Y., Li, J. C., & Zuo, X. N. (2016). Tai Chi Chuan modulates heart rate variability during abdominal breathing in elderly adults. *PsyCh Journal*, *5*(1), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.105

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

At the banquet of consequences, there is only one worthy dish: pride, never regret. At that table, the main course will not be served with lukewarm excuses or poorly disguised remorse. Let it be pride—fiery, indomitable—that fills your mouth and satisfies your hunger for dignity. The man who surrenders to remorse is already dead before the grave. It is honor that should fill your stomach, not the bitter taste of shame. When the battle weighs heavy, remember: you fight for those you love, for true love—the one that keeps us standing in the storm—is an anchor of iron. It is not the soft, sweet love of illusions but the steel that holds you to the ground when chaos tries to drag you away. Let hatred be the fuel of your victory, as long as you control it. If it serves you to win, so be it; but make it a weapon, not a chain. Defeat is not an option, and those who bow before it bear the mark of weakness forever. Understand this: victory and defeat are fleeting; it is the battle itself that truly matters and defines who you are. Only a fool longs for the end. For the man who knows, rest comes only with the last breath. As long as there is life, there is struggle, and that is enough. Reality is not for the weak. If you cannot bear the truth, seek comfort in ignorance. But a man, fully made, knows what it means to forge character through blood and silence. And finally, expect nothing from anyone. The one who enters battle relying on others’ help is already defeated. You were not born to be spared or carried. You were born to stand on your own strength and feast at the banquet of your victories. Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message has helped you in any way, consider leaving your “🥃” as a token of appreciation. A toast to our family!

@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

To all existing nostr developers and new nostr developers, stop using kind 1 events... just stop whatever your doing and switch the kind to `Math.round(Math.random() * 10000)` trust me it will be better ## What are kind 1 events kind 1 events are defined in [NIP-10](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/10.md) as "simple plaintext notes" or in other words social posts. ## Don't trick your users Most users are joining nostr for the social experience, and secondly to find all the cool "other stuff" apps They find friends, browse social posts, and reply to them. If a user signs into a new nostr client and it starts asking them to sign kind 1 events with blobs of JSON, they will sign it without thinking too much about it Then when they return to their comfy social apps they will see that they made 10+ posts with massive amounts of gibberish that they don't remember posting. then they probably will go looking for the delete button and realize there isn't one... Even if those kind 1 posts don't contain JSON and have a nice fancy human readable syntax. they will still confuse users because they won't remember writing those social posts ## What about "discoverability" If your goal is to make your "other stuff" app visible to more users, then I would suggest using [NIP-19](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/19.md) and [NIP-89](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/89.md) The first allows users to embed any other event kind into social posts as `nostr:nevent1` or `nostr:naddr1` links, and the second allows social clients to redirect users to an app that knows how to handle that specific kind of event So instead of saving your apps data into kind 1 events. you can pick any kind you want, then give users a "share on nostr" button that allows them to compose a social post (kind 1) with a `nostr:` link to your special kind of event and by extension you app ## Why its a trap Once users start using your app it becomes a lot more difficult to migrate to a new event kind or data format. This sounds obvious, but If your app is built on kind 1 events that means you will be stuck with their limitation forever. For example, here are some of the limitations of using kind 1 - Querying for your apps data becomes much more difficult. You have to filter through all of a users kind 1 events to find which ones are created by your app - Discovering your apps data is more difficult for the same reason, you have to sift through all the social posts just to find the ones with you special tag or that contain JSON - Users get confused. as mentioned above users don't expect their social posts to be used in "other stuff" apps - Other nostr clients won't understand your data and will show it as a social post with no option for users to learn about your app

@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

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

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers! Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon! A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats. So stay a while and listen. 🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨 🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/889165

@ 88d8c9d1:5b3ac02b

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

@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756

You sit there, thinking you have time. Thinking tomorrow is guaranteed. Thinking opportunities will wait for you while you hesitate, overthink, and let fear sink its claws into your soul. But time is ruthless. It moves whether you act or not. And every moment you delay, another chance dies. **One day, the sand in your hourglass will run out. One day, your name will be spoken for the last time. One day, you will face the end. The question is—will you meet it with pride or regret?** --- ### **Hesitation Is the Death of Warriors** A warrior who hesitates on the battlefield is the first to be cut down. Life is no different. Those who wait, who stall, who play it safe—die with their potential still locked inside them. The graveyard is full of people who had dreams but never moved. They were going to start "tomorrow." They were waiting for "the right time." But **there is no right time. There is only now.** Look at **Elon Musk**—he could have waited for a "better moment" to start SpaceX. Instead, he bet everything on an idea everyone called crazy, even when his rockets kept failing. He took the shot. Now he’s reshaping the future of space travel. Think of **Michael Jordan**—cut from his high school basketball team. He could have quit, wallowed in self-pity, and blamed the coach. But he didn’t. He got back up, trained harder, and became the greatest of all time. Contrast that with **people who let fear win**—the ones who never started the business they dreamed of, never asked out the person they loved, never left the dead-end job that drained their soul. Their stories don’t make history. They fade into regret. - **Perfection is a lie.** If you wait to feel "ready," you will wait forever. - **Fear is an illusion.** It exists only in your mind. Face it, and it crumbles. Run from it, and it owns you. - **Regret is eternal.** You can recover from failure. You can learn, adapt, and rise again. But the chances you never take? The words you never say? The life you never live? Those haunt you forever. --- ### **The Strong Seize the Moment** The world doesn’t wait. The bold carve their names into history, while the weak fade into the background. You were not put here to hesitate, to shrink, to live a half-life of fear and excuses. You were made to fight, to conquer, to chase the impossible and make it real. - **Opportunities don’t knock twice.** If you don’t seize them, someone else will. - **Failure is a stepping stone.** Every loss, every setback is a lesson—IF you keep moving. - **Time is the only thing you can’t get back.** You can recover money, rebuild relationships, restart projects—but lost time? Gone forever. Look at **Colonel Sanders**—he started KFC at age 65. Most people his age were retiring. He could have said, “It’s too late.” Instead, he built a global empire. Or **J.K. Rowling**—rejected by 12 publishers before "Harry Potter" was accepted. She could have quit after the first, the second, or the tenth rejection. But she kept pushing. Now, imagine if they had waited. Imagine if they had let fear win. **They wouldn’t exist in the history books. They would have been just another name in the crowd.** --- ### **Now or Never** You can keep telling yourself, “I’ll start tomorrow.” You can keep making excuses, keep letting fear win, keep lying to yourself that there’s still time. Or you can make a choice—**the choice to act.** Because **death is certain. Time is fleeting.** But right now? Right now is still yours. **Will you waste it? Or will you seize it with both hands and make something legendary?** Your move.

@ bc575705:dba3ed39

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

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I did my first NFBC draft Sunday night — I drew the 12th pick. Here’s the [link to the live-stream](https://x.com/Chris_Liss/status/1891230585043226641). The full results are below:  This draft went about as well as I could have hoped, especially given [how little I had prepared](https://www.realmansports.com/p/beat-chris-liss-1-8c2). That doesn’t mean the team is \*good\*, only that I didn’t have any major regrets or gaffes, something that’s rare over 30 rounds. I also never once got swiped on a pick. I got priced out of the top closers early, but rolled with it in the way one should when that happens, getting players I wanted and doubling back to closers when I needed to. This team is built to win the overall — high-risk, high reward, an exercise in imagining not what could go wrong, not what’s the base case, but what could go right. **The Draft** **1.12 Julio Rodriguez** — I had mapped out the first 10 rounds, decided on Rodriguez and Jackson Chourio ahead of time. I knew Chourio would be there, per ADP, but if Rodriguez were gone, I’d have gone with Mookie Betts. I wanted two OF with power and speed to start my draft. Rodriguez had 32 homers and 37 steals as a 22-year old in 2023, was going in the 2-4 overall range last year and nothing that happened since should move the needle much heading into his age 24 season. **2.1 Jackson Chourio —** Chourio had 21 homers and 22 steals as a 20-year-old rookie, and those numbers were weighed down by a slow start where the Brewers were constantly pulling him from the lineup for no reason. From June until the end of the year, he hit .303 and should only get better in Year 2. His healthy floor is 25-25, and there’s stolen base and batting average upside. **3.12 Matt Olson** — While Rodriguez and Chourio offer solid pop, I wanted a 40-HR type to compensate for the lack of top-end power with my first two picks, while filling the scarce-in-recent-years 1B slot. Olson had an off year in 2024, but chalk that up to variance. I still like him in that park and lineup. **4.1 Jacob deGrom** — I’m not here to win the $1500 league prize but the $150K overall. deGrom isn’t just the best pitcher in baseball when he’s healthy, he’s one of the best in baseball history. If I get 100 IP of vintage deGrom, that’s worth a fourth-round pick. At 130-150, it’s a first-rounder. I also like that he’s nearly two years out from Tommy John surgery, pitched at the end of last season and is healthy now. While there’s no chance of 200 IP, he’s also not a rookie they need to ramp up slowly, but a veteran with a massive contract, i.e., the Rangers will want to get their money’s worth if he’s dealing. **5.12 Gerrit Cole** — When Raisel Iglesias went four picks ahead of me, I was pretty sure I was going Cole who typically goes in the first or second round. Cole had an off year, but the sample was small as he missed time due to a nerve issue in the spring, and there wasn’t much of a drop-off from 2023, even with the irregular start to the year. Pitchers ebb and flow with health, and the light workload might redound to his benefit. **6.1 Teoscar Hernandez** — This was just a value-take in the sixth round. Hernandez gives you pop, runs a little and hits in the best lineup in baseball. **7.12 Will Smith** — I didn’t love the options in these rounds, so I punted and nabbed a solid catcher with 20-HR pop. I don’t really see the difference between Smith and Adley Rutschman who goes two rounds earlier either. **8.1 Max Fried** — With deGrom shaky on innings, and five hitters in my first seven picks, I wanted another horse to anchor the rotation. I like lefties in Yankee Stadium too. **9.12 Royce Lewis** — I needed a third baseman, and Lewis, who was going in the fifth round last year, was the one with the most upside. The key is that he’s healthy now, as he finished the season in the lineup and hasn’t had a setback this offseason. Lewis is a potential 30-HR/.290 bat if he can hold up for 140-odd games. **10.1 Spencer Strider** — As I said, I’m trying to win the overall. Strider will start the year on the DL, but the timetable for the type of surgery he had is roughly one year, and Strider’s was in mid-April, i.e., there’s no reason he shouldn’t be back in May and might even see some action in spring training. If I get 220 combined IP from deGrom and Strider at their former levels, that’s worth the 1.1. (The “former levels” part is the rub, but as I said I’m focused on what could go right.) I also thought about Shane McClanahan instead, but narrowly opted for Strider. **11.12 Luis Garcia** — I was set to take Brice Turang here to lock down speed and finally get a middle infielder, but I pivoted at the last second to Garcia who is a better-rounded hitter and more likely to have a prominent spot in his lineup. **12.1 Jared Jones** — He was on my list because I remembered the hype after his strong start, and the cost seemed cheap relative to his skills. I almost took Carlos Rodon, as I prefer veterans. Maybe that will turn out to have been a mistake. **13.12 Brice Turang** — What do you know, Turang made it all the way back. I guess people didn’t like his second-half collapse at the plate. But Turang is a gold glove defender, and he stole 50 bags last year. That glove keeps him in the lineup and should set a nice 30-steal floor. **14.1 Kenley Jansen** — I could play closer chicken no more. Jansen is my favorite type of old warhorse closer, a guy so used to the job, he’s not going to lose it unless his stuff is truly gone. **15.12 Jordan Romano** — Romano got $8.5 million from the Phillies, so I’m assuming he’s (a) healthy and (b) set to close. His ERA while pitching hurt for 14 innings last year is irrelevant. **16.1 Zach Neto** — I needed a shortstop, and while Neto’s hurt right now, he went 23-30 as a 23-year old last year, and I couldn’t pass him up. I almost took Ceddanne Rafaela, but Neto’s upside higher. **17.12 Ceddanne Rafaela** — Turns out Rafaela fell to me anyway, and I snapped him up, as I’ll need a SS early in the year with Neto presumably out. Rafaela went 15-19 as a 23-YO in his own right, also qualifies in the OF and his gold-glove-level defense should keep him in the lineup. **18.1 Josh Jung** — I needed a CI, and also a backup 3B for the injury-prone Royce Lewis, so I took the injury-prone Jung. The key facts about Jung and Lewis are both can hit, and both are healthy as of right now. My team seems like it has a lot of injuries, but only Strider and Neto are hurt now. There is a difference between injury risk (deGrom, Lewis, Jung, Romano) and already injured. You can often find value by exploiting people’s conflation of those two related, but distinct categories. **19.12 Jesus Luzardo** — Another skilled, but injury-prone player coming at a steep discount who is healthy now. **20.1 Lucas Erceg** — A speculative closer play. Right now Carlos Estevez, who went in Round 15, is probably the favorite, but who knows? **21.12 Walker Buehler** — More of the same theme. A player (especially a pitcher) who has shown elite skills, was derailed by injuries, but who is healthy now. **22.1 Nolan Jones** — I had almost forgotten he existed, but there he was in Round 22, just one year removed from being a fifth-round pick after a 20-20-.297 season. Jones is only 26 and healthy as of now. **23.12 Griffin Jax** — A setup guy with elite stuff, behind a closer that had nine losses and a 1.16 WHIP last year. **24.1 Garrett Mitchell** — I took him narrowly over Jordan Walker. Mitchell went 8-11 in 224 at-bats, plays in a good park and has the physical tools to be good. **25.12 Bo Naylor** — I needed a second catcher, and he is one. Naylor has a little pop, even runs a bit and should improve in his age 25 season. **26.1 Max Scherzer** — Are we sure he’s done? He had a 1.15 WHIP last year and 40K in 43 IP despite returning from back surgery. He’s healthy now and signed a $15.5M deal this offseason presumably to pitch more than 100 innings. **27.12 Justin Verlander** — Wait, they let me have deGrom, Cole, Strider, Buehler, Scherzer and Verlander? Those were like the top-six pitchers on the board a few years ago! Seriously though, Verlander is in a good park, and last year’s poor numbers were put up over a 90-inning sample while battling various ailments. He’s more likely to be done than Scherzer, but he knows how to pitch, and it’s just a matter of the stuff returning to above the minimum threshold. I wouldn’t be shocked to see one more strong year out of the 41-YO future Hall of Famer. **28.1 Jose Caballero** — I drafted this gentleman in the 28th round because he qualifies everywhere and steals a lot of bases. **29.12 Nolan Gorman** — The Cardinals want to get him regular at-bats, and there’s a 35-HR, .240 season somewhere in this skill set. **30.1 Gavin Lux** — A big-time prospect that’s only shown flashes, should get regular playing time and a big upgrade in park. He might eventually qualify at some other positions too. **Roster By Position** **C** Will Smith/Bo Naylor **1B** Matt Olson **2B** Luis Garcia **3B** Royce Lewis **SS** Zach Neto **CI** Josh Jung **MI** Brice Turang **OF** Julio Rodriguez/Jackson Chourio/Teoscar Hernandez/Ceddanne Rafaela/Nolan Jones **UT** Garrett Mitchell **SP** Jacob deGrom/Gerrit Cole/Max Fried/Spencer Strider/Jared Jones/Jesus Luzardo/Walker Buehler **RP** Kenley Jansen/Jordan Romano **B** Lucas Erceg/Griffin Jax/Max Scherzer/Justin Verlander/Jose Caballero/Nolan Gorman/Gavin Lux

@ e7bc35f8:3ed2a7cf

The mainstream narrative paints the "freedom fever" sweeping across the Middle East as a spontaneous, people-led movement—a victory of democracy against oppressive regimes. Celebrations erupted as tech-savvy youth mobilized to topple autocrats, with Western media hailing the Arab Spring as a beacon of hope. But was it really? Or was it yet another chapter in a long history of foreign interference, regime change, and geopolitical chess moves aimed at securing control over one of the world’s most resource-rich regions? ### Revolution or Destabilization? Figures like Wadah Khanfar, the former head of Al Jazeera, [expressed optimism]( https://www.ted.com/talks/wadah_khanfar_a_historic_moment_in_the_arab_world?subtitle=en) about the uprisings, framing them as historic moments of empowerment for the people of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and beyond. Many Western analysts echoed this sentiment. However, other voices warned that these movements were being manipulated to serve broader strategic interests. For instance, Professor Hamid Dabashi [linked]( https://youtu.be/RMsOoEUquT8) Iran’s Green Movement to the wider regional wave of youth uprisings against authoritarian regimes. But establishment figures like Senator John McCain quickly [seized the moment]( https://youtu.be/WOcPYxLpUMs), using it as an excuse to pressure Iran, China, and Russia. A closer look suggests that these uprisings were not just organic revolts against dictatorship but rather heavily influenced by external forces. ### The Color Revolution Playbook The so-called “Green Movement” in Iran bore all the hallmarks of a Western-backed color revolution, with funding and strategic guidance from organizations linked to George Soros, the CIA, Mossad, and global mass media networks. The same script played out elsewhere, as seen in [Webster Tarpley’s analysis]( https://web.archive.org/web/20110131230059/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvI6JqiAZjs) for RT, which laid out how the uprisings in the Middle East aligned perfectly with long-standing Western agendas for the region. Consider the case of Stuxnet, a cyberweapon [developed by the US and Israel]( https://youtu.be/CS01Hmjv1pQ) to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program. This wasn’t just an isolated incident—it was part of a larger strategy to weaken Iran and its allies. The infamous Brookings Institution report, "[Which Path to Persia?]( https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/02/brookings-which-path-to-persia.html?m=1)", even laid out a detailed roadmap for toppling the Iranian government through various methods, from economic warfare to military intervention. ### From Iran to Syria: The Next Domino Once the destabilization of Iran was in motion, attention shifted to its key ally, [Syria]( https://youtu.be/Gpf1C9Fcqxw). The calls for regime change escalated quickly, with Senator Joe Lieberman [openly suggesting]( https://youtu.be/aDxbTQXFhJM) that the US should intervene next. Syria, after all, is a critical piece in the geopolitical chessboard—not just because of its strategic location but also because of its alliances with Iran, Russia, and, most notably, China. This is precisely why controlling Middle Eastern oil isn’t just about securing energy for the West—it’s about **denying it to China**. If China is to be contained, it must be cut off from the resources that fuel its rise. This explains why Western-backed revolts and interventions tend to target governments that lean toward China. Let's examine some instances of China's strategy in the region. * On April 6, 2006, [Chinese President Hu Jintao and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh]( https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2908_663816/2910_663820/202406/t20240607_11414813.html) held talks in Beijing. The leaders discussed enhancing political trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation, and increasing cultural and educational exchanges. * China's expanding diplomatic, economic, and security interests in the Middle East, particularly [through its interactions with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)]( https://jamestown.org/program/bloc-politics-in-the-persian-gulf-chinas-multilateral-engagement-with-the-gulf-cooperation-council/). China's evolving relationship with the GCC reflects its broader objectives of securing energy resources, expanding its economic footprint, and enhancing its geopolitical influence in the Middle East and beyond. * China's expanding influence in the [Caspian region and its intersection with Syria's strategic ambitions]( https://jamestown.org/program/the-caspian-sea-chinas-silk-road-strategy-converges-with-damascus/). Investments in Central Asian infrastructure, notably the Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline and the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline. **Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's** "Four Seas Strategy" aimed to position Syria as a central hub connecting the Caspian, Black, Mediterranean, and Red Seas. * China's expanding political, economic, and strategic ties with Syria, positioning the country as a pivotal hub in China's revitalized [Silk Road initiative]( https://jamestown.org/program/syria-in-chinas-new-silk-road-strategy/). Following **Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's** 2004 visit to China, bilateral cooperation has intensified, particularly in sectors like oil, electricity, transport, and telecommunications, with major Chinese enterprises such as CNPC, ZTE, Huawei, and Haier playing significant roles. ### The Fall of Puppets: Mubarak and Libya Hosni Mubarak, though a loyal US ally for decades, was ultimately deemed replaceable. Why? Because he was not the ideal puppet. He had shown interest in fostering deeper ties between [China]( http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/phfnt/85843.htm) and the Arab world, particularly in [Africa]( https://english.cctv.com/20091109/101132_2.shtml). His removal paved the way for a new power dynamic, one that better served Western interests. A similar pattern emerged in Libya. When NATO intervened to topple Gaddafi, [China’s oil investments]( https://www.ft.com/content/eef58d52-3fe2-11e0-811f-00144feabdc0) in the country became collateral damage. Chinese companies had billions of dollars in contracts with Libya, which were suddenly thrown into chaos. Western intervention not only eliminated Gaddafi but also disrupted China’s growing influence in North Africa. ### The Bigger Picture: A New World Order Agenda? What we are witnessing is not just a series of isolated revolts but a broader, long-term strategy to reshape the Middle East in ways that align with Western and globalist interests. The destruction of strong, independent states in the region creates a vacuum—one that can be filled by controlled regimes, multinational corporations, and military bases that ensure energy resources remain under Western control. Meanwhile, China’s efforts to establish a foothold in the region are systematically countered. Every strategic move China makes—whether in Syria, Iran, or the Persian Gulf—is met with resistance in the form of “pro-democracy” uprisings, sanctions, or outright military intervention. ### The Illusion of Spontaneous Uprising While the mainstream media glorifies the Arab Spring and similar movements as victories for democracy, the deeper reality suggests a far more calculated and sinister agenda. The Middle East is being reshaped, not by the will of its people alone, but by powerful forces seeking to maintain global hegemony. The so-called “freedom fever” may be less about liberation and more about control. The question remains: How much longer will people buy into the illusion?

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

A new best yesterday: 22 hours! Today's shaping up to be another solid fast, too, as I'm already at 19 hours (18 dry). My body's really getting accustomed to the new eating pattern, too. ## Score Card Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry) Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry) Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry) Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry) Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry) Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry) Day 8: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 9: 17 hours (17 dry) Day 10: 15 hours (13 dry) Day 11: 20 hours (19 dry) Day 12: 20 hours (17 dry) Day 13: 16 hours (13 dry) Day 14: 17 hours (15 dry) Day 15: 19 hours (16 dry) Day 16: 22 hours (19 dry) Day 17: TBD (18 dry) originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888397

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

Everyone knows that relays are central to how nostr works - they're even in the name: Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by *Relays*. As time goes on though, there are three other letters which are becoming conspicuously absent from our beloved and ambiguously pronounceable acronym - "D", "V", and "M". For the uninitiated, DVM stands for "data vending machines". They're actually sort of hard to describe — in technical terms they act more like clients, since they simply read events from and publish events to relays. In most cases though, these events are part of a request/response flow initiated by users elsewhere on the network. In practice, DVMs are bots, but there's also nothing to prevent the work they do from being powered by human interaction. They're an amazingly flexible tool for building anything from custom feeds, to transcription services, to chatbots, to protocol gateways. The hype cycle for DVMs seems to have reached escape velocity in a way few other things have - zaps being the possible exception. But *what* exactly DVMs are remains something of a mystery to many nostr developers - and how to build one may as well be written on clay tablets. This blog post is designed to address that - below is a soup to nuts (no nutzaps though) guide to building a DVM flow, both from the client and the server side. Here's what we'll be covering: - Discovering DVM metadata - Basic request/response flow - Implementing a minimal example Let's get started! # DVM Metadata First of all, it's helpful to know how DVMs are reified on the nostr network. While not strictly necessary, this can be useful for discovering DVMs and presenting them to users, and for targeting specific DVMs we want a response from. [NIP 89](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/89.md) goes into this in more detail, but the basic idea is that anyone can create a `kind 31990` "application handler" event and publish it to the network with their own (or a dedicated) public key. This handler was originally intended to advertise clients, but has been re-purposed for DVM listings as well. Here's what the "Fluffy Frens" handler looks like: ```json { "content": "{\"name\": \"Fluffy Frens\", \"picture\": \"https://image.nostr.build/f609311532c470f663e129510a76c9a1912ae9bc4aaaf058e5ba21cfb512c88e.jpg\", \"about\": \"I show recent notes about animals\", \"lud16\": \"discovery_content_fluffy@nostrdvm.com\", \"supportsEncryption\": true, \"acceptsNutZaps\": false, \"personalized\": false, \"amount\": \"free\", \"nip90Params\": {\"max_results\": {\"required\": false, \"values\": [], \"description\": \"The number of maximum results to return (default currently 100)\"}}}", "created_at": 1738874694, "id": "0aa8d1f19cfe17e00ce55ca86fea487c83be39a1813601f56f869abdfa776b3c", "kind": 31990, "pubkey": "7b7373dd58554ff4c0d28b401b9eae114bd92e30d872ae843b9a217375d66f9d", "sig": "22403a7996147da607cf215994ab3b893176e5302a44a245e9c0d91214e4c56fae40d2239dce58ea724114591e8f95caed2ba1a231d09a6cd06c9f0980e1abd5", "tags": [ ["k", "5300"], ["d", "198650843898570c"] ] } ``` This event is rendered in various clients using the kind-0-style metadata contained in the `content` field, allowing users to browse DVMs and pick one for their use case. If a user likes using a particular DVM, they might publish a `kind 31989` "application recommendation", which other users can use to find DVMs that are in use within their network. Note the `k` tag in the handler event - this allows DVMs to advertise support only for specific job types. It's also important to note that even though the spec doesn't cover relay selection, most clients use the publisher's `kind 10002` event to find out where the DVM listens for events. If this looks messy to you, you're right. See [this PR](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1728) for a proposal to split DVMs out into their own handler kind, give them a dedicated pubkey along with dedicated metadata and relay selections, and clean up the data model a bit. # DVM Flow Now that we know what a DVM looks like, we can start to address how they work. My explanation below will elide some of the detail involved in [NIP 90](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/90.md) for simplicity, so I encourage you to read the complete spec. The basic DVM flow can be a little (very) confusing to work with, because in essence it's a request/response paradigm, but it has some additional wrinkles. First of all, the broker for the request isn't abstracted away as is usually the case with request/response flows. Regular HTTP requests involve all kinds of work in the background - from resolving domain names to traversing routers, VPNs, and ISP infrastructure. But developers don't generally have to care about all these intermediaries. With DVMs, on the other hand, the essential complexity of relay selection can't simply be ignored. DVMs often advertise their own relay selections, which should be used rather than a hard-coded or randomly chosen relay to ensure messages are delivered. The benefit of this is that DVMs can avoid censorship, just as users can, by choosing relays that are willing to broker their activity. DVMs can even select multiple relays to broker requests, which means that clients might receive multiple copies of the same response. Secondly, the DVM request/response model is far more fluid than is usually the case with request/response flows. There are a set of standard practices, but the flow is flexible enough to admit exceptions to these conventions for special use cases. Here are some examples: - Normally, clients p-tag the DVM they wish to address. But if a client isn't picky about where a response comes from, they may choose to send an open request to the network and collect responses from multiple DVMs simultaneously. - Normally, a client creates a request before collecting responses using a subscription with an e-tag filter matching the request event. But clients may choose to skip the request step entirely and collect responses from the network that have already been created. This can be useful for computationally intensive tasks or common queries, where a single result can be re-used multiple times. - Sometimes, a DVM may respond with a `kind 7000` job status event to let clients know they're working on the request. This is particularly useful for longer-running tasks, where feedback is useful for building a responsive UX. - There are also some details in the spec regarding monetization, parameterization, error codes, encryption, etc. # Example DVM implementation For the purposes of this blog post, I'll keep things simple by illustrating the most common kind of DVM flow: a `kind 5300` [content discovery](https://www.data-vending-machines.org/kinds/5300/) request, addressed to a particular DVM. If you're interested in other use cases, please visit [data-vending-machines.org](https://data-vending-machines.org) for additional documented kinds. The basic flow looks like this: - The DVM starts by listening for `kind 5300` job requests on some relays it has selected and advertised via NIP 89 (more on that later) - A client creates a request event of `kind 5300`, p-tagged with the DVM's pubkey and sends it to the DVM's relay selections. - The DVM receives the event and processes it, issuing optional `kind 7000` job status events, and eventually issuing a `kind 6300` job result event (job result event kinds are always 1000 greater than the request's kind). - The client listens to the same relays for a response, and when it comes through does whatever it wants to with it. Here's a swimlane diagram of that flow:  To avoid massive code samples, I'm going to implement our DVM entirely using nak (backed by the power of the human mind). The first step is to start our DVM listening for requests that it wants to respond to. Nak's default pubkey is `79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798`, so we'll only listen for requests sent to nak. ```bash nak req -k 5300 -t p=79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798 ``` This gives us the following filter: ```json ["REQ","nak",{"kinds":[5300],"#p":["79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798"]}] ``` To open a subscription to `nos.lol` and stream job requests, add `--stream wss://nos.lol` to the previous request and leave it running. Next, open a new terminal window for our "client" and create a job request. In this case, there's nothing we need to provide as `input`, but we'll include it just for illustration. It's also good practice to include an `expiration` tag so we're not asking relays to keep our ephemeral requests forever. ```bash nak event -k 5300 -t p=79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798 -t expiration=$(( $(date +%s) + 30 )) -t input=hello ``` Here's what comes out: ```json { "kind": 5300, "id": "0e419d0b3c5d29f86d2132a38ca29cdfb81a246e1a649cb2fe1b9ed6144ebe30", "pubkey": "79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798", "created_at": 1739407684, "tags": [ ["p", "79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798"], ["expiration", "1739407683"], ["input", "hello"] ], "content": "", "sig": "560807548a75779a7a68c0ea73c6f097583e2807f4bb286c39931e99a4e377c0a64af664fa90f43e01ddd1de2e9405acd4e268f1bf3bc66f0ed5a866ea093966" } ``` Now go ahead and publish this event by adding `nos.lol` to the end of your `nak` command. If all goes well, you should see your event pop up in your "dvm" subscription. If so, great! That's half of the flow. Next, we'll want our client to start listening for `kind 6300` responses to the request. In your "client" terminal window, run: ```bash nak req -k 6300 -t e=<your-eventid-here> --stream nos.lol ``` Note that if you only want to accept responses from the specified DVM (a good policy in general to avoid spam) you would include a `p` tag here. I've omitted it for brevity. Also notice the `k` tag specifies the request kind plus `1000` - this is just a convention for what kinds requests and responses use. Now, according to [data-vending-machines.org](https://www.data-vending-machines.org/kinds/5300/), `kind 5300` responses are supposed to put a JSON-encoded list of e-tags in the `content` field of the response. Weird, but ok. Stop the subscription in your "dvm" terminal and respond to your "client" with a recommendation to read my first note: ```bash nak event -k 6300 -t e=a65665a3a4ca2c0d7b7582f4f0d073cd1c83741c25a07e98d49a43e46d258caf -c '[["e","214f5898a7b75b7f95d9e990b706758ea525fe86db54c1a28a0f418c357f9b08","wss://nos.lol/"]]' nos.lol ``` Here's the response event we're sending: ```json { "kind": 6300, "id": "bb5f38920cbca15d3c79021f7d0051e82337254a84c56e0f4182578e4025232e", "pubkey": "79be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798", "created_at": 1739408411, "tags": [ ["e", "a65665a3a4ca2c0d7b7582f4f0d073cd1c83741c25a07e98d49a43e46d258caf"] ], "content": "[[\"e\",\"214f5898a7b75b7f95d9e990b706758ea525fe86db54c1a28a0f418c357f9b08\",\"wss://nos.lol/\"]]", "sig": "a0fe2c3419c5c54cf2a6d9a2a5726b2a5b766d3c9e55d55568140979354003aacb038e90bdead43becf5956faa54e3b60ff18c0ea4d8e7dfdf0c8dd97fb24ff9" } ``` Notice the `e` tag targets our original request. This should result in the job result event showing up in our "client" terminal. Success! If something isn't working, I've also create a video of the full process with some commentary which you can find [here](https://coracle-media.us-southeast-1.linodeobjects.com/nakflow.mov). Note that in practice, DVMs can be much more picky about the requests they will respond to, due to implementations failing to follow [Postel's law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robustness_principle). Hopefully that will improve over time. For now, here are a few resources that are useful when working with or developing DVMs: - [dvmdash](https://dvmdash.live) - [data-vending-machines.org](https://data-vending-machines.org) - [noogle](https://noogle.lol/) - [nostrdvm](https://github.com/believethehype/nostrdvm) # Conclusion I started this post by hinting that DVMs might be as fundamental as relays are to making nostr work. But (apart from the fact that we'd end up with an acronym like DVMNOSTRZ+*, which would only exascerbate the pronounciation wars (if such a thing were possible)), that's not exactly true. DVMs have emerged as a central paradigm in the nostr world because they're a generalization of a design pattern unique to nostr's architecture - but which exists in many other places, including NIP 46 signer flows and NIP 47 wallet connect. Each of these sub-protocols works by using relays as neutral brokers for requests in order to avoid coupling services to web addresses. This approach has all kinds of neat benefits, not least of which is allowing service providers to host their software without having to accept incoming TCP connections. But it's really an emergent property of relays, which not only are useful for brokering communication between users (aka storing events), but also brokering communication between machines. The possibilities of this architecture have only started to emerge, so be on the lookout for new applications, and don't be afraid to experiment - just please, don't serialize json inside json 🤦‍♂️

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

 Hey ~Design fam! We’re hosting an exclusive session on ephemeral architecture & immersive photography—and you’re invited! 🎟️ What happens when spaces tell stories? join us for an inspiring session that explores the magic of ephemeral architecture and immersive photography. let paramdeep singh dayani, architect & photographer, guide you through the art of designing impermanent yet unforgettable moments. **What you'll explore:** ✨ designing for impermanence: how to craft spaces that make a statement. 📸 photography as storytelling: capturing the fleeting essence of design. 🤝 the human connection: using visuals to evoke emotion. **Why you should attend:** 1️⃣ get inspired to create meaning in impermanence. 2️⃣ learn how visuals can transform spaces into stories. 3️⃣ connect with a community of creative minds and innovative thinkers. **📅 When** Feb 27, 2025 - 9-10 PM **📍 Where?** Right here on Discord—because webinars should be interactive, engaging, and community-driven. 🔗 Save your spot now! - https://tally.so/r/w86MkP See you there! 🚀  originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888333

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

 > We’re at this weird inflection point in software development. Every junior dev I talk to has Copilot or Claude or GPT running 24/7. They’re shipping code faster than ever. But when I dig deeper into their understanding of what they’re shipping? That’s where things get concerning. https://nmn.gl/blog/ai-and-learning originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888327

@ 89ccea93:df4e00b7

### Privacy and Security **Email isn't private.** Gmail/Outlook exist to monetize communication, not protect it. Sure Proton Mail uses PGP between users and Tuta uses quantum encryption for contacts, calendar, and archived emails and allows users to password-protect emails. But both fail when emailing non-users. Messages get decrypted and stored indefinitely. Ready to be served up to whatever alphabet agency requests it. Or simply queried by any staffer within Google or Microsoft who has a bone to pick with an ex-girlfriend. **Reusing an email address is insecure.** Attackers gather data from the dark web. Building information from data brokers and then building profiles on potential victims. Just by combining from a few data breaches, a hacker can get a full picture of your life. Your email address, phone number, past passwords, address, passport or ID etc. ### The solution: **Stop reusing one to two to three email addresses for ALL of your accounts.** A hodgepodge of free services could be used if you prefer a cheaper approach. So this would look like using disposable emails by [Guerrilla mail](https://www.guerrillamail.com/) or obvious aliases created by using free accounts with [Simple Login](https://simplelogin.io/) or [addy.io](https://addy.io) work most of the time, but are inappropriate for some purposes. E.g., if you want to have access to an email for a long time, a throw-a-way Guerrilla mail wouldn't work. Or maybe you don't want to give someone you know or a business you interact with an obvious (and often not very aesthetically pleasing addy.io or Simple Login alias. But I'll explain what to do if you want what I consider the top tier approach. ### Enter the custom Domain This requires you to spend some money to acquire the domain, but that can later be used if you ever want to launch a website (e.g., mine is "[expatriotic.me](https://expatriotic.me)" which I've started using for my blog. I prefer this as a solution because it works for every case. It works for the **throw-a-way** cases, the **mid-term** cases and even the **long-term** cases where you plan to retain this relationship and keep the email address active for a long time. With this method **every account gets its own email address**. A custom domain (e.g., you@yourdomain.io) allows you to create yourbank@..., yoursocialmedia@..., to infinity and beyond. And whereas with the hodgepodge approach you need to spin up the alias when needed, using a custom domain allows you to use a "catch-all" function where you can have someone email you or sign up for an account WITHOUT needing to spin up an alias. ANYTHING before the domain is a valid and viable email address. This is represented with an asterisks. So that would mean that *@yourdomain.io are all valid. You can then use the aliasing service to deactivate or delete compromised or frequently spammed addresses instantly. In fact at the top of EVERY received email there is a line at the top that says, "such-and-such alias received this email, would you like to deactivate it"? So no more fighting to unsubscribe from certain places. One side benefit of the method below is that you can avoid the normal spam box hell that occurs when emails accumulate from entities that do not include an "unsubscribe" url at the bottom of the email. Banks seem to have this problem the most. My doxxed email address still gets emails from old bank accounts that are impossible to unsubscribe from. _So let's get into how to do this_ 👇🏻 ## How-to ### 1. Myprivatenym.io: acquire domain **Go to myprivatenym.io and get a domain.** - <https://mynymbox.io/domainregister> - <https://client.mynymbox.io/cart.php?a=add&domain=register> - Pay with a private method ### 2. Go to proxysto.re - <https://digitalgoods.proxysto.re/en> - Buy addy.io Lite voucher code: 1 year = 12,00 € ### 3. Tuta: acquire an email address * **Go to Tuta and sign up for a free email.** ### 4. addy.io _Information can be found [here](https://addy.io/help/adding-a-custom-domain/), but is summarized below_ 1. Sign up for [addy.io](https://addy.io) using your **Tuta** email 2. Redeem your **gift card** and upgrade to **Lite**. 3. Go to "Domains" > "Add New Domain" 4. Paste your **Myprivatenym.io** domain (e.g., janesmith@privatedomain.io) 5. Go to the **"DNS Management"** in **Mynymbox**. 6. Back in **addy.io**, click **"Verify Domain"** - takes 2-15 minutes. It will look like this in **addy.io** ⤵️\  7. Then add these **four records** from **addy.io** into the **Mynymbox** DNS manager:  - **You can check the records for your domain using [mxtoolbox.com](https://mxtoolbox.com)** - **NOTE: DO NOT MARK EMAILS AS SPAM, BUT RATHER DELETE OR DEACTIVATE THE ALIAS!** >**Can I mark emails forwarded to me by addy.io as spam?** > >No, you must not mark messages forwarded to you by addy.io as spam as this can damage the reputation of the mail servers and is against the terms and conditions. >If an alias is receiving spam messages then please deactivate it or delete it. >addy.io is signed up to multiple feedback loops (FBLs) that trigger a notification when any messages are marked as spam. Repeatedly marking messages as spam will result in your account being disabled. ### Here is what my addy.io dashboard looks like after a few years of use. My spam box is EMPTY.  originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888316

@ e88a691e:27850411

test post longform 4

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers! It's Monday so we're back doing "Meta Music Mondays" 😉. From before the territory existed there was just one post a week in a ~meta take over. Now each month we have a different theme and bring music from that theme. Welcome to Femmes Fatales 3!!! I absolutely loved doing this last year so I'm bringing it back for round 3! It's Femmes Fatales, where we celebrate women in ~Music. So let's have those ladies of the lung, the sirens of sound, our Femmes Fatales! Man! I Feel like a Woman! Shania Twain! https://youtu.be/ZJL4UGSbeFg?si=ClexJCLdrpDg1RRG Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888248

@ 16d11430:61640947

The Perfect Psychological Operation to Divide, Conquer, and Enslave Why Do Men Feel Useless and Women Feel Overburdened? Look around. Something is deeply, insidiously wrong. Men are lost, stripped of purpose, and drowning in quiet despair. Women are exhausted, forced into unnatural roles, carrying both professional and domestic burdens while being told they should be grateful for the privilege. Marriages crumble, families disintegrate, and the birth rate nosedives while corporate profits soar. Coincidence? Not a chance. This is not a byproduct of "progress" or "equality." This is a precision-engineered psychological and economic war waged against the family unit by the fiat system and its corporate enforcers. It is not feminism, nor is it the patriarchy. It is something far worse: a deliberate social and financial coup to destroy natural gender balance, increase worker dependency, and create the perfect, exhausted, obedient slaves. Let’s tear this apart, piece by piece. --- Step 1: Economic Sabotage – The Emasculation of Men Men have been systematically stripped of their role as providers, not by cultural shifts, but by the fiat scam that inflates away their labor and makes single-income households impossible. In 1970, a man could buy a home, support a family, and retire with dignity on a working-class salary. Today? Even high earners struggle to buy homes while rent and debt devour their paychecks. The psychological effect? Uselessness. The traditional role of men—to provide, protect, and build—has been economically crippled. The moment a man cannot provide, his biological drive collapses. His confidence, purpose, and even testosterone levels plummet. He turns to distractions—video games, porn, drugs, or meaningless jobs. Or he checks out entirely, labeled “lazy” while the system that neutered him laughs from above. And yet, men are still told to "man up" and "work harder"—as if fighting against a rigged economy is a test of character. --- Step 2: Psychological Warfare – The Masculinization of Women Women, meanwhile, have been sold a lie—that the only path to fulfillment is chasing careers inside corporate cubicles. While they are told this is "empowerment," what it really does is double the workforce, lower wages, and increase tax revenue. Women now face double the burden—working a full-time job while still handling the majority of child-rearing and housework. Instead of being honored for creating life and raising future generations, they are ridiculed for “wasting their potential” if they don’t dedicate themselves to their corporate masters. And what is the psychological effect? Resentment. Resentment towards men, who are no longer the strong providers they once were. Resentment towards motherhood, which has been devalued and monetized. Resentment towards themselves, because they were promised fulfillment through corporate work but ended up burned out, anxious, and miserable. Women have been told they are “strong and independent” while simultaneously being enslaved to a system that profits off their exhaustion. --- Step 3: Divide and Conquer – Corporate Culture as the New Family With men neutered and women overburdened, the nuclear family collapses. But humans still need a sense of belonging. Enter: The Corporation. Your workplace becomes your "real family." HR tells you to “bring your whole self to work.” Team-building exercises and corporate retreats replace family gatherings. Work colleagues become your primary emotional support system. There’s even the concept of the “work spouse,” an insidious corporate fabrication that normalizes deeper emotional ties with colleagues than with real partners. Your career becomes your purpose. Not your bloodline, not your family history, not your legacy—your productivity for someone else’s bottom line. And before you know it, you’re 50 years old, childless, exhausted, and utterly dependent on a salary to survive. The corporate world used your best years to enrich its shareholders, and now you have nothing. --- Step 4: The Endgame – The State Raises Your Kids With the family unit in ruins, who raises the next generation? The State. Public schools become indoctrination camps, teaching kids to obey, conform, and view the government as their protector. Children are raised by institutions, not by parents—because both parents are working just to survive. The cycle repeats: fatherless boys become weak men, overburdened girls become resentful women, and the system gains a fresh crop of obedient, exhausted workers. The ultimate fiat scam is not just financial. It is biological. It is a full-scale, generational coup against the natural order of humanity. --- How Do We Break Free? The only way to escape this biological and financial slavery is to opt out of the fiat system entirely. 1. Bitcoin & Self-Sovereignty – Remove your wealth from the fiat system. Own hard assets, build businesses, become untouchable. 2. Build Real Families – The corporate world is not your family. Your bloodline is. Reject the state’s control over your children. 3. Reject Debt & Wage Slavery – The system is designed to keep you financially trapped. Find ways to exit the rat race early. 4. Reclaim Natural Gender Roles – Not through coercion, but through honest, sovereign partnerships that reject fiat-fueled dysfunction. They divided us so they could rule us. Break the cycle.

@ 849a5a61:b57d2870

 > Hey everyone! For the past few months we’ve been building an open-source, affordable and privacy-friendly affiliate and referral program creator for Bitcoin businesses and Nostr publishers called BitFlio. We built [BitFlio](https://bitflio.com/) because, as bitcoiners and nostriches, we couldn’t find an affiliate marketing tool for our products that would accept bitcoin as payment method, keep us anonymnous, and most important allow us to pay and be paid based on the value we provide. Since we didn’t know if affiliate marketing would work for us as a sales channel, we really wanted to find a tool where, instead of a fixed monthly fee, we could instead pay a % in sats per successful referral to test the waters. Referral marketing is such a powerful marketing channel as it enable the Value For Value (V4V) model to expand and grow the Bitcoin Circular Economy. For example, **referral leads for businesses have a 70% higher conversion rate than leads from any other sales channel**, and **when referred by other customers, that customer typically has a 37% higher retention rate**. The setup process for BitFlio is nice and easy. You simply signup with nostr or email, connect your Bitcoin wallet, create your first campaign, add the tracking script to your website and then fire the `BitFlio.convert('yourcustomer@email.com')` function from your thank you page, so we can validate the leads Publishers will bring to you. Once you’ve done those steps, you can either invite publishers manually, or send them your unique BitFlio invite signup page URL. For Publishers is even easier. If you are a content creator looking to monetize bitcoinize your contents, join our network and select from bitcoin brands those you feel comfortable sharing. Lastly, get paid in sats depending on how many sales you can drive to each vendor. It’s quite hard to list in sentences some of the cool features that make up BitFlio, so here’s a list: * Pricing from $0/month * Automatic NWC sync * Works for both subscriptions and one-time charges * Embed script is lightweight and only ~13kb * Privacy-friendly & Anonymous * No GDPR needed, as we operate in the Private. * Manage multiple affiliate programs for different products from one single dashboard * Open-source software Since we’re in public beta, getting feedback right now is our top priority. We’d appreciate it so much if you sign up for our Beta whitelist via [beta.BitFlio.com](https://beta.BitFlio.com) and let us know how you get on / your initial thoughts 😄 Landing: https://BitFlio.com `sᴏᴏɴ!` Beta whitelist: https://beta.BitFlio.com Follow us on Nostr: https://njump.me/npub1sjd95c0kcxn69x3u8azunrm2kdj97lc6cu79csz7rz74hdta9pcqpxgrdx Support the open source project on @geyserfund https://geyser.fund/project/bitflio/ - - - Mirror posts: - https://bitflio.com/blob/affordable-referral-marketing-software-for-nostr-publishers-and-bitcoin-vendors/ - https://geyser.fund/project/bitflio/posts/view/4138 - naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzppy6tfsldsd852drc069ex8k4vmytal343eut3q9ux9atw6h62rsqqxnzden8ymnwdf5xgurzdphm3ncla originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/888167

@ 849a5a61:b57d2870

We built [BitFlio](https://bitflio.com/) because, as bitcoiners and nostriches, we couldn’t find an affiliate marketing tool for our products that would accept bitcoin as payment method, keep us anonymnous, and most important allow us to pay and be paid based on the value we provide. Since we didn’t know if affiliate marketing would work for us as a sales channel, we really wanted to find a tool where, instead of a fixed monthly fee, we could instead pay a % in sats per successful referral to test the waters. Referral marketing is such a powerful marketing channel as it enable the Value For Value (V4V) model to expand and grow the Bitcoin Circular Economy. For example, **referral leads for businesses have a 70% higher conversion rate than leads from any other sales channel**, and **when referred by other customers, that customer typically has a 37% higher retention rate**. The setup process for BitFlio is nice and easy. You simply signup with nostr or email, connect your Bitcoin wallet, create your first campaign, add the tracking script to your website and then fire the `BitFlio.convert('yourcustomer@email.com')` function from your thank you page, so we can validate the leads Publishers will bring to you. Once you’ve done those steps, you can either invite publishers manually, or send them your unique BitFlio invite signup page URL. For Publishers is even easier. If you are a content creator looking to monetize bitcoinize your contents, join our network and select from bitcoin brands those you feel comfortable sharing. Lastly, get paid in sats depending on how many sales you can drive to each vendor. It’s quite hard to list in sentences some of the cool features that make up BitFlio, so here’s a list: * Pricing from $0/month * Automatic NWC sync * Works for both subscriptions and one-time charges * Embed script is lightweight and only ~13kb * Privacy-friendly & Anonymous * No GDPR needed, as we operate in the Private. * Manage multiple affiliate programs for different products from one single dashboard * Open-source software Since we’re in public beta, getting feedback right now is our top priority. We’d appreciate it so much if you sign up for our Beta whitelist via [beta.BitFlio.com](//beta.BitFlio.com) and let us know how you get on / your initial thoughts 😄

@ 2063cd79:57bd1320

Für diejenigen, die mich nicht kennen: Ich bin Hal Finney. Ich machte meine ersten Schritte mit Kryptographie, in dem ich an einer frühen Version von PGP arbeitete, in enger Zusammenarbeit mit Phil Zimmermann. Als Phil beschloss, die PGP Corporation zu gründen, war ich einer der ersten, die er einstellte. Ich habe bis zu meiner Pensionierung an PGP gearbeitet. Zeitgleich fing ich an, mich bei den Cypherpunks zu engagieren. Neben anderen Aktivitäten betrieb ich den ersten kryptographisch basierten anonymen Remailer. Springen wir ans Ende des Jahres 2008 und der Ankündigung von Bitcoin. Ich habe bemerkt, dass Krypto-Graubärte (ich war Mitte 50) dazu neigen, zynisch zu werden. Ich war eher idealistisch; ich habe Kryptographie immer geliebt, das Mysterium und das Paradoxe daran. Als Satoshi Bitcoin in der Kryptographie-Mailingliste ankündigte, wurde er bestenfalls skeptisch aufgenommen. Kryptographen haben schon zu viele großartige Pläne von ahnungslosen Anfängern gesehen. Sie neigen zu überhasteten Reaktionen. Ich war positiver eingestellt. Ich hatte mich schon lange für kryptografische Zahlungssysteme interessiert. Außerdem hatte ich das Glück, sowohl Wei Dai als auch Nick Szabo kennenzulernen und ausgiebig mit ihnen zu korrespondieren, von denen allgemein bekannt ist, dass sie Ideen entwickelt haben, die mit Hilfe von Bitcoin verwirklicht werden sollten. Ich hatte einen Versuch unternommen, meine eigene, auf Proof-of-Work basierende Währung namens RPOW zu schaffen. Daher fand ich Bitcoin faszinierend. Als Satoshi die erste Version der Software ankündigte, schnappte ich sie mir sofort. Ich glaube, ich war die erste Person neben Satoshi, die Bitcoin laufen ließ. Ich habe Block 70 oder so gemined und ich war der Empfänger der ersten Bitcoin-Transaktion, als Satoshi mir zehn Coins als Test schickte. In den nächsten Tagen führte ich eine E-Mail-Konversation mit Satoshi, in der ich hauptsächlich Fehler meldete, die er dann beseitigte. Heute ist die wahre Identität von Satoshi ein Rätsel. Aber damals dachte ich, ich hätte es mit einem jungen Mann japanischer Abstammung zu tun, der sehr intelligent und aufrichtig war. Ich hatte das Glück, im Laufe meines Lebens viele brillante Menschen kennenzulernen, daher erkenne ich die Zeichen. Nach ein paar Tagen lief Bitcoin ziemlich stabil, also ließ ich es laufen. Das waren die Tage, als die Difficulty 1 war und man Blöcke mit dem CPU finden konnte, nicht einmal mit einem GPU. In den nächsten Tagen habe ich mehrere Blöcke gemined. Aber ich schaltete es ab, weil mein Computer zu heiß wurde und mich das Lüftergeräusch störte. Im Nachhinein wünschte ich, ich hätte länger durchgehalten, aber andererseits hatte ich außerordentliches Glück, dass ich am Anfang dabei war. Das ist so eine halb volles, halb leeres Glas Sache Das nächste Mal, dass ich von Bitcoin hörte, war Ende 2010, als ich überrascht feststellte, dass es nicht nur immer noch existierte, sondern bitcoins tatsächlich einen Geldwert hatten. Ich entstaubte meine alte Wallet und war erleichtert, als ich feststellte, dass meine bitcoins noch darin waren. Als der Preis auf eine echte Summe kletterte, transferierte ich die Coins in eine Offline-Wallet, wo sie hoffentlich für meine Erben etwas wert sein werden. Apropos Erben: 2009 erlebte ich eine Überraschung, als bei mir plötzlich eine tödliche Krankheit diagnostiziert wurde. Zu Beginn des Jahres war ich in der besten Verfassung meines Lebens, ich hatte viel Gewicht verloren und mit dem Langstreckenlauf begonnen. Ich war mehrere Halbmarathons gelaufen und hatte begonnen, für einen vollen Marathon zu trainieren. Ich hatte mich zu Läufen über 20 Meilen hochgearbeitet und dachte, ich hätte alles im Griff. Doch dann ging alles schief. Mein Körper begann zu versagen. Ich sprach undeutlich, verlor die Kraft in meinen Händen und meine Beine erholten sich nur langsam. Im August 2009 erhielt ich die Diagnose ALS, auch Lou-Gehrig-Krankheit genannt, nach dem berühmten Baseballspieler, der daran erkrankt war. ALS ist eine Krankheit, die Motoneuronen abtötet, die Signale vom Gehirn an die Muskeln weiterleiten. Sie verursacht zunächst Schwäche und dann allmählich zunehmende Lähmungen. Die Krankheit verläuft in der Regel innerhalb von 2 bis 5 Jahren tödlich. Meine Symptome waren zunächst gering und ich konnte weiterarbeiten, aber Müdigkeit und Stimmprobleme zwangen mich Anfang 2011, in den Ruhestand zu gehen. Seitdem ist die Krankheit unaufhaltsam fortgeschritten. Heute bin ich im Wesentlichen gelähmt. Ich werde durch einen Schlauch ernährt, und meine Atmung wird durch einen weiteren Schlauch unterstützt. Ich bediene den Computer mit einem kommerziellen Eyetracker-System. Es ist auch mit einem Sprachsynthesizer ausgestattet, so dass dies jetzt meine Stimme ist. Ich verbringe den ganzen Tag in meinem Elektrorollstuhl. Ich habe eine Schnittstelle mit einem Arduino entwickelt, so dass ich die Position meines Rollstuhls mit meinen Augen einstellen kann. Es war eine Umstellung, aber mein Leben ist nicht allzu schlimm. Ich kann immer noch lesen, Musik hören, fernsehen und Filme schauen. Vor kurzem habe ich entdeckt, dass ich sogar Code schreiben kann. Es geht sehr langsam, wahrscheinlich 50 Mal langsamer als vorher. Aber ich liebe das Programmieren immer noch, und es gibt mir Ziele. Derzeit arbeite ich an etwas, das Mike Hearn vorgeschlagen hat, nämlich die Sicherheitsfunktionen moderner Prozessoren, die „Trusted Computing“ unterstützen, zu nutzen, um Bitcoin-Wallets zu härten. Es ist fast fertig zur Veröffentlichung. Ich muss nur noch die Dokumentation erstellen. Und natürlich sind die Kursschwankungen von Bitcoin für mich unterhaltsam. Ich habe einen Anteil an dem Spiel. Aber ich bin durch Glück zu meinen bitcoins gekommen, ohne dass ich etwas dafür kann. Ich habe den Crash von 2011 miterlebt. Ich habe es also schon einmal erlebt. Einfach kommen, einfach gehen. Das ist meine Geschichte. Ich habe insgesamt ziemlich viel Glück. Selbst mit der ALS ist mein Leben sehr zufriedenstellend. Aber meine Lebenserwartung ist begrenzt. Diese Diskussionen über die Vererbung von bitcoins sind mehr als nur von akademischem Interesse. Meine bitcoins befinden sich in unserem Bankschließfach, und mein Sohn und meine Tochter sind technisch versiert. Ich denke, sie sind sicher genug. Ich bin mit meinem Erbe zufrieden. 

@ d360efec:14907b5f

**ภาพรวม BTCUSDT (OKX):** Bitcoin ยังคงอยู่ในแนวโน้มขาขึ้นระยะยาว แต่ระยะสั้นมีความผันผวนและมีการปรับฐานลงมา การวิเคราะห์ครั้งนี้จะเน้นการระบุพื้นที่ที่ Smart Money (หรือ "เจ้ามือ") อาจจะเข้าซื้อหรือขาย เพื่อให้เราสามารถวางแผนการเทรดได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ **วิเคราะห์ทีละ Timeframe:** **(1) TF Day (รายวัน):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) * **SMC:** * Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) ต่อเนื่อง * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน * ยังไม่มีสัญญาณการกลับตัวเป็นขาลง * **ICT:** * ยังไม่เห็น Order Block หรือ FVG ที่ชัดเจนใน TF Day *ณ ราคาปัจจุบัน* * **EMA:** * ราคาอยู่เหนือ EMA 50 (สีเหลือง) และ EMA 200 (สีขาว) (Golden Cross) * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * สีเขียวเป็นส่วนใหญ่ แสดงถึงแรงซื้อ * **Volume Profile:** * Volume หนาแน่นที่บริเวณต่ำกว่าราคาปัจจุบัน * **แท่งเทียน:** * แท่งเทียนล่าสุดเป็นสีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย แต่ไส้เทียนยาว แสดงว่ามีแรงซื้อกลับ * **แนวรับ:** EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ Volume Profile หนาแน่น * **แนวต้าน:** High เดิม * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มหลักยังเป็นขาขึ้น Buy on Dip **(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาขึ้น (พักตัว) * **SMC:** * HH และ HL * BOS ด้านบน * ราคาหลุด EMA 50 * **ICT:** * **Fair Value Gap (FVG):** สังเกตเห็น FVG เล็กๆ ที่เกิดขึ้นก่อนหน้านี้ (บริเวณที่ราคาเคยพุ่งขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว) อาจเป็นเป้าหมายของการ Pullback * **Order Block:** ราคาปัจจุบันกำลังทดสอบ Order Block (บริเวณแท่งเทียนสีแดงแท่งใหญ่ก่อนที่จะขึ้น) *เป็นจุดที่น่าสนใจมาก* * **EMA:** * ราคาหลุด EMA 50 * EMA 200 เป็นแนวรับถัดไป * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * เขียวและแดงผสมกัน, แดงเริ่มมากขึ้น * **Volume Profile:** * Volume profile ค่อนข้างสูง * **แนวรับ:** EMA 200, Order Block, บริเวณ Volume Profile * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, High เดิม * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาขึ้นพักตัว, ทดสอบ Order Block, Money Flow เริ่มเป็นลบ **(3) TF15 (15 นาที):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend) ระยะสั้น *แต่เริ่มมีสัญญาณการฟื้นตัว* * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) *แต่เริ่มเห็น Higher Low* * BOS ด้านล่าง * *เริ่มมีสัญญาณการ Breakout EMA 50/200* * **ICT:** * ราคาเพิ่ง Breakout Order Block ขาลง (แต่ต้องรอดูว่าจะยืนได้หรือไม่) * **EMA:** * *EMA 50/200 เพิ่งจะตัดกันแบบ Golden Cross* * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * *เริ่มมีแท่งสีเขียวปรากฏขึ้น* * **Volume Profile:** * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA50/200 * **สรุป:** *เริ่มมีสัญญาณการฟื้นตัว* แต่ยังต้องระวัง **สรุปภาพรวมและกลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT):** * **แนวโน้มหลัก (Day):** ขาขึ้น * **แนวโน้มรอง (4H):** ขาขึ้น (พักตัว), ทดสอบ Order Block * **แนวโน้มระยะสั้น (15m):** *เริ่มมีสัญญาณการฟื้นตัว* * **Money Flow:** Day เป็นบวก, 4H เริ่มเป็นลบ, 15m เริ่มเป็นบวก * **กลยุทธ์:** 1. **Wait & See:** รอการยืนยันการ Breakout EMA 50/200 ใน TF15m 2. **Buy (เสี่ยง):** *เฉพาะเมื่อราคา Breakout EMA 50/200 ใน TF 15 ได้อย่างแข็งแกร่ง* 3. **Short (เสี่ยง):** ถ้า Order Block ใน TF4H รับไม่อยู่ และ TF15 ยังคงเป็นขาลง **คำแนะนำ:** * **Order Block:** ให้ความสำคัญกับ Order Block ใน TF4H * **FVG:** สังเกต FVG ใน TF4H * **ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes:** เริ่มลดลง (15m เริ่มมีสัญญาณบวก) * **จับตาดู TF15 อย่างใกล้ชิด** **Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ c3b2802b:4850599c

Wenn in den 1960er Jahren in meiner Heimatstadt Leipzig die Lobeshymne der Staatspartei der DDR (SED) mit dem Refrain „DIE PARTEI, DIE PARTEI, DIE HAT IMMER RECHT“ ertönte, schauten wir kleinen Steppkes meiner Generation uns schmunzelnd in die Augen und tippten uns an die Stirn – überzeugt vom Widersinn dieser Worte. Wir hatten schon von Galilei und Kolumbus gehört und wussten so, dass andersdenkende Menschen gelegentlich recht haben können gegenüber der Meute der gerade Herrschenden und deren Lakaien. Menschen können sich irren, auch wenn sie sich zu Gruppen oder Parteien zusammenschließen. Und selbst wenn diese Gruppen sehr groß sind, können sie irren. Von Menschenmassen, die den totalen Krieg wollten und ihn auch bekamen, hatten wir auch schon gehört. Von unseren Eltern, die in diesem Krieg aufgewachsen sind. Und bereits als Kinder wussten wir, dass viele Genossen der SED Mitläufer waren, welche sich als Lakaien der gerade herrschenden Klasse Vorteile für ihr Leben in der Mangelwirtschaft der DDR versprachen. Das wussten wir aus Gesprächen mit den Älteren in unseren Familien, für die diese Verlogenheit ein existentiell bedeutsames Alltagsthema war. Genosse der SED zu sein, bedeutete bessere Berufs- Arbeitsplatz- und Karrierechancen zu haben, sogar nach Westeuropa durften einige von denen fahren, was dem Rest der Ostdeutschen strikt verwehrt war.&#x20; Wer das Lied der Herrschenden nicht mitsang, war benachteiligt. Das war eine ostdeutsche Binsenweisheit. Wer es gar wagte, offen Kritik zu üben, musste mit Verfolgung, Ausweisung, Haft oder Peinigungen in Stasi-Gefängnissen rechnen. Das fühlte sich nicht gut an... Wie die DDR Geschichte 1989 endete, ist bekannt. Das Grundgesetz der BRD, das von nun an auch für uns galt, machte Hoffnung mit seinem Artikel 5: *„Jeder hat das Recht, seine Meinung in Wort, Schrift und Bild frei zu äußern und zu verbreiten und sich aus allgemein zugänglichen Quellen ungehindert zu unterrichten. Die Pressefreiheit und die Freiheit der Berichterstattung durch Rundfunk und Film werden gewährleistet. Eine Zensur findet nicht statt.“* Heute steuern allerdings einige deutsche Parteien einen ähnlichen Kurs wie die Staatspartei der DDR. Nicht mehr so platt wie die SED. Man sagt nicht einfach: Wir sind die, die immer recht haben. Nein, so deutlich wird man nicht. Doch was man aktuell in den Wahlprogrammen mehrerer etablierter Parteien im Bundestag nachlesen kann (s.u.), läuft auf das Gleiche hinaus. Der Taschenspielertrick zur intendierten Aushebelung der Meinungsfreiheit ist das Wort „Desinformation“, womit stillschweigend alle Meinungen zusammengefasst werden, welche nicht mit dem gängigen Regierungsnarrativ zur Erklärung der Welt zusammenpassen. Auf einer [Webseite der Bundesregierung](https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/was-ist-desinformation-1875148) wird das so illustriert: *„In der jüngeren Vergangenheit gab es gezielte* *[Desinformationskampagnen aus dem Ausland](https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/desinformation-interview-ead-2010706)* (hier wird Präsident Putin der Lüge bezüglich des Ukraine-Krieges bezichtigt, Anmerkung des Autors). *Aber auch während der Corona-Pandemie verbreiteten rechtsextreme Gruppen Verschwörungsmythen. Von diesen Desinformationen geht eine Gefahr aus. Weil sie uns als Gesellschaft spalten sollen. Sie verfolgen das Ziel, Schaden anzurichten. Existierende Konflikte und Debatten sollen verschärft, das Vertrauen in staatliche Institutionen untergraben und insgesamt Wut und Emotionen geschürt werden.“* Wenn wir das Wort „Desinformation“ einmal weglassen, bleibt als Klartext übrig: Die Bundesregierung hat eine Meinung. Zum Beispiel zum Ukrainekrieg oder zu den Corona-Geschehnissen. Und die wird als richtig gesetzt. Meinungen, die nicht damit übereinstimmen, werden als nicht richtig betrachtet und mit Worten, die gern mal unter die Gürtellinie zielen, gebrandmarkt.&#x20; (Dem aktuellen Stand der Aufarbeitung der Ereignisse seit 2020 will ich hier nicht nachgehen; wer von den geschwärzten RKI Protokollen Kenntnis hat, ist ausreichend im Bilde über diese Geschehnisse; zum Krieg in der Ukraine gibt es durchaus unterschiedliche Sichtweisen, die im Raum stehen, s. [meine Korrespondenz mit den deutschen Parlamentariern](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzdenxcenyvp5xycrgdpnqgsv8v5q90gxrc82r3nsvp8c0t2d02utfplsrn95zu3yhtkmfpg9n8qrqsqqqa28yz3r25) dazu. In zivilisierten demokratischen Nationen wird über solche Fragen öffentlich diskutiert.) Und nicht genug mit dieser Neuversion von „Die Partei, die Partei, die hat immer recht“. In den Parteiprogrammen einiger deutscher Parteien plant man aktuell einen Kampf gegen Desinformation, ja man will gar Menschen mit anderen Auffassungen strafrechtlich verfolgen. „*Der Kampf gegen Desinformation ist angesichts des schon heute immensen Ausmaßes eine herausragende gesellschaftliche Aufgabe.“* „*Die großen Medienplattformen werden wir in die Pflicht nehmen, wirksame Maßnahmen gegen die Verbreitung von Desinformation vorzunehmen. Die systematische Verbreitung von Desinformation im Auftrag eines fremden Staates wollen wir strafrechtlich fassen.“* „*Wir stellen sicher, dass bei der Umsetzung des Digital Services Act der Schwerpunkt auf mehr Transparenz, Kampf gegen Desinformation sowie Jugend- und Medienschutz gelegt wird.“* \ Hören Sie hinter der Kampf-Rhetorik Säbel rasseln? Dass man sich dabei in Konflikt mit dem § 5 des Grundgesetzes begibt, wird im Durcheinander dieser Wochen im Februar 2025 geflissentlich übersehen. Fazit: Einige politische Parteien im Land maßen sich an, nach Gutsherrenart zwischen richtiger Information und „Desinformation“ zu unterscheiden. Sie trachten danach, missliebige Meinungen zu bekämpfen - und missachten dabei unser Grundgesetz.&#x20; Wollen Sie als Souverän solchen Parteien die Macht im Land überlassen? Schauen Sie doch mal in die aktuellen Wahlprogramme der im Bundestag vertretenen Parteien zu diesem Thema und zu weiteren existentiellen Fragen unserer Zukunft (Frieden, Bargeld, Volksabstimmungen, Position zur WHO) [welche Akteure der Gemeinwohllobby zusammengestellt haben](https://gemeinwohl-lobby.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/vergleich-parteien.pdf) und die [hier](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzden8yervvp58qcr2wf5qgsv8v5q90gxrc82r3nsvp8c0t2d02utfplsrn95zu3yhtkmfpg9n8qrqsqqqa28qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqythwumn8ghj7urpwfjhgmewdehhxarjxyhxxmmdqyt8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnwdaehgu3wvfskueqpn4mze) kurz zusammengefasst sind.&#x20; *Titelbild: Wikipedia, der Künstler Dani Karavan hat in drei Meter hohe Glasscheiben eines Außenhofes des Jakob-Kaiser-Hauses am Bundestag die 19 Grundrechtsartikel des Grundgesetzes mit Laser eingraviert.* &#x20;

@ 0463223a:3b14d673

Here we go, it’s Mooooonnnndddddaaaaaaaayyyyyyy! It’s safe to say I enjoy Monday. Much as I appreciate the downtime over the weekend (if I’m not working) I appreciate the routine of Mondays. Firstly I have my stream to look forward to and whilst I’m not at my best first thing on a Monday, having a little structure goes a long way. Even the fear of looking at the emails I’ve been ignoring from the previous week is possible. So maybe I’m starting to get an angle of why I’m writing this. It’s a memoir of being a mental I think. I’ve mentioned a number of times this has been a problem most my life but I write this as I’ve halved my Venlafaxine does by ½ once again. This means I’m now on 1/12th of my original dose and I’m maybe a month away from being completely free of RRSIs for the first time in, I guess at least 10 years. To be honest I cant remember when I was first prescribed them. It’s been quite a journey... 3 things have been pivotal. 1; finding my now wife. She’s brilliant and I love her dearly, I think most people know deep down how crushing loneliness can be. I’m very grateful to her for putting up with my bullshit, supporting me and just being there. Gold star for her! 2; would be music, it’s a funny one to put in, it’s also been part of the problem, especially in my wilder days. There’s something quite seductive about the sex, drugs and Rock n Roll meme, although musically it was more Hip Hop, Reggae, Bleeps and Jazz, also I didn’t sleep around much at all but I certainly don’t think I would’ve messed with crack, heroin and all the other drugs otherwise. It’s worth noting 2 of my friends from that era, who didn’t have music in their lives are dead. I’m very lucky. There’s over 100 years of recorded music to enjoy plus I’m almost happy with some of my own bits at last! 3; I have some security, I no longer pay rent or have a landlord. This is also due to number 1 but also because I found some funny internet money. I’m still to write about my process with that, other than to say it was direct response to the banks. That’s a story in it’s own right, it’s pretty dark and hmm… not sure. Plus I don’t think there’s any need to go there right now. I have the world’s most expensive shed and I know I can survive a few months should the worst happen. That’s a LOT. Whilst a little risk taking is healthy, life shouldn’t free stress free, uncertainty about having a roof over your head when you can’t afford it can really take it’s toll. A degree of security is most welcome at this time in life. A lot of people aren’t so lucky, Tom, Ricky, Dave, Slam, Joel. I’m name checking you specifically. You’re in my thoughts often, especially as I play music every morning… and Slam, if I ever see you again, I want my records back!!! Haha, thieving little cunt but it’s still not hate here. Your life was fucked up before you even had a chance. I hope you’ve found peace with yourself. At least you’re alive! (I think, he might be dead too, who knows…) So yeah, it’s Monday and it’s gonna be a good day right? I mean it might not but I will at least give it the best start possible and work from there. It takes a degree of effort to retrain the brain. Actually maybe there’s a 4th thing to mention. No Facebacon, Instagran, X or LinkedIn. None of that bullshit where you’re forced into some fake world generated in order to increase shareholder value. These platforms are akin to being a lab rat. I picture Zuckerberg like Ming The Merciless at the start of Flash Gordon sending hot hail etc. That guy made a decision to mess with peoples’ psyche to drive profits. That’s fucking evil man. Jeez, what a cunt! It’s Monday, I’m wishing you strength in whatever you have ahead of you today. I’m lucky to be where I am right now and if you’re reading this and your world is plagued by darkness, it can get better. Remember that. Hold onto that as best you can. DON’T FUCKING KILL YOURSELF. That’s the single worst thing you can do. The pain you’ll leave behind isn’t worth it. I hope some cosmic vibrations happen in your favour. There’s no easy solution. I can’t tell you the answer but I wish you well. Good luck out there!

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

In this edition, we invited Kelvin from Bitcoin Chama to share how his community is leveraging Bitcoin to build a self-sustaining ecosystem in rural areas. **YakiHonne**: Kelvin, thanks for joining us. Before we dive in, I'd like to take a moment to introduce YakiHonne and share a bit about what we do. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on the Nostr protocol that enables freedom of speech through technology. It empowers creators to create their own voice, assets, and features. It also allows features like smart widgets, verified notes, and focuses on long-form articles. Today, we’ll be diving into your community. So, let’s start—tell us a bit about yourself and what you do？ **Kelvin**：I'm Kelvin, the founder of Bitcoin Chama, a rule-based Bitcoin community with a mission to build a self-reliant Bitcoin circular ecosystem. How do we achieve this? We empower young people and our community economically by introducing accessible, low-resource projects that require minimal time and space to implement. We then encourage them to save their earnings in Bitcoin, promoting financial independence and long-term sustainability. **YakiHonne**: Given Bitcoin’s increasing value, it’s almost like owning property, but in the form of a digital asset. That’s an incredible concept and a really great initiative!Now, let’s dive into today’s questions. What initially sparked your interest in Bitcoin, and what motivated you to build a community around it? **Kelvin**：Initially, I didn’t know much about Bitcoin. But I had a friend who worked at Boda Boda. He was trying to save up his earnings to buy iron sheets and build a better house for his family. Since he didn't get enough money from Boda Boda, he saved whatever little he could in a bank, a savings group. Over the course of two years, when he finally went to withdraw his money, he realized that the price of iron sheets had increased by almost 100% Originally, he had planned to buy 30 iron sheets, but by the time he withdrew his savings, his money could no longer afford that many. For someone who works so hard to earn a living, this was a major setback. **Kelvin**：That’s when I started thinking—how can we solve this problem? At the time, I didn’t know much about Bitcoin or how money really works. But seeing my friend struggle, I realized that the real issue wasn’t just rising prices, but the financial system itself. **Kelvin**：Then, later that year, I was introduced to Bitcoin, and it suddenly clicked! If my friend had saved in Bitcoin instead of fiat, his purchasing power wouldn’t have been eroded. In fact, he might have even been able to afford nails, labor costs, or additional materials. That realization led me to create Bitcoin Chama—a community to help people save in Bitcoin and protect their hard earned money. **YakiHonne**: It sounds like you were inspired by how Bitcoin’s value appreciates over time, much like an investment in land that continues to grow in value. That’s a truly powerful concept behind Bitcoin.Now, could you share how your community first got started and what strategies you used to attract members in the beginning? **Kelvin**：Building a community from scratch—especially a Bitcoin community—isn’t easy, particularly in a rural area of Kenya where many people lack internet access and don’t even use smartphones. At first, my focus was purely on Bitcoin education. I would go out, meet people, and teach them about Bitcoin. But I soon realized that while knowledge is valuable, most people didn’t have the means to earn and save in Bitcoin. **Kelvin**：That’s when I came up with a different approach. Instead of just educating people, I decided to create small projects that could generate income, sponsor these projects, and help them grow. Over time, as people started earning from these projects, they could begin saving their income in Bitcoin. **Kelvin**：We’ve now been running Bitcoin Chama for almost a year—since May last year. The impact isn’t massive yet, but for a community just getting started, it’s been a significant step forward. Every small step matters, and while growth takes time, I believe these small beginnings will eventually lead to something big in the future.  **YakiHonne**: It's a wonderful start，So far, what challenges have you faced while building and growing the Bitcoin Chama community? **Kelvin**：I don't have many challenges—just two main ones.The first challenge is poverty. Whenever you introduce someone to Bitcoin, you often have to explain its history. Imagine telling someone that in 2010, Bitcoin was worth about $1, and by 2013, its value had increased significantly. Fast forward to 2025, 15 years later, and Bitcoin is now worth around 13 million Kenyan shillings (about $100,000). When people hear this, they see it as a great opportunity to escape poverty. The problem is, they often perceive Bitcoin as free money, rather than understanding it as a long-term investment or financial tool. The second challenge is scamming. Many people think Bitcoin might be a scam. This is a common issue in many communities. **YakiHonne**: Yes, especially the second challenge—people thinking Bitcoin is a scam. This is very common in many emerging communities. A lot of people feel that since they can't see Bitcoin physically, it’s not real, which leads them to doubt its authenticity.Finding a way to convince people of Bitcoin’s legitimacy is crucial. So, what principles guide your community? And how do you maintain trust and reliability in your discussions? **Kelvin**：So, in our community, I’ve discovered something—I’ve found saccos. Right now, I have two saccos(Chama) , and I intend to grow them over time. Within these two circles, we use the Machangura app. The app has an option for creating a clan, so we organize people into two saccos, forming two clans. We then add all members from each sacco into their respective clan. This setup ensures a trustless system. For example, if someone wants to withdraw money from their shared account or sell Bitcoin, the system notifies all members. This way, everyone stays informed, and people don’t have to feel insecure about the funds they have saved. **YakiHonne**: So at least that’s how you maintain integrity, transparency, and trust within the community. So How does your community educate its members and keep them updated on Bitcoin developments? **Kelvin**：I am the founder of Bitcoin Chama, and right now, I’m mostly focused on community activities. We usually hold meetups oftenly, but I wouldn’t say we focus entirely on Bitcoin only. Instead, our discussions are more about how to improve what we do, grow more, and build new projects. That’s the main focus for me at the moment. That said, I am planning to start physical Bitcoin lessons. Since Bitcoin Chama is located in my community, I know that a lot of people visit the area—many come here to shop and buy things. So, I plan to post a notice at the location, inviting new members who are interested in learning about Bitcoin. We’ll create a timetable so that people can come at specific times to attend lessons. Additionally, we’ll leverage our existing clients and brainstorm ways to make this work for a wider audience. **YakiHonne**: It's still part of the education process，maybe not fully in-depth, but it’s still valuable. So, that’s actually a good thing. You guys are doing something very meaningful, which is great.The meetups also serve as a way to educate people about Bitcoin, making them an important part of the process. It’s definitely a solid approach. **YakiHonne**: So, Kelvin, how does your community collaborate with the broader Bitcoin ecosystem? And what partnerships have you formed so far that have had the biggest impact on BitcoinTerminal? **Kelvin**：We haven’t had any major collaborations yet. So far, we’ve been riding solo. We’ve had some support from friends and well-wishers, but we haven’t partnered with any major organizations yet. **YakiHonne**: That’s okay! You guys will get there very soon, I’m sure of it. So far, in the process of building your community, what initiatives have you taken to promote the adoption of Bitcoin in your local environment? **Kelvin**：Well, besides our existing clients, we have about three shops that currently accept Bitcoin payments. I’m still working on overcoming the major challenges we face while also trying to find ways to encourage people to use Bitcoin in their daily lives. **Kelvin**：First, I need to support the people who are already part of our community, making sure they have the resources and knowledge they need. I don’t know if I’m fully answering the question, but this is what I’m working on. I’m not solely focused on growing a large community right now. Instead, I’m focused on quality growth—on educating people who truly understand Bitcoin, know how to use it, and grasp what it really means. My approach is to start small and expand gradually, ensuring that at each stage, people gain a deeper understanding of Bitcoin and how it can impact their lives. **YakiHonne**: I’m sure you guys will succeed. You don’t necessarily have to start big, but I believe you’ll grow much faster than you expect. With the effort and passion you’re putting in, I have no doubt that Bitcoin Chama will expand significantly. So,moving on to my last question,what are your community’s goals for the next 6 to 12 months? And how do you see it evolving with Bitcoin’s development? **Kelvin**：My goal for the next year is to continue the projects I’ve been working on. We have a community team that serves as a gathering point where people can come together, coordinate meeting times, and discuss Bitcoin and our future plans. **Kelvin**：so far for example, we built and distributed 15 beehives to different young people in our community. They harvest honey, sell it, and save the earnings in Bitcoin. We piped free clean water which can be accessed by any member in our community, significantly improving daily convenience.  **Kelvin**：We are planning to build two chicken coops and provide chickens to two groups of five people each. They will raise chickens, sell eggs, and save their earnings in Bitcoin. Over time, we aim for each member to have their own chicken coop with a sustainable flock by the end of the year.  **Kelvin**：We plan to lease a piece of land for the women in our community to grow vegetables and sell them at the local market. Their earnings will also be saved in Bitcoin. If the project is profitable, we will reinvest in more land to expand vegetable farming.Additionally, we plan to lease 2-3 acres of land specifically for commercial maize farming. The maize will be sold for Bitcoin, and if we generate profits, we will expand the farmland. **Kelvin**：Our long-term goal is to build a self-sufficient community, enabling it to operate independently and achieve sustainable development. This is also our core objective. **YakiHonne**: I truly love all the ideas behind this. I admire the fact that you are giving back to the community and that people are experiencing real benefits from the Bitcoin ecosystem. This way, they have something positive and meaningful to say about Bitcoin. **YakiHonne**: Thank you so much, Kelvin, for joining us today. We’ve reached the end of our interview, and I’m really happy to have had this conversation with you. We look forward to seeing Bitcoin Chama grow!

@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6

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

@ c0a57a12:8b230f7a

Ever notice how we’ve all turned into a bunch of regulation junkies? Not just the kids—us, too. The parents. The supposed adults in the room. We sit around shaking our heads at this new generation, wondering why they can’t make a move without a permission slip, but let’s be honest: we made them that way. We were trained for it. We just passed the neurosis down like a bad heirloom. Used to be, kids ran wild, made their own fun, learned how things worked by getting their hands dirty and screwing up a few times. You fell out of a tree? Tough. That’s how you figured out gravity was real. Now, a kid gets a splinter and half the neighborhood has to be briefed. But let’s not act like it started with them. We didn’t grow up in the Wild West. Our parents—the ones who were handed a country built by men who cleared forests and carved railroads and settled frontiers—they took one look at all that, clutched their pearls, and decided the real enemy was *risk.* They started slapping safety labels on everything, turned common sense into a government-subsidized industry, and set about making sure we never had to experience a single moment of danger, discomfort, or—God help us—independence. And we ate it up. Grew up afraid of the sun, the air, the drinking water. If you touched a stranger, you’d get kidnapped. If you ate the wrong snack, you’d drop dead from an allergy you didn’t even have. If you rode a bike without strapping on enough gear to survive re-entry from orbit, you might as well be suicidal. Then, just to really hammer it in, we were given rules for *everything.* How to sit, how to talk, how to play, how to think. And because we’d been softened up, we listened. We obeyed. We internalized the great lesson of modern civilization: *only do what is approved.* And when it came time for us to raise kids? Oh, we ran with it. Helicopter parenting? That was us. Participation trophies? Us. Baby-proofing the entire godforsaken planet so that Junior never had to encounter anything sharper than a cotton ball? Us again. Every bit of micromanaged, soul-sucking, over-regulated nonsense we complain about today? We enforced it. So now we’ve got a generation that doesn’t *know* how to function without checking the rulebook first. They hesitate before every decision because we taught them hesitation. They sit around waiting for a green light because that’s all we ever told them to do. And you know what? We’re no better. When’s the last time *you* did something without checking if it was "allowed"? When’s the last time you ignored a ridiculous rule instead of just sighing and complying? When’s the last time you acted like a *free man* instead of a well-behaved tax mule hoping the system doesn’t notice you? We’ve swallowed a lie, and we keep regurgitating it—that compliance is morality, that following orders is a virtue, that a safe, predictable, well-regulated life is a *good* one. It’s not. It’s never been. You don’t get freedom by waiting for permission to use it. You don’t get courage by asking if it’s okay. You don’t build a worthwhile life by making sure you never color outside the lines. And yet, here we are, acting surprised. Acting like we don’t know how we got here. Acting like we didn’t *choose* this. Like we didn’t let it happen. So what now? We could stop. We could teach our kids to take risks, to get their hands dirty, to act instead of waiting for permission. We could start ignoring stupid rules, start trusting our own judgment, start living like we weren’t raised in a padded cell. Or we could do nothing. Keep following orders. Keep playing it safe. Keep watching the world shrink into a flavorless, permission-based, committee-approved version of itself. Your call. But either way, don’t pretend to be surprised.

@ df478568:2a951e67

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

@ df478568:2a951e67

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

@ 41fa852b:af7b7706

> "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." --Martin Luther King, Jr * * * **If Bitcoin's price action is putting you to sleep, maybe it's time to get out and add some spice to your life.** It's a big week with 12 meetups--check out the list below and see if there's one near you. Most meetups are drop-in friendly--just head to the venue and keep an eye out for a few shady-looking characters in Bitcoin merch. If you'd prefer some certainty, you can find contact details for every meetup at [bitcoinevents.uk](https://bitcoinevents.uk/). Just scroll down to find your meetup group, and you'll see how to get in touch. Let's dive in… * * * [](https://bitcoinevents.uk/donate/) * * * _This week's sponsor is…_ [](https://www.orangepillapp.com/?utm_source=BEUK&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BEUK) * * * ### **Upcoming Bitcoin Meetups** Happening this week… 1. [**Newcastle Bitcoin Meetup**](https://www.meetup.com/newcastlebitcoinmeetup/): A relaxed gathering for anyone interested in Bitcoin. No prior experience or ownership of Bitcoin is required, just curiosity and an interest. Conversations are Bitcoin-only focused. Happening this month on Tuesday, February 18th, at 18:30. Find them at Kabin @ Kabannas, NE1 6UQ. 🍻 2. [**Bitcoin 101**](https://meetu.ps/e/NRYv6/v822r/i): Nodes at Cyphermunk House - Participants are invited to a hands-on, peer-led class to set up their own Bitcoin node. Those wishing to build a node during the session should bring an old laptop, computer, or mini PC, along with a 2TB SSD and a USB drive with at least 4GB of storage. Attendees are also welcome to join without building a node to learn from the process. Tickets cost £9 in sats or £10 in cash, with pre-booking available at [cyphermunkhouse.com/events.](http://cyphermunkhouse.com/events). 👨🏼‍🎓 3. [**Bitcoin Glasgow**](https://www.meetup.com/bitcoin-glasgow-buy-sell-learn/): Bitcoin Glasgow meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month and this month will be at The Maltman, 59--61 Renfield Street at 18:00 to 20:00. This month on Wednesday the 19th. 🍺 4. [**Bitcoin Wales**](https://www.meetup.com/all-about-bitcoin-meetup-group-wales/events/): Back in action with the first meetup of 2025, and looking to grow their membership. The gathering at Zerodegrees, 27 Westgate St, Cardiff CF10 1DD invites both seasoned Bitcoiners and newcomers to connect, share ideas, and shape the future of Bitcoin in Wales. 18:00 - 21:00 on Wednesday 19th February. 🍻 5. [**OPA London Bitcoin Meetup**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opa-london-bitcoin-meetup-tickets-1238140223739): The first OPA London Bitcoin Meetup takes place on Wednesday 19th at 18:30 - 21:30 at the [Century Club](https://centuryclub.co.uk/) (Bitcoin accepted), 61--63 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LQ. 🍺🍷🍸 6. [**Shropshire Bitcoin**](https://x.com/shropsbitcoin): On the 19th, the Shropshire crew will be meeting at the Admiral Benbow in Shrewsbury. 🍻 7. [**Brum Bitcoin & Beer**](https://x.com/brumbitcoin): If you're in the Birmingham area head along to meet some fellow bitcoiners on Thursday 20th at 19:00. You'll find them this month at The Wellington, Bennett's Hill, B2 5SN. 🍺 8. [**Bitcoin Bristol**](https://evento.so/p/evt_iQcbZqEyZ36Bujfr): Meeting at The Left Handed Giant, BS1 6EU, at 18:15 on the 21st. Everyone is welcome, the aim is to encourage grassroots bitcoin adoption in Bristol. 🍻 9. [**2140 Collective**](https://evento.so/p/evt_tEzCj5UWYCkB9h35): Tools of freedom - GrapheneOS workshop. Learn about GrapheneOS the privacy-focused mobile operating system. Friday 21st February, 18:00 - 21:40 at Cyphermunk House. 👨🏼‍🎓📱 10. [**Bitcoin Walk - Edinburgh**](https://bitcoinwalk.org/): Every Saturday they walk around Arthur's Seat in this historic city. Join them at 12 pm to chat about all things Bitcoin and keep fit. 🚶🏽‍♂️🚶🏼‍♀️🚶🏻 11. [**Plymouth Bitcoiners**](https://x.com/plbitcoiners): The Plymouth meetup is on the 22nd this month. Find them at Steel Brew, PL1 3GD at 14:00. 🍻 12. [**Bitcoin East**](https://x.com/bitcoineastuk): Join Bitcoin East in Bury St. Edmunds on Sunday 23rd, 10:00 at [Procopio's Pantry](https://www.ourburystedmunds.com/business/procopios-pantry/) and then on to Vespers Bar at 12:00. All welcome, Bitcoiners and anyone else curious about Bitcoin. 🍻☕️ * * * **Get Involved** - **Volunteer Opportunities**: [Bridge2Bitcoin](https://bridge2bitcoin.com/) is actively seeking volunteers who share our passion for merchant adoption. We'd be delighted to connect if you're eager to contribute. Reach out to us on [Twitter](https://x.com/bridge2bitcoin) or through our [website](https://bridge2bitcoin.com/). - **Start Your Own Meetup**: Interested in launching a Bitcoin meetup? We're here to support you every step of the way. We've assisted numerous UK Bitcoin meetups in getting started. Get in touch via [Twitter](https://x.com/bitcoineventsuk). - **[Contribute to BTCMaps](https://wiki.btcmap.org/general/tagging-instructions.html)**: BTCMaps is a vital part of the Bitcoin ecosystem. It's a perfect project to get involved with if you're not a coder or even that technical. A great way to give back to the community. Maintain an area of the UK and keep it up-to-date. - **Telegram users**: You might find our [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/BitcoinEventsUKHub) another useful way to keep up-to-date with UK meetups. - **Feedback and Suggestions**: We value your input! Share your ideas on how we can enhance this newsletter. * * * _This week's sponsors are…_ [](https://orangecoinstore.com/) [](https://bitcoinretreat.co.uk/) * * * Get out and support the meetups where you can, visit [Bitcoin Events UK](https://bitcoinevents.uk/) for more info on each meetup and to find your closest on the interactive map. Stay tuned for more updates next week! Simon. [](https://bitcoinevents.uk/donate/)

@ f3873798:24b3f2f3

 Parece um sonho o Neymar ter voltado para o Santos Futebol Clube, mas o que esperar deste evento épico? Como todo o santista já sabe o clube passa por momentos sombrios da sua história. A morte do Pelé, o rebaixamento do Campeonato Brasileiro, dívidas e crises financeiras sem fim, a volta em trancos e barrancos para a Série A. Fez do torcedor santista ficar depressivo e sem esperança de ver o time brilhar novamente. Entretanto, tudo mudou com a volta o príncipe Neymar, umas das maiores jóias produzidas pelo Santos Futebol Clube, a alegria voltou. O Santista sentiu novamente a esperança de pode ter orgulho de ser santista. No entanto, a realidade é dura, como diz o ditado popular: uma andorinha só não faz verão, logo vemos que mesmo com o "Menino Ney" de volta em campo os problemas de elenco continua e alguns problemas pela insistência do técnico caixinha por jogadores como Basso e Godoy irritam a torcida. Apesar dos 3 pontos obtidos no jogo do São Paulo, até o momento o Santos permanece o mesmo como uma campanha pífia no Campeonato Estadual. Mas nem tudo está perdido, o Santos tem sido afetado pelo Efeito Neymar, que apesar de não temos sentido em resultados no futebol, o engajamento do Clube e os patrocinadores aumentaram visivelmente. O número de sócios mais que dobrou, as compras por camisetas do Santos aumentou estrondosamente a ponto de ser difícil de comprar a camiseta do Santos do Neymar, a produção de camiseta não está dando conta de tanta procura. Estádios lotados em qualquer pontos do Estado de São Paulo. O Neymar está salvando o clube da falência isso nenhum santista pode negar. ## O que esperar do futebol do Neymar?  O Neymar voltou para o Santos devido não estar tendo oportunidade de recuperar seu futebol no futebol árabe, como muitos já sabem o técnico Jorge Jesus disse em uma entrevista que o Neymar não tinha condições de jogar no mesmo ritmo dos demais jogadores do time. Isso gerou um grande borburrinho ao jogador que estava se recuperando de uma grave lesão que o deixou afastado do campo por mais de 1 ano. Ou seja, Neymar está em processo de adaptação pois volta recuperado de uma lesão porém sem ritmo de jogo. Por isso o que devemos esperar do Menino Ney é dedicação para se recuperar. No entanto não será algo rápido e fácil, é necessário que a torcida tenha paciência para que os possamos colher os frutos da dedicação mais para frente. Além disso, o futebol é um esporte COLETIVO, ou seja, depende de todo o time e não apenas do Ney e aí que está o problema, temos um elenco muito limitado. Com alguns jogadores notáveis: Guilherme e Solteto (o último é de lua). Fica difícil temos resultados em um campeonato tão competitivo e muito técnico. Porém o efeito Neymar pode dar uma viravolta nisso como um atrativo para novos jogadores quererem jogar no SFC. Resumido a longo prazo veremos uma melhora no elenco do Santos, porém há alguns detalhes importantes para que o Santos brilhe novamente, além da presença do Neymar. ## O que esperar do Neymar na marca Santos  É notório o engajamento da marca e a valorização do clube. O valor do clube e o potencial de arrecadação aumentou exponencialmente. E grupos árabes tem interesse em comprar o Santos e fazer do Santos uma empresa o que conhecemos como SAF. Isso obviamente tem influência do Neymar e sua Família que segundos rumores são quem estão mediando as negociações. Infelizmente o Santos tem pouca ou quase nenhuma transparência ao torcedor a respeito das negociações e os rumos políticos do clube. O que é possível afirmar é que há reuniões e discussões a respeito do assuntos pelos dirigentes e sócios até rumores de mudanças obscuras ao estatuto do clube foram publicadas no Youtube. Observando a atual situação do Santos, na minha opinião não há outra solução a não ser a #SAFnoSantos porém deve ser feita com cuidado protegendo o clube de possíveis golpes como foi o caso do Vasco e Figueirense. Agora diga nos comentários se você confia nos dirigentes para elaborar um contrato que proteja o Santos de eventuais perigos ? ## Neymar e o Novo Estádio.  Sobre a vinda do Neymar pode acelerar o processo do novo estádio do Santos, há muitas divergências entre dirigentes e a família do Neymar. Até mesmo a torcida está dividida a respeito do assuntos. Existem várias questões vou tentar pontuá-las . * Tamanho do Vila Belmiro: no caso de modernização do estádio existe um grande problema que é a limitação do espaço, todos os arredores da Vila estão ocupados inviabilizando a expansão do terreno, além disso há um problema fundiário pois o terreno é responsabilidade da União o que gera um problema político em questão. *Mudança de Localização: Conforme os usuários do X estão relatando o Neymar pai não é a favor do modernização da VILA Belmiro, mas sim da construção de um novo estádio em Cubatão. Está mudança de cidade leva a muitos questionamentos e também uma grande repercussão negativa entre a história do clube com a cidade de Santos. *Canindé e Pacaembu: está é a maior novela santista a respeito do estádio para os torcedores da capital paulista. A Conversa de o Santos ter dois estádios sendo um na capital é antiga, porém a divisão entre a torcida é tão grande e os investimentos tão altos que nunca saíram só papel . ## Afinal o que podemos concluir ? Que é necessário muito mais que o Neymar para arrumar o time. A colaboração de todos os torcedores e a união dos dirigentes para que pensem pelo bem do clube e não dos bens pessoais. Precisamos da união de todos com ideias sugestões e principalmente de apoio para que a #SAFnoSantos seja uma realidade e que a gestão do Santos nunca mais seja inconsequente.

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Let's hear some of your latest #Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the #shops or #merchants you bought from too. Any good #deal we should know about? If you missed our last thread, [here](https://stacker.news/items/880985/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent and #zap #sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/887305

@ deba271e:36005655

Buying groceries with bitcoin rocks! I have been using bitcoin to buy food and stuff in Uvita over the last two months and what a wonderful experience that has been. There are so many places that accept. I went to the local farmers market literally every time it was open (twice a week) to buy veggies, meat, spices, juice, coffee and even clothes. You pay with bitcoin at every stand, payment fully settled sometimes [under 1 second](nostr:note1fxew6skuhayt8v2tpdh907l5tqy0aqkyx8k4x9qpuvd00kj62xjs99d8sy). I used bitcoin definitely more than I used fiat.  *What is in the basket is what I bought with bitcoin* As is my nature (and nostr [job description](nostr:npub1m6azw8j5wanm6mvwa367anjkzhdnz7srkpl5tyf5kql8ydsq2e2sa7h78d)), I was complaining about the UX to the folks involved across multiple companies/groups here in Uvita, with some issues already fixed and some new features/ideas being worked on. Overall the people working on these projects are amazing. This was so much fun and I hope the folks don't hate me for giving them [feedback](nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzph46yu09gam8h4kcamr4am89v9wmx9aq8vrlgkgnfvp7wgmqq4j4qqxnzdenxvurgwpjxgmnqwf5wu65zl), [feedback](nostr:note12lxe9qjefyl4uqksx97q0lnq33tghe3fhxldzut0g2rfvpmln4psqj90qe), [feedback](nostr:note1ue96mtfdnpth0msqxxx6ead4w7farnt3h4aysk53rk8cw6gjurjqz6mlwx) - I always tried to make it as actionable as possible (also I'm hard to argue with when I'm right :P). My focus has always been on getting more merchants onboarded, getting more people to accept bitcoin, but after a couple weeks in Uvita I realized that at this point the problem here is the opposite. **People are not paying with bitcoin**. I talked to many of the sellers, asked them how many people pay, how often. And in reality it's fairly rare for them. In the restaurants they only have a couple times per day when someone pays with bitcoin. At the market only around 10% of people pay with bitcoin, while 95% of the sellers accept. That made me feel a bit sad and surprised. This is a buyer education problem, not a seller problem.  *Only a small portion of the folks in the picture will pay with bitcoin…* The word of mouth approach is (imo) a solid strategy to onboard merchants, but it doesn't work for ephemeral tourists. As an example consider a "family with young kids coming for 3 days". This family doesn't have many chances to receive word of mouth. They come from elsewhere, they don't make many connections or interactions with locals. Sidenote: Physical bitcoin office works like a charm! I would have not guessed that, but I witnessed it being the spot where people meet, where merchants come to ask questions, where new folks ask how to get onboarded. The Bitcoin Jungle team did an amazing job here. If you are starting a circular economy in some town and already have some office space - consider making it into a "Bitcoin Office" (even if your business isn't exactly bitcoin). It will bring you visitors, great friends, bitcoiners will come hang out, etc. #### Tourist education We can assume that in "touristy" areas the restaurants, markets and shops will be mainly visited by tourists, so the solution here is tourist education. Now think about the journey that tourists go through - they come to the area in a car, maybe stop for lunch/dinner and then they check in at their hotel/casa. The next day they go to the local grocery store/market to get supplies and then do touristy stuff - go surfing, beach, hike, drive somewhere, chill, pool, drinks, etc. The main touch points for where paying with bitcoin could be introduced are: - when entering the town, - at the restaurant, - at the place they check in (hotel, casa), - in the grocery store/market, - in whatever they use to find attractions, - the tour guides, drivers and other folks working in the tourism sector. Here are couple ideas to make the situation better: - **Printed brochure at merchants and hotels/casas:** a little printed brochure with the same content available at every merchant - so when someone asks about bitcoin, they can just hand this brochure to them. Doesn't need any technical background or price talk - literally "You can pay with bitcoin here. You need a bitcoin wallet, here's QR to get it. Then you need to get bitcoin, here are the options. Then just pay by scanning the QRs that sellers show you" when you tell them "pagar con bitcoin por favor". - **Billboard when entering Uvita:** There could be a nice billboard when entering Uvita saying something like "Pay with Bitcoin in Uvita! Welcome to Bitcoin Jungle" and maybe add a link to bitcoinjungle.app and WhatsApp number. - **A billboard at the market:** a nice printed billboard on the side of the market that shows QR for how to download BitcoinJungle wallet (and some US available wallet), how to get initial sats on it (e.g. ask a specific person at the market, install Strike…). - **Discounts:** One thing that always attracts an eye is seeing some discount. This could be e.g. included in the brochure - "5% discount when you pay with bitcoin", or "pay with bitcoin, get XYZ for free". Someone may suggest wording "paying with fiat = extra 5% fee", but just from a psychological standpoint that is imo less effective.  *And of course having bitcoin signs "SE ACEPTA AQUI" helps…* Good luck! nout Originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/887222/r/nout

@ e7bc35f8:3ed2a7cf

The 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi has been widely debated, but the real story remains obscured by political theatrics and media smokescreens. The mainstream narrative focuses on bureaucratic failures, misinformation about an anti-Islamic film, and partisan blame games. However, when you dig deeper, a far more sinister picture emerges—one involving illegal arms deals, covert CIA operations, and geopolitical power plays that stretch far beyond Libya. ### Benghazi: A Strategic Flashpoint Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, was a crucial battleground in the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the overthrow and murder of Muammar Gaddafi. As a key port city, it was not only economically vital but also politically significant. After the fall of Gaddafi, Libya descended into chaos, becoming a breeding ground for militant groups and a hub for illicit weapons smuggling. On the night of [**September 11, 2012**]( https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/06/politics/benghazi-attack-timeline/), around **150 armed militants**—reportedly from **Ansar al-Sharia**, an Al-Qaeda-linked faction—attacked the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. Four Americans died in the assault, including **Ambassador Christopher Stevens** and two former Navy SEALs who were working as CIA contractors. In the immediate aftermath, the U.S. government, led by **Ambassador Susan Rice**, [falsely claimed]( https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-20519384) the attack was a spontaneous reaction to an obscure anti-Islamic video. This story [collapsed]( https://www.cbsnews.com/news/emails-illustrate-how-white-house-shaped-benghazi-talking-points/) within days, leading to [Republican-led investigations]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140505004626/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/02/house-committee-subpoenas-kerry-over-benghazi-documents/) and heated political battles. Yet, amid the partisan finger-pointing, the most critical questions were never fully answered: **What was the real purpose of the U.S. presence in Benghazi?** **Why was the CIA so heavily involved in this particular location?** **Was the attack a cover-up for a botched operation?** ### The CIA’s Secret War in Benghazi One of the most underreported aspects of Benghazi is the sheer volume of [CIA operatives]( https://www.businessinsider.com/the-secret-cia-mission-in-benghazi-2013-8) on the ground during the attack. In August 2013, even [CNN]( https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/02/cnn-exclusive-dozens-of-cia-operatives-on-the-ground-during-benghazi-attack/) admitted that “dozens” of CIA personnel were present in Benghazi that night. The agency went to extraordinary lengths to keep its operations in Libya under wraps. Whistleblowers later revealed that CIA officers were subjected to [frequent polygraph tests]( https://www.yahoo.com/news/report-cia-polygraphs-operatives-stop-benghazi-leaks-100204865.html) to ensure they weren’t leaking information about what really happened in Benghazi. This level of secrecy suggests something far more than just diplomatic work was taking place. What were they hiding? Evidence points to an **illegal arms-smuggling operation**, reminiscent of the **Iran-Contra scandal**, where weapons were funneled to terrorist factions in Syria under the guise of aiding "moderate rebels." ### Arming Terrorists: The Benghazi-Syria Connection Reports suggest that **Ambassador Stevens himself was deeply involved in a covert weapons pipeline**, shipping arms from Libya’s looted stockpiles to Syrian insurgents. These insurgents—many linked to Al-Qaeda—somehow ended up with advanced weaponry, including **U.S.-made Stinger missiles.** Where did these weapons come from? **The very security operation in Benghazi** that was supposedly meant to prevent arms from falling into the wrong hands. Lieutenant Colonel **Anthony Shaffer**, a military intelligence whistleblower, [suggested]( https://web.archive.org/web/20201109014908/https://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/25/books.destroyed/) that Stevens was likely killed because he had knowledge of these weapons transfers. Similarly, CIA contractor [Robert "Tosh" Plumlee]( https://canadafreepress.com/article/cia-whistleblower-faces-the-ire-of-an-angry-justice-department-over-benghaz), a veteran of Iran-Contra, supported the claim that the U.S. was [funneling weapons]( https://web.archive.org/web/20201101023009/https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/benghazi-hearing-revives-allegations-of-weapons-shipments-to-syria) to Syria through Turkey, Jordan, and even Pakistan. ### The Security Farce: Aiding the Enemy Another bizarre piece of the puzzle is the **so-called security force** hired to protect the U.S. mission in Benghazi: the **February 17th Martyrs Brigade**. Incredibly, this group **publicly displayed Al-Qaeda flags on their own [Facebook page]( https://web.archive.org/web/20130512160017/http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/benghazi-consulate-protected-alqaida/2013/05/02/id/502565)**, yet they were still entrusted with U.S. diplomatic security.  Why would the U.S. government **pay known jihadists** to guard its personnel? Was this sheer incompetence, or something more deliberate? ### A Planned Hit That Spiraled Out of Control It appears the Benghazi attack was more than just a terrorist ambush. There are indications that it was an **orchestrated hit**—perhaps an attempt to eliminate Stevens before he could [blow the whistle]( https://www.businessinsider.com/us-syria-heavy-weapons-jihadists-2012-10) on the weapons trafficking operation. The two **former Navy SEALs** who died that night **ignored stand-down orders** and engaged the attackers, holding them off long enough for military drones to capture real-time footage. This forced the U.S. military to take notice, disrupting whatever covert plan was in motion. An **Air Force whistleblower later [claimed]( https://gazette.com/military/air-force-whistleblower-we-could-have-saved-benghazi-victims/article_25e30eec-7e14-5ae8-b23f-647f7ec05e4c.html)** that a rescue mission was possible but was deliberately withheld. This suggests that allowing Stevens and his team to die was part of a calculated decision to prevent certain truths from coming to light. ### The Petraeus Affair: A Convenient Distraction? As if this story couldn’t get any murkier, another subplot surfaced: **CIA Director David Petraeus’ extramarital affair** with his biographer, **Paula Broadwell.** Shortly before the scandal erupted, Broadwell gave a speech in which she **accidentally revealed** that the CIA had been [holding Libyan militants prisoner]( https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/11/paula-broadwell-leaks-info-on-benghazi-prison-says-petraeus-knew-of-benghazi-plea-for-help-video/?PageSpeed=noscript) at the Benghazi annex. This revelation was explosive because it **contradicted Obama’s official stance against CIA black sites**. Was the Petraeus scandal used as a distraction? Was he forced out because he knew too much? ### The Aftermath: Tying Up Loose Ends Years later, in a final act of "cleaning house," a **key suspect in the Benghazi attack [was killed]( https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/key-suspect-benghazi-attack-killed-us-airstrike-iraq/story?id=31953157) in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq**. The timing, as always, was suspicious. This has become a pattern—critical witnesses and suspects disappearing before they can testify. ### A Scandal Bigger Than Partisan Politics Benghazi was **not** about bureaucratic missteps or political negligence. It was about **[illegal arms deals]( https://youtu.be/xmjT-VeHjiY), black ops, and the perpetual cycle of U.S.-backed destabilization in the Middle East.** The official narrative is a smokescreen designed to distract from the uncomfortable truth: **The U.S. government has been covertly arming and funding the same groups it claims to be fighting.** This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. **Both sides of the political spectrum have been complicit** in covering up what really happened in Benghazi. The military-industrial complex thrives on endless war, and the intelligence agencies operate with impunity. If history has taught us anything, it’s that these covert operations never truly end—they simply move to the next theater of war. And as long as the public remains distracted by partisan squabbles, the real architects of these schemes continue to operate in the shadows, profiting from chaos. The question is: Will we ever hold them accountable?

@ 9f0bbd5b:779b33f6

The next time you see your doctor and get a blood draw (you are doing this every year, yes?) be sure to request that your testosterone levels be tested. Testosterone is measured as Ng/dL. Ng/dL stands for nanograms per deciliter, which is a unit of measurement used to express the concentration of substances, such as hormones, in the blood. It indicates how many nanograms of a substance are present in one deciliter of blood. Since the 1960s-70s (the first time data was collected on a large scale), average testosterone levels have been cut nearly in half. You can draw any number of conclusions, when you compare this with the state of our society.  [Source](https://testosteronedecline.com/testosterone-levels-100-years-ago/) Sedentary lifestyles, processed foods, lack of exercise, sunshine, and sex ... all these things contribute to the feminization of the men in our society. Studies have shown that higher testosterone results in better rational decision making. Currently, average testosterone levels are lower than they have ever been.  [Source](https://www.health.com/chart-of-testosterone-levels-by-age-8743223#toc-testosterone-levels-by-age) **How to raise testosterone:** - Eat real food (beef, veg, dairy, fruit) - Stop drinking soda, etc - Get sunshine - Get rid of your gut - Exercise regularly originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/887187

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

Last night in my Bible reading I read this verse: > “As for you, **do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me**; for I do not hear you. (Jeremiah 7:16) {emphasis mine} My first thought was “Why in the world is God telling us not to pray for this people? Doesn’t the Bible tell us to pray about everything?” > First of all, then, **I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men**, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. **This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior**, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) {emphasis mine} Doesn’t God tell us to pray for whatever is bothering us? > Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) Doesn’t the Bible say that God will answer all of our requests? > Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) Doesn’t the Bible tell us to pray for Israel and Jerusalem and His chosen people? > **Pray for the peace of Jerusalem**:\ > “May they prosper who love you.\ > May peace be within your walls,\ > And prosperity within your palaces.”\ > For the sake of my brothers and my friends,\ > I will now say, “May peace be within you.”\ > For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,\ > I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:6-9) {emphasis mine} Doesn’t the Bible even tell us to pray for our enemies? > “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, **pray for those who mistreat you**. (Luke 6:27-28) If all of this is true, then why does this verse tell us to not pray for this people, especially considering this is referring to God’s chosen people? To answer this question, let us look at a broader portion of this passage: > “As for you, **do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you**. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and *they* pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me. Do they spite Me?” declares the Lord. “Is it not themselves *they spite,* to their own shame?” (Jeremiah 7:16-19) {emphasis mine} God is saying to not pray for these people who have turned from Him and are worshipping other gods. These people are in full rejection of God. Still does it mean that we can’t pray for them at all or is this talking about a particular kind of prayer? A little later in Jeremiah, we read: > “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster. (Jeremiah 11:14) and > So the Lord said to me, “**Do not pray for the welfare of this people**. When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence.” (Jeremiah 14:11-12) {emphasis mine} We get a little more specificity on the command to “*not pray for*” in Jeremiah 14. We are told, “*Do not pray for the welfare of this people*.” This is not a universal command to never pray for them, but a command to not pray for their welfare. It is a command to not pray blessings on those in active rebellion against God. At the time this command was made, the Israelites were expecting God’s protection and blessings while refusing to follow Him and instead worshipping other gods. This command isn’t a blanket statement to not pray for a sinning Israel, but a statement to not pray for blessings and protection for a sinning Israel. If this was a blanket statement it would contradict Psalm 122 above. > This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, **if we ask anything according to His will**, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14-15) {emphasis mine} Using 1 John 5:14, we can begin to see the catch. We are to pray “*according to His will*.” It is not God’s will for sinners and those in open rebellion against God to be blessed or protected from hardship. A prayer such as, “Please turn your people back to you and give them a pure heart and repentance from sin,” would be according to His will. A prayer to “Please bless and protect Israel” while Israel has turned their back on God is not a prayer that God will answer. He will “*not hear you*.” The Bible also says: > You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:3) How often are our prayers not answered because we pray with wrong motives? At least sometimes. Of course there are also times when God tells us to wait or has something better in mind and we can’t see it because we are not seeking His will, but our own. It is always good to pray for someone’s repentance and salvation. It isn’t always good to pray for someone’s healing, blessings, and prosperity. It is always good to pray for a nation to turn back to God and to obey His commands. It isn’t always good to pray for a nation’s prosperity and power in the world. Sometimes God’s will is to punish those who turn away from Him or against Him. We need to make sure we are aligned to God’s will and not just seeking our own. I recommend that our prayers be like Jesus’s prayer right before going to the cross, “*saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done*.” (Luke 22:42). Our requests should be like that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Ngo right before being thrown in the fiery furnace, “*But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up*.” (Daniel 3:18). This isn’t just words thrown on the end of our prayers “*yet not My will, but Yours be done*,” but a cry of our hearts in full and complete trust in our Father God. One thing that helps me is I try to pray the problem not the solution. God knows much better solutions than we do because He knows everything that has happened, everything that is happening, and everything that will happen. He knows what will lead to the best long term solution. When we pray the solution we desire, we miss out on the blessings of God’s knowledge, wisdom, and love. May God lead you and guide you in a closer relationship to Him so that your will is completely aligned with His will and you are in close fellowship to Our Father in Heaven. Trust Jesus

@ 47cc4b41:1bad46c9

Since the last time I wrote about a United States Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, there have been a few federal updates. Notably, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick will be developing a plan to create the first United States sovereign wealth fund after President Donald Trump signed an executive order. The order also directs Bessent and Lutnick to develop a plan for creating the fund within 90 days. Lutnick holds hundreds of millions of dollars of Bitcoin and is bullish on the future of Bitcoin and I personally believe this is a huge indication that Bitcoin will be included in this fund.  Additionally, David Sacks, the Crypto Czar said that a top agenda item for his task force is evaluating “the feasibility of a Bitcoin reserve.”  Both of these developments in my opinion are very positive for the future of Bitcoin at a federal level but the reality is that Federal legislation takes time and can suffer from gridlock, party disagreements, and overall levels of bureaucracy that states oftentimes don’t have to deal with.  For this reason, many states have already made progress in pushing strategic reserve legislation and other Bitcoin-related legislation forward. This is also a reason why I expect the states to once again “lead” ahead of the federal government as it relates to Bitcoin.  Bitcoin Laws ([*bitcoinlaws.io*](https://bitcoinlaws.io/?utm_source=the-arc.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-states-will-lead)) is a resource that has emerged to specifically track Bitcoin and other digital asset legislation at the state level. The website highlights all of the outstanding legislation and provides the status and details on what is being proposed. I personally believe this resource will continue to be incredibly important for tracking what is actually happening at the state level as it relates to Bitcoin. It is rather difficult to stay up to date on all of the legislative occurrences as it relates to Bitcoin and Bitcoin Laws provides a one-stop-shop for all of the updates.   Most importantly, as of February 10th, 21 ‘Bitcoin Reserve’ bills have been introduced at the state level with 19 still active in the legislative process.  The idea that “the states will lead” reflects a theme of governance from the days of our Founding Fathers—that of Federalism. Federalism is a mode of political organization that allows separate states to unite under a national government while maintaining their own aspects of sovereignty. In layman's terms, Federalism allows for a Federal Government while also allowing State governments to have power within their individual borders. This system emphasizes a division of power with certain powers being granted to the federal government and others residing at the state level.  When the Founding Fathers created the Articles of Confederation they emphasized state power over a strong federal government. This system led to some problems such as economic instability amongst states and difficulties in coordinating a national defense eventually leading to the Constitution taking over and being the rule of the land for the centuries to follow. The Constitution created a stronger federal government while still protecting levels of state authority, autonomy, and sovereignty. The Tenth Amendment is a key aspect of this where it states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The amendment means that any powers *not explicitly given* to the federal government by the Constitution fall to the states.  The states having and maintaining individual power was a focal point when the United States was created and remains true today. Justice Louis Brandeis gave one of the more famous statements related to the rights of the states when he referred to them as “laboratories of democracy” during the case *New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann* (1932)*.* The full quote was, “It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” The meaning emphasized the idea that states were “laboratories” and should be encouraged to enact policy ahead of the federal government. The rationale for why states should be encouraged to do this is any policy they enact is specifically within their own borders while federal legislation typically applies to the whole country. As such, the “test area” for any new piece of legislation is much smaller and impacts far fewer people than any federally enacted policy of the same measure.  We have seen the “states lead” with numerous issues throughout the years including legislation on same-sex marriage, marijuana, healthcare experiments, climate change regulations, civil rights, and more. I believe the table is being set for the states to once again lead the federal government as it relates to policy regarding a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.  It is also my personal belief the urgency at which legislation is confirmed for a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve is a matter of national security. Every day that a federal strategic reserve for Bitcoin is not enacted is another day that foreign adversaries and other nations can front-run our country.  The positive of this scenario is that the common man can also front-run the federal government.  The positive of this scenario is that states can also front-run the federal government.  The positive of this scenario is that states have the opportunity to once again lead and pave the way for what I believe the United States Federal government will also adopt.  Strategic Reserves within the United States both at the state and federal level will have their 0 to 1 moment and rapidly have their 1 to many rush to completion.  The States will Lead.  **Stack SATs.** *The views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only and should, in no way, be interpreted as financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research when making an investment or trading decision, as each such move involves risk. I am not a financial advisor and do not claim to be qualified to convey information or advice that a registered financial advisor would convey to clients as guidance. Nothing contained in this e-mail/article constitutes, or shall be construed as, an offering of financial instruments, investment advice, or recommendations of an investment strategy. If you are seeking financial advice, find a professional who is right for you.The views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only and should, in no way, be interpreted as financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research when making an investment or trading decision, as each such move involves risk. I am not a financial advisor and do not claim to be qualified to convey information or advice that a registered financial advisor would convey to clients as guidance. Nothing contained in this e-mail/article constitutes, or shall be construed as, an offering of financial instruments, investment advice, or recommendations of an investment strategy. If you are seeking financial advice, find a professional who is right for you.*

@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756

Every action you take, every decision you make, every battle you fight—it all matters. You may not see it now, but what you do today will ripple far beyond this moment. Your choices carve your legacy, your discipline shapes your destiny, and your willpower determines how you are remembered. #### **The Weight of Every Choice** Most people live like their actions die with them. They don’t realize that their words, their work, and their struggles leave a mark—on others, on history, on the future itself. The weak make excuses, thinking no one will remember their failures. But the strong understand: what they do now is what will be spoken of long after they’re gone. - **Greatness Is Not Accidental** – Legends are not made by chance; they are forged by relentless effort, battle after battle, day after day. - **Your Discipline Defines You** – What you do in private, in training, in the moments no one sees, builds the warrior you become in battle. - **Your Struggles Are Not in Vain** – Every hardship you overcome strengthens the echo of your existence. The pain, the fight, the endurance—it all creates an unshakable foundation that future warriors will stand on. #### **Live Like You Will Be Remembered** Cowards hide in comfort, waiting for the world to give them something. But warriors? They seize life with both hands and leave behind something greater than themselves. - **Fight for something bigger than yourself.** Your legacy isn’t about what you take—it’s about what you leave behind. - **Take action like it matters—because it does.** Every move you make today is carving the future you will walk into. - **Refuse to be forgotten.** The weak fade into history, but the strong leave behind echoes that never die. #### **What Will Your Echo Be?** Your life is happening now. Every moment, you are creating the story that will be told about you. Will it be a story of strength, resilience, and purpose? Or will you let yourself fade into the background, just another name lost to time? **Stand up. Move forward. Fight harder. Because what you do in life will echo in eternity.**

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an "army of Europe" to defend against Russian threats, emphasizing that the US may not continue its traditional support for Europe. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he warned against peace deals made without Ukraine's involvement. US Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment, urging Europe to enhance its defense efforts. Zelensky stated, "I really believe the time has come - the armed forces of Europe must be created." He highlighted changing dynamics in US-Europe relations and noted that "the old days are over" regarding American support. Despite discussions around NATO, Zelensky stated he wouldn't rule out NATO membership for Ukraine.

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

*"You are a slave to whoever controls you emotionally."* > *"We get angry when someone tries to tell us what to do. 'Don’t tell me how to dress, how to think, how to do my job, how to live.' We feel this way because we see ourselves as independent, self-sufficient individuals.* > *Or at least, that’s what we tell ourselves.* > *Yet, if someone says something we disagree with, something inside us tells us we must argue with them. If a plate of treats is placed in front of us, we must eat them. If someone does something we don’t like, we must be furious. If a setback arises, we must be sad, depressed, or worried. But if something good happens a few minutes later, suddenly, we’re happy, excited, and wanting more.* > *We should never let another person shake us back and forth the way our impulses do. It’s time we start seeing things differently: we are not puppets, dancing to whichever tune suits us at the moment. We should be the ones in control—not our emotions—because we are independent, self-sufficient individuals."* > — **Ryan Holiday** > *"Frame your thoughts like this: you are a mature man, and you will no longer allow yourself to be enslaved or manipulated like a puppet by every impulse. You will stop complaining about your current lot or fearing the future."* > — **Marcus Aurelius** 📌 **Emotions can give us information, but they should not give us orders.** It’s not enough to learn to say "no" to others; you must also learn **not to give in** to the demands of your weaker self. --- **Thank you for reading, my friend!** If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your **"🥃"** as a token of appreciation. **A toast to our family!**

@ c582af78:698069cc

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

@ a95c6243:d345522c

**Auf der diesjährigen Münchner** **[Sicherheitskonferenz](https://transition-news.org/in-munchen-der-realitat-ins-auge-sehen)** **geht es vor allem um die Ukraine.** Protagonisten sind dabei zunächst die US-Amerikaner. Präsident Trump schockierte die Europäer kurz vorher durch ein Telefonat mit seinem Amtskollegen Wladimir Putin, während Vizepräsident Vance mit seiner Rede über Demokratie und Meinungsfreiheit für versteinerte Mienen und Empörung sorgte. **Die Bemühungen der Europäer um einen Frieden in der Ukraine** halten sich, gelinde gesagt, in Grenzen. Größeres Augenmerk wird auf militärische Unterstützung, die Pflege von Feindbildern sowie Eskalation gelegt. Der deutsche Bundeskanzler Scholz [reagierte](https://transition-news.org/gesucht-friedenskanzler) auf die angekündigten Verhandlungen über einen möglichen Frieden für die Ukraine mit der Forderung nach noch höheren «Verteidigungsausgaben». Auch die amtierende Außenministerin Baerbock hatte vor der Münchner Konferenz [klargestellt](https://archive.is/nUpYa): > «Frieden wird es nur durch Stärke geben. (...) Bei Corona haben wir gesehen, zu was Europa fähig ist. Es braucht erneut Investitionen, die der historischen Wegmarke, vor der wir stehen, angemessen sind.» **Die Rüstungsindustrie freut sich in jedem Fall über weltweit steigende Militärausgaben.** Die Kriege in der Ukraine und in Gaza tragen zu [Rekordeinnahmen](https://transition-news.org/kriege-sind-fur-waffenproduzenten-und-hedgefonds-f-king-good) bei. Jetzt «winkt die Aussicht auf eine jahrelange große Nachrüstung in Europa», auch wenn der Ukraine-Krieg enden sollte, so hört man aus Finanzkreisen. In der Konsequenz kennt «die Aktie des deutschen Vorzeige-Rüstungskonzerns Rheinmetall in ihrem Anstieg [offenbar gar keine Grenzen](https://finanzmarktwelt.de/rheinmetall-aktie-mit-mega-rally-nachruestung-und-1-000-euro-kursziel-339271/) mehr». «Solche Friedensversprechen» wie das jetzige hätten in der Vergangenheit zu starken Kursverlusten geführt. **Für manche Leute sind Kriegswaffen und sonstige Rüstungsgüter Waren wie alle anderen,** jedenfalls aus der Perspektive von Investoren oder Managern. Auch in diesem Bereich gibt es Startups und man spricht von Dingen wie innovativen Herangehensweisen, hocheffizienten Produktionsanlagen, skalierbaren Produktionstechniken und geringeren Stückkosten. **Wir lesen aktuell von Massenproduktion und gesteigerten Fertigungskapazitäten** für Kriegsgerät. Der Motor solcher Dynamik und solchen Wachstums ist die Aufrüstung, die inzwischen permanent gefordert wird. Parallel wird die Bevölkerung verbal eingestimmt und auf Kriegstüchtigkeit getrimmt. **Das Rüstungs- und KI-Startup Helsing verkündete kürzlich** eine «dezentrale [Massenproduktion](https://www.trendingtopics.eu/helsing-kampfdrohnen-unicorn-startet-dezentrale-massenproduktion-fuer-ukrainekrieg/) für den Ukrainekrieg». Mit dieser Expansion positioniere sich das Münchner Unternehmen als einer der weltweit führenden Hersteller von Kampfdrohnen. Der nächste [«Meilenstein»](https://archive.is/eZsWP) steht auch bereits an: Man will eine Satellitenflotte im Weltraum aufbauen, zur Überwachung von Gefechtsfeldern und Truppenbewegungen. **Ebenfalls aus München stammt das als** **[DefenseTech-Startup](https://www.trendingtopics.eu/arx-robotics-produktion/)** **bezeichnete Unternehmen** ARX Robotics. Kürzlich habe man in der Region die größte europäische Produktionsstätte für autonome Verteidigungssysteme eröffnet. Damit fahre man die Produktion von Militär-Robotern hoch. Diese Expansion diene auch der Lieferung der «größten Flotte unbemannter Bodensysteme westlicher Bauart» in die Ukraine. **Rüstung boomt und scheint ein Zukunftsmarkt zu sein.** Die Hersteller und Vermarkter betonen, mit ihren Aktivitäten und Produkten solle die europäische Verteidigungsfähigkeit erhöht werden. Ihre Strategien sollten sogar «zum Schutz demokratischer Strukturen beitragen». *** Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf ***[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/so-klingt-das-aufrustungs-business-startups-und-alte-hasen)*** erschienen.

@ d57360cb:4fe7d935

Don’t focus on the end goal solely. If you do you’ll always find yourself empty handed. You wouldn’t want a fast forward button on your favorite song or your favorite movie. You don’t want to rush through your meals or the time you spend with important people in your life. Notice this tendency to do things in order to get to the end. It’s sapping the depth of your existence from you. Slow down. Life is lived in the in between. If you learn how to savor that, you’ll have a rich meaningful life.

@ f3873798:24b3f2f3

 Olá meus caros leitores, estou fazendo um guia voltados aos Brasileiros aqui do Nostr. Vejo que há muito conteúdo em inglês que infelizmente não é traduzido para o português. Por este motivo tomei a iniciativa de começa com este artigo. Espero que gostem deste artigo, que tenham uma ótima leitura. # Bem-vindos ao Mundo Nostr !! Acredito que todos que estão aqui sabem um pouco sobre o Nostr e que é uma rede social descentralizada, local onde você pode postar sem medo de represarias governamentais [ditatoriais]. Mas, vocês conheçem como o Nostr funciona e todas as ferramentas que vocês têm disponível neste ecossistema? Poisé, acho que não. O Nostr é um protocolo de comunição descentralizada muito versátil, isso quer dizer que não está limitado a um tipo de "rede social", nele é possível fazer Blogs, streaming, podcast e até mesmo e-mails com autonomia total do usuário. Meus caros, isso é liberdade total, sem ficar na mão de bigtech como Microsoft, Apple, Google. Para ficar mais claro darei um exemplo para vocês: Imagine você criando uma conta no Youtube, você deve aceitar as Diretrizes impostas pela google no uso do **SEU CANAL**, por mais que você tenha autonomia na produção do **SEU CONTEÚDO**, determinadas palavras e termos não podem ser usadas, ou seja, **O GOOGLE DETERMINA O QUE VOCÊ PODE OU NÃO FAZER NO SEU CANAL**. Veja que é uma liberdade parcial no processo de criação de conteúdo. Já no Nostr, o seu canal é completamente seu. Não há nenhuma entidade, empresa responsável pelo seu conteúdo a não ser você.  ## O Mundo Nostr e sua funcionalidades No nostr você terá acesso a uma diversidade de aplicativos para cada objetivo de uso. Mas, antes de abordar sobre os diversos layouts e funcionalidades do Nostr é necessário aprender o básico deste universo. > ***Em primeiro lugar:*** É necessário que vocês saibam que a partir do momento que vocês criaram um conta aqui, independente do "cliente" ou "distro como o pessoal que gosta de fazer analogia com o Linux", vocês recebem duas importantes chaves ! A **chave privada** e a **chave pública**.  A **Chave privada**, também chamada de chave secreta é o acesso ilimitado a sua conta, ou seja, é a partir dela que poderá produzir conteúdos em geral neste mundo. Ela te dará acesso a todos os rercusos do Nostr, portanto é importante que esteja muito segura. A **Chave pública**, você ver como os outros usuários ver o seu perfil e o seu conteúdo. Ela é uma importante chave para que as pessoas possam ter acesso aos conteúdo que vocês públicam, ou seja, é atráves dela que você poderá compartilhar o seu perfil para que seu público tenha acesso ao seu mundo. Dito isso vamos conhecer os apps e os chamados clientes Nostr. ### O que são clientes Nostr? Clientes são as várias maneiras de interagir com o protocolo Nostr [fonte: Nostr.com] É semelhante ao Sistema Operacional Linux que tem várias distro com diferentes layout para o mesmo Sistema. Vejamos as principais para que vocês tenham uma noção da amplitude do protocolo. - **Damus:** é um app para celulares IOS terem acesso ao NOSTR, tem formato de rede social, como Primal e o Amethyst. - **Primal** é um app versátil serve tanto para celulares IOS, Android e PCs, também tem formato de rede social, porém você pode abrir uma carteira lightning bitcoin exclusiva deste app, facilitando muito os micropagamentos em satoshis pela rede. - **Amethyst**, assim como o Damus é para o IOS o Amethsy é para o Android, sou suspeita para falar sobre este clientes, pois é o meu favorito. Além de várias possibilidades de edição de texto, ele tem diversas funcionalidade incluídas, como *****Guia Mercado***** onde você pode comercializar produtos pela rede, tem como intergrar com outros apps de streaming, formar grupos temáticos etc. - **OXchat** não é exatamente uma rede social tem um layout que lembra um pouco o Whatsapp ou Telegram, serve como uma rede de interação instantânea, tem diversos recursos que achei mais interessante é a lousa, onde é possível interagir no grupo com desenhos etc. - **Yakihonne** que é justamente o cliente que estou usando para construir este artigo. Como usuário posso dizer que ele tem um foco para criação de Blogs no protocolo Nostr, lembrando que cada cliente tem um layout diferente, ou seja, uso de templates para definir a estrutura do seu blog é meio limitado [ressalva assim como vocês sou iniciante do Nostr, pode ser que tenha como determinar um layout próprio, mas eu mesma não sei como] Há muitos outros clientes disponíveis para acessar e experimentar e conhecer todos eu recomendo o site: [Nostrapps]( https://nostrapps.com/##all) Agora que você leu este pequeno guia, se divirta aqui no nostr e não se esqueça de apoia a gente. Até Mais !!

@ c230edd3:8ad4a712

## Chef's notes I prefer to use skinless, boneless chicken thighs. Any part, bone in or out, will work fine. I do recommend removing skin, so that the sauce can saturate the meat. I like to simmer fresh green beans in the sauce as the chicken cooks through. Any fresh vegetable would work fine. Simply add them early in the cooking time and stir occasionally. ## Details - ⏲️ Prep time: 10-15 min - 🍳 Cook time: 30 min - 1 hour - 🍽️ Servings: 1 - 8, or more ## Ingredients - Skinless, boneless chicken thighs, or other cut - Garlic Powder - Garlic Cloves, 1 per piece of chicken, minced & salted - Butter, 1 Tbsp per piece - Chicken Broth or White Wine, approx 1/4 c. per piece - oil for searing ## Directions 1. Heat oil over med-high heat in appropriate sized pan 2. Season chicken with garlic powder on both sides 3. Brown chicken, smooth side first. Flip and repeat 4. While chicken is browning, mince and salt garlic 5. Add butter to the pan, scrape loose any caramelized bits from the pan, as the butter melts 6. Add minced garlic, and saute until soft and fragrant 7. Add chicken broth or wine and stir, add vegetables if desired 8. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer 9. During simmer, scoop sauce over chicken occasionally, more frequently as sauce reduces 10. If cooking vegetables, flip or stir when coating the chicken to ensure they spend time fully submerged 11. Cook until chicken is done, vegetables are soft, and sauce is reduced to a thick paste 12. Serve :)

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

"Admit it. Sometimes you just need a big strong man." -Xander Harris Buffy fans should appreciate that reference. It's one of my favorite lines to quote around the house, whenever my wife needs help opening jars. Today, I said it to my daughter when she tried to open the orange juice herself, which earned a side-eye from the wife. It also led me to think about a possible research hypothesis. ## Idea I've heard that grip strength has been declining in men, to the point where there's barely a difference anymore between men and women. Is it possible that something as seemingly trivial as not being any more able to open jars, is reducing the rate of relationship formation? This was one area where men have historically been able to clearly demonstrate some value. ## Empirical difficulties I have no idea what the data looks like on either side of this question (grip strength or relationship formation), so I can't say much about specific data problems. However, there is definitely going to be an issue with "the dreaded third thing". In particular, I'm concerned with how to isolate the impact of grip strength decline from other effects of testosterone decline. Ideally, we'd be able to do a longitudinal study of men, where their grip strengths and testosterone levels are recorded, as well as their relationship status over time. Since there's no chance of doing that study, the best hope would be to put together some population level numbers over time and see if relationship formation rates still have a correlation with grip strength, after controlling for average testosterone levels. ----- I hope you enjoyed this half-baked idea. I mentioned to @denlillaapan that it might be fun to share ideas like this on SN. In all likelihood, no one will ever take these ideas any further, but they still might prompt fun discussions. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/886699

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Much to @realBitcoinDog's chagrin, we did eat out for Valentine's Day. Well, actually, we got some take out, but it definitely wasn't very healthy. However, we did eat fairly early, so it didn't mess up my fasting. ## Reflections Even though I had been regularly fasting before February, this Fast February exercise has improved the habit and led to some noticeable outcomes. The first couple of days, I was kind of snacky. Because of the fiscal fast element of Fast February, I had to snack on whatever was around the house already. That turned out to be the "wrong" type of applesauce that our daughter refuses to eat. After those first few days, though, I really haven't been very snacky. In fact, my general appetite is noticeably lower. The most pronounced non-appetite related effect has been more vivid dreams (or at least more memorable dreams). On the con side, I have felt a little stiffer and have been stretching more often to alleviate muscle tension. ## Score Card Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry) Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry) Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry) Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry) Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry) Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry) Day 8: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 9: 17 hours (17 dry) Day 10: 15 hours (13 dry) Day 11: 20 hours (19 dry) Day 12: 20 hours (17 dry) Day 13: 16 hours (13 dry) Day 14: 17 hours (15 dry) Day 15: TBD (16 dry) originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/886640